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4ever-untitled · 7 years ago

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My Favorite 20 albums of 2017!

Do these things really need an introduction? This year sucked once again, so let’s just focus on the good music that happened okay? Without further ado, my favorite 20 albums of 2017:

Honorable mentions

St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION

Rapsody - Laila’s Wisdom

Blanck Mass - World Eater

Kesha - Rainbow

Pond - The Weather

Rostam - Half-Light

Birthing Hips - Urge To Merge

20. Alex G - Rocket

“Incoherent” is a word I suppose you could use to describe Rocket, the seventh album from Alex Giannascoli, but I prefer the term “idea-full”. When your head is full of shit to say, it’s not all gonna come out as a simple little guitar ditty. It might come out as a strange looping piano ballad, or even a Death Grips-esque noise rap track. What I’m saying is, feelings are complex and hard to pin down, and Alex G does his best to wrestle with them on here. It’s a balls-to-the-wall, heart-on-your-sleeve country/folk/rock/noise odyssey that feels immensely personal and universal at the same time. Incoherent? Hey, aren’t we all?

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPuxLpVus-k

19. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

Everyone’s doing trap. Everyone’s doing mumble rap with the Migos flow. Fuck rattling high hats. Fuck ad-libs. Big Fish Theory was an important statement this year; a high profile rapper who teamed up with some underground electronic music producers (not beat makers) to make something truly unique that tried to give the hip-hop envelope a little shove. Here’s the thing though: it still goes really REALLY hard. Vince took a lot of risks on Big Fish Theory, songwriting and production wise, and the results speak for themselves.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iAzyhm0p0

18. Mount Kimbie - Love What Survives

Sometimes cold, nearly inhuman music can be some of the most emotionally potent. Radiohead's Kid A comes to mind. Albums that are unflinchingly ugly in their worldview and take every effort to make the music sound like it was created against their will, or perhaps by some machine. Love What Survives manages to sound distant, even otherworldly, and yet also jam packed with feeling. Electronic music has an inherent disconnect to it, like the listener was never considered in the first place, but Mount Kimbie manages to put a great amount of humanity to their throbbing electro post-punk. The results, a mix of electronic bleakness and a rich emotional core, are extraordinarily potent front to back, with excellent vocal performances from some of indie music's most unique voices. Mount Kimbie puts humanity into ugly music because, when you take a good look at it, life as a human is pretty damn ugly.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1kzMFnFSh0

17. Neil Cicierega - Mouth Moods

(Read my full review here) Yes, I’m serious. You know why I’m serious? Because everyone has their thing. We all have our little niche that we fulfill in this world. We all have something we’re good at. Neil Cicerega’s niche (while he is multi-talented) is making mashup albums, and I’ll be damned if he’s not the best at it. With this, his third installment in the Mouth series, Neil has made the mashup a form of high art. The lines between ironic enjoyment and genuine appreciation are blurred as songs you’ve become familiar with are chopped and screwed and combined in a way that seems in one sense horrific, but in another sense totally amazing. Mouth Moods is hilarious and incredibly enjoyable, but after a couple listens, you don’t listen to laugh, you listen to appreciate. A lot of time and care went into these tracks, and the mere idea of some of these combinations are commendable in their own right (AC/DC’s ”Back in Black” and Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” absolutely should not work together, and yet...) This is some of the most fun I’ve had with an album this year, and many moments left me genuinely very impressed, so I’d say that more than justifies it being on this list. It’s not just a meme. This is good music, whether you like it or not.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsoCe7C4Kmk

16. milo - who told you to think??!!??!!??

“I don’t even really have to rap/my nigga, it’s about if you can talk good” proclaims Milo on so the flies don’t come cut “A Song About a Raygunn (An Ode To Driver)”, and on who told you to think, it seems he’s begun talking really good. Milo’s lyricism on flies was poetic, but what he does here on the follow up is straight-up poetry. Less focus on hooks and beats (though those are also very good) and more focus on the words. He seems like the kind of person who obsesses over every syllable, and will never throw in a bar that doesn’t mean the world to him. Milo’s meticulous and abstract style makes diving into his lyrics an absolute blast. He’s a rapper for kids who are tired of hearing about bitches and hoes and want more Shakespeare references and terms that they have to look up in the regular dictionary rather than the urban one. High poetry over a beat. The essence of hip-hop.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mMOsl8qpfc

15. Richard Dawson - Peasant

I, and I’m am sure many others, would file this album in the same category as Joanna Newsom’s Ys. What category is that you ask? Lyrics and melodies that exude a sense of adventure, song structures that meander and drift like waves on the ocean, and stories that feel like mini epics. It doesn’t have a name, but it’s a damn exciting little nook of music that isn’t heard often, and Dawson nails it. Listening to this thing really does feel like a journey; one that’s constantly evolving and never ever boring. Dawson appears to have some sort of fascination with medieval storytelling and instrumentation. But don’t worry, this thing doesn’t sound like Renaissance Fair music. It has a great sense of modern experimentation and loose song structure that differentiates it from actual medieval music, and from pretty much anyone else making folk music right now. It’s an ambitious and wildly fun freak folk album that will draw you in with both its story and its charisma.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7iW5OEeCUw

14. Remo Drive - Greatest Hits

Aw man I miss being in a band in high school. We were one of the smart ones who weren’t under the illusion that “getting big” would be easy if we just really wanted it. We were just in it for fun. Remo Drive, a Minnesotan emo band, are some young whippersnappers who were in the same boat as me in high school, but through some good promotion (including a shoutout from a certain popular music nerd), the boys made it big. I’d be jealous if these guys didn’t completely deserve their success. Okay well, I’m still a little jealous. Regardless, Greatest Hits is a remarkably good debut, and one that has given emo kids around the country something new to latch onto and rightfully obsess over. Is it perfect? No. There are still kinks to work out. But I fucking love this thing and, considering this is their debut album, they can only get better and will hopefully one day become one of the emo greats. Just a prediction though. Maybe they’ll totally blow it. That would suck, but at least we’ll always have the awesome soaring hooks of Greatest Hits to re-listen to over and over and over. And over.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kaMiIaT-sg

