#song of the day is wild zero by guitar wolf

[art--harridan]

[Image description: A digital drawing based on the film Wild Zero. It features the character Guitar Wolf, who takes up most of the piece's space. His legs are stood in a very spread out manner, heeled boots pointing outwards. His arms are behind his back, shrouded in shadow. The sharp angles of his clothes, like the flare of his jeans or the collar or cuffs of his leather jacket, are exaggerated points. His face is steeled, and his dark hair and sunglasses obscure him, alongside the shadows. Stark black lineart is used for the drawing of Guitar Wolf. Behind him, there's a bright red background (which is the same colour as his shirt) which has a yellow road-like pattern moving upwards. The rectangles increase in size and get more warped as they ascend. Next to them, there's neon green text which says "Wild Zero".]

Inktober - Day 27 (Road)

Film - Wild Zero (Tetsuro Takeuchi, 1999)

[d-criss-news]

20 Questions With Darren Criss: How Acting Has Helped Him Make New Music

While Darren Criss has graced our TV screens with a range of characters, from high schooler Blaine Anderson on Glee to serial killer Andrew Cunanan on The Assassination of Gianni Versace, he was last spotted just being himself, on our For You Page on TikTok. “I’m walking to rehearsal with a guitar on my back with a Trader Joe’s bag ... I did not bring an umbrella because I forgot that it was raining. I’m rocking that NYC musician life,” the Glee alum explained in the hilarious clip posted three days ago.

While Criss’ acting work has earned him acclaim and stardom, he leaned into making music during the pandemic. On Aug. 20, he dropped a new EP, Masquerade, featuring five new tracks that Criss says were inspired by the different characters Criss has embraced throughout his career. After Criss wrote songs for his musical comedy web series Royalties and Apple TV+’s animated sitcom Central Park before the pandemic struck the United States, he then used those experiences as a precursor to his new EP. As Criss continues to promote his new music, he answered 20 of Billboard's questions – giving us a peek into how his new EP came together, and how growing up in San Fransisco shaped him as an actor, singer and all-around artist.

1. What inspired your latest project, Masquerade?

Although I would have preferred that it come at a far less grim cost, I finally had the time. Before the pandemic, I had written 10 new songs for my show Royalties -- along with an original song for Disney and another for Apple’s Central Park. These were all assignments in which I was writing for a certain scenario and character. Go figure. It was the most music I had ever written in a calendar year. This really emboldened me to rethink how I made my own music— to start putting a focus on “character creation” in my songs, rather than personal reflection. The latter was not proving to be as productive. The alchemy of having this time and having set a new intention with my own songwriting and producing made me put on a few of my favorite masques and throw myself a Masquerade.

2. How do you think your background as an actor complements your music?

They are one and the same to me. I treat acting roles like musical pieces— dialogue is like scoring a melody; there’s pace, dynamics, cadence, tone. Physical characterization is like producing -- zeroing in on the bass line, deciding on the kick pattern. Vocal characterization is like choosing the right sonic experience, choosing the most effective snare sound, and mixing the high end or low end. It goes without saying that it works in the complete opposite direction. Making each song is taking on a different role literally and employing the use of different masques to maximize the effectiveness of the particular story being told.

3. On Instagram  you wrote that “Masquerade is a small collection of the variety of musical masques that have always inspired me.” Which track do you identify with most in your real life?

Everybody absorbs songs differently. Some key into the lyrics, some into the melody, some the production, some into vocal performance. When I listen to songs, I consider all of their value on totally different scales. So it’s hard to say if there’s any track I “identify” with more than any others, since I -- by nature -- identify with all of them. I think I just identify with certain aspects more than others. If it helps for a more interesting answer, I will say I enjoy the slightly more classical, playful -- dare I say -- more Broadway-leaning wordplay of “Walk of Shame,” but that’s just talking about lyricism. I enjoy the attitude of “F*kn Around,” the batsh--t musicality of “I Can’t Dance,” the relentless grooves of “Let’s” and “For A Night Like This.” All have different ingredients I really enjoy having an excuse to dive into.

4. What’s the first piece of music that you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

Beatles audio cassettes: “Help” and “Hard Day’s Night.” I just listened on repeat on a tape-playing Walkman until my brother and I got a stereo for our room with a CD player in it, which was  when I just bought the same two albums again, but this time as compact discs.

5. What was the first concert you saw?It’s hard to say, because my parents took us to a lot of classical concerts when we were small. But I guess this question usually refers to what was the first concert you went to on your own volition, and that my friend, was definitely Warped Tour ’01. My brother and I went on our own— two teenagers going to their first music festival, in the golden age of that particular genre and culture. It was f--king incredible.

6. What did your parents do for a living when you were a kid?

My dad was in private banking and advised really, really wealthy people on how to handle their money. My mom was, by choice, a stay-at-home mom, but in reality, she was my dad��s consigliere. They discussed absolutely everything together. They were a real team, and I saw that every single day in the house. They both had a background in finance (That’s how they met in the first place.) and were incredibly skilled at all the hardcore adulting things that I absolutely suck at. They were total finance wizards together. So of course, instead of becoming an accountant, I picked up playing the guitar and ran as far I could with it. Luckily, they were all about it.

7. What was your favorite homecooked meal growing up?

My dad was an incredible chef. For special occasions, I’d request his crab cakes. They were unreal. I’ve never had a crab cake anywhere in the world that was good as my dad’s.

8. Who made you realize you could be an artist full-time?

I don’t know if I’ve actually realized that yet.

9. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?

The specifics change every day, but the core idea at the top is to continue being consistently inconsistent with my choices, and to keep getting audiences to constantly reconsider their consideration of me. But I mean, sure, what performer doesn’t want to play Coachella? What songwriter doesn’t want to have Adele sing one of their songs? What actor doesn’t want to be in a Wes Anderson film?

10.  How did your hometown/city shape who you are?

San Francisco. I mean, come on. I was really lucky. The older I get, the more grateful I am for just being born and raised there. It’s an incredibly diverse, culturally rich, colorful, inclusive, vibrant city. By the time I was born, it had served as a beacon for millions of creative, out-of-the-box thinkers to gather and thrive. I grew up around that. The combination of that with having parents, who were unbelievably supportive of the arts themselves, laid an incredibly fortunate foundation to consider the life of an artist as a legitimately viable option. It’s a foundation that I am supremely aware is not the case for millions of young artists around the world. I was absurdly lucky.

11.  What’s the last song you listened to?

I mean probably one of mine, but not by choice. I know, lame. But I’m promoting a new EP, what’d you expect? But if you wanna know what I’ve been listening to, as far as new s--t is concerned: a lot of Lizzy McAlpine, Remi Wolf, and Charlie Burg.

