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wordsarelife · 6 months

Text

lacy

pairing: peter parker (mcu) x fem!fitzsimmons!reader

summary: peter parker was everything you wanted to be, but you just couldn't hate him for it

warnings: a few little spoilers for agents of shield, this is not as sad as i wanted it to be, but whatever

notes: reader is fitzsimmons daughter! i imagine them to be pretty young parents, she might be about 16 while they're 36

you weren't sure when your obsession with peter parker had begun, but you were sure that it was psychotic at this point. you couldn't help it. there was a thin line between love and hate and you danced it every day.

your problem was that you just couldn't hate him. you honestly wished you could, be he was perfect and he was nice and you wanted to be everything that he already was.

he was a hero and you wished you could help the people like he did. you weren't special. you didn't have any abilities, you mostly stuck to the lab and spend most your time inventing things for the people that were special.

ever since your parents team had finished their last mission your mother and father had settled into the avengers facility. they decided to only work from here, after they had had you, to keep you and each other safe. and naturally, you followed their example. you were incredibly smart, and how couldn't you? you were the daughter of the most brilliant scientiests shield and the world had ever seen.

it was your dream to leave these halls and go on missions like your parents used to, but they knew the danger and wanted to keep you safe. you were homeschooled and almost never left the tower. you were like rapunzel if she had been academically gifted.

this was your personal prison and you couldn't help but wonder if this was all you were fit for.

and then came peter. he was the same age as you and he was the living proof that there was always something more to aspire, that you wouldn't ever be able to reach.

maybe it was that self-destructive behaviour, but sometimes you wished that something would bite you or that someone would experiment on you, just so you could have what they had. this jealousy made you bitter. you didn't want to be like this, and you hated yourself for basically throwing longing glances after peter every day.

"hey, sweetheart" your dad stuck his head through the door of the labatory

"hey" you smiled softly

he walked into the room, your lab coat in hand. "you forgot it in the living room"

"thanks, dad" he smiled and patted your shoulder

"peter is on his way, his suit needs some adjustments i think"

you nodded and your father left the room. you turned your back to the door and began searching the material you would need to work on the spider-man suit.

peter parker was making his way down the hall towards you lab in the same time. what you didn't know was, that he probably had the same admiration for you as you for him. he would watch you any time you didn't look. he knew that your parents on their own were smarter than tony stark, so you were like magic to him. besides that you were beautiful and funny and he wished that you would look at him like your mum looked at your dad. that was the kind of love he was longing for

"peter" you said surprised as you noticed the boy leaning in the doorway

"hey" peter smiled, stepping inside the room, after you had nodded at him

"how can i help you?" you gently took the suit from his hands

"uuh, just some suit adjustments"

"why didn't you ask uncle tony to adjust it? he build the suit, didn't he?"

"you're smarter than him" he said quickly, not wanting to reveal the real reason. he would do anything to be in your presence

"i know that" you laughed "but this is a new one" you turned the fabric around. "nano-tech" you noticed "i'm not sure if i have the right tools to work on that"

"oh" peter just said, trying to think of something else to ask you "could you take a look at my web-shooters?"

"sure" you smiled. it wasn't the first time that peter made you take a look at things that were either completely fine or he could fix himself. it made you wonder if he did it to make you even more jealous. "is something wrong with them?"

"i'm not sure" peter scratched his neck "you're better than me with those things, i'm sure you will notice if there is a problem" he was proud, he could flatter you with his answer

you had to smile. and if he just did all this to make you jealous, he was so nice, you couldn't even hate him for it.

after inspecting the shooters for a few minutes, you gave them back. "they seem fine to me"

"okay" peter said "thank you" he grabbed his things and left the room, looking at you for a last time, before he walked down the hallway

he had hoped that you would eventually get the hint. you were smart enough to know that he could fix any web-shooter problem himself, but he wasn't sure how to reach you if it hadn't to do with what you could do best. to peter's luck your social competence was at the same level as that of your father, you didn't even think that he would visit your lab just to see you and not to anger you

you took a look at the clock, noticing that it was almost time for dinner. you took off the lab coat and your gloves, before you made your way downstairs. today was sunday, which meant that the whole team would eat together.

before you walked into the big dining room, you made a stop at your family's apartment.

"alya?" you called. you opened the door to your sisters room. she was playing on the floor together with deke.

"i'm not quiet sure you should be doing this" you grabbed your sister from the floor. she was about two years old now.

"quality time with my mother, why not?" deke stood behind you while you changed alya out of her pyjama

"because your mother is a toddler right now" you rolled your eyes. "i'm sure nana and bobo would agree with me" you said sarcastically, using the nicknames deke always used with your parents

"only bobo would" he corrected "nana would think i'm the cutest"

"sure" you shrugged, adjusting alya on your hip "are you coming to dinner or are you gonna continue hiding in here?"

"like you do in your lab?" he asked

"that's not the same and you know that" you shook your head "i'm not hiding, i'm working and it's not like i don't want to be outside of this building"

"sure" deke followed you out of the apartment and down the hallway to the labs. you knocked on the door

"mum, dad" you called "dinner!"

"just think about it!" deke encouraged "meeting different people.. boys" he smirked

"stop talking like this" you shook your head, disgusted "you're my nephew"

"and currently i'm like fifteen years older than you" he shrugged "and what you need is a bit experience in terms of da-"

fitz had just stepped into the hallway at the same second and left deke no other choice than to finish his sentence differently

"-ta analysis"

fitz nodded proudly "he's right, monkey. there is no science without data analysis, it rolls off the tongue amazingly, don't you think?"

your mum, who had just left the room looked between her husband and grandson confused.

