Teamwork edition | Friday and whatnot #49

We got what they call a mixed bill for today’s lineup, and I’m all for it. It’s an actual mixed bill, not Streetlight Manifesto playing with (other) ska bands. Each of the tracks features a couple of artists teaming up, not always the first you’d expect though. Two of these ones are brand new, the second one is just new to me. It came out in 2019, but randomly popped up on Spotify while I was watering the yard a few months back and has been in heavy rotation since.

Cover is a shot I took when the fam was taking at walk at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The first beach we went to in San Diego is just on the other site of those railroad tracks. You might notice the Berthold Imago font if you’re keen on the font foundry that gave us Akzidenz Grotesk, or if you’re really into the American Football album covers.

Oceanator (feat. JER) “Too Late”

Catchy guitar parts and a great collaboration with, JER, the great music introducer. I’m not cool enough to have heard of Oceanator before, but they’ve got a rad song here with some additional parts played by JER. They rip a badass trombone solo in place of the third verse, great move when you’ve got JER there. I’ll be looking a lot further into the Oceanator catalogue after this one. As to be expected.

Oh, and if you’re wanting to catch them in concert, they are touring with indie/pitchfork hero Jeff Rosenstock.

American Football (feat. Hayley Williams) “Uncomfortably Numb”

As a self-respecting designer the americ anfootball logo has always irked me. You see it on their album covers and merch, but it’s confusing if don’t already know the band name. I sound like the “Old Man Yelling at Clouds” meme, but whatever. They are a Midwest emo staple and made some powerful and influential music throughout the years. It’s one of those “your favorite band’s favorite band” situations. One album, breakup, become scene heroes. Like Operation Ivy.

Feel free to refer to Guitar Driven rock edition of the blog for more info about American Football, Never Meant, and whatnot.

This particular track has catchy guitar intro and the classic Mike Kisnella vocals. Theres an amazing call and response with another underdog to make the blog, Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams.

Now whenever I try to be clear with you,
I only end up feeling see-through.
Hayley Williams

Freddie Gibbs (feat. Jadakiss) “Black Illuminati”

Not the first appearance by Freddie Gibbs on the blog, but definitely the first for Jadakiss. Can’t say I was a huge fan of his in the early 2000s, but a certain podcast has give me a new appreciate for the man, his laugh, and talent. He, along with Styles P and Sheek from the LOX team up with Itsthereal’s Eric and Jeff for the hilarious podcast, videos, and animated shorts. They explain in one the first videos the origin of the name 2 Jews and 2 Black Dudes Review Movies. There some great episodes, but it’s the Jadakiss laugh that always cracks me up.