#2021 love me like you used to - lord huron

[boyduvet]

Having a certified I don't love you (2006) by hit band my chemical romance moment right now

[drarryspecificrecs]

H/D Wireless 2022 : (fics only)

@hd-wireless || official masterpost || AO3 || ∑ = 58 works (art, fic, podfic) The Mods : @candybarrnerd, @gnarf & @maesterchill Banner © : @iero0 (official banner) + @honeyrinee's sweet lips on my lips

★ The playlist : Youtube | Spotify

Across My Memory by @cluelesspigeons [E, 4k] ♫ Once Upon A December (2017) by Christy Altomare

Anymore by @famoustruth [T, 2k] ♫ Anymore (2021) by Jeon Somi

Away by @sky-is-torn [T, 16k] ♫ Sleep on the Floor (2016) by The Lumineers

Become a man, but I need a man by @somberraven [E, 5k] ♫ Stay with me (2015) by Sam Smith

Bright Side by @floydig [T, 2k] ♫ BRIGHTSIDE (2022) by The Lumineers

Butterflies in Winter by Justlikewriting [M, 19k] ♫ Suspirium (2018) by Thom Yorke

A Case of You by @epitomereally [E, 97k] ♫ Blue (album) (1971) by Joni Mitchell

Closer by @pennygalleon [M, 5k] ♫ Something to Talk About (1991) by Bonnie Raitt

Delicate Dealings by @drwhoisginnyholmes [M, 11k] ♫ Delicate (2017) by Taylor Swift

Draco Malfoy Absolutely Does Not Need to Be Loved by Harry Bloody Potter by @nv-md [E, 18k] ♫ Midnight Sky (2020) by Miley Cyrus

An Emerald In The Sky by @corvuscrowned [M, 6k] ♫ Lost in Time and Space (2018) by Lord Huron

Everything We Have by @thesleepiesthufflepuff [E, 5k] ♫ Heart (2016) by Sleeping At Last

Eye of the Storm by @stargazing-enby [?, 26k] ♫ It’s Alright (2018) by Mother Mother

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by @sleepstxtic [T, 5k] ♫ Careless Whisper (1984) by George Michael

The Heart and the Salt of the Soul by @cupofsquirrelfan [T, 23k] ♫ Like I Can (2014) by Sam Smith

I Wanna Be On You by @thebooktopus [E, 6k] ♫ Dance to This (2018) by Troye Sivan ft. Ariana Grande

I Won't Let You Fall Apart by @xanthippe74 [M, 49k] ♫ We're In This Together (1999) by Nine Inch Nails

I'll Be Loving You (Always) by phdmama [T, 10k] *restricted ♫ BWU (2016) by Tegan and Sara

if the world was ending by @talkingtravesties [M, 4k] ♫ If The World Was Ending (2020) by JP Saxe - Kurt Hugo Schneider cover

In Free Fall by @kbrick [E, 81k] ♫ Bonkers (2009) by Dizzee Rascal

The Island Assignment by @makeitp1nk [E, 10k] ♫ Yonaguni (2021) by Bad Bunny

Just Between Us by @phoebe-delia [T, 13k] ♫ All Too Well (10min vers. - Taylor’s vers. - 2021) by Taylor Swift

Kept in Cages by @sweet-s0rr0w [E, 76k] --- ART by @ihopeyoubothstaysafefromharm ♫ Dela (1989) by Johnny Clegg

Lights Down Low by @skeptiquewrites [T, 4k] ♫ Sign of the Times (2017) by Harry Styles

like freedom by @softlystarstruck [M, 4k] --- ART by @babooshkart ♫ Dead of Night (2019) by Orville Peck

Meet Me at Midnight by @the-starryknight [T, 56k] ♫ Sunlight (2019) by Hozier

Mens Rea by @lqtraintracks [E, 3k] ♫ Laid (1993) by James

Nothing compares by @maesterchill [T, 3k] ♫ Nothing Compares 2 U (1990) by Sinéad O'Connor

Open Fire by @slytherco [E, 38k] ♫ Lion (2017) by Saint Mesa

The Pact by @meandminniemcg [E, 12k] ♫ Deep Water (2019) by American Authors

Paper Rings by @lettersbyelise [E, 50k] ♫ Paper Rings (2019) by Taylor Swift

Plant your hope (rain down on me) by @bluesundaycake [M, 9k] ♫ Thistle and Weeds (2009) by Mumford & Sons

Put Some Time Aside (To Fall Apart) by @gryffindorhearts [T, 3k] ♫ Mansion Door (2018) by Shakey Graves

Say You Will by @janieohio [M, 3k] ♫ Grow Old With You (1998) by Adam Sandler

The Siren and the Sailor by @gracerene [E, 13k] ♫ The Siren and the Sailor (2010) by Kristin Allen-Zito

Staring Into Open Flame by @lumosatnight [E, 25k] --- ART by @kairennart ♫ Arsonist’s Lullabye (2014) by Hozier

Stuck Inside the Silence by @bunnimew [T, 2k] *restricted ♫ Papercut (2015) by Zedd ft. Troye Sivan

Take the Moon by @tackytigerfic [M, 15k] ♫ 4-Hour Store (2003) by The Handsome Family

taste you like a drug by @drarryruinedme7 [E, 3k] ♫ Daddy Issues (2015) by The Neighbourhood

Ties and Knots by @iero0 [G, 2k] ♫ Mr. Brightside (2004) by The Killers

To Make A Way by @cavendishbutterfly [E, 5k] ♫ chinese new year (2014) by SALES

To the dust again I fell by @steampunkserpent27 [M, 2k] ♫ Wishing Well (2012) by The Oh Hellos

Two Found Souls Swimming in a Fishbowl by @quackquackcey [E, 10k] ♫ Wish You Were Here (1975) by Pink Floyd

Wild Things by @coffeedrgn87 [E, 118k] ♫ Main Title (Wild Things OST - 1998) by George S. Clinton

You Don’t Owe the World a Thing by @orpheous87 [T, 17k] ♫ Celadon and Gold (2020) by Maggie Rogers

You Know the Feeling by @sorrybutblog [M, 12k] ♫ Official (2019) by Charli XCX

—

✔ other fests in 2022 ✔ fests in other years ✔ H/D Wireless : 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

[rimouskis]

i love lord huron! what are the songs you've been listening to?

oh hiiiiiii! hello!

um. long post below. I have so many lord huron thoughts ahahahah

not to be the most insufferable person known to humankind but I've been listening to them since lonesome dreams (2012) and it is STILL my favorite album by them! even though strange trails (2015) is an absolute masterpiece and also incredible!

unfortch ben has taken the band's sound in a direction that I think is a bit more ballad-y (which I kind of blame on the popularity of "the night we met" :/ thanks 13 re*sons why) and also less lush (like... the instrumentation on lonesome dreams and strange trails is so layered and textured and brings in these evocative, atmospheric sounds that create such velvety soundscapes...)

I enjoyed vide noir (2018) but it is NOT in my listening rotation at all, though I really enjoy "lost in time and space" and both parts of "ancient names."

when it comes to long lost (2021) I found the record palatable but forgettable. I feel like they've lost some of the unique sounds that really MADE their music. the theremin in strange trails was an inspired choice, for example. long lost incorporates a lot of strings, which I do like in music, but that's kind of it. it's just sort-of-standard slow, ballad-y rock.

what happened to the literal sounds of the ocean and the jungle drums that were in the Mighty EP? that HAUNTING harmonica and cymbals in lonesome dreams? the HOWLING? the theremin, castanets, and crackling old radio sounds from strange trails (their dorky little homemade old radio they lugged around for the strange trails tour was so cute). all these elements added SOOOO much to the music! they were my favorite band (and maybe still are, my answer depends on the day) for so long.

lord huron used to have this really dreamy soundscape and they have LOST IT and I am SAD ABOUT IT. I'm so glad I saw them twice during the strange trails tour. I also saw them more recently during the long lost tour and while I didn't love the setlist as much, ben's stage presence has really improved and he seemed very comfortable, which was nice!

