After a truly amazing year of reporting on my favourite music, it is only appropriate to end the term reflecting on the rest of The Brock Press’ most-loved tracks.
Haytham Nawaz – “To Here Knows When” by My Bloody Valentine
“To Here Knows When” seems like the perfect choice for The Brock Press’ Editor-in-Chief Haytham Nawaz, an undercover “cool guy” music aficionado.
Spacey and hypnotic, “To Here Knows When” is what some fans of My Bloody Valentine consider to be the perfect song. Radiating in shockwaves, “To Here Knows When” feels like the aftermath of a massive supernova. The twinkling lights and bright colours are accompanied by an understanding that in the end, there can be both perfect beauty and absolute destruction. And until you get there, you won’t know which one to expect.
Christian Roethling – “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys
To me, the selection of “God Only Knows feels like the only choice for Christian Roethling. While the basis of this hunch is rather unexplainable, anyone who has met The Brock Press’ Managing Editor would likely say the same thing.
In perfect Beach Boys fashion, “God Only Knows” is the perfect 60s ballad. Rich and warm, Paul McCartney called this track “the greatest song ever written,” a sentiment that is hard to argue with when “God Only Knows is just so beautiful. While very few of the Beach Boys played on the studio recording of this track, it is still listed as one of the band’s top-played songs, and for good reason. God only knows what we would do without this classic track.
Andrew Hawlitzky – “Light Up the Night” by The Protomen
“Light Up the Night” is not a surprising selection for Andrew Hawlitzky, The Brock Press’ Copy Editor, who was once a computer science major and is now studying English . This is a universally acknowledged truth, even though I cannot communicate how these two things are related.
Gritty and hard-hitting, “Light Up the Night”, released in 2009, could easily be mistaken for a 1980s rock hit. With its raw electric guitar solos and operatic choral harmonies, “Light Up the Night” was well ahead of the 70s and 80s renaissance which is controlling much of the music scene right now. The perfect track for a fast-paced action sequence in a dystopian film set in a dark and grimy urban center (I am picturing the 1981 hit “Escape from New York” starring Kurt Russell), “Light Up the Night” is simply a track that cannot be skipped.
Valentina Guerra – “Let The Light In” (feat. Father John Misty) by Lana del Rey
“Let The Light In” is the perfect choice for our resident Lana Del Rey enthusiast, Valentina Guerra, our Editor-at-Large here at The Brock Press.
Sultry yet sweet, Lana Del Rey’s gorgeous voice shines bright in “Let The Light In,” contrasted beautifully by the deeper contrasting vocals of Father John Misty. A waltzing ballad, “Let The Light In” stands elegantly against the backdrop of the rest of the tracks on Del Rey’s record Did you know there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd. Finding a niche on TikTok as a result of its grand, sweeping sound, it’s not hard to believe that “Let The Light In” is one of the top songs on Lana Del Rey’s most recent album.
Cameron Sauder – “Change” by Djo
“Change” is an interesting choice for Cameron Sauder, The Brock Press’ sole News Editor, who often gives off the impression that he has never listened to music in his life.
A synth-driven alternative hit, “Change” is the perfect amalgamation of Djo’s current and previous work. Upbeat and psychedelic, the track’s rapidly moving body hides the artist’s fears about change beneath a blanket of auto-tune and synthesizer. Yet within the span of 2:58, Djo leaves his worries behind and steps out into the sunlight of a new world where change doesn’t have to be all that bad.
Will Grant – Anything We Want by Fiona Apple
“Anything We Want” is an on-brand choice for Will Grant, The Brock Press’ other arts & entertainment editor, who likely has no guilty pleasure songs and would share all his playlists openly because I guarantee he only listens to the coolest music out there.
Rhythmic and deeply emotive, Fiona Apple’s “Anything We Want,” like most of Apple’s music, is a challenging work of art. While the song appears to be very personal to the singer lyrically, this jazzy track reflects the joy that comes along with the freedom of loving someone who loves you back. With its idiosyncratic percussion and the all-encompassing nature of Apple’s jagged and husky vocals, “Anything We Want” is the perfect example of the ways raw love translates into true art.
