The Great Emu War Casualties boast the best band name in the country, and they write songs worthy to back it up.
The band has just unleashed their latest track ‘Tight Enough to Tell’, a totally charming alt-rock track that harks back to the golden era of 2010’s indie greatness, recalling the work of Kings of Convenience and The Kooks.
Cavernous drums and soaring guitars elevate vocalist Joe’s tastefully deadpan delivery, resulting in a rich musing on the unfulfilling banalities of existence.
To celebrate the release of the track, the band were so kind as to put us through a playlist of 5 essential tracks they think you should know. So pop on ‘Tight Enough to Tell’ and allow The Great Emu War Casualties to pimp your playlist.
Check out ‘Tight Enough to Tell’ by The Great Emu War Casualties:
‘All The Way Down’ – Etta James (Saskia)
This is kind of overlooked in EJ’s discography and I have no idea why because it’s so dang good… it’s actually far and away my favourite of hers (and I like pretty much everything Etta did…) An honest funk anthem about descending into addiction… complete with whistles when it really kicks off (SO DANG GOOD!! I LOVE IT!!! AND HOW ABOUT THAT BASSLINE?? OH YEAH!!!)
‘Losing My Edge’ – LCD Soundsystem (Joe)
Sometimes I’ll crawl home late after a gig, wake up the next day, autopilot my way to the train station and listen to this song on repeat until I’m sat in work, in front of spreadsheets wondering where it all went so wrong. Maybe I should throw them out the window and make a jazz record.
‘L is for Lose’ – All We Are (Joe)
Graduates from LIPA, the music school back home that was founded by a post-Beatles Paul McCartney. All We Are, are currently releasing their best material to date. On an unrelated note, LIPA rejected my application. Not that I’m salty or anything. Go listen to All We Are.
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‘Souretsu’- Shiina Ringo (Saskia)
Well this whole album is a dang masterpiece (I mean, seriously, if you haven’t listened to it already please go and listen to it right now) but this is the closing track off an insane audio journey that requires 30 listens to really appreciate everything that’s going on. The lyrics are basically her comparing the creative process to childbirth… lol… yes she is pretentious and I don’t care at all because it’s genius…
‘Düsseldorf’ – Teleman (Saskia)
To me this is like the perfect song. Everything is totally perfect; every part has been curated exactly where it needs to be and it’s just brilliant. It builds up so well even though the beat and riff hardly changes at all and I have no idea how they do it. So jealous, it’s really masterful.
I Don’t Know What I’m Doing – Dean Martin (Joe)
My Nan loved Dean Martin and had loads of his records. She did not own this song.
‘I Think I’m Going to Kill Myself’ – Elton John (Joe)
Opening lines are “I’m getting bored of being part of mankind. There’s not a lot to do no more” and I’m going to leave it at that.
‘My Love Will Never Die’ – Otis Rush (Saskia)
Specifically, the Cobra Recordings version… oh man, that’s a quality of music that we probably won’t have ever again. It’s so spooky and sends a shiver down one’s spine from the first second. Otis Rush was one of the most underrated blues guys there ever was, my favourite blues musician.
‘Save Me’ – Joan Armatrading (Saskia)
She is really one of the greats… this song again is a bit overlooked for unknown reasons but it’s sooo beautiful and also makes me want to start chopping onions to hide my tears… she just has one of those voices (plus, she’s a genius songwriter…) Recommended listening in the dark by candlelight whilst staring out the window…
‘Faith’ – Bon Iver (Joe)
Couldn’t think of a better song to end this list with. Always sounds like the beginning of a new day.
