I had “Ain’t Shit” by Doja Cat stuck in my head. I got to thinking about how it’s one of those songs you (well, I) can’t really quote, despite how it’s been a two-plus year earworm. I’m not normally one for censorship, but that song there is full of danger words. Doesn’t make it less fantastic, just… you know.
The jokes were brewing but instead I went to youtube to at least listen to the song, maybe to get it out of my head. There, I immediately noticed Awry Information. What is this? Is that a title I don’t recognize? What the frig? Am I having yet another memory lapse for not paying much attention in the first place?
It was indeed a new song, shared to the world in June, and I missed it because I’m in a stoner/doom bubble for the most part. Yay, novelty! It means a new album is coming sooner. I checked: it’s just TBA right now, suggested to potentially release this year. But the checking led right back to more novelty! Another new song! Released mere hours beforehand! Two new songs! Ah-ah-ah!
The last short bit of time (week?) has featured a bit of internet drama in relation to Doja Cat. I didn’t look it up, but I inferred that she shut some needy folks down, causing a ruckus. Doesn’t feel like something to bother myself with. But I heard about it.
Both of these songs feel like answers to the drama of the time and the past couple of years, of being a celebrity and being talked (shit) about and being expected to act like – antithesis of the lyrics – an angel all of the time, because celeb must be end-all be-all caricature of imaginary human being and never actually a human being. Be fantasy only. No real person. But she got famous while being “real” – meaning, being silly and trolling in addition to whatever else – so it doesn’t follow.
Song 1: “Attention”. I can’t pin what it is about it, but the video reminds me of Batman. Not even sure which one. Combination of black trenchcoat type jacket in a dark city maybe does it, but it’s something about the feel of the thing. The song itself is pretty chill. I can’t pin it either, but internet claims 90s vibes. The lyrics: less chill. Very “hey, I saw what you did, fuck off with that shit… dumbass” going on.
Song 2 (WOO-HOO!): “Paint The Town Red”. This one feels like a conglomeration of references. I can’t hear “bitch, I” in context of Doja Cat like that without immediately wanting to respond “I’m a cow” so I wonder if the inclusion in the song is a way to force people away from the association (or maybe what she said was that she was a cow… hmm, choices). Or we’ve all got our thing, and she says “bitch” a lot. Another apparent early reference to me is the sampled music used: “Walk On By” from 1964. One of her first big songs was “Freak” that used the 50s song sample “Put Your Head On My Shoulder”. References aside, this song is another future earworm and I found myself wanting to hear it over and over already.
Watching these back-to-back, it seems evident a third video is coming with the Carrie character.
Since I’ve been neglecting music here, let’s keep going on theme.
I went backwards in time and listened to Cocteau Twins for likely the first time ever. I’m not sure how much, if at all, I would have liked them prior to recently. Given my appreciation for Ladytron back around 2005 and 2006, maybe I’m underestimating myself. It’s not the same thing but it’s close enough. I was actually reminded of the Melvins with their bullshit attempt at lyrics and singing actual words, and that’s definitely not the same thing. But also comparable is the near-timelessness of their sound. The songs I’ve heard don’t sound like they’re 30 years old.
If this follows what happened when I decided to sample more than one Kate Bush song, guessing we’re about six months away from some huge cultural thing for Cocteau Twins. Can we do Les Rita Mitsouko next? They need to be more known in the US so I can freak out with strangers about how glitter-in-your-face awesome Catherine is.
Unless I’m having another one of those imaginary lapses, it seems I have not yet talked about the new Ashnikko music. What is this world we live! She was due to have an album out already but it seems it’s been delayed, and it’s now coming out August 25th. A few songs have already come out as videos, with “You Make Me Sick!” being an early highlight for me. Just as the habits began to prioritize elsewhere, she released “Possession of a Weapon“. The vibe of that thing is something else. Makes me think about early listening of Nine Inch Nails, when it was just Pretty Hate Machine and The Downward Spiral for me and The Fragile hadn’t yet come out, of that whole vibe of regressive-yet-progressive sexuality and enforcing personal freedom in a world that didn’t want that.
