Desert Island XI - QUARANTINE ISLAND - Group 3 Listening Thread

[cobl04]

God I'm excited for people to listen to mine.

 

[bono_212]

EDIT: This is @Joey

Hey thanks for the thoughts! I had a feeling that section of the list would be divisive, so no real biggie. I almost nixed that Dred Scott song, so I'm really glad I didn't. In general, there were a few songs I wrestled with removing, but I figured if we're possibly doing this for the last time, screw it and just put what you want on here.

So to finish up your list (work got wonky again on Friday and then all day yesterday was baby time) I just overall feel like you've got a great thing going here. I mean, a lot of this is no brainer interference hits, but you've got a great tone and flow throughout. I especially do appreciate how it vacillated back and forth between somber and uplifting. Never got too down listening to it, but any kind of super-good vibes were short to stay, as well.

I shouted out the tracks I enjoyed the most already, but I'd like to also just say thank you for bringing a number of songs back into my mind, I haven't thought of some of these in a good while and hearing things like "Push the Sky Away" gave me some good feelings.

Great way to start this group off!

 

[iron yuppie]

Bono212: I think the word I would use to describe this list is "maximalist." It really goes all-in on the main concept, which is a strength and at times maybe a weakness as well - the latter in that it could have accomplished what it was aiming for in a significantly shorter run time IMO. An example is the G-Funk section - maybe an unpopular opinion but I find that subgenre kind of homogeneous. The exception on this list is the Lady of Rage track, which is awesomely ferocious. Grace Jones is phenomenal; I would have enjoyed a more prolonged section in that style.

I think the second section hits its stride in pacing and variety more so than the first. Destination Unknown was a great discovery for me and it segued nicely into Naive Melody. In the synthy 80s section, I kept thinking how perfectly something from Bat for Lashes' latest album would have fit here, as it has a very similar concept as this list: moving to LA and adjusting to life there. I went into this thinking the very final stretch with Springsteen etc was playing it safe, but damn it's still great to hear those artists back-to-back. Petty and Seger in particular have so many great songs.

So overall a fully-realized concept and a lot of variety.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Joey's list:

I love so many of the artists on this list, so this one was a lot of fun for me. The NASH! -> St Vincent was a great opening. That's one of my favorite St Vincent songs.
I think Mitski is a great songwriter and need to listen to more of her stuff.
I feel like there's been a ton of Angel Olsen in this Desert Island? I like her music fine enough, but just the other day she shared the "Plandemic" video on her social media. Yikes.
"Daydreaming" to "Blackstar" is devastating.
Love Savages.
I've seen Big Thief live twice and still haven't checked out any of their albums in full. You might have just inspired me to finally do that.
"Discoverer" is one of the best late-period R.E.M. tracks and of course ASOH is classic. U2 at their best. I liked the Waxahatchee song that followed it too and should probably investigate them (her?) further.
I legitimately got chills listening to "Sprawl II" because it'd been so long since I'd heard it. So thank you for that.
Jenny Lewis...again this list is full of artists who I like but need to listen to more.
Love Julien Baker.
Thought the Steven Wilson track was a good closer.

Good shit.

 

[Joey788]

Joey's list:

I love so many of the artists on this list, so this one was a lot of fun for me. The NASH! -> St Vincent was a great opening. That's one of my favorite St Vincent songs.
I think Mitski is a great songwriter and need to listen to more of her stuff.
I feel like there's been a ton of Angel Olsen in this Desert Island? I like her music fine enough, but just the other day she shared the "Plandemic" video on her social media. Yikes.
"Daydreaming" to "Blackstar" is devastating.
Love Savages.
I've seen Big Thief live twice and still haven't checked out any of their albums in full. You might have just inspired me to finally do that.
"Discoverer" is one of the best late-period R.E.M. tracks and of course ASOH is classic. U2 at their best. I liked the Waxahatchee song that followed it too and should probably investigate them (her?) further.
I legitimately got chills listening to "Sprawl II" because it'd been so long since I'd heard it. So thank you for that.
Jenny Lewis...again this list is full of artists who I like but need to listen to more.
Love Julien Baker.
Thought the Steven Wilson track was a good closer.

Good shit.

Thanks GAF! I appreciate the kind words.

- Yeah, Mitski is awesome. If you like that song's vibe, I highly recommend listening to Puberty 2 or Bury Me At Makeout Creek. The latter is more grungy while the former is equally intense but expands her sound.
- I'm very happy with how the Daydreaming/Blackstar segue turned out.
- For Big Thief, UFOF is the first of their albums I listened to. It's definitely a grower but worth the effort. Two Hands is another great one that's rawer in its production and sound.
- Collapse Into Now is the best post-Bill Berry REM album to me. You can tell that they gave it their all to go out on a high note.
- Definitely listen to Out in the Storm by Waxahatchee if you liked that tune. It's off that album, which also the most "rock" album she's ever released.
- I can't believe The Suburbs is 10 years old this year. I need to give that whole album a relisten.
- For Jenny Lewis, I think The Voyager is her peak as a solo artist. None of her other albums have done much for me.

Glad you enjoyed the playlist!

