#they've only released 3 songs but all of it sounds so good

[wishmemel]

AN INDIAN GIRL GROUP?? MIXING HINDI AND ENGLISH LYRICS? POP AND BOLLYWOOD?? SIGN ME UP

[sageistri]

Like Crazy is so special because it managed to do something BTS and the other member have been struggling to achieve for quite a while now. And that thing is to release a song that is both successful and of good quality. And as a bonus, since it has a korean and english version, it proved that 1) Korean songs can still be successful and 2) English songs can be good.

I also think Jimin is the only member that has all the attributes of old BTS at the same time. You know, the BTS people used to actually like and not just tolarate because of their previous attachment or just because they like the success BTS still has. That combination of good sounding music that suits fans taste (cause, unfortunately, we know rapline doesn't), with meaningful lyrics written by the artist themselves and grand dance performances. You remember that? You know, the things that made BTS popular in the first place.

And all that really makes Hybe look stupid. If they want to replace BTS, to invest in a soloist, they have the perfect guy already working for them. The only member that can replicate the old BTS that everyone loved, but they decided to pick the guy that replicates the new, post-dynamite BTS.

And I know the english trilogy gave BTS a lot of success, but that can only last so long. BTS is still mostly dependent on their fans to get that success, and while armys are way more lenient then they should be, eventually even they will get tired of the bullshit. Cause army's love and dedication was built from that old BTS, and that applies even to the newer fans, they might have been introduced to BTS through the english trilogy, but they stayed for Love Yourself, for Wings, for HYYH.

Really look at the fandom, they mostly survive off three things: 1) Old content they keeping revisiting. 2) Hope that 2025 will be like that old content again. 3) Chart obsession. And if the first two are gone, eventually there will be no fans around to care about the third.

We have been seeing things get worse and worse since 2020, but 2023 and 2024 have been a new low. The fandom it's not what it was when Dynamite first released. It's not gonna be easy to fix things in 2025.

If BTS returns but don't get their shit together a lot of fans will leave, maybe not immediately, but eventually. The same way that if Jungkook keeps releasing these shitty songs he will never get the attention Hybe wants for him. I think people doesn't realize that yet because not that much time has passed. There were only 2 years between dynamite and the hiatus, which is not really that long, so fans let it slide, especially with the promise of better moments yet to come in 2025. And Jungkook is just starting his solo career, so fans will let the mediocrity slide for now (and they don't take solo work as seriously anyway).

But there's a limit. If it keeps going, and going, and going people's patience and most importantly their dedication will eventually run out. And to BTS, and therefore to Hybe, fans = money. So Hybe should really take a step back and look at what was the thing that made BTS, amongst so many other groups, the success that they are. And once they identify that thing they should ask themselves which member of the group can actually replicate that. But from what we've seen so far, it isn't the one they picked.

Though, maybe is a blessing in disguise, considering what it means to be Hybe's pick. Really, Jimin doesn't have to be their pick (even if they are kinda letting gold get away from them with that), they just need to stop neglecting him, or worse, screwing him up.

Exactly. There will be a breaking point eventually. Armys are biding their time because they' have certain expectations from the group, the most important being their first proper Korean comeback since mots7. Because yes it's been 4 years and they've scaled by on English singles and Korean ballads. No upbeat Korean songs, no good concept photos, no choreography. The reception for run BTS should have been proof enough of what people want from BTS. They had kpop stans who unstanned them floored by the Busan performance.

They want the Korean boy group music with back breaking choreography, and if some of them are claiming to be too old to do all that then they should be moved to the back or cut off completely just like Jin wasn't part of the on dance break. I feel like as a boy band time is their biggest opp and would affect their career soon enough already for some of them to try and speed up the process by claiming to be too old at 30 years old.

And yeah I'm not asking for hybe to give Jimin the seven package because I don't want it, I just want the bare minimum. I want for them to do their jobs, especially when it comes to those little problems we tend to have during releases. They need to stop being neglectful.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

Bpp I'm dying to know your song rankings in chapter 2 now they've all debuted. What are your top picks this year? I miss your writing and hope I can coax you back with 'a fun ask'

***

Okay. :)

Since you asked...

Top 10 Non-BTS K-pop Songs in 2023

10 - Watch It - The Boyz (this song just dropped and it's already in my top ten, yes)

9 - Seoul - H1-key

8 - Ay-Yo - NCT 127

7 - Sweet Venom - ENHYPEN

6 - Neverland Farewell - TXT (Say whatever you like about BigHit, they know how to make good music. Soobin sounds incredible on this song. Beomgyu too. Really, they all do.)

5 - Cool With You - NewJeans

NewJeans isn't going anywhere, so everyone else really should get comfortable with the idea of seeing them at the top. That's all there is to say.

*

4 - Crying - BOYNEXTDOOR

I don't know where my head was at when I ranked this the worst song on the album. Clearly, I was wrong. This song was a pleasant companion during the autumn months, and I can't wait to see what else they come out with.

*

3 - Chaconne - ENHYPEN

Do you know what a chaconne is? That's not a rhetorical question btw. No shade either, I'm just curious. For those who don't know, a chaconne is a rhythmical and harmonic motif over a pronounced bass-line. That's my leftover understanding from music classes taken a lifetime ago. According to google, a chaconne is also "a slow, solemn dance in 3/4 time, of Spanish or Moorish origin, similar to the passacaglia." For a non-k-pop example, I recommend Hilary's rendition of Bach's chaconne (more leftover knowledge from a lifetime ago).

Anyway, this likely isn't important context. The use of "chaconne" in the song probably has more to do with how it sounds in the song, than what it means. In any case, Enhypen earned a gold star from me with this pantydropper anthem.

*

2 - Criminal Love - ENHYPEN

I'm not sure how many of you were here when Heartbeat and Dream Glow were released. What I remember was shock, pure incredulity that BigHit would release songs of that quality for game OSTs. From ARMYs and k-pop stans alike, this was the sentiment. It was like a flex that BTS had such a peerless discography they could make songs like this for a side gig.

That's immediately what I was reminded of when I first heard Criminal Love, released as the OST for Enhypen's webtoon. It's moody, vampy, seduction in a song. That's what that song is. Sad too, when you hear the lyrics. Watching the live performance only drives it home.

*

1 - Blind - ENHYPEN

This song has given me one of the best auditory experiences I've ever had in k-pop. Which is a bit odd because yes a lot happens in the production, but the switches are so subtle you almost don't notice it.

Heeseung, Ni-ki, Jay, Sunoo, Sunghoon, Jake, and Jungwon - all outdid themselves on this song. Vocally, they sound incredible. The writing, (again) is top notch. This is one of the only songs released this year that I genuinely struggle not to loop.

*

Top 5 BTS Solo Songs

5 - Yes or No - Jung Kook

This is one song I'm praying and begging that we get thousands of remixes of. HYBE, please work your magic and give us 10 remixes of Yes or No. I need it. This is the perfect pop song in that it makes you crave more. I know it's got a predictable, common almost, chord progression in VI -> V -> I -> IV, but it's perfect in that it's impossible to get sick of it. It just worms itself into your head and all you can think of is all the ways to sing all over those chords.

Jung Kook's vocal work on that song is irreproachable. He's really set himself apart with this album and I'm glad he did it.

*

4 - Snooze - AGUST D, ft. Ryuichi Sakamoto & Woosung

HUH?! should be here, as should Amygdala so consider this a triple entry: HUH + Snooze + Amygdala. The reason why is self-evident (I hope).

Anyway... I want to talk a bit about Snooze.

Yoongi loves using the piano. He likes the sound of it, and you can tell in songs like Snooze. He has such a profound love and respect for that musical instrument that it only makes sense a man like Ryuichi acknowledged Yoongi before he passed.

With everything that happened this year, remembering Moonbin, and knowing that Yoongi made this song for his juniors... the first time I heard this song it completely destroyed me. Anyone who hasn't paid attention to the lyrics yet should check it.

When I casually listen in to TXT, SVT, Enhypen, BoyNextDoor, and see the work they're doing, putting out easily some of the best music and performances in their generations, I hope and pray they develop a support system that genuinely values them, soon. I hope they survive this industry, and thrive in it.

*

3 - All Day - RM ft Tablo

Not to be that person (since he's canceled for reasons and it actually makes sense why), but when I first saw the song title All Day, I immediately remembered All Day by Kanye West - one of the sauciest and meanest songs he's ever made. I was worried, given the tone of the album to that point, that Namjoon was going to give us his take on Ye's original. Joon is more than capable of dropping a track just as mean if not more. I didn't put it past him to pay homage to the Kanye joint by taking a spin on it. But, thankfully, All Day is nothing like Kanye's song, and it's my favourite song on Indigo because it's the best.

Joon's diction on this track is *chef's kiss*. His voice.... that outro, and thank goodness, Tablo came through. He actually has a presence on the track and made it even more worth the listen.

It kills me that we don't even have a visualizer for this masterpiece.

*

2 - Set Me Free Pt 2 - Jimin

Thank you for giving me another chance to talk about Set Me Free Pt 2.

One reason all the anxiety and fear-mongering around Jimin seems insane to me is because Jimin dropped this song and ended k-pop in 2023. He literally has no real competition. He came in, showed out, and left. That song is the sexiest joint out of Korea this year. It's so nasty. He's absolutely disgusting on this song in how brutally he makes rubbish of everything beneath him. Like, he literally has people bowing down to him in the choreography. Bobbing their heads like Funko Pops, while he sings to be set free. I'm going on a bit of a tangent here, but I want to say something. There's a cruelty in the way Jimin speaks. Whether to someone else or to himself. It's often (somewhat) restrained, born of the way he sees the world I think, and it was especially brutal in their early days, but he's toned it down significantly since 2016. It's virtually non-existent in his speech patterns and word choice now. Jimin of the last few years communicates gently, directly, tactfully, and at worst, bluntly. A lot of that cruelty is toned down but he unleashes a whisper of it on SMF Pt 2. Just listen to what he's saying on that song. That autotune effect on his voice was for our benefit and safety. Nothing can convince me otherwise. And we haven't even yet gotten into the full symbolism of the MV and his lyricism...

The moment I heard this song I knew I would bias Jimin. He's a man who knows what he's doing.

Jimin is a one of a kind wonder. Real magic in a person. An artist. He proves it on Set Me Free Pt 2. Kudos to PDogg too - the GOAT.

*

1 - On The Street - j-hope ft J. Cole

When it comes to song construction, I have to give credit where credit is due and the fact is Hoseok outdid himself with this song. It is perfect, my top pick for a k-pop song in 2023. Jermaine did good on it too. But, you know... Hoseok.

The whistle melody he came up with, the beat, the vocal layering, the mixing, the MV direction - all of it is perfect. If we were giving scores based on separate components, OTS would get 10s in every category.

Honestly, Hoseok coming out at number 1 is kind of expected of him lol.

[imnotavamp1r3]

♡ My indirect opinions on different bands! ♡

I've seen people do this kind of thing on sites like Quora where they'll say their opinions on something and you have to guess what person they're talking about, so I thought I'd try it.

🎀 Band #1:

Best pop punk band ever. Not only do they have one of the best vocalists in the genre, but their music is so timeless. I've listened to my favourite song of theirs hundreds of times over the years and I still get excited every time it comes on. There's a reason why their music is still so critically acclaimed to this day.

🎀 Band #2:

I'm sorry but this band has some of the most delusional fans ever. You guys really interpret everything as a sign that they're recording music together. I know most of it is jokes but just because the bassist posts a photo of his bass, that doesn't mean the band is recording together. He could literally just be playing for fun. I mean I'm dying for new music from them too, but come on.

🎀 Band #3:

This is a soloist, but I still wanted to include her. This person's second album is her best one and is way underappreciated. One of her most popular songs is from this album, but I think there are songs on that album that are far better. The opening track is especially great and I wish she had more songs that were that heavy. I love her pop punk stuff, but I still wish she made more post-grunge albums.

🎀 Band #4:

I really wish this band got more attention. I feel like people used to talk about them a lot during like 2012-2014, but now they've been kind of forgotten. It's really a shame because I love their music. It makes me really sad that a lot of the female-fronted emo and scene bands besides Paramore have been almost forgotten.

🎀 Band #5:

I think this band is an example of a side project that's better than the band that it's derivative of. Their vocalist's original band is also good and I have a few songs from them that I really like, but with this band, I just think their music is a lot more enjoyable. Their first album is probably my favourite dance rock album and I'm really glad that they've reunited.

🎀 Band #6:

I wish other songs by this band were as popular as their biggest one. I understand why it's their biggest, because it is very good, but their other songs are great too and they're still making good stuff to this day.

🎀 Band #7:

I honestly think this person's music is really good and really didn't deserve all of the hate it got when it was released. Everyone said that she was ripping off Avril Lavigne, and while there are definite similarities between their music, I think her music is pretty solid. Her first album is especially good. All of the songs are really catchy and I would love to see more music from her.

🎀 Band #8:

This band is so over hated. People hate on their vocalist for things that he did when he was a teenager, which I always thought made no sense. A lot of people also seem to hate this band because their most recent albums have been generic pop albums, which also doesn't make sense to me. There are people doing way worse stuff, plus you could also just listen to something else. Like the way people talk about their music makes it sound like they're being forced to listen to it, when they're not.

🎀 Band #9:

I think I like this band more as people than actual musicians. I do like their music, but I don't think it's anything that special and I can kind of seen why some people call it generic. Their lead singer is one of the most genuine people I've seen in rock and I loved watching the band's Bryan Stars interviews when I was a new fan. I don't agree with people who say their music is bad (their first album is way over hated btw), but I can see why some people might not like their music that much.

🎀 Band #10:

I seriously do not understand how people listen to this band. I know a lot of people stopped listening to them after the allegations, but their lyrics are still so gross and icky. And the fact that there are people who still listen to this band and post stuff about their lead singer like 'They don't make guys like him anymore' is so gross because most of their lyrical content is about literal grooming and paedophilia. Also, there are most definitely still guys like him out there, the only difference is they aren't hiding behind a scene boy façade.

That's it, byeeeee!! ˚｡⋆୨୧˚♡

[museofpangolins]

sooo here's my top 10 most Good Omens-coded Hozier songs

10) Jackie and Wilson

this one isn't super deep, I think it just gives off that vibe of fun adventures together that mostly the first season had. also, this line

9) Swan upon Leda

this is a song that through religious metaphors captures the brutality of human nature in a way that's so beautiful and poetic. this one isn't so specific, but in my opinion it conveys some of the feeling of the story as a whole

8) Eat your young

I find it insane how it's possible for someone to sing about the exploitation of the innocent in such an incredible way. in this case it can be read about how the authorities (heaven and hell) are only driven by their personal goals and are using humans as a way to achieve them. it's even more literal in Job's story, with angels having no clue on how much his children mean to him and being completely uninterested on the matter, because they're too busy following God's plan.

7) Work Song

here things are starting to get a bit more specific. Work Song talks about a love that goes beyond the grave, but also a love that's so unconditional it goes beyond every human or religious imposition

6) Francesca

Hozier takes inspiration for this song from the tale told by Dante about two lovers condemned to damnation in hell, but the main aspect he uses for this song is the idea of it being worth it in order to be with the loved one, even at the cost of giving up a place of comfort and security. which is also what I hope will happen in season 3.

5) All Things End

I'm so sorry for this one. I'm really sorry. but I swear it's the only thing that could come to my mind when I saw this scene

I won't elaborate more because otherwise I'm going to cry.

4) Unknown/nth

i can't believe this song isn't officially about the two of them. I mean:

you mean mr Hozier didn't intentionally release it last month in honor of Aziraphale and Crowley?? sounds fake but ok

3) Take me to Church

religious trauma. questioning Christian values at its FINEST. love for humanity and for what being human means. all while discussing love and how religion ties it to the concept of sin.

2) Like Real People Do

absolute season two anthem. I think the whole point of Aziraphale and Crowley's characters is finding humanity in themselves, going beyond their angelic/demonic nature and whatever is expected from it. they're neither heaven nor hell's side, but on a completely different one that allows them to live in their own personal identity while often aligning with the interest of humans. that's why even their love for each other is an expression of how close to real people they've become.

1) From Eden

what can I say? it's just so perfect. just one song to summarize every important aspect of the story.

the familiarity derives from the previous angelic nature of Crowley. the destruction of idealism, chivalry and innocence symbolizes the disillusionment with heaven and hell, and the final line how the only hope can be found in the human world, but also, much like Francesca, the idea of giving up safety to be with the loved one. in this case though this is depicted with the use of religious imagery, specifically the garden of Eden. Therefore my hope is that this could be interpreted even more literally once in season three Aziraphale will give up heaven for Crowley. there are many other things that could be said about this song, and I really really hope it will be included in the soundtrack of the show.

if you read all of this, thank you so much, and please let me know if there are songs I didn't include

[cannibal-nightmares]

everything everything is so awesome im glad someone i follow also likes them <3 thats all sorry i just love music

Never any apologies on my page 8D I can ramble about music incessantly, so thank you for your ask; I'm so glad to hear the same that you like them, as well! I've not organically met anyone in person who has heard of them, only friends who've discovered them through me or the wonders of finding shared-interest-mutuals on the internet. "Warm Healer" was my first Everything Everything song I had heard back in 2016-2017ishh; the tone of the polyrhythmic bass guitar INSTANTANEOUSLY hooked me in for good, then their interesting lyrical narrative was swift to follow suit... Also let's not ignore the madness of the fantastic cover art of "Get To Heaven," my god the colors, the design, the lines, the figure... And then, of course, the subconscious love for Radiohead (unknowing this was an element at play until around the release of "Re-Animator" when--to my knowledge--the band was more upfront about their inspirations and it all suddenly made sense).

Before the release of their lyric book, "CAPS LOCK ON," I had a list of B-sides and rarities, including stuff from Modern Bison, which featured Jonathan Higgs and Jeremy Pritchard from EE. On the list was/is "Wizard Talk," which has to be my favourite Everything Everything song on two points: Firstly, as much as Higgs loves to bend and snap vocal capacities with unimaginable peaks of falsetto + fast vocal cadences that leave their music uncategorizable to genre (and etc...), "Wizard Talk" is--in my opinion--unlike anything they've ever put out stylistically. "His voice sounds like he's playing marimba runs," I have repeated to friends over and over and over again, begging people to listen to this song. And then, secondly, comes the profound lyrics of this song. EE loves to play with elaborate metaphors to dance around politics, the state of the world, and social narratives, but "Wizard Talk" feels emotional on a level beyond their common frustrations, especially having been such an early track from the "Man Alive"(?) era, and also in contrast to the stark emotionality of "Re-Animator." Idk man. It hits hard. It's sad. It's hopeful. It's beautiful. You feel the character's defeat and his acceptance in that the hope he seeks is, will be, and always has been abstract in nature while he has spent so much time looking for a concrete and tangible handle to hold onto. It feels like their most vulnerable glimpse at what Jon really has to say. That song has meant a lot to me for a long time, so I am glad EE finally released (some of) the extras from "Man Alive" in the Deluxe re-release.

Ah, anyways, the B-side archive. Something something something, if I remember correctly, there's a few songs missing from the Man Alive deluxe release and even "CAPS LONG ON" is missing a few songs. I won't be cross-referencing this information right now, I'm in bed. Regardless, I will say that a song or two off of the re-release are completely different recording takes and mixes which I find of intruige (again, only if I remember correctly, I think it's at least "The Kids Are Obese" but dooonn't quote me on it..)

Anyways, what else... I've done a ton of art based around EE, some of which is lyrically inspired, others of which are direct tribute art to the band (including a piece to "Magnetophone"!) They're currently sitting at my third-most listened to band of all time, according to my LastFM page. I love them so very very much and I'm so glad you do, too; I hope your ask could maybe inspire others, as well ^^

Can't ask me anything about music and expect a short answer, heh, I still have so much more to say about EE. I am very passionate about music.

[alicevanillee]

A (Weird) Look Into Drumless Albums: Daft Punk & DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ

2023: In celebration of the 10th anniversary since the release of Daft Punk's 2013 'Random Access Memories', the duo (or whoever manages them now they've broken up) emerged with - alongside an anniversary edition - perhaps one of the strangest release decisions in dance music... ever? : an entirely drumless version of their beloved album, nary a kick nor snare in sight.

now, I should mention that RAM is not my favourite daft punk album, but credit where credit is due, you can't deny get lucky and lose yourself to dance.

nonetheless this version of the album spans between the actually quite alright (in the case of The Game of Love); something frustratingly lacking - Giorgio by Moroder without drums totally misses the mark and is... 9 minutes long; and the secret third thing in lose yourself to dance that is sorta what this semi-structured ramble is about:

Lose Yourself To Dance (Drumless Edition) is... agonising...ly.. good??? - like... alarmingly so

one thing daft punk had always excelled at (in my eyes) is creating a sound that makes you BEG for some musical satisfaction - Crescendolls on discovery is the clearest example - and playing that for the entire song.

What Lose Yourself gains without drums is this overwhelming internal feeling that at any point the drums are going to finally kick in and give that satisfaction that the track is building up to. Im being serious, go listen to it, its 6 minutes of the tensest build up with absolutely zero release, its brilliant - I haven't seen anything else quite like it and I strangely love it. It totally peels back the idea of what dance music needs and is still so excellently danceable in its own way.

So, the reason I bring this up is because DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ's 'Destiny (Drumless Edition)' does this for almost all of its entire, majestic 3 hours and 56 minute runtime. And of course this album was probably just a joke about Daft Punk's release, and a continued meme about how the artist dropped a 4 hour album fairly casually - but like Lose Yourself To Dance, its really surprisingly quite good.

now, before you rush into it (I know you're TOTALLY BEGGING to, and have already put aside 4 precious hours to dedicate to the album.) I feel that the feeling im talking about here only makes sense when you know a bit of DJ Sabrina's other stuff: its (usually) some absolutely excellent sampling work with a massive side chained 4 on the floor that slides in halfway through. It's simple, but executed brilliantly. Check out all 7 minutes of 'Next To Me', and you'll get the vibe.

I'm not saying this version is better than the original... absolutely not, and same goes for Lose Yourself To Dance. But there really is something here when it stretches out for 4 hours. I think I may be one of the very few people who have actually sat through a large chunk of the album, but that feeling of anticipation turns from unease into a trancelike... calm?

Destiny Drumless is... like... incredible study music, especially with Sabrina's heavily layered style, the samples begin to wash over you without any pause (the album has basically zero dead air), and it becomes wonderfully tranquil to just... sit... and absorb what you can of the glossy synths and gentle pads as they pass you by.

While RAM Drumless is, really not great save for a few tracks and DJ Sabrina is fairly underground... I do sincerely hope that the joke about it catches on, because drumless dance is... utterly bizarre, but can really very much work with the right artist, and that weird feeling you get while listening is something im not sure exists anywhere else in music right now.

[silverraes]

My Top 9 albums of 2023

tagged by @mysterygrl20 tysm <3

my taste in music is kind of all over the place so prepare yourself for a wild ride, although I also listen to a lot of kpop (I've kinda been slacking on keeping up with releases over the past year tho oops) and we definitely have some overlap in favorite albums

I apologize in advance for how long this post is going to become but you're really opening the floodgates by letting me talk about music lol

(it's been a very dry year for my favorite metal bands or this list would've been even more chaotic lmao)

1) Dear Insanity... by DPR Ian

while I struggled to rank most of these, there was absolutely no question about my #1 album of the year. I only just discovered DPR Ian in 2023 and he very quickly became my favorite artist ever. you might have even seen me talk about this album an unhealthy amount of times already lol. he's just such an insanely good artist and every single song on this album is just soooo damn good.

part of why I love him so much is also the story he tells throughout his music videos and just how insanely good all of his MVs look and how well the visuals fit the music so I feel obligated to link the MV to my favorite song off this album:

(some flashing lights in this one, folks, be warned)

2) The World Ep.2: Outlaw by Ateez

everything Ateez releases is immediately getting added to my favorites, what can I say. I didn't have the money to go to their 2023 tour but I did see them live in 2022... absolutely worth the one and only time I ever caught corona. not a single bad song on this album, they're all absolute bangers.

3) Take Me Back To Eden by Sleep Token

I only just discovered Sleep Token in 2023 but I absolutely fell in love with this entire album and their style in general. almost got to see them live but then I ended up getting surgery on the exact day of their concert... :')

4) OO-LI by Woodz

I am a Woodz stan first and a human second. I'm convinced this man is incapable of releasing bad music, everything he does is just so damn good and I love how he explores a bunch of different genres while still making all of his music just sound like him y'know

also honorable mention to Amnesia which is only a single album so it didn't make the list but if you like more eerie stuff and the general vibe of his music, definitely check it out, I love it so much

5) On My Youth by WayV

WayV will forever have me in a chokehold. they've been my favorite NCT unit since their debut and honestly also the only unit I managed to properly keep up with over the last year ashgasj. I just really love their style of music and how they've actually been sticking to it

6) The Name Chapter: Temptation by TXT

It's truly been a TXT kinda year for me, I've been listening to them a lot. there aren't many songs on this album but I still love it so so much, all of the songs are great and Sugar Rush Ride is such a unique title track

7) Dark Blood by Enhypen

honestly Enhypen are part of the reason why I might have to update my top 3 kpop groups to a top 5 lol. all of their albums so far have been great and this one was no different, I still listen to a lot of the songs on it on repeat

8) RUSH! (Are U Coming?) by Måneskin

well what can I say, Måneskin have had me in a chokehold ever since they won the Eurovision and I actually got to see them live in 2023! drove all the way over to Berlin for them and everything, great album with great songs. I love both their more rock-ish songs and their slower songs and this album has a great mix of both (although I wish there would've been some more Italian songs on here)

9) MONO by K.Flay

K.Flay has been one of my more underrated faves for a couple years by now and I'll take any chance to gush about her music. there's just something very unique about K.Flay's music and this album certainly didn't disappoint. honestly, the only reason why I ended up putting this one on the "last" place is that I haven't listened to it as much as the other albums on this list

Honorable mentions!

bc once I start talking about music, I just simply can not stop at only 9 albums and this list isn't quite chaotic enough yet to properly describe my taste in music lmao

ODD-VENTURE by MCND

this is a rather recent one so I haven't listened to it enough for it to make the list, but I love everything MCND put out and this is definitely also a great album! (plus the title track is yeehaw kpop which is incredibly creative of them and I didn't know I needed that in my life)

HAPPYPILLS by Utsu-P

and this is where I expose the true chaotic nature of my taste in music lmao. Utsu-P's music is the perfect clash of world's between teen-me's obession with vocaloid and current-me's love for metal. I didn't include this album bc I still haven't gotten around to listening to all of it, but the songs that I did listen to, I absolutely loved

Phantomime by Ghost

oh you thought you made it through an entire post of me talking about music without mentioning Ghost? Hah, fool. jokes aside, this is an album full of cover songs so I didn't include it but it's still full of bangers. I reached audio cap now but I'll include their Jesus He Knows Me cover bc this was an absolute treat to witness live:

if you've made it this far without getting whiplash: congrats!

tagging (as always, no pressure, feel free to ignore this): @negrowhat @fallsouthwinter @spicypussywave @thisisworsethanitlookslike @supanuts @buddhamethods @alienwlw and anyone else who wants to do it!

