Speaking of progression and dealing with the world flinging poo at you like an enraged monkey. Let's talk about this band I have REALLY REALLY been diggin for the last month or so. I heard about this band through a music suggestion subreddit called IfYouLike_____ (IfYouLikeBlank). Basically you ask "If I like XYZ artist/song/movie/book, what else would I like?" Then the community can give you suggestions based on what you like. If I recall correctly I was asking about ands that sounded similar to The Front Bottoms and someone suggested Cayetana. Cayetana (pronounced Kay-tana) is an all female trio from Philly who's sound is rooted in indie rock, power pop and a little slice of punk rock. Not the angry kind of punk rock, though. The music is insanely catchy, tough, and gritty like sweet sugar crystals that melt in your brain.The bass lines are heavy and remind me of all of my favorite Cure songs, The drumming is tight doesn't let loose. The latest album form the group, A New Kind Of Normal, was released in 2017 and deals with issues such as mental health, overcoming life's challenges, and reinvention. While the songs can deal with heavier subjects it is not a sad record by any stretch of the imagination. It's actually quite uplifting and inspiring with lyrics like "And I hope that you realize/ That I was born strong/ Like the ones that made me/ And I was made soft/ By the one that raised me /this is my last call/ This is my rock bottom/ This is my curtain call/ this is my but ticket." Lead singer Augusta Koch has a strong smoky vocals that make for a unique and very refreshing sound. This woman can belt it out, and will have you rocking out right along with her. This is definitely a band that I am going to keep my eye on. I thought I had grown out of my so called "punk rock" phase, but Cayetana came and re-lit my love of the genre.
Cayetana - Bus Ticket
I just got done watching the movie Jawbreakers before starting this post. I thought I remembered it being better than it was, but perhaps younger me was drawn to it due in part to the fact that it starred a bevy of gorgeous and very talented women. When I say talented I mean that in an all around sense, and not so much in this particular movie. To be fair though, I don't think it was their acting ability, I think it was the not so great script. If you haven't seen the movie it is about a group of popular stuck up high school girls who kidnap their best friend for a birthday prank/surprise, but the only one getting a present are her kidnappers, when it turns out the best friend dies from choking on a jawbreaker. The story then begins when they try to cover up their friends murder and remain "innocent". If this premise sound familiar you are right, it's definitely an updated and thinly veiled Heathers remake. I feel I really need to do more than just crap on the movie, because tha is what it seems I am doing. While it is full of plot holes and a few unexplored/rushed ideas, it is a pretty decent dark comedy junk food movie. Rose McGowan plays a great nasty girl villain, Judy Greer goes from awkward ugly duckling to queen bitch and back flawlessly and Rebecca Gayheart plays the straight woman hero. The film also features the always great Pam Grier, and a cameo from Marylin Manson as a sleezy bar patron. All in all it's not the best movie ever made, but it is a decent watch if you dig bad junk food movies where you don't have to think too much...just don't expect much. It at least had a good soundtrack
Imperial Teen - Yoo Hoo
The Donnas - Rock 'n' Roll Machine
I am a sucker for dance pop songs. I am not a big fan of the stuff you hear on the radio. Perhaps my disdain stems from all those years of working in retail where we would listen to the radio stations that played the same handful of songs over and over, it felt so force fed. Don't get me wrong there were some that I loved. I am very embarrassed to admit that the song Love Yourself by Justin Bieber is one of those. Yeah, cool points deducted, but fuck it. We all love what we love. I do feel bad for those artists that could easily be huge, but never see popularity that commercial success brings. Or maybe I am just out of touch. The way we listen to music has changed so much in the last decade it's crazy. It is quite nice though for those lesser known artists to build a fan base and get heard. This song in particular was one that really struck me as something special. Tove Stryke is a Swedish pop singer who has been making music since 2010. In Sweden she is pretty widely known. Her album went platinum and she was nominated for a Swedish Grammy at 18, but as far as US acclaim she is relatively unknown. This year she released her third album Sway that would easily be accessible to the modern radio listener, yet a refreshing change from the watered down music you'd expect. Soft sweet airy vocals and epic electronic instrumentation that make it hard to fight the urge to bust out a few dance moves and finger snaps. A definite recommendation if you are a fan of Ellie Goulding, Lorde, or Catchy Poppy EDM. This song makes me bounce, fool!
Tove Stryke - Say My Name
I'm also a sucker for hilarious punk songs about being in love with an unhinged quasi embarrassing drunk girlfriend. The Vandals have always had a knack for tongue in cheek, irreverent, energetic witty songs. I actually have a playlist that I call "A Taraintino Type Thing" which are a collection of songs I think would be great songs to be used in movies. This one is on that list. Favorite line: I apologize for all shes done/ go ahead and keep her purse.
The Vandals - That's My Girl
My current job is working as a data developer for a Mororcycle/Motorsports retailer. Previous to this I never really was into motorcycles. I thought they were cool, but I never was interested in them all that much. I took the job because it's a very different atmosphere. Much less running around, and dealing with customers. I thought it would be less stressful than the front lines of the retail world, and in a sense it is. What I did not expect though was the immense learning curve that comes with motorcycle parts. Not only do you have to know brands of bikes but you then have sub-modles and sub-models of sub-models, various names for the parts, and they also like to switch things up every few years with the names of things. It's mind boggling! However, it's super cool to look at badass motorcycles all day. It's also fun to be able to see a bike and be able to identify what it is. This song is a cover of country outlaw extraordinaire David Allen Coe. It's a slow burning ode to the love between man and machine.
PJ Elliot - Panhead's Forever
