#the edgiest artist i listened to was

[arctic-hands]

I was lumped in with the goths during my school years*, and for sure I was horrifically depressed when I wasn't psychotically manic and had common interests like graveyards and depressing poetry and gory imagery and other morbid fascinations, but whenever I did hang out with the Goths (we weren't super super tight like BFFs or something but we got along when we hanged) I was a ridiculous contrast in fashion lol.

Standing in with a group of teenagers who for whatever quirk were all taller than me despite being around the same ages, who were wearing all black or the occasional blood red, in various states of the entirely casual-suitable for the opera fashion spectrum of fashion, often with multiple piercings and eyeliner at the very least,

was this barefaced and metal-less scrawny and smol being in a bright yellow graphic t with some stupid slogan of a meme that was outdated even by then, or a tie-dyed shirt with the Joe's Crabshack logo on it, and incredible baggy jeans that were held up by variously colored scarves because my body shape even while rail thin was awkward with regular belts and my pants would still slide down unless I tight laced a chiffon scarf as uncomfortably tight as I could around my waist, sludge gray Velcro shoes because my inconsistent growth spurts meant I had awkwardly sized feet and for whatever reason the only suitable shoes I could find in my size at the time were Velcro, occasionally a faux gold vaguely intricate Walmart bracelet around my upper arm because it made me feel Ancient Grecian, and the peace day resist ants was, because I was also in a M*A*S*H phase since I was completely fixated on the equally bipolar and similarly undiagnosed Hawkeye, I went to the army surplus store and bought an olive green boonie hat that might have come from the Korean war era but might have been from 'nam I don't remember and I was constantly wearing that everywhere.

Anyway there's no real point to this and I regret to inform you that I never took a photo when hanging out with the goths and it's not like smartphones were mainstream enough that any of us could afford one yet, but I'm just picturing this group hangout from the outside and how it must have looked lol

*(for all that meant in the high school era, cliques weren't really a thing by then and if you had friends you prolly had multiple groups of friends based on whatever specific common interest or just what class/lunch you were in, we were all impoverished as fuck so like. Elitism was never really a thing with some notable exceptions *cough*ableism*cough*)

#it's the boonie hat that makes me cringe the most. people prolly thought i supported the military and everything it stood for 😬 #everything else was harmless if a bit goofy looking in color theory #anyway on any given day since i turned thirty I'm flip flopping between going full goth finally or going uncaring gaudy again #I'm of the vague notion that my fashion was arguably scene if a very boyish scene #but i didn't know what scene was without the internet so i don't know if i really was a scene kid or not #it's called fashion sweaty look it up #mecore #also cliques weren't a thing in high school but goddamn were they in middle school and even elementary #it was me and the actual goth girl against the preps in those days #oh also i had nothing in common with the goths in music taste I'm still firmly entrenched with pop music #the edgiest artist i listened to was #avril lavigne #is rainbow grunge a thing because i feel like that should be a thing in my case #aesthetic

[noanunoparty]

18/01/23 ~ NTS Radio ~ Ryuichi Sakamoto Special

For the past 2 months I've listened to every album, soundtrack, composition, live recording that Ryuichi Sakamoto has made. There have been a lot of tears. A lot of reflection on life, on mortality, on social harmony and the environment. A loooot of emotions have been felt.

All of this research has solidified my respect for Sakamoto as an artist. A true pioneer. A maestro. Condensing his career into 2 hours has been difficult, but I hope you enjoy the show and my notes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ryuichi Sakamoto has released over 20 solo studio albums, 10+ live albums, several compilation albums, over 40 EPs and singles, and about 48 soundtracks.

1978 - Thousand Knives - Plastic Bamboo

Sakamoto’s first solo album, created with the help of Hideki Matsutake who was known as the 4th member of YMO. The album fused electronic music with traditional Japanese sounds whilst incorporating elements of modern classical and reggae. 

On the album cover, from Taeko Onuki “I was told that the jacket he’s wearing was an Armani and chosen by Yukihiro. I had only known Sakamoto in jeans and rubber sandals and he said to me, “What do you think?!

2. 1980 - B-2 Unit - Riot in Lagos 

Sakamoto’s “edgiest” album. B-2 Unit birthed Riot In Lagos which is said to be an early example of electro. Several electro and hip hop artists were influenced by the album, especially Riot In Lagos. 

“Differencia" has, according to Fact, "relentless tumbling beats and a stabbing bass synth that foreshadows jungle by nearly a decade". Some tracks on the album also foreshadow genres such as IDM, broken beat, and industrial techno. For several tracks on the album, Sakamoto worked with Dennis Bovell, incorporating elements of afrobeat and dub. 

Another recommended track: E-3A

3. 1981 - Left-Handed Dream / Hidari Ude No Yume - Kacha Kucha Nee

Sakamoto wanted to record an album rooted in pop and created Left-Handed Dream (or Hidari Ude No Yume), which displays a variety of global influences through the instruments used - marimba, didgeridu, traditional Japanese instruments such as the sho and hichiriki flutes. The album showcased Sakamoto’s ability to seamlessly combine Eastern and Western sounds, strengthened through collaborating with Talking Heads guitarist Adrian Belew & co-producing with Robin Scott. 

Venezia would then become the Left Bank! 

4. 1982 - Bamboo Houses 

Sakamoto continues his long-standing collaboration with David Sylvian of Japan, Sylvian’s first solo project outside of the band. Featuring Steve Jansen on drums. 

5. 1983 - Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence Soundtrack - Forbidden Colours

Sakamoto’s first film score, for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence which he also starred in alongside David Bowie. David Sylvian contributed lyrics and vocals on Forbidden Colours, which became a hit and a vocal version of the main theme, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. The soundtrack won a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music in 1984. 

Another recommended track: Germination

6. 1984 - Ongaku Zukan - Etude

Ongaku Zukan was an experimental album with no deadline - created around Sakamoto’s incredibly busy schedule in 1983, which saw Yellow Magic Orchestra pause their group activities after an intense 8 years of recording and touring. Features from Hosono, Takahashi, Minako Yoshida and Tatsuro Yamashita. 

Sakamoto recalls he got started on the album without having a clear direction for its content: "Making an album without a blueprint...... it's an adventure to see what happens like when you embark on a sea voyage without a compass or chart. If you follow a blueprint, you will be able to record efficiently and in a short period, but I removed all of that and made it that way."

Sakamoto likens this production method to "automatic writing", which is known as one of the methods of surrealism:

"I went into the studio and recorded what came out without any prejudice...... I made it as if in a kind of trance. It could be something classical, it could be pop. Regardless of style and unity, the major premise was to accept everything that was made, so we created a lot of songs."

7. 1985 - Esperanto - A Rain Song 

Sakamoto’s 6th solo album, orginally composed for a performance by New York choreographer Molissa Fenley. An experiment with new sampler technology - apparently Sakamoto needed a huge computer to make this score. 

Another recommended track: A Wongga Dance Song

8. 1986 - Futurista - GT

Futurista (未来派野郎, translates literally as "Futurist Bastard") was created as a response to the Futurist Movement - an artistic and social movement originated in Italy. Mid 80-s avant-garde synthpop perfection! 

Sakamoto samples a lot throughout this album - G.T. samples “Legs” by Art of Noise. 

