#while Bobby's album was perfection!!!

[violetchachkii]

keep it for you (in sweetness)

bucktommy // rated g // 1.4k words (ao3)

Buck’s hand glided over the smooth cover of a photo album as he lifted it onto the counter. It was a light lavender with crystalline butterflies accenting the corners. He remembered how it stood out to him when he’d seen it in the store, purple and proud among a sea of blacks and browns. Absolutely perfect. It was more well-worn now, but he loved it even more. Buck’s joy at looking at the album was short-lived as he flipped through it. Every page was filled with drawings–from splotches of paint to loops of circles and shapes. Normally when he flipped through the book, he felt his heart swell and tears form in his eyes. The problem this time? Every page was full.  Buck looked over to the drawing on the counter. It was another of he and Tommy’s daughter Bobbie’s masterpieces.. She was coming up on two years old and getting bigger every time Buck closed his eyes. She was finally getting better at holding her crayons and colored pencils, making her drawings more identifiable than the earlier squiggles and dots. This specific drawing was a big, purple flower. Or at least, that’s what Buck figured it was. While her fine motor skills were improving, her language skills still left something to be desired. Buck made a mental note to work on that more.  With that thought filed away, he turned to the problem at hand. He had a beautiful drawing and no place to put it. She had completed another picture that morning and the rotation schedule on the refrigerator meant the purple flower was the next to be taken down. He must have forgotten the note he’d made for himself when he put the last drawing in (a beach ball…or a bullseye, he couldn’t be sure) to buy a new album. But that did not help him now.

(ao3)

[runningfrom2am]

all my ghosts - (d.s)

an ‘on the one screen in my town’ oneshot

summary: drew gets cast as the love interest in mason's newest music video.

this is set after 'kinda famous' but before the rest of the plot! this was also a request from @winterrrnight and i cannot disappoint my girl duh

watch the mv i based this on here!

wc: 1.2k

tags/warnings: none!! unedited?? intentional use of lowercase?? also a heads up that i did not come up with this song any of the lyrics or the music video!! all credits go to the original artist and her team (lizzy macalpine!)

requests (currently closed- feel free to send whatever but it will be a while before I get to them!)

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"do you know who they casted yet?" este asks, brushing back mason's hair away from her eyes to pull it up in to a messy bun for the opening shots.

"no, no clue." mason replies, watching her friend in the mirror and trying to stay as still as possible.

"don't you get to make these decisions?" este laughs, throwing the bun loosely into a scrunchy and reaching for her bobby pins to secure it.

"nope." mason giggles. "but i trust my team. i just said someone who gives kind of a 'boy next door' vibe but in a very relaxed way, who's taller than me, and doesn't look like he's forty."

"jeez, lower your standards." este chuckles, shaking her head. "i'm sure they found the perfect person. it'll be so, so good."

"i'm a little nervous." mason admits. "it's my first single after the last album, after the breakup- i don't want to disappoint anyone. you know?"

"i get it." este nods. "but this song is amazing, the video will do it justice. i know it." she assures her friend, leaning down to get a better look at her hair in the mirror. "i think you're ready! just don't throw your hair around too much. it takes a lot to perfect a messy bun."

mason smiles and turns her head to look at her makeup and hair, grinning in satisfaction. the bags under her eyes were emphasized and her brows darkened, but the rest of the makeup was meant to look very minimal. "i'll be careful." she assures her friend, standing up and stretching out.

"mason! we're ready for you." one of the producers is sticking her head in the door of the trailer, and the star quickly adjusts her costume, sweat shorts and a tank top before following her out, waving goodbye to her best friend who is already getting ready for her next client; mason's costar.

mason goes out and shoots a couple casual shots, walking into the corner store and browsing at a few different aisles and coolers. they don't know what will make the final cut just yet, but they'll gather an array of footage just in case.

"okay, we're going to get you guys together now, just act natural, have a look around and be very casual but definitely make it your own. it'll make it real- but we can always try again." the director says and mason nods, looking past her as the bell on the door rings and they bring in her costar.

mason stands on her top toes to look over the shelves in front of her, and smiles wide when she sees who they had casted. "drew! hi!" she grins, quickly making her way over and dodging cameras and mic's to give him a hug.

"hey, mason." drew smiles, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"oh my god!" she laughs, quickly pulling away. "i didn't even know you auditioned!"

"well, i thought i wouldn't tell you until i got it. it would be embarrassing if i didn't, hey?" drew chuckled. "and then i figured i'd just see you here."

"of course you would get it, are you joking?" mason smiles, hugging him quickly again. "i'm really glad you're here. this will be fun."

"it sounds like it." drew nods, that ever lovely smirk present on his lips.

"basically, we're just fucking around and they're filming it. minimal acting required." mason shrugs as drew slips an arm over her shoulders.

"perfect- let's do this." he nods, quickly pressing a kiss to the side of her head before moving away.

"okay we're ready." the director says, grabbing their attention. "whenever you guys are, just act like we're not here."

"somehow that makes the pressure worse." mason giggles, shaking her head slightly and avoiding eye contact with him now.

"you know all the words, right?" drew asks, a teasing smirk on his face as they walk down the aisle, followed behind and ahead of them by cameras at different angles.

mason gasps, gently shoving him. "how dare you! i wrote every word myself. of course i know them." she giggles.

"okay, well, what's it about?" he asks, grabbing something random off the shelf and turning it over in his hand for just a moment before returning it to its spot.

"you haven't heard it? ouch."

"of course i've heard it. i just want to hear it from you."

"okay," mason nods, continuing to walk beside him slowly as she thinks it over. "it's about falling in love again after being heartbroken, i guess. like, everyone has something that has happened to them in their lives that kind of... haunts them. that they can't let go of, but you can grow around whatever happened and be happy again."

"i see." drew nods. "i get that feeling. it's an amazing song, by the way."

"thank you." mason says, pride evident in her voice along with a slight nod.

it only took a couple of days to shoot the whole thing, most of it just pulling random clips of drew and mason talking and giggling outside of the clips she filmed herself, dancing and singing to the lyrics of her own song.

the last one they filmed together had been the wedding scene, and drew was smiling like an idiot the whole time. the finalized clip only lasted a few seconds, but as he looked her up and down in the white dress, something in him had changed. usually acting to him was no big deal, he could compartmentalize himself from his characters, but this shoot had been entirely different with the producers pushing on them over and over to just 'be themselves'.

"okay! that's a wrap for drew." the producer called as they cut the cameras, the two of them standing face to face at the front of the church.

"thank you so much." mason smiles, reaching around him with the bouquet in hand to give him a hug.

he gladly returned it, gently rubbing her back. "thank you for having me. this was so fun."

"anytime! seriously." mason says, pulling back from the hug after a moment. she's in a bit of a rush to get out of this slightly itchy wedding dress, so she's already stepping down off the small preachers stage.

"hey, wait," drew calls after her, following on her heels as she turns to look at him. "are you free this weekend? to grab lunch or something?"

mason is taken a little by surprise at this, pausing in her step toward the costume tent. "i.. yeah! i would like that. maybe not this weekend, but i'll call you, yeah?"

"okay, yeah. whatever works for you." drew nods, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dress pants.

mason's cheeks are flushed as she looks up at him. "sweet. okay. i've got to get going, but i'll see you soon."

"yeah, see you soon." drew smiles, shifting his weight back onto his heels.

he lets her go, walking the rest of the way down the aisle dressed fully as if she was getting married today. he's quick to lift his hands and rub his palms over his face when he encounters the thought that one day he'd like to see her like this again, be marrying her for real. is he crazy? god, he hopes he isn't crazy.

as she passes off the bouquet to the prop girl, giving her a polite and grateful smile, drew knows he can't wait to see mason again. whatever that may take.

taglist: @bookishbabyyy @madelynie, @whore-4-drewstarkey, @slut4drudy, @winterrrnight, @totalswag, @sadfury @fullfledgedemo @rafemotherfuckingcameron, @urfaveluvr, @alimaythings, @chenslucy, @s-we-e-t-t-ea, @tahliac11, @saccharinesammie, @suzyheartsrafe, @maybankslover, @redhead1180, @lovelyxtommy, @thelomlisrafecameron, @realwifeofjackharlow

[goldenbcnes]

ARE YOU FOR REAL I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!

