#new music monthly magazine

[musicmags]

[radioheadarchive]

Thom Yorke on the cover of CMJ New Music Monthly #90, February 2001

[losergender]

pjo / hoo headcanons i have collected since my hyperfix came back

ignore the huge amount of nico and will. six years after reading the series i'm still obsessed with them </3

nico helps cabin 11 steal candy from the infirmary because everyone knows will can't stay mad at him for longer than 5 minutes

the apollo kids gifted nico a bunch of mythomagic packages after learning he had burnt his collection so he could start a new one. he thought it would not be as exciting but turns out he really really missed collecting them from zero because he had gotten used to getting doubles all the time

on the same note, cabin 7 (and specially will) try to learn to play so he has someone to play with. will and him always exchange doubles and sometimes he sacrifices good cards for mid ones just so will doesn't have a mid deck

nico once got a double perseus card and gifted it to percy

the first times nico played his favorite music to hazel she was flabbergasted by the emo genre but didn't want to be mean so she smiled and said it was "very cute"

leo calls will "güerito"

connor stoll owns a nintendo switch that used to be his and travis' (mostly travis') until he accidentally almost destroyed it and it became only his (the screen has a sepia filter to it, one of the joysticks needs adhesive tape to stay in place, it works slowly and the screen has cracks on it). when he can't sleep (because who in camp half-blood can sleep properly?) he plays pokémon until he falls asleep. he is also a big fortnite and minecraft fan.

lou ellen knows how to do balloon modelling

nico once asked chiara about what has italy been doing the past century and she showed him winx club like it was the most important thing italians did (and it is)

percy and will love teen beach movie

austin lake takes it upon himself to show nico all the music he missed during the past decades + the reason cabin 7 learns nico doesn't know any song from after 1942 is that they invite him to play a letter association game and he opts out because of this (the game is forgotten right after because having him listen to the classics is more important). no one suspected he didn't listen to modern music because 99% of his clothes are band shirts he got from percy and thalia.

will was obsessed with hannah montana / miley cyrus as a child (the climb is his favorite song)

connor didn't go to college with travis because he doesn't know what to study yet but instead he spent the year getting his driver's license

each cabin gets a "call home" day every other few days (initiative promoted by the iris cabin)

children of tyche's fatal flaw is impostor syndrome because they are constantly afraid everything they have is undeserved and just a product of their godly heritage

will's favorite dessert is texan sheet cake , nico's is panna cotta

the aphrodite cabin didn't like that nico was the only one with a personalized camp shirt (they are so done with the color orange...) so they started an initiative to get every cabin personalizes shirts with a representative color voted by the head counselors and their cabins number.

the iris and hermes cabins got together to start a camp half-blood magazine released monthly for year-rounders. they do a gossip section about couples at camp (for which they "hired" a child of aphrodite as their correspondent), interviews to the seven or to popular campers, the athena cabin added a crossword section...

[honeytonedhottie]

HONEYS IT GIRL MAGAZINE february edition⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🎀

this is a new thing im doing on my blog that i think you'd all like very much called honeys magazine/catalog. basically like a monthly inside scoop on data that i've collected, things i've learned/started doing, and just general info like that organized in kind of a teen-magazine inspired fashion. a magazine for it girls ✨

i've had so much fun putting together the february catalog and i'd love to hear feedback of things that you'd like to see in the next edition. and now, please enjoy the it girl magazine ✨

FEBRUARY FASHION ;

february is full of silks and lace. feminine muted colors like beiges, whites, and pinks. this february i've rly been into tweed dresses. accessories that i've been loving this february include pearls, stockings, and ribbons.

a lot of the clothes that i've been eyeing are things that are more light in fabric and in color. such as cute camisoles with lace trim and i've rly been into the chic look this february as i've mentioned before.

when it comes to jewelry and accessories i always love to layer and be excessive and even though during february i've been obsessed with the chic look, i always add lots of accessories. if not something huge like bracelets or necklaces, i'll be excessive with rings or something smaller.

in general HYPERFEMININE and super cute and girly clothes have been my favorite thing in february especially cuz of valentines day. the theme is soft-wear. shimmery, sheer, and showered in flowers.

cute earrings (preferably the smaller ones) like studs, pearls, or cute spherical earrings

hair clips and barrettes

bangles

tweed dresses

pearl necklaces

remember those dress up games you may have used to play when u were little? when dressing this february, thats what inspired my february fashion. fluffy lashes, cutesy accessories and heels.

i read up a lot on CHANEL bcuz i think that her brand embodies the chic look perfectly and here are some fashion tips from coco chanel (this is my source)

look for the woman in the dress, if there is no woman then there is no dress - basically means dont let your clothes wear you

it is always better to be slightly underdressed - coco's understanding of chic was subtle glamor and lush fabrics

fashion changes but style endures - some clothes are timeless like a little black dress (aubrey hepburn) a quality handbag and a crisp white shirt

WHAT IM LISTENING TO LATELY ;

my favorite album of this month is kali uchis's orquídeas. i absolutely adore her music, energy and vibe. and the whole album is just MWAH. my favorite songs from the album are ;

te mata

igual que un ángel

perdiste

another album that i've been obsessed with this past month is the twicetagram album from twice. i just love the energy in the songs. my favorite songs from that album are LOOK AT ME and LOVELINE. and lastly, just songs that i've enjoyed listening to this february ;

yes, and? - ariana grande

never lose me - flo milli

wonderboy - GWSN

scenery - red velvet

angels in tibet - amaarae

FOR THE BLOG ;

since its going to be march and were kinda transitioning from the winter season -> spring, you can expect to see lots of spring related content from me. another thing that i rly wanna set up for my blog is membership if thats something that u guys'd be interested in.

and also after doing the valentines day challenge, i had so much fun with it and i kinda wanna do more challenges. so if i end up setting up membership i think services like those would be provided.

lastly, since im an advocate for not over consuming the law, i won't be answering inbox questions about the law so that then u guys can focus ENTIRELY on ur manifestations and not over complicate it bcuz the law is easy and you already know how to do it + if u have any general questions i've answered plenty of questions about the law in my blog ANYWAYS. the reason im doing this is so that then you can focus on your manifestations 🫶🏽 and i hope that you guys find it helpful.

HONEYS BEAUTY CORNER TOPIC - HYDRATION ;

when your skin is hydrated, you GLOW on such a deeper level and i absolutely love looking and feeling like a little dew drop so here's some hydration beauty tips

vasline is an occlusive, that simply means that the moisturizing ingredients that create a physical barrier on the skin to prevent transepidermal water loss and lock in hydration. after brushing ur lips to exfoliate, u can just go in and put some vaseline on ur lips and your lips will be HYDRATED.

using a body oil + a body lotion has taken my hydration game to new HEIGHTS. the key to this is to make sure the scents match or have similar notes at least, and moisturize DAMP skin so that then it can absorb better. walk around with a hand lotion, and lip moisturizer ALWAYS.

the key to a dewey makeup look is having a good base. its all about preparing the skin before u put the makeup on. use a good creamy moisturizer and use a glowy spf and then use a good primer.

