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.
Happy Halloween! I hope everyone has a fun (and safe) day. Now, onto the blog post. This year, I wanted to do more of the #Peachtober prompts. Adri is also joining me with a handful of her own illustrations. So, here’s everything we did for #peachtober.
Adri’s Comments: Unlike Breana, I didn't have a complete clear idea. I just wanted to go ahead and do it. I did get my colors together since I was using watercolor gouache. Plus it has been a minute since I've painted. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I just need to draw something for the empty squares (which would be separate from this).
You can find more individual images on my blog or art Instagram, and on my blog.
Breana’s Comments: My idea for this year was mainly to keep it simple, but I also wanted to experiment with my color choices. I chose colored pencils as my medium, particularly because I upgraded my Prismacolor set from twenty-four to seventy-two.
Page 1 prompts: Trunk, Lantern, Snow & Globe, Trees, Sprout, Potion, Field, and Cave (I didn't end up posting it to Instagram, because it didn't fit with the rest).
Page 2 prompts: Bun, Boot & Plant, and Dandelion.
Page 3 prompts: Sleepy & Spaceship, Land & Sea, Bow, and Mask.
**Note: for a closer look at each illustration, visit my Instagram page HERE**
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 Readerthat asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.
Obsessed with creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life with electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of horror fiction, and remains a devastating exploration of the limits of human creativity.
Beginning: "You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings."
56: "Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance."
Comments: I'm glad to have this classic off my TBR list. Frankenstein was just as good as I thought it would be. What are you reading this week?
Title: Frankenstein Series: n/a Author: Mary Shelley Source/Format: Purchased; Paperback More Details: Science Fiction; Horror; Classic Publisher/Publication Date: First published January 1, 1818
Obsessed with creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material to fashion a new being, which he shocks into life with electricity. But his botched creature, rejected by Frankenstein and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy his maker and all that he holds dear. Mary Shelley's chilling Gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Byron's villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world's most famous work of horror fiction, and remains a devastating exploration of the limits of human creativity.
Frankenstein is one of those classic novels that I’ve known about, never got around to reading (for way too long), but have seen numerous adaptations and consumed media inspired by its story. After saying I’ve wanted to read it for years, I finally picked up the Signet Classics omnibus, which also contained Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The framing of Victor Frankenstein’s story is like a cautionary tale for Captain Walton: the joy he once felt during childhood and early adulthood to the bitter anger and long-sought vengeance that consumed what remained of his life. There was something so melancholic about his perspective, and the feeling persisted all the way to the conclusion. After all, it was his scientific inclinations and ambition that were not only the early and compelling driving forces in the narrative, but also the whole cause of the majority of the book. And even though the exact methods Frankenstein used to create the creature were left purposely vague, they were implied.
Frankenstein is considered one of the earliest science fiction novels, and I see where that assertion came from. The story was a tragedy that leaned into the horror of its plot, and it does everything its synopsis promises. For lack of better words, I understand the hype.
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: It's October 24th. So it's time for the Halloween edition of Music Monday! Today, my co-bloggers and I are talking about the music we've been listening to at the height of the spooky season.
Both of my picks come from an album called Spirit Phone by Lemon Demon. I discovered this band at the beginning of October, while assembling a playlist of songs I intended to use for Music Monday this month. My first pick is Lifetime Achievement Award. There's something kind of chaotic about this song, but I like it.
My second pick is called Touch-Tone Telephone. This is the song that introduced me to this band. Just like Lifetime Achievement Award, its busy (sound wise), but for some reason it works, especially when placed with the rest of the album.
Adri: This week I'm sharing two of my favorite kinda creepy music videos. The first is Up by Earthgang. I like the museum setting, the costumes, makeup, and the aesthetic of it.
The second is You'll Never Find Me by Korn. First (spoiler) I thought it was interesting with what seems to be a time loop and how he was, apparently turning into plants. Second, I think that's the Invisible House in Joshua Tree, which I saw on Netflix's World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals (season 2 episode 1). I thought that was cool. Anyway, Happy Halloween!
Andrea: Recently, I watched The Curse of Bridge Hollow on Netflix and am currently listening to the soundtrack. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend checking it out. Its a funny Halloween movie, and I also love the music composed by Christopher Lennertz. Have a great week all!
Halloween is right around the corner. What spooky music are you listening to this week?
