Issue 20: Once More, with Feeling
Reviewing new albums from Yo La Tengo, Caroline Polachek and more!
Welcome back to Band Practice where—in an attempt to outsmart my Apple music algorithm—I listen to as much new music as I can and share my favorite finds with you. This week I couldn’t choose just one favorite—or two, or three—so it’s going to be a quicker round-up of the four best albums I listened to. This week’s standouts are: The Land, The Water, The Sky from Black Belt Eagle Scout, This Stupid World from Yo La Tengo, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You from Caroline Polachek, and Heavy Heavy from Young Fathers. Let’s get to it!
Intro
Think of your favorite song or your favorite album. (I’ll give you a minute.) Now, if I ask you why you love it, you might describe the talent of the artist(s), the musicality, or the lyrics. But my best guess is that you love it because of the way it makes you feel.
It’s amazing how playing a song can so easily conjure an emotion. You might play Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” to pump yourself up for a good workout. Or you could play “Dreams” by The Cranberries when you want to stare wistfully out a window as you contemplate your ever-fading youth. Somehow, these songs hijack our brains and tinker with our silly little robot hearts to make us feel something we couldn’t access otherwise (or maybe not as easily).
I chose all of this week’s albums—as I usually do—because they moved me in some way. And there’s a very obvious reason why I was moved: it was intentional. The artists in this issue wanted to create—and were inspired by—a certain feeling. They all succeeded in capturing something fluid and distilling it into (as one might say) a whole mood.
Caroline Polachek talks about precisely this process in describing her latest album Desire, I Want To Turn Into You. “The album’s medium is feeling. It’s about character and movement and dynamics, while dealing with catharsis and vitality. It refuses literal interpretation on purpose,” she told Apple Music.
Young Fathers also talked about using feeling to express something authentic in their album Heavy Heavy. “Each song serves an integral purpose to create something that feels cohesive. You can find joy in silence, you can find happiness in pain. You can find all these intricate feelings and diverse feelings that reflect reality in the best possible way within these songs,” member Kayus Bankole said (also to Apple Music).
Katherine Paul (aka Black Belt Eagle Scout) wanted to craft an emotional landscape in her album The Land, The Water, The Sky. “[The album] goes from feelings of intensity to feelings of being serene, feelings that are very big but also small at the same time.”1
And for Yo La Tengo, the title of their album—This Stupid World—gives away its vibe. In an interview with Pitchfork, singer/guitarist Ira Kaplan said, “It’s the mood we’re in, which I assume everyone’s in; even people that we don’t see eye to eye with on many things would agree with the title. They might have a different reason for feeling that way, but I think we can all agree.”2 Yes, the great unifier: thinking that everything is a little bit bullshit sometimes.
Music is created from a feeling and then that feeling is infused into the music and then we are somehow able to feel that?? It feels likes some sort of magic!
So join me in experiencing the magic of these four albums and their respective moods: connection, discontentment, desire, and joy. You can decide which one(s) speak to you and what you want to feel in this moment.
This week’s must listens
If you feel most at home in nature…
The Land, The Water, The Sky — Black Belt Eagle Scout
Alternative [Released 2/10/23]
My blood runs through this land, I
Find it in the land and sеa, I
Feel it like no other being
My connection to this land— My Blood Runs Through This Land
Katherine Paul (who performs under the moniker Black Belt Eagle Scout) created her latest album from a deep, intrinsic connection to her home: the Swinomish Tribal Community in the Pacific Northwest. “The Land, The Water, The Sky is about how important the role of connection to my homeland plays within my mental health. The album is meant to be a thank you to the land, the water and sky for being there for me throughout the past few years,” she shared in a statement on Instagram.
