SPEAKER_01: 0:42

Welcome back to another super awesome mix. My name is Matt Sithom, not with my co-founder and co-host Sam Abu Salbi, but again with um our other favorite co-host, Jen Tully. Jen's joining me again. Hi, Jen.

SPEAKER_03: 0:57

Hi there.

SPEAKER_01: 0:58

Uh so yeah, if you guys aren't listening to the forward theory, uh Sam just posted a new episode there and told the world that he just had a new baby. He and his wife are celebrating that. So he's taking a break for this show, and thankfully we have Jen to fill in. And we've got another new music mix, this time for the month of October. And Jen, we were just talking before the show. We think we we'd like to pat ourselves on the back here and think we did a really good job.

SPEAKER_03: 1:26

I think we did a really good job. I do. I think you know, sometimes the new music is a little scarce or it's hit or miss. You know, we're kind of scraping around for some new music, and I think we nailed it. I think October's got it all. It's got some bops, it's got some spooky songs, um, it's got some deep lyrics. Like I think we, I think we kind of uh I think we nailed it with the October New Music mix. And I have to say I did channel Sam. So I'm, you know, I'm hoping that this is representative of maybe some of the songs he might have picked too.

SPEAKER_01: 1:53

I feel I feel like you did. I think he's gonna use some of these when he comes back for the best of. So I I think you did a good job there. And just to forewarn everyone, okay, just so we don't look like fools here, there's no Taylor Swift on this mix, but that doesn't mean we don't care, okay? So you gotta go over to Jen's show, what are you listening to? And you get really a full album review that you guys put up, you and your friend Heather. And I mean, just I thought you guys just did an amazing job with that, but we're gonna leave the Taylor Swift review to the Taylor Swift super fans.

SPEAKER_03: 2:28

That is right. And I can't, I mean, please, there's no way I could have fit it in if I wasn't allowed to just run the mic with Taylor Swift for a good 45 minutes. So, yes, we had to dedicate an entire episode to the life of a showgirl. Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 2:44

All right, well, let's get into uh this mix.

SPEAKER_03: 2:49

Yes, let's do it. Well, we're gonna start with you this week. Um, I cannot wait to hear more about this song because I think this is the perfect song to kick us off. I think this sort of sets the tone. Um, and your first pick is a song called What Is the Reason for It by David Byrne and Ghost Train Orchestra, featuring Haley Williams of Paramour.

SPEAKER_01: 3:10

Yeah, what uh I I put this first because I was like, it's just got this amazing intro and just the rhythm of it and the feel, like just right off the bat. Uh David Byrne and with mostly Ghost Train Orchestra on the whole album has a new album called What is the Sky? Which I think is such an amazing question. And then this one is also a question, what is the reason for it? And like this could have just been an instrumental, right? And I could have listened to this all day and it was like this is this is awesome, right? And David Byrne, such an amazing musician. Um but then you get into the lyrics and like it's such an interesting like song because it's it's about love, but it's in a very sort of like philosophical way. Like, what is this thing? It it makes us feel happy, it makes us feel sad, it makes us feel fulfilled. Why does this even exist? And I was like, wow, what an amazing because again, you could just listen to this song and kind of be in a good mood and kind of vibe to it, but like you listen to the lyrics, and this is kind of a deep philosophical question. And so I I was kind of just blown away on how this existed on two tracks. And and we've got a few songs, I think, in this mix that kind of does does that well uh this month. But um yeah, I mean, I I had to start off with this one, and and this whole album, What is the sky, is really cool. There was actually, when I first listened to it, I had like two or three songs on the new music mix, so I had to kind of whittle it down and I ended up picking this one. But yeah, just another amazing offering from one of America's I think greatest, maybe greatest musicians, just in general.

SPEAKER_03: 4:50

Seriously, and greatest question askers, you know, David Byrne and Talking Heads are like, we I can think of a hundred questions they've asked in their songs. How did I get here? Is this my life? You know, like there are plenty. They're great at asking questions, and this song is no different. Um, and you mentioned in the beginning, I love the horns. It sounds very like Spanish or even Tejano a little bit. Like it just feels like a great party vibe. And I mean, you do. You always get some fantastic lyrics from David Byrne. They're always weird, they're always deep, they're often questions. Um, and this song just brings all of that together and it coalesces so beautifully in this sort of meditation on what is love? What why do we all care so much about it? Why do we all want it? Why do we all need it? You know, like I think that it's true. It sounds like it's kind of a fun, silly party song. And then you get into those lyrics and you're like, oh, this one's this one's kind of deep. And you have a couple of songs like that on this, um, on the on the playlist this week. So I'm excited to keep like trucking through here because we do have some really, I felt like this was a really lyrically deep week. Um, so I um I thought this was a great way to kick it off. And the song also, too, is very cinematic, you know, like it could be in a musical or something. Like it's very, very um, it's a powerful song. I loved this one. I was glad this was our first track.

SPEAKER_01: 6:06

Well, sometimes love can make you angry, and uh, I think we get some great advice here in track two. Um, track two is Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis.

