#Football Reviews

[instructionsonback]

[warball-boyz]

Imma try some fiction now.

Help... (no idea how many words this is)

Chapter 1: Pre-Game

The crowd was deafening in the way only several tens of thousands of people could be, or possibly several dozen very loud cats right next to your ear as you try to enjoy a nice bit of chicken.

They had already been seated for nearly an hour, and the cheerleaders were getting tired. They could only juggle swords and breathe fire and perform complicated acrobatics for so long, and the crowd was already on their second or third round of watery beer, and wanted to see more violence than the fully-armoured cheerleaders could muster (the full armour came about from a strike regarding an attempt to put them in too-revealing uniforms while still performing the dangerous stunts aforementioned, and the cheerleaders, like most people, liked keeping their body parts attached to the rest of them).

It was all deliberate though, the Managers had planned out the opening ceremonies of every game precisely. Keep the crowd entertained and pull in a few more miscellaneous coins from additional merchandise purchases, and only start the game when the fans were in a near-riotous stage, which made the game all the more entertaining and kept them running to the snack stalls in every pause of the game to sate their now-voracious appetites (being angry in a hot stadium did that to one's caloric intake). It also added to the spectacle of when the teams were introduced. As they would be now.

Trumpets blared and drums pounded in the theme music of the visiting team, the Kasbak Freehold Thunder-Hammers as they ran onto the pitch while the cheerleaders made their ways to the side-lines. The Thunder-Hammer fans —Thammers—roared as if on cue (which they were: a small goblin in the front row in team colours lifted a large sign that said "cheere ye, cheere ye") as their blue-and-white bedecked favourites made two rows and faced the mass of blue that were their fans, and began their as-carefully-as-three-dozen-overmuscled-and-not-quite-enough-brained-men-could-choreograph chant. It featured mostly yelling at the tops of their lungs, pounding their chests, and stomping. The fans repeated the chant barely a millisecond behind the team, creating a rather interesting spectacle, similar to how a parent and child practise saying the same words at the same time but the child is a little behind the beat.

The KFTH slammed their fists into the ground, a very suitable finish for a team comprising mostly of orcs, two trolls, and a half-dozen dwarfs, all of whom see punching the ground as very intimidating. Especially when you leave dints in the turf. The Thammer crowd roared its support, and the team trundled their way to the sidelines, where they partook in copious amounts of swearing at each other and fans while drinking enough fluid to drown a very large fish. That was as much part of the spectacle as the chant was, symbolizing to fans their eagerness to play and to win.

The crowd began to murmur in a terrifying cohesion as the trumpets held a quiet but long note like a hose that wasn't turned fully off. It slowly grew with the drums building up an off-kilter rhythm, culminating in three dis-chords that the crowd shouted along to. These three chords of questionable musical composition (any music teacher could talk at length about how the chromatic progression rife with minor sevenths, minor seconds, and tritones made it an instant failure of any music theory exam) repeated with the crowd's participation as the Markoth City Partizans took to the pitch. The Partizans didn't have a chant that the team performed, but the thirty thousand fans had more than made up for it by forcing a melody and lyrics onto the "Three Chords of Doom" that was their official theme music. It went roughly along the lines of:

"Partizans will not die!

We will kill you!

Death to the opponent!

Kill! Kill! Kill!"

(It cannot be said that the fans had more poetic ability than the players, who at least had the excuse of multiple head injuries)

Instead of a war chant, the Partizans assembled in a square formation at centre field and stomp rhythmically, raising their fists alternatively with each stomp.

Once the fans' homemade chant died into more rabid cheering, the team sent to their side of the pitch, and the officials appeared. They had no fanfare, as no one much liked the officials except the Officials Guild, who ensured they at least got paid regularly. Once the officials dispersed to their places on the pitch, the head referee, in this case a slightly pudgy yet athletic man with the name "Onager" stitched onto his linen doublet, stood officially at centre, with a hands-behind-back-and-legs-slightly-apart stance that all head referees were taught in the Official Official's Handbook provided by the Officials' Guild.

Once Onager was in this stance, the captains of both teams came to meet him. The KFTH had Berhard Pavyn, the Partizans had Loeghr Falhalf. Fanfare continued as Onager held up the Official gold coin to determine who would receive the ball first. He carefully made a show of showing it off to the crowd and captains, despite the fact it was merely the size of a cat's paw print, and then hefted it into the air with lethal amounts of backspin.

"Crown!" Falhalf shouted. As the home-team captain he had the right to choose which side he wanted the coin to show upon landing. The coin didn't listen half the time.

"Shield," Onager said with pomp. "The Thunder-Hammers will choose to receive or kick."

No one in the crowd heard a blessed thing, but helpful eagle-eyed fans in the front rows held up homemade signs with crude crowns and shields on them to indicate to the seething masses above them what was occurring.

Pavyn considered his options. "I think we shall kick," he said after a sufficiently pregnant pause. Signs were lifted, crowd cheered and shouted.

"The Thunder-Hammers shall kick the ball!" Onager bellowed officially. Both captains then made their way to their teams and relayed the pertinent information.

On the KFTH side, the coach, a particularly rotund orc named Khaligorn was ferociously scribbling at his large slate with a chalk.

"We gotsta move fast! The Partz are good at runnin, and we have to get to where they goin faster then they do! And when we gets there, we hits them harder then they hits us!" He began pouting to the surrounding players. "Loustin and Harrok will be at the edges, Pavyn near left, Joggban far right. Golshak, Urrig, and Pagh take centre! I want the trolls taking up the rear in case their runners and blitzers break through! The rest of you know your places! Gayns! Kick and run a boar's leg after!"