[theallebasi]

Boynextdoor beginner guide - first love trilogy

Boynextdoor, shortened as bonedo or bnd, is a Korean boygroup formed by KOZ(King Of Zungle) entertainment, a label under HYBE Company and founded by the rapper and producer Zico. Boynextdoor have six members, being: Myung Jaehyun (명재현), Sungho (성호), Taesan (태산), Woonhak (운학), Riwoo (리우) and Leehan (이한). The group debuted on May 30th 2023, with their first released EP "WHO!" and, until the time of this post, currently released 2 EPs, 1 album and some singles, with a discography that goes up to 21 songs, including alternative versions, that have the members participation in writing and producing.

L-R: Taesan, Sungho, Jaehyun, Riwoo, Leehan and Woonhak.

The First Love Trilogy - my interpretations:

WHO! - the first EP

Bonedo's first single-album and debut, consisting of 3 songs, all promoted as singles and being released at different times. The EP tells a story about the experience of the first love of six boys, describing their feelings, actions and insecurities, being also the beginning of their lore. As the name "WHO!" indicates, here we are introduced not only to the storyline, but also the boys and their love interest, that we'll follow up in the trilogy.

But I Like You:

The first song, released as a pre-debut single on May 23. It describes the confusion and excitement of a first love, being told to a friend as a way of trying to understand it. The lyrics include a sense of lack of experience in love matters. The locutor describes not being able to breathe when it comes to this weirdly different feeling he's having, and even the necessity to study about love, indicating non-familiarity with it.

When looking at this song with the perspective of a story that's being told, we see that the girl the music is about is often seen with other guys, something that makes the BND members jealous. They talk about how this makes them crazy, but even with the negative emotions, they still care and like the girl. They want the girl only to themselves, and seeing her with other guys makes them go crazy.

Even tho they describe such intense feelings, the lack of information about her personality and the focus on her physical characteristics (eyes, nose, mouth and beauty) gives the sensation that they don't know each other. They describe a few interactions, but things that could easily be happening with a sociable stranger (such as accidentally touching their hand or so). Like that "but I like you" shows, as a pre-debut song, also the impression of a pre-relation, since our boys haven't talked to the girl yet, only looking through distance (as de MV also portraits).

Now see, it was said before by the members that this EP is about the first love of six boys, which leads to conclude that each one of the boys is talking about the same girl here at the song "but I like you", as the MV also infers. That's important information regarding the storyline, once their relationship goes on through the discography.

One and Only:

Going to their official debut song and title of the EP, One and Only, released on May 26, we have the following of the narrative we began at the last song.

In One and Only we have, in a practical manner, the group introducing itself to the public. With their theme phrase "Who's there? The BOYNEXTDOOR!" they introduce themselves through the music and mark their debut.

But, we also have to look at this song through the lens of the story that's being built. I recognize these lyrics as being them introducing themselves to the girl, and more specifically Taesan's character introducing himself (for reasons I'll explain later).

Here, with a refreshing sound, they talk about getting ready and presenting themselves, mostly showing off their qualities and trying to make a good impression. With that, I believe they are talking to the world and their fans but also inside the character and to the girl they've been interested in through the previous song.

Now, we have the plot being built: they've overcome the distance and now know the girl, not only by looks but will start to get to know the personality of the one they've been already falling for.

Serenade:

Here we are at the last song of the "WHO!" EP. Finishing the first part of "the first love trilogy", the music was released along the full single-album, on May 30th. In this song, we listen to the process of the confession of these feelings our boys have been nurturing all along.

Taesan is the one that starts off not only the singing (similarly to "But I Like You" and "One and Only", as with other songs in this trilogy) but also the Music Video. He's knocking at the door of a house that also seems to appear later in the video, being the one that the love interest lives in. Here we have a major reason why I believe this is the story of Taesan's character with the girl all of the boys have been interested in before, since he's the one always starting the songs and seems to have a major role in the storyline (as we can see at the MVs).

In Serenade we listen, almost peeking, the love confession to the girl they've been talking about in the EP. They talk about the exciting feeling that doesn't even let them sleep, how all his neighbors already know it from how much he wants to scream about this affection, and also the insecurity that also comes along with the first serenade, since they want so bad for it to come out right and for her to "please say yes".

They are honest, talking about not knowing how to drive, but make the promise of getting along with her dad, that appears at the end of the video, once Taesan already knocked at the door and they asked if she was free on Friday (Woonhak's bridge line). With the confession and hope for reciprocating feelings, BOYNEXTDOOR finishes "WHO!", and leaves the story to be continued.

See, now I made the decision to follow up the story chronologically, for explanation purposes. We'll go from "WHO!" to "HOW?", finishing up with "WHY...", but I want to make clear that the release order starts with "WHO!", goes to "WHY..." and then "HOW?"

HOW? - the album in the middle

Bonedo's album, released on April 15th 2024, consists of 7 songs and tells us the story of the middle of the relationship we saw. "HOW?" is placed between "WHO!" and "WHY...", despite being released later on, just as the title word is found between the ones on the other EPs (WHO,WHY).

Just as the album trailer (03/22/2024) infers, things were alright until they weren't. There's a shift in the film's atmosphere right in the middle, where all the lovely pace that's set at the beginning, with cute date scenes, silly little smiles and chats, is replaced by a darker and frustrated undertone, with psychedelic effect, giving a sense of confusion at the rest of the trailer.

"Hey hey, I don't play no games" is said by Jaehyun at a part of the film, a phrase that predicts a lot of the following story.

OUR:

The first song on the album will continue the story a little bit after the last one left us: specifically on Friday, the day Taesan's character and the girl set their date.

OUR tells us about all the excitement of the first date. Denying being nervous, they talk about dressing up, choosing the right clothes and trying to break the ice saying the right things.

In this song, we follow the preparation for the date and even the encounter, but when it comes to what actually happened when they were together, we can't tell. That's cuz, due to anxiety or to love, he forgot everything about it, except the girl's face.

It's a lovely song about really liking someone and wanting them to like you back, putting all your efforts into making a good impression. He takes her home and, after what seemed to be a pretty nice and fun date, it finishes with a "see ya" and a promise to continue this love story (as they do).

Amnesia:

At the second music of the album we see what happened after the first date, and the first clues that things aren't going all that well. Just like in the previous song, we hear about how beautiful the girl is, at the point it makes BND forget about everything else. At "OUR", and before their relationship began, the forgotten things were about what they did throughout the day, but here at "Amnesia", and now that Taesan's character is her boyfriend, he tends to forget other types of things due to her beauty.

The lyrics talk about them always fighting, how she's always complaining about little actions of his and never giving up on the fights. Even though that's not the relationship he pictured and wanted for them both, and even though this whole situation just keeps his confidence and pride going lower and lower, he can't let go of her.

Here we have the chance to dive a little bit deeper on their relationship, and even get to know her personality a little bit better, just like our locutor. She's someone that seems a little hot-n-cold (and we get other references to her being like that on the album), unpredictable and like a bomb ready to explode at any given moment. The voice of the song doesn't deny that he may be responsible for these reactions, but at the same time he seems clueless about what he's doing wrong. From he's point of view, things are alright but then suddenly everything goes wrong, and he doesn't know why. They just fight and fight, over and over again, and at the end he, getting more and more aches and doubts, just ends up apologizing for things he didn't even do.

Just like that, we conclude: he has amnesia. Since he always forgets her faults and how much she's hurting him, making him go back to her, for reasons not even he knows about, even when he's upset. Everytime he looks at her, just like on their first date, he forgets everything she has done (especially the things that hurt him).

So let's go see the stars:

As we saw before, this relationship is one for ups and downs, and with this song we start the pattern of good and not so good moments between our characters. If in "Amnesia" the lyrics display how complicated their feelings for each other are, with lots of fights, him losing his head and her complaining and crying, in "So let's go see the stars" the music portrays a beautiful moment between them under the stars.

Here we see how much he cares for her. Being his first love, he sees her as his everything. Without her nothing makes sense to him and, just as youthful loves are, it feels like it'll last forever.

Cherishing their youth and the lovely feelings they still nourish for each other, even between fights and hurtful moments, he asks his lover: let's go see the stars. This is nothing but a lovely song if seen in itself, but if seen inside the storyline context it becomes even more meaningful. Here we finally get why he keeps coming back to her even with all the trouble: this girl, his first love, is someone he truly loves. Without her he can't see the meaning behind the late nights, sunsets or stars, but when she's around everything makes sense, and because of it he wants to watch the stars, but only by her side.