OKAY ENOUGH WHINING here's my lord huron favorites:

again, I love lonesome dreams The Most (it's The Album of My Heart) and I lowkey have a whole fic idea inspired by it. listening to "The Ghost on the Shore" on the banks of Lake Huron at the twilight hour last summer was a transformative experience for me.

I could eat that whole album but my favorites are totally "Lonesome Dreams," "Lullaby," "Brother," and "The Man Who Lives Forever." all four of those have been on heavy rotation this summer. I was also really grateful when they released "Setting Sun" on spotify finally so I could stop listening to it on youtube lol.

as for strange trails, "Fool for Love" ran in my veins for my entire college career but I deeply love the whole album. "Meet Me in the Woods," "Hurricane," and "Way out There" are some of my favorites, but I also think "The World Ender" is inspired.

idk what I love most about any piece of media is it having that specific quality that grabs you by the yoke and yanks you into its world, and I think ben struck gold with the first two albums (and the mighty EP), which have such developed and distinctive soundscapes that fully immerse you into the literal story he's trying to tell. his comic book for the events of strange trails is deeply endearing to me haha. idk I'm SOOOOO normal about this band and what they were doing with their early work. I really am curious about where the band will go next!

[oranges-and-pears]

buzzed and feeling emotionally competent enough to reply to this music tag that @obeetlebeetle got me

🎶✨️When you get tagged in this, share 5 songs you listen to, publish, and tag your favorite followers✨️🎶

ok I can't constrain myself to 5 songs and this is by no means a comprehensive list but yeah here's what I'm really vibing with on my playlists lately

tightrope by young the giant who I bounced off of overall when they first had some hits (yeah I know cough syrup started playing in your head) but has now been one of my favorite bands for like five years. I love going back through their albums and falling in love with different tracks from before

ohio by king princess that wacky bridge. the way it fucks so hard

future lover by local natives another band I fell in love with a single back when I visited Seattle for the first time before moving here and am just now liking some of their other stuff

I lied (with allison ponthier) by lord huron. I know I never shut up about this but my brother's trumpet teacher's son is in lord huron. MI local represent I fckin love this band!! told you I would never leave you all alone, but I lied

after the earthquake from alvvays. classically I didn't vibe as much with the newest album when I saw them live and now like 6 months later they're all bangers. sorry alvvays. honorable mention easy on your own?

head alone by julia jacklin for always being stuck in my head in the best way. and I'll say it til you understand // you can't love somebody without using your head.

your loves whore by wolf alice. just listen to it

oh caroline the 1975 I'll try anything that you wanna // I'll find myself in the moonlight // 'cause baby, I want everything that you wanna // and I've tried to just be me like a thousand times // hurt me hurt me hurt me

blind belief by evanescence. hey did you know in 2021 evanescence had an album and it was great?

empire ants gorillaz. surprise gorillaz are here too

want you in my room from carly rae jepsen. yeah everyone was right she bops hard. if you don't believe me just listen to this one song and report back.

serotonin by girl in red. yeah it sounds just like one of their other songs that I love but the lyrics are causing casualties. I get intrusive thoughts like // burning my hair off like // hurting somebody I love like // does it every really stop?

I'll stop myself there but this is a hyperfixation-friendly space so please if you want to do this go fucking ham and tag me if you're a mutual

[musicforants]

Here’s the albums & songs that I loved the most in 2021. Click here to listen to my full Best Songs of 2021 playlist (100 tracks) via Spotify or Apple Music.

FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2021

01. The War on Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore 02. Cassandra Jenkins - An Overview on Phenomenal Nature 03. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo Augustine - A Beginner's Mind 04. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee 05. Wild Pink - A Billion Lights 06. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert 07. The Weather Station - Ignorance 08. Magdalena Bay - Mercurial World 09. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home 10. Lucy Dacus - Home Video

11. Kacey Musgraves - star-crossed 12. Julien Baker - Little Oblivions 13. Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place 14. Porter Robinson - Nurture 15. Snail Mail - Valentine 16. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club / Blue Bannisters 17. Indigo De Souza - Any Shape You Take 18. Low - Hey What 19. Tyler The Creator - CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST 20. Lord Huron - Long Lost

21. Hand Habits - Fun House / Dirt EP 22. The Hold Steady - Open Door Policy 23. Torres - Thirstier 24. Small Black - Cheap Dreams 25. Kings of Convenience - Peace or Love 26. Sun June - Somewhere 27. Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha 28. The Antlers - Green To Gold 29. illuminati hotties - Let Me Do One More 30. The Mountain Goats - Dark In Here

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2021

01. Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive 02. The War on Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore 03. Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen - Like I Used To 04. Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet 05. Little Simz - Woman (ft. Cleo Sol) 06. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine - Back To Oz 07. Katy Kirby - Cool Dry Place 08. Wild Pink - The Shining But Tropical 09. Low - Days Like These 10. The Weather Station - Atlantic

11. Lucy Dacus - VBS 12. Magdalena Bay - Hysterical Us 13. Julien Baker - Hardline 14. Lana Del Rey - White Dress 15. Indigo De Souza - Hold U 16. Porter Robinson - Get Your Wish 17. Kacey Musgraves - breadwinner 18. Snail Mail - Valentine 19. Dayglow - Close To You 20. Torres - Don’t Go Puttin Wishes In My Head

21. Wolf Alice - The Last Man On Earth 22. Sun June - Bad With Time 23. Kanye West - Come To Life 24. St. Vincent - The Melting of the Sun 25. Big Thief - Little Thieves 26. Lord Huron - Long Lost 27. Hand Habits - Aquamarine 28. Kero Kero Bonito - Well Rested 29. The Antlers - Solstice 30. illuminati hotties - Mmmoooaaaaayaya

31. Skullcrusher - Song For Nick Drake 32. Xiu Xiu & Liz Harris - A Bottle of Rum 33. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever 34. IAN SWEET - Drink The Lake 35. Tyler, The Creator - SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE 36. Clairo - Blouse 37. The Hold Steady - Funny Farm 38. Allison Ponthier - Harshest Critic 39. Small Black - Postcard 40. Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha

41. SZA - Good Days 42. Ducks Ltd. - 18 Cigarettes 43. CHVRCHES & Robert Smith - How Not To Drown 44. Kings of Convenience - Rocky Trail 45. Caroline Polachek - Bunny is a Rider 46. Alien Boy - The Way I Feel 47. Olivia Rodrigo - deja vu 48. Sweet Trip - Chapters 49. Hatchie - This Enchanted 50. MUNA - Silk Chiffon (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)

Link to full 100-track playlist on Spotify / Apple Music

[shamurph]

LONG LOST SENTENCE STARTERS

taken from lord huron’s 2021 album, long lost. as usual, contains themes of love, heartbreak and regret. change pronouns/wording as necessary.

‘ the moon doesn't mind that i'm left all alone and she's gone. ‘

‘ if forever gets lonely, take my hand. ‘

‘ don't laugh, you'll make me cry. ‘

‘ i know we will be together. ‘

‘ in my mind, you're mine forever. ‘

‘ if you're ever gonna leave this place, don't wait, it's time to go. ‘

‘ oh, we really should have left here long ago. ‘

‘ love is strange, i can't sleep without you. ‘

‘ everybody lies, but I'll never doubt you. ‘

‘ i don't want to die but I can't live without you. ‘

‘ i'm much too young to die. ‘

‘ if you ever want to see my face again, i want to know. ‘

‘ if you never want to see my face again, i want to know. ‘

‘ i've been lost before and i’m lost again, i guess. ‘

‘ every road and every highway led me right back to your door. ‘

‘ love me like you used to and i'll praise you like i should. ‘

‘ love me if you choose to, though you say that i'm no good. ‘

‘ i dream most every night that i never left you. ‘

‘ do you love me anymore? ‘

‘ lord i know i made mistakes, but i am different now, i'vе changed. ‘

‘ will you let me lay beside you? ‘

‘ i swear this time around i'm going to stay. ‘

‘ i curse the goddamn day that i went and left you. ‘

‘ i don’t want to lose you, i would change it if i could. ‘

‘ come on and meet me in the city. ‘

‘ put on the dress you wore the night we met. ‘

‘ am i not the one you're dreaming of, my angel? ‘

‘ forget the life you had and don't look back. ‘

‘ if our love is so wrong, tell me why does it feel so right? ‘

‘ am i not the one you want to love forever? ‘

‘ for a while, i was held by the myth of the lost highway. ‘

‘ i ain’t lonely, are you? ‘

‘ i ain’t lonely, i’m long lost. ‘

‘ i've a tale or two to tell you, but the booze just makes me slow. ‘

‘ there’s a secret to this town. ‘

‘ there’s a reason why i’m still living here, though i can’t think of it right now. ‘

