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lifextime · 1 year ago

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ayumi hamasaki - Remember You

Ayumi Hamasaki est une artiste populaire au Japon, reconnue pour son style musical unique et sa voix puissante. La demoiselle est de retour en 2023 avec un nouvel album nommé “ Remember You “, après plus de sept ans d’absence ( son dernier album remontait à 2016) . Donc voici une review/critique de l'album, chanson par chanson et de façon neutre, ce qui est assez difficile quand on sait que j’ai adoré l’album !

"Nonfiction": Bien que "Nonfiction" offre une mélodie entraînante et des arrangements musicaux solides, les paroles semblent manquer de profondeur et d'originalité. Les thèmes abordés sont souvent superficiels et prévisibles, ce qui ne permet pas à la chanson de se démarquer parmi les autres titres de l'album. Une exploration plus approfondie des émotions et des idées aurait pu enrichir cette piste. Une excellente ouverture en soit. Un risque qui été pris dans sa composition, mais qui finit par payer. (4/5)

"(NOT) Remember you": "(NOT) Remember you" présente une ambiance mélancolique et des arrangements musicaux atmosphériques, mais la chanson souffre d'un manque de dynamisme. La mélodie peut sembler monotone et répétitive, ce qui peut entraîner une certaine lassitude chez la personne qui la découvre et qui l’écoute. Une évolution plus marquée et des variations dans la composition auraient pu apporter une dimension supplémentaire à cette piste. (3/5)

"Dreamed a Dream": "Dreamed a Dream" est une ballade-rock émouvante qui met en valeur la voix puissante d'Ayu. Cependant, les paroles peuvent sembler clichées et prévisibles, ne proposant pas de perspectives nouvelles ou originales. Une exploration plus approfondie des thèmes abordés aurait permis d'apporter une profondeur supplémentaire à cette chanson. néanmoins, la mélodie reste plaisante notamment au moment du pont et du refrain. (5/5)

"23rd Monster": Bien que "23rd Monster" offre une atmosphère sombre et énigmatique, la chanson peut sembler un peu désordonnée et difficile à suivre. Les transitions entre les différentes parties peuvent être abruptes, ce qui nuit à la cohérence globale de la piste. Un travail plus attentif sur la structure et la fluidité aurait pu améliorer l'expérience d'écoute. (4/5)

"Summer Again": "Summer Again" est une chanson pop-dance et entraînante, mais elle peut manquer d'originalité et de surprise. La mélodie et les arrangements sont relativement prévisibles, ce qui peut rendre la chanson moins mémorable par rapport à d'autres titres de l'album. Des expérimentations plus audacieuses auraient pu donner à cette piste une identité plus distincte. (3/5)

"Ray of Truth": "Ray of Truth" est un interlude qui possède une ambiance atmosphérique captivante. Une approche minimaliste aurait pu mettre en valeur la transition de l’album avec la piste suivante. (2/5).

“Remember you” : “Remember You” est une ballade qui contraste avec la piste “(not) Remember You”, beaucoup plus calme et posé. La chanson offre une émotion sans précédent dans l’interprétation de Ayu. la mélodie est bien construite afin de bien mettre en valeur la voix de l’artiste, une chanson sans fausses notes et qui ravira les amateurs du genre. (5/5)

"Ohia no Ki": "Ohia no Ki" est une ballade délicate et émouvante, mais la progression de la chanson peut sembler prévisible. La structure et les arrangements restent relativement simples tout au long de la piste, ce qui peut donner une impression de monotonie. Une exploration plus audacieuse des variations de tempo et des nuances aurait pu renforcer l'impact émotionnel de cette chanson. (5/5)

"Haru yo, Koi": "Haru yo, Koi" offre une atmosphère printanière et des arrangements musicaux agréables. Cependant, la chanson peut manquer de puissance émotionnelle et d'originalité. Les paroles, bien que douces, peuvent sembler génériques et ne pas se démarquer parmi les autres chansons de l'album. Une approche plus audacieuse et des paroles plus distinctives auraient pu apporter une profondeur supplémentaire à cette piste. un joli hommage à Matsutoya Yumi. (5/5)

"Taskinson": "Taskinson" présente une production énergique et des arrangements musicaux accrocheurs. Cependant, la chanson peut sembler un peu trop chargée et désordonnée, ce qui peut rendre l'écoute un peu fatigante. Une attention plus ciblée sur la clarté sonore et l'équilibre des éléments musicaux aurait pu améliorer la qualité globale de cette piste.

"MASK": "MASK" offre une ambiance sombre et mystérieuse, mais la chanson peut manquer d'évolution et de progression. La mélodie et les arrangements restent relativement stables tout au long de la piste, ce qui peut donner une impression de répétition. Une exploration plus dynamique des variations de tempo et des changements d'intensité aurait pu donner à cette chanson une dimension supplémentaire.(3/5)

"VIBEES": "VIBEES" propose une approche plus contemporaine avec des éléments de musique électronique, mais la chanson peut sembler un peu générique et manquer de profondeur. Les paroles peuvent sembler superficielles et ne pas proposer de réflexions significatives. Une exploration plus audacieuse des textures sonores et des idées aurait pu rendre cette piste plus distinctive. (3/4)

"Nonfiction (Yohanne Simon remix)": Le remix de "Nonfiction" par Yohanne Simon apporte une nouvelle interprétation de la chanson originale. Cependant, le remix peut sembler manquer de créativité et de surprises. Les changements apportés à la mélodie et aux arrangements sont relativement mineurs, ce qui peut rendre cette version moins intéressante par rapport à l'originale. (2/5)

"Just the way you are": "Just the way you are" est une ballade touchante qui met en valeur la voix douce d'Ayumi Hamasaki. Cependant, la chanson peut manquer de singularité et de moments marquants. La mélodie et les arrangements restent relativement simples tout au long de la piste, ce qui peut rendre l'écoute moins mémorable. Des éléments plus distinctifs auraient pu renforcer l'impact émotionnel de cette chanson.

"Remember You" est un album captivant et émouvant qui met en valeur le talent et la polyvalence d'Ayumi Hamasaki en tant qu'artiste. Sorti après une longue attente, cet album démontre sa capacité à se réinventer tout en restant fidèle à son style distinctif.

L'album s'ouvre avec la chanson éponyme "NONFICTION", une piste puissante et entraînante qui donne le ton pour le reste de l'album. Ayumi Hamasaki captive immédiatement les auditeurs avec sa voix puissante et émotionnelle, créant une atmosphère captivante. Les arrangements musicaux sont riches et variés, allant des moments énergiques aux moments plus introspectifs, offrant ainsi une dynamique intéressante tout au long de l'album.

L'une des forces de "Remember You" réside dans sa diversité musicale. Ayu explore différents genres, des ballades émouvantes comme "Remember Me" et "Ohia no Ki" aux morceaux pop entraînants comme "Summer Again" et "MASK". Chaque chanson est soigneusement produite, avec des arrangements musicaux élaborés qui complètent les émotions véhiculées par les paroles. La variété des styles musicaux permet à l'album de captiver les auditeurs et d'éviter toute monotonie.

Les paroles de l'album méritent également d'être soulignées. Ayumi aborde des thèmes universels tels que l'amour, la perte, la résilience et la recherche de soi. Ses paroles sont sincères, poétiques et souvent introspectives, permettant aux auditeurs de s'identifier facilement et de se connecter émotionnellement à sa musique. Qu'il s'agisse de moments de vulnérabilité ou d'empowerment, Ayumi transmet les émotions avec une authentique profondeur.

La production de l'album est également de haute qualité. Les arrangements musicaux sont riches en détails et bien équilibrés, créant une expérience d'écoute immersive. Les transitions entre les différentes pistes sont fluides, ce qui permet à l'album de se dérouler de manière cohérente et agréable.

Cependant, malgré toutes ses qualités, "Remember You" peut souffrir de quelques légers défauts. Certaines chansons peuvent sembler moins mémorables que d'autres, et certaines parties de l'album peuvent manquer de surprises ou de moments marquants. De plus, certains auditeurs pourraient trouver que certaines chansons rappellent des titres précédents d'Ayu, ce qui peut donner une impression de déjà-vu.

Dans l'ensemble, "Remember You" est un album solide qui démontre la constante évolution artistique d'Ayumi Hamasaki. Avec sa diversité musicale, ses paroles sincères et sa production de qualité, cet album offre une expérience d'écoute gratifiante pour les fans de J-pop et pour ceux qui découvrent Ayumi Hamasaki pour la première fois. Malgré quelques petits défauts, "Remember You" est un ajout digne d'intérêt à la discographie de l'artiste et mérite certainement une écoute attentive.

#浜崎あゆみ #ayumi hamasaki #avis #ayu #album

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noahreids · 2 years ago

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NUVO MAGAZINE | Noah Reid on Switching Gears and Making Adjustments

Writer Josh Greenblatt | Photographer Ted Belton

From Schitt’s Creek to a Broadway debut, the screen and stage actor is now pouring his emotions into music. When Noah Reid appears on our video chat, he’s sitting in what looks like the prototypical New York apartment with a gallery wall obscured by lush monstera plants. The Toronto native has been staying at a friend’s place in Queens during his run in the Tony-nominated Broadway show The Minutes, which has earned rave reviews, though Reid ignores them. To his right sits the cover of his third album, Adjustments, which features boarded-up storefronts, an image of a period marked by immense change. “During the pandemic, the visual texture of neighbourhoods changed so much,” Reid says of the inspiration behind the eerie album art. “So many businesses that didn’t make it through, the boarded-up stores, they became part of the tapestry of the streetscape, certainly in Toronto, and I’m guessing in a lot of places.” He wonders what happened to the owners. “If you had to close your business, where would you go? What would you do?”

Reid starting writing songs for the album, the follow-up to his sophomore effort, 2020’s Gemini, before the pandemic, but when the world locked down, his Gemini tour was cancelled. It was just a month before the final episode of Schitt’s Creek aired. The beloved sitcom became a cultural phenomenon, winning a record number of Emmy Awards plus a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble, and made Reid a star as Patrick Brewer, the love interest to Dan Levy’s character, David.

Noah Reid was photographed in Toronto this past June, while on a trip to his hometown from New York, where he is staying during his run in the Tony-nominated Broadway show, The Minutes.

Lockdown was an intensely creative time for Reid, if a trying one. “I was staying up way too late and just couldn’t differentiate the hours of the day,” he says, his casual approach to making music allowing him to hone his voice without the noise or pressure of a major label. Recorded live at Toronto’s Union Sound Company and produced by Juno Award nominee Matthew Barber (who also collaborated with Reid on Gemini and his 2016 debut album, Songs from a Broken Chair), Adjustments came to life over a series of sessions with musicians including Bahamian guitarist Christine Bougie and Great Lake Swimmers drummer Joshua Van Tassel. The result is an intensely personal, emotionally raw examination of our new, uncertain reality. “Everyday,” the effervescent album-opening lead single, encapsulates Reid’s headspace during the making of the album. “I wrote that song in the early days of the pandemic, when I’d look out the window at this park that’s usually full of kids and families but now was totally desolate,” he says. “It came from a feeling of being forced into a sort of loneliness and not really knowing what to do about that.”

