#one of the most overlooked songs on the album tbh

[fawnforevergone]

Dante's Inferno References in Hozier's song "First Time" (+ a lil' song explanation) !!

Guys, I know I did the whole "Dante's Inferno references in 'Unreal Unearth'" already but I have thought of more things particularly with "First Time" and it's context of being in circle one, 'Limbo'.

Firstly, important context that 'Limbo' isn't so much a punishment as it is a placeholder in Inferno. It's for the unbaptized and virtuous pagans, essentially those who did not believe in God and therefore could not enter heaven, but also didn't do anything bad enough to be punished in the other eight circles. The punishment is to live eternally in circle one whilst feeling an infinite sensation of emptiness that is meant to represent the lack of God in their lives.

Now, moving onto the song and the GENIUS that it is.

"And the soul, if that's what you'd call it, uneasy ally of the body, felt as nameless as a river, undiscovered underground." The lost souls of Inferno find their way to their assigned circle by using the 'transportation system' of the five rivers of the Underworld. The first river that Dante and Virgil encounter is the river Acheron that Charon, the Greek psychopomp that transported souls through the underworld, delivers them down to arrive at Limbo.

Another one of the five rivers of the Underworld is the well-known river Styx that souls had to cross over in order to enter the afterlife. All of these things are referenced in this one lyric.

"And the first time that you kissed me I drank dry the river Lethe." Here, Hozier mentions another one of the five rivers. Those who drank from the Lethe would experience mental oblivion, unable to remember anything. Souls who were to be reincarnated usually drank from this river in order to forget their past lives. Hozier is also referencing the idea of being reborn, as he does throughout this whole song, but instead he's reborn by the relationship he has with his partner.

"As it was, and ever shall be, unearth without a name." This lyric seems to be a reference to the 'Glory Be' prayer - "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end." As aforementioned, Limbo's punishment is a never-ending emptiness; It's described as sorrow without torment, something so deprived that rational minds couldn't comprehend it. Hozier's "unearth without a name" mirrors the prayer's "world without end", showing that Limbo has the same infinity that God intends the world to have, but Hozier cannot even put a name to the feeling of Limbo, only that it is underground.

"Some part of me must have died/Some part of me came alive the first time that you called me 'Baby'." This lyric repeats throughout the whole song with minor changes, and references back to that idea of being reborn that Hozier establishes from the very start of the album with "De selby (Part 1)". The album compares Hozier's relationship with his partner to the journey of 'Inferno', and here we see Hozier effectively 'dying' as the relationship begins, allowing him to enter Limbo reborn as who his lover made him.

"These days I think I owe my life to flowers that were left here by my mother. Ain't that like them, gifting life to you again?" Since we have the context that Hozier is now 'dead', this lyric can be seen as his mother leaving flowers on his grave, literally gifting his body life. In the following lyrics, Hozier compares his life in Limbo to the life of the flowers gifted to him.

"This life life lived mostly underground, unknowin' either sight nor sound, 'til reaching up for sunlight just to be ripped out by the stem." Flowers are birthed beneath the soil on Earth, as Hozier has been reborn beneath the world in Hell, both lives lived underground. The theme of darkness that is regularly visited in both 'Inferno' and the album is shown here "unknowin'...sight", where the darkness of Inferno simulates a sort of blindness. The second half of the lyric references that loss of hope in Limbo, mirroring it to the idea of a flower being torn away from its only purpose of growing - similarly to how a soul is torn from its only purpose of living.

"Sensing only now it's dyin', drying out then drowning blindly, bloomin' forth its every colours in the moments it has left." The literal meaning of this lyric is the act of pulling flowers from their roots to simply put them in vases of water. The metaphorical meaning is Hozier attempting to hold up hope in Limbo. "Unreal Unearth" is very clearly a breakup album, and "First Time" tells us the compressed story of the relationship from beginning to end. We can take this song as Hozier beginning to lose faith in his relationship but desperately holding on, the way flowers know they're dying in a vase but continue blooming nevertheless.

"To share the space with simple living things, infinitely suffering, but fighting off, like all creation, the absence of itself. Anyway." Again, this references the ideas of flowers dying in a vase whilst trying to live cut off from their roots. The idea of "infinitely suffering" gives us that imagery of Limbo, but "fighting off...the absence of itself" also emphasises Hozier's attempts to rekindle this relationship the way flowers ignore the prospect of death in the hopes of living for a few moments longer. This little "anyway" at the end gives us the impression that, like Limbo, this is hopeless, and, as the flowers will, Hozier's relationship will die.

"When I was young I used to guess, 'Are there limits to any emptiness'?" The whole third verse shows us the final breaking of the relationship, but this lyric shows us that specific hopelessness that is felt in the decay of love. It really wraps up the idea of Limbo in this relationship; this soft acceptance that their love has died no matter how hollow it makes Hozier feel.

I personally think he is once again a MASTERMIND. Relating the death of a relationship to the wilting of flowers, especially flowers forced to stay alive, is perfect, like are you kidding me. Anyway, yes! That's my extra fathoming of "First Time" because there is simply too much to say.

If anyone else has anything to say, please lmk because there's nothing more I love than a Hozier deep dive :]

[idontwanttospoiltheparty]

which solo songs by the beatles would you say are their "best"? as in, great production, great structure, it shows off their strengths as musicians, etc... although i get it's totally subjective, which ones would *you* pick?

this is SUCH an interesting question, thank you so much!!!!

My Sweet Lord is genuinely like my favourite George song, but given its semi-plagiarizing and how simple it is, I think I can't call it his best outright, although it's his most iconic slide guitaring for a reason. A very strong contender would be Isn't It A Pity, which I think is absolutely gorgeous lyrically and incredibly effective musically. I've also always loved When We Was Fab as a Beatles pastiche and think it's amazing melodically and production-wise. I'd also say Run Of The Mill, which is emotionally and lyrically incredible and rhythmically very interesting. It keeps switching time signatures!!! I also kind of wanna say Someplace Else but I can't fully defend it, though. I'm also super partial to Who Can See It though I don't find that a typical George song at all, so I'm not sure it fits your criteria. (also bear in mind I haven't reached Brainwashed yet!!)

For Ringo, tbh I am going to say Vertical Man. this is a GREAT song that I feel really captures his character so well, the light whimsy and the dark undercurrent. It also really works for his voice and the drumming rocks. It's still not on my Spotify!!!!! KMS!!!!!

For John, I think the three songs I'd say my three favourite songs are (in no particular order) #9 Dream, Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out), and I'm Losing You (okay and also (Just Like) Starting Over) and I think those all demonstrate John's different lyrical strengths – the dreamy imagery, the sad resignedness, the bitterness – incredibly well, while all having quite excellent production. I think John is kind of underrated as a producer and a lot of the stuff he's credited on (and Spector is not credited on lol) has a great vibe and shows a lot of vision. I also might throw in Scared which I think is super overlooked and to also add a more stripped back song, I'd go with Isolation, which to me is kind of the core of Plastic Ono Band.

Paul has my definite favourite solo career, so it's hard to narrow it down fully. Band On The Run is probably my most basic answer but I do think it's just that good and definitely one of his most effective suites. I would also say Junk, which I think is pure poetry and musically perfect. Tug of War is probably my (co-)favourite Paul solo song but I've seen a lot of people call it too melodramatic. I sort of see what they mean, but I love the central image so much, how complicated it is. I also think Here Today is one of his strongest songs lyrically, actually. Okay, let's throw out a few more: My Brave Face is like peeeeeaaaak upbeat but sad breakup song and I love it to bits. It'll definitely end up on my spotify wrapped. I also think Distractions is one of Paul's most gorgeous melodies and the production is so cool to me. It also feels so sincere and romantic idk. ALSO, circling back to Tug of War the album, I wanna say: I think The Pound Is Sinking would 1000000000000% be a universally recognized masterpiece had it been on a Beatles album. It is the absolute sweet spot of Paul's abstract yet impactful lyricism. I also kind of wanna say Heaven On A Sunday though I find that, like Who Can See It, not that typically Paul per se. It and Warm and Beautiful are perhaps my favourite songs about Linda he wrote.

I'm interested in your thoughts, anon!! and what do others think?? does anyone agree or strongly disagree with any of my takes?