SPEAKER_03: 6:15

And now I know lots of listeners are saying, Jen, this isn't a new song.

SPEAKER_00: 6:20

This is a new music. This is wait a minute.

SPEAKER_03: 6:23

I know, I'm about to burst everyone's bubble here and say, no, no, no. This is uh this is a 30-year-old song, but but but Oasis is releasing their fantastic second album, What's the Story Morning Glory, a 30th anniversary edition, um came out on October 3rd. And if you've not spent any time with this album, go back. These first two Oasis albums were life-changing, right? Definitely maybe followed like 13 months later with What's the Story Morning Glory? And it is insane. And I'm not even, I'm not even talking about the lore between the Gallagher brothers, which you know, thank goodness those two brawling bros are um are back together. And I honestly I have to say, me, probably like millions of other people in the world are shocked that they have not completely imploded on this tour yet.

SPEAKER_01: 7:18

Like that's I heard a friend of mine, I forget uh forgetting who it was or what part of the country he was in, but he's telling me he had tickets to this tour. And I said, Did you buy the insurance? Because they always gave you the little ticket insurance on the way out, and I'm almost like, no way, man, I'm going. But this time, like if I'm buying tickets to an Oasis show, like I'm I'm gonna go and pay for that insurance because I'm not sure they're gonna make it.

SPEAKER_03: 7:43

Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of people lost a lot of money in Vegas because I think the like the smart money was on. They're gonna make one, maybe two tour dates, and then this thing's blowing up. But they have kept it together. So way to go, Gallagher Brothers. Maybe there's something to be said for you know, like 30 years of growth, hopefully, 30 years of personal growth to keep these guys together. But you know, Oasis was sort of like the soundtrack to my early college days, like just anywhere you went, an Oasis song was on. And then I think that's also part of the problem, right? Like some people, some of their really popular songs got super overplayed. But that's why I chose Don't Look Back in Anger. I think this is such a good song. I love the way that it opens, slip inside the eye of your mind. Don't you know you might find a better place to play? You know, where you're like, just, you know what, just hop in there, think about things, see what's going on. You know, I just from the very beginning, from the very first time I heard the song, I just thought that they were great. I this was one of my favorite Oasis songs immediately and has stayed that way over the last 30 years. Um, and you know, their reunion was the first time they'd appeared together in over 15 years. I mean, it was serious. The brawl between the two of them. Their fighting on stage is kind of legendary. And it's kind of also too part of what makes Oasis the band that they are. You know, they will talk shit about any and everybody. There's like a famous brawl, you know, with them and Maddie Healy. There's a famous brawl with them and Screaming Trees, there's a famous brawl. I mean, really anybody. Like if you see anybody they ever toured with hated them.

SPEAKER_01: 9:23

So it's interesting because I think that instability almost lends itself to the popularity because you know there's a limited, there's a limited release here, right? It's kind of like uh we're it's like going to this show. Like if they were to roll through Dallas, I would probably you know pay anything to go just because it's like, when is this ever gonna happen again? Like if this show really happens, I I think yeah, you have to go. So yeah, I I love this song. I mean, I'm with you, and and I love the fact that you included something from a remaster as a new music mix because for a lot of people out there it probably is new music, they haven't heard this song. Um, but yeah, sometimes there is uh a new quality to a remaster too, which is also really cool. This has always been one of my favorite Oasis songs. I included it on um one of our graduation mixes. Um, because again, you know, when I when I think of graduation, it's like think of the good times. Don't don't look back in anger. So I think this is a great song for that.

SPEAKER_03: 10:20

It is, and it looks like there's a this new 25th anniversary edition is packed with all kinds of extra bonus features, some remasters, stuff like that. So, yes, definitely. If you're not familiar with this Oasis album, go back and check it out. It is worth the listen. All right, well, next we're gonna head into this. Might be my favorite track on our on our playlist this week, Matt. Your second pick is a song called Hyper Empathy by Cold War Kids.

SPEAKER_01: 10:48

Yeah, Cold War Kids, little rock band out of California. Love it. Um I always enjoy their stuff, you know. It's a kind of there's so many bands that I I sort of discover and rediscover again every time they come out with new stuff, and I think they're in that category. Um this one is is such a cool song because it's got like this description of like a couple fighting and then coming back together. And I think lyrically, it's such it does such a good job of describing it physically, kind of where the two are positioned against each other, and then also the thoughts running through his mind and kind of okay, if don't say anything right now, wait a second, okay, hold on. This is this, you're gonna blow it, you know. And uh I mean I don't know, for me, I I I can totally relate to that situation where you're you're trying to make it right. Um, and I also love the line in here up to our old tricks, we fall into our same old ways because that is something I think we all do, and I think the older you get, you start to recognize, or you should, or hopefully you are, recognizing the patterns in your own life and trying to break the bad ones and keep the good ones and all the other stuff. But I mean, I I was just blown away by just lyrically where this one was and and just the different levels uh on which it described the situation and the and the painting here.

