JUST ANOTHER GAL FROM CASPER: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW EDITION…
I recently had a Monday with a capital M. You know – the kind that makes you wanna throw a tantrum like a 3-year-old. When those moments strike, I throw that tantrum – I just turn it into a musical one by listening to a pissy mood playlist. Some folks might suggest calming melodies, but first, I like to ride that angry wave with loud, rough, nerve-jangling tunes. The song lyrics don’t have to match my mood (although I award bonus points if they do.) The point is to vibe with the music itself, leaning into that crappy mood.
Here are a few of my go-to “I’m pissed and I just don’t give a $#!*” songs, along with some “I’m ready to chill” feel-good tunes to balance things out. (Probably goes without saying, but some of these songs are NSFW, or the public in general. Might be time to invest in a good pair of wireless earbuds)…
“Head Like a Hole” – Nine Inch Nails
Trent Reznor/Nine Inch Nails really fires me up – like I’m not already foaming at the mouth anyway when I listen to their stuff. With electronic beats and lyrics I can scream, you know I’m gonna get some frustration up and outta my soul…
Head like a hole, black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
Head like a hole, black as your soul
I’d rather die than give you control
The name says it all. There are just times I want everyone around me to, well, go to hell…
“Temptation” – Sister Machine Gun
An inappropriately fabulous chorus that lends itself to a melodic temper tantrum…
You f&*#ed up, it’s easy to see
But I don’t know what that has to do with me
‘Cause I’m knocked down and ready to fight
If you think I’m crazy, then you’re goddamn right
Another one where the title kinda says it all…
Someone had placed this in the YouTube comments section:
“The song is about the desire to inundate yourself with pain or angst or noise or joy, or really any experience, in order to have ownership of the feeling. Though it emerged from a dark place, the song quickly morphed into a celebratory thing, which was surprising and cool for me. It kind of felt like I was enacting the song as I wrote it” – K.Flay
“In order to have ownership of that feeling.” Straight up and straight from the artist.
Now for the “chill-the-eff-out” tunes…
“Cast Your Fate to the Wind” – Vince Guaraldi
There’s just something about this song that makes me happy. Could be that it was composed by the dude who, for years, scored the Charlie Brown specials…
To be clear, this song isn’t just chill – the lyrics are downright melancholy. But the vibe is perfect to, as the lyrics state, “cool your aching head” …
Are they “bigger than the Beatles”? Uh, no. But they do have some really great tunes, including this one that always makes me feel, once again, that music can get you high…
“The Finnish Line” – Colm Mac Con Iomaire
I love strings. I love a song that layers sound. I love the beautiful images in my head when I listen to this gorgeous song…
This tune’s laid-back vibe soothes me every time, along with lyrics like
Let your soul shine
It’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Yeah now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine till the break of day
Dig some of these songs? Follow the link to this playlist plus a couple more tunes on Spotify. Or, support our local music store by ordering these artists and more at downtown Casper’s Sonic Rainbow.