[iero]

heyyy! I'm back lmao just wanted to tell you i sat down yesterday and listened to the entirety of Foals' discography and so far these songs stuck out to me the most:

Cassius

Syrups

What Went Down

A Knife In The Ocean

All really good!!! I think Syrups is still my all time favourite by them (something about that First Song™ you hear by a new band you enjoy that just. idk. makes it special or something if that makes sense) but Cassius is a second favourite tbh it's SO catchy

what are your favourite songs by them? :3c

Hi there! You listened to their whole discography?! That's wonderful that you gave them a try! I'm so happy to hear that. I'll share my thoughts on those songs:

Cassius: Definitely one of the better songs on Antidotes in my opinion! It is quite catchy, you're right! I almost always overlook the repetitiveness of it for how catchy and infectious it is dance/at least bop your head to!

Syrups: A banger. No doubt about it. Man, that bassline always draws you in. One of my faves on the whole album. Love how it's split into two parts with the first sounding more... polished? And, the second half they just banged out as a jam... Great stuff.

What Went Down: BANGER! It's one of their most well-known songs for a reason. This one hypes me up sooo much! I highly recommend watching some live videos of this one too because they go so hard performing it and Yannis goes out into the audience (literally, INTO the audience) from the bridge until the end of the song to hype up the crowd. Here's a great example!

A Knife in the Ocean: Fantastic closer for What Went Down. Listen, this one is still in my top 5 for the album, but it's honestly one of their best. It's so bleek, lyrically, yet wonderfully written. This one is some of Yannis's best songwriting.

There's always something about that first song you listen to and how it stays dear to your heart. I'm happy it was Syrups for you though. What a solid tune to have as your first song experience for them! As for some of my personal faves, that's hard! Let's see:

In Degrees

Albatross

Wash Off

2001

Wear & Tear

After Glow

Like I said, I'm happy you gave them a listen! It's absolutely crazy to me how quickly they've become one of my all-time faves. They're, like, my #1 comfort band. Happy to talk more about them with you anytime! :)

[sternbilder]

Ranking my favorite 2023 K-pop comebacks

I feel like 2023 was a year where I followed kpop comebacks especially diligently bc of my newfound interest in dance, and since it's 2024 this means an entire year has passed now of This

here's a list of my 10 personal favorite title tracks this year, happy new year all!

The Top Ten

1. Monsta X - "Beautiful Liar"

listen. when I said

in january of last year I meant it with my whole ass and I stand by it an entire earth year later. this song fucks So hard

firstable Yes I'm sad this is their last cb with most of the group in a while but also jesus what a banger to go out on

I love the guitars, the looks everyone is serving, the funky little twist in the song structure after the second verse, plus thinking always about lovemelovemelovemetellmetellmetellme + the chains + kihyun with a literal goddamn whip + the gunshot sound effects punctuating joohoney's verse. chefs kiss

2. Taemin - "Guilty"

god taemin is back and you can just feel the catholicity through the screen. the haunting vocals. the delicious string textures throughout (the way the arpeggios shift to pizzicato for the second verse!). the 6/4 time (the only choreo I learned this year that was not to an 8 count). the fucking through the shirt grab. the bridge which they extended in the MV specifically to squeeze in Even More Yearning™.

this is a perfect cb and I will say the rest of the album is also flawless and my favorite out of this list. honestly this probably would have been first if not for the fact that I personally just liked beautiful liar so goddamn much. thank you taemin. no notes.

3. SHINee - "HARD"

aka the song I previously described as "2 baddies, but Good" (no really, they have same key signature & near identical song structure. listen to them side by side with HARD on .95 speed if you don't believe me)

anyway, like 2 baddies this is SM-flavored af but I love the old school hip-hop vibes in HARD soooo much. I've had some people tell me they found it weird and off-putting but to me it's effortlessly cool but also earnest and just. fun? (not only the music but also the visuals? hello? the fashions in this MV) def gotta be one of my most played this year

4. Lee Gi Kwang - "Predator"

ok now for a dark horse pick. I feel like in the borderline 5th gen landscape nowadays older groups are often forgotten (even though hello! 2nd gen bgs are back from the military now and are having a Moment) so people perhaps understandably overlooked this one but god this song is a bop.

is it just criminal by taemin part 2 but less sexy and with a lower budget? yes. but the song is an absolute bop and the choreo slaps in its own right so imo it's a very worthy homage especially given it captures its exact gender of "pathetic sadboy making horny mistakes and needing to dance abt it" so so perfectly,

5. Exo - "Cream Soda"

tbh not what I was expecting from an exo comeback and I was surprised that I ended up liking this so much given I didn't really care for the prerelease tracks, but the more I listened the more this grew on me?

ofc it's an exo track so the vocals are 100 emoji but the chorus and melodies are simply addictive and the choreo for this one is also just a ton of fun (the sexy little head swipe,)

also I love the outfits in this MV (everyone keeps saying this is the Weed aesthetic but honestly? with korea's whole Thing? this is exo's macklemore-style thrift shopping and/or raiding grandma's attic for hidden midcentury treasures phase. to me.) but thank u @ the universe specifically for giving us back silver haired baekhyun. bless.

6. VIXX - "Amnesia"

another underrated release tbh! this initially gave me guilty vibes w/ the abundant use of pizzes since they were released around the same time but I also just independently love this song

I feel like it's a very mature song that takes itself seriously but not in an overly self-absorbed or cheesy way (another comparison I might make is to leo's losing game from last year), the chorus is poignant and hits hard because it's so earnest—maybe especially so since they were down to 3 with this cb—but man that melody is just so gorgeous, like it haunts me

7. Dreamcatcher - "Bon Voyage"

ok if I'm gonna be real it wasn't a great year for my faves—while I liked OOTD and reason they weren't top 10 worthy for me, mx had 1 excellent release before having most of its members yoinked by the military, and I didn't love either of oneus's cbs this year

that being said! I did still like bon voyage! while I preferred the first 2 in the trilogy it still felt like a good and fitting finale, bittersweet and full of equal parts regret and hope

in many ways it feels like a harkening back to classic dreamcatcher with the Big Anime Opening Vibes™ but more somber and grown up, an unexpected summer anthem from these queens,

8. TXT - "Sugar Rush Ride"

it's been a busy year for txt and while I'm not super familiar with them and their releases are sometimes a bit hit or miss for me, when they do hit they HIT

I actually considered chasing that feeling for this list too but despite adoring the take on me-ness of it I ended up nixing it after adjusting for recency bias

sugar rush ride though, I feel is a bop that stood the test of time with its catchiness and surprisingly dark undertones, and is also one of my favorite choreos I learned this year by far like. come on. it's the epitome of Boy Group Hot.

9. Taeyang - "Vibe"

this song lived rent-free in my head for MONTHS, god it's so catchy

I actually missed when my local studio taught this song but I liked the choreo so much I learned it on my own which, predictably since it literally features 2 main dancers, was not easy but extremely worth it bc just like the song itself it's just really fun

other than that what can I say. the MV is nothing special but otherwise it's just a really solid song with Big feel good energy.

10. Kiss of Life - "Shhh"

ok,,,,,,,I don't really follow rookie groups that closely bc generally I don't feel like I'm the target audience but. out of this year's new groups I did especially like kiss of life's debut!

the MV doesn't do much for me tbh but musically it sounds uncharacteristically mature to me, in a good way—it has a subtle confidence about it that I like plus excellent vocals, and is (possibly hot take?) what I was hoping to get from newjeans this year as a continuation of their debut last year tbh

Honorable Mentions

Jungkook - "Standing Next to You"

this one just felt like cheating bc it's technically an English single and there's probably some recency bias here but I can't not mention it bc I simply love this track. I'm not even a BTS stan but it's just a jam with great vocals and instrumentals (the big band notes and MJ influence! please!) and the choreo is also SO ridiculously fun, both the chorus and the dance break

BTOB - "Wind and Wish"

this is just a wholesome song that makes you feel good, like is it a lil bit cheesy? yeah, but it's also Good Vibes Comma the Song, wearing its entire heart on its sleeve in the most endearing way. it's nostalgic and mellow and full of love for its friends and a zest for life

also special shoutout to the bridge, which in such an otherwise lowkey song did not have to go that hard and yet it Did?? that harmony gives me chills, 100% certified vocal kings would cry again

