| Song | Artist | Year | Pick | Genre(s) | Willis Notes | Gregg Notes |
| pretty | Inner Wave | 2026 | Willis | Indie Rock, Psychedelic Pop | This single released after their latest album SEE YOU WHEN I GET BACK and will be on the forthcoming deluxe edition Although they’re not a surf band per se, I think of the beach and summer vibes when I hear a lot of their music. Maybe only because it was the surf shop in Hawaii where I first heard them. New wave keyboards. | I really liked this from the first 15 seconds. The vocals are very lax, which can sometimes doom a song, but in this case the voice thrives. Even the harmony vocal uses minimal effort, but again, it works beautifully. The music is like slow motion sunshine, glowing and sparkling over a summer day. The wash of psychedelia is just the right touch. |
| Drugs (Jamuel Saxon Remix) | Black Heart Procession | 2010 | Gregg | Indie /LoFi | Totally unfamiliar with this band when you mentioned them last week. So I listened to some of their music – definitely not as HFD as this song. The remix is atmospheric and spacious, trippy beat. | Playing in SF next month. A true cult status indie band. Part of a great lineage that starts with Three Mile Pilot, the ultimate cult band that also spawned Pinback. Pall Jenkins has a very “heart on his sleeve” vocal approach with shaky notes and all, which was signature to the band’s appeal. Sad and despondent at times, but remaining a hopeless romantic at the core. This remix is quite a departure from the original (which is a haunting piano ballad), but it fits the HFD aesthetic nicely (and better). I recommend going deeper into their catalog for their more signature woozy piano & guitar sound. |
| Fabulous Things | Straitjacket Fits | 1990 | Willis | Indie Rock, Dunedin Sound | I remember the name from college radio but didn’t explore at the time. Interesting to learn about this scene from NZ with jangly guitars, melodic pop and a little bit of angst. Listening to this song is like tasting a delicate Pinot Noir. There’s a steady level of reverb or sustain in the instrumentation that maintains a consistent tension (let’s call that the acidity) that balances with his delicate, vulnerable voice (the earthy tannins and subtle aromas) | I’ve never heard anything from this band, but I know the name. I might’ve misjudged the book by it’s cover, in this case lol. I didn’t expect such a delicate, jangly echo chamber! Funny, I can almost name a few handfuls of bands that had a similar sound in that same era – and all were essential (The Smiths, Throwing Muses, Go Betweens, Felt, Everything But The Girl, etc). Surprised they have remained so obscure, even in the age of YouTube and Spotify. This is wonderful. |
| A Younger Version of Myself | Telefon Tel Aviv | 2019 | Gregg | Electronic /Experimental | This starts as such a trance that builds in layers. Better appreciated in headphones for the subtle development and the subtle vocals that are set far below the music level, yet spatially off to the sides. I like the singing / delicate wailing are haunting. more than just simple vocals in a bedroom studio. You mentioned that the lyrics alone stand out. Joshua Eustis | The piano melody of this song reminds me so much of Sade “Pearls”, but the song itself is so psychedelic and trippy, it almost distracts from how beautiful the melody truly is. When I think of experimental music, the best stuff are always those that remain tuneful and at least vaguely pop adjacent, which this is. The piano is a touchstone here, keeping us all grounded in this chaotic dreamscape – until it’s gone. Which is when we start drifting off into far away space. I love how this song sounds in rotation, and after hearing it recently, I wanted to share it with more intention. |
| Visions of You | Jah Wobble’s Invaders Of The Heart | 1991 | Willis | Dub, Post-Punk, World | Seeing his biography at the Recycle Bookstore, Jah Wobble, it’s a name I heard somewhere before, but didn’t know he was the bassist from Public Image, Ltd. When I saw who the guest vocalist on this song was, it was a required listen to assess for a Deep Dive, and I was pleasantly surprised. World music influences, the bass stands out. I love finding these nuggets. | It’s crazy how I haven’t heard this song since the 90’s at least! I remember how difficult it was to track this song down, at that time. I heard it on a late night specialty radio show, and subsequently searched everywhere to find the cd (to no avail). Eventually I gave up (or forgot about it), and it slipped into obscurity. So glad you presented this, because it’s even BETTER today. This is right in my wheelhouse, especially lately. I have so many ideas of where to go after this one, but many of them might be too similar. Sinead’s “cry/sing” style. |
