DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Truth
The theme this month is Truth. And in the age of “alternative facts”, conspiracy theories and massive delusion, truth has never been more relevant or critical. Like many, I recoil when I hear the term “post-truth” when describing our contemporary culture. How bone-chilling and remissive is the notion that we no longer can agree on facts? Tragically many seem too willing to forfeit truth in favor of personal belief or what “feels true”. If we can no longer find truth in our public discourse, maybe we can find it in our art? Music has always been a potent vehicle for truth. While music often celebrates and elevates the positive like joy and happiness, it is especially effective at revealing truths that tend to suffer from obfuscation. Difficult and complex truths involving suffering, abuse, mental illness, sexuality, pain, anger and the like are sometimes more effectively examined through music and art. When words fall short, sometimes music can uncover a deeper truth through the less rigid vocabulary of sound.
The theme this month was selected by our friends from the Buenos Aires chapter. About 5 years ago, I visited friends who had been living in Buenos Aires. I had such a wonderful time. What a dynamic city, the architecture, the art, the food, the street fashion, and the music—it was electric. I was there for a little over a week and I still feel like I just barely got a taste of the city. Two things that stuck out to me as I drifted through the eclectic neighborhoods, from music venues to record stores. First, while there is an incredibly diverse palette of music throughout the city, the Argentinians really really love their classic rock-n-roll. Everywhere throughout Palermo especially, I saw billboards and posters plastered all over the city for bands like Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. It was cool seeing young folks rolling around in vintage Dio concert shirts unironically. And second, in my opinion, the most important thing anyone needs to know about Buenos Aires is that there are heladerías (ice cream parlors) on nearly every corner and they are open late. Each of my nights would conclude with at least one scoop of dulce de leche, maybe two if I’m honest. Buenos Aires is an endlessly vibrant city and despite the 17 hour flight, I’m definitely eager to return.
In homage to the heladerías, and because they selected the theme this month, I included a few bands from Buenos Aires on the playlist. I’m a big fan of folktronica artist Juana Molina. I added her confessional tune “Cosoco” to the playlist, it’s from the phenomenal album Halo. Halo is one of my favorites albums from 2017. The band Fémina is new to me, I discovered the trio while searching for tracks for this playlist. The song I included is “Agradezco”. It has an almost 90’s R&B feel with the vocal harmonies and the verses are in a rapped style, this juxtaposed with the bossa nova influenced rock groove creates a delightful amalgam that’s fresh. It’s got sort of a Luscious Jackson vibe, I’m looking forward to digging deeper into Fémina’s records. Another band, which I’ve also included on my previous playlist, is El Mató a un Policía Motorizado. I really like their record “La Otra Dimensión”.The song I selected for the playlist is “La Casa Fantasmal”. A song I believe is about a haunted house, maybe? While the song’s lyrics proclaim they’re unafraid of ghosts, I don’t believe it. Boo.
If you’re looking for the truth, it’s not out there — it’s right here. This month’s playlist theme is Truth. These songs of honesty, confession, integrity, and fact will help inoculate you against all the lies and disinformation. Beginning with TV on the Radio’s haunting “Young Liars,” this playlist swings through the decades and genres. 80’s pop R&B has never sounded better than when being crooned by The Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox, just listen to those vocals on “Would I Lie To You,” no autotune on that one. Despite an urge to resist, I just had to include the sappy slow-dance staple “True” by Spandau Ballet — oh can’t you just see the disco ball lights spinning across the gym walls? From a more contemporary artist, we get a scandalous tale of infidelity from nice gal Taylor Swift with “High Infidelity.” Taylor, I’m shocked! And finally, a dedication to honesty through intimacy with “Truth or Dare” from Kelela, this one might make you blush. That’s just a sampling of the 40+ songs of truth, what are you favorites?
I truly hope you enjoy listening to this month’s playlist. If you like these playlists, Twitter and be sure to follow me on Spotify. See you next month.