9. 1986 - Illustrated Musical Encyclopedia - Field Work (ft. Thomas Dolby)

The reissued English titled version of Ongaku Zukan, intended for the international market. It combines about half of the tracks from the 1984 album with newer singles "Steppin' Into Asia" and "Field Work” ft. Thomas Dolby.

10. 1987 - Neo Geo - Risky ft. Iggy Pop

The term "neo geo", or "new world", is derived from Sakamoto himself as a way to describe worldwide musical diversity in regard to genre (similar to world music and world beat). Again, showcasing Sakamoto’s ability to combine Eastern and Western musical styles. 

Bootsy Collins on bass! 

11. 1987 - The Last Emperor Soundtrack - First Coronation 

The soundtrack features 9 pieces composed by Sakamoto, 5 by David Byrne & 1 from Cong Su. The album won Best Original Score at the 1988 Academy Awards.

12. 1989 - Beauty - You Do Me

8th solo studio album, which sees his solo career begin to extend outside of Japan. Beauty is notable for its "collage of styles" that range from rock, techno, and classical to flamenco, African, and Japanese traditional, featuring a long list of collaborators.  

In discussing whether music is narrative and illustrative or an abstract medium, Sakamoto said, "I have visions sometimes when I'm writing contemporary music, even when it's very logical. For example, for one of my songs on the album Beauty, I was always having visions of Amazonian rainforests, a little plane flying very low over the trees. Trees, trees, trees, and some birds. But the title of the song is 'Calling from Tokyo'".

13. 1991 - Heartbeat - Rap to the World

Sequel from Beauty, still collaging sounds from all over the world, this time in an eclectic upbeat fashion. You can hear the dance music influences throughout this album, which is enforced through the credits - notably Towa Tei and Satoshi Tomiie. 

14. 1994 - Sweet Revenge - Same Dream, Same Destination

One of my least favourite Sakamoto albums - the strings are beautiful but a lot of the vocals miss for me. But this song + the cover is iconic! Maybe he was just gearing up for his next album, Smoochy. 

The album title refers to Sakamoto’s wish to bring a sense of melody back to the “rhythm-obsessed pop-world”.

15. 1995 - Smoochy - A Day In The Park

An exploration of the old world meeting the future - Sakamoto combines Latin tinged sounds, jazz and the possibilities of the internet through electronic experimentation with an “listening” approach running throughout Smoochy. 

16. 1996 - 1996 - Bibo no Aozora (Trio World Tour Live recording) 

1996 contains a selection of Sakamoto's most popular compositions plus two new compositions, all arranged for a standard piano trio. The arrangement of "Bibo no Aozora" that appears on this album has appeared in several film and television projects.

A concert, called Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio World Tour, was organised in 1996. This concert was played at 6 venues in Japan, and the Bunkamura Orchard Hall concert was live streamed on August 28, 1996 on the Internet, and was one of the first concerts to be streamed.

17. 1997 - Discord - Salvation 

Sakamoto’s first full length orchestral work, which sees him contrasting modern musical tools with traditional instruments. Amongst procrastination and self-imposed deadlines, Sakamoto wrote the four movements in Discord ("Grief," "Anger," "Prayer," "Salvation") in a month. He finished writing the last notes on the morning of the first rehearsal with the orchestra. 

Salvation features spoken word contributions from Laurie Anderson, DAvid Byrne, Patti Smith and Banana Yoshimoto. 

18. 1998 - BTTB (Back To the Basics) - Energy Flow

Sakamoto was stuck in a traffic jam and melody popped into his head. That melody would then become Opus - the opening track of his solo piano album, BTTB - Back To The Basics. BTTB & Discord see Sakamoto’s departure from his pop-tinged outputs as he returns to the piano. 

19. 2002 - Elephantism - Great Africa 

Elephantism stands out from the rest of Sakamoto’s discography as it’s his first venture into new-age, ambient sounds with elements of African musical styles, featuring field recordings. 

Elephantism is a reflection of Sakamoto’s life ethos, where he strives for world peace. In his search for harmony, he turns to nature - specifically the elephant. “Elephantism is the state of being compassionate, loyal and loving towards family and friends, and being understanding and generous in attitude toward other clans; it means being big and expansive in your outlook on life, not small and mean; it means showing thoughtful consideration, wisdom and dignity when necessary, but in equal measure showing powerful expression and emotion, and being, yes, a little wild and passionate now and then!”

20. 2002 - Works I - CM - Old I (Suntory 1983) 

Compilation of music written for various commercials (called CM in Japan), all works are from 1983 to 1984. Monopoly is a favourite (didn’t have enough time to include it in the show!) 

21. 2004 - Chasm - Ngo/Bitmix

Sakamoto’s 15th solo studio album. Chasm is experimental, combining the paion with ambient and glitch programming. Features contributions from Hosno and Takahasi, under their Sketch Show alias. 

22. 2005 - Insen - Avaol 

Sakamoto and Alva Noto’s second studio album - their collaboration began in 2002. “Both explore the potential for interaction and tension between electronic and acoustic instrumentation”.

23. 2009 - Out of Noise - composition 0919 

Sakamoto was one of a handful of concerned artists who took part in The Cape Farewell Project, where scientists joined with the creative community for a conference in Greenland to address and investigate global warming. During his stay in Greenland, Sakamoto made a number of field recordings that he incorporated into his album Out of Noise; the album is dominated by graceful, minimalist keyboard pieces punctuated by electronic noise, ambient sounds and bits of found voices.

24. 2017 - async - Zure

Sakamoto’s 19th studio album - his first one in 8 years since Out of Noise. It’s also his first full length solo record since recovering from throat cancer in 2015. During this 8 year “break” he felt uninspired with the composition process and focused on scoring films. Despite his recovery, Sakamoto thought that async would be his last album. "That’s why I tried to forget all the rules and forms, anything. I just wanted to put down just what I wanted to hear, just a sound or music, it doesn’t matter. This could be the last time."

He began making async in 2016 and completed it in 8 months. 

Async is unusually textural, featuring both acoustic and electronic elements plus samples recordings readings and field recordings of city streets. Sakamoto’s worries of death seep into the album, which were influenced by his experience with cancer and the many earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan in 2011. “We were warned about how our civilisation is fragile and how the force of nature is great."

25. 2023 - 12 - 20220123

Maybe one of Sakamoto’s most moving albums. 

His breath can heard throughout 12 like a metronome - keeping time, evoking the feeling of a warm embrace and making us are of how fleeting life is. It has a palpable level of intimacy to it, as if you’re in the room with him as he plays the piano. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ending on a few of my favourite Sakamoto quotes:

"I hate to divide the world -- East and West. Where is the edge? My music is much more melting."

"I want to be a citizen of the world. It sounds very hippie, but I like that."

[solradguy]

(it's fluffy lol) 6, 11, 25 for the artist ask meme~

Hey Fluffy!!!!

6. Anything that might inspire you subconsciously (i.e. this horse wasn't supposed to look like the Last Unicorn but I see it):

Whenever I draw humans or something wearing a classic 1980s leather jacket on paper with my dip pens, that time I watched the entirety of Fist of the North Star in like two weeks comes through in full force haha. FotNS and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure were what tricked me into finally drawing humans (instead of furries all the time) back in like 2015-2016 and even though I've done actual serious non-manly man anime human studies since, it's like a primordial part of how I draw forever now rofl....