🩰🩰🩰🩰🩰🩰

🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

🥂🥂🥂🥂

💋💋💋💋

🤢🤢🤢🤢

Not even gonna apologize.

cal you inspire me every day thank u for this idea i needed the big push to get some of these done i love u my king

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18 for fight club fic

Buck knew that Eddie was pulling away from him after Christopher left with his grandparents to Texas. 

He chalked it up to needing space to grieve whatever relationship he had lost with his son, his life crumbling before his eyes as he watched them walk out the door and board a plane 800 miles away, but after two weeks of dodged calls and stumbling into work, Buck knew something was off.

The circles under Eddie’s eyes were dark, a deep purple hue that emphasized the way his skin had paled over the days. Buck knew he hadn’t been sleeping, the house empty and cold with the absence of Christopher's infectious laughter and joy.

His attempts at communication went unanswered, and Buck couldn’t help but worry for him. A deep and painful ache in his chest started to weigh on him at the thought of Eddie pulling away to a place Buck couldn’t drag him back from. It also didn’t help that their current captain was doing everything in his power to make their lives miserable. 

Gerrard had made going to work something Buck dreaded, rather than bring him joy, like it was working for Bobby. The entirety of A-Shift had put up walls to protect themselves. Keeping all discussions of their personal lives out of the firehouse and biting their tongues at every comment made towards an aspect of themselves. 

While they were all struggling under new leadership, Eddie seemed to become someone Buck didn’t know. The perfect soldier, firefighter, and employee. Always punctual, however in disarray he seemed to look, grooming standards met, and uniform pressed and crisp. The distant look in his eyes seemed to grow farther and farther away every day that Buck saw him.

Eddie was retreating into himself in a way Buck had never known, and in a way he didn’t know how to fix it.

Things changed after a night on the phone with Eddie who had found a photo of Shannon and Christopher tucked away in an album that he was reorganizing, and couldn't seem to catch his breath or stop the sobs from his throat. Tommy had been over for dinner, and had given him a look when he went to pick up the phone as soon as Eddie called him. 

“Again? This is the second time he’s called during dinner.” Buck shot him a pointed look, picking up the phone without a second thought.

“Yes, again. I’m gonna keep answering him, too, until I know in my heart of hearts he’s safe from himself.” Tommy rolled his eyes, excusing himself from Buck’s counter to give him a semblance of privacy. 

Buck answered the phone and immediately stood to attention as he heard shaky breaths and sniffles on the other end. 

“Eddie? Are you okay?”

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18 for dance au

Buck had Bobby on the phone as soon as he heard the news.

“Eddie Diaz.” He heard Bobby chuckle on the other end of the phone.

“Well, my name is Bobby Nash, actually, but what can I do for you?”

“That isn’t funny, Bobby.” He was sitting on the floor of his childhood room, rolling out his quad after a difficult physical therapy session. Ever since nationals in February, his ACL had been tight and would twinge during ballet classes more often than not. His physical therapist had told him that if he kept pushing himself like he was, he would tear it and possibly tear his MCL on top of that.

Bobby had also told him to stop pushing himself to the point of injury, especially when it wasn’t necessary during the off season, but Buck took that as more of a suggestion than anything. 

Only when Athena threatened to ground him at the age of 19 did he pull back. He started going to regular physical therapy sessions in California to make sure his body was able to tolerate the stress he knew was coming in the upcoming months.

“Buck, I don’t know what you want me to say. I think it’ll be good for the team. Not just one boy, but two? It’ll be national news.” Buck could hear the chatter of students in the background, Bobby most likely at the studio.

“Are you teaching right now?” Buck groaned in annoyance, knowing that this wasn’t going to be a productive conversation, Bobby half distracted with other students.

“Not at this very moment, but soon. I could use an assistant if you want to get up and come help. It’s the junior contemporary combination I showed you the other day.” Bobby laughed as Buck let out a sigh, still sore from therapy, but all too knowing that Buck wouldn’t turn down the opportunity. “If you don’t want to, Athena will be home soon with May and Harry for dinner.”

“Is this trying to distract me from thinking about stupid Eddie Diaz?”

“Is it working?”

“No.”

“Then no, it’s not a distraction.” Buck stood and went to grab his contemporary bag, phone still in hand. His warm ups were a faded pair of Project 21 sweatpants, one of his favorites that Bobby had given him a few years ago. He held them close to his chest as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“I’ll be there soon, don’t let them start without me. They love me there.”

“They do. So do we.”

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12 for drunk 5+1

She pulled the door all the way open to reach out and grab at his arm as he was halfway down the steps of her home. She pulled him across the threshold, his senses overwhelmed with the smell of the dinner they had and the sound of the tv low in the living room. 

“You didn’t interrupt anything. We just opened a bottle of wine and it seems like you need a glass.” She looked him over, probably noticing the red rimmed eyes and flush on his face. He didn’t want her to look too closely to see the shaking of his hands. He didn’t want her to see the cracks in his mask.

“Hen, really, I’m– I don’t know why I’m here.” His voice was tight, the tears still sitting at the surface of his eyes. He noticed Karen in the kitchen grabbing a third glass for him and his heart sunk. He really wasn’t trying to be a bother, but it was like he couldn’t help himself.

“Like I said, you’re not interrupting anything. Denny is asleep, we’re just watching a movie. Join us.” Her voice was kind and inviting, and Buck was weak. He sat down in the chair next to the coffee table across from the couch. Hen dropped a blanket into his lap and handed him a glass of wine.

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12 for feminization fic

In the three years since that day, they had made a lot of memories in their kitchen. Good ones, birthday cakes and anniversary dinners. Bad ones, explosive fights over bills and insecurities rearing their heads. They had lived entire lives before they met each other, but Eddie was determined to have Buck for whatever life he had left. Now closer to 40 than 30, he knew that good things could be fleeting, and Evan Buckley was one of the greatest things in Eddie’s life.

It had been three years of healthy and hearty meals when he noticed it for the first time. 

Buck had always been a big guy, broad shoulders and thick legs, a healthy layer of fat over his stomach and chest, but he had always had visible muscle and the vague outlines of abs. He was broad and took up a lot of space in the world, tending to scare people when he would pop up out of nowhere. But Buck was gentle. He was gentle in the way he approached victims on scenes, hands tender and healing when he would hold the hands of parents who had to see their children shipped off to the hospital. He was careful with tiny animals, Eddie dragging him into the backseat of his car in the parking lot of the Humane Society after he saw him handle a kitten with such tenderness.

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12 for husbands sick fic

Buck awoke to an empty bed. The early morning light filtered through the window in their room, dust still lingering in the air from their new furniture. 

The choice to pick a three bedroom was not something they took lightly. Before they got married, Buck had asked Eddie if he was open to the idea of more kids, a question that Eddie didn’t have an answer for at the time. His life had been so defined by being a father that he wasn’t sure he could do the whole thing again and get lost in fatherhood.

They married on a sunny day in July, the weather blessedly cool for the time of year, with Christopher standing beside Eddie and Hen by Buck. Maddie walked him down the aisle and Bobby officiated. Buck couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. Instead of taking a honeymoon, they used the money to put a down payment on a three bedroom home a fifteen minute drive from Bobby and Athena’s home that they rebuilt after the fire.

Buck knew that the third bedroom was a ticking clock, with neither one of them getting any younger and the age gap between a potential sibling and Christopher grew every day. Some days, Buck would catch Eddie lingering in the doorway, watching the empty room like it held the secrets to their new life.

But if he was being honest, Buck didn’t care if Eddie decided he didn’t want anymore kids. He would be happy as a step dad to Christopher if it meant he got to spend the rest of his life with Eddie.