13. SZA - Ctrl

Love in 2017 is a weird thing. Everyone's so sex positive (which is a great thing!) that more people are open to hookups or being friends with benefits. That's all good and fun, but it can potentially lead to a lot of hurt feelings and heartbreak if there is a lack of communication. Modern music likes to pretend this isn't the case and that we're all out there trying to find a soulmate, but SZA knows what's really going on. She's tired of being used, and she's not afraid to call out shitty behavior by the men in her life. As you could probably guess, this album is very sexual. In fact, “Doves In The Wind” features the word "pussy" exactly 27 times. But sex and relationships is topic that needs to be discussed in 2017, especially from the female perspective. Having a casual hookup can be awkward and being sexually adventurous sometimes leaves something to be desired; a deep connection with another human being. It's not easy, but it's something worth fighting for. SZA tackles all this with a unique flow and swagger, while still keeping herself vulnerable enough for the listeners to connect to her struggle, which is one the most relatable struggles for young people today: have fun and be casual, or try to find something serious? What Ctrl teaches us is that the answer will only come if you try both, inevitably fail, and then learn from your mistakes. Maybe make a great album about it while you’re at it.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMD63TwzB1o

12. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream

Your childhood home is more than just 4 walls with a floor and a ceiling. Your childhood home is your childhood. Every memory, good or bad, significant or minor, revolves around your home. Mike Eagle’s childhood home, the Robert Taylor Homes in Chicago, was demolished several years ago. Using this symbolic destruction, Open Mike Eagle crafted a subtly ambitious and low-key concept album. He uses it is a jumping off point for insightful takes on life for poor minorities in big cities. He also takes time to reminisce on his memories of the projects, both good and bad. It's intimate, smart, and breezy. But most importantly, it's a meaningful exploration on what it really means to be at home.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQxXubLTIBw

11. Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up

Six years may feel like a long time to wait for an album, but the scope and ambition of Crack-Up justifies it. This is Fleet Foxes’ most dense and intricate album, and one that takes a few listens to fully digest, but also rewards multiple listens with it’s lush soundscapes that reveal a little more of themselves each time. People who, like me, felt that Helplessness Blues was near perfection may not completely vibe with this, but I think that if you truly sit down and give this album a chance, you’ll find a deep beauty to it that’s just as satisfying as anything the band has ever made. It really does feel like an album that would take six whole years to make.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GqgNebPm50

10. Brockhampton - SATURATION Trilogy

In a decade or so when I’m looking back at music through the years, I’ll think about 2017, and immediately go “Oh shit! That was the year of Saturation!” I can’t remember the last time I was as excited about a new force in hip hop as I am about Brockhampton. The three records they dropped this year were somehow all excellent in their own way. Every member shines in their own unique beautiful way, and the production choices are fresh and wonderfully off-kilter. The Saturation trilogy was an amazing feat that could have gone horribly wrong, but all the members and all the fans were extremely invested in making this work, and it did. And then some. The truth of the matter is, no one made an impact this year quite like Brockhampton.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_ZRRlVDVa8

9. Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy

Growing up is really a decision you make and not a fact of life. There are always gonna be man-children who never decided to do something with their life. Flower Boy is the sound of Tyler, The Creator finally deciding to grow up and give listeners something that’s been lacking in his music: sincerity. For the first time, Tyler really lets his sensitive side show, and he created a project that peels back the layers on the wild persona he’s created. Turns out he can do a lot more than just shock value rap. He actually has a great ear for melody and production, and his lyrics have become much more nuanced and emotionally resonant. It seems crazy to say this about a Tyler, The Creator album, but Flower Boy is beautiful, and hopefully Tyler will continue to follow this musical direction for future projects. There’s always more room to blossom.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxlBOBOZHqI

8. Perfume Genius - No Shape

While 2014’s Too Bright was an exploration of Mike Hadreas’ beaming confidence trying its best to balance out his crippling insecurities and fears, No Shape is pure confidence with no room for fear and all the room in the world for love. The opener “Otherside” recalls the opening tracks of his previous albums with its hushed piano balladry. but a minute goes by and suddenly there is an explosion of sparkling synths that pulls you right into the majestic world of this album and lets you know this one isn’t like the ones that came before it. From then on it’s one excellently written and immaculately produced track after another on what may be Perfume Genius’s most endearingly weird and wonderful project to date. Mike’s heart was full of love when he made this album, and you can tell. The grace and care that was put into every song is clear, and it makes for a tremendously satisfying listen.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EVhFTw4igw

7. Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights

The most astounding part about Turn Out The Lights is that, after you hear how heartbreaking and beautiful and fearless it is, you listen a little closer and realize how damn relatable it is. Baker makes epic songs about little things that secretly hurt a lot more than we wished they did. The things we’ve all felt and thought about on lonely nights. Like all great art, it’s not just about the artist, it’s about all of us. It’s about the pain of existing and trying to be a human. Julien’s words are the words we’ve all been wanting to say but have never quite know how to put it, and every line hits like punch to the gut. But through all the turmoil, Baker maintains a sense of hope. As she herself put so gracefully, “The existence of anxiety or depression does not negate my own capacity for joy, or my intelligence; when I can embrace those things, I can have power over them.” Through her music, she gives herself power over her illness and let's us know that, even if everything feels like it's breaking, there is still hope.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV1dMqeb4_U

