#ooh the echoey vocals

[woflester]

Torturer by krill. That’s it, that’s the ask.

oh fuck yeah

#> ask #> anon #krill #> song #the drums are very nice to my brain #ooh the echoey vocals #still listening to it rn #i also love how this is a small artist. you know me well #thank you :]

[weirdprophetess]

been seeing people talk about Ethel Cain a lot and had chills the entire time i watched her perform Morning Elvis with Florence so I'm playing Preacher's Daughter for the first time and writing notes as I go

fair warning this is an incredibly long post

first of all i have to say i love this album cover the dark warm browns are gorgeous and really give off that rural small town vibe and i read a few articles about her so i know she grew up in a place like that and the album title is describing her because her dad was a deacon of the church her and her family grew up in

the basssss the bass starting family tree ooooooohhhhh i love that

these crosses all over my body remind me of who i used to be and christ forgive these bones im hiding from no one successfully jesus can always reject his father but he cannot escape his mothers blood W H A T

THE BEATSSS THEYRE SO DARK AND DRAMATIC AND ATMOSPHERIC IM SCREAMING IM ONE MINUTE IN AND THIS IS MAYBE THE BEST ALBUM INTRO IVE EVER HEARD

my brain chemistry has already been altered i instantly need this on vinyl

loveee the guitar starting off american teenagerrrrrr

the suspended vocalization tooooooo)(U*U@PIHF@

i love love love her voice its so rich and she does deep and high notes both so amazingly welllllllll screaming

the melody the flow of the lyrics the beat the synthy floaty sounds im deadddd i love thissss i want to rip it apart like soft hot bread and eat ittttt

SAY WHAT YOU WANT BUT SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT WITH YOU F I S T S FOR ONCE

MAIN CHARACTER TYPE SONG I LOVE THE IRONY I LOVE TEH SADNESS IM GOING TO WALK AROUND TO THIS SO MUCH THAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS I CAN GIVE A SONG @mothercain YOUR HAND IN MARRIAGE BITCHHHH

I HAVE FINISHED TWO SONGS AND ITS ALREADY MY NEW PERSONALITY TIME TO HYPERFIXATE FOR MONTHS AND LET IT TAKE OVER THIS WHOLE FUCKING BLOG

THE SUSPENDED PIANO NOTES FOR HOUSE IN NEBRASKA???? Y E S

THE ECHOEY VOCALS MAKE ME INSANE IM CLAWING AT THE WALLS RENDING MY GARMENTS GNASHING MY TEETH OH MY GODDDDDD

I STILL CALL HOME THAT HOUSE IN NEBRASKA WHERE WE FOUND EACH OTHER IN A DIRTY MATTRESS ON THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE THE WORLD WAS EMPTY SAVE YOU AND I WHERE YOU CAME AND I LAUGHED AND YOU LEFT AND I CRIED WHERE YOU TOLD ME EVEN IF WE DIED TONIGHT THAT ID DIE YOURS

YOU KNOW I STILL WAIT AT THE EDGE OF TOWN PRAYING STRAIGHT TO GOD THAT MAYBE YOULL COME BACK AROUND I HAVE FULL BODY CHILLSSSSSS

THE ROCK GUITAR SMASHING IN AND BEING SO CRUNCHY GODDDDDDDDD

He's never looked more beautiful on his Harley in the parking lot breaking into the ATMs sleeping naked when it gets too hot from what ive heard people say about Lana Del Rey's music this sounds like she might've been an influence

show me how much i mean to you while im lying in these sheets undressed id hold the gun if you ask me to but if you love me like you say you do would you ask me to troubles always gonna find you baby but so will i crying only because im happy hold me across every state line im never gonna leave you baby even if you lose whats left of your mind cause you know ill be right there beside you riding through those western nights

ooh there's another song called family tree the first one was family tree (intro) but there's track five without (intro) delicious

oohhhhhooohohoho same first two lines but then new lyrics

give myself up to him in offering let him make a woman out of me ooooh hoo hoo hooooo

so family tree is a banger

i immediately thought emo cowboy on hearing those lyrics and google actually gave me that so thank you whoever made this image because its truly the essence of this album

the next one is hard times and the first thing i thought of was paramore ive been obsessed with that song lately

nine going on eightaayynn lay it on meeeeeeheeeeheeeee yessssss

im tiiiiired of you too tiiiiired to leave im tiiiired of you still tiiiiied to meeeee

I MET YOU THERE IN TEXAS

MY ASS WHO LIVES IN TEXAS👀👀👀

i met you there in texas somewhere on the thoroughfare on the side of the road with a pistol in my pocket i didnt trust no one but you said baby dont run ill take you anywhere

AND YOU SAID HEY DO YOU WANNA SEE THE WEST WITH MEEEHEEEEEE CAUSE LOVES OUT THERE AND I CANT LEAVE IT BEEEEEE AND I SAID HONEY LOVES NEVER MEANT MUCH TO ME BUT ILL COME WITH YOU IF YOURE SURE ITS WHAT YOU NEED

love love lovvveeeeee the beat that comes in a bit before that part

sad cowgirl winter lets go girls

i am halfway through this album and ive made more notes than i have for some albums twice the length thats how good 13 track albums always are

its not a real cowboy album if youre not spending the last two minutes of a nine and a half minute song just vocalizing

oh the nexts songs called gibson girl ive heard of that but i forgot what it is hang on

a type of drawing by a man named Charles Gibson of the ideal woman of the 1890s ooh should be interesting

the intro for this songgggg

the production is the fucking besttttt

the echoes for this one too yesss i love this shitttt

i dont even know what image to put this over but just youre all the same black leather and dark glasses pourin another while i shake my ass hes cold blooded so it takes more time to bleed obsession with the money addicted to the drugs says hes in love with my body thats why hes fucking it up

the guitar breakkkkkkk:PO(*&^%$^;l;pqokpiaw

next ones name is ptolemaea so lemme go look that up too

oh yeahhh that greek astrologer dude okay

ooh the distortion in the beginningggg

the intensity building is so horror-like i love it

the screech on the last stop made me jump a lil goodbye

I am the face of loves rage what the fuck

the guitar and drums all getting more intense after that line remind of of the end of I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers ill take ten million more songs with that please

the entire ending um???

its a good thing i decided to listen to this album around noon and not the middle of the night because i love demonic speaking parts but not when my eyes arent adjusted to the dark girl

ooh august underground is an instrumental i went to look up the lyrics and apparently its named after a horror film trilogy so ill probably check that out soon

televangelism is also purely instrumental and genius says its ethels ascent to heaven as music god this sounds gorgeous

what i wouldnt give to be in church this sunday listening to the choir so heartfelt all singing god loves you but not enough to save you so good luck on your own baby so i said fine cause thats how my daddy raised if they strike one once then you just hit em twice as hard but in the end the fire bent under the weight they gave me and this heart would break and fall twice as far eating these lyrics

WE ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES THE MORE IT HURTS THE LESS IT SHOWS BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE THEY ALL KNOW AND THATS WHY I COULD NEVER G O BACK HOME E T H E L THERE IS NO NEED TO EXPOSE ME LIKE THIS???

