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with relation to that last post. like cmon this is ridiculous

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Mayonaka Punch Broke Me In Pieces

Summer 2024 for anime has been slow for me since all the anime I'm anticipating are still long way to go. But, one anime stood out from the rest and it's Mayonaka Punch. An original anime from the director of Ya Boy Kongming tells a story about a cancelled YouTuber (oh sorry NewTuber) making a new channel with vampires with her goal of reaching a million subs. With this being an original anime, I wasn't expecting much apart to see maybe vampire thirsting over girls. We do get that and so far it has been a blast.

What I did not expect is to be crying and having an existential dread over the loss of somebody. Episode 1-3 is the selling hook of the anime where you can see the dynamic between Masaki and the vampires. We see that the vampires here are different than most vampires in media like getting high off of garlic or still can go outside if it's overcast. But this week's episode...I'm floored by this because not only again took the vampire character into creative territory, but also what happened when vampire befriended or even have a bond with a human.

Episode 4 is about Masaki trying to diversify the channel's content by asking her vampires colleague of their interest. Fu didn't fill in the form even before she works at an Onsen. So Masaki entered the room and found a boom box with a cassette tape still in them. After she found out about Fu's singing skills, Masaki and Live decided that they want Fu to do song cover. Fu rejected that idea and that led to the whole gang to find the reason why.

I still can't believe this anime really just dropping one of the most heartbreaking story in anime this season or even the year. The way that the story handled grief and how as a vampire, you just accept it that if you have some sort of attachment towards a human that it won't last long for you. This philosophical question is actually has been explored before with Adventure Time being the animation parallel. But, what it reminded me of (and because the song they played is like singer songwriter type) is Jason Isbell's "If We Were Vampire" which talking about old relationship that one has to die before the other and you have to overcome those grief. Using vampire as something that they wish they are but would the relationship still the same as it was if you're mortal. One lyric that caught me after relistening to it again is "Maybe time running out was a gift". There's no other way to say but part of relationship that you need to face is your own mortality and how it affected you and your partner. Maybe if one of us becoming a vampire or just not telling your human partner that you're one, and then one day you just disappear because they can't bear the disappointment or even being scared of turned away. Then you found out years later that it might be too late for you as a vampire to just relive that moment and what could have been. But in the end life keep going on as you will remember them to infinity.

I just wanna basically let out my thoughts here because as someone who's not even in her thirties yet, the thought of my mortality is already creeping in and I think this show is what I need right now to just let that feeling out. And I can't believe it came from the anime that an episode ago, is having a garlic mukbang. So yeah I highly recommend this anime.

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Billboard USA Exclusion Zone Episode 25 (07/27/2024)

Would you look at that, the week I'm back at making this running series is the one where I'm talking about the Eminem album bomb just lovely. Now I think I'm gonna streamlined this format a bit. Of course I'm still gonna talk about all of the song and album bomb rule is still in place. But I think I'm gonna review each songs a sentence or two at least one paragraph max. So that this won't take long and I don't have a burnout again. With that let's continue with this.

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36. "Habits" - Eminem ft. White Gold

Really this is how you are gonna start with this album? It's not that it's bad (it's still bad) but like this is stale as fuck. The production and White Gold hooks didn't saved this one. Next!

43. "Renaissance" - Eminem

Oh actually this is how he starts this album and honestly it's decent. The lyrics still sucks ass but at least his flow isn't as stilted as his past records like Revival. I guess I'll take it.

53. "XO (Only If You Say Yes) - ENHYPEN

The production of the song is actually quite great especially that staccato synth that reminded me of The Human Condition by Jon Bellion. The funky groove with that liquid guitar is just perfect. The biggest drawback however is those stuttering chorus and that faint chipmunk vocals. After that Jimin experiment I hope that we don't trend on this production mishaps.

66. "Woman's World" - Katy Perry

I have never seen such backlash towards any pop song quite as severe as this one. The only reason why you would care about this one is that Dr Luke is back producing for Katy. To be honest with you I can see how this song could work as a satire of feminist anthem. But my god Dr. Luke is just bad producing this one. Is it really wise to put the kick drum as the loudest part of the song while making this generic 80s pastiche? God so disappointing

70. "Did It First" - Ice Spice ft. Central Cee

Out of all the Jersey club song she has released, this one is the best produced one especially with how bright it is with the voice samples and that synth. The content....well let's just say that even though it has y2k aesthetic, the content reads like something that could only come out in 2020s.