FOR THE WELLNESS GIRLIES ;

hormone balancing tea blend that i tried and loved ; raspberry leaf tea with spearmint and dandelion root tea. i drink mine with honey a couple days before and during my period and my cramps have been so minimal and my hormones have been so balanced.

hydration ; to follow the trend of the beauty section lets talk hydration. the optimal amount of water to drink is 2.7 liters a day. if u wanna up your hydration game, use some liquid iv or another hydrating powder so that then u can get the most out of ur water. if u dont have anything like that, adding a pinch of salt into your water can also help to improve hydration.

frequencies and vibes ; i've been interested in frequencies lately, simply bcuz i think that they're so interesting. i'll go deeper into frequencies in the next section. but here are some frequencies to listen to for wellness ;

174 hz - reduces physical and energetic pain

285 hz - heals tissues and rejuvenates

432 hz - restores well being and releases emotional blockages

528 hz - love frequency, induces inner peace and repairs DNA

supplements that are geared towards beauty ; find a specific hair, skin and nails supplement or vitamin that includes a blend of powerful antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. some examples of this are ;

fish oil (omega 3 and fatty acids) helps to protect skin against inflammation

collagen (for skin hair and nails) promotes healthy dewy and glowing skin

turmeric (anti inflammatory effects)

PROBIOTICS

RANDOM THINGS I LEARNED ;

something thats caught my interest this month is sound healing. the power of sound is truly amazing, and i was curious specifically about frequencies. sound healing has been around for years by yogis for thousands of years. nowadays sound healing is practiced with something called sound baths.

a sound bath is a deeply relaxing experience where the listener lies down on a mat or blanket, with as many cushions or props as they need to feel comfortable, and is then ‘bathed’ in the sound vibrations. benefits of sound baths include ;

reduced stress, pain and anxiety

better sleep

lower blood pressure

fewer mood swings

balanced hormones

healing through sounds was practiced by ancient egyptians, greeks and chinese physicians, who also used sound healing in their practices to promote digestion, sleep, and emotional disturbances.

if learning a bit about sound healing interested you and you wanna learn a bit more about it, this is the source i used for this section.

FUN QUIZZES, VIDEO ESSAYS, RECIPES AND GAMES ;

valentines day aesthetic quiz - buzzfeed - i got daughter of aphrodite

consideration is the highest form of love - manifestelle - food for thought

good boyfriend quiz - seventeen

which romantic music type am i - buzzfeed - i got r&b enthusiast

valentines day cupcakes recipe ;

1 1/2 cup of flour

1 cup of butter milk

1/3 cups of oil

4 large eggs

mix it all together and add it into a lined cupcake tin, bake at 350° for 15 minutes. for the frosting...

1 cup of softened butter

6 cups of powdered sugar

1 tsp of strawberry extract

4 tbs of milk

CRUSH STORIES ;

SUBMISSION ONE : ANON : 💝

idk if this counts 😭 but my crush is an older guy (dw it's very legal) and he's so sweet, I manifested him liking me using your help!!! We're not together yet but he's been talking to me for literally hours a day, and just offered to buy me A NEW LAPTOP aaaah I'm crying. Ily honey your perfect

HBDSJHDJ YAYY. i wish u guys all the happiness and i hope u enjoy ur new laptop ✨

SUBMISSION TWO : ANON : 💝

technically not a crush but my ex boyfriend cheated on me (i broke up w him very quickly after) w my best friend and got her pregnant. he tried to make amends with me but I turned him down. i think i dodged a bullet there thank god 🫢

OH 💀. you def dodged a bullet, they went behind ur back and then got pregnant... 😭

thats all for this months catalog, there will be a new edition each month with new content and it'll be updated on a monthly basis so if thats something that interests you or if you like these kinds of posts pls let me know, till next month girlies✨

[bluelocksource]

Ego Jinpachi’s trivia (src: EGOIST BIBLE)

"You can't be the best striker in the world unless you're the world's most egotistical person."

☆ Character's color: White.

☆ Birthday: 31st March.

☆ Current age: 30.

☆ Zodiac: Aries.

☆ Current height: 189 cm.

☆ Foot size: 28.5cm.

☆ Blood type: AB.

☆ Hobby: Watching soccer, mainly European League.

☆ Favorite food: Cup yakisoba, cup noodle. "I banned them during my active days. These monster junk foods make you gain weight."

☆ Dislike/hated food: Protein. "There's no such thing as tasty protein."

☆ What goes best with rice: "Furikake made from crushed cup yakisoba."

☆ Favorite animal: Bell crickets. "Beautiful chirping sound but a bit gross in appearance."

☆ Favorite season: Other than summer. "You can't play soccer when it's too hot."

☆ Favorite manga: Magical☆Taruruuto-kun. "The work that fried my brain as a kid."

☆ Favorite movie: セッション (Session) "This is what chemical reaction is."

The original movie is called Whiplash (2014). In Japan, it released under the name セッション (Session).

☆ Favorite music: Nighttime background music of a babbling brook and the chirping of insects.

☆ Frequently read magazine: CHICHI (he's a subscriber).

It's a monthly magazine for learning about humanities.

☆ Favorite person: Hiromitsu Ochiai. "I think he's a rational genius."

☆ Favorite subject: P.E. and Psychology.

☆ Weak subject: Art. "I don't want to create art."

☆ Favorite place: Blue Lock Merchandise Sales Department. "They're selling a variety of items."

☆ Mushroom shoots vs Bamboo shoots: Mushroom shoots. "I feel a certain affinity with them."

☆ Ideal type: "Someone who does everything for me."

☆ Fixation: Physiognomy. "I find the faces of people who look hopeless to be irresistibly amusing."

☆ What would make him happy: Japan winning the World Cup.

☆ What would make him upset: "Someone taking football away from me."

☆ What he thinks his strength is: “I have no interest in anything other than soccer.”

☆ What he thinks his weakness is: “I have no interest in anything other than soccer.”

☆ What made him cry recently: “I haven't cried in a while.”

☆ Usual sleeping hour: 4 - 4 -2 (split sleeping style).

☆ Number of chocolates received from previous Valentine: 0 (it's futile).

☆ What he usually ends up buying from convenience store: Check out the new cup yakisoba and cup noodles.

☆ Place he washes first when taking a bath: Pouring hot water onto the crown of his head.

☆ What will he do if received 100 million yen: Strengthening Blue Lock facilities.

☆ How he spent his holiday: Thinking about how Japanese soccer can become the best in the world.

☆ What will he do during his last day on Earth: "Watching what I consider the best game of the Japan national soccer team. Currently, it's the 2005 Confederation Cup against Brazil."

note: i want to apologize in advance for any mistake made in the translation!

[homeofthelonelywriter]

Adventures of a Songbird | The Future is a Foreign Land

(A/N) Another part, this time reflecting my current obsession "The Future is a Foreign Land". I'm not well.

Pairing: Simon x fem!Reader (platonic for now)

Warning: my obsession with Ghost and this song, pls help

Synopsis: Let's just say you got your callsign for a reason.

Finally, the day you waited for every few months had arrived. As soon as your alarm went off, excitement filled your body. After all, you could spend half of the day training what you wanted, and after that, there would be a huge barbecue. No rules, no bossy Price yelling at you, no cardio, and most importantly, no party pooper Ghost and good food afterward. Heaven.

You popped in your earbuds, the new song of one of your favorite bands playing on loop, while you got ready for the day. All too soon, you were on your way to the mess hall to get breakfast and listen to the monthly speech about enjoying the day but keeping the training serious.

Once you sat down with the rest of the Taskforce, you pulled out your earbuds and joined in the conversation, quickly noticing that Ghost wasn’t there. To a questioning look from you, Johnny just shrugged before he continued to stuff his face with porridge. If you weren’t already used to that display, you’d be slightly disgusted.

“So, what did you guys choose for training today?”

Price looked from one member to the other. Johnny answered through a mouth full of goo, making you visibly cringe.

“Hand-to-hand combat. Excited tae shaw some recruits what’s business.”

You chuckled, Johnny was right after all. For some reason, hand-to-hand was a favorite amongst the recruits. You understood its importance, but you were happy if you could skip it for a day. Kyle was next to answer.

“I’m doing survival in the woods.”

Price, who had rolled his eyes at Johnny’s answer, nodded appreciatively at Kyle’s. Then he turned to you.

“Oh, uhm, I’m going to the shooting range. Spend some time on aim et cetera.”

A small smile spread on Price’s lips, but again he nodded, so you didn’t pay it any extra mind. Well, you really should have.

As soon as you were done with breakfast and the speech was over, you left the mess hall and made your way to the shooting range, your earbuds back in your ears, and the music flowing. You started to hum along, a smile on your lips. That smile only grew when you entered the building and saw that it was mostly empty. There were the two soldiers at the front who were responsible for general safety and handling the weapons. Besides those, there were only two other soldiers, both recruits. So, you checked out your favorite gun, as well as a few magazines, and went to the other end of the range.

You quickly got ready, putting on the earmuffs and taking the weapon apart to check if everything was okay before you put it back together and loaded it. Before taking on the stance, you turned up the music. Then you were ready.

You were completely in your zone, slightly swinging your hips as you quietly sang along to the song that was playing on repeat. And all of that while shooting at the target.

“When it all burns down. When it all burns down. I will hold you close for the minute. Yeah, I'll hold you for the minute it takes.”

With the last word, you shoot one more time, before putting the safety back on and placing the gun down in front of you. You press the button to move the target sheet closer while taking off the earmuffs, heaving a sigh of relief as that also takes off the pressure from your ears. You would never get used to that.

The sheet was about to finally be close enough to properly inspect when the music suddenly faded from your left ear. You quickly turn to look in that direction, just to be met with the broad chest of Ghost. And between his fingers, and awfully close to his ear, was your earbud.

“Hey, give that back!”

You reach up to pluck it out of his fingers, but he easily swats your hand away with one of his, while listening to the song. And to your surprise, he starts to slightly nod along.

“It’s good.”

Ghost hands the earbud back before moving to the station next to yours. Without any further acknowledgment, he starts to prep his gun just as you did, before taking aim. You manage to pull your earmuffs back on, just in time to not be deafened by the shot. You scuff at him, annoyed but also surprised at what had transpired earlier.

You decide to continue with your training until the barbecue is announced via the intercom. You, along with the other soldiers, cleaned up and handed the guns back, before making your way to the back of the mess hall, where the grills were already hot and food was already ready.

You grabbed a plate and piled it with all your favorite food, before finding your team and sitting down with them. While you were chatting about what everyone had done during the last few hours, you couldn’t help but complain about the music that was being played.

“I just hate it.”

Without saying anything, Ghost stood up and left the table. You thought nothing of it, at least not until “The Future is a Foreign Land” started playing. You quickly looked over and saw Ghost moving back towards your table, from the direction of the soldier who was in charge of the music. And sure enough, that soldier looked like he had just wet his pants.

Once Ghost sat down again and the others were preoccupied with another topic, you leaned over to him, placing a hand on his bicep.

“Thank you.��

He just nodded in response, but you swear that you could see a slight crinkling around his eyes, even with his balaclava hiding most of his face.

Please consider reblogging and following me! It helps a lot!

Call of Duty - Masterlist

Master-Masterlist

Like what you're reading? Buy me a coffee!

[obscureaestheticist]

DC & MARVEL are awful at publishing their own amazing stories...

Read some western comics for the first time in a while this year. I wanted to start reading more in general anyway so I added comics and manga to the list. HOOOOOOOOO GGGAAAD DAYUM some of this stuff is good! I wanted to start with DC's Absolute & Marvel's New Ultimate. I've read mostly DC but have never fully gotten into a series or mini series before. These new books were meant to be jumping on points for newcomers so I wanted to give it a try.

And I gotta say... these need more attention... By their own publishers, I mean.

Even though I only really started in the last 3 months of the year, I get peoples frustrations with these being monthly releases and the fact that a lot these you HAVE to buy individually and not part of a magazine or some other form of collective release. At least until a volume release. On top of that these are NOT easy to find, not where I live, and not online either. You need a subscription service for the digital releases and you need to find a comic book shop to even buy it physical. These aren't cheap either! If I wanted to buy, say, a manga volume's worth of issues to try and catch up, its almost 5x that of a cheap physical manga volume. And the only place you're going to be getting a volume of some of these is at a book store, not a comic shop, just because there's way more bookstores generally. By the time those volumes have released there's no gaurantee the series that you like is even still running, because they havn't made it easy to even find these to read and it might've been cancelled due to low sales. So that leaves me with a problem... I either cave in and get a subscribtion or I pirate it. I'm poor af, of course I'm going to pirate it. MOST people will. Except they won't because barely anybody knows these comics even exist. There's little to NO marketing around any of these comics. Seriously, why aren't these in a magazine?! Why aren't these easily veiwable digitally? I don't want a subscription service just to look at a few books. I'm DONE with subscription services. Even if it's just a website where you pay to read online per series, or even throwing these into webtoon behind a paywall, it'll be infinitly better. At least that way people actually get to see the amazing work they're putting out there. And... yeah, the monthly wait on these is agonising. If the wait cannot be shortened then a weekly magazine is needed DESPERATELY, because there is NOTHING in the way of audience interaction for newcomers except a very limited fandom which might be gone in a few months just cause the series could be up and cancelled at the snap of their fingers. Their websites suck... Like, straight up, they suck. Nothing unique or stylised about them, not even a bit of background music or some flare, it's trailers for games, movies, and TV. Theres not even viewer guides for comics, bits of info on the world, or even those silly "who is the strongest/fastest/richest,etc" graphics like in old magazines. there's no fun. It's painful because the stuff thats out there is genuinly good. A lotta bad, certainly, but the recent stuff is thoroughly engaging. Another thing, the issue 1 crisis. If you don't know what this is, it's publishers resetting issues back to number 1 to bump up the price. It's disgusting. Especially when it makes it a NIGHTMARE to try and find the series you're looking for... and its same name as 8 other series only seperated by a date. THESE NEED TITLES! I was reading Ultimate Black Panther and Black Panther recently... Or rather, NEW Ultimate Black Panther: T'Challa vs. The Moon Knight, and Black Panther[2023]: A King Without A Crown. The naming alone causes frustrations when trying to navigate and find a story you might actually like. King Without A Crown is a title I just made up for the 2023 release. Its a great story, the art is some of the best I've seen in any comic. And the premise is very enganging, about T'Challa having been exiled from Wakanada, returned to watch over it as a secret protector and trying to reconnect with the people in places he believed he'd overlooked. To try and deepen his understanding as a king, and as protector of his country. It's Cyberpunk Crime Thriller Sci-Fi with a mix of central African mysticism. It even comes with an official map.

