The Driftwood #37: Music Reviews

I’ve always been a fan of making playlists. When I press “create playlist” on Spotify, it creates “New Playlist #226”. Now, most of them are garbage, but some of them actually turned out. I started making this one in particular on my break while working one morning over the weekend. The weather was just getting nice out, and the songs “Stay With Me” and “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes” (the two most popular tracks) rattled around my brain. I spent the entire 30-minute break scouring for even remotely close songs, and “Abroad” was the result. Almost two years later, it’s still my magnum opus in terms of playlists. I tried to make it as wide-reaching as possible, but there’s always room for more. Currently represented are Italy, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, France, and actual North Korean propaganda (it’s called “Don’t Ask My Name,” and wow does it go hard for actual North Korean propaganda), to name a few. It all comes together for a mix perfect for sipping coffee on the porch with a newspaper in hand, for drives to somewhere beautiful with the windows rolled down, or for the sweet moments in between. Pack your bags. Come get carried away. 

BONUS OFFER: Act soon and get the sister playlist, “Abroad Rejects,” for free! Two playlists for the price of one! Some songs are instrumental, some are in English, and there are even male vocalists. The songs that are most like the original playlist are at the top, but otherwise, there is no rhyme or reason to the order.

The Chromatics were an electronic, synth-pop band from Portland, Oregon that influenced many of the indie, alternative, and dream-pop genres from the early 2000s to their disbandment in 2021. “This is Chromatics” contains all of their greatest hits, including several from Night Drive. This 2007 release was the band’s third studio album and includes 15 songs and over an hour of distinct, wavy music with female vocalist, Ruth Radelet. As Night Drive is one of their longer works, it balances their gloomy songs with light energy to create a slow-burning balance throughout the album. The slow songs also provide an interlude between the moods within Night Drive. The band has had plenty of success and they have a reputation for melancholy. Some of their songs have been featured on various television shows, including Bates Motel, Riverdale, and the Twin Peaks revival series. My favorite tracks are “Circled Sun” and the cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill,” because the glittery synthesizers used in these songs contributes to the Chromatics’ timeless music.