#sublimation string bags

[katieswan193]

[lori11hen2ry]

Digital Print Purple String Bag

Purple digital print string bag: vibrant, practical, stylish.

[meryjones24]

[thefearofcod]

What your western classics tattoo means:

-Inferno: cringe. you think about hell a lot but don’t believe in god. You like the boiling river of shit. You say you think Paolo and Francesca are romantic but you don’t understand courtly love.

-Purgatorio: pretty good. You probably payed attention to the reading. You should take up endurance hiking with a bag of rocks

-Paradiso: excellent. You’re annoying about the existence of the sublime in music. You were really into string theory in middle school. If I give you a drink you’ll start talking about Hildegard

-Lysistrata: you had a lesbian separatist phase. You're really into your community garden, or you want to be. Every thirteen months, one of your posts goes viral

-Iliad: your meat is huge

-Odyssey: your wife is smarter than you. You're a killer tabletop DM. You would fuck a witch if pressed

-Don Quixote: based. unless it's the picasso illustrations, then you're basic.

-Pascal: if it's math, you're gay. if it's philosophy, you're a stoner

-Aeneid: you also have a tattoo of the Capitoline Wolf. You love the origin story part of superhero movies

-Middlemarch: you don't exist. nobody has a middlemarch tattoo

-Jane Austen's works: you're the person people text "can i be mean." You're good at parties but you hate them. You're think you're funnier online than in person

-just the word "logos" in Greek: you didn't do the reading

-Sappho: you are a trans lesbian

-Proust: you post a lot of "slut in theory" memes. you get anxious going to the seven-eleven

-Euclid: you taught yourself to draw a perfect circle. You think about geological formations a lot. You've memorized that Edna St. Vincent Millay poem

-Herodotus: you're a worldbuilding geek. You wanted to talk about the necrophilia passage more in class. You will buy any novel with a map at the front

[cloverdaisies]

EARTH TO KEVIN ★ M.HS

#★ tbz! kevin! x reader! only very slightly angsty! fluff! gn reader! short imagine!

description: the boy that lives in outerspace has to make contact with the real world eventually, this short piece documents his small amount of contact with earth. when someone with a raincloud over their world collides with someone that lives in complete disassociation from reality.

member: kevin x reader

genre: fluff , slight hint of angst

Rainclouds loom over the average person’s small mind producing unimaginable spirals of procrastination that echo thoughts such as why am i here? What’s the meaning of my life? Am i happy? For you that was a normal chain of thoughts, you experienced everyday, with your head hung low like some reincarnation of eey-ore from Winnie the Pooh.

But Kevin, kevin, was different to say the least, seemingly an enjoyer of the smaller things in life, he never seemed to have a bad day, the only thing written on his face was a huge grin that strung from ear to ear and eyes that lit up like snow globes when he saw you. That’s what made you two the best of friends, despite him being miles away from you in terms of head space.

“And then! This cat started hissing at me! So I just gave it you know the old here kitty kitty, *pouting noises* and it loved me. I’m now a full time cat tamer.”

You were in a coffee shop, it was about 8pm and Kevin was on another one if his crazed rants about everything good that had happened to him that day. It was dark outside in the mid autumn, and you were up to your neck in stress due to things like unwritten essays and college work.

“Yeah? Does it pay well?” You replied sarcastically, eyes being lit up by the white screen of microsoft world - desperately trying to get some work done whilst you could before you were mentally tortured by the words of your professor for not completing your work on time.

“Life’s not all about the money.” Kevin replied half jokingly, crossing his arms in rejection and after that staring out the window as if he was zooming in on something a thousand miles away.

“I’m never going to complete this assignment.” You slammed your laptop shut, with a huff and a face plant on to the cool surface beneath.

“Then forget about it.” Kevin shrugged, looking at you with a dead serious face, as someone who didn’t go to college, he would never be able to understand the stress you’d felt at that point in time.

“I can’t. I’ll get my ass kicked-” You refuted the comment, opening the screen back up and blocking out the foolish commentary in the background with dead focus on the screen in front of you.

“Pack your stuff we’re going to look at the stars together, right now.” Kevin burst out into one of his random adventure thoughts once again, despite your refusal he pushed your laptop shut and gently grabbed your arm with a smile.

Gentle smiles from Kevin were possibly the most comforting moments you’d ever experienced in your dull life, they were irresistible forces of nature that had the complete sublimity to flip the reality of your day from worse to better.

For Kevin, you were someone that would listen to his every thought which was unfamiliar in a world of such ignorance and despair. You were his piece of reality, he saw your sadness and he knew he was able to change it. He noticed it when you laughed, you smiled, you told him stories that before you would never share.

So he dragged you out of that store, giving you a little twirl under his arm as you left the coffee shop door as if you were in a 2000s romcom. You laughed at the shear stupidity of the maneuver, readjusting the bag that was slung over your shoulder.

Kevin ran ahead into the small field opposite the shop, falling flat onto the grass with a string of laughter as he looked up into the night sky. You placed your things next to him, sitting down despite the fact you were still hung up on stress and sadness - keeping Kevin happy seemed to be more of a priority for you.

Above you, the sky was lit up like a rich navy blanket with carefully sewn in diamonds, a quiet night with not much fuss of life around you - it was peace, like an escape of bliss that brought you a temporary safety unfelt before.

You’d felt a tug at your sweater, looking at Kevin who wanted you to lay next to him making it clear with his glistening eyes and pouted lips. With one arm rested behind his head, he tugged again and added a sweet “lay with me.” that melted every bad thought in your world.

You smiled, settling next to him and looking up at the night sky in the same way he was too. You wished you could be as detached from the sad reality of the world as Kevin was. His thoughts were so much more simpler, his life always had meaning, he always seemed to be happy.

“I love it when you smile.” Kevin looked over to you with love in his eyes, the type of love you thought was necessary due to how close you two were as friends.

Until now, you’d never thought of it as any much more than that, watching as his eyes fluttered over your every feature and his hands resist the temptation to trace every feature he loved on you.

“I love it when you do too.” You turned on to your side resting your head on your flat palm to avoid making contact with the ground. You too, had found yourself panning over his every feature, making notes on his heart shaped lips and sweet almond shaped eyes.