Earth, Wind & Fire:

And, just as an emotional rollercoaster, the higher they get the bigger the fall. Here we come back to the downside of this relationship, when our boynextdoor's Amnesia ceases as the lovely moment he shared with his girlfriend gets distant in time and their fighting goes on again.

Taesan's the one starting the song again this time, and just at the beginning he already displays his reason for being unsatisfied once again with this love story. Something isn't right, he's insecure just as in Amnesia and asks: "You're my darling, right?". At this small question we notice that their relationship is going through a rough time, one in which Taesan's character, different from before, doesn't even know if his girlfriend still feels the same about him as before, due to her hot-n-cold acting (already shown before at "Amnesia").

Now, I want to talk a little about the fact that she's described here as his Earth, Wind and Fire. It is pretty noticeable now how much he cares for the girl, in a way that he finds that he needs her so much that she's like some of the natural elements one needs to live. But we also have to look at another perspective: she's a total confusion to him. Notice how he doesn't compare the girl to water, also one of our basic necessities as humans, but an element that's associated with calmness and soothing. That's because she's not like water to him, but much more like the other elements. Inexorable as earth, unpredictable as wind and intense as fire, she's at the same time necessary and dear to him, but someone that hurts, confuses and makes him go crazy.

But don't be mistaken, we have to remember that he truly loves her. She's his whole world and, even being indecisive, making him go mad and confused about what's happening between them, he knows one thing for sure (and reminds us through the chorus lots of times): he loves her. Without her, he can barely breathe. So even between the fast pace of the music, the imagery confusion of the MV and the ups and downs of their story, he's still there... trying to make up and understand her... trying to keep their love going.

Well, trying until he can take it, because nobody can take a relationship like this forever.

l i f e i s c o o l:

That's a song that represents to me a break from all the drama they've been facing all along. Starting with a "live your life, don't wait" we have "l i f e i s c o o l" being present, marking a different tone from the rest of the album and talking about enjoying the youth and not rushing to grow up.

The whole song is pretty refreshing, Taesan's character appears talking to an old friend he hasn't seen in a long time and it all revolves around this friendly connection he has. This makes me believe the context of "l i f e i s c o o l" is given a good amount of time after the beginning of the album "WHO!", being centered around him and his old friends who all had a crush on his current girlfriend. Things indicate that they grew apart for some time, but here the "BOYNEXTDOOR assemble" and they get together again as they've never been apart.

But don't be mistaken by the phrase "this is not a love song" that's shouted at the beginning of the music. Here we also have some clues of what has been happening in the relationship we're following. Taesan's character sings about wanting to enjoy the time with his friends and how things seem even better than before, then he talks about not wanting to worry about little things, "like his face waking up puffy in the morning". Now see, this last line caught my attention, once it leads me to believe that's a reference to him crying himself to sleep and then waking up with a puffy face, which is an indication that something isn't right. And even Leehan's part shows a certain sense of loneliness, talking about drinking wine and dancing on his own, something that, related to all we already know, seems to lead the story to only one way: the end.

But even so, that's indeed not a love song, and right now we have to focus on only one thing: the fact that life is cool and short. Now that the boys are together again, they want to cherish their company and enjoy the time they have with each other. Taesan's character finds in his childhood friends the joy he has been looking for. Trying to forget the not so good things he's facing in his relationship, the boynextdoor finds each other once again in their friendship.

Dear. My Darling:

Slow paced and short, just as a small letter, we get the last song on the album "HOW?".

Just as said before with "Earth, Wind & Fire", no one can take a confusing and hurtful relationship like this one forever. The ending came, and "Dear. My Darling" shows us the last time our locutor decides to call the one he loves by the name he called so many times before: "my darling".

A breakup is almost always sad, and this one specifically hurts even more since through the "singed letter" is shown all the love that we already know our main character feels for his now "no longer darling". In the song it is clearly stated that the ending is not due to a lack of love, but the lyrics show that the boynextdoor had to give up on his love, stopping to fight for them both (something that is completely understandable, since we followed up all of his efforts and work put into this relationship that was always going wrong). He couldn't keep going with this, stepping up on his pride, taking the little games and keeping up being hurt and hurting, so he decides that it is time to give it an end. He'll never love her again.

Here, differently than all of the songs of "WHO!" and also "Earth, Wind & Fire", Taesan's not the one that starts the music, but the one who finished it. That's something that feels just right, once that's the ending of their relationship and story with each other. Taesan's character wishes for her to be happy and joyful, he hopes for all of the best and states "I'll be for you". Here we see the last line of the letter, the last time he calls his no-longer-lover the sweet nickname he called her. "My darling, you."

As this is one of my favorite BND songs, I highly recommend that you read the lyrics by yourself and feel all the emotions and heartache it portrays.

WHY... - the EP after the end

Officially considered Bonedo's first EP(Extended Play) was released on September 4th of 2023, a little bit more than three months after their first single-album "WHO!"(05/30/23) and a little more than seven months before their first album "HOW?"(04/15/2024). "WHY..." consists of 6 songs, the first three being the ones that were already released along with their debut ("But I Like You", "One and Only" and "Serenade"), and the other three being new ones, giving a sequence (and end) to "the first love trilogy".

Crying:

The album picks up the story right at the point where "Dear. My Darling" left it: the heartache.

After the loss of something is common for people to grief what they had, and with a breakup is no different. In "Crying" it is possible to see the representation of the denial and depression stages of grief.

The depression stage is obviously portrayed in the song, since it's all about being profoundly sad and "crying like a little baby", even though there's an effort in trying to appear mature and unbreakable in front of other people.

The denial stage, on another side, is a little bit more subtle, since it manifests in this constant recalling of the past being lived along with the constant effort to hide the emotions. The lyrics talk about being fine, denying that the breakup is really affecting the boy. He tries to throw away the things that remind him of the girl, even his emotions, but it's useless: after one or two days he goes back to feeling down.

Only denying that he is hurt, lying about it and hiding this fact by changing the conversations' subject doesn't make his sadness go away. So, when he's all alone, he cries.

But Sometimes:

Going to the EP's lead single, there's a new lens being used when Taesan's character approaches the subject of the past relationships. Grief's third stage is the anger, and this music is filled with it for almost its integrity.

Taesan's the first one singing once again, opening the song with the subject of trying to change and fit into the other person's desires. That's something that was present into the other songs as well, but only here, in this new tune, the boy talks directly about it. Regarding his old relationship, he couldn't say "bad words" even when he was mad and wanted to, something that implicates how he couldn't communicate with her being himself (this kind of communication problem is something that goes across the whole relationship). She lied to him, was always distant and made him feel unloved. Here he's finally noticing all these negative behaviours the girl he used to love had and, unlikely to what he was doing at "Crying", he decides to let it all out.

For the first time in this story we see the recognition that the relationship was unfulfilling and overall bad being talked about with anger and resentment. Here the BND finally notices that his "no-longer-darling" was actually a bad girlfriend to him and that they wouldn't work out together. Differently than before, he doesn't talk about his own faults (like in "Amnesia") but blame it all on her, something expected since that's his first breakup and he already talked about not being able to take it being mature (something that I think is ok, since I presume he's yet a teenager or young adult).

There it is, the "But sometimes" new perspective: Taesan's character is finally distancing himself from all the love he felt. But that doesn't make everything he felt so intensely simply go away and vanish. Sometimes he's filled with rage, he wants her to disappear, but sometimes he misses her. There's this mix of feelings, where he claims to feel pretty good now (with the help of his friends) but still remembers (and, deep down, feels) all the love he had for the girl. At the end, he wishes things had gone a different way, that they could still be together. But he made the decision to never love her again, so he had to let her go.

ABCDLOVE:

Coming to the end of "WHY...", we're also coming to the end of the love trilogy. Even tho the song title makes us believe that's a love song, don't be mistaken: our boy continues his journey through the stages of breakup. Trying harder and harder to get over the one he loved so dearly, "ABCDLOVE" is a song of bargain, not only with the girl but also with love itself.

At the previous music, even between all the anger and resentment, the locutor recognized that he missed his ex-girlfriend. Now this feeling is even stronger, he wants to talk to her but he feels it would be weird, she was his everything and, just as he talked before at "Earth, Wind & Fire", without her he feels dark and incomplete. He doesn't know how to get used to not having her around.

And here comes the bargaining. Taesan's character asks if she could come back, shine on and warm up his unloved heart. He wants his love back, and even tho this time he doesn't fail to recognize she was bad to him, he feels so alone and clueless about what he's supposed to do now, that all he wants is love from somebody. He bargains with the girl and with the emotion itself, he asks for his love back or even another one, because at the end this one is not a song about her.

The boynextdoor feels lonely, with a cold and darkened heart. He wants to feel love again. He asks for it and bargains, trying to find a solution to his loneliness into the love of another.

The Boynextdoor love trilogy ends just like that. After getting to know our main characters at "WHO!", diving deep into their story and personalities with "HOW?" and listening to the intense feelings post-breakup at "WHY..." the story ends.

My final considerations are that I hope Taesan's character can overcome all of the insecurities he has, because he won't find a fulfilling love into someone if he keeps failing to love himself like that. The songs are pretty good and Boynextdoor is a truly great group, original and that seems to really have fun on stage and with their songs.

