#i've been listening to a lot of punk lately i love the songs that sound like gibberish and the singer sounds like a cartoon character

[aromantic-diaries]

By the way if you're tired of love songs you can just listen to punk rock where usually the lyrics aren't about love and even if they are the singing is so unintelligible that you won't understand it. Also guitar go fast

[earphone-jacks]

My Hero Academia Class 1-A Music Headcanons

I've been catching up on the manga and thinking a lot about Jiro making a collaborative playlist to help her really connect with her classmates lately. Anyway,

Deku listens to soundtracks, like bombastic instrumentals from old superhero movies, and I like to think he enjoys some fantasy adventures too. He also likes J-rock, including some openings and endings from the anime. He's pretty open to recommendations no matter the genre, but generally prefers more mellow stuff to help him relax and study or just unwind after a long day, and tends to listen to the same small handful of his favourite songs anyway.

Bakugo listens to heavy metal, particularly extreme metal. He loves the blast beat drumming and harsh vocals. A lot of the lyrics are incomprehensible upon listening, but if you took the time to look some of them up, they'd give more insight to his more vulnerable side that he's too prideful to show. I also like the idea of him having a softer private playlist that nobody lives to speak of.

Ochako didn't really seek out new music on her own before high school and formed her taste mostly from the radio or recommendations from friends. She has a lot of fun going through the playlist and she's happy to listen to anything from bubbly J-pop to heavy metal. I think she'd be a big fan of Babymetal.

Iida also likes instrumentals for studying, but more classical, and with faster tempos that he can take his morning runs to as well, like allegro. Something like hardcore techno would be funny, maybe some sport anthems, and a few more mellow rock songs that he picked up from his brother for when he needs to cool down.

Todoroki was very isolated and had a really limited musical library before high school. He'd also just listen to some classical, traditional Japanese music, or whatever was on the radio, if anything at all. He later gravitates to edgy alternative rock, or anything with relatable lyrics that help him vent his emotions. I think he could use that.

Tokoyami likes goth, modern classical, anything mellow, dark and ethereal-sounding with poetic lyrics. His music is oddly calming and haunting at the same time. He doesn't like anything too loud or harsh-sounding, partially because it can excite Dark Shadow too much.

Tsuyu and Koda both listen to cozy movie soundtracks, like from Disney or Ghibli, folk, lo-fi, ambient nature sounds, anything grounding and soothing, or "cottagecore".

Momo listens to classical, traditional pop, or modern music with elements of either, like baroque/chamber pop.

Jiro is already confirmed to have a preference for rock, probably alternative rock, and punk. I'd like to think some metal as well, but she'll listen to almost any genre and has impeccable taste in everything. She was largely influenced by her parents, and maybe grandparents, so her library spans a few decades as well.

Mina and Toru both listen to upbeat J-pop, and I like to think one of them introduced the others to Little Glee Monster. Maybe some sappy or wistful love songs more in private. Mina also likes 70s pop, disco and hip-hop, the kind of music that just compells you to dance and sing at the top of your lungs, maybe some psychedelic space rock and sci-fi horror soundtracks.

Kirishima is also confirmed to like 80s rock, like Eikichi Yazawa and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi. I'd also think he likes stuff from as far back as the 50/60s as well, since Yazawa is the closest thing to Elvis from Japan that I know of, and that he picks up some more modern hard rock and metal mostly from Bakugo and Tetsutetsu as well.

Kaminari and Mineta both listen to J-pop, mostly from female idols that they think are cute. Besides that, Kaminari likes pop rock/punk and a lot of English music, and seems to have formed a lot of his taste from whatever was popular on the radio or social media with the occasional unexpected banger. He also had a dubstep, Vocaloid and hyperpop phase.

Sero is almost as adventurous as Jiro with music. He has a talent for finding underrated indie bands, and songs in a few different languages as well.

Aoyama also listens to some classical, but more opera, as well as French pop, some disco and house that he can vogue to. It's mostly upbeat but there's some sad-sounding songs in there as well that the others can't translate.

Shoji doesn't have much to contribute, being a minimalist, but he generally likes the more mellow indie stuff. He can get overstimulated easily.

Sato and Ojiro both like upbeat stuff, and enjoy music more as background noise for training, or baking in Sato's case. I also think Sato would enjoy the girls' bubbly pop music, and Ojiro would like some traditional stuff. Idk man they're nothing characters

[themuse-if]

Another 20 (or so) Questions with De Hartley

Interviewer: Welcome to another installment of our character interviews, where we dive deep into the lives and minds of our favorite cast members of The Muse. Today, we have De Hartley with us, the bassist of The Rebel Rejects. De, thank you for joining us. Could you start by telling us what made you want to pursue music?

De: Hey, thanks for having me. Music has always been a part of my life, thanks to my dads. They're both incredibly talented, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. Joining The Rebel Rejects was a natural step for me to explore my love for music and express myself creatively.

Interviewer: Describe your music.

De: I aim to create a solid foundation that others can build on. It's about rhythm, melody, and telling a story through music. *starts to get a bit more intense* I listen to a lot of music from all genres! There are so many different nuances that you can of discover through exploration. While our music is mostly punk I like to try and weave in other vibes so that we have a more complex sound.

Interviewer: How do you want to be seen by others?

De: I want to be seen as someone who's authentic and passionate about their art. I want people to see that I'm dedicated to my craft and always striving to improve.

Interviewer: How do you want your art to be seen by others?

De: I want my bass playing to evoke emotion and connect with people on a deeper level. I want it to be seen as a form of expression and storytelling, much like the music that inspired me.

Interviewer: Describe your best friend(s)?

De: *soft smile* I've been lucky to have friends like Jo and Ro who accept me for who I am and support me no matter what. Ro is a tiny tornado always wreaking havoc and causing mischief, but damn I love them for it. They always keep me on my toes. Jo is rain on a summer day. It's like one moment they're undeniably sweltering hot on the kit and then once it's over they're so ridiculously calm and chill.

Interviewer: That's such an interesting way to describe them! What is your latest obsession?

De: Cooking! It's not a new obsession, but lately I've really been upping my game. I've been experimenting with different recipes and techniques, trying to expand my culinary skills. It's a fun and creative outlet for me outside of music.

Interviewer: Describe your ideal partner.

De: Someone who's passionate about their own pursuits and supports mine. Someone who's kind, understanding, and shares my values. I tend to take on a lot of responsibility and put too much pressure on myself, so it would also be great if my future partner could help me chill take a step back and relax.

Interviewer: What was your first kiss like?

De: It was awkward but sweet. It happened at a friend's party. Get a bunch of curious preteens together and they're bound to play spin the bottle. Her name was Cleo, I had braces, she wore glasses, we shared a cute little peck.

Interviewer: Have you ever been in love?

De: Yes, yes I have.

Interviewer: When was your last relationship, and why did it end?

De: I recently broke up with someone, Mariana. They're great, one of my best friends actually. We're going to different universities and decided that it would be best to let ourselves fully explore. We were together all throughout high school, and I'll miss them, but we're still young. Who knows maybe we'll get back together one day. *shrugs*

Interviewer: What’s your ideal Friday night?

De: Playing music with The Rebel Rejects, followed by a cozy night in with good food and good company.

Interviewer: What’s the last song you listened to?

De: "Heroes" by David Bowie. It's a classic that always gives me chills.

Interviewer: How do you behave in a relationship?

De: *becomes thoughtful* I generally take care of others. It's not like I mind taking the lead I actually *rubs the back of their neck* I actually really enjoy it. Leading someone is my way of trying to show them how much I cherish them.

Interviewer: Do you approach those you’re interested in or let them come to you?

De: I'm pretty good at reading people so it's not hard for me to tell if someone is interested. If the feeling is mutual, then I'm definitely down to play the game and make the first move.

Interviewer: What is your biggest pet peeve?

De: *stifles a chuckle* I'm not sure this counts as a pet peeve, but I hate pineapple on pizza. If someone orders pineapple on pizza I instantly feel like I can't trust them.

Interviewer: I 1000% agree! What do you notice first about a person?

De: Their lips. *eyes flicker down to the interviewer's lips* I tend to glance at a persons lips when they're speaking. *eyes flick back up*

Interviewer: *clears throat* Speaking of lips...Ro tells me that you and the other Rebel Rejects have been...canoodling. How did your partner, Mariana, feel about that?

De: They knew and they were fine with it. I was always very open and honest with them. I've known that I'm pansexual since my first year of high school and while I enjoyed exploring my sexuality with Mari I also wanted to do more. They were very understanding and joined in every once in a while.

Interviewer: Honest and clear communication is definitely key. How are you so extremely mature for your age. Ok... now I know the readers are dying to know. *slides to the edge of their seat* What was it like the first time you and your bandmates got hot and heavy.

De: *tries to hide their smirk* Are you sure you want to hear? It's not really that interesting. *shrugs

Interviewer: *pinches the bridge of their nose* Dear god. Are you trying to kill me. Trust me we all want to know.