Tomas Morgan – “Hey Driver” (feat. The War and Treaty) by Zach Bryan
“Hey Driver” is a lovely choice from Tomas Morgan, one of The Brock Press’ Sports Editors.
All of Zach Bryan’s work expertly toe the line between classic country and thumping folk and “Hey Driver” is no exception to this rule. Emotion-driven and raw, the song’s twinkling piano and scratchy acoustic guitar intermingle perfectly with the growling vocals of The War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. While Bryan is known for his consistent ability to make beautiful art, “Hey Driver” truly shines a light on his absolute talent.
Lucas Costa – “Butterfly Effect” by Travis Scott
“Butterfly Effect” is a hip and effortlessly cool choice from Lucas Costa, another Sports Editor at The Brock Press.
Synth heavy and crisp, “Butterfly Effect” moves swiftly. Equipped with a great flow and a catchy rhythm, “Butterfly Effect” is simple yet addictive, drawing its listener in with its psychedelic nature. Like many of Travis Scott’s previous hits, this track was one of the songs of the summer in 2018.
Luke Sweeney – “Bulletproof Soul” by Sade
A slinking and rhythmic tune, “Bulletproof Soul” is an interesting choice for the last of The Brock Press’ Sports Editors.
With a heavy emphasis on its rhythm section, “Bulletproof Soul” feels very closely connected to the jazz genre with its humming bass line and the whine of the saxophone. A perfect R&B/soul hit, “Bulletproof Soul” comes from Sade’s essential album Love Deluxe. While it might be easy to miss, living as track number 8 on a 9-track album, this song is not one to be skipped.
Kevin Diep – “Master of Puppets” by Metallica
“Master of Puppets” is an incredibly fascinating choice by Kevin Diep, The Brock Press’ Business Manager, who is still managing to surprise his colleagues to the very end.
Gritty and hard-hitting, “Master of Puppets” is one of the hit band Metallica’s most popular tracks, and for good reason. Thought to have come from the band’s best album, “Master of Puppets” is recognized for its skilled guitar riffs and smashing drumbeat. The nearly 9-minute-long track never gets boring, moving through every phase with precision and flair.
Maeve Ferrigan – “Glimmer” by Mako Road
“Glimmer” is an ideal choice for Maeve Ferrigan, The Brock Press’ Advertisement Coordinator, whose laid-back and sunny personality lends itself to the groovy attitude of this song.
Shimmering in the sun, “Glimmer” is the perfect track for hazy summer afternoons driving down back roads with your windows rolled down. Populated by sliding guitar swings and a thrumming bass line, “Glimmer” is one of Mako Road’s most popular songs.
Nora Chan – “People Watching” by Conan Gray
A classic pop hit for a classic girl, “People Watching” is an unsurprising choice for Nora
Chan, The Brock Press’ Social Media Coordinator.
Thought-provoking and swelling, “People Watching” is one of many hits from Conan Gray’s second studio album Superache. With the inclusion of twinkling piano and synth drumbeats, the song builds to new heights by introducing a body of choral voices that support Gray’s emotive lead vocals. Like many of Gray’s songs, “People Watching” is sonically sprawling, making it the perfect choice for this list.
Charlie Martin – “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White” by Underoath
A wildly surprising choice for Charlie Martin, the quieter of the two Digital Media Coordinators at The Brock Press, “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White” is a screaming hit.
A perfect capsule of the 2000’s metal scene, “A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White” is populated by loud distorted guitar and dense bass with a crashing drumbeat. This rasping sound is furthered by the harsh screams of the lead singer, leading the track to an angsty and gritty ending, perfectly characteristic of this genre.
Taylor Westbury – “Locals (Girls like us)” by underscores & gabby start
An awesome choice from Taylor Westbury, the second Digital Media Coordinator at The Brock Press, “Locals (Girls like us)” fits this photographer’s bright and hilarious personality.
Backed by a crazy beat that takes its listener on an electronic dance trip, “Locals (Girls like us)” is fun, groovy and full of sass. Growing with every verse, this track is the ideal track to keep the dance floor moving with vigour and energy at the end of a long night. The perfect collaboration, “Locals (Girls like us)” is undeniably entertaining and understandably one of underscores’ most popular tracks.