It got cancelled. Only lasted 10 issues... New Ultimate X-Men / Secret Society X Men is a shojo horror mystery set in japan inspired by major works of J-Horror... and it's FREAKIN' X-MEN Nobody talkin' about it. New Ultimate Spider-Man is about Peter, married to MJ, Father of 2, becoming Spider-Man after receiving word from the future that he was supposed be a hero and that it was taken from him, and Uncle Ben is alive in this... Nobody talkin' about it. New Ultimate Black Panther is kinda slow but it's about 2 warlords trying to infiltrate and take over wakanda who are posing as this world's versions of Konshu & Ra and leads to a greater conspiricy about Vibranium itself. Nobody talkin' about it. I LOVE the absolute series. I'm a DC fan, but these Marvel works also need more love, like... guys. Not to mention Spider-Man and Ult X-Men is fanfic and fanart GOLD! LIKE GET ON THIS SH!T NOW! There are other big issues i've got with western comics but I wanted to talk about it's accessibility. I love comics and manga a lot, it was what got me to start reading in the first place, and I want these cool stories to continue in a way that is like, actually enjoyable. I wanna talk about these with people, but there's no point if nobody is out there to enjoy it with. In the meantime, if you like these stories but can't afford them, make fanwork of it. Fiction, prose, poetry, art, music, silly comments, anything. Same goes for Manga and Indie works that you like. Don't let a company's incompetence stifle your ability to enjoy art that has ACTUAL passion behind it.

[wynnyfryd]

🐳 howdy ✨

Hello there, lovely. Welcome to my blog. If you’re here I assume you’re also a deranged little doofus, and I love that about you. The brainrot gripped me and never let go, so this is primarily a steddie blog (and occasionally a personal one when I remember to check my asks.)

Steddie fic masterlist below. I also post a ton of drabbles and shorter stories on my blog, and if you want more content you can check out the monthly writing challenge I created and run with @steddieas-shegoes at @steddiemicrofic <3

————————

in progress

i don't know, you figure it out (trailer park steve au)

rated E | posting to tumblr in daily parts under #trailer park steve au, which will be added to ao3 as chapters are completed

ch. 1: part 1-5, ao3

ch. 2: part 6-8, ao3

ch. 3: part 9-12, ao3

ch. 4: part 13-18, ao3

ch. 5: part 19-22, ao3

ch. 6: part 23-27, ao3 | artwork by @inklessletter

bonus scene: stobin hangover brunch

ch. 7: part 28-32, ao3 | artwork by @foxprism

ch. 8: part 33-36, ao3

ch. 9: part 37-40, ao3

ch. 10: part 41-47, ao3

ch. 11: part 48-53, ao3

ch. 12: part 54-55, ao3

ch. 13: part 56-60, ao3

ch. 14: part 61-64, ao3

ch. 15: part 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | ao3

In which the Munsons get new neighbors, but instead of the Mayfields it’s the former King Steve and his recently widowed mom.

manic goblic dream boy

13.2k | not rated | 28/? chapters | ao3

this is where I archive all my tumblr drabbles when I remember to actually do that. each chapter is a standalone piece

completed fics

game, set, match

2.2k | E | good boy eddie munson pwp, written for @subeddieweek day 4 | ao3

baby it's cold outside (but it's real warm in your mouth)

9k | E | enemies to smothered, written with @griefabyss69 for @subeddieweek day 3 | ao3 | artwork by @donttellunclesam

Steve and Eddie get snowed in.

biting you biting you biting you- oh! kissing you!

2.5k | M | platonically non-platonic stobin crack with a dash of pre-relationship steddie | ao3

Get blackout drunk and French your friends: the musical.

it was love, love alone

2.5k | E | silly sweaty steddie sex | ao3 | podfic by @reena-jenkins

Steve and Eddie get freaky on the Hellfire throne.

nine of diamonds

1.1k | T | crack-fluff written while my train was delayed | ao3

a kinda-sorta-not-really Eddie POV sequel to ‘is this your card?’

Satanic Ritual: DO NOT WATCH!!

5.8k | E | weirdly sentimental slut time based on this art by @inklessletter | ao3

Chicago 1994: Steve and Eddie move in together, then they watch a film.

yoga dom steve series

33.3k | E | dom steve x sub eddie kink exploration series | ao3

Eddie’s ADHD as hell and Steve’s a hot stretchy boi who’s gonna box breath the brain bees into submission. or something.

relax (lay it back): 12k | E | ao3 | cowritten with @gorgeousgreymatter-x for @flintandfuss’s birthday

relax (that’s that): 2.6k | E | ao3

a masterpiece of art, it’s true: 3.3k | M | ao3

i know it’s hard to do: 9k | E | ao3

blue dream: 6.3k | E | ao3

your kiss is on my list

2.3k | T | fluff, getting together | ao3

Steddie Week 2023, day 3: discover | first kiss | ‘kiss on my list’ by hall & oates

is this your card?

4.5k | T | hellhonk origins | ao3

Steve, Robin, and Eddie kill time in a bar.

damn right, you do

2.7k | T | prompt fill for @mcneen | ao3

Steve could use a hug. Fortunately Eddie's a great hugger.

Monsoon Season

6.1k | E | crack prompt author AU | ao3

Beloved children's author Eddie Munson, meet notoriously petty smut writer Steve Harrington.

TITS! Magazine

11.9k | E | art student Eddie x model Steve AU | ao3

Eddie finds a magazine, then he finds a man.

No Son of Mine

4.5k | M | angst, hurt-comfort | ao3 | podfic by wildishly

Steve shows up at Eddie's door with a handprint on his cheek and his heart on his sleeve.

i’ll stop the world and freeze with you

634 words | G | meet-cute AU drabble | ao3

Eddie promised he’d take Max ice skating, only he doesn’t actually have a single solitary fucking clue what he’s doing. Good thing there’s a very helpful Hot Guy who can assist.

