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newmusickarl · 3 years ago

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Album & EP Recommendations

Album of the Week: Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

A woman who needs no introduction at this point, this week saw pop sensation Billie Eilish finally release her much-anticipated sophomore album, Happier Than Ever.

Now although I enjoyed her breakout debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? I certainly wasn’t as enamoured with it to the extent that some people were, finding it to be impressive but just a tad overhyped. However, with this album the preceding singles had caught my intrigue, with Billie showing early signs of greater artistic maturity. Turns out they were a good indication, as this album sees Billie and producer brother Finneas really coming into their own.

If you’ve heard any Billie Eilish song, you’ll be aware by now that she’s not your typical popstar. Where her peers will max out on glossy production and consistently push their vocals to the limits, Billie typically takes a much more subtle approach. With her brother co-writing these songs and steering the ship as it were, Billie’s music never once becomes overburdened with unnecessary sonic elements across the 16 tracks here. Instead, everything is perfectly understated, ensuring that the moments where the pair do loosen the reigns a bit and go full throttle, they happen with even greater impact.

This is evidenced early on, as the album begins with Billie quietly entering into a one-sided conversation with the listener - catching them up on how she’s Getting Older, “aging well” and offering her current thoughts and feelings surrounding her growing fame. Suddenly out of nowhere, the sound of a dog growling fills the audio for the start of I Didn’t Change My Number and a defiant Billie begins to chime in on the attack. The beat continues drawing shades to a growl in the background, before exploding into a ravey bark for the euphoric instrumental outro.

It’s the perfect one-two combination to start the record and from there the pair continue to control the right balance between restraint and sharp moments of extravagance – be it Finneas working his magic in the studio or Billie letting her voice soar beyond her signature whisper. At times this is even achieved within a single track, such as the gloriously tribal electronic pulse of Oxytocin, which for me draws comparisons to Crystal Castles, offering one of the real high points of this record.

Speaking of high points there are many to choose from here, including bluesy break-up anthem Lost Cause, which sees Billie tear into her undoubtedly regretful ex-boyfriend with playful wit. Single Your Power then offers a different vibe altogether - a stunning, beautifully written ballad where Billie pleads with those holding powerful positions to reflect on the responsibility they have to others. However, it is arguably the title track itself that tops the lot here, beginning as a gentle acoustic number with a vulnerable Billie, before switching up sonically and thematically midway through, erupting into an incredible, soaring rock song in which Billie sings of having no regrets.

It’s an absolute triumph of a song and really an absolute triumph of an album. After having such a successful debut and building such a huge fanbase, the pressure was on Billie and Finneas to deliver big with this record. With Happier Than Ever they have achieved that, successfully showing how they have evolved as songwriters whilst also delivering one of the most accomplished and well-crafted pop records of the year thus far.

Listen to Happier Than Ever here

Animal by LUMP (Laura Marling & Mike Lindsay)

Elsewhere, acclaimed singer-songwriter Laura Marling and Mercury Prize-winning producer Mike Lindsay have teamed up once again for their second collaborative album.

Animal makes for an endlessly enchanting listen, with Lindsay’s array of electronics, guitars and classical instrumentation offering the perfect backdrop for Marling’s angelic, folky vocals. It somehow manages to feel both experimental and expertly moulded, with the sound this creative partnership has forged having a bewitching quality to it that will really put you under its spell.

From the sprinkling synth patterns and big bassline of opener Bloom At Night, the whirring wonderment of Gamma Ray, the twinkling of instrumental Hair On the Pillow to the epic, jazz-infused conclusion of Phantom Limb, this is a really fascinating record that is well worth your time.

Listen to Animal here

American Noir by Creeper

And finally on the Albums & EPs front, Southampton’s goth-rockers Creeper revealed their latest rock opera in the form of this typically theatrical 20-minute listen.

What’s more, they’ve managed to make it work as both a continuation of the story begun on recent album Sex, Death & The Infinite Void for the hardcore fans, as well as an engaging standalone release for those not familiar. From the soaring majesty of Midnight to the flamboyant glam-rock of Ghosts Over Calvary, through to the string-tinged closer Damned & Doomed, all in all this EP makes for a really fun listen.

Listen to American Noir here

Tracks of the Week

In Blur by Deafheaven

Onto the tracks front then this week and post-metal outfit Deafheaven continue to tease their potential Album of the Year contender with their sublime new sound. In Blur carries on in the same vein as the other recent singles, with clean vocals and more melodic guitar textures layering their dreamy shoegaze sound. Culminating in some really scintillating guitar work, anticipation for this one for me is now at a fever pitch.

Listen to In Blur here

Mimi by Big Red Machine feat. Ilsey

Another teaser from Aaron Dessner & Justin Vernon’s next Big Red Machine album also dropped this week, with singer-songwriter Ilsey Juber joining Vernon on lead vocal duties for this wonderful electric folk track.

Listen to Mimi here

Skate by Silk Sonic

Just when it looked like Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars would never release more than one track under their Silk Sonic guise, they finally dropped their second single Skate this week, which delivers fun nostalgic vibes of 70s R&B and soul.

Listen to Skate here

Blue Heaven by Public Service Broadcasting feat. Andreya Casablanca

Coming off the back of People, Let’s Dance which is still one of my songs of the year thus far, musical historians Public Service Broadcasting team up with Gurr’s Andreya Casablanca for the second teaser from forthcoming album Bright Magic. Completely different to the first release, this one is a brilliant, guitar-driven slice of dreamy indie-pop. Another album I can’t wait to hear!

Listen to Blue Heaven here

PMA by All Time Low feat. Pale Waves

A rousing pop-punk collaboration about Post-Modern Anxiety, All Time Low and Pale Waves make for a match made in heaven on this hugely infectious tune.

Listen to PMA here

Enter Sandman by Weezer

And finally this week, the latest release from Metallica’s Blacklist project is a respectful cover of the classic Enter Sandman by rock legends Weezer. Great vocal performance by Rivers Cuomo on this one.

Listen to Weezer’s Enter Sandman cover here

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fyexo · 5 years ago

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191010 SuperM Aim to Conquer America By Staying Korean

A monolithic coliseum, intimidating and gleaming in the sun, materializes in the desert like a mirage. Inside, seven men clad in black and metallics stand tall in its center, facing the thousands gathered to watch them.

The scene that opens South Korean supergroup SuperM’s debut music video, “Jopping,” is an apt metaphor for K-pop’s most buzzed-about new act — donning their armor, the gladiators prepare to take on one of the most intimidating contenders of them all: the U.S. market.

In August, Korean music juggernaut SM Entertainment, in partnership with Capitol Records and its subdivision Caroline, announced that it would debut a new K-pop supergroup featuring the cream of the crop, pulled from some of SM’s most popular active groups. These acts combined (SHINee, EXO, NCT 127, WayV) have sold more than 14 million adjusted albums and garnered nearly four billion views of their music videos. Though SM has experimented with a few supergroups in the past, this announcement was especially mind-blowing to K-pop fans, as it promised to take a cross-section of some of the very best dancers, singers, and rappers in the business — an Olympic-level performance team.

Taemin, 26, is the industry vet, who joined K-pop darling SHINee as its maknae (youngest member) in 2008. Along with a successful career in the group as its charismatic main dancer, he also has made a name for himself through his popular solo work, dramatic and often androgynous looks, and sultry vocals. From EXO — a group so revered they were chosen to perform at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Closing Ceremony — is SuperM’s leader Baekhyun, 27, known for his killer sense of humor and soaring tenor. Then there’s Kai, 25, the ballet-trained dancer whose secret weapon is a combination of long, sharp lines and arresting looks.

From subunits of the 21-person umbrella group, NCT, is NCT 127’s bright-faced Canadian rapper Mark, 20, and its 24-year-old charismatic leader and rapper Taeyong. And from the Chinese-language unit WayV is the quadrilingual Thai triple-threat Ten, 23, as well as 6-foot-something, 20-year-old striking Hong Kong-born rapper Lucas.

While the announcement garnered a monsoon of excitement online, it was also met with a hefty dose of skepticism and criticism. Some were upset that the activities of NCT 127, EXO, and WayV would be put on hold, and felt bad for the remaining members. But the most vocal faction seemed to float somewhere in the middle, unsure of what to make of the all-star lineup. One thing was sure: the sheer talent would be next-level. But SuperM was notably announced as group aiming to appeal to an international audience and debut in the U.S. — would that mean stripping it of its K-pop identity to make it palatable to the American mainstream?

That fear was all but quelled with one word: “Jopping.” The lead single off of SuperM’s self-titled seven-track EP is a bombastic, genre-bending dance track that blends English and Korean, and even samples the Avengers theme — apt for the self-proclaimed “Avengers of K-pop.”

K-pop can now can add “Jopping” — a blend of the words “jumping” and “popping” — to its lexicon, joining the ranks of “Boombayah,” “Dumb Litty,” and “kitty-incidence.” Not only is the title very K-pop, but the song is classic SM. In fact, it evokes a specific company-coined sonic style called SMP, or SM Music Performance, which is choreography synced with a mix of rock, R&B, and hip-hop beats.

“It's our debut single and first appearance as SuperM, so we knew that we had to do something that shows off all our best sides — whether it be our style or each of our personas and characters,” the affable Mark tells Refinery29 following SuperM’s debut Los Angeles showcase. “We knew that ‘Jopping’ had a large feeling to it and we knew that only something that big could contain our performances, our raps, our singing, and our dancing.”

It’s a bold move. Many K-pop acts looking to make it in the U.S. have opted to collaborate with big-name Stateside artists, or even release straightforward pop/hip-hop English-language songs that do everything to hide even a trace of a foreign accent. But SuperM deliberately chose to take a risk.

“Now that we’re entering the American market, we could have released a song that suits the American taste better, but that’s not what distinguishes us as a group,” says Kai, a silver Rolling Stones necklace adorning his graceful neck. “We chose ‘Jopping’ because we wanted to show something that hasn’t been done in the States. Also, given that we’ve pulled together all these great members for this kind of performance, we saw a potential in this song to captivate the world and show our identity.”

“It gives us an opportunity to show fans a variety of styles, and prove that we can pull off anything,” adds the purple-haired Taeyong.

Dig deeper into the EP, and the tracks reveal a roadmap that winds even deeper into the group’s Korean identity. Take “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” an immense electro-pop song that opens with echoing traditional Korean drums and whose chorus is cradled by a classic haegeum melody. The synthy R&B B-side “2 Fast” features a classic K-pop tempo change halfway through, slowing down during the bridge before picking up the beat and adding undulating trills of vocal distortion.

“We’re from Asia,” says cotton candy-haired Baekhyun, who's taken quickly to his leadership role. “We wanted to emphasize the harmony between Western and Asian music. That’s why the drums and haegeum are on that Westernized beat [in ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’]. With ‘2 Fast’, the sudden change within the track is very K-pop because K-pop itself changes all the time. There’s no limitation and it takes on many different forms. This song is just another representation of that, and how we try to differentiate ourselves.”

“I’m honestly constantly learning from these six people how we can best represent SM’s history and show Americans what K-pop is,” says Lucas, who palpably relaxes when he speaks in Chinese, his native language. “I’m learning how, through this music industry, to be a vessel for spreading culture, thought, and happiness.”

And people are certainly noticing. After releasing their EP, SuperM delivered a blowout debut showcase in LA. Hundreds of roaring fans gathered to watch their first performance in Capitol Records’ backlot, which was streamed live around the world on YouTube. The group has since sat on Ellen’s couch, and announced a 10-date North American tour that includes New York City’s Madison Square Garden. It’s a promising beginning for the septet, and something that Mark didn’t think he’d ever see growing up.

