Burn Your Hits: Megan Swidler

2025!! What a fantastic year for new licks and live shows! So many great albums from bands new and oldish (King Gizzard's Phantom Island, Perfume Genius' Glory, and Foxwarren's 2 were some of my faves front to back). The tour circuit was stellar, we were able to get to about two dozen concerts (which has definitely been the most since having kids) from as close as our backyard (Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL) to as far as Copenhagen, Denmark (anything for Radiohead). It was fun seeing old favorites like Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (my 6yo's first rock show!), and NIN, and a handful of first timers for me including Perfume Genius, Wet Leg, and Queen Beyonce. Finally, tons and tons of awesome new indie rock provided the soundtrack to endless car rides, lego builds, and jigsaw puzzling (thank you mainly to my girl JennyLSQ on SiriusXMU for these). And so without further ado and not in any trueeee particular order, my favorite songs of 2025!

Perfume Genius - “It's a Mirror”

Witch Post - “The Wolf”

Hannah Cohen - “Draggin'”

Sam Fender - “People Watching”

Cameron Winter - “Love Takes Miles”

Foxwarren - “Wings”

Lord Huron - “Nothing I Need”

Tune-Yards - “Limelight”

IDLES - “Rabbit Run”

Geese - “Taxes”

Blood Orange - “The Field”

Stereolab - “Aerial Troubles”

Turnstile - “SEEIN' STARS”

Wet Leg - “catch these fists”

Wolf Alice - “White Horses”

Ratboys - “Light Night Mountains All That”

Matt Berninger - “Bonnet of Pins”

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - “Deadstick”

Thursday, December 12, 2024

GL.24.03: Megan Swidler

100 Songs: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.24.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.24.02: Isabel Vermaak

GL.24.03: MEGAN SWIDLER

GL.24.04: Curt Trnka

***

1. Father John Misty - “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All”

2. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - “Field of Vision”

3. IDLES - “Gift Horse”

4. Fontaines D.C. - “Starburster”

5. Faye Webster - “Lego Ring” (feat. Lil Yachty)

6. Jamie xx - “Treat Each Other Right”

7. DIIV - “Brown Paper Bag”

8. Wussy - “Inhaler”

9. The Cure - “A Fragile Thing”

10. Suki Waterhouse - “Supersad”

Monday, December 26, 2022

GL.22.08: Megan Swidler

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.22.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.22.02: Isabel Vermaak

GL.22.03: Dionicio Solano

GL.22.04: Tony Schoenberg

GL.22.05: Curt Trnka

GL.22.06: Scott Lawson

GL.22.07: Remko Van Knippenberg

GL.22.08: MEGAN SWIDLER

GL.22.09: Jem Stirling

GL.22.10: Russell Abdo

GL.22.11: Erik Kristjanson

GL.22.12: Marisa Plaice

GL.22.13: Lukas Brooks

GL.22.14: Quan Nguyen

GL.22.15: Max Einstein

***

My Best Songs of 2022

Angel Olsen - "All The Good Times"

It was hard to pick a favorite because I loved SO many songs this year, but at the end of the day, this song is one of the best songs I think I've ever heard in my life. The harmonies during the second half of the song are enough to get me to believe in god. The build up, the horn section, this is next level songwriting. Was not a fan of Angel before this, but this album is the tits, literally and figuratively.

Wet Leg - "Wet Dream"

I feel like this band is the 90's alternative version of today's indie rock and I am obsessed with them. “Wet Dream” could not be a more perfect song. It's a "blast on repeat" regular in my life. So fun, so smart, and so short, killer tune.

Kevin Morby - "This Is A Photograph"

This is another perfect song, textured, interesting, great build up with explosive climax. I don't know how KM does it, but he can release new shit that instantly feels like it's been a part of life forever.

Father John Misty - "Goodbye Mr. Blue"

This whole album (Chloe And The Next 20th Century) is SO good but "Goodbye Mr. Blue" was the one that made me stop what I was doing and say, "what the hell am I listening to right now?" because it was so special, so perfect, so beautiful. When we saw him live, he said the song was about a fictional pet cat named Mr. Blue and I felt so dumb because I figured it was about human beings but then I found irony in how the most beautiful tribute song wasn’t even about a real person but a fictional cat and it made life that much better.

Kurt Vile - "Like Exploding Stones"

Kurt is my spirit animal and this album (Watch My Moves) was the soundtrack to the dreary spring this year. I loved how this was such a long and hook-less song to be considered as a first single, so random and SO quintessential KV. Side note: I ran into Kurt outside our hotel in Chicago this summer before this show, on my birthday, and it was the highlight of my year.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Spitting Off The Edge Of The World"

I was the happiest girl in the world to learn that YYYs were releasing new music, then I listened, and I HATED this song and was devastated. This song is such a buzzkill, I thought. Then, the radio kept playing it and the more I heard it the more I understood and now I am obsessed. It's SO great. Perfume Genius is also perfection.