‘ i made a life out of chasing a ghost. ‘

‘ twenty years takes its toll. ‘

‘ i gotta find a way out of this mess. ‘

‘ i’m in troublе and it sure looks bad. ‘

‘ i destroyed my health searching for myself, but there ain't nothing there to find. ‘

‘ i ain’t never seen you look so sad. ‘

‘ i get by, but i'm tired of myself. ‘

‘ i just want it to be like it was. ‘

‘ i just want us to be who we were long ago. ‘

‘ how i yearn for the yеars we were young and in lovе. ‘

‘ i look up at the uncaring sky with a prayer on my lips and a tear in my eye. ‘

‘ i just hope you'll be comin' back soon. ‘

‘ can we wind back the wheels to the way that it was? ‘

‘ oh, where did the time go? ‘

‘ may you learn the reasons why. ‘

‘ may you live until you die. ‘

‘ it's hard to make friends when you're half in the grave. ‘

‘ but i ain't dead yet. ‘

‘ you look like hell and you smell like death. ‘

‘ turn around and leave me to myself. ‘

‘ I've been out way too long, heading right for the edge. ‘

‘ if she asks about me, tell her i'm not dead yet. ‘

‘ i swore that i'd become a better man for you and i tried. ‘

‘ i told you i could never love somebody else, but i lied. ‘

‘ i told you i'd be coming back again for you, but i'm not. ‘

‘ i told you i'd be coming back again for you, but i'm not. ‘

‘ i'm going way out where the world will never find me. ‘

‘ i told you i would never leave you all alone, but i lied. ‘

‘ i read your letter in the morning by the lake and i cried. ‘

‘ told you i could never live without your love, but i lied. ‘

‘ floating, tired and lonesome like i promised to be. ‘

‘ i might stay in my mind just for a couple of years. ‘

‘ where would i go, and would a lone soul miss me? ‘

‘ i'm gonna get it together and i hope i live forеver. ‘

‘ try though i might, i was never a believer. ‘

‘ going to fly through my life 'til i crash into the ending. ‘

‘ i'll make a deal with the devil and live forever. ‘

‘ what does it mean if it all means nothing? ‘

[ajollybirdcollector]

my year of 2022 in books, movies, tv shows, albums & fan fictions.

{books}. 13 books, 4440 p.

1# sharp objects, gillian flynn ~ 321 p.

2# pride and prejudice, jane austen ~ 389 p.

3# my year of rest and relaxation, ottessa moshfegh ~ 289 p.

4# a deadly education, noami novik ~ 313 p.

5# gone girl, gillian flynn ~ 555 p.

the last graduate, naomi novik ~ 388 p.

the silent patient, alex michaelides ~ 339 p.

the cruel prince, holly black ~ 370 p.

the wicked king, holly black  ~ 326 p.

the queen of nothing, holly black ~ 305 p.

hood feminism, mikki kendall ~ 258 p.

dark places, gillian flynn ~ 424 p.

convenience store woman, sayaka murata ~ 163 p.

{movies}. 4 movies, 522 m.

elvis (2022) ~ 159 m.

death on the nile (2022) ~ 127 m.

top gun: maverick (2022) ~ 131 m.

fear street, part 1: 1994 (2021) ~ 105 m.

 {tv shows}. 7 tv shows, 54 ep.

1# reservation dogs, season 1 (2021) ~ 8 ep.

2# stranger things, season 4 (2022) ~ 9 ep.

3# heartstopper, season 1 (2022) ~ 8 ep.

young royals, season 1 (2021) ~ 5/6 ep.

my umbrella academy, season 3 (2022) ~ 10 ep.

bridgerton, season 2 (2022) ~ 8 ep.

peaky blinders, season 6 (2022) ~ 6 ep.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, season 1 (2022) ~ 8 ep.

{albums}. 18 albums, 214 songs, 776 min.

1# strange trails, lord huron (2015) ~ 14 songs, 55 min.

2# the stranger, billy joel (1977) ~ 9 songs, 42 min. 

3# igor, tyler the creator (2019) ~ 12 songs, 39 min.

4# favourite worst nightmare, arctic monkeys (2007) ~ 12 songs, 38 min.

5# superache, conan gray (2022) ~ 12 songs, 40 min.

6# harry’s house, harry styles (2022) ~ 13 songs, 41 min.

7# carrie & lowell, sufjan stevens (2015) ~ 11 songs, 43 min.

8# pony, rex orange country (2019) ~ 10 songs, 33 min.

9# cleopatra, the lumineers (2016) ~ 11 songs, 33 min. 10# dizzy up the girl, the goo goo dolls (1998) ~ 13 songs, 45 min.

my head is an animal, of monsters and men (2012) ~ 12 songs, 53 min.

stratosphere, duster (1998) ~ 17 songs, 53 min.

titanic rising, weyes blood (2019) ~ 10 songs, 42 min.

heaven or las vegas, cocteau twins (1990) ~ 10 songs, 37 min.

cape god, allie x (2020) ~ 12 songs, 43 min.

2, mac demarco (2012) ~ 11 songs, 31 min.

lonesome dreams, lord huron (2013) ~ 13 songs, 58 min.

young the giant, young the giant (2011) ~ 12 songs, 50 min.

midnights, taylor swift (2022) ~ 20 songs, 1h & 09 min.

awaken, my love (2016) ~ 11 songs, 49 min.

{fan fiction}. 37 fan fictions, 3M 702k

1# art heist, baby! {hp; jegulus, wolfstar, dorlene & rosekiller} ~ otrtbs, 38 ch., 219k, completed

2# choices {hp; jegulus, jily & wolfstar} ~ messermoon, 56 ch., 624k, completed

3# evitative {hp; drarry} ~ vichan, 29 ch., 222k, completed

4# you belong to me (i belong to you) {hp; tomarry} ~ child_otkw, 18 ch., 104k, wip

5# quite like us {hp; jegulus} ~ alarainai, 16 ch., 67k, completed

6# the miseducation of draco malfoy {hp; darry} ~ magpie_fngrl, 7 ch., 37k, completed

7# after everything, always {hp; jegulus, wolfstar & dorlene} ~ reggie4dayzz, 32 ch., 236k, wip

8# the bucket list {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 17 ch. 32k, completed

9# just lovers (like we were supposed to be) {hp; jegulus, wolfstar, marylily & dorlene} ~ zeppazariel, 24 ch., 321k, completed

10# crimson rivers {hp; jegulus, dorlene & wolfstar} ~ zeppazariel, 40 ch., 403k, wip

intermission {hp; rosekiller} ~ zeppazariel, 4 ch., 43k, completed

redivider {hp; drarry} ~ vichan, 12 ch., 75k, wip

tea, cigarettes, and whiskey {the secret history; francis/richard} ~ jorsten, one-shot, 3k, completed

teenage wasteland {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 9 ch., 51k, completed

adventures of a suicidal gentleman {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 23 ch., 47k, completed

cassiopea lily malfoy {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 15 ch., 37k, completed

lessons in grace and decorum {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 21 ch., 48k, completed

goodnight from your future husband {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 5 ch., 13k, completed

code name L {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 17 ch., 32k, completed

