With the Hummingbird Rotation, we hope to give folks a closer look at the songs that get the most play at Hummingbird HQ. This installment, hear about Weezer, Booker T & the M.G.’s, and The Black Keys.

I’m Just Being Honest // Weezer

Have you ever been in trouble for being too honest? Frustrated from a seemingly nonsense argument with a significant other? Believe me, you’re not the only one.

In one of the songs on their newest album, Weezer laments these types of arguments in their song, “I’m Just Being Honest.” The band uses a fusion of digital synthesizers and electric guitars to create a hypnotically satisfying backtrack, while the lyrics tell a story of a poor soul who just so happens to be a little too honest for his own good. With a lady friend asking how her band’s mixtape sounds, she was not exactly happy with the painfully honest response of: “…halfway through it, I had to quit / Your band sounds like shit / So, here we go / Don’t get mad at me, I’m just being honest / I should’ve lied / Don’t get mad at me, I’m just being honest.”

So if you just got out of a fight with the special person in your life, need a song that you can scream out of frustration with, or just want to listen to a super cool techno-rock fusion song with a series of stories, this is the song for you.

Behave Yourself // Booker T & the M.G.’s

For those who don’t know me, one of my favorite movies of all time is The Big Lebowski, an amazing film only made better by its diverse and extremely interesting soundtrack. It contains everything from Bob Dylan to a Spanish cover of “Hotel California” by the Gipsy Kings; however, one song from the soundtrack stood out to me this week: “Behave Yourself”. The instrumental pieces don’t get a lot of love in general but hear me out. The song is primarily an electric organ solo backed up by a standard jazz orchestra with a blues guitar as the main secondary instrument. Being one of the most chill and relaxing jazz pieces I’ve ever listened to, I can’t recommend it enough for whenever it’s time for you to kick back and de-stress after a long day of work.

Go // The Black Keys

Clocking in at only 2:26, “Go” enacts a rock n’ roll blitzkrieg that the listener can’t help but be drawn into. The opening drum beat signals the song’s lighthearted, but impassioned intention for you to unwind and simply, go. As the track builds, adding fun vocals and catchy guitar riffs, the pace never falls, making the track incredibly energetic throughout.

As such, it’s the perfect sound to make whatever you’re driving feel like the newest sports car, even if it’s some rusty tin can. Likewise, it serves as the perfect soundtrack to start any night. “Go” will set the tone and keep it high, providing proper hype to any summer event.

All of this shouldn’t be that surprising, considering The Black Keys’ track record as one of few mainstream staples of modern rock. Their new album is coming out in late June, and if you haven’t listened to “Go,” or the similarly pulsating “Lo/Hi,” make sure you do. They’re a ton of fun and are a good example of how fun and classic modern rock can be.