SO I MET HIM THERE AND TOLD HIM I BELIEVE SINGING IF ITS MEANT TO BE THEN IT WILL BE AND I FORGIVE IT ALL AS IT COMES BACK TO ME IM STILL PRAYING FOR THAT HOUSE IN NEBRASKA BY THE HIGHWAY OUT ON THE EDGE OF TOWN DANCING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN I CANT LET GO WHEN SOMETHINGS BROKEN ITS ALL I KNOW AND ITS ALL I WANNA KNOW

one more song i have no idea what to say

freezer bride, your sweet divine look i have been obsessed with the locked tomb for over a year im not going to NOT think of Alecto when i see this

when my mother sees me on the side of a carton in winn-dixie's dairy aisle like the one promo picture for this right

and arlington's in texas👀👀👀

f.inisheddd thea lbum(*&#!OHPI#!HFo

wow what the hell was that im going to obsess over it forever

if there is not a colored vinyl of this i am going to fucking murder someone this deserves something gorgeous for me to stare at while its playing

in conclusion i cannot in any way let my religious mother know im trying to get this album so im going to work with my friend who helps me get explicit/gay music my mom wont let me because spotifys alright but i need to listen to this on my little portable cd player with headphones on full blast on the floor in the middle of the night because truly every album experience is better that way but especially shit like this

ethel if youre reading this how the everloving FUCK is this your debut album this literally deserves a grammy we all know they havent been shit for a while but if you dont get one for this im going to maul the entire Academy for real. keep doing weird shit i literally heard about you from Morning Elvis with Florence, my number one weird music woman and her taste has not failed me yet, especially not after an hour of being immersed in this

#ethel cain #hayden anhedönia #preachers daughter #mother cain #southern gothic #southern gothic aesthetic #my post

[ink-stained-words]

Listening To My Best Friend's Metal Playlist - Part 2

Ruby Tuesday (Bonus song!): It's so calming?? Very vibey, & I love the guitar noises, but I also love how relaxing it is. Quite funky. It'd be fun to play. Most everything would be fun to play. It's a very good thing our band's gonna be around for forever, bc there are so many songs. Anyway I very much get the status now. It's lovely (8/10)

Straight Through The Heart: Ooh this is the first Dio song on here. I love the vocalist, his voice is very distinct. I've heard this song before, I think. The chorus sounds familiar. But I never processed the lyrics. They're quite good. The refrain is so funky, & there's cool guitar sounds! (7/10)

Invisible: This song has emotion vibes. More angry than sad, which is exciting. I especially like the chorus, it's so fun?? It'd also be awesome to sing. Lots of fun lyrics & rhythms. I can see Eddie listening to this song. The song said "we're 18 & invisible" & that is not incorrect (7.5/10)

The Last In Line: Oh I really like the lyrics of this one. I could make pretty much any of them into a status. I quite like the sound of this band, it's much different than Metallica. It registers a bit higher. Point being, very very good noises. Superbly vibey (7/10)

One Night In The City: There is a very funky instrument halfway through, I love it so much. It sounds like a little wooden xylophone. The vocals are also quite good. It simply has Vibes. I especially like the lyrics. Bonus points for the fun little instrument (7.5/10)

Fever Dreams: This one sounds deeper already. Darker, ig? Grittier? Something like that. It sounds awesome. A lot more theatrical. Imagine hearing this one in a movie soundtrack. The guitar also sounds echoey. How do people move their fingers so fast, I simply don't understand. (8/10)

Stand Up And Shout: Alright yep I can see where you're coming from, with this being your favorite Dio song, holy shit. The vibes??? It's so??? Aaaaa. That's the entire extent of my brain, it's just. God imagine hearing this in concert, the sheer energy would be mind-blowing (9/10)

Electric Eye: This band sounds quite cool thus far. Are these the growling men? I think so. I think my dad's played this song before, it sounds familiar. It's so funky. I like the way their voices are modulated a bit. Why don't songs these days have guitar solos. They need them (7/10)

Breaking The Law: Pfft, his voice sounds silly. The way he says words. Emphasizing the R's. I can't describe it but it's so funny to me. Ooh this part is cool. I like how they use different effects, it sounds neat (7/10)

Painkiller: Wow starting off strong with a drum part I could absolutely never play. He is much more scream-y in this song. It's cool! Just an observation. Oh you've definitely played this one during Spotify hours. The layers in the music are awesome, they stack fantastically. There is emotion in here but it could just be Emotion TM. The guitar is doing things!!! So so well (8/10)

Run To The Hills: Iron Maiden!! Exciting. It's going faster & faster, this would be both an awesome & terrible song to drive to. It's extremely vibey though. I like the drums. The sound of the guitar solo is spectacular, it's just. It sounds awesome. I'm out of descriptive words. It's simply Awesome. Ooh cool voice things!! Brilliant (8/10)

[existentialmagazine]

Review: SATRE’s newest single ‘Breath Out’ carries the most aching atmosphere mixed with the woes of a crumbling relationship

The Swedish up-and-coming singer-songwriter SATRE has found himself based in London, UK as of late, sharing his craft with anyone and everyone across the globe. Influenced by acts like The Lumineers and Bon Iver, he delivers indie folk-pop doused in feelings of melancholy and nostalgia, always resonating with audiences for his hints of realism and relatability.

Now sharing his newest single ‘Breath Out’, SATRE weaves in newfound intimate detailings within a folk-pop ballad of a piece, departing from his most recent releases both lyrically and musically for something breathtakingly unique. With bright piano keys blended against synth whirs and the most tender acoustic guitar strummed introduction, you cannot help but feel the track’s melancholic nature aching in your core right from pressing play, wallowing without even words needed to describe the all-consuming emotions flowing through. This enveloping wave only continues into the verse, even with the instruments mostly fading out, leaving way for a finger-picked acoustic guitar riff to pull your heart strings into its softened pillow of sound. SATRE’s gentle vocals quiver with emotion through it, running deeply through the soundscape and placing roots that are unwavering, showcasing a level of power mixed with breathy delicacy.

The chorus picks up in intensity, building both atmosphere and closeness in one through a build-up of echoey backing vocal moments, all before things come crashing into a high that’s devastatingly real and raw. With hoarse, rising vocals that crack on the most meaningful lines, the weight of everything that SATRE sings hangs heavy in the air like nothing else maters. The instruments are just as crashing, hauntingly soaring through backing ooh’s and ahh’s, with the richest piano keys and warm sound effects to match.

The meaning is just as poignant as the sound, slowly allowing you into every inch of its carefully revealed secrets. As SATRE works through the woes of a relationship falling apart, many of the lines can’t help but be relatable to most, but there’s a slither of something else embedded in too. As his sincerity comes with sharing some of the hardest parts of real-life, he also touches on the impact of substance abuse in a relationship and the struggle of letting go of something or someone you care about. Through the tumultuous on and off, SATRE sings ‘slam the door, just to hear my voice’, acknowledging the toxic cycle many often find themselves swept up in and the way communication begins to fail. Continuing ‘don’t you think I can smell it on you, the chemicals inside’ , it’s made evident that his lover may be keeping their secrets bottled up, but the reality of their drug abuse is all too obvious. While he pushes to ‘go to bed, sleep it off instead’ , there’s no amount of sleep or things they could do that would remove the harm they’re causing themselves, and deep down he knows that. Before the chorus hits, the most pained lines of them all ring out as SATRE reveals he’s ‘worried about you all the time.’ It continues just as bravely and as heavy-heartedly, sharing some of his innermost experiences to the masses.

SATRE adds, “It’s a song I’ve had with me for a long time. It’s always been very special to me and I’ve been quite nervous to present it as it is quite different from the type of songs people would usually associate me with. However, I think it’s an important topic to bring to light. I’ve already received a lot of messages from listeners who want to share their own stories and struggles within this subject. It’s been heartbreaking but at the same time very inspiring, people out there and stronger and more resilient than you could ever imagine.”

Whether you can relate, or perhaps just want a song that makes you feel less alone, SATRE definitely does that in ‘Breath Out’ that you can continue listening to here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Lang Shot Photography

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#tatiana

[dustedmagazine]

Weak Signal — Bianca (Colonel)

Photo by Peter Smith

BIANCA by WEAK SIGNAL

The best part of Weak Signal’s new album starts in the second half, with the blistering drone of “Don’t Turn Around.” Pounding, pummeling, punk simple rhythms undergird the cut — that’s Sasha Vine on bass and the one-named Tran on drums — while a guitar line drenched in cowboy swagger and bristling with surf-ish whang cuts out over the clatter. Mike Bones sings in a sepulchral tenor, his voice hollowed out and echoey, a steady chant through desolation until, all the sudden, the music rears up like a grizzly. The chorus is fleshed out with dense textures of guitar, bashing cymbals, jangling tambourine, eerie ooh oohs. It’s a droning, flaring, VU-nodding kind of rock and roll that used to be a lot more common than now. If it were always done this well, it would be more than welcome to return.

Mike Bones, who sings and plays guitar, has a certain amount of NYC underground cred, with stints in the Oneida-adjacent Soldiers of Fortune and Endless Boogie and a couple of well-regarded solo records on The Social Registry. Sasha Vine played in Sian Alice in the late aughts and contributed violin to Atlas Sound’s Logos in 2009. Tran’s history is somewhat murkier, given the hard-to-search single name, but her bludgeoning, brutalist approach to drumming is its own c.v. The three of them convened a couple of years ago, appearing first in a split with Endless Boogie in February 2020. They released an unmastered version of Bianca on Bandcamp in May 2020, which caught the ear of none other than Iggy Pop. He played “Drugs in My System” (not even the disc’s best song, see above) on his radio show, providing some exposure, but mostly no one noticed.  

And yes, this sort of music is deeply unfashionable at the moment, comprised as it is of actual rock instruments, played live and without manipulation in dank clubs and grotty recording studios. But it is, nonetheless, very, very good and should be paid attention to, whether rock is dead, comatose or just a little hungover.

Consider, for instance, the lurching trudge of “Drugs in My System,” whose whiff of the Stooges’ primitivism is perhaps what got Iggy’s attention. The drum and bass chug on this is a monolithic thing, relentless and a little terrifying, like a piece of heavy machinery that will run you over and chew you to threads if you don’t get out of the way. Or the pulsing, seething onslaught of “Devotion,” with its galloping tom toms and slithery guitar licks. “Evil is gone,” chants Bones, repeatedly with his two band mates in faint unison, all tension and foreboding until the cut boils over into wild swirls of guitar.

Bones is a charismatic singer, deadpan but capable of actual melody, swathed in shadowy echo, visceral and ghostlike by turns. In “Too Strong,” he sounds like a punk Roy Orbison.  But when Vine takes the vocal lead, as on “I’m a Fire,” it reshapes the sound in a fascinating way, nudging it closer to X’s keening harmonies or the Australian band Terry’s slacked out garage tunes.  

This is really very fine stuff, well-conceived and played and without the slightest gimmick. You wouldn’t call it simple exactly, more stripped down to essentials and ready to roar.

Jennifer Kelly

#weak signal #bianca #colonel #jennifer kelly #albumreview #dusted magazine #mike bones #sasha vine #tran #endless boogie #soldiers of fortune #rock #punk #drone

[atinytokki]

Here’s my first impressions (aka this is what 2020 is gonna sound like folks)

Alright so I’m really behind today, as some of you know I literally just got back from vacation and it’s also my first day of classes this semester and it’s just craziness. Yes I’m posting the first chapter of Yeosang’s spin-off today. But people seemed to like my first impressions of the last album so I’m going to do them again. Thankfully (?) this album is a lot shorter so I can pause and talk about stuff.

Warning! a loooong post, squealing, incoherent thoughts smashed together, and crying ahead. A lot of crying. Keysmashes included.

Post-MV thoughts before I listen to it again: There’s way too much to focus on and I’ve watched it many many times to look at the choreo and the storyline stuff that’s happening, but this is my first time listening without the video so I’ll notice more musically this time. But first I wanna say; YEOSANG’S LINES!!!! I’ve been screaming for forever that he has a beautiful deep voice and needs to be given parts that compliment it. And wow it finally happened :’) Anyway here we gooo

건배하자 like a thunder!! Can you believe they literally spoiled the entire hook of their next song in Beginning of the End? *flashbacks to my utter confusion when that happened* San sounds amazing and I like the little echoey thingies. Gives it a real nostalgic feel. Jongho already popping off vocally barely 10 seconds in. Mingi’s rap here and the transition to Hongjoong’s— rap line goals. The attitude in that mm-mm made me smile ngl. This prechorus might be my favourite part of the song. Seonghwa sounds heavenly. An EDM drop bringing back that hook, good decision and again it kinda feels nostalgic?? Especially the oh-oh-ohs which are also giving me a pirate drinking song vibe wow 0.0 Wooyoung with that 불러 불러 lol. Yes the Yeosang part!! I love a good post-chorus switchup and he. handled. it. perfectly. There’s even harmony, yall know how much I love harmony. And SINGING RAPPERS AHAHDJAHAK YESSSSS. Back to that glorious prechorus but it’s Yunho’s turn. This chorus is just such an anthem. I’m bopping rn. San in this bridge— he said I am a VOCALIST listen to my beautiful VOICE. Yay the rappers going back and forth again!! It’s like If Without You. Man I can’t believe I get to replay this song forever. 2020 is gonna be lit. You hit those notes Jongho! I’m always blown away by this kid, and that scoop earlier mmmm. Just nodding very energetically right now. Perfect end to the song. 100/10!!!!

Okay I’m pausing before the next one starts because no I am not prepared. It’s just like last time; I know Hongjoong wrote this and I know it’s gonna ruin me but I have no idea how and when and what it’s even gonna be like but anyway, too bad, let’s just go.

Oh kinda futuristic sounding opening with the synths? Yooo the vocal thingy in the background, sounds like a sample of some kind, that is super cool and I hope we get more of it. Ok I paused just to write that, let me unpause. This is gonna be a long one, I can already tell, sorry guys 😅 And the beat changed right before the vocalists came in. definitely a back and forth thing here in two registers, very sweet. Wow. WOW MINGI WOW. This rap is?? It sounds super mature and idk just full of confidence. I’m shook. Ok the chorus. Holy cow this is LIT lit. Nope nope I need to pause and go back. This is so chaotic, I feel like I’m missing things?? I’m listening to that chorus again because there were so many elements there. I just wanna take this song and break it down second by second to hear every single sound hahahah. I’m only catching an odd word or two here as far as lyrics go. Oml harmonies 💆🏻‍♀️ Alright Hongjoong’s rap. OMG if he sounded sassy in Answer this is a whole new level and I LOVE IT. Flow is 100/10. The “are you gonna take me there” gives me chills. This song needs a dance this chorus is TOO LIT. Am I at a rave rn??? Oh thank God the bridge took it back a level. Ok I’m pausing because I think I caught some of the lyrics this time. If I’m not wrong I heard 난 궁금해 저 끝이 궁금해, 더 가까이 조금 더 가까이 ? Which is something like “I wonder, I wonder about the end. Closer, a little bit closer” if I heard correctly. I need to look up the lyrics in full later because Hongjoong has a big brain and his lyrics are always 🤯🤩 Ok unpause. Final breakdown! Yep this is going on repeat the rest of today. Jongho yussss with the ad libs. No it’s over ㅠㅠ Alright this one is already vying for top spot this album. We shall see. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. HONGJOONG GENIUS.

Um so yeah I saw them perform this live for their anniversary thingy and cried so this should be fun. At least I already know the song so how much can it hurt me? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Smart of whoever put this album together to stick this song right in the middle and make us cry between head banging to the other songs. Mingi in the beginning is just 💖💕💘💝💓 San ballad king. I need more ballads from him. Jongho, of course, with perfect vocal control. Oh Seonghwa too, I need more ballads from him. Wooyoung with T H A T part. A tear is forming, I just love this chorus. People are saying the song should be in a drama and I 100% agree. Everyone together FOREVER YOU ARE MY STARRR. The little drum frills it’s so cute :(( Yay Hongjoong, and his cute little voice I’m UWUWU. Wooyoung with the high note and I’m ascending........... Chorus again and this is the real meaning of crying in the club. It just occurred to me that the second verse seemed really short. Yeosang + Hongjoong + that guitar in the bridge is *chef’s kiss*. This is so emotional, do we really need to do this at 4am?!? I’m just gonna vibe for a sec, it’s the last chorus. The ad libs were so perfect and the way it ended— wow. I need a moment.

