Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

I Listened to Girl With No Face by Allie X


Before February was over, there was one last music release I was waiting on: Allie X’s highly anticipated third studio album, Girl With No Face. For context, it’s been four years since Cape God (2020)—and three from the release of its deluxe edition with five additional songs (Cape God Theme, Milk, Limited Love, Anchor, and Rising Tide). There was plenty of time to build anticipation for Allie X’s next project, and, going into 2024, Girl With No Face was at the top of my list for albums releasing in the first quarter of the year.

On February 23, Girl With No Face arrived. Before then, the direction of the sound, aesthetic, and themes were teased for months with the release singles like Black Eye and the titular Girl With No Face. This album is a blend of pop, synth, and a little bit of glam rock. It feels very retro, especially in terms of how the beats are arranged. But Allie X manages to set her music apart with her vocals and lyrical depth, which keeps the album from feeling redundant.

Some of my favorite tracks (not including the singles) were Galina, You Slept On Me, Staying Power, and even the closing song, Truly Dreams. Another good one is Hardware/software, which sounds, honestly, like a soundtrack you would find in a video game from the eighties.
 
Girl With No Face was another excellent project by Allie X. Even the most upbeat track on the album—in terms of sound anyway—deserves more than a passing listen. There’s so much to sit with and chew on, and I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. For today, however, I’ll leave it here. Just know: I enjoyed every second of my listening experience.   


Friday, March 8, 2024

Upcoming Music I'm Waiting For!

It’s only March, and I didn’t think I would be back so soon with a proper “Upcoming Music I’m Waiting For,” except there have been some developments on that front. So here I am. 


First up, Normani has announced her long-awaited debut album: Dopamine. There’s no concrete release date as of writing this, but from everything I could find out about it, it seems like it’ll drop sometime in 2024.

Next, Tierra Whack is returning with her second studio album called: World Wide Whack. The wait for this one is super short, since it’s going to be released on March 15.

Later this month, on the 29th, Beyoncé is finally releasing the follow-up to Renaissance, Act ii. While the former album was inspired by house, this one is, from what I’ve read—and the genre of the two singles—is going to be country.

Then there’s Conan Gray’s upcoming third album, Found Heaven. I’ve only started listening to this artist recently, because of Never Ending Song (coincidently one of the singles from Found Heaven). Even so, I’m anticipating its release on April 5th.

Later in April, on the 19th, Taylor Swift is releasing The Tortured Poets Department. I’m a much more casual listener, when it comes to Taylor Swift. But, from time to time, I’ve liked some of her music. And I’m interested in seeing where this one goes.

On May 17th, Twenty One Pilots is releasing their next album: Clancy. It's the conclusion to the storyline that began with Blurryface (2015) and continued with Trench (2018) and Scaled & Icy (2021). The first single from Clancy, Overcompensate, has me very excited to see what the rest of the album has to offer.  

And last but not least, there seem to be some rumblings about a new FKA Twigs album and one from Doechii as well. I’m going to have to keep my eye on that.


That’s it for me, for today. Have you listened to any good music lately?


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

What I've Been Listening To


We’re already three months into 2024. It feels weird to write that, because, every time I glance at a calendar—whether digital or on paper—I realize how much it feels like the year is flying by. But I digress, because the point of today’s blog post is music, specifically everything I’ve been meaning to write about—even from last year—that I never go around to writing about. 

Albums

The last quarter of 2023 was actually pretty busy in terms of music releases—and specifically there was new stuff from some of my favorite artists.

On November 3, 2023, Tkay Maidza returned two years after 2021’s Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 3) with her second studio album: Sweet Justice. Part R&B, pop, and rap, Maidza delivers a stylish offering. Sitting at fourteen songs, Sweet Justice leans into what this artist is good at: vocals, lyrics, and production. There’s never a dull moment (no skips) on Sweet Justice, and it’s, hands down, one of my favorite albums of 2023.

