#always loved BK Taylor's art

[bkandtheunderstanding]

BK here to say that autotune and quantization castrated rock music. I cannot stand the production of today’s "rock music," and a great example is a long time favorite band of mine, Weezer. I was listening to the seasons EPs today, and I hate the production so much that I couldn’t finish. It was so damn unpalatable. And this isn’t new to Weezer. This has been an ongoing problem with their music since Make Believe (they may have auto-tuned the Green Album too, possibly Maladroit, but with Maladroit, it is not so much so as to ruin the album for me). There have been only exceptions since Maladroit in which I genuinely like the whole album: the Red Album (no, I am not kidding—it is a fun album), Everything Will Be Alright in the End, OK Human, and almost the White Album (there are some songs that really get on my nerves on White though, mostly due to production).

Here is the dilemma with rock music (over)quantizing and autotuning/pitch-correcting every little flaw—it is no longer rock. It loses the humanity, which is full of imperfections and never fully in perfect pitch. It takes away the excitement and uniqueness of the art too, making it disposable. It is no less pop music than the latest Taylor Swift or latest boy-band music. It is computerized, cold, and too perfect in the worst ways. It is bland.

Here are bands that have been doing it right since the introduction of perfect quantization and autotune: Nada Surf, Ben Kweller, Iron & Wine, Guided by Voices, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Wilco, MuteMath, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. There are more, but those are some of my favorites who if autotune and quantization is used, it is indeed almost undetectable. Examples of bands who ruin their music with over-quantization and pitch-correction, such as autotune: Weezer, the Killers, Coldplay, Chris Cornell’s solo work (yes, even Higher Truth, which is a great album; I just cannot stand hearing the pitch-corrections on his voice and am unable to enjoy the album as a whole because of it).

I have two friends who I am forever indebted to for their contributions to BK & the Understanding who strongly disagree with me and are unable to understand my perspective and argue with me about it every time I mention it. One of them I wrote this to tonight in response to his argument that forms of pitch correction existed prior to autotune being released in 1996 and claiming that it is not even noticeable in most music we listen to:

"I can tell. It bothers me. Humans do not sing perfectly in pitch, instruments are never entirely in perfect pitch, and even if they are, we do not always nail perfection. I hate it. Like, it ruins the listening experience for me. Exceptions are electronic and pop music basically. But rock, blues, country, folk—it ruins it generally. Here is a recent exception for me though, I will admit: Iron & Wine’s Beast Epic (2017). I imagine autotune was used in the manner you are describing, and if so, it is, as you say just nudges, so that it is in fact not noticeable enough to ruin the music for me. However, I am only presuming some kind of pitch correction is used. I would love to learn it was deemed unnecessary and be wrong. That album is fantastic, regardless of if pitch correction was used. But, shit like Weezer’s seasons EPs sound awful, and one of the things I can point to is the pitch correction. It ruins it. That is also what ruins a lot of metal that people recommend to me today. The production ruins the music, the art; especially the pitch-perfect vocals."

This friend loves progressive metal that is released today and always recommends albums to me, and I just cannot get into them because of the production—everything sounds perfect and superficial, and I cannot appreciate the musicianship when there are no imperfections pointing to real musicianship.

And for me, there are spiritual/life lessons to be garnered here. Life is not perfect. We are not perfect. Circumstances are never truly perfect, and when they seem to be, it is only temporary. We must embrace the imperfections and sufferings of life and not obsess over forcing them, unnaturally, into our perceptions of perfection, our perceptions also being imperfect by the way. This is why I hate subdivisions that manufacture suburbs and sell my fellow Americans their "dream homes." They are bland, boring, unnatural, and create delusional people, people incapable of dealing with reality. They are superficial. I could never be happy in such a place and state of being. I want flavor snd excitement on my palate. Bold colors that depict the grandeur of an imperfect existence, a balance of the stages of vitality and decrepitness.

Likewise, I want the rawness of humanity captured in the audio recordings I listen to—do not manufacture superficial noise! I cannot consume it! Give me humanity, or nothing at all!

And there is my rant. I hope you can relate to it too. Let’s bring rock back! Let’s make autotune and over-quantization unacceptable in rock music! Let’s say no to AI-art and support one another instead! Let’s stop giving everything we have to the (digital-)dragons of the age!

Rant complete. Much love to you, friends.

Salom,

BK

2023-01-10

[yetanotherthriftblog]

ERMIGERD! WHAT R.L. STINE WAS DERRING BEFERR HE CREATED GERSBERMS!

[princesswinnifred]

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW!!!!! my fifth iteration of this on this tumblr!!!!

JANUARY - i spent the beginning of the year in NYC, nadia and i saw in transit (bad) and hung out - mostly was just bored until i was able to go back to school - dyed my hair red, it lasted like four seconds - MARCHED ON WASHINGTON! with women! it was truly incredible - went to a few parties (like a drag party and a taylor swift themed party) - had some difficulties but whatevs!

FEBRUARY - did Chai Throwback Cabaret!!! - i believe this was the birth/death of Edgy Sarah. i bought dark lipstick and told anyone who would listen that i was edgy. - several nightmare party situations because i Did Myself Dirty my first few months on medication - talked to tarell alvin mcraney (the man who wrote the story Moonlight is based on)!!! he was brilliant and i was so starstruck - went to galentine’s day brunch!! - WROTE MY FIRST PLAY!!! it is called Grand Theft Tea Leaves - went to see some friends in a Local Community Theatre production of 9 to 5 - a cappella assassins which as always was a stress - SAW NEWSIES IN THE MOVIE THEATER which was Embarrassing - wrote a widely reknowned facebook posts wherein i ranked the presidents of the US by hotness - SLUG PARTY

MARCH - SPRING BREAK - went to see nadia in new york and we got COOKIE DOUGH - cut all of my hair off two days before my Hair callback  - auditioned for and got SDP!!!! - sang outside a frozen yogurt shop for chais and it was hilarious jfdksfjdskf - had a nice wine night with some chai women - went home to see my babies in their last high school show Legally Blonde - song swap!!

APRIL - A CAPPELLA FEST, a disastrous night, but met a bunch of fun new friends - went to rocky horror which was actually a lot of fun - my friend from high school visited my school and we had lunch!! - went to visit my brother’s Future College with him - my friend died and i went home for her funeral - decorated my boss’s office for his birthday which was SO MUCH FUN - WENT TO RUTGERS WITH CHAIS AND HAD THE ALL TIME STRANGEST WEEKEND - my play Grand Theft Tea Leaves was produced during my school’s new play reading series!! - went to a SWEAT PANTS PARTY which as always is GREAT - CHAI FINAL CONCERT!!! it was our bar mitzvah

MAY - I DID MY KISSING PERFORMANCE ART - MTA formal where i actually had FUN - SAW ANGELS IN AMERICA LIVE AND IN PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME - Recorded an Album with the Chais!! Now That’s what Chai Call Music! - finished an exhausting semester and an exhausting sophomore year - went on a date! it wasn’t great but it was something - went to a wedding!!! - everyone i love graduated - made macarons and wrote limericks

JUNE - went to israel on birthright!!!! felt jewish!!!! - went to see Hair at school and picked up the chai albums from the lady - went to my friend laura’s grad party and hung w/ rachel in new jersey - that’s... really it israel was the Bulk of it

JULY - got a car!!!! it’s a piece of shit but it’s MY piece of shit - went to faustina’s grad party - went to new york with rachel josh and anna!!! ate a waffle - dealt with a whole lot of Car Bullshit let me tell you - MY PLAY (GRAND THEFT TEA LEAVES) WAS PRODUCED IN A SMALL FESTIVAL IN NYC right next door to playwright horizons!!! we took a limo and most of my friends were there and it was amazing - the literal NEXT DAY i moved back into school for the Sedehi Diversity Project which was a life-altering experience - began to work on SDP obviously - EILEEN CAME TO VISIT and we went to the allentown farmer’s market which  was W I L D

AUGUST - CONTINUED to WORK on the LOVELY SDP.  - had countless movie nights and long walks and crazy hummus eating events with my new good pals. i love them - i was literally working on SDP the whole month - BK and Faustina came to visit which was so nice!!! - we went to a protest a few days after charlottesville happened - and had an incredible night swimming and eating at our faculty advisor’s house - i met Peppermint at Allentown Pride!!!! - DID SDP!!! legitimately one of the most incredible weekends of my life it was a WHIRLWIND  - moved back home for the next three weeks

SEPTEMBER - on the CUSP of these two months i mattress surfed around New York for a few nights!!! - saw Great Comet which Fucked Me Up - hung w. jane and jenna and max and nadia, which, naturally, was the best - drove to montclair NJ to see my friend laura in Spring Awakening the Play - went To Muhlenberg to attend chai callbacks!!!! - then it was my BIRTHDAY!! i am TWENTY somehow - went out for tea with my female family members for my birthday/to see me off - bc then yeah i FLEW TO ENGLAND - moved in. explored. fell in love.  - went to the british museum and buckingham palace and hyde park and saw my first west end show which was DREAMGIRLS - went to the Tate Modern which is legit my favorite place in the world - i’m not gonna describe everything i did abroad bc that will be TOOOOO LONG so just highlights from now on - we went to a farm it was wild - and a cruise on the thames that was disguised as a welcome event but was a booze cruise

OCTOBER - camden market!!! loved it!!! - ABBEY ROAD CROSSING!!! - king’s cross!!!! the british library!!! it was such a special day!! - went to kensington palace where Victoria and Diana lived - went to brighton!!! it was terrible - SAW MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING AT THE GLOBE WHICH CHANGED MY DAMN LIFE - went to dublin, ireland!!! had so many fun times - went to LIVERPOOL!!! saw everything beatles!!!!! - saw steven page in concert!!!!! - went to the tower of london!!!! - halloween!!! i dressed as Sexy Ronald Reagan ironically and we went to a club called Tiger Tiger it was an experience

NOVEMBER  - DID A JACK THE RIPPER TOUR it was spooky - also my coworkers from america facetimed me it was so sweet - NADIA CAME TO VISIT ME AND WE HAD SUCH INCREDIBLE TIMES we saw HAIR and we went on the LONDON EYE and we saw Venus in Fur UGH what a good few days - AND THEN SHE LEFT AND I WENT TO PARIS?????? CAN YOU BELIEVE - i cannot explain paris to you but it was a dream come true - i climbed the eiffel tower completely wasted - i WENT TO VERSAILLES, WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO - and then i got a migraine and went home to england instead of to germany like i had planned - went back to the tate modern bc i love that bitch - went to hyde park winter wonderland!!! - WENT TO THE HARRY POTTER STUDIO TOUR AND WEPT - legit i did so many things i never thought i’d get to do!!! - a professor from our school visited us and we got fancy lunch - THEN FLEW TO ROME? ITALY? IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE - we went to the vatican and colosseum and the forum and the trevi fountain and the great synagogue of rome and ahhh!!!! - and then we got stuck outside an airport for five hours but we’re not gonna discuss that - TOOK A TWELVE HOUR BUS RIDE TO EDINBURGH

DECEMBER - fell MADLY in love with scotland/edinburgh/glasgow - climbed/fell down a MOUNTAIN - did a day by myself in glasgow and, again, LOVED it - went to harrods back in london!!! - SAW STAR WARS A DAY EARLY bc i was in LONDON  - on my last day in london i had to get my phone fixed which was a. nightmare. i attempted to go to the Victoria and Albert museum but that was cut short by my phone being impossible :)  - and just like that i flew home!!! - we had family hanukkah festivities on both sides - we went to christmas at our family friend’s house - i spent the past few days with my grandparents down the shore!!!

AND THAT IS IT!!! GOOD RIDDANCE TO THIS MONSTER YEAR

[bobbystompy]

My Top 127 Songs Of 2018

Previously: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Not the most ever... just the second most ever. The record of 132 stands. I hope it is never broken.

As always, criteria and info:

This is a list of what I personally like, not ones I’m saying are the “best” from the year; more subjective than objective

No artist is featured more than once

If it comes down to choosing between two songs, I try to give more weight to a single or featured track

Each song on the list is linked in the title if you wanna check any or every out for yourself; there is also a Spotify playlist at the bottom that includes 122 of the 127 songs

Well?

/grins

127) B.o.B - “Food Fight”

Some triplet rap, pretty boring, and I have no idea what this song is supposed to be. But the “Food of the WiFi” part makes me laugh, and I always picture my buddy Matto singing it to his eye rolling wife (even though I’m pretty sure he’s never heard the song before).

126) French Montana f/ Drake - “No Stylist”

This song sucks -- even Drake can’t save it. French Montana is cancer except you don’t get to die.

125) 21 Savage - “Monster”

Not a huge Savage guy, but the Gambino verse helps.

124) The Kooks - “All The Time”

Kind of a lazy chorus, but it’s aight.

123) Sean Paul f/ Jhené Aiko - “Naked Truth”

Love Aiko, have never cared for Paul... but the collab weirdly works.

122) REASON - “Summer Up”

My buddy Josh sent this one, and it’s got the warm vibes. Money stretch:

P asked me is REASON still workin', shit N***a, is Amber Rose still twerkin', gold diggers still flirtin' horny teens still jerkin', all my exes still lurkin' black lives still hurtin', black lives still hurtin'?

121) Nipsey Hussle f/ YG - “Last Time That I Checc’d”

B’s vs. C’s. And a beat that sounds like DJ Mustard combined with ‘90s G-funk. Also, YG’s bandanna scarf is just very cute.

120) Thrice - “Only Us”

Weirdly, another reds and blues music video. But this time, it’s kids at a summer camp. This could absolutely be used by networks as a pump up song for sporting events.

119) Anderson .Paak f/ Kendrick Lamar - “TINTS”

Anderson .Paak -- ohhhh, that dot will always annoy me -- really does not make bad songs. Kung Fu Kenny fits right in, and it’s a very easy hit-the-spot driving song.

118) Mr Hudson f/ Vic Mensa - “Coldplay”

A serious song that uses an emotional reliance on Coldplay to take objective shots at Coldplay, which is pretty hilarious. Vic’s verse is good (”I lost my Queen poppin’ Ace of Spades at King of Diamonds ... I hate Coldplay”).

117) Logic f/ Wu-Tang Clan - “Wu Tang Forever”

Long cypher song. If you care about hip-hop, you probably know Drake also released a song called “Wu-Tang Forever” five years ago (which featured no members of Wu-Tang). There was talk of a remix -- RZA even recently said he wished they did -- but Inspectah Deck articulated why it didn’t happen back then:

“When I finally got to hear the song, I was more or less like, ‘Wow, I thought it was a tribute song like, it would be in respect of all eight members,'” Deck said. “And when I heard it, it was about a girl.”

You can just sense the colossal and spiritual disappointment.

Well, this one is more about fire than females; you’ll shout “Wu-Tang” proudly at least once. My MVP verse is Ghostface.

116) Jhené Aiko f/ Rae Sremmurd - “Sativa”

Rae Sremmurd* still sound like little kids to me. Conversely, Jhené Aiko is all that is woman.

(* - never knew they were brothers until just now)

115) Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs - “First Time”

Sam Coffey first got on my radar with The Clash-sounding song “Talk 2 Her”. This is less of that and more, like, ‘80s hair metal. It’s almost hard to tell if this is sincere or parody. The video absolutely does not take itself seriously.

114) Saves The Day - “Kerouac & Cassady”

Always been impressed with the very unthreatening Chris Conley’s ability to create such sinister, dark, and menacing imagery. This maybe has the most bleak closing line of any of these songs.

113) 5 Seconds Of Summer - “Youngblood”

This is what Fall Out Boy tries to sound like with their new stuff... but they just suck so bad now.

112) She Killed In Ecstasy - “Dissension (Gold)”

I remembered this being a dope instrumental before totally forgetting about the just-as-awesome vocals; great band name, too. Recommended by my friends Jim and Bill over brunch after taking in their show at Subterranean in Chicago the previous night. This could be the closing theme for a critically acclaimed TV show.

111) Night Birds - “My Dad Is The BTK”

Straightforward, bratty punk rock that promotes snitching (if you’re sure it’s for the right reasons).

110) The Decemberists - “Once In My Life”

Why does such an outwardly melancholy song still feel so damn uplifting? Probably the video. They have a long statement attached on YouTube, so for sure peep if this catches your interest.

109) Mad Caddies - “She’s Gone”

Here we have a straight up reggae cover of NOFX. Sometimes I don’t think I like this song at all, but it might just be hard to separate it from the original; almost wish it was possible to go in with a clean slate. Maybe you can on my behalf?

108) Rivers Cuomo - “Two Broken Hearts”

Would you rather not know the video uses Bitmojis or the pre-chorus promotes two different ice cream brands before the song ends?

107) XXXTENTACION - “Train food”

This song is intense; gave me memories of listening to Kendrick’s “The Art of Peer Pressure”. X not surviving 2018 makes it that much more haunting.

106) Kanye West & Lil Pump f/ Adele Givens - “I Love It”

Not sure why, in his most embattled year yet, Kanye decided to be a part of such a derogatory song towards women. Listening to it makes me feel bad. And sure, the MAGA imagery will be what we think of when we think of 2018 Yeezy, but this picture shouldn’t be too far off either.

Shark: jumped.

105) New Lenox - “Do You Think We Made The Most Of Those New Years Eves”

That is a very long song title. But not as long as the time since passed on this reflection of the final night of the year, over a decade now gone. But even though he’s looking back, you know Chris Trott gets to hit reset at the end of the night, whether it’s December 31st or January 1st. And when NYE hits again, whether you return to the same party in the same place or a different experience in a totally different hemisphere, celebrating something is what makes this all matter.

(Full disclosure: yours truly has a minor backup vocal part in the outro)

104) Jeff Tweedy - “Having Been Is No Way To Be”

This for sure made it on the list because of the “And if I was dead, what difference would it ever make to them?” line, but upon closer scrutiny, the “And I’m sorry when you wake up to me” line is even more crushing.

103) Panic! At The Disco - “Dying In LA”

Brendon Urie’s voice is so polished and full. This song is him in complete control, and he knows it too (the “Dyin’ in LA” falsetto part at the end of the chorus is... probably not necessary).

102) Sugarland f/ Taylor Swift - “Babe”

Though Taylor’s impact in the music video is significantly stronger than her impact in the actual song, it’s still rock solid country. Or... country solid country?

/curtsies

101) ZHU & Tame Impala - “My Life”

This song has such a dancy cool on the power of its instrumentation; really doesn’t need vocals at all.

100) Kidd Russell & Southside Jake - “Slow Motion”

The poppiest SSJ has ever sounded. This is his best song to date. I’m not so sure if “Shots kill the butterflies” is an actual expression, but it should be.

99) Hop Along - “What The Writer Meant”

Hot damn, what a voice. This song is beauty in our not-often-beautiful world.

98) Retirement Party - “That’s How People Die”

This reminds me of a female fronted version of the departed Modern Baseball. Eager to see how they develop and definitely plan on checking their Audiotree session soon.

97) Lil Peep - “Sex With My Ex”

It’s... really good, you guys. The grimy nihilism of the “Fuck me like we’re lying on our deathbed” is palpable. It’s impossible not to think of the heights Peep would have almost definitely hit had he not passed. Also, super interesting tidbit on how the album got posthumously made:

Lil Peep died of an accidental drug overdose last November [2017] at 21. Afterward, attention turned to his computer. First, it went to London, where the files were backed up by First Access Entertainment, the company that helped guide his career.

Then it went to his mother, Liza Womack. In an interview in her cozy Long Island home, sitting on a nondescript couch that belonged to Peep and was shipped cross-country after his death, she calmly recalled walking into an Apple store, handing the laptop to a clerk, and saying: “My son died. This is him. Take this and put it on a new one.”

96) Kurt Vile - “Bassackwards”

I was on the beach, but I was thinkin’ about the bay

This has Kurt Vile’s signature laid back-ness (good) but also has a 9:46 track length (VERY VERY BAD). I’m not saying it has to be even four minutes long... but, like, could you have given us seven, KV? All of that aside, it really doesn’t slog at all despite mostly staying the same the whole time. Though I still can’t stop thinking about how much shorter it should be.

95) Christine And The Queens - “Doesn’t matter”

Kinda ‘80s pop sounding. Also, there’s a foreign accent there. British maybe?

/googles

French! Even better.

94) Brendan Kelly And The Wandering Birds - “Shitty Margarita”

Wish the drums were louder, BK.

93) Courtney Barnett - “Nameless, Faceless”

Barnett does not fuck around with her chorus/old adage:

I wanna walk through the park in the dark Men are scared that women will laugh at them I wanna walk through the park in the dark Women are scared that men will kill them

This type of perspective, down to the description of how she has to hold her keys in a way your average dude might not think about, remains so crucial as we all hope to continue to better understand each other.

92) Jeff Rosenstock - “Powerlessness”

Meet me at the Polish bar I'll be the one looking at my phone Shaking like a nervous kid Absolutely terrified of being alone

...it doesn’t sound how it reads. All of his skittish energy fuels this fist pumping jam. And don’t miss the guitar solo.

91) Charli XCX - “5 In The Morning”

Pretty standard fare pop song, but Charli makes it cooler and better than if the average person jumped on.

90) Pinegrove - “Darkness”

Gonna be honest: it was nearly impossible to listen to Pinegrove in 2018 without thinking of the sexual coercion accusations from the previous year. Jenn Pelly’s long ass piece really did nothing to help matters. So because of all this, I listened to their new album “Skylight” wayyyyy less than originally anticipated. The few times -- really maybe ‘time’ in all actuality -- I was able to separate the story from the songs, it definitely became enjoyable. This has head clearing guitar leads and a lyric straight outta Sublime’s “Garden Grove”.

89) Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - “Bad Dreams”

Brooding, nighttime, driving; good ingredients for a successful duet.

88) Meek Mill f/ Rick Ross & JAY Z - “What’s Free”

Now, if I’m Rick Ross, I spend my entire career avoiding any situation where people can compare me to Biggie. But since Rick Ross is Rick Ross, he went with the opposite plan. This is his (to my knowledge) second reimagined Biggie song*, and... it’s... it’s rough. I mean, how far can you take it with the line “Mona Lisa, to me, ain't nothin' but a b***h” and end with a gay slur. Pass.

But we also have the GOAT. In classic Jay fashion, he spits a lot of good words, you know it’s complex, and there’s no way to process it without more listens. And yes, the immediate brand checks are super annoying, but he pushes through and delivers some bars:

They gave us pork and pig intestines Shit you discarded that we ingested, we made the project a wave You came back, reinvested and gentrified it Took n****s' sense of pride, now how that's free?

When he finishes, the song itself ends, and we have one of the more long and uneven Jay cameos ever put on wax. It’s, like, a 5-star B-.

(* -  the first being 2014′s “Nobody”, a take off “You’re Nobody [Til Somebody Kills You]”, featuring French Montana, which spawned an all-time Rap Radar comment, “If someone killed French, he’d still be a nobody”; I will bring it up with the most minor of segues for the rest of my life)

87) Red City Radio - “In The Shadows”

I tend to prefer Red City Radio playing more uptempo, but they drag us down to a slower speed for this one. This centers around the cryptic “I show no fear when I know that the devil’s here” line, and the guitar solo is definitely overqualified for the genre.

86) Kanye West - “Yikes”

/cracks knuckles

The song: banging chorus, solid beat, lyrics meh. Of course it was the song he got Drake for, because it’s the only one on his solo release that vaguely resembled a hit.

The album: Calling “ye” bad is a little unfair, but the best and realest description is sadder: it’s Kanye’s most inessential record. It was forgettable at best and cringeworthy/offensive at worst. The one about his daughter was particularly appalling:

Don't do no yoga, don't do pilates Just play piano and stick to karate I pray your body's draped more like mine And not like your mommy's

This doesn’t even get into the entirely warped mental health takes that I’m not nearly qualified enough to address.

Kanye himself: Every Kanye fan has defended Kanye, some Kanye fans have abandoned Kanye, but 2018 was legitimately the tipping point where it felt like we all finally had enough, in unification. Shock, betrayal, and disappointment are probably the best adjectives. When you are willing to forgive someone for 90% of their behavior, and they up their bullshit to 110%, an understandable separation must occur. At this point, the man we once called Yeezus is now the hip-hop Louis C.K.: no type of constructive or negative feedback can penetrate his brain, and any new attempts at creative output only make everything worse.

85) Royce da 5′9′’ f/ Eminem & King Green - “Caterpillar”

As lyrical as it gets on this list, but what else do you expect from Em and Royce? Not a huge fan of the chorus (at least that loud part in the first half). Eminem legit goes off for, like, ten lines with a pooping metaphor to close the song.

84) Nicki Minaj - “Barbie Dreams”

Staying in the redone Biggie songs lane, we have Nicki with a passive evisceration of your favorite male rapper. You can call it crass, but I’d argue her playfulness makes the whole thing work, combined with the fact that it’s flipping the male gaze on its head. And though she’s having fun, some of these movie punches catch real faces. My favorites:

3) “Drake worth a hundred mill, he always buyin' me shit / But I don't know if the pussy wet or if he cryin' and shit”

2) “I remember when I used to have a crush on Special Ed / Shoutout Desiigner 'cause he made it out of special ed”

1) “Had to cancel DJ Khaled, boy, we ain't speakin' / Ain't no fat n**** tellin' me what he ain't eatin'”

Goodbye forever, DJ Khaled.

83) Bad Bunny f/ Drake - “MIA”

I do social media for my high school alma mater’s football team, and this song first got on my radar when of the players tweeted something like “I can’t understand a word, but this is really good”. I was piqued, and it delivered. Nobody cultural appropriates quite like Drizzy Drake. Also, am I the only one who would have maybe been happier if the song was called “Bad Bunny” and the featured artist was M.I.A.?

82) Phoebe Bridgers - “Christmas Song”

Christmas songs are hard to write because they’re either taken or terrible, but Bridgers definitely carved out her own lane. This could work as a single person under a spotlight or sung by a group of lonely strangers finding camaraderie at a bar; within the song, you actually get both scenarios.

81) Remo Drive - “Blue Ribbon”

Got into this band for the first time in 2018, and though some of their older songs got more spins, this was my favorite from the new album.

80) The Sidekicks - “Twin’s Twist”

Mostly just impressed they were able to seamlessly integrate the “Chronic 2001″ into lyrics of a lighter rock song.

79) Real Friends - “From The Outside”

My favorite chorus they’ve ever written. While remaining thoroughly pop punk, the catchiness puts it more on the pop side of that spectrum.

78) Mike Posner - “Song About You”

Posner sounds like he’s barely trying, and it’s still so, so good. Favorite moment is this non-rhyme: “Since you’ve been gone, I got nothing to do / I sleep until noon, I wake up and feel bad”. It’s like a pop freestyle or something.

Also, extra shout out for how well he took his social media roasting after the Thanksgiving performance in Detroit. Love this dude.