“Can I?” Kevin placed a hand on the side of your head, just behind your ear, gently touching on your neck. He’d leaned closer, unable to resist the intimacy of the interaction and therefore made the first move.

“Of course.” You gave in yourself, allowing yourself to fall under the love spell and seal your lips with his own. In that very moment, a celebration of invisible fairies gathered around you in joy, the trees danced to the quiet tune of the wind and the world suddenly felt complete.

The collision of two extremes can always create a happy medium, breaking you from the shackles of the ground and bringing others down from the clouds.

★a/n: hello daisies! i was in the mood to write something sweet so i thought i would. It’s only short but i think the shortness completes it in my eyes ! hope you enjoyed!

sending my love always,

clo 🤍

[randomvarious]

Today's mix:

Movement - Perpetual Drum & Bass Motion by Bryan Gee / Ray Keith 2000 Drum n Bass / Jungle

Whooo boy, this one here was absolute fire, folks! Back in 2000, Movement, one of the best club nights in the world for both drum n bass and jungle, decided that they were going to expand beyond the confines of their regular Bar Rumba venue in London and take their show out on the road. And in order to do that, they set up their own small label so they could release mixes, and used this super dope double-disc debut in particular to promote their upcoming inaugural tour.

So what we have here with this pretty slept-on release that I can't even find decent album art for (😩) are a pair of sets from consummate dnb legends: one from Bryan Gee, who along with Jumpin Jack Frost founded the stalwart V Recordings, and the other from Ray Keith, an early pioneer in the jungle and dnb scene too. Together, the two of them provide us with a glimpse of what a night at Movement sounded like, with Ray Keith laying down a more nostalgia-tinged 'classics' set, and Bryan Gee mixing up a slate of 'currents.'

But what might be confusing here is that, if you didn't know any better, you might get these two discs confused, because while Bryan Gee's mix is chronologically the more contemporary one, it really doesn't sound like it! My man strings together a whole bunch of deliciously chaotic jungle jams from a then-present day, but being that jungle was a predecessor to drum n bass in the first place, his selections make his set feel a whole lot more vintage than it actually is. And what's more is that you might think that the 'classics' disc would be the better of the two as well—because, well, they're classics!—but the newer disc that sounds older is definitely the better one here, because while Ray Keith does a good job of keeping things steadily chugging with a slew of similarly constructed dnb selections until his final, far more intense leg, it's Bryan Gee who goes full-on bananas with his session by leaning far more heavily into that raw, atom-splitting, junglist bliss 🫨.

There are a total of 19 tracks in Bryan Gee's mix, and from its fifth one—Krust's "Kloakin Device"—to its fifteenth—The Pedge's "Whats Up Now Partner"—he manages to unleash an absolute, brain-battering barrage of mostly y2k jungle fury, sublimely putting on full display why Movement was one of the greatest club nights in all of dance music at the time. Ray Keith's contribution here is pretty damn good, but Bryan Gee is just on a whole different level with his disc; and part of the run that makes his set so incredible includes a banger from Ray Keith himself too! Gotta love that!

And for those who might be unfamiliar with the sonic differences between jungle and drum n bass—a topic that is perpetually up for debate in and of itself—here's a 90s jungle playlist post I did sometime ago where I tried to explain it as best I could 😅.

Listen to CD1 here. Listen to CD2 here.

Highlights:

CD1:

Breakbeat Era - "Ultra Obscene" Shy FX - "Bambaata" Reprazent - "Brown Paper Bag" Marcus Intalex & ST Files - "How You Make Me Feel" Reprazent - "Watching Windows (DJ Die Mix)" Swift - "The One" Bad Company - "The Nine" Souljah - "Fade 2 Black" John B - "Salsa Remix" SS - "Lighter VIP 2000 AD" Renegade - "Terrorist (Dom & Roland Remix)" Digital & Spirit - "Phantom Force"

CD2:

Dragon - "Noodles" Q Project - "Champion Sound (Total Science Mix)" DJ Krust - "Kloakin Devices" Ray Keith - "LFO" Twisted Anger - "Dread Come 2 Conquer" Digital - "Ease Off" Phantom Audio - "Remote Control" Digital - "One Ton" Wots My Code - "Dub Plate (Total Science Mix)" Ram Trilogy - "Titan" Bad Company & DJ Trace - "Tumpa (Flashback)" The Pedge - "What's Up Now Partner" Supply & Demand - "Love the One You're With" J Majik Feat Kathy Brown - "Love Is Not a Game (Original Mix)" Solid State - "Just a Vision (Marcus Intalex & ST Files Mix)" Peshay - "Nu Jack Swing"

[newmusickarl]

Top 50 Albums of 2023: #10-1

10. Lost In A Rush of Emptiness by Bleach Lab

It’s safe to say, 2023 has been a year of some fantastic debut albums. This Top 50 countdown has already seen incredible first outings from the likes of SIPHO, Barry Can’t Swim, Blondshell, CASisDEAD and Holly Humberstone all featured, and now the big Top 10 features no less than four debut records. However, with two of those coming from well-established acts taking on new projects and another one more a final testament, I think that means London-based quartet Bleach Lab technically take my debut album of the year title.

Lost In A Rush of Emptiness is an utterly stunning debut, one that I’ve found myself constantly reaching for during these cold, dark evenings. Similar to the Mitski record on the previous blog, this is an album that demands you stick on your headphones and just dive into the whirlpool of gorgeous sounds with which you are presented.

Bringing together elements of shoegaze and melodic indie rock, gorgeous flourishes of strings and the softly spoken vocals of frontwoman Jenna Kyle, it’s an album that will leave you completely entranced from the get-go. Particularly worth diving into is the majestic opening trio of All Night, Indigo and Counting Empties, along with Smile For Me and the astonishing 7-minute closer, Life Gets Better. They may still be in their infancy, but between their EPs and now this debut, Bleach Lab have proven they already have the knack of creating music in which you’ll want to just completely immerse yourself.

Best tracks: Indigo, Counting Empties, Smile For Me

Listen here

9. CACTI by Billy Nomates

Albums released in January always have the hardest job of sticking it out to make year-end lists. So, the fact this sophomore album from Tor Maries, AKA Billy Nomates, has made it into my Top 10 of the year is a testament to its greatness. A record which won the inaugural 5-9 Album of the Month title, CACTI is an addictive, pulsating record that delves deep into isolation, politics and relationship breakdowns.

