CTRocks© All rights reserved
RAYLEIGH OTTER' SONGS THAT MAKE ME WANT TO...
...escape reality
Times are difficult as of late and the daily news only reinforces this sad reality. All the reason more to find solace and escape through music.
Here is a selection of songs that have elicited some well needed amusement and respite in yours truly thanks mainly to their lyrical content. Some of these ditties are new. And some have been in the ether for a while. All offer clever detachment away from trials and tribulations of real life through the art of clever wordplay.
5-FFS – Call Girl
The Edgar Wright documentary on Sparks (The Sparks Brothers) was a wonderful re-introduction for many people to the majesty of the Mael Brothers’ musical canon. Thanks to this film, which was released during the pandemic, I became acquainted with FFS; an unlikely yet wonderful collaboration between Franz Ferdinand (FF) and Sparks (S) that existed for a brief time in 2015.
Call Girl is an electronica-infused ode to a sex worker with lead vocals shared between Alex Kapranos and Russell Mael. Any track which features lyrics such as ‘I gave up blow and Adderall for you. So I’d have dough and spend it all on you’ deserves your attention. Catchy, fun, quirky and captivating – FFS’s Call Girl needs to be added to your playlist as a matter of urgency.
4-Spirits of Saturn – Cindy Sherman
London-based trio Spirits of Saturn combine slickly produced electronica with a retro 1980’s sensibility alongside intelligently humorous lyrics. Their 2025 single Cindy Sherman weaves references to metaphysics and double-entendres such as ‘His name is Herman - he’s got a Moby Dick for You’. Similar to the American artist they’ve paid homage to, Spirits of Saturn have carved out their own unique and creative world. And it’s a space I feel very comfortable to inhabit.
3-Pavement – Stereo
I struggled to ‘get’ Pavement during their reign as indie-rock Gods in the 1990s. And, thanks to watching the just-released 2025 documentary (Pavements) on the Stockton, California-band, I still struggle to ‘get’ them. Not that this is a bad thing. In fact, it’s a struggle that I embrace. In these ‘to the grid’ times where music production favours homogenous uniformity over characterful un-niceties, the seemingly deliberate underinvestment in the execution of the band’s releases is incredibly welcome to modern ears. And, judging from figurehead Stephen Malkmus’s work outside of the Pavement-bubble – the band’s off-kilter and often pitchy lead vocals were a very deliberate decision back in the day.
The track Stereo partners a potentially mainstream-friendly chorus with verses and bridges that are equal parts tense and loose. Awash with dissonance and a sense that the track could fall apart at any time, there is a gem of a lyric that burns its way into the memory of the listener. ‘What about the voice of Geddy Lee? How did it get so high? I wonder if speaks like an ordinary guy’. Meanwhile, the infectious ‘I’m on your stereo, stereo’ chorus sections would not have been out of place on a big-production release from a band like Bush from the same era. Under Malkmus’s direction, however, this track never veers from the band’s core indie sensibility. Never compromising or selling out in an obvious way commercially - Pavement are heralded as legends. And for good reason. Oh, and Geddy does sound like an ordinary guy when he talks. There’s proof in this track if you give it a listen.
2-Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
This ode to asthma merges humour with a genuinely heartfelt take on what it’s like to live with a respiratory condition. While my description may not sound like an antidote to challenging times, Barnett makes it work. Like her vocal delivery, Barnett’s humour is dry and irreverent. Musically, the Australian artist is like Kurt Cobain if he focused on bongs rather than needles. Rootsy, groovy and foot-stomp inducing – Avant Gardner is propelled by a narrative that amuses as much as it elicits compassion. With lines such as ‘I’m breathing but I’m wheezing, feel like I’m emphysem-ing’, Barnett makes light of her asthma with bluesey wordplay. Even an ambulance call-out gets referenced with stoicism; ‘the paramedic thinks I’m clever ‘cause I play guitar. I think she’s clever ‘cause she stops people dying’. Released in 2013, Avant Gardener tackles adversity with hooks, humour and hubris.
1-Speedy Ortiz – The Graduates
In a time where the disparity between the 1 and 99 percent is ever increasing – the dynamic of thriving rather than just surviving seems nearly impossible to achieve. I have a solution. We should all rejoice at NOT being Number 1.
Enter Speedy Ortiz. In The Graduates, the protagonist proclaims that ‘I was the best at bein’ second place but now I’m just the silver you dread’.
There’s a humorous defiance in Sadie Dupuis’ vocal delivery and lyrics that harnesses the power that one can have when holding that freshly earned silvery cup. And it resonates with me in a profound way. Especially as I prefer the look of silver to gold in every application.
...feel better
No matter where you may be reading this, it’s safe to say that your newsfeed is likely to be bleak, dismal and a concern that can all too easily propel one’s default headspace into a state of existentialist angst. While it would be all too easy to wallow in the treacle-thick mire with The Cure’s Disintegration providing an appropriate soundtrack in the background, help is on the way with this ‘in case of emergency’ playlist. And this is an emergency. Rather than just being cheerful ditties, some of the tunes I’ve selected will offer a perspective that provides a coping strategy rather than just a (well needed) major key-infused lift.
