Unexpected Optimism

Our journey to Unexpected Optimism started on July 14, 2023 after Andrew reached out to Laura via her newsletter. She had written something about being bored or rudderless or otherwise unenthused. We’re not sure anymore. In any case, Andrew suggested making a collaborative playlist: 

“…maybe you need to make a trade tracks playlist with me – who knows – it could be fun – we trade music – even write about the process if you like – no pressure – no deadline – ghost the process if it isn’t resonating – whatever – if you dig it, there’s loads of other people to connect with…

just saying – it’s certainly different – might even be fun,

maybe

;-p”

Lake Missoula – Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners

Ok 🙂 Why not?

Today was the first time I heard this band. Their track “Evergreen” randomly popped up. It is 1:27 long, and it was enough to make me dry my hands (dishes), pick up the phone, click to a full album and remember this email I hadn’t answered yet. I’m on track three of whatever Spotify deals up of Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners.

Laura – July 16, 2023

Steady – The Staves

heh!

Alright – this should be fun ;-p

Love the Richy Mitch and The Coal Miners track – if we’re starting in this space I’m, stoked. So many ways to go – that stripped down feel has loads of options in a similar vein but I’m feeling the harmonies and the guitar and thinking the transition might work rather well.

You’re up!

🙂

Andrew – July 17, 2023

The Con – Tegan and Sara

Steady steady. I immediately thought of Tegan and Sara but I didn’t know which song. I wanted to speed up but not really. Then I checked my likes and the Con was the first that came up. And they sing “capsized standing on the edge of safe” and I thought, yeah, that’s the one when you can’t be steady for a minute.

Thanks for this, it’s already good. Your turn 🙂

Laura – July 23, 2023

Lower Worlds – Rainer Maria

love Tegan and Sara – I think it was So Jealous – that popped – Where Does the Good Go has that super hooky chorus ;-p. The Con is great – straight onto my catchall 2023 list – that guitar and the looping synth melody towards the end – so many retro vibes buuuuuut ;-p

I’m grooving with the more energetic move and yeah – relationships are fun! ;-p. Where Tegan and Sara are less steady – Rainer Maria ups the angst but – I’ve always liked it as there’s a sense of self determination to the lyric – even though the emotions and desire and fuckedupedness are the same – there’s a power to be able to shut down the bad influences – plus – the guitars – most definitely the guitars…

you’re up

Andrew – July 25, 2023

——–

back in LA after a crazy Europe trip – horribly overwhelmed – backlog is terrifying as my energy is low.

So yeah – there’s that.

I just listened to the the first four tracks of our list –

it sounds pretty bloody good to me ;-p

Thank you

😉

Andrew – July 29, 2023

Good Music – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

I heard the first 30 seconds of Rainer Maria while I was away and had a thought about who to add next. The first guitar riffs. That smokey voice. Then I turned the song off because I was interrupted by life. I must have started it several times, but wasn’t in the headspace to hear it. 

Then today. I worked several hours on a thing and am just taking a break before switching gears to something else. I’ve now listened to Lower Worlds three times and my original idea came back. I could have chosen a variety of other songs from Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. I could have matched the angst, but this barely perceivable optimistic tone shift felt like the right move for us both.

Tag, you’re it!

Laura – July 31, 2023

Dirty Old Man – Lulu

I did 15 Focusmate sessions this week – it’s Friday night and I feel righteous. Helps that I started most of the sessions with a 4|7|8 breathing session and – yeah – fucking worlds away from last week. Kinda encouraged at how quickly things can change ;-p

I went on a trip with Good Music. I have such a weird relationship with the music of the 80’s – it’s a track that at the time I’d have dismissed as “selling out” – as being formulaic and pedestrian – the half step in the middle – the Beach Boys vocals – the – … – hang about – it sounds pretty damn good – it’s what – 5:45 long and it’s the opening track on the eponymous album – and – hold on…

I listen to it now and I’m grinning. Kinda “shocking” how one’s perception changes over time.

So right now – all I can think is: “Good Music” – but I’ve got variables of “old” – “subversive” – “unexpected” – “rewarding” – and – forgive how the neurons work – ended up with: Lulu!

