JeffMix 5 | 2018.02.17
My favourite five songs of the week
1 | Diana Radar, “Sex Sells”
“Rock ’n’ roll needs an injection of some new young blood to really just knock everybody dead right now,” said Jack White in a much-quoted interview with L.A. indie station KROQ this week. Is Diana Radar, a new four-piece out of Melbourne, that injection? Too early to say, but their urgent debut track “Sex Sells” wears its influence well, that being The Strokes, the NYC post-punk band that arguably was the last band that knocked the rock world dead. More of this, please.
2 | The Drums, “Meet Me In Mexico”
The Drums, the once-duo that’s now a solo project of Jonny Pierce, has hardly disappointed over their four-album career in jangly indie pop, and charity single “Meet Me In Mexico” is a new high. Proceeds from Bandcamp downloads will go towards relief efforts after last fall’s earthquake in Mexico, a country that Pierce says he’s embraced, especially in light of Donald Trump’s continuously disparaging remarks. It’s a feel-good song that will make you feel especially good.
3 | Gifted Gab & Blimes Brixton, “Come Correct”
Released as a single back in October, “Come Correct” is building momentum thanks to a video released a few weeks ago that highlights the laid-back ways of Gifted Gab and Blimes Brixton (who, despite her U.K. name, is from San Francisco; Gifted Gab hails from Seattle). It might be easy to question the female rappers’ authenticity, as they spit verses in a suburban parking lot, leaning on their parents’-era Benz, but the head-bopping beat and strong lines (“I need a strong cup of coffee cuz I haven’t slept,” “You’re style is unpractical so we laugh at you, ha ha”) match their title pledge.
4 | UPSAHL, “Kiss Me Now”
So Blimes Brixton isn’t British, and UPSAHL, notwithstanding the extra consonants and Peter Bjorn and John-level production on “Kiss Me Now,” isn’t Swedish. She’s Taylor Upsahl from Phoenix, who’s unsigned for now, but on the strength of “Kiss Me Now” and her other released track, 2017’s “Can You Hear Me Now,” likely won’t be for long. Too catchy for labels to resist.
5 | Grace Vonderkuhn, “Cellophane”
From her Bandcamp page: “Home recorded garage/psych/dream pop for true believers.” Need I say more? A quick dive into Vonderkuhn’s growing catalogue is dream-worthy stuff, especially recently released “Cellophane” with its clever “I am down” refrain, a garage-rock slogan for the dispirited. Knock ’em dead, Grace.
