#  @M_Xenophon Multivac
Multivac posts on X about in the, the first, list, the year the most. They currently have [--] followers and [---] posts still getting attention that total [---] engagements in the last [--] hours.
### Engagements: [---] [#](/creator/twitter::1428461516/interactions)
- [--] Week [---------] +260%
- [--] Month [---------] +67,028%
- [--] Months [---------] +133,741%
- [--] Year [---------] +24,747%
### Mentions: [--] [#](/creator/twitter::1428461516/posts_active)
- [--] Months [--] +223%
- [--] Year [--] -86%
### Followers: [--] [#](/creator/twitter::1428461516/followers)
- [--] Week [--] +1.60%
- [--] Month [--] +5.10%
- [--] Months [--] +17%
- [--] Year [--] +11%
### CreatorRank: undefined [#](/creator/twitter::1428461516/influencer_rank)
### Social Influence
**Social category influence**
[cryptocurrencies](/list/cryptocurrencies) [technology brands](/list/technology-brands) [celebrities](/list/celebrities) [countries](/list/countries) [musicians](/list/musicians) [social networks](/list/social-networks) [travel destinations](/list/travel-destinations) [nhl](/list/nhl) [nfl](/list/nfl) [finance](/list/finance)
**Social topic influence**
[in the](/topic/in-the), [the first](/topic/the-first), [list](/topic/list), [the year](/topic/the-year), [elements](/topic/elements), [metal](/topic/metal), [attention](/topic/attention), [strong](/topic/strong), [just a](/topic/just-a), [band](/topic/band)
**Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by**
[@thursdayband](/creator/undefined) [@katrosenfield](/creator/undefined) [@ltlmsnietzsche](/creator/undefined) [@aiforhumansshow](/creator/undefined) [@joetrainorjunk](/creator/undefined) [@donnymccaslin](/creator/undefined) [@thebeths](/creator/undefined) [@theswellseason](/creator/undefined) [@tirandoavioleta](/creator/undefined) [@ladisputeband](/creator/undefined) [@laughingchimes](/creator/undefined) [@btbamofficial](/creator/undefined) [@ninajirachi](/creator/undefined) [@jessesingal](/creator/undefined) [@jesss152](/creator/undefined) [@attack](/creator/undefined) [@tippettowen](/creator/undefined) [@jasongay](/creator/undefined) [@elajjaz](/creator/undefined) [@sophianarwitz](/creator/undefined)
**Top assets mentioned**
[Habibi (HABIBI)](/topic/habibi) [Welshcorgicoin (WELSH)](/topic/welsh)
### Top Social Posts
Top posts by engagements in the last [--] hours
"Legend Saquon Barkley was asked what his favorite play of the season was. "I wanna say the snow touchdown against theRams. But then I forget I jumped over someone backwards." #Eagles Saquon Barkley was asked what his favorite play of the season was. "I wanna say the snow touchdown against theRams. But then I forget I jumped over someone backwards." #Eagles"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1887302362957488239) 2025-02-06T00:48Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"@katrosenfield This whole thread is best read in Tina Belcher's voice"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1892770266092081579) 2025-02-21T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It finally happened to me I got "so you hate waffles"-ed (Though contrary to the famous tweet this happened on Reddit not Twitter.) I wasn't even offended by the reply since I like Faker just found it hilarious to see it play out exactly like the meme"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1966941245504438406) 2025-09-13T19:05Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"What picture do we like best chat Drug trip heavenly ascension or horror movie"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1974197612577542377) 2025-10-03T19:39Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We got this book called The Big Slide for the little one from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library this month. Too bad I already knew how it ended"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1983306865384787981) 2025-10-28T22:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My sense of humor goes unappreciated"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1989147672503337182) 2025-11-14T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"What's the best tennis video game of all time https://t.co/BDbyJDyKVg What's the best tennis video game of all time https://t.co/BDbyJDyKVg"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2001788431232299041) 2025-12-18T22:55Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Excellent joke. No notes. ninajirachi voice: i also agree laptops should have more holes ninajirachi voice: i also agree laptops should have more holes"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2005071110803755400) 2025-12-28T00:19Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"For context: https://youtu.be/HWl1Tu9oZmYsi=s6eVsRxmHS622_JA https://youtu.be/HWl1Tu9oZmYsi=s6eVsRxmHS622_JA"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2005071113173553476) 2025-12-28T00:19Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"10 Favorite Albums and Songs of [----] Now that [----] is over the window for new music releases is formally closed and I can share my list of ten favorite songs and albums of the year. (Any sites that published their lists in late November/early December are clearly less legitimate than me the random guy on the internet.) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2006846359513739531 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2006846359513739531"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2006846359513739531) 2026-01-01T21:53Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"My #10 Favorite Song of the Year: Beeswing//Big Butt Billy by Willi Carlisle https://youtu.be/caZF2ugBm60si=KeGCHW4kgtCeY6Lp https://youtu.be/caZF2ugBm60si=KeGCHW4kgtCeY6Lp"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007201603863097728) 2026-01-02T21:25Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #10 Favorite Album of [----] Donny McCaslin (@DonnyMcCaslin) - Lullaby for the Lost https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555714915676265 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555714915676265"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555714915676265) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I was introduced to Donny McCaslin ten years ago without realizing it at the time. In January [----] David Bowie released his final album Blackstar and it was praised at the time for its interesting fusion of moody rock and Avant Garde jazz elements. One of these signature jazz elements was a haunting saxophone which as I learned this year was courtesy of Donny McCaslin. When I learned of this relationship in connection with the release of McCaslin's [----] solo album Lullaby for the Lost that was certainly enough of a hook to get me to dig deeper and I was pleased with the treasures it"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555718660956185) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Barely even a minute in to the first track "Wasteland" I was musically intrigued. The saxophone had played only two lines but it triggered something in my brain immediately. I heard those two lines and thought to myself "These lines were setup and I can almost hear how they resolve already." And indeed the resolution was close to what I was expecting (with a nice little bit of additional flair to it). I won't claim to be some musical expert so I think that even from the opening notes it's clear that McCaslin knows how to speak to the listener in terms that they understand on an archetypal"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555721584333020) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As the song continues I was also surprised at the sonic texture. When one thinks "jazz" it's common to picture a jazz trio composed of some combination of a drummer stand up bass piano trumpet etc. "Wasteland" certain defies such conventions with the backing music dominated by fuzzy industrial drums and guitar. Later track "Tokyo Game Show" also employs strong industrial rock sonic elements. https://youtu.be/wfVgPJSjQsksi=579m0zxx6fip3L0I https://youtu.be/wfVgPJSjQsksi=579m0zxx6fip3L0I"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555723832545611) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And that's emblematic of much of McCaslin's approach on this album. To my ear it's highly reminiscent of Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani just with a saxophone in place of Satriani's guitar (and maybe fewer notes per second haha). Indeed there are some strong rock rather than jazz sensibilities on this album. One could argue that "Blond Crush" for example is straight up a rock song that has a saxophone instead of vocals. https://youtu.be/ScRrY8eN7eYsi=KFty4fZS9xq5MmKg https://youtu.be/ScRrY8eN7eYsi=KFty4fZS9xq5MmKg"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555726126837845) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"That's one of the exciting things about this album that every track brings something different and stimulating. No two tracks sound particularly similar and I find that they often speak to different parts of my brain. For example if "Wasteland" was more of an intellectual exercise predicting the resolutions of lines and paying attention to when the chorus is and is not employed the second song "Solace" is satisfying on a much more immediate level. https://youtu.be/GybuUmrOa6Qsi=4Ln5h8dNnpm0aIaW https://youtu.be/GybuUmrOa6Qsi=4Ln5h8dNnpm0aIaW"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555728664314116) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Solace" employs a delightful theme with a synthetic soundscape that sounds almost futuristic (it reminds me of Jack Magnet Science which made my top ten list last year). It feels befitting of a Cowboy Bebop setting. It's an inherently exciting soundscape that still allows the players some room for their own improvisation and fun. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555732649193764 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555732649193764"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555732649193764) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Stately" is an intellectual exercise in yet another form. To my ear it's less about structural depths like "Wasteland" and focuses more on the live conversation happening between the saxophone and guitar as you'll commonly hear as a feature of jazz. https://youtu.be/oMQ_UwiAQzAsi=fZk3MSD6K8IhvtMj https://youtu.be/oMQ_UwiAQzAsi=fZk3MSD6K8IhvtMj"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555734989656135) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"McCaslin even knows how to write an earworm In addition to employing another lovely futuristic soundscape the main theme of "Celestial" (an ascending scale of ascending scales) has a tendency to get stuck in my head for days. The same goes for "KID" later in the album. https://youtu.be/liMbLbxsT5Qsi=CCZIBzViiXdXyFem https://youtu.be/liMbLbxsT5Qsi=CCZIBzViiXdXyFem"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555737892069530) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oddly the only track that doesn't fully work for me is the title track which comes across as slightly slow and dour for my taste. But that's a minor nit and just a difference of taste rather than any claim that it's a bad song. https://youtu.be/7dMLyFNYaw0si=oXAh6pNUlBePbd9e https://youtu.be/7dMLyFNYaw0si=oXAh6pNUlBePbd9e"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555740568047860) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"McCaslin concludes the album with "Mercy" and while I don't believe it was strictly intentional it's the one that to my ear most captures the lonely haunting feeling that permeated much of Blackstar. I'd like to think that this was a nod to the album which helped boost his name into spheres that might not have otherwise heard of him like my own. (And to be clear I'm not making too much of this connection just because I love Bowie--McCaslin's own profile on Bandcamp reads "Donny McCaslin is best known as the saxophonist on David Bowies last album Blackstar" so he openly embraces being known"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555743336247499) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So overall