| Way On Down | Fun Boy Three | 1982 | Gregg | New Wave /Dub /African | I have never heard any of this! Very original, fun, and weird. The horns, backing vocals, and… marimba(?) seem like a combo that probably doesn’t exist anywhere. I love the level of integration both musically and culturally. | I was never a Specials fanatic, but I AM a Terry Hall fanatic, and appreciate everything he did. “Ghost Town” was such a great Specials’ song, and I feel like when he left, he built a whole band around that song’s vibe. I was late to the FB3 party, but over the past 5-10 years, they are amongst my most listened to 80’s bands. So sophisticated and restrained, with an insane sense of rhythm and melody. The tribal aspects merge brilliantly with the Dub/Reggae sounds, creating a whole new subcategory of post punk music. |
| Wild Side | Cross My Heart Hope To Die | 2013 | Willis | Trip-Hop | After learning that DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill had a trip-hop side project, I had to investigate. This song is dramatic, cinematic, and bold – from the beat to the horns and the convincing soul of vocalist Brevi. She changes styles several times and it really keeps the energy going. | Woah this is not what I expected after reading your description of who this is. I didn’t even know it existed before today. The beat is reminiscent of Portishead obv, and the vocals swing between Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone. It’s def not breaking any new ground, but it’s quite appealing and quenches a thirst for this sound. Her voice is both my favorite and least favorite parts of this song lol. The beat is chunky and mixed perfectly for a kicker-box in a lowrider. |
| Keep Ya Head Up | 2Pac | 1993 | Gregg | Hip Hop /RnB | This is excellent, uplifting and highly accessible with the familiar samples expertly mixed in. I wish I had followed the 2Pac and hiphop movement during this era. I was deep into raving and indie/punk rock during this time and still trying to “find myself” starting a career and being an independent adult. The hard-edge messages of hip hop during this time didn’t resonate with my own sense of reality. | I feel it’s important to highlight some of the classics from 90’s hip hop, especially those with a message like this one. Similar to “They Reminisce Over You”, this song hits an emotional chord in the most sentimental way, without sacrificing credibility. 2Pac was one of a kind, being as ‘hard’ and authentic as anyone, but also being a gifted lyricist and writer and thought leader. Hearing this song chokes me up, him showing such adoration for his mother. “Cant complain u were dealt this helluva hand w/o a man, feelin helpless. Because there’s too many things for you to deal with – dyin’ inside, but outside yr looking fearless”. |
| Tocando | Helado Tropical | 2024 | Willis | Latin, Indie, Tropical | Collab between Helado Negro and Reyna Tropical captures another summer vibe for me in some faraway place with palm trees, fruity cocktail, nylon string guitar and a… synthesizer. The pitch bends add a softness and signature. Yes all in Spanish, but we could all stand to learn more Spanish. Being spoken in 20+ countries. We watched the WC finals on Telemundo because it was free. | I’m a massive fan of Helado Negro, which means I should know about these projects! But i did not. I would’ve guessed the female was Kali Uchis, which is the ultimate compliment, but she blends perfectly with his understated crooner voice. He emotes so effortlessly, which makes it so easy to buy into whatever he’s saying (even when I don’t understand it). This is a dreamy masterpiece. Thanks for the discovery! |
| Boy Strange | Pet Shop Boys | 1999 | Gregg | Psychedelic /Pop /Avant Garde | Unexpectedly psychedelic from PSB. THe acoustic portions remind me of the vibe of Bowie’s Spaceoddity along with other bands you mentioned. I can imagine the music video for this. Only focused on the one astronaut. | Because there are so many albums in PSB’s catalog, sometimes lesser known album cuts can get buried and lost. “Nightlife” was always a lowkey favorite album of mine, and this song specifically was always on my “Nightdriving” mixtapes/cd’s back in the day. But until it came up last week on a playlist, I hadn’t listened in WAY TOO long. It starts off feeling as if its gonna be a cinematic track, and then shifts to a soft acoustic vibe with underlying tension.. But that only tricks you into a relaxed state before it eventually explodes into a cacophony of swirling sounds and noise, leading to the most grandiose crescendo, that eventually dissipates back to the soft acoustic + piano warmth to close it down. This is the closest the band ever got to The Flaming Lips or Mercury Rev. I also hear a little 70’s Elton John. Epic and beautiful. |
Follow these links to listen to these songs (without us talking) on the following platforms: