#album: Cutie Queen Vol. 1

[killadelphia]

I listened to a ton of music this year and I wanted to try and make a definitive list of my favorites, so here are the albums and EPs I loved from 2021

EPS

1. Militarie Gun - All Roads Lead To The Gun, All Roads Lead To The Gun II

2. Beach Bunny- blame game

3. Tierra Whack - R&B, Pop

4. Burial, Blackdown - Shock Power of Love EP

5. Tkay Maidza - Last Year Was Weird, Vol 3

6. Mannequin Pussy - Perfect

7. Sorry - Twixtustwain

8. Meet Me @ The Altar - Model Citizen

9. Move - Freedom Dreams

10. Action News - Failed State

11. Pinkshift - Saccharine

12. Hey, ILY! - Internet Breath

13. Bruce Lee Band - Division in the Heartland EP

14. Bone Cutter - Bone Cutter

15. Poppy - Eat

16. Spill Tab - Bonnie

17. GEL - Violent Closure

18. Sainte- Local MVP

19. Alice Longyu Gao - High Dragon and Universes

20. SOUL GLO - Dis***** Vol 1, Dis****** Vol, 2

21. Frances Forever - paranoia party

22. No Longer At Ease - No Longer At Ease

23. UNIQU3 - Heartbeats

24. Mikau & ps.you’redead- razor x blade

25. Francis of Delirium - Wading

26. Boyish - We’re all gonna die, but here’s my contribution

27. Blair - Tears to Grow

28. Arm’s Length - Everything Nice

29. Fresh - The Summer I Got Good At Guitar

30. Elliot Lee - Queen Of Nothing

31. ELIO - Can You Hear Me Now?

ALBUMS

1. girl in red - if I could make it go quiet

2. Olivia Rodrigo - SOUR

3. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever

4. Pinkpantheress - to hell with it

5. Turnstile - Glow On

6. Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost

7. MARINA - Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land

8. Jeff Rosenstock - SKA DREAM

9. Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg

10. Sleaford Mods- Spare Ribs

11. Jazmine Sullivan -heaux tales

12. Ashnikko- DEMIDEVIL

13. Doja Cat - Planet Her

14. Illuminati hotties - Let Me Do One More

15. Amyl and The Sniffers - Comfort To Me

16. UPSAHL - Lady Jesus

17. Pom Pom Squad - Death Of A Cheerleader

18. WILLOW - lately I feel EVERYTHING

19. Section H8 - Welcome to the Nightmare

20. slowthai - TYRON

21. Claud- Supermonster

22. Colleen Green - Cool

23. Dave - We’re All Alone In This Together

24. The Marias - CINEMA

25. Shame- Drunk Tank Pink

26. Noga Erez - KIDS

27. BIA - FOR CERTAIN(deluxe)

28. Jorja Smith - Be Right Back

29. Goat Girl - On All Fours

30. Danny L Harle - Harlecore

31. Fiddlehead - Between The Richness

32. Rid of Me - Traveling

33. J. Cole - The Off-Season

34. Aya - im hole

35. Squid - Bright Green Field

36. Baby Queen - The Yearbook

37. Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time

38. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails over the Country Club

39. Deb Never - Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

40. Boys Noize - +/-

41. Home Is Where - I Became Birds

42. Planet 1999- Devotion (deluxe)

43. Self Esteem - Prioritise Pleasure

44. The Chisel - Retaliation

45. Scowl - How Flowers Grow

46. Pet Symmetry - Future Suits

47. Chubby and the Gang - The Mutt’s Nuts

48. Pretty Sick - Come Down

49. Mogwai - as the love continues

50. Griff - One Foot In Front Of The Other

51. Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz

52. One Step Closer - This Place You Know

53. Hayley Williams - FLOWERS for VASES/ descansos

54. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

55. Crumb - Ice Melt

56. Inhaler - It Won’t Always Be Like This

57. Radiohead - KID A MNESIA

58. Death Cab For Cutie - The Photo Album (Deluxe Edition)

59. Sugababes - One Touch (20 year anniversary edition)

60. Amy Winehouse - At The BBC

[redfreesias03]

EVERYDAY YEAH! Kataomoi (”EVERYDAY YEAH! Crush”)

“I’m faintly in love, I hope I get to see him again today. Each time there’s a break between classes, I look around for him restlessly.”

OR: A girl’s first school crush.

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

awai koi wo shiteru wa kyou mo aeru to ii na

I’m faintly in love I hope I get to see him again today

kyuukei jikan no tabi doko ni iru ka KYORO KYORO

Each time there’s a break between classes, I look around for him restlessly

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

jugyouchuu mo NOOTO ni namae meccha kaiteru

Even in the middle of class, I write his name a ton of times in my notebook

gakunen hitotsu chigau ikko ue no ano hito

We’re a grade apart He’s one year older than me

kaze ni fukarete ieji tobotobo

I trudge home sadly As the wind blows against me

ashita koso wa na~nka hanashitai

I wanna strike up a conversation with him Tomorrow for sure!

mou chotto! mou chotto! saigo made kono koi    kono koi mimamotte ne kou yatte kou yatte dareka omou no wa hajimete nan desu

Watch over This love A little more, a little more, Up until the end! It’s the first time I’ve ever Felt like this, felt like this About someone

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

mata kyuujitsu aenai hankagai ni iru kana?

Today we’re off from school, I won’t be able to see him again I wonder if he’s at the shopping center?

konya-san to ka chorochoro sonna jouzu ni aenai

I dart about searching for him at the bookstore Can’t meet him that smoothly, I guess

yuushoku junbi tetsudau hi jikan…

Today’s the day I help out with dinner at home It’s about time…

kekkyoku kyou wa aenai hi

In the end, I couldn’t See him today

mou chotto! mou chotto! ashita ni wa kono koi    kono koi shin tenkai?? nanchatte nanchatte moshi nanka areba doushitara ii no?

Just a little more! A little more! Will there be A new development for this love Tomorrow? Just kidding, just kidding, What do I do If something does happen?

mou chotto! mou chotto! ashita ni wa kono koi    kono koi shin tenkai?? nanchatte nanchatte moshi nanka areba doushitara ii no?

Just a little more! A little more! Will there be A new development for this love Tomorrow? Just kidding, just kidding, What do I do If something does happen?

mou chotto! mou chotto! saigo made kono koi    kono koi mimamotte ne kou yatte kou yatte dareka omou no wa hajimete nan desu

Watch over This love A little more, a little more, Up until the end! It’s the first time I’ve ever Felt like this, felt like this About someone

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

EVERYDAY YEAH! taisetsu na no EVERYDAY YEAH! suki dee~su

Everyday, yeah! Is precious to me Everyday yeah! I love him~

[ilivemydaydreamsinmusik]

2018 Music Year in Review

Top 9 albums are denoted with a * and you’ll find all my fave songs of the year in one giant playlist at the end. Happy listening!

Alessia Cara ~ The Pains of Growing

Anderson .Paak ~ Oxnard

Arctic Monkeys ~ Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Beach House ~ 7*

The Black Eyed Peas ~ Masters of the Sun Vol.1

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ~ Wrong Creatures*

Calpurnia ~ Scout EP

Cat Power ~ Wanderer

Christine and the Queens ~ Chris

Death Cab for Cutie ~ Thank You for Today

Ex:Re ~ Ex:Re*

Florence + the Machine ~ High As Hope

Gorillaz ~ The Now Now

Hozier ~ Nina Cried Power EP

IAMX ~ Alive in New Light

Interpol ~ Marauder

Janelle Monae ~ Dirty Computer*

The Joy Formidable ~ Aaarth

KIDS SEE GHOSTS ~ KIDS SEE GHOSTS

King Princess ~ Make My Bed EP

Kurt Vile ~ Bottle It In

Leon Bridges ~ Good Thing

Little Mix ~ LM5

Lord Huron ~ Vide Noir*

Lupe Fiasco ~ Drogas Wave

Metric ~ Art of Doubt*

Mitski ~ Be the Cowboy

Mumford & Sons ~ Delta

Muse ~ Simulation Theory*

Nas ~ Nasir

A Perfect Circle ~ Eat the Elephant

Ray LaMontagne ~ Part of the Light*

Robyn ~ Honey

Roo Panes ~ A Quiet Man*

Thom Yorke ~ Suspiria Soundtrack

Tierra Whack ~ Whack World

Tove Styrke ~ Sway

Troy Sivan ~ Bloom

Wooden Horsemen ~ Past Lives

The 1975 ~ A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships

2018 Fave Tunes

[yesbiffwritesthings]

“don’t get your hopes up too high”: An Exhaustively Curated 2018 Playlist

So, since time immemorial I have been putting together year-end playlists and for a long time they were pretty sloppy affairs overall.  Last year, I decided to make up some kind of formula for putting these playlists together.  Basically what it comes down to is, from every new album I listen to, released in the given year, I pick one song.  No repeating artists because that gets to be too much (although featured acts aren’t subject to this rule).  When deciding what releases are going to get my attention, aside from my own personal tastes (skews toward alt. rock and punk a lot of the time) and releases from longtime favorites (this year we saw releases from Metric, and Animal Collective, as well as a long-awaited A Perfect Circle album, and even a Spotify single from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), I try to get give more of my time to queer artists (and this year there were TONS of queer acts releasing great music--Adult Mom, Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers, Janelle Monae, Snail Mail, SOPHIE, etc. etc. etc. hallelujah).  I also try to make an effort broaden my musical worldview by making time for artists that operate within genres I don’t always naturally gravitate towards.  This was a great year to get back into hip-hop (Rico Nasty, Cardi B, Tierra Whack, Black Panther OST) after not really vibing with some of the directions it has taken in the past ten or so years.  I have also tried to include a track by every band I saw in 2018, providing they actually released something in 2018 and it is available on Spotify (strong apologies to Partner, Bully, Shellshagg, Kimya Dawson, Rozwell Kid, Los Campesinos, the incomparable Liz Phair, and the legendary Fleetwood Mac--y’all didn’t release anything this year).  I give myself until the end of January of the following year to finalize my expansive, year-end playlist, and here we are.  This years playlist is over 15 hours long--almost long enough to put on while you’re doing all that laundry you've been putting off.  I hope you enjoy.

Full list of songs:

The 1975 - “Love it if We Made it”, from A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

Ab-Soul - “Bloody Waters” [ft. Anderson .Paak], from _Black Panther _OST Adult Mom - “Drive Me Home”, from Soft Spots Amanda Palmer - “Mr. Weinstein Will See You Now” [ft. Jasmine Power], from “Mr. Weinstein Will See You Now” single Amen Dunes - “Miki Dora”, from Freedom American Pleasure Club - “New Years Eve”, from A Whole Fucking Lifetime of This Animal Collective - “Jake & Me”, from Tangerine Reef Anna Burch - “Quit the Curse”, from Quit the Curse Anna Calvi - “Don’t Beat the Girl Out of My Boy”, from Hunter Antarctigo Vespucci - “Not Yours”, from Love in the Time of E-Mail Arctic Monkeys - “Four Out of Five”, from Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Ariana Grande - “No Tears Left to Cry”, from Sweetener Ava Luna - “Centerline”, from Moon 2

