#listen this is my preferred reading style and there's nothing wrong with that

[khruschevshoe]

Sometimes I see people say that a book reads like a well-written fanfic (derogatory) and I'm like oh, y'all really don't understand what I'm into. You're saying this has a heavy focus on character development, a slight overindulgence in commas that leads to an almost lyrical rhythm, a few too many fragments so the narration feels more natural/lived in, a couple too many metaphors (though I can never have enough metaphors), just enough world-building to buttress character arcs, and a nice dash of good-old fashioned fanservice? And that annoys you?

Do y'all just not like fun anymore?

[askmrtorgue]

HEY! YOU THERE! WANT TO PLAY A TABLETOP ADVENTURE WITH A PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER?

I'M MISTER TORGUE, AND THE NERD WHO HELPS ME LOG INTO THIS ACCOUNT ASKED ME TO DO AN AD FOR HIS SERVICES. I TOLD HIM I WOULD, BUT ONLY IF I GOT TO WRITE IT MYSELF. SO STRAP IN, DUMPSUCKS. IT'S PRODUCT PLACEMENT TIME:

--

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY DUNGEONS & DRAGONS BUT YOU CAN'T FIND SOMEONE TO RUN YOUR GAMES?

ARE YOU FED UP WITH A GAME MASTER WHO WON'T LET YOU STRAIGHT-UP MAKE OUT WITH THE VILLAINS OF THEIR STORY?

DO YOU WANT WANT TO LEARN TABLETOP RPGS BUT EVERYONE WHO TRIES TO EXPLAIN IT USES THINGS LIKE MATH AND SPREADSHEETS AND YOU CAN'T STOP THEM BECAUSE FATAL SUPLEXES ARE ILLEGAL ON YOUR PLANET?

THEN YOU NEED BENCOMPETENCE, PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER AND GAME MASTER.

BRAOOWWWWW-CHICKABRAOW EXPLOSION NOISE HEREEEEEEEE!

BENCOMPETENCE HAS RUN OVER 800 PROFESSIONAL SESSIONS OF TABLETOP GAMES, INCLUDING DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, CITY OF MIST, THIRSTY SWORD LESBIANS, AND MORE. HE HAS OVER ONE-HUNDRED 5-STAR REVIEWS FROM HIS CLIENTS, WHICH IS PROBABLY MORE THAN 12 MAYBE.

NOT ONLY DOES BEN OWN A PAIR OF CAT-EAR HEADPHONES, HE EXCELS AT RIPPING YOUR HEART STRAIGHT OUT OF ITS RIBCAGE USING NOTHING BUT COMPELLING, ROMANCEABLE CHARACTERS AND BADASS EPIC ADVENTURES. IN FACT, EVEN HIS VILLAINS ARE SEXY AS F*CK. JUST CHECK OUT THIS VAMPIRE FROM ONE OF HIS CAMPAIGNS:

THIS MURDER MOMMY IS ABSOLUTELY ABOUT TO KILL ME AND MY ONLY RESPONSE WILL BE TO THANK HER. HER NAME IS THE COUNTESS STRAHD AND SHE IS COLD AS SHE IS HOT. TEMPERATURE PUNS!!!

NOT YOUR STYLE?!?! WE RESPECT YOUR PREFERENCES AND HUMBLY RECOMMEND AVELINE BAMBRIDGE.

AVELINE'S AN AVID MASK COLLECTOR, ARCANE WAR CRIMINAL, AND FIERCE ADVOCATE OF WOMEN'S WRONGS. YOU CAN MEET HER IN MASKS OF AVELINE.

OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO EXERCISE YOUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO BE THE BADDIE ALL BY YOURSELF???!?? THEN IT'S TIME TO SOLVE SOME MAGICAL NOIR CRIMES, MOTHERF*CKER.

BECOME A DETECTIVE INFUSED WITH THE MYTH OF YOUR CHOICE IN CITY OF MIST.

THIS ONE GIVES YOU MAGIC POWERS AND PLOT TWISTS, AND IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE WEATHER IN THE TITLE SO YOU KNOW IT'S DEEP AS SH*T.

OR MAYBE YOU'RE SAYING "F*CK READING, I WANT TO DO CRIMES AND BLOW UP SH*T". AND IF YOU SAID THAT, PLEASE CALL ME SO THAT WE CAN HANG OUT SOMETIME.

BUT ALSO CONSIDER JOINING OUTLAWS OF ALKENSTAR, A PATHFINDER ADVENTURE THAT FEELS LIKE THE CHAOS AND HILARITY OF THAT ONE VIDEO GAME YOU KNOW ME FROM, BORDER BREAK.

BENCOMPETENCE'S GAMES ARE INCLUSIVE AF AND BEGINNER-FRIENDLY, SO NEWCOMERS AND VETERANS WILL BOTH FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU GET IN THERE AND KICK THE NARRATIVE'S ASS RIGHT IN ITS D*CK.

HE ALSO ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT SESSION 0'S ARE FREE. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, BECAUSE I REFUSE TO LEARN ANY NUMBERS INVENTED AFTER 4TH CENTURY B.C.

WANT TO JOIN A TABLE? THEN LISTEN UP, F*CKTRUCKS, BECAUSE IT'S LIST TIME:

FIGHT OR MAYBE MAKE OUT WITH HOT EVIL VAMPIRES IN CURSE OF STRAHD

I AM NOW OVERWHELMED BY THE VAMPIRE AGAIN AND FORGOT THE NEXT BULLET POINT

BE AVELINE'S DINNER GUEST AND ALSO MAYBE HER ARCH NEMESIS IN MASKS OF AVELINE. (MONDAY AND FRIDAY VERSIONS)

SOLVE MYSTERIES AND BE ATTRACTIVE IN CITY OF MIST

BLOW SH*T UP IN COWBOYS, CLOCKWORK, AND MAGIC.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT THE NERD WRITING THIS SCRIPT STARTED TALKING ABOUT CHARACTER SHEETS AND SOMETHING CALLED NARRATIVE AGENCY, SO I HAD TO BEAT HIM WITH A FOLDING CHAIR UNTIL HE STOPPED. YOU CAN HELP PAY FOR THE BODYCAST I PUT HIM IN BY SIGNING UP TODAY!

END OF ADVERTISEMENT.

[gremlingottoosilly]

you/your anons have got me hooked on cyberstalker!König so here are some rando headcanons:

-will go through your likes on twitter and grit his teeth if he saw you liked a man/celebrities selfie, god forbid their a male friend because he will spiral into convincing himself that this is like cheating (you two have spoken once) and he has to do something about it

-if he saw you simping for someone casually he would have to step away and let his anger out in the gym because otherwise he would start weighing the pros and cons of murdering Henry Cavill or something

-has a dragons horde of items you liked/expressed interest in because he has a whole plan when he kidnaps you he would offer it as a way to calm you down. this plan is flawless obviously

-you liked a picture of cat ears and a maid outfit ONCE and he has jerked off to that mental image at least 5 times a week

-will try to get into the things you tweet about just to start a conversation but gives up halfway since he doesn't have the best attention span, tells himself that you'll just tell him about it when your together because he could listen to you for hours <3

-that is not hyperbole btw you once posted a video giggling at something your cat was doing and he has put in on in the background as he gets through his day

-has printed your selfies to cum on stare at because he can get headaches if he stares at a phone screen for so long (hes OLD your honor)

-everytime he likes a song/movie you enjoy it fully fuels his delusions that you two are soulmates

-has found your pinterest boards and already has a downpayment on a house that matches your preferred aesthetic perfectly

-kisses the screen when he sees your selfies. nothing to add to that its just something he does

-LOVED when the 'big boy' song went viral and saw you posting about loving it, again, you two are clearly soulmates

i didn't realize how long this is I am so sorry

Omg!! It's literally so perfect, you crawled in my head like a little bug and now you are munching on my brain and I would let you because you are just chill like that. Konig is an old-fashioned stalker who doesn't have time to literally stalk you, he is a busy man with a busy life, so he catches up with your socials instead!! More under the cut

He googles every term he doesn't understand, and reads recaps of whatever show you were watching, just so he could save time on actually watching it. He writes everything in a diary, every little detail because he knows a bit about internet safety from Hutch and he just knows that this precious data is far more protected in the front pocket of his vest, in a tiny and scrawny notebook. He saves every picture and prints it, just to see every tiny detail. Your favorite color, your favorite decorations. You like pink sanrio fluffy style of decor? He doesn't understand it, and don't see a point in just adding to the clutter, but he will buy you as much Hello Kitty and My Melody stuff as possible. Something minimalistic, but expensive? He understands it a bit more, and he is happy to finally use his money for something nice and not just beer. He would be grinning like a cat with the cream if you like video games -- especially the ones he likes, the violent action ones. He can't let go of the war even at home, and having a perfect game when he doesn't actually have to worry about being in danger but putting as many enemies down as possible is nice, really. You would have to explain the point of Minecraft to him though. The celebrity crush one omg!! Konig is insecure because if you like more normal, traditionally attractive male celebrities, he just knows he can't compete. However, there has to be something wrong with you if you really like Konig, so he doesn't mind - after you stop liking those celebs of course. God save you if you have some porn in your twitter likes - he would try to implement it in your sex life. Bondage? He already knows how to make really good knots. Cnc? It's basically your whole sex story already. He would never let you forget about every embarrassing little picture you liked, and he enjoys thinking of you as a perverted thing that needs some good punishment. If you do cosplay...oh boy. Even the most normal costumes are a good jerk-off material for him. Even if you cosplay male characters, he'd find a way to sexualize you -- it's not really nice of him, but this old man finally got what cosplay means and he is not letting go of this knowledge.

His soldiers think you're his wife already because he keeps your photo, a fucking collage of your photos, on his desk and a polaroid of you in his vest pocket. Poor ol' you, having stalking problems and not even knowing about it because he is too busy to actually court you.

[flamingwell]

My most beloved mutual, I have a question about Podfics.

Years ago, I tried one, and didnt really vibe with it. No fault of the reader, it just was a combination of "the fic itself was boring" plus "it was so conplicated to actually get to start to listen to it, because it was like 500 steps". So it just remained in my brain as a sunk cost activity, bc after all the steps to start reading, the fic was bad. Like, when I read a fic, its one click, and if the fic isnt for me, i just close the tab.

But I've been itching to try it again. Do you know of a good, idk, beginners guide to podfics? Or some good stories you can recommend?

