Hello. I am here today to share music with you. And that's about it. I hope you are well. I am struggling with some things. Check out my podcast, The Matt Kollock Show, to learn more if you wanna.
We Begin with XTC
This week's Songs From Quarantine playlist starts off with a bunch of songs from my favorite album by my favorite band that I almost never talk about. The band is XTC. The album is Drums and Wires. I put a song from Oranges and Lemons on there, too, because it popped up and I felt like it.
There's some other shit on there, too. A few tracks from the eagerly anticipated Perfume Genius album that came out last week. I think it's just okay. A Serious Artistic Statement that we will all acknowledge as a Serious Artistic Statement for about a month or so and then we'll never consider the album again until maybe later this year when we make our lists. But that will be it. It's fine. Not the kind of art I want to make, though.
In a text conversation this week, my friend Erin and I continued to discuss Fiona Apple's Fetch the Bolt Cutters, which I honestly haven't listened to since the first week it was out. The hype has been too much for me. But I know I will return to the album. Largely because it is not trying to be a Serious Artistic Statement. Fiona Apple is having fun. She is recognizing that Serious Art requires fun, humor, whimsy, silliness and playfulness. I feel like art is not art without that stuff. So that's what I'm going to go with as I move forward with my own creations.
Anyway, the playlist begins with XTC and ends with Kelis. It's all over the place. But it's a good one. There are a couple of surprising Melvins tracks on there. There are a few different versions of Nick Lowe's classic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." Oh yeah, and I also stuck Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen" on there in honor of Steely Dan Day, which happened yesterday on May Nineteen. You see, you sing "May Nineteen" instead of "Hey Nineteen." Fun! The Cuervo Gold! All that shit!
Okay. Let's get to the music.