“dad says” {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, 13 ch., 39k, completed

you’ve got the antidote for me {hp; drarry} ~ kandakickass, one-shot, 20k, completed

ship of theseus {hp; drarry} ~ gallaplacidia, one-shot, 18k, completed

dwelling {hp; drarry} ~ aideomai, 6 ch., 83k, completed

lumos {hp; drarry} ~ birdsofshore, one-shot, 41k, completed

lily’s boy {hp; drarry, snupin, ninny & sirius/charlie} ~ somewheressword, 109 ch., 746k, completed

how miraculous {hp; jegulus, jily, wolfstar & dorlene} ~ flipp, 12 ch., 37k, wip

house colours {hp; jegulus & wolfstar} ~ buttons_n_bose, one-shot, 3k, completed

operation keep black in the dark {hp; jegulus} ~ arctiinae, one-shot, 6k, completed

i am yours {hp; rosekiller} ~ heyhoessslol, one-shot, 2k, completed

don’t blame me, love made me crazy {hp; jegulus} ~ coup_de_foudre, one-shot, 14k, completed

like a balast {hp; jegulus} ~ orphan_account, one-shot, 4k, completed

never have i ever {hp; jegulus} ~ moonymoment, one-shot, 3k, completed

you fell apart like a stone {hp; jegulus} ~ kaedeeee, one-shot, 5k, completed

till forever falls apart {hp; jegulus} ~ nikipa, one-shot, 5k, completed

from now you love me {hp; jegulus} ~ orphan_account, 5 ch., 14k, completed

delenda est - rebooted {hp; harry/bellatrix} ~ lord_silvere, 6 ch., 44k, wip

i’m only here because of you {hp; jegulus} ~ miriammt, one-shot, 4k, completed

[mothpawbs]

I posted 2,074 times in 2021

228 posts created (11%)

1846 posts reblogged (89%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 8.1 posts.

I added 1,621 tags in 2021

#tma - 290 posts

#the magnus archives - 288 posts

#magnuspod - 287 posts

#jonathan sims - 143 posts

#moth mumbles - 132 posts

#music - 104 posts

#lgbt - 103 posts

#martin blackwood - 95 posts

#warrior cats - 91 posts

#warriors - 88 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#ok i knew about other places calling clue cluedo?? but reverend green?? was no one going to tell me it's not just 'mr green' everywhere else

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

God help me, I’m back on my bullshit and made another nigh incomprehensible Lord Huron quiz. This time though, it’s what song off of Vide Noir you are! Or at least which song you should listen to! Link is, again, in the notes!

76 notes • Posted 2021-01-30 20:56:20 GMT

#4

Wanted to mess around a bit with drawing Seawings, because simplifying them down is not easy for me for some reason?? So I drew Queen Coral! I remember thinking she was an interesting character when I first read The Lost Heir, not sure I still feel that way but ehh,,,, she pretty.

I gave her a coral crown inlaid with pearls, because I have a headcanon that Seawings don't use metal or gemstones very often in their jewelry if they don't have to. Instead, they use things like shells, pearls, coral, bone (like from fish) and polished stones. Basically things that are less likely to corrode in the water, and keep them close to the sea.

77 notes • Posted 2021-07-19 06:56:33 GMT

#3

Did @jayie-the-hufflepuff’s Prophecies Begin design challenge! It was really fun :D I especially like how Bluestar and Spottedleaf came out

83 notes • Posted 2021-02-13 00:28:11 GMT

#2

He!! Somehow, the more I tried to make him look exhausted, the younger he got. Idk. I like this design tho! (even though his legs are too long. I see it, I know, I didn't notice until I was almost done coloring XD)

Please do not post anywhere without my permission, reblogs are well appreciated!

101 notes • Posted 2021-09-27 05:45:11 GMT

#1

THEYYYYYY!!!! I love how all of these designs came out oh my god

Please do not use anywhere without my permission, reblogs are well appreciated!!

378 notes • Posted 2021-10-31 07:25:22 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[torchwoodfanfests]

2021 Music Fest Masterpost

Here is the masterpost for the 2021 Music Fest! Thank you to everyone who participated. We hope you had fun!

You can check here 83 works by 14 talented creators, or browse the AO3 collection. If one of your works should be in this post but isn’t, please let us know and we’ll add it ASAP.

If you’d like to give feedback on this or any past fests, or make a suggestion for the future, check out our survey so we can hear what you have to say!

ART

@adhd-jack-harkness

Stipulation by Go! Child: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Red Water Dreams by Aviators: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Lovecraft in Brooklyn by The Mountain Goats: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Run like a Rebel by The Score: 1 | 2 | 3

Fireflies by Owl city: 1

@bookwermthings

Hey Brother by Avicii: 1

Just Tonight by The Pretty Reckless: 1

EDITS, MOODBOARDS & GIFs

@adhd-jack-harkness

Lovecraft in Brooklyn by The Mountain Goats: 1

Stipulation by Go! Child: 1 | 2 | 3

Red Water Dreams by Aviators: 1

Fireflies by Owl City: 1 | 2

@this-is-quite-homoerotic

The Night We Met by Lord Huron: 1

Smother by Daughter: 1

@toshsato

Hell or High Water by The Rescues: 1

VIDEOS

@bookwermthings

Still Breathing by Green Day: 1

@horselover107

Song Champion by Barnes Courtney: 1

FANFICTION & META

@adhd-jack-harkness

Stipulation by Go! Child: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Red Water Dreams by Aviators: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Lovecraft in Brooklyn by The Mountain Goats: 1 | 2 | 3

Fireflies by Owl City: 1 | 2 | 3

Run Like a Rebel by The Score: 1 | 2

Speechless by Aladdin: 1

@bookwermthings

Love and anchor by The Crane: 1

@dinodina

Bermondsey Street by Patrick Wolf: 1

Dead by MCR: 1

Making Sound by Blue Gillespie: 1

Supposed to Be by Icon for Hire: 1

Skyfall by Adele: 1 | 2

Colors by Halsey: 1

Broken by Lifehouse: 1

Planetbound Lovers by Julia Ecklar: 1

@horselover107

Hit And Run by LOLO: 1

Song Vagabond by WILD: 1

@princess-of-the-worlds

Tolerate it by Taylor Swift: 1

@shejustcalledmeafish

Earthbound by the Accidentals: 1

Hiding by Florence + the Machine: 1

Watch you Sleep by Girl in Red: 1

Gas Panic! by Oasis: 1

Don't Say You Love Me by Gabrielle Aplin: 1

@theofficialdramallama

Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens: 1

@toshsato

Hell or High Water by The Rescues: 1

@ultraviolet-eucatastrophe

Stone Walls by We the Kings: 1

In My Arms by Plumb: 1

Dear Fellow Traveller by Sea Wolf: 1

@underthestarrsss

More by Halsey: 1

@ver-writes-things

​The Captain And The Hourglass by Laura Marling: 1

Tick Tick Boom by The HIves: 1

[terrainofheartfelt]

2, 6, 8! 💕

2. what’s a song or artist that you used to listen in the past that you’ve found yourself listening again a lot this year?

So one of my best friends loves Hayley Williams. Loves her. And this is just to say we bond over our emo pasts and one day one or both of us was like “remember how hard the Paramore songs on the Twilight soundtrack went?” And then they were finally put up on Spotify this year! And they’ve gotten a lot of play from me ever since. So, the only things from my twilight phase that stuck are my love for “Decode” and “I Caught Myself.” Those songs fuck.

6. pick a top three of songs that remind you of each season of this year (you can do 5 seasons if you want to do both winter 2020/21 and 2021/22 aka right now)

winter: “Wexford Snow” - Susan O’Neill; “ivy” - tswift; “Carry My Song” - Clare Sands

spring: “Bird Song” - Wailin’ Jennys; “La belle fleur sauvage” - Lord Huron; “Of All the Dreams” - The Wild Reeds

summer: “Gasoline” - HAIM; “deja vu” Olivia Rodrigo; “Don’t Need Nothing” - Aly & AJ

fall: “No More Virgos” - CMAT; “Tell It To My Heart” - Hozier; “All Too Well (10 min)” - tswift

8. what’s a song that reminds you of a novel you’ve read this year?

Well uhhhhh okay I have been so deep into reading/writing fic this year that I cannot remember the last novel I read. The last book I read/am currently still sort of reading is Jenny Slate’s Little Weirds, and I think her whimsy & journey of self-actualization is well-suited by CMAT’s “I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!”

Music asks!

