Music Log

May Roundup

For the first time in my life, I have assembled before you a slate of various glyphs in an attempt to communicate some scattered thoughts about music I have consumed this past month.

It was month of many wonderful songs. Without further ado, some words:

Squid - The Hearth and Circle Round Fire

This past week I finally got around to this single Squid dropped after their recent album release and its really incredible. Opens with a textured cacophony over drums, with some really punchy fills and an always great vocal performance. I just missed them playing in philly and I’m sad I didn’t get to hear this in person.

caroline - Tell me I never knew that

caroline released caroline 2 a week ago and I’ll definitely be listening to it for the rest of the year and the rest of my life. The whole thing is lovely but I especially enjoy “Tell me I never knew that” and “U R UR ONLY ACHING”.

Wednesday - Elderberry Wine

Banger single by Wednesday, their first release since 2023’s Rat Saw God. Contains one of my favorite new lyrics “And your eyes are the green of tornado sky”.

The Local Honeys - Darlin’ Don’t You Know That’s Wrong

Great banjo, heavy electric guitar, droning harmonium(?) soaring chorus melody with some great backing harmony. Huge.

English Teacher - Nearly Daffodils

I’m late to English Teacher, an art rock band that released their first album, " This Could Be Texas" to much critical acclaim last year. This shit is incredible. The bass line on this track is one of the highlights of the record for me. Honorable mention to the chorus on “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab”.

Life Without Buildings - New Town

I am 25 years late to this. Yikes. A hypnotizing instrumental dances around one of my favorite vocal performances ever. Endlessly quotable. Not for everyone maybe but give it a shot with open ears. The track that follows this on the album, “Sorrow” is also gut wrenching and worth a listen.

billy woods - Corinthians

“Twelve billion USD hovering over the Gaza Strip You don’t wanna know what it cost to live”

Armand Hammer - Doves ft. Benjamin Booker (Official Video)

My friend Jake also sent me over this music video by Armand Hammer. I can’t really put it into words but check this out if you can.

it’s cold again

Model/Actriz - Cinderella (Official Music Video)

The secret to life can be found at the center of the Model/Actriz mosh pit.

Have a wonderful June.

caroline 2 - caroline

Massive. Like watching a flock of birds over a lake on a cold sunny afternoon. There is a constant shifting of scale with caroline songs which I love. These isolated moments where you sit with a single vocalist or instrumentalist, before being hit with a glacial swell of 100000 tones. There’s a theme of referencing time and being “in time” throughout the record which I’ll sit with for a while, hits me at time in my life where the time feels hopelessly slipping away so much appreciated.

Highlights for me:

• single songs (total euphoria/tell me I never knew that)
• frantic section in two riders down
  • “with old friends like lightning on sky”
• the start of “beautiful ending” is absolutely gorgeous
• it’s all fucking great lol

There’s also a new Swans record out today so I’m looking forward to checking that out too.

I saw Model/Actriz live yesterday. Really incredible. Here is the only picture I took of that evening:

Today, listening to a dj set by Model/Actriz I discovered a band called “caroline” and have been absolutely blown away listening to their discography. It feels like I am discovering a new color.

caroline: Tiny Desk Concert

caroline - Tell me I never knew that ft. Caroline Polachek (Official Video)