Bealdric Gayns nodded with careful emotionlessness, then began muttering as soon as he ran into the pitch and out of Khaligorn's hearing.

"Boar's leg! He's lost it! I'm basically playing a blitzer! Yes I can run and block halfway decent, but be a spare blitzer?! Madness I say! This has to be a false play to make me look intimidating and lead their runner into Loustin and Joggban. It's the only way!"

By the end of this short monologue Bealdric was at his position, roughly twenty years behind centre, where Onager officially handed him the official game ball, and stood with his official stance a few feet away, whistle in his lips ready to blow the official start of the game.

Bealdric lined up his kick, gauging the weight of the ball and tried to see where the Partizans had placed their receiver/runner. He also tried to calculate where the boar's leg run would take him, and specifically which of the Partizans' ogre blockers he would be concussed by in the next half-minute.

He steadied himself.

He released the ball gently while taking a soft jump forward, his right leg starting it's pendulous swing.

He connected with the ball.

Onager blew his whistle with all the officially he could push from his lungs.

The ball arced at a perfect 62 degree angle over centre.

The game had begun

[filmbrainbmb]

New Projector Short! I review the documentary Copa 71 (executive produced by Serena and Venus Williams), on the Women's Football World Cup held in Mexico in the 70s that FIFA refuses to acknowledge to this day, with footage unseen for 50 years!

Copa 71 US Release Date: TBC

[d999666]

Galactik football S1 ep5 review - (2/3)

Mice: what's with this mood? we're not going to a funeral. Thran : yes we are Mice : Relax it's only a football match after all?

>> Comment: Mice looks optimistic. No, in fact, he didn't have any hope in the first place. But in contrast, D'jok says, 'It's not just a game,' because he's betting everything on this game. Because it's his destiny to win the game and be the representative of the planet.

Here's where we can see if micro-ice takes this 'game' as a self-defensive, but the rest isn't.

League official : let the best team win Artego : that would be my team Aarch : I see you haven't lost your legendary sense of modesty Artego.

Artego : Modesty is the pride of the mediocre

League officia : Well dear, this looks like a promising match we're not going to be bored

Adim : Come on you two Shakes hands.

Atrego: (I don't want to shake hands. I never want to shake hands with Aarch.) Aarch: (I don't want to either.)

Adim : YOU HEARD WHAT I SAID, SHAKE HANDS

Aarch believes in Snowkid, and calls for 'together' to the end.

Rocket : s…sir, can't i say something? Mice : Wow!! the guys speak! did you know that?

>> Comment: Didn't they all play a soccer card game together? Everyone reacted like Rocket was saying for the first time here, so I'm embarrassed.

Sinedd : Anyway what matters is facetime. Who knows another club might want me?

D'jok : What I like about Is your sense of team spirit

>> Comment : Sinedd doesn't seem attached to SK. Someone is aiming to scout him.

Aarch suddenly calls Rocket. And he gives Rocket the Captain armBand.

>> Comment: Uh... This scene isn't touching. I'm embarrassed about this. Aarch had to be fair and choose the captain. Of course, the rocket is analytical and best suited to the captain's position. But this was wrong because Aarch didn't choose the rocket as the captain in front of everyone. D'jok and Sinedd and Mei would have wanted a captain, of course. Did Aarch ask for the opinions of the other children? As Micro-ice and mei said, Rocket didn't speak well with the other kids, and he didn't get along. Even if Aarch is the Director and he can decide everything about the team himself, Aarch should have explained to all the team members why 'Rocket was fit as captain in advance', and appointed him as captain. It is not right to speak when there is only the director and his nephew.

>> Comment: The full shot of my favorite Snowkids

>> Comment: The game is about to begin. Because it's Akillian's home stadium, players appear from the floor. As the stadium lights up, you can see the inside of some of the ice-covered stadiums. And you can see the emblem of the Akillian team on the floor. Did they embody their flux? I think this emblem represent balls in their breath. There's not a single spectator inside the stadium. The stadium used to be a huge 'grave.' No one goes near it because so many people were trapped and killed in the stadium when the ice age began. So even the children's parents didn't come to cheer. Snowkid has to have a lonely fight here.

>> Comment: D'jok gets the ball first. Sinedd and Thran are doing well, too.

>> Comment: snowkids that Aarch and Rocket explain tactics but the body doesn't follow.

>> Comment: It was good at first, but I keep losing the ball to the Red Tigers.

Played by the Red Tigers, they scored the first goal.

>> Comment : LOL Look at their goal celebration. Isn't it funny? They didn't say anything but they definitely make Ahito angry for their actions.

>> Comment: Rocket is the captain, but I don't think anyone is following him.

Do you know why?

[I don't think anyone in the team knows that rocket is the captain.]

Sinedd is being uncooperative again. He's not team-playing at all.

And the Red Tigers scored their second goal.

2:0 Score Situation... Desperate.

[rabbitechoes]

first week of september!! fall is drawing near!!! there were some pretty cool tracks that dropped this week, two in particular that are on the shortlist for some of my favorites of the year. 2024 is drawing closer to the end, but this continues to shape up to be one of the best years for music in recent memory. In other words, NEW PHIL ELVERUM MOUNT EERIE ALBUM WOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOO YEAH YEA H YEAH YEAH!!!!!!! also feel free to follow me on rate your music and twitter <3

"Made Out of Memory" - Nilüfer Yanya

◇ released: Sept. 2, 2024 ◇ featured on My Method Actor (not yet released) ◇ genres: indietronica, alt-pop

Starting to sound like a broken record, but this new Nilüfer Yanya single is very solid. We're only a few weeks out from My Method Actor, but it's shaping up to be one of the most promising releases of the year. I love the subtlety she implements into these songs. Everything is given just the right amount of attention. The guitars on this track are buried, but crawl to the surface at the most opportune moment. Her vocals are also gorgeous, as are her melodies. Really good cut here, can't wait to dive into the full record.

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"Broom of Wind" | "I Walk" - Mount Eerie

◇ released: Sept. 3, 2024 ◇ featured on Night Palace (not yet released) ◇ genres: singer-songwriter, indie folk, slacker rock, post-rock

4 years after the biographical meditation of Microphones in 2020, the highly prolific singer-songwriter Phil Elverum is returning in November with a new record under the Mount Eerie name. This announcement was accompanied by these two brilliant singles, the brief jaunty "Broom of Wind" and the weird atmospheric "I Walk." As a massive fan of Elverum's work, these songs were exactly what I could've hoped for - especially the latter. Spacey yet organic atmospheric sounds held together very loosely. Everything feels free-flowing. The traditional rules of song-structuring are construed in subtle, yet effective ways. His lyricism, as always, is just amazing. He makes you feel so much, deep in your core, even when he's crooning what seem to be abstractions.

In the press-release for this record, Night Palace is referred to as a spiritual successor to The Glow Pt. 2 - arguably Phil's magnum opus and one of the greatest records of all time - it also states that "These are songs of re-surrendering to a state of wonder and abandoning the wrung-dry skepticism that this hard world can impose." It doesn't seem like a cheap way to get fans re-invested, he has no reason to do that. If you're a fan of Elverum's music, you're most likely locked in for whatever he has coming down the pipeline. This genuinely, like his previous record, feels like treading old ground with more experience this time around in order to reinvigorate the creative process. Anyway, I'll try to save my ramblings for when I can dive into the full record, but this is firmly my new most anticipated album of the year.

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"th1 [evnslower]" - Aphex Twin

◇ released: Sept. 4, 2024 ◇ featured on Selected Ambient Works Volume II Expanded Edition (not yet released) ◇ genres: dark ambient, drone, space ambient

Another track from the Aphex Twin archives has been officially released leading up to the deluxe edition of Selected Ambient Works Volume II. More savvy Richard D. James heads will probably know much more about this track than I, maybe it was leaked through a big Soundcloud dump or found in a trashcan behind his house. Whatever the case, this is pretty great. Very ominous ambient piece that sounds like it would fit on the soundtrack to a horror film set in space. It feels claustrophobic in a way, unlike the previous single "#19" which felt very peaceful and optimistic. "th1 [evnslower]" puts you on edge, makes you feel like there might be something looming just around the corner.

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"Magic I Want U" | "How to Teleport" - Jane Remover

◇ released: Sept. 4, 2024 ◇ genres: glitch pop, alternative r&b, breakbeat

Jane Remover is back again with another set of seemingly standalone tracks. Like the other two tracks that dropped a little bit ago, they're a bit of a departure from her last album - which is honestly a bit refreshing. I enjoyed that record a decent amount, but there's a bite to these songs that's irresistible. The star here is "Magic I Want U" with its hard-hitting production and tight melodies that just sound absolutely exhilarating. "How to Teleport" isn't bad either, it's got a ton of cool sounds. These new Jane Remover tracks are some of my favorites of hers and although these aren't attached to a new project, I really hope she pushes some of these ideas further in the future.

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"We Will Rock You (Megan Thee Stallion Version)" | "Neva Play" - Megan Thee Stallion

◇ released: Sept. 5, 2024 | Sept. 6, 2024 ◇ genres: southern hip hop, trap, pop rap, drift phonk

Big week for Megan Thee Stallion fans it seems! First, with the bizarre collaboration with Queen for a remix of sports stadium staple "We Will Rock You" ... it's fine. A bit gaudy and awkward, but I don't hate it. The next day she released "Neva Play" with RM of BTS, which is a bit better, but not particularly amazing either. I think it's the beat more than anything. I don't want to hear Megan over a phonk beat in all honesty. Neither Megan's or RM's verse stood out to me either. Oh well!

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"For Sure" - Ethel Cain

◇ released: Sept. 5, 2024 ◇ featured on American Football (Covers) (not yet released) ◇ genres: slowcore, dream pop, post-rock

Following Iron and Wine's indie folk reimagining of "Never Meant," Ethel Cain is the next to contribute to the new American Football covers album with her version of "For Sure." I definitely appreciate what she does with this one. The slow-burning, super lush sound just lulls you into a trance all the way until the big climax in the middle. I didn't have high hopes for this covers project - although I'm mostly just butthurt because I thought American Football were teasing NEW music instead of an anniversary celebration of their first LP, but I digress. This is a really great cover and I'm a bit more excited to hear what the rest of this project has in store.

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"Unt" - Pinhead Gunpower

◇ released: Sept. 5, 2024 ◇ featured on Unt (not yet released) ◇ genres: punk rock, pop punk, power pop

Green Day side-project Pinhead Gunpowder are back with their first new song in 16 years. It's a bit of a snoozefest to be honest. Billie Joe Armstrong has settled into his ways as a vocalist and everything he sings has this level of cleanness to it which is a bit unbecoming of a punk record. It sounds a bit rougher than what you would expect from Green Day proper, but it still just feels a bit toothless. Not doing much for me instrumentally either.

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"The Emptiness Machine" - Linkin Park

◇ released: Sept. 5, 2024 ◇ featured on From Zero (not yet released) ◇ genres: alternative rock, alternative metal, post-hardcore

Linkin Park are returning years after the unfortunate passing of former frontman Chester Bennington, but this time with a new vocalist Emily Armstrong - who definitely doesn't have ANY baggage whatsoever! Truth be told, I've never been a big Linkin Park fan and unfortunately that remains to be the case with this new single. It just feels way too drenched in dramatics to the point where it feels a bit sterile to me. Armstrong's verses were fine, albeit a bit generic. Yeah, I just don't think this is for me. To longtime fans of the band, I hope you guys like this!

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"Ego" - Halsey

◇ released: Sept. 6, 2024 ◇ featured on The Great Impersonator (not yet released) ◇ genres: pop rock, alternative rock, pop punk, power pop

Halsey is releasing her new fifth studio album soon, which will feature all of her singles over the past few months as well as this new one "Ego." I don't dislike this song or anything, but I'm not seeing the picture she's painting here. I guess these new songs have been eclectic, but I fail to see how they'll coincide on a full-length project together. This is definitely a departure from the nostalgic alt-rock of "Lonely Is the Muse," instead leaning more into poppier sounds. Her songwriting is very personal and intense across these songs, but I worry that these constant flip-flopping between sounds will obscure that. We shall see.

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"ELEMENTS" - wolfears

◇ released: Sept. 6, 2024 ◇ genres: post-punk, funk, afrobeat

This groovy new single from wolfears is really sick. There's this palpable anxiety to it that makes everything feel exciting. Everything is in constant motion. The grooves are prickly, never allowing you to settle into them. Their vocals sound like they're reciting mantras and chants which adds to the uneasiness. It's a good feeling of unease though. Her musicianship is pretty impeccable on this cut too as she handles every bit of instrumentation here. I could've been fooled into thinking this was the work of a full band. Overall, "ELEMENTS" is a really solid track and if you're a fan of either the Talking Heads or Fela Kuti - hopefully you're fans of both - give this a listen!

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"Ruby Rosary" - A$AP Rocky feat. J. Cole

◇ released: Sept. 6, 2024 ◇ featured on DON'T BE DUMB (not yet released) ◇ genres: jazz rap, east coast hip hop, cloud rap

A$AP Rocky has released the third single leading up to his new record DON'T BE DUMB. This is a really good track, I'm loving the jazz rap production a lot. Rocky's verses continue to wow me during this rollout, more than they have in some time. They're not the most impressive, but they're undeniably smooth as hell. He's bringing some confidence into this one. Even J. Cole's verse wasn't that bad, he needed a verse that was at the very least good after "Grippy" and his rough MIGHT DELETE LATER tape. Yeah, I'm loving this. This is shaping up to be a really promising project, hopefully we get a concrete release date in the coming weeks.

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[7yearsofdele]

‘BRENNAN IS MY BEST PAL.’

They did this for me 💙🤍

[blackdigitalrose]

Sat - Delicious Party♡Precure - Ep 4 -6

Colour me impressed, they can do it when they try, EP 6 and in a team of three we're still a duo (Yellow is clearly Ep 7 but 5 member teams have filled faster.)

Outside that nothing else really happened... that or I was distracted by Cure Spicy. ( I know it has been said before, saw the comment a lot in the ranking videos) Kokone is fine but absolutely nothing about Cure Spicy makes sense, if you ranked solely on design, she would definitely be near the bottom.

Spicy as in hot usually a warm colour like red or orange... Spicy is blue a cool and calm colour. Just what in the world is a peppered sandwich, why would you have peppered bread? What is the pepper part even applying to in the attack anyway? Were they just trying to fill the gap to make the attack sound more exciting?

Lookie a civilian form, which makes the scene of her being surprised at finding them at the school of all places kinda funny in an ironic way but nice to see villains actually using their heads and go and attack somewhere else because your problem keeps cropping up in a certain area.

Weekly role call, just to remind you which characters you are meant to be paying attention to. Now Takumi is such a red-herring, I imagine people were getting all sorts of excited of the possibilities when this first aired.

While battling a 3 fueled monster in ep 4 and a 4 fueled monster in ep 5 then a single one back in ep 6, it makes sense for that fight to be super short, after all, if they managed to beat a 3 and 4, they should have no troubles with a 1 because they're obviously the weakest created. It is a nice little small detail.

They referenced back to it, not some little intro nod, an actual practical skill. Is there enough Precure characters to make a full team yet?

And then said what? You were who?

They weren't terrible eps, just nothing of note aside from Recepipi's means stronger monster as well as getting to know Kokone better and Kokone and Yui as well as Kokone and Mari becoming friends (the later having a very relatable misunderstanding).

[thatpunkmaximoff]

[Book One of...]

Story: 5 out of 5 Smut: 2 out of 5

Oh my goodness! This was such a fun, fluffy read that includes great body and sex positivity! Seriously, more authors need to include plus-size women.

Beatrix/Trixie is such a great character. I loved the idea of the hot football player/best friend falling in love with the girl whose body is not what everyone approves of. I loved watching her be comfortable in her own skin, even if she spent years finding that peace, and then facing down high school bullies before watching their own lives unravel. Ugh. So fun!

Chris is such a horndog for Trixie, but he’s a respectful horndog. You’re gonna love him. Trust me. And don’t even get me started on Chris’s family! They were all such great additions, and I can’t wait to for the next Kingman to fall in love.

* Luke Skycocker 😂 That’s a great name for a rooster.

* I love that this football player is pining after the plus-size girl. This is gonna be so cute!

* The mom sends her sex toys. What even.. 😂

* Awww. Does everyone know about Chris’s crush? lol.

* Lmao. Even the dad ships them! He wants Trixie as a daughter-in-law, for sure.

* Ugh. I hate mean girls. It’s been ten years! Grow the fuck up.

