#1. great debut. 2. not great sophomore but still good. 3. guys what is this?? there's like 10 songs completely indistinguishable from

[blunderpuff]

THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Franz Ferdinand (the band) has announced it will release an album in January 2025!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[therecordscratch]

Album Review!

SWMRS - Berkeley’s On Fire

Released February 15, 2019

Guys, this review is a big one : SWMRS’ sophomore album Berkeley’s On Fire is one of my favorite album’s of 2019 hands down, I could talk about this album for hours so before I write a novel, Let’s go: 

Track 1 : Berkeley’s on Fire - This title track is a fucking wake up! SWMRS know how to catch your attention and get you by your ass. Joey Armstrong’s badass drumming carries this Cole Becker fronted song and if you know anything about SWMRS, you know Cole’s songs go hard. The lyrics, as usual from the band, poke fun while also speaking a message. The lyrics: Your TV lies are ones that punch you in the face and again, get you to wake up and listen. Have I mentioned the guitar yet? Ugh, does it ever pull this song together! Do yourself a favor and blast this song and I guarantee you won’t be able to stand still. 

Track 2 : Too Much Coffee - This is the first Max Becker vocal song on the tracklist and wow does it make you feel warm and exhausted at the same time. The beginning guitar gives a whimsical vibe and when the lead guitar comes in, you know this song will be good. I couldn’t think of more relatable lyrics if I tried: I had too much coffee and I didn’t eat breakfast. The stress basically drips from this song and you kinda wanna give Max a hug while also knowing exactly what he’s singing about. Personally, it takes my exhausted and irritated energy and puts it into a song about change and how we cope with that. Don’t skip this track! Save it for when life beats you down. 

Track 3 : Trashbag Baby - My favorite single so far and if any track is a great example of the maturity in SWMRS, it’s this one. This song, as they stress, is about being an emotional garbage can for the people around you and man do I ever feel that. An all out jam that never fails to get me going. The duet style with both Cole and Max adds that extra layer to this song that takes it around one base twice. From the intro guitars to the straight forward lyrics, this song brings it. 

Track 4 : Lose Lose Lose - Talk about a song that goes fucking HARD. Another Cole fronted track that makes you lose your damn mind. The breakdown of this song with the percussion with the solid bass? This song cannot do wrong. At first listen, the Spanish lyrics maybe a bit confusing, however, Cole sings about some pretty powerful women revolutionaries - Read more here! Every time I hear this song, the layers in that final chorus make me go harder than ever. Man, do SWMRS know how to make an absolute banger. 

Track 5 : April In Houston - I’ll be honest, this song had to grow on me, but damn once I opened my eyes and really listened, this song became one of my favorites. Cole explained at my concert that this song was about loved ones and that stuck with me. The lyrics: Everybody wants to get me high, but where will I go when I’m low? Always resonated with me and encapsulates the whole vibe of this song. Also, we hear you Jakub Armstrong, singing that line that makes us lose lose lose our minds: Drums in my ear, just what I need. Give this song a listen a few times and I guarantee it’ll treat you well.

Track 6 : Lonely Ghost - Shame on me, another song I blew past through first listen but this track provides a great break from the other subject matter in this album, while still staying connected to the overarching sound. Antisocialites can relate to this anthem, I love the beat of this song too, the drums and guitar really play off each other and it works no doubt! Again, give this song another listen if you did it dirty on the first go. 

Track 7 : Ikea Date - The return of Max fronted songs, this soft and gentle love song is one to make you feel warm on the inside, even if you don’t have a lovie to share it with. The fun and light lyrics pair well with the simple, yet interesting instrumentals. Max voice is one easily pictured just woken up in a dazed serenade and man, does this song make you feel good inside. I can’t go back to sleep without you makes me smile every time it’s sung in this childlike and innocent love jam. 

Track 8 : Hellboy - Talk about a stark contrast! Another high energy Cole song that absolutely brings it. The first verse: Charlie Manson is alright/It ain’t no worse than all the violence you say Jesus liked/At least old Charlie took the blame/For all the violence we committed in his name Gets heavy with his reference to the sick people justifying decisions based on their religious beliefs. SWMRS have been known to not beat around the bush when it comes to using their platform to stand up for what they believe in as people, not only musicians. That’s pretty damn cool.

Track 9 : Bad Allergies - An underdog track that never fails to make me feel something. Seasonal depression is real, and does this song ever take it on. Max’s vocals on this song make it that much more soft and relatable. The dazed sound from the simple guitar riffs and shakers give this song a vibe of autumn leaves (ironically) and internal struggles. The bridge where it’s just acoustic guitar and Max’s voice? Never gets old. This track is absolutely one of my favorites from this album, and maybe SWMRS as a whole.

Track 10 : Steve Got Robbed - Ending this song on a light note, this song is, well, about Steve getting robbed. A song that makes you laugh and dance as you feel for the guy. Apparently based on a true story, this song starts off with a pretty sick layered vocal part with those scratchy guitars and a bopping bass line - A great way to end a fantastic album.

Album Overview - Listen to me when I tell you, SWMRS is a band to watch for. Their previous debut album Drive North set the stage and Berkeley’s on Fire danced on it. The themes of this album run deep and there’s a song for every person, every mood, every time of day. From beginning to end this album grabs you by the balls and takes you for a ride. One of my favorite albums of 2019 and for damn good reason. Give it a listen, you won’t regret it. 

Let me know what you think of this album! If you have an album you’d like me to review, shoot me an ask! Until then, I’ll talk to you guys in the next one. 

Source: Genius

[goodbysunball]

Best of 2017

Countering the truly embarrassing news cycle of the past year was the deluge of great new music released upon the world, so much so that I’m leaving a good chunk of more than deserving albums hanging. To simplify everything, this is a compendium of what was played most around here, along with a handful of new-to-me reissues/archival releases.

I skipped doing the rap recap this year because my list was so pathetically brief, and doing so seemed both short-sighted and irrelevant. That being said: Quelle Chris’ Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often was my favorite album, followed by Starlito’s Manifest Destiny and Playboi Carti’s vapid, relentlessly fun album. Goldlink’s “Crew” featuring Brent Faiyaz and Shy Glizzy was my favorite song, like everyone else.

Full list of 30 records below. We’ll do better next year.

LP

12. Mount Trout, Screwy (self-released)

This unassuming, digital-only gem crept up on me as the months turned cold. Scraps of paper with notes written on them are held afloat by spare guitar lines; elsewhere winds whip in and chaos overtakes clarity. Lots of the lyrics sound like half-thoughts that forced themselves out after extended periods of solitude, sometimes peaceful, sometimes anguished. Screwy rewards patient attention without dragging you through the mud - but it’s there, should you need to cool off.

11. Group Doueh & Cheveu, Dakhla Sahara Session (Born Bad)

The intriguing pairing on Dakhla Sahara Session turns out to be one of the best surprises of the year, and easily one of the most listenable. Cheveu’s robotic yet effervescent contributions are immediately recognizable, as are Group Doueh’s swirling guitar lines and sweeping vocals; the two fit in and around each other, explosion welded together into a foundation for a colored smoke tower.

10. Leda, Gitarrmusik III-X (Förlag För Fri Musik)

The two people behind Neutral put out a lot of music this year, most of it well worth hunting down despite its highly limited, premium price barrier. I can’t claim to have heard everything, but by my count the two best were Neutral’s När mini-LP and Leda’s limited-to-100 Gitarrmusik III-X LP. Most of this sounds like King Blood collaborating with Robert Turman, looping machinations mixing with heavily distorted shredding, all of it recorded in a metal-walled bunker. Doesn’t sound like much on paper, but when you arrive at “Gitarrmusik VIII” and “IX,” time just about stops. (If you missed out, “Gitarrmusik I” and “II” are available here.)

9. The Body & Full of Hell, Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light (Thrill Jockey)

The first collaboration between these two heavyweights was a slow grower, both bands clearing the land by seeing how far out they could push their respective versions of extreme metal. Ascending, then, is the sound of the two bands communicating as one. The immediate standout is “Farewell, Man,” exactly what comes to mind when one imagines what kind of song the Body and Full of Hell could write together. But tracks like “Our Love Conducted With Shields Aloft,” all free drumming, violently humming noise and sandblasted vocals, hint at a broader, uglier horizon.

8. Bad Breeding, Divide (Iron Lung/La Vida Es Un Mus)

One of the year’s nastier hardcore records, and a reminder that the shitstorm at home extends across the Atlantic, too. The band’s got enough chops to rip through every track here - check out that stuttering riff on “Anamnesis,” and how it comes roaring back after a quick respite - but the best songs close each side. The screaming of “Now what?” that concludes “Leaving” is chilling, and serves as one of the best summations of this mess of a year.

7. The Terminals, Antiseptic (Ba Da Bing)

I’ve been hankerin’ for more Steven Cogle ever since that self-titled Dark Matter LP, and if that’s one of your favorite records of recent yore like it is mine, you oughta get your mitts on Antiseptic. The long-running band is absent Brian Crook, but he is ably replaced by Nicole Moffat, who also appeared on Dark Matter; her violin seeps into the empty pores, creating a dense, beautiful atmosphere ripe for Cogle’s powerful vocals. The deal’s done by the time “Edge of the Night” hits.

6. Taiwan Housing Project, Veblen Death Mask (Kill Rock Stars)

Wrecking crew led by Kilynn Lunsford and Mark Feehan brings the heat, here as two parts of a six-piece ensemble. The ten tracks on here range from caustic to catchy (”Eat or Be Eat” into “Luminous Oblong Blur” for the former, “Multidimensional Spectrum” for the latter), accentuated by sax blurts and ever-present static grime. If that ain’t enough, lyrics acidic enough to melt bone make Veblen Death Mask a complete meal worth droolin’ over.

5. Sida, s/t (Population)

The Theoreme LP that came out last year turned into one of my favorites this year, syrupy-thick industrial body music from one Maissa D. She fronts Sida, and she turns in the vocal performance of the year on their first LP. She seemed more restrained as Theoreme but that’s all out the window here; "Qu'Est-Ce Qui T'As Pris?” ups the ante and things don’t slow down from there. The band, for their part, turn in a burly and caustic punk/no wave hybrid that does all it can to keep up. An aural steamroller.

4. Omni, Multi-task (Trouble In Mind)

It was a real mistake to not include Omni’s deceptively catchy debut Deluxe on my year-end list last year, so when they came back and made an even better record, credit is due. Not sure how Frankie Broyles doesn’t sprain his wrist or let melodies go off the rails, but his snappy drumming and spindly guitar work are the stars of the show. The lyrics slyly present a general malaise with modern romance, and when it all clicks, like on “Supermoon” into “Date Night,” strap in.

3. Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, Rot (R.I.P. Society/What’s Your Rupture?)

Ready for Boredom was a great album full of weary-headed anthems, and it looks like growin’ up hasn’t come any easier for these bedwetters on Rot. The Boys left their glam rock tendencies (i.e., “Sally”) behind this time, and they stick to making gruff pop songs for people whose weeks slip by uneventfully more and more frequently. Songs like “Plastic Tears” and “Device” are urgent and unbelievably catchy, and whoever did the vocals on “Work Again” needs more time at the mic. The Replacements are still a good reference point for these guys, but after two rock-solid albums, it’s time they get to shed that flattering-yet-overbearing label and lay claim to this sound that they’ve perfected.

2. Dreamdecay, YÚ (Iron Lung)

Man, Dreamdecay are so good. They’ve softened the edges from N V N V N V but they’re even more potent this time around, figuring out how to include big slow-moving guitar riffs in a nominally punk framework. Songs like “Mirror” just about leave you on the floor with the guitar theatrics, while “IAN” is a one-way ticket to the stratosphere. All of it sounds incredible, and I think Andrew Earles said it best, so I’ll let him do the honors: “YÚ could easily rearrange how someone thinks about music… in that unforgettable way that stays with the experiencer forever.”

1. Aaron Dilloway, The Gag File (Dais)

What more can I say about The Gag File? I have gushed. Not only a complete statement of an album, but one of the only records to force a localized shutdown when it’s on, keeping everything else at arm’s length. A world unto its own. Clear the cobwebs out.

7″/12″

Anxiety, Wild Life 7″ (La Vida Es Un Mus)

There’s a good bit of cornball humor present in Anxiety’s lyrics and credited band member names, the sort of thing that has persisted/pervaded a lot of modern punk and hardcore. But these guys sell it, and more: with better (read: less juvenile) lyrics, sly and self-deprecating; a monster vocal performance (”Dumped” especially); and a blistering intensity that oughta put their peers on notice.

Bent, Mattress Springs 7″ (Emotional Response)

Bent’s been on my radar since their Non Soon tape, and this year they dropped the Snakes & Shapes LP, every bit the shifting, shambling and at times annoyingly silly experience Non Soon prepped me for. The Mattress Springs 7″ came soon after, and compressed all the best parts of the LP (including “Mattress Springs”) into several minutes of leaky roof drums, hypnotic bass lines and smothered, frantic guitar parts.

Crack Cloud, Anchoring Point 7″ (Good Person)

Whereas Bent are happy to let their songs droop and flow, Crack Cloud come across as almost militaristic in their approach. Perfectly rehearsed, not a hair out of place, and yet as urgent as anything released under the banner of post-punk in the past however-many-years. The first three jagged and dense tracks whip in and cut out, just in time but somehow just too soon; “Philosopher’s Calling” is the payoff.

Hothead, Richie Records Summer Singles Series 7″ (Richie)

The Richie Records Summer Singles Series once again distinguished itself in a household where 7″s aren’t really given the time of day. Sure, Writhing Squares Too breathed life into krautrock in 2017, and David Nance’s "Amethyst” is kingdom come on the right day, but Hothead? Their shambling take on two covers (and a quick sketch) netted them the gold.

Mordecai, What Is Art? 7″ (Sophomore Lounge)

Mordecai is one of America’s great treasures, ain’t no way around it. Their Abstract Recipe LP on Richie from this year is great, reclaiming the highs of Neil’s Generator while pushing further from their influences - but the two disparate sides of this 7″ compress everything great about the band into a tidy package. The A-side rambles out of the gate in the same way Abstract Recipe does, whereas the B-side goes all Don Howland: low fidelity, downtrodden but toe-tapping. Buy everything they’ve recorded.

Mutual Jerk, s/t 7″ (State Laughter)

“He’s really a nice guyyy” begins the A-side track “He’s Harmless,” and hoo boy you better sit down for this one, because that bass line is not quitting anytime soon. Feeble excuses pile up, a disinterested defense of a friend presented with a mocking snarl until the constant pummel causes the dam to burst. The flip cynically covers comfortable suburban lifestyles and macho hardcore, two new takes on No Trend's vast influence, but not quite reaching the impossible heights of song-of-the-year “He’s Harmless.”

Neutral, När 12″ (Omlott)

Neutral’s self-titled LP quickly turned into a favorite here in the early months of 2017. The duo kept busy all year, eventually releasing this mini-LP that favors electronics over guitars. The brittle backbone is the perfect support for Sofie Herner’s fragile yet mechanical vocals, a fitting soundtrack for a walk home so cold your eyelashes freeze. Shadow music that lacks a distinct time or place but leaves a flood of sensory overload in its wake.

Scorpion Violente, The Stalker 12″ (Bruit Direct Disques)

“The Wound”’s slow ooze remains one of my favorite musical moments of the year; there’s a reason it’s the only one you can’t stream via Bandcamp. Pay up, because if any modern label deserves your money, it’s Bruit Direct Disques.

The Shifters, “A Believer” b/w “Contrast of Form” (Market Square)

Brilliant little single of downer pop from the Shifters, whose self-titled cassette gained them a lot of Fall comparisons and was previously mined for a 7″ by It Takes Two. But it looks like they’ve got ambitions beyond the record nerd cadre: both songs are immediately satisfying without imparting a sticky sweetness - who can find fault with that?

Straightjacket Nation, s/t 12″ (La Vida Es Un Mus)

This is the punk record of the year for me, one that maybe got lost in the deluge of releases from La Vida Es Un Mus. If you wanna learn about effective vocal delivery in hardcore, please see “2021.” Eight tracks, all meat. Please tour the US.

Reissue/Archival

I don’t really feel too qualified to comment on music largely made before I was born, especially since I am the owner of several 2017 reissues with flowery press kits that I will probably never listen to again. But if you’re gonna be a sucker, let a sucker clue you in to these tried-and-true slabs deserving of any and all accolades. Unrepresented here, somewhat criminally, is the Black Editions, a label doing really amazing work reviving the P.S.F. catalog.

The And Band / Perfect Strangers, Noli Me Tangere split 7″ (Look Plastic/Noisyland)

Noli Me Tangere is two sides of barely-music from early ‘80s Christchurch, with this new edition featuring extensive liner notes from George Henderson, he of the And Band (and perhaps more recognizably, the Spies and the Puddle). Both sides showcase a coupla outcasted NZ bands supporting each others’ avant-scrawl, as inspirational as it is baffling.

Byron Morris & Gerald Wise, Unity LP (Eremite)

Freedom music, full of raw intensity (”Byard Lancaster did push-ups when not playing”) and fiery exchanges. The two sidelong pieces are demanding of your full attention, repaid in kind with chills so deep you’ll swear a spirit passed through ya.

Cosey Fanni Tutti, Time to Tell LP (Conspiracy International)

Gorgeous reissue with a foil-stamped gatefold and a huge booklet full of ephemera from the recording period. Less Throbbing Gristle menace than new age shimmer, especially on the B-side; the gentle ascent is the natural conclusion once you’ve lived through the stunning title track. Cosey, take me away.

Die Tödliche Doris, “ “ LP (États-Unis)

Brutally minimalistic post-punk from early ‘80s Germany, painstakingly restored by the Superior Viaduct sub-label États-Unis. The A-side is full of blistering, manic bursts; the flip smoothes things out, allowing ideas to stick around, proving this approach works in both short- and long-form. Call it ZNR meets DNA.

Harry Pussy, A Real New England Fuck Up LP (Palilalia)

Two live sets, one on each side, both monstrous and in shockingly high fidelity, especially given the circumstances detailed by Tom Lax and Tom Carter on the sleeve. The show from T.T. the Bear’s is the performance I always want (”Harry Pussy took the stage and sandblasted the night into oblivion”) and rarely get.

Khan Jamal Creative Art Ensemble, Drum Dance to the Motherland LP (Eremite)

Capping off a brilliant year for Eremite was a beautiful reissue of Drum Dance to the Motherland’s cosmic transmission. All of the hyperbolic reviews ring true when “Inner Peace” stumbles into a groove, but my favorite part is the almost painfully shrill horns on the title track.

Meat Thump, “Metal Gun” b/w “Left to Rust” 7″ (Coward Punch)

Coward Punch Records kept the memory of Brendon Annesley alive with a couple of archival Meat Thump 7″ers this year. The earlier one was good, but didn’t quite hit home; here, “Metal Gun” could be twice its length, and “Left to Rust” rambles down my spine in the same way that still-great “Box of Wine” 7″ does.

V/A, Oz Waves LP (Efficient Space)

I did not have more fun this year than when I was dancing along to this record like a poorly operated marionette, which was every time “Will I Dream?” started. Efficient Space continues to deliver the goods I didn’t know I needed.

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 10th November 2019

I think I should give an update on what I’m listening to as I don’t often do that on this show. Hold on, let’s check my last.fm... oh, yeah, 300 scrobbles for Weezer – in the past week. I really have hit rock bottom.

Top 10

For what should be the sixth consecutive week now, “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I is at #1, and somehow that’s the only thing staying stable amongst all the chaos as while I’d like to think this was a relaxed week where it cleared out everything from the JESUS IS KING album bomb and left only the remnants of that busy week, it really wasn’t, and instead was a full-on avalanche by its own accord.

The first most obvious example of that is “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, debuting at #2, and that’s pretty much the only example of this week’s generally manic appearance in the top 10, as the huge comeback single becomes Dua Lipa’s 12th UK Top 40 hit and her seventh top 10 hit, her first top 10 since “Electricity” with Silk City peaked at #4 in 2018. I’ll be speaking more in depth about that song later.

Otherwise, we don’t have much interest in this first ten songs. “Ride It” by Regard featuring Jay Sean (By technicality) is down one spot to number-three.

Unfortunately, this has opened up possibilities for Ed Sheeran and “South of the Border” featuring Camila Cabello and Cardi B up a space to number-four.

Also down one space is “Circles” by Post Malone, surprisingly, at number-five, as I saw this as possibly making a run for #1 but that doesn’t seem as likely with the monster that “Dance Monkey” is.

“Lose You to Love Me” by Selena Gomez is down three spaces off of the debut to number-six, as I expected.

Staying steady at number-seven is “Good as Hell” by Lizzo featuring Ariana Grande.

Also still at number-eight is “Memories” by Maroon 5.

Now we have two one-space fallers at the tail-end of the top 10, first of all “Bruises” by Lewis Capaldi at number-nine. I don’t even know how this is still here.

Secondly, and finally to round off the top 10, “Outnumbered” by Dermot Kennedy at #10.

Climbers

There aren’t many climbers here at all but the only two notable climbers are in the top 20 and look like foreshadowing of hits to come, so that’s notable in itself, although very unfortunate as despite me being relatively ambivalent on the pretty decent “This is Real” by Jax Jones featuring Ella Henderson moving up 11 spaces to #19, I am immensely displeased about “hot girl bummer” by blackbear peaking higher than the original “Hot Girl Summer” as it reaches the top 20 at #18 after a seven-space boost, as if this hack needed any more attention put on him.

Edit: I forgot about Niall Horan’s “Nice to Meet Ya” up eight spots to #26 this week, which I’m happy about since it’s a great song and I’d love to see it find its way into the top 10.

Fallers

There aren’t actually as many fallers this week, or at least less than I expected, but there’s still a couple notable fallers to talk about here, such as “Follow God” by Kanye West down nine spaces to #15 off of the debut at #6 last week, as well as other losses for most of the debuts from last week (Well, those that are still on the chart), those being “Floss” by AJ Tracey featuring MoStack and Not3s down five to #27, “Orphans” by Coldplay down five to #32 and “Look at Her Now” by Selena Gomez down 13 to #39. Also losing out on five spaces this week at #33 is “Take Me Back to London”, a former #1, by Ed Sheeran and Stormzy, and remixed by Sir Spyro featuring Aitch and Jaykae.

Dropouts & Returning Entries

We actually do have a re-entry this week and it’s “Graveyard” by Halsey back at #40, meaning we have eight drop-outs, most of those being established smash hits finishing up their run, those being “Sorry” by Joel Corry featuring uncredited vocals from Hayley May from #32, “Ladbroke Grove” by AJ Tracey out from #35, “Senorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello out from #36, “Taste (Make it Shake)” by Aitch from #37, “3 Nights” by Dominic Fike from #38 and “Don’t Call Me Angel (Charlie’s Angels)” by Ariana Grande featuring Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey from #39, as well as, of course, Kanye West’s two hits from JESUS IS KING that debuted last week, “Selah” featuring uncredited vocals from Sunday Service, Ant Clemons and Bongo ByTheWay out from #19 and “Closed on Sunday” with A$AP Bari out from #20.