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Ashley's list:

The hip-hop section that opens the list is a blast, I really enjoyed it. I don't listen to him much at all anymore, but 2Pac is probably my favorite rapper ever and I loved him a lot when I was younger. Suga Free was a cool discovery, I don't think I've heard this before and I dig the old school style. Cube -> Warren G -> Pharcyde are all classics.
Holy shit, Grace Jones! I need to seek out more of her music immediately. I've thought she was awesome ever since watching A VIEW TO A KILL when I was a kid, but have never really checked out her tunes. Followed by one of my favorite early Prince songs. Nice. And I like the Chaka Khan song, too. Another artist I need to hear more of.
I had a friend from college who would always play "Eminence Front" on the jukebox when he was drunk at the bar.
Wow...I never knew Fleetwood Mac made music in this style? This doesn't sound like them at all! I'm shocked. I guess I'm only super familiar with their albums from the mid to late '70s.
I think I first heard this Siouxsie song on a recent episode of GLOW and it was nice to hear it again here.
One of my favorite discoveries on the list is the Plimsouls. The jangly guitar that shows up really caught my ear. Totally sounds like a song that would fit in a killer '80s movie montage.
Followed by the Go Go's and X
Naive Melody never gets old. Such a happy song.
And the final stretch of four tracks is thrilling and put a big smile on my face. Of course, Born to Run is probably the album that means more to me than any other, followed by "American Girl" which is one of my faves, and "Hollywood Nights" which perfectly encapsulates your theme of driving around LA. And man, the closer has to be one of my top Tom Waits songs, even though I kind of forgot it existed. Overall, I loved this list.

Good shit.

 

[Axver]

Time to get stuck into Group 3, and I'm beginning with friggin' Cobbler, whose list is I think the first to contain multiple songs I already have in my Spotify library (I'm sure others contain multiple tracks across my Spotify and iTunes libraries, but I've never integrated the two). Really keen for this Australian section, especially as much of it is quite different to what I would choose.

I've already aired my opinion on Camp Cope before - a big part of a scene in which I was a regular before I left Melbourne, but not a favourite of mine. I'm intrigued to hear Kelso, because she was the first act at one of the last shows I saw before COVID-19, but the set times weren't posted online and I missed her despite arriving just 20 minutes after the time given for doors on FB! I was pissed off about that. But I found this song a bit dull. I hoped Kelso would do something a bit different to Camp Cope, but it's the same stuff: someone talk-singing over unremarkable instrumentation.

The list picks up over the next few tracks - I don't think I've even heard of David Bridie - and "The Captain" is easily one of Ali Barter's best songs. I wish I could understand what the hell has happened to her lately; she felt like such a vital musical voice on A Suitable Girl but everything since then sounds like she's just stumbled upon shit she recorded aged 15 trying to mimic Avril Lavigne.

The list then dipped back down: I've never been able to enjoy The Drones, mainly the vocals are unappealling but also this song is too slow. I was thrilled when the Something for Kate track began because it was another track I could latch onto. It introduced the most consistently enjoyable trio of this section.

I absolutely cannot listen to "From Little Things..." any more without visualising the union ads. Also, harmonicas should be banned, and the vocals are more of that talk-singing that is starting to grate on me in the course of this list. But! It's a thematically appropriate introduction to the next two songs, which are absolutely great.

Anyway, to wrap up my views on this portion: in general it seems you like very narrative songwriters, who I tend to find distracting. It's hard to listen to this list and attempt to work or otherwise go about my day. Not much of the list is catchy; too few memorable choruses or instrumental hooks. This is a list to be read, not to be sang along with. A number of these artists would make better novelists, poets, or long-form journalists than they do musicians. But I've come to realise this is apparently one of my unpopular takes.

Now, the electronic section. I don't have specific thoughts on that many tracks - it's been a consistent and well sequenced listening experience. I'll be honest, I've forever ignored LCD Soundsystem. There's no particular reason why. Maybe I assumed I wouldn't like them? Maybe I didn't like a song in a past DI? Maybe I thought I'd missed the boat and just shrugged? Whatever the reason, this song is great.

Not sure what I was expecting from Rüfüs Du Sol, but not this. I had assumed they were some bogan band like DMAs, given the festival bills I've seen their name on. Anyway, this is better than what I had assumed, although it overstays its welcome by a couple of minutes.

I'm glad that the National track was a bit different to those I've already heard in this competition, but I suspect I will never find them interesting. You lost me a little bit at the tail end - I wasn't really into Visible Cloaks, Mount Kimbie, or Black Thought. But DJ Koze was a good ending.

In general, I really got into the electronic half. Absolutely never thought I'd prefer it to the Australian music half, but here we are. It's more relaxing, much more of a soundtrack to my day than the first half, more what I want out of music. I didn't actually notice the length of the Pachanga Boys track until after I had heard it, and I was surprised to note it's over 15 minutes long!

Bet you didn't expect this.

 

[cobl04]

Omg finally

I hoped Kelso would do something a bit different to Camp Cope, but it's the same stuff: someone talk-singing over unremarkable instrumentation.

I'm sure you know she's CC's bassist? And fair enough. I like the song and think it sounds different enough, I think it has more of an indie emo vibe to it than CC's stuff, but there's no doubt it's not super polished or well-developed yet.

The list picks up over the next few tracks - I don't think I've even heard of David Bridie - and "The Captain" is easily one of Ali Barter's best songs. I wish I could understand what the hell has happened to her lately; she felt like such a vital musical voice on A Suitable Girl but everything since then sounds like she's just stumbled upon shit she recorded aged 15 trying to mimic Avril Lavigne.

