Music Monday (300): Kimbra, Banks, Mary J. Blige, Fabolous

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: Kimbra has steadily released new music this year, and even though it's pretty different from her other stuff, I actually like the direction it's going in. One of my favorites so far is Stuff I Don't Need featuring Banks.

Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to Breathing by Mary J. Blige featuring Fabolous. Have an amazing week!

What are you listening to this week?

Short Stories I Read In August

It’s September twenty-ninth. So it’s time to write about the short stories, miscellaneous posts, and podcast episodes I read or listened to in August.

Something Small Enough to Ask For by Anamaria Curtis (Uncanny Magazine Issue Fifty-Nine)

I read Anamaria Curtis’s Something Small Enough to Ask For. This was a great story, which starts fairly simple—Lucy and her grandmother working on a sewing project—before it takes a speculative twist, as a thoughtful gift has unforeseen consequences. The story basically asks: If you could relive fond memories (good times in the past) would you? For the protagonist, Lucy, that question becomes pertinent, and the majority of story explores the scenario as much as it does its main character. Even though Something Small Enough to Ask For was the only short story I read last month, it was bittersweet but ultimately hopeful, and it’s one of my favorite works of short fiction this year so far.

From around the web…

• The Road Goes Ever On: When Fantasy Sends You on Your Own Journeys [Molly Templeton; Reactor Magazine; August 15, 2024]
• Scalzi on Film: Hollywood Totally Lied to Us About AI: Why Cinemaic Cyborgs Are So Much Smarter Than What We Have in the Real World [John Scalzi; Uncanny Magazine Issue Fifty-Nine]
• Summertime Spookiness: On the True Meaning of Summerween [Lorna Wallace; Reactor Magazine; August 19, 2024]

I Listened to Paradise State of Mind by Foster the People

Now, I’m not as familiar with the indie pop band, Foster The People as I am with other artists I’ve mentioned for the music related posts on Our Thoughts Precisely. That can be explained by the seven year gap between their last and current major musical project. However, I was anticipating their fourth studio album anyway, Paradise State of Mind, after listening to the single, Lost in Space, in May of this year. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Released on August 16, 2024, Paradise State of Mind was preceded by three singles: Lost in Space, Chasing Low Vibrations, and Take Me Back. And it can be summed up as an infusion of genres—funk, some jazz, disco, and even some notes of gospel tossed in there—with quality production. It’s not the longest album I’ve listened to lately with just eleven songs, but it’s a cohesive listening experience that felt just right, in terms of length and substance. In some ways, it had a Very retro feel to it, particularly around the 1970s style of music, but it was a great combination that didn’t feel dated! For example: Glitchzig, the opening See You In The Afterlife, the titular Paradise State of Mind, and even the closing track A Diamond To Be Born.

So, Paradise State of Mind wasn’t an album I started the year anticipating, but as the singles were released, my hype only grew. And, ultimately, I ended up loving it.

 

Music Monday (299): Earth Wind & Fire, Foster the People

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: My pick this week is A Diamond To Be Born by Foster the People. This is one of my favorite songs from their new album, Paradise State of Mind.

Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to September by Earth Wind & Fire. Have an amazing week!

What are you listening to this week?

I Listened to Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay is one of my favorite music duos on the scene right now. I know their music best by their debut album, Murcurial World (2021), as well as their extended plays (EP)—Mini Mix volumes 1-3 (2019-2023), and A Little Rhythm and a Wicked Feeling (2020). Now, they’re back with their second studio album, Imaginal Disk. Released on August 23, 2024, this latest offering follows the same vein as a lot of their previous work, while also keeping it fresh and interesting. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Imaginal Disk falls right into synth/dance pop, and it’s done with Magdalena Bay’s usual flare. A little strange, completely fun, thematic, and with something a little dark but also light and dreamy to it (which was really sticking to the concept behind the album). (And if you have the chance, I recommend reading about it.) It also brought in some rock influences, such as on the single Tunnel Vision—one of my personal favorites off the album—That’s My Floor, and Love Is Everywhere. It also wasn’t afraid to slow the tempo down by a notch on tracks like Vampire in the Corner, Cry for Me, and Watching T.V., without losing the almost cinematic atmosphere that defines much of the album.

Magdalena Bay knocked it out of the park with Imaginal Disk. It was dramatic in all the right ways, and honestly, at the end of the day, just good music. So if you’ve enjoyed this duo’s music in the past, you’ll likely love Imaginal Disk too.