Their next comeback is set to happen in September 2024, I'm very excited for it and think it'll be pretty great. Can't wait to see what they are preparing this time!! :)

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Most-Listened of April 2024

[last month]

Last month, I was just sooo excited about so much music (see: the giant five-star songs list)--I must have used up a whole lot of my enjoying-music energy, since this month I withdrew a bit & got super picky. (Which, for some reason, meant only enjoying three artists--Repion, Majiko, and Mon Laferte--for a solid week. No, I have no idea why my brain chose those three in particular!) So, I'm not feeling as sparkly as I did when I wrote last month's post, but there was still some awesome stuff this month (which is why I'm doing a top 20 instead of my usual 15!!).

Most of my favorite releases this month ended up being not-kpop, but my top 3 kpop releases of the month would be: "Undefeated" by XG (*insert obligatory acknowledgement of the "is XG kpop?" debate here*), "I'll See You There Tomorrow" by TXT, and "Candy Crush" by ARTMS!

1 . El Imán - Remix -- Delfina Campos, Santiago Martínez

If you, like me, still aren't over Tiffany's "I Just Wanna Dance", allow me to introduce you to...

2. La venganza de los Sith -- Comic Sans

By FAR my favorite release this month. This has the same indie-boy euphoria as "joyrider" by second thoughts, which is an instant win in my book!

3. Abittipsy -- Youha

I think I'm a normal amount of angsty for a college student! "Abittipsy" signifies an about-average amount of angst... right?

4. It Was Coming All Along -- Maggie Rogers

I don't really understand these lyrics, but they've been haunting me anyway. I guess I never get tired of this kind of apocalypse song--the ones that aren't even all that angry or scared anymore, they just sound completely exhausted. For me, they're always the most powerful.

5. Solo en Vos -- Luciana Tagliapietra

Loving the trend of synthy music that sounds straight out of a video game! And this synth is especially well-produced--the texture is IMPECCABLE.

6. Death To My Hometown -- Bruce Springsteen

Down two spots from last month, but still awesome!

7. Luz -- Ine Güemes

Another repeat offender! (I told you, this month wasn't all that exciting.) It's moved up a spot from last month, though. This album has a stranglehold on my soul btw.

8. Hemofilia - Remix -- Delfina Campos, Ferla

Re: Tiffany's "I Just Wanna Dance" !!

9. El día no me da -- Repion

Just an average Repion song--which, of course, means it's fantastic and has been my go-to song every single day for the last month.

10. Altas Nubes -- Adrià Salas, Repion

It's sooooo DND coded.

11. Spotlight -- Creepy Nuts

I love Creepy Nuts so much, and this one encapsulates everything that got them on my stan list in the first place--the incessant energy, the creative instrumentals, the rock influences !!!

12. Undefeated -- XG, Valorant

Yessssss sound design for the win!! There's never a dull moment in this song--XG really are bringing the thrill back to girl crush, and I couldn't be happier!

13. Nightshift -- Bruce Springsteen

This month's sulking song, I dare say? I'm SOOOO lucky I got to hear it live in March, and I've been addicted since. And it makes me SO SAD OH MY GOD--

14. Stayaway - Now, Now Remix -- MUNA

I still love the original, but this one had me at house keys!

15. Martes -- Repion

I'm getting sooo tired of complimenting Repion (look, I've been doing it nonstop since the release of their album last February). So I'll just say: harmonies good yes.

16. The Kill -- Maggie Rogers

Watching the live performance on YouTube broke me a little. This isn't the most exciting song, but Maggie Rogers makes it SO emotional in the most wonderfully subtle ways--a little sentimental, a little resigned. As Phoebe Bridgers once said, "I feel something."

17. Dice -- Onew

The album is better, but this is really cute! I must have left it on repeat while doing homework or something this month.

18. Alley Rose -- Conan Gray

This goes out everyone who cried to "Wish You Were Sober" in 2020 !!!

19. Found Heaven -- Conan Gray

I like the lyrics way more than I like the actual song, but I like the lyrics a LOT. "There's a God / in the sky / don't believe him." GODDAMN.

20. .tumblr -- Saramalacara

I want big clumsy melody-heavy EDM back!!!! Make dark-concept kpop like this again pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee

Five-Star Songs (& Albums!) This Month

Alley Rose -- Conan Gray (Now THIS is how you make retro exciting again. "Alley Rose" has disco and psychedelic rock built into the bones of its Elton John tribute, and the layers and layers of influences are just so endlessly fascinating to me!)

Amárrame -- Mon Laferte, Juanes (I ran across this during that weird week where I could only enjoy like 3 artists, and I'm so glad I did! I already expect Mon Laferte choruses to be wonderful, but this one still managed to take my breath away. Love at first listen, the vocal layering and the drums and the VOCAL LAYERING GUYS GUYS LISTEN TO THAT CHORUS. To my 10th grade Spanish teacher--I like a Juanes song now! Sorry it took me so long lol)

World -- MUCC (I've liked this since it came out, but it just hit differently this month. I don't know, maybe I'm just more obsessed with multilayered vocals than usual this month--which would explain the Repion obsession, actually...)

Como Bailan los Demás (Lado B) -- Delfina Campos (I think I'll always be that guy who wants my albums aesthetic, and this selection of hazy, muted club tracks is exactly what I'm looking for in an album worth leaving on repeat. It all flows together so effortlessly, and Delfina Campos really got my attention with these performances--so delicate, and so captivating. I'll have to go back and check out their other stuff!)

[moreclaypigeons]

crying at the tags on the playlist names post oml. anyway what're your top 5 mountain goats sounds for someone who loves no children and has not heard any other of their songs

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHH

Well here is the tmg essentials playlist that I have crafted, which is an hour and a half long (also is the reason my pfp is John Green mountain goats And was mentioned in the playlist tags :])

And as for the top five? Hhh okay.. I want to get a good mix of times and feelings in there as well as try to cover the essential albums uhhh

1. This year | The Sunset Tree | 2005

This is an absolute classic and is great to scream in your head. It's about getting through this year if it kills you!! It's one of my most played songs of all time at this rate (I've streamed it 500+ times apparently??)

2. Get Famous | Getting Into Knives | 2020

I love this one, it's more jazzy than most of their songs and is just very fun. It's not what a lot of their music sounds like but it's a good time.

3. The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out of Denton | All Hail West Texas | 2002

I love this album in general, it is very acoustic and every song has its own narrative. This song is the first on the tracklist, and it's a good representative for a lot of their music especially in that time period.

4. Deuteronomy 2:10 | The Life of the World to Come | 2009

Be warned this song will make you fucking cry. Content warning for extinction and animal death. That's all I will say. This song changed my life... I've never been able to listen to this album all the way through cause it's one of their more emotionally heavy ones. By god are some of the songs profoundly sad. Good but devastating.

5. Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1 | Transcendental Youth | 2012

If you like No Children, I must recommend something near it in catharsis. And of course that's Spent Gladiator. This song is like if This Year had an older sister. It's about going through rough shit and thinking you're not gonna make it but you find every way you can to keep going.

Bonus:

Here's the ska cover of no children. Because I love it.

You Were Cool is one of my favorites that they only perform live and haven't released a recording of. You can find videos of it on YouTube! I used one of the lines from it on my graduation cap.

If you do like these songs and want to get more into the mountain goats, I would recommend listening to either:

A Jordan lake sessions album, which are live session recordings they especially did during the height of the pandemic. The whole thing tracks over and has a lot of talking between songs and many of them have a different or more raw take on some of their more popular or personal favorites.

Any of their albums all the way through in order. My top recommendations for this are Tallahassee (which no children is on!), The sunset tree, all hail West Texas, bleed out, heretic pride, and transcendental youth. I do love many of the other albums but these ones are my favorites as a unit.

I know listening to the mountain goats at first can be really intimidating cause their discography is SO BIG (like more than 24 hrs worth of music big) but if you do then you end up with a lot of room to explore! I don't think I've even listened to every song they've made and I've been a fan for a good few years. Like mountain goats fans are super cool about that kind of thing (I know other music fan communities can be the opposite) cause they just love to share even a little love! And if you (or anyone else!!) have any questions or want more playlist suggestions (I have several hyperspecific tmg playlists saved and or made) my inbox is always open :] I love talking about tmg

[heinous-eli]

Here is a list of 10 Black artists/bands you might enjoy if you're millennial indie trash like me, roughly in order from better to lesser known and accompanied by a single song rec. There are, of course, more than 10 Black indie artists I listen to and even more that exist (and lots more songs just by these artists/bands!), so please do drop your recs in the comments.

(and yes "indie" means very little but whatever you know what I means it's vibes OK?!?)

Artist: Solange Jumping-off point song: Losing You Yeah, she's Beyonce's younger sister and fairly famous, but hear me out: I feel like she is perceived as overexposed as a result and therefore is sometimes dismissed as an artist. She really is fantastic and has her own thing going. I honestly don't think her singing voice sounds anything like the other Knowles's. Her style is definitely unique, too.

