Favorite Songs (2014)
4th Quarter
What's in a song?
Per Google's definition, dawg: "a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung."
It's the latter portion of which I find myself wrestling; I am naturally dumb so it is, perhaps, an explanation as simple of my own dimwitted wiring. If it is "meant to be sung" it's by virtues its very own features an aria that's never had air; and thus never been heard.
When I am au naturel in the shower, gazing in gaping awe at my flaccid Excalibur, are the musical notes emanating from my self-wonderment an actual song? Probably not, right? Furthermore, would anyone want to listen to it? Doubtful. That's aging gracefully or so I suppose, but here at SYFFAL, we adhere to something that's more along the lines of Scorched Earth-No Holds Barred-Naked Old Cray Men-Train Robber Steezo.
Call me out of touch, but the world looks, feels, and sounds a smidgen sad and sallow. So in our grand manner, along with the notion of humanity's betterment, we do as we do and collectively plug-in and connect our malnourished brains to Voltron one, big, strong brain with our Favorite Songs From The 4th Quarter.
One of these songs might make you smile, another could flip you sanguine in shorter than several seconds flat. We do this for you because we don't want you to ever hear the notes that bellow from the belly of the Pink Oboe. Heads or Tails: We here at SYFFAL hope your quarter was and continues to be wonderful.
Joel Frieders
5. Jesse Mac Cormack - Ask For It: This dude howls like he's being burned alive, and I LOVE THAT BRO.
4. Holy Holy - History: Holy Holy has reinvogorated my passion for music made by men with amazing beards.
3. Ben Howard - End of the Affair: Wait until the 4 minute mark, and then get ready for the throat kick. I LOVE THIS FEEL.
2. Greylag - Another: Seriously, this feels like I'm back in high school and I'm holding a cracked 18 inch purple bong.
1. Sego - Wicket Youth: This song, when played at the appropriate volume, is incendiary. I seriously want everything to start the Fuck on fire when it starts.
Ralph Perez
5. Your Old Droog - Gunsmoke Cologne: This dude was all the talk last year, and i might be late, but his self titled albums dropped last Tuesday, and he murks this song hard. Raw, New York lyricism so hard dudes, so HOOOOORDE (in Bay Area voice).
4. Tv on The Radio - Test Pilot: These guys came back so gracefully after having lost Gerard Smith, and this song is all i need on cold Portland winter mornings when slowly waking up on a bus full of strangers.
3.Taylor Swift - Shake It Off: Dont judge me, but i cant shake this damn song off of my brains at all. I want to hate little Tay Tay so much, but the song writing, hook and production are the things of pop magic. i heart her big on this.
2. Ill Clinton - Dip on the 2: Philly area producer Ill Clinton dropped the perfect soundtrack to floating down the quiet streets after a hard workout. So mellow, yet beautifully punchy at the same time.
1. Uncommon Nasa feat. Elucid - This Bodega's Trying To Kill Me: Damn man, this is one of this songs that dug its way into my braincave so fucking quick it knocked me on my ass. Inner city wisdom, lower income anger, and social commentary at its finest.
Brandon Backhaus
5. Caribou - Can’t Do without You: I swear to god that when this kind of music comes on I usually holler at the top of my blackened lungs, "fucking DEL!" But something about this one made me want to sext him instead.
4. Crimes! - Whole Club Jumpin: Me and DJ Mess go hard in the car to this one. If you see a big Hispanic dude and a big white dude head banging while driving in the vicinity of Echo Park, you've found us... and this song is probably playing.
3. Purple - WallFlower: My unhealthy obsession with lead singers who possess a vagina and who are also the drummer continues. Also see: Tashaki Miyaki.
2. Francisco The Man - In the Corners: In heavy contention for my nonrap favorite song of the year. FtM is all about the highs and lows.
1. Run the Jewels - All My Life: RTJ2 is too girthy. I can't even wrap my head around it. But I been that way, "All my life."
Tom Doz
5. The Amazing - Picture You: I love long songs. I love songs that take the ideas of two songs worth of material and jam them into one song. I love dreamy jams. I love 'Picture You'.
4. Tashaki Miyaki - The Beautiful Ones (Prince cover): I have no identity anymore. I'm listing a cover song, which is Del territory. And the cover is from Brando's girl Tishaki Miyaki. Who am I? Regardless....this is sooooo dope.
3. Panic Is Perfect - Go Go Go: My wrecking balls have bruised my inner thighs because my hips uncontrollably shake to and fro when I listen to 'GO GO GO'. GO, BRO.
2. The Barr Brothers - Come In The Water: My chin is inviting you into the water. You don't turn down invitations from my perfectly sculpted chin.
1. TOPS - Outside: You know when it's so foggy outside that you get wet even though it's not technically raining? That weather is this song. Seriously, I'm listening to 'Outside' as I write this and I have to wipe the condensation off my monitor every ten seconds. This must be what's it's like to live Emp's pants: dripping with sensh.