It’s Spring… You’re Still Alive… Turn It Up
All around the world, people are dying from war and Covid and starvation. In America, we arm mass murderers with military weapons. But if you’re reading this, you’re still alive. So celebrate your resilient mortality. Here’s what I’m playing — loudly — this week to ward off the demons. To welcome the cherry blossoms and tulips and wild roses that are bursting forth all around me, heedless of the world’s violence. So dance your asses off, readers, while you still can.
Greta Van Fleet — Never heard of these three brothers (and a childhood friend drummer ) from small-town Michigan until a few days ago. Now I can’t stop playing “Heat Above,” the anthemic track from their new LP. I missed the band’s big debut last year on Saturday Night Live. And I missed all the hate-talk from critics… Lead singer Josh Kiszka sounds like the reincarnation of Freddie Mercury or a young Robert Plant. So? He’s short and gender-mysterious. So? I like the way that Greta Van Fleet things big — their sound is operatic. In a time of small-minded thinking and narrow marketing formulas, the Kiszka brothers reach for the heavens. The three brothers were raised by two bohemian parents, who encouraged them to dig through their eclectic record collection (Fairport Convention, Donovan, yes!) and library (Sartre and Nietzsche, oh my) — and most important — didn’t hover over them constantly.
Watch Greta Van Fleet’s “Heat Above” video. It’s loony and gorgeous. It will make you laugh and shake and feel again. If you like rock ‘n’ roll. Remember rock ‘n‘ roll? The song is also about something. Do you remember that, too? War and fire are consuming the earth, wails Riszka. But “Heat Above” lauds a peaceful army marching across the land. We do not fight for war/ But to save the lives of those who do so.
Here’s the rest of my playlist — a lucky dozen of the month:
“Quit Your Day Job” Rebecka Reinhard
“I Will Be Gone” Emily Rodgers
“All Bets Aside” Pageants
“Popshop” Courting
“Sunrise” (Live ) Norah Jones
“C’mon Be Cool” Fanclubwallet
“Californian Soil” London Grammar
“Kora” Ballake Sissoko
“Lady Rain” Roger Fahkr
“Place Names” Nick Waterhouse
“Howl” The Bones of JR Jones
“ Better Things to Do” Zoe Fitzgerald Carter