The Great Scavenger Hunt of 1986

7.9k | T | heart-warming Christmas fluff | ao3 | listen to the podfic

In 1985, Little Debbie releases their new Christmas tree snack cakes. In 1986, Robin gets the flu, and Steve sets out to cheer her up with festive treats. It's easier said than done.

(My one and only completed attempt at podfic, godDAMN how do y’all finish these editing projects?) written for Hellfire Christmas 2022

patience is a virtue

1.7k | E | self-indulgent pwp | ao3

Being patient sucks. Literally.

hayrides and late harvests

651 words | M | pre-smut drabble | ao3

day 5, prompt #31: “Let me help you. I’m begging you to let me help you.”

Bobbing for Apples at the Bottom of Lover’s Lake

1.9k | M | getting together, mopey steve x vampire eddie | ao3

Steve goes missing at the Halloween house party; Eddie tracks him down.

Steve H. Who Works in Accounting

2.9k | E | pwp that made me laugh | ao3

Robin’s in pain. Steve’s bisexuality isn’t helping. (or: Steve gets embarrassed and apparently he’s kinda into that.)

microfics

@steddiemicrofic prompt fills

paint it black 🎂🖤🎂

290 words | M | bonus round ‘birthday’ to celebrate @steddieas-shegoes | ao3

Steve bakes Eddie a birthday cake.

make me

388 words | E | March prompt ‘pin’ | ao3

“Eat a dick, Munson.” “Make me.”

Plot Holes

404 words | T | January prompt ‘hole’ | tumblr | ao3

the gates are open and time’s all fucked

🎵 Troll Toll 🎵

404 words | M | January prompt ‘hole’ | tumblr | ao3

three fandoms converged in a future wood, and I— I regret that I wrote this

the kind of charm we need

548 words | G | September prompt ‘charm’ | ao3

Nancy doesn’t appreciate him, but someone else might.

at the bottom you’ll find all our friends

442 words | M | MCD/angst | July prompt ‘pool’ | ao3

The trouble is, Eddie doesn't stay dead.

discontinued fics

note: fics in this section are NOT complete and will very likely stay that way. read them, write your own version, print em out and eat em if you like but so HELP ME if you ask when the next chapter is coming i’ll end u thank you 😘

stupid fucking star stuff

3.4k | M | stardust AU | ao3

Steve’s a star and Eddie’s in love with a guitar.

babysitters and book signings

4.2k | G | famous author Eddie x just-some-guy Steve | ao3

Steve takes the kids to a convention to meet their favorite fantasy author, one critically-acclaimed and unfairly attractive Eddie Munson.

[sound-jam]

So this blog is mainly for me to post my CD collection but I'm waiting to get a new CD player before I start posting so I'll start with some kerrang magazines :D unfortunately I don't own any of the older ones but I'm hoping to get my hands on some

Kerrang started in the early 80s in the UK and originally focused on the rise of British heavy metal. They featured bands such as AC/DC (who were the first band to be on the cover), Mötley Crüe, Slayer, and Metallica. It was during this time that the term "thrash metal" was created by kerrang to describe the band Anthrax. In the 90s, the focus turned to more general alternative music following the rise of grunge, specifically Nirvana. To make it more up-to-date they featured bands such as Hole, Nine Inch Nails, Terrorvision, and Therapy?. In the late 90s they started to focus more on the rise of nu metal amd featured bands such as Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Deftones, and System of a Down. In the 2000s kerrang had a big shift over to focus heavily on the rising of the emo genre, coinciding with the decline of nu metal. Kerrang originally started off as a monthly publication, which then changed to a weekly publication in 1987 due to its rising popularity. In 2020 it switched to a digital magazine so that people could still access it during the pandemic, however in December 2021 it returned to print and is now published on a quarterly basis. In 2001 it became the best-selling British music weekly, overtaking NME.

[johns-prince]

I told him: “You know you love your own company. Even Cyn says you go days without speaking to her. She feels a million miles away from you.” John replied: “Ah, but she’s not, is she. She’s in the kitchen putting the kettle on.”

—Tony Barrow, Beatles Book Monthly Magazine, No. 149 (Sept. 1988) [×]

¶

There’s one line in the lyric I don’t really mean: “Well knowing you / You’d probably laugh and say / That we were worlds apart”. I’m playing to the more cynical side of John, but I don’t think it’s true that we were so distant. 

—Paul reads from his new book, The Lyrics (2021). [×]

¶

“I’m kind of expected to say, ‘[John] was a saint, he was always a saint, I remember him as a saint’, but it would be a lie. He was one great guy and part of his greatness was that he wasn’t a saint. He was a great guy but he was pretty sacrilegious. He was pretty up front about it. But it was half the fun.”

—Paul McCartney (c. 1984) in The Dream Is Over: Off The Record 2 by Keith Badman [×]

¶

“John is neither a saint, nor is he a sinner. He was just human, like the rest of us.”

—Cynthia Lennon, answering the question “John Lennon: saint or sinner?” The Independent, July 1999 [×]

¶

“Seeing Lennon focus on Ono rather than him[Paul] was as devastating as it would have been for Cynthia Lennon to witness the couple making love.”

—Peter Dogget, You Never Give Me Your Money. [×]

¶

“Then also we were like married, so you got the bitterness. It’s not a woman scorned this time, it’s two men scorned — probably even worse. And I had to make way for Yoko. My relationship with John could not have remained as it was and Yoko feel secure.”

— Paul McCartney, Interview by Duncan Fallowell in the Chicago Tribune, October 14th, 1984 [×]

¶

“Apart from giving me the courage to break out of my stockbroker belt... Yoko also gave me the inner strength to look more closely at my other marriage. My real marriage. To The Beatles, which was more stifling than my domestic life. Although I had thought of it often enough, I lacked the guts to make the break earlier.”

—Skywriting By Word Of Mouth by John Lennon (pg. 17) [x]

¶

“I still think at the back of John’s mind was this fascination of wanting to get back with the first girlfriend, if you like, and that was to get back with Paul, who he had so much history with.”

—Tony Barrow, The Beatles’ press officer, on the Lennon/McCartney reunion that was never to be [×]

¶

“I mean, I think really what it was, really all that happened was that John fell in love. With Yoko. And so, with such a powerful alliance like that, it was difficult for him to still be seeing me. It was as if I was another girlfriend, almost. Our relationship was a strong relationship. And if he was to start a new relationship, he had to put this other one away. And I understood that. I mean, I couldn’t stand in the way of someone who’d fallen in love. You can’t say, “Who’s this?” You can’t really do that. If I was a girl, maybe I could go out and…”

—April 3rd?, 1985 (Soho Square, London): Paul talks on German television show exclusive about the breakup of the Beatles and his personal breakup with John. [x]

¶

“But Paul was his own man and not afraid of John. In fact, musically and personally, the two were beginning to go in separate directions so perhaps Paul’s visit to me was also a statement to John.”

