Category: Alternative

Cincinnati’s Own Playlist

Tyler StrittmatterLeave a comment

Great music can come from anywhere … even Philadelphia. Here in Cincinnati though, we are inevitable. I say that, tongue and cheek … you get it. Anyway, this is a playlist of artists hailing from Cincinnati. Great artists if you ask me. Most of them I’ve seen live, at one point or another, and I dig their recorded work a great deal also.

This playlist is carefully curated (big ups to myself) and moves on a journey from your car in the garage, to straightforward Rock on the radio to, picking up speed, a little Punk to a flow-state of Hip/Hop and R&B. Hard left turn to Americana and Folk …

Keep going straight to what I might call (overly simplified though it is) “Singer/Songwriter.” Once on the freeway, put down your windows to some Dreamgaze – hypnotism. Indie Pop and 80s synth is the next exit. Once down the off ramp, wave to the folks juking and jiving on the Riverboat. You might, if you listen carefully, hear some carefree, almost Reggae tunes, down on the banks.

Back on the highway, Indie Rock is on the dial and it’s smooth sailing back home. Car back in the garage, comfy clothes on in the living room – and the record player spins some softer stylings.

Take the journey with me! Hear the great sounds coming out of our city! People joke at the quality of our music scene … but those cynics don’t know the treasure lying within the I-275 loop.

If you would like to nominate a band you love, please leave a comment or a message. Cheers!

Quarantiner Dreamer Playlist

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I organized the first batch of song titles in this playlist to tell a story:

“Public Service Announcement” – signifies the moment that everything changed and we moved to words like “quarantine” and “social distancing.”

“Strange Times” and “The times they are a’ changing” – signify my initial response (and everyone’s too) that the world might be falling to pieces.

“Buggin’ Out” and “Stressed Out” – signify the panic.

“Go it Alone” – of course, the social distancing.

“Say it ain’t So” – Is this really happening?

“Unfuckwittable” – stay six feet away, please.

“Hard Knock Life” – It’s hard out here. Is this the “Upside Down,” Hopper?

“Loser” and “Creep” – I’m all alone. There’s no one here beside me!

“Heart of Glass” and “Hard Times” and “Disaster Tourism” – all pretty self explanatory.

… and then it gets pretty dark and heavy from there in the story. (shrugs) haha

These are Strange Times and the songs listed here (jams in their own right) are a little off center as well.

Mutemath – Remain

Tyler StrittmatterLeave a comment

“I’ve been confiscating every shred of hope that I can.” 

This song is transient and effortlessly beautiful. Wonderfully whimsical and simply magic. Listening to it makes me believe that I have caught something special in a glass jar. Something that I can hold onto for a short time and then release back into the world. “Just keep trying. Just keep fighting. Just keep going. Just keep surviving. Just keep walking. Just keep breathing. Just keep hoping. Just keep believing,” rings like an anthem for those down and out and moments away from the unthinkable. This song is special and I want more like it.