The Bascinets - “Jangle Bee”, from 378 Vol. 1 EP Bat Fangs - “Bad Astrology”, from Bad Astrology Beach House - “Last Ride”, from 7 Bear Hands - “Back Seat Driver”, from “Back Seat Driver” single Bettye LaVette - “What Was it You Wanted” [ft. Trombone Shorty], [Bob Dylan cover], from Things Have Changed Big Freedia - “Karaoke” [ft. Lizzo], from 3rd Ward Bounce Billie Eilish - “When the Party’s Over”, from “When the Party’s Over” single Black Belt Eagle Scout - “Soft Stud”, from Mother of My Children Bleachers - “Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)”, from Love, Simon OST Blood Orange - “Charcoal Baby”, from Negro Swan Bob Dylan - “He’s Funny That Way” [Gene Austin cover], from Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined Booji Boys - “Locked (Barely Open)”, from Unknown Pleathers EP Boygenius - “Bite the Hand”, from Boygenius EP Brandi Carlile - “Every Time I Hear That Song”, from By the Way, I Forgive You The Breeders - “Walking With a Killer”, from All Nerve  Bristletongue - “Thistle Among Roses”, from Femme Florale EP Brockhampton - “Thug Life”, from Iridescence

Camp Cope - “The Opener”, from How to Socialise & Make Friends Cardi B - “Ring” [ft. Kehlani], from Invasion of Privacy Caroline Rose - “Bikini”, from Loner Caroline Says - “Cool Jerk”, from No Fool Like an Old Fool The Carters - “Apeshit”, from Everything is Love Cat Power - “Wanderer”, from Wanderer Celine Dion - “Ashes”, from Deadpool 2 OST Chai - “Fried”, from Pink Chance the Rapper - “My Own Thing” [ft. Big Purp], from “My Own Thing” single Childish Gambino - “This is America”, from “This is America” single Christine & the Queens - “Girlfriend” [ft. Dâm-Funk], from Chris Chvrches - “Get Out”, from Love is Dead Closer - “This Year”, from All This Will Be Cloud Nothings - “So Right, So Clean”, from Last Building Burning Company of Thieves - “Window”, from Better Together EP Comrade Question - “Never Change”, from Four Seasons Con Connections - “Low, Low, Low”, from Foreign Affairs Control Top - “Type A”, from “Type A” single Courtney Barnett - “Charity”, from Tell Me How You Really Feel Cupcakke - “Total”, from Ephorize

Damn the Witch Siren - “I Don’t Want to Say I’m Sorry”, from Red Magic Daphne & Celeste - “You & I Alone”, from Daphne & Celeste Save the World Dashboard Confessional - “We Fight”, from Crooked Shadows David Byrne - “Everybody’s Coming to My House”, from American Utopia Death Cab For Cutie - “Gold Rush”, from Thank You For Today The Decemberists - “I’ll Be Your Girl”, from I’ll Be Your Girl” A Delicate Motor - “Do For Self”, from Fellover My Own didi - “Haru”, from Like Memory Foam Dilly Dally - “Bad Biology”, from Heaven Dirty Projectors - “I Found it in U”, from Lamp Lit Prose Django Django - “Beam Me Up, from Marble Skies Downtown Boys - “Fotos y Recuerdos” [Selena cover], from “Fotos y Recuerdos” single Drake - “In My Feelings”, from Scorpion Dream Wife - “Spend the Night”, from Dream Wife DRAM - “WWYD?”, from That’s a Girl’s Name EP Drinks - “Pink Or Die”, from Hippo Lite

El Perro Del Mar - “We Are History”, from We Are History EP EMA - “Dark Shadows”, from Outtakes From Exile EP Empath - “The Eye”, from Liberating Guilt & Fear EP Empress Of - “Love For Me”, from Us Ezra Furman - "Suck the Blood From My Wound", from Transangelic Exodus

Father John Misty - "Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All", from God's Favorite Customer Fatoumata Diawara - "Nterini", from Fenfo (Something to Say) Fields & Planes - "Alice", from Press First Aid Kit - "It's a Shame", from Ruins Fischerspooner - "Discreet", from Sir  Flasher - "Business Unusual", from Constant Image Florence & the Machine - "Hunger", from High As Hope Frank Ocean - "Moon River" [Audrey Hepburn cover], from "Moon River" single Franz Ferdinand - "The Academy Award", from Always Ascending The Frights - "Over It", from Hypochondriac Fucked Up - "Tell Me What You See", from Dose Your Dreams

Gabby's World - "Winter, Withdraw", from Beast On Beast Gerard Way - "Baby You're a Haunted House", from "Baby You're a Haunted House" single Gia Margaret - "Smoke", from There's Always Glimmer Girlpool - "Picturesong", from "Picturesong" single The Go! Team - "The Answer's No--Now What's the Question?", from Semicircle Goodbye Honolulu - "Lorry Can't Love", from More Honey Goat Girl - "The Man With No Heart Or Brain", from Goat Girl Greta Van Fleet - "When the Curtain Falls", from Anthem of the Peaceful Army Gymshorts - "Ding Dong Ditch", from Knock Knock

H.E.R. - "Lord is Coming", from I Used to Know Her: Part Two EP harunemuri **- "sekaiwotorikaeshiteokure", from harutosyura Hatchie - "Sure", from Sugar & Spice EP Hinds - "To the Morning Light", from I Don't Run The HIRS Collective - "Not For You" [Moor Mother remix], from Friends, Lovers, Favorites Hop Along - "Not Abel", from Bark Your Head Off, Dog Hovvdy - "Late", from Cranberry Hozier - "Nina Cried Power" [ft. Mavis Staples], from Nina Cried Power EP

Iceage - "Take it All", from Beyondless  Idles - "Smaritans", from Joy As an Act of Rebellion Illuminati Hotties - "The Rules", from Kiss Yr Frenemies Interpol - "If You Really Love Nothing", from Marauder The Interrupters - "Gave You Everything", from Fight the Good Fight Iron & Wine - "Milkweed", from Weed Garden EP

Jack White - "Over & Over & Over", from Boarding House Reach Janelle Monae - "Pynk" [ft. Grimes], from Dirty Computer Japanese Breakfast - "Dreams" [The Cranberries cover], from Spotify Singles Jay Rock - "Redemption" [ft. SZA], from Redemption Jeff Rosenstock - "Let Them Win", from POST- Jenn Champion - "O.M.G. (I'm All Over It)", from Single Rider Jenny Hval - "Spells", from The Long Sleep EP Jorja Smith - "I Am", from Black Panther OST Joyce Manor - "Fighting Kangaroo", from Million Dollars to Kill Me Juice WRLD - "Lucid Dreams", from Goodbye & Good Riddance Julia Holter - "Turn the Light On", from Aviary Juliana Hatfield - "A Little More Love" [Olivia Newton-John cover], from Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John  Jupiter & Okwess - "Ekombe", from Kin Sonic

Kacey Musgraves - "Space Cowboy", from Golden Hour Karen O - "YO! MY SAINT" [ft. Michael Kiwanuka], from "YO! MY SAINT" single Kendrick Lamar - "All the Stars" [ft SZA], from Black Panther OST Kero Kero Bonito - "Time Today", from Time 'n' Place Kesha - "I Need a Woman to Love" [Janis Joplin cover], from Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined  Khalid - "Love Lies" [ft. Normani], from Love, Simon OST King Princess - "Pussy is God", from "Pussy is God" single Kimbra - "Right Direction", from Primal Heart Kississippi **- "Adrift", from Sunset Blush Krimewatch - "The Big Picture", from Krimewatch Kurt Vile - "Check Baby", from Bottle it In

Lala Lala - "I Get Cut", from The Lamb Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers - "Reality Bites", from Bought to Rot Laura Stevenson - "Maker of Things", from "The Mystic & the Master" single Lauren Ruth Ward - "Well, Hell", from Well, Hell Leikeli47 - "Top Down", from Acrylic Leon Bridges - "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand", from Good Thing  Loma - "Relay Runner", from Loma Long Neck - "Elizabeth", from Will This Do? Lord Huron - "Wait By the River", from Vide Noir Low - "Rome (Always in the Dark)", from Double Negative  Lowpines - "Parasite", from In Silver Halides Lucius - "Woman", from Nudes Lucy Dacus - "Timefighter", from Historian Lykke Li - “Jaguars in the Air”, from So Sad, So Sexy

The Men - "Come to Me", from Drift Meshell Ndegeocello - "Smooth Operator" [Sade cover], from Ventriloquism Metric - "Dressed to Suppress", from Art of Doubt MGMT - "One Thing Left to Try", from Little Dark Age Middle Kids - "Edge of Town", from Lost Friends Mister Moon - "Plastic", from Codes EP Mitski - "Nobody", from Be the Cowboy Mountain Man - "AGT", from Magic Ship Mourn - "Candle Man", from Sorpresa Familia Muncie Girls - "Jeremy", from Fixed Ideals Mungbean - "Wednesday", from "Wednesday/Aimed at You" single

Natalie Prass - "The Fire", from The Future & The Past Neko Case - "Gumball Blue", from Hell-On Night Flowers - "Head On", from Wild Notion Noble Vices - "Wheelhouses", from "Wheelhouses" single Noname - “With You", from Room 25 Nothing - "Us/We/Are", from Dance On the Blacktop Now, Now - "Window", from Saved

Ohmme - "Icon", from Parts The Ophelias - "Lover's Creep", from Almost Ought - "Disgraced in America", from Room Inside the World Ovlov - "Stick", from TRU

Palm - "Swimmer", from Rock Island Parquet Courts - "Normalisation", from Wide Awake! Peach Kelli Pop - "Parasomnia", from Gentle Leader Peggy Gou - "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)" [edit], from "It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)" single A Perfect Circle - "So Long & Thanks For All the Fish", from Eat the Elephant Petal - "Stardust", from Magic Gone Phoebe Bridgers - "Friday I'm in Love" [The Cure cover], from Spotify Singles Pinky Pinky - "Robber", from Hot Tears  Poppy - "Play Destroy" [ft. Grimes], from Am I a Girl? Preoccupations - "Espionage", from New Material Princess Chelsea - "I Love My Boyfriend", from The Loneliest Girl Protomartyr - "Wheel of Fortune" [ft. Kelley Deal], from Consolation EP

Q-Tip and Demi Lovato - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" [Elton John cover], from Revamp

Radattack - "Rock & Roll Party Queen", from "Rock & Roll Party Queen" single Rainbow Kitten Surprise - "Hide", from How to: Friend, Love, Freefall Remember Sports - "Making it Right", from Slow Buzz Rico Nasty - "Oreo", from Nasty Robert Delong - "Favorite Color is Blue" [ft. K-Flay], from See You in the Future EP Robyn - "Missing U", from Honey Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - "Exclusive Grave", from Hope Downs Ron Gallo - "Really Nice Guys", from Really Nice Guys EP Rosalia - "Di Mi Nombre", from El Mal Querer Saintseneca -  ” Good Hand", from Pillar of Na Say Lou Lou - "All Love to Me", from Immortelle Screaming Females - "Deeply", from All at Once Shame - "Concrete", from Songs of Praise Shannon & the Clams - "The Boy", from Onion Shannon Shaw - "Golden Frames", from Shannon in Nashville Shilpa Ray - "Shoot This Dying Horse", from Nihilism The Sidekicks - "Twin's Twist", from Happiness Hours SiR - "Summer in November", from November Skating Polly - "Free Will at Ease", from The Make it All Show Sleep - "Marijuanaut's Theme", from The Sciences Slothrust - "For Robin", from The Pact Smashing Pumpkins - "Silver Sometimes (Ghosts)", from Shiny & Oh So Bright, Vol. 1: No Past, No Future, No Sun Snail Mail - "Pristine", from Lush Snarls - "Lonely", from Snarls EP SOB X RBE - "Paramedic!", from Black Panther OST Soccer Mommy - "Cool", from Clean SOPHIE - "Immaterial", from Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides Souther - "Enough", from Blume EP Spiritualized - "On the Sunshine", from And Nothing Hurt SSION - "1980-99" [ft. Patty Schemel and Sky Ferreira], from O St. Vincent - "Los Ageless" [piano version], from Mass Education Stef Chura - "Degrees", from "Degrees/Sour Honey" single Sunflower Bean - "Burn It", from Twentytwo in Blue Superchunk - "Erasure" [ft. Stephin Merritt and Waxahatchee], from What a Time to Be Alive  Superorganism - "Night Time", from Superorganism Swearin' - "Big Change", from Fall Into the Sun

Tanya Tagaq - "Run to the Hills" [ft. Damian Abraham] [Iron Maiden cover], from "Run to the Hills" single Tanlines - "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", from Presents EP Teenage Wrist - "Dweeb", from Chrome Neon Jesus They Might Be Giants - "Let's Get This Over With", from I Like Fun Third Eye Blind - "In the Fade" [Queens of the Stone Age cover], from Thanks For Everything EP Thumpers - "Tenor", from Life All In EP Tierra Whack - "Fuck Off", from Whack World Titus Andronicus - "Above the Bodega (Local Business)", from A Productive Cough Tom Misch - "Isn't She Lovely" [Stevie Wonder cover], from Geography Tomberlin - "You Are Here", from At Weddings Toto - "Hash Pipe" [Weezer cover], from "Hash Pipe" single Tracyanne & Danny - "It Can't Be Love Unless it Hurts", from Tracyanne & Danny  TT - "Take One", from LoveLaws tune-yards - "Colonizer", from i can feel you creep into my private life Turtlenecked - "Knocked Down By Another Ghost", from High Scores of the Heart TV Girl - "King of Echo Park", from Death of a Party Girl Twin Shadow - "Saturdays" [ft. Haim], from Caer

U.S. Girls - "Rage of Plastics", from In a Poem Unlimited Ultra Beauty - "Pegasuss", from Ultra Beauty EP Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Hunnybee", from Sex & Food

Vacation - "Action Road", from Mouth Sounds #2699 The Vaccines - "Surfing in the Sky", from Combat Sports Valerie June - "Mad About the Girl", from Universal Love: Wedding Songs Reimagined

Waxahatchee - "Takes So Much", from Great Thunder EP Weaves - "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)", from "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" single The Weeknd - "Wasted Times", from My Dear Melancholy EP Weezer - "Africa" [Toto cover], from "Africa" single Westerman  - "Albatross", from Ark EP Wished Bone - "Ohio", from Cellar Belly The Wombats - "Dip You in Honey", from Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life  Wussy - "Cake", from What Heaven is Like Wye Oak - "I Know It's Real", from The Louder I Call the Faster it Runs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Thirteen" [Big Star cover], from Spotify Singles Young Fathers - "Fee Fi", from Cocoa Sugar Young Guv - "Ain't Fallin' in Luv Again", from 2 Sad 2 Funk Yowler - "WTFK", from Black Dog in My Path Yungblud - "I Love You, Will You Marry Me", from 21st Century Liability

https://open.spotify.com/user/barfwalker/playlist/7mCLnG6CZG1yB4q8uhzcys?si=Ip-Lka-0TOWCWRLMXGZ26w

[motifsinthecity]

Favorite Albums: 2018

30 | Arctic Monkeys | Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Domino) 29 | Cardi B | Invasion of Privacy (Atlantic/KSR) 28 | Joyce Manor | Million Dollars To Kill Me (Epitaph) 27 | Candy | Good to Feel (Triple-B) 26 | Jesus Piece | Only Self (Southern Lord) 25 | Low | Double Negative (Sub Pop) 24 | Vein | errorzone (Closed Casket Activities) 23 | Sleep | The Sciences (Third Man) 22 | Logic | Bobby Tarantino II (Def Jam/Visionary Music Group) 21 | Death Cab For Cutie | Thank You For Today (Atlantic) 20 | Fucked Up | Dose Your Dreams (Merge) 19 | The 1975 | A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships (Dirty Hit/Polydor) 18 | Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist | Fetti (Jet Life/ESGN/ALC/Empire) 17 | Black Thought, 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi | Streams of Thought (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) (Human Re Sources) 16 | Alkaline Trio | Is This Thing Cursed? (Epitaph) 15 | Blood Orange | Negro Swan (Domino) 14 | Travis Scott | ASTROWORLD (Cactus Jack/Epic/Grand Hustle) 13 | Noname | Room 25 (N/A)  12 | Zeal & Ardor | Stranger Fruit (MKVA) 11 | Freddie Gibbs | Freddie (ESGN/Empire) 10 | The Armed | ONLY LOVE (No Rest Until Ruin) 9 | Pusha T | DAYTONA (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam) 8 | Vince Staples | FM! (Def Jam) 7 | Beach House | 7 (Sub Pop) 6 | mewithoutYou | [Untitled] / [Untitled] EP (Run For Cover) 5 | Foxing | Nearer My God (Triple Crown) 4 | boygenius | boygenius EP (Matador) 3 | Turnstile | Time & Space (Roadrunner Records) 2 | Nine Inch Nails | Bad Witch (The Null Corporation/Capitol) 1 | Deafheaven | Ordinary Corrupt Human Love (Anti-)

I've been thinking a lot recently about the meaning distance can afford us.

In many ways, distance creates the attachments that ground us in this lifetime. Distance defines our relationships to a multitude of persons, places, and things--perhaps even with ourselves, the persons we were, and the persons we might be. While we often measure our lives in relation to the material possessions and the status others hold, it is often the distance we must travel, both figuratively and literally, that dictate our ability to connect with others during our lives.

