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Quarantine in a Few Songs
Curated by James Wyrtzen (ECA ‘24), September 16, 2020
Upon coming to ECA for my freshman year, I noticed this cool website on the ECA Music website called ECA Underground. The first article that popped up was a quarantine playlist. I decided to make my own. Hopefully these songs brighten the dark, long days we have to go through.
1. HAIM - “FUBT”
The new Haim album is breathtaking. One of the most flawless works of art to come out in the past 10 years, in my opinion. There are an insane amount of amazing songs on this album, which makes it hard to make a decision. I chose this one because it sounds like what the “light at the end of the tunnel” looks like in my head. The slightly overproduced guitar line moves throughout the song effortlessly. Danielle can shred much better than most pop guitarists I know. The simple solo really sticks with you, and the haunting vocals are captivating. Overall, this has made its way onto my family’s Bluetooth speaker at least 25 times. LISTEN HERE (E)
2. The Band - “Tears of Rage”
I’m convinced that the first band I ever listened to was The Band. They are one of the best bands I have ever listened to, if not the best. Richard Manuel (the best vocalist in The Band) dominates this song. Despite having severe anxiety and not singing often, the few times that he did sing, The Band played, and The Band played well. This song is co-written by the American Shakespeare, Bob Dylan. This song makes you want to be in a car in the Catskills, driving around Levon, Bob, Richard, Rick, and Robbie’s old stomping grounds in Saugerties, New York. If you haven’t visited the Big Pink (the place where The Band recorded and lived for a while), you should, if you’re not scared of No Trespassing signs. LISTEN HERE
3. The Smashing Pumpkins - “The Colour of Love”
Despite all Billy Corgan’s efforts, the Smashing Pumpkins haven’t released something good in 13 years. However, their upcoming double album following Shiny and Oh So Bright Vol 1: No Past, No Future, No Sun has the highest potential of any of their albums since Adore, the following album of the smash hit Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness. This song is infinitely better than its A-side “Cyr.” With a hint of synth new wave similar to New Order, Billy Corgan goes back to his early days playing new wave in the late 80s. Also, original members James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlin returned to the band for a reunion tour a few years back and played on the last SP album, so hopefully the chemistry from the 90s returns. I miss D’Arcy though… LISTEN HERE
Drive-By Truckers - “Armageddon’s Back in Town”
I saw this band play on February 25th, 2020, and the next week I had my ECA review. I remember this show intensely as well as my review, as they were some of the last times before I had to worry about more than 10 people being in close proximity to each other or wearing a mask. I had been forcing my dad to buy tickets for around 3 months at this point and luckily, we got floor tickets. I stood near stage right, with my front to the stage basically. At the end of the show, Mike Cooley (founding member, guitarist, vocalist) shredded for about 3 minutes in front of me. Their one-step down tuned alt-country/gritty rock bearing resemblance to Alabama icons Lynyrd Skynyrd exhibits a sense of regret for Southern American history, but also a sense of pride for their traditions. Thankfully this is a country group that is on the smart and decent side of history. Sadly the songs that they released in January as well as back in 2016 are still relevant. Another song you should listen to from Drive-By Truckers is “What It Means.” LISTEN HERE
5. David Bowie - “Five Years”
The opening song on one of the all-time classic albums. It is a beautiful song and it makes you nostalgic for an era that most of us never even lived through. The perfect start to a perfect album and I believe that it’s one of the best opening songs ever. David Bowie is a legend! Hopefully you miss him as much as I do. LISTEN HERE
6. Tenacious D - “Don’t Blow It, Kage”
The collaboration we all knew we needed, but nobody knew we wanted. Some call it Jack Grey, some call it Tenacious D and Jack White. On Black Friday, I hurried to Redscroll Records in Wallingford to grab this. An exclusive A-side only single pressed and recorded at Jack White’s Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee, it has a catchy chorus and classic but new lyrics. Including a flaming guitar solo from Kyle Gass, and an appearance by Jack White, you won’t regret listening to this track. LISTEN HERE (E)
7. Ennio Morricone - “The Ecstasy of Gold”
One of the all time greatest songs on the soundtrack for one of the all time greatest movies. Sadly, the creator of this song, Ennio Morricone, passed away in early July. He will definitely be missed. However, he somehow made footage of Eli Wallach running around in a cemetery looking for a grave look amazing and climactic. I think this movie inspired many filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, but the score inspired composers like Hans Zimmer (who created one of my all time favorite soundtracks on Thelma and Louise) and John Williams. LISTEN HERE
8. The White Stripes - “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”
Now, as a diehard fan of the White Stripes, I wish I could put a less popular song by them on the list, but this one is just too good. It opens with a fuzzy guitar line and leads into Meg White’s bombastic drums. One thing most people don’t understand about the White Stripes is that if they get a bassist or a better drummer, they either suck or turn into a Flat Duo Jets ripoff (which they are already). However, Meg White is the most unique drummer in music history. She is simple yet strong. This album proves her worth to the band as all of these songs would fall apart without here. The White Stripes are one of my favorite, if not my favorite, bands of all time because they prove you don’t have to be a virtuoso to be good. LISTEN HERE
Quarantine playlist
Curated by Kat Manning (ECA ‘21), April 24, 2020
With the world going into a state of lockdown it’s easy to feel anxious and apprehensive. And after just a few days of quarantine, the boredom sets in. Well, there’s one thing that has always had the power to cure both anxiety and boredom: music. Now’s the time to listen to that artist you’ve been meaning to get around to, jam out to your favorites, or discover something new. Many of my friends, myself included, have made “quarantine playlists” of what they’ve been listening to the past few weeks. Here are a few of the songs on my list:
“The Adults are Talking”
The Strokes
The Strokes’ new album, The New Abnormal, which was just released on April 10, honestly couldn’t have come at a better time. New releases give fans something to look forward to, and the hype around an album release is a great way to make people feel like they’re a part of something. After my first listen of the album, I was completely blown away, especially with this track in particular. Its groovy sadness mixed with repetitive, simple chords makes for an undeniably catchy jam that is hard to stop listening to. I think the Strokes have proven their ability to be a creative, evolving presence with this one for sure. LISTEN HERE
“Standing in the Shower…Thinking”
Jane’s Addiction
One of the reasons I love Jane’s Addiction is how fun they can make their music. Nothing’s Shocking has a positive, infectious energy to it, with Perry Farrell’s unique voice and Dave Navarro’s fast-paced solos. “Standing in the Shower” is a track that says exactly what it wants to say in its three minutes, and is a nice contrast to some of the longer, more experimental jams on the album. I recommend listening to this track in the morning if you want to be motivated to do something productive with your day. After all, standing in the shower thinking is a perfect quarantine activity.