ALBUM BOMB: Krept & Konan – Revenge is Sweet

On the 1st of November this year, British trap duo Krept & Konan released their sophomore album Revenge is Sweet and it peaked at #5 on the albums chart. I haven’t listened to it because I personally don’t care much for the two rappers, but they are big enough to land two hits in the top 40, one of which was released as a single prior to the album but both bearing high-profile features, so I’ll have to talk about them.

#28 – “G Love” – Krept & Konan featuring Wizkid

Produced by P2J

First of all, I obviously do not have as much to say about Krept & Konan than I do about Kanye, so this will be a shorter episode in comparison to last week with JESUS IS KING since there’s a lot less to unpack and I have a lot less passionate opinions about the duo (Which, considering how disappointed I was with that album, is probably not a bad thing). This is pre-release single, “G Love”, Krept & Konan’s fourth UK Top 40 hit, and it features Nigerian singer Wizkid, who makes his second ever appearance on the chart. For what it’s worth, I actually very much enjoy Wizkid whenever he appears, usually bubbling under the top 40 with songs featuring Drake and Skepta, as he has a lot of charisma; honestly, I’m surprised this is his only his second appearance on the chart, and his first since “One Dance”, a Drake song featuring him and Kyla hit a record peak of #1 in 2016. It’s a pretty odd collaboration for Krept & Konan, but then again, Wizkid did a song with Skepta as well, so this could be good – and is it? Well, it isn’t a good first impression when the otherwise nice synths are clipping pretty badly but it doesn’t exactly create a bad vibe or atmosphere, and while Konan sounds half-dead on the hook, Wizkid’s high-pitched Auto-Tuned croon is pretty vibrant. Konan is equally dull on the verse, although admittedly both he and Krept have pretty funny opening lines, even if Krept is mostly talking about emojis for half of his verse (Not even kidding, apparently if you cross him, you’ll get emoji knives). I don’t really have an opinion about this song, to be honest, it’s a pretty generic Afroswing beat with some squeaky vocal samples, and Krept and Konan both sound like they did a one-take whilst high and left. There’s a weird empty space between the verses and chorus as well, it genuinely feels a bit janky at times (God, I haven’t used that word in ages). Wizkid doesn’t even have a verse, so this is pretty boring. Let’s hope the next song can redeem the duo...

#23 – “Tell Me” – Krept & Konan featuring D-Block Europe and Ling Hussle

Produced by Dabeatfreakz

Okay, so this is more in Krept & Konan’s wheelhouse and has honestly got me pretty excited because D-Block Europe are the funniest men in UK trap right now, and I don’t think they even realise it. Anyway, this is Krept & Konan’s fifth UK Top 40 hit, D-Block Europe’s sixth, and it’s actually also a pre-release single (Hell, this one’s got a video). If you’re wondering who Ling Hussle is, well, she’s actually an upcoming rapper and singer who hangs around these guys, seemingly, and hasn’t actually been able to crack a million views yet from what I can gather, so this really is kind of her breakout single and obviously her first to hit the UK Top 40. Can these five rappers make a cohesive posse cut? Well, of course not, it’s D-Block Europe, but they try, bless them. First of all, this really isn’t a Krept & Konan song, Konan is definitely there even if he’s drowned in Auto-Tune that makes him unrecognisable, but Krept has a really short verse, and Ling Hussle straight-up doesn’t, instead providing an admittedly pretty sultry hook with Young Adz, who somehow cannot handle the simple melody that Ling Hussle lays down and kills, having a stroke on the pretty bland piano-trap beat as he tends to do. Krept is also pretty pathetic here, with a hilarious falsetto that genuinely made me chuckle – although that was probably unintentional. The end of Krept’s janky verse is hilarious, with the beat just barely there, and it mostly being breathing sounds and one-syllable ad-libs while Krept barely gets words out, and it’s all drowned in Auto-Tune with so much weird empty space. It’s so bizarre, to the point where Young Adz’s obnoxious singing about wanting the woman to open her legs so he can “watch her pee” sounds pretty for-the-course. Genius annotators just gave up on Konan’s verse, and he and Dirtbike LB are easily the least interesting here, although Konan does spend much of his time making some strange, misguided metaphor for guns using Maggie Simpson. He probably has the best verse here, as it’s the only one that doesn’t completely collapse midway through. I can’t help but like this, though, because everything goes wrong at some point and no-one even attempts to fix it, much like all of D-Block Europe, who I’m starting to think are my favourite UK rap artists because they are so unashamedly awful that whilst most of their music is unlistenable, any deeper analysis forms a new genre I like to call Post-Cubist era trap-rap.

NEW ARRIVALS

#37 – “Opp Thot” – Poundz

Produced by HARGO

“I could never wife your opp-thot. Give me that neck, come bop-bop. I just want to jeet and skeet, don’t use no teeth, girl, give me that slop-top.” How poetic. It’s a viral song from Poundz, and hence his first UK Top 40 hit, and I have such little expectations that this could be Nostalgia Critic’s version of The Wall and I’d praise it to hell and back as if it were by Floyd. Seriously though, this isn’t actually that bad. Lyrical density isn’t there but I didn’t expect it to be, and the mixing on the version that is used for Spotify adverts might actually be better as the hi-hat is too centred with Poundz’s multi-tracked and kind of hurts my ears actually. There are actually some cool lines here, and punchlines that make me understand the viral success, like when he kicks someone “out like Brexit”, the loveable way in how he says he’ll shoot you (“Man get hit with the ostrich bird”), how he makes people run away from him “like Scooby”, and a couple of other funny pop culture references about Tetris, Snapchat and... getting your enemy sprayed like Fireman Sam. Yeah, that line won me over, because the beat is just a menacing piano line with some skittering trap beat behind it and honestly nothing all too special. It isn’t that bad though, there is some talent here.

#35 – “Break Up (Bye Bye)” – Cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK

Produced by Leland and Frederick William Scott

Features uncredited vocals from Jade Thirlwall

...Huh? Okay, so I knew of the new British edition of RuPaul’s Drag Race (Graham Norton’s a legend) but I actually have no idea how the “drag race” works. I know what drag queens are and do (If “drag queens” is the right term), but I don’t know the format of the show at all – although I know the American edition has probably been around for decades at this point. The people on the American show do release promo singles but they don’t ever get close to charting anywhere so I usually don’t have to worry about any of this, but I am a complete outsider to whatever fanbase this has, and that seems to be a sizeable portion of people since this did chart. So, I did some vague research and found out that this was written by MNEK, who you should know from “Never Forget You” and several other hit singles, for the fifth episode of the show, and is credited under the name “Frock Destroyers”. Classy. Listen, this is the cast’s first UK Top 40 hit, and I do not understand the show, I’m just going to make this clear because I won’t understand the song either (In fact, there are two songs and they have the same name but one of them is by “Filth Harmony” so I’m even more confused). Anyway, about the song: the horns sound really cheap and gross, as do the hi-hats and the awfully-mixed instrumentation in general, so much so that I’m actually distracted by the very questionable lyrics, mostly because of the awful bass mastering that isn’t only clipping but it just doesn’t have any impact in the drop. It’s not like the chorus is anthemic as it’s supposed to be either, because it just feels so rushed and random. The female lead vocal is delivered by Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix so it’s not like it isn’t a good performance, but it is so inconsistently mixed in comparison to what I’m assuming are the drag contestants, who are so much louder than everything, especially the second verse. It’s pretty catchy, admittedly, but this really is a bit of a trainwreck production-wise. I guess I’ve officially been frock-destroyed. Whatever that means.

Edit: I listened to the other version and it might actually be worse lol

#31 – “Kiss and Tell” – AJ Tracey and Skepta

Produced by Skepta

More UK trap? Okay, well, it was actually a pretty big week for the genre as AJ Tracey and Skepta are also here with their eighth and 15th UK Top 40 hit respectively, “Kiss and Tell”. AJ Tracey had a song debut last week which was okay and I’m generally indifferent towards the guy although his debut album was pretty lacklustre, and I’ve always been a Skepta fan, so in a way I’m excited to hear but I am worried that it could be pretty dull as well, considering AJ Tracey’s got top billing... but it is Skepta-produced and I haven’t heard many bad beats from the man, and this one is definitely very cute, with the twinkling synth melody and otherwise typical trap beat and 808s, as well as a haunting vocal loop. Honestly, everyone kills it here. Sure, “kiss and tell” doesn’t rhyme with “Astroworld”, but AJ Tracey’s flow in the first verse is insane, with some really great lines, especially the hilarious closing line about... something falling off a chair, let’s just say that. Seriously, this is probably AJ Tracey’s best ever verse, it’s rapid and slick, and works especially with his voice. Skepta also delivers a slightly slower verse here, but his flow is janky at times, and takes awkward pauses despite moments where he really kills it – in fact this verse parallels most of his discography. Skepta can be awkward and inconsistent but when he really kills it, I’m amazed, and he does impress me with his flow here sometimes, but AJ really shines on this song. I didn’t have much to say about that one, but it’s actually pretty great. I hope this isn’t a fluke, because if this is how AJ is coming in on his second album, it could be one of my favourite hip-hop albums of next year. We’ll see, but for now this is great.

#30 – “Thumb” – M Huncho and Nafe Smallz

Produced by Quincy

While these names may seem alien to you, they’ve actually charted before. Nafe Smallz and M Huncho both appeared with Gunna on the Plug’s “Broken Homes”, a song I wish I enjoyed more than I did, and Nafe also appeared on a pretty awful Skepta single called “Greaze Mode” (Probably a candidate for, if not, his worst song), so this is their second and third UK Top 40 hit respectively. The BBC refused to give it any cover art on their page, so I guess that could mean anything... but it most likely means that this is garbage, because this really is some awful, unforgivable dreck. First of all, let’s talk about the lyrics and structure for a bit. There are two renditions of the chorus, they’re both exactly the same, over-long two-part hooks delivered by M Huncho. There is one verse in the middle and it is entirely a trade-off between the two rappers, with Nafe Smallz being considerably more sexist and disgusting in his verse where he delivers a frankly terrible Young Thug impression. I understand that rap music has a lot of misogyny and disrespect towards women, hell, I have to acknowledge that as someone who just praised a song called “Opp Thot”, but at least have some attempt in hiding your lack of respect or sympathy for women, or being somewhat respectful in how you say everything, or at least funny in how over-the-top you’re being, perhaps. What Nafe Smallz says about the “slut” and “thot” that he doesn’t actually make effort to have sex with and just watches whilst smoking is frankly really revolting and upsetting, especially because it got into the UK Top 40 which really should say something about us as a music-listening public, that we let this get so high. Nafe Smallz’s meek, high-pitched, nasal voice is aggravating, so much so that M Huncho’s unintelligible murmuring in the intro might actually sound better. The beat has some infuriating bass mastering as most cheap UK rap does, and overall it sounds pretty type beat. M Huncho doesn’t necessarily sound bad here, but his Auto-Tuned flow does very little to change and makes the three-minute runtime feel exhausting. Admittedly, some of Nafe Smallz’s inflections sound pretty, and M Huncho’s stammering is lazy, evening the awfulness out between the two rappers out pretty well. Also, was there really any need for the whole theme of the song being about putting thumbs in... female posteriors? The outro is literally just “put my thumb up in her butt” repeated on loop. Yeah, no, I don’t like this. Next.

#2 – “Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa

Produced by Ian Kirkpatrick – Peaked at #30 in the US

This is the massive debut this week from pop singer Dua Lipa, one of my favourites voices in pop music right now actually, and someone who has grown on me immensely in the past year, although some of the songwriting still isn’t as strong as it should be and she still has a tendency to slip into the background of her own production. I’m hoping for that to change with her sophomore album, and this is (Probably – “Swan Song” still exists) the lead single off of that record. The cover art is going for a vaguely late-90s early 2000s look, and I’ve heard this is a more straight-forward dance-pop tune, so I’m hyped to listen to this... and yeah, as I expected, this is pretty great. Initially, I wasn’t actually impressed with the flavourless piano intro, but as soon as it kicked into full gear I knew the hype around this was worth it, because that bassline is INCREDIBLE. As someone who has recently found a lot of love for house music, this bassline is one of the best I’ve heard from the genre, and this is very much house, almost like French house to some extent, but also very nu-disco, meaning the cover art is very fitting for the era that both it and the song are attempting to replicate. Dua Lipa sounds great as she always does, going into her higher register with rhythmic, multi-tracked, almost-rapping cadences in the verse, but taking a sudden shift to a sweet diva vocal in the pre-chorus, which is beautiful, as the pianos sound good on their own, but the squealing synth comes in at the perfect time along with the hi-hats, the song is just so intricately structured... then we get the drop, which is just great, as well go back to the minimalist house beat where Dua Lipa aggressively tells off this ex who has just started putting any effort into the relationship after it ended, with sassy inflections and... random sound effects, which I’m not complaining about. The slick, disco guitar and groove in the second verse accentuates Dua’s lyrics detailing how he tried to break up with her, almost implying a manipulative or toxic relationship. The second drop is somehow more impressive than the first, with a stuttering “Don’t” hinting at the drop prior and some sampled cheering that, much like the cowbell, is a random sound effect, but adds more punch to the chorus. Once the post-chorus hit, I had to take a break from writing and genuinely calm down, I was really overwhelmed with everything happening, yet it doesn’t feel cluttered because everything comes in at the right time, sometimes when you don’t even expect it to, and the mixing is great, far from over-produced even as while it’s pure pop with a lot of manufacturing, it feels a lot more organic especially with the post-chorus, which is just gorgeous. I don’t want to even spoil it for you or myself anymore, so I think I’ll actually leave it at that. My commentary will just cheapen how brilliant this song’s climax, is, really. This is an amazing record and one of, if not my favourite song from Dua Lipa. I hope this has as much success in the US because if this doesn’t get on one of my year-end best lists for 2019 or 2020, I will be severely disappointed.

Conclusion

Well, it should be obvious, right? The Best and Worst of the Week go out pretty easily, Dua Lipa getting the Best of the Week for “Don’t Start Now”, and M Huncho and Nafe Smallz getting Worst of the Week for “Thumb” which is just gross. Honourable Mention is obviously going to AJ Tracey and Skepta for “Kiss and Tell” although Dishonourable Mention is a bit harder. I think I can’t go with the Drag Race because that would be unfair – it’s a bad song, sure, but if I understood the show more, maybe I’d see the appeal. I don’t want to step on too many toes, either. “G Love” is unremarkable, as is “Opp Thot”, so I’ll probably go with “Tell Me” by Krept & Konan featuring D-Block Europe and Ling Hussle. I hope you enjoyed reading, I’m off to listen to Pinkerton again probably, and I’ll see you next week, hopefully it’s not as busy.

[mansaeentertainment-blog]

Top 10 Songs of 2017...so far

Hello, Mansaebebes! 2017 has been an amazing year so far musically, with many new and diverse releases from both rookie and veteran artists. To celebrate what is shaping out to be an amazing year, Mansae Entertainment is proud to share a list of the top K-Pop 10 songs of 2017 so far. Before getting to the list, I would like to stress that this list is only for songs that were released between January and June of 2017. This is also a personal review and, in no way, reflects the opinions of Mansae Entertainment as a whole, but the sole opinions of a single author and his musical tastes.

10. “Laputa (feat. Crush)” - DPR Live

If you do not listen to DPR Live while you read this, I need you to expose yourself to this talented musician. DPR Live has a type of flow and delivery that, while powerful and impactful, has a form of melancholic calm to it, especially in the work on his debut album “Coming To You Live.” I will admit that I am always reluctant to start listening to Korean hip-hop artists because they often try too hard and appropriate culture to no end, but DPR Live’s music and lyricism drew me in almost instantly. Namely his two tracks, “Laputa” and “Right Here Right Now,” both featuring some of Korean hip-hop's biggest names. “Laputa” appears to get its name from the mythical flying island in “Gulliver’s Travels.” The track’s main hook includes DPR Live comparing his lover's body to a perfectly circular island to explain how perfect her body is, but he continues to explain how here beauty is astronomical, as astronomy is a key point of interest for the island's inhabitants. When Crush delivers his part in the latter half of the songs, his voice truly gives the song an ethereal sense of mystery and dynamics.

9. “Complex” - Zion.T

I feel like no one really knew what would happen after Zion.T signed with The Black Label, and I feel like everyone approached the “OO” album with an equal sense of hope and apprehension. However, Zion.T showed us that there was definitely nothing to worry about. Not only did he infuse his signature Zion.T “flavor” into all the songs, but he also managed to collaborate with one of K-Pop’s biggest stars, seen when G-Dragon featured on “Complex.” Easily the most anticipated song on the album, "Complex” brought together two of the best lyricists in K-Pop and allowed them to have a back and forth over what it means to have fame and be a musician. Zion.T’s voice drips with melancholy as he croons about his own shortcomings and throws shade at what he views as idol fame before G-Dragon brags back with a rap about the success he has enjoyed while being an idol. Twinkling piano keys, solid snaps, and light drum beats give this amazing piece of lyrical genius its own distinct sound, and the two “Complex” artists delivery give it its life.

8. I’ll Be Yours-Girl’s Day

I have never been a fan of Girl’s Day. I’d just never taken the time to listen to their music even though I had ample time during their year-long absence. I am admittedly still not a huge fan, but that doesn’t stop “I’ll be Yours” from being a bop. If I could use one word to describe this song it would “VOCALS.” From start to finish they hit us with powerful vocals that, backed by the amazing brassy production, allows them to reach amazing heights. The sassy delivery, the amazing big band feel, and the incredibly grown woman vibes that need to continue as a trend for the rest of 2017, all joined to make this track one of the best bangers of the first half of the year. I know that many felt let down by this comeback, especially after waiting for such a long time, but for me, the track was just what Girl’s Day needed to further solidify themselves as a force in the K-pop industry.

7. Archangels of the Sephiroth(세피로트의 나무)-Stellar

So, are y’all really still sleeping on Stellar? Are y’all serious? Let me get off my soapbox and talk about this song. “Sting” was one of the best songs of 2016, in my opinion, and “Cry” was also exceptionally good, so I was extremely excited for Stellar to make a comeback, especially after hearing that they raised over 1000% of their Makestar goal. This comeback introduced the new member, Soyoung, in the best way possible. Not only was she given her own spotlight in the MV, but she also was given significant lines, in what was sonically a departure from all of Stellar’s previous works, and K-pop songs in general for that matter. With a name like “Archangels Of The Sephiroth,” I was expecting something different, and Stellar delivered the difference in the best way possible. With an instrumental, that sounds distinctly Middle Eastern, and a jarring almost shouted chorus, the song is a definite earworm. There was no vocal acrobatics, in the song and that was probably for the best, the song gets its distinction from it’s instrumental, and again, I applaud Stellar for taking a different route than most K-pop artists and doing it to great effect. Now, if you guys would stop viewing Stellar as only a “sex” group, and acknowledge their quality music and the countless comebacks that are less suggestive, then we could be cool.

6. Akmu-Reality (리얼리티)

I loves me some AKMU, I really do, and when I found out that they were getting released from the YG dungeon again after less than a year's time since “Spring,” I was extremely excited. AKMU is one of the groups where, no matter how long they have between releases, they will always be fantastic. Their 2nd full-album “Winter” introduced a plethora of great tracks, but none more so than “Reality.” As a self-proclaimed Veteran K-pop stan, the idea of growing older scares me, especially because I turned 20 fairly recently, but leave it to AKMU to write an upbeat and almost childish song on the subject. With witty lyrics and a signature AKMU delivery, this song was a great way to start the year.

5. Don’t Wanna Cry(울고 싶지 않아)-Seventeen

Seventeen is my ultimate bias boy group and being so I have come to expect a certain level of off-kilter energy and funk from their title tracks. With “Don’t Wanna Cry” they showed a different side of themselves not yet seen on a lead single. They showed vulnerability. While I am honestly getting tired of EDM songs in K-pop, Seventeen used the sound well and did not let the production overpower their emotions and the song's meaning. This title track is unique because it features the entire rap-line singing and two of the most underrated rappers in the group (Mingyu and Wonwoo) carry the song to its climax. This song is a great addition to Seventeen’s discography and the year in music as a whole, but please……no more EDM, Y'all.

4. 1+1=0(Feat. Dean)-Suran

Another song about the difficulties of life, especially as a youth. “1+1=0” is the title track off of Suran’s debut solo mini-album and she proved herself a solo musical force. She easily has one of the most unique voices in K-pop, and when paired with Dean, a veteran of collaborating with female artists (see last years “Shut up and Groove” and “And July” by Heize), it was no surprise to me when this song turned out to be an amazing track. A play on words “일” or “il” represents the number one but also means work. The pun being that work and work doesn’t equal anything, and as a rising college junior with a lot on my plate, this song truly spoke to me. Backed by playful guitar strums, this song urges you to not be afraid of relaxing when burdened by work and “just chill.”il” represents the number one but also means work. The pun being that work and work doesn’t equal anything, and as a rising college junior with a lot on my plate, this song truly spoke to me. Backed by playful guitar strums, this song urges you to not be afraid of relaxing when burdened by work and “just chill.”

3. Baby Don’t Like It-NCT 127

I was not a fan of NCT 127’s debut. "Firetruck" was a HUGE disappointment to me, and the subsequent mini-album was met with similar sentiments. With all that in mind, I was not expecting their sophomore mini-album to be full of certified hits. I have no shame when saying that, in my opinion, every song on this album could be singles. “Baby Don’t Like It” deserved so much more play than it was given. Y’all, Mark and Taeyong did that, and they didn’t just do it, they did it dirty. When Mark delivered the line “I like it when we get closer, when it gets risky,” it was a wrap for me. Taeyong and Mark are honestly some of the best young idol rappers in the industry, and no one was expecting SM to be able to pull off Hip-Hop concepts to the effect that NCT has done. This smooth piece of hip-hop and R&B gold proves that SM can tackle any genre and it is still a staple in my playlists to this day.

2. Signal-Twice

Twice has truly earned the title of “Nation’s Girl Group.” They constantly deliver bop after bop after bop and “Signal” is no different. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little worried when I found out that Twice was not working with Black Eyed Pilseung for this title track but instead with Mr JYP himself. Granted Park Jinyoung is an amazing producer, but Twice has always seemed to work well without his help, and the JYP Entertainment releases that were not produced by him so far have been consistently good. He shut me up real quick with this Grade A smash. Twice is a girl group that benefits of the quirky factor, and that factor combined with the bounce clap-driven composition and the easy sing-along chorus was enough to launch this song up to the same level of unexpected greatness of Twice’s previous title tracks.

1. Night Rather Than Day(낮보다는 밤)-EXID

EXID has always been a group with quality music. I’d been a listener of their music even before Hani’s viral fancam, but I didn’t consider myself a fan until LI.E. After that song, I was excited about the group's next release, and even after Solji’s unfortunate hiatus, they managed to cement my status as a Leggo. I am a huge fan of chill pop songs and I’m a huge fan of retro-esque pop songs and “Night Rather Than Day” delivers on both of these aspects. After EXID's skyrocket to popularity with “Up and Down,” I’d come to expect a certain bombastic sound from them, but they seemed to do a complete 180 with this release. The only word I can use to describe my feelings after hearing the song is ‘warm.’ This jam puts me in a good mood every time I hear it and I want to dance through life when the chorus hits. This song truly deserves the number one spot on my list for being a departure from not only earlier EXID songs, but from modern K-pop trends as a whole. Shinsadong Tiger, EXID’s long-time collaborator, really did his thing when he helped to compose this amazing title track. I cannot wait until Solji fully recovers so I can watch the girls do, what has become my favorite EXID song as a whole group.

