#like I need to do that “top 10 spotify artists in the last 4 weeks” thingy so you can understand what I mean lmao

[ask-serendipity-sky]

Jimin's article written by a fan...

On March 24, Jimin released “Like Crazy” (with no features). "Like Crazy" didn't need a feature.

Outside of his work with BTS, Jimin’s highest-charting Hot 100 hit as a solo artist was “Set Me Free pt. 2,” his own song, at number 30.

There were a lot of noteworthy new songs coming out the Friday “Like Crazy” was released, including “Eyes Closed” by Ed Sheeran, “Spice Marley” by Spice and “Don't Play With It Remix” by Lola Brooke ft. Latto and Yung Miami. Not only that, but songs like “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus), “Last Night” (Morgan Wallen), “Kill Bill” (Sza) and “Die For You” (The Weeknd and Ariana Grande) continued to dominate streaming charts. With all that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how “Like Crazy” performed in its first week. The chart data for the seven days following March 24 was reflected in the Billboard chart dated April 04.

According to Billboard, “FACE” and "Like Crazy" massed 10 million streams and sold 234,000 units on the week of its release. According to Oricon, "FACE" recorded 222,120 sales on the first day, making it the 3rd album with the biggest first day sales. Jimin earned the BIGGEST First Week sales for a Korean album by a Korean Soloist in Oricon History. Immediately after its release on March 24, Jimin’s album made Hanteo history by being the first to surpass 1 million first-day sales of an album by a Korean soloist, despite the unclear issues that arose that day and the sales that were deleted. Even though the cd single of "Like Crazy" has not been restocked after 4 months, the sales it pulled from full album sales and digital sales were impressive. Although most were not counted after week 2 because fans were not informed of the rule changes Billboard had made to its chart. By the end of the first week, the song had been streamed nearly 22 million times and sold 234,000 album equivalent units in the US. With those 234,000 sales—the second highest of any song for the week—thrown on top of all its streaming figures, “Like Crazy” climbed to the top spot on the Hot 100. 

The song’s performance on the charts is noteworthy, but what is particularly impressive is its extensive streaming numbers, especially worldwide. On Spotify, “Like Crazy ” swiftly rose to number one on Worldwide iTunes Chart, Worldwide iTunes Song, European iTunes, and Japan's Line Music. "Like Crazy" also topped Spotify’s Daily Top Global Songs chart and Jimin was the first Korean soloist to do so. "Like Crazy (English Version)” also debuted at no. 2 on the daily Global Top Songs chart with 6.6 million streams. Out of the 7 tracks, 6 of them took up the top 6 positions on the Oricon Daily Digital Ranking, showing how much the album had been anticipated. The album also dominated the Worldwide Apple Music Album Chart and all songs were top sellers in Digital Music New Release, Digital Music Best Seller, International New Release, and International Best Seller in Amazon Music USA. According to Melon, "Like Crazy" in its first day, peaked at #8 and maintained the position in the chart. After 24 hours, "Like Crazy" obtained almost 3 million streams on Melon. Even after months have passed by, the song continues to be streamed over 2.5 million times every day. So far, the song has been no.1 in 111 countries, setting the record for the most no.1 on iTunes in 2023.

It's pointless to compare "Like Crazy" to other Western Songs or Korean song because there is nothing like "Like Crazy". It is one of a kind.

The song is written in Korean and there is also an English version that should be combined but hasn't been despite other artists having theirs combined, this marks an even more historic debut for an Asian artist, and the fact that it had only 0.6m of radio airplay is reflecting that significance. A sultry club synth pop song was the last thing I was expecting among solo discographies of BTS members. But the fact that this song has become one of the biggest K-pop hits is beyong exciting. As K-pop continues to explore new themes and approaches, the bold move of “Like Crazy” and its early and ongoing success may serve as inspiration for the next generation of K-pop artists, even his own company, to take similar courageous steps.

[bbymochiroll]

🧈 Let’s talk about Butter by Bts on American charts, Olivia Rodrigo Scandal & how Global Asian hate effect Butter, and more from a psychology students perspective 🐰

As you all know, bts released their long-awaited new song butter last week and the song had great success in its first week. youtube records and Spotify's success in the global market made us all happy, but as some of its fans noticed, it was an unbalanced success on the American charts. it showed the statistics. the song that broke another record every day but had a hard time getting into the top 10 on the American Spotify charts. today I would like to explain the reasons personally and share with you the difficult process that bts went through as a minority from the perspective of American citizens. bts deserves to be congratulated by all of us and I want to share some reasons for this;

a.1 global hate of Asia and America

Another thing that spread rapidly in the world during the covid 19 pandemics was the global wave of hatred against Asian people. due to the global hatred of Asia, many fine artworks from Asia were subjected to unfair criticism and they did not get most of the success they deserved. the best example we can give is the Oscar success of the Parasite and the tragicomic criticism about this movie. The parasite was under attack with one-star reviews on the criticism sites because they had to watch the movie with subtitles by the American people and the American people directly judged the movie. After all, it was not in English. In such an environment , seeing an Asian music group successful is what a great strength they are. We must be proud.

a.2 Olivia Rodrigo company scandal

The singer who competed in the American charts with bts this week was undoubtedly Olivia Rodrigo. even though she is a cute and successful young woman, her company is not as well-intentioned as she is, their company produced an ad in Asian countries to promote their song, saying that it competes with bts. this is not an ethical and acceptable way of promotion. it is a great insult to art for a company to attract people who don't like bts to their field and to use it as a battleground IN the music market. but what we need to remember here is that this is not her fault, please don't have bad feelings for this talented young woman. what we should criticize is bigger, the big American companies with xenophobic and ugly intentions.

a.3 kpop perception of hate and the echo effect of hyper-masculinity

k-pop has opened a new era in the perception of male beauty bts is one of the biggest role models of this new male beauty understanding. hyper-masculinity that started in the middle east and then spread all over the world from America has left its place to a more colorful, free, and lively understanding of beauty. because their non-acceptance to this change old-fashioned individuals had a meaningless hatred towards Korean music and artists. people who have this hatred are usually really retarded racist or homophobic individuals. bts is the focus of criticism even unintentionally because of their futuristic and modern fashion sense, but still very successfully they continue their careers. we must support them because they try to help spread feminine male beauty globally.

a.4 the difference between American culture and Korean culture and... finally... grammy

America is a country that chooses hard power as a way of self-development, Korea uses soft power; They invest in their art and culture sector and this leads them to a more successful position in visual arts than any other country. America is an individualistic community in structure, so it is more individualistic an ensemble but Korean society is a collectivist structure, because of this difference we need to support every success that Korea has on American music charts. believe it or not, they do something harder than you think. grammy has always been famous for being racist and it's a system that lost prestige every year. therefore Instead of giving them an award that BTS deserves, they continued to give awards to people who won the same award more than once. Honestly, I don't understand why they never give awards to newly nominated artists and encourage them instead of giving awards to people who have already proven themselves at Grammy. with dynamite, it already shows how much they deserve this award but... they share the same story with The Weekend.

Finally

Dear army please don't feel bad and remind yourself how great your success is. I am not an army fandom but as a minority i want to support the success of a Korean group globally. America is a place we always remember with its xenophobic and racist past but true success is always win more in the future. I think you did a great job. Well done Army!

Don't forget to support Butter by bts

Thank you.

[mangoofthesea]

I was tagged by @abstract-moth to post 10 songs I’ve been obsessed with lately. In no particular order. Thank you so much I was thinking how I haven't done a tag game in ages so this was very fun to think about (you have excellent choice in songs btw I love loads of the ones you mentioned)

1. EXPIRED by jenny nuo

I honestly love this song since I heard it, it has this angry vibe about being tired of a town you moved to where you don't belong and never have and looking forward to moving away which is me this year while I wait for the autumn and its incredibly cathartic. "i think this town has expired on me" "school is just a building where people come and go"

2. The Red Means I Love You by Madds Buckley

I love songs like this that are kind of different and fun and its based on a villain from bnha, Toga, and it just makes me feel cool and evil lol

3. Funkle Phil by Bear Ghost

I heard the beginning of this song on an animatic by an artist i love (Yamz Animatics on youtube go check them out i love their videos) and the vibes oh my gosh i listened to it on repeat for a couple days the other week and has a very hype vibe and excellent electric guitar and drums which i adore. classically rock/punky. "gonna blast off, oh oh ah, and rocking til the day we die"

4. To The Bone by JT Music

Another one like red means i love you that's about the game undertale sung by the two main skeleton characters Sans and Papyrus. I never played undertale but I heard about it from friends. This is the song with the lyrics "I am the mastermind he's my accomplice, you're only still alive because I made a promise" - I heard it the first time on a hq tiktok and something about it just had me obsessed. It was my spotify top song last year and I still like it. (84 plays in 2021)

5. B.O.M.B by emlyn

The chorus is 'I'm back on my bullshit' and about reclaiming your Energy and getting over a breakup. I'm not getting over a breakup but I like the energy of Getting Back Up Again.

6. Made for This by City Wolf

Such a vibe oh man. Another get back up kind of song that always makes me want to bear my teeth and grin. I heard it the first time on a Zuko music video that was overlaid with his words about fighting to survive. "you're stronger now can't hold you down, you were never born to quit, keep on throwing rocks and fists, you gotta stand up, you were made for this" "stand tall head first into danger".

7. Between My Teeth by Orla Garden

First song I found that properly conveyed my feelings towards relationships and my last relationship where I knew I would hurt them if we stayed together cos I didn't want a relationship. "you need me I don't need you" "please don't lean on me cos I don't want your heart between my teeth" "I can't take the pressure of it I can barely breathe" "You deserve someone else".

8. Bored by Tessa Violet

Slightly self explanatory "its 4am again, you'd think that I could sense a trend. I'm staying up too late just so that I can stay awake". Also its a bop and I love it.

9. Merry Go Round by MAN WITH A MISSION

It's the theme of bnha season 5 part 2. I really really love it. Feels like a song about a fight and hypes me up especially when I listen to it while writing.

10. Soldier, Poet, King by The Oh Hellos

I heard this first on a beautiful bnha animatic for a fantasy/pirate au and I don't know what it is about it but it makes me want to cry and dance at the same time. Very folky and soft and hopeful then finishes in a brilliant faster fiddle section that sounds like you would dance to around a fire in a field with the biggest smile.

this all made me realise I only pay attention to around 30% of the lyrics in most songs I love lol. Honorable mention to Surface Pressure from Encanto too just cos I love it.

Tagging @apparently-a-robot @r0ckyr04d @ihavenomoralsss @ash-and-starlight and @that-was-anticlimactic but no pressure of any kind do it if you want and if not have a lovely day

[ameliapodcast]

I posted 762 times in 2021

198 posts created (26%)

564 posts reblogged (74%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 2.8 posts.

I added 722 tags in 2021

#the amelia project - 167 posts

#tap - 134 posts

#fanart - 72 posts

#artwork - 67 posts

#cocoacollabs - 54 posts

#ask - 51 posts

#cocoacollabs2021 - 49 posts

#episode artwork - 46 posts

#the interviewer - 43 posts

#cocoa spy - 39 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#i know i'm late again and i am so sorry but i have an exam in three days and my brain is ... what happens when you drown maltesers in cocoa

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Do you think the interviewer would wear the notorious rainbow suit from the target pride collection, asking for a friend (and not morbid curiosity)

Okay, it took me some time to find, but is this the one you mean? (Link is under the cut)

Because yes, he not only would, he does. It’s very important to him to show on which side he stands. He made homosexuality mandatory for one third of the population once, and he loves drama and attention. The only difference is that he doesn’t like to wear the tie, he prefers the bow-tie, if you want I can find a photo of it, he spills cocoa on it a lot and I sometimes clean it then!

- Intern

(Hey, please look under the cut ;) )

(Actual real human Intern from the Podcast here: thank you for that ask that made me laugh so loud I nearly woke my roommate. Someone draw this. Multiple someone's draw this. Oh my god. I want to make a separate post saying at the artists out there, please draw this, because he would, he so definitely would!)