—Cynthia Lennon, John [×]

¶

“Paul, who believed strongly in the family and in family values, told me that he felt as if it was the Beatles themselves who were heading for divorce, not just John and Cynthia.”

—Tony Bramwell, Magical Mystery Tours [×]

I wanted to end this post with a quote from Cynthia, whether it was from a book or was an answer to a question, about how she simply misses lying in bed with John, and just the two of them talking. This quote from her book John [x] is relevant, but unfortunately I couldn't find the exact quote I wanted.

To accompany the sentiment from John's first wife though, is this quote:

“If John Lennon could come back for a day, how would you spend it with him?” “In bed.”

—Paul McCartney answers questions for Q magazine, 1998 [x]

[tellurian-in-aristasia]

A glowing review of Romantia, courtesy of a bunch of fascists.

Spearhead June 1990

I genuinely hate running across articles like this in the archives, but I think it's important to share them. I found this while searching for the "BM Perfect" mailing address associated with many Aristasian endeavors. In fact, I found several articles from the various Romantia publications being reprinted in Spearhead magazine, a long-running fascist magazine.

There always seems to be room for "we had nothing to do with this!" among the Aristasians, and true, we don't know if they gave a fascist magazine permission to repost their published articles, and this introduction to the Romantia movement goes at great lengths to say that Romantia and the British National Party are unaffiliated with each other and the author does not imply that the Romantians are supporters. However, when a fascist magazine publishes a glowing review of what you do, and your world views, perhaps most people would reflect on what their worldview is that makes them so appealing to neo-Nazis. But then again, most people are not admitted pen pals with neo-Nazis. On a much lighter note is the reference to the "Imperial Home Service", which appeared to be a monthly subscription to tapped proto-Aristasian radio programmes. There is so much talk of Aristasian tapes being sold, it's shocking that none of them seemed to have turned up over the years! This particular one appears to be fantasy news reels pertaining to Novaria, as well as olde timey popular music.

[musicmags]

[thatrickmcginnis]

RICHARD KERN, TORONTO, 1988

Richard Kern's career has been remarkable to watch from the perspective of someone who met him briefly for a portrait session, after a screening of his films in the backroom club where I usually saw and photographed bands. Kern emerged from New York's East Village with a zine and later a series of films that were aggressively provocative, back when this was still acceptable subject matter for artists. I'd already seen an evening of his films - a program that included Fingered and The Right Side of My Brain - and it was pretty indelible. But we were all edgelords back in those pre-grunge days, and this sort of overtly offensive stuff was celebrated, especially if it offended the right people.

Richard Kern and his colleagues in what got called the Cinema of Transgression - which included filmmakers like Nick Zedd, Jon Moritsugu, Beth B, Kembra Pfahler, David Wojnarowicz and others - were an obvious tributary to the underground and indie rock scene, especially when musicians like Henry Rollins and Lydia Lunch would appear in Kern's films. Their whole "fuck you if you don't like it" aesthetic was a natural fit with bands like the Butthole Surfers, Jesus Lizard, Big Black, Poison Idea, Pussy Galore and so many others. So it was natural that we'd do a feature on Kern for the alternative music monthly I worked for when he showed up to answer questions after an evening of his films, with my friend Tim assigned to write the piece while I got to do the pictures. I showed up with my Mamiya C330 and my flash, umbrella and light stand and photographed Kern simply, sitting on a chair in front of the movie screen on the stage at the Rivoli where I usually saw bands.

What I didn't know at the time was that my Richard Kern portraits would be my last ever job for Nerve magazine, where I'd been developing as a photographer (no pun intended) for over two years. The story Tim and I handed in would be laid out on flats but never saw publication, as money troubles (and some personal ones) unceremoniously ended Nerve magazine after five years. This was effectively the end of my apprenticeship as a photographer; if I wanted to make a living at this, I had to seriously start looking for work at "real" magazines. I'm not sure if anyone ever saw these portraits of Richard Kern; they probably didn't get published anywhere until I posted a few on my old blog several years ago.

With all that in mind I'm still rather pleased with my portraits of Kern: they have a starkness and simplicity I was striving for (what my friend Chris Buck recently referred to as a "clunky honesty"). You didn't have to know that Richard Kern would end up with a career as a celebrated, arty pornographer, but it wouldn't surprise you. He has, in the decades since I took these photos, published over two dozen books with titles like XXModels, Digital Kern, Shot by Kern, New York Girls and Extra High, sometimes for quality imprints like Abrams and Taschen. Even more improbably he has survived the scythe of cancel culture, perhaps by hiding in plain sight.

[themarginalthinker]

Movie Night

(The pack enjoys some silver screen fun times.)

-

Max wasn't in tonight. The place was all theirs.

Dwayne had occupied himself flipping through the magazine rack near the door, content to let the others look through the pickings of the video store. Paul is at the 'new releases' rack. He picked up a box, looked it over, seemed to turn the cover art, actors, and plot described on the back over in his mind for a few seconds, before either dropping it back into place (or out of place - he didn't pay attention nor did he care) or slipping it under his arm with the others he'd chosen.

Marko and David were also pawing through the shelves.

"I thought you liked Harrison Ford?" Marko asked.

"I do, but I'm just so sick of seeing this shit advertised everywhere, I'm gonna rip my ears off if I have to hear that music any more," David grouched. He used a single finger to push away the video case Marko was holding. "Also, Indiana isn't a name."

"Buddy, in your day, they were naming people things like 'Humility' and 'Creedence', and 'Jedidiah'."

"I knew a Jedidiah," hums Dwayne, not looking up from his idle spinning of the rack.

"Not helping. I'm getting it anyway," Marko sighs. David just rolls his eyes, and turns back to his own perusal.

"Hey guys! Look!"

The pair - and Dwayne - look up at Paul's call, the tall blond rushing to their side. In his hands is a video, clutched tightly.

"'The Dark Crystal'," Marko reads out. From the case, the hand-drawn eyes of skeletal bird creatures leers and the glittering wings of elfish beings shine under the lights of the store. He looks up at Paul.

"Henson, huh?"

Paul nods vigorously. "He did that one with David Bowie a couple years ago. Fucking masterful shit. And this one is all puppets, dude!"

Marko looks a little skeptical, David is just hoping that with the mention of certain long-haired, blond glamrockers in tight pants the jokes about his name don't make a resurgence, and Dwayne is already once more nosing through a Times, but they add it to the pile.

When they're done, they leave the store with maybe more items than the check-out limit would allow (and a magazine or three that were in no way monetarily compensated for) but ready to waste some immortal life in front of the zoom tube.

-

"You're scared," Marko says, grin smugly plastered to his face.

"I am not. It's piles of fabric and foam."

On screen the skeksis skulk around each other, dressed in royal rags, hunched and fragile and dripping with barely restrained malice. The hallways of the constructed palace are old and dusty and hide secrets best left in the dark.

Paul sits tense on the bed, the precious television having been drug out of its protected corner, hooked up to the extension cord the pack so rarely indulges in. Dwayne had jury-rigged a generator to power their once-monthly media indulgences.