I was prepared to wait, but then here came “Cheerleader“. It’s just an audio track now, but it’s catchy enough. Pretty fair to say I’m already a fan of whatever Ashnikko’s about to release.
When do we get Ashnikko + Doja Cat songs? And they could call the song “Bitch”. heh.
And there’s also Billie Eilish, playing with her dolls:
Whoever made those little clothes of all her eras of outfits needs a raise. If you’re at all curious to have a better look, there’s a video posted right after this one showcasing them. Unfortunately, if there’s a credit, I missed it.
And that was a good song and video choice between albums, given the content. Nice way to remind folks to let go before they actually need to.
Something like two months ago I had a disco-centric moment and ended up listening to Divine’s “Native Love“. I tried the album and it gets samey after a bit, but I could totally imagine this music getting sampled the fuck out of in dance clubs in the years after. It also feels ahead of its time, like the positivity in the music reeks of Gen-Z internet shenanigans.
I wish I had that level of confidence to just fill the dead air of the music and empty stage with BEING. I’d wear the makeup and sequins no problem, as some of us know, but would need to have a giant black blanket nearby to shield myself with at all times because fuck this shit quit looking at me weirdos.
The song that got me going in that direction was actually “Every 1’s A Winner”. Another one of like, wow, dude’s very confident and just filling that stage, huh. And the german audience is like, Ich bin confusion mit dis hip shake musik.
Oh, speaking of hip shake music, I got led down a short rabbithole to Eddie Cochran’s “Somethin’ Else”. You can skip the first 17 or so seconds of this clip if you want, but hey now! I just typed about one of those other songs!
It’s hard to watch this and not think of Elvis… but I was also reminded of how much I loved the movie La Bamba when I was an infant. Imagine if he’d lived longer (either of them)… though I really hesitate to do so considering so many of his generation turned out sour. The song’s still good and makes me wish golden oldies radio would make a comeback.
Should probably point out the blatant gum commercial that is, too. When’s the last time you bought Beech Nut? Probably never, I’m guessing. And people 100 years from now will see ads and fads from 2023 and wonder why we bought into this nonsense.
Another older song that recently piqued my interest was friggin’ “M.E.” by Gary Numan. I’ve heard it before but I actually listened to the lyrics, and that’s about the loneliest song I’ve heard in some time, and then it just goes off a cliff and F.U. and your F.N. Feelings. I’m a lonely robot in a post-apocalypse wasteland and all I’ve got is this broken keyboard, so dingle dangle, bitches. *hard press of key* *sad*
One of these days I’m sure to take things more seriously.
Let’s bring it back to the heavy before I quit typing today.
The Soundgarden tribute/cover albums FINALLY came out. The stoner/heavy/doom underground all got together and made versions – some very authentic – of the band’s music. Even if you don’t care about heavy shit, if you have a spot in your brain specifically reserved for Soundgarden’s music, it’s for you.
On level with that is new Domkraft. They put out one of my favorite anythings of the past couple of years with their last album Seeds, plus the live video they did around then was great, and it feels like that happened ten minutes ago, but it’s been over two years. They’re now due to release Sonic Moons in a month. The new song feels very familiar. They have another new one – “Whispers” – that has a fresher, more wandering vibe. It’s one of those things that remind a doom fan that doom is life. You know, besides Ufomammut covering Soundgarden up there. Love how my jackass self is simultaneously posting about how great disco and pop music is in the same mood as yay the devil’s music. It’s the circle of life. Nah sah way yah.
One more. Did you know Grails has a new album coming out?! Also September. Talk about meeting somewhere in the middle. Smooth jazz 80s movie soundtrack we go! Welcome Kmart shoppers. Blue Light Special on aisle 4. Pick up a new skein of yarn for grandma and your favorite local music in the same place!
*scribbles down new business idea for later*