* Oohhhh. She said he was her boyfriend. Let the fake dating begin 🤗

* God. Chris is so fucking corny lol. These innuendos are hilarious.

* Ugh. Creepy Karter. Someone kick his ass, please.

* Her fucking mom telling her to use lots of line because she’s sure Chris is large. Oh my god 😂 and that she’ll be sending them something fun. I can’t wait to see what it is.

* The kiss cam! I can’t stop smiling. Oh my god. He needs to confess his feelings asap!

* Cowgirl 👀

* He told her about his feelings! Oh my god, yes!

* Luke Skycocker tried being a little cockblock lmao. Chris was not having it.

* A tentacle vibrator? Trixie’s mom sends the most interesting toys 😂 and oh my god, Chris finding the stash is hilarious.

* GOYKATTDLAGG - I’m ashamed to say I immediately knew what that was 😅

* Holy shit… Chris and all his suppressed horndog feelings really let go, huh. Damn.

* Ugh. Why do I get the feeling the press is gonna find out about Trixie’s mom’s pornstar past? 😒

* Rachel is a cunt. What does she have planned 😬

* Goddamn. In the locker room, Chris? Now I’m all hot and bothered 🥵

* “We spent the last two and half days dressing up, probably acting like our lives are better than they are, because we want our high school classmates to think we’re cool. Hell, I even asked my best friend if he would be my fake date just to show you I wasn’t just a sad, nerdy chicken lady. But if I hadn’t, I would never have found out that I loved him.” // “Or that I loved her. I have for a long time. Since high school, in fact.”

* wtf did Anthony do?! Did they record Chris and Trixie having sex?! You can’t cut to a week later like that and not let me know!!!

* I fucking knew it! Ugh. Please handle it appropriately and make those responsible pay!!

* I love the Kingman family so, so much!

* She asked him to marry her!!! And he already had a ring!!!

* They’re all so happy and Rachel got what she deserved. Dumb bitch lol.

[finalbiodevilhearts]

Heyy the end of 2024 is coming very soon!🎉💕

Thank you everyone for continue supporting me and my art!

See you again in 2025.✌️🌸

You can support me here❤️

[hubcaphalo]

Favorite Albums of 2024:

Here we go: favorite albums of the year. I like to make my lists every year and these? Are just my favorites. Are they the best albums of the year? Who the fuck knows. Maybe some are, some aren’t. I make these lists for myself, because I like to go back and revisit these, but if you listen and find something here you like, that’s awesome!

favorite albums of 2024, in alphabetical order:

Dagny - ELLE (listen: In My Bones, Strawberry Dream)

Dawn Richard, Spencer Zahn - Quiet in a World Full of Noise (listen: Quiet in a World Full of Noise, Breath Out)

Dehd - Poetry (listen: Hard to Love, Mood Ring)

Empress Of - For Your Consideration (listen: Femenine, Kiss Me)

FLETCHER - In Search of the Antidote (listen: Attached to You, Crush)

Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Past is Still Alive (listen: Alibi, Hourglass)

Japandroids - Fate & Alcohol (listen: Upon Sober Reflection, Fugitive Summer)

Joy Oladokun - Observations from a Crowded Room (listen: Good Enough, Drugs)

Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well (listen: Jade Green, Sway)

Kaleida - In Arms (listen: Choices, Kilda)

Kenya Vaun - The Honeymoon Phase (listen: Yesterday, Overrated)

Lizzie No - Halfsies (listen: Halfsies, Annie Oakley)

Moses Sumney - Sophcore (listen: Vintage, Love's Refrain)

Orville Peck - Stampede (listen: How Far Will We Take It?, Chemical Sunset)

Pom Pom Squad - Mirror Starts Moving Without Me (listen: Street Fighter, The Tower)

Raveena - Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain (listen: Lose My Focus, We Should Move Somewhere Beautiful)

Rei Brown - Aura (listen: Get Me Out, Fire)

Reyna Tropical - Malegria (listen: Cartagena, Lo Siento)

somesurprises - Perseids (listen: Be Reasonable, Dark Victory)

TezaTalks - Black Girl American Horror Story (listen: STOPIT!!, Oxygen, Cops)

Honourable Mentions:

Fleet Foxes - Live on Boston Harbor I don't put live albums on the EOY list, but this is an excellent listen--you can also watch it on youtube. Robin is in peak banter form. (listen: Ragged Wood)

Various Artists - American Football (Covers) The classic American Football record is so iconic, and so gorgeous, of course a record full of covers from other brilliant musicians is gonna slap. (listen: Ethel Cain - For Sure)

Usher - Coming Home It didn't need to be a double album! The first half is perfect! The second half has some decent songs, but it is definitely weaker. (listen: Kissing Strangers "how'd we go from strangers kissing to kissing strangers"? LAWD shot to the heart)

[newmusickarl]

5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – latest episode out now!

The latest episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month Podcast is here and it’s a bit of a sad one as 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt was unable to join us! So this time around it’s just me and Mama Mañana Records' Kiley Larsen reviewing five high profile album releases from the past month in music, ultimately naming one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion.

For our June 2024 episode, it was John Grant’s synth-soaked majesty on The Art of the Lie that took home the coveted Album of the Month title. For our latest episode, we look back at five big releases from July and the albums vying for recognition this time around are:

King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 by Denzel Curry

Django’s High by Future Utopia (Poll winner, thanks for voting!)

As Above, So Below by Highly Suspect

Harmonics by Joe Goddard

HEAVY JELLY by SOFT PLAY

If you want to listen to this or any previous episodes simply follow the links below, but also be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram, Twitter and now YouTube for more news and polls relating to the podcast.