I did a list with someone who listens to more music than me and he hipped me to this track and I was like – damn – that’s Good Music ;-p

You’re up,

Andrew – August 5, 2023

Sail On! – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Well I don’t really understand how the neurons fire either, but it sure is interesting where they lead. I listened to Lulu, which is brand new to me, and in the first couple of bars I got this funky feeling, probably the horn section because the singing and the guitar are clearly something else. Barefoot and muddy with some of my more hippie inclined (imaginary) friends. I listened to it again and not only is it, indeed Good Music, I also thought that somehow the next song needed to respond to this dirty ol’ man that left.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh nooo. Oh no. That dirty ol’ man might be back.

This playlist development has quickly become something I’m pretty invested in…

Are you well? I reignited an old injury and I’ve been whining and complaining since days about my stupid back. Otherwise, I’m just going through the motions this week. Not up, not down, just here.

Your turn!

Laura – August 10, 2023

Só Sei Dançar Com Você – Tulipa Ruiz

it’s the Suzie Q. riff that sent me down a fair few rabbit holes – (who knew that Suzie Quatro made an album with K.T. Tunstall?) – but the transition wasn’t right – Sail On! has a ten second fade out and Suzie Q has a ten second fade in – there’s this big ass gap of space that doesn’t make sense.

So then I went down a few other roads. Amazing how – when you choose to really “look” at a thing – how intense it gets.

Eventually I decide that nothing’s gonna make a seamless transition so I take a risk.

I hear you on the back thing – mine pops out every other year or so and it’s a horrible experience – yoga helped a lot and then covid shut the studios down and – yeah – I’m making changes to take better care of myself.

I’m also being annoyingly good – lots of focusmate sessions – getting things done – doing breathing sessions – like – my normal self would be looking at my current self and going “Tosser!” – wait until he sees me next week! ;-p

You’re up,

Andrew – August 12, 2023

Feeling Alright – Warpaint

Ok, I struggled. And listened and struggled and I don’t think…I don’t know. I got really stuck with this one! I had a gut instinct on previous songs, and this time I also fell down rabbit holes and came to Warpaint. But then I couldn’t decide and left it again. Over and over.

I was traveling again and am also socially tapped out. I just had my last meeting of the day, so I thought I would take a minute to listen to some music and try again. I guess it took me a little time to Feel Alright with my choice.

I feel exhausted but behind, I guess my brain is going to be an arse for a few days now ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Your turn.

Laura – August 22, 2023

——–

My brain was an arse for a good week, but I hope yours isn’t and that you’re still in focused, productive, kickin’ ass mode.

Laura – September 1, 2023

Queer – Garbage

I’m pretty convinced there’s a direct correlation between my mental health and the number of focusmate sessions I do.

I fell off hard a week ago – and didn’t repeat our generally accepted behavior – I added a track and didn’t follow up with a framing – and I’m now looking at that and the context and thinking – that’s not helpful. At the time – I was listening and making connections – but wasn’t capable of writing – so – my thought process was – “Aaaaaah – I have the track – but I can’t articulate why – but – but… – fuck it – put it in there and come back to it when you have the words.”

Yeah,

I’m laughing too

;-p

And now of course I’m writing to you and it would be cool if I could present how I was back then – but I can’t – no time or language.

I know at some point a part of my brain went : “..you know what would work really well after Feeling Alright by Warpaint?” – “Queer by Garbage!” – and probably some part of me has gone -” yeah – you know what? – you’re right” – … I can’t speak for the other pieces.

I have book in my reading list called something like “Elephant In The Brain” – I think it talks about how we are genetically programmed to fuck ourselves over – but the elephant in my brain won’t let me read it.

I hope your brain is no longer arse and that the vibes are grooving and that –

you feel awesome,

🙂

(obvs listening to our list while I wrote that – The Con is fucking great!)

Andrew to Laura – September 2, 2023

Zombie – The Cranberries

OMFG when was the last time I listened to Garbage!? Other than sporadic now-oldie radio stations that played “I’m only happy when it rains” sometime in the last 2 decades? Wow. Ripped into the past.

The first song that jumped into my head was Creep from Radiohead, but it’s so overplayed, nowhere near my favourite radiohead song and so I went to look for something from Sonic Youth. I was told by the algorithm that I had, at some point in time, liked one song. And that wasn’t the song for the playlist, but it was on this rarities album that I remember from a CD bin in 1994. There are several great songs on that album. And I had several tracks that I needed to listen to for the first time in decades. But they didn’t fit quite right. However, the nostalgia rabbit hole took me hours through nineties musical memories and then, I remembered the Cranberries. I didn’t want to choose Zombie for the same reason I didn’t want to choose Creep. But I listened to it again, for the first time in a long time, and just felt like “too bad, it’s the right one.”

