A Springtime Playlist by The Universe
Article by Max Chizmadia, University Union Editorial Board
Social Media Liaison
Hello from The Universe! Spring has sprung, so we’ve prepared a new playlist to help you celebrate the bright colors and warm weather. Enjoy!
The Balcony - Fruit Bats
Fruit Bats have truly cultivated a beautiful and luscious instrumental sound built for springtime. Personally, I’m a big fan of Eric D. Johnson’s vocals on Fruit Bats’ projects, who has also worked with Bonny Light Horseman and The Shins in the past. If you like this, I recommend their other tracks, such as “Rushin’ River Valley,” “The Bottom of It,” and their recent single “The Landfill.”
Memory Box - Peter Cat Recording Co.
Peter Cat Recording Co.’s Memory Box is impossible to describe. Is it a rock song? Disco? Electronic? Pet Cat Recording Co. (PCRC), hailing from New Delhi, is an immovable force in India’s indie scene. The fast tempo mixed with the rich instrumentation gives the track a similar feeling to that of lying in a field under beaming sunlight. If you like this song by PCRC, I highly recommend checking out some of their other tracks like “Where the Money Flows,” “People Never Change,” and “Love Demons.”
Home - Jack Johnson
What can be any more springtime than a Jack Johnson track with birdsong in the background? Johnson has become a recent obsession of mine after I saw him live in Texas this past spring break, and I think this is a great representation of him for this playlist. If you like this, I recommend listening to “Washing Dishes,” “As I Was Saying,” or “Drink the Water,” a recent collaboration with hermanos Gutiérrez—who I also highly recommend—for Johnson’s new film Surfilmusic.
windburn - Kinji
When windburn begins, you might think you accidentally pressed play on the La La Land soundtrack, but as the electronic elements continue and the vocals finally kick in a minute into the track, they change everything. Every time I play this song, it takes over the next few minutes of my life. If you like this sound, I recommend checking out his other songs “metalmind,” “pocketwatch,” and “romp.”
Berry on a Briar - Will Fox
An upbeat song from Will Fox? An increasingly rare oddity. Will it ever happen again? Nobody knows, so listen to this one while you can. This song features one of my favorite riffs of the decade and is a perfectly uplifting song for a drive with the windows down. If you like this sound, I would recommend his songs “I’m Always Getting in My Way,” “Isolation Blues,” and “The Days.”
The Tinman - World News
With one of my favorite instrumentations on this playlist, World News truly knows how to make a banger! Personally, I’m beginning to realize I just keep selecting songs containing heavily reverbed guitars, so I promise that the rest of the playlist will be free of that. Still, I highly recommend this song for, yes, its guitar, but also simultaneously for the flourishing vocals on this record. If you like this sound, you should consider checking out their songs “Flag With No Pole,” “Don’t Want to Know,” and “Wrapped in Gold.”
Hangin’ From Your Lips - Cousin Kula
Please excuse the album cover, I promise this is normal music. Cousin Kula is one of my favorite modern bands stemming out of the UK right now. The band emphasizes this dreamy, psychedelic take on jazz fusion (if you can even call it that). If you like this sound, I recommend Cousin Kula’s entire discography as a whole, but for a personal take, I suggest “Clothes Off,” “Softest Touch,” and “I Feel Love.”
What a Wonderful World - Joey Ramone
This song is a surprisingly satisfying punk take on Louis Armstrong’s classic track. When I listen to this version of “What a Wonderful World,” I feel like I’ve been plucked straight into living in a 70s film. If you like this song, listen to “Don’t Worry About Me," from the same album, or The Ramones’ “California Sun.”
Taking Flight - Resavoir, Brandee Younger
Resavoir chose the perfect song to bring on Brandee Younger, the top jazz harpist in the world today. Over a calm bossa nova groove, the harp and winds on “Taking Flight” showcase a grand masterclass of what great jazz can sound like for the modern era. If you like this sound, Resavoir’s entire discography is truly incredible, but I highly recommend the Horizon and self-titled albums.
Madison - Drugdealer
Ending the playlist on a laid-back track with echoes of 70s yacht rock, Madison is the perfect track for the warming weather. Drugdealer is the solo project of Michael Collins, accompanied by a uniquely airy and lively sound for music from the 2020s. If you like this sound, I recommend listening to his biggest hit, “Pictures of You,” or “Fools.”
