NAILED Songs of the Week #35
“Maybe I’m at the Australia of myself.”
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Guest Editor: Brian S. Ellis, Poet and Author (most recently of Often Go Awry, 2015)
"Chips Down (In No Landfill)" – Cody ChesnuTT
When Landing on a Hundred came out, us ChesnuTT fans had been wandering for a long time in a desert of a lack of him. The first full album since The Headphone Masterpiece, Cody ChesnuTT is the musician you are consistently mad at your friends for not knowing who he is. Landing on a Hundred not only brought the magic of the first album, but it also delivered a consistency that was new to the ChesnuTT cannon.
Since then, I’ve fallen in love with each of the songs on the album in turn. The album’s opening track, ‘Til I Met Thee" is essential Cody ChesnuTT. Continuing with "That’s Still Mama," "What Kind of Cool (will we think of next)," and "Love Is More Than A Wedding Day," each one threatened to become my favorite Cody ChesnuTT song.
"Chips Down (In No Landfill)" is the one that has stayed with me. There’s nothing else like it on the album. It’s a cross between a soul tune and a song from a Broadway musical that never happened. It’s like a Scott Walker track from Scott 3, but with rhythm. It’s a defiantly autumnal song, one for wearing a scarf and t-shirt while spinning your arms on a busy city street, as turning leaves dance in the air. The song also boasts some of ChesnuTT’s strongest lyrics. He strikes an incredible balance of righteous indignation, modern moralism, self-reflection, and understanding. As always, ChesnuTT comes back to healing. "Chips Down" is an anthem for casting off artificial fetters. It’s a song for a season of getting free.
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Matty Byloos, Publisher and Contributing Editor of NAILED:
"Bennington" – John Maus
You know how sometimes you can be like all Lost Highway, Lost Highway and Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks ohmygoddamnhell Twin Peaks! And then be like David Lynch is godhead and isn't he just the dreamiest and I want to have his babies, and on and on. Then, like a rainbow emanating from the straw of your juice box, a new friend will come up and tap you on the shoulder to deliver the following message: "David Lynch? Yeah but. Mark Frost." And then the whole world just opens up to a more complete kind of sense.
Well -- remember all those times you were like, Ariel Pink! Ariel Fucking Pink! And then it was Ariel Pink! OHMYEFFINGGOD Ariel Pink is the amazingest!" Well -- that friend is tapping you on the shoulder again now, to say, "Ariel Pink? Yeah but. John Maus."
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Shenyah Webb, Arts Editor of NAILED:
"Altered Images" – Happy Meals
Happy Meals is the Glasgow-based duo of S. Rodden and L. Cook, life-partners since high school. The two began this project when they took a free course to master the basics of analog production. Although their Euro-disco sound has a minimalist feel, don’t be fooled -- analog instruments can be moody little robots to operate.
With the perfect balance of disco melodies, bubbling cosmic synth sounds, and crunchy-acid bass lines, Rodden polishes off their sound in a shimmering gleam of sexy with her French vocals. The only things I need are: a glitter ball, flashy lights, sleeveless dress, and dance floor!
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Carrie Seitzinger, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of NAILED:
"Year in Pictures" – Dick Diver
I like where this song puts me. It takes me far away from the clutter and dull noise backgrounds. It welcomes me to a place where I can be close to myself. These guys are from Australia. Maybe I'm at the Australia of myself.
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