Petal - Silver Springs

New music from Petal! This is a very pretty song. I think her voice has gotten stronger since Shame. Really looking forward to the new EP, out September 15th. I backdate some of these entries so I can put more up at once. September 15th is actually tomorrow. I'll be sure to be there to support them tomorrow (digitally).

"Silver Springs" by Petal from the upcoming 2017 EP Comfort

Showtime Goma - Secret NRG

I was super excited about Jen Goma's solo project when I first heard about it. I think I got it as soon as it came out. I don't know where the summer's gone but it was put on the backlog for a while. I still could stand to listen to it a few more times before getting a full idea of what it's about. But, anyway, here's one of the songs that has stuck with me from my cursory listens. Oh, lucky me, there's a music video.

"Secret NRG" by Showtime Goma from her debut 2017 album Smiley Face

Sarah McLachlan - Possession

Found Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstacy album at Value Village the other day. I mostly bought it for "Ice Cream"; "Possession" is nice too. She was ~25 when she released that album. I've become much more obsessed with age recently. I suppose the big things in my life are starting to precipitate and I'm just starting to get a little nervous I guess. In retrospect, I suppose I was always a nervous one.

Well anyway, "Possession" is a nice song, so is the rest of the album. I'm sure I wouldn't have appreciated it when I was 5 though.

"Possession" by Sarah McLachlan from her 1993 album Fumbling Towards Ecstacy

Stumbleine - Cassette

Rainy afternoon in the busy city.

"Cassette" by Stumbleine from his 2012 album Ghosting

School of Seven Bells - Ablaze

I still listen to "Half Asleep" by School of Seven Bells pretty frequently. Their eponymous album, SVIIB, released last year will be the band's last. Namely because of the unfortunate passing of founding member Benjamin Curtis. He had passed back in 2013, a year after the previous album Ghostory was released. There's a fair amount of other history about this album. I'll just leave a link here to a Pitchfork review of this album, which gives not only a good synopsis of the group but also my general impression of this album.

"Ablaze" by School of Seven Bells from their eponymous (and final) album SVIIB released in 2016

竹内まりや (Mariya Takeuchi) - 本気でオンリーユー (Let's Get Married)

Mariya Takeuchi was 29 when this song was released back in 1984. Now she is 65. In the same span of time, I too will be nearing the fabled retirement age. I wonder if people will look back at the acts of my late-20s with as much mirth as that of mine when I listen to this song. I like the dog at 1:40.

本気でオンリーユー (Let's Get Married) by 竹内まりや (Mariya Takeuchi) from her 1984 album Variety

OOHYO - PIZZA

This song is about summer but it was posted in March. Oohyo's 2015 album is pretty cool too.

"PIZZA" by OOHYO, a single from 2017

Tyler, the Creator - (no link available)

Listened to the new Tyler album on repeat for a good chunk of time. Wasn't really expecting too much but turned out to be super impressed. Really great mix of instrumentals (the beats and jazz interludes), earnest lyrics, and various vocals by Tyler and guests. This album's really shaping up to be one of the top for me this year (even more than Frank Ocean's from last year). Songs on heavy rotation: "Where This Flower Blooms", "See You Again" (if only he had more than the single rap verse), "911/Mr. Lonely", "November".

Same issue with Frank's album last year ... can't really find a reliable YouTube link to post here ... and I really didn't like "Who Dat Boy" too much so uhh ... I'll just leave this as one of those rare text posts.

Scum Fuck Flower Boy album artwork from Tyler, the Creator

Belle Game - Spirit

"Spirit" by Belle Game is a really great song to wake up to ... well not as an alarm ringtone, that might be a bit too aggressive ... it's a good "let's get this day going" kinda thing. Instrumentally really well layered, it will be good for the imminent autumnal arrival.

"Spirit" by Belle Game from their 2017 album Fear/Nothing

The Midnight - Jason

That's one saxety sax. Contrary to the album title, summer is on its way out. Also, please bear witness to doggety sax (he's very talented).

"Jason" by The Midnight from their 2016 album Endless Summer

The Velveteins - Midnight Surf

Rock music. Guitar jamming doesn't factor enough into my current musical rotation. It's sort of coming back ... think we're into redoing 90's stuff now (not that this is that). These guys are from Edmonton.

"Midnight Surf" by The Velveteins from their 2017 album Slow Wave

Lowell - LGBT

Oh, another backlogged song. Really liked this song last summer. Came across Lowell when I was looking up Shad's Your Boy Tony Braxton stuff on Arts & Crafts. It's positive ... guess I'm a sucker for that. New EP with "High Enough" came out a while back ... I'll check out the rest of those songs later.

"LGBT" by Lowell from her 2014 album We Loved Her Dearly

Varsity - So Sad, So Sad

Well, back to the backlog. Things have calmed down a bit and I'm just in the process of resetting my motivational compass. Here's a song I heard a while back. Beachy breakup song or something like that. Cool tempo change at the bridge. Dayum, 9 million views.

"So Sad, So Sad" by Varsity, single released in 2015.

Mac DeMarco - No Other Heart

Had this window open last night but just listening to it now. Another slamming tune by Mac DeMarco. Really good timing ... still in the bothered borough. All versions are great. Thanks for the help Mac DeMarco ... (you're much better than those contractors... !!!)

