Welcome to the June 2018 edition of Earworms, I know, I know, I'm super freaking late. This is for good reason, I have been busier writing for my clients as a freelancer, so can you at least forgive me? I mean, this is how I pay for my coffee addiction after all. Ok, enough small talk. Let's dive right into the Earworms for this month of June.
The Beatles
What can be said about these dudes that haven't been said? It's the fucking Beatles! A cornerstone of any rock & roll fan, this prolific group of Englishmen hailing from Liverpool, England, make music for the inner child in me. The two albums that I've been addicted to all month have been 1 & Abbey Road. One album is comprised of ALL of the Beatle's #1 hits, which has to be one of the biggest flex's of musical history because the album is twenty-seven songs long. The other album serves not only as a collection of great music but as a symbol for the cultural significance of the band. Everything from the album cover to the popularity of the band at the time of the album's release (1969), is a distillation of their popularity. Endless fun to listen to. If you haven't had a chance to sit down and take a close listen to these two albums, I highly recommend it.
Ramones
Stay frosty Ponyboy, the Ramones are here. While contemporary music has long since left the classic punk rock sound, the rambunctious energy the Ramones were able to communicate through their music is just as profound today as it was in the 70's. They blended traditional rock & roll sounds from the 60's with pop music from the same era, while peppering in their signature punk sound that would pave the way for future punk rock bands. One could say that they were the match that started the adrenaline-fueled fire of punk-rock. The founding father's of punk-rock are more than worthy to grace your ears, I recommend the albums Ramones & Rocket to Russia. These two albums are home to some of the most iconic songs from the era, such as Blitzkrieg Pop and Sheena Is A Punk Rocker.
Surfer Rosa by the Pixies
If you've been a dedicated reader of Earworms, then you'd know about my fascination with alternative rock music. I love bands who have the audacity and arrogance required to play god with music. Why? Because these bands get it. They understand that music is a continuously changing spectrum of sonic pleasure, and to achieve higher levels of the form, you have to play god every once in a while. The album Surfer Rosa by the Pixies is a shining example of a band playing god. From the unorthodox rhythm of guitar, drums, and vocals all the way to the lyrics that no one but the band itself could understand, came the sound that encapsulates what alternative means. The Pixies put on their crazy scientist outfits when they mixed punk, pop, male & female vocals, a signature stop-start guitar riff in their much-loved albums. Much like the Ramones, the Pixies also laid the groundwork for the future generations of alternative and indie rock outfits.
Japanese 80's City Pop Playlist
Nothing has changed the game for caffeine-induced college-students cramming 8 hours of studying into 3, like the youtube live video lofi hip hop radio. A cultural trend that spread like wildfire throughout college campuses all over the country, lofi chill-sounding instrumentals became a symbol of productivity within 20 year-olds. Which is probably why I've been (literally) addicted to the playlist Japanese 80's City Pop by Spotify user Maliza Mam. The alluring sound of vintage Japanese pop has the same effect on me as the Limitless drug has on Bradley Cooper. Ranging from bubbly pop-music to slowed down chill instrumentals, this playlist has it all. It also has a good mix of new and old Japanese pop artists. Get that paper done by listening to this playlist!