Noots Letter: Have you ever had guitar played at you?

June/July 2023

Happy summer! Hope you made it through the heat wave of last week; sending thots & prayers to those without central air conditioning. Here’s a playlist about Literally Being Hot I made a few years ago. And here’s a throwback to the pre-show dressing room playlist by the Indianapolis Cropdusters, reuniting for Bridges of Madison County this month in PA. Come through!

If you want to listen to hot music whilst being hot…

Amaarae, Fountain Baby. This is one that’s gonna make it to a lot of end-of-year lists, not to mention her features on The Age of Pleasure and KAYTRAMINÉ. I love when artists remind us they exist in the year 2023 with tracks, for instance, about the Co-Star app. And the album cover is me after I come back from doing my laundry in a few minutes and hop in a cold shower fully clothed because that’s the way things are for me rn.

If you’re still full of teenage angst…

Bully, Lucky for You (2023). She’s got this whiny quality to her voice and overdriven tone to her guitar that feels like you’re in a ‘90 teen film. Makes baby want to put on low rise jeans! I’ve also loved Blondshell’s self-titled album this summer. Reminiscent of Liz Phair and Hole, Blondshell’s coming-of-age tale is specific, acerbic, and, frankly, yummy.

If you’re gay / if you’re reading this you’re gay…

Try The Aces, I've Loved You For So Long (2023) or Alex Lahey, The Answer is Always Yes (2023) for your every-month-is-pride-month agenda. And of course, hopefully you did not miss me simping all over Janelle Monáe’s The Age of Pleasure in last month’s Noots Letter!!!! Have you seen these music videos?? I’m literally tripping over myself sprinting to a water park.

If you want to further support Lebron Giving Back To Qommunities…

ICYMI, new (but also old?) queer legend Grimace absolutely steamrolled M3gan and the Babadook and then shared his (their?) playlist. And there was overwhelming support from smog and submarines and Smash Mouth. For the intellectuals/people who can read, check out pieces like Secret Gay History of Indie Rock, What Makes A Gay Anthem, and I Kissed A Girl To Call Me By Your Name.

Anyways I also reeeeeally enjoyed Lauren Auder, The Infinite Spine (2023) and had no idea who she was until stumbling onto this album, which is always a pleasant surprise. ANOHNI & The Johnsons make a grand return and pay homage to Marsha P. in My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (2023). And Claud maintains their soft spot in my heart with Supermodels (2023).

For compilation albums…

I mean obviously duh Barbie The Album (2023). It really did live up to the hype in many regards, and by that I mean I liked all the songs by artists I already liked and skipped the ones that felt like they were written by a newly enlightened feminist AI bot. Unfortunately I am not as feminist-pilled as these bots because I think the best song is the one by Ken, which thus started a countdown for the inevitable Barbie The Musical.

Rufus Wainwright’s Folkocracy (2023) also featured massive collabs with the likes of David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, John Legend and Miss Pussycat Supreme, Nicole Scherzinger, for some reason. I love when people work together!

Speaking of men at the piano…

In June, I ranked all of the new albums I’ve listened to this year and there was only one white man in the top 20: Ben Folds, What Matters Most (2023). He is a timeless entertainer and lyricist and North Carolinian who I may never tire of. But wait now there’s more! July brought us Heaven Hunters (2023) by Emile Mosseri, who composed the score for Minari. Oscar Lang’s Look Now (2023) also harks back to Elton John with his vintage vocals and cheesy keys.

If you want a great album with a poignant backstory…

Purr, Who Is Afraid of Blue (2023), firstly seem like cool cool people who I’d like to be stuck talking to in the kitchen at a party. Secondly, it was written while one band member was diagnosed with potential hearing loss, which gives the record an faintly anxious throughline. My favorite band at age 19, Portugal. The Man, devoted Chris Black Changed My Life (2023) to the longtime friend they lost in 2019.

For the southerners…

Jenny Lewis, Joy’all (2023) demonstrated she will always be our mother of southern rock. Tommy Prine, son of the late John Prine, released his touching debut album, This Far South (2023).

For other folk folks…

I’m back amongst the country roads and cornfields of the mid-Atlantic this summer, so this is for those who can relate to mosquito infestation down here: Wye Oak, Every Day Like the Last (2023); Jess Williamson, Time Ain’t Accidental (2023); and This Is The Kit, Careful of Your Keepers (2023).

If you want NYC-based artists who are, like, slightly more accessible versions of Weyes Blood or maybe event just contemporaries of Vashti Bunyan (idk if any of this is making sense to anyone ok just listen to them)…

Julie Byrne, The Greater Wings (2023) has that raspy, wise-beyond-years alto that I love, and a profile at Coney Island to match. Allegra Krieger, I Keep My Feet On The Fragile Place (2023), similarly carries both vastness and intimacy characteristic of urban loneliness.

If you’re mad at your ex…

Kelly Clarkson, chemistry (2023)—ma’am… Who hurt her.

If you want instrumental…

Idk maybe you’re a nerd who, like, has a job? Andrew Bird, Outside Problems (2023) for Americana. K-Lone, Swells (2023) for some elevated loft beats.

If you’re excited about the announcement of a new Mitski album…

You’ll have to wait a few months. In the meantime, Sir Chloe, I Am The Dog (2023) feels comparable to Sasami and early Mitski in the vocals and guitar tone. If you’re a fan of clever lyrical storytelling, try Palehound, Eye on the Bat (2023).

If you’re still using the hashtag #TBT…

Coi Leray, COI (2023). I spoke too soon in the last newsletter—I initially thought that this was the same person as Kid LAROI (sounds the same!!!) and therefore dismissed her (because I thought she was a 19 year old Australian boy!!!). Upon listening to her full album, I started to understand the vision. It’s a clever cheat code to ear worm when artists remake classic songs and, moreover, when they make them distinctly their own.

If you’ve ever had guitar played at you…

I actually really enjoyed Dominic Fike’s Sunburn (2023), but this meme just reminded of the time he played an entire half hour song to Zendaya in that one Euphoria scene lolololol ken.

If you think no one’s love will ever compare to your dog’s…

I first listened to Japanese House’s In The End It Always Does at 7 AM on the A train to Rockaway beach. The only thing better than a good album is the experience you’re able to permanently associate with it. Highly recommend + train ride + a morning swim.

ty! stay sunny, pals ~