Reid knows his genre of music isn’t exactly made for radio play. Alt-rock isn’t the most culturally relevant right now, he says. “I’m not trying to write hit songs. I just am writing from my own perspective.” Unlike in Hollywood or on Broadway, where producers, development executives, and casting directors determine actors’ fates, having full creative control over his music is paramount. So what is Reid’s perspective? ��Finding that undercurrent of adjustments,” the artist says. “Sometimes the adjustment is about kind of letting go of what you can’t control, and sometimes it’s about trying to try to put a better foot forward.”

Noah Reid’s latest album, Adjustments, is an eight-track disc of smooth alt-rock.

Reid, 35, was born in Toronto to visual artist parents and began performing in local theatre productions as a young boy. A sensitive kid with energy to burn, he sang in his school choir, played on sports teams, and did typical extracurricular activities. But at the same time, he says, “I was going off and doing these other things that felt special and creative,” for which he sometimes felt isolated from his peers—feelings he explores on the song “Left Behind.” He originally thought the song was about the end of Schitt’s Creek, he says, but now feels it has more to do with “deeper-seated feelings of being left out of things or moving through different groups of people when you’re involved in these casts.” He and Levy remain close. “We had so much stuff together, and that became a real foundation of a really loving, trusting friendship,” Reid says. “And you know, that on-screen partnership, we had to really rely on each other and build that trust with each other. A lot of projects, I’ve taken a few friends with me from each thing, and Schitt’s Creek, it’s just that special thing where if I’m in the same place as any of those people, that’s a terrific day for me.”

Noah Reid knows his genre of music isn’t exactly made for radio play. Alt-rock isn’t the most culturally relevant right now, he says. “I’m not trying to write hit songs. I just am writing from my own perspective.”

A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, Reid is a rare example of a child actor who made it to the big leagues. His disarming sincerity recalls the wholesome affability of his Schitt’s Creek character. “I don’t consider myself famous,” he says. “I know some famous people. They live differently from me.” Recently, in New York, Levy asked him how he’s been handling his new-found celebrity after the premiere of The Minutes. “That guy can’t walk down the street,” Reid says of his famous friend. “I can walk down the street, and maybe people are, like, ‘I know you from somewhere.’”

Despite his current stardom, Reid has found his fumbles more meaningful than his successes. “I think some of the best moments in my life have been when things professionally weren’t working out,” he says. “And I found things that grounded me—relationships and an understanding that you can contribute to the world around you and your community in ways that don’t involve people clapping for you or inviting you to fancy parties and stuff.” This healthy remove from Hollywood excess feels like a more honest place to make music audiences can relate to, which is more important to Reid than commercial success or industry praise. Not that they are irrelevant, but “now, interestingly, professional success is abundant, and it’s a hard time to focus on it because I’ve got other family matters that I value more deeply,” Reid says. “And so that kind of balancing act can be really tricky.”

As his run in The Minutes ends, Reid is adjusting to his new gig: fatherhood. And he’s approaching it like he has everything else that’s come his way: with a level head and grace. “I’ve always had a sense that rolling with the punches is important, that things are going to come and go,” he says. “I don’t get too high, don’t get too low, just be chill. Take what comes and try to do what you can with it. There’s always another day. If that thing doesn’t work out, there’ll be something else.”

#noah reid #noah reid: media #noah reid: articles

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soundslikenashville · 5 years ago

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continuo-docs · 4 years ago

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Music reviews by Laurent Fairon, March 2021

C. M. Slenko – Red Patience (January 2021) Tine Surel Lange – Works for Listening 1-10 (March 2021) 李帶菓 Li Daiguo – 笑功 Xiao Gong (March 2021) James Caldwell – Pocket Music (March 2021)

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C. M. Slenko – Red Patience (Sioux Trails Records) https://siouxtrails.bandcamp.com/album/red-patience

A mini-album of experimental Americana by US guitarist C. M. Slenko. Only three 8–9mn tracks, but each comprising different themes, sketches or ideas, forming an audio diary of sorts, intended to look and sound like a demo. C. M. Slenko plays electric guitar, Farfisa organ and drum machine to create lo-fi blues guitar music mixed with 1980s New Wave, with echoes of Will Oldham, The Durutti Column or Neil Young's Dead Man OST. There are some tentative vocals from Slenko, especially on the opener, but mostly these are exquisite, depressing instrumental songs. The 2nd track is interrupted by a found lullaby song from a female Soul singer, awkwardly embedded in the track like an homage, I presume. Despite it's messy and sketchy appearance, Red Patience contains some beautiful themes I've been enjoying during repeated listenings.

Tine Surel Lange – Works for Listening 1-10 (Sofa Music) https://sofamusic.bandcamp.com/album/works-for-listening-1-10

Debut album from Norwegian sound artist Tine Surel Lange, born in 1989, with already a lot of experience in sound installations, video art and mutli-channel sound technology, among other things. Works for Listening is a collection of musique concrète études based on samples of everyday objects: knife and fork, tap-water in a sink, stone, wire. These are then processed through well-known, classical techniques of musique concrète: a sound is stretched exaggeratedly, becoming a mere texture ; panning is used to create stereo effects ; a percussive sound is contrasted with the same sound played much faster at a higher pitch, or slowed down to provide bass ; etc. The sampler is Surel Lange's instrument, rather than the microphone, and she focuses her attention on the minutest particulars of electronic sound treatment. Reverb, delay and EQ-ing are what makes this album really shine. It was actually originally recorded with the Ambisonics surround sound system in professional studios, so obviously the purpose of these Works is to explore 3D sound possibilities – reduced here to a beautiful stereo. For my own taste, however, I would have enjoyed more gritting sounds and less stereotyped sound treatments, but this is still a fine album.

李帶菓 Li Daiguo – 笑功 Xiao Gong (WV Sorcerer Productions) https://wvsorcerer.bandcamp.com/album/xiao-gong

US-born, Chinese composer Li Daiguo (b.1981) offers here one of his strongest albums to date, with tracks recorded in 2015-2016 in Dali, Yunnan, where he lives since 2004. Though Li Daiguo is proficient on a variety of Chinese traditional music instruments like pipa or guzheng –cf. his superb 2020 duo with Lao Dan on Old Heaven Books–, this solo album is definitely an experimental project. On the best tracks here, electronically-processed acoustic instruments are confronted with radical electronic sound processing in a rich musical dialogue. Occasionally the sound of the instrument is processed beyond recognition, on the verge of pure electronic music. Other tracks are more straightforward, one acoustic instrument playing a few notes, graced perhaps with discrete sound effects. In any case, the artist is summoning interesting sound textures and atmospheres throughout. Far from being an East-meets-West fusion project, this is an exploration of the potential of ancient string instruments when coupled with contemporary electroacoustic sound processing. Some unnecessary tracks could have been edited, though, and 45mn would have been better than one hour. But there is some stunning music in here.

James Caldwell – Pocket Music (self released) https://james-caldwell.bandcamp.com/album/pocket-music

A collection of musique concrète études for found objects and small hand percussion by Illinois educator, curator and musician James Caldwell – his first release, apparently. Each track explores the sonic potential of small, everyday objects in terms of texture, resonance and percussive dimension. The original sounds are completed with synthesizer, electronic effects and post processing with a great integration of acoustic and electronic sounds, combined in a very natural, fluid way. The nuanced and creative use of sound effects (reverb, flanger, sampling, electronic tonalities) and collage elevates each track to the dimension of a small musique concrète étude. Perhaps more contrasts in pitch, texture or resonance would have enhanced the music's impact, the album being a bit monotonous as it is. It would be great to hear this composer broaden his scope and work with more varied source recordings.

#review #reviews #music review #experimental

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bobbystompy · 4 years ago

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My Top 88 Songs Of 2020

Previously: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Though we couldn’t get as trim as last year’s 75, still very happy to keep this under 100 for the second year in a row. This was a very difficult year in many ways, but music helped make it more bearable.

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 them out for yourself; there is also a Spotify playlist at the bottom that includes the majority of the songs

Usually a pump up video goes here, but 2020 had a different energy, so Michael, take us in.

88) Katy Perry - “Smile”

Even Katy Perry’s good songs are a swirling spiral of maxed out auto-tune. This one is just fine. It’s... fine.

87) All Time Low - “Trouble Is...”

Is All Time Low the Katy Perry of pop punk?

86) Tee Grizzley f/ Payroll Giovanni - “Payroll”

I have never heard of Payroll Giovanni, but I have two questions:

1) Is this his song, and he got Tee to jump on it?

2) Or, did Tee write a song called “Payroll” and think to himself “You know who would be great on this? Payroll Giovanni!”

Favorite stretch:

Listen, we is not the same, you say "door", I say "dough" You say "floor", I say "flow", you say "for sure", I say "fa'sho"

85) Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - “Rain On Me”

Coming out in 2020 probably hurt this song, because I have no, like, out of the house memories with it. You can only have so much fun with Big Singers Singing over a pulsing beat when it’s coming from the phone in your kitchen as you’re indifferently scrambling eggs.

84) Benjamin Gibbard - “Life In Quarantine”

Now this is a song you can do nothing to; almost feels like it’s reluctant to even exist. It got released in March of 2020, so the outro (“No one is going anywhere soon”) served as a too sad reminder/mantra for what the year was about to be. Second shout out to Gibbard for the many YouTube sets he put together during the early stages of the pandemic (when so many of his peers were trying to figure out the next move).

83) Cardi B f/ Megan Thee Stallion - “WAP”

This felt less like a song and more of a “whoa, did you see the music video?!” and/or a means to relitigate the eternal question “What is the sexual line in music?” And while it was fun to watch people freak the fuck out... the quality itself really needed to be better.

(Note: YouTube video is the edited chorus; explicit version here)

82) McKayla Maroney - “Wake Up Call”

Former Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney -- of medals and memes fame -- dips her toe into the music waters. It’s inside-the-box modern pop music. One thing that’s hard to escape: it doesn’t really sound like her.

81) Chelsea Cutler - “Sad Tonight”

He vocals really remind me of Alessia Cara.

80) blink-182 - “Quarantine”

Blink doing a Bad Religion impression. Docked a few points for the very weak chorus lyrics (“Quarantine, fuck this disease”). That said, as serious as the song comes off, there are some clever punchlines to be found.

79) Dave Hause & Brian Fallon - “Long Ride Home”

This is kind of a nothing song, but it’s easy listening. Also, if your guitar leads can’t clear the “Could Bobby have written or performed this?” bar, then said leads are probably pretty weak.

78) Travis Scott & Kid Cudi - “THE SCOTTS”

Two artists who pair so well together, it’s hard to tell who exudes more influence on the track (eh, that’s not true, it’s Travis Scott, but Kid Cudi is more of a roommate than guest). They want you to be high by the time the instrumental outro hits.

