Songs on Repeat: September 2024
Here's a round up of the songs old and new we've been enjoying at Click Roll Boom HQ this month.
Tyler:
I’m kicking off September with a quick and fun track released under the side project moniker of Wyatt Shears. Definitely drawing influence from that Japanese Jazz Fusion sound, this is a breezy and atmospheric track with plenty of energy packed into its distorted drums. I recommend giving this one a home in your workout/study playlist.
A Tribe Called Quest - Jazz (We’ve Got)
‘A Tribe Called Quest’ is a rap group that needs no introduction. These 90s hiphop icons are known for lyrically dense flows and laidback tracks - this one delivers on both fronts. All this track needs is a simple drum and synth backing, paired with the occasional sax drifting in for the chorus, to give Kamaal Fareed and Ali Shaheed Muhammed a wide musical playground to play with. Check it out!
berlioz, Ted Jasper - deep in it
Another instrumental track, this one from rising Jazz-House artist berlioz hitting my radar thanks to its gentle yet dense production, reminding me of a mix of “Blade Runner” and “Gran Turismo”. If you enjoy a chill beat to work with in the background, this is another song I can thoroughly recommend you add to your rotation.
Shelly - Natural
Listen, I know I only featured Shelly a few months back, but I can’t help it that the handful of songs this duo released play on a loop in my brain! Natural hits that synth-filled, chorus-laden and airy-vocalled vibe of the great 80s love ballads, and twists it into yet another icon in the Shelly catalogue. Seriously, I love this band so much - go listen!
The Beatles - Till There Was You
Ending with a classic, I’m a sucker for a good Paul ballad and ‘Till There Was You’ may just be the quintessential example of one in my eyes. With its acoustic, Latin-inspired backing and overly sweet lyrics, this is one you can’t help but hum along to on one of the few warm days we have left. Speaking of days left, we really don’t appreciate the fact like half of The Beatles are still around enough so… Go listen, tell Sir McCartney you liked it or something.
Amy:
So! This month I’ve been on a Billie Joe Armstrong trip – who knew this guy has sooo many side projects! It’s a wonder he can keep up with himself!
It started with Pinhead Gunpowder after I posted press about their new single ‘Unt’, which prompted me to remember they even existed and reminded me what a gloriously melodic punk offering ‘Mahogany’ is. BJA formed Pinhead Gunpowder with other established musicians some 20 years ago as an outlet to have fun and deliver a more relaxed approach to music away from their main bands. Their short, sharp punk bangers are all noteworthy, and I highly recommend checking out “Carry the Banner”, from which ‘Mahogany’ is lifted.
Then I moved onto Foxboro Hottubs, formed with all the other members of Green Day under bizarre pseudonyms as the band’s rather delightful attempt at garage rock, only releasing one album “Stop Drop Roll!!!” before disappearing. It's the title track that makes the cut for my On Repeat this month. I then tested the delights of the band he formed with the rest of his family, The Boo, where his wife Adrienne took lead vocal duties. They’re okay but definitely the weaker of the side projects.
I also sampled The Network, a masked band that at the time was shrouded in "is it, isn't it" mystery. An interesting concept mixing punk and synths, but a little lost on me. That led me to one of my favourite album discoveries this year, The Longshot, Billie’s solo side project. The debut and currently only album, “Love Is For Losers”, was billed by NME at the time of release in 2018 as his best work since “American Idiot”, and I couldn’t agree more! It’s wonderfully melodic but with a slightly more DIY feel than Green Day. It’s hard not to want to just include the whole record, but I’m aware my picks normally take over On Repeat, so I’ll just pick a few!
A good starting point is the title track ‘Love Is For Losers’, a catchy burst of melodic punk, alongside ‘Body Bag’ and ‘Cult Hero’, while ‘Goodbye To Romance’ offers a slower-paced, more introspective finale. The whole album is immense, and you should definitely give it a spin in full, in order!
Then, obviously, I can’t have a BJA inspired On Repeat without including the main offender, Green Day – a band I so often bypass simply because they’re "not obscure enough". For some reason, I feel I fail as a music fan if Last.fm doesn’t tell me my music listening is under 35% mainstream, which is daft because there are some great bands who’ve garnered mainstream success, Green Day being one of them. My inclusions, while rather obvious, are a few songs I’ve overlooked for years, forgetting just how good they are: ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’, ‘Minority’, and the month appropriate ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’.
Also, for good measure and because I’m so excited to finally see them live on October 4th, I’ll include ‘Bladderwrack Allowance’ and ‘Took Problem Chimp to the Ideal Home Show’ from everyone’s favourite satirical post-punk mainstays, the mighty Half Man Half Biscuit.
John:
Prodigy - Out of Space
In the early 90s, I was heavily into the dance/rave scene, and it was fellow Essex boys The Prodigy who were my go-to group for that genre of music.
Robert Miles - Children
This song takes me back to when I worked behind the bar at Butlins – it was one of the tracks played every night.
House of Pain - Jump Around
This song reminds me of going around to a friend's place for an afternoon of gaming.
Bowling for Soup - Girl All The Bad Guys Want
This song is the track that got me into BFS. Since then, I’ve bought a couple of their albums and seen them live.
Within Temptation - What Have You Done
Female-fronted symphonic metal has been a favourite genre of mine for some time now, and Sharon den Adel has one of the best voices. This is one of my go-to tracks from them, especially after watching the brilliant *Black Symphony* tour.
Lacuna Coil - Spellbound
Another band I listen to regularly, this is my favourite track by them. With its catchy riffs, it’s a song that never gets skipped.
Disturbed - Land of Confusion
This was the track that got me into Disturbed when I first saw its video many years ago. While I never imagined anyone could do a metal version of a classic Genesis track, it’s safe to say Disturbed do a pretty good job of it.
Linkin Park - The Emptiness Machine
When I heard that Linkin Park were back with a new lead singer, I wasn’t sure, as Chester Bennington was the voice of the band and whoever took over had a big job ahead of them. It’s safe to say that this song is absolutely brilliant, and I look forward to hearing more from them.
Scott:
Kaiser Chiefs - Reasons to Stay Alive
Jack White - Archbishop Harold Holmes
Jack White - That’s How I’m Feeling
Biffy Clyro - Howl
Biff Clyro - Who’s Got A Match?
Kempsey:
A mixture of songs from my blended list with my bestie and some of my favourites from albums I've been listening to!
Roe Kapara - The Dead Come Talking
Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea
Marilyn Manson - Slave Only Dreams to Be King
Chappell Roan - Femininomenon
Breaking Benjamin - Breath
Linkin Park - One Step Closer
