Spice Girls, Radiohead, and More Round Out Undeath’s Alexander Jones’ Guilty Pleasure Playlist
(Editor’s note: From time to time we ask artists to share their favorite music and the ‘guilty pleasures’ they tend to play while on the road. It’s a great way to get you, the reader, to connect with these larger-than-life personalities on a human level. This time around, we got Undeath‘s Alexander Jones to share his and his bandmates’ ‘guilty pleasures’.)
There’s a lot about touring that’s not as glamorous as the average fan imagines it to be. You’re not always riding around in a swanky tour bus. You may not be hitting all the sexiest venues in the world. Hell, you might not even get along with your bandmates all the time. But if there’s anything certain about touring, it’s that you’re going to learn a lot about yourself and the rest of your band in no time at all — especially when it comes to musical tastes.
Hailing from New York, death metal band Undeath have been kicking a ton of ass lately on the road in support of their latest album More Insane. Of course, that means long stretches of time on the road between gigs, which is the perfect time for the “guilty pleasures” to come out.
Not one to shy away from his passions, Undeath vocalist Alexander Jones is here to share the tracks that you might not associate with a group of badass motherfuckers, but still get played on the road anyway. From Spice Girls to Norah Jones to a track from the anime, Escaflowne, there’s a lot to unpack here.
Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There
This song is so fucking good. I don’t know how you would describe it in music theory terms, but the little minor fall in the chorus melody is so infectious. You don’t really ever hear that in pop music anymore these days. Spice up your life.
Radiohead – Lift
If it weren’t for the cheesy synth strings this would easily be a top 10 Radiohead track. Can’t believe this was left off OK Computer.
Smashing Pumpkins – Mayonnaise
Been on a big Pumpkins kick lately. Maybe it’s because there’s so many bald people at these shows. Beats me. This is the best song ever.
Norah Jones – Feelin’ the Same Way
This has been my “feeling self-pitying on a late night drive” song for several tours now. I absolutely love this album. Lifts me up when I’m in a good mood and softens the bad moods. This is as real as it gets.
Prefab Sprout – When Love Breaks Down
I’m so obsessed with this song at the moment that I’m making (I politely asked) our sound guy play it throughout the venue before our set at every show. Instant vibe enhancer. When the chorus finally drops I could almost believe in a just world and a love everlasting.
Coheed & Cambria – Three Evils
I had this CD when I was a kid and in the booklet next to the lyric “PULL THE TRIGGER AND THE NIGHTMARE STOPS” there was a little disclaimer to NOT take those lyrics seriously as the song was a work of fiction. I thought that was so fucking lame. Track still rocks though.
The Aces – Fake Nice
This is a great little JC Penny commercial funky pop song that I find myself throwing on when I don’t feel like listening to blast beats anymore. When the one singer goes “oh she’s so fake nice” I feel myself practically bursting with righteous female rage.
Romance – The Vision of Escaflowne Original Score
This is the love theme from an anime about a teenage girl who gets transported to a magical planet where multiple hunky fantasy dudes all vie for her attention. It’s a great song. Keep scrolling.
Streets – If Love Should Go
I believe Streets was the singer of Kansas’ attempt at a more straightforward 80s hair-metal adjacent kind of thing. I don’t know much about the band, but this song is a fucking heater.
Midnight Pretenders – Tomoko Aran
Another great late night driving song, but this one is for when I’m feeling sexy and confident and not [redacted]. Great track.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to catch Undeath at one of their upcoming shows. You can get your tickets today.
Undeath tour dates
w/ Kruelty, Gates To Hell
Oct. 12, 2024 – Orlando, FL – Abbey * [Tickets]
Oct. 13, 2024 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar * [Tickets]
Oct. 15, 2024 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Purgatory) [Tickets]
Oct. 16, 2024 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819 [Tickets]
Oct. 17, 2024 – Bensalem, PA – Broken Goblet [Tickets]
Oct. 19, 2024 – Hartford, CT – Webster Underground [Tickets]
Oct. 20, 2024 – Brooklyn, NY – Meadows [Tickets]
Oct. 21, 2024 – Montreal, QC – Foufounes [Tickets]
Oct. 22, 2024 – Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground [Tickets]
Oct. 24, 2024 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s [Tickets]
Oct. 25, 2024 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean [Tickets]
Oct. 26, 2024 – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary [Tickets]
Oct. 27, 2024 – Rochester, NY – Photo City (More Insane record release) [Tickets]
*=w/ openers Tribal Gaze
