Laurel’s L.A. Weekend Playlist

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L.A. Weekend Playlist by Laurel Johnston

When I was in Pershing Square last week, I was struck by a quote I read by Carey McWilliams about Los Angeles, where “the American people were erupting, like lava from a volcano”.  After being here a solid week and looking back at all of the things I have seen (and done) since I got here, I could not agree more with Mr. McWilliams. This playlist reflects the vast, rich variety of new and unusual ideas and people one can experience in seven short days in this fair city.

  1. Sundress ‘Dream Curl’ This is a song I’d like to awaken me every morning, the muted drums a far sweeter sound than my shrill, insistent alarm clock. Instead of a sharp, piercing transition from the sleeping to waking world, imagine a slow-building wave of sound that gradually awakens your senses at the beginning of every day.
  2. Dust Congress ‘My Name is David’ I’ve seen some people and interactions this week that have been incredibly humbling: a man passed out across the steps of the AT&T building downtown, a woman in a wheelchair selling iPhone cases out of a giant black garbage bag at Pershing Square. This song reassures you that we shouldn’t always look the other way; instead, we should feel the weight of the world for others, knowing that “These are tough times to be tryin’ to get things right”.
  3. The Good, The Bad, and The Queen ‘Three Changes’ While technically The Good, the Bad, and the Queen is the name of the album and not the band, it is the latest installment from Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn and friends. I find this a necessary preface for grasping the futuristic, darkly carnivalesque feel of a song that goes through many changes, each more engaging than the last. The last 50 seconds is a rock-steady groove with Damon’s strangely airy dystopian lyrics draped over the top.
  4. Via Audio ‘Hello’ This track is pure sex, from the sultry female vocalist’s voice to the relaxed, greasy groove of the guitar over the drums and bass. It’s flirty and light at first, but turns ominious with gorgeous little guitar turns in opposition the devastating lyrics “I don’t want to make a fuss, I’m just growin’ tired of us”.
  5. 14kt ‘The Inside ft. Tiffany Paige’ Everyting I’ve heard from 14kt has left me scratching my head, wondering where he learned how to make tracks like this. It’s like the music I’ve always wanted to hear from a DJ but never have, a perfect blend of original material and remixed old tracks that you can’t help but nod your head to and hum along with.
  6. Islands ‘Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby’ The quirky, edgy pop sound of Islands never fails to put a smile on my face. I love the often bizarre, dreamy lyrics “Sugar dumpling muffin baby/ This world is going crazy” undercut with  the occasional punchy bass solo and  peppy drumming. Regardless of the unusual mix of styles and elements, the result is incredibly appealing and has the curious ability to brighten the most dour of moods.
  7. Ryan Thomas Becker ‘Premaries’ I just love the simple beauty of this song, the lyrics as plaintive and vulnerable as any good love or love song should be.  The voices are efforlessly haunting, male and female timbres blending artfully.   
  8. Me’Shell Ndegeocello ‘Evolution’ I find this song especially apropos in describing the inhabitants of the fair city of Los Angeles: not only is this song unlike almost anything I’ve ever heard before, but it represents a perpetual state of bettering oneself.  When I heard that Me’Shell would be performing at the Sunset Junction Street Fair last Sunday, I was expecting to be dazzled by this legendary bassist. She was an impressive player, but what really surprised and insprired me was her dark, thoughtful lyrics and vocal style. She’s a killer vocalist in her own right regardless of her bass playing, and her latest album title reflects her own evolution: The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams.