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benzbantz · 5 years

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Best 100 Songs of the decade!

As a new decade will be upon us shortly (the 20’s) I wanted to share some of my favourite tracks from the last 10 years. I’m a pop and rap guy mostly so that’s what you can mostly expect but hopefully a few surprises along the way. I’ll post 100 songs I really loved (in no particular order) then my top 25 absolute favourites at the end. Ok here we go

~Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

To limit myself to just one GaGa track is cruel and not easy, Edge of Glory and Born this Way are both anthems and technically this came out last moment 2009 ..but didn’t pop until 2010. A classic that makes it to most my playlists.

~Airplanes- B.O.B ft Hayley Williams (A classic no need to say more.)

~Love the Way you Lie - Eminem ft Rihanna

A absolutely brutal tune about a toxic relationship full of of lies and abuse, the powerful video really sells the tone of the song.

~Rescue Me - Skepta

Used to love Grime but gone off it for a while now. I wouldn’t call this an outright grime track but Skepta def brings the gritty uk rap scene on this one.

~Forget you ~ Ceeloo Green

Thou I prefer the Gnarls Barkley music style, this is still a awesome tune. Always fun to tell someone to do one in a sing song melody.

~Written in the Stars- Tinie Tempah ft Eric Turner

Used to love me some TT, this was a real catchy banger with great chorus by Eric Turner.

~Raise your glass - Pink (Not much to say, a pop classic)

~I need a Dr - Eminem, ft Dr Dre and Skylar Grey

This is such a underrated song. You have to really know your Dre and Em history to catch everything being said (which I won’t go into here) Brilliant tune and my fave they both worked on together that decade.

~Animal- Neon Trees

Really catchy little number that I enjoyed from first hearing.

~Look at me now - Chris Brown ft Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes rap, that is all!

~Moves like Jagger - Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera

A great sing a long featuring two artists I’m not mad about really so a surprise like from me.

~ In the heat of the moment - Noah Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

What a tune, completely missed this first time around heard on a tv show recently checked it was this decade and then added it right on the list. Banger.

~Summertime Sadness AND ~Love - Lana Del Ray

2 for 1. When Summertime Sadness came out I was mesmerised by Lana’s voice had never heard anything like it before. Safe to say she is my artist of the decade but haven’t raided this count down with all her music. A couple here and a couple of my absolute faves in my ultimate top 25. Love was very heard to keep out of my top 25.

~Stronger (What doesn’t kill you) - Kelly Clarkson

Come on now, if you haven’t belted this one out the top of your lungs at least once I don’t know what you’ve been doing the last ten years.

~Somebody that I used to know - Goyte ft Kimbra

Went thru moments of really liking this song then it really irritating me (played on radio A LOT), thankfully years later the hype has died so I can appreciate it once more.

Midnight City- M83

This is not really my sort of music at all ,so much so I’m not even sure how to describe it. Has a 80’s feel which I love. Just love the infusion of synths and instrumental. Plus the singer has a very calm melodic voice. Great track.

~T.H.E - Will.I.Am ft Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez

Absolutely love this song so catchy very Fergie era BEP sounding, with a great guest solo from Mick Jagger.

~212 - Azealia Banks (not much to add on this, banger!)

~Too Close - Alex Close

If you don’t recognise this song from title you will once you hear it, such a forgotten gem.

~Picking up the Pieces - Paloma Faith

Another unique voice that def makes my top ten newly discovered artists this decade is Paloma Faith, her cover of Mama Cass’s Make your own kind of music also deserves a strong mention. Also not related to the music but Paloma is mad as a box of frogs in real life which I love.

~Bangarang- Skrillex

Yeah you’re not leaving alive from this post without a Skrillex nod I’m afraid, not a big dubstep fan but jumped aboard the band wagon when it was big for five minutes, this songs only thing that made it back with me thou.

~Hall of Fame - The Script ft Will.I.Am

First let’s clear this up I’m not a massive Will.I.Am fan or anything, he was just in EVERYTHING for the first few years of the 10’s. It’s a great song regardless.

~Harder then You think - Public Enemy (What a track, can’t say much more, banger.)

~Locked out of Heaven- Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars had some amazing tracks his debut album Doo Wops and Hooligans featured some brilliant tunes which sadly I just didn’t have space for in this countdown, Grenade, lazy song , Just the way you are, but I’m showing some love to Unorthodox Jukebox here and it’s best track giving Bruno Mars a edgier new vibe.

~Chocolate- 1975

Not my sort of music usually but really enjoyed this laid back rock number,

~Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams

Disco is back! Or is was in 2013 when this tune came out, one of the biggest selling singles worldwide in the 2010’s so not much more detail needed on its inclusion.

~Let her Go- Passenger

Nice little number, always liked this one, never really got into there other stuff but had to give this a shout out.

~Can’t hold us - Macklemore ft Ryan Lewis

The Heist is one of my fave albums from the last decade features some great tracks, same love and Thrift Shop get a shout out but this track was my fave, uplifting and full of energy.

~La La La - Naughty Boy feat Sam Smith

This was Sam Smith’s big feature hit before they became the successful solo artist they are now. Great track very different to the music Sam does now.

~Work Bitch - Britney Spears

Don’t roll your eyes! This is a banger, now get to work bitch!

~Rap God - Eminem

For Eminem’s big solo feature on this countdown it was between this, The Ringer or Not afraid. You may of guessed I’m a Eminem fan and have tried to keep his entries down but one does not simply do a music countdown and not include Rap God.

~Of the Night - Bastille

Really like this band they have some great hits, Pompeii is another great song of theirs that I didn’t have space to include. I went for this eerie cover version of the Corona 90’s dance classic as my pick.

~Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus (Leave me alone it’s a good song ok 😂)

~Riptide- Vance Joy

A little hidden gem I’d forgotten about until I put this list together.

~Who did that to you? - John Legend

Was going to obviously include All of me in this spot but then I remembered this absolute hit from Django unchained which sneaks in and takes the spot. Both great songs thou.

~Nobody to Love - Sigma (Great little dance track not much to add)

~ When the Party’s Over - Billy Eilish

Yes I’m a 35 year old Billy Eilish fan ok leave me alone lol. Seriously thou this girl is super talented and she’s up there in my fave artists of the decade. There will be more of her in my top 25 but this haunting track deserves a mention.