You should definitely watch the video for Delegate - not sure if you picked up on it but the song is a heart-wrenching, savage take on how we treat refugees. Bridie was also frontman of two older Aussie bands that you may have heard of? My Friend The Chocolate Cake and Not Drowning, Waving. But he's really not well-known. I only heard Delegate on Triple R. I've not listened to her latest record yet, I think because your view has spooked me!

I was thrilled when the Something for Kate track began because it was another track I could latch onto. It introduced the most consistently enjoyable trio of this section.

I really like this section too.

I absolutely cannot listen to "From Little Things..." any more without visualising the union ads. Also, harmonicas should be banned, and the vocals are more of that talk-singing that is starting to grate on me in the course of this list. But! It's a thematically appropriate introduction to the next two songs, which are absolutely great.

I figure most people will struggle with From Little Things. I actually don't love the song either and can definitely empathise with it grating - it is for me the only song in the first part of my list that I can agree probably would work better as something to be read, rather than performed. But, I think it's an important piece of Australian music and so I'm glad you could see its value, and glad you noticed its positioning and the theme with the tracks that followed. (Also, I read out your post to Em last night and she yelled "oh my god YES" when she read your harmonica comment.)

I'll be honest, I've forever ignored LCD Soundsystem. There's no particular reason why. Maybe I assumed I wouldn't like them? Maybe I didn't like a song in a past DI? Maybe I thought I'd missed the boat and just shrugged? Whatever the reason, this song is great.

I imagine it's your last point, missing the boat. If you enjoyed i used to I think you would really enjoy LCD as a whole and I'd really recommend you give them a chance.

Not sure what I was expecting from Rüfüs Du Sol, but not this. I had assumed they were some bogan band like DMAs, given the festival bills I've seen their name on. Anyway, this is better than what I had assumed, although it overstays its welcome by a couple of minutes.

Ha! I had that same reticence too. I don't really know them, but I heard this track because it came like third in the Hottest 100 of the decade, which you obviously didn't listen to a rare example of a good song in that list.

But DJ Koze was a good ending.

I love it so much, particularly as a closer, so glad you enjoyed it.

In general, I really got into the electronic half. Absolutely never thought I'd prefer it to the Australian music half, but here we are. It's more relaxing, much more of a soundtrack to my day than the first half, more what I want out of music. I didn't actually notice the length of the Pachanga Boys track until after I had heard it, and I was surprised to note it's over 15 minutes long!

Bet you didn't expect this.

I had a big grin on my face reading this! Definitely didn't expect it - I don't think I was even aware you had even the slightest affinity for electronic music. I genuinely thought you'd hate it, but it does make sense you enjoyed it given the way in which you prefer to listen to music.

 

[cobl04]

Joey, your list was great! To be expected. I have to say, overall, my favourite parts of it were artists that I'm not familiar with, which was surprising to me. The first track I really loved was Timefighter by Lucy Dacus, and I also dug Mellotron Scratch quite a bit.

All Mirrors > Daydreaming > Blackstar was a superb stretch, the transitions between these three songs were absolutely sublime, easily the best in the competition so far. You did a fucking stellar job, these each sounded so good back to back. How fucking good is Daydreaming, my god.

Loved the inclusion of a Sprinter track.

I'm not sure on Big Thief yet. This track did pique my interest, but I don't think quite enough for me to give them a proper chance. I was meant to see them live on the weekend, I'd have loved that. I really liked The Last of Us. Opeth, no thanks.

We then come to Porridge Radio, which might be my favourite new discovery of this competition so far. What a fucking great song. Will definitely be checking them out more. The transition into Decemberists was really rough, and this song felt like them trying to recapture their past but not doing it very well. A smart transition into REM, and that song worked so well into ASOH.

My favourite section of your playlist was Jenny Lewis onwards. Largely all songs I didn't know and they were all good, and all seemed to hang together really strongly and set a great mood, which I felt was a bit lacking from the rest of your playlist.

Overall, great job, I think I could have done with some deeper cuts from the artists I know well, and whilst I quite liked every part of it, there were several stretches that passed me by without really capturing my attention. But when it did, I was loving it. Some terrific song pairings too.

 

[Joey788]

Thanks Cobbler! I appreciate your thoughts and am glad to hear you made some discoveries.

Joey, your list was great! To be expected. I have to say, overall, my favourite parts of it were artists that I'm not familiar with, which was surprising to me. The first track I really loved was Timefighter by Lucy Dacus, and I also dug Mellotron Scratch quite a bit.

That entire album by Lucy Dacus, Historian, is fantastic. Her, Julien Baker, and Phoebe Bridgers are three of my favorite newish indie folk artists. And yes, I was absolutely thrilled when they collaborated together. Their concert as boygenius is one of my favs in recent years.

All Mirrors > Daydreaming > Blackstar was a superb stretch, the transitions between these three songs were absolutely sublime, easily the best in the competition so far. You did a fucking stellar job, these each sounded so good back to back. How fucking good is Daydreaming, my god.

One of my favorite stretches on this playlist too.

I'm not sure on Big Thief yet. This track did pique my interest, but I don't think quite enough for me to give them a proper chance. I was meant to see them live on the weekend, I'd have loved that. I really liked The Last of Us. Opeth, no thanks.

Big Thief put on a great live show. It's all about a subtle intensity as well as the camaraderie between the band members. They're such a tight-knit unit. Glad to hear you like The Last of Us too - I've been getting more film and video game scores on vinyl and that is probably my favorite I own so far.