His claws prick at the bedcovers, eyes locked on the fantastical creatures. Marko, laying beside him, also watched.

"I- I am- I am still! Emperor!" Gasped the dying, crumbling beast of bones and desiccated skin on the screen, jumping towards the camera. It's maw filled with cracked, jagged teeth, screeching and clawing back its hold on power to the last breath.

Beside Marko, Paul jolted back, claws fully out, his own teeth flashing.

"Admit it!"

"Shut up, you asshole! I wasn't expecting that!" Paul huffs.

Marko laughs, and rolls into his mate's side.

-

"Mmmmmmmm-"

"I will kill you, I swear to fuck, Marko!"

[newmusickarl]

5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – latest episode out now!

The latest episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month Podcast is here and it’s our penultimate monthly episode of the year! Pleased to say Mama Mañana Records’ founder Kiley Larsen makes his return, as he and I take our usual seats alongside 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt, to review five high profile album releases from the past month in music, ultimately naming one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion.

For our September 2024 episode, it was Hayden Thorpe’s unique and dazzling adaptation of Robert MacFarlane’s book, Ness, that took home our coveted Album of the Month title. Now for our latest episode, we look back at five big releases from October and the albums vying for recognition this time around are:

Cartoon Darkness by Amyl And The Sniffers (Poll winner, thanks for voting!)

Fate & Alcohol by Japandroids

Patterns In Repeat by Laura Marling

Endless Rain by One True Pairing

Cutouts by The Smile

If you want to listen to this or any previous episodes simply follow the links below, but also be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for more news and polls relating to the podcast.

Listen on Spotify here

Watch, like and subscribe to our YouTube channel here

Album & EP Recommendations

GNX by Kendrick Lamar

“There we were, all starting to plan our annual Album of the Year countdowns… then BAM! A new project from one of the true modern greats and one of the most acclaimed artists of the last decade plus - none other than King Kendrick Lamar. Dropping ahead of his planned SuperBowl halftime show in February, GNX immediately feels like a record for the fans. Where Mr Morale & The Big Steppers was a more divisive project, a complex double album that saw Kendrick wrestling with guilt, grief and generational trauma, GNX by comparison instantly feels much more accessible. This is Kendrick the artist getting back to being Kendrick the rapper, coming out all guns blazing with his razor-sharp flow and some incredible production work by the likes of Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington and, of course, MUSTARRRRRRRD! While fans can continue to speculate on a potential second album before the year’s done, I think it’s safe to say that GNX alone feels like another significant addition to Kendrick’s flawless discography. Not only shocking the world with the nature of its release, but also delivering a project to the same exceptional standard that we’ve come to expect from him. A truly remarkable feat and already one of the best rap records all year, proving once again that Kendrick continues to operate at a level all to himself.”

Read my full review for Clash Magazine here

Listen to GNX here

From Zero by LINKIN PARK

Without a doubt one of the biggest releases of 2024, nu-metal pioneers LINKIN PARK have finally returned with their first new album in seven years, their first since the tragic passing of beloved vocalist Chester Bennington, and the record that introduces new female vocalist Emily Armstrong to their fans worldwide.

While the announcement of Emily joining the band has certainly been marred by controversy, with heavy backlash from both fans and Chester’s family regarding her links to Scientology, anyone who watched the initial livestream will know that, from a pure vocal range perspective, she is probably the best possible replacement the band could’ve got. And the mission for From Zero seems to be just that – convincing the fans to buy into this new era of LINKIN PARK with Emily being part of it. Does it work? I would say yes.

As someone who has accepted that LINKIN PARK are never going to make an album as groundbreaking as Hybrid Theory again, instead enjoying their music these days on a mostly nostalgic level, I’ve had a lot of fun with this one. While there are certainly some duff moments (‘Cut The Bridge’ and ‘Stained’ I’m looking at you), they also deliver plenty of highlights too. ‘The Emptiness Machine’ remains a belter of a hook-laden comeback single, while ‘Over Each Other’ carries a big emotional punch thanks to Emily’s stirring vocal work. There are also some excellent heavier moments that callback to their earlier days too, such as the scream-tastic ‘Casualty’ and hard-hitting rock anthem ‘Two Faced’.

Everything else is solid and catchy too, making this an enjoyable 30-minute listen. As a comeback record it admittedly feels very safe, but I guess the main point of it isn’t really to break the wheel. This is LINKIN PARK doing what they do best and aiming to get their dedicated fanbase back on board for the ride – analysing it from that perspective, I think it works a treat.

Listen here

Night Palace by Mount Eerie

I know what you’re thinking – 26 songs, an 80-minute runtime… why you even recommending this one Karl, you know we ain’t got time for that?! Well, just in case you find yourself at a loss on what to listen to over a long journey somewhere, or even later on next month during the festive period, I have to recommend this new one from American songwriter and producer Phil Elverum – AKA, Mount Eerie.

Firstly, this is an album you need to experience from front-to-back – this isn’t one to dip in and out of individual tracks. Inspired by Zen meditation, it is a single journey of reflection that comes seven years after the devastation of Elverum’s critically acclaimed masterpiece, A Crow Looked At Me. While I personally found that album heartbreakingly beautiful but also very hard work, I’ve found this one has oddly been more accessible by comparison, which is surprising given its demanding length.

But that said, the album has a great flow to it, with many of the tracks between 1 and 3 minutes long, with Elverum constantly jumping between different musings and ideas. There’s acoustic folk tracks and lo-fi rock tracks, with splashes of ambient electronics and harsh static thrown into the mix, playing out almost like someone flicking through different radio stations. It’s an enthralling listen, one that culminates in a gorgeous 12-minute spoken word poem, ‘Demolition’.

So, if you want a record that’s indulgent in the best way, is made for this dark, melancholic time of year and is just utterly fascinating from each brief moment to the next - then give this one a try.

Listen here

Petrichor by 070 Shake

Having come into the spotlight a few years back through her memorable collaborations with Kanye West, rapper/singer/songwriter 070 Shake has since gone on to establish herself through her solid first two albums, Modus Vivendi and You Can’t Kill Me. Now back with her latest album Petrichor, it’s another release that further demonstrates Danielle Balbuena’s fascinating and unique sonic output.

Awash with dark, moody synths, it’s an endlessly interesting collection of glistening neon-soaked pop songs. It begins with theatrical, piano led opener ‘Sin’ before morphing into the pulsating stomp of ‘Elephant’ which sounds like the sci-fi/western collision of Westworld but in audio form. ‘Vagabond’ is similarly dramatic, as is stunning album highlight ‘Into The Garden’ which is a genre-defying whirlwind of a track. Shake then feels festive with ‘Winter Baby / New York Blues’ before an intriguing cover of Tim Buckley’s classic ‘Song To The Siren’ with Courtney Love. The emotional roar of the album then comes on ‘Blood On Your Hands’ which climaxes in a spoken word poem from Shake’s girlfriend, Lily Rose Depp.