Paramore - "This Is Why"

Never in a million years thought I'd listen to, yet alone LIKE, Paramore (yes, I know, I’m snobbery personified), but this was my 3 year old’s favorite song this year and I’ve had to watch the video maybe 400 times. The song is great. Bass line is killer.

Andrew Bird - "The Night Before Your Birthday"

Nothing mind-blowing here, but a very sweet and toe-tapping ditty from my best friend Andy.

Goose - "Hungersite"

The hubs has drinken (drunk? drank?) the Goose kool-aid and it's on a lot at the house. This is one of my faves. The studio version of this song is kinda radio-friendly vanilla but the live version (with Trey) is so super crunchy and impossible to get out of your head. No one has time for a 30 minute song on the playlist, though, so the studio version it is!

Jungle - "Good Times"

A fun, dance-y bop from the Jungle crew. Instantly puts you in a good mood.

Spoon - "Wild"

The Beths - "Expert In A Dying Field"

The 1975 - "Part Of The Band"

I'm grouping these songs because they were spoon-fed to me by Sirius XMU radio and while they are not regulars on my playlist, when I hear them in the car I am so happy. Also, I am running out of time.

Notable exemptions for me personally - first time in history I don't have anything from Hot Chip or any Radiohead derivatives (The Smile) on the list! I just haven't had a chance to listen to the new albums. It is insane to me because they are two of my fave bands of all time. I'll get there. love you all.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

GLW.20.09: Megan Swidler

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GLW.20.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GLW.20.02: Curt Trnka

GLW.20.03: Remko Van Knippenberg

GLW.20.04: Jem Woodward

GLW.20.05: Erik Kristjanson

GLW.20.06: Marisa Plaice

GLW.20.07: Russell Abdo

GLW.20.08: Garrett Bukunt

GLW.20.09: MEGAN SWIDLER

GLW.20.10: Garrett Tillman

GLW.20.11: Scott Lawson

GLW.20.12: Carl Anderson

GLW.20.13: Ryan Joyce

GLW.20.14: Nick Leddy

GLW.20.15: Desa Warner

***

What’s to say that hasn’t been said about 2020 … a few words off the top of my head:

For a music person, it was the year the shows went away. And rightfully so, of course, but it stung nonetheless. Concerts are just what I do, what I need, so it was weird. And then on top of that, all year I found myself teetering back and forth with how to feel about music in general, which was weird for me, too.

On one hand, spirits are low and everything seems so bleak, people are dying and we have no leadership, so why do I give a shit about music? It seems so trivial.

But on the other hand, music has always been a refuge, a coping mechanism, an essential component of my sanity, so don’t I need music more now than ever before?

The answer was yes. Music did play a big role in getting me through the year, but truth be told it was mostly older, more comfortable and familiar tunes that played in the background each day. So much Grateful Dead, Bob Marley, Paul Simon, funk, soul, disco, and (strangely) Disney. I felt like my interest in what’s new and cool took a backseat this year for a few reasons, the most obvious being I am not nearly as cool as I used to be (sad but true). In addition to that, I don’t have as much down time to go exploring, as the majority of my life now is spent in a perpetual cycle of cutting up blueberries, making sure my child actually eats the blueberries, and then cleaning up all the blueberries that she intentionally throws on the floor because she thinks it’s funny. So here’s what I got for 2020. Let’s hope the shows come back soon and we can enjoy all of this together, live, and at the venues we love and so desperately need to survive along with the rest of humankind.

Khruangbin – “Time (You and I)”

I was so relieved to see that my most played song on Spotify this year was a new one and not a Disney song! This was my favorite 2020 track by a landslide, it was like music medicine for my weakened, quarantined soul. It has the funkiest, most infectious groove, and it is impossible not to bounce to it. And while I’m always an existentialist, the lyrics feel more relevant than ever: That’s life, if we had more time, we could live forever, just you and I, we could be together, that’s life …

Fleet Foxes – “Sunblind”

A new Fleet Foxes album was the gift I never knew I needed so badly. Shore is so painfully gorgeous from start to finish, but "Sunblind" stood out right away as the song I want to sing after I climb to the top of the highest mountain while little birds fly to my hand as I feed them. Normal, right?

