The Growlers

If I could only take one artist or group with me, it would probably be the Growlers. They are a rock group from Dana Point, California. They are the first band I ever saw live while in high school, so they are nostalgic to me.

Their music is very easy to listen to and when I first heard “Going Gets Tough,” it was something new. They took a lot of influences from surf, rock, and grunge which is something that I can just easily listen to if I’m all alone. If I am stuck on a desert island I might as well have some surfer music on to fit the occasion.

“Purgatory Drive” would be a solid representation of being on an island. It describes a man who is downcast after a girl left him, he starts drinking, not wanting to be cured and goes down a dark, lonely path.

The Growlers – “Purgatory Drive”

– Andrew Garcia, Senior Staff Writer

Pink Floyd

If I was stranded on a desert island and could only listen to one band, I would choose Pink Floyd. However, it is difficult to pinpoint one single song that exemplifies the band.

From the swirling layers of clocks that kick off “Time” to the entrancing synths of “Have a Cigar,” Pink Floyd’s discography is too complex to be pigeonholed.

Both their instrumentals and lyricism reach depths and distances that make it difficult to categorize the band as anything other than meaningful.

The social commentary of the album “Animals” is thematically and musically different from the contemplation of mortality in “The Dark Side of the Moon,” yet both are thought-provokingly beautiful and unfold in a cascade of emotional vocals paired with guitar shredding, drum banging and a conglomeration of other instruments used to achieve the often otherworldly atmosphere of Pink Floyd’s music.

The aforementioned piece “Time” is the song I would elect to represent them. The drawn-out intro consists of two minutes of ticking clocks rhythmically arranged to suspensefully introduce David Gilmour’s powerful vocals. The song, written by Roger Waters, is a rumination on the blindsiding passage of time.

Although not every Pink Floyd song sounds like “Time” – it would be difficult to find a tune in their catalog that isn’t dripping in a unique flavor of psychedelia – the song encapsulates the feel of the band. Masterful craftsmanship, deep-cutting lyrics and a distinct vibe make “Time” and every other song in Pink Floyd’s discography euphonious to the ear and introspective to the mind.

Pink Floyd – “Time”

– Bryan Jimenez, News Editor

Lord Huron

Lord Huron is an American indie rock band known for their captivating stories and unique sound. The band was founded by guitarist and lead singer Ben Schneider and is made up of Mark Barry, Miguel Briseño and Tom Renaud. The band’s name was inspired by Lake Huron where Schneider grew up playing songs around the campfire at night.

“The Night We Met” holds an air of nostalgia that depicts the feeling of missing someone, especially a romantic partner. The song uses its creative lyrics and melodic tune to transport its listener to a place of missing the good times you had with someone.

The song is actually the most played song on the Netflix TV series “13 Reasons Why.” It’s used in the first season in “Tape 3, Side A” when Hannah and Clay dance together and again as a remix featuring vocals from Phoebe Bridges in the season 2 finale “Bye.”

If I were stuck on a desert island, I would take this song with me so I could reminisce about good memories to get me through it. I love that you can really feel what the artist is trying to convey.

Lord Huron – “The Night We Met”

Lord Huron ft. Phoebe Bridgers – “The Night We Met”

– Andie Kalinowski, Features Editor

The Beatles

If I was stuck in the desert with another person and only had my favorite musical artist to show them, I would present them the rock band the Beatles. I would be heartbroken if they had no idea who the Beatles were or if they never heard a song from them at first. Then I would calm my emotions down and have them listen to the song “A Day in the Life.”

The song’s lyrics were written for the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I believe that this song represents an amalgamation of both their early rock days and the later songs from the band that were slightly psychedelic. Its lyrics said a lot about the monotonous parts of life with how conditioned people are with tragic news that they hear daily.

While this isn’t my absolute favorite song from the band, it is one that represents the band and how more independent their song style changed into the later part of the 1960s. When you listen to the entirety of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” you can’t think of a better song to conclude the album.

The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”

– Armando Sanchez, Senior Staff Writer