92. "Delusion:All" - One OK Rock

Woah this is certainly a comeback. This is definitely a more expansive version of One OK Rock especially bringing in Rob Cavallo. One thing I would criticized about this song is the drum production is very clunky and can be overbearing the mix. Other than that, this is definitely a step in the right direction in my opinion.

123. "Klaxon" - G(I)-DLE

I don't know but I don't feel it with this one. G(I)-DLE always been very quirky with their production and try as they might, I just don't like how this sound. It's another bargain barrel nu disco songs but with goofy ahh noises. Hard skip for me, sorry ladies.

158. "Ohnana" - Kapo

This vocal production is straight up mixed badly like I can hear the static. Kinda tainted a pretty interesting reggaeton song with that drum pattern. Also I looked up who the hell is Kapo and it let me to some...interesting places let's just say that.

168. "Hai Yorokonde" - Kocchi No Kento

You gotta handed it to J-Pop for always saving the day with this bonkers song. Apparently this group? is fronted by Masaki Suda's brother? All I know is that this song is just damn good. This song is a mixed of nu disco with some house elements and also some J-Pop stuff that bind it together into this glorious amalgam. All I'm saying is that the chorus will stick with you and will never leave.

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OH MY GOD THIS ACCOUNT IS BACK FROM THE DEAD!

Yeah I'm back!

So short explanation as to why I was away for so long is me looking for jobs (job market sucks btw).

Long explanation is that I've been exhausted with a lot of stuff. From me not having enough to buy hrt, looking for jobs and failed interview, big writers block making me unable to make the flagship series, and all around the world has gone to shit. Being trans and bi in this day and age is very tough and the fact that I have more job offers after I shaved my hair basically bald is very telling.

Anyways yes I'm back now and I'm gonna continue to review every #1 hits from 1975 and also doing my series reviewing every debut on Global Excl US every week. Also I have some blog post now! You can read it here if you wanna know what my thoughts are for this year's chart https://someoftheircritic.blogspot.com/

That's it from me now if you excuse me, I need some coffee.

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A little update

Hello everyone, I hope everyone is having a good day and once again peace in the middle east screw you Netanyahu. Anyways, I want to make this brief little update about my content and also a certain album I will get to. But first, the content of my Tumblr account. I will still post the US Exclusion Zone and reviewing every Hot 100 #1s. But also I'm trying to probably doing a ranking on other charts beside Hot 100. So stay tuned for that I will tell you what I wanna do with that.

The other one was regarding a certain album that might make an impact two weeks from now on Billboard chart. As many of you know, rap albums rarely get the same album bomb treatment as like Latin rap, reggaeton, or even regional Mexican music. It did happened look at 21 Savage and Drake for example. But, there's another globally recognized rapper that dropped his album this week and it's Kanye West. And from the numbers seems to me that it might doing better than expected. So here's my ultimatum:

1. I will not review any songs from Vultures if it appeared on the Billboard Excl US chart.

2. Mentioning that album from this point onward will not be tolerated

3. Kanye West is an open and about alt-right at best.

4. I will still review his older songs if they charted on that chart

So yeah thanks friend for reading this take care y'all.

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Billboard USA Exclusion Zone Episode 24 (02/10/2024)

Yes I skipped a week and it's very much because last week was the worst one that I might reviewed on this show and for my mental health sake I don't want to put through David Kushner doing yet another bad Hozier impression or Benson Boone making Weezer late 2010s album cut with bad case of Lukas Grahamism. But I am more excited for this week because of a lot of shall we say Tea about this week's chart. And we actually don't start with the one that you know about, but with the one that's actually showed how fucked late stage capitalism is like. Kinda funny because it came from the band that have the lyrics "my boob and booty's hot".

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50. "Wife" by (G)I-DLE

So apparently this song was banned in SBS...because of how indecent it is. Bro you know how very much divided your country is when it comes to gender issues that a nothing burger of a song that has slight tinged of feminism in it is banned because of how indecent it is. South Korea I think you need to relax here.

95. "Praise Jah In The Moonlight" by YG Marley

So there's gonna be a Bob Marley biopic soon and seems like there's a lot of hype for the movie because his grandson's song got a viral hit with this song, making it the biggest reggae song charted since...Rude? Anyways unlike that song, this one is pure and uncut reggae which means you'll probably get the full experience if you smoke weed. I'll probably try listen to the song again with cigs but for now it's good. Also this was co-written by his mom...his mom is Lauryn Hill.

