"Lie to Me" (Denial) by Red, Friday, January 28, 2022

When Red's producer Rob Graves posted on Twitter a picture of a note on Red's guitars tuned to "A#, A, and G," some fans thought that the band's third album would be even heavier. In February of 2011, Red released Until We Have Faces, taking its name from the 1956 C.S. Lewis novel. The band delivered a more cohesive, harder rock sound than previous efforts with songs like  "Faceless," the album's opener "Feed the Machine," and "Lie to Me" (Denial). Today's song is a song about disappointment in someone's honesty. I recommend this song, not because I had someone hurt my feels because of a lie, but rather I'm hearing so many lies these days, it's hard to distinguish the truth.

WILL YOUR HOPE DIE ALONE?  Okay, that's a little dramatic. Let me explain. I'm in the process of shopping for a new apartment, and it's very difficult to find an honest salesman. The whole thing has me more disheartened than upset, but there are times I have to keep the rage at bay. With the upcoming school year for Korea, I wanted to create a playlist for certain days. It's an unpopular topic, but teachers do get upset. We just have to hold it in until the teacher's break room or even the car ride home. For the inevitable moments of insanity, I recommend my new playlist Wrong Side of the Bed: Songs for a Bad Day. While some of the songs are sad, I held back on the songs that focused on the helplessness of the situation. Instead, I chose the angry ones! I didn't only chose songs that I wrote about  but rather the best track that I feel conveys the emotion of the playlist. Check it out below:

 

1. "Lie to Me" by Red is the song of the day.

2. "ihateit" by Underoath was a song that comforted me during teaching in 2020. The situation was hard on everyone, and the stress was often too much to take. It was nice to be able to scream along to this song. It also reminded me of Elaine. 

3. "Crawling" by Linkin Park. This band has so many songs that would qualify, but "Crawling" is an early hit that helped to redefine Nu Metal, adding something a little more interesting than crunchy guitars.

4. "What's Wrong" by Pvris. The title card says it all on a bad day. Don't even bother with the metaphor.

5. "Two Graves" by Anberlin. The band often delivers on the intensity, and their latest song is one of their edgiest. 
6. "This Conversation Is Over" by Acceptance is perfect song for walking away in the middle of a conversation going in circles.

7. "Breathing Underwater" by Mike Mains & the Branches is energizing when you're feeling down, without discrediting your bad feelings.

8. "Wish" by Paper Route is another song that borders more on the sadness. But the exasperated lyrics are like venting to a friend after a hard day.

9. "Even Rats" by The Slip is a great political song, but it's a reminder that there's a time to get out. "I hear spring's nice in Canada."

10. "Typecast" by Hidden Hospital is a song about control. Sometimes you want control and other times you're the person being controlled.

11. "Dead Inside" by Muse is perfect for after a mind-numbing day at work, especially if you are starting to distrust your company. 

12. "Misery Business" by Paramore. Woah... despite the fact that Haley Williams declared that this song is too grounded in patriarchy so the band wouldn't play it live "for a while," it's still a nice release. For those of us who are older, we might actually miss a little bit of high school drama.

13. "I'm So Sick" by Flyleaf. Or "I'm so sick of this..."

14. "Raspberry Layer Cake" by Aaron Gillespie is a song about his divorce. It's sad and angry, but at least there's cake. 

15. "The End" by Kings of Leon... "And gives them all the finger at it."

16. "Chemical" by The Devil Wears Prada reminds us that our reactions are really only chemical reactions, so calm down already!

17. "Git it Up!" by H.O.T. is hardcore K-pop.

18. "Whoz That Girl" by EXID is another aggressive song. This time, a girl is checking on her man.

19. "good 4 u" by Olivia Rodrigo is an updated version of "Misery Business" but Rodrigo certainly has her own take on the ending of her relationship. 

20. "One Way Love" by Hyolyn. I'm upset at the controlling dude, too.

21. "Shout" by Tears for Fears. Primal scream? Anger? Joy? Yes.

22. "Animal" by Kye Kye is a cynical return to the usually bright and ethereal pop group.

23. "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" by Pink Floyd.  Roy: "We don't need no education" Moss: "Yes you do. You just used a double negative!"-The I.T. Crowd. Some days it's the teachers singing this song.

24.  "I'm Horrible at Processing Rejection" by Showbread. Scream out "Let's ruin everything!" on a bad day.

25. "Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry. It's a great put down song, but it's getting less politically correct by the day.

26. "Common Ground" by NYVES. "It's end of common ground." It's a perfect song when yelling at Fox News.

27. "Heathens" (ft. MUTEMATH) by Twenty One Pilots examines the darkness in us all. It's a little bit rational to be on the angry mix, but this song is kind of like a consoling friend, agreeing with your anger on the right points.

28. "Counterfeit" by Wolves at the Gate. This big '80s-sounding chorus is a big F-you to the establishment.

29. "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Gerard Way ft. Ray Toro turns the Simon and Garfunkel song  into an angsty closer to season one of Umbrella Academy.

30. "Points of Authority/ 99 Problems / One Step Closer" JAY-Z, Linkin Park is the most aggressive song on my MLK tribute playlist.

31. "Bad Day" by Fuel. "Spilled the coffee, broke a shoe lace." Can someone make me a grilled cheese?

And that's my bad day list for now. I hope this helps you as much as it helps me.

Read “Lie To Me (Denial)” by Red on Genius