Brotherless Radio | Episode 4 | 11.14.23

Success is obedience to a structured way of life
Can’t ignore the structure ’cause we’re all within its sight
Gonna find you

Hiya. John checking in from Rochester, NY with another batch of songs I think are cool or interesting. Episode 4, bb.

This one took a bit to nail down. I didn’t realize until I was almost done compiling these songs that there’s a lot of sadness in this playlist. I suppose it’s not unknown that I enjoy sad songs, but I’m glad that I found a bunch of fun songs, too. Hopefully you’ll also find some fun with this episode.

Against my better judgment, I did something a bit different this time. I’ve received some feedback that the styles of music are all over the place. This is correct! The order of the songs is intentional. I just wanna make sure you don’t hit a long streak of songs you don’t like, ya know? But alas, I can take feedback. This time I arranged all the similar genres together and made sure to transition you smoothly to another genre. No more whiplash for you, ok?

Except now the streaks of songs you don’t like will probably be way longer. Pick your poison dude.

Here’s your links:

Aaaaand here’s the AppleMusic link which doesn’t automatically embed I guess. I’m learning this along with you, yes.

Brotherless Radio | Episode 4 | 11.14.23 – Apple Music

FUNK SONGS

I have an intro track before we get going. In fact, I have a few intermissions this episode. “Mexican Dream” by Italian composer Piero Piccioni kicks us off like the opening credits to a film. The funk block has some “baseball organ” sounds which I’ve always loved. Jimi Hendrix’s Axis: Bold As Love is quickly becoming one of my favorite albums. He’s not known as a funk artist, but you can hear some funk guitar and drum techniques in some of his recordings. Example on this cool deep cut called “You Got Me Floatin’.” “I Know” by Dionne Farris was a song I haven’t heard in easily 20 years that graced my ears again recently and activated some core memories. I’m doing a cover of this one ASAP.

ROCK SONGS

“Come On Outside” by Noel Gallagher has been getting me through it lately, even if some of it is a bit silly. Swedish stoner-rockers Graveyard bring us “Twice,” which would be a punk song if the drums had a different groove. I love that– it’s the drummer that decided whether this was a stoney blues song or an early punk song; a testament to how much power a drummer has. So cool.

More grunge and punk adjacent stuff, topping it off with “Deliverance” by Magnitude — the heaviest song here by A LOT. It’s a song about determination. Bump it at the gym or while selling reverse mortgages or whatever you normal people do.

INTERMISSION: I’m watching Our Flag Means Death on Max. It’s so stupid. I love it. “The Empty Boat” by Caetano Veloso was in the closing credits of an episode. This song uses being out at sea as a metaphor for loneliness. Great song for a pirate show.

More rock and/or roll music. Some ska and punk, and a forgotten gem from Sixpence None The Richer. Did you know they have more than that one song? Be honest. Alright, and one of the best songs I’ve heard this year: “Starchild” by Sweet Pill.

“Rockin’ My Paw” by Summer Salt reminded me of some of the vocal harmonies on Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin records. I recently discovered that Creed Bratton (yes, from The Office) was in a psychedelic pop band in the 60’s. You’ll recognize “Let’s Live For Today” by The Grass Roots. Yep. That’s Creed’s old band.

But I can’t say it like I sing it
And I can’t sing it like I think it
And I can’t think it like I feel it
And I don’t feel a thing

I’m regrettably showing you TWO Pedro The Lion songs. “The Fleecing” is one of my favorites from the whole PTL discography. It’s a dude in conversation with a stranger about spiritual stuff and silently noticing how he once again can’t relate to anyone.

INTERMISSION: I’m reading a book called To Shake The Sleeping Self written by this guy who biked from Oregon to Patagonia with his friend. They accidentally became Instagram famous for this. Before they cross into Mexico, they’re crashing with a friend who knows a lot about Mexican culture. Concerning music, he tells the adventurers, “Vicente Fernández! He is El Rey de la Música Ranchera! The king of ranchera music. He’s like a cowboy Sinatra. Just go around singing ‘Volver, Volver.’ You’ll make friends everywhere you go.” And so, my friends, may I present to you, for better or for worse: “Volver, Volver” by Vicente Fernández. A few more wacky tracks followed by…

HIP-HOP / R&B SONGS

Lots of nasty language comin’ up. “Must Be” and “Best Time” are mostly safe and totally rip. “Lol” by Black Milk & Danny Brown is unnecessarily hard while “Big Dawg” by Moneybagg Yo, Sexxy Red & CMG The Label is unnecessarily hilarious. I’ve got a little boom-bap and some laid-back rap before the last intermission.

INTERMISSION: “Lockjaw (feat. Jim Lang)” by VOID (no, not the legendary 80’s DC punk band) sounds all too familiar. If you’re creeping up on your 40’s like me, you might’ve grown up watching Hey Arnold! Jim Lang, featured in this melancholy jazz tune, scored all the jazz/funk music for the Nickelodeon show. I have no idea if he played electric keyboard, saxophone, or both on this track. Remember the Lockjaw episode in season 1? The one where Arnold and his Grandma rescue a super old turtle guy named Lockjaw from the zoo where he was miserable? This track is another version of the main motif in that episode, featuring the man himself.

WRAPPING IT UP

I first heard this second Pedro The Lion song 15 or so years ago. Ironically, it was a friend from a devoutly Catholic college who showed me this brutally tortured ballad. “Bad Things To Such Good People” wrestles the same stuff David Bazan can’t get out of his head (or lyrics).

“Rain When I Die” by Alice In Chains is our send off. This song is a great example of Jerry Cantrell’s songwriting style: big, nasty riffs with a wah-wah pedal. Giant, melodic, open-stringed choruses topped off with the late Layne Staley’s unmistakable, aggressive, but simultaneously gentle vocals. I’m told “the rain” in this song is supposed to represent a cathartic release, but idk man. I love sad songs. I love this song.

Send me music you like. Show me stuff you think I haven’t heard before, especially if there’s a cool story. I hope you got something out of this playlist. Talk soon.

Brotherless | John