It’s weird how sometimes I feel like I have to match and others we go in a different direction. Now that I’ve rediscovered this rarities album, there are two songs I want to get into our playlist…but the mood has to shift 😉

Go join a focusmate session!

Laura – September 11, 2023

Ideas Bleed – Shannon Moore

the universe is fucking weird – (simulation aside, ;-p) – every other month the musicto community comes together and creates a playlist around a theme – I particularly liked last month’s – but this month, with an eye on the SEO – we’ve got Halloween in mind – last year’s Vampire Ball was fun so we remixed the idea to come up with: Zombie Fest ’23 – so of course, from a Garbage track you go and choose The Cranberries classic! 🙂

I hear you on the whole track choice thing – it’s weird and so deeply personal and – fuck it – I’ve got to the point where I’m recklessly choosing to trust the people that elect to create with me – seems to be going ok so far. Sometimes a classic track is the right choice – I just went through the same thing with another list where I knew the right track (for me at least) was a track that most music “cognoscenti” would deem “basic” – and I’m like – but – hang on – – this opens a whole fucking thread on snobbery…

I hate snobs – people who pride themselves on being ahead of the curve – they’re selfish motherfuckers, trading on social capital to feel good at the literal expense of others. Music snobs are the worst – there’s an essay in there somewhere but tldr; – fuck ’em ;-p

So with that said – I see your iconic track from The Cranberries & their 17 million monthly listeners and respond with the amazing Shannon Moore and her 32 monthly listeners – but come on – how fucking epic is she and this song ;-p. Written especially for creatives ;-p

You’re up.

Andrew – September 16, 2023

New Slang – The Shins

Whoa, six weeks? That’s how long it took me? Well, then my “That’s it, I’m adding this song to Laura & Andrew Make a List and flow be damned” makes a lot of sense. I’m turning in a different direction and have added a song by The Shins because it came up in a shuffle and I thought of our list. Then I went back and forth, back and forth and decided that somehow, for some reason, without knowing why exactly, it works.

It is autumn. No longer October. My motivation and inspiration is lost at sea and I don’t know WTF I’m doing. So I just keep doing the same old things even though I no longer have the motivation or inspiration for that bit of my world. I’m happy to read about your unexpected optimism. That means I have a chance at unexpected optimism too.

I hope you’re doing well. It’s finally your turn again 🙂

Laura- November 1, 2023

Strange Little Girl – The Stranglers

Aaaah but, optimism comes and goes – and when it goes it’s hard for me to imagine it will return – So I have to trust in the data – in my own experience that – eventually it does. In the meantime yes – what else is there to do but show up and do “the work” – whatever that may be – until the tide turns and the wave of possibility arrives.

I’m doing the work of my life – building something I believe is worth it and yet – here I am again – complete ambivalence and lack of desire. I know the buttons to press (well, most of them,) the behaviors to model and the roads not to go down but – knowing doesn’t help. Do you find that? Knowing everything and realizing that knowledge doesn’t help. It’s the most frustrating thing as I’d been led to believe that knowledge would solve things – kinda depressing to “know” that it doesn’t.

There’s a school of thought that high IQ / high performers are more prone to depression / anxiety / psychosis etc than the rest of the population. I suspect it’s true but choose to reject it, ‘cos that would suck – knowing that your ability was what doomed you! Instead I’m going to relieve myself of the responsibility of having to maintain the total and complete picture. For now I’m going to allow myself to focus purely on the day to day – not worrying about the future and the grand master plan and the unavoidable reckoning – all that can wait for optimistic Andrew’s return.

I liked The Shins track – and yes – it worked brilliantly out of Ideas Bleed – funny how that works ;-p. I’m a sucker for that kind of vocal – positioned beautifully on an acoustic accompaniment and drenched in all the introspection and self doubt that a good indie singer songwriter should trade in.

“I’m looking in on the good life I might be doomed never to find”

I mean – fuck!

So I see your bleak future and match it with another rather depressing look at how life is – I always liked this track and related to it rather too much.

We’re on a roll here

;-p

You’re up,

Bring It!