77) Bad Religion - “The Kids Are Alt-Right”

What if I told you Bad Religion made a song with an intro that sounded like Andrew W.K.’s “Party Till You Puke” but were somehow still able to stay afloat? Hell, I’m confused too. The satirical lyrics mark 2018 for what it was. The pre-chorus, I remain torn on.

76) Blood Orange - “Saint”

You said it before

Looped keyboard beat over some smooth lyrics and melodies.

75) Juice WRLD - “Lucid Dreams”

I cannot change you so I must replace you

Still unclear how this *isn’t* a Post Malone song.

74) Tancred - “Queen Of New York”

Own the city.

73) We Were Sharks - “Drop The Act”

Ohhhhh, I love this production.

72) Cloud Nothings - “Leave Him Now”

This band continues to possess all of the melodic fury (and the Russell Westbrook of drummers).

71) Childish Gambino - “Summertime Magic”

Wasn’t big on “This Is America”*, so Glover releasing an ode to the best season as an alternative selection helped.

(* - at least not the song; vid was interesting)

70) The 1975 - “Love It If We Made It”

The 1975 are one of those bands where liking them makes you feel like an alien because everyone else either loves or dogs them. I’m keepin’ this casual, aight?

Also, since all writers are contractually obligated, we must mention the “Fucking in a car, shooting heroin” line which opens the song.

69) Kississippi - “Cut Yr Teeth”

Saw this band play in a classroom at a high school (google “BLED FEST”) in Michigan in May of 2018. They were fun, diverse, and covered Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”. This tune is a little more serious and locked in.

68) Muncie Girls - “Picture Of Health”

Every part of this song is well-written, but it all builds to a massive chorus.

67) Justin Timberlake f/ Chris Stapleton - “Say Something”

There was a time, in January 2018, when not a ton of music had dropped yet, and this song was everywhere. It was like the dead-of-winter equivalent to the Song of the Summer. This one definitely gets docked some points for what I’d call weak lyricism. You can tell both dudes were way into it though, which does help make up for it some.

66) Interpol - “The Rover”

As speedy as I’ve ever heard Interpol; pretty unskippable.

65) Dashboard Confessional - “Catch You”

Imagine if this were the only Dashboard song you’d ever heard. You’d think they were, like, happy. Our protagonist has a trustworthy assurance that should put you at ease.

64) Gulfer - “Secret Stuff”

No singing on this list will alienate you faster than the first eight seconds of this one.

63) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - “Talking Straight”

Though this feels like two band names in one, RBCF know exactly what they’re doing as it pertains to the actual songwriting. This would fit right in during the mid-2000s garage/indie rock boom; could listen to the chorus on a loop.

62) Rita Ora f/ Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX - “Girls”

This song has the unique distinction of being think pieced and outraged cycled before I even got a chance to hear a second of it. The case:

Now, it goes without saying that the best people to explain why this song feels damaging and hurtful to queer women are queer women themselves – girls who kiss girls whether they’ve been gulping back Malbec or not. “A song like this just fuels the male gaze while marginalizing the idea of women loving women,” wrote Hayley Kiyoko on Twitter. Kehlani said it has “many awkward slurs, quotes, and moments”. MUNA’s Katie Gavin noted that in ‘Girls’ she hears “the familiar chorus that women’s sexuality is something to be looked at instead of authentically felt”.

To her credit, Ora apologized the very same day that piece came out (PUN INTENDED). What’s weird is the idea of this song being problematic made me like it more. It gives the sexual flippancy of the chorus authenticity. I don’t know, man -- this stuff is complicated.

Not complicated? Cardi B’s awful green screen cameo featuring cheap looking special effects.

/shakes head in disappointment 

61) Eminem f/ Ed Sheeran - “River”

Though not apples to apples -- since he’s not spitting -- we shall remember this as the time Ed Sheeran > Eminem in a song.

Marshall remains our unquestioned king of the ‘relationship dysfunction’ genre.

60) Culture Abuse - “Calm E”

Everyone’s getting back together

The writers of the perfect and generational “Dream On” continue to stay in the mellow lane with their subsequent releases. When you can pull off both, why not?

59) Brian Fallon - “Silence”

Fallon covers -- /checks notes --  Marshmello f/ Khalid, but it really could be an original. Dude really knows how to pick ‘em. I remember hearing this randomly at Shinto (a sushi/hibachi place) in Naperville; don’t remember if it was this or the original. Such a moving chorus.

58) Okkervil River - “Don’t Move Back To LA”

Gotta appreciate the persistent sentiment -- even though it’d be the opposite of my advice. Also took about 99.9% of the year for me to stop calling this band “Overkill” River in my head.

57) Natalie Prass - “Short Court Style”

Uber catchy and with a real groove.

56) The Interrupters - “She’s Kerosene”

2018 Rancid, down to the raspy-ish singing from Aimee Allen.

55) boygenius - “Me & My Dog”

When I heard Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and someone named Lucy Dacus were forming a super group, I was stoked. This tune was the one that jived the most with my vision of the project. Amazingly sick harmonies, dropping elbows on your heart like a professional wrestler, and introspection on introspection.

I wanna be emaciated I wanna hear one song without thinking of you I wish I was on a spaceship Just me and my dog and an impossible view

So, so, so, so good.

54) Shack Wes - “Mo Bamba”

How do you explain “Mo Bamba” to someone who doesn’t like rap? How do you explain “Mo Bamba” to someone who does like rap? I don’t know, but I am Teddy Bridgewater now.

53) Lil Dicky f/ Chris Brown, Ed Sheeran, DJ Khaled & Kendall Jenner - “Freaky Friday”

If you thought Rita Ora’s “Girls” was messy, allow me to introduce you to our last bad rap song on the list. Actually, maybe the Virginia Tech women’s lacrosse team would be a better candid--OHHHHH LADIES NO!!!!!!!!11111111

So yeah, whether it’s the most lightning rod word in American history, cultural appropriation, reverse cultural appropriation, or even just a good ol’ “I Blame Chris Brown” take, this attempt at comedy hip-hop got put under a microscope for all the right and wrong reasons. No one came out unscathed. But, like Ora’s song, if you can ignore some components (read: nearly everything), it’s so god damn fun, man. I mean, Dicky and Chris Brown swapped bodies -- pretty nuts. And it’s rare for an MVP line to be “How his dick staying perched up on his balls like that?”

52) Jay Rock f/ Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake - “King’s Dead”

I gotta go get it- I gotta go get it- I gotta go get it- I gotta go get it

The back half of the Future verse is the worst part about this song... yet the most fun to talk about. He raps auto-tuned, in falsetto... and these are the lyrics:

La di da di da, slob on me knob Pass me some syrup, fuck me in the car La di da di da, mothafuck the law Chitty chitty bang, murder everything

What a disgrace. Yet, almost like a whimsy 2 Chainz verse, it’s really fucking memorable.

51) Soccer Mommy - “Your Dog”

Noticeably good bassline? Check. Skin crawlingly bad band name? Check. Cool swearing? Yup.

50) Vince Staples - “FUN!”

