#most of my favorite lyrics of all time r from this One Guy

[kazieka]

sometimes i hear “every night i would race the moon to fall for you” and am reminded that there is Love in the world

[apopcornkernel]

i dont know if there's even a ppop presence on tumblr but i do also want to promote ALAMAT, a 6-member idol boy group from the Philippines. Its members comprise of Taneo, Mo, Jao, Tomas, R-ji, and Alas. They debuted in 2021, and their creative direction centers on championing the Filipino identity and culture through their music.

sorry that ^ was a copypaste but it's a very useful and concise copypaste LOL but onto my own promo:

(note: also most of these videos have english subs!!)

(extra note bc this issue always pops up whenever locals encounter alamat: mo is always wearing black hairstyes bc he is blasian and not bc he is appropriating from black culture hdfjhdf)

KASMALA, the inverted Tagalog word for "strong" (malakas), is the MV that really did numbers on social media iirc. The video direction focused on the "human zoo" in the St. Louis' World Fair of 1904 (which included Filipinos specifically Igorots), and a general theme of anti-Filipino racism by white people (who are represented as ominous figures literally dressed in all white)

personal opinion: the music video is great but i personally think they have better songs, music-wise. and i'm going to give you an example of that by introducing you to my ALL-TIME FAVORITE ALAMAT SONG!!!

ILY ILY, a transliteration of "Ili-Ili Tulog Anay", incorporates the melody and lyrics of the Ilonggo lullaby it derives its title from. The MV and lyrics both work together to portray the experience of being an OFW/having an OFW parent. OFWs, or overseas Filipino workers, refer to Filipinos who go abroad in search of jobs that have better pay, so that they can remit money back to their families in the Philippines.

personal opinion: this is their best song THIS IS THEIR BEST SONG EVER OF ALL TIME and lyca gairanod is such a perfect singer for this. her ethereal crooning really gave me chills the first time i heard it UGH

DAYANG, the term for the wife of a Datu, is one of their most earworming songs ever. It's a gorgeous love song and what I would recommend to newbies if they want to get into alamat <3

personal opinion: The MV is kinda ass because it's just a super long extended ad for DITO PH (in terms of story and also bc they really missed out on doing a vid that drew more on culture esp bc dayang is a historical noble title and they used tausug words and designs for the graphics an the dance itself already incorporated pangasik dance which is also from the tausug people LIKEEE?? they've always promoted other cultures of the philippines i know they can do it but because of CAPITALISM--). But the song bangs so severely, as a pop enjoyer this is peak pop for me.

OH I ALMOST FORGOT DAGUNDONG

DAGUNDONG, a song basically recounting the colonial history of the Philippines from Spain to America, is just so fucking good you should watch/listen to it rn. There's EN subs don't worry you won't miss out on the context. This is colonial rage it's so satisfying I still remember where I was when they dropped this.

personal opinion: FOREVER OBSESSED WITH HOW THEY SAY "dahil puso mandirigma di papakutsa di papapugon" you guys have no idea how much i sing that line to myself sooo satisfying. Instant earworm this song i swear.

OK ONE LAST one last and i'm done. okay.

MAHARANI, a Sanskrit term for the wife of a Maharaja (translated as "great queen"), heavily features singkil, a Maranao dance which uses bamboo poles like tinikling does. The song also uses SEAsian instruments like kanun, gamelan, and gangsa. Also BINI's Jhoanna plays one of the main characters here!!!

personal opinion: this is their most pop-sounding song, which i think is slightly carried by the video i'm sorryyy. it's catchy though!! and i looove the part somewhere halfway where alas starts his verse, singing it in a more spoken-word way

___

okay 5 songs is. probably enough. this post is already kinda long shdfjskdff but yeah. pls check them out if you can hehe <3

also ppop idols are just really funny. there's no concept of an idol image so they just tweet shit. alamat jao gave out his genshin UID after a fan tweeted about having co-oped with him in genshin, and then after that he started answering questions with the hashtag "#canceljao" making a lot of magiliws (alamat fans) confused, and then he posted a classic iphone notes apology like this 😭

i'll do a bini version after this my girls deserve more international hype. they occupy a more girlcrush pop genre but they're just as chaotic as alamat if not even more 😭 there are entire THREADS on twitter of them just being hilarious jdhfkshgf i love them so much

thanks for reading <3

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 08/01/2024

You Are Book Smart

Season 7 Featured on: Rips of Christmas Present

Ripped by circunflexo

Tentative rip name: You Are Book Smart

I'd like to wish a late happy Jay Eazy day to all who celebrate, I hope you spent your time together with your dogs like Mega Man fr fr

Okay, but, like, sincerely, I like many others have over the last year been completely enamored with all the edits and attention given to Jay Eazy, and the frankly hilarious promotions he does for his music. The guy's a rapper in a sea of others but is frankly a marketing genius - he attaches popular games and anime to his songs, such as Grand Theft Auto, Demon Slayer, or indeed Mega Man, and promotes them through TikToks that are so absurdly strange that your only logical reaction is to laugh. In 2023, he struck absolute gold, and Mega Man went absolutely viral - after, of course, it dropped on January 7th.

There's just something so inherently funny about Jay Eazy that's...hard to describe, especially if you haven't been down the rabbithole of edits people have done of the Mega Man promo video. Be it the setup of Jay Eazy dropping in on someone else's grief to promote his music whilst running away from them, The Very Perculiar Way That His Captions And Tweets Are Written‼️, or just the corny sound to the songs themselves - Jay Eazy is immensely fun to post about, and post about him SiIva did, just one day ago. January 7th, 2024, was dedicated entirely to the king of money smarts himself - and of all rips posted, You Are Book Smart became my favorite just about immediately.

The thing is, we've had a lot of rips, and even some events, kind of similar to Jay Eazy Day already. Rap mashup rips, from Yoshi's Cookie World to Loopdeloop Griddy, aren't exactly a rare sight on SiIvaGunner, and just earlier in Season 7 we received a sequel to Whip & Nae Nae Day, with amazing rips like Whip Fortress (coincidentally ALSO by circunflexo!). There's of course uniqueness to all of these rips due to the sheer personality and expressiveness inherent to rap as a music genre, but it does still mean that the rips that try to truly stand out from the crowd are the ones that end up sticking with me the most. And compared to a lot of the other hip hop rips on SiIva, the big benefit that Jay Eazy has enjoyed for me is that he's had a whole year to simmer in my mind - I know the bars to Mega Man completely off the top of my head through no choice of my own, at this point.

All that is to say, that Circunflexo's call to make a rip that specifically plays with the lyrics and flow of Mega Man, sentence mixing it into new bars entirely - is absolutely damn brilliant. You Are Book Smart, through the edits in the lyrics and the sheer whimsy in the original song's beat, transforms a song originally about bragging over riches and dames, into Jay Eazy proudly boasting about his intelligence in perhaps the funniest ways you'll have ever heard. The kind of monotone quality that Jay Eazy's vocals have lend themselves to absolutely fantastic, near seamless sentence mixing, and the jokes just write themselves from there.

"I'm book smart, I'm money smart - I'm more intelligent, Call me Mr. Smart Festival, I got hella books"

It has no right to work as well as it does - and yet, Jay Eazy, the king himself, pulls through. Even if I wasn't blown away by every rip of the event, it was absolutely fun the entire way through, and you can really tell the SiIvaGunner team loves Jay Eazy as much as the rest of us: the cherry on top being the edited opening, that persists in almost all rips of the event. Jay Eazy's typical introduction of spelling out "S-R-G", was across the entire event edited across all rips to say "S-G" - SiIvaGunner. Even for a meme this silly and dumb, the amount of effort put in was, frankly, admirable. What a start to 2024: and Season 8 is just around the corner!!

