Sunday Tuesday George – Page 3

Tuesday Time Machine: December 2014

Hello and welcome!

Alright, here we are for Tuesday Time Machine Week 16, featuring my monthly playlist from November of 2014.

For those of you who are checking in for the first time, these monthly playlists which I’m re-visiting came about as a result of an idea I had back in January of 2010: an idea that would see me create one 80 minute playlist a month.

The reason for doing this was two-fold: I wanted to create and re-enforce very specific lived experiences and memories tied to music, and I wanted a rather consistent set of songs to propel me each month as I created my art.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below.

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

Included below is a short description of the tune I’ve included, and/or a description of the specifics memory associated with it. If you’re not trying to read all of that, just hit play on the link below!

November 2020

1. Really Love- D’Angleo and The Vanguard

I remember being at a holiday party for the organization that I used to work for, talking with an older co-worker about the surprise(ish) album release that D’Angelo had coming up the follow week.

He laughed in disbelief, and then went on to talk about how he got burned, trying to see him at a music festival in the early 2000s. Apparently, D’Angelo didn’t show up.

I feel bad re-visiting this song, because I remember getting stuck on one or two songs from the album, but not really going back through the rest of it.

This is an effortless and slinky piece of music that’s also, a low-key showcase for why Pino Palladino got this gig with The Who when John Entwistle passed away.

Walking basslines aren’t especially tricky, but making them sound this nimble and bouncy is an art-form. My hat’s off to Mr. Paladino.

2. Spilling Lines- Polica

Of all the bands that hit it big in the local scene during my Minneapolis years, I liked Polica the best.

No disrespect to Lizzo, (who I actually had dinner with once, before she got famous, as my friend did her logo) but Polica was like a new millennium version of the Cocteau Twins, and we’ll always need something like that.

This is one of their most outwardly electronic numbers, and maybe a little chilly in retrospect, but I still dig it.

3. Don’t Leave me- Blackstreet

Probably my 2nd favorite Blackstreet song, right behind, “Deep,” which will pop up in May of next year, if I remember correctly?

Idk y’all— R&B just isn’t gonna ever be as good as it was in the mid-90s, and this is the cream of the crop.

I challenge you to NOT sing along. The power of the music will compel you to, I promise.

4. Porn Star- August Alsina

Before he was famous for his, “entanglement,” or whatever the buzz word was earlier this year, August Alsina was making some top-notch, X-rated bedroom jams featuring some swagged-out, wet, wet, guitar solos.

If you want it extra nasty, listen to it, slowed and throwed.

5. Impossible Germany- Wilco

Ooh, boy. This is the song that convinced me that Nels Cline is really the best we have right now, in the under-60 category.

One part John McLaughlin, and one part Jeff Beck, with a pinch of Adrian Belew and some punk rock swagger thrown in for good measure, Mr. Cline turns in a career-best performance of perhaps his most famous Wilco guitar solo here.

I used to jam to this hard-core back in the day— I love it so much.

6. Live Like you Were Dying- Tim McGraw

Unfortunately, one of my good friends and artistic collaborators Seth was battling cancer when I made this playlist. Sadly, he would lose his battle the following April, but this song came across my radar during that time, and it makes me feel some kind of way.

He was a magnificent person, and I miss him.

7. Love Brings Changes- Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx has an Oscar, for a movie in which he was singing, and sing he does.

This was made for an HBO movie starring Queen Latifah from the late 2000s. The movie was solid, but the producers made a particularly good call, closing the film out with it.

It borders on cheesy in certain places, perhaps, but as a whole, I think this is a pretty heartfelt performance.

8. Hay- Crucial Conflict

This samples one of my favorite Funkadelic songs ever, and manages to throw some rodeo cowboy flavor into something that never had any in the first place?

Yeah, this is a song that’s really just about smoking weed, but so it goes.

9. Calm Like a Bomb- Rage Against the Machine

Once or twice a year, I go through The Battle of Los Angeles front-to-back, and more often than not, I think this is the album’s (and maybe, the band’s) crowning achievement.

Tim Cummerford’s bass tone here is FILTHY, and Tom Morello’s riffs in the chorus hit harder than an atomic piledriver from Zangief. Seriously, he almost gets another three strings of heaviness out of the dropped D bulldozer he crafted here.