“Growing up in Canada and being in the West, nobody really knew about K-pop unless they were Korean,” he says, his expressive eyes growing contemplative. “To see a Korean group like SuperM that’s so powerful, making an impact on America and sharing their energy and story, and to have Amercian fans come and run to us to see our synergy, is something I’d never thought that I’d see, nevertheless be a part of. I always try to remind myself how lucky I am to bridge two cultures together. It’s a cool moment.”

Though the EP is rumored to make a strong debut on the Billboard 200 next week, it seems unlikely that the average American will be "jopping" anytime soon. But it’s not about simply putting out songs that can dominate charts or airwaves right away — if that were the case, we'd be hearing a much more Western-sounding lead single.

It all comes back to an ethos instilled by SM’s founder and K-pop pioneer, Lee Soo Man. “I love what I heard from him yesterday,” says Ten with a quiet confidence. “Be humble, and learn from other people. Don’t put yourself above other people. Then, if you do that, you’ll rise higher without knowing.” It’s about promoting cross-cultural understanding, and hoping to change minds enough for the world to make room for what Korean culture has to offer. “K-pop itself is not just a music genre, but a whole cultural phenomenon,” says Taemin warmly. “It includes fashion, music, and so much more. When other people look at K-pop with a more traditional Western lens, or when people listen to it, it may sound like a combination of all different genres. Although it might sound unfamiliar at first, I think it's in the process of being blended into the mix of U.S. culture. Hopefully, SuperM can also make a contribution.”

source: Natalie Morin @ refinery29

#exo #baekhyun #kai #t: interview #album: superm

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elixirsoflife · 6 years ago

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my current pdx101 picks (ep.8)

another elimination has occurred and while most of my picks are through (thank god for that), a couple of them are out or have dropped in rank 🙃🙃

anyways without further ado, here are the ones i am keeping an eye on. fixed picks are non-negotiable with any combination of the strong contenders. i haven't thought about the logistics of positions (e.g. main dancer); these are just the people i'm drawn to.

fixed picks

1. cho seongyoun, rank 17: all-rounder of the year. hand on my heart, i believe him to be the strongest contender there. does this man have a single weakness or flaw? the answer is no. this episode showed so much of his personality which i'm so glad about bc it's amazing. who knew mnet could do some things right?

2. choi suhwan, rank 29: i legit spent a good chunk of last week agonising over suhwan's potential departure, especially after he was robbed in the position evaluations. at this point, i don't think he'll debut, but i hope he wows enough people in the concept evaluations to get signed by a company ♡

3. kim yohan, rank 3: he's a PD pick, but i can't help but love him anyway. he lightens up every room he's in and is just so charismatic. would not mind him in a rapping position

4. song yuvin, rank 12: made to be main vocalist, like his voice is sooo stable. has great chemistry with other trainees and he makes me laugh in nearly every scene he's in.

5. lee jinhyuk, rank 2: my reaction today when i saw how high he's climbed confirmed it for me that he's one of my fixed picks. that angel edit did him solid and i am loving it. tbh i would prefer him as a lead rapper rather than a main, but as long as he gets to shine, i'm cool with it

strong contenders

6. nam dohyun, rank 7: what a funky little rapper. the genius edit is a bit overdone, but it's true: his rapping ability is amazing for his training period. just imagine what he'd be like once he fully blooms?

7. han seongwoo, rank 9: everyone loves seungwoo and that includes me. was honestly so surprised to find out that he's a rapper, like what?? with those vocals?? wow another all-rounder here to claim everything

8. kim hyunbin, rank 25: my passionate baby. i feel like the only thing he lacks (and literally the only thing) are solid relations with other members in my line up, but i'm not 100% sure of that. if anyone knows more about that, please let me know!

9. lee hangyul, rank 15: i had him as someone i was interested in last week, but he is now a strong contender. i know bc i realised i lowkey rooted for him once i knew who he was and i just love his personality, he seems so nice and humble. i saw the relay cam of his and something about the way he interacted with others sold me. also (and i swear this doesn't affect him being on my list), the boy's visuals are no joke.

12. choi byungchan, rank 16: i love his personality, i think he'd be a riot on variety. i think his vocals deserve a lot more praise than they get too. out of the plan a boys, he's less likely to make it, but i'd love it if he did.

people i'm keeping an eye on

11. kim sihoon, rank 24: i moved him here from 'strong contender' after a bit of deliberation. i still am very much interested in how he fares on the show, but when i compare my interest in him to others, there is a noticeable difference. i think he is someone i'd be interested in regardless of whether he makes the final line up or not. (i've heard rumours of how fans think he might end up in ab6ix as a late member if he doesn't debut in pdx101).

12. kim wooseok, rank 1: again, i've accepted him as part of the final line up and have no problems with it, but i don't particularly stan him. although! i will say we did get a better insight into his personality in this episode and in the karaoke battle. he seems really... snarky in a good way? a little tongue-in-cheek? i really need to check him out in up10tion

13. son dongpyo, rank 11: i feel rlly sympathetic to him for being the only center to fall out of the top 10 and don't think he deserves it. not going to name names, but he is definitely more talented than a lot of the younger trainees in the current top 10 and has the cutesy image they like so i'm not sure why he's not there. now that he's toned down on the forced aegyo a bit, i can appreciate him more.

14. kim kookheon, rank 22: i can't believe i forgot to add him! i'm absolutely obsessed with the believer performance and he is someone who i keep getting drawn to in that. also he just seems like a stand-up guy.

- won hyuk

- lee midam

ep 5 | ep 6 | ep 7

#pdx101 #produce x 101 #producex101 #cho seongyoun #choi suhwan #kim yohan #song yuvin #lee jinhyuk #nam dohyun #han seongwoo #kim hyunbin #lee hangyul #choi byungchan #kim wooseok #kim sihoon #son dongpyo #plums throws some words into the tumblr void

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rkmason · 5 years ago

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▰▰▰▰▰▰ MNET GLOBAL AUDITIONS, SEASON 5 ˟ EP 4 INTERVIEW ▰▰▰▰▰▰

he swears it must get more difficult to judge each week— because he can see the growth, the passion, the changes everyone is going through. it shines in their performances and sometimes he thinks he’s the one who should be starstruck or bowing like daniel did to him earlier. why should any of them be doing it to him? it’s not something he expects or hopes for— all he can truly hope for is being seen for who he is, for his talent, but hey can’t ask too much especially when mnet is involved right? gotta stay on your toes. speaking of which, he hopes the interviewer is on her toes because surprise surprise, he’s holding out his hand, bowing at the waist, to give her a rose— before anyone asks, hell yeah he would’ve still done it for a guy, probably exaggerated more and kneeled down on one knee but he’s keeping his song choice in mind: hey i don’t wanna go too fast.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Q . what did you think of the results last week?

"i’ll say this every week. we see talent going home, that’s always a shame but it was surprising to see jinyoung go.” he wants to say that he suspects it’s for ratings but there’s some things even he won’t say with his shameless nature. give him some credit, he’s growing up a little. “doesn’t he have it all? he’s got that... it’s called that chic city guy look right? tough city guy? it’s one of those... but he looks like he’s walked off a drama and he can sing. i can’t say that much for myself,” minho jokes. sure, he’s taken singing lessons and he’s definitely improved but he’s no main vocalist, not by a long shot. couldn’t even dream of it.

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Q . how was it working with your partner?

"seunghun was great. hey, keep this between us but i wasn’t sure i could get as good a partner as i did last week but him and nakyung? you sure you wanna ask me that because i’ll go on for hours? they’re both talented in different fields and i loved working with them. seunghun and i have different music tastes and styles but put us in the studio together? it’s beautiful. ah, we’re pretty flower boys, didn’t you hear? i hope you interview him too.” it’d be cute if she ended up getting flowers from both of them but if it’s someone else... great way to share the love, right?

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Q . thoughts on your performance?

"i think we bloomed on stage, don’t you? ah, spring has come and the flowers are beautiful.” way to sound like a wistful old man, minho. way to go, but he can’t help the cheesy metaphors. “i think we went all out in the way we could best, by bringing out the best in each other and letting each other shine while working together. isn’t that the best way to perform as a duo?”

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Q . favorite performances?

"is anyone surprised if i mention sakura here too? i haven’t heard her speak spanish before so i was shocked! but it was a good stage and she had good chemistry with her partner. he’s very talented too. wow, just so much talent on this season. come on, can’t the judges tell us their secret in figuring out who’s best each week? good thing i didn’t become a critic of anything. i bet i can’t make a diss track. what kind of rapper am i?” he laughs, shaking his head. “wait, i could be a positive rap icon like will smith but his career kinda... it’s good in music, right?”

“nakyung has a way with music and so does jungeun-ssi. i think they worked really well together and it was great to see a different side of the both of them. both ended up doing parts of songs i wouldn’t have imagined for either of them.” nodding, he recalls the performance with a smile. “i could say it over and over but nakyung has so much potential it’s insane but maybe i’m biased,” minho laughs, more than okay with that aspect of himself.

“i think there’s a few contenders people think do well every week and consistency is a great thing.” there’s definitely a few he has on his mind. “seeing what everyone comes up with when we’re assigned partners is amazing. imagine what you could do when you choose teams. but that’s the fun part of it all, the guesswork and the worrying. i know that’s contradictory but it’s exciting. working with new people... how can i pick a true favorite when i know everyone is giving their all?”

there’s more he could say about performances he was shocked by in a different way but when he thinks of what he just said, he can’t say he had any least favorites either. how daring another group decides to be isn’t his decision. in the end, it’s up to the judges and hey mnet doesn’t air every second and he recalls a few edited out moments of shows like uprs season 3 with a soft chuckle.

then there was the performance that was cut short and he thinks it was a shame but... he’s confused about how you wouldn’t notice and he writes it off as loving the performance too much to notice. caught up in the moment. in the end, aren’t they all?

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ Q . anyone you think should come back?

“it’s unfair of me to say everyone, right? mga season 5 coming at you until 2020, then i could really make the joke about my old number right? but i think i’ll say jinyoung will come back... if he doesn’t, i wouldn’t be surprised if he’s scouted soon. don’t you think he could’ve been a pretty flower boy with me and seunghun? he suits the image, so do a few other contestants.” he almost asks if that’s next. group battles or by gender even like the finale of season 4 but he stops himself, decides to hold onto it for now. “if we’re saying out of all the contestants so far... i’ve got a few friends i wish i could see on stage again,” minho chuckles with a soft smile. “we’re all at the mercy of the judges though, right?”

PROFILE / SKILLS / AUDITION / EPISODE 1 / EPISODE 2 / EPISODE 3 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ EP. 4: PERFORMANCE / INTERVIEW

#rkmga5 #rkseunghun #rkpjy #rknak #rksakura #danielxrk #kinda!!#did i have to use that first gif to troll?#no #but did i do it even tho it doesn't match the rest #hECK YES I DID #rkmga5duos2

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keyofjetwolf · 6 years ago

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As requested, here’s my quick notes on each of THE GIFTENING finalists. Mostly (theoretically, but it IS me) just “haven’t seen this”, “saw this and loved/didn’t like this”, stuff like that. I’ll try not to get into too much while still being honest, as I don’t want to impact the voting more than necessary.

Under the cut for those who’d rather not!

ANIME

A Place Further Than The Universe: Never heard of it, I know literally nothing beyond it’s an anime, and has a lot of words in the title.

Aggretsuko: Never seen it, though I know the main character is a VERY angry red panda.

