THE PLAYLIST
The Charapaabs/ Elvis Young Yuu (Elvis Never
Left the Building)
Our beloved novelty band The Charapaabs return with their fifth single, Elvis Young Yuu (Elvis Never Left the Building). Released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, the track features well-known Thai Elvis impersonator Suknirand “Elvis Joe” Sukluang on vocal duties. More than a tribute to the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, it’s also an inspiring paean to finding happiness through doing what you love.
Foo Fighters/ The Sky Is A Neighborhood If you were one of the lucky souls who got to hear this song played live at Foo Fighters Live In Bangkok last week, you’ll know what Dave Grohl meant when he said that it’s “the biggest thing sonically we’ve ever done”. Inspired by Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s answer to the question “What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the universe?”, The Sky Is A Neighborhood talks about how “life is a big bang now” and “mind is a battlefield”.
Shania Twain / Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed After announcing her long-awaited new album Now as well as sharing lead cuts Life’s About To Get Good and Poor Me, the Canadian country-pop chanteuse now treats us to the third offering, Swingin’ With My Eyes Closed. Here, the You’re Still The One singer serves up a booming, reggae-lite affair, jubilantly singing “I’m swingin’ with my eyes closed/ Got my hair down a wide open road/ I’m swingin’ with my eyes closed / Only God knows how far it goes”. The record marks Twain’s first new studio album in 15 years, following 2002’s Up! and 2004’s Greatest Hits.
LCD Soundsystem/ Tonite
Tonite, the third single from LCD Soundsystem’s just released comeback LP American Dream, has its eyes fixed firmly on the dance floor — not unlike James Murphy’s earlier releases. Underpinned by retro synths and grooving drum beats, the track sees Murphy in his perpetually jaded mood, talk-singing about existential anxieties that come with growing older: “And all the hits are saying the same thing/ There’s only tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight/ And life is finite/ But shit, it feels like forever.” Then, in his typical self-aware mode, he concludes: “Oh I’m a reminder/ The hobbled veteran of the disk shop inquisition/ Set to parry the cocksure of men’s sick filth/ With my own late era middle-aged ramblings.”
S. Carey/ Brassy Sun
Sean Carey may be best known for his contribution to indie grandmaster Bon Iver, but he’s more than proven his worth as a solo artist with two studio albums and two EPs. Carey’s new single Brassy Sun, recorded as a soundtrack for the season two of Netflix series Flaked (starring Will Arnett), is a gorgeous piano ballad that oozes the sort of lump-in-your-throat nostalgia. “Where have I been?” he asks. “In a drug daze/ In that sun gaze/ In that glossy haze/ Do I know you/ Do I even know you?”