"let's just go to dinner" you suggested "maybe leave the lab coats"

your family walked down the hallway together. despite you being too late, the table was entirely empty except for peter and vision.

"huh?" fitz wondered

"a new mission?" jemma asked vision and took alya out of your arms to seat her in the high chair

"indeed, doctor simmons" vision nodded "the team has been called to an emergency. peter wasn't wanted, that is why he is here"

"thank you, vision" peter smiled sarcastically

the sarcasm didn't quiet reach vision though. "not a problem"

deke and you were the last two people standing. before you could react, deke had sat down beside vision, leaving the last avaible seat next to peter. of course the table was huge, but it would be weird to sit down away from the others, so you obligated.

deke motioned to peter with his eyes. 'experience in terms of dating' he mouthed

'shut up' you mouthed back, trying to ignore him for the rest of dinner.

"so.." peter turned to look at you "how is school going, ms genuis?"

"pretty good, i'd say" you laughed awkwardly, shoving a few fries into your mouth "my teachers are happy with my performance"

"don't be silly, darling" your mother chimed in "her teachers are astounished by her workload. but yours must be too, peter. tony tells me, you are quiet intelligent yourself"

"ehh, thank you, doctor simmons" peter smiled

"jemma is just fine" your mother looked between you and peter. she had noticed how you looked at each other

"okay" peter nodded "thank you, jemma"

"yeah, you can still call me agent fitz" your father smiled his typical smile that he would use on people he didn't like. he had just decided that he loathed the boy and definetly the way he was looking at his daughter

"fitz!" jemma scolded, but fitz just shrugged his shoulders

"i'm actually a big fan" peter said, making all heads turn to him "your work on agent coulsons team was incredible!" he complimented

"thank you, peter" jemma smiled flattered

"and y/n is so brilliant!" he went even further "she always helps me with my stuff and she invents incredible things!"

"she's amazing, we know that" fitz rolled his eyes. he was probably the proudest of you and knew how brilliant you were, he didn't need some boy to tell him

"be nice, bobo" deke smiled brightly at peter "peter, do you happen to have a girlfriend?"

fitz choked on his water, your eyes grew big, vision looked confused and peter laughed awkwardly

"n-no" he said "why do you ask?"

"whoa" fitz stood up from the table, dragging you out of your seat "look at the time! it's already so late. we have to get back to work, jemma" he pushed you towards your sister "would you get alya ready for her nap, y/n? and deke you'll help her, yeah?"

"i thought i wasn't allowed to take care of mum" deke said confused "paradoxon and all"

"just do it" fitz said aggressively

"see you, y/n!" peter could only say right before fitz pushed you and deke down the hallway, alya in your arms.

"what do you think about peter?" deke stood next to you, while you were busy putting alya into her romper

"i love petey!" alya giggled

"you don't" you shook your head at her "you don't even know him. what about him, deke?"

"he's cute, isn't he?"

"something you want to tell me?" you asked your nephew (yeah, definetly weird) while you put alya down in her crib and left the room, deke close behind you

"of course not for me. for you, nini" ever since you had found out about your relation he had called you that. just like he called you parents nana and bobo

"for me?" you wondered "you know that i don't even like him?"

"your eyes tell another story! you're always looking at him"

"because he can do everything i want to do!" you argued "i wish i could go outside and safe the world, but i'm always stuck in that stupid lab"

"you love science!" deke laughed, like he couldn't believe what you were saying "you're incredible at it!"

"i wish i wasn't" you sat down on the couch "maybe i could actually do something then" your eyes fell on the clock "i have to go back to the lab and finish some stats for uncle tony. don't play with your mother!" you quickly left the apartment, before deke could get another word in

"y/n, you're beautiful and funny" you looked around confused, before you noticed the sound coming out of your very own lab

"peter?" you asked when you opened the door and saw him standing in the middle of the room

"y/n!" peter exclaimed surprised "what are you doing here?"

"i work.. here?" you stepped into the room and closed the door behind you "another problem with the web-shooters?" you asked, grabbing your coat from it's hanger

"no, i actually came here to talk to you"

you raised your eyebrows

peter took a shaky breath "y/n" he said "you're beautiful and funny and incredibly brilliant"

you crossed your arms, confused in which direction this was going

"and i wanted to know if you'd go on a date with me?"

"a date?" you repeated, peter nodded "why?"

"w-why?" peter seemed like he did not think you would ask such a question

"you're a superhero" you reminded "why would you want to go out with me? you do know that i don't have any superpowers, right?"

peter almost had to laugh. you didn't seem like you were offended or sad that you wouldn't fit in the same social circle, but more like you couldn't crompehend why he would ask you out. just coming from a logical perspective

"i know" peter smiled "you're so much more than that! you're incredible at what you do, i wish i was that smart"

"but you are" you said, still confused "and you have super strength which is another pro"

"y/n" peter breathed "i don't think you understand what i'm trying to say"

"are you making fun of me?" you wondered "make me even more jealous?"

"jealous?" peter laughed "jealous of what? that i can maybe name the first ten numbers of pi?"

"that's not a lot" you mumbled

"i know!" peter laughed "that's what i'm saying! you're so much better at literally everything, why would you be jealous?"

