Hello,
I’m sorry to report to my stubborn suburban self, but there is in fact always something especially exciting happening in the city. On Friday I went to the Chicago Opera House costume sale — I went over my budget and made conversation with everyone I met. There were some fabulous older ladies that would be good friends with my grandma who helped me pick out my haul, and this man that had incredible historical knowledge of men’s formal wear (I got a pique vest/shirt/bow tie combo all attached to each other with Velcro). I haven’t felt that enthralled in a long time. It’s lonely being untethered in a city, but I am having wonderful opportunities to be alone in my beautiful room and in Chicago. Getting used to the transit system and I’m thinking that this move is good for me.
Laura
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!
The Smashing Times – Noboru's EyesJingle jangly guitar pop for fans of fake British accents.
Fav track: Noboru's Eyes |
Rocketship – New ThreatsAlso new Rocketship single #awesome #yay. New Threats, is in a sense, par for the course for Rocketship – sweet, swinging, sensitive pop music for those with too tender souls (me). I think Rocketship is the band for those whose Instagram reels algorithm is flooded with videos of otters holding hands, probably. In any case, I am really happy they’re making new music! – Y.D
Fav track: New Threats |
Lily Seabird – LightspheresWas taken aback by how Sad the opening track on this album made me. Folk rock and ffo of big thief, Wednesday, Neil young, etc. You know the drill. I think the melodies in this album are inventive and I like how it travels through different energies throughout. I feel like some of the songs are gratuitously long but that’s how I feel about a lot of current projects in this particular world. I think it’s worth a listen and a lot of y’all would like! Fave tracks: Election Day, Afterglow |
Andrew Starr - coma mt. sinaiCam of Zastava put out these songs last week, and I am listening over and over and over… mostly while in motion from point a to point b. Lofi goodness that travels through rock and folk and is just Music. The repetition within the songs makes me feel like I’m rocking in a cradle. I receive major comfort from the album! - L.T Fav tracks: dreamriot1000(dog bark song), usayuluvme |
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!
Heavenly, “The Decline and Fall of Heavenly” by Yumna
I’ve been listening to a lot of Heavenly because it has been downloaded offline to my device, and as you might find out, I do not have a phone plan so I’ve been relying on a slew of predownloaded audiobooks and albums to keep me quenched on my long and winding walks!
Amelia Fletcher did her undergraduate studies, and later, her PHD in this green, and ancient city at St Edmund Hall (lovingly called Teddy Hall ‘round these parts), University of Oxford, not far from where I live. I haven’t been here long, but keep imagining her in the midst of all the pomp, circumstance, and rigor of this place — her at lofty seated dinners in full, starched academic dress, punting in small canoes across the Cherwell River, rushing to the exam building to defend tutorial essays. Being here, this EP in new lens – this bubblegum set of songs in new eyes, twee reminds us to make and find beauty everywhere, even when you’re positively drowning in readings.
This album has me skipping and hopping Snoopy style. So many bangers, my favorite being Sperm Meets Egg, So What? because any song with Cathy backup vocals is the best!
Also, a salient reminder you can be an academic weapon baddie and sing silly songs in a pop band. Two truths, I try to hold within myself.
Favorite tracks: Sperm Meets Egg, So What?, Modestic
Recommendations
Things that are weighing heavy on our hearts and minds, or making them feel lighter!
Yumna:
Cappuccino with cocoa powder dusted atop
I am obsessed! How do we not have this in the States? Apparently, this is a holdover from Austalian second wave coffee that stuck around in the U.K. But it is a delightful surprise nonetheless. I feel like that meme of the hummingbird who puts sugar in his water to make it extra sweet :D! The world is my biscuit tin and I’m just swimming in it.
Letting my heart guide me
I have been without a working phone number or a solid data plan for about a week and some change. Trust, I will get to it eventually, when life requires a phone plan. Life feels precious and I am taking the extra long way everywhere because my sense of direction is already very poor and I don’t know where I am going.
Laura:
French Hair Combs
As a girl with no volume in my hair, half-up hairdos always make me look a little… wimpy. But! Two handy dandy French hair combs my mom offloaded on me have changed everything! They give a beautiful volume that makes the sillhouette of your hair satisfying and compelling. Very easy to use, too. And I imagine for someone with great hair with a lot of body like Yumna they would look sooo chic. I think for anyone who wants a new hairstyle but doesn’t want to do any work, spend $5 on a pair of French hair combs.
Joanna Newsom
I had a very long commute to work one day (almost 2 hrs one way!), and the drive there was the exact length of “The Milk-Eyed Mender” and “Ys.” I love to listen and just feel filled with wonder about the stories she builds, but also her lyricism. She’s a beast. And I love her house that she lives in with husband Andy Samberg. He scored big time with a lady like her. More fun facts: Joanna Newsom was an artist that bonded Yumna and I early on, and I do a pretty good impression of her singing style!
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 26th! Yay!