Love! Snow

My friend, I would be thrilled to help you learn how to access and find podfics you'll love!! So the great thing about podfics is, just like fanfic, there's really something for everyone!

How you access podfics: many podficcers will offer multiple ways to listen to their podfics, both streaming and download options. It sounds like you might have gotten frustrated by getting a downloaded podfic to somewhere where you can listen to it. If you want to download in the future, it should be the same process you use to download and listen to music. But for many podficcers, that's not your only option! A lot of podficcers offer streaming as well, so you can listen right in your browser. You can try filtering on the tag "audio format: streaming" (though that will limit your options somewhat as not everyone tags for that). Otherwise you can just open a podfic and see if there's an embedded audio player on the page. Even if there's not an embedded audio player, if there's a link you can try just clicking on it. Often it'll be a link to where you can stream the audio. If I assumed wrong and you prefer to download, you should be able to right-click/long press on the streaming audio player or link to download, and then you just play your downloaded file in the app of your choice, same as any other audio file you download.

How to find a good story: this is just the same as finding a fanfic you think you might like, except that there's already a layer of quality filtering done because someone decided they liked this fic enough to spend many hours podficcing it. Simply add the tag "podfic" to the filters you would use to search for fanfic. Then listen to it for a bit. If you don't like it, hit the back button, just as you would for fanfic.

Style of podfic: there's a number of different styles of podfic, and while many of them aren't often tagged, you can often get an idea of what style a podfic is from the summary, author's notes, etc. You'll have to decide what you like by trying them out! Some podfics will have music and sound effects and fun stuff like that. Some (often called "cold reads" in MDZS fandom) will be unedited with mistakes left in and maybe even have the podficcer's thoughts shared as they're reading. I think of this as the kind of experience you'd get if a friend read you a fanfic around the kitchen table. And some will be edited (so you don't hear mistakes or commentary or whatever) but without music or sound effects. That's the most common version, similar in style to most audiobooks. Everyone will have a different preference, so you'll have to figure out yours. I'll say @kisahawklin was the person to popularize cold reads in this fandom, so she would be a great place to start to see if that's a style you like, and @jellyfishfire is one of my all time favorites for podfic with music (and sometimes sound effects, like with Let the Streetlights Guide You Home).

Reading Style: just like with writing style, every podficcer has a different reading style, a voice that's all their own. It's nothing you can tag or search for or even really describe, just when you listen, you'll probably vibe more with certain podficcers than others. And that's fine. It's great even! Just like you have favorite authors, you might end up with favorite podficcers if you listen enough, and then you can go through all their works and enjoy them thoroughly! And the ones who's reading style doesn't vibe with you? That's okay. Hit the back button and find a different podficcer. They vibe with someone else, and you'll find a different podficcer who's reading style you love.

I hope all that helped, but if you have any more questions, let me know! And enjoy your podfics!!!

[officersnickers]

A part of me really wants a Make the exorcist fall in love anime. if adapted by the right studio I think there's a fair chance that it could blow up in the anime community. Though I think that would take a while since it seems a lot of people tend to dismiss it due to the cliche title (let's be honest) and the cute artstyle. It would burts its popularity and it would be great to have more fan content.

On the other hand...well you probably already know what happens when a series becomes popular and toxic people discover it

Forget about an anime adaptation, I‘d be happy to at least have physical release of the manga! (says a person who prefers reading the manga over watching an anime) 😔

But yeah, fair. I can‘t say it would be a massive hit, because surely some themes are just too hard, too real for some potencial readers/ viewers, but considering anime dares to tip toes in uncertain waters, it could work. Doesn‘t have to, but it could.

That being said, I don‘t think the title would be the problem (listen, nothing against any of these, but Chainsaw Man? Because he turns into a Chainsaw Man? Or titles like Dandandan making my head spin when reading this combination too often? Make the Exorcist fall in Love is terribly long and cheesy, but not too bad, if you ask me). The artstyle is somewhat cutesy and stylized, but I don‘t think it would make people turn away. It‘s a very solid style imo and surely could be incorporated quite perfectly in colour.

Anyway! I could see more „problems“ for a potencial adaptation due to certain plot points: Attempted rape of a barely teen boy in the first chapter/ episode, gore at every end, cannibalism, criticsm of the (catholic) church… I do think the manga tackles a lot of very important takes, but I don‘t know how forgiven the anime community can be if it gets „too serious“. I‘d love to be proven wrong, but besides of cool and awesome fights, the source material hits you in the stomach all too often for some just to casually enjoy it.

On the other hand, we got tragic gay best childhood friends turned rivals/ enemies who are still in love so maybe that would a great selling point 🤷‍♀️

Also, one shouldn‘t care about any toxic part of fandoms. Enjoy what you have and interact with people you vive with! That‘s the best way to not let your experience be ruined by others ☺️

[krispycreamcake]

woah your matchups are so detailed ! 🩷 can i request one if that is okay? idk if this info will be okay but, here goes nothing: i'm 5'1 and v petite, w messy hair cut in a wolfcut. i have so much duality, both in personality and in my style: i can go from happy and sweet to ruthless and cold af in seconds so much that sometimes idk which of the two is the real me... i'm also v good at acting, lying and pretending. my style varies between emo and cutesy haha. i'm shy but i'm also a gremlin w the ppl i trust and can act v silly. i have v bad trust issues, i really can't trust anyone. i have anger issues too... my hobbies include writing, playing romance games and watching anime. i love rock music and visual kei too. i would love to learn how to play an instrument or learn to sing one day... my friends say i'm sweet and in general i'm cheerful around them ! i hide my feelings and struggle w them alone often, esp when i have anxiety.

my love language is gift giving. bc i'm not v smart and even if i have good intentions what i say might have the wrong effect i prefer comforting my friends making playlists for them or writing them a fic to cheer them up. i know if they lived near me i would always be buying little gifts for them haha but at the same time i'm super shy when it comes to accepting gifts bc i don't think i deserve them...

i'm also v romantic and daydream a lot, especially abt my yumeships. i can be cheeky and a quirk of mine is i tend to wink when taking selfies a lot > /// < i also obviously love vampires 🦇

idk if this info is okay... i'm sorry if i did this wrong and absolutely no pressure to answer ! thank you so so much either way ♡

From author: From what I've gathered, it looks like what you need is someone to spend quality time with.

Your need for that romance aspect in your life tells me that you're very open to relationships and would welcome one if it came your way. But you do need to be wary and try not to rush things as it may affect how much of you the boys could take.

Since you prefer staying home, I can decipher that you're not necessarily a very socially active person but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy building friendships since it's clear to me you care about your friends abundantly.

Because you deal with anxiety and emotions, this can show me that you may prefer to keep them locked away or even push them aside to forget about. I wanna hone in on this a bit because as we know all of the brothers have problems dealing with inner conflict and you not being able to navigate through your OWN ones would help better point to who you would work best with.

Because of your generally kind nature and ability to comfort people without necessarily using your words, this tells me that despite being faced with emotional obstacles from those around you, you still find it possible to respond in appropriate manners without the need to verbalize your care for someone.

And now that we've assessed you, your best match would be 🥁🥁🥁🥁

Azusa Mukami

Continue reading for more info

Azusa is someone that's known to be passive and soft spoken. His docile nature has lead him astray in the past and because of this, he needs someone that won't take advantage of him while also keeping him on his toes.

Because of your clashing tendencies of being kind and being assertive, this keeps him interested. Azusa would be exactly what you need when looking for a romantic partner seeing as he's always selfless and would constantly think of your needs first.

Azusa doesn't need to go out all the time and have fancy dates planned, he'd be perfectly comfortable just laying next to you while you scroll on social media or even listen to some Malice Mizer. As a matter of fact, he quite enjoys that band and loves it when you do decide to put on some music.

Because of your ability to navigate through emotional conflicts by showing remorse or even gratitude towards someone by giving them a gift, this shows Azusa that you care about him and that you're putting effort into the relationship. This would then have a domino effect of him learning to open up more and in return, making you be able to open up towards him.

He'd fully support your creative side and would encourage you to learn a new instrument and even sing. He'd be your biggest supporter no matter what you do.

[jungleindierock]

Rebjukebox 2024 - No 1

Here's my first playlist for 2024, it's not gonna be a monthly thing, just once i have 40 tracks i like, then i will share it. So could be one or two or even three in one month and other months maybe none, this is why it's numbered. I am already close to No 2 being finished, cover done, just need to cut down to 40 tracks from the 80+ tracks in the provisional draft playlist. So could share this next week!! These playlists are great way to find new bands and artists and saves us having to post each on sepearatly.

I used to do these just through Soundcloud, but thought i might as well add it to my Spotify also. So i will add two links to the playlist and can use which ever one you prefer.

If your a solo singer or a member of a band, then follow me on my Soundcloud page here, if i like your stuff, i will follow you back, if i don't follow back then sorry but your not my thing. Whatever style of music is fine, i like many stlyes and will take a listen. You should always trust your own ears with music.

You can only follow 2,000 people on Soundcloud, so am limited. But if am following you there, i can see when you share new music, which means you could be added to one of these playlists or the main JIR playlist (one per month). What style of music is fine, i like many and will take a listen.

Enjoy and share, stay free, see you soon with No 2!!

Reb

Ok the links for the playlist:- Soundcloud I Spotify

Tracklist

1 - Paramore - Burning Down the House (Talking Heads Cover) 2 - The Delta Shake - I’ll Be Your Man (Alternative Version) 3 - Anja Huwe - Rabenschwarz 4 - Fat Dog - All The Same 5 - Loupe - Tested Waters 6 - Wynona - Feeling For Edges 7 - Nothing Rhymes With Orange - Friday Is Over 8 - Shannon and the Clams - The Moon Is In The Wrong Place 9 - KAWALA - American Adrenaline 10 - overpass - Stay Up 11 - Camens - Cynical 12 - Cinders - Going Nowhere 13 - Linn Koch-Emmery - Ebay Armour 14 - Grace Petrie - Start Again 15 - Neon Dreams (Ft. Matthew Mole) - The Art of Letting Go 16 - This Rebel - Same Every Time 17 - The Holy - Any Given Day 18 - Soundwire - Shake The Fever (Radio Edit) 19 - The Snuts - Millionaires 20 - Neck Deep - Moody Weirdo 21 - Softcult - Heaven 22 - Lurve - Pesnya O Lyubvi 23 - BARSTAFF - Tracy Island (Radio Edit) 24 - Sasha Assad - Bad Nature 25 - Red Rum Club - Hole In My Home 26 - No Windows - Song 01 27 - Mourn - Could Be Friends 28 - Sunglaciers - Cursed 29 - POND - Neon River 30 - Slow Time Mondays - Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time 31 - Jeen - So What 32 - stillcorners - The Dream 33 - The Marra - Masterpiece 34 - The Hubbards - Hiding & Reading 35 - The Cheap Thrills - Last Orders 36 - Aqualine - No Answer 37 - Torrey - Bounce 38 - Low Blows - Normal 39 - ParisBlue - Remedy 40 - Bombay Bicycle Club (ft. Lucy Rose) - Willow

[brucenorris007]

"Sonic 06: gameplay is shit, story is shit."