~Turn down for What - DJ Snake ft Lil Jon

It’s Lil Jon yelling really load of course it’s a banger. Also worth mentioning Ice T did a awesome Rap rock version of this song and it’s amazing!

~Problem- Ariana Grane ft Iggy Azalea

Those saxophone’s thou! Groovy little number no explanation needed.

~Chandelier- Sia

Such a power anthem, I came out as trans in 2014 so this song holds a lot of personal meaning with me but regardless is a great song anyway.

~Thinking Out Load - Ed Sheeran

I’m not the biggest Ed Sheeran fan ,take him or most often leave him ,but did like this sweet ballad. Nothing against his voice it’s his songs that don’t often do it for me but this was great.

~Good Kisser- Usher

Never been huge Usher fan ,liked his earlier stuff, confessions and all that. This was a surprise jazzy bluesy type number thou that I really enjoyed.

~Rude- Magic (A catchy sing along tune)

~Zombie - Jamie T

This guy was one of my fave artists of the 00’s, and thou his newest stuff imo doesn’t compare to his older this was still a tune.

~I - Kendrick Lemar

This is actually best when played after the song ‘U’ , the latter being a self hating song ‘loving you Is complicated’ vs I’s ‘I love myself’ different ends of the spectrum I just included ‘I’as you can enjoy that one on its own but to get the best out of that track I highly recommend listening to U first.

~See you again- Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth

A sad song given it’s a tribute to Paul Walker who died in a car accident. Was overplayed a lot at the time but stands strong several years later.

~Dark Times - The Weeked an Ed Sheeran

What a track, their voices mesh perfectly together in this somber number.

~ Trouble - Iggy Azalea ft Jennifer Hudson (Banger)

~Hotline Bling - Drake

So many Drake songs I could of included, (he will appear again in the top 25) gods plan, headlines, in my feelings, nice for what, all absolutely great tracks but I had to go for my personal fave out of the bunch.

~You don’t own me - Grace ft G-Easy

This may be an odd one to some but I’ve always loved the original by Lesley Gore and this is a amazing cover. Grace has a lovely voice (and there is a non rap version if you’re so inclined) Love a good cover version and this is a awesome cover version.

~Side to Side - Ariana Grande ft Nicki Minaj

Hmm guess I’m a Ariana Grande fan, who knew. A cheeky little number and the first appearance in this countdown of a certain fave rapper of mine.

~Panda - Desiigner (another one where there’s not much I need to add, great tune)

~Dancing on my own - Robyn OR Callum Scott

Take your pick the Robyn original or the Callum Scott cover version, both stand alone great tracks, the original more a melancholy dance track the cover a somber ballad. Both brilliant.

~Alarm - Anne-Marie

A nice little pop tune, really like her voice

~Rockabye- Clean Bandit ft Anne-Marie and Sean Paul

Speaking of Anne-Marie, another great pop track. Super catchy sing along. Sean Paul can be hit or miss for me but works well with this track.

~Human - Rag N Bone Man

This is another one there’s not much I can add this guy’s voice is amazing. Brilliant song particularly love the chains you can hear rattling throughout (reminds me of Johnny Cash’s ‘Ain’t no grave’)

~Black Beatles - Rae Stremmurd ft Gucci Mane

Yep that’s some mumble rap to add to the list (told you my music taste was varied) As a whole I don’t love mumble rap but there’s some stand out tracks including this one.

~Thunder- Imagine Dragons

One of my favourite bands from the last decade, like most there stuff. This song has a great song along chorus. Really catchy track.

~New Rules And IDGAF - Dua Lipa

Honestly couldn’t pick from the two really like them both equally. So you get a double. Catchy pop tracks.

~Sorry not Sorry - Demi Lovato

It was between this or Sober (another great Demi track) but ultimately went with the more upbeat pop number.

~Havana - Camila Cabelllo ft Young Thug (A nice chilled Latino style track.)

~Perfect - Ed Sheeran

A beautiful song by Ed Sheeran,other then ‘sing’ and the previous mentions I’m not really into his stuff but this is lovely track.

~Feel it Still - Portugal the Man

Really catchy song can’t help but tap your toes along to it.

~False Alarm- The Weekend

This was something different from the Weekend, really enjoy this song, Weekend is one of my other fave artists to come out the 2010’s.

~Sanctify — Years and years

Wasn’t keen on there earlier dance stuff but when they found there sound I really enjoyed them.

~This is America- Childish Gambino

Great as this song is you really need to watch the music video as well for the song to have its full impact. Love Childish Gambino could of put several of his songs in this list, excited for future music from this guy.

~Solo - Clean Bandit ft Demi Lovato

A cheeky little pop number you can’t help but sing along to.

~Shotgun - George Ezra

One of those artists I can’t decide if I’m into or not, like one song then not keen on the next, it’s strange, but no denying this is a great song.

~Lucid Dreams - Juice WRLD (RIP)

First off Rest in peace Juice, recently died at 21, very sad. The guy was super talented and was looking forward to his future stuff. Could of picked a few tracks but this was the first song I heard of his so that’s got to be my shout out.

~Only You - Cheat Codes ft Little Mix

Although I don’t mind Little Mix this is there only entry on my list. A nice catchy sing along with a dance beat.

~Lost Without You - Freya Ridings

This almost made it into my top 25, just couldn’t find a space for it. Haunting, melodic song with Freya’s stunning vocals. Don’t play this one after a break up or a death.

~Nothing Breaks like a heart- Mark Ronson ft Miley Cyrus

~Someone you loved - Lewis Capaldi

Think this guys going to be another Ed Sheeran for me, meh most the time with the occasional great song. This one no exception.

~Shut Down - Skepta

With lyrics like ‘Ring ring pussy, it’s shut down’ how can it not be a banger 😂 Not the best song in the world I admit but good fun.

~As we enter- Nas and Damian Marley

Words can’t express how much Iove this track, such a hidden gem. A reggae- rap blend of uplifting brilliance. Great gym playlist track.

~Better Now - Post Malone

Another artist I enjoy on occasion. This is my favourite of Malone’s songs so far.