From my understanding this is a full version of the Precious Overture they gave us last album. Tempted to go back and see my first impressions about that one, but either way i have a distinct feeling my wig is about to be snatched. Let’s GOOO

So far, it’s starting the same. Creepy humming and all. Okay scratch that, we have a vocal melody. Yunho sounds great ugh I’m so proud. Sorry, San’s voice just takes me to another plane of existence or something, how can it be that smooth and gorgeous, someone please explain. Building to something now... Oo. OO?! Hongjoong’s rapping. This is so cool oh wow, and into this vocal part which I believe is the chorus?? wOW wow it’s amazing to hear this having already heard the bgm, this is like a new level of appreciation. It really all goes well. Ah we have a switch up now with Seonghwa. guys GUYS GUYS you know how I feel about switch ups. Sorry I’m going back to catch something. The tempo changed here and really grabbed my attention. The bass is also super cool, it’s actually the same melody as the treasure opening (and the opening of this song) but much lower, I believe. Uh oh guys this might be vying for top spot too. Let’s continue. Ok Mingi’s rap which I’ve already heard. Um I’m confused now. It’s Hongjoong’s rap again? Is this the chorus?? Woah woah hold on I gotta pause. Because. Wait, what?? This is the chorus??!? Yoooooooo bold move! I have no idea what is going on but I love it. Continuing on. Ah yeah ok the vocal part with Yeosang again, so I guess the rap + vocal part is the chorus? Also I neglected to mention but Yeosang is killing this song. Ooh okay this bridge is building some suspense. Feeeelingggggg.... And now a shouted version of the rap for the final chorus. Okay wow I’m impressed that they took it this direction. And Jongho with the ad libs is PERFECTIONNNN. Oop okay they’ve added the revised-lyric Treasure part to the end here. And the lyrics are the same as in Precious (Overture) so I’m guessing we still didn’t find the treasure, good grief. How long is it gonna take to find this treasure 😅. And it ended like that. Well. WOW. Again, I could listen to this on repeat all day. Again, I am deceased. Instant fave.

I’m pretty sure this is the exact same as I already heard on the trailer thingy but we are gonna react to it anyway.

The orchestra really loosens my tear ducts like nothing else. It’s beautiful, who else is doing it like them?? “Did you find your treasure?” Yes, I found ATEEZ 🥺. The way he says “finally found it” . This is Maddox btw. Also about Maddox, hang on I’m gonna pause for a PSA: guys if you don’t know Maddox please PLEASE check him out. He’s doing the amazing narration on this (and Intro too), he’s a soloist under KQ and one of Ateez’s hyungs who they look up to. In addition to his superior narrating talents, he is also an amazing vocalist. If you like R&B and lo-fi music I would definitely recommend him, he just dropped a single called Color Blind, his insta is xxmaddox, he’s a great guy and YEAH that’s all for my plug but go stan him, he is deserving and proof of the fact that KQ artists are talent through and through. Unpausing! The way the orchestra swells and then goes into a piratey sounding theme is so motivating and familiar :))) “Can you hear those voices?” HNGJRKSNDN WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SCARY. This is the Epilogue, it’s supposed to be like the denouement, the falling action!! The bad guys should be gone now! What’s next?? Treasure Ep: Answer to Question? Because that’s what I have after this album! More questions!!! Anyway, the bass here and the humming 👌🏻 100/10 for the instrumental. And in ATEEZ fashion, they leave me thirsting for more.

So that was my first impression/live reaction to the mini album! I think it’s Horizon and Precious fighting for #1 currently. Maybe I’ll reblog with second and third and fourth impressions... Thanks for reading if you got this far! And tell me what your first impressions were and if I missed something big while I was keysmashing. TTFN~

#ateez #ateez action to answer #ateez answer #ateez reactions #ateez first impressions #first impressions #keysmash #liveblog #tokki.txt

[camimoo]

So, I watched the Heathers episode of Riverdale

K, so I’ve never watched Riverdale before (well like half an episode on tv once) but I heard there was a musical episode themed on Heathers.  

So I watched it…and accidentally started writing a really long play-by-play analysis:

Oh we’re really just gonna turn on a boombox and go. Ok.

Is KJ’s voice that high all the time? is that just the line they gave him? It’s so babie

Tiny girl  :((( so much autotune.

Oh gosh, that “whyyyyyyyyyyy” is too low for him. Otherwise the Kevin guy is probably their best guy singer.

Weird disorganized sometimes-choreography for background peeps. Like this row of desks will move, but the one next to it will be completely still

“Are all of you this miserable”  lol

The hair wooshy noises…this is only for this episode right? That can’t be in the regular run of the show right? It’s so loud

Oh heck, no harmony on Candy Store :( also weird bad cuts

Is veronica’s house always lit with crappy eerie blue lights?

Is every character selling drugs?  Like every single one?

Also is the plot that these kids have to stop their drug dealing moms?

“What are you gonna do?” “ I’m gonna take a bath.” *starts crying* lmao

Co director girl is so over acting.  Is she a regular character on this show?

Aw man lowering the big fun notes :(

Also can the Ram Sweeney guy actually act? Cuz based on what I’m seeing, imma go with No.

So, frequently, a disembodied voice is just singing and matches nobody on screen, like they don’t seem to concerned with getting the right person on screen lip-syncing at the right moment.

Also one of the jock dudes is suuuuper tone deaf

Again terrible edit cuts in the song.

I do appreciate that they are all indeed doing jello shots.

So we have the 3 heathers, and then we have … 3 more dark evil heathers?

Also this sometimes using riverdale-veronica as heathers-veronica but also not is confusing

Doing some Grease hand jive dancing?

There are some ridiculously loud sound effects in this. Archie’s jacket for one

I thought the neon lighting was just for promotional photos of Riverdale. But no. literally every scene is lit in neon red and blue (and maybe some yellow)

Ooh I like the “anything to share veronica”, that matches the musical where she has to blurt something out at the assembly

“my family’s always been unconventional.” Lol yeah your family is unconventional, (from the 5 seconds I’ve seen of them) your mother whose face never changes and she just wafts around, and your gravel-voice dad

Off-brand hostess cupcakes!

“He’s a real class act, that Sweet Pea”  how do y’all deliver any of this dialogue with a straight face when your characters have COMIC BOOK names??

“cuz your parents are splitsville” lol, way to be gentle

“I AM RED” and snaps and two replacement heathers come to back her up.  How many heathers are there in this show? We’re up to like 8

“Faux pink lady”.  So we are intentionally making these Grease references. Got it.

Lol she said Westerberg.

What’s the point of saying the one tiny girl is Veronica if Topaz(?) is gonna sing her songs

All hope is gone. Apparently these are the Highschool lyric changes.  Hmmm

I feel like they are mix and matching characters together willy-nilly.  I pick…you and …you! Yep threesome now.

Nuh uh.  Her name is PEACHES?!

The loud sound effects are killing me.  When you pat your thighs that doesn’t usually echo through a whole auditorium peeps.

Also why are we in the auditorium, you all clearly have neon lit mansions to go home to, why not use a more believable setting for seducing your friends?

So Tony/EvilHeather/Veronica is seeing visions of Cheryl/ActualHeather telling her she’s beautiful???

Oof that was a terrible record scratch noise.  Also whiplash! “Let’s make this beautifuuuul-STOP.”

Lol Fang.

What is ThE GaRgOyLe ChaMbEr?

Finally some harmony, it’s altered but still decent. :) Our love is god.

Are they having a secret gay cult wedding in a dungeon church?

The weird kinda half choreo the background cast does every once in a while.  Also specifically its only like the first row of extras in every case.  The back or outer rows never move..?

Do boxers really punch the air for practice by themselves in empty boxing rings?

k. I kinda hate the tiny girl’s voice,

so everybody is Veronica. Huh. Just takin turns.

I guess that’s just what KJ’s singing voice is. Ok.

Also when making cuts, why still have her say “well whoa you can punch real good.”  Just cut the “well whoa” and it will fit your scenario better.

Ok I actually super like the new harmony at the end of fight for me.

Principals are susceptible to cults. Got it.

Meet me at JUNKYARD STEVE’S??

Red scrunchie!

WAIT- did evil-heather and heather-heather used to be in love?

Wait they found the drug lab that quick?  Is this like a once-an-episode kinda thing? just gotta shut down the daily drug lab and move on

“and serial killer fathers” said in a comforting tone.

What even were those terrible piano chords as an intro to Seventeen?

But actually this song seems like a good fit for these traumatized children.  Help these babies :(

The voices of Cole and lilli (and most of them) sound like they were recorded so separately and in completely different ways, ones more breathy, others are echoey, some have autotune…hmm

Also someone pointed out that when you get to the “your eyes can’t we be seeeventeeeeeeen” line, Cole’s voice changes so drastically it has got to be somebody else.  I totally agree.

