smellofwings

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Soft and Dumb at Outset in Chicago, 09/08

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Bratmobile at Pitchfork Music Festival

For Firebird Magazine

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Enjoy’s New Album is a Summer Treat: A Review of Enjoy’s Exploited

After the release of the single “Make a Dent In The City,” I knew the album would be amazing. Just released May 17, 2023, not too soon after I write this, I have realized I have not (kinda) been disappointed.

Individual Track Ratings

Hard Lesson 6/10

Pretty solid intro! Lyrics aren’t really profound, but I mean… the lyrics resonate. I think my expectation for unique lyrics from The Shears is always so high.

Lately 6/10

Always love a cowbell.

Hill To Die On 8/10

Just sounds like a The Garden song and I have no complaints! Possibly reject from Horseshit on Route 66? I mean it sounds like it was meant to be on the album. But Fletcher’s presence isn’t felt so I guess that’s the only difference (He definitely is somewhere in that track). Lyrics resonate for sure.

Dear John Letter 9.5/10

Another The Garden sounding song, but their early stuff! Yes!

Exploited 9/10

Back to the Enjoy sound—just in time for the namesake. I would say this is my favorite Enjoy-dominant track on the album. The plucky strings here are just so perfect. Guitar solo at the end really makes the song.

Ring Your Bell 7/10

That Horseshit on Route 66 bass line again. I don’t actually have much to say about the song. It’s just good! Nothing profoundly different from the other tracks, but it goes well.

Jerk Driver 10/10

I’d argue the most unique sounding song (not by too much). My second favorite.

Save My Soul, Not My Ship 7/10

Same thing as Ring Your Bell, nothing to say. It’s good, and nothing too different, and it doesn’t need to be!

Promise Land 7/10

I don’t want to be redundant.

100mph on the Highway 7/10

Good transition into the next song already having an idea of what comes next. Almost like a chiller version.

Make A Dent In The City 9/10

I’ve had a lot of time to sit and enjoy (ha) this song. It’s been played 10+ times, and rightfully so. The intro incites this nostalgic feeling, with plucky guitars and cymbals. The lyrics seem to discuss Enjoy’s efforts to making an impact on the aforementioned city, but rather the song has left an impression on me—although simplistic, I’d rank this as one of my favorite songs by Enjoy.

Exploited album cover

The Album as a Whole

Top pick is Jerk Driver with Dear John Letter right behind it.

The album is beautifully cohesive. I don’t have much to say on the lyrics, as they are no different to their usual lyrics—venting.

I would some of the tracks didn’t really need to be there in the sense they didn’t offer anything new instrumentally. Lived for the plucky guitars and the bass line reminiscent of HSOR66. It’s like it’s cousin album. I think the issue I have with listening to Enjoy v. Puzzle is that because seemingly Wyatt’s sound and voice is prominent in The Garden’s music, when Enjoy uses elements similar or the same as the previous The Garden album, it just appears to be an extension rather than something new. In comparison to Puzzle’s works which I have no means of comparing into the twins’ band due to the lack of similarity. I would hate to say that Fletcher decided to quit making music with him listed as the main artist, with The Garden being disbanded subsequently and Puzzle project (among others) discontinued, and Wyatt continued as Enjoy we wouldn’t miss too much of The Garden.

I hate to get too hyper critical, but that’s just how I see it as a diehard The Garden fan. I mean it could be argued Vada Vada is the sound and so it’s expected, but Slater is in the clear. I say all this not in malice, but to just look at their music with a harsh lens considering I’ve listened to every song the twins (together, separately, or with others) have put out. Ultimately, I think they would be well off mixing their old sound with the new. I guess it’s a case of the “I-miss-the-old-sound”s, which I fear every big fan of a musican falls victim to. But I don’t believe they make music for the sake of appeasement (as Enjoy says, and I quote, “Don’t give a shit what you fucking like”) so I will continue to listen and enjoy (ha) as I don’t think I will really get tired of their sound.

P.S. would love to hear this album live, in love with the guitars and I need my ears to witness them (come to Chicago, goddamn it. Only time I’ve wish I lived in Cali).

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“Gra, gra, ah!”: “Spain’s Ice Spice,” Bb trickz, at it Again with New Single “gra” in Collaboration with Group, Los chucky

Former child model and current Instagram model turned rapper, Belize Kazi, or Bb trickz as she prefers (“No es Belize, es Baby Trickz” as she expresses in her single “Bambi”) is on the come up. After blowing up on TikTok with singles “Missionsuicida,” “Bambi,” and “Lo siento mamá,” she was deemed “Spanish Ice Spice, “Ice Spain,” and “Hielo Picante” for her talk-over-the-beat style mixed with interesting samples and beats, i.e. “Missionsucida”’s sample of Law and Order: SVU’s theme song. A lot of hate ensued, with people disliking her style of rapping—not much different from the public’s reaction to Ice Spice, although on a small scale—but she very well gained a fan base (which I’m a part of it) with lovers of experimental rap.

This virality cleverly coincided with the release of her 6-track EP titled, Trickstar, on April 24, 2023, featuring “Missionsuicida” and “Lo siento mama” as well as “Ah!,” “Sentimental,” “Treachory,” and “Dices que.” Although not necessarily having the same rap style as Ice Spice, they share similarities, but what makes Bb trickz unique is her tendency to almost whisper on the track. On May 8, she released her single “Tu Nightmare” on Youtube, exemplifying this raspy, whisper rap. Utilizing this style again in the hook, on June 22, Bb trickz released “gra” with group, Los chucky.

The single features heavy bass and contrasting vocals. I may be biased in saying Bb trickz’s part was the highlight of the song, but it may just be the truth. Los chucky’s members has a rather similar flow to Bb’s previous tracks, almost like a monologue coupled with shouting over the beat. I would argue that this style isn’t meant for everyone. It is important to note that Bb isn’t the first case of this style of rapping, as she was compared to fellow Spanish rapper, Gloosito. It appears this type of silly, unserious rap music is really taking a precedent in the industry.

I hope Bb trickz can take her career further simply to spite people who take music too seriously. Her music is fun! Though not every song is going to be a complete hit (not her fault on this track), she will always keep it interesting and that’s what I love.

From Bb trickz’s instagram

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3l3d3p at beat kitchen in chicago (may 12, 2023)

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100 gecs at byline bank aragon ballroom in chicago (april 20, 2023)

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yves tumor at the riviera theatre in chicago (may 12, 2023)

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frost children at beat kitchen in chicago (march 28, 2023)

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“granny’s house”

through the ledge, i see this humble home in a different light.

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“l d c h i o h d o” 

features the poem “future perfect” by lia purpura

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“how do you say” 

how do you say sex? how do you say kiss? how do you say hug? how do you say love?

what is one to say when faced with the challenge of loving when they’ve NEVER loved?

tilt your head to the right? tilt your head to the left? hands around the neck? on their waist? on their hips? flowers? love letters? or a simple “i love you?”

so you lay in bed, naked bodies side by side, hands interlaced, going through the motions you never truly learned.

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“animalistic.”

inspired by stephen dunn’s “whereas the animal i cannot help but be”

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“this is me/this is our youth”

a piece for st. valentines day 2023 on queer love

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“rachels”

based on jane ruth heller’s “no more rachels”

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“Pride of East Asia”

commentary and exploration on the commodification and objectification of asian women, specifically east asia, and their looks.

[smellofwings]

Breaking the 5-year hiatus: A Review of Aphex Twin’s “Blackbox Life Recorder 21f”

After five years leaving fans with the EP Peel Session 2, Aphex Twin has returned with a new single in anticipation for the EP, Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760, releasing July 28. Anticipated tracks are "zin2 test5," "in a room7 F760," and "Blackbox Life Recorder 22 [Parallax Mix]."

However, "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" is not exactly promising anything new. The single seamlessly flows into the previous EP (as it transitions perfectly from "Pancake Lizard" to the new single). This does not discredit the greatness of the song. The track simply just blends in with the rest of Aphex's discography. It is nothing spectacular with this track as a comeback EP opener.

With the album art capturing the vibe of the song, "Blackbox Life Recorder 21f" has a very industrial feel, almost something you would find in a Tron-esque video game. The drum and bass that comes in at around the minute mark and the synth come together harmoniously to make up the majority of the track. One of the synths have this "hah" sound that reminds me of some, like, creepy ghost-like video game boss. With that, the track just generally makes me think I'm exploring a new area and need to be wary of robot enemies.

I hope to see that vibe continued in the other tracks!