Here we are. The first installment of the new Pack Rat’s Rat Trap. We’ve got a nice blend here for this weeks playlist. A smattering of flavors both new and old. Because there’s been such a wide break in when I last did the radio show version of this to putting together this digital edition, I’m playing catch-up a little bit with the music I’ve been listening to and enjoying, so these discoveries are from sometime late last year. They’re still good though! The playlist will be linked here at the top for those who want to just jump right in, and my commentary for each track will follow below.
T. Rex - Explosive Mouth
I love T. Rex. I love Marc Bolan. Glam rock is plagued by more misses than hits when it comes to genuine artistry. Which makes sense for a genre that’s main concern is how the artists dress and how much glitter they could fit into their stage shows. Mostly style over substance, the trend came and went pretty fast. But T. Rex transcends. The band tends to lean harder on the “rock” side of glam rock and Bolan’s lyrics always have a poetic simplicity and depth to their imagery make them captivating. This song is off the historically maligned “Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow”, which actually has a lot to enjoy despite it’s reputation! Peep Gloria Jones, who Bolan was dating at the time, on the backup vocals.
Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea
What can be said about Nirvana or Kurt Cobain that hasn’t been said already? Probably not much, so I’ll keep this brief. I had a heavy Nirvana phase from 8th grade going into freshman year of high school, but I tended to skip over “In Utero” in my listening, preferring “Nevermind” at first and then graduating to a healthy obsession with “Bleach” and their “MTV: Unplugged” set. What prompted me to give this album another listen was stumbling onto an online discussion around Cobain’s possible struggles with gender identity. I don’t have the space here to dive in to all the interesting perspectives on this, though maybe I will one day. All I’ll say for now is that reading some of the in-depth explorations of this idea, and the focus on the trans imagery present in a lot of Nirvana’s lyrics opened up a new layer to this record for me. Nirvana is such a given for music fans at this point that it felt very special to be able to find a new perspective on them. The conversation forced me to reconsider all the things I thought I knew about their songs and let them shine again as the truly amazing and personal works of art that they are. On a lighter note, this song is partially about drinking peppermint tea to help with stomach pain, something I do pretty much every day. I feel this song on multiple levels.
Panda Bear - Defense ft. Cindy Lee
I was a huge Animal Collective fan back in the day, so sometimes it’s just nice to see an artist still out there doing stuff. I had just been wondering what those guys have been up to when this dropped. This is the closing track of Panda Bear’s new album “Sinister Grift”, which I really enjoyed. He’s dipping his toes into the rock waters a little more with this one, and the Cindy Lee feature really ties it all together.
MICHELLE - Cathy
I haven’t yet actually dug in to the album this single came off of, but I’ve been frequently playing this track on its own since its release. A modern laid-back R&B inspired tune with some creative lyrics and smooth vocal harmonies; MICHELLE will definitely stay on my radar from now on.
The Cowboys - Now With Feeling
We’re living through an epidemic of modern bands trying to sound like they’re actually from the 70s, which I’m not actually opposed to in theory. In my book, it’s okay to adopt a retro sound if your songwriting justifies it and if you actually have something interesting going on underneath that aesthetic. (Again, talking about substance over style.) A lot of bands attempting to sound “vintage” don’t do so with an actual understanding of music history and what made those older bands songs good. The music then becomes vapid. Painted over in an imitation of style. Not so for The Cowboys, who clearly have the musical knowledge and the songwriting chops to write a throwback inspired tune that doesn’t bore me to tears. It’s a fun song! Catchy and earnest, with a hint of a modern twist.
mui zyu - the mould
I stumbled onto mui zyu’s work by clicking randomly through other people’s recommendations on Bandcamp, and I couldn’t have been happier. I have a soft spot for experimental bedroom pop projects, and mui zyu’s most recent record “nothing or something to die for” checks all my boxes in that category. Personal and intimate, with a healthy splash of absurdist humor. I highly recommend the entire album, as well as the “Cantonese tasting menu” reworking of some of the songs.
Sharon Van Etten - Afterlife
Some of the new singles from Van Etten haven’t quite hit the spot for me, but this one is the exception. Dreamy and gothic in a way that reminds me of leaving a bar alone late at night, or staring out of a taxi window at a rainy city sidewalk. The chorus reminds me of Bruce Springsteen for some reason but I couldn’t really tell you why. I really like the synth line at the end. It’s good! I think Van Etten is in a transitional period right now as an artist, so despite my lukewarm feelings about the “& the Attachment Theory” release in general, I’m excited to see what comes out of it.
Fountains of Wayne - Firelight Waltz
Anyone familiar with me, my musical taste, or the Pack Rat’s Rat Trap radio show probably knows how big of a Fountains of Wayne defender I am. Too long have they been relegated to being “the ‘Stacy’s Mom’ guys”. Their discography has so much to offer any fan of solid songwriting or power pop in general. Adam Schlesinger, bassist and songwriter for the band, passed away in 2020 due to complications from COVID, and ever since I’ve made it my mission to make sure no one forgets just how good of a musician he was. Although it comes from arguably one of their weaker albums, “Firelight Waltz” is a beautiful song, which makes a damn good case for Schlesinger and the rest of the bands talent.
The Mountain Goats - The Legend of Chavo Guerrero
The best part about being a Mountain Goats fan is that with such a consistent output—going from just last year to the 90s when lead singer John Darnielle was recording tracks into a cassette player boombox—their discography is expansive. There’s so much of their music to discover and rediscover, ranging over a variety of themes and styles. This comes off their 2015 wrestling-themed record “Beat the Champ”, which I was a casual fan of at the time of it’s release but have recently found a newfound enthusiasm for. One half retelling of wrestler Chavo Guerrero’s life and career, one half ode to childhood heroes. This song is an inspiring jam that never fails to make me feel ready to jump off the top rope.
Anna McClellan - Endlessly
A simple and raw ballad. Feels like a Sharpie sketch on your jeans of an empty room that used to be your bedroom. McClellan’s cracked and breaking voice perfectly compliments the lyrics of unabashed melancholy. The guitar solo sounds like it’s on the verge of giving up. Something vaguely Daniel Johnston-flavored about the whole affair.
Jay Som - Tenderness
I’ve spent so many years being recommended Jay Som’s “Anak Ko” from a wide variety of places, and finally I got around to listening to it in full. I can’t believe it took me so long. The whole record is a phenomenal dream pop extravaganza. I feel like despite its relative success, I don’t hear this album talked about nearly enough, only popping up in small pockets of the internet where fans of the genre espouse its brilliance. Highly recommend checking this one out in full. Other highlights include the opening “If You Want It”, “Superbike”, and “Nighttime Drive”. This one will be one of my favorite for a while to come.
My Awkward Father - Tell Me When It’s Over
It’s right now! Finishing things up with a track that recalls the power pop of the 90s, I was drawn to the DIY spirit and catchy songwriting that makes up this song. It’s raw and concise, clearly the product of a single person with a passion for music. This comes from a pretty small artist, so be sure to check them out!
And thus concludes this first written installment of Pack Rat’s Rat Trap. I’m still getting used to this format and Substack as a platform in general, so if there’s anything I can do to make things read smoother or if you have suggestions in general, feel free to drop a comment! And let me know what you’re listening to as well. For now, I’ve been your rodent host, I’ll see you next week with another selection of songs.
Keep it locked.
