My Late Summer 2016 Playlist

The upside of feeling down: with very little energy to talk to people, I’m taking refuge in some really good music this summer. Here are the songs and albums I’ve been playing a lot this summer, some new, some old, some rediscovered.

Jenny Lewis’ new side project, NAF (that’s Nice As F*ck, which was super fun to explain to the daughter with whom I share an ITunes library when it popped up on her phone as she was working as a camp counselor.) The sweetest sounding riot grrrrl musicians.

Speaking of lady musicians, I thought of this song the other day and downloaded it and I cannot cannot cannot get it out of my head. When I hear this Belly singing “Feed the Tree,” I actually miss the ‘90s and black chunky heels and Twig lipstick from MAC.

Ok, I’m just going to admit that I originally thought the lyrics to this were “I am the captain, you are the cove.” Even though the name of the song is “I Am a Nightmare,” I didn’t quite make the mental leap that maybe that’s what they were singing in the super catchy chorus. Here’s the lyric video for Brand New’s “I Am a Nightmare,” so the mondegreen doesn’t happen to you.

I have been wearing out the virtual grooves on “Ain’t No Man” from the Avett Brothers’ latest release, True Sadness, but I quite like this one too: “Satan Pulls the Strings.” It carries a definite whiff of “Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The devil must like fiddles.

The other day I was eating a tub of Pub Cheese from Trader Joe’s (don’t judge) and I got really mad at my father because he died before I had a chance to tell him about it. He loved cheddar and horseradish – this would have been his JAM. I realized it was ridiculous to be mad at him about pub cheese, but still. That’s why I love “Good Grief” by Bastille: it’s the funny kind of sad. Warning, video is NSFW.

I wrote about my Har Mar Superstar concert experience back in May and, o happy day, he’s announced a show in San Francisco in November. I’ve already gotten my ticket and am strong arming friends left and right to come with me – join us! (Tickets here.) Bet ya he does this solid cover tribute to a fellow Minnesotan. I have GOT to make sure my poncho is back from the dry cleaner before that show.