We then come to Porridge Radio, which might be my favourite new discovery of this competition so far. What a fucking great song. Will definitely be checking them out more. The transition into Decemberists was really rough, and this song felt like them trying to recapture their past but not doing it very well. A smart transition into REM, and that song worked so well into ASOH.

Lilac might be my top song of the year so far - though that whole album is great. I was aiming for The Decemberists track to be the calm after the storm, but I owe their more recent stuff has been a mixed-bag for many. This track was probably one of only a few that stuck with me on their last record.

Overall, great job, I think I could have done with some deeper cuts from the artists I know well, and whilst I quite liked every part of it, there were several stretches that passed me by without really capturing my attention. But when it did, I was loving it. Some terrific song pairings too.

Thanks again for your take. With this list, as I was aiming for more songs that impacted me or that I had strong memories associated with, I knew it would have familiar stretches for people here. But I'm glad to hear that there's some fresh artists on there as well. I actually started working on another playlist that avoids using any of my regular artists (like U2, The National, St. Vincent, Bowie) and focuses on lesser-known works. If we ever do another one of these, I'd hope to have that one set to share!

I've also listened to your great playlist and aim to share my thoughts tomorrow!

 

[cobl04]

Hell yeah!! Excited to hear your thoughts man

And yeah, totally get that. I don't think there's anything wrong with submitting playlists that we've largely made for ourselves. After all, that's really what playlists are all about. And now you'll have that playlist for life!

 

[Axver]

I'm sure you know she's CC's bassist? And fair enough. I like the song and think it sounds different enough, I think it has more of an indie emo vibe to it than CC's stuff, but there's no doubt it's not super polished or well-developed yet.

Yeah, that's why I made the comment - I was hoping she'd branch out further from what Camp Cope do. But it sounded like she could've contributed it to their albums and it wouldn't sound too out of place.

You should definitely watch the video for Delegate - not sure if you picked up on it but the song is a heart-wrenching, savage take on how we treat refugees. Bridie was also frontman of two older Aussie bands that you may have heard of? My Friend The Chocolate Cake and Not Drowning, Waving. But he's really not well-known. I only heard Delegate on Triple R.

Ahhh I recognise those band names. Definitely heard a few songs by MFTCC but can't think of how they go now. Will have to investigate.

I've not listened to her latest record yet, I think because your view has spooked me!

Give it a go but don't expect big things. I'm curious what you make of it. Maybe I'm being too harsh - but the iso tunes she's released are more of the same. I'm really bummed.

Ha! I had that same reticence too. I don't really know them, but I heard this track because it came like third in the Hottest 100 of the decade, which you obviously didn't listen to a rare example of a good song in that list.

I didn't even know that Hottest 100 of the decade was happening until on the day when it was almost finished.

I had a big grin on my face reading this! Definitely didn't expect it - I don't think I was even aware you had even the slightest affinity for electronic music. I genuinely thought you'd hate it, but it does make sense you enjoyed it given the way in which you prefer to listen to music.

I would've thought some of the synth-driven stuff on my own list might've been some indication! I haven't so much looked into the subgenres represented in your list, but perhaps it's time to do so.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

LJT:

I have to commend you for developing such a consistent vibe with this mix. It felt you really locked into a specific feeling here, and it seems to be exploring the darker side of isolation? And a literal funeral procession is certainly a strong way of introducing that feeling!
DLZ will forever make me think of that awesome moment in Breaking Bad, and that's a good thing.
Followed by a later Leonard Cohen track, and I haven't listened to this or much of his more recent stuff. It's so good.
The Fontaines DC track is excellent. I'd never even heard of them. The vocals remind me of the lead singer from Frightened Rabbit (god that was such a sad thing) even though one is Irish and one is Scottish.
My ears perked up during the Screaming Females track because of the lyric "What if all these fantasies come rushing in?"...That is just so similar to the lyric from R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" and I feel like it's gotta be an intentional reference.
This Grumbling Fur track is about BLADE RUNNER! That's fucking cool with me.
Love the FKA Twigs track. Should listen to one of her albums in full.
Love the Fever Ray track.
This hip hop track near the end is a good change of pace.
And I love the glitchy percussion on this Burial track. Should probably check them out more, too. And the last song on the list is a fun left turn.

Good shit.

 

[iron yuppie]

Cobbler part 1: This one had a distinctive 90s vibe to me, with prominent strummed acoustic guitars and the kind of alt-rock vocals that were all over that decade (in the US at least). The Something for Kate track especially stood out in that regard, and when I checked the year I wasn't surprised it was from 2001.

The transitioning between Ali Barter, The Drones, and Nick Cave was exceptional - especially between the first two. And then Higgs Boson Blues is a beast in any context and at any time. Just an incredible song in so many ways, and one of Cave's best impressionistic lyrical efforts.

The Kev Carmody track was so reminiscent of Dylan's Nashville Skyline that the similarities must have been intentional. The vocal in particular is a dead ringer for Dylan in that era.

It was good to hear some of these artists you have been promoting for years, like Camp Cope and Gang of Youths, strung together like this. I'll listen to the second part tonight or tomorrow.

 

[bono_212]

I'll be back to respond to things later, but for now, I'm starting your list, LJT and I'm VERY excited for it. I'm also already really glad that you have Austra on here. I forgot all about that track! It's one of my favorites.

 

[Jerry Dunk]

Going to start on these now. Should have a review on at least one list tomorrow.