Sometimes the background music (not heathers) sounds like a western movie.  Like somebody just got challenged to a show down at high noon.

I want to crack an egg with a tiny egg hammer! And he didn’t even get to eat it.

Her dad sounds like a gravellier version of Misha Collins

She does really good at Lifeboat.

“I thought I was captain” diff lyrics.  Ok.

“drugs…terrible…what a nightmare”  delivered practically deadpan devoid of emotion. wow what quality dialogue.

“what is all over your faces?”  oh that’s just the drugs soot. No worries. Trashing meth labs always leaves me covered in soot.

Oof. “Martha are you free tonight?”  nobody answers. They all kinda glance around awkwardly.  Really? Why leave the name in at all if you aren’t including Martha, just change it.

When you burn down a building, shouldn’t you flee the scene of the crime? No? does being in the snake gang make him immune?

Also the pan out to make sure we saw the gas can in the back seat, cuz yanno I couldn’t’ve pieced that bit together on my own.

Also I’m assuming they’re drinking big gulps right?

Weird music edits

HOLD UP, is Tony dressed as Martha??? Wut.

Also none of their vocal styles go together, the transition from the others to tony is jarring. Tony is all sexy breathy poppy.

Hmm, interesting minimal interpretive dancing choreo

Ack, please blend in the tiny girl’s vocals.  Pls I beg you. At least I think its her.

Everyone else: *taking off clothes and jackets*

Jughead: *putting on his hat*

Hold up, I feel like from seeing the rest of the ep I can guess who most of the audience members are that are getting close ups/reaction shots, but I swear they added a new lady, heavily made up, and not Cole or Veronica’s mom...who…?

Oh and now we get creepy cult flash mob with hypnotizing claps. Ok.

 Overall:  pretty messy. No one really plays a specific character so it’s hard to gain any of the character growth that they get in the actual musical.  No one’s vocal style matches like at all.  The new lyrics and tons of edits were odd. The sound mixing was bad I think, like everything stuck out and didn’t match. This show is hilariously broody and they all have such funny names. Camilla whatshername is a good singer, actually the main 3 girls are p good, and the Kevin guy.  

Huh.

#mine #heathers #riverdale #in depth analysis #except it's all nonsense #but boy that was fun #long list of things #musical

[mum-for-da-sons]

Very messy Delta review

Hey gang, i sat & typed & spiraled while listening to delta for the first time just now, so if that interests you to read barely legible thoughts, it’ll be under the read more thing. dang i’m sad!! BUt spoiler alert: GOOOD ALBUM! I’m SAD!! (do note I don’t find the album or many tracks all-around too sad, I’m just a depressed bih)

Delta thoughts: okay i’m not gonna really edit what i wrote but for everyone’s sanity i’ll bold the song titles, okay?

42: BINCH! See a sign, I need some guiding light,,, eff ME UP OKAY?? This is such a strong start i’m already getting teary-eyed, huh. Ugh, it’s so satisfying… well effing done lads,, well done

Guiding Light: Hot dang the whispered beginning?? I really need to fix my computer speakers because this sounds heavenly in my over-ear headphones,, gosh dang. Discover some new TRUTH! Gosh dang this is not a comprehensive review in the slightest but i don’t care!! Binch!! I can’t even say anything good… when beloved or darkness visible makes me cry, i guess beloved is fourth? So if it does it’ll be first, anyway, when i start crying maybe i have something cooler to say. Not crazy about the “dubstep build” on this, after the bridge, just because i don’t believe it, like it’s not long enough, and resolves unconvincingly. But, anyway.

Woman: literally FRICK i thought if i say was next this start is cool and very Winston. Oh vibes?? Oh worm?? Woman?? I’m like 15 seconds in and this is… yes. Can you ever really know? No. is ths song even about anything lol i don’t think i care?? Issa vibe, gang. Chorus?? Eff me up. He said frosty… wendy’s come collect. Oh that was the pre-chorus?? This is f*cking me up… VIBES. i ‘ve been waiting for them to try this in a song of theirs and not like a cover.. I knew they were capable…. The range they’re displaying rn? I love it. I love them wtf!!  Oooh man i wanna see this live? There’s this drumstick noise, like rimshots? That sounds so satisfying. Yes, clackety clack. This is nice. Nice song. Don’t really know what they’re singing, bt this is warm. I like it. Mumford & sons finally said it’s 2018, huh. I just got a youtube notification of me commenting on their radio appearance and i literally said “the range they’re showing? Fantastic” and yanno what,, same

Beloved: this song started like right away huh. He said darling… dang he did that. He’s fitting a lot of words in on this one. Ohh the lord has a plan? It is hard to understand… i love these lyrics.. Big brain meme. Are you afraid? The attack.. Hand come through the mirror?? That visual!!! O f*ck me up. Before you leave :(( yeah it’s getting to me aHAHA.ohh this breakdown? Yes. these drums are especially nice. Ugh i really missed these guys wtf :(. AND AS YOU LEAVE, YOU MUST KNOW YOU ARE BELOVED> yes. Yes. as you LEeeeEEeaaveee. See my children playing at your feet?? BOI.. i’m so soft wtf.. They’re really putting it all out… i wanna hug them i’m so… this is so sweet aw. Oh no the song is fading, no don’t do that song

What song is this the piano can f*ck me up: ben man, you’re doin that huh. No literally did we have to jump to this painful… frick. This violin? Is nice. WE SAW BIRTH AND DEATH. Oh frick. They’re just going for it this is a lot i’m soft. Lemme actually see what song this is lol.. It’s The Wild. i have like chills & i can’t tell if it’s because i’m cold or not. Do not be afraid :(. OH they stripped it back!!! THIS IS NICE! Binch! Puts the fear of God in me :( this is so nice .. it’s hard to pick what to focus on. What’s that i see binch? I think it’s the wild… marcus is really do THAT with these vocals, huh. There was like a breath and.. The atmosphere during this part?? Nat Geo who??? Ohhh i like this so much.. It’s like a soundtrack.. The sampling of noise?? The background?? It’s cool, doesn’t specifically sound like them at all, but, aw these drums :( now it’s like a war movie.. This is so interesting. Those drums remind me of the drums in winter winds that i can sometimes here & it’s very drill-like and marching band-esqe and i love it. Aw birds??? You know what this reminds me of…. I won’t say

Next song: marcus is playing no games with these vocals, jesus. October Skies.. Isn’t this his favorite one… ooh ted I hear that bass,, eff it up.OooooOOOoooHH. The range… i love these guys. I’m blinded by the light of october skies… the movie with Jake Gylenhaal, and in the valley I am free :( where’d the silehute go? OOOooooOOOOooooHH YOUr’e esesjfsfshesal!! The fear of what’s to come.. CRIPlin’ me :( binch. Is this synth lowkey?? Brand it on my mind is such a great visual, like the “press my nose up to the glass around your heart” line.. Who wrote it. Oh is the sonG_ OOOOOOoooooOOOOOOoooooHHHH. Maggie rogers is that you? Hot dang

An upbeater!! Wipe those tears baby! Is this the just smoke of this album. This is.. Slip Away. “stoic smile” i see you… haha. Ooh this chorus is nice COME AND SUFFER HERE, LADIES! Mood!! Holding my breathe for you? F! In this violence of a mind’s eye… i like everything except maybe---- ohh this falsetto?? I’m.. i’m tearing.. Oooh we just found a song to cry to in the middle of the night, huh. It’s misleading with the beat vs. the lyrics.. I wouldn’t have it any other way!! Gosh i’m so depressed! Lol!! There’s a pulsing beat of some kind that’s nice.. Also some nice guitar work on here, some clackety things… go gently… be still…. Go gently….now… be still… Go Gentlyyyyy nowwwww, be stiiiilllll. Ugh they.. They’re doing this… i’m so proud of them wtf. Is this winston?? Who is singing.. Marcus?? I can’t.. Tell? No i think its marcus but we’ve truly never heard that high-end from him for that long

