Now Playing: May 2022

Our May edition of Now Playing is full of the truth—true crime, true sadness, truth in fiction, truth in guitar riffs. All recommended by our brilliant contributors.

Janelle Tan

I’ve been listening to this Spotify playlist “the saddest Mitski songs to cry with at 2am,” and it’s been a comfort blanket. It’s interesting to listen to someone else’s curation of “sad” for two reasons: 1. It’s fascinating to see what someone else considers “sad,” and how different people see Mitski’s discography differently based on what they find “sad” about a particular song. 2. When someone else curates the auditory experience, it’s entirely possible to be listening to a song meant to provide some kind of emotional escape (“Townie”) and then encounter a song that throws you headfirst into your own sadness (“Two Slow Dancers”). It’s been a reminder that when you try to run from your feelings, you only come face-first with yourself.  

 I recently also saw Indigo de Souza live, and it was one of the most incredible shows I’ve been to because of the palpable sense of community. The song "17" has become a resonant metaphor for the timing of events in my year so far, and every time I listen to it, I think of the entire venue singing along, one big voice and collective. "17" has been an experience that's both achingly personal and intimate, and a reminder that I am always part of a larger community. 

Jen Michalski

After many years of not having one, I got a turntable last Christmas. Since then, my best friend, a vinyl collector who owns more than 1000 albums, has gifted me several boxes of albums, so I've quickly amassed a couple hundred classic rock albums myself—David Bowie, Allman Brothers, Traffic, Steely Dan, and Neil Young. Including Zuma, Neil Young's seventh album. Although I'm a pretty serious Neil Young fan (Harvest and Tonight's the Night have been in my music rotation for more than thirty years), I'd never listened to Zuma. What a mistake that was! It's dark and crisp and haunting, with signature Young riffs and lyrics (many of which were about his breakup with Carrie Snodgrass, mother of his son Zeke). An article published last year called Zuma Young's underrated grunge masterpiece. I wholeheartedly agree.

Leila Renee

I recently found a YouTube channel called Dave's Lemonade that produces riveting documentaries about court cases, with a focus on witness testimony and criminal psychology. In the past I've been somewhat averse to "true crime" because of its sensationalist tendencies. However Dave's Lemonade examines cases and tells stories in a humane, loving and victim-centered manner that makes one less awed by the crime itself, and more moved by the resilience and beauty of the human spirit.

Hallie Haller

I've rewatched C'mon C'mon —at least bits of it—so many times. Trying to understand what it makes it so good. And so true. And how they've managed to make the black and white seems so full. It's wild to find something so honest, and so easy, yet so complete.

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