77) The Strokes - “Bad Decisions”

The beginning sound feels somewhat evolved, but by the time Julian Casablancas croons “Making bad decisions”, the song feels like it could be on their debut album “Is This It?”. And it goes in and out like that from there.

76) Thundercat - “Dragonball Durag”

Thundercat is one of those artists I wish I liked more, but when the occasional track does hit, it’s a momentary glimpse into what real fans seem to always see.

75) TI f/ Lil Baby - “Pardon”

Standard fare. Lil Baby’s cameo is very meh.

74) Porches - “Do U Wanna”

For a song that repeatedly asks “Do you want to dance?”, it sure makes you feel like you’re moving in slow motion.

73) NOFX - “Thatcher Fucked The Kids”

On the best-named album of the year (“West Coast vs. Wessex”), Frank Turner and NOFX cover each other’s material. To start us off, the legends take a song from 12 years ago about British politics from 40 years ago and, well, very easily apply it to right god damn now in America.

72) The Bombpops - “Dearly Departed”

Ahh, my year’s first cancelled concert. The listed names in V1 always make me want to skip this song -- but patience, grasshopper. Chorus is aight.

71) Ratboys - “Alien With A Sleep Mask On”

This band name will never match what the music sounds like.

70) Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - “She’s There”

The vocals in this song channel, like, four completely different singers for me, ranging from Bob Dylan to Cloud Nothings.

69) NOBRO - “Don’t Die”

An anthemic chorus meant to be belted in a room with sweaty strangers.

68) Oliver Tree f/ blink-182 - “Let Me Down”

The original solo version of this song is 1:52, and though the blink cameo pushes it over the dreaded two minute mark, it adds enough diversity to justify the choice (keep an eye out for the quick Green Day lyrical nod in the back half).

67) AJJ - “Normalization Blues”

This dropped in January, and if you thought the year was bad then. Punk News:

I'll admit I do want the album to age badly because I really don't want to have to listen to it years later and still say this is the world we're living in.

Said album being titled “Good Luck Everybody” is straight cryptic.

66) Selena Gomez - “Rare”

Very chill for big pop; triplet rhythm singing in the chorus gets me erry time.

65) Kid Cudi & Eminem - “The Adventures Of Moon Man & Slim Shady”

Cudi’s second split collab yields bigger results than his Travis Scott joint (admittedly with a worse beat here). It rarely ever hurts to let Eminem do the heavy lifting.

64) Alkaline Trio - “Smokestack”

A little cheerier than the average Alk3 song, but Dan Andriano seems like he’s been in a great place for a long time now; confident and in control. For me, the whole song builds up to the “You changed my life” chorus.

63) Frank Turner - “Scavenger Type”

Here, Frank takes on the acoustic closer to NOFX’s legendary 1994 album “Punk In Drublic”. Though the energy boost is most noticeable, my favorite part is how you can hear how much Turner loves this song as his melody bursts on the verses.

62) Mike Posner - “Alone In A Mansion”

Mike Posner, an artist I have a very soft spot for, released a storytelling concept album in 2020. From the intro track:

This album was written, recorded, and produced over a period of two weeks in Detroit, Michigan in my parents' basement. It's meant to be listened to all the way through. At least on the first listen. And it's about 36 minutes long. If you can't devote 36 minutes of undivided attention to this album, I again politely ask that you turn it off and return at a later time. I love you and I thank you for taking the time to listen in the first place. Also, it's important to note that the characters and the stories in this album are completely fictional. In addition, anyone struggling with a mental illness - depression, schizophrenia - should not listen to this album. Turn it off.

So those are the stakes. Pulling this song -- the record’s closer -- feels unfair void of context, but them’s the breaks.

61) Nada Surf - “Just Wait”

Heavy hitting chorus without having to be heavy; this could really work in a movie.

60) Matt Pond PA - “Wild Heart”

This having only 805 views on YouTube is criminal.

59) Liquid Death - “Unnecessary And Unimpressive”

Liquid Death -- in this iteration -- is a punk rock supergroup with members of Rise Against, Anti-Flag, The Lawrence Arms, and The Bombpops. If that didn’t interest you enough, all lyrics in the project (which, I believe, is for charity) come from hateful comments or negative reviews. Of the four artists involved, this sounds most like a Bombpops song, with Jen on lead vocals as others chime in.

58) PUP - “Rot”

Off my silver medalist for album name of the year (“This Place Sucks Ass”), PUP doesn’t do anything new here, but it was relieving to see them still going in 2020 when so many others got roadblocked, both physically and creatively.

57) Paul Harrold and the Nuclear Bandits - “Massanutten”

This reminds me of local Chicago artist Al Scorch. So much earnestness in the vocals, but a little more prairie for Harrold compared to speakeasy for Scorch. This would be a good road trip song. And I’m not talking about singalong... more for the stretch where you want to sit in silence and look out at the sun-kissed land blazing by. The song’s greatest victory is getting me to like something that cracks 6:00.

Note to future me: Massanutten is in Virginia (saved you a Google).

56) Kesha f/ Sturgill Simpson, Brian Wilson & Wrabel - “Resentment”

Kesha has been vulnerable in the past but never this stripped down sonically; the chorus would feel right at home on a country radio station. Love a good bridge, too.

55) Megan Thee Stallion f/ Beyoncé - “Savage (Remix)”

An up-and-comer pairing with a legend rarely lets down when both sides are this locked in. Bey wins. Fav line: “If you don't jump to put jeans on, baby, you don't feel my pain”.

She matches flows with Megan but also brings melody. Her blessing takes this song from pretty damn good to undeniably great.

That beat, too.

54) Red City Radio - “Baby Of The Year”

If all you want to do right now is grab a drink in a bar, here is a video built to troll.

(Also: a Liquid Death cameo?!)

53) Nathaniel Rateliff - “And It’s Still Alright”

The last time Mr. Rateliff had our attention, he just wanted a drink. That hit had a chorus with the very-sad-when-removed-from-the-song “If I can't get clean, I'm gonna drink my life away” lyric. Well, our man got sober since. And when the party is over, the introspection comes.

52) Direct Hit! - “HAVE YOU SEEN IT?”

Listening to slowed down Direct Hit! is like watching Usain Bolt lightly jog. It kinda makes sense because the core action is there, but it also feels sort of incorrect.

51) Hayley Williams - “Dead Horse”

Solo Hayley songs have this feel like they could do anything at any time... but then don’t. This one does the same until a very fun chorus breaks it up.

50) Kid Cudi f/ Phoebe Bridgers - “Lovin’ Me”

Probably the most improbable collab on this list (if 2020 hadn’t repeatedly taught us to not be surprised by anything).

49) The Homeless Gospel Choir - “Don’t Compare”

Listening to The Homeless Gospel Choir is kind of like getting a dedicated pep talk from a good friend... while fire rains down from the sky.

48) Carly Rae Jepsen - “Let’s Sort The Whole Thing Out”

Queen vocals with one prince of a tempo; this chorus is Sour Patch Kids riding Twix logs down a soda pop waterfall -- and it’s a b-side.

47) Green Day - “Meet Me On The Roof”

I like this song because it reminds me of summer and because it doesn’t really sound like Green Day (but still totally does).

46) Broadway Calls - “Meet Me On The Moon”

Promise -- swear -- I was gonna compare this Broadway Calls song to Green Day before realizing they both had titles about meeting in an escalated location. That said, I did put them next together on purpose to more coherently make this point.

45) David Rokos - “Building Bridges”

My buddy Dave wrote this song, and I think I’ve asked him three times what “burning sugar” meant (he says it’s a reference to absinthe). This song will make you want to travel to enjoy not only the places but the people around you.

44) Charli XCX - “claws”

Charli XCX keeps it futuristic in a video that could be described as sexy, cheesy, goofy, and playful-yet-serious.

43) Brian Fallon - “Lonely For You Only”

This is too easy and should not work (and maybe doesn’t). But that chorus... that circular phrasing... it still takes me all the way out. But I’m the same cat who proposed while a Gaslight Anthem cover was playing.

42) Waxahatchee - “Fire”

This song could be in a different language and hit just as hard.

41) Harry Styles - “Adore You”

Purifying pop.

40) Local H - “Hold That Thought”

Hardest rock song thus far. Local H was one of the first artists to play “live” once the lockdown hit (on a simultaneous YouTube/Facebook stream), and watching them attack music in their Chicago practice bunker felt a little bit like taking in the end of the world. New songs, old songs, covers -- it didn’t matter; their cool, unmatched apathy fits a pandemic or peacetime.

Ironically, was able to see them live in 2020, as they played a socially distanced, outdoor drive up concert in a minor league baseball parking lot. It wasn’t the same, but it was still something.

39) Crazy & The Brains - “I Don’t Deliver Pizza Anymore”

This song is just cool*. The verses feel tense and crucial, it starts to unspool in the pre-chorus, and the chorus itself feels like a light comedown more than anything else.

(* - though the lyric video is docked some points for spelling y’all as “ya’ll”)

38) Drake f/ Fivio Foreign & Sosa Geek - “Demons”

Menacing Drizzy can be very fun from time to time. Also more than happy to keep “Toosie Slide” very far away from this list.

37) Hey Dad!!! - “Life’s Alright”

Small band, big song; though summer feels light-years away.

36) insignificant other - “i’m so glad i feel this way about you”

This song lands a big haymaker in the first few seconds, so it was probably a good call to pull back some for the chorus and, eventually, outro.

35) BTS - “Dynamite”

Heard they made the lyrics bad on purpose for their English hit, which makes sense, because they’re bad. That said, if you listen knowing they’re supposed to be bad, it kinda makes them... good? Listen, 771 million views would have me singing nursery rhymes in Pig Latin.

34) DaBaby f/ RODDY RICCH - “ROCKSTAR”

Someone said this could be the song of the summer, but, because there wasn’t really a summer, I feel like I only heard it once all year. Also, are we really pretending Post Malone* didn’t just do a “like a rockstar” song three years ago?

(* - and N.E.R.D. before that and Cypress Hill before that... though N.E.R.D. only waiting a year after Cypress, so maybe DaBaby actually was patient)

33) The Front Bottoms - “the hard way”

Don’t take it easy on the animal / I am the animal

Not quite sure what this line means, but I fixate on the phrasing every single time. This song sounds resigned in a very self-aware way.

32) The 1975 - “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)”

For a band called The 1975, they sure sound like they’re on their ‘80s shit here. Also, a real thing that happened:

Me: Is he coercing her to get naked?! I thought this band was woke.

/scans lyrics

/notices “She said” before the “Maybe I would like you better if you took off your clothes” line

Me: Ahh.

Sax solo, take us out.

31) Charly Bliss & PUP - “It’s Christmas And I Fucking Miss You”

A song that is already a forever staple on all my future Xmas playlists.

