A collection of Bob Vylan’s favourite songs
Bob Vylan have managed to create a unique sound that separates them from the majority of other punk acts making music at the moment. Their songs scream of energy and authenticity. The messages delivered in their music are ones of truth, coming from a place of experience, hope, and anger. Their gigs are some of the most electric you could attend, and their attitude towards music is some of the most inspiring available.
The great Jack White has previously spoken out against authenticity, namely, how people perceive it. It’s not that he’s against authenticity, but sometimes, he believes people in music need a story too much, to the point that they will disregard good music if the people playing it don’t embody the spirit they think they should.
“Throughout history, we’ve been sold authenticity over and over,” he said, “The English press are the kings of it. You’ve got to ask yourself about the White Stripe’s appeal to England had we been from Los Angeles instead of Detroit… The story of the city of Detroit became our authenticity, that dirty, crumbling town. I don’t see a lot of other artists getting asked about where they live, but I get asked about where I live constantly.”
While it could be argued that authenticity is irrelevant for someone who makes music like Jack White, which doesn’t have political meaning attached to it, when it comes to punk music, one of the fundamental aspects is that you need to buy into what an artist is saying. Bob Vylan are an excellent representation of this. Their music is widely recognised because the public buys into what they’re saying. Their passion and energy sell this, and it’s what makes Bob Vylan such a success.
Granted, having excellent music doesn’t hurt either. The band takes from a range of influences when they create. While songs tend to be heavy and rap-focused, the breakbeats that they often use invoke feelings of rock, hip-hop, metal, and all things in between. On top of that, they know their way around a chorus, with a lot of their songs laced with infectious melodies that might be confusing if heard in other settings in the punk world.
To get a glimpse into the musical minds responsible for such a varied sound, the band recently put together a playlist of some of their favourite music. Granted, a lot of it might not directly go into the creative process, but it still acts as a good reflection of what the two enjoy listening to, which, at the very least, indirectly affects what they make.
You can check out the band’s collection of favourite songs below.
Bob Vylan’s favourite songs:
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra – ‘Multi-Love’
- Arlo Parks – ‘Hope’
- Ocean Alley – ‘Confidence’
- Daughter – ‘Youth’
- Ray Laurél – ‘Coconut Perfume’
- Darwin Deez – ‘Constellations’
- Joshua Idehen – ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’
- The Cardigans – ‘Lovefool’
- Sugar Pit – ‘Customer Service’
- Francis of Delirium – ‘Real Love’
- Night Tapes – ‘Selene’
- Tash Sultana – ‘Jungle’
- Jamie T – ‘Back In The Game’
- Nadine Shah – ‘Topless Mother
- Tirzah – ‘Holding On’
- Murkage Dave – ‘I Had A Nice Time But I Won’t Be Back’
