Hey all. This week the posts are going to be short, because mental health issues in our current times can be less than easy to navigate, particularly when you are still waiting on an appointment to get back onto a antidepressant medication, and as such have been facing the world with no medication for months. I mean, clearly that’s just one hypothetical situation. Anyways. Here’s week three.

Fill in the Blank, by Car Seat Headrest: One of the best songs when it comes to creating an accurate depiction of how it can feel struggling with mental health, not just the internal struggle but the struggle to find some modicum of validation. One of the hardest things to do is often getting others to understand that what you’re going through isn’t just some easily fixed mood-adjustment.

You & I, by Diamond Rings: The first Diamond Rings album (there are only two, sadly) is for some reason not available on Apple Music. It is the source of much consternation for me, truth be told, but this one single off of the album is still available, so it really was the only choice I had to include if I wanted to achieve parity on the Apple and Spotify playlist I put together every week (which at some point or some weeks I may have to accept is impossible but I’m dong my best to avoid that, because some people only use one of the apps). I love the whole album this song is off of, called “Special Affections,” and would highly recommend giving it a listen. Sadly, this project of John O’Regan seems to have been retired for the time being.

Going Back to School, Pt. 1, by Math the Band: Math the Band was a strange electronic-garage-punk-party band, often sounding like if the ADHD kid in class listened to a lot of Devo and local punk bands and then tried to record The Postal Service songs. My favorite of their albums (both in terms of music and name), “Banned the Math” (get it?), is exceptional, and unfortunately unavailable for streaming on any service anymore. Though it can still be found here on YouTube, the lead of the band decided that the music no longer reflected the musical direction the band was going and his own songwriting sensibilities. I know this because I actually emailed the band to ask where that album was; I have been a passionate fan of many bands and musicians in my life, and if this blog is anything to go by, I have a lot to say about what I like, but this stands as the only time I have ever actually sent fan mail to a band. This song is one of theirs I listen to the most, myself often living in the “god, I really ought to finish my degree” world for a long time. And as in the song, I hit the “fuck it” moment- I am enrolled to start going back to school myself this fall. Math the Band’s sound has evolved even further since this song, already an evolution from their earliest music, and they now are a fully fleshed out rock band, called Math the Band the Band. I love them.

Can I Kick It?, by A Tribe Called Quest: This is one of the best hip-hop songs ever created. The production is fantastic, laying beats and fantastic lines on top of a Lou Reed song, of all things. There has been so much that has been said about A Tribe Called Quest already, that I’ll just leave it short and simple. They are incredible, this song is incredible, give it your time.

The Party Song, by Blushh: I saw Blushh last year at a show The Countermen also played at (they were both opening for a larger (in a commercial sense) band which, frankly, was far less good live than either of the opening bands). They just recently released their first album, “R.I.P. Apathy”.

Lousy Connection, by Ezra Furman: Ezra Furman is far too underrated an artist. His music is fantastic, and after half a decade of listening to it, I just finally got to see him live this February, which was fantastic. Personal, political, poetic, powerful, other alliterative adjectives, his songs are fantastically written and recorded and I would urge a dig into his discography.

We Will All Go Together When We Go, by Tom Lehrer: Tom Leher has taught mathematics at Harvard, political science at MIT, is credited as the inventor of the Jell-O shot, and also happens to be one of the best musical comedians to ever exist. The man is brilliant, hilarious, and his dark humor and incisive wit cannot be understated. And, frankly, it’s fun to toss in some gallows humor now and then.

This week’s playlist can be found on Apple Music and Spotify.

Thank you for your time.