Shownu X Hyungwon - "Love Me a Little"

this is a pathetic meow meow song in the best possible way and was sadly beat out by the other slightly better pathetic meow meow songs on this list (guilty, predator, amnesia) bc it was just a really good year for them but I still think it deserves a mention bc first of all yea boi @ my mans shownu being free from the military but also the instrumental/dance break at the end is dark as hell and also SO fucking tasty

Infinite - "New Emotions"

another 2nd gen group that quietly had a renaissance this year! this song is simply a bop and while the song itself is not as memorable as some in the top 10 the choreo is actually really fun

also myungsoo looks really ridiculously fine as center in the first chorus and that's the last thing I have to say about this song,

Key - "Killer"

honestly I really liked both of key's cbs this year but I feel like killer was slept on somewhat, it's got a hint of sadboi but it's tempered by the upbeat 80s pop style, plus the grungy mullet and beret outfit from the MV was a fucking Look and a Half

And my favorites per month

January: Monsta X - "Beautiful Liar"

February: Purple Kiss - "Sweet Juice"

March: Onew - "O (Circle)"

April: Lee Gi Kwang - "Predator"

May: Dreamcatcher - "Bon Voyage"

June: SHINee - "HARD"

July: Exo - "Cream Soda"

August: MAMAMOO+ - "dangdang"

September: Key - "Good & Great"

October: Taemin - "Guilty"

November: VIXX - "Amnesia"

December: TVXQ - "Down"

[run-down-that-dream]

31 days music challenge - Day 8 Favorite 3 songs, studio album 6:

This is the most recent tpath cd I've gotten and I'm a little stuck on it. I overlooked the album for too long tbh. The good news is I haven't overplayed the whole thing yet lol! But I admit to obsessing over these three (and honorable mention to counting on you) for a long long time before I got the cd.

Howie's vocals and the harmonica in swingin make the whole song for me, and I love how rhino skin builds itself up! Like, it starts with one guitar and keeps subtly adding pieces until that cool solo at the end 🥰 my favorite part.

I probably don't even need to say anything about I don't wanna fight?? Like everyone's hearing this right???????? Maybe I do get a little too excited about it (especially that one time it was like midnight and I almost screamed like sunny CHILL). But I'm not sorry. At all. That's my guy!!!!!!!!!! And I will continue to cheer him on AS HE DESERVES

[turnleftaticela]

Um I feel like everyone is being more depressing than usual today so I’m gonna talk about something that I love 💜 no readmore start scrolling

It’s one of those days where it feels like Diamond Dogs is my favorite Bowie album (subject to cycle thru at least 3 others on an hourly basis) so let’s talk about that

I feel like this is one of his most underrated albums tbh. Like yeah everyone knows Rebel Rebel but other than that, its position sandwiched right between the classic Ziggy stuff and the classic mid-70s coke era makes everyone kinda overlook it I think

But it’s so good and so well-done. The atmosphere is gloriously apocalyptic in the most fun way you can imagine, with its crazy cast of characters and outlandish city-gone-wild imagery. And it’s also half a 1984 rock opera so that helps

It’s also got some of the most beautiful stuff Bowie ever put out, like the sprawling, evocative “Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing,” which to me is his best studio vocal performance of his whole career, and “We Are the Dead,” which is directly from the perspective of Winston in 1984 and conveys such heartbreakingly oppressive evil dread the likes of which I’ve not heard in many songs of its kind.

It really is one of those albums you’ve gotta listen to from start to finish. The way it builds its world is such an experience; the more immersed you allow yourself to become, the better. It’s gritty and glittery all at once, with its mix of rock-n-roll riffs and campy theatrics, anthemic singalongs and disco-tinged heart-racers, saxophones and piano glissandos and whatever the hell is going on in “Chant of the Ever-Circling Skeletal Family.”

Tbh from that last sentence it doesn’t even sound like an album I personally would enjoy but somehow it executes it all so well that it’s my favorite. I think that’s due to the subject matter all being scary and dystopian so it earns the right to have that much fun with it. Y’know what I mean

Anyway I love that album <3 💜

[morrisseyhaterr]

i'll put a readmore too cuz i also wrote a lot

thank you SO much for your long answer, again! and YESS love for "paint a vulgar picture"! love songs that touch on many topics at the same time, and on this one the vocals are hauntingly beautiful too! i think it's sad that many songs on strangeways here we come, and singles that aren't on hatful of hollow or the a-side of louder than bombs are often overlooked. as for oscillate wildly, i wish there were lyrics for it too, because i rarely can get myself to listen to music without singing - i wish i could, honestly, cause there are surely some masterpieces i'm missing out on haha.

i also LOVE stretch out and wait, but hopeful is maybe not the first emotion i'd associate with the song, haha! as for unhappy birthday, i'm not the track's biggest fan, but i can see why you like it :)

i think i might like london for the same reason you dislike it, because it's very different from most of their discography - for me, it's a very successful experiment. it's definitely punk-influenced, i haven't found a lot of ressources about the song's history online, but if you asked me to guess who got the idea to write a song like this first, i would say it probably was johnny (the reason why i think that is because he always wanted to push the band in a more experimental direction, as well as go on to create some similiar songs during his solo career and release a cover of "i fought the law" too). i think it would have been interesting to see some similiar tracks from them, but i also think they shouldn't have departed from their signature sound or anything

i also get weekly-or daily smiths song obsessions sometimes, and rubber ring is a great one!! the line "don't forget the songs which made you cry, and the songs that saved your life" particularly speaks to me tbh :)

as for the ask game, DEFINITELY go for it if you want to! some ideas for asks (except fave song, album etc) would maybe be most unpopular opinion, fave solo project, fave line. one's favourite smiths line can really say a lot about them as a person, though it's hard to pick (i know i'd be asking a lot of people this one). no pressure to use these, though (or make one in general)!

@morrisseyhaterr making a new post bc that ask is very long and i'm not sure how to put us under a readmore lol

Nowhere Fast is such a good pick!!! It's a very very good demonstration of "fun but still depressing" smiths music lol, and I 100% get what you mean by it giving you energy!! Also I think "I think about life & I think about death and neither one particularly appeals to me" is the superior version of "I'm not happy & I'm not sad" lolll.

Last Night I Dreamt... makes my top 5 on most days, I've said this before but it's so so so so unfair that some twenty-year-old just went "oh im sad" when he was sitting on a bus and wrote like the most fucking beautiful hauntingly sad chord progression to ever exist in the history of music? and yeah i've heard a lot of people complain about the lack of a radio edit to cut the beginning and i disagree so much with them - this song is an EXPERIENCE and that includes the heavy opener, without it the rest would not hit as hard for sure

I'm...not actually a huge fan of London sorry! (lol watch me get obsessed with it a week later) Wonderful Woman is lovely though, but I do think it's instrumentally stronger than it is melodically (sometimes i wish morrissey would have left this one alone and written lyrics to oscillate wildly) In terms of tracks i'm crazy about that I think are under-appreciated, I'd say probably stretch out and wait (it makes me so relaxed and hopeful), paint a vulgar picture (this one is absolutely devastating to me, probs could write a whole other paragraph about it lol), maybe unhappy birthday to an extent too (the voice crack at "from the one you left behind" makes me fucking cry)

and How Soon is Now!! not basic at all, classics are popular bc they're GOOD, and this one is LEGENDARY. it definitely captures the youthful anger and bitterness so well, and sonically achieved something really unique!!

oh also my weekly obsession this week is rubber ring. idk i think it fucking rules

[fatmclassic]

On to how big how blue how beautiful now. I enjoy most of this album,it's more grounded lyric wise than before but still has the biblical and myrh metaphors throughout. She was trying to channel male artists her whole career and she comes closest on this album. The addition a brass section was a dream come true for me, I watched the original teaser over and over for that finish. I like the angrier tone in some songs here. It was also developed with a desire to move on from the ceremonial/lungs sound and it accomplishes that.