[alvertesongdiary]

Lord Huron - Love Me Like You Used To

I've been lost before and I'm lost again I guess But I never lost this feeling or this pounding in my chest I have travelled many miles, I don't wanna walk no more Every road and every highway led me right back to your door

Love me like you used to And I'll praise you like I should Love me if you choose to Though you say that I'm no good I dream most every night that I never left you

Do you love me anymore? Does my memory remain? Lord I know I've made mistakes but I am different now, I've changed When I open up the door, Will you know me from the rest? Will you let me lay beside you? Will you grant me my request?

Love me like you used to And I'll praise you like I should Love me if you choose to Though you say that I'm no good

I swear this time around I'm gonna stay And when I dream I'll only dream of you I curse the goddamn day that I went and left you Ooh, ooh...

Love me like you used to And I'll praise you like I should Love me if you choose to Though you say that I'm no good

Love me like you used to And I'll praise you like I should I don't wanna lose you I would change it if I could I can't erase the day that I went and left you (ooh, ooh...)

26/05/2021

[moorearoundtheworld]

Top Albums of 2021

Well it has certainly been an interesting year, 2021 brought us to the edge and back and back to the edge again.  We know that art often imitates life and while the music of the year is a mix of albums delayed by the pandemic and inspired by it, it still all provides a window into our lives in this most interesting of times in recent memory.  Personally, my musical journey of the year is typified by honesty. I gravitated towards artists that wore their hearts on their sleeves, and where there isn't honesty, there better at least be fun!  I went to a few live shows as things started to reopen but most of this music I have not had a chance to see the artists themselves interpret so it's been left mostly to me, my headphones and the speakers in my jeep to make sense of it all.  So this is my process of revisiting the year through the prism of 35 albums that I spent time with, hope you find something you like here!

Here is the full Spotify Playlist of all albums-

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Gy208npCoDB99pVPKUeRF?si=Vcc4ymhYRAGk3j-2XHz2MQ

And the more distilled version of “Top Tracks”-

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Vwiqzbe0vhzIq5i26Yht9?si=gp6C6ONtQmuOQvdpuYvsuA

Now onto the list!

35) Bleachers-Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night

The 80’s pop vibe in Jack Antonoff’s latest effort is clear for anyone to hear, it probably helps that he gets an assist from The Boss, add in a splash of trumpets and pianos and you have a pretty fun indie pop record for a year when fun music is needed.

Top Track: Stop Making This Hurt

34) Lord Huron-Long Lost

After loving their last two albums I found myself just enjoying Long Lost. This album has a really fun western feel to it that unfortunately just didn’t land for me the way their previous ones did.  If you like the Americana sound with a splash of the old west you will really enjoy this album.

Top Track: Mine Forever

33) Admiral Fallow-The Idea of You

The fourth effort from the Scottish Indie Folk outfit Admiral Fallow is a great example of their unmistakable multi-instrumental sparse style.  The harmonies are as always the highlight for me, add in the thick accents and it makes for a uniquely entertaining musical journey.

Top Track: Tuesday Gray

32) Halsey-If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

Ashley is back with her brand of dark electro-pop and the album title says it all, she is bringing her strength to the forefront and backing herself.  Yes there are still the hopeful songs like “Darling” but there are much more like “I am not a woman, I’m a god” where she puts us all in our place and seeks power over all else.

Top Track: Darling

31) Eric Hutchinson-Before and After Life

It has been quite a while since “Ok, It’s Alright With Me” and as much as I have grown since then Eric Hutchinson has as well. He has moved into a more jazz/folk than pop rock, “Born In The Dark '' almost has an experimental feel to it with non-traditional time signatures and the piano and trumpet driven “Hell or Something Like It” is a fun jazzy tune. If you liked him back in 2007 this might not be for you, but it's an interesting listen nonetheless.

Top Track: The Best Part

30) Lonely The Brave-The Hope List

The British rock band put out their first album since their former lead singer stepped away from the band in 2018.  The arrival of a new lead singer is always going to create a new feeling, Jack Bennett brings a slightly more gruff vocal to the band which replaces David Jakes’ deep baritone.  This brings the band into a higher register not only of vocalization but of more lead guitar lines and less drone sound.  Fans will always lament what is lost, but this is something new that is also great music.

Top Track: Keeper

29) Night Traveler-Dreams You Don’t Forget

The Austin, Texas based duo’s debut album did not disappoint their growing fanbase year. Their modern spin on an 80s vibe with hauntingly echoing guitar lines, driving synth and bass tracks is both nostalgic and at the same time fresh.  There is a splash of country in their harmonies especially on their Springsteen cover “Tougher Than the Rest” and “I Still Love You,” but tracks like “Put Your Money on Me” and the title track are upbeat pop rock at its best.

Top Track: Put Your Money On Me

28) Wilderado-Wilderado

The debut album from indie-folk rockers Wilderado is a fun mid tempo easy listen perfect for mountain drives and campfire sitting.  Their partially acoustic, partially garage band sound mixed with three part harmonies is infectious and fun, throw in a bit of western feel and you have a really entertaining mix.

Top Track: Surefire

27) Mat Kearney-January Flower

The Nashville based singer-songwriter put out his seventh album this year, an accomplishment that he probably never could have imagined when he moved from Oregon more than 15 years ago.  There is a little softer feel to this record with a bit more piano and guitar and less hip hop influence. Married with two daughters now, Kearney exhibits a little more wisdom on this effort looking back over the years but still finding inspiration in life’s tough moments.

Top Track: Pontiac

26) Benjamin Francis Leftwitch-To Carry A Whale

The fourth album from the British singer-songwriter is a reflective exploration of the past and how those reflections should impact his future.  Much in line with his previous work, though possibly a little softer, he verges pretty heavily into the whisper genre here with his introspections, but it is an effective tool to convey emotion.

Top Track: Canary in a Coal Mine

25) William Fitzsimmons-Ready The Astronaut

Fitzsimmons returns post-pandemic with a heartbreaking album that explores the journey back to earth from the heights of being with someone special.  I’ve talked before about his upbringing and how important sound was to his development as a child of blind parents and he plays around with new sounds here with drone and electric guitar features.  He also released a duplicate album of alternative tracks which is more acoustic and in line with his previous work, seems he may have had a little time on his hands the past couple years.

Top Track: As Long as I Can Breathe

24) Chet Faker-Hotel Surrender

After a couple of years making music under his given name, Nick Baker has let his alter-ego come back with a new album.  Chet Faker has always represented the more jazz inspired part of his music with the name itself coming as a homage to Chet Baker.  This latest album is a fun mostly upbeat blend of pop, jazz, and electronica accompanying Baker’s soulful high tenor vocals.

Top Track: Whatever Tomorrow

23) Chelsea Cutler-When I Close My Eyes

Pop princess Cutler released her sophomore album at just 24 years old, she did not find the critical acclaim that her first album had, but there is something attractive about her gentle voice and honest lyrics.  She squeezes 13 songs into 39 minutes with plenty of her feelings about seemingly not so great relationships.  

Top Track: Walking Away

22) Timecop 1983-Faded Touch

The latest album from Dutch DJ Jordy Leenaerts is a dreamy synthwave delight.  Half of the tracks feature vocals from British Singer Josh Dally and feel like top electro-pop hits while the other half are instrumental dream sequences showcasing Leenaerts’ mastery of synths and electronic creation.

Top Track: Chemical

21) The Spill Canvas-Conduit

The Spill Canvas is back with their first album in almost a decade, in the early 2000s they were punk darlings who were storming the scene with One Fell Swoop and No Really, Im Fine.  As you might imagine things look a little different these days, and while the sound is similar the subject matter is drastically different with more focus on life’s big problems and great joys.  They discuss dealing with death in “Blueprints,” contemplating suicide in “Gallon” and life long love in “Calendars” and “Molecules.” They cover a lot of ground all while holding true to their hard hitting guitars and drums as well as Nick Thomas’ raw vocals.