SPEAKER_03: 12:17

Same exact note. I I love Cold War Kids too, they're a favorite band of mine. Um, have loved them for a long time, even since I was living in California. They're they were based out of Long Beach at the time. So I've had the opportunity to see them live a couple times. They're great. But this song is the single best description of a fight that I've ever heard, especially for a long-term couple. It is exactly to the point that I listened to it. I was in my car when I was first listening to the mix, about to leave my driveway. You know, this was on while I was getting set up, and the lyrics caught me so much that I stopped the car. I went back inside. I'm like, Patrick, my husband and partner of 27 years. Um, I'm like, you have to hear this. Like, this is the most accurate description of a fight I've ever heard in my life. It really is. And at the same time, it feels like such an anthem. You know, they're such a they're such a big band in terms of their sound. Like they can fill a stadium, yet the lyrics are so personal and vulnerable at times that it almost feels like they're, you know, they're playing in a really small venue. But uh, when we're talking about lines, I just loved it where, and maybe this is the very female, you know, you talked about how he's very carefully approaching. It talks about him like not wanting to mess up the balance. And I love the line where it says, You got that look in your eye like you would kill me if you could. Like I'm standing between you and who you might have been in a perfect world. Like, yeah, I felt that. I mean, I know I've looked at Patrick like that. I I felt that though. I'm like, I just think that they really and the song takes you on the full journey, right? It takes you from like the moment they start arguing to the moment they kind of like recover.

SPEAKER_01: 13:58

Yeah, no, it is a it's a it's just you know, spoiler alert, it's a happy ending, but it's uh no, I just thought that was so well done. And like listen to it a few times, right? Because I think you're gonna pick up a few nuances each time. It's just like, oh, that's such a great little detail. Like, yeah, if if songs are just like three-minute novels, I mean, this one is just so excellently written. I mean, I I was just blown away.

SPEAKER_03: 14:22

Me too. I love it. New favorite.

SPEAKER_01: 14:24

All right, track four. It is Play Your Guitar by Electric Guest.

SPEAKER_03: 14:30

This song is just a bop. I just like this one. I like this band. Um, I like the song. It was just fun, you know, as I was listening through some of the new music and kind of trying to make decisions on which, you know, which six tracks I wanted to bring. This one just kept rising to the top. I kept thinking, you know, I bet a lot of people don't know Electric Guests. Maybe I shouldn't include them. And then I thought, you know what? I like this one, and that's just the reason to include them that maybe a lot of people don't know them. But um, they have a new album coming out called 10K, and it'll be out um on October 10th. So this Friday it comes out. Well, we're recording when we're recording, it comes out on October 10th. Um, and Electric Guest is a Los Angeles-based band. They formed around 2011. Um, this is their fourth studio album, and their three studio album, the three studio albums prior to this are also really good. They released one in 2012, one in 2017, one in 2019. Um, and I just think that they're such an interesting sounding band. Um, they always have like kind of cool lyrics that have sometimes double entendre, sometimes a hidden meaning. Um, I discovered them on a song from their second album. Uh, their second album is called Plural, and there was a song called Dear to Me. That's like a very sweet, soft kind of song. It's different than this. Um, but I just loved this one. And I think that for me, this song, you know, they have a line that keeps repeating that says, play your guitar now. I'm vibrating higher, is kind of the refrain that repeats during the song. And it to me, that just is saying like music raises the vibes always, right? Like if you're feeling sad, if you're feeling mad, if you're feeling um angry or disappointed, I feel like that can be turned around and you can get back into like a higher vibration way of thinking, a more positive place just by turning on a song. And that really resonated with me. Um, and I think that this song is a good example of that. You do feel good. It's like, I think it's an easy song to listen to. It's not, you know, super challenging or deep, other than, yeah, you know what? Music is great for lots of reasons. And one of them is that it just can raise the vibes, it can change the mood. And so definitely if you're not familiar with Electric Guest, check them out. They're super cool and really easy to listen to. And I feel like it's a band name you can drop that a lot of people aren't gonna know. And you're like, oh yeah, yeah, I've been listening to Electric Guest, and people are like, oh, Electric Guest. So here you can sound cool a little bit, right? That's what we're here for. Keep the old folks sounding cool.

SPEAKER_01: 16:54

Um yeah, I would I, you know, the speaking of that, I was not uh familiar with them, but I I thought this one was great. And you know, it says play your guitar, and you can hear kind of the steady guitar in the back, and the guitar kind of has a rock feel to it, but it's got this bass line in it that just picks up the energy, right? So it would be interesting if you dropped that bass line, how it almost becomes like a folk song in a way, right? And then you added that bass line and it just takes it to another level. And I think the lyrics talk about the future, and I feel like with the bass line and everything, it it almost sounded like something from the future. Yeah, so I thought that was really well done, how they kind of laid that out both lyrically and sonically. So um, yeah, really cool pick. I I definitely want to go in and listen to more of their stuff and and see what else they can do because just by this one, you could tell from a composition standpoint they can they can probably do quite a bit.

