TV Girl’s ‘Who Really Cares’ is Still Monumental (10 Year Anniversary)

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In 2016, Californian band TV Girl released their second full-length album, ‘Who Really Cares‘. The bedroom pop, indie LP is filled with clever lyricism and unique sampling. The self-released record contains some of their most popular and well-loved tracks to this day. It’s a record I’ve gone back to time and time again over the last ten years and feel has a timeless sound. Every song tells a unique story, and both sides together work like a narrative. Whilst it has garnered a great deal of attention on social media, there’s so much to pick apart and delve into that most people overlook.

The album contains ten songs, with most having multiple samples interjected into them. This is a defining aspect of the LP. Brad Petering is certainly another key aspect of what makes this LP so unique. With him taking credit for vocals, songwriting, production, and mixing, he clearly had a dominant impact on its sound.

Taking What’s Not Yours

The opening track is one of my favourites on the album. Three samples fuel ‘Taking What’s Not Yours‘. The overarching beat is taken from the 1974 track ‘Strut Your Stuff‘ by Tom Scott. The funky sample opens the record in a way that lends its groove to their lo-fi, bedroom pop feel. The other two samples are focused on speech interjections.

The title of this song itself comes from an anti-piracy ad titled ‘Don’t Copy That Floppy‘ by the Software Publishers Association. The lyrics written by TV Girl focus on items left in exes’ apartments. However, the anti-piracy message works surprisingly well at sticking to the narrative. Finally, a highlight of the sampling as a whole on this album is the Richard Nixon line that comes from the infamous Watergate Tapes. I’ve always enjoyed how each of these three samples comes from very different places, yet they all work together effortlessly.

Cigarettes out the Window

One of the first TV Girl songs I heard was ‘Cigarettes out the Window‘. It paints a picture of a girl sitting smoking late at night when she can’t sleep. She knows it’s a bad habit, but she continues to do it. This comes directly from the 2012 song ‘Love Song to Jom’s Girlfriend‘ by Frankie Cosmos. I find the original to feel a lot more authentic, lacking the dreamlike quality of this one. It feels like a real confession.

The 1944 American radio show ‘Dangerously Yours‘ is sampled often in this record. ‘Cigarettes out the Window‘ is no exception. The romantic monologues and old-timey feel help communicate the overarching aesthetic of this album. I’ve heard critics judge the number of samples taken from one source before. Yet, I think it adds to the themes and patterns that keep this record so consistent.

Not Allowed

This could potentially be my favourite song of all time. It has followed me through countless experiences and different eras of my life. ‘Not Allowed‘ has many different interpretations of its lyrics. I think it would be fair to say that it is a messy and layered take on certain relationships. The chorus comes from Yeastie Girlz, with multiple of their songs used in this single.

‘Not Allowed‘ is one of TV Girl’s most popular songs. I believe this is due to its huge use on social media. The instrumental version also makes for beautiful background music in videos, so it is easy for it to become so popularised. With such a gentle, lo-fi sound, it is easy for people to get on board with and enjoy. This is one of the reasons I love this track, and the band in general. It’s easy listening that can be delved into much further if the listener wants. However, that isn’t mandatory.

Loving Machine

Whilst I’m a bigger fan of side one than side two, ‘Loving Machine‘ is a brilliant song. The jazz track ‘Some Other Time‘ by Bill Evans Trio is a fundamental part of the song. I think it really helps to keep the calming, gentle energy that plays throughout the majority of this album.

It carries themes within the lyricism that are also commonplace in many songs on ‘Who Really Cares‘. This one specifically tells the story of a girl who is with a steady boyfriend, yet doesn’t seem to feel satisfied. She stays for the stability, yet sometimes misses previous experiences of love. There’s almost a level of romanticism to the lyrics. It isn’t gritty and dirty; It’s more poetic.

Conclusion

‘Who Really Cares‘ is an LP that is timeless to me. Its songs have followed me through a variety of pivotal moments throughout my life. I’ve had a love of sampling in music my entire life, thanks to The Avalanches and Gorillaz. Yet I found this album to have some of the most innovative and useful samples I’ve ever heard. It’s quite different from my general style, but I know this LP will always be one that sticks with me. Here’s to another five years of ‘Not Allowed‘ being my most listened to song on Spotify.

Rating: 9/10

TV Girl is on Instagram and X. You can stream ‘Who Really Cares‘ below or buy it here, and read more anniversary pieces here.

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