Whilst her self-titled debut was impressive, it’s clear CACTI is a huge step up. On her debut you could very much hear the similarities to her frequent collaborators in Notts’ duo Sleaford Mods - politically charged punk with spoken word vocals and some DIY electronics. Whilst CACTI still carries that raw punk energy, partly due to the album being recorded in Tor’s own flat, there is a noticeable uplift in the songcraft and vocal performances from her previous effort.

It's simply littered with sublime moments too, with the first five songs particularly strong. Balance Is gone is an invigorating opener, black curtains in the bag is a soulful electronic track whilst blue bones (deathwish) boasts a powerfully anthemic chorus. It doesn’t let up in the back half either, as spite with its grungy guitars, fawner with its bare bones acoustics and blackout signal with its air of finality all leave their mark too.

In a year of some difficulty for Billy Nomates, I hope she leaves 2023 proud of what she accomplished. Internet trolls will sadly always make noise, but they will never achieve anything like what Tor has crafted with CACTI. A personal, resonant record that simply beams with her wonderful, unique artistry.

Best tracks: Blue Bones (Deathwish), Spite, Blackout Signal

Listen here

8. Desire, I Want To Turn Into You by Caroline Polachek

2023 set a high standard for pop records, but arguably none left a bigger mark than Desire, I Want To Turn Into You by American alt-pop artist, Caroline Polachek.

Back in February, Caroline gifted this album a few days earlier than planned, releasing it on Valentine’s Day. It was a date that felt fitting, given this album’s undeniable passion. Sonically it’s a mesmerising listen, with Caroline throwing the kitchen sink at this one by incorporating bagpipes (Blood and Butter), Spanish Flamenco guitars (Sunset) and even a children’s choir (Billions). There’s also a blockbuster collaboration with both Grimes and Dido (Fly to You), two artists whose influence you can hear frequently across many of the album’s other highlights.

Although the individual moments themselves are full of vitality, the beauty of this album lies in the sonic journey on which it takes you. From the Tarzan-like cries of introductory track Welcome To My Island, the Charli XCX pop stylings of Bunny Is A Rider, the Eurovision glow of I Believe to the folk-dance of Smoke, Caroline delivers a vibrant explosion of sound at every turn.

Colourful, uplifting and filled with endlessly fascinating sonic exploration, Caroline owned 2023 by delivering a masterclass in experimental and art-driven pop music, earning herself countless new fans along the way. Rightfully one of the most acclaimed records of the year, this is without a doubt one of the 2023’s defining albums from any genre.

Best tracks: Welcome To My Island, Blood and Butter, Butterfly Net

Listen here

7. Chaos For The Fly by Grian Chatten

He may only be four albums into his career, but Grian Chatten has already forged himself a formidable legacy. Before this year, Grian had a 100% track record of getting into my Top 20 Albums of the Year, with all three Fontaines D.C. records making it in there. So with 2023 seeing him drop his first solo outing, I was obviously curious to see if it could live up to the standard set by his work in Fontaines. I’m pleased to say it absolutely did and Grian deservedly earns himself another Top 10 finish for the second year running.

Here’s what I had to say about the record, when I reviewed it back in June:

“Inspired by a late-night walk through the worn casinos and bars of Stoney Beach (around thirty miles north of Dublin), the album was essentially written in Grian’s mind that very same night, as he jotted down lyrics and clearly envisioned the sonic direction which he wanted to take with this solo project. Knowing it wasn’t going to be a Fontaines album, he still teamed up with regular producer Dan Carey to bring these songs and the tales of murky coastal glamour to life. The result is one of the best albums of the year so far, a dazzling dose of melancholic splendour that strengthens Grian Chatten’s position as one of the finest songwriters working today. Lead single The Score opens proceedings and sets the scene perfectly, instantly transporting the listener to a lustful evening in Madrid on this sun-kissed acoustic track. Follow-up Last Time Every Time Forever then flies us instantly back to that dilapidated season town in Ireland, with Grian illustrating imagery of seagulls and slot machines with sweeping strings, flashes of synths and some gentle vocals from his partner Georgie Jesson. It’s a poetic early highlight, with memorable, wonderfully written lines like “Without a chance, I'm king of every single thing, and it’s the cheapest spend, to make a dead heart sing.” The brilliant Fairlies then rounds off this opening trio of singles, with its stuttering strums and resplendent chorus. Supposedly written under the influence of a lot of beers, it makes poignant lines like “The boat is drifting in, the weight is cast, how can life go so slowly and death come so fast?” even more impressive. With this incredible first solo effort, Grian continues to justify the hype and prove his greatness, with this album for me more than able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the three exceptional Fontaines records that are already out living in the wild. While it may lack the raw primal power of those records, it more than makes up for it with a wealth of rich instrumentation, accomplished musicianship and engaging, vivid stories. Whether you’re a Fontaines fan or not: sit back, hit play and revel in the chaos.”

Best tracks: Fairlies, Season For Pain, All of the People

Read the full HeadStuff review here

Listen here

6. PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE by Christine & The Queens

Whilst I’ve always been a fan of Christine & The Queens’ records, I’ve maybe enjoyed and appreciated the music without the albums necessarily ending up in my year-end list. This has all changed in 2023 though as Red (formerly Chris/Christine) delivered without a doubt the most ambitious record of the year, which has also ended up being one of my most played of the last 12 months too.

Seeing Christine & The Queens at Best Kept Secret festival over the summer and then catching Red’s subsequent Glasto performance turned out to be quite essential for understanding the concept for this complex triple album. Whilst of course the record can be enjoyed on the surface, Red’s full vision becomes clear once you’ve deduced the narrative arc at the heart of the record. Essentially it tells the story of an Angel coming down from the sky, enjoying all our earthly pleasures, falling in love and then eventually returning through the “sky door” to the “Big Eye” in the sky. What’s more, the role of the Big Eye character is played by none other than Madonna, who acts as the narrator throughout this three-part journey. Underlying within that story are heavy themes of grief, as Red lost his mother in 2019 and that loss is still very much present here, with some truly heartbreaking lyrics being delivered at times.