Okay, I somewhat disagree but don't see the need to expend energy toward-

*comparison between 06 and Forces is drawn*

My brain: heyguesswhatyou'rehyperfocusednow

I was going to do things today. . . but here we are.

Okay, up top and up front: 06 and Forces are both flawed, yes.

But they are flawed in fundamentally different ways, and Forces flaws are, quite frankly, far more glaring and demeritorious for a franchise like Sonic than 06. Anyone who, years from now, goes on to claim that "Uh, actually, Forces was peak." the way that some people are saying about 06 now will be just as, if not more, wrong. And I'll attribute such claims to declining media literacy.

BEFORE the youngsters in the fandom start throwing things at me, note that I said just as wrong. 06 wasn't ever as good as some of the mainline games prior or even spinoff titles after.

The difference is, most of 06's issues stem from the fact that it reads as pitiably unfinished.

The problems with Forces begin and end with the fact that it reads like self-insert fan fiction that had either zero beta readers or too many beta readers that were all given editing privileges. There's definitely a place in the world for that sort of creativity, but said place is not within a licensed game that people have to pay for; one that drastically affects the canon of the franchise and how the fans old and new perceive it and the characters within.

All right? Okay, let's get into details.

Let's address gameplay first, since I have less to say about that.

On this count, if nothing else, Forces barely edges out by being functional; granted, that's the end of it. I wouldn't go back to play it again, and the 'highlights' I can recall mostly felt like reskins of stages in the style of Colors but shortened, with boss fights reminiscent of daytime Unleashed. I imagine the primary draw for people is watching their customized 'sona jump and fly around whilst listening to dialogue from the main cast.

And this isn't really a substantive point, but the fact that receiving stuff like outfits like loot crates at the end of virtually every stage feels kind of manipulative and annoys me. If there's unlockable features, put some actual challenge between the player and the prize, like how you perform within the stage. Otherwise it's just another example of "shiny, novelty, tickle brain often, get player to play longer."

Setting that brief tangent aside since that's just a trend in games in general and not Sonic specific, moving on to 06's gameplay. And uh, yeah. The USP was, like the adventure games, supposed to be that you got three interconnected stories and three main characters each with unique play styles.

I suppose 06 showed us before anything else that Shadow really isn't as fast as Sonic, and as an idea, Silver's psychokinesis was cool. If the tracking in the Speed Up stages and the hit boxes in a handful of other areas had been ironed out, there's foundation for a fairly solid experience. Project 06 is basically proof that the base of the game had potential that wasn't realized, whether due to time constraints or other reasons.

As far as environs, the concept for Kingdom Valley showed off the most soul, I'd say, with Silver's future coming in close second. Character design for the Iblis fragments (not sure if that's the official name but I'm doing stream-of-consciousness here) and Mephiles I actually like a lot. I don't think there's anything objectively wrong with them and however you rate them will come down to preference.

Also, the model for Sonic is like. . . ridiculously good. He just looks like an older teenager; it fits with the widely accepted idea that he was 15 as of Adventure 2. Polish it a bit and that's just how he appears in my head when I write about him.

That said, there are only about six different environs that serve as stages, discounting the hub areas, and compared to Heroes' twelve stages, it just adds to that incomplete/rushed feeling.

That's about all I can say on the gameplay aspect. Functional yet non-stimulating technically wins out over some creativity yet patchy. They are games, after all.

Now then, the "story is shit" business.

Look, if you're going to criticize Sonic's story—which, yeah, his should be subjected to more scrutiny, being the titular character—then much of what you can say against it also applies to the first Adventure. Eggman wants to collect a thing (emeralds/Princess), Sonic wants him to not collect the thing (emeralds/Princess) because he's obviously planning to do evil stuff with the thing, Sonic manages to get the thing only for Eggman to snatch it out of his hands.

Multiple times.

Meaning Sonic spends most of the games on fetch quests that Eggman keeps one-upping him on until the penultimate fight.

And those are the beats. Of both stories. (For Sonic.)

And then at the end of both games, a monster you've fought in various forms (Chaos/Iblis) reappears to threaten the world on a scale that requires the seven chaos emeralds to combat.

Super Sonic. Rad soundtrack. Credits.

Granted, much like how Gamma's story was the strongest in Adventure, the quality of the three main story lines in 06 also vary in strength, with Shadow's taking first place.

My point is, in a franchise that is about characters, you don't grade every aspect of the story on the same scale. You weigh the grade of various aspects differently; and the point that gets graded most heavily is:

Character moments; which can encapsulate literal moments, arcs, development etc.

And for all its flaws, 06 has character moments, almost immediately, even. Sonic's first spoken line is "My, that's a pretty snazzy performance there!"

Which, after the tension of Eggman interrupting the festival and threatening Elise, cuts through the moment right away and, paired with the next several seconds, shows who Sonic is. He sees Eggman's robots aiming and waits until the last second to jump before going to town bashing up bots. Even as he carts Elise off amidst homing missiles and explosions, he's grinning the whole time.

Sonic does what he does because it's fun.

And his third spoken line, answering Elise's question of why he's helping, is: "No special reason."

Again, that's Sonic. Doesn't matter who it is, he helps people because he Does what's Cool. And as well as being fun, fighting off Eggman and his bots is Cool.

06, as Silver's introduction to the series, also does a decent job establishing his character of Temporal Bulldozer. He can be aimed, but his solution to problems first and foremost is usually smashing, and it's really tricky to change his mind once he's focused. He suffers from myopia arguably as bad or worse than Metal Sonic. Amy's the only one who momentarily gets him to pause and wonder if really does want to kill Sonic.

Which is a character moment for her. As in Adventure 2, Amy will happily break laws and go against who and whatever to help her friends; and as she did with Shadow, she's rather skilled at getting very hurt people to listen.

She's not unlike Silver in her willingness to do whatever it takes, really; since Temporal Bulldozer can and does traverse time on several occasions to make things right. And up until the last moment, it never occurs to him that anyone but he should bear the burden of saving the world. Blaze has to physically shove him aside so she can absorb Iblis herself.

Silver sees himself as a Hero with a responsibility toward the future just as much Sonic sees himself as just Some Guy.

Finally, Shadow. And man, there's a reason a lot of people say 06 was the last time a game featured Shadow written correctly.

It's me. I'm one of a lot of people.

Team Dark in general gets a fair bit of spotlight in 06. Rouge, an anti-heroine with perhaps the greatest self-interest after Eggman, promises Shadow that she'd stand with him even if the very world turned against him. Omega, who loathes taking orders and prioritizes his own freedom nearly as much as Sonic, takes on Rouge's assignment for him without question or complaint to wait out 200 years to help rescue Shadow.

And Shadow, in an in-game line during his first fight with Mephiles, reaffirms all the progress he made in his titular game that was wholly about discovering his identity: "Don't bother trying to deceive me. I know who I am!"

And, in contrast to the Shadow the franchise first introduced us to, the Shadow of Adventure 2 who was thoroughly convinced that his only remaining worth was his ability to keep his promise to Maria, the Shadow who was so resigned that he chose to plummet through the planet's atmosphere to his presumed death. . .

That Shadow is faced squarely with his fate of persecution, asked why he would bother fighting to protect. That Shadow declares that it the world turns on him, "I will fight as I always have."

He's grown such that he's now willing to fight against fate.

And that's pretty fucking cool.

On the other side, applying the same grading method to Forces, we find what I call (as of just now) character fauxments.

Remember how I talked about 06's introduction for Sonic? How he cuts through tensions, finds joy and fun in fighting bullies and bad guys?

The thing about that, which Forces doesn't seem to understand, is that if you lean too hard on the wisecracks and nonchalance, you end up with a character who reads as either obnoxious or totally tone-deaf. Sonic knows when to take things seriously, yet in Forces he's purportedly been tortured as well as locked up for half a year, Infinite's destroyed countless homes and killed who knows how many people, and yet when Sonic interrupts his fight with Silver. . .

I mean, if Sonic was written correct, you'd cut out a bunch of faff and change his line delivery. Show that he's frustrated by his time confined and absolutely raring to throw hands and get to business; because Sonic does understand when things have gotten real, and while rare, he does get angry. Something like:

"Since you like talking so much, mind sharing the source of your power? I can ask the easy way or the hard way. I've been cooped up a long time, so I'm hoping you pick the hard way."

It doesn't need to be the most original lines in the world, but Sonic's banter in the middle of a war shouldn't be long-winded, no matter how pretentious his opponent is (and damn, is Infinite pretentious. Like to the point that it's the most memorable part of the game.) If there's banter, it should be punchy and succinct; quick, like he is.

Instead, Forces Sonic's attitude is just kind of. . . incongruous with the stakes the game claims to have established. But then, since we don't get a truly convincing scene showing the rest of the cast being sad that he reportedly died, that's not too surprising.

Speaking of setting up stakes, here's an idea. Rather than cutting from Sonic laying battered in the middle of the city for a lazy six-month time skip established by text on the screen, make it clear that "Oh shit, things are different" via gameplay.

After Sonic falls, immediately transition into a level. Where you run from right to left to escape Eggman's fleet. Turns everything on its head, you can witness and navigate the destruction as it's happening and if you string together enough environs, you can even have the city burning in the distance or the skyline as you near the end of the stage and escape to relative safety.

Anyway.

And of course, the notorious character fauxment: Tails cowering in front of an offline Omega.

There's nothing I can say about this fauxment that hasn't been said already. It's not the first time in the series that Tails was portrayed as having regressed to a scared child, but it is the most egregious.

And. . . actually, that's about it, at least off the top of my head. Which might speak to how short the game is and how little screen time and action the main cast get aside from Sonic and the player character.

But it's enough to determine that Forces' story, or what stands in for it, is weaker than what 06 offered.