Paul is nearly a one-woman show on the album, having written and composed all of the songs herself, and playing both guitar and drums in addition to singing. But she did have a few contributors join her to build up the sound with bass, strings and even, occasionally, a mellotron(!). She even brought in her parents to provide background vocals on my favorite track “Spaces.” Her style seems effortless—like she was born with drumsticks for arms. Knowing that she is a self-taught musician who learned how to play guitar and drums from watching Hole and Nirvana VHS tapes, makes her talent all the more impressive.3
I also grew up in the Pacific Northwest (in Washington) and listening to this album feels like a homecoming for me, too. She captures its landscape and its feeling so perfectly. Crunchy guitar undulates like crashing waves in the Puget Sound. Her wispy-soft voice like clouds streaked across grey skies. You can feel the intensity and serenity that she talked about in my intro. “My Blood Runs Through This Land” rocks and wails, and “Blue” offers tranquility. What she created from her connection to the wild—sometimes dreary, sometimes sparkling—Pacific Northwest is simply a thing of beauty.
Tracks on repeat: Blue, Nobody, Spaces
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
If you need to tune out from the world for a minute (or a few (or a lot))…
This Stupid World — Yo La Tengo
Alternative [Released 2/10/23]
Can we make a promise to each other right now not to judge what we have or haven’t listened to? I say that mostly for myself, to cushion what I am about to say and that is this is my first time listening to Yo La Tengo. If this, too, is your first time listening, it might be helpful to know that they were formed in the early 1980s—and were/are true pioneers of the indie rock scene, helping to define the emerging “alternative” sound. They have put out 17 albums and have gone through nearly as many bass players, with the current lineup (since 1992) being Ira Kaplan on vocals and guitar; Georgia Hubley on vocals and drums (yes to another female drummer!); and James McNew on bass.
This Stupid World brings together elements from folk, rock, and shoegaze,4 with a penchant for meandering instrumental breaks. It, of course, has the disgruntled coolness of a seasoned alternative band of their caliber, but there is also softness and humor. In the pre-chorus of my favorite song, “Tonight's Episode,” Kaplan calls out a series of yo-yo moves like “walk the dog” and...“the guacamole.” (That last one was probably made up.) There is much to be loved in its 49 minutes of buzzing electric bliss.
The songs on the album feel like they are already in your memory. That is to say, it is the sort of music that has been stitched to your heart and feels familiar when you come across it. The album opens with “Sinatra Drive”—which feels as if in motion. It puts you in its passenger seat as you stare out the window, watching as the world zooms by. I would have been content if that was the best song on the album, but each one got better and better, culminating in a seven-minute swirling, almost meditative track. Like the album as whole, it made me feel like there is something hopeful to be found on the other side of the world’s bullshit.
Tracks on repeat: Sinatra Drive Breakdown, Fallout, Tonight’s Episode
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
If you have the urge to dance like no one is watching and sing like no one is listening…
Desire, I Want To Turn Into You — Caroline Polachek
Indie Pop/Experimental Pop [Released 2/14/23]
If you haven’t heard of Caroline Polachek, it’s possible you have and just didn’t know it. Her song “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings,” went viral on TikTok a few years ago. Not ringing a bell? She was also one half of defunct indie pop band Chairlift5 made popular by their song “Bruises” (the one that has that fun high-pitched chorus). Still no? If you’re a Beyoncé fan, you may know her by the song she co-wrote for her “No Angel,” which has Polachek’s signature falsetto stamp. If none of that helps, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You is the perfect place to get acquainted.
All of the hallmarks of a Polachek album are found on Desire. Her acrobatic vocals that summersault and leap into her high vocal register tantalize you to (try to) sing along. (I dare you not to sing to “Bunny Is A Rider.” I dare you!) Her ear-wormy pop songs subvert traditional structures and bring in unique elements like some flamenco flare on “Sunset” and a bagpipe(!) solo on “Blood and Butter.” There’s also a surprising collaboration in “Fly to You.” Fellow experimental pop chanteuse (and mother of AE A-XII) Grimes and late-1990s artist Dido (the one who sang about cold tea) join Polachek to create a breathy voice triumvirate. The diversity and dynamic moods of the album feel like a solid radio set. There’s enough variety to keep it interesting and it’s cohesive enough to feel like a continuous flow of sensuality and fun. I knew I was going to love it before I listened to it and it satisfied my hopes and dreams and then some.