6. The National - Sleep Well Beast

(Read my full review here) I think Sleep Well Beast might be my favorite National album. That’s right, even better than the near-unanimously agreed upon high mark Boxer. I came to this conclusion when I realized that for every great song Boxer has, Sleep Well Beast raises it one. Boxer’s melancholy opener “Fake Empire” is pretty, but “Nobody Else Will Be There” takes the emotion to whole new levels of devastation. You a fan of “Mistaken For Strangers”? I raise you “The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness”. Like “Brainy”? You’ll love “Day I Die”. It’s basically a better version of Boxer, but it still manages to sound entirely distinct. The main difference being that their songwriting has become more mature and subdued, which in turn made room for the emotions to really ruminate within the music. I mean, it’s been 10(!) years since Boxer hit shelves, and since then The National have really grown up. Everything has more nuance, more depth, and more maturity. Out of all their albums, it’s the one that hits the most consistently, and also hits the hardest.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O6duDDkhis

5. Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

Pure Comedy isn’t for everybody because it wasn’t made for everybody. Honestly, it wasn’t really made for anybody but Josh Tillman himself. He decided to take a step back from the personal squabbles he dealt with on the fantastic I Love You, Honeybear and takes aim at...well, everything really. No topic is safe from Tillman’s deadpan wit and hilariously cynical worldview. The music itself is merely a vessel for Tillman’s impressively coherent rants, which walk that fine line between genius and complete pretension, admittedly slipping into the latter category on some occasions. But even though it can seem like a little much, the scale and ambition of it all can not be undersold. Plus, considering the shitshow that 2017 was, I’d say it’s a perfect time for humanity to get a bit of a wake up call. We needed some crazy old man like Father John Misty to go up on rooftops and tells us that what we’re doing is fucked up. So fucked up, that it’s actually pretty hilarious when you think about it.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHpV08wI-bw

4. King Krule - The OOZ

It really does ooze. Every song, every word, every little moment seems to just pour out of you speakers like syrup. The OOZ is like a puzzle. It has so many moving parts that it takes many listens for it all to start sinking into place. The big picture it slowly reveals is pretty ugly. Krule’s worldview seems tragic, and he constantly feels alone and lost in this world. Nothing makes any sense to him, or the listener for that matter. Why is it called Biscuit Town? What’s a Dum Surfer? I still don’t have all the answers, but every time I listen I get a little closer to this album’s real main idea. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but the joy of listening comes from those little revelations, and from the amazement of knowing how much meaning and detail King Krule put into this wild, unflinchingly weird record. It doesn’t need to be fully understood to understand that it is absolutely brilliant.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5-f1Bnltu8

3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

What is a king to do now that he’s sitting comfortably on his throne? The answer: do what everyone else is trying to do to replace you, and do it way better than any of them. First, he releases “The Heart Part IV”, a track that dares anyone to fuck with him. Then a week later, he shuts down anyone who would ever try with “Humble”, a track that sees Kendrick being anything but. After the absolute shock of “Humble”, we got DAMN, an album very different from but in many aspects just as admirable as To Pimp a Butterfly or Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. Kendrick manages to blow every other rapper completely out of the water with his brilliance and talent while still making it look easy. He breezily flows over some of 2017’s most unique instrumentals with bar after bar about life post-TPAB. Kendrick tries not to let his fans, his haters, his family, or Fox News get in his head. He reflects on his past, looks towards the future, and secures his spot as one of the all time greatest rappers to walk the earth. Damn is right.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glaG64Ao7sM

2. Lorde - Melodrama

If there is one musical lesson I’ve learned over the past 2 years, it’s that you should never underestimate pop music. Last year, Beyonce blew me away with Lemonade, and now in 2017, Lorde is the pop star who didn’t let her one hit wonder define her and ended up with an absolute stunner of an album. When pop music is done as well as it on Melodrama, it strikes a nerve with the listener, connects with them on a deep level, and unleashes their basic instincts: to dance, to cry, to laugh, to remember, to hope. This album makes me want to do all of those things, often all at the the same time. I listen to this album and I feel a real connection with Lorde as she too tries to make heads or tails of life as an adult. Does she ever make heads or tails of it? Of course not, but she’s not here to give answers, she’s here to give you an album that will help you through it, an incredibly powerful and mature album at that, and one that perfectly captures the feeling of being on the edge of adulthood in 2017. This early adulthood college era is a messy time in our lives where we try to pretend that we’re fine and that we totally get it, but at a certain point we just can’t keep pretending. It’s all wild parties, broken hearts, lost friends, and trying to just enjoy it all while we’re still young. It’s a confusing, scary and amazing time in our lives where our only focus is getting what we want. It’s all for fun. It’s all for show. It’s all just a bunch of fucking melodrama, and Lorde captured all of it perfectly. For college kids, Melodrama is a gem. A pop album that wasn’t manufactured by a company, but created by someone who really is just like us. Someone who actually gets it. In a time where millennial bashing seems to be the cool thing to do, I am very happy that this album exists to remind me that it’s okay to be young and a little reckless. I mean, if we’re not reckless now, when the hell else can we be?

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0DjcsK_-HY

1. Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked At Me

I really wanted to make Melodrama my number one this year. I mean, did you see what I wrote up here? That’s an album of the year write up if I’ve ever seen one. Alas, I had to give it to this album. It would be irresponsible not to. No album, hell, no piece of art that I am aware of has ever captured and expressed the experience of grief so intensely as this album. After the passing of his wife Genevieve, Phil Elvrum hid away in his home and eventually gave us this collection of 12 vignettes discussing the complete and utter emptiness he feels now that his greatest love has gone. Every single thing he does, every place he visits, every word he hears is a reminder of her death. It’s completely and utterly heartbreaking, so much so that listening to it feels almost disrespectful, like you’re eavesdropping in on someone’s very private life. Some call it exploitative, and I would be inclined to agree, yet the songs on here treat her with such deep, rich love and true respect. Even so It is a bit paradoxical. As he says in the beginning: “Death is real/someones there and then they’re not/and it’it’s not for singing about/it’s not for making into art” He dismisses the idea of turning the death of a loved one into art while doing just that. But can you really blame him? Phil just doesn’t know what to think about all this, but he knows how to make music, and that’s what he did. Was it to help with grieving? Was it for closure? Understanding? Was it to honor her memory? No one knows, and I don’t ever need to, because the fact still stands that this one of the most powerful pieces of art I have ever experienced. So yeah, it’s the best album of the year, and in fact one of the best ever made.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2R2Ck8qKWM

Well, thanks for reading everyone! Here’s to a great 2018!