Again, I'm not here to rally a feral defense of 06 as a masterpiece, but its flaws are not on the level of Forces. The reason they're lumped together is the amount of disdain both games got on their release; though in the case of 06, the 2000's were just a weird time when hating things was somehow cooler than liking them, and since 06 wasn't up to par with Adventure 2 or Heroes, people picked an aspect of the game-most often how much the almost final fantasy style model for Elise didn't match up with the Mobian models (and yes, the final cutscene, but there's nothing new I can say about that either, and talking about it here is just an open invitation for someone to blow it out of proportion again) and dogpiled the hate on the game.

Sonic 06 feels unfinished owing to a lot of little and larger details. Knuckles' portrayal and having little to do in the story, poor optimization leading to nearly twenty second loading times, BLAZE BEING A GLOWING NEON MISSED OPPORTUNITY! (SEGA, I know I was literally twelve when the game was released, but my Phoenix headcanon works so well and makes her appearance in both Rush and 06 work! A retroactive fix would be so easy and we could get more adventures in her dimension!)

Even acknowledging all that, though, there were still attempts at creativity that just, for one reason or another, didn't pan out. There's significant potential here.

Forces is just. . . a mess. In every sense. And I understand how a mess can be attractive to a fandom, because a mess means you can take whatever you want from it and organize things however you choose.

But a mess that's sold as a finished game is not the same as a rushed title with visible untapped potential.

[taylortaylormoon]

draft 1

Uncharted Waters, Sanji x Iris.

Iris was used to being on the run, from pirates and exes to pirate exes. She never expected to be running from marines as vehemently as this vice admiral was chasing Luffy and, by extension, her. She also never expected to arrive back at Baratie, but something was telling her to start expecting the unexpected.

The sea-bound restaurant hadn’t changed in the few years she’d been gone; the rotating staff was the only thing keeping her from running back to the ship as she didn’t recognize the Fishman host. She just hoped there had been changes to the kitchen staff as well.

Iris found herself in the middle of the half-circle booth between Nami and Usopp; she was trapped but didn’t feel threatened by it. She felt protected for the first time in a long time, but that didn’t last long. “Now, now, gentlemen,” chills fell down her spine as her heart rate increased because of the familiar voice. “You know the rules here. We don’t waste food.” ‘Calm down,” Iris thought, trying to think about anything other than Sanji. Luckily, the crew was too distracted by the short fight to notice her eternal crisis. “He’s a good fighter,” Luffy says offhandedly as Sanji approaches them; Iris manages to slide under the table just in time. “Welcome to our shitty restaurant where the only thing worse than the ambiance is our food; my name is Sanji. What can I get for you?” “One of everything, please,” Luffy says around a mouth full of bread, no longer noticing Iris’s absence. “Any drinks, one of our signature cocktails to help choke down your meal?” “Giving us a hard sell?” Nami asks, crossing one leg over the other, narrowly kicking Iris in the face. While Iris couldn't see his face in her mind, she instantly heard his tone change. “Apologies, madam, I didn’t see you there. Would you care for an apéritif to start?” She could practically see his lips cured into his signature half-smile, head tilted with his boyish charm; Iris couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “We have several rare Micqueot vintages in stock, or perhaps you’d like a glass of Umeshu. Something sweet for someone sweet.”

 “Something wrong with your eye?” Nami asks clearly, as her tone is unamused. “Just blinded by your beauty.” Zoro clears his throat, arms crossed at his chest, getting Sanji’s attention away from Nami. “Waiter, can I get a bear and something for my friends?” ‘Thank you, Zoro.’ Iris thinks, 

“Two beers,” Usopp interrupts, “I usually have three but-” “And a milk!” Luffy interjects, “Three beers and a milk. And uh, for madam?” “Water.”

“Still, sparking mineral? With ice or without cubed or crushed?” Sanji listed off, his eyes trained on Nami as Nami’s foot bounced in front of Iri’s face. “Regular water in a regular glass. Thanks.” “Right away.”  Sanji says, doing a half turn before turning back, “And for the flower under the table?” Iris's blood ran cold, listening to Sanji call her out like that; what a jerk. He couldn’t let her live this down? Slowly, she rose from under the table, hand smoothing her hair out of her face. 

He wasn’t smiling, not really; instead of the charming look she knew Nami’ had received, what she got was a cold stare, which was fine. She deserved it. She’s the one who left. “Sanji I- “And one Iris Monsoon coming right up.” Sanji turns, quickly leaving them. She could see the tension in his shoulders. “Iris Monsoon?” Nami asks, looking at her. “What’s that all about?” “Nothing,” Iris states firmly. “What’s up with him flirting with you.” “He was not.” Nami denies, “Madam, forgive my rude behavior, madam.” Zoro teased in his typical, dry tone. “Would madam prefer her water in a crystal glass, or would a golden bowl be more madam’s style?” “Nami’s got a boyfriend,” Usopp says jokingly, and Iris is happy the attention was not on her. Luffy meets her gaze from across the table, and damn, for someone so oblivious, sometimes Luffy could read people well. —---------

[putschki1969]

I am afraid that my question could be a little negative one.

I want to ask your opinion about Wakana’s high note.

Listening to her performances of “Yakusoku no Yoake” on “Wakana Calassic 2022” and “Wakana Winter Special live 2019”, I hear her high note in the beginning of the song “まだ暗い空から( mada kurai sora kara)～” really grating though it is so sorry.

Not only it sounds grating or too shrill but I feel that her high note has something wrong, and it is disappointing that the problem seems not to be temporary thing.

I know some people says her high note is grating or shrill from when she started her solo career.

I guess this is due to her Kalafina era where she had been burdened with successive use of high note and it had worn out her throat. If it was correct, I could not say how disappointing this is.

How do you feel when listening to the part?

Thank you for reading this, and I would be happy if you tell me your opinion about the issue.

Hello there!

Don't worry, you phrased your question in a perfectly respectful manner, nothing bad about that at all. I apologise though for taking so long to reply. I wanted to do this justice.

Melody/composition-wise, "Yakusoku no Yoake" is actually one of my favourite tracks from Wakana's debut album (the Celtic vibes are just so gorgeous) but I agree that it is a very demanding song that is unfortunately not very flattering for her voice. There are certain parts that are either too high or too fast-paced for her so she often sounds out of breath or strained during these sections. Her breathing is pretty loud and noticeable so people who are not into that should give this song a pass. While you could argue that her non-existent breathing technique is almost part of her charm and trademark style, it's one of those times where it bothers me quite a bit. It truly baffles me that none of her mentors, producers, teachers or instructors have ever pointed out those issues (and possible solutions) to Wakana during the 20+ years of her singing activities.

I find it very interesting that you chose the very first part of the song as the one that sounds most grating to your ears => “まだ暗い空から (mada kurai sora kara)～”

In my opinion, the intro is one of the better parts with Wakana managing to have moderate control of her voice. Not always of course but I think she sounds decent during most live performances. Ultra high of course but not unpleasant to my ears yet. The chorus is where she struggles most if you ask me (probably due to the higher tempo). The "hikatta" for example in the first line of the chorus, "あの向こうで光った", is a little too shrill for me. And then it just builds up for the remainder of the chorus, I really struggle listening to the following section: [...] 行ければいい | [...] ikereba ii 明日へ進む道に | Ashita e susumu michi ni 飛び込んで [...]| Tobikonde yukou [...]

I thought I'd include her three officially released live performances in this post to give everyone an idea what we are talking about. It's the first time I am inserting audio with the new Tumblr format so we'll see how it goes. Please note that I have no music education to speak of so everything you read below is based on my personal feelings regarding the individual performances.

Wakana Live Tour 2019 ～VOICE～

During her early stages of performing this song live, she seemed a bit rushed? I guess she was trying to emulate the original sound of the studio version but I prefer it when she takes her time (especially during the intro). I am glad they slowed down the tempo for some of the later performances. However, I thought the performance was actually quite good. Yes, she doesn't sound 100% comfortable in the higher registers but I can honestly still enjoy it. It's not damaging my eardrums or anything. And for the most part her singing comes across as more or less effortless, not too flimsy or strained, yes, it's unnecessarily breathy but it sounds relatively stable to me

Wakana Winter Special Live 2019 ～瞬き～

This is probably my favourite live version of "Yakusoku no Yoake". The reduced tempo seems to allow her to polish a couple of those super high notes. It's still far from being perfect but it feels like she is not constantly in need of catching her breath.

Wakana Classics 2022 ～Christmas Special～

Maybe the weakest performance. Her voice is pretty shaky and thin, I'm sure some of that can be chalked up to nervousness but a lot of it might be due to a bad technique.

As I've mentioned in my review post for "Sono Saki e", Wakana keeps talking about all the vocal lessons she's taking but they don't seem to be doing her any good, if anything I would say they are actually making things worse for her. I have never been one of the people who have complained about Wakana's voice essentially deteriorating ever since 2012, I acknowledge of course that certain changes have taken place but overall, she has continued to sound good to me, sometimes more so than other times. There are more than enough occasions where she can access facets of her voice that are reminiscent of the "old-Wakana", with her singing sounding strong, rich and emotional. This indicates to me that the potential is still there, buried somewhere deep inside her but for whatever reason, Wakana doesn't always rely on those skills. It could be a conscious choice to spare her voice or maybe she just doesn't receive enough professional guidance...? There's no doubt in my mind that Kalafina's brutal schedule has taken a major toll on her throughout the years but unlike many other fans, I don't think she is a lost cause with irreversibly damaged vocals...

[causesciencethatswhy]

Hi! I have just see Jk tracklist and I wanted to share my op -

First: I don't understand why, only because I like Jk as an artist and person, I have to accept blindly every single thing he does. I have my ideas and morals and I apply them consistently. I like seven, I don't like 3D. I am not a prude, simply I find that 3D it's explicit in a dirty way. For example.

So:

• I don't have problems with not writing your lyrics but I'm a little disappointed that in his first album there isn't even 1 or 2 Jk credits. Yes he surely approved and choose carefully but it's not the same thing to really write them, we can't read the lyrics and be like "that's what he think" because we can't be sure that he specifically approved that phrase that we are "analyzing". Meybe that was the only phrase that he doesn't like lol.

• I know he is working hard and I respect him for that, I'm just sorry he is working at something that is not what in my op a lot of fan were expecting (not that I wanted something specific, just listen to the songs and think "oh this is something he think for real)

• I think that all those songs will be more the 'no deep meaning' songs, again, nothing wrong with it. But when you are the frontman of a band famous for the deep meaning of their songs people have expectations. So for me the problem is that I and other fans wish to have from bts members the meanings, the ideas, the relatable lyrics, the personal style not songs given by random people. So I personally understand who is disappointed and find it valid.