[bsaka7]

tagged to post my 9 favourite album with commentary by @mathewbaldzal !!!! we r two peas in a pod i think with having a lot to say about some tunes...

in no particular order...

different class (1995) - pulp. this is not my no1 album of all time because i don't have a favorite album of all time, but this album is in part representative of "getting into music" to me. i love 90s britpop, whatever that means for a random american and this is my fav of em all (though i do actually quite rate this is hardcore in pulp's discography). "common people" is one of the songs of ALL TIME. god jarvis's little sing-song sleazyness gets me. really, really, really great classic performance of it at glasto 1995...for some reason "pencil skirt" also always really hits.

home video (2021) - lucy dacus. the newest album on this list by a long shot, but it's had songs in my top5 year end lists since it came out. i've also seen lucy live <3. this album rises above some of the others in similar company (punisher - phoebe bridgers, the boygenius ep, etc) because i never get tired of it. "first time" "hot & heavy" "brando" and "triple dog dare" are nearly always standbys in my listening history. probably gonna be an album-i-listened-to-in-college classic forever...

songs of love and hate (1971) - leonard cohen. maybe none of my favorite leonard cohen songs are on this album, but as a single work, this album stuns me. possibly the most transfixing 44:21 i've ever heard. his lyricism in particular is -- i can't even describe it. the mix with his voice, the sparseness of the instrumentation at time, the harmonies. i'm not a big stories guy but in this, yeah, the songwriting, the stories. i don't think there's another album like this one out there, really.

if you're feeling sinister (1998) - belle & sebastian. the first time i heard this album, i thought i had never heard an album so perfect. i love songs off of it but i nearly always listen to it whole. i love, love, love b&s's early sound (twee, if you will), and stuart murdoch's lyrics really, really shine. this is one of my favorite albums to listen to when i have a headache because it's lovely to just, focus on but not grating at all. i really love "judy and the dream of horses" and "get me away from here i'm dying". really, a beautiful work

rumours (1977) - fleetwood mac. i was sort of scrolling through some of my playlists trying to decide what to put on this list (it's a bit weighted towards stuff that's in rotation now) and i couldn't leave off fleetwood mac (in part to represent the huge part of my music taste that is like. classics 1965-1980). stevie nicks was one of my earlier music obsessions (the OG was the beatles). so many wonderful songs and riffs. i know this was left off the original 12-inch but "silver springs" is one of my favorite songs forever and ever and ever...

nebraska (1982) - bruce springsteen. when it comes down to it, this is my favorite springsteen album. i do think his 1975-1987 run of albums is pretty much perfect but nebraska is a masterpiece in a way that i find hard to express in words. there's a sense of sparseness and distance in this work (in part bc of how it was recorded) that i find so utterly compelling i can't even describe. "nebraska" - especially this 1984 live version - is a perfect song to me. perfect. i also like a lot of the stuff that went into inspiring this album (notably flannery o'connor) and well. where it fits into springsteen's narritivization of his own life (dude was in the dumps).

all killer, no filler (2001) - sum41. this pick is a little bit representative of the era of my life where i basically exclusively listened to pop punk but if songs of love and hate is an album that's perfectly drawn out, this is an album that's perfectly compressed. like, the title is correct. this album is fucking TIGHT. i used to listen to it at a job i hated to make the 30-min intervals go by. and it's got such classics...."fat lip"..."motivation..." of course, "in too deep." SO good.

what did you expect from the vaccines? (2011) - the vaccines. maybe this pick is a tiny bit cheesy but it is a perfect encapsulation of the era of alt rock it came from. which i love. i really like the vaccines, i think they're super fun and i did see them in concert finally and they totally lived up to that. "wetsuit" is again...one of my favorite songs of all time. "if you wanna" is a perpetual banger.

age of consent (1983) - new order. again, an album that deserves to be listened to whole, despite how good "age of consent" hits alone ever single time. sometimes i think i like another new order album more than this, but i don't. sumner's voice just out-of-tune ringing out over that sound, that new order sound, the bass, that post-punk club vibe. they're a band that don't sound like anyone else, and this is the album most indicative of that. wow, every time.

a few narrow misses

boxer (2007) - the national. i didn't get the national until one day i did. "slow show." my god. hello.

very (1993) - pet shop boys. it's too simple to say this is an album about gay love because it's so embedded in it's context but. this is an album with so much love. psb are brilliant.

the execution of all things (2002) - rilo kiley. jenny lewis CALL ME. also like. you know "a better son/daughter". there's more.

a thousand suns (2010) - linkin park. i used to listen to this at 6th grade cross-country practice. first band i ever got into on my own. idk.

this is not only my favorite albums but a pretty decent summation of the broad strokes my overall taste. thank you again for the tag!! i enjoyed doing this a lot :). idk who has done this/on what blogs so if u have PLEASEEEEE send it to me i want to see!! i tag @lfcrobbo @upthebrackets @girlfriendline @odegoob @amandaleveille @thelittlebirdthatkeptsomanywarm @kritischetheologie @bright-and-burning @a-corn-field if any of u want to but no presh!!!

[nialls-gorgeous-colors]

Shawn Mendes and Niall Horan Timeline

Year 2018

JAN 2018 NIALL’S ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWN’ PICTURE AND SHAWN’S PICTURE OF THEM AT THE AMAS ARE, RESPECTIVELY, THEIR MOST LIKED POSTS ON IG FOR 2017

Jan 25 2018 Shawn talks about The Collab on The Voice: We’re really good friends and I mean, we hang out all the time. And we’re always like, ‘we should write a song’ and then we’re planning on writing a song, and we just end up hanging out. Always. (He said something similar back in Nov before the AMAs.)

Mar 2018

Fans, uh:

Mar 25 Shawn talks The Collab on The Weekend Countdown: My favorite thing about Niall is his sense of humor. He has this hilarious, Irish sense of humor that really cracks me up… How soon until there’s a collab? I have no idea. He’s always on tour when I’m writing, and he’s always writing when I’m on tour. So, one day. Hopefully.

MAY 2018

May 13 Shawn talks about performing at the O2: I mean performing the O2 was obviously just a complete dream of mine –and lucky enough to be able to do 2 nights there. A lot of people who I really love came and saw the show. Niall Horan, who’s a good friend of mine, came and watched me, and that was you know, a very special moment to me.

May 17 Shawn asks the audience at his Apple Music show to send Niall well wishes: Everybody watching online, if you could just tweet at Niall ‘feel better’ that would be really sweet.

Apple does, Niall replies:

May 24 Shawn talking about his most liked IG pic: This next photo is one of my favorite photos. Not because I’m sitting with Niall, because in the background, my A&R from Island Records, Ziggy, is there and he just looks so blow away by something and I have no idea… Also, the girl in between is making a hilarious face. That’s an awesome photo. I think this is like my most liked photo on Instagram, actually.

MAY 27 THE BIGGEST WEEKEND

Shawn and Niall do an interview together for BBC – FINALLY.

Transcribed in full here. Highlights include (via DailyNiall):

Bonus: we know, Nick

JUNE 2018

Jun 4 Niall does an interview with Fitzy & Wippa:

Sarah: Hey Niall, over the weekend… I was watching this thing on Instagram, and it was you and Shawn Mendes. Are you two just a little bit into each other? It was coming across as that you’re kind of obsessed.

Niall: Definitely not. They kept asking us questions that would make us answer it like that. Kind of like with [unintelligible], everyone thinks they’ve got a thing going on. Nah, we’re good mates. Just sat us down and interviewed us.

Sarah: I did hear you say that he plays you demos of his music before he takes it public. Was that true, or was that a lie?

Niall: No, that’s true, yeah. What’s wrong with that?

Sarah: Nothing! I just thought it’s amazing. We’re such big Shawn Mendes fans here. It was nice to see.

Interviewer: And are you brutally honest with him? If there’s a song you don’t like, or you think he could change? Do you tell him, or are you always like ‘mate, dude, this is amazing’?

Niall: Well, he’s on a bit of a roll at the minute. There’s nothing really…

Interviewer: He’s a very talented man. Have you ever thought of doing a song with Shawn? Have you guys actually put lyrics together, or music together?

Niall: No, we haven’t. We get asked about it a lot, to be fair… It’s kind of like –when we’re in the same place at the same time. Like, the other day we were in LA and a group – me and him and a group of our mates, we went to watch a U2 gig. We didn’t like – when we’re together, when we’re in the same city we don’t like sit in the studio together. Which we probably should get around to, but for the most part we just hang out together, to be honest.

Jun 7 Niall talks about Shawn during soundcheck:

and during #AskLateLateShawn: “if you had to create a boy band, who would you pick to be in it with you?” James and Shawn pick Jimi Hendrix, Harry Styles, Niall, and Elvis.

AUGUST 2018

Aug 20 At the VMAs Shawn is asked: What do you think about Niall Horan and Hailee?

Shawn: Niall and Hailee? They’re two of my favorite people in the whole world. Niall is one of my greatest friends. Hailee is one of the first people – you know, when she first started out, I was one of the first people she worked with in music. And I love them both. I thought this was common knowledge? I guess it was common knowledge for me, I’m close friends with them both.

NOVEMBER 2018

Nov 12 Shawn’s voice can be heard in the background of Niall’s InstaStory

NOV 17 SHAWN POSTS PICTURES OF HIM AND NIALL AT 40LOVE TO SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, AND INSTASTORY: PICTURE, VIDEO (PUT THAT TONGUE AWAY HORAN)

DECEMBER 2018

Dec 4 Shawn talks about Niall during an interview with ET Canada.