Vince could rap his way out a bottomless pit; floating elevation flow.

49) Dan + Shay - “Tequila”

Tried so hard to get this one next to “Shitty Margarita”. Genuinely love this song. Maybe it’s the mountains in the music video, but that chorus just soars.

48) Meg Myers - “Numb”

Look up in the air and see this tidal wave chorus crashing through the world in slow motion.

47) The Penske File - “Fairgrounds”

My new working theory -- which really feels more like fact -- is how cool lyrics with the phrase “Meet me...” are. It creates this aura of unknown, mystery, and maybe even danger; like anything could happen if you just agree. Here are some from songs just off the top of my head:

Meet me by the lake

Meet me at the reservoir

Meet me in Montauk

Meet me in the middle (more on that one later)

Meet me in the back

Meet me at midnight

The list goes on. So please say “yes” to The Penske File at the fairgrounds, won’t you?

46) Lil Wayne f/ Swizz Beatz - “Uproar”

Weezy goes this entire song only using “oh” rhymes; not sure how he does it. Sometimes, I listen to this and pretend I’m a buffalo.

45) Cardi B - “Be Careful”

Cardi sampled Lauryn (wayyyyyyyy more on this later) and made it work. The chorus always sticks with me, and though the verses have a few bumps along the way, they might even be better.

44) Elway - “Crowded Conscience”

Elway pulls up their roots in this All Colorado Everything lyric video, and you’ll be ready to tap the Rockies when the singalong chorus finishes.

43) Pkew Pkew Pkew - “Passed Out”

A punk rock drinking song with a real bummer of a chorus for how happy the theme itself comes across.

42) Joyce Manor - “I Think I’m Still In Love With You”

I have no scientific proof, but Barry’s lyrics seem to be getting worse and worse. The drug references are still there, sure, but there’s an almost elementary simplicity to the proceedings. Still, like “Heart Tattoo”, this song doesn’t get in its own way and takes advantage of the basic words to create a big, big hook. You sing along even though it feels too easy at times.

41) Alkaline Trio - “Throw Me To The Lions”

So much desperation in the chorus; this could work as their last ever song.

40) The Bombpops - “Dear Beer”

My favorite opening line on this whole list -- the sweet and simple “I’m about to hit send / I’m waiting for the weekend”. Before you know it, a full blown self-loathing chorus. It’s got it all.

39) Foxing - “Lambert”

In quiet awe listening to this masterpiece of a song. Saw this band way up close in 2018 -- here is a picture:

Hello, Foxing

38) Lucero - “To My Dearest Wife”

Civil War soldier or rigorous rock and roll touring schedule? Either way, the Lucero singer misses his wife and family, and he’s gonna let you know they’re on his mind. I saw them open for Frank Turner in 2018, and he played their new album front to back -- before it had been released -- as their entire set because “I promised to do this when drunk on Instagram”. Gotta respect a man with principles.

37) BlocBoy JB f/ Drake - “Look Alive”

Favorite Drake hook of the year. BlocBoy JB... less necessary. Also kinda crazy to think we didn’t know who producer Tay Keith was at the beginning of 2018; definitely made his impression felt by the end.

36) The Front Bottoms - “Tie Die Dragon”

As psychedelic as I’ll ever get. Unless it’s, like, The Beatles. But that’s different.

35) The Lawrence Arms - “Laugh Out Loud”

Released on their Best Of record (legitimately titled “We Are The Champions Of The World) and an “Oh! Calcutta!” b-side from 2006, TLA prove even their leftovers can be a main course.

34) Tinashe f/ Future - “Faded Love”

I know he’s a rapper and she’s a singer, but nothing is more illustrative of how much harder women have to work compared to men than the 1:36 mark when Tinashe sensually sings “Let’s just feel this feeling”, doubled with Feature’s auto-tuned ass doing the exact same thing, only 10x worse. Not enough to taint the song, even a little. His verse, however...

33) Chance The Rapper - “65th & Ingleside”

Chance -- who almost always makes the correct choices -- did this super annoying thing where he released a bunch of songs in single batches in 2018.

“But Bobby, he gave you tons of free music! Why are you complaining?!”

Because we couldn’t easily sequence it, bruh. Look at this shit!:

Not even Drake would pull this stunt. EP next time, Chano.

Anyway.

Fun lines, really contagious beat, and a few types of flows; he spazzes at the end.

32) Complainer - “Drunk (Again)”

Gotta love when a song can’t start until multiple beer cans crack. These guys are a tiny band inspired-by-but-better-than Jeff Rosenstock, and I hope they get so much more traction.

31) ScHoolboy Q f/ Kendrick Lamar, Saudi & 2 Chainz - “X”

I LIVE ON TEN

Always read this title as the letter X even though the word “ten” is used 40 times in the song.

30) KIDS SEE GHOSTS (Kanye West & Kid Cudi) - “Reborn”

From Kanye’s only useful project in 2018 comes “Reborn”. Luckily, it’s mainly Cudi on this track (chorus/bridge/a verse). It feels like Ohio’s son is breaking through... or breaking out; verging on real triumph over his demons. Kanye, meanwhile, is surprisingly understated (read: good) and fits into all of his parts like a non-OJ glove. The sparing use of Yeezy reminds me of how the master himself used to feature people like Chief Keef just enough to harness the talent but not enough to ruin the song or do too much. Those alpha days appear to be way in the rearview now.

29) Travis Scott f/ Drake, Swae Lee & Big Hawk - “SICKO MODE”

Stacey Dash, most of these girls ain’t got a clue

This joins “Mo Bamba” in the Top 2 of Rap Songs That Need To Be Played At All Parties In The Year 2018. While “Bamba” is more consistent -- seriously, “SICKO MODE” is four songs in one -- almost nothing tops hearing the start of this and immediately anticipating the rest (like the opening of “Tuesday” when that was hot). The third part is probably my favorite. #likealight

28) SOB X RBE f/ Zacari & Kendrick Lamar - “Paramedic!”

Our third selection from the “Black Panther” soundtrack. Second favorite beat of 2018; I can’t not move the second it drops.

27) Drug Church - “Unlicensed Hall Monitor”

Favorite guitar leads of 2018. It’s as sleek as the vocals are gruff.

26) Matt And Kim - “FOREVER”

Was a dead tie between this and the equally emotional “Youngest I Will Be”. But this one has a vid -- and they make the best vids. This song also references the 1992 Dream Team. Our world will never be shit if they stay a part of it; first time I’ve came close to tearing up so far. These two inspire.

25) The Ramblin’ Boys Of Pleasure - “Joyce Jawbreaker”

Speaking of turrs, my band of 14 years released our maybe last song ever in 2018. Written in Maine, titled for Joyce Manor and Jawbreaker, and about lost love, Chicago, futures, playing music with your brothers, tiny hands, and found love. We also did a video:

24) Ariana Grande f/ Nicki Minaj - “the light is coming”

I really, truly am not excluding “thank u, next” to be contrarian. While I agree that is her defining song of 2018 -- and biggest hit to date? -- “the light is coming” is so much more unique. It goes in so many directions while the hook ties the rope around you a hundred times. Yep, I’m right.

23) Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers - “Apocalypse Now (& Later)”

Wish I could forever keep this song’s opening line as my mantra: You make me walk away from the hate I carry.

22) Restorations - “Nonbeliever”

Another band that should be bigger, so they can always be free to do anything they want. This song will always boil down to this part, which captures the push and pull of 2018 America:

I love your protest lines Oh, but who has the time? We all saw the same thing at the same time, okay? Got a partner for starters And a kid on the way Can’t be doing all this dumb shit no more

For how crass, clumsy, and non-rhyming that concludes, the song itself ends dire.

21) The Get Up Kids - “I’m Sorry”

One of my favorite videos of 2018. Similar to “Apocalypse Now (& Later)”, I’m not sure if it’s about a love interest or a kid. Does it matter? No. But it does to me.

20) Antarctigo Vespucci - “Freakin’ U Out”

A band name for the ages. With Chris Farren (of Fake Problems) on vox and Jeff Rosenstock on instruments, this song could power a car -- or at least one person who didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.

19) Bayside - “It Don’t Exist”

Anthony Raneri has a new grill, but this song feels 50 years old. A classic in real time.

18) The Carters - “APESHIT”

Is this artsy, all-time vid somewhat undermined by the Migos ad libs?

Yes.

/makes note to maybe dress up like this for Halloween next year

17) Post Malone f/ 21 Savage - “rockstar”

This song is so good -- albeit misogynist and also bad -- it makes me genuinely eager for a 21 Savage verse. And though I love any bars relating to his 12-car garage...

my favorite 21 savage quirk is his yearly 12 car garage updates:

2016: “why you got a 12 car garage?”

2017: “they like ‘savage why you got a 12 car garage / and you only got 6 cars?’”

2018: “why you got a 12 car garage? / cause i bought 6 new cars”

(via @ottergawd)

...his intro line is just so, so terrible: “I've been in the Hills fuckin' superstars / Feelin' like a popstar”. You know that’s... not really a rhyme, right?

16) Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness - “Ohio”

/will always, always death stare that dumb name to start any Andy section

Ah, but if we did start with a lyric?

Katie’s counting crows

This song is about leaving the worst state for one of the best. But if we’re doing that, why do we feel so melancholy?

15) Kendrick Lamar & SZA - “All The Stars”

You've gotta be mesmerizing to make Kung Fu Kenny look pedestrian, but SZA's galactic hook does just that.

14) Frank Turner - “1933″

Frank isn’t from here, but he’s setting out to remind us of where this all began.

13) The Wonder Years - “Sister Cities”

As far as pop punk legacies are concerned, The Wonder Years’ is secure. There is no longer necessity to churn out bangers; they’re already on the Mount Rushmore. Still, they go. Every part of this song is essential: the build up verses, blown out chorus, Panic! At The Disco 2005-era hi-hat off-time drum transitions, end-of-the-rope bridge. The true standout is the closing of V2:

I'm guarded like I'm wounded, my first instinct's always “run” I wanna turn to steam I wanna call it off I wanna lighten the dark I wanna swallow the sun

Good guitar leads add even extra.

12) YG f/ 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj - “BIG BANK”

“Alexa, what does big bank do to little bank?”

The highlight line from each:

YG: “Ayy, I set the bar, I'm the fuckin' bar / Look in the sky, I'm a fuckin' star / I don't fall in love 'cause I be lovin' hard / Do everything like my shirt, extra large”

2 Chainz: “Big shit like a dinosaur did it”

Big Sean: “I'm rare as affordable health care”

Nicki: “Told em' I met Slim Shady, bagged a Em / Once he go black, he'll be back again”

Let this also be remembered as the song that created a Madden controversy.

11) Dean Summerwind - “Parked By The Lake”

What is there to say about the legend that is Dean Summerwind? With only one song on Spotify, he’s batting a clean 1.000. Calling this genius feels like an understatement. It’s real, it’s parody, it’s persistent, it’s ours.

10) The Dirty Nil - “Bathed In Light”

The Canadian Local H. Reaaaaaaaally wanna see them live in 2019.

9) oso oso - “gb/ol h/nf”

I stylized oso oso as “Oso Oso” last year to stick it to their frontman Jade, but a year later, I’ve lost the energy. Blame Ariana Grande. This song -- which stands for “goodbye old love, hello new friend”* -- has my favorite chorus of the year. It’s so simple, it’s obvious: “But I still come through, when you want / And if I serve no use, where do I get my purpose from?”

Also, this is indie/pop/punk/rock’s version of “SICKO MODE”: got more parts than “The Wire”.

(* - had to look that up multiple times in 2018 and never retained, despite it being the bridge of the song... I didn’t notice)

8) Kacey Musgraves - “Space Cowboy”

If any song *survives* the existence of this list, I hope it’s this one. Kacey has this predictable-yet-surprising way of taking existing tropes and co-opting them with her own twist. Homegirl is like the Jim Nantz of pop/country in that way.

7) Direct Hit! - “Welcome To Heaven”

This song makes me want to die to, you know, check. Blustering chorus, fascinating premise, and charged up while simultaneously patient/in control.

6) FIDLAR f/ The 90s - “Are You High?”

This not being on Spotify was one of the worst non-Michigan football things to happen to me in 2018. Man, I hate Michigan football.

5) Drake - “Nice For What”

- My favorite beat of 2018 (New Orleans bounce, ftw)

- My favorite release of 2018 - Drizzy said it would drop on a Friday - We were thinking morning or midday (not late evening, in the last remaining hours of the day, when were were faded and had waited so long it was almost forgotten -- it hit perfect) - On top of that, he also sampled Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” -- the same week Cardi B did the same -- with even more pulsating results - I will always interpret that as a real or sneak diss, yet no one I know has ever said anything

- My buddy Josh sent a selfie vid of him and his girl and some friends bopping to it; I’ll remember that forever; the moment felt like such an event, as if the world simultaneously celebrated at such an atypical time

- Drake deserves 30% less credit for this female empowerment anthem because of the “these hoes” sample

- Maybe a Top 5 Drake song, all-time

- There is no planet, solar system, or multiverse where 2018 Drake finishes ahead of 2018 Pusha T

4) Pusha T - “The Story Of Adidon”

You are hiding a child.

Let’s not mince words: this is the No. 2 greatest diss track of all time. Pac is No. 1 -- this will not be debated. From there, Nas is DQ’d for “Ether” homophobia, annnnnnd no one else is in the realm. King Push...