30) 2 Chainz f/ Ty Dolla $ign & Lil Duval - “Can’t Go For That”

Shorty said she love me / I said “I love me back”

This is a real genre blur; rap at its core, but also soulful, funky, and very danceable. Damn creative.

29) Billie Eilish - “Therefore I Am”

Billie's 2020 gave a few singles -- but no new album -- and a body shaming scandal where the backlash to the backlash probably caused more headlines than the tweet that started it all. Still, she stays on cruise control above the clouds; can all eyes be on you if they can’t even make you out?

Video for this is fun, too. Not sure if her running amok in an empty mall is more of a COVID necessity or commentary on the dying retail industry. As always with her, fill in your own blanks for now.

28) Future f/ Drake - “Life Is Good”

This was my most listened to rap song in the first half of the year, and bumping again now, almost forgot how good it is. Drake just chasing one-liner Instagram captions in the first half:

- “Haven’t done my taxes, I’m too turnt up”

- “N****s caught me slipping once, OK, so what?”

- “B****, this is fame not clout, I don’t even know what that’s about”

And, of course, “Workin’ on the weekend like usual”. The man could make anything glamorous. Let’s hit that H&R Block, bro!

Future’s back half is a totally different song and feels mostly like noise, but the vibe is cool, so I don’t even totally mean that in a bad way. You can even make out a “Got Promethazine in my blood and Percocet” lyric to mark your Future bingo card and immediately move on.

27) I’m Glad It’s You - “The Silver Cord”

This song feels like cold air blowing on the back of your neck.

(Sidebar: thought this band was called The Silver Cord until literally right now)

26) The Spill Canvas - “Mercy”

A dreamy, distorted, at-home version of whatever you remember The Spill Canvas sounding like. This song is confessional and at peace, with the Grade A self-loathing we’ve come to love from this band.

25) 100 gecs f/ Charli XCX, Rico Nasty & Kero Kero Bonito - “ringtone (remix)”

100 gecs first hit my radar with the explosively obnoxious “money machine”, but that’s a 2019er, so this remix to “ringtone” will have to do. It’s catchy like a younger sibling persistently singing a song you’re sick of hearing*.

(* - /only child trying to work in sibling analogies)

24) iann dior f/ Machine Gun Kelly & Travis Barker - “Sick And Tired”

Iann Dior -- ...yeah -- channels Juice WRLD on the hook, and MGK/Travis Barker buoy a track that, honestly, doesn’t really even need the help.

23) Nick Lutsko - “Unleash Your Spirit”

Lutsko hit my radar on Twitter with some legendary political anthems (word to the RNC and Dan Bongino + his Dashboard Trump parody). “Unleash Your Spirit” is the song I most fear hearing (or even thinking of) within a few minutes of going to bed. Not because it’s Halloween theme is scary -- because it’s that god damn catchy. It permeates your brain. True story: a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with “Bobbing for apples with the boys” so ingrained in my head, it felt like someone was standing there yelling it through a megaphone.

22) Dogleg - “Kawasaki Backflip”

Bad 2020 robbed many concerts from us, and not getting to see this band live might take the cake. I end the year liking them but could have been *all in* with the right performance and the right venue. Also, Song Title of the Year until further notice.

21) Eminem f/ Juice WRLD - “Godzilla”

Eminem has all of the words and all of the lyrical dexterity, but sometimes it feels like there isn’t anything to ground him. Enter: one of the best beats he’s ever spit on and a Juice WRLD hook to give it pop angle. But let’s not put Slim in the corner -- when he starts accelerating at the end, it’s is a true “holy fuck” moment. It sounds faster than if you actually fast forwarded.

The video ends with a touching audio message from Juice WRLD.

20) Soccer Mommy - “circle the drain”

This song is so gloriously ‘90s; it leans in and does not care.

19) Sam Russo - “Always Lost”

The first time I met you, we were on the last bus You passed me a bottle, and I knew you were one of us

Took 25 words to hook me; I was txting friends before the first chorus even hit.

18) Sincere Engineer - “Trust Me”

Deanna Belos pushes her vocals in this one. I asked about the performance, and she said it was one of the first ones they recorded in the studio, but when they were done and listening back to everything, she re-did this track because her throat was much more used to what the song required.

“That’s why it sounds like I’m on roids lol,” she added.

17) Jay Electronica f/ JAY-Z - “Flux Capacitor”

Jay Electronica signed to Roc Nation in November of 2010. At of the start of 2020, he had still -- STILL HOW FUCKING STILL -- not released a debut album. When he announced it was finally dropping in February, it was met with skeptic eyes. He’d “announced” before. Shit, he’d even posted track lists of albums that never saw the light of day. He was a tease’s tease. It ended up getting a release date of March 12. As the pandemic got really bad in the March 11 zone, he finally had an actual reason to delay the proceedings (the plan: a studio live stream listening party*).

But no -- this is Jay Electronica. Why wouldn’t he drop as the world was ending? The same reason why his costar wouldn’t not have a watch like a Saudi prince. It had to end for it to happen. I wish I saved the memes, because they were fantastic. All I have is my own Twitter memory to prove it happened:

I love this song entirely: the “get the gat” hook (soooo New Orleans), Hov calling out the NFL/acquaintances clout chasing his potential death/rapping forever bars, Jay Elect’s ham-fisted and awkward ass Farrakhan line. Everything is exactly where it should be.

Final verdict on the full album: I don’t know, a B or B+? It had a lot more Jay-Z than expected (wooo), but -- and I rarely say this -- it could have actually been longer.

16) New Found Glory - “Greatest Of All Time”

NFG with a song referencing the Jordan-Rodman-Pippen Bulls only a few months before “The Last Dance” aired. Dare we call it marketing genius? The punk beat does not care; the punk beat is too busy taking souls.

15) Dave Hause f/ Amythyst Kiah & Kam Franklin - “Your Ghost”

“I can’t breathe”

On the heels of the George Floyd/BLM protests came Dave Hause’s somber attempt to capture the moment, desperation, and hurt. On a podcast, he said he was aware he might not ever lead the movement but still wanted to contribute something in an effort to use his platform as a white artist to change someone, anyone’s mind going forward.

14) Taylor Swift - “this me trying”

The chorus makes me feel like the crowd is parting like the Red Sea on a high school -- shit, no, middle school -- dance floor; smoke machine and all. Your crush is waiting for you on the other side. What are you going to say?

13) Phoebe Bridgers - “Kyoto”

Phoebe is one of the best lyricists out because of her specificity, but even though this song is about her dad, you can really fit it to your own narrative.

12) The Lawrence Arms - “Last, Last Words”

The Lawrence Arms wrote their new record (which singer Chris McCaughan described as “this end of the world outpost”) prior to the pandemic, but once you start to process album themes -- and research its namesake -- you do wonder. All of this, combined with some “Catcher In The Rye” references, and we’ve got ourselves a winning formula.

Dressed to kill for oblivion

11) New Lenox - “Fairytale Of Gary, Indiana”

Your boy plays drums and is on the cover art for this one. Dave Rokos wrote the tune, which references The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”. Good news: no slurs in the Gary version. We’ll have you in and out in 90 seconds. Also: say hello to the recording debut of Alisa Caruso (some backup vox at the end).

10) Beach Slang - “Tommy In The 80s”

My most played song of 2020, but it really was more of a byproduct of how early in the year the album dropped. I’m still such a sucker for it, though. Other than forced nostalgia, not totally sure what the track is about. Did learn Beach Slang recruited former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson to play on their LP, which was named -- /deepest of breaths -- “The Deadbeat Bang of Heartbreak City” (so maybe it has something to do with that).

9) Juice WRLD f/ Mashmello - “Come & Go”

The :55 mark. Wait until the :55 mark. When the guitar kicks in and tempo doubles, we have a real “oh, shit!” moment. I knew who Juice was when he passed but only “Liquid Dreams”. His 2020 album (“Legends Never Die”) showed us of what could have been; 55 minutes, loaded with cameos and creativity and experimentation. This song had me in its gravitational pull immediately. By the end of the year, they were using it on sports broadcasts, and it felt like a ubiquitous part of the culture.

One of my favorite days of 2020 was visiting the Juice mural in Chicago with my wife. We went impulsively during the day after someone posted a picture on Twitter.

I snapped one of my own and posted to IG with the Signals Midwest lyric “There is such quiet grace in private moments in public spaces”. The band responded with “RIP JUICE”; the perfect online exchange.

Shortly after, I was out with a different group of friends, and we went back at night. This time, it was protected by a fence you had to squeeze past. When we got through, there were kids in there smoking, taking pictures, just hanging out; empty liquor bottles lined the bottom of the mural. Even though it didn’t take all that long to make it there, it still felt like a journey and total ‘movie moment in real life’; a complete rarity in a year like 2020.

8) Mac Miller - “Good News”

Maybe I’ll lay down for a little...

Sadly continuing the theme of artists gone too soon, we have this reflective Mac Miller single, which feels more like self-eulogy than traditional rap. You feel it the entire time. The song crests with “There’s a whole lot more for me waitin’ on the other side”, and it conveys a readiness for whatever happens next.

7) The Dirty Nil - “Done With Drugs”

I don’t pray to Jesus or even own a suit

We lost the creators of our last two songs to substances, and, if we are to take this song at face value, The Dirty Nil don’t want to go down the same path. Drying out never sounded so cool and defiant... until the IKEA suggestion.

6) The Weeknd - “Blinding Lights”

Uptempo Abel is undefeated. My favorite pop song of 2020 has you feeling like you’re speeding through the empty streets of nighttime Las Vegas in a stolen car; indifferent to your environment, only tuned in to your personal desire.

And, on the lamer side of the spectrum, it spawned a catchy TikTok dance.

5) Spanish Love Songs - “Self-Destruction (As A Sensible Career Choice)”

It won’t be this bleak forever... yeah, right.

SLS has always been over-the-top with their lyrics spotlighting the hopelessness of the human condition -- so it was the *perfect* combo to being locked inside with nothing looking to forward to. Bonus: fun cake video.

Though the song’s core is uncut despair, a random moment I remember from 2020 was my wife telling me “I can hear you smiling as you’re singing” from another room as I belted the despondent chorus.

4) Worst Party Ever - “False Teeth”

This song sounds like The Front Bottoms; insecure yet so full.

3) Run The Jewels - “the ground below”

There were a lot of songs *about* 2020, but I’m not sure any artist soundtracked what being alive now is like more than RTJ. My favorite rap song and rap record of 2020.

Fav Killer Mike line: “Not a holy man, but I'm moral in my perversiveness / So I support the sex workers unionizing their services”

Fav El-P line: “I'll slap a dying child he don't pronounce my name correct”

2) The Menzingers - “America Pt. 2″

The Menzingers unexpectedly released an acoustic, re-done version of 2019′s “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” single. It dropped on my birthday -- June 5th, 2020 -- as the rage in this country boiled over and protesters took to the streets. Though some of the lyrics remained the same, the new ones were changed with true purpose:

Well George Floyd was murdered by a cop The whole world saw the video and watched Now justice is long overdue Grab your pitchforks, we’re heading to Pennsylvania Avenue

I had nothing left when the first pre-chorus hit: “I hope the Devil and Donald and Mitch McConnell rot in hell for all tomorrows”. Tattoo this on my fucking soul.

