Captain’s Log: 90s Nostalgia For Everybody

captain's log

Good morning, baby betta fish! Today we’re going to very consciously not talk about Avril Lavigne’s new video, and instead focus on other things happening around the world. The 90s are still back, the 00s are almost back, and the world keeps turning, churning out more cute chicks with nontraditional haircuts singing about broken hearts and new beginnings. It’s a whole wide world out there! Let’s begin with the elephant in the room.

Lily Allen – “Sheezus

You guys, you guys. I’ve loved Lily Allen since the very beginning, and I’ve sort of started to feel like her last defender — even when she says and does dumb things, I’ve held onto the belief that her records were always so lovely and of course her heart is in the right place and UGH. Here we are with this mess. Sometimes you can build a whole career out of talking about your own personal controversy, instead of stirring up actual controversy with relevant art — Eminem and Lady Gaga are great examples of this – but this track just comes off as kind of sad and dated and desperate. The video looks great and I can’t help but mentally high-five Lily for the segment of the song dedicated to informing the audience that “we all get periods” (even though some of us don’t), but I’m definitely less excited for her new record than I was yesterday, and really ache for the simpler days of “Knock ‘Em Out.”

Courtney Love – “You Know My Name”

Probably the best/worst idea anybody ever had was to give Courtney Love a YouTube channel. All this chick needs is a platform, and she’ll run wild with it. There’s been a lot of whispers circulating that Ms. Love may be getting the original lineup of Hole back together for a tour, a rumour she both started and then dismissed with typical Courtney Love-esque… Courtney Loveness. There’s really nothing else quite like her out there, which is alternately a blessing and a curse. Lucky for us, she’s at least gifted the universe with this new track, which is just as rough around the edges as we always love for her to be. Never change, Courtney.

Veruca Salt – “The Museum of Broken Relationships”

Of all the 90s reunions, none have had me quite as excited as the news that the original Veruca Salt lineup are back together, recording new material and planning on touring this summer. Often when bands release new songs several years after their heyday, it can be incredibly disappointing, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. While “The Museum of Broken Relationships” isn’t quite as high-energy as classics like “Volcano Girls” or “Seether“, it’s more of a slow burner — and it’s amazing to see Nina and Louise’s twin sneers back in action. Can’t wait to see what else they’ve been cooking up.

The Julie Ruin – “Just My Kind

Kathleen Hanna can do no wrong in my book. “Just My Kind” is an adorable hip-shaking love song off the quasi-supergroup’s debut-ish record Run Fast, and the video gives us a great picture of what it would be like to go swimming with Kathleen, or stand in a series of other random locations with her similarly adorable bandmates. This is a pretty great track to put on a mix CD for someone you’re trying to impress, if you’re into that sort of thing. In other Julie Ruin-related news, the band put out a pretty excellent release on Record Store Day, and including a great new track “Brightside.”

Siren – “I Think I Like You

Okay queers, here are a couple of pretty girls from Los Angeles singing an incredibly catchy synthpop song about FEELINGS. The chorus of this song is “I think I like you but it’s complicated,” a sentiment that I am sure rings true for 99.9% of Autostraddle’s readership. I’m not sure any more explanation is necessary.

 


The Captain’s Log is a monthly-ish collection of new music that Stef found while sailing the seven seas in search of adventure, with a parrot on her shoulder and a song in her heart.Header by Rory Midhani.

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Stef

Stef Schwartz is a founding member and the self-appointed Vapid Fluff Editor at Autostraddle.com. She currently resides in New York City, where she spends her days writing songs nobody will ever hear and her nights telling much more successful musicians what to do. Follow her on twitter and/or instagram.

Stef has written 464 articles for us.

14 Comments

  1. Between this Veruca Salt news and Letters to Cleo on Parks and Rec last night, I cannot contain my 90’s girl fandom anymore. Flowered Doc Martens and belly shirts for all!

  2. Veruca Salt getting back together?!!? I just made the most embarrassingly high pitched squeal at that news. x.x

  3. Wow so much awesome in this Captain’s Log! Super into that Veruca Salt song!

    Also, I’m totally obsessed with that Siren song. OBSESSED. It’s not complicated at all.

  4. Thanks for the Veruca Salt heads up!

    Also I learned from NPR that both Mirah is coming back with a new album. I know she just caught the tail of the 90s, but still. Whooo!

  5. It’s kind of awesome that Veruca Salt sound JUST THE SAME. The standout song for me is the Julie Ruin one, though. So cute! Great post!

  6. Ah the 90’s. My personal favorite was Shirley Manson from Garbage, the crush I had on her was epic. Great picks here though, especially Veruca Salt.

  7. I love that Veruca Salt is back! I only found their music about two years ago (I was still watching Sesame Street when they were in their heyday), and it fills the girl rock band shaped hole in my heart.

    Why aren’t there more girl rock bands?? Anyone got any (current) recommendations?

  8. There is a bay area queer “slut step” group called Gaymous. I think they deserve some recognition.

    Go listen to “[Let’s Pretend We Don’t Have] Feelings”

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