Andrew – November 6, 2023

What I Am – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Hi. How you doin?

It’s the end of November and Optimistic Laura is taking a vacation. I’ve been feeling utterly useless and generally exhausted. Not depressed, I would argue, but diagnostic guidebooks would probably disagree. Yes, it’s “complete ambivalence and lack of desire”. The “you’re smart, so here’s some mental anguish” thing is, for me, pretty hard to reject as a probability. I haven’t met loads of intelligent well-adjusted people. Some, I guess, but not a lot.

So we’re not all sunshine and lollipops. Too bad. However, FWIW, this time of year is always a bit more challenging, right? I think so.

It’s just What I am. I was reminded of the existence of Edie Brickell a week ago while doing a crossword. I immediately thought “wait…I think that song about being what I am is the next song for the list” and then promptly forgot about it (sometimes I do crosswords before sleeping, so it’s not a great time to have ideas.) Today, a random colleague mentioned the Postal Service and my brain made an association, and I remembered Edie Brickell. Brains are so weird.

I hope you’re ok and maybe even in a full upward swing at the moment. If not, you aren’t alone.

Laura – November 29, 2023

PS: IT’S YOUR TURN AGAIN FINALLY

——–

I owe you a track and some writing but I’m a little blocked atm

Andrew – December 16, 2023

——–

You’re the one who said, no pressure, we just see how it goes. So take all the time you need. I hope the block is just a block and not a black block. Hope you’re ok.

Laura – December 17, 2023

Jane Says – Jane’s Addiction

Ok – a month and two days – that could be worse.

Hello Laura 🙂

How are you? I hope the new year is treating you well and the vagaries of dark days aren’t dampening your spirit too much. I’m writing from our new flat in Perth, Scotland – it’s brilliant! Slap bang in the middle of the (small) City – no car, no need for transit – walkable everywhere, complete with no elevator and three floors up – I’m getting fitter just by living! Add to that a fabulous pub down the block, owned by musicians that has live music 5 nights a week and one of the most welcoming open mics on Sunday afternoons that I’ve ever been fortunate to attend – yes – it’s shame we can only spend three months a year here

Anyway – life was rather hectic – family in LA then family in Scotland, then new flat and dealing with Insurance claims for a flood from above – then work going mental and just – yeah – lunacy ;-p. But since I started back on the 8th I’ve done 22 focusmate sessions annnnnd – I think I’m caught up! I’ve tamed the inboxes – read all the newsletters I’ve been saving (including yours ;-p) and promised myself that I would start up on my lists when that was all done – so – here we are ;-p

The Edie Brickell tracks is such a classic – there’s that underlying funkiness to the groove that shouldn’t make sense but ends up making the entire track – and of course – the lyric is a must read for anyone who’s writing and creating and trying to put something groovy out into the world!

i just finished making a playlist with a friend called Jane! https://www.musicto.com/collaborative-playlists/jane/ – we had a lot of fun making it (all the tracks are about Jane) – for some reason the groove from What I Am started resonating with the Jane’s Addiction track and before you knew it…

You’re up

;-p

Andrew – January 19, 2024

Pictures of You – The Cure

One of the things running through my brain at 2am was the playlist. Following up Jane’s Addiction. It’s not like I haven’t thought about it over and over. But some bands are especially hard, you know. I saw Jane’s Addiction once. I remember things about that concert, but not the concert itself. Oh well, maybe there is no right answer.

I had The Cure in my brain as a response weeks ago. But for some reason it didn’t feel right. My 2am brain told me I was right. Friday I’m in love is the song you still hear from time to time, but it was the reason my brain was questioning the Cure as a selection. I wasn’t wrong about the band, I just couldn’t get my neural pathways to remember the right song. 2am brain knew though. So Pictures of You it is.

It’s your turn again. I really hope you’re doing well. Spring is on its way, and tonight I’ll be dead tired so I will sleep. Just have to figure out how I now do my entire day…

Laura – February 27, 2024

Looking For Somebody (To Love) – The 1975

I love how we’re rolling into the 8th month of the process – it’s been such a blast – I’m bummed there’s only two more tracks each ;-p

I’m writing this at 10 am too – having canceled my 7 and 8 am sessions and gone back to bed due to last night’s poor sleep – though to be fair – it was definitely driven by the “Sunday Scaries” – not that I have anything to be scared of, I’m just not quite myself. Which may have something to do with the fact that my right hip ball and socket were cut out a couple of weeks ago replaced with ceramic and titanium so yeah – I guess it’s true – I’m really not quite myself.