12.  If you could see any artist in concert, dead or alive, who would it be?

The Beatles is an obvious "yeah, duh." Sammy Davis, Mel Tormé, or of course, Nat King Cole. I would’ve loved to see Howard Ashman give a lecture on his creative process and his body of work.

13. What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen happen in the crowd of one of your sets?

I feel like just having a crowd at all, at any one of my sets, is pretty wild enough.

14. What’s your karaoke go-to?

The real answer to this I’ll write into a book one day, because I have a lot to say about karaoke etiquette. I have two options here: I can either name a song that I like to sing for me, for fun, or I can name a song that really gets the group going. The answer depends on what kind of karaoke night we’re dealing with here. So I will say, after I’ve selected a ton of songs that services a decent enough party vibe for everyone else, then I would do one for me, and that would be the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling.”

15. What’s one thing your most devoted fans don’t know about you?

What I have up my sleeve.

16. What TV show did you binge-watch over the past year?

Dave is a stroke of genius. There are episodes that I believe are bona fide masterpieces. Also, My Brilliant Friend is a masterclass in cinematic television.

17. What movie, or song, always makes you cry?

It’s A Wonderful Life.

18. What’s one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?

Get used to sharing everything about yourself and your life now, or more astutely, to the idea that you don’t necessarily get to control how your life is shared. I know it’s not really your thing, but you’re gonna have to get used to it, so start building up those calluses now. And don’t worry, all the stuff you love now will be cool again in your mid-thirties, so keep some of those clothes because you’ll be a full-blown fashion icon if you just keep wearing exactly what you’re wearing. Oh nd also, put money into Apple and Facebook.

19.  What new hobby did you take on in the last year?

I’ve always been a linguaphile. My idea of leisure time is getting to study or review other languages. This past year, I took the time to finally dive into learning how to read, write, and speak Japanese. Other than making music, it was one of the biggest components of my 2020-2021.

20. What do you hope to accomplish or experience by the end of 2021?

I hope I get to play live shows again.

[tisthenightofthewitch]

THE 20 GREATEST GHOST SONGS – RANKED - KERRANG!

From Opus Eponymous to Prequelle, we rank the greatest compositions from Ghost

Words: Sam Law

Photo: Tom Barnes 

Undoubtedly the breakout band in heavy music over the past decade, it’s been a wild ride for Swedish creeps Ghost. Melding elements of hard rock, doom, classic metal, psychedelia and outright guitar-pop – then daubing on the corpsepaint – their combination of deceptively digestible sound, occultist ethos and anti-ecumenical aesthetic has captured the imagination of music fans and sling-shotted their live ‘rituals’ into arenas on both sides of the Atlantic.

Of course, mysterious mainman Tobias Forge (aka Papa Emeritus I-IV, aka Cardinal Copia) has had his struggles. In 2013, the band was forced to temporarily rebrand as Ghost B.C. for legal reasons in the U.S. The initially intriguing, fluid anonymity of his bandmates’ Nameless Ghoul personas (even Dave Grohl apparently once donned the cowl) became a sticking point, too, as the collective sued Tobias in 2017, failing in their suit but also dispelling some of the precious mystique.

That Tobias has endured – not just surviving, but flamboyantly thriving in the heightened spotlight – feels like proof his band are here to stay. New music is eagerly anticipated in the not-so-distant future but, for now, we rank the 20 tracks on which Ghost have built their unholy empire thus far…

20. MUMMY DUST (MELIORA, 2015)

‘I was carried on a wolf’s back, to corrupt humanity / I will pummel it with opulence, with corpulence and greed!’ Arriving on a wave of staccato percussion, spiked with gnarls of riffage and flashes of synth, this pounding cut from 2015’s Meliora – named after the insubstantial detritus of years past – plays out as one of Ghost’s most compelling indictments of the avarice of mankind. Although its creeping instrumentation, growled baritone and choral climax don’t exactly show the Swedes at their most inventive, Mummy Dust has been elevated massively in the live arena, with Papa leaning into the lurching malevolence before showering the audience with ‘money’. In Ghost we trust.

19. WITCH IMAGE (PREQUELLE, 2018)

Ghost might have traversed a full spectrum from gouging metal via classic rock to shimmering guitar-pop thus far, but the further their sound has strayed into the light, the harder the lyrics have drilled down into darkness. It’s never been truer than on this underrated ditty from Prequelle. A textbook three-and-a-half-minutes built of sweet acoustic and rich electric guitars surging towards its massive chorus, you can practically taste the relish as Tobias ladles the syrup onto some of his darkest words. ‘While you sleep in earthly delight, someone’s flesh is rotting tonight / Like no other to you, what you’ve done you can not undo…’

18. CON CLAVI CON DIO (OPUS EPONYMOUS, 2010)

After the baroque organ intro of Deus Culpa, it’s the throbbing bassline of Con Clavi Con Dio that truly pulls back the sacristy drapes on Ghost’s compelling debut. Translating crudely as ‘With Nails, With God’, the title Con Clavi Con Dio is actually an attempt at clever wordplay, drawing comparisons with the nails of crucifixion and the conclave of bishops at the head of the church as Tobias sings, ‘Our conjuration sings infernal psalms and smear the smudge in bleeding palms.’ Theological musing aside, it’s the dark swirl of sound here that truly draws the listener in, with gauzy layers of guitar, synth and vocals – not to mention the devilish tritone interval – building into a towering cathedral of subversion.

17. FAITH (PREQUELLE, 2018)

No relation to the oft-covered George Michael classic, the fourth single from 2018’s Prequelle feels like a defiant statement of the band’s arena-straddling prowess twelve years in. Powered by snarling six-strings and pounding drums – custom engineered to get tens of thousands of fists pumping – it’s seething proof that this band’s heaviest sounds are still among their best. At the same time, we get a furious flash of the man behind the mask as Tobias takes aim at his ex-Nameless Ghouls with some serious lyrical barbs: ‘The Luddites shun the diabolical, a fecal trail across the land / Although it stinks, feels and looks identical / And a pack of fools can take the stand.’ Oooft.

16. PER ASPERA AD INFERNI (INFESTISSUMAM, 2013)

Riffing on the popular Latin phrase ‘Per aspera ad astra’ (‘Through hardship to the stars’), Per Aspera Ad Infini literally translates as ‘Through Hardships To Hell.’ Its churning sound diabolically matches up. Layering on riffage that calls to mind the epic doom of heroes like Candlemass, marching-beat percussion and a lyrical treatment revolving around that title chanted as a mantra, there is sinisterness throughout. Its defining quality, however, is the fragility and despair Tobias manages to summon as he begs with ecstatic fervour, ‘Oh Satan, devour us all / Hear our desperate call.’

