#the side bang she has on ep1 could have been perfect too

[juliet25blog]

I don't like how in most of h2o s3 Rikki uses a hairslide to keep her bangs out of her face when they suit her really well, even if they were longer than season (like Cleo in s2)

[interesting-blog-name]

FKA twigs MEGAREVIEW (LP1/M3LL155X/MAGDALENE

FKA twigs is a British R&B and art pop singer who came up as a backup dancer for various artists’ music videos, and decided to start her music career, releasing her first official EP, EP1, in 2012. I am not familiar with anything she’s done except for her feature in A$AP Rocky’s Fukk Sleep, so I don’t know what to expect, even though I’ve heard good things. I’ll be listening to her two studio albums and an EP she released between the two, chronologically.

 LP1

I love it.

Although twigs isn’t fond of being categorized as an R&B artist, specifically alternative R&B, as she has stated in an interview with The Guardian, there really isn’t much else to be used to describe her music, and the term is pretty convenient to embody most of the sounds in LP1, so I’ll most likely be using it. The album is a mixture of strong, dark electronic production and twigs’ beautiful falsetto singing, taking form as either the sexually charged, euphoric vocals you hear in the chorus of Two Weeks, or the hymnic elements her voice has in Closer and the intro Preface. These two key elements constantly clash and form something way more impactful than what they’d be individually, and give the whole LP a soothing and simultaneously dark and dizzying atmosphere.

The highpoints in the album are when the two combine into grand moments such as the ending of Lights On, where the production amounts into a huge chunk of pure bliss, sounding like there are tens of different sounds all in sync with one another, or the processed, multi-layered chorus in the next track, Two Weeks. Another great quality to the production style in the album is that it gets to be adventurous when it wants, how it wants, whether by pulling back completely and minimalizing its role to let FKA twigs’ voice shine on Hours, or on my favorite track Pendulum, where the whole song is built around this unstable knocking and simple yet effective manipulated keyboards, completely fading out at times leaving the high-pitched vocals to themselves.

The lyrical themes are all built around love and passion, with varying levels of aggression to romanticism (Lights On, Two Weeks vs. Hours, Give Up) or regret, such as in Numbers, which showcases how far into the electronic side the production can go, with erratic drums and beeping at the start, progressing into some gorgeous synths under some of twigs’ most heartfelt singing in the project. The exception is Video Girl, the most personal track here, where she sings about her time as a backup dancer and the struggles that came with her intent on achieving fame. The lyrics hit hard and it serves as a really nice intimate moment in the album.

For the tracks I don’t like as much I have the two closers: Kicks and One Time, the latter being only available in the deluxe version, which is not on streaming platforms. Kicks, from what I could tell, is all about being enough for yourself, specifically sexually. Without the grand ambitious production from the rest of the album, this outro is left with okay vocals and an odd theme that doesn’t go anywhere, backed by some slightly annoying production decisions, and a nice chorus which is definitely the best part of the song. One Time, on the other hand, is just really bland compared to the craziness of the rest of the album, as it is the most stagnant and uneventful of the tracks.

The sound of LP1 is definitely intriguing, and I consider it a nice introduction to an artist I have high expectations for.

 FAVORITE TRACKS: Pendulum, Video Girl, Two Days, Lights On

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Kicks

  8.25/10

“You’re younger than I am broken. I dance feelings like they’re spoken, so my conversation’s not enough.”

 M3LL155X

Read as “Mellissa”, this EP was released in August of 2015, and features 18 minutes of music spanned into 5 tracks, and I love to say there’s not one track here I don’t like

What surprised me about M3LL155X is how “explosive” twigs seems to be compared to LP1, where most of her tracks were sung in a comfortable, soothing falsetto tone, in here she isn’t afraid to let her voice carry out a lot more, which brings some much appreciated strong emotions and power to the songs here, great examples being her fast delivery on the hook of In Time, and her enchanting finish to Mothercreep.