As you can tell there is a lot to unpack with this one - it’s massively ambitious, deeply personal and at 90-minutes long, it can admittedly be quite self-indulgent in places. So whilst this definitely isn’t an album for everyone, as someone who adores concept records that play out almost like novels, the scope and artistry of this album has drawn me back in time and time again over the last six months.

The first two parts in particular are really special – Tears can be so soft draws shades to Massive Attack whilst Marvin descending is full of soulfulness. Over on part two, He’s been shining for ever, your son channels Kate Bush, Flowery Days is a stunning ballad and 070 Shake collaboration True Love is just a really fantastic pop song. A special mention also to Mike Dean, whose production throughout the record is superb as always.

This is a record where Red swung for the fence and ended up producing something quite beautiful and unlike anything else all year. An unapologetic, uncompromising, and utterly staggering work of art, the originality and imagination of Christine & The Queens’ music continues to be unmatched.

Best tracks: True Love, He’s been shining for ever your son, Tears can be so soft

Listen here

5. Strange Disciple by Nation of Language

A couple of months back when indie-pop trio Nation of Language dropped their brilliant third album Strange Disciple, I saw someone call them the undisputed band of the 2020s so far. Given the quality of their first three records, I think I’d be inclined to agree. Already named as Rough Trade’s Album of the Year for 2023, Strange Disciple is the sound of one of the most exciting new acts of the last few years, operating at the top of their game and crafting some of their very best songs to date in the process.

Here’s what I had to say about the record, when I reviewed it for HeadStuff back in September:

“On this latest opus Nation of Language very much give the fans what they have come to expect from them, which is retro-inspired tunes in the vein of great bands like New Order and OMD. There are no radical sonic direction changes, so if you enjoyed their first two records the good news is you’ll likely love this one as well. This is simply Nation of Language having now mastered their sound, taking it to grand new heights. Some of their finest tracks to date can be found here, songs of romantic adoration and unhealthy infatuations backdropped against playful synth melodies that just make you want to groove. Opener Weak In Your Light gets proceedings off to an exhilarating start, bouncing along on a minimalist synth beat whilst front man Ian Richard Devaney’s impassioned vocal performance steals the show. Spiritual title track and lead single Sole Obsession is then one of the trio’s finest outings to date, with its infectious bassline, pulsating electronics and Devaney’s vocal tones once again gliding resonantly across the hypnotic sounds on display. It’s a stellar opening combo which will see fans old and new jiving with joy. There is no mid-album slump to be found either as after a thrilling first half, Nation of Language just keep the highlights coming. Spare Me The Decision is another career-best moment, with a meandering bassline and siren-like synths as Devaney achingly sings “You weigh on my mind, all night.” The guitars then takeover once again, as Sightseer gracefully echoes in reverberating melancholy before Stumbling Still injects the album with a scintillating rush, a track that sounds guaranteed to become an instant live favourite. A New Goodbye then moulds together some delicate yet somewhat operatic moments with a catchy chorus, whilst closer I Will Never Learn ties things all together with lyrics about being broken and imprisoned in a never-ending cycle of addictive obsession. There is no doubt this is some of Nation of Language’s best work, with Strange Disciple coming marginally closer to matching the greatness of their debut than that of its (also fantastic) predecessor. That said, it’s an opening trilogy of albums most other bands could only dream of, and if there is one thing I would say going into the next record is I’d like to see how far Nation of Language can push their sound from this point.”

Best tracks: Sole Obsession, Spare Me the Decision, Sightseer

Read the full HeadStuff review here

Listen here

4. Lullabies From The Lightning Tree by Sad Boys Club

A hugely bittersweet entry into the countdown now as we arrive at the first and only album from London-based quartet, Sad Boys Club. Having released this record back in May which I hoped would be a launch pad onto the next stage of their career, this November saw Sad Boys Club sadly play their final show before disbanding and going their separate paths. As a result it’s an album that’s gone up a notch in my estimation, shifting from one of my most played of the year and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, to one of the year’s most important and monumental releases.

In many ways, Lullabies From The Lightning Tree isn’t just about Sad Boys Club and a lasting memory of their incredible talents and the joy their music brought. It is a reminder also to support up-and-coming musicians in any way you can, as you never know how long they will be around in this current climate of nostalgia-act obsession and streaming underpayments. That’s maybe a bigger discussion for another day, for now let’s take a minute to discuss what makes this Sad Boys Club album so special.

As their name suggests, the London-based quartet very much wore their influences on their sleeve. At times you’d find them channelling the goth-rock of The Cure, at others the melodic emo of bands like Death Cab For Cutie and Sunny Day Real Estate. Sometimes it may even be the shimmering indie-pop of more contemporary bands like Spector and The 1975. However, whilst the inspirations behind their music were always clear, Sad Boys Club’s uniqueness lay in them bringing together all these touchpoints to forge a genre-defying sound that was entirely of their own making.

This mission statement is laid out straight away on thunderous introduction Peak, which sees frontman Jacob Wheldon at his most Robert Smith-esque as he describes deep seas and fires burning. Fully living up to its name, Delicious is then an addictive alt-rock banger filled with tasty hooks and poignant lines like “I guess the love that stretched miles wide was maybe only ever inches deep.” It highlights one of the record’s biggest strengths which is Jacob Wheldon’s heartfelt, nuanced lyricism.

The album then hits another peak with lead single To Heal Without A Scar (Is A Waste of A Good Wound), an indie-rock anthem where Wheldon sings of his own instincts to self-sabotage so that he can remain creative and inspired to write songs. Throughout the track he confesses to pushing himself to the brink for his art, with “one hand on the canvas, the other on the curtain” before then exclaiming “it’s never a car ‘till it crashes.” Eventually it hits boiling point around the three-minute mark, with a seismic instrumental breakdown exploding around Wheldon as he empties his lungs into the delivery of the words: “I am pursuing you Life, to the end of the earth, across an Amazon of portable TV screens.”

The band then save two of their finest moments for a strong finale, with Cemetery Song, 20/5 showcasing Sad Boys Club at their darkest and most vulnerable. With his honest words surrounded by a beautiful arrangement of soaring strings and folky banjos, Wheldon reflects on living with his brother during a particularly tough period. It is a stunning piece of songcraft, that is both a real gut-punch but ultimately quite uplifting too. (You’re) All I Ever Wanna Do then brings the record to a close amidst a triumphant soiree of blues rock, a wonderful love letter from the band to each other.