It’s outrageous.

10. Eria Tarka- The Mars Volta

Did you know that Flea played bass on this whole album?

True story.

I love most everything about this song, but the highly textural, layered drumming of Jon Theodore is perhaps the show-stealer.

Can you count the time signature in the chorus?

I can’t.

11. Changeling- DJ Shadow

Man, if there’s a better song for a late night walk on a really cold evening in December, let me know, because otherwise, I think this is as good as it gets.

Effortlessly laid back, and a masterful piece of groove, this is something for a slow stroll, and a wandering mind.

Sip something.

12. The Pecan Tree- Deafheaven

So, the the opening minutes of the song are about as furious and unhinged as music gets, but then at 4:18, something magical happens, and rides clean through to the end of the song.

More so than any of the other moments (including the title cut) on an album called, “Sunbather,” this particular passage perhaps most aptly conjures the imagery of the album’s title— a collage of earth tones, sunlight, and early evening bliss. Of course, this is complimented by deep, and particular appreciation of a woman who is most likely, supreme empress of dark-haired, brown-eyed women, and in possession of trance-like gaze that will invite you deeper, until you’re swallowed whole, bathing in rapturous euphoria.

If you know this woman, please tell her that George doesn’t want a lot for Christmas…

There is just one thing he needs…

Sorry, I actually really like, “All I Want for Christmas is you.” I don’t understand the Mariah hate.

13. Blast Pt. 2- Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, and Bill Rieflin

Bill Rieflin passed away recently, which is a sad thing.

I got to see him live with King Crimson a few months before I heard this song for the first time, and while his performance was just fine live, he really shines here.

His playing her is nothing short some sort of jazz improv freakout masterpiece, and both Robert Fripp and Trey Gunn, are more than happy to bring fireworks of their own to the proceedings.

14. Get ‘em Girls/The Mizzle- Cam’Ron

If people want to hate on Cam, I guess they can, but you know what?

This is a great song.

Everything about Cam’Ron that’s both ridiculous and wonderful is on full-display here… yeah, I dunno, how can you NOT like this?

Tuesday Time Machine: November 2020

Hello and welcome!

Alright, here we are for Tuesday Time Machine Week 15, featuring my monthly playlist from November of 2020.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below.

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

November 2020

1. Dry Fantasy- Mogwai

Listening to this song, I couldn’t help but imagine a flower endlessly in bloom— lots of fuchsias, lots of violets, and a quiet optimism that is much needed, going into this coming year.

I feel good about that, as the person who did the visuals for the music video seems to have felt the same way.

If all the pretty colors in the world were to simultaneously explode, drenching the world in their brilliance, it might sound something like this.

2. Running With the Night- Lionel Richie

I think one of the re-occurring motifs throughout this month is going to revolve around me hating on someone/something HARD-CORE, and then realizing the error of my ways.

I never thought too much of Steve Lukather as a guitar player until I heard this song. The only reason I’d put some respect on his name had to do with him once saying something to the effect of, “God plays guitar with Jeff Beck’s hands,” which is, of course, true.

That said, when he hits the toggle switch mid-way through his marathon outro guitar solo on here?

Ooh, buddy.

Those who know me well, know that I like it when something gets pulled straight out of the gutter. Once he sends it to the neck in here, it’s a wrap for everyone else who thought they had it, back in ’83.

To be clear, Lionel Richie performs a very admirable, and fine pop song here too, but the star of the show here is Lukather’s leads.

3. Friends in the Corner- Foxes

Mates put me onto this one, and I’m super thankful for that.

I feel like if Karen O. was in the business of making A1 dance tunes, it might sound something like this.

This definitely went on repeat during a great many drawing sessions this month. Love it.

4. There’s No Need- Silver Liz

This has so many things that I like.

The hi-hat in here sounds filthy, the four-on-the-floor isn’t too overbearing, and I feel like this would be right at home booming throughout the caves of Zion during the freak-fest that we see taking place in Matrix Re-Loaded.

As an aside, Re-Loaded is actually, a lot better than it gets credit for.

I still have no defense for the trainwreck that is, “Revolutions,” but I’ll stand by my belief that The Matrix, The Animatrix, and Re-Loaded form one of the better sci-fi trilogies in pop culture.

