This week the interns picked out songs to kick-off the month of April! April is a month of new beginnings, new material, and originality. Each of these songs and artist showcase that 😉 There’s definitely nothing remiss in these picks (wink wink). Happy April!
Alex’s Pick : “Slipping Through My Fingers” – by Declan McKenna
My pick this week is “Slipping Through My Fingers” by Declan McKenna. The song gained massive traction on TikTok in its stripped-back demo form and currently has 35 million streams on Spotify. The vocal delivery has the subtle, plain-spoken charm I associate with the Beatles, and I was glad to see the song gain the traction it did. It’s success told me something I find encouraging: the world isn’t done with Beatlesque, unassuming sincerity. The song could have come out in 1966, and yet people around the world connected with it today. If you haven’t listened to Declan McKenna, he had a massive song in 2017 called “Brazil,” but lately he’s been making interesting psych-pop. His influences are clear, and he’s said himself that his new album sounds more like the music he spends most of his time listening to. If you’re interested in neo-psychedelia, his new album What Happened to the Beach? is a worthwhile listen.
Chloe’s Pick: “The Great Gig in the Sky” – The Flaming Lips
My pick for this week is “The Great Gig in the Sky” by the psychedelic rock band The Flaming Lips. This eerie rock track stands out because of its incredible vocal solo performed by Canadian electronic musician and producer Peaches. The song also features Henry Rollins, formerly of Black Flag, who performs a monologue during the beginning and end of the track. He states, “Why should I be frightened of dying, there’s no reason for it. We all gotta go some time,” right as the drums cue an energy shift in the track. What makes this song incredible is the juxtaposition between the spacey, atmospheric guitars at the top of this track and the crunchy tones and sharp drums during the vocal solo. The song concludes by returning back to the soft, twinkly guitars and soft synth melody as Peaches moans the end of her vocal solo. This song begs to be listened to with headphones on full volume with your eyes closed!
Check out “The Great Gig in the Sky” by The Flaming Lips
Sally’s Pick : “Love Buzz” by Nirvana
My pick for this week is “Love Buzz” by Nirvana. This classic Nirvana song comes from their first album, 1989’s Bleach. Drenched in Kurt Cobain’s distinct writing style, and the harshness of Nirvana’s debut album, “Love Buzz” is an infectious grunge anthem. Opening with an iconic and distinctive bass riff, “Love Buzz” catched your attention immediately. During the chorus, Cobain repeatedly sings, “Can you feel my love buzz?”, creating a buildup of energy and excitement, culminating in a noisy, psychedelic guitar solo. Even after two more excellent albums of grunge perfection, this track still holds up as one of Nirvana’s best songs.
Give “Love Buzz” by Nirvana a listen at the link below!
Happy April Fools
The Interns
