Tag: music

Geekly Tunes: April 2026

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Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share what they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been listening to as well, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll kick off this post with what I’ve been listening to over the past month. It’s time for Geekly Tunes!

Kyra’s Tunes

Recently, my spouse stated that Bruno Mars seldom releases a bad track. I think she’s on to something. While I may not love every track Bruno Mars releases, most of them are catchy. “Risk It All” is another in a long line of good–maybe not the best–Bruno Mars tunes. I do like the inclusion of horns. And “I Just Might,” from Bruno Mars’s fourth solo studio album The Romantic, is a bop. Sure, I already shared that I’ve been listening to Junior Senior’s “Move Your Feet” and that song inspires “I Just Might,” but Mars has a way of making something retro cool. I change the station a lot with modern radio. I don’t tend to change the station when Bruno Mars plays.

I’ll be going a little faster with my write-ups for this month’s tunes. I have a lot of artists to get through. While one could call me a Bruno Mars fan, I wouldn’t fit the mold of an Olivia Dean fan. “The Man I Need” is the kind of safe British Soul song that has stayed in rotation for decades. Only, Dean’s “The Man I Need” sounds artificial. Maybe I’m spoiled by Adele’s voice. She has dominated British Soul for over a decade and a half; Adele’s a tough act to follow. Computerized background musack doesn’t help. Why does “The Man I Need’s” background music sound like AI Slop? Anyway, I do like Dean’s follow-up, “So Easy (To Fall In Love).” The background music is more interesting. That helps. Dean still gives a staid vocal performance, so the Bossa Nova beat delivers a lot of the track’s personality. When did the Bossa Nova become popular again? This isn’t the only new song to use the Bossa Nova.

Speaking of British Soul, I’ve been listening to Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love” a lot, mostly on the radio, but still. “Bleeding Love” proves British Soul’s endurance. This one came out almost two decades ago. Yikes! Lewis’s voice has more texture than Dean’s. And don’t even get me started on Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be” (1994). Ugh! I’m old, but British Soul can have personality. I hope Dean starts testing her range. She has talent.

Season and Skye have both mentioned K-Pop Demon Hunters. I won’t go into too much detail here. Fun fact: I have yet to watch K-Pop Demon Hunters all the way through. It plays constantly in my house, so I’ve seen the movie through all the clips I’ve caught in passing. In short, K-Pop Demon Hunters has catchy music. “Golden” may be my least favorite track. I’m a huge soda drinker, so I give the edge to “Soda Pop.” I may even pull out some “Soda Pop” dance moves.

I’ll spend more time on the Barenaked Ladies. I’ve listened to Maroon, pictured above, several times this past month. It may be my favorite Barenaked Ladies’ album. Sure, “Pinch Me,” “Too Little Too Late,” and “Falling for the First Time” are phenomenal, but I like a lot of the Maroon deep cuts. “Conventioneers,” “Sell, Sell, Sell,” “The Humour of the Situation,” and “Baby Seat” are fantastic tracks in the middle of the album. The next two aren’t quite my style, but Maroon finishes strong with “Tonight Is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel.” I’ll listen to that one on repeat. It almost gives me a Jake Skellington origin story vibe. And the way the line “You’re the Last Thing On My Mind” changes from the track’s beginning and end is fabulous.

I’ve also been listening to the Barenaked Ladies’ Greatest Hits (technically, it’s titled Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits {1991-2001}). Again, the big hits are fantastic. Who doesn’t like “One Week” or “If I Had A Million Dollars?” But I like a lot of the lesser-known tracks on this album, too. “Get In Line” has some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. “It’s Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)” may be my favorite. This lost track found a home in the Barenaked Ladies’ Greatest Hits, and thank goodness. If you’re in need of self-love, throw on “It’s Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland).” It puts the “Me” in monogamy. And while you check out this collection, give “Brian Wilson” a listen. The Beach Boys legend said he loved this tribute song. Brian Wilson even sang “Brian Wilson” in concerts. The Barenaked Ladies must’ve done something right.

While we’re on the topic of bands that don’t take themselves too seriously, I’ve been listening to a lot of They Might Be Giants. “Birdhouse In Your Soul” lives rent-free in my head. The lyrics may make little sense, but they may also hold the world’s wisdom. “Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch, who watches over you? Make a little birdhouse in your soul. Not to put too fine a point on it. Say, ‘I’m the only bee in your bonnet.’ Make a little birdhouse in your soul.” And now, I’m singing “Birdhouse In Your Soul” again. At least I’m not doing They Might Be Giants’ bizarre jumping dance. Wait. Don’t look through my window.

The first two Weezer albums are all-time greats. In fact, Weezer is actually two bands. The band with Matt Sharp on bass, and the band after Pinkterton (Weezer’s second album), following Sharp’s exit from the band. Sharp served as the perfect counterbalance to Rivers Cuomo. Cuomo was the tortured artist who mined his personal life for gripping music. Sharp added levity and injected Weezer with its early pop sensibilities. Heck! Matt Sharp was the one who sang harmony on most of Weezer’s greatest tracks: “Say It Ain’t So,” “Buddy Holly,” “Undone (The Sweater Song),” and even “El Scorchio.”

