Monday Music Drop: Telekinesis | Savant | The Avett Brothers

In which I kidnap and force you to endure countless minutes of the music I like

Update: I made a Spotify Playlist containing the songs I share here.

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I like sharing music with people. Relatedly, I quite dislike subjecting people to having music shared with them. Songs are long¹, especially when you’re forced to put on a social performance while your friend is playing one and staring directly at you, gauging your every reaction. Someone is going to be disappointed — most likely both. Often, the song is paused early, with some awkward hedging and a half-hearted “anyways, well, that’s my favorite song… so…”.

But sharing music with others is still nice! I’m a very musical person. I love to dance. I love to sing (I cannot sing). Music is such a core aspect of our experience on this Earth, and I want to share that with others. Just, you know, mediated by the safe bubble-boy nature of this publish-subscribe model where I shout into the void and you, maybe, pay attention. You have all the control here.

So here’s a few artists in my playlist that I’d like to share.

This week’s music drop spans a bit of a disjointed gamut: indie rockish poppish (Telekinesis); EDM (Savant); and folk/pop/rock/bluegrass (The Avett Brothers).

Final note: probably look all of these up on Spotify or Apple Music, if you have the patience for it. YouTube sucks for music.

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Telekinesis

I’ve got two songs from this artist for you, because they’re the only two songs from this artist that I’ve deigned to include in my personal playlist.

Power Lines

This song was served up by the unfunny and annoying Spotify DJ as I was on a long car ride about a year ago — I don’t remember for what. Initially unimpressed, I reached to hit the skip button and seal its fate. Then I decided not to, for reasons that seem obvious.

I like being surprised. It helps when a song sounds good, too. This has both!

Ghosts and Creatures

Honestly, this song isn’t nearly as good as Power Lines, but I still just kinda think it’s neat.

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Savant

Savant is (was?) a guilty pleasure of mine. He’s a solo producer of electronic music, and I find most of his songs either quite cringe or just a bit shit, and you probably will too! Lucky for you, I’ve done the hard work of finding the bangers.

This one’s mainly for JP and Riley, I think. Fred Again… Again? Almost certainly not.

Desperado

This song just goes fucking hard. Great to clean to.

Presented first in the hopes it’ll convince the two aforementioned EDMheads to give the rest a chance.

Orphan

Give this a chance to get going. JP, get over the singing.

Upgrade

What I love about this song (besides that it activates the “sound good” part of my brain) is how well the title fits. I get this vivid image in my head of a giant factory working on some huge Pacific Rim-type machine, repairing and — well — Upgrading it.

Splinter

This is the first of the two cringe songs I’ll be sharing from Savant today.

Not that it’s a bad song (probably weaker than the three prior songs, though); more due to the history behind it.

This song is how I discovered Savant at the age of 18. For the last few months of high school, I would turn this song on every single time I got in my car to start my drive. Made me feel, I don’t know, cool? Bit cringe, if you ask me.

Origin

Mega cringe. Stupid lyrics. Good song.

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The Avett Brothers

One of my favorite bands of all time. Their songs span a spectrum of moods, so don’t let the first song cement your opinion.

Most of these are going to be selected from their top hits — oh well.

It’s pronounced “Ay-vett”.

Kick Drum Heart

First song I heard of theirs; probably not their strongest. This was me and my ex-wife’s “song”², and we did a whole dance to it when we entered for our wedding’s reception. Not gonna let that ruin a good song, though!

Not indicative of their general vibe.

I And Love And You

One of the few songs in my massive playlist that I never skip and always sing along to; amongst my and Erin’s favorites.

Satan Pulls the Strings

Goes hard with the dueling violin and banjo.

February Seven

This song was really fun to learn on guitar, and it’s beautiful to boot.

Murder in the City

Also really fun to learn on guitar — and also beautiful to boot.

Another Is Waiting

A short one to end it with. Just like it.

Apologies for the music video (I hate music videos). Couldn’t find a better source.

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That’s it!

You’re a damned fool if you think this is going to be A) consistent, B) weekly, and/or C) posted on Mondays.

I genuinely hope you like at least one of these songs.

1. Ever stood in front of a microwave as it counts down a minute, and thought, “holy shit, minutes are long”? Now four.

2. Don’t worry, Erin; I just like the song itself now.