Ship to wreck as an opener. On an album where she wasn't allowed to write about water. Ok. Well the verse about killer whales and sharks is cool. But it's a fairly weak opener by her standards. A safe, Fleetwood Mac kind of track. But the chorus is weak, ship to wreck over and over isn't exactly catchy. The music video is neat though, a glimpse into her house. 5/10

What kind of man is a much better track. It's introduces the rock aspect and the brass. The distorted vocals at the start are new for her and it works well with the sinister choir. This reminds me of old pre lungs Florence, angry with guitars. It does have the weakest lyric sadly 'dont let me dangle at a cruel angle' still makes me cringe. The video for this is a bit uncomfortable with the dungeon section. There's an acoustic version somewhere with the harp where she seethes during this song and it's worth seeking out 9/10

Title track now and gonna be honest, most of this song is a bit bland to me. Iirc I think it has something to do with Felix baumgartner doing that space jump but can't be sure. It is the first song to name a real life location,. marking a change in her writing. The ending though is fucking sublime, a real career standout. Tbh, I usually just skip to the end when this comes up. 7/10

Queen of peace is an old style Florence song with a new brass section. It's a story telling kind of song, lots of drums, back to the fantasy imagery. One of my favourites on this album. I quite liked the video on a Scottish island, as I was living in Scotland at the time. A dramatic tale and it was great live too. 10/10

VS&S is her first properly stripped back song, for the most part. I know a lot of people love this. I do like it, but I prefer the other quieter songs on this album. Some very delicate vocals, that grow stronger as it goes on. 6/10

Delilah kind of sounds like it could fit on lungs imo. Drums, biblical references, stomps and clapping. It's a very primal song, driving by percussion and vocals. I love the fast pace of it. I guesz this might be connected to her love of dance inspired by Pina Bausch she discovered while recording this. 7/10

Long and lost is my favourite of the slower tracks here. I really like the choir in the background. Tbh I think it could have done fine with just the choir. She restrains herself a lot more on this track, but it kind of get overlooked on favour of Vs&s. 7/10

I used to fucking hate caught. I've been pretty mean about it. I found it goofy. I like it a bit more now, probably because I've listened to more artists that inspired it. But it's overshadowed by better songs on this album, and it's does sound a bit generic. Biblical references here again. Not as bad as I remember, but still nothing special. Her vocals are quite sweet here, but the music isn't interesting. And it could be shorter 5/10

Third eye and it's handclaps, thumping drums and an upbeat vibe, I see this as another dog days, hbhbhb style. It's catchy though, and the brass saves this from being generic. And I really love that scene in the video where Rob comes in. The lyrics are quite personal, about her newfound sobriety and calmer lifestyle 8/10

Then heart beat from cosmic love returns in this much more laid back at Jude. I think this was Anne's after a storm that happened at the time of recording. See, she can do restraint everybody. Another song about moving on from chaos. This song flows along at a nice steady pace, never swelling onto that typical Florence finish. 6/10

This album was inspired by a lot of 60s and 70s acts and Mother seems like the most obvious tribute to that. The album version doesn't so mux for me but the live version has the brass that improves it so much. But going purely by the album it's a 6/10

Hiding is a song that seems to be a fan favourite and I tbh I'm a little lost as to why that is. It's ok, the harp is more prominent here and I know people where missing that on this album. Lyrics are ok, nothing groundbreaking. I don't dislike it,but never quite got the hype for this one and I still don't. It's doesn't fit with the album so I can see why it's a deluxe extra. 5/10

Make up your mind has Florence as an executioner. Unique concept. Water references again. And the harp is back too. I like it a bit more than hiding,but it's just ok. 6/10

Which witch. The cast off from that scrapped album so many want. Doesn't fit here at all, more at home on ceremonials or lungs but I'm glad we have it, and it feels fairly complete for a demo. The drama here reminds me more of breath of life than anything else. Again, a song some people say is self parody, but I love it. If Florence doesn't write orchestral songs about witches who will?9/10.

Pure feeling, a pleasant song. A bit Fleetwood Mac lite. The harp is back here. Shame it's a stupid exclusive for some American shop 🙄. I don't like it as much as I remember though. A bit bland 6/10

Conductor is another exclusive. Another meta song. I don't like the piano in this song, no real reason, I just don't like it. Not too bothered this is exclusive honestly 4/10.

I am very fucking bothered about as far as I can get being exclusive however, a vinyl b-side to this day, what the fuck. It's another restrained song, but it's done so well. Far more grounded and realistic lyrics here. It's just cool and one of my top fatm songs. 10/10.

Stand by me. Florence covers this with a harp accompanying. Pretty much it. I don't like this song, never did and still don't. 1/10.

Too much is never enough. A dramatic song for a video game. It's pretty good, if a bit too long and I rarely return to it 6/10

I will be is more of an atmosphere building track than a song in it's own right. Not played the game but it's quite nice. 7/10

I love you all the time. A charity single that doesn't change much. It's fine. 5/10

Wish that you where here is a other one people seem to love but again I don't share that sentiment. It's good, but doesn't grab my attention. Could have been shorter 5/10

So I still really love this album.Though I still don't really get the oddysey music video's and I doubt I ever will. It showed that she could do restraint and grounded lyrical imagery if she felt like it. The biblical imagery is still present though.Her soul/rock inspirations are more clear here.

[woundthatswallows]

Hi weather! I'm curious. What Hole song do you think is the most underrated? Also, what's your favourite live performance?

hii!! okay so i have a lot of songs that i think are underrated so i'm gonna list a good few <3

number one most underrated tho imo is good sister - bad sister. literally top hole songs of all time "i'll be the biggest scar in your back, run down and jagged and naked and bling, i'll be the biggest dick that you ever had" and also "choking on your candy flesh" which sets up the the idea of sugary flesh that is brought back in a few songs in celebrity skin (hit so hard, dying, more i think that's just off the top of my head)

also off pretty on the inside is berry, "when i die want you bury me, cause i buried you baby, deep in me"

i don't think any songs off ltt are underrated because of its popularity tbh but i adore plump and gutless so much and i don't see many people talk abt them

celebrity skin is their most popular album on spotify but!!! i feel like a lot of the other songs besides the top hits are really overlooked- reasons to be beautiful, hit so hard, dying, heaven tonight, playing your song, petals - people seem to focus mostly on malibu and celebrity skin which are Amazing songs but the album as a whole (lol) is incredible. what i really love abt celebrity skin is how many wound and flesh references there are, AND how it calls back to a lot of old hole songs.

and nobody's daughter as a whole is criminally underrated. samantha, for once in your life, pacific coast highway, how dirty girls get clean, never go hungry are all SO good. the one that's talked about most seems to be skinny little bitch which i absolutely adore it's in my top 3 hole songs but the rest of the album is so amazing too.

and then like all their singles are so good and underrated- turpentine, dicknail, BEAUTIFUL SON????? old age, best sunday dress. ugh🖤 🖤 AND BURN BLACK !!!!

okay that was a lot Um. fave live performance is probably dicknail in 1990 at club lingerie, this performance of softer softest makes me INSANE - the entire live show of that (9/28/94) is probably my fave hole concert recording. (that exact recording is okay u can find most from that uploaded separately) plump from that show also is crazy insane show stopping etc. and also big day out 1999 is my second fave entire concert. this one is also very good (1994 too)

okay yeah that was a lot🖤🖤in conclusion i❤️hole

[the1312daysofchristmas]

okay so since you know more than sarah could u give more info?? because i love learning about pete and his blackness as its literally never talked about ANYWHERE else. like thank god for tumblr tbh. sarah is genuinely the only reason ive ever known anything about him in that way but its always been limited so thats why i sent her the ask. i didnt even know ur blog. sorry for sending to her instead of you!!!

oh its fine!! im pretty new on the scene technically. while sarah and i were in the fob fandom at the same time in 2015 ish, i actually left tumblr completely and recently came back!! but anyway, lets talk about petes melanin (my beloved <3)

theres a pretty pervasive narrative, not just around pete but around any black and especially biracial celebrities that theyre ashamed of their blackness or arent "really" black. theres like. a looooooooooong conversation to be had within the black community about this, but to tldr it, the assumption is if you dont look black, you arent black, which for a lot of reasons isnt exactly the case. with him in particular theres a lot of stuff that contributes to this.

most people do not associate the alternative scene and emo especially with black people, so its easy to overlook a lot if someone isnt SUPER obviously black. pete has other ethnic features, like his nose, and is recognizable visually as black except for his skin color. except thats because hes been artificially lightened in photoshoots due to editing and (ALLEGEDLY AND POSSIBLY) lighter foundations. further, he relaxed his hair, which takes away another ethnic feature of his.