15. SECULAR HAZE (INFESTISSUMAM, 2013)

The lead single from 2013’s sophomore LP Infestissumam immediately built on the spooky foundations laid by Opus Eponymous with broader pantomime atmospherics and – on its live premiere in Linköping, Sweden, where Papa Emeritus II was unveiled – the first branches of their expanded mythos. A carnivalesque organ sets the tone of mischievous eeriness before the pendulous musicality hits full swing with Papa inviting us in: ‘You know that the fog is here omnipresent when the disease sees no cure / You know that the fog is here omnipresent when the intents remain obscure – forevermore!’ As if their mainstream-invading intent wasn’t clear enough, its single release even came with a B-side cover of ABBA’s I’m A Marionette featuring Dave Grohl on drums!

14. SEE THE LIGHT (PREQUELLE, 2018)

Another barely-veiled reference to Tobias’ struggles with ex-bandmates, See The Light is also one of his band’s most shamelessly uplifting compositions. Feeling like a positivist ’80s anthem – shot through with a little venom – its tinkling keys, soaring synths and understated, rumbling riffage propel an effortlessly memorable message about transcending the ill-will of one’s antagonists. Sing it together: ‘Every day that you feed me with hate, I grow stronger!’

13. DEUS IN ABSENTIA (MELIORA, 2015)

Riding on the metronomic beat of their Monstrance Clock, the closer on Ghost’s third album (translated from Latin as ‘In The Absence Of God’) is an extravagant exercise in arch theatrics. Benefiting from Klas Åhlund’s grandiose production, Tobias comes across as both demon and angel, extending his dark invitation: ‘The world is on fire, and you are here to stay and burn with me / A funeral pyre, and we are here to revel forever.’ Concluding with a hymn-like Latin chorus, it feels like the ultimate corruptive culmination: a musical sacrament truly touching only to those in the know.

12. STAND BY HIM (OPUS EPONYMOUS, 2010)

The track that started it all. Inspired by that irresistible lead riff – stumbled upon while practising for another band – Tobias foresaw a deep, dark well of potential waiting to be tapped and threw himself in headlong. Although Stand By Him’s schlocky lyrics feel gleefully on-the-chin nowadays (‘The Devil’s power is the greatest one / When His’ and Hers’ holiest shuns the sun / A temptress smitten by the blackest force / A vicar bitten blind in intercourse’), they paved the way for everything that followed. On top of that, its soaring ‘It is the night of the witch…’ chorus line even rivals that of Donovan’s Season Of The Witch (an obvious influence) for sheer spellbinding catchiness.

11. GHULEH/ZOMBIE QUEEN (INFESTISSUMAM, 2013)

One of the less immediate tracks on Ghost’s second album was also its most important. A staggering, seven-and-a-half minute opus that unfolds from its sorrowing piano line and Papa’s desiccated hiss through a swaggering midsection to a conclusion full of proggy bombast; this was proof of the untold breadth and depth of their vision and sound. Pushing from their basis in ’80s classic rock through the looser sounds of the ’70s and right into ’60s psychedelia, this ode to the titular zombie queen (‘Up from the stinking dirt she rises, ghastly pale / Shape-shifting soon but now she’s rigid, stiff and stale’) feels like Tobias’ first real attempt to stretch his (cursed black) wings and remains amongst their most rewarding compositions.

10. RITUAL (OPUS EPONYMOUS, 2010)

Anyone who remembers Ghost’s ethereal emergence from the shadows likely does so with this earworm writhing in the back of their mind. Combining the slick melodies and wry fatalism of prime Blue Öyster Cult with the crunchiness of Pentagram and Saint Vitus – soothing organs and a driving bassline pulling away – they had the musical formula nailed. It was the imagery contained therein, however (all ‘bedouins and nomads’, fallen angels and ‘smells of dead human sacrifices from the altar bed’) that captured the imaginations of a congregation ravenous for a fresh take on ancient evil. Here, the doors to the sanctum were truly open.

9. YEAR ZERO (INFESTISSUMAM, 2013)

Tying into the Ghost B.C. renaming necessitated by their Stateside legal wranglings (the year zero being the pivotal point between the B.C. and A.D. timelines), Infestissumam’s sixth track developed into one of the greatest showcases of their dark majesty. Opening with a powerful Gregorian chant (‘Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer’) calling to mind Jerry Goldsmith’s legendary soundtrack to The Omen, Ave Satana, the direct riffage and bludgeoning choruses that follow hammer home a sense of sheer monstrosity. Typically, the Year Zero concept is subverted, with Forge (and, reportedly, guitarist Martin Persner) picturing an ancient antagonist far predating biblical times: ‘Since dawn of time the fate of man is that of lice, equal as parasites and moving without eyes / A day of reckoning when penance is to burn, count down together now and say the words that you will learn.’

8. MIASMA (PREQUELLE, 2018)

Just when you think you’ve got Ghost figured out, they pull something like this. The first of Prequelle’s two extended instrumentals feels like showboating from an outfit whose legitimacy some fans had dared question following the acrimonious departure of so many players. Rearing into view as an expansively primitive space-rock soundscape, layering up into an ’80s prog epic, then exploding in a kaleidoscopic whirlwind of synths, Michael Jackson riffs and the best metal saxophone this side of Norway’s Shining, it was proof that Tobias’ vision would not be dictated solely by his own crooning King Diamond fixation and that it, frankly, knew no bounds.

7. ELIZABETH (OPUS EPONYMOUS, 2010)

Four years since their formation, Elizabeth felt like the break Ghost had been waiting for. Released on 7” vinyl (with the less-ear-catching Death Knell on B-side), the Mercyful Fate comparisons were immediate, with many seeing the sense of eerie grandeur and kitsch luridity at play as directly descended from the great Danes’ 1987 classic Devil Eyes. An ode to infamous Hungarian Countess Elizabeth Bathory – alleged serial killer and bloodbather – sees Papa getting his teeth sunk in lyrically: ‘Her pact with Satan, her disposal of mankind / Her acts of cruelty and her lust for blood makes her one of us!’ The fine balance between sensuality and sin has yet to be bettered.

6. RATS (PREQUELLE, 2018)

The lead single from 2018’s Prequelle feels like a bridge between the (relative) heaviness of the band’s past and the unfettered theatricality of the album that was about to follow. Powered by a straightforward riff and piercing organs, dazzling solos and a rogue harpsichord, its introduction of the Black Death concept in which the album would wallow (refracting contemporary grievances through the filthy lens of the 14th century bubonic plague) felt both atmospherically appropriate and deliciously alive. The Scandi-pop ‘oooh-aahs’ in the chorus remain one of the band’s most gleefully irreverent touches, too. And the question of whether ‘them filthy rodents still coming for your souls’ is reference to Tobias’ old bandmates has provided rich fuel to keep the metal gossip mill turning.