On that note, I came away with a similar view of Tinashe’s sixth album, BB/ANG3L. Released on September 8, 2023, this was a shorter body of work with just seven songs, but every second of it was enjoyable. She’s singing about the many faces of relationships, good, bad, and everything in between. But, despite the tried and true subject, Tinashe always excels at giving it a spin, which makes BB/ANG3L straight to the point and perfect at its length. Her approach to R&B remains as one of my favorites.

There was also Victoria Monet’s debut studio album Jaguar II (August, 25 2023). As a long time listener of Monet, I was beyond pleased with this release. Supported by the singles Smoke featuring Lucky Daye, Party Girls featuring Buju Banton, and On My Mama, this was an air-tight and enjoyable listening experience.

As for 2024, so far I’ve listened to ORQUIDEAS, Kali Uchis’s fourth studio album, the deluxe edition of Carolina Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, and Girl With No Face, Allie X’s third studio release.

Kali Uchis has a style and she knows how to utilize it to its fullest potential. The deluxe edition of Desire, I Want to Turn Into You was a happy surprise and added a handful of songs to an album that was already quite good—with another version of Butterfly Net (featuring Weyes Blood) and the single, Dang, among others.

Singles

Beyoncé is back! I feel like I had to start with that, because I have been waiting for the follow up to Renaissance. The wait isn’t too long, because Act ii will be dropping later this month, on the twenty-ninth. Until then, there are two singles to listen to: Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages.

Some of the other singles that have made it to one playlist or another of mine include: Oh No :: He Said What? By Nothing But Thieves; Hunned Racks by The Whales featuring Tkay Maidza, Never Ending Song by Conan Gray, Overcompensate by Twenty One Pilots, and Your Blood by Aurora.


Honestly, the year is off to a strong start, and I’m looking forward to what the rest of 2024 has to offer. What about you, have you listened to any good music lately?

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

I'm Back + Most Anticipated Releases of 2024

It’s been a minute, but I’m returning from my annual break from the blog. Once again, Happy New Year!

So, what have I been up to?

I always tell myself I’m going to read a lot more during my breaks than I ever do, but during the holidays, I inevitably end up preoccupied by other things. Whether that’s with a TV series, movies, some form of arts and crafts, or video games. This time, I got into making miniatures. They were supposed to be for small unfinished snow globes, but I got overly ambitious and overestimated what I could do with the size constraints. I had maybe too much fun with that, since the project is ongoing and has followed me right into the New Year.

As for video games, I’m working my way through the last dungeon in Fae Farm as well as the remainder of its central story. This is a game I’ve really taken my time with, and I don’t have any plans to change the pace with how I engage with it. I’m also still playing Tears of the Kingdom. There’s just so much to explore, but I’m genuinely enjoying it.

So, what are my 2024 blog goals?

I don’t have any other goals this year, except to finish a couple of book series (especially the two that I already have the books for).

What upcoming books am I looking forward to?

I always try to keep my anticipated books list kind of short, because I know I’ll come across plenty of novels as the year progresses. What I am looking forward to is: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden, The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo, The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo, Lies on the Serpent’s Tongue by Kate Pearsall, and Holly Horror: The Longest Night by Michelle Jabes Corpora.

What upcoming albums am I anticipating?

Like books, I know I’ll come across my albums later in the year. For now my list includes: Lana by SZA (sometime in 2024; deluxe version of SZA's 2022 album, SOS) Savior by Green Day (January 19), Girl with No Face by Allie X (February 23), Funk Generation by Anitta (Unscheduled), Into the Unknown by Nero (Unscheduled), and ORQUIDEAS by Kali Uchis (Already released; January 12, 2024).

What upcoming video games am I looking forward to?

Last, and certainly not least, I want to go over the video games coming out in 2024 that I’m most excited for. I primarily play on my Nintendo Switch Lite, so the games I’m going to mention consists of releases that will be available on that console.