Azumanga Daioh: I have absolutely no idea what this is about, though I’m pretty sure it’s just part of this general anime milieu that is a fact of life on my Tumblr dash. Maybe it involves a two-toned fanged bear? I DUNNO

Card Captor Sakura: I did this for THE GIFTENING 2016, and really didn’t care for it much.

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood: I did this for THE GIFTENING last year and really enjoyed it.

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun: All I know of this is that it’s been a strong contender in THE GIFTENING every single year.

Magic Knight Rayearth: I watched all of this waaaaay way back in the day. I remember Umi. I think the other two were Fuu and Hikaru? I wanted to punch the marshmallow bunny thing in the face.

Ouran High School Host Club: Hubby watched this and liked it. I think it’s the Kiss Kiss Fall In Love thing from the memes and there’s something about vase smashing, leading me to assume the main character is Link from the Zelda games.

Princess Tutu: I first did this for THE GIFTENING 2016 and have since had it voted in occasionally on my Patreon. I really like it.

Revolutionary Girl Utena: Has appeared in the past two GIFTENINGS, and has also been voted in on my Patreon from time to time. It’s crackerballs and delightful.

Sweetness and Lightning: A wildcard in last year’s GIFTENING and a surprise joy. I’ve seen no more since.

NON-ANIME

Batman: The Animated Series: I’ve seen the odd one or two episodes and thought they were pretty good.

Gargoyles: I watched the first four or five when Doc streamed them. I wasn’t super impressed.

Gravity Falls: Consistently voted as my Patreon liveblog and I’m super into it.

Over the Garden Wall: I liveblogged the first few eps for my Patreon, then watched the rest on my own and enjoyed it.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: I’ve seen the whole series and love it.

Teen Titans (2003): The Titans is one of my favourite DC books and while I haven’t watched the whole series, I did enjoy it when it was airing (and I could catch it).

X-Men Evolution: The X-Men is my all-time favourite superhero team, and Evolution is one of my favourite incarnations of them.

LIVE ACTION

A Series of Unfortunate Events: I’ve read (or, rather, Holligay’s read to me on road trips) the first four or five books. I’ve seen a song from one of the episodes. I know Mr. Trick plays Mr. Poe and that’s cool.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: I watched the first couple episodes for last year’s GIFTENING, and while I enjoyed it, I found liveblogging it difficult.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: One of my life’s major fandoms. Things got difficult for me (THANKS JOSS), but if it’s voted through, it won’t be a problem.

Galavant: #jet wolf watches galavant

Golden Girls: Loved it when I was little, did a complete rewatch a couple years ago and found it mostly holds up.

Great British Bake-Off: Fun show, love to watch it, dead to me without Mary, Mel, and Sue.

Leverage: I watched the first few episodes a bunch of years ago and liked it but probably got distracted by something shiny and never went back. I know Tumblr fucking loves it.

Orphan Black: Only just started watching courtesy of @skylineofspace but really like what I’ve seen so far.

Pushing Daisies: Heard of it, never watched, don’t think I even know the premise. Something about undoing death?

The Good Place: Part of last year’s THE GIFTENING and a rare sitcom that works for liveblogging. I’ve since seen all of S2. I absolutely cannot with the romantic turn for Eleanor and Chidi and it’s about sucked all interest out of me for S3, about which I am deeply bitter.

Twilight Zone: Often brilliant, many episodes I’ve not seen/don’t remember.

Xena: DOES ANYONE LOVE XENA AS MUCH AS ME I DUNNO I DOUBT IT (sorry that was lacking in every drop of chill but come on)

MOVIES

Black Panther: Saw it, thought it was great.

Clue: One of my favourite movies when I was little and I still kind of love it.

Coraline: Never saw it, never read the book.

Kiki’s Delivery Service: Haven’t seen it, and should note I’ve not really enjoyed the previous Miyazaki movies I’ve streamed.

Legally Blonde: Haven’t seen it

Madoka Rebellion: Haven’t seen it, have not heard kind things said of it on the Tumbles.

Moana: Didn’t see it, and something being Disney doesn’t automatically carry any particular emotions for me.

Ocean’s Eight: Haven’t seen it but wanted to.

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse: I haven’t seen it, though Mike and Jill did and loved it. If this wins, please note that I will not pirate the movie for streaming, so it’ll be, like, me going to the movie theater and then chatting about it afterward or something.

The Last Unicorn: I did this last year for THE GIFTENING. I didn’t like the movie much, but the stream was a ton of fun.

The Mummy: Saw this for the first time last week, I think it was, and enjoyed it.

The Princess Bride: Don’t like it. Really really don’t like it. I’ve watched this multiple times to try and figure out what I’m missing. I still have no answers.

Thor: Ragnarok: Saw it, thought it was marvelous.

Wonder Woman: Did this for last year’s GIFTENING and thought it was okay. I’ve since seen it again and enjoyed it more the second time.

I’m not sure games or miscellaneous needs any thoughts from me, but if you think they’d be helpful, just say and I’ll do my best. Speaking of helpful, I hope you found this worthwhile too! Next year, I’ll see about doing something similar to this maybe around the second heat, when we’ve managed to cut down the nomination lists significantly, but before getting right near the end.

Also, next year for movies, I think I’ll automatically trim out anything that hasn’t yet been released on DVD or streaming, just eliminate that potential conflict before it even starts.

You guys still have over two whole days to cast your votes SO GET TO IT

Anime

Non-Anime

Live Action

Movies

Games

Miscellaneous

#THE GIFTENING #THE GIFTENING 2018 #THE GIFTENING 2018 voting

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starryeosang · 6 years ago

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hehe!! obviously, your taste is just as amazing!! i'm lucky i get to be an anon for you ;; and aww you must've been really emotional!! since it's a meaningful comeback for you as well! i stanned them during debut era, hehe,but it took me quite a while to learn their names and fully stan, since i was busy with many other groups! i fully fell into the atiny life in the early days of say my name era, though! and i literally have so so much to say about pristin and their potential..i hate pledis -🐇

i don't know if we can really count bol4 as a girl group since they're a duo of artists more than actual idols but.. i love them so!! AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR CHUNGHA'S COMEBACK EITHER i'm so ready!! i'm curious to hear what she'll show us this time 💞 (since i never listen to teasers because i don't like spoiling myself the music) and that sounds like a nice lazy day 💕 i'm glad you got to relax like that! my day was nice too! i went to eat cake with my aunt at this really good place!! - 🐇

i listened through the playlist and i love it!! first of all i already knew don't need your love & highway to heaven, both of which i absolutely adore!! they also inspire me to write a lot,, though i still need to get to the actual writing process ksjfosdn then of course UTOPIA IS SO GOOD as expected from ateez,, it was a strong contender for my favourite song from the album! i didn't get around to listen to red velvet's new album & jaehwan's debut album yet, though! so (...) - 🐇

it was really nice to hear these really good songs, i'm more motivated to finally listen through them now!! parade was really nice, and i really loved blow me!! i'm glad jaehwan didn't decide to go for a full ballad album, and went for versatility instead!! now, our summer is my favourite song from txt's debut album, but i didn't hear the acoustic version until now... it's really beautiful, i was taken aback by it, i usually don't enjoy remixes/arranges that much!! though you can't (...) - 🐇

you can't go wrong with an acoustic version, right. i really liked it, its vibe is different from the original, but it's still a very nostalgic end-of-summer-memories kind of song... AND FINALLY hold on me is so amazing... you might just have introduced me to my new favourite song, maybe.. i really loved it that much.. i'll definitely download it onto my phone! and oh my gosh i'm sorry, i didn't realise i was ranting so much,, sorry!! ;; - 🐇

-------------------

Okay, I want to apologise again for not being able to answer these earlier, but I do feel much better now so I’ll definitely reply to everything promptly ^^ also do not worry about ranting, i love love love reading it and answering! (My awfully late response may not indicate that on this occasion, but I swear there’s absolutely nothing to apologise for)

Yes, it did feel quite significant in my heart hehe i’m glad they’re receiving success! i can’t lie, it literally took me 3 hours to learn their names and faces, but it helps there was a good amount of content and help (again credit to @wangtaeil for that!)

omggggg bol4 are so awesome, of the songs I’ve heard I have enjoyed them so much! I don’t want to spoil too much for you, but it look and sounds like a bad-arse concept for Chungha, she’s so versatile and just downright amazing!

CAKEEEE CAKE CAKE CAKE, which flavour was it? That day sounded nice for you too, I’m glad to hear you enoyed it ^-^

oooooooo what kind of stuff do you write? (only if you’re comfortable talking about it of course <3)

What was your favourite song from ATEEZ’s third EP?

Me toooo, Jaehwan’s mini had so much variety, I enjoyed it way more than I expected!!

Our Summer was my favourite song too and you are correct! Can never go wrong with an acoustic version, people who heard it at the showcases are so lucky, it’s super duper lovely~ WOW WE SHARE THE SAME VIEWS, remixes sort of feel like a waste of a track imo when they add it to an album, one would rather hear a new song than a remix... (looking at blackpink’s Dx4 remix)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I’M SO HAPPY TO HEAR JUST HOW MUCH YOU ENJOYED HOLD ON ME. When you have a chance, you should watch the performance of it, the dance reminds of signature Infinite performances T^T the Dream Concert made me particularly emotional the support of inspirits in the crowd, his little smiles throughout the performance and Woohyun’s soulful voice just transports me away (whoops now i am ranting, sorry!!)

#🐇 anon #pls forgive my unforgivably late response >.<#ily

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makeyourownmyth · 6 years ago

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Favorite Heard in 2018.

Same caveats, but even fewer.

There really weren’t any songs that everyone loved that I thought badly enough of to list as antis here. I will say that the Drake-ification of rap has had even worse effects that we thought it would, with mumblerap dominating everything. And there’s some notable absences on the lists, but those are definitely purposeful.

Honorable Mentions:

Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood. Bloom was OK, but it took me to Blue Neighbourhood, which I had somehow missed. He’s amazing, I’m in love.

Black Panther Soundtrack. The Kendrick influence and brand is strong, but it’s really the more outlier-y style songs (like “Redemption”) that make this album as good as it is.

Alex Lahey - I Love You Like A Brother. This album actually came out last year, and it should have been on my list then and it wasn’t and I’ve spent a year embarrassed by that fact.

Billie Eilish - She didn’t actually release a new album this year, but all the singles were great and she’s a phenomenal talent.

Travis Scott - Astroworld. If this list would have been completed the month Astroworld came out, it might have been #1. But it lacks the sticking power to make something part of the truly good list. But he definitely made me a believer after spending time being at least partway a hater.

The Internet - Hive Mind. This album is good with a side of weirdness. Earl’s album is weird with (maybe?) a slice of goodness. And yet his album is ending up on a bunch of best of lists and Syd’s band isn’t. That’s wack. This one’s the winner if we’re comparing the two. But we don’t even need to do that. This one stands up all on its own.

Meek Mill - Championships. From the banging intro to the collab with Drake to “What’s Free” with Jay and Ross, this one goes hard. It’s a great Meek Mill album. You know exactly what you’re getting.

Pusha T - Daytona. Better than all the other rap albums on this list, almost made the real list. He’s so good at what he does, and “If You Know You Know” is one of the best openers of all time.

Tierra Whack - Whack World. If you haven’t heard this album, you should be ashamed. It’s only 15 minutes. Go listen! Then appreciate it and listen to it again. It’s great. She’s gonna do amazing things.

