volume 141 - slow burn

we're all on road trips through life

memes of the week 🤠

we are going to start a dialogue

being bald is way more efficient than we think

i just want to learn how to do the minimum and get paid the maximum, is that too much to ask?

via @urmommy_________

daily reminder 🥲

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happy Tuesday y’all :)

today’s volume is all about road trips! spurred from a chance conversation crossing paths with someone through this road trip we call life

we went to our friend’s birthday party recently to celebrate and met some folks from Italy. Bologna to be exact:

which happened to be where Veronica visited often and i visited pre-COVID based on her recommendation. it’s a beautiful college town with amazing food and a footy club, so you know i’m all in

anyways, they were surprised we knew about Bologna! and that was the catalyst to learn more about each other

one of them was a journalist and actually had his own newsletter. we bonded over music to write to and music in general

i learned that this was actually his first time in the states and he was on a road trip from Texas to California with his friend. which i thought was such a cool way to experience the US for your first time

naturally, our conversation turned to road trips. about how having a good balance of people and vibes on the trip is extremely important (even on solo road trips). you know you found your people when y’all are comfortable being in silence lmao

you’re navigating through uncharted territory and experiencing places, people, and food that you might not ever get to experience again. you’ll learn a lot about yourself too, staring into the abyss letting your mind roam free like those cows

one of the biggest things too is the music. if you’re the DJ you know that with great power, comes (potential) great validation

the music ahead is (some) of what i’d play if we know there’s a long road ahead. whether on the road or through life

hope y’all enjoy :)

and with that, let's get to the music for the week ❤️‍🔥

- claudio / claud / @offballscreen

i’ve done SF to Austin and Boston to Austin which were beautiful and stressful at the same time 🤪

this week’s music ⤵️

1. Manhattan
   Kings of Leon
   Released: 2008

transitioning from Veronica’s song from Because of the Times in Vol. 140, this album (Only by the Night) has them moving to more of a Southern rock vibe. this is my favorite project by them and my go-to if people want that sound

i love how they’re not afraid to speak their mind on some heinous shit. in the second verse, they comment on how Native Americans’ land (along with their joy) was taken away:

I'm on a hunt to kill
I'm going to skin the hide
A yelp and scream
And away I ride

Caleb (lead vocalist) spoke on this in a 2008 interview with the Village Voice:

Yeah, the song is kind of about the unfortunate story that has happened that’s kind of been pushed under the carpet. No one really likes to talk about [what happened to Native Americans].

But yeah, the beginning of the song’s about the beauty and the freedom of the way that it was, and then by the end of it it’s about, you know, how it’s all been taken away.

i would’ve never known until i actually read the lyrics. shout out to them for actually speaking on it

2. Chosen
   Blood Orange
   Released: 2013

I see him behind my lids in a bright grey shirt
I see him tripping running and falling, covered in dirt
I see a lot of these things lately
I know I know none of it is real

i love how Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) is able to compose sounds that feel like movie scores. he’s so good at layering his tracks

this album in particular is 10 years old?? damn i feel old, i was in college back then 😮‍💨

this song is so big yet (in terms of quantity), there aren’t many lyrics. but the sax. the bass. the 80s synths. the electronic drums. the angelic backup vocals. they all carry so much and show up throughout this track

this project is the perfect album to listen to while driving through farm towns soaking in your surroundings and getting lost in thought 😌

fun fact: the woman in the intro is pop artist Caroline Polachek!

3. Black Cow
   Steely Dan
   Released: 1977

dad rock is timeless. and will always be parsed out to different sounds as time moves on. that’s why Steely Dan and the like are great for any age. a road trip between generations 🥲

especially because dad rock is sampled so much. case in point with “Black Cow”:

also, apparently black cow is a root beer float?? that explains a lot:

Just when it seems so clear
That it's over now
Drink your big black cow
And get out of here

4. Slow Burn
   Kacey Musgraves
   Released: 2018

i love Kacey approaches the country in such a refreshing way! with her songwriting especially. it feels so visceral. she sets the tone early:

Born in a hurry, always late
Haven't been early since '88
Texas is hot, I can be cold
Grandma cried when I pierced my nose

this is what i ended up recommending as their first album to listen through. it’s country but through a more contemporary, progressive lens. people hear country and automatically tune out

by the end of this album, guaranteed the whole car will ride the Kacey bandwagon 😌