SPEAKER_03: 17:45

Yeah, they do. They're great, and they're great at arranging their songs as well. The way they lay out a song, I think, is really unique and cool. So definitely. All right. Next on the playlist, we're heading down to a song called You Know My Name by Foxy Shazam featuring Corey Feldman?

SPEAKER_01: 18:03

Question mark? The one and only Corey Feldman. Um, all right, so let's talk about Foxy Shazam. They are uh classified as a glam rock band. I got introduced to them because I watch a show on HBO called Peacemaker, starring John Cena based on the uh comic book, the DC comic. Um, and it's done by James Gunn, who's done the Guardians of the Galaxy movie. He just did Superman. Um and both season one and season two, he does these elaborate title sequences where there's this like really unique choreograph dance with all the actors. And in season two, they do it to a song called Oh Yeah by Foxy Shazam Shazam, which I just love. Like I listen to this song, I look forward to the title sequence every week of this show. Um, and it's uh anyway, so that that's a great song. It kind of got me going down the rabbit hole with that band. Um and they're really cool. And they just put out this new single um that features Corey Feldman. And when I heard this song originally, I thought it had elements of like a TV sitcom theme. And I thought the inclusion of Corey Feldman was almost like this kind of shout out to like a child star kind of thing that you know my name, right? And you know these like just one piece of me, but but we don't really know who these people become as they become adults, right? And this is kind of the sort of the box they get they get you know put in. And so that's how I interpreted the song when I heard it. But then the more I read up on it, they they were doing this homage to the king of pop, Michael Jackson, and of course Corey Feldman was like friends with Michael Jackson. And if you've ever seen him perform, because he has music of his own, he dances a lot like Michael Jackson, he tries to sound like him, all of those things. So they brought him along. He actually does not detract from the song. So if you're looking at this and going, why do I want to listen to a song featuring Corey Feldman? It is not going to, it's a good song, like it's a very listenable song. You're not even going to notice Corey Feldman on the track, really. But that's why he was included. Um, and I I think it it just on a lot of levels, it's really well done, but they're a super fun band to listen to.

SPEAKER_03: 20:20

Yeah, I completely agree. I'm joking about Corey Feldman just because yes, he is having like a moment on social media a little bit now too, where he's like posting some of his own stuff. And for me, it is not very great.

SPEAKER_01: 20:33

It's not great, it's not great, like it's not even for you. Like, just generally, it's not great.

SPEAKER_03: 20:38

So good. So when I and honestly, I love this song so much that when I went back, it wasn't until when I was putting my show notes together that I was like, Corey Feldman was in there. Like, I, you know, and I did the same thing. I had to understand like why Corey Feldman was in there. But yeah, now it all came together. Now that I have the explanation that this was sort of like an homage to Michael Jackson, where I think it was the story is like the lead singer had a dream that Michael Jackson came and told him the elements of the per of a perfect pop song. And so that's how this song sort of came into being. And I'm like, okay. And from the very first note, this song is a mood booster, right? Like you immediately are like ready to go, it's happy, it's something you could put on at a party, and everybody would be immediately like, oh yeah, it's time to party. Um, and I also too felt like this was a note that I had like this is the October mix. So I think it is fair to have some like spooky or Halloween type songs on the playlist. And to that end, this song kind of sounds like it could be from like the Rocky Horror Picture Show or something, you know, like it's very, like it's fun like that. And so that's kind of another reason I thought, you know what, there is a place for this song on this playlist. And again, I think you're a hundred percent right. Foxy Sujam is great, and you don't even really notice Corey Feldman, like no disrespect to Corey Feldman, like I'm a Goonies gal, like I watched Feldman and Haim, I love the Lost Boys, like all of the things. And I'm not a fan of his music. So don't not listen to this song because he's attached to it, because he really, you're a hundred percent right. He does not detract. I mean, I don't know that he adds a lot either, but he doesn't detract from the song.

SPEAKER_01: 22:14

So that's right, that's right. Totally agree, totally agree. All right, your next pick. It is Better Days by Yellow Card.

SPEAKER_03: 22:21

How happy am I to hear from Yellow Card again. Like, I mean, I kind of put them away. And this was one where I kind of I kind of channeled Sam a little bit. I feel like I've got, I feel like I would have a backer in Sam with Yellow Card. So um, Better Days is um the upcoming 11th studio album by Yellow Card, and that is also set to release on October 10th. I feel like most people know this band from their major label debut album, um, Ocean Avenue, and the title track off of that album, which it's still such a great song. When I found this, I kind of went into a yellow card, you know, rabbit hole, and my rabbit hole stopped where it always does after the Ocean Avenue album, just because I love that one so much. Like I think I was, I'm gonna listen to the whole catalog again. They had some great songs, and then that album is just so strong that that's always where I land. Um, but you know, this is a band that's been around since the late 90s. I think they're from Florida, if I remember right, maybe Jacksonville, Florida. Um, but they started in 1997. Um, they all met in like um it wasn't a music school necessarily, but I think it was like a college for art for the arts.

