Grassfight is dark and gothic. It’s the kind of doom and gloom that makes Joy Division fans happy. Not what you’d expect from a Denton, Texas, trio, but then again the band has settled in a more appropriately industrial environment: New York City. Last year Grassfight released its first EP, Icon, and now it delivered its follow-up companion, Icon, EP 2. Below is a mix tape Grassfight’s Nathan Forster made for MAGNET.
“Look Homeward, Heathen” (download):
Crystal Castles “Courtship Dating”
Innovative, violent, dancey, and who else invokes a nostalgic feeling of playing the original Super Mario? Video
The National “Abel”
Energetic and atmospheric. Emotional without being cheesy. Fun but still aggravated. It’s like all five of them sat around and said, “Let’s cram every great element into one song and call it Abel.” Video
Oasis “Supersonic”
We like eras: OK Computer era, In Utero era, Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness era, Fleetwood Mac early-’80s era, etc. “Supersonic” is a great snapshot of the Definitely Maybe era. Ambitious and cocky with Gallagher hooks everywhere. Makes us want to pick a fight with another band. Video
of Montreal “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal”
It doesn’t make any sense that this 12-minute-long song should be good enough to leave on repeat: the same chord progression throughout the entire song, no chorus or bridge, just added instrumentation and one-liner vocals. Yet it is, and any song from Hissing Fauna could be included in this list. Video
Modest Mouse “King Rat”
Isaac Brock’s fighting side at it’s best. He has a way with words that’s unmatched, sort of taking Kurt Cobain and Frank Black’s sarcastic personas into more descriptive, picturesque territory. Video
Radiohead “Bodysnatchers”
Many bands are good and some bands have moments of greatness; no other band achieves these moments with more frequency than Radiohead. I used to get nervous when they released a new album, like this was going to be the one where they lose it. That ended midway through “Bodysnatchers.” Now it’s similar to understanding that my reaction to Thom’s new ponytail is just my own error and eventually I’ll get it. Video
Pavement “Rattled By The Rush”
Catchy, fun and poppy without the pristine layers of studio polish. The only comparison we get to Pavement is a certain similarity in singer appearances; we’ll take it. Video
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club “Weapon Of Choice”
Driving drums with a wall of sound like early Oasis. Vocals are tame but still emotional. BRMC is a convincing argument for every guitar player to rock a hollow body and Tube Screamer combo. Video
Yann Tiersen “Comptine D’un Autre Ete”
With a ridiculous talent for minimalism, reminiscent of Erik Satie, he makes the rest of us seem absurd. What sets him apart from other contemporary minimalists, like Phillip Glass, is the conveyed mood. It’s an everything-is-as-it-should-be kind of feeling. Video
Flaming Lips “The Sparrow Looks Up At The Machine”
Saw them at NX35 in 2010. They were having electrical problems throughout the set but still managed to put on one of the best shows ever. Having a “spiritual experience” at a show is such a cliché, but if we had one, it was there, and during this song. Video
