
Dead Stilettos – Brain Donor
Similar artists: STIFF RICHARDS, Wunderhorse, JOHN (TIMESTWO)
Genre: Skate Punk, Punk, Post-Punk
People like to wax poetically about just how much the likes of John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix or Guthrie Govan did for real musicians. And while those people hit the peak of their chosen field of music, how many great records did the people who followed them make? And, really, do real musicians make better records than non-musicians? I’m not convinced.
What we should really celebrate are the people who bring into rock n’ roll strategies to avoid having to play too well. The modern post-punk bands, with their demands, angry yelling, and an image that can be best described as history teacher chic have been something of a revelation. They’ve made it OK for people who wouldn’t dream of auditioning for a jazz band in their life to want to make music.
And it’s great news that they did. Bands like the Dead Stilettos, with their single “Brain Donor,” prioritize heady ideas over precise playing and anger over uncertainty and over shifting emotion. This music is meant for people who carry plenty of complaints. But unlike listening to, say, Pantera, the unspoken agreement is that they’ll only yell at authority figures and at the way that they influence society.
Safe at Second – In the Moment
Genre: Punk, Pop Punk
Let’s be honest. Other than a few weirdos, myself included, that treat sad bastard music like it was a gift sent from the Gods, people listen to music to have a good time. Nobody attends a party and then suggests blasting a song that will make everyone contemplate global starvation or the effects of a nuclear war. For the most part, people just want to feel joy. And there ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Most musical artists feel the same way. They want to supply their audiences with those hopeful sounds. However, if they’re honest about themselves and about their work, they won’t always be able to do that. Artists too, go through hard times, feel the pressure of uncertainty, and can’t help but reflect those thoughts in their art. What to do?
Safe at Second found a great way to tell difficult truths to their biggest supporters in the single “In the Moment.” Play this song without the weight of the words on it, and you’ll hear a gigantic pop-punk banger that will make you want to leap up and down on your couch. Add the lyrics, and you’ll hear a tale of regret. But then add those two together, and what you get is a song about regret, completed by the hope for much better days. And that’s something that you might even want to play at a party.