SPEAKER_02: 23:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 23:33

Um, and I love that they got their name. You know, anybody that knows me knows where um my husband played soccer um in college and after. And so I love yellow card. I always thought that that was a great name. And it turns out that they were all friends when they were young. And so whenever somebody did something stupid at a party, such as you know, spilled a beer on the carpet, they cited soccer laws and gave the offender, gave the offender a yellow card for a party foul. I like that, yeah. So that's their party foul, yellow card. So I love that. Um, one thing that did that I never ever noticed before, and I am not sure how I missed it, but one of the founders and lead guitarists of the band was a guy named Ben Harper. And I was like, but it's not like steal my kisses from you, Ben Harper, right? Like I went back and it was like, remember when we did the episode with Lainey Wilson and her dad's name was Brian, and I was super confused because I'm like, wait a minute, like her dad was one of the beach boys? I'm like, where are those other sisters in the left out that cow get left out? Like that was kind of the moment I had with this.

SPEAKER_00: 24:37

I'm like, 30 years younger than the other daughter. What is happening?

unknown: 24:42

I know.

SPEAKER_03: 24:43

So I had that moment a little bit um whenever I saw Ben Harper. But, you know, I think that this band also, too, like they helped define that sort of pomp, pop punk sound that came, you know, during uh that was so of the moment um with bands like you know, Blink 182 and Some 41 and Fallout Boy and 311. And I feel like now I'm reading like a list of Sam's favorite bands.

SPEAKER_01: 25:06

I know, yeah, this is perfect.

SPEAKER_03: 25:09

I just think that this, you know, this song reminds me of good times, and it's better days is a great name. And I think if you were a fan of that Ocean Avenue album, this feels like a real return to that to me. It feels like they're using the same formula, the same sensibility um to kind of get back to that sound. So I'm super excited for this whole album and I love this song. I'm happy. Welcome back, yellow card. I missed you.

SPEAKER_01: 25:33

Yeah, I I totally agree on the throwback sound because I mean, I immediately recognize the name, right? From from the 90s, right? But then the sound of it, I was like, this still sounds good, and it does sound like a 90s alternative song. So it's gonna be right in that wheelhouse. Travis Barker gets a writing credit on this one, which is also interesting. Um, and you're right, like both just lyrically and musically, it just sounds good, it's gonna make you feel good. Like this, this is just uh, yeah, it's a it's a mood changer. And um, yeah, for me and and for our other 90s music fans out there, I think you're gonna love the fact that, oh my god, yeah, yellow card. Oh, they're still making music. Hey, this sounds like kind of what they did before. That's awesome. Yeah, which is which is always cool.

SPEAKER_03: 26:14

Yeah, it is. It's nice to have just like a return to a band that you loved and have them sound the same. I'm all for like growth and a departure every now and again. But this was fun to just go back to good old yellow card classics.

SPEAKER_01: 26:28

Good old yellow card.

SPEAKER_03: 26:30

All right. Our next track on the playlist is a song called Dang by Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

SPEAKER_01: 26:37

Yeah, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, I think they've been on the mix before, at least they've they've kind of been, I don't know, someone Sam and I've talked about, maybe even offline, but they're out of North Carolina. I I think they just have a really cool vibe to them, right? And it's it's pretty straightforward, kind of alt-rock. I I love the line in here. I've been working on a project, it's called you. Um I think I think that's kind of a neat, neat line, like semi-romantic sort of thing, but but not overly. Um yeah, I mean, they've got a new album called Bones coming out this year, and like I've always enjoyed their past work, and and I think it's just kind of a good that they're a good rock band. So so there's nothing too deep here lyrically or musically, but I think it's just really well done.

SPEAKER_03: 27:21

I do too. And it's timely that these guys dropped on our playlist because uh for uh for those informed listeners and music fans, um, some will know that weekend one of ACL Festival just happened. And so I had the privilege of seeing Rainbow Kitten Surprises set um on Sunday. Nice. So they it was great to see them live. So fun, so playful, um, just a really cool band to see. And I think that the lyrics in this one are just so clever and play and playful. You know, they have a line that says, um, pedal to the pedigree, metal to the medicine, better than the beta, please. And I'm like, you know what? That's great. They've got a lot packed into that. It sounds good. It's like the meaning is cute is kind of quirky and fun. Like, and I think that that like that set of lyrics kind of sums up who they are. They're just about having a good time. They're like, they are very playful, they are very fun. I think that this is for sure a band worth exploring if you don't know them. You may not love every song, but you're gonna like a lot of them. That's what I say about this band. Like, you don't, you might not like listen, like find them to have like no-skip albums all the time, but you're gonna find three or four tracks that you love from Rainbow Kit and Surprise. So glad to see them feature on this week's or this month's playlist.