As I said before, the first half of 2017 has been an amazing year so far with quality content dropping left and right. The rest of my associates at Mansae and I, cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.

-Twonder

[cursedcandyroses]

The Most Influential Artist Of The Decade: Pt.1 of An Overly Detailed Investigation Into Travi$ Scott

Drake, J. Cole, Wale, Kid Cudi. These were supposed to be the hands down leaders of hip-hop leading into the 2010′s. All these artists could rap, came with great production, full bodies of work, and had layers of emotion and relatability that the previous decade had little to none of. Kendrick and Big K.R.I.T. were barely on the radar, and Tyler The Creator dropping on Christmas of 2009 with his debut didn’t give much time for the “Leader Of The New School” title to fall onto him. Cole was with Jay-Z, Drake was with Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi was with Kanye, and Wale wasn’t quite with Rick Ross yet but it was over the horizon. Everything went according to plan for a few years. Drake’s 2010 label debut (”Thank Me Later”) came with chart topping hits, and his 2011 effort (”Take Care”) took him to a new level. Wale kept busy post 2009′s “Attention Deficit”. “More About Nothing” was astounding and 2011 brought us MMG’s “Self Made Vol. 1″ and Wale’s sophomore effort (his best major label release then and now) “Ambition”.

 J. Cole’s “Friday Night Lights” came, and with that one of the greatest mixtapes of all time, in 2010 amid frustrations with Roc Nation from withholding his eventual major debut “Cole World: Sideline Story”, which would come out in 2011. Then there was Kid Cudi, the GOOD Music signee and Kanye protege who in 2008 & 2009 dropped two game changing project, but with 2010 came his best and darkest work. The second instalment of the Man On The Moon series, “Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager”. This was a project that on it’s own is a creative masterpiece, but with it’s themes of depression and addiction came a look into darker subject matter than was once openly talked about in mainstream hip-hop. The world painted by Kid Cudi on “The Legend Of Mr. Rager” is one Travi$ Scott played in and became one with. 2012 was the year the world came to know Travi$ Scott, and it was on an album that was seen at the time to be the true coming out party for another Kanye protege. In many ways “Cruel Summer” was the album that best described that era as far as artists involved. 2 Chainz, fresh of “Based On A T.R.U. Story” had the midas touch. Kanye was riding high of “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and “Watch The Throne”, and a remix of Chief Keef’s “Dont Like” (when at the time Keef was the Drill Movement and hip-hop’s golden child). Surrounded by these stars was where Big Sean rose from behind the curtain to show up The Throne on the song of the year in “Clique” and everyone else who he was featured with. Sean was nothing more than a punchline heavy Detroit star who rode into the blogs hearts off his “Finally Famous” mixtapes and into Hip-Hop Folklore after allegations of Kanye using Sean as a ghostwriter on “Graduation”. Yet “Cruel Summer” was his showcase. Also on that album featured co-production on 3 tracks from a young Travi$ and a leading track called “Sin City” which was a beautiful glimpse into what Scott’s sound was. Along with that Travi$ scored a large majority of the Cruel Summer film, and began work on Kanye’s next solo project which was yet to be known of. 

 Talk was little, yet it was there, for the Houston native post-Summer. 2013 came an with it Travi$ was a member of probably the greatest XXL Freshman Class of all time, being featured alongside Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, ScHoolboy Q, and a slew of other future All-Stars. Even then Travi$ was a bit on an enigma and seen as one of the lower ranking members of the class. Shortly after the cover was revealed and the impressive freestyles were sent to the internet to see, Travi$ was featured on 2 tracks from another one of his mentors compilation’s T.I. and his Grand Hustle crew’s “G.D.O.D.”. These songs again flew under the radar, but a few weeks later “Owl Pharaoh” came. It received solid reviews, but the overall feel was Travi$ was a producer who rapped sometimes. The world had started to pigeon-hole him the same way they did Kanye over a decade earlier. Speaking of Kanye a few months later he came out with a lil project that deserves an article of it’s own, and has received a million of them since it’s release. “Yeezus” came and with it a million think pieces about electronic and industrial music in hip-hop, and the inspiration for such an album. Again, in the smaller corners of the internet, rumours began about how Kanye had used another one of his proteges extensively, and uncredited, on a solo album. Travi$ has spoken in before about being involved on every track that came from “Yeezus”, yet if you check the credits his name is there only three times. 

Now a counter to this theory is that “Travi$ was not, and may still not be, at a level to which he could created the production on “Yeezus””. Which is true, but involvement is involvement none the less, and with credits being given to so many other people, does it hurt to add Travi$’ name to the mix? With names like Daft Punk, Mike Dean, Arca, Hudson Mohawke, Sinjin Hawke, and Gesaffelstein coming in from the electronic world to aid Kanye on his creative left turn, how much could Travi$ really have done? Again, Travi$ has been pushed to the back of the crowd, forced to watch others shine. In the coming months Travi$ went on to meet a very crucial person in his development musically. Yet a month later another big light shined down on Scott in the form of Jay-Z’s “Crown” from his July 2013 release “Magna Carta Holy Grail”. It showed again Travi$’ hallmark sound to a wide audience, an album with a demographic Travi$ has heavily criticized, and had also criticized him. And the critiques would not get any better.  A chance show in South Carolina led to a friendship with another hip-hop enigma named Young Thug. Thug was at the time riding off the wave of his breakout mixtape, “1017 Thug”, and had been slowly evolving since his earliest project. His rapping style was becoming close to the sound we know it as today, but he seemed out of place on a lot of his production. The beats were still very much of the generation before him, an Atlanta trap sound that was more “Flockaveli” then “Culture”. As their friendship brewed hype for a collaboration was rising across blogs across the internet. After much silence from Travi$ on the musical spectrum, in July of 2014 a collaboration with Big Sean and Indie rockers The 1975 was released, revealing an even more menacing sounding Travi$ and production style. That coming August “Days Before Rodeo” was released, and with it came a new sound that wasn’t seen very much beforehand. Travi$ had immersed himself with Atlanta’s best up and coming producers and underground rap stars like FKi, OZ, PeeWee Longway, friend Young Thug and an a newly buzzing Atlanta producer named Metro Boomin. 

Metro had major placements with artists like Future, YG, and Migos, which were enough to get a buzz going for him. This was at a time for Metro before he produced all over Future’s “Monster”, before his albums with 21 Savage and NAV. His biggest songs were Future’s now Gold selling singles “I Won” and “Karate Chop” and co-production on iLoveMakonnen’s “Tuesday”. Metro was bred under the same school where guys like Mike Will Made-It, Zaytoven, Southside, Sonny Digital and TM-88 came from. The underground Atlanta and mixtape scene surrounding sites like Datpiff and LiveMixtapes was the playground at one point for all these beatmakers, and now Metro was on top of that same game. It has been debated whether the sound of “Days Before Rodeo” was just Metro Boomin’s skill meeting Travi$’ resources, or if it was Travi$ just finally coming into his desired sound.

(To Be Continued)

[yidwise]

Guest Post by TheAsh of That's Frum!? It's sefira, and Jews everywhere are turning to acapella to get their music fix. But before you go insane watching "Candlelight" for the millionth time, here are twelve Jewish acapella songs you might not have heard before. Note: I limited each artist to one song each to provide greater variety, and tried to focus on songs that varied in musical style and have not been covered by a lot of groups (e.g, Yehuda!'s "Umacha", which seems to be a Jewish acapella right of passage for some reason). 1) Shir Appeal - Delilah: This song by Tuft University's twenty-year-old co-ed Jewish acapella group Shir Appeal hits all the right notes and is arguably the best acapella song I ever heard. Thankfully not the expected Tom Jones or the Plain White T's cover, but of the rather lesser-known song from Florence + The Machine, Shir Appeal imbues the song with both Jewish meaning and excellent harmonies. I particularly enjoyed the harmony on the first hook ( "A different kind of danger") where the superb arrangements really stand out. "Delilah" is Jewish acapella at its best. (Kol Isha Warning for those concerned.) The song was originally released as a single and then on Shir Appeal's recent album Perspectives (which I also heartily recommend). Also Worth A Listen (hereafter abbreviated as AWAL): Shir Appeal's "Jonah", off their album Linguistics, another excellent cover of a Biblically-inspire secular song (this one by the band Guster) rendered Jewishly. 2) The Maccabeats - The Sound Of Silence: The Maccabeats burst into national fame with their hit single Candlelight (though their debut album was released earlier), and it's hard to call any of their songs not well-known. However, this years single 'The Sound of Silence', besides for being an excellent song, so passed under the radar that it deserves a major shoutout. Oh Maccabeats, why didn't you promote what IMHO is your best song?? It's incredibly hard to cover the Simon and Garfunkel song right, even with musical instruments, but the Maccabeats manage just fine with an all-vocal arrangement. AWAL: The Maccabeats' "When You Believe" off their second album Out Of The Box, which in my view was highly underrated. 3) Six13 - D'ror Yikra: Although now Six13 is largely known for their fun pop parodies, they were once better-known for their original songs. "D'ror Yikra", off the group's aptly titled sophomore album Encore, is a great Middle Eastern-style song that features a great melody and a percussion intro that can only be described as 'bubbly'. "D'ror Yikra" highlights Six13's creativity at their best. AWAL: "Yigdal", off the group's first album. It possibly features the best vocal drums in all of Jewish acapella. 4) Shabbosdige Oitzrois - Kah Echsof: The first chassidic style acappella song (that is, a song lacking percussion-style vocal effects and merely features pure harmonies), this is the famed L'chaim Tish "Kah Echsof" without instrumentals. This song is also very hard to find, as it was released on the group's only album Shabbosdige Oitzrois, which is now largely unavailable. Bug your chassidic friend till he gives you a copy, because this song is a must-listen and is chassidic acapella at its best. AWAL: Every other track on this super-rare album. Also, "V'hee Rachamecha", off the Zemiros Group's debut album featuring Eli Beer, is another excellent song done in a similar style. 5) Y-Love & Yuri Lane - Shake It: "Shake It" was released on the really creative acapella album Count It: Sefira by then still-chassidic and still-closeted Y-Love, and is a fun song that celebrates Sukkos. Unlike most Jewish acapella songs that feature drum-like computerized percussion, this song is unique in featuring real beatboxing, by famed beatboxer Yuri Lane. This song also brings back great memories (at least for me): The whole three weeks it was on repeat in my bunkhouse when I was ninth grade in camp. AWAL: "Bar Yochai" on the same album. Amazingly, Count It: Sefira isn't the only Jewish rap acapella album out there; Ari Lesser also has an album entitled Three Weeks. 6) The Shabbatones - Ahava Ktana. The second song on this list with female vocalists. "Ahava Ktana" is an excellent cover of the Shiri Maimon song, and really gets you pumping. The Shabbatones are Penn Universtiy's co-ed acapella Group, and "Ahava Ktana" was featured on their album Friday Night Lights. It was also the first track on Mike Boxer's collection BOJAC (Best Of Jewish A Capella) Vol 2, so clearly I'm not the only one who thinks this song is great. (Again, Kol Isha, for those concerned.) AWAL: The Shabbatones' excellent Subliminal cover "Tikva", also on Friday Night Lights and BOJAC Vol 2. 7) A.K.A. Pella - V'havienu. Unlike the other groups in this list, A.K.A. Pella are more of a 'let's imitiate musical instruments' group than a pure acapella group. However the vocal 'electric guitar' intro on this song is so good, it deserves an entry on this list. V'havienu is off their second album (aptly titled A.K.A. Pella 2), and was also featured on Acapella Treasury: Yom Tov. AWAL: A.K.A. Pella's "Eitz Chayim", the first track off their Adaptation album set to the tune of "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi. 8) Gil Nagar - Ata Elokai. Every Sefira, there seems to be a widespread practice for Israeli artists to release awful acapella covers. I mean, truly awful. (Two egregious examples are Gilad Potalski's "Hofachta", which is terribly off-tune, and Ohad Moskowitz's "Birchas Habonim" - what is that drum sound? Cheek popping??). That's why I was so pumped to hear Gil Nagar's "Ata Elokai", which shows that at least some Israelis can get acapella right. The song is also an excellent tune. AWAL: I thought Avishai Rosen's "Malachim" acapella cover was also decent for the genre. 9) Nissim Black - Falling Star. Nissim, whose third Jewish album Lemala took the JM world by storm earlier this year, told me in a personal interview that this is one of his less-known songs of which he's proud. And he has every right to be - originally released under the group name MA"SH and sung alongside brother-in-law Yosef Brown and singer Gabriel Mintz, it's the only Jewish song that I'm aware of with a doo-wop, African-American barbershop-quartet style arrangement. The original musical version is also great, but I prefer the acapella version. AWAL: Nissim's only other acapella song, "Lo Avater", where he's featured alongside Six13 on their just-released seventh album Blessings. Falling Star (Acapella) by MA"SH 10) Kol Ish - Yehi Ch'vod: Kol Ish is known for their edgy music videos - both musical and acapella. "Just Had Chometz", their musical parody of The Lonely Islands' "I Just Had Sex" which is sometimes even more shocking than the original, got over 100,000 views on YouTube. Their hilarious acapella cover of Lorde's Royal, "Mohel", also went viral. But before these videos, Kol Ish was a relatively aidele - but still excellent - acapella group, with the album Before Eve under their belt. "Yehi Ch'vod", the final track on that otherwise somewhat underwhelming album, merits inclusion here, because, besides for just being a great song, it features some of the best vocal distortion effects I've heard in Jewish acapella, making Kol Ish sound like heavy rockers instead of nice Jewish boys. AWAL: Kol Ish's covers (both of them) of Yaakov Shwekey's "Meheira". Besides for the version on Before Eve, they also do one with A.K.A. Pella on their album Platinum. 11) 8th Day - Ayeh Mekom. "Ayeh Mekom", 8th day's only acapella song, and one of the group's lesser known songs, was on their debut album "Tracht Gut" and also was featured on "A Capella Treasury: Shabbos", the Friedman Family's "My Zaidy's Zemiros", and the Chabad Telethon. It also shows how, just using two guys voices, you can make an excellent song with no music, complex harmonies, or effects. (Unlike many acapella songs which have tons of guys voices, overdone harmonies, and cheesy effects, and sound terrible.) This is the catchiest song on the list: listen to it once and it will not get out of your head. Don't say I didn't warn you. AWAL: Although 8th Day have no other acapella songs, they do appear alongside Six13 and Yitzy Spinner on Six13's track V'zakeini/ V'hee she'amda on Zmanim, and alongside Avraham Fried on the aforementioned acappella album My Zaidy's Zemiros. Check out "Ma Yedidus". 12) Gershon Veroba - "Little David (The Fight in the Man)": Last but definitely not least, this is hands-down the best acapella-with-vocal-drums-but-with-no-computerization song there is. A cover of the Moshe Yess/Megama classic, and also a song Gershon performed many times way back with his band Takana, "Litte David" is bursting with energy and fun. And I strongly suggest that you should schedule a heart exam if your heart doesn't leap with pleasure when you hear the hook with the lyrics "Tell me a story and then I'll go to bed". This song was released as a free download back in 2009 as a Jewish Insights exclusive. AWAL: Yerachmiel has a different great acapella Moshe Yess cover, "God Is My Strength".   Honorable Mentions:

Kol Zimra - "We Stand As One"

Listen Up! Jewish A Capella - "Ana Avdah"

Nefesh Yehudi - "My Israel, My Roots

Yaakov Chesed - "Shema Acapella"

Manginah - "Jerusalem"

[gibsonsflowofthoughts]

Wisconsin football preview 2018: Just straight-up good

Bill C’s annual preview series of every FBS team in college football continues. Catch up here!

First things first: Wisconsin was really good last year.

That may seem like a strange place to start when talking about a team that went 13-1 and finished in the AP top 10 for the second straight year. Of course the Badgers were good, right?

Right, but you’re probably couching that a bit. They were Wisconsin good. The defense was good for a Wisconsin team: smart and sound but not all that athletic, right? Quarterback Alex Hornibrook was probably good for a Wisconsin quarterback: a game manager who avoided mistakes.

It’s okay to admit that you do this. UW has, perhaps more than any other FBS school besides the service academies, committed to a type. The Badgers are going to run the ball, produce All-American offensive linemen, and create contributors out of walk-ons. They’re going to hold their own in the trenches, slow the game down, and make you play by their rules, and most of the time that will be enough.

They can recruit to this system, and they can win with this system, as attested by the six Rose Bowls, eight top-10 finishes, and 12 seasons of double-digit wins since Barry Alvarez took over in the late-1980s.

The program is built around people who know how it can be done there. Alvarez is now the athletic director, head coach Paul Chryst was a UW quarterback and eight-year Badger assistant, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was one of those star walk-ons, etc. UW has become impossible to elaborate on because it appears so easy to describe. Hell, just look at the title of my 2017 Wisconsin preview: “The 2017 Badgers might be the most Wisconsin team ever.”

Indeed. Out of nowhere, a freshman running back rushed for nearly 2,000 yards. A tight end and former walk-on led the team in receiving. The offensive line featured two All-Americans and another first-team all-conference guy. The defense, led by a former walk-on with a former walk-on as the top tackler, won the trench battles. The Badgers rolled to their fifth division title in seven years.

So fine. If you try to fit UW into a box, you’re justified. But I want to make it clear: Wisconsin was more than Wisconsin Good, more than Big Ten West good — the Badgers were Playoff-level good. And they came within one drive of making it.

They finished sixth in S&P+, their best mark since 1962.

They were third in Def. S&P+, best since 1951.

In their nine conference wins, they prevailed by an average of 32-13.

They allowed more than 4.8 yards per play just three times all season and allowed more than 24 points just once.

Against an Ohio State that finished best in the country per S&P+, they had the ball in Buckeye territory with a chance to win.

On the rare occasion that someone stood up, the Badgers responded.

Northwestern made a late charge to turn a 21-point deficit into a one-possession game, then the Badgers pinned them at their 2 and sacked the QB for a game-clinching safety.

Purdue trailed by eight and created a first-and-goal with under nine minutes left, but Leon Jacobs picked off a pass, and Wisconsin ate up the last 8:14 with a 16-play drive.

Michigan cut the lead to four points in the third quarter, then managed two first downs in their final four possessions in a 14-point loss.

Miami came out charged up in the Orange Bowl and leaped to a 14-3 lead. Wisconsin all but put the game away with a 21-0 second quarter.

This was an awesome team. And the Badgers are basically a redesigned secondary away from being equally good this fall.

A lot of Big Ten West programs, who have heard for years just how sketchy their division is, are getting their acts together, and their fans are starting to wonder, “How long until we become West contenders?”

The answer is another question: “How long until you can play at a top-10 level?” Because Wisconsin doesn’t appear interested in lowering its bar. The Badgers’ conference road slate is brutal this year, and maybe that opens the door for another contender. But someone’s going to have to come and take the title from Wisconsin.

Paul Chryst

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Offense

While we’re at it, Hornibrook is not a good quarterback for Wisconsin — he’s just good. Maybe not Heisman good, but the Badgers ranked seventh in both Passing and Passing Downs S&P+ and first in the nation in Third Down S&P+. They were one of the best at creating third-and-manageable situations, but when they didn’t, Hornibrook caught them up.

He couldn’t pierce the Ohio State secondary in the Big Ten Championship, going just 19-for-40 with two picks. Perhaps that clinched his Wisconsin-ness in the eyes of many fans. But he was 18-for-19 against BYU and 15-for-19 against Minnesota, and against Miami, Indiana, and Utah State (three defenses that ranked 31st or better in Passing S&P+), he had a 66 percent completion rate, a 9-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio, and a 174.2 passer rating.

He was also better in the second half than the first and better on second and third down than first down. And he continued to thrive after he lost his best receiver in early November.

Running back Jonathan Taylor got all the headlines, but when Wisconsin thrived, Hornibrook and the passing game were often the reason.

Quintez Cephus

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

As strange as this sounds, the Badgers have one of the most proven passing games in FBS. Former four-star prospects A.J. Taylor and Danny Davis III combined for 57 catches, 893 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore and freshman, respectively, and Quintez Cephus (30 catches, 501 yards, six touchdowns) was better than both before he got hurt.

All three came up big at different times. Cephus had a combined nine catches for 199 yards against Northwestern and Purdue, Taylor had a combined 11 for 184 against Michigan and Miami, and Davis went from averaging under one catch per game to nearly four per game (at 13.8 yards per catch) when Cephus went down.

Tight end and safety valve Troy Fumagalli is gone, but this is Wisconsin. There are plenty of tight ends (senior Zander Neuville, junior Kyle Penniston, sophomore Luke Benzschawel, redshirt freshman Luke Ferguson, true freshmen Cormac Sampson and Jaylan Franklin). Neuville and Penniston caught 16 of 22 passes last year; they’re probably ready for bigger roles.

Jonathan Taylor

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Still, the Badgers are going to run the ball on first down until you stop them, and it’s going to take you a while.

Taylor is so perfect for this offense. Sixty-five percent of his carries came on first down, when everyone knew what the Badgers were going to do, but he averaged 6.3 yards per carry on first down. Oh, and he averaged 9.2 per carry on third down. And 9.1 per carry in tie games. And 7.5 per carry between the 20s. Et cetera.

To say the least, his line helped, and everyone’s back: All-American guard Beau Benzschawel, All-American tackle David Edwards, all-conference guard/tackle Michael Deiter, third-team all-conference starting center Tyler Biadasz, and two-year starting guard Jon Dietzen. Young former four-star recruits like sophomore Cole Van Lanen and redshirt freshman Kayden Lyles will have to wait their turn.

For all of Wisconsin’s experience, though — Fumagalli and fullback Austin Ramesh are the only lost starters — there’s still room for improvement.

Taylor was great, but Wisconsin still averaged just 5.8 yards per play on first down, 65th in FBS.

Wisconsin ranked just 80th in IsoPPP, which measures the magnitude of your successful plays. As consistent as Taylor was, the Badgers lacked big plays, meaning they often had to go seven or nine plays to score. That backfired at times.

Hornibrook did make some mistakes. He threw 15 interceptions in 318 passes, a nearly 5 percent INT rate, about twice as high as you’d like. He had four multi-pick games, and turnovers helped Northwestern and Purdue keep things close. For as underrated as I consider him to be, there are still areas in his game to clean up.

There’s no reason to think this year’s offense will be any less successful than last year’s. Losing your fullback and tight end seems like it could decrease efficiency, but if Wisconsin has proved anything, it’s that the next FB or TE at UW is usually as good as the last.

The Read Option

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Defense

You never want to set the bar too high, too quickly. You want to allow yourself room for growth. Ignoring this was pretty much the only mistake Leonhard made in his debut as UW coordinator.

