Young Fathers - Shame

Nothing but a barefaced lie
Is all you cunts can hold on to
I suggest you downgrade fast
Before it's a shame on you

Imma sing, "What a shame on you"
Where's your gall when it's a shame on you?

I've got no clue what they're going on about, but I dig the rhythm and vibe of "Shame" by Scottish Indie R&B trio Young Fathers. This one's been popping up here and there and I finally decided to give some of their back catalog a listen. It's good stuff and they cover a really wide variety of musical styles.

RIYL: Roots Manuva, Wax Tailor, Ghostpoet, TV on The Radio

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Sleater-Kinney - Lions and Tigers

26 letters from A to Z
L-A-U-G-H, E and there's S
Put them in an order and
They become words
Words become a sentence
When you add nouns and verbs

I'd like to show you a million things
I'd like to make the world for you a better place
But when it pours, it really rains, so
Put on your boots, and let's play

Ants live in a jungle
Leave a trail to their homes
So they can find their way back
If they're ever alone

Monkeys in the trees
They eat bananas too fast
Lions and the tigers they
Hunt in the grass

I'd like to show you a million things
I'd like to make the world for you a better place
But when it pours, it really rains, so
Put on your boots, and let's play

How come all the rulers of this earth
Get off on teaching something strong[?]
Please learn to rule with your head, not your fist
And those lessons that you learn will carry on

I'd like to show you a million things
I'd like to make the world for you a better place
But when it pours, it really rains, so
Put on your boots, and let's play

It's a long long way to go now
I'll be there if you call
It's a long long way to go now
I'll be there if you call

Happy Mother's Day!

Today's Most Important goes out to all the moms, but especially the moms in my life. Of which there seem to be more and more every day! Babies! For those of you who don't know, Kerri is a mom, of four rambunctious boys. Ok, two rambunctious boys and two pretty chill boys, but...well there are four of them! I'm not sure how she does it, but she does and with grace and style. I'm also not sure "Lions and Tigers" is about motherhood, regardless, I think the message works.

BONUS: I couldn't find "Lions and Tigers" on Spotify, and we'll need something for the playlist so I picked "Little Babies" off of their awesome 1997 release Dig Me Out. Pretty sure it fits the theme of the day.

RIYL: Le Tigre, Tacocat, The Coathangers, Bleached

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Gold Class - Twist in the Dark

Gold Class, a Melbourne-based post-punk outfit, have a killer throw-back sound. They remind me a bit of Interpol, both in their overall sound, but also they're kind of to Fugazi what Interpol was to Joy Division. Not a copy cat, but an inspired take. The comparisons don't stop there, while I was diving into their music I was reminded of a lot of great stuff. "Twist in the Dark" is the first cut of their upcoming album and it's ace.

RIYL: Fugazi, Interpol, At The Drive-In, Cloud Nothings

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Hawai - In My Head

My heart beats fast out of it's chest
Seeing you dance, what a glorious mess
Was something there, maybe in a stare? 
How can i forget when a kiss was shared
I broke it down, knees to the ground
But the only thing i found: the invisible sound
The night rolled on, it fell into the dawn
I wish you would return 'cause i miss the way it burned

Mostly cribbed from their website (which is much more thorough than most young bands'): Orange County quartet, Hawai (pronounced "huh-why") released debut single “In My Head” in 2015, stirring up a local buzz and gaining spins on KROQ. With its lush guitars, energetic beat, cinematic production, and oh so catchy refrain, it’s liable to stay stuck in your head long after one listen.
Also: Dammit, busy life meant skipping the Knox Hamilton show last night in Austin, and I think Hawai may have opened. SMH

RIYL: Local Natives, Knox Hamilton, Finish Ticket

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Wyldlife - Desperate Times

New York rockers Wyldlife are pretty rockin' for a band that shares a name with the middle schooler version of the religious group Young Life. Their latest album, Out On Your Block, showcases a terrific mix of punk, glam and garage and is full of catchy, anthemic cuts that are mostly about rocking out and having a good time. Hat tip to my brother, Steve, for the recommendation.

RIYL: The Strokes, The Cars, The Exploding Hearts, The Clash

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