Pinkerton marked Cuomo vanishing from the public eye. He didn’t care to be a rock star, and the second album reflects that. Sharp found less space for his pop stylings or even the occasional harmonizing voice. But he found a way with “El Scorchio.” Sharp’s bass fights against the rest of the song. I can hear the bass wants to add a dance to this otherwise melancholy track. As far as the Blue Album (Weezer’s first release) is concerned, I love the hits, but there are some other great deep cuts. “Surf Wax America” gives 90s alternative music a surfer makeover. Cuomo spills his soul with “The World Has Turned and Left Me Here”; this is a perfect example of Sharp smoothing out some of Cuomo’s darker edges. And “Holiday” is just good fun.

Kyra’s Podcast

I don’t know if this counts as a podcast. The Board Game Design Course (by Joe Slack) functions more like a webinar. But the visuals are mostly PowerPoint slides, so usually, I listen to The Board Game Design Course while I work. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from this course. Specifically, I’ve been taking the “Creation to Publication Program.” Let’s just say that I’m armed with the means to submit my board games to various board game companies. Tee hee!

Well, it looks like I’m on my own again this week. Hopefully, we’ll hear from Season and Skye next week for our personal updates. They should have a lot to share. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes: March 2026

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share what they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been listening to in the comments. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things rolling with what I’ve been listening to during the month of March.

Kyra’s Tunes

I’ve been listening to Childish Gambino’s “Lithonia” on repeat. The soulful voice. The vocal harmonies. The fusion between Gospel, Rock, and R&B. Ah! I love it. If you haven’t yet listened to “Lithonia” (named after an Atlanta suburb), do your ears a favor and give the Official Audio Video a play on YouTube. “Lithonia’s” Official Music Video is also great, but you don’t get the full song. I also recommend watching the Music Video after the Audio Video. And after watching “Lithonia’s” Music Video, you’ll learn why there are so many reaction videos to that music video. Yowza!

Bando Stone & the New World (the album in which “Lithonia” originates) is a return to form for Childish Gambino. Some of his more recent albums (Altavista) didn’t hit the same as Awaken, My Love!, which includes the amazing “Redbone.” Brando Stone & the New World shows Childish Gambino (soon to go by Donald Glover as a music artist) at the peak of his powers. And I love how this album serves to set up Glover’s upcoming movie of the same name, Brando Stone & the New World. I can’t wait to watch the film. Until then, I’ll listen to Brando Stone & the New World on repeat.

I’ve also been kicking it old school with Nirvana’s In Utero. This album deserves all the praise it receives. Sure, there are the singles “Heart-Shaped Box,” “All Apologies,” and “Pennyroyal Tea,” but the deep cuts set In Utero apart. It may be blasphemous, but I’d say In Utero is slightly better than Nevermind. “Serve the Servants” opens with a bang. The opening lyrics, “Teenage angst has paid off well, now I’m bored and old” let the audience know this is a different Nirvana. “Serve the Servants” does a great job of melding autobiographical lyrics with working-class anthem ones. The track even sounds vaguely like surf rock.

“Serve the Servants” is an excellent opening track, but “Scentless Apprentice” marks the direction Nirvana may have taken had Cobain stuck around for a few more years. “Scentless Apprentice” was Nirvana’s biggest sonic departure on the album. Not bad for a track with an original name of “Chuck Chuck Fo Fuck.” The nickname is a reference to how the rhythm guitar line sounds.

Frances Bean Cobain (Kurt’s daughter) has cited “Dumb” as her favorite Nirvana song. According to Frances Bean, she sees “Dumb” as her father showing his vulnerability. And “Rape Me” was an attempt by Cobain to speak his mind against violence toward women. His previous work in Nevermind fell on deaf ears. Despite dropping all pretenses, “Rape Me” may be one of Cobain’s most misunderstood songs.

All of this and the singles folks know so well make In Utero a fantastic album.

I went from Nirvana to the other band that dominated the early Nineties, R.E.M.. Ironically, R.E.M. was struggling to finish their eighth studio album, Automatic for the People, so lead singer Michael Stipe, who suffered from writer’s block, reached out to Kurt Cobain. Cobain joked with Stipe that people thought Nirvana used too many yeahs in their songs. And Cobain did have a habit of finishing a line with a yeah. Cobain challenged Stipe to write a song with a lot of yeahs. Stipe accepted the challenge and wrote the classic, “Man on the Moon.”