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1241380934/playlist/03JmDr3dJSvNigvFAISnbh

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Review: The National - Sleep Well Beast

The National are old. They’ve been releasing music for 16 years and the members are now all sitting comfortably sitting in their 40′s. Things don’t seem as magical as they used to be when you’re encroaching middle age (I can only assume. I don’t have any actual experience with this phenomenon). Sleep Well Beast masterfully expresses all the sorrow and frustration that comes with adulthood, from lost connections (”Empire Line”) to politics (”The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness”) to the fear of not having lived a fulfilling life (”Day I Die”).

While this all may seem rather bleak, Sleep Well Beast still has that quintessential National warmth and glow to it, and is well within the comfort zone for returning fans. The blood-pumping drums of “Guilty Party” and the effortlessly pretty piano progression of “Nobody Else Will Be There” echo the Boxer era, and of course we’re still treated to Matt Berringer’s shaky but beautiful voice, which he excitingly explores more of on here. Many hooks are brought into higher octaves to give them more power and resonance, and on the head banging “Turtleneck”, he even starts sounding like he’s feeling more emotions than just distant melancholy.

Now that’s not a jab at Matt. It’s hard to be a human being and not constantly feel like you’re missing out and that there is something better you could be doing. That’s why bands like the National and albums like Sleep Well Beast exist; to be your only friend when it feels like your real ones have moved on to better things than you. This album feels like your falling into an abyss of what-could-have-been, but the National still reassures us that if we try hard enough, we’ll come out on the other side of the abyss relatively unscathed, and possibly even better because of it.

Sleep Well Beast is not extraordinarily inventive. Most of the tracks on here follow a similar formula that longtime fans will almost immediately recognize. But what makes it still stick out is that every single song comes from a place of real emotion, and all that emotion is translated to music extremely effectively by a group of truly thoughtful and vulnerable human beings. If you’ve ever gotten overwhelmed at a party, almost sent a text to an ex-lover at 1am, or have fallen hopelessly in love with that random girl who took the treadmill next to you at the gym, this album was made for you. Treasure it accordingly.

8/10

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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What to listen to: August 2017

Brockhampton - Saturation 2

Saturation was the hip hop album we all needed in 2017. It was fullscreen, all-encompassing hip-hop, exploring so many musical and thematic ideas it felt like it might burst at the seams. It was a triumphant return for nerdy, thoughtful rap music. Turns out out favorite boy band are so good at churning out hits that they had enough for not one but TWO more albums. The second installation doesn’t reach quite the same heights of its predecessor, but it has all the same member chemistry, expert lyricism, and one-of-a-kind production, so I’d be hard pressed to complain. If Saturation 3 continues this streak of near-perfection, we’ve got a group of legends on our hands.

Brand New - Science Fiction

Emo? Sorry, not really my thing. The genre has always felt a bit melodramatic for me. The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, Brand New’s infamous 2006 album, failed to leave that big of an impression on me like it had for so many people. This new surprise album, Science Fiction, hit me much harder. A recurring theme in emo seems to be taking an issue in your life and singing about it like it’s the end of the world as we know it. Sometimes it’s convincing, but a lot of times it feels contrived. Luckily, I believe every single word sung on Science Fiction. Not a single second feels insincere. Every member pours their heart out into their instrument to create an emotional explosion of an album. It’s angry, it’s sad, it’s triumphant and, most importantly, it’s unflinchingly human.

milo - who told you to think??!!?!?!

“I don’t even really have to rap/my nigga, it’s about if you can talk good” proclaims Milo on so the flies don’t come cut “A Song About a Raygunn (An Ode To Driver), and on who told you to think It seems he’s fully made the transition from rapping to talking good. Milo’s lyricism on flies was poetic, but what he does here is straight-up poetry. Less focus on hooks and beats, more focus on the words words words. He seems like the kind of person who obsesses over every syllable, and will never throw in a bar that doesn’t mean the world to him. Milo’s meticulous and abstract style makes diving into his lyrics an absolute blast. He’s a rapper for kids who are tired of hearing about bitches and hoes and want more Shakespeare references and terms that they have to look up in the regular dictionary rather than the urban one. High poetry over a beat. The essence of hip-hop.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard w/ Mild High Club - Sketches of Brunswick East

A jazzy odyssey that’s worth a listen or two as background music. Not amazing but I still wanted to give it a quick mention cause these guys have been doing some cool stuff lately.

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Adventure Time - S8Ep28 “Three Buckets”

“It’s been your home long enough. It’s Fern’s turn.”

Death has always been in the background of Adventure Time. Although, if I recall correctly, we’ve never had an actual on screen death before, the whole world of Ooo is filled with reminders of a past catastrophe that left most of the population dead. Plus, this show has been known to explore the idea of death in the sense that you become a completely different person (e.g. Simon “died” when he became the Ice King).

But now we have an instance where Finn has, he believes, truly killed someone. While, yes, said person did try to trap him in a dungeon forever, this doesn’t make the trauma any less potent for Finn.

As was hinted last episode, Fern has now decided that he should be the one true Finn. His jealousy and contempt has only gotten worse, with even a simple game of rock, paper, scissors causing him to curse this unfair and cruel world. The glow of his eyes during his most sinister moments hints at the true evil spirit lurking inside him.

