#the lyrics his voice his english the instrumentals

[bmpmp3]

i do think its kinda funny when i see someone in the year of our lord 2024 talk about vocal synth music like its all gone downhill since like 2010 because like dont get me wrong i love a good niconicodouga-ass 2008 ass vocaloid joint BUT also like. the past couple years have had the most fascinatingly creative and expressive uses of vocal synthesizers ive ever heard in my life DJFSKHJDFS dont write it all off just yet!!

[that-one-demonic-entity]

Me, not knowing a lick of Spanish (I believe it's Spanish - it sounds a lot like Spanish): yo, Kiltro fucking slaps.

[safination]

For Your Heart

The End

|Masterlist|

|Part 1: The Beginning| |Part 2: The Middle | |Part 4: The New Beginning[Coming Soon!]|

Pairings: Alastor x wife!Reader. Tags/ Warning: SFW. fem!Reader, AFAB, Established Relationship, Human! Alastor, Human! Reader, tooth-rooting fluff, Husband! Alastor, Angst Harana – a traditional form of courtship done during the night where men will go to someone’s window with an instrument, usually a guitar, along with some of his friends to sing. TLDR: Sometimes all you need is a guitar and a song to catch hearts…and well, Alastor has a guitar and a voice perfect for singing. The beginning, the middle, the end, and the new beginning with a guitar and a song (feat. Ben&Ben)

I did not forget about this, no matter what anyone says. Part 3 of our delulu Harana series. Also, this happens to be a song that's in English. So non-Filipinos can enjoy and understand the lyrics. And you guys should go try it because Ben&Ben is so goated. This can be read as a stand-alone.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ

Monster.

Devil.

Murderer.

“This is a bit too cruel—Isn’t it love?”

Paint drips, and it drips, and it drips, and it drips. Each word embedded with the grief of the people. Each word embedded with the grief of a mother, a father, a daughter, a son, a friend. It trickles down and down and down the smooth, stone slab, and straight into the grief of a widow.

“Someone must really hate you to buy paint,” you say to a love that can no longer respond. “One can cost more than it should! It seems you’ve really managed to anger quite a number of people.”

There’s a bucket and a brush, and that’s all the kindness the world is willing to give. It’s something, at least.

There’s no one to question your reason, yet with the guitar raised above your head, you still respond, “I’ve come for your heart.”

It starts with a simple and soft strum of the guitar. Imprints of the string mark your reddening fingers as you awkwardly play the correct cords. The humming starts with a shy tune, until you find the courage to fulfill your promise to sing just for Alastor.

Only for Alastor.

“Why do comets come my way if they were only meant to pass?” It wasn’t easy to learn this song, especially when the strings dig into your untrained and wounded fingers, and chafes the skin right off your hands. Still, you continue. “Why did your love fill my days if it was never meant to last? . . . Was it never meant to last?”

Each chord hurts . . . but . . . but Alastor’s once warm fingers almost wrap around yours. You need to keep going. You need to keep chasing. You need to keep playing. Even if the bandages around your fingers start to rip.

Are you smiling?

It seems you are.  Alastor would be proud to see such a thing.

“You were my brightest comet.” You sing into the air, even if your only listener lays several feet down the grass. Stopping is not an option.  “Will this be just another memory? An old page, with letters faded out.”

Yesterday’s bouquet . . .

Footprints stain the petals, leaving the colors dull and wilted. Leaves were ripped and torn from its stem, and it scattered all over the dying and wilted grass. A gust of wind, and the ruined flowers blow around you and into the flush grass of other people. There’s a metaphor there somewhere. Alastor could find it.

“Set me free from momentary shooting stars. When they leave, they leave you in the dark.”

How dare he get caught, honestly. How dare he get himself killed. How dare he steal your heart.

Sweet words . . . sweet songs. These are all things Alastor promises you, and these are the very promises he’s breaking. Still, it doesn’t stop you from strumming your fingers across the strings. Each pluck of your fingers opens the unhealed wounds even further.

And finally, the warmth of Alastor returns. The memories of how Alastor wraps his fingers around your own, correcting the positions on the string until you’re playing the correct cords.

He’s smiling at you again. It’s so wide and happy that the edges of his lips reach all the way up his eyes.

You smile back at the embers of what’s no longer there.

The tips of his fingers will play with your own, and his rough and calloused hands from years of practice will swipe across until he finally intertwines your hands. Suddenly, learning the guitar isn’t so important anymore, not when he holds you oh, so, softly.

“They come . . .” Your voice breaks, and the song stops with a halt.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The wrappings around your fingers stain red. You watch as patches of blood spread all around your raw fingers.

Once more, you place your hands back across the strings. Stopping is not an option. Not when he’s finally holding you with the softest of touches. The smallest of smiles. It’s nothing compared to the ones Alastor hangs on your face . . . still, it’s something.

You take a deep breath and continue. “…Then end.”

Alastor places a hand on your face, swiping his thumb up and down. It forces you to lean into the embers of his touch.

“What should I say, dear, for you to remain here?”

The strumming of your fingers keeps going, never once stopping its feverish pace. The music captures you in a frenzy, and you sing, filled to the brim with the ruins of your love.

“And though these nights are turning gray. Still, I am thankful for what's passed. I know there may come a day when I will finally understand . . . that it was never meant to last” You lean your head across the headstone. “Was it never meant to last?”

It’s love.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

And all that love gathers into the corner of your fingers, and it drips, and it drips, and it drips.

♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ

[journey-to-the-attic]

rating all of the om songs (so far) to pass time on the train LET'S GO

i was going to split these into separate posts but Ah who CARES they're all here now. for the intents and purposes of this post i am leaning more positive to the romance aspects (usually i'm more ambivalent). looong post ahead!

(i'm considering the lyrics based on the direct unofficial translations credited to Maon_ObeyMe on twitter, rather than the official english versions)

CHARACTER SONGS

Arcadia (Lucifer) -> Sonically: 7/10 I'm oddly into that one synth that comes in after the chorus. The violin stings are cool. Fun to vibe to! Points knocked off because he kind of doesn't sound like Lucifer, though. -> Lyrically: 5/10 Points removed (derogatory) for "lady", other points removed (affectionate) for the hilarity of "I'm fall in love u baby". You can tell it was written when they were still clinging somewhat to the dominant diet Christian Grey thing, but a lot of the lines are still genuinely romantic (while also being very Lucifer.) -> Overall: 7/10 I scrunch my face when I get to That One Line but otherwise I do pick this to listen to semi-regularly.

Are You Ready? (Mammon) -> Sonically: 6/10 Banger, but repetitive. Good rhythm to walk to. Hirotaka Kobayashi's delivery makes it. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Points docked for repetitiveness, but it's cute to see this side of him verbalised. Gender neutral high heels are a serve. -> Overall: 6/10 I don't relisten to this one quite as much as Arcadia, but I think that's just a genre preference.

My Chance! (Levi) -> Sonically: 8/10 The mixing on his voice is a bit weird, but it fits in with the chiptune sound, which I adore. Really catchy chorus. I also really like that soft bell insturment that's playing along with the main melody. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Really cute! Levi's characterised really well here. I love his little spoken interjections - Satoshi Kada is one of my favourite VAs in terms of delivery. (Levi's lines are some of the best in either of the voiced pop quizzes.) -> Overall: 8/10 Cute and fun to listen to. It's really easy to imagine a music video for this one.

Read My Heart (Satan) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really pretty piano instrumental, but I feel like there could've been a bit of variation. On the one hand, layering in some strings could've sounded really nice, but on the other, it does feel more personal as a solo piano ballad. Shinya Sumi has a really nice voice. -> Lyrically: 9/10 Very sweet, almost poetic, very Satan. The reference to cats doesn't feel heavy-handed. It feels like he wrote it. -> Overall: 9/10 I really like the bridge. It has a sort of lullaby quality as well, so it's nice to fall asleep to, or listen to when you need to calm down.

Pomade (Asmo) -> Sonically: 7/10 It's better-produced than some of the songs I've given a higher sonic rating, but this is more a matter of preference - this song isn't super my style. -> Lyrically: 10/10 EXCELLENT. The journey Asmo goes on? Starting out singing about himself and tempting you, then shifting to singing about you (You are my captive -> I am your captive) - the way it basically reflects his arc in OM S1? Chef's kiss. Beautiful. -> Overall: 7/10 I don't listen to it that often but I do think about those lyrics. They're so good. This is how you write a character song.

Hungry Six-Pack (Beel) Sonically: 8/10 I'm a sucker for that 'wah' effect on the guitar. I really like the rock sound, but I think it was done better in Barbatos's song. (Sorry, Beel.) Kyohei Yaguchi also does a really good job on the performance - you really get the feeling that this is how Beel himself would perform in a band. The interval in "darou" in the chorus is to die for, as is the "forever, forever-ah-ah-ah" in the last chorus. Lyrically: 6/10 Even in songs Beel cannot escape the "they only know how to write him with one character trait" allegations (/hj). To be fair, it'd be hard to get into his deeper character without dipping into lyrics about survivor's guilt, which I feel wasn't what they were going for. Overall: 7/10 I like to imagine him performing this at a bar. Also, total aside, but I really don't like that title.

Dreamscape (Belphie) -> Sonically: 9/10 I'm not usually a lo-fi person, but the vibes are perfect for Belphie and I really like this composition. -> Lyrically: 7/10 Really cute, but pretty basic - then again any of the songs' lyrics seem so when you compare them to the Queen Pomade. I do like how much Belphie's needy little-brother nature comes through here. "Hey, come see me, please?" Makes me want to pinch his cheek. -> Overall: 9/10 The sound alone carries it. I listen to it pretty regularly.

No.1 (Diavolo) -> Sonically: 9/10 Takuhei Yamamoto is giving it so much oomph and it's fantastic and also very in-character for Diavolo himself. He would be that enthusiastic. He would throw his head back and belt like that mic was made for him. (I find the "Sā, hora!" before the chorus really cute.) -> Lyrically: 6/10 It feels a little weird that he's doing the dominant thing in the lyrics here, but his sin attribute is apparently pride, and it's interesting that they chose this characterisation for him given he's usually so affable. (It's not like it came out of nowhere, to be fair - Diavolo basically admits to it on occasion, he seems to just hold it back, usually.) -> Overall: 7/10 Solid song that I don't listen to all that often for some reason.

Crazy About You (Barbatos) -> Sonically: 10/10 Absolute banger. The guitar solo makes me want to run through walls. Masayuki Harada's performance as Barbatos is also both spot-on and pitch perfect. That "Ahh-" leading into the chorus is gorgeous. I'm not the biggest fan of the spoken lines, but I appreciate that they're there for those truly starved stans who don't get nearly enough of him in the main story. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Perhaps oddly I really like his mix of servitude and sternness here. Feels playful in a way that I think really works for his dynamic with MC. (If only they'd utilise it in the game.) -> Overall: 10/10 It's just that much of a banger. Barbatos I'm so sorry for what the NB remix did to you. You were too powerful.

