If you’ve ever checked out any of our 3 Of The Weeks in the past, you know that normally this feature showcases three songs chosen by one of our writers that all fit into a theme they’ve chosen. But here’s the thing: I don’t play by those rules. My theme is “Things I Think Are Cool At This Moment That I Want To Share With You Lovely Readers” and I included two albums and a single because I do what I want.
Please don’t tell Christina.
1. Scarves – Mall Goths
With their second full length, Scarves roll up a wide array of influences into a warm, welcoming glow of sound. Mall Goths takes the sporadic nature of classic emo, folds in angular instrumentation that directs the songs into new and unexpected directions, and sprinkles it all with a near-theatrical delivery that harkens to the likes of Max Bemis at times. Packaged as “ten vignettes depicting characters along the I-5 corridor”, Mall Goths is a refreshing wave among a sea of bland indie rock, exuding emotion through the barely hidden cracks in its composition.
2. Joy Division – Closer
There’s a long history of band’s whose careers were cut too short, whether it be from in-fighting, untimely deaths, or other extenuating circumstances. Post-punk purveyors Joy Division are a member of that club, with just two proper releases in their discography. And while their stellar debut Unknown Pleasures tends to garner much of the attention, 1980’s Closer stands as the band at its finest. Released two months after frontman Ian Curtis’ suicide, the posthumous effort is the gold standard of the genre. It’s a dark, introspective piece whose pulsating instrumentation creates a swirling drone of sound, one that is both engrossing and nearly overwhelming at parts.
3. Chicano Batman – “Angel Child”
I was introduced to Chicano Batman a while back by a friend and, while I acknowledged that they have the best band name of all time, I hadn’t really dug into their music. Then a few weeks ago they jumped back into my conscience via a starring role in a Super Bowl commercial. With my interest reignited I checked out their new single, “Angel Child”, and was impressed. It has a psychedelic flair akin to Tame Impala that doesn’t veer too far into the self-indulgent wormhole of the genre, but adds an element of funk that pushes it into a class of their own.
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