Still I respect his work.

• note: tae doesn't wrote his lyrics too, but in his case Idk if he received the songs or if the songs were made for him, that is a little big difference.

Let me know if you know and what you think! Ty

Hi anon,

Like I said earlier, you're allowed to want different music from him, of course you are. You're totally free in deciding what music of jungkook's you want to listen to and if you prefer seven over 3d, I'm not going to judge you or think you're a prude. It's about preference at the end of the day and I'm not at all advocating people to blindly support the artist you stans music even if you don't like it. Because it's all about preference at the end of the day, and if the disappointment posts I saw were simply just commenting on "Oh this type of music isnt my preference " then I wouldn't mind it.

The problem gets when people are making so many assumptions on the type of artist jungkook is, and judging his decisions in bad faith that are bothering me. It's the constant, "he's korean so I don't know why he feels like he needs to sing in English " that's bothering me.

For your first point, I get it. There's not a lot of theorizing you can do on the lyrics when he's not written them himself. It's actually what stumped me a little with layover because when I had read the four leaf clover lyric in Rainy Days , I got excited thinking it was a reference to Vmin and their four leaf clover story before realising that tae didn't have any writing credits. But then as I thought about it more, there's no way to know whether tae discussed what he wanted to convey what wanted each song to be about and he might have even relayed the four leaf clover story to the writer. Or maybe it's a complete coincidence ! So yes, on that front I get that it takes away from a fun part of fan culture because you don't exactly know what they're singing from real experience and what is just a fantasy. It's always nice to learn new nuggets about your favorite artists and the way they think, buts it not that definitive to me personally, but it may be to you so I get that.

Second point, I mean sure you can be disappointed your expectations of his album don't match up with his own vision, but there really is not much we can do beyond that is it? At the end of the day, he will release the music which he feels is right for him and as long as it's not something terribly offensive or something, we can't really hold it against them for having a different creative vision to what fans had for them. Of course you're allowed to feel disappointed, but people acting like he's done some personal offense against him through his creative decisions is what bothers me.

I honestly think it's not fair to already dismiss all the tracks to have no meaning before they're even out . We literally have zero clue as to what the songs are going to sound like. As to the deep lyrics thing, honestly I think people hold bts to too high a pedestal with how deep their music is. They've talked about silly crushes, wanting to get a girls attention, sex and a lot of other topics which army's now claim they're 'above'. It didn’t sound like that because they were singing in korean and had credits from a member. If it's solely about deep lyrics, then while bts have some incredibly deep and moving lyrics but They've also had incredibly silly ones. If it's about the cool wordplay they do in korean which you're not getting in english releases, then I would say let's wait and see what golden has. English has a lot of avenues for equally fun wordplay/metaphors and we simply don't know enough about golden to have an opinion on this.

So in conclusion, you're allowed to have expectations from their music but I simply don't think it's fair to suddenly turn on jungkook, his artistry and his performances because his work doesn't match what you had in mind.

[mistchievous]

Hey! I'm the anon that mentioned Kathakali yesterday. I'd prefer to stay on anon, and I hope that's okay. I'm just sharing a few thoughts that occured to me, since you said you're open to discussing this further.

I don't know whether what the artist did is actually part of any particular style of art or not. But I don't understand why Kathakali has something to do with culture and what the artist did had nothing to with culture? Imo, style and perception have everything to do with culture. Western stories mostly follow a show-don't-tell style? That's cultural. The fact that a pattern can be perceived as "too busy" by some and "inspiring" by others? That's cultural. The fact that there are scientifically proven cognitive biases like own-race-effect and cross-race-effect? That's a result of cultural exposure (or a lack thereof, I suppose). The fact that storytelling subgenres have evolved to focus on characters that lead physically intense lives like police or firefighters or soldiers (often in laudatory ways)? That's cultural. An art form's main technique is to lighten everything? That's cultural. The fact that all of us will have opinions of which of these above practices are okay and which are not? That's cultural too.

The culture of the place I grew up in has numerous entrenched prejudices, many of which my family members and friends and acquaintances and others believe and see nothing wrong in. I've found talking to them about these things exhausting for years and years. I've felt anger, disgust, resignation, hurt and frustration at their inability to understand why they are in the wrong. It took me until my 20s to figure out that most of my opinions are a result of the books I read, movies and shows I watched, songs I heard. All of those things were of Western-origin for the longest time. And the people I disagreed with had been exposed to different things. I've spent the past couple of years trying to immerse myself in my own culture too. I've begun to realise that there are some things about which I was wrong. There are some things where there is no right and wrong. And for the the things where I still think I'm right - I've realised that I will never convince anyone by publicly shaming them. I might be able to silence them, but I won't convince them.

In my experience there's only one solution - we keep talking and we keep listening to each other. I keep giving them disgruntled nudges and loving shoves, they do the same to me, and we DON'T STOP doing that till we find common ground.

Hey anon! I hadn’t planned to engage any further about this since I just made kind of a definitive post that also apologizes for some miscommunication that seems to have taken place at one point. But I know I talked to you yesterday!

I also think you make some really good points, and I wanted to share them. I think they stand on their own. Thank you for sending me this.

And this part: I've realised that I will never convince anyone by publicly shaming them. I might be able to silence them, but I won't convince them.

That honestly might be a lesson I’ve learned from all this. That artist felt the need to pull back, and I think that’s a sad outcome tbh and partially my own fault. Nothing was really accomplished here except possibly losing a new fanartist. I placed myself in a discussion I probably shouldn’t have placed myself in – whatever intentions I may have had. The artist felt attacked, which makes anyone defensive and less open to what you’re trying to say. And it’s a complicated situation to begin with that a lot of different people have opinions on. Including different people of color.

I’ve always felt like there was a time and place for callout posts, but I think I have a lot to learn.

Thank you for talking to me. I'll try my damnedest to keep listening. 💗

[thegirlwhowrites642]

Do you have any thoughts on the relationship between Bill and Fleur? I thought they were always very underrated

To be honest, I've never had any interest in them.

They seem a good match. If you have been following me for a while, you probably know that I give a lot of importance to the characters in a romantic relationship being equals and it seems they are. They are both a bit more talented at magic than the average wizard and they are both very good-looking. Being both conventionally attractive is something I usually wouldn't consider necessary, but I think it might be with Fleur. I think having a partner who understands at least to some degree the assumptions people may do about you because of your very good looks may help (Bill is still male and not someone with magical creature elements but he may have some understanding of what it means being objectified or not taken seriously).

They seem very affectionate with each other and love each other very much so that's nice. Ginny, while not liking Fleur, still recognizes why Bill is attracted to her. But there's nothing about them individually that makes them particularly interesting to me. And there doesn't seem to be any element about their dynamic that would make them interesting to read about. And maybe it's my chronic preference for characters who make a lot of jokes talking but I'm expressing my personal taste after all.

Bill in particular has always seemed to me someone who appears very cool (cool style, cool job, chill personality) but who doesn't have much substance in the end. And listen, maybe there's some Bill lover out there who will prove me wrong with quotes from the books I don't remember, please do it if that's the case, but I've read the books many times and this has always been my perception. Especially when I think about the whole Weasley women VS Fleur thing. He brings home this girl nobody knows, presents her as his fiancé, imposes her presence in the house to the rest of the family (a family who is very close, very proud, and with a tendency towards familial insularity) and she is clearly not used at all to living in a place like that and has no reserve in expressing her displeasure. And then when the inevitable animosity starts, he does absolutely nothing about it? And if he hypothetically tried to do something apparently he didn't have enough influence on either side. Doesn't seem like the coolest guy in town to me.

In the end, I'm quite neutral, I wouldn't say I ship them, I understand why they are paired and I'm fine with it.

As a final note, there's one thing that I've never understood about them: if Fleur hated the Burrow so much because there was nothing to do, why Shell Cottage? Why not London? Was it only for the war? I know the house was of an aunt but it doesn't seem like they wouldn't be able to afford a place.

[signanothername]

Assumptions game!!

Hmmm I feel like you don’t listen to music as often as you used to but when you do, you like more indie/indie rock and perhaps… classical music especially for studying? Mostly chill playlist with a few songs that resonate with a character (I realize that I did get a chance to peek at some of ur playlists in the past LOL)

For clothing style, I feel like you mostly vibe with sweatpants and a shirt (kinda common assumption ik) but when you do decide to go out for the day, your style is more minimalistic style. Nothing too crazy with white/pale warm colors/ black ranges of clothing.

For foods…. Hmmm. I feel like you like a bit of spice but like the kinds of foods that give you nostalgia. Or just a satisfying feel. You also give me vibes of someone who likes sour candy haha

(Im horrible at assumptions if i get these all wrong I will laugh at myself HAHHCJSJ)

i love these fghbjnk

okok

1- that's actually true, i'd say i used to listen more in the past than now, and OH ABSOLUTLY, i specifically enjoy songs that aren't... usual? that's why i enjoy Will Wood's songs, they're unique and the lyrics are just really nice and symbolic

i don't have an actual preference with songs I could listen to any genera as long as i like the song itself, but indie/ indie rock is definitely on top

as for classical music i could absolutely listen to it! tho i/m more of brown noise/ rain sounds enjoyer when it comes to studying

and fr the more i resonate a song with a character the more likely i'd listen to the song on repeat, i also especially enjoy albums that talks about a character(s) to an extent (Hawaii II and Ride the Cyclone are two examples)

2-that's spot on, i'm like an old lady that's done with life, so i honestly got no energy to wear something crazy or looking cool, etc fgyhujilo

so yep i just go with a sweat-pants and a T-shirt, literally zero patterns even, my go to is literally just a black sweat-pants and a light grean T-shirt with a tiny word written on it (mind u I never even read what that word is that's how lazy i am dfghjkhgfgh)

but yep! minimalistic style is right for me hahaha

3-and that's semi-true!! spicey food is actually my favorite, it's pretty satisfying, food that give me nostalgia is pretty important to me too, that's why i learned literally every recipe mom ever made, can't have my favorite food lost to time hahaha

as for sour candy, i actually used to love them as a kid, now however i can't really handle anything sour for some reason?? fghbjvfcfgh

[1d1195]

Wait omg Love and Dryer sheets came to you in a dream??(idk if you mentioned this before and if you did I’m sorry😭) also the fact you’ve written many by starting in the middle is so crazy but in a good way! I don’t think my own brain could comprehend that but for some reason it makes sense lol love learning about your writing process!!

