#be my angel hope sandoval

[r0seb100d]

I need my bedroom to look like this right now

[mazzystarrysky]

[grrrl-kisser]

i'm gonna need yall to turn on your listening ears cause..

IF YOU DONT NEED ME THEN DONT DECIEVE ME

DONT SAY YOU LOVE ME IF YOU DONT NEED ME

DONT BRING ME WISHES OF SILLY DREAMS

i am going insane i love mazzy star and would rather be loveless than lied about being loved

[hauntedrose555]

everyone says temu is really bad quality and delivering time but every time I’ve got stuff off of temu (embarrassingly a lot) it’s come quickly-ish and the quality is better than expected, I don’t really know what the point of this post was besides the fact that im just excited that my packages came, but temu is cool

[sheep-parade]

Hope Sandoval rly wrote a lesbian anthem with Be My Angel and I refuse to see it any other way

Be My Angel

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Mazzy Star - The Mint, Los Angeles, California, July 15, 1993

It came to my attention that Mazzy Star's So Tonight That I Might See came out just about 30 years ago this fall — an occasion worth celebrating? Sure, why not? It's an album with a weird trajectory: I remember hearing it around that time (on cassette, kiddos!) and thinking it was very nice, kind of like Stevie Nicks sleepwalking through a VU record ... my kind of thing! But then, sometime in the summer of 1994, "Fade Into You" became the Alternative Nation's slow dance number of choice, and STTIMS was a surprise hit!

That was all in the future in the summer of 1993 when Mazzy Star sauntered onstage at the Mint on Pico. In fact, it was so far in the future that the band doesn't even play their future chart-topper on this particular evening. But that's OK, it's still a cool tape, with the band keeping things impressively minimal — sometimes just David Roback and Hope Sandoval, sometimes adding spare percussion, cello and keys.

Check out the bone-chilling version of "Into Dust," a performance that brings a fairly chatty LA crowd to a standstill; or the plaintive "Flowers In December," which wouldn't come out for a few more years ("I'm going to attempt to play harmonica," a relatively chatty Sandoval says); or the awesome "Mary Of Silence" which evolves into an impressive freakout, Roback sounding like Syd Barrett jamming with the Doors at the Whiskey in '66. Good stuff, people!

[rkmoon]

Writeblr intro! (Let's do this right this time)

Hallo! I'm Revan. 25. A he/him enby. Living in the Philippines. AuHD. I'm a writer, (sometimes a) digital artist and microbiology student. I have a lot of writing projects (some of them fanfic but shhh) and I am flirting the idea of serializing them somewhere on the internet soon, so you may read them someday! Please don't feel scared to talk to me or tag me! I love talking. If you give me a chance I'll never shut up jhfbjhbfjbf

One of my goals is to be a prolific writer and if I start listing down what Im working on it'll be too much information haha so let me just say what projects are kind of close to finished right now.

(I write queer speculative fiction btw. If it ain't queer, I didn't write it lol)

My works

Project Shapeshift

Genre: Queer, Contemporary Drama

Length: ~30K (Could become longer)

Status: Draft 2 Ongoing

Tag: #projectshapeshift

Ariel Reyes hasn't been happy in a long time.

As a university drop-out working under a terrible boss, his life had been filled with work, work, and working even harder to please Gina, his live-in girlfriend. When Gina tells him she wants to move in a better apartment, he decides to find a second job to pay for it, even though he already felt drained to the bone. On a moment of weakness on the death anniversary of his mother, he prays to the agimat she had passed onto him for strength, only to wake up baffled in the morning, for he had gained the ability to turn into a woman.

One might think it would have be disturbing, but instead it was... refreshing.

And so it kickstarts Ariel's journey into finding their true self, rekindling old dreams, and turning his life around to grasp at their own definition of happiness.

Project Heartless

Genre: Queer, Dystopian Fantasy, Horror

Length: 118K

Status: Draft 3 - Waiting for Beta

Tag: #projectheartless

The Heartless are empty of morals– just as nonexistent as their heart.

That was what Rainier Sandoval had been taught at an early age. As an Inner City dweller, the barbarism in the Outer District, where the Heartless thrived, was hard to imagine. But when his own heart was stolen and crushed on his twenty-fifth birthday, he was exiled to that very place, forced to see for himself.

He had thought he was prepared, but the expectations were so horribly different from the reality. Conspiracies were afoot, and the more he stayed in Outer District, the more he realized he had been lied to his entire life. 

The monsters he was taught to fear might be Angel City's only hope against threats lurking beyond its borders. In a twist of fate, they might also be Rainier's only hope against his own inner demons.

(I will be adding to this intro as new projects come up! :D)

[the-90s-music-colosseum]

Round 2 Group B Match 6

expand for propaganda ↓ (wall of text warning)

Missy Elliott:

"Missy is hot, funny, talented, and mostly lets the rumor mill churn out whatever it wants to say about her sexuality. She is an ICON of 90s hip-hop and hip-hop eternally."

"I need missy elliott to put me down flip me and reverse me"

"missy elliott deserves to win this whole thing. her outfits will forever be iconic!"

Hope Sandoval:

"my dad is in love with her i'm in love with her she is simply the most enchanting woman alive. it you watch the fade into you live video it is like falling in love. every song she's ever sung is like heaven. She's like a siren. ever single time she looks up from the mic to the camera she goes into yr soul and wraps it with a sweet perfume mist and you will never be the same. watch concert videos before you vote. if she doesn't win i'm deleting my blog"

"hope sandoval love of my life"

"i would gut my insides to leave a flesh skin and a lump of red lumpy organs while still staying alive if it meant that she could let me hit just one and by hit a mean a kiss on the cheek please hope respond to my brainwaves sent twords you"

"if i met here i would take a photo then kill myself to spend my last moments alone in her arms so that i could die a happy man. i truly believe that is the only way i could end my life on a happy note. i wouldn't be able to beat that moment."

"hope sandoval has the voice of an angel and if you don't vote her i will actually cry"

"i was conceived to mazzy star"

"I would let her do UNSPEAKABLE things to me"

"look first of all she sang fade into you, so automatic bias there. but also look at the pictures of her performing???? oh my god. she's so pretty. if I could link pictures I would just go google it she's amazing."

[causenessus]

Hi! I’m sending in another ask because I have horrible brainrot and need ALL the headcannons about suness <3

1. Does he let you paint his nails? If so do you guys get matching nails?

2. What’s your first dance song at your wedding?

3. What was the moment you were like “oh- I love him.”

4. What’s the weirdest situation you’ve said “I love you” in?

Please I need the fluffy things and so what if I bring up weddings a lot? I am projecting bcs I very much want to get married one day lol

<3

-love bakery anon 🍪

BUG I LOVE YOU SO MUCH <333 I HAVE HORRIBLE BRAINROT FOR BUGMU!!!!! I NEED ALL THE HEADCANNONS ON YOU GUYS <33

does he let you paint his nails? If so do you guys get matching nails?

HHHHH idk if you've read thru some of mango anon and me's yaps but i once told her about skater boy™ who unfortunately had me paint his nails once 😔😔 BUT!! I WILL TAKE THE POSITIVES FROM THAT SITUATIONSHIP AND LEAVE BEHIND THE NEGATIVES SO YOUR ANSWER IS YES!!! he lets me paint his nails <3 the first time it happened was we were watching a movie together and after i finished mine i grabbed his hand and he didn't realize what i was doing at first until he felt the little brush yk <3 and he simultaneously didn't mind and was also slightly worried about his teammates being annoying about it <3 but when he showed up at practice the next day he was like "actually, i'm cooler than all of u. my gf painted my nails 🖕" and then everytime he raised his hands and saw the black nail polish (ofc it's black <3) he was reminded of me teehee <3 but lowk without meaning to yes they match!! simply bc i love black nails and he likes black nail polish too so then it's fun when we're sitting on the train together, hands intertwined, and both of our nails are black <33

what’s your first dance song at your wedding?

HHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM hold on i gotta look thru my spotify playlist for this bc idk anything about weddings and i literally hate playing music for others LMAO 😭 (ofc i went to the love notes playlist straight away) OKAY I'M HCING OUR WEDDING WAS VERY SMALL AND NICHE ANYWAY and maybe we lowk kissed everyone out for our first dance or were one of those couples that does it behind a curtain so it's an intimate moment and i would love for it to have been to heaven (take care), lose me on the way (hope sandoval) or darling (mannequin pussy) <33

what was the moment you were like “oh- I love him.”?

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i love this man so much <3 probably the first time we were in a conversation together with some other friends and i got talked over but he was looking at me the entire time and was kind of like "what were you saying? before atsumu so rudely interrupted you bc he doesn't know how to wait his fucking turn? i'm listening ❤" and i almost fell to my knees and knew i must have this man

what’s the weirdest situation you’ve said “I love you” in?

i just KNOW that we have so many weird moments but def one of the weirdest was when we were at a cafe and this man accidentally knocked over a glass of water 😭😭 and i was embarassed af but he's also my man and i love him so much and i wouldn't rather be anywhere else but on the floor with napkins cleaning up a water spill with him <3 and i was just like "rin i love you you're so pretty" and he was just like "ness. angel. sweetheart. pls don't say that right now i'm bent over the floor cleaning up water. i love u too tho <3"

BUG PLS RB THIS WITH RANDOM HCS FOR WHATEVER SELF SHIP YOU'RE FEELING RN IF YOU WANT TO!! I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOU GUYS OMG I JUST LOVE HEARING ABOUT YOU GUYS ALL THE TIME <33

[watchingspnagain]

Rewatching It’s a Terrible Life

Welcome to “Sam and Dean are Just Steps on the Bossman’s Ladder: A Supernatural Rewatch Blog” with Lor and Mace!

