Howdy. I’m back from a longer-than-expected summer hiatus (blame me being either drunk or hungover far too often to be creative). I can’t promise that I’ll be totally back on my A Game of weekly uploads until I’m back to the more structured uni life, but I can promise that the blogging cogs in my brain are starting to turn again and I am getting more inspired to write once more.
To ease myself into the blogging life again I’m going to start by introducing a new feature idea I have; ‘Today I’m Listening To...’ where I give a rundown of my current favourite music which some of you will hopefully find interesting. Whilst I am someone who tends to stick to the same albums for at least a couple of months at a time (pretty much until I’ve listened so much I get bored), there are songs that creep in and out of my usual playlists which I intend to document with this ongoing feature.
Blackstar - Radiohead
“Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird”
Underrated? Overrated? No one in the Radiohead fan base can seem to decide on this one. This track, coming at the latter half of one of my favourite albums of all time The Bends, ‘Blackstar’ is certainly one of the more traditionally arranged of Radiohead’s mostly more experimental and alternative repertoire, but what’s wrong with a bit of normality eh? This song has a well-rounded and catchy chorus that kicks in with punch and Thom Yorke’s vocals are clear, confident and stunning for any ear. I have a new favourite track from this album pretty much every week, but this stands out at the moment for how well-rounded a song it is. Even the biggest Radiohead hater could not turn their nose up at this one.
All My Love - Led Zeppelin
“One voice is clear above the din”
Staying true to my branding once again, this particular bop of all of Zeppelin’s many bops made its way into my regular listening recently. Much like my previous Radiohead pick, this song is far from from their usual genre, beginning with synth sounds rather the usual heavy distorted guitar. It is with this new feel that Zeppelin first intrigued with this track and I can now confidently call it one of my favourites of theirs. The lyrics are emotionally conveyed as always by genius vocalist Robert Plant, to give the song a melancholic, passionate feeling which oozes from each word sung.
Shallow - Spinn
“Fill my head with flowers”
Always one to shoutout my good friends Spinn and their lovely dream-pop goodness, this mention is certainly not coming from bias. Having seen the band live multiple times, I had heard ‘Shallow’ previously as a staple of their most recent touring setlist, and had loved its sound for a while. When I heard that this was to be their newest release I was thrilled to be able to listen to the tune outside of gigs and really appreciate it. This only cements in mine and so many other people’s minds as their fanbase ever-grows, that not only have this band completely pinned down their sound and their intentions with the music going forward, but they are certainly talented enough to execute it very well indeed; in the studio and, take my word for it, onstage too.
Window - Tigers Jaw
“Afraid of change but more afraid to stay the same”
Whilst I have only dipped my toe into the pool of emo/alternative emo/whatever you want to call it, this latest release from the once five-piece, now two-piece band, titled Spin, has many a tune that grows on me with every listen. With a somber feel, seemingly about the anxiety of losing someone close to you, this is a definite moody but beautiful tune. I am still unconvinced by traditional emo music as it is far from my usual sound of choice, especially in the realms of guitar music, but with this being the band’s first release on a major record label, perhaps the more mainstream ‘spin’ on this (ha ha), is why I do not have trouble backing this track, and multiple tracks from this release, as it is now a part of my most heavily rotated music of the moment.
Asking For It - Hole
“Angel dust and my dress just comes undone”
As a young and often angsty female, it’s hard not to be in full support of a band like Hole. While Courtney Love and co. have sometimes been scrutinised for the simplicity and perhaps shallowness of their grunge-rock music, this song in particular has stood out to me as of late as being far more profound, well executed and meaningful than their critics may allow. I can only assume, confidently so however, that the ‘asking for it’ motif is surely reminiscent of rape culture and the twisted excuse that women with certain attitudes, manner, dress sense etc, somehow ‘ask for’ abuse. With Courtney being as outspoken as ever when the album Live Through This debuted in 1994, her views on this matter are quite clear in this track, asking ‘do you think you can make me do it again?’ Powerful, no nonsense and honestly quite sad, I have been nothing short of obsessed with the message of this underrated message in song form.
