In an attempt to salvage what I can of a diminishing attention span and impatience towards new media, I'm starting an experiment.
For every day in January 2021, I'll listen to a full album and write about it. I'll plan the list of albums to work through
ahead of time.
1/1/2021: Special Interest - The Passion Of
Release Year: 2020
Listen
"What happens when there's nothing left to gentrify", New Orleans' Special Interest pose the question on Homogenized Milk. This is just one of
many catchy refrains on The Passion Of, the band's third EP. While hardcore techno and punk is not a combination I usually go far, there's something strange
about listening to this mix of industrial, techno, glam punk in the current times. Its themes and atmosphere remind me so much of dance parties & debauchery pre-2020 pandemic.
Against the backdrop of police brutality and a world collapsing under capitalist greed, these songs speak of queer joy, survival and rage.
I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this and will be keeping an eye out for a Special Interest show.
Favourite tracks: Disco III, Homogenized Milk, Dont' Kiss Me In Public, Street Pulse Beat
1/2/2021: The Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Release Year: 1995
Listen
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness has come back into my sphere because I'm always trying to learn new songs on the drums and my teacher is
a huge Jimmy Chamberlain fan. It's not hard to see why. Even now, some of the songs I'm enjoying the most are the ones where Chamberlain shines.
Coming back to this album after my teenage years is hardly making me feel differently about it. I always found Billy Corgan's voice difficult to listen to
for long periods of time & my tolerance for self-indulgent lyrics has hardly increased. It was nice to give this some time but I'll stick to learning
what I need from it on the drums.
Favourite tracks: Zero, 1979, X.Y.Z, Bullet with Butterfly Wings
1/3/2021: Jeff Rosenstock: NO DREAM
Release Year: 2020
Listen
I'm probably not going to do this one justice. I know Jeff is loved in the punk scene and this album was very well received, but for me, it didn't do much.
Maybe I've gotten used to a flavor of punk that is more caustic and in comparison this record is definitely more earnest. I sense anxiety and exhaustion, which seems
about right for the times. I enjoyed the first half way more than the second. As always, Jeff's album is full of infectious, repeatable lyrics. I might give it another chance later.
Favourite tracks: NO DREAM, fame, Nikes (Alt)