Band: Bloc Party Jumping-off point song: Flux You may know at least one song by them, even if you don't realize it. They've been featured on video games like Need for Speed Pro Street, FIFA 06, Burnout Revenge, and Guitar Hero 3, as well as TV shows like Skins, Waterloo Road, and How I Met Your Mother. The frontman, Kele Okereke, has also released his own solo stuff.

Artist: Santigold Jumping-off point song: Disparate Youth Formerly known as Santogold, she's opened for acts ranging from The Beastie Boys to MIA and Bjork, plus she was name-dropped by Beyonce in Break My Soul (The Queens Remix).

Band: TV on the Radio Jumping-off point song: Young Liars They've been one my faves since the first day I heard them ~20 years ago and have stayed in the rotation ever since.

Band: Alabama Shakes Jumping-off point song: Don't Wanna Fight The band is on indefinite hiatus for a lot of reasons ranging from messy to objectively awful. That said, what a fantastic and highly influential band, especially considering how relatively short-lived and recent its existence was.

Artist: Ekkstacy Jumping-off point song: i walk this earth all by myself For the record, Ekkstacy himself has expressed annoyance at the comparison. But! The first time I heard him, I immediately was reminded of Bloc Party in a good way, and I'm not the only one.

Band: Black Kids Jumping-off point song: I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You The first time I came across this band, I was convinced the band name was indie irony, like the band Girls. I was wrong. Also, the lyrics to their aforementioned biggest song is accidentally a transmasc mood.

Artist: Toro Y Moi Jumping-off point song: Talamak I've seen a lot of artists live, and his slot at Desert Daze is one of the best performances I've ever seen. The music is danceable and the lyrics poetic and thoughtful, yet unpretentious.

Artist: Yuno Jumping-off point song: No Going Back A man after my own heart, he mentions HIM’s Razorblade Romance and AFI’s Sing The Sorrow among the albums that have influenced him.

Artist: Blood Orange Jumping-off point song, more normal song edition: You're Not Good Enough Jumping-off point song, trippy glam edition: Uncle ACE This is the artist and song that inspired me to write this list, because I absolutely cannot get enough of both of these songs right now, so he gets two song recs. Fun fact: Dev Hynes has collaborated with Minimalist icon and ye olde meme Phillip Glass.

[sageistri]

Not a rap line sympathiser just a regular PJM with enough dislike and indifference towards the other 6, but damn the ARMY fandom doesn’t move at all for some of them. You have a collab at your hand with a BIG artist who is doing well on most charts, and you are struggling to move? We are at 3 hours. Still no US no 1? Like? I mean I can wait till tomorrow to see the actual chart performance, but even the YT video is moving barely. It’s not on Bangtan channels, views should move. Yes it’s on Megan’s and yes she’s not the kind to get 100 million views but Dafaq are they stuck at 500k? None of you are tuning in? The best case scenario would be them getting an Apple Music entry because Megan does well there, or the song going viral (it’s almost made for it 12345678 the formula lol). ARMY can scream cry throw up all they want but without a solo fandom none of them are getting anywhere. They have learned to only move when they massive tools and promotion and for chosen members. And I know, people think Jimin is heavily supported by ARMY but honestly it’s because his songs slap. lol. The moment he releases something they don’t enjoy, they will see themselves out. His longevity, reputation and everything else isn’t their concern. They have truly gotten fragmented and incapable.

Because they don't like these songs. Song success does not only come from having more fans. It's not only about them not wanting to move for people who aren't the members they like.

Even if these rapline songs don't get big debuts or first day numbers because they have less fans, then we should at least see longevity or stability. With other kpop groups they have low debut numbers but their songs stay stable on global Spotify for a long time because I guess people do like and listen to those songs.

Rapline do not make music that armys or kpop stans like. And even when they do have a song on their album that people could have liked they don't promote it at all and instead focus all their attention on that terrible title track they've decided on.

Rapline obviously doesn't care about making what is palatable to armys or a wider audience so I don't care about being sad on their behalf. They can't want widespread success when they make music like that.

And it's not only about the genre of music because rap music does extremely well. Sometimes listening to rapline's recent music you can tell they made it with the assurance that it's going to do well regardless. It's OK to say "oooh I made this or that genre, I dabbled in something new" but is it listenable?. All their songs lately sound like an experiment, and not in a good way.

And yes like you said it could do well on apple music or if a part of the song goes viral but I don't understand why everyone thought a Megan collab guaranteed success... she's a black female rapper. Megan has a lot of hype online because she's funny and really likeable but her music can be a hard sell not unless some cute part of it that people do like goes viral and it helps the song a little. Megan's most successful song is WAP and cardi b who was a force on the charts around that time will also be credited for a large part of the song's success.

I found it funny how they all assumed and made these plans because of Megan. First of all you need a collab to get you to move? And second of all, Megan doesn't really pull huge numbers for them to have the expectations they had.

The stability of the song would prove if they really like it or not, regardless of how well or how bad it does on the First day.

And like you said armys do certain things out of spite and jealousy Like removing his songs from their playlists but generally armys and the kpop community does like the music jimin puts out. That's the major reason for his success. Jk's discography is generic pop I guess, but considering the same people who listened to one direction and Justin beiber are now the same people in the kpop community and the army fandom, it makes sense that a lot of them find his music enjoyable.

I just think if you're going to make rap, alternative rnb and these other genres with an audience like armys and kpop stans you have to put a lot of effort into making it good and listenable...

Maybe I'm hyping him up too much but jimin could release a full alternative or rnb album and he would do it perfectly. Because he very obviously takes the listeners into account when releasing music and how he thinks it would sound to them rather than just focusing solely on what he likes and what he thinks fits with the theme of his album. If you don't care about putting out music that your fans like then there's no need to worry about how well it's doing no?

Cns and daechwita and examples that rapline can release music that can be successful. And maybe armys say these songs are good. But I listen to a wide range of music, loved d2 and mono, but I've never really like hobi's music much. I listen to a lot of rap, rnb and alternative music. So if someone like me couldn't get into any rapline music lately and did not like tae's rnb album(mind you rnb is my most listened genre after general pop) then how do you expect armys a fandom full of pop fans to like these songs?

Even the armys and kpop who are into rap music obviously do not like these releases because if they did they would be stability regardless of the streaming numbers.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

HOBI IS WORKING WITH JCOLE I REPEAT HOBI IS WORKING WITH JCOLE AHHHHH

Our boys are really industry heavyweights at this point, aren’t they BPP???? They really just out here casually collabing with their favorite artists growing up like Hobi just dropped the news that he collabed with The J.Cole the day before his single drops 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 Am I wrong to think that they really earned these artists respect for them to even think to collab with them????Like I doubt J.Cole needs Hobi/BTS clout lmao and even Erykah Badu came out to do a song with Namjoon and I’m convinced Chris Martin is in love with Jin atp lmao like atp I’m convinced that RIHANNA X RAPLINE OR BEYONCE X JIMIN ISNT A FARFETCHED DREAM OF US DELULUS LIKE ITS NOT AN IMPOSSIBILITY BUT A REAL POSSIBILTY NOW

IM SO PROUD AND I LOVE THIS FOR THEM YOU GO BOYS

*

Ask 2: OMG I LOVE THAT TEASER MELODY!!!!!!! I think Imma love that song!! I'm so excited (and sad. AND WITH JCOLE HIS INSPIRATION OMMMMGGGGG I'm so happy. I'm SO giddy. lol I'm really glad to have this music. I needed them cuz I'm doing a competition on release day. I was feeling anxious. If it's going to be blue side esque, I'll just listen to this nonstop to calm myself down. Also Jimin Tiffany?? He looks fantastic. I hope there's ads, I'll go to the shops just to see him (I HATE both usually lol)

*

Ask 3: BPPPPPPPPP I'M CRYING THIS SONG IS EVERYTHING EVERYTTHING I LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART

*

Ask 4: Jermaine Lamarr Cole respects Jung Hoseok and made a song with him fuck I'm gone. Bpp, how you feeling?

**

Hi Anon(s),

I don't even know where to begin.

I just wrote possibly what is my most effusively adoring Jimin post and maybe it's also the lack of sleep making me slightly delirious but I nearly burst into tears just now trying to reply to you talking about Hobi. Because y'all, my emotions are completely fried right now. Hobi has completely wrecked and destabilized me with On The Street. Part of the reason I'm here is because of how happy I feel, and it is 100% the result of his music, that song in particular, and what it confirms to me for the umpeenth time about who Hoseok is.

Y'all, I'm so happy for him. Like I'm sitting on my couch, wig off, feet up, running my hands down my face every two seconds through my hair clutching my fro to ground myself while On The Street plays on surround sound.

Everything about On The Street is perfect. I'll write an actual review once I've calmed down but Jesus it's so fucking good.

J Cole is an artist notorious for pulling no punches and being real with the music he makes and who he makes it with. Like Jermaine is one of a handful of rappers that Kendrick gives full cred to. I've been fighting the urge to scream since this song dropped like y'all have no idea how incredible, how legendary this collaboration is precisely because of the sort of artist both J Cole and J-hope are, and I can only imagine how Hobi feels right now.