Luigi’s Mansion HD (Luigi’s 2: This Dark Moon Nintendo Switch Port) is at the top of my list for 2024 video game releases. Even though I always wanted to play the original, I never did. So I’m very excited that it’s coming to the Switch. Another one is Princess Peach: Showtime! How many years has it been since Peach had her own game? And from the look of the trailer, it seems like it’s going to be an exciting game. As for indies, the two I’m watching for potential Switch releases is Moonlights Peaks, a vampire life-sim, and Camper Van: Make It Home, a decorating game.

So yeah, I’m looking forward to the year ahead. Happy reading!

Friday, December 22, 2023

2023 Favorites: Music, Movies, and TV

 

The blogging year is coming to a close, and I thought it was time to go over some of my favorite things from 2023. This concerns media—books, short stories, music, movies, and TV shows—that I read, watched, or listened to this year. In this second part, I’m focusing on music, movies, and TV.

Music

There was so much good music that was released in 2023. My top albums and Eps released in 2023 were: Sweet Justice by Tkay Maizda, So Much (For) Stardust by Fall Out Boy, A Reckoning by Kimbra, Going…Going…GONE! by Hemlocke Springs, Tension by Kylie Minogue, and Feed the Beast by Kim Petras. I also enjoyed Holiday Sidewinder’s Forever or Whatever, Wednesday Campanella’s expansive backlist, The NYChillharmonic’s album 1, and Marina’s The Family Jewels. Along with songs by Halle (Angel), Caroline Polachek (Bunny Is A Rider, Dang, Caroline Shut Up, and Welcome To My Island), METTE (Van Gogh), Doechii (Pacer), Aurora (Your Blood) and Allie X (Black Eye and Girl With No Face).
Movies and TV

I didn’t watch as much this year as I thought I would. For movies, some of my favorites were: Barbie, The Haunted Mansion, and The Portable Door. As for TV, I’ve mostly been watching: Mystery Science Theater 3000, SurrealEstate season 2, Svengoolie, and a number of classic shows like Murder she Wrote.

And, with that, there is my list of 2023 favorites. If you want to check out the first part, you can use THIS LINK.

Happy reading!

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

What I've Been Listening To: September 2023

September was a busy month for music, at least on my end, with some of my most anticipated albums and Eps of 2023 being released.

I have been waiting for Going…Going…GONE!, an EP by Hemlocke Springs, and I’m so happy that it’s finally here. Released on September 29th, it was some of the last music I was anticipating for the month. Hemlocke Springs does the awkward black girl style so well with catchy earworms like the viral hit Girlfriend, followed by other songs like Haevun. And while Stranger Danger! and Sever The Blight aren’t on the EP, the music video for POS has references to Hemlocke Springs’ other music videos—like the plushy and outfits from Girlfriend and the paper bag character from Stranger Danger!. It was a neat little detail that sort of tied everything together. Going…Going…GONE! did exactly what I was hoping it would do and delivered a seven track EP filled with quirky and fun music.

Tension (Deluxe), Kylie Minogue’s sixteenth studio album, was one of my most anticipated releases this year, and I liked it. It felt like a sequel (or continuation) to her 2020 release Disco, but Tension still had its own thing going for it with plenty of catchy songs on its tracklist. I mean, it’s Kylie Minogue + disco/pop music, and that’s always a good combination. 

Some of the singles that have made it onto my playlist are:
  • Van Gogh by METTE
  • Pacer by Doechii
  • SZA’s acoustic version of Snooze
  • Jersey by Baby Tate
So that’s about everything I was listening to in September. If you have any recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments.
 

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

What I've Been Listening To Lately...


It’s been a while since I last wrote at length about music on the blog. So I figured it was time for another “What I’ve Been Listening To” post.