Leonhard heads into his third year as a full-time coach, and he’s already led Wisconsin’s best defense in more than 60 years. How on earth do you top that? The former UW walk-on and 10-year NFL defender spent 2015 studying the coaching craft and 2016 as defensive backs coach, and Chryst unfathomably decided Leonhard was already ready for the DC position. Even less fathomable: Chryst was right.

Wisconsin produced nearly the same level of efficiency as Michigan, without the big-play risk. They were good at leveraging you into passing downs (12th in standard-downs success rate), and once they did, you were toast (first in passing-downs success rate).

They did this because of what might have been the best linebacking corps in the country. Five linebackers — ILBs Ryan Connelly and T.J. Edwards and OLBs Leon Jacobs, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Garret Dooley — combined for 53.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, nine interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and five forced fumbles. In terms of havoc plays (TFLs, passes defensed, and FFs), this quintet had almost as many (81.5) as Nebraska’s entire defense (84). And the Wisconsin secondary was close behind (78 havoc plays).

Andrew Van Ginkel

Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports

Jacobs and Dooley are gone, which means that at least one OLB — junior Zack Baun? Senior Arrington Farrar? A sophomore like Noah Burks or Christian Bell? — will need to raise his game. But Connelly and Edwards are back, and Van Ginkel might have been the best player on the defense by the end of the season.

There are question marks elsewhere.

Cornerback. Nick Nelson and Derrick Tindal are gone. Sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams saw plenty of action last year, but his level of disruption (seven passes defensed) paled in comparison to that of Nelson and Tindal (combined: 33 PDs).

Safety. Senior D’Cota Dixon is back at strong safety, but in Natrell Jamerson and Joe Ferguson (combined: 3.5 TFLs, 18 PDs), UW has to replace another pair of disruptors. Sophomore Eric Burrell and redshirt freshman Scott Nelson will figure heavily.

Defensive end. Alec James and Conor Sheehy are both gone after combining for 13.5 TFLs, eight sacks, and three breakups, impressively disruptive for ends in a 3-4. Sophomore Isaiahh Loudermilk had 1.5 sacks among his 8.5 tackles, but he’ll be asked to take on a much larger load.

It’s going to be hard to match last year’s top-five production. The sound play will still be there, but the havoc should regress. Leonhard has earned the benefit of the doubt, though.

D’Cota Dixon

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams

Over three years under Chryst, UW has improved from 96th to 44th to 28th in Special Teams S&P+. Last year’s return game was underwhelming, but place-kicker Rafael Gaglianone was awesome (12-for-14 under 40 yards, 4-for-4 over 40), and kickoff coverage was tremendous. All the legs are back, and while there’s turnover in the return game, it probably won’t get worse.

2018 outlook

2018 Schedule & Projection Factors

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability 31-Aug Western Kentucky 90 24.9 92% 8-Sep New Mexico 111 30.4 96% 15-Sep BYU 76 21.4 89% 22-Sep at Iowa 36 8.1 68% 6-Oct Nebraska 60 18.3 86% 13-Oct at Michigan 10 -3.1 43% 20-Oct Illinois 99 27.8 95% 27-Oct at Northwestern 38 8.8 69% 3-Nov Rutgers 84 23.3 91% 10-Nov at Penn State 8 -4.9 39% 17-Nov at Purdue 54 12.1 76% 24-Nov Minnesota 67 19.5 87%

Offense gets a little better, defense gets a little worse, ship keeps sailing smoothly. Wisconsin is projected to fall in S&P+, but only to 12th, 24 spots ahead of anyone else in the Big Ten West. The Badgers are favored by at least eight points in every West contest and should blaze through a non-conference slate that includes three teams that have had good seasons in recent memory (WKU, New Mexico, BYU) but probably won’t in 2018.

That said, the road slate is about as tricky as it could be. The Badgers face maybe their three biggest division challengers (Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue) on the road, and from the East, they travel to Michigan and Penn State. Even with a significant advantage on paper, they’re one road upset loss away from going about 6-3 in conference play, which could open the door for a division challenge.

Of course, they’re basically one road upset victory away from being a CFP contender again, too.

Team preview stats

Dope article from sbnation.com

[kentkennyradcliffe]

April 26th 1991 – April 26th 2010 (18 years)

Birth (0-1):

 In Bloom – Nirvana

  I was born into the grunge movement, and the album never mind by nirvana was a landmark album for the band. I never knew about nirvana until I was much older, in my teens, but after listening to the entire album, I really liked In Bloom the most. I feel like it could be about me. It captures the teenage attitude perfectly, an attitude that I always wanted to avoid.

 Baby (2-3):

 Jeremy – Pearl Jam

 I heard this song when I was two I think and it stuck with me ever since. I always hear the guitar part in my head when I am about to do something I shouldn’t do.

 The Voice – The Moody Blues

Tuesday Afternoon – The Moody Blues

I Know You’re Out There Somewhere – The Moody Blues

 My mom used to play these songs in a cassette in this order. I remember always liking the first song the most . I would listen to it constantly, and always wanted to hear it when mom would play it in the car. All of these songs made me feel good as a little boy, especially Tuesday Afternoon and I Know You’re Out There Somewhere. Tuesday Afternoon has a part in the song when the singer hits this note for almost 30 seconds, and I used to challenge myself to see if I could hold the note too. I never could do it as a little boy, but as I got older, I trained myself to do it. It always frustrated me when I would have to gasp for air after about 20 seconds. I Know You’re Out There Somewhere reminds me of my first dog Brownie. She was a vicious dog to strangers, and since we didn’t have a fence, we had to let her go when we moved to Kentucky when I was about 3. The song was playing when my mom told me that Brownie was gone, so I told myself as a little boy that I “would find her somehow, somehow, somehow.” It never happened, and as I got older I forgot about her. Maybe when I got my new dog star, it sort of made me forget, but now that I think about it, I think I knew deep down that Brownie was better off on that farm. At least there she could run around and be free.

  Kid (4-13):

 You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – Dusty Springfield

 This song was my go-to for help when I was confused and my parents were of no help. I couldn’t talk to them about my sexuality. I was condemned.

Freshmen year:

 I first heard of fall out boy, all American rejects, panic at the disco, 30 seconds to mars, and bands like that in my drama class, my very first class in my very first year of high school. A boy with mohawk hair and gauges sat behind me and his friend (a girl who looked like she rolled out of bed each morning) always talked about music. One day she brought in a cd with four guys on the cover, in a silhouette fashion, with what looked like a stage with red curtains in front of them. These four guys are sitting facing towards the stage, and if I remember correctly there was a tree or a cab or something in the stage. The title of this album was called From Under the Cork Tree and it was by the band Fall Out Boy. I never heard of them and was interested in the band, so I asked to see the cd. The girl showed me her favorite song. The title was long, and I lost interest right then and there. I never realized this band was going to become major in about 3 months. I figured it was a local band too, I never took the time to ask what genre they were or where she got the cd from. So, I dismissed the band and instead kept listening to my Avril Lavigne and no doubt. When I went home I turned on the radio to the station I always played, 99.7 djx, and after while I heard my first fall out boy song, sugar we’re going down. I liked the song, and that is when I became a follower of the emo scene that would become huge in the next year. My friends at this time where two goth/emo girls who knew how to be rebels. They were redheads and twins. One girl always wore crazy goth clothes, the other would have on something fun, like Pokémon or some anime t shirt. They rode my bus and had me listen to music I cannot even remember, but they got me into the punk scene. There was also a girl named Shelby who rode my bus too, and she played the knack my sharona, and I loved it. She was a huge rush fan, but I never got into that band. I remember hearing all the songs that were popular 2006 on the bus. Like lose control my missy Elliot, my immortal by evanescence, a lot of rap and hip hop, and Kelly Clarkson. I was introduced to prince that year, but never got into him until my sophomore year.

 Sophomore Year:

I was entering my second quarter of the second semester of my sophomore year. I used to use a music website called project playlist to discover music. Everyone that I knew on myspace had one, because you could have up to 100 songs on it, so much better than the one song that myspace used to let you have, now myspace even lets you have playlists. But back when it was new and hip, project playlist was like finding pandoras box, I discovered so many songs and artists from that website. I could listen to any song I wanted, without having to buy it, so I looked up all the bands that my friends were talking about, like My Chemical Romance, AFI, The Used, Paramore, act… I used it to listen to classic songs by David Bowie, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Queen… I also was into the movie Moulin Rouge. I heard my first David bowie songs (heroes, diamond dogs) and Madonna songs (like a virgin, material girl) in that movie. I credit that movie for my taste in music actually. I never would have known who Bowie was until much later in life if not for Moulin Rouge. I also looked up U2 (in the name of love) and queen (the show must go on) I went out and bought 3 CDs that pretty much defined the last half of my sophomore year: I’m not dead by pink, Greatest hits platinum by queen (which included 3 CDs, the first being there classic rock songs, the second their 80’s hits, and the last one with solo stuff by Freddie and the 90’s hits) and The Immaculate Collection by Madonna. Later during the summer I bought Mika’s debut cd – Life in Cartoon Motion. I fucking loved that cd. Every song in it meant something to me. Then I bought The New York Dolls Life in Manhattan Cd and Feists Cd the Reminder. All these musicians I discovered through YouTube, project playlist, or myspace. So I give them a lot of thanks.

 Junior year:

 The beginning of my junior year, I was a happy, fun, person. Everyone knew me, and everyone knew about me. I was comfortable with myself and outgoing and headstrong. The music I liked was still a carryover from the summer, (New York dolls, feast, mika) and my friends knew I liked the emo stuff and the weird stuff. I never was actually emo, I never dressed like it, or even tried to be associated with the scene, but as time went on, I would find things to be changing. I went to a concert called less fest and saw a band called sum 41. I really liked their energy. I remember I went with some friends who would later become my best friends, like taylr, cory, coty, logan. I was also becoming close to Sydney during that time, but we didn’t become good friends till later. I remember seeing kimmy and sally and lots of people. But things went south after that night, I was drunk and planning to get with Logan later. It was a well-known fact that I went both ways back then, and Logan wanted to join in on the fun. I remember being excited about the whole thing, I thought this was going to mean a possible relationship, but I realized the next day that any hopes for a boyfriend were gone. This sent me down a path that was destructive, and I ended up turning to drugs. At first it was simply pot, and I was familiar with it. Over the summer I smoked it for the first time down in Florida and liked it a lot. I was reading a book called the perks of being a wallflower at the time too, and I looked up the music in that book. I had a friend named Lauren who introduced me to a band called chiodos, which got me into the whole screamo/posthardcore scene, and I began to lose my head with the drugs. I became closer friends with Sydney and we hung out a lot. She confided in me that she was bisexual, and we talked a lot about our experiences. I went to a lot of parties that fall and became hooked on cocaine. It was a drug I should have avoided, but I didn’t. And around late October Halloween I lost it. I told the whole school about what Logan and I did, I turned to Sydney for support and help and then we began dating as a cover up for our sexuality, well more for her, so her parents wouldn’t think she was with girls. And I turned to bands like my chemical romance, the used, Thursday, Paramore, the song loving touching squeezing my journey, Manson, and anything loud that would make me feel better. MCR and the Used were bands that I became dependant on because their music hit exactly what I felt with my life. I felt like a monster or a freak. Like I did not deserve sunlight. Like I was meant to be alone and damned for what I did. I let the fear of being gay get into my head and I began to call out to the black parade for help. I lost myself in Gerard’s words and Bert McCracken’s screams. From November to about January I was in the darkest part of my life. My drug habit was becoming worse and I lost my friends. I hurt Sydney when I stupidly said I did not believe she was bi; I was hurting Logan for no reason, and I was coming to school fucked out my mind. I began to lose weight and became very weak. I wore makeup and would go overboard with the eyes. I thought I deserved to look as bad on the outside as I did on the inside. At that time I thought I was all alone, but I forgot that I had taylr right there listening to me. He was a great friend to me and I thank him for that. I think taylr actually sought me out, because he knew he could talk to me about relationships. He was called gay for being my friend, but he didn’t care. He saw that I didn’t base my whole life on my sexuality, and he respected me. He knew I was into music a lot, and he pushed me in a direction that would help me out later in life. I started to play the piano because of him, and I learned how to interpret music because of him. He was into the emo stuff and he introduced me to a lot of that music. All time low, etc. the pop punk stuff. He was straight edge then and didn’t like that I did drugs, but he never tried to change me. He just accepted me as I was, and let me be who I wanted to me. We got along so well during my second half of my junior year. I was getting acid from a boy I used to mess with named Michael browning, I knew him from Ronnie back when I was sophomore.

 I should go on a little side story about my sexuality, the confusion, the confrontations, the revelations, and the religious disturbance inside of me when I learned what sin was, and the events that led to how I am now, but I will do this some other time. I don’t want to divert from the main story about my music history.

 During my time spent with taylr, I met some people who shared my interest in music, clover, and Frankie the girls who dated each other, Alex the girl who dated cory for about a year, Hailey the Asian. Then I met Kaitlyn Becker.

  We Are Gonna Friends – The White Stripes

Money for Nothing – Dire Straights

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

Love Reign o’er Me – The Who

Peace of Mind – Boston

Foreplay/Longtime – Boston

The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson

Dude Looks Like A Lady – Aerosmith

Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith

Train Kept a Rolling – Aerosmith

American Woman – Lenny Kravitz

Little Black Packback – Stroke 9

Don’t Tell Me – Madonna

American Life – Madonna

Die Another Day – Madonna

Love Profusion – Madonna

It’s My Life – No Doubt

Just a Girl – No Doubt

Bathwater – No Doubt

Sunday Morning – No Doubt

Hey Baby – No Doubt

Trapped in A Box – No Doubt

Spiderwebs – No Doubt

Addicted – Simple Plan

Mr. Brightside – The Killers

Starlight – Muse

Beautiful Soul – Jesse McCartney

I Say Yeah – Dream Street

Bye Bye Bye – N Sync

Pop – N Sync

It’s Gonna Be Me – N Sync

Incomplete – Backstreet Boys

As Long As You Love Me– Backstreet Boys

I Need You Tonight – INXS

Love Is A Stranger – Eurythmics

Serious – Gwen Stephani

Sugar We’re Going Down – Fall Out Boy

Emily – Elton John

Understanding Women – Elton John

Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

Error: Operator – Taking Back Sunday

Makedamnsure – Taking Back Sunday

Call Me When You’re Sober – Evanescence

Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson

Dirty Little Secret – The All American Rejects

Something to Save – George Michael

Praying For Time – George Michael

Controversy – Prince

Renegade – Styx

They Don’t Care About Us – Michael Jackson

Stranger in Moscow – Michael Jackson

The Way You Make Me Feel – Michael Jackson

 Songs that describe me:

 Girl You Really Got Me Now – The Kinks

Lola – The Kinks

A Well Respected Man About Town – The Kinks

Light My Fire – The Doors

(What  A) Wonderful World – Sam Cooke

Hound Dog – Elvis Presley

Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

All Shook Up (30th Anniversary Edition of NBC-TV) – Elvis Presley

Sympathy for The Devil – The Rolling Stones

You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Rolling Stones

Miss You – Rolling Stones

I Can’t Get No Satisfaction -  Rolling Stones

Gimmie Shelter – Rolling Stones

Let’s Spend the Night Together – Rolling Stones

Sound of Silence – Simon And Garfunkel

Under My Thumb – Tina Turner

Acid Queen – Tina Turner

 Voodoo – Godsmack

The Kids Are Alright – The Offspring

The Missing Frame – AFI

Miss Murder – AFI

Love Like Winter – AFI

Kill Caustic – AFI

Endlessly She Said – AFI

The Leaving Song Pt. 2 – AFI

Bleed Black – AFI

Silver and Cold – AFI

Death of Seasons – AFI

Paper Airplanes – AFI

The Great Disappointment – AFI

But Home Is Nowhere – AFI

Rabbits Are Roadkill – AFI

Fall Children – AFI

The Boy who destroyed the world – afi

Totalimmortal – afi

The art of drowning – Afi

Black Sails – AFI

Shut your mouth – Afi

Fire on high – electric light orchestra

Get Your Gunn, Lunchbox, Antichrist superstar, Mechanical Animals, Holy Wood, The golden age of grotesque - Marilyn Manson

Dark Days – The Used

Mayday Parade

Earth Crisis

Escape the fate

Chiodos

Secondhand Serenade – A twist in my story

The Mars Volta – The widow, illeyna

Against me – new wave

Killing monsters in the rain, black eye – steel train

Books and letters, clouds – The Morning Light

Karate High School – League of Tomorrow

Ten Second Epic – boys will be boys

Chain Me Free, Sick Little Suicide, Salty Eyes, Papercut Skin, Clumsy Heart, Shoot Me in The Smile, Am Tilts, Wake the Sun, To Build a Mountain, Between Halloweens - The Matches

Nine in the Afternoon, Do You Know What I’m Seeing, That Green Gentleman, Pas De Cheval, Mad as Rabbits – Panic at The Disco

Second Hand News, Dreams, Never Going Back Again, I Don’t Wanna Know, Gold Dust Woman – Fleetwood Mac

Jefferson Starship

Jimi Hendrix

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, With a little help from my friends, getting better, when I’m sixty four, a day in the life, Across The Universe, Hey Jude, Imagine, I want to hold your hand - The Beatles

Greatest Hits - Paul McCartney

Neutral Milk Hotel – King of Carrot Flowers

Great D.J., That’s Not My Name, Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings

 Viva La Cobra - Cobra Starship

Underdog Alma Matter - Forever the Sickest Kids

Brokencyde

3oh!3

That’s Classy - Breathe Carolina

Taste, Magnetic Baby, Genius, Time Zones - Semi Precious Weapons

The Pink Spiders

Billy Boy On Poison

Astronaut, Runs in The Family, Have to Drive - Amanda Palmer

The Academy Is – High School Album

Happy happy Joy Joy song

My Sharona – The Number Twelve Looks Like You

Hello Hooray, Sick Things - Alice Cooper

Space Oddity, Cygnet Committee, Wild Eyed Boy From Free Cloud, The Width Of A Circle, All The Madmen, She Shook Me Cold, The Man Who Sold The World, The Superman, Changes, Oh! You Pretty Things, Kooks, Quicksand, Queen Bitch, Moonage Daydream, Starman, Lady Stardust, Star, Ziggy Stardust, Rock n Roll Suicide, John I’m Only Dancing, My Death, Watch That Man, Drive In Saturday, Time, Let’s Spend The Night Together, Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise), Rebel Rebel, We Are The Dead, Station To Station, Golden Years, Word On A Wing, TVC15, Stay, Wild Is The Wind, Breaking Glass, What in The World, Sound And Vision, Always Crashing in the Same Car, A New Career In a New Town, Heroes, Blackout, V2-Schnider, Fantastic Voyage, Boys Keep Swinging, D.J., Look Back In Anger, It’s No Game Parts 1 and 2, Scary Monsters Super Freaks, Ashes to Ashes, Modern Love, China Girl, Never Let Me Down, I’m Afraid of Americans, 7 Years In Tibet, Hallo Space boy, The Hearts Filthy Lesson, Thursdays Child, Survive, Seven, What’s Really Happening, Cactus, Heathen (The Rays),Never let Me Down,  - David Bowie

Fall Out Boy – I don’t care, w.a.m.s.

Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? Skeletal Lamping – Of Montreal

Lotus Flower/MPLSound – Prince

Family Tradition, Ali For Cody, Chandelier – Sense Fail

Time to Pretend, Weekend Wars, Electric Feel, Kids, Of Moons Birds and Monsters – MGMT

I will possess your heart – death cab for cutie

Big Ten Inch Record, Sweet Emotion, You See Me Crying – Aerosmith

Defeater – Nameless Streets

Baker – Plans

Polar Bear Club – Living Saints

Fun – At Least I am Not as Sad

By Surprise – CB Radio

Therefore I am – I am only an island

A Loss fo words – stamp of approval

Transit- stay home

Lions lions – angles with dirty faces

These green eyes – paramedic

Death before dishonor – our glory days

Snowing – pumpfake

Drug rug – Hannah please

Mark schwaber – to be better

NOFX

A day to remember

All time low

p.o.s.

Jeffree star

hit the lights

aiden

lovehatehero

anti flag

Thursday

Paramour

Madina lake – statistic

There for tomorrow

You me at six

 Thursdays Child, Survive, Seven, What’s Really Happening – David Bowie

Propagandhi

The Unthanks – Because he was a bonny lad

The boxer rebellion – the flashing red light means go

We fell to earth – lights out

Santogold – lights out

Edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes – 40 day dream

Lovers in captivity – ima robot

Jay reatard – wounded

Paul McCartney – tripping the live fantastic

Elton John – Captain fantastic and the brown dirt cowboy

Cute is what we aim for – doctor

The spill canvas – all over you

Every avenue – think of you later

Bayside – you’ve already been

Four year Strong – so hot and sweat it out

Rise against

Foxy shazam – dangerous man

 The Smiths – Greatest Hits

Placebo – everything

Chevelle – straight jacket fashion, sleep apnea, Mexican sun, shameful metaphors, letter from a thief, high lands apparition, Roswell’s spell, a new momentum

Jack the Ripper – AFI/Morrissey

Piccadilly Palare, The Last of the Famous International Playboys, Suedehead, Alma Matters, The Boy Racer, Irish Blood English Heart, I Have Forgiven Jesus, This World Is Full Of Crashing Bores, I’m Not Sorry, How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel, I Like You, Dear God Please Help Me, Life Is a Pigsty, On The Streets I Ran, I Just Want To See The Boy Happy, Something Is Squeezing My Skull, Black Cloud, That’s How People Grow Up, I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris, It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore, Sorry Doesn’t Help Us, I’m Ok By Myself, If You Don’t Like Me Then Don’t Look At Me, Gang lord, Dearest Love, Friday Morning, My Life Is An Endless Succession Of People Saying Goodbye – Morrissey

An unexpected rain, threesome, the universe listened, imagine that, what happens tomorrow, I need to wake up – Melissa Etheredge

Sing the changes – the firemen and Paul McCartney

Thriller (album) – Michael Jackson

No line on the horizon (album) – U2

Tonight (album) – Franz Ferdinand

London calling (album) – the clash

Live from royal albert hall – the killers

From now on we are enemies – fall out boy

The fame monster/the fame (albums) – lady gaga

Dead by sunrise- (out of ashes album)

The used – artwork (album)

The high end of low (album Marilyn Manson)

Crash love (album – afi)

Foo fighters – greatest hits

 The get up kids – something to write home about (album)

Iggy and the stooges – raw power (album)

 April 26th 2010 - 2020

A good start:

2010- Goldfrapp - Headfirst Nevershoutnever –What is love?

Lou Reed – Berlin: live at St. anns warehouse Rachel Yamagata Mika – The Boy Who Knew Too Much

A work in progress... I have 10 years to cover now.

[junker-town]

Western Illinois, Year 36, 2042-2043

There’s only five seasons left in our College Hoops 2K8 sim, and we still need two national titles to tie John Wooden’s record.