Interviewer: You recently posted a photo with Niall Horan. And everytime you guys post a photo, fans are like ‘oh they must we working together.’

Shawn: We’re not. Not yet. We will though. You know what, we started really seriously talking about it that night. 100 percent going to happen. Niall and I talk about this pretty much every time we see each other. The truth is that we’re just really, really good friends and we always really enjoy just hanging out. And sometimes you don’t get a lot of time to hang out, so that’s what we want to do, but we’ll get in.

Dec 7 Niall tweets Shawn about his Grammy nom

Dec 8 Shawn talks with B96 about his Grammy nominations. When told to choose between charcoal, a karaoke machine, and a Bentley for Camilla, Niall (“we chose Niall for you…”) and Taylor, Shawn says: Niall’s getting the charcoal – 100 percent, immediately… Niall definitely gets the charcoal. That’s what’s most important here.

Int: I love it, that was so easy.

Shawn: Oh yeah, no, two bags of charcoal.

Int: Why was that so easy for you to say?

Shawn: It’s what he deserves! No I’m kidding. I really am kidding. I love Niall. He actually tweeted out the nicest thing he’s ever said to me ever about the Grammys, he’s just like really proud of me and tweeted it out. Yeah, he’s a good friend of mine, that’s why I’m bugging him.

Dec 14

[xxoxobree]

Hii I wanna request a match up !!

PRESONALITY: I’m a introvert, but if I’m around people I’m close with , I’m more extroverted, I’m really sarcastic when it comes to anything , I really don’t like going out , especially when it’s around a lot of people I don’t know, I spend most of my time in my room , I’m really kind and determined even though I procrastinate a LOT. And I’m really caring for my friends.

LOOKS: I don’t really have a “style” because I like a little bit of everything, but I’m really inlove with streetwear and the “earthy “ style ( I forgot the name) because it brings out my skin tone , I really love 90’s inspired makeup and clothing style, along with the fly girl aesthetic too.

LIKES: baking, cooking, gaming, reading, drawing, (or any type of art) doing hair , shopping, doing makeup, rainy days / nights , and rotting in my bed all day.

DISLIKES: bullying, public speaking( and places), school,secret animosity between friends, loud noises, loud people, people , people who fetishize poc, and racism, etc.

HOBBIES: I said most of my hobbies in the like section.

MUSIC TASTE: a little bit of rap, r&b, 80’s-90’s slow jams , 90’s Japanese pop, indie, modern Japanese pop, and whatever genre you put “the smiths” music in.

I’m mostly nocturnal because I’m so busy in the day with school and housework, I do most of my reading at night while listening to music , and I’m usually helping out with cooking .

That’s all :3!!

Hey honey bunni 🥰🥰 btw I freaking love how you described yourself.

So immediately Inumaki and Miles 1610

Inumaki -

You’re a Fly Girl so it’s only right that you have a bf that matches your vibe and Inumaki 100% does , the flyest couple ever! I can see you two swapping clothes and putting together bomb ass fits. Pictures go crazy! I can definitely see him styling you too. Ugh I kinda wanna be you guys

He is in love with your earthy girl core, drools when you wear waist beads. And him being with you just compliments your style that much more.

Can’t say much words but don’t let that fool you he is sassy and will match your sarcasm with the tone of what he says. Will be more than happy to stay inside with you and do whatever he actually prefers it.

He is very kind and caring like you are and is the sweetest boyfriend ever, expect him to be clingy and random text about how much he loves you and cares for you, will give you things that remind him of you. You are his back ground picture, shows you off.

Will let you practice your makeup and hair on him loves it.

Understands your dislike of public speaking because of his technique.

Miles 1610 -

Matches your street style also, compliments all of your fits, makes you do a spin for him while he smiles like an idiot.

He’s not an introvert, but loves that you’re quiet, he can be the yapper while you be the listener, loves to talk to you.

Sometimes doesn’t catch you’re sarcasm and when you say you were being sarcastic, he blushes form embarrassment and says that he knew that, it’s super cute

He draws too so you two can show each other drawings and get inspiration from one another.

Miles is influenced by his uncle Aaron so he will rap all the Biggie and Rakim lyrics with you, it’s a vibe every time.

Will also let you practice your make up on him, he’d probably complain and ask a lot of questions tho

Will rot in bed with you once he’s next to you watching your favorite movies/shows with snacks

- I had so much fun with this one 😘

[madinscurianmermaid]

Ethel Cain - Preacher's Daughter Review and Commentary:

(trigger warning: discussions of religious cult abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, trafficking, torture, r*pe, murder and criminal c*****ism)

Ethel Cain's Preacher's Daughter is truly a work of art. Granted, I'd been playing "Family Tree" on repeat beforehand, but then I decided to listen to the entire album from start to finish and I'm glad at did. Everything about the album from its production, to the merging of different genres, to the lyricism and narrative storytelling, the southern gothic and midwestern gothic atmosphere and thematic overtones and Ethel's soulful and haunting vocals are all perfection.

Now onto the narrative storytelling and lore of the album: I was seriously very deeply emotional and misty eyed near the end of the album. Cause the life story of the main character Ethel's is genuinely disturbing and harrowing as it is heartbreaking and devastating...Ethel grew up an outcast in a small town, was raised in a twisted abusive cult, was r*ped and sexually assaulted by her disgusting sick preacher father who was supposed to be protecting her, which played a role in Ethel constantly falling into toxic relationships with abusive guys later in life, among one of those boyfriends named Logan that Ethel would lose when Logan was killed in a shoot-out with the police which caused Ethel to go on the run from the police. Then Ethel ran away from home and met Isaiah while hitchhiking to California and Isaiah seemed nice at first, but then Isaiah turned out to be a douchebag as he ended up getting Ethel hooked on heavy drugs such as heroin and started pimping her out/trafficking her as a prostitute while also subjecting her to domestic violence and beatings daily, culminating in everything escalating further in Isaiah exposing himself as a psychopath and his abusiveness towards Ethel intensifying into outright physical and sexual torture that Ethel endures as she's hallucinating while high, which in turn dredges up all of her old trauma based scars and wounds, and then ends tragically with Isaiah murdering and cannibalizing Ethel.

Ethel lived a sad tragic life and ended up dying a horrible, violent death. She deserved so much better 💔

I was still reeling from listening to Lingua Ignota's Caligula (itself an indescribably harrowing piece of art), then Ethel Cain's Preacher's Daughter took me through another roller coaster ride of a wave of various emotions. In terms of the album's gothic themes, it wholeheartedly fits. As disturbing and harrowing as it is, it fits the southern gothic tone and midwestern gothic tone throughout the lore--and frankly in my honest opinion, a lot of popular media that tries to lean into gothic themes have been playing it safe so Ethel came along and said, "Lemme show ya'll how it's really done!", and did exactly that. The track Ptolemea epitomizes this along with August Underground, and they're the most chilling, unsettling, horrifying and disturbing tracks on the album, and the final track Strangers along with Hard Times earlier on are the most heartbreaking, to where I found myself getting emotional.

Preacher's Daughter is a modern day southern gothic and midwestern gothic masterpiece. And like Caligula, I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

Top favorite songs: A House in Nebraska, Western Nights, Family Tree, Ptolemaea, Hard Times

P.S.: Also, it means a lot to me that Ethel's late diagnosed autistic and transgender, and talks about religious trauma and personal trauma throughout her music. I'm also late diagnosed autistic and neurodivergent and I deal with a ton of personal trauma and religious trauma though the main difference with me is that I was born intersex which I found out later in life and I'm an intersex woman/femme, and I'm of color. I'll probably explain more of my story in another post, but considering my own life story and my own mental health journey and journey of sitting at many levels of marginalized identities while being a believer in Christ, that makes Preacher's Daughter and Ethel's overall themes and story mean that much more to me.

[randomvarious]

Today's compilation:

The Best of 50s Jumpin' Jive 1986 Rock & Roll / Doo Wop / R&B

Not nearly as adventurous as The Best of 50s Jukebox Rock comp from this Priority Records series that I listened to yesterday, but still plenty of golden oldies here to enjoy for sure. With rock & roll's emergence in the mid-50s, popular music as a whole had found itself at a critical turning point, and this comp seems to capture the moment pretty well as the genre's inherent uptempo liveliness sometimes found common overlap with both doo wop and R&B. Plus, there was a point in the early days of rock & roll in which the sax was used a whole lot more prominently than the guitar too, and a song like Billy Bland's "Let the Little Girl Dance," which was actually released in early 1960, and is also probably this comp's most obscure selection as well, serves as just one prime example, with its own sweet sax solo at around the midpoint.

Pretty standard-issue 50s comp otherwise, though. Two great Little Richard songs, probably my all-time favorite 50s hit in Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee," Bobby Day's terrific "Rockin' Robin," and a pair of tunes that utilize one of my favorite sounds to come out of the 50s too—the Bo Diddley beat—which is used on The Johnny Otis Show's "Willie and the Hand Jive" as well as Dee Clark's "Hey Little Girl." Never mind the uncomfortable facts that Johnny Otis was actually a non-black guy of Greek heritage who openly lived and presented as a black man, or that "Hey Little Girl" is about lusting after a high schooler 😶‍🌫️; Bo Diddley's unique approach to creating his own brand of rock & roll with an eponymously raw and signature rhythm is the thing to pay attention to and marvel at here—not the controversially strange lives that the people who've used it might've led or the gross lyrics that've been paired with it.

Anyway, if you want something that does a better job of providing less remembered high-quality 50s hits, Priority's Best of Jukebox Rock is a better offering, but if you want more of a cheat code surface-scratching thing that satisfies easily because almost everything on it is both fantastic and well-known, you should give this a listen instead. Lots of essential classics here to satiate an oldies craving or to get a good oldies 101 experience 👍.

Highlights:

Little Richard - "Lucille" Chuck Berry - "Rock and Roll Music" Johnny Otis Show - "Willie and the Hand Jive" Billy Bland - "Let the Little Girl Dance" Lloyd Price - "Stagger Lee" Silhouettes - "Get a Job" Dee Clark - "Hey Little Girl" Bobby Day - "Rockin' Robin" Wilbert Harrison - "Kansas City" El Dorados - "At My Front Door" Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns - "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" Little Richard - "Long Tall Sally"

[boypussydilf]

for the letters ask meme M O and U. for fun. mou <- said like a cat with a silly voice

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGHHHH CATBOY BLAAAAST *a ray of bright light disintegrates me into ash* *when it clears i have turned into a little cat*

m - name a character you’d like to have for a friend

So many…………. so many…….. i w GASP. I WANT TO HANG OUT WITH FINN MERTENS AND KOYUKI AZUMAYA AT THE SAME TIME. They would put me into life threatening dangerous situations but it would be okay because they can protect me from anything. they are trying to teach me self defense and it is NOT working i have poor reaction time and no muscles. we are also going clothes shopping and getting food. it would be great. genuinely i need to go think about what would happen if finn and koyuki got to hang out now they have. similar experiences. what if you were raised to Go Out And Fight ever since you were a little kid and also you were in some way fundamentally estranged from the common human experience. but also you were just so funny and silly and charming. anyway they’re my friends :)

o - pick a song at random. what character/ship does it remind you of

Alright playlist of nearly one thousand songs let’s see what shuffle brings me. Hmm. Shuffle brought me remains of the day from corpse bride which. Is. Much too specific. What that song reminds me of is corpse bride. Let’s try something else. OH. PORTUGAL - WALK THE MOON WHICH ISNT 100% LYRICALLY APPLICABLE BUT IT ALWAYS MAKES ME THINK OF A REALLY GOOD GRAVITY FALLS AMV I SAW SET TO IT… gives me psychic images of mabel & dipper. Ok let’s get one more song just for fun. oh i got fucking land of the dead by voltaire. isnt that the billy & mandy theme song. or whatever that show is called. anyway i only know that song exists because of my friend Darwin from Tumblr Ask Blog The Reckoning so. you guys heard of the reckoning? it’s good.

u - 3 favorite characters from 3 different fandoms and why they’re your favorites

i wonder if i can come up with all characters who r my favorites for anything other than Kin Reasons. because most of the time, it is Kin Reasons.

sgt frog: dororo. because ever since i was young i have been easily bewitched by sad pathetic loser men.

psychonauts: loboto- ok so like i didnt get the loboto hype at first when i watched the first psychonauts game i was like yeah hes… fine… i guess? hes barely fucking in that though? why do people care? and then iwatched rhombus of ruin and i. i am not immune to the Guy With A Sad Backstory effect. maybe iwould not call him my favorite psychonauts character if i had seen psychonauts more recently and had actually. Seen The Other Characters recently,. but in the period of time ive gone without directly looking at psychonauts at all my emotional response to caligosto loboto has grown exponentially, i am bewitched by his freak tendencies. God damnit i already said bewitched already. Oh well. You know what? Fine,. Let’s make it a running theme. Let’s go for a third

adventure time: BETTY. YOU GUYS KNOW WHY THE FUCK THE GUY WHO PUT SIMON AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST OF NAMES THE SECOND THE F&C TRAILER DROPPED LOVES BETTY GROF. But I would be obsessed with her either way, because ever since I was young i have been easily bewitched by chaotic unhinged in-need-of-professional-help women.

takes a bow. Thank you for coming everybody

[gerogerigaogaigar]

Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Oh no! It's another one of my Favorite Albums Of All Time™. This is the best rock album of the 90's. Somehow blending ennui and deep longing into one contradictory emotion. Crooked Rain speaks to the contradictory feelings of growing up in a middle class suburb. The rebellion vs the comfort. The desire for something that you don't know what it is, but you need it so bad. It's an album about growing up, but it's great contradiction is that it brings me back to childhood every time I hear it. And that isn't nostalgia talking either, I didn't hear this album at all until I was out of high school. If you only listen to one album off the list so far make it this one.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

Deadpan irony delivered with dispassionate sincerity. It's hard to tell whether LCD Soundsystem is making fun of you for having feeling or if they're making fun of you for thinking that you don't. Are they genuinely mad about being mistaken for a European band or are they joking? Is the title track sympathetic or dismissive of teenage angst? Is party culture self destructive or triumphant? The lack of any real answers meld with the slow building and steady instrumentals to create a world where the answers are whatever conclusion you draw. Maybe things can be more than one thing.

Usher - Confessions

Ngl man if you gotta write two back to back songs apologizing for shit then she's probably in the right to leave your ass lol. This album is solid. I think it drags a little, but its not like it's top heavy or anything. I think I just get bored with sensitive R&B guys faster than others. The fact that the album's tone is to be unapologetically horny but also very apologetic at the same time is hilarious to me. I know it isn't deliberate camp but when Usher goes from I'm good at sex songs to please take me back songs it's like environmental storytelling for toxic dudes.

Los Lobos - How Will the Wolf Survive

I'll admit that a sorta folksy sorta rockabilly album from 84 is not an exciting prospect to me. It wasn't bad by any means, but it didn't rock my world either. Not a complete bust though since there is some nice accordion playing here and that always makes me happy.

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

The idea to wrap up the brattiest, meanest lyrics in Buddy Holly style rock n roll was one of the greatest masterstrokes of the 70s punk scene. Typically when an artist tries to emulate past styles, especially from the pre stereo era, they either emulate too perfectly and end up derivative or they fail entirely and wind up sounding sterile. Elvis Costello somehow avoids this entirely. The lo fi punk rock production compliments the 50s throwback aesthetics in a way that feels authentic to both styles.

The Four Tops - Reach Out

When I was a child my dad listened exclusively to an oldies station that didn't seem to realize that music existed outside of the years 1951-1968. Hits from the Motown records label were naturally staples of their lineup and the songs that always stood out to me happened to be by The Four Tops. I Can't Help Myself, Bernadette, Walking In The Shadows Of Love, and Reach Out I'll Be There wound up being some of the most foundational songs of my childhood. This album contains three of those four songs. The only real point of this anecdote is to explain how I'm not qualified to review anything by The Four Tops. Hell I even named myself after Levi Stubbs' character from Little Shop of Horrors. This isn't one of my favorite albums of all time, but it contains some of my most essential songs of all time.

Hüsker Dü - New Day Rising

Right in the middle of their discography and in the middle of their evolution from hardcore punk to alt rock pioneers. New Day Rising almost feels like it could have been an early emo influence. Buzzsaw guitars threaten to drown out helplessly shouted vocals. And far from the traditional punk aesthetic that prized political lyricism and outward facing aggression Bob Mould writes personal and introspective songs. Without a doubt this album, while not a turning point in and of itself, is still part of a large scale shift in what rock music would be going forward.

[mapof-mysoul]

K-POP ?

It's been a while, but here I am. I was under a lot of stress as I was getting a new job. I started this week and though i haven't done much besides training. I'm excited about the possibility. I have been writing and reading and existing. My mind seems clearer not without its usual hurricane  of thoughts but just enough for me to see out from where I stand in its eye. 

Enough for the constant ache to be dulled. Kinda like what KPOP does to me. 

Weird transition but okay. I'll talk about KPOP.

As I write this I'm listening to BTS and Lee Know from StrayKids is commenting on bubble. So my reason for getting into KPOP BTS and my reason for spiraling down its rabbit hole SKZ. I thought it was a small hyper fixation as most things are for me. But a year and a half later here we are multi stan and all.

I joined this world just as BTS was announcing its group hiatus. Which sucked but I think I was lucky also. I get to experience them all for the grammys together and I get to learn them though their own individual music and schedules. I get to see them each for who they are as artists outside of BTS global phenomenon. I get to go back and see their struggles and growth knowing how it will all turn out.

I do however miss those who have enlisted and i'll miss those who still have to enlist. But thanks to BTS I have 5 individual artists I love and soon that will be 7 once JK and V  release their solos.

Thanks to them opening the door I found SKZ, which includes 8 chaotic guys whose music, energy and personalities also make me feel. 

When your mind is a mess to be pulled out of that is as close to euphoric as it gets. 

Yes there are other groups I enjoy. But these particular two make me feel seen, heard and understood. Yes they speak a language I'm struggling to learn but that's the thing they have opened me up to a culture and side of the world i never would have otherwise thought of learning about. Food, culture, language, customs and history are only a few of the things I've allowed myself to start learning. I want to understand them fully. 

The effort it takes is worth it. When you learn the meaning behind lyrics or remarks they make. Whether it's Love Yourself or Youtiful, I am grateful for the feelings behind these songs. I am grateful that I can know this world of BTS and SKZ and get immersed in so much more than their beauty. I mean yeah it's great to look at them, collect photo cards, albums or place posters on my wall. But when I look at those things I remember their words of kindness. 

I remember JK talking about how he missed us. Or Bang Chan seeing us weekly for Channies room. Things they don't have to do. Eat Jin or Asmr with Felix. Jimin and his little building lives or I.N drinking way too many energy drinks. They chose us as much as we chose them. Taehyung and Lee Know taking time to answer comments on their respective platforms. Namjoon's song recommendations on IG or Yoongi telling us the meanings of his songs regardless of how painful it must be for him to relive it. Hyunjin and Jhope dancing across my screen. Or Changbins laughter. Seungmins sacrasm and jokes and Hans' vulnerability.

These mens gentle masculinity is what has led most of us to feel closer to them then other western artists.

I love western music, from pop to rock, classic, jazz and indie but there is also rap and hip hop R & B on my playlist. As a latina i listen to bachata and ballads, reggaeton or merengue and salsa. My playlist has at least 11 languages on it. 

Can you tell I love music?

As a writer, feeling and hearing an emotion can fill me with it. I dont have to know the language, take one of my favorite songs by BTS' Min Yoongi or in this case his alias Agust D, The Last. 

The first time i heard it i cried, no lyrical reference not in either language i know. Just me feeling exhausted from the pain inside myself. Unable to cry at that point. Maybe it was the angsty pain in his voice but I knew I felt it too. I cried. Silent tears covering my cheeks. I was not alone. When I looked up the lyrics I sobbed again, because my soul understood before my mind could. He himself says music doesn't have a language. 

When I had the opportunity to see him in concert I jumped. Because he is my bias after all. I cried twice, once during Amygdala, because I knew exactly what he meant. Our traumas looked different but their effects were the same. I cried again during Snooze as he repeated over and over and over how "everything was going to be okay". As he reminded me to lean on him to take a break, and then when i'm ready pursue my dream once again. It felt good to hear it in person. But I didn't cry during The Last like I thought I would. Instead I smiled because that was a song that connected him and I and millions of people around the world. 

I wasn't an emotional mess the entire time. Instead I screamed in anger during Burn It, a song that gave way to that kind of behavior as well as a lot of his others. But hearing him pause to say hey “from now on i'll write with less anger”. Reminded me of my own writing journey. Of how I too have written angry and dark and pained. But like him I too have begun to step out of that. When im asked why Min Yoongi, its because he spoke to a part of me i thought would never heal and he was there when when it started to. Im not saying he saved me but it really fucking helped to hear someone, like him say "yeah same".

It wasn't just him, my SKZ bias Bang Chan. Might not have done one of his weekly check in in a while but he is also much like me. He fights for those he loves endlessly, forgetting himself in the process. Working until he pushes too far. Wanting to be better, do better, be the best and continually climb that perfectionist ladder.

I've heard him give advice about living and taking care of yourself. I've also heard him say he values respect amongst all things. He has many times spoken to his Stays about leaving the haters alone. He almost said he liked people who didnt give a fuck. But stopped himself saying people who don't care instead. He has talked about periods and sex education calling it explicit education. A Stay asked “what will i do without you?” his response they should live, “live life to the fullest.” He even says that no matter who you are, what you want to be, he will be there for you. As a leader he is both beyond honest and careful, also hopeful that�� overly enthusiastic Stays don't take things out of context or too far. He trusts his fandom. 

So when i say i listen to kpop. This is it. I watch endless content from many groups that catch my attention. Often I laugh until my stomach hurts and oftentimes I cry. I Read books they recommend, learn a language and culture and customs and history. So yes kpop sounds toxic or intense but to me it's safe in a world that often does not provide that. 

A world where my own mind is my biggest enemy. This is where I can both find myself while I lose myself. Disconnect from my own life and become immersed in another one. So ill keep reading subtitles and translations while i learn korean. But i'll also learn about their history and customs. 

Bowing, instead of the western greeting of hugs or Spanish cheek kisses I grew up with, is probably my favorite. I've never been a touching random strangers person. But in Dominican Republic that's what you do. I also love art now too. That's thanks to RM, the leader of BTS, who is an art collector and Hyunjin of SKZ who paints masterpieces to destress. I eat plenty of Korean food and visit HMart too much. But i've never been a picky eater. I'll try anything twice. 

So yeah this was all because of K-POP but I'm lucky I found them when I did because things have only gotten better since.

[thisaintascenereviews]

Breland - Project 2024 EP

Over the last few years, country music has evolved, and I mean that in a great way. Instead of the same tired cliches, as well as the same types of people making country music (usually white straight guys), a lot of diverse kinds of people are making country music and doing something new with it. One of my favorite artists that have gotten popular in the last five years or so, and who was ahead of this new wave of country that mixes all types of music is Breland. Real name Daniel Breland, he goes by his last name, and I first got acquainted with his music in 2020 when his self-titled debut EP came out, as well as when “My Truck” went viral for a little while.

That song got the ire of the country music scene, because it was this hip-hop and trap influenced song that almost made a mockery of the genre, but the way I look at the song is that it’s a satire of the genre. It’s a satire of the cliches of the genre, namely how a lot of artists only care about a few things, one of which being their trucks. The rest of the EP is actually quite good, despite not being lyrically adept, but the songs are catchy and a lot of fun. It was a glimpse into his vision, anyway, especially when 2022’s clearly named Cross Country came out, and it was a fully realized version of what he was trying to do.

The lyrics were a lot better, at least for the most part, but Breland’s voice was much improved (although he sounded good on his debut EP), and the sound was a great mix between straightforward pop-country and songs with different accents and ideas. He mainly took R&B and hip-hop, but it was a really solid record. I’m shocked he wasn’t on Beyoncé’s latest album, because he would have fit right in, but I’ve been eagerly awaiting a follow up. He did drop a deluxe edition of that album with some new songs, and they’re not half bad, but he also dropped a new song earlier this year that’s basically a Lil Wayne interpolation, but it’s really cool.

We finally got a new protect, albeit an EP, called Project 2024. It’s got nothing to do with the infamous Project 2025, thankfully, as Breland said he wrote this when he took a trip down to Selma to help with his writing and to learn some family history, so this is the project that came from it. The resulting 15-minute is a good exercise of his work, and all of the facets that he has to his sound. You’ve got a song with a trap-based sound, as well as songs with country, gospel, and soul. The lyrics, as well as his voice, are a lot better this time around, especially because the songs are very personal, meaningful, and hard hitting.

Opening track “Grandmaman’em” is about how Breland wants to work as hard as his grandparents did, and how he wants to honor his family through his own art and creativity, and the closing track “Same Work” is all about how music can heal people, and it’s more important than people might realize. The song also features a wonderful performance from Michael Trotter of The War & Treaty, but the other few songs are solid as well. “Icing,” well, is the outlier of the bunch, because it’s just about how a woman he’s seeing is awesome, and having a lot of “cake” is just “icing.” It’s a clever play on the phrase “icing on the cake,” but it’s not the best song here.