De: *eyes literally twinkle* Well if you insist. I'll start from the beginning of the night. So their was already some tension between Ro and I, because they had bailed out on a few practices the same week of our first gig. We had had a few songs that were rock solid, but decided to write a new one. We wanted a song that would be a real crowd pleaser. It was a good song but we didn't have time to slack on perfecting it. So the day comes and Ro barely has the lyrics memorized. We start the performance without a hitch but when it comes time for Intergalactic Drag, that's the song, we completely flopped. Well Ro did at least.

Interviewer: Sorry to interrupt but what does this have to do...

De: *holds up their hands* I know, I know, I'm almost there. So we go back to my place after the show. We're all sitting in my room dead silent until I flip my fucking shit! I start going off on Ro about how their slacking is dragging or rep down. Jo is just staring at us bewildered and Ro decides to clap back. Next thing I know Ro is on their toes trying to get in MY face! I'm looking down at them and we're both breathing heavy right before our lips crash together. *starts to laugh* and Jo is just sitting in my desk chair watching us biting their lip, until we pull them in and then......actually I'm just gonna stop there. Everyone likes a little mystery right.

Interviewer: *furiously fans themself* Ok, ok I see. Yeah lets stop there. I had one more question for you but I'm absolutely parched. *takes a deep breath* Anyways, thank you so much for coming in today. It's been quite the experience.

[monsterkin-culture-is]

dont really consider myself kin but i would say i share lots of community and culture w kinfolk. anwyay, im a vampire irl and here's some music that's vampire-ish to me:

(song - artist, mostly emo/pop punk)

graveyard dancing - destroy rebuild until god shows

eternally yours - motionless in white

bloodsucker - a day to remember

blood - my chemical romance (obviously)

a grave mistake - ice nine kills

reaper - have mercy

caraphernalia - pierce the veil

choke - i dont know how but they found me

whisper - burn the ballroom

blood - bad omens

No worries on not being kin, you're welcome here! Thank you so much for your submission. I'm sorry this is such a late response, I've been super busy and a bit exhausted lately haha!

Graveyard Dancing: Yeah I didn't notice the acronym until I saw the artist's spotify page... love the song though! Eternally Yours: I have quite a few friends who listen to motionless in white so I should really explore them more. At first I thought it was a little too heavy for me but the way the song exploded into the melody was just *hearts in my eyes*!! LOL. And I'm definitely seeing the immortality themes. This is one of my unexpected faves!

Bloodsucker: This is just my taste!! I love some sinister modern rock. Easy save to my liked songs.

Blood (MCR): No surprise I know (and like) this one! It was going to be on my vampire songlist but I thought it might be too popular so I decided to add something a little less known in its place. Blood was actually one of the first MCR songs I heard. I'm not an MCR superfan but my faves are Teenagers, Mama & You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison (which were also some of the first I heard haha)!

A Grave Mistake: I'm really starting to think Ice Nine Kills might be one of my newly discovered faves! They're one of my fave genres and I LOVE all of the supernatural & horror movie themes in their songs. Someone else recommended Love Bites (spotify link) to me on my werewolfkin songlist and I've honestly been listening to it on loop.

Reaper: Honestly not really my sort of thing but not everything is going to be!

Caraphernalia: A lot of my friends have recommended Pierce the Veil to me! Again this one isn't quite my vibe but it reminds me a bit of Set It Off who I do love!

Choke: Another one I know! I discovered IDKHOW over lockdown and was addicted to them for like 2 years. Still love them! In fact this ask might have reignited that, I've been listening to them a bunch since typing this out. My IDKHOW faves are Absinthe, Modern Day Cain, Social Climb & New Invention. I used to loop Mx Sinister but I've sorta heard it too much now LMAO

Whisper: I've got this one liked but I didn't recognise the name! So thank you for letting me rediscover it LOL! I'm big on that folk sound mixed with rock so I should probably check out Burn the Ballroom more...

Blood (Bad Omens): A little too much scream for me but I'm kind of falling in love with the guitar & the orchestral elements in the background. I think this one is definitely going to grow on me with time.

Guessing your music taste from these, my recommendations would be (spotify links) Bloody Creature Poster Girl by In This Moment, Blood by In This Moment, I Don't Care by VIOLENT VIRA, and Evil Walks by AC/DC, though that's more classic rock.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these! It's nice to meet someone with similar taste and I've defo found some new music, especially Bloodsucker! It's also always nice to hear from a fellow undead.

[strawberryblondebutch]

Back by unpopular demand, it's my top albums of 2023! While 2022 suffered a dearth of good artists that made it impossible to cobble together a top 10, I struggled this year to whittle my 50(!!)-album shortlist down to my top.

Same rules as always: everything on this list is a full-length album (no EPs) of largely previously unreleased material (no reissues, no cover albums, no Taylor's Version) arranged in an intentional manner (no B-sides or rarities albums). Now, behold!

10. DOG PARK DISSIDENTS - THE PINK AND BLACK ALBUM

I hope I'm not the only punk frustrated with the decline of queer rage in the music scene. Everyone's sad and no one is angry. If you're sick of being well-behaved, this is the album for you. I've been a Dog Park Dissidents fan for years now, and I'm thrilled to see them put out an LP, especially one as great as this one.

9. SINCERE ENGINEER - CHEAP GRILLS

Something everyone needs to know about me: I love a girlflop. There is nothing more endearing than an absolute disaster of a woman, and no one is flopping through life quite like Deanna Belos. Her third album brings her scratchy-voiced brashness into her early 30s, and as much as I hope for an end to her crisis, at least she has a good soundtrack going.

8. ALL GET OUT - ALL GET OUT

Wouldn't it be easy if I didn't listen to any albums? If I just put my favorite bands in the top ten and said "that's enough hard work, I think"? Well, I don't, because sometimes there's a surprise. All Get Out has frustrated me for a while, as their Southern-fried brand of rock and roll is something I should like, but they never seemed to put it all together... until now.

7. BLONDSHELL - BLONDSHELL

Sabrina Mae Teitelbaum showed up at the eleventh hour to wreck my rankings. I was unaware of Blondshell until they opened for Liz Phair a month ago, and I was intrigued enough to follow up and listen to her debut. Her stage presence needs some work -- unlike, say, Foxing's latest album, which I learned to love once I heard it live, I think Blondshell is better recorded -- but if this is her first effort, I can't wait to see what she does next.

6. ZZ WARD - DIRTY SHINE

2023 was the year of blues rock artists going independent, and their music was all the better for it. The Record Company was a late cut for my honorable mentions, but ZZ takes the sixth spot here. There was a lot riding on Dirty Shine: she was independent and had been mostly silent since the pandemic. With some of the tightest production I've seen this year, she hasn't missed a step.

5. QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - IN TIMES NEW ROMAN...

Talk about someone who's been through the wringer since their last album. Josh Homme battled cancer, alcoholism, and a bitter divorce, and his band's latest release is one of pent-up rage. It bears strong shades of 2007's Era Vulgaris, which was divisive in its own time, and as a result, some might hate In Times New Roman... for its looser, crunchier sound. For me? It's exactly what I like to hear.

4. SPANISH LOVE SONGS - NO JOY

I have a confession: I'm a terrible album reviewer. It takes me weeks or months to listen to something new, even for my favorite artists, like Spanish Love Songs. I didn't get around to No Joy until just before I went to see SPL open for Hot Mulligan, at which point I felt like the time had come. This album was an acquired taste, smoother and more polished than 2020's Brave Faces, Everyone, but like Frightened Rabbit's 2016 Painting of a Panic Attack, the sparser sound lets you focus on what Dylan et al. are trying to say, and you can soon tell No Joy is an album that needed to come out for his own sake.

3. HEART ATTACK MAN - FREAK OF NATURE

Speaking of "late on the draw," behold Heart Attack Man, a band I should have loved... if I ever got around to listening to them. They hang around all the same scenes my other favorite bands do (in fact, Hot Mulligan also brought them along on their most recent tour), and yet I never got around to exploring them until this June, when they played in Philly for $20 tickets. Good thing my impulses won out, because this album is what punk should be (and something it's been sorely missing).

2. HOT MULLIGAN - WHY WOULD I WATCH?

After shouting them out in the last two entries, I have to give Hot Mulligan their flowers. They're a strange band, having more in common with Dance Gavin Dance than, say, The Wonder Years. It's progressive post-hardcore for Midwest emos, and although the individual songs on Why Would I Watch? are on par with any individual song from a previous release, they do something here that elevates them above their other work: put out an album, rather than a collection of songs.

1. FIREWORKS - HIGHER LONELY POWER

It was always going to be Fireworks. They released this album on January 1 after a long hiatus, giving me an entire year to have this LP rattle in my brain and linger in my bones. Higher Lonely Power combines several trends found on the rest of this list -- a new sound that needed to grow on me, a need to shake off the rust of a hiatus, a band I took far too long to get to know. They're my favorite band's favorite band for a reason, and Higher Lonely Power is a gorgeous mediation on love, death, and aging. A worthy album of the year if ever there were one.

[words-after-midnight]

Hey thanks for the follow and reblog! Just stopping by to say your WIPs sound interesting and unique. For Storyteller Saturday: Since Life in Black and White is an aughts period piece, is there a song from that time that reminds you of the story or characters? Or a song the characters like? (Believe it or not I was going to ask this anyway before I saw your playlist poll lol. Im curious either way tho!)

Ooooh thank you for this, I love music questions!