It was an interesting experience – waking up after the spinal and not being able to feel anything from the waist down was bizarre – insight into paraplegia that I could have done without. But I’m now walking without a limp and the future looks bright (give or take the sadist of a physical therapist) – but yeah – for two weeks I was totally off the grid. I had thought I’d have a load of time to listen and write but it turns out – when my meatsock is hurting I’m incapable of doing anything except curl up – drink fluid, eat chocolate biscuits and watch a horrific amount of YouTube shorts!

I love 2am brain – it’s a shame that it comes with a cost ;-p

Pictures of you is epic – I remember being friends with the cure kids back in the day – I liked the whole black thing but drew the line at the eyeliner – well – I didn’t actually draw the line – which I guess was the point – ;-p. still loved the music though.

One of our young curators is a huge The 1975 fan – we’ve made three lists together where she feeds me a 1975 track and I respond with something – it’s been a fascinating way to get to know a new band – kinda like being introduced to all the good stuff by a fan. They’ve got such an 80’s vibe to them and their lyricist and front guy – Matty Healy – is a genuine rock star.

Also – I kind of dig the upbeat vibe to this track – days are getting lighter – time to start smiling again

;-p

You’re up

Andrew – March 11, 2024

I Want to Be There (When You Come) – Echo & the Bunnymen

Hi.

Where have I been? Nowhere really, just slacking on adding a song. Letting our thread fall down and down ye’ old email inbox.

Recently a friend of mine went to see Echo and the Bunnymen. I was jealous. I had a single Echo and the Bunnymen EP back when I owned about 7 records and a Fisher Price record player. I was 10 or 11 or 12? The other records were Carole King, Arlo Gunthrie and Simon and Garfunkel, e.g. my mom’s records. And maybe my dad’s too. I bought Echo and the Bunnymen. It was and is the only record I ever bought. I wasn’t hip enough to actually be into the sound of vinyl, I just saw the record one day at a yardsale and it was very cheap and I liked the name of the band. Anyway, I chose an Echo song that felt like it fit.

I think you should know – This memory is brought to you through this project. Even a few weeks ago when my friend said “I’m going to see Echo and the Bunnymen”, I didn’t remember the record or the record player, I just remembered liking the band once, and then life moved on. Incredible.

Your turn, and thank you.

Laura – April 11, 2024

——–

“Do you ever think that if it doesn’t hurt like hell, maybe you aren’t doing it right?”

still listening and writing and working – not ready for a response yet but – this

yes 🙂

You would think that morality and truth are the answer to the devastation we humans feel inside, but wherever I look the truth is too painful and the moral course of action feels impossible. I try to walk that path, I do. I breathe against my decades of established neuro-pathways trying to change my brain from what I think I need to what I actually need.

I’d like to re-publish your article “What’s left behind” on the (soon to be coming ;-p ) Grief Collection.

Andrew – April 14, 2024

——–

I’m deep in Focusmate sessions fighting a valiant battle against the productivity stealer – I can feel her – breathing down my neck with promises of YouTube shorts and beer – but I’m staying strong today – I might not be “that” productive – i may be flitting around leaping from one project to another in the most unproductive way – but I’m not – I am not drinking beer and watching custard.

So yeah – there’s that.

The grief collection is going to be cool 

Andrew – April 16, 2024

Rattlesnakes – Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

“This memory is brought to you through this project”

I’m grinning as I read – not least ‘cos the memory is everything it shouldn’t be – but ‘cos it arrived due to this process – a process I’m very fond of 🙂

 – but – back to the anomalous memory…

Echo and the Bunnymen fans were cool – they were even hipper than Cure fans – in a “less is more” kinda way – still identified by their dark clothing and often indifferent sneers – they had cool bedrooms and even cooler record players – stacks of albums and not a whiff of popular music anywhere.

Which makes the single EP, sandwiched between parental albums from the 70’s and the Fisher Price player just brilliant. It speaks to everything I’ve always believed about music in that – it doesn’t matter what you are, how you dress or who you hang with – music can connect with anyone, anytime no matter your status or access.