If anything, this EP is a good sampler of what we’ll get sooner or later if we get a new album. Maybe in 2025 we’ll get a new record from him, but Breland is one my favorite rising stars in country. He isn’t one of those artists that has a more old school sound, like Tyler Childers or Colter Wall, but he brings country music forward. Beyoncé really opened the flood gates for artists, especially Black artists, to put their own spin on the genre, so Breland can only get bigger from here. His sound is a lot of fun, as well as introspective and interesting, so I’m excited to hear more from him, especially a new album. This EP is a good sampler of sorts in the meantime.

[anotherblogaboutguys]

Almost A Hit Flashback: 80s Edition

As most music fans know, songs that reached the Top 40 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart were considered to be hits and tended to get all the glory...although even some of them became known as forgotten hits. With this new weekly feature, I want to show some love to the great songs that didn't make it into the Top 40. Maybe they performed well on another genre-specific chart but didn't make it to the Top 40 on the Hot 100 or onto the Hot 100 at all. For now, I'm going to start with the 80s because there are a plethora of songs for me to choose from that I absolutely love.

Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (1982)

Formed in New York in 1980 by DJ Michael Cleveland and joined by singers Réjane Magloire and Rose Marie Ramsey, Indeep had a small handful of songs appear on the U.S. Dance and R&B charts in the early 80s until they broke up in 1987. But their biggest hit was the first, 1982's "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life." Its lyrics are fun and flirty and tell the tale of a woman who is considering dumping her guy because she's bored, but upon hearing a hot song on the radio, she's suddenly entertained to the point that she no longer wants to cut him loose...maybe? I don't know for sure. But what I do know that this is hands down one of my favorite R&B songs of the 80s. Maybe it's because it sounds too much like a Disco song at a time where the genre was long out of fashion in the U.S., but it's an absolute crime that it didn't make it onto the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. It DID however, get to #2 on the Dance chart and #10 on the R&B chart. Not to be left out, it reached the Top 10 in nearly a dozen countries internationally. This one is such a fun listen and still gets me moving even now.

[theotherboywhonevergrewup]

My Top Songs of 2022

So this is over a year late. I did my top songs of 2023 recently and remembered I never did my top songs of 2022. To be honest I was not in a great place at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. But now that I am at a much better place, it was fun to look back at 2022 and reminisce on the songs that got me through that.

Usual disclaimer that these are not necessarily the 10 best songs of the year musically or even my 10 favorite songs of the year. They're simply the songs that defined my year of 2022 the most.

First, the honorable mentions. As a K-pop fan and a fan of SM artists, GOT the beat and "Step Back" was a dream come true for a dream I didn't even know I had. I never imagined that BoA, Taeyeon, Seulgi, and Wendy would all be on the same song, yet 2022 delivered. In 2022, I was definitely in my feelings already as you'll see, but songs like "i feel everything" by Amelia Moore and "In The Stars" by Benson Boone were definitely on repeat. Lastly, who could escape "Nonsense" by Sabrina Carpenter and all her outros? With that said, let's jump into the list!

10. "Hold My Hand" by Lady Gaga

Top Gun: Maverick took 2022 by storm, and while I didn't watch it in its entirety that year, its impact was huge and so was its leading single "Hold My Hand." I am a sucker for songs that take me somewhere, and just like the movie, this song takes its listeners on a flight. A power ballad filled with synths and powerful drums, it's the perfect match for a sequel to an iconic 80s movie, and Lady Gaga's voice is soaring by the end. Both Top Gun movies embrace their themes of bonds being stronger than fear and even death, and Lady Gaga's song accompanies this theme with touching lyrics about overcoming adversity together, hand in hand. Ironically, I watched this film at a house party, feeling very alone because I was surrounded by people I could not trust. I definitely have teared up to this song a few times and attempted to belt this song in the care more than a few times. As with most movie singles, the accompanying music video mostly has clips from the movie, with shots of Lady Gaga in settings thematically related to Top Gun, giving the same uplifting feel as the film itself.

9. "Cardboard Box" by FLO

Anyone who knows my music taste knows that I am a sucker for (1) R&B and (2) girl groups. They don't necessarily have to be both, but when it's both and it's done right, then I'm here for it. Debut single "Cardboard Box" was a great introduction for the British girl group FLO. The simplicity of the midtempo but poppy beat, smooth verse melody and catchy chorus melody, lyrics reminiscent of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," and the 90s-inspired music video had the group looking effortless. The girls followed up with EP The Lead which continued the trend of 90s-inspired R&B hits, many of which were produced by MNEK. I'm glad the girls also had a successful year in 2023, and I hope they and other girl groups continue to shine with their unique contributions to the music industry.

8. "MANIAC" by Stray Kids

Stray Kids has been a regular on my playlists for some time with notable hits like "District 9," "Side Effects," "God's Menu," and "Thunderous." They have never managed to make my top 10's though, until now. "MANIAC" feels like the kind of song where they have worked to understand their chemistry and perfect their craft. One thing I like about groups like Stray Kids is that different kinds of people are coming together, each bringing something different to the table. Stray Kids in particular has a lot of different guys with different distinct voices and talents, and while I love when artists step out of the comfort zones, "MANIAC" is where each guy is doing what they do best. The vocalists deliver the simple yet addicting melodies, and Han and Changbin going in on the raps. Most notably, this song has the perfect use of Felix's deep voice right at the chorus which sets this song apart from other K-pop songs out there. As expected, the music video also delivers crazy high-energy visuals, switching back and forth from fits and settings that are bright and colorful to ones that are sleek, black, and white, capturing the duality of poppy and cool that are expected of the K-pop artists nowadays. The corresponding album Oddinary showcases the group's diversity and different textures, with some songs that are a bit more experimental and others that fans of K-pop hip hop, pop, and ballads would love.

7. "FIRE" by EXID

When all five members of my favorite K-pop group terminated their contracts with their record label, I thought the group was over, pretty much consistent with the "7-year curse" common to K-pop groups. So imagine my surprise and delight when the came back with one more banger! While "FIRE" doesn't entirely live up to previous smash hits like "Up & Down," "DDD," and "I Love You," it still delivers a creative, unique beat that gets people on the dancefloor in a way that only EXID could do. With K-pop's arguably best female rapper, vocalist, and visual, EXID is able to to deliver both sweet and spicy vocal textures. The accompanying music video gives hot visuals in both senses of the word, with a jail and cowboy setting (not sure why the cowboy part? but it's cool lol). Their final EP X only has two more songs, the R&B inspired "IDK (I DON'T KNOW)" and their more traditional pop thank you note to their fans, "LEGGO." If we don't ever get more group releases from them, I am thankful for this pleasant surprise and hope to see solo releases from them in the future.

6. "Yours" by Conan Gray

Now we're getting into the sad songs. "Yours" is a beautiful ballad, starting very simple with just a piano as Gray's voice comes in soft. As the song progresses, the narrator's thoughts build in realization of his one-sided love, the melody matching the buildup, the climax being Gray's soaring vocals in the chorus. This soft to powerful buildup happens again with the second verse and chorus, now with bass added, finally escalating to the outro complete with background vocals and drums, ending with the softest "Just to not be yours" barely escaping Gray's mouth. The music video has Gray singing alone in a flower field (what a fit by the way), and when the outro hits, he's in the dark alone, running. Altogether, it's a heartbreaking piece that I found relatable as I found myself in a one-sided relationship. "Yours" made its way onto Gray's much anticipated sophomore album Superache which is full of similarly heartbreaking songs, both previous hits like "People Watching," "Jigsaw," and "Memories," as well as B-sides like "Movies," "Footnote," and "The Exit." 2022 was Conan Gray's year, and I suspect he'll be conquering 2024 as well.

5. "Unsung Hero" by for KING & COUNTRY

In 2022, my parents moved out of state and finally retired. My mom was still struggling with some health issues, and thankfully she's even stronger now. Then and now I continue to see how they have aged and continue to see how they loved me and sacrificed so much for me and how much I reflect them and want to continue their positive legacies. As a January release, this song was on my playlist from essentially the beginning of the year, but it was several months later that this song caught me off guard and randomly had me bawling. The duo did such a great job creating a heartfelt tribute to their parents and capturing what it feels like to recognize their love and accomplishments and also carry that weight into your own life. Accompanied primarily by strings and piano, the Smallbone brothers' simple vocal melody starts with second-person narration of their parents, gradually transitioning to first-person, hopeful to be strong and loving like their parents. The music video is an exact match of expectations too, with the brothers sitting in a movie theater watching home videos. I don't often have Christian artists and songs on these top 10 lists, often because the lyrics or music don't match my music taste, often either lyrically cheesy or musically predictable, but for KING & COUNTRY's album What Are We Waiting For avoid these pitfalls for the most part with fantastic featured artists as well (including an old friend!), especially with standouts like "RELATE" and "TOGETHER." Overall, "Unsung Hero" has me so thankful for my parents, and I also pray that I can be strong and loving like my dad and mom.

