No one ever tells us it’s okay

Things are about to get a lot worse or maybe just slightly better, and the gulf between those two things could not be wider. Hopefully some new songs will help.

In much less important news, Crit List #8 is here. Remember that whatever you use for self-care is valid. Remember that it’s necessary to seek your joy when and where you can. For me, tonight, that joy will be one (1) entire Domino’s pizza.

Here’s the art I made for this List and a poem.

Gulfer - “Blurry”

That’s the twinkly guitar sound that make me bop.

I Love Your Lifestyle - “Shilly-Shally”

This catchy Swedish band blends emo and pop.

Attic Salt - “Mud”

Like Superchunk or Joyce Manor? You’ll think this band rules.

The Sonder Bombs - “Crying is Cool”

“No one ever tells us it’s okay, but it’s okay; crying is cool.”

Secret Stuff - “Champion of Nothing”

“What you’re given is enough; hell, it’s more than you deserve.”

Chris Farren - “FALL IN LOVE2NIGHT”

Is that another perfect song I observe?

PUP - “Nothing Changes”

“A new mattress, the same old bitter thoughts.”

Tigers Jaw - “Cat’s Cradle”

“Can’t keep holding on to what was lost.”

The Wonder Years - “Brakeless”

“I heard a song on the radio that said ‘that’s just the way it goes’and I think I’m gonna break.”

Julien Baker - “Faith Healer”

Another Julien song, another devastating ache.

---

That was ten new songs. These last few Lists have been all about highlighting new songs and I hope you found something you love. A few weeks ago I was stuck and stressing about what “should” be on one of the lists and how often they should come out and then I remembered: it can be whatever/whenever I want! Then I felt bad about feeling stuck.

Here’s an old one to end things.

Somehow Bad Books I is ten years old. This tune still feels just as good / hurts just as much as it used to. It’s staggering that Bad Books is as good as they are across ten years and three LPs considering the quality of the members’ original projects. I’ll leave you with the full lyrics. Thanks for reading. Forward this to a friend. Be well. Take care of yourself.

Bad Books - “You’re a Mirror I Cannot Avoid”

I caught you caterwauling, giving griefThought you were cannonballing after meI let your actions speak for themselvesAnd wished you wellBut you're a mirror I cannot avoidStrung out and jittery and paranoidA leaky battery that can't keep chargedGet in the carAnd say what you meanExplain yourself to meAnd I'll try not to judge you more than you wouldLet me help, I promise not to tellLike anyone's asking or anyone shouldFirst time I met you, I was full of fearKnew that eventually, you'd disappearJust when I needed you, you'd burned to smokeAnd off you'd goJust come back and peel away the messLay here beside me and open your eyesTake it backYour dignity, your tactTurn back to the person you tried to let dieI caught you nesting with your analogGlassy eyed from kissing poison frogsBecoming infinite against his couchOpen your mouthAnd say the wordsYou used to wish you heardBack when you focused enough to be goodAnd if you're goneAn endless false alarmJust remember, I loved youAs long as I could