Attack of the Glow Worms Newsletter No 2: Take Yer Time

Hello,

I had my going away party last weekend. My friends gathered on the porch and wrote me sweet notes of luck, we sat around chatting and listening to The Beatles. I guess I am a fake Paul McCartney fan, because I have never sat down and listened to a Wings album in full. My bad! I rectified that quickly after. I love early Beatles and all my love and ooh la la las and sha la las and holding your hands. I love those early performances where John and George share a mic, creaking their necks in sync. We ended the night at my favorite diner in town, with 2 pancake side orders, thick grilled cheeses, omelet plates, and coney dogs, one with onions and one without, water with ice in those pebbled plastic cups. I wondered if I could ever live in a place that didn’t have hot dogs served with a healthy serving of chili, mustard, and onions on top. Michigan is the very best in the Midwest, after all. And Coney Island is a state of mind!

Yumna

New releases

As much for our own musical hygiene as to keep you in the loop, we’re gonna try our best to give some short n’ sweet on the latest and greatest(?) of music!

Guiding Light – Fear on My Own Time

Technically this came out in the time frame that would have been covered in the last newsletter, but there was much to discuss last time. And this is not a record to be cast to the side.

Post-punk that floods your ears with jangly guitar and super bouncy bass lines. This is for the ones of us who love to dance. It’s quite frankly addictive!

I just gotta say I love stuff like this that makes me feel urgent and unpredictable and I want to find a trampoline or learn how to do donuts in my honda cr-v when I listen!

Fav track: Egoismus

Alley Girl - Kerosene Gambler

Some precocious pop from Los Angeles, CA. I was in a bit of a fuzzy, cassette-inflected pop kick this summer from the likes of Megamoog and co. – and feel like Alley Girl teeters that line quite well. Lots of good stuff for tapping into your sensitive side, batting your lashes, etc.

This album makes me want to wear red lipstick, too big heels, and a fabulous hat with a feather or two in it.

Fav track: To Be a Kid Again, You Don’t See Me When I Cry

Fav track: Knees

Maxwell Blast - Dream Tigers

Nice fuzzy, mellow music from just a couple blocks away from where I type.

Listening is like sitting across from someone you knew as a kid but not anymore, sitting on the floor and holding each other's hands but not saying anything.
I do really like the scene that’s built in the four tracks on the tape; they are so seamless yet distinct that I picture them together to be like a musical diorama. A worn carpet here, melted candles there, scattered paper everywhere, dust-filtered light coming in the corner.

Fave track: Sing For Your Night, Death Has No Mercy

ADÉLA - Prima

If you get me and Laura to talk long enough we will most certainly get to the topic of Katseye, the global HYBE x Geffen girl group formed through the Netflix series, Dream Academy, as we mime their exaggerated dance moves and say “Gnarly” like two bitches saying exactlyyyyyyyy.

And what of the Dream Academy alum who didn’t quite make the cut? Adela, first out on the show has had quite the rise with her excellent EP, The Provocateur — industrial, heavy, and inventive, it solidified her chops – Adela was one to watch out for.

PRIMA is a C+ follow-up. It is clear that Adela is a student of pop; I hear Doja, Miley, Tate McRae, but the grit and grandeur of The Provacateur is a wash. Le sigh…

Fave track: Nicole Kidman

Album of the Now

Album of the week/day/month does not adequately summarize the ways a specific album can fit into our lives and shake it up, so we’re calling this “Album of the Now”. We’ll switch off on writing a little review/deep dive/analysis of one special album each newsletter!

Dear Nora, “Mountain Rock” by Yumna

A little sneak peak to Attack of the Glow Worms #1, but relistening to this album really makes you say wow, this group is so very special, and a deep well of inspiration for both me and Laura like. I always return to Mountain Rock when the leaves turn beautiful colors and I need some good old fashioned wist – angst but for melancholy!

Dear Nora, across their whole catalog is so good at carrying and juxtaposing extremes: plain spoken and direct lyrics over noisy, chirping guitars, but in Mountain Rock I feel that even more so – Katy Davidson’s delivery is so minimal, but cavernous and consuming. At times, Mountain Rock devastates me, and others lulls me to sleep like a baby! Sometimes, all in one song, see: Caribou, Timberwolf. It takes great talent to do it so effectively, and deep, artful economy.

Favorite track: Loose

Recommendations

Things that are weighing heavy on our hearts and minds, or making them feel lighter!

Yumna:

2NE1 – I LOVE YOU M/V

Few girl groups describe the feeling of being at your cousin’s house bumbling on Youtube and finding something that simply changes your entire world. 2NE1 is one such group, and have been making rounds on the internet because of that clip of group leader CL serving polka dot bob.

I LOVE YOU is resplendence, rainy electropop heaven. Like coming home from the club at 5am with the light just peaking and your head still hazy and you are waiting on a text back from bae – this song is full, lush and makes me want to rip off my blouse werewolf style. The music video also has some major fashion moments, including Park Bom in a side bang and killer Chanel fascinator. Tap into this one for your next gay guy music video night and everyone will clap.

Wearing a fun hat.

I’m putting my money on the wearing a fun hat ponies this winter. I recently purchased this wool Tsumori Chisato casquette on Mercari Japan and am really excited to get it in the mail. I like how bulbous it is, and am already thinking of how many outfits it will crown.

Those who know me know of my headwear game (my Hope Garcia made paper doll beanie, mohair raspberry / booger green bonnet, bambi earmuffs) so this is not new to me but I am approaching this matter with a newfound seriousness. Wearing a fun hat, period.

Laura:

The App “Posting2”

Now that I’ve had this app for about 2 months, I feel like I can officially recommend it! This one is fun because it really only encourages keeping up with friends – it’s not hospitable to influencers. I’ve heard people describe it as “early instagram” vibes and I would think they are mostly right… but it’s hard to undo all of the social media etiquette that’s been built up in the past 2 decades. However, an ad/algorithm free photo-sharing app is awesome. And you can’t really get into doomscrolling with it. Email us for our handles. Everyone also has awesome generic names since the app is still in early days.

TUIDE’s custom tops made by coxspippin

I didn’t see Yumna’s recs before deciding on this one but I guess this is a kpop filled week heh.. I happened upon @coxspippin’s photos of some custom knits made for the new girl group on the block, TUIDE. They have a fresh and carefree vibe… The music is very house inspired and kinda sounds like it would be playing at a ritzy hotel bar on a beach. Anyways. The sweaters are machine knit with their names monogrammed in script (very clever for a new group). I particularly love the colors, the asymmetrical color blocking, and the proportions are just right. I attached photos of my 2 favorite pieces! I might try to mcgyver something similar…

Thank you for reading our newsletter! Please send us what's on your mind, or suggestions for what should be on ours, or even submissions for the zine at attackoftheglowworms@gmail.com. Look out for the next edition on August 17th! Yay!