Saturday Spin #4
Welcome to Volume #4 of your Saturday spin! With springtime in full swing we’ve got a sunny vibe stacked up. Starting funky, ending funky, and grooving through the middle.
James Brown: Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
You cannot POSSIBLY have a bad time while listening to this song. With the recent resurgence of 70's sound (see: Dua Lipa, Silk Sonic) it is of course worth revisiting the OGs, and you can't go wrong with James Brown, the Godfather of Soul himself.
Something I miss in a lot of modern production is the human element - today's studios can crank out pristine recordings with every frequency perfectly cut or boosted and not a single trace of room noise or interference of any kind. That type of audio has its place, but hearing James Brown have a conversation with his band throughout the song puts me into the world of the music. This track was in regular rotation in my older brother's CD collection (enjoyed on a sweet 5-disc changer that still squats in the corner of my parents’ living room), and we'd all participate in the intro.
James Brown: I want to do my thing, y'know?
3 white kids in suburban New Mexico: Yeah, man!
It's party music, and his urgings to "get on up," or to "get up off of that thing," or "get up, get into it," (depending on which song you're listening to – it is clear across his discography that he just REALLY wants people to get up) are equivalent to the repeated "how you all doing tonight" that's standard at concerts. Here the crowd interaction is baked into the song, so whether you're listening on a Friday night with friends around or by yourself on a Wednesday morning, the party gets going.
See also: Get Up Offa That Thing
Khruangbin and Leon Bridges: Mariella
I would gladly take a pass on supergroups (which are usually not all that super) in favor of artist collabs instead, and this is a flawless pairing. Leon is one of the smoothest vocalists out there, Khruangbin offers up funky grooves for him to glide over, it’s a whole-ass vibe. This pairing has now released two EPs together, and while I prefer the more recent Texas Moon, Texas Sun is just as viable a soundtrack for some heavy Saturday chilling. I would also like to submit both as further proof that we’re seeing a renaissance of the 70’s sound.
See also: B-Side, Texas Sun
Nada Surf: The Way You Wear Your Head
This is a great rock song by a great rock band, and my favorite thing about it is how the verse recycles lyrics from the most iconic Cheap Trick song – I want you to want me. That’s long been a favorite of mine, and it’s oddly pleasing to hear that hook reimagined melodically, even though part of my brain is confused at hearing something familiar made unfamiliar.
See also: Concrete Bed
Dead pony: 23, never me
And now, it’s time for this week’s “I was shuffling a random playlist and this came on and made me stop what I was doing to pay attention” track! It’s heavy and catchy and fun and dynamic and would be fun to see performed live, A+ all around.
Meute: Purple noise
This is a techno marching band!!!!! I wouldn’t have felt good about that sentence without that number of exclamation points, because I am that stoked on this very concept. I haven't picked up a Sousa in a decade but would to join a band like this. I mean, go look them up on YouTube and peep those jackets!!
Fashion aside, the absolute most compelling and impressive aspect of this band is their technique. Those notes are crisp af with identical duration and they are delivered with absolute rhythmic perfection – very Steve Reich. Despite the almost mechanical nature of the delivery, the use of acoustic instruments lends a more human, organic sounds to a genre often defined by the fact that the noise is computer-generated.
See also: You and Me, Peace
Blondie: Atomic
Damn I love Blondie. They did what they do so well, and broke ground for so much more amazing music to come. Atomic is, naturally, one of their best tracks, and what’s great is that when you really look at the lyrics, there is like NOTHING going on. This song contains the word “tonight” 15 times, “oh” 11 times, “make” 7 times, and THEN “atomic” 6 times. There’s also a lot of talk about someone having beautiful hair. No idea what that’s about, but it’s so 80’s and so great.
See also: Maria
Julia Jacklin: Pressure to Party
Looking for some good indie rock vibes? Got ‘em right here.
HAIM The Steps
I slept on this band for quite a while, writing it off as radio-ready throwback 80’s pop, but every time I sit and truly listen through their catalog there are strong bops like this one, some really inventive songwriting and arranging (check the album Women In Music Part III), and ultimately I have a good time. This was one of my songs of the summer last year after I became obsessed with it via their Grammy’s performance. Check this week’s playlist for even more good times.
See Also: Want You Back, The Wire
Thunderbitch: Leather Jacket
WELL FOLKS it’s been a couple weeks since I’ve mentioned Brittany Howard, so it is time to do so again! In the same year that Alabama Shakes released their second album Brittany Howard released a second one under the banner of “Thunderbitch” (which is what my roller derby name would be if I played that sport). There was only one album released for this side project, and it’s a glorious blues-rock romp driven by her signature attitude and vocals.
Daði Freyr: Think About Things
I promised you a funky end to this set, but did you expect Icelandic funk?? If you did, 10 points to you. Daði Freyr represented their country at Eurovision in 2021, and has duly been taking off since. Tight vocals, hella funky synth bass, quirky videos, matching sweaters, they’ve truly got it all.
See also: 10 Years