 

[Joey788]

Cobbler:

- I immensely enjoyed the first half of your playlist, with Australian artists I’m unfamiliar with. There was plenty to love here. The electronic segment was more a mixed-bag for me. Some tunes worked while others dragged on or left me cold. But I liked more than I disliked, and the flow was strong.
- “I’ve Got You” made for a nice, understated opener. Those lyrics hit hard. I need to give that Camp Cope record another listen. I think I like their ballad side more than their rock side – I especially enjoyed Georgia Maq’s recent solo record.
- Kelso wins just based on that album title – I audibly laughed when I read it. I liked the gradual addition of elements for this song, especially the touches of brass. Jen Choler had the same type of low-key but entrancing quality – where the song gradually draws you in.
- At first, David Bridie’s voice turned me off, but the music around it was strong enough that I was able to deal with it. Still don’t like his singing but it fits well for the song.
- “The Captain” is excellent. It’s a shame to hear from Axver that her more recent work isn’t at the same level. I’m still gonna give this album a listen though.
- Maybe I’m wrong but I feel like Push the Sky Away is by far the most used Nick Cave album in our DI playlists over the years, mine included! Easy to see why – it’s a brilliant record with songs that fit such a wide variety of themes.
- Gang of Youths is just an awesome band. They put on a hell of a show too.
- I like the Kev Carmody song, but I think it would’ve been better if it was a minute or two shorter. Plus, the only rough transition in your playlist was from this into "Ngurra" – it was a jarring musical shift.
- Like I said, the electronic section was hit-or-miss for me. Against All Logic and LCD Soundsystem were a fantastic combo. Mr. Fingers and Bonobo for good follow-ups. But Pachanga Boys just lost me with its length. If a song’s going to be 15 minutes long, it needs to evolve more than this track did for me.
- “I Am Citizen Insane” basically sounds like a Thom Yorke solo track, which don’t usually interest me outside of The Eraser album. But it worked well here and segued perfectly into “Sleep Well Beast,” an underrated National closer.
- Mount Kimbie had a great, weird groove that I enjoyed, and it fit nicely next to the more upbeat 808 State tune.
- Black Thought and DJ Koze were alright, but I felt they were a weak closing combo. I think the Radiohead/National songs would’ve fit better at the end.
- All together though, lots of wonderful discoveries in the first half and a more uneven second half for me – though its highs were superb. I very much enjoyed listening to your playlist! Australia’s music scene has absolutely been killing it over the last decade.

 

[LemonMelon]

I haven't been posting in this thread much, but rest assured that I have heard Joey and Ashley's lists and will provide commentary soon.

 

[the tourist]

I’m on vacation and primarily only listen to music while I’m working so it’ll probably be another week before I can listen to these. What’s the ideal date we should have our rankings in?

 

[LemonMelon]

Judging by the slower pace we're experiencing in this thread, I figured it would make sense to bring that question up in about a week. 2 weeks from now for rankings would be nice, but I can extend the deadline as needed.

 

[LuckyNumber7]

I know I’m moving at snail pace but for my data plans, can we ensure that I get the data up before submissions are due? I’m liking the idea of people getting to (if they want) visually inspect differences between lists.

Which I hope will be successful.

For the record on comments I’m behind but on listening I’m almost done. But I intend to provide feedback.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

cobbler's list:

Man, I've heard almost all the lists now and the first half of this one (the Australian section that leans more toward acoustic/singer-songwriter stuff) is one of my very favorite sections of this entire Desert Island. Really love this.
The Camp Cope song might be my favorite discovery of the DI. I'll be returning to this song. I love this kind of storytelling and confessional lyric. Very sad, seems like she's singing to her dying father?
I like the next two tracks a lot, too, and they fit very well. I notice that the Kelso album is called Always a Godfather, Never a God, which is the title of a Gilmore Girls episode from like 15 years ago. I wonder if that's where they got it.
Ali Barter sounds hot. I want to go out with her.
The Drones and Nick Cave also fit together well. In fact, the singer of the Drones definitely sounds like Cave.
Stella Donnelly is great, I found out about her a couple years ago somehow. It might have been through Twitter, actually. I can't remember. I'd also like to make it with her.
Gang of Youths rock. I had only heard Go Farther in Lightness so this was nice to hear. For a younger band I'm surprised they haven't put out an album in three years. Do they have another album coming out anytime soon?
Holy crap, this Kev Carmody song is a complete Dylan ripoff! Wow. Specifically, it steals the vocal melody from "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." I still enjoyed it, though.
Now, the second half of the list I did not enjoy as much. But that's ok, I didn't hate it or anything. I just don't have as much to say about it. I will say, though, as you know Radiohead and the National are two of my favorite bands of all-time and you definitely picked some unexpected songs from them. So that's cool you went with some curveballs. I just don't really like either of those songs that much ha. I've heard Citizen Insane probably half a dozen times in my life and couldn't tell you anything about it. It's just not memorable to me.
But the first half of the list! And that Camp Cope track! Killer.

Good shit.

 

[LemonMelon]

I'll say more when I do commentaries for all of group 3, but I felt the exact opposite about Cobbler's list as GAF did. [emoji38] I've been really into house music the past few years, so the second half of the list was a treat for me. Absolutely loved it and found some great new tracks. The chill Aussie indie stuff was mostly in one ear and out the other for me outside of the queen Stella Donnelly and the always great Rolling Blackouts CF.