there is another aspect to this, which is that black people tan, noticeably and by several shades. you will not notice it if youre like seeing them continuously throughout the year, but as someone who lives in the caribbean and has spent some time in the states, the difference is stark enough to be noticeable. a lightskinned black person may look MUCH paler in the winter compared to in the summer.

in addition, the wealthier you are, the less time you tend to spend in the sun, so ive noticed that black celebrities tend to get lighter as they gain notoriety just because they have like more resources. the reason people from the caribbean tend to become lighter when we go to the states isnt because of less sun, during the summer thats not at all the case, its because the US is more developed so you dont HAVE to spend as much time in the sun.

besides that, hes like genuinely very loud and proud about being black, but all of those attempts are met with backlash. there was the reaction to his natural hair, the reaction to him with cornrows, and the reaction to his very emotional rant about the murder of george floyd. it happens in fobs music too!! ioh for example draws a lot of influence from choral and hymnal arrangements and soul music, not to mention jay-z and babyface working on the album itself, which led to them being labelled sell outs. they also just generally work with rappers more, with lil wayne on tiffany blews and big sean on srar, both of which also led to them being called sell outs. ab/ap as an album draws influence from rap/trap and mixtape culture in the way it was written (thats why its got so many samples), and subsequently got remixed. remember what happened next? mania draws a lot of influence from calypso and dancehall music and features burna boy singing in yoruba patois. that one led to the featured artist getting harassed en masse and multiple (worse) edits of the song without him on it. i dont like it here 💞.

that last point brings me to the fact that while pete definitely loves hardcore and metal, he also has always loved reggae and dancehall. hes half jamaican, spent time in jamaica as a child and listened to his grandparents records, which were. well. reggae and calypso and a little dancehall. if anyone ASKS him about it, hell talk about it willingly and candidly, theres an entire interview from during the hiatus (which i can no longer find rip) where hes asked about and talks about going natural and spending time in jamaica and listening to reggae, which heavily influenced black cards. he visited jamaica during the hiatus! although its unclear if he visited family since literally every news outlet that mentioned it was like "oh tropical getaway <3" unaware that thats where his folks are from

also heres that interview snippet sarah mentioned! i have the full page, its about the early days which is funny bc its just before futct.

theres also some poetry on sarahs blog that she found years ago thats VERY black. i dont like making it easy to find for nonblack people simply because the first time it was unearthed mostly white people were talking about it and the meaning of it went way over everyone elses head so i try to make sure that if people start talking about it they know going in that its about being black and biracial specifically and so that black fans dont feel the way i did when it first surfaced lol

all of this emphatically points to pete genuinely loving his blackness and not trying to hide it and it being something that majorly shaped his life, but genuinely being unable to talk about it bc of public perception.

sorry for talking your ear off!! if you have any specific qs i almost certainly have answers!!

[1989xtaylorsversion]

I've always wondered that if a lets say 17/18 year old female singersongwriter came up now w taylor's folklore/evermore albums how successful they would be without the ts label on them. Since they're just indie/country/folk albums and those arent the most popular genres. Even tho folklore/evermore are far superior albums in every aspect and especially songwriting than fearless - fearless is the one w catchy songs. Ig what im trying to say is do u think a newcomer w folklore could be mainstream?

this is so interesting because i’ve wondered this too. tbh i really don’t know bc i feel like it could go either way. maybe a newcomer wouldn’t have as much success, especially if it’s their first album. but, since the songs are so good, i’m sure the music wouldn’t be overlooked either. as for taylor’s success with them, i think her name helps, of course. but, the albums were such an impact to her career because the songwriting is unreal. it definitely marked a major milestone in her career.

[kachulein]

It's just Felix's voice is on another lvl and everytime his part comes in a song it's like "I knew it was gonna happen but I still feel attacked thank you" and ya I'd love to get some help in knowing who they are like, I recognize them most of the time but a guide to who's who wouldnt hurt mostly abt their personalities you know?

Oof I feel you so much with this. In the new album 아니 (Any) is my favourite song and I especially like Felix's part. His voice isn't as deep there but god, the tone of his voice is just so pretty?? It had me hooked from the start.🥺

And I'm really sorry for only answering this ask now, granted, I have to admit I felt very grumpy after tumblr deleted the whole guide I was working on but I finally finished the new, and definitely better/more organized one, so I hope this will be of help and that you'll enjoy reading through it~

A Guide to Stray Kids' Personalities

I'll put this under a cut as it got extremely long. :3

Bang Chan:

Chan is literally the biggest sweetheart and I keep referring to him as 'emotional support kpop boy'

he is so kind and caring - I mean he even hosts a weekly vlive broadcast to help stays fall asleep, he really cares about us/our problems and truly wants to help us feel better with his music and his words

truly does not have one bad bone in his body- he's super sweet and caring but when it comes down to business -music- he gets strict, maybe a little cold? but that's just because he wants everyone to do their best

he used to be (too) strict with Felix in the past but that was because he had a special bond with him/he liked him so much, so I assume he's the type of person who wants to see his loved ones succeed and do their best and so he might end up being a little too strict to them since he wants them to improve

he used to get more angry at the members when something didn't work out in the past but nowadays, he rarely loses his temper and he tries to stay away from them when he's really angry - he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings

he actually really likes acting cute!! he used to be the youngest member at jype and he used to hang out with older peers, so he got a habit of acting cute and giving hugs to others and now he does it to the members, haha so precious

he gets super shy and flustered when he's being complimented - he starts giggling and looking down, it's literally the most precious and he deserves to know how amazing he is because he truly is so humble

his humble self is what makes him a great leader as well since he's never greedy or selfish and always puts the members before himself - the members are his top priority and he definitely sacrifices some things for the team

but he also said he can't talk about himself well or he gets nervous when he's got a schedule by himself (like when he recorded his dance cover of 2pm's my house), so he really seems like someone who gains strength and confidence from having his team around him

he's very selfless and very supportive and encouraging but he can also be very funny and teasing

he's very genuine, sincere and nice and he's got an extremely strong sense of responsibility (vvv good trait for a leader ofc), he may seem a bit scary at first/in the past but the more you learn about him the more amazing you will find him and the more you will fall in love with him tbh

in general he's honestly top notch boyfriend material and also just a very wholesome and high quality human being

he also likes to lead and set the mood, he enjoys entertaining others and making them feel satisfied - he hopes that everyone can be happy, he wants to make people happy and then he will be happy, too

and ofc we can't forget how talented he is, music production/composition, making arrangements, writing lyrics, translating lyrics, speaking multiple languages, beautiful singing voice, amazing dancer (he's actually done ballet in the past), and also a great rapper

like tbh, what can't he do??? but believe me when I say, we're going to be asking ourselves this question quite a few times in this post

Minho:

Minho is the definition of a tsundere personality - even the members said so - at first glance you may notice that he can be quite savage and funny and maybe there's even a chance that he seems cold to some-

however, he's truly a sweet person and has a very warm heart and he selflessly cares about others without trying to make a big deal out of it - like, he'd never boast about helping others or doing someone a favour, he's the type to quietly take care of others

he doesn't like admitting to it but he truly cares a lot despite acting nonchalant most of the time - like one time Changbin asked him to get him something,,, and he shrugged it off as "nah dude, I'm not getting this for you" but he kept searching for it for 30 minutes when he couldn't find it - so that really shows it all (Changbin that dork asked Hyunjin to get it for him and then when Minho finally came back and said he couldn't find it, Changbin was like "oh shit sorry, I already asked Hyunjin to bring it to me." 🤦🏻‍♀️ #justiceforminho)

anyway, I don't want people to view him as just a pretty face who's an amazing dancer and a savage guy because he's soooooo much more than that, like there's a lot more to him below the surface -