5. MONSTRANCE CLOCK (INFESTISSUMAM, 2013)

In the Roman Catholic church, the monstrance is an (often ornate) receptacle in which the consecrated communion host is displayed for veneration. A monstrance clock was an aesthetically-similar Renaissance-era timekeeping device capable of displaying date, time and a wealth of other celestial information, often used in church rituals. We suspect that Ghost just liked the faintly cheeky sound of the phrase when quickly spoken. Still, the song they wrought from that initial giggle is utterly unforgettable. Deliberately paced and overflowing with evangelical zeal, a slow build flourishes into a splendiferous closing chorus that’s turned many an arena into a church of the Dark Lord: ‘Come together, together as one / Come together for Lucifer’s son!’

4. DANCE MACABRE (PREQUELLE, 2018)

If Rats was pandering somewhat to the existing fanbase, Dance Macabre was the other side of the coin. A shamelessly retro ’80s-style power ballad that’s as light on overt Satanic references as it is heavy on the cheese, some fans saw it as a form of selling-out: a dilution of devilish imagery in service of greater American radio-rock appeal. Perhaps they had a point. From its fist-pumping percussion and effervescent guitar solo to that ‘wanna, be wit chu’ chorus hook, however, it’s executed with enough committed precision and knowing panache to stand on its own terms, and a whole legion of new fans couldn’t help be swept along through the gateway and on to far darker delights. Tobias’ explanation that this is a soundtrack for people living like there’s no tomorrow – as many literally did during the plague – adds an extra dimension. Best experienced with the gleefuly vampiric music video.

3. CIRICE (MELIORA, 2015)

It’s strange how things work out sometimes. Originally conceived with producer Klas Åhlund as a nine-minute instrumental deep cut, Cirice was chopped down and reworked into Meliora’s irresistible lead single – becoming the song that really kickstarted Ghost’s stratospheric ascent. An insidious opening combusts into an infernal crescendo before lurching into the band’s most bludgeoning riff to date. All the while, Papa’s beguiling vocals reach out, full of dark romance, for new converts to their corrupted congregation. 2016’s GRAMMY for Best Metal Performance felt like just reward for such inspired work. The Roboshobo-directed music video – featuring a school talent show that’s almost as horrific as the ones we remember – is another stone cold standout.

2. SQUARE HAMMER (POPESTAR, 2016)

Following the unprecedented success of Meliora, Ghost found themselves suddenly commanding crowds far larger – and more diverse – than they’d seen before. Most of the ingredients for these grander live rituals were already in place, but they lacked the barn-burner early in their set to get these massive rooms onside. Dropped as the standalone original track on the Popestar covers EP, Square Hammer gave them just that. Abstractly melding the cultist themes of Satanism and Freemasonry, the concept of selling one’s soul – ‘ready to swear right here, right now, before the devil’ – was hardly new, but the outright pop energy of those surging synths and that exuberant chorus clearly signalled that the game had changed.

1. HE IS (MELIORA, 2015)

If Ghost’s diabolical mission statement is to make the Luciferian ideals more palatable to the masses, then He Is must be their masterpiece. So perfectly camouflaged – with twanging acoustic guitars and reverberating vocals that could’ve been nicked from the golden age of AOR – is their message, that they could drop this at any Christian rock festival and only the most switched-on devotees would know the difference. Openly indebted to giants like Kansas and Journey (and less openly to more recent occult acoustic acts like Ancient VVisdom), there’s a burning light to the sound. The use of divine-sounding Latin (‘Nostro Dispater, nostr’alma mater’) to identify the titular ‘He’ as the dark lord of the underworld is just another characteristically twisted masterstroke. Kneel at their altar.

All rights owned by Kerrang!

What do you guys think? 

Personally there’s a few I’d replace and Ritual is always my NO.1. 

[themoonstarwarrior]

PLAYLIST SHUFFLE TAG!

Okay, so @viterbofangirl tagged me in this and I need to start learning to post my own shit, so what the hell, why not?

Rules: you can usually tell a lot about a person by the type of music they listen to! put your favorite playlist on shuffle and list the first 10 15 songs, then tag 10 people. no skipping!

(I couldn’t stop at 10 so I added 5 more, sue me)

I have very random music taste and I listen to my music on shuffle alot, so I made a playlist of the ones I like the most (that way I don’t hafta skip 150 songs to get to the one I feel like) so I’m gonna use that one.

1) History of Violence - Theory of a Deadman

Hoo boy starting off light huh?.... Yeah so, I was in the drive thru at Sonic when I first heard this on the radio and was immediately like “holy shit”. Instead of like metaphors and poetic subtlety, it’s just straight up like “here’s a poor abused woman who resorted to murdering her shitty boyfriend/husband cuz she couldn’t take it dum dum dum”. Even though the actual situation is not the same, this song is perfect for getting across the internal issues and turmoil of my character Mikey. Its so perfect I’m even planning to animate something for it...... if I ever get around to learning animation that is.....     

2) The Vengeful One - Disturbed

Two songs in and I look kinda emo.... But hey this song is soooooo cathartic! I love me a good heavy rock song, and the drums and electric guitar are perfect for my ears to absorb. This song gives off a feeling of overwhelming power mixed with a coldness and disdain for the bad in the world. Obviously, thats not my usual temperment, but its an interesting one to explore! Especially when I’m trying to get into the head of characters that exude that like my OCs Spark or Ryu. Plus its fun to sing in the car X)

3) Enter Sandman - Metallica

Okay this one is just a classic! Same thing with the drums and guitar they both slap SOOOOO GOOD. I don’t really associate this song with any of my characters or fandom favorites, but it DOES give me a super strong urge to learn the drums. EXXXXXXXXIT LIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! OFF TO NEVER NEVERLAND!!

4) We Are Giants - Lindsey Stirling ft. Dia Frampton

I don’t really to listen to music by band or artist, but I LOVE Lindsey Stirling!!! She’s probably my favorite musician! This is such a good song, especially for someone like me. Its a positive song that talks about feeling alone in a crowd and unimportant to the world, but how you really do matter and shouldn’t be afraid to dream big and shoot for the stars. It really speaks to me and the vocalization is so good (especially for singing), not to mention the official music video is animated and AMAZING!

5) Cetus - Lensko NCS

I dunno if anyone knows this song, but damn its good. Its one of those Royalty-Free songs that people look up for their channels, which is how I found it in the first place, but I loved it immediately. Its a peppy 8-bit electronic bop that turns a little Irish jig at the end and honestly I think if I ever start an animation channel I’m totally gonna use it! (Also go support Lensko he make good beats!)