With that said – even though the track came off a later EATB album, it immediately had me thinking of my 80’s self and Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. I’d had a disastrous change of school and was drowning in a strange environment – the only blessing was my sister who went to the girls’ school over the road and had gorgeous friends, all loose cardigans and literary aspirations.

Lloyd Cole was the artist of choice for them – and of course subsequently for me – his lyrics spoke to the tortured romantic in every teenage heart, but his heroines were awesome, aspirational, disappointed and disappointing and soooooo fucking cool. And while I genuinely loved the music and still do, there was this fabulous added benefit of – if you knew his songs and the catalog (even better if you could play them!) – it made for such an easy conversation with girls you fancied the hell out of!

Alright – we’re down to the last track each ;-p

You’re up!

Andrew – April 19, 2024

Cure for Pain – Morphine

I have not forgotten about this. Or you. I have punted and punted and punted and now it’s been almost two and a half months and I still haven’t added a song. I’ve been considering adding a Nick Cave song for over a month. Fuck it, I’m going to do it. Right now. I’ve listened to this song eight times in the last month trying to decide if it’s the one I should end with. Maybe I was avoiding choosing the last song? There’s a lyric in this song, Jesus of the Moon, that says “people often talk about being scared of change, but for me I’m more afraid of things staying the same because the game is never won by standing in any one place for too long.” So I’ll make the move.

I don’t know why the Cure and Llyord Cole and the Commotions made me need to get a Nick Cave song in, but it was…

Oh, it was a mistake? Because Jesus of the moon just stopped and Spotify put on Morphine, a band I fell into at the same time as I fell into the Cure and haven’t listened to in ages. Morphine is ripping my guts out right now. Maybe I should have chosen a Morphine song…. I’m doing it, in the last minute, live while typing you. I removed Nick Cave, which I’d decided on months ago.Cure for Pain from Morphine. Someday there’ll be a cure for pain.

You’re up, and I’m sorry for punting punting punting.

<3

Laura – July 2, 2024

An Otherwise Disappointing Life – Frightened Rabbit

So I just went back and read the thread while listening to the tracks – (benefits of being back in Scotland and having a lazy saturday morning ;-p)

It’s very fucking cool.

I mean – you can listen to the music on its own and there’s a definite red thread that runs through it – but the writing – the context the dialog brings – is gold – and potentially “useful” for other creatives – nothing like resonating with another’s experience to feel more connected to the world ;-p

A title leaped out at me through the reading – “Unexpected Optimism” – I think they were your words but it seems to match the vibe of the list – certainly shaped the choice of my last track. I mean – I loved the Morphine track and was going to follow up with a much darker track and yet – I couldn’t shake this nagging sense of optimism – for all the darkness and depression – this exists – we do actually “show up” and manifest – no matter how long it takes – we did – and really – that’ll do for me – it’s enough.

Frightened Rabbit are one of my favorite bands – Scott took his own life in 2018, acting out the behavior he wrote about in a song in 2008 – and their music scares and inspires me – I wrote somewhere that it’s because he chose to “go there” that I don’t have to. And for all that the idea of a disappointing life is dark and dangerous – there’s that fucking improbable sliver of hope that refuses to go away and threatens to brighten everything. Again – I’ll take it – it’s enough – enough to keep me on the planet doing stuff like this – for which i am very grateful.

Thank You Laura 🙂

It’s been brilliant.

Andrew – July 13, 2024

Track Listing

• Lake Missoula – Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners
• Steady – The Staves
• The Con – Tegan and Sara
• Lower Worlds – Rainer Maria
• Good Music – Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
• Dirty Old Man – 2007 Remastered Version – Lulu
• Sail On! – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
• Só Sei Dançar Com Você – Tulipa Ruiz
• Feeling Alright – Warpaint
• Queer – Garbage
• Zombie – The Cranberries
• Ideas Bleed – Shannon Moore
• New Slang – 2021 Remaster – The Shins
• Strange Little Girl – The Stranglers
• What I Am – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
• Jane Says – Jane’s Addiction
• Pictures of You – 2010 Remaster – The Cure
• Looking For Somebody (To Love) – The 1975
• I Want to Be There – When You Come – Echo & the Bunnymen
• Rattlesnakes – Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
• Cure for Pain – Morphine
• An Otherwise Disappointing Life – Frightened Rabbit

Playlist image by Andrew in Blairgowrie, Scotland (you should go!)