TV Girl’s “Hate Yourself” (2014)

TV Girl is the ultimate band to listen to while completing a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that you started with your ex.

Take my word for it.

And believe me when I say that their track “Hate Yourself” from the “French Exit” album is one of the catchiest songs floating around the internet.

The slyly provocative lyrics expose some of the tell-tale symptoms of lovesick insecurity that so many of us suffer from. Themes of jealousy, vanity, and emotional evasiveness, which are all traits that we hate to admit exist in ourselves and those close to us, permeate this track in a way that will ring in your ears while meditating blank-faced into a mirror.

My word of honor.

“Hate Yourself” lets the tragic lover’s hamartia dance through the air with a punchy, cyclical piano melody that just begs you to make poor romantic decisions. On a basic level, this is a simple, feel-good song that touches on some deeper concepts present in every young lover’s life, making it one of the most successful pop songs that ever graced my speakers.

– Matt Hogan 

Rex Orange County’s “Sunflower” (2017)

Rex Orange County is, simply put, an artist on the rise. After recently being featured on Tyler the Creator’s Album “Flower Boy,” it seems opportunities and tour dates are piling up for the English-born artist in recent months, and for good reason.

Rex Orange County is quickly defining his own unique music style by combining alternative hip-hop with neo soul and indie pop, creating infectious rhythms and spanning highs and lows.

“Sunflower” is a necessary introduction to Rex Orange County that will inject you with a loving sense of hope. A sense of love through growth permeates the song, allowing waves of love and security to gently wash over you. The central theme of a loving, long-distance relationship is a foreign concept to most college students. But if there’s one thing Sunflower should teach its listeners, it’s that there is always hope.

Find your hope. Grow your sunflower.

– Brandon Faust

Foxygen’s “Follow the Leader” (2017)

Foxygen emerged in the indie rock scene in 2012. Their unique alternative style mixes with 70’s-inspired groove in their hit “Follow the Leader” from their album “Heat.” Lead singer Sam France’s one-of-a-kind voice is reminiscent of a Bowie/Jagger hybrid, and mixes flawlessly with a musical accompaniment of brass, strings, and rock guitars that bring an Electric Light Orchestra flare.

The song makes you want to dance and sing along to the catchy chorus that will be an ear-worm for hours. “Follow the Leader” has lyrics full of emotion and meaning, encouraging the listener to follow their own path and be a leader, not a follower, in a perfectly funky way. Whenever you feel down, this song is guaranteed to boost your spirits and groove to your own beat.

– Corinne Philbin 

Album of the Week: “Dog Man Star” by Suede

This album is not an easy listen. Compared to Suede’s eponymous debut or 1997’s “Coming Up,” 1994’s “Dog Man Star” is a challenging album to listen to all the way through.  That is the only way to listen to it, though.

Now, just because it’s a challenging listen doesn’t mean the songs aren’t great.

Both the singles (“The Wild Ones,” “New Generation”), as well as the deep cuts (“The Asphalt World,” “Black or Blue”), all show Suede at their best. Listening to individual songs from the album won’t feel the same as listening to the album all at once, though. At a time when the music industry was placing more emphasis on singles than on albums, Suede decided to make a cohesive album rather than just a collection of singles with some additional songs.

“Dog Man Star,” when listened to in its entirety, exudes loneliness, claustrophobia, and evokes great emotion. This is an album that, upon repeated listens, continues to unfold into a beautiful, dark work of 1990’s alternative music.  

“Dog Man Star” is an album that I specifically associate with the winter season. Considering that it is winter, I would suggest you take a listen to the album on the next day it is cold and snowy. As I’ve said, it is a difficult listen, but a full listen will be rewarding.

For those interested, I’d suggest listening to some of the non-album singles and B-sides from around the time the album was released. Some of these tracks, like “Killing Of A Flashboy,” are so good that lead singer Brett Anderson in the liner notes to the 2011 collector’s edition expressed regret at not including them on the original release of “Dog Man Star.”

As the album is not on Spotify, you can find it here.

For those looking to buy it, you can find the 2011 expanded edition on Amazon.

– Nathaniel Rhoads