My Morning Jacket – “Feel You”

In a year full of surprises, My Morning Jacket releasing a follow up to 2015’s masterpiece The Waterfall was my most favoritest surprise ever. The Waterfall II isn’t as flawless as its predecessor, but “Feel You” instantly feels like an old friend even though we’ve only just met. I know I’m still alive whenever I hear Jim sing, “Watching you, watching me, reaaaaaching out, betweeeen the worldssss” because every goshdarn goosebump in my body immediately stands on end and then I start to cry. Also normal.

Kevin Morby – “Sundowner”

Kevin Morby has a way of making rootsy, solo acoustic guitar music sound special and interesting to me, a person who often finds solo acoustic guitar music, well ... a bit of a drag. What I especially dig about him is that he has managed to create his own unique sound, voice, and message, a rare feat in the days where, really, anyone can be a recording artist. “Sundowner”’s beauty is haunting, a highlight on an album of many highlights.

Woods – “Where Do You Go When You Dream”

I could have sworn this album came out two years ago but, ha ha! Joke's on me, it was only released in May. Oh time, you are a cheeky buggah! Strange to Explain is quintessential Woods, whom I adore, but all the songs sound exactly the same so here’s one to represent the rest.

Andrew Bird – “Andalucia”

This is a Christmas album, so, by nature, all the songs are covers. This song in particular is a John Cale cover and because I am a good little Jew I have no idea if it’s a traditional Christmas song or if Andy just figured it would fit nicely amongst the carols, but whatever, this album is such a nice addition to the seasonal rotation! I thank the gods for Andrew Bird every day (insert praying hands emoji).

Fleet Foxes – “Can I Believe You”

You know you listen to a song a lot when your one year old immediately starts clapping and swaying back and forth the second the song comes on. And that’s saying a lot because the first few seconds of this song are just “oooohs” with no backing music. She knows what’s up!

SUUNS – “PRAY”

Thank you, SUUNS, for a new single, and for reminding me of my old self. I love that self and I fuckin' love this band. They have perfected what I deem the “smolder to climax” effect. “PRAY” is way more grating compared to the child-friendly stuff we mostly got goin' on up in here, but every now and then I would just blast this to, again, remind me of my old self and how she used to feel.

Grimes – “Violence” (Original Mix)

Grimes has reached peak weirdo status but I still love her. I didn’t have Miss Anthropocene on chronic repeat like I did with Art Angels, because in order to listen to peak weirdo Grimes you have to be in the most specific kind of mood. Not really sure how to describe that mood but it is a mood that I’m not often in. However, this song is super catchy and easy on the ears, and I totally dig it.

Amanaz – “Khala My Friend”

This last song is nowhere near 2020 but was played so many times and is such a delight I just had to include it in this measly list. Many months ago in a metaphorical fever dream I found myself lost in African Zam-rock on Spotify, and “Khala My Friend” stopped me dead in my tracks. A mood lifter, a sweet piece of candy, a perfect song in every regard.

Monday, December 23, 2019

GLW 007: Megan Swidler

GUEST LIST WEEK

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GLW 001: Ilana Bergstrom

GLW 002: Curt Trnka

GLW 003: Remko Van Knippenberg

GLW 004: Saskia Warwick

GLW 005: Ben Evangelista

GLW 006: Marisa Plaice

GLW 007: MEGAN SWIDLER

GLW 008: Erik Kristjanson

GLW 009: Desa Warner

GLW 010: Gina Uriarte

GLW 011: Lukas Brooks

GLW 012: Chris Macdonald

GLW 013: Tom Morgan

GLW 014: Shay Corbett

***

Song of 2019 (Tie)

Andrew Bird – "Bloodless" & DIIV – "Blankenship"

These two songs could not be more different, but they are each so amazing and were instrumental to getting through my 2019 (pregnancy was ruff) that i will give them both top billing.

The latest Andrew Bird release is called My Finest Work Yet and he was not kidding. Start to finish the entire album is incredible and has been played in my household approximately 200 times. "Bloodless" has a jazzy kind of feel that usually I'm not super into but its a beyond perfect song and instantly feels like a best friend. Highlight is approx. 3:40 into the song where he sings "cataloniaaaaaa" twice and then i cry real tears, twice. (Side Note: Andrew Bird sings like an angel, is an exceptional musician and whistler please go see him live, its insane.)