11. Do you listen to anything while drawing? If so, what:

Answered this one (It's METAL, BAYYYYBEEEEE)

25. Something your art has been compared to that you were NOT inspired by:

I had someone say my art was "Tim Burton-esque" once and it took so much willpower not to pounce on them like a feral animal. Not that there's anything wrong with genuinely being inspired by Burton's art, but there is no way even my edgiest black and white inked art is slightly like anything Tim Burton has drawn.

Burtonesque??? Really?????

#asks #ask memes #gore cw #<- ??

[nedsseveredhead]

#1, 3, 13

1. Do you listen to music everyday?

God yes I wont get in my car unless I have my ipod with me. I Need music at all times :’DD

3.  What is/are your favorite song(s) atm?

I’ll give my favorite song from each of my fav artists!

Backpack by AJJ

The House Is Alive And The House Is Hungry by Paper Chase

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Blues by La Dispute

Local Man Ruins Everything by The Wonder Years

13. Name four or more flawless albums?

Okay okay albums... I already answered Hospice for something else so I’ll leave that one out but lets see

Hades Original Soundtrack by Daren Korb . Its just good.

Razia’s Shadow: A Musical by Forgive Durden. Its a story album with a lot of guest artists including Brendan Urie as the villian and Max Bemis as a... spider for some reason. SPEAKING OF...

Oliver Appropriate by Say Anything. Their farewell album. I’m still not over it.... its been 2 years guys please come out of retirement my heart can’t handle it

The Emptiness by Alesana. 12 year old me would find a way to murder current me if I didn’t add Emptiness. Its the edgiest story album possible and I still listen to it atleast monthly

#I love albums that tell a story azsdfgh theyre near and dear to my heart #orangejuiceandopium

[cicadiabroth]

This week on my deepest regrets introducing poetry I wrote for an English assignment which is no lie the edgiest thing I have seen in my whole life:)

You see me, but do you see me? I know for sure you see the body, the garden of unruly lillies forced together into a soldier’s bun. You see the eyes, the windows to an abysmal paradise I like to call my soul, a paradise only fit for a woman like me.

It's not that it’s uninviting it's that you mister universe always fails to remove your blindfold. I understand that partially it's my fault, maybe I too smack the hand that reaches out to love. Maybe I too am the monster I’m hunting for.

All I want is for someone to hear me screaming in a river of my own despair and to reach out a hand...It doesn't even need to be a hand-a stick maybe, even a just a coin toss into the abyss would suffice. But no all you see is a terra-cotta woman standing strong against the riptides.

I swear I’m no monster I’m not a liar, a scam artist a manipulative snake. I am just a person nothing more and nothing less.Please.Please reach out a hand forgive me for whatever it is I have done.

they tell me to pray, but if there is even a merciful god out there how could they let me live like this. Sometimes I think that this must be some cruel joke, and that I’m just a pawn in someone’s big storybook of tortured souls. Maybe others have it worse but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be bad here too. I just want someone to understand even if you can't find it in your heart to forgive at least see me.

There is no way I could transfer the agony to a page but for all, it's worth listening. Now imagine just for a second- what it would be like to live in a matchbox with a window of sunlight just big enough to watch people that you hate take your place. Maybe I am allowed to be bitter. My body is that matchbox it is unforgiving, it squeezes me tight with thorny tendrils of what can only be described as animalistic rage in its purest form. Worst of all this body grows stronger every day, what started out as a weed in my garden became a gallows tree. I should be allowed to hate if I need to. what am I supposed to do, water that forsaken plant.NO, maybe I am wicked and maybe if life throws the first punch ill swing next. Why can’t anybody see I’m drowning.

They tell me I’m evil. Evil e-v-I-l when you really think the exact definition of the poisonous word is someone immoral and wicked. Is it wicked to survive then...maybe it is…but you can't tell me I’m wrong, then you mister universe would just be another person added to the eternal song of they. They tell me lots of things, their words are bullets and I am only target practice.

They say I’m lazy, a fool, disgusting and damned. But mister universe can’t they see I am not the terra-cotta woman they have made of me. My blood may be honey but at least my blood is real. Maybe they can be bullets but I can be venom.

I just don’t understand why they can’t just leave me be. Isolation in its simplest form may be torture but at least you can have some peace maybe even mercy. I am sorry if I retaliate when my bones are crumbling underneath my skin. I am sorry that I am not a terrified little sheep who will allow herself to be lead to slaughter and most of all I’m sorry for you mister universe, the judgments you think are as sharp as a needle are really as dull as your mind.I’m sure you’ll understand next time you route for the prey that the predator must eat.

I am starving.No not for food but for a revolution of my own creation. I want to be free just like those fiendish birds our culture idolizes. This is the making of a villain for sure, maybe if I wait long enough for the cracks to unify destroying my terra-cotta woman there could even be a flame inside. A flame no longer there to create a flame to burn.

A flame to burn down my own Forrest. I fantasize that my dismal plain would erupt into fire to destroy a village, I would let down my dams of despair and my river would run like the very thing I wish to do. The river would become a rapid the rapid becomes an ocean and soon the ocean creates a tsunami. My own beautiful destruction but according to you mister universe I must be evil for a thought like that to even cross my mind.I may be no angel but I am not a devil either.

Now mister universe I want to make one thing clear, I am not going down without a fight. I will kick and scream and hit and hurt and burn until the day my body becomes one with the dirt. You don't have to like it only to accept it as one of the many facts of life, I will fight and I will survive. Maybe I won't start a revolution and maybe ill be remembered as the little girl who stepped out of line, the girl who fought a lion the girl filled with hate or even simply nothing at all. At the end of the day when I take my final breath, know that I will be smiling because I lived a life of freedom so forget me if you wish but I will never go away.

#why was i so #edgy #i turned this in fir a grade #wtf

[hyphypmic]

Hey it’s me again I really loved how you did jakurai having an s/o in a band like Babymetal and was wondering if you could do how the other leaders would react to having a Babymetal s/o if that’s fine with you!

Hope you like this!

Ichiro

Oh he’s in love really is the social media supporter

Hi please check out my awesome s/o! Support please! Stream! Download!

They met a convention where artists meet and take pictures with fans

He ends up with the leader

Always gets concert tickets for him and his brothers

One of the most active promoters out there

Does not shut up about s/o

One time he dressed up as s/o and it went fucking viral

He wore it to a con and an actual concert

They practice together and Ichiro makes it like a Instagram live

He is the best motivator and social media god

Sometimes they sing together and he spends times with the other bandmates

And since they’re both super busy, their schedules aren’t that bad

Ichiro is the type to surprise them before the concert with flowers and etc.