I found this theme of distance and meaning continually emerge as I listened to Deafheaven's latest offering in 2018, aptly titled, Ordinary Corrupt Human Love. At 7 tracks, the San Francisco five-piece continue to evolve their black-metal-by-way-of-shoegaze sound, which serves not only as an artifact to their place among their musical peers, but as a testament to how far they've traveled since their inception. Deafheaven's journey is indebted, in part, to the buzz Ordinary… has garnered regarding its aesthetic composition. That's because few bands in recent memory have been tied so closely to the duality of their sound, from the oppressive nature of metal to the sway and drift of shoegaze. Even Pitchfork joked it was the best Smashing Pumpkins album this year. However, such a narrow read brings a swath of opinions. Many a think piece have covered whether Deafheaven's brand of extreme music is "metal" enough, "pretty" enough, or simply authentic enough. Indeed, the chasm is wide in the hyper critical expanse of 2018's internet, but Deafheaven have never been interested in formula--they relish residence in the in-between--and the road to Ordinary… is littered with the pitfalls of expectations, ones they've judiciously set aside.

This is because the seeds for Ordinary's… lush mix of driving metallurgy and art rock can be found all throughout the bands prior releases; yet it's assembled here with a new sense of impressionistic romanticism. Four of the songs off Ordinary… orient listeners with the group's more traditional arrangements, where chiming melodies give way to frenzied guitar, thunderous drums, and rapturous solos. Ordinary… offers two strong contributions to these types of mainstay compositions, from the stutter-stop ascension and gossamer suspension of "Honeycomb" to the slashing and spiraling glory of "Glint." On both these songs, Deafheaven provide vibrant and electrifying arrangements that capture the extremity of the human condition. Guitarist Kerry McCoy offers invigorating and euphoric guitar melodies that seem to embody everything from pleasure, to pain, to sorrow, to joy, all married by George Clarke's impassioned and throaty howl. Again, the duality of Deafheaven's sound is only interesting as a surface observation. The real richness comes from the confluence of their influences, which render these songs with force and vitality.

While "Honeycomb" and "Glint" provide us with the familiar Deafheaven blueprint, the band's growth is certainly on display elsewhere on Ordinary… "Near" effectively breaks up the record with its shimmering glow and reverb-heavy drift as Clarke sings "Thought I saw you there/Wishing you were near…" There's a warmness to "Near" that's tender and firm, an evocative oasis in an otherwise dizzying record. Another strong standout is "Night People," a somber, gothic chamber piece, where Clarke duets with the resident queen of doom folk, Chelsea Wolfe.  Both Clarke and Wolfe's mournful harmonies come together over dusky piano and cavernous drums, contemplating eventual decay with mournful couplets, such as "And the black sand of your body slipped through…" and "I found myself at your side…" in what might be someone's penultimate moment in this lifetime. In some ways, the tenderness of "Near" and "Night People" represent complimentary meditations on dealing with distance. "Near" focusing on the longing we attach to the future, while "Night People" explores the agony of loss as our loved ones leave this life without us.

Indeed, the idea of distance is inescapable on Ordinary… If Deafheaven's breakout work Sunbather (2013) was about the disintegration of the self, and New Bermuda (2015) centered around the savagery and oppression of locality, then Ordinary… revels in the elegance of decay, a function of time and the inescapable truths we face as we are transformed by life's kiln. The band touches on this cycle of birth and death--how the world can throw our trajectory into far out places--on the album's closing track "Worthless Animal." Here, Clarke's rasp juxtaposes the innocence of a new born fawn:

When a fawn Stumbles into the road Honeydew high And deep in afterglow Mind swarming Mind small Honeydew high Transforming the soul

With the slaughter of a feral dog:

Then search to pin the legs Of the stalking dog That lends its teeth To sticky, sad bedlam War cries quake through lurching light

I bury a blade between its ribs Bear hug the soft canine frame Then smear ash Then smear the ash on its brow

Set against a "November Rain" by way of kraut rock guitar phrasing, "Worthless Animal" glistens like an unending ocean, holding close the beauty and tragedy that often shade life's mysteries. Deafheaven carefully hold the intimacy of innocence alongside the horror of our choices to show us the points between them aren't so far away--that a lifetime is simply a blink in an instant, a star in the sky, the distance between us. Ultimately, maybe distance serves as a function not just our relationships to persons, places and things, but to time and attachment as well. By this, I mean that we are all spending the time needed to find away to let go of that which no longer suits us, to ultimately transform our relationships to things, and become who we were always meant to be.

In the steps of many artists before them, Deafheaven settle on the notion that the only way to bridge the distance between ourselves, who we are, and other people, is through the imperfect ways we love one another. The band displays this on the immaculate "You Without End," which features airy guitar slides, angelic piano, and half-step drums, set against a whisper silk spoken word poem delivered by Nadia Kury. Indeed, "You Without End" is as vivid as the daydream it describes:

He pained, shifting his attention toward the mirror across the road Back into his daydream The spliff burned his fingers the second he drank, and he tossed it toward the gutter The smoke burned into his eyes, blinding him As he blinked through the tears, the pain began to recede Back down the promenade and homeward bound, as he approached the intersection of Brooklyn and Lakeshore, a flock of geese burst from the darkness and flew, shrieking into what was left of the evening.

Kury's evocative words give way to McCoy's dizzying and soaring guitar work, which erupts in dissonant ecstasy as Clarke exclaims:

Let it go as it grows on forever And let it go Let it go as it grows Breathe it in Let it go as it grows on forever And we breathe it in And we breathe it in And then the world will grow And then the world will grow And then the world will know Of all true love, true

"You Without End" is a reminder that time doesn't have to dull our spirit where love exists as a possibility for more. The way we bridge the gap between ourselves, the way we traverse the distances we face in this lifetime, they lend us purpose and meaning for ourselves and those we meet for as long as we know them. A connection like love is rooted firmly in the transformations we make in life, with and for others, and the extraordinary experiences we often face through ordinary means. What Deafheaven have done is provide an incredible statement on the power of love, that against all odds and in the face of all kinds of distances between us, we can endure with each other, without end. All we need is our ordinary, corrupt, human love.

