Song of the Week: “Kristine From the 7th Grade” by Ben Folds

Ben Folds – “Kristine From the 7th Grade”

This song from Ben Folds’ newest album What Matters Most is a sad ballad about how social media has allowed us to reconnect with people we were friends with when we were younger only to find that some of them have been thoroughly immersed in misinformation and hate.  Folds’ narrator is very compassionate for the girl he once knew wondering what could’ve gone wrong to poison her worldview.

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware
• “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project
• “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder Hannah Jadagu
• “What You Did” by Hannah Jadagu
• “Star” by CERES

June

• “Kristine From the 7th Grade” by Ben Folds

Song of the Week: “Star” by CERES

CERES – “Star”

This song sounds to me like something Beyoncé might perform but accompanied by ukulele.  CERES is a 17-year-old singer and ukulele player from Southern California. You can read more about her in this profile for the KCRW Young Creators Project.

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware
• “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project
• “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder Hannah Jadagu
• “What You Did” by Hannah Jadagu
• “Star” by CERES

Song of the Week: “What You Did” by Hannah Jadagu

Hannah Jadagu – “What You Did”

The hard rocking “What You Did” is the first song off of Hannah Jadagu’s debut album Aperture, released today. The 20-year-old Jadagu is currently a student at NYU and originates from Texas.

 

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware
• “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project
• “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder Hannah Jadagu
• “What You Did” by Hannah Jadagu

Song of the Week: “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder

Danielle Ponder – “Roll the Credits”

A powerful voice is the first thing that will catch you from this song by Danielle Ponder, a former public defender turned R&B musician from Rochester, NY.  Ponder’s song “Be Gentle” previously appeared in the Monthly Mixtape for March 2021.

 

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware
• “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project
• “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder

Song of the Week: “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project

The Baseball Project – Journeyman

The Baseball Project – a rock supergroup made up of former R.E.M. members Peter Buck and Mike Mills, Steve Wynn (the Dream Syndicate), Scott McCaughey (the Minus 5 and Young Fresh Fellows), and Linda Pitmon (Filthy Friends, Alejandro Escovedo) – are back with an introspective song that takes its inspiration from the National Pastime.

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware
• “Journeyman” by The Baseball Project

Song of the Week: “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware – “Freak Me Now”

English singer Jessie Ware updates the sounds of disco and 80s house music on “Freak Me Now” off her new retro-dance music album That! Feels Good!

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

May

• “Freak Me Now” by Jessie Ware

Song of the Week: “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

Acid Tongue – “Consumerism”

The Seattle garage punk quartet Acid Tongue takes on a classic target of punk rage in their latest single.

 

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas
• “Consumerism” by Acid Tongue

Song of the Week: “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas

The Linda Lindas – “Too Many Things”

The newest single from the all-teenage-girl Los Angeles rock band is pop punk perfection.  While the Lindas earlier work is great, this song shows that they are maturing as musicians and songwriters. I eagerly anticipate their next release.

 

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE
• “Too Many Things” by The Linda Lindas

Song of the Week: “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE

MEDIOCRE – “Pop Song Baby”

The Boston duo MEDIOCRE, Piper Torrison and Keely Martin, are better than their name implies.  On “Pop Song Baby” they take on misogyny in the music business with raging guitars and joyous pop punk. The song is one of five on the band’s new EP To Know You’re Screwed.  And the title track features a comic video filmed on location in Boston so here’s a bonus song of the week.

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?
• “Pop Song Baby” by MEDIOCRE

Song of the Week: “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?

Who is She? – “My My Orca Card”

Who Is She? is a supergroup of Seattle artists Bree McKenna of Tacocat, Robin Edwards AKA Lisa Prank, and Julia Shapiro of Chastity Belt.  I haven’t heard of any of these artists/groups individually, but I am intrigued.  The song is based on Le Tigre’s “My Metrocard” and is suitably named after a transit pass used in the Puget Sound region of Washington.  Lyrically the song is a takedown of Amazon head honcho Jeffrey Bezos

Songs of the Week for 2023

January

• “Happiness” by THICK
• “Abathembu” by uKhoiKhoi
• “Blood Rushes” by CIVIC
• “Doomscrollers” by Quasi
• “Fold” by Bonobo & Jacques Greene

February

• “Go Dig My Grave” by Lankum
• “Tokyo Dub Story” by Gezan & Million Wish Collective
• “MA EMILY (featuring Rapsody)” by C.S. Armstrong
• “All of the Time in the World to Kill” by The Milk Carton Kids

March

• “False Spring” by Shelli Le Fay
• “Barley” by Water From Your Eyes
• “exodus the north star” by Yaya Bey
• “Grey Eagle” by Mighty Poplar

April

• “My My Orca Card” by Who Is She?