Peef
Okies, time for peef commentary.
I'll start by saying I am a big fan of giving your playlist a theme that's challenging to mesh, but manages to get really exploratory. We are one big American culture, but you'll find all sorts of different subcultures from the Appalachians to Brooklyn and out to the other shining sea. So I appreciate the opportunity to explore something that I'm probably not familiar with. I had the opportunity to go (aside from for a concert) to Philadelphia for the first time in January. Long story short, it was a devastating date. Not relevant. I like Philadelphia.
1. Marian Anderson – “O What a Beautiful City!” – The Very Best Of
So admittedly not exactly my type of music, though this did get me to read up on Marian Anderson. Sounds like a real human rights' hero, and arguably one of the earlier modern examples of musicians using their platform for change.
2. Vacationer – “Paradise Waiting” – Relief
Good transition using that gramophonic sound to go from old to new. Vacationer is great - I've managed to see them three times as an opener (The Naked and Famous is the only band I recall, but I do remember me and my friend Jason commenting on how we have seen them 3 times together). Haven't listened to them in a hot minute, will have to see what's new.
3. Meek Mill – “Dreams and Nightmares” – Dreams and Nightmares
Never actually listened to Meek Mill, just know who he is in the context of the political realm. Can we call this "atmospheric rap"??? I'm liking the "dream and nightmare" sound that pairs with the title. There are still a few cliche rap elements in the sound that I'm not a fan of, but in general it's a refreshing rap song.
4. Lil Uzi Vert – “P2” – Eternal Atake
Deffo not my thing, sort of checks the list for a handful of things in poppy hip hop that I don't like (autotune, cliche loops etc.).
5. Rome Fortune feat. Toro y Moi – “Hoodrich Disco” – Toro Y Rome Vol. 1
Toro y Moi is great. The flow here is great, too. I was running during the first listen through here, and it was definitely energizing, swingin my head as I trot down the trail.
6. The Roots – “Thought @ Work” – Phrenology
Slick transition . The Roots are legends, and not just because they've basically become synonymous with Fallon. Illadelph Halflife is one of my favorite album names haha. I'm a fan of how they've managed to take big band and rap and mesh it into one. It's certainly unique to my ears.
7. Beanie Sigel feat. Freeway and Young Chris – “I Can’t Go on This Way” – The B.Coming
I like the sampling here. Or do we call that sampling, is it just a single recording for this record pasted in there repeatedly... not sure. But it's nice, tactfully done. Given my general ignorance with hip hop music, I am feeling as though this is Philadelphia, but I'm curious as to whether or not this is actually just Peef's style that exists outside of Philadelphia, too. But I'm catching the vibe by now.
8. Todd Rundgren – “Wolfman Jack” – Something/Anything?
I don't know why, but the gentleman's delivery here has me thinking Daft Punk is playing in my house, my house. Very much so an interesting groovy rock-meets-r&b thing going on here, channeling the same thought of "is this Philadelphia, or is this Peef?" thoughts that came from #7.
9. Sheer Mag – “Need to Feel Your Love” – Need to Feel Your Love
First impression here is the style in which the audio was recorded for the vocal tracks. Whatever you call that. I like it. The strings come out clean, but the vocals are layered and really leaves me with two separate focuses (in a good way). I can't pin what genre this artist might otherwise mostly align with, but it's a departure from a general sound I've been vibing with through the playlist. It's probably a good time to do that for me personally, because while I think you've put things together very class so far, I've been waiting for some sounds I crave...
10. Beach Slang – “Bad Art & Weirdo Ideas” – The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel Like Us
... and here I found the sounds I crave. I'm a big fan of this song, my favorite so far. Yearning indie/punk rock. Reminds me of a dialed back Japandroids, and when they hit the verse I can't tell who that reminds me of. But it's familiar. OH. WE ARE, VERY BUSY PEOPLE. Sorry if that ruined this song for you.
11. Cayetana – “Dirty Laundry” – Nervous Like Me
Fuck that was a hot transition. And you're on a roll now and you've got my attention. Keep killin it peefsky. Buried deep in this song is just the cutest synth, probably dead last on the audio gain but it's giving the song pizzazz with all of its clash.
12. The Wonder Years – “Came Out Swinging” – Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing
Ah, The Wonder Years. Proper pop punk. What to say, other than "good"?
13. Circa Survive – “The Difference between Medicine and Poison Is in the Dose” – On Letting Go
I never knew how to feel about Circa Survive. Reminds me so much of Coheed and Cambria. The guy's voice is just piercing, in an unpleasant way. It detracts from otherwise potentially attractive sounds. Especially in this song.
14. Balance and Composure – “Is It So Much to Adore?” – Light We Made
There's potential here for me to bite the bait. Maybe just need to hear them let loose a little more.
15. Waxahatchee – “Hear You” – Out in the Storm
Hearing a name like Waxahatechee makes me think of my home state, not yours! Doesn't help that "Saint Cloud" comes up in the google search, we are in the south my man! Sure enough Alabama came up though, not Florida. Anyways, I'm sure there's something Philly there. I like her voice, and I like the grumbling distortion on the guitar. Mostly her delivery though.
