Music Review: Does You Inspire You

Caroline Polachek, Chairlift’s deadpan singer, elevates cool intensity to a fine art in this spellbinding debut.

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This Brooklyn trio adds its own creeping unease to familiar synth-pop sounds on its spellbinding debut. With subtle shifts of tone, deadpan singer Caroline Polachek elevates cool intensity to a fine art: In the ominous “Garbage” she oozes contempt, reciting a list of trash that begins, “Your condoms and your vcr“; on the bouncy “Evident Utensil” she chirps softly, “How hard must I try for you?,” hinting at deep resentment. And when she erupts in funky shouting on “Make Your Mind Up,” Polachek is riveting. More of that next time, please.

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“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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