64 notes • Posted 2021-06-05 13:35:22 GMT

#4

Since the whole 666 and then 669 69 days before Halloween, I can't stop thinking about it. I never had a Halloween. What does one... do? I know it has something to do with sweets and dressing up. Should I dress up? I KNOW it's August but... I know the Interviewer dressed up as a Vampire last year. Any suggestions? For everyone, of course, I need inspiration

ESPECIALLY considering the fact that there might be some Halloween happening here... You could say... A Halloween Special...?

78 notes • Posted 2021-08-24 15:40:52 GMT

#3

*sigh* oh to have a best frenemy that is just oneself from a different dimension. Also while we're at it: what about this guy? (That is of course the fancily dressed Obituary Writer of Crestfall, Idaho)

Wait, I know this guy! How do I know this guy? Have I seen him around? Have I met him? Heard him? In any case - and from a personal point of view, I'd call them siblings. But I'd be more curious about what the rest of you think on this one!

- P.A. Intern

PS. @deathbydyingpod what do you think?

82 notes • Posted 2021-07-03 09:22:39 GMT

#2

Episode 43 - Faith Griffith - Halloween Special

Listen here on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and find the transcript here

Not yet caught up? We recommend starting at the beginning!

*counts all the names the devil is called in this one* EXCUSE ME??? THE COCOA HAS GONE COLD???? I can excuse the devil's contract but I draw the line at fridging cocoa!

- Intern

128 notes • Posted 2021-10-29 15:17:18 GMT

#1

And here we go! There were some cast reveals on Twitter over the last week, and to end those, we'd like to announce Zach Valenti in the upcoming season 4 of the Amelia Project!

Was anyone else's starting-drug-podcast Wolf 359? Because it was mine!

Can anyone else literally not wait for the 15th of October? 11 days to go folks!

- Maty

137 notes • Posted 2021-10-04 19:14:11 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[starf]

StarF’s Top Ten Albums of 2020

Another year, another list. Let’s not even bother with the preamble this time around, you get what it is.

10. I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - RAZZMATAZZ

Let me tell you right now, I struggled with this tenth spot. There were about four albums that were pretty much tied once I narrowed it down this far because it was a jam-packed year. Ultimately though I had to give it to iDKHOW for their smooth brand of piano rock-pop. This is their debut album and it brought the heat. While it didn't dazzle me immediately, with every subsequent listen I feel a little more of that promised razzmatazz from the title. I also absolutely love the ballad "Nobody Likes The Opening Band," which will certainly be a fun song to hear them perform some day whether they're the opener or not.

9. The Front Bottoms - In Sickness & In Flames

The last offering from The Front Bottoms, Going Gray, left me feeling a little lukewarm. In Sickness & In Flames, however, is a much stronger return to form for the band in my opinion. Some people say all of The Front Bottoms' albums sound the same, and maybe that's a little bit true. But maybe 2020 is the year that we needed to hear some new Front Bottoms material. It was a strange time for all of us, and in these times this kind of album just hits different. From the optimistic opening of "everyone blooms" to the infectious singalong moments of "Fairbanks, Alaska," this album is a good time all around.

8. The Used - Heartwork

Did you know The Used is still around? Not only still around, but apaprently they never went away! When I saw that they had released a new album early in the year I assumed it was a comeback, but I was wrong! For me there was a 12 year gap since I had personally listened to a new Used album, and this one blew me away in a big way. They're still going big, going hard, and rocking their signature sound - but updated for the modern age. This is a band that has managed to hold on to their roots while successfully adapting and progressing into the future.

7. Oliver Tree - Ugly Is Beautiful

Where do you even start with an artist like Oliver Tree? An absolute master of internet marketing, the release of this album was a tortured and dragged out experience, like a person chasing a 20 dollar bill on a string and having it constantly pulled away over and over again. By the time it came out it was a little disheartening that an entire half of the album had already been released via single, but overall it is undeniably a powerhouse of a pop album and a strong showing from Oliver Tree. A strange character, but an impossibly catchy album with earworm after earworm.

6. The World/Inferno Friendship Society - All Borders Are Porous To Cats

I pretty much always enjoy any offering from this band, but to varying degrees. Their last few albums have certainly been good to my ears, but for whatever reason just didn't resonate enough with me to earn a spot in my top ten. This album is clearly different though, and keeps me enthralled the entire way. With their unique brand of punk-jazz-cabaret, All Borders Are Porous To Cats tells the story of one Mr. Cat In The Hat, and it's a wild ride that you're going to want to hear.

5. Run The Jewels - RTJ4

One of the most biting and necessary releases of the year, RTJ4 dropped right when we needed to hear it most, and for free no less. It's my personal opinion that Run The Jewels continue to get better with every release they put out, and their fourth showing is easily my favorite so far. El-P and Killer Mike come through with some of their sharpest bars and heaviest beats yet. It's just a shame that for how much history repeats we as society still haven't learned some of the lessons that an album like this continues to attempt to teach us.

4. Aesop Rock - Spirit World Field Guide

Spirit World Field Guide is not a typical Aesop Rock album, but then again what is? Back in 2016 I fell in love with the album The Impossible Kid, an accessible (by Aes standards) album that hooked me in immediately. Spirit World is a different beast that took me off guard the first time I heard it, and left me a little bit lost - but that almost seems to be the intent. An absolute monster of an album coming in at 21 tracks and over an hour, this thing wasn't necessarily meant to be ingested all at once, or even in the order presented. The more I revisit it the more I put the pieces together and enjoy it more and more.

3. Poppy - I Disagree

Let's take a journey all the way back to January before the world entirely fell apart. I discovered Poppy for the first time through this album and was quickly intrigued. Going back through her older music, and then her YouTube, and slowly unraveling the mystery that is Poppy was perhaps some of the most fun I've had experiencing an artist's work in years - all topped off with seeing her perform live that month, the last large live music show I've been to. I Disagree is an eclectic blend of pop, metal, and strange curiosity. It starts off right away with the oddball banger Concrete and promises to weed out those who aren't prepared to take the mental trip through this album right away. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely for me.

2. Jeff Rosenstock - N O  D R E A M

Well here we are! The number one spot! You guessed it, it's Jeff Rose- what? This isn't number one? Well that can't be right, hold on. Nope, I guess that's correct. The new Jeff Rosenstock album, N O  D R E A M comes in at number two this year, a fact that will probably shock and confuse anyone who knows me. This is the proof that Jeff doesn't automatically get my number one spot if he releases an album, but with all of that out of the way, let's talk about the album.

In a Post-Post- world we see Jeff returning to a more traditional take on putting together an album, rather than simply rushing through it to get the feelings out of his head (both perfectly valid approaches). N O  D R E A M continues to explore themes of being lost and confused in such a soul-crushing and increasingly overwhelming world - all while attempting to find the silver linings and be optimistic about where we're headed. Whether it's the world at large or a personal journey, this album is an anthem to a year that saw most people holding their head in their hands and saying "please, just, let's all get through this, okay?"

1. Will Wood - The Normal Album

Wow. Just wow. Okay, where to begin? I was listening to a random Spotify radio when it started playing a song by Will Wood & The Tapeworms called "Hand Me My Shovel, I'm Going In!" Intrigued by the style of the song, as well as the title, I clicked through and listened to their most recent album which was 2016's "Self-Ish." I thought it was really good! I enjoyed it a lot and continued to listen to it for about a week. At that point when I started digging further into the band I learned that there was actually an even newer album entitled The Normal Album, categorized on Spotify under just Will Wood, which is why I hadn't previously found it.

I enjoyed Self-Ish, but hearing The Normal Album took it to an entirely new album and blew me away in a way that I haven't experienced in years. This wasn't just a great album, this was one of those musical discoveries where you think "oh wow, this is something I can't live without going forward." Will Wood is exactly what I needed in the back half of 2020 to keep my sanity, and even now I still listen to this album usually at least once a day. It's perfectly crafted in every sense of the world. Not a single second is wasted or out of place. The technical skill is in full display without muddling the pure enjoyment of the melodies or taking away from the overall vibe of the songs. The writing is some of the sharpest and dense I've ever seen, without being undecipherable or inaccessible. This is an album that truly does it all.

The feeling I have when I listen to this album and attempt to get people to listen to it is identical to how I felt about Jeff Rosenstock in the late 2000's, back before he had sort of blown up. Will Wood certainly has a following, but his music is definitely niche at the moment and somewhat obscure. Much in the same way that eventually people listened to me about Jeff, I hope they will find out about Will. Everyone should hear this album. It's breath-takingly perfect.

[soundsof71]

Hey! Album: 'Fleetwood Mac' (1975) - Fleetwood Mac

Hey! Great to hear from you! You (and your previous blog) were my original inspiration for trying to raise my tumblr game to something intentionally curated, and more than that, personally creative. Sorry to have let you down. LOL

What a pleasure to talk about this one, though, an album I think is -- strangely enough -- one of the most underrated albums in the classic rock pantheon!

What’s that you say? An album with “Rhiannon” and “Landslide” underrated?!?! Well it’s true, seriously underrated, at least partly because those two stellar, nay, legendary songs are the first ones that most people think of. There's so much more! It's definitely my favorite Fleetwood Mac album!

My perspective is a little different than the standard rap that Fleetwood Mac didn't properly begin until those two California kids joined the band in 1975, because to me, they started taking off when their first American joined the band, Bob Welch in 1971 for Future Games, which I wrote about at some length here. 

(For the record, Future Games is my second favorite Fleetwood Mac album. Anyone who hasn't checked it out really needs to.)

I’ll leave it at that for now, except to observe that to most of my music nerd friends at the time, I was a latecomer to Fleetwood Mac the band, having completely missed their earlier, bluesier lineups. Indeed, the 1971 lineup was their 8th! And they'd come to #9 in 1972, before landing on lineup #10 in 1975.

They had a bunch of hits on the five albums in this 71-74 range (”Hypnotized” is one that still slays me) that I think hold up as among their best ever. While the album before Fleetwood Mac, Heroes Are Hard to Find didn’t have a hit single, it rose to #34 on the US charts, and got plenty of attention. 

My point is that Fleetwood Mac didn’t spring into existence out of nowhere in 1975. Nor was 1975 necessarily ground zero for the millions of people who bought the album Fleetwood Mac. It came out in the summer of ‘75, but took 15 months to hit #1 in the US! (It peaked at #11 in the UK.) This was a far bigger album in 1976 when all the singles came out, and the band was touring like crazy to support it.

They basically dragged the album to the top of the charts kicking and screaming by the end of THAT year with relentless touring, setting the stage for their true commercial breakthrough with Rumours in 1977, but artistically? I prefer everything about 1975′s Fleetwood Mac.

btw, the music nerds know that Fleetwood Mac was recorded at Sound City Studios, which makes all the difference in the telling of the tale. In 1974, the band had located to Los Angeles, and following the departure of Bob Welch in December, Mick Fleetwood went looking for both a recording studio and a guitarist. 

While getting to know producer Keith Olsen at Sound City (a studio legendary for its drum sound, among other things), Keith played Mick some tracks from an album he’d recorded here a couple of years earlier with a local guitarist and his girlfriend singer, both of whom were also songwriters.

Mick said, I’ll book the studio to record my next album, I’ll book you to produce, and I’ll hire the guitarist....who famously informed Mick that he and his girlfriend were a package deal. All of this happened because of Sound City Studios.

(Here's Mick recording this very album in this very studio.)

Your friend and mine Dave Grohl directed a FANTASTIC documentary about Sound City Studios, a kind of a dump to be honest, but where tons of phenomenal records were made, from After The Gold Rush to Caribou, Damn The Torpedoes, Nevermind, Rage Against The Machine, and most recently, Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher. Lots and lots of stories about the making of Fleetwood Mac in this movie, and much more. 

Here’s the trailer. The whole movie is available on YT, too! And Amazon Prime, and a bunch of other places. HIGHLY recommended!

So here we go taking directly about Fleetwood Mac.....

the first song from the album i heard: "Over My Head". This was the first single released in the US, remarkably, four months after the album was released! I dunno, did the label not want to sell any albums? Or did they just not get how catchy these tunes were? I have no idea.