As I said at the start, this record should’ve been the launch pad for this band but it seems life just had other plans. It is a mighty shame we won’t get any more new music from Sad Boys Club going forward, but I am also so grateful I have this treasure trove of an album that I can turn to now whenever I need it. As a final parting gift to their fans, it’s damn near perfect.

Best tracks: Delicious, To Heal Without A Scar (Is a Waste of a Good Wound), Cemetery Song 20/5

Listen here

3. No Joy by Spanish Love Songs

You know when an album comes along and just seems to get you? Says all the right things that speak to your soul and as a result, it resonates with you like nothing else. Well, that is exactly what this album from American rock outfit Spanish Love Songs does for me. Whilst this may not be the most revolutionary instalment of this list, this is a rock record that uses sentiment and lyrical prowess to emotionally hit you hard, then pull you back in time and time again.

Although I named it as a runner-up to Genesis Owusu’s record back on the August edition of the 5-9 Album of the Month podcast, as the weather has turned a little chillier, I’ve found myself constantly listening to it. Packing the same punch as its predecessor Brave Faces Everyone but with more refined production and songcraft, you can hear how Spanish Love Songs have matured on this effort. Whilst die-hards may well prefer the rawer sound of their earlier efforts, No Joy is the one that has clicked with me the most.

Lyrically very dark and intense, the music counteracts the darkness of the lyrical themes and balances it perfectly, with instrumentation that is both cathartic and uplifting. Lifers is a stop-you-in-your-tracks opener, full of vivid imagery with a great central riff and a big chorus. Then you’ve got an awesome trio of singles, Pendulum, Haunted and Clean-Up Crew, with the line in the latter “Fuck the garden and the yard, we can barely tend to our own dreams” particularly cutting.

The second half is then more of the same, but that certainly isn’t a negative. Mutable boasts atmospheric synths that help set the mood, whilst Exit Bags is a really tender penultimate track. Finally, Re-emerging Signs of the Apocalypse delivers the triumphant climax this album deserves.

So, whilst it’s admittedly not going to win any originality prizes, No Joy is a record that I just absolutely adore. With hard-hitting songwriting that makes for a stunning collection of tracks from beginning to end, Spanish Love Songs prove they are a band making soaring rock anthems better than anybody else in their scene right now.

Best tracks: Pendulum, Haunted, Clean-Up Crew

Listen here

2. Heavy Heavy by Young Fathers

So here we arrive at my runner-up Album of the Year for 2023 and in many ways, it is the record that has most defined the year for me. From listening to it on repeat when it first dropped back in February, to catching their jaw-dropping performance at Best Kept Secret festival over the summer, to then rooting for them to win the Mercury Prize in September. An album as adventurous and joyous as any released in 2023 – my No.2 album for 2023 is of course Heavy Heavy, the awe-inspiring fourth album from Scottish trio, Young Fathers.

An album that rides a hugely uplifting sonic wave from start to finish, Young Fathers convey their message more through mood than through lyrics most of the time. As a result, it plays out like a celebration happening right between your ears, with the vibrancy of the music shining through and leaving its melodies happily lodged in your brain. Rice starts it all off with this wonderful tribal jubilance before I Saw draws comparisons to Tame Impala’s Elephant with its stomping beat, with both tracks showcasing glorious layers of vocal harmonies and a fascinating variety of sonic textures.

Tell Somebody is then beautifully atmospheric, with organ-like synths and gorgeous echoey vocals reverberating beautifully around the space. Shoot Me Down has a hip-hop style sample at the start and then gracefully shifts into this incredible explosion of gospel vocals at the end. Holy Moly is then one of my favourite songs of the whole year, with its fierce guitars and euphoric vocal harmonies.

I could go on and on about the magic of this record, but I think this is one of those albums you simply must hear if you haven’t already. Life-affirming and year-defining, it’s only personal sentiment and my love for this next record that has stopped Heavy Heavy from being named my 2023 Album of the Year.

Best tracks: Holy Moly, I Saw, Tell Somebody

Listen here

1. Lies by LIES

A day later than planned, but finally here we are then!

If you’ve been following this blog, the 5-9 Album of the Month podcast or my music writing in general this year, then this self-titled debut from American Football side project, LIES, being named my 2023 Album of the Year should come as no surprise. A record that was my frontrunner at the mid-year mark, ultimately no record has been able to blow me away in the same manner as this symphonic and frequently dazzling opus from cousins Mike and Nate Kinsella.

As a big American Football and Owen fan, when I saw Mike Kinsella had a new project with his cousin and bandmate Nate, I was instantly intrigued. The amazing string of singles released towards the end of 2022 - Blemishes, Echoes, Corbeau, Summer Somewhere and Camera Chimera - only heightened that intrigue further. So much so that in the January episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month podcast, I said this was the album I was most looking forward to hearing this year. So even with a load of hype and anticipation, this record still managed to deliver and exceed my lofty expectations.

Beginning life as fourth album sessions for the next American Football record, when it became clear these songs were their own thing, the Kinsellas decided to further expand their sonic boundaries. As a result, you get an album which is the sound of these two maestros just playing about the studio, going on all these ambitious sonic adventures and taking their songcraft into weird and wonderful new directions along the way. Because of this, it ends up being a record that has everything I want from an album in 2023 - there’s heart, there’s eclecticism and there’s a daring nature to push their sound to places it’s never been before now. Beyond that, it’s just spellbinding from start to finish.

Opener Blemishes is a stunning, upbeat love song about unconditional adoration for someone despite their flaws, that eventually transcends into this amazing swirl of strings. It’s not the only orchestral moment on the record, as Echoes boasts brass horns whilst Knife begins super quiet with distorted vocals and harps, before then erupting into an ominous swell of pianos, strings and Mike’s anguished cries. Similarly No Shame, which is one of my favourites on the whole album, starts out as this gorgeous softly spoken piece, then in the final two minutes transforms into this glorious wave of cinematic strings that lifts you into another dimension. It all really is like a carefully constructed symphony at times and there’s almost no words to describe the feeling I get when I listen to these songs.