5. Death Wolf- Taking Back Sunday

Circa 2006/2007ish, the “scene” band that I was PROBABLY quickest to hate on was Taking Back Sunday, because… boy, did I think they had a lame name.

Of course, I’d never actually HEARD a Taking Back Sunday song, and honestly, this might be their first song that I’ve listened to all the way through?

I’m not quite sure, but I am quite sure that I’m pretty okay with the fact that I think “the scene” actually produced some great bands in the mid-2000s and I was wrong with my misplaced disdain.

6. Crawl- Two Tongues

This is like splitting the difference between Sunny Day Real Estate and Wheatus?

I feel like this song has shades of both the former’s, “In Circles,” and the latter’s, “Teenage Dirtbag,”, and both of those songs are STONE-COLD CLASSICS.

Had I heard this in 2009 when it originally came out, I would have probably dismissed it, because I was STILL hating on “the scene.”

George circa 2009 also though pink and blue polos with boot cut jeans, and a haircut that was not dissimilar to the one favored by Screech on, “Saved by the Bell,” was a good look too, so, he also had ZERO credibility.

7. Chemtrails- Beck

Look, the drummer and bass player in here are pretty much only playing fills, on some old Billy Cobham/Rick Laird shit. On top of that, the last bit of the song contains a truly magnificent, guitar solo in the, “noise holocaust,” mold, so I’m all in.

I recall this album being a big deal when it came out, but I never listened to it because Beck was an artist that I looked down upon as a, “CMYK hipster.”

In case it’s not yet been made obvious, art school George talked PLENTY of shit, folks.

8. Last Stand- Kwabs

As haunting as haunting comes.

But also, really stunning.

9. Love Cry- Four Tet

This is something for a trance or hypnosis, which I suppose are they same thing.

Shapeshifting, and wonderfully textural, this is perhaps, one of the ultimate work songs of the 2010s.

Top-tier stuff.

10. Groceries- Rich Jones and Montana Macks featuring Mykele Deville

https://richjonesmusic.bandcamp.com/track/groceries-w-mykele-deville

So good.

Sonically, this might be my favorite type of hip-hop production, with flows to compliment.

The Fender Rhodes in here manages to both float and twinkle atop a particularly voluminous bassline— one that allows both Jones and Deville to flex, speak their peace, and be out before the 3 minute mark hits.

I’m with it.

11. Rotten Apple- Alice in Chains

Unfortunately, my connection to this song comes with a somewhat naughty anecdote, and as Indie Pong is a FAMILY OPERATION, I might have to keep that in the tuck.

That said, this is as good as Alice in Chains ever got when it came to their moody numbers, save for perhaps, “Nutshell,” which is also on this EP.

Jerry Cantrell’s guitar playing here is beautifully lyrical, and Layne Stayley’s voice is the perfect compliment.

12. To the End- My Chemical Romance

Want to see if she’s really READY FOR THAT RING?

Tell her this is gonna be the song for the first dance at the wedding, or, it’s time to break up.

You’re welcome.

13. Jupiter- Gallant

Some might argue that no one really picked up the gauntlet when Maxwell threw it down back in 1997, but if anyone’s come close, I expect it’s Gallant.

On top of having an outrageous voice, he’s got a crack band to back him up too.

The short laser beam blasts that his guitar player shreds through during the final blow-out manage to be both clean and frantic, and that’s a hard balance to hit.

14. Starless- King Crimson

My senior year of high school, I used to sit in my parent’s minivan listening to this with the volume all the way up, waiting to pick my brother up from his bass lessons.

I’m still not sure if drummers have recovered from the percussive onslaught that Bill Buford recoded for this track, and John Wetton’s bass tone never again sounded as mighty and outright brutal as it did here.

As far as final notes go for bands, mid-70s King Crimson couldn’t have gone out with more style. This is a forever piece of music.

15. Today- Fruit Bats

What would happen if Mazzy Star covered Smashing Pumpkins’, “Today,” in the style of, “Fade Into you?”

Here, we are given the answer.

This is daydream music, or, something you put on while you’re cooking in early November.

Pretty wonderful, in either instance.

Tuesday Time Machine: November 2019

Hello and welcome!

