Top 89 of 2018: Marla Khan-Schwartz, associate blogger
December 04, 2018
2018 has been filled with memorable music by artists who filled our ears with opinions, agendas, love, anger, sadness and revolution. It was a tough process for me to choose my top 10 songs. As I was indulging in "my more than I want to admit" evening dessert, I started to realize that more often than not, I found myself eating these serotonin-releasing creations while listening to the music I love. In the name of desserts and music, I am going to not only showcase my top 10 favorite songs of 2018, but throw some paired desserts in the mix, as well. Music and dessert sing to any choir, anywhere, and anytime.
The following songs that I have chosen are in no particular order.
Top 10 Songs of 2018 and the Desserts You Should Eat With Them (Or, Layers)
Beach House – "Lemon Glow"
I first fell in love with Bloom in 2012, although Beach House clearly had a following well before this album came to fruition with several other great compositions. Their newest and seventh album, 7, was released earlier this year and the song "Lemon Glow", a single from the album, was subsequently released on Valentine's Day 2018. The song sparks nostalgia for innocent emotional connections and intimacy while keeping me engaged with their synth style. If I could eat a slice of Meyer lemon cake while indulging in this album, that would certainly hit all of the above notes. The thick cake of emotion that sits below a layer of innocently sweet, but slightly sour lemon topping would definitely amp up the blissful pleasure of this song and album.
St. Vincent – "Fast Slow Disco"
I am not sure what intrigues me more about St. Vincent — her incredible ability to turn music into melodic, synth pop beats that speak to you, or her sultry, disco-inspired video created for this song. Both of these aspects really sold me on this song. Well, and let's face it — there is nothing sweeter than seeing a woman jam on the guitar like she can. Originally, the song "Slow Disco" was released on the 2017 album MASSEDUCTION, but Annie Clark reworked it this year and morphed it into the amazing "Fast Slow Disco". She is an artist that makes music with emotional layers that you can depict if you so choose, but at the same time, enjoy each layer on its own. Speaking of some layers, may I introduce chocolate caramel shortbread bars for this dessert pairing. They taste like a Twix bar, and you can indulge by eating all of the layers together, or pulling it apart and enjoying each layer on their own.
MGMT – "Me and Michael"
I am not biased. I did not choose this song because my husband shares the name in its title; instead, the song caught my attention due to the different ways you can place this fragment grammatically in a sentence. Although that's not the intent of the meaning behind this song, "Me and Michael" certainly explores deep meaning behind the dangers of getting caught up in a culture that can lead to selfish actions and a tragic downfall. I like a story that escalates like this, which is what intrigues me with this song and lands it in my top 10 for the year. This pairing fits well with creme brulee. Why? The standard custard layer is pretty hard to mess up, but when you add a blowtorch and fire, you are at risk of changing the outcome each time you make this delicious dessert. In fact, you could ultimately make your effort futile. If this is the case, as MGMT portrays in this song, there will be lessons learned and hopefully next time the outcome will be different.
Kendrick Lamar & SZA –"All the Stars"
I am going to admit right now, I listened to "All the Stars" once and was hooked by the catchiness of the chorus. I sang it over and over again in my head for at least an hour. After the hour was over and I could pull myself together, I was also interested in the deep-seated meaning behind this song, as it is of course from the epic soundtrack from this year's film Black Panther. The song, as well as the beautiful movie it accompanies, showcases culture, celebration of life, struggle, triumph, and an absolute plethora of symbolism that is meant to send a specific message to the listening and visual audience. As a former civil rights commissioner, I felt strongly about placing this conglomerate of music, symbolism, and intense messaging in my top 10. Piecaken, a complicated yet delicious dessert, is also full of layers. Each layer is basically a different dessert thrown together to make up a large dessert that basically all come together in the convenience of your own mouth to create the best taste ever. The layers remind me of our differences and that we are all unique, but we can all come together and make a beautiful world together which in turn, reminds me of this song. If you don't have 6 hours to make this, the new Revolution Hall at Rosedale Mall has a bakery that sells an amazing Piecaken layered with spiced poundcake, pumpkin pie and a pecan pie base slathered with cinnamon buttercream.