Jeff Tweedy - Warm. I’ve been thinking about Jeff Tweedy and Wilco a lot this year, maybe because I read the book Learning How to Die. And I know this isn’t a Wilco album, so I know it’s apples to oranges. But I can’t shake this thought, regardless. I’m not sure there’s another band we have whose “universally acclaimed ‘best’ album” is almost certainly NOT their “best” album? I mean, post-YHF Wilco is super different. They stopped trying to be that band, but between Sky Blue Sky and A Ghost is Born and now this solo record, I’m pretty sure those albums (and this one, which I know isn’t a Wilco album) are actually better? It’s just really, really, really good.

boygenius - boygenius. The best thing about this EP is that all the songs are solid and some are lifetime best material. The worst thing is that we’ll probably never get this collaboration again.

Beach House - 7. Shockingly good after their odd turns on the last couple. I’m not ready to have complete faith in them just yet, but I’m glad they’re coming back around.

Snail Mail - Lush. Solidly good, almost to great territory. Soccer Mommy got all the love, but I think this album is actually better?

Charli XCX - Pop 2. It’s good. She deserves more credit than she gets, and she already gets a lot.

Soccer Mommy - Clean. Not as good as the near-universal critical acclaim, but still a very strong album.

Cat Power - Wanderer. That cover of “Stay” is incredible all on its own, but the album really holds up on its own merits too. I can’t believe she’s still making music this good.

Chvrches - Love is Dead. It took me a couple listens to actually think it was good, but it is. It’s a side step from their last 2, which I don’t love, but I’m happy they’re doing what they want to do.

Buddy - Harlon & Alondra. Remember when he was next up and had an awesome voice? It seemed like his potential was gonna go untapped, but this album shows it’s not dead yet. It’s not quite Best material, but it was unfairly slept on.

Best Songs:

"Backpack” - Alex Lahey. Same comment as her album. I know this came out last year. But I’ve spent a year being embarrassed by forgetting it, and she deserves a spot.

"Thank U, Next” - Ariana Grande. Sweetener wasn’t bad, but this was way better. It took Mac dying, her concert tragedy, and breaking up with Pete to get the best Ariana we’ve ever had.

“DJs Gotta Dance More” - A Trak. This is the type of song that I could listen to non-stop for the rest of my life and be perfectly content.

“Missing U” - Robyn. She’s a queen. What do we expect? It’s solid gold.

Dirty Computer Quartet - From the start of “Screwed” until the end of “Make Me Feel” Janelle Monae has my heart for all time. It doesn’t get much better.

9. “Nice For What” - Drake. He’s fine. The best thing about this song is the Lauryn Hill. But it’s catchy as hell.

8. “Apeshit” - The Carters. It’s been a long time since my jaw dropped on a consistent basis listening to Jay. I’m happy it’s happening more, and even more with his wife outrapping him.

7. “Havana” - Camila Cabello. Earworm.

6. “Lemonade” - NERD. The Vampire King returns, recruits Rihanna to rap, and it sounds so good.

5. “Shallow” - Lady Gaga. I honestly haven’t even seen the movie yet, but this song is almost perfectly crafted. It sounds like it could have come out of any classic era. It does exactly what it aims to do.

4. “Look Alive” - Blocboy JB. I don’t really even want to talk about how good this song is. It bugs me how good it is.

3. “I Like It” - Cardi B. The album wasn’t bad, but she literally could have released just this song, and it probably would have sold just as many copies as the album did. The perfect song for driving during summer with your windows down.

2. “The Story of Adidon” - Pusha T. My favorite song of the year. It taught the kids about real rap beef. From the cover art to the line about 40, it was shocking. Did he go too far? Yes. Do I think he shouldn’t have? No. Too bad the kids all ignored it and still rock with the Canadian.

1. “Girls Like You” - Maroon 5. The most perfect pop song of the year. It sounds like it was cooked up in a magical song laboratory, and I don’t mind that at all.

Best Albums:

7. Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour. This album goooooeeeesssss in. She sings about all the typical things you’d expect from a country album, and then changes directions, too.

6. Mac Miller - Swimming. We can’t ignore the fact that his death almost certainly affected the placement of this album. But even if he was still with us, Mac was progressing and growing, just like he has with every single album, and this would have been a serious contender. I still can’t listen to it without crying.

5. The Carters - Love is Everything. Continuing the trend of old people being able to rap and do it well is an important reason this album gets to be this high. Also, it puts on fitting cap on the Lemonade/4:44/Love Trilogy.

4. YG - Still Dangerous. It’s crazy how shit falls off when you don’t have a press-baiting single like “FDT” but YG is still making crazy good music. This album is not as good as the last 2, but it’s still super important to have an older perspective out there, representing for Cali G Funk in 2018.

3. Vince Staples - FM! I will never forget where I was when I heard this album for the first time, and that’s an increasingly rare thing. In a time when there’s plenty of weirdo kids who are really good rappers, with the amount of praise that Vince gets, it’s still a possibility that he’s UNDERrated. He’s a voice we need, and this album is a perfect little piece that he created to share that voice. Everything he’s done has been great, and this is no exception.

2. Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer. Give me all Janelle everything. This album could easily have been #1. Every part of it feels purposefully thought out and well executed. The video version was great, the singles are all bangers, the lyrics are necessary, and the themes are pushing all the right buttons.

1. Camp Cope - How to Socialise & Make Friends. I knew from the moment that I listened to this album that it was going to be my #1 in December. The fact that I’m still writing that in December, when the album dropped in March, is a testament to its staying power. From “The Opener” to the very last track, there’s not a moment of let up. These kids are super promising, and they have already done something phenomenal. I cannot wait to see what comes next for them.

#best of #lists #2018 #music #camp cope #janelle monae #vince stapes #yg #the carters #mac miller #kacey musgraves

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twilight-adamo · 7 years ago

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As Dreams Are Made On: The Mixtape - Liner Notes

Hello everyone! I am currently in the process of gathering my thoughts on Brave New World and trying to get the next installment of These Our Actors (which will focus on Rosalie) just right, in addition to trying to find my thread on Out of the Blue and other non-Twilight projects. This has been complicated by the fact that I’ve been fighting a couple rather nasty nose and throat bugs of late, and so this weekend I’m doing my best to relax and recover.

In the meantime, I thought I’d start offering up my notes on the Spotify playlist I posted a while ago and why I chose the songs I did. For anyone who didn’t see the link, here it is:

https://open.spotify.com/user/12153099402/playlist/5IYjYDbcM6qvQ2hgGnOCGF?si=orkjWU50SjKm7xbPSF_r5w

Since many of my choices do relate directly to specific plot points, there are potential spoilers ahead, so I’m putting this behind a cut. I won’t get through every song in this post, but I’ll add additional notes in subsequent posts as time allows.

As I think I mentioned before, I find playlists to be a very useful tool in my writing. It’s possible to spend too much time tinkering with playlists, of course, so I try not to do it in place of writing or outlining - this is just something I work on when I’m occupied with non-writing tasks that allow for a certain amount of downtime. Each song tends to relate to a plot point or an emotion I’m trying to evoke in a certain part of the story, and the sequence generally follows my outline of the plot, though I’ll sometimes put the playlist on shuffle if I’m feeling stuck and want to try and shake things up, and I sometimes end up adding, removing, or resorting various songs as my understanding of the plot evolves. Since As Dreams Are Made On is done, the current version of the mixtape - all 49 songs - is now pretty much in its final form, but when I’m working on a story, the associated playlist is very much a living document and subject to change.

Music has always been a hugely important part of my life, thanks in large part to my mother, who was an influence on much of my creative output. I tend to think of myself as a visual and verbal person first and foremost, but music has the power to set my mood, to reawaken old memories, to align my thoughts, and to soothe my emotional turmoil. My personal tastes are fairly eclectic - my mother favored country, and I’m still fond of the genre, but I also listen to a lot of pop, classical pieces, musical theatre, folk music, movie scores, and so on. Spotify has been kind of a godsend when it comes to building playlists, though there are unfortunately a few pieces which should be on the mixtape but aren’t simply because they’re unavailable on Spotify. I’ll try to make a note of those missing pieces in the appropriate sections.

Right, well, without further ado, let’s get to the songs.

Pieces and Pieces - The Rough and Tumble This song’s sort of a thesis statement for the whole story, in a way. The refrain, in particular, speaks to me of where I was going: Nothing is lost when it’s been found again / Everything’s found where it was lost. Cass/Bella (or CB, as I refer to her, when I’m not simply calling her Bella) has seemingly lost a great deal, but she comes to gain a great deal as well, and to recover things she thought lost to her forever. The line “I will make you mine again, pieces by pieces” also speaks to me of the story’s dramatic climax, where the nature of CB’s relationship with Alice becomes clearer.

Where Is My Mind? - Pixies Here’s where we’re getting into the actual sequence of events. This one might be a little bit of a cliché, but it reflects CB’s confusion when she wakes in the world of Twilight. It’s also just generally one of my favorite songs.

Turning Page - Sleeping At Last This is the first of many pieces pulled directly from the soundtrack of the Twilight films, and the first song that centers a character other than CB, as it reflects Alice getting hit by the mating bond full-force. It’s a lovely piece, but I think there’s an undercurrent of anxiety and some slightly ominous elements that suit Alice’s mood well. Love at first sight sounds like a pleasant prospect, but it’s also a frightening one, and neither Alice nor CB would have chosen it, given the chance to choose.

Iowa (Traveling, Pt. 3) - Dar Williams Another of my favorite songs. I listened to a lot of Dar Williams in college, and listen to her fairly often still, but I keep coming back to this one in particular. As a lifelong New Englander, famed for what my great-grandmother called ‘the Yankee reserve’ (which means we don’t tend to wear our emotions on our sleeves and generally we keep to ourselves), these lyrics in particular speak to me:

But way back where I come from We never mean to bother We don’t like to make our passions other people’s concern And we walk in the world of safe people And at night we walk into our houses and burn

So, to me, this song speaks of CB’s struggle with her own emotions as her life in Forks begins and she grapples with the mating bond and all it implies. And it also speaks to her background as a lifelong Bostonian, who doesn’t like to be a bother but nevertheless finds herself in a whole new social context and a position where she needs to reach out to others to survive.

Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs This is Rosalie’s introduction to the story. I don’t really know why, it just seems to suit her, somehow.

Bela Lugosi’s Dead - CHVRCHES It may be physically impossible for me to write about vampires WITHOUT using this song. I just felt like I had to fit it in somewhere, and the first meeting with the rest of the Cullens (sans Carlisle and Esme, of course) seemed like a good spot.

Looking for a Place to Shine - Deidre Thornell Hear the Bells - Naomi Scott I’ll be honest, I don’t have a lot of compelling reasons for these two. They just seemed to fit the sort of transitional period between the first meeting with the Cullens and Leah’s introduction a little later on.

Red Eyes and Tears - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Leah’s introduction to the story. Again, it just seemed to suit her.

New For You - Reeve Carney We’re back to Alice with this one. It sort of reflects her own emotional turmoil in dealing with the mating bond and having to accept that CB doesn’t necessarily reciprocate all her feelings just yet.

Fearless - Taylor Swift Well, this one actually comes up in the story, so you can pretty much guess where it fits in. Again, though, it’s one of my favorite songs, and speaks to the joy that I think love should carry with it, and the idea that love should drive us forward and make us better. It’s been a serious contender for the first dance at my hypothetical wedding for a long time (though “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri may be beating it out now).