~Bad at Love - Halsey (another great pop track)

~Bitch Don’t kill my vibe- Kendrick Lamar

Could of picked a number of Kendrick tracks King Kunta, DNA, M.a.a.a.d City, If these walls could talk, just to name a few but I’ll go with the first Kendrick track I heard and loved.

~Heartbeat - Childish Gambino

So gutted I couldn’t find a spot for this banger in my 25 but I had to include it on its own. Unless you’re a CG fan it’s unlikely you’ve heard it. Highly recommended a listen. I can’t even really describe it.

~No role Models- J. Cole

A anthem with a similar feel to Keep your head up by 2pac, a sad song somewhat but with a more upbeat tempo. My personal fave J. Cole song.

~Power - Kanye West

Wow our first Kanye track. I like Kanye ,prefer his older stuff. My dark twisted fantasy was the last album of his I really liked. This was a absolute monster of a tune. Also really liked the song Runaway from the same album. Both have great intros.

~Antidote- Travis Scott

~ No Sleep- Wiz Khalifa

Super catchy song, very anthem sounding.

~Young, Wild and Free - Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and Bruno Mars

Another catchy tune, powerhouse of a team up.

~Rack City - Tyga

~ Romans Revenge- Nicki Minaj ft Eminem

Absolute banger double up from the king and queen of rap. Also a version she did with Lil Wayne which was very good but the Eminem version wins for me. Also will take the opportunity to give the Lil Wayne and Nicki song ‘knockout’ a shoutout.

~Blazin’- Nicki Minaj ft Kanye west

Another great Nicki Minaj track of the brilliant Pink Friday album. I know some of her more recent stuff hasn’t been great but she came out the gates strong in 2010.

~Pound The Alarm - Nicki Minaj

Last Nicki Minaj track I promise, could of picked this or starships as love them both equally.

~Trap Queen- Fetty Wap

Can’t lie this is something I never thought I’d like but the more I heard it the more I liked it.

~Ultimate- Denzel Curry

Yes the Vine meme song. Banger.

~Bad and Boujee - Migos

Yes more mumble rap, I’m not even sorry

~I’m not racist - Joyner Lucas

Wow maybe the most powerful song on this whole list. Nothing I explain can do it justice you have to give it a listen yourself (with the video)

~Cry Little Sister - Marilyn Manson

Boom, rap to rock just like that. I love Marilyn Manson covers, in the 00’s it was Tainted Love but this time around its this classic from The Lost Boys soundtrack. Creepy song but kinda perfect for Manson.

~Faster- Within Temptation

~End of Time - Beyoncé

Have to include some Beyoncé before this ends it’s the law. This was my favourite of hers.

~ Rumour has it - Adele

Not the biggest Adele fan but she has a few songs I enjoy, set fire to the rain and someone like you also good songs.

~Ugly Boy - Die Anwoord

Yep he’s a Die Antwoord fan 😆 I have no excuses, DA are one of my fave bands. Zef to death.

- Surf - Tommy Cash

Absolutely stupid lyrics but hilarious (need to watch the video also) it’s actually a good song with a awesome beat.

~Bang Bang Bang - Big Bang

To close the top 100 greatest songs of the decade out , some J-pop, I’m not a expert on Jpop I like a couple of artists and a few songs but had to close out with this... bang bang banger!

So here we go top 25 of my absolute faves from the 2010’s. (in no particular order)

~Radioactive- Image Dragons

This song featured in a Assassins creed game trailer (I forget which game) and I searched for it straight away, found it, fell in love, the rest is history. Great beat and vocals.

~Game Over - Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Professor Green, Giggs, Devlin, Example, Chip

Wow with that line up it was always going to be a banger. This might be my fave beat ever! Such a tune featuring Rap and grime mvp’s from the UK.

~Gods and Monsters- Lana Del Ray

I know I said in no order but this might be my very favourite song from the last ten years. It’s not even regarded as Lana’s best but I just love everything about it, lyrics, melody and vocals. Perfect song.

~Born to Die - Lana Del Ray

Another melodic masterpiece from Lana Del Ray.

~Bad Girls - M.I.A

Yeah I’m a dude it’s weird this song gets me pumped seriously thou such a catchy song.

~In Paris - Kanye West and Jay -Z

Not much needs to be said, absolute classic.

~Over - Drake

Drake at his best imo, great beat, delivery and lyrics. My fave Drake song.

~Black Skin Head - Kanye West

Powerful song with a amazing beat, powerful lyrics, great gym song to get you pumped.

~Sail - AWOL Nation

You might have guessed by now I like a catchy sing along song with a pumping beat and somber tone. Check.

~Only love can hurt like this - Paloma Faith

Her voice in this is something else. I said it before Paloma Faith is so underrated.

~Bang Bang - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

Not to be mistaken for Bang bang bang by big bang featured earlier. Great pop hit.

~Take me to church- Hozier

Powerful song and video.

~Humble- Kendrick Lemar

Banger, not much else I can say.

~Uptown Funk — Bruno Mars

Can’t go wrong with this one, great hit.

~Can’t feel my face- The Weekend

Like most of the stuff this guy brings out, this awesome hit just tops that list.

~Redbone- Childish Gambino

Ok sorry Lana Del Ray but I retract your number one spot for this one. Thought it was Macy Grey or the Delfonics singing when I first heard it then discovered who it was. This has a 70’s soul feel. It’s hard to explain ,if you’ve never heard it give it a listen I’m sure you’ll love it.

~Bad Guy - Billy Eilish

Such a catchy tune, the song that introduced me to her music. Great little dance/pop hit. Fun and a bit freaky. Duh!

~Bury a Friend- Billy Eilish

The way Billy Eilish’s mind works amazes me, how she sees the lyrics, the music and video all as one package. She’s extremely talented and look forward to her taking up most the spots on my 2020’s best of list.

~I miss the misery- Halestorm

Great rock hit, has a very 80’s feel. Lead singer has a amazing voice.

~Sweet but Psycho - Ava Max

Maybe my favourite pure manufactured pop hit of the decade, any female pop star could churn this out and it would do well. Hate to love it.

~Homicide - Logic feat Eminem

If you don’t like rap you won’t get it, if you do, you know where I’m at.