Metric – "Now or Never Now"
I am a huge Metric follower. In 2013, when I was able to see them at Rock the Garden, it was the highlight of my summer. Emily Haines never disappoints and can rock an outdoor stage like no other. Now: Art of Doubt is the group's seventh album. Its song "Now or Never Now" specifically calls to me, because I can relate it to my midlife years and the struggle in which I try to decide what direction I want to take my life and how. Therefore, this song was a not a difficult addition to this list of favorites. As for the dessert I want to share with Emily Haines while we talk midlife crises, I would probably promote something simple, but decadent like a Brookie, so we can spend more time talking about her music and save the more complicating subject matter for music discussion. The Brookie has two layers, a brownie and a cookie. Maybe call the cookie that first layer of innocence that we all initially love until we move to a more open idea of what dessert can be at some point in our lives. Ego to superego? You decide. Eat it. You won't regret it.
Thom Yorke – "Suspirium"
When you travel to see a band like Radiohead that may not have come through your city, you may consider yourself a diehard fan. I would go anywhere to hear Thom Yorke's melodic and haunting voice. Luckily, he just performed at the Northrop in Minneapolis. This is one of my favorites from his solo album, which was created for the remake of the seventies horror film Suspiria. I am a sucker for a good horror flick, so this combo is right up my alley. "Suspirium" feels deep, but on a level where you could lay back and take it all in without the intensity of overpowering instrumentation. The lyrics are bold yet comforting, due to the melodic tones throughout the three-minute piece. When I want to crawl in a comfort ball and eat something that makes me feel cozy like Thom Yorke does here, I can think of no other dessert to pair this song with besides a good bread pudding. Excuse me while I throw some logs in the fireplace, turn on the Suspiria soundtrack, and drown myself in this classic dessert.
Childish Gambino – "This is America"
I have so many feelings when I listen to this song. Donald Glover's interpretation of some of the major issues surrounding American culture leaves me shocked, astounded, sad, and angry, but full of hope that detailed depictions like this can impact the way that we view the world. Through music, he gives us a solid understanding of the plights that plague us. "This is America" is one of my top picks for this year as I was drawn to the intensity of the song as well as the violent, yet extremely symbolic videography. I am also very drawn to artists who share their ideas and values in order to make a strong impact. This song is dense with information, yet it can be fluffy with our inability to see the issues behind our own biases. But it's filled with different components and facets, which make me think of the perfect dessert pairing for this level of intensity: tres leches cake. With its density, combination of different milks, and fluffy outer layer, this dessert is sure to make you analyze this song tenfold and like it even more.
CHVRCHES – "Get Out"
If I aspire to be any musician right now, I want to be Lauren Mayberry, frontwoman for CHVRCHES. She inspires me to go after the things in life that intrigue you, regardless of what your supposed paved path may appear to be. I specifically enjoy listening to her visions of relationships, the impact of her previous relationships, and the synth beats that she works into her songs. The song "Get Out" was a favorite of mine this year, as it takes a deep look into a relationship that she wants to end. When I think of what I want to indulge in while listening to "Get Out," I think simple, yet complicated if that makes any sense. French macarons come to my mind as they appear very simple, yet they can be complicated and tedious to bake and construct. The complicated process reminds me of Mayberry's willingness to share her vulnerabilities through her music and lyrics.
Janelle Monáe – "Make Me Feel"
This year, there hasn't been a song that has made me feel more liberated than Janelle Monáe's "Make Me Feel". Her very poignant message resonates with me, and I imagine it's empowering to women everywhere. I love the allusions to Prince and the reported connection of her work with him on this song before his death as well as the very '80s vibe that the music video showcases. The entire album, Dirty Computer, is my new anthem this year as it hits all of my feminist notes. In honor of her collaborations, I chose halayang ube, a Filipino purple yam dessert to pleasure my palate while Janelle continues to pleasure my ears. If you haven't tried it: it's a must.
Moby – "Like A Motherless Child"
Moby never loses my interest. I like say that we have "grown together" as I was right there when Everything is Wrong came out in 1995. With the 2018 release of his 15th album, Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt, came a slew of music that in my opinion encapsulates Moby's maturity as his music career progresses. The songs are thematic in a humanistic, individual, and spiritual sense and continue to show Moby's passion for music. His beats never get old, and Moby is a master at implementing newer sounds but making sure his overall style is not forgotten. "Like A Motherless Child" resonates with me because he alludes to relationships amongst cultures, but leaves the interpretation up to the listener. I like that ambiguity. What gets your creative mind going more than an increase in serotonin through something simple and chocolatey? Chocolate truffles pair well with Moby as I get that amazing rush from this song and album.