Originally an affiliate of the hyper-influential 2000s art collective Paper Rad, the band Extreme Animals now has well over two decades of music, video, and mayhem under their belt. In that time, the duo of Jacob Ciocci and David Wightman—also known as DJ George Costanza—have mined musical forms both outré (nü metal, pop trance) and counterculturally sanctioned (rap, noise, experimental electronic) to create a body of work that functions as much as a cultural investigation as it does skewed pop music in earnest. What is rainbow rock? That is a conversation for a different day.

With a good portion of the band’s vast catalog now on Nina, we thought it would be a great time to ask them about some of their personal Best Songs. Read their answers and listen to their recent release, Should I Delete My Channel?, below.

Best song to listen to while dining at Panera? 

“Sweet But Psycho” by Ava Max

Jacob: You gotta jam to Pantera in Panera.

David: For Panera, I’m pairing my You Pick Two® with Ava Max “Sweet but Psycho.” “I'm-ma-ma-ma out my mind!” Not that you asked, but for Taco Bell, nothing goes better with a Baja Blast Zero Sugar than Michelle Branch.

Best song by a North Carolina indie rock band?

“Wrong” by Archers of Loaf

David: I initially thought “gotta pick a Polvo song”... like “Vibracobra” or “My Kimono,” which, the latter, has universal harmonic resonances … But I think I have to go with Superchunk “Precision Auto” which kind of embodies the restless nature that comes out of the boredom and potential of a southern college town—very relatable since we grew up in Chapel Hill. Google the amazing 90s Chapel Hill/Carrboro Super 8 video by Norwood Cheek!

Sorry, but as though I’m back at Panera, I gotta “Pick Two” and add “Billboard” by Wednesday. The video also does a great job of capturing the fun parts of being in a band.

Jacob: “Wrong” by Archers Of Loaf was one of a few go-to “local music” (LOL) anthems dubbed to tape and blasted in car stereos by mid-90’s Chapel Hill High School juniors and seniors, as they prepared to drive away for their brief but triumphant one hour “off-campus lunch privilege.”

David: Oh, we covered “Wrong” on our 2006 CD-R Music, The Great Communicator.

Best song to smother and cover with airhorns?

In C by Terry Riley

David: These days I’m going with Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” or maybe something by Harrisburg’s Fuel like “Shimmer” or “Hemorrhage.” Followed by the rowdy “I Don’t Want To Be” by Gavin Degraw. Shout out One Tree Hill!

Jacob: I’ve always wanted to drop air horns along with Funkmaster Flex-style explosions at strategic moments throughout Terry Riley’s 42-minute minimalist masterpiece.

Best song that makes you wish you were driving on tour to go play a poorly-attended show at a basement or warehouse? 

“Party Hard” by Andrew W.K.

David: Brian Lehrer on WNYC.

Jacob: On our very first tour in summer 2002 we would probably listen to Andrew W.K. “Party Hard” in the station wagon CD player, perhaps parked outside the venue, perhaps desperately trying to fight off the dread of playing live music in front of people. 

Best song for headbanging?

“Get Up!” by Korn (Feat. Skirllex)

Jacob: These lyrics are so absurd: “I, I am clearly broken and no one knows what to do / Pieces of the puzzle don't fit / So, I pound them into you.”

David: The first four songs on Hatebreed’s Perseverance, which, in my mind, is like one big song. Maybe I’m old fashioned but you can’t beat lyrics that border on new age, self-help text over hardcore/metal. Who doesn’t want to “face your torment and dismantle your doubt”?!? I feel like if you need to turn your life around, listen to those first four songs first thing in the morning everyday for like three months and things are bound to change.

Best song that reminds you of 2002?

“Biblical Violence” by Hella

David: Maybe not “best,” but “most” 2002 song: Cam’Ron “Oh Boy.” Abrasive song made of dulcet parts. I have fond memories of hearing this on the radio as I would drive to Extreme Animals band practice from Chapel Hill to Jacob’s parent’s house in Hillsborough in the hot summer of 2002. Maybe stop at Bojangles and get a biscuit and Cheerwine on the way.

Jacob: I’ll never forget hearing “Hella Good” by No Doubt on the radio, in the station wagon, as we drove around the East Coast of the USA on our very first Extreme Animals tour. The commercialized electroclash (produced by the Neptunes!) seemed like a pivot that came out of nowhere for this band. My (probably wrong) memory of the music video is that it had a kind of Mad Max mixed with black-and-white ska checkers mixed with new wave face paint, but on a yacht kind of vibe. Unrelated: I’d love to hear what happens to your mind if you play “Hella Good” back to back with “Biblical Violence” by Hella!!! Over and over for 2002 hours.

Best song that reminds you of 2012?

“Hot Cheetos & Takis” by YN RichKids

David: 2012 was an amazing year for music: Carly Rae “Call Me Maybe,” Taylor’s faux dubstep song “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Britney’s “Scream and Shout” from The Smurf’s Original Motion Picture Soundtrack … Giovanna “Me and My Puppy.”

Jacob: “Hot Cheetos and Takis” in some ways felt like the perfect way to close out the Rebecca Black/Ark Music Factory era … It still sounds great to me. A bit earlier than 2012 there was a great NPR story about how Flaming Hot Cheetos were being banned in public schools across the country. I remember a kid screaming into the interviewer’s mic: “WHEN I EAT HOT CHEETOS I GET CRAZY!!!”

Best song for playing with your troll collection?

"Wizards in Winter" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

David: “Far Over Misty Mountains Cold” by Traditional Dwarf Folk Melody. All 26 quatrains.

Jacob: Over this past Christmas I introduced my six-year-old to the work of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. After carefully listening to most of the catalogue, one song became the obvious favorite: "Wizards in Winter.” We then listened to "Wizards in Winter” on repeat for the majority of our 14 hour drive home. Despite this sonic inundation, “Wizards of Winter” still manages to conjure powerful images in my mind of an epic battle between various warring Clans of Ice Trolls, trained in the Ancient Arts of Wintery Wizardry.

Best song that you wish you have sampled but you haven’t actually sampled?

Family Guy Theme Song

David: I know this will be impossible to not make cheesy but that’s a part of it—the challenge! Sorry to say … “Baby Shark”?!? Or the part in “Wanna Be” by GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion where Megan says “’Bout 20 missed calls / He faded / White boy wasted, Channing Tatum.”

Jacob: The part of the Family Guy theme song where Stewie goes “laugh and cry.”

Best rainbow rock song?

“Hidden City of Taurmond” by Wizardzz

David: I wanna say “Ride the Sky” or “Assassins” by Lightning Bolt, which to me is the definitive Rainbow Rock band. But also “No More Forever” by USAISAMONSTER, is a song, like Polvo’s “My Kimono,” which has universal resonances and is bigger than music. Whenever I pick up a new guitar, that is the first riff I play. 

Jacob: I’m gonna go with two relatively obscure first-wave Rainbow Rock bands. Either “Glimpses of the Hidden City” or Dr. Doo, live at O’Brien’s 2006.