A mixed bag as always, those are my current favourite songs. I aim to keep this an ongoing feature on my blog, as my interests and preferred genres of music continue to develop, surprising even myself. Check out the recommended bops, you probably won’t regret it?
See ya next time
H x
To ease myself into the blogging life again I’m going to start by introducing a new feature idea I have; ‘Today I’m Listening To...’ where I give a rundown of my current favourite music which some of you will hopefully find interesting. Whilst I am someone who tends to stick to the same albums for at least a couple of months at a time (pretty much until I’ve listened so much I get bored), there are songs that creep in and out of my usual playlists which I intend to document with this ongoing feature.
Blackstar - Radiohead
“Where do we go from here? The words are coming out all weird”
Underrated? Overrated? No one in the Radiohead fan base can seem to decide on this one. This track, coming at the latter half of one of my favourite albums of all time The Bends, ‘Blackstar’ is certainly one of the more traditionally arranged of Radiohead’s mostly more experimental and alternative repertoire, but what’s wrong with a bit of normality eh? This song has a well-rounded and catchy chorus that kicks in with punch and Thom Yorke’s vocals are clear, confident and stunning for any ear. I have a new favourite track from this album pretty much every week, but this stands out at the moment for how well-rounded a song it is. Even the biggest Radiohead hater could not turn their nose up at this one.
All My Love - Led Zeppelin
“One voice is clear above the din”
Staying true to my branding once again, this particular bop of all of Zeppelin’s many bops made its way into my regular listening recently. Much like my previous Radiohead pick, this song is far from from their usual genre, beginning with synth sounds rather the usual heavy distorted guitar. It is with this new feel that Zeppelin first intrigued with this track and I can now confidently call it one of my favourites of theirs. The lyrics are emotionally conveyed as always by genius vocalist Robert Plant, to give the song a melancholic, passionate feeling which oozes from each word sung.
Shallow - Spinn
“Fill my head with flowers”
Always one to shoutout my good friends Spinn and their lovely dream-pop goodness, this mention is certainly not coming from bias. Having seen the band live multiple times, I had heard ‘Shallow’ previously as a staple of their most recent touring setlist, and had loved its sound for a while. When I heard that this was to be their newest release I was thrilled to be able to listen to the tune outside of gigs and really appreciate it. This only cements in mine and so many other people’s minds as their fanbase ever-grows, that not only have this band completely pinned down their sound and their intentions with the music going forward, but they are certainly talented enough to execute it very well indeed; in the studio and, take my word for it, onstage too.
Window - Tigers Jaw
“Afraid of change but more afraid to stay the same”
Whilst I have only dipped my toe into the pool of emo/alternative emo/whatever you want to call it, this latest release from the once five-piece, now two-piece band, titled Spin, has many a tune that grows on me with every listen. With a somber feel, seemingly about the anxiety of losing someone close to you, this is a definite moody but beautiful tune. I am still unconvinced by traditional emo music as it is far from my usual sound of choice, especially in the realms of guitar music, but with this being the band’s first release on a major record label, perhaps the more mainstream ‘spin’ on this (ha ha), is why I do not have trouble backing this track, and multiple tracks from this release, as it is now a part of my most heavily rotated music of the moment.
Asking For It - Hole
“Angel dust and my dress just comes undone”
As a young and often angsty female, it’s hard not to be in full support of a band like Hole. While Courtney Love and co. have sometimes been scrutinised for the simplicity and perhaps shallowness of their grunge-rock music, this song in particular has stood out to me as of late as being far more profound, well executed and meaningful than their critics may allow. I can only assume, confidently so however, that the ‘asking for it’ motif is surely reminiscent of rape culture and the twisted excuse that women with certain attitudes, manner, dress sense etc, somehow ‘ask for’ abuse. With Courtney being as outspoken as ever when the album Live Through This debuted in 1994, her views on this matter are quite clear in this track, asking ‘do you think you can make me do it again?’ Powerful, no nonsense and honestly quite sad, I have been nothing short of obsessed with the message of this underrated message in song form.
A mixed bag as always, those are my current favourite songs. I aim to keep this an ongoing feature on my blog, as my interests and preferred genres of music continue to develop, surprising even myself. Check out the recommended bops, you probably won’t regret it?
See ya next time
H x
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