Still need to listen to LJT and iYup's lists.

 

[cobl04]

Cobbler part 1: This one had a distinctive 90s vibe to me, with prominent strummed acoustic guitars and the kind of alt-rock vocals that were all over that decade (in the US at least). The Something for Kate track especially stood out in that regard, and when I checked the year I wasn't surprised it was from 2001.

Ha - I hadn't thought of that, but it's a good call. Camp Cope's frontwoman is a huge Pavement fan (her social media handle is goldsoundz) and I see it now. I'm glad people are enjoying the SFK track. A band that I think deserves more love than they've always had outside of their small but very passionate fanbase.

The transitioning between Ali Barter, The Drones, and Nick Cave was exceptional - especially between the first two. And then Higgs Boson Blues is a beast in any context and at any time. Just an incredible song in so many ways, and one of Cave's best impressionistic lyrical efforts.

Thank you! this section took a lot of tweaking and I was really happy with how it ended up. I toyed with using the KXRP or whatever it is live version of Higgs Boson Blues, because everyone's so familiar with the song, but there was audience noise at the end that would have fucked with the flow.

The Kev Carmody track was so reminiscent of Dylan's Nashville Skyline that the similarities must have been intentional. The vocal in particular is a dead ringer for Dylan in that era.

I've not heard of this. Any song in particular I should check out? And yes, Paul Kelly (who recorded the original and more well-known version of this song) owes a debt to Bob Dylan. I'd say he is the closest we have to Dylan.

Cobbler:

- I immensely enjoyed the first half of your playlist, with Australian artists I’m unfamiliar with. There was plenty to love here. The electronic segment was more a mixed-bag for me. Some tunes worked while others dragged on or left me cold. But I liked more than I disliked, and the flow was strong.
- “I’ve Got You” made for a nice, understated opener. Those lyrics hit hard. I need to give that Camp Cope record another listen. I think I like their ballad side more than their rock side – I especially enjoyed Georgia Maq’s recent solo record.
- Kelso wins just based on that album title – I audibly laughed when I read it. I liked the gradual addition of elements for this song, especially the touches of brass. Jen Choler had the same type of low-key but entrancing quality – where the song gradually draws you in.
- At first, David Bridie’s voice turned me off, but the music around it was strong enough that I was able to deal with it. Still don’t like his singing but it fits well for the song.
- “The Captain” is excellent. It’s a shame to hear from Axver that her more recent work isn’t at the same level. I’m still gonna give this album a listen though.
- Maybe I’m wrong but I feel like Push the Sky Away is by far the most used Nick Cave album in our DI playlists over the years, mine included! Easy to see why – it’s a brilliant record with songs that fit such a wide variety of themes.
- Gang of Youths is just an awesome band. They put on a hell of a show too.
- I like the Kev Carmody song, but I think it would’ve been better if it was a minute or two shorter. Plus, the only rough transition in your playlist was from this into "Ngurra" – it was a jarring musical shift.
- Like I said, the electronic section was hit-or-miss for me. Against All Logic and LCD Soundsystem were a fantastic combo. Mr. Fingers and Bonobo for good follow-ups. But Pachanga Boys just lost me with its length. If a song’s going to be 15 minutes long, it needs to evolve more than this track did for me.
- “I Am Citizen Insane” basically sounds like a Thom Yorke solo track, which don’t usually interest me outside of The Eraser album. But it worked well here and segued perfectly into “Sleep Well Beast,” an underrated National closer.
- Mount Kimbie had a great, weird groove that I enjoyed, and it fit nicely next to the more upbeat 808 State tune.
- Black Thought and DJ Koze were alright, but I felt they were a weak closing combo. I think the Radiohead/National songs would’ve fit better at the end.
- All together though, lots of wonderful discoveries in the first half and a more uneven second half for me – though its highs were superb. I very much enjoyed listening to your playlist! Australia’s music scene has absolutely been killing it over the last decade.

Thanks heaps for your thoughts man, really appreciate them! I too like the instrumental flourishes in the Kelso track, it's my favourite part about it, and elevates the song significantly. I am glad people are enjoying the first half.

Fair enough on the second half, I knew it would be divisive and I knew people would struggle once they got to Pachanga Boys, but I genuinely fucking love that music so much, so I didn't want to compromise on it (if you've got some MDMA or ecstasy handy, try taking that and then re-listening )

 

[cobl04]

The transitions around From Little Things Big Things Grow are definitely a little jarring, but I'm really proud of this section; it starts with Native Tongue. Gang of Youths are a multicultural band, Dave Le'aupepe has Samoan and Jewish background, the keyboardist is Korean-American, the drummer has Polish background and Joji, the lead guitarist who has very sadly recently departed the band, is Fijian. Dave has spoken extensively about how he felt like an outsider growing up thanks to his heritage, and that he first found belonging in church schools playing music with Joji and the like. Native Tongue speaks to that, I think. And then the next three songs are all by First Nations artists; From Little Things tells the story of one of the biggest battles Aboriginal people have faced since Federation, trying to reclaim their stolen land. That then leads into Kardajala Kirridarra, a new all-female group with members from across Northern Territory, they put out a debut EP/album a couple years ago which blends English with Mudburra language. And then finally, Yothu Yindi are an iconic Australian collective of First Nations artists and white Australians, no longer active because some of their members have died. So that section feels quite important to me, and I'm proud of how I put it together. Just thought I'd provide this further context for non-Aussies here who might know about it.