He one time rapped with them on stage and really the world went crazy

Because he was singing a song he collaborated with them for and he was dressed up like them

Regularly wears their merchandise

He really did a rap battle with her live

Samatoki

well, his style would kind of be more edgy

Like when they meet, he ends up with the edgiest one of all of them and they’re very tsundere

An aggressive rap battle becomes an aggressive make-out

Like for example, their theme is red and he would totally wear an earring that is red or have like a streak of red in his hair

Okay fine not edgy but he likes the vibe of the group so he would go for it

And they would rap battle also, but more of for training and they’d both be very highboy aggressive

He goes to the concerts and cheers them on because he loves it

Like he doesn’t jump around, but he shouts and applauds the loudest

Might have threatened someone who booed

Also gives tips on rapping

He also does things to make sure his special someone is safe, since he’s a fucking yakuza and he will keep her safe from harm

He makes sure Jyuto and Riou are supporting also

Listens to their music while he works out

Ramuda

this fashion designer will personally take care of the styling per concert, per music video and per everything

He ends up with the most stylish one out of all of them, and the shyest and cutest because he brings out the confidence with her

And plus they bond over being cute

Their style improves and their marketing skyrockets

Like it really goes through the roof

And their style still goes with the theme, but it becomes so diverse

Ramuda really charms his way in with his attitude and big support for s/o

Uses his connections to make them even bigger, but with their consent also jumps up and down during concerts

He goes “ramuda” on those that boo his s/o because honestly that’s just asking for a fucking death wish

He also actively wears their merchandise

He performed with them onstage wearing a version of their clothes he designed

He makes Dice and Gentaro watch their concerts

#hypnosis mic #hypmic #hypnosis microphone #fling posse #ramuda amemura #ichiro yamada #buster bros #mad trigger crew #samatoki aohitsugi #headcanon

[kingdomoftyto]

I CAME IN LIKE A REC'ING BAAAAALL

that joke was funnier in my head last night

As promised, here’s my rec for the latest webcomic to consume me utterly for the better part of a week: 

Monster Pulse

It’s a story about a handful of kids with “body monsters”. In short, there’s a sinister organization doing mad science experiments and creating ghost-like creatures which, after touching a living human, essentially take an organ, system, or body part from that human and mold it into a self-sustaining lifeform. These organs/parts still function normally as their humans’ missing bits, ignoring all distance and the laws of nature to do so, except now they’re also big and sentient and have sick magic powers, too.

For example, the protagonist, a girl named Bina, has a monster formed from her literal heart. Her monster, Ayo, is a muscular beast that can fire powerful energy beams from her vein-like horns. It’s a w e s o m e.

(The first 11 chapters are in black and white. Don’t worry, the art style evolves frequently but it’s great at all points)

If that premise sounds like a one-way ticket to Body Horror Central, well, you’re not entirely wrong, but the artist actually does a surprisingly good job of keeping it PG? (Or at most PG-13) So don’t be too put off if you’re squeamish--there’s no gore, and there’s only one character (maybe two) whose monster really gives off a huge creeptastic factor. Yooouuuu’ll know him when you see him. I won’t spoil that here. 

No, no, instead this story plays out more like a mix between just general fantasy/paranormal action and supernaturally-enhanced teen drama. Yes, there is teen relationship angst, and it is wonderful and I love it

BUT, easily the best and most impressive thing about this comic?? is the fact that I cannot, after days of ruminating on the issue, pick a favorite among the main four kids and their monsters. 

It’s like: is my favorite Julie, the rowdy and ridiculous punk rock girl with big hoodies and even bigger sass?? She’s all about those Shenanigans but also she’s smarter than she looks???

Her adorable orange hair monster, Kera, is the most versatile in combat and indisputably the fluffiest monster on the squad, and is probably the monster I’d most love to meet irl...

Or is my fav Abel, the edgiest of all broody loner teens, complete with heartbreakingly angsty backstory and an arc all about learning to love/trust others and forgive himself? But also he’s just a humongous dork sometimes???

His eye monster Rixis is probably (probably) my favorite monster because he’s equal parts wicked cool (tiny laser dragon!!) and disgustingly cute (loyal lil snek friend with expressive puppy ears!!)...

OR is my fav kid West, the excruciatingly sweet nerd I relate to in frankly alarmingly specific ways, like WHAT the HECK?? He’s a cheerful doofus but also tortured by both self-doubt and his own selfless nature??? Help him????

His stomach monster Guuzy doesn’t stand out to me as much as the other three main monsters but is still loyal and strong-willed and cute and basically Extremely Blessed...

OR..... is my fav the aforementioned protag, Bina, the kid who on the surface is a little cold, a little indecisive, and maybe even a little boring? But before long shows hidden depths with her believable inner conflicts and the most fascinating and complex human-monster relationship in the entire comic by far?????

Her heart Ayo is flat-out incredible and gives off some sort of powerful Energy that makes every scene with her feel almost... monumental? profound?? We’re 33 chapters in and this blue beefcake still feels like the biggest enigma of the entire cast...

HEY IS IT REASONABLE TO HAVE FOUR FAVS IN ONE STORY

OR MORE

Listen idk what else to tell you other than read please this comic

It’s got monster fights,

monster frolicking,

monster nuzzling,

and a very earnest West cosplaying as Spock

What more could you ask for in a webcomic

#Monster Pulse #long post #this got EVEN LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED LOL #I never put this much effort into my recs what is wrong with me this week #also it didn't seem relevant enough to put in the main body of the post but #there are queer characters too #I won't spoil who they are tho bc at least one was a really huge nice surprise at least for me

[noctambularis]

Tag Game!

Thanks to m'dear @zella-mochi for tagging me! These things are very fun! :)

Relationship status: Private, sorry!

Favourite Colours: CRIMSON, Royal Blue, Gold, and why not throw in the edgiest of shades: Black.

Lipstick or Chapstick: No lipstick ever, but if it's a cold Canadian winter, I will need chapstick. Plain & flavourless though, I prefer no smell and definitely no gloss—the less noticeable, the better for me.

Last Song I listened To: “0” by arai tasuku ft. Itaru Baba.  Needed something to accompany some angsty feels, especially while I draw darker things.

Last film I Watched: “Tsukiji Wonderland”.  It's a really fascinating documentary on the lives of people who work at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo!

Top 3 TV Shows: I don’t really like to watch TV--anything I stream is generally quite old, except for anime, which I sometimes follow while they air.  For ‘live action’ TV: Frasier, Boardwalk Empire, and Blackadder.  For anime: Death Parade, Acca13, and Haikyuu.  I rewatched all of these things multiple times.

Top 3 Artists/Bands: This is tough! I’ll just go by what I’m listening to the most recently: Masayoshi Soken (the FFXIV OST is my life), Yuki Hayashi (ALL his OSTs are amazing), and sakanaction (superb Alternative/Indie J-Rock).  I'm also really digging Reol, she just released her first solo album—check it out if you're into J-EDM.

-

Now for tagging! Feel free to ignore my tag if you've already been tagged by someone else or if you don't want to do it of course: @detectivesebcas @sebcastellanyes @angelicsociopath

@cinnabirb17 you've already been tagged by Princess Wholesome but it would be blasphemy not to include you in here anyway, fam. :)

#tag game

[ochacoseny]

10 or 30?? fdzsawqbgrv

10) sometimes, it depends really on what the drawing is im confident about ocs and stuff I've made but not fanart (that's why I barely post it, I have fucking thousands but I don't like them enough to post em :/) I'm confident in art class though bc our teacher is very down to earth, he doesn't care if you have a photo realistic style or the most weeb style ever and I guess that's made me more confident?? I used to hate my art bc of my old teacher and how she would stress us to only do realistic and since I can't really do realistic that well I really struggled in that class :// but I guess that's just how it is on this 🅱️espacito of a planet 30) songs!!! I can't draw without listening to music, like if I listen to 2008 emo anthems I'll draw the edgiest thing ever but give me some cavetown and it'll be uwu art for days Dhakasbakana but other than that books and movies help out to!! Books especially bc if you can picture one of the characters it's much easier to draw them but I'd say the number 1 way to get inspiration is by looking at other ppls art!! And to become a better artist I'd say just because it's fun, that's really the only reason I draw, bc it's fun so if I can find a way to get better or learn a new way of doing something it gets less boring and keeps me goin!!Thanks for asking buddo

[interrobangrblx]

Hello everyone!

There has been a bit of confusion regarding the themes of Soundwave, ever since we announced it, as we’ve been rather vague about it’s story and themes, and we’ve received a lot of questions about it.

So I, Tranzylvania, as one of the head writers of the project, am here to address the issue!

Soundwave was announced on 7/24 of 2020, with description,

“An exploration of the highest heavens, the depths of hell, the in-between of it all, and what is found beyond the stars, through song.”

I wrote this description on my own working on the announcement for the showcase, trying my best to hint about the four minor themes within a major storyline. 

Soundwave, is about music as the name implies, but it isn’t just about one kind of sound. It is about the various wonderful genres that somehow fit under one label. It’s all music. Even with it’s vast differences in energies, styles, tones, and instrument choices, in the end we all respond to music emotionally.

The collection and showcase, is about how we respond to music as humans and it’s influence on fashion, art, and culture itself.

Music alone can create a subculture and influence lifestyles, and you can see it in so many alternative cultures. Punk, scene, gothic, emo, rockabilly, metal, disco, indie, and so many more subcultures have come out of music, the list truly never ends. More are being invented everyday, and it’s beautiful. Musicians influence fashion and art, and art and fashion influence music. 

The collection is separated in 4 sections based on various aesthetics that are themed after our emotional responses to music. Celestial, Heavenly, Purgatory, and Hellish.

Celestial is influenced by sci-fi, scene kids, ska, raves, and idol girls. It is meant to have a fun, sweet vibe, centered on music such as pop, hyperpop, EDM, and hardcore. The kinds of music that hypes you up, and makes you feel at your best, like you’re out of this world. This side of the collection is representative of the general view we have when we think about positive music that we can listen to on any day, at any time. 

x

Heavenly is mostly elegant, and is the softest of the four styles. It is somewhat influenced by catholic art, pastels, lolita fashion, and over the top opulence. It’s inspired by music that feels healing, which is no particular genre since many songs can be up lifting. When your heart is crying out, sometimes you need guidance, and musicians can be the guardian angels in your life. 

x

Purgatory is the darkest, and is influenced by the art of Will Wood, Yard666Sale, and the grunge and emo subcultures. It is inspired by music that feels like it embodies pain and suffering, like it is a cry for help from their artists. Purgatory is a human at its lowest, whether you’re a victim of your circumstance or someone lost in the deep dark, all of our suffering is the same. 

x

Hellish, the last of the four, is the edgiest and is inspired by punk rock, gothic fashion, and horror art. The music it is centered on is metal, rock, and darkpop. Hellish is the embrace of being a demon, being filled with anger and deciding to break and fight. It is rebellious and dark, and is set to be the final destination of the story.

x

Soundwave is going to be an experience like no other, and we hope you will all fall in love with our interpretation of music, and we hope it has something for everyone.

The collection will contain 40 pieces, 10 for each section, and will be the debut for the first collection in our luxury brand, SLAPSTICK!? Half of the collection will be sold there, and the other half in our main store. 

We have 6 designers working on outfits for the showcase, directed by me and MADSClENTlSTS.

Follow our project as it progresses on this blog, and on our Twitter and Discord!

Thank you for reading!

XOXO, Tranzyl

#roblox #rblx

[mikollakokinko]

people say scorpio is the most edgiest sign. but have you seen capricorn???

i swear anyone who has a major capricorn influence is a fucking edgelord. even if u look at singers and musicians, like hayley williams (capriorn) fka twigs (capricorn) lorde (capricorn rising and jupiter) tyler joseph (capricorn saturn and one of his dominants)

then we have katy perry who is a scorpio sun, moon, rising, pluto, mercury, saturn and she’s as basic as one can get.

don’t get me wrong i love capricorns. and i’ve listened all these artists and i like some of them very much. but damn...

#ramblings #astrology

[thebandcampdiaries]

Perry Stevens - You Got My Women

A rocking blues number with a fantastic tone.

Perry Stevens is a charismatic singer, songwriter and musical interpreter with a unique creative vision. He wants to take the most memorable sounds of the past and share them with a modern audience, giving them a unique taste of some of those amazing old-school vibes, but translating them in such a way that even the newer generations can easily relate to the sound. Recently, Perry released another fantastic audio recording: You Got My Women. This song is deeply rooted in blues and rock, and the style of the track makes me think of iconic artists such as John Lee Hooker, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughn or even Eric Clapton, only to mention a few. One of the first things that you will notice is Perry’s amazing vocal performance. On this song, he did a particularly fantastic job at playing with the dynamics of his voice, going from a softer, low-register croon, to some of his edgiest and most energetic vocal hooks to date. The effects on the vocals, with some echo and saturation, have a cool analog quality to it and they really sound incredible when you consider that these sounds are actually some of the staples of the blues music scene. This song in particular offers a tasty blues revival feel, which works so well in tandem with Perry’s charisma. The track has been recently released, but Perry is already receiving a lot of praise and acclaim for what he has accomplished here. A simple scroll through the many comments on his Soundcloud page will reveal how well people are responding to this stunning track.

Personally, I have always been a big fan of blues music. From mid-1920 stuff, down the modern contaminations with rock and other genres, there is something special about this ancestral kind of music, which is truly one of the greatest American art forms, along with jazz and rock itself. What is so special about the blues is that the structure of the songs is relatively simple. You do not need to be an extremely sophisticated guitarist to pull off a blues lick, and you do not need a conservatory diploma to sing the blues either. All you really need is one thing only: the feeling. And boy, Perry Stevens has got feeling for days when it comes to his music, and this beautiful track is no exception. His performance on You Got My Women is poignant and energetic, bringing so much passion to the table. The lyrics are very story-driven, and they are fun to follow as you are grooving along! Although most of Perry’s music is heavily story centric, this one has a more immediate vibe, it is more of a song that you instantly want to move your feet to and admittedly, I even found myself head banging a little bit like the rock fan I am, especially when those fiery guitar solos came along into the mix!

Perry managed once again to create something impressive. A perfect relationship between the old and the new. The timeless legacy of blues with the freshness of rock, all fueled by the honesty of an artist with so much personality, and a fantastic vision to share with the world. Eager to keep releasing new music, Perry Stevens is now going through what could easily be described as a true artistic renaissance. He had been a professional singer earlier in the 70s, but decided to put things on hold, so he did not have to stay away from his family due to the strenuous life on the road that sometimes is a daily reality of being a musician. However, he is now back with a newfound enthusiasm for song craft! His passion actually never went away: it was always there, and Perry was always ready to come back in full blast! On songs such as You Got My Women, he really sets the bar higher in terms of energy levels. From edgy blues rock numbers like this one, down to romantic ballads and other types of music, Perry can do it all, and the possibilities are truly endless. Learn more about Perry Stevens, and listen to You Got My Women, which is now available on the web.

https://soundcloud.com/perry-stevens-952829987/you-got-my-women-perry-stevens

[docwhal]

tagged by @clint-ftm-barton to put my songs on shuffle and tag the first ten! Oh no!