The Mercy of the Fallen - Dar Williams More Dar Williams! This one...I don’t know. Somehow, it speaks to me of love and acceptance, of individuals who are all burdened and broken in their own ways reaching out and comforting one another. And that, in turn, makes me think of CB’s first visit to the Cullen house: her first real conversation with Rosalie, her introduction to Carlisle and Esme, all of that. This is where she really starts to build bridges, I think, and where she and some of the others begin to open up to one another.

Bella’s Lullaby - Carter Burwell, Dan Redfeld and Elizabeth Hedman This is of course one of my favorite pieces from the Twilight movie score, and includes a leitmotif that comes up more than once in both the films and in my playlist. I couldn’t find the original version from the score itself on Spotify, but this cover works. Of course Edward plays it on the piano at this point in the story, reading it out of CB’s thoughts, and I think she adopts it in a sense as a sort of personal theme. Every time I listen to it, it makes me think of soaring pine trees and crisp, cold air, and I find the melody very soothing.

Missing Piece: Star by Star - Cassandra Lease and Melissa Carubia Someday I’m actually going to get together with the friend who helped me with the arrangement on this one and record it. It probably won’t go up on Spotify, but I’ll likely post it somewhere. This is the song I wrote for my mother’s memorial service; the lyrics are of course reprinted in the story in their entirety. This is probably one of the most personal elements of the story, the point where I really started to spill my guts across the page. I obviously backed off a little from my own life once I introduced Callie to the story, but there’s still a lot of my soul buried in the text; sometimes, I think, too much.

Bella’s Lullaby (Extended Mix) - The Twilight Orchestra I’m not really sure why this shares the name Bella’s Lullaby when it doesn’t seem to have much to do with the shorter piece, but whatever. This is just a lovely piece that sets the mood for Alice and CB on the rooftop and the events that follow.

Possibility - Lykke Li Similarly, this is more of a ‘setting the mood’ song. I don’t think the lyrics quite fit, in their entirety, but this basically represents CB awakening to the possibility of forming a real attachment to Alice, despite her qualms.

Shake It Off - Taylor Swift Another (highly anachronistic) Taylor Swift song that shows up in the story itself. I can be an extremely basic white girl at times.

Bad Reputation - Avril Lavigne The Joan Jett version isn’t on Spotify! I don’t know what to tell you! This cover’s pretty good, though. Another Leah song, and something I imagine might be playing in the dive where CB introduces Leah to fried pickles.

Nothing to Lose - Minusworld My friend Melissa’s band! Get their EP, Giant Blazing Sword, wherever you buy digital music! Listen to them on Spotify and Bandcamp! Anyway, I think this is the track playing during Leah and CB’s encounter with the scary assholes in the alley, and when Emmett and the others get their big damn hero moment.

In Place Of Someone You Love - Carter Burwell, Dan Redfeld and Elizabeth Hedman We’re skipping ahead a bit here. This piece comes after the shopping scene and CB’s attempt to analyze Rosalie’s abilities, when she’s in the dream of the burning house, trying to save her memories.

The Forgotten - Green Day This piece represents CB’s emotions after she wakes from her brief coma, as she struggles with losing her memories and burning away parts of the world she left behind.

Black Is The Colour - Cara Dillon And this piece represents CB’s acceptance of her feelings toward Alice, her confession of love despite her reservations. It took me a while to find a cover I liked, as I very much wanted to use a version that had a woman singing about another woman, for obvious reasons.

Okay, I think that’s pretty much all I can handle for now. More to come soon!

#twilight fanfiction #twilight fanfic #twilight au #adamo #as dreams are made on #adamo spoilers #the mixtape #bellice #alice/bella

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therappundit · 7 years ago

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Welcome to Rap Music, First Quarter 2018...

Q1 2018 is a (w)rap, folks.

Since late 2014, I have been saying that the quality of rap music is trending upwards. Yes, of course there are dips here and there, but what happened in the fourth quarter of 2014 was a shift back towards a skill-set which speaks more to the components of what had traditionally been the key ingredients of good rap music for much of the 1990′s: lyricism, soul, creativity, and message.

Even though the first quarter of 2014 had kicked off with Freddie Gibbs & Madlib’s critically acclaimed Pinata, that release felt more like a bottle of water in a desert oasis, a project intended to keep an increasingly niche underground audience alive rather than an album that was indicative of where hip-hop was going at that point. That year went on to be dominated by catchy but vapid fare like Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” or Young Thug and Birdman’s “Lifestyle”, until there seemed to be a palpable swing of the pendulum when Run The Jewels 2, DJ Premier & Royce Da 5′9′s PRhyme and J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive all dropped at the tail end of 2014. What we were witnessing at that point was another Big Bang in hip-hop, the shattering of the genre into a series of sub-genres, meaning that for better or worse, rap music was never going to be the same.

I continue to believe that this trend is a good thing, and the best case scenario for a genre that has gone from being the sound of the boroughs of New York City, to an incredibly lucrative global phenomenon. The diversity of rap styles, the constant shifting of the wall between underground and mainstream (and what those terms really even mean anymore?) continued through 2015, 2016, 2017 and now through early 2018. While we can only speculate on where rap music will be by this time next year, I can tell you some of the storylines that make rap music so special right now:

- Kendrick Lamar has ascended to the Mt. Rushmore of rap legends

- After being on life support for years, classic underground hip-hop is en vogue

- And after losing track of the initial message, trap music seems to have plenty to say

In some capacity, the above threads all played a role in making the first quarter of 2018 one of the strongest that rap music has ever seen. It was far from easy to narrow down my favorite songs of January through March, but here are my picks for the top ten rap records of 2018 so far...

1. “Respected” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LirimXNqnxA

(You won’t find a better rap intro than this one. Very short, but tightly written, this verse defines Roc Marciano as an artist, and overall this track could be used as a template for how to define the mood of an album in less than 30 seconds. From Roc’s opening bars of “fox furs on my evening coat...I gave these heathens hope”, you know exactly what you can expect with Rosebudd’s Revenge 2. And boy does he deliver.)

2. “King’s Dead” - Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwAnsAUYnw4

(The Black Panther Soundtrack is a legitimate album of the year contender. The impact of the film has been tremendous, but the force of the music inspired by it is of equal quality. Don’t overthink this rambunctious single...just kick back and enjoy it - because that’s clearly what Jay, K Dot and Future did!)

3. “Tent City” - Roc Marciano

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go7n9-JefoQ

(”Walkin’ in the clooooouds”…Roc’s bars simply knock this one out the park: “...can’t hit reverse and pay for things that I ain’t earned / I heard the herb was dipped in sherm, bitches’ vision blurred / the German engines purr like leopards / couldn’t get a gig at Eckerd, they said my past was checkered / my ghetto pass is good, I never had to check it…”)

4. “Sell Me This Pen” - Evidence feat. Alchemist & Mach-Hommy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EWrReYix08

(This is just a perfect Alchemist cut, am I right? Ev, Al and Mach work a sinister sample oh so well.)

5. “Roaches” - Maxo Kream

https://soundcloud.com/maxo-kream/roaches-prod-wlderness?in=maxo-kream/sets/punken

(If you slept on Maxo’s Punken tape, let this track be a reminder that you made a mistake.)

6. “Expensive Genes” - Phonte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_nvRMuOaUs

(Phonte is so strong on No News Is Good News, but his writing on “Expensive Genes” feels better than great. “Expensive Genes” may be a career defining song in the catalogue of an already hall of fame bound lyricist.)

7. “Era” - PRhyme (DJ Premier & Royce Da 5′9 feat. Dave East)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ONsRbOuos

(I don’t care if you weren’t feeling it, it’s just unfortunate that you slept on a great rap record. DJ Premier, Antman Wonder, Dave East and Royce Da 5′9″ tried to unite eras with their first single off PRhyme 2, and in spite of conflicting opinions I would say they were successful. They tried something different here, and I enjoyed the final result.)

8. “Paramedic!” - SOB x RBE feat. Kendrick Lamar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2_A89qTgwM

(This one just kept growing on me. SOB x RBE is a crew to watch, and if they are capable of cranking out more energetic west coast bangers like this one, their future is looking bright.)

9. “Proud” - 2 Chainz feat. YG & Offset

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nUW3nIOOOg

(2 Chainz is poised to have a huge 2018. And if his EP is indicative of how good his next album is going to be, we’re all in for a treat.)

10. “Dedication” - Nipsey Hussle feat. Kendrick Lamar

https://pitchfork.com/news/kendrick-lamar-joins-nipsey-hussle-on-new-song-dedication-listen/

(Victory Lap is not the classic many dubbed it to be when it dropped, but it is a very, very good album. On the surface level this song is not a remarkable one, but once you absorb the words, and the vibes from these talented young men who both survived harrowing situations during their childhood to become older, wiser and more successful for it, it really takes the music to another level. “Dedication” is a strong record.)

So to Roc Marciano, 2 Chainz, TDE, Black Milk, Skyzoo, Evidence, Royce Da 5′9″, Conway, 38 Spesh & Benny, Cozz, Willie The Kid, Rome Streetz, Rigz, Nipsey Hussle, Maxo Kream, Phonte, SOB x RBE, Jamal Gasol, Earth Gang, Elzhi & Khrysis, Chuck Strangers, Murs, CZARFACE & DOOM, Jean Grae & Quelle Chris, Valee and plenty of other talented artists, too numerous to mention...thank you for making the early months of 2018 so special. Salute!

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dylanreviewsthings · 7 years ago

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grandson's Unique Sound Shines In "a modern tragedy, vol. 1"

If there's any newcomers on the block you need to watch out for, it's grandson. The Los Angeles-native is the latest contender in a new wave of genre-less artists, and he's definitely one of the most noteworthy. grandson's unique sound shines in a modern tragedy, vol. 1, his debut EP that packs a big punch.

Perhaps what's most enthralling about grandson is his seemingly lethargic calls for rebellion. There's a certain attitude to his voice that has both a sense of decadence while also caught in a wondrous state. Opening track and single 'Blood // Water' captures this perfectly, his ghastly timbre introducing the track with dark metaphors ("We'll never get free / Lamb to the slaughter... The price of your greed is your son and your daughter") before the big hook comes in with a loud, unique drop introduced by a shrill cry of "when there's blood in the water." The huge drive of 'Stick Up' follows, his guitarist Boonn now taking a more central roll as the rebellious track is led by a thick riff.

The EP only continues to go off the beaten path as it progresses. 'Despicable' is a much more daunting track, the gentle guitar intro leading into a massive drop later on that's both evil and punchy. grandson dives straight in to the heavy in '6:00,' the riffs taking full control as grandson hauntingly chimes "I saw the body drop on the 6 o'clock." Closing track 'Overdose' ties things together perfectly, every aspect of the song pairing wonderfully with grandson's ghastly vibe, from the synths to the message to the drops. If there's one thing you can say about grandson, it's that he knows how to capture a vibe.

grandson's unique sound shines in a modern tragedy, vol. 1, his debut EP that shows that he's able to capture a very unique sound in a genreless generation. It's a powerful EP that not only shows the potential in grandson, but also creates a lot of excitement for whatever he has in store next.

Favorite Tracks: Overdose, Stick Up, Despicable

Least Favorite Track: Blood // Water

Rating: 94 / 100

Stream or buy a modern tragedy, vol. 1 on Apple Music, and follow our 2018 Playlist on Spotify:

#grandson #Alternative #Indie #Boonn #EP #Review

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objectivesubjectivity · 7 years ago

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I’m at 99 contenders for my “Top 100 Albums of All Time” list.

A large part of this entire journey was to attempt to delve into my subjectivity and question why I like what I like and, potentially, in a broader sense, start to gain a better understanding of what makes a *great* album.