I do love reading your descriptions! It’s like little commentary and I find it cute! Though I cannot lie if I get too excited I just go straight in even avoiding content warnings lol I have my own qualms about TikTok and the music industry BUT I will say it is a helpful tool for both users and artists due to how it does help with reaching a variety of people! Also tbh idk what young people(I know I’m young but I’m very offline lol) are listening to these days so I can’t imagine the out of pocket recommendations you may have gotten from them😭

You know I would be surprised if you weren’t buried with 1D merch and honestly I love that for you!

Also I can see how the number of posts you make can add a bit of pressure despite you knowing you prefer quality! I do think it’s hard not to compare yourself so it’s not something you can easily switch off. Though I hope remember that you constantly give out so much quality content that it’s okay to not be constantly putting out so much!

I genuinely didn’t remember about the long weekend 😭 but omg I hope the rest of the week wasn’t as messy as Monday! And yeah we are so close but idk girl I’m barley hanging in there😭

It’s truly wild what’s been going on over here but really all we can do it just stay informed and help in any small way we can! I’ve already planned on donating a bunch of clothes so I just gave them to local organizations for LA! But thank you for being so sweet and checking up on me💕

I remember! I think the last I asked it was basically the same color lol but there’s nothing wrong with that! Blue is your fave color(if I’m wrong I’m sorry 😭) so it’s very fitting to get some form of blue on your nails! And honestly your sister is right BUT I saw get them done! It’s always fun to feel pampered!

This week was not smoother but alas it’s over lol shit went down on campus this week and I almost got ran over twice! Crazy but I’m not as fazed anymore lol

Okay bestie I’m gonna try to make this quick(lowkey never happens) but I LOVED THE EXTRAS YOU GAVE THIS WEEK!!! Didn’t expect to get extras for these two stories but it was definitely a nice surprise! For independent it was soooo sweet! I love them and I love how they are just taking their time despite the long wait lol but omg my girl needs better boundaries, I deeply feel for her since I have been in the same situation 😭 anywayssss I’m glad Harry is subtly helping her with that!! He’s so sweet and reassuring and I love that for her!!! And omg two negatives… BESTIE I FEEL SO EDGED AND TEASED😭WDYM YOU ENDED IT THERE?!? lowkey it’s a very “Sam style” ending so idk why I’m surprised lol BUT OF COURSE I STILL LOVE IT! Also omg she said I love you first😭 I love that for them! I expected Harry to say it first but omg I feel like it’s more special for her especially with vulnerability being something that’s a bit hard!! Once again I love them bad!!! Really enjoyed reading them!!

Wishing you to have the best weekend! Hopefully you can get some relaxation in especially after a busy week! Love you lots Sam!!-💜

Love and Dryer Sheets as well as Ding both were from dreams. They were quick and I STRUGGLE to remember my dreams so when I woke up I was CLINGING to the inspo. Starting in the middle is the hardest. I think I struggle with endings (hence why you felt I left it unfinished for Two Negatives this week 🤭) I feel like I spent all this time writing the background and middle pieces I get to the end and I'm like "I don't want this to be done" so I just try to leave it all open (but usually end with an I love you) you know? So I can come back.

Idk what young people are listening to either. I try to get them to tell me ANYTHING about themselves but everything is a secret to them. The recommendations they've given me mostly include people I already know. But my older students have a bit more success than the younger ones. I added Frank Ocean to one of my playlists as well as some songs I heard on TikTok but didn't recognize until they told me about it. I would say the descriptions and commentary are mainly unnecessary most of the time; I of course always want to put content warnings, but everything else is probs just more of my stream of consciousness which is usually not needed lol, I'm glad you like it!

Ma'am you don't even KNOW how much 1D merch I have it's BAD.

I lowkey keep forgetting about the long weekend too. I'm hoping to read a book and clean and that might be all I get done this week. I had a pretty shitty week at school. I don't think it's a secret that teaching is difficult right now and this week seemed to be extra disheartening.

That's so kind you donated clothes. I love that! I seriously can't imagine what people are going through out there. To your point it's winter and it shouldn't be happening right now. It's so scary to think that it's only the beginning of the year :( God it's so horrible. I'm so glad you're okay 💕

Blue is my favorite! I don't remember when I got my nails done before this time but it's been a LONG while. If i had to bet, it was probs like right as school started and I did a royal blue color. I will do my toes sometime soon. I'm pretty basic there too. I'll probs do black with sparkles lol.

RAN OVER TWICE SO CASUAL. I used to hope someone would hit me with their car so I could get a break. I'm sorry to hear this week wasn't smoother. I hope you have Monday off so you can relax a little more!

Poppy and boundaries are nonexistent (she is me). I struggle to say no to people. Even my fave student pointed it out ☠️ like EVERYONE knows. I LOVE this Harry so so much. I think he's so sweet and just so concerned. 🥰 he makes me melt and maybe I'm biased because I wrote him that way but he's dreamy

EDGED AND TEASED 😭 I have part of their first time written already but it's like the middle part and if you see the discussion above it's hard to write like the beginning and end so I really gotta think. This whole extra was just to buy me some time before I write the next extra (a month or two maybe if I'm lucky lol) As much as I love Harry in Independent I think I love her so much in Two Negatives. She's vulnerable in a way that's not always seen and Harry is just so good to her even though he's annoying hehehehe. I'm glad you liked both so much!

Tell me about your week and anything fun you have planned ❤️ hope you're having a good weekend!!!

xoxo

[chaosincurate]

chaosincurate's Top 20 Albums of 2024

First things first

This is a post from my blog, chaosincurate.blog, adapted for Tumblr. I've done my best to format it as well as I possibly can, but I simply have more options on my website, so for the best experience, check it out over there. For those of you who are still sticking around, I also have a playlist available on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music containing the songs I'd recommend from each of these entries, if you'd prefer to consume the list that way. Here's the smartlink for that!

What an incredible year it's been... Well... For music anyway. We've had the true breakthrough of the new wave of pop music with the likes of Charli xcx, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter seeing great success in very different but somehow connected ways (perhaps simply in their unanimous agreement that a mixture of fun and misery is healthier than the zeitgeist constantly bouncing between the two), we've had indie artists that have been on the brink of something amazing finally achieving that something great, and saving my favourite for last, rap... Well if you can read this you were around this summer. You don't need me to tell you how big a year it was for rap. This has all made making this list very difficult, and I'm certain that I haven't yet gotten around to some albums that would have made it on here if I had. But of the music I've listened to this year, this is my subjective take on the 20 best albums of the year.

20

Machine Girl - MG Ultra

Kind of like: Nothing I've heard. It's a totally new sound to me. Songs to try: Until I Die, Grindhouse, Hot Lizard

First on my list of the top 20 albums of the year is this overwhelming digital hardcore album. I was making an active effort to discover more electronic music this year and this album made me glad I did, because I never really considered that it could sound like this. Abrasive, exciting, and fast, sure, I expected all that going in, but the emotion in this one really surprised me. It's super angsty throughout, albeit with some self-awareness, and that extends to the vocals too, which are honestly far more unclean than I think I'd usually be up for, but the digital soundscape makes it go down easier for me for some reason.

19

Lupe Fiasco - Samurai

Kind of like: Little Simz, A Tribe Called Quest Songs to try: Cake, Samurai, Mumble Rap

I feel like this is one that might grow a lot on me with repeat listens, but for now it's sitting in a respectable 19th. For the purposes of a list like this it may just be too thoughtful for it's own good. As short as it is, I don't know that I've had enough listens to properly take everything in. The loose concept is a fun one though: Amy Winehouse's hypothetical foray into battle rapping. It doesn't stick to that concept super closely, but it revisits it when apt to make occasional points, from what I've gleaned.

While most of this album seemingly requires deeper listening than I have given it, the sound is immediately respectable. The low-key jazzy instrumentals make this album one of the most laid-back hip-hop listens I've had, while also providing the perfect platform for Lupe Fiasco's intricate and thoughtful lyricism to shine.

18

The Cure - Songs of a Lost World

Kind of like: Disintegration-era The Cure, Beach House, Slowdive Songs to try: Drone:Nodrone, A Fragile Thing, And Nothing Is Forever

I would love to say this is a return to form for a band that has clearly demonstrated that they are virtuosos in the multiple styles they have embodied over the years, and in many ways that's true -- if they were to continue their recent form, as I see it at least, they would struggle to make the top 20 of even a weak year for music -- but they are still weighed down by silly things that ruin their chances of an album of the year shout for me.

For one, and this is very much a personal preference, I'm not a fan of the way they do meta self-reference. There's nothing too wrong with it in theory, but in practice I can't help but cringe whenever I hear the words "This is the end of every song we sing", which is made worse by the fact they were the first words we heard from the album, with it being the introductory line for both the lead single and the album's opener. Again, that point is clearly a me thing, because I'm yet to see anyone else mention it negatively and some people have even brought it up as a positive, but it definitely influenced it's placement on this list.

The other, more important issue is the production. And to be clear, I think this style of production has it's place (it suits Drone:Nodrone for example, and A Fragile Thing is ironically left largely unharmed by it) but the mix being so immediate and warm doesn't seem to suit the tone of the album or The Cure as a band seeing as they tend towards either chirpy guitar-driven music or oppressive soundscapes. Maybe they had that in mind and wanted to accommodate both styles with this choice, but it ends up as the worst of both worlds and it feels like the mix isn't playing to any of the music's strengths.

While I am disappointed though, it's more so in response to unreached potential as opposed to genuinely poor quality. The fact remains that while the album wasn't able, in my opinion, to place itself on the podium for the band's best work, it is a respectable contribution to their discography and is well worth a listen for fans of both The Cure and goth rock more broadly.

17

The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

Kind of like: Humbug by Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Wet Leg Songs to try: Nothing Matters, Beautiful Boy, The Feminine Urge

A very promising debut for The Last Dinner Party has given them well-deserved acclaim and popularity as they bring back the 00s rock sound with a classical, ornate flair and aesthetic. The lyrics and vocals are exceptional and the instrumentals are exciting, but they are being held back from a top 10 placement for me by 1. an impressive year for music in general, and 2. a slight lack of originality.