"you're a hero"

"and you aren't?" peter's eyes grew soft as he noticed that you really didn't think of yourself as a hero, quite contrary to what he thought of you "how am i supposed to be a hero without my web-shooters or my suit? if you hadn't improved the shooters, i would've died last year. you don't seem to realize that your inventions save lives. not only my life, but those of the avengers, of thousands of people"

"thank you, peter" you smiled "but i don't do the actual saving"

"that's why we're a team, no one could do any saving without each other"

"i never thought about it like this" you said honestly. it was a bit like a weight had just been lifted off your shoulder. you never thought that anyone aprreciated or even noticed the work that you did in your lab. but peter had. just like you had always noticed everything about him. but only now did you realize that the feeling you had harboured wasn't envy, but love. you had loved him from the first moment on and you had loved him for what he was.

"i could never do what you do" you said "and that's okay"

"yeah" peter nodded "and you love what you do, don't you?" he stepped closer to you and you looked up at him. "did i ever tell you that you were beautiful?" he asked

"yeah" you breathed "like five minutes ago"

"no harm in saying it again" peter stepped even closer "can i kiss you?"

you nodded quickly. peter came even closer and planted a featherlight kiss onto your mouth

"i think i like you more than anyone i ever knew" you whispered "so much even i thought i should hate you"

peter paused, confused before he nodded "i'll take that. me too"

and with that he kissed you again. you deepened the kiss, your hands going into his hair, until you heard a beeping noise.

"what was that?" peter wondered

you looked behind him to confirm your suspicion "deke listened in through the baby monitor" you would keep it with you, because your lab was closest to the apartment and because your parents often couldn't check on alya when they were in the middle of an experiment. you didn't mind though, she almost never cried.

peter turned around to look at the monitor. deke was closer to the camera than you had wanted him to be, his face plastered over the entire display. "i'm so happy for you, nini!" he smiled brightly

"can he see us?" peter whispered

you shook your head "just ignore him"

peter laughed and kissed you again, while deke quickly pulled the plug of the monitor the moment he heard your lab coat hit the floor.

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lmmfao-hahaha · 2 years

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youtube

#Tom Segura #live talks #Greg Fitzsimmons

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rosey-blog06 · 1 year

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These are all the ships I ship and what Fandom they are apart of

More after the Cut

Brooklyn 99

Peraltiago

Kevin/Holt

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Dc (Dcamu + Young Justice + comics)

Superbat

KayRoy

Timber

Damirae

DamiJon

Bluepulse

Birdflash

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Good omens

Ineffable Husbands

The witch and the nerd (I can't remember their names T^T)

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Haikyuu

Kagahina

Asanoya

Ukatake

Crow parents (Suga/Daichi)

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Tsukiyama

Tsukikage

Harry potter

Drarry

Wolfstar

Deamus

Romione

Linny

Jily

Regulus/James (I forgot the ship name)

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Marvel

Time husbands

Winterfalcon

Stony

Stucky

Philinda (agents of shield)

Fitzsimmons (agents of shield)

Ironstrange

Peter and Mj (Zendaya and Tom Holland version)

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Merlin

Merthur

Gwen/Morgana

Uther/superhell (/hj)

Percival/Gwaine

Leon/a good life because he deserves it

Lancelot/being able to be a knight without dying in the next few episodes

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Miraculous

Marichat

Adrienette

Ladynoir

Lukadrien

Lukadrienette

Alyno

Multichat

Liela/fire/trash/fuel 🙃

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Sherlock (BBC)

Johnlock

Mycroft/Lestrade

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Supernatural

Destiel

Sabriel

Crobby

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Tmnt (2012)

Casey/Donnie (cuz imagine + they deserve good)

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Torchwood

Janto

Owen/Tosh

Gwen/Rys

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Voltron

Klance

Shiro/Adam

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Yuri on ice

Victuuri

Yurio/Otabek

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That's probably only half of them because I did skip a few Fandoms only because they were ones that had soooo many ships like Bnha so I just skipped them lol. If anyone wants to know who I ship in bnha and Mlp just "Ask me anything" lmao

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reyescarlos · 2 years

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“so i guess maddie still sparks joy?”

“always”

listen on spotify || current run time: 4 hrs featuring:

she lit a fire - lord huron // rainbow - kacey musgraves // dust to dust - the civil wars // better together - jack johnson // she is love - parachute // make you feel my love - adele // you make it real - james morrison // just you and i - tom walker // someone to stay - vancouver sleep clinic // to be alone with you - sufjan stevens // tenerife sea - ed sheeran // one and only - teitur // hello my old heart - the oh hellos // if i didn’t have you - banners // maybe - james arthur // your hand is safe in mine - blush // grow as we go - ben platt // hazy - rosi golan ft. william fitzsimmons +more!

special thanks to @strandtk for this stunning gif! 💜

#911 on fox #911 #madney #chimney han #maddie buckley #userthai #useralie #userrin #userbria #usersteen #tusera #tuserangela #jazzyjess #userbones

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fandoms-for-days2022 · 1 year

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Ships of mine in all my Fandoms

(Fandoms, that I have no ships in, will be excluded)

Ben 10

Bevin

Gwevin

Bnha

Bakudeku

Tododeku

Todobaku

Kiribaku

(Since I have too many bnha ships, I will make a separate post for that if anybody wants it <3)

Brooklyn 99

Peraltiago

Kevin/Holt

Dc (DCAMU + Young Justice + Comics)

SuperBat

BatJokes (Telltale games + Lego Batman versions only)

JayRoy

Timber

Damirae

Damijon

BluePulse

BirdFlash

Enola Holmes

HolmesBury

FNAF (security breach)