A recent addition to my playlist is The Family Jewels (Deluxe edition) by Marina, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds. This is an album from 2010, but I didn’t listen to it during its release year. I happened to finally give Oh No! a try while I was on break from the blog last month, and I went on to check out the rest of the album. It’s one of my favorites of the year so far. I really like Marina’s vocals, as well as the alternative pop and the undeniable style of the album. Also, I’m a fan of the deluxe edition specifically. There were remixes that reworked the songs Hollywood, Obsession, and I Am Not a Robot, with different melodies. Overall, I know I’ll end up eventually listening to more music by Marina.

Feed the Beast by Kim Petras was one of the new releases I was anticipating this year. I’ve been following Petras’s music for a while now, and I was very excited for her third studio album. I liked what Feed the Beast had to offer. It was a solid pop album with a couple features that I thought were good as well.

For this next one I’m simply putting Wednesday Campanella, because I would be here all day listing what I enjoyed about each album. I like their new stuff with more of a bright bubblegum pop/electronic sound, as well as their older releases before the singer changed—i.e. songs like Bamboo Princess, Zeami, Yeti, Sakamoto Ryoma, and many-many others.

From the track names to lyrics, Forever or Whatever by Holiday Sidewinder is just plain fun to listen to! The style can feel a little nostalgic since, from what I can tell, there are synth as well as disco influences. I like the mixture, and each song was interesting. Overall, Forever or Whatever is another favorite.

Singles…


Of course I have to mention Halle's Angel again. It plays into her vocal capacity and is, generally, interesting to listen to. I really love the song, and I’m looking forward to whatever solo music she release next.

On My Mama by Victoria Monét has a strong R&B sound, and I absolutely love it for how much it felt like something from the 90s or the early 2000s.

The only reason why I’m including Caroline Polachek in this section is because I’ve only listened to two of her songs so far. They’re Welcome To My Island and Bunny Is A Rider. They’re both on my playlist and are among my top-favorite songs.


So that’s pretty much what I’ve been listening to recently. The year isn’t over yet, and there are still a couple of albums that I’m waiting on. Until next time, thanks for stopping by, and happy listening!

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Upcoming Music I'm Waiting For


It’s June. A whole six months are already gone, but since we’re finally entering the second half of 2023, it was high time that I put together another list of the upcoming music I’m looking forward to.
 
  • Feed the Beast by Kim Petras (June 23): I’ve been following Kim Petras’s music for a while now, so I’m ecstatic about this new album.
  • Weedkiller by Ashnikko (August 25): I listen to Ashnikko on occasion. After her Coachella performance, I’ve had a renewed interest. So, Weedkiller is definitely on the top of my list for upcoming albums.
  • Tension by Kylie Minogue (September 22): Minogue is one of my favorite artists, and my most anticipated album for the second half of 2023 is this one. There have been two singles released—10 Out of 10, and the more recent Padam Padam—and, so far, I’m liking the vibe.
Unconfirmed
  • Second studio album by Lil Nas X: I really liked Lil Nas X’s first studio album, Montero. So I’m looking forward to his next one. The date is unconfirmed for this one, so who knows if it’ll be released sometime in 2023 or next year.
  • Fourth Studio album by Doja Cat: The date is also unconfirmed as of the time I wrote this post, so there aren’t any singles that I know of yet. But, I’ve done some reading up about this album, and it seems like it could be a lot different from what I’ve come to expect from Doja Cat. However, I’m looking forward to that.

So, that’s everything I’m looking forward to at the moment. As always, this list isn’t comprehensive and depends on my taste in music. What music are you waiting for? If you have any good recommendations, just leave them in the comments below.

Friday, April 14, 2023

I Listened to So Much (For) Stardust by Fall Out Boy


Fall Out Boy was one of the bands that got me into rock music—particularly the rock/pop/punk scene—and their albums have been a staple on my playlists since the 2000s. It’s been about five years since the band’s last album. And among the big releases on my radar for March 2023—supported by singles such as Love On The Other Side and Heartbreak Feels So Good—Fall Out Boy’s eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust, was very anticipated on my end.