All funds from the song were donated to Community Bail Funds (via Act Blue) & Campaign Zero. I purchased the track before hearing a note.

1) Machine Gun Kelly - “My Bloody Valentine”

Going into the year, I couldn’t tell you the difference between Machine Gun Kelly and Mac Miller -- now they’re both fixtures in this Top 10. All I really knew about MGK involved tattoos and a rap battle lost to Eminem (not that anyone ever beats Eminem).

In 2020, he took a punk/emo turn, with the services of GOAT drummer Travis Barker and new squeeze Megan Fox at his side. This song’s lyrics could potentially be cheesy but aren’t -- they all land. From the simulation going bad to not wanting “fake love” to all the damn second guessing and the earnestness that just won’t let you off the mat.

Every piece to the puzzle adds something: the messy hair, the Ken doll build, the forced iconic pink guitar that now feels actually iconic. It was almost like no one had any fun this year so he could have all of it on our behalf. There’s a half second shot of him sticking his tongue our during the pre-chorus, a joy 99.99% of us never got to feel.

The album itself was just as fantastic*; a 2000′s pop punk throwback with a Halsey duet, horrible skits (hi, Pete Davidson FaceTime), OpIvy lyrical nod (complete with a royalty check), a warp speed punk track that doesn’t even crack the minute mark, your token 6/8 ballad, acoustic closer (about his daughter), and some experimentation that leaves the new genre but still stays nearby; shades of Lil Peep, if he had Blink-182 as his backing band. Speaking of, please do not miss Travis’ fill at the 2:30 mark.

(* - named “Tickets To My Downfall”... woof)

MGK could get cancelled tomorrow, but we’ll always have this year in a bottle. The acoustic version of the song (sung in a lower resister), the 10 minute making of video (that I watched, uh, twice)... shit, he even turned it into a medley at the start of 2021.

It might be cliche to say “stay winning”, but when someone stacks this many W’s with no end in sight, what the fuck else do you call it? Real love.

* * *

Thank you so much for reading. Here is the Spotify playlist (includes 87 of the 88 songs).

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yasminmwong · 4 years ago

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ALBUM COVER//RESEARCH//3

Stanley Donwood

Stanley Donwood (also known as Dan Rickwood) is best known for creating the album artwork for Radiohead. His work is probably most interesting to me because of the ever evolving style and techniques he uses to capture the imagery that works best with the album’s sound.

For OK computer, Donwood created the imagery using a computer with a tablet and light pen - and had a rule that nothing would be erased! For hail to the Thief, Donwood was inspired by the repetitive words and colours that he had seen over and over again on signs and advertisements in people’s front gardens. He wrote all the words down, cut them up, and combined them to show a road map of Hollywood (where the album was recorded) (Jones, 2013).

I also feel very drawn to the visual work has done for Thom Yorke’s solo albums. The Eraser album cover, was actually just a small section of a 13-foot linocut. The image - named ‘London Views’ was inspired by the 2004 floods in Cornwall, and the Indian ocean Tsunami, and shows a London flooded and destroyed (Meacher, n.d.). The art aptly fits the music music of the album, as there is a central theme of the impending devastating impacts of global warming.

Donwood’s work not only gives visual and technical inspiration, but also conceptual too.

References:

Williams, E. 2017. Stanley Donwood and the tempest. Creative Review. Accessed 26 October 2020. Available at: https://www.creativereview.co.uk/stanley-donwood-radiohead/?nocache=true&adfesuccess=1

Gosling, E. 2020. Stanley Donwood Reveals What it’s Really Like Working With Radiohead for 25 Years. Elephant. Accessed 26 October 2020. Available at: https://elephant.art/stanley-donwood-whats-really-like-working-radiohead-decades-25032020/

Hunt, E. 2016. INSIDE THE ARTWORK: RADIOHEAD ART COLLABORATOR STANLEY DONWOOD TALKS ‘IN RAINBOWS’ AND LP9. DIYMAG. Accessed 26 October 2020. Available at: https://diymag.com/2016/03/22/radiohead-in-rainbows-new-album-lp9-stanley-donwood-interview

Dombal, R. 2010. Radiohead Artist Stanley Donwood. Pitchfork. Accessed 26 October 2020. Available at: https://pitchfork.com/features/take-cover/8640-take-cover-radiohead-artist-stanley-donwood/

Jones, L. 2013. Stanley Donwood On The Stories Behind His Radiohead Album Covers. NME. Accessed 28 October 2020. Available at: https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/stanley-donwood-on-the-stories-behind-his-radiohead-album-covers-766325

Meacher, C. n.d. Got It Covered. Latest Art. Accessed 28 October 2020. Available at: https://latest-art.co.uk/features/?id=4

Album Art Featured

From top to bottom

Radiohead - ‘In Rainbows’ (2007) Self Released, XL Recordings and TBD Records.

Radiohead - ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ (2016) XL Recordings

Atoms for Peace - ‘Amok’ (2013) XL Recordings

Radiohead - ‘OK Computer’ (1997) Parlophone and Capitol Records

Radiohead - ‘Hail to the Thief’ (2003) Parlophone and Capitol Records

Thom Yorke - ‘The Eraser’ (2006) XL Recordings

#mr_hncgd1 #graphic design #albumart #albumbrief #designresearch

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zinphandel · 5 days ago

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A Seat At The Table- Solange Knowles

hello gorgeous gorgeous girls and gays and welcome BACK to kate rates Dan's favourite albums. apologies for the absence, i 365 party girled too close to the sun this weekend and have been Feeeeeeeling the Repercussions (3 day hangover, serotonin is shot lol) but we are BACK! with A seat at the table by Solange Knowles

Initial thoughts?

I’m gonna be soooo honest. I’m going into this one completely blind. i have never listened to Solange before. I'm assuming we are in for some fun r and b? but honestly I have no idea

Is this a first-time full album listen-through?

yessssss. I’ve never heard a single Solange song before. this is alllllll new to me! excited 2 get into this!

Listen through:

Having not listened to the Solange before I can't wait to see what this album has in store for me

the vocals are gorgeous, the production seems to be minimal yet feels bold and fits the songs well.

veryyyyyyyy funk and neosoul as well as the r and b I was expecting, super pretty and feels like a bubble bath for the ears! super pretty and soothing.

Cranes in the sky was the single from this album, and I can see why, it's such a pretty song, defo the best on the album so far

I LOVE an album with a fun little interlude. makes the album feel like a complete project in my opinion

this album feels like a breath of fresh air!

I'm never gonna be mad at a lil Wayne feature!

'Don't Touch My Hair' has these gorgeous little 80s synths in the background then amazing jazzy trumpets and sampha sounds fabulous on this track! wow!

I mean I obviously should have guessed that Solange's voice would be gorgeous but it's even nicer than I could have imagined. the tone is so lovely. really enjoying this album.

maybe I should have listened to this on my hangover because this is the type of music that cures your soul! i feel shiny and brand new after listening to this record.

the opening of 'where do we go' reminds me so much of super rich kids/benny and the jets lmao

id love to hear some of the songs from this album remixed into a lofi jazz set. u know the ones in gorgeous wooden rooms covered in plants? too niche maybe?

Borderline is fabulous!

I'm enjoying this much more than I thought I would. I thought it would be more mainstream rnb which is hit or miss for me instead it's jazzy and sexy and soulful. dan never lets me down! (apart from that dogshit drake album)

such a unique album- reminds me of blood orange (heart eyes)

throbs and chugs at all the best moments. an electro-funk masterpiece. can't wait to listen to this in the shower

Favourite song(s)?

Mad, Borderline, Scales, Don't touch my hair

Least favourite song?

I actually really enjoyed them all!

Would i listen again?

yes i would. I cant wait to get really high and listen to this in a really hot shower.

Do i recommend?

defo! so happily surprised by this. Especially if you love some funky soul- this album is for u!

What would I rank it out of 10?

8.5/10!

#dan and phil #dnp #phan #dan howell #phil lester #amazing phil #dip and pip #dan album review #dan album review: 2016 #kate zinphandels dan howell album of the year review and rating #solange knowles #album review

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eloisetu · 4 years ago

Video

youtube

A écouter : Hurricane de Bob Dylan, puissante protest song

L’héritage que nous laisse Bob Dylan depuis les années 1960 est immense. De Jimi Hendrix à Radiohead (groupe majeur des années 2000), en passant par les Beatles ou les Rolling Stones, les plus grands artistes ont revendiqué son influence. Et pour cause, son style narratif fluide est inimitable, récompensé par un prix Nobel en 2016. Ses textes sont infusés de poésie et de littérature. De plus, dans les premiers albums, ses chansons engagées sont le témoignage des préoccupations et des aspirations sociales d’une Amérique marquée par la guerre du Viêtnam et la guerre froide.

Cet engagement Bob Dylan le délaisse lorsqu’il passe à la guitare électrique et accède au statut de rock star. Il y revient cependant en 1975, touché par l’histoire de Rubin Carter, dit « Hurricane », un boxeur noir accusé de manière expéditive d’un triple meurtre en 1966.

Pour le défendre et clamer son innocence, le chanteur écrit la chanson « Hurricane ». Le titre rencontre le succès et un demi-siècle avant Facebook, Twitter et autres réseaux sociaux, permit de médiatiser l’affaire et de gagner le soutien populaire à sa cause. Il faudra cependant encore attendre une décennie avant que l’ancien boxeur ne soit innocenté.

Outre le texte, chanté à toute allure, comme emporté par un fleuve que rien ne peut arrêter, le violon semble virevolter entre les mains adroites de Scarlet Rivera.

Il s’agit de ma chanson préférée

Extrait :

Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall She sees the bartender in a pool of blood Cries out, "My God, they killed them all!" Here comes the story of the Hurricane The man the authorities came to blame For somethin' that he never done Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been The champion of the world

Actualité : Bob Dylan a sorti un album en juin dernier « Rough and rowdy ways »

Autres chansons de Bob Dylan : blowing in the wind, a hard rain’s a-gonna fall, M. Tambourine Man, Like a Rolling stone, I want you

A voir : Hurricane Carter avec Denzel Washington dans le rôle titre ; Rolling Thunder Review, biographie réalisé par Matin Scorsese, grand fan de Dylan

#bob dylan #hurricane #rubin carter #protest song

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redsoapbox · 5 years ago

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MY TOP FIFTEEN TRACKS BY WELSH ACTS IN THE PAST DECADE.

Pictured - Davey Newington. Davey features in the list twice - as Boy Azooga and as a member of the gone but not forgotten Houdini Dax.

