Song Surfin’ #2
The Menzingers — “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore”
Discovered via friend Drapcho
Several times now, I’ve had a conversation with my friend Drapcho about how ridiculously underrated bands like The Menzingers and The Swellers (no longer active) are.
In a more just world, (will try not to crap too hard on other folks’ favorites), we would be inundated with the hits of said bands and others in a similar vein. Another example of a band that fits that mold is Red City Radio.
“Lookers”, “After The Party” and “Nice Things” are just several more examples of great Menzingers tunes.
The songs are quick-hitting bangers (or even deep-in-your-feels ballads), and they’ve got so much in common with the pop-punk classic that rattled through headphones of the halls of high schools nationwide.
This song in particular is just, pure, unadulterated ear worm. You’re going to get the chorus stuck in your head. You’re going to ingest self-deprecation and feel it for yourself.
Maybe it’s just the timing of a generation headed away from from rock music that the likes of The Menzingers never really clicked.
This isn’t to say that they don’t have their devoted followers. That certainly isn’t the case.
But even as someone with only a casual affinity for them, I realize The Menzingers could and should be so much bigger.
Discovered via Twitter chatter
You ever just get whacked in the face with familiarity when listening to a new tune?
Not in the sense that ‘oh these folks copied the hell out of someone else.’ More like, ‘I feel a sense of comfort in relishing in this tune that reminds me of Outkast.”
And like with Outkast, Brockhampton is a collective that pushes boundaries and manages to make itself unique in the midst of a timeframe where larger hip-hop groups like OFWGKTA exist. I mean, how do you not hear Andre 3000 out of this?
Then there’s this out of a Pitchfork article:
“The track features Atlanta producer and rapper Jazze Pha. Watch the Kevin Abstract-directed clip below.”
Jazze Pha is from Atlanta, the stomping grounds of Andre 3000 and Big Boi, so what reminds me of a southern rap sound probably comes into play from him.
I’m still only just getting into them, but have enjoyed casually following their trajectory upward on social media.
Part of that enjoyment is derived from the collective stepping away from some typical aspects of hip hop. They call themselves a ‘boy band.’ They directly feature men as subjects of sexual desire, something most are far from used to seeing when it comes to men in hip-hop. There’s also a lot of intriguing, diverse background from the group, though Ameer, featured in the previously linked video is no longer part of the group after allegations of abuse came out.
I know only bits and pieces about the guys in this group and their music, but I’m certainly enjoying getting to know more about them.
Discovered via friend Olivia
It was my friend Olivia who suggested Vulfpeck. That undoubtedly goes down as one of the best music recommendations anyone has given me.
All I have to hear to know I’m about to be in a better mood is the little intro tune the band attaches to the front of their Youtube videos.
Many of their songs don’t have vocals.
But the piano riff and melding of the base that come together in a song like It Gets Funkier can drive my mood up in a hurry. As the song plugs along, it truly does Get Funkier.
At the same time, Vulfpeck brings together wonderful vocalists, whose voices melt into the music. For such examples, check out “Running Away” and “Birds of a Feather, We Rock Together.”
The prolific nature of their production (seriously, check into it, they’re producing new material CONSTANTLY), is sure to keep them rocking my ear buds for years to come.
The whole Thrill of the Arts and “The Beautiful Game” albums are wonderfully cohesive and satisfying to spin on repeat.
Vulfpeck continues to be one of the best things musically that has happened to me in a long time.