Mott the Hoople and the Game of Life
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Andy Kaufman and the wrestling match
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Monopoly, Twenty-One, Checkers, and Chess
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Let’s play Twister, let’s play Risk
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I’ll see you in heaven if you make the list
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The number of “yeahs” in “Man on the Moon” dwarfed the ones Cobain sang with Nirvana, and it went on to become Automatic for the People’s second single. I would say something similar for Automatic for the People as I did with In Utero, that obviously the singles were fantastic, but the deep cuts elevate this album to iconic status. But half of Automatic for the People’s tracks would get released as singles. That’s a lot of singles: “Drive,” “Man on the Moon,” “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite,” “Everybody Hurts,” “Nightswimming,” and “Find the River.” Yes. Any two or three of these singles could anchor an album. Automatic for the People had six. Woah!

Despite half of this album being released as singles, I still have at least a couple of deep cuts. “Try Not to Breathe” is haunting. Honestly, I thought it had been released as a single; it’s that good. “Sweetness Follows” is one of my favorite tracks on Automatic for the People. The strings on this track are arranged by none other than John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin’s bassist. Throw in the awesome instrumental and “Monty Got a Raw Deal,” and you get one of those few albums that don’t have a single skip track. You’ll want to listen to them all. I need to pick up Automatic for the People on vinyl.

I’ll finish my segment by including the other song I’ve had on repeat this past month, “Move Your Feet.” This infectious 2003 dance-punk song by Danish pop duo Junior Senior will get anyone off their feet. While I like “Move Your Feet’s” official music video (with its pixel art pictured above), I’ve watched/listened more to one of Junior Senior’s live performances of the song. I didn’t think the band could pull off a great live performance of a song like this. It sounded too produced. But Junior Senior proves they don’t need a silly little thing like autotune.

The full band adds an extra layer of authenticity. The backup singers make “Move Your Feet” come alive. And I’m talking about the “Oh Yeah” woman singer, providing a Disco-like melody leading into the chorus, and the “From Downtown” man singer, harmonizing with Junior on the chorus. The drummer is mesmerizing whenever he clashes the cymbals. This live version of “Move Your Feet” is near-perfect. I prefer it to the studio version. With everything happening in the world right now, sometimes you just need to “Move your feet and feel united.”

That’s all I have for what I’ve been listening to this past month. Let’s see what tunes Skye picks.

Skye’s Tunes

I have succumbed to the K-Pop Demon Hunters hype. I did this a long time ago; I listened to the soundtrack on repeat for the past month. What can I say? K-Pop Demon Hunters is a good movie with a fun soundtrack that’s perfect for dancing. Considering how much I love to dance, you can see why the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack would appeal to me. I’ll keep this entry brief since I know Season has previously discussed this soundtrack, but if y’all would like me to do a breakdown of K-Pop Demon Hunters’ story, themes, and characters, let me know in the comments.

Sometimes you need something to keep you going. “and the day goes on” has been providing me with sufficient energy over the past month. For those who’re unfamiliar, “and the day goes on” is a song uploaded to the YouTube channel Bill Wurtz, which is well-known for the viral video “history of the entire world, i guess.” There isn’t much rhyme or reason to Bill Wurtz’s content, yet they still manage to capture an uplifting tone and a hummable melody while making no sense at all in “and the day goes on.” If you need a little pick-me-up, “and the day goes on” is very good for that. However, I must warn you that it’s gonna be stuck in your head forever.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are the tunes our writers have been listening to over the past month. Let us know what you’ve been listening to in the comments, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes: November 2025

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Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today, our writers share what they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been listening to, Geekly Gang. I’ll begin by sharing my monthly tunes.

Kyra’s Tunes

Typically, I don’t pay much attention to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but this year’s class was an interesting one. Headliners include Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Joe Cocker, The White Stripes, Chubby Checker, Outkast, and Warren Zevon. Wow! What a group! I’m surprised it took Warren Zevon over 30 years to make the Hall. Notable exclusions like the Excitable Boy himself are the biggest reason why I don’t pay much attention to the Hall’s Inductees. Zevon’s Excitable Boy is a hallmark Rock album. “Ah-woo! Werewolves of London.” And I love “Lawyers, Guns, and Money.” The latter song is as pertinent today as it was when it was first released.

Many members of this inductee class are no longer with us, so several other artists paid tribute. Iggy Pop was hilarious when he sang the beat of The White Stripes’ “Seven-Nation Army.” The entire crowd joined the fun. And while there was a great version of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Lily Cornell Silver’s rendition of “Fell On Black Days,” with a picture of her father (Soundgarden’s lead singer, Chris Cornell) over her shoulder, sends chills.

While “Black Hole Sun” is a banger, I much prefer “Fell On Black Days.” It better explores Cornell’s range. Both Cornells. Lily did her father proud.

I’m getting choked up again. Chris Cornell (and his close friend Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington) was always upfront about his depression. We lost Cornell and Bennington too soon.