SPEAKER_01: 28:37

All right, track eight. And this gave me immediate flashbacks to the battle season two, where we talk about true crime songs, because the title here is This is the Killer Speaking by the Last Dinner Party.

SPEAKER_03: 28:50

Yeah, so this song um will be on their new album. Um, it's called From the Pyre, releasing on October 17th. And this is only their second studio album. So Last Dinner Party are a British indie rock band. They're from London. They formed around 2021. And I first discovered this band uh last year in 2024 with their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy. Um, and they had a song on there called Sinner that is really very different than this song, but also an equally good song. And um I thought, you know what? I since it's our October new mix, new music mix, I've got to like drop something for those that are into making a Halloween playlist, right? You can only put Thriller and Monster Mash and Heads Will Roll on a playlist so many times.

SPEAKER_01: 29:38

And then go back to Monster Mash. No, you can go right back to Monster Mash.

SPEAKER_03: 29:41

I can't. I'm like a stickler now. I'm a big snob about the Halloween music. I'm like, let's get creative, people. So here's your song. This is your uh this is your Halloween mix song that is not uh not expected in terms of uh one that that people listen to all the time. And this one gives me like bloodletting, the vampire song, you know, by Concrete Blonde. It gives me those kind of vibes. Um, but then it has this like mood change in the chorus where it sounds like it got it kind of goes upbeat for a second and then it goes right back to the spooky vibes. So I just felt there was like a lot here for this song.

SPEAKER_01: 30:18

I I agree. And I I kind of love that that it kind of went back and forth with that. I think it kind of added to the creepiness a little bit because you know, it almost the lyrics got darker as the sound got a little more pop sounding. Which was, you know, so I could see this being used in, you know, like a a movie or something in in kind of a dark comedy sort of way, or like an American psycho type movie, right? Where it's like they they really did try to um bring lightness to these awful things going on on screen. So yeah, that's that's kind of what this evoked in my head. But it was really, I mean, really well done. I think this is an interesting band. I mean, if this is my introduction to them, I really want to get into it because it's like what what a cool way to present like this lyric. And it's a it's a really interesting story too, right? Like she's not happy with this partner and or maybe soon to be former partner, and you know, it's kind of like she's yeah, making it known. So I think really well done.

SPEAKER_03: 31:18

Yeah, and the song, I think, you know, this switch back and you know, from kind of cheery to spooky, it makes it feel um unpredictable and erratic a little bit, you know, which I think too, again, like you said, adds to the creepy factor. Um, but yeah, this is another band I recommend checking out. If you aren't familiar, you know, listen to that first album and see if it makes you want more. I think it might. So um check out the check out um their first album, which again, I'm I'm remembering the name here. Prelude to Ecstasy is the first, and then From the Pyre is coming out on the 17th. So little plug there for uh for last dinner party. I think they're a cool new band. Um, all right, next on our playlist is Dream Destroyer by Sloane.

SPEAKER_01: 32:02

All right, Sloane is a Canadian rock band that's been around since 1991. I mean, this always blows me away when I find a band that's been around this long, and I'm just now hearing them. So I expect uh Dado Three Girls is one of our like most loyal listeners, and he's Canadian. So I expect he's gonna message us and tell us like, okay, you should you should listen to this by Sloan or something. Um, or he's gonna tell me he's never heard of him. I don't know. But um I I thought these guys this had I got like country vibes from this song and even a little bit of like Fleetwood Mac, and but the driving guitar in it kind of gave it a little bit more of an edge. Um it was just a really cool sound. I like I was really having trouble kind of kind of pinning it, but it's not just sort of straight ahead one genre. I feel like it could appeal to a lot of different people. So I thought this was really cool. Um, also really cool the new albums called Based on the Best Seller, which I think is a really cool album name, and just shocked that there hasn't been used already. Um, so yeah, so I I just thought this was a really cool sounding band. I'm excited to get into their stuff and and excited to hear this new album as well, because if this is indicative of what's on there, I think it's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_03: 33:14

Yeah, I'm with you. I it was funny. I picked up something totally different from this though, same sort of era, maybe and time period, but to me, this sounded like 70s glam rock. It sounded like T-Rex. Like I was getting like 20th Century Boy, right? Like, think about that. Like what the more I listened, I'm like, this is like a like a modern day take on 20th century boy uh by T-Rex. So I actually loved it. And it was one of those things too. I'm like, oh, this is a new band I've never heard of. I'm like, ooh. Except they've been around since I was in high school. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00: 33:50

Or the Oasis song I put on here.

SPEAKER_01: 33:53

Okay. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 33:55

How did I miss these guys for 34 years and 14 albums? But apparently I did. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 34:03

We do, we gotta catch up, gotta catch up on our time on the show. Like it just shows you how how much music is out there and how many great bands there are out there. And I think uh we're very lucky with the show that we get to kind of discover things like this.

SPEAKER_03: 34:19

For sure. And this was one that I'm excited, like you, to kind of dig a little bit more into. And that's the good news too. When you've when you discover that there's a band that's been around forever that you don't know about, is you've got tons of material. Like we we've got 14 albums, Matt. That's gonna keep us busy for a while.

