Been wanting to make something like this for a long time now. I've been in a major alternative kick since last year, the first time since 2017 I was constantly listening to my local radio station in San Diego california that focuses on alternative rock music called 91X. You are probably familiar with my obsession of them in recent times. Especially with their return to a more "varied" playlist like they were years ago. So far after the fantastic XYZ playlist, some songs haven't been played since that event and it's mostly just an 80s-90s alt station with deemphization of the 2000's and 2010's stuff I loved as much (91X's top 91 lists every year has a lot of great songs, even in a time where Billboard alt charts was taken over by very few artists like Imagine Dragons, AJR, X Ambassadors, etc. in the 10s). And the only days they try to switch it up is on Sundays, with their many shows, such as Resurrection Sunday (the deep cuts of 80s-early 90s artists pretty much), as well as Church of Bob (Bob Marley and other reggae artists), then Loudspeaker later at night (local bands) and FTW: New Music Show (where a lot of great new songs from a range of independant artists get played for an hour, some known and some obscure, as well as most of them never being played again, and it's on 11PM at night). I've been trying to get them to be more varied than that with the playlists during the week being very repetitive every two days, with very few surprises. No luck so far but hoping for this direction to be successful later.
Back to this year though, I was originally planning on reviewing the Top 91 list of 2021 last year, but decided to do that another time and focus on what they've been playing as new music since their new direction in February. The furthest I've tracked on Tunegenie was March 12th, and I wrote down at least 55 songs since then, which I will listen to and give my thoughts on in this topic.
This doesn't include the FTW New Music songs, which would add the count to over a hundred. Maybe if more get played outside of the program like I would love 91X to do I will review them. So, lets begin!
1. Inhaler - Cheer Up Baby
Release Date: March 17th, 2021
We start with the invasion of U2, just like my station has been playing since the revival of the old format, but this time, it's Bono's son with his own band.
I think my opinion of U2 being a boring band has changed quite a bit. I forgot about a few songs they made that I did love, like New Years Day, Sunday Bloody Sunday is fine but still enjoyable, In the Name of Love is alright, I know I'm forgetting more, but they do still have quite a bit of mediocre singles that get played constantly on 91X. They definitely are a love it or hate it band for some, but I am amazed they're pretty popular on rym during their heyday.
Now onto Inhaler, this song and the album to go along with it. "It Won't Always Be Like This" did come out in early 2021, and this song did appear on 91X's top 91 list last year. But, it's still been being played as "Good New Music" a lot since March, so I have to count it.
Now onto the song, Elijah Hewson sounds too much like his father that it makes me feel like it's a later U2 song that isn't hateable, but also isn't amazing. It's very well played, I think the guitars and drumming have more power than Elijah's voice, who's just.. there. And the melody itself just isn't too catchy but isn't very boring either. It's hard to rate this one since it has aspects I like about it but yet it doesn't feel enough for it to be a 6 for me.
5/10
2. girl in red - i'll call you mine
Release Date: April 30th, 2021
Another song that appeared on the Top 91 last year (same with her song, Serotonin, which I find iffy, kind of annoying in some parts but isn't the worst thing either). Norway bedroom pop artist girl in red is a new artist, kind of in the realm of dark zoomer artists making songs with lyrics about mental health and love. It seems like judging by popular opinion, she's mixed with people on RYM for example, kind of finding her pop to be awful. I don't plan on hearing this album ever, but with I'll Call You Mine, I think this is better than Serotonin. It has more of that alternative sound mixing with pop, kind of a bit of a country vibe at some parts where I think of Miley Cyrus singing it, and the melody is gorgeous. Definitely a highlight for top 91 last year, and I think it's cool they're continuing to play it for 2022. It's pretty good alt pop just like what Billie Eilish is doing, though I think Billie Eilish didn't make any bad songs like Serotonin.
7/10
3. Hippo Campus - Ride Or Die
Release Date: January 11th, 2022
Alright, our first 2022 song. This is from a band I never heard of before, but have been around since 2013. Fans seem to love their first album, Landmarks, and this song as well as their album, LP3, seems to go into a poppier direction. The first time 91X played this band on rotation for new music, and for my first impressions on this song, I'm getting mixed vibes here. The vocals range from sounding good to kind of irritating, definitely gets better for me outside of the beginning. I also hear a bit of Vampire Weekend but if they weren't as good, and Jonas Brothers in the vocals? The melody and music itself is meh, I think this did grow on me a second listen, but I don't know if it'll raise higher. I've heard much better indie pop.
For now, I'd say it's a
4/10
4. Wet Leg - Chaise Longue
Release date: June 15th, 2021
Oh boy, I get to talk about this one I was memeing and mocking last year.
Wet Leg has been a breakthrough band for indie, getting good reviews from Fantano, Pitchfork, and many in the indie realm. I've seen Pitchfork compare their style as sounding like a good fit for 2000's indie rock, and I can kind of hear it in this song and Wet Dream. I always did say it sounded like iPod commercial music. I hate that comparison though since it's such an easy way to describe any alternative song nowadays.
When it first came out, I thought it was very mediocre, and I thought the goofy lyrics of the big D and Mean Girls sexual references to be so bad it was funny, but I think the ironic listening turned unironic and now I can enjoy this and see the lyrics as goofy fun. And the music is well played, maybe doesn't interest some, but I think it gets enough of your attention compared to something like Inhaler or Gang of Youths.
6/10
5. Gang of Youths - in the wake of your leave
Release Date: January 7th, 2022
Speaking of Gang of Youths, their first single 91X played last year for their 2022 album, The Angel of 8th Ave, I felt was boring. I still stand by it, which sucks because I love the guitar work in the beginning of it, and the band can play well, but there's something about it that just doesn't get out of mediocre territory for me, like Inhaler or U2. Maybe I'm not a heartland rock guy, which that song has in it.
After getting played a lot for 2021 and early 2022, looks like 91X stopped after the new direction, and is now playing their second single. What are my thoughts on this one? Can Gang of Youths win me over?
...
I think this one makes me like The Angel of 8th Ave a little more. Kind of has the same tempo and feel of The Angel of 8th Ave, but now in a moody symphony way. Still not the worst song ever, but there's nothing I get much emotion out of, just kind of there.
4/10
Alright, that's my first batch of songs I'm reviewing. Things will get more interesting and better. 91X is playing a lot of cool stuff that 94.9, owned by Audacy, is straight up ignoring, only a selected few are played, along with Machine Gun Kelly (ugh), Bring Me the Horizon (which I do like and is fitting for alt radio but Die4U is a mixed bag), and The Maine/Taking Back Sunday collab I do like in a way but Charlotte Sands isn't a good fit. My reviewing is a bit lame, so I hope I improve of that as well. Any of these songs playing on your local stations? Thoughts on these songs?