Where A Playlist Happens, Vol. 2: Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant, Lance Stephenson and more
Nov 15, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) stands on the court during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hornets 112-87. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
1. Make You Better – The Decemberists (featuring Rajon Rondo)
The Decemberists are back (!) with a forceful, confident, determined new anthem, even as their place within the current indie rock world is uncertain. In Boston, Rajon Rondo is back looking confident and determined, too – even as critics and GMs remain unsure of his value in the modern NBA. The remarkable song, “Make You Better,” is fitting for someone who leads the league in assists (12 per game) on a team not exactly full of scorers.
2. Sun It Rises – Fleet Foxes (featuring Gerald Green)
For 365 days of the year, the sun will rise on each and every morning. But on 82 of those days, a different Sun will rise each and every night. Cue “Gerald Green dot GIF.”
3. Live And Die – Avett Brothers (featuring the Splash Brothers)
Steve Kerr’s fantastically fun Warriors seem to live and die by the three, and right now they are LIVING. Steph and Klay perform with all the energy, joy and passion of an Avett Brothers live show.
4. Keep The Car Running – Arcade Fire (featuring the Toronto Raptors)
In 2004, a small but driven indie rock band from Canada unleashed an album called Funeral, winning over fans and drawing rapturous live audiences. On follow-up album Neon Bible, they built on the initial momentum from their breakout year with some more poise and polish. The Raptors are certainly building on their thrilling-yet-ultimately-fruitless playoff performance last season with a convincing 8-2 start.
5. Be Calm – fun. (featuring LeBron James and Joakim Noah)
“RELAX.” “Chill the f— out.” LeBron and Noah both had some choice words for the media last week, as the ESPN/talk radio/Twitter bandwagon has been particularly quick to jump on the Cavaliers for a slow start and on Derrick Rose for some poorly-worded comments. This frantic song from fun. (pre-“We Are Young”) encapsulates the wild range of emotions one must go through before achieving true calm.
6. Recover – CHVCHES (featuring Derrick Rose and Ricky Rubio)
The injury-prone Rose got caught in a mini-firestorm after claiming he’s sitting out of games because he’s thinking about long-term health issues. Injuries have been an absolutely enormous part of this season, with Durant and Westbrook, Randle and Smart, Rose’s comments, and my boy Ricky going down again. Let’s hope they all “recover” safely (look, not every one of these is gonna be poetic).
7. Turn It Around – Lucius (featuring The Cleveland Cavaliers)
LeBron’s “RELAX” was addressed to those piling on the Cavs early on. And they quickly responded to the criticism with a four-game win streak.
8. Falling Apart – Emile Haynie, Andrew Wyatt and Brian Wilson (ft. The Nuggets, Nets and Knicks)
Of those teams the Cavs beat? The hapless Denver Nuggets. Something just isn’t clicking for this seemingly-talented-on-paper team. To find other teams in the process of falling apart, look no further than New York City. Even with a healthy Deron Williams, my Nets are a mess – Joe Johnson rants? Brook Lopez looking like a rookie? It’s all very confusing. The Knicks are no better.
9. Can’t Stop – Theophilus London (ft. Kanye West) (and Kobe Bryant)
Kobe Bryant will never stop shooting. It’s awe-inspiring, and also kind of depressing. He’s got Yeezus-level ego (and Kanye lends a guest verse on this cool new Theophilus London track).
10. Lighting Myself On Fire – Jukebox The Ghost (featuring Lance Stephenson)
Well, not lighting himself on fire…but slapping himself in the face. Lance at his finest.