The first radio show replacement

A heavily annotated playlist from Neil McEnerney, so as to avoid the cliché of posting single songs to my IG story

Aug 25, 2021

Hi everyone! Such a pleasure to have you. I’m really happy with the number of people who signed up. I’m still toying with a few features (would all tracks benefit from an “if you liked this, listen to X”, does each track even need an associated blob of text, do I need to link each song individually when they are in the Spotify playlist, and what to do with non-Spotify subscribers). I appreciate your patience and look forward to bringing you 15ish songs on a roughly biweekly basis- ambitious, but we’ll see.

This is a link to the Spotify playlist. It’s also embedded below. I happen to think it works well in order, but it doesn’t really matter. A plain text list is included at the bottom, below my notes, for non-Spotify users.

This playlist has no theme- it’s just what I’ve enjoyed lately. Future editions will be themed.

Duo-IV-Sam Gellaitry
To begin, I’ve been loving this one from Sam Gellaitry, a Scottish 24 year-old, for the past seven weeks or so. Strong piano, nice bassline, really speaks to me. Over the past year or so, the defining characteristic of much of my music has been the extent to which it makes my skull vibrate with intense bass, and this fits the bill. I hope you like it.
VIOLET SKIES-TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES-Snoh Aalegra
I’ve always liked tracks here and there from Snoh Aalegra before but never really enjoyed a full album up until her most recent one. Having the Neptunes (i.e. Pharrell) and Tyler, the Creator on production were enjoyable collaborations elsewhere on the album. More of a me thing here, but this track falls into a small subsection of songs where, as soon as I heard the chord progression, I immediately added it to my “liked songs” and knew it would be a favorite. In the coming weeks, there will be a playlist dedicated to that special feeling so you know what I’m talking about. Lastly, just so you know, I am still deciding whether I like the line “I’ve always been a worrier, but I’ll always be a warrior” or think it’s cringey.
Palco-Luar-Gilberto Gil
I’m so happy to be sharing this with you before the end of the summer, as there are STRONG Wii Sports Resort vibes off this bad boy. “If Wii Drinking a Caipirinha in Rio de Janeiro was included in Wii Sports, what would that soundtrack sound like?’” I’d be remiss not to mention that Gilberto Gil looks like he only has one extremely wide nostril in the album art. Good luck unseeing that!
If you enjoyed this track, check out the Jorge Ben album Alô, Alô, Como Vai?. I would recommend particular songs, but they all sound the same as this was a period in which Philips Records was making Jorge release an album every year. So essentially, the album is the same good song nine times. “Bicicleta” by Marcos Valle is also a good, similar track.
Peng Black Girls (feat. Amia Brave)-Peng Black Girls-ENNY, Amia Brave
Not too much to say about this one! If you are looking for more new music, I highly recommend checking out Hope Tala’s playlist HOPPER, which, each time it’s updated, always has something new and exciting! That’s where I found this track. Also, as I put this newsletter together, I found out that this track has an alternate version with Jorja Smith, if you’re interested.
Weekend Run-(single)-Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Over the past year or so, I’ve really come to terms with the reality that UMO is one of my favorite bands. Last year, they did end up as my #3 artist of the year, behind Stevie Wonder and Dua Lipa, naturally. Do I have any idea what frontman Ruban Nielson is singing about? Typically, no, but this one is pretty simple to follow along with, though perhaps a little derivative of the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” and Rebecca Black’s “Friday”.
Neon Moon-Brand New Man-Brooks & Dunn
I’m including this track, which I fully expect to be in my top 5 most listened-to for the year, for that reason as well as genre diversity. Folks, I’ll admit it, I’ve let down my guard this year and begun dabbling in some country music. Sorry, not sorry; sometimes, I really connect with the genre’s main themes of yearning and sipping whiskey. If you’re so inclined, there’s a 2019 version of this track featuring Kacey Musgraves.
