Playlist Picks: Thanksgiving Weekend

• 

This article was submitted by CG guest writer, Taylor Smith, a senior at UNC – Chapel Hill.

As we close out the Thanksgiving holidays (aka drunken reunions with friends combined with awkward family get-togethers), youngsters everywhere are going to need some new music on their playlist for the long car rides home or to escape from patriarchal chaos.  Here’s what you could / should be listening to:

Florence + The Machine, “Shake it Out”

The lead single off Florence + The Machine’s excellent sophomore record Ceremonials, “Shake it Out” is just catchy enough to be entertaining while staying weird enough to save itself from being played to death on traditional FM radio or being picked up by a Twilight movie (R.I.P., Theophilus London).

Childish Gambino, “Bonfire”

Community star Donald Glover (if you aren’t watching this show, you definitely should be—it’s hysterical) is about to release his first CD under rap pseudonym Childish Gambino, and his first single, “Bonfire”, is quite a doozy.  In it, he talks about not being accepted by the larger rap community while simultaneously bathing in his giant swimming pool full of money, Scrooge McDuck-style.

Friends, “I’m His Girl”

The lyrics may be a bit simplistic, but try listening to this track without getting the catchy bass line stuck in your head.  Go on.  I dare you.  I double dog dare you.  Great use of cowbell to boot.

Atlas Sound, “Te Amo”

Deerhunter frontman Brandon Cox continues his solo career with Atlas Sound’s third record.  Over soothingly layered drum beats and guitar riffs, Cox whispers to his lover, “Pretend you know the way I love/And we will go to sleep/And we’ll have the century”.  The dreamlike quality of this song makes it the perfect four minute escape from meetings or finals.

Drake ft. The Weeknd, “Crew Love”

World, meet The Weeknd; rest assured that he has no interest in meeting you.  R&B soon-to-be-sensation The Weeknd has already dropped two phenomenal mixtapes, but his refusal to communicate with the media (or seemingly anyone outside his Twitter account) or perform live shows has kept him from blowing up.  Here, he lends his amazing vocals to an otherwise forgettable Drake track.  You may have heard his single “High for This” during an Entourage preview, but fuck Entourage, that show sucked.

Blackout Beach, “Beautiful Burning Desire”

I’m going to be honest; I only picked this song because the band’s name describes every single one of my trips to the South Carolina coast.  That, and the album this song is off is called Fuck Death, which is way cool.  All joking aside, here’s hoping you enjoy it!

•