But it wouldn’t be a Mike Kinsella record without some visually descriptive lyricism and I’m pleased to say this album has that too. On Resurrection, one of the opening lines is “I bit my tongue until it bled, blood in the sink, blood in the bed - if memory serves even the wedding dress was red.” It’s a striking thought and that dark, emotional imagery being painted is classic Mike Kinsella at his best. After that line, the song then instantly crashes into this combination of playful guitars, pounding drums and sparkling synths, which is just wonderfully hypnotic.

The cousins have said Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails were two of the biggest influences on this project and Camera Chimera is the song where you can really hear that influence coming through. Filled with atmospheric synths and guitar textures reminiscent of The Cure, it ended up one of my favourite songs of 2022 and a year later, I love it just as much.

Whilst I appreciate this album won’t be for everyone and some will find it overindulgent, as someone who adores Mike Kinsella’s music and just loves the experimental direction him and Nate took with one, it ultimately became the album I personally connected with the most this year. It is simply one of my favourite artists, delivering an album that sounds like it was made specifically for me with what it offers.

With the emotional heart of an American Football record and the cousins Kinsella just pushing their sound into these majestic realms that take my breath away every time I listen to them, it’s without a doubt my Album of the Year for 2023.

Best tracks: Blemishes, Resurrection, No Shame…and the rest!

Listen here

Thanks so much for following the countdown, I hope you enjoyed it – still to come this month, my Top EPs, Songs and Live Shows of the Year!

[graphicsdesignwithnsj123]

Clipart #DigitalMedia #PaperCrafts #GreetingCards #PictureFrames #Tshirts #Pillows #Bags #Mugs #Stickers #WallMate #Illustrations #PrintOnDemand #CustomPrinting #PersonalizedProducts #CustomPhoneCases #CustomGifts #CustomHomeDecor #DigitalPrinting #CustomTshirts #tumbler #tshirtdesign #sublimation #aiilllustration #sublimationprinting #vector #vectorillustration #design #graphicdesign #printing #print #CustomMugs #Market #Vitamin #String #GreenBean #Snap #Eat #Uncooked #Source #Vegetable #Health #Raw

[chrisryanspeaks]

Lightheaded's Debut Album 'Combustible Gems': A Fresh Take on Classic Pop

Lightheaded is a standout pop group. Their music is rich with melodious tunes and harmonious arrangements that strike a balance between sweet and poignant, both familiar and innovative. Their sound is characterized by the delightful blend of Sara Abdlebarry's dynamic and artful lead guitar on a Gretsch, complemented by the bell-like tones of Stephen Stec's Rickenbacker, all grounded by Cynthia Rickenbach’s Hofner Violin bass, reminiscent of the bass tones on Michel Polnareff's debut album. Cynthia and Stephen craft pop songs with a timeless appeal, drawing from a deep appreciation of classic influences. Cynthia's attire often includes a Gene Clark T-shirt, signaling her admiration for Dusty Springfield, The Aislers Set, and Joan Jett. Stephen, on the other hand, is heavily influenced by Big Star, The Clientele, and The Go-Betweens. Their music, much like that of The Aislers Set and Belle & Sebastian, presents a rich tapestry of pop history and top-tier rock and roll. Their first album, Combustible Gems, explores their musical identity through intricate melodies and chords, producing exceptionally captivating music. The debut single "Dawn Hush Lullaby" blends electric folk-pop with a waltz-like start, transitioning into a vibe akin to Greenwich Village pop, reminiscent of a Norma Tanega song. "Moments Notice" is an irresistibly rhythmic track that starts with a Motown or The Jam feel before Sara's mesmerizing guitar riff elevates it into a sublime pop realm. "Hugging Horizons" could be described as the sound of young New Jersey, a soulful track that ventures into innovative pop territories. The album concludes with "Because of You," which features a Johnny Marr-style guitar and lush strings, capturing a tone that is sophisticated yet earnest, and endearingly sincere. Check out “Bright Happy Girls” below: TOUR DATES May 24 Somerville, MA - Union Tavern w/Little Oso May 25 Providence, RI - Lost Bag w/Little Oso May 26 Brooklyn, NY - 18th Ward w/Little Oso May 28 Asbury Park, NJ - Johnny & June's w/Little Oso May 29 Philadelphia, PA - Abyssinia w/Little Oso May 31 Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel w/Heavenly Jun 06 Oakland, CA - Oakland Weekender at Thee Stork Club Jun 08 Los Angeles, CA - Permanent Records Roadhouse w/Uni Boys & The Smashing Times Jun 14 NYC, NY - The Broadway w/The Umbrellas & The Smashing Times Jul 19 Brighton, UK - Rossi Bar w/Mt Misery Jul 20 Cardiff, UK - The Moon w/Mt Misery Jul 21 Oxford, UK - Tap Social w/Mt Misery Jul 22 Leeds, UK - Royal Park Cellars w/Mt Misery Jul 23 Sheffield, UK - The Delicious Clam w/Mt Misery Jul 24 London, UK - SLR Showcase at The Lexington w/Birdie & Tony Molina Jul 25 Manchester, UK - Gulliver's w/Mt Misery Jul 26 Glasgow, UK - Glas-Goes Pop! festival Jul 28 Glasgow, UK - Monorail Music Read the full article

[audiofuzz]

