Monday Roundup Mix

featuring 100 gecs, Yves Tumor, Carlie Hanson, and more!

Pitchfork’s reviews and scores are notoriously annoying and often pretentious (ie: giving Liz Phair’s self-titled album a 0; not reviewing any of Taylor Swift’s albums until reputation in 2017), so I don’t usually pay them much mind. However, two weeks ago I decided to check out their latest “Best New Music” picks: 10,000 gecs by 100 gecs and Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) by Yves Tumor.

I knew casually of 100 gecs and assumed their music wasn’t for me. BUT! I like hyperpop. I like noisey and weird. As I’ve said before in this newsletter, I love music so loud and distorted I can feel it in my teeth. And 100 gecs fits all those bills! So, turns out, 10,000 gecs is a welcome, fun, weird surprise and I’ve been listening to it a lot. This week’s mix begins with “Dumbest Girl Alive,” which is the opener of the album.

On the other hand, I had never heard of Yves Tumor before reading this review which includes the line, “guitars roar with jet engine propulsion, threatening to consume everything in their midst, a clear trademark of shoegaze pioneer [Alan] Moulder, while Tumor’s doubled vocals ring out in an unmistakable echo of Prince.” Loud guitars plus Prince-esque vocals? Sold.

This past week, the Best New Music pick was Lana Del Rey’s album, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.” My relationship to Lana’s music remains complicated, but I’m working my way through this album and included the track, “Margaret,” which features Bleachers, on today’s mix.

Also on this mix: new (or new-to-me) music from Miley Cyrus, Kali Uchis, Aly & AJ, Carlie Hanson, and more!

What else are you listening to this week? Leave a comment or shoot me an email and let me know! Thanks for being here!