Weekly Playlist 4/17

Every Friday, I share the highlights of what I’ve been listening to over the course of the week, from old favorites to new discoveries. Playlist best enjoyed in order.

It’s a short one this week, and all rock-oriented.

We start with new music from The Strokes — their new album is possibly their best; certainly their most interesting. Here, we have “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus,” which grabs your attention at the start and keeps getting stuck in my head. It doesn’t feel like an earworm, but apparently, it is. Next up is “The Overview” by Mae, with another chorus that stays in your head, and Peter Gabriel classic “Solsbury Hill.” The way that track builds slowly on itself is wonderful, in particular near the end with those great strums of an electric guitar between Gabriel’s lyrics. “Mrs. Vandebilt” is a staple in Paul McCartney’s set, or at least was when concerts were still a thing, but doesn’t seem to be one of the songs Wings is most remembered for. Still, it’s a gem, with a great rhythm and a little bit of attitude.

After this week’s look at two great musical moments in the Taika Waititi film Jojo Rabbit, we close with the German version of David Bowie’s “Heroes,” here titled “Helden,” and just as delightful as the English version.

For your weekend, I recommend a viewing of Jojo Rabbit, but if you need more music — and who doesn’t? — NPR has put together a great quarantine playlist. “I’m Afraid of Americans” by Bowie is a particularly inspired choice.