As soon as Finn becomes trapped in the dungeon, he immediately starts to lose his cool. Ever since his boom boom incident as a baby, he has had abandonment issues, and he doesn’t even take a second to be sad about it; he’s just pissed. But, his yelling actually saves him this time around as he accidentally discovers that Princess Bubblegum’s robo-Finn arm has a lot of neat features to it. Conveniently, there is a rock drill that Finn can use to escape, as well as a weedwacker, which makes sense of a weapon of choice against Fern.

Fern actually almost wins the battle, his evil spirit turning him almost into a relentless monster, but a simple misunderstanding of the word “finality” by the robo-arm turns Fern into nothing but shredded grass.

Finn returns from the fight speechless. He was betrayed by someone he truly cared about and wanted to bond with, and had to destroy him to ensure that his own life could continue as planned. They could have had both Finn and Fern return to the treehouse and had Jake try to choose which one is real, but that wouldn’t have been the realistic choice. If someone tries to lock you in a dungeon and steal your life, your friends, and everything you have, it’s understandable to want to kill them.

Except Fern isn’t quite dead yet it seems. The end of this episode, as well as the season, introduces a mysterious new figure that wants to adopt Fern as his nephew apparently. So this definitely isn’t the last of Fern. In fact, with the help of this mystery man, he could become a serious force to be reckoned with in Finn’s future.

- I recommend rewatching the first scene to see all the subtle hints that are dropped to show that the Finn we see isn’t the real one.

- Finn’s robo arm can also be used as a pasta maker, a toaster, a small guitar, and a sad marionette.

- I loved the quips the robo arm threw in during the fight. (”What do you think you’re doing?” “I’m weedwacking.”)

- Jake just bought a brand new Vuvuzela and BMO is already trying to break it.

- Fern: “...and if anyone tries to stop me, I’ll slash their flippin’ faces off.” Jake: “True, true.”

- “My bellzer!”

- “I know that look. You just killed someone” *blows vuvuzela*

#adventure time #tv recap #three buckets

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Adventure Time - S8Ep27: “Whispers”

“Am I turning into a monster?”

I won’t even deny it. I love the Lich. His design, his voice (shoutouts to Ron Perlman), and his entire evil essence are all wonderfully scary, and a perfect contrasts to Finn. Also, the fact that he’s now an adorable giant baby is just the best.

Well, he’s mostly a giant baby. After Finn and Jake’s encounter with the Lich in “Crossover”, one of the Lich’s severed hands fell into a multiverse portal and was transported to present day Ooo, going on to haunt Sweet P until he could finally reunite with his full self, and that almost happens, but luckily Sweet P is able to fight off the evil urges and destroy the evil Lich hand. So everyone’s safe. For now at least

One villain way be out of the way for now, but a new one is just emerging in an unlikely place. Fern is living in the shadow of Finn, and he can’t help but compare himself with Finn and get frustrated when he can’t also be the hero. Even when Finn insists he try to “learn from his dinks”, Fern’s resentment and jealousy only grows, leading up to him planning Finn’s demise. It’s a bit of a surprise, but hints of Fern’s evil are dropped throughout the episode, with him consistently resorting to violence when faced with a problem. Finn vs. Fern will be an interesting battle considering they’re technically the same person and have shared memories.

The fact that Fern is turning into a villain shows how much Finn has matured. Fern is probably what Finn was like in his early adventuring days, jealous and always hard on himself. Once Finn understood the value of learning from mistakes and not to take other people’s success as your failure, he became the hero we know today. Fern, on the other hand, hasn’t fully grasped these concept yet, and instead of working through his issues and trying to better himself, he’s taking the easy way out and has decided to try to kill the one thing that makes him feel inferior. Yikes. Someone needs a squoze.

- That was not nearly enough Lich action for my liking. I’m gonna need a full form Lich battle very soon..

- Finn just assumes Fern has “tree powers”. In his defense, Fern was trying to photosynthesize earlier.

- Don’t ever tell a fox that you heard him scuttling. He’ll be brooding about that for weeks.

- I need a gif of Sweet P freefaling into the Lich’s lair. That was fantastic. When did SP become such a badass?

- “We’re gonna handle this librarian style.”

- “The monster!” “Was it LSP?”

- “Why did Mr. Hand call me son? Was that my monster daddy?”

- “Okay Lich, get ready to die. Again. For like the fifth time.” sixth times the charm!

#adventure time #tv recap #whispers

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Adventure Time - S8Ep26: “Fionna and Cake and Fionna”

“Dude, I literally have one bazillion questions”

At the risk of once again severely misinterpreting an episode, (”Of course the Blue Tranch was Patience, you dingus!” I say to myself) I’m not gonna delve too far into theory crafting, I’m just gonna just quickly summarize the episode, and only speculate a little bit.

So the Ice King is still writing his Fionna and Cake stories, and he’s managed to score a gig reading his newest installment at the local library. However, he is interrupted by an old woman claiming to be the real Fionna. This obviously raises a lot of questions, especially for Finn, who has basically just met an alternate universe version of himself.

Fionna comes wielding a tape of one of her and Cake’s adventures, giving us what is essentially an episode inside an episode. Fionna’s tape plays out like a pretty standard early season AT episode. Fionna and Cake go dungeon crawling, find a mysterious object, and meet a mysterious creature inside said mysterious object, who turns out to just be one of their foes trying to trick them. It’s a kinda lame story honestly, but the episode that it’s contained within luckily is not.

After watching part of the tape, Ice King attempts befriending Fionna, with all the excitement and nervousness of a child meeting their favorite TV hero. (Imagine if Finn was a real person you could meet in real life. Yeah, I know) Ice King randomly asks Fionna to move in with him, and she’s suspiciously cool with it. There are hints throughout the episode that this so-called Fionna is up to no good, but Ice King is too starstruck to notice or say anything.