DID YOU KNOW HE MAKES THREADED BRACELETS IN HIS FREE TIME??? THAT'S THE ABSOLUTE SOFTEST THING EVER BUT ALSO WHAT CAN'T HE DO??? SO MUCH TALENT IN ONE PERSON- (he wore one in his recent solo live and he said he made 7 in total and gave some to others, I wonder if some of the other members got one since I saw Hyunjin wearing a bracelet like that-)

he's a cat person which I love but he also resembles a cat so much?? a true kitty boy- he's very independent and self-reliant, he used to live by himself (I read that once), so he knows how to get around

he also enjoys things such as the smell of gasoline/gas stations or the smell of new buildings or even the smell of cat paws??? it's really odd but also really funny and his reason for it is that smells leave behind memories and I think that makes so much sense then-

he cares a lot about the wellbeing of animals and people and he even sponsors a child in Africa through UNICEF - my heart melted when I found out about that, he also can be seen wearing safety pins on multiple occasions and that just makes me feel like you'd be very safe with him

he can be a bit of an enigma though, even the members think he's "weird"/hard to understand as even they don't fully get him but I think that's his charm! he's not like everybody and he doesn't shy away from being himself

also, he never makes the younger members do stuff for him, on the dance team(s?) he was on predebut, he always used to be one of the youngest members so he said he never learned how to treat people younger than him (he's also an only child), so he's just comfortable with the younger skz members and I feel like they really appreciate it since it makes them feel as if they're all the same age

he also reads a lot and he's said that he reads many self-help books so that he can gain knowledge and help stays out there/convey the message of these books to them

with Minho it's really about the little things, he doesn't make grand gestures and that's why I think some people may overlook his kind and caring nature but if you really look closely, you can see it and it'll warm your heart

He's also very diligent and hardworking, albeit he seems to be someone who gets bored here and there ("I work out to kill time") he really has his goals and ambitions and he works hard for them.

His dancing is freaking amazing (@ jype pls he is a main dancer why is he rarely in center spot????) and his vocals and rapping have improved tremendously! He's got such a beautiful and angelic falsetto tbh you will fall in love with it-

So all in all, you can totally appreciate him for his wit and his savage comments but honestly, his kind and caring heart is what really made him my bias wrecker. I truly believe that he's a very caring and protective person and I find that so beautiful.

Changbin:

Changbinnie oh god, I have so much love for him and I can relate to him a lot. First of all, he always makes sure to be a good listener, so others tend to go to him with their concerns and he tries to take everything in that they say and then give them comfort

he cares a lot about other people's feelings and he puts a lot of importance on his relationships with other people - he wants others to feel comfortable around him and he is very thankful that the younger members also feel comfortable around him

he's a very honest person and doesn't pretend or fake anything, however, if his truth/his feelings would hurt someone else's feelings, he's not going to be honest. That doesn't mean that he's going to lie but he just cares a lot about not hurting other's feelings.

he said even if someone else's feelings are just a little bit hurt, it drives him crazy and he also said that he might be like that since he's sensitive and gets hurts by others easily (this is all so relatable😭)

anyway, Changbin is known for liking to joke around and also is one of the member who get teased by the others a lot, but fear not, he said that he actually enjoys when others tease him because that means they're comfortable with him and that makes him happy

how precious is that omg-

he makes jokes a lot but he is serious when he needs to be, he tends to be more fun around others/with others but is more serious when he's on his own, that's why he actually prefers to be around friends since it helps him forget about his own concerns

I guess he'd be an overthinker and to stop himself from overthinking he spends time playing around with the other members but in a way, I also feel a bit worried since he doesn't open up a lot and I hope he doesn't bottle up his feelings too much since I know how difficult that can be :c

on another note, Changbin is very focused on his health, he apparently works out every morning even when he's tired, he also cares about healthy nutrition and he takes supplements so that he can be healthier

apart from wanting others to feel comfortable around him, he also wants to be seen as a reliable person and it feels good to him when he can help someone/give them comfort

he's truly such a sweetheart and despite seeming so confident, I always feel like he might harbour a lot of insecurities underneath - but that's just my personal opinion, so take that with a grain of salt

the members also said he's the scariest when he gets mad but the sweet thing is that he always apologises to everyone after getting mad

even if he didn't get mad at everyone, he still apologises to them all, and it just shows what a good heart he's got-

and pls can we also talk about how talented he is as a producer, composer, lyricist, main rapper, and vocalist?? His voice is so beautiful and I hope he gets more confident in it and tbh he's also a really good dancer, so I hope he can get praised for his dancing more often as well (before he became a rapper he actually tried out dancing first)

so in conclusion WHAT CAN'T HE DO AND CHANGBIN BEST BOI GIVE HIM LOTS OF LOVE

Hyunjin:

"sexy boy" Hyunjinnie here is actually so much more than just a pretty face with great body proportions and amazing and sexy dance moves/skills

Hyunjin is the biggest soft boy, he's truly a sentimentalist - he gets hurt easily, Seungmin compared him to a snowflake that breaks when it touches the ground

he first thought of himself as mentally strong since that's what helps him overcome all the difficulties but later on (in that video) he felt like he was more mentally weak

he cares a lot about other people's opinion of him and it's really hard for him to ignore hate comments, he gets really sensitive about those (pls for the love of god, what a**holes are sending this precious angel hate?!?!?!?! I WANNA FITE (ง'̀-'́)ง)

with that being said, he's a very emotional boy, he tries to control his emotions or hold them in but he gets influenced by them quite often

he's also very honest with his feelings, so when he expresses them and when he breaks down, they all just burst out of him and he ends up spilling everything he's held in for a while

he doesn't really express his emotions skillfully (don't @ me, Changbin said that) so that can make you feel a bit sorry for him or it can make you feel like you want to take care of him because he's so innocent, naive and trusts easily

like really, he is, he almost got abducted by a cult once- SOMEONE PROTECT HIM PLS-

he also gets immersed in things very easily and boi do I feel him on this one; especially when he watches dramas, he gets so immersed and feels like he's living through the drama as if it happened to himself, he puts himself in the shoes of the male/female main character and the storyline just affects him so much that he often ends up crying (same same😭)

it also happens when he reads webtoons or so, he's also a huge fan of reading - ever since an acquaintance recommended him some books when he was going through a hard time and those books comforted him in a way that words never could - that was the start of his interest in reading

from the outside, we also know him as a bit of a drama queen which actually makes for so many hilarious moments - this impulsive/emotional side of him is just so authentic and he said that there's no side of him that he hasn't shown to stays

he can also be quite critical tbh and he's got his own standards for his likes and dislikes, so when something doesn't meet his standards he breaks down akdksksoals but when there's something he doesn't want to do or thinks doesn't serve him, he's got no problem cutting it off

despite that, he can actually get swayed by other people quite easily (hence, him being trusting and naive), when others make suggestions, he often agrees to them but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have his own opinions whatsoever, because he does have those as well

it's just easy to sway/persuade him, even when it comes to things like shopping - he rarely goes shopping tbh, despite dressing so well - but when he does, then he'll go get the things he finds pretty but when someone points something out and says "that's pretty" he'll buy it (so in conclusion, I really wanna go shopping with him now)

so yeah, Hyunjin is amazing and he's so compassionate and emotional and empathetic and I love him so much wtf and he's so hardworking and talented and his dancing is so amazing and his rapping has become so damn good, like his voice is loud and stable like good job baby🥺, I'm so proud of you🥺, and his singing voice is so soft and lovely, and he's also great at taking pictures- and aaaah seriously what can't he do??? he is a full package imo and you cannot escape his charms even if you try-

Jisung:

okay so Jisungie is seriously such a precious and shy bean and you don't really see this at first glance because he's so sociable, outgoing and cheerful when he's with the members

but that's the thing: he's close to them and they make him feel comfortable and confident, so he feels at ease and can show a more talkative side of himself - he's even the one who usually leads the conversation

he's extremely funny, has a lot of wit, is great at doing acrostic poems and in general, he's just such a creative person with many amazing ideas - some may call him a genius😌

but coming back to that shy side of his; he's actually a very introverted person; he doesn't like to leave the house and and hates moving in general - Jisung in bed is Jisung in his natural habitat tbh

on days off he prefers to stay indoors, lay in bed, and just watch youtube videos or tv shows or something - he doesn't like to go out or do outdoor activities and his eyes are always glued to the phone (relatable)

even when he's eating with the members he's having his earbuds in and watches something on his phone and then he gets really creative and uses all kinds of things to mount his phone (again, so relatable hhhh)

his routine is something like watching youtube videos/cartoons etc., falling asleep, waking up, spacing out and then repeating the whole process-

he sleeps really well and he can actually fall asleep in the weirdest places, it really shows how he can fall asleep everywhere but maybe he also seeks special hideouts to nap because he doesn't like being woken up and if the members can't see/find him, they also can't wake him... you get it hahaha~