[ericdeggans]

Purple Rain at 40: Speaking with The Revolution on the film which made Prince a pop superstar and changed my life

I sat in a darkened movie theater 40 years ago, transfixed by a story that felt like it was centered on my pop culture life. Only years later, would I wind up living a reality that felt imported straight from the film’s narrative.

The movie was Prince’s introduction to superstardom, Purple Rain.

That film is now celebrating its 40th anniversary – the actual date was Saturday – and to mark the occasion for NPR, I caught up with two of Prince’s bandmates from The Revolution, guitarist Wendy Melvoin and drummer Bobby Z Rivkin -- with Morris Day, lead singer/leader of the Purple One’s funk band offshoot The Time chiming in through email. (read the story here)

Back then, I was a straight up disciple of Prince’s Minneapolis sound – a fan after listening to his 1981 album Controversy, I sifted through albums like 1999, Dirty Mind and For You for the funk bits that made an aspiring drummer sit up and take notice. To be honest, like a lot of Black folks back then, I was little more into the hardankle funk of The Time, with me and my friends growing up in Gary Indiana regularly sporting the Stacy Adams shoes and baggy pants favored by the group.

So imagine my surprise when I saw all that pop culture uniqueness splashed all over a movie screen in July 1984 courtesy of Purple Rain. Prince charged through scenes on a custom-made, lavender colored motorcycle like a guitar playing superhero, thundering through dazzling musical sequences like a new school James Brown, while Day and his onstage foil Jerome Benton provided the kind of comic relief needed to keep the whole scene from taking itself too seriously.

As someone who had just started a funk band in college at Indiana University, I was in awe of the powerful pop tunes and kinetic, sharp performances in the film’s musical moments. And backstage scenes where Wendy fought with Prince – known only as The Kid onscreen – urging him to play a song she and her girlfriend/keyboardist Lisa Coleman had written together, felt like 100 arguments I’d seen in all the band I’d ever played in.

“It was sort of the perfect mix of time, place and people,” Wendy told me a few weeks ago, when I interviewed her by Zoom about the experience of making Purple Rain. “They wanted the dynamic to be as real as possible. So they did, when they were writing the script, come to us and say, okay, what would you say if this situation happened? Or how would you act if that happened? So they were able to capture a kind of authenticity and put in into the script.”

The film turned Prince into a superstar, powered by a simple story: The Revolution is on the verge of failure until The Kid agrees to play Wendy and Lisa’s song – Purple Rain, of course—at the legendary Minneapolis club First Avenue. His emotional performance kicks off a scorching finale that galvanizes the crowd and saves the band.

Just a few years later, I would live that same storyline when the group I co-founded in college, Voyage Band, was on the verge of failure, rescued by a hit single written for a charity record that exploded over local radio in 1986. When we played a show at a local club that we expected to be lightly attended, and the place instead packed with fans who sang along with our song when we played it onstage, I felt like I was living the story of Purple Rain in real time. Eventually, we signed contract with Motown Records, though our record was never released - the song Strange Situation, can be heard here.

Back in the mid-1980s, MTV had only recently begun playing videos by Black artists. And there was nothing like the level of information available to fans now about their favorite performers via social media. So seeing music videos and a film that provided a fictionalized history for Prince – showing him struggling with an abusive father and navigating tensions with his band – felt like a brief window into an artistic world fans had previously only seen through listening to the music and poring over album liner notes.

All of it was shrouded by a mystique in which Prince and his collaborators rarely talked with the press, which helped stoke interest in the work, but also made it tough for some musicians from The Revolution when Prince decided to disband the group in 1986.

“I kind of resented the fact that, you know, people just thought I turned on a machine and went to play and then turned it off,” said Bobby, who began working with Prince in the late 1970s and stayed friends with him until the pop icon’s death in 2016 of an accidental fentanyl overdose. “There was a lack of transparency about how it all went down…But I knew the mystique was cool…definitely didn’t want to blow that. And he trusted us to not give out the secret sauce.”

I actually met Prince months before his death at his home studio in Minneapolis, Paisley Park. He had invited the National Association of Black Journalists, which had a conference in the city, to his facility, sitting down with a small crowd of us to talk passionately about the need for artists to retain control of their work in the face of the streaming revolution (here’s the story I wrote for NPR about it).

Wendy says The Revolution had talked with Prince about year before his death about reuniting; her last conversation with him was about plans to visit him at his home studio Paisley Park with her young son. Bobby recalls hearing local news reports in Minneapolis about an ambulance called to Paisley Park and then later learning of Prince’s death.

“This shy kid that I met…turned into one of the greatest entertainers of all time,” Bobby says. “I got to know him. He was probably my best friend….someone that people just revere and are mystified by and I got to have an intimate relationship musically and personally [with him.] He changed the world. And it’s just incredible to have lived that moment with him.”

All of this explains why Purple Rain was such a landmark for me personally and pop music in general. It’s an achievement worth remembering, at a time when the march of technology and pop culture too often threatens to erase the memory of how we all got here, in the first place.

[hooked-on-elvis]

"Loving Arms" (1973-1974)

Recorded on December 13, 1973 at Stax Studios, Memphis · Released on March 20, 1974 · Album: Good Times.

MUSICIANS Guitar: James Burton, Johnny Christopher, Charlie Hodge. Bass: Norbert Putnam. Drums: Ronnie Tutt. Piano & Organ: David Briggs, Per-Erik Hallin. Vocals: Kathy Westmoreland, Mary (Jeannie) Greene, Mary Holladay, Susan Pilkington, Voice, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps. OVERDUBS Guitar: Dennis Linde, Alan Rush. Percussion: Rob Galbraith. Piano: Bobby Ogdin. Organ: Randy Cullers. Vocals: Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay, Mary Cain.

Cover sleeve: (1) LP Good Times, released on March 20, 1974.

RECORDING SESSION Studio Sessions for RCA December 10–16, 1973: Stax Studios, Memphis The next number, Tom Jans’s “Loving Arms,” was perfectly suited to Elvis’s voice. The powerful but touching folk-country ballad instantly sparked the musicians to new heights of fresh, sophisticated playing. The song was as demanding on them as “My Boy” had been on Elvis’s voice, and when Felton cautiously asked for a third take, he was relieved to watch it yield a perfect master. Excerpt: "Elvis Presley, A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions" by Ernst Jorgensen. Foreword by Peter Guralnick (1998)

"Loving Arms" — LYRICS Songwriter: Thomas Louis Jans (Tom Jans) If you could see me now The one who said that she'd rather roam The one who said she'd rather be alone If you could only see me now If I could hold you now Just for a moment, if I could really make you mine Just for a while, turn back the hands of time If I could only hold you now I've been too long in the wind Too long in the rain Taking any comfort that I can Looking back and longing for The freedom of my chains And lying in your loving arms again If you could hear me now Singing somewhere through the lonely nights Dreaming of the arms that held me tight If you could only hear me now I've been too long in the wind Too long in the rain Taking any comfort that I can Looking back and longing for The freedom of my chains And lying in your loving arms again I've been too long in the wind Too long in the rain Taking any comfort that I can Looking back and longing for The freedom of my chains And lying in your loving arms again I can almost feel your loving arms again

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL RECORDING "Loving Arms" was first-recorded by Dobie Gray and released as a single by MCA Records on July 1973, backed with "Now That I'm Without You" (Ref. MCA 40100). The same year, in September, the song was released on a long play record, the album Loving Arms (Ref. MCA-371).

"Loving Arms" by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge (1973) On September 1973, Kristofferson and Coolidge's version was released on the album Full Moon. The song was released as a single in early 1974 (backed with "I'm Down (But I Keep Falling)" - Ref. A&M 1498).

FOLLOWING RELEASES (1974) Petula Clark released "Loving Arms" as A-side single (backed with "I'm The Woman You Need"- Ref. Dunhill 15019) in November 1974.