 

[cobl04]

cobbler's list:

Man, I've heard almost all the lists now and the first half of this one (the Australian section that leans more toward acoustic/singer-songwriter stuff) is one of my very favorite sections of this entire Desert Island. Really love this.
The Camp Cope song might be my favorite discovery of the DI. I'll be returning to this song. I love this kind of storytelling and confessional lyric. Very sad, seems like she's singing to her dying father?
I like the next two tracks a lot, too, and they fit very well. I notice that the Kelso album is called Always a Godfather, Never a God, which is the title of a Gilmore Girls episode from like 15 years ago. I wonder if that's where they got it.

Woah, thank you man really appreciate the kind words! So glad you enjoyed it. I really think you'll like Camp Cope, for a few reasons:

• Their sound is right up your alley
• Their drummer often wears t-shirts with metal bands' names on them
• They have a song called "Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams" and another called "Lost (Season One)
• They often open their concerts with a snippet of Green Day's "Warning"
• The last time I saw them live was in a tiny Melbourne inner suburban lawn bowls club, and the bassist (who is Kelso!) had been a bottomless brunch all morning and was fucking smashed. It was an absolute riot.
• And uh they're hot. I hate to get all GAF here, and this kind of goes against everything they stand for, but they are. But I think they're aware of it too. But it's definitely bottom of the list of reasons why I like them.

Check out this, if you don't already know it (pretty big), you'll love it. Great 90s alt rock sound with a searing, visceral message.

Ali Barter sounds hot. I want to go out with her.
The Drones and Nick Cave also fit together well. In fact, the singer of the Drones definitely sounds like Cave.
Stella Donnelly is great, I found out about her a couple years ago somehow. It might have been through Twitter, actually. I can't remember. I'd also like to make it with her.

Yep The Drones definitely take a little from NC. He's in a new band at the moment, with his wife and some others, called Tropical Fuck Storm. They're also great. And yes, Stella & Ali are both hot, and most importantly they also both make good music.

Gang of Youths rock. I had only heard Go Farther in Lightness so this was nice to hear. For a younger band I'm surprised they haven't put out an album in three years. Do they have another album coming out anytime soon?

I don't think we'll get anything anytime soon. GFIL really fucking took off and put them in the stratosphere, so I think they took advantage of it to tour heaps and make a name for themselves overseas. They're working on new stuff, I'm pretty sure, but I think it will be a little while before we get something new, particularly with Joji leaving the band. It kinda feels like their 85-86 U2 period right now.

Holy crap, this Kev Carmody song is a complete Dylan ripoff! Wow. Specifically, it steals the vocal melody from "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." I still enjoyed it, though.

I can see that, but the story in the song is definitely significant.
[/QUOTE]

I'll say more when I do commentaries for all of group 3, but I felt the exact opposite about Cobbler's list as GAF did. [emoji38] I've been really into house music the past few years, so the second half of the list was a treat for me. Absolutely loved it and found some great new tracks. The chill Aussie indie stuff was mostly in one ear and out the other for me outside of the queen Stella Donnelly and the always great Rolling Blackouts CF.

Still need to listen to LJT and iYup's lists.

Very much looking forward to your deeper commentary, I'd be a bit annoyed if this was it but I'm really glad at least one person enjoyed the second half more!

 

[iron yuppie]

I've not heard of this. Any song in particular I should check out? And yes, Paul Kelly (who recorded the original and more well-known version of this song) owes a debt to Bob Dylan. I'd say he is the closest we have to Dylan.

The vocals immediately reminded me of Lay Lady Lay.

 

[iron yuppie]

Cobbler part 2: This was a blast for me. I'm a huge fan of this type of electronica without being terribly knowledgeable about it, so there was a lot for me to discover and appreciate here. I've already noted how much i like that LCD Soundsystem track, and it worked especially well here as a dark precursor to some of the brighter stuff (instrumentally, at least) that followed.

The thing I really want to look into more is the Rufus du Sol album; the moment about half-way through where the huge synth line comes in is one of my favorite moments of this DI. I loved the transition between Terazzo and the Mount Kimbie track - the dissonance was a nice touch in throwing some textural variety into the mix. My transition out of Terazzo is a lot different; will be curious to see what you think of it. Anyway, this was a treat for me. Great work.

 

[bono_212]

The experience of listening to LJT's list while I walked around outside / went grocery shopping in this current environment was the best kind of surreal. Really made the list something else.

Also, the list had some major highlights for me, like:


1. Félix Blume - "Funeral Procession “AMI FIDÈLE ET TENDRE” - Death in Haiti: Funeral Brass bands and Sounds from Port Au Prince (2:47)
2. Obongjayar - "Dreaming in Transit" – Which Way is Forward (4:09)
3. TV On the Radio – "DLZ" – Dear Science (3:49)
4. Leonard Cohen - "You Want It Darker" – You Want it Darker (4:44)

Listened to this section while I was walking to 7-Eleven. Starting with the music that forms the base for one of my favorite hymns was this nice sense of familiar that was also melancholy knowing the song itself is a funeral march. The lyrics I know to the hymn are far more positive ("What a Friend We Have in Jesus"), so that struck a certain mood. I got to the store right as "DLZ" started. Walking around in there with that cacophony playing in my head, seeing the few other people in masks, everyone avoiding each other...well the song's pretty much completely different to me from here on out. And with that mood firmly in mind, I walked back home to the Leonard Cohen track and I mean, by that point, I was glad that this was a relatively short trip outside, haha.