~Stronger then Ever - Raleigh Ritchie

Otherwise known as Grey Worm in Game of Thrones, this guy can hold a tune. Great uplifting track.

~Speedom- Tech N9nne, Eminem

Another great Eminem feature hit. Absolute masterpiece of a record.

~I need - Maverick Sabre

Nice somber melodic song, this guys super talented.

~Cookie Thumper - Die Antwoord

The South African rap rave group strikes again, this one is pretty much a Yolande solo, the beat is insane and thou half of it is in said/sung in Africans it’s still my fave DA song.

~Monster- Kanye West, Jay Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Bon Ivor

The title of this track doesn’t lie, beast of a track, arguably Nicki Minaj’s best guest verse ever (‘Where them girls at’ deserves a mention for sure) It’s in all my rap playlists, amazing song.

If you took the time to have a gander at my random countdown then I thank you, I fully expect you not to agree with everything, hopefully something you enjoy musically was mentioned I did my best to spread the genres as much as I enjoyed them. More music and other countdowns to come.

#music #billy eilish #lana del rey #the weekend #eminem #nicki minaj #childish gambino #kendrick lamar #kanye west #jay z

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cathygeha · 3 years

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REVIEW

Just Get Home by Bridget Foley

Earthquakes in California are real…and there is always the underlying thought of, “What if this is the big one?” as the earth rumbles and shakes. Having been through a few and seen the damage they can wreak makes this story all the more real and…”earthshaking” to think about the “what ifs” should a HUGE trembler ever hit California. Two people form an unusual alliance as they make their way through devastated Los Angeles to reach safety and what they face is thought provoking, dark, and sometimes painful to read.

What I liked:

* Beegie: fifteen, orphan, in the foster system, hard backstory, a survivor, strong, resilient, and deserving of a better future.

* Dessa: single mother, conflicted, in a dead-end relationship, treading water, difficult relationship with her deceased mother, both parents deceased, loves her daughter, grew on me over time.

* That I found the story believable and could imagine finding myself in such a situation.

* The way the difficult situations were written

* Knowing the location well so being able to visualize where the two women were

* That both women were stronger than they realized and grew stronger as the story propgressed

* The alliance/friendship that developed between the two women

* Thinking about what the future for the women might be – hope it is better than their past

* Seeing glimpses of both of their lives before the earthquake

* That they both survived the ordeal and found a way forward…at least for awhile

What I didn’t like:

* Beegie’s rotten luck in life: mother, foster parents, social worker, what happened to her the night of the earthquake

* Dessa’s mother, the man who fathered her child, that she was a bit wishy-washy, and her reasoning was so much different than I wanted it to be

* Not knowing what happened later – an epilogue might have been nice

* That human beings in a chaotic situation can be so horrible to one another – opportunistic hedonistic and ruthless

Did I enjoy this book? I did but found myself skimming at times

Would I read more by this author? I might

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

BOOK SUMMARY:

When the Big One earthquake hits LA, a single mother and a teen in the foster system are brought together by their circumstances and an act of violence in order to survive the wrecked streets of the city, working together to just get home.

Dessa, a single mom, is enjoying a rare night out when a devastating earthquake strikes. Roads and overpasses crumble, cell towers are out everywhere, and now she must cross the ruined city to get back to her three-year-old daughter, not even knowing whether she's dead or alive. Danger in the streets escalates, as looting and lawlessness erupts. When she witnesses a moment of violence but isn't able to intervene, it nearly puts Dessa over the edge.

Fate throws Dessa a curveball when the victim of the crime—a smart-talking 15-year-old foster kid named Beegie—shows up again in the role of savior, linking the pair together. Beegie is a troubled teen with a relentless sense of humor and resilient spirit that enables them both to survive. Both women learn to rely on each other in ways they never imagined possible, to permit vulnerability and embrace the truth of their own lives.

A propulsive page-turner grounded by unforgettable characters and a deep emotional core, JUST GET HOME will strike a chord with mainstream thriller readers for its legitimately heart-pounding action scenes, and with book club audiences looking for weighty, challenging content.

BUY LINKS:

Harlequin

Indiebound

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Target

Walmart

Google

iBooks

Kobo

EXTRACT

Prologue

Assist the client in gathering possessions.

Beegie saw it written on a sheet Karen had in her folder. An unticked box next to it.

She knew what it meant. Stuff.

But it was the other meaning that soothed her.

The darker meaning. Possessions.

That was the one she worked over and over in her head.

Beegie imagined her case worker holding up a grey little girl, face obscured by black hair and asking, “This one yours?” Beegie would nod. Yes, that’s my monster. Together they would shove one snarling, demon-filled person after another into the garbage bags they had been given to pack her things. Soon the bags would fill, growing translucent with strain. When they were done, she and Karen would have to push down on the snapping, bloody faces of Beegie’s possessions so they could close the back of the Prius.

But Karen’s box remained unticked. She didn’t get to help collect Beegie’s possessions, real or unreal, because Beegie’s stuff was already on the street when she got home.

Two garbarge bags filled with nothing special. Her advocate standing next to them with her folder and its helpful advice for what to do when a foster gets kicked out of her home.

Nothing special.

Just almost everything Beegie owned in the world.

Almost but not all.

Whatever.

After Karen dropped her off and Barb had shown her “Her New Home” and given her the rundown on “The Way It Works Here,” Beegie unpacked her possessions into a bureau that the girl who’d lived there before her had made empty, but not clean.

The bottoms of the drawers were covered in spilled glitter. Pink and gold. Beegie had pressed the tips of her fingers into the wood to pull it up, making disco balls of her hands.

But she failed to get it all.

Months later, she would find stray squares of this other girl’s glitter on her clothes. They would catch the light, drawing her back to the moment when she’d finally given up on getting the bureau any cleaner and started to unpack the garbage bags.

There had been things missing.

That Beegie had expected.

But what she had not expected was to find two other neatly folded garbage bags. These were the ones she had used to move her stuff from Janelle’s to the Greely’s. She had kept them, even though back then Mrs. Greely was all smiles and Eric seemed nice, and even Rooster would let her pet him.

Beegie had kept the bags because she’d been around long enough to know that sometimes it doesn’t work out.

In fact, most times it doesn’t work out.

