ON REPEAT: Special Interest, Yuzo Iwata, The Cardigans, KNOWER, Marci, Jane Penny, The Red Stains
カナブン (Drone Beetle)
Well, the big news is that Special Interest had an amazing set on The Best Show this week, and stop everything if you haven’t watched:
Spotify playlist here. Here are some song picks, with less meandering because I’m sick in bed and brain not work normal:
KNOWER “I’m The President”
Another fun weird one from KNOWER. The last one I posted had a choir, this one has a big brass band. Highly recommend listening to this before the word “president” becomes deeply triggering again.
Yuzo Iwata “Gigolo”
Look, I’m kinda sick today and I’m trying to figure out more about this Yuzo Iwata guy, but the more I learn the more confused my foggy brain gets. I get that he’s a notable name in the underground music scene of late 90’s Tokyo, but make sense of these phrases:
Facebook:
“Everybody calls me Fabio because looks like Fabio. Moving forward with a free mind.”
Bandcamp:
“He also put in some time as a member of Tori Kudo's Maher Shalal Hash Baz early on & there's no one else in Philadelphia who can make that claim.”
Aquarium Drunkard:
“Atmospheric track “カナブン (Drone Beetle)” came from much earlier sessions). Within these floating soundscapes is a singular and rarified musical spirit, in essence evoking the organic psychedelia of Träd, Gräs och Stenar.”
I’m sick none of this makes any sense to me. This is probably how my mom feels when I tell her how to use the iPhone.
Marci “Stop”
I’m lovin’ this new Marci record. @GataZGinkgo is right in the YouTube comments section:
Marci dropped the song of the summer Mid-Winter
Jane Penny “Messages”
Marci’s not the only member of the band Tops with a solo record out.
This music video is really good looking, and apparently the director is someone or something called OTIUM. Good job, OTIUM!
The Red Stains “Jump The Met”
Appreciation of above sound depends on how much you like Le Tigre and/or no wave. (I like those things a lot.)
The Crying Nudes “angel heart”
I can’t tell you much about The Crying Nudes aside that Dean Blunt maybe produced it, and Joanne Robertson may be involved. I really liked their previous collaborations but this feels a little different. Also, what a name.
THE GOLD STANDARD:
The Cardigans “Happy Meal II”
This song was in the new Mr. & Mrs. Smith show which I liked! But I think a lot of that like was solidified when the final fight was set partially to this song, which I have listened to once a day since I saw that. I love how…annoying(?) the chorus is. “AND NOWWW I’VE FOUUUUND A PARRRRRTNERRR.”
Like it’s teasing itself for being sincerely into a new romance (which doesn’t sound like it’s quite there yet). “NO ONE CAN BEEEEEE HAPPIER THAN MEEE”—like, shut the fuck up. That’s not how you normally sing.
The Cardigans make pop songs the way that [famous car company] makes [cars that work really good]. Someday I’ll write 1000 words on why “Lovefool” is the best pop song ever made, but until then, enjoy your first entry (of many) into my substack hall of fame, Cardigans!