While not everything Shake does on this album is perfect, it is always a curious and innovative listen that sees her pushing her sonic boundaries and sounding like no-one else. In a music world where most artists seem to have clear touchpoints, we need more singular voices like 070 Shake.

Listen here

A Weekend In The City B-Sides (Another Weekend In The City) by Bloc Party

To today’s teenagers, the thought of having to illegally download and file share music must seem unfathomable. After all, when music is so freely available with streaming, who needs to track it down through illegal means right? Well, back in 2007 at the height of the indie boom, file sharing was all the rage, with bands blowing up through word of mouth alone, as albums and unreleased tracks were passed through MSN messenger, MySpace and other internet forums.

One such album was Bloc Party’s Another Weekend In The City. A completely unofficial release, it was made up of the band’s brilliant B-Sides from the Weekend In The City singles, as well as some unreleased tracks from the recording sessions that had leaked. For me it remains to this day the ultimate bootleg album, one that I adore as much as Bloc Party’s actual sophomore album.

For years this album was lost, condemned to my broken iPod classic along with some unreleased Radiohead deep cuts (thank God we got ‘Lift’ on the OKNOTOK release eventually). So imagine my delight when Bloc Party a few weeks back announced they would be officially releasing their A Weekend In The City B-sides on streaming services for the first time, bringing life back to Another Weekend In The City.

If you are a Bloc Party fan and are unfamiliar with these tracks, I cannot recommend this enough. The guitar work on tracks like ‘Secrets’ and ‘Version 2.0’ are sensational as always, while the likes of ‘Selfish Son’, ‘We Were Lovers’, ‘Atonement’ and ‘Emma Kate’s Accident’ are as stunning as anything Bloc Party made around that time. It also features two of their finest ever moments in the form of ‘Vision of Heaven’ and, my personal favourite, ‘England’.

At the time of writing, it seems the band have since taken the album down due to poor audio quality – something I foolishly put down to 00s aesthetics when listening late on release day. So, while these songs have temporarily disappeared once again, be sure to jump on them when they return.

In the meantime, you can still listen unofficially here

Also well worth checking out:

Seed of a Seed by Haley Heynderickx

Come Ahead by Primal Scream

BAMBI by Aziya

Don’t Go Making Plans EP by Hard-Fi

Marietta EP by Medium Build

Song Recommendations

People Watching by Sam Fender

He’s back!

A couple of years on from his incredible sophomore album Seventeen Going Under, the Geordie Springsteen has finally returned this month, and with a bang. From a UK/EU tour that sold out instantly, to three big stadium shows and numerous 2025 festival headline spots (including a rumoured Glasto headline set), Sam Fender has also announced that his new album will be released this coming February. ‘People Watching’ is the title track from the project and includes everything that fans have come to love about Sam’s music: his wonderfully descriptive storytelling, a big singalong chorus and some soaring instrumentation. With Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs also working on the track and noticeably sharing his influence, it’s an absolute belter of a track that sets up Sam Fender to fully own these next 12 months.

Listen here

Pitch Black by The Amazons

Another band set to take 2025 by storm is Reading rockers, The Amazons. After releasing one of their finest songs to date in the form of ‘Living A Lie’ last month, the trio have since revealed that their fourth album will drop next May and will be titled 21st Century Fiction. ‘Pitch Black’ is the latest cut from the project and it’s another absolute stormer, boasting some scintillating bluesy riffs and a hugely anthemic chorus. For my money, still the best pure rock band in the country!

Listen here

When I Wake Up I’m Sad by Fiona-Lee

Someone who has been working with The Amazons and is due to support them on their upcoming UK tour is the wonderful Fiona-Lee, one of my favourite new music discoveries of 2024. Her latest single ‘When I Wake Up I’m Sad’ showcases her incredible talent, with gorgeously soft vocals, honest and vulnerable songwriting, and a spine-tingling arrangement which climaxes emphatically in a fist-in-the-air, saxophone-led instrumental passage.

Listen here

Drown by Bleach Lab

Around this time last year, dreamy indie outfit Bleach Lab were being named as one of my Top 10 Albums of the Year for their phenomenal debut, Lost In A Rush of Emptiness. Now back with their first single since that release, ‘Drown’ signifies a noticeable sonic evolution from the band, particularly the production and singer Jenna Kyle’s more confident vocals. Another great song from the band, it’s already got me excited for their forthcoming next chapter.

Listen here

Singles to get you in the Festive Spirit!

What is Christmas without some classic Christmas tunes hey?! While there has been a drought of any good ones in recent years, this festive season has seen a few new Christmas songs pop-up that are well worth a spin. Some are vying for the UK Christmas No.1 spot, some are for good causes… but all of them are spreading a little festive cheer! Here’s my five picks of Christmas 2024 singles to go check out:

This Christmas Time by Tom A. Smith Listen here

Late Night Phone Call by Reverend & The Makers Listen here

Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call by Bleachers Listen here

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Nation of Language Listen here

Happy Trails by Orville Peck Listen here

Also well worth checking out:

Renegade by Doves

U by Jadu Heart

Antartica by Divorce

Time of My Life by Somebody’s Child

Blood Is Thicker Than Honey by Lace Thief

My Drummer’s Girlfriend by ALT BLK ERA featuring Wheatus

REMINDER: If you use Apple Music, you can also keep up-to-date with all my favourite 2024 tracks through my Best of 2024 playlist. Constantly updated throughout the year with songs I enjoy, it is then finalised into a Top 100 Songs of the Year in December.

Add the Best of 2024 playlist to your library here

[under-the-eye]

Derek is a big boy!

He’s a little goofball, always ready with a joke or silly face. And just in time, our materials from the ETW (Eternal Teachings of the Watcher) have arrived!

I got Derek started on a workbook right away.

That night Johnathan had his first book study with Derek. It called back so many sweet memories of sitting with the kids in the evenings!

The day after his birthday Johnathan buckled down into the new materials and teachings. He had Derek raking leaves and helping in my garden to start teaching responsibility and how to be a provider.

Then I sat with him to fill out another workbook and go through some more lessons.

While I was with Derek, Johnathan went to check on the girls and found Maxine playing with a blue toy that I knitted for Derek!

Well, we learned our lesson about letting gender roles slip from Penny and James. Johnathan immediately scolded her and had her play with an appropriate toy. 

Not even a few hours later I caught Derek at the doll house! I sent him to practice his gospel music on the piano instead.

After some discussion, Johnathan and I decided to sign him up for the local Sclera Scouts troop. They’re run by the ETW, and will make sure to instill Watcherful masculinity in Derek before he goes down the same path as his siblings into ruin.

In addition, Johnathan has decided to step away from heavily researched books and got a position publishing monthly magazines for the ETW. It will give him so much more time to spend with the kids!

Here we are putting the girls to bed with stories from the Book. No matter how difficult things get, the Watcher will always lead us back to the light!

4:33 a.m…