96. "Selfish" by Justin Timberlake

The fact that Justin Timberlake could now be considered as a legacy act...kinda stoked me. Well until I listened to his new singles here which...yeah this song is definitely what would a Justin Timberlake song would sound like in 2024 aka gutless and swampy.

102. "Super Lady" by (G)I-DLE

...I think Queencard might be a fluke.

104. "HISS" by Megan Thee Stallion

Alright now for the main course of the supper. I have been an avid fan of Megan ever since 2019 but I think this might be her best song to date. Also I love the fact that this song charted here and not the Nicki's response to it. Proving that people worldwide care and support Megan more than Nicki in this case (also thank god the world over still don't know who or what a Tom MacDonnald is). But yeah all the bars here connect, the beat is just the right amount of minimalist and menace. My favorite part of this song is actually that underlying bass melody. It added to the menace and venom that she spew and it worked. I know this won't last here but I'm glad that Megan exist at all.

113. "La Intencion" by Christian Nodal ft. Peso Pluma

I feel like with time a lot of corridos tumbados would refined their production and I believe this is the best produced song that I heard for the genre. It felt more tuneful and the vocal production here is clearer than ever. If say the lyrics isn't as bad this would be an all timer in corridos tumbados scene.

172. "M.A.I" by Milo j

I love it when a typical reggaeton or latin rap act would make something that sounds like something that Noah Kahan would make and it actually charted. Still waiting for the day Bad Bunny make his nu-metal song.

181. "DASH" by NMIXX

Why does this sounds like a remix between Wish I Knew You and Dang! But I'm not complaining because I think more K-Pop band should do these type of jazzy sound. I love the slap bass here and the outro is...wait was that drum n bass???

192. "Si Sabe Ferxxo" by Blessd ft. Feid

I still don't know why Feid is still here to be honest.

I highly recommend everyone to listen to these songs.

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Reviewing Every Billboard Hot 100 #1s: Laughter In The Rain by Neil Sedaka

Like I said on the Mandy review, the singles chart was a stark contrast to the album charts. And none of that contrast will be more exemplified by the fact that while the album charts are filled with classic albums from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac, the radio and the singles charts have soft rockers like Neil Sedaka topping the chart.

Now I don't have any problem with soft rock to be honest. Yes they can be cheesy and sometimes boring, but they can be one of the best songs ever written. This song...is not one of them but I do like the song. Yeah I know the lyrics are very cheesy but the lyrics are cute with how you love this girl during the rain. I do like the production of the song as well. But, his voice is so feminine that it sounds like the most wholesome sapphic song ever. But yeah nothing too complicated about this, it's just good

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Reviewing Every Billboard Hot 100 #1s: Please Mr. Postman by Carpenters

Feels like when you're talking about the easy listening act of the 70s, you'll be encountering the duo Carpenters. They're one of the best selling acts of the 70s and it wasn't even close. Even though by 1975 their star power have dwindling especially with the rise of disco and more importantly glam rock. Because of that we'll be only talking about them with their only #1 hit of 1975 which is a cover of Please Mr. Postman.

To be honest just like Mandy, your tolerant of these type of sounds came down to the composition and I must say that even if their popularity had been declining, their production and composition are always consistent and most of Carpenters songs are great so yeah. I do still prefer the original of course I'm not insane, but this reminded me of Phil Collins' cover of You Can't Hurry Love. Just a chipper version of the original but added something that's authentic to them that you like it anyways. For this one is definitely the instrumental breakdown of the outro that really elevated this song. I'll give it a B-

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There's something very specific about how some people draw girls' hands touching the skin of other girls and the shape of girls' fingers and especially girls' fingers interlocking that kind of makes me go aaaaahhhh

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Every Billboard Hot 100#1 Hits Review: Mandy by Barry Manilow

To all of those people who said that "music used to be better back the" on every single music videos of rap songs, well sit down because I'm gonna review one of those "old classic". Anyways 70s are known for a lot of things. Like war, disco, the gaudy fashion, and more. But the one thing that dominated America at large even till the early 80s is easy listening AM radio singles. Because a lot of the bands you think of when you talked about 70s music, your Bowie, your Led Zeppelin, etc, never really being played on the radio except a few times. Instead, the biggest stars from AM radio era were the likes of Paul Anka, Frankie Valli, Donnie Osmond, and the man we're talking about today Barry Manilow.