In my introduction to Pop Hack, my debut collection of reviews/interviews, I make the claim that ‘some of the best records I have heard in my lifetime come from the unsigned and unsung acts that I stumbled upon covering the Welsh music scene’. I repeated that claim the other day while being interviewed by Bill Cummings for his Cymru Am Bop podcast (see link below), so I thought it was about time I put some flesh on the bones. In no particular order, then, are fifteen tracks from some of the best singer/ songwriters and bands in Wales.

1. Dan Bettridge - Third Eye Blind (2015)

Released as a single in 2015, and wisely included in Dan’s exceptional debut album Asking For Trouble three years later. “Third Eye Blind” is a stirring soul workout, hugely influenced by Van Morrison’s classic track “Real, Real Gone”, and a surefire set closer by anybody’s standards.

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2. Pretty Vicious - Cave Song (2014)

The mighty tune that famously sent the major record labels into a lather and into a headlong race to Merthyr in pursuit of the teenage rockers. I caught the band at the EVI (Ebbw Vale Institute), a few months after they had signed on the dotted line, and filed one of the earliest national reviews of the band for Wales Arts Review. I spent most of the review decrying their major label status; ‘Pretty Vicious has signed with Virgin, it’s the first uncool thing they’ve done’ I moaned. I ended the review on a note of caution - ‘Pretty Vicious would be wise not to rush into the recording studio just yet. You never get a second chance at a debut album’. My scepticism about the multinational’s motives was on the money - the band was unceremoniously dropped by Branson and Co in 2017 without even releasing an album!

https://soundcloud.com/prettyviciousuk/cave-song

3. Houdini Dax - Found Love In The Dole Office. (2015)

I was a huge fan of Cardiff’s sadly defunct power-pop trio, whose two albums, You Belong To Dax Darling (2011) and, particularly, Naughty Nation (2015), are packed with bangers/earworms/crackers - take your pick. I was bemused by their complete lack of success, but nevertheless surprised when they morphed overnight into Monico Blonde. Drummer Davey Newington went on to bigger, if not necessarily better things, with Boy Azooga of course. “Found Love In The Dole Office” is a typical Dax track, matching a punchy melody with a clever lyric.

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4. Jodie Marie - Everyone Makes Mistakes (2015)

Taken from one of my all time favourite albums, Trouble in Mind (2015), “Everyone Makes Mistakes” is one of four or five outstanding ballads that form the centrepiece of this truly fine record. This is a heartbreaking song that leaves the listener reeling!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNBraJss7-4&feature=youtu.be&autoplay=1

5. oblong - Light Sleeper (2019)

I tossed a coin with this track. Llanelli’s bilingual post-punk combo has released two scorching albums, Brilliant...Gwd (2017) and Hollalluog (2019), which are brimming over with terrific tunes. Any one of them will set the pulses racing.

https://oblong1.bandcamp.com/

6. Danielle Lewis - West Coast Sun (2016)

When we beat this virus and lockdown truly ends, this is the record that I’m going to emerge from my hideaway playing. A joyous tune that deserves the sun on its back and for people to be of good cheer when they listen to it. Danielle’s current single “Flowers” is another beautiful composition.

https://daniellelewis.bandcamp.com/track/west-coast-sun

7. Aled Rheon - Wrap up Warm (2016)

It’s never the done thing to quote oneself, but as this feature is partly to publicise my book Pop Hack I’m going to take a diabolical liberty! In my review of the song I write ‘It’s a beautifully judged lyric with a performance to match, as Rheon’s fine-grained vocal manages to make James Taylor sound like Jello Biaffra’. Not bad, even if I say so myself!

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8. Armstrong - Gratitude (2019)

Although this song dates back a good number of years, it was included in the deluxe release of Armstrong’s majestic album Under Blue Skies (2019). As with oblong, above, I was spoiled for choice and very nearly chose the exquisite “My Resistance”, then again I very nearly opted for the heartaching “Perhaps It’s Time To Say Goodbye”. “Gratitude”, though, has a life-affirming quality that somehow transcends the times in which we live.

https://bigtakeover.com/recordings/ArmstrongUnderBlueSkiesTheBeautifulMusic

9. Climbing Trees - Aliosi (2013)

Does this song really contain ‘the most romantic couplet in the history of pop’, as I somewhat fancifully speculated in my review of Hebron, the Pontypridd combo’s debut album? Perhaps not, but that’s what a great pop song can do to you. I happily plead guilty to getting carried away by ‘Sunlight streams into my eyes, It always brings me to / I didn’t mean to wake you darling, but I can’t keep my eyes off you’. If that doesn’t set your heart racing, what will?

https://ilikeclimbingtrees.bandcamp.com/track/aloisi

10. Silent Forum - Limbo (2017)

Silent Forum had a great 2019, with their debut album Everything Solved At Once earning them rave reviews across the board. It’s a wonderful album and it would have been easy to choose its centrepiece, the stupendous “How I Faked The Moon Landing”. I opted, however, for “Limbo” an old favourite of mine and a song that stood out for me the very first time I saw the band play in 2015. This is Indie-noir incarnate!

https://silentforum.bandcamp.com/track/limbo-2

11. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard - Love Forever (2019).

Can there be any doubt that Tom Rees and his band are heading for the big time? The man writes killer tunes and has the chutzpah to carry them off. Rees is a real political animal, but he tends to separate that out from his music. On “Love Forever”, an ‘all you need is love’ protest song, he puts a hippy-dippy toe in choppy political waters for the first time.

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12. Boy Azooga - Loner Boogie (2018)

After missing the boat with Houdini Dax and Monico Blonde, Davey Newington’s ship finally came in with his solo project Boy Azooga, leading to support slots with the likes of Bob Dylan and Neil Young. This tune is as fun ‘n’ funky as pop music gets.

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13. Burning Ferns - Bullet Train

Newport’s Burning Ferns are often compared to stellar names like Big Star, Teenage Fan Club and The Byrds, so if you admire classic songwriting, chiming guitars and three-part harmonies then their two fine albums on Country Mile See Saw Seen (2013) and Public Mono (2017) are must-have records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM6m3GTm7DE

14. Georgia Fearn - Catch Me When You Can (2018)

An edgy and imaginative songwriter, Georgia Fearn was just 17 when she released her debut album, the dark delight that was Perfect on Paper. Equally influenced by TV, cinema and literature’s tales of the macabre, Perfect on Paper is something of a black comedy, one that you might want to listen to crouched into the foetal position whilst hiding behind the sofa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgVmBKAbn6c

15. Head Noise - Microwave (2018)

It defies explanation that Mitch Tennant left the mini-masterpiece “Microwave” off last year’s 14-track debut album Uber Fantastique. A fun pop artefact in the vein of Landscape’s “Einstein A Go-Go”, every home should have one - “Microwave” the song, I mean, not an actual microwave. Although I’m given to understand by the cooks in the household that a microwave is a product that comes in handy, personally I never venture into the kitchen, so I can’t properly comment!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXV_7fr7k8

The five next best

Travelator - Anonymous Iconoclasts, That Night at the Table - Beth Goudie, Just Rock ‘n’ Roll - I Fight Lions, Obsolete - Matthew Fredricks (not yet released), High -Clwb Fuzz.

http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2020/05/11/podcast-cymru-am-bop-episode-three-featuring-kevin-mcgrath/

All of the above acts are featured in my book Pop Hack

http://bit.ly/PopHack

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llpodcast · 4 years ago

Audio

(Literary License Podcast) The Toxic Avenger – The Musical (2018) Based on the 1984 film with book written by Joe diPetro with music by David Bryan, both would write the lyrics together. Opening in 2008, the musical would receive multiple nominations and embrace hard nosed theatrical critics the world over. The show would play all over the world while smashing attendance records for an off Broadway tour and has played Australia, Canada, UK and across the USA. The video is available through Broadway HD.Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) The UK Christmas Zombie film came out to critical acclaim and became a UK hit. It stars an ensemble cast of relatively unknown actors, the film and its soundtrack have become a cult classic. Based on Ryan McHenry's Zombie Musical, the film was adopted for the screen by Ryan McHenry and Alan McDonald. Directed by John McPhail, he chose the short shorts and cropped t-shirts from the cult classic Sleepaway camp whilst the film is a cross between West Side Story and Shaun of the Dead as its inspiration.We are joined by the author of the novelisation of Anna and the Apocalypse book, Barry Waldo and Joe Randazzo, producer and scriptwriter. If you are in the UK, you can have a free audiobook of Anna and the Apocalypse by clicking on this link: https://www.audible.co.uk/acx-promoType in this code: 4C674FHXHL2GZ and the audiobook is all yours for people in the UK. Please leave a review on the audiobook which will help the sales of this fantastic audiobook.Opening Credits/Introduction (2.58); Story Geek – What To Watch During COVID Crisis (10.01); Man Messes With Nature (18.37); Toxic Avenger - The Musical (2016) Trailer (22.01); Why God? (23.11); Death of a Bounty Hunter (50.29); Nature Messes With Man (52.06); Anna and the Apocalypse (2017) Trailer (56.24); Mother Nature’s Revenge (58.03); Nature Lives To Fight Another Day (1:27.41); End Credits (1:40.36); Closing Theme (1:41.01) It’s Christmas Eve – taken from the album A Christmas Horror Story by Alex Kashkin. Used by kind permission of Universal Music. Legend of the Toxic Avenger and Bitch/Liar/Slut/Whore - by the 2014 London Cast of Toxic Avenger. Words and Music by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan. Used by kind permission of Direct Holdings America. Turning My Life Around, Soldier at War, The Fish Wrap by the motion picture cast of Anna and the Apocalypse. Words and Music by Tommy Reilly and Roddy Hart. Used by kind permission of MGM Music. Naughty and Nice by LVCRFT - 2019 single LVCRFT Naughty and Nice. Used by kind permission Spooky Never Sleeps Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast. All rights reserved. Copyright reserved.

#SoundCloud #music #Literary License Podcast #The Toxic Avenger - The Musical #Anna and the Apocalypse #John McPhail #Ella Hunt

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massmurdera · 5 years ago

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2019 & 2010s Best/Worst

Because I like lists and cataloguing the dumb shit I cared about. As my brother once said after seeing and reviewing NOW YOU SEE ME on a lazy Sunday, ‘Some would say it was a waste of time, others might say it was a colossal waste of time.’

I’ll admit, it’s a bit over-the-top. Particularly including the Pats, but yeah, in the Tom Brady era that started when I was 14 as a Freshman in high school to 33 years old now and wrapping up soon-ish (?), there’s not a chance in hell I’ll care as intimately about this shit. I grew up with it at just the right time.