6) Sanctuary - Utada Hikaru

I did not grow up with Kingdom Hearts, and only played KH2 within the past year n’ a half. But good God, the moment that Cinematic Opening came on and this song started playing I swear I astral projected into a daze of feelings without names. I know that “Simple and Clean” is the quintessential Kingdom Heart song that gives everyone feelings, but IMHO Sanctuary blows it out of the water. As beautiful as the animation was, or how curious the occasional backwards lyrics are, or how weird it is having high-res Goofy and Donald in what is essentially an anime opening, I really can’t be distracted from this song when I play.

7) Chemical Plant Zone (Rock Remix) - Zerobadniks

Chemical Plant Song is like, one of the TOP Sonic songs by popular vote (and we know how awesome the Sonic series is musically so thats saying something!), but I could never quite vibe with the normal 8-bit version. I think I first heard this as someone’s ringtone and was immediately like “THATS PERFECT THATS EXACTLY HOW I NEED IT!”. The rock makes the song soooo much better and honestly gives the song the perfect vibe. Unfortunately, it took FOREVER to find cuz none of the Rock Covers of this song were the right one. In fact, tbh, I’m not even sure whether Zerobadniks is the correct artist..... that’s just who everybody was crediting when I found it. 

(imma include the link i found since its a little hard to find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqJiZEM6aPI )

8) The Wolf - SIAMES

YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEOS???? THIS IS A GOD-TIER ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO. I found the video first, and seriously, if you haven’t seen it YOU NEED TO!!! The beat works perfectly with the images on screen and the story being portrayed is really intriguing, with the lyrics adding to atmosphere without necessarily describing the visuals shown. Even without the animation, the song itself is a banger. It bring to mind the feeling of intense motion forward, but unable to decide whether its movement TOWARD something or AWAY from something. I love listening to this on a nighttime drive.

9) Burn the House Down - AJR

If you ask me, the best way to make a pop song better is to add either violins or trumpets. For this song, it was definitely the trumpets that first caught my attention, and the rest of the song kept me listening. I don’t really know how to describe the vibe of this song, and I don’t have a specific character or story in mind when I listen to it, so its a little hard for me to talk about it. I think the best way I can describe this song and what draws me to it is a feeling of nonchalant go-with-the-flow attitude to shenaniganry. Almost an undertone of “We’re hooligans in a situation that we probably should get out of, but hey we’ve got life and each other so why worry?” At least that’s the closest I can get to a verbal description heh...

10) Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell - The Offspring 

DANCE, FUCKER, DANCE, LET THE MOTHERFUCKER BURN!!!

So this also has a KICKASS animated music video, but its technically combined with the song “Dividing by Zero”. Now the video works SO well with both, and the shifting artstyles reflect the differing tones of the songs PERFECTLY. However, I have a preference for both the animation and the song on the Slim Pickens half. Its fun to listen to and sing at the top of your lungs and its SO CATHARTIC. Again I cant really describe what my head does when I hear it, but I think you can probably feel a similar vibe if you watch the music video. 

11) No Heaven - DJ Champion

The first time I finished the original Borderlands, I had been playing for days on end, had just finished a long battle with the Destroyer, and sitting back relieved to have beaten it and reflecting on how much I had enjoyed the adventure. Then this song started playing. For what I believe was forty minutes this song looped on my TV while the credits rolled. By the time the credits finished I was pulling up the song to listen to again! What an absolutely PERFECT cherry to add to this experience. This song perfectly encapsulated the chaotic, trigger-happy, morally ambiguous craziness that I had enjoyed and absorbed in this game. Every time I hear it now, I imagine myself in the wastelands of Pandora, driving haphazardly across the sandy dunes as my companions and I shoot and blow up everything in sight. You know, living the dream.......     

12) Hit & Run (Wolfgang Lohr Remix) -  The Electric Swing Circus

I fucking LOVE electro-swing! The electronic beats and rhythm blend so well with the wild and energetic freedom of swing. A lot of electro-swing gives me a vibe of wild movement, reckless abandon, and freedom from constraint. I think this song melds all of these feelings the best! As the last song might have indicated, despite my general nice and sweet temperament, there is a part of me deep down that is an absolute gremlin secretly enamored with chaos, insanity, and a general disdain for law and authority X). But whereas anything Borderlands related has a more “morality is an illusion blowing shit up is real” air about it, this song is far more peppy. More of a “good-hearted but insane” type of chaos, like an 100mph car chase where you end up sailing over the train tracks JUST as the train passes.

.... I may have gotten a bit off track lol 

13) Kickstart my Heart - Motley Crue

I love this song, but I have to be VERY careful when and where I listen to this. I love songs that make me feel like I’m going a million miles per hour, like I’m gotdam Sonic the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, I may or may not have had multiple instances of listening to this song in the car and abruptly realizing that I’m going like 15mph above the speed limit...... So yeah, regardless of absolutely perfect it feels to play this song while speeding down a nearly empty highway, please be careful and drive responsibly!!!

14) I’m Born to Run - American Authors

Imma just up and say it. This song is a Sonic song; like not like actually from the series but a song for the character. This song encapsulates Sonic as a character better than some of his ACTUAL THEMES (and remember Sonic music are bangers!). Its a song about freedom, living life as it comes, and not letting anything slow you down. Frankly I’m surprised they didn’t make this song FOR the Sonic series, or even the movie! Speaking of which, ironically I heard this song right after watching the Sonic movie in theaters, so yeah there’s no way I can associate it with anything else. 

15) Opa Opa - Antique

Oh, what a PERFECT way to end this list! This may be one of my absolute favorite songs of all time! I don’t remember exactly how I found this song... I think I had just relistened to Dalar Mehndi’s “Tunak Tunak Tun” and was looking for other catchy non-english songs and BOY HOWDY I found one! I know nothing about the band or what the song’s about (its in greek and i dont speak it), but this song is just a masterpiece of retro, pop, and dance sounds. This song feels like the musical and lyrical manifestation of dance and movement. I really REALLY wish I could dance JUST so I can express how happy and free this song makes me feel! This is the BEST song for me to end this list with!

***********************************************************************************

JESUS, this got long..... Sorry about that XD. It was fun though, and hopefully somebody was vaguely interested in my ramblings.