My second entry pulls double duty: it’s a meme and a song. The Remix Brothers did a great job poking fun at President Trump’s Autism announcement from a handful of weeks ago. Here’s a link if you’d like to check out the remix. In short, the study President Trump references during this announcement says the exact opposite of what Trump declares. There is no correlation between Tylenol and Autism. Autism is hereditary. I’m a good example of the rise of Autism diagnoses. My daughter was diagnosed. I had some markers, and there’s a biological component to Autism, so I got checked myself and was diagnosed later in life. Tylenol is the only safe fever reducer pregnant women can take. Unchecked fevers can lead to issues far worse than Autism. Don’t listen to Trump. Returning to The Remix Brothers’ video, it’s eerie how they’re able to make Trump sound like Eminem. The Trump in this video has flow.

Sometimes one must laugh at the Idiocracy The United States has become. The Remix Brother’s “Trump Autism Remix” does a great job of doing that. Trump doesn’t need a third term. Can we get Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho as the 2028 Republican candidate for President?

That’s all I have for this month. Let’s check in with Skye.

Skye’s Tunes

It’s been a minute since I first heard The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and I was happy to revisit it this month. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Listening to songs like “Femininomenon,” “After Midnight,” “Pink Pony Club,” and “Casual” reminds me of why this album is in my vinyl collection. I specifically own the Peaches & Cream version, which contains the songs “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “HOT TO GO,” “My Kink is Karma,” “Picture You,” and “Kaleidoscope.” While it’s nice knowing I’m lucky to have bonus content, it feels weird having an album with an odd number of sides. I need to remind myself that the D Side is blank, and I’m worried one of these days I’m gonna scratch it by accident.

Despite my love of upbeat pop songs, I enjoy mellow vibes and soothing tracks. Enter The Very Best of Roberta Flack. Songs like “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Where Is the Love,” and “If I Ever See You Again” are great for soothing vibes. Some people say that a nap is all you need after a long day of work, but The Very Best of Roberta Flack is all I need. I’ve been meaning to pay homage to Roberta Flack after her passing earlier this year. We’ve lost too many legends recently. Rest in peace.

On a lighter note, Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR has been another of my staples this month. Rodrigo’s musical stylings are easy to jam to. I get lost in the melodies of songs like “Traitor,” “Drivers License,” “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back,” and “Enough for You” while I’m busy working on projects. I can’t deny that part of me is transported back to my teenage years whenever I pop in SOUR. I can’t imagine why that is. I still relate to many themes present in SOUR. Wherever Olivia is, I hope she’s okay.

Sublime is another classic album from my childhood. Understandably, my parents never shared the entire album with me and my sister, but certain (clean) songs quickly became staples. We would sing “Santeria” or “What I Got” as loud as we could. Being a kid, I never understood anything these songs were saying, but I loved them just because we were having fun. I love the nostalgic feelings I get from this album.

That’s all we have for this month’s Geekly Tunes. Let us know what music you’ve been listening to over the past month, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes: October 2025

Published on by Kyra1 Comment

Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share the music they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been listening to over the past month, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with my geekly tunes for October.

Kyra’s Tunes

I’ve been revisiting Gorillaz’s catalog after their recent announcement of their upcoming ninth studio album, The Mountain. Gorillaz’s early stuff is phenomenal. Their first three albums resonate today. I’ll throw on Gorillaz, Demon Days, and Plastic Beach, while cleaning or doing some other chore. I giggle at “Clint Eastwood’s” beat. I had a Casio keyboard with the same “Rock” beat. All one had to do was hold down the drum break at the beginning to create the intro. So good.

Demon Days and Plastic Beach allowed Damon Albarn to stretch his creative muscles. And he got political. “Dirty Harry” tackled The War on Terror, while most of Plastic Beach addressed climate change. “Superfast Jellyfish” may be the catchiest song about destroying oceanic wildlife. But hey, the jellyfish left behind taste just like chicken. Yum.

Despite The Fall’s interesting premise (most songs were written and recorded while Gorillaz was touring in different cities), it may just be Gorillaz’s weakest album. It’s a quieter version of what the Foo Fighters would try a few years later in Sonic Highways (easily the Foo’s weakest album). Writing and recording music during a road trip sounds like a good idea, but I haven’t heard it done well recently. Let me know if another band does a great job with this concept.

While Humanz has some catchy tunes, it shows the band leaning heavily into featured artists and collaborations. I’ll still jam to “Saturn Barz” or “Strobelight.” Heck, “We Got the Power” is a catchy tune for positive change. Albarn admitted to rushing The Now Now with B-sides from Humanz, so the two albums have similar sensibilities. Several critics trashed The Now Now for not taking enough risks, and I can see that, but there are plenty of great tracks like “Humility” and “Tranz” from The Now Now. And I love that Ace (from Powerpuff Girls) filled in on bass for Murdoc. The Now Now is Gorillaz at their most optimistic. I liked this change of pace.

And then we get to my favorite modern Gorillaz album: Song Machine. “Aries” was my COVID-19 anthem. It’s so good, and it differs from “Momentary Bliss” and “Désolé,” which are both amazing. The latter may be my favorite track from this album. Featured artist Fatoumata Diawara is a queen. Gorillaz stretch their artistic muscles with Song Machine. The group ventures into world music, reggae punk, new wave, RnB, and even bossa nova. With so many music styles, I’m certain you’ll find your favorite Gorillaz deep-cut on Song Machine.