My Wish (Luke) -> Sonically: 6/10 Gonna be honest I completely forgot how this song sounded after I finished listening to it for the first time. I'm not the biggest fan of Luke's voice direction and there are parts in this where I just fully see a full grown man doing the voice. I do really like the chorus (the part that mentions sweets and cream) though. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Just very cute. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect from Luke - another one of those where you can easily imagine that the character wrote it themselves. -> Overall: 6/10 I don't think I've listened to it more than five times, to be honest. I actually quite like the NB remix for this one.

Question Love (Simeon) -> Sonically: 4/10 Simeon what the hell did they do to you. The production is fine, it's just... the autotune? It isn't like Yu Hirata can't sing. Why did they do that? Presumably it's a stylistic thing, which I'm not against, it's just not executed well. (Though it's cute to imagine Simeon himself being responsible, as tech-illiterate as he is.) It's a weird genre for a character like him, too. I was expecting another ballad, maybe with a harp... -> Lyrically: 6/10 Feels quite generic - I feel like Simeon of all characters would have had a more poetically written song, and his relationship with MC could have been particularly interesting to write about. (Though I'm not sure how long ago this was released.) -> Overall: 5/10 He deserved better. I do like the instrumental on his NB remix, though. That deep bass synth in the back is great

Our Destiny (Solomon) -> Sonically: 7/10 Really like those violins on the chorus. The blend of the strings with the more lo-fi adjacent sound is actually really fitting for a character like Solomon. Kazuki Kawata has this really nice smooth voice, and his ad-libbing at the end is pretty charming. The "hey!" on the chorus sometimes veers into youtube_kids_going_yay.mp3 territory for me, though. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I really like that he calls back to one of his in-game phone calls. It's kind of funny that he sounds so sure of himself when there's an almost insecure nature to his affections in NB especially. -> Overall: 7/10 All around good song. Another one who got done dirty by his remix.

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UNIT SONGS

Choose Me (Mammon, Levi, Asmo) -> Sonically: 6/10 I like the big brass sound, but... eh. Feels like something's missing. I like Hirotaka Kobayashi's delivery on Mammon's rap lines, but the chorus in particular feels kind of lacking. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I don't know what this 'love game' is but I don't think I want to participate. I also fully hear "gay" every single time. That aside, the verses are pretty good. -> Overall: 5/10 Not really for me, but I'll listen to it on shuffle sometimes. This one's remix was criminally bad.

Telepathy (Beel, Belphie) -> Sonically: 10/10 Such a pretty instrumental. Is that "ooooooo" in the background Belphie? It does sound like Satoshi Onishi's voice. The twins both sound perfectly in character and in sync with each other (though I would've liked for them to have a verse together.) Their spoken bridge is adorable. -> Lyrically: 7/10 It's hard to gauge the vibes from the lyrics. They're definitely singing to/about each other (they say so in the bridge), and that's clear in the chorus, but there are a few parts where it's like. Is that something you say to a brother?? Did a songwriter miss a memo? Also what does "your muscles are mood" mean. -> Overall: 9/10 It's such a comforting song to listen to. I just get a bit distracted by "your muscles are mood" every time. Belphie. What does that mean. Please

Passion (Lucifer, Satan) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really big fan of the piano. The breathing sounds caught me off-guard at first, but I know to expect them now. I really like both VA's performances. Lucifer sounds like Lucifer again! -> Lyrically: 7/10 I find Lucifer's line "I said that I’d listen with patience and silence, but you've got some nerve to actually continue" kind of out-of-place - it's more consistent with his characterisation in early NB than anywhere in OM when this was released, which is interesting - but the rest is pretty good. I really couldn't imagine singing this alongside your own sibling though. -> Overall: 8/10 I don't tend to choose this one a lot, but I don't skip it if it comes on in shuffle.

Take It Easy (Satan, Belphie) -> Sonically: 8/10 Really fun bouncy instrumental. I really like the rapport between these two here. (Would you say Belphie's in falsetto? Either way, I love how he and Satan take the higher and lower registers respectively.) -> Lyrically: 10/10 God I love these lyrics. They're so funny. The brief moment of sincerity before they go right back to singing about how much they love pranking Lucifer. "Makes me happy" makes me so happy. It's so sweet. These little rascals. These absolute rapscallions. -> Overall: 9/10 I like the sound of Rock On better, but the LYRICS. They're so great.

Rock On!! (Lucifer, Mammon) -> Sonically: 9/10 This one's another banger. The VAs do a great job with the back-and-forth delivery in the spoken bridge (I especially love how Lucifer and Mammon both sound like they're pretending really hard that they don't give a shit on "Yoroshiku douzo negawakuba" together". Lucifer also sounds like he ran out of air on "...omae wa" a little earlier. Lol -> Lyrically: 8/10 It's really funny to listen to them both strut their stuff singing about themselves in the verses and then suddenly get sincere to each other on the bridge. Though I think this song could've really benefited from the "feels like it was written by the characters" approach. -> Overall: 9/10 I just really like it!

Trigger (Levi, Asmo, Beel) -> Sonically: 8/10 This used to be my favourite of these three unit songs sonically, but solely the delivery of "Trigger!" bothers me a little bit. It could use more force, is all. That aside, everyone did a fantastic job and Satoshi Kada in particular served on Levi's verse. -> Lyrically: 7/10 I'm not even entirely sure what's going on in this song, but I like it. I didn't like Asmo addressing you as "kitten", but I did really like Miura Ayme adding a sort of cutesy whining tone to "I'm the cutest demon in the world, right?" - Ayme in general does a great job with Asmo's character in songs. -> Overall: 8/10 Still good! I think my tastes have just shifted since I first listened to it.

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OPENING SONGS

Sinful Indulgence (OM!:SWD) -> Sonically: 9/10 It really is a bop. Miura Ayme's performance is great. -> Lyrically: 8/10 Pretty strong! "Oh baby, obey me!" is clever and very catchy. I only ever use the word sexy as a joke so it catches me off guard when Asmo says it, but that's not really a complaint. The dark-and-sinful nature of the lyrics is really funny when you compare it to the stuff these guys actually get up to in-story. -> Overall: 8/10 It's a good listen and a good opening to the game, even if the lyrics don't really reflect the content all that well.

Devil's Way (OM!:NB) -> Sonically: 9/10 Ohhh whatever that metallic bell sound in the intro+outro instrumental is, it is a tasty sound. Shinya Sumi is performing his heart out and he's doing fantastic. I still can't fully tell if that's Belphie or Levi on the start of the second verse, but whoever it is did a really good job of making it sound subtly unsettling. The bridge starts shifting into edgy territory, but the whole song is teetering, to be honest. Also, I've mentioned this before, but the "sekai de-eeee" just before the bridge is still so good. -> Lyrically: 8/10 I adore the use of "sweetiepie" in the chorus but it does detract a little from the dark vibe they've got going on. Lucifer using 'boku' in this song of all places is bewildering and hilarious. The darker tone definitely fits in with S1 and S2. -> Overall: 8/10 Something about that bridge bothers me. Other than that, banger.

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BROTHER ENSEMBLE SONGS

It's My Party -> Sonically: 9/10 It's a bop. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Relatively basic. From a cynical perspective, the brothers basically each tell you their One Assigned Trait that the writers fall back on when they can't be bothered to do deep characterisation, but that's not the fault of the songwriter. I take psychic damage every time I hear "haters gonna hate." -> Overall: 9/10 I've listened to this quite regularly since I had my friend edit me the version with "haters gonna hate" cut out. (It's a 7/10 with the hater line left in.)

Eternal -> Sonically: 9/10 So nice. I can't unhear the first few notes as See You Again, but the rest of the track is definitely a credit to itself. I feel like there could've been more orchestral build-up, but that might also make it feel too dramatic... as is, it feels more candid and personal. Like you could imagine this being performed to you in a small local theater. -> Lyrically: 10/10 There is definitely bias at play, but hearing this as OM's first sincere ensemble love song made a pretty big impression. The lyrics are so sweet. "My love" is one of those terms of affection that I love so much I don't even mind when it's used on me. -> Overall: 10/10 Again, biased, but this song just has a special place in my heart.

On Your Way -> Sonically: 6/10 It's.... fine? I like the instrumental, but the chorus feels a little empty. Shinya Sumi hitting that high note on "Let's get you on your way" each time is kind of inspiring, though. Belt it, girl! -> Lyrically: 7/10 The "eeny-meeny-miny-mo" is so silly but I love it. -> Overall: 6/10 Pretty standard stuff.

With You -> Sonically: 9/10 Gosh, another really pretty instrumental! I think the seven VAs are definitely more comfortable singing as an ensemble here, though it would've been nice to get some more harmonies... -> Lyrically: 10/10 They're so sappy but that's what makes it work, especially delivered in all sincerity like this. Something about that last line (and its delivery) feels so earnest. -> Overall: 9/10 I'm just a sucker for whatever genre you call this and Eternal. Also, I really like title callback to S2's play (I don't think it was necessarily intentional, but still).

Spooky Night Parade -> Sonically: 7/10 It's a really fun instrumental. I love the little "hehehee....... trick or treat?" in between choruses and verses. They're just little guys. -> Lyrically: 6/10 Just sort of standard Halloween-y lyrics that don't mean too much. -> Overall: 7/10 it feels more like a novelty song than something I'd listen to regularly.

Magic Moment -> Sonically: 9/10 Oooooh that's a nice instrumental. The swelling dynamics are so satisfying, the vocal performances are all lovely. I love that glockenspiel in the back. (At least I think that's what it is.) (I've imagined IK playing it while the brothers perform this before.) -> Lyrically: 9/10 Another "it's so sappy I love it" moment. "I'm so happy I could cry" Like GUYS!! Aw man I love you. They drop three I love yous and they're all great. -> Overall: 10/10 I know the maths doesn't add up but I just really like this song.

Anniversary -> Sonically: 8/10 Strong instrumental, but I feel like the delivery on the raps in the first verse are a little lacking? Asmo and Belphie's verses feel incredibly satisfying for whatever reason. Though Belphie(?)'s little "come on baby" at the end just makes me laugh. I feel like the chorus could've benefited from splitting the brothers up a little (at least for the first two) rather than having them all sing at once. I love hearing them all talk to each other at the beginning, like a behind-the-curtain moment. -> Lyrically: 9/10 "We can't live without you" AWWWWWWWW -> Overall: 9/10 Feels nostalgic even though it came out this year. Another one where the overall rating is based on pure vibes and feeling

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TRIWORLDS

All the Feels -> Sonically: 10/10 Certified banger. Is it something about Barbatos? (His "one more time" in the final chorus is kinda hype.) Feel like there could've been more variety in the instrumental, though. -> Lyrically: 8/10 The verses feel more personal to the characters than in e.g. It's My Party, but the chorus is still pretty basic. It's a little upsetting that one of Barbatos's lines here has more depth to it than most of his characterisation thus far. I find it really funny that they call the listener "buddy." Probably would've been too weird for Luke to say "honey". Also, the "We are dancing, we are dancing (uh, uh)" bridge is so dumb (in a cute and funny way) -> Overall: 10/10 Just a great song to listen to (and imagine choreography to.)

