American Hi-Fi “The Geeks Get The Girls”
I would like to think that my knowledge of 2000s radio power pop is fairly thorough. But then I was listening to a spring 2005 episode of the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and I came across this song, made by the band best known for “Flavor Of The Week.” It’s a pretty good fusion of “Sadie Hawkins Dance” by Relient K and “Dream Police” by Cheap Trick, plus the title could be the name of a teen comedy. Always great to discover new music. New Music Discovery: It’s what John’s Music Blog is all about.
Mariboy Mula Mar (Feat. Lonni Monae) “Game Time”
A sleeper cut off of Mula Mar’s recent full-length project. Frantic sports rap that borders on bop. It’s got that indoor soccer organ that makes me feel like I’m at a Milwaukee Wave game in 1998. Now I’m craving a soft pretzel.
Merzbow/Smegma “Electro Smegmacoustic Music”
The first of many tracks (89 in total) from a recently-reissued ‘90s collab between two titans of noise—Merzbow remixes Smegma; Smegma remixes Merzbow. These are the kinds of textures that tickle my domepiece just right. I guess I’m into noise music again. Not a great development.
Is Slope the German Turnstile? The Chi Peps knob is dialed way up here. When compared to Slope, the elegance of Turnstile’s decision making process is laid bare. Also laid bare: the nuances of American irony.
Cootie (Feat. BiC Fizzle & BigXThaPlug) “Supafly (Remix)”
A year-old Cootie and BiC Fizzle cut gets a new lease on life thanks to a remix made for the 10th installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. The gratuitous Curtis Mayfield sample and back-to-back rapping action still work well. It’s the kind of cut that could’ve been a smash around the same time as that American Hi-Fi song. My washed-millennial mind is always on the lookout for hooks.
MIX OF THE WEEK: “The Barnyard Hampton Bays Sunday 7/2/23”
I don’t really know what is going on here or why this video popped up on my YouTube homepage. 83 views at the time of writing. Have a great weekend. -John
that video from the hamptons is the most amazing shit i have ever seen in my life. i have no words