Cracker Island is more of a mixed bag. The singles are probably the best tracks from the band’s latest album, so they knew which ones to release. The title track is a bop. “Skinny Ape” lives rent-free in my head. And “New Gold” is synth-pop warmth. But many of the other tracks fall flat. Still, there’s enough to like from Cracker Island that I’m excited for The Mountain, which is scheduled for a March 2026 release. We should be hearing plenty of singles in the coming months.

I took longer with Gorillaz than I thought. While I have listened to many more artists, I’ll save those for later and check in with Season to see what she’s been listening to over the past month.

Season’s Tunes

I decided to go back in time for this month’s tunes, Geekly Gang. I watched a live (recorded) performance of “Runaround Sue” on YouTube, then listened to it for the rest of the week on repeat. No wonder “Runaround Sue” has so many covers. If you’re looking for an older bop, “Runaround Sue” is definitely worth a listen. Fun fact: Two years after “Runaround Sue” was released, Dion married Susan Butterfield. Coincidence?

“Sukiyaki” or “Ue o Muite Arukou/上を向いて歩こう” (“I Look Up When I Walk”) was released the same year as “Runaround Sue”: 1961. “Sukiyaki” didn’t break into the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 until 1963. Sukiyaki is a type of Japanese hot-pot dish that contains beef. They called the song “Sukiyaki” in English because it was easier for English speakers to recognize as a Japanese word.

Kyu Sakamoto performed “Sukiyaki,” but Rokusuke Ei wrote the song. Rokusuke Ei would write another of Sakamoto’s songs in 1963, “Miagate Goran Yoru no Hoshi wo/見上げてごらん夜の星を” (“Look Up at the Stars in the Night”). There’s a lot of looking up in Rokusuke Ei’s songs. Sadly, Kyu Sakamoto passed away in a plane crash in 1985.

Okay. So, I had a theme, but this song threw my theme out the window. Let’s get into some weird ’90s bubblegum pop with “Candy” by the K-pop boy band H.O.T.. They knew what they were doing with that band name. I originally saw a clip of a “Candy” cover by NCT Dream on Instagram and thought the lyrics were wacky. So, I watched the original music video. I recommend watching with the closed captions on, because this song is toxic. LOL. In a nutshell, they sing about waking up and wanting to break up with someone, then deciding to stick around because their lover smiles. What?

Outside of that, the outfits are bizarre. They’re in a mall theme park for part of this video, and most of them sport a single fuzzy mitten on one hand. I think the target audience for the music video was supposed to be tweens, but it came off as Sesame Street gone wrong.

That’s all from me. What are you listening to this week, Skye?

Skye’s Tunes

I’ve been revisiting the oldest records in my collection. Whenever I listen to Californication, I remember opening presents with my folks, who were all too eager to feed my vinyl hobby. My family’s discriminating musical taste has exposed me to all kinds of music, and some of my favorite memories come from the soft-rock tracks found on Californication. Notable tunes like “Scar Tissue,” “Otherside,” “Porcelain,” “Road Trippin’,” and the title track (my favorite) “Californication,” make appearances on Californication. Good times.

Transformer was also among the first records in my collection. I hadn’t heard of it before I received it as a present. In fact, at the time, my knowledge of Lou Reed was limited. My family provided me a quick history lesson, which piqued my interest, resulting in Transformer becoming a classic album in my record case. I listened to Transformer on repeat that Christmas Day. Songs like “Perfect Day,” “Hangin’ Round,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Satellite of Love,” and “Wagon Wheel” quickly became favorites, and now I can’t imagine life without Transformer. Thanks, fam.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are the tunes our writers have been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share the music you’ve been listening to over the past month, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes: September 2025

Published on by KyraLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Today, our writers share what they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been listening to this past month in the comments. We’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get us started.

Kyra’s Tunes

In terms of music, this past month was an odd one for me. Nuke-Con (Omaha’s board game convention) is right around the corner–I hope to see some of you there next week–and Nuke-Con reminded me of a battle cry one of my friends said during one of last year’s games: Holy Fish Heads! I had to listen to Dr. Demento. There was no choice. But I didn’t listen to any Weird Al Yankovic tunes. No offense, Weird Al. “Fish Heads” by Barnes & Barnes made the rotation, as did The Firm’s “Star Trekkin,” and Ogden Edsl’s “Dead Puppies.” Fun fact: Ogden Edsl was from Omaha. Pour one out for my cornies.