Guess I need to tag people now? How about @tharkflark1, @rockmilkshake, @neonbuck, @drawingsdrawingseverywhere, @birthgiverofbirds, @puccafangirl, @kalcat, @biblestudybussybopsbabey, @monstrous-milktea, and @memecage! I think there are a couple of people here I haven’t talked to though soooooo..... hi, I hope you don’t mind the tag X)

 Anyway hope you enjoyed and/or want to do this too! This took for-fucking-EVER to type, so imma go fuck off and watch youtube or something now...

[ask-edd]

do you have a favorite song?

((You’ve activated my special interest, I shall now talk about music for way too fucking long

Under the cut cause it’s gonna be long))

So I mentioned here some favorite songs, but since it’s just about 4am and I have nothing better to do, I’ll expand on that list

In no particular order from my fav bands

Fav Sonata Arctica songs 

- Shy - San Sebastian - Wolf & Raven - Kingdom for a Heart - FullMoon - Replica

Fav Autoheart songs (I love literally all of them but I”m not gonna put their entire discography here so here’s some recommendations for if you wanna get into the band yourself)

- Lent - Stalker’s Tango - My Hallelujah - Control - The Sailor Song - Robbing Banks - Anniversary - Agoraphobia - Heartbreaker - Moscow - Foolishly Wrong - Murky Waters

Fav Ghost songs

- I’m a Marionette - Witch Image - Mary on a Cross - Dance Macabre - Kiss the Go-Goat - Rats - Year Zero - Monstrance Clock - Cirice - Square Hammer - He Is

Fav Streetlight Manifesto songs

- Keasbey Nights - One Foot on the Gas, One Foot in the Grave - A Better Place, a Better Time - Everything Went Numb - Point/Counterpoint - We Will Fall Together - Would You Be Impressed?

Fav Red Vox songs

- From the Stars - In the Garden - Job in the City - Back to School - We Had a Little Talk - There She Goes - Atom Bomb

Fav TWRP songs

- The No Pants Dance - Phantom Racer - Life Party - Starlight Brigade - Tactile Sensation - Rock n Roll Best Friends - Body Image - Atomic Karate - The Hit

Fav NSP songs (and covers)

- I Don’t Know What We’re Talking About - Nights on Broadway - Glory of Love - Heart Boner - Orgy for One - First Date - Cool Patrol - Danny Don’t You Know - Three Minutes of Ecstasy  - Pour Some Sugar on Me - In Your Eyes - Don’t Lose My Number - The Decision - Everybody Shut Up (I Have an Erection) - Peppermint Creams - Subdivisions - Rock With You - Road Trip

Fav Richie Branson songs (for those who watch Camp Camp, this is the guy who does all the outro songs from season 2 onwards)

- Not Myself - I, for one, Welcome Our Robot Overlords - Bon Bon Voyage - Underpaid and Overqualified - Outro Outro - Keeper of the Flame - Cult of Personality

Fav Jeff Williams (RWBY) songs

- All that Matters - Lionize - Forever Fall - Bad Luck Charm - All Our Days - Let’s Just Live - Home - Cold - This LIfe is Mine - Like Morning Follows Night - RWBY vs FNKI - Not Fall in Love with You - Red Like Roses Part 1 and 2 - Boop - Shine - This Will Be the Day

Fav Reel Big Fish songs

- Beer - Sell Out - Nothing But a Good Time - Brown Eyed Girl - Everyone Else is an Asshole - Take On Me - Life Sucks... Let’s Dance! - Another FU Song

Fav Living Tombstone songs/remixes

- Drunk - My Ordinary Life - Don’t Tattle on Me - No Mercy  - Epoch - It’s Raining Men - Squid Melody Blue - Dog of Wisdom Remix Blue - Die in a Fire - It’s Been So Long - Five Nights at Freddy’s 1 Song - The Road to El Dorado Remix - Fun Dead Theme - Collecting Cookies - Hampire - Pinkie’s Brew - Good Girl - Mine Turtle - Tom’s Dog - Smile Song - Discord - September 

Fav ABBA songs

- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - Voulez-Vous - SOS - Money Money - Super Trouper - Mamma Mia - Take a Chance on Me - Dancing Queen - Knowing Me, Knowing You

Fav Mystery Skulls songs

- Heaven - When I’m With You - The Future - Every Note - Soul on Fire - Freaking Out - Money - Paralyzed - Hellbent - Forever - Magic - Ghost - Losing My Mind

Fav Glass Animals songs

- Toes - Black Mambo - Season 2 Episode 3 - Youth - Gooey - The Other Side of Paradise - Pork Soda - Your Love (Deja Vu)

Fav Saint Motel Songs

- You Can Be You - Move - Van Horn - My Type - Sweet Talk

Fav The Hoosiers songs

- Killer - Goodbye Mr A - Up to No Good - Worried About Ray - A Sadness Runs Through Him

Weird meme-y mashups and bits from Youtube

- Text to Speech by Louie Zong - Korn - Coming Undone But It’s Pony By Ginuwine by William Maranci - U Got That | JJBA Requiem Version (Giorno’s Theme Remix) by Reii-kun - Plastic JoJo - Sono Chi No Future Funk (plastic love+JJBA) by Seventh Sage - Aaron Grooves - Jazzy Note Blocks (Animation vs. Minecraft) by GuckTube YT - Kanye West but make it Disney by John Fassold - Sober Black Horse - KT Tunstall vs Evanescence (Mashup) by oneboredjeu Mashup - Scanty & Kneesocks’ Absolute Territory, This WIll Be the Fighting Gold, Lone Friends on the Wild Side, and CARAMELLGASSIN’ by Triple-Q

rq special mention to a few AMVs everyone should see - Anime’s Got Talent - Edited with JazzsVids & ReplayStudios by AmvLuna  - Speedwagon Slamjam (AWA Pro 2015 Best Action) - JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure AMV by irriadin - Hero AMV (Ultimate Cartoon Tribute) by Writermist - Spirit Never Dies Anime AMV by Rajiv Andrade 