PSA: There is a sound in the background of “Hopedrunk Everasking” that sounds like the chirp of a smoke detector. Just trying to save you a trip around your home to check your smoke detectors like I did. But also maybe this is a good time to check their batteries.
Tracks on repeat: Bunny Is A Rider, Sunset, Blood And Butter
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
If your spirits could use a (fork)lift…
Heavy Heavy — Young Fathers
Alternative/Avant-Pop [Released 2/03/2023]
It is impossible for me to distill the joy that this album stirs up in me, but I’ll try. The first warm, sunny day of Spring. Meeting a new puppy. All of your friends standing in two lines making a tunnel with their arms, cheering you on as you run through it. That kind of joy. It’s pure celebration.
Young Fathers—the Scottish trio consisting Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings—set out to make something joyous on their latest album Heavy Heavy, using an explosive collision of genres. There are elements of rock, hip-hop, R&B, blues, gospel, and African rhythms on the album but probably not in a way you’ve heard them before. Two highlights, the hyper-speed, exuberantly percussive “Drums” and the ethereal, orchestral “Tell Somebody” are sandwiched back to back. This experimentation and contrast—sometimes deliciously chaotic—surprised even the artists themselves.
In a conversation with Apple Music regarding the track “Be Your Lady” (a R&B/soul/electronic mish-mash that concludes with a children’s choir), Massaquoi shared his thoughts. “I wasn’t convinced about that track initially. I was like, ‘What the fuck is this?’” he said. Bankole weighed in: “that’s good, though. That’s the feeling that you want. That’s why I feel it’s radical. It’s something that only we can do, it comes together and it feels right.” In listening the album it’s clear they achieved this objective. Yes, it’s radical, but it all comes together and just feels right.
P.S. This album deserves your best and biggest speakers.
Tracks on repeat: Rice, Drums, Geronimo
Available on Spotify, Apple Music, bandcamp
You know I love a good poll…
Thanks for reading! For the next issue I’ll be listening to new albums from Gorillaz, Kali Uchis, and more. I’ll share my favorites with you. It will be in your inboxes March 10th. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!
The playlist!
I’m keeping a running playlist of my favorite song from every new album I listen to this year. It’s ordered chronologically by date listened and I’ll update it with every issue. The latest batch starts with the song “The Heat” from mark william lewis. Besides my favorites from this week’s picks, be sure to listen to “Rhinestone 1.7.2” from Flume and “Collide” from Justine Skye.
Albums of 2023 - Apple Music playlist
Albums of 2023 - Spotify playlist
What’s an album that you listened to recently and loved? Share your recommendations in the comments.
Shoegaze is a sub-genre of rock/alternative music. Its name comes from guitarists of the genre messing with their distortion pedals so much that it looks like they’re staring at their shoes while they play. It’s meant to describe music that has a lot of distortion and fuzz in it.
Fun connection between two issues: the other half of Chairlift, Patrick Wimberly, worked on the Lil’ Yachty album that I reviewed in the last issue.
(quick note: the "leave a comment" button on ep 20 opens up the ep 18 comments page)
Yo La Tengo is one of my all-time favorite bands - but that said, their recent albums haven't really captured my attention or made it into my rotation. Their 90s era stuff (painful, I can hear the heart beating as one) are absolutely amazing all-time favorites. Worth listening to if you can find the time :)
I was so excited to see you reviewed Heavy Heavy and that your chosen word for it (joy) is precisely the word I assigned to it! In fact, I was listening to this record while folding offensive amounts of laundry last night and it made the chore feel just the tiniest bit like a party. Actually, that’s an exaggeration, but it made me feel the slightest bit happier.