And you need a bag to put your stuff in and you don’t want to have to ask the person who doesn’t want you to live with them anymore to give you one.

But when Mrs. Greely had gathered Beegie’s possessions, she had seen those bags and thought that they were important to Beegie. It made sense to her former foster mother that a “garbage girl” would treasure a garbage bag.

This got Beegie thinking about stuff. The problem of it. The need for things to hold your other things. Things to fix your things. Things to make your things play.

And a place to keep it all.

In Beegie’s brain the problem of possessions multiplied, until she imagined it like a landfill. Things to hold things to hold things, all of it covered with flies, seagulls swooping.

Everything she ever owned was trash or one day would be.

Seeing things this way helped. It made her mind less about the things that hadn’t been in the bag… and other things.

Beegie picked at ownership like a scab, working her way around the edges, flaking it off a bit at a time. Ridding herself of the brown crust of caring.

Because if you care about something it has power over you.

Caring can give someone else the ability to control you and the only real way to own yourself was let go.

So she did.

Or she tried.

Some things Beegie couldn’t quite shed. The want of them stuck to her like the glitter. The pain of their loss catching the light on her sleeves, flashing from the hem of her jeans. The want would wait on her body until it attracted her attention and then eluded the grasping edges of her fingers.

AUTHOR BIO

Originally from Colorado, Bridget Foley attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and UCLA's School of Theater, Film & Television. She worked as an actor and screenwriter before becoming a novelist. She now lives a fiercely creative life with her family in Boise, Idaho.

SOCIAL:

Author Website: http://www.wonderfoley.com/

Instagram: @bridgetfoleywriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12378942.Bridget_Foley

Q&A with Bridget Foley

Q: How much research do you do before beginning to write a book? Do you go to locations, ride with police, go to see an autopsy, etc.

A:It depends on the story – research is one of my favorite parts of writing! For JUST GET HOME, I’d lived in Los Angeles for over a decade so I was pretty familiar with the locations… but I needed to do a lot of research into the foster care system as well as first hand accounts of earthquakes.

Q: What hobbies do you enjoy?

A: Weightlifting, Walking and Water coloring -- probably because they’re all things I can do while listening to audio books!

Q: Do you write under one name for all books across genres or do you have other AKA's?

A: Just the one name.

Q: Do you have pets?

A: My dear sweet dog passed away at the age of 14 at the end of 2019. I was advised to wait a month for every year we had her before getting a new companion. It’s odd, because while I missed her I didn’t long for another pet at all for that time… and then suddenly after 14 months I went dog crazy. It got to the point where I was slowing the car down to tell people walking their dogs how cute and fluffy their pups were. My children were mortified. So, no, we don’t have a new pup yet, but I feel sure it will happen soon.

Q: What’s your favorite part of writing suspense?

A: I’m an outliner, which I prefer because it means I get to use an entirely different part of my brain once I get to the drafting process. Since by then the heavy lifting of plot is done, I can fully immerse myself in the experience of the characters - which means I spend a lot of time holding my breath and sweating in my writing chair.

Q: Do you prefer reading and/or writing suspense with elements of romance? Why or why not?

A: I adore a good love story… but I haven’t cracked my version of one yet. My first novel HUGO & ROSE was a subversion of the ‘man of your dreams’ trope, so I suppose there were elements of romance in the book but not in the expected ways. JUST GET HOME is filled with desperate, aching love, but none of it is the romantic kind.

Q: From the books you’ve written or read, who has been your favorite villain and why?

A: I’ve found in life that most people are their own villains. There is usually no shadowy figure pulling the strings or arch enemy subverting plans - for many of us, when our lives go awry, we ourselves are personally responsible for whatever choices that led us there. Obviously that’s not always the case in life or in fiction, but as a writer I’m most creatively interested in characters who are grappling with their internal villains rather than an externalized source. So I suppose the answer is that my favorite villains are also my favorite heroes.

#Bridget Foley #Harlequin-Mira #NetGalley #Earthquake #Fiction #Rape #Los Angeles #Survival

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jmsa1287 · 7 years

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A Year in Review: The Best 25 Albums of 2017

Having recorded my listening habits for a decade now, this is the first time since 2007 that I could not make a top 50 albums list. Usually listening to over 100 albums in a year, this was the first time in many years that I listened to a very small number of albums. Perhaps this has to do with turning 30 and being busy, having less time to spend time with music. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what 2017 had to offer more than last year.

Unlike the last few years, 2017 was not a consensus year for music. There was not a single album that critics and music fans championed; this year was more fragmented, where pockets of people lauded various albums. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Bon Iver, Run the Jewels, Beyonce, and Frank Ocean ruled year-end lists over the past decade but no musician or album "popped a wheelie on the zeitgeist" in a staggering way in 2017.

Albums by big pop stars failed to be an event this year. Katy Perry's exhausting rollout of "Witness" was a train wreck (and the music wasn't great either), Miley Cyrus's back-to-basics album "Younger Now" was an unfortunate flop and Kesha's comeback record only made a small splash. And then there's Taylor Swift, who didn't do her typical media bombardment to promote "reputation." She instead opted for a reserved albeit calculated attempt to get the word out there about her new music, which included cryptic snake videos on social media, ads on UPS trucks and not a single interview.

The winners of music in 2017 were men: Billboard published its year-end chart/top artists of the year list this week and the first 14 spots go to men, including Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Placing 15th is Ariana Grande, whose latest album "Dangerous Woman" dropped last year. Female pop stars who had albums debut in 2017 are further down on the list, including Halsey (24th), Taylor Swift (25th) Demi Lovato (39th), Katy Perry (49th), SZA (57th), Miley Cyrus (64th), P!nk (78th) and Kesha (95th), which points to the interesting state pop music is currently in; perhaps a bleak reflection of our political climate.

That men dominated music in 2017during President Donald Trump's first year in the White House may not surprise those keeping an eye on culture. And whether or not you enjoyed albums by Sheeran, Lamar and The Chainsmokers is obviously completely subjective. But this list features several women musicians of varying genre, including pop, indie rock and experimental.

