THE REPORT: 2/14/25
SCREAMO IS FOR LOVERS
Cash Only Tony’s “Seymour Waits For Fry”
Is there any better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than by blasting some dual vocal Zoomer screamo? The closing track on the recently-released demo by New York rockers Cash Only Tony’s is a slow burner that only erupts in its final minute. I’m thinking about making some John’s Music Blog tote bags. Bad idea or great idea?
DJ Crazy (Feat. Freeway, Tizz 215, & D.Sturdy) “Eagles Bounce”
Well, the birds won, so it feels almost obligatory to post “Eagles Bounce,” which was sent to me by So Drove and released before the Super Bowl but has only really come into its full powers after the game. Freeway on a Philly club tune: It doesn’t get much more Wawa certified than that.
Keeping the blog in Philadelphia, this recent Skrilla tune follows the general outline that we’ve come to know from him—pulled-apart, juggalo-stained—but it also comes with a chorus that references “Baby Shark.” Cold and maniacal music that will make sense to anyone who has spent a winter anywhere along the Eastern Seaboard.
Machine Girl “Ass2Mars (Squarepusher Remix)”
It’s a pan-generational breakbeat throwdown! Here, Pusher goes in on a tune already turned up to the max, taking it into a tracksuit, mosh pit kind of UK drum and bass zone. It’s one for the punters, no doubt, and it’s not without its silly rhythmic charms.
69 Boyz released a new song last month. I’m not exactly sure what the point of this blog would be if I didn’t point your attention to it. It’s age-appropriate Miami bass, friendly in its own way, calling back to an illustrious history that deserves to be remembered.
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano - “Armani Section”
Speaking of adult rap… I’m probably not the first to say it, but it’s all true: On “Armani Section,” the master of minimal true school re-injects a dose of actual head snap into his sound, thanks to production by a rap man who needs no introduction. And here’s the thing, people: it’s a good tune. Uncle John played it five times in a row a few days ago while taking the train back from Bay Ridge. Marciano bars plus a classic Premo scratch sentence equals a great day for angry middle-aged men with straight-brimmed snapbacks everywhere.
MIX OF THE WEEK: Spinee x The Femcels NTS 5/5/24
After rinsing last week’s pick “He Needs Me”—which, as one commenter noted, is essentially a cover of the Shelley Duvall/Harry Nilsson Popeye classic; I’ve wasted my life watching Family Feud and listening to pop punk, so my film recall is pathetically dulled; at least I got the Futurama reference in that screamo song this week—I was in search of more bratty magic from The Femcels, and I found it here, in the mix. It’s an hour of original tunes and inspired selections (Cibo Matto, Moldy Peaches, Brokencyde) that serves as proof that 2025 is going to yield a bumper crop of gonzo pop.
My post post emo band that broke up 20 years ago got plucked from obscurity and are now playing market hotel with cash only tonys in April. It’s a 6 band bill and I feel like I’m going to break my hip.
Dang remember brokencyde??