Fionna shows the Ice King another snippet of the tape, but once again she stops it before the end. This causes the Ice King’s curiosity to get the best of him, and he devises a brilliant Indiana Jones-esque sandwich switch to watch the rest of that tape. In classic Ice King style, his stupidity and complete lack of understanding accidentally helps him reveal the truth. He see’s through fake Fionna’s ruse, but is hilariously convinced that she is a mummy come to steal his treasure, hence the reason she wouldn’t show him the rest of the tape. It is then revealed that she is just an old woman who is a fan of the Fionna and Cake TV show.

That’s right. A TV show. I’ll be honest, I’m very confused about all this. Fionna and Cake are clearly based on Finn and Jake but, according to the old woman, Fionna and Cake is an old TV show, so are Finn and Jake based on them? Is it a coincidence? I’m trying to look at this from every angle I can but I just can’t quite figure it out. All we know is that there is a deeper secret going on with Fionna and Cake, especially considering that their stories are literally beamed into Ice Kings melon while he sleeps. Let me know about any theories you have cause I’m pretty much lost.

Fionna and Cake seemed just like a fun side project for the AT team to embark on, but with this episode, we see that these stories have a deep lore and real world implications. Not the best episode of the three so far this week, but one that still has me itching for answers.

- That sequence with Cake’s “eye key” was wild. I watched that at least 3 times in a row.

- There is a poster on Ice Kings wall for “Fionna and Cake and the Haunted Baguette 2″.

- There is also a box in Ice King’s closet labeled “F/J candids”. Gross.

- The old woman brought a plant to hide in with her to the library.

- Reactions to the tape: Pep But: “Was it real?” Banana Guard: “Who was filming all that?” BMO: “Needs more hunks!”

- “I still can’t believe it. The Fionna. In my bathroom. Touching my toothbrush. Throwin’ it into my little trash can.”

- “Never invite strangers into your home, no matter how cool they seem and are.”

#adventure time #tv recap #fionna and cake and fionna

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Ketchup almost made me cry.

Anyone outside of the AT fandom will probably be confused and/or alarmed.

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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I liked your TV Review! Keep up the good work

Thanks friend! I will definitely keep doing them.

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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"weekend city" was just a reference to the elements mini series, how it got that way when finn, jake and bmo returned. the blue tranch was just Patience. apparently when PB started turning into the candy mountain marcy tried to save her before giving up because she couldn't help her and turning into a marshmallow.

Oh shoot thank you! That makes a lot of sense. So this was actually about the recent past and not her distant past. They were literally just catching up. BMO was talking about Islands, and Marcy was talking about Elements. Interesting.

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Adventure Time - S8Ep25 “Ketchup”

“Why don’t you tell me a story about the little girl and the nice lady?”

Watching these new episodes of Adventure Time knowing that the end is in sight can be both depressing and exciting. It’s sad because, even after all this time, the show is still excellent and keeps reminding me how much a hole it’s going to leave in my heart. Yet at the same time, coming to a close means tying off loose ends and answering questions we’ve all been wondering about.

On “Ketchup”, we get some more answers and some more questions about Marceline. The story she tells gives us a look into Marcy and Bonnie’s past, and their relationship’s demise. Plus, we also see pictures of her mom, giving fans a satisfying double hitter of Marceline backstory.

Well, sort of. The narrative Marcy weaves about Weekend City and the potato curse is all very metaphorical and, as Marcy says herself, is up to interpretation. What we do know is that Marcy and Bonnie used to very close, but then something made PB change and the two of them drifted apart. Whether or not the Blue Tranch represents an actual person or something more symbolic is not yet known (Is it Hunson? Help me out here). Also, the “potato curse” most likely wasn’t a real illness and just represents PB becoming more work and science-oriented.

The best part about this is how simple it starts and how deep it gets. Everything begins when BMO comes over to Marceline’s place dressed in an adorable vampire hunter outfit, and is disappointed to learn that all the other vampires are already gone. After that, Marcy asks for BMO to try and download a old flash drive she found in her attic, and everything else is just them killing time. Leave to Adventure Time to create an emotionally intense and beautiful episode whose premise is just “Marcy and BMO pass the time with stories.” It doesn’t feel forced either, because Marceline realizes she’s found the perfect audience to finally talk about her past. With BMO, she’s able to talk about it without really talking about it. Finn or Jake would have seen right through Marcy’s silly puppet show, but BMO just goes right along, even if she knew it was really about Marcy and PB. Then, after the flash drive is revealed to contain old pictures of Marcy and her mother, BMO unintentionally does the same thing back to her by telling her a made up story about the two people in the picture, which may have been closer to the truth than Marcy was ready for. It’s a beautifully animated sequence that turns a generally light episode into a gut punch.

Using BMO as an audience for the puppet show is a brilliant choice because BMO then becomes a symbol for the Adventure Time audience, and the puppet show represents the show itself, giving us another self-referential episode. While yesterday’s “Abstract” used Jake and Jermiane’s changes to represent how much the show as changed artistically, this episode uses Marcy’s childish but secretly heartbreaking story to express how Adventure Time is a show that uses fantastical imagery and silliness to explore deep subjects. The show does this so kids (represented by the innocent BMO) will stay entertained, but still learn something, even if they don’t realize it just yet. This is a great episode to show your kids to teach them about how people will change, even your best friends. It’s sad, but it’s an important part of growing up. The best way to respond is to move on. Or burst into stardust I guess.

Luckily, your kid probably won’t be too bummed out, because this episode contains some absolutely delightful animation. “Beyond the Grotto” animators Alex Butera and Lindsay Small are back, and their animation is a total treat for the eyes. They make all 3 stories really come to life in front of you, which increases their emotional resonance.