Yes he has more hits than Copacabana and I Write The Song. And yes this song is as cheesy and over the top as those easy listening stuff. I mean the composition here is actually quite decent especially that bass and the strings. But this grand composition doesn't warrant the subject matter which is just a break up song about this guy wallow in his break up with a girl called Mandy. Yeah that's what we are dealing with and there'll be more of these for the next day to come. Seems like this has been forgotten and I don't blame people to not listen to this song even after it became the most popular song for a week in America. C-

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Reviewing Every Billboard Hot 100 #1s: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by Elton John

Yup I'm back reviewing every #1 songs on Billboard Hot 100 but this time with a bit of a twist. You see I stopped doing this for a while because I'm burned out, but also the #1s from 2023 are just the worst thing ever and I don't wanna talk about the songs that became #1 that year till probably 2040. So how about we go back in time and talked about songs that became the most popular in a certain year. To start this experiment I will try and review every #1 songs of 1975...which have 35 songs.

Reviewing old songs can be a doozy because you have to give some context for the song you are reviewing since some of your viewers or readers didn't experienced the songs when it came out. So this song is actually a cover by Elton John from Sgt. Pepper album by The Beatles. And the original song is a classic especially expanding the sound from Revolver. Also around this time, cover songs are more likely to became a hit so we'll probably see more cover songs during this year. But how was the cover?

Well at least getting the backing from John Lennon does helped. But there's one problem with this song that I think will be a reoccurring problem with 1975. Mainly that the song is too long. I know with those six minutes runtime Elton added a lot more stuff like the instrumental break and the rearrangement. But even the next year there will be The Beatles deepcut that hit the top ten. So I think for me this song is good, but definitely we'll see a better Elton John songs soon. I'll give this a B (yes I'm rating the song now).

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actually being transgender is fucking awesome i get to look like this in real life

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Billboard USA Exclusion Zone Episode 23 (01/27/2024)

I have like four things I want to say about the chart at the moment

Seems like this year will a test for the established artists from the 2010s as to how they'll adapt to 2020s especially with the TikTok generation

Speaking of TikTok, it's no secret that the app basically dictate what becomes a hit or not. But looking at the chart as a whole and I couldn't helped myself and think that these songs wouldn't be as high as it is if there's no TikTok

21 Savage seemingly has reached the stardom that big rappers before him that he even worked with in the 2020s. With this week we have 21 Savage album bomb and I will talked about the three highest charting songs from the album

The fact that I already got 2 songs that would probably appeared on my best list that debuted this week.

Something to think about really. Anyways debut time!

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1. "Yes, And?" by Ariana Grande

See this is why I said that established artists will have to adapt to the 2020s sensibility and only get some immediate effect and nothing else. I do like the song and I'd say this is her best lead singles since No Tears Left To Cry with the late 80s house and the Vogue by Madonna samples. But I don't see a lot of hype from this at least on normie circle. So yeah the song is good but I'm worried about her next album

5. "Bizarrap Music Session, Vol 58" by Bizarrap & Young Miko

Even though I don't speak Spanish, I can sense that this song is aspiritional and celebrating the success by the production alone. The piano, the 2010s style percussion, and how tasteful it felt especially coming from Bizarrap. This is actually sounds like what Official HIGE DANdism would've made to be honest. Another great offering from Biza

16. "Redrum" by 21 Savage

Seems like 21 listened to MONACO by Bad Bunny and be like "yeah sure I have better samples here lmao" and that's how this song was made. All jokes aside yeah I can say this is perfect lead off singles. It sets the tone for the album and I love that samples.

17. "Igual Que Un Angel" by Kali Uchis ft. Peso Pluma

You know, I've always reserved with whenever Kali Uchis released at first because her brand of loose rnb music can be intimidating sometimes. But with this and the rest of the album, the feeling I got is just warm welcome. This song is excellent and the fact that this song made Peso Pluma sounds great not just good. Yeah this is best list material.

37. "nee-nah" by 21 Savage ft. Travis Scott & Metro Boomin

You can't do no wrong with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin but I'm surprised with Travis Scott here. He sounds more focused and better than his performance on Utopia. The song also just sounds great in general. Seems like his work on Spidervese soundtrack has done something with Metro because wow this sound so full and lush. The samples at the start with that trap percussion and of course the Nina Simone samples. It's a vibe and a half.

48. "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" by Creepy Nuts

It's not even the end of January and we already have the best anime opening contender. Now with this one, opening for season 2 of Mashle, it has an uphill battle for it to be like best of the season so far. But somehow this song is unique even for anime opening standard, because this is straight up jersey club song even right down to the Trillville bed squeek. And the MC here R-Shitei just rap his ass off here. My god I am flabbergasted that this song exist at all.

