STAFF PICKS: SEPTEMBER FAVS
Each week, staff members compile a themed playlist and spotlight some of their standout picks. For this week we selected some of our favorite tracks from the month of September.
“Charcoal Baby” by Blood Orange
By Pooja Kulkarni
In my eyes, September is a time of new beginnings- the start of a new school year, a new semester, a new season, and embracing the entirely new version of yourself that unveils with the passage of time. However, this unveiled version of yourself often arrives unannounced and calls you to look upon both who you are becoming and who you want to be. For me, this makes September a time of deep reflection- one that makes Blood Orange’s “Charcoal Baby” a song that returns to me each time autumn rolls around.
This 2018 track on Blood Orange’s 4th album, Negro Swan, serves as the primary example and inspiration for the album’s driving themes of exploring vulnerability and identity as a queer and colored individual. Charcoal Baby’s chorus, repeating, “No one wants to be the odd one out at times- no one wants to be the negro swan” expresses the feeling of isolation in a search for self-acceptance and identity while being considered “the black swan.” Alongside these lyrics, this track’s synth-driven instrumental accompanied by untuned guitar riffs create a hazy and moody feel. The song’s ending includes the chorus being followed by a nearly complete break in instrumental and a repeated “Can you break sometimes,” leading to a satisfying beat drop with the return of heavy synth accompanied by an airy saxophone solo. This break in instrumental, and song’s lyrics overall, felt to me like a reflection on the weight brought upon by attempting to embrace one’s identity as the black swan, and how it is okay to find vulnerability in doing such- or as repeated, finally “break.” For me, this song aligns with September’s call to reflect on identity, a feeling of otherness, and the discomfort that inevitably comes with.
“Tiny Smiles” by Lush
By Natalie Hogan
We are now over a month into the fall semester and September has officially come to an end. Getting back into the routine of school, like all else, calls for a soundtrack to start each day. This is especially vital as a commuter who takes two separate trains to and from school everyday. When the temperature starts to dip approaching October, I am always left hungering for a shoegaze or dream-pop record. Lending its name to the season, Spooky by Lush is perfect for this time of year. Although every track is special to me, “Tiny Smiles” is my September favorite.
Formed in London in the late 80s, Lush are an early shoegaze group – emerging around the same time as My Bloody Valentine, Pale Saints, Ride, and Slowdive. Spooky is the band’s sophomore album, produced by Robin Guthrie of The Cocteau Twins. As a result, “Tiny Smiles” has all of the fuzziness needed for a proper shoegaze song. The track, sonically and lyrically, exudes a dream-like feeling. While the lyrics are a bit elusive, the song seemingly discusses a hidden relationship between a younger, more innocent girl and a man with more status or power. The combination of these distressing, contemplative lyrics with the plethora of effects pedals works perfectly for this chilling and introspective time of year.
“Keen on Boys” by The Radio Dept.
By Tate Weaver
I love dream pop and shoegaze (or in this case, shoegays) because it hits me right in the feels, and this song is no exception. I was familiar with The Radio Dept but never explored their discography until earlier this year when I was algorithmically fed “I Wanted You to Feel the Same,” off of their 2006 record, Pet Grief. I played the song on repeat before finally branching out into their other songs. Recently, “Keen on Boys” caught my attention, and became a favorite of mine this September. Like countless dream pop songs, the track is flooded with a bed of fuzz, synths and background drones. Buried, airy, and pensive vocals blend with a lo-fi synthetic drum kit and the static of the track, generating a melancholic and atmospheric texture. The lyrics tell a story of a queer romantic encounter, exploring the emotional vulnerability and confusion that come along with it. “Keen on Boys” pairs well with black coffee, grey skies, fall foliage, and daydreams about a crush or lover. Happy fall!
Listen to the full playlist:
Contributors: Amaris Alfonesca, Mateo Christians, Kelsea Clarke, Anna Brammer-Depuy, Chloe Brown, Maya Eberlin, Izzy Gonzalez, Delaney Heckman, Natalie Hogan, Pooja Kulkarni, Caroline Maurer, Cara Reddington, Tate Weaver, Lane Webb, Alyssa Westcoat