It’s been confirmed that there is an upcoming episode called “Marcy and Hunson”. This will probably be the one to really answer the questions about Marcy’s past, but I’m still very glad “Ketchup” exists. It’s a beautiful moment for Marceline as she finally attempts to open up about her past. Maybe this is just a test run, and later we’ll see her finally tell us about who Marceline Abadeer really is, sans puppets and potatoes.

Edit: This person explained Marcy’s story way better than I did so read that lol.

- Seriously, BMO is at peak adorableness in that costume. I wish we could have seen an episode about them actually hunting vampires

- JG Quintel’s cameo is just him going “Wohhhhhh!”, but what else did you expect?

- The designs for Rockstar and Lollipop Girl are very nice variations on Marcy and Bonnie’s usual look, giving them a more childish, doll-like design.

- “I also hunt data recovery!”

- “I’ll never get these normies to to understand what their missing. To be pure potato. PURETATO.” Lauren Lapkus is perfect in this episode.

- Marceline: “Come. On you had a cat with legs on its back.” BMO: “I was being emotionally truthful.”

- “Pancakes are ready! Burp.” Never change, BMO.

#adventure time #tv recap #ketchup

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Adventure Time - S8Ep24: “Abstract”

“Different, yet the same.”

Although many find it pretentious, I am actual quite a fan of modern art. Anything that challenges preconceived notions is definitely something I can get into, and a lot of modern artists love to challenge artistic standards and defy any notion of something being “objectively good”.

This, as you may have guessed, is one of the reasons I adore Adventure Time. While it still adheres to children’s cartoon standards (mostly to try and stay on the air), it isn’t afraid to explore heavy subjects, and it has changed the role of children’s television from eye candy to something that could actually lead to thoughtful discussion and self-discovery.

“Abstract” is self-referential in a way. It explores the meaning of abstract and/or modern art, while being in itself a piece of abstract art, especially during Jake’s dream sequence.

Art is an expression of the artist, and when the artist goes through changes, so does their work. While Finn has always been one to just go with the flow, Jake is afraid of these kind of changes. Firstly, he is frustrated that he not only has started to change appearance, but has started to gain some strange powers. He insists that he’s the “same ol’ Jake” even after sprouting bat wings and somehow reading the emotions of a piece of toast, causing people to act strangely around him. Secondly, he is upset about Jermaine’s change in painting style. Jermaine used to only paint realistic landscapes but now he has changed to abstraction, and Jake is convinced something is wrong.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with Jermaine. He just sees things differently now. Jake just isn’t ready to accept that change can be a natural, positive thing. “Deep down, I’m not different. And you’re not different either, right? You’ll go back to painting landscapes”, he pleads to his brother while holding back tears. After Jermaine explains that his paintings are still him and no one forced him to do any of this, Jake finally takes a breath and tries to truly appreciate his brothers work, leading to a powerful internal monologue.

“The shapes are always changing. Changing is their normal state. Like us. Even if we’re not changing on the outside, we’re changing on the inside constantly. There’s some stuff about me that I’ve been ignoring for a long time. I’m afraid of that stuff. But it’s part of who I am. As long as I know the shape of my soul, I’ll be alright.”

(Quick reminder that that monologue is from a so-called “kid’s show”) I’m not sure what exactly the internal changes he’s referring to are, but this is nonetheless an important moment for Jake. It took him a physical change to realize that he needed to accept the changes on the inside, and now that he has, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a happier, more fulfilled Jake. One that’s different, but still the same ol’ Jake.

- A new episode every day this week? Cartoon Network you spoil us.

- I did some research, and the weird blue Jake with five eyes is his technically his “true form” since he is a shape-shifter, which I think makes the message here even more powerful.

- Gotta love a cameo from Dirt Beer Guy!

- Adventure Time dream sequences are always a treat. I love how Jake’s dream world is very taco-centric

- Performance of the week goes to Tom Sharpling for his always warm and thoughtful Jermaine.

- “Getting ground into flour and the made into bread really did a number on this wheat’s sense of self.”

- “Look at this! I can almost walk the dog!”

- “You look nothing like Jake, but I believe you.”

- “Oh I totally don’t understand anything.”

#adventure time #tv #tv recaps #abstract

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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What to listen to: June 2017

Hey there. This is new thing where I talk about new albums I heard this month that I liked. Here it go. Didn’t have time to talk about 4:44, so I’ll be reviewing that separately.

Richard Dawson - Peasant

BROCKHAMPTON - SATURATION

I have no doubt in my mind that in 10 years time, the underground hip-hop collective everyone is talking about will no longer be Odd Future, it will be Brockhampton, the All-American Boy Band. This group of rappers, producers, and visual artists came together to make an album that is ridiculously unique, unabashedly emotional, and kinda just perfect. Some songs are bangers, some are slow jams. Some get you dancing, some get you reflecting. No matter what is happening though, you’re entertained and engaged the whole way through. These boys are going far. Standouts: HEAT, GOLD, STAR, TRIP, BUMP

SZA - Ctrl

I’m just gonna put it out there: Ctrl is 2017′s Lemonade. It’s sleek, sexy, confident, and it bravely and truthfully discusses the life of black women in 2017 America, and god damn is it groovy. We need more albums like this please. Standouts: Supermodel, Love Galore, Go Gina, Garden (Say It Like Dat)

Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up

Six years may feel like a long time to wait for an album, but the scope and ambition of Crack-Up justifies it. This is Fleet Foxes’ most dense and intricate album, and one that takes a few listens to fully digest, but also rewards multiple listens with it’s lush soundscapes that reveal a little more of themselves each time. People who, like me, felt that Helplessness Blues was near perfection may not completely vibe with this, but I think that if you truly sit down and give this album a chance, you’ll find a deep beauty to it that’s just as satisfying as anything the band has ever made. Standouts: Naiads Cassadies, Kept Woman, Third of May / Odaigahara, If You Need To Keep Time On Me, Crack-Up

Lorde - Melodrama

To be candid, if I had written this review about a week ago, it would have been kind of lukewarm. It might not have even made this list. I thought Melodrama was good, but it didn’t quite astound me, and I wasn’t really getting all the hype. But then one day I decided to walk around my neighborhood at night and tried the album again. I was a fan from “Green Light” since first listen, but as I was walking, the other tracks started to click with me, and I got the hype. What Lorde has crafted really is astounding. It’s pop for sure, but it has a unique and edgy sound, and never cuts any corners in terms of production and songwriting.. You can tell that this is an album by a real person who has a lot to say, and someone who is extremely good at articulating what they’re feeling. Melodrama is a testament to the emotional heights pop music can reach if done right. Standouts: Green Light, Sober, Homemade Dynamite, Liability, Supercut

Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

This thing is just full of bangers, simple as that. The production is tight and plays with more experimental sounds (Especially “Yeah Right”, with production credits going to the eclectic beat makers Flume and Sophie) and Vince’s charisma, flow, and lyricism is as potent as ever. Big Fish Theory is a wild ride, so don’t be corny and go listen to it. Standouts: Big Fish, Love Can Be…, Yeah Right, Homage, Party People

Algiers - The Underside of Power

The protest album has become an important part of music culture, and it’s had a comeback lately. While it can be controversial for big name celebrities to voice political opinions, it’s usually a subtle remark and nothing too intense. Which is exactly the reason why we need bands like Algiers. Sometimes, the right response is anger, and Algiers delivers plenty of that here. From it’s opening sentiment, “We won’t be led to slaughter”, they make it very clear how they feel about the current state this country is in. The fuzzy bass, distorted effects, and screeching guitars reflect the singers emotional state of unapologetic anger contempt and complete refusal to be silenced. Standouts: The Underside of Power, Death March, Cleveland, Animals

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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That second pic got me feelin lot of feels

Adventure Knights

The Wise King; The Ice King

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4ever-untitled · 8 years ago

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Silicon Valley - S4Ep10: “Server Error”

“If you’re gonna eat a giant plate of steaming hot shit, we figured it should probably be a team effort.”

Richard Hendrix is one of those protagonists with whom it gradually becomes harder and harder to side with. The truth is, he’s always been an asshole. He acts entitled, as if the world owes him success, and always whines like a baby when he sees other people become successful even if they worked hard and deserved it.

That’s why an episode like “Server Error” was very necessary. Richard hitting rock bottom and having to finally humble himself has been a long time coming, and it’s very satisfying to see him finally get what he deserves.

But it’s also a bit sad. As him and the gang have been through their numerous ups and downs, we’ve been right there with them. No matter how shitty they act, we always want them to win, making the shot of Gilfoyle, Dinesh, and a teary-eyed Richard looking out at Antons remains actually contain some strong emotional resonance. So finding out in the end that they won completely by accident due to something that seemed inconsequential at the time (in classic Silicon Valley fashion) was a relief, and it didn’t feel like a cop out. It felt like the world finally rewarding Richard for taking the time to step back and face the consequences of his behavior.

It does make sense why Richard has turned into a bit of a prick. His rant to Dinesh and Gilfoyle actually had a lot of truth in it. For four seasons this man has been following all the rules and trying to do what’s right, and it’s resulted in nothing but hardship at every turn. So he finally decided to walk the right hand path and do whatever needs to be done to make his vision a reality. He just took it too far.

So in the end, I can’t really be that mad at Richard Hendrix. Even though he was a dick to my sweet boy Jared and took advantage of the clueless but good-hearted Big Head, I’ll still be sticking with him and the rest of Pied Piper for seasons to come.

Besides, the writers didn’t just leave us with the team being in perfect standing. Having Gavin Belson back in the picture is a very welcome return, and I’m excited for more classic Gavin v. Richard shenanigans to ensue. Stephen Tobolowsky, you were a delight, but I agree with Gavin: it’s time for Jack to make one last stop at Jackson Hole.

As for Erlich, we all knew he was going to be leaving the show, and Thomas Middleditch said that his send-off was going to be less than ceremonious simply because the writers weren’t sure of his departure when writing the season. But honestly, being left in some house in Tibet high as fuck on Opium is probably the most Erlich way to say goodbye there is. I think it really was time for him to let Richard out of the nest and try to fly on his own. I’ll miss him, but hey at least we didn’t lose Jared!

So now things are pretty much back at square one for Pied Piper, which leaves the writers with a clean slate to make new and exciting obstacles for the team to face in season 5. And just like Jared, I want to be there til the bitter end.

- Thomas Middleditch really showed off his chops this week. He proved that Richard is much more complex than stumbling over words and making people uncomfortable. We got to see his more abrasive side and his remorseful side, the latter of which even made me get a bit choked up. Emmy’s, looking at you again.

- Honestly, if we had lost Jared that would have been a dealbreaker for me. He is hands down my favorite of the main ensemble, and I can’t live without his pure heart and his hilariously unsettling references to his past. Long live Jared. That guy fucks.

- Gavin left Erlich in Tibet for five years and ordered a mariachi band at a restaurant. So happy to have you back Gavy baby.

- I would pay good money to see Gilfoyle in his cat costume.

- Big Head’s username is “password” and his password is “password”. It was easier that way.

- Still not sure if I find Gilfoyle’s laugh hilarious or unsettling. Or both.

- Physical comedy award for this week goes to Jared for busting out his shoe to defend Richard from Melcher.

- “I got it from a woman. She didn’t hit me. The man did. Because of sex. That I gave to her.” Richard Hendrix has an incredible innate ability to explain things in the worst way possible.

- “You only make that face when your dick is on fire.”

- “Are you gonna be comfortable with casual racism?”

- “Opium? Are you fucking kidding me? I was on the phone for like 3 minutes.”

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