25. Yumi Zouma - Willowbank

24. Taylor Swift - reputation

23. Julia Michaels - Nervous System EP

22. Sampha - Process

21. Real Estate - In Mind

20. Paramore - After Laughter

19. Ariel Pink - Dedicated to Bobby James

18. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Echo of Pleasure

17. Charlotte Gainsbourg - Rest

16. Terror Jr - Bop City 3: The Girl Who Cried Purple

15. Jessie Ware - Glasshouse

14. Broken Social Scene - Hug of Thunder

13. St. Vincent - Masseducation

12. LCD Soundsystem - american dream

11. The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

10. Destroyer - ken

Since his breakthrough 2012 album "Kaputt," Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Bejar, who performs under the name Destroyer, has continued his brand of smooth indie rock that's one part scuzzy rock and one part romanticism. On his 11th album "ken," Bejar is most clearly inspired by New Order, basking in the glow of thick synths, heavy guitar riffs and thumping bass. Bejar's take on new wave is at its best with the stellar melodramatic track "Tinseltown Swimming in Blood." Tying the music together on "ken" is Bejar's unmistakable voice, a husky and beautiful sound that only gets better with time.

09. HAIM - Something to Tell You

The sisters who make up the California indie pop trio HAIM perfected their sound with their long awaited sophomore album "Something to Tell You." Distilling their Wilson Phillips meets Fleetwood Mac meets Sheryl Crow meets Amy Grant inspirations, HAIM's latest effort is a breezy, melodic album with groovy highlights, like singles "Want You Back" and "Little of Your Love." "Something to Tell You" is a well-crafted album, proving the HAIM sisters are growing as artists. "Something to Tell You" is an effortless album; one of the most-fun listening experiences of 2017.

08. Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors

Once a band consisting of several members, David Longstreth's Dirty Projectors project is now a solo one. After a tumultuous breakup with former Dirty Projector's singer Amber Coffman (who put out her own solo record this year, too), Longstreth details the end of their relationship with self-reflective precision. Over experimental songs, Longstreth examines himself and where he went wrong while re-contextualizing Dirty Projectors' discography, like on "Up in Hudson," a sweeping epic that chronicles the ebbs and flows of his relationship with Coffman. Or like "Keep Your Name," which samples the band's 2012 song "Impregnable Question" (that song prominently featured Coffman). Despite it being an extremely personal album, "Dirty Projectors" offers some of Longstreth's snappiest and catchiest music, including "Cool Your Heart," featuring R&B chanteuse Dawn Richard. The album is as revealing as it is assessable.

07. The xx - I See You

The xx's third album "I See You" is the U.K. trio's most vibrant effort. The band injects their quiet and minimal sound with some big surprises, thanks to Jamie xx, the band's producer who released his house-inspired dance album in 2015. Here, he brings his dance floor-ready sound to the band's new album while Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim pen some of their most personal songs. "I See You" features introspective tracks detailing addiction, death and queerness. It's a polished album finding the xx at their most confessional - and most exciting.

06. Charli XCX - Number 1 Angel

Considered a mixtape, "Number 1 Angel" by pop princess Charli XCX is a 10-track party. Produced by experimental avant-pop musicians from the PC Music crew (A.G. Cook, Danny L Harle, Life Sim and Sophie), Charli's mixtape is full of unrelenting bangers. From the rapturous "3 AM," featuring singer MØ, to the euphoric "Roll with Me" and marvelously glitch-y "ILY2," "Number 1 Angel" is an addictive collection of jams. What makes the tape one of Charli's best works to date is because it's a collaborative effort. Not only does Charli work with some of the most interesting producers today, but she also enlists the help of alternative pop/rap stars like Raye, Abra and Cuppcakke, making "Number 1 Angel" simply a good time.

05. Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now

It's been a decade since Swedish musician Jens Lekman broke through with his lush album "Night Falls Over Kortedala." Lekman has bounced back-and-forth from lo-fi singer-songwriter records to vibrant albums that draw from tropical sounds (with varying success) but his fourth album "Life Will See You Now" finds him back in a sweet spot. Known for his diary-like and personal songwriting, Lekman is at his most confessional here, penning songs about faith, tragedy, breakups and a 3D molding of a tumor. Lekman always adds a dose of comedy to his music, and "Life Will See You Now," full of warm melodies and dazzling production, is a lovely album carved out of earnest emotion.

04. Terror Jr - Bop City 2: TerroRising

Terror Jr has been quietly making some of the most interesting pop music of the last few years. On their second album "Bop City 2: TerroRising" - a sequel of sorts to their excellent debut "Bop City," the mysterious band shares their dark and twisted take on Top 40- hits. Provocative and forward thinking, Terror Jr explore addiction, sexuality and romance on introspective songs with blunt lyrics a la seminal avant-garde band Xiu Xiu. The combination of radio-friendly production and confessional lyrics makes Terror Jr's "Bop City 2" a tour de force.

03. Lana Del Rey - Lust for Life

Lana Del Rey was perhaps the most aware artist of 2017. Not only was she self-reflective of her place in the world, her status and what she, as a musician and celebrity, means to her fans, but Del Rey also documented herself reacting to today's political climate: Threats of nuclear war with North Korea deeply concerned her. The way in which women are treated in Hollywood, or Hollyweird as she'd call it, was at the top of her mind (she revealed she'll no longer perform her song "Cola" at her shows because it references Harvey Weinstein). Donald Trump elected to office sickened her - so much so that she joined witches around the nation in casting a spell on him and later banned the U.S. flag from her live shows; a shocking move from an artist who built a career at honoring Americana. All of Del Rey's tumultuous and agonizing feelings about 2017 are weaved into her beautiful fourth album "Lust for Life." It's Del Rey at her most Del Rey; an album that looks back at her debut "Born to Die" with its sweeping string arrangements and nods to hip-hop, while being completely fresh, finding Del Rey concerned for her fans but still full of hope.

02. Phoenix - Ti Amo

Indie singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens provided the music to this year's Oscars frontrunner, the coming-of-age gay romance "Call Me By Your Name." But it's the French indie rock band Phoenix that created the soundtrack to summertime in Italy. Their sixth album "Ti Amo" is simple and pure; exploring love, desire, lust and food while being inspired the Italian disco. The fuzzy single "J-Boy" is slick and cool like gelato, the title track dazzles with sparkling synths and fizzes like cream soda, "Tuttifrutti" is a sweet banger and highlight "Fior di Latte" is as rich as the cheese itself. Each song on "Ti Amo" is exciting as the last, with closing track "Telefono" being one of the Phoenix's catchiest songs to date. The album may not be the band's most innovative but that's OK - "Ti Amo" is an undeniable delight, perfectly capturing a sound and feeling unlike any record in 2017.

