Recommendations (For Your Benefit) with Andrea Neuenfeldt on Now That's What I Call Heartbreak IV: The 2000's
So, today is Valentines Day, huh? Regardless of if you find yourself single, coupled, or among a plethora friends and lovers — and whether you find yourself happy, bummed, or frankly unfazed by the thought — Cupid’s special holiday can reek of nostalgia, dread, warmth, loneliness, and passion whether you’re prepared for it or not. In similar fashion, the Now That’s What I Call Heartbreak compilation series has hit the Internet again this February with a collection of cross-genre cover songs to soundtrack your Valentine’s Day, however you find yourself spending it.
Returning for its fourth annual installment, Now That’s What I Call Heartbreak IV: The 2000’s slates over thirty cover songs from the not-so-distant aughts and expands the generally New England based roster further than ever. Many familiar names and faces from the Boston area return or pop up on the track listing alongside far-off newcomers, all contributing smash hits that’d find themselves across the radio dials and underground fan favorites.
“I think comps can get written off for being novelties, and I get it — it’s not, not true — but there’s so much that compilations have the potential to do,” organizer Andrea Neuenfeldt told Wormbrain, “like fostering good will, and even friendship, with fellow DIY musicians. It can reach across scenes, cities, states, and even countries.”
While previous iterations have helped to organize funds for Waverley Place, RAICES, and Solidarity Supply Distro respectively, all proceeds from this year’s aughts tribute will go to Texas-based nonprofit Jane’s Due Process to help “young people in the state navigate parental consent laws, and confidentially access abortion and birth control.”
“...but there’s so much that compilations have the potential to do, like fostering good will and even friendship with fellow DIY musicians.””
We know that large playlists full of new music can be equally as intimidating as they are exciting, so Wormbrain has asked latest Andrea Neuenfeldt for recommendations on where to turn your ears.
Curious where to start? Here is what to check out to…
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…turn a regular party into a dance party:
"The Knife” by Al Z and “Too Much Love” by Phased Approach
…soundtrack the first date montage in a romantic comedy:
"Teenage Dirtbag” by Em
…serenade your longtime lover with:
"You and Me” by Ezra Cohen
…help mend a lonely, broken heart:
"Swing, Swing” by Sarah Desmarais and “Helena” by Sam Weiss
…sulk along to while eating a box of chocolates to yourself:
"Bye Bye Bye” by Brianna Goldberg
…slow dance to at a high school prom:
"Reservations” by Orville Sash and “Yellow” by Cliff Notez
…start and/or finish a crush’s mixtape with:
"End of the Road” by Indirect and “Beautiful” by Derek Desharnais
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W.W: What is Wormbrain?
AN: Wormbrain is a hive mind, but instead of a hive, it's a giant, writhing mass of worms that has achieved post-human consciousness. It took approximately 2.3 seconds after achieving sentience for Wormbrain to realize that arts and music are the only thing that matters on this tiny, sad rock that we live and die on. Thank you, Wormbrain.
W.W: Thank you for sharing with Wormbrain.
Now That’s What I Call Heartbreak IV: The 2000’s is available now via Bandcamp to benefit Jane’s Due Process, aiming to provide Texas youth with free legal support, 1:1 case management, and stigma-free information on sexual and reproductive health.