Lullaby for the Lost is an excellent album. Each track brings something new to the table so no two pieces blend together and it engages the listener's brain on a lot of different levels. It's one of those albums that you can listen to several times and keep discovering new elements that you like. Really the only reason it didn't rank higher for me is because I have a little less emotional response to the music than I do for others that lie ahead. In fact to preview my #9 selection I chose the album almost exclusively because of how each song causes me to swell with emotion. But"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2007555745781276994) 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #9 Favorite Song of 2025: "Subroutines" from the videogame Blippo+ (written by Rob Kieswetter & Jana Bechtolt) https://youtu.be/aLWBkQcVajksi=kzEk4o3zCWfkNiof https://youtu.be/aLWBkQcVajksi=kzEk4o3zCWfkNiof"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001732916420768) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"Because my music collection is quite curated it's not often that I end up listening to songs several times without specifically setting out to do so. "Subroutines" was an exception to this rule for [----] and it ended up being a highlight of my week for weeks on end"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001735248540148) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For context: this is a Playdate handheld game system. It's a fun little device with excellent indie game support and I recommend that everyone look into it (though I digress). When you buy it you get access to a "Season 1" of games and after a couple of years of development gamers were able to buy the Season [--] bundle as well which included a game () called Blippo+ https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001737840288027 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001737840288027"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001737840288027) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Blippo+ isn't so much a game but a unique storytelling medium. When you fire it up you're on a channel select screen able to freely tune to ten channels' worth of tv shows (five minute-long episodes per channel on a loop) and the intriguing thing is that the channels update every single week. As you view the news entertainment and.miscellaneous programming you see a story unfold over the course of ten weeks about the discovery of a mysterious "bend" in space connecting their world to ours their attempts to explore the bend and seeing what comes back. It's fascinating stuff you should check it"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001740403028325) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Subroutines" was one such program every week and endearingly it was one of the few that didn't change from week to week. So every week I was greeted with this charmingly pleasant minute-long song accompanying an exercise routine"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001742550753689) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oh I didn't mention that there's an exercise routine That's right this song is interactive too. Behold in all its glory"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001744673157418) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So yes even though this song wasn't a part of my library until I discovered that you could buy it on Bandcamp in December I made sure to tune into Blippo+ every week in part to experience the glory of Subroutines for the week sometimes getting out of my chair to move along to it. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001747709481408 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001747709481408"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001747709481408) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And look context aside it's just a neat minute of music too It has a cute soundscape a pleasant chorus sequence and is surprisingly catchy. It's everything it needed to be and then some"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001749504929920) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For these reasons this song firmly embedded itself as a surprisingly big part of my year and I'd have been remiss had I not included it in my favorite songs of the year"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008001751878881532) 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #9 Favorite Album of [----] Bienquererse by Andrea Cruz https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359541474254893 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359541474254893"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008359541474254893) 2026-01-06T02:06Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"If you fire up a random track on Bienquererse you might initially think it to be a strange inclusion on my top [--] list. It's acoustic-forward music from an artist who (to my understanding) isn't particularly known outside of Puerto Rico singing entirely in a language of which I only understand bits and pieces. You might listen and think sure this is pretty easy listening but compared to other things he likes what's the true hook here and then that moment in the song hits and it becomes clear all of a sudden. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359550789755258"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008359550789755258) 2026-01-06T02:06Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #8 Favorite Song of [----] "Metal" by The Beths (@THEBETHS) https://youtu.be/YrVEgP0LkDAsi=uO3oc2hBQ-pdXvX8 https://youtu.be/YrVEgP0LkDAsi=uO3oc2hBQ-pdXvX8"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730369911369916) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"New Zealand is a lovely place. It has beaches penguins Maori hobbits and now The Beths"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730372721303662) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"For those not in the know The Beths are a New Zealand indie band that appears to be building momentum and is well worth keeping an eye on and with songs like "Metal" it's not hard to see why. It's a little jangle pop a little indie a little Kiwi and a lot of heart"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730377402417584) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""And I know I'm a collaboration Bacteria carbon and light A florid orchestration A recipe of fortune and time Yeah it's a lot to take in When I try I see a short word" The verses describes our bodies in very robotic mechanical terms (the titular "metal" being the iron in our blood). Accordingly the chorus builds on this idea being left in awe about our place in the universe. We're lucky to be here just a concoction of "bacteria carbon and light" and in the grand scheme of things it really is a lot to take in. The final line also draws the music to a more hushed dynamic letting it linger as"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730390542917633) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The chorus itself is a lot to take in and for that reason it's a pleasant respite when we get to the third verse and we get another way to build on the perfect melody: this time we get layered vocals trading off back and forth double the perfect melody"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730392770347204) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For such an easygoing sound this song packs a surprising punch and its this combination of sound and content that propels the band to higher heights which is a consistent theme throughout the whole album"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730397426000010) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As I mentioned above this band is one to keep an eye on. I discovered them on Bandcamp just like 90% of new music I listen to these days but since then I've noticed that they "escaped containment" and have been highlighted in other notable ways: they were featured on.one of the late night talk shows (don't ask me which one) they sold out two shows in Philly on their recent tour and this song even made Barack Obama's [----] recommendations. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008730399615189476 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008730399615189476"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2008730399615189476) 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #8 Favorite Album of [----] The Swell Season (@TheSwellSeason) - Forward https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079016175657295 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079016175657295"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009079016175657295) 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I havent had much occasion to think of The Swell Season in a while. Their popularity naturally peaked on the back of the success of the movie Once and winning an Oscar for Best Original Song at the [----] Academy Awards. I continued following them with the release of their subsequent album Strict Joy in [----] and aside from seeing frontman Glen Hansard in concert in [----] I havent had much occasion to think of them since then. It was by pure luck that I just happened to see that they released a new album when I visited my local music store this year and what good luck it was that I saw this"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009079019204153669) 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Forward is actually their first album since Strict Joy a full sixteen years between releases and song-for-song it might actually be their best outing overall being true to their roots while also displaying some heartfelt growth. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079021422715073 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079021422715073"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009079021422715073) 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"One decision that makes this album so strong is its brevitythere are only eight songs which helps to combat emotional exhaustion or a sense of filler. Structurally its also written in a way thats easy to digest. The first song features Hansard the second song features frontwoman Marketa Irglova (apologies that I don't know how to type the appropriate Czech accents on PC) the third again features Hansard the fourth Irglova etc. In that way it actually feels like the album is best read as four pairs of songs one by Hansard and one by Irglova and of those four pairs of songs I would argue that"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009079023813709852) 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The opening pair Factory Street Bells and People We Used to Be is what I would lovingly dub the try not to cry pair because the emotions hit fast and hard. The former is an example of lyrical growth for the band with Hansard singing to his new child reminding them that even when hes away hes thinking of them and with them in spirit. Lyrical growth aside the music itself shows that the group hasnt lost a step either. The chorus itself is already strong and just when you think its at its peak Hansard dials up the intensity hitting yet another higher chord as all of the background voices swell."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009079026237771797) 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #7 Favorite Song of [----] Golden by HUNTR/X https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4Asi=9n_lHBetvzQ25by9 https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4Asi=9n_lHBetvzQ25by9"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009432137779544120) 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"I kid of course. This was certainly the year of the Demon Hunters and I wasnt immune to their pull either. I checked out the movie after the initial positive buzz and while it wasnt quite as good as I was expecting (still well above average for a kids movie) I had to agree that the soundtrack was great particularly Golden. I probably cant shed any new insight on it that others havent already said but Ill at least say a few words"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009432142078414964) 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For one I just love the message. Pop culture is a bit dreary these days. To speak broadly good guys cant just be good guys anymore and must be subverted bad guys have to be humanized and understood. So many works have to be grey and bland palette wise and morally. Golden stands in blatant defiance of these trends. This song is unabashedly about positivity togetherness and embracing who you are. Im not saying that life has to be all sunshine and rainbows all of the time but this song stands out right now for a reason. Its an incredible breath of fresh air"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009432144364310929) 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"But the lyrics would hardly matter if the music didnt sell the sentiment equally well. That pre-chorus After hearing some bland ones this year Ive come to have a greater appreciation for pre-choruses and this is a masterclass. The way the music drops out the melodic jumps up with steps down to build a sense of momentum toward that note (which even has plot significance) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009432146880979194 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009432146880979194"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009432146880979194) 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"If anything it almost outshines the chorus itself. (You know together were glowing/Gonna be gonna be Golden could probably have been lyrically punched up a little bit.) Accordingly it was a wise choice to incorporate the pre-chorus into the chorus itself as it repeats itself. Despite my little jab above the chorus still gets a lot of little details right too. Word choice like glowing and shining arent random but tie in with the key word golden. Also using up up up with our voices to literally move upward to the highest notes is a small but clever songwriting touch."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009432149506588900) 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #7 Favorite Album of [----] Dream of Snakes by Lila Tirando A Violeta https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803415778472241 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803415778472241"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803415778472241) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A running theme throughout the entire album is that it consists of EDM tracks becoming of a horror movie a fact especially highlighted by her choices for certain song titles e.g. New Flesh being a reference to Cronenbergs Videodrome and Eye Slice referencing the most famous scene of Un Chien Andalou. Thick bass distorted vocals bizarre sound clips and minor keys abound it sounds like club music played at Halloween in all the best ways. (In fact I may or may not have put this on the speakers while handing out candy at Halloween this year.)"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803420463513796) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Even as most tracks have a haunting ominous sound Lila employs a lot of different styles in service of this overarching sound. In particular Im a fan of the tracks with continuous forward momentum like theyre making progress on a journey exploring rather than standing still. For example the aforementioned New Flesh opens with disturbing vocals imploring I can help you I can guide you over heavy bass tones before a surprisingly light synth melody kicks in like sun shining through a crack in the clouds. The music then goes largely quiet as the voice continues To become the new flesh you first"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803423005217116) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Similarly later track Eco de Olvido commences with accessible vocals sayingsomething in Spanish in a reliable eighth-note rhythm. The steady rhythm starts to break down as the music starts to unravel while the vocals get stuck in place repeating Donde Where When it emerges from this hiccup everything is dirtier. The vocals are more distorted the delivery more desperate. Eventually the music gets quiet the vocals become fully digitized repeating single syllables but when it eventually emerges again it feels upside down this time. The vocals are still a steady eight-note rhythm but this time"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803425710801267) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Some tracks rely on more traditional EDM sensibilities too exploring variations on a beat rather than pushing them forward continuously. Its just in these cases that the beats tend to be extremely weird. Take for example Ostrich/and which as appropriate for the title makes use of ostrich calls over a heavy jungle(*) beat. (*) At least I think jungle is an appropriate descriptor. Im still getting used to identifying different subgenres of electronic music via Bandcamp descriptions so I may be mistaken. Similarly Eye Slice which lands in the sweet spot between braindance and the sweaty"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803428122284258) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Other tracks even adopt a structure vaguely reminiscent of a traditional verse-chorus structure such as the goth-rock inspired and heavily layered Heavy is the Soul. https://youtu.be/XH8YM5gsFdQsi=UZo1_esROu1plfqK https://youtu.be/XH8YM5gsFdQsi=UZo1_esROu1plfqK"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803430018376113) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Or the highly addictive Rest & Relaxation. Of particular note in this track aside from the earworm chorus is the clever use of its lyrics in a way that one might not typically expect from an EDM album. The main hook approximately goes When your alarm says its/ Time to Wake Up (x3)/ Get up and take that (x4) which later just gets condensed to a haunting invitation of wake upwake up https://youtu.be/aoX6prHnIEssi=PWjaCF-SqxWrrT2Y https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803432014565587 https://youtu.be/aoX6prHnIEssi=PWjaCF-SqxWrrT2Y https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803432014565587"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803432014565587) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The only decision I dont quite understand with respect to the album is its incorporation of a rework of Rest & Relaxation as well as remixes of two other tracks. Theyre certainly not bad but I dont think that any of them live up to the original versions so Id wonder whether they are viewed by the artist as being integral to the release. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803434392719581 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803434392719581"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803434392719581) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Otherwise though its an excellent album. Its bold in interesting ways and even if that can potentially come off as abrasive its among the best and perhaps the single strangest* album of the year. *Wait -I_ /I by launau & jarxa exists so lets say second strangest** **Wait Control Your Souls Desire For Freedom by Heathe exists so lets say third strangest https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803436309598253 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803436309598253"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2009803436309598253) 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It occurs to me that I neglected to tag the artist above so tagging @TirandoaVioleta here so she's aware of some appreciation from this random Twitter-er"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010169971972907246) 2026-01-11T02:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #6 Favorite Song of [----] Dont You Hear Me Calling by Annie & The Caldwells https://youtu.be/jXDlOmQXCussi=xMv4e5WSaBuoRfiC https://youtu.be/jXDlOmQXCussi=xMv4e5WSaBuoRfiC"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010170272645865674) 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"To understand part of why I enjoy Dont You Hear Me Calling you must first know a little bit about the band itself. Annie & The Caldwells consists ofAnnie Caldwell and her family: husband (of [--] years) Willie Sr. on guitar son Willie Jr. on bass son Abel on drums and daughters/goddaughter Anjessica Deborah and Toni as backing singers. The Caldwells are or at least were when they recorded this album just regular folks living in West Point Mississippi. Willie Jr. drives a forklift Abel drives hospital patients Anjessica works for an insurance company Toni is a teacher Deborah is a hairdresser"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010170276344942948) 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The reasons I focus on this background so much are two-fold. For one for a humble family affair the music sounds really good. Turning on some of their songs you wouldnt think that this is their side project that everybody has day jobs of their own. This is some great disco-soul that you could swear comes straight out of the 70s. Annies voice in particular is an incredible commanding presence. Musically they sound like professionals which is impressive considering their background. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010170278647587011 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010170278647587011"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010170278647587011) 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Second Dont You Hear Me Calling comes across as a very genuine personal song. Knowing what family means to these people knowing their relationship to the church its apparent that Annie has lived every word that she sings"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010170280925450240) 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So for the uninitiated what is the song even about Its a testimonial through and through. Annie recounts a story from when she was a kid. Her brother needed a heart transplant or he would die. Returning from the hospital to their hotel room Annies mother turned the bathroom into her prayer room where she makes the titular plea. And indeed God comes through for the family. They get a call that a young woman died in an accident that she could be the donor they needed. He gets the transplant and three days later (ha) hes feeling better able to walk around. Annie and her mother know that what"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010170589571625396) 2026-01-11T02:03Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #6 Favorite Album of [----] The Return of Magik by Rwake https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908676039524427 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908676039524427"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908676039524427) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Considering that metal or metal-adjacent bands took three of the top four slots on my rankings for last year this year felt comparatively like a down year for the genre. There were still some great releases but this is the only one that stuck with me enough to land within my top [--]. So what sets Rwake apart from the pack https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908678912647402 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908678912647402"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908678912647402) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The second half of the song shifts a little greater focus to the lyrics. From what I can gather the song or at least this portion is an attempt to cheat death to not let death be the parting of a couple (hence the title). This half recites a recipe and incantation to achieve their goals with a literal reference to bubble bubble toil and trouble. In addition to Terrys vocals being slightly less gruff here the guitars are fully in sync with and emphasizing his rhythm. Its not about a groove anymore. Now were brewing a potion and the music is fully aligned with the vocals to convey its contents."