Up today, s4e17: It’s a Terrible Life

Dean Smith works a middle-management white-collar job at Sandover Bridge and Iron, and Sam Wesson is a grunt in the IT department there. Sam thinks something about this life is wrong, and when he runs into Dean he could swear they’ve met before. But Dean brushes him off until employees start dying real weird in the company. When Dean witnesses an IT tech stab himself in the throat during a panic attack over filling out a form incorrectly, he accepts that Sam might be on to something. The two work together to research the company and the deaths, eventually realizing the ghost of the company’s founder is compelling workers to kill themselves if they don’t give Sandover their all. Smith and Wesson dispatch the ghost (after finding some helpful tips online from the Ghostfacers), and eventually Dean’s boss reveals that he is actually Zachariah, an angel who arranged this little interlude for Dean to help him remember that he is and always will be a hunter at heart. Dean doesn’t take kindly to this interference from the angels and promises that one day he’ll stab Zachariah in his face.

Below is a log of our real-time reactions as we watched. Remember that there may be spoilers for any part of SPN’s 15-season run here. Note also that the nature of our conversation is adult and thus it may contain adult language and themes.

 [and we begin:]

Lor: bounces I love this one

Mace: 

it is a good one

he looks so ridiculous in that shirt and tie

Lor:

and I love that this show is like "ep 16: torture, hero almost killed by a demon who tortured him in hell for 30 years. ep 17: alternate universe shenanigans"

mmm. someone should maybe take him out of them

Mace: 

they like to mess with us

Lor:

yep

Mace: 

LOR.

Lor:

wot?

innocent

Mace: 

simmer down

Lor:

NEVER

Mace: 

omg this guy plays such a hilarious weirdo on Psych

Lor:

Zachariah?

Mace: 

yeah

Lor:

omg Dean Smith. you do not need to lose any weight. eat a cookie

kill a ghost

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

LOL Sam's face

Mace: 

SAM IN THAT POLO

Lor:

YES

even Dean Smith makes "no homo" jokes when no one else brought that up pets him go to therapy, baby

Mace: 

it’s crazy to me that Sam is uncomfortable in this fake life but Dean suspects nothing

YEP

Lor:

DID YOU TRY TURNING IT OFF AND THEN ON

yeah it is WEIRD

Mace: 

HAHAHA

Lor:

but it fits with his "I can fit in anywhere thing"

Mace: 

hm. I wonder if it’s more “I’m so unhappy in the life my daddy forced me into” thing

Lor:

oh definitely

Mace: 

my god he FITS in that shirt

Lor:

YAAAS

he should really stop being work buddies with this asshole

Mace: 

(omg I am seriously wearing almost EXACTLY that other dude’s outfit right now)

Lor:

HAAAAHAHAHAHA I LOVE IT

poor Sam doesn't fit in his cubicle

Mace: 

graphic t with ratty flannel over

Lor:

it is the BEST outfit

Mace: 

oh Sammy, sweets, I’ll nap with you

Lor:

MACE

simmer down

Mace: 

I love how he does NOT fit into that cubicle

Lor:

YES

Mace: 

Dean’s profile. just DAMN, son

Lor:

YAAAAAS

they made him extra pretty this ep and I love that they bothered

Mace: 

he cleans up super nice

Lor:

Dean, you know you have some vampire romance novels under your perfectly made bed

Mace: 

SNORK

“you overshare”

HAHAHA

Lor:

the tiny montages of the workplace mundanities

Mace: 

YEP

“I hope they spank me” this boy is naughty

Lor:

LOL

look, we've all been where he is. no evil ghost needed

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

EW

Mace: 

oh GROSS

SHOULDERS

Lor:

YAS

omg Dean's pretty pretty face. his LIPS

Mace: 

RIGHT?!

Lor:

omg Sam and Dean are both researching it and asking the same questions on their own. i love it

Mace: 

YES

“did you shave?!”

Lor:

lol

"the dash-Rs"

Mace: 

“hey, guy”

Lor:

omg his back in those suspenders

Mace: 

right?

omg EW

Lor:

RIGHT?

i always forget this one has some serious ew horror moments

poor Dean so shook

Mace: 

but not as shook as a normal person, which is kind of awesome

Lor:

the way his voice kinda fails on "neck"

YES

I love the way he just totally took charge with Ian (even though it didn't work)

Mace: 

why did he bring his bag?

yeah

Lor:

security laptop. it makes him feel safe

Mace: 

emotional support laptop

Lor:

YES

"NOT NATURAL"

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

"no that would be nuts" HAAAAAHHAHAHAHA poking fun at their own show history

Mace: 

SNORK

Lor:

"some skills I happen to have"

Mace: 

okay settle down, Taken

Lor:

I admire from afar

Mace: 

Dean’s arms in that shirt

Lor:

HEY. SETTLE DOWN

Mace: 

“right?!” BOYS

Lor:

"I am dying to check this out." "Right?" YES

Mace: 

SNORK! Look, I’m always like this. It’s weirder when you do it

Lor:

LOLOLOLOL

Fair enough

Mace: 

your desire to trot at any given moment is, like, lukewarm

Lor:

at best

Mace: 

which is, of course, completely cool - PUN INTENDED - I’m just saying that when you bump it up to hot-trotting, it’s just different

Lor:

LOLOLOL

I get it

Mace: 

whereas my trotting enthusiasm always runs at toasty, minimum

Lor:

except for the GIANT BOWL OF APPLES

eat a food, Dean, I beg you

Mace: 

HAHAHA

Lor:

LOL toasty trots

DON'T BE A SNOB DEAN SMITH

Mace: 

right?!

(also, their NAMES)

Lor:

your daddy raised you better'n that

Mace: 

did he, though?

I think you mean Bobby raised him better

Lor:

(YES I am kissing whoever decided to give them OTHER gun names platonically on the head)

Mace: 

(HA)

Lor:

Bobby is his dad in the universe, that's what I meant

Mace: 

omgomgomg

Lor:

HAAAAHAHAHAHA GHOSTFACERS

"instructional videos"

Mace: 

GHOSTFACERS

I forgot they were in here!

Lor:

THIS IS LIKE THE BEST JOKE that they learn how from them who they hate who learned it from them

I LOVE IT kicks feet in glee

Mace: 

YESYESYES

Lor:

nrrrrrf Dean's dumb buttondown tucked into his dumb dress slacks

Mace: 

YES

“yeah now sucks"

Lor:

his portfolio is in the sewer. poor rich baby

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

"useless douchebags the Winchesters"

"possibly all states"

Mace: 

HAHAHAHA

Lor:

and Dean's face at the idea of digging up bodies

Mace: 

YES

omg Dean hiding

Lor:

YES

oh man another super gross bit coming

Mace: 

UGH

“���what?” SAM

Lor:

YES

eeeeeeeeew

Mace: 

EWEWEWEW

poor Bean

Lor:

poor sammy

"take the stairs"

Mace: 

HAHAHA

Lor:

aw Dean's little swallow

Mace: 

YES

Lor:

"I have no idea"

Mace: 

oh boys

Lor:

hey! stop throwing my Dean around into things!

ooo the teamwork

Mace: 

YES

Lor:

I love that Sam immediately clocks that the way to help Dean is not to help him but to dispatch the ghost

Mace: 

YES

so smart

“that was amazing!”

Lor:

HE HAS A FIRST AID KIT IN HIS OFFICE

pets him

Mace: 

yeah

“how would we live?”

HEALTH INSURANCE

Lor:

"you don't wanna go fighting ghosts without any health insurance" I LOVE HIM

YES

Mace: 

I LOVE that Sam instinctively knows who he is

HE WENT TO STANFORD

Lor:

YES

RIGHT?!

And his family is Bobby, Ellen, and Jo

Mace: 

well, Bobby at least

“you don’t know me, pal” ooof

Lor:

"you should go" sigh

YAS SAM

Mace: 

YAS SAMMY DO IT

Lor:

GOD HIS ARMS

Mace: 

YES

he BENT the poker MY GOD

Lor:

YES

Dean, hold out for your own angel

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

gross

Mace: 

yeah

Lor:

THE WAY THE COLOR DROPS OUT

Mace: 

OMG YES

Lor:

"my GOD am I hungry"

Mace: 

HAHAHA YES

Lor:

trots in with a bag of cheeseburgers and fries and pie

Mace: 

HA

Lor:

"gross. no thank you"

Mace: 

“gross” HAHAHAHA

Lor:

lololol Dean

ass clowns in monkey suits

Mace: 

how did they not realize how he would respond to this?

Lor:

his idiolect! I cannot

RIGHT?

Cas coulda told them. No way they ran this by him

Mace: 

nope

daddy issues

he’s not wrong there

Lor:

"I will stab you in your face" AND HE DOES

Mace: 

HAHAHAHA

Lor:

his face journey after "fornicate with women" is something else

look, Dean, I'm here to tell you you can hunt and still have the lattes

Mace: 

HAHAHA YES

and fuck all of them for doing all this to Sammy too but not bothering to explain

Lor:

RIGHT?

Mace: 

and HE’S THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY PASSED THE STUPID TEST

Lor:

like Sam goes from "my brother is beat to hell in a hospital bed" to being mind fucked and then no one bothers to tell him what's up

RIGHT?

Mace: 

so mean. he needs comforting.

Lor:

I think we've talked before about how if they'd given Dean a life HE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE HAD, like running his own auto shop, restoring cars, with either Cassie or Cas, he would have STAYED THERE FOREVER

Mace: 

YEP

[therecordchanger62279]

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION

     Records, and cassettes are too expensive. Compact discs are getting harder to find, and the packaging is bare bones, with prices too high for those as well. So, I spent the summer on YouTube listening to a very long list of albums I very much wanted to explore. Some I had heard once and never again. Some I’d only read about. I wanted to further my musical education, expand my horizons, and just hear things that were fresh and new – at least to my ears.

     The whole thing began when I bought Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology when it was released in the Spring. I was so overwhelmed by how good it is that for the next several weeks I immersed myself in her entire catalog. I bought several of the titles on CD, and listened to the remainder as digital downloads. I plan on writing a separate piece about the experience I had listening to her entire catalog in the space of just a few weeks. For now, I can say I understand why she’s the best selling, most beloved artist in the world. I’m only sorry I waited so long to discover why.

     After Taylor, I moved on to another artist who’s been on the scene for more than a decade, and who remains an enigma of sorts to even those who’ve been along for the ride since the beginning. Lana Del Rey, I soon learned, has eight of the best albums anyone has recorded over the past 12 years. Taylor Swift’s albums play like short stories in a literary anthology. Lana Del Rey’s albums are indie films with each song a separate scene. Neither is casual listening. I discovered on the first listen to each that I would need to really invest the time to appreciate the artistry that just overflows from both artists. As I said, more on both soon.

     In the meantime, I began to ask myself which records were still out there that I’d also wanted to hear, but never had? Which albums had I heard just once, and made a note to investigate further, and just never did for one reason or another? And in the process of searching these out, I also discovered several new albums that had slipped out this year completely under my radar that were by artists I’ve followed, and enjoyed for years. The music magazine I was reading wasn’t doing a very good job keeping me informed about these because they were too busy rewriting old stories about bands and artists I’d long ago abandoned, or about whom I already knew what I wanted to know. That’s why I let my subscription expire, and decided to do my own digging.

     One title at a time began to surface, and thanks to the magic of YouTube, I was able to hear all of these titles as often as I wanted. Below is the list with a few comments about what I heard.

Holly & The Italians – Holly Beth Vincent (1982) This is Holly Vincent’s solo album named after the band she’d recorded her debut record with a year earlier. A terrific Pop/Rock record, but almost impossible to find these days.

Home In the Heart of The Beat – Beat Rodeo (1986) One of those bands working the Roots Rock side of the street. It commands big money from online sellers these days. It’s a solid, if unspectacular effort.

Do You Wanna Ride? – Adina Howard (1995) I first heard this in one of the shops I used to frequent, and though it was an R&B/Hip-Hop record (not usually my thing at all), I liked her voice, and a couple of the songs stayed with me. When I searched it out all these years later, I expected it to be long forgotten, but it seems time has enhanced its appeal, and Howard still has a career in the business even though it was 9 years before she followed it with a second album. It holds up well, and I added it to one of my playlists.

Happy Nightmare Baby – Opal (1987) Long out-of-print, Opal was part of the Paisley Underground movement of the early 80s in Los Angeles. Kendra Smith from The Dream Syndicate, and David Roback crafted a sound that eventually evolved into Mazzy Star when Hope Sandoval replaced Smith. It’s dreamy Pop I find irresistible. I also investigated a few tracks – all I could find – from Kendra’s two solo albums, both also long out-of-print, and both quite worth a reissue.

This Is Big Audio Dynamite – Big Audio Dynamite (1985) Mick Jones put this band together after being sacked by The Clash. I have their second LP, 10 Upping Street from 1986. I like this debut, but I think the follow-up more fully realizes their efforts to meld Punk, Dance, Reggae, and Hip-Hop into one big musical melting pot.

The Longest Day (1984) / Boston, Ma. (1985) – The Del Fuegos Sort of an Americana, or Roots Rock Garage band maybe best remembered for a Miller High Life beer commercial. Like Beat Rodeo, both are pretty strong efforts, but there’s nothing spectacular that would’ve helped them sustain a longer career. Still, both albums merit a reissue.

Sheet Music – 10cc (1974) The band’s second album, and the one most highly regarded by critics. I have their debut, and this one is just as good. I’m happy to have finally heard it.

Your Saving Grace / Rock Love / Recall the Beginning…Journey to Eden / Number 5 – SteveMiller Band (1969-1972) These four early albums were missing from my Steve Miller collection. I’d never owned or even heard any of these, but after picking up Children of the Future, their debut, and Brave New World, their third album earlier this year (Sailor – which I’ve had for years - was the second) I thought it was time to catch up. These are all Psychedelic Rock records with a bit of Pop, and a helping of Blues done in Miller’s laid-back affable style. He would make far more commercial records beginning with 1973’s The Joker, but these are all essential to anyone who loves the sounds of San Francisco in the late 60s.

     In an effort to round out my knowledge of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement of the late 70s/early 80s in England, I listened to a half dozen bands and/or records that are considered cornerstones of that movement. Each of the titles listed below had their good points and bad. I didn’t consider any of them to be essential additions to my collection, but I included them all in a playlist of the period, and I can close the book on researching that particular movement now. Angel Witch, Grim Reaper, and Diamond Head were the best of the six.