Freddy/Bonnie

Chica/Roxy

Foxy/Monty

Good Omens

Ineffable Husbands

Anathema/Newt

Haikyuu

Kagahina

Asanoya

Ukatake

Crowparents (Suga/Daichi)

Tall blonde/green bean (I forgot their names T^T)

Harry Potter

Drarry

Wolf star

Marvel

Time husbands

Winterfalcon

Stony

Stucky

Philinda

Fitzsimmons

Ironstrange

Peter/Mj (Tom Holland + Zendaya version)

Merlin

Merthur

Gwen/Morgana (nice Morgana)

Uther/superhell

Percival/Gwaine

Leon/a good immortal live because he deserves it

Lancelot/being able to be a knight for longer then a few episodes without dying

Miraculous

Marichat

Adrienette

Ladynoir

Lukadrien

Lukadrien Etta

Alyno

Multichat

Leila/fuel/fire/trash/anything flammable 🙃

Mlp

AppleDash (pony world)

FlutterDash (human world)

FlutterCord (pony)

Sunset/Flash (human)

Sherlock (bbc)

JohnLock

Mycroft/Lestrade

Supernatural

Destiel

Sabriel

Crobby

Tmnt (2012)

Casey/Donnie (because imagine + they deserve love)

Other canon ships not including the two above

Torchwood

Janto

Owen/Tosh

Gwen/Rys (although rys deserved better tbh)

Voltron

Klance

Shiro/Adam

Yandere Simulator

Ayano/Budo

Umeji Kizuguchi/Horuda Puresu

Yuri on ice

Victuuri

Yurio/Otabek

These are all my current ships that I will do headcanons of.

If there are any specific ships or fandoms that anyone would like me to do, please put them in the ask box. Thank you <3

#Ben 10 #bnha #brooklyn 99 #dcamu #enola holmes #good omens #haikyuu!!#harry potter #marvel #merlin bbc #miraculous #mlp #Sherlock #supernatural #tmnt 2012 #torchwood #voltron #yandere simulator #yuri on ice

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big-bishop · 1 year

Photo

deadpool, agent of chaos,'s 2023 birthday week celebration ;

> day five (feb. 17), tea time always, hayes & meredith fitzsimmons, & tom hopkins

yes, my partners do know about each other.

#crackships #deadpool's birthday week celebration #aiden gillen #michelle dockery #john simm #aiden gillen crackships #michelle dockery crackships #john simm crackships

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moviereviews101web · 9 days

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The Call Up (2016) Movie Review

The Call Up – Movie Review ABC Film Challenge – Action – U (The Up in Call Up) Director: Charles Barker Writer: Charles Barker, Damian Fitzsimmons (Screenplay) Cast Max Deacon (Into the Storm) Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud) Ali Cook (Kajaki) Tom Benedict Knight (Kingsman: The Golden Circle) Chris Obi (Ghost in the Shell) Boris Ler (In the Land of Blood and Honey) Plot: A group of online…

View On WordPress

#2016 #Action #Sci-Fi #The Call Up

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kwebtv · 2 months

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Super Force - Syndicated - October 5, 1990 - May 26, 1992

Science Fiction / Action / Adventure (48 Episodes)

Running Time: 30 minutes

Stars:

Ken Olandt as Zachary Stone

Larry B. Scott as F.X. Spinner

Patrick Macnee as E. B. Hungerford

Lisa Niemi as Captain Carla Frost

Musetta Vander as Officer Zander Tyler

Antoni Corone as Captain Avery Merkel

R. Emmett Fitzsimmons

Marc Macaulay as Buddy

Tom Kouchalakos as Merkel

G. Gordon Liddy as Tao Satori

Ginger Lynn as Crystal

Donald Moran as Punk

Marshall R. Teague as Frank Stone

#Super Force #TV #Syndicated #Science Fiction #Action #Adventure #1990's #Ken Olandt #Larry B. Scott #Patrick Macnee

0 notes

newyorkthegoldenage · 4 months

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The show, as they say, must go on. Orson Welles injured both his ankles while directing and starring in a production of King Lear at the City Center. So, on January 14, 1956, he wheeled himself onto the stage and went on with the play. Above, he gives some last-minute notes to his fellow actors. In the front row are Sylvia Short (Regan), Roy Dean (behind Welles, Kent), John Colicos (in dark hood, Edmund), Geraldine Fitzgerald (Goneril), and Viveca Lindfors (Cordelia).

Photo: Tom Fitzsimmons for the AP

#vintage New York #1950s #Tom Fitzsimmons #Orson Welles #King Lear #Sylvia Short #Roy Dean #John Colicos #Geraldine Fitzgerald #Viveca Lindfors #vintage Broadway #theater #vintage theater #Shakespeare #Jan. 14 #14 Jan.