16. Modern Baseball – “Revenge of the Nameless Ranger” – MOBO Presents: The Perfect Cast EP
Modern Baseball! I know them! You chose a rather mellowed track. You also seem to be a fan of the progressive bits here and there. But cheers to over-analyzing what it is you do wrong in relationships - or so I think that's what's being spoken to here.
17. Ween – “Freedom of ‘76” – Chocolate & Cheese
Hmm pass. Couldn't get into this one at all.
18. Daryl Hall & John Oates – “When the Morning Comes” – Abandoned Luncheonette
Hall & Oates are fantastic. Everything they've made is gold. Probably said it to Dave, but I feel like it's always impressive to hear them and then put it in the context of when that sound was made, seems ahead of its time.
19. Dr. Dog – “Shadow People” – Shame, Shame
Putting Hall & Oates next to Dr. Dog made Dr. Dog sound different. Haven't listened to enough Dr. Dog, and I think this is a good sign to give em another go. Not heard this one, but after listening a couple of times I feel like this is quintessential Peefadelphia in terms of the narrative. Call me crazy if I'm wrong.
20. Tim Heidecker – “Work from Home” – In Glendale
Uh Tim as in Tim & Eric? This song seems too serious for that guy. His show is not awesome, for the record. Though this song isn't bad. Boring by design? Well delivered. How is this guy serious here? How can we take him seriously?
21. Purling Hiss – “Follow You Around” – High Bias
This reminds me of Kurt Vile
22. Kurt Vile – “Was All Talk” – Wakin on a Pretty Daze
Lol. I saw Kurt Vile once. He's like a boring War On Drugs. I like him, and this song is one of the better ones. My image of Kurt Vile is destroyed by who I saw him with. I feel like Kurt Vile is our generation's Lynyrd Skynyrd. Don't @ me.
23. Japanese Breakfast – “Everybody Wants to Love You” – Psychopomp
Now this is fun. Shame it's only 2 minutes long, because it's full of creativity. I love the callback to the backup vocals, even the guitar solo is classy.
24. Queen of Jeans – “Not a Minute Too Soon” – If You’re Not Afraid, I’m Not Afraid
Smooth transition, but the song gets off to a bit of a slow start. Once that raw bass drum gets bumpin though, it gets interesting.
25. Man Man – “Head On (Hold on to Your Heart)” – On Oni Pond
As I continue to explore Philadelphia music brought to me by Philadelph Fanlife (aka FILA, now known as JD Sports) I begin to wonder, if Dr. Dog is from Philadelphia, and now Man Man is a thing, does that mean Sir Sly is also from Philadelphia? Google says not. Strangely enough, Sir Sly still kind of gets channeled here. A sort of spooky or haunting indie poppy what have you... anyways. Put this song at #2 on my favorite new material from this list. Good stuffs.
26. Beach House – “Myth” – Bloom
Beach House seems to be a popular shout on these here playlists. I can't recall which songs, but I think at this point I can at least say that I think you've incorporated this sound very well. Man Man into this is natural. Settling into another high for me on the list with this stretch.
27. The War on Drugs – “An Ocean In Between the Waves” – Lost in the Dream
I don't care what anyone says about The War On Drugs sounding too same same across their catalog. It's all good same-same stuff. I love it, and this is helping wind the list down here into some chill vibes.
28. Hop Along – “The Fox in Motion” – Bark Your Head Off, Dog
This song could do well if the vocal tracks were cut off. I feel like it's a mismatch of sound, of what other sounds like transitional instrumental music.
29. (Sandy) Alex G – “Hope” – House of Sugar
OK! Sandy, Alex G, confusing artist name round two. I previously commented that I hoped that auto-tune wasn't a thing with Alex G, and it's not, now that I revisit those comments in my mind. This is a nice sound, and what I was hoping for. Reminds me of someone circa 2010...
30. The Districts – “Funeral Beds” – Telephone
Hard part to get to the outro here. The run to the end was good, but this one sort of leaves me wondering if ending on Alex G was a good way to wrap up.
RECAP: It was cool to get to explore this music from the concept of location, which encouraged me to read about the artists a little bit as I wrote up my review. The first third of the playlist was mostly genres that run a little cold with me, though you were able to find at least some of it that was inviting to my ear (and perhaps the general ear). While this benefited you there, I feel like when you got into the more familiar pop punk or punk-inspired music, maybe you were being Bono & The Edge looking for stuff that general audiences might receive better. Though you could actually just prefer that a little more, I don't know.
Generally I think you had less focus on transitions, which was to be expected with the theme put forward, but you did a great job with architecting your list. I had two notable runs with Beach Slang-Modern Baseball and subsequently let's say Japanese Breakfast through Alex G. Calling out those runs was actually harder than I thought, because I simultaneously want to call about 50% of your playlist from Beach Slang through Alex G a good run, but I can also break it up 4 ways if I pick out individual things I couldn't jive with. With that being said, lots of new music to explore here, and I appreciate the unique piece of work that took me up and down broad street. Next time include:
this
IDK why the video wont post starting at the time I want it to, but add &start=148 to your link
and don't put too much pressure on yourself to keep it up. You don't want it to feel like a chore.