Now, there is something unique about this band musically, there had to be for me to rate them as highly as I have, but I think they could easily afford to ramp that up in the next album without sacrificing the commercial success they've received. If they can exaggerate that ornate spin (or whatever unique style they pursue in their next album) and properly incorporate it into their sound as opposed to it mostly being a backdrop, they could even have an album of the year on their hands, provided their next release doesn't come out in such a crowded year. That being said, if you're interested in an alternative rock album, especially one with a classical flair, you'll struggle to find better this year.

16

Honeyglaze - Real Deal

Kind of like: For the First Time by Black Country, New Road, Slint Songs to try: Pretty Girls, Safety Pins, Don't

I was surprised after listening to this album (which was my first exposure to the band) that they weren't strongly linked with the new rock movement in the UK consisting of bands like Black Country, New Road; Squid; and black midi. To me, there were clear similarities, particularly with the first of those examples. It's absolutely a little more tender than the other bands there outside of Ants From Up There, but the mixture of low-key bright guitar passages and the bassy, distorted sounds along with strange lyrics with mundane imagery reminds me a lot of Black Country, New Road's first album and to a lesser extent Squid's work too.

That being said, once again, I feel like there isn't quite enough originality on display here to blow me away. All three of those bands at the forefront of this movement have carved out a clear, unique direction for themselves, but this is still very similar to that first BC,NR album. The band do still feel fresh though, so I'm sure they aren't done exploring their sound yet and I'm optimistic their next album will be an improvement on an impressive outing.

15

Bob Vylan - Humble as the Sun

Kind of like: Punkier slowthai stuff, IDLES Songs to try: Dream Big, GYAG (Get Yourself A Gun), Hunger Games

Bob Vylan's new album is a great blend of genres, in particular those that are historically associated with working classes in the UK, perhaps attempting a modern London Calling effect, and the sounds are navigated pretty well. Primarily though, this is a punk album, and I think that is where a lot of the album's drawbacks appear.

First and foremost, they do succeed with flying colours in the most important area for the genre: righteous, working class anger. From Hunger Games' critique of the exploitation of the impoverished for the sake of "games" (seemingly inspired by a This Morning "Spin To Win" segment, in which callers were met with a spinning wheel to determine the prize they'll receive with one of the sections on the wheel during a time of great economic upheaval read "energy bills" and later "household bills" before being scrapped entirely), to the sympathetic frustration towards people who accept the systems that keep them poor and their place within it in Dream Big.

While I can't criticize the themes Bob Vylan touch on though, I do feel as though it's preaching to the choir a bit. If you aren't familiar with the concepts that they touch on here, it will go over your head as it is assumed that you already understand them to a certain extent. If you do understand these concepts though, the album just doesn't really challenge you very much. It just doesn't feel like it's enlightening anyone politically at all, which feels like a big flaw for a punk album, as understandable as it is with the internet creating a massive schism in understanding of political ideas.

Essentially, while this album is a great listen and can be pretty cathartic, if Bob Vylan want to improve on their next album I would personally suggest that they need to figure out who they're supposed to be talking to. If they're talking to the politically unaware, they need to present their messages more wholly. If they are talking to people who are more politically aware, they need to start critiquing more nuanced issues or universal issues in a more nuanced way. As I mentioned with the previous albums, this is still a great listen and there's a lot of promise here, but it feels like it's lacking the purpose that a punk album desperately needs to excel.

If you're a fan of the punk sound and don't really care much about the lyrics being politically important (if you're a fan of pop-punk for example), you'll probably get a real kick out of this album. Otherwise, it might still be worth a shot, but it's a strange one to recommend because it's hard to gauge who it appeals to.

14

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

Kind of like: Food for Worms by shame, Bright Green Field by Squid Songs to try: Starburster, Favourite, Sundowner

Fontaines D.C. have already made a name for themselves with Skinty Fia as sleeper giants of the modern post-punk scene, and with this album they keep their streak alive with another great album. While it might not carry the weight of some of their songs off their last album, they've begun to explore their sound a lot more freely with their gothic influences anchoring them and keeping the album relatively cohesive despite the band venturing into neighbouring sub-genres like shoegaze and The Cure-esque pop.

While some of those ventures work better than others for me personally (as much as I try I can't really seem to make shoegaze click for me), they are undeniably well-executed, making this not only a great album in it's own right, but a great jumping off point for people trying to find out more about indie music. Not that you need to be a beginner to appreciate this album though. It's versatility may suit newbies better than those whose tastes are more well-defined, but if you're a fan of indie music this could easily be seen as a great love letter to the weird descriptor-turned-genre too.

13

Nia Archives - Silence Is Loud

Kind of like: Honestly, I don't know, this style is new to me Songs to try: Killjoy !, Forbidden Feelingz, Unfinished Business

If I learned one thing about my taste in music this year, it's that I love some thoughtful dance music. To be clear, I don't say that as a slight against escapist dance music, it just isn't for me, and I thought that was true of more or less the entire genre before this year. This album wasn't the first to prove me wrong there, but it was crucial to my learning that lesson for good.

I had previously assumed that, even when there were lyrics, they would pretty much always be taking a backseat to the music, that it just wouldn't matter what the songs are about, but every song here has comparable or better lyrics than the average pop song, and that was enough to get me hooked on the infectious, rapid beats and Columbo samples.

12

beabadoobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves

Kind of like: Being Funny in a Foreign Language by The 1975, Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo Songs to try: Beaches, Take a Bite, Ever Seen

Admittedly, on first listen I didn't really like this album all that much. My main issue was the mix. It seemed really warm and kind of like everything was pushed forward and it felt too immediate. On repeat listens though, I've come to appreciate that as an intentional decision that invites the listener in for what is a very intimate, vulnerable listen. Probably the most vulnerable of all of beabadoobee's albums.

I also came to really appreciate the running theme of rejecting the passive approach to the enjoyment of life, a theme which is most prevalent on Beaches where she urges the listener "don't wait for the tide just to dip both your feet in", and to go out and do what you can to enjoy life right now instead of waiting for the perfect moment. On first listen, I thought it was more or less just this track that touched on the idea, but on repeat listens, whether intentional or just a product of Bea's mindset during the album's creation, I found it popped up quite a lot.

If you're a fan of the twee indie pop style that has really seemed to take hold in recent years, this is a great example of it that you should absolutely check out.

11

Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Kind of like: The Marías, Phoebe Bridgers, SZA Songs to try: BIRDS OF A FEATHER, LUNCH, CHIHIRO

Billie Eilish hit it out of the park with this one. I honestly thought I was over her music as I gradually lost interest in the majority of her first album and skipped her last one almost entirely, but this was spectacular and reminded me exactly what I fell in love with in the first place.

As ever, the production is a standout feature here. It's a lot more low-key than her previous work, but that doesn't mean there aren't interesting decisions being made throughout the entire album, from the feedback on CHIHIRO, to the "You moved on" beat switch and "Caught on camera" filter on the outro of L'AMOUR DE MA VIE, it's yet another production masterclass here.

But of course there's more to the album than just that. Billie Eilish's vocals are spectacular here, and we know how well she can do those tender whisper vocals, but she experiments with her style on quite a few occasions here, with slightly more direct pop vocals on LUNCH and the occasional belting on a few songs. On top of that, the lyricism continues to focus on a far broader range of topics than your average pop album, and many of the melodies are diabolically infectious.

It doesn't quite appeal to me consistently well enough to make it as one of my personal album of the year contenders, especially in such a packed year, but it is an exceptional album at it's best and I would have no problems understanding why someone might call this their album of the year.

10

Jean Dawson - Glimmer of God

Kind of like: The Weeknd, Yves Tumor Songs to try: Darlin', You're Bleeding Everywhere, Play Dead

I've been waiting for a few years for Jean Dawson to really impress me, knowing he had it in him, and finally I think I can say he has. You may have noticed with the previous write-ups that we're starting to get to the point where either the albums are dragged down by a couple songs I don't rally like, or they just don't quite have the quality to be album of the year contenders but for me, the issue preventing this album from making it is simply bloat. I think it's noticeable that 15 songs isn't necessary to say what this album needs to say, and some of the songs that repeat certain themes aren't quite as good as the rest of the album, which frustratingly means the album suffers from a mere lack of restraint. Everything else was there.

That being said though, the album does have something to say. I can't say I quite understand the specifics of the narrative (it seems to follow a mob boss or someone similar who dies and comes back to life), but it absolutely comes through as a cautionary ode to mortality. It's been said many times before that death gives life meaning, and this album seems to take that and add nuance, confronts the fear of death and gives counterpoints (such as the opener which, in the context of the album, essentially asks "where is the meaning in the life of an awful man who dies early and is forgotten?"). All the while, though, it takes great care to ensure that death isn't necessarily glorified, just confronted as something that inevitably happens and should be made the most of.

While this isn't especially close to being my favourite album of the year, it is close to my most replayed (second most, I think), which speaks to it's quality. The exciting thing about this is that I still get the sense Jean Dawson can do even better. A little bit more restraint, or a little more narrative depth and he could make a clear album of the year contender with his next outing.

9

Foxing - Foxing

Kind of like: Model/Actriz, Nine Inch Nails Songs to try: Hell 99, Gratitude, Barking

Next we have one of the most interesting rock albums I've heard in a long time. There's a strange sense of space across this album that really just works. Unfortunately for me, that space is hard to describe, but the crucial thing I want to be understood is that it very much feels intentional and professional, not like the typical, amateurish space that makes it feel like something is missing musically.

The intent behind that space is likely found in the lyrics, as there is a recurring theme of meaninglessness and ennui across the record. That theme makes itself very clear on Hell 99's angst at a stunted society, where you can find the incredible lines "I thought the future would be all things set on fire but now everything worth immolating is insured". While I don't personally agree with the hopeless picture this album paints, I can't help but marvel at the impressive final result. If you're interested in artsy, noisy rock music, this is the best example of that all year by far.

8

Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

Kind of like: Death Cab for Cutie, Ants From Up There by Black Country, New Road, Elliott Smith Songs to try: Classical, The Surfer, Hope

Vampire Weekend's new album brings a maturity and modernism to their classic sound, with improved lyrics that thoughtfully touch on the political and personal alike, backed by far more interesting production than ever before.

There's a very particular vibe about this album that is hard to pin down. A strange mix of maturity and youth. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but it means that there is plenty of wisdom to be found, but also an new and interesting artistic vision to back it up. Their sound is very much a revisiting of their first few albums, but altered to suit the band now. It feels a little more grown-up and thoughtful, but again it must be stressed: still fun and full of energy.