2019 MOVIES TOP TIER 1) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 2) Uncut Gems 2nd TIER 3) Knives Out 4) Parasite 5) Little Women 6) Midsommer 3rd TIER 7) John Wick III 8) Ready or Not 9) Marriage Story 10) Joker 11) Irishman 12) Shazam! 13) Us UNDERRATED Ready or Not TOO LONG John Wick III; Irishman SOLID El Camino GOOD BAD 6 Underground OK 21 Bridges; Avengers: Endgame; Dolemite is my Name; Dragged Across Concrete; Fighting With My Family; Hustlers; Knock Down the House; Longshot; the Report; Two Popes MEH Always Be My Maybe; Death of Dick Long; High Flying Bird; Spiderman: Far From Home; Standoff at Sparrow Creek DISAPPOINTING Hobbs & Shaw; Toy Story 4; Triple Frontier SUCK Laundromat; Under the Silver Lake OVERRATED Ad Astra; Booksmart; the Farewell FUNNIEST SCENE Dicaprio flipping out in movie trailer BEST CLIMAX/ENDING Once Upon a Time; Uncut Gems HAVEN’T SEEN 1917; Apollo 11; Beach Bum; Dark Waters; Ford vs Ferrari; Honey Boy; Jojo Rabbit; the Lighthouse; Star Wars 2019 TV TOP TIER 1) Succession 2) Fleabag 3) Watchmen 2nd TIER 4) When They See Us 5) Barry 6) Unbelievable 7) Chernobyl 8) Sex Education DAMN GOOD Big Mouth; the Boys; Brockmire; Derry Girls; Euphoria; Loudest Voice; Mindhunter; Pen15; Righteous Gemstones; Veep WATCHABLE Atypical; Bosch; Dark; Goliath; Karate Kid; Kominsky Method; Mandalorian; Mr Robot; Mrs Fletcher; Russian Doll; Warrior HIGH/LOW I Think You Should Leave SHIT END FOR ALL-TIME GREAT Game of Thrones HALF-WATCH Living With Yourself; Raising Dion; the Society NOT UP TO STANDARD Stranger Things; GLOW; Killing Eve; True Detective BAD Luther; Shameless; Silicon Valley; SNL SUCK 13 Reasons Why; Big Little Lies; the Witcher FUNNIEST Desus & Mero DOCS 1) Fyre: both 2) Ted Bundy Tapes 3) American Factory 4) Leaving Neverland STAND-UP SPECIALS 1) Burr 2) Chappelle 3) Jeselnik 4) Birbiglia 5) Gulman BEHIND ON SHOWS I DIG Brooklyn 99; Catastrophe; Corporate; Expanse; Good Place; It’s Always Sunny; Letterkenny 2010s TV DRAMA 1) Breaking Bad 2) Game of Thrones 3) Justified 4) Mad Men 5) Hannibal 6) Banshee ANTHOLOGY/LIMITED SERIES 1) Fargo SII 2) True Detective SI 3) When They See Us 4) People Vs OJ Simpson 5) Chernobyl 6) Show Me a Hero 7) the Night Of 8) Honorable Woman COMEDY 1) Atlanta 2) Fleabag 3) Veep 4) Big Mouth 5) Parks & Rec 6) Rick & Morty 7) Nathan for You 8) Review 9) American Vandal HIT/MISS Black Mirror OVERRATED Boardwalk Empire; House of Cards; Peaky Blinders; Westworld UNDERRATED Banshee; Brockmire; Hannibal FUN HATE-WATCH Newsroom DOWNHILL Homeland; How I Met Your Mother; Legion; Sons of Anarchy HATED Girls; Leftovers; Rectify UNWATCHABLE Twin Peaks BEST ENDINGS Breaking Bad; Justified; Fleabag; Parks & Rec DUMBEST ENDING Dexter; Sons of Anarchy LATE NIGHT Desus & Mero POLITICAL John Oliver 2010s MOVIES 2010 Social Network Animal Kingdom; the Fighter; Four Lions; Inside Job; Jackass 3; MacGruber; Shutter Island; Toy Story 3; True Grit; Winter’s Bone 2011 the Raid Descendents; Drive; Fast Five; the Guard; Mission Impossible 4; Take This Waltz; Warrior 2012 Magic Mike 21 Jump Street; Argo; Cabin in the Woods; Chronicle; Django Unchained; Goon; Looper; Queen of Versailles; Silver Linings Playbook; Skyfall 2013 Wolf of Wall Street Before Midnight; the Conjuring; Gravity; Her; Inside Llewyn Davis; Prisoners; Short-Term 12 2014 John Wick the Drop; Edge of Tomorrow; Gone Girl; the Guest; Lego Movie; Nightcrawler; the Raid 2; Whiplash 2015 Mad Max 7 Days in Hell; Big Short; Brooklyn; Creed; Ex Machina; Fast 7; It Follows; Logan; Magic Mike XXL; the Martian; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation; Sicario 2016 the Nice Guys Deadpool; Edge of Seventeen; Everybody Wants Some!; Green Room; La La Land; Manchester By the Sea; Moonlight; OJ: Made in America; Popstar; Sing Street; Weiner 2017 Get Out Blade Runner 2049; Coco; Dunkirk; Lady Bird; Logan; Thor Ragnorak; Tour de Pharmacy 2018 Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse BlacKKKlansman; Den of Thieves; Hereditary; If Beale Street Could Talk; Minding the Gap; Sorry to Bother You

THE BEST Mad Max BEST DOC OJ: Made in America FUNNIEST DOC Tickled UNDERRATED DOC Weiner HORROR Hereditary FAVORITE/FUNNIEST PERFORMANCE Ryan Gosling (Nice Guys) DESERVED 5 SEQUELS the Nice Guys SUPERHERO Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse WAR Dunkirk BEST FIGHT SCENES the Raid UNDERRATED any Lonely Island project NICE TRY Dark Knight Rises; Inception; Interstellar; Widows STAND-UP 2010s FAVORITE Bill Burr NEXT BEST Ali Wong; Anthony Jeselnik; Kyle Kinane; Bert Kreischer; Marc Maron; John Mulaney; Patton Oswalt; Rory Scovel; Tom Segura COMEBACK Chappelle DOWNFALL Louis CK DIED BEFORE PRIME Patrice O’Neal, Greg Giraldo UNDERRATED Joe Derosa MUST-SEE LIVE Robert Kelly PODCASTS 2010s BEST/FUNNIEST/UNDERRATED Walking the Room RUNNER-UP 600 Dollar Podcast ONE-MAN RANT Bill Burr Monday Morning Podcast SPORTS Pardon My Take RIFFING Bodega Boys HISTORY/COMEDY Dollop HISTORY DEEP DIVE Hardcore History MOVIES Rewatchables HATE-WATCH CRITICISM West Wing Thing POP CULTURE/FILM Frotcast MIXED Revisionist History GOOD/BAD Joe Rogan: GOOD: propping up comic friends; BAD: useful idiot for propping up bad faith fascists who should be put out to pasture INTERNET CURIOSITY Reply All LEFTIST POLITICS Chapo Trap House TRUE CRIME In the Dark ADVICE Don’t Take Bullshit From Fuckers LAME Pod Save America OVERRATED Missing Richard Simmons DIDN’T LIKE S-Town SERIAL Season 3>Season 1 TRUMP Trump, Inc SPORTS SCHAUDENFREUDE Fuck the Chargers OKAY Bill Simmons WTF WITH MARON good when he talks to comics MURDER My Favorite Murder OTHER GOOD ONES Hound Tall; Press Box

