Staff Pix 2/25: Each Other's Playlists
At the beginning of the semester, members of the Milk Crate team were paired up to each make a playlist for our other. In this week’s Staff Pix, we have selected our favorite song from the playlist we received in turn, whether we knew the song and was honored in the association, or got a great new tune out of it. This week’s Staff Pix is cancelled due to weather, but make sure to tune in to our radio show on WECB on (other) Fridays at 2pm EST!
Nat Szczepanski
Velcro (feat. Gus Dapperton) by spill tab
Everyone always associates me with the alternative emo scene but let this show that I do, in fact, listen to other genres. Spill tab occupies that niche between indie, bedroom pop, and alternative in a way that reminds me a bit of Beach Bunny but with a lot less guitar. Claire Chicha’s vocals in the beginning of this song take on a sort of ‘airy’ quality — conjuring an image of wisps of steam, for me at least. “Velcro” doesn’t sit in this space for long however, as the chorus grounds listeners back in reality when both vocalists drop all this emotional weight hit you at once. It’s like I’m transported back to summer 2020, sitting in the passenger seat as one friend drives and the other chills in the backseat: the windows are down, the setting sun warms our skin and we’re all existing in this transitional space as people with only the stereo and each other for company. Thank you Adri for putting this song on the playlist.
Everly Orfanedes
Dylan Thomas by Better Oblivion Community Center
Two extremely talented songwriters join forces on this hidden gem of a song “Dylan Thomas”. Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst from the 2000s folk band Bright Eyes mashed their talents together in 2019, writing and recording a series of catchy indie-folk tracks on their self-titled album. Dylan Thomas combines clever lyrics with melodic acoustic guitar to create the perfect track, it makes sense this was the most popular song to come from the album.
Karenna Umscheid
august by Taylor Swift
An instant favorite off of Taylor’s Grammy-winning album Folklore, “august” never seems to get old to me. It takes on different meanings in different stages of my life, just specific enough for me to feel like Taylor read my diary for inspiration, but vague enough for me to be able to reapply that logic every few months. It leaves me with a slightly nihilistic feeling of everything slipping away all of the time, heartbreaks and goodbyes over and over. Taylor’s lyrical prowess is the only constant in my life, and with tracks like “august”, I really can’t complain.
Andrew Johnson
You’ve Got a Women by Natalie Bergman, Beck
A song I had never heard before but wish I had. It's slow and poppy in all the right ways. While I am well familiar with Beck’s music I had never heard of Natalie Bergman before, and now after listening to the song for the 20th time in a row I am upset that I am just finding her now. Beck has great songs like “Mixed Bizness” and “Loser”, but I think this is one of the best songs he has worked on. Natalie Bergman does the lead vocals which is good because her voice is honestly the best. The song has a smooth groove to it that puts me in a trance. I love this song.
Nora Onanian
New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down by LCD Soundsystem
I love talk-singing when it’s done right. Nothing radiates cool like Jonathan Richman’s deadpan vocal delivery in Modern Lovers hits like “I’m Straight,” or Rhian Teasdale’s level-toned recitation of tongue-in-cheek lyrics for Wet Leg’s breakout single “Chaise Longue.” Thus, when Andrew introduced me to LCD Soundsystem’s “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down,” I was hooked from the first melancholic verse. It’s an ode to knowing a place is deeply flawed, but loving it in all its imperfections. “You’re still the one place I’d happily drown,” they admit. The track’s instrumental buildup is one of the most satisfying I’ve ever heard, with what starts as simple piano eventually giving way to cathartic chaos.
Sara O’Connell
Picture Me Better by Weyes Blood
Out of all of the tracks Sophie added to this playlist, this one has got the strongest grip on me. It’s dreamy production and ethereal sound makes me feel like I’m floating every time I listen. Weyes Blood has an eerily beautiful voice with a rich tamber, that mixes with the soft and supple strings make for a transcendent listening experience. Weyes Blood is singing to a friend who is no longer in their life and all the things they would’ve said to this friend if they had the chance. Songs about words never spoken always hit me hard. I feel like I’m reaching out to something that isn’t quite as tangible as I think it is. Weyes captures that experience beautifully and wraps it up in a nice bow.
Sophie Severs
Gutter Girl by Hot Flash Heat Wave
I am a sucker for a killer guitar riff, and Hot Flash Heat Wave nails it right from the start with “Gutter Girl.” As a love song (of sorts), the vocalist energetically professes undying love for his “Gutter Girl,” even though he has no money and loving her won’t make his “momma proud.” I must confess that I can’t tell if being called “Gutter Girl” is endearing or demeaning… it’s up to interpretation, I suppose. Thanks to Sara for this rec!
Lauren Larking
Sun Tan by Wallows
“Sun Tan” is a prime track from Wallows’ golden era. It’s the second song in the band’s discography and belongs to a collection of singles that put Wallows on the map as a new indie band to be reckoned with. It’s the perfect track to strut down Boylston to when it’s concerningly warm on a February day. Thank you Izzy for making me revisit my love for old Wallows music, as their most recent album and releases have been… underwhelming.
