By Elle Logue,
Editor-in-Chief.
We may no longer get to pop in our AirPods or put on our headphones in the SRHS hallways, but when it comes to the morning drive to school, doing homework, hanging with friends or winding down after a long day, music is a must for most of us. If you’re looking for some new tunes to freshen up your music library, you’re in the right place! Two of your fellow Panthers have recommended some of their favorite albums, and I listened to them to verify and share the word.
The first album on the list is How to Be a Human Being. This was recommended by junior Grier Weatherby who said, “I really like it.” How to Be a Human Being is a 43 minute, 11 track alternative album released in 2016 by the indie rock band Glass Animals. It’s characterized by funky chord progressions, unconventional combinations of percussion and synthesizer, edgy vocals and a distinct 2010s feel. You may have heard the song “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals which was released in 2020 and set a record for the longest charting song on Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. The songs on How to Be a Human Being offer a more interesting, less watered-down sound compared to their more recent music. My personal favorite songs on the album were “Life Itself” or “Season 2 Episode 3” because I liked the juxtaposition between the upbeat, offbeat instrumentals and the raspy vocals (reminiscent of Arctic Monkeys or Tame Impala).
The second album I listened to, recommended by freshman Aiden Duncan Smith, is the 1995 album Insomniac by Green Day. I was excited to listen to this album because while I’ve been a fan of Green Day for years, I had never listened to this album. Duncan Smith said, “I don’t know, I just listen to it a whole bunch,” when asked what specifically drew him to Insomniac. “I found it one day, and I was like, this is really cool,” added Duncan Smith. While that’s not exactly a hook to capture attention, it speaks to the enigmatic pull of Green Day’s evocative drumming, ragged vocals and rebellious attitude. These elements blend together in Insomniac to form a pleasant cacophony. Elements of the later-released album American Idiot can be heard on these tracks, but with an eclectic, more youthful overall feel. The song that stood out to me the most on Insomniac was “Panic Song,” which starts with a blood-pumping baseline accompanied by rhythmic drumming, which builds up for the first half of the song.
Overall, these albums were super fun to listen to and if they caught your fancy, give them a play! If you want to submit your album recommendations, scan the QR code!