1. London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines - Panic! At the Disco (I adore the Fever You Can't Sweat Out album for so many reason and this song is so fast paced and amazing)

2. Flume - Bon Iver (this was my first Bon Iver song, absolutely hooked me, I adore the sweeping vocals and instrumentals)

3. Kill Your Heroes - Awolnation (my first Awolnation song actually!!!! heard first on the Nintendo 3ds video channel)

4. Christians Inferno - Green Day (I always thought this was the edgiest song on 21st century breakdown besides horseshoes and handgrenades and I loved it)

5. Marry the Night - Lady Gaga (omg the perfect intro song to a fantastic fuckin album.)

6. Hit and Run - Lana Del Rey (such a good yet unreleased tune, slick bass plus sexy talk about taking over the world? hell fuckin yeah)

7. Behind Blue Eyes - The Who (oh god so many memories, this was my favorite song back when I was into invader zim of all things, like... 6 years ago. it happens to be the first song I ever learned on guitar)

8. Raised By Wolves - U2 (okay lots of folks remember the U2 album that was forced onto everyone's phones way back in the day? I actually like a good number of the songs on it, raised by wolves having been my fave for a while. v introspective on religion and capitalism, I love that shit.)

9. Be Inspired - Pink Guy (listen I'm not gonna say I have both his albums but)

10. In The Morning - Fields (a delightful tune I used in creation of my lueasley playlist 'morning', effectively it's namesake! check this one out, it's incredible)

((fuck it imma do 20))

11. Time To Dance - Panic! At the Disco (ohhhh god fuck this one brings back memories. great friend made the mistake of showing it to me the first time in a car with my mom. forever known as the shotgun wedding song. listen I fuckinf love this so)

12. Lay All Your Love On Me - Abba (MMMM current fave of abba. have loved abba since I was super small)

13. Welcome to Paradise - Green Day (there's more Green Day on this list than I thought I would be but I'm not complaining, I adore this song and it was my favorite like two years ago.)

14. The Beach - The Neighborhood (hey if you ever wanna like get me in the mood and get me really depressed this is the song for you. old nbhd fave)

15. Square One - Coldplay (god I love this song so much, the last lines still get me to this day)

16. Peeping Tom - Jamie Berry ft. Rosie Harte (okay I love electro swing and this song is a perfect example of a great, slower electro swing bop.)

17. Burn It Down - Awolnation (not my favorite off the album, but a cool song nonetheless!)

18. Two Faced Twin - Gregory and the Hawk (hhhh Gregory and the Hawk has this super special place in my heart.)

19. The Static Age - Green Day (probably still my favorite Green Day song. beautiful rock/surf rock jams)

20. Up There - Post Malone (the album 'stoney' has had its hands on me for a few weeks now. rap has had its ebb and flow on me, but Malone is an incredible artist and he's drawing me into more of the genre. papa bless)

I tag whoeverrrrr

#docwhal personal #docwhal tunes #tag meme

[danrudephanstorm-blog]

ask game

@ayylmaoihatemyself tagged me to do this wow thanks a lot!!!1 so here we go

Rules: Answer the thirty questions given and tag 20 people you would like to know better

1. Nicknames: all the basic 546738590 nicknames you get out of my real name & also leaven (or hiiva in my mother language, finnish, ok) who fucking knows 

2. Gender: female

3. Star sign: aries

4. Height: 166,6 cm i’m not even kidding

5. Time : 8:33 pm / 20:33

6. Birthday: 12th of april ;)

7. Favourite bands: panic! at the disco (according to my spotify i dont really listen to any other bands lol) i listen to random remixes tho!!

8. Favourite solo artists: umm.. halsey? martin garrix? also britney spears is a queen. unironically or not, you’ll never know

9. Song stuck in my head: mitä välii vaikka bisset läikkyy biSSET LÄIKKYY

10. Last movie watched: scarface <3

11. Last show watched: i dont really watch shows and not even anime anymore :-(

12. When did I create my blog: last spring idk

13. What do I post: i just reblog dan and phil & panic! things and sometimes them “come talk to me!!!!i need friends!!!” posts (...if you’re reading this u know what to do)

14. Last thing I Googled: photosynthesis (we had a test today ik its basic thing but so easy to forget haha)

15. Do I have other blogs: nonexistentboys.tumblr.com and a safe place-diary-kinda blog

16. Do I get asks: nope

17. Why did I choose this name: darude - sandstorm will forever be a meme for me

18. Following: around 20

19. Followers: ...idk if others see it so idk if i should lie or not,

20. Favourite colours: the edgiest shade of black + blueish mint green

21. Average hours of sleep: 7-8 (on weekends 12 lol)

22. Lucky number: 69420

23. Instruments: i wish i could play piano man i love piano music but i feel like im too old to start it and i’d just cry on every lesson

24. What am I wearing: i’m always wearing a bathrobe. a pink zebra printed one. yup.

25. How many blankets I sleep with: one. and with 2 pillows

26. Dream job: stripper tbh

27. Dream trip: i dont really have any dreams?? idk if its worrying that i cant fucking dream but umm i’d like to see ppl i like and hear music i like. just somewhere where you’d get nice instagram photos:D:D

28. Favourite food: rice and chicken! rice porridge! rice i guess

29. Nationality: finnish

30. Favourite song: golden days, follow you rootkit remix, the ocean aaand danza kuduro for the nostalgia <3

I tag everyone that follows me and wants to do this. all the porn bots... you’re welcome!

[morganbelarus]

Taylor Swift will never be the feminist we want her to be

Image: VCG via Getty Images

Every time a Taylor Swift album is released, critics ask the same exhausting question — will this be the album where Taylor Swift gets political?

The answer is always the same: Girl. No.

Swift's politics, best described as ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, have been the cause of an unending febrile pop culture battle ever since the artist first emerged a decade ago, reaching its apotheosis in 2017. If you're interested in getting into a fight with a friend, might I suggest bringing up the topic of Swift's feminism. Watch the unfollows commence. 

Her latest album, reputation, is no exception. And it's well past the time me and my fellow feminist friends face the facts. Swift will never, ever be the nasty woman of our left-to-neoliberal political dreams, and no amount of subtweeting will ever change that.

That doesn't mean we have to say goodbye.

SEE ALSO: Newscaster uses Taylor Swift lyrics to deliver her traffic report

While other mainstream pop artists have opened up about their political views, or at least composed an embarrassingly genuine/borderline political Instagram post over the past year, Swift chose to remain comfortably above the fray. The edgiest the artist got was when she tweeted out support for her friends at the Women's March, the political equivalent of a glass of warm milk. Microwaved.