Listen on Spotify here

Watch, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel here

Album & EP Recommendations

Wild God by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Let’s face it, Nick Cave doesn’t make bad records. However, even by his incredibly high standards across his illustrious career, his recent work has been truly exceptional, towering bodies of work. Fuelled by unimaginable tragedy, grief and loss, albums Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen rank among my favourite albums of the last decade, listening experiences that are beautiful yet emotionally devastating. His last album with just him and Warren Ellis, Carnage, was no slouch either, finishing in my Top 10 of the year back in 2021. Now both have reunited with the full Bad Seeds ensemble, and new album Wild God continues their recent hot streak.

Emerging out of the vast darkness, their eighteenth studio album is a much brighter and more joyous experience compared to its predecessors. Filled with uplifting, string-drenched arrangements, some of which include none other than Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood on bass duties, the lyrics also find Cave in a much more optimistic mindset. It all makes for another endlessly captivating listen, with Joy the real standout in the first half, as Cave’s poetic lyrics are spun across a mostly minimal, piano-led composition. However, the finest moments for me are in the back half, with the gospel cries and stomps of Conversion, the operatic and ghostly Cinnamon Horses and standout single Long Dark Night a particularly incredible trio.

Once again, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have crafted one of the finest albums I’ve listened to all year. Impactful and stunningly orchestrated, it’s another stirring collection of songs that will keep you absorbed across countless repeated listens.

Listen here

I Lay Down My Life For You by JPEGMAFIA

Another album that has quickly become one of my favourites of the year, NY-rapper JPEGMAFIA has followed up his sensational collaborative album with Danny Brown, 2023’s Scaring The Hoes, with arguably his strongest solo outing to date.

It’s a rap record but with punk rock energy, with most of the tracks here under the three-minute mark and plenty of heavy guitars powering the sonics. JPEG uses the record’s frantic pace to jump wildly between each bold idea, with the production never anything less than stellar. Collaborating with the likes of Flume and Kenny Beats on the production front, he also pulls in other current rap superstars like Vince Staples and Denzel Curry to lend a few bars too. It all makes for a thrilling wall-to-wall listen but if I’m to pick out just a couple of highlights, it’s the metal-charged SAN MIEDO and string-tinged experimentation of Exmilitary.

Colliding fast and furious bars with heavy punk, noise rock and industrial influences, all in mesmerising fashion, this is without a doubt the rap record of the year for me so far.

Listen here

No Name by Jack White

Another man who rarely disappoints, guitar maestro and all-round modern legend Jack White returned recently with a surprise new album. Initially stealth releasing on vinyl towards the end of July, the record officially released to streaming platforms and critical fanfare at the beginning of August. While I may not agree with the consensus that this is his best solo outing to date, there’s no denying that this is another fun and mightily impressive release.

You see while some critics have found White’s solo discography to be quite patchy, I’ve actually been a big fan of his output over the last 12 years. Blunderbuss and Lazaretto both boasted songs that could be dubbed as instant rock classics, Boarding House Reach was wild but always fascinating in its experimentation, and the duo of Fear of The Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive showed that White’s songwriting shone through, whether plugged or unplugged.

With No Name, for me, what we ultimately get is more of what White has already done before and proved he can do previously. That said, the lo-fi production and fuzzy rock riffs still sound terrific, especially on tracks like Old Scratch Blues, Archbishop Harold Holmes, What’s The Rumpus and Terminal Archenemy Ending. So, while it lacks anything new or revolutionary and brings with it an air of safe familiarity, there is no denying that White can still rock out. If you’re a fan of his previous work, you’ll still find plenty here to enjoy.

Listen here

Lagos Paris London EP by Yannis & The Yaw

And finally on the EPs front, Yannis Philippakis of Foals finally released his long awaited first solo project, Lagos Paris London. A dazzling, collaborative five track EP featuring the late-great Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, the EP is as vibrant and sonically adventurous as the globe-trotting title would suggest. While Yannis brings his signature guitar grooves to the table, some soaring string arrangements, jazz-like horns and Allen’s Afrobeat-style drums ensure the project always has a different feel to anything under the Foals banner.

Whilst the whole EP is well worth 20 minutes of your time, it is Rain Can’t Reach Us and Clementine that particularly stand out for me.

Listen here

Also well worth checking out:

DAYS BEFORE RODEO by Travis Scott

Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

True Magic by Salute

This World Fucking Sucks by Cassyette

A Firmer Hand by Hamish Hawk

Participation Trophy by China Bears

Heartbreak Town EP by GIRLBAND!

Song Recommendations

The Emptiness Machine by LINKIN PARK

It’s been quite the month for big comebacks, hasn’t it?!

First came the colossal news that the Gallagher brothers would finally be reforming Oasis for a huge 2025 tour, before Linkin Park also made their long-awaited return, announcing new album From Zero will be dropping this November. The Emptiness Machine is the first taste of that new record and their first single to feature new vocalist, Emily Armstrong.

Emily’s arrival into the band has certainly caused controversy, with her links to Scientology already a hot topic amongst fans. While that debate will continue for the foreseeable, what is clear from this single and the band’s return livestream performance is that Emily certainly has the vocal capabilities needed to front the iconic, much-loved band. While of course no-one could fully replace the late-great Chester Bennington, I am glad to have Linkin Park back making music once again.

Listen to The Emptiness Machine here

Watch the livestream performance back here

All You Children by Jamie XX featuring The Avalanches

A late contender for song of the summer, this huge collaboration between Jamie XX and The Avalanches was on heavy repeat for me towards the end of August. Propelled by an infectious tribal beat that will just make you want to get up and dance, it’s left me hugely hyped for Jamie’s new album In Waves dropping in a few weeks’ time.