All the guys are meeting their heroes and rather than it being an unpleasant experience, they've all developed so much as artists already that their first collaborations with their heroes is mutually satisfying and underpinned by mutual respect.

Everything about this song is so beautiful and I hope you're able to enjoy listening to it very often.

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 16/03/2024

RipStarter

Season 3 No Album Release (Read More) Daniel's Kruis (Main Theme) - Indie Pogo

Ripped by - ̗̀Dead Line ̖́- (@deadlinesmb)

Requested by fezaki! (Request Form)

For all the faux-deep analysis I do on here, for all the intricate readings into rips to find meaning that many times ABSOLUTELY wasn't there (Fun trivia: I learned recently that Joke-Explainer™ 7000 Fusion Collab starting with a song from Pokémon RSE was not meant to be a reference, it was complete coincidence), for all the musings on lore and theming and emotional highs...it's just as nice to cover rips that are pure, simple fun. Especially when they're from Dead Line in particular! The ripper is no stranger to being featured on here, and the running theme in rips like Medley Rush #7, vs SAYU (Based Version), and indeed also RipStarter, is that he's got a real knack for wearing his heart on his sleeve in a way that can be properly felt in the rips.

With this affection in mind, it should come as no surprise that both Sonic Rush and No Straight Roads are among Dead Line's favorite games (not to mention the copious amounts of Super Monkey Ball rips they've made that I'm yet to cover, with the game being their all-time favorite!). Yet Indie Pogo, the game featured today is a bit of a different case - Dead Line himself directly contributed to the game's development! I'm unfortunately unaware if them joining the development team happened before or after RipStarter released, but be it retroactively or not, that extra bit of involvement makes the rip feel all the more sweet. It's a love letter to a project Dead Line felt even more attached to than most, one they went above and beyond to celebrate when, comparatively, it still wasn't really much of a smash hit success in terms of sales. As a mixless rip of the main theme, RipStarter aims to be the DEFINITIVE Indie Pogo rip - something that I absolutely believe it achieves.

I mean, there's things to gush about right as things begin. The melodyswap to The Noble Haltmann is fantastic on its own, but paired with the custom-made visuals of Susie Haltmann bouncing as if she were a character in the game herself, it allows the rip to almost feel as if this is how the SiIvaGunner channel itself would be represented in IndiePogo. All topped off with the use of Dead Line's dearly beloved Sonic Rush samples, a trademark immediately reminding us of who's behind the rip. And like, it's honestly fun around to just watch Susie bounce around to that edit alone! Rip visuals don't need to be as absolutely out-of-this-world as ULTRA S+G to enhance a rip, and the good vibes that RipStarter already has are just amplified by the good time Susie and friends are having. And friends? Yes! Because after just a minute or so, Soulja Boy and PSY one by one join in on the rip, expanding it into both a melody swap and a mashup. Both Soulja and PSY are some of the most popular mashup sources to use for a reason - its incredibly difficult to make them sound bad - and their contributions here only add to the fun vibe the rip already has whilst bringing very fun animations in tow.

Truth be told, much like many of Dead Line's favorite games, I have no real connection to Indie Pogo. Yet the guy's affection and care for the game is too sincere to not understand - the good vibes of RipStarter transcends needing to care about the indie game its from to work as an effective good time. It warms my heart to see Dead Line continue to push their interests with full force like this even as recently as Season 7, and I can't wait to get to learn about more incredibly cool games in the future because of that initiative.

[ourladyofmaplemurder]

Anything Goes - A Riverdale Thesis Statement

So, I was listening to "Anything Goes" of the Riverdale album recently to luxuriate in the majesty that is Ashleigh Murray. (She is so sorely missed.)

I find this song to be so deeply important to Riverdale as a way of understanding where it's coming from on all levels.

There are a few songs they've done over the years that I consider to be "thesis statements" for the show. Seventeen is another big one, but let's focus on this one for now. I'll talk about that song another day.

In-depth rambling beneath the cut. <3

I think Anything Goes is appropriately positioned in Season 3 because this is the season where the style of the show starts to reveal itself as more heightened and abstract.

Riverdale, if anything, is a burlesque number. Slowly peeling back its more accessible layers into something entirely unique and strange.

Season 3 is when the show starts to reveal that it's not your typical teen drama and it never was. (This is why a lot of people struggle with this season and drop off. It really is the culling blade. I will release my essay on this in due time.)

Anyway.

For those that might not be aware, "Anything Goes" is the title song of the musical "Anything Goes" by Cole Porter.

Here's the original version in one of my favorite performances of the song by Sutton Foster in a rehearsal. Seriously, she's incredible. (Maybe I just love giant tap numbers, but this fills me with delight every time I see it.)

In any case, the song's lyrics are about how the times have changed. Standards of morality are lower than ever before. I think that, in its original meaning, it does apply to Riverdale, but there's a bit more to it than that. Let's unpack.

As Cole Porter puts it:

"In olden days a glimpse of stocking was Looked on as something shocking now Heaven knows Anything goes"

This easily applies to the salacious nature of Riverdale, especially in the earlier seasons. I mean, could Cole Porter have even conceived of a kinky lesbian sex scene intercut with violent boxing? Anything goes, indeed.

And sexual stories have a heavy stigma attached to them. Eroticism, though one of the most popular topics and genres since the beginning of time, is often treated as a lesser form of art. Too much sex in your story and it becomes "pornography", a word often spit rather than said.

Moving on.

The second verse says:

"Good authors too who once knew better words Now only use four letter words Writing prose Anything goes"

Though Riverdale doesn't really use a ton of "four letter words", this verse can easily apply to Riverdale's low-brow plots and ideas. Bloody serial killers. Secret siblings. Murder. Mothmen. Etc. Etc.

Horror and melodrama, two of Riverdale's most beloved genres, have also been treated as second-class citizens in the art world for ages. This is especially true nowadays even with the rise of prestige, high-concept horror. The genre, on the whole with notable exceptions, is still treated as a lesser art form.

"The world's gone mad today And good's bad today Black's white today And day's night today And all the guys today That women prize today Are just silly gigolos Anything goes Anything goes"

"Everything is wrong," the song declares. The world is upside down.

A couple of things about this section.

1: It sounds to me like the haters lamenting the state of art and the world today. "I can't believe that show has seven seasons." "It got too weird." Etc. Etc.

2: I feel like the first two lines are a tongue in cheek praise of Camp.

3: The line about the guys of today that women prize makes me think back to my first point about the thirsty nature of this show.

Do I sound insane yet?

Regardless, the lyrics can be taken either sarcastically or sincerely. So, in one version the singer is lamenting the state of affairs and in another, they're delighted with how much freedom there is.

Riverdale obviously falls in the latter interpretation, but I can't help but hear the first one as well because it echoes criticism of the show.

Two more bits I want to mention.

"So though I'm not a great romancer, I Know you're bound to answer when I propose Anything goes"

If I had a criticism of Riverdale, it would be its lack of polish. It might not be the best "romancer" as it were, but oh, how can I reply with anything but an enthusiastic "YES. <3" when it proposes, through its unrelenting, feverish madness that truly, anything goes?

Riverdale hops from genre to genre and style to style with such reckless avarice that I genuinely swoon. It embraces a hedonism and indulgence that "high art" scoffs at. Highly technical works of art, though beautiful and thought-provoking are often quite restrained. They're often very focused on one topic or style. Their limited scope allows for a cleaner execution.

Riverdale pours all of American culture into one giant bowl and hands you a spoon. It's messy and unrefined. It's hard to swallow, at times. It's unbalanced, but god, does it burst with charm and flavor. Maybe my palette, cut on technique and training, was just longing for something that tasted of heart. Either way, I think this is Riverdale's greatest strength.

Finally.

"And all the pains you've got If any brains you've got From those little radios Anything goes Anything goes Anything"

I think this is a cheeky dare to look more deeply at this show. It's daring the listener to meet Riverdale with their heart (their pains) and with whatever brains they might have left after being glued to their "little radios" for so long.

That's definitely not what the original song was saying, but I'm only looking at it in the context of Riverdale.

EDIT**: OMG I TOTALLY FORGOT TO INCLUDE THIS. It's like, half the reason I wrote the post.

So, one more thing about this particular version of the song that makes it fit Riverdale so perfectly.

The style is dark, sexy, and almost angry. It's almost accusatory. This fits in with my statments about how the song dares you into thinking more deeply about it.

It teases you for liking its thirst traps and slasher gore and this tone is not nearly as "Golly!" as the original. No. It's almost somber. It's a dark cabaret number rather than an upbeat tap song.

And this shift in tone is significant.

It mirrors the shift from pie in the sky Americana in the original comics to the dark, gothic vibe of the modern Archieverse and Riverdale itself.

It embraces a smoldering darkness that relishes itself. It's hedonistic and sultry in a way the original was not.

So, yeah. This song feels like a thesis statement of the show to me. When it comes to Riverdale's genre, style, subject matter, ideas, characters, and everything else...

Anything goes.