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daimonclub · 4 months

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The Christmas Tree

Christmas tree legends The Christmas Tree, an article that explains its legend, origin and tradition, with some enlightening merry quotes to enrich the great value of the Christmas period. Snowflakes felt so awesome in winter season. There is a main figure in Christmas known as Santa Claus. And the main theme of Christmas is jingle bell, a very famous tune known all other the world. People use this tune a lot all over the Christmas event, and it feels so good like something very positive that will bring peace and happiness in our lives. Moving between the legs of tables and of chairs, rising or falling, grasping at kisses and toys, advancing boldly, sudden to take alarm, retreating to the corner of arm and knee, eager to be reassured, taking pleasure in the fragrant brilliance of the Christmas tree. T. S. Eliot It is curious to what a degree one may become attached to a fine tree, especially when it is placed where trees are rare. Christian Nestell Bovee The Christmas tree is the dot on the i. Frank Taylor The trees that bud and blossom forth, Throughout the world from south to north, Are tokens that a life will bloom When manhood's passed beyond the tomb. T. Augustus Forbes Leith Three things are needed to make a Christmas tree: ornaments, the tree and faith in the future. Armenian proverb I stone got crazy when I saw somebody run down them strings with a bottleneck. My eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and I said that I had to learn. Muddy Waters My beer-drenched soul is sadder than all the dead Christmas trees in the world. Charles Bukowski He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. Roy L. Smith It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it. Charlie Brown A Christian should resemble a fruit tree with real fruit, not a Christmas tree with decorations tied on. John Stott The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. Burton Hillis

Christmas tree origins I grew up with a Christmas tree, I’m going to stay with a Christmas tree. Thomas Menino The perfect Christmas tree, all Christmas trees are perfect. Charles N. Barnard Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow, they represent a gift of love given a long time ago. Tom Baker The Christmas tree is beautiful only when it is finished and when the lights can be turned on, the crib is not, the crib is beautiful when you do it or even when you think about it. Luciano De Crescenzo Taking down the Christmas tree makes it feel official: time to get back to joyless and cynical. Greg Fitzsimmons I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love. Linus Van Pelt What will we find under the Christmas tree this year? Oh my God, I think the roots! Carl William Brown Glittering tinsel, lights, glass balls, and candy canes dangle from pine trees. Richelle E. Goodrich The best Christmas trees come very close to exceeding nature. Andy Rooney There is new life in the soil for every man. There is healing in the trees for tired minds and for our overburdened spirits, there is strength in the hills, if only we will lift up our eyes. Remember that nature is your great restorer. Calvin Coolidge The earth reminded us of a Christmas tree ornament hanging in the blackness of space. As we got farther and farther away it diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful marble you can imagine. James Irwin Christmas tree stands are the work of the devil and they want you dead. Bill Bryson Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness. Eckhart Tolle He that planteth a tree is the servant of God, He provideth a kindness for many generations, And faces that he hath not seen shall bless him. Henry Van Dyke

Christmas tree quotes Now I’m an old Christmas tree, the roots of which have died. They just come along and while the little needles fall off me replace them with medallions. Orson Welles Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 25 feet tall. Larry Wilde They’ve got plastic Christmas trees now. They’re hard to tell from the real aluminum ones. Milton Berle I was only kicking down the Christmas tree to get the star on top. Ray Bradbury I don’t know what I believe. I guess that makes me a christmas tree agnostic. Stephanie Perkins Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!" said he, trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet. And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the woods, of the merry Christmas Eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so much pleasure to the story of Klumpy-Dumpy. Hans Christian Andersen A Christmas tree, the perfect gift for a guy. The plant is already dead. Jay Leno The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess. Tess Gerritsen A dog looking at a lit Christmas tree thinks: they finally put the light in the toilet. Romano Bertola Christmas trees don’t grow on trees; they need rainbows, lumberjacks, and Leprechauns on unicorns playing jock jams on glockenspiels. Ryan Ross Make your plate look like a Christmas tree, I tell people, mostly green with splashes of other bright colors. Victoria Moran There’s no experience quite like cutting your own live Christmas tree out of your neighbor’s yard. Dan Florence

True natural Christmas trees The smell of pine needles, spruce and the smell of a Christmas tree, those to me, are the scents of the holidays. Blake Lively Christmas is a very enjoyable event ever. It is a great feast for everyone. Kids, adults and grandparents. Everyone enjoy this occasion very much. Parents give presents to their children and this brings happiness in their hearts. An enormous amount of joy comes through this period which is a real gem for us. Therefore how could we avoid talking of one of the main symbol of this religious celebration, which is certainly the Christmas Tree, so let's read about its fascinating history. The Christmas tree today is a common custom to most of us. There are many interesting connections to ancient traditions such as Egyptian and Roman customs, early Christian practices, and Victorian nostalgia. However, most scholars point to Germany as being the origin of the Christmas tree. Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness. In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return. The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from his illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes, which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon, farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder. One of the earliest stories relating back to Germany is about Saint Boniface. In 722, he encountered some pagans who were about to sacrifice a child at the base of a huge oak tree. He cut down the tree to prevent the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew up at the base of the oak. He then told everyone that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was a holy tree - the tree of the Christ child, and a symbol of His promise of eternal life. Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. Another story tells that perhaps it was Martin Luther responsible for the origin of the Christmas tree. This story says that one Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through the snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of the snow glistened trees. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moon light. When he got home, he set up a small fir tree and shared the story with his children. He decorated the Christmas tree with small candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth. Another legend says that in the early 16th century, people in Germany combined two customs that had been practiced in different countries around the globe. The Paradise tree (a fir tree decorated with apples) represented the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually decorated with glass balls, tinsel and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree’s apples to tinsel balls and cookies and combining this new tree with the light placed on top, the Germans created the tree that many of us know today. In the 1840s and 50s, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in England. Prince Albert decorated a tree and ever since that time, the English, because of their love for their Queen, copied her Christmas customs including the Christmas tree and ornaments. An engraving of the Royal Family celebrating Christmas at Windsor was published in 1848 and their German traditions were copied and adapted. Another story about the origin of the Christmas tree says that late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope that spring would soon come. Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims’s second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy. The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