2010s MUSIC FAVORITE anything Brian Fallon ROCK BAND Menzingers SONG Robyn-‘Dancing On My Own’ POP-PUNK BAND Wonder Years LIVE ALBUM Horrible Crowes-‘Elsie’ HEAVY BAND Every Time I Die ELECTRONIC Chvrches SOLO Rihanna COVER ALBUM Dustin Kensrue-‘Thoughts on a Different Blood’ GO-TO AT GYM Story So Far OFF THE INEVITABLE & IRRECOVERABLE DEEP END Kanye KIND OF LIKE THE MUSIC/HATE THE PERSON: LIKE KANYE Taylor Swift, Bieber THOUGHT I’D HATE BUT DOES NOT SUCK Lana Del Rey; Post Malone OTHER FAVES 1975; Arctic Monkeys; Beach Slang; Black Keys; Bon Iver; Carly Rae Jepsen; the National; Thrice MIXED Chance the Rapper; Kendrick Lamar I’ll be honest I spent far more time listening to podcasts nearly all the time and just listened to mostly the same couple of things I liked. 2010s PATRIOTS 2010s BEST GAMES 1) Seahawks Super Bowl 2) Falcons Super Bowl 3) Ravens 2015 Divisional 4) Chiefs 2019 AFCCG UNDERRATED CLASSIC Ravens 2015 Divisional BRADY/GRONK GO DOWN LIKE CHAMPS 1) 2018 Eagles Super Bowl 2) Broncos 2015 AFCCG: Brady’ offensive line was a sieve EITHER WAY Giants Super Bowl: game changed when Brady’s shoulder got fucked up by Tuck FAVORITE PLAYER TB12 MOST FUN/DOMINANT Gronk HEART OF TEAM Edelman BELOVED Wilfork ROCK SOLID 1) Hightower 2) McCourty 3) James White 1st BALLOT HALL OF FAMERS 1) Brady 2) Gronk 3) Revis LATER BALLOT 1) Edelman 2) Scarnecchia 3) Welker 4) Wilfork 5) Slater MAKING AN ARGUMENT Gilmore PATS HALL ONLY 1) McCourty 2) Hightower 3) Mankins 4) White 5) Gostkowski 6) Mayo 7) Chung UNDERRATED/GOOD VALUE 1) Amendola 2) Vollmer 3) Ninkovich 4) Chung 5) Woodhead DESERVED BETTER Welker UNSUNG Slater OVERRATED 1) Solder 2) Brandin Cooks NO-SHOWS Dolphins (Dec ’19); Jets Divisional (Jan ‘11) BEST REGULAR SEASON WINS 1) 2013 Broncos 2) 2017 Steelers 3) 2013 Saints BEST REGULAR SEASON LOSSES 1) 2012 49ers 2) 2016 Seahawks 3) 2014 Packers 4) 2015 Broncos LOL Miami Miracle: saved by winning Super Bowl LEAST TALENTED TEAM 1) 2013 by a mile 2) 2010 3) 2011 4) 2018 BEST TEAM 1) 2014 2) 2016 BEST PLAYS (NON-GRONK) 1) Butler INT Seahawks 2) Edelman TD pass vs Ravens 3) Buttfumble Jets 4) Edelman catch vs Falcons 5) Walk-off TD vs Falcons 6) Dan Connolly kick return 7) Brady TD pass to LaFell 2015 Divisional POUNDED TABLE TO DRAFT 1) Lamar Jackson 2) Kittle 3) AJ Brown 4) Honey Badger 5) Stefon Diggs WANTED BUT OUT OF REACH 1) Aaron Donald 2) Quenton Nelson 3) Derwin James 4) Hopkins 5) TJ Watt 6) Saquon 7) Keenan Allen 8) McCaffrey 9) Gurley WOULD’VE WON IT ALL IF NOT FOR INJURIES 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017. That’s football HEALTHIEST SEASON 2018 ROPE-A-DOPED/GOT BY ON VETERAN GUILE 2018: Belichick’s best coaching FAVORITE PICKS AT THE TIME OF GUYS I WANTED 1) Gronk 2) Hightower/Chandler Jones 3) Shaq Mason MOVES I HATED THAT I WAS WRONG ABOUT 1) Stephon Gilmore 2) trading Jamie Collins MOST IMPROVED Marcus Cannon BEST FIND Kyle Van Noy MOVE I LOVED getting Blount back the 2nd time IF BUTLER WASN’T BENCHED, DO THEY BEAT THE EAGLES? Yes 100%. If only because, if nothing else, he can tackle BUTLER’s INT KILLED THE ‘LEGION OF BOOM’ SEAHAWKS WOULD-BE DYNASTY Yes DRAFT REACH THAT MADE NO SENSE Jordan Richards: Tavon Wilson 2.0 BAD DRAFT MOVES 1) Dominique Easley 2) Cyrus Jones 3) Dobson 4) Mallett DIRTY SECRET Belichick sucks at drafting in 2nd round WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD IF HE STAYED HEALTHY Malcolm Mitchell HATE TO SEE WALK BUT COULDN’T AFFORD 1) Trey Flowers 2) Chandler Jones 3) Jimmy G 4) Talib 5) Akiem Hicks DEFLATEGATE fraud/power trip job by Goodell/owners BRADY OR BELICHICK MORE VALUABLE Brady 100% DISAPPOINTING/GAMBLES 1) Ochocinco 2) Michael Bennett: got him 2 years too late 3) Fanene signing 4) Haynesworth BEST SHORT-TERM 1) Martellus Bennett 2) Chris Long 3) Revis 4) Brian Waters SUSPECT CHARACTERS/EDGY PERSONALITY MACHINES Brandon Spikes; Brandon Browner…SERIAL KILLER Aaron Hernandez PERSONALITY DISORDER DISASTER Antonio Brown: bad signing/unexpected HOW THE FUCK DID WE LOSE TO THAT GUY? Eli Manning/Nick Foles LIFESAVER Scarnecchia MCDANIELS Frustrating—but continuity matters REFS FUCKED OVER Gronk MISCELANNEOUS 2010s GOOD/ENJOY Bernie Sanders/AOC: people who actually want to get good done that’s long overdue…Lebron James; Stephen Curry; Kawhi; Zion Williamson; Luka Doncic...Lamar Jackson; Pat Mahomes; JJ Watt; Marshawn Lynch…Coach Ed Orgeron...David Ortiz…2011 Bruins…memes…Don Winslow crime novels…David Roth writing on Trump…David Grann non-fiction…’Book of Mormon’ DID NOT ENJOY Kyrie Irving…Deflategate…LeBron on the Heat…Bobby Valentine DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ‘Between the World and Me’…Elon Musk…Lin Manuel-Miranda/’Hamilton’ INDEFENSIBLY AND INFURIATINGLY BAD THE MORE YOU LOOK AT IT Facebook…Obama Presidency/Democratic Party Leadership EVERYDAY DISASTER Media: CNN; Fox; MSNBC; NY Times Op-Ed…Trump/Republicans: Trump presidency was basically 2010s 9/11 for inevitable disastrous fallout & consequences my generation will never recover from…Grifters Trojan horsing way in shamelessly (Trump administration; Ben Shapiro; Alex Jones; Milo; Jordan Peterson, Tomi Lahren, etc.) and no repercussions...Republican Party basically one goal: to troll libs even with shitty ideas that suck FAVORITES WHO DIED Bourdain; Elmore Leonard; Garry Shandling; Muhammad Ali; Robin Williams; Tom Petty BEST TALENT CUT SHORT Philip Seymour Hoffman SHITTIEST PEOPLE WHO DIED Antonin Scalia; George HW Bush; John McCain; Osama; Steve Jobs; Whitey Bulger I FORGOT THAT SHIT HAPPENED Charlie Sheen loses it JEFFREY EPSTEIN did not kill himself WHAT DEFINES 2010s Amazon/Bezos…Climate Change/Gun Violence inaction…Journalism being taken over by Bane Capital-esque vultures/local places dying...one-sided Class War by the uber-rich…#MeToo…Netflix…Opioids…Outrage/Cancel culture…Police Injustice…Silicon Valley…Social Media…Superhero shit…Your mom

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billmartinanimation · 5 years ago

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Artist Research 8-12-19

Frank Frazetta:

Frank Frazetta was born and raised in New York and started drawing from an early age thanks to support from this Grandmother whom he spent a large amount of his young life with.

He attended art school rather than ordinary school and blew his teachers away by his talent and passion for drawing.

At the young age of eight he attended the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts, he described his teacher as supportive but not good at teaching as he often was let loose to draw whatever he wanted with the occasional look over his shoulder from his teacher.

When he turned 16 he started inking comic books working on every genre he could, and after years of drawing, inking and being featured in books he got married at aged 29.

In 1964 Frazetta’s painting of Beatles Member Ringo Starr got noticed and he was commissioned to produce the poster art for the movie “What's New Pussycat” earning hm his whole yearly salary in one afternoon. He later was commissioned to do more movie posters making a total of seven.

Once fazetta had secured himself a spot in movie studios he was hired to work on animated movies, an advertisement based around his work was animated by Richard Williams in 1978 and in 1980 Frazetta worked with producer Ralph Bakshi on the feature” fire and ice” mainly helping with the live action sequences to be rotoscoped later. the realism within the animation was inspired by Frazetta’s style and once Fire and Ice was released Frazetta returned to his roots of Pen and ink Illustrations being featured on album covers and later in his life he opened an exhibition called “Frazetta’s Fantasy Corner”.

Pendleton Ward:

Pendleton Ward is an American Animator, Screenwriter, producer, and Voice Actor who works for Cartoon Network, he is most famous for his work on “Adventure Time”, and the internet series “Bravest Warriors”.

Pendleton became interested in animation at an early age, his mum was an artist who was frequently working with animators and in the first grade he started making flipbooks, he often worked with his best friend Alec Coates on short comics. he later attended Calarts where he became close friends with J G quintel and Alex Hirsch, they later worked on the “Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” together Eric Homan, vice president of Frederator Studios offered Ward a job at the studios after watching one of his films at the annual Calarts Animation Screenings.

From the years 2002-2004 Ward began work on a webcomic he called “Bueno the Bear” but he later took them down branding them as “terrible” he still keeps the name buenothebear for his website and his name on social media, however he later released a short called “Barista” starring Bueno releasing at Frederator Studios.

Ward began animating for Federators “Random Cartoons!” airing on nicktoons, his one short titled “Adventure Time” blew up all across the internet that year reaching a million views by November 2007, he noticed the popularity of the cartoon and pitched it to Nicktoons but was rejected.

Ward began working on Cartoon Networks “Marvelous Adventures of Flapjack” as a storyboard artist, as it was a storyboard driven show it allowed pendleton and the other artists to add dialogue and action based on what was assigned to them.

During this time ward worked with many other modern influential animators such as Mike Roth (known for Regular Show) and Alex Hirsch (known for his work on Gravity Falls) This inspired Pendleton to re-approach Adventure Time in the same way when it was picked back up as a show.

Andrew Maclean:

Ward developed Adventure Time as a full series and worked on it until around it’s fifth season when he stopped making it, ward still had his input on the show by checking over the script however that’s all he did until the shows end in 2018.

Andrew Maclean is a writer and illustrator behind the comic head looper, a story about a viking warrior and the severed head of a witch.

Head looper started out as a project for Maclean however in 2015 it was picked up to be a four issue miniseries releasing from Image Comics.

Maclean got the idea from a drawing he did for “Brand New Nostalgia” the theme was vikings and maclea when he was finished was left with an illustration of a viking holding a witches head on the end of their sword.

Justin Roiland:

Justin Roiland grew up in california and attended Sierra High School up until the first quarter of his senior year before transferring over to Manteca High School for the rest of his senior year, after High School he attended Modesto Junior College.

He eventually moved to Houston Texas in early 2004 and got involved with Channel 101 and LA media collective started by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab where he directed and starred in various movie shorts.

He now works as a voice actor and co writer for the Adult Swim show Rick and Morty, he voiced several characters in the show.

In the 2016 Rick and Morty panel he stated that one of his key influences was Pendleton Ward and that he loved watching the Ren and Stimpy show as a child.

In an interview for Rolling Stone he stated that he loves making cartoons and games as it allows him to work from his apartment without leaving the house.

Roiland continued to make Rick and Morty, launch new games and raise money for charities such as Hurricane relief where he raised over $200,000 alongside Alex Hirsch and Ethan Klien.

Matt Groening:

In February 2019 Roiland alongside Elon Musk Hosted an episode of Pewdiepie’s Meme review under the request of Pewdiepie’s fans.

Matt Groening was born on February 15th 1954 and became interested in drawing at an early age.

He attended ainsworth elementary school, a liberal art school which he described as a “hippie college” with no grades or required classes. Whilst there he began writing and drawing cartoons for his schools newspaper and became interested in cartoons after watching disneys’ One hundred and one dalmatians.

In 1977 at the age of 23 Groening left to work in Los Angeles as a writer, he worked odd jobs here and there and hated it, he hated it so much that he self published a comic about it called “Life In Hell” It became an immediate success and gave Groening new attention as a cartoonist.

Groening was later asked by James L Brooks to adapt his life in hell strips into an animated series, groening feared this would cause him to lose ownership rights and destroy the comic so after coming up with the idea in Brooks’ office he quickly sketched out the simpsons family which he then planned to be the animated series Brooks wanted Groening based and named a lot of the simpsons characters after his own family.

Groening after creating the simpsons and seeing he amazingly popular it was becoming began work on new animated projects such as Futurama, Groening got the idea for futurama after getting together with his co-writer for the simpsons David X Cohen and discussing the idea of “life in the year 3000” he pitched the idea to Fox and after what he described as the “Worst experience in his adult life” it was accepted to go on the air.

Groening also went on the create the fantasy series disenchantment a netflix series originating from one of Groenings’ sketchbooks full of creatures that couldn’t go in the simpsons.

Alex Hirsch:

Alex Hirsch was born in piedmont california in 1985 and graduated from Piedmont High school.

He went on to attend the California Institute of arts and created a number of short films including his senior project “Off The Wall” which combined live action and animation. He graduated from CalArts in 2007.

After graduation Hirsch got his first job as a storyboard artist and writer for “The Marvellous Misadventures of Flapjack alongside Future Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and J.G Quintel he would also go on to create the pilot for the Disney Channel Series Fish Hooks alongside Maxwell adams and future Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland.

Hirsch then made it big in 2012 when he created the series Gravity Falls for Disney Channel set in the fictional town of Gravity Falls Oregon it premiered in June that same year and was an instant success, Hirsch provided most of the voices for his characters, The show was moved to Disney XD in 2014 and would a Bafta Children’s award and an Annie award in 2015, Hirsch sadly ended the show in 2016 to pursue other projects.

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