Welcome back to our simulated dynasty with the Western Illinois Leathernecks in College Hoops 2K8. You can find a full explanation of this project + spoiler-free links to previous seasons here. Check out the introduction to this series from early April for full context. As a reminder, we simulate every game in this series and only control the recruiting and coaching strategies. Dynasty mode runs for 40 years.

Before we pick up with the Leathernecks at the start of Year 36, here’s a recap of everything that happened last season:

Coming off a devastating buzzer-breater loss in the Elite Eight to Florida State the year before, Western Illinois returned only two starters but had four seniors in the starting lineup. We held our own against a difficult non-conference schedule and went unbeaten in the Summit League again to earn our automatic bid to the NCAA tournament at 27-4 overall.

We earned a No. 8 seed to the NCAA tournament and beat NC State in the first round, Seton Hall in the round of 32, Nevada in the Sweet 16, and South Carolina in the Elite Eight, and then lost to Wisconsin in the Final Four.

We recruited for four scholarships and landed four players: No. 6 center Brody Munoz, four-star shooting guard Bernie Doyle, four-star small forward Floyd Keller, and three-star power forward Oscar Fray.

Here’s a first look at our roster for Year 36:

(As mentioned at the bottom of the Year 35 post, these ratings are from the start of our NCAA tournament run because it’s the only clean screenshot we have. The accurate beginning of the year ratings are listed below)

Our goal is to surpass John Wooden for the most championships in college basketball history before the series ends after Year 40. We have eight national championships to Wooden’s 10, and we only have five seasons left before the game forces us to hang it up.

If we win national title No. 9 this year, we’re going to have to do it without any seniors on the roster. On the flip side, our redshirt juniors who were once ranked as the No. 5 recruiting class in the country now fully enter the spotlight. We begin the year ranked as No. 23 in the preseason polls.

Let’s meet the starters:

PG Arvydas Hardy, 91 overall, redshirt junior: Hardy is the second highest-rated recruit in program history (No. 12 overall), and it’s time for him to become a star. The 6’4 point guard is a great three-point shooter (A- rating) and has A ratings in ball handling and passing. He’s capable of stockpiling a ton of points quickly when he gets hot, but his tournament run last year ended on a huge bummer: a 5-point performance on 2-of-10 shooting in our Final Four loss to Wisconsin. This man needs redemption. Projected lottery pick out of Mesa, AZ with C- potential.

SG Augustine Bruthelieus, 88 overall, redshirt sophomore: Bru earned big minutes off the bench for us on our tournament run last year, and now steps into the starting lineup as a well-rounded 6’5 guard. While he only has a mid-70s rating in three-point shooting, Bru is a physical defensive guard who can also handle and pass the ball well for a two. We’re already thinking about putting him at point and Hardy at the two during stretches in the NCAA tournament. Former No. 42 overall recruit out of San Diego with C+ potential.

SF Reece Mascoll, 91 overall, redshirt junior: I really feel like Mascoll has a chance to go down as an all-time great alongside Hardy. A massive 6’9, 250-pound wing, Mascoll is a pretty good three-point shooter (75 rating) who is a load to handle in the paint. He can seamlessly switch to the four and provide matchup issues at whatever position he’s playing: he’s too big for threes, and too quick for fours. He was a consistent double-digit scorer off the bench for us last season, and now we gets a chance to be a star. Former No. 40 overall recruit out of Riverside, CA with C potential. Projected lottery pick.

PF Al Reece, 86 overall, redshirt junior: We’re excited to have a gigantic 7’1, 266-pound power forward like Reece to help us fortify the paint on both ends. Reece is an aggressive offensive player who will let his jump shot fly even if he isn’t the most skilled shooter. Where Reece is really good is as a shot blocker, where his high-80s rating is the best on the team. We love that he can slide to the five in a pinch, and should tower over his matchup regardless of what position he’s playing. Former No. 138 overall recruit from Glendale, AZ with C- potential.

C Felipe Hopes, 89 overall, redshirt junior: Hopes had the highest potential rating (B+) of any member of his recruiting class, and feels like a lock to leave for the NBA draft after this season. We’re just hoping to get one great tournament run out of him. While he’s not too big at 6’11, Hopes is super quick, shows impressive aggression as an inside scorer, and can hit the glass and defend the paint at an above-average level. Former No. 139 overall recruit (No. 8 center) out of Federal Way, WA. Projected lottery pick.

Hopes, Hardy, and Mascoll all could leave for the NBA after this year. We really need to make this season count.

We’re going to have a nine-man rotation with four guys off the bench. Our sixth man will be redshirt sophomore shooting guard Jerald Elliott (86 overall), a quality three-point shooter at 6’6 who looks like he can play 1-3. We have three redshirt freshmen debuting in the rotation after him. Ketshner Evertsen is a 6’8 shooting guard who we’re sliding to the three. Cam Kately is a 6’6 point guard with developing shooting ability. We also have 7’2 center D.J. Foster out of Chicago who will be our lone big off the bench.

We are also welcoming four new freshmen to the team. All of them will redshirt. This is the last recruiting class in school history that will have the potential to stay all five years.

SG Bernie Doyle, No. 36 overall prospect: 76 overall, C potential. Has already grown an inch to 6’8. I’m thrilled to see he already has a 78 rating in three-point shooting.

SF Floyd Keller, No. 101 overall recruit: 76 overall, C+ potential. 80 rating in three-point shooting.

C Brody Munoz, No. 169 overall recruit: 74 overall, B potential. Has already grown an inch to 6’11.

PF Oscar Fray, No. 118 overall recruit: 74 overall, C potential.

With no seniors, we have no scholarships to recruit for this year. This is going to be a quick regular season. Let’s hope it gives way to a long tournament run.

How did the non-conference slate go?

We started the season 8-0 and climbed as high as No. 11 in the polls. Our season-opening streak included wins vs. Michigan, Valparaiso, South Florida, Stanford, and Texas A&M. Then we ran into No. 25 Indiana and lost a heartbreaker, 67-66.

Our next game was against an 10-1 Colorado State team, and damn, we lost that one, too:

Then we had No. 8 Wisconsin, the team that smoked us in the Final Four last year. We won, 87-83, behind 19 points and 10 rebounds from Hopes, 17 points from Reece, and 15 points from Mascoll. Big dub, and suddenly this team is starting to feel special.

We beat Illinois by one the next game behind 19 points from Mascoll, and the 13 and 10 from big Al Reece. We beat Cal next behind 24 points and 12 rebounds from Felipe Hopes. We’re 11-1 as we enter the Summit League play, let’s go!

Can we go undefeated in the Summit League once again?

Uh, what the hell?

After running up a 19-2 record, we faced an 11-9 UMKC team that handed us our first defeat in conference season in what feels like 10 years (someone can check the records for me if they want and drop the exact number in the comments). I honestly can’t believe that happened.

Surely, it can’t happen again, right?

Oh my god. Oral Roberts entered at 5-20 overall, and upset us 62-57. Only Hopes and Foster scored in double-figures, and both only had 10 points. I am stunned. Are we going to lose in the Summit League tournament?

Thankfully not. Despite a close game in the final against UMKC again, we won and punched our automatic bid to the big dance. We’ll be entering the tournament at 28-4 on the year.

Before we sim to the tournament, let’s check out our end of season stats:

Hopes was as good as we hoped: 15.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and more than an assist, block, and steal per game. Mascoll was excellent too, averaging 14.2 points per game and hopefully setting the stage for a big tournament run. Reece was also awesome with averages of 13.8 points and 6.5 boards per game. Hardy was a little underwhelming, but maybe that will work out in our favor: he’s dropped from a projected lottery pick to a projected first rounder. Mascoll has suffered the same fall, while Hopes remains a lottery pick.

It feels like this is the final run for Hopes, but Mascoll and Hardy could go either way in terms of returning for their senior seasons or turning pro. This isn’t the time to think about next year, though. Let’s go win a damn ship.

2043 NCAA tournament

We’re a No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament, and draw a matchup against No. 10 seed Colorado State. Yes, the same Colorado State team that beat us in the regular season.

We enter the tournament rated as a 98 overall, while the Rams are a 90 overall.

Before we get to the tournament rematch, let’s take a look at our roster:

While our starters didn’t improve a ton during the season, our bench did. I’m feeling pretty good about the prospect of getting Ketshner Evertsen and Foster and Kately some minutes. Elliott is practically our sixth starter as a 90 overall.

Ultimately, this run feels like it’s going to come down to the four juniors — and especially Hardy and Mascoll. Can they take the next step and become all-time greats within the program like former legends Wilky Henry, Nic Cummings, and Billy Assell? I think they have the talent to do it.

We need revenge on Colorado State to start off this run. Not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous.

As always, we’re watching a simulated game between the computer. I’m not controlling the Leathernecks. Let’s go!

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Win, 92-80! We’re going to the round of 32.

Man, that was not as easy as I would have liked for a first round game. Colorado State was leading most of the first half, but we entered the break with a three-point lead after Ketshner Evertsen beat the halftime buzzer.

Shner was the breakout player of this game, and legitimately looked like a future star in his first NCAA tournament game. He finished with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting. A 6’8 natural shooting guard who we’ve moved to the wing, Shner has the size and shooting to be a big time weapon for us. Can’t wait to see what he does next.

Bruthelieus (16 points despite 1-of-5 three-point shooting) and Mascoll (15 points on 5-of-15 shooting) didn’t have their best shooting nights but still contributed to the win with timely scoring. All three of our bigs — juniors Al Reece and Felipe Hopes and freshman D.J. Foster — looked huge and great and each finished with 10 points.

Hardy was not good — six points on 1-of-7 shooting — but did finish with 10 assists. I really expected him to be a takeover scorer, but I’d be okay with him turning into a passing savant, too. Just need a few shots to fall next time.

The win sets up a round of 32 matchup with No. 2 seed UNLV

UNLV enters at 28-4 and rated as a 96 overall. We’re 29-4 and enter at 98 overall.

This looks like it’s going to be a super tough game. The Runnin’ Rebels are a legit No. 2 seed with great senior guards and some big wings on the roster. We’re really going to need our front court to show them who’s boss.

Sweet 16 on the line. I need a dub. Let’s go!

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Win, 90-88! We are back in the Sweet 16.

Wow, that one was close. UNLV dominated early by forcing us into nine turnovers in the first half. We went with our own full court press in the second half to wrestle away the lead, but it was still a one-point game with under two minutes left. Hardy shook free for a layup late to put us up three, and from there Hardy and Bru knocked down enough free throws to ice the win. I was straight sweating in those final minutes. Thank gosh we were clutch from the line, going 21-of-23 on the night.

I thought Hopes absolutely kicked ass, finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals. An absolutely tenacious performance on both ends of the floor — that’s why that man is a lottery pick. Bru was solid again with 18 points and four assists. Hardy finished with 16 points and four assists and did a nice job taking care of the ball late after some early turnover troubles.

Mascoll only had 11 points, but he had some big plays. First, this three-point at the halftime buzzer gave us the momentum we needed going into the break:

While he didn’t have his best shooting night, Mascoll has always been at his best rumbling his way to the basket. The jumbo forward also had our best dunk of the night:

Foster gave us really good minutes off the bench, too. As for Shner, he led us in scoring in the first half with eight points and then didn’t score again. Is it possible to hit the rookie wall in the second round of the NCAA tournament?

The win sets up a Sweet 16 matchup with No. 3 seed NC State

Our run to the Final Four last season started with a first round victory over the Wolf Pack. I’m sure they want nothing more than to knock us out this year.

NC State enters at 27-6 overall and rated as a 94. We’re 30-4 and rated as a 98.

We need a win here to continue to hunt for national title No. 9. Let’s go!

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Loss, 107-104. A shocking and completely heartbreaking defeat to end our season early.

NC State controlled the game in the first half as Hardy (two fouls) and Bru (three fouls) both had to be pulled for long stretches because of foul trouble. We eventually took the lead and fought to keep it over the final 111 minutes.

With 2:30 left, the ball found Hardy for a quick catch-and-shoot three, and he drained it to put us up five. It was his sixth three-pointer of the game and gave him 20 points on the night. This is the type of performance we’ve been waiting for since he entered the program:

Unfortunately, we didn’t score after that the rest of the night.

We just couldn’t buy a bucket down the stretch, with Mascoll and Hardy both missing wide open shots that likely would have given us the win down the stretch. We did have one more chance with under four seconds left on the clock, but Shner’s three fell just short.

I honestly can’t believe we lost that game. We don’t choke down the stretch like that often, but maybe that’s what happens when you have a team without any seniors.

Every tournament loss hurts at this part of the dynasty, and this one feels like it’s going to eat away at us. The one thing that’s keeping me going right now is that we should have a great team next year, depending Hardy and Mascoll’s draft decisions. We may have found a future star in the 6’8 redshirt freshmen Everstsen, who went off for 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from three in defeat. It was an incredible performance and has me so excited for his future:

Foster is going to be a great replacement for Hopes as a 7’2 center. I think big Al Reece should be in for a productive senior year, too.

This loss stings horribly, but I know we will be back.

Offseason

Florida wins the national title

HARDY AND MASCOLL ARE BACK! We lose Felipe Hopes to the NBA draft, but everyone else is returning. We’re going to be absolutely loaded next year.

My career record now sits at 1,042-199

We have no scholarships to recruit for, so this is going to be a quick offseason. Let’s set our schedule for next year:

Creighton, NIT Season Tip-Off, Illinois State, Hofstra, @ UConn, Bradley, @ NC State, @ Kentucky, DePaul, Golden Bear Classic

Year 37

Here’s a first look at the roster for Year 37:

We start the year at No. 3 in the preseason polls.

This should be one of the deepest and most talented teams we’ve ever had. Let’s go win No. 9.

We’re going to be streaming the NCAA tournament in Year 37 on Sunday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET on my Twitch channel.

Watch Western Illinois’ Year 37 tournament run

What: Western Illinois’ Year 37 NCAA tournament run

When: Sunday, April 18 at 8 p.m. ET.

Where: My Twitch stream

For email updates on this series, subscribe here.

[ushealthcare4u-com-blog]

Grammy Award-triumphing manufacturer Andrew Watt, who has labored with Cardi B, Post Malone, Future and different tune artists, has shriveled Covid-19, in any other case known as the coronavirus.

USHealthCare4u.com

Monday, 23 March 2020

tests positive coronavirus ushealthcare4u.com andrew watt

Grammy Award-triumphing manufacturer Andrew Watt, who has labored with Cardi B, Post Malone, Future and different tune artists, has shriveled Covid-19, in any other case known as the coronavirus.

On Tuesday (March 17), the hitmaker went on his Instagram web page to share his health crisis. In his alarming story, Watt specific his adventure of what he experienced prior to finding out he had the coronavirus.

“12 days ago, early morning of March 6, I started out feeling like I become hit through a bus. I couldn’t pass out of my mattress for days and commenced to run a fever,” he wrote. “I became seen by using a doctor at my house who instructed

ushealthcare4u.com

me I am advantageous for the regular flu and there’s no way I should have Covid-19 as I haven’t left the us of a and all I do is go to the studio and pass straight home.”

Watt goes on to write that his fever didn’t forestall and he commenced having dry coughs. He changed into rushed to the medical institution and when he arrived, he begged to be examined for Covid-19 but changed into turned down due  to federal policies. Watt became eventually tested by using a non-public doctor and the effects came lower back high-quality for the coronavirus.

“Currently...My fevers are becoming an awful lot a great deal better and I actually have all started to have fairly of an appetite again however it's far very difficult for me to respire due to this pneumonia,” he wrote. “I am 29 years antique. I am a wholesome young guy and I am going to get through it no matter what. I am going to make a complete restoration.”

In the stop, Watt needs his followers to recognize that the coronavirus isn't a joke and those have to take it significantly. He encouraged his lovers to engage in social distancing to protect others from contracting the potentially deadly virus.

“I can’t stress this enough...This isn't a comic story,” he delivered. “Stay internal, stay sanitized. Please forestall the whole lot and take care of yourselves and the humans you like around you, until we're throughout this.”

"Social distancing is to defend someone's dad and mom, a person's grandmother," he brought. "It's no longer approximately you. It's approximately anyone together preventing this as a team."

Watt has a prolonged list of production credit that include Cardi B's "Thru Your Phone," Post Malone's "Die for Me" and Future and Juice Wrld's "Hard Work Pays Off" from their duet challenge Wrld on Drugs.

Read Andrew Watt's Instagram post beneath.

See 17 Rappers Who Haven't Put an Album Out in a While That We'd Like to Hear From

Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images

50 Cent

Last album: Animal Ambition (2014)

50 Cent’s name still ring bells, but it is been over a decade because he released a platinum album. Since then, he’s targeted his efforts more on acting, making an investment, govt producing and trolling amongst other things. His 2014 indie album Animal Ambition felt extra like a mixtape than the epic showings we’re familiar with from Fif. While he’s put out a few solid mixtapes in the period, he continually driven his Street King Immortal album to the backburner. He is probably nevertheless running on the album. We are patiently ready.

Karl Walter, Getty Images

Ab-Soul

Last album: Do What Thou Wilt (2016)

T.D.E.’s Ab-Soul is the maximum reclusive rapper inside the clique and after liberating and selling his 2016 album, Do What Thou Wilt, Solo has been laying low. We have been speculated to get the mixtape Longterm three between then and now however it never materialized. Now it looks like 2020 may be the 12 months the self-described "Black Lip Pastor" returns. During a performance on the 2019 Day N Vegas Festival, he concluded his set through telling lovers, “New album 2020. We takin’ the whole thing.” Yes, please.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Dr. Dre

Last album: Compton (2015)

We waited a whole sixteen years to get Dr. Dre's 1/3 album, Compton. That’s  lifetimes in rap phrases. Now that the good document has properly administered the treatment, fans nevertheless need some other fix. Will we get it? It’s tough to inform. Many of the equal matters that hindered the release of Detox are nevertheless in play, inclusive of Dre’s busy commercial enterprise schedule and perfectionist mentality. However, he always seems to be in track mode. There are reputedly never-ending whispers of Dre being inside the lab and he is reportedly blending Kanye West’s upcoming album, Jesus Is King 2.

Theo Wargo, Getty Images

Jay Electronica

Last album: Act 1: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) (2007)

Jay Electronica blessed us with a hearth album in 2007, a traditional unmarried in 2009 (“Exhibit C”) and has stored us ready with bated breath for a brand new LP for over a decade. A single right here, a guest appearance there may be all we’ve received. Not even a Roc Nation deal and the urging of Jay-Z himself has convinced Jay Elec to launch his lengthy-awaited LP. Still, we wait.

Mark Metcalfe, Getty Images

Childish Gambino

Last album: Awaken, My Love! (2016)

Childish Gambino has a lot on his plate nowadays and lovers are hoping there’s at least a side dish of album. In 2016, he stepped outside the field together with his severely acclaimed Awaken, My Love! LP. Then he messed the complete sport up in 2018, with the loose unmarried “This Is America,” which won multiple Grammy Awards. While fanatics were hoping a brand new album could arrive earlier than later, all we have when you consider that then are  extra singles. A new 12 months brings new hope that an album will materialize.

Brian Ach, Getty Images

Busta Rhymes

Last album: Year of the Dragon (2012)

Busta Rhymes has nine albums below his belt however hasn’t placed out a solo LP in view that 2012. That’s double the amount of time in view that his previous longest album drought— from 2002 to 2006. Bussa Bus has not been stagnant, however, freeing three mixtapes and assisting launch the career of O.T. Genasis, all even as teasing his legit return. Last February, he introduced he was putting the completing touches at the album with the assist of Dr. Dre. We are still ready at the aftermath.

Andrew Toth, Getty Images

Lil Dicky

Last album: Professional Rapper (2015)

Lil Dicky had a large buzz after liberating his debut album, Professional Rapper in 2015. He observed that up with the aid of being inducted into the 2016 XXL Freshman class and then launched the hit single “Freaky Friday” presenting Chris Brown in 2018. The international continues to be ready on his sophomore album, which has played the historical past while he’s been running on his new television show, which premieres in March. With the TV series finished, Dicky heads must be getting new tune soon. In January, the rapper found out he's running on the LP now. "The precise information is, I’ve made a ton of wonderful tune over these years," he wrote in an Instagram post. "Boy oh boy have I evolved and blossomed!! You will listen it and love it and be pleased with me, and much less irritated with me. But I gotta finish it after which roll it out proper. You most effective get such a lot of cracks at doing what I’m approximately to do."

Ian Gavan, Getty Images

Lauryn Hill

Last album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Lauryn Hill certainly dropped one of the best albums of the Nineties after which stated, one is sufficient. A whole -plus many years have passed, and L Boogie seems content material visiting with the antique stuff and not giving into fanatics’ whims for brand spanking new material. That doesn’t imply we aren’t still inquiring for it. Last 12 months, she placed out her first solo single in 5 years. Her track, “Guarding the Gates," regarded on Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack. So, maybe, simply perhaps there’s hope.

Theo Wargo, Getty Images

Jadakiss

Last album: Top five Dead or Alive (2015)

AHAAA! Jadakiss is a pinnacle-shelf lyricist. So, it’s a shame he's handiest dropped 4 solo albums in his 20-plus yr career. 2017’s Friday on Elm Street collab with Fabolous become the closest factor the Lox member got to a solo LP seeing that 2015’s Top 5 Dead or Alive. The "So Raspy" rapper signed a address Roc Nation in 2018, and as of press time, we're nevertheless waiting on an statement about his debut on the residence that Hov constructed.

Paras Griffin, Getty Images

Fetty Wap

Last album: Fetty Wap (2015)

Fetty Wap hit the ground jogging with the 2014 single “Trap Queen” and struck while the iron became warm by freeing his debut album the following year. The former XXL Freshman has stayed heavy at the mixtape scene but has failed to comply with up with a sophomore studio album in the years on account that because of rumored label issues. Half a decade after his debut, Fetty subsequently plans to drop his 2nd album King Zoo this spring.

Matt Winkelmeyer, Getty Images

Pharrell

Last album: GIRL (2014)

Pharrell is an authorized hitmaker and the arena needs extra of his hits. With handiest two solo albums to his call, his most recent GIRL LP produced the mega spoil “Happy” and the world is higher for it. Chad of The Neptunes currently revealed he and Skateboard P had been inside the lab with a number of artists and plan to ramp up production this 12 months. Hopefully meaning a new Pharrell album is also inside the works as nicely.

Theo Wargo, Getty Images

DMX

Last album: Redemption of the Beast (2015)

For years, DMX has been dealing with troubles that are deeper than rap. He went from dropping 5 albums in 5 years to a few inside the remaining 17. It’s difficult to don't forget his final album, Redemption of the Beast, official because it became reportedly released without his consent. Last fall, he reunited with Def Jam, inking a brand new cope with the report business enterprise that was his first label domestic. It’d be dope to peer X upward thrust like a grand champion yet again following a stint in rehab.