5. The The – Lonely Planet
On the surface, this Matt Johnson masterpiece may seem like the opposite of what is needed as an escape from our newsfeed’s ‘all too real’ events. With its infectious ‘If You Can’t Change the World – Change Yourself’ chorus, however, listeners are urged to look inwards for respite or to foster improvement at a micro level. I feel that ‘going micro’ when all things macro have become overwhelming is a very useful approach to adopt. Thanks Mr. Johnson! And, failing that, if you can’t change your world – then change yourself.
4. The B52’s – Rock Lobster
Whereas The The have put a mirror up to our existential angst-ridden faces and given us questions to ponder, this slide of audio Prozac makes us marvel at sea creatures and urges us to lob on some tanning butter while taking in the rays (both of the sun and sting variety). In Rock Lobster, The B52’s create their own special world and it’s a decidedly fun place where inclusive parties happen beneath rusted tin roofs 24-7. I like this place. A lot. Alongside the sumptuous Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young, this wonderful ditty also has one of the most genuinely emotive one note guitar solos in recorded history. After all, who needs shredding when you’re having this much fun. It’s also worth noting that there is a strong, and often overlooked, Yoko Ono-influence in the call and answer vocals between Pierson and Williams throughout this track.
3. The Smiths – There is a Light That Never Goes Out
The Smiths? In a ‘cheer me up’ playlist? Absolutely! While anyone could prescribe Katrina & The Waves’ Walking on Sunshine, this slice of Mancunian wonderfulness is as jubilant in melody and it is dry humoured in its lyrics. While Morrissey is problematic, I like to think of The Smiths as band that was formed by Johnny Marr who is wonderful person and a highly gifted guitarist and songwriter. All joking aside, the controversial figurehead of this band manages to make pathos and joint suicide something to sing along and dance to through his unique lyrics, lens and melodic sensibility. This track proves that misery enjoys company. And I am here for it.
2. Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
This track has it all. An ode to Motown and 1960s R&B without being hacky. Big 1980s production that doesn’t sound cheesy. And a white take on soul music that feels celebratory rather than corny or a display of cultural appropriation. The arrangement is tight. The musicianship is stunning (Deon Estus’s bass playing, in particular, is a highlight with lashings of gospel-inspired chromaticism). And the melody is so catchy that it makes one easily forget just how well crafted a piece of music this actually is. It’s difficult to listen to this track without smiling. And, for that reason alone, it proudly belongs in this playlist.
1. Trio – Da Da Da
Dadaism, at its very basic essence, is an art movement that formed as a response to war. Employing absurdist humour that this writer has a strong affinity with, it seems fitting to include this early-1980s ode to the movement here. Da Da Da, offers Teutonic humour mixed with a primitive and decidedly lo-fi Casio VL-1 synth. It’s silly, childlike, mundane, relentless and a wonderful thing to immerse oneself in as a form of escape. I’d rather Da Da Da than Doom Scroll any day.
...play air drums
Air Drumming, or its cousin ‘table thumping’, represents our hardwired desire to be at one with the pulse of the music. There is something beautifully primeval about instinctively wanting to hit things, beat inanimate objects or ‘the air’, when a given song moves us. And, alongside dancing, air drumming is undoubtedly one of the most expressive forms of how we humans react to music. This playlist features the type of drumming that makes you want to play air drums. This list doesn’t exist for the reader to just marvel at technique, although there is plenty of that on display here, but as a conduit for summoning the inner-drummer inside all of us.
1. Reggata De Blanc – The Police
This eponymous tune from the trio’s sophomore release is a tour de force of what makes Copeland such a unique presence in the world of drumming. And there’s a lot for the air drummer to tackle here. From dubby echo-laden hi-hats and snare rim taps to balls-out rock complete with rapid fire fills – Copeland’s drums remain centre stage here without the groove ever suffering. Copeland’s distinctive and easy-to-identify style propels Regatta De Blanc and it will do the same to all the air drummers out there reading this.
2. Ride – Unfamiliar
Before grunge arrived in earnest, the shoegaze scene in the UK was broadening into something best described as bombastically aggressive. Enter Oxford’s Ride. To pre-Nirvana ears, this was heavy yet brought refreshingly disparate influences and stylistic choices to the party. And behind the on-the-cusp-of-breaking-up jangle of the Rickenbacker guitars are Laurence ‘Loz’ Colbert’s drums. Roomy, hard-hitting and recalling the tone and delivery of a more measured Keith Moon – the drums on ‘Unfamiliar’ are simple but deliciously effective and Colbert’s clever employment of going ‘half-time’ in places keeps things interesting. Loz’s feel is infectious, and his playing does things to your spine. I dare the listener to remain still while sampling this track. ‘Unfamiliar’ is proof that drums parts need not be busy to inspire air drumming.
