SWEEP FREQUENCY #403: Half a Nation
New tunes from Faerybabyy, 2nd Grade, Pivot Gang, sweet93, Donnie & Joe Emerson, and more...
OPENING RIFF: "We have not yet begun to explore the true power of the Word, I thought. What if we broke all the rules, played games with the evidence, manipulated language itself, made History a partisan ally?" -- Robert Coover, The Public Burning
SMALL TALK: Language can often feel oppressive, but it can often feel like an act of resistance, too. While I'd mostly avoided the Irish rap group Kneecap, I did always think it was deeply cool that they rapped in Irish, a language barely anyone speaks and has all sorts of anti-colonial implications. As it turns out, that premise makes for a fucking awesome and funny film. Serving as an exaggerated version of their origin story, Kneecap really blew me away even though I knew the reviews were universally positive. There's a frantic speed to things that remind me a bit of Trainspotting, and if you didn't know the trio were playing themselves, you'd assume that DJ Próvaí was some sort of seasoned Irish comedy actor. The group's politics shine through beautifully (plus, appropriately, the film has some Palestinian flags peppered in the background), serving as a way that speaks to the plight of post-Troubles Belfast without rubbing your nose in it. It's the rare music film that you could love and appreciate even if you didn't know that a some of it is true, which is more than you can say for a lot of other films that fit this bill. Beyond that, I also continued a surprising streak of enjoying Netflix films after finally checking out Rebel Ridge. While I definitely enjoyed the New Orleans filming backdrops, I was shocked by how much restraint got used to build tension in an action flick that's about civil asset forfeiture of all things. Let's get to this week's new music.
Nearly Every Song From Every 2024 Newsletter Will Be Available in Playlist Form: SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
1. FAERYBABYY - "DARLIN'": It feels like shimmering, jangly indie pop has fallen by the wayside lately, but Payton Morse has started restoring my faith in the sound with her Faerybabyy moniker. A song that is brimming with sweetness and sadness simultaneously, "darlin'" even has a killer surf-pop element, and Morse's distinct vocals really elevate things to another level.
2. 2ND GRADE - "I WANNA BE ON YOUR MIND": On the other side of the jangle-pop spectrum, I'm loving this new track from 2nd Grade, who are releasing a sprawling 23 track record in a couple weeks. Perfect for these crisper months, "I Wanna Be On Your Mind" features a vocal assist from Catherine Dwyer of newsletter favs Remember Sports, and it's the kind of breezy power-pop I can get behind these days.
3. PIVOT GANG - "WHO AT THE DOOR": While I always dig the heavy subject matter of Saba's solo records, I have an especially soft spot for when he assembles with the rest of the Pivot Gang because it's fun as hell. With No ID providing the production, "Who at the Door" has these Chicago dudes lifting each other to new heights with each bar, and the whole thing bumps in the best way.
4. SWEET93 - "WHAT'S TRUE?": I've started to feel like "shoegaze" is losing its meaning as a descriptor these days, but acts like sweet93 actually fit the bill. Toeing the line between ornate and hazy, "What's True?" will strike a chord with anyone who's felt like an unreliable narrator in their own lives, and it makes me want to get check out her debut record from a few years back right away.
5. DONNIE & JOE EMERSON - "SEARCHING": I wrote in here pretty recently about my love for Donnie & Joe Emerson's music, and I'm pleasantly surprised to find out that they're dropping their first new tunes since those magical days of their origin story. Technically recorded over a decade ago, "Searching" is further proof that Donnie Emerson has a very singular way of thinking about pop music and its arrangements, and this feels just as beautiful as anything he released as a teen.
PARTING SHOTS: I hope everyone in Florida is safe today, but it's becoming very apparent that the "storm of the century" has become the norm. Too many newsletter favs to list are on this massive compilation benefiting folks in Asheville and the surrounding areas. Anyone fighting against AI is a hero, so shout out to the Wikipedia editors trying to fight back against the slop. Predictably, I couldn't click on this oral history the New Orleans Pelicans' two terrifying mascots quick enough.
ENCORE: "JUNGLE LOVE"