Save Room for Us-Songs For You-Tinashe, MAKJ
The lyrics here remind me very strongly of Frank Ocean’s “Self Control”. At the same time, though, the bassline is groovy and dancey. I’m a big fan of the gap between the joy of the instrumental and the pain in the lyrics.
If I Am Only My Thoughts-If I Am Only My Thoughts-Loving
Loving was a cool discovery on some playlist here or there, unfortunately, I don’t quite remember where. To me, they sound like a great cross between the fuzzy vocals of Whitney (example here) and the instrumentals of Mild High Club (example here).
The Only Thing I Could Wish For-Angie (Expanded Edition)-Angela Bofill
Great track, killer flute solo. I’ve done a lot of work to try and figure out where the opening chords of this track are sampled in a track from A Tribe Called Quest. By the way, if that’s the kind of thing you enjoy knowing, be sure to check out http://www.whosampled.com. Spoiler alert, this track isn’t sampled by ATCQ, but my personal opinion is that it’s relatively similar to the keyboard on Lyrics to Go.
I'll Come Too-Assume Form-James Blake
Why is James Blake’s voice like that? I wish I could describe it better. Especially at 2:10 when he says “home,” there is something unusual and nasal he does. It kind of makes him sound like an old man. Do you think he wrote this about Jameela Jamil? The cast of The Good Place hung out at his house for a week. Just some things to consider.
Just a waste-(single)-PinkPantheress
As of August 23, PinkPantheress is a recipient of an official Charli XCX cosign after being featured on Charli’s BBC Radio 1 afternoon takeover. This song, as well as the rest of the PinkPantheress catalogue, was recorded with the vocalist fully laying down in bed into a mic in a dorm room.
I feel like it would be pretty punk rock if she didn’t clear the “Off the Wall” sample.
Yo Merecia Ese Lugar-Me Ama Tanto-Grupo Renacer
This one here is primarily a flex because I have no idea how I found it, and it has just under 26,000 streams on Spotify, but it is so soulful and passionate. I love it. The guitar is so clean. Look up the lyrics at your own peril. It is extraordinarily, intensely Christian.
Everyday-Titanic Rising-Weyes Blood
For me, a real highlight of the month of August was when I began making a playlist titled “chamber pop that sounds like it could be in a musical” after I noticed that this track and two tracks from Foxygen’s Hang sounded similar. Then, I found out Everyday was co-produced by Foxygen! Gave myself a real hearty pat on the back for that one. I promptly deleted the playlist and listened to some Foxygen.
The way Natalie sings “like I always do” at 0:23-0:25 is a favorite moment, as well as the little bass flurry at 2:59.
You're On My Mind-Geography-Tom Misch
Between this fella, Jacob Collier, HONNE, and James Blake, what is with the distinctive group of delicate-looking English men who use complicated chord progressions with such gusto? Is it the weather? I’d like to know.
I’m a huge fan of this track and the little off note at 0:09 and throughout. A guitar chord site tells me it’s a mere B-flat 9, but I’m a truther of some sort for that chord and believe it to be something else, more divergent, more complicated.
Frigid Spring-Something-Chairlift
I often regret missing the opportunity to go to the final Chairlift concert at Brooklyn Steel in April 2017. It would not have been THAT expensive, I like Chairlift so much, and it would have surely been worth a trip to Port Authority from Easton; a real sacrifice, but worth it. They’re of course famous from having “Bruises” in a ubiquitous Apple commercial back in the day, and now from Caroline Polachek’s excellent solo career. Worth checking out the Chairlift discography, which will likely feature in future newsletters!

Thanks you for reading/listening. I was determined to get something out tonight, and unfortunately I haven’t been writing much lately, so this has been good practice to see what works and hopefully make the next edition even better and probably shorter. If you really like any tracks in particular, let me know and I’d be happy to recommend similar songs. Any thoughts or comments can also be made through the button below.

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