[ateez-himari]

LXST; RECORD ONE

[NEW UPLOAD FROM ATEEZ]

LISTEN TO 'ADDICT' NOW ON YOUTUBE

Liked by dovecameron and 2,038,019 others

ateez_official_ LXST; solo project

#ATEEZ #애이티즈 #HIMARI #히마리

View all 1,339,371 comments

donatella_versace Never in my lifetime have I seen someone this hypnotizing 💛You are truly one of a kind, the diamond of this generation

no1likehim hear me out, she could very well be a real life siren because personally if I was out at sea and seeing her out in the water like THIS...idc I'm jumping in 💅🏾

mitosglass.es Wait omg she was saying she'd perform a new song later in the tour and that the outfit was dangerous 😰If she comes out in this in Toronto I'm actually gonna lose it, I'll be in shock, you'll never see me again

mochimochimari stop because LUST is the title of this project?! (don't try to hide it, we know) she has insane musical duality bc wdym she's written the most heart wrenching songs but then is gonna sing about wanting to get freaky-

sansatori is this the ATEEZ naked era 🫣first the sleeves magically disappear from their shirts, then the shirts start disappearing on stage, now we have MIN HIMARI coming out of the water like this?? pls i would do anything for this woman to even look at me

himarry.me Mingi pls give me a chance with your girlfriend...he literally stole the most beautiful woman from us how are we supposed to cope now 😭also we won guys, we had to beg her to release her solo project and it was so worth it, we blessed humanity💪

31 July 2024 • See Original

Industry Reactions

When asked about the industry's current aces in a live broadcast, second generation artist Taeyang responded with this statement; 'The first one that comes to mind is Himari from ATEEZ, people call her the second Hand of Midas for a reason. 'Addict' was created using her voice in various ways instead of relying on instrumentals and it came out like an angel call. It's almost entrancing whenever she sings, almost like a siren song.'

Taemin obviously had to boast about his protegee and posted this on his story; 'From creative direction of this music video to having only her name in the credits, there really is nothing she can't do!❤️I'm so honored to have such a talented artist by my side, go stream this song everyone, quickly!'

Former B.A.P leader Bang Yongguk posted the music video link with this comment underneath; 'i've been listening to this on repeat ever since she sent it to me and it feels like I'm being transported to heaven (even though the lyrics are far from holy ㅋㅋ) her voice really is on a whole other level, it could lead sailors into the water'

Twice leader Jihyo could not seem to stop praising their former trainee; 'I can't believe ATEEZ took this angelic artist from us 🥺The dancing is as mesmerizing as watching a ribbon flow in the wind, the vocals sink deep into the soul, the visuals make you fall in love...I could go on. I'm so proud of you Himie, we all are!'

Netizens Reactions

@/himaswife on X 'If i was a six foot tall rapper with a deep voice hearing this song that was definitely made about me...imagine such a stunning woman singing about how infatuated she is with you 😳 I would kiss and marry her on the spot (i'm not jealous at all why would you think that-)'

@/yeosangiecookie on X 'she definitely chose to do it in English for a reason and she was right, it's so sensual but innocent at the same time that you just can't stop listening to it. i thought it would be provocative from the project title but the lyrics were just suggestive enough to make you think about the possibilities but not picture anything, truly a masterpiece from our maknae as always 🙌'

@/ateenypresent on X 'the way you can tell these lyrics are genuine because it's things we point out every time, especially the "These things I'm thinking when you're looking in my eyes". if you don't notice the way her and Mingi make eye contact you must be blind...look i'm delusional and reaching but yk how in Work he says "ride [with] me"?? and how she said "fuck it i'm still riding"?? 😳'

@/yunhosbuckethat on X 'i NEED to see her performing this live, I don't even care if I have to watch it through tiktoks or a low resolution youtube video. the choreography was so beautiful, i love when she incorporates classic and contemporary stiles into her dance, it just suits her so well. plus imagine how good it would sound echoing in a stadium 🫠'

Min Siblings Updates

Hanzo on Instagram 'My wife woke me up this morning telling me that my sister's new song was so good that she'd been playing on loop for ten minutes now...first of all I'm mad that I didn't get to hear it first. More than anything though I'm so proud of her, 7.3 MILLION views in not even 24 hours for a SOLO project that was announced the day of release is genuinely insane🥹I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE TIGER 💕(I'm so playing this to the whole team before practice, the rest of you GO STREAM IT WHAT ARE YOU DOING'

Yoongi on Weverse 'There are no words to accurately describe how divine my sister's song sounds, it's so delicate yet powerful, I wouldn't be surprised if every speaker in the country starts playing it. Without a doubt I can say that she's one of if not the most talented producer of this generation, who else can manipulate vocals and instrumentals so perfectly as to transport you to another world? Our Hima, you did well, I love you ❤️'

Translated from Korean by Google

[chilling-seavey]

Winter Warmers: Day 24 — Crying & New Traditions

↳ Summary: Before the children are tucked in on Christmas Eve, there is a moment shared in the warm light of the living room that brings tears to your eyes.

↳ Word Count: 662

↳ Winter Warmers Prompt List | The Way It Goes Masterlist

With George on bath duty, you took responsibility for cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. It was Christmas Eve and the sun had long since set over the snowy backdrop of the English countryside, your children equal parts eager to go to bed so Santa would come and wanting to stay up late to enjoy the festivities just a little longer. You could hear their muffled giggles and chatter from upstairs behind the veil of Christmas instrumentals you had playing through the built-in speakers throughout the main floor, blanketing your home in a fuzzy feeling of love and comfort. 

The dishwasher was turned on and the pots were washed and you wiped down the counters as you hummed while you worked. Soon, George appeared in the kitchen doorway with a gentle smile. 

“Come here,” he encouraged in a whisper, cocking his head a little. 

Without questioning him, you draped the kitchen cloth over the faucet and followed him out into the hallway and over to the living room. George stopped you in the doorway with a loving hand on your shoulder to keep you from interrupting whatever was going on inside, both of you peeking into the room. 

Soft instrumental Christmas music played through the speakers in the living room, the cozy space dulled down to the warm lights of the Christmas tree and a few flickering candles. On the couch, your son and daughter sat in matching festive pyjamas, hair wet from their bath, sharing a book of carols between them that almost looked bigger than both of their heads. 

At only three-years-old, your daughter was more so just sitting and enjoying the moment, trying to share in a few lyrics where she could. But her big brother, at six-years-old, sat close at her side, pointing out the words to the carol they were singing, helping her to follow along and try to read.

It was a scene straight out of a vintage magazine as you shared in the adorable sight of your children singing Christmas carols in their sweet voices, momentarily angelic. Life wasn’t this perfect all the time; your children often screamed and pulled each other’s hair and gave you headaches at any and all times of the day. But, sometimes, when the time was right, they would find each other for a quiet moment, all on their own. 

“Silent night. Holy night.” your son sang along with the music, his young voice almost speaking more than singing but it was entirely endearing nonetheless. His finger trailed over the words in the book.

His little sister followed his guidance, echoing him off beat with her own shy little, “Silent night. Honey night.”

“Holy.” your son corrected her gently. “Like cheese.”

“I offered the carol book to them…” George explained to you in a whisper so as to not interrupt the two, his thumb gently rubbing along your shoulder over your shirt, “I didn’t know they’d take so eagerly to it.”

You couldn’t answer him at first, too entranced by the sight before you. Your little family; all that you had ever dreamt about and all that once felt so out of reach. Now, a pair of beautiful children, made up of the best halves of each of you, filled your heart and your home. Motherhood brought with it a sense of gratitude unlike any other, something that you often took for granted in the moments when life got hectic and messy. Here, now, it was an opportunity to appreciate just how blessed you truly were.

You hadn’t realized you were crying until George’s lips pressed to your cheek, kissing away the tear that slipped from the corner of your eye. Shifting beside him with a small inhale, you reached up to wipe your eyes. His head rested against yours in silent solidarity, holding you close, sharing in the moment of familial adoration.

Sniffling for a moment, you then pitched your suggestion softly, “We should sing carols every Christmas Eve.”

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[pleasedontcareaboutme]

Hello all. It's been a while 🥲

Before new year's eve I finally got the time and motivation ( and courage) to listen to Subrosa. So this will be a long post about all my first impressions about the album. Overall, I reallly loved it more than I expected, and I'm proud of all of the members sooo much.

Beware, this post will be longggg. I'll write about my first impressions for now, in another post I'll try to deep dive more into the themes the members touched, and tried to make sense of some things. Of course, all of this is just speculation of my tiny Buck-Tick infested brain lol. Also excuse me if I misuse any terms, I'm not an expert.

Enjoy if you are curious. 🥰

1. Hyakuman Nayuta no Chiri no SCUM

A very sweet opening, a hopeful one at that. Very cosmic, truly shows how vast the universe is and how insignificant we all are. But that's why we are not alone.

I think Atsushi would've loved this song. I love Imai's slightly shaky, almost crying voice. It fits the song really well.

2. SUBROSA

Hhmm, going into Imai's psychedelic paradise right on the 2nd song, I love it. Has a very industrial feel to it, the rap scratches my brain at all the right spots lol. The lyrics has a bunch of references as usual, Imai flexing he is smart lol.

There's a part at around 2:35 where the beat switches to a more atmospheric, calmer sound? And that is just. Chef's kiss. I know I'm biased but this is a reallly great song. 🥲

3. Muyubyo SLEEP WALK

I'm going to be honest at firsttt I didn't love this song, but I found it cute. It's still not my favorite, but I appreciate it for what it is.

It is still a good song. There's just something like, missing? But I will listen to it still. All night lonG. I do like the instrumentals, the SSL vibes? That might just be me though.

4. From Now On

Honestly at this point I just sound like I'm repeating myself, but this is also a great song.

The baseline reminds me of Sapphire a bit, which I loveee. I feel like it also gives Schaft vibes? I could imagine Raymond Watts as a feature on it lol. I love Hide's nonchalant vocals, it fits the song. It'ssss not one of my faves though, but next to so many great songs, it's hard to choose favorites. 😭

The message is nice though. I appreciate Hide a lot for singing in english. 🥹

5. Rezisto

I literally killed myself when I first heard this song. It is perfect. Everything that I wanted from this album. I think I'm lowkey Imai biased but I just love how his brain works. I love everything about it really. The lyrics I find fascinating and beautiful, I'll touch up on it in another post.

6. Shinkeishitsu no Kaidan

Weirdly enough, the first song I repeated multiple times. It is so good to use as a focusing song lol. It also makes me question my existence. Truly, truly a divine instrumental track.