For some, it was surprising to see pop culture's leading capitalist refuse to take advantage of the political moment, especially when the resistance has been so effectively commercialized. #NastyWoman is as much a hashtag as it is branding. It fits on a tote bag, an iPhone case, a pillow, an I'm too-depressed-to-finish this list. Jimmy Kimmel, the former ding-dong behind the Man Show, became the voice who saved health insurance for 26 million Americans (and along the way, his reputation). Katy Perry, the singer best known for shooting whipped cream out of her bazoongas, helped to almost-elect the first female president in history.

Politics is #trending. Politics is almost cool. And strangest of all, it's been profitable, a concept that 27-year-old Swift, whose net value hovers around $280 million, is intimately familiar with.

In this landscape, Swift's entirely apolitical reputation was something of a gamble. It's now one she expected to win. Reputation sold 700,000 copies on the first day of its release. It's predicted to sell a million by Nov. 16, putting Swift on track for the highest sales of her career and making me feel so goddamn bad about my graduate school choices.  

Let me be clear: politics aside, reputation is a genuinely good album. There's so much to enjoy here without entirely embarrassing yourself, including hooks that leave a scar and her famously soft righteous anger, honed sharper. If you're the type of person who enjoys celebrity feuds, might I suggest listening to the delightfully unsubtle “This Is Why...” and tweeting your angry heart out.

It's obviously so disappointing that one of the most successful pop stars of our time chooses to do so little with her 85.6 million person platform; especially at a time when life is, by every objective measure, bad. No one could be more effective at propagating a political message than Swift precisely because she's behaved so neutrally in the past. It's what made Jimmy Kimmel so potent and comedian-turned-liberal-savior John Oliver so limited in his reach. Swift touches supporters of political extremes (Nazis and snowflakes) and apolitical crowds like no one else can.

Alas, Swift isn't changing. She probably never will. We just have to absolve our fantasies and accept the truth we repressed all the way into 2017. Taylor Swift will never tell us who she voted for. She will never be an architect of the #Resistance. Her feminism will always be hazy and largely individualist. 

She can, however, be something smaller and still good. Swift can be the person we turn to when we want to run from a broken heart, or the artist we escape to when we're sick of hearing Donald Trump's name on loop. Swift has always been adept at capturing our relational anger, and she's only gotten better in reputation. All of that matters, just on a more intimate scale, and we shouldn't deny ourselves the pleasure of identification just because it lacks a political punch.

There's so much of our shitty corporate culture I've come to love for what it is, even as I douse it with irony. I don't come to Supermarket Sweep for the Elizabeth Warren takes, as much as I love the Massachusetts Democrat. I don't look to Chili's for a 2018 election strategy; I go to Chili's for their deliciously trash fajitas. I would obviously love it if Little Caesars finally dropped the act and embraced their true socialist selves, but alas. Maybe that's for another year.

Politics touches everything. It's healthy to crave private spaces where it doesn't. You're entitled to have feelings that are not about the president. Forgive yourself, fellow rose emoji of the world, if you download the reputation album and scream every risk-averse lyric out your car window. I'll be singing and speeding right past my shame all the way with you. 

WATCH: This inspiring 76-year-old lady defies her age in a deadlifting event

More From this publisher : HERE ; This post was curated using : TrendingTraffic

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Taylor Swift will never be the feminist we want her to be was originally posted by 16 MP Just news

#16 MP Just news

[swimintothesound]

Gateway Indie

On May 20th of 2008, my musical taste changed forever. We (or at least I) tend to discover things in waves. Specifically waves of increasingly-tiered obsession that escalate until I can focus on one thing and one thing only. I’ll find a song I really like, devour the album that it came from, read everything on the band’s Wikipedia page, explore their discography, listen to side projects, see them live, spend exorbitant amounts of money on limited edition vinyl, then (apparently) write about my experience years later.

One of the most important steps in my particular brand of hyper-obsessive fandom is delving deeper into the genre of the band who I’ve recently discovered. Whether it’s simply to contextualize their sound, see if I recognize any of their contemporaries, or just to get a better understanding of the world’s musical history. When one artist’s discography isn’t enough, sometimes the next logical step is to start absorbing everything in their immediate vicinity. It’s a beautiful notion that one album can open the door to a whole new world of music that was previously hidden. It’s how you diversify as a music listener and as a person.

Up until high school, I’d really only explored the genres of classic rock, grunge, and some metal. All pretty standard stuff, especially for a white suburban teen, but it was all music that came out before I was born. In 2008 I discovered a group of albums that opened my eyes to the ever-cool world of indie and, more importantly, paved the way for my interest in both the genre and the contemporary music scene as a whole. As each of these albums near their 10th anniversary I realized that not only have many of them achieved “classic” status within the genre, they were also part of a larger movement for my generation.

Universality

Now that the internet has paved the way for services like iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp, music has become more insular than ever. In 2017 there are entire sects of fans who can be hyper-devoted to one artist or scene that may never intersect with anyone else. Additionally, with the rise of social platforms like forums, Twitter, and reddit fans can live in a bubble… and while it’s great to connect with other fans, it also means the vocal obsessives are more walled-off.

We have fewer “universals” than ever before. Ed Sheeran is one of the best-selling artists in the world right now, but I don’t think I’ve heard a single song of his. Drake is breaking records every week, but if you don’t care about hip-hop, he’s pretty easy to avoid listening to. It’s a byproduct of the ever-splintering media landscape that we’re living in.

So there are positives and negatives, but this splintering is relevant because those “universals” will become fewer and far between as we move forward. Looking beyond music, you have shows like Game of Thrones which is one of the most technically popular and most-talked about shows currently on TV. It consistently shatters its own self-set viewership records, numbers which are worth screaming about in 2017, yet would have gotten a show canceled even 20 years ago. There’s just more to watch, more to do, and more to care about in 2017, so if you don’t want to watch Game of Thrones, you truly don’t have to. This isn’t the 20’s where everyone gathers around the radio for the day’s episode of Little Orphan Annie. I feel like I’m getting off track, but music is this phenomenon multiplied by thousands. Not only are there dozens of alternatives mediums vying for your attention, practically anyone can create music in 2017. There are more alternatives (and therefore fewer commonalities) than ever before.

I feel like we will reach (or perhaps have already hit) a point where there are simply no more universal artists. There’s never going to be another Beatles. Obviously. But looking purely at The Beatles on a scale purely based on audience and cultural impact, there will never be another musical group in the history of the world that reaches the omniscient presence that the Beatles achieved. There were fewer artists to listen to then, fewer ways to create music, and even fewer avenues to discover new music.

As technology has improved, we’ve seen a direct impact on the music industry as an entity. At the same time, we’ve also seen artists effectively harness this power. Groups like Odd Future were pervasive and forward-thinking enough that I (a high school-aged non-hip-hop listener) knew who they were and knew at least a few of their songs. While everyone’s musical journey is a unique story filled with personal discoveries that have influenced their taste, this is really a story about the first universal that I was a part of as it was happening.

I Miss the Old iTunes

Back when iTunes was still relatively new, it was my only source of current music. I would almost instantaneously drain any gift card I was given, using it to cross several songs off my carefully-curated iTunes wish list. I was also fortunate enough to have my Dad’s massive collection of nearly one thousand CD’s at my disposal, but as you could imagine, most of those albums were a decade old at least. That’s why I was a rock fan first: ease of access.