Angel Witch – Angel Witch (1980)

Lightning To the Nations – Diamond Head (1980)

See You in Hell – Grim Reaper (1983)

Death Penalty – Witchfinder General (1982)

All For One – Raven (1983)

Crusader – Saxon (1984)

Be My Slave – Bitch (1983) The Bitch is Back – Bitch (1987) / Betsy (1989) Bitch was a Los Angeles Heavy Metal band with a sexy lead screamer named Betsy who left to cut a solo album a year after the band’s final LP. She’s still on the road fronting her own band today. These records sound dated today by contemporary standards, but they’re welcome additions to my playlist that chronicles the L.A. Metal scene of that period.

Bent Out of Shape – Rainbow (1983) This is the last Rainbow album I had not heard, and because I’ve always been a fan of both Ritchie Blackmore and Rainbow, I wanted to hear it. It’s not their best album, but if you’re a fan, it’s certainly worth having. I preferred the band with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner rather than Ronnie Dio, but I know that’s a minority opinion. Any record that features Blackmore’s guitar is worth hearing.

Memories Have Faces – The Loons (2024) The latest from San Diego’s premier Garage/Psych band fronted by Ugly Things publisher Mike Stax. This is one of their best records.

Smoke & Fiction – X (2024) A surprise new album from America’s greatest ever Punk band as they embark on their final tour. There are better X albums, but this one is a must for fans.

Ask The Ages – Sonny Sharrock (1991) The final record from the brilliant Jazz guitarist. Great band with Pharoah Sanders, Charnett Moffett, and the legendary Elvin Jones on drums. Bill Laswell produced. I was never able to locate a copy anywhere, but YouTube had it. Great record. If it ever gets a reissue, I’ll pick it up.

Miley Cyrus (20 track career spanning playlist compiled by The Guardian) I only knew of Miley from her Hannah Montana days, and of course I know of the controversy that’s surrounded her since. But I didn’t know the music, and I had no idea where to start. But I found a list on The Guardian website picking her 20 best songs, and that’s where I started. There were four tracks I really loved, and another half-dozen I thought were impressive. The rest weren’t bad by any means, but they weren’t particularly memorable either. I like Miley. I like her strong vocals, and her attitude about controlling her own career, and being who she is. I admire her for breaking free of the Disney graveyard where so many child stars are buried, but she’d have to be more consistent, and develop her songwriting more to keep me interested.

Show Stopper (1983) / Renaissance Man (1984) / Jukebox (1986) – Jamaaladeen Tacuma Tacuma is one of the premier electric bass players of his generation. I heard the first two records here when they were issued, and always intended to add them to my collection. But his label, Gramavision went bust, and I was never able to find them again. He’s putting them out again through Bandcamp, and they’re on YouTube as well. These are excellent albums, and if they’re ever reissued on CD, I’d certainly pick them up.

Steps Ahead (1983) / Modern Times (1984) – Steps Ahead When I was managing an NRM store in the 1980s, I had some musicians working for me who were devoted to Steps Ahead. I heard both of these records in-store quite a few times, and always meant to pick them up. But I waited too long, and they went out of print when the label collapsed. They’re around now as expensive imports, I believe. They still sound good to my ears, and with guys like Mike Manieri, Steve Smith, and Bill Evans in the band, their brand of Jazz Fusion satisfies.

Musicmagic – Return To Forever (1977) The final studio record from the band before they reunited more than a decade later. I never thought their work for Columbia was as good as what they’d done on Polydor, but this one was better than I remembered.

The Verbier Festival Debut Recital 2008 – Yuja Wang (2023) This was released as a download 13 years after the fact. Yuja was the ripe old age of 21 when this was recorded. She was astonishing even then, and has gone on to become the world’s premier pianist – in any genre.

Friends & Strangers – Ronnie Laws (1977) I first heard saxophonist Ronnie Laws when he released his 1976 Fever album. I liked his brand of funky Jazz as well as his tone on the sax. This record, like the other two I’ve heard, is quite good.

The Brecker Brothers (1975) Very highly regarded debut from the Breckers – Michael on sax, and Randy on trumpet. It’s funky, and the playing impeccable. I found it a little slick, and short of great tunes, but it’s worth a listen or two.

Multiplication – Eric Gale (1977) Smooth Jazz from a guitarist who brings a bit of an edge to his work. He’s an excellent player, and I like this one as much as his Ginseng Woman, and Touch of Silk LP’s.

Short N’ Sweet (2024) / E-Mails I Can’t Send (2022) – Sabrina Carpenter I’d never heard of Sabrina Carpenter until I saw a caption on a photo of her with Taylor Swift. She hasn’t got Taylor’s voice or her gift for songwriting, but this is catchy Dance/Pop with hooks everywhere, and attitude to match. I like her use of acoustic guitars on a few tracks. They lend a light, airy, almost Brazilian feel. It’s lightweight, but not aimed at somebody my age. Still, I can understand her popularity. And the newer one is the better of the two.

Back To Black – Amy Winehouse (2006) I figured I was probably the last person on Earth who’d never heard this. I always meant to, but when she died, I figured there was no point. That was a mistake because she was every bit the major talent everyone claimed she was, and in retrospect, it’s easy to feel the loss – even if it is 13 years since she passed.

Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish (2024) A simple case of curiosity here. Her appeal is understandable. She obviously connects with her young audience. Her voice is slight, but she’s a good songwriter. Her songs are more melodic than most of what you hear these days. I picked this album because she told the press that it was the most like her of any record she’d made so far. I think she’ll be around awhile.

Ectopia – Oregon (1987) Recorded for ECM, Oregon had more of a New Age sound than the Jazz that label is known for. But whatever you call it, it’s an engaging listen.

Cloud Dance – Collin Walcott (1976) A member of Oregon, Walcott cut this album for ECM more than a decade before Ectopia. It’s similar, and a nice companion to that one as well as the three Codona albums on the label that also featured Walcott.

Spellbinder (1966) / Dreams (1968) – Gabor Szabo I’ve been a Santana fan since their 1969 debut record, but I had never heard Gabor Szabo, Carlos Santana’s biggest influence on guitar. These are two of his 60s albums – likely ones Santana knew well. It’s easy to hear what Santana incorporated into his own style, but I think it’s a case of the student surpassing the teacher.

Warm Leatherette – Grace Jones (1980) I’m a fan of Jones’s Nightclubbing album. This one preceded it, and sounds like the template for that one.

Room of One’s Own (1996) / Under the Milky Way Express (2000) – Rachel Z Rachel Z’s music has been difficult to find, and I’ve been looking since she released her excellent Sensual album this past February. The earlier title is her second album, and it’s impressive. Her stuff is melodic, and she’s got a nice touch on the keyboard. The other album is her fourth, and it’s all Wayne Shorter tunes. That one convinced me she’s a major talent. I’d like to see a reissue program for her catalog.

Faces at the BBC (box) (2024) This is 8 CDs worth of BBC archive recordings from the early 70s. I’ve only heard about a CD’s worth so far, but it’s a must if you loved Faces – and who didn’t? Truly one of the great bands of the period.

Out of the Mist (1977) / Illusion (1978) – Illusion I missed this completely first time around. I only discovered it now thanks to one of the YouTube vinyl community channels I follow by the name of Near Wild Heaven. This band was a branch of the Renaissance tree with members of that band leaving after its debut. They gave the name to a new group of musicians, and formed Illusion. The debut is an excellent Progressive Rock record – truly a lost treasure. The self-titled follow-up is almost as good, and I can only think the reason this band failed to make any real impact was because they were late to the party. By 1977 the music world was laser focused on Disco, Punk, and the kind of corporate Rock where all the bands had logos. Progressive Rock was consigned to the dustbin, and its practitioners were outcasts. Of all the records listed here, Out of the Mist is the one I would most like to see given a proper reissue. I might even overpay for it. It’s that good.

The Lost Record (2024) / Bright Lights (2021) / The Deep End (2019) – Susanna Hoffs Her latest along with her two previous releases. Those last two are albums of covers – something she does well, but more important is her knack for picking great, and lesser-known numbers by very talented songwriters. The Lost Record, an album of originals, was resurrected from the ashes of an aborted 1994 session, and it’s the best of the three. But if you like her work, there’s nothing here you won’t enjoy.

Big Science – Laurie Anderson (1982) This got so much press and so many plaudits from critics when it was released more than 40 years ago, that I think I deliberately avoided hearing it. When every critic is on to something none of my friends are talking about, I generally stay away. So, it was sheer curiosity that made me give it some time all these years later. What did I discover? I was right to avoid it all those years ago. There wasn’t a single track on it I ever want to hear again.

Tori Amos (a YouTube hits compilation playlist) Another artist whose popularity, and cult following always puzzled me. I listened to a few things when she was all the rage, and just didn’t get it. But I figured I’d try again, and see if maybe I was wrong. Though I respect her talents at the piano, and she has some nice melodies, the lyrics are often hard to hear because of her mannered vocals that tend to grate after a while. Just not my thing. But I did try.

Viva – Lone Justice (2024) Thirty-eight years have gone by since their last record, and subsequent breakup. But they’re back, intact, though I’m not sure for how long. They sound the same as they always did. But a new LP with just one original, and a mix of covers is puzzling. It almost sounds like a rehearsal just to test the waters to see if they were comfortable. Not a failure by any means, but I think we all expected more. Still, we can hope there’ll be a follow-up that will blow us all away.

At Home – Shocking Blue (1969) A Pop/Psych gem. They were so much more than just “Venus.” I intend to search out the rest of their catalog. They really had some magic.

Strawberry Alarm Clock – Strawberry Alarm Clock (1967) Sounds like the “Summer of Love.” Lightweight, nice melodies, silly lyrics, but if you were there, irresistible nostalgia.

Evolution – Sheryl Crow (2024) First new album by Sheryl I’ve heard since 2005’s Wildflowers which I bought, and sold back. I think the muse deserted her which led to a Christmas album, a collection of covers, a live record – all things artists do when the well runs dry. This new one is solid, but there’s nothing remarkable here, and I wouldn’t expect to return to it.

TexiCali – Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore (2024) A sequel to their last pairing, Downey to Lubbock, and this one is even better. It will probably land in my Top 5 for 2024.