“Warped”
Red Hot Chili Peppers
For the past month, I have been obsessively listening to One Hot Minute, the RHCP album featuring none other than the aforementioned guitarist Dave Navarro. This track has really risen above the rest for me. Letting the vocals be a complement to the guitar line instead of featuring them like most RHCP songs do was a smart decision for this song, and set a precedent for Navarro’s guitar work on the rest of the album. His collaboration with the band brought a heavy, metal-inspired sound to the Peppers that is completely unlike the rest of their albums, and that sound really drives this hypnotic track forward. I don’t know another song that sounds like this.
“Quiet”
The Smashing Pumpkins
For me, “Quiet” is all about taking a bad mood and turning it into something positive and strong. It contains what is possibly my number one Smashing Pumpkins riff and never fails to lift my mood. The lyrics “We are the fossils / The relics of our time / We mutilate the meanings / So they're easy to deny,” stand out to me every time. If you’re looking for a heavier track that you can either sulk or dance to, or are just feeling bored, check this song out.
“Never Destination”
Pearl Jam
Really, I could have picked any song on Gigaton to put on this list. Pearl Jam releasing a new album has been one of the best parts of 2020 for me, and I think it’s so important and inspiring that they are using their voice to address climate change and the absolute responsibility we have to protect the earth. “Never Destination” is probably one of the lighter songs on the album lyric-wise, but its upbeat energy makes it a definite hit. Pearl Jam is proving rock is more alive (haha) now than ever, and the presence of a good guitar solo is something I think everyone needs right now. While I recommend this track in particular, the whole album is absolutely worth a listen.
“I Confess”
Catherine Wheel
A lot of the time, I find myself listening to the same six bands over and over again, so it’s nice to hear something by someone I’m not so familiar with. Enter “I Confess,” which has perhaps become an unconventional quarantine jam. The psychedelic 90’s distortion of this British band is easy to get lost in; if you’re a fan of The Cure, you’ll like this song. If you’re looking for uplifting music, this might not be it, but it gives the listener a sense of heavy intrigue from the immersive world it creates. Musically, it’s refreshing too: the shift at around 2:30 seems to say that the track has gotten tired of the “background noise” vibe. It becomes more focused, with the guitars playing a very cool and unexpected riff that will grab your attention.
“Shelter from the Storm”
Bob Dylan
While I admit, most of the music I listen to is rock from 1985-2005, occasionally I have been known to listen to something outside of my little bubble. As someone who grew up hearing Dylan, his voice has always been familiar to me, but he’s not someone I would usually listen to on my own. However, when Saturday Night Live premiered their first “At Home” episode this week and Coldplay singer Chris Martin covered this song, I think I fell in love with it. Clearly it was picked to be performed with the intention of bringing people together and rescuing them from the “storm” we’re all currently in through a sense of community. The perfect song to listen to if you’re feeling anxious or alone right now.
“Packt Like Sardines In a Crushd Tin Box”
Radiohead
A lot of the time, I turn to music as something that will make me happier and more energized, and I consider Amnesiac as a depressing album, generally. However, its first track is something I am currently obsessed with. It reminds me of “The Adults are Talking,” in a way: it has this hypnotic repetition that pulls you in, despite its sadness, an atypical mood that permeates through the strong beat. Thom Yorke’s vocals complement this track in a beautiful way; his simple lyricism is perfect for the electronic melody.
“No Remorse”
Metallica
wanted to include some metal on this list because I think the genre is such a good example of music being something that represents confidence and power. There’s nothing quite like listening to Kill ‘Em All very late at night and suddenly having the motivation to start a bunch of projects. I also think this track is another fun one; dance parties are for sure an antidote to quarantine blues.
“Faithful”
Pearl Jam
PJ has always been proficient at writing peaceful, comforting songs, and “Faithful” is perfect for early spring when buds are coming out on trees and nearly everyone is taking advantage of quarantine walks. I particularly love the guitar line in the chorus that underlines the confidence of the track while still maintaining the overall feel. When I looked at the lyrics, I realized it’s about coming together and believing we aren’t alone. Which is so true. Music is what we all need during this time.