SPEAKER_01: 34:33

I know, I didn't know it. Um, all right. So this band you've probably heard of, track 10, is The Key of Victory by the Leavenheads.

SPEAKER_03: 34:44

Yeah, so this is a song from their forthcoming album called Love Chant. Um, and this releases on October 24th. And I I guess I spent a lot of time in the 90s here this week. I didn't really realize it until we're like listening to this collectively, but um I must be feeling nostalgic here. But um, you know, this um this band came into my purview. Like I'd heard of them a little bit. They had an uh, they I think they had probably four or five albums out before I really got into them. But their sixth studio album released in 1993, and it was called Come On Feel the Lemon Heads. And if you don't know it, I this is another one I encourage you to kind of go back and take a listen. Like if 90s core is a thing, then this album is the soundtrack for it, right? Or that album, the Come On Feel the Lemon Heads. I think it's so on the nose with sort of that 90s apathy that we were all feeling. You know, grunge is kind of around, but um, well, it's not around. It's having a moment for sure. But I think that this band just kind of came onto the scene and summed up everything a lot of us were feeling. Um, they formed in 1986 in Boston. Um, and like I said, Love Chant's gonna be their 11th studio album. Although really the only consistent member has been the lead singer, Evan Dando. And um, I mean, we spoke a little bit about the Oasis Brothers. I think Evan Dando is kind of up there too, in terms of like uh problematic artists that are maybe not the best people, um, or have some struggles. Like he's in a different, like he's he's struggled with addiction, he's which has led to like some erratic behavior. I think that um anybody who ever knew or worked with him um found him to be a very dislikable person, like by all general accounts. And I think a lot of that was fueled by addiction, but I think it also speaks volumes that the only uh consistent member of this band since it formed has been Evan Dando. So he's kind of a me, myself, and I production.

SPEAKER_01: 36:48

I and I wonder if that's just like, man, that's how great that guy is, is that he could be completely unlikable pretty much universally, and yet it's like still churning out albums, still touring, like still has a career in music. Like, yeah, I I guess you gotta be really good if you're gonna be that unlikable.

SPEAKER_03: 37:07

Yeah. And I mean, it's it's I was trying to look around and see like, okay, has he cleaned up his act? You know, is this sort of like now he's sober and this is kind of his return and reintroduction to the mainstream?

SPEAKER_01: 37:19

And not so much, huh?

SPEAKER_03: 37:22

Maybe not so much. It says, as this was this was a quote I found as of October 2025, Dando admits to using alcohol, marijuana, and LSD, despite being off harder street drugs like heroin and cocaine. He justifies his use of psychedelics and cannabis, stating, I don't believe God meant us to be sober. So there we go. So take take that with you into your day. That's what I'm gonna tell my boss when I roll up to work.

SPEAKER_01: 37:51

What an odd religious force field to throw up, right? You don't you don't get that very often, right? You know, you sometimes get the I know God wanted us to have nine wives, right? Or something like that. But this God doesn't want us to be sober, right? Officer.

SPEAKER_03: 38:05

Yeah, that's what my religion. I like that he drew the line, heroin and cocaine, right? Like that's that's the line he won't cross right there. Like we all make compromises. We're all just trying to get through the day. But I don't know, maybe despite or maybe because of all of his erratic behavior. The song is really interesting. I think like listen with the lyrics on and decide if you can separate the art from the problematic artist. You know, we talk about that a lot. Um, so I say give this one a give this one a try. It's interesting. Um, see what you think. And then if you do like it, I do encourage you while we're waiting for Love Chant to go back and check out that come on Feel the Lemon Heads album. There are some really great songs on there. All right, we're trucking towards the end here. Um, track 11 on this week's playlist is Fall in Love With Me by Arthur Buck.

SPEAKER_01: 38:57

Yeah, Arthur Buck is a duo made up of Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck from the band REM. So um yeah, this one, okay. So I listened to this one and I was like, wow, this sounds really familiar. And now that I've said REM gen, I want you to go back and listen to pop song 89 from the REM album Green. No, it was because this is the same song. And I looked around to see, like, did he sample? And granted, it's Peter Buck, he was in RPM REM. He he probably has the rights to this. Well, what I don't care, right? Like I'm not asking for a lawsuit, but I just think it's interesting is that when I looked around uh about this album or this duo, nobody was like, Yeah, this sounds exactly like Pop Song 89 from great. Now, I like pop song 89, I like this song, I think it sounds great. Um, Joseph Arthur is the vocalist here. He's got some uh, you know, uh we talked about October and Halloween's coming up. I mean, he's got kind of a creepy voice here, and the lyrics are a little creepy, and you know, it's it's it's pop sounding enough to kind of offset that. Um, but yeah, it's it's a really um, I think it's a cool song. I think it's really well done here, and it sounds different enough from from what I'm dubbing the original, which was Pop Zunge. The original. But I think it's really cool. This is their second album together, and it sounds like this is gonna be kind of Peter Buck's new um project um now that kind of REM is done.