Listen here

He by Hayden Thorpe

Another album I cannot wait for dropping at the end of September, Hayden Thorpe’s adaptation of Robert Macfarlane’s book Ness will also soon be here. With book and album both inspired by Orford Ness in Suffolk, He is the ultra-groovy second single from the project. Featuring an endlessly fascinating arrangement that even includes a sackbut (a 15th century early trombone) and a spinet (a small 17th century harpsichord), Hayden's unique songcraft shines through once again.

Listen here

A Landlord’s Death by One True Pairing

And Hayden is not the only Wild Beasts alumni to be releasing new music this year. A month later in October, Tom Fleming will also be releasing his second solo album, Endless Rain. Working with acclaimed producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy, the singles so far have suggested a much more traditional and folk-inspired sound compared to his solo debut. A Landlord’s Death continues this hypothesis, featuring some stomping acoustic riffs, wild strings and a catchy chorus.

Listen here

Sick Of The Blues by Porridge Radio

Another album due for release in October, indie rockers Porridge Radio will be returning with their new opus, Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me. Sick of the Blues is the closing track for the project but also the album’s first teaser single, finding frontwoman Dana Margolin in an apathetic mood as raw rock riffs build and erupt around her.

Listen here

Straight To Heart by ALT BLK ERA

From MOBO and Heavy Music Award nominations to storming festival sets at the likes of Glastonbury and Download, there is absolutely no stopping ALT BLK ERA’s momentum right now. Now with their highly-anticipated debut album Rave Immortal due for release in January, the alternative sister duo have released the second taste of the upcoming record. The synth-soaked track highlights the continuing maturity of their songwriting, with Straight To Heart seeing Nyrobi open up and reflect on her agonising battles with chronic illness.

Listen here

Nothing Compares To Nineteen by Fiona-Lee

Another one of the UK’s most promising emerging voices, singer-songwriter Fiona-Lee has recently returned with her second-ever single. A hugely emotive track, it was written in the wake of Fiona tragically losing a lifelong friend after he took his own life. Recalling her struggles with anxiety, grief and depression, along with conversations with her father on mental health, it’s another hard-hitting single that absolutely soars.

Listen here

Split Lip by Dolores Forever

One of my other favourite new music discoveries in 2024, I’ve had the pleasure of catching indie-pop duo Dolores Forever twice over this summer’s festival season. With their debut album finally dropping at the end of September, Split Lip is one of the latest singles taken from the project and a song that really stood out in their live performances. Hugely anthemic amidst captivating vocal harmonies and shimmering synths, this upcoming record is slowly shaping up to be one of the best debuts of the year.

Listen here

One Day by Hallworth

Released at the end of August, singer-songwriter Hallworth also recently released her heartfelt new single, One Day. Inspired by the Netflix movie of the same name and written while she was in Nashville, it’s a stirring track about her struggles with a long-distance relationship. With Hallworth’s own tender vocals at the fore, it’s a gorgeously laidback love song that will have you hitting the repeat button.

Listen here

Never Meant by Iron & Wine / For Sure by Ethel Cain

And finally, this year marks the 25th anniversary of one of my favourite albums of all time and a seminal work that still inspires countless musicians today – American Football’s self-titled debut. To mark the occasion, the band are releasing a remastered version of the original record, along with a brand new covers version.

The first two of these covers have been revealed and they are both unsurprisingly stunning. Firstly, American singer-songwriter Samuel Ervin Beam transforms the iconic Never Meant into a wonderful, folky lullaby, reminiscent of Bon Iver. Then, the much beloved Ethel Cain has turned the haunting For Sure into a near 10-minute moment of beauty and ethereal transcendence.

If all the covers are to this standard, with more cuts from the likes of Manchester Orchestra and Blondshell still to come, this project could be something very special.

Listen to Never Meant by Iron & Wine here

Listen to For Sure by Ethel Cain here

Also worth checking out:

Ego by Halsey

You by Ktlyle

JACKIN’ THE SYSTEM by NOISY

Tonight, Tonight (Smashing Pumpkins Cover) by Snail Mail

Hometown Edge by Kele

Bright Lights by The Killers

HERE WE GO! by Lil Nas X

Find The Way by Peggy Gou

SO WHAT by Confidence Man

SilverCane by Corinne Bailey Rae

REMINDER: If you use Apple Music, you can also keep up-to-date with all my favourite 2024 tracks through my Best of 2024 playlist. Constantly updated throughout the year with songs I enjoy, it is then finalised into a Top 100 Songs of the Year in December.Add the Best of 2024 playlist to your library here

[littlespoonevan]

ok i know it's probably my fault for blacklisting it almost immediately when it first became popular on tumblr but like. nobody told me ted lasso was so wholesome?????????????

[quatregats]

I have returned! Review of Kerala: 11/10, damn they didn't lie it really does go that hard

[d999666]

Galactik football S1 ep5 review - (1/3)

>> Comment : This is Tia's Obia moon mansion. Tia's diplomatic parents are in front of her. Tia is being scolded for hiring an actor to act as her fake parents.

Tia resembled her father in her overall appearance, including her eyes and hair color.

Next to Tia is a nanny who has taken care of her since she was a child. Her name is Stella.

>> Comment: Tia's parents use their fake parents to scold their daughter for joining Aarch's team. Tia ends up in tears. Are they really angry that their daughter stole her father's spaceship without saying anything and ran away? Or are they angry about having an actor pretend to be a fake parent? They don't seem to be worried that their daughter got hurt in the game against the Wamba team. (And Tia's leg cast and crutches are gone.)