4. "neverletyougo" by ROLE MODEL

ROLE MODEL has a way of making songs feel intimate by sticking with simplicity, and "neverletyougo" is such a great example of that. It's a simple beat, and only the hook has singing, heavy with vocal effects. The singer primarily raps in this song. Ultimately it's a love song, reinforced by the matchingly simple music video of him serenading a girl on the street, but both the video and the song feel melancholic. The metaphor here may be that the intimate bond between them can last through the ordinary and the winters that life has to offer. This song resonated with me in 2022 because at the time I was also feeling that I could never let my relationship go, an optimistic perspective during what I thought would be a temporarily gloomy period. I loved ROLE MODEL's 2022 debut album Rx, as it showed his diversity in styles. In fact, none of the songs on there had a rap style like "neverletyougo," but both the upbeat happy songs and the slower emotional songs are both definitely worth a listen.

3. "I Lost Myself in Loving You" by Jamie Miller

While Jamie Miller managed to secure the top spot on both my 2021 and my 2023 top songs list, "I Lost Myself In Loving You" is potentially my favorite song by him. It is of course an emotional pop ballad as Miller's expertise is, starting with the classic piano and soft vocals. The narrator seems to reach a realization at the chorus, where the vocals become strong and the piano starts playing powerful chords. By the end of the chorus, the drums have joined, and the guitar takes over as the primary accompaniment in the second chorus, Miller's vocals now sounding confident, assured of the assessment. The chorus repeats a few times, dipping into just piano and soft vocals in between and at the end, introducing a tender vulnerability, but ultimately there is beauty in the narrator taking his strength back, finding his footing again, and remembering who he is. Looking back, it was such a red flag that I resonated with this song so much, feeling like I had to fight to keep many aspects of myself alive, a struggle to stay in tune with who I was when there was someone close to me telling me they hate everything about me that I hate about myself, that I would be easier to love if I was someone else. The music video has Miller singing alone in the city, and while it's not a groundbreaking video by any means, it does get that feeling of isolation across but also feels hopeful for a truer future. I was so excited when Miller's debut EP Broken Memories was released, stacked with stellar vocal performances and emotional lyrics as expected from him. Cheers to Miller and staying true to yourself.

2. "in limbo" by Munn

"in limbo" was certainly the song that I resonated with the most in 2022. Every single line felt like something straight out of my mental diary. I am grateful that I found this song, because it was comforting to know my situation was not unique. Like many songs on this list, it starts with a simple and slow verse, but the chorus feels like a rush, suddenly cutting into a quiet and vulnerable "I'm six feet deep in limbo / I've gone the lowest that I've ever been for you." The music video captures the perceived change in pace, all shots of Munn trapped, but some in a calm state, some in a frenzied state. It concludes with Munn in a black void, a literal limbo. Munn did not release a full body of work in EP or album form in 2022, but he did release a number of other singles that also invoked powerful messages.

1. "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna

As an avid Rihanna fan, I have been (and am still) eager for more Rihanna music. As everyone knows, Rihanna is an absolute force; she had multiple hit singles each year every single year from 2006-2016 (with the exception of only one single in 2014). Her last single prior to "Lift Me Up" as a main artist was "Love On the Brain" in 2016. It's hard to believe that it has been so long since her last album, and since "Love On the Brain," we only saw features on "Lemon" by N.E.R.D. in 2017 and "Believe It" by PartyNextDoor in 2020. That makes "Lift Me Up" her first single as a main artist this decade and only the second overall. All that to say, there was (and continues to be) a lot of anticipation for more music from Rihanna, and "Lift Me Up" does not disappoint. A stripped down ballad both musically and lyrically over just strings, Rihanna showcases how much her vocals have grown over the years and how much her singing is still very much intact. It's a touching tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman who passed away in 2020. As the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever honors Boseman's character, "Lift Me Up" serves as the lead single to both grieve and uplift those who have suffered a loss. Reminiscent of previous songs on her discography such as "As Real as You and Me" and "Mother Mary," the raspiness in Rihanna's voice helps convey raw emotions. The music video is absolutely stunning, with Rihanna singing at a beach at night, eventually the sunrise piercing through the darkness, conveying hope in grief. As difficult my year was in 2022, there were so many things to be thankful for. Life is short, and those difficult times are only temporary. As the song says, "We need light, we need love."

[jwzyreviews]

Album Review: "S.O.S" BY SZA

It had been five years since the last time we received an album from one of, if not the leading, R&B girls, Solana “SZA” Rowe. After dropping her introspective and tear-jerking debut “CTRL” in 2017, fans around the world were waiting for another body of work from the singer. While she didn’t leave us completely in the dark, appearing on a number of singles in the meantime, including Maroon 5’s “What Lovers Do”, the soundtrack single for Black Panther  “All The Stars,”and the record-breaking smash collaboration “Kiss Me More” with fellow popstar, Doja Cat, we needed tracks completely devoted to SZA’s vocals and artistry. After numerous delays from her label, and countless teasing, the era started to pick up. After delivering us a stream of inconsistent singles, including “Good Days”, “Hit Different”, and the soundcloud track-turned-single “I Hate U,” the drought eventually ended with receiving the genre-bending and emotionally packed sophomore effort, “SOS”.

Sza is known for her relatable lyrics and unique vocalizations. Despite becoming a fan of hers later in the game than most, CTRL is one of my favorite albums, as are many other people. I was going through a tough time during the release of CTRL, dealing with a variety of similar emotions that were discussed on SZA’s debut album. Such as feelings of insecurity, developing self esteem, and reflection. I was also dealing with my first real “boyfriend”, or my first situationship. It was a hard time in my life, and CTRL definitely was a comfort album during those times. I was definitely looking forward to SOS once it was finally announced, and I love the singles that were leading up the release. “Hit Different”, despite being absent from the final tracklist, ended up being on my Spotify Wrapped in 2021. The smooth production from Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, combined with the melodic vocals from Ty$, was a hit in my personal playlist. “Good Days”, the official lead single, was a bit of a miss for me, nonetheless it proved to resonate with the masses, becoming SZA's first solo top ten hit and third overall on the Hot 100.”I Hate U”  was a BANGER, and my first few listens of the track brought me to tears. The lyrical content of the song hit home for me, reminding me of my feelings to my first love, especially when she sings a line from the chorus, “What I would do to make you feel just like this.” The things I would do for the guys who did me wrong to feel how they make me feel, hating them for making me feel so inadequate when I have done nothing but show them love. This song was such an emotional release, SZA’s pen was on fire when she wrote this track despite being classified as an “[soundcloud] experiment”. The way she is able to write out feelings that everyone can relate to is what makes her such a powerhouse, and I believe that it is because she writes from the heart, and from experience. 

My personal favorites from “SOS” are "Snooze”, “Blind” “Seek and Destroy”, and “Love Language”. Despite having an excess amount of songs on this record, SZA managed to put some real gems on this record. Her music palette definitely expanded on this album, with slow alt-pop track “Ghost in the Machine” featuring Phoebe Bridgers and pop-rock track, “F2F”. There is a song for everybody on this album. With CTRL, I feel like it was a bit more streamlined, and was more about the lyrics and the story. With “SOS” I feel like she was trying to go above and beyond with vocals and production. “Smokin on my Ex Pack” showcases her rapping skills and lets us know that she can ride a beat if needed while “Nobody Gets Me” lets us hear her voice on a true pop sound with some real nostalgic flair. The emotional spectrum of this record is way different from CTRL, as she is more liberated on this record. Yes, there are definitely songs that touch on the topics as mentioned above, this album really steps in the way of moving on, knowing your worth, and knowing that you’re still a bad bitch no matter how you’re feeling at a specific time. It’s truly an evolution, and an upgrade from the melancholy vibe of her previous record.

  All in All, SZA “SOS” is a classic in the making. Despite being a bit too long, I enjoyed most of the tracks, even the ones that did not make the cut. It blends new production and lyrics, while still keeping that nostalgic tone. Despite all the setbacks,, SZA is an artist that almost does no wrong because every song is from her heart, and who are we to judge that? She really snapped on this album, and if you haven’t checked it out, please!

