Noots Letter: In Case You Missed It (Me)
May / June 2022
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Dearest Folks Who Check Their Email,
Forgive the absence of Noots Letter from your inbox so far this summer, but rest assured I have good reason! In an absolute Mad Lib of events, I have been floating through the choppy waters of the Alaskan Inside Passage performing dad rock, so I 1) have not been able to load YouTube videos on this meager WiFi 2) have not been keeping up with my email because I no longer have a real person job 3) have not been listening to any music recorded past approximately 1987 for the past 8-10 weeks.
Here are some musical-adjacent items I’ve enjoyed recently, in case you missed them. Everyone say !thank you! to the Skagway Public Library for providing me with the connection to make my listening/this delivery possible today.
The Rap Against Rockism singlehandedly made me resubscribe to the NY Times. I’ve discussed genre fluidity at length, as well as public disdain for certain genres, and despite the fact it’s 18 years old, this article wonderfully explores the purist culture among rock n’ roll fans. Especially relevant to my current gig, where I watch old men go absolutely buck wild for The Eagles week after week and remark that They Just Don’t Make Music Like This Anymore. Many thanks to Adam for sharing!
This Spotify UX Case Study very scientifically unpacks the app’s success and pitfalls. The researcher recognizes that one of the primary flaws is its lack of social networking abilities, something I have also been screaming from rooftops for years. I wanna see what you all you idiots are listening to all the time!! I miss seeing what my crush was listening to at the very minute we were texting because it was broadcasted publicly on www.facebook.com!!!! Is that too much to ask!!!!!!
With his recent Tiny Desk Concert, Usher reminded us that he has not aged in 20 years and neither has his talent. Prepare to be writhing on the floor after “Confessions Part II”. Will be watching this recording and using this meme format for years to come.
Very grateful to Holland and Taylor for continually sharing the incredible wisdom of Tressie McMillan Cottom! Her essay on Dolly Parton is among the most nuanced and brilliant pieces I’ve ever read. In addition to Substack, Tressie also has a NY Times newsletter if you never wanna miss out!
While the concept is anything but new, Pitchfork’s Rise of Dissociation Music links several solid tracks to society’s latest pastime (my dissociation activity of choice is playing Scrabble dear god I am playing so much Scrabble onboard rn). Bonus points because fave Buzzfeed article by Coyote Club/Brooklyn’s very own Emmeline Clein is also mentioned!
Lesbian Jesus Hayley Kiyoko came out this month as taken by The Bachelor’s Becca Tilley, and gay internet fell to our collective knees. This Cut interview with Becca provides us with the heartwarming arc we’ve all dreamed of—from the world’s straightest franchise to Pride Month’s favorite revelation.
Many a TikTok has been teasing “Touch Tank” by Quinnie for weeks, and the full release has been just as satisfying. Has there ever been softer sensual song? If you like aquariums and aquariums as euphemisms, check out this tune.
Embedded is yet another Substack that dishes “what’s good on the internet”, so needless to say, I love. Check out this piece on ABBA’s digital avatars, or this one about Tiktok as the ultimate content source. Unrelated to music, I also appreciated their discussion of online feminism, a topic I mull over a lot in this economy!
Consumed body and soul by the IG account Capybara Album Covers. It is exactly what it sounds like. It’s as if the algorithm reached into my soul and found the most meaningful intersection of my interests.
For those asking for videos of our boat rock performances, here is the sole video currently on the internet. It just so happens to be of me singing My Least Favorite Song (unpacked in this NL piece), which is hilariously ironic to me. But we sound okay! Acting! More/better songs to come!
Speaking of Alaska, the Great Baldini is a staple of the Juneau music community, who takes up residence every summer at the Red Dog Saloon. This is an especially sweet article about this gentleman’s experience without tourists during Covid.
Last but not least, I suffered the most dramatic metaphorical stroke when I saw that Jack Antonoff and literally all my favorite musical artists made the Minions 2 soundtrack. Whoever had this on their 2022 Bingo card definitely wins.
As always, thank you for listening. Miss you all tremendously, but do know I love ye and I preciate ye and I’m thinkin bout ye ever day and night.
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Gay Rights - It’s kinda weird that gays only exist one month per year, but happy belated Pride month anyways.
Shazam - They play a lot of random music constantly on my cruise ship and I have become the person who Shazams everything all the time so here are some of those.
Not New - These came out before I was born! But I am glad to be listening to/singing some of them on the regular.
paper crown - Somewhat new songs that I didn’t know soon enough to put them on any of my top lists. They deserve paper crowns anyways.
mayjunetwentytwo - Missed so much in the past two months that I had to put all twoty-two of my favorite albums from the past two months in one place.
22:22 - You know her already: one song per artist, best tracks of the year, all year long.
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May —
Ethel Cain, Preacher’s Daughter: This album has everything I adore—excessive reverb, musings on adolescence, and American Gothic style imagery. Moody!
Leikeli47, Shape Up: After catching mainstream attention with 2018’s Acrylics, this Brooklyn-raised rapper is back with another slew of absolute bangers (also she’s the only person whose pronunciation of Hoyt and Schermerhorn I trust).
Porridge Radio, Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky: Brand new discovery alert! With a name like “Porridge Radio”, you best believe their British accents only enhance the gang vocals of this Brighton-based indie rock band.
June —
MUNA, MUNA: MUNA is so hot right now I won’t shut up about MUNA. I hope you love MUNA by MUNA as much as I do. No thoughts just MUNA. So hot.
Saya Gray, 19 MASTERS: A highly pleasant surprise this month from newcomer Saya Gray, who produced/wrote/performed this debut album herself, featuring only a bit of guitar by her brother and trumpet by father. One to watch!
FKJ, V I N C E N T: A.k.a. Fresh Kiwi Juice, FKJ is a French multi-instrumentalist whose jazzy, vibey music makes you feel like a leafy plant hanging in a tropical cafe (I said what I said).