Alright, here we are for Tuesday Time Machine Week 12, featuring my monthly playlist from November of 2019.

In creating these playlists, I tried to make things flow— I wanted songs to segue very effortlessly (or abrasively) creating a sense of narrative.

Going forward, once a week, I’m going to update the Spotify playlist that you can find below.

I’d recommend not shuffling the songs, as they were sequenced the way that they were for a reason. To get the full experience, listen to them in the way in which I’ve arranged things.

November 2019

1. Notion- Tash Sultana

I was out drinking with my buddy Mike when I heard this song for the first time.

It was probably a Tuesday too, now that I think about it.

In any case, we were at the bar talking and this song was kind of like… gently massaging my ears in the background. I was vibing to it, but not to the point where I was distracted.

Or, at least that was the case until that guitar solo came along.

Lordy.

Eddie Hazel must have extended his hands from beyond the grave and tapped Ms. Sultana on the shoulder, because we’re treated to nothing short of the heartrending albeit beautiful things he used to conjure from his instrument whilst still walking this particular plane.

If you want to be further impressed, watch her one-man band the whole thing below.

So good.

2. Straight to you- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

I feel like this song was tailor-made for November in the midwest.

There’s something grand about it— it’s just so warm.

In a perfect world, this plays when you enter the room for Friendsgiving, and all of your favorite people rush you at once for a hug.

Unfortunately, we all know hugs are going to be in short supply this holiday season due to social distancing, but I expect you can imagine, if you try hard enough.

3. Cellophane- FKA Twigs

Mates put me on to this, and I’m glad he spoke so very highly of it, because I MIGHT not have listened to this ASAP if he hadn’t.

This made my top songs of the 2010’s and… my goodness, what a vocal performance.

Listening to FKA Twigs sing here is like watching the world’s most beautiful glass sculpture twirl effortlessly in mid-air.

It catches (and subsequently, reflects) light, in all the most stunning ways, and you can’t help but find yourself in a place of humility, when made aware of its presence.

This is a perfect piece of music, and a gift to music listeners of all stripes.

4. Mota- Russian Circles

The Moog Taurus bits in here had a grown man WEEPING at age 32.

Well… almost. I was REALLY, REALLY, close, I swear.

The Taurus is a show-stealer, but it’s not the only star here— this whole song is excellent.

It’s a tricky thing going from unrepentant, delicate beauty, to a death metal beatdown that would make even the Swedes jealous, but these three gentleman pull it off.

Also, big Shouts to Kurt Ballou, who produced this, and knows a thing or two about heavy.

5. Crusher Destroyer- Mastodon

Speaking of heavy— yow.

I’ve been listening to this song for the better part of 14 years now, and I still haven’t figured out if the opening seconds of this track sample the T. Rex’s signature bellow from the first Jurassic Park.

I feel like that’s definitely what it is, but perhaps not.

In any case, this song is about as vicious as a T. Rex, and drummer Brann Dailor essentially plays fill for all 2 minute and 15 seconds of it.

Come for the fills, but stay for the deep-fried Georgia BBQ guitar licks that Brent Hinds manages to sneak in amongst the PURE SONIC CARNAGE.

6. I’ll be- Edwin McCain

I’m sure I heard this song 150 times when it originally came on the radio, back when I was 10.

It took me until age 32 to realize that there was a saxophone in here though, and I feel like that’s kinda funny.

In any case, hate as one may, I love this song, so, so, much.

I feel like this is a wedding dance song?

If you’ve danced to this at your wedding, please comment below.

7. Show U Off- Lud Foe featuring Lil’ Uzi Vert

As much as I like to hate on what I call the, “swag rappers,” (or the, “sub-lyricals”) I can’t lie that they make some catchy-ass tunes, that are a lot of fun to dance to.

This is one of those songs.

8. The Players Theme- The Sound Stylistics

If this hasn’t been used in some movie for a car chase or extra wild bar fight, Hollywood is fucking up.

This is some DEEP groove funk, and lordy, lord is it MEAN. Everyone here is flexing either subtly or majorly, and within that high-wire balancing act exists a pretty much perfect instrumental funk song.

I’m all for this.