And ironically, the band didn't like the choice of "Over My Head" at all, ranking it dead-last in their own considerations of likely singles! I think that this is evidence that they were using heavy drugs much earlier than we thought. LOL

"Over My Head" peaked at #20 in the US, their highest to date by far, although, in some defense of the band's reservations, didn't chart at all in the UK. Saying that it rose to "only" 20 in the charts doesn't begin to describe how heavily it was played, though. A LOT.

do i own the album: Did then, Spotify now. The answer for most of the albums in this round of Asks. :-)

my favorite song: "Over My Head". Look, I admit that this is insane when Fleetwood Mac also includes "Landslide" and "Rhiannon." "Landslide" in particular is maybe one of the greatest songs anyone has ever written, and every single person reading this knows somebody named Rhiannon because of that song. (I've met two.) And hey, "Say You Love Me" was a MUCH bigger hit at the time too... but I'm tellin' ya, "Over My Head" fucks. 

It's the single version that fucks hardest, though, no doubt about it. I was disappointed when I finally bought the album that the version there fades in (NO! THIS IS WRONG) and has a wide mix that diffuses the impact. The radio version is so tight that it's practically mono, and it punches you right upside the head. 

One of my favorite things about listening to "Over My Head" in the past couple of weeks for this Ask is that it's Old School Fleetwood Mac. Chris on piano, Mick on drums, and John McVie with what might be the best bassline that anyone stroked out in 1975. My god, it's a fucking monster, and it just gets hotter as the song progresses. By the end, it's on fire, and you hear it so much better in this tight single mix.

The new guy adds a nice little solo on top of a nice rhythm lick, and he and Stevie add background vocals, but they're not front and center. "Over My Head" is really Christine McVie's showcase, although Fleetwood and Mac really shine too. This would have been a monster hit without the new kids, as indeed it pretty much was. You could say the same thing about "Say You Love Me", which is also all about Christine's songcraft, and a voice like no other, then or now.

Here's my edit of a lovely Mick Putland photo of Christine McVie from a couple of years earlier.

I guarantee that it's been way too long since you heard the in-your-face single version of "Over My Head". On Spotify, you can find it on the couple of Deluxe Editions of Fleetwood Mac (here's one), and it's also on the anthology, The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac, which I've embedded here. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw-lIt1ILzk

least favorite song: "I'm So Afraid." I'm so afraid not. LOL

a song I didn’t like at first, but now do: Hmm, I might put "Sugar Daddy" in that category, but honestly, the main thing I don't like about this song is the title. LOL But it's the 4th best Christine McVie song on an album where the best three of hers were all released as singles, so I guess it all works out.

a song I used to like, but now don’t: Anything by the new guy. I'm not going to go into detail here because what I love about this album, I still love. At the time, I dug two of his songs here (you can guess which two, surely), but I started to really despise this guy a few years later. Now, I can't listen to anything where he's prominent at all, on any Fleetwood Mac records.

Fortunately there are more than enough Christine and Stevie songs, and Mick and John's playing, plus all those earlier albums like Future Games, to keep Fleetwood Mac in the rock good pantheon. I'd have fired the new guy 30 years earlier than he was. 

favorite lyric:

Mirror in the sky

What is love?

Can the child within my heart rise above?

Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?

Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well, I've been afraid of changin'

'Cause I've built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Even children get older

And I'm getting older too

Like I said, the two Stevie Nicks tracks on Fleetwood Mac deserve every bit of the love they've gotten over the years. You can also see with just a quick glance around my blog that she's one of my most-posted artists. Please don't take me repping Christine as any disrespect for Stevie!

Do I like "Landslide" a little more than I otherwise might because it's specifically about outgrowing the aforementioned new guy? Maybe.  Or do I like it a little less than I otherwise might because I can't hear it without thinking of him? Maybe that too.

overall rating out of 10: Then: 9.4. Now: 9. The new guy went 2-for-4 for my money at the time, and the two that he whiffed on are genuinely terrible...but as bad as those two clunkers were, the rest of the album seemed perfect to me. Certainly among my most-played mainstream rock records into the early 80s. I was perfectly fine skipping one song on each side.

Even though nowadays I can't stand any of the songs he sings lead on, you take those off, and you STILL have "Landslide", "Rhiannon", "Say You Love Me", "Over My Head", and "Warm Ways". No album with ALL THOSE on them gets less than an 8.5, right?

I'm adding a few tenths each for how tightly Fleetwood and Mac are locked into each other and these songs on rythm (easily the most underrated duo of the era, sez me), and Keith Olsen's immaculate production. The score of 9 is therefore objectively correct and mathematically unassailable. LOL

I'm going to end where I began, by talking about Christine McVie. Instead of listening to this first and foremost as an album with a couple of giant Stevie Nicks songs, listen again to Fleetwood Mac as Christine McVie really lighting things up. She deserves so much more credit for the band's success than she gets, and seriously, "Over My Head" fucks. 

Now looky here, @aluacrescente . I know that YOU have strong feelings about this record, so spill! And the rest of you, too! I don't intend to have the last word on the albums in any of these Asks! Just the first one. :-) So lemme know what YOU think!

PS. Apologies for any formatting weirdness! I started this on desktop, where I do all my writing, saved the first few paragraphs to come back to later, only to be told by tumblr that I'd stated this on the app (DID NOT) and could only edit there. Grrr. Not cool, @staff. I've spent another day just tweaking to make it somewhat readable and wondering how these people can be so bad at their jobs. LOL

My crackpot opinions and wobbly writing are my own of course, and I'm aware that they have a larger negative impact on readability than tumblr's incompetence by far. LOL

[shiningstarlight]

Show your process

To continue supporting content makers, this tag game is meant to show the entire process of making creative content: this can be for any creation.

RULES - When your work is tagged, show the process of its creation from planning to posting, then tag up to 5 people with a specific link to one of their creative works you’d like to see the process of. Use the tag #showyourprocess so we can find yours.

Thank you for tagging me @essercipertuttienonperse, I always love to see what might have gone through someone’s mind while they were thinking of their work. I have to be honest, this thing took me around a week because I have low will to do things when they seem complicated sdvbsdo so I started doing it around 20th January to be able to finish it on time, and my main idea changed a bit throughout these days. I was tagged for this graphic! This is going to be LONG I am so sorry.

1. Planning

All I knew was that I wanted to make some sort of “story” of most of what Louis had achieved with Walls. I don’t think charting and numbers are the most important things, but they are still part of the process of releasing an album, mostly with a debut. So I just digged deep to find some old things about number ones on release day, I added the gold disc in Mexico, digged some more in the present and then put everything aside in a note. The hardest part was to try and do everything, because in my mind I wanted a png to be at the center, and I was trying to have stability for all the boxes around. The first thing I did was choose colors, that was easy because I took the cover and chose the ones of his jacket and jeans: (I have noticed I have lost my original psd lol love that for me, I’ll try to recreate what it looked like from the pics I sent to my friend. Sorry for the annoying writing but the whole thing has already been reposted with no credits and thankfully I had watermarked it sigh so I prefer to write down my url) 

2. Editing (general)

Not gonna lie again, this took,,, a while. I usually enjoy making pngs on my own with the lasso tool unless it calls for desperate solutions and I have to remove the background more quickly, but I did this Louis png with it and it took a while, also considering that I had made a huuuge thing for it to be in a good quality svhosv and I started to arrange everything around it, with the boxes and such. I don’t think I used much coloring here, it’s just one psd coloring that I used for both the pic at the top left corner and the main png, the rest is just playing with black and white things and using the “screen/lighter colors” option for blending of the layers. 

3. Editing (spotify box)

Very easy, just did a png (I had it stored in my folders because it’s the same one I used for my Spotify edit lmao but it fit here too, and used the “wave effect” option to wave the text I put inside.

4. Editing (gold disc)

I did not do much for this beside making the Walls album with this base and edit the disc so it was a gold one:

5. Editing (still) (AOTY) 

I really wish I could show more of how this looked earlier before I finished it but no psd to help unfortunately :( still, for this I took a pic and made it black and white so that I could use the blending option “screen/lighter colors” (both gave me the same effect) and then added this overlay (I think I used lighter colors here because it only showed the white of the particles) 

6. Final boxes

Not much more beside playing around with fonts and using pics from the Walls photoshoot, I just used the “lighter colors” blending option again to match with the rest, same with the last gif at the bottom. I just wanted a gif in the second part of the edit as well and I put that lmao but nothing more than lighter blending.

6. Final touches (music videos) 

This was a last-minute decision, to include gifs instead of pics (editing six gifs in one graphic is hell and I think you won’t see me doing it again most likely svsovsd but who knows with me) but it was a fun ride. Louis’ videos are not really the best for what I wanted, because I wanted to use the “lighter colors” option again to match but,,, dark colors 9/10 sigh. However, I enjoy the final result a lot! I’ll leave the final thing underneath because I cut it, so you can see better what it looks like on its own. Last thing, to add the text I just used the text tool and made it go around so that I could fit each music video title. At this point I had also realized that I needed to split the graphic in two different ones because otherwise, with the dimensions I had used, tumblr was going to say “bye bye” for the final mbs... sad. 

7. Posting 

I usually breathe at least 40 times before posting anything because my inferiority complex is,,, something else. I hardly ever trust what I do and come up with, mostly for graphics because I understad it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, so that sometimes stops me from trying harder and stepping out of my comfort zone. I had never gone this huge with experimenting with things, so I am happy I did (and I plan on keep on doing it, hopefully). I am a firm believer that what really matters is what you, as an artist/content creator, think of your work, but it’s sometimes hard to think like that. However, I managed to post because I was not letting my insecurities throw away a whole week of work !!! I was so happy to make this because although to me numbers/awards are just 2/10 of music, I also understand these are important accomplishments for artists and deserve to be celebrated. This was a long post, I am so sorry for whoever reached the end sduivbsdi but there was a lot to say.

Thank you again for tagging me @essercipertuttienonperse! I loved reading about yours (check it here!!!! Amazing) and I think this is such an amazing idea to support each other and also see more of what goes through someome’s head, for decisions and such. I love that with any kind of art, so it’s amazing for me to be able not only to write about my creative process (at least one of the many) but also to read about others’. 

I have a few people to tag but none of you is obliged of course, if you want to I’d be happy, but do what makes you more comfortable! Also, to me everything is art, drawings, graphics, gifs, edits... anything. Everything is 100% valid, never feel differently pls!! 

I’d love to tag @finewalls​ for this beautiful work​

@lauvamp​ for this stunning drawing

@dryourtearsaway​ for this amazing cover

@tomlinsun​ for this gorgeous graphic (I have been amazed ever since I saw this one really, of course I love all your drawings but this was calling me to include it)

And finally, @wuxien​ for this awesome graphic 

I wish everyone a wonderful day, sorry again for the very long post <3

[kinghairington]

30 Questions Tag

Tagged by @rainbepourin ty! I enjoyed doing this.

1. name/nickname: Rachel, Rach

2. star sign: Virgo

3. height: 5’3”

4. birthday: August 26th

5. favorite band: BTS, clearly. Got7, Fall Out Boy, MCR, The Rose

6. time: 4:20 pm as of this moment because I missed this one the first time, so I don’t know when I started filling this out.

7. favorite solo artist: Taemin, Baekhyun, RM, Agust D, Sunmi, Wonho - I don’t know if I have any solo western artists I ever listen to…

8. song stuck in your head: Hot Sauce by NCT Dream? I can’t tell if that’s what it is or not.

9. last movie you watched: I watched Coco with a friend a couple of weeks ago. I also started Fear Street 1994, but haven’t finished it yet.

10. free space! I never thought that tumblr would be my most used social media site again, but I love being on here.

11. last show: Maid Sama!

12. when i created this blog: 2009 or 2010?

13. what i post: I don’t post much of my own stuff anymore, but I reblog BTS content with other Kpop groups thrown in, The Untamed, various dramas and tv shows

14. last thing i googled: something about ACNH last night

15. other blogs: I use this one for everything. I originally tried to have a separate BTS one, but it’s so easy to put everything here. But I do have a “secret” fic blog that I haven’t used much.

16. do i get asks? On occasion! But I love to talk to everyone, so send me more!

17. why i chose my url? I’m Sope biased and also just love their dynamic and I love interlude/intro/outro usernames. I’m interludesope here and introyoonji on twitter. 😉

18. following: 173

19. followers: 537. Would be a few more, but the p*rn bots had to be blocked.

20. average hours of sleep: 6-8. Sometimes I wake up for a bit before going back to sleep.

21. lucky number: 4 just came to mind

22. instruments: I couldn’t keep up with an instrument to save my life, but I still have the cheap guitar I bought on my 14th or 15th birthday.