7. Raijin Fujin

Okay, first critique lol. Of course, even when it was released as a single I wasn't a huge fan of it, and was really scared of the direction the band was about to take, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt, thank god.

I know I'm not the only one who thinks this is one of the worst songs on the album, but it's fine. I still think it has a place in the album. It's very upbeat, and fun. I'm not a fan of the vocals. I like the instrumental, but I don't love the prechorus. Might be an unpopular opinion, but my favorite version is the club remix on the single lol, because the vocals are less promenient.

I did learn to like this song after many listens, not my favorite still.

8. Meiosei de Shine

It's funn. It reminds me a bunch of older songs, can't even pinpoint them one by one. I didn't notice at first it's an Imai Hide duet 😭 I thought it's only Imai. But that makes it more precious. It's a fun song really, gives me Dada Disco vibes mostly. The instrumental is great too, electronic noise brrrrr. It does lack somethingggg, I don't know what though. Maybe more variety? Or idk. But as a fun song I appreciate it. I imagine Acchan shaking ass and it's suddenly so much better. 🥰😭

9. Yusei Tsushin

I'm gonna be honest! I wanted to love this song bc of the lyrics, it's so stupid 😭 It reminds me of Boogie Woogie / Jonathan Jet-Coaster a bit, but flatter. I don't get as energized personally. Also the vocals in the chorus are so strained, I'm dying. I love you Imai, but I prefer your calm singing or lowkey talking style. But I appreciate the effort! I'm okay with this song, but might be my least favorite unfortunately. 😭

10. paradeno mori

Funnest! I did cry on it tho lol! 😭 the lyrics references got me. I just loveeee Hide's voice here. It does remind me of Atsushi's singing style a bit. I can 1000% see Acchan shaking ass to this.

I do prefer the more abstracts songs on the album, but this is also really good. Some of the tiny instrumental details are really good, like the sounds at 1:50-2:00

Also love the detail that the sound slightly changes on each stage? Nice!

11. Sterilitzia

Makes me want to explore a desert lol. It's a really interesting sound, something I don't think I've heard from BT before. It's funky, interesting, industrial, I'm satisfied with it. The end got me feeling distressed though not going to lie. The heavy machinery sounds and slight distortion in the middle make it sound a bit dystopian. Loveee it.

12. Zetsubo to Iunano Kimi e

One. of. the. best. songs.on the album. 🥹I violently sobbed on it like 4 times in a row. 🫠 Hide's voice is b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l.🥹 I think Atsushi would also love this one. I'd love to hear him sing it. It's a beautifull song, both lyrically, and soundwise. I'm in love 😭😭 Fuck you BT for being so great. 😭

I love the robotic sounds in the instrumental, make it all the sadder. 😭

13. TIKI TIKI BOOM

Actually! This might be my favorite fun song! It's different, yet soooo Buck-Tick! I love Imai's hurried rap part, the chorus is extremely satisfying. The smoll Tiki tiki boom's in the background, yes.

The Instrumental is something to really appreciate imo. I always find something new in it. The part at 1:45 with the descending(?) instrumentals gives it an eery feel, it's sooo good.I thought this would be my least fave but not at all.

14. PSYCHE

This album just gets better with each song. First impression was that I neeeed to hear Atsushi and Hide sing this together. Hide sounds perfect here. The song is sooooo good. How it starts calmer and then explodes in the chorus. Has a slight like apocalyptic (👀) feel to it. It's again one of my favorites. 🥹 It's just suppperrr good.

The background vocals are canonically Atsushi to me, I don't accept arguments. 😭

15. Gabriel's Horn

As one of my friends said, Vita Mechanicalis vibes. But to me KMFDM. Jesus this song is soooooooo goooodd. It was one of my favorites on first listen. The drums? or no clue what instrument tbh 😭 sound so good. Imai's voice is suppppeeerr cool here. This is what I loveeeeeeee. Fuck yes. That's all I can say. This song is realllly apocalyptic. For real. The only part that threw me off was the chorus, but it fits well looking at the concept. I love the use of trumpets and piano. Give it a divine feel as well. Like the war of gods or some shit. 😭

16. Kurage

Another instrumental track, it's really eery. I love it. It gives me anxiety honestly, so maybe I'd only listen to it if I want the full album experience. But it fits really well into the album so 👌

17. Tasogare no Howling

The last song. Interestingggggg. Verrrryy bittersweet. It's verrrryyy beautiful. I think to truly appreciate it I have to listen a lot of times. Just like in the first song, Imai's shaky vocals suit this song really well. It truly gives the feeling of the ending, that's also a beginning. I just loveeeee the deep background vocals. They give the song sooo much flavor. Cried.

I just noticed, I think Hide also sings some higher background vocals?

Okayyy, now, onto ranking the songssss. Hmmm.

17. Yusei Tsushin

16. Raijin Fujin

15. Kurage

14. Muyubyo SLEEP WALK

13. Meiosei de Shine

12. Sterilitzia

11. From Now On

10. parade no mori

9. Hyakumannayuta no Chiri SCUM

8. Shinkeishitsu na Kaidan

7. TIKI TIKI BOOM

6. SUBROSA

NOW the hardest decision, lol, I can hardly decide, but.

5. Zetsubo to Iunano Kimi e ( sorry you deserve the no.1 spot 😭)

4.Gabriel's Horn

3. Rezisto

2. PSYCHE

1. Tasogare no Howling

Honestly, this ranking will probably change depending on my mood, but for now this is it.

Also the first 5 songs are probably all no.1., but I had to decide an order. 😭

Well anyways, for now this is it for first impressions. I'll come back with my slight analysis post later.

Overall, the album is phenomenal. I will be listening to all the songs for sure. I'm happy to see the members still releasing such good music. 🥹

If you read this, I'd be curious about your opinions too! Byee

[desmorotu]

lasko’s playlist ⭐️ (a glimpse)

˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ for @morgansplace !!!

☆ lovesong - adele (lasko, despite already having a partner and is able to express how he feels freely to them, is still a hopeless romantic. he often feels a pit in his stomach when thinking about love, and this song conveys precisely how he can feel. he enjoys humming the melody and tapping his foot to the beat + has cried to this song just because 💀)

☆ i’m not okay - JVKE (he loves the piano!! he is a sucker for a good, heart aching melody that can bring goosebumps to his skin. he doesn’t particularly relate to the song per se, but he does agree with the message that it is okay to not be okay.)

☆ life eternal - ghost (he thinks about his partner when this song plays :p. he really enjoys the choral elements to it! damien’s been introducing him to different kinds of music and lasko is experimenting with ghost currently. he bobs his head to the beat and enjoys dramatically staring out the window when it’s nighttime. he’s witnessed damien screaming these lyrics at the top of his lungs.)

☆ closer - nine inch nails (gavin showed him this song LMAO. despite being shy about the lyrics when listening around other people, when he is alone he is definitely jammin’. he actually enjoys the suggestive lyrics a lot, but he will never admit it to the others. he lip syncs and looks in the mirror while he does it to make sure he looks “attractive enough.” not even his partner knows he does this yet.)

☆ singularity - bts (after having looked up the english translation, he feels a deeper ache when listening to it. he relates deeply to these lyrics, acknowledging that he oftentimes puts others way before himself and, just as in the song, “buries his voice” in fear of rejection. he loves taehyung’s deep vocals and prefers listening while driving because he seeks the vibration of the bass.)

☆ like crazy - jimin (lasko may or may not have gone down a bts rabbit hole at some point—but this song hits him to his core. it’s in a way that he can’t explain, but goosebumps take over his skin and he has to stop whatever he’s doing at the moment to listen and appreciate in its entirety. he was very happy when his partner told him that it was on their playlist after listening to it with them :3)

☆ sure know something - kiss (lasko’s an avid kiss enjoyer—i won’t be hearing any protests. he likes listening to this one with his partner and breaking out of his shell for a moment to dance along with them :). he likes the bass and paul stanley’s voice could “bring a grown man—yes, that grown man is me—to his knees.”)

☆ you know me too well - nothing but thieves (he heard this from another person’s car radio while stopped in traffic and he shazamed that shit. he loves the sensual vibe and, if he ever decides to make a sex playlist, will probably be putting this song on there.)

☆ sway - michael bublé (he fuckin LOVES the entirety of this song. he dances with his partner to it and often enjoys watching them dance to it by themselves. his mouth is always agape, eyes wide and looking desperately in awe. he loves spinning them around and seeing the mischievous glint in their eye. he regrets not ever picking up an instrument, but he would pick up a trombone or violin in a heartbeat if given the chance.)

☆ dancing queen - ABBA (this motherfucker IS the dancing queen even though he is no longer seventeen. he always smiles his biggest when he recognizes the familiar melody and lets himself dance to it even if there are people around. even in the most subtle of ways like walking to the beat or swaying his body, he cannot stay still with this song on. his partner likes to play it when they’re walking through the doorway as an “intro song.”)

refer to lasko’s playlist cover at the bottom!!

˚ ༘✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷

okay omg i hope you like it 💔 more songs from my playlist that give lasko vibes this time. these are just my opinions + headcanons ! i tried really hard with this but sometimes i’m really bad at words so i’m sorry if the descriptions are repetitive :(. again, if you want to see more, let me know!! i personally love content like this and i’ve was actually really inspired by morgan’s OC icon post :3 it was SO COOL

k bye 💟

[nutluvs]

musicians in love - fluff

javier escuella x fem!reader

hellooo! 🤍 🪻 this is my first rdr2 post! some things i should point out: • i take requests, i rarely do smut but i always do fluff and angst • requests can be of any rdr2 character, whether major or minor • expect a lot of posts of charles smith, he's my husband and i love him bunches. • i mostly do short writings, but i can also do headcanons if requested! 🪻 warnings for this piece: maybe a little sloppy; it's my first time writing for javier, don't yell at me. also i don't even know how long this is, but it's kinda long.

you never thought of yourself as a terrible singer—you felt you were alright. you just needed some rounding out over a few roughened edges, after you took a few years off of your singing practice. not only did you need practice, but you needed confidence to be what you truly wanted to be: a singer. out in front of crowds in bustling cities all over the country, that's where you wanted to be. you wanted to use your own voice to please the public and provide entertainment in the grand theaters. but you resorted to the life of an outlaw, making reckless decisions, and now you knew that you couldn't ever be something as wonderful as a singer. it brought you down more than anything.

however, with your good friend javier, you lightened up significantly. he knew what your struggles were. he had to go through these same feelings at least once, maybe twice. he sang too, and quite frequently. not often in english, no, but he taught you a few a thing or two, some mexican spanish songs mostly, and you'd harmonize. compliments of your voices flooded in from the listeners nearby once you finished your duet.