And then some random favs

- 12 Feet Deep by The Front Bottoms - Set On You (Life in Toronto) by Billy’s Bones) - Naked and Love the Way You Move by Slightly Left of Centre - She’s So High by Tal Bachman - Dangerous by LEFT BOY - I Don’t Wanna Be in Love by Good Charlotte - Wild Side by ALI - In the End, Crawling, Papercut, Numb, Breaking the Habit, New Divide, and What I’ve Done by Linkin Park - Picture Frames and Everything Falls Apart by rei brown - Romeo and Juliet, Sex in the City, Peach Scone, and Creve Coeur 1 by Hobo Johnson - Kangaroo Court by Capital Cities - Campfire Light by Tequila & The Sunrise Gang - Cola Song by INNA - Here Comes the Hotstepper (Remix) by Baby & Me - Bruises by Fox Stevenson - Shut up and Dance by WALK THE MOON - Applejack, Feed Me with Your Heart, Lullaby for a Princess, and The Moon Rises by Ponyphonic - Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer - So Good by Bratz - Dark Paradise by Lana Del Rey - Amhran Na Farraige by Lisa Hannigan - A Moment of Silence by Dan P - Rockefeller Street (New Nightcore) by Getter Jaani - Broken Record, 15 Reading Homestuck on the Internet, and Chamomile by atlas - Thumbnail by Louie Zong - Baby Hotline by Jack Stauber - Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms (and the cover by Hit the Lights) - Spirit Never Die by Masterplan - Magnum Bullets by Night Runner - Tonight by Vague003 (and the original Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler) - Hoodie by Hey Violet - Worst in Me by Unlike Pluto - A Night to Forget and Too Tired to Run by Cain’s Offering - Private Eye by Alkaline Trio - Karma and I’m Ready by AJR - Sorry Haha I Fell Asleep, Passing Papers, and Putting a Spin on Never Ever Getting Rid of Me by Egg - Cannibal by Tally Hall - interlude IV (Showtime) by Zach Callison - Scarborough Fair by Super Guitar Bros - Misery Business by Skatune Network - The Less I Know the Better by Tame Impala - Relatively by Faded Paper Figures - Schizophrenia, Under My Skin, and Victoria by Jukebox the Ghost

[latin-dr-robotnik]

What about the best game soundtracks of the 2010s?

So, I’ve been on and off thinking about and drafting this post for most of the year, and it’s finally time for me to unveil it to the world: we are now very close to the end of the year and the end of the 2010s, and while Sonic soundtracks have mostly kept their god-like status, I for sure played and listened to a lot more games than just Sonic. Because of that, I’m kinda in the mood to remember and revisit some of the games with the best soundtracks out there. 

Disclaimer: remember this is merely a personal list, where I take into consideration the game soundtracks that influenced me the most due to overall quality or hype surrounding them. I’m aware of the limitations of the giant task of listing 10 years of VGM, so this post is also an open invitation to all sorts of discussions for the myriad of games I’m surely gonna miss, and maybe even a door into other fandoms I used to take part or still am. If you have a game or a particular track you think it deserves the spotlight, then keep the discussion going!

Also: I’m only listing games with fully original soundtracks, but at the same making an exception for commercial songs created with a particular game in mind, released and then featured in said game (for example, A7X’s stuff for the Black Ops series).

I’m going to include Sonic games just for the sake of highlighting specific tracks. So, what are your favorite soundtracks of the 2010s? Here are some of the best for me:

Non Sonic games (in no particular order):

PAYDAY 2 (2013) - Highlights:

Hot Pursuit;

Backstab;

Break the Rules.

Mega Man 11 (2018) - Highlights:

Fuse Man;

Block Man;

Dr. Wily’s Gear Fortress.

Sunset Overdrive (2014) - Highlights: 

Total Annihilation;

I’m On The Run; 

I Don’t Want Your Company.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Zero (Yakuza 0) (2015) - Highlights: 

Judgement; 

Heart Break Mermaid; 

Pledge of Demon; 

Queen of the Passion; 

I’m Gonna Make Her Mine; 

Koi No Disco Queen. (sorry i got carried away for a while ‘cause this game and its ost are both so great)

Furi (2016) - Highlights: 

My Only Chance; 

6:24; 

Wisdom of Rage.

Super Mario Odyssey (2017) - Highlights: 

Steam Gardens; 

Jump Up, Super Star!; 

Break Free (Lead the Way). (I mean, Mario finally has not one but TWO proper vocal tracks, one of them being Sonic-esque as fuck, and in a mainline game no less? WHAT TIMELINE ARE WE EVEN LIVING IN?)

Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) - Highlights: 

115; 

Abracadavre (Ascension DLC 1 was such a biiig hyyype back in 2011, I clearly remember those days); 

Not Ready to Die. (featured in DLC 2, Call of the Dead, using the classic ‘Damned’ Zombies menu melody)

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013) - Highlights: 

I’m My Own Master Now; 

It Has To Be This Way; 

The Stains Of Time. (also the first two tracks were featured in LakeFeperd’s fangame Sonic Chrono Adventure, lol)

Undertale (2015) - Highlights: 

This game needs no highlights, we all know it. But if you insist... 

Well, here’s where I put the most influential song of the entire decade; 

Ruins; 

It’s Raining Somewhere Else.

Freedom Planet (2014) - Highlights:

Main Theme;

Relic Maze 2;

Thermal Base 1;

Final Boss 2.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) - Highlights: 

Hyrule Castle (I’d say both versions, but the marching steps playing outside are badasssss); 

Breath of the Wild (greatest main theme of all decade, no doubts); 

Kass’ Theme (man, I hate that Nintendo blocked the full version of that song on YouTube).

Shovel Knight (2014) - Highlights: 

In the Halls of the Usurper (Pridemoor Keep); 

Tango of the Troupple King (what a fun highlight from Plague of Shadows); 

A Cargo of Fineries (Flying Machine); 

Hitting Close to Home.

Celeste (2018) - Highlights: 

Resurrections; 

Confronting Myself; 

Mirror Temple (Mirror Magic Mix); 

Golden Ridge (Golden Feather Mix); 

Farewell.

Katana ZERO (2019) - Highlights: 

You Will Never Know; 

Sneaky Driver; 

Monster.

Cuphead (2017) - Highlights: 

Floral Fury; 

Dramatic Fanatic; 

Railroad Wrath; 

High Sea Hi-Jinx.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) - Highlights: 

The Wolven Storm; 

Hunt or be Hunted; 

Land of a Thousand Fables.

Spark the Electric Jester (2017) - Highlights: 

Lunar Bass (Stage 10); 

Flower Mountain Canyon (Stage 2); 

Sunset Heights (Stage 6) (no, not the one from Sonic Forces); 

Megaraph Fortress (Stage 16); 

Special Boss (a.k.a. the obvious Crush 40-esque song for a Sonic-esque game)

The Messenger (2018) - Highlights: 

A Melody To Break the Curse; 

Civilization in the Sky; 

Hills of Destiny.

Spark the Electric Jester 2 (2019) - Highlights: 

Floresta Blanca; 

Castela Blanca (a.k.a. Sunset Hang Castle); 

Technoria City; 

Titanic Tower. (no, not the one from Sonic BTS, same composer tho)

Sonic games (in chronological order):

Sonic Colors (2010) - Highlights: 

Planet Wisp Act 2; 

Aquarium Park Act 1; 

Vs. Orcan & Skullian; 

Nega Wisp Armor (Phase 2); 

Speak With Your Heart.