So Much (For) Stardust really felt like a return to some of Fall Out Boy’s earlier music. It had less of the style and sounds that dominated Mania (2018), and it went heavier on the aspects that really made me love the band’s music. It was nostalgic in the right ways but doesn’t lean too much on what they’ve already done. Instead it offered a sort of sequel—especially with the visuals for Hold Me Like a Grudge (a continuation of the music video for This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race)—by delivering songs that felt refreshing.

As a longtime fan of Fall Out Boy, I’m so happy with this album!


 

Friday, March 24, 2023

I Listened to 1 by The NYChillharmonic

So, this year, I’m getting back into using Spotify regularly. After all, all of my current favorite podcasts are there too, and the recommendations are useful for finding more content to enjoy. Under one such recommendation page was I Lost It All by Aberdeen and The NYChillharmic. It was an interesting collaboration and one that I instantly loved. And that’s how I got introduced to what has fast become some of my top favorite music. It’s called 1, and it’s the 2016 album by The NYChillharmonic.

Their music is, in terms of sounds—and as the band’s name suggests—very orchestral in nature, which is something I love about 1. Each track felt like its own lovely little journey, with the epic feel of work you would find from Two Steps From Hell but with a singer who delivered consistent vocals across 1’s seven songs.

Overall, there isn’t much more I can say about this album. In a number of ways, it’s a delightful listening experience that I’ve already revisited more than once since adding it to my Spotify library.

Friday, March 17, 2023

I Listened to A Reckoning by Kimbra


During the last couple of years, I feel like I’ve mentioned how I’ve waited for another Kimbra album far too often, but I really was anticipating it for the longest time. 2018’s Primal Heart contains some of my favorite music by this particular artist. Well, after three singles—Save Me, Replay!, and Foolish Thinking featuring Ryan Lott—released across as many months, on January twenty-seventh Kimbra’s A Reckoning finally arrived!

I like this album, a lot actually. It was energetic and loud (Replay!, The Way We Are, Gun, New Habit, and etc), which I not only appreciated but also enjoyed. Mainly, it made the album seem quick to listen to, even though it’s over forty minutes long. That isn’t to say that there wasn’t a mixture of sounds, because there was. Tossed in were some tracks with softer melodies, where Kimbra’s vocals were front and center, like the intro Save Me as well as the closing song I Don’t Want To Fight.

On another note, I’m always satisfied when the collaborations turn out good, especially when the other artists give verses that mesh well with the flow of the song. And, even though A Reckoning only had three tracks with features—Ryan Lott on Foolish Thinking, GTL featuring Erick The Architect, and La Type with Tommy Raps and Pink Siifu—they were excellent choices.

So, for the first major 2023 release on my radar, A Reckoning left a positive impression.

Friday, January 27, 2023

I Listened To: December Music Roundup

Well, it’s been a minute since I wrote about the music that’s kept me entertained. But, it’s a new year, and I thought it would be a good idea to do a roundup of what I was listening to in December.

Of course, there are the usual holiday favorites, as well as some new additions to my playlist—which were my Music Monday picks during the month.

Besides the holiday stuff, I collected a few more individual tracks as well. One of the songs that made it onto my playlist was Girlfriend by Hemlocke Springs. It’s quirky. But, it has a really good sound, and it’s also incredibly catchy. Another newish artist I want to see more from is Adanna Duru. I’m a fan of what I’ve heard so far, particularly with the song that introduced me to Duru’s music, POP. Then, there was the song—Heads Will Roll—from the Gotham Knights trailer. I haven’t played the game and have no plans to. I just kept getting the trailer as an ad, and when I was searching around for the song, I stumbled onto the original. It’s by a band called Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I really can’t pick between the original and the cover, because both are great in their respective ways. Then, of course, there was Doechii’s live performance (for Billboard and Honda), which is one of my favorite versions of Stressed. The set design is topnotch, and Doechii nailed that performance.