I'm sure I will forget some, but here are some songs from the aughts that I associate with the story/characters (many of these were on the original playlist, as I actually drafted the story in the late aughts):

Yellow by Coldplay (2000)*

It's Been Awhile by Staind (2001)

Weathered by Creed (2001)

My Sacrifice by Creed (2001)

Hide by Creed (2001) - This song still makes me emotional to this day, bwuh. 🙃

Breathe Your Name by Sixpence None the Richer (2002)

Down and Out of Time by Sixpence None the Richer (2002)

Dark Diamond by Elton John (2002)

Original Sin by Elton John (2002)

This Train Don't Stop There Anymore by Elton John (2002)

Unwell by Matchbox Twenty (2002)

Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty (2002)

Clocks by Coldplay (2002)* - I've considered this the story's theme song, pretty much, since I started drafting in 2008.

The Scientist by Coldplay (2002)*

Harder to Breathe by Maroon 5 (2002) - Generally not a fan of Maroon 5 but this song is lyrically great for Gabriel

Fallen by Sarah McLachlan (2003)

Stupid by Sarah McLachlan (2003)

Train Wreck by Sarah McLachlan (2003) - this one is funny because I refer to the Gabriel/Jeff dyad as "trainwreck," but this song is not where the name comes from. It just fits lyrically.

Mr. Brightside by The Killers (2004)

Savin' Me by Nickelback (2005) - The actual only Nickelback song I've ever liked because of how perfect the lyrics are for this story lol

Amid the Falling Snow by Enya (2005)

Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap (2005)

Us by Regina Spektor (2006)

To Build a Home by The Cinematic Orchestra (2007) - Not to be dramatic but I can barely listen to this song now lol.

Death and all His Friends by Coldplay (2008)*

O My Heart by Mother Mother (2008)**

Burning Pile by Mother Mother (2008)**

Body by Mother Mother (2008)**

Ghosting by Mother Mother (2008)**

Try to Change by Mother Mother (2008)**

40 Day Dream by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (2009)

Bulletproof by La Roux (2009)

White Blank Page by Mumford and Sons (2009)

The Cave by Mumford and Sons (2009)

*Can you tell I was listening to a lot of Coldplay as a teenager? The opening chapter is called "A Rush of Blood to the Head" after the album that Clocks and The Scientist are on.

**Alternate playlist for libaw: the 2008 Mother Mother album "O My Heart."

In terms of what music They™ enjoy (ie. stuff they actually listened to at that time, so mostly older stuff than the aughts):

Gabriel's mostly an alt rock/metal/punk & similar type, which I'm sure will surprise approximately no one who's read Gabriel. His frequently played artists include Nine Inch Nails (his favorite band), Joy Division, Tool, Radiohead, RATM and the like. He's also been known to dabble in more electronic genres (eg. we share an appreciation for Daft Punk and Depeche Mode), enjoy classical music (eg. Beethoven), and have a certain nostalgic fondness for some classic rock, such as GNR and Pink Floyd, and Elton John, who was his late mother's favorite singer.

Jeff's a big classic rock snob* - think GNR, Zeppelin, AC/DC, Rolling Stones, CCR, Van Halen, Springsteen. His favorite band is Pink Floyd (favorite album Animals). Caveat: if you get him drunk enough there's a chance he'll jokingly (read: fully seriously) put on either Aquamarine by Aqua or Voulez-Vous by Abba and get very into it.

*He gets that from me. The classic rock part, not the snob part.

[the-new-hip-priest]

A long post wherein I recount my experience at a Limp Bizkit show and get increasingly emotional about the power of live shows and their resulting memories as a coping mechanism for deep depression.

Wednesday night was honestly the most fun I've had in several years. It was full of childlike glee and giddiness and excitement. And sweat. Lots of sweat. I knew that I'd have a blast, having already seen them back in 2012, but this time Limp Bizkit put on one of the best, engaging live shows I've ever seen. It was a big, bouncing nu-metal party and the atmosphere was electric. Everyone in attendance was there to have a good time. No fighting, no dickheads, no munted macho bullshit, just roughly 1000 people ready to party like it's still 1999.

The opening act was HANABIE., an all-female Japanese "metalcore" band, but calling them metalcore feels reductive because they incorporate so many different elements into their sound (electronica/hip-hop/punk/nu-metal as well as Harajuku culture). I really want to gush about them but I'd just end up regurgitating the entire wikipedia article. Their energy was so contagious and the crowd was equally keen and receptive. There was even a circle pit during We Love Sweets which I couldn't help but join. I got a gentle accidental elbow in the face, and slipped on some empty drink cans but got picked up immediately. In a matter of thirty minutes I was already drenched and forming my first bruises.

As for Limp Bizkit, I've been writing and deleting and re-writing and re-deleting this paragraph since Thursday morning. I can't find the words. From a distance, watching myself get all emotional about this band in particular is actually hilarious. My thoughts are so muddled but I've realised that I've been so touched by this concert because they made me feel like a kid again. I've been lucky enough to see some of my other all-time favourite bands live - highly regarded and renowned performers, but I wasn't listening to Nine Inch Nails or The Fall or Radiohead when I was eight years old, so they can't evoke the same emotions.

I fangirled and flapped when Wes came on stage and as soon as they opened with My Generation, I was overcome with such a powerful, innocent euphoria that kept me jumping and screaming all night long. I'm struggling to describe it because I didn't think I was capable of feeling that sort of natural high ever again - I thought I had destroyed my capacity for pure pleasure through drug use in my 20s. Yet here I was, utterly jubilant and energetic, one row back from the barrier directly in front of possibly my favourite guitarist of all time. Fred chatted a lot with the crowd (I uncharacteristically gushed and giggled like a school girl when he was talking to us down the front), and a surprising amount of mens underwear got thrown on stage. They did a fun transition from Rollin' into Raw Hide, covered Killing In The Name, did a big sing-along of Careless Whisper, and even played Re-Arranged which was a nice surprise. I would have loved for them to play Out Of Style, but I understand people want to hear the old stuff. The atmosphere was non-stop fun from the opening note until the end of Don't You Forget About Me which they play as they leave the stage.

I had been hoping to have some sort of acknowledgement or interaction with Wes, like catching one of the roses that he throws into the audience. Given that I was at the front, I took a shot during a quiet moment between songs and yelled out "Hey Wes, wish Alie [his fiancee] a late happy birthday from me!" and he walked straight over to me and threw me his pick! Achievement unlocked! I reacted like a QTE and almost burst into tears when I realised I caught it. Almost. I didn't want to fuck up my fancy makeup and contact lenses. As my partner pointed out, most of the roses had been torn to shreds by the end of the show, but I got a personalised treasure to hold on to. I've kept it close to me ever since (and played my own guitars with it, naturally). It's like he gave me a little talisman of hope and happiness and I really need something like that right now. December is always a hard time of year for me. On top of that, I've been feeling so incredibly bleak about the future and sometimes find myself making certain plans in the back of my mind. But this silly little bit of plastic with a picture of Lisa Vanderpump with a beer bong labelled Borland/Wes' Baphomet logo on it makes me feel like I can keep going. Like I want to keep going in spite of my fear and my pain. I almost feel a tongue-in-cheek sense of resentment, like, "how dare one of my favourite musicians inspire some sense of hope in me during such a tough time?"

Someone filmed the entire show and I am eternally grateful to them. I can giggle at my own distinctive cheering early in the set. I can watch Fred's playful shenanigans with the front row. I can see my interaction with Wes. I can remember. There are times when it feels like the last ounce of hope has left your body, and it causes you to forget. You no longer feel capable of caring, so you simply forget how much you love music and comedy and every other little thing that makes life worth living. That's why I have a big folder sleeve filled with physical memories that I can turn to, full of ticket stubs and entry wristbands and the like so I have something tangible to tie back to my experiences. I've got some drumsticks and a NIN setlist as well. Having the means of reliving those moments is an invaluable tool when fighting major depressive episodes. I will sit there and carefully examine each piece and something will stir inside of me. It could be the faintest echo of a feeling, but it will come, and it will remind me that life is worth fighting for.

[gourmetpunk]

Anyone here that I'm unaware of play music in a more serious capacity and able to give advice? I've been stuck in a weird creative rut that I can't seem to make a decision on, which I will put below the cut to avoid clogging the feed with personal issues:

I've been playing my own music for over a decade now and it's fun and everything, but I've basically rejected most traditional musical instruction up to this point and it's getting to me in a way I didn't expect. I know some basic theory and I'm a competent player, it's just that I know that more "professional" musicians can tell immediately that I'm out of my depth with anything more technical.

Which has been fine, up until now. I've mostly played music that I enjoy listening to anyway, which happens to be punk and "punk-aligned" stuff where technical skill isn't as important as just getting a decent-sounding song/sound down.

The problems are 1) I also really love jazz and have been kind of half-playing it alongside these personal projects for about as long, 2) I worry that I can't keep up the kind of intensity with the music I used to play as I get older (just turned 30 this year), plus these scenes kind of start to evaporate the older you get too, 3) I am certain for a fact that I'm not really technically competent enough to play much else other than what I already play at the moment.

