We're Tired and Bored
Dispatches from the couch because it sucks out there
I’m tired. You’re tired. We’re all tired. So I’ll keep it brief regarding the election and the state of the world.
Firstly, you have every right to exist. The world is better with you in it.
Just as you are now, you will be tomorrow. It will get better.
Secondly, I hope I’ve made my positions clear with my newsletter already but if your takeaway from this election is that the US is full of idiots, bigots and/or complacent assholes you’d only be half right. The Democrats are squarely to blame.
The Left will not organize on its own and just being the “better than Trump” party isn’t enough. If we continue to live in this political system, we need a party that upholds the policies we want. Liberalism fails to meaningfully counter fascism again and again. We need socialism.
But as far as “the now” and what we can do to survive, it’s time to put yourself out there. Make friends. Find cool people in your communities. Learn your neighbor's names. Help each other. Establish or join in mutual aid.
I don’t judge anyone for wanting to flee their circumstances for a better, safer life but I firmly believe in staying in my little fucked corner of the world.
It’s like that AJJ song says in a less-than-elegant way:
When our government acts like this
I don't wanna live here anymore
Sure, I could be a pussy and move to Portland or New York
Or I could stay and change the place where I was born
It seems like the least people like Sean Bonnette or I can do for the folks and land we originated.
Orbiting Punk Picks
Jeff Rosenstock - “USA”
The first song I thought of when trying to unwind Tuesday. Originally written to capture the feeling of the post-2016 election results, its relevance is even more unfortunate and poignant today. It so accurately describes the anxieties and static that poisons every interaction post-election. The mundanity of it all. And finally, the epic bridge at the end repeating, “And now we’re tired and bored,” helps me escape into the comfort of my headphones.
Nihilist Cheerleader - “& She Take It”
A song about “taking.” Taking breaks. Taking a stand. Taking back the words “take it” from an overly sexualized world. A triumphant track from start to finish from a dance-punk band in Athens, GA.
Palomino Blond - “Machine”
I’ve been following this Florida band since their demo in 2018 (check out their track “Supergalore”) and they’ve always flirted with grunge but they seem to have fully connected with style on their latest album, You Feel It Too. “Machine” sounds like it could’ve been written by Nirvana. The graphic lyrics, the dramatic swings in the song structure and the simple but powerful guitar work, all screams ‘90s but from a fresh perspective. Palomino Blond has really reached their peak (so far) with this track.
Babe Haven - “Gas Pedal”
Following in the footsteps of modern acts like Mannequin Pussy and classic riot grrrl bands, Babe Haven writes aggressive, unforgiving punk for femmes. It’s a simple “go fuck yourself” directed at pushy, creepy men with all gas, no brakes hardcore and nu-metal.
Cursive - “Up and Away”
This one’s about watching your dreams die. We can all relate to that, especially this week. I’m really liking this new Cursive album. It reminds me of their best work from the early ‘00s with all its vibrant instrumentation and self-lamenting lyrics. “Up and Away” has been stuck in my head, particularly for its earworm chorus and pictorial verses.
I’ve been reading a book called The Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser and he talks about how a good poem adds depth of meaning to the world around you. He uses a poem called Artichoke by Joseph Hutchison as an example, explaining that this tiny poem has forever altered his vision of the veggie.
“O heart weighed down by so many wings”
- Artichoke by Joseph Hutchison
Cursive altered my view of red balloons in the same way. So that’s something.
Sweet Tooth - “Turning Green”
Carrying on the theme of modern grunge redux/worship.
Armlock - “Guardian”
An emo track about guardian angels and sinking into the present to find a belief in the promise of the future. I’m not the superstitious type but it’s hard not to feel at peace listening to this guy warble about angel numbers.
Lazarus Plot - “Ending Time”
A spoken-word emo track from a lesser-known Illinois post-hardcore band. Originally released in 1999, a polished version was uploaded to Spotify recently, however lacking a lot of the lo-fi fuzz and pops that made the original recording so warm and inviting. Despite the loss-in-translation, the core songwriting of the track is still excellent, oozing with yearning and the English-student ostentatiousness of classic emo records
Moto Bandit - “Daylight Doom”
The Bee Gees with a modern indie rock filter. A fun, kinda funky track with airy, ambient synths following a jangly guitar and danceable rhythm to the end of all daylight.