Chan thought that maybe Jisung watches all these things on his phone as a way to escape reality and to relieve stress but Jisung also said that he gets a lot of inspiration from cartoons and videos to write lyrics - due to watching all these videos he actually harbours a lot of random trivia knowledge, which fits the genius description~

however, despite this outgoing side when he's with his close friends, he actually gets scared easily, may it be heights or dark places or meeting new people - protect him omg - especially with strangers he's extremely shy -> the introvert showing

he actually doesn't talk at all when he has to meet new people, he gets very nervous and awkward and scared - when they're at music shows and there's a lot of people around, he gets very nervous - he said he's never been good at making friends and he only keeps a few close friends

when he gets close to people, however, he becomes extremely talkative with no limit, he's also very affectionate and warm-hearted, his sentimental, soft and dreamy side really coming through

so basically, he's very cheerful on the outside but thoughtful on the inside - he's actually very mature despite the goofy and silly/playful side he usually shows us -> Changbin once said that Jisung feels like an older brother to him because of how mature he is, he really is a deep thinker and I guess that's also a reason why he's so amazing at writing songs

Jisung also got something we're all envious of; he can eat lots of unhealthy things without gaining weight - he loves sweet things (but also chips) and he frequently eats late night snacks and luckily for him, his face rarely puffs up despite those late night snacks, there's only been a few occasions during which that happened (and I think I got a picture of one of these instances hahahaha he really looks different with a puffy face, so cute!!!🥺😂)

he's also just such an adorable person and it's so soft and cute and fun to watch him get excited and he absolutely loves to receive praise and he's just such a baby boy tbh :(( jisung protection squad where ya at?? and well, of course, we can't end this without talking about his endless list of talents like WHAT CAN'T THIS MAN DO??? producing songs, composing, writing lyrics, amazing rapping, amazing vocals, amazing dancing, drawing, voice imitations - he's seriously one of the most talented all-rounder out there and god I love him so much and you seriously can't escape his squirrel/quokka charms🥺

Felix:

if you need a definition or a personification of the word pure, it would be Felix, like seriously, this boy is so soft and precious we need to protect him at all costs

he's literally so nice, so sweet, so kind and so creative - he's often referred to as the "romanticist" in stray kids and yeah that really fits because you know what? he once surprised Seungmin for his birthday in the cutest way. He called him on his birthday and asked him for help (as an excuse) and when Seungmin came down, Felix was there with a birthday cake with Seungmin's nickname on it - he basically organized this little surprise and Seungmin tried so hard not to cry🥺🥺🥺

Felix is so considerate and cares a lot about the other members, he's usually more of a quiet person but when he feels comfortable around someone, he can get really talkative

but him not talking doesn't mean there's nothing going on inside of him - he's literally got so many thoughts running around in his mind and he's truly an overthinker - he talks to himself in his mind a lot

he also loves playing games and he can seriously go on playing until 6am, the members said that he is very good at concentrating (for example when he studies Korean) but especially also when he's playing games

Felix said that playing games is something that helps him relieve stress or it's what he does when he's tired - playing games is a distraction for him, so he can avoid thinking of whatever's troubling him

however, recently he wants to focus more on his concerns and worries, he thinks it's not something he should avoid, so now he tries to focus on these worries and talk about them/express them more since he thinks it's important to do so

something that's really cute about him but also worrisome is that he gets sleepy easily, especially after eating, so whenever they got dance practice, he tends not to eat in order to avoid getting sleepy :(

protect him pls and pls lixie don't avoid eating~ especially when having dance practice you need your energy and it's not good to have an empty stomach and fill it with coffee and sweet beverages instead of food :(

anyway, Felix is winsome and cute and an absolute cuddle buddy, he says he doesn't really know what it means to act cute but I suppose he's just naturally cute and adorable- I MEAN C'MON-

whenever Felix talks about serious matters, it's like he needs some sort of comfort afterwards so he requires a lot of cuddles (but the members said that after a while it gets too hot (I guess because of his body heat??) so it can be hard for them to cuddle him for long periods of time :'))

Felix is also known as our sunshine, he always wants to give a positive and happy impression to others/us stays even when he might be dealing with negative thoughts, it's too precious but I hope he also takes care of himself

but trying to be optimistic and think positively instead of letting the negative thoughts consume you is already a good start and I feel like Chan also helped him a lot with this, Chanlix best soulmates ever

Felix has high expectations (it seems) and he always wants to do better and do well, he's working hard on improving himself and it really shows!!

his singing voice improved so much (as well as his rapping!! and I mean H I S  V O I C E in general oof😭🥺) and his dancing is freaking amazing!! I hope he can become confident in himself because he deserves to be happy with the person he is since he's such a huge inspiration to so many of us!! SERIOUSLY WHAT CAN'T HE DO?? he shows us that we can achieve anything with practice and hard work and that's so inspiring PLS EVERYONE LOVE OUR FELIX SUNSHINE

Seungmin:

I think the first words that come to mind when thinking of Seungmin is how diligent and clean/organized he is. He was one of the only (if not THE only) trainee who never missed a day of writing his trainee logs

he's not just diligent but extremely hardworking overall and he describes himself as serious and a bit funny - he's got very strong willpower tbh

he may also be known for teasing the members, especially Jeongin, or for nagging when someone (looking at you, Jisung) leaves behind a mess at the dorm but he is truly a sweetheart and he doesn't mean any harm

and in turn, he's also one of the members who gets teased the most- when that happens he becomes upset but he recovers very quickly as he often thinks it's not worth getting mad over

like honestly, he is a puppy, he can't do no harm :< but yeah, Seungmin is actually extremely soft, emotional, empathetic and supportive!! I've been keeping an eye on him recently and whenever something happens to a member (on a variety show - for example when one member shows off something and embarrasses himself or so), he's always there to give them a hug, comforting them

he also always tries to cheer other members up when they feel down, then he may act silly or he does/say something that's supportive because he truly cares about the members and doesn't like seeing them in pain

he's also someone who cries very easily, showing how he's truly an emotional baby but don't be phased, he's actually very emotionally strong and it's something very admirable about him

he has God sent vocals, his dancing is amazing and omg have you heard rapper!Seungmin?? Tbh I dig it!! He strictly takes care of his voice since his vocals and recording songs is very important to him - he dresses warmly when it's cold, always wears a mask and tries not to get sick

he's also very good at taking photos and he always brings his camera to official schedules and takes photos of the members. SEUNGMIN BEST STRAY KIDS FANSITE!!!!!

if you ever hear a weird noise, especially something sounding like "GAAAH" or "DA", it's probably Seungmin. He's truly a puppy, he's so cute and adorable, I feel like he's the type of person you can't get mad at

he also manages himself well, from getting up early, to cooking food for himself if there's none, to taking care of his body and health - it's really admirable and he also practices his singing so diligently and it just s h o w s- he's so good

also, he actually wanted to become a baseball player when he was a kid and we're still waiting for him to show us how he plays-

but also!!! he is a very smart and logical person (he wanted to be a prosecutor if he wasn't in stray kids) so he's got both the logical and also the very loving, empathetic side since he's also very considerate of the members - he seems to be a really good listener to them, this is just a personal observation from watching two kids room episodes- and he's actually the only member who thinks before he speaks- THANK YOU SEUNGMING I LOVE WHEN PEOPLE DON'T JUST BLURT EVERYTHING OUT-

so really ???? WHAT CAN'T HE DO HE IS A FULL PACKAGE- and fun fact, he brushes his teeth around 6 times a day-

but anyway, Seungmin is the type of person who appreciates the small things in life and finds happiness through those. I really like that attitude and he's truly someone worth looking up to. Our multitalented dandy boy- you can only love him~

Jeongin:

Jeongin here may be the youngest - and granted he is absolutely cute and adorable no matter what he does - but he's actually also a very mature person and I feel like that can be overlooked since he's the youngest of the team

while it can be hard for him to share his struggles as there's no one else his age in skz, he's also generally a person who doesn't want to burden others with his hardships so he keeps a lot of stuff to himself (so relatable)

but recently his mom talked to him about him not sharing his feelings and he's trying to open up more and share a bit, when the other members ask him if it's been hard, he often bursts into tears - god, protect him pls

even though he doesn't talk or show that much there's these moments - one time he was eating with Hyunjin and just broke down in tears since it's been hard for him - I suppose he bottles stuff up and then it comes out all of a sudden

however, his mature side is still there and the members, especially Hyunjin or Chan really enjoy sharing their feelings with him