Okay: next song is pretty interesting- ooh! Right off the bat! This has to be the one they said sounded like ngalma? However you spell it… clap clap clap clap clap, this is a drum-machiner one for sure. I will be yours & you will be mine, ever our lives will be entwined binch! This noise after “my rose of sharon” is a mood. Ugh this is so cute.. Imagine being happy w/ someone else, what a concept ! eeeeeee yuh! That’s what they’re singing in the back.. My rose of sharon, my rose of sharon, BRR BRR BRN NER! Did the song-- what’s up with these abrupt endings

That being said, Picture You sounds v vibey right off the bat. Okay lads! I thought it best you didn’t knowww. I’m so proud of Marcus for flaunting these vocals, i stg, I’ve spoken on this before but... like he can do that!! I’m so glad he’s,, doing it! Ooh the “away” is v nice. I love full-stops in music, where the sound gets sucked out like here or just stops entirely… yes boys. Okay.. not crazy about this kind of.. Breakdown but it’s still cool. Just not in-rand as much as some other things. I mean, this sound is V different of course but they’re workin’ it. Okay i kind of stopped paying attention for a sec… there’s sampling… ohhh oh no it’s getting dark… hohoho no guys.. I’m excited but the anxiety is jumping out… holy smokes this is cool tho. It’s pretty. Hope that never comes, that comes to all.. Torture without end… yet from the great flames no light,,, but rather.. .DARKNESS VISIBLE. I’m gonna check if it didn’t seamlessly bleed into darkness visible…

Oh it did!! Their minds!! God, i already know i love darkness visible,, it was my pre-album listen fave on details about it alone,, we’re depressed sweeties let’s pop off… it’s so nice >:(. And just like that it ended!!!! BINCH!!! Ooh they’re like not even vocally in that one… i like that ish!! Not the “them not being in it” in that way but OOH! That was effing cool

If I Say: is still v v nice,, sounds effing expansive and beautiful with good headphones, i’m picking up all the lil details and prettiness.. The synth line after “if i say i love you, well then i love you” is sooo satisfying too. Ugh this orchestra,,, it’s building.. Truly their minds were so big on this album, huh. I’ll tell you what It doesn’t mean that i feel better! It doesn’t mean that I feel better! I’m, haha i still kinda hate this chorus but their so passionate i can’t hate it all the way,, like they love this ish and are into it & i love them so it’s allll good homies. I dig. I’ll be fake and wild out when they play it live, don’t worry. But peace you never find :( the guitar tone is crispyyyy,, the instrumentation… ugh it’s so nice. Violins can murder me or someat and I’d accept it. AND IF I SAY I LOVE YOU, THEN I LOVE YOUUUU. Ugh,, so so nice man

What’s NEXT: ooh some seamlessness in that transition.. .is this ghost of tom joad i’m hearing lol, mortal once again!! Oh this is a mood, freak.. Sigh no more marcus really jumped out on this one. This shuffling maraca thing is so nice. I’ll hold you by the jaw!! Hoo hoo bihhh. “It took a wild heart to tame mIIiine” this is so nice wtf!! Ugh this is so nice. I wouldn’t have you any other way,, awwwwwWWW!! Who want a love that makes sense anyway? I’ll effing say! Ugh this is very nice. These lyrics are so interesting… this is a good one guys, quiet & sweet but there’s some pretty cool things also going on, like it’s simple but its… this is it, ya know? This piano is sweet too. This whole thing is sweet, maybe that’s a dumb word to use but. This is so sweeeeet ugh!!! The vocal riffs on “mine” … ugh!! I kind of like the echoey vocals too.. Soft rain patter for two seconds at the end??

Reverse noises w/ a big breath from Marcus: let’s effing go w/ this album, gang!! What song is this reminding me of… whispers in the dark? He did some late-babel, early wilder mind voice thing.. Wait it’s forever isn’t it. I heard this one i think, like 3 yrs ago.. Yup, Dare I Say Forever.. I still don’t like do it for the girl” cos it’s too straightfoward, ,”i’ve known pious women” LOL where is this going. Only mumford & sons can really put that word in a song and just, keep singing. We stan tho, we stan. Think of london,,, we love. The DAAaaYS you defend will turn to gold,, this could easily be the last song on the album, this is like a last-call at the bar song,, in a good way, i’ve linked arms with my buddies & we’re all yelling this song like goons,, yes. Lighters a-waving,, are we too sentimental to not look back atnd!! WOW he realy did that with stare!! I couldnt finish typing that.. Is this part auto-tuned?? Dare I say.. Why? I’m choosing to hear it as a vocoder and many harmonies so i don’t hate that but uhaha they.. Hm they tried that i guess. Other than that the vi- oh why did the violin exit like that

The song is bouncing in my ears weird!! It’s giving me monster vibes atm. There’s a definite thread of messages goin thru this album & oof i love being sad,, the children come & go as you weep? Lol i love being sad. I am a waste?? My words are empty [as the bed we made]. Wilder mind is comin out on this, the album, huh!! The optimism on this album is-- I”LL MEET YOU OUT THE DELTAAA< WHERE THE RIVER”S RUINNING TO THE SEA,, GOD i love it. Ooh these drums, cool cool, it’s.. This is cool. Also sampling marcus’s children is sure way to eff everyone up, but that’s for another post,, ooooh i’m soft!! When it feels like nothing else matters :((((( lets go with this build!!! I wanna go for a run and have a cry.. Ooh man i took a moment there… this is so nice :( i’v missed them!!! Whats goin on with his vocals here,, the recording is like too close,, on purpose?? Hm. dust to dust!! I see you!! Marcus is truly giving his all here,, ugh I”m so proud of all of them, they put their LIVES on this, didn’t they!!! This song is such a feeling,, i can’t describe it i’m sad, but awwwW! I don’t kno wtf these kids are saying but wow that was cute as all heck!!! I”m so soft!! The album is over!! They did it!! Frick i don’t know how to feel!! Good really, but wow!!! Trying to not let my own sadness affect this review haha but !! what a nice body of work they produced!! In all the best ways, mostly!! I love them!!  I wanna have another listen!! Aw!!!! Frick guys. Frick. Can’t imagine anyone wants to slog thru this and have a read but,, anyway thanks if you did i guess, special thanks to Mumford & Sons for being my favorite band and always :( always being there when I need it. I needed this. wow. wow. Wowww!!!  Oof, haha i’m sad

Okay wait also he should’ve repeated the “I’ll meet you at the delta part” at least one more time but eff my criticism that song captures all stages of life and i truly wanna cry, so there’s that. Theses guys put it all out there & I really love them for that.

#mumford & sons #mumford and sons #oooof im sad!! #mumfamily #wow! #delta

[tilt-this]

Walkin’ After Midnight opens Patsy Cline’s Greatest Hits like a lone cowboy sauntering into town on a horse. I don’t really know much about Patsy other than her voice cuts through these records like an echoey country ghost.

I like how the pianos tip toe around Patsy’s vocals, occasionally fluttering as she finishes a line. The gentle guitar stabs teleport me to an idyllic 1960s town. Her lyrics on track 8, “I’ve got your picture, she’s got you,” really stuck with me. Cline continues the theme by comparing these physical remnants of a relationship (records, class ring, picture) with an ex’s new lover (“she’s got you”).

The warmth of the strings is another highlight for me, as well as the “ooh” and “aah” vocals that slip in and out of the tracks. They float under all of the instruments and have this texture quality that reminds me of a shimmering water surface.

Fun little ride. Strange is one of my favorite tracks. Shout out my little brother for putting me on.

[thewarblerette]

I Never Knew

Summary: Russel’s girlfriend finds something on his computer.

Word Count: 981

A/N: I haven’t seen a lot of imagines or fanfiction about Russel, and I think all of us could agree that our big boy deserves love. I based this one off of the fact that I found the song Get You by Daniel Caesar ft. Kali Uchis in his playlist which showed a softer and more romantic side of him.

“Russ? Russel? Where are you?” I called out. The band had been in the studio for half of the day, until five pm. I was at my apartment watching something on TV when Russel texted me that they were done. I jumped for joy as I got dressed to see my boyfriend.

Now, I was in their house searching for the big guy. I walked through the marble tiled home. Music poured from a different side of the house, probably Murdoc listening to their session in the studio.