Christmas tree best wishes Research into customs of various cultures shows that greenery was often brought into homes at the time of the winter solstice. It symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The Romans were known to deck their homes with evergreens during of Kalends of January 15. Living trees were also brought into homes during the old Germany feast of Yule, which originally was a two month feast beginning in November. The Yule tree was planted in a tub and brought into the home. But there is no evidence that the Christmas tree is a direct descendent of the Yule tree. Evidence does point to the Paradise tree however. This story goes back to the 11th century religious plays. One of the most popular was the Paradise Play. The play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The only prop on the stage was the Paradise tree, a fir tree adorned with apples. The play would end with the promise of the coming Savior and His Incarnation. The people had grown so accustomed to the Paradise tree, that they began putting their own Paradise tree up in their homes on December 24. Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850. In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran. The tallest living Christmas tree is believed to be the 122-foot, 91-year-old Douglas fir in the town of Woodinville, Washington. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition began in 1933. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president, brought the Christmas tree tradition to the White House. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony now held every year on the White House lawn. Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family. Most Christmas trees are cut weeks before they get to a retail outlet. In 1912, the first community Christmas tree in the United States was erected in New York City. Christmas trees generally take six to eight years to mature. Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska. 90 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms. More than 1,000,000 acres of land have been planted with Christmas trees. On average, over 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre. You should never burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace. It can contribute to creosote buildup. Other types of trees such as cherry and hawthorns were used as Christmas trees in the past. Thomas Edison’s assistants came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees. In 1963, the National Christmas Tree was not lit until December 22nd because of a national 30-day period of mourning following the assassination of President Kennedy. Teddy Roosevelt banned the Christmas tree from the White House for environmental reasons. On the contrary the 2020 Christmas Tree is an 18 ½ foot Fraser Fir from West Virginia. It will serve as a centerpiece for Christmas decorations in the Blue Room of the White House. The White House Christmas Tree must stand 18-19 feet tall and reach the ceiling of the Blue Room, where the chandelier is removed each holiday season to accommodate the tree. And last but not least, if you want to choose the perfect Christmas tree visit the website of The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) which is a non-profit organization established to help families create holiday memories and build traditions by choosing the perfect Christmas tree. www.christmastreeassociation.org/ Instead if you need a good short story for your children about Christmas or the Christmas tree, you can find many of them at this link: https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-story/the-fir-tree Top 10 Tallest Christmas Trees in The World Read also our other posts on Christmas ; Christmas quotes ; 60 great Christmas quotes ; Christmas tree origin and quotes ; Traditional Christmas Carols ; Christmas jokes ; Christmas markets in England ; Christmas cracker jokes ; Christmas food ; Christmas thoughts ; Read the full article

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5-9’s Album of the Month Podcast – Episode 8 Out Now!

The August review episode of the 5-9 Album of the Month Podcast is here and as ever I will take a seat alongside 5-9 Editor Andrew Belt and Check This Out’s Kiley Larsen to review five high profile album releases from the past month in music, and ultimately name one as our Album of the Month at the end of the discussion.

For this latest episode, the five albums we discuss are:

WEEDKILLER by Ashnikko

Death Is Nothing To Us by Fiddlehead

STRUGGLER by Genesis Owusu

The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons by The Hives

No Joy by Spanish Love Songs

If you want to listen to the August episode or any previous episodes on Spotify simply click the link below, but also be sure to follow 5-9 Blog on Instagram and Twitter for more news and polls relating to the podcast, along with other great content like film reviews, sports articles and more.

Listen to the August 2023 episode here

Album & EP Recommendations

For That Beautiful Feeling by The Chemical Brothers

It’s time we gave The Chemical Brothers their flowers – like properly.

For the past three decades, the duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have been a constant - delivering iconic, instantly recognisable dance tracks and some of the best electronic music the world has ever seen. Whilst some guitar bands are often put on a pedestal beyond their worth, The Chemical Brothers by comparison don’t always get the recognition they deserve for their longevity and consistently excellent output. Now 10 albums into their career, the Brothers are aging like fine wine, with this latest opus - titled For That Beautiful Feeling - right up there with their very best work.

As ever, the Brothers have crafted this record as a mesmerising sonic journey, with each track able to stand alone as a magnificent piece of art whilst also seamlessly segueing together to form one mind-altering experience too. It’s a balance that only the best can muster and it seems like the duo have taken the best parts of their 30 year career to forge the inspiration for this new effort. The Weight plays out like Block Rockin’ Beats Version 2.0, a hypnotic blend of hip-hop and pulsating electronica. Skipping Like A Stone is then their latest collaboration with Beck, with it’s choral-like beat ensuring it hits every bit as hard as their previous classic together, Wide Open.

Those two tracks would be enough to recommend this one, but honestly this album is littered with incredible moments. Singles Live Again, No Reason and The Darkness That You Fear sound even better in the context of the whole, with the latter having been reworked to better fit the mould. Feels Like I Am Dreaming is then a heady 7-minute colossus, transporting you across several new dimensions during the song’s duration. Goodbye is then my pick of the whole record, with a gorgeous soul sample immersed wonderfully within transcendent beams of synths at every turn.

This is without a doubt one of the records of the year so far, with the duo building on 2019’s No Geography to deliver yet another late career highlight. Not only are The Chemical Brothers one of the UK’s best live acts, but after this album we should recognise them for what they are – one of our most enduring artists, period.

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Dream Big by Soda Blonde

Back in 2021, Irish indie-pop outfit Soda Blonde emerged out of the ashes of the excellent Little Green Cars, with the four remaining members of that band releasing their debut album under the new Soda Blonde guise. That Soda Blonde debut, titled Small Talk, would finish in my Top 30 Albums of 2021 and even receive a nomination for the Irish Choice Prize (the Irish equivalent of the Mercury Prize). Now with this sophomore outing, they may have even surpassed the predecessor.