Lightheaded's Debut Album 'Combustible Gems': A Fresh Take on Classic Pop

Lightheaded is a standout pop group. Their music is rich with melodious tunes and harmonious arrangements that strike a balance between sweet and poignant, both familiar and innovative. Their sound is characterized by the delightful blend of Sara Abdlebarry's dynamic and artful lead guitar on a Gretsch, complemented by the bell-like tones of Stephen Stec's Rickenbacker, all grounded by Cynthia Rickenbach’s Hofner Violin bass, reminiscent of the bass tones on Michel Polnareff's debut album. Cynthia and Stephen craft pop songs with a timeless appeal, drawing from a deep appreciation of classic influences. Cynthia's attire often includes a Gene Clark T-shirt, signaling her admiration for Dusty Springfield, The Aislers Set, and Joan Jett. Stephen, on the other hand, is heavily influenced by Big Star, The Clientele, and The Go-Betweens. Their music, much like that of The Aislers Set and Belle & Sebastian, presents a rich tapestry of pop history and top-tier rock and roll. Their first album, Combustible Gems, explores their musical identity through intricate melodies and chords, producing exceptionally captivating music. The debut single "Dawn Hush Lullaby" blends electric folk-pop with a waltz-like start, transitioning into a vibe akin to Greenwich Village pop, reminiscent of a Norma Tanega song. "Moments Notice" is an irresistibly rhythmic track that starts with a Motown or The Jam feel before Sara's mesmerizing guitar riff elevates it into a sublime pop realm. "Hugging Horizons" could be described as the sound of young New Jersey, a soulful track that ventures into innovative pop territories. The album concludes with "Because of You," which features a Johnny Marr-style guitar and lush strings, capturing a tone that is sophisticated yet earnest, and endearingly sincere. Check out “Bright Happy Girls” below: TOUR DATES May 24 Somerville, MA - Union Tavern w/Little Oso May 25 Providence, RI - Lost Bag w/Little Oso May 26 Brooklyn, NY - 18th Ward w/Little Oso May 28 Asbury Park, NJ - Johnny & June's w/Little Oso May 29 Philadelphia, PA - Abyssinia w/Little Oso May 31 Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel w/Heavenly Jun 06 Oakland, CA - Oakland Weekender at Thee Stork Club Jun 08 Los Angeles, CA - Permanent Records Roadhouse w/Uni Boys & The Smashing Times Jun 14 NYC, NY - The Broadway w/The Umbrellas & The Smashing Times Jul 19 Brighton, UK - Rossi Bar w/Mt Misery Jul 20 Cardiff, UK - The Moon w/Mt Misery Jul 21 Oxford, UK - Tap Social w/Mt Misery Jul 22 Leeds, UK - Royal Park Cellars w/Mt Misery Jul 23 Sheffield, UK - The Delicious Clam w/Mt Misery Jul 24 London, UK - SLR Showcase at The Lexington w/Birdie & Tony Molina Jul 25 Manchester, UK - Gulliver's w/Mt Misery Jul 26 Glasgow, UK - Glas-Goes Pop! festival Jul 28 Glasgow, UK - Monorail Music Read the full article

[meowizard]

ugh. how i would make monster high customs of my cake ocs:

tropical soda: base clawd, with clawdia's slimmer (but still 'big sister', which is to say, tall) legs bc high heel sandals would be fun to make. clawdia's face is probably the best fit too, as long as her nose could be sanded down. i'd feel too mean sanding down her goregeous goregeous fangs, so if i'm keeping her ears i'm keeping those. sa is, technically, at nd roots, a dog, and glueing on ear fluff is absolutely essential and so fun. i would probably have to use yarn hair to get the volume- i'd need two different shades of orange and an accent light blue. their hat and shorts are canvas - i could probably repurpose a tote bag for that. i love painting canvas its such a good texture. uhhh bikini has to be authentically stretchy or i'd never forgive myself - but tbf it'd be so small i don't know where i would get fabric i'd like to use. bright orange string is easy to come by as trash on beaches, though. shirt i'm tempted to crochet, but idk if i would like the amount of texture, i think it would take away from the hair.

very berry: frayed satin ribbon and crepe and beaded skirt. okay now that's out of the way: i have no clue who i'd use as a base without having to buy epoxy :( possibly a g3 drac, but her arms are too skinny so maybe i'd replace em withhhhhh abbey's upper half? that be good because drac is super short, and abbey's face mould is pretty on the nose for a round-eyed and flat-nosed hollyberrian. the problem is that neither of them are as dark as kix. maybe catty will be (as of posting she's not released her) but colour correcting #00000 skin would be soo hard. sigh. i digress. if i could use as much silk as possible on her clothes that would be cute - using selvedge edges and such for her pettiskirt. purple and pink pleather would be perfect for her dragon-scale boots. and her handwrap might have to be crepe paper too idk how i'd make it sit close to the skin like real bandages. her other glove - ugh i dont even want to think about it, probably just buy a bunch of tiny pompoms and stitch them together. or beads!

black licorice: hahahahhahha i'd use a base from a entirely different doll line. something tiny skinny and toddler-sized in comparison to the monster highs. idk which maybe from the pixie lines from eah? i'd have to shrink the head in that case bc i hate the bobble headed look its so not cute. and we want him to be kind of creepy anyway :3c. i'd use hot glue for his goopy hair - if its not opaque blue-black i'll just paint over it. some glow-in-the-dark paint details would be cool too! painted black felt for his boots to give the congealed look

crowned cream: g3 frankie's head for sure, but cat demew's body for the claws, and so i don't have to build up the white that hard. I have blonde and white kanekalon for its hair and i'd like to make a crown out of glittery hot glue and red velvet. pleather and more velvet for her details, and some kind of suede?? i would 3d print the skull since i don't trust fimo clay

pomousse: ooh. howleen base, probably. again. the body is perfect..... more or less......... i can't use a g3 doll because she doesn't have the same smile and that's very important. i dont know, actually, but there's no little sister dolls with her skin tone so we can rule out not painting her at least. i have a perfect red for her hair that i could colour but im not sure its heat resistant? (its not) so itd be a little hard to twist into bantu knots. her dress is made of muslin and her robes of red linen.... but linen doesn't look great on doll scale so lets use polyester instead. id like to use sublimation paints for the intensity, but i dread to make her pattern ssksjskjsksksksks........

[lori11hen2ry]

Purple Digital Print String Bag

Vibrant purple digital print string bag, perfect for stylish carrying needs.

[rhia-falla]

Affirmed in her assumption, Rhia triumphantly humphed. She prided herself on sniffing out other’s true self, and a new face meant another opportunity to put her skills to the test. As much as she studied others, it wasn’t until recent she turned the lens inward. She wondered if she was just as easy to solve, or if anyone gave a shit enough to try. “Maybe. But if you are, it’s a good cliché,” she said, realizing a moment too late how her words may have sounded. Rather than apologizing, she fixed the mess that was her music notes and shoved the others back in her bag. “Depends who you ask,” Rhia shrugged. From most accounts, she was a renowned prodigy with the stardom to match. To her conductor and fellow peers however, her effort and accentuation was subpar at best. “I’d argue less,” she answered dismissively, not much forethought behind the answer.

