Staff Music Picks: September 2018

None of the ArtsQuest staff would work here if they didn’t live for music and the arts. To share our passion, our programming and social media teams put together a list of new-ish songs they’ve got on repeat this month. We hope you’ll enjoy our eclectic mix of musical tastes and discover some great new tunes!

Ben “The Resident Metalhead” Youngerman
Marketing Manager

“God=Dog” – Behemoth

In 2014, Polish death metal band Behemoth released The Satanist, one of the greatest albums of the year, if not of the genre’s recent generation. Knowing a new album was imminent, I figured they couldn’t possibly follow it up with something deeper, scarier and more dynamic. That expectation was crushed upon hearing “God=Dog,” the first track from their upcoming 11th album I Loved You at Your Darkest. The song is beautifully-layered chaos, brutally smashing your ears into submission with its poetic blasphemy. Behemoth frontman Nergal & co. may have outdone themselves again. \m/ (*>*) \m/

Amber “Genre Trainwreck” Galdamez
Communications Coordinator

“Heaven Wasn’t Made for Me” – Terror Jr

After releasing three fire EPs between 2016 and 2017, the elusive pop-electronic band Terror Jr dropped their new single “Heaven Wasn’t Made for Me” as a precursor to their upcoming full length album. The band, made up of David Campa–formerly of The Cataracts–and lead vocalist Lisa Vitale, keep true to their trademark sound with catchy tongue-in-cheek lyrics, a killer hook and a bass heavy chorus. If you aren’t already listening to Terror Jr, what have you been doing all summer? #KayByee

Emily “The Funk Junkie” Cummins
Public Relations Coordinator

“Remember My Name” – Mitski

Not to brag but (*clears throat/totally bragging*) before Puberty 2 and “Your Best American Girl,” I had the truly amazing experience of seeing Mitski perform at a Long Island basement show. Even though just a few years later she’d be an NPR darling touring with the Pixies, I never got over how she sounded live and stripped down with no backing band. Her latest album, Be The Cowboy, has more synth and pop edge, yet it’s still paired with her dramatic and breathy vocals that feel more like spoken word poetry than singing. “Why Didn’t You Stop Me,” “Lonesome Love” and “Washing Machine Heart” are all album standouts, but the one that really resonates with me is “Remember My Name.” It’s about female ambition and emotional labor, and when she yells out “I need something bigger than the sky, hold it in my arms and know it’s mine,” I feel seen.

Kimberly “The Wild Card” Koehler
Partnership Activation Specialist

“Take Tonight” – The Family Crest

I had the pleasure of catching The Family Crest’s set at Americaplatz during Musikfest and I have been obsessed ever since. This orchestral indie rock band blew me away with how talented and amazing they are! The band features guitars, bass, drums, flute, trombone, cello, and violin that blend together perfectly to create beautiful melodies. “Take Tonight” is off the band’s newest album The War: Act I and the track demonstrates how memorable The Family Crest’s songs are. The vocals and instruments form a beautiful marriage of music that keeps me wanting more! I have caught myself on many occasions singing their music without any music playing. I am looking forward to hearing more from The Family Crest when they release The War: Act II. If you haven’t check out The Family Crest yet, be sure to give them a listen!

Jason “Anything But Country” Merola
Manager of Experiential Programming

“Heart Attacks” – Alkaline Trio

Back with their first album in five years since Matt Skiba took a break to join Blink-182, it’s like they never left. Listening through the album I feel like I’m back in the mid-’90s when I first fell in love with the band.

Matt “Hip-Hop & R&B Boy” Gotzon
Partnership Activation Specialist

Mac Miller

In the wake of Mac Millers death, it’s incredible to see how many people he touched throughout every era and spectrum of hip-hop. We lost a great artist but more importantly an astounding human being. Going to college in Pittsburgh it felt like everyone had a Mac Miller story, whether it be going to his shows or stories of growing up knowing him. He was someone who was a star but felt more like your friend that was famous. His latest album Swimming was some of his best work ever. It seemed like Mac was starting to reach new heights in terms of the overall production of his music. Having bought tickets to his tour I was watching all the interviews he was doing on his press run and it seemed like he was in a good place. This was going to be a breakout year for Mac. He was going to reach new levels of success. It’s heartbreaking to see him go so young and not able to see out all the work he put in. If you haven’t ever listened to Mac before I would start from his earliest mixtapes and move on in chronological order. The evolution of his music is fun. The video below is his NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert where you can see some of his personality shine through as he performs three songs off Swimming (“Small Worlds”, “What’s the Use?”, and “2009”). Rest in peace, Malcom.

Alicia “Better in Boots” Rohrbach
Senior Marketing & Sponsorship Coordinator

“Love That About You” – Filmore

I am constantly listening to music in the background while I’m working (generally listening to the New Boots playlist on Spotify – always searching for new music) and things usually catch my ear – but I have to listen to them a few times before I’ll stop and look at the song and artist. As soon as the first chorus was over on this song the first time I heard it – I pulled up Spotify to see what it was – because I loved it immediately. My favorite thing about this song are the stripped down verses leading into the more pop heavy chorus. This will definitely be a favorite of mine through the fall and is currently on repeat A LOT (probably annoying those who have to work in cubes around me).

Anne “The Alternative Solution” Sturm
Senior Talent Buyer

“Cops and Robbers” – Shakey Graves

I chose “Cops and Robbers” to highlight from Shakey Graves’ new album Can’t Wake Up. Can’t Wake Up is not as Folk-Americana sounding as Shakey Graves’ previous 4 albums as it seems to integrate more of full Indie-Pop-Rock sound to many of its songs. Listening to the lyrics, you quickly realize the boundless charm and wit of Alejandro Rose-Garcia, whose vocals I cannot get enough of. The catchy chorus in “Cops and Robbers” demonstrates that.

Melissa “I’m An Intern and Had to Do This” Webber
Marketing Intern

“Play” – Dave Grohl

My song pick will leave you speechless, just as lead singer of rock band The Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, intended it to. In fact, he had no words either, as he construed his own twenty three minute long instrumental entitled, “Play.” Grohl had every note memorized, played every instrument himself, and stitched every uninterrupted take he recorded all together and turned it into a short documentary as well. I’ve been a Foos Fan for as long as I can remember, and finally had the opportunity to see them live this past summer at Madison Square Garden. The experience is something I could never explain in words, but listening to these twenty three minutes through my headphones have helped me relive just a little bit of what was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. Rock ‘n’ Grohl!

BONUS PLAYLIST!

Previous ArtsQuest Staff Music Picks:

May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
Top Songs of 2017
Top Songs of 2016
Top Songs of 2015