Sometimes you need a good laugh. “Fish Heads” regales us with all the things severed fish heads can’t do: play baseball, play drums, or wear sweaters. “Star Trekkin”–obviously a Star Trek spoof–is the first novelty song to ever reach number one on the UK charts. “There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow. There’s Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, Jim.” And “Dead Puppies” laments how deceased pets aren’t much fun. I love how “Dead Puppies” ends with a mock religious tone. Cue the cathedral organ. None of these songs–or musical acts–take themselves too seriously. I needed that. The world is serious enough, bring on the levity.

Brian David Gilbert (BDG) may be one of the few modern acts who remind me of classic Dr. Demento. Not enough songs feature the recorder. Throw in some absurd existential dread, and “there is a rock in my house” has you covered. BDG contradicts himself in “Husky Voice.” You should also check out “i wish that i could wear hats,” but clearly BDG can wear hats. And I love teasing my spouse with “Don’t Tell Your WIFE About This Game!,” which serves as a warning about neglect. There’s a reason “Don’t Tell Your WIFE About This Game!” (pictured above) is Brian David Gilbert’s most popular song. Despite being a comedy song, the lyrics are brilliant.

Considered a one-hit wonder, Dishwalla’s debut album, Pet Your Friends, had plenty of other great tracks besides that one hit. Oddly enough, a handful of these tracks could also be considered novelty songs, and they happen to be two of my favorites: “Miss Emma Peel” and “Charlie Brown’s Parents.” When I first listened to Pet Your Friends (in the Nineties), I was rewatching Avengers episodes–not the Marvel kind of Avengers–so “Miss Emma Peel” chose the right subject matter. It doesn’t hurt that J. R. Richards has a hypnotic voice. Like “Don’t Tell Your WIFE About This Game,” “Charlie Brown’s Parents” may have some of the most clever novelty–or novelty-adjacent–song lyrics. “Charlie Brown’s Parents” adheres to lines and imagery from Peanuts and manages to say something greater than the sum of its parts.

“Counting Blue Cars” is Dishwalla’s one big hit, and it’s still a bop decades later. But “Haze” allows Richards to explore his vocal range, and “Give” features Dishwalla’s best groove. Post Pet Your Friends, Dishwalla had a few modest hits like (2002) Opaline’s “Somewhere in the Middle,” but Pet Your Friends remains the band’s best collection of tracks.

That’s all I have for music this month. Let’s check in with Skye.

Skye’s Tunes

Hooked on Classics is a love letter to well-known classical music compositions with a twist. Louis Clark and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra give a modern take on timeless classical pieces by increasing the tempo, jazzing up the beat, and modernizing the music. To some, I can understand how a modern rendition of Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and other renowned classical composers’ works could be considered blasphemy. With me, I say, “Let’s just have fun.” I’ve never been a purist, and I don’t plan on starting now.

I’ve had Pink Moon in my vinyl collection for a while and have listened to it many times. However, it wasn’t until last month I truly started appreciating it. There are albums in my collection that give me a sense of calm and comfort, but none of them are quite like Pink Moon by Nick Drake. Pink Moon feels like hanging out with close friends while camping or watching a sunset with a lovable extended-family member. If I close my eyes, I can almost drift into another dimension while listening to Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, and that’s my favorite part.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. That’s all our writers have for Geekly Tunes this month. Let us know what you’ve been listening to in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes: August 2025

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Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. This week’s Whatcha post is Geekly Tunes. Our writers will be sharing what they’ve been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share the music you’ve been listening to as well, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get us started.

Kyra’s Tunes

Last month, I listened to the latest Wet Leg album, Moisturizer. I’m still listening to that album on occasion. But I mentioned in the write-up for Moisturizer that PJ Harvey was one of their influences, which led me to To Bring You My Love. I owned a cassette of PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love and listened to it on repeat in my first car, a jade Dodge Neon. At the time when I purchased To Bring You My Love, I didn’t know what to expect from PJ Harvey. Folks described her as grunge. The label didn’t fit. Harvey’s music occupies a space between punk, rock, blues, and folk. One can’t pin it down to one genre. And To Bring You My Love is one of her best albums. It earned countless perfect ratings from multiple music critics and continues to inspire.

I first caught Chappell Roan’s “The Subway” during a live performance stream. No offense to any of Roan’s other tracks, but “The Subway” was excellent. It was easily her best song in the set. There was no way Roan’s best song wasn’t on her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Yeah. “The Subway” was kept off Roan’s album because she wanted it to be a live performance-only song. I get it. “The Subway” brings down the rafters when Roan performs it live. Pirating led to “The Subway” being released as a single this past month. I got to rediscover this song all over again, and I love it.

We go from a couple of acts that hit the big time (Chappell is the current Queen of Pop) to another that didn’t quite make it, Jellyfish. This Nineties band is one of the internet’s favorite what-ifs. Jellyfish would’ve fared much better in a decade that wasn’t dominated by torn jeans, flannel shirts, and grunge. During that decade, no one wanted a fusion of Beach Boy harmonies over thought-provoking–and sometimes esoteric and bizarre–lyrics. Jellyfish doesn’t shy away from eclectic instruments in the service of finding the perfect blend of Wonderland-Core. While “New Mistake” was the closest this power pop four-piece got to a hit, I really like “Ghost at Number One” and “The King is Half Undressed.” The latter is a great example of lead singer Andy Sturmer at his Mad Hatter best.