DIIV is more my aesthetic: loud, fuzzy, melodic. I'm obsessed with this band and am so happy their release this year was worth the wait. Lots of gems on the album (I list another down below) but hands down best track is "Blankenship." It's a very solid song with a very delicious bass line. All the kids went crazy during this one at the live show including myself who was 8.5 months pregnant at the time :)

2019 Highlights

Hot Chip – "Hungry Child"

Spotify told me this was my most played song of the year (and Hot Chip was my artist of the year). It is a very fine dance track that makes me feel warm and gooey inside. It came out while I was in Europe on holiday, so that felt very appropriate as well. Nobody does dance music like Hot Chip, they are one of my favorite bands to see live and this song translated beautifully to the stage.

Tame Impala – "Patience"

I hate that Tame Impala are becoming so huge (I like how his sound has evolved but I'm not into arena shows and massive festival headline spots) but if everything from the upcoming album sounds like "Patience" then I think Mr. Parker will be able to pull it off and I will be pleased. This song is so good! Very easy on the ears and always puts me in a good mood.

Foals – "In Degrees"

Foals is one of those bands that I think puts out albums just so they can get on the road and play them live. They are a substantially better live band than a studio band. When you listen to new Foals music you almost have to tell yourself, "ok, this song is going to sound soooo good at the show." Case in point, "In Degrees." It's nothing i usually put on the Bose and listen to while I'm cooking dinner but at the concert it was super face melting, as was the rest of the show, as per usual.

DIIV – "Skin Game"

The first single from the new DIIV album does not really sound like a typical DIIV song (see above). This one is light and airy. it's the closest thing to a "normal" verse-chorus-verse song that I wouldn't be surprised to hear on the radio but it still rocks and I'm obsessed with it.

FKA twigs – "cellophane"

Twigs is such an outlier in my music repertoire. I really don't listen to anything else like it but I'm totally and utterly obsessed with her. Her vocals on "cellophane" are hauntingly gorgeous and although I don't often listen to this song cuz its such a downer it is definitely one of the year's standouts. Also watch the video or any of her live performances because her body and the way she dances is unparalleled. Twiggys, if you're reading this, call me ;)

Cass McCombs – "Rounder"

Even before my husband became a dad there was a fair share of dad-rock played in the casa. Spotify radio brought Cass into our lives and its very solid folksy Americana that I can appreciate in today's world of autotuned garbagio. "Rounder" is a sweet song with a crunchy extended outro that I would imagine sounds amazing live as well.

Big Thief – "UFOF"

So Pitchfork is obsessed with these guys. I haven't given their two 2019 albums enough play but I love the title track from the first release. I saw Big Thief a few years ago at a fest because I was obsessed with this one song of theirs and it amazes me how much of a draw they had considering it's the most non-fest music of all time.

Honorable Mentions

Michael Kiwanuka – “I've Been Dazed”

Pretty!

Fruit Bats – “Drawn Away”

Sweet!

Caribou – “Home”

Groovy!

Wilco – “Everyone Hides”

Wilco!

Thursday, December 20, 2018

GLW 004: Megan Swidler

GUEST LIST WEEK

GLW 001: Ilana Bergstrom

GLW 002: Curt Trnka

GLW 003: Marisa Plaice

GLW 004: MEGAN SWIDLER

GLW 005: Dionicio Solano (coming Friday)

GLW 006: Erik Kristjanson (coming Monday)
GLW 007: Gina Uriarte (coming Tuesday)
GLW 008: Jamie Pfeifer (coming Wednesday)

2018. Another shitty year for humanity but a pretty decent year for music. While I am always trying to keep my finger on the pulse of what the kids consider “hip,” I find myself perpetually gravitating towards what I know I’ll like - the new releases of bands already established in my repertoire. Sure I gave Mitski, boygenius, and The 1975 a try. Hell, I even gave Kacey Musgraves, Ariana Grande, all the Lil’ rappers a solid go. But mostly what caught my ear are the grandma bands I’ve been listening to for a few years now, and while Pitchfork and other sites may not be swooning over Jungle, or Jim James, or Parquet Courts, they are still doing new and exciting things that make me happy to be alive in what I consider to be the best era of music: now. Here are my highlights …

Jungle – “Heavy, California”

Jungle – “House in LA”

I had been waiting for a new Jungle album for the last 4 years, so you could imagine my delight when they started dropping new material this year. The entire album is delicious and there are many more songs I could have added to my year-end list but that is dum so here are my two favorites: “Heavy” is funky as hell and was my personal song of the summer. “House in LA” is just hauntingly beautiful and the theme song to the perpetual indie film I’m making in my mind. If you like dance-heavy songs sung in falsetto by a handful of very attractive Brits then I highly recommend this band.