>> Comment: Her room is very, very big.

Tia seems to be really rich. (Compared to mice's room size.)

Tia tries to tell the nanny her sorrow, but the nanny teaches Tia about the existence of CCTV.

Tia sticking her tongue out to CCTV is cute.

>> Comment: The daily life of an engineer. gif

No matter how hard Clamp tries, no one recognizes the engineer's efforts.

Akillan's stadium is still covered in ice.

The condition that Aarch was allowed to form a team was "melting the ice-covered stadium." He needs to melt the ice before the game against the Red Tigers.

Because of this condition, Clamp has to work constantly.

>> Comment: Without Tia, Snowkids are practicing ahead of their game against the Red Tigers.

There's no team play at all.

Mice, who replaced Tia on the team, is so motivated. Mice has to pass to Rocket but has ignored him. Sinedd always tries to prove he's the best. Conclusion: The team is not playing at all.

>> Comment: Sinedd Vs D'jok + Microice

Mei is dumbfounded that those three are fighting again. The 3 people fighting small behind Rocket and Mei are funny and cute.

>> Comment: Holo-trainer is released.

(3 people walking out without strength are cute)

(These three were so close that they were called brothers when they were young, since when did they start to have a bad relationship?) Aarch : I want remind you that if we lose this match against the Red Tigers. it's all over. peple out there are waiting for me to fail. anybody who felt threatened by my return would be thrilled to see me drop out and I don't want give them this pleasure.

(Sinedd, D'jok, and Mice are sitting furthest from each other.)

Aarch : I want show them that I was right prove to them that you are capable of being great players. we won't get a second chance and I frankly can't see us winning this match playing the way we are. but to do that youhave to play 'together' not against each other

Ahito : but sir! we can never win without Tia.

Thran : True. she had the breath. we don't.

>> Comment : Yes, Aarch's comments are about Rocket and Sinedd. Rocket (and the rest of the kids) can never play football again if he loses the game. Sinedd doesn't monopolize alone, it has to be team-play.

Tia was the only player who could use flux, and the rest can't. So Snowkids are pessimistic.

Clamp found a way to get rid of the ice in the stadium.

Clamp: (Explaining how he's going to melt the ice)

Ahito : ah..I didn't quite get all that. Thran : don't worry about it. go back to the sleep.🤣🤣😂😂

The red tigers vs the Rykers

The Red Tigers without Flux are losing disastrously to Rykers.

>> Comment : This is Rocket doing Red Tigers analysis by himself. He's practicing his conversation with Aarch. (I understand. He has never talked deeply with anyone except his father.)

Rocket seems to be bothered by the fact that he is Aarch's nephew. This just occurred to me. Fifteen years ago, Team Akillian was famous, and Aarch was so famous that he was an idol of Akillian children. But does it make sense that the SK don't know Aarch's brother, Norata? Norata even held hands and dragged Rocket to prevent him from taking the test in front of the Snowkids. If you think about it a little bit, it'll be easy to see that Aarch and Norata are brothers > that Rocket called Norata his father > so Rocket is Aarch's nephew Did I think too deeply in the children's TV program?😂

D'jok here is also very good at asking and answering his own questions. (And MICE didn't hear D'jok because she was wearing headphones.🤣)

Rocket: (Suddenly appears in mei's room at night without a knock) Mei: Ah! Are you crazy?you scared me to death Rocket : the door was wide open Mei : ……so do you feel obliged to enter someone's house every time you see an open door? Rocket : no….hmm….i wanted to ask if you haf any news from tia. Mei : Why? Rocket : because you shared the same room so i thought that… Mei : you think that she shared things with me tia? I've never met someone as secretive as her…except you maybe. I really don't see what the problem is in talking about oneself….

>> Comment: The small gag conversation parts in S1 are funny. Mei didn't talk deeply with tia. And snowkids don't know anyone about the rocket. Did Aarch just bring the rocket? What did he introduce and bring it? 'Aarch: Well, you guys are really bad at passing. But don't worry. We have a player here who is good at passing the ball, so we brought him here without testing him. His name is Rocket.' I don't think so, right?

[unproduciblesmackdown]

been on a rich journey of niche productions of yore, found these production pics ft. will roland as [?] in "zombies, actually....an undead musical" performed at the new orleans fringe festival in 2011

[bookboredbird]

The C*ck Down The Block - Amy Award

★★★★☆

Tropes - miscommunication, best friends to lovers, fake dating, football romance, slow burn, he falls first

---

This book was sooo good even with a slow start. Between the curvy FMC and her chickens, that alone is enough to qualify for four stars. The humor throughout the story is amazing as well, with side characters you'll love, a football family full of himbos, and an ex-p*rnstar-mother who sends our FMC exotic *toys*, you really cannot go wrong.

As much as I dislike football as a sport and don't really follow it, it is not a primary point in the story besides the MMC's family who all play for the same team, and mentions of the upcoming season. If you're looking for a sports-heavy story this is not for you, it focuses more on the love story and the FMC's upcoming high school reunion.

The split POV is just a chef's kiss since it shows the growing feelings from our main gal and the resurfacing or intensifying feelings from our main guy. It also shows their more scandalous feelings for each other, especially from the MMC.

The only thing I truly disliked was the weird paparazzi appearances throughout the story. As well as the whole standing-up-to-the-mean-girl speech toward the end(it felt very cringey and made me want to hide my face). WHILE valid points were made, it just felt so Netflix/Wattpad. Apart from the occasional cringe-worthy moment and the strange focus on her once porn making mom, the book was great!

---

SPICE!!

praise kink, exhibitionism, restraints, mentioned phone sex. Not the best but still pretty good.