I omitted some other bands I’ve been listening to lately, but I may save them for another month. It’s time to hear what Season and Skye have been listening to this past month.

Season’s Tunes

I’m back with another soundtrack. I can’t seem to get away from them. This month’s soundtrack is from Singin’ in the Rain. I’ve only watched the movie once, but it was so memorable that I can picture every dance number while listening, especially “Make ‘Em Laugh.” Even though he was bedridden after the shoot, Donald O’Connor nailed that performance. Respect.

Continuing with ’50s nostalgia, I discovered Elliot James Reay last week. The song I listened to, “Boy In Love,” blends 1950s rock ‘n’ roll with blues set in today’s world. Reay said in an interview that he wrote this song with his girlfriend, and some of the lyrics are things she’s said to him. It’s sweet, and Reay does a great job of blending nostalgia with a modern setting. Seriously. The music video had a handful of people on their smartphones in the background.

Skye’s Tunes

I put my vinyl collection on shuffle this past month. I like The Who, but I don’t listen to their music often. After popping The Story of The Who back on my turntable, I felt guilty. I forgot how good The Who was. Even as I write this, several tracks are cycling through my head, including “Substitute,” “Boris the Spider,” “Magic Bus,” and “Baba O’Reilly.” Well, I knew I bought this album for a reason. Thanks, Past Me!

I couldn’t resist. I know American Idiot is a cliché album for my collection, but…come on. How could I not own American Idiot? Green Day is the kind of music I’m proud to say I grew up with. Before owning American Idiot, I had never heard every track on the album. After listening to American Idiot the way the band intended, I feel like I understand it much better. That and I’m listening to American Idiot as an adult as opposed to an oblivious child, an oblivious child who also didn’t understand swear words.

I have similar feelings about Billie Holiday as I do about Nina Simone. Both are great to listen to when I need something to wind down. As Simone’s predecessor, it’s easy to see the influence Holiday’s work had on artists like Simone. What feels especially comfy about Holiday’s music is the quality and tone. It qualifies more as “lounge music” than Simone’s, and the recording quality for each song on Lady Sings the Blues has a classic feel. That’s part of why I started collecting vinyl: albums like Lady Sings the Blues make me feel cozy.

It’s about time I talked about Queen. Don’t worry, I knew this rock band was coming sooner or later. As another band (and album) I grew up with, I have a strong personal connection with Queen: Greatest Hits. This album introduced me to amazing songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Killer Queen,” “You’re My Best Friend,” and many more. I don’t say this often, but I’m so glad my parents are as cultured as they are. Because of them, I dare say: I was classically trained. I’m sorry.

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. That’s the music our writers have been listening to over the past month. Feel free to share yours in the comments, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.

Geekly Tunes (Whatcha Listening To): June 2025

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Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. We’re back with another Geekly Tunes post for June 2025. This post is where our writers share the music they’ve listened to over the past month. You’re part of the Geekly Gang, too, so feel free to share what music you’ve been listening to over the last month. I’ll kick off the tunes for this month.

Kyra’s Tunes

My tunes for this month are less focused than the previous month. Let’s begin with The B-52’s. Their early work is stellar. Of course, you have the track that put them on the map, “Rock Lobster.” This song defied categorization. Is it art pop? New Wave? Regardless, “Rock Lobster” (and a lot of the tracks from The B-52’s eponymous first album) took inspiration from 1950s and 1960s pop music, but The B-52’s took it even deeper. They added an element of kitsch and camp. “Rock Lobster’s” conceit is a Beach Movie with Schneider switching up gender roles and adding a flourish of comedy. Obviously, The B-52’s didn’t take themselves seriously.

The B-52’s had a run of great songs from their first three albums like “Planet Claire,” “Private Idaho,” and “Whammy Kiss.” The band took a lengthy hiatus after their lead guitarist, Ricky Wilson, passed away from complications of AIDS. But the band persevered and released Cosmic Thing in the late Eighties, and this album features The B-52’s second breakthrough hit, “Love Shack.” While “Love Shack” served as a massive exhale for the band, I also adore many of Cosmic Thing’s other tracks, where they openly mourn the loss of their bandmate. And “Roam” is another huge hit. You’ve gotta love “Roam.”

What better way to celebrate Pride Month than with a queer band like The B-52’s? Happy Pride!

I’m staying in Athens, Georgia, with this one. I grew up with R.E.M.. From “Radio Free Europe” to “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” to even their Nineties albums like Automatic for the People and Monster, I’ve listened to most of their catalogue. I don’t know which era of R.E.M. I like best. R.E.M. is one of those bands I can turn to during various musical itches.