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908687075025342) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Next is the titular track which builds on a lot of these concepts. We start with another call-and-response section between the vocalists that employs a slick guitar riff at the end of the verse. This type of verse is repeated a few times but each repetition brings a new element to give the impression of consistent progress: first the drums are heavier then a descending guitar is added then a second descending guitar is added to harmonize with the first. Again you can turn your brain off and just bask in the atmosphere but if you do want to pay attention there are a lot of details here to pick"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908689713016928) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The back half of the song feels akin to a sermon. Much of the music drops out as Terry in a near spoken cadence expounds on a sort of cosmic mother entity. Occasionally some wicked guitars and Fugates howls with interject almost like a dark choir punctuating the sermon. The song wraps up with my favorite riff of the album rhythmically designed for maximum headbanging"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908694171508773) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After the intensity of this track the band rightfully concludes that a change of pace may be in order so as to not overwhelm the listener. Its kind of astonishing how well they commit to this change of pace in Distant Constellations and the Psychedelic Incarceration The opening consists of an odd distorted vocal clip lecturing about the intellectual harm caused by youth consuming psychedelic drugs supplemented by fairly subdued music led primarily by an acoustic guitar and occasional cello highlight chords that will be employed minutes down the line."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908696507982056) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Five minutes pass in an instant and the acoustic guitar plays a new riff which is then replicated on an electric guitar and the vocals finally emerge. Fugate takes the lead and her voice is soft and clean gently chanting lines with a lot of atmosphere e.g. Dreams that you followswallow you whole. Terry also joins here speaking lines in response to Fugates. A couple minutes into this pattern the volume starts to rise again but is again tamped down by Fugates serene voice. The song doesnt actually get heavy until a whole nine minutes in which again doesnt feel nearly that long. From this point"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908698634318263) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Unfortunately In After Reverse doesnt quite pay off well to the anticipation. Its my least favorite song of the album largely because it seems to eschew the tools that the band has used in each other track in favor ofa lot of noise. The first four minutes are relentlessly heavy the pace is fairly plodding it feels non-melodic and doesnt even incorporate much by way of instrumental or vocal dynamic change. The next section employs a neat backward vocal section possibly by means of summoning the devil as referenced in the lyrics but otherwise the song itself is a bit of a disappointing end to a"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908700769149208) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So overall aside from one misstep Rwake have assembled a potent concoction to discuss their cosmic philosophy. For as heavy as the music and vocals can be its a surprising breeze to sit through consistently doing enough to keep forward momentum without feeling like the shifts are random making it my favorite metal album of the year. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908703327973774 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908703327973774"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2010908703327973774) 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #5 Favorite Song of [----] Environmental Catastrophe Film by La Dispute (@ladisputeband) https://youtu.be/AHusIjLTu_Msi=NxonGsnEdtVNt88I https://youtu.be/AHusIjLTu_Msi=NxonGsnEdtVNt88I"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268905613082764) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"La Dispute probably needs no introduction. With their distinct blend of speaking/screaming post-hardcore and bleak heavy emotional lyrics chances are that if you're even passingly familiar with the genre you've heard of them and either love them or hate them. Landing more toward the former side I of course picked up their new album No One Was Driving The Car on release. Although it's another accomplished emotional album it didn't quite crack my top [--] for the year but standout track Environmental Catastrophe Film kicks off my top [--] for individual songs."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268907793781170) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A few months ago I had actually drafted a long Twitter thread comparing and contrasting this song from another track by The Beths that had interesting comparisons of symbol usage but ended up discarding the idea (too many tweets to thread and it's not like anyone would really read it anyway haha). However I'm still happy to be able to highlight its strengths here as its an epic journey. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268909802959250 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268909802959250"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268909802959250) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We may as well start with the aforementioned themes and symbolism. The title refers to the primary symbolic device a real life creek in singer Jordan Dreyer's hometown in Grand Rapids called Plaster Creek so named for becoming poisonous following the deposit of harmful amounts of gypsum mined from the area as it was first being settled. This symbol expands outward into many topics: a rotting home the ripple effects of an individual life the irreversible march forward toward death and being trapped in your own river of fate unable to escape the heaven or hell that lies ahead along with the"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268912198140402) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Over a subdued but anxious guitar Dreyer in a soft speaking voice (similar to Aaron Weiss from mewithoutyou) starts by describing a bystander to the creek itself telling of its history and the poison it holds. He then muses what would happen if he fell in the water when the poison would take his life whether eating with his family or sitting in church. As he flows from one subject to another new instrumental voices appear slowly building the intensity. It hits another level at the mention of church where he was taught the strict fatalistic view of his sect instilling him and his friends with"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268914727026965) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Around 3:00 we're clearly building up to a new section with the music starting to crescendo and Dreyers vocals taking on their normal hoarse texture and we narratively skip forward in time. Were back at the church attending the funeral of a childhood friend who took his own life who gave in to the poison inside. This leads Dreyers mind back to the creek as the music reaches a heavy fever pitch and he ruminates on the inescapable nature of it: Theres only one direction the water flows It only goes forward Forward Forward https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268917210062970"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268917210062970) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The heaviness and pain builds with Dreyer now sounding like Cedric Bixler-Zavala at his At the Drive-In loudest and in a climax he hauntingly laments: And every moment passing is one youll never get back And you can only get older Older Older Its hard to match the intensity of their previous masterpiece King Park but this one certainly gives that song a run for its money. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268919131013466 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268919131013466"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268919131013466) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The music drops out nearly entirely and the final section is another slow sad build further exploring these themes wondering about our place in the world how one small part can have ripple effects on the whole: a piece of wood on a lathe becomes a chair becomes the railing on the staircase at the first place where we kissed becomes a roof becomes the bedframe in a room becomes a house where the occupants became what they in turn became. And brilliantly this circles back to our primary imagery as Dreyer likens us to the wood on the lathe then observes: All our lives against the blade Because"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268921429471449) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Weve smoothly made it back to the creek and the music again starts to crescendo similar to when the band took us to church earlier. Appropriately the last thoughts contemplated at the side of the creek are again of God. Despite the anxiety and trauma caused by his religion as a child Dreyer cant help but plea to some being more powerful than him to grant him peace to help him escape this river: Let me sleep in the sun let me feel you reach Hold me out keep me up above now Let the time freeze come and lie here with me At the creek before we go before we must fall in it with me"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011268923606368451) 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #5 Favorite Album of [----] Whispers in the Speech Machine by The Laughing Chimes (@LaughingChimes) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011636697864294794 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011636697864294794"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636697864294794) 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A late January release Whispers in the Speech Machine had me immediately entranced and I wondered just how high it would land on my eventual year-end rankings. Eschewing the jangle pop of their debut album (which I hate to admit was probably all for the better) this Athens OH band (Mid-Ohio Valley shoutout) embraced their inner Southern Gothic and drew inspiration from the late 80s in their follow up. Landing somewhere between The Cure and Joy Division the entire album is a consistently moody engaging masterpiece earning a top [--] spot for me."