SPEAKER_03: 40:33

Yeah, I so this is all new news to me because I did not make the REM connection. And certainly um the lead singer, you said his name is Joseph Arthur, I think, um, sounds very different than Michael Stipe. So I think you do get something unique there. But the the track that I referenced, now of course I can't unhear that it sounds like Pop Song 89 now that you've said it. But when I was listening to it last night before I knew of the REM connection, um I it reminded me a little bit. I'm gonna I'm gonna take you back to another like 90s classic here. But do you remember the song A Girl Like You by Edwin Collins?

unknown: 41:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_03: 41:08

Never met a girl like you before. You know, that one that it kind of gave me vibes of that, and I loved that song. That was like a you know, kind of a one-hit wonder, but um loved that song. And that this song kind of gave me that feeling again. And I was like, oh, I like this. This is reminding me of that. Um and yeah, I wrote the same note too. This one sounds kind of poppy, spooky. Um, and it's like, I don't know, you know, the sort of the filter that they're running the vocals through make it sound a little like, you know, menacing. Um, and then he has a line where he calls the you know, the person he's singing about an elegant vandal. And I'm like, that's so great. That's almost like a Taylor Swift line, like elegant vandal.

SPEAKER_01: 41:48

Yes, yeah. All right, let's bring it home. Your last pick. And uh, I don't know, I feel like you channeled, you definitely channeled Sam with this one. Um, this is one of the greats by Florence and the Machine.

SPEAKER_03: 42:01

Yes, I that was my my one promise to Sam as he stepped into fatherhood that I would uh carry the Florence torch until he returned. So we're all anxiously awaiting uh the sixth studio album, which we'll release on Halloween. Um we, you know, on the last new music mix, um, I featured Everybody's Scream, which is the title track from the new album. And I think we are all just like trucking to get to Halloween so we can get the rest of this album. We don't even have a track list, like other than these two singles that have been released, everything is just like track three, track four, track five. It doesn't even happen.

SPEAKER_01: 42:34

It's like a season of stranger things, right?

SPEAKER_03: 42:38

Right. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Um, but I think you know, this song is it's very different um in tone than everybody's scream. The lyrics are very dark and deep in this one, which Florence does so well. Um, she has a great line that says, and with each bedraggled breath, I knew I came back from the dead to show you how it's done. And you're like, that's right. I came back from the dead to show you how it's done. Boss, that's some boss stuff right there. But um, I, you know, I do like that she goes, she goes there, you know, she's not afraid to say the things that I think other people like say in their inside voice. I think she says outside out loud, you know, like the pe the things that we all keep inside of our head, especially as females, I think she voices them and she does it beautifully with that powerful, powerful voice that she has. Um, I and I do believe that she's one of the greats. I love that she took this song, you know, and called it one of the greats, which is sort of like her trying to figure out the formula to become that and is it worth it is kind of what I take away from the song at the end of the day. But um, I just think she's so good at just saying what's on her mind and doing it without fear. And the evolution, you know, we talk about a band growing over the course of albums. I think she really has. You know, her sound sounds really similar, but the braveness and boldness that I think she approaches um her lyrics with have really, I think, increased and grown over uh across her catalog as she continues to make new music. So yes, this one uh this is one that I know Sam and I are gonna be happy, happy kids on uh on Halloween when we finally get the new Florence album.

SPEAKER_01: 44:19

Yeah, I mean, she's vocally is just amazing to where I wasn't even really paying attention or couldn't even like hear any of the instruments going on in the background. Like it really is just about her voice and the lyrics she's singing here. And I mean, it's just remarkable. And I do think it's really cool. Like, well, first of all, I think to be this great, you do have to have a certain level of confidence, right? And she's been doing this a long time, and I just like that she says that, which is usually just reserved for like rappers, right?

SPEAKER_03: 44:51

Or DJs shouting out themselves, right?

SPEAKER_01: 44:54

Yeah, shouting out themselves. But uh no, so I think that's really cool in this genre to see something like that. Um, and like you said, especially from a female, because you don't you don't get that very much either. And and the line near the end, it must be nice to be a man and make boring music just because you can, right? And she's just like it's almost she was kind of calling out like she has to be especially great to kind of get recognition, whereas somebody else could just keep churning out stuff that that isn't great and and still get a lot of credit for it. So um really cool. Like and again, it's just carried by her voice, right? Like that really is the the big difference maker here. Um so yeah, great, great way to end this month's new music mix.

SPEAKER_03: 45:38

Agreed with a powerful female voice that is Florence.

SPEAKER_01: 45:44

Well, Jen, thank you again for filling in for Sam here on our new music mix. Okay, and so for everyone out there, you can uh join us on social media, on Instagram and Threads at Super Awesome Mix and on YouTube at Super Awesome Mix. Um and uh yeah, we've got more mixes ahead of us, so we will get to work on those. And for Jen, this is Matt, and we'll see you next time.