The EP starts with Figure 8, which places the listener dead center in the chaotic instrumentals the project has to offer, with a banging bass right at the beginning. The track slowly progresses from its slightly angelic cadence into the weird, choppy vocal effects in the latter half, giving the track a nice finish. What I find a little underwhelming are the lyrics, sometimes they come off slightly meaningless, at least at first glance, but I feel they could have been used better, maybe to convey meaning other than love and relationships, which is done in the last two tracks, but not in such an effective way in my opinion, specifically on Mothercreep, a track supposed to be a mature hindsight to twigs’ mom’s decisions to her daughter’s life, which doesn’t come off as super personal in a way it could have. Like I said, however, the ending to this song is gorgeous, and I love how the song waits to bring in that climax, it really ends the EP on a huge high note.

To me the best the EP has to offer is In Time and Glass & Patron, the first being this infectious, addictive, ever-evolving fat banger, I just cannot get enough of it at all; and the latter being the weirdest, most electronic-influenced song here (I mention the umbrella electronic genre very carefully because I know fuck-all about it), with the oddest but most interesting progression here. That isn’t to undermine twigs’ vocals, as they are as good as ever, I just wish in tracks like this and I’m Your Doll, where she reaches some great vocal inflections, she’d make more use of them, but to me they feel like the vocals are somewhat teasing themselves to the listener, when they could’ve been used to a much greater extent.

I love this EP, I love its aggressiveness and how it surprised me, but I know, even as good as it is, that all the potential here could have been used a bit better.

 RANKED TRACKS: In Time, Glass & Patron, Mothercreep, Figure 8, I’m Your Doll

 8.15/10

“Paper cut it, I feel the slightest rip is a river that’s overflowing me”

 MAGDALENE

Bruh.

I don’t even know what to say honestly, I’m completely blown away. This is heaven.

From the start, I thought this album was gonna be alright, but immediately after home with you I knew this shit was something else. This is by far her most cohesive, beautiful, emotional, greatest album overall. I seriously don’t even know what to say, I’m writing this immediately after my second listen, and I love almost every aspect of it.

I guess I’ll start by the things I liked the least, which were probably the tracks sad day and holy terrain, even though these tracks are at least great. The melodies in sad day are so unique and entrancing, really the only thing I didn’t like as much was the production, which felt like it could have gone a bit further. For holy terrain, I have mixed feelings towards it. While a part of me feels like it was a little weird, a bigger part is amazed at how well these two worlds merged with each other to form a track as beautiful as this; again, it doesn’t stand out as much as some others, and I think twigs sounds a bit like Ariana Grande at the beginning of the hook, but fuck me some moments in this song are insane.

I was a little indifferent towards thousand eyes at first, but I’ve come to appreciate a slow, ascending intro to this mindfuck of an album, and the track right after that, home with you, is pretty much perfect, I have nothing bad to say about it. I love the alternating between processed and raw vocals, and it just ends so beautifully, it’s seriously otherworldly.

“Otherworldly” is actually a great word to describe almost anything here. mary magdalene is a gorgeous look into the ethereal feminine theme this album is solidified over, and sounds like something you’d hear as you ascended into heaven after dying; fallen alien is aggressive like something out of M3LL155X, but even more polished and fits perfect into the context of the album, and after it starts a nearly flawless outro of three tracks: mirrored heart, daybed and cellophane. This is pure emotion, I cannot describe what I felt while listening to these three. The first is probably one of the best songs I’ve ever heard, or at least that’s what I feel right now. I have to be extremely careful not to listen to this too much, so it doesn’t lose its magic on me.

daybed is much simpler instrumentally, with an ambient undertone to the track that just really fits my personal tastes. The lyrics in this track are raw feels, in fact the lyrics in MAGDALENE in general sound much more mature and fleshed out, and I absolutely love it, it’s heartbreak, bittersweet beauty in every direction, all connected by this weird theme of something greater than humanity; if twigs’ intent was to make herself look extraterrestrial with her art, but at the same time undeniably human, then I think she succeeds, because, to me, it feels like she is the music, it feels like she pulls these songs straight from her soul, and that’s why it’s so alien, because it is incredibly human.