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636701295149383) 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As it happens this atmosphere is established immediately in the very first notes of the album. Sad chords and a slightly fuzzy bass underscore a guitar melody that sounds like a more wistful version of Dont Fear the Reaper. Singer Evan Seurkamps vocals are delivered quietly enough already but theyre also buried in the mix betraying a heavy melancholy like he's mired and trying to escape. (Funny fact the vocals are buried deeply enough in the mix that I ordered a copy of the vinyl to get the lyric sheeta very worthwhile investment especially since it gives me greater opportunity to support a"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636706500329570) 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And indeed this melancholy carries through to the lyrics as well which is another highlight of the album in two different ways. For one I appreciate when the band incorporates oddly-specific references to help sell the content of a song. In Atrophy the first line reads Laid out like a parlor by Kirkbride himself while the chorus laments I cant sleep in batwing rooms. Following from the Bandcamp description that the band embraced their Southern Gothic in this album thats where my mind first went. I pictured a heartbroken man in some Southern mansion splayed out dramatically on a chaise lounge"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636708496859309) 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The Kirkbride Plan was a system of mental asylum design advocated by American psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century Oh"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636710472630462) 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"and then there was the accompanying image of this Kirkbride Plan: Double oh. That looks.batlike. Well that certainly adds an extra dimension to how the singer is dealing with his melancholy now doesnt it"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011636712695611712) 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #4 Favorite Song of [----] Absent Thereafter by Between the Buried and Me (@btbamofficial ) https://youtu.be/UDhUsgxKeaMsi=G4RUartKAhH0c4aK https://youtu.be/UDhUsgxKeaMsi=G4RUartKAhH0c4aK"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988795105616383) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Between the Buried and Me has shown resilience in the face of adversity this year releasing an album The Blue Nowhere following the departure of long-time guitarist Dusty Waring. Many may have wondered whether the band could still produce their magic after losing a key piece becoming only a four-piece. They may have especially raised eyebrows with the release of the titular song as the first single (a very nice song even if it didnt sound anything like were used to from the band). With the release of the full album all such fears were assuaged especially when the band can produce songs as"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988797349679390) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Broadly speaking I would break up the song into three different sections or movements (with the third section having a few different sub-sections the connective tissue of which is just have fun). The intro section is pretty typical for Between the Buried and Me. Howling vocals frenetic yet calculated guitars and high energy. Of specific note here though are two different elements. First certain musical phrases are punctuated by a unique bluesy picked acoustic and electric guitar lick (often preceded by a humorous la-di-da-di because the band knows how to inject lightheartedness into their"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988801883643933) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After the introductory auditory assault for the first 2:10 we slow down for a while for the second section. The frenetic riffs give way to broader sustained chords and Tommys switches to clean vocals. Guitarist Paul Waggoner is also given a nice almost anthemic classic-rock-sounding guitar solo. These are also pleasant enough elements in themselves and the loud-soft dynamic is certainly nothing new for Between the Buried and Me songs so one may be tempted to wonder if or how the band is going to switch things up to find a new gear this far into their career. and then the third section kicks"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988807344652614) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"At 6:50 the music gets quieter again primarily leaving Dan Briggss bass and Blake Richardsons drums (ever the unsung hero of the band being able to string together so many styles seamlessly) giving us a chance to breathe again. Tommys vocals re-emerge and guitar layers get added clearly building up to something. That something ends up beingan interlude with an Old West style piano Sure why not"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988822070829558) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"But we cant stick with anything for too long so BTBAM makes a swing towarda jazzy swing beat This might feel gimmicky for other bands but it works well here because a) its an oddly natural progression of the piano that precedes it and moreover b) the band has already shown that they like this type of sound a la the excellent Voice of Trespass. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011988829796724921 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011988829796724921"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988829796724921) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Finally entering the homestretch at 9:30 into the song were now back to a more standard 4/4 riff again with a little bit of the blues sound (and re-introducing the picked blues riff from the first section). Its a solid way to round out the song and the band manages to get one last bit of fun in with a false ending before progressing into the real ending ("ta-daaaaa")"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988834347618779) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Theres so much going on with this track. Its interesting to look at on an instrumental and structural level but at the end of the day every minute of the song just gets more fun than the last making for an excellent ten-minute experience one of the best of the year"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2011988841763340644) 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Last year I had a funny interaction on reddit. Someone posted on r/music how it felt like there were so few talented groups these days who really felt like they were all operating on the same level. A lot of people kind of dismissed him as if he had excessively high standards but I sympathized with him because while I find a lot of music pleasant there arent many groups who excel at a high level who feel like theyre always on the same wavelength producing a whole thats greater than the sum of its parts. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693932447035681"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2012693932447035681) 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I told him that he might have to look a little bit harder and broaden his horizons and one album that I recommended he check out to hear a group firing on all cylinders was the jazz album Urban Crawl by SLUGish Ensemble. He responded to me as if he had just had a revelation. He had given it a spin and it was exactly the type of songwriting he was searching for. He went so far as to explain that he never got into much jazz just one or two albums but this one was an eye-opener for him such that he was going to dive into a rabbit hole trying to find more. Such is the power of SLUGish Ensemble."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2012693934862983175) 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The ensemble doesnt have to reinvent the wheel to be satisfying. Its not a highly complex game of find the theme or tease out the structure or listen for the conversation between instruments. Its more about soothing your brain rather than testing it and to that end this album just makes me happy while listening"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2012693957403148668) 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"All that said there is one track that I need to specifically draw your attention to: Washington & Taylor I believe that this is the single most beautiful piece of music Ive heard this whole year. https://youtu.be/dKTGiglAy8Msi=zSbm2rFuFqpZCbGz https://youtu.be/dKTGiglAy8Msi=zSbm2rFuFqpZCbGz"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2012693959814902044) 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #3 Favorite Song of [----] iPod Touch by Ninajirachi (@ninajirachi) https://youtu.be/MxekyGtqcNEsi=Blfsxsg5qeFUAEoD https://youtu.be/MxekyGtqcNEsi=Blfsxsg5qeFUAEoD"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423862822715553) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Music can be a powerful thing. A song can allow you to lose yourself entirely to just disappear in the waves of the music. Another may put you in somebody else's head to hear a story play out to emotionally sweep you away. Others may transport you in time taking you back to places that you didn't know you forgot about that you welcome with a nostalgic smile. iPod Touch by Ninajirachi is one such song. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423865079194017 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423865079194017"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423865079194017) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This mix of the mundane and the narrative in particular is masterfully executed because the mundane has meaning primarily because of the overarching narrative of music discovery. It's the music that gives meaning to otherwise meaningless moments: I've got a song that nobody knows/ And I heard it in a post when I was twelve years old/ I didn't know that it would score the 64-bus home/ Turn a Monday to a memory and change my world Ive never ridden the 64-bus and Im not even certain what post refers to in this case (Nina is Australian). I cant identify with this but you know what I can identify"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423869374214533) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I remember the first time I listened to my favorite album Full Collapse by Thursday while cleaning my moms minivan. I remember sitting in a college hall lounge between classes when I was [--] when I heard "Nemesis" by Arch Enemy for the first time introducing me to the world of metal. I remember sitting in my basement eyes closed in my recliner when I listened to Vision Creation Newsun by the Boredoms for the first time cementing itself as a benchmark for any experimental music I heard from then on. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423871530066065"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423871530066065) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oh and did I mention that the music itself absolutely slaps Because it does"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423875518816369) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It immediately flies out of the gate with a high energy beat and the soundscape is bright. However theres also a slight reservation or shyness in the music and the melody. For example in the line Ive got a song that nobody knows the last note doesnt jump as high as the preceding notes. It breaks the pattern as if Nina is slightly hesitant about continuing and sharing. I dont often describe music itself as sounding introverted but I feel it here which is an especially intriguing choice for club music. Just as Nina starts to open up and share though so too does the music. Vocal and instrumental"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423877511123388) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This momentum of opening up is even reflected with how the rhythm itself unfolds. The first line is more restrained a more hesitant uneven pace alternating between quarter and eighth notes. The next stanzas rhythm e.g. It feels like high school front gate smoke in my face becomes more confident. High school front gate are still strong quarter notes but grouped together leaving the eight notes of smoke in my face to finish the line strong. Its more punchy. And eventually lines like Hidden underneath my pillow cause I should be asleep are fully eighth notes. Whether you consciously notice or"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013423879738335402) 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Anybody who has seen Hamilton could likely attest that one of the strongest parts of the whole show is the performance of Daveed Diggs as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. Turns out that his rapping talents arent just for Broadway as hes part of a real rap group clipping. as well (shocker I know) Combining the vocal talents of Diggs with the production talents of William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes yields a concoction no less magical and impressive than Diggss turn in Hamilton"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013785726568054966) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"While Hamilton was a look toward the past clipping. is oriented toward the future. The music draws upon the digital age in all respects (the intro incorporates sounds of a dial-up modem for instance) and across twenty tracks the group highlights vignettes of a cyberpunk dystopian world full of hackers people talking in code futuristic drugs and of course mirrored shades a la The Matrix. Given the albums subject matter its appropriate that its consistently bombastic and in-your-face. Diggs