[luvneedsnosyt]

My Favorite Albums From August 2018

Here’s my monthly list of albums released in August I was feeling, and some other discoveries made during the month. My Previous monthly lists from 2018: January , February, March, April, May, June, July

You can find my list of favorite albums halfway through 2018 here

Best:

Aminé - ONEPOINTFIVE [Mixtape] Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: BLACKJACK / SUGERPARENTS (Feat. Rico Nasty) // Bonus: CAMPFIRE (Feat. Injury Reserve)

Ariana Grande - Sweetener Genre: Pop / R&B

Proof: breathin / no tears left to cry

ayokay - In the Shape of a Dream Genre: Electronic / Chillwave

Proof: Sleepless Nights (Feat. Nightly) / Half Past You (Feat. Future Jr.)

Bas - Milky Way Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: Tribe (Feat. J. Cole) / Spaceships + Rockets (Feat. LION BABE, Moe Moks & mOma+Guy)

Big Red Machine (Justin Vernon of Bon Iver & Aaron Dessner of The National) - Big Red Machine Genre: Indie Pop / Experimental

Proof: Air Stryp / OMDB

Blood Orange - Negro Swan Genre: alt-R&B / Soul

Proof: Charcoal Baby / Out Of Your League (Feat. Steve Lacy)

Capital Cities - Solarize Genre: Synth-Pop

Proof: Venus & River / Drop Everything

Chanti Darling - RNB Vol. 1 EP Genre: R&B / Electronic / Funk

Proof: Boogie.503 / Wake Up the Night

Col3trane - BOOT EP Genre: alt-R&B

Proof: Britney / Resume

Diana Gordon - Pure EP Genre: R&B / Pop

Proof: Wolverine / Too Young

Gorgon City - Escape Genre: Electronic / House / Dance

Proof: Kingdom (Feat. Raphaella) / Real Life (w/ Duke Dumont Feat. NAATIONS)

H.E.R. - I Used To Know Her: The Prelude EP Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: Could’ve Been (Feat. Bryson Tiller) / As I Am

HONNE - Love Me / Love Me Not Genre: Pop

Proof: Day 1 ◑ / Feels So Good ◑ (Feat. Anna of the North)

Jain - Souldier Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: On My Way / Oh Man

Jauz - The Wise and The Wicked Genre: Electronic / Dance

Proof: Diamonds (Feat. Kiiara) / Soldier (Feat. Krewella)

Kiah Victoria - Memo EP Genre: alt-R&B / Soul

Proof: Remedy / Ornament

LAUREL - DOGVIOLET Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: Life Worth Living / Same Mistakes

Marco McKinnis - Underground EP Genre: alt-R&B / Soul

Proof: CPR / Another Love

Matoma - One In A Million Genre: Electronic / Synth-Pop / Dance

Proof: Sunday Morning (Feat. Josie Dunne) / False Alarm (Feat. Becky Hill)

Mitski - Be The Cowboy Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: Geyser / Nobody

pluko - sixteen Genre: Electronic / Chill Wave

Proof: need ya (Feat. Nevve) / asleep (Feat. MOONZz)

Radiant Children - TRYIN’ EP Genre: R&B

Proof: Go Left / Tryin’

R3HAB - The Wave Genre: Electronic / Synth-Pop / Dance

Proof: The Wave (Feat. Lia Marie Johnson) / Radio Silence (Feat. Jocelyn Alice)

Sabrina Claudio - No Rain, No Flowers Genre: R&B / neo-Soul

Proof: Numb / Messages From Her

Seven Lions - Start Again EP Genre: Electronic / Trance

Proof: Start Again (Feat. Fiora) / Dreamin’ (Feat. Fiora)

Stefflon Don - SECURE [Mixtape] Genre: Hip Hop / R&B / Reggaeton

Proof: Uber (Feat. Ebenezer) / Hurtin’ Me (The Remix) Feat. Sean Paul, Popcaan & Sizzla)

Tash Sultana - Flow State Genre: Indie Pop / Soul

Proof: Cigarettes / Salvation

Travis Scott - ASTROWORLD Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: SICKO MODE (Feat. Drake) / SKELETONS (Feat. The Weeknd)

Trevor Powers (fka Youth Lagoon) - Mulberry Violence Genre: Indie Pop / Experimental

Proof: XTQ Idol / Clad In Skin

Troye Sivan - Bloom Genre: Pop

Proof: Dance To This (Feat. Ariana Grande) / Plum

Wild Nothing - Indigo Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: Partners in Motion / Shallow Water

Bonus:

Albums I discovered, rediscovered, or just finally got around to listening to during this month that I am feeling.

ayokay - 4ft to Infinity EP Genre: Electronic / Chillwave Released October 2016

Proof: Awake (Feat. Mafalda) / Kings of Summer (Feat. Quinn VCII) // Bonus: Too Young (Feat. Baker Grace)

Sabrina Claudio - Confidently Lost EP / About Time Genre: R&B / neo-Soul Released March 2017 / October 2017

Proof: Too Much Too Late / Tell Me // Unravel Me / Used To

Others:

Animal Collective - Tangerine Reef, Baka Not Nice - 4Mili EP, BANDGANG - In Too Deep, Bassnectar - Reflectove, Pt. 3 EP, Bun B - Return if the Trill, Choker - Honeybloom, Death Cab for Cutie - Thank You for Today, Don Toliver - Donny Womback, Droeloe - The Choices We Face EP, Eminem - Kamaze, Excision - Apex, E-40 - Gift Of Gab, GIVERS - Moving On EP, Good Celebrity - Inna Good Life EP, Helena Hauff - Qualm, Iggy Azalea - Survive the Summer EP, Interpol - Marauder, Iron & Wine - Weed Garden EP, The Kooks - Let’s Go Sunshine, Lauren Sanderson - DONT PANIC! EP, Liam Payne - First Time EP, Loyd - Tru LP, Mac Miller - Swimmin, Medasin - Irene, Nef The Pharaoh - The Big Chang Theory, Nicki Minaj - Queen, Passenger - Runaway, Reese LAFLA - Reese LAFLARE, Rezz - Certain Kind of Magic, Shy Boys - Bell House, Steve Hauschildt - Dissolvi, Tirzah - Devotion, Traci Braxton - On Earth, YG - STAY DANGEROUS

