Monday, April 26, 2021

Music Monday (155): Tommy Newport, EarthGang, Digital Underground

  Rules:

  • Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 
Breana: Recently, I was searching for new music by some of my favorite artists, and I noticed that EarthGang released a new song with Tommy Newport. It's called Stargazer, and I really love it. 

 
Andrea: This week I am listening to The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground.


RIP Shock G
August 25,1963 - April 22,2021


What are you listening to this week?


Friday, April 23, 2021

Upcoming Music I'm Waiting For (2021)


It’s already four months into 2021, and I figured it was a good time to sit down and compile a better list of all the music I’m waiting for. I already mentioned two of my top upcoming releases back in January—Last Year Was Weird Vol. 3 by Tkay Maidza and The Bitter Truth by Evanescence—so for today I’m going to focus on ones I haven’t already gone over.
 

Untitled album by Kimbra (release date: TBA): There’s not much about this album yet—no title or release date—just THIS tweet on Kimbra’s twitter account. Primal Heart was one of my favorite 2018 albums, so I’m beyond excited about Kimbra coming back with new music.

Pink Noise by Laura Mvula (release date: July 2, 2021): I’m so excited for Laura Mvula’s third studio album. I’ve been listening to Mvula’s music more often lately, and I was just thinking about whether or not she would release another album anytime soon. I saw the announcement for Pink Noise, and it’s undoubtedly one of my most anticipated releases of 2021. Luckily the wait for it isn't too long.

Alpha by CL (release date: TBA 2021): I used to listen to 2NE1 a long time ago. They were one of my favorite groups, and it was sad when they disbanded. That being said, I’m glad CL is back and releasing more music, because the singles released for Alpha are so good so far. I’m really excited for this one.

Planet Her by Doja Cat (release date: TBA): I like Doja Cat’s music, and Hot Pink was one of my favorite albums the year it came out. So I’m looking forward to this one.

Scaled And Icy by Twenty One Pilots (release date: May 21, 2021): I'm so excited for this album! I've been a fan of this band since the Blurryface days, and I've been waiting for the followup to Trench (2018) since its initial release. Luckily the wait for Scaled And Icy won't be too long. 
 

So that’s it for today. This list will of course change as the year goes on, but for now this is everything I’m waiting for. What music are you excited for? Are there any new releases you’ve listened to and enjoyed? If so, leave your suggestions in the comments.



Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Review: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Title: The Fellowship of the Ring
Series: Lord of the Rings part #1
Author: J. R.R. Tolkien
Source/Format: Purchased; Anniversary Edition
More Details: Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: First published on July 29, 1954

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble    

Synopsis from Goodreads... 
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

Literal, for the longest time, I’ve been meaning to read The Lord of the Rings. It was one of my blogging goals for last year, but I just didn’t get around to it. So I can finally mark the first part off my list, because I have at last read The Fellowship of the Ring.

Going into this one, it was exactly like I thought it was going to be, yet it managed to exceed my expectations anyway. That’s partly because it’s been so long since I watched the movie trilogy, and I didn’t remember much of what happened in them—I’m planning to buy the DVDs so I can rewatch them later, probably after I’ve finished reading the last two parts. And it’s also due to the changes the movies made, which tuned out to be an interesting reading experience.

Generally speaking, The Fellowship of the Ring was a good story. There was a lot of walking and camping across long distances—and some really long conversations—yet the story still had a sense of urgency. The lore was much clearer than I remembered from the movies (take that with a grain of salt, because it’s been years). Still, I had a better appreciation for the attention to detail that went into developing this world.

One of the best aspects about the story was the characters. There were so many different people spread out in Middle Earth, and each one had their own rich history that often had interactions with others—which explained some of the deep grudges or friendships. Frodo and crew were great too. The friendship and comradeship between the hobbits was one of my favorite parts of the story. It came in handy too, considering the scope of the perilous journey they were undertaking.

I have the anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings, so I will definitely read The Two Towers soon. 

Monday, April 19, 2021

Music Monday (154): Twenty One Pilots, Laura Mvula, Various Artist, Earth, Wind & Fire

Rules:

  • Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 
Breana: Twenty One Pilots released a new song recently. It's called Shy Away. It's a little more upbeat than some of their other music, but I really like it. I'm also sharing Church Girl by Laura Mvula again, because a music video was released for it last week. And oh gosh, I really love the direction they went with the visuals. It perfectly suits the eighties/nineties pop vibe of the song. 



Adri: I saw the Netflix movie Thunder Force the other week and enjoyed it. So obviously my pick for today is Thunder Force by Corey Taylor, Lzzy Hale, Scott Ian, Dave Lombardo, Fil Eisler, and Tina Guo.


Andrea: I'm currently listening to September, Reasons, and Sing A Song by Earth, Wind & Fire. Have an amazing week!





What new music are you listening to this week?



Friday, April 16, 2021

The Friday 56 (198) & Book Beginnings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R.R. Tolkien

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE


Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.


Synopsis from Goodreads...
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

Beginning: "When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was mush talk and excitement in Hobbiton."

56: "Gandalf looked at Frodo, and his eyes glinted."


Comments: I have finally read the first part of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring. I didn't remember much of the movie trilogy, because it's been so long since I first saw them. I had a lot of fun reading this story. What are you reading this week?

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Review: The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 7 by Jun Mochizuki

Title: The Case Study of Vanitas
Series: The Case Study of Vanitas #7
Author: Jun Mochizuki
Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback
More Details: Alternative History; Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Yen Press; July 21, 2020

Goodreads     Amazon     Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Chloe is ready to begin her revenge plot and get what she has always wanted - that is, until Vanitas and the Chasseurs showed up. But without his book, Vanitas can do little to help, so it's up to Noé and his vampire hunter allies to buy some time, so Vanitas can work a little magic...

The battle continues in vol. 7 of The Case Study of Vanitas. This was a fantastic addition to the series. It was a fast moving part of the story—taking place in flashbacks and present time in the series—and it seemed like there were revelations and twists around every corner. This was by far one of the most emotional volumes, as some of the outstanding mysteries were finally revealed along with the truth behind the incident of the story’s version of the Beast of Gévaudan.

This was such a complex issue for the characters to solve, and I appreciated all the little historical facts that managed to get into the story. Mochizuki is a master at crafting these situations where there really wasn’t a simple answer. There were many sides to the conflict, and as such most of the characters came to the table with different motivations that happened to be tangled up into this incident. Some had much closer ties to it than others, but either way around their presence in the story set the stage for an epic confrontation.

As always, there was plenty of action and intrigue in vol. 7, and the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger. So I’m definitely going to pick up the next one when it releases later this year. 

Monday, April 12, 2021

Music Monday (153): Evanescence, Kings of Tomorrow, The Isley Brothers

 

   Rules:
  • Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 
Breana: Lately it seems like a handful of my favorite artists have new albums or upcoming music. Over the weekend, I finally got around to listening to Evanescence's latest release called The Bitter Truth. I'm really enjoying this album. It feels like classic Evanescence, but with a fresh spin. One of my favorites is Take Cover.

 

Adri: My pick for today is Finally (Original Extended Mix) by Kings of Tomorrow featuring Julie McKnight.


Andrea: Hi all! On Easter Sunday, I spent time watching The Isley Brothers vs Earth, Wind, & Fire on VERZUZTV'S IG page. Since that time, I have been enjoying music by both groups. This week, I'm sharing music by The Isley Brothers, Friends And Family & For The Love Of You, Pts. 1 & 2. Next week, I'll share the music I'm listening to by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Until next time, have an amazing week!




What are you listening to this week?



Friday, April 9, 2021

The Friday 56 (197) & Book Beginnings: The Case Study of Vanitas Vol. 7 by Jun Mochizuki

  
The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Chloe is ready to begin her revenge plot and get what she has always wanted - that is, until Vanitas and the Chasseurs showed up. But without his book, Vanitas can do little to help, so it's up to Noé and his vampire hunter allies to buy some time, so Vanitas can work a little magic...


Beginning: ""It's all right, Vanitas. I'll win......this time!""

56: "Existence stabilized."


Comments: And I'm finally out of volumes for The Case Study of Vanitas.  This story arc has been a ride, and I'm excited to see how it ends in the next volume. Vol. 8 comes out in May, so the wait won't be too long. My 56 is from a few pages before, since the actual page fifty-six is one big spoiler. What are you reading this week. 

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

I Listened to 1/f by Laura Mvula

 

 

One artist I’ve wanted more music by was Laura Mvula. Phenomenal Women is still on my playlist, and one of the catchiest songs I’ve listened to. Laura Mvula has returned in 2021 with an EP titled 1/f, in which she reworks three of her previously released songs—Sing To The Moon, Show Me Love, and Green Garden—which were accompanied by a cover of Diana Ross’s hit, I’m Still Waiting

This was a great EP. The sound of the songs was completely reworked, giving a fresh update to tracks that were already lovely to listen to. The original versions of Sing To The Moon, Show Me Love, and Green Garden had a mellow, instrumental sound—like the live performances Mvula’s did with the Metrapole Orkest. They were already powerful songs to begin with and some of my favorites from Mvula. The new versions recorded for 1/f had a much more pop and synth sound, which also suited the lyrics perfectly too. I can’t say that I like one version more than the other though, because they’re equally good and I can’t recommend them enough.

I also enjoyed the cover of I’m Still Waiting. It’s a great song no matter which way you look at it, and Laura Mvula’s cover was excellent.

Overall, this EP was a pleasant surprise, and it leaves a great impression and a need for more. Laura Mvula’s third studio album has been announced, and I can’t wait to give it a listen.

Monday, April 5, 2021

Music Monday (152): Audrey Nuna, Philip Bailey, Phil Collins, Soulstice

 Rules:

  • Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 
Breana: Recently I've been listening to music by Audrey Nuna. I stumbled across Space and instantly liked it.


Adri: I have been listening to so many songs that are new to me. I'm currently enjoying Falling into You and Wind by Soulstice. They're both my favorite, but Wind has been on constant repeat.



Andrea: This week I am listening to Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins. Have an amazing week!



What are you listening to this week?



Friday, April 2, 2021

Quarterly Recap: January-March

I feel like this year is flying by, because it’s already time for the first quarterly recap of 2021. I’m going to go over the reviews and other post that have appeared on the blog between January and March, before taking a look at what’s coming up. Before I do, I want to take a little time out of this post to say a couple of words about the blog.

This past month, Our Thoughts Precisely had its 8th blogiversary on March 15, 2021, and it honestly doesn’t feel like that long—but we did the math and it checks out. I just wanted to say thank you to the readers who have stopped by to read our posts and have left blog comments!

Okay, on to the recap.
January Other Posts:
February Other Posts:
March Other Posts:
Looking ahead, I have no set plans right now, but I do have a couple of reviews I’ve been sitting on for a while. The dates for those are coming up, and I’m excited to share them. In May, the review for Jelly by Clare Rees will be on the blog on the eighteenth. On June 16th, I have a review for The Heartbeat of Trees by Peter Wohlleben translated by Jane Billinghurst. I adored this book. It was a fascinating look at trees, and I want to eventually do some further reading on the subject. And finally, last and certainly not least, I’m going to talk about The Brilliant Abyss by Helen Scales in July. Not going to lie, this is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve picked up so far this year, and I can’t wait to finally talk more in-depth about it.



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