Haha whoops I forgot to do March until now (the end of April) (the end of May) (whoops) but that’s okay!!! We’re all just doing our best. A lot of cool stuff happened in March I’m pretty sure but I was so busy I forgot to remember most of it.

Also, I’m bring back the random images throughout the post. That was fun. And this playlist is extra-long just for you! As a little treat! Because you’ve been so good! Good job, you!

I watched Pen15 all the way through for the first time during March, and this is the theme song to that show so I’m using it as a backdoor into gushing about how good it is. (The song is also very good because Bikini Kill is very good but that shouldn’t be news to anyone here.)

Pen15 is such a rare combination of laugh-out-loud funny, hide-behind-your-hands uncomfortable, silently-weep beautiful and text-all-your-friends sweet and I really think that everyone should give it a chance and try to watch it. Few shows completely nail that awkward stage of adolescence while also being equally funny and honest about it and it’s a shame that it doesn’t get more praise.

Thin Lizzy rules forever! The best line is when he says he always gets chocolate stains on his pants whenever he goes to the movies. Like Phil, surely at some point you would start to be more careful while snacking? Or maybe just stop getting chocolate.

I’ve realized that “Mona Lisa in a motorcycle gang” is a descriptor I aspire to completely. If I, at even one point in my life, call that to mind for someone I will have done something right.

I’ve been a fanclubwallet fan for 6 years and I’m so glad their output seems to have become a little steadier. Last years album was stellar, and now we have this sugary sweet single to tide us over! I think Hannah and Co. have one of the most unique voices in the indie pop rock space right now so I just can’t wait to see what they do next.

I hadn’t listened to a King Krule song in probably close to a decade, since I was obsessed with his other record The Ooz. I remember I had tried out 6 Ft. Beneath the Moon at the time as well but it didn’t stick at all. Then I saw a guitar tutorial for this track on YouTube and was like “Oh shit, this rips.” Totally on board now. This is just what it feels like to be out getting ribs.

This is one of those songs that I never knew the name of but would hear all the time. It’s fun getting recommended a band, putting on their big hit, and finding that you already know almost every word. Really fun jangle pop tune that makes me feel like I’m in a feel-good indie comedy.

There’s a different recording of this song out there, but I like this one a little better because it sounds worse overall. It really makes the clip of someone telling the band they suck at the beginning feel much more earnest.

I’ve been recommending everyone I know check out this record, CREAM, which is a collection of jazz reinterpretations of classic hip-hop tracks. I became obsessed with what this album and the musicians on it are doing and I really think it’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of either genre. Doing a jazz reimagining of a Tribe song is something of a home court game, but the places they take the tune are still impressive and electric. There’s something truly poetic about taking songs that sample jazz songs, filtering them through the hip-hop lens, and then transposing it back into the world of jazz.

This song easily goes in my top three for March. I can’t believe I had never heard it before now. The lyrics are so fun and the instrumental is beautiful. I spent many afternoons walking around reciting “Hannah takes the stairs, but I usually take the elevator. Every now and then she offers me a lemon Now and Later.” It’s quirky indie pop at its finest in my opinion.

Initially I didn’t really care for Djo’s recent album The Crux. But then, like six months after hearing it, the bridge for this song wouldn’t get out of my head and I had to go back and give it another chance. It’s actually pretty good! Some of the influences are worn a little too on the sleeve for me still, but it has some very solid, fun writing on it that brings me back around. Anything’s better than that Stranger Things finale, amiright? 🥴

We did it folks. We have here a real life, respected musical artist covering an AI pop song. For a while the original song was my one AI guilty pleasure, but I often said that I wished an actual band would do a cover and just pretend it was their own original song. (No honor among thieves.) And lo and behold, several years later, my wish was granted! And by an artist I already liked! Anyway: the songs a banger, AI sucks, Georgia Maq rules, give me some money.