This is definitely a great listen for anyone who likes the original Vampire Weekend sound and may have been alienated (as I was) by their last effort, and may even be a good starting point for prospective Vampire Weekend fans too.

7

Los Campesinos! - All Hell

Kind of like: Gang of Youths, Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire Songs to try: The Coin-Op Guillotine, A Psychic Wound, To Hell in a Handjob

All Hell is the sound of a middle-aged punk losing their faith but keeping their fight, swinging fists hopelessly and reflecting on the next generation of radicals and the trajectory of the political space they helped build. It is someone who has done a lot of thinking about the external and the political being forced to reckon with the internal and personal.

To be clear, Los Campesinos! aren't really a punk band, and although they always had a radical vibe about them, they were mostly depicting personal stories in their art, but here, by explicitly mentioning some of their political stances with a clarity that they never have before, they paint the opposite picture: a picture of a punk doing some self-reflection.

As always, the lyrics are exceptionally endearing, thanks to the subtle comedy that strikes the balance between getting a chuckle and not overpowering the message ("Do you still have that one tattoo? // That's how it works, of course you do"), and the nerdy football references that are always woven into their work, adding a layer of personality.

This is one of those albums that, while critically speaking there isn't much about it that is particularly special, it has a certain je ne sais quoi about it. It's a fantastic album for indie fans who like anthems and introspective cuts alike.

6

Geordie Greep - The New Sound

Kind of like: black midi, Squid, The Smile Songs to try: Holy, Holy; Blues; Through a War

black midi but make it jazzy.

If that's your dream sound, you're in luck because that's The New Sound. Geordie Greep creates a soundscape of high-class debauchery to lambast many a pathetic archetype of masculinity, albeit in an occasionally sympathetic manner. In particular Blues feels like an understanding critique. It is unflinching in it's mockery of this person, but when you hear lines in the outro like "admit you have tried to cry and can't", whether intended or not, you can't help but have some sympathy for this person who has lost touch with their humanity and is now dripping with insecurity.

And I think that is ultimately the main theme of the album: the insecure bravado of masculinity. The simple lies of Blues, the entirely manufactured image of importance and sex appeal in Holy, Holy, the oppression of Through a War, and on and on it goes. And as mentioned already, the balance is perfect between criticism and well-placed sympathy, and it creates a seamless experience that on the surface doesn't feel like you're being told anything until you take a step back and see how often this theme pops up. It's expertly done.

If you think you'd enjoy a jazz-rock album that embraces a little chaos and approaches the topic of masculinity with equal amounts of humour and sincerity, this is your dream album, but I'd also recommend it to anyone interested in that section of indie rock that bands like black midi inhabited.

5

Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA

Kind of like: Childish Gambino, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar, By the Time I Get to Phoenix by Injury Reserve Songs to try: Noid, Hey Jane, Balloon

This is yet another album that is able to get a great balance between being thoughtful and staying fun, and that makes the 53 minutes this takes up feel like half that while justifying every second. And through it all, the idea of identity is constantly being explored, leaving a lasting impact as well as the immediate satisfaction that comes from listening to an album this good.

Last time I tried listening to Tyler, The Creator I listened to Flower Boy, and enjoyed it in the moment but never really revisited it or thought about it again. It was plenty interesting, but it wasn't catchy or profound enough (at least as far as I could tell on first listen) to stick with me. Maybe the album would have grown on me by now and deserves a revisit, but the point is as soon as I heard this album, it all clicked. I understood why Tyler was so highly acclaimed, and every word connected, every musical choice seemed clever, and the album worked on every level.

It's an incredible album and if it came out in most other years it would at least be the best rap album of the year for me, but as it stands, its just sneaking onto the podium. As for who this is for, I think it's pretty broadly appealing, so if you're a fan of thoughtful rap that balances the experimental with the accessible, or if you're new to the genre and want to find out what it's all about, this seems like a great fit for you.

4

JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU

Kind of like: There's no one like Peggy Songs to try: don't rely on other men, Exmilitary, SIN MIEDO

It may ring hollow when Peggy tries to make it sound like he'd kill a nazi now that he's collaborated with one, but the production, and the energy of his performance is as powerful as ever. This is why you're only as cancelled as your next project, because my hesitation surrounding listening to a JPEGMAFIA album after the Ye shit dissipated by track two. I still don't like that he worked with someone who said he liked Hitler, but I take a very personal approach to "cancelling" based on my comfort with engaging with each person's art, and I just can't be uncomfortable when the music is this good. Or at least it's going to take him personally doing something reprehensible and even then it would probably be a painful experience.

So much of what makes this album incredible is the production. From the expert sampling ("BIG BOOTY HOES! UP WITH IT!"/sampling a fucking door on don't rely on other men), to the flawless infusion of rock and even hardcore elements into his sound, it all just works so unbelievably well.

The recommendation bit will be very straightforward here: this is a must-listen for rap fans. Depending on what type of rap fan you are there's a chance you might not like it (there isn't much in the way of thoughtfulness in the lyrics here), but I believe you have to at least dip your toes in.

3

Charli xcx - BRAT

Songs to try: Sympathy is a knife, Everything is romantic, Von dutch

You probably already know BRAT. You might have even had a BRAT summer. Or maybe you spent the summer loathing the fact that you couldn't escape this cultural phenomenon of an album outside of the brief moments of reprieve Not Like Us granted you. But love it or hate it, you thought about it, and I think that's the essence of BRAT.

"If you love it, if you hate it I don't fucking care what you think"

Made by an artist who has constantly been bubbling under ever since their shift to a more experimental sound, with even her most commercial release not quite getting the star-making success you might expect from someone with the critical reception and dedicated fan-base she had, this album feels like a product of frustration and insecurity. There are themes on this album that seem to conflict with eachother when taken at face value, but that really come together to sell the feeling the album appears to be going for; that being the switching between "I'm that bitch" tracks and "am I though?" tracks.

This dialectic is perfectly summed up with two clear examples: Von dutch and I might say something stupid. The former is the standard braggadocios fare, with Charli opening the song with the lines "It's okay to just admit that you're jealous of me" and only getting cuntier from there, whereas the latter is a thoughtful and vulnerable introspection into her position in the music industry at the time, being "perfect for the background", and popular enough to be afraid for her privacy (amongst many other things), but not popular enough to really reap any of the rewards of fame.

I'm not sure there's much point recommending this to anyone considering the marketing campaign probably meant that if you were going to like it, you'd know by now, but if you've been holding off on it, it's worth a shot.

2

Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Kind of like: Quintessential West-Coast Hip-Hop Songs to try: tv off, squabble up, luther

This is rough. I absolutely love this album. It's far from Kendrick's best, but I was so convinced a week after this came out that it'd be my album of the year, and I still like it just as much, but I just ended up enjoying my number 1 a little more. That isn't to take away from this album though. It seems to have everything you could possibly want from Kendrick apart from a clear concept. It has bops, bangers, and jams; it has great lyrical displays; it has unique performances and flows... Despite being one of the biggest albums of the year following a November release, I genuinely think this album is still underrated.

Because the album isn't really a conceptual masterpiece by Kendrick's standards, I'd like to put the focus on what the album does do exceptionally well: individual tracks.

First, I'd like to discuss squabble up. This is the point in the album where the tone has been set with wacced out murals and things really start to pick up, and Kendrick does just that superbly, with catchy bars and inflections ("I feel good get the fuck out my faaaaace") as he celebrates his place as the biggest, most respected rapper in the world and urges other rappers to step it up, which maybe isn't the most unique concept, but it hits different here thanks to the undeniability of it. The only other person that has any claim to the crown right now is Drake, who despite everything is still doing numbers, but with his reputation ruined, the claim is hardly strong. Ultimately it's that context that gives this song it's power. It's not your typical rap confidence, it's the king putting his kingdom on notice.

Then there's reincarnated, arguably Kendrick's best song to date. This is what I had in mind when I mentioned lyrical displays earlier. There are great bars across the album, but this is pure poetry. Kendrick uses the concept of reincarnation to discuss the ways fame and success influences people towards evil and self-destructive indulgence (like the sentiments depicted on man at the garden). Once this pattern is demonstrated, Kendrick turns to himself and shifts the song into a direct self-critique. The song has so much sympathy in it, but also demonstrates a lot of accountability. It recognizes the way these talented people are lead astray, but also doesn't allow that to be used as an excuse for hurting people. It's just such an interesting concept that was executed with the perfect levels of maturity and discomfort required to make it hit home.

Other than that, I just want to touch on SZA's incredible vocal performance. Every time she appears on the album she absolutely kills it. She might have the smoothest vocals I've ever heard and the most satisfying melodies too. It never gets old.

Every time Kendrick releases something it's a must-listen for rap fans, and this one is no different, except for it's greater accessibility, meaning even the more casual listeners should be getting involved with this one.

1

Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk

Kind of like: Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast, Caroline Polachek, yeule Songs to try: Image, Killing Time, Cry for Me

I really love this album. On first listen I kinda liked it, but it wasn't close to my album of the year. On second listen I loved it, and it was a contender. On third listen, it was my album of the year. On fourth listen, it's become one of my favourites of all time.

Every hook is so infectious, all the melodies are captivating, the production is constantly keeping itself fresh with new elements that fit perfectly, the lyrics are quirky in the best way and serve the themes of the album really intelligently and with enough of a hands-off approach in regard to meaning that it is particularly subjective in this case (much like David Bowie's "Heroes", the subjectivity of which I gushed about in it's own post). I just can't find a flaw in the album right now. It is such an overwhelmingly exciting listen, and every time I listen to it, or even just one of my favourites from the album on its own, I can't help but to grin like an idiot.

The way I feel when I listen to this album is why I love music. This is what it's about. It's impactful, and because I have a pessimistic interpretation of the album, I often find myself feeling both depressed and manic towards the end of the album. Smiling and dancing while sad tears well up in my eye. It's ecstasy and sorrow. It's a masterpiece.

I'll attempt to be restrained in my recommendations despite my urge to recommend it to everyone who can hear things, and with that sensibility in mind, I would still say this would work for a lot of people. Poptimists would probably love it, indie fans of most stripes will probably enjoy it, and I've seen fans of prog getting really into it as well. I think the fact that it is both catchy and immediate as well as incredibly thoughtful and dynamic really makes it hard to think of people that wouldn't enjoy it. Mostly though, if you like your music to be experimental in a way that rarely sacrifices it's immediate appeal, this is for you.