Lions, Werewolves, Modest Mice, and Arctic Monkeys, oh my!
- WARREN ZEVON - “Werewolves in London” - as described by carlos valladares
- ARCTIC MONKEYS — “Dangerous Animals” — as described by paulina campos
- JON BELLION — “HUMAN” — as described by chase porter
- KENDRICK LAMAR (FEAT. BILAL, ANNA WISE, SNOOP DOGG) — “Institutionalized” — as described by anthony milki
- EARL SWEATSHIRT feat. NA’KEL – “DNA” – as described by linnea rivano barros
- ANIMAL COLLECTIVE — “Lion in a Coma” — as described by parker clancy
- MODEST MOUSE — “The Whale Song” — as described by john murray
- THE WOMBATS — “Your Body is a Weapon” — as described by analyssa lopez
- LION BABE — “Jungle Lady” — as described by bana hatzey
- ACTION BRONSON x MAYHEM LAUREN — ¨Falconry¨ — as described by editor lawrence neil
- EMMA LOUISE — “Bugs” — as described by e.i.c. katharine schwab
WARREN ZEVON - “Werewolves in London” - as described by carlos valladares
You may recognize it as the song that Lynyrd Skynard’s “Sweet Home Alabama” (and the subpar Kid Rock ripoff) are based off of. But this slice-of-life in rockin’ London is a far more compelling achievement; Zevon’s simple but effective piano riff and his growling howls as the titular werewolf give it a staying power that extends beyond the camp. It packs a wallop on first listen. Who else would have the creativity to set a pop song in a B-movie London with bougie werewolves and the Queen drinkin’ ’til sundown?
ARCTIC MONKEYS — “Dangerous Animals” — as described by paulina campos
There are few things I love more than the Arctic Monkeys’ spooky phase - their album “Humbug” has a Halloween-like feel that works any time of year. I’m not sure why they made an album that could double as the soundtrack to a Scooby Doo special, but I’m so happy that they did. Dangerous Animals is one of the spookiest tracks on the album, with a haunting opening and talk of frighteners, fiends, and a lioness bringing Alex Turner to his knees.
JON BELLION — “HUMAN” — as described by chase porter
“What’s up with priorities? Like actually, what’s the deal with those? Why do I go on Facebook daily and can’t come close to putting that same adverb on my flossing frequency?”
See, I’ve got GPS on my phone, and I can follow it to get home. If my location’s never unknown, then tell me why I still feel lost.
Can’t tell if cheesy or essential to being animals that can think.
KENDRICK LAMAR feat. BILAL, ANNA WISE, SNOOP DOGG — “Institutionalized” — as described by anthony milki
Zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom — it’s storytime. Grandma Bilal and Narrator Snoop (a dogg is an animal) go back and forth one-upping each other with some nasty hooks while Kendrick gives us one of his most dynamic vocal performances. It’s sad, optimistic, and just about as delicious as sound can get.
EARL SWEATSHIRT feat. NA’KEL – “DNA” – as described by Linnea Rivano Barros
Earl is an animalistic rapper. He speaks to the emotional/instinctual part of my soul and brain (I’m pretty confident it’s intentional — we’re gonna be together someday). Though always painfully honest, his newest album comes off as an an immediate, real-time translation of thought and emotion to spoken word. ¨DNA¨ is a devastating example: Na’kel wrote that rap in the studio before recording, having learned of his friend’s death moments before walking in. His heart is in his throat the entire time. It’s heartbreaking.
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE — “Lion in a Coma” — as described by parker clancy
Perfect for the summer weather, this song lopes comfortably along and can’t help but conjure up images of dry, warm savannahs. The 9/8 tempo gives the song a stumbling groove, over which twisted vocals try, admirably, to keep up. As is the usual for Animal Collective, they disguise a distressing subjecting in childish glee and clever wordplay: Lion in a Coma or Lying in a Coma?! When the chorus takes off for the first time, breaking through the stratosphere, I’d guess it doesn’t really matter.
MODEST MOUSE — “The Whale Song” — as described by john murray
It’s a band named after a little earthly critter singing a song titled after the ocean’s largest mammal. It’s also the first song I listened to after my grandmother died, so I still pretty much cry every time I hear it.
THE WOMBATS — “Your Body is a Weapon” — as described by analyssa lopez
Some upbeat angst never hurt anyone, and this song is so fun to sing along to. It kind of makes you forget that the dude is a little creepy towards whoever he’s singing about.
LION BABE — “Jungle Lady” — as described by bana hatzey
Jungle Lady is a sultry reminder to let love trump fear and transcend ecosystems. Next time you’re in the jungle, embrace Lion Babe, celebrate yourself, and tell those funky animals, “Honey, I’m rare and you know it!”
ACTION BRONSON x MAYHEM LAUREN — ¨Falconry¨ — as described by editor lawrence neil
While the title itself qualifies this track for the theme, Bronson mentions five animals in his single verse, and this song actually follows my current favorite song, of greatest note are the following verses that perhaps best depict the Queens rapper (less literally and more as someone who would describe his genesis story as such) to a first time listener :
¨I was made like the beginning of Jurassic Park / When they took the fucking blood from the mosquito with a dope needle / Then they shot it in a wild lion, 1983 / I popped out holdin’ an iron with a visor on.¨
EMMA LOUISE — “Bugs” — as described by e.i.c. katharine schwab
Are bugs animals? Yes? Maybe? [Cue Google search.] Well, whatever. Despite its reference to invertebrates in the arthropod phylum, “Bugs” is warm-blooded and gives birth to.. happiness in my heart. Ok, that’s mammals, you got me — it’s been a long time since high school bio, ok?
('18, Film Studies) is a native Angelino who loves movies, music, and life. He thinks "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg", "City Lights", "A Woman Under the Influence", "A Hard Day's Night" and "Play Time" contain the secrets to life. He enjoys writing film criticism and getting into all sorts of sitcom shenaniganry with his friends. You can catch him wearing a cabbie hat, listening to "Pet Sounds" or "Tapestry" on the way to class.
('18, undecided) is a Bay Area native, fashion junkie, and avid collage-maker. Her favorite things include good music, ballet, and Ezra Koenig's twitter feed.
(‘17, Undeclared) likes chocolate and Lorde. And soccer.
('17, Human Biology/Creative Writing) is from Palo Alto and listens to a lot of Kanye.
(‘16) is a Bay Area native…kinda. Once from Sweden and then Chile, proudly Oaklandish for the past 13 years. Down with the hip-hopo and anything else that inspires shoulder swaying, booty shaking, and sometimes painful but always fruitful contemplation.
(’15, English) is addicted to cheddar cheese and Triscuits and likes to do this weird double-jointed thing with his arms a lot. He’s from Oregon. His new(ish) dog is adorable.
('16) made this sad world a par•a•dise. She is cultivating both her Twitter persona & her Kristen Stewart aesthetic, is a firm believer in selfies & has the same taste in music as that one guy you dated in high school.
(‘14, Science, Technology, and Society) grew up in Seattle Washington. In her spare time, Bana enjoys being barefoot in grass, dreaming and then talking about her dreams, and city-hopping to a good soundtrack.
(‘14, History/Creative Writing, Editor-at-Large) is from Cleveland, Ohio and writes fiction.
(‘15, English, Outgoing Editor-in-Chief) likes to write songs about gravity and days that don't end. Katharine is from Pasadena, CA and she's only been to one Rose Bowl game. Ever.