"ah. you learn well and fast, mi amiga." javier praised gently after the crowd dispersed, nudging his shoulder gently against yours. you smiled sheepishly at him, your cheeks blooming in a light pink hue. "oh, you flatter me, javier." you sighed out. his deep brown eyes softened at your flushed face, and he couldn't help the smile that etched onto his lips as well. how he wanted to tell you that he was eager for any attempt to make your heart race, but he was just unaware if you felt the same or not. he didn't want to get used to directing flirtatious spews of words at you, just to be turned down. it wouldn't be worth it. however, javier could never just.. ignore his feelings for you. you were a kind soul, soft and delicate with one of the prettiest voices he'd ever heard. you had talent in music, identifying chords and defining them well enough. it wasn't so easy to find a bandit possessing real musical talent like you. you also took good care of him. you had patience, listening to him when he needed to discuss anything that bothered his calmly flowing day, and you always provided advice whether or not the issue was big. he liked you a lot. but his worry of rejection was pushing his confidence down. you were perfect to him, and he didn't want this failed opportunity to seep down the drain. what he didn't know was that you felt very similar.

your eyes trained down to javier's scarred fingertips as they delicately and idly plucked at the guitar strings. you loved his passion for his instrument and the music played with it, you loved the soft tones of his voice as he drew a handful of folk in the gang with each lyric. it wasn't just his musical skill you loved, but you loved his care for the gang and his personality, loyal, friendly. only sometimes was he a bit arrogant... you could deal with it when he was, and it wasn't like you disagreed with his vain behavior. his eagerness to save john when he was up in the mountains after a grizzly wolf attack, how quick he went when bill got caught by bounty hunters. he wanted only the best for his close ones. javier was just perfect in your eyes. a wonderful friend, someone you wanted to keep. you wondered what it'd be like to keep him forever as your love. the man noticed your lingering gaze, and he hummed gently to catch your attention. you looked right up at him. those pretty eyes, swimming with a wholesome light. "what is it?" you asked. "nothing, nothing, no worries. you just looked like you were zoning out," javier answered, looking at the strings of his guitar again before back at you. "i know you have a tendency to do that..." he pointed out in a humorous tone, and you laughed. the way you smiled, and the sound of your laughter... damn it. he had to bite back a groan and look away to cover up the furious scarlet that rose to his cheeks. his heart pounded hard in his chest, and he thought you heard it due to how it thrummed. he wouldn't get over this love for you. now that he thought a bit more about his feelings, he learned had to confess at one point or another. he had to do it, even if he was shy. it would be whatever if you didn't like him back, you'd still be friends. "listen," javier started. "you're special to me. very special to me. it's.. weird, it is, but, you.. you are mi corazón. i love you dearly. this might be stupid to you, you might not love me back, but.. i just wanted to tell you." your lips remained parted in surprise as the, first sappy, then insecure words left his mouth. you began to grip and fist your skirt, looking at your knees shyly. you hadn't the words to reply, you were oh, so stunned. "i'd understand if you don't love me back." he blurted. you both remained quiet momentarily, but his confidence was contagious, and it bloomed in your belly as you leaned a little closer. at first you moved hesitantly, but your leaning turned to a needy lunge as you cupped his flushed cheeks in your soft palms. what happened next was a blur to the both of you—your lips meeting in a swift kiss. you flinched lightly when you felt his hand rest on your back, and you retracted. your eyes were wide and so were his, but eventually, his grew soft once more. he grinned, "so you do love me back."

ohh stupid love stories thank you for reading! i hope you enjoyed <3

[struggle-but-its-all-ocean-floor]

Now that chapter 2 is ending (is Hobi's new album still chapter 2?), I really wanted to go over the albums again. I haven't listened to most of them in a long time, and never one after the other, so I thought it'd be interesting to see how I feel about them now... Long post ahead!

Happy

Production: Not the best production, in true Hybe style. It's like there's a filter of white noise. Also, imo Jin shouldn't sing so much in falsetto. The Running Wild chorus sounds a bit weak bc of it. When he belts it's too much as well. They need to find a balance with him. He sounds amazing in Heart on the Window, for example.

Favorite/least favorite song: I'll Be There/Falling

Rating: It's an okay album, but the production sounds "grainy" and the songs are nothing to write home about. 7/10

Indigo

Production: It's decent, but not amazing. RM's English sounds garbled. There are maybe too many collabs. The album's flow could be better. Some songs are too heavy. Knowing how good RM can be, I think all the tracks sound unfinished and unpolished.

Favorite/least favorite song: Yun/Closer (only song I don't like)

Rating: The vision was there, but the album is still very rough, not like RPWP. 7.8/10

RPWP

Production: Pretty good production. Out of Love ruins the flow of the album, so does the interlude. Overall the flow could be better. It goes back and forth between fun and darkish. I felt a bit exhausted listening to the album but maybe my attention span is gone.

Favorite/least favorite song: Come Back to Me/Out of Love

Rating: It's a good body of work. Without a few songs it'd be excellent. But despite many moments of brilliance, imo the album is a bit draining and overstuffed. But he achieved his vision. 8.3/10.

JITB

Production: Good production, but Hobi's rap style isn't appealing to me. I don't like the edgy, dark sound he went for, it's excessive. The instrumentals are all very good, but then I don't like his rap, it makes the songs unnecessarily heavy. I also don't like his lyricism. What If, for example, is so out of touch.

Favorite/least favorite song: More/Pandora's Box?

Rating: The songs are overall good, but the album is a bit of a miss due to the rap style and lyrics. JITB is interesting and ambitious, but I think he failed in executing the concept. Like Indigo, it's not quite there, but I can't say it's not a good album. 7.7/10.

HOTS

Production: Good production, the features lighten up the album. His songs are better when sung by/with other people tbh. JK and Yunjin ate. Imo Yunjin did her best work ever in this song.

Favorite/least favorite song: NEURON/what if... or lock/unlock

Rating: HOTS is more commercial yet more polished than JITB. You can see the growth, but it feels like a bunch of easy listen songs that don't really have a connecting thread. It's a nice album, but a bit empty. I think that's on purpose, it gives OST. 7.5/10

D-DAY

Production: Decent production, not amazing. Yoongi did some interesting things, Snooze and Amygdala are raw, but the songs don't touch me. Most tracks are mid (People Pt. 2, D-Day, LGO,...) and even though most aren't dark I felt drained. There's too much screaming and autotune, and Yoongi's rap isn't as raw or dynamic as before. He usually gets it right but this was Soundcloud level rap at times (eg. Huh?!). Even Snooze doesn't resonate with me...

Favorite/least favorite song: Polar Night/Life Goes On

Rating: It's hard to judge this album fairly because it was such a disappointment to me. Agust D and D-2 are masterpieces and this album pales in comparison. It's very average, even the lyrics can't touch the other albums. 7.5/10

FACE

Production: Okay production, but Jimin's voice doesn't sound clear at all. The album isn't really my style. Why are the solo albums so heavy? They needed some color and more dynamic production. Lyrically I'll admit I don't get what he's saying, but it's been ages since I read the lyrics. The use of random sounds bothers me. I hate the voice over in LC.

Favorite/least favorite song: Letter/Interlude: Dive (the breathing, water, and gulping sounds are disgusting, sorry)

Rating: The album isn't my thing. It's a bit flat too. I only really like LC, SMF Pt.2, and Letter. I actually prefer SMF over LC. 7.8/10

MUSE

Production: Terrible production. The autotune's too much. I don't like how Jimin sings, it sounds artificial and grating. The songs are all mid imo, slightly annoying even because of how Jimin sounds... There's not a single track I truly like. I hate Sofia Carson's voice.

Favorite/least favorite song: Who/Slow Dance

Rating: The album really isn't much, but would be a 1000x better with decent production. 6.9/10

LAYOVER

Production: Decent production, not very smooth. V's vocals aren't crystal clear. Imo his voice sounds a bit flat, whiny/nasal, and even pitchy, especially in Rainy Days. If his tone were richer the songs would sound better. Maybe there's too much autotune or smth.

Favorite/least favorite song: Slow Dancing/Rainy Days

Rating: It's a very easy listen album, but nothing special. I don't have much to say about it. 6.9/10

GOLDEN

Production: Good production, by far the best of the solo albums. This was the first time I listened to Golden in full, in order, since it dropped. It's weird it starts with 3Dl I would've chosen a different track. JH singing "I wanna see it in motion, in 3D" in his thick ass voice is so unnecessary. The ending too... It was a ride listening to the tracks in order. The explicit version should've been last - it's definitely the cringe version. But the album flows much better than I remembered. All the songs are pretty different so it never gets boring. It's a pretty dynamic and exciting tracklist, very pleasant.

Favorite/least favorite song: SNTY/Hate You

Rating: I know I've gotten used to the cringe parts, but Golden's a very solid pop album and a very good debut. It doesn't reinvent pop music, but it's very, very solid. Jungkook elevates the songs a lot, he did a great job singing them. Listening to Golden again in its entirety after listening to the songs in random order every day made my appreciation grow. 8.5/10

Final thoughts: I was surprised by how weak I found the albums. Chapter 2 has a lot of good music but the albums aren't necessarily amazing. In RM and Hobi's case the growth was clear. Their second albums were more polished and their vision clearer. But some albums like D-DAY and Layover were uninspired. I don't think there was really a vision for those albums. It was just about releasing music. Happy was uninspired but the vision was happy music Ig. In the end I rated Golden higher than RPWP. It probably seems biased and wrong, but I'm not directly comparing the albums when I rank them, in the sense that different genres have different standards. RPWP is much more brilliant than Golden, but Golden is a better pop album than RPWP is whatever it is, because imo it misses sometimes. Regardless, to me RM, Jungkook, and Hobi are the winners of chapter 2. They had and showed the most growth, variety, and ambition.

PS: If you made it this far, thank you! I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

[inconsistentwriting]

Daylight

Warning: Spoilers of Nightbringer. In the mood for some NB angst. GN!reader x Lucifer. English is not my first language.

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The end of another exhausting day as the brothers’ assistant. Lucifer had dismissed you quite late tonight. You were saying your goodbyes when you passed the music room. Something pushed you to go in and sit in the small bench in front of the piano. The memories started flowing and pouring over you. All those nights playing that same instrument for the brothers. Playing in the background for Satan as he read his favorite novels. Teaching Levi how to play his favorite openings. Lulling Belphie to sleep while his twin looked at you with adoration. The way Mammon and Asmo always found their way there while you practiced. The countless nights playing for Lucifer when he wasn’t feeling like himself, neither of you saying anything, a mutual and wordless agreement. Absentmindedly you started to pay the melody you used to play to Lucifer. You don’t know for how long you had been playing or when the the demon with those silky black wings had placed himself in the doorframe until he called your name.

-”I thought I said you could go home.”

-”I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstay my welcome. I’ll get going.”

-”Wait. What is that melody?”

-”Oh, it’s a song I used to play for someone I held very dear.”

-”Used to? What happened?”

Your mind went back to the day you were taken from them all. Your eyes swelled with tears as you remember the fight you’ve had with Lucifer. The things said by both of you, you don’t even want to think on how he must be feeling with your disappearance.