Beach House – “Dive”

One of the few bands that can put out new material that instantly sounds like classic material (not in a stale, redundant way, but in a warm, snuggly way). This particular song is so classic Beach House actually, that they closed with it at their show this year. And, like, everyone was happy. That pretty much never happens. This song is awesome and all things Beach House - the vocals, the chord progressions, the climaxes.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Major League Chemicals”

This song hooked me immediately thanks to the comparatively discordant guitar riff 1 that melds super- seamlessly to that incredibly juicy guitar riff 2 you hear throughout the song. Holy balls, me loves that riff 2! UMO consistently puts out sophisticated stuff that is not always easy to listen to but, somehow, is always very refreshing to hear. Ruban Nielson is the total package deal with the smoothest vocals and the tightest guitar work.

Father John Misty – “Hangout at the Gallows”

As you remember, I’m sure, from last year’s post, the FJM show last summer changed my life and after seeing him again this year I am positive that he is one of the best songwriters/performers of our generation. God’s Favorite Customer is another solid effort from front to back, and “Hangout” is everything you’d want in an opening song. I will never forget his Riot Fest performance (which, btw, he had no business being at but fucking owned) when the music stopped and he belted out the climatic “What’s your politics? What’s your re-li-ih-gion?!” and the entire crowd melted, screamed, or bawled their eyes out (I’ll give you one guess how I reacted…)

White Denim – “Magazin”

Why isn’t this band, like, the most famous band in the world? I seriously don’t understand, because they are so. fucking. good. They rock in every sense of the word. Entire album is amazing but if I have to choose one I choose the opening “Magazin” which is fuzzy and sweet, but still shreds.

Parquet Courts – “Total Football”

Love love love these guys and pretty much everything they do. Wide Awake! was another super solid album that stayed true to form with their punk rock sound but had a certain freshness to it (probably thanks to Danger Mouse). The bass line in “Total Football” is perfection, and the spoken-one-word at-a-time chorus with that guitar noodling underneath is literally my favorite thing ever.

Jim James – “Throwback” (both versions)

In June, Our Lord and Savior Yim Yames put out a brilliant rock album called Uniform Distortion. Yay! Then in October, to surprise of like, everyone, he recorded and released acoustic renditions of the same exact songs and called it Uniform Clarity. Double yay! I prefer the full band stylo of “Throwback” but both versions are super solid.

Leon Bridges – “Beyond”

What a sweet little ditty from my dude Leon. I love all the phases of this love song from the Verse to the Chorus to the Bridge, and while I’m not usually too swayed by Lyrics, those are pretty great too. “Space and time in the afterlife, will she have my kids? Will she be my wife? She might just be my everything and beyond, beyonddddd.” *sigh*

Honorable Mention

David Byrne – “Everyday is a Miracle”

It is no secret that David Byrne is a fucking genius (if you don’t know, well, then, I feel sorry for you) but oh. my. god. his. live. show. this. year. I cannot even talk about it. I just can’t! I see a lot of shows and this was probably one of the best live music experiences I’ve ever been a part of. I actually liked the album but I feel it was only a means to get him back on stage and do his thing which literally no other human can do as well as him. GO SEE HIM IF THAT’S STILL A THING.

Songs That Are Not New in 2018 But Are New To Me in 2018 Thanks To…

…Living in a Hipster Neighborhood

Suuns – “2020”

Well, turns out I have a new favorite band I ain’t ever heard of til I Shazaamed a track at my local coffeeshop. Suuns, omg. They appear to be a small, electronic outfit from Montreal and have managed to write and record the greatest song I’ve ever heard in my life. You will probably not agree. That’s ok. I don’t want them to blow up and play at United Center but holy hell I do believe they could.

…Going To The Movies

Souls Of Mischief – “93 ‘Til Infinity”

If you haven’t seen Mid90s yet, do me a favor and RUN DO NOT WALK. One of the most enjoyable films I’ve seen in a while, thanks largely to the hip hop-heavy soundtrack of Jonah Hill’s youth (and I’m not even a hip hop girl!) I had never heard this song before or even heard of the group but this track has been on repeat in my casa for a couple of months now which says a lot considering I hate rap. See the movie.

...Untimely Deaths of Music Artists

Mac Miller (featuring Anderson .Paak) – “Dang!”

Not gonna lie I was not familiar with a single Mac Miller song until his recent passing. While it’s largely not my style, I can appreciate his contribution to the music world and understand why his loss was felt so deeply. This particular song is crunchy AF, I’m obsessed.

...Spotify Discover

Slowdive – “Star Roving”

Well if there’s ever been more of a Megan song please do let me know. Where the fuck has this band been hiding my whole life? Goosebumps from start to finish, what a gorgeous track. The album came out last year and even though they are a P4K darling, I just never gave it a listen. Shame on me.