Imeh Akpanudosen, Getty Images

Waka Flocka Flame

Last album: Triple F Life: Fan, Friends & Family (2012)

It’s tough to accept as true with it’s been 8 years when you consider that Waka Flocka Flame remaining placed out an album however nearly 1/2 a decade has surpassed when you consider that his sophomore LP, Triple F Life: Fan, Friends & Family, dropped. Big Homie Waka has stored his name popping via the mixtape circuit however the lengthy-awaited Flockavelli 2 album has been shelved over and over. Waka currently confirmed 2020 is the year he ultimately releases his third LP, which he claims will be his very last album.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Redman

Last album: Mudface (2015)

Eminem’s preferred MC still gets busy. It’s been 5 years considering that Redman launched Mudface and even longer because he’s been teasing Muddy Waters 2 (later renamed Muddy Waters, Too, the sequel to his magnum opus. He currently positioned out a preview with the EP 3 Joints, which with a bit of luck manner MWT will follow rapidly afterward.

Mike Stobe, Getty Images

LL Cool J

Last album: Authentic (2013)

Todd Smith is one of the great to ever do it. Period. At 13 albums in, seven years have passed seeing that LL Cool J's last imparting, Authentic. He announced G.O.A.T. 2 in 2014 earlier than putting it on hold pronouncing, "It changed into right but I didn’t sense love it changed into equipped but." He dabbled with retirement a couple years later, however Uncle L can’t leave rap on my own, the sport needs him. Recently, there have been talks that a new album is coming together with Fat Joe serving as govt manufacturer.

Tabatha Fireman, Getty Images

Q-Tip

Last album: Kamaal the Abstract (2009)

Q-Tip introduced his impending album, The Last Zulu, returned in 2012, rapidly after he signed with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label. Since then fans have had to loosen up themselves in terms of anticipation for the brand new task, which has been sitting on the shelf whilst the A Tribe Called Quest frontman makes a speciality of different ventures. The promised launch has no longer been forgotten. The final Last Zulu update came in the summer season of 2018 whilst we had been given the normal “coming quickly” forewarning. We hope earlier than later at this point.

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[waterarcher8-blog]

The Linc - Eagles might draft another North Dakota State quarterback

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Reunion with Carson Wentz? Easton Stick makes plenty of sense for Eagles - ESPN When Wentz broke a bone in his throwing wrist six games into his senior season, Stick stepped in as a redshirt freshman and guided the team to five straight wins to put the Bison in the national title game. An eerily similar sequence unfolded a couple years later when Foles took over for an injured Wentz during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. The key difference here was that Wentz returned for the big finale. Hearing that Wentz would be cleared in time for the title game, Stick approached the coaching staff and encouraged them to play Wentz because, as Stick put it, it was Wentz’s team. Wentz ran for two touchdowns and threw for another against Jacksonville State to deliver North Dakota State a championship and solidify his standing as a top NFL prospect. Stick would have his time to shine. He started the next three seasons and compiled an insane record of 49-3 to become the winningest quarterback in FCS history. The Bison won it all in each of his final two seasons at the helm. A dual threat, he threw 28 touchdowns to 7 interceptions this past season while rushing for another 17 TDs.

NFL Draft QB Deep Dive - Rotoworld Stick won three FCS titles at NDSU, the colossus of the sub-division that gave us Carson Wentz. Forget Carson Wentz. Stick is nothing like him as a prospect. Stick is a fabulous athlete — slower by a tic than Taysom Hill with less explosion, but with superior agility — who is a weapon in the open field. This part of his game doesn’t get discussed enough, I think, because evaluators who dismiss him because of the height/arm strength thing or the Shrine week don’t get far enough along in their thought process to bake it in to what it could mean in the NFL. Also, because Stick is #white. But good golly is he dangerous. Difficult to wrap up in the backfield, difficult to corral when he gets moving downfield, and, heck, difficult to catch from behind. You can’t dismiss Stick’s deep-sector touch as a context-based fluke, because Stick’s skillset itself is in part informing that context: On RPOs, for instance, linebackers and safeties need to be extremely cognizant of the fact that Stick could tuck and rip off a 25-yard run in three seconds.

5 bold predictions for Eagles’ 2019 draft - BGN 2) The Eagles select Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf. Here’s how you construct quasi-hot takes. You take something that is well-known, combine it with something that’s basically unknown, and then zest on a bit of self-imposed incredulity, to emphasize the unknown bit over the known bit. Watch closely: I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there’s a chance that D.K. Metcalf — yes, that D.K. Metcalf — will be the Eagles first-round selection. “How could that be?” you ask. “After that Combine performance, after his incredible play in college, how could he be available at 25 overall?” A few factors influence the perceived Metcalf fall here.

First-round trades that have worked out in the past - PFF Carson Wentz hit the ground running in his debut season with some stellar performances early in the year, but his sophomore season — the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning one — is what proved the trade to be worthwhile. He did eventually go down with an injury, but before then Wentz was a legitimate MVP candidate, dominating in all phases of the game. He was simply sensational on third-down plays that year, where he led all quarterbacks in passing grade (93.3), big-time throws (15), yards per attempt (9.5) and passer rating (123.7). While he didn’t quite manage to return to that level last year, his 2018 performance was still worthy of a 14th-ranked overall grade of 79.4, proving that he’s more than capable of leading this team for the next decade.

Eagles 2019 NFL Draft preview: Safety - PhillyVoice Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State (5’11, 205). Abram is a player who has commonly been given to the Eagles in the first round of mock drafts. I don’t see much in the way of separation between him and some of the other safeties below who can be had in Round 2. I do like Abram’s game, and what really stands out is that he is a very tough, confident, physical player who looks to deliver big shots whenever given the opportunity. Unfortunately, what highlight reels like that don’t show are the missed tackles as a result of trying to deliver the knockout blow, and Abram has plenty of those. For example, cfbfilmroom.com had him down for 12 missed tackles in 2017, though he did clean clean that up a bit in 2018 (when he had 5). Abram’s potential fit in the Eagles’ offense would be interesting. In the short term, you’d want to get him on the field immediately, I’d imagine, which would mean a shift to heavy utilization of three-safety sets. But again, the value in Round 1 just isn’t there for me.

The Next Nellie? - Iggles Blitz While Sidney Jones hasn’t played at a high level yet, it is too early to give up on him. Nelson Agholor was healthy in 2015 and 2016 and still found his way to rock bottom. In his third year, Agholor woke up and started playing well. He was a changed man. Jones could still have a bright future in the NFL. He can learn from the struggles of Agholor and Brandon Graham. You can be a high pick and still take time to develop, due to injuries or other factors. We don’t know if Jones will ever pan out or not, but this wasn’t a reach or dumb pick by the Eagles. Jones was a terrific cover corner in college. No one questioned his talent. You could argue whether he should have gone at 10 or 15 or 20, but he was going to be a first round pick. The injury happened and changed things in a hurry. Unfortunately, Jones hasn’t been the same since. That could change this year, but nothing is guaranteed. Some players who get off to a slow start never overcome that and they don’t get better.

3 Nelson Agholor Replacements For Philadelphia Eagles - The Draft Network Early: Deebo Samuel, South Carolina. It’s easiest to see how Samuel’s role with the Gamecocks translates to Agholor’s role with the Eagles. Both got quick, schemed targets designed to maximize run-after-catch abilities. Both split time between the slot and wide alignments, and were asked to run a smorgasbord of routes from those alignments. Both use their route-running to separator. I like Samuel better in contested situations, despite the fact that he’s a bit smaller in stature and has a narrower catch radius. It comes down to Samuel’s thickness, as he’s a stacked player who is unafraid of contact. Long-term health might be a concern here, but Samuel’s an instant starter and potential upgrade in Agholor’s role.

For Eagles player personnel VP Joe Douglas, the next NFL draft is his most important - Inquirer “We also at some point are going to lose executives,” Lurie said in Phoenix at the NFL owners’ meetings. “When you’re winning, you’re going to lose executives, and I think we’re in a great position to be able to deal with that.” Was Lurie already resigned to losing Douglas to a better opportunity or was he foreshadowing a mutual departure? The Eagles had already blocked the Texans from interviewing him for their general manager opening during their Super Bowl run. But that was before last season’s regression and the further sampling of Douglas’ first two drafts. It typically takes at least three years to give any sort of accurate evaluation on a class, but the Eagles’ 2017-18 drafts are particularly difficult to assess because so many of the prospects have hardly played, either because of injury or the depth of the roster. The Eagles have been able to sustain the lack of contributions because of the existing nucleus and other moves they have made. But the need for compensation will only grow as the roster ages, and, more significant, once quarterback Carson Wentz is signed to a salary cap-restricting contract extension.

Are Eagles more likely to trade up or down in 2019 draft? - NBCSP Roseman has talked before about the usual talent cutoff in first rounds. There are only a certain amount of “difference-makers” atop every draft — it differs by team — and on Tuesday, he said most drafts don’t have “32 legitimate first round grades” on players. He, of course, didn’t say whether or not this is one of those years, as to not tip his hand. But the Eagles are already running through all the hypothetical situations. And this is the time where preliminary phone calls between teams about draft-day intentions start happening. Roseman always says trades happen because of relationships around the league. So the reason Roseman didn’t answer the question on Tuesday is because he probably really doesn’t know what’s going to happen when the draft kicks off. He certainly has more of an idea than he let on — I still think the Eagles are in prime trade up territory — but there’s no point in tipping his hand.

Meet the Prospect: DE Brian Burns - PE.com Step into the film to learn about athletic defensive end Brian Burns in the latest Meet the Prospect.

Matt Miller’s Scouting Notebook: Biggest Insider Rumors of the 2019 NFL Draft - B/R One of the burning questions in the NFL is where the wide receivers will come off the board. The expectation, after speaking to multiple scouts and executives, is that one (Marquise Brown) is a surefire first-rounder with one or two others (D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Brown) possibly going in the top 32. This means many receivers could fly off the board when the second round starts. Deebo Samuel, N’Keal Harry, Parris Campbell and Hakeem Butler are the next guys up.

Dave Gettleman: I like my resume so far - PFT “I’ve been to seven Super Bowls,” Gettleman said to Steve Politi of NJ.com. “I feel very strongly that I know what it should look like, what it should smell like, what it should taste like. And, so, you can look at me and say, well, I either know what I’m doing or I’m a big fat rabbit’s foot. Neither one’s bad, right? I like my resume so far.” [BLG Note: Me too, Dave.]

Valentine’s Views: Time for the Daniel Jones era? Plus, Dave Gettleman’s legacy, and more - Big Blue View The thought that the Giants could choose Jones as the heir apparent to Manning — perhaps even as early as the sixth overall pick in the draft — horrifies some. If Jones is indeed their guy that should, however, surprise no one. Jones and the Giants have looked like an obvious match for months. The connection to the Manning family via Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who trained both Eli and Peyton back in the day. The fact that David Morris, backup to and roommate of Eli Manning at Ole Miss, is Jones’ personal quarterback coach. The similarities in temperament. The idea that on the field Jones reminds some of Manning with better mobility. If Gettleman chooses Jones at either No. 6 or at No. 17 there are plenty of self-made draft analysts and media know-it-alls who will snicker. The narrative will almost certainly include some version of calling him Clueless Dave and proclaiming that his plan must be to make sure the Giants continue to flounder.

2019 NFL Draft fantasy profiles: QB Daniel Jones - Fake Teams Reviewing his tape, even his highlights don’t show Jones to have an elite arm. He floats too many balls, especially when throwing deep, which will lead to interceptions at the next level, and the throws where he drives the ball into tight spaces are almost non-existent. However he excels at throwing fades in the red zone, showing great touch and using his height to loft the ball for his receivers to go up and get. He is a strong runner and is hard to bring down when he gets going, thanks to his long stride and has enough size to be a threat in the Red Zone. His NFL comp is Josh Allen (but not as well built), but whereas Allen has a low floor but extremely high ceiling thanks to his elite arm and athleticism, Jones I think has a slightly higher floor but a much lower ceiling.

Report: Seahawks open to trading Frank Clark, but want ‘at least a first-round pick’ included - Field Gulls We’re less than a week away from the 2019 NFL Draft, and the future of Seattle Seahawks DR Frank Clark is very much in doubt. Having developed into a standout pass-rusher in 2018, Clark was given the franchise tag (one-year, $17.1 million) by the Seahawks in lieu of a long-term deal. There has been discussion that Clark may be on the trading block, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter did report on Saturday that if Seattle does send Clark elsewhere, they want something big in return.

Ask a former NFL player: Will Nick Bosa’s tweets be an issue in the locker room? - SB Nation The Bosa topic is an interesting one. First off, no one in the locker room cares about Bosa’s tweets. They care about winning. Can Bosa help you win? Yes. That’s what matters. Also, there are plenty of players in the locker room who support President Donald Trump and share the same political values as Bosa. And guess what, we all get along. It’s not social media, where everyone is angry all the time. In 2016, heading into the election, a Lions teammate and I had discussions every single day about Hillary Clinton vs. Trump. We argued, we counter argued, and we got heated at times. But we were still friends. That’s the way most people discuss politics.

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/4/21/18509808/eagles-news-philadelphia-nfl-draft-2019-easton-stick-former-north-dakota-state-quarterback-wentz-qb

[auburnfamilynews]

A look back at Gus Malzahn’s first signing class.

Next Wednesday, Auburn will close on another signing class. Afterwards, everyone, including yours truly, will attempt to explain to you dear readers why this is a class you should be excited about based off the bits of film they’ve seen of said signees. Some will explain how the fact that one class has a higher player rating average means that their class is in fact much better than their rivals’ ranked 3 spots higher while others will point to the sheer depth of their class as why it is in fact the best.

But the truth is we actually have no idea how good or not good a class is next Wednesday. Yes, it’s been shown over and over again that schools who typically finish ranked higher tend to be more successful. You will never hear me debate that fact. However, the level of success of a class can’t really be judged until those kids hit the gridiron. So this week, we here at College & Magnolia have taken the time go back and re rank Auburn’s signing classes based on their actual success on the field. It will be interesting to see if some classes that were thought to be poor end up strong while great on paper classes turn to disappointment upon reexamination.

I should point out that we are ranking based on the success of the player while at Auburn. We aren’t concerned about where they landed in the NFL Draft or any success they might have had after leaving the Plains. We are grading strictly on how these players produced while donning the orange and blue. Our final rating is an average of grades (1-5) given to signees by the majority of the brain trust here at C&M. You could call it a C&M Composite score if you so felt inclined...

Anyway, enough rambling, onto the re-ranks!

Consensus Five Stars

We start first with the folks that we all agreed were 5* impact players for the Tigers. What we defined as 5* is pretty subjective but for me at least it’s someone that was not only ultra productive but raised the level of play of those around him as well. Three 5*s in a single class ain’t bad at all.

#14 QB Nick Marshall

247 Composite: 3* | #27 JUCO OVR | #3 JUCO QB | #6 JUCO KS

Career Stats: 320-532 (60.2%) 4,508 yards 34 TD 13 INT 147.5 QBR 325 carries 1,866 yards 5.7 avg 23 TD 3 rec 51 yds 17.0 avg

C&M Composite: 5.00

This was the easiest rerank of the class. Marshall was the engine behind Auburn’s high powered offenses in 2013 and 2014. I will completely admit to the fact that I was very confused on why Gus would take a flyer on a 20+ INT thrower from some JUCO when he had the stud QB of the future coming in the same class back in 2013. But you see, there is a reason I am an internet blogger and not a multi million dollar head football coach.

#18 K Daniel Carlson

247 Composite: 3* | N/A OVR | #2 K | #6 CO

Career Stats: 198-198 XP (100%) 92-114 (80.7%) TD

C&M Composite: 5.00

One of the dumbest things recruiting sites do is give kickers a ceiling of 3*s. Not here at College & Magnolia. Our experts here understand the value of kickers especially someone like Mr. Legatron whom not only leads Auburn in scoring but the SEC overall. That’s right, no human being that has ever played in the best football conference in America has scored as many points as Daniel Carlson. Did you see that Mike?

#55 BUCK/DE Carl Lawson

247 Composite: 5* | #22 OVR | #1 WDE | #3 GA

Career Stats: 67 tackles 24.5 TFL 14.5 sacks 3 FF

C&M Composite: 5.00

There will always be a feeling of what if with Lawson. What if he had not missed all of 2015? But that one year actually helped prove just how valuable a player he was to that Auburn defense. Teams always had to account for Lawson which opened up opportunities for guys elsewhere and his leadership was special. He’s now making a bunch of NFL front offices look super dumb which is just an added bonus honestly.

The Four Stars

What you are going to notice about this class is it is very top heavy. In some other re-ranks I will have to delineate a bit at the 4* level but in 2013, guys were pretty clearly either a consensus 5* or a consensus 4*.

#23 S Johnathan “Rudy” Ford

247 Composite: 4* | #306 OVR | #22 RB | #13 AL

Career Stats: 280 tackles 12.5 TFL 2.0 sacks 5 INT TD 11 PD FR 3 FF

C&M Composite: 4.17

Auburn flipped Ford from Vanderbilt late in the 2013 class and brought him on as a running back. He switched to defense before his sophomore year where he became an instant impact player and led the Tigers in tackles the next two seasons. I still think he could have been a dang good tailback if he left on that side of the ball but hard to complain too much about how his career turned out.

#1 Montravius Adams

247 Composite: 5* | #10 OVR | #3 DT | #2 GA

Career Stats: 147 tackles 19.5 TFL 10.5 sacks 2 INT 3 PD 3 FR TD 3 FF

C&M Composite: 4.00

I was a bit surprised to see consensus across the board that Adams was a 4*. This was a tough one because we all love Adams and there’s no denying he had a productive career for the Tigers. But consistency eluded him and he just never seemed to have that one big game changing moment in his career. If I were fully re-ranking the 2013 class he might be a 4* but he would be a top 50 player just outside the 5*s. If you disagree, feel free to make a passionate case for Adams in the comments, chances are high you will convince us.

#44 Cameron Artis-Payne

247 Composite: 3* | #60 JUCO OVR | #3 JUCO RB | #17 JUCO CA

Career Stats: 394 carries 2,218 yds 5.6 avg 19 TD 14 rec 151 yds

C&M Composite: 4.00

I vividly remembering telling my buddy with me in Atlanta when Artis-Payne broke off that tremendous late TD run against Missouri that the Tigers would be just fine at tailback in 2014. Artis-Payne was another successful JUCO hit for Malzahn and I think is overlooked in Auburn RB lore. He was insanely light on his feet for a 210 lb running back and delivered more blows than he took that season.

Borderline Four Star

Here resides one player where the C&M crew had mixed thoughts on his rank. The 4s outweighed the 3s though.

#25 Peyton Barber

247 Composite: 3* | #482 OVR | #30 RB | #42 GA

Career Stats: 248 carries 1,071 yds 4.3 avg 13 TD 11 rec 112 yds 10.2 avg

C&M Composite: 3.83

Barber’s career has been far from typical. A nasty knee injury robbed him of his junior year in high school and resulted in him not being as highly pursued as he probably should have been. He redshirted in 2013 and took garbage time reps in 2014 before emerging as the lead tailback for much of the tumultuous 2015 campaign when all of Auburn’s other more highly rated backs were all hurt. Then, after a fantastic redshirt sophomore year, Barber shockingly declared for the NFL though he gave a pretty good reason for it later. Now he’s Tampa Bay’s starting tailback after going undrafted and battling a learning disability all his life. Keep doing you Peyton.

Three Star-ish

Here we find a trio of key contributors that didn’t necessarily have consensus on their rank. One had a few more 4* votes while the other two picked up some lower 2* and even a 1* rank.

#80 Marcus Davis

247 Composite: 3* | #865 OVR | #69 CB | #126 FL

Career Stats: 83 rec 650 yds 7.8 avg 3 TD

C&M Composite: 3.33

Davis’s best year ended up being his first one. He never broke the 200 yard barrier after a strong debut season in 2013. But I will never forget that wheel route catch against Texas A&M.

#53 Devonte Danzey

247 Composite: 3* | #106 JUCO OVR | #2 JUCO OG | #18 JUCO KS

Career Stats: 10 starts

C&M Composite: 2.83

Danzey was never a star for the Tigers but was a crucial backup in both 2014 and 2015. He started 7 games at left guard in 2014 and filled in for an injured Xavier Dampeer at center the final 3 games of the 2015 campaign.

#50 Ben Bradley

247 Composite: 4* | #16 JUCO OVR | #6 JUCO DT | #3 JUCO KS

Career Stats: 36 tackles 6.0 TFL sack

C&M Composite: 2.50

Bradley was an important rotational piece for Auburn’s defensive line in 2013 and 2014. Never a major impact player, Bradley saw plenty of action and was a useful backup for the Tigers when Adams or Dontavius Russell needed a blow.

The Two Stars

This is an interesting category. Some names here I feel might have been judged too harshly while others probably given too much credit. As you can see, this 2013 class was very top but filled with a lot of signees who never really made a huge impact.

#8 Tony Stevens

247 Composite: 4* | #130 OVR | #16 WR | #23 FL

Career Stats: 50 rec 751 yds 15.0 avg 5 TD

C&M Composite: 2.33

I was a bit surprised to see Stevens rated so low by some of my esteemed colleagues. I personally had him as a clear 3* talent but can understand some of the harsh grading. Stevens would have moments where you believed the top 150 talent was showing out but would often times disappear for long stretches. His inability to stay healthy undoubtedly played a large role in those consistency struggles as well.

#6 Jeremy Johnson

247 Composite: 4* | #164 OVR | #11 PRO QB | #7 AL

Career Stats: 179-282 (63.5%) 2,223 yds 20 TD 11 INT 73 carries 210 yds 2.9 avg 9 TD

C&M Composite: 2.33

There’s no point in rehashing this story that has been told plenty. All I will say is that I greatly respected the way Johnson handled his struggles both during his collegiate career and after. He’s still got a fan in me.

#29 Brandon King

247 Composite: 3* | #176 JUCO OVR | #14 JUCO S | #28 JUCO KS

Career Stats: 19 tackles FR

C&M Composite: 2.33

Despite having a pretty nondescript career for the Tigers, King has carved out a niche in the NFL as a special teams beast and is finishing his 4th year with New England. Not a bad way to make a living.

#47 Cameron Toney

247 Composite: 3* | #433 OVR | #28 ILB | #15 AL

Career Stats: 7 tackles

C&M Composite: 2*

I really liked Toney coming out of high school but there were some concerns about his athleticism. He proved too slow to play linebacker and not big enough to play defensive line. I think though he could have been a half decent Buck if he could have played in Kevin Steele’s system. Muschamp moved him there in 2015 before he left the team.

#75 Deon Mix

247 Composite: 3* | #459 OVR | #25 OG | #7 MS

Career Stats: N/A

C&M Composite: 2.00

Mix was a career backup for the Tigers before transferring to Houston. There was always talk he was in the “Mix” at center but it never came to fruition. Sorry, just wanted to type that sentence.

The Busts

Probably harsh but this is a harsh business. There’s an uncomfortable amount of 1s in this class though it’s not a huge surprise considering that Gus had to scramble to put this class together after being hired.

#22 Khari Harding

247 Composite: 3* | #635 OVR | #45 S | #5 OK

Career Stats: 4 tackles

C&M Composite: 1.17

I loved Harding’s tape coming out of high school and was so excited when the Tigers stole him away from the Hogs. But sadly, illness in his family cut his Auburn career short and he transferred back to Tulsa where he never really made much of an impact.