“Russssel?” I sang out loud, hoping he would hear me.

“I’m in here, baby girl.” His gruff voice lead me to his room. His TV softly filled the bedroom with background noise while he was on the bed, going through his laptop. His white eyes looked over at me, a smile curling on his lips.

“Hi, Nina.” Russel said, looking back to his laptop. I got on the bed, making the mattress dip down from my weight. I wrap my arms around his neck, placing kisses on his cheek and shoulder.

“Hey there, big man.” My eyes travel to his computer. My eyebrows quirks up as I relaxed and sat down next to him. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m watching something on, uh, Netflix.” The big man laid back against the pillows next to me, cozying up to me. He put his arm around me.

“Oooh,” I exclaimed. “I didn’t know you knew how to operate a computer, Russel.” I say, making him chuckle and scoff.

“I’m only 42, not 100.” He kisses my forehead. Russel sets aside his laptop to get up from the bed. I plop down on the space that he occupied.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“To the bathroom, I’ll be right back.” He goes through a door into his room and closes it. I quickly grab his laptop and see what he was doing.

“Mmm, watching The 13th, I see!” I yelled to him.

“Gotta love documentaries that tell nothin’ but the truth!” He yelled back. Russel’s voice was always a teensy bit higher when he yelled anything.

“Amen to that.” I opened the Spotify app on his computer, always wanting to see what he and the other updated their playlists with. Noodle always had the best songs on hers.

I turned my head towards Russel when I heard the bathroom door open. I quickly turned my head and moved the computer on my lap to make sure he couldn’t see what I was doing.

“Now, what is your nosey little butt doin’, Nina?” He rested his fists on the bed behind me, trying to peek over my shoulder.

“…Nothing…” I gently close the laptop. I cheekily smiled at him, earning me a quirked up eyebrow and a kiss on the lips.

“Are you sure about that?” Russel asked.

“Definitely.” I responded, opening the device back up, going through Noodle’s playlist. Russel walked around his room, picking up discarded items he had been wanting to pick up for the past couple of days.

When I got to his playlist, I saw the usual rap and hip-hop songs, but then down further I saw a familiar song. A song that I didn’t think would be in there.

“Hey, Russ?”

“Yes, Nini?”

I turned to him. “You put “Get You” on your playlist?” His bald head perked up at the name.

“Yeah? Why wouldn’t I?”

“I didn’t know that you remembered that I recommended it to you.” When we had first been in the early stages of our relationship, we had recommended songs to each other. That one was one of the first ones I recommended to him.

“It’s a good song, Nina. I have good taste in music.” I laughed at that.

“And…it reminds me of you.” He murmured sheepishly. He always mumbled when he was flustered. Good thing I could understand him.

I pressed the play button and I closed my eyes as the song began to play. The weightless feeling I got from the echoey and far away intro was euphoric. It felt like I was floating.

I put the computer down on his bed and stood up from where I sat. I held out my hand towards him.

“Dance with me, Russel.”

He stopped in his tracks, and blushed. His white pupil less eyes could still emote the look of surprise which made me laugh. “Really?” He squeaked.

Daniel Caesar’s vocals slowly came on in the song, making me sway with his voice. Russel gulped as I took his hand. I placed my left hand in his right, and his left went on my waist. I rested my head on his chest as I began to sing the verse.

Every time I look into your eyes I see it, You’re all I need

Every time I get a bit inside I feel it

I looked into his eyes as I sang the next part. A small smile was on his face while we looked into each other’s eyes. Russel’s whole body relaxed, his left hand now placed on the indent of my back.

Ooh, who could’ve thought I’d get you Ooh, who would’ve thought I’d get you

Russel bent down and kissed me, our full lips cascading over each other as the rest of the song was being sung. It was moments like this when I liked seeing Russel’s softer side. The side that would blush at any romantic gesture, the side that would let me curl up into him in bed, like my little own cocoon. This side of Russel was all mine.

The big guy and I pulled back from the kiss and he put his chin on top of my head. “Oh, Nina…you don’t know what you do to me, baby girl.”

I giggled. “I know, Russ. We have quite the effect on each other.”

#gorillaz #gorillaz imagines #gorillaz imagine #russel hobbs #russel hobbs gorillaz #russel hobbs imagine #russel hobbs imagines #my fic #writing #thewarblerette #takeitinyourheartnowloverrr #let's give our boy some love #he deserves all the love tbh #i love russel so much fuck

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Shannen Bamford’s emotionally-charged new single ‘Addicted’ merges intimacy with intensity, building a story both through sound and personal admissions

Since the release of her first original single in 2020, Shannen Bamford has continued a slow rise through topics close to the heart, connecting with fans of similarly resonant artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Alvvays and Oh Wonder. Now it’s 2024, the Liverpool-based multi-instrumentalist is not slowing down, backed up by UK tours and local NYC shows that have seen her not just establish a safe presence in her music but in person too.

Within her newest single ‘Addicted’, Shannen looks to be perhaps at her most vulnerable yet, delving into the complexities of heartbreak, but instead looking inwards at the ways she’s perhaps to blame. While we often find ourselves fearful to introspectively look at our actions, Shannen’s here to keep it real, showing that while it hurts it’s a pain worth tackling sooner rather than later. In part, ‘Addicted’ flows through the ways a lot of broken people often seek out the comfort of emotional turmoil once again, yearning for that familiar sense of uncertainty and the highs of the euphoric moments even when the agony of it feels unbearable every single time: ‘forget how to breathe, feel like I’m sinking’. Turning even the best situations into bouts of unregulated emotions and anxiety-induced frenzies, lines like the choruses hook 'I'm addicted to the pain' say it most accurately, returning to what she knows despite the hatred of it all the same. If you’ve been there, you’ll understand every single line of what ‘Addicted’ has to say, or perhaps you’ll start to unpack why even the safest of your relationships have turned through similarly destructive tendencies.

The sound is just as intimately laid out, swirling through a carefully finger-picked electric guitar riff and light synth notes, wrapping each element in an echoey reverberance through the sound. Shannen’s words are haunting in delivery to match, soaked in low-tones and a hushed sense of rawness that leaves every emotionally-charged line lingering that little bit longer, all the while a soft raspiness clings to her sincere performance in a way that only adds to the personal nature of it all. Picked up by more vigorous guitar strums, an added intermittent riff and backing vocal ooh’s, ‘Addicted’ finds just as much of its storytelling in sound as it does its words, merging together moments of intensity and others’ of tenderness. Things continue to rise with acoustic guitar touches, bass and drums, as well as shifts in the core riff, building further upon the entire soundscape in a way that reflects the complex and conflicting emotions all weaving together at once. It’s perfectly overwhelming in many ways, capturing that sense of heightened emotions as well as the realisations that this cyclical pattern can’t keep happening.

Adding to the track’s message, Shannen shares, “I started to feel like I didn’t know who I was if I wasn’t in some kind of emotional turmoil… It just felt like a part of me, I was in a toxic cycle of putting myself into painful situations. Even in a good situation I had to find some way of making it anxiety inducing. It felt like I was addicted to pain, which ultimately inspired this song and the main hook. At its core, this song is a story of slowly losing someone and having your heart broken, but with the acceptance of it essentially being your own fault for putting yourself in a situation that you knew would cause you pain.”

Between the messy thoughts, the anger, the sadness, the heartbreak and everything in-between ‘Addicted’ really manages to channel every single ounce of how it can feel to be so entwined within turmoil. Even the closing out shredded guitar solo is in some ways unhinged, letting loose without care to overshadow any other moving parts or vocal lines, releasing the bottled-up frustrations with one final in-your-face thrashing of strings. If what Shannen sings in ‘Addicted’ hits close to home, or perhaps just sounds like the tune you’ve been searching for, don’t hesitate to keep listening for yourself here.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#tatiana

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Darius Christian’s new genre-blended anthem ‘VOLCANO’ delivers high energy pop, addictive rap and the most intimate of acoustics

Renowned for his genre-bending prowess, the Los Angeles based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Darius Christian is a name you may have already heard through his collaborations with incredible artists like Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Miley Cyrus, and Gwen Stefani. Darius is much more than just his work with the greats though, delivering even when alone a sound that’s distinct in its own right, falling between power pop, soul, funk and R&B all in one.