In December, I mainly revisited a lot of music, since the year was winding down and I was due for my annual break from the blog. And, as a consequence, there was only one new album I listened to: SOS by SZA. I wasn't expecting it in 2022, but, as soon as it was announced (which was relatively close to its release date), I was more than excited. SOS is a long album, but I love every second of it! SZA does R&B so well, with unique sounds, creative lyrics, and her signature vocals. And it makes the wait time between each album, single, or feature worth it. Some of my favorites from it were Seek & Destroy, Kill Bill, Good Days, and Too Late. I can’t recommend it enough!

Friday, January 20, 2023

Hello, I'm Back + Some 2023 Stuff I'm Looking Forward To...

Hello, I’m back from my annual break from blogging. As usual, some posts—like Short Stories—will return to a more regular schedule in February as I get back into the swing of things. To start out this new blogging year, I wanted to do a brief recap of the stuff that kept me entertained through December and early January, as well as the books and albums I’m waiting for in 2023.

On my break, I didn’t read as much or watch as many movies and TV shows as I thought I would. The main series I watched was Harry & Megan on Netflix. As for books, I won’t mention them here, since I have upcoming reviews for them.

What preoccupied much of my attention was: I got into a couple of indie games. Nintendo was having a great sale on some of the titles I’ve had my eye on, and I couldn’t pass them up. The first was Ooblets. It’s a cozy life-simulation with a cute style, which had the creature collecting aspect of Pokemon with the farming and decorating features comparable to games like Animal Crossing. But, it also has mini games as well as fun dance battles, which you conduct with your Ooblets and their special dance moves. Jokes aside, that aspect is basically a strategy card game. It’s not very hard to get the hang of it and start leveling up, but the deck had a measure of unpredictability to the moves that are dealt each turn. And, it kept it interesting. The other titles I picked up were Going Under, an action-rpg set in an office building, and Lost In Random, an action adventure game with a card/chance aspect to part of the battle mechanic—which reminded me of the dance battles from Ooblets (just a little more complicated and with a focus on defeating enemies to progress in game). I’m still in the early stages of those games, and I like them so far. The only drawback for Lost In Random that I’ve come across, is that it lacks a manual save function. I have to pay especially close attention to when the game is auto saving, before I go back to the main menu. Other than that, I like the style of the graphics, as well as the story (at least to the point where I’m at).

And, now for some of the stuff I’m looking forward to. My list is, of course, never concrete, and it evolves as the year goes on and more stuff finally gets announced. What I have now is very short.

Albums

Ellie Goulding’s Higher Than Heaven. This album is slated for an early February release (the third, to be exact). I’ve been an on-and-off follower of Goulding since her 2010 album, Lights. The singles released in support of Higher Than Heaven, has set a certain expectation for me, since I’ve liked everything I’ve heard so far.

Kimbra’s A Reckoning. Slated for a January 27th release, A Reckoning is one of my most anticipated albums of the year. I’ve been waiting for another full body of work by Kimbra since as far back as 2018. That was the year Primal Heart released, and, to this day, it’s one of my favorite albums.

Books

**Note: As a reminder, the Harpercollins Union is still on strike. So, no Harpercollins titles will be mentioned here today.**

The books I’m currently looking forward to include: Cinnamon Twisted by Ginger Bolton, Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico, and Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J. Chow. I also want to get back into the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. And as far as classics go, I’m planning to tackle The Iliad and The Odyssey. 

So, that’s about it for today. I look forward to another year of blogging!

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

2022 Favorites Part 2: Movies, TV Shows, & Music

Welcome to the second part of my Favorites of 2022 post. Today, I’m going to talk about my favorite movies, TV shows, and albums of the year.

I’ve been enjoying a lot of older TV shows and movies in 2022. Murder She Wrote, Agatha Christie’s Marple, Hercule Poirot—weekly mystery staples. But, there’s also Svengoolie on Saturdays, which shows old science fiction and horror movies. On the other side, there’s stuff like the original Star Trek, MacGuyver, Knight Rider, Vega$, and Hawaii Five-O. I also watched The Matrix again, and I rediscovered how much I loved it.

Some other stuff includes the yearly cooking competitions, as well as Abbott Elementary. The latter is such a fun series to watch, and each episode usually gets a laugh out of me. I also finally saw Encanto, and that movie was just charming. Then there was Sonic 1 and 2, and they were just as good as I thought they were going to be.

Most of what I watched tended to be on Netflix though, but, in my defense, they had a lot of good series and movies come out in 2022. The Adam Project was an action flick with a strong science fiction element and great visuals. The Curse of Bridge Hollow was spooky and funny. Wendell & Wild was an easy favorite for me. And I loved the stop-motion animation, music, and story. I’m a little behind with The Cuphead Show!, but the first season was so charming and the visuals basically identical to the game, it’s easily one of my favorite shows of the year. Then I checked out Mr. Midnight: Beware the Monsters, and, wow, it was so good that I ended up binging all of the episodes. Lastly, I watched a romantic-comedy called Business Proposal. It was so funny, and the characters were fantastic.

Moving on to music, my top-favorites were: Renaissance by Beyoncé, Special by Lizzo, Caprisongs by FKA Twigs, Dawn FM by The Weeknd, Traumazine by Meghan Thee Stallion, and Dirt Femme by Tove Lo. Some pleasant surprises were Rina Swayama’s Hold The Girl, Taylor Swift’s Midnights, The Gods We Can Touch by Aurora, and Motordrome by MØ. Some other good ones were Harry’s House by Harry Styles, Hypnos by Ravyn Lenae, and Tierra Whacks three very short Eps (Rap?, Pop?, and R&B?). Then there was Remi Wolf’s 2021 debut album, Juno, which was fantastic. And, finally, Magdalena Bay released a deluxe version of their album, Mercurial World, which added a lot to the original.

**Note: I Listened To and What I’ve Been Watching posts can be found under the Thought Corner label.**

So that’s all on my end. What were some of your 2022 favorites?

Friday, November 4, 2022

I listened to Hold The Girl by Rina Sawayama


One of my most anticipated albums of the year is Rina Sawayama’s sophomore album, Hold The Girl. Released on September 16, 2022, its two years since Sawayama’s self-titled debut. Since then, there have been a number of features, notably a duet with Elton John (Chosen Family) and Charli XCX’s Beg For You (Crash; 2022). However, I was more than ready to see what she would bring to the table with another solo studio album.

Hold The Girl is Pop, but it has a wide diversity of sound. Leading with the single, This Hell (one of my top favorites from the album), each track offered a different listening experience. There was a little bit of country, a little bit of R&B and rock with an early 2000s feel (It’s something she’s done before—for example STFU! from her debut album.) The songs here were bridged together by Sawayama’s vocals, lyric themes, and a smart arrangement.

Hold The Girl achieved an easy flow from one track to the next, and I was quickly immersed by the album. It was a lot of fun. And as far as sophomore albums go, this is a good one.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

I Listened To: September Music Roundup


Some of the music that kept me entertained in September was Juno, Remi Wolf’s album, as well as the deluxe version of Magdalena Bay’s Mercurial World.

Juno is the October 2021 debut album by Remi Wolf. I came across it well after its release date, because the sixth song, Volkiano, crossed my feed. It was an instant hit for me, and I quickly went on to listen to the rest of Juno. This album is a strong debut for Remi Wolf. The songs were fun, and the execution of the lyrics and vocals was superb. I also liked the music videos that were released in support of Juno. They were colorful and retro—the filming had a soft grainy quality to it—which reminded me of old cartoons or shows from the 90s.