01. Lorde - Melodrama

Not long before he died, David Bowie apparently said Lorde is "the future of music." Wise beyond her 21 years, the New Zealand musician would be make Bowie proud with her impressive sophomore album "Melodrama," a stunning and cohesive concept album that subverts pop expectations of pop music. Tracking the ups and downs of a house party, Lorde's "Melodrama" explores every facet the emotional impact a breakup can give you. With her odd lyrical phrasing, jarring whispers and precise production from Jack Antonff, "Melodrama" is a radically raw album that exposes itself with each listen. It is also an achievement for Lorde herself; she sheds the teenage persona she created on her massively successful debut "Pure Heroine" (and that song's "Royals") and announces herself as an adult. With "Melodrama," Lorde is more profound than she's ever been.

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thotyssey · 7 years

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On Point With: DJ ECON

This Cali-born old school vinyl DJ has provided the soundtrack for many evolutions of NYC nightlife over the years. He even beheld the birth of the Brooklyn Scene as we know it during his residency at a dive called the Wreck Room, and this week celebrates the 5-year anniversary of what is now one of that scene’s most vital industry nights. It’s Hot Fruit’s very own Ethan Eunson-Conn, aka DJ ECON!

Thotyssey: Hey DJ ECON, how was Halloween? DJ ECON: No, I was thankfully off from gigging, and getting some well-needed rest. You'e, like, the third person in a row I've interviewed who had a low key Halloween. Were you deterred by that bizarre terrorist car attack that happened earlier that day, or would you have stayed in regardless? No. That didn’t deter me. I’ve just been too busy, and having to work a day job the next day. Then I had studio time booked after work -- I moved a couple months ago, and just got the studio gear hooked up properly. And Monday is always long, so I just chose to crash out.

How about DJ mixes? Do you have time to make those? I haven’t made one in a long time, but that’s more of a choice than an issue of time. No one really listens to DJ mixes, lol!

It's so true! Nobody listens to DJ mixes; I feel terrible for admitting it! I guess our attention spans have gotten too small.

My current focus is on getting some tracks ready for pressing a vinyl over the winter, and relaunching my record label in spring. A record is a better business card for a DJ than a mix, these days. I bet! What's your label, and when did you first start it? The label is called Public Works, and it was started in 1999. It only ever had a couple of releases, ‘cause it’s such a money suck. But I am very proud of it, and there is a lot of interest currently in the old releases, due to the 20 year loop return of style and fashion and stuff. So it seems like the right time to relaunch and sell some back stock of the old releases.

So, where's your hometown? I was born and raised in Santa Monica, California. Were you always into music? Yeah. I was always into music from a young age: collecting tapes since I was about 4 years-old, and obsessively going through my parents’ and older sister’s record collections.

When I was 7 years-old, I was super into breakdancing and rap music. I got a drum kit when I was 10, and studied acoustic bass from 11 to 14 -- at which point I bought two Technics turntables and a mixer with the money I earned from my first summer job.

And rap / hip hop was always your genre?

It was always my favorite. But that also always meant lots of genres to me, because it comes from so many different genres. So I was always playing funk, jazz, soul, and new wave / electro.

When I was 5, I was in my oldest sister’s car, and she was playing Talking Heads -- and I just fell in love with it. So she bought me the tape of Speaking in Tongues. It’s one of those seminal moments I always remember. So I was always pretty multi-genre. But I didn’t really get into house or techno until, like, ‘94 -- around my senior year of high school, and moving to NYC to go to college.

When did DJing become a thing? Well, my two best friends and I had always been studying the way hip hop was made -- trying to find the samples -- and had started a record pool to buy records together so our money would go further. We were making pause tape beats (recording the part of the record we wanted to sample, and then pausing the tape and bringing the record back, and unpausing as the same part came around again; repeat until you have a few minutes of a beat), then we would sit around and write rhymes to it. So when we had our first summer jobs, we each picked a different part of a studio to invest in. One friend bought a sampler and speakers, another a mixing board, and I bought turntables. The day I brought them home, we sat around and made simple beats on the 8-second sampler built into the mixer.

I started DJing at parties even before I had two turntables -- using one CD player, one tape player and one turntable, and no mixer. Just switching between the inputs on a normal house receiver. But I guess in high school, it really became a thing: doing regular house parties for friends, and even my first couple of club gigs.

How did you discover the Brooklyn queer nightlife scene?

Well, I was working different parties in Manhattan -- mostly one-off stuff, but at some legendary bars like Mother and the Cock and IC Guys. I had a friend who was a co-founder of this DIY space in Dumbo, Brooklyn called Dumba, which was really more of a punk venue. But at some point I was asked to do a dance party there, and that was probably one of my earliest Brooklyn gigs. By 2003 I found myself commuting to Williamsburg for most of my bar gigs, so I decided to move over the river and have space for a home studio. Around 2000, a few friends had moved into a warehouse building in Bushwick. That and the music studio we built there slowly became the center of my world over the course of the decade.

In 2005, some friends of mine opened the Wreck Room Bar on Flushing Ave a few blocks from the studio space, and I started bartending and DJing there regularly in 2006 (including a weekly on Friday nights from 2006-2009).

Can you describe how the scene in Brooklyn was like during that period when you had your Wreck Room residency? It was a very unique place and time, for sure. Wreck Room was just a run-of-the-mill dive bar, but that meant we were able to do whatever we wanted. Though while most of the employees were queer, the owner didn’t want it to be a "gay bar.” That all ended when a last-minute venue change brought a party for Amos Mac’s trans mens’ magazine Original Plumbing to the bar, and the bar grossed more money than any night in its previous history. Sometime around then, Horrorchata moved into an apartment next door [to the bar]. We started getting all these Brooklyn queens coming in before heading out to their shows, or coming by for last call. And this led to a string of new queer parties being thrown at the bar -- most notably Erica Kenia’s "Kitty,” which brought lots of new bands and DJs into the Wreck Room fold.