Sonic Generations (2011) - Highlights: 

Crisis City (Modern); 

Stardust Speedway Bad Future US; 

Mission (3D Blast Saturn Theme); 

City Escape (Classic).

Sonic 4: Episode 2 (2012) - Highlights: 

Metal Sonic Theme; 

Sylvania Castle Act 3; 

Sky Fortress Act 2.

Sonic Lost World (2013) - Highlights: 

Midnight Owl; 

Snowball Waltz; 

Dragon Dance; 

Juice Archipelago. (a.k.a. Delfino Plaza 2013)

Sonic Runners (2015) - Highlights: 

The entire game OST---I mean, 

Fly Away; 

Magical Snow Day (perfect timing, huh?); 

End of the Summer.

Sonic Mania (2017) - Highlights: 

Stardust Speedway Act 1; 

Egg Reverie; 

Mirage Saloon Act 2; 

Press Garden Act 2.

Sonic Forces (2017) - Highlights: 

Infinite; 

Moonlight Battlefield (Aqua Road); 

Red Gate Bridge; 

Network Terminal (Interior); 

Virtual Reality (Supporting Me Remix); 

Fading World (Imperial Tower).

Team Sonic Racing (2019) - Highlights: 

Ice Mountain; 

Green Light Ride (Tyler Smyth Remix); 

Bingo Party; 

Haunted Castle; 

Sky Road.

Honorable mentions:

Sonic Before the Sequel (2011/12) - Highlights: 

Hilltop Heights Act 1; 

Titanic Tower Act 2; 

Metro Madness Act 1; 

Butt Funk (Rocky Ride Act 2).

Sonic After the Sequel (2013) - Highlights: 

The Adventure Continues (Horizon Heights Act 1); 

Smokey Bear Says (Foliage Furnace Act 2); 

Stellar Lights (Technology Tree Act 2); 

Wolf Rayet (Technology Tree Boss); 

Ghosts With Guitars (Moon Mansion Act 2); 

Serious Influence (Redhot Ride Act 1); 

Neon Paradise (ATS Version) (Parhelion Peak Act 2); 

Red Moon (Storm Station Act 3); 

Mach Σ (Dream Dance Act 1).

[playitbyear-laz]

008

Long time listener. First time curator.

Popping in the latest Play It By Ear selection is like walking through a day in the life with laz, a quick trip into what's happening around him and what he sees as inspiration. As a guest curator, I thought about the quarantine experience, how our paths will diverge as we transition out of it, what we decide to bring back into our lives, and what we decide to do without. My music tastes here illustrate that current frame of mind, sounds that pique my inspiration these days, and the thoughts of what are to come.

                                         PLAY IT BY EAR 008  

                                        curated by Predakon

                                     Link to all platforms HERE.

Sault - Don't Waste My Time

WHERE: Last year on the internet somewhere (maybe KCRW), I heard this new song by the band Sault and was instantly hooked. There was zero information on the band online, and the Sault IG account had one post with barely a caption. Two albums in, many rumors later, there still is zero info on who these folks are.

WHY: The song is a meld of boogie, funk, psychedelic moods with vocals that lean into punk tendencies. The chorus is catchy, fun, and shows up in my head anytime I'm on the move, rushing through the grocery store these days with an invisible 6 foot radius bubble.

2000black - Plastic Jam

WHERE: NTS Radio, while working at my desk at Stones Throw. One of those tracks that I was lucky enough to Shazam, as a lot of times the exclusives the DJs play give me that "No Result".

WHY: One of those groovy synth and drum machine songs that are no more than 4 tracks laid on top of each other. As we simplify what we do in real life, it's dope to hear how simple a track can be to groove you.

Roland P. Young - Ballo-Balla

WHERE: DJing at Gold Line Bar in LA with Peanut Butter Wolf's record collection

WHY: Another simple 4 track song that gets more weird with it. That squeaky sound throughout and rattled snare drew me into this cut from a 1984 synth boogie album, a diversion for this jazz protege of Alice Coltrane. It's wild to think about an artist making futuristic weirdo sounds in the 80's for me to discover in 2020. Mission accomplished, Mr. Young.

Teebs - Shells

WHERE: A few people mentioned the latest Teebs album to me, including my coworker matthewdavid of Leaving Records. Beautiful sounds throughout this one.

WHY: Another instrumental song, but with more natural/live samples, giving it that (hate to say it) "songs to study to" vibe. When I was at UCSD, I had a pre-med neighbor that would study to movie scores like Lord of The Rings, Jurassic Park, etc. but at full volume on his Winamp. Walking into his dorm was walking into a battle. I thought it was a super intense way to study. Apparently at some point, soothing lo-fi hip-hop instrumentals became the study music of choice.

Knxwledge feat. Anderson .Paak - itkanbe[sonice]

WHERE: As my last project at Stones Throw, I had the privilege of project managing the latest Knxwledge album, 1988. This is one of the tracks that feature Anderson .Paak, the other half of Knxwledge's duo project, NxWorries.

WHY: I am probably biased, but I believe Anderson .Paak's best tracks have been the ones with NxWorries and Knxwledge. The vocals on this one get that distorted radio feel, giving the song that flashback treatment. The delivery and flow gets your head moving, and the lyrics "I don't even know how it feels anymore" remind you of the pre-quarantine days.

Cool Calm Pete - The List

WHERE: A throwback with this one from Cool Calm Pete, the Korean American rapper that was on Def Jux in the early 2000s.

WHY: because I'm a washed backpack rap nerd. I had to include at least one hip-hop track here, and might as well throw it back to when I ran a student org at UCSD called L.I.F.E. (Living In Four Elements). Always enjoyed this guy's flow and voice that was a hybrid of being laid back and tough.

Bakar - Small Town Girl

WHERE: Spotify

WHY: Another in the "it can be simple" category. Electric guitar. British singer Bakar's laid back half singing/half rapping delivery. That's it. One of those songs that seem effortless enough for you to try to serenade your partner with, only to realize you missed the mark on all the nuances that make it special. Will keep singing along though.

MIKE DEAN - THE EIGHTH DAY PART 1

WHERE: An article in Rolling Stone on Mike Dean's 4:20 release. Mike Dean produced every Kanye album and a slew of other hip-hop classics.

WHY: Released recently on 4/20, this album is Mike Dean playing synthesizers only for an hour and a half or so. This is my kind of study music! This is also what I imagine it sounds like whenever I buy a new synthesizer and tell myself what I'm doing will be featured on the next season of Stranger Things. Not surprised if Mike Dean's new album does show up on a bunch of films and shows in the next year. Listening to this track, you can imagine drums being added to push the track into infinite directions (hip-hop, techno, etc.), or you can just leave it alone and let it be.