Shoutout David Byrne for putting me on to Tom Zé and now allowing me to y’all on. Trust me on this, you need some experimental Brazilian folk in your life. This a groovy, beautiful little tune, accented by Tom Zé doing his best mosquito impression. Then, at about halfway through, it randomly starts sounding like a Gorillaz song. It whips.

Listen. I have basically nothing to back this up but my personal headcanon for this song is that it’s about a Southern beauty queen in a lesbian relationship that her family doesn’t approve of. Idk. Something about the unclear “she” in the second verse contrasted with “pushing that wedding gown”, and the use of “straighten it out” in the final verse… That’s just how I see it. I feel in my heart it’s true.

Anyway, I got lowkey obsessed with Gillian Welch in March I think she writes bangers even if she is straight. Shoutout to a fellow UC Santa Cruz girlie.

Another top three contender. I love sea turtles so much (see the garland above my window in the header image for this post) and so this cute little folk love song was designed for me. For me, the skill of the production and the hook of the layered vocals takes it from a novelty to full-blown anthemic classic.

A dear friend showed me this song. I had heard a few of Vania Junco’s other tracks but this one was new to me and I liked it a lot!!! Beautiful and brutal portrait of all-consuming love.

One of those bands that just keep on giving. I’ve listened to their albums so many times over since I was in high school, but I’m constantly rediscovering tracks and finding a new song to obsess over. I like how despondent this one is. The thumping kick drum that plods along and those backup vocals that sound like they’re coming from another room hold the melancholy vibe together. When the highs are so low, y’know?

As always, Malkmus’ greatest strength is his apropos-of-nothing lyrical style. More people should consider opening their songs by talking about Yul Brynner. Shoutout also to the random girl coming in just to say the word “carcass”.

I found this song by accident while searching for a different song. My personal head canon is that this was recorded by some middle schooler whose parents got them a DistroKid account and they used it as a means of confessing to their crush. It’s so honest and clearly made up on the spot and it makes me smile whenever it comes on.

One of my favorite LCD Soundsystem songs and this cover just dials everything up to eleven. I didn’t realize that what this song was missing the whole time was a Scottish accent.

“Sex reminds her of eating spaghetti” is an all-timer lyric. So evocative and gross and true. Love it forever. Tattooing it on my forehead.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of my favorite bands, glass beach, but the blow was softened by the debut of a new project from the lead singer/songwriter. This new record has all the stuff I loved about glass beach and then some, so I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m excited to see where this project goes from here!

One of those rare records that I played on a whim and was just completely blown away by. It’s so simple in its construction and songwriting but has just enough unique flavor to feel so fresh and exciting. Scuzzy New Orleans garage rock with steel pedal guitar? Be still my beating heart.

I wasn’t thrilled with the last album Remember Sports put out but oh baby they are back in top gear now. The changes made to their style and sound for this record were the perfect choices to make the band feel matured and seasoned while still maintaining the things that made them a favorite of mine. Can’t recommend the full thing enough if you’re into all the alt-country stuff coming out right now!

A lot of artists have tried to do the two-different-vocals-stereo-panned thing, but this is the first I’ve heard to truly nail it! One full narrative is created by the two interwoven melodies and it’s an interesting and evocative one. Good stuff! Simple and fun.

Those are all the songs I had for March, but don’t worry I still have to catch up on April and then May so you’ll be hearing from me soon…

okay bye luv u!

Albums I Liked This Month:

“Secret Love” by Dry Cleaning; “Let’s Get Killed” by David Holmes; “Nothing’s About to Happen” by Mitski; “Sadolescence” by Indoor Foxes; “it’s fine to dream” by you are an angel; “The Lonesome Crowded West” by Modest Mouse; “The Mountain” by Gorillaz; “Die Without Makeup” by Natalia Catalan; “Nearly Straight” by chlothegod; “the apple tree under the sea” by hemlocke springs; “U” by underscores; “No Need To Be Lonely” by Gladie; “NEVER ENOUGH” by Turnstile; “Twisted Teens” by Twisted Teens