But I always found ways to satiate my hunger for new music. From VH1 to renting CDs one by one from the local library, there were only so many ways to hear new music, even in the mid-2000’s. One of the most unexpected avenues that I took advantage of was the (now sadly-defunct) iTunes Single of the Week Program, which offered exposure to countless contemporary acts one song at a time. It may not have been much, but this program turned me onto dozens of artists and sounds that I wouldn’t have heard otherwise. Through this mishmash of mid-2000’s media, I was able to satiate my budding hunger for new music as a penniless 14-year-old.

That brings us back to the first sentence of this post.

Unbeknownst to me, indie folk was blowing up In 2008. Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago was gaining serious traction a year after its release thanks to the album’s breakout hit “Skinny Love” and in May “Skinny Love” was put up as iTunes’ free song. As with most songs in the program, I’d never heard of the artist, nor had any experience with the genre, but I downloaded it anyway because that’s how hungry I was for new music.

I downloaded the track (no doubt on my family’s bulky oversized 2005 laptop) and synced it onto my iPod immediately. I was floored. I’d never heard anything so delicate. It was catchy (especially for a folk song) but it also had a soft warmth and reserved delivery that was a revelation to me at the time. “Skinny Love” evoked a feeling that was unlike any other music I’d ever heard. I had to have more.

Part of the beauty of the Single of the Week program was how random it was. One week it’d be an electropop song, the next it would be something folky like Bon Iver, and then it would be a latin song. I didn’t necessarily like it all (quite the opposite, in fact) but I listened to it all for the sake of discovery. The fact that these songs were free was just the icing on top of the cake. I had nothing to lose.

I had no idea at the time, but indie folk saw a massive explosion in popularity in 2008 with the rise of acts like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, who both released stunning debuts around this time. I didn’t realize that this era of indie had been such a widespread phenomenon until I saw people discussing Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago on its tenth anniversary calling it their “Gateway Indie” album. I liked that phrase, but I didn’t think much of it until I heard the ineffable deep_cuts youtube channel cite both For Emma and Fleet Foxes as “dominating adolescent MP3 players the world over” at this time. Maybe it was just his worldly UK accent, but something clicked for me. I realized this was not only a formative album, era, and sound for myself, but for everyone my age.

Beyond Folk

Later that year I met some of the coolest people in my high school. And by that I don’t mean cool in the traditional sense, they were dork-ass nerds like me, but they were dork-ass nerds with impeccable musical taste. At this point, the edgiest thing I had ever listened to was Nine Inch Nails, but these guys opened my mind to the larger world of indie music. Genres I didn’t even know existed. Sounds I could barely conceive of. This was 10th grade and the albums they showed me would go on to become some of my favorite and most formative of all time.

The first song I remember them playing for me was the opening track to Portugal. The Man’s first album Waiter: "You Vultures!" which was titled “How the Leopard Got Its Spots.” I’m going to stop there for a second just to point out this band/album/song combo was (before hearing the first note) already more experimental and out-there than anything else I’d ever heard up to that point.

“How the Leopard Got Its Spots” is a pokey unpredictable song that almost borders on prog. While Portugal. The Man changes up their sound every album, their debut is easily the most experimental of their discography, still retaining many characteristics of the band’s post-hard predecessor Anatomy of a Ghost. But I didn’t know any of that at the time. I just listened to the song, enraptured by the track’s grungy guitars that paired perfectly with Gourley’s shrill high-pitched singing. The lyrics were obtuse in a Relationship of Command-type way and the final glitched-out chorus haunted me for days after the fact, becoming an immovable earworm. I remember at the time Grand Theft Auto IV had just been released (God, take me back) and I’d spend hours tooling around the game’s gray city listening to this song on repeat for hours.

Sometime later, Eric (the one of the group who I was closest to) and I found ourselves sitting next to each other during a weirdly-placed mid-day homeroom period. I asked him what he was listening to and he said “I’ll show you” he handed me his headphones and hit play on his 3rd generation iPod Nano. What I heard were the first shimmering notes of Minus The Bear’s “Pachuca Sunrise.” The song’s carefully-times guitar taps and intensely-technical drumming provide the crunchy background for Jake Snyder’s laid-back sensual lyrics and Cory Murchy’s smooth flowing bassline. It gelled into a transformative experience that made my body feel warm with sunlight and love. There’s a reason it’s still one of the band’s most-played live songs even a decade later. It turns out “Pachuca Sunrise” was many people’s first Minus The Bear song and led countless fans to the group’s second album Menos El Oso.

At this point, I already had enough “material” to go off on my own and endlessly devour these two records from these two very different bands. And I did, but I was also hungry for more. I came back to this group of guys in our shared AV class and begged for more in the coolest way I could without discounting my own cred.

From there Eric, Oliver, and Max threw me into the deep end. They showed me “Death Rides a Horse” by instrumental band Russian Circles. I dug it. Ratcheting up the intensity, they moved onto “Laser Life” by the post-hardcore band Blood Brothers. I dug it. They then threw the hyperchaotic cybergrind “Chapels” by Genghis Tron at me. I didn’t dig it, but I warmed up to it pretty quickly.

While there were dozens of other acts and songs that these guys turned me onto over the course of the next year, this crop stands out in my mind both for its breadth and what they’ve gone on to represent for me personally.

Portugal. The Man would go onto become one of my favorite bands. I’ve often proselytized online that they have one of the best discographies in indie rock. I would also go on to expose this band to my two younger brothers, and for one of them, Portugal. The Man has become their favorite band of all time. They currently sit at my 8th most played band on Last.fm with just over 3,000 plays.

Minus the Bear was my favorite band for years. At 6 concerts they’re also far-and-away the band I’ve seen live the most, and two years ago I saw them play Menos El Oso in full for the album’s 10th-anniversary tour. The album’s closing track “This Ain't a Surfin’ Movie” has been my favorite song of all time since I first heard it. The band is currently my 6th most-listened band on Last.fm, and three of the band's albums are have made it onto my list of all-time favorites.

Russian Circles would eventually lead me to the world of post-rock and instrumental metal. Bands like Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, and Earth, all of whom have served as my reading and studying music throughout high school and college. Russian Circles also have a nearly-perfect discography, and they currently sit at #15 on my Last.fm.

Meanwhile, Fleet Foxes were always a bit boring to me… until this year. Maybe I have more patience at 24 than I did at 15, but I’ve had their discography on repeat for this entire summer and I’ve been loving it.

Most importantly, Bon Iver served as my gateway to all of this. It’s weird that a slow quiet folk album could pave the way for something as discordant and brutal as Genghis Tron, but I guess it’s a snowball effect type of thing. For Emma, Forever Ago also became somewhat of a soundtrack for my first real relationship, and despite that relationship’s rocky conclusion a year later, I can still listen to the album today and enjoy it as much as I did the first time hearing it.

I can’t thank these three dudes (and the creators of these albums) enough. I can safely say that my life would be unequivocally and vastly different without having gone through this period of exploration when I did. I would be a different person with different tastes and interests entirely. Full stop. So for that, I can only say “thank you” and hope that I returned the favor with someone else somewhere down the line. Sometimes discoveries come from the most unexpected places. Sometimes a random song can lead you down a path you never could have blazed yourself. Sometimes a single song can change everything.

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