Song Overflow #2 - August 2024

Scouring new releases is a messy process. I'm letting you inside the weigh station where all the songs I find hang out before they get sorted into "real" playlists.

I said I’d be back *next* week with Song Overflow. Of course I forgot that next week is already September, and this is a playlist I would like to provide at the end of each month. So here I am in your inbox a second time this week. Hi!

Welcome back to Song Overflow, or a peek inside the chaos of my music discovery process.

I make and offer a lot of niche, genre-specific playlists. I’m a fan of order, spreadsheets, nested folders, color-coding, and pastel highlighters. But entropy (and laziness) reigns, and good music is released faster than I can keep track of it in any orderly way.

Like a disorganized audio Pinterest board, the Song Overflow is where I tuck all the “definitely later”s that pique my interest but don’t immediately lend themselves to categorization into an existing playlist.

It’s not that these are unknowns that haven’t been vetted. It’s that I haven’t been able to devote enough time to the entire album that they come from just yet.

Think of this as a pile of good first impressions that I’m letting you sift through before it gets curated. As usual, I’m pulling out a few songs for prior inspection below the fold.

For those who missed Song Overflow #1, you can find it right here.

For those who aren’t ready to become paid subscribers, I have many public playlists available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

I’ll be stoked if you consider it, though! Your support will let me to get those playlists on other streaming platforms, and of course there are more extras coming.

1. Theo Moss - Autopilot

For (former?) fans of: Being left unsatisfied — this track is her debut single! An EP is in the works, though.
Sounds kinda like: The rest of the stellar crew of women doing scuzzed-out ‘90s rock revival: Soccer Mommy, Wet Leg, Snail Mail, et al.

2. Lucia & The Best Boys - So Sweet I Could Die

For (former?) fans of: My Lady Jane (where I first heard this song), running in slow motion through verdant fields, goth night
Sounds kinda like: Eurythmics, CHVRCHES… wait, does this Scottish synthpop band have mostly Scottish synthpop influences?

3. Brijean - Roller Coaster

For (former?) fans of: Mezcal-based cocktails, dancing on rooftop bars, roller-disco, L.A.
Sounds kinda like: ‘50s jazz, ‘60s psychedelia, ‘70s disco, ‘90s house

4. Personal Trainer - Intangible

For (former?) fans of: Guileless indie pop
Sounds kinda like: Spoon. Seriously, it’s kind of uncanny in this particular track — go listen to “I Turn My Camera On.” Every charmingly optimistic mid-2000s guitar band seems to pop through, though.

5. C Turtle - Shake It Down

For (former?) fans of: Listening to the sound of your roommates’ band practice in the next room while you’re trying to get work done, ‘90s college radio, watching TV static
Sounds kinda like: Pavement. Just straight up Steve Malkmus. Maybe the Moldy Peaches.

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This month’s overflow is all yours.