#44 Kenny Flowers

247 Composite: 3* | #67 JUCO OVR | #3 JUCO ILB | #13 JUCO KS

Career Stats: 9 tackles TFL

C&M Composite: 1.17

Flowers was a hard hitting backer out of JUCO who looked poised to find a role early on a defense that needed help at linebacker. That never materialized and Flowers left the Plains without ever hearing his name called much on Saturdays, though he did win the Defensive MVP in the 2014 A-Day Game.

#97 Elijah Daniel

247 Composite: 4* | #55 OVR | #6 SDE | #2 IN

Career Stats: 23 tackles 5.5 TFL 3.5 sacks

C&M Composite: 1.00

Daniel was a nice signing day surprise that did not work out. After an encouraging sophomore campaign that saw the Indiana native make the move inside where he proved more effective, Daniel was dismissed from the team after being arrested for burglary.

#83 Dominic Walker

247 Composite: 3* | #500 OVR | #71 WR | #76 FL

Career Stats: N/A

C&M Composite: 1*

Walker decided to join teammate Tony Stevens on the Plains in 2013, flipping from Nebraska which did not go over well with the typically pleasant Bo Pelini. Sadly, Walker’s career didn’t amount to much on the Plains and he transferred to Troy after redshirting.

#37 Kamryn Melton

247 Composite: 3* | #542 OVR | #40 CB | #18 AL

Career Stats: N/A

C&M Composite: 1*

Melton was apart of the DB migration in 2015 when Will Muschamp came back to town. He ended up playing two solid seasons for Troy in 2016 and 2017.

#21 Mackenro Alexander

247 Composite: 3* | #585 OVR | #40 S | #86 FL

Career Stats: 4 tackles 1.5 TFL

C&M Composite: 1.00

Auburn’s first attempt at a package deal under Gus went poorly. Clemson landed 5* Mackenzie Alexander who went on to have a brilliant career for the purple shaded Tigers. Mackenro picked Auburn where after two seasons of not contributing he transferred to Iowa State where he had a solid senior year.

Earnest Robinson

247 Composite: 4* | #296 OVR | #43 WR| #11 AL

Career Stats: N/A

C&M Composite: 1.00

Robinson failed to qualify after signing with the Tigers and then was arrested for setting up a man for a robbery a year later. Kid had immense talent but that can only get you so far.

This class was ranked #10 overall in 2013 which was only good for 6th in the conference because that’s life in the SEC. It proved incredibly top heavy with three clear 5* impact players, one more borderline 5* talent, two outstanding tailbacks and then a whole lotta meh. This was really Gus Malzahn’s Year 0 class considering he didn’t have all cycle to recruit these kids. So while this class lacked depth, it did provide plenty of punch at the top of the list to make it a solid first signing class for Malzahn. Tomorrow, we will take a look at the very interesting 2014 group.

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/1/29/18196000/re-ranking-auburn-signing-classes-2013

[alexbandfan]

CrypticRock

The twists and turns of life can easily break someone down, but through hope and determination anything is possible. Growing up in Hollywood, California, Alex Band knew he wanted to be a musician from a very young age, and by the age of 15 landed a record deal with RCA Records. Eager to make his move, it would not be until 5 years after his signing that his music would finally get a chance to shine, and shine it would when his band The Calling hit the airwaves with their single “Wherever You Will Go.” The lead single off their platinum-selling debut album, Camino Palmero, the song set records as a number 1 hit single on the Billboard charts, earning The Calling one of the biggest Alternative Rock radio songs of the 2000s.

Following up with their sophomore album, Two, in 2004, the future was promising for The Calling, but sadly there were some bumps in the road, leading to the band’s dissolvement. Fortunately the story does not end there because Alex Band has continued to fulfill his musical passion since, and now after many years, brings The Calling back, hopefully for good. Set to tour, and yes, release new music, the next chapter is still being written for Band and The Calling. Excited for the future, Band recently took the time to chat about the twists and turns over the years, his undying love for music, plans for The Calling, plus more.

CrypticRock.com – You have been involved in music professionally for nearly 2 decades. From the tremendous commercial success of The Calling to your solo career, you have certainly accomplished a great deal. First, briefly tell us, what has your experience been like dedicating your life to music?

Alex Band – What a question. First and foremost, it has been what I was born to do – it’s all I know and it’s all I’ve ever done, I just followed this natural path. I look at it as life, it is nothing I would ever stop or not continuing doing, even if there was no one left to listen. This is a wacky, crazy business, growing up in Hollywood and in the movie industry, it makes that very tame. It’s the business of an art, and when that happens, it can become very frustrating. For every amazing, incredible, life-changing moment I’ve had, I’ve had equal moments of crazy struggles, things you wouldn’t even believe. Getting on the stage and performing songs and seeing what 200 or 10,000 people sing back, there is nothing like that. It’s all worth it for me. I have been handed an insane hand in this card game, especially in the past 10 years. It’s crazy, but I am very optimistic right now and looking forward to what is about to come.

CrypticRock.com – It seems like it has been a very exciting ride, ups and downs.

Alex Band – Oh yea, it’s never boring. I will give it that. There have been lots of ups and a lot of downs.

CrypticRock.com – Understood. The Calling’s 2001 debut album, Camino Palmero, topped charts around the world, attained gold and platinum status, and really left an impression on the Alternative Rock scene. Being your debut album, was the success at all overwhelming and what were those times like for the band?

Alex Band – For me, it was actually kind of like it was now. I had been signed with a lot of those songs written already, actually, 6 years prior to that album coming out. There was this insanely long amount of time of arguing, anticipation, and trying to get noticed by the guy who signed us. The typical story of pushed in 100 different directions to create one sounding thing, but then coming full circle to what I was and what I had first met him with songs like “Wherever You Will Go,” which I wrote when I was 16. There wasn’t a band, I hired people. The person with me in those early times was my songwriting partner. That in itself is a whole other crazy explanation.

They were very exciting times nonetheless because of the insane amount of anticipation. The struggle that went just to get the album out, then it dawned on me, 19-20 years old, when that album came out, I started working my ass off. There was 8 months straight, touring around America doing radio before that first song broke. It was a lot of work and a long time coming, but the true battle is once the music is out there, that’s the true work. At the time I was just thrilled! They all thought I was crazy at the record label because I was the perfect kid for a band because I wanted to do every press thing and everything possible. It was exciting, I was excited, and I wanted to make it happen. It almost didn’t happen, that is actually a story I never told. But it did happen, it became a hit.

CrypticRock.com – Wow, sounds like a wild ride. That debut album was anchored by the number 1 hit single “Wherever You Will Go.” It broke records remaining at the top of the charts for a long, extensive periods of time, and is considered one of the defining Alternative Rock tunes of the early 2000s. That all said, do you personally connect with the song as much as fans do?

Alex Band – I became connected to it because of how it changed people’s live, because of how expansive it was, because of how it reached parts of the world I have never been to. Be able to go to 100 plus countries and meet these people who were changed in some way or just enjoyed listening to my music was the wildest thing ever.

That song for me was 1 of the 200 songs I had written. I knew it was a good song and a single contender amongst the songs on the record in the label’s mind. It was a very personal song when it was written, but I had no idea until it all happened. I think the biggest accolade for me was on the Billboard Charts, it was the number one song of the last decade for adult top 40. That is crazy to think, of all the songs that were played in the last 10 years. More recently, it made the number 3 song of all Billboard history, again, Billboard started in the ’80s, so we are missing a huge chunk of music. But still, the number 3 song of the last 30 years, that kind of stuff is nuts to think about and comprehend.

The quick answer, it was a song to me that was not at all what it became until I experienced that. Like I said, it was only through all of that I became more fond of the song and performing. Which is a good thing because I have performed it a zillion times. (Laughs)

CrypticRock.com – It really is an amazing story. The Calling followed up with Two in 2004. While the album was not as successful commercially, it showed a level of maturity from the band as songwriters. All these years later, what are your thoughts on Two?

Alex Band – I’m bias, but the following record, I thought was really strong. “Our Lives,” not only was featured in the Olympics in 2004, it opened the Oscars in 2005. The song was number 1 in tons of countries around the world. I lived it, so I know, it was a complete business plug pulled on the project. There was a cash flow plug pulled on the project in the midst of that record which led to the demise. I know that for a fact, it’s a sad thing, because it would have gone much further. Things happen, it is what it is, I have moved on.

I then stupidly said, I will just do a solo thing. That wasn’t the stupid part, the stupid part was I signed with the same person I did as a kid who made me wait those 5 years. He did it again, which was crazy. The whole exact same thing happened again where I we went full circle where I made this album which was the original material I first brought to him in 2006. Anyway, it’s a crazy story that I won’t go into detail about. The important thing is I have always wanted to make more albums and be The Calling. I certainly have stopped playing shows, I have been all over the world and played shows, but I have needed a few things in life to come together to able to make it possible again to be The Calling. Which relieves a huge stress which makes it possible for me to do what I already did, just without a lot of heartache and drama in the background at the same time. That is why I am very excited, I get to to be The Calling again.

CrypticRock.com – It certainly seems to have been a long road travelled. It is exciting for fans to see The Calling back in full force.

Alex Band – It’s kind of scary, because you’re kind of starting over. We are out to do a tour around the US, just a few dates on the coast. Then we have massive shows in Brazil and Europe, we just came from Australia where we sold out. It’s very exciting that fans of The Calling are still around, it’s a good thing!

CrypticRock.com – It is a very good thing. With you doing this North American run of shows, can fans expect a new The Calling record?

Alex Band – Absolutely. I’ve spent the last 10 years making it. I recorded over 2 1/2 albums worth of songs, full production recordings, and I narrowed that down to an album. Again, I’m bias, but going off opinions of people in the industry who I trust and who are very big people in the industry that say it’s a phenomenal record and it’s going to blow people away. I am very proud to be able to get it out there. It is in kind of the beginning stages, but the record is done.  

CrypticRock.com – That is wonderful news. Do you have a timetable of an expected release?

Alex Band – Right now, I need to decide which label ultimately I am going with. I am in the lucky position to be able to choose that. Ultimately, that then will of course dictate the dates of release and what not. It’s a very different business, very different than when I caught the last moment when I came out of the music business as it always was. These days, you work 10 times harder to get 10 times less. It doesn’t stop me for a second, but there is also a much smaller window getting lucky, there is luck involved. It’s not just a great song ended up being a hit song. I have a good time around me at this point, but to answer the question, the goal right now is to get a record release date. We are just going ahead and starting playing, why not get people’s reaction and play some of these new songs? Play all the old songs too of course live, just start doing that in the moment since we don’t need to make a record right now.

CrypticRock.com – This is all something to look forward to. Beyond music, you are also involved in several causes to help raise awareness for diseases such as Parkinson’s. Do you have anything new going on in association with these causes?

Alex Band – I don’t. I like it to happen naturally and Donate Life is doing organ donation awareness, they are really making a dent on it. The numbers of lives we have saved in America from my fanbase alone, working on that with Donate Life was huge. I really pushed that for a number of years. Then you have of course with Parkinson’s, I have worked with that.

I think naturally with this new record coming out, and us touring, something will come of it. I know the things I am passionate about, of course I always love to help if I can. If people listen to you and you are in that powerful position enough to help other people, that is the best part of it. I am not sure what that’s going to be at this point.

CrypticRock.com – We will see what happens, it seems like positive things are coming together, as stated.

Alex Band – Yes. The last few years have been rough. Just being healthy is a blessing that a lot of us take for granted. I went through a couple of things that were really scary, I am really happy to be here. I am happy to be healthy and to be about to go do what I have wanted to do, and loved to do, and honestly have been missing from my life. It’s that dear to me and it’s been a lot of work to get this point to be able to at least try that journey and see what happens.

CrypticRock.com – Fans have waited for it, so the reaction should be a good one.

Alex Band – I hope so. Of course I have to believe in myself, I beat on myself, I’m hoping. If there is one thing I know, the same people who were touched by “Wherever You Will Go” or The Calling’s music in general, are going to find themselves with this record in a continuous level, if that makes sense. I am interested to see how disillusioned I am. (Laughs)

CrypticRock.com – The determination is paying off! Last question. CrypticRock also covers Horror and Sci-Fi films. Growing up the son of a Horror filmmaker, if you are a fan of either genre, what are some of your favorites and why?

Alex Band – Yea, of course. My first memory is literally of a giant bear monster ripping a girl’s shirt off and eating her breast. (Laughs) I was on the set of my dad’s movies, I truly grew up in them, and he has made a lot of them. I have always been a fan. There are definitely a couple of films from the ’80s of my dad’s that are classics and I enjoyed.

I don’t know these days what a B-movie is. It was always direct to video, but I am out of touch with that world these days. Favorites for me, Trancers (1985), Re-animator (1985), Ghoulies (1984) was awesome, Troll (1986). It is crazy how many movies my dad made as a kid, which had all these no name actors/actresses who became huge stars later.

TOUR DATES: SAT. JUNE 16TH LAS VEGAS, NV TOP GOLF TUES. JUNE 19TH SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE INDEPENDENT WED. JUNE 20TH SACRAMENTO, CA HARLOW’S NIGHTCLUB SUN. JUNE 24ND LOS ANGELES, CA THE TROUBADOUR TUES. JUNE 26TH BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL THURS. JUNE 28TH NEW YORK, NY GRAMERCY THEATRE FRI. JUNE 29TH WASHINGTON DC PEARL STREET SAT. JUNE 30TH PHILADELPHIA, PA THE FOUNDRY AUG 18-19 FESTIVAL ROCK ARENA – ARENA PANTANAL CUIABA, MT BRAZIL

FOR MORE ON THE CALLING:

THECALLINGMUSIC.COM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM 

FOR MORE ON ALEX BAND: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM 

Crypticrock

[thrashermaxey]

20 Fantasy Hockey Thoughts

Every Sunday until the start of the 2018-19 regular season, we'll share 20 Fantasy Thoughts from our writers at DobberHockey. These thoughts are curated from the past week's "Daily Ramblings".

Writers: Michael Clifford, Ian Gooding, Cam Robinson, and Dobber

  1. There’s always a concern about a team suffering from a Stanley Cup hangover. The wear and tear on the body from an extended season. The adrenal fatigue that comes with the insane high of winning a championship. And, of course, the brutality that the liver is faced with in the days and weeks that follow the Cup ceremony. But, in all seriousness, after spending 13 years together climbing to the top of the mountain, there’s a legitimate chance that the Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom step off the gas a bit to start next season. Especially Backstrom, as he’ll have some healing to do this offseason that will take away from training. Watch for that lull and take advantage if you can. If they start icy, it’ll be a prime opportunity to get one or both at a discounted price. (june9)

  2. Is there another NHL team that benefits more from the increasing salary cap than Washington? With a reported $5-7 million dollars being tacked onto the roof this offseason, that will likely facilitate them retaining John Carlson.

The powerful right-shot blueliner re-established himself as a cornerstone fantasy asset this past season. Leading all blueliners in points is fantastic but replicating it is always the hard part. However, he attained his lofty numbers on the back of some sustainable metrics. Carlson shot the puck a great deal more this season – surpassing his previous career-high by 29 shots. Yet, his conversion rate remained consistent with his career norms. The other main factor to his 68-point season was the 33 power play points – another slam dunk career-high. He saw over a minute more per night on the man-advantage than 2016-17 and clearly made effective use of the additional time.

While 2017-18 very well could end up as his peak season, there's little reason to believe the 28-year-old won't be flirting with the top of the pile for defenseman scoring in immediate future. There is no one sniffing around his spot on the top power play unit, and his surrounding talent will remain quite high. (june9)

  3. It appears that Brady Tkachuk’s 2018-19 season is very much an unknown.

According to @OHLinsiders: Top NHLDraft Prospect Brady Tkachuk to OHL London rumour certainly has legs. I'm told that former Boston U Coach David Quinn's departure for the NHL is making Brady think twice. Will come down to whether or not he's NHL ready or not – if not, look for him to be in London.

This comes on the heels of his announcement to return to Boston University for a sophomore campaign a few weeks ago. However, it appears David Quinn grabbing the Rangers’ gig has changed some things.  

Many had assumed that Tkachuk would be one of the more NHL-ready prospects and thus hold some more clout in fantasy drafts this fall. Being drafted out of the NCAA will facilitate a multitude of options. Tkachuk will be eligible to play in the NCAA, OHL, AHL, or NHL. If he ends up in London, let’s hope he just takes No.7 to save fans from going out and getting a new jersey, as brother Matthew (Tkachuk) rocked that uni during his monster 2015-16 season with the Knights. However, this new revelation re-opens the door for an NHL debut next fall. That should play a role in his fantasy draft slot. (june9)

  4. The fact that Noah Hanifin is reportedly being dangled on the trade block shouldn’t raise huge red flags on his offensive upside. He scored 23 points in 37 games during his draft season, his only season at Boston College. His power-play time and production dipped slightly over the past two seasons but his role stands to increase if Justin Faulk is traded. Plus, if Hanifin continues his current pace, he could easily push for 40 points in 2018-19. Also keep in mind that he has been more durable than Faulk, missing just four games over his first three NHL seasons.

It’s clear that the Hurricanes want to make some drastic changes, having missed the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons. If they choose to stand pat with both Faulk and Hanifin, it’s possible that Hanifin could start to earn a greater share of ice time and power-play time. Hanifin is also entering that potential breakout fourth NHL season and was the Canes’ top-scoring defenseman last season (one point more than Faulk), so there is some sleeper potential here. (june10)

  5. The Stars are expected to bring back Valeri Nichushkin on a two-year deal, although the signing can’t be announced until July 1 (according to TSN). Although he failed to reach 35 points during his two seasons in Dallas, Nichushkin should give the Stars some much-needed scoring depth. Now, we’ll see if he can fulfill that promise that made him the 10th overall pick in 2013. (june10)

  6. Last week, I spoke about Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s pending free agency in 2019. At the time, it was reported that the Coyotes have an eight-year deal on the table for $8.25 million. John Chayka does not appear to be a man who minces words or actions. There’s a reason the organization is putting that worthy of an offer on the table 13 months before their star blueliner is eligible to test the waters. And, that’s to know what his intentions are.

OEL can take the offer under advisement for the summer and not allow the team to glean much information from it. Or, he can thank them and politely decline saying he wishes to focus on next season and leave the contractual part of the game for next summer. If that’s the case, I have a sinking suspicion that Arizona will dangle OEL at the draft in Dallas. Imagine the draft floor chatter that will be flying about if both OEL and Erik Karlsson are being legitimately shopped. (june9)

  7. That the Sabres might want to trade someone with a high cap hit isn’t overly surprising. It would essentially be the start of their second (third?) rebuild, but with Jack Eichel, Casey Mittelstadt, and eventually Rasmus Dahlin in place, along with two first-round picks next year, the chance to further stock the cupboard with prospects/picks makes sense. Ryan O’Reilly has fantastic for the Sabres but maximizing the return now in hopes to build a contender three to four years down the road seems like the right move. I’m sure the Canadiens are inquiring.

  8. Troy Stecher’s power play (PP) time on ice (TOI) in Vancouver all but disappeared this past season. He went from 2:42 per game in 2016-17 (nearly 193 minutes total) to … 15 seconds per game (17:22 total). Alex Edler saw an increase in PP time and that meant someone had to lose their minutes and that guy was Stecher. And he lost almost all of them.

It’s not really a huge surprise. Out of 50 defensemen with 150-plus  power play minutes in 2016-17, Stecher was 49th in points per 60 minutes. The team scored 5.29 goals per 60 minutes on the power play with him on the ice, 48th out of those 50 defensemen. With Edler patrolling the blue line on the PP, that goals/60 rate increase to 8.98 in 2017-18. Sure, there are mitigating circumstances (Brock Boeser) but that same mitigating circumstance means that Stecher isn’t likely to reclaim that PP time in 2018-19.

There still isn’t much depth on the Canucks roster as far as scoring is concerned, so without those power play minutes, Stecher might not carry much fantasy value next year. Edler is a UFA after the season, though, so Stecher dynasty owners may need to exercise patience. (june7)

  9. It’s hard to see Tim Heed having much fantasy value unless his coaches start trusting him. He was consistently a healthy scratch down the stretch for the Sharks and ended up only playing a little less than a third of the season for the team. He was a tweener for them; not really a NHL regular but too good for the AHL (he has 61 points in 65 career AHL games).

Heed is under contract for 2018-19, so he’ll have another year to prove himself. It seems unlikely the Sharks move Heed’s role from inconsistently in the lineup to 20 minutes a game in his age-28 season. Whether by adjusted shot share, actual goal share, or expected goal share, he was at or near the top in every regard for San Jose. We can quibble about his usage or sheltering but he crushed the opportunity given to him. It’s just a matter of whether it will lead to a bigger role. (june7)

  10. It appears Sean Monahan’s recovery from multiple surgeries is going as planned. It’s nice to hear there haven’t been any setbacks for the Calgary center and that he should be ready to go when the team hits the ice for training camp in a few months.

In general, I’m wary of drafting players coming off significant offseason surgery. If Monahan is all ready to go for the start of training camp, though, I’m not sure how much we should be concerned as fantasy owners. The concern would be if we get close to training camp and the team says he’ll need another couple of weeks. Until then, it seems there’s nothing to worry about.

  11. There is cause for concern that the Jets’ Dustin Byfuglien’s style of play is already leading to a statistical decline. Although Byfuglien’s points-per-game average has remained steady over the last four seasons (0.65 PTS/GP), he is now 33 years old and was held to just 69 games last season due to injuries. His hit total has also dropped from 222 in 2015-16 to 183 in 2016-17, and to just 147 in 2017-18. The Jets appeared to be a tired bunch after their hard-fought seven-game series win over Nashville. Although Byfuglien played three minutes less per game in 2017-18 compared to 2016-17, logging nearly 25 minutes per game is still heavy mileage. Understand all that Big Buff provides in a multicategory league but be careful not to overpay. (june6)

  12. Nikita Zadorov finished second among blueliners (to Byfuglien) with 103 penalty minutes and first among all players with 278 hits. This was the first season in which Zadorov reached triple-digits in penalty minutes and the first season in which he has recorded 200 hits. For what it’s worth, Zadorov also reached a scoring career high with 20 points (7g-13a), so he was one of many Colorado players to improve over a dismal 2016-17 season. Zadorov finished the season owned in 28 percent of Yahoo leagues.

If you believe that today’s game has less hitting than even last season’s game, then one stat supports your belief. In 2016-17, two players finished with over 300 hits (Mark Borowiecki led with 364), while in 2015-16 three players finished with over 300 hits (Matt Martin led with 365). We know that penalty minute totals have dropped through the years with far fewer fighting majors, but the number of hits could be declining as well. (june6)

  13. Brayden McNabb isn’t a player that you’re going to read about in a whole lot of fantasy articles. Yet, in the right type of league he could be extremely valuable – a true hidden gem on a team that unearthed plenty of hidden gems.

McNabb didn’t earn a particularly high point total (15 points) in 76 games and he won’t often be mentioned as a reason that the Golden Knights were so successful, but McNabb finished sixth among defensemen with 226 hits and sixth among all players with 176 blocked shots. That represented the highest combined hits/blocked shots total (401) among all players.