Magdalena Bay released a deluxe version of Mercurial World on September 23, almost a year after the original’s initial launch date of October 8, 2021. I’m always interested in special versions of albums, particularly to see what the artists decide to add. Mercurial World’s deluxe adds a couple of new songs, remixes, instrumental versions, and 15 “Secrets” divided between eight intermission-type tracks (which added to the immersion). Mercurial World was already a great album, and I thoroughly enjoyed the robust list of additions.

What have you been listening to lately?

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

I Listened To: August Music Roundup

In August, I bounced between two albums: Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Megan Thee Stallion’s Truamazine. They’re two very different albums—in terms of sound, theme, and genre—but I appreciate them for what they are.

Renaissance
  • When I read about what kind of album Renaissance was supposed to be, I had high expectations. And every single one of them was met. The range in sound made every track feel different than the last, but the strong themes and genre influences—dance, house, R&B, and more—made the album feel cohesive. I mean, even the transitions between each song were smooth. Its music you can move to. Renaissance is a treat.
Traumazine
  • Moving on, Traumazine was another excellent album to come out in the July-August months. It had its foot firmly in hip-hop and rap. The title is indicative of what you’ll get with this one, and the complexity and depth of the lyrics is what keeps drawing me back to this album. Traumazine features some of my favorite songs by Megan Thee Stallion. It also had a handful of interesting features including Rico Nasty, Latto, and Jhené Aiko among others.

What have you been listening to?

Friday, August 12, 2022

I Listened to Supernova by Nova Twins


I first listened to Nova Twins shortly after their debut album, Who Are the Girls? was released. My first real thought was I like the noise, and I like it loud! It was this thought that came back when I heard the singles they released from Supernova; especially Antagonist, Puzzles, and Choose Your Fighter. I just knew I was going to love the album.

With the exhilarating intro Power, most of the album consist of their typical hard hitting guitar and bass (plus drums). Also typical are their grungy vocals for their dark and somber lyrics. Just take a look at K.M.B or A Dark Place For Somewhere Beautiful. And then it ends with the softer sounding  Sleep Paralysis. Over all, I really like Supernova. And while I know who the girls are now, I’m definitely excited for whatever is in Nova Twin’s future.

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

I Listened to Special by Lizzo


I’ve been a fan of Lizzo for a while now, and one of my most anticipated albums of the year was her follow-up to 2019’s Cuz I Love You. It was one of my favorites during its release year, and that album (and the ones before it) set the bar pretty high for the kind of fun and quality music I expect from Lizzo. (Don’t even get me started about her 2016 EP, Coconut Oil. I still love it.)

Lizzo’s latest release, Special, more than continued with that trend, delivering catchy retro 80s pop and disco beats, mixed with hip hop and funk. In terms of lyrics and messaging, Special is a pretty positive album overall, especially in its tone. However, it was also reflective and heartfelt too, especially with songs like 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready), Break Up Twice, and Special, just to name a few.

There are no features on the album, but honestly, Special didn’t need any. Lizzo’s artistry was on full display. What I thought was interesting was how she used a variety of samples to really drive home the aesthetic of the album, but they didn’t overpower the tracks.

The hype for Special was more than deserved. It really is one of my favorite albums of 2022, and I look forward to whatever Lizzo releases next.

Have you listened to Special yet? If so, what did you think about it?


Friday, July 15, 2022

I Listened to The End of the Beginning by Les Friction


Like anyone, I love a good story. But today I’m talking about music, or more specifically: Les Friction’s recent album, The End of The Beginning. If you check out Lesfriction.com you’ll see how this newer release’s story ties into Les Friction and Dark Matter.

Plot aside, The End of the Beginning is still in line with Les Friction’s sound, but a little more on the mellow end. However, that could just be me. Of course, there’s still the emotional, powerful, and buildup songs. All That Mattered (featuring Emily Valentine), The End of the Beginning, and Game Ender respectively, to name a few.

Above all, I thought The End of the Beginning had an otherworldly, ethereal flair about it. And I enjoyed all the sounds and melodies that came along with it. In the end, I really liked this one.


 

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