Overall Score:

 7/10

[kwispayne]

The Top 10 Albums Of 2022

One of the hardest years for me. The quality of music released this year was a grace for the post Covid world. But I have been able to put together a pretty great list.

Also shoutout to the metal bands this year. This list is full of them and this has been a great year for that genre.

And as always, I didn’t hear every album this year, this is my person list and I counted anything released this year.

10. Wilderun – Epigone

Don't you just love it when you find a band that came from nowhere and becomes one of your favorites. That's what happened with these guys. When it comes to metal, I always glide towards the more interesting side and these guys present one of the most colorful palettes when it comes to the genre. Mostly this band keeps it on the more quiet and soft side, leading to an epic build up where vocalist Evan Berry goes from crooning to growls from another dimension. Lyrically the band are also coming from some other dimension as if taking the listener on a journey through some wormhole which ends up leaving them emotionally floored and changed in someway. Art needs to be shown and put back into metal and thankfully these guys do this very well. Although I think this album is only a taste of what's to come.

Genres: Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, Extreme Metal, Folk Metal, Symphonic Metal, Art Rock, Avant Garde Metal

Country of origin: USA

9. Soilwork – Övergivenheten

Soilwork have been a band that I've enjoyed but never really loved. I always knew that there was a side to them that was unexplored and it seems that since David Andersson joined the band they have been spreading their wings into more uncharted territory (their previous album Verkligheten had moments of this which made me peak my interest) and this album is the culmination of 20 years of them finding their sound and this is the best thing they've ever created. Musically heavy, catchy, aggressive and beautiful, finally the band have actually took advantage of Sven Karlsson's keyboard work which was usually always in the background is finally in the foreground creating a rich palette of colors. Vocalist Speed has given the performance of his career fully showing of how much range he has and that he is one of the most underlooked and best in the business. Lyrically the album deals with a range of dark topics, which sadly came to life when guitarist David Andersson sadly passed away. Overall this is one of the best metal albums of the year and is the greatest album these guys have ever made.

RIP David Andersson

Genres: Melodic Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal

Country of origin: Sweden

8. Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Ever since Damn, people have been dying to hear Lamar's opinion on what has happened in the world since then. And then when he finally released this album...he had nothing to say. One of the biggest left turns I've seen culturaly, Lamar stripped it back and made an introspective look at himself, his faults, his flaws, what he's done wrong in his life and how it affected him and the people within his cultural sphere. This is not an easy listen lyrically, but it's something that had to be  sayed, and only a true genius like Lamar could have presented this so truthful and classy. I do prefer To Pimp A Butterfly, but this album is in a world of it's own. Musically quiet, not over flashy, nuanced and the perfect backing to his lyrics. His flow is un matchable and it just proves that he is possibly the greatest rapper of all time.

Genres: Conscious Hip Hop, Progressive Rap, R&B, Hip Hop, Rap

Country of origin: US

7. Ibaraki – Rashomon

When it comes to Matt Heafy's musical output, it usually is interesting enough to like, brilliant or incredible cringe. But last year his band Trivium released In The Court Of The Dragon, which narrowly missed my end of year list. This project is something he has been teasing for a while and my first look at it was the track Ronin and I was blown away by the chorus where it had some of the greatest black metal rasps I've heard in a long time...and it turned out Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance was doing them. And the surprise of this song is very much why this album is so great, what sounds like it won't work does and it does at such a level you doubt any fears you previously had. Lyrically the album takes Heafy's interest in Japanese myths and presents them both beautifully and powerful. The guests he has on this album other than Way are obvious choices for this project, but having Ishahn & Nergal on the album are good collaborations rather than a forced badge of honor.

Genres: Extreme Metal, Black Metal, Progressive Metal, Oriental Metal, Metalcore

Country of origin: Japan & USA

6. Black Midi - Hellfire

Only a band like Black Midi can release 2 albums back to back within a year where not only do they bring their A game but more. While I do prefer Cavalcade overall is still a progression from it and overal something entirely different. Musically bonkers, the band prove that they are some of the best talent out there. Lyrically absurd and at times very funny, there is a fine line between ridicule and genius that these guys successfully are able to obtain. Although I think we are only getting a glimpse of the potential these guys have because their genius seems to have no bounds.

Genres: Progressive Rock, Hipster, Jazz Fusion, Avant Garde, Experimental Rock, Post Punk, Hard Rock

Country of origin: England

5. Everything Everything - Raw Data Feel

Big surprise these guys are on the list. 2 years ago one of the bands weaker albums made my list, so this shows you how much I love these guys, and the reason for it is because they are constantly doing something interesting. Musically poppier than their previous albums and more electronic than usual, it doesn't shy away from their talent. Lyrically odd, the album uses an AI to create some very odd lyrics and ideas. This could have been a disaster but it just proves these guys can do no wrong because these guys are one of if not the most interesting musical groups growing today. Can't wait to see them again in 2-3 years time on my list again. If not I'll eat my tin foil hat.

Genres: Art Rock, Indie Rock, Electronic, Pop, Hipster

Country of origin: England

4. D'Virgillio, Morse & Jennings – Troika

A supergroup combined of artists who aren't strangers to my top 10 lists, but this time they're making soft pop music. I'm a massive fan of all the projects these guys are involved with and the list of albums, projects or bands they are all in would be a list longer than this one. But the reason this is here is due to the execution. Prog rock and metal guys making pop music could go horribly wrong, but this just proves how brilliant each invidual is as a songwriter in their own right. Also I love harmonies, and the 3 vocalists (with a lot of attention on D'Virgillio & Jennings) have such a beautiful union together. I really hope this isn't the last of this project and it's not just a one off.

Genres: Soft Rock, Pop Rock, Progressive Rock, Acoustic, Hard Rock

Country of origin: USA & England

3. Willow - <Copingmechanism>

My list is never complete without a wild card. And my wild cards are usually odd, but never this odd. But that's because this is an experiment that never should have worked. It seems that the crossover from pop to rock may gain some attention but doesn't really artistically have much merit, take for example Machine Gun Kelly. But this is a different story. Being the daughter of one of the world's biggest actors, I was always interested in Willow's voice as she matured into a stand alone artist. While her mum's metal band was interesting enough but still kind of cringe, I never expected this foray to go well. So while her dad recovered from the outcome slap heard from across the world, Willow decided to go into a rock and metal world and it paid off...pretty fantastically may I said. I always love bands like Paramore and Marmozets and if one of them released this album it would be on their best. But the real highlight of the album is Willows voice. Not only is she a fantastic singer, but she goes into realms that you wouldn't expect the Whip My Hair girl to go into. If you want to completely avoid this for name alone, I would advise just to listen to any of the singles and I bet it will change your mind.

Genres: Pop Rock, Hard Rock, Post Hardcore, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal

Country of origin: USA

2. Jamie Lenman – The Atheist

He got album of the year for his last proper album so I was expecting big things as he is currently one of my favorite artists. With a title like The Atheist, I was expecting more snarl and fun...that's not the case. Most artists mature and this is one of those moments. Less screamy and more introspective, lyrically Lenman has matured into a brilliant lyricist that could match any singer songwriter. Musically more catchy and to the point, it's a lot less experimental than Devolver. Lenman also has really improved as a singer too, with a wide range of tones and moods offered throughout. While I do prefer the latter, this just proves that he is one of the best songwriters and solo artists in rock today.

Genres: Pop Rock, Hard Rock, Post Hardcore, Alternative Rock, Fist

Country of origin: England

1. Conjurer - Páthos

Their previous album Mire was loved by friends of mine. While I did enjoy it, I knew this was only a taste of what was to come. I didn't expect the band to release their masterpiece so soon. But this album absolutely floored me. Incredibly powerful and crushing musically, mood wise the album can go from the sickest twisted evilest sound to something so beautiful. Vocalists Dan Nightingale & Brady Deeprose present an incredible palate; from the deepest of growls, the harshest of shrieks, the painful cleans to introspective spoken word. When it comes to the riffs, they are heavier than blue whales smashing into planets. This album is a piece of art that is utterly horrifying, awful yet so beautiful and powerful that it almost can bring you to tears. I think this may be one of the best metal albums if not in the past few years but possibly of all time. If you are a fan of metal in the more extreme way, I plead you to listen to this and see if you get the same reaction. It's very rare a band of the extreme metal persuasion get into my top positions, so you really have to impress me to get to this stage. And I am beyond impressed.

Genres: Extreme Metal, Post Hardcore, Death Metal, Doom, Progressive Metal, Post Metal, Sludge

Country of origin: England