I have a vague memory of watching some proto-reality show on MTV as a kid, where a group of people were watching clips from different music videos they’d selected. It was mostly mainstream stuff, but then some super lo-fi, homemade-looking thing came on: Yo La Tengo’s “Sugarcube.” I think everyone was pretty nice about it,…
“Ain’t It Funny” – Danny Brown
Detroit rapper Danny Brown has seen hard times. He’s faced poverty, jail, addiction and depression, and he’s continued to be tagged as an outsider even after finally getting some recognition in his 30s. He is okay telling you about all this at length. How you address such bleak topics when you’re known for delivering raunchy…
“Video Games” – Lana Del Rey
I’m not going to pretend to have a new angle on what Lana Del Rey represents, or her disastrous SNL debut, or her sustained popularity in the aftermath of all that hate to close the decade as one of the most widely admired artists in pop. That story is an interesting one. Her music is…
“Whatever” – The Beths
Some of my favorite indie rock in recent years has come from Australia and New Zealand, though I haven’t been able to tell whether this constitutes any kind of defined scene. The most prominent example is Tame Impala who, when not selling out stadiums or headlining festivals, is one Australian guy named Kevin tinkering in…
“A Little God in My Hands” – Swans
Swans had their first ever top 40 record in 2014, more than 30 years after the release of their debut LP. No one said “it’s about time,” because Swans is not the kind of band that was ever supposed to be in the top 40 of anything. In their early years, Swans were best known…