23. what am i wearing? Mad Hatter’s English Tea House shirt (hello, hot topic!) and dark green shorts. It’s an around the house look.

24. dream job: Author, librarian. I can’t tell you how much I wish I had studied library sciences in college.

25. favorite food: Currently chips and dips. When I’m not working and it’s the summer, food is anything easy I can throw together.

26. tea or coffee : Tea. All day.

27. nationality: American (USA)

28. favorite song: According to Spotify, it’s currently UN Village by Baekhyun.

29. last book i read: I accidentally/unintentionally read the book that inspired 50 Shades, The Submissive. Not a terrible book actually. But I had no idea until I was finished and looked into it. It was a random pick because I wanted to read a romance and the library said this was their most popular ebook.

30. top three fictional universes i would like to live in: assuming that I wouldn’t die, Ouran (I can play matchmaker for Kyoya and Tamaki because someone has to do it), Teen Wolf (not gonna lie, I’m here for Derek), and I guess Stranger Things (since I loved writing for it and they need an older sister type badly).

Tagging @rmsbicycle @rodneywaber @imyourhobiii and anyone who wants to. No pressure!

[lovemesomesurveys]

do you sing in the shower? Yeah, I have a shower playlist on my Spotify I sing along to.

do you think money makes people happy? It certainly helps, sure, but you can still be unhappy and unfulfilled. It’s not everything.

what's your relationship status? Very much single.

what time is it? 3:29AM.

what emotion are you feeling right now? Tired and irritated.

do you have netflix? I do.

have you ever traveled outside your home country? Once.

coffee or tea? Coffee, of course. 

shower or bath? Shower.

what's your favorite pizza topping? Extra cheese and sauce, spinach, cilantro, green onion, garlic. 

what's something that makes you happy? Beach days.

do you have siblings or are you an only child? I have two brothers.

what's your favorite instrument? Piano.

what's your favorite food? Italian, Mexican, and American.

what is something you are always losing? My mind, probably. <<< That’s how I feel.

are you good at spelling? I think so.

what is one goal you have? Get my health stuff under control.

did you get a flu shot this year? No. I never have.

what's your favorite Disney movie? A few of my top favorites are Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story and A Goofy Movie.

are you bored? No.

what are you listening to? An ASMR video. what's your favorite foreign language? Spanish.

what do you do when you can't sleep? My nightly routine consisting of scrolling through Tumblr, doing surveys, and listening to ASMR.

do you like cats or dogs better? Dogs.

do you have any piercings? Just my earlobes.

what's your favorite vegetable? Potatoes, spinach, green onions, broccoli. do you eat meat? Yeah.

what's the best concert you've ever been to? All of ‘em. Concerts are just a fun, cool experience.

what's your favorite season? Fall and winter.

do you still write letters? No.

what would make you really happy right now? If I was able to have beach vacay.

what's your favorite song? I have a lot.

are you good at giving advice? I wouldn’t recommend asking me for advice; I’m a mess.

what's your favorite hobby? Reading and doing surveys.

do you prefer to talk or text? Text over talking on the phone.

what's your favorite pair of shoes? My Adidas.

how often do you read? (as in books) I read a lot. I finish one and start another. There’s a few different series I’ve been into that’s been keeping me occupied.

do you have any pets? I have a doggo.

what's your favorite day of the week? I don’t have one.

are you in college? No, I’m done with school.

are you/have you ever been in a long distance relationship? No.

how do you typically listen to music? I use Spotify.

do you like going to the beach? I love the beach.

did you make any new year's resolutions? No, I stopped doing that years ago.

how old are you? 31 years old.

do you know anyone who is blind? No.

who is someone you admire? My mom.

do you have a good singing voice? No, unfortunately. 

are your nails painted? Nope. It’s been a few years since I’ve painted them.

Are you an extrovert or introvert? I’m definitely an introvert. 

what are you having/had for dinner tonight? I don’t know, yet.

do you ever write in a journal? This is my journal/diary.

if you could time travel when/where would you go? My childhood. what's your favorite animal? Doggos and giraffes.

what's your favorite kind of cereal? The sugary ones.

how was your day? It’s only 4 in the morning. 

do you ever listen to classical music? Not often or regularly, no.

what inspires you? I haven’t felt inspired in a very long time.

how many pillows do you sleep with? Finally had to pack away a lot of them cause they were just taking up too much space. I currently have 4 on my bed, but prior I had like 10. I only actually use 2.

how many hours of sleep do you need? I never have enough.

do you have big or small feet? Small.

what's the weather like where you are? Miserably hot.

what's the most interesting thing you can see out the window? It’s pitch black out right now. 

does/did your high school have a school song? Yeah.

what month is your birthday in? July.

what's your dream job? I don’t have one. :/

are you excited for summer? Noooooo. D:

what foreign country would you want to live in for 6 months? Hmm. I’d have to really think about that.

did you have to go to school today? No, I’m done with school.

win a million $$ or never have to pay for anything again? Never have to pay for anything again, obviously. <<<

do you throw coins into fountains? Sometimes.

do you have a trampoline? No.

what's your favorite song lyric? I have many.

what did you eat the last time you went to the movies? Popcorn and mini KitKats. 

do you ever measure time in songs? When listening to music I sometimes do that. Like, when in the shower I measure how long to leave my shampoo in my hair that way.

do you know how to play chess? Nope.

what's your favorite game? (any type) Mario Bros, The Sims, various board games..

do you enjoy traveling? I don’t get the opportunity to do a lot of it, but yes.

do you tend to wait till the last minute? Yes.

have you ever owned a goldfish? Yeah.

how do you relieve stress? Cry.

without looking it up, guess the outside temperature? 82F.

now look it up - how close were you? Ha, I guessed way too high it’s only 52. It’s been getting really warm in the mornings so I assumed it was already high.

do you prefer digital or analog clocks/watches? Digital.

do you prefer to shop in stores or online? I’ve been doing a lot of online shopping the past few years even pre-COVID, but since COVID that’s all I’ve done until just recently as I’ve started to venture out to places like Target and Walmart. I haven’t gone to any clothing stores or any other store, yet, but I’m working towards it. Anyway, all that being said I do enjoy shopping online, but it’s nice to get out there and shop once in awhile. It’s definitely more comfortable and convenient for me right now, though.

do you enjoy coloring? I love my adult coloring books. <<<

do you like to dance? I don’t really dance.

have you ever owned a horse? No.

do you take selfies? Rarely. I did for the first time in a long time recently at my bro’s grad party.

do you ever listen to music in languages besides English? Not often, but sometimes.

have you ever cried from listening to a song? Oh, definitely.

what's your favorite song from a movie? I have several favorites. 

do you prefer headphones or earbuds? Earbuds.

who was your favorite music artist when you were 10? Britney Spears, N*SYNC, Backstreet Boys, etc. <<<

when was the last time you had to go to the dentist? It’s been a few years.

can you speak Spanish? Very little.

what's the last thing you watched on youtube? I’m currently watching an ASMR video.

now what time is it? 6:09AM. I clearly took a break. Well, actually I feel asleep.

do you ever watch musicals? Yeah, some.

do you know anyone who's a twin? Yeah.

do you ever get carsick? Yes.

what's your opinion on wolves? They’re gorgeous, but I wouldn’t want to be near one.

when you're sad do you prefer sad music or happy music? I go for the sad.

do you like seafood? Nooo.

do you enjoy going to the zoo? I enjoy seeing zoo animals, but I hate that they’re in captivity like that. <<<

are there any celebrities from your hometown? Yes.

do you shower in the morning or at night? At night.

do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Alone.

do you go to the gym alone or with a friend? I don’t go to the gym.

do you like coconut? I like the scent but not the food. <<<

who is someone you're jealous of? No one.

what's your favorite place to go out for breakfast? IHOP, Denny’s, and this local place.

do you still have your christmas tree up? Ha, no. And I actually have the decorations in my room put away as well, which prior to this year I had up for two years. 

do you have a favorite type of bird? No.

have you ever had an overnight flight anywhere? No.

if you use them, tell me 5 of your recently used emojis I don’t feel like checking.

do you know anyone that plays the violin? *shrug* I might.

how much money is in your wallet right now? Not sure, exactly.

anything you're looking forward to tomorrow? No.

have you ever auditioned for anything? Nope.

did you have a webkinz when you were younger? No.

how would you describe your aesthetic? I have no idea.

have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? No. 

when was the last time you rode a bus? Back when I was still in college, so 6 years ago.

if you saw $50 on the ground what would you do? If no one was around, I’d pick it up and keep it. If it was in a wallet, I’d turn it in. <<< That’s what I would do.

do you know how to play any unusual instruments? No. 

are you an early bird or a night owl? Both, really. Here I am at 6:17AM basically up all night. I dozed off for a bit, but still.

have you ever had trouble understanding someone because of an accent? Yes.

do you ever go to Massachusetts? I’ve never been.

do you personally know anyone who is transgender? Not that I know of.

what was the most memorable rainbow you've ever seen? (if any) Uhh.

do you remember anything from when you were 5 or younger? Just spotty preschool memories.

do you need to do laundry? No.

do you know anyone (including yourself) who actually enjoys math? Ew, definitely not me.

do you have a favorite poem? No. I haven’t read a whole lot of poetry.

if you were from somewhere else, would you visit your town on vacation? Uh, no. There’s absolutely nothing to do here. We’re not a vacation/touristy city.

where would you spend $100 if you had to spend it all in one store? Ooh, probably Boxlunch.

would you rather go to Japan or Greece? Greece.

now what song are you listening to? I’m not listening to a song at the moment.

what are you wearing right now? Leggings and a Mario Bros shirt.

any fun plans for the weekend? Nope.

[off-by-one]

30 Questions

Tagged by @a-little-mystical​ (thanks 😁)

 1.  Name: Matt

 2. Gender: Cis male 

 3. Star Sign: Aquarius... (I know there’s more but I don’t remember the rest) 

 4. Height: 5′ 11″

 5. Time: 8:11pm CST 

 6. Birthday: February 4

 7. Favorite Bands: alt-J, Mother Mother, Portugal. The Man, They Might Be Giants, Grouplove, Panic! At the Disco, Spoon, Metric, The Dresden Dolls, Queen, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Green Day, Placebo, Dispatch, Muse.    But also like, a ton more I don’t even know the names of, because Spotify is a double-edged sword that way, in lots of other genres haha.

 8. Favorite Solo Artists: Lady Gaga, Regina Spektor, Tycho, Zedd, Imogen Heap, Gui Boratto, Norah Jones

 9. Song stuck in my head:  Purple Hat - Sofi Tukker

 10. Last Movie: Save Yourselves! (it was weird but entertaining)

 11. Last Show: Parks and Rec

 12. When did I make this blog?:  August 2013, because my husband @soulcakeduck had one, and I was intrigued thirsty bored, probably

 13. What do I post: cats, gay stuff, puns, memes, art, space, trippy visuals, nerdy things, meditation and spiritually oriented things on occasion

 14. Last thing I googled:  patricia's 77 sandwiches

 15. Other blogs: I do maintain an nsfw blog

 16. Do I get asks: Almost never. I think I dodged the last one because there was a “must tag 10 others” clause. And my interactions here have not been very broad 😂

 17. Why I chose this URL: It was originally iterate-to-improve, because... code and personal growth I guess 🤣? I knew I wanted to update it and was discussing with @a-little-mystical, and when I explained the joke about the 2 hardest problems in computer science being cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-one errors, he pointed out how good a name it was, and that was that! It basically means that you make one little mistake and it fucks all your shit up good, but it’s usually easy to correct when you see it.

 18. Following: 330

 19. Followers: 764

 20. Average number of hours of sleep: Oof. Over what time period? In the last month, like 5 maybe. Before that, probably 7. I need more, and I know it.

 21. Lucky Number: 7, 17, 23, 27

 22. Instruments: I played trumpet in middle school, I had a keyboard that I never learned to play properly in high school, and my husband got me an accordion years ago because I have grand designs to be a polka musician or something, but again have not learned to play it 😑

 23. What I’m wearing: Grey and blue striped boxer-briefs from express, Grey T-shirt with bright orange birds flying in circles on it, and a fluffy blanket over my legs

 24. Dream Job: Years ago I would have said something like the job I have now, probably (software engineer / consultant). Now, ideally, I’d like to do something good or useful for society or my community too.

