DISCLAIMER: These won’t be proper reviews -as if I could write those- or have interesting technical tidbits on them. These are more of a “ah, that song reminds me of…” thing. Like the part you skip on a recipe. So it goes.

Album: The burdens of being upright.

Release date: March 19, 1996.

Track: 1.

Moods: ARE YOU READY TO LET IT ALL OUT?, scream til ya pass out.

Just like yesterday’s song, this one made The burdens of being upright, Tracy Bonham’s debut album, a day one purchase. Contrary to Andreone’s breezy, nihilistic Pollyanna ditty, Bonham’s Mother Mother builds up to a series of thunderous breakdowns.

Alluring in its relative simplicity, Mother Mother entangles you and you only realise when it’s too late. Pretty sure most people I know were aware of this song due to the video, at least the version I’m attaching on this post. The green shag carpet felt eerie, and I’d erroneously call it “liminal”. Whatever it is, it feels off.

Sometimes you feel ignored and even if you scream to the top of your lungs, you’ll be ignored, and maybe replaced with a QVC marathon. It happens. Perhaps that’s what made me love the song so much. A cry from help might be unheeded, but there’s another way through.

Scream along.

—Sam J. Valdés López