What I'm Listening To: Oh No, the TV Glow
Another Decemberists triumph and wonder of a cinematic soundtrack.
My ears have been happy as clams the past week (and keeping me sane through a lot of frustration and stress — but that’s another story) so I need to share the love with you.
First of all, my favorite band dropped their new album on June 14 and they have not disappointed. Beautiful and haunting cover art by Slowpoke’s Carson Ellis graces The Decemberists’ As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again — a double album (due to the final track Joan in the Garden being 19 minutes long and one of their sonic masterpieces). Colin Meloy of The Machine Shop is in excellent songwriting form and his voice is as crystal clear as always. Listen to these lyrics — so great.
Another favorite track not released as a single is Don’t Go To the Woods, one that invokes spooky Pacific Northwest vibes ala Twin Peaks or Meloy’s own novels The Wildwood Chronicles and The Stars Did Wander Darkling.
Later in the week I watched the new A24 film I Saw the TV Glow, highly anticipated after this trailer caught my attention several months ago…
I love the film itself. Dark, weird and spooky — my kind of vibe with Lynchian twists and a haunting slow burn with subtle nods to everything from Twin Peaks (again) and Mulholland Drive to VIDEODROME — it’s like body horror without the blood. Ending was a bit abrupt but I love the themes it explores — it’s a poetic visual metaphor for the tension of the trans experience and what it’s like to be a young person living in a body that doesn’t fit your soul. All of this is mixed in with elements of ‘90s TV nostalgia and it warrants closer looks and further thought & discussion.
But along with all of this, what won me over was the soundtrack, both in its synth-laden musical score by Alex G and its collection of moody, angsty indie rock by the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and other artists who were unknown to me until now.
Here’s a visualizer for a favorite track…
…and another track which resonates with me deeply is the cries of rage from King Woman’s Psychic Wound.
These are my new musical obsessions as of late and I recommend them with a full heart. What are you listening to lately?