Izzy Desmarais
There She Goes by The La’s
I’m not sure if it’s because this is the first song featured in Gilmore Girls, but this song feels distinctly New England to me and I very much pride myself in being an east coast gal from Massachusetts. It could also just be because it provides the same comfort I feel when I go back home for a weekend, thus causing me to attribute it to New England. This song evokes a very distinct and nostalgic feeling in me. The same feeling I get when I’m sitting in the passenger’s seat of my dad’s car, driving to pick up takeout (specifically from Riccardi’s in Dartmouth), and it’s starting to snow so you have to be extra careful on the ride back. It’s cozy and comforting, just like driving down the same highway you’ve been on a million times before, the first bite of a warm Italian grinder from Riccardi’s, and finally sleeping in your own bed again. Thank you, Lauren, for including a song that feels like home in my playlist.
Harry Bates
Cowpoke by Colter Wall
Awe there’s just something about a western song that gets my heart beating steady. Soulful magic happens when that silver harmonica, acoustic guitar, and deep voice come together to create sounds of joy, sorrow, and wonder. “Cowpoke” comes from Colter Wall’s Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs (2020). I’ve added the entire album to my playlist. Thanks Maxwell for revitalizing my dream of becoming a western farmhand :) I’ll be out in the prairie tending the cows if you need me.
Maxwell Reid
Sleep Comes Down by The Psychedelic Furs
Harry somehow knew that all you had to do to get me to like a song was some reverb guitar, mopey lyrics, and a bouncy beat. The Psychedelic Furs have always been a blind spot in my giant love for 80s English rock, and right now I feel like an idiot for spending more of my time with Meat Is Murder than this band. This song has everything I love out of this period in British music with a 60s kick that almost serves as a precursor to Britpop. A great track from a band that’s honestly not played enough when throwing an 80s night.
Nia Tucker
AMBER by Unusual Dermont
I’ve been looking for more Black indie artists and Kenny delivered by putting this song on my playlist. AMBER is a lo-fi, Steve Lacy-groove-esque that plays with various vocal tones and pop melodies over a beachy back beat. The song is a break-up tune that has Unusual Dermont crooning about not giving in to a girl that loves him more than he loves her saying “You need to thank me / Or hate me/ He’ll do so much better.” The contrast of the lyrics and the danceability of the song make this a great listen.
Kenny Wood
Stop Calling The Police on Me by Dreamer Isioma
Looking at my playlist this definitely was my favorite song Nia put on the list. Dreamer Insioma is a black indie artist that has had a few popular releases such as Sensitive on Tiktok. Their ode to police violence against people of color may have strong lyrics but a very fun loving beat.
Julia Norkus
SPORTS MEN (2018 Yoshinori Sunahara Remastering) by Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono’s song “SPORTS MEN” sounds the way being in an ‘80s movie probably feels. Similar to the style of Talking Heads, the song itself is a goofy take on unrequited love, with one person who isn’t in shape being totally infatuated with someone else whose whole family puts pressure on being physically fit. It acknowledges love, personal insecurities, and it’s all pulled together with the bounce of a synthesizer. Big thanks to Lily for sharing this silly little tune with me!
Lily Hartenstein
Shirim by Melody’s Echo Chamber
I love Melody’s Echo Chamber dearly; their psychedelic dream pop is simultaneously inspiring and disturbing, which is what I consider to be the sweet spot for all things weird. For Julia to associate them with me, even if I did ask for songs featuring women in psychedelia, is the truest compliment I could receive via playlist. “Shirim” layers a funky bass line, a dancey guitar riff, and Melody’s ethereal voice: the outro to what I consider to be their best album, Bon Voyage (2018), this song feels like the happy ending to a Seuss-esque thriller.
Lydia Aga
Nothing Even Matters by Ms. Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo
Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo craft a soul anthem for the bedroom with “Nothing Even Matters.” D’Angelo’s voice melts slowly behind a simple bass rhythm and organ-type synths alongside Hill’s angelic vocals and love-smitten lyrics. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is undoubtedly an album about growth. Though most of the album tells the story of Lauryn’s personal growth following the end of the Fugees and the start of her journey towards motherhood, this track highlights what it means to grow with someone else as they fall deep into love. The track is imbued with sweet nothings and dreamy melodies and is a window into the world of intimacy the two unearth.
Maura Cowan
Never Seen Such Good Things by Devendra Banhart
I’ve long been dancing on the edge of Devendra Banhart’s discography, but this is one that I cannot stop returning to. With its simple slow-dance beat, perfectly interspersed guitar riffs, and rhythmic, contemplative lyrical delivery, it is song that is not easy to forget. I have found myself twirling around the common room kitchen to it more than once over the past few weeks, and if there is any piece that may convince me to further explore their work, this is it.
Will Ingman
Make Love to Me by Rick James
With sizzling saxophone-guitar harmonies, a rubbery bass line, and unmistakable, dynamic vocals, “Make Love to Me” is a positively anthemic soul jam, and a quintessentially Rick James one at that. The pocket on this one is deep, but practically overflowing with lip-bitingly powerful groove. Thank you to Diogo for suggesting this one.