Full of confidence, Soda Blonde are sounding more assured in their new skin, with Dream Big presenting a stunning collection of songs full of breathtaking musical variety and killer hooks. The opening run of Midnight Show, Bad Machine, Boys and the title track is particularly mesmerising, as the band guide you through glorious arrangements full of strings, rhythmic guitars and clusters of memorable moments. That’s not to say the back half doesn’t deliver too though as the gorgeous An Accident strips things back for a beautiful moment of vulnerability. After that, My First Name sees frontwoman Faye O’Rourke’s majestic vocals stand out amongst a magnificent collage of strings, bluesy guitars and stomping drums for one of the record’s biggest highlights. Going Out then gives the album the grandstand finish it richly deserves, a towering 7-minute epic that sees every member of the band operating at the highest possible level.

This is a phenomenal record from start to finish and another effort that goes straight towards the top of the pile for 2023 so far. So if you haven’t heard of Soda Blonde before, now is the time to get yourself acquainted.

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All Those Things I Thought I Knew by Emzae

When it comes to up-and-coming pop musicians, there are few that I have come across that are as inspiring as Derby-based singer-songwriter, Emzae. Not just because of the vibrant, synth-soaked personal tales that make up her dazzling debut album, but also the grit, determination and DIY-attitude that went into getting it made.

Diagnosed with M.E. in her teens and having left school at 14, a career in music would simply have been left as a pipedream for anyone else. The fact Emzae’s debut album is now out in the world, is a testament to her unrivalled passion and fortitude. The culmination of 6+ years of graft, her life savings and nothing more than sheer will, it’s even more incredible when you realise the entirety of the record is all entirely of her own making. That’s right, everything was written, recorded, performed, produced – and even promoted – all by Emzae herself. So to have this album at all is a complete triumph, but for it to be this excellent is damn near a miracle.

For fans of CHVRCHES, Lorde and Let’s Eat Grandma, Emzae’s brand of pop is both warmly familiar yet carrying her own unique stamp. The contemplative Overrated is a sublime welcome to Emzae’s world, before the stuttering groove of As This Day Fades To Another and soulful melancholy of New Construction show the diversity of her sound. Around the midway point the album then hits its peak, with the atmospheric heartache of Another Lesson Learnt, the catchy chorus of Some Kind of Cliché and bluesy ambience of Lucid Dreaming three of the album’s finest moments.

That said, the final stretch of the record also packs in the audio splendour too. I Guess, Anyway is a near six-minute mini-epic, with Emzae’s self-motivation and confidence beaming out of the lyrics as the music increasingly swells around her. It’s All Cyclical then takes things up a notch with spoken word passages and a trance-like outro, leading perfectly into the pulsating pop of Extraordinary. As Emzae sings “This is what it feels like to be free” on addictive and uplifting closer Thrive, it’s evident how cathartic the process of making this album has been for her and it radiates out of the music.

By the end of the record, Emzae’s infectious positivity will have fully taken hold, leaving you with just the biggest smile on your face. A truly excellent debut and I already can’t wait for the next one. Take a bow Emzae, you should be nothing but proud.

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Stoned & Supremely Confident by Childe

Sticking with the pop debuts and another impressive first outing so far this month came by way of Childe, whose soulful vocals and catchy hooks make his music impossible to ignore. First discovered at Dot-to-Dot festival in Nottingham earlier this year, Childe’s natural talent was evident from the get-go and I’m pleased to say this vibrant debut really makes it’s mark.

At just 9 songs and 23 minutes long, there’s really no reason not to dive into this one especially when there are so many great moments to be found. Just take a listen to the synth-soaked rush of Chemical Balance, the plucky guitar groove of Better Friends, the raw emotion of Death Wish and the nostalgic charm of My Reply, and I’m sure you’ll want to discover more of Childe’s music.

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Strange Disciple by Nation of Language

“Releasing their first two albums (2020 debut Introduction, Presence and 2021 follow-up A Way Forward) at the peak of the COVID-pandemic, Nation of Language could have easily faded back into obscurity as quickly as they emerged out of it. Yet through seemingly nothing more than word-of-mouth recommendations alone, music fans started to discover the dazzling indie-pop being crafted by the New York-based trio. Quickly building up a cult following of devoted fans, they emerged out of lockdown an unstoppable force, putting on enigmatic live performances whilst boasting an enviable collection of nostalgia-soaked synthpop anthems. Now in just three short years, they have gone from album No.1 to album No.3 and, if Strange Disciple is anything to go by, they are showing no signs of slowing down their momentum.

On this latest opus Nation of Language very much give the fans what they have come to expect from them, which is retro-inspired tunes in the vein of great bands like New Order and OMD. There are no radical sonic direction changes, so if you enjoyed their first two records the good news is you’ll likely love this one as well. This is simply Nation of Language having now mastered their sound, taking it to grand new heights. Some of their finest tracks to date can be found here, songs of romantic adoration and unhealthy infatuations backdropped against playful synth melodies that just make you want to groove.”

Read my full review for HeadStuff here

Listen to the album here

Sea of Mirrors by The Coral

Indie legends The Coral may be best known for their classic early 00s output, but those that have stuck with them will know that in recent years, they’ve very much been delivering the goods as well. Their last outing, tenth album Coral Island, was a highly ambitious double album that struck a chord with fans both old and new, going on to become one of 2021’s most acclaimed projects. Now back with another two projects, released separately this time, the first part Sea of Mirrors has arrived and it sees the Liverpudlian band continue their hot streak.