[camlistenedto]

Part 12: Albums 1101-1200

Jungle - For Ever

Emma Louise - Lilac Everything

B Wise - Area Famous

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

David Bowie - Black Tie White Noise

Dean Ween Group - rock2

David Guetta - 7

BROCKHAMPTON - Iridescence

Christine and the Queens - Chris

Thundamentals - I Love Songs

San Holo - Album1

Mr. Scruff - Ninja Tuna

St. Lucia - When The Night

St. Lucia - Matter

St. Lucia - Hyperion

Dead Letter Circus - Running Out of Time

Yotto - Hyperfall

Dillon Francis - WUT WUT

The Knocks - New York Narcotic

Kero Kero Bonito - Time 'n' Place

Last Dinosaurs - Yumeno Garden

Nile Rodgers & CHIC - It’s About Time

The John Butler Trio - Home

Clarence Clarity - THINK: PEACE

Clarence Clarity - No Now

Kim Petras - TURN OFF THE LIGHT, VOL. 1

Twenty One Pilots - Trench

Dido - Life for Rent

Grace Jones - Hurricane Dub

The Parcels - Parcels

St. Vincent - MassEducation

Tom Morello - The Atlas Underground

Jess Glynne - Always In Between (Deluxe)

The Preatures - Girlhood

Sneaker Pimps - Becoming X

Betty Who - The Valley

RÜFÜS DU SOL - Solace

Amnesia Scanner - Another Life

Robyn - Honey

The Ting Tings - The Black Light

Groove Armada - Black Light

Groove Armada - White Light

Nao - Saturn

Maroon 5 - Overexposed

Aira Mitsuki - Pyramidal

G Jones - The Ineffable Truth

The Prodigy - No Tourists

Matt Corby - Rainbow Valley

Steve Aoki - Neon Future III

Georgi Kay - Where I Go to Disappear

Muse - Simulation Theory

CupcakKe - Eden

Lady Gaga - The Fame

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

I Am Robot and Proud - Lucky Static

Joyride - Sunrise Chaser

Mariah Carey - CAUTION

Anderson .Paak - Oxnard

Dirty South - darko

Friendly Fires - Pala

Drapht - Arabella Street

Tkay Maidza - Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 1)

Vessel - Queen of Golden Dogs

Serph - Random Girls

The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

No.9 - Switch of Life

Leikeli47 - Acrylic

Wynter Gordon - With the Music I Die

Wasted Penguinz - Elysian

Rebecca & Fiona - Art of Being a Girl

No Mana - Melted Candy

Matt Lange - Patchwork

AlunaGeorge - Champagne Eyes

In the blue shirt - Sensation Of Blueness

Infected Mushroom - Head of Nasa and the 2 Amish Boys

RAIZA BIZA & REMI - Black Hole Sun

Joy. - Six - EP

Childish Gambino - Kauai

Diplo - California

Croquet Club - Love Exposure

Lycoriscoris - Flight

MØ - Forever Neverland

Kaskade - Kaskade Christmas

Gang of Youths - Go Farther In Lightness

Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo

Serph - Vent

Owl Eyes - Nightswim

Underworld - A Hundred Days Off

Kylie Minogue - Light Years

Jake Shears - Jake Shears

Earl Sweatshirt - some rap songs

Toro y Moi - Outer Peace

James Blake - Assume Form

Danger - Origins

Cub Sport - Cub Sport

Death Cab for Cutie - Something About Airplanes

Death Cab for Cutie - Thank You for Today

Terror Jr - Unfortunately, Terror Jr

deadmau5 - Polar (Music from the Netflix Film)

Ocean Alley - Chiaroscuro

[redfreesias03]

AS ONE

“Love towards the earth begins with a single person. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy!”

OR: A song for an urbanite in a slump.

hyakunen mae no ren’ai to katachi chigaedo

Though its form differ greatly Romances a hundred years ago¹

junsui ni ai wo hagukumu kimochi wa kawaranu hazu

People still nurture love genuinely— The feeling surely hasn’t changed

jidai wa itsu no hi datte ganbaru hou no mikata

The times are always on the side Of those who work hard

Tokyou wa samishisa datte fuukei ni kaechau kaechau dakedo    asu mo jiyuu nanda yo

Tokyo turns even loneliness Into just another part of the Scenery But we’re free here Tomorrow too

Don’t be afraid! igi aru kichou na jikan

Don’t be afraid! This is a precious time with so much significance

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy!

hitori kara hajimaru chikyuu e no ai

Love towards the earth Begins with a single person

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy! As One

shouganai jou da to ka iware kawaigararete

There are girls that are told “You’re hopeless” And are doted on and cherished

yareba dekiru ko to ka iware SABOru yatsu mo iru shi

And there are girls that get told “You can do it if you try” And slack off

kokudou no ippon hairya shizuka na basho mo aru

There are peaceful places out there If you just get on a highway and go

Tokyou wa yokubou datte haikei ni kaechau kaechau zenbu jibun de kimete iinda yo

In Tokyo, even desire Becomes another part Of your surroundings Make every decision Yourself

Don’t be afraid! ima wa tada iyasu jikan

Don’t be afraid! Now is a time to simply heal

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy!

utau kara mirai no chikyuu e no ai

Future love towards the earth Will come from our singing

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy! As One

Don’t be afraid! ima wa tada iyasu jikan

Don’t be afraid! Now is a time to simply heal

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy!

utau kara mirai no chikyuu e no ai

Future love towards the earth Will come from our singing

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be shy! As One

---

¹ I tried putting this in as stuffy and old-timey an English as possible, but just in case it isn’t quite clear, this sentence is written in classical Japanese (which, quite appropriately to the lyrics written, was actually used ‘a hundred years ago’.)  This technically doesn’t really warrant a footnote, but I feel like Tsunku probably had a small chuckle when writing it, so I wanted it to be appreciated.