Armin Thomas and Gus Lamb
Hey Panel readers, this is our last playlist as authors of Playlist of the Issue, so we decided to make it a special one. We hope you enjoy our song selections and will try them out on Spotify or wherever you can find them.
Gus’s Picks
Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra – Full Body Yawn
A few weeks ago, I was watching the Instagram live stream of one Josh Kennedy, a teenage viner whom I loved in ninth grade. Josh was getting asked lots of questions, but he managed to relay that his favorite band was Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra. The name brought back lots of good memories. Immediately, I thought of my experience reading The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in Mr. Brodie’s class in eighth grade, along with the sweet, sweet imagery of Ben Stiller jumping down from a helicopter into the green depths of Iceland that has forever been imprinted in my memory through the motion picture depiction of the same short story. So I went on Spotify and hit shuffle and Full Body Yawn played. It was so good that I have yet to move on and give my full attention to another Walter Mitty song. I would imagine the other songs are quite good, though!
John Lennon – Watching The Wheels
My weird and beautiful friend Wil loves this song. John Lennon wrote it after taking a five-year break from releasing music.
Maggie Rogers – Dog Years
Ever since she got noticed by Pharrell and her first single, Alaska, became a huge hit, Maggie Rogers has been doing well. She has a really different sound that’s kind of pop but kind of not at all really. Dog Years is nice. I might see her at SXSW this summer if I convince my mom to let me take a roadtrip to Texas even though I don’t have my driver’s license.
Frank Ocean – White Ferrari
So I text to speech, lesser speeds, Texas speed, yes.
The Mountain Goats – This Year
A fast-tempo anthem that is very good for senior year. Senior year is coming to a close, and I am looking back on the past six months and my time at Belmont Hill. I have made it through this year – even if it’s killed me! Also, listen to The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.
Armin’s Picks
Justin Hurwitz – City of Stars
Who doesn’t love La La Land these days? Well, maybe the Academy. But I still love this movie and all the songs in it. Just too perfect.
Super Furry Animals – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (In Space) EP
Psychedelic rock has been a bit new to me. But as I’m reading more of Lord of the Rings, my knowledge of herb lore is increasingly deepening, and so psychedelic rock is really hitting me hard with its power to take the soul to somewhere else. Also, who doesn’t love pronouncing Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch? Why don’t you give it a try?
Leonard Bernstein, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra – Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Over the President’s Day weekend, I went to New York and watched the Philharmonic play Mahler 1. Easily one of my favorite concerts ever. Look for Frere Jacques in the third movement, except it’ll be on double bass and featuring a klezmer band. Also, that ending is killer. Mahler really had an excellent endgame. Brass power!
Annie Lennox and Howard Shore – Into the West
As this is Gus and my last issue, we now say goodbye and shall fade away into the West. But fear not, I shall see you again at the End. Lord of the Rings is just such a perfect trilogy, and this song is the perfect ending to the greatest movie trilogy of all time.
Christopher Jackson, Lin-Manuel Miranda – One Last Time
Kinda the same deal as the last one, except instead of fading away, this one is about all the hope we have for the future. Let’s go out with fireworks, folks. One last time.
Thanks again, and it’s been a great year y’all.
Signing off for the last time,
Armin and Gus