But equally as interesting are those albums that just aren’t *great* enough. This past week, I listened to two albums which are truly excellent but didn’t quite make the cut.

Iron and Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog

When I first heard Iron and Wine, I was admittedly dulled out of my senses. I would frequently rant about their dullness and question why anyone in their right mind could stand it. So much so that I remember a friend asking to quote my vitriol for an article he was writing on the band (something about drinking jim beam while listening to sam beam, I couldn’t find the article online).

I have since replaced “dulled” with “lulled” and found great appreciation for “The Creek Drank the Cradle” and “Our Endless Numbered Days.”

But then a different friend of mine handed me a copy of the “Woman King EP,” and told me to give them another shot. And, I’ll admit, I was impressed. Here was some potential for life and energy and passion. So, with that in mind, I gave “The Shepherd’s Dog” a chance. And it paid off.

Here was the fullness I had been missing. There was even a rhythm section! And with it came a groove that played masterfully off of Beam’s silky voice and accompanying harmonies.

To this day, it’s an album I turn to at a party or when with company or on a road trip. It possesses the unique quality of being both supremely palatable and musically complex; it appeals to both the active and the passive listener.

So, for g-d’s sake, why leave it off the contender list?

One reason might be due to its universality. There is nothing abrasive, nothing off-putting, nothing controversial in these 12 tracks. Even the scattered vulgarities are so well couched that a discerning ear might easily miss them on a first listen. I find that I tend to lean toward the less than perfect, the flawed, the discordant. Individuality can be built by defending unpopular opinions and the unpopular opinion in this case might be passing it by. This is not to say that I rejoice in making choices others find cringeworthy, but I do believe that there is joy in having an opinion that is uniquely yours.

Another reason is that I tend to lean toward albums that feel like the artist is pushing their own boundaries. In this case, the boundaries pushed are adding some instruments and not sounding like they’ve recorded the entire thing in their basement. So maybe I just don’t find the push all that impressive.

Lastly, maybe I’ve just heard it too many times. As I said before, it’s an album I frequently turn to. When I was working at coffeeshops, many of its tracks would be on my work playlist. I’ve probably listened to “Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car,” nearly 100 times. And the fact that, unlike “Graceland” or “August and Everything After” or “I Am The Movie,” its repeatability feels even remotely negative seems like reason enough.

Atmosphere - Seven’s Travels

I stumbled upon Atmosphere on a Epitaph Records compilation.

My knowledge of hip-hop at that time was fairly limited. I was a big fan of Beastie Boys. I owned De La’s “Three Feet High and Rising,” and Tribe’s “Low End Theory” but didn’t really get them. I had “The Slim Shady LP,” but that was because I first heard him on alternative radio. I thought Limp Bizkit was cool.

Tough times, I know.

But I was big into punk. And this was when Epitaph was killing it. Not only did their roster include classics like Bad Religion, Pennywise, and Rancid, but they began to push the limits of the genre, signing acts like Motion City Soundtrack and The Weakerthans and The Special Goodness.

And then there was this licensing deal that brought Rhymesayers to Epitaph.

And I discovered Sage Francis and Eyedea & Abilities and The Coup and Danger Doom.

And I discovered Atmosphere.

I knew there was something special about Seven’s Travels when Slug gave a shout out to “emo kids with too many feelings” in the intro to “Always Coming Back Home to You.” The album was rife with Ant’s slick beats and Slug’s impassioned rhymes. Slug was Drake while Drake was still on Degrassi. And I ate that shit up.

So why the disrespect this time around?

I’m married now. I have, at the least, a semblance of a career. I help pay a mortgage. I’m not worried about relationships or getting my life together or battling with my vices. I’m worried about my cholesterol and when I’m going to do the laundry and if I’m saving enough money for the future. Like Slug, I am also trying to find a balance but its between being responsible and having enough time to do shit like write these blogs.

Whatever I can enjoy about the album exists purely in nostalgia. And nostalgia can be a beast. I would be lying if I said I didn’t start bopping my head to the aforementioned “Trying to Find a Balance,” or gutteral-screaming along to “Bird Sings Why the Cage I Know,” or giving an approving smile to the LifterPuller reference in “Reflections.” But nostalgia can only go so far. And it damn well shouldn’t be a reason to give an album a top 100 contender slot.

What I listened to last week:

Top 100 contenders in bold.

CIV - Set Your Goals

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

Atmosphere - Seven’s Travels

The Cure - Seventeen Seconds

Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree

Severed - Severed

Ben Kweller - Sha Sha

Dashboard Confessional- The Shade of Poison Trees: I love the fact that the songs on this album that sound the most like his early material are political rants; almost as if his heart is no longer broken by girls but by our government.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets

Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombation in 12 Bursts

Slow Gherkin - Shed Some Skin

Iron & Wine - The Shepherd’s Dog

Every Avenue - Shh, Just Go With It

Chumbawamba - Shhh

Constantines - Shine A Light

Eels - Shootenanny!

Filter - Short Bus

Show Off - Show Off (PPP #60)

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

Ace of Base - The Sign

When Walls Are Built - The Silence Party

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Outsmarting Simon - silent sober and sound

Okkervil River - The Silver Gymnasium

Knapsack - Silver Sweepstakes

AFI - Sing the Sorrow

Total albums listened to: 1,493

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theseventhhex · 5 years ago

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Kelly Moran Interview

Kelly Moran

Photo by Timothy Saccenti

Composer, producer, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Moran made an early name for herself in New York collaborating with dance performance and composing for long-term John Cage collaborator Margaret Leng Tan. It was with the 2017 album Bloodroot that Kelly Moran began to reach wider attention. Now, on her Warp Records debut ‘Ultraviolet’ she continues to interpret these wealth of inspirations into a sound all her own and pulls off a nearly impossible feat: the annihilation of experimental music’s imposing, esoteric, über-academic status quo in the name of pure, unbridled intuition, of human joy. ‘Ultraviolet’ plays to a wide, arresting array of stylistic influences: dazzling inflections of jazz and dream pop, classical composition and black metal, darkness and light, encapsulated in a single, mystifying LP… We talk to the delightful Kelly Moran about overcoming anxiety, running daily and her beloved cat Wendy…

TSH: How valuable is it between projects for you to turn your brain off and reset with a new approach towards your music?

Kelly: I think it’s good for anyone who’s in a creative discipline to examine what their process is every couple of years. It’s key to revisit how you approach doing things just so you don’t get stuck in a rut and continue to make the same thing, which is a problem that I’ve had for years. I always had the same approach to everything and I felt like I wasn’t growing as an artist. However, when writing new music lately I’ve been finding that the methods I used for ‘Ultraviolet’ are not really working for me right now. I feel like I need to constantly defamiliarise myself with my musical habits and set to default again. It’s good to step outside of your comfort zone and see where it takes you.

TSH: Tell us more about your latest EP entitled ‘Origin’...

Kelly: With the exception of one track, all of the pieces on ‘Origin’ came before ‘Ultraviolet’, hence the name. This EP predates ‘Ultraviolet’ and almost all the songs are the actual demos that I improvised, recorded and had been working with. The versions of ‘Autowave’ and ‘Water Music’ that you hear on ‘Origin’ are the actual versions of those songs.

TSH: Is your music impacted much at all by the current affairs in America?

Kelly: Well, living in America, our politics have been shit for a long time. We had a bit of a break with Obama but things have been bad since Trump took office. People thought great art would arise out of the political turmoil with Trump in power, but it didn’t. I find that politics in general is distracting and overwhelming for me. I need to separate from the current political state - not in a way that I don’t know what’s going on - but I have to knowingly detach in a way because if I don’t, it can be really difficult to even exist because of how shit and terrible it can be out here. For me, when I pursue art and music, it’s mainly an escapism from the dregs of reality.

TSH: Does being immersed in music help you to overcome your anxiety and stress hurdles?

Kelly: At times, yes. A lot of my anxiety in the past was about performing or not reaching my potential and maybe not working hard enough, but I feel like I’m in a good place with all these factors now. I feel very confident as a composer and with my musical abilities. It is funny though because I suddenly have a much bigger platform after being signed to Warp. I do feel more exposed to the world in many ways than I wasn’t before. I am now dealing with new anxieties that I have to contend with...

TSH: What sort of issues have you been facing?

Kelly: Well, now that I’m a little more known I’ll get a lot more weird messages from people online. For example, during the recent Warp 30 announcement I got so many random DMs and rude Twitter messages. Also, sometimes if I read the YouTube comments for my music videos people say stuff like ‘Is this what Warp has become? It’s going so downhill.’ It’s weird because people never used to reach out to me to say random things like that but in the past year it’s happening more regularly. I’m dealing with these little new problems now.

TSH: It must still be so rewarding that individuals connect with the way that you communicate your music...

Kelly: Yeah, it’s a double edged sword I guess. It is nice when people connect to my music - it really is great. I mean I try to be an accessible person on social media. I try to be very open and speak with people directly when people tweet at me or send me messages, but sometimes I do feel very emotionally drained by it. There are messages I don’t want to have to respond to, in addition to the mean messages. The thing about the internet is you can get a thousand nice comments and one bad comment, but you’re gonna focus on the bad one, haha! I’ll have to just develop a thicker skin.

TSH: What do you recall about fleshing out the excellent track entitled ‘Helix’?

Kelly: Like all of the pieces on the album this one started out with improvisation. The original piece I created of ‘Helix’ was very exploratory because I had figured out how to play piano in a more percussive way where I was alternating between my hands. This discovery of me playing the instrument in this new way led to a very minimalist pattern that drives this song. The improvisation has similar patterns to what you hear on the original version and I ended up transcribing it trying to be as accurate as possible .When I recorded it I listened back to it and streamlined it a little bit. To me, figuring out the underlying chord progressions that I was implying in addition to figuring out a bass progression really gave this piece direction and drive - it was so crucial.

TSH: Did you select ‘Radiant’ as the album closer quite early on?

Kelly: I kind of knew it would be the closer because I like ending albums on a gentle note. I like for the last song to be the most simple and like its saying goodnight to people - sort of like sending them off with something delicate. ‘Ultraviolet’ was already an intense record and not many of the tracks are relaxed so I wanted to give the listener a break as the record was ending. It’s funny because the original of this track was more busy and hectic; it had more piano arpeggios and additional melodies.

TSH: How important is running to your daily life?

Kelly: It’s very beneficial. I’m one of those people that really strives off having a structured schedule. Unfortunately for me I picked a career that really does not enable this whatsoever, ha! For me, running is the one way that I can have this sort of consistency to my schedule. I strive for this factor, especially when I go on tour. I always bring my workout clothes and it’s an added bonus if I stay at a hotel with a gym. I just think the endorphin rush you get from running and also having a ritual a day helps me to get in the right mental space.

TSH: Are you still listening to a lot of hip-hop when you run?

Kelly: Haha! I haven’t actually been listening to much hip-hop whilst running recently. I’ve been listening to Aleksi Perälä, who is on Aphex Twin’s record label, as well as K-pop and even some Miley Cyrus from the Black Mirror soundtrack.

TSH: Is it hard to leave your cat Wendy behind when you go on tour?

Kelly: It really is! It’s definitely one of the most challenging parts for me because I’m very attached to her and she’s my little daughter. Unfortunately, I have a high maintenance cat who doesn’t like many people - she only likes me. So I feel really guilty when I leave for my travels as I think she’s not getting the right attention. She’ll stay with my mom and she’s been warming up to people but she’s not a friendly cat at all. I’ve had her for 5 years and only been travelling for the last year or so, therefore she must be wondering what’s going on. I never used to leave my apartment and now I’m out of the country every month. I guess I have to earn that money if Wendy’s gonna keep eating those fancy feasts!

