12 Songs: Rivers' NYC Dispatch
Some of us Inherent Bummer fans spend more time surfing concrete than water. This is what I like to call Citi biking on a silver bullet to work, (sorry mom!) A friend of mine tells me about his local spots near Babylon Long Island, but I won’t reveal his secrets…
In 1977, we sent out the Golden Record to the Aliens on Voyager’s 1 and 2. This mix is just like that, except it’s a message back, from the aliens grinding out here in NYC, to the greater Inherent Bummer community:
“Don’t worry, we’ll make it out to the beach soon, and in the meantime, we’re rocking: the supermodels are back in town, UN is in session, markets are at all time highs, gallery walls are hung again, and the air’s that sort of crisp that makes us remember memories we thought we forgot and futures we hadn’t considered. The machine’s aren’t stopping anytime soon.”
Without further ado, a week ripping in the concrete jungle:
Industry Season 3 Soundtrack: Private Jet Anxiety, Nathan Micay: Okay, fine, Industry is set in London, but pretend this IS how we feel walking around Midtown. Like many great HBO shows, the score, by Nathan Micay, is the secret weapon.
Chelsea Hotel #2, Leonard Cohen: No explanation needed, It’s fall in New York, and I am obsessed with Leonard Cohen again. Go have a drink at the Hotel Chelsea with someone you might still be thinking about the next time the air smells this way…
Metal Heart, Cat Power: Crispy, clear guitar tones, with the most perfect pared back drums and Cat Power’s vocals flitting over top. We need something beautiful with edge, for a moody lunch break walk on a grey day when you are glad you wore a sweater, and you drank just a touch too much coffee.
Eyes on Fire, Blue Foundation: This is the song you listen to to get pumped up before walking into an event where you don’t really know anyone and you need introduce yourself. Classic aughts stuff.
So Blue, Four Tet: This is the song you are listening to hungover on a Saturday morning, heading outside for a mandatory walk around the block where the sun’s finally so gentle one your face, and you start to notice neighborhood details you’d never clocked before. Despite the title, it’s pure happiness.
Invisible Sun, The Police: I feel like this song is The Beach Boys for the Blade Runner universe, I’m not sure why. There’s something so special about acoustic futuristic visions we had in the 80’s. Nothing compares today, because everything we touch turns digital. You need to be bringing back the wit of 80’s sci fi back as you stroll through Times (or Dimes) square at dusk.
changer, bar Italia: It wouldn’t be right to make this mix for bummer and skip over these old favorite downtown darlings… they’re the kind of music IB readers might encounter when on an academic exchange student program to dimes square.
Climbing Up the Walls, Radiohead: You’re walking fast, thinking hard; the city’s gritty and loud, you’re climbing up the walls. (yea, I know walking takes a big role in all these vignettes, we don’t have cars.)
No Fit State, Hot Chip: You’re rushing up the stairs of your apartment to change clothes, late to meet your friends, you’re locking in. Take it seriously. You might fall in love on the dance floor tonight if you play your cards right.
Time to Pretend, MGMT: Evergreen, it’s my personal feeling that this song could hold its own on any playlist, anywhere. Don’t believe me? Try playing it for your friends and tell me if they don’t crack a little smile at the immediately recognizable opening notes. Obviously we are playing this at the Saturday night pregame. “Yea, it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?”
Victory Lap, Skepta and Fred, Again: Uber Driver, do you mind if we take the aux? Can we roll the windows down? Turn it up a bit? Yea, now we’re cooking with gas. Black. Swan. Darren Aronofsky. Skepta is back, and so are we.
Ease Yourself And Glide, Parsley Sound: For the commute home, and the Sunday afternoon pensive walk from the grocery store. For anytime. The only way to stay stoked in the big city, is to Ease Yourself And Glide.—Rivers Sheehan