-”We fought. I say nasty things and he did too. And now I can’t take them back, no matter how hard I‘ve been trying.”

-”He must be a fool for being mad at you. You have been nothing but patient and caring with my brothers and me.”

-”It’s not his fault. The world just decided we must suffer being apart from each other for a while. Maybe it’s just trying to teach me a lesson.”

The tears that stained your face made Lucifer’s heart feel heavy. Why was he feeling so bad? Why was his heart weeping? He’d never admit it, but everything in him was telling to run to you and to catch you in his arms, to tell you he would never let you suffer like that. Instead, he asked a single question.

-”Could you play it for me? I’d love to hear the entirety of it.”

-”Of course. Whatever you wish.”

Once again you sat next to the piano and let your fingers move slowly to the sound of the song. You started to sing the lyrics under Lucifer’s careful gaze.

-”Telling myself I won’t go there

Oh, but I know that I won’t care

Tryna wash away all the blood I’ve spilt

His lust is a burden that we both share

Two sinners can’t atone from a lone prayer 

Souls tied intertwined by pride and guilt.”

The words of your song struck a chord inside of Lucifer. The lyrics seemed crafted for him, he felt it deep inside of his chest.

-”There’s darkness in the distance

from the way that I’ve been living

but I know I can’t resist it.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time

You and i drink the poison from the same vine.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time

Hiding all of our sins from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time.”

It clicked on Lucifer’s mind. By the way you were playing, by the tone in your voice, by the history you gave him. This was a love song. A love song between you and somebody else. Someone stupid enough to allow himself to loose you. He felt a lot of things, pity for the idiot who couldn’t realise what he had, jealousy for the fact that even after all you were still looking back, longing for you.

-”Telling myself it’s the last time

Can you spare any mercy that you might find?

If I’m down on my knees again.

Deep down, way down, lord I try

Try to follow your light but it’s nighttime

Please don’t leave me in the end.”

The words touched something so deeply buried. Those words felt so very his. It was like those lyrics had been born from his deepest core. It shook him, it frightened him, it comforted him.

-”There’s darkness in the distance.

I’m begging for forgiveness

But I know I might resist it.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time 

You and I drink the poison from the same vine.

Oh, i love it and I hate it at the same time

Hiding all of our sins from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

Oh, i love it and I hate it at the same time.

Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time

You and I drink the poison from the same vine.

Oh, i love it and I hate it at the same time

Hiding all of our sins from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

From the daylight, running from the daylight.

Oh, i love it and I hate it at the same time.”

The final note hanged in the air for a second, and it felt like an eternity when your eyes met Lucifer’s. There was something in his red hues, something that reminded you of your Lucifer, something that wasn’t there before. 

-”It looks like whoever this song is for is deeply adored by you.”

-”He is. He is one of the most important people in the world to me. I love him with everything I have. I actually risked my life for him, because of how much I loved him.”

Lucifer felt the weight of your words in his heart. Deep inside he knew what it meant, he wanted to be that man, he was jealous of that unknown individual who had stolen your heart. He wanted to be the person you loved with that abandon, but he couldn’t.

-”It’s been a very long day MC, go home and rest. I’ll need you on your best moment tomorrow.”

You knew him like the palm of your hand. He kept quiet but his body speaked a million words. You could see how he swallowed a little harder as before saying those words, trying to hold back his tongue. You saw the way his eyes looked at you. You knew him so well, even this far back, he was still the demon you fell for.

-”You are right. I’ll see you tomorrow Lucifer, rest well.”

But you were just like him. His sin shinned in your eyes, the pride too strong for you to admit how much you missed him.

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I apologize for the emotional distress this might have caused. It's just one of those nights.

[evanhereonearth]

As a person who lives in the US and thinks Gaelic is a beautiful language and would love to learn - and also as a person who has ADHD and drops most projects she starts and can't be bothered with a daily dose of Duolingo - any advice for slowly digesting it?

I'm wondering if I should just plug into some Gaelic music and start there as far as enjoying the music and then translating lyrics as I grow curious. Something slow and simple in that regard that applies to simply daily interests. 'Cause I know an actual language learning program is just not going to happen for me.

My first thought is to say to indeed start listening to Gaelic any way you can--Gaelic music (I'll put a list below of different styles!), Gaelic podcasts, Gaelic media. Let your ears learn its rhythms.

Our brains are built to learn language by immersion; we're not actually born with the infrastructure for Duolingo. ;) But we've all learned a language from absolute zero to fluency with our first languages, and that engineering of brain structure in there doesn't vanish, just gets inhibited by our adult fear of sounding daft.

There are also a few really good podcasts for learners. An Litir Bheag is a great one, and Speak Gaelic is also a great resource for just hearing the language spoken with some English explanation, but music and conversational listening are great ways to give your brain's scaffolding something to build on. And do it a lot, as much as you can. Just as much as you can bear it, honestly. ADHD brains are excellent with pattern recognition; you very well might start picking out meanings and phrases when you least expect it.

As far as lyrics translations go, I'd look for ones the artists themselves (or other actual speakers have translated). My other big piece of advice is to never, ever, EVER trust Google translate or--god forbid--AI. It's crap. It will set you wrong every time.

Also, one thing I did when I was learning was get children's books. Many of them have audio editions available online on SoundCloud, and they're excellent for grasping sentence structure and flow.

Another method I used was Gabriel Wyner's Fluent Forever method, which may or may not be useful for you, but it is a method of learning a language without translating it through your native language, using the inbuilt language acquisition structure we have already.

I hope that's helpful at all! Lists below!

Music:

Traditional

Sian, a trio of women who sing songs written by women

Mànran, a full band that does some instrumental, some Gaelic songs, and a handful of songs in English

Julie Fowlis, an absolute legend in Gaelic song you might have heard on the soundtrack to Brave (singing in English, though!)

Maighread Stiùbhart, another absolute legend and one of the first Gaelic singers whose music I listened to

Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, a wonderful bàrd and singer from Uist who both writes his own songs and sings traditional songs

Dàimh, trad tunes and Gaelic singing

Gaelictronica

Inyal, somewhat low-key electronic music, really lovely (they also are finishing up their second album; I happen to be working on a project with one of their members as we speak)

Elephant Sessions, heavy on the electronica, little less heavy on the Gaelic but a lot of fun

Niteworks, pure craic, upbeat, lots of pipes and electronica and lots of Gaelic

WHYTE, one of my close friend's and a pal's band, ambient and full of emotion, combo of traditional songs and ones written by my friend

Rock and Other

Runrig, an absolute staple who skyrocketed to fame from Uist in the 80s and are never far from the playlist even now

Tidelines, trad rock ish? They sing in both English and Gaelic

Trail West, similar and with an absolutely rabid following. Seonaidh's great craic, too--I got to sing with him recently at a charity gig

Capercaille, another classic, just celebrated forty years (!!!) and Karen Matheson's voice is just an absolute belter

Joy Dunlop, another legend of Gaelic song and close pal of mine, mostly sings traditional style songs but with a modern twist at times!

Resources:

LearnGaelic.scot: lots of resources for learners at all levels, including a mahoosive dictionary that has sound files for over 70,000 words and phrases

Speak Gaelic: heaps of resources here as well, also my friend Joy's face front and centre, since she's the main presenter, heh

An Litir Bheag podcast: excellent stuff meant for learners at beginner to intermediate levels

Mo bheannachd ort agus gur math a thèid leat!

[henriediosa]

The Princess of Lucifer / 悪ノ娘 (Aku no Musume) original music and lyrics by mothy / 悪ノP jazzwaltz version by 情熱Ｐ / てとてと arrangement by Desconico vocals by SOLARIA (Lite) on Synthesizer V Studio Basic from a UST by Masao-san https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jd73E95dy4 tuning, mixing, video, illustration, additional vocals, and translation by Henrie Diosa

I'm not kidding when I say this project is at least ten years in the making. I fell in love with the Evillious Chronicles as a little nerd in high school, and I was already working on translated English lyrics. Vocal synths as a technology have come so far since then, and so have I as an artist, so I'm really happy that now I can make the videos I've always dreamed of making.

links, credits, and lyrics under the cut!

His Significance of Existence: on tumblr, on youtube Fallen Angel: https://youtu.be/W4Rq9ZIasO0

SVP and instrumental/off vocal: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17c_Zo2s6uQB4wSAzPRVpDUOjl-2qrNn6?usp=sharing

Image Credits: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Open Access Abstract Ink Drops and Spread on Wet Paper Free Video from Vecteezy Rose Flower Seamless Pattern from @Helenlane Dreamstime.com

The folks on Ko-fi saw it first! I have a membership tier on Ko-fi that helps me afford meds and have the space to make art. I was also posting demos of the music and sketches of the art while I was making them. You can join the minamahal at ko-fi.com/henriediosa

Lyrics:

[So! On your knees.]

Once upon a time in a land far away, Was a kingdom of every evil in the world. Sitting at the top, she who always had her way, Was a queen in yellow, a fourteen year old girl.

A palace well furnished, a show of her means A servant her mirror, and loyal to the throne A thoroughbred named Josephine Everything, yes, everything, she claimed as her own

When there's no money left for what she wants “The people have no bread? Let them eat cake!” she’d sneer Anyone who dared oppose would meet her commandants She makes her dissenters disappear!

[So! On your knees.]

Aku no hana, an evil flower blooms Brilliant, iridescent, dignified Over the pitiful weeds she looms Let them rot, let them die, let them nourish her pride

Our little tyrant had her heart set on a prince From the blue land of Marlon, across another port But his heart had been promised long since To a girl from the green Kingdom of Elphegort

Emerald went Her Majesty in envy, and she called For an audience with the Minister of War Said in a soft voice that left him appalled "I want to see the green kingdom burn."

Thousands of homes turned to ash in the Hunt Thousands left mourning for millions of lives Uncountable suffering out on the front But the queen never heard their cries

[Oh, is it teatime already?]

Aku no hana, an evil flower blooms Furor, fire, and genocide Around the lesser flowers’ tombs She's untouched, all her thorns protect her with pride

[We live in a world where some are born to rule, and some are born to be ruled. If everyone were equal, society would collapse. Somebody has to keep those filthy peasants in their places. ]

Finally the years of suffering quietly end Finally the people's hatred stirred up too much to ignore On they rose, led by a rose-red woman and her friends On the people marched, into the palace and the court

Low Lucifenians on fire with rage Against royal soldiers exhausted from the war Screaming for justice and hungry for change, Armour and swords posed no threat anymore

Into the palace, all doorways flung wide All her rats ran away, none remain "Take the queen!" the rebels cried And at last they had her in chains!

[What do you think you’re doing? Unhand me, you ruffians! Let go!]

Aku no hana, an evil flower blooms Pensive and quiet, cast aside Watching her paradise meets its doom And fall with the weight of her sins and her pride

Once upon a time in a land far away, Was a kingdom of every evil in the world. Sitting at the top, she who always had her way, Was a girl in yellow, a fourteen year old girl.