TSH: Being a huge figure skating fan, how proud were you to witness the great Yuzuru Hanyu win Olympic gold on your birthday?

Kelly: Yes, he won his second Olympic medal on my birthday. I remember watching him win and being like ‘Holy fuck! This is absolutely incredible’. It’s funny because for my birthday party the next day I had a bunch of friends over and we were drinking and listening to the new Oneothrix Point Never record whilst also watching recaps of the figure skating.

TSH: What factors do you mostly consider exploring when it comes to collaboration?

Kelly: Well, there are so many artists that I look up to and respect that I would sell my right arm to collaborate with someday. When I first got signed to Warp the first thing I thought was if I ever have an opportunity to collaborate with someone else from the label that would be so cool. I basically worship everyone on this label. The kinds of collaboration that are important for me is to work with people that I’ve looked up to and who are respected. I’m also really interested in working with people who are just completely different from me and can push me outside of my comfort zone. For my next record I want to have a few collaborators from totally different genres to enable interesting results.

TSH: What matters most with your musical endeavours as you look ahead?

Kelly: I think my biggest drive is to keep improving and to keep surpassing myself. I always try to hold myself to what my own standard is. My goal is for my next album to be even better than what I’ve put out before - I want to push myself to reach new places musically. A lot of people describe me as a pianist who does prepared piano but in the actual timeline of my musical activity prepared piano actually occupies a very small part of that timeline. It’s really only been 3 years in my entire career that I’ve worked with prepared piano. There’s this part of me that wants to show people that I can do a lot more than that. As a pianist I feel really free because there are so many ways that I can translate what I do to other genres, it would be very easy for me to do techno, hip-hop or even black metal. I feel that my biggest strength is my malleability as a performer and as a composer, so I just want to show people that I have many different sides as an artist and not just one thing as people know me as now.

Kelly Moran - “In Parallel”

Kelly Moran - “Water Music”

Ultraviolet

#Interview #Kelly Moran

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elixirsoflife · 6 years ago

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my current pdx101 picks (episode 6)

so i think i'm gonna do this weekly to track how my opinions change bc i am really Going Through It atm with this show ffs i hate it why did i get invested in these boys. this post is going to be longer than last week's since i'm going to elaborate a bit on some of the picks ✌🏽

fixed picks

1. cho seongyoun: i... think he might've become my one pick? or a v strong contender for it anyways. funny story actually, i began watching pdx101 for seongyoun since i'd recently discovered his solo music under woodz (check it out if you haven't! he's great), but having 101 boys stare me in the face made me quickly lose track of him until bam. boy reminded me why i shouldn't have forgotten about him in the first place. he truly has it all: vocals, rap skills (did you see him in 'yes or no'?), dance, producing, songwriting, great personality. honestly if he doesn't debut, what even is this show.

2. choi suhwan: my original/possibly-still one pick. i just... really love suhwan okay. he's sweet, has a beautiful voice, gets along with other trainees well, can dance and deserves to freaking debut, damn it. i don't understand how he's been rejected from auditions that many times when he's honestly such an all-rounder. if my boy doesn't rise in rankings, i will riot 🤬🤬 he's currently on the verge of elimination at #28 (down 4 from last week ://) so i'm praying knetz vote for him

other strong contenders (not listed in order)

3. song yuvin: main vocal material all the way. his voice is not only beautiful and light but so stable and strong. he can dance and his moments offstage make me smile. also i love his friendship with suhwan (are they ever not holding each other?) so think they would be great in the same group 😘

4. kim yohan: yohan doesn't have the technical ability of many others but he's honestly so attractive regardless. i don't even mean that in a physical sense, though he does have visuals - it's the fact that his personality is so charming and sweet and he does have the stage presence to pull off being an idol. i do think he would bring something invaluable to the final lineup. he just has such a warm and quirky personality that i can't help but like him. also! though he might not be as strong a singer/rapper as others on the list, he really does have the potential to be really good and picks things up fairly quickly. with more dedicated training, he'll shape up great.

5. wonhyuk: he's caught my eye ever since the e entertainment boys' audition. honestly i would be glad with either of them debuting (or both) but wonhyuk catches my attention a liiittle bit more so i put him on here. i think he deserves to be ranked a whole lot higher than he currently is; his voice has such an interesting colour to it and he's a good dancer too!

6. kim wooseok: i'll be honest, wooseok doesn't immediately command my attention but i think that a list without him is incomplete. yes, he is a visual and that is a part of kpop, but he has good stage presence and vocals too. we all remember the love shot performance, don't we? i think his talent is undeniable and he seems like a fixed member of the lineup. tbh i'm not complaining

7. kim hyunbin: i feel like this boy is passion personified. we saw it in the group evals and it's something i admire. he has a real can-do attitude and i rate it highly. i also admire a good rapper so that's a plus. ngl i was surprised to see him choose a vocal song in the position evaluations but he did well! boy has a decent voice ♡

8. kim sihoon: there was a bit of a weird edit this episode with sihoon and wonjin. i did think that sihoon seemed a bit petulant so i don't think i'd necessarily put him in a leader position, but i think he can bring a lot to the table. not only is he a good performer but he can choreograph and compose. another all-rounder.

9. han seongwoo: if you've come away from this episode not loving this man, you need to rewatch it. honestly such a lovely soul and great on the stage too. he really did deserve that no.1 💕 i think that the way other trainees receive him is really telling too which means he will bring the team together really well. even when he feels pressured as the leader, he keeps his head and stays cool.

10. nam dohyun: cute kid, really good rapper especially considering how short his training period has been. i think he would make a decent lead rapper to seongyoun's main. the guy is the definition of raw potential, i feel.

others i am keeping an eye on

11. choi byungchan: i loved him in the girls girls girls performance bc that stage was literally made for him. i think he has a great personality as well. the only reason i haven't put him as a 'strong contender' is bc i want to see his performance in the position evaluations too (at which point he'll probably become one lbr)

12. lee hangyul: i really liked him this week. i feel like i've mentioned personality a fair bit this post lmao but he seems like he has a good one and he makes me laugh! he talks about having a more masculine image, but tbh that's what i prefer. strong image, strong dancer. i just need to look more into him

13. lee midam: another all-rounder! i see a lot of intl support for midam and tbh i can see why. i feel like the main reason he isn't a strong contender is bc mnet doesn't really give him much screentime unless he's in a bigger group; part of this is probably bc he seems like an introvert, but tbh i dig it. he did the vocal rearrangement for twit apparently - so again: very talented. i'm honestly confused as to why he doesn't rank higher, especially with his visuals (since *cough* that seems to be v important for many knetz)

14. lee jinhyuk: i need to see him perform to solidify my impression of him but so far, he seems helpful and leader-like, plus pretty talented. i just haven't been paying him much active attention so need to do that to get a clearer picture.

others who could debut who i'd be okay with in the final lineup (but don't necessarily stan)

15. son dongpyo: feel like he can do both a youthful and more mature concept. talented dancer.

16. ham wonjin: i actually really liked him in earlier episodes. i don't hate him now or anything, i'm just noticing other trainees more. he's talented regardless 👍🏾

so yes that's my very long post on who i'm keeping an eye on for now. we'll see how things turn out next week (with a shorter post probs lmao)

ep. 5 picks

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damnthatnoise · 8 years ago

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Most Anticipated For 2017 | Article

2016 is dead to me. Not only did it take way to many of my childhood celebrity heroes, it has also brought us the unbearable burden of knowing that vile orange piece of combed over shit is going to be POTUS. So with the stack of 2016 albums still fresh in our collective media devices/turntables we sit and think about what 2017 might bring for our ears. Tim, Lucas, and I decided to jot down the top 5 things we are each looking forward to/hoping for this year. Take a look, share it, shoot us an e-mail and tell us what you are looking forward to, and who you think we should keep an eye out for.

_________________________________________________________

Tim’s Top 5 Predictions/Anticipations for 2017

With the year that we were blessed with in 2016, it’s hard to see how there’s any possible way that 2017 could top it. Run the Jewels 3 was going to be at the top of my list, but Killer Mike and El-P blessed us with that gem of an album three weeks early – just another indicator of how 2016 is shaping up. There are a few things dropping in 2017 that I’m super excited about, and I have some personal predictions as well that I could see happening in the next year.

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth’s reunion

When Pete Rock was on Sway in the Morning with Smoke DZA to promote their collaborative album – Don’t Smoke Rock – Pete dropped a hint that he and C.L. Smooth had been working together again. Shortly after this specific radio appearance, the internet exploded with the news that Pete Rock and C.L. will be dropping a new album in 2017.

Although there have been song collaborations between the two over the past 20 years, they haven’t teamed up for a full-length album since 1994. As one of my favorite duos of all-time, this is no doubt my most anticipated piece of music that will be dropping next year. 23 years is quite the hiatus, but if anyone’s still capable of making incredible music after a prolonged break, it’s these two.

Ka & Roc Marciano’s collaborative album as Metal Clergy

This is an album that I’ve been waiting on for a long time, and I know that I’m not alone. There has been a collaborative album with Roc Marciano listed in Ka’s Wikipedia page for a couple years now, but the world has never seen the project come to fruition. Ka released Honor Killed the Samurai in 2016, and Roc Marciano will be dropping Rosebud’s Revenge in the immediate future.

Roc Marciano was answering questions on his personal Facebook page, and I beckoned the question about a Metal Clergy album; Roc said that since both he and Ka will have recent solo releases out of the way, the odds for a Metal Clergy album in 2017 are highly likely. When it comes to lyrical ability, there aren’t many emcees better than these two, and when they connect on the same record, the results are utterly remarkable.

Rapsody’s Roc Nation Debut

Not only is Rapsody one of my favorite female emcees, she’s one of my favorite emcees period. I’ve been following her music since 2012 when she dropped her debut album The Idea of Beautiful on 9th Wonder’s Jamla imprint. Since 2012, Rapsody has released three critically acclaimed projects (one mixtape and two EPs), and in 2016 she signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation imprint. After being featured on Kendrick Lamar’s album – To Pimp a Butterfly – Rapsody has been setting the world on fire with guest appearances; she also dropped one of the best albums of 2016 – Crown.

There’s two beautiful things about this label marriage that Rapsody has going: she has the financial backing and push of Jay-Z, and she has the production of 9th Wonder’s Soul Council (9th Wonder, Hi-Tek, Nottz & Eric G) behind her. With a team that strong, it’s awfully hard to lose no matter what obstacles you go up against.

Pusha T’s album King Push

This album is on my list for 2017 because I falsely predicted that it would drop at the end of 2016. Last year, Pusha T dropped his album King Push – The Prelude: Darkest Before Dawn in the month of December, so I figured that he would follow suit again in 2016 after he dropped a lyric that stated he’s the “contender for album of the year – every year”.

Well, I was wrong. I’ve been known to be on more than one occasion.

Only adding fuel to the fire, both Thornton brothers said that they would be open to a Clipse reunion album. It’s possible that we could see a Pusha T solo album in 2017 and a new Clipse record in 2018; that’s the type of shit that should get every Hip-Hop head excited.

In an article, earlier in 2016, the G.O.O.D. Music President said that Big Sean’s new album would be next - and then his album would follow. Big Sean’s album I decided. is slated for a February 3rd release; we could potentially see a new King Push album by second quarter of 2017.