In the 2000s most of the big NYC DJs had moved to Berlin, and the Manhattan scene was really getting stale from so many venues closing and rent getting too high. Brooklyn made NYC feel like an open city musically and scene-wise, and all sorts of new party crews began popping up in that space. And I think that industrial neighborhood in Bushwick really was the epicenter of that movement. By the time I moved back to NYC in 2010 after a year abroad and in LA, it had really become its own Bohemia, rivaling that of the East Village a decade before. At that time I was focused again mostly on production, but I started DJing and bartending at Wreck Room again. It was sometime after that I met Jody (then David Sokolowski) in San Francisco, when I was out there for Outfest. Soon afterward, Jody moved to NYC and started throwing parties with me at Wreck Room. At that point, I was booking and bartending on Saturday night, and Erica was booking / bartending Fridays.

After a good run of monthly parties with Jody at Wreck Room, we started a monthly at Sugarland. Soon after that, Jody asked if I would play vinyl every Monday at Metropolitan, and that turned out to be Hot Fruit.

Then recording artist and nightlife personality Will Sheridan (aka #GIANT) ultimately joined up with yourself and Jody at Metropolitan. How did that change the dynamic of Hot Fruit? Will had always been one of our favorite performers to have at Wreck Room, or at Sugarland, or Hot Fruit. And eventually that lead to asking him to curate some nights and host. Then a bit over a year ago, Jody was looking to do some bigger things -- like a Saturday night, and the monthly Thursday night disco party at Metro. And so wanting to focus energy into those things, he decided he wanted to step aside and let someone else run the party. And Will was the obvious choice, if we could convince him. Will said yes, and after the 4-year anniversary the party switched hands. At first Will wanted to re-brand and change the name, but I really like the name Hot Fruit, and we decided to keep it.

Will definitely brings a different approach to the party with a more classic “one live show,” or with a “one guest DJ and drag shows” type lineup. Whereas Jody loved to use the night for community building, with strange poetry readings or really avant-garde music or dance. Not that we don’t still do that, it’s just become a more professional platform and less freeform. Will is also a very good MC, and therefore a very good host on the mic. Which makes things flow in a different way. Still, it’s a Monday night -- so it’s an industry night out. And that is our goal: to bring real talent and shows to people who otherwise often miss them, because they are working or have shows on other nights. So, it’s really a “family night” for a Brooklyn nightlife family that we have all watched really come into its own over the past decade. You know -- one week you will see someone slay on stage, and the next week they are there in the audience cheering on the performers. I find that really satisfying. Or, some big name DJs who just played a giant weekend party but don’t fly out til Tuesday or Wednesday will be chilling by the booth, giving me kudos for some record I play. And all that just makes it feel homey and approachable as a nightlife experience. Those more intimate connections are a large part of why I DJ, and work so hard to keep nights like Hot Fruit going.

Who have been some of your favorite Hot Fruit performers over the years? Wow, there have been so many. I am always so impressed with the talent that comes through the party. But to name a few that always blow my mind, I would say: Mister Wallace, Three X’s, Charlie Sheena, Boy Radio, Church, and Gramma for live shows. And Zenobia, Merrie Cherry, Pan Dulce, and DiDa Ritz for drag shows. And I have to mention Jeremy Jae Neal and Mineko for dance. That’s really leaving out a lot. Hey, I noticed that Zenobia’s been there a lot lately. She did a run of four shows in a row last month. We called it her takeover month, which was really fun because she just gives so much energy every time she performs. We always love having her. We were sort of testing out the idea of having one queen doing a month-long residency at the party. We are hoping to do this again with some other folks and see how it goes. But it will likely happen again with Zenobia in the future. Going forward with the party, Will and I are looking to branch out with more guest hosts and recurring performers. I think we need to keep it fresh, and make a place for other people to imagine their own Hot Fruit. Who knows what this turns into in the next couple years? But it would be nice to keep it alive and fresh and growing. Bringing in other hosts is a part of our plan for that. And Jody still seems to pop in to guest DJ a lot, even though he's no longer producing the party. Yeah, as part of the deal of passing the party along, Will and I wanted to make sure there was some continuity. So we said, “hey, why don’t you come back and DJ once a month and just have this space, but not have to do all the booking and promo work?” And that just seemed to fit well with the idea of the party and what we are trying to do.

So OMG, the Five Year Anniversary of Hot Fruit at Metro is this Monday! Did that time fly by? Yes and no. You know, a weekly is an intense thing. It takes a lot of work, and so in some ways it feels like even longer, lol! But on the other hand, it is like, “where did the time go?” I mean, it simultaneously seems like a lifetime has gone by, and like a blink of an eye. I totally get that. It’s the longest running weekly party I have ever done. And I think its taught me a lot, both as a DJ and as a host: keeping it fresh musically, and getting better on the mic. And the anniversary looks to be a ki! Well, as usual we are gonna have a whole lot of shows for the anniversary. I mean, on many years we hardly end up DJing much at all. And we are gonna start earlier than usual to accommodate even more shows this year, with more live stuff early and drag shows later on. You will see a lot of Hot Fruit veterans coming back, and of course Jody and Will and I playing some music in between. But we will really be turning most of the night over to the performers, as we do every anniversary. It’s more of a thank you to all of them, and their support. Without the shows, it’s not Hot Fruit.

Anything else that we should mention?

Thank you to Pietro Scorsone for bartending for the whole five year run, and to Nancy who has worked the door for most of the run. And to Steven the manager, for really understanding the party and its unique style and always pulling for it over the years. In total, Metropolitan has been really good and gracious to us, and we definitely couldn’t have pulled it off without that. Yay! Okay last question, totally random: Cardi B, yes or no? Yes! Will put me on to her song months before it charted, and it became a bit of an anthem for us. You would never hear me play it, but it does get played almost every week... and I gotta say i really like it.

That’s fair! Thanks ECON, and have a great anniversary!

DJ ECON spins and co-hosts “Hot Fruit” at Metropolitan Bar Monday nights (10pm). The 5th anniversary edition on November 6th, starts around 7pm. Check Thotyssey’s calendar for scheduled gigs, and follow ECON on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud & Mixcloud.

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