The Border – Willie Nelson (2024) When this began playing, if I hadn't known going in who it was, I never would've guessed it was Willie Nelson. His voice is much rougher, and deeper than when I'd last heard him on record just a few years ago. Of course, as it continued to play, his old voice surfaced now and again, and there was that old guitar, and his phrasing. Once I got comfortable with the changes in his voice, I was able to hear the songs, and this is as fine a set of songs on one Willie album in some time. Recommended.

Across the River of Stars – Beachwood Sparks (2024) If you've never heard their brand of Southern California hippie pop psych, this isn't the place to start. At under thirty minutes, and without anything definitive here, this feels like a minor effort. Fans will want it, but Tarnished Gold, and Desert Skies are more substantial.

MoonDial – Pat Metheny (2024) All acoustic, very quiet Jazz guitar. Metheny describes it as a late night into morning record, and that's accurate. Not many guitarists can do this, and hold your interest for an hour, but Metheny isn't your average guitarist. Recommended.

Driven’ To Drive – Joe Ely (2024) This is essentially the same record Joe Ely has been making his entire career. If you're a fan, there's nothing here you won't enjoy. If you don't know his work, begin with The Best of Joe Ely, and work backwards. If you get hooked, circle back to this one.

Survivor – Vanessa Williams (2024) I only got through the first five tracks of this before I dismissed it. She's still got that voice, but somebody (maybe her) decided to update, and modernize her approach to appeal to a younger audience. But she's working the same side of the street as artists less than half her age, and it isn't likely she'll convert younger fans with this. All she's managed to do is alienate the older ones. I thought of someone like Tony Bennett who courted a younger audience by working with Lady Gaga. But Tony did what he'd always done as if to say, "This is me, and this is what I do. I hope you like it." That's what I wish Vanessa would've done. Stick with what you do best. But do it better, and maybe use younger songwriters, and fresh arrangements if you want a new audience. Disappointing.

Brasil – Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin (2024) I've been listening to a lot of Brazilian music recently, so the timing on this couldn't be better. Ritenour and Grusin are masters at making records, and this will put you exactly where you want to be - on a beach, with a drink in hand, and a cool breeze blowing across the sand as you watch the sunset.

Safe at Home - The International Submarine Band (1967) Gram Parsons before he joined The Byrds for Sweetheart of the Rodeo. This is very similar to that album - particularly the original version that featured several Parsons vocals that Roger McGuinn replaced when Parsons left the band due to a dispute over shows booked for South Africa. From the evidence here, Parsons already had in mind what he wanted to do with his brand of Country music, and he would fulfill that promise with The Flying Burrito Brothers. Interesting as a curio, and as a blueprint for the Country-Rock house Parsons would build.

     That’s the list so far. What looked to be a dull year musically has suddenly become quite interesting. Stay tuned for more.

[icedancergirl]

tagged by angel madeline @sullengirl to list 10 of my favorite songs with names in the title!! thank u🩷

terrence loves you - lana

what sarah said - death cab

next level charli - charli xcx

clementine - elliott smith

angelina - pinegrove

francis forever - mitski

suzanne - hope sandoval & the warm inventions

jonathan - fiona apple

grace - jeff buckley

alina - alex g

tagging @damonsalvatoregf @gothicbohemian @flowyskirt @le-ange-de-amour @chamonamile @alpacinolover @softtpapillon @thomyorkesgf @angelwisps @hauntedwoman @gildedfairy @kafka3sque @m0tel6mxzzy @spicedpersimmon @cobain omg i’m forgetting so many lovely mutuals, if ur a mutual IM TAGGING U AND GIVING U A KISS

[shootinwebs]

(also based on my hc that angel is transmasc and afab)

headcanon that partly where angel got the inspiration for the name angel dust was how, in his earth life as a cabaret performer, regulars at the club started calling him "angel voice" because of his singing voice. he sounds similar to ethereal singers like elizabeth fraser (cocteau twins) and hope sandoval (mazzy star).

[hauntedrose555]

[dinosaursr66]

My lullaby tonight and every night. Hope Sandoval is an angel.

SONG OF THE DAY/NIGHT - April 7, 2023

[catb-fics]

🎸 I can’t negatively judge any fanfic writer even if I wanted to. I was repugnant 🫣

He's afraid of hereditary balding tho his hair grows fast. I miss the curls at the end of his long hair when it would air dry

My ex was Hope’s designated waterboy at a festival n we’ve kept in contact with her. She is an earth side angel. Van being rejected by then 51-year-old Hope Sandoval was the highlight of my 2018. He was chill for 5 n tried using his British charm to get her number cos I never gave it to him. She saw right through him

He’s single. This is what it’s like dating him. If you want him to listen to you when he’s in his musician mode, good luck. You’re going to need it. So real it hurts

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C13MlIILQ5A/?igsh=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==

Please don’t bring up the subject of bald Van we’re very sensitive about it on here 😂

I can totally imagine this and it would drive me insane!

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