Then work prevented me finishing the rest of the list until the next day:

5. Susanna - "Death and the Miser" – Garden of Earthly Delights (4:13)
6. TORRES - "Good Grief" – Silver Tongue (5:03)
7. Fontaines D.C. - "The Lotts" – Dogrel (4:57)
8. Screaming Females – "Hopeless" – Rose Mountain (2:43)
9. This Is the Kit – "Spinney" – Wriggle Out the Restless (2:49)
10. A Hawk and A Hacksaw - "The Way the Wind Blows" – The Way the Wind Blows (4:18)
11. Frankie Rose - "The Fall" – Interstellar (3:27)
12. Wild Beasts - "Loop the Loop" – Smother (4:07)
13. Grumbling Fur - "The Ballad of Roy Batty" – Glynnaestra (3:39)
14. FKA twigs - "Two Weeks" – LP1 (4:08)
15. Agnes Obel - "Island of Doom" – Island of Doom (5:29)

All of this I was listening to while grocery shopping at 1 A.M. last night. Same sense of emptiness and melancholy, but a lot calmer as well, which fit the somber mood I was in, feeling just a little empty with NO ONE really in the store besides the employees. A couple of these songs were already favorites of mine, but I don't remember that Wild Beasts or FKA twigs song, they were both fantastic. I need to spend more time with both of them. For Grumbling Fur's song, I was waiting for it, and had it in my head that if someone was going to do a song about one of my film characters, it better damn well be good. And it was. GREAT inclusion for this list and glad to now know it.

16. Fever Ray - "Keep the Streets Empty for Me" – Fever Ray (5:37)
17. Austra - "I Love You More Than You Love Yourself" – Future Politics (4:59)

These two accompanied me on my way home/carrying in the groceries. Driving home to Fever Ray with the streets, indeed, empty it's like, "Of course, it was almost 2 AM" but really, it just feels different. Already mentioned that Austra track was among, if not my favorite song of the year it was released.

18. Another Sky - "The Cracks" – The Cracks (3:47)
19. Everything Everything - "No Reptiles" – Get to Heaven (4:43)
20. Brandt Brauer Frick - "Broken Pieces feat. Jamie Lidell" – Miami (4:26)
21. Nujabes - "Feather (feat. Cise Starr & Akin from CYNE)" – Modal Soul (2:55)
22. Lantlôs - "Melting Sun I: Azure Chimes" – Melting Sun (7:11)
23. Zola Jesus – "Exhumed" – Okovi (3:45)
24. Burial – "Archangel" – Untrue (4:00)
25. The Black Twig Pickers - "I Can't Stay Here by Myself" – Rough Carpenters (4:34)

Listened to the rest of the list at home while I was doing a logic problem on my favorite quiz site. I was glad to be home, by this point, hah. All of this flowed wonderfully and I wish I hadn't been so absorbed in the puzzle so I could tell you which song it was that I fell in absolute love with. I need to go figure out which one it was, but I started writing this after I turned on an album, so I'll come back and update.

The closer is just about perfect for what you were doing with this list.

Overall, just a really great playlist. Great flow, really fit the theme. I didn't know a LOT of the songs, but they were all very enjoyable, and a lot of songs I just didn't remember.

Thanks so much!

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

iyup's list:

I've read that Thom Yorke is a fan of Low, and I can definitely hear the connection on this track. It really reminds me of Radiohead. That sort of crackling, hissing production effect reminds me of "Videotape".
A lot of the songs in the first section of this list didn't totally move me, but I think they work for what you described (a mood washing over you as you're resting). I'm talking specifically about the tracks by Oliver Coates, Slowdive, Visible Cloaks...they're definitely not my style but I don't actively dislike hearing them (they may just be a bit repetitive for me...I might have a bad attention span). But there were highlights in that section.
I dig the beat that comes in the latter half of the Skee Mask track.
And the Satsuki Shibano track I enjoyed more than a lot of what surrounded it.
The John Talabot song is where things picked up for me, and I started liking the list a lot more. Not only because of the structure and vocals (although that helps) but it was more upbeat and dancey.
Then I think the Ibeyi track is killer, definitely my favorite song so far.
I've known of Fela Kuti for so many years but I think this is the first full track of his I've actually heard! It's cool as hell. I was cooking while listening to this one and I think it makes a good dinner prep companion. I'll have to listen to more of his stuff.
Followed by "The Phantom" which is also great. It sounds like it could soundtrack a '60s James Bond movie, where Bond is sneaking around some crowded club in Jamaica or the Bahamas.
The start of the Yusef Lateef track sounds exactly like the start of "My Girl" by the Temptations! I almost started singing "I got sunshiiiiiine on a cloudy day..." But this track is also good. I've enjoyed this jazz section of the list a lot.
After that you lost me for a little bit again until the Bjork track. But that's ok. "Unravel" is one of the first Bjork tracks I loved, and it's still a favorite.
The Perfume Genius track is great. Damn, I love his vocals here.
And you close with a strong Bowie track that I had somehow never heard before, and I think Lazarus closed his list with a relatively obscure Bowie track, too. I liked both closers. Bowie is the man.

Overall, I found a lot to like in this mix, even though there are 8 or 9 tracks that are basically the complete opposite of what I generally look for in music.

Good shit.

I have now listened to every DESERT ISLAND playlist. You all are cool.