9. Remember- Seinabo Sey (featuring Jacob Banks)

I can’t remember the context in which I heard this, and I feel like that’s kind of sad, as it’s such a striking piece of music. Seinabo Say and Jacob Banks’ voices are both highly distinct, and occupy very different sonic spaces that allow them to interact in a particular pleasing way.

This is a kind song. The world needs more music like this.

10. Like You’ll Never See me Again- Alicia Keys

I guess when this song came out, it was kind of a big deal, but I didn’t hear it for the first time until last year.

Sometimes, mainstream modern R&B is very difficult for me to FEEL, but this one hits hard. Alicia Keys’ voice is always astonishing, but here, she sells the pleading nature of the song’s narrative with tremendous aplomb.

It’s a very admirable performance.

11. Harper Lee- Little Green Cars

I have a thing for vocal harmonies, so particularly well-executed gang vocals will forever capture my heart.

I feel like they don’t pop up too often in modern music, so I always get a little obsessed when I hear a song like this.

This song screams summer to me, more than it screams November, but so it goes. Think of it as a blast of sunshine in your life when it’s getting dark at 5 o’clock.

12. High and Dry- Radiohead

The first 20 or 30 times I heard this, I didn’t even know it was a Radiohead song.

One of their earliest offerings, it’s a very, very, far cry from the likes of, “Burn the Witch,” but that’s okay, because it’s a completely pleasant and wonderful pop tune.

13. Back That Azz up- Juvenile featuring Mannie Fresh & Lil Wayne

I feel like this is perhaps, best offered without comment from me.

Also, this is perhaps, best served chopped and screwed.

14. Wake Up- Rage Against the Machine

Did I watch The Matrix last November?

I don’t think I did, which is making me confused as to why I included this song.

In any case, early, early, Rage that’s PRETTY good.

15. Sh’Diah- Bon Iver

Apparently, the letters in this song’s title are an acronym for, “Shittiest Day in American History.”

This is in reference to the day after the 2016 presidential election, as per Justin Vernon.

This is a deeply sorrowful song, but also, a stunning, stunning tune. Most of it is just a saxophone solo, honestly, but that’s okay, because it very amply conveys the hurt felt by so many in the country, on that particular day.

Sunday Tuesday George released an album, and it’s a ride

Our very own Sunday Tuesday George released a psychadelic instrumental album that’s somewhere between Flying Lotus and SOPHIE and I’m honestly here for it. I’m sure there are better comps for this, crazy psychadelic instrumentals aren’t my area of expertise. It’s actually probably more in the realm of James Ferraro/Aphex Twin. It’s a wild ride, just look at the tracklist:

00:00:00 – Pembroke Pines Ex Plus Alpha Turbo Championship Edition (feat. HaleyHammerhand)
00:04:28 – 30ft Giant Virgo Girl
00:09:26 – A Traditional Dade County Greeting (feat. HaleyHammerhand)
00:14:52 – Computer People
00:16:38 – Hanshin Tigers (feat. HaleyHammerhand)
00:21:04 – Lizard Criminals (feat. HaleyHammerhand)
00:25:52 – The Gate Opens At 7000 (feat. HaleyHammerhand)

Some really fun stuff on here. I knew STG was a musician because he does some really cool stuff with one of projects La Seine, which is awesome stuff, but I did not see this coming. This means that the whole time STG has been blogging with us he’s had this musicianship just stewing in the back of his head, dying to come out.

Makes me wonder what the rest of the team has going on behind the thesaurus.com driven exploration of new music that we do here at Indie Pong- is BPMHill holding back his own thrash metal demon screaming as he types? Is Karl Octagon a secret pop superstar just waiting to be discovered? Does Cassie stay up late at night writing emo lyrics in a small book that she keeps in a lockbox in her closet? (probably yes for the last one tbh). There is genius afoot amongst the Indie Pong staff I guess, who knew? This guy…

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A little more info about the album:

Ligier Countach is a collaborative effort between George and his buddy Sean Lynch from college, which sees them joined by Sean’s girlfriend, Hayley Rheinhart on violin.

Splitting production duties between the two of them, both Sean and George handle drum duties, with Sean also handling synths and effects, and George handling guitar, and some of the keyboard/synths in, ’30ft Giant Virgo Girl.’

The tracks were assembled at a distance, shot back and forth over the internet between Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado.