30 Day Song Challenge
I've seen quite a few people doing that 30 Day Song Challenge thing where they post a different song for each description/theme that the challenge gives them. I decided to do it but instead of doing it in the form of an Instagram story I've decided to do it in the form of a list here, where I can elaborate more on my choices, my thoughts on them, and what they mean to me.
Here's the template I'm basing it on: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fb/eb/db/fbebdbf4899dc17536959c390a270efb.jpg |
| 1 | Moonsorrow
Pimeä
"A song you discovered this month"
Absolutely massive track, both in terms of sound and size. Full of great riffs and a brilliant example of clean vocals being used in extreme metal. Really I could have picked any track on Verisäkeet, but this one especially stood out. |
| 2 | Wintergatan
Starmachine2000
"A song that always makes you smile"
There's something about Wintergatan's music which always induces a sense of nostalgic safety, like memories of a time when one had almost no worries, and certainly no major ones. Starmachine2000 is the biggest example of this for me; the way the melody kicks in at the 2:48 is almost overwhelmingly happy, and never fails to put a smile on my face |
| 3 | Sigur Ros
Untitled #1 (Vaka)
"A song that makes you cry"
There are many songs that I could pick for this one, but I decided to go with the opening track for Sigur Ros' third album ( ) because of how it's managed to do it purely from instrumentation. Fucking beautiful track |
| 4 | Black Country, New Road
Sunglasses
"A song you know all the words to"
Yeah, I've listened to this almost 9-minute long song enough to know pretty much all the words to it. Maybe I'm just a bit obsessed |
| 5 | King Crimson
Starless
"A song that proves you have good taste"
Decided to prove that I have good taste that I should pick a song that is quite universally beloved but also one that isn't a pick that is too "basic" |
| 6 | Billie Eilish
everything i wanted
"A song with a title that is in all lowercase"
The only great Billie Eilish song. While her debut had very unimpressive production and flaccid songwriting, this single shows off a much more mature, unique, and developed sound |
| 7 | FUCKING WEREWOLF ASSO
MY NEW SNEAKERS COULD NEVER REPLACE MY MULTICOLORED BANGALORES
"A song with a title that is in all uppercase"
God this song goes so hard. WHY DO YOU LOVE ME SATAN? is such an underappreciated album that deserves more attention |
| 8 | The Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling
"An underrated song"
Basically the ultimate "dumb fun" song. Yeah it might not be that deep or complex, but at the same time it bangs |
| 9 | Death Grips
Known For It
"A song title that has three words"
Just the first song that came to mind to fit the description honestly. Either way it's a great song, definitely one of the best on Exmilitary |
| 10 | The Hoosiers
Worried About Ray
"A song from your childhood"
Picked this song because it's one of those rare cases where a song that I listened to a lot as a child (that wasn't just a Daft Punk song) also turned out to be a song I still really enjoy to this day |
| 11 | Daft Punk
Instant Crush
"A song that reminds you of summer"
I listened to this song a lot in the summer of 2013 when Random Access Memories came out, and therefore (like the album in general) I have started to associate it with the season of summer. Still my favourite from the album |
| 12 | Beyonce
Halo
"A song you feel embarrassed listening to"
I don't really feel embarrassed listening to any music so I decided to just put a guilty pleasure in here. Yeah it's pretty overproduced and generic but I enjoy it quite a bit; really shows off Beyonce's vocal talents and songwriting. I generally don't really like Beyonce's work but this is one of the exceptions |
| 13 | Kno
If You Cry
"The first song that plays on shuffle"
Oh hell yeah Kno. Death is Silent is such a good album, deserves to be considered one of the best hip-hop albums of the 2010s, especially in terms of lyricism |
| 14 | Fukkit
EATING LEAD PAINT CHIPS
"A song that someone showed you"
Fukkit's flow on this is so good; just buttery smooth. Production goes hard too. Just a great banger all around |
| 15 | Jung Jaeil
The Belt of Faith
"A song from a movie soundtrack"
God the way this song was used in Parasite was so good |
| 16 | Ryuichi Sakamoto
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence
"A song with no words"
Referring to the version on the album 1996 here, not the original from the soundtrack. While I've always loved this song I've come to associate it with one of the only things that has made me feel even vaguely happy/hopeful recently, and that has just strengthened my adoration for it |
| 17 | Animal Collective
Alvin Row
"A song about being 17"
Not just a song about 17, but a song about the looming fear of adulthood and added responsibility that one might feel at this age |
| 18 | Car Seat Headrest
Famous Prophets (Minds)
"A song that reminds you of somebody"
Not going to get into this music but this reminds me of some pretty shit times I've been through and someone who was linked to them (though they didn't really contribute to me feeling bad at all). The line about "falling in love too hard" still gives me chills to this day |
| 19 | The Avalanches
Since I Left You
"A song to drive to"
Never driven before so I'm not sure how to answer this, but I remember being a passenger in a car driving around a city at nighttime while listening to this, and it just seemed to fit really well with the overall atmosphere |
| 20 | Phoenix
1901
"A song with a number in the title"
Not just a song with a number in a title, but a song where the whole title is a number. 1901 and the rest of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix showcases some of the best pop songwriting out there. While it's not something super unique, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a god tier indie pop album full of brilliant hooks |
| 21 | Steve Roach
Reflections in Suspension
"A song you listen to at 3am"
With the sparse melodies, general "spacy" atmosphere, and depressive feeling, this is the perfect song for lonely nighttime listening. Sounds like the soundtrack to getting lost in space |
| 22 | Manic Street Preachers
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
"A song with a long title"
Obviously had to put a song by the Manics here somewhere. Fun fact: this is the song with the longest title without brackets to reach #1 in the UK singles chart |
| 23 | David Bowie
Blackstar
"A song with a colour in the title"
What an amazing start to Bowie's self-written eulogy. Blackstar might actually be my favourite album of his. Rest in peace |
| 24 | 100 Gecs
Money Machine
"A song you've had stuck in your head"
This is such a fucking catchy song it's actually insane. While I wasn't too hot on 1000 gecs at first, I decided to give it another chance and I've been addicted to this song ever since |
| 25 | Alcest
Ciel errant
"A song in a different language"
Neige's vocals on this are absolutely heavenly. Beautiful song |
| 26 | Stars of the Lid
Dungtitled (In a Major)
"A song that helps you fall asleep"
I don't really sleep to music so for this one I picked a song that helps me relax, and nothing else really does it like Stars of the Lid. Like with the first one, any song from And Their Refinement of the Decline could apply here, but I had to stick to just one per entry |
| 27 | Radiohead
Packt Like Sardines in A Crushed TIn Box
"A song that describes how you feel right now"
Not sure how to explain this one, I guess it's because it has a sort of monotonous tone to it, what with Thom's deadbeat vocals and all, which describes how I feel right now which is honestly more bored than anything |
| 28 | Bladee
Who Goes There
"A song you used to hate but love now"
While I really did not like Eversince at first, after relistening to it a few months after I started to really appreciate the album's hazy depressive atmosphere, with the opening track being especially great |
| 29 | Jona Lewie
Stop the Cavalry
"A song you have/want to download"
Again, not sure how to interpret this one so I just decided to pick a song that I own physically; this and Sunglasses (which I already mentioned) are the only two singles I actually own records of |
| 30 | Squid
Sludge
"A song you want to share"
Squid are a very promising up-and-coming post-punk band that I feel will make some waves in indie and alternative music circles, and sites like this and rateyourmusic in the coming years. They just got signed to Warp recently, so that'll hopefully help them get more of the recognition they deserve. Check out their latest single here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0GHHmjovM8 |
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