is a showman at heart and the album exudes his charisma and energy as a result. Across its fifty-three"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013785728686112779) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"On the flip side certain tracks such as Run It Code and Madcap are primarily built around a particular rhythm or line that gets repeated through the verse. These are nicely intermingled with and contrast appropriately from the high energy tracks showing that clipping. is far from a one-trick pony. In addition to again displaying rhythmic talent by knowing specifically when and how to deviate from the main rhythm for impact these tracks also often serve as venues for Diggs to exercise his Broadway chops by trotting out different pitches and inflections to the words. Code in particular excels"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013785732880445838) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Code also overlaps with a third category of tracks that I will simply callthe swagger tracks. Diggs is a man of near infinite charisma and some tracks in particular emphasize his swagger such as Scams and Mirrored Shades (Part 2) These tracks are as technically adept as any other but they need basically no deeper analysis than they just sound cool. https://youtu.be/StIcDroU2nYsi=uTVQ3C6byn2ArPCv https://youtu.be/StIcDroU2nYsi=uTVQ3C6byn2ArPCv"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013785735019602380) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Five tracks are also instrumental interludes of sorts giving Hutson and Snipes (plus occasional guests) a little room to experiment with their futuristic soundscapes while letting the audience take a breather. I dont know that I would call each one strictly integral to the structure of the album (in particular Malleus acting as an outro to Dodger is an excessively difficult shift in energy) but I appreciate them for what they are nonetheless. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785737196388526 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785737196388526"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2013785737196388526) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #2 Favorite Song of [----] Dodger by clipping. https://youtu.be/Dvp5mSVs3Cssi=TYXqmAp3hqUcGDJy https://youtu.be/Dvp5mSVs3Cssi=TYXqmAp3hqUcGDJy"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140310687801788) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Well this name sounds familiar now doesnt it Anyone who read my rundown of Dead Channel Sky from yesterday may have thought it odd that a standout track like Dodger would barely get more than a passing reference from me. This would be the reason why. Ive already introduced the group and their strengths in yesterdays posts so lets just skip right into how this song helps bring out so many of these strengths shall we"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140312730337640) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After an oddly noisy intro the slate is wiped clean with just Daveed Diggs and a bass drum beat. The minimal beat and his pauses line by line signal to the listener that this is just a beginning building anticipation for whats to come. And indeed after just a few lines we get the payoff. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140314785649058 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140314785649058"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140314785649058) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The first verse is a shotgun blast of rhythmic ideas that constantly keeps the listener on their toes shifting every few seconds. In fact I was trying to break down in words just how much it shifted but concluded that a diagram would be much easier. Behold:"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140317314764877) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Section A is the anticipation-building intro. Section B is the immediate payoff keeping tempo but largely filling in the spaces between lines. After only a few seconds though Section C kicks in and were suddenly in a multisyllabic rapid-fire delivery reminiscent of Eminems famous fast sections (e.g. Rap God and Godzilla). Sections D and E shift the pace again in addition to going hand-in-hand with each other. While Section C had a relatively steady if high speed rhythm Section D is more staggered being slightly syncopated. Section E has similar staggering but is actually on-beat rather than"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140320376623122) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Were greeted with the second chorus and I want to take time to praise the chorus as well. In addition to very strongly demarcating different verses given how much the style shifts between verses the chorus is also oddly catchy in itself. Its not as pleasantly melodic as last entrys iPod Touch but the repetition of Kill that s**t has such conviction and punchiness that it embeds itself in my head often after I hear it. The second chorus in particular is executed well because with the repetitions of Kill that s**t the music fades out and goes almost entirely silent. Were approaching a sober"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140329864114515) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The bridge is yet another different look this time holding very steady to eighth-notes consistently emphasized on the beat while reciting a mantra imploring to Be the citizen you need to be/ if innocence is in your future/ you are either in the net/ or you against the wall Its time for our protagonist to make a choice as to where she fits in in the new society. The music re-enters toward the end of the second repetition of this mantra leading to another chorus this time ending with another musical shift: a change in key and the introduction of digital strings as were approaching the climax."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140332649136251) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Like the first verse the final verse starts simply with shortened lines and rests between them. Shortly however Diggs picks up the vocal pace again as were racing toward the endin a sense were literally racing forward as the predominant rhythm is an addictive gallop. We hear how our protagonist has made her choice joining the cause of the revolutionaries falling in love with their leader and becoming a dodger herself. With the sum of the music the lyrics and the delivery Im often left out of breath by the time the song ends"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140337023865133) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Its a phenomenal piece of work overall epic in scale with constant forward momentum. For a long while I thought that it would be my song of the year but to my surprise a song that Id first heard months earlier grew on me over time surpassing Dodger at the finish line. Stay tuned for a few days for the reveal https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140341482389764 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140341482389764"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2014140341482389764) 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This time were treated to four repetitions on Melody A under this funky beat and as we hit that final line again (its importance previewed earlier) the music hits a crescendo and the final instrumental voice enters the mix: a string section This new voice frames the refrain as Cassidy inquires with maximum volume and passion Would you be afraid of me Tell me tell me tell me https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697975662153747 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697975662153747"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697975662153747) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #4 Favorite Album of [----] Urban Crawl by SLUGish Ensemble https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693929221570974 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693929221570974"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2012693929221570974) 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #3 Favorite Album of [----] Dead Channel Sky by clipping. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785723762045105 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785723762045105"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2013785723762045105) 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #2 Favorite Album of [----] Triste Animal by Lou-Adriane Cassidy https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016317926081528252 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016317926081528252"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2016317926081528252) 2026-01-28T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Adieu (Farewell) is a pure heartbreaker with lyrics and chords particularly in the chorus evoking bittersweet emotion for the singer's impending death (in song). The musical swell and change to the lyrics in the final chorus in particular are breathtaking. https://youtu.be/wXr_m3ZB7AAsi=MfofR02esbBV_iCb https://youtu.be/wXr_m3ZB7AAsi=MfofR02esbBV_iCb"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016318719731937474) 2026-01-28T01:13Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Gardien des fous (Guardian of Fools) in contrast serves as a nice relief. It's not even that it's more upbeat than the preceding song but the ethereal keyboard texture multiple vocal lines (first in parallel then out of sync) and taunting chorus all come across as playful almost like a fairy tale. https://youtu.be/LBUMd-TDStgsi=nTknibCK6vUJxI4W https://youtu.be/LBUMd-TDStgsi=nTknibCK6vUJxI4W"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016318977333412125) 2026-01-28T01:14Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And Les hirondelles (Swallows) is a pleasant cooldown after the emotion of the rest of the album also serving as a neat bookend to the album by repeating the piano introduction to J'ai l'habitude at the end. https://youtu.be/i-DnGNLk2Lssi=6K0SptoKfY4mvpBT https://youtu.be/i-DnGNLk2Lssi=6K0SptoKfY4mvpBT"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016319186704728202) 2026-01-28T01:15Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"At a little over [--] minutes this album is a very brisk listen and if anything I think it could stand to be slightly longer. But still I would much rather an album leave me wanting more than adding songs that feel inessential. Everything here is essential and compelling making it minute-for-minute one of the strongest releases of the year well worth a few spins to fully absorb its content. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016319266467799190 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016319266467799190"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016319266467799190) 2026-01-28T01:15Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My favorite song of the year is by an artist who needs no introduction (mostly because I just introduced her in yesterdays album list entry) although the song itself does need an introduction. While Triste Animal was my #2 favorite album of the year this song does not actually come from that album but is instead the opener to Cassidys January release Journal dun Loup-Garou. Id mentioned in my rundown yesterday that Journal may have had higher highs than Triste Animal even if the latter was more consistent and this is precisely what I was referring to"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697955596517452) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This song is art pop of the finest variety. Its substantively well-written on the macro- and micro-scale consisting of a number of different musical looks all arranged for an excellent buildup and payoff. It contains a perfect melody that never grows tired even over the course of five minutes. Moreover unlike other tracks that ranked high on this years list (e.g. iPod Touch or Dodger) I dont have to be in a particular mood to feel like firing it upit will spring to mind for no reason at all and no matter my mood Ill want to pull it up. Lets take a closer look."