Top Track: Calendars

20) Typhoon-Sympathetic Magic

Mega indie rock band Typhoon put out one of the most pandemic of pandemic albums, not necessarily because of the music but because of the degree of difficulty of making an album as a band with so many members spread across space and time.  Frontman Kyle Morton wrote all the songs himself and through the magic of technology including Iphone Garage Band and Voice Memo, the album was stitched together.  The final product is not that different from their previous albums, Morton's crooning vocals are the centerpiece and often sparingly draped in a horn or guitar line but building to moments of a wall of sound that makes you stand up and take note.

Top Track: Empire Builder

19) Del Water Gap-Del Water Gap

The pop project of producer S. Holden Jaffe, Del Water Gap’s self titled debut release was a welcome upbeat musical interlude to a tough year.  Jaffe describes himself as inspired by “romantic encounters and dimly lit rooms” which is not necessarily the deep social commentary some need in today’s society, but is honest and fun.  He runs back and forth between different romantic experiences, highs and lows, across the album going from electro to a swinging almost folksy sound on some tracks, an easy listen for a hard world.

Top Track: Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat

18) Rostham-Changaphobia

The second solo album from Vampire Weekend keyboardist/producer Rostam Batmanglij released in early June was a great sound of the summer this year.  Rostam’s gentle indie sound with moments of awkward cadence, slight slurring, and unexpectedly shoving too many lyrics in a single line was a light sound with heavy meaning behind many of the tracks.  Verging a little more on the indie side than his main band with an often jazz feel thanks to the horns, Rostam finds space to explore his own journey with more guitar than keyboard.  The album title tips us off to the fear we all have of a world changing rapidly around us and trying to find ways to meet it where we are.

Top Track: 4Runner

17) Hayden Calnin-What It Means to Be Human

Hayden Calnin escaped to the Australian coast to be inspired by time spent reading and the power and sound of the pacific ocean.  The result is an ambient avant-guard folk album that seeks to answer the age-old question of what it does actually mean to be human. “What a Mess I’m In'' was the first single I heard from him in 2020, and it was very fitting for the time, Calnin’s examination where we are and where we are going is a journey that doesn’t necessary answer any questions, but it asks you to at least put it in context.

Top Track: We Got Gods To Blame

16) Julien Baker-Little Oblivions

The Memphis, Tenn native released her third album this year, I have to admit I missed its release in February and didn't come to it till I started looking into my list at the end of the year and I regret not spending more time with it.  Baker is brutally honest with her songwriting and bears her soul lyrically and musically discussing topics that she has struggled with and playing every instrument you hear on the album.  An assist from last year’s No. 1 artist Phoebe Bridgers never hurts as her boygenius bandmates feature on my favorite track “Favor.”

Top Track: Favor

15) Matt Berninger-Serpentine Prison

Beringer has often lended his distinct baritone to collaborations over the years and he can hardly be separated from the band itself, this his first solo album feels like a stripped down version of a The National album, which if you like The National you will probably enjoy a slightly smaller version of them.  Beringer has more space here for his personal creativity, likely driven by time alone the last couple of years.

Top Track: Distant Axis

14) Ben Howard-Collections From The Whiteout

Howard’s fourth album marks a move away from guitar heavy songs into more reliance on electronics and drums to drive his music, this is partially due to his production partner on the album Aaron Dressner. You can definitely hear some evidence of The National’s influence, however Ben’s songwriting is as always the focal point of his records.  Here he tells stories plucked from random headlines and strange life occurrences in ways that only he can.  On “Far Out'' he waves probably my favorite line of lyrics of the year with “Time to make a new plan, said the gravedigger man, how am I to make a killin what with all of this livin”

Top Track: Far Out

13) Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine-A Beginners Mind

I am a sucker for anything Sufjan does, this album in particular is a return to the things that I really love about Stevens, the delicate singer/songwriter who observes and attempts to explain the world around him, the addition of Augustine into this process provides an extra layer of dreaminess and some great harmonies.

Top Track: Back To Oz

12) Peter Thomas-Let It All Happen

Well known for his producing and writing prowess, Thomas put out his second full length album of his own this year.  His talent for powerful songwriting comes through clearly and this album marks a clear move more into electronica like an autotune acapella cover of a Coldplay song.  He covers a lot of ground in just 8 tracks from the absolute hit “No One” to the delicate and introspective final track “Human.”

Top Track: No One

11) Remi Wolf-Juno

Remi Wolf pulls no punches, her “funky pop soul” vibe is definitely not for everyone, but if you are into strong women who can rap and write, check her out.  Her debut album is an absolute tour de force, she tackles life in the pandemic, her struggle with alcoholism, and much more with the bravado and poppy weirdness that masks some of how serious her lyrics are.  

Top Track: Liquor Store

10) Manchester Orchestra-The Million Masks of God

The Atlanta Indie Rock band put out their sixth album this year with a big bold sound that many bands steered away from during this pandemic season.  Some songs verge on hard rock feeling with the guitar and drum lines, but Andy Hull’s lead vocals keep the sound tied to a folky range no matter what surrounds them.  It is almost a tale of two albums starting off strong and heavy with “Angel of Death” and “Bed Head,” but pivoting on Annie into several softer tracks to finish the album. The range is slightly confusing, but enjoyable for someone like me who likes to hear different sounds from artists.

Top Track: Bed Head

9) Valley Maker-When the Day Leaves

Valley Maker, the monicor of solo folk artist Austin Crane, is a crooning indictment of the plight of young people today who are worried for the world and their place in it. Crane started writing this album before the pandemic, but it finds much resonance with a post-covid world as well as concerns over the environment and society at large.  From a musicality standpoint I enjoy the full sound of the tinny guitar layered with brass and woodwind instruments and light harmonizing backing vocals, Crane’s voice itself is more on the Indy spectrum than I typically like, but it works well with the arrangements around it.

Top Track: Branch I Bend

8) Andrew Belle-Nightshade

Belle’s ambient pop sound is back with his fourth full length album in 2021, like many artists he spent time away secluded crafting his latest work and the result is a slightly quieter darker sound.  Belle notes the album focuses mainly on mental health struggles and hopes the conversation leads to a more positive outlook for those struggling.  I find connection points in his dealing with unrequited love and have always enjoyed his reserved but intense vocal style.

Top Track: My Poor Heart

7) Petey-Lean Into Life

After releasing several singles and EPs in the past couple of years Petey finally put out his debut album “Lean Into Life” in September.  He has a very particular brand of synth pop with a slightly shouted singing style that I don't think I would normally be into, but the synth lines are inviting and the lyrics are both honest and comical in a way that is enjoyable.  He apparently has also amassed quite a Tik Tok following during the pandemic, but I am very much enjoying his music.

Top Track: Pitch a Fit!

6) Porter Robinson-Nurture

Robinson returns this year with his highly anticipated sophomore release of Nurture, 7 years after his “Worlds” album made a big splash on the electronic scene.  As the title suggests Nurture is a bit more nuanced with a few less big bold tracks and more range typified by a moment in “Blossom” when he strips away all of the electronics and speak-sings in his natural voice for a moment to say “It's just that I love you” that then builds into a dramatic rise in the next track “Unfold.”  It is a sonic journey that has its low points but in the end leaves you feeling overall positively about life and relationships.

Top Track: Something Comforting

5) Jeremy Zucker-Crusher

Zucker was my most listened to artist of the year according to Spotify, this album in particular became the upbeat soundtrack to my travels this fall though most of the songs aren't actually that upbeat.  Besides having a great first name, Zucker's particular brand of Alt-pop and honesty is refreshing and engaging.  He put out an EP with Chealsea Cutler as well this year that has some great tracks on it.

Top Track: i-70

4) Oh Wonder-22 Break

British alt-pop duo Oh Wonder released their fourth album which beautifully chronicles the couple’s own struggles with their relationship and the pandemic.  One of many Covid driven pieces of art stands out as a unique album written by two people in the midst of their own breakup as we hear clearly on “Don’t Let the Neighborhood Hear.”  Lucky for us the story has a happy ending as they are now married and their particular blend of electronic pieces and beautiful vocal harmony will live on.