 25. Dream Trip:  Would love to tour the UK & Ireland.  Maybe a trip through East Asian countries, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.  Iceland.  Machu Picchu.  And there are people I’d love to visit in Portland, Seattle, LA, Boulder, and Connecticut too.

 26. Favorite Food:  Tempted to say pizza, or tacos. I love eating, and there’s not much I won’t eat, haha.

 27. Nationality: U.S. 

 28. Favorite Song:  No possible way I could make that kind of determination. So I’ll give you favorite in the last 2 weeks, which is La Mer Des Possibilités by Le Matos. Guaranteed to change again soon.

 29. Last book I read: I re-read Ghostwritten by David Mitchell

 30. Top three fictional worlds to live in:  Discworld (Terry Pratchett’s fantasy series),  Lyra’s world from His Dark Materials (not a fan of the Magisterium but there are many reasons to love the world), and the bending universe of ATLA (physical and spirit realms)

I don’t really interact broadly on tumblr, but I’ll tag some mutuals anyway. No obligations or anything though!

@hexa-gay @rejuvinating-lobsters @ghostwolfgeek @the-kind-wanderer @greyshyguy​ @bennn-ao​ @zeroaria​ (and if i didn’t tag you it’s because i’m too shy or suspect you wouldn’t be interested!)

[sadgirlindiemusic]

Tag me

rules: answer these 30 questions and then tag 20 people you’d like to get to know better.

tagged by: @unadulteratedcolorkid and @silverislander (it was a nice surprise to get tagged in something when I’m so new to the fandom, so thanks!)

name/nickname: I go by Ali 99.9% of the time. I have one friend who always calls me by my full name and that feels more like a nickname than my actual nickname.

gender: female / currently under consideration / I vibe with she/they but to be completely honest don’t feel ready to explain it to every straight person in my life

star sign: aquarius

height: 5′4

time: 10:30

favorite bands: I feel like I listen to about 3 songs each from 100 different bands/artists so it’s hard to pick favorites, but Lord Huron, Lucius, Overcoats, and Polica are a few I’ve loved for a long time

favorite solo artists: Sharon Van Etten, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Gordi, so many others...

song stuck in my head: every time I pull up spotify lately I go straight to Want Me by Baby Queen, so that one

last movie I watched: Birds of Prey

last show: a period drama I put on to fall asleep to

when did I create this blog: the first week of March

what I post: mostly reblogs of tlou2 things. Fic when I write it although I’ve been uninspired lately

other blogs: no

last thing I googled: I was talking to my friend and she mentioned there was a major earthquake in Japan, so I googled that

do I get asks: nope!

why I chose my url: I listen to a lot of that type of music, and it was available.

following: 29

followers: 9. yep. To be fair my blog is barely 2 weeks old and I mostly don’t make original posts.

average hours of sleep: 7ish

lucky number: 13? I always wanted jersey number 13 when I played sports as a kid because I liked that it was considered unlucky. underdog number!

instruments: none! :( my partner has a mandolin that I keep saying I’m going to learn to play, actually need to do that one of these days

what am I wearing: black sweatpants and black+white striped shirt

dream trip: Antarctica!

favorite food: baked mac & cheese with bread crumb topping

nationality: from the USA

last book I read: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson bc I’m a slut for his worldbuilding (less so for the lack of diversity in his books...)

top 3 fictional worlds I’d like to live in: Red London from VE Schwab’s Shades of Magic series, Legend of Korra-era Republic City, uhhhh Stardew Valley but if there were more people, that town is a little too tiny for my taste

favorite color: green

If you are comfortable doing this that would be awesome! If you’re not that’s rad as well.

I feel like the whole fandom has been tagged at this point, so not doing tags. :)

[eamonwhalen]

Rap I Liked 2020

An attempt at an omnivorous list of rap songs from the year 2020 that undoubtedly missed many good songs. 

In a Spotify Playlist

In an Apple Music Playlist

If you’d like to read what I wrote this year click here. 

1. Quelle Chris and Chris Keys featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Denmark Vesey, Merill Garbus and Big Sen - Mirage

2.   Mozzy featuring Blxst - I Ain’t Perfect

3. Jay Electronica featuring Jay-Z - A.P.I.D.T.A

Sleep well Lately, I haven't been sleepin' well I even hit the beach to soak my feet and skip some seashells Sleep well The lump inside my throat sometimes it towers like the Eiffel Sometimes I wonder do the trees get sad when they see leaves fell Sleep well The last time that I kissed you, you felt cold but you looked peaceful I read our message thread when I get low and need a refill Sleep well

4. Shabazz Palaces - Fast Learner

5. G-Herbo featuring Juice WRLD, Chance The Rapper and Lil Uzi Vert - PTSD

“People judge people from my city, or people who go through what we go through. It’s just the way you’re brought up and different situations that you experience that change your life and make you who you are. There’s a lot of people who would come to my city and not make it. There’s certain survival skills that you learn in Chicago from just naturally adapting to your environment. People judge us and outcast us from what they see on the outside but they really don’t know what’s going on on the inside. We’re making rational decisions because what we go through forces us to make those decisions. Just the older I get, the more serious I look at it. When I was younger I had my family taking care of me, and I was just living life like a kid. But by 14-15, there’s a lot of kids in my city who are living the lives of adults at that age. Other places people don’t live like that. When I was 16 I started to see people die around me. In my city theres so little to depend on, so people take other options to survive and make a way for themselves. At a young age you start learning this,” - G-Herbo, from an interview I did with him a few years ago. 

6. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin’ featuring Young Thug - Rich N***a Shit

the sounds of luxury

7. Sada Baby - Slide

8. Megan Thee Stallion - Circles

https://youtu.be/TwZl9WCHjnc

9. Polo G - Martin & Gina

10. Gunna - Skybox

11. Pop Smoke - Yea Yea

Rest in Peace Pop Smoke

https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/pop-smoke-dior-protest-music/

12. Bfb Da Packman featuring Sada Baby - Free Joe Exotic

13. NBA Youngboy - The Story of OJ (Top Version)

14. Bris - Me Important

Rest In Peace Tricky Dance Moves

15. Playboi Carti - @ MEH

16. Navy Blue featuring Ka - In Good Hands

“Even friends in a frenzy became ravenous

Brothers named universal, wise, supreme became savages

It's said the common thread with our enemies

Is we was all men in need with no amenities

Couldn't sit in peace, we each hit the streets for remedies

Through the hatred accumulate a hundred arms we was centipedes

The stress of empty pantries kept us antsy

No lie, essentials essentially in a shanty

Could give scripture but that big picture is what you can't see

Every grain I spelt is what helped enhance me

Went from gun waving to saving lives

I give sight to the blind just for the 85

That's what I was in the line of scrimmage

Lost some folks of course, that growth redefined percentage

Doomed in the womb, surprised I ain't see a hanger

Start questioning affection when all you see is anger,

But now I’m in good hands, surrounded by good women, good babies, good mans,”

-Ka

17. Lil Uzi Vert - Chrome Heart Tags

18. SahBabii - Double Dick

19. Rezcoast Grizz - Water

20. Future featuring Drake, Da Baby and Lil Baby - Life Is Good Remix

21. Drakeo The Ruler featuring Icewear Vezzo and ALLBLACK - We Know The Truth

The Ruler’s home. Read Jeff Weiss on Drakeo’s trial and release, and the book Rap On Trial for an underreported and understudied phenomenon. 

22. Future and Lil Uzi Vert - That’s It 

23. Shordie Shordie - Save A Little

coolest new voice in Rap

24. Busta Rhymes featuring Kendrick Lamar - Look Over Your Shoulder

25. Cam & China - Know What I’m Saying

https://youtu.be/H1JSWy9lxuk

26. Ovrkast featuring Navy Blue - Face

27. J Hus featuring icee tgm - Helicopter

Shaitan in police uniform Feds in a helicopter I seen pigs fly but I never seen a unicorn Tryna find cover on somebody's front lawn I see an undercover and he had his gun drawn Didn't like me 'cause I'll never conform Man want beef, but they'll never come forth Like CB, all I need is one corn You see me alone but I got a strong force No man can ever put my life on pause They enslaved my ancestor, no remorse I bring knowledge to Europe, just like the Moors The knowledge, they need it, they cravin' for more Left the yard before the jakes kicked in the door Have you seen a lengman drop his stick on the floor? Say you wanna bang, you don't look like you're sure

28. Demahjiae featuring Mejiwahn, Michael Sneed and Pink Siifu - Wild & Fireflies

29. Lil Baby featuring 42 Dugg - We Paid

No choice but to respect someone who is not only still rockin’ with the Detroit Lions in 2020 but says so much on the biggest song of his career thus far. 

30. Ka - Patron Saints

31. Benny The Butcher - Famous

32. Key! - Spend One Night

33. Smino featuring JID and Kenny Beats - Baguetti

34. Open Mike Eagle - Death Parade 

35. OMB Peezy - Sleep At Night

36. Mick Jenkins - “Carefree”

read me on Mick Jenkins circa 2016.

37. Chris Brown and Young Thug featuring Lil Duke and Gunna - Big Slimes

38. Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist - God Is Perfect

39. Chester Watson - Life Wrote Itself

40. Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats - DIET

read me on Denzel Curry circa 2015

41. Young Dolph - Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up

Still probably the coolest thing any rapper has done in years. 

42. Dua Saleh - Hellbound

43. Rod Wave - Fuck The World

44. Young Nudy - Deeper Than Rap

45. Bobby Raps - Believe The Lie

Alex Howard, more like Alex Garland!

46. Saba - So and So

47. 2 Chainz featuring TyDollaSign - Can’t Go For That

https://youtu.be/ccenFp_3kq8

48. Blu and Exile - The Feeling

49. astralblak - Out In The Woods

50. Key Glock - Word On the Streets

51. Black Thought featuring Portugal. The Man & The Last Artful, Dodgr - Nature of the Beast

I feel like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, less Denzel Washington When people are watching me If the right amount of likes and follows can make me less hollow I'd somehow be more complete But people tend to be more toxic so we see more gossip And there's tension on the streets

52. Flo Milli - Not Friendly

53. Shootergang Kony - Still Kony 2

54. Homeboy Sandman - Trauma

55. Kevin Gates - Weeks

56. Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin - Open Up Shop

57. P Will aka Prince Williams - Survival 

58. Cupcakke - Discounts

59. Nas - Ultra Black

60. Spillage Village - End Of Daze

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/magazine/societal-collapse.html

What I listened to most besides songs by artists on this list:

Jazmine Sullivan’s live performances of Lost One and Pick Up Your Feelings

Other stuff that doesn’t really belong on a Rap list:

Liv.e, Brent Faiyaz, Helado Negro, Slauson Malone, Chronixx, Contour, King Krule, Kehlani, Moses Sumney, Thundercat, Soccer Mommy. 

Best books I read that were published in 2020: The Jakarta Method by Vincent Bevins and I Got A Monster by Brandon Soderberg and Baynard Woods

[septiembrre]

Tagged by: @bethsuglywigs

rules: hit shuffle on your media player and write down the first 20 songs, then tag 10 people. no skipping!

Okay, I'm not sure how to do the "shuffle" aspect on Spotify. I make a lot of playlists, and I don't really have a practice of saving invidual songs or albums. But, I'll reveal my top 20 most listened to last week.

1. Perm, Bruno Mars (this is the only song that's been motivating me to run in the Texas heat right now)

2. The Man, Taylor Swift (lol, Folklore came out and it inspired me to finally listen to her last album and I'm embarrased by how way into this Basic Feminism™ song I am. Sorry, TS fans!)

3. Lockdown, Anderson .Paak (sigh, a balm to our souls right now, truly)

4. Space Ghost Coast To Coast, Glass Animals!!!! (The level of throw backs to early 2000s culture in this song is amazing. Also, the beat of this song makes me anxious? This song is great but I like to listen to it on repeat like 20 times in a row and then I willfully have to turn it off because woah! my heart is pounding and I feel like I inhaled a gallon of coffee.)

