lifeslittlesoundtracks

[lifeslittlesoundtracks]

Hozier - Nina Cried Power

I don't even know where to start with this album. I couldn't make myself stop between songs to write down impressions - and that only speaks to how amazing it is! I know that there are soo many well written articles and reviews out there already, but I'd like to lend my small voice to the pile.

Nina Cried Power is the first to go on a playlist, simply because it's the first song on the album. It's a song that is so versatile, but at it's heart, it's a song  that makes you feel. It gets you pumped up, brings you hope, lets you feel alive. It reminds you that a better world is worth the fight. It got me up and dancing and crying! [Inspiration to be Fierce]

NFWMB. This song... I liked it the first time that I heard it, but it took me listening to it a second time to really love it. I actually like the imagery and the lyrics better than the actual music here - which is fairly standard for me, I think. There have been other songs where the music has similar qualities where I tend to like the music less because the dreamy quality almost threatens to push me into dissociation. However, that said... just the general idea? Whoever Hozier's baby is, they're a total badass! And it's actually really refreshing to hear that in a song. Hozier's basically saying that the apocalypse was coming, saw how much of a badass his love was, and turned around and left. Like. Everyone writes about how beautiful their love is, etc, yeah? But this person is fierce and strong and good hearted, and I think that is just a really amazing thing to put in a song.  

Moment's Silence (Common Tongue). Okay guys - look, I love me a dirty song. But more than that, I love a sophisticated dirty song. That this song about oral sex is also political and wrapped up in metaphor, with a lively, jaunty tune that makes you want to move your body? Sweet perfection. [Date Night]

Shrike. As amazing as the other songs on this EP are... this one is my favorite. It's quiet. It's gut wrenching. It's visual as fuck, okay? There's heartbreak here, and violence, and regret, and a metaphor so strong it's visceral. I had to sit down after hearing it, because it felt like... not a gut punch, but like a sudden sagging revelation of a puppet whose strings are cut. Two playlists for this one. [Aesthetic Songs] [Autumn Music]

Overall, this album was phenomenal. I especially liked that it was imminently LGBT+ friendly, as he refers to his lover as 'you' or 'my baby' etc - I didn't notice a single she/her, making these love songs super inclusive. (Not a surprise with Hozier, but still worth the kudos!) The imagery was top notch, the music and lyrics soulful and sublime. Definitely worth the wait. [Playlists] [FAQ]

[lifeslittlesoundtracks]

Bloom by Troye Sivan

Our inaugural post! On a mission to overhaul my playlists, I’m giving full albums a go. These are my initial thoughts on Bloom. [Playlists] [FAQ]

Bloom by Troye Sivan

Seventeen - This song makes me melancholy... definitely in that odd place between regret and nostalgia thinking of my own experiences. I think it would be good inspiration for a creative project? The lyrics and vocals have sort of a dreamy, trippy sound to them underlaid with sadness.

My My My! - I had to look at the lyrics while listening to this one, because I wasn't quite able to get them just by listening. Honestly, it didn't really resonate with me?

The Good Side - I really like the intro here. Oh! This is another sad song. It definitely makes me feel really sad, but also I like it? This is definitely the first song to make it to a playlist. I think the idea behind this is very interesting, and while it's a little painful to really think about... yeah, I like this one. [Breakup Songs]

Bloom - Oh! Wow. Hello, this song is dir-tay, but I'm grooving it. Definitely one to put on the [Sexy Songs] playlist. The only thing with this is that the main statement 'I bloom just for you' is repeated... well, alot. I can definitely see certain occasions where this song would work out well with that, but less so for just casual listening.

Postcard - Okay, this one hurts. It's... yeah, damn, this song hurts. It's super emotive, and I honestly wish I'd had it about a month ago when I was in a bit of a rough patch. [Tension Between Us]

Dance to This - I really *wanted to like this song, but it honestly just... didn't hit the spot. I liked Ariana's solo verse, but I just didn't really connect to the music or the lyrics, to be honest.

Plum - Okay, so this metaphor was top notch. I'm not sure that I was actually digging the music itself - but I think that has more to do with just... I don't think I'm Troye's music demographic, to be honest. But the lyrics here? Yes! [Tension Between Us]

What a Heavenly Way to Die - So, I totes thought that this was another break up song at first, but it's not! I think I'm solidifying my position that just from the music itself, Troye isn't a top artist for me. It's too... smooth? Whatever music genre is, I can't connect to it very well. Which is a fancy way of saying that I wanted to dig this, but I just wasn't.

Lucky Strike - So this song *just doesn't make a playlist, but I do like the intimate, sensual vibes it's got going for it. In fact, the lyrics here? Fucking perfect.

Animal - Ugh. Seriously. Ugh. I *really want to love this, because the lyrics again, are top notch. I just don't like the music, which actually makes me pretty sad.

Favorite Song? Would have to be The Good Side, hands down. I just think it's such an interesting take on a break up song, and it's... a very mature outlook, I think, and that it sort of reflects a lot of realism which can sometimes be missing from music. It is what it is sometimes.

Overall Thoughts? I’m glad that I chose to listen to this album. I’ve heard of Troye before, but I hadn’t taken the time to really sit down with any of his music. And even though overall I didn’t connect well to his style of music, there were some songs that I really liked and I’m glad I have the experience of finding them!

{Note - obvs the album cover doesn’t belong to me. My best guess is that it belongs to the label.}