Top Track: 22 Break

3) Chvrches-Screen Violence

The synth pop trio’s fourth album was filled with absolute dark bangers, there’s something about Lauren Mayberry’s strong but delicate vocals laced over heavy synth lines that provides a beautiful musical juxtaposition. There is a bit more self-deprecating and introspection in the lyrics of this album partially fueled by the pandemic and having to produce the album across the ocean between LA and Scotland.  Most notable is an appearance from Robert Smith of the Cure on “How Not To Drown,” as one of the band’s dream come true collaborators. Sadly my personal Chvrches story for this year comes with a canceled show in Salt Lake in December, hopefully they will be able to make it up to us soon!

Top Track: He Said, She Said

2) Big Red Machine-How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last

Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon are back with their collaborative effort and they brought a bunch of friends along for the ride this time. Taylor Swift, Fleet Foxes, Ben Howard, Sharon Van Etten, just to name a few, they pulled out all the stops to produce an album full of great songs.  Taylor shines the brightest of course in two tracks where she pretty much takes over, but the range of singer/songwriter rock is deep and there is surely a song on this album for you.

Top Track: Renegade (feat. Taylor Swift)

1) The Band CAMINO-The Band CAMINO

I have enjoyed this pop rock band for a while now, but this album just hit all the right notes for me this year with whether it is the self deprecating “Who Do You Think You Are” or the rocking “1 Last Cigarette” or what is likely my song of the year “Know It All,” or any of the other broken relationship songs.  They also implore us to get off our phones and stop and smell the roses, a message that we all need after the two years we have just had and they wrap it all in guitars and harmonies that pull you in. 

Top Track: Know It All

[jezfletcher]

1000 Albums 2021: Tracks #20-11

#20. Lord Huron - Drops in the Lake (cinematic rock)

A fabulous bit of music, which sounds a bit like if some cowboy travelling across the vast south-west of the US brought along a full orchestra and a theremin player for atmosphere on his solo adventure. It has this dramatic build and narrative across the track that can't help but evoke images of the vast and the intimate. Gorgeous. Listen to it now. I'm doing it as I write this up and I just want to stop and listen to it 3 or 4 more times.

#19. Ross Gay & Mary Lattimore - Burial (spoken word poetry with ambient harp accompaniment)

This is a track which rides more on its poetry than its music, but it's a really wonderful piece, reflecting on the death and burial of the poet's father. Lattimore's accompaniment is an evocative and heart-rending match, that manages to walk the line between melancholy and uplifting, which is matched in the text. Ross Gay is a wonderful discovery for me this year. I will continue to enjoy his p[oetry, but I also hope he attempts a project like this again in the near future as well.

#18. Lydmor - Someone We Used to Love (avant-pop)

Capacity by Lydmor

Lydmor has a wonderful line in gossamer electropop, which is where this track starts out, even though from the first line it has a unrelenting bass drum pulse to it. It manages to build throughout, and breaks into an energetic electro-industrial climax. It's a great piece of music.

#17. Ian Lockwood - No Homo (comedy disco pop)

Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the track that gets stuck in my head more than any other of 2021. It has a simple electro-disco sound with a funk bassline, and honestly some of the stupidest lyrics of the year. But it does it with such confidence and attitude that it all works so well. There's also a wonderful bridge that I won't spoil, but it has to be one of the best bits of comedy (and storytelling) of 2021. Couple it with a catchy chorus that gets its claws into my brain and you end up with a top-20 track of the year for me. Apparently.

#16. Fryars - God Melodies (chamber pop)

A wonderful surprising harmony-driven track that lilts its way through vocal processing and little chamber pop embellishments. It honestly sounds like nothing else (including, sadly, the rest of their 2021 album), and stands out as one of the more unique tracks of 2021.

#15. CHVRCHES - Final Girl (synthpop)

My top track from my #3 album of the year, this is a classic CHVRCHES track done with more rock drive and a darker overall tone. Despite this, it's actually one of the poppier and brighter tunes from Screen Violence. I think it's also the most successful (although if you read my album writeups, you'll know I loved the whole thing), and serves maybe as the last bastion of the CHVRCHES of The Bones Of What You Believe before they move into their next phase. I look forward to continuing my journey with them, in any case.

#14. Pepe Deluxe - 22nd Century Dandy (GENRE)

Phantom Cabinet Vol. 1 by Pepe Deluxé

Hey, how about that, following up my top track from my #3 album with my top track from my #2 album. This is a wonderful pot-pourri of musical styles put into a big theatrical number. A grooving, relentless bassline and a Thievery Corporation style beat drive it forward, while Pepe Deluxé layer a plunderphonic array of sounds over the top. It's just a really enjoyable and fun bit of music.

#13. Trace Kotik - Slip (progressive folk rock)

Everything has been done by now, so now, everything is possible... by Trace Kotik

This is another piece of music that you can absolutely just lose yourself in. It has a folk heart to it, based on simple songwriting that would seem equally at home with just a guitar as accompaniment as it does here with a full, rich production behind it. The first iteration of the chorus is simple; the last is vast and powerful, and the journey to get between the two is where this song will win you over.

#12. Lake Street Dive - Know That I Know (GENRE)

Obviously by Lake Street Dive

I love Lake Street Dive: I saw them live in Sydney in 2017, and they put together a wonderfully fun set of tunes to make you comfortable grooving in your little space in the Spiegeltent. A few albums deep now, they tend to be dependable but conservative jazz rock. But for some reason, this track really stood out as a great bit of music. It has a catchy hook, a great chorus augmented by their horn section and a breakdown that includes a really enjoyable solo from the keys. This was also the track which took out my Track of the Week in what I consider the best week of the music project this year (Lydmor's Someone We Used To Love was runner up), and it's definitely part of the reason I consider that week to be so strong.

#11. Pale Waves - She's My Religion (90s pop rock)

What if, in the 90s, you could have a highly-polished pop rock track on the charts that was a love song from a punk girl to her girlfriend, and it wasn't a big deal? I feel like Pale Waves are answering that question. It's a song from the many years that have passed since 1998, but it would feel very comfortable alongside Alanis Morrisette or Tracy Bonham. It's a catchy track tinged with melancholy, but still pop at its core. Great bit of music.

[onestowatch]

Allison Ponthier, the Most Authentic NYC Cowboy Is Hitting the Road [Q&A]

Photo: Julian Buchan

Allison Ponthier is the epitome of transparent authenticity and delicate creativity. With an allegiance to genuine storytelling and sincere vulnerability, Allison has transformed her coming-of-age dramas into consumable and engaging tracks. The approachable nature of her soft tone warmly invites audiences in while her charismatic metaphors create a witty sense of individualized connection. 

Exploring themes of sexuality, age, and her fascination with the concept of death, Allison’s debut EP, Faking My Own Death, saw her brilliantly contrasting the darker essence of her lines with humor and alluring anecdotes. We had the chance to speak to the New York cowboy about the concept of death, the therapeutic nature of songwriting, and plenty more ahead of her tour with Lord Huron.

Ones To Watch: First and foremost, how are you today?

Allison Ponthier: I’m good. I am getting my entire life ready to go on the road in September and I’m having kind of a cute weekday. It’s very normal.

You once said, “A lot of my songs are about being uncomfortable in your own skin but getting to know yourself better.” What is it about songwriting that challenges you?

I had written one-off songs for school projects and stuff growing up, but I really didn’t start writing until I was 18 or 19. I saw a very specific trend in my early songs, now that I’m looking back, hindsight is 20/20, where I just refused to talk about anything that was difficult. I think I wrote a lot of songs about what I thought would sound cool… and even if I was talking about something I was going through, I put it through this super vague lens. It wasn’t until I started writing for my current project that I really became obsessed with vulnerable writing. It’s actually really instrumental in how I heal from a lot of stuff now.

But I think what’s unique to songwriting specifically is that it begs the question, “OK, but what do you really mean?” It’s not like you’re just saying everything off the top of your head, you have to think about the deeper meaning and how everything is connected. You do have the opportunity to talk about things in a way that you wouldn’t normally talk about them. You can go deeper by using metaphors or connecting dots that just exercise different muscles in your brain, and I think for me, that’s been one of the best ways, in addition to therapy, of how I can process a lot of the things that I’ve gone through or have been uncomfortable to process before.