His newest single ‘VOLCANO’ continues this embracing of the unknown as Darius paves his own musical direction, straying away from the expectations and limitations of genre with something that only has one desire: to create. Thudding beats, a muffled wind instrument and echoey backing ‘ooh’s are the tentative lead for it all, slowly building with an anticipation that gets your adrenaline pumping before you’ve even heard the vocals. It’s not long before Darius’s clean performance cuts through the tension with ease, smoothly serenading you while bright piano, synthetic whirs, continued striking beats and scattered percussion regroup over the verses’ time with you. From its sultry paired-back beginnings to the explosive mesh of instruments that see us into the chorus, Darius knows exactly how to keep you on your toes and delivers just the right amount of it all in small doses.

Eager to erupt, ‘VOLCANO’ finally sees the heights of its unlimited power, glowing through a deep backing bassline-esque sound that may be more than meets the ears, as well as continued clashing beats and some of the most infectious of Darius’ lines to date. His lyrical unravellings are just as fitting for a sound that grows from shallow to overflowing, embodying a volcano in every sense of the word as he depicts a romance that’s winding him up and leaving him senseless: ‘making me lose control, now I’m in overflow.’

Just as you think you have it all sussed out, ‘VOLCANO’ turns the tables, flipping into pounding beats and acoustic guitar strums, all the while Darius’ shifts towards a quickly spoken, half-rapped approach with his brilliant lyricism. Between the intimacy the sound sets and the racing chaos of his unravelling words, ‘VOLCANO’ weaves together everything of closeness and passion in one: ‘we pushing and pulling it all night… I’m in over my head.’ Even the next chorus is determined to keep you guessing, cutting the amp’s chord - literally - as Darius’ sincerely sings some of the same lines with a moment that can’t help but leave his heart feeling much more vulnerable than ever before. From the complementary resounding, drawn-out synth and piano keys, to the action that follows it in the most invigorating of performances yet, ‘VOLCANO’ reminds why Darius is an icon that you should’ve been listening to a long time ago. But if you’re just now discovering this musical prodigy, you can find this stunning new single here to listen to on your own time.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was supported and created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#tatiana

[existentialmagazine]

Review: Bertie Newman’s newest indie-folk single ‘Home’ carries a bittersweet message amidst a whimsically tender soundscape

Twenty two year old indie-folk singer-songwriter Bertie Newman has always found a home within his musical creations, penning his individual experiences and emotions with a depth he could never truly share any other way, and when getting his ADHD diagnosis it finally made so much more sense why he felt so different from the crowds. After getting that diagnosis only last year, Bertie found himself suddenly making more sense of why he had differing qualities to others, wrapping up much of his new EP ‘Thought So Loud’ around this new stage of his life and understanding himself. Touching on themes of neurodivergence, anxiety, relationships, and personal growth, the EP looks to be one that’ll relate to many, and his newest single ‘Home’ concludes it.

Haunting right from its tender acoustic beginnings, ‘Home’ glides into your ears with a warm, finger-picked acoustic guitar riff and echoey vocal ‘oohs’, a soft start for a song wrapped up inside its heartfelt familiarity. Building up as you journey through the verse with added distant bright piano chimes, acoustic guitar strums and layered vocals, ‘Home’ continues to feel nothing but sincere and utterly stirring even at its most dominant points, enveloping you within its whimsically evolving sound. The chorus peaks at an enchantingly atmospheric high with booming beats that reverberate around a vast echo chamber of sound; several layers of wispy vocals and continued intimate acoustic guitar, all intertwining for a moment you can’t help but feel yourself ache within. As the bridge pulls things back to just piano keys before becoming even more minimal guitar strums and of course Bertie’s vocals, every second of ‘Home’ can’t just feel so personal and emotionally-infused, bearing such a great feeling of longing in its’ gentle soundscape. The way Bertie sings atop it all ties it all together, affectionately soaring through a downbeat range that glistens with such raw emotional fluctuation, capturing not just your attention but your heart too.

As Bertie found himself penning the confessional narrative of ‘Home’, he took inspiration from his own journey of self-acceptance when first beginning his current relationship, finding that despite having the perfect partner in front of him he couldn’t help but look within at his faults and sabotage. Expressing that ‘I just wanna go home, now I know what it’s like to live without you’, Bertie finds himself caught up in the whirlwind of their love, feeling somewhat codependent and afraid of falling back into the loneliness his life once was before meeting them. As he continues to dream, lines like ‘hotel paradise, five star dreams… just don’t feel quite as nice as a rainy day, stuck in traffic by your side’ portray the utter head over heels affair he’s fallen into, sweetly boasting how their presence alone is enough to make any moment worth being in. Fearfully revealing ‘our hearts move further everyday, I’m just scared you’ll slip away’ , Bertie continues to show a deep-rooted level of insecurity within his newfound partnership, constantly afraid of losing them and overthinking the little details despite the perfection of their love not once faltering. ‘Home’ truly is a bittersweet mix of the purest kind of love and the work on yourself that needs to be done to not just accept it but do so healthily and without obsession, a challenge for most who have struggled with their mental health or self esteem. But it’s beautiful nonetheless, and a thought-provoking level of songwriting that’ll surely leave you looking within.

Sharing more detail, Bertie adds that “‘Home’ is really a throwback to how I felt really anxious about my current relationship when it first started to manifest. I felt as if a mirror had been placed directly in front of me and everything that was good and bad about myself was being revealed… Overall, I wrote this song wanting to highlight the absolutely stunning parts of meeting someone so special but also the complications within yourself that come with it.”

Check out ‘Home’ for yourself here to unpack the heavy lyrical journey Bertie has penned, whilst his fluctuating journey of sound takes you along for a bittersweet ride.

Written by: Tatiana Whybrow

Photo Credits: Unknown

// This coverage was created via Musosoup, #SustainableCurator.

#music #singlereview #bertienewman

[ink-stained-words]

Listening to Black Veil Brides for my Best Friend

Rebel Love Song: It's very fast, the energy is superb. And the guitar when they chill out with the cymbals is really pretty. Ooh this is cool too, now they're singing. Like? The beat? Incredible. Alright I'm slightly obsessed with how the chorus sounds, holy shit. It sounds very good. It reminds me a bit of fall out boy. I like this better though. We need to sing All of the bvb songs in the car. Oooh they sound echoey now. I love the guitar. Sylas what's the likelihood of you learning a bvb song. If I become lowkey obsessed with bvb it's not my fault, it's yours (9/10)

Knives and Pens: The guitar sounds like a vocal line. Oh holy shit his voice. Incredible. Listen to it. Pffft now he's screaming. Yeah that checks out. If we listen to this in the car would you do the screamy part. It couldn't be that loud, since I'd be driving. I love the transition between pretty voice & screamy voice. It's amazing. The chorus is brilliant. Especially the whoas. The harmonies??? Incredible. The screaming?? Less pretty but I think it's quite funny. And very well done, to be fair. Guitarrrr. How do people scream like that (9/10)

Fallen Angels: The beginning is very neat. Especially when the instruments kick in. Very cool voice. They like their whoas. I also like the whoas. I'm vibing. Oh I think I've heard this before. You must've played it during Spotify hours. I love it I love it I love it. Not to an In The End extent, but still quite a lot. The energy is very good. The chorus, the guitar. This would be such good music to dance to (9/10)

Goodbye Agony: This one sounds different than the other ones. Different vibe. A bit slower. It's just as fun. Especially how they stack the vocal lines. Harmonies my beloved. The singing's in the forefront of this song. Regardless, the instruments are quite good. Just hiding in the background a bit. Aaaaa the angels never die part is Good. Everything after it is so good too. I'm a bit deeply & fully invested in seeing them in concert at this point. I need it (9/10)

Youth & Whiskey: Much much faster, holy shit, listen to those drums. How, how are they so fast. The choruses continue to make my brain Very Excited, god they're so good. I'm a bit preoccupied with those drums though. Fucking hell. Oooh the part right before the second chorus with the guitar sounds super cool. All of it does, really. I'm just,,, vibing!! Very much vibing (9/10)