Help me kick the Universe in the teeth

December 12, 2016 11:46 AM

Right now (and for the next few weeks) I am dealing with a confluence of the first Christmas without my mother; moving to a new place; and getting the house cleared out/staged/cleaned to put it up for sale - and I need some musical assistance to power through it.

Overall I am doing okay, but I have periods of time where I feel tired, overwhelmed, and a little down. I kind of feel like everything is piling on at once, and I need some defiant, fuck you, energy raising music to get me out of slumps.

I'm looking for fast paced, energetic songs, of pretty much any genre or time period. Lyrics don't have to necessarily correspond to the exact theme.

I love stuff that builds to a crescendo (e.g. Flobots - Handlebars), but also stuff that starts out strong and stays that way...

I'm not big on incomprehensible yelling. If there is yelling, I still want to be able to understand the lyrics.

No sappy songs about how everything's going to be okay, please.

posted by Archipelago to Media & Arts (22 answers total)

One's milage may vary, but "Your Disco Needs You" by Kylie Minogue is my go to kickass song.

(In this instance, your self-care is the disco, which is how I use it.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 11:52 AM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Bleu - "I Won't Go Hollywood"
posted by thelonius at 11:52 AM on December 12, 2016

Wanda Jackson ("the queen of rockabilly") used to be one of my go-to 'getting hyped to get ready to go out' albums. Here's a good one: Let's Have A Party
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:54 AM on December 12, 2016

Freddy is good for getting anything going.

Don't Stop Me Now.
posted by blurker at 11:57 AM on December 12, 2016 [4 favorites]

Three Days Grace - Let's Start a Riot

Godsmack - Whatever [seriously, listen to the 10 minute live version where the crowd is yelling totally understandable obscenities, it's the bestest]

Skillet - Monster

Five Finger Death Punch - Jekyll And Hyde
posted by joycehealy at 12:00 PM on December 12, 2016

This is pretty much right on the nose. Also, it rocks. Also also, the video is gloriously ridiculous.

Wolfmother - Victorious
posted by ronofthedead at 12:11 PM on December 12, 2016

Early Black Sabbath, when Ozzy sang for them, has gotten me through a whole lot of very lousy times. Fans can debate which album to start with forever, but a best of collection from the Ozzy years would totally do the trick. We Sold our Souls for Rock n' Roll is the classic best of from that era.

"A Christmas Duel" by Cyndi Lauper & the Hives is about an absurdly bad Christmas between two people with a truly awful relationship. Is there a word for tragedy that becomes comedy? This is it. It is so absurdly over the top that it always makes me laugh.

I also find it really helpful this time of year to just remind myself that the days will start getting longer soon. This year, the 22nd will be slightly longer than the 21st. That's next week.

Wishing you well.
posted by Cranialtorque at 12:28 PM on December 12, 2016

You need Run the Jewels in your life. Pick a track, any of them will work for your purposes.
posted by Ipsifendus at 12:30 PM on December 12, 2016 [3 favorites]

I've always enjoyed Bad Religion's The Process of Belief album. Some of the lyrics are kind of cheesy, but it really hits the right tone of being empowered but also aware at the same time. Almost all of the songs are propulsive and super-catchy.
posted by Fister Roboto at 12:41 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is basically what Sleigh Bells is made for
posted by Ragged Richard at 12:44 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Cee Lo Geen - Fuck You
posted by cecic at 12:49 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

You need Run the Jewels in your life. Pick a track, any of them will work for your purposes.

Came here to say this. When I just need to put my head down and Get Some Shit Done, my go-to is to put on a pair of headphones, start Run The Jewels II, and not stop until whatever I'm working on is finished.
posted by Itaxpica at 12:58 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Anything by Caravan Palace, though my favorite is Clash
posted by shadowesque at 1:12 PM on December 12, 2016

The Detroit Cobras — Boss Lady
posted by Lexica at 1:13 PM on December 12, 2016

I forgot half my comment after inserting the link! I was going to say Caravan Palace is a genre called electroswing, and just about anything electroswing has a fun, danceable beat. There's also Postmodern Jukebox, who have done covers of many modern songs in classic styles, like this cover of Sweet Child O' Mine.
posted by shadowesque at 1:14 PM on December 12, 2016

Oh, and of course, while you're looking at Run the Jewels, be sure not to neglect Nobody Speak, which is on DJ Shadow's latest album, but heavily features Run the Jewels.
posted by Ragged Richard at 1:31 PM on December 12, 2016 [1 favorite]

Anything resembling ABBA, (A-teens? ace of Base?) which is upbeat Swedish disco, brings some brightness to big cleaning. Best wishes on this big job. Expect a lot of memory lane to show up in a good way. Good tunes will keep it bright.

And I missed the point Not Afraid by Eminem?
posted by childofTethys at 1:31 PM on December 12, 2016

Windmills - Get Up

It makes more sense if you've played Dark Souls, but I recommend it because it and Handlebars go onto a lot of the same playlists for me.
posted by Sequence at 1:57 PM on December 12, 2016

I Feel Fantastic - Jonathan Coulton
posted by Room 641-A at 2:04 PM on December 12, 2016

Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
posted by gemutlichkeit at 2:38 PM on December 12, 2016

Little Feat, "Let It Roll" FTW.
posted by the sobsister at 10:27 AM on December 13, 2016

Anything by Hole, but specifically Celebrity Skin.

Garbage - I'm Only Happy When It Rains

I'm going heavy on the "fuck you" aspect with an attempt towards also upbeat(ish).
posted by freezer cake at 12:32 PM on December 13, 2016