WE STILL DON’T GET A FUCKING JAY ELECTRONICA ALBUM

A lot of you are probably thinking to yourselves: “Wow, Tim, you really like beating a dead horse, don’t you?” The answer, is yes. Frankly, I don’t think it would be an anticipation or prediction list if I didn’t mention Jay Electronica.

Usually when people talk about the reasons that Act II hasn’t come out, it has to do with the fact that Jay-Z didn’t think there were any commercially viable singles. I’m going to go ahead and call BS on that bluff; J. Cole has released back-to-back records with no guest appearances and no huge singles. In this era of music, it’s fully possible to release something successful that isn’t massively popular.

There’s a reason that I still hold out hope that we will get this project some day: From the first time, I heard his music back in 2007, I knew that he was something special. In fact, I still bump “Exhibit C” regularly to this day. Jay Electronica is the type of artist that only comes along once in a great while, and while he says that his train is running on schedule, I have hopes that Hova hasn’t derailed it.

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Lucas Dix Top 5 Anticipations For 2017

Watching The Last Artful, Dodgr Blow Up (and all other things Eyrst)

When Macklemore hit the mainstream scales with The Heist, the friendly hip hop competition between Rose City and Emerald City tilted heavily in favor to the northern neighbors. No matter how many Illmacs, Cloudy Octobers, Vursatyls, Sleeps, or Resistances PDX submitted for consideration, the response in any debate was always, “Yeah, but they don’t have that person who just makes hits”. Well, that rebuttal is about to be rendered futile.

The Last Artful, Dodgr (who hails from LA but reps the hell out of Portland) is going to blow the fuck up in 2017, and although she may not reach Macklemore level omnipresence, she will definitely have more critical acclaim than he experienced from a more diverse audience. Since signing with Eyrst Records, the label owned by former Trail Blazer Martell Webster, she’s dropped the Fractures EP (2015), 5 solo singles (all in 2016), and a Rare Treat EP with Myke Bogan. On all of the joints, she showcases her developing starpower. Her #bars are drenched in swagger, her cadence is head-noddingly infectious, and her ear for beats/eye for videos gives her songs a cinematic feel. She’s a gully butterfly, a rainbow with a gold chain. All of that makes her exciting, but add on the fact that she can sing (watch “Caverns” if you don’t believe me), and you’ve got the recipe for “The Next Big Thing”.

Jay Z’s Potential Lemonade Response

There have been multiple reports that Jay Z is working on a record that tells his side of the “Lemonade” story. I do not think this is a good idea, and here’s why: there is a 0% chance he can make a record/experience better than Beyonce’s. From the film to the Super Bowl performance to the songs and guests of Lemonade, Jay just can’t compete, especially because I can’t imagine a scenario where people empathize with him for cheating (or as the story goes). Now, if this album does drop, will I listen? Abso-fuckin’-lutely. As someone who appreciates and consumes pop culture and owns most Jay Z records, I couldn’t not. However, if I had my wish, I’d have Jay get back in the studio with all them Just Blaze beats that Jay Electronica isn’t using and drop some grown, rich man, “being a father is my newfound purpose” type records.

Drake Bouncing Back with a New “Playlist”

I’m an admitted Drake stan. I own everything, and I mean everything, he has credited to his name on iTunes. From the solo albums, mixtape with Future, the occasional “9:00 am in Dallas” type singles, and random songs from Game/Gucci Mane/Lil Wayne albums, I’ve learned the words and bumped them loudly with the windows down. Just your average 31 year-old middle school teacher in a Dodge Stratus rapping along to such relatable topics as “I’m richer than you”, “I’ll steal your girlfriend”, “Things haven’t been the same lately”, and “Seriously, I’m way richer than you.” All of Drake’s albums are in my top 10 year end list for the year in which they dropped.

Having said all of that, Views is trash. The thing is an 82 minute long Crying Jordan meme. Its got way too many aggressively mediocre songs. Its guest features aren’t exciting. It showcases way more of the Jamaican-accented, mob boss Drake, and not enough of the “6 am the day after dropping $100,000 dollars at the strip club questioning if it’s all worth it” Drake. Both Drake’s can be mad corny, but at least the latter lets his guard down from time to time.

Not only do I think that Views is the Lex Diamond Story of his catalogue, but, judging by Twitter comments and reviews, a lot of his fans frown upon the effort as well. Some are even questioning if it’s Drake’s time to go the way of 50 Cent and slowly fade to irrelevance (though his sales and Billboard positions may suggest otherwise). I would venture to guess Drake has heard all of this and used the criticism for bulletin board material, which is why he’s dropping a new “playlist” in 2017. You read that right. It’s a playlist, not a mixtape or an album, which means a couple things: 1) It doesn’t hold the same weight or pressure as an album so he can take more chances and 2) he has once again originated a new phrase that will sweep over pop culture (I can’t wait for the Lil Yachty playlist). I’m guessing that with this playlist Drake, hopefully with a little help from Quentin Miller, bounces back and reclaims his hold of the people’s hearts.

Andre 3000s Three Guest Verses

It’s become a yearly tradition at this point. We see a snap from a rapper saying he’s recorded a verse for the new Outkast album, or we hear that someone was in the studio with 3 stacks recently, or we read an interview where Andre himself says “to be clear there is no retirement”. Our hopes get high and we think to ourselves, maybe this will finally be the year, but we know better. There is no album. There will be no album. The only thing we can really expect from perhaps the greatest rapper to ever live is a splattering of guest verses that can be cited as evidence to support claims like the aforementioned one I just made. I’ve come to accept, even appreciate and love, this realization. Now, I just wonder whose record he hops on.

Top 5 Andre 3000 Collab Candidates for 2017

1. Nikki Minaj

2. Eminem

3. Young Thug

4. Gucci Mane

5. Anderson .Paak

Top 5 Andre 3000 Collab Performances

1. UGK ft Outkast - “Int’l Players Anthem”

2. Rick Ross ft Andre 3000 - “16”

3. Frank Ocean ft Andre 3000 - “Solo (Reprise)”

4. UNK ft Outkast, Jim Jones - “Walk It Out (Remix)”

5. Devin the Dude, Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg “What A Job”

New News on “No News is Good News”

If you need to know anything about me as a hip hop fan, it’s that Phonte is one of my favorite rappers. I first heard him on The Foreign Exchange record Connected back in 2005. I was in a Best Buy, and I saw an album in the rap section with a silhouetted couple kissing in front of a bluish-green sunset. I didn’t know anything about the group or project, but I was intrigued by the cover art. Bumping that album while driving down the cold January streets of Wisconsin is still one of my favorite new-record listening experiences. The production is phenomenal, but more impressively, Phonte, on that record and all records, is the embodiment of the poetic everyman. He’s struggling to provide for his family while chasing his dream and finding the best path and choices for himself, and he does it all with flair and a sense of humor.

Unfortunately, other than Connected and 2011s Charity Starts at Home, we haven’t gotten any other solo rap albums from Phontigallo. He’s mainly singing with Foreign Exchange these days, and he’s released some collaborative records with Eric Roberson or as part of Little Brother, but I spent most of those projects waiting for ‘Te to start rapping again. Originally, a rumored album called No News is Good News was supposed to drop in September of 2016, but with all of his endeavors, it never made it to a digital download service near you. I’m anxiously awaiting the day in 2017 where I wake up to an inbox full of the 23048230984 Facebook messages Tim has sent me re: the new record.

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Ralph’s Top 5 Anticipations For 2017

The Return of P.O.S.

Chill Dummy is set to drop at the end of this month on 1/27/17. It’s the Doomtree native’s first solo effort since We Don’t Even Live Here dropped; if you recall at the time of the record, he was dealing with Kidney issues – which led to a transplant and indefinite tour halt.If his singles released throughout 2016 (I fucked up not putting “Sleeperdrone/Superposition” on my year end song list) are any indication of what’s to come, then Chill Dummy promises to be an all-out heavy handed smack to our faces as a reminder of why Stef was and is one of the most enthralling, and entertaining MC’s around. Chill Dummy also marks the first album from P.O.S. on the Doomtree Record imprint – as he was previously on Rhymesayers Entertainment. This is all very exciting to me because I’ve been a huge Doomtree Stan for a long time.

The Last Artful, Dodgr Becoming an All-Out Star

I remember first hearing Dodgr’s music when her 199NVRLND dropped. I wrote about how outstanding she was, and even then, I had a feeling that she was going to be an artist from Portland that was going to blow up. Just last year – in 2016 – The Last Artful, Dodgr killed it on a Sway in the Morning guest appearance, she supported Amine on Jimmy Fallon, she dropped a slick ass EP with Myk Bogan as Rare Treat, and she ended an already amazing year with the INCREDIBLE single and accompanying video for “Caverns” with Neill Von Tally. She even performed to a sold-out crowd at Roseland. Not only can the woman sing, but she is one of the most exciting MC’s to come out in a while. Like I’ve always said, there is something about folks who can rap & sing that makes their music even more special. I will be impatiently waiting for her LP to drop this year via Eyrst, and I will be making sure we give her as much shine as possible here at DamnThatNoise.

Jay-Z’s Return

Hova must be lurking out there with a new surprise album coming – especially after the popularity of Lemonade. Let’s not forget his dope ass “All the Way Up” remix verse – not to mention his guest spot on Pusha T’s “Dope Dealers Anonymous”. Hova has been relatively quiet since he hit us with the Samsung sponsored, Magna Carta record. It feels very fitting to have the veteran lyricist slide through in 2017 to drop a record that reminds us why he is one of the greatest of all-time. With Kanye losing it this year on his The Life Of Pablo tour and taking shots at Jay, I can’t see him not having material ready to fire out into the stratosphere and blow our wigs back right away. The question is does the man still have it in him to put together a relatable, hard-hitting album that people want to hear? Do 14-25-year-olds even care about a Jay-Z album at this point? Will he follow suit and drop it exclusively through Tidal ONLY – and frustrate those of us who purchase albums? Who knows! What I do know for sure is, that whatever Jay does, I will be waiting for it, and I will probably have on repeat for most of the year.

Tomorrow Kings Collective

It might be safe to say that since listening to NRTM from Tomorrow Kings, I have become a huge fan of the Chicago super group. The crew didn’t drop a group album in 2016, but they did have individual projects from Lamon Manuel, Skech185, Gildead7, and Jyroscope, and these projects were all incredible in their own way. If you read my year-end-list for 2016, then you know that Lamon & Skech’s projects made my list. It has all just made my appreciation and fandom for these guys even stronger. I haven’t heard a crew of very different, yet complimentary emcees come together as a collective since the mid 90’s; these cats have strong, exciting and thought provoking lyrics, and they have wild production to boot. Not since the mid 90’s has a collective of very different, yet complimentary MC’s come together as a crew to give us such strong, exciting and thought provoking music with wild and heavy production to boot. In 2017, I anticipate a record from Lamon & Skech185 sharing the mic time, an official Jyroscope record, and maybe even a Wizard Jenkins The Great record – or a new Gilead7 album?! Whatever it is that these gifted brothers put together, you best believe I will be there listening, supporting, and telling anyone I can about it.

New Action Bronson

Bam Bam was everywhere this year! Like cooking shows? Check out “Fuck, That Delicious!”! Like smoking weed and watching weird shit about aliens? Check “Action Bronson’s Ancient Aliens”! Want to see Bronson eat hot wings? Check his episode of “Hot Ones”!. And lastly, check out his 4th quarter half court shot single “Durag Vs Headband”. With all of this content, one can only hope that the mad Albanian has a new full-length album and a mixtape or two up his sleeve. You know who it is?! It’s me!

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