THE REPORT: 6/6/25
TALKING TURNSTILE
I had a passing thought about the cover of the new Turnstile record, in part inspired by an interview that the band’s frontman, Brendan Yates, did with Norman Brannon of Texas Is The Reason and Shelter: If we agree that most great hardcore shows have an undercurrent of homoeroticism, and I think we should, could the cover’s double rainbow read as a surfacing and celebration of that undercurrent, just in time for Pride Month? As for the record itself, which came out today and sounds like an extension of the band’s breakthrough with more structural ornaments added, I’ve always been sympathetic to the ambitions of the Populist Rock Band, especially in this era, and they have built a vehicle that imagines an alternate universe where Twenty One Pilots or Imagine Dragons or whatever have different—better—inputs in their musical confetti cannon. Turnstile remains an interesting band. And that’s all you can really ask for. (Read my guide to Turnstile, written in 2023.)
Beep beep! Here, Lil M.U. continues to speed down the juke rap road that was partly paved for her by fellow Chicagoan Mello Buckzz. “Top Of Cars” is driven by stinging subs and steering wheel horn chops that hit like a silly version of the “South Bronx” stabs. What is the true meaning of Summertime Chi? It might be unlocked here.
Swami Sound, gum.mp3, Leon English "Strip Game"
Growing up around the turn of the century, there were only a handful of times where it felt like, at least in retrospect, I was inside of an environment that could now be read by a young person as “Y2K-coded.” I remember being 13 and posted up at the Chicago Virgin Megastore, checking out electronica CDs on the listening station. The “sultry big beat” of “Strip Game” takes me back to that sleek point of sale, which still glimmers like a futuristic cube in my head but in actuality probably just looked like a regular-ass record store.
The movie Angus—and its adjoining soundtrack, which features Green Day, Weezer, The Muffs, and more—is an enduring post-grunge touchstone. In 2015, the band Rozwell Kid wrote a poppy grunge song called “Angus Soundtrack Deep Cut.” A decade later, there is another rocker presumably referencing the flick. Seemingly, a deal has been made: Bands, you can name your grunge revival tune after Angus, but it better be good.
If you put a rap sample over a hardcore rave track, I’m probably going to like it. I’m not hard to please. “Fakin Jax” has a sample taken from a ‘90 rap song and another from a ‘90s movie that I would assume more than a few John’s Music Blog readers have seen. None of its almost four minutes are wasted; the tune’s got me glowsticking in my brain, fending off a mental breakdown.
JOHN’S MUSIC BLOG PRESENTS… THE BONUS THREE
John Says: “We haven’t tapped in with Tisa in a minute. Those faux-strings are sick enough to put the entire city of Copenhagen to shame.”
John Says: “On her new one, a New York City electronica vet comes out swinging. There are some interesting twists and turns here. I wouldn’t mind going back in time and hearing it at that Virgin Megastore.”
John Says: “I mean, what do you want me to say? Sometimes you just need some Aesop Rock in your damn life.”
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John's Music Blog STAYS on the Chicago juke rap beat