5. Cancion para Ruben, Carlos Vives & Ruben Blades (Carlos Vives released a new album and I'm weak for it. This song in particular is a blend of Colombian cumbia and salsa -- a sound I was judgemental of at first. I was like y'all are reallllly milking this Latin fusion genre, aren't you? But, it's CHARMING and makes my heart full. )

6. You Need To Calm Down, Taylor Swift (Ditto to my commentary earlier. I am very embarrased that The Gay™ Taylor Swift song is on this list. It's actually the whole reason I skipped the album in the first place. I was like girl... is this "allyship" or corporate co-option? But, now I've drunk the Kool Aid.)

7. Dollar, Electric Guest (OBSESSED WITH THIS SONG)

8. UN DIA/One Day, J Balvin, Tainy, DUA!!!! (the collab I didn't know I needed. It makes my soul so happy)

9. Lost in Your LIght, Dua & Miguel (another perfect collab. God.)

10. Tokyo Drifting, Glass Animals (another superb reference. Love GA!)

11. High Fashion, Roddy Ricch (Jajaja, I listen to this and think of Rio. Lol, what would it feel like to be driving a G Wagon and hear this song come on the radio? I'll never know. )

12. Vitamina En Rama, Carlos Vives (My other favorite song off of the new album. A great song to make yourself go outside to.)

13. What Can We Do?, Anderson .Paak (I love this guy <3 Doesn't everyone? I put on his music while I work and it makes my whole day a million times more tolerable)

14. Dreamland, Glass Animals (I'm clearly obsessed with their new album. Another bop)

15. Vision of love, Mariah Carey (Jajajajajajaa)

16. Queen Tings, Masego (<3 Masego's a macho little shit but he's definitely in my Top 5 artists that I listen to constantly. Problematic fav.)

17. Melon and the Coconut , Glass Animals (LOVE)

18. Forgive Me, Chloe x Halle (I love them sooooo much)

19. Wifeable, Masego & Xavier Omar (love it love it love it. This has probably been in my top most listened to songs of the week since I first heard it two years ago.)

20. Prone, Masego (AND this shit was on Good Girls? I died.)

BONUS B/C THE NEXT SONG IS REALLY GOOD:

21. Quien me la paga, La Doña. (God, what to even say about this song? It’s about gentrification, affordability, hustling, with some reparation vibes thrown in -- in the form of a cumbia? Political and a classical Latinx genre? It’s total fire.)

[circuit-music]

2020 Music Recommendations

2020 – WHAT A SHIT YEAR! There was so much craziness in those 365 days – from politics to a pandemic. Music was often times one of those things we could take comfort in or use it as a tool to express a range of emotions. I’m always surprised when compiling these list (of which I’ve been doing for 20+ years now it seems) that no matter the state of the world, there is always an overabundance of great music to be discovered. 2020 musically, delivered - including surprising returns from some bands who’ve been rather quiet in the past years like Consolidated, Cabaret Voltaire, and Portion Control.  

The majority of what I listen to is electronic based music, with techno-body music being my favorite and there was STILL PLENTY of that in 2020 from labels like Aufnahme+Wiedergabe, Fleisch, Bite, X-IMG, Sonic Groove, SOIL, and more. Occasionally something a little lighter like the ethereal shoe-gaze goodness of Mint Julep (“Stray Fantasies” was an amazing record), or the post-punk of House of Harm (wonderful new discovery this year with “Viscous Pastimes”) and Sure (you all slept on “20 years” in 2020) works its way in to my listening. I still find synth pop from the likes of Riki, Korine, Tanz Waffen and Wingtips wonderfully appeasing. The wave material from the likes of Handful of Snowdrops, Linea Aspera, Zanias, Hante., Minuit Machine and Replicant was perfect for those melancholy moods. I even dipped into some aggressive near metal stuff this year from the likes of Pudeur, ESA and Youth Code – perfect for those days of anger.  Oh, and I was thrilled to see a lot of exclusive, unreleased and remixed Curve material surface this year – a band who embraces several genres (walls of guitar, shoe gaze, industrial) and moods.

This isn’t a top 10, top 25 or even a top 100. Instead, it’s an A-Z recommendation list encompassing many genres as those lines are getting more and more blurred. A good tune is a good tune, regardless of genre.  

HIGHLY encourage you to get out there and seek out new music; Visit the record stores, go hear a new DJ, fire up Spotify or another streaming service, check out some new music via podcast, DJ mixes, label sites, online retailers, even Facebook. One of the best sources for discovering new music is BandCamp - who in 2020 with the pandemic started BandCamp Fridays in which the site waived its normal fees to assist artist impacted. Taking place, the first Friday of every month, those will continue in 2021. There’s a plethora of discoveries to be found out there. If you do the work, you’ll be rewarded ;)     Speaking of Spotify – I made a playlist this year featuring plenty of the bands on my list. There’s at least a track or more from the artist who have a presence on Spotify. Sadly a few bands on this list aren’t on the platform, but check BandCamp and you can have a listen. Here’s the link:   https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02kQJZE7uvJxwHJD8j8zrh?si=SHlP4mVRTuaRejh6So3Mig

As in years past I’m certain I missed a few things, ignored the hype on certain releases or just plain forgotten something. It’s a chore to compile this list, but I love to do it. There’s a ton of new pioneering music out there for sure waiting to be discovered and it’s the “what’s next” that keeps me a motivated music fan. There’s never a dull moment in speaking, writing, DJ'ing or promoting new music, so I’ll keep doing it and hopefully be a guide for you all ;).   If it needs mention and I overlooked it - I may do an addendum in the next week or so. Anyways, got your notepaper and plenty of beverages ready? Don’t be a TL:DR (Too Long: Didn’t Read) fool. Read up. Enjoy the music of 2020!

Onwards with the list!!! :D  

2+2=5 - “Hidden In Plain Sight “ (COUP)  

Absolute Body Control   - “1980/2020” 3xLP (Oraculo Records)    

Agent 15   - “Voices In My Head” (Drone)  

Ah Cama-Sotz - “New Skin for Old Tribals “ (Self-released)  

Andi - “Corpse to Corpus” 12” (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)    

Arabian Panther - “The Way of the Pentinent” EP (SOIL)  

Arnaud Rebotini – “Workout: This is a Quarantine EP6” (Self-released)  

Autumns - "You Always Taught Me Better" LP  (Detriti Records)  

Benedek - “Mr. Goods” 12” (L.I.E.S.)  

Blac Kolor   - “Extinction” EP  (Aufnahme+Widergabe)  

Blacksmith   - “Dominated” (X-IMG)    

Blitzkrieg Baby - “Remixed” (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)    

Blush Response   - “Void In” LP (Megastructure)   - “Void Out” (Megastructure)    

Body Beat Ritual   - "Raw Dogs” EP (Pleasure Corp)  

Body Divide   - “Pleasure From Pain” (Squarewav)    

Cabaret Voltaire   - “Shadow of Fear” LP (Self-released)  

Calvary Stone - “Hate Unit” (Soil)  

Caustic - “The King of EBM” (Self-released)    

Cervello Elettronico - “No Sides” EP (SquareWav)  

Choke Chain - “Chain Tactics” (Self-released)   - “Grave” (Self-released)  

Chris Shape - “Shaped to Deform” (Unknown Pleasures Records)    

Chrome Corpse   - “Detecting Movement” Ltd. Edition 12" EP  (Oraculo Records)   - “Helmet Mounted Display” (Self-released)  

Chrome Corpse / Decent News   - “Split” (Self-Released)  

Codex Empire   - “Broken by Fear" Ltd. 12” (Horo)     - “Protected by Rage” 12”  (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)  

Cold Cave   - “Waving Hands” (self-releaesed)  

Comfort Cure - “Serpentine City” (Rec.Body.Ltd)    

Consolidated - “Capitalism” (Self-released)  

Crystal Geometry   - “Samiam” EP (Sacred Court)   - “Senestre” 2x12” (Sonic Groove)  

Curve   - “Blindfold EP - Bootleg EP Series 1”  (Self-released)   - “Curve Oddities Bootleg Series 3” (Self-released)   - “Curve Oddities Bootleg Series 5” (Self-released)   - “Horror Head Raw DAT Mixes Bootleg Series 4” (Self-released)  

Cyan ID   - “Blurred Revelation” (X-IMG)  

Dive   - “Where Do We Go From Here” Ltd. Ed Box set (Out Of Line)    

E.L.I.   - “Dying to Live” (SOIL)    

E.S.A.   -  “Burial 10” (Negative Gain Productions)   -  “Eat Their Young / The Scorn” (Negative Gain Productions)  

Einstruzende Neubauten   – “Alles In Allem” (Potomak)  

Evil Dust   - “Desolation” (Crave Tapes)    

Fatal Morgana   -  “The Destructive Remixes” 12"   (Mecanica Records)   - “The Final Destruction” 2LP   (Mecanica Records)  

Filmmaker   - “Reinvent” 12” (Soil records)  

Fixmer - "Invasion” 12” (Bite)    

Fixmer/McCarthy   - “Unreleased From the Archives" (Planet Rogue Records)    

Foreign Policy   - “Watching Existence” 12” (X-IMG)  

Fractions   - “Nite NRG” (Monnom Black)    

Further Reductions - “Array” 12” (Knekelhuis)    

Hakai   – “No Flesh Shall Be Spared” 12” (Megastructure)  

Halv Drom   -  “Slum Vatic” LP (Fleisch)  

Handful of Snowdrops   - “Asymetrical” (NanoGénésie®) - “Echoes -The Complete Cover Collection” (NanoGénésie®)   - “The Four Winds” (NanoGénésie®)   - “The Impossible Dream” (NanoGénésie®)   - “Watch Me Bleed / Theme for Great Cities” (Self-released)  

Hante.   - “Fierce - Remixes & More” LP (Synth Religion)      

HKKPTR   - “Macht & Ohnmacht” EP (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)    

House of Harm   - “Vicious Pastimes” LP (Avant!)  

Human Performance Lab   - “Impact Situation” 12"  (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)  

Inhalt   - “Simulation” 2xLP Remixes (Mechatronica)  

Iron Court   - “Etched Forseights” (Detriti)    

Istigkeit & Angel Karel   - “You A’Int No Punk, You Punk”  (RND. Records)  

IV Horsemen   - “Compilation Vol. 1” (Self-released)     - “Human Crash” LP (Fleisch)    

Karger Traum   - “III” LP (DKA Records)    

Kenny Campbell   - “Blackest Ever Buckfast” (Drone)

King Dude   - “Full Virgo Moon” LP (Van)    

KLACK   - "Two Minute Warning” (Klackprodukt)   - “Move Any Mountain” (Self-released)     - “Catching Up with Klack” (Razgrom)   - “Distancing” (Self-released)   - “Move Any Mountain” (Self-released)     - “Probably” (Klackprodukt)  

Konkurs   - “Terminal Stage" (Megastructure, X-IMG)  

Kontravoid   - “Live from the Void” (Self-released)     - “Too Deep Remixes” (Fleisch)    

Korine   - “The Night We Raise” LP (Data Airlines)    

Kris Baha   - “Barely Alive” 12” (Emotional Especial)     - “Starts to Fall” 12” (Power Station)    

Kutkh Jackdaw   - “Sweat & Thunder EP and remixes” (Dark Disco)      

Lbeeze   - “Induced Expressions” (Phormix Tapes)    

Liebknecht   - “Demos The H4AR 2020" (Self-released)   - “Koln : Total Harmonic Noize remix” (Self-released)    

Linea Aspera   - “LP II” (Self-released)    

Looky Looky   - “Are You There Beach?” (Self-released)    

Machino   - “Ciudad Violenta” (X-IMG)    

Maedon   - “Escape To Berlin" (Sonic Groove)      

Marc Ash   - “Mirror Glaze Lavish" 12" EP (Fleisch)  

Marina Aleksandra   - “Animal Industrial Complex” (Randolph & Mort. mix)  

Max Durante   - “Fear and Desire” 12”  (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)  

Mind | Matter   – “Souvenirs Brises” (Intervision)  

Mint Julep   - “Stray Fantasies” LP (Western Vinyl)    

Minuit Machine   - “Don’t Run From the Fire” 12” (Synth Religion)    

New Frames   - “Outer Limits” 12” (Bite)   - “RNF2” 12” (R Label Group)   - “Stylized Fear” 12” (Haven)    

Nordstaat   - “Singularity Second Coming” (X-IMG)  

NZ   - “More Of Us” 12” ltd. (Infacted Records)    

Objekt Clermont   - "Zeitgeist” EP (Self-released)  

Ofelia Ortodoxa   - “Maleficio” (Soil)    

Pablo Bozzi   - “Last Moscow Mule” (Dischi Autunno)   - “Walk on Wire” EP (Bite)  

Phase Fatale   - “Scanning Backwards” 2xLP (Osgut Ton)  

Portion Control   - “Head Buried” EP  (Portion-Control.Net)   - “Seed  1” EP (Portion-Control.Net)   - “Seed 2” EP (Portion-Control.Net)  

Pudeur   - “Magie Noire” (Area Z)    

Randolph & Mortimer   - “Enjoy More” 7” (Self-released)   - “Manifesto for a Modern World” 2xLP (Mecanica)     - “They Know We Know They Lie” (Self-released)   - “Union of the Faithful” (Self-released)    

Reka X Imperial Black Unit   - “Todo Avaricia” 12" EP  (Fleisch)  

Rendered   - “Stone Cold Soul” CD (Audiophob)    

Replicant   - "Regression” (Self-released)     - “Annihilation” (Self-released)  

Rhys Fulber   - “Diaspora” EP  (Aufnahme+Wiedergabe)   - “Resolve” (FR Recordings)  

Riki   - “Riki” LP (Dais Records)

Rommek   - “Break The Tension” 12” (Leyla Records)    

Salem Unsigned   - “Blood Origin” (RND.r recorcds)    

SARIN   - “Moral Cleansing Remixed" (Bite)      

Schwefelgelb   - “Der Puls Durch Die Schläfen Instrumentals" (n-Plex)     - “Der Puls Durch Die Schläfen" (n-Plex)     - “Die Stimme Drängt” 12"  (Cititrax)  

SDH - “Against Strong Thinking" 12" (Avant!)  