For the closer, cellophane absolutely wrecks your heart with a gorgeous piano ballad, and I’m very happy I never heard this song, considering it is the lead single to the album, because it just added so much emotion to the outro of one of the best albums I’ve heard. I seriously cannot get enough of it, and I think I’ll go sleep for a while now just to clear my mind a little bit. I’m sorry if these three “reviews” haven’t gone super in depth with the albums, but I feel like if I talk about them any longer they’ll lose some of their beauty to me, plus I’m not doing this to be perfectly objective, just to share my super biased, super inexperienced thoughts on what I listen to. So I guess just listen to them. They’re awesome. Peace.

 FAVORITE TRACKS: home with you, mirrored heart, cellophane, daybed, mary magdalene

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: none

 9.45/10

“Aching is my laughter, busy is my pastime, telling is my silence, blurring my horizon, smothered is my distance, careful are my footsteps, possessive is my daybed.”

[jeonggnk-blog]

KOOKOOKTALK: EP1

BTS’ Jungkook’s radio show. Send in your concerns, reactions, and questions as MC Kook will read them all. This is all SEMI-AU and will be an on-going series on jeonggnk. Special Guest: BTS’ Jimin

notes: JK = Jungkook ; JM = Jimin ; MA = Miae

     * NOW PLAYING: V & Jin, Even If I Die, It’s You.      INTRODUCTORY  

JK: Hello everyone! I am your host of KooKookTalk, Jeon Jungkook. Good evening, everyone! I hope everyone had a nice day. Since this is our first broadcast, let me just introduce the show briefly.

JK: KooKookTalk, is a radio show aimed to help us connect through the submitted stories and allow me to communicate with the Armys! We don’t have a set schedule just yet but our show lasts for 25 minutes! Ah… That sounded like I read it from a textbook, right? Haha, sorry, everyone. I’m a little nervous still.

JK: Alright. Please submit your stories and questions to KooKookTalk and comment during and after the radio show! I hope my show can bring you some entertainment for a short while in the middle of your very busy day.

JK: Did you guys like the first song? It was our actor Kim Taehyung and Jin’s OST for Hwarang! Even If I Die, It’s You… sounds really nice, right? Right? You guys are making sure to support our actor’s first drama, right? I’m counting on you guys!

JK: Because I was nervous about doing this show alone… for the first show, I brought in one of my hyungs! But you guys won’t know which. I’ll introduce him after this next song and we’ll go straight into the submitted stories, okay? Please enjoy BolBbalgan4’s Galaxy!

    * NOW PLAYING: BolBbalgan4, Galaxy.      KOOK-CERN CORNER

He sighs the moment he gets the cue that his microphone was off. He puts a hand on his heart and shakes his head. He did well, he knew that but he still stuttered too much in the beginning. He just hoped he didn’t sound like a boring lecturing teacher. He lifted his chin up after his hyung entered and a huge smile grew on his face. Just seeing him comforted him a bit. “Hyung! Sit here.” He pulled the seat closer to his and swayed with the song a bit. Jungkook had given him a copy of the script the morning of the show and he hoped they could carry out the rest of the show happily. The music slowly fades and Jungkook’s mic got switched back on.

JK: We’re back with the hidden guest. Please introduce yourself, hyung!

JM: Hello KooKookTalk viewers, I’m Jungkook’s favorite hyung, Jimin.

JK: Favorite… ah… Anyways, hyung! Have you seen the reaction to your 2MIN stage? It was really explosive.

JM: I hope everyone enjoyed the stage. I practiced a lot with Taemin hyung and… truthfully, it wasn’t a perfect stage. I made lots of mistakes but I really enjoyed it.

JK: Yes, our Jimin-hyung is really hard working, I really enjoyed the stage... and LIE too. You performed LIE.

JM: Actually, the fans told me something really interesting about something right before the stage.

JK: Oh? What is it?

JM: Someone yelled my name really loudly before my stage… “JIMIN-AH!” Like that. Would you know who it is?

JK: ahh! Hahaha… Maybe it was one of your close friends!

JM: no no, it’s a voice I’m very familiar with.

JK: I truly hope you find out who that person is. But we have to read our the submitted stories. Can you read the first story from Ms. Choi Miae

JM: Hello, I’m a currently a university student and I met this guy a few months ago. After a complicated process, we started dating but ever since he asked me out, I haven’t seen him for more than an hour at a time. Sometimes he doesn’t respond to my messages. What do I do about my ghost boyfriend? Should I wait?

