Squid! Calamar! イカ! विद्रूप! Tintenfisch!

By Pablo Gonzalez  

Music Journalist 

Rejoice lovers of bands with drummers as lead singers! In just a week our ears will be graced with another Squid album. Their last album, O Monolith (2023), raised the bar for the intensity they could achieve. With blaring clarinets, trumpets, whamolas, and chunky riffs, it was an amazing record that will be hard to top. 

A lot of Squid’s previous work carries heavy political themes and undertones. Their upcoming album, Cowards (2025), takes more of a concept album route with the album dealing with evil people and vileness. However, their second single, “Building 650,” shows great potential for their next album. I have been obsessed with this song since its release. Beautiful strings and a fantastic music video. I cannot get over how amazing the video is, do yourself a favor and watch it as soon as you can. The song tackles themes of loneliness and feeling like an outsider.  

Judge drew from personal experience, specifically his first trip to Japan, to bring these emotions to life. The video captures these feelings perfectly with some mind-boggling shots. The camera zooms down areas of Japan, lights drowning out the scene. I can gush on and on about the video, but I want to take it back to the first song that solidified Squid for me. Before “Building 650,” there was one song that cemented my love for Squid: “Houseplants!” I am enamored with every aspect of this song.  

To the lyrics, the drums, the horns, and the intensity. A song so great it needs to be shared. One night when the family get-together died down, I decided to put on some music. I started with more accessible music: the Postal Service, Flock of Seagulls, and the Beatles. Once everyone left, I started playing music that I was listening to. The last song I played was a live performance of Houseplants at the BBC 6 Music Festival. 

 I loved the song so much I thought to share it with my dad. Six minutes of crazed vocals, crying trumpets, sore drums pass, and my dad then gives me a slight nod of approval. I figured it did not land as I wanted it to, but then my dad said it reminded him of a band and he pulled up his phone. He showed me a music video from this Mexican rock band, Café Tacuba.  

A bright red-headed lead singer screaming about his ex. He then went on to show me some more bands. Bands that I never expected my dad to listen to. I always associated him with 80’s post-punk. And here he was showing me a genre I never heard of. It was the start of a rabbit hole for me, one I am still digging deeper into. A great start is Re, a Café Tacuba album. What was just a music recommendation turned into an unanticipated trip across genres—from contemporary UK post-rock to the sounds of Mexican rock. Great art can connect us, to learn a little piece of history from somebody and tie it to yours. 

There is a certain effect that music has on us, no matter our backgrounds it can bring us together. Able to bond a dad and his son. Few art mediums can impact as deeply as music can, it has been with us since day one and continues to affect us. It is rare to get an opportunity to connect with my dad; I cannot describe how appreciative I am of every chance I get. So, I want to leave you with a task: share your favorite song with your parents, or friends, or neighbors, or a complete stranger!