You’re quite openly fascinated by the concept of death. What about death makes you feel so alive, and does exploring it give you comfort?

So, I have always been kind of fascinated with death… I didn’t watch my first scary movie, and I didn’t see anything that was scary until I was a teenager. When I was younger, I used to be really resentful of that because I wanted to be cool like everyone else… but I was very sheltered growing up. But now, I actually really appreciate it. I think a lot of people experience death, not through experience, which I think is a huge privilege, but a lot of people experience death through scary things, like scary movies and scary stories before they mature. And for me growing up, the way that I kind of thought about death was through the lens of my mom. My mom lost her dad when she was really, really young, so she made a point to go to cemeteries and not think that they are scary… [I] actually think it's really beautiful and a place for people to heal. I think she always wanted me to feel connected to people even after they’ve passed away. I really, really appreciate her for that.

In addition to that, I think that now in the year 2021, we have a lot of answers to all of our questions at the tip of our fingers, online. We know a lot about the world and yet, we know so little about death and we know so little about what happens after death. I think that is what is exciting to me, because I don’t know if I believe in ghosts, I don’t know if I believe in magic or anything like that, but I think death and what happens after death is kind of the closest thing to magic in the real world. I try to make it not super dark or scary.

Well, I love your perspective…

I will add one more thing… I did have an experience recently where I went to Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and I think for a long time, my feelings were that after someone dies, does it really matter how we remember them? I mean, it kind of matters to their close family, but I think I was really cynical about death for a long time. But at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where I took a tour, the person there cared so much about the history of each person they were talking about and wanted to keep their memory alive so much that I now understand why it’s so important to keep people’s memories alive and to honor people… even if it’s not for a family, everyone deserves to be remembered. Everyone deserves to stay alive through their stories, so… I don’t know. Hollywood Forever Cemetery totally got me re-interested in death and remembering people and honoring people after they’ve passed.

There’s so much emotional and sonic depth to be found in your music, how do you plan on bringing that to life on tour?

This is going to be my first experience ever touring. That being said, I have been performing a lot of these songs, not in a touring space but performing them. I think the way that I like to bring intimacy or depth to a set is to just talk to people. I really think it’s great to just talk to people and engage with people like I would be talking to anyone else. 

The songs are with a live band and the EP that I made is with live instruments to make it really classic sounding. I think the energy of playing with a live band and playing old school, like ‘70s style, is what I’m really interested in so hopefully the people that listen to my music are really into [it]. I personally think it will just be really emotional in general, because this is such a huge experience for me. I’ve never done these songs for a lot of other people at once, and I think that feeling the energy, from other people, not just on the other side of a screen, but right in front of me, is going to be amazing. I have not had the privilege of sharing these songs with people in real-time, in this way.

A lot of your music is rooted in feeling out of place within yourself, which gives it a sense of coming-of-age. So in terms of touring, have you always felt at home on stage, or has it been something you’re growing into?

I think I was actually very terrified to be on stage for a long time. I was really, really shy growing up, so I think a lot of my first memories of performing were my mom making me sing for friends and family coming over. I only knew one song, which was “God Bless America,” so I would just sing “God Bless America” all the time. But I was really shy as a kid, so even when I did start songwriting, I didn’t think I would be an artist. I thought I would just be a songwriter. I still love writing songs for other people, but the main reason I didn’t want to be an artist had to do with me being afraid to put myself out there. I feel like now is the perfect time for me to go on tour, because before, I don’t think I was ready for it.

That being said, now, because I’m an artist and I have a lot of new things to do all the time, it makes me less scared to do other things that are new. Like being an artist, and making this EP specifically, has really helped my self-confidence… Almost like therapy level, it’s helped my self-confidence and my self-esteem. So, we’ll see what happens!

It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve taken your time and really grown into this role intentionally…

Absolutely, 100 percent. Like, I’m 25 years old, which to me, I feel like a baby, still. But, I think to people that are younger than me, they are like, “Oh! Someone who should have everything together…” To me, it will always feel like you’re doing everything for the first time your whole life because you only really get to live one life. I personally think that tour is going to be a great time, we’ve planned a lot of fun stuff. The reality is, it’s a huge tour that I get to go on with some of my closest friends, and I want to have an amazing time connecting with people.

Who is your biggest music inspiration and why?

This is so hard because I feel like I have quite a few. I grew up listening to Regina Spektor and Imogen Heap, like a lot. I didn’t listen to them as much when I became an adult, but now, as an artist, I’m realizing just how much they have influenced me. I think Regina Spektor tells a lot of stories in her music, and she isn’t afraid to get a little weird with it. I think that that is something that really inspires me now with the kind of songs that I write. Imogen Heap was the first artist I ever really, really got into, and I think she’s very similar. She is not afraid to make the kind of music she makes, even if it is not the kind of music everyone listens to. And then, I’ll throw in one more… I loved Paramore growing up. And yes, Hayley Williams was a pop-punk queen, but she was also a Nashville songwriter at the end of the day. I don’t know if a lot of people put weight on the songwriting part of Paramore, the live shows are so incredible, but she is one of the most influential and biggest songwriters I look up to.

So, a lot of your music uses geographical or location-based metaphors, so I was wondering where is it that you feel most at home?

You know, that’s so interesting. I often think about this a lot, where I don’t really feel like I have a specific home. I moved around a lot, I was in Texas, but I moved around a lot when I was in Texas. Then I went to college, and I moved around a lot after that. I’ve lived in like a million different apartments. I think where I feel most at home are two places. One, when I’m with my girlfriend. I’ve been seeing her for four years now, and at this point, she’s like my family. I know I can count on her and I know no matter what happens, she’s going to be there for me. And then, I also feel at home when I’m doing something with my team… which I know sounds like a canned response but I’m really, really close with my management, I’m really close with the people from my label, and when we’re all working on something together, I’m just like, “Woah… these people feel like my family.” I think chosen family is really important to me and those are some of the people that I know, if something happened, I could immediately call them. I don’t know if home ever feels like a place, but it definitely feels like people.

So, relating back to your fascination with death. If you could pick one record that by listening to it, would save everybody’s soul, what would it be?

 Oh my god… low stakes questions, whatever… Oh my god! To save everyone’s souls? That’s a really, really good question. I have to think about what’s a front-to-back album that I really love. I really love John Prine, so maybe John Prine. Um, but let me think. I have a few answers. I mean, I really love The Color In Anything by James Blake. It’s really beautiful and it’s about depression. I think that James Blake is such an incredible artist because he is really vulnerable. He was very cool when he first came out and now I think he’s been very, very good at being more personal and talking about harder things, so I really love that. Man, this is such a hard question… I love it! 

Oh! No, no, no. I know my answer now. The Idler Wheel… by Fiona Apple. I love that album so much. When I first heard it, I was like, “I don’t know if this is for me,” and now it’s probably my favorite album of all time. The Idler Wheel is so beautiful. It has “Werewolf,” which has one of my favorite lines ever written in history, ‘I could liken you to a werewolf, the way you left me for dead, but I admit that I provided a full moon.’ Which is so good. It goes through the full gamut of emotion and my absolute favorite song on it is “Every Single Night.” ‘Every Single Night’ has this part where she sings, “I just want to feel everything,” over and over and over again. It’s the most vulnerable and beautiful song I’ve ever heard in my entire life. 

Is there anything else that you’d like to say, anything you’d like to put out into the world?

Oh, wow! I think for me, the reason that I made this past EP is because I wanted to talk about my relationship with myself, and I think that other people relating to it has been a really happy accident. But one thing that I really want to stress is that progress is not as simple as just talking about it, or progress is not as simple as just wanting progress to be made. It really is a journey, and it’s not linear. Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days, and to know yourself, you also have to know your bad qualities. So, I know that a lot of people talk about loving yourself, like full-stop, and I think it’s really important to love yourself, but I also think it’s important to know yourself and accept yourself despite your thorns and learning to overcome them. I think that, for me, making music that is revealing is kind of taking my power back. I’m always stressed about how people perceive me, and how I come off, and I hope that I can keep doing that with my music. That’s just something I really wanted to stress, so thank you for letting me say it.