Size Pier   - “Typhoon in Busan” (X-IMG)    

Soft Crash   - “Spitzkrieg” 12” EP  (Bite)  

Soj   - “Land of Lovers and Hammers” (Infidel Bodies)   - “Slow Burn” (Industrial Complexx)    

Statiqbloom   - “Asphyxia Remixed” (Synthicide)      

Sure   - “20 Years” LP (Weyrd Sun Records)    

T_ERROR 404   - “Holographic Skull” (X-IMG)  

Tanz Waffen   - “Led Astray” (Self-Released)    

Teatre   - “Crime Imagery” (Self-released)  

Terrorfakt   - “Achtung 2020 Remixes” (SquareWav)    

The Marquis - “Poison” (Self-released)   - “Scab” (Self-released)    

Trauma Phase   - “Human Caused Disaster Response” (Detriti)   - “The Origin of Social Disabilities” (Self-Released)  

Unconscious   - “Regnum Novum” (X-IMG)     -"Slaves of System" LP  (Detriti)  

Unhuman   - “Voices of Distress” 12” (Bite)  

Various Artisits - “ASM II “ (Forkha) with: Chrome Corpse, Mind|Matter, The Undertaker’s Tapes, Evil Dust and more  

Various Artist -  “Meta Moto 4” (Meta Moto) with: Borsis Barksdale, Raw Ambassador, Filmmaker, Teatre and more

Various Artist - “Antikhrist Visions vol. II” LP (Industrias Mekanikas) with: Downwell, Delectro and more  

Various Artist - “BOY Records – Timeless Technology 1988 – 1991" 4xLP (Mecanica) Retrospective box of the legendary Boy label releases.  

Various Artist - “Crime Violente Vol.4”  (Up North Records) With: Calvary Stone, Lbeeze, Meshes and more  

Various Artist - “Dystopia in Action” 12” (X-IMG)     with: Alpha & Necromante, Kris Baha, Human Performance Lab and more  

Various Artist - “Ecdisis Vol 2” (Frigio Records) Snag this for the outstanding edit of Portion Control’s “Chew You to Bits”

Various Artist - “Murder 01” 12” (Murder) with: Codex Empire, Crystal Geometry, JK Flesh and more  

Various Artist - “Northern Nightmares Vol.1” (Up North Records) with: Autumns, Cardopusher, Teatre, Hate Magnum Opus and more

Various Artist - “Northern Nightmares Vol. 2” (Up North Records) with:  Notausgang, NGHTY, Violet Poison and more

Various Artist - “Sonic Groove: 25 Years 1995-2020" 2xLP (Sonic Groove) with: Orphx, Crustal geometry, Maedon, Rhys Fulber & Portion Control and more

Various Artist - “Uncanny Valleys Vol. 1” (Area Z) with: Chrome Corpse, Sarin x Imperial Black Unit, Celldod, IV Horsemen and more

Various Artist - “Uncanny Valleys Vol. 2” (Area Z) with: Ah Cama-Sotz, 3.14, MDS51 and more  

Various Artist - “Valley of Tears vol 1" 12” (Soil)   with: Imperial Black Unit, Fractions, Exhausted Modern and more

Various Artist - “Valley of Tears Vol. 2” 12” (Soil) with: SOj, Djedjotronic, Years of Denial and more  

Various Artist - “Seven Years of Delirium" (Liber Null)   with: Blush Response, NGLY, Zanias, Celldod, Phase Fatale and more  

Various Artist – “Detriti Split 1” 12” split vinyl (Detriti) with: Black Sun Dreamer and Trauma Phase

Various Artist – “Detriti Split 2” 12” split vinyl (Detriti) with: Mind | Matter and Iron Court  

Visceral Anatomy   - “Modern Anguish” EP  (Oraculo Records)  

Visitor   - “Technofossil” (Braid Records)  

Wingtips   - “Tears Of Pearls" (Self-released)    

Youth Code   - “Puzzle” (Self-Released)    

Zanias   - “Extinction” 12” (Fleisch)     - “Harmaline” (Self-Released)    

Zola Jesus   - “Live at Roadburn” (Roadburn Records)

[sxfterhearts]

About Me!

thank you for the tag @prettywordsyouleft 💞 hope you’ll have a great week ahead chelle~ 

now for the questions!

1. It’s your birthday! What did you ask for and did you receive it?

so it was my birthday about a month ago and my friend gifted me a really pretty journal! i didn’t ask for it but it was definitely something that i wanted and i could picture myself sitting in a pretty cafe, sipping my coffee and doing some journaling in some faraway land

2. What was the last song or album you listened to?

stay gold by bts was the last song that played on my spotify!! (i have been playing it on repeat... the chorus is so satisfying) the last album is lay’s album lit (莲) :))

3. What is your go to snack when you’re hungry or bored?

whenever it’s that time of the month, chocolate (esp dark choc). i often get hungry at night so i’ll have yoghurt + granola!!

4. What is your morning routine?

these days? there is no routine LOL i’ve been on uni holidays so i just wake up.. whenever.... as in close to 12pm ahem but i’ll always brush my teeth before having breakfast (if i wake up early enough for breakfast, that is hehe)

on normal days when i have to go to uni i’ll be up around 8, wash up, pack my stuff and eat breakfast with my fam. we’ll always have the morning news on the tv as well

5. What mythical/cryptid creature would you be?

it’d be great if i could fly... so unicorn or dragon or phoenix? tbh tho i wanna be a witch if i could and do magic cos harry potter :”)

6. How do you interact with someone that you don’t like?

i’ll avoid them if it’s possible and just pretend they don’t exist.. if i really don’t have a choice, i’ll keep communications as limited as possible, perhaps just by text/online

7. How do you define a toxic person?

when the other person repeatedly fails to take into account your own feelings and wishes, always putting their own needs first. also not respecting the other person/their boundaries.

8. Have you ever been to a concert or fanmeet type of event? If not, would you want to?

i’ve been to an ed sheeran concert!! my seats were really far away tho so i couldn’t see him properly T^T

i haven’t been to any kpop concerts or fanmeets... i really wanna go to an exo concert (cos they were my youth) and ofc got7 as well (flashback to their part switches and that one fanmeet where jinyoung + yugyeom sang 1:31am omg)!! i also really really like day6′s music and i think their concert will be fantastic

9. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

yup! i find astrology posts interesting and mostly read them for fun but sometimes they can describe my personality/actions/thoughts pretty accurately (the skeptic in me tells me it’s probs bc they always write general statements that apply to everyone haha)

i would also read up my zodiac’s fortune for the year during CNY, but it’s mostly inaccurate hahah

10. If you had only one sense (hearing, touch, sight, etc.), which would you want?

sight, and if i could choose a second one definitely hearing. i really enjoy music and sounds but i think not being able to see would be... devastating for me.......

11. Who is your favorite celebrity or idol?

at the moment 100% park jinyoung. this man is so fine. (him dancing to coming home in his fanmeet??? hello???? pls give me my heart back thank you)

12. If you could talk to your favorite celebrity(s) for a limited time, what would you tell them?

for got7, i want to tell them that even though i haven’t known them for long, discovering them and being their fan has made me a happier, better and more confident person. their music, their personalities and their kind words really makes a difference in soooo many people’s lives. i’m thankful for their existence, their sacrifice and their hard work. also i want to say that i will support them no matter what they choose to do in the future, whether it be retiring, or marrying the love of their life, or having children. they deserve to find their own happiness after being ours for so long.

for exo, i think there are no words to express how much of an impact they’ve made to my life (i’ve stanned for nearly 7 years now! my entire teenage years). i’ll probably just give them a big hug if i could and tell them that i’m super proud of them and that i love them. and that it will always be an honour to be their fan.

13. I’m taking you out on a date and it’s your choice. Where are we going and what are we going to do?

FOR FOOD AND BUBBLE TEA. 

this is like the ideal date for me. we go try out a new restaurant and i intro you to my fav bbt place~

14. Do you like sweet or savory foods?

depends on my mood! usually savoury unless i’m craving chocolate specifically

15. Do you have any band merchandise or merchandise from any of your favorite artists? If so, what?

i’m not sure whether you guys know this but i’m a baby ahgase!! so sadly i don’t own any got7 merch :(( (i’m so tempted to buy some tho, especially hear here)

i have 5 exo albums (xoxo, growl, monster, lucky one and tempo), 2 posters in my bedroom, 1 in my study and a few more rolled up cos idk how to put them up properly!!! i also have an exo planet concert shirt~

16. (i added this question bc min tagged me ages ago but i couldn’t come up with decent ones) 3 random facts!!

my fav got7 title track is tied between eclipse and ycmn

i just read me before you and watched the movie (the book is 100 times better)

my fav videos to watch on youtube are cafe vlogs (specifically: pouring espresso on top of a cup of milk to make iced latte, ahhh satisfying)

Tagging: @mxillusion @beombam @jinyoungsir @tuangelic @defnabeom @listlessmaenads @ilytuan @defwons (the blogs that i really admire and frequently appear on my dash!! thank you all for posting and brightening up my day 🥺) + anyone who read this far and wants to do it too! 

[kpop-rambles]

Goodbye 2019. Hello 2020.

To celebrate the new year - which a lot of people are celebrating right now, I’m sure, unfortunately not me yet - I decided to create this post. I don’t know how to explain it but if you like kpop, keep reading!

My Top 3 Songs of 2019

1. SKZ - Miroh

This song got me into my now ult group, Stray Kids. Those 9 boys have honestly made this year 10x better for me. Chan’s VLives definitely helped me when I was upset, and the members made me feel emotions by their side. I’m so glad that add of Miroh appeared and I chose to watch it because I may have not gotten into Stray Kids without it. 

2. ATEEZ - Wave

Again, another song that got me into the group. I heard the song in a video where they played huge jenga at Kcon... I think? Anyways, this song is another banger and you completely fall in love with it first listen. You won’t regret listening to this.

3. TWICE - Fancy

I got into TWICE when they released YES OR YES, but FANCY is the song that you can’t not fall in love with. I did on my 2nd listen and man, if you’re saying you didn’t learn the dance and bopped to this song, you are LYING because- let’s be honest - everyone said FANCY SOTY. 

Groups I began stanning in 2019 its felt like forever tho

Stray Kids - March 26th. You think I would forget? 

ATEEZ - August 18th. Another date I remember, because I spent a good 2 hours getting to memorize the members name and faces. Was so happy when I finally did it. 

iKON - Honestly, I was more of a Double B stan since January until Hanbin left. I loved their songs but I never got to know the rest of the members, except for Jinhwan. 