3. CLT DRP – Where The Boys Are
Air Drumming need not be about speed or ferocity. Indeed, it can embrace subtle dynamics and immersing oneself in non-standard patterns. CLT DRIP are a Brightonian trio who formed a little over five years ago with the Greek-born Daphne Koskeridou anchoring their dark arsenal of material with a quirky and intelligent approach behind the drum throne. ‘Where The Boys Are’ will not be immediately easy to follow when engaging in air drums. But you’ll want to master the skin bashing on this tune. And I am confident you will be rewarded with a sumptuous sonic experience when you lock-in with one of the most exciting drummers to emerge onto the music scene in the last decade.
4. Metallica – Enter Sandman
Regardless of its popularity and, for many metal fans, overexposure – Enter Sandman is about as air drummer-friendly as a hard rock tune can be. Thanks to Bob Rock’s production and drummer Lars Ulrich’s meticulous attention to detail – every fill and cymbal crash sings for its supper here. And the weighty drum sound still sounds modern and impressive three decades on. Despite receiving a lot of hate in recent years - even the band’s detractors will agree that Ulrich’s powerful rhythmic delivery provides a foundation that the inner-Beavis & Butthead in all of us will want (and need) to headbang to. In addition, the Danish-born drummer’s dynamic approach keeps the listener’s attention locked-in and makes Enter Sandman more than just ‘another metal tune’. Most importantly, Ulrich is also not afraid of leaving space when required and he adds crescendos and powerful accents to take the air drummer on a powerful journey from section to section.
5. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
To say that Bonham’s legacy is deserved in an understatement. And, ultimately, this British drummer needs no introduction. While virtually every Zep-tune lends itself to air drumming, Bonham’s work on Kashmir is otherworldly and it’s what he does ‘between the beats’ here that is truly magical. The song’s main drum pattern is hypnotic and economical while the rest of the offering features rhythmic pushes and fills that just make you want to play them drums (air or otherwise). And, just to cap things off, cleverly added tom-focused phasing effects towards the end of this iconic song create a mystical frenzy which befits the theme of this most classic of Classic Rock songs. Air Drummers have a heaven and it’s called Kashmir.
...play air bass
At first glance, Air Bass may seem like an oxymoron. After all, why would a foundation instrument be a conduit for one to summon their inner-air performer with? Not that the discipline of Air Bass is unprecedented. Indeed, it’s been used as a source of ridicule. Paul Rudd’s ‘Slappa-di-Bass’ antics in ‘I Love You Man’, for instance, earns him playful judgment and criticism from his character’s fiancé in the film. And, beyond John Travolta sporting some surprisingly alluring Air Bass moves in his ascent to becoming disco king in Saturday Night Fever – bass inspired air performance art is not synonymous with coolness in any way, shape or form. While the bastion of Level 42 fans continue to thump their chests in a collective quasi-tribal tribute to slap bass legend Mark King at their gigs to this day, Air Bass is a niche activity.
And it’s time for you to join that niche.
Put your favourite invisible low end weapon of choice around your shoulders and get ready to don your best Air Bass Faces to these celebrations of floor shaking wonderfulness.
1. Rush – Spirit of the Radio
Once you master the challenging unison bass, guitar and drums intro – your Air Bass antics will become the stuff of legend. Geddy Lee’s distinctive midrange-heavy attack will not be difficult to miss as it features prominently throughout this Canadian trio’s legendary track. And, stylistically, Spirit of the Radio features everything from prog, classic rock and even Reggae in the bass playing department – plenty to get your air bass hands around.
2. Chic – Le Freak
With ghost-notes aplenty and an irresistible and infectious groove to propel you, Bernard Edwards’ unique syncopation will really get your fingers moving. And, whereas most bass fills (the fancy bits that tend to come before a new verse starts) tend to sound like well executed farts – Edwards’ employment of ‘creative noodling’ are an Air Bassist’s delight. Listen out for what the bass does at the end of the song’s Middle 8/Drop Down – it’s sumptuously funky.
3. Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
Economy and power deliver an arresting sonic cocktail via Nick Oliveri here. Solid. Fun. And anchoring some of the most Air Drummable (it is a word….now) skin bashing in rock, this ditty is one where need to wear your invisible bass nice and low. It’s all about relishing the track’s down-tuned magnificence while holding it together. And, yes, there’s even drop down where YOU, the Air Bassist, will be playing solo. Savour the moment.
4. TAD – Grease Box
Featuring a bass riff that simultaneously makes the listener want to jump and hit something – Grease Box is a heavy offering that begs for head banging and a fast attack. While TAD, and their bassist Kurt Danielson, are not household names – these architects of grunge should not be overlooked by the Air Bass community.
5. Level 42 – The Chant Has Begun
While not the band’s biggest hit or the most obvious choice to swing your thumb to, Level 42’s reaction to the cold war and the human race’s treatment of our planet (cheerful stuff, eh?) is a tour-de-force for the slapping air bassist to tackle. Locking-in with bassist Mark King are equal parts manageable and fun. Listen out for the drum and bass drop down after the sax solo as it’s emotively groovy and will put the spotlight on you. If you really want to be authentic and earn extra points, tightly wrap some gaffer’s tape around the knuckle of your ‘slapping’ thumb for full effect.