Obscurity Knocks #12: Prize Contest Life (2/11/24)
The five best songs played on Obscurity Knocks on 89.9 WLCA this week.
As I write this, I am very very tired, but me being tired was worth it because I got to go to IHOP with the homie Greg Mendez and his wife V before he headed back out on the road (if Greg is playing a show near you, go to it!) for his tour with Squirrel Flower. But before we get to the songs, one more quick thing: I am officially an uncle now, as my nephew Monroe was born on February 7th. I have not met the little guy yet but just know I would die for him already because he’s cute as hell. Uncle Magic is already flowing through my veins.
Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s listen to my five favorite songs I played this week on Obscurity Knocks on 89.9 WLCA:
Psymon Spine - “Bored of Guitar”
RIYL: Talking Heads, The B-52’s, DEVO, Squid, CAN, YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA
A lot of post-punk or post-punk adjacent bands try to sound like The Fall or Joy Division. And I like a lot of bands that sound like them, but man we could use more bands that sound like Talking Heads or The B-52’s. Some Squid songs scratch the itch a bit, but yeah this song more than scratches it. Oh and more of these bands could also sound like DEVO while we’re at it!
A. Savage - “Black Holes, the Stars and You”
RIYL: Parquet Courts, Silver Jews, Bonny Doon, Nap Eyes
I was not a big fan of A. Savage’s Several Songs About Fire last year aside from a song or two, as Savage sounds his best when the pace is uptempo, not downtrodden. But this song is an exception to that rule, as I have no idea why this was left off that album last year.
Chelsea Wolfe - “House Of Self-Undoing”
RIYL: Zola Jesus, Xiu Xiu, Savages, Just Mustard
Good percussion goes a long way. GREAT percussion goes the god damn distance, so to hear such a forceful driving beat on a Chelsea Wolfe record of all things was a wonderful surprise, as for me this is the true highlight of a really good record from her.
Ducks Ltd. - “On Our Way To The Rave”
RIYL: Kiwi jr., The Feelies, The Pastels, 2nd Grade
Considering it’s origins, most if not all power pop bands sound British to some degree. Ducks Ltd. sound way more British than the most recent wave of the genre, and they’re Canadians! I’ve always been a little mixed on this band, but this new record really clicked with me, especially this album cut that picks up the tempo to an insane pace & some nice crunchy yet jangly guitar work. Good stuff but also I Can’t Believe They’re Not British!
Threshold, Fiona Woodman - “Threshold”
RIYL: WORLD MUSIC-era bar italia, Dean Blunt/Joanne Robertson, Strange Ranger
Now I really really love a lot of the new bar italia stuff now that they’ve entered their hi-fi era, but there is a part of me that wishes we got a little bit more of the lo-fi material as heard on their records on Dean Blunt’s WORLD MUSIC label. Thankfully, this track from Threshold’s surprise debut full-length scratches the itch, as this track reunites both Isaac Eiger and Fiona Woodman from the recently broken up Strange Ranger for a short but sweet jangly track.
Honorable Mentions:
plantoid - “Insomniac (Don’t Worry)”
I ain’t the biggest psych rock head (especially it’s modern iteration) but this is some good stuff!
Helado Negro - “Out There”
This song feels like a weighted blanket.
h. pruz - “Hurting”
A good little devastating folksy tune!
mui zyu - “everything to die for”
Another good little devastating folksy tune!
Faye Webster - “Feeling Good Today”
After not really being into I Know I’m Funny haha, I’m ready to declare that we are so back, bad Lil Yachty feature on “Lego Ring” notwithstanding.
Lip Critic - “The Heart”
Crazy ass white boys doing crazy ass white boy things.
Dean Blunt - “4am in Berlin”
This song is here mostly to highlight that there’s nearly 2 1/2 hours of new Dean Blunt music out there. Most of it is instrumental loops, but they’re some of the best god damn instrumental loops I’m gonna hear all year.
This Week’s Playlist:
Hour 1:
Psymon Spine - Bored of Guitar
Gurriers - Des Goblin
plantoid - Insomniac (Don't Worry)
Beth Gibbons - Floating On A Moment
Helado Negro - Out There
A. Savage - Black Holes, the Stars and You
Rosali - On Tonight
Tomato Flower - Temple of the Mind
Guitar - Twin Orbits
h. pruz - Hurting
mui zyu - everything to die for
Caroline Polachek - Butterfly Net (feat. Weyes Blood)
Hour 2:
Jlin - Auset
Chelsea Wolfe - House Of Self-Undoing
Torrey - Bounce
Faye Webster - Feeling Good Today
Mk.gee - Alesis
The Lemon Twigs - They Don't Know How To Fall In Place
Ducks Ltd. - On Our Way To The Rave
So Totally - Distinct Star
Lip Critic - The Heart
Threshold, Fiona Woodman - Threshold
Dean Blunt - 4am in Berlin
Mean Jeans - Lost My Mind
Pissed Jeans - Sixty-Two Thousand Dollars in Debt
Madi Diaz - Kiss The Wall
Huron John - LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Indigo De Souza - You Can Be Mean
Truth Club - Exit Cycle
Hour 3 (Some Random Songs I Wanted To Play):
Black Country, New Road - Science Fair
CAN - Vitamin C
Palm - Dog Milk
Childish Gambino - II. Zealots Of Stockholm [Free Information]
Alex G - Sportstar
St. Vincent - The Party
Why Bonnie - Voice Box
Disq - Prize Contest Life
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Mothers - BLAME KIT
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
Obscurity Knocks Highlights for 2024:
Listen to Obscurity Knocks every Sunday from 12 - 3 PM CT on wlcafm.com, the Radio FX app (Look for Lewis & Clark Community College), or the Radio Garden app (search for WLCA).