ChungHa - Snapping dragged me in. That’s all I gotta say. Although, ngl, Gotta Go was something I always tried to dance to. 

KARD - Again, Bomb Bomb just pulled me into the fandom. The rest of their discography made me stay. I sang along to Bomb Bomb everyday for a good 3 months. It was honestly EVERYTHING to me and then Dumb Litty came and stole my heart and KARD did it AGAIN.

Mamamoo - gogobebe. Do I really need to say anything else?

GOT7 - I’m pretty sure I got into them because, well everyone knows GOT7. They’re a name everyone knows if you like kpop, so I just wanted to get into them. Eclipse and You Calling My Name are songs I’ll dance and singalong to in the right mood and right part of the song. But their personalities dragged me in. I’m pretty sure BamBam also attracted me when he was on Stray Kids reality show. 

Day6 - Time Of Our Life. I decided to listen to it because Seungmin of Stray Kids was a big fan of them and I was like, it shouldn’t hurt to try. Seungmin made me want to watch and Day6 made me want to stay. They don’t make ANY bad songs. 

Everglow - March 18. Listened to Bon Bon Chocolat when it came out, and I was honestly scared ppl were gonna sleep on them cause ITZY debuted a month before. Fortunately, everyone noticed their talent. 

BigBang - I dunno just listened to one of their songs. And, of course, I fell in love. Too late to stan them while they were active, but I’m expecting something in 2020... just saaying.

NCT - All of the subunits. Honestly there were so many of them, I spent time taking tests to tell them apart. The struggle to stan these boys. Instantly fell in with the Dreamies. And then I found out they weren’t a fixed unit... My heart shattered. It’s still breaking because 4 OF THEM ARE LEAVING. or left. I dunno. 

Tomorrow by Together - They were probably the most anticipated group of this year. I remember ppl hyping them up in October of 2018! Predebut stan right here. (I just remembered that I thought the preview of each member was coming out in age order and thinking that Beomgyu was the youngest. And I was just like WHERE IS HEUNINGKAI FROM?!?!)

ITZY - remember when everyone thought that itzy’s debut was rushed because info about them was leaked. yeah, i forgot too. anyways, again I was a predebut stan. 

(G)- idle - i always listened to their title tracks and I began stanning them during Queendom after their Fire cover im listening to 2ne1 2015 mama fire performance rn lol.... omg bom’s han cover just started playing. spotify is watching me guys.

Somi - Birthday was a bop. fight me. outfits sucked, gotta agree with that opinion I didn’t rlly know much about IOI but I started stanning because Jenchu were fangirling to it i mean jennie twerked for it!

Jimin Park - I’m out here still streaming STAY BEAUTIFUL. honestly she’s so loveable. her personality and her voice are everything. how can you not like her

My Top 5 Groups of the Year

1. STRAY KIDS - A lot of the reasons I luv them are the same as ATEEZ. That’s why ateez are close to being my number one, but honestly these 9 boys are everything to me. 9 or NONE FOREVER. They have been through so much this year and I hope they STAY strong for 2020. In their 2020 seasons greeting they announced a full album next year, so I’m ready to follow these boys on their journey no matter how many stay or leave. I’m a STAY for a reason. 

2. ATEEZ - PERSONALITY. I’m also a sucker for groups that shove their love for each other in your face. 8 makes 1 team, y’know? Hongjoong and Mingi are amazing rappers, Jongho, Wooyoung and San’s vocals tho, Yunho and Seonghwa’s deep voices are the death of me, and Yeosang dancing. They’re talented and luvable and that’s all I need for an ult group. also all their songs are bops

3. Mamamoo - Honestly would’ve tied with Twice but these I’m a sucker for them as ppl as well, and I need that to luv a group. they ain’t fake, they slap information in your face and they are POWERFUL WOMAN. (Not saying twice aren’t ofcourse) And these girls vocals are on POINT. Moonbyul is rapper material, but have you heard the girl song? What an angel. Their songs are all slaps, especially the most recent ones. 

4. TWICE - This was their year? yes or yes. Fancy soty. Feel Special was a great title track, don’t get me wrong, bUT HAVE YOU HEARD THE FULL ALBUM. Every song is my AMAZING. omg rainbow is playing

5. NCT DREAM - These boys stole my heart, I only stanned nct because of them. Honestly seeing the 00 line leave breaks my heart.

My Top 5 girl group and boy group songs

gg songs were honestly so hard to pick, they thrived and SO many good songs were made in 2019. But here is my list. 

1. Fancy - soty

2. Hip - this song was everything from the choreo to the song itself to the girls energy performing it

3. Psycho - came out like last week but it’s in everyone's top 10 of this year. Beautiful song that won’t get outta my head. getwellsoonwendy.

4.Violeta - this is another song that won’t get out of my head. honestly none of these songs will. ok so the final dance part after the drop of violeta pisses me off because the dance could is so powerful and that part comes and it’s such a disappointment but it’s the only part I can do so i shouldn't complain  but the song itself is very catchy. I don’t want these girls to disband even if the votes were rigged because they make a good group and sing bangers. i don't want them to leeeave.

5.Lion - the song is just so powerful. other songs they’ve made are good, but the chorus is usually a disappointment because the pre chorus is so good but EVERYTHING is great about Lion. Didn’t like it at first for some reason, i dunno why, but once you give it a few more listens you’ll fall in love. 

Now onto the boy groups. They made quite a few bangers this year as well.

1. Miroh - It’s my no.1 of the year. watchu expect?

2. Wave - and this is my no.2. Again, what else would I put here?

3. Run Away - what. a. bop. still can’t get out of my head. Crown was a disappointment to me after 1000 listens but not Run Away. A bonus is the Harry Potter references. With that I just was head over heels in love. Txt didn’t fail to disappoint with their comeback even if it was pushed back. 

4. Boom - This song made me fall in love with the talent that NCT DREAM holds despite being so young. Sang along for a few months. Actually, it’s still in my head. 

5. Make It Right - I was doing title tracks for all these but then I realised there has to be an exception because I just really like this song, especially the one featuring Lauv. Boy with luv wasn’t it for me but every other song on Persona is a straight up masterpiece (ok an exaggeration but u get what i mean)

Now onto the soloists (they’re all female, sry not sry)

1. Chica - I was debating whether to put Snapping or this but decided with Chica. Honestly the vocals, the song, the dance, the MESSAGE, is everything. I love it, it empowers woman, it makes ME feel good, and it’s what some people really need sometimes. So, thank you ChungHa. 

2. Gotta Go - another bop by our queen ChungHa, she really ruled this year. I didn’t stan her when it came out but that doesn’t mean I didn’t do the ‘deulshi’ part whenever I heard it. iconic.

3. Twit - Again another iconic bop from this year. (i thought this masterpiece came out last year, i dunno why but it just is so 2018 for some reason? I dunno) Hwasa’s solo debut really was everything. So was Moonbyul’s which unfortunately didn't make it on the list but I would say it’s in between 5th to 7th for me. 

4. Stay Beautiful - Such a beautiful song, it was a shame Jamie had to leave but she left JYP saying that they lost smth PRECIOUS and they would regret it and she conveyed all that in one song without hinting at it. So many quote worthy lyrics were in the song and it just bring up my mood and my standard for vocals. Don’t sleep on this girl, y’all. 

5. Birthday - the song brought out mixed reactions from everyone but i LOVED IT. It did get a bit old but it’s still something you’ll find me singing along to every now and then. 

ARTISTS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THIS YEAR 

1. Bang Chan of Stray Kids. I love him. He’s such a great leader, he’s a loveable person, he’s all rounded and he fucks up sometimes but he acknowledges it and fixes it. He went through so much shit this year and he deserves so much more. I, along with many other STAYs are gonna make 2020 a better year for him and all of his group. Stay strong Chan! But besides his personality his stage presence, his rapping, his singing, his producing, his energy, his personality, it all made him someone who was always on my mind. 

2. Yeonjun of Tomorrow x Together. He’s also very well rounded and he really stands out to me from all the other 4th gens. Whenever I see a performance by TXT he always grabs my attention even when he’s not the main focus. I love his dancing, it’s very eye catching to me, along with his stage presence. He never loses his energy on stage and I expect a lot from him in 2020! His rapping and singing are amazing as well, especially for a rookie. Also when they first debuted he cried a lot, which was very heartwarming to me because idols showing emotion other than happy is something I appreciate, because it lets me remember they’re human too.

3. Seulgi of Red Velvet. She’s, again, very well rounded. I’m not really a Reveluv, but Wendy and Seulgi are vocalists who really stand out to me so those to kind of make me want to listen to Red Velvet’s songs. She’s an amazing vocalist, like words can’t express how much a love this woman's voice. Her stage presence is amazing as well, she’s just a really good performer imo.

4. Jihyo and Nayeon of TWICE. First of all I really like their personality and how powerful they are. Honestly a wink from them and I’m falling of my chair. Secondly, I don’t know if anyone's noticed but I really like powerful female vocals, and these two have extremely POWERFUL vocals. Have you heard them sing? Just... POWERFUL, that’s all I can really say to describe their voices. 

5. Mingi and Hongjoong of ATEEZ. They are rapper that are gonna blow away the whole industry with 3racha, I mean they already have. Did y’all see their performance in MAMA. The RAWEST vocals I heard that whole show. They were obviously not lip syncing, you could hear Mingi panting and he didn’t rap a whole line, and I LOVE that because it is RAW and we need more raw vocals or atleast breaths heard when the artists are dancing because it makes the performance more REAL. also stage presence is amazing from these two, they really know how to hype up a crowd. 

ROOKIE GROUPS I EXPECT A LOT FROM NEXT YEAR

sorry my expectations are high for them, but they have stood out tome so much and i couldn’t stand to see them flop. 

1. TOMORROW X TOGETHER - they’ve been on this list quite a lot, and I really appreciate their individual talents along with them as a group. I REALLY want to see them improve and grow more next year because they were really pushed this year, being BTS’s juniors. I’m sure they were really stressed but I want them to become TOMORROW BY TOGETHER not BTS’s juniors. Probably won’t happen in a year but hopefully in the next decade.

2. ITZY - another group really known for theing the juniors of TWICE this time. The title tracks they released so far have all been listen to it the first time, you don;t like it, but listen to it the 2nd time and it’s stuck in your head for the next 7 months. Honestly if they keep going like this, it would be like a ITZY thing, and I honestly wouldn’t mind. 

3. EVERGLOW - i think everyone just saw bon bon chocolat, gave it a listen, and loved it. but i also heard it was produced by someone who helped produce Crown by TXT and Spring Day by BTS, so there’s another reason ppl may have liked it so much. Adios wasn’t a disappointment at all.  Of course, I would also love it if Everglow kept up the “nanana” thing in each of their title tracks.

4. ATEEZ - I don’t think they’ll flop at all next year. I know they just had their 1st year anniversary, but I wouldn’t mind a full album... either way, Imma stick with them because they’ve only released that good shit so far and I’m honestly expecting a somewhat mediocre song at least once in their career next year. Not expecting it though. 

5. ONEUS - I haven’t’t talked about them yet but all of oneus’s title tracks are absolute gold. I am a mess for Valkyrie, Twilight AND Lit. They’re all just AMAZING songs. I mean, what did we expect from Mamamoo’s juniors but. They are REALLY good. Just go listen to all their title tracks rn. 

And finally, wishes for 2020

- Of course, Wendy to recover after her tragic incident at SBS. Again, I hope she recovers well

- Mina to come back from her hiatus, only if she’s ready to, of course

- BLACKPINK FULL ALBUM. ROSE SOLO. PLEASE.

- Of course, 4th gen to thrive along with 3rd gen and 2nd gen groups

- A full album from stray kids (which was confirmed) and again, maybe for ATEEZ? just maybe? 

- More attention for Mamamoo. They are underrated queens. 

- Less hate for Tomorrow By Together. People bash them just because they’re BTS’s juniors. they would be praised a less but definitely not doubted way more if they weren’t under Bighit. Yeah, they get luxuries other groups won’t but that doesn’t mean people should degrade them for it. 

And with that

I wish everyone a Happy New Year. May your next decade be filled with happiness and joy! omg fancy started playing

also i didn’t have time to properly edit this. then again i am a rambling blog, so what are you expecting?