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697957601460635) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This passage concludes with a choir-like group of vocals pensively inquiring Existais-tu vraiment (Do you really exist). For lyrical context the entire album is to my understanding a reflection on the life of an actress feeling the disparity between her real life and her life on screen leading a double life akin to a werewolf (hence the album title and the imagery in the music video). Accordingly this line is an appropriate reflection for one living this double life"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697965486706739) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Although it is not obvious upon a first listen I love the restraint shown in this entire section. The song is going to get more exciting. Well hear these passages again with more instruments and higher tempo but not yet. In the TikTok age of songwriting spending an entire minute before picking up even slightly is admirable. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697967349039347 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697967349039347"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697967349039347) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As the next section kicks in we return again to Melody A and the same piano chords but its not quite the same. Many artists build momentum through the addition of musical elements before anything else but thats not the case here. The piano is the same but in a subtle touch the tempo has increased. Its not a significant change just a few BPM but it feels a lot more confident. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697969190355225 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697969190355225"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697969190355225) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"In addition to serving as a signaling device this line also serves as the musical turning point of the entire song. We enter into Melody B again but everything changes this time. In addition to the higher tempo the piano suddenly becomes more active (think the pre-chorus of Green Light by Lorde) we repeat Melody B a whole five times (with some fun overlapping the end of one repetition with the beginning of the next) and in the course of these repetitions she also ascends to a new chord twice. As Cassidy holds the last note a bold bassline enters before she picks up with Melody A again this"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2016697973481017641) 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Honorable mentions for my favorite albums of [----] As mentioned at the beginning of the month when approaching my top ten list this year I tried to recognize my bias toward albums by bands that I wanted to give credit to rather than those that I truly found myself listening to the most throughout the year. In order to maintain the integrity of my top ten list as truly representing my ten favorites I figured it would be a reasonable compromise for me to save a little bit of space to shout out some of these bands and albums that I want to support even if they couldnt quite crack my top ten so"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2017040292965200129) 2026-01-30T01:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Cult Subterranea by Celestaphone & Dealers of God This is the only album that was wholly disqualified from consideration. Its a fascinating listen a trippy rap album that roughly takes the listener through a sci-fi quasi-kaballistic journey. The beats are aggressive and abrasive Celestaphones vocals are angry the lyrics (while boasting impressive rhymes per minute) are manic and full of highly obscure references and an SAT vocabularylistening to these songs feels like having a panic attack. Its compelling how unabashedly itself it all iswhich also leads to the disqualification. While much of"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017041243868483655) 2026-01-30T01:04Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"So there we have it the rest of the albums that I wanted to highlight this year for one reason or another. Tomorrow (orhopefully tomorrow) Ill reveal my #1 favorite album of the year. A minor hint: if you paid attention to last years list I mentioned a possibility that might inform what my #1 entry is. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017041333332897951 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017041333332897951"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2017041333332897951) 2026-01-30T01:05Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #1 Favorite Album of [----] Start Anew by Shad https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017760613326360718 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017760613326360718"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2017760613326360718) 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"First even before paying close attention to the lyrics listen to his rhyme scheme alone. From the beginning of the verse all the way through the pre-chorus he consistently strings together aah-oh rhymes none of which feel forced. (One could argue that he mispronounces Vamanos to make it rhyme but the very next line is Please excuse my Spanish so hes clearly being cheeky about the pronunciation.) The point is its not easy to keep a single rhyme up for this long so that alone is noteworthy"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017760624374325401) 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Now pay a little closer attention to actual content of the lyrics and youll see that his flow from subject to subject is just as smooth as his flow of rhymes. He goes from: not mechanical - animals - Daniel and the lions - biblical/spiritual contemplation - spiritual soul - soul singer - pop singer (specifically Go Deep by Janet Jackson) - Peyton/Eli Manning (because their throws go deep). So not only has he come up with so many disparate phrases that fit a single rhyme scheme hes arranged them in such a way that none of these feel like random throwaways By contrast I love Eminem but Ill also"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017760628317032809) 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"On yet another level its one thing to smoothly connect these disparate ideas and transition from one to the next but its another to do this while still also being thematically cohesive Every single one of these references tie pretty directly to the theme of this song: in his art hes consistently trying to tap into higher truths and spread these basic truths to audience i.e. hes trying to keep it simple stupid (K.I.S.S.) (Funnily enough the guest rapper on this track like a few others on the album come across as a bit simpler which just makes Shad look even more impressive by comparison.) This"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017760631949087021) 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I mention his themes here as well because this is also another excellently-realized element through the course of the entire album. Shad has a definite philosophy about him and hes using his art to express it. Specifically Start Anew is trying to say: 1) The state of the world (and to a lesser extent the rap industry) isnt great right now; 2) People would notice these things if they looked around them and embraced truth and reality; 3) Changing the world takes courage and sacrifice which he exemplifies; 4) A lot of people struggle with this because of a fear of death 5) This fear of death"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017760634167841080) 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"-I_ /I by launou + jarxa This is less of an I love this album and want to listen to it all of the time and more of a this album just lives rent-free in my head recommendation. This is pretty much as experimental as it gets with each of the albums four tracks consisting of miscellaneous sounds clipped together with barely a hint of any traditional instrumentation anywhere. The reason it lives rent-free in my head isI kind of get it. Its very weird at first (and the second track in particular has a grating sound sample) but if you pay close attention you can actually hear a steady pulse to the"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/2017041168475791801) 2026-01-30T01:04Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Endings like this are among my least favorite where they subvert something the writers go out of their way to make the audience believe. Like "well yeah I believed x was true because you're the ones who told me to in the first place" I'm always reminded of an episode of Bob's Burgers where Linda wants to write a murder mystery for dinner theater in the diner. At the end she polls the audience "So who do you think was the murderer Was it x Was it y Whoever it was it definitely wasn't the butler.Surprise it was the butler What a twist" (paraphrasing). There are better and worse ways to do this"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2021383368496034000) 2026-02-11T00:38Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"This isn't to say that unreliable narrator storytelling can never work but they have to be done with care. In the case of this game I feel like the nature of the twist ending is remembered better than the theme it was trying to convey (something about your character trying to escape reality out of denial of his own problems). And it certainly doesn't help when criticism of the ending is quickly dismissed as "you just didn't get it" when it is indeed possible to get the intent while disagreeing with the execution to get there. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2021384541412221034"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2021384541412221034) 2026-02-11T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And to elaborate on the twists that I think are most effective I love the approach with Oldboy where the knowledge given to the audience that later ends up being untrue occurs very organically in the plot and is mentioned almost in passing. It's fed to the audience by the writer yes but undue attention isn't drawn to it. And for the "audience brings in their own knowledge" kind of twist my mind was blown by the twist in the "Death Note: Another Note" novel which relied on the audience's knowledge of characters from the original manga to make an assumption that ended up being untrue. (Although"
[X Link](https://x.com/anyuser/status/2021385625216119076) 2026-02-11T00:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I mean.Blood on Your Hands is among my all-time favorite songs even today so I'm gonna have to go with that. The 7th ARCH ENEMY studio album RISE OF THE TYRANT was released [--] years ago today Got a fave song off this album #archenemy #riseofthetyrant https://t.co/MiU4HfMEBv The 7th ARCH ENEMY studio album RISE OF THE TYRANT was released [--] years ago today Got a fave song off this album #archenemy #riseofthetyrant https://t.co/MiU4HfMEBv"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1044362654163316736) 2018-09-24T23:07Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Happy Anniversary to my love and my Muse @ltlmsnietzsche Each year with you has better than the last Thanks for being my better half and inspiring me to be a better person"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1187180104570593280) 2019-10-24T01:32Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I missed this It's back. https://t.co/97FXljMGmz It's back. https://t.co/97FXljMGmz"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1224553675747663872) 2020-02-04T04:42Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Super helpful assistants working at home"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1241107334295887880) 2020-03-20T21:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"*Sees oil prices* *Envisions hundreds of barrels of oil sitting around my house like turnips* *Cracks fingers* Daisy Mae this is the moment you've been training me for"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1252343304194154496) 2020-04-20T21:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We need to relearn what ancient cultures knew about breathing correctlythat its essential to the health of body and mind James Nestor writes https://t.co/SxC3cx1IbK We need to relearn what ancient cultures knew about breathing correctlythat its essential to the health of body and mind James Nestor writes https://t.co/SxC3cx1IbK"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1263656610502709251) 2020-05-22T02:23Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This might end up being good but I think even trying to adapt it partially misses the point. The writing is INCREDIBLY dry and sterile but it's because Asimov wants it to be about the ideas not the world or the individuals. A visual adaptation necessarily shifts the focus. [--] years in the making. Isaac Asimovs epic Sci-Fi universe comes to Apple TV+ 2021: https://t.co/SbImWPSSoR #Foundation https://t.co/LEGYXFvskm [--] years in the making. Isaac Asimovs epic Sci-Fi universe comes to Apple TV+ 2021: https://t.co/SbImWPSSoR #Foundation https://t.co/LEGYXFvskm"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1275175998397583360) 2020-06-22T21:17Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Same energy Get ready for Scooby-Doo and the Curious Case of Creepy Collectibles. https://t.co/ounoCbgn1f Get ready for Scooby-Doo and the Curious Case of Creepy Collectibles. https://t.co/ounoCbgn1f"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1281028688558120960) 2020-07-09T00:53Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I can't not post something for hashtag International Cat Day"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1292305765475254274) 2020-08-09T03:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I saw Cancel Culture open for Bad Religion in the 90s. "Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world" Australian rock star Nick Cave compares cancel culture to 'bad religion' https://t.co/ZIXsldIk7w "Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world" Australian rock star Nick Cave compares cancel culture to 'bad religion' https://t.co/ZIXsldIk7w"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1293984129239994368) 2020-08-13T18:53Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Who did it better"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1412940494171250693) 2021-07-08T01:03Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I pre-ordered an album and a few days ago I got a message that there was going to be a printing error when it arrived. Well ok then"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1429148069363429383) 2021-08-21T18:27Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Just seen in the r/eagles game day thread. I don't know that I've ever witnessed such Philly energy"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1599488593268862977) 2022-12-04T19:39Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Americans will use any measurement to avoid having to use the metric system smh"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1707838116948582634) 2023-09-29T19:21Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The movie Chicago has several of my favorite deliveries of swearing but the reaction by Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to "I just hope the fall didn't hurt the baby" lives rent-free in my head: https://youtu.be/6nf-EyJHPRcsi=L9tifF_ZaHd6Ygh3 what is your favourite line delivery https://t.co/2t0nyjR7Vf https://youtu.be/6nf-EyJHPRcsi=L9tifF_ZaHd6Ygh3 what is your favourite line delivery https://t.co/2t0nyjR7Vf"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1736200591574008057) 2023-12-17T01:44Z [---] followers, [---] engagements
