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chappell roan ph. by ragan henderson

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I think I’ve been sleeping on Mitski. I love short weird songs.

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“Promises” by Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders, and London Symphony Orchestra sounds like nighttime Animal Crossing music :):):)

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So I’ve made it my person project to listen to Every Song Ever, which is mostly a joke since that’s kind of impossible. But since I kinda abandoned my album listening journey, I think I’m gonna use this blog to post random musings I have on my listening journey.

What follows is one such musing.

I have finally found a One Direction song I like. It is “Olivia.” I think it sounds creative and interesting in a way I have not heard in other One Direction songs, and it helped me come to the conclusion that I think my main problem with One Direction is that it often sounds like the hand-off is too obvious between the different members, so like, I can tell that “Now Harry is singing” and “oh now it’s Zayn’s turn.” That wasn’t the case with this song. This song is just stinkin cute.

Here it is, if you wanna listen:

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couple of suggestions? marlon williams, delaney davidson, cw stoneking.

also, did you end up ever getting that jim croce tattoo?

I’m currently pretty distracted from this project but I’ll add them to the list!

Did I mention the tattoo on this blog, or do I know you irl??

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Jeffree Star - Beauty Killer (2009)

This album is surprisingly good. Jeffree Star sucks and also he really had a good grasp of what made late 2000s pop music good.

First listen: true Would listen again: probs Good for: dance parties

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JAY-Z & Linkin Park - "Collision Course" (2006)

This shouldn't work, but it totally does. This was a ridiculously fun listen.

First listen: true Would listen again: oh absolutely Good for: not taking life too seriously, bouncing around your house

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Niagara - "Encore un dernier baisier" (1986)

I found out about Niagara while at karaoke in a lesbian bar/bowling alley in Montreal, when a French girl sang "L'amour à la plage." I got home later that week and googled "French song that goes ah ooh ah ooh" to no avail, but thankfully me and one of other French girls in the bar had connected on Instagram, so I messaged her and she knew I meant by "French song that goes ah ooh ah ooh."

Anyway. I just like that story.

I was scared to listen to this album because I LOVE "L'amour à la plage"; I think it sounds so unique and fun, and in this music listening endeavor I have gone on, I've been hugely disappointed so many times. Many albums have that one fun song and and the rest is super boring or samey or just bad.

This album defies that expectation. While not every song reaches the heights of "L'amour à la plage," the album manages to maintain a consistent sound without being samey and I think will only grow on me. Its synthpop is funky; lead singer Muriel Laporte's voice is absorbing; it is delightfully 80s.

First listen: true Would listen again: TRUE Good for: bopping, dancing, moving

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The Regrettes - "Feel Your Feelings Fool!" (2017)

How have I not written about this album before?? ONE OF THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF THE 2010S. Although the lyrics are at times maybe a little too simplistic, it matches the dirty, messy sound of the album, and also the band gets pass because they were all teenagers when this came out, I'm pretty sure. I wish The Regrettes still sounded like this. "A Living Human Girl" and "Seashore" are feminist masterpieces. "Juicebox Baby" is like hardcore mixed with pop. "Pale Skin" is beautifully heavy. "Hey Now" and "Lacy Loo" are SO MUCH FUN. Go listen to this.

First listen: absolutely false Would listen again: absolutely true Good for: teen nostalgia, getting UP on your FEET

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Laetitia Sadler - "Rooting for Love" (2024)

At times this album is lounge-adjacent, other times somewhat screechy and boppy, but it is a very enjoyable listen, it's somehow both surprising and vibesy with fun textures throughout.

First listen: true Would listen again: probably Good for: tea in the late morning when you slept in too late

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Trace Adkins - “Songs About Me” (2005)

While title track “Songs About Me” and hometown-wistfulness track “Metropolis” have potential and there are a lot of fun rock and folk elements, almost the entire album is ruined by the hyper-patriotism that plagued country music in the years following 9/11. Except “Honkytonk Badonkadonk,” which is goofy and dumb and perfect.

Is first listen: true Would listen again: false Good for: reflecting on effect country music had on 9/11

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The Chicks - "Fly" (1999)

One of the greatest country albums of all time. Also the first burnt CD I ever received. Just bop after bop after bop. I have no deep thoughts on this. If you are at all open to folksy shit, listen to it.

First listen: absolutely not Would listen again: absolutely yes Good for: dancing, heartbreak, cooking breakfast, singing, killing your husband

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Daisy the Great - "All You Need Is Time" (2022)

The way these two harmonize hits something so beautiful in my brain. It makes you want to harmonize too. Also "Glitter" perfectly conveys how it feels to punish yourself by staying away from everyone and also somehow stay away from yourself.

First listen: half Would listen again: TRUE Good for: sunny but chilly walks

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Mirah - "Advisory Committee" (2002)

I found this album because a couple danced to it on So You Think You Can Dance the summer in high school that I was obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance, and my high school brain was not prepared for it. It's still not the album I can listen to anytime, but I respect the hell out of it.

First listen: false Would listen again: true Good for: zoning out, reveling in your own insignificance

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RobinAugust - "Avocado Head" (2022)

I listened to this album 5 times the first day I found it. Go listen to it. It's got throwback rock and hooks for days and is just brilliant, and RobinAugust was 16 when she wrote it!!!! I cannot stress this enough: Go listen to this album.

First listen: false Would listen again: INCREDIBLY TRUE Good for: somehow both teen angst and nostalgia for a time when rock music ruled. please listen to this album.

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Ariana Grande - "eternal sunshine" (2024)

I was very underwhelmed with "yes, and?", so I didn't have high hopes for this, but on first listen, I see a lot of potential in title track "eternal sunshine," "supernatural," "i wish i hated you," and "imperfect for you." Nothing here sounds particularly new or novel, but those tracks sparkle for me.

First listen: true Would listen again: probably not the whole album, but certain tracks, yes Good for: going with the flow (I was doing work on my house with my parents while I listened to this)

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Randy Travis - "Always & Forever" (1987)

I was really excited for this one because I listened to Randy Travis's "Old 8x10" (1988) last week and loved it, but this one is kind of boring musically and has some weird sexist/asshole undertones lyrically.

I'm beginning to think I don't love country music, I just am very nostalgic about the country songs I already like.....

Anyway, go listen to "Old 8x10."

First listen: true, but "Forever & Always" is one of my favorite songs ever Would listen again: false Good for: Putting "Forever & Always" the song into the world. Go listen to that on repeat, the rest of this album is so mid.