Editors’ Picks: Music
Every semester, members of the Review Board share what they’re reading, listening to, and watching now. Today, Editor-at-Large Alex Del Greco ‘23, Contributing Editor Hannah Breithaupt ‘26, Personal Essays Editor Nina Zhuo ‘25, and Social Media Manager Liv Medeiros-Sakimoto ‘25 share what music is currently on loop in their heads.
DICKPUNKS, Ordinary Days
Active since 2006, DICKPUNKS has a uniquely piano-centric approach to rock music. Their 2020 EP Ordinary Days is one of my personal favorites from their expansive discography, an understated but undoubtedly masterful blend of nostalgic harmonica, Kim Ta-hyu’s wistful vocals, and a soft rhythm, all backgrounded by founder Kim Hyunwoo’s signature keyboard. The EP consists of five full-length tracks plus one outro sequence and, despite being a slight departure from their more offbeat and chaotic brand of music, there is a distinctly DICKPUNKS presence in each song. Our journey begins with the single “parallel lines” featuring singer Jukjae. “parallel lines” sets up and blends two distinct tonalities to create a steadily paced and beautifully punctuated listening experience. “Man on the Moon'' and “sensitive flower” lean into the more boppy feeling with an alluring, just-out-of-reach vitality, like a sputtering cassette player whirring haltingly back to life. Meanwhile, “then” and “pointless” draw from somewhere a bit more reserved that, with the gentle encouragement of Kim Jaeheung’s bass and Park Garam’s drum kit, is brought to an altogether more assertive place. The holistic experience of Ordinary Days evokes a fantastical nostalgia, like unearthing a faded copy of Clifford the Big Red Dog or watching old people dance.
— Nina Zhuo, Personal Essays Editor
Destroyer, Kaputt
I’m not really sure what Destroyer frontman Dan Bejar is singing about on Kaputt. Notwithstanding some memorable and intensely singalongable choruses, Bejar’s lyrics are opaque and very… grad school. But alas, this is not the point of Kaputt. No matter what Bejar is actually crooning about, there is something resonantly amorphous about his music and lyrics, as if it could easily be me singing, or being sung to, or sung about. On the more straightforward title track: “Wasting your days/ chasing some girls alright/ chasing cocaine/ through the backrooms of the world all night.” This doesn’t really describe Swarthmore’s nightlife, much less my own life, but it feels like it might as well. For the most part, the sonic experience of Kaputt is totally at odds with its lyrics. Where lyrics like “seen you consort with your invisible manhole” require several readings worth of background to even begin interpreting, the guitars and horns behind them are shimmering and clear. No degree necessary. Musically, Kaputt is an album to be played loud and soaked in, an album that imbues a whole room with its warmth and occasional oddness. It’s an album to cook and do dishes to, and chop vegetables along with its basslines, which aren’t hidden in the background for only music nerds with good speakers but given to you up front. Ultimately, I think there’s no better way to describe Kaputt than “filling” - the album equivalent of a good meal.
— Alex Del Greco, Editor-at-Large
Laufey, Everything I Know About Love
Laufey’s music honors the whimsical, fleeting moments in life, romanticizing ordinary experiences to craft her haunting melodies. Everything I Know About Love is a mesh of enchanting orchestration, stripped-down jazz, and Laufey’s rich, buttery voice. Laufey's debut album, Everything I Know About Love, perfectly captures her unique style reminiscent of Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald combined with the fairy-tale haze her music creates. Her songs range from introspective reflections about love to somber memories of packing up a childhood home, exploring themes of heartbreak and newfound love beyond the context of romance. Laufey is a gem in the music industry; her distinctive style combines timeless jazz elements with bedroom pop influence.
Laufey’s Everything I Know About Love is the quintessential fall album. Embracing both nostalgia and the uncertainty of the future, Laufey's lyrics are comforting for everyone. Her bossa nova instrumentation and crunchy harmonies are perfect for melancholic walks through the woods, sipping hot tea, and crocheting in the sun’s glow. If music could have colors, Laufey’s would be the vibrant hues of deciduous trees’ leaves as October transitions to November. Next time you find yourself overwhelmed this season, turn on Everything I Know About Love and you’ll find yourself romanticizing your life, feeling the stress of transitional seasons melt away into Laufey’s smooth lullabies.
— Hannah Breithaupt, Contributing Editor
Fulton Lee, Lunar Eclipse
Fulton Lee is a singer songwriter that lands under the category of “Bubblegum Funk.” His single Lunar Eclipse (2022) was released earlier this year and features three songs that highlight his ability to sing and compose catchy guitar licks that you can’t get out of your head. His music offers the perfect balance between disco and soft rock, and it’ll definitely have you dancing through the rest of your fall semester. Check out his Spotify and TikTok for more content
— Liv Medeiros-Sakimoto, Social Media Manager