JK: This sounds like a serious concern. We have her on the phone right now. Hello Ms. Miae, can you introduce yourself?

MA: Hello, I’m a 20-year-old college student, Choi Miae.

JK & JM: Welcome!

JK:  Oh, we’re the same age. Hello, friend! Can you tell us more about your boyfriend? Does he visit you often but just within short time spans?

MA: Oh, no… we don’t see each other often. And when we do, he doesn’t say much before he has to leave again. I’m not sure what he does or where he is when he’s away. It’s like I’m not dating anyone at all.

JM: Has he ever given you a reason for his absence?

JK: Yeah… or was he like this before you started dating too?

MA: No, he was here often before we started dating and he would respond to my messages quickly. But after we started, I didn’t see him for a week after the day he confessed. He just says that he’s too busy...

JK: omo… is he an idol or something? Why is he so busy?

MA: We’re actually attending the same school… we’re a CC, but I still can’t see him often.

JK: *sucks teeth* That’s really strange. You said in your submission that you’re falling out of love with him? Are you planning to break up with him?

JM: Truthfully, you should… if he’s not even around. It’s like he’s already trying to dump you too.

MA: I don’t know… how long to wait for him. He keeps asking me to wait.

JM: Viewer 0294 from Seoul said, “If a guy really likes someone, he would make the time and effort to see her.” Even if it’s just a morning message every day… he doesn’t even respond to your messages, right? Is he trying to keep something from you?

JK: Jimin-hyung… I’m sure your boyfriend has his own side to the story but we both believe you deserve better and shouldn’t wait too long. We’ll give you some time, just pour out your heart as if you’re alone.

MA: I don’t know why you’re not here. I’m a girl with needs too. I hope you come back soon. As a boyfriend, you’re supposed to make me happy but you’re taking away my happiness right now.

JK: Ah… thank you, Miae, for sharing your story and for being our first story. I’m sure a few people could relate a lot to you. I hope things get better in the new year. Stay strong, Miae!

JM: Stay strong! Fighting, Miae!

MA: Thank you! Good luck with your show, Jungkook!

JK: Thank you! Goodbye.

JK: Ah… I really hope her the best. I don’t know what it feels like but she seemed very sincere with her words. It seems like a lot of viewers are reacting to the story right now since the comments are moving so fast, wow! Viewers, please give her lots of encouraging messages and I hope her boyfriend treats her right. We’re going to take a small break, please enjoy this next song, BIG BANG’s GIRLFRIEND.

     * NOW PLAYING: BIG BANG, Girlfriend.       KOO-UESTION + CLOSING

JK: Wow! Big Bang sunbaenims are truly amazing. Let’s read some messages, Jimin hyung.

JM: Should we?

JK: *mimics in a high pitched tone* Should we?

JM: Stop it.

JK: It was a request!

JM: We’re looking at the same screen, no viewer requested it.

JK: Ah… yes, Viewer 3099 asked, “How is Suga oppa?” Have you been checking our twitter? He’s completely fine now. It was a shame we couldn’t perform as 7 during the gayos but… I think he enjoyed watching it at home.

JM: Yoongi hyung feels really apologetic for not being able to perform. But he thanks you all of our ARMYs for the support.

JK: Viewer 4203 asked, “Jimin-ah, what do you like about Jungkookie?”

JM: What do I like? That I was his first guest on KooKookTalk!

JK: Hahaha. Viewer 1002 asked if we’re excited about our WINGS tour. Of course! We’re all really excited. The hyungs have been buying new clothes since we’ll be overseas quite a while… And we get to meet ARMYs all over the world. Hyung, what did you buy for the tour?

JM: I got boxers from Hobi so I don’t have to buy anything.

JK: Ahh… Looks like it was a good Christmas gift. But, viewers, we’re out of time. Thank you, Jimin hyung, for being my guest. Please say something to the viewers.

JM: ARMYs! Make sure to support Jungkook’s show!

JK: Haha. Everyone, my first broadcast went well, right? Or did I sound too stiff? I’ll try my best next time because there will be a next time! I promise. Sleep early and rest a lot. Take care of your health and happy new year!