I Listened to Cuz I Love You by Lizzo + The B Side by Dainá....

It’s been a hot minute since I did a post entirely dedicated to some of the music I’m currently listening to that’s not weekly meme related. And with the arrival of Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You and Dainá’s The B Side this past Friday, I suddenly had a lot to talk about.

Cuz I Love You

With singles like Juice, Tempo, and Cuz I Love You, the hype for Lizzo’s long awaited album seemed endless on my end. Well, it’s finally here, and it doesn’t disappoint. From the first track to the last—with songs featuring Gucci Mane and Missy Elliott—Cuz I Love You is an experience. Lizzo’s powerful vocals pairs perfectly with the deep, meaningful, and inspiring lyrics prevalent throughout the album. The beats are excellent and catchy, and there isn’t a song I don’t like. You can almost hear the work that went into this album, and I appreciated every minute of it. Besides the well-known singles, there are a number of other noteworthy songs as well. For example: Like a Girl is snazzy; Jerome and Crybaby are like two-peas-in-a-pod with smooth beats and strong vocals; and Heaven Help Me noticeably features flute music and has an upbeat sound. Overall, Cuz I Love You was worth the wait. It’s the best album I’ve listened to so far this year...

• (Cuz I Love You was released on April 19, 2019.)

The B Side

Also out last Friday was The B Side by Dainá. I’ve listened to and liked music by this artist before, and was excited for what she would do next. I'm not going to lie, for me, as an EP with just five songs, The B Side was a surprise weekend hit. It’s stylish and entertaining with songs like Say My Name, Stacks, and Dainero—with the latter being one of my favorite tracks from the EP. Overall, The B Side is great, and it left me wanting more music from Dainá....

• (The B Side was released on April 19, 2019)

Have you listened to any music by Lizzo or  Dainá? Do you plan to listen to Cuz I Love You or The B Side?

Music Monday (76): Lizzo

   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: Lizzo’s new album is finally here. I won’t say too much today, because I’m going to go more in depth about it on a different post. However, I wanted to mention the titular track, Cuz I Love You, because it’s one of my favorite songs from the album...

What are you listening to this week?

Music Monday (75): Tame Impala & Sarah Bareilles

   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: Today, I wanted to talk about one of my favorite songs by Tame Impala: New Person, Same Old Mistakes. You might recognize the sound and lyrics from Same Ol’ Mistakes, and you would be right. Rihanna did a cover of the song for her Anti album. I like both versions of the song, but Tame Impala’s original is excellent.

Andrea: Last week, I had the opportunity to see Sara Bareilles perform Fire live on The Talk. I absolutely enjoyed her performance and have now added Fire to my playlist. Check out the video below!

What are you listening to this week?

The Friday 56 (151) & Book Beginnings: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

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...

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs. Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach. If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself - but first she has to make it there, alive....

Beginning: "I powered up the transporter and said a silent prayer."

56: "But they brought me food and water."

Comments: I can finally cross Binti off my TBR list. It was an interesting story, and I want to read the rest of the trilogy. What are you reading this week?

Review: The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi

Title: The Consuming Fire
Series: The Interdependency  #2
Author: John Scalzi
Source/Format: Borrowed from the library; Hardcover
More Details: Science Fiction; Space Opera
Publisher/Publication Date: Tor Books; October 16, 2018

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The Interdependency, humanity’s interstellar empire, is on the verge of collapse. The Flow, the extra-dimensional conduit that makes travel between the stars possible, is disappearing, leaving entire star systems stranded. When it goes, human civilization may go with it—unless desperate measures can be taken. Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, is ready to take those measures to help ensure the survival of billions. But nothing is ever that easy. Arrayed before her are those who believe the collapse of the Flow is a myth—or at the very least, an opportunity that can allow them to ascend to power. While Grayland prepares for disaster, others are preparing for a civil war, a war that will take place in the halls of power, the markets of business and the altars of worship as much as it will take place between spaceships and battlefields. The Emperox and her allies are smart and resourceful, but then so are her enemies. Nothing about this power struggle will be simple or easy... and all of humanity will be caught in its widening gyre....

So, The Consuming Fire picked up where The Collapsing Empire left off with the collapse of the Flow being an imminent threat to even the Interdependency itself. This was one sequel that lived up to my expectations, and answered some of the questions I had about the Flow, the Interdependency, and where the story would go after the revelations at the end of The Collapsing Empire.

Where do you go when easy and far-reaching space travel is on the verge of going away? What can you do when the forces of nature are actively working against you? The situation presented an interesting conundrum, and the characters—all across the board—reacted differently; sometimes for the greater good, or for wholly self-serving reasons. There was Grayland II who wanted to do what was best for the people of the Interdependency. Yet, there were others who were in it for selfish reasons, wanting to believe the collapse is—as the synopsis states—just a myth. At the heart of the story, there was a lot of political intrigue—full of betrayals, plays for power, and so on. It was expected because the main characters were dealing with the imminent collapse of the Flow, and whatever ramification came from it. That also included the fate of the central government of the Interdependency. The Consuming Fire also touched on some interesting topics, such as the subject of denial of actual facts, and those in power trying to maintain it during a time of crisis. It’s something that was done well.

There was also more information about the Flow, which specifically delved into more about the collapse. Even if it wasn’t specific about what the Flow is, or where it came from. That being said, it still presented some interesting questions about the history that predates the Interdependency's inception.

Overall, The Consuming Fire was great. I liked the characters, and the twists were unexpected and exciting. Now, I’m very excited about what could happen in the third book in the series, The Last Emperox....