Jeongin is a really great listener, he doesn't try to give solutions, he just listens to the other person and then shares his own experiences - it's what makes him seem mature

though he also has a bit of a mature and even cold look, so usually the first impression he gives off is different from his actual self and he said he enjoys seeing how people get surprised when they get closer to him and learn about his true self

he's also extremely clumsy and causes trouble often - from breaking doors, to accidentally hurting members, to spilling stuff, he's a clumsy boi

and he's also really forgetful, he tends to forget when he orders something online and gets surprised when it suddenly arrives or he forgets where he put his belongings (like his airpods jajdjskdks) and then he just buys new ones and then loses them again after a few months- aish that boi-

but these things are also what makes him even more lovable, like yes, he definitely has a mature side about him but you just want to protect and take care of him when you see him, amiright???

the members also said (or more like Hyunjin said) that he doesn't know anyone who's kinder and nicer than Jeongin

and on top of that, he's also a very hardworking member and his dancing and his vocals have improved soooooo much, and I'm so so so proud of him, like his voice is so beautiful

and he's been getting into working out recently, so now he's also trying to take good care of his body and wow, he's been doing a really good job even the members commented on how his back/shoulders are becoming broader

all in all, Jeongin is the cute and adorable maknae of Stray Kids but he's also so much more than just the youngest member and he's got so many things going for him and he always pushes through even when it's hard and never gives up

it's truly admirable like what can't he do right????? pls show our cute baby lots of love uwu

[transmechanicus]

Opinion on the band Avatar? I really loved their last album, but I think you'd really vibe with the cyberpunk vibes the newest one has.

Tried out their most popular songs, didn’t quite hook me. My favorite part of metal is the guitar doing the melody, and the vocals which i also like for their melody. For example i love Amon Amarth’s guitar work but i find his voice lacking given it has little to no melody. I find Sabaton’s better songs to be equally good in both. Powerwolf regularly smashes it out of the park in both. I’m yet to find a metal band with vocals good enough to make me overlook lackluster guitar tbh.

[unbreakablemouserat]

OK Computer by Radiohead may be one the of most important albums ever but tbh I really do enjoy it because of it resonates a lot with my antisocial, cynical “anarchist cat owner” and lonely sides of me. And I think that’s partially why it is celebrated after almost twenty-five years but sometimes I rather overlook the cultural impact it had and just enjoy the songs on their own merits because it’s the music I’m here for at the end of the day, and sometimes albums that didn’t have the same impact or aren’t as celebrated can also perhaps have an effect on me.

[rebelwith0utacause]

Of course I’m late to this, but I’m just now on my laptop to do it. I was tagged by @spicycal @5sosofficial and @notinthesameguey and once again this was hard af. I think I’m probably missing some albums, but this is a rough outline of my faves throughout the years.

Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime as the best concept album to ever exist. This lineup of Queensryche was the best one, and everything after this was just meh. Such a shame.

Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane; or one of the first albums I bought with my own money, it speaks to me on another level, it is incredibly sexy and sensual and dark with an (un)healthy dose of existential dread. I only skip Sunday Morning tbh, too chirpy for me. Secret, tho...

Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor. Hearing this album for the first time almost 13 years ago was... an experience. I remember hating the opening track Born, because the guy I liked (and hated his taste in music) posted it on Hi5. It was too thrash for me, but my, oh, my, how the tables have turned. There’s no skip. My heart literally beats out of my chest whenever I play this one and the lyrical content is right up my alley. My Acid Words, Sentient 6, Sell My Heart For Stones. So good. RIP Warrel Dane :(

All Time Low - Put Up Or Shut Up is one of those bitches. I came into the fandom right before the release of Nothing Personal and I remember liking almost all of their songs, but somehow this EP remained so special to me. It reminds me of a youth I never truly experienced but I also did, if that makes sense. Also love teenage Alex’s voice <3 (and Flyzik’s backing vocals on some songs)

Alesana - The Emptiness. By now you should know that I have a thing for concept albums. I already loved their previous work, but it wasn’t done right. When The Emptiness came out, I was blown by how polished it sounded. Still think that they were one of those bands that were overlooked and too easily labeled emo like it’s a bad thing.

Incubus - Monuments and Melodies.I realize that this is a compilation, but it’s also one of my most played Incubus albums. It’s missing a few songs to make it the perfect compilation, but it’s still so good, especially part 2.

5SOS - Youngblood. It was hard to decide whether I add Calm or YB, because Calm doesn’t have skips, and YB has Lie To Me and Woke Up In Japan (which I usually avoid), but it comes down to the fact that YB has more songs, and more songs I’m personally attached to (YB, Talk Fast, More, Meet You There, Ghost Of You), unlike Calm (Thin White Lies). 

I’m adding a few honorable mentions, just because: Placebo - Battle For The Sun, Opeth - Damnation, Paramore - Brand New Eyes, A7X - Avenged Sevenfold, Aghora - Formless, The Used - Lies For The Liars, BMTH - That’s The Spirit, Architects - Holy Hell, Post Malone - beerbongs & bentleys, MGK - Hotel Diablo

Tagging @cccatz @sadistmichael @tigerteeff @twilightmomentswithyou @pxrxmoore @cashtonasfuck @krindy33 if you haven’t done it yet and want to :)) Here’s the link.

[kxlebcross]

[ ya know imma do this... odd numbers, please 😂 ]

do it a few more times and i’ll maybe finally remember what odd numbers are jkhgfjgkh

1. what did you learn about yourself this year?

honestly, i have no idea XD all this lockdown thing was a very… interesting experience, to say at least? i guess i expected to feel a lot more miserable when just sitting alone, but in the end it wasn’t that bad? so i guess what we learned is that sitting alone locked up with a bunch of movies and video games is actually fun when you overlook the lockdown restrictions kdjfhgk

3. worst moment of the year?

hands down the moment when the videogame i waited over two years for got ruined for me in less than two minutes :’) i barely got to play half an hour before that happened and havent been able to pick it up since so im definitely salty about this one... and will be for a closer undisclosed period of time

5. best song of the year?

1x1 (feat. nova twins) by bring me the horizon, from their post human: survival horror album

7. what’s one thing that happened this year that you want to change?

id love to unhear all the bullshit that ruined aforementioned videogame for me :’)

9. best television series?

i cant choose between cherry magic and the haunting of hill house kjdfhg 

11. what made you cry the most this year?

sad movies, like spirit: stallion of the cimarron, like…. bro, did u see that? pretty fucking sad once ur old enough to understand it hgjdgf

13. best movie of the year?

i cant choose one tbh klhdgkd but i really liked mignonnes (i jumped into it after reading/watching a few interviews with the writer of it, so id have proper context on it, and it really helped with understanding the whole thing), underwater, nocturne, the other lamb, the old guard, big time adolescence, sea fever, the invisible man, the beach house, evil eye, sightless, isi & ossi, the hater, the sonata and liverleaf

15. did you make any new friends?

yeah! and with nothing to do i even had the proper time to invest in maintaining these friendships, so maybe im not that horrible at this whole making friends thing haha

17. what are some hobbies that you developed?

i got back to writing! i took a longer break in rping so it was nice to get back and get my english polished up a bit haha i also got an embroidery kit, but never got around to starting it XD

19. do you look different from the beginning of the year?

yeah, changed my hair color like… three times and by now my wardrobe is only sweatpants and oversized shirts and hoodies kjfhkd peak 2020 fashion amirite

21. what message would you give yourself at the beginning of the year?

“care less so it will hurt less when it ends” and no, not gonna elaborate on this one

23. one of the best meals you’ve had this year?

i discovered this asian restaurant in the city somewhere halfway along the lockdown period, and they make the best asian food i had so far??? and their menu is SUPER EXTENSIVE so theres a lot to choose from… sigh im gonna miss this place once i move back home after getting my diploma

25. what’s one thing that you hope will continue next year?

the chill and fairly decent state of my mental health that i somehow managed to pick up during lockdown kjdfghkd but we’ll see how that goes lol