Listen to “Busy Doing Nothing” (labeled as “Love is All Nothing”).
There may be “simply nothing to be done”, but that doesn’t stop What’s Your Rupture? from being busy. Busy beats and busy vocals mesh beautifully and busily on “Busy Doing Nothing” (available on the rare CD, Love Is All). This song doesn’t waste time wondering why because there’s no time to waste! There’s so much nothing to do that you’d better start doing it right now. Yes, right now. I know. It’s hard. But you’re falling behind fast. “Busy Doing Nothing” is the definition of doing nothing non-stop (nothing that is, except loving it).
Listen to “You’re Lookin’ Tired”.
You won’t find a lot of flash and trickery in the music of Sera Cahoone. It is what it is and that’s how she tells it. You’re lookin’ dragged out and dog-dead. You might want to listen to what she has to say. “You’re Lookin’ Tired” (from the album Sera Cahoone) is the definition of authentic assessment.
Listen to “You Turn My Head Around”.
Dean and Britta’s “You Turn My Head Around” is an anthem of renewal. Sometimes when you’ve given up completely, something incredible happens and gives you the power to turn back against the wind, with the strength of ten lions suddenly welling up inside you. “You Turn My Head Around” (from the album Back Numbers) is the definition of a complete and welcome one-eighty.
Listen to or download “Invisible Planets” (for free!) on deepsleepnarcotics.com (click on Downloads).
The Deepsleep Narcotics Co. are exactly what you’ve been craving. It’s been a long time since you’ve heard a smooth organ draped over a sensual drumline. It’s been a long time since you’ve felt like someone else understood you, made you feel like a living, breathing organism. “Invisible Planets” (from the EP Late Night Pharmacy) will satisfy both needs and more. This song is the definition of being on the same wavelength, and when you listen to it, you and the music will gain strength.
Listen to “Petite Coccinelle” on Virb.
It is somewhat appropriate if you haven’t heard Little. Like the tiny ladybug referenced in “Petite Coccinelle”, sometimes the tiny voices are not heard because they are so…little. But that doesn’t mean that this voice isn’t powerful. A billion explosions of emotion have been quelled and silenced in this song. It takes a lot of strength to do that. “Petite Coccinelle” is the definition of imprisoned emotion.
Listen to “To Let Myself Go”.
Ane Brun’s “To Let Myself Go” is a beautiful portrayal of a final, negative accounting. It is an acceptance of disaster. It is being in a boat that’s going down in the middle of an ocean that rests on a planet about to be devoured by a black hole. There is no escape, save the warping of space time. It’s only natural, in that situation, to let one’s self go. “To Let Myself Go” (from the album A Temporary Dive), then, is the definition of allowing your demons to take you the rest of the way to your doom.
Listen to “Scythian Empires”.
Andrew Bird’s “Scythian Empires” is an examination of conscience. Does an empire grow, or wither, in your chest? Does it deplete your mind’s offering or does it inspire? These are only questions to which answers don’t matter so much, so long as you’ve never heard this song. Now, you’re screwed. “Scythian Empires” (from the album Armchair Apocrypha) is the definition of empirical responsibility.
Listen to “Cherries In The Snow” here or watch the video here.
Elk City’s “Cherries In The Snow” is a release from religious doctrine. The bells chiming at the beginning of the song are telling you your new church has been called to order and this church is composed of rampaging beats and catchy “ooh-la-la’s”. It is way more fun than your old dogmatic life. “Cherries In The Snow” (from the album New Believers) is the definition of embracing a newly-discovered spirituality.
Listen to “the monolith”.
Controlla Cola might be from another planet, but it’s a planet you’ve been to, long ago, thousands of years in the past. And you will remember it once you’ve listened to “the monolith”. It will sound like home. “the monolith”, then, is the definition of interstellar longing.
Listen to “this is a map of your face”.
Sugar Skulls laugh in the face of conformity. They also smile and rock at the same time. Add all that up and it means you should really catch them on their tour of the western coast (San Francisco on the 18th, Santa Cruz on the 19th, Oakland on the 21st, Seattle on October 12th). “this is a map of your face” (available on their limited edition, numbered, individually unique tour EP) is the definition of defying convention without trying.