They set her death to three hours after noon When the bells rang "Rerum, Deus tenax vigor" Did that girl, alone in her room Think of all of the sins she must answer for?

Full of hope and fear, now the church bells strike three Now the girl walks out, head held high to the world And the crowd jeered and jabbered, but she made no last plea She smiled with her last words:

[Oh, is it teatime already?]

Aku no hana, an evil flower died Brilliant, iridescent, dignified La fille du mal, so they call her, but I'd Not insult the ghost of the princess of pride

[survivalinstinct]

@hakkiest (thank u!!!) tagged me to post first 10 songs on shuffle on my Spotify "On Repeat" playlist so there u go. I feel this list is kinda boring bc I listen to the same artists and albums (a lot of king gizzard🤡) and also those are only songs in english which is not very sexy of me. but this was fun to make!

1- should have known better by sufjan stevens

This song reminds me of the last months writing my thesis & actively going through horrific anxiety but also taking the tram to my friend Kiki's place one night when he cooked me dinner<3

2- flimsier by king krule

Oh god, the first song of the Space Heavy album; i have beautiful bittersweet memories linked to it, listening to it for the first time on my bestfriend/former flatmate's bed and drawing while microdosing mdma. And travelling to Ireland for summer school(where i am at rn also for degree related reasons so i am listening to the album again)

3- empty stomach space cadet by king krule

Same story same album!! Actually my favorite from this album,, i have had this song on absolute loop in 2023 and i still love it

4- phantom island by king gizzard and the lizard wizard

Gooooddddd this one is so fun and catchyyyyyy. Instant classic one of their best tbh!!!!! Feels like riding a horse having fun and then slowly falling into debilitating paranoia

5- star by good sad happy bad

I associate this song and their "all kinds of days" album with trying to repair my computer in december & also sitting at a café trying to study norwegian, looking out the window and crying a bit. But yeah this song feels heavy and sad despite the lyrics i like how it invokes very mixed feelings

6- blue morpho by king gizzard

Listening to this song a lot while running and walking at night. The song feels very blue indeed and spacy and psychedelic and ominous. Love the album

7- golden sky by the avalanches and kurt vile

Very catchy and i am fascinated by kurt vile's voice and his very heavy american accent he is just a comfort artist for me

8- falling apart by slow pulp

Been playing this one on the guitar !! Really nice to sing and i like the chord combination

9- billabong valley by king gizzard

From my favorite album of theirs, i have been listening to this one regularly for years, great for running, love the tempo change mid song, so enticing, features a zurna (a turkic wood wind instrument)

10- fast as you can by fiona apple

Been browsing through the "When the pawn" album, love her as always

I tag @johnnysphatass @childrenscrusadeonketamine @thankuforlistening @night-rooms no pressure ofc!!!

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 10, Number 10

The Ex

October closes with a macabre flourish — blackened gardens, elaborate yard displays of skeletons, Halloween, the day of the dead, a terrifying American election.  We music lovers react in various ways, some turning to darker, more ominous musical textures, others seeking solace and distraction, still others ignoring the backdrop completely and listening to what they would listen to anyway.  And so, we gather another wide-ranging dust, spanning sounds inspired by a Bolivian earthquake, pogo-friendly snappy jangle, a crust supergroup, a celebration of the Ex’s 45 years in music, and much more.  This month’s contributors include Jennifer Kelly, Bryon Hayes, Bill Meyer, Jonathan Shaw, Christian Carey, Ray Garraty, Tim Clarke and Ian Mathers. 

Alma Laprida — Pitch Dark and Trembling (Outside Time)

Alma Laprida is an experimental artist and musician from Argentina, here playing a medieval stringed instrument—the tromba marina—through a 21st century array of effects pedals and an 18-inch subwoofer. The instrument, with its yards-long strings and vibrating bridge, is, by itself, capable of unusual sounds. Its natural timbre hovers between a cello and a trumpet. But fed through Laprida’s electronic rig, the sound turns harsh and ominous, blistering and dissolving into tones so low you feel rather than hear them. This album comes from a live performance at Bard College in 2023, taking as its subject Laprida’s experiences during an earthquake in Bolivia. In the long, “Trembling,” low, sustained vibrations make the air tremble, while trebly, metallic sounds skitter and rattle, like pots and pans clattering in the shock. A clock ticks in the foreground, steady on top of roiling, shifting undercurrents. “Vibra,” the other lengthy track, looses then subdues the tromba’s brassy sound, letting the echoes linger for long, not-quite-empty minutes. A corrosive blare interrupts, a foghorn in a world of mists and uncertainty, then clear string tones and its scratching echoes. Pitch Dark and Trembling distills an ambient unease into sound.

Jennifer Kelly

Artificial Go — Hopscotch Fever (Feel It / Future Shock)

This Cincinnati quartet produce a short, sharp brand of post-punk that induces spontaneous pogoing. Hopscotch Fever is Artificial Go’s debut, but it could easily be mistaken for an unearthed gem from late-1970s England with its snappy rhythms and chiming, angular guitars. Vocalist Angie Wilcutt (Corker) adopts an English accent as she sings charmingly, her lyrics unfolding in an energy-filled stream of consciousness that keeps pace with the bouncy backbeat of songs like “Payphone,” “Aphrodisiac,” and the band’s calling card “Artificial Go.” Cole Gilfilen (Corker, The Drin), Micah Wu, and Claudio Thornburgh round out the band’s lineup. Like a game of hopscotch, their churning jangle is a lot of fun but comes to a halt far too quickly. Hopscotch Fever is full of earworms. Its effervescent spirit lingers in our brains long after the music stops.  

Bryon Hayes

Black Toska—The Orphan (Self-Release)

The Madrileño goth punks in Black Toska return with six more haunted, synth-swathed, night visions, revisiting a sound Dusted described in early 2023 as “like John Spencer without all the arch theatricality or Rocket 808 in less of a growl and more of a croon.” If anything The Orphan is even more ominous than Dandelion was, with corrosive guitar sound tripping a hole in “Little Dead Bird” and a fever-dream unease percolating through “The Only Thing We Need.” The best cut is the title track, intimating baroque dangers its flowers-of-evil flare of wah wah and mannered vocal melody. “Who can steal a baby?” asks Victor Garcia, his elegant, jaded voice hemmed in by wild surges of electrified dissonance, as you’re left to consider that bad things—and compelling music—flourish in the shadows.

Jennifer Kelly

Paul Bryan — Western Electric (Paul Bryan Music)

The title might cue you to ponder your power situation, but the intent is more oblique. Bassist-programmer-producer Paul Bryan took Sonny Rollins’ Way Out West, an exercise in restriction that happened to open doors of conceptual opportunity for everyone who was feeling confined by the piano’s roll as the chord cop of bebop. But Bryan, whose cv. includes production and arrangement work with Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson, and Aimee Mann, is a plugged-in kind of guy, so his restriction involved writing the material on a little Yamaha keyboard and recording it with a trio comprising Jay Belleroe on drums and Josh Johnson on alto sax. Since you can’t completely separate a studio dude from his gear, there’s some processing and programmed drum, which results in the album having a soft jazz-funk feel that is uncluttered, but hardly minimal. Western Electric is the answer to a question that few might ask; what if you subtracted the guitar and the layered production from Jeff Parker’s New Breed?

Bill Meyer

CPC Gangbangs — Roadhouse (Slovenly)

CPC Gangbangs is back after a long hiatus and not a bit tamed. The Montreal garage punks with ties to Les Sexareenos and Spaceshit flared out in 2007 and reappeared (some of them) as Red Mass. But 17 years later and without explanation, they bash and slam and clatter again, serving up two covers and one original, all flayed and confrontational like it’s the rock-is-back aughts all over again. CPC Gangbangs jack up Louisiana swamp rock “Going Back to Philly” on agitated city-boy jitters. They blast through “Rock ‘n Roll Enemy #1” from the SF proto-punks Crime with furious intent. They haunt Bo Diddley’s grave site with a rackety beat in “Roadhouse.” It’s referential but never reverent, well-informed but never studious, good stuff.

Jennifer Kelly

Deadform — Entrenched in Hell (Tankcrimes)

Sort of stupid to reference the notion of “supergroup” in relation to a subgenre as witheringly anti-commercial as crust, but Deadform hits all the right notes, as it were: three dudes who have Oakland’s concrete ground into their bodies, and who have played crucial roles in bands as storied as Dystopia, Stormcrow and Laudanum. Dino Sommese (of Dystopia, and also Noothgrush and Ghoul) has the most recognizable name, for listeners beyond the Bay Area and outside of crust’s stinky, dirty milieu, and he pounds the skins and hollers with energy belying his 50-some-odd years. But all the players (including Brian Clouse and Judd Hawk) are all in. Entrenched in Hell doesn’t move beyond crust’s characteristic properties: lotsa nasty metal-tinged guitar parts, some sludgy yuck clotting up the bloodstream, the smell of filthy dreadlocks, and so on. It’s a heavy record, the second half of which hits especially hard. Check out “Peacekeeper” and especially “Fetid Breath.” Then pick yourself up off the dank floor of whatever squat you passed out in and play the tunes again.

Jonathan Shaw

Efterklang — Things We Have in Common (City Slang)

Danish post-rock band Efterklang has been releasing recordings for 20 years, as well as producing an opera in 2015 and making music through core members’ side projects. Things We Have in Common is the culmination of a trio of albums, beginning with Altid Sammen (2017) and continuing with Windflowers (2021). This time out, the group doesn’t eschew its characteristic experimentation, but several of the songs evince a gentle, art pop vibe, particularly “Plant” on which singer/cellist Mabe Fratti guests, “Getting Reminders,” with Beirut and “Animated Heart,” featuring the choir Sønderjysk Pigekor. Efterklang on its own is persuasive too. “Shelf Break” has an artful use of vocoder against oscillating synths and abundantly syncopated percussion. “Leave It All Behind” combines whispered vocals, keyboard arpeggiations, sustained sine tones and a drum thwack on alternating beats. Taken as part of the trio of recordings, Things We Have in Common is its hopeful conclusion.

Christian Carey

The Ex — Great! / The Evidence (Ex Records)

In 2024, the Ex are celebrating their 45th year by putting out their first new music in six years. It’s just two songs on a 45-rpm record (although they’re also throwing a celebratory shindig in Amsterdam and Mechelen late in November). Not many bands last 45 years, and of those that do, it’s pretty rare for them to put out work you’d want to hear as much as the songs that first drew you into their camp. The Ex are not a common band. The quartet of Terrie Hessels, Andy Moor, Arnold de Boer, and Katherina Bornefeld are still engaged with the moment; the words to these two song address current realities with a combination of elliptical expression and blunt veracity. They’re still engaged with each other, locking into these tough, intricate, but fat-free tunes with combustible chemistry intact. And they’re still tuned into the joy and outrage that’s infused their work across four and a half decades. That’s pretty rare.