53. "n.h.i.e" by 21 Savage ft. Doja Cat

So apparently this one is for Scarlet and yet it was given for 21 Savage. And yup this is definitely a Scarlet cut right down to the swapping bass and Doja Cat doing her Doja Cat shit. This would be like high tier Scarlet song but definitely middle tier American Dream song.

138. "J CHRIST" by Lil Nas X

Okay I think we need to talk about how we are assessing Lil Nas X as a phenomenom or as an artist. Because while this song is good, the way that people just don't care about this at all is telling especially when you remembered his last hit is a theme song for a League of Legends tournament. If I were you Lil Nas I would just released the Kesha cut as the second singles.

140. "First Love" by Oscar Ortiz X Edgardo Nunez

I usually like a lot of cumbia songs in general but I feel like something missing here. Maybe the percussion isn't defined or the performance from both artists are half assed. Feels like I should like this more than I do.

143. "Hola Perdida" by Luck Ra X KHEA

Well then this is the first merengue song since that mishapen collab between Manuel Turizo and Marshmello. I will say that I hope that we get more songs like this to spice up the latin pop scenes

146. "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield

This is actually my gf's favorite song did you know that? Also with this and Murder On The Dancefloor both becoming viral hits because it appeared on movies, we can safely say that the influence of New Radicals are still alive even in 2020s.

168. "Never Lose Me" by Flo Milli

You know I would congratulate Flo Milli for appearing on this chart because these type of songs aren't usually crossed over outside the US. I would say more but this is definitely one of the trap-n-B song of all time.

176. "Apocalypse" by Cigarettes After Sex

You know Cigarettes After Sex is an apt name for this band because this is probably the most empty, disposible, and forgettable indie rock song I've heard. The lyrics also so melodramatic to the point of agonizing. Hard pass.

181. "O Me Voy O Te Vas" by Natanael Cano

I wasn't sure how Natanael Cano could be the father for corridos tumbados until I listened to this song. Like Todd always said that this song sounds like it has existed since the beginning of time and that's the appeal of it really.

191. "King Shit" by Shubh

I should've corrected myself that there's also a rise in rap songs made by the Punjabi community in Canada and things can get really messy there. They usually bring the sound that usually appeared on Punjabi or general Indian sound and make a rap song out of it. Honestly I should learn more about this because this genre could be big one day.

197. "When We Were Young (The Logical Song)" by David Guetta ft. Kim Petras

Meanwhile this song is not that and it's basically just David Guetta playing catchup on the rising trance comeback and it's just as empty as you expected.

I highly recommend everyone to listen to these songs.

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Billboard USA Exclusion Zone Episode 22 (01/21/2024)

Sorry for the late upload here. Not only the chart was postponed due to MLK Day, but also the new entries here I'm kinda struggling with. This is what happened in between busy weeks alright. So let's just get through this and be excited for next week because...oh boy.

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74. "Una Foto" by Mesita X NICKI NICOLE X Tiago PZK X Emillia

You know it's gonna be a quiet week when this song is the top debut. Look while I do like the production on this one a bit more than some of these Argentinian reggaeton joint, I would probably be forgetting about this one in record time.

127. "Love 119" by RIIZE

This reminded me of those rap ballad that was made during the hayday of EXILE but with trap percussion and production. I do look forward to these kinds of sound in boy groups though.

178. "Skyfall" by Adele

Definitely the best James Bond song during the Daniel Craig era. Though I don't know why this doing here so high. Is there James Bond themed TikTok trends that I don't know?

185. "No Te Quieren Conmigo" by Gaby Music ft. Lunay & Luar La L

A perfect song to filled a thermostat to (yes I did that because I know this song would probably be gone within five weeks or so).

187. "La Falda" by Myke Towers

The fact that Myke Towers chose to released LALA is kinda baffling especially when his usual material like this are better produced than most reggaeton songs.

190. "O Maahi" by Arijit Singh

I think the more interesting fact about this and other songs from Bollywood movies is that streaming sites like Spotify have taken over and we will probably see more of these in the future. Let's hope that those songs didn't sound like this.

193. "FTCU" by Nicki Minaj

It's also interesting how the biggest song from the new Nicki album only just now charted on Global Excl US chart. Anyways, I'd say this is probably the best song on the album since this is what I want in Nicki. Strong beat, composed rapping, and good lyrics.

I highly recommend everyone listen to these songs.