Her head turned away from her brief review of the music sheets and toward Ambrose, listening intently to his perspective on the intermingling cultures of Ogden. Admittedly, she never considered how dull it may have been surrounded by other music savvy individuals. She constantly craved the intimate exchange between artists who respected each other, she daydreamed about a kindred spirit to spitball ideas and create profound movements with on a whim. Ambrose, it seemed, couldn’t run fast enough from congruity. “I get that,” she admitted in a small voice. His feelings felt analogous to her desire to run away from her hometown, though that didn’t feel appropriate to air out to a stranger. Maybe once they’d grown closer; and Rhia suspected they would. “Inspiration is a bitch. Always fades at the most inopportune times,” she said with a shake of her head. “I hope you find it here,” she finished sincerely.

She appreciated Ambrose’s ability to take charge, shifting their focus from the conversation to their task at hand. She promised herself she would make up for all the lost practice, after all. She gave a slight nod and repositioned her violin. Her chest upheaved in a big breath, her face scrunched with intensity as her elbow pointed outward and her bow inched its way to the strings. Rhia melted into the first flurry of chords, her eyes fell shut and her face relaxed into sublime serenity. God, she missed this. Her ears tickled from their sound, and her heart swelled with the melodic springtime that unfolded with each stroke.

Ambrose nodded his head, shuffling the papers in front of him into the correct order, starting with Spring. He chuckled a little bit, glancing over at Rhia with an amused look. "Am I that predictable? I like Autumn as well, I think it has a lot of fun movement to it." Though you could argue that liking any of the Four Seasons was a bit predictable, as well known and over played they were. But they were well loved for a reason, and Ambrose had never been the sort of person to just dislike something because it was popular. Especially as a musician, it was nice to have something familiar to fall back onto if you needed it.

"Yeah?" Ambrose said, raising his eyebrows. He stood to take Rhia's hand giving her a smile. "Does the size make it more competitive, or less?" Sometimes when there was a small pool of people it got a bit personal, sometimes they worked together well. He wondered if there were already things being said about his arrival -- it wasn't that he was arrogant to think that. Just… perhaps a bit paranoid. And maybe a little arrogant. "It felt like it would be nice to be surrounded by people who had a number of interests, instead of just music," he explained, though she hadn't asked. He had always been an over-explainer. "I didn't feel like I would be getting enough inspiration if I were around the same sort of people day and and day out, you know?" There were a lot of reasons he'd come to Ogden, that was maybe the tiniest fraction of a reason. But it seemed like one Rhia might understand, so it was what he went with.

"Let's start with Spring and go through them. I'll play the accompaniment," Ambrose said as he took a seat back down at the piano. Rhia was the one with the violin, after all.

[moofbat]

3 and 17 for the rqg retrospective asks :D

3: does zolf in his pants count? because That! also harrison campbell is. just sublime

17: this is old but i’m still very proud of it

[ID: a redrawing of the “chef ramsay has locked himself in the freezer” meme but with zolf. zolf is visible from the shoulders up and has both hands on his face in despair with his mouth open. he is wearing a dark teal jumper and has two hoop earrings in his upper ear. he looks aggravated and is in a storage room with a sturdy metal door. In the room with him are two boxes in a shelf with labels “HANDS OFF MY PANS!” and “CAN YOU PLEASE LEAVE THIS ALONE” a string of garlic, as well as a bag of rice and a generic brown sack. there is text reading “Mr Smith has locked himself in the freezer” over the image. end ID]

[creacherkeeper]

LUKA! i'm sry youre having a grumpy day! take these for my boi erley: 1, 4, 9, 13, 15, 21, 32, 38 and 64!

1. What does your character typically keep in their pockets?

okay for real if erley emptied their pockets, like not their bag but their actual pockets, it would be like. a LOT of lint. some grass. a few rocks. some tangled string. a scrap of paper. and it would NOT be because they put any of those there, it would be because they sleep on the ground and havent washed their pants in like three years. like they are probably more dirt than jeans at this point

-

4. If your character was a work of art, how would you describe them?

okay NOT something ive ever thought of until now, but i can definitely see erley fitting in well in the Romantic movement. like, individuality and personal identity, emotion, passion, nature and the sublime, justice, interpretation and subjectivity - i think these are all things that erley either values or is wrestling with on the regular. also because the mental image popped into my head of their dad being like "hey im going to teach you how to use this weapon" and baby erley just being like i CANT im being EMO and reading POETRY because that is deffo something that happened at least once

-

9. What is their favorite scent?

probably whatever perfume their grandmother wore

-

13. If they were a body of water, what would they be?

one of those rivers that looks fairly placid on top but if you actually step into it, the current on the bottom is much stronger and you'll get smashed on the rocks. cause that's their mental state like 95% of the time

-

15. Describe their ideal date.

they really wouldnt want to Do Anything. you know? like they arent a dinner and a movie type person (if. movies existed.) theyre very much like. i want to walk through the woods holding hands and stick our feet in the creek and talk until its dark about literally anything and then try to figure out our way home laughing about how lost we are. rip up a clump of weeds and put it on someones leg. make up constellations. like i very much feel like their ideal is just A Person They Can Exist With without being on like. high alert anxiety mode the whole time. because with so so many people in their life theyve just been High Alert Anxiety Mode for the entire thing so just having someone they can relax around is The Dream

-

21. If they were a potion, what would it look like? (Color, glass shape, smell, etc.)

i think a tall cylinder with a round cork. potion fading from gold to peach to burnt orange, very glimmery. i think it would smell just like very dry, sunbaked earth

-

32. Does your character daydream? What do they usually keep their mind occupied with?

i mean i think they daydream about romance, with a few specific people, and i think it honestly makes them very sad to think about but is the Least Dangerous place they can let their thoughts stray. i think occasionally they would wonder what just a simple life, working the land somewhere, settled down with a someone or two, would look like. but they also know they havent earned that. i think they want it, but dont feel like its something theyre allowed to have, so that makes them a little Too sad. so just romance. sappy thoughts, when they dont hurt too much

-

38. What fairytale/myth suits your character the best?

i mean. if im being honest. the ugly duckling :P

-

64. What is one thing they want each party member to know?

that they honestly are trying their best, even when it seems like they just keep fucking up. that they never really had much positive guidance and them trying to be a good person is very much trial and error at this point, so any patience or advice is desperately appreciated. and that they really do WANT to be loyal to something, they just need something better to be loyal to. because they were loyal in the past and it took a LONG time and a lot of outside influence for them to realize how damaging it actually was, and theyre terrified of choosing wrong again