Bill Meyer

Jill Fraser— Earthly Pleasures (Drag City)

Electronic composer Jill Fraser has been making music for commercials and films, as well as performing New Age pieces live, since the 1970s. Earthly Pleasures is her first album release in a while. It demonstrates her versatility with vintage gear such as the 1978 Serge Modular synth and newer resources such as Ableton Push 3. “When We Get to Heaven” is a ten-minute long track that uses these resources to make a diaphanously appealing arrangement. “Amen 1” and “Amen 2” are more aphoristic, the first with clouds of harmony and a sci-fi sounding ascent, the second with sparking bell timbres, oscillating percussion, sampled voices, and a fluid keyboard part. Earthly Pleasures closes with “I Stand Amazed,” with trebly, widely spaced synths. Fraser has suggested that the theme of this album is, “What happens to our music when we die?” History suggests that mileage varies, but while she is earthbound, one hopes Fraser has more recordings to share.

Christian Carey

Häxenzijrkell — Portal (Amor Fati)

German maestros of bummer black metal Häxenzijrkell are back with another slab of downtempo musical maelstroms, engineered to drag you into a terrible, soul crushing void. That description and the band’s sonic profile sound a lot like blackened doom, but somehow the music on Portal scans as straight-up black metal — at least to this reviewer’s ears. The best tracks are at the end of the record: “Assiah” and “Aeon” drone, churn and distend like the effects of some of that legendary brown acid, which we aren’t supposed to eat. There’s nothing especially lysergic (to invoke that too-trivially used term) about the textures or production of Portal. It’s more the nightmarishness of the tunes, the mechanical edges on the band’s sound, the taste of something metallic at the back of the tongue — all that stuff accumulates, alongside the deliberate, glacial progress of the songs. Soon that glistening, awful wall of ice looms over you. You can see your face on its glassy surface. You know it’s a bad idea to stare, but you can’t help yourself. It’s excruciating. It’s entrancing. You are through the Portal.

Jonathan Shaw

Boldy James & Harry Fraud — The Bricktionary (Boldy James / SRFSCHL)

The Bricktionary is the fourth Boldy James’ tape this year and apparently not the final one. The producer Harry Fraud has also been too busy lately, spreading himself too thin. The good news is that Boldy is good even on generic beats (probably half of his output has been on some unknown guys’ production). It’s the kind of street music which never forgets that it’s an art and not a report card. The best track here is “Shadowboxing.”

Ray Garraty

Danny Kamins — Retainer (Sound Holes)

“Solo Horn,” declares the J-card art, and it does not lie. This tape presents Texan Danny Kamins playing sopranino and baritone saxophones at home, alone. It would appear that he spent his lockdown time developing his circular breathing. On the small horn, his examinations of patterns that subtly vary and throw off flurries of orbiting overtones feels like an homage to Evan Parker’ solo soprano work. Parker got there first with such authority that he has made it hard for other people to do it and not simply sound like him. Kamins sounds great but doesn’t quite overcome the challenge of differentiation. The baritone is another matter. Kamins sculpts massive ribbons of tunneling, rippling sound to consistently compelling effect.

Bill Meyer

Seiji Murayama / Jean-Luc Guionnet — Balcony Inside (Ftarri)

Multi-instrumentalist, graphic artist, composer, improviser, film-maker, etc.; Jean-Luc Guionnet is a confirmed polymath. On Balcony Inside he and frequent collaborator Suijiro Murayama perform a duet for church organ (Guionnet) and snare drum, cymbal and voice (Muriyama). But it might be more accurate to say that they play with space. There’s the apparently capacious interior of the Taborkirche, which Guionnet represents with massive chords that beat against the walls. And there’s the space inside your head, which is likely to be rearranged by Muriyama’s horror-movie-victim cries and emphatic, elastically rhythmic beats. A seasonal suggestion: pipe this music loudly out of your house on Halloween, and keep a tally of how many are drawn by these massive sounds and how many avoid your house.

Bill Meyer

The Necks — Bleed (Northern Spy)

It’s impossible to guess where The Necks might head next, whether live or on record. Their new album, Bleed,is a single 42-minute track that unfolds patiently in an episodic fashion. There are no conventional rhythms from Tony Buck; instead, he punctuates the space with chimes, bowed cymbals and snare and tom rolls that suggest something ominous is about to happen. Sparse, sustained piano notes from Chris Abrahams are left to hang in the air — listen carefully and you can hear breathing in the room — or Abrahams switches to organ and projects pulsing clusters of notes into stereo space. In an unexpected turn, an electric guitar appears, with accompanying tube amp hum. Lloyd Swanton’s bass is largely absent, save for occasional isolated octave plucks, or some ominous bowing. When the piece coalesces in its final stretch with two piano chords, bass and guitar, the music is begging to continue in this vein for at least twice as long as it does but is cruelly cut short. That’s The Necks for you: always expansive, always surprising, always tapping into music’s eternal potential.

Tim Clarke

Rich the Factor — The North Face Whale, Vol. 3 (WE MFR)

We mostly listen to Rich the Facc’s music because of his gruff voice. The North Face Whale, Vol. 3 is another sample of his voice. The big mistake would be to try to pay attention to what he’s saying on these songs. It is some usual nonsense about how he’s “on money mission, not on dummy mission.” Even after dozens of replays no song off this tape stays in memory. But it’s fine. You have only one question: how is The North Face Whale, Vol. 3 any different from Vol. 1 and Vol. 2?

Ray Garraty

Colin Andrew Sheffield — Moments Lost (Sublime Retreat)

Sound source resonates with subject on this brief minimax (a 3” CD embedded in a 5” plastic disc) CD made by Colin Andrew Sheffield, an electronic musician who resides in Austin TX. Sheffield’s preferred method is plunderphonics; he mines his own media collection for sounds to be procured and (most of the time) processed into music of his own. Moments Lost is a soundtrack made from soundtracks. Sheffield has marshalled a mass of samples from movies, mostly string passages that imply moments of pause, reflection, transition and loss, and layered and sequenced them into a 20.33” sequence of sounds daub association and reverie like a painter might daub paint. Played at low volume, it could be your next go-to ambient recording. But if you spend time listening closely, perhaps while peering at the sleeve’s stills from a film that Sheffield played along with the music when he first presented it at the Molten Plains Festival in Denton in 2023, you might find your physique and consciousness sinking deep while you hit the play button over and over.

Bill Meyer

Chelsea Wolfe — She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She (Loma Vista)

Considering Chelsea Wolfe hasn’t put out a solo LP since 2019’s Birth of Violence, and that was basically a folk record, casual fans may well wonder what kind of upheavals led to this very different seventh album. On a personal level there have been plenty (sobriety, relationships changing, learning to live alone, etc) and that combined with additional pandemic time spent working on the demos led to Wolfe going in a more electronic direction and deliberately seeking an outside producer (Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, many others) to transform the songs. The result is further in a darkwave/trip-hop direction than the already protean Wolfe has previously gone, and also one of her most consistently engaging records. Whether on the noisier, spikier bursts of “Whispers in the Echochamber” and “Eyes Light Nightshade” or the more delicate likes of “The Liminal” and “Place in the Sun,” there’s a beautifully sung and relentless Gothic vibe to the whole thing that’s extremely satisfying. Wolfe may well choose to move on again after this, but it’ll be a bit of a shame if she does.

Ian Mathers

[mywifeleftme]

327: XTC // Black Sea

Black Sea XTC 1980, Virgin

XTC’s discography has a very organic flow to it. Andy and Colin’s voices aside, it’d be tough to guess the same band was behind the albums that bookended their career (convulsive 1978 New Wave speedball White Music and the lavishly arranged psych pop of the turn of the century Apple Venus tandem), but if you follow the band over time, from one album to the next there are few radical departures. Each link in the chain contains elements of the record that precedes it and the one that follows it. Still, you can clearly divide their discography between their early years as a hard-touring New Wave act and their second act as a pastoral psych pop studio project—and, in that light, the albums that straddle that transition (today’s album, Black Sea, and 1982’s English Settlement) could be considered the “definitive” XTC records.

It’s easy to forget what a spectacular live act XTC were in their early days, something like a combination of ‘60s bubblegum, Devo, the Residents, and Wire, but with cardio that would’ve put most of those acts to shame. As a guitarist, Andy Partridge scorned anything that smacked of blues, slashing out hiccupy riffs way up the neck, hurling himself into head-spinning rhythms that often wouldn’t be out of place on a Fugazi record (if he didn’t have such a sweet tooth). He surrounded himself with collaborators whose ability as players was such that they were able to make their own marks on the band’s sound despite Partridge’s dictatorial tendencies—not only minority songwriter and exceptionally melodic bassist Colin Moulding, but ultimate utility man Dave Gregory (who flitted with ease from lead guitar to keys) and their gem of a drummer Terry Chambers, a non-writing / arranging member who would be lost when the band’s studio transition reduced him to a glorified session man. Chambers was an absolute machine, and many of the band’s most memorable early statements rely on his power and precision behind the kit.

Black Sea is their last record to be dominated by the quirky sound-over-sense rhythm workouts on which they built their name, and they go out with a bang: “Rocket from a Bottle,” “Burning with Optimism’s Flames,” and especially “Paper and Iron (Notes and Coins)” are fine reminders that new wave was as much Body as Head music, while the tribal stomp of “Travels in Nihilon” feels like a hint at what XTC would’ve sounded like as some kind of Swindon krautrock band. But the songs that are best remembered from this one are those first stirrings of their burgeoning reinvention as basically the attention deficit disorder Kinks.

By his own admission, Colin Moulding’s early songwriting efforts had aped Partridge’s style, but here it seems Partridge was inspired by Moulding’s sardonic kitchen sink satire “Making Plans for Nigel” (from the previous year's Drums and Wires). “Respectable Street” reads almost like Partridge proving to himself he can write his own “Nigel,” while the chiming psychedelic pop of “Towers of London” scales its social commentary to the Empire itself. His finest moment though is “No Language in Our Lungs,” one of the band’s first genuinely emotional statements. The wordy lyric is typically “clever” (“I would have made this instrumental / but the words got in the way”) yet it captures the feeling of being overwhelmed by the intensity of…well, a feeling. The credit lies mostly with its arrangement, which heaves and stumbles behind Andy’s inconsolable howl like someone dragging their feet in exhaustion.

Black Sea usually sits somewhere between third and fifth in my personal XTC rankings, but it’d be the place I recommend a new fan start with the band (or would be, were the record available on streaming services). Between Andy’s peculiar voice and a smartass quality that can get a little cloying, XTC’s not for everyone—but for those on the wavelength, their catalogue is one of the greatest of the rock era.

320/365

Bonus

For the hell of it, my personal XTC discog rankings.

Skylarking English Settlement Black Sea White Music Drums and Wires Apple Venus Volume 1 Go 2 Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) Oranges & Lemons Mummer Nonsuch The Big Express