THE WRITER'S RECORDING In 1974, A&M Records released Tom Jans' recording of "Loving Arms" on his self-titled album (Ref. SP-3644).

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I went with my dad to see Bobby Watt the other day. He’s a Scottish-Canadian folk singer (has been in Canada since he was about 20 and he’s 70 now, but he still has a Scottish accent so strong that he must be keeping it on purpose, I have music in my collection by several other singers who grew up in Scotland before moving to Canada and all of them have a bit of an amalgamated accent, while Bobby Watt’s got a stronger Scottish accent than Frankie Boyle) whom my dad last saw live at the Edmonton Folk Festival in 1991. Which means I probably saw him live then too; I lived in Edmonton from when I was born until I was 8, 1990-1998, and my parents took me to the local folk festival during every one of those years (including 1990, when I attended as a fetus). So I must have seen him in 1991 as well, but I was under a year old and don’t remember. He then got off the folk festival circuit so we hadn’t seen him since, though we have one of his albums and it’s great.

He was playing this new-ish venue this week that’s local to me (very far from Edmonton, but he lives around here now), and my dad and I went, and it was so good. It was just the right mix for a trad Celtic music night. 85% tradition Celtic songs, only a couple of tunes (that’s just my preference as I like most songs better than most tunes, nice that his preference lined up with mine), three or four more modern Celtic ones, a Stan Rogers cover (White Squall, one of his best ones), exactly one quite left-field Bob Dylan cover, and one even more left field Mark Knopfler cover that surprised me by being really lovely. A reasonable amount of patter between songs to tell us exactly what regions they come from and a few references to economic socialist and pro-union political views. One guy backing him up on fiddle and one guy on mandolin and swapping through about eight different guitars throughout the night. That’s what the people want when they turn up to something billed as a trad Celtic music night. It was perfect.

I’ve been to this venue a few times in the last year, it’s only been open since 2021. It’s such a good place. Small enough to feel intimate, big enough to feel like a community atmosphere (about 80 people). People who understand the technical side of music better than I do have praised the excellent acoustics. And it’s a folk club, of the kind our city hasn’t had in many years.

I went to this city’s local folk festival every year from when we moved here in 1998 until about 2015. In 2012 they sold it to this big company that brought in a bunch of “indie rock” acts to try to draw in a younger crowd, and they succeeded, because it turns out that you can successfully make a folk festival into something that attracts a different demographic, if you make it so that it’s not a folk festival anymore. The only drawback will be that it’s not a fucking folk festival anymore. I carried a resentment toward indie rock over this for many years, until relatively recently, when I listened to Daniel Kitson’s radio shows and said “Actually a lot of this is pretty good, it doesn’t belong at a folk festival or anything but it’s still good, it’s technically not Bon Iver’s personal fault that my folk festival died.” I mean, it die. It just sucked. It attracted the young people it wanted and they all got drunk and shouted things and ruined the atmosphere and the number of folk acts in the lineup got smaller and smaller over a few years until I just stopped going. I still went to folk festivals, just not to that one anymore.

Also, it’s not like traditional folk music is the only thing I enjoy. There are plenty of sub-genres of rock and country and general Americana/Canadiana that I love. I have some mainstream tastes! I really like The Clash and 1.5 Led Zeppelin albums and Joan Jett and even Nirvana. I went through a phase in my late teens/early 20s when I got into a lot of classic rock, and still listen to it sometimes. And at this point my catalogue of American and Canadian alt country is rivaling the size of my collection of folk music from this one tiny Canadian island (Cape Breton Nova Scotia, they make a lot of music there). But there is a time and a place. And the place for anything that can be described as any kind of “rock” music is every single place in the world besides a folk festival. Let us have our one thing!

Anyway. This new venue draws out the old folk festival crowd, just as it was before 2012, I love it. All the grey ponytails are back! It turns out those people never went away, they’ve just been waiting for a venue like this to open so they can go see music again.

The concert was followed by a “jam session”, on which I think my dad and I both had the same opinion: “That sounds really cool and I’d love to stay and see it, but would feel way too self-conscious.” So we left. They do this Celtic night once a month, I’m going to try to go back in April and maybe I will stay. I’m pretty sure you don’t actually need to bring an instrument and play it or sing to stay for the jam session. I just worry that I’d feel self-conscious sitting there with no musical talent whatsoever and watching everyone else play. Also, the audience was clearly made up of mostly musicians and people who know each other through music, and my dad and I are just tourists there. Still, it would be cool.

I’ve now been to see live music five times since last July, which is less than I used to do, pre-COVID, but significantly more than in any other year since COVID happened. I’m really glad I decided last year to start doing this again. Live music has been such an automatic part of my life since I was born, I think I took it for granted. Didn’t realize what a big part of my happiness it was until I stopped doing it. Sitting in a room full of other people who are all feeling the same thing you are with the same music is an unparalleled experience, and rather than taking it for granted, I should feel ridiculously lucky that I got to consider it so normal for most of my life.

I’ve said that there’s a kid at work for whom I play music sometimes, and looking at it through his eyes (his ears?) really is a cool way to remind me of how special things are, even things I’ve gotten used to. The other day I played him Runrig for the first time. They’re a band from Scotland that I know about because for a while their lead singer was Bruce Guthro, who’s from Cape Breton in Canada. For ages as a teenager I just vaguely knew that one of my favourite singers, Bruce Guthro, is in a band in Scotland called Runrig for some reason. Then I actually got into that band and learned that they are much, much bigger than Bruce Guthro, they existed in one form or another from 1973 to 2018, they were very successful and I don’t know why they put some guy from Canada on lead vocals for a while. But I’m grateful that they did because otherwise I wouldn’t have got into them.

They have this compilation album called 50 Great Songs, which is exactly what the title claims and therefore excellent value for money, and buying that was my introduction to them. It has a live version of this song Hearts of Olden Glory, which is breathtaking. Seriously, if you have bothered to spend your precious time reading the insignificant thoughts that I write down, I promise it will be a much more worthwhile use of your time to listen to this song:

I played it for the kid at work, and realized I probably shouldn't expect it to have the same effect on him as it does on me, because he has an extremely limited vocabulary, he doesn't understand the world around him, he doesn't know what a live music gig is. He doesn't know what it means when you can hear the whole crowd singing this together.

But I watched him as I played it for him, and he reacted in all the right places. He stopped and listened and when the music swelled or stopped he froze and closed his eyes and grabbed my hands and shivered. There is something universal there. Even if you don't know what it means, there is something that any human can understand is special.

On the same day I played him Madison Violet for the first time. That's a band of three women who are all from Cape Breton (and one is related to the famous fiddler Ashley MacIsaac), but formed in Toronto. I first saw them at a folk festival in, I think, 2009. I bought their album No Fool For Trying, and it immediately went into regular rotation. (I feel like I only ever mention male musicians on here. I'd like to clarify that while my music collection is more male dominated than I'd like it to be, it is less male dominated than it probably seems according to my blog posts.)

I've listened to this album in lots of years, but it always makes me think of the year I listened to it most often, which was 2011-2012, when I lived in Halifax for a year, and I had my first girlfriend, and I had commitment issues that meant I would hang out at her place for as late as she wanted but would never sleep over, and this was one of the albums I most frequently played while walking home from her place. So whenever I hear it, I still think of walking for 40 minutes through the streets of Halifax from her apartment to my dorm, at 2 or 3 or 4 AM, with a vague feeling of guilt because I knew she wanted me to stay over and be a proper girlfriend but I couldn't bring myself to do that, but also with a feeling of excitement because the streets of Halifax at night are a lovely place to walk and I had this nice music to keep me company. Anyway it's a great album. Every song is strong.

I played it for this kid for the first time recently, and I started with a couple of the faster songs, thinking he'd like those. He wasn't that into them. Then I played him this one, the really slow and melancholic one, and he stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes, and just listened:

I was a bit surprised, because I've always thought of this as a song where the thing that makes it most special are the lyrics. This song gets to me emotionally because it's really lyrically beautiful, but this kid barely understands basic language, he won't know what lyrics mean. And yet, in that moment where the key changes (I think, I don't really know enough about music to say) and it says "Now your father's building you a box" - which is the exact moment that always really gets me and sends shivers down my spine - I saw him wrap his arms around himself and raise his shoulders around his ears and grin at me, clearly affected by the music. Something gets through even if he doesn't understand the words.

Anyway, that's the point of this post. Music is nice. I do not believe in taking video recordings of any type of show, for the usual reasons: it takes you out of the moment when being in the moment is supposed to be the entire point of the experience, and it's annoying for other people if they have to look at your phone screen instead of the event. However, my dad was really excited to see this guy he hadn't seen live since 1991, and he took this 30-second video, and I got him to send it to me, and to be honest I'm glad I have it now. It was hopefully worth mildly annoying the nice old school folk music people who were sitting behind us. This is a cover of what's actually the first Stan Rogers song I ever heard, when I was a kid, White Squall. Great song.

[reasoningdaily]

El DeBarge: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

NPR Music's Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month with Tiny Desk (home) concerts featuring legends in the world of R&B, jazz, gospel, and hip hop. Each artist in this legacy lineup has helped to define Black music as we know it and will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time. 

Bobby Carter | February 4, 2022 

Around this time last year, singer-songwriter and R&B royalty El DeBarge took to Instagram to take some requests and play a few hits. "I'd never done anything like that before, and the nerves were showing," he told me. 

That 23-minute live performance ignited a comeback of sorts, and the greats of today, many of whom he's influenced, wanted to be near him. That video reminded us of his greatness, and stars like Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, and Questlove helped make 2021 a busy year for the torchbearer of the DeBarge moniker. 

For his Tiny Desk (home) concert, he didn't want to veer far away from what he did on IG, and I quickly concurred. He got together with guitarist, Bennett Walker to play this intimate set of DeBarge classics. In terms of sheer talent alone, the DeBarge family was arguably on par with the Jacksons at one point. That talent propelled them to the stars in the 1970s and '80s, cranking out hit records and cookout classics. Switch, featuring siblings Bobby and Tommy DeBarge, came first. 

A couple of years later, the group DeBarge arrived, consisting of siblings James, Bunny, Mark, Randy, and El. Their five albums and El's solo work were a massive part of Motown's success and helped sustain the label in the '80s. Despite the well-documented odds he's faced over the years, this set feels like a triumph. 

His voice has aged with grace, and that signature falsetto we've all attempted while singing these songs is perfection here. From his cozy home studio, the Michigan native breezes through a few of his R&B standards, including "All This Love," "Time Will Reveal," "Love Me In A Special Way," and in honor of Black History Month, he reworks "A Dream" as a dedication to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[wardingoffevil]

Kassam as a Dad

My obsession, my heart, my soul: Kassam. I love him so much. I get so excited seeing people talk about him or use him in their work. I know a lot of people have a hard time seeing him as a LI, let alone a dad. Let me try to show you a different side to this elusive DJ.

Trust me, it’s worth it! 🖤

Please note: I headcannon Kassam’s surname as Mansouri, and I headcannon his son’s name as Amir. It’s okay if you don’t agree!

💿 It’s canon that Kassam wants a family, but I can only see him having one child. A son. He has brothers, so a son would be perfect for him.

💿 Kassam wants to be relatively young when he has Amir. He wants to be at least 30 years old.

💿 Kassam comes from a traditional Algerian family. They wanted him to name his son after someone in the family, but he chose Amir. It had to be a cool name.

💿 In Arabic, Amir means “the prince.”

💿 Chelsea did not design Amir’s nursery. Kassam thought the less he had to interact with her the better. So, he hired his own designer instead.

💿 His son is going to be the best dressed newborn leaving the hospital. As he grows up, he will always be picking out his own outfits. Kassam is dead-set on Amir having his own sense of style.

💿 Kassam and Amir have matching studded blazers (iykyk).

💿 You wouldn’t expect it but Kassam is the type of dad to get up at all hours with his son. He has no problem changing him, feeding him, and doing all the daddy-duties.

💿 This is not a dad who is all over the place emotionally. Kassam has anxiety, but for the most part is pretty laid back. He does like a routine. So having Amir on a routine makes him very happy.

💿 Kassam is not active on social media, so he won’t be posting pictures of Amir. He isn’t keen on the idea of baby pictures of him being posted online anyway. Now, in his camera roll, on his phone? Full of pictures and videos. He looks at them all the time.

💿 It physically hurts Kassam to have to leave Amir when he goes on tour. Especially as a baby. They’re only that little once, and that’s why Kassam stays on FaceTime with him whenever he can.

💿 Like Lucas, Kassam will be very protective of his son. Not quite as intense as Lucas. Not just anybody will be his nanny, and he definitely won’t be going to just any daycare. He will most likely be looked after by a trusted family member. Probably Kassam’s mother.

💿 Kassam is the type of father who will encourage structure and discipline. He won’t be strict or authoritative like his own father was, but boundaries will be set.

💿 Expect multiple songs about Amir, if not an entire album.

💿 Amir is the only one he allows in his home recording studio while he’s working. He can multitask by making beats while Amir plays.

💿 School work will come easily to Amir. He’s the type of kid we all wished we could be like in school. The type of kid who never had to study and passed every test with an A. His favorite subject is math.

💿 Kassam isn’t going to be the loud, center of attention dad at any of Amir’s events, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t proud of him. Quite the contrary. He just wants to enjoy the event without chaotic parents (no offense Bruno, Bobby and Gary).

💿 As Amir grows up, he will be known for his parties. His dad’s an international DJ after all…

💿 The boys have a “pizza night”, every single Friday, where they eat pizza and watch trashy horror movies.

💿 Lucas and Kassam are close. They do hang out. I can see Lucas’s daughter being friends with Amir. Even if she is older than him, she looks out for him.

💿 They vacation to Algeria at least once a year. Kassam is very close to his grandparents, who still live there. He loves showing Amir around and immersing him in their culture.

💿 Did Amir inherit his fathers musical prodigy gene? Absolutely. Give him any instrument and he’ll play it. Especially a guitar. But he can’t stand techno music. Kassam just shrugs when he finds out.

His route is one of the most frustrating routes in the game. It’s hard to get him to say your name. This was the guide I used. I have found that it only works once. I do not remember who wrote this, so please let me know so I can credit them asap! And, this guide, by @kokokabana, is also very helpful. @ravenadottir has everything you’ll ever need here. From information on his route, to headcannons, even another way his route could have been written. I do mean there is everything there. @litgwritersroom has headcannons for Kassam here.

[lemonlyman-dotcom]

Hi Lemon!

I know I passed the #NiceAskWeek but i really wanted to ask this. I have two questions.

1. I am someone who grew up listening to 90’s and early 2000 music. Whats your favourite song from that time? Or top 5 songs?

2. As someone who goes by the name lemon, what’s your favourite lemon dessert?

Thank you for your super creative work. And for being the coolest friend. Have a nice week. ❤️

Hi Paba!!! Thank you so much for this lovely ask, I love talking about music!!!

Nice Ask Week ends when we say it ends!!! I got super ambitious last weekend and sent like 40 and then I lost my energy during the week. Which is what I do every Nice Ask Week lol. I will be sending out more!

1. Late 90s and early 2000s was the time of the Soulquarians!! And, oh boy, what a time for music that was!! Several (now) iconic musicians and producers took up residency in Electric Lady Studios (Jimi Hendrix’s studio) in NYC and created what became known as the Neo Soul sound. Questlove, Common, Q-Tip, D’Angelo, J DILLA!!! ERYKAH BADU!!!! MOS DEF & TALIB KWELI!!!! I die. Okay so some fave songs:

1. The Light - J Dilla & Common

J Dilla is one of the most prolific producers of our time. The way he played with timing and beats, and the way he would find the tiniest thing from a song and pull it out and create an entirely new song from it, he was on another level. This song samples "Open Your Eyes" by Bobby Caldwell, and features one of the freshest beats.

2. Bag Lady - Erykah Badu

Written by Erykah Badu and Issac Hayes (!!!!!) this album was recorded during the legendary Soulquarians sessions. Questlove and James Poysner were running between three studios while this album, D’Angelo’s Voodoo and Common’s Like Water for Chocolate were being recorded.

3. Ms. Fat Booty - Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def)

There are a lot of incredible songs on this album, but this one is just such a banger. I love Yasiin Bey so much, he’s my favorite rapper of all time. His voice is so so smooth, his flow is so perfect and he is just so clever. I’ve seen him play live several times and it’s always so fun to get a peek into his mind.

4. Get By - Talib Kweli

Again, sooo many good tracks on this album buuuut I went with the banger lol. Talib Kweli is one of the best rappers of all time, ask any rapper or hip hop fan and they will enthusiastically agree. And he uses his music as a platform to educate and talk about real social issues. I have learned a lot from him and his music has shaped the way I view the world.

5. Vibrant Thing - Q-Tip

Produced by J Dilla!!! lol. Q-Tip is one third of A Tribe Called Quest, my favorite 90s rap group. He’s another emcee who has a very distinctive style. This was his first solo album, produced entirely by The Ummah, the production team formed by Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (also of ATCQ) and J Dilla!!

+1

6. Golden - Jill Scott

This song is so joyful and empowering!! Living my life like it’s golden!!!

Okay!!! Question #2 my favorite lemon dessert is probably lemon meringue!! And I love anything lemon & blueberry.

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Jesse Kivel

Photo by David Katz

Jesse Kivel has been making indie rock music since the aughts, first in the hyper-literate band Princeton with his twin brother Matt and later in synth-dance-y Kisses. Now living in Maine and newly a dad, he recorded his best material yet in the second solo album, Life and Death at Party Rock. In her review at Dusted last month, Jennifer Kelly wrote, “Kivel has suddenly scratched below the surface, finding an unexpected, melancholy beauty in loosely collated daydreams. Life and Death at Party Rock haunts rather than pleases.” Here’s what Kivel has in his listening queue.

Bobby McFerrin — By The Sea

My friend Michael passed me this video years ago and I was just blown away by the talent, skill and concentration displayed in this performance. A lot of times we focus on the recorded version of a song, but in this case, Bobby makes a simple song transform into a technical feat of emotion and beauty.

Oasis — Live by The Sea (full concert)

Oasis was the band that changed everything for me. My brother and I would pretend to be Noel and Liam, snarling and playing Noel’s simple yet powerful solo's. We also snagged all of their live concert videos, including this one. Nothing beats Liam’s swagger in this moment and the energy and excitement this group could bring.

Alessi Brothers — Seabird (live)

This song was on a compilation or mixtape I received a while back. Gorgeous vibes and perfect to play in the early evenings. Also, keeping up with the brother/identical twin theme that has defined my life and creative output.

Linda McCartney — Seaside Woman

One of my wife Zinzi’s favorite songs, this tune has incredibly energy and feel. The lyrics are a touch problematic, and I truly can't be sure that Paul didn't write this one. He is basically singing through the entire thing, and it sounds like his vibe. Regardless, it is a lovely tune and I really like Linda’s solo record.

Beck — Guess I'm Doing Fine: Sea Change

Easily my favorite Beck record. It speaks to some of the natural textures and feelings I was trying to put on my new LP. This record reminds me of visiting a college in Atlanta. I slept over on campus and this record helped me sleep in a strange/unknown environment.

Don Gibson — Sea of Heartbreak

An iconic and classic tune, covered by everyone from Jonny Cash to Van Morrison. Gorgeous and simple, like many of those late 50’s/early 60’s tunes of yesteryear.

Phil Phillips & The Twilights — Sea of Love

I am 38 so most of my friends and peers know the Cat Power version of this. I have love for that cover as it exposed me to the original. I love the crisp and focused way the original is recorded. Eerie and slightly haunting, it is a beautiful tune.

Jesse Kivel — Overgrown Ocean

I would be nothing if not a shameless self-promoter :) This song is about visualizing myself crashing down into Penobscot Bay on a Cape Air Cessna. I wrote the lyrics to this song on my first flight with Cape Air which was incredibly foggy and overwhelming. As we cut through the clouds, an overwhelming calm reached me, and the lyrics are a meditation on death and finding peace with it.

Dennis Wilson — Pacific Ocean Blues

Growing up in Southern California, all I can say is I can relate to Dennis and the blues that often can accompany living in the region. The relentless sun and lack of seasons can really do someone in. Dennis, to his credit, correctly points out over and over in this song that the Pacific Ocean is blue. I appreciate his clear-eyed perception here.

Wilco + Billy Bragg — The Secret of The Sea

Wilco and Billy Bragg both have loomed large in my early musical education. Separately with their early records and then this Woody Guthrie collaboration. My brother and I went to Tulsa to visit Guthrie's museum a few years ago. While the Dylan one was put together more tastefully, I just remember relating to Guthrie as all his notebooks had endless amounts of mundane lists. This captured my heart as this is essentially all I do with my notebooks as well.

[innytoes]

#24 screams luke patterson, maybe lukebobby?

"So I was thinking..." came the voice out of the darkness. Bobby groaned, turning on his side to blearily squint at the alarm clock. 3:56 AM, perfect.

"Well, stop," he said.

Luke, of course, did not stop. "After we finish this tour, we should do another album with some acoustic on it as well, you know, as Grammy bait, and then..."

"Luke, we only just had our first stop, for the love of god." Next time, he was bunking with Alex. He didn't care if he was dating Luke, him and Reggie could just keep each other up while Bobby and Alex slept peacefully through the night.

"Yeah well you gotta plan, right? So anyway after we win the Grammy..."

"The only reason I haven't smothered you with a pillow yet is because then we'd be stuck doing Reggie's songs and I can't live my life as a country artist," he told Luke lovingly, turning around to curl on his side. Of course, Luke seemed wide awake, his eyes big.

"Rude," Luke said, pouting.

"If I kiss you, will you go to sleep?"

"But what about my plan?"Luke asked.

Bobby sighed. Then, he decided that fuck it. Clearly telling Luke to stop was not going to work. Time for Plan B. "Isn't it better to save it for tomorrow on the bus, so Reggie and Alex can hear it too?" he asked. That was as reasonable as he could sound at nearly four in the morning. If this didn't work, he was going back to the pillow plan. He could probably pull off a cowboy hat.

"Oh," Luke said. "You're so right!" He leaned forward, smacking a kiss to Bobby's lips before practically tackling him so he was on his back again, Luke wrapped around him. "Night."

Bobby sighed. At least he hadn't had to resort to violence. "Goodnight, Luke."

[my-chaos-radio]

.

Release:  May 19, 1986

Lyrics:

I've got the brains

You've got the looks

Let's make lots of money

You've got the brawn

I've got the brains

Let's make lots of...

I've had enough of scheming

And messing around with jerks

My car is parked outside

I'm afraid it doesn't work

I'm looking for a partner

Someone who gets things fixed

Ask yourself this question

Do you want to be rich?

I've got the brains

You've got the looks

Let's make lots of money

You've got the brawn

I've got the brains

Let's make lots of money

You can tell I'm educated

I studied at the Sorbonne

Doctored in mathematics

I could have been a don

I can program a computer

Choose the perfect time

If you've got the inclination

I have got the crime

Oh, there's a lot of opportunities

If you know when to take them

You know there's a lot of opportunities

If there aren't, you can make them

(Make or break them)

I've got the brains

You've got the looks

Let's make lots of money

Let's make lots of...

Money

You can see I'm single-minded

I know what I could be

How'd you feel about it?

Come and take a walk with me

I'm looking for a partner

Regardless of expense

Think about it seriously

You know it makes sense

Let's (Got the brains)

Make (Got the looks)

Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)

(Let's) You've got the brawn

(Make) I've got the brains

Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)

I've got the brains (Got the brains)

You've got the looks (Got the looks)

Let's make lots of money (Oohh money)

Money

All the love that we had

And the love that we hide

Who will bury us

When we die?

Songwriter:

Neil Tennant / Chris Lowe

SongFacts:

"Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their debut studio album, Please (1986). It was released as a single in 1985 and re-recorded and reissued in 1986, gaining greater popularity in both the United Kingdom and United States with its second release, reaching number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. After a Super Bowl ad in February 2021, featuring the song, it re-entered the charts claiming the Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs No. 1 spot on 27 February, 2021, among others.

The song was written during the Pet Shop Boys' formative years, in 1983. According to Neil Tennant, the main lyrical concept came while in a recording studio in Camden Town when Chris Lowe asked him to make up a lyric based around the line "Let's make lots of money".

The first version of the song, recorded with the duo's first producer, Bobby Orlando, was not released; upon signing with record label Parlophone, they re-recorded the song with J. J. Jeczalik (of Art of Noise) and Nicholas Froome.

The original single release charted at number 116 in the UK, to be exceedingly outdone by the number-one spectacle of the second release of "West End Girls" in multiple countries. With producer Stephen Hague still on board from that release, a new single version for the duo's debut album, Please, was mixed with reprogramming done by Hague and re-recorded vocals from Tennant. The second release of "Opportunities", following the album's release, resulted in better chart performance. It is the only single from the band to chart higher in the US than the UK, becoming the duo's second top-10 single in the US, peaking at number 10, and just missing out (number 11) in the UK. In Australia, the first version was the one to chart (although outside the top 40).

Please also included a brief, cacophonic track titled "Opportunities (Reprise)", which was the original middle section to the song proper before it was edited out.

[lunaacity]

you can usually tell a lot about a person by the type of music they listen to. put your favourite playlist on shuffle and list the first ten songs then tag ten people — no skipping!

thanks for tagging me @gothmoneyswag! i’d love to share

i decided to use last.fm because my biggest playlist right now is only like 150 songs and i dont think thats large enough

i wanted to leave a comment with each song too but thats optional if you want to do this too

1) Hackle - 1 Trillion Bars

my favorite drill song at the moment. hackle is the only HM member whose music i can say i love, i don’t hate turnagoat but hackle just has a vibe i cant really explain. recommended to sosa enjoyers and people who kinda like HM but haven’t really gotten into it.

2) chase plato - SET YOU FREE

found out a funny guy on tiktok made music and gave him a shot and it was really good. i love the final fantasy sample and chase’s vocals are really good. also follow him on tiktok @ chaseplato he is very funny

3) Oli XL feat. Ecco2k - Hesitate

song makes me feel like i’m the coolest mf to walk this earth. if my life was a movie, this would definitely make the soundtrack

4) Alex G - Bobby

a heartwarming and very bisexual love song. i have listened to this song only once or twice before making this list and i’m happy to come across it again. 

5) BCNR - Good Will Hunting

this song is amazing. objectively fucking brilliant. but i (thankfully) very rarely get in the mood to listen to BCNR.

6) Parannoul - Imagination

i wish i fucking understood korean i feel like i’m missing out because sonically this is really cool. everyone should try this album. i like the new slowthai album better but it’s second for my album of the year right now.

7) Bladee - D-925

it has a few classic bladee lines, but overall it’s one of bladee’s weaker songs. maybe there’ll be another bladee song on this list, but i’ll be disappointed if this is the only one i get to talk about.

8) yeule - Reverle

i fucking love everything about yeule. love love love love love yeule. listen to serotonin 2 and glitch princess or i will kill you.

9) Ecco2k - Peroxide

i mean....... e is a perfect album and this is the most popular song off it. it’s not my favorite, but it is the most accessible, and got me into ecco. this is the first song i recommend to most people who ask for music recs and arent drainers. if you discover 1 new song through this list, let it be this one.

10) MELO - Varovasti

i’m so happy a finnish song popped up here!!! it’s kinda like if brakence was good at making music. it would be pretty basic if it was in english, but very few people are actually making music that sounds like this in finnish, so he’s kind of doing a new thing here. if you don’t know how finnish sounds, i would recommend this just based on that. it’s a pretty language.

i’m supposed to stop here, but i hate rules and i like having fun so i’m gonna keep going

11) Manu Chao - Me gustas tú

another non-english song, and another song i discovered on tiktok. takes me to my happy place. love the song. i feel like it’s set in a post capitalist world where a person is truly free to do what they want and it’s beautiful to be there for a moment.

12) Varg2TM feat. Bladee - SHINIE

a quintessential bladee song in my opinion. Varg is the most underrated DG collaborator. the beat is fantastic, although far from varg’s best work. bladee pops off for a minute straight and the chorus is fantastic. it’s a travesty that there are no more varg + dg songs out there. they exist, varg has played them at shows but these fuckers just wont drop them.

13) Whitearmor and Gud - Frutta E Verdura

this shit makes me cry and it doesn’t even have lyrics. i cant describe it you just have to listen

14) Quadeca - Tell Me A Joke

as a hivemind enjoyer (subscibe on youtube), i’ve known for a while that there is more to quad than rapper impressions and disstracks. i couldn’t have imagined this album in my wildest dreams though. also fucking crazy that he said “what’s the deal with airline food” in the intro to a song about haunting his own childhood home and it doesn’t feel out of place

15) Varg2TM feat. Bladee - Perfect Violation

i swear to god i randomized this, but somehow the last song i’m doing is my favorite song of all time. I could straight up write an essay about it, and i will!

this is the most emotionally loaded song bladee has ever made. yes, more than deletee, more than destroy me. more than every single fucking song he has ever made. the beat is beauty in it’s purest form. every single word is painful. no one will ever capture the pain that stems from love like bladee did here. in a very drainy fashion, every line is nonsense at face value, but i still perfectly understood what the song was about from the first listen. the self hatred bladee feels because he can’t be good enough for the one he loves is so fucking visceral. i have cried to this song countless times. i’ve listened to this song seven hundred times since i first fell in love with it in october. i’ve listened to it around 5 times every day for 5 months and i’m not even close to bored. the best song i’ve ever heard.

There is also a remix that goes fucking stupid. google perfect violation empire line remix.

i’m still really new to this website so i straight up don’t know 10 people to tag so @honeyypunk @akajazy if you’re interested lmao

[kpodcast]

My favorite part of going to the gym is picking an album to listen to while I work out. I usually pick an album I've been meaning to listen to, or a new release that I've been listening to on repeat. But, sometimes, I like picking an album I know is going to be perfect for zoning out while lifting weights, and that's where this list comes in. Here, in no particular order, are some of my favorite kpop albums to listen to at the gym

THE WORLD EP.2: THE OUTLAW - ATEEZ

Makes me feel like starting a cyberpunk rebellion

Overthrow the government vibes

Banger after banger, does not slow down for a second

5-STAR - Stray Kids

I'll be honest, I usually only listen to the first 9 songs or so on this one just because I don't work out for that long

But those first 9 songs go hard

Honorable mention to literally every skz album, they all are great gym vibes

Sir.Robert - Bobby

The pacing on this album is perfect for my workouts

I dare you to listen to the first few songs on this album and not feel like you can do anything

The f-you energy on this album is unmatched

[Apocalypse : From us]

Truly gives me the anime workout vibes I need in my life

The bass lines alone contain so much energy

Takes me back to my 2009 playlists filled with Flyleaf and Evanescence and Nightwish, and sometimes that's the vibe you need to get through a workout

If weightlifting is not your thing, stay tuned for my ✨curated✨ kpop treadmill playlists!

[thebandcampdiaries]

Happy Curmudgeons unveiled 3 new singles from the band’s upcoming album, “2nd Chances.”

As a band, Happy Curmudgeons set out to develop a truly diverse and expressive sound that continually welcomes new influences with every release. The music of the group knows no boundaries in terms of stylistic definitions and genres. They have been consistently exploring new ideas and new aesthetics with every release. Yet they still love to remember the 60s and 70s, and they have been influenced by the timeless sound of artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Cream, The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, and many more.

Happy Curmudgeons has recently signed with Spectra Music Group. The band is getting ready to release not one, but 3 new songs, which will be featured on their most recent full-length album, "2nd Chances," set to be released on July 26th, 2024. The singles are titled "Reluctant Prophets," "2nd Chances," and "Be Kind."

The Happy Curmudgeons have been working for a few years on their new album, "2nd Chances," and it's clear they're putting so much effort into making this the best album it could possibly be. The new songs blend different music genres and feature some amazing guest musicians, including Billy Cox (Band of Gypsys), Bobby Balderrama (? & The Mysterians), Jim Moose Brown (Bob Seger Band), Dave McMurray (Blue Note Records), Pepe Espinosa, and Vaughn Mortimer.  The album almost feels like a collection of true music legends! The guest musicians bring their unique influences, creating a vibrant backdrop for the main songwriting components to unfold. There's also room for some amazing additional instruments, including strings and horns on some of the tracks.

"Reluctant Prophets" features a guest appearance by Vaughn Mortimer from The Outfit and Big Donut, which brought a truly unique feel to the mix. For the title track, "2nd Chances," the group also opted to include a string section, which gave the track a truly emotional and airy quality, making it stand out.  The immersive and thought-provoking listening experience has something special to offer. This song is loaded with meaning while also being very engaging and entertaining.

It is not surprising that this is actually the title track itself! Mark Byerly arranged the string section. This song features Amy Dixon-Lavery on vocals, Dave Hamilton on acoustic guitar, Jeff Warner on electric guitar, Jim Moose Brown (from Bob Seger Band and Trisha Yearwood) on Hammond B3, Takashi Iio on bass, Rick Beamon on drums. In addition, the song features Laura Creamer, Cat Wiley, and Barbara Payton on backing vocals.

"Be Kind" has a unique horns section instead. The song also features  Dave McMurray (from Was Not Was, Bobby Weir, and the Rolling Stones) on saxophone and Mark Byerly on trumpet, who helped create some amazing additional layers to the music. This remarkably produced single is a perfect introduction to what people can expect from the aesthetics of this record.

The unique appeal of these songs lies in the band's skillful blending of timeless musical elements with modern influences. You can expect the clarity and punch of a modern recording, but without the sterile overproduction that plagues so much contemporary music. Instead, Happy Curmudgeons really managed to capture the timeless warmth of records the way it used to be made, where the personal interaction between musicians really matters And still does.

Overall, this full-length stands out as a truly ambitious project, and it heralds a new era for the band. Fresh off a label signing and a lot of fruitful recording sessions, they're about to release some of their best songs yet. The quality of the previously released singles speaks for itself, and if these songs are any indication, the album is surely going to be a treat for all fans of alt-country, indie-folk, rock, and more. The sheer variety on tap is impressive, and the band's ability to retain a flexible lineup with every song, as well as including many guest musicians, makes for an even more lively and unpredictably diverse sound. Ultimately, "2nd Chances" feels like a truly genuine depiction of the band's genuine passion for trying to bring a touch of authenticity and depth to their audience with every song on the album. It is easier said than done, but this one-of-a-kind band is certainly showing people the way.

The album is actually also available physically on vinyl. The Happy Curmudgeons teamed up with Jack White's Third Man Records to press a limited edition of 500 copies on red vinyl, which comes at $25 per copy. Incidentally, the band also worked with Third Man Records for the album mastering, which was done by Bill Skibbe.

Contact the band directly at happycurmudgeonsband@gmail.com to get your copy now! 

Find out more about Happy Curmudgeons, and do not miss out on the band's latest album, "2nd Chances," which will be available on July 26th through Spectra Music Group.

www.happycurmudgeonsband.com

[glenrocklibraryteens]

Album Review: Plastic Beach by Gorillaz

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s exceptionally innovative endeavor with their animated genre-bending group Gorillaz reaches an all-time high of their records. Plastic Beach is a perfectly executed concept album complete with an army of collaborators including Lou Reed, Mick Jones & Paul Simonon, Bobby Womack, Snoop Dogg, and many others. Their first two releases, Gorillaz and Demon Days, were also incredible and extremely influential, but the records and tracklists became much more focused and organized as time went on. The dreamy, vivacious atmosphere saturated with synth and electronic rock. It captures the listener’s imagination perfectly and holds interest throughout, dabbling in many different genres and a variety of track styles. It begins with the ethereal “Orchestral Intro” that leads you into Gorillaz’ dream world like a ship coming into the bay, and it was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 for best Pop Instrumental Performance. Another opening track, “Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach”, which features Snoop Dogg and the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, sets the futuristic tone for the rest of the album. “White Flag” features a heavenly introduction from the National Orchestra for Arabic Music and verses from Bashy and Kano. 

 “Rhinestone Eyes”, the fantastic and vibrant track regarding global warming and the environment is definitely one of the first highlights from this album (originally intended to be a single). Another highlight is the successful single “Stylo” featuring the late Bobby Womack and Mos Def, casually political and conceptual. “Superfast Jellyfish”, the colorful, fun, and vibrant track featuring Welsh musician Gruff Rhys brings attention to the toxic manipulation of the music industry - the jellyfish a metaphor for the easily manipulated musicians who submit to the industry. Throughout the track, Gorillaz urges creators to stick to their roots, stay creative, and reject the industry’s norms. “Empire Ants”, featuring Little Dragon, is another fabulous highlight with blissful vocals, a gorgeous instrumental, and a dark meaning. Albarn describes how our society has become similar to a colony of “empire ants” who work to move the machine along. “Glitter Freeze”, which title is referenced throughout the album as a desired place or state of being where the world is beautiful, but still fake, plastic, and superficial. “Some Kind of Nature”, a positively upbeat and more sunshiney track featuring the late great Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground about the human nature to corrupt. Next up is the incredibly successful “On Melancholy Hill”, a beautifully nostalgic track thats simplicity creates a bittersweet atmosphere, brought together by the relaxed vocals and catchy instrumental. “Broken”, a traditionally touching track, one of Albarn’s specialties, describes the loss of a person, a group, or a thing (tangible or not). It could be determined differently, but I believe that either from Murdoc or 2D’s perspective, they may have lost the passion and excitement they once had while making music. After all of the chaos that led to Plastic Beach, the assumed loss of guitarist Noodle and disappearance of Russel, the creation of Cyborg Noodle - they feel as though they are piecing together what they have left - trying to imitate the “glitter freeze”, or the perfect reality, but falling short. “Sweepstakes” is mostly composed of a spoken word verse by Mos Def. The title track, an incredible song that again focuses on pollution and cyberculture. This track features Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash. “To Binge”, featuring Little Dragon once again, is an incredibly heartfelt and vulnerable track with a beautifully heartbreaking story of how addiction, something Albarn has heavily struggled with, and how it affects relationships and those who you are close to. This is my personal favorite song from the album and one of my favorite tracks from Gorillaz and in Damon’s career. “Cloud of Unknowing”, featuring an amazing performance from Bobby Womack that serves as a final reflection on Plastic Beach. The album closes with “Pirate Jet”, a visualization of the listeners leaving Plastic Beach, which represents not so much a place, but a different perspective and outlook on life and the reality of our world today. Overall, I think this album is one of the greatest displays of creativity I’ve seen in records of today, backed up by talented songwriting and vocas. It has the perfect ratio of pop, radio-friendly hits that still remain far from the commercial production of singles we usually see, the vulnerable and moving pieces and everything in between. I would rate this album a 9 / 10, as some of the tracks are lacking a bit for me, but still making it my favorite Gorillaz album to date and one of my favorites from Damon Albarn’s career.