Interestingly enough, those weren’t the only categories where McNabb shined in 2017-18. He also finished tied for 13th with a plus-26 ranking (and fourth on the Golden Knights). McNabb is also a decent option in penalty minutes, having nearly reached 100 penalty minutes two seasons ago with the Kings and amassing at least 50 penalty minutes in each of his last four seasons. Although McNabb was owned in only 14 percent of Yahoo leagues, he turned out to be extremely valuable in leagues that count all of plus/minus, hits, and blocked shots. (june6)

  14. Reader Loutzenheiser asked: “What do you make about all the noise regarding the Habs drafting Jesperi Kotkaniemi at the third spot? Opinions seem scattered but some scouts him as a challenger to Filip Zadina on the third pick.”

Honestly, from what I understand of the draft, after the first two picks it becomes too close to call. Yes, there seems to be a consensus about numbers three and four, but the number nine guy could easily move up because the gap between three and 10 isn’t huge. Kotkaniemi, we have ranked 13, but he’s also considered by many to be the top center available and it wouldn’t shock me if he moves higher to a team that needs a center. Would I do it if I’m Montreal? No. However, if I really liked him or Joe Veleno, then I would trade down. I’d see if I can swap with sixth or seventh and get a second-round pick thrown in. Then I’d still get my guy plus the pick. (june5)

  15. Matt Norman: “Where does Victor Mete fit in this year? Are they going to run him next to Shea Weber full time? It feels like last year was a bit of a crap shoot at the beginning. He cooled off after game 10.”

No, and I don’t think you can expect a lot offensively from Mete this year. Give him time. He’s a good one but Weber has the top role right now. Mete and his career trajectory reminds me of Olli Maatta (so far … even include the injuries). (june5)

  16. Todd MacKay asked: “Will Elias Lindholm ever take the next step? What about Tomas Hertl? Who's going to have the next Sean Couturier-esque breakout?”

Yes, I believe Lindholm will. I know it’s been five seasons now, so my expectations have dropped to 70 points at best. But, there’s another gear … As for Hertl, I don’t like his chances as much. I think he gets hurt too much and I never thought he’d top 70 points to begin with … Couturier-esque breakout: Lindholm is a good candidate; Tyler Johnson … I’m just looking at guys who have been around for a few years and have established a production window. I’m not looking at young players on the rise such as Jake Guentzel and Pierre-Luc Dubois because I think those are obvious candidates. (june5)

  17. Jonny Miazyk: “How much do you like Alex Tuch going forward?”

I think Tuch will be Chris Kreider fantasy-wise and – knock on wood – doesn’t have the injury baggage to slow his development or reduce his production. (june5)

  18. The breakout we’ve been waiting for from Jason Zucker finally came and the power play had a lot to do with it. Zucker amassed 16 power-play points, which doesn’t sound like a lot, until you realize he had six (!) power-play points in his first 248 games with the Wild. He’s an RFA and is deserving of a healthy raise over the two-year, $2M AAV contract he just finished.

One issue is just whether there’s growth to be had or not. Minnesota is one of the teams that still splits its two PP units evenly – first through sixth in PP TOI per game among Wild forwards was separated by 18 seconds – so, unless something changes with the coaching staff, it’s hard to see Zucker racking up more PP points. If he’s back with the Wild, though, in this same role, I wouldn’t anticipate much of a decline in production. (june4)

  19. Back in late February, I wrote about how good of a season Nick Schmaltz was having, all things considered. It is recommended to go back and read that.

Going forward, Schmaltz certainly seemed to have earned the Blackhawks’ second-line center role behind Jonathan Toews. Skating with Patrick Kane boosted his five-on-five ice time from his rookie year but a huge chunk of the jump also came from the power play; he finished fourth among their forwards in PP TOI per game.

To my eyes and by the numbers, Schmaltz looks like a good playmaker right now and that should only improve for the 22-year old. The lack of shots means the across-the-board production may not be there but he seems in line to have a season like Mikko Koivu has had recently – expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 goals and 35 assists. (june4)

  20. Micheal Ferland saw a career year with 21 goals and 20 assists, career highs in both stats. Part of the jump in goals came from his power-play usage in that he tripled his career output to that point in PPGs with six (he had three for his career before 2017-18).

Maybe he stays on the top line under the new coaching regime, but it’ll be interesting to see what happens with the power play. It was a sore spot for the Flames most of the season and needs to be better next year. Do they just eschew the second unit completely? Does Ferland finish in the top-6 mix for forwards PP TOI again? Open-ended questions with a new head coach in town. (june4)

  Have a good week, folks!!

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/20-fantasy-hockey-thoughts/20-fantasy-hockey-thoughts-27/

[junker-town]

Western Illinois, Year 24, 2030-2031

The Leathernecks hang a banner for national title No. 4 and try to go back-to-back for the first time ever.

Welcome back to our simulated dynasty with the Western Illinois Leathernecks in College Hoops 2K8. You can find a full explanation of this project + spoiler-free links to previous seasons here. Check out the introduction to this series from early April for full context. As a reminder, we simulate every game in this series and only control the recruiting and coaching strategies.

Before we get to Year 24, here’s a recap of everything that happened last season.

Year 22 ended in a heartbreaker for Western Illinois: we lost in the national championship game in the final seconds, and then saw our three best juniors leave early for the NBA draft. We would begin Year 23 with only one returning starter.

We struggled in the non-conference schedule, losing seven games before entering Summit League play. We again swept the conference and won the conference tournament, earning a No. 13 seed to the big dance.

We beat No. 4 seed USC, 83-76, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. We defeated No. 5 seed Pepperdine, 90-86, in the round of 32. In the Sweet 16, we knocked off No. 8 seed Ole Miss, 106-85. In the Elite Eight, we shocked No. 2 seed UConn, 91-82, to punch our ticket the Final Four. Read the full recap of our road to the Final Four here.

We beat No. 11 seed UNLV, 91-90, in the Final Four on a last second putback by LF Neal. We then defeated No. 1 seed George Washington, 104-88, in the championship game to win our fourth ever national title. Read the full Final Four recap here.

We signed three recruits after the season: four-star center Cecil Sinville, four-star point guard Goran Kent, and three-star small forward Nic Cummings.

For the fourth time since Coach Rick arrived in Macomb, the Western Illinois Leathernecks are national champions. Hang the banner!

I’m still shocked by this title run. As a No. 13 seed, we’re now the lowest-seeded team to ever win a national championship. To do it after losing three great players early to the NBA makes it even more remarkable. We weren’t even good in the non-conference slate! None it mattered once the calendar flipped to March, when we found the gear we’d been searching for all season.

Celebrate this “One Shining Moment” with us:

Onward to Year 24. Let’s defend this ship.

Here’s a look at our roster heading into Year 24.

Let’s begin the new season by stating a simple fact: we’ve never won back-to-back national championships. In fact, the previous three times we’ve defended a title, we haven’t even made it past the round of 32. I believe this team is again good enough to win it all, but it’s going to be tough considering what we lost. Artie Snipes, our 7’1 junior center, bounced early to the NBA. We also lost power forward LF Neal to graduation after he cemented himself as one of the great glue guys in program history.

Fortunately, we’re still returning three starters, including the Most Outstanding Player from last year’s tournament. Let’s meet the starters:

PG Koko Reeves, redshirt senior, 91 overall: Koko silenced any doubters coming into the season by developing into a rock solid lead guard for a national title team. Reeves was productive throughout the regular season (13.2 points per game) and thrived on the biggest stages, most notably with 13 points and 12 assists in the national title game. At 6-foot, Reeves is the smallest player we’ve ever had, but he’s also our best three-pointer with an 89 rating from deep. He could be in for a big year. Former No. 52 overall recruit.

SG Edwin Wolfe, redshirt senior, 88 overall: The Wolfe Man began last season as our lowest-rated starter in, like, decades. He ended it as a Final Four hero and national champion. Wolfe hit his first seven three-pointers against UNLV in the national semifinal, and played excellent defense all year. The 6’2 guard has the highest steals rating (95) in program history. While a bit undersized, he gives us a solid three-and-D option on the wing. Former five-star JUCO recruit.

SF Jitim Dupree, redshirt senior, 93 overall: The 6’10, 242 pound wing officially became one of the all-time great Leathernecks with an inspired run through the NCAA tournament last year. Dupree dropped 30 or more points three different times, including 34 points on GW in the national title to win tournament MOP. A disruptive defender because of his length, Dupree is also a reliable outside shooter who can finish inside. He’s the second tallest player on the roster this season and might even log some small-ball five minutes for us in the tournament. Former No. 91 overall recruit and projected lottery pick.

PF J.J. Bracy, redshirt sophomore, 88 overall: Bracy was our highest-rated recruit ever when he gave us his commitment as the No. 24 overall player in his class. He just had one problem: at 6’6, he was significantly undersized for a power forward. We hoped Bracy would grow at least two inches in school, and that’s exactly what happened. Now 6’8, Bracy enters the starting lineup as a sophomore with a fascinating skill set. He’s the highest-rated shot blocker on the team (94 rating) and an excellent rebounder on defense. On offense, he’s a pass-first forward who also has shooting range. Watch the Bracy recruiting hype video by reader Ryan if you want to see how we scouted him. I’m super excited to see what he can do.

C Dick Copeland, redshirt sophomore, 87 overall: Copeland is distinct in Leathernecks lore for three different reasons: 1) As the former No. 2 overall center prospect, he was the highest-rated big man we had ever recruited when he committed. 2) He has an A rating in potential, which is the highest in program history. 3) He hasn’t grown since he entered the program, which means he’s the shortest center in school history at 6’8. Copeland is obviously super talented going by his potential rating, but the last few seasons we’ve had 7’2 Kevin Brazzle and 7’1 Artie Snipes in the middle for us. It’s going to be really interesting to see what we do with such an undersized front court.

We also have some serious talent on the bench, though we’re not very deep. You might remember Alexis Willingham from dropping 15 points in the national title game. Now a redshirt sophomore, Willingham has grown an inch to 6’5 and gives us a big guard with shooting ability on the second unit. He’s joined by fellow sophomore Skip Clemmons, a natural shooting guard who moves the wing after growing to 6’8, 247 pounds. He’s almost bigger than our starting center! There’s also the debut of 6’3 redshirt freshman shooting guard Albert Jagla, who is the highest recruit in program history as the former No. 17 overall prospect in his class. Rounding out the rotation is 6’11 center Cecil Sinville, who will be our first true freshman in the rotation since ... Ira Wells in the very early days of my tenure. Hey, we need at least one big off the bench. Sinville also has A- potential and was the No. 1 center in his recruiting class, so it’s probably unlikely he was staying in school for five years anyway.

We’ve also decided to keep walk-on Ian Hoyer, a 6’8 power forward rated as a 54 overall, to provide some additional depth. I’ll tell you now I immediately regretted this decision because of how often the computer decided to play him in games despite the fact that I had him set at zero minutes in the rotation.

We’re redshirting our two other freshmen: small forward Nic Cummings (74 overall, B- potential) and 6’5 point guard Goran Kent (72 overall, C potential). Cummings already has a 92 dunking rating! Next Tom Chambers? Kent looks pretty mid to be honest but at least he has great size.

Recruiting

The real intrigue of this regular season is going to come in recruiting. Because we only filled three of our four available scholarships last season, we have five scholarships to play with this year. We’re prioritizing getting a high-level shooting guard and two big men. Here are the five players we offered on the first week:

6’4 SG Neil Modrovich out of Cleveland, No. 62 overall and No. 17 at his position

6’10 PF Michael Pratt out of Kenosha, WI, No. 120 overall and No. 10 at his position

7’2 C Daron Coulter out of Charlotte, No. 196 overall and No. 7 at his position

6’5 SG Terry Bills out of Chicago, No. 31 overall and No. 7 at his position

6’2 PG Jessie Waller out of Fort Lauderdale, No. 50 overall and No. 22 at his position

The challenge of this dynasty has always been recruiting top players to such a small school. Our total number is recruiting points is so much lower than power-five programs, so we have to be smart about how we allocate them. I decide to use my flights on Modrovich and Pratt. We badly want to land at least one of them at the early signing deadline.

We also need to add in our created players for the winner of last year’s bracket contest. Reader Abby won as the only person (I think) to pick our Leathernecks to win it all. Thank you for your belief. Here’s the description she sent in:

Position: PG

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 160 lbs

Aesthetics: As femme as you can get, lmao: Long hair, no facial hair, give her some diamond stud earrings and a small gold necklace.

Stats/play style: Tenacious defense. Surprisingly high vert. All passing on offense with solid drive and cutting skills. Reliable from the line, likes to make contact. Quick feet, not great stamina, is that her 5th board?, and you know I’m clutch.

Done and done. I’m also recreating reader Justin, who won the bracket contest two seasons ago, because I made his character too old and bad last time.

We begin the year rated as a 97 overall. Somehow, we aren’t ranked in the preseason polls? Give the champs some respect! I guess we’ll just have to prove everyone wrong again.

First game: @ No. 9 Indiana

We’re starting the year off with a true road game against a national championship contender. Indiana has a loaded roster and looks like they will be among the top seeds in the NCAA tournament. Last season, we were much better as a stream team than a sim team. This will be a legitimate test to see if we can beat elite teams during sim games now that we’re equipped with *championship experience.*

Loss, 79-57. Woof. That’s about the worst we’ve played offensively. Not much to take away from a game were we shoot 32.7 percent from the field and turn it over 13 times.

Next up is South Florida, led by junior power forward Rudolpho Butt Jr., the created player made by former bracket contest winner reader Gavin. RBJ is a rated as a 91 overall and gives USF a dynamic 7-foot big man with versatility on both ends. The rest of this Bulls team looks legit, too. We streamed this game on Twitch.

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Win, 99-77. The stream team is back in the building. We looked great, with the old stars leading us once again. Jitim Dupree (23 points) is unguardable, Wolfe continues to bring two-way impact (15 points, four steals), and our young bench is ridiculously talented. I’m particularly excited about Jagla dropping 15 points in his debut.

That game is why I’m optimistic about this team entering the tournament regardless of how we do during this regular season. It sure would be nice to get a high seed, though.

We face Miami (OH) next as requested by reader Z.W. Should be an easy dub.

Win, 79-73. OK, that was a little closer than anticipated. Look at Koko Reeves go off: 31 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Beautiful. We love to see a short king shine. I’m also enjoying the boost off the bench from Skip Clemmons, who added 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep. I really think Clemmons is going to be a monster for this program at his peak.

We get some bad news on the recruiting front: Waller gets an offer from South Florida he likes better than ours, so we drop him. We instead decide to extend a scholarship offer to 6’1 point guard Shamell Schneider out of St. Paul, MN, the No. 53 overall prospect in the class and No. 25 point guard.

Michigan is the next team on our schedule.

Win, 63-46. We put up a great defensive performance while only finishing with six stocks. Maybe Michigan just couldn’t hit anything? Sophomore power forward J.J. Bracy was excellent, finishing with 18 points and six rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting.

Signing week is here we are at 100 percent interest for both Neil Modrovich and Michael Pratt.. DePaul is also at 100 percent interest for Pratt, but they haven’t offered yet. We have no competition for Modrovich, so hopefully he’s ready to commit.

But first, we face DePaul. The Blue Demons haven’t had much success in this sim playing in the old and absolutely loaded Big East, but they’ve got the best of us several times in head-to-head matchups.

Loss, 85-75. Rough. Koko went loco again, getting hot from deep to finish with 27 points, but it wasn’t enough. At least we finally got a good game from our center Dick Copeland, who finished with 17 points despite only making 7-of-12 shots from the foul line. We also have our two early conference games this week, and we blow out Oakland and beat IUPUI by 11. That makes us 5-2 on the year.

Wow, we go 1-for-2 in recruiting. Pratt gets a DePaul offer and signs with the Blue Demons. Just heartbreaking. Did he base his decision on the game we just played?? Man. In better news, we did land Modrovich:

Modrovich is a really nice get as the No. 62 overall player in the class, and the No. 17 player at his position. We’re hoping he can grow an inch or two in school, and prove he’s a better shooter than his numbers indicate. That is a nice start to our biggest recruiting class yet, but sheesh I wish we could have landed Pratt, too.

Schneider also commits to Minnesota. Now armed with two available scholarships, we decide to offer three-star center C.J. Cesar out of Cincinnati, the No. 9 overall big man in the class, and four-star point guard Drake Amous out of Modesto, CA, the No. 95 overall player and No. 40 overall point guard in the class.

Next up is Illinois. The Illini are our long-time rival who are a tough test every time. We need to show we still run this state after the loss to DePaul.

Win, 90-73. Huge. Koko continues his killer season with 24 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range. Our young, undersized front court of Copeland and Bracy played well, too, combining for 36 points.

We get more bad news on the recruiting front: Terry Bills gets an offer from Michigan State he appears ready to accept. We withdraw our offer and redirect it to 6’5 shooting guard Theo Cowans, a four-star recruit out of Brookings, South Dakota ranked No. 85 overall and No. 30 at his position.

Dayton is up next. The Flyers have been awesome in this simulation, and they are awesome again. We could see this team deep in the NCAA tournament. This will be a test.

Loss. 87-72. Ugh. Bracy played well, but we just couldn’t match the talent on the Flyers. We want a rematch in a stream game. Also, why is the walk-on Hoyer playing 17 minutes???

Now we have Iowa. The Hawkeyes really haven’t been a factor in this sim at all. We need a win here.

Win, 73-43. We had big Copeland energy in this one, as the sophomore center finished with 21 points and six boards. Nice to see Willingham get hot (12 points) off the bench, too.

Next up is Seton Hall. This would be a nice win if we can get it.

Loss, 89-84. A bunch of solid offensive performances for our guys, but we couldn’t get enough stops defensively to win. It’s tough to beat a good team when your starting point guard and center have rough nights like Reeves and Copeland did here. I do like what Dupree did (17 points, seven rebounds) — he’s always been a better stream team performer than sim player, but we can use more efforts like this to help us get a decent seed.

We close out the regular season with Kentucky. The Wildcats actually haven’t been a top-tier program during this sim — they have zero national titles — but they are still always competitive. Let’s see if we can get a dub here.

Loss, 67-48. Well, damn. That was an atrocious Edwin Wolfe game (0-of-7 shooting), but we can’t only blame him. As a team, we shot 25.4 percent from the field. That’s not how we wanted to end non-conference play. We finish with a 5-5 non-con record. We’re going to need to win the Summit tournament once again to make the big dance.

We have like a five-year winning streak in Summit League play at this point. As we enter conference season, can we run the table once again?

Yes we can. Our Leathernecks again go 18-0 in the Summit League once again to end the season at 23-5. The recruiting period ends with a mixed bag: we’re in position to land 6’9 center C.J. Cesar on the first day of the spring signing period, but Coulter, Amous, and Cowans all remain far way from making a decision. It’s going to be a big offseason to shape the future of the program. For our created players, reader Abby appears set to sign with Villanova. Reader Justin signed with NC State already.

Before we get to the conference tournament, let’s check out the stats:

Long-time fans of the series will remember that our center or power forward leads us in scoring almost every year. I don’t think we’ve ever had a point guard put up numbers like Koko: 16.7 points per game on 41 percent shooting from three. I thought everyone else was decent but not amazing. Hopefully we can find a higher level again in stream games.

We need to win the conference tournament first, though. Let’s do it.

Summit League tournament

Our first game in the conference tournament is against Oakland.

Win, 109-57. Koko, Copeland, and Dupree all scoring more than 20 points! We now face IUPUI in the semifinals:

Win, 84-50. Excellent balance throughout the rotation. Now we’re in the Summit League championship game against UL-Calcutta.

Win, 67-62! We’re back in the NCAA tournament to defend our title. We actually watched the first half of this one on Twitch, then ‘simmed to end’ with a big lead. And we nearly blew it! That would have haunted me if we didn’t pull it out.

I have no idea what seed this team will get at 26-5 on the year.

2031 NCAA tournament

Western Illinois is a No. 10 seed with a first round matchup against No. 7 seed Cal. The winner is likely to face No. 2 seed South Florida in the round of 32. Yes, the same USF team we whooped in a stream game earlier this year.

Here’s a look at our roster going into the tournament:

All five of our starters are rated in the 90s as we enter the tournament. This will be one last ride through March with Jitim Dupree, Koko Reeves, and the Wolfe Man. Can’t wait to see what Bracy and Copeland can do as first-time starters in the tournament. I’m also really excited about our perimeter threats on the bench with Willingham, Clemmons, and Jagla.

This team has lots of shooting, with five players rated 80 or better in three-point shooting, and another (Clemmons) who’s rated as a 79 in the category. We have lots of March Madness experience. Our only real flaw is our lack of size in the middle.

Here’s how we matchup with Pitt in the first round:

We want to be back-to-back champs. After messing around with ‘coach mode’ during the regular season, I’ve decided against doing it in the tournament after this post by reader Dave on our Reddit fan page.

We’re going to be streaming the NCAA tournament on Monday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. on Twitch. But first, let’s get to the bracket contest.

Join our bracket contest!

We’ve been running a bracket contest for the last few seasons, and it’s been a ton of fun. We’re opening it up to anyone who wants to enter as long as you turn in your bracket before we stream our first NCAA tournament game on Monday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. on Twitch.

Here’s a look at the full 2031 NCAA tournament bracket:

How does scoring work?

We use a standard scoring format. You get one point for correctly guessing the winner in a first round game, two points for correctly a winner in a round of 32 game, four points for correctly guessing a winner in a Sweet 16 game, eight points for correctly guessing a winner in an Elite Eight game, 16 points for correctly guessing a winner in the Final Four, and 32 points for correctly guessing the national champion.

Can I see the rosters for the other teams?

No. We’re going no rosters this year. It’s a free for all!

How do I enter?

1. Click this link to open the interactive bracket.

2. After opening, in the top left select File > Make a Copy

3. Make your picks

4. In the top left, select File and either “Share” and share with sean@hoopsinsight.com or “Email as attachment” and email as an Excel file (not PDF please!) to sean@hoopsinsight.com

Once your picks are entered, you can track scoring with Sean’s Blog Team app that works on desktop and mobile.

What does the winner get?

The winner gets to create themselves or a character as a five-star recruit ahead of next season. We won’t go after the created recruits at Western Illinois to preserve the integrity of the game, but we’ll follow the career of your character throughout our series.

Please enter the bracket contest and join us on Thursday, because it’s going to be really fun. Here’s how you can watch Western Illinois vs. USC in the NCAA tournament on Monday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. on Twitch.

No. 10 seed Western Illinois vs. No. 7 seed Pitt, first round, 2031 NCAA tournament

Game: No. 10 seed Western Illinois vs. No. 7 seed Pitt, first round, 2031 NCAA tournament

How to watch: My Twitch channel. You don’t need to sign up for anything to watch, but you do need to register for an account to comment. Do it, it’s fun.

Date: Monday, Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. on Twitch

Tip-off time: 8:30 p.m. ET

If we win: We’ll face the winner of No. 2 seed South Florida vs. No. 15 seed CS Fullerton in the round of 32 immediately following the first round game.

For email alerts on this series, sign up here.