Full of soaring, cinematic instrumentation, The Coral prove once again they are in incredible form right now. Singles Wild Bird, That’s Where She Belongs and Oceans Apart are wonderfully constructed and sonically impeccable, whilst the string-tinged Child of The Moon and widescreen, Ennio-Morricone-infused North Wind also demand repeat listens. Overall, another fantastic outing from The Coral and I hope they keep delivering albums as stellar as this one.

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Australian Carnage – Live At The Sydney Opera House by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

Then on the live albums front, seeing Nick Cave & Warren Ellis perform was without a doubt one of the most memorable shows I’ve been lucky enough to see in recent years. Pulling together the best moments from Ghosteen and Carnage, with a few other Bad Seeds classics sprinkled in, it was a powerful, emotionally hard-hitting live performance like few I’ve seen.

Now if like me you wish to relive that show, or indeed hear it for the first time, a new live album from the final performance of the tour at Sydney Opera House is now streaming. Well worth the nearly two hours of your time but please – have the tissues ready!

Listen here

Freak Show EP by ALT BLK ERA

And finally on the EPs front, ALT BLK ERA have long been one of the thriving Nottingham music scene’s most promising up-and-coming acts. Now it seems word is finally getting out about this alt-rock sister duo, who fuse mind-melting electronica, heavy rock and razor-sharp bars for a sound that is entirely of their own making. If you are yet to hear their hypnotic genre-defying sound, then this debut EP is the perfect introduction, with the opening trio of I’m Normally Like This, Misfits: SOLAR and the horn-backed title track all well worth checking out.

Listen here

Also worth checking out: HELLMODE by Jeff Rosenstock, Hit Parade by Roisin Murphy, Mid Air by Romy, Playing Robots Into Heaven by James Blake, KILLJOY by Coach Party, This House by Pale Blue Eyes, GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo

Tracks of the Week

Angry by The Rolling Stones

Arguably the biggest music news of September so far, the legendary Rolling Stones announced their first album of original material in 18 years will arrive on the 20th October. Accompanying the news of the release was the album’s opening track Angry, a vintage Stones outing propelled by a stuttering guitar riff, a stellar solo and Jagger’s ageless vocals.

Listen here

Only by Sampha

Six long years after his Mercury Prize-winning debut Process, electro-soul singer Sampha is finally back with a new album, Lahai, which also arrives on the 20th October. Spirit 2.0 was a great lead single and now second single Only just adds to the album’s promise, with a smooth groove, Sampha’s soulful vocal tones and exquisite production.

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Wishing Well by Sundara Karma

Also arriving towards the end of October will be the third studio album from Reading rockers Sundara Karma, their first full-length since 2019’s Ulfilas’ Alphabet. After some more experimental and somewhat uneven EPs, the singles so far have suggested a return to form for the band, with the dreamy Wishing Well easily the best of the bunch so far.

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Victim / The Bear by Lonely The Brave

Elsewhere, Cambridge quintet Lonely The Brave are also readying their fourth album due for a November release – their second since the arrival of Jack Bennett as their new vocalist. It’s another record where the signs are promising so far, with this latest double A-side release unveiling two soaring new cuts from the tracklist. Victim sees Bennett’s gravelly vocals surrounded by an impressive wall of noise, whilst closing track The Bear steadily builds to an uplifting, string-tinged crescendo.

Listen to Victim here

Listen to The Bear here

Date Night by Lossline

Off the back of their first two records Fading Affect Bias and When I Look Out I See No Stars, Manchester band Lossline have started to build a decent following across the country. Listening to new single Date Night it’s easy to see why, a wonderfully sparse track that steadily builds into some tremendous swells, drawing shades to local acts like James and Bill Ryder Jones in the process. One to watch!

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Diving (Acoustic) by Bombay Bicycle Club & Holly Humberstone

Without a doubt my most anticipated record for the final quarter of the year, every song off Bombay Bicycle’s forthcoming sixth album My Big Day has been sensational so far. Whilst in recent days they have released their excellent fourth single from the record, Turn The World On, I actually want to recommend this acoustic version of their Holly Humberstone collaboration, Diving. The main track itself is fantastic but when the song is stripped back to just an acoustic guitar and the voices of Jack Steadman and Holly Humberstone, it is truly goosebump-inducingly special.

Watch the live performance here

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Big Shot (Live At Glastonbury) by Fontaines D.C.

And finally this week, Irish post-punk titans Fontaines D.C. have recently released a deluxe version of their highly acclaimed third album, titled Skinty Fia go deo. This new version includes live session performances as well as remixes and interesting covers of both U2 and Whipping Boy. However, the track to dig out if you have not heard it yet is the Glastonbury 2022 performance of Big Shot, which strips the song back to just Grian Chatten, a piano and a string quartet. Utterly sublime, it was one of the performances of the whole festival that year and it’s great to finally have an audio copy to revisit again and again.

Watch the live performance here

Listen here

Also worth checking out: KPR by Yumi Zouma, Cousin by Wilco, Turn The World On by Bombay Bicycle Club

REMINDER: If you use Apple Music, you can also keep up-to-date with all my favourite 2023 tracks through my Best of 2023 playlist. Constantly updated throughout the year with songs I enjoy, it is then finalised into a Top 100 Songs of the Year in December.

Add the playlist to your library here

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