- Unearthed a photo of Drake in blackface and uses it as the art for the song - Goes at Drake’s mom (”Marriage is something that Sandi never had...”) - Goes at Drake’s dad (”Dennis Graham stay off the 'gram, bitch, I'm on one”) - Outs Drake for having a child (and hiding said child!*) - Goes at Drake’s baby momma - And -- /gulp -- goes at Drake’s longtime producer 40 for having multiple sclerosis, suggesting he will not be alive soon**

He does this over “The Story Of O.J.” beat... a rather chill backdrop, all things considered.

(* - Drake responded later with the line “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world, I was hiding the world from my kid” which just isn’t cool at all but is competent enough to win some people back over; /barf)

(** - HOLY FUCK***)

(*** - much debate occurred in the aftermath regarding if Push “went too far”; I was 50-50 at the time but now am 100-0 that it was the right choice; this song is cyanide venom, so why pull back even an ounce?)

Though Drake survived -- turns out the mainstream pop boost is bigger than hip-hop beef -- he took the fattest of L’s on this one.

Really can’t decide on a lyrical ending, so I’m gonna go with two:

Surgical summer.

If we all go to hell, it’ll be worth it.

3) Spanish Love Songs - “Buffalo Buffalo”

In my head, this was gonna end up ahead of The Menzingers, but that would be like putting Greta Van Fleet ahead of Zeppelin. Spanish Love Songs were my breakout band of 2018. They released my favorite album, I saw them as an opener at Sub-T in Chicago, and I promised their bassist I’d see them in Florida at the Fest (this did not materialize). While their vocals and guitar leads sound identical to Scranton’s finest, if you listen to them as much as I did, you’ll realize they offer a sound and perspective* of their own as well.

(* - no one hates themselves more than this singer)

2) The Menzingers - “Toy Soldier”

There’s so much to be sad about these days

/that guitar intro

Followed by the best musical moment of this year: from 0:06 to 0:07 -- the ever-so-slight delay before the band blows it out. Spent a lot of time in 2018 debating if I should change my Twitter bio to “I lost my accent in the plague”. Listened to this song on the floor of the living room on my 32nd birthday; then I read “The Great Gatsby”. From there (at this point, it was past midnight), I realized this sounded like The Lawrence Arms’ “Requiem Revisited”, which was inspired by Naked Raygun’s “Soldiers Requiem”. It’s all a triangle of that perfectly fitting punk chord progression. That’s right: I am Pepe Silvia.

1) Horror Squad - “I Smoke The Blood”

Best song title of 2018. Best song of 2018.

This has 729 views on YouTube -- be the 730th.

Spotify playlist.

Thank you for reading.

[c-e-l-e-s-t-i-a-l-n-y-m-p-h]

Can I do all? xx

1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Closed2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel? Busted 3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Out4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before? Almost 5: Do you like to use post-it notes? Yeah, but I mostly just use them to decorate pages in my art journal 6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Not really 7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees? Neither 8: Do you have freckles? No, but I wish I did; I find them so adorable 9: Do you always smile for pictures? Sometimes, but I’m super insecure about it 10: What is your biggest pet peeve? I’ve too many to name honestly 11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Not anymore 12: Have you ever peed in the woods? So many times 13: What about pooped in the woods? No14: Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing? Sometimes 15: Do you chew your pens and pencils? If I’m anxious or distracted 16: How many people have you slept with this week? Just my teddy bear :^)17: What size is your bed? Queen, I think 18: What is your Song of the week? Anyone Else But You by the Moldy Peaches 19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink? Yeah20: Do you still watch cartoons? Pfft what? N-no…21: Whats your least favorite movie? Tbh I’ve like most that I’ve seen so far 22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? In my DMs, since nobody ever goes there :^) 23: If you’re a girl, bra size? If you’re a guy, pants size? 38 C24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Usually nothing, but ig ketchup and bbq sauce 25: What is your favorite food? Grilled ham and cheese tbh26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love? Moonrise Kingdom, the Harry Potter and LOTR movies, Fantasia, and the Last Unicorn 27: Last person you kissed/kissed you? My girlfriend 28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout? For like three months 29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine? No, I’m too self conscious for that 30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? A few months ago 31: Can you change the oil on a car? Yeah32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Nope33: Ever ran out of gas? Nope 34: Favorite kind of sandwich? (See 25) 35: Best thing to eat for breakfast? Ham, egg, and cheese Croissanwiches from BK 😂36: What is your usual bedtime? Between 9p-4a… my sleep schedule is so fucked tbh37: Are you lazy? When my depression gets bad38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Usually Princess Leia. She was my role model growing up 39: What is your Chinese astrological sign? Capricorn 40: Are you horny? Always 41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Does Highlights from when I was 8 count? 😂42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs? Legos43: Are you stubborn? Y E S 44: Who is better…Leno or Letterman? Don’t know or care 45: Ever watch soap operas? Used to 46: Are you afraid of heights? Yeah but it doesn’t ever really stop me47: Do you sing in the car? Yeah 48: Do you sing in the shower? Yeah49: Do you dance in the car? Yep50: Ever used a gun? Not yet51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? This year for choir lol52: Do you think musicals are cheesy? Yes but in a good way 53: Is Christmas stressful? Yes 54: Ever eat a pierogi? Y E S 55: Favorite type of fruit pie? Cherry, probably 56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Archaeologist, spy, and artist 57: Do you believe in ghosts? Not sure58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? A lot59: Take a vitamin daily? Yeah60: Wear slippers? Sometimes 61: Wear a bath robe? If I had one, I would 62: What do you wear to bed? Usually just panties, but sometimes if I’m feeling wild I’ll wear fuzzy Eeyore pjs63: First concert? Taylor Swift’s Fearless tour64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart? Walmart tbh65: Nike or Adidas? Adidas? Idk66: Cheetos Or Fritos? Cheetos67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts 68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? Possibly 69: Ever take dance lessons? Yeah but I got discouraged and quit. I really regret it70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing? I honestly don’t see anyone sticking around that long lol71: Can you curl your tongue? Yeah, I can do a clover too 72: Ever won a spelling bee? Yeah73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yes74: Own any record albums? One75: Own a record player? No, we got rid of it76: Regularly burn incense? Yeah 77: Ever been in love? Yeah78: Who would you like to see in concert? So many people 79: What was the last concert you saw? Disturbed and Breaking Benjamin 80: Hot tea or cold tea? Hot tea81: Tea or coffee? Tea but I like coffee too 82: Sugar or snickerdoodles? I don’t know?83: Can you swim well? Not at all 84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? Yeah85: Are you patient? Not as much as I used to be 86: DJ or band, at a wedding? Band87: Ever won a contest? Yeah88: Ever have plastic surgery? No89: Which are better black or green olives? I love both equally 90: Can you knit or crochet? Not anymore 91: Best room for a fireplace? Living room 92: Do you want to get married? Yes, eventually 93: If married, how long have you been married? 94: Who was your HS crush? This one girl lol95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? No96: Do you have kids? No97: Do you want kids? I’m honestly not sure98: Whats your favorite color? Lavender 99: Do you miss anyone right now? Yes