Single Saturdays: December 3rd, 2022

Single Saturdays is Five Cent Sound’s new weekly roundup, where our staff members share a song that they’ve fallen in love with and make their case for why others should give it a listen.

“tire swing” – kimya dawson

sadie swayze

Note: Kimya Dawson uses both she/her and they/them pronouns and identifies as non-binary.  

Kimya Dawson is perhaps best known for her singer-songwriter contribution to the late ‘90s to early 2000s anti-folk duo The Moldy Peaches. The Moldy Peaches is known to most through their song “Anyone Else But You,” which was featured in the 2007 coming-of-age film Juno alongside other Moldy Peaches songs, as well as some of Dawson’s solo work such as the song I want to talk about today, “Tire Swing.”  

Dawson greets us with soft acoustic strums of their guitar before telling us about herself and her friends. Dawson is very candid in the song about how she is feeling post-breakup and acknowledges that she is “a pretty impossible lady to be with.” Although this is how the song starts, I have never considered this song to be a breakup song. In fact, Dawson was married soon after the release of Remember That I Love You, their sixth solo album that “Tire Swing” appears on. Dawson starts the song by taking down a Polaroid picture of her ex-partner: “I’m pretty sure you have a new girlfriend /  It’s not as if I don't like you / It just makes me sad whenever I see it.” The majority of the song consists of Dawson singing about friends of hers. “Joey never met a bike he didn’t wanna ride / I never met a Toby I didn’t like / Scotty liked all the books I recommended.” However, at the end of the song, it is tied back to the theme of companionship or lack thereof when Dawson sings “If I’m a spinster for the rest of my life my yarns will keep me warm on cold and lonely nights.” A clever if not depressing metaphor. The song is sandwiched with themes of romantic love, but is filled with reminders of the importance of platonic or familial love. Needless to say, it is not your traditional love song.

To me, “Tire Swing” felt like a warm hug in the form of a song. I find that lots of Dawson’s songs feel like a warm hug—either that or it’s the most soul-crushing thing you have ever heard. There is a sweet mundanity to their work, both solo and with The Moldy Peaches. The indie rock, anti-folk lyrics of the song invite you into Dawson’s world like reading a children’s book. A world of bikes, books, friends, heartbreak, loneliness and play sung to you with Dawson’s uniquely hoarse, crunchy voice adds to her distinctive style. Though Dawson has not released an album since 2013 and The Moldy Peaches have not released one since 2003, their music has clearly stood the test of time.

“role model” – brent faiyaz

Daphne bryant

I’ll be your role model.

Personally, I tend to shy away from the R&B subgenre I call “toxic fuckboy music.” The lyrics often revolve around sexual objectification, male entitlement and a general distaste for anything that doesn’t serve the artist themselves. Sound familiar? That’s right, I’m looking at you Tory Lanez, Bryson Tiller and Jeremih; their glory days might be over, but one talented artist is keeping the genre alive.

Enter: Brent Faiyaz. This semester I’d been selected to choreograph a hip hop piece for Emerson Urban Dance Theatre. I knew I wanted something sexy, but edgy with a real unique feel to it. Immediately I thought of “ROLE MODEL” from Faiyaz’s 2022 album WASTELAND. It begins with a stunning, pulsing orchestral score leaving the audience anticipating where the song can go.

Suddenly you’re hit with a pounding beat that draws you in, and Faiyaz’s mesmerizing voice comes in with a subtle confidence and presence: “Flawless, lawless / Baby what you call this?” and “If the shit don’t involve money I’m off it / I can be your role model.” Throughout the song you’re entranced by gorgeous violins and cellos, bold lyricism and a consistent feeling that you’re the shit.

I’d decided this would be the song I dance to. Despite the track only coming out in July, it easily topped my Spotify Wrapped list, coming in at #1. Not only is the song well-produced, unique and fresh, but it was fun to dance to. For these purposes, the “fuckboy” nature of Faiyaz’s lyrics was actually kind of perfect; it’s one of my favorite songs of the year. Not that I condone many of the messages present in this musical realm, but sometimes it’s good to feel yourself, to treat yourself and to feel sexy in your own right.

“cut your bangs” – girlpool

lucy spangler

I don’t know about everyone else, but for me fall is always a combination of joy, nostalgia and regret. On one hand you have the excitement of winter and Christmas, Halloween night and the leaves turning orange in the Boston Common. But on the other, this time of year brings with it seasonal depression and, for many of us, the recollection of bad memories. Needless to say, I have a complicated relationship with this time of year. But worry not! I have the perfect song for us to soundtrack these turbulent months, courtesy of the many morning drives to school with my brother. We would listen to this song on the eight-minute drive from our house to the school. 

The song is “Cut Your Bangs” by L.A. duo Girlpool: their most popular song, and for good reason. This song is full of stylistic contradictions: complex lyrics with simple instrumentals, soft sound with an angry and mournful tone. Perfect for moody walks through the Public Garden on a cloudy day. After all, when winter hits, sunlight and fresh air become a precious commodity in this city. So, use this song as a backing track for getting through whatever difficulties the next month will bring. 

“imaginary girl” – the lazy eyes

olivia miller

Only a few days ago, I was standing in a friend's room when I first heard “Imaginary Girl” by The Lazy Eyes. My initial reaction was confusion. The sound coming out of my friend’s JBL speaker  was reminiscent of the Beatles in their Magical Mystery Tour era or Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I assumed that this was just some obscure band from the seventies. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that I was listening to a song that was released less than a year ago. 

Upon further investigation, I discovered the group responsible for the song: The Lazy Eyes. Based out of Sydney, Australia, the band is composed of Harvey Geraghty (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Itay Sasha (vocals, guitar), Leon Karagic (bass) and Noah Martin (drums). In 2022, the band released SongBook, their second EP, which mainly consists of psychedelic rock. I was particularly drawn to the eleventh track, “Imaginary Girl.” It is a stark contrast to the rest of the album, which exudes a warmer feel. It is melancholy but manages to have a breezy and vibrant undertone. 

Geraghty sings about holding onto the memories of someone after a breakup, emphasizing the difficulty of having to “forget” someone: “Cause in my mind there's lots of mist/The times we spent did not exist (Ah).” 

This last line is especially powerful because of its relatability: “You had to move on with your life/I didn't even get to say goodbye.” Oftentimes, saying goodbye to someone, whether it be a breakup or a death, is even more difficult if there's a lack of closure. 

The instrumentals, ethereal vocals and harmonies are what gives the song its vibrant feel. This evolution provides escapism. The dominant keyboard keeps the song coherent as it goes through a sort of instrumental metamorphosis. The song begins simply, with vocals, bass, drums and keys. As it continues, its sound evolves; first with harmonies, then a mellow electric guitar with some distortion for edge. This is all punctuated by a dramatic violin, which provides a vintage feel. It’s similar to the experimental psychedelic rock of the sixties. Maybe that's why I like it so much.