Written by: Joleen Gramlich
- “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” – Radiohead
Image from The Austin Chronicle
Radiohead is prominently known for being a band best described as “genre-fluid.” Each album has a unique sound, one that differs drastically from the album that came before it. From experimental instrumentals or electronic beats – each song brings to life a new and exciting sound that can be encompassed by their alternative rock voice. The reason why “Jigsaw Falling into Place” has rightfully earned its place as my number one song last year is because, well, for lack of better words, it rocks. Yorke’s hums throughout the song are soothing as he sings a story about a chance encounter and the bittersweetness of fleeting moments between humans. His voice starts the song off very softly and suggests a sort of shyness and vulnerability – one that fades and becomes more confident as the song progresses. As it climaxes, Yorke cries out “The beat goes round and round” – the second time being much more passionate than the first and offering a eureka moment that is satisfying to hear as the music crescendos around it. Such a great song.
- “3-5-7” – All Them Witches
Image from New West Records Press
All Them Witches is a band that I know one song, and one song only. That song is “3-5-7”. That is not to say that I’m uninterested in listening to the rest of their discography, but rather that “3-5-7” is such a banger I always end up listening to it at least twice every time it pops up in my shuffle. I think that’s how it wiggled its way all the way up to number two on my top songs list. Their music has a jam-band stoner rock sound very prevalent in “3-5-7”. It’s groovy yet somewhat dark and powerful. Their lyrics are simple and also on the abstract plane, but the song works in a way that is so cool to listen to.
- “Heavydirtysoul” Twenty One Pilots (feat. MUTEMATH)
Image from Wikipedia
If you identified yourself as emo in high school, Twenty One Pilots would most definitely have been on repeat to some extent. From their album “Blurryface,” which was released in 2015, “Heavydirtysoul” starts the record off strong with heavy instrumentals which include loud drums, crashing symbols, and computerized, yet organic sounding synthesizers. In addition, the lead singer, Tyler Joseph, wastes no time rapping his intense, fast-paced lyrics that bombard your ear holes within the first twenty seconds of the song. I would define myself as a Twenty One Pilots apologist, and since my emo phase in high school I still find myself shuffling their albums and genuinely enjoying their music. In 2017, two years after the release of “Blurryface,” Twenty One Pilots covered their own song with the help of MUTEMATH and made what I would consider an almost perfect song even better. The cover includes rawer, more powerful sounding instrumentals and a chemistry between the artists that cannot be matched. Not to mention, Tyler includes a screamo iteration of his lyrics “Can you save? Can you save my heavy, dirty soul?” elevates the song to a higher degree of intensity than the original. This song always gets me hype.
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