music on Mansoor

“Blood” cover by Gang of Youths

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:30:00 -0400

I only knew Gang of Youths from the song “Achilles Come Down” when I came across this cover. It’s an uplifting song, originally by The Middle East, and it’s clear everyone involved is feeling the energy of the performance.

Also worth listening to is “Achilles Come Down”, albeit with a whole different energy than “Blood”.

YAGODY

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Someone tells you you’re going to hear Ukrainian folk. What you actually experience is operatic costumes, rock star energy, soaring vocal harmonies, whispers, guttural sounds, and at times, something like rap.

Described as “contemporary Ukrainian folk”, YAGODY (“berries”) is mostly vocals supported by drums and other instruments. I don’t understand the lyrics, but given the collective beauty and fun of it, I don’t really need to.

Finding acts like YAGODY is among the reasons to love NPR and KEXP.

“Think” by Kaleida

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:30:00 -0400

I’m late to the song, given that John Wick was released in 2014 and the song was The Atlantic Track of the Day in 2016, but I’ve had this on repeat all year. Kaleida is a duo, Cicely Goulder on the keyboard plays a catchy mellow riff, with moody minor keys. Singer Christina Wood sings it in a husky, soulful voice, giving it a romantic underground feel.

It’s not what you expect for a revenge theme, but it works. You can hear it playing as John Wick invades the Red Circle nightclub, or you can watch Kaleida’s music video below. Both are great.

“Ah THALASSA” by Marina Satti

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:30:00 -0400

Put this in the watch-it-twice category. The video is edited to appear like a single shot and it builds to a moving and (for me) unexpected end.

“Mantissa” (Μάντισσα) by Marina Satti

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:30:00 -0400

I came across Marina Satti while listening to Greek music on a Greek vacation, and had her songs on repeat for months. Of course, the only reason I didn’t already know about her is because I don’t live in Greece. “Mantissa” was the feel-good anthem of the country in the summer of 2017.

In line with the song’s uptempo march, the video is a loosely-constructed stepping dance that makes you want to get up and dance. It also contains a theme of celebrating women, with a group of women dancers wearing everyday clothes. To emphasize her support for the group of women, the choreography has Satti march into shadows at one point to focus only on the backup dancers.

Directions: The Plans Video Album

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 12:30:00 -0400

As its name says, Directions is the video album for Plans. In 2026, as I write this, that requires some explanation. A music video is a short video that accompanies a song. A video album, also called a visual album, is a long video or series of videos that accompanies a music album.

Directions was made by a casting call of sorts. Rather than work with a known producer and director, the band put out a call for proposals, 12 of which were accepted and funded. The only rule was that the band could not appear in the videos.

“What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie

Thu, 15 Dec 2005 12:30:00 -0400

Plans is all about heartbreak. The album title itself is pointed: no adjective is needed because only when a plan fails does it remain a plan. The songs poetically describe the different ways love ends, including the end of summer, the slow demise of a long-term relationship, and of course, death.

“What Sarah Said” is peak identity for a band called Death Cab for Cutie. Crooning about death runs the risk of feeling manipulative or overly sentimental, but multiple elements make it work here. The first is its presence on Plans, which has a theme of sadness, and its placement near the end. Going in order, you’ve already heard songs about following love “into the dark”, leaving love “in our summer skin”, and sleeping back-to-back “like brothers on a hotel bed”. By the time you reach “What Sarah Said”, the mood is solid melancholy.