Apes of the State - Moments A Year From Now

A year from now ... my heart smiles at the possibilities.

I'm gonna be a dad.

"Moments A Year From Now" by Apes of the State from their 2019 album Pipe Dream

mxmtoon - fever dream

Maybe that'll be me someday ... I hope they will be able to know the joy of being free.

"fever dream" by mxmtoon from her 2020 album Dawn

Long Beard - Sweetheart

Yeah I have a type I guess. Zebra can't change its stripes.

"Sweetheart" by Long Beard from her 2019 album Means To Me

No Joy - Everything New

Also another song I'm more than a bit surprised I had never posted here. I was like really excited when this came out. I have to thank Sonic Boom ... found Ghost Blonde in their discount rack (don't tell the band that lol). This was 5 years ago, yikes. Well, they're still at it, just released a new album. Will check out soon ... one day ... hopefully before time subsides.

"Everything New" by No Joy from their 2015 album More Faithful

Florist - M

Lo-fi piano, longing wispy vocals ... for a few minutes I remember that there's an entire world out there ... some of it actually worth having hope for.

"M" by Florist from her 2019 album Emily Alone

Teenage Priest - Innocent

Words that describe me: None of the below.

(I'm a sucker for that ... whatever sound it is that plays consistently on beat 2 and 4 ... it's similar to the sounds in Glory on beat 3.)

"Innocent" by Teenage Priest, a single from 2020

That Is Good - Make It Work

This is good. That is, That Is Good is good. Another Good that is good that is not Matthew Good.

(The piano, the chords, the vocal styling really makes nostalgic for Allegro Cantabile Sound, the outro for the anime series Nodame Cantabile. This is a much different tempo and feel of course. That was a nice time. I miss being moved by simple things.)

"Make It Work" by That Is Good, a single from 2019.

The Steals - Hope

I'm surprised that I never had posted this song back in the hayday of this blog (let's be real, was there ever such a time?). I think it's one of the songs that really pushed me to seek out a shoegaze guitar sound.

"Hope" by The Steals from their 2010 album Static Kingdom

The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends

 Throwback to a time that I only know as a soundscape.

"Here's Where The Story Ends" by The Sundays from their 1990 album Reading, Writing, & Arithmetic

AAAMYYY - Leeloo

 Yeah, time is... quite a precious commodity. Let's go ham, while we still can.

"Leeloo" by AAAMYYY, single in 2020

Braids - Young Buck

Happy post-Canada Day.

Here's some fun Canadian music.

Strange amount of dislikes though. Wonder why...

"Young Buck" by Braids from their 2020 album Shadow Offering

Beach House - Alien

What ... why did they put this on the B-side of 7. I would've listened the [redacted] out of this...

"Alien" by Beach House, a single included on the B-sides of 7

Pia Fraus - Hidden Parks

New Pia Fraus ... didn't think that was going to happen. Thanks guys.

"Hidden Parks" by Pia Fraus from their 2020 album Empty Parks

Orville Peck - Turn to Hate

Orville binge. Maybe I'll chance upon him downtown someday after this quarantine hokey pokey.

"Turn to Hate" by Orville Peck from his 2019 album Pony

Orville Peck - Dead of Night

Back ... posting slightly before the ...

"Dead of Night" by Orville Peck from his 2019 album Pony

Wiki says he collaborated with Shania Twain on his forthcoming album Show Pony. Nice lol.

Shugo Tokumaru - Katachi

We're all a bit stressed. Some a bit more than others. Some are stressing at home, others stressing at work. But, I'm sure we'll get through this together. Here's Shugo for some good vibes to carry us through this tenuous time.

"Katachi" by Shugo Tokumaru from his 2012 album In Focus

Bruno Mars - Versace on the Floor

Some songs that come up during dates just kinda stick.

"Versace on the Floor" by Bruno Mars from his 2016 album "24K Magic"

Oddnesse - Donut Shop

Somewhere I won't be going for a bit. Though this does sound better at home.

"Donut Shop" by Oddnesse, single from 2019

Ginger Root - Call It Home

Something light for a heavy time.

"Call It Home" by Ginger Root, single from 2018

Rage Against the Machine - Guerilla Radio

The Battle of Los Angeles was one of the first albums that I owned, thanks to "Guerilla Radio" being on The Countdown on MuchMusic. I'm pretty sure my mom had no idea what any of the song, album, or band were all about. But I'm glad she did get it for me ... artists like Rage Against the Machine really helped develop my perspective as a teenager to be inquisitive and not to be ever-trusting of institutional thought.

I had been recently relistening to this album before the recently fulminating crisis with Iran. It vexes to see that the themes (and even the specific context) of this song is still so harrowingly relevant today. 2020's been a mess so far. I hope one day I won't have to be a resigned cynic. For now, I will grieve with the world for those lost and whom/what will be lost.

"Guerilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine from their 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles

Addendum: I guess it's almost fitting that Rage Against the Machine (with Zach) is actually getting back together to play a few shows, namely Coachella this year. While I normally would be ecstatic to know that a band so influential in my development was getting back together, I also lament that their music is still (so) relevant.

Oddnesse - Are You Down?

Yes.

Guess I'm on an Oddnesse binge.

"Are You Down?" by Oddnesse, single from 2018

Oddnesse - I Used To

I sometimes wonder why my music preferences invariably fall back to more melancholic sounds. I think I've come to realize that it's not because I like returning to those states to then indulge in a self-pity party. While I do agree that these doses of melancholy serve to remind of times of lower tide, I then remember finding my way out of those holes. It reminds me of the relief that came upon when those past times finally ended. It reminds me of the relief that I experience now regularly, now that I am no longer blighted by old conditions and mindsets. It also reminds me that humanity is invariably connected with trials and pain and encourages me to stay humble and in tune with that side of life, to remember that beautiful spectrum of our humanity.

"I Used To" by Oddnesse, single from 2018