I've been practicing jazz a lot on my own for the past half-year with a sort of half-idea that maybe I'll keep this as a genre that I'll still want to play when the punk scene either dies for good, becomes inaccessible to me or morphs into something I barely recognize anymore (sometimes I feel like that last of these is already happening). I have a band and it's currently going nowhere, so again this feels like a different field I could try and get involved in - and it seems like jazz has a weird kind of longevity to it that a lot of other music scenes don't, which is part of what's appealing to me about it.

The problems with this are then 1) I'm not interested in playing jazz "professionally" and it seems like most of the people I see still playing in the genre are definitely doing that and wouldn't bother with someone who isn't, 2) I'm just not good enough at my current level and I'm kind of worried I never will be.

To elaborate on that latter point (because I know someone is going to say "just keep practicing, it's like anything else, you can do it!"): in my last half-year of practice, I have learned a few new things, including scales, ways that scales can work over different chords/harmonies, various new ways of practicing like learning other jazz solos/riffs to see what's going on there...but what strikes me is that very little about my fundamental way of trying to solo has changed and I don't know how to change it. I'm worried that part of this has something to do with my not having "relative pitch" - different from perfect pitch in that I know the people who have that naturally and they're scary, but it's not learned and they don't necessarily know what they're doing. I'm lacking the basic foresight of how what I play next is going to sound. This seems to me to be the great barrier to becoming an actually "good" musician; you can do drills and scales and all that, but none of that really matters if you don't know what the note you put your finger to on the instrument is going to sound like (in context) before you play it. (this is where you're probably going to be lost if you're not a musician, hence why I started this by asking specifically musicians for advice)

I don't know if that's something I can learn at this point. It seems to me like most people who learned that learned it early on, like when they were kids or teenagers and their brains were still sponges. Being 30, I almost worry that it might already be too late for me and I'll just never get to that stage, effectively locking me out of being anything other than maybe a solid rhythm player (which isn't the worst, but I wanted to at least be able to contribute something else every once in a while).

Currently, it feels like the only way for me to really figure this out is to try taking some lessons. Of course a teacher is always going to encourage their student to learn by default if they're being paid, but I'd want to start off by explaining this whole dilemma and seeing if it's even worth it to try and improve. Should I give up? This is a time-consuming thing, and though I enjoy it, I could be putting that time into, say, learning another language instead, something I probably have a much better chance at because I put more effort into it when I was younger (ignore the fact that that is clearly a more useful skill than learning jazz).

I guess my main question is: before I put money towards something like lessons (and I don't have a lot, so I'm trying to use it sparingly here), can anyone tell me right away if this is really worth pursuing? Like, can any musicians tell me definitively that I should give up on jazz because of where I'm currently at and just focus on the things I can already do? I'm not asking for encouragement here: this is very much a practice question about how I'm going to use my time and money. I understand it's pretty niche, so I won't be shocked if this gets no response, it's the length of a small essay now.

In summary: should I look for a teacher to guide me on how to play jazz better or should I not bother?

[sugawhaaa]

Sk8ter Boi

Gaon x reader

Genre~ high-school AU, fluff, rom com vibes

Warnings: cringe ;-; (aka there's not really any but if you spot one notify me)

Notes: this is clearly based on the song sk8ter Boi by Avril Lavine. Recently I've been listening to that song a lot and just some ideas sparked from it 👍 it's definitely not 100% what the song is by its just the general idea. Also once again this is proof read but I can't read so there's probably quite a few mistakes.

Chapter 1 "He was boy, she was a girl"

"Finally that horrid class is over," your best friend Amira said as you and your friend group walked out of the main school doors. It was late May so at least the weather was nice but exam season was coming very soon. As you and your friends walked down the staircase you heard the sound of skateboard wheels on concrete.

"Are those punks at it again" your other friend growled. All your friends started complaining about this group of punks in your school. They all wore baggy jeans and black and red sweaters with holes in them. Their hair is long and messy but most of all it was like their whole lives revolved around skateboarding and bullying your friend group. You and your friends all did ballet and all are straight A "girlie girls" who wore loads of makeup and crop tops with plaid pajama pants. Well you were the least girlie out of all of them but they still loved you as a friend.

"Can you guys go away!" Amira went up to them. The long haired one just skated really close to her before turning sharply making her jump and yelp. The skater boy just laughed at her.

"We're not doing anything wrong" The orange haired punk came over to you and your friends. He was wearing a wool sweater that was red, white and orange. His pants were baggy dark jeans that slightly covered the tops of his vans. From the very limited information you knew about these guys you were pretty sure his name was Gunil. While Gunil and the long haired one argued with your friends, all the other boys just kept skating around the concrete sidewalks around your school.

"Hey Cherry let's just leave them be, it's not like they're hurting anyone" you said putting your hand on your friends shoulder.

"No they do this everyday I'm sick of it! They take up the whole courtyard!" Cherry yelled back. Cherry's the type of person that says what's on her mind and isn't afraid to get into a fight or two. Her name is not actually Cherry though. Her birth name is Chaitali, but she hates it and thinks it's dumb. So ever since she cut her hair to a little bit below her jawline and dyed her hair red everyone calls her Cherry.

"Jeez, someone's got a temper" the long haired boy teased. His outfit wasn't much different from the others honestly. The only difference was that the holes in his pants were MASSIVE and he wore a purple tank top instead of a long sleeved shirt.

"I'll show you temper!" Cherry growled as she stomped to get closer to the boys. Just as she was about to raise her fist, one of the boys shouted

"Easy there Apple face!" This boy had long black hair that was dyed red at the tips. His outfit was probably the weirdest amongst them all. A weird scarf and a patterned shirt that didn't match anything paired with some baggy jeans and converse.

"Apple face!?" Cherry shouted back

"Yeah you're one to talk, you can't even put an outfit together" Amira snapped back.

"I don't think anything can go with that horrid scarf anyways" another girl snickered. At that comment the boy looked shocked before looking down at the ground, clearly very upset. That's when you decided to leave, get away from all the arguing and walk home. You could still hear the boys saying stuff like "Oh run away you chicken!" "You start the fight then walk away, yeah that makes sense" and they kept laughing. You ignored them of course and just went on your merry way.

Once you got home all the girls were chatting on snap about how annoying the boys were but you refused to talk to them and instead you got ready for ballet class. You stuck on some music and started rocking out as you packed your bag. Then you realized you were running a little late so you rushed downstairs and your mom was already prepared to get in the car. You and your mom got in the car and drove to the dance studio.

Ballet class went as normal (the girls still complaining about the punks) and so was the rest of your evening. You ate dinner, studied and did some writing and aimless scrolling on tiktok. As you got into bed you lay there thinking about the boys. They weren't that bad, and the scarf boy looked so upset when Kayla insulted his scarf. Though there was nothing you could do about it now and tomorrow was an exciting day so you decided to dream about tomorrow. Tomorrow you and your friends decided to go have a picnic at a park nearby and after you finish lunch you all planned to get ice cream together.

°○°○°○°○°○°○time skip°○°○°○°○°○°○°

You woke up nice and refreshed after a great sleep and even better you remembered that today was the picnic day! You ate breakfast and passed the time by looking through your phone. You then realized it was time to get ready. You excitedly got out an outfit. You wore a strawberry dress with thick socks that went just above your ankles and put your hair into a bow

The park you were going to was walking distance so you told your mom you were heading out and started walking to the park. A picnic basket in hand. You were all giddy giddy smiling as you walked down the sidewalk. That's when you ran into your friend Amira. She had a backpack with her.(most likely filled with snacks and a blanket)

"Amira!" You called out to her jogging up to her. You complimented each other's outfits and shared your excitement about the hangout. It wasn't long before you ran into Cherry who was ironically wearing a cherry themed outfit. You three chatted before you arrived at the park. You couldn't spot anyone else you had invited so the three of you decided to set up the blanket and food. That's when Kayla showed up in a summery dress, followed by Kamsi who wore a long yellow dress. Once everyone arrived you all dug in. It was honestly a blast and the food was delicious. That's when something just had to go wrong.

"Awe look at this" a purple haired boy came over to your picnic spot. No doubt he was one of the skater boys from your school.

"Having a little picnic girlies" another boy came over. He had short pink hair and wore the usual baggy tank top and baggy shorts.

"Ugh do you guys ever mind your own business" Kayla groaned. Hardly even looking at them. The boys just laughed.

"Do you guys ever stop annoying us and acting like stuck up snobs?" The pink haired one teased.

"Do you guys ever act your age!?" Kayla stood up with her fists clenched. The boys just laughed at her anger.

"Look she's even cuter when she's mad" the pink haired one pointed at her laughing. That's when Kayla snapped and went to go at them. Everyone started freaking out when she started pulling his hair. Kamsi started pulling Kayla off him. You just stood there in shock. Why did they always have to fight? Why can't they just leave each other alone.

"Alright that's enough guys," Amira said calmly and all the girls relaxed.

"Jeez that kittens got claws," the pink haired one said, rubbing his head to ease the pain. That's when Cherry stood up and walked over to the pink boy. She raised her right arm with all her fingers fully extended. She winded her arm back and slapped him across the face as hard as possible. The sound of her hand coming in contact with his face echoed throughout the park.

"Go away or next time I'll use my fist" Cherry said, holding a fist up to the boys. The pink one tsked before walking away with the purple haired one. "Anyways, where were we?" Cherry said, dusting off her dress and sitting back down.

"Wow, that was amazing Cherry! They actually went away" Kayla cheered. They all praised Cherry and you were happy yourself that they left you alone. You sighed in relief and took a sip of your ramune.

After the whole incident it was about 3pm so you and your friends decided to pack up and get some ice cream, but on your way over Kayla spotted a shop and said she wanted to look around. It was very clearly a tourist spot but she still found things to buy. After a while she spotted more and more shops and you started to have fun. You got a Keychain of a little duck and found an anime pin. Then you found a field that had a lot of Pokémon according to your friends and they started playing Pokémon go.

After way too long you finally got your ice cream and decided to eat out at one of their picnic tables. It was quite the sight. The sun was setting and it looked beautiful sparkling across the ocean. After finishing your cone you were getting ready to head out when you had to use the bathroom. You told the girls to go on ahead without you.

"Are you sure? We can wait, you know" Amira smiled.

"It's okay you guys gotta catch the city bus I can just walk home" you smiled heading into the bathroom.

"Okay," Amira shrugged

"See you later,"

"This was fun"

"Bye bye!"

All the girls called out as they walked back to the sidewalk. When you were in the bathroom this old woman started randomly talking to you as you were washing your hands. At first she complimented your dress before going on a long rant about strawberries. She met her husband in a strawberry field? Her first husband, she corrected. You just smiled and nodded. Before drying your hands. She followed and told you about her grandchildren. Not really knowing what to do you just kept smiling and nodding and responded with short answers like "mhm" "I see" "yeah" after she was done ranting she went out of the bathroom and you followed. She turned to the right and you turned to the left, but you looked back at her thinking about how weird and awkward that encounter was. You weren't watching where you were going and that's when you bumped into someone. You started apologizing when you opened your eyes to see that very familiar scarf. The one that one of the skater boys wears. You backed up and looked at him in the face.

"It's okay don't worry about it," He smiled with pink cheeks.

[golbrocklovely]

since i do plan to see mtrench in late september, i think doing a review on their new album is necessary lol

feel free to read if you wanna. i know most of you that follow me aren't doing so bc of this band, but i do love them so much so i figured doing a review would be fun :)

i've been a fan of marianas trench since i was 11ish, circa 2006/7. just in between my fall out boy and jonas brothers phase. i've seen them three times in concert, and this will be my first time seeing them alone, so i'm excited. and i miss seeing them live.

i'm also gonna meet them, but let's not think about that rn.

so for this album, when i heard A Normal Life, i was so immediately into the album. i truly miss their big orchestral pieces and just how good their music can be, so hearing something new was amazing. it's definitely one of my favorites, even now after hearing the whole album.

the other singles… they were a bit of a build up to loving them, minus Down To You. that one i instantly loved as well.

after hearing the entire album, i do want to note one thing.

i love mtrench, have been a fan of them for a majority of my life. however, this album is definitely gonna have to grow on me. the lyrics are very hit or miss. Phantoms (their previous album) also had this problem with me. the music itself is great, the vocals are on point, but the lyrics are so… bland. like, they feel like a first draft. or like when they did pop 101, the whole "higher/desire/fire" lines… yeah, making actual lyrics like that isn't as funny as it was back then when you were mocking pop music.

and the thing is, i don't mind simple lyrics. i truly don't. but josh has talked about going thru some crazy shit over the past couple years. and i thought that maybe that would show up in this music, and it does to some extent. but it just feels like he didn't really tap in enough. i miss the anger and frustration of Fix Me. i will literally give them all my money if it means they come out with a new pop/punk album or SOMETHING like that. the pop music is great, i will never not like the rock opera elements they continue to do. i just wish the lyrics were deeper. they feel surface level at times in the album.

okay, enough of that. let me break down each song and my overall score.

A Normal Life: fucking amazing. again, one of my favorites for sure. a great opener. sets the scene for the rest of the album. i know hearing this live is gonna change my life lmao favorite line: But what about all those voices in the night? / Whispering the things that keep me from a normal life rating: 5/5

Lightning and Thunder: this was a bit of a slow burn for me. originally when i heard it, i thought it was fine, but not my favorite. truly only listened to it maybe twice before the album came out. but now i like it a lot. i think lyrically it could be better but i don't mind it. it kinda reminds me of 'remember this' by the jonas brothers lol vocals are top notch tho ! favorite line: But sometimes I feel my mother and father in the room / It's like their hands are on my shoulders / So I think they feel us too rating: 3.5/5

I'm Not Getting Better: so when i saw this title, i was so excited. i was like 'omg this is gonna be my song' bc i think we can all kinda relate to that feeling. but…. damn does this song disappoint lol first off, it sounds like blank space by taylor swift. so extremely dated, but not in a fun way. the lyrics are like a nothing burger. you could just make "do do do" the lyrics and they would hit about as hard as these do. i like the falsetto. i love the vocals. the chorus is definitely the best part of the song. but i just hate how bland this song is. i expected so much more by the title. at least the song is a bit catchy. favorite line: Oh well / Who said I was getting better? rating: 2/5

Down To You: so this came out like right before the album did, and i was so let down from INGB that i didn't want to listen to this one. but i did, and thank god i did. i fucking love this song. i will say the only thing i don't love is that this song is similar to 'need you to stay' by kid laroi. especially the chorus. but it's not exactly the same, so i don't mind it. this is an example of the lyrics, again, not being deep. but i don't mind it as much bc the song itself is fun and everything hits well together. so idc that the lyrics aren't deep or whatever. can't wait to hear this one live. also something about this reminds me of masterpiece theater (the album) in the best way. favorite line: So here we are / But something's changed / A broken heart / And now I'm drinking in the dark rating: 5/5

Now or Never: this song reminds me of astoria (the album), but i can't place what song, especially towards the end of the song. i quite like the lyrics. the vocals are top fucking notch and i cannot wait to hear this song live. this is honestly such a sweet song. and the first one i heard from the album after the singles so… pretty good starter. i will say this is when i started to realize… where are all the bridges?? i love a good bridge and this song should have had one lol favorite line: It's now or never / I don't believe in crying more / Now I know better rating: soft 4/5

Into the Storm: this is like a hybrid baby of masterpiece theater and phantoms. the baseline reminded me of fix me, tho. again, another song that could have had a bridge. lyrically it's fine. i kinda wanted more, but it's not bad. love how the song starts slow and then builds. the ending was awesome. favorite line: Just repeat this / Long goodbye / A broken record always on the radio of mine rating: 3/5

Ancient History: so when i saw the little description of this song, "allies", idk why but i thought that i was gonna love this song/this was the song i was claiming as mine. and in a way, i kinda agree with my earlier belief. this song is really good. obviously inspired by 'yesterday' on astoria. the saxophone is fucking crazy in the best way lmao this song feels like the 80s (or what i would assume the 80s felt like since i literally wasn't alive lol) favorite line: Who we are now / Whoever we are now / It's never without our history rating: 4/5

Stand and Fight: this song could easily be on astoria. i honestly really like this song. i think this could be one of my favorites later down the line. as of right now i like it but it's not a favorite just yet (at least i don't think so lol). these lyrics are better, still a twinge bland but honestly i don't mind it. vocally amazing. that one "so stand and fight" where his voice breaks a bit… omg kill me that hurt. this is gonna be so awesome to see live. favorite line: To all those years we don't get back / To every hope that we hold tight rating: 3.8/5

Turn and Run: ngl these titles are very boring lol but i do like that they are referenced thru out the album. this song tho… it's like a little bit of every album from them, which is so cool. it first reminded me of astoria, then ever after, then phantoms, and towards the end it sounded like fix me. honestly this was a bit of sleeper hit, bc when i listened to this song first time i was into it but haven't listened to it since, and now?? might be a late fav of mine. favorite line: Tears that we've shed / Are stones we lay on roads that lead us to the end rating: 4.5/5

Worlds Collide: i remember first hearing this song and thinking this should have been the closer, bc that's how epic sounding it was first listen thru. when i heard the "you're beautiful" line, i immediately smiled. i didn't even realize 'cross my heart' was also in there too. this really is a mashup of masterpiece theater and ever after in the best way. like honest one of the best songs from this album for sure. favorite line: The stars should point you home but who knows where you are / You disappeared for years out there rating: 4.5/5

Nights Like These: this song reminds me of a song that gets played a lot at my work (which i looked up and it's 'i got you' by olivia lunny) so immediately… not a favorite of mine. i think the lyrics are really sweet and obviously very personal to josh. i just.. can't vibe with this song. it's very basic and kind of boring. i know that makes me sound like an asshole since it's about his son. but it's just a very meh song to me. if they end up not playing this song live, i won't be upset about it. sorry lol favorite line: We were lit by a candle / Got stuck in the storm / And as the rain fell we stayed / Close to keep warm rating: 2/5

Remember Me By: giving astoria vibes, very much michael jackson/shut up and kiss me. love it so much. such a fun song. and i love the lower vocals (go ian) and it's just a great way to almost close out the album. and the change into the next song??? awesome. very ever after coded. favorite line: I'm desperate / Like a small-town Juliet rating: 4/5

Haven: such a great closer. starts out similar to phantoms but then goes well beyond that. little bits of the other albums are thrown in too. someone pointed out that they should have used the line "And the road home is paved in star fuckers requiem" which would have been INSANE honestly. but regardless, this song is definitely one of my top favorites. expected nothing less from mtrench. favorite line: I don't know why it makes no sense / But my premonitions in past tense / I can't see past today's midnight rating: 5/5

overall i think this album is good. i won't say it's my favorite yet (but that will probably happen by the 20th listen thru or something lol) but i do think it's pretty solid all things considered. i wish the lyrics were a bit deeper or meaningful. also, someone else pointed it out but i have to agree - i miss when they wrote harder, sadder stuff. and i get that josh is in a better place in his life than he was back when he wrote fix me or masterpiece theater, but damn do i miss that sound and those lyrics. if i honestly think about it, i haven't related to a lot of the lyrics in recent years. but i also don't mind that to some extent. i just kinda miss when things were a bit more relatable to me. also i'm hoping that two of the songs from this album don't get played live and something else instead is played, like literally anything from fix me lol

overall ranking of the songs:

Down To You

A Normal Life

Haven

Worlds Collide

Turn and Run

Remember Me By

Now Or Never

Ancient History

Stand and Fight

Lightning And Thunder

Into The Storm

I'm Not Getting Better

Nights Like These

[arty-ffxiv]

Five Songs I'm Into Now (International Edition)

Tagged by: @riftdancing thank you lovely! I love a good excuse to discover and share music ✨

I've recently done one of these on my main blog here, so it's been great to highlight more songs that I've been vibing with of late!

This time, I've challenged myself to pick international songs since I listen to a wide variety; some of these have been long-time favourites of mine, while others are more recent. I discover a lot of new songs and genres using Radio Garden. (I highly recommend Transistor FM in Thessaloniki, Greece!)

I've also added a bonus song- my favourite from a band local to my hometown ✨

1. Frío Frío Live Version - Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 & Romeo Santos

From the Dominican Republic This one is a long-time favourite of mine- I've been listening to Juan Luis Guerra 4.40 since I was ~16ish and this is my favourite song of his. This live rendition with Romeo Santos is just *chefs kiss* and the whole live album is fantastic. It's also funnier if you watch the live recording of this song and realize that the reason the crowd goes so batshit when Romeo comes out is because he pops out of of a hole in the stage, it's so wholesome

2. T'Asteri Mou - Despina Vandi & Foivos

From Greece Something I used to do when I was playing Assassin's Creed: Odyssey was listening to Greek music. Since then I've become addicted to Greek pop songs. This one popped up on the station I'd picked in Radio Garden and I fell in love. I was learning Greek a few years back now, but only remember the basics + some random phrases from Duolingo - did you know 'soup' is considered feminine in Greek??

3. Qefs Milion A - Martin Mkrtchyan

From Armenia This popped up on a random Armenian radio station while I was browsing Radio Garden, and it always makes me want to get up and dance! I have nothing interesting or informative to say here, aside from that this song slaps.

4. Invoke - T.M.Revolution

From Japan My partner and I recently watched all of Gundam SEED (my... fifth? sixth? time watching, his first) and I was reminded just how much I not only love this series but the music. Choosing which opening/ ending theme I'd include in this was a challenge! I studied Japanese from middle school right through to my first (and last) year at university. I still remember a bit, to the point of still being able to hold basic conversations/ ask basic questions.

5. Klefi / Samed (صامد) - Hatari & Bashar Murad

Icelandic & Palestinian Collaboration **warning for flashing lights in the video!** I discovered Hatari from their appearance in Eurovision in 2019 and the song they performed (Hatrið mun sigra) is a favourite of mine. This one has been on repeat more frequently now, for reasons I'm sure are obvious from the tumbnail. While in Israel for the competition, Hatari joined forces with a Palestinian artist, Bashar Murad, to create this song of resistance; the band also got a harsh response from the audience for displaying the Palestine flag during the competition's grand final. The video filmed for this song is very powerful, which is why I've added this link from YouTube instead of Spotify. I highly recommend watching it and having captions on for translation. Timestamp 2:48 is truly breathtaking. "After all this torture I'm steadfast, I won't bow down." From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free 🕊️

Bonus; Yoke - Teenage Joans

From Adelaide, Australia A new home grown favourite that I recently discovered, this song take me back to my emo/punk days. This song has been on repeat- in my headphones, my car and my home stereo. My poor husband and cats are probably sick of hearing it. Did you know Australians normally sing with a different accent, otherwise we sound ridiculous? Examples here: 1/2

Thanks for coming on this chaotic trip with me!

Tagging: @thefreelanceangel, @ishgard, @zenmai--jikake--no--komoriuta, @ooc-tau, @nozomikei & anyone else who feels like doing this!!

[haloslips]

tagged by @hopetorun to post my september top tracks and some bangers! this is my tidal playlist of songs i listened to most last month which uhh there's also this that they wrote in the email linking me to this playlist: "You listened to 6270 songs last month, 2194 of them by Gang of Youths."

HOWEVER i will take this moment to talk about what i'm enjoying lately bc it sounds fun. (it got excessive so i'm putting it behind the cut)

listening to a lot of zach bryan, i like the ep he just put out a lot, especially nine ball and boys of faith. also listening to his live at red rocks album a lot, if it weren't nearly impossible i'd try to see him live. maybe if he plays the gorge or sth that would be worth fighting ticketmaster for mb

over this past summer my mom spent a couple months with my sister and the two of them made a mellow summer playlist that i am clinging to. it's way too long to screenshot the whole playlist and i'm not linking you to my sister's spotify if we're not pretty good friends, but here's a taste:

no blues by los campesinos! turnsturns 10 this month and i've been listening to it a LOT. i mean tbh tho i've been listening to it pretty much nonstop since it came out so. if you've never listened to los campesinos! 1) you should and 2) start with this album or hello sadness depending on whether you're feeling downbeat miserable (hs) or bad but optimistic (nb). once you're hooked there go to romance is boring (i guess i'd technically call this optional but you really should), and after romance is boring go to hold on now, youngster. from there you can explore their discography on your own. if you have any qs ask and if you prefer punk to indie go in the opposite order. i'm willing to tailor my lc! recs more personally if asked i want to be talking about this band literally constantly

not been in a super pop phase lately but the album maisie peters but out this year (the good witch) fucking slaps, just really fun as singles and just as good as an album mostly.

still v into the new japanese house record altho i think it came out before the maisie peters album so idk how new i can call it.

feels moot to say this on tumblr but obviously i'm listening to the chappell roan album i'm not a heathen.

i love kelsea ballerini's mountain with a view, esp. penthouse.

bootleg firecracker by middle kids and the other couple singles they put out this year were my songs of the summer tbh and i'm not willing to let go of them yet

[dontlookdown]

Nick’s Favourite Music of 2023

It’s that time of year again (three weeks into January because to hell with arbitrary deadlines) where I look back at the music I enjoyed from the previous year. Once again, I’m sticking with the single post, capsule review format I used last year, because it turns out working full-time leaves you with less time to spend on other stuff (seems pretty fucked up if you ask me).

It never feels like my listening habits are changing year on year, but it’s interesting to note the differences in hindsight. For instance, this will be the first time I don’t crown an “album of the year”. Ultimately, there wasn’t a full-length release that broke through my admittedly ridiculously high standards. That said, 17 of the songs on this list come from albums I really enjoyed listening to, and the other 3 are standalone singles, so it’s fair to say the overall quality of 2023’s music was pretty good. I had to put in the time and listen and re-listen to a lot of different artists to come to that conclusion, but it feels like I’ve gone on a similar journey for the last four years in a row now. And, because I always end up discovering plenty of new acts and settling on 20 songs that I truly love that I’m excited to share, I never feel like that time and energy has been wasted!

Below, you’ll find the list of my 20 favourite songs of 2023 (YouTube links in the headings, Spotify embed at the bottom), along with a few words about why I love each particular one. Let’s go!

Foo Fighters – “Under You”

I wish it had been under happier circumstances, but I was seriously impressed with But Here We Are. I’ve never thought of Foo Fighters as an album band (great singles though), but this might the strongest, most-focused one they’ve done. “Rescued” was an instant knockout, and the title track is a potent reminder that Dave Grohl is still probably the best yeller in rock (as anyone who’s attempted to shout along with “The Pretender” in a crowded club will attest). But the song I kept coming back to was the simplest, and probably the most straight-forward rocker they’ve ever made. Something about the chorus of “Under You” really tugs on my heartstrings, even beyond its clear intention as loving tribute to Taylor Hawkins. I always tend to start these lists with a big bright firework of a song. This was the biggest and brightest of the year.

Ratboys - “Black Earth, WI”

I love a big rock song that wanders off into the horizon and takes its time to get where it’s going, slowly growing before your ears. It seems like we’re getting more bands lately that specialise in that kind of thing, in the wake of The War on Drugs’ breakthrough, and apparently the kids on TikTok are getting into shoegaze so there’ll be more to come. Good!

Big Thief – “Vampire Empire”

Another Big Thief classic to add to their growing pile. This is apparently one they’ve been workshopping in live performances for a few years. That work has paid off beautifully.

Geese – “3D Country”

Another rock stroller. This one has some strong Exile on Main Street vibes, with the soulful backing singers and steely guitar touches really making it stand out from the crowd. The video is just as fun as the song.

Yard Act – “The Trench Coat Museum”

I've commented before on the small explosion of post-punk bands we had in the UK a few years ago. In many cases, it felt like the bands were yet to reach their full potential. Some are beginning to get there. Both Black Country, New Road and Black Midi blew me away last year with bold and unique evolutions of their respective sounds. Yard Act might be the next group to level up, this time by flirting with dance music while keeping the ironic point of view from their previous work. “The Trench Coat Museum” is another track that allows a band to stretch their musical legs, and I love that the song has been stretched to 12” remix length, with all the little shifts in tone you’d expect from dabbling in Madchester town.

Jessie Ware – “Freak Me Now”

Speaking of songs I’d want to hear in the club, Jessie Ware adjusted the disco recipe she was serving in 2020 to add a French house flavour this year. The result was even more delectable.

Olivia Rodrigo – “love is embarrassing”

It seems like I’m going against the grain with this pick. Not that people were disappointed with Olivia Rodrigo’s second album (quite the opposite, she delivered on GUTS), but I haven’t seen anyone else highlight this particular track. I’m not complaining. I’d normally expect a song like “love is embarrassing”, with its fast tempo and new wave-inspired guitars and gated drums to be a perfect pick for a single. The fact is isn’t one (yet) is testament to how good this album really is.

Fireworks – “Veins in David’s Hand”

I’m a simple man. If you start a song with a loud, ringing solo guitar riff, you’ve got my attention. Everything else Fireworks do on “Veins in David’s Hand” holds onto it. Exhilarating stuff.

Model/Actriz – “Mosquito”

As I mentioned at the start, I’m not declaring an “album of the year” this time around. Instead, I want to recommend one specific album that I’d like more people to check out: Dogsbody by New York noise rock band Model/Actriz. When it came time to put together a shortlist from all the 2023 tracks in my collection (trimming down over 400 songs to around 50), I ended up putting five tracks from this album on it, the most from any act by some distance. That’s quite an achievement for a debut release. “Mosquito” is the most attention-grabbing track, due to its pounding industrial chorus, but there is so, so much more where that came from. Check them out.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “Supercell”

Since getting my socks blown off by “The Dripping Tap” in 2022, I have now listened to everything King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have released. Good band! I will confess that I prefer the harder, more rocking stuff that they do less frequently, but that means I was eagerly awaiting PetroDragonic Apocalypse after hearing it was a return to the thrash metal sound of Infest the Rats' Nest. It did not disappoint!

SOFT PLAY – “Punk’s Dead”

In 2022, having been on hiatus for a few years, the band Slaves changed their name to Soft Play. Being a punk band these days comes with the baggage of people projecting their own weird ideas of what “punk” means onto you, and some of their fans (the kind that like to use words like “snowflake” as insults) had did not like this change. So, Soft Play did what any self-respecting punk band would do in that situation: take all of that bad-faith criticism and hammer it into a red-hot poker of a song. For what it’s worth, I think "Soft Play" is the better name for this band. While some punk bands do have lofty aims about sharp political commentary and challenging discourse, this band has never really had those aspirations. Their biggest song on streaming is about forgetting where you parked. Musically, they’ve always sounded like rowdy kids on a bouncy castle copying moves they’ve seen on WWE (I say this as a compliment), and based on the video for “Punk’s Dead”, the band might agree. At its core, “punk” is just about airing frustrations. Sometimes that just means having fun while making a racket. Which is exactly what this band has always done. Isaac Holman stills snarls like a wolf and pounds the shit out of his floor toms which, combined with Laurie Vincent’s chainsaw guitar work, gives the song the impact of a steam-powered sledgehammer. Blunt? Sure, but “Punk’s Dead” is not a song that’s aiming for subtlety. It’s a purposeful spit in the eye of people who cling to a narrow view of a genre that outgrew them a long time ago: “JOHNNY ROTTEN IS TURNING IN HIS BED! I WAS GONNA SAY ‘GRAVE’ BUT THE FUCKER AIN’T DEAD!” Welcome back, lads.

White Reaper – “Fog Machine”

Speaking of things not being dead, any old fart complaining about the lack of rock music being made these days needs to listen to White Reaper and shut the fuck up.

Militarie Gun – “Never Fucked Up Once”

The thing about punk singers is that they don’t so much “sing” as “chant”, as in the vocals are more designed to be sung along with, rather than just heard. So, if a punk band slows things down a bit (but keeps it loud) and gets everyone involved in belting out the chorus? Instant anthem. Despite its title, “Never Fucked Up Once” is a song about regrets. But, somehow, yelling along with it makes those regrets disappear.

boygenius – “Not Strong Enough”

Words can barely express how happy I was to see Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus regroup as Boygenius and break through to the mainstream this year. Having previously sung the praises of their debut EP, my expectations for a full album were high, but the ladies dropkicked those expectations into the sun and scored a boatload of Grammy nominations in the process. As all three members have distinctive voices, people tend to pick apart the songs to identify who wrote what. That’s missing the point, as the songs on the record are stronger than the sums of their parts (regardless of how good those parts are), and it’s the songs that are clear results of the three of them working together that are the strongest. “Not Strong Enough” is one of them, and it just fucking soars. It sounds exactly like the cover art, with Baker, Bridgers and Dacus all extending their reach to the sky. I’m excited to see them rise even further. Song of the year.

Anohni and the Johnsons – “Rest”

By contrast, “Rest” feels like Anohni is digging into her soul for some real catharsis. It recalls the Muscle Shoals soul sound of “Fistful of Love”, but a thousand times rawer. You can feel every cubic centimetre of the studio it was recorded in as the guitars and drums smash into each other and echo off the walls. Spiritual and spellbinding.

Nation of Language – “Spare Me the Decision”

An echo of a different kind, now. I last spoke about Nation of Language back in 2021, when they were specialising in the kind of upbeat synthpop tunes that I enjoy a lot. In 2023, they got darker on their third album Strange Disciple, with sparser arrangements that sound more unsettled. Single “Weak In Your Light” was a genuine shock when I first heard it. “Spare Me the Decision” is brighter than that, but still carries a deep sadness with it. It deliberately holds back from giving too much. Even as multiple synths start to build up, they mostly only play single sustained notes, giving everything a sense of trepidation that befits the title.

Julie Byrne – “Portrait of a Clear Day”

It’s hard to add anything when the title of a song tells you everything you need to know. This is atmospheric and beautiful and the most graceful thing I heard all year.

Sufjan Stevens – “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?”

The incredible thing about Sufjan Stevens is that, despite working for decades within his own specific niche to the point where you could’ve guessed that “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” was a song of his based solely on the title, he’s still finding ways to push the boundaries of that niche. Like all of his albums (even the ones that are supposedly about specific American states), Javelin was full of beautifully delicate songs of longing. But these songs were more direct than usual, and supported by expansive arrangements that allow them to grow and blossom into much larger statements on life.

Indigo De Souza – “Younger & Dumber”

There’s plenty of great moments across these 20 songs, but none quite as meaningful as the 2:50 mark in “Younger & Dumber” where Indigo De Souza spreads her wings and sings “And the love I feel is so powerful it can take you anywhere”. This is a slow burning fire that will leave your soul singed.

Joanna Sternberg – “I've Got Me”

I hesitate to call this one “cute” considering how much it focuses on self-deprecation, but that is my first thought when hearing songs as understated as this. It feels like every line should be punctuated with an exclamation mark that is both ironic and earnest at the same time, especially as a bouncing bassline makes an appearance and Joanna’s grows in confidence. It’s a song that can be interpreted in opposing ways depending on your mood. As a closer, I think it’s pretty perfect.

Thanks for reading! If you fancy reading more from me, I’ve done similar lists/series for every year going back to 2011 (and basic lists for 2008-2010). Just copy and paste this link (https://dontlookdown.tumblr.com/tagged/best-of-20xx) and edit the year to see them!

[therecordconnection]

46, 69, 88, 91!

#46: "El Dorado" by Magdalena Bay

One of the first Mag Bay songs I ever fell in love with. This one reminds me of old synth tracks from the late 80s. The best comparison I can draw is that it sounds like a modern version of "Island Sunrise" by Software to me. Singer Mica Tenenbaum switching between Spanish and English on a dime always makes me think of how Sarah Bonito does that with Japanese and English in Kero Kero Bonito songs. It's one of those things where you forget she's bilingual until she decides to start spitting in Spanish.

#69 (heh heh): "A BOY IS A GUN*" by Tyler, the Creator

I still don't think Tyler gets enough credit as a music video director. He makes absolutely gorgeous stuff and the video for this song is no exception. While IGOR isn't really my favorite Tyler album, I think there are a good handful of tracks that really stand out, this one especially. You can hear a lot of Kanye influence in song, especially with the sample he used for this ("Bound" by the Ponderosa Twins Plus One). I love the vulnerability in the central line, "Don't, don't shoot me down." I think the song allows you to feel something that a lot of people don't want to talk about much: When you're invested in someone more than they're invested in you and inside you're begging them to not shoot you down. A boy is a gun at point blank range when he tells you he doesn't want you and it hurts in ways that I don't think many want to talk about these days. It sucks to get rejected and you get upset, no matter how mature you handle it.

#88: "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James

The best comment I ever read about Rick James was that he's what you get when you play Grand Theft Auto with all the cheat codes on. He's a larger than life figure and his music was the same way. He was an early 80s funk icon and pioneer that was monumental in shaping how the decade would play out. He was one of those guys where his wild lifestyle caught up to him real fast and as a result it hurt him and wiped away a good deal of his legacy. That, and I think Dave Chappelle unintentionally did a lot of damage to him by turning him into a caricature so hard that there's a whole generation of people who think "Rick James" is a guy Dave made up. He did just as much for 80s funk that Prince did and Rick deserves more love than he got.

Also, Quincey Jones shamelessly and very obviously ripped off the bassline from this song for Michael Jackson's "Thriller." I think of it every time I listen to this.

#91: "Is There Someone Else? - Live" by The Weeknd

I listened to a lot of the Weeknd this year. I've been a casual fan and I've followed the guy since he really blew up with Beauty Behind the Madness back in 2015. I thought it was really cool that he released a live album for the After Hours Til Dawn tour AND a concert film for it too. I think 2023 really saw a return of the concert film (this, Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense had a theatrical re-run, The Eras Tour film, etc.) and that makes me really happy. This was one of my favorite songs from Dawn FM to hear played live.

I've always really loved the dark synth-pop world of the Weeknd's music (when it ISN'T a part of The Idol...) and the thing that I liked about the So-Fi Stadium album was how his setlist is full of transitions and connections that keep the songs going. It reminds me of how Daft Punk would mix and present their music in a live environment. It's a really good show and I recommend the film and the album if you're looking for some cool mainstream pop to enjoy.

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

Thank you so much for submitting numbers!!!

If you'd like to submit a number, please do. :)

[kckatie]

I like a lot of different types of music, and I have been asked how I got goth. The answer is complex, but the short answer is that my love of the fashion came first, and then I got into the music later.

Being in my 60s, I grew up with the rock, pop, and folk of the day, and that continued into the 70s. I liked some of the darker, or more poignant music, though I think my general attitude is more optimistic. For instance, I really liked Simon and Garfunkel's I Am a Rock, the Stones' Paint It Black, the Pentangle's Hunting Song, and so on.

I never really got into punk. To quote someone in a movie, I liked the sound, but not the fury. I do like some punk songs, but it's not really my music.

But in the late 70s/early 80s two things happened. I liked some of the post-punk music that was coming out, and I really liked the fashion both they and the New Romantics had. I really liked the look of Alannah Currie in the Thompson Twins, did instance, and I liked Joan Jett's look and music (more rock, I know), and Siouxsie's look. I gave myself a deathhawk cut in the mid 80s, but didn't really have the self confidence in my mid 20s to carry it off. I grew it out.

But in the early 80s I took a serious detour into the British electric folk of the late 60s and 70s, and Steeleye Span remains my all-time favorite band. So though I heard the early goth music, it wasn't what I was mainly listening to in the 80s.

In the 90s I took another detour into "women's music", which is really lesbian music. I listened to Cris Williamson, Meg Christian, Ferron, Holly Near, and the like.

In the 2000s, I started going back to the music I had heard and liked, but hadn't focussed on from the 80s, the post-punk, goth, and indy rock of the day, and more recently some of the current goth music.

Ten years ago, I felt like I had the self confidence to start expressing myself the way I wanted, so I started coloring my natural brown hair blue, green, and purple. I've loved it, and more recently got a new deathhawk, which I love. I do have the self confidence to wear it this time.

And musically, I've really been getting back into that 80s music such as Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Cure, Sisters of Mercy, and other goth rock bands, even if the bands don't really like the goth label, and I understand that. Only some of their material fits the goth label. I love Concrete Blonde, which certainly isn't a goth band, but was played at goth clubs back in the day, mainly because of Bloodletting, I think.

And I love Vision Video, Rosegarden Funeral Party, Deus Ex Lumina, Actors (and Leathers), and other recent bands that fit into the goth category. I tend to like goth rock and pop more than darkwave and coldwave, but I do like them as well.

(And yet, I still like 2000s pop bands like Camera Obscura, and Belle and Sebastian, and other music such as the Pogues. My musical tastes are broad.)

I don't know if this ramble answered the question, but it's a bit of my history.

[wrecking]

october! slowly getting better about listening to new music, and i think it shows! open for names :)

going to put little explanations by each one cuz i don't have any predictions for november this time!

lorde - pure heroine : this one's just kinda snuck up on me, i've been revisiting where i was in 2017 a lot as of late and this album was like Integral to me then. it's still flawless btw top 3 of all time

cafune - love songs for the end : i just am a weirdly big fan of them? literally every song except shadowboxing has been a Thing for me at some point. currently it's dead 2 me (so naive)

the volunteers - the volunteers : just a really fun rock record?? reminds me of wolf alice which i LOVE blue weekend

jessica lea mayfield - make my head sing : my random country/grunge sneak, she's been a super obscure fave of mine for many years and this album just kinda hit recently with the whole resurgent trauma energy

lucy dacus - home video : to be honest i haven't been STREAMING this that much, but instead i've literally been singing the songs in my day-to-day life. partner in crime, brando, christine, please stay... literally integral to my functioning

ethel cain - preacher's daughter : i took this off rotation for a few months to avoid getting sick of it bc truthfully i could just stream it on loop forever. been really obsessed with thoroughfare and strangers as of late

paramore - re: this is why : remi wolf's version of you first kinda carried, but tbh i've just been enjoying this? i really love the base album, but i also deeply love having the alt versions to diversify the rotation

troye sivan - something to give each other : i'm sorry but he just makes good music. one of your girls & silly go fucking crazy

pretty sick - makes me sick makes me smile : this is just some trashy emo teenager rock thing but it's just kind of a vibe? lilith song has been on my mind forever

vashti bunyan - just another diamond day : i didn't really fall in DEEP love with this in the way others did, and i think she has better albums, but i would be lying if i said i didn't revisit this the most atm. title track and (the not-technically-on-it-but-it-should've-been) train song rattle around my brain constantly

hitsujibungaku - our hope : god this is one of those releases i can't tire of. i'm so excited for their new album... thank you random youtube recommendations for showing me the video to one of the songs by pure chance

big thief - dragon new warm mountain i believe in you : the juggernaut of the chart has returned... i've just been revisiting this a lot and god is it still so exquisite... the only place and dried roses supremacy

the dead texan - the dead texan : i've been meaning to listen to this ambient thing all year and god i'm glad i did. peak vibes

anri - timely!! : i have a couple of like super recurrect city pop releases as this time last year i did a big deep dive into the genre, and this is the one that consistently pops up the most just because it's SO catchy and fun. well worth the hype imo

midori - shinsekai : absolutely batshit jazz and punk fusions, track 3 has the singer making gorilla sounds and i've been obsessed with it ever since. what is up with the one random man ballad in the center tho

yeule - softscars : first time i heard this it floored me so hard i almost cried. i never really clicked with her stuff but this just makes sense to me? it's messy and big and bold and earnest and hurt and it just fits where i am rn

alvvays - blue rev : god the sleeper classic of all time for me. the way i didn't care about it for like several months after hearing it and now it's basically a mainstay. such is the power of putting bored in bristol on your album

otoboke beaver - itekoma hits : this goes hand in hand with shinsekai. just batshit insane fast punk music it's great and fun i love it

shygirl - nymph : tbh this only got a relisten from me bc it's a year after its release, and honestly? well worth it. i didn't really love alias but this has really stuck the landing w me

taylor swift - midnights : ok so i know this is gonna be the like "why is this on here" one but like hear me out. see above that i was revisiting stuff a year after it came out, and also this was like The First Thing Announced When I Got Home. tbh my horrible hot take is that this is kind of a comfort album for me now?? it reminds me of oct '22 when i felt like for once in my fucking life things were gonna be ok. it's not her best but what can you do

olivia rodrigo - guts : this is like a single hair away from fully confirmed as my aoty this year and i hate it bc i look so basic but also consider: it is just that good to me

kero kero bonito - time n place : dear future self and swimming were big moments for me during this time in 2018, and my life is kinda eerily lining up with 2018 again so hearing a song called "dear future self" that reminds me of that time is a lot to process

ariana grande - thank u, next : random ass pick i know, but idk! it's her best, it's very subtly a concept album and it's unironically thematically coherent if you're terminally online enough to read into it thoroughly. also fake smile, bad idea, bloodline, in my head, etc. just slap sorry

pearly drops - a little disaster : thank you kabob for giving me the push to give this a shot. after grimes went full unsupportable, i kinda have been itching to fill the niche she used to fill vocally, and honestly this fits? it's weirdly glacial and funny and deadpan kinda it's fun i like this album a lot

lamp - at komoyo street : i'm sorry but one of the best album covers of all time and the music lives up to the hype

-

ok that's all of them whew jesus christ

next month is relatively light on new releases, so i'll probs just play catchup with all the insane shit i have in my backlog. see you next month!