Ironically, Kate Pierson (of the B-52’s) provided backing vocals for R.E.M.’s “Shiny Happy People.” Michael Stipe insisted that “Shiny Happy People” was about Chinese propaganda posters, to which Pierson replied, Okay then, “Love Shack” is really about the plight of tenant farmers in Georgia. Don’t get it twisted. The two bands loved each other. R.E.M. frequently thanked The B-52’s for paving the way for them. In fact, one of the songs I mentioned about The B-52’s and their fallen bandmate featured night swimming (or skinny dipping). R.E.M. has a fantastic track called “Nightswimming.” I’ve always wondered if the two bands sang about the same moment. Both bands are close. It’s possible.

Despite liking most of R.E.M.’s catalogue, Automatic for the People is the perfect moment. Stipe shows maturity in his lyrics, and the band is at the height of their power. Whenever I get on an R.E.M. kick, I’ll usually throw in Automatic for the People for good measure.

The Replacements were a band that could never get out of their own way. I love the music we got from this band, but they should’ve been bigger. They should’ve been huge. The Replacements have a sordid history with drugs and alcohol. The band’s name is a testament to their past. They could no longer get gigs with their original band name and couldn’t think of a good replacement name, so they called themselves The Replacements.

Sonically, The Replacements bridged the gap between punk and alternative rock. Many cite The Replacements as the first alternative rock band. “Can’t Hardly Wait” often gets stuck in my head. I love both versions, the electric guitar one from Tim and the second version from Pleased to Meet Me. Tim’s version of “Can’t Hardly Wait” follows someone bored in heaven, while Pleased to Meet Me’s version sounds more like someone trying to get sober. Except for one or two lines, the lyrics couldn’t be any more different.

When they weren’t embarrassing themselves on Saturday Night Live, The Replacements were dropping gems like Let It Be (which The Replacements deliberately named after The Beatles album to piss off their label) that included the hit “I Will Dare,” which also happens to feature a Peter Buck (R.E.M.) guitar solo. I didn’t plan that. I swear. Let It Be and the subsequent Tim are two albums that have gotten near-perfect scores on music review sites, and for good reason. They’re incredible. Pleased to Meet Me is a huge departure, but still great. With Pleased to Meet Me, The Replacements explored various music genres (some of which would influence future bands like Nirvana) right before the band dissolved.

Ah! The Replacements are at (or near) the top of those bands where you wonder what could’ve been. That’s all I have for music this month. Let’s see what Season and Skye have been listening to.

Season’s Tunes

I also went back in time this past month. I know Queen is a well-known band, but I’ve been on a kick of listening to some of my favorite tracks. Specifically, “Hammer to Fall,” “The Invisible Man,” and “Radio Ga Ga.” These tracks strike more of a chord with me than many of their other songs. I can listen to those songs on repeat for hours. Okay. I can listen to various songs on repeat for hours, which is normal for me. I’m trusting all of you with this secret, Geekly Gang. Eh-heh.

I had a friend in high school who had no idea who Queen is. I took it upon myself to rectify that. Don’t worry. She’s been saved. >:)

Okay. This is technically a movie, but I love the soundtrack. K-Pop Demon Hunters dropped on Netflix less than a week ago, and I’ve been listening to the soundtrack constantly. I don’t listen to a lot of K-pop, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the earworms and choreography in the music videos. I did the same thing when the soundtrack for Barbie (2023) dropped. The soundtrack for K-Pop Demon Hunters is available on Spotify. What have you been listening to, Skye?

Skye’s Tunes

I’ve been trying to expand my musical tastes lately. I’m not familiar with Rage Against the Machine from my youth (on account of it being my youth), but I recall hearing several good things about their music. Also, having caught a couple of their songs off and on in my adulthood convinced me to dive in. Now I see what I’ve been missing. Over time, I’ve learned the different ways music genres can express specific ideas. Rage Against the Machine’s debut album reflects my feelings toward global news at the moment. Maybe it won’t someday, but Rage Against the Machine remains relevant.

Y’all know I love the classics. I’ve collected a few rap albums over the years, but 2Pac: Greatest Hits was inevitable. My favorite thing about 2Pac: Greatest Hits is how comprehensive it is. When I first bought it, I thought it was a double LP (like most large albums). However, I was surprised to learn it was a quadruple LP. Not 2 records, but 4?! Now you’re speakin’ my language. Naturally, if you’re a fan of OG 90’s rap, this album should speak for itself. I imagine I’ll probably be collecting more Tupac records over time, but I’m happy with this start.

The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds has been comforting and depressing for me this past month. I’ve loved Pet Sounds since I received it as a Christmas gift. Being another album with zero tracks I dislike, my love has remained strong across several listens. I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling saddened by Brian Wilson’s passing. So, as a faithful tribute to him, I should only appreciate the art he gifted us with, arguably his best album. Rest in peace, Brian. We truly lost a legend.

Kyra Kyle here again. Agreed. Rest in peace, Brian Wilson. Let us know your favorite Brian Wilson song in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.