"No Other Heart" by Mac DeMarco from his 2015 love-inspired "mini-album" Another One

Live version at a radio station

Live version on a rowboat (this is the most fitting setting for this song)

Blind Pilot - "Umpqua Rushing" and "Moon At Dawn"

Anxiety not been a friend to me lately (contractors, man, get a bad one and you're in for a ride). Nothing like a small dose of melancholy to dull the edge. I've had And Then Like Lions by Blind Pilot sitting around for a while. Finally took some time to listen to it today and it sure was good timing. Melancholy because of the lyrical content of the first song, though maybe not necessarily musically ... on that note I do have to give it to Blind Pilot for their instrumental progression (particularly in the second, non-melancholic, song). Oh, lucky, live performances for both these songs on their official channel too.

"Umpqua Rushing" by Blind Pilot from their 2016 album And Then Like Lions

"Moon At Dawn" by Blind Pilot from their 2016 album And Then Like Lions

Ryan Paris - Dolce Vita

Well, since we talked about Mac DeMarco, it's only fitting to put up some Ryan Paris. First heard this from an interview with Mac DeMarco (I think this one). I think he said something about liking this song because of the sad undertones of Ryan Paris's beckoning to join him in his sweet life. I can dig that. Still a really cool song. It was made 34 years ago. My goodness. All those beautiful people ... are ... now ... slightly different. Likely more than a few of those people in that music video are dead. Holy shit. Well, today is over. Tomorrow's going to come and go. And then what? ... and then ... ... fuck.

"Dolce Vita" by Ryan Paris released in 1983

Mac DeMarco - My Kind Of Woman

You know, despite the fact that 15 out of the 20 latest entries feature female vocals, I, in fact, do also like male musicians, like Mac DeMarco. He's a real cool dude (source). In another interview, I think he said something about him really appreciating how he was able to pursue his musical passions sustainably. Ok, well, there's that.

"My Kind Of Woman" by Mac DeMarco from his 2012 album 2

Fazerdaze - "Lucky Girl" and "Little Uneasy"

This Tumblr-based music video ("Lucky Girl") is sure to keep even the most attention-deficient entranced. I, for one, welcome our new clip-based MV-lords. Surfy. Very nice. I really liked the rest of the Morningside album ... there was a very definite 90's rock influence in it (more apparent on "Little Uneasy"). Well, nu-disco was cool for a little early 2010's then 80's synth for a few years more recently, maybe the 90's thing will really foment in the next few years. Wonder what comes next ... I don't think anything remarkable really happened post-2000.

"Lucky Girl" by Fazerdaze from her 2017 album Morningside

"Little Uneasy" by Fazerdaze from her 2017 album Morningside

I used to know someone who would roller blade all over the place. I'd see her and think that she had such an aura of freedom to her. A part of me was very fond of that notion. As I am now, likely close to 15 years later ... I still don't think I would be able just ride down an empty street with the breeze gently flowing past me in a completely unclouded/lucid mindset detached from all the concerns of today and tomorrow. That would be nice though.

Maybe I should take a vacation.

Isaac Delusion - Isabella

How does one cast a music video like this? Ok, clearly, the choice of makeup, clothing, and wigs were not some coincidence ... this is some sort of statement about "conventional" beauty or whatever. But ... how do you ... look for unattractive people to hire? What did the call-out look like? And how do the people in the video feel about the whole thing? Well, I guess the assumption is there is already some baseline level of comfort within their skin. Whatever.

"Isabella" by Isaac Delusion from their 2017 album Rust And Gold

Frankie Rose - Red Museum

Well this is certainly an immersive museum experience. I wish my membership to the local museum offered similar perks. It does not. That's ok, though; learning about rocks seems to keep me sufficiently occupied. Next time I go, I'll just put Frankie Rose on and lament my folly.

Based on the quotes in this article, Frankie Rose seems to have recently gone through some heavy existence-provoking shit (this vulgar plebian could not think of a fitting unpretentious noun, I'm sorry). I'm glad she was able to get through it. And, hey, now we're all the better for her triumph (not that she gives a shit, apparently). Well met.

"Red Museum" by Frankie Rose from the 2017 album Cage Tropical

Anchorsong - Oriental Suite

I have a soft spot for watching live electronic music production. So, you could imagine I really liked watching Japanese electronic artist Anchorsong do his thing here. The song is called "Oriental Suite". It's ok, he can use that word.

Ok, I looked up why I'm supposed to be outraged by the use of O-word. It's because it was most frequently used as a descriptor for Asians during a time when Asian-Americans were discriminated against. So, not really any fun etymological reasons. Just a social one. Boring.

"Oriental Suite" by Anchorsong from his 2016 album Ceremonial

Braids - Miniskirt

This recent wave of posts has really just been a flood of backlogged posts from the past 3 years. Here's another one. This song taught me how to respect other people's belongings. I thank you Canada for producing super cool bands like Braids. I know that I don't appreciate many things until they are gone. Hopefully, Braids still be around for a while.

"Miniskirt" by Braids from their 2015 album Deep In The Iris