"@jessesingal Nice one I need to listen to this album with fresh ears sometime. For a supergroup I could never shake the feeling that they didn't transcend the sum of their parts but I'd love to have it "click" better with me at some point"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1739159314252681462) 2023-12-25T05:41Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"My Five Favorite Albums from 2023: While I generally try to keep an open mind and explore new releases when I can I realistically only listened to a dozen or so new releases this year. Nonetheless I always like to make recommendations so here we go"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241234578927636) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As a preface I noticed one consistent pattern among these artists: while their styles of music vary wildly each of them understood the assignment. They knew what music they wanted to create and knew exactly how to extract the most value from their style"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241236210545068) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#5 The Hold Steady The Price of Progress. After a slight hiccup with their last album 2021s Open Door Policy they returned to form with this album. THS knows what they do best: making music about people doing drugs and living sad lives"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241237372371311) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As always THS excels convey intimacy through hyper-specific references. To go on a tangent to explain see the first lines from the upbeat Sideways Skull:"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241238538297607) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"She ordered me a Newcastle and handed me a Marlboro/Stuck a dove in my right hand/She took a quick picture but even when we squinted/I didnt look so much like Robert Plant. I know who Robert Plant is but whats with the rest of this setup This:"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241239872086371) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"In this context a dove is a pill (possibly ecstasy) which is some clever wordplay and this exchange tells so much about our characters. Theyre two people having a fling pretending to be rockstars while staying in a halfway house. OF COURSE they would bond over this image"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241241331695657) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The album is packed with vignettes like this the music is fun usually tinged with sadness and in Sixers they may have written their best song to date a gut-punch about a woman wasting away unable to decide if she wants to make a deep connection or just have some fun"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741241242497789960) 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more of what youd expect though I highlight two things:"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242945351671815) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"First I unironically like their lyrics. Yes theyre all about brutal depictions of violence but to their credit theres a surprising amount of variety in these lyrics as well. Each song is about a very specific scenario or act of violence. Just from this album"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242947369123860) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Summoned for Sacrifice gruesomely details a ritual sacrifice. Vengeful Invasion is about a trafficking victim getting vengeance on her traffickers. Fracture and Refracture tells of an evil artist who breaks and heals bones in deformed ways"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242948535156967) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Chaos Horrific is about a zombie attack. Pestilential Rictus is about a world plague that leaves its dead with a terrifying grin. Pitchfork Impalement is about peace on Earthor maybe just about being impaled by a pitchfork"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242949889839293) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A lot of other metal bands rely on general dark or violent themes without much variation (I love you Goatwhore but its true) so this level of variety is appreciated"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242951232078190) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Second I also think that this album is slightly more accessible for newbiesas far as CC can be accessible. People may have an image of death metal as being mindless growling but as heavy as it is most songs still have a recognizable verse chorus solo/bridge structure"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741242952427377098) 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It's being fussy letting me post all of these as a single thread so I'll be chaining together entries like this. #4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more of what youd expect though I highlight two things: https://t.co/sGivdNxbtD #4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243235664564701) 2023-12-30T23:41Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#3 Fall Out Boy So Much (for) Stardust. I was just the right age to get into peak FOB but fell off when they started relying on the dreary mid-10s pop sound (i.e. mid-tempo epic choruses that ultimately sound too self-important and boring)"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243927447904535) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"When FOB released their first three songs from this album I was cautiously optimistic that it was a return to form. Hearing the full album I can confirm that this is very much the case (although YMMV as to whether you cared for their form to begin with)"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243929054400841) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Listening to this album I realized how masterful FOB are with keeping you invested in a song. Sure pop-punk bands write upbeat songs with catchy choruses but FOB know how to give you several melodically or rhythmically interesting hooks in every song. For example"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243930400690261) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"There are so many great individual moments in opener Love From the Other Side alone. [--]. The first lines have interesting syncopation. [--]. That high note on You know Im DYING out here immediately stands out and draws your attention"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243931772215533) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"3. What would you trade the pain for is a hook connecting verses together (and is repeated in a later song). [--]. The We were a hammer to the Statue of David section switches from bouncing off-beat syncopation to solid descending eighth notes on the beat"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243933370261563) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"5. The pre-chorus is a standard build-up but then PUNCHES with Id never go I just want to be invited before building even more ascending and imploring get the feeling dont fight it fight it. [--]. The chorus is appropriately explosive and catchy"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243934683115904) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And [--]. Every lovers got a little dagger in their hand is such a 00s emo line that I love it. Nearly every song is like this standing out as the sum of several strong parts"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243936570499352) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Sure the lyrics are still the same puddle-deep half-clever witticisms theyve always had (e.g. Part-time soul mate full-time problem) and Heaven Iowa is a bit of a slog of the mid-10s variety mentioned above but just turn off your brain and enjoy"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741243937820422250) 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#2 healthyliving Songs of Abundance Psalms of Grief. The first entry on this list from a band that Id never heard of before healthyliving a female-fronted Scottish three-piece is one I discovered via monthly Bandcamp recommendations"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741244326540087628) 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Their bread and butter sound is melancholy post-metal (To the Fields) but they know when to change speeds as well ranging from radio-friendly barnburners (Dream Hive) to a heavier what-Ill-call coven metal (To the Gallows) to 90s alt-rock (Bloom)"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741244328368828448) 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Their lyrics are appropriately atmospheric and their music consistently hits well-above the quality of a standard debut album possibly because all of the members have been involved with prior projects"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741244330986049880) 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The only reason that I cant call this my #1 is because the end of the album drags just slightly with the last three songs not having enough variety among them. Nonetheless Im well looking forward to whatever comes next from them"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741244332382843096) 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#1 Ahora Melenas This is another album that I discovered via Bandcamp recommendations (seriously yall should regularly read them) and I knew right away that this all-female four-piece was something special"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741245055212327391) 2023-12-30T23:49Z [---] followers, [--] engagements
"I dont even know how to classify the music. Synth-laden indie pop/rock maybe I hear strong elements of several artists: song simplicity of Tegan and Sara synth lines like Twin Shadow fuzziness of 90s Yo La Tengo and most importantly"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741245057028530641) 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The emotion/sadness inherent in music by the pillows. Like the pillows I dont understand most of the lyrics being entirely in Spanish but I dont need to. I FEEL the music which is saying a lot for a robot like me"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741245058874060866) 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This is an album that I dont hesitate to recommend to a broad variety of people for this reason. Just listen to [----] the most perfect dream-pop Ive heard since Cradle by The Joy Formidable"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741245060841116159) 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"On the flip side there are tracks like K2 content to be a more relaxed vibe somehow both chill and expressive. Its also timeless simultaneously feeling like the 80s 90s and 00s to my ears. And need I even mention the sublime background vocals"
[X Link](https://x.com/M_Xenophon/status/1741245062393028772) 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
Limited data mode. Full metrics available with subscription: lunarcrush.com/pricing
@M_Xenophon Multivac
Multivac posts on X about in the, the first, list, the year the most. They currently have [--] followers and [---] posts still getting attention that total [---] engagements in the last [--] hours.
Engagements: [---] #
- [--] Week [---------] +260%
- [--] Month [---------] +67,028%
- [--] Months [---------] +133,741%
- [--] Year [---------] +24,747%
Mentions: [--] #
- [--] Months [--] +223%
- [--] Year [--] -86%
Followers: [--] #
- [--] Week [--] +1.60%
- [--] Month [--] +5.10%
- [--] Months [--] +17%
- [--] Year [--] +11%
CreatorRank: undefined #
Social Influence
Social category influence cryptocurrencies technology brands celebrities countries musicians social networks travel destinations nhl nfl finance
Social topic influence in the, the first, list, the year, elements, metal, attention, strong, just a, band
Top accounts mentioned or mentioned by @thursdayband @katrosenfield @ltlmsnietzsche @aiforhumansshow @joetrainorjunk @donnymccaslin @thebeths @theswellseason @tirandoavioleta @ladisputeband @laughingchimes @btbamofficial @ninajirachi @jessesingal @jesss152 @attack @tippettowen @jasongay @elajjaz @sophianarwitz
Top assets mentioned Habibi (HABIBI) Welshcorgicoin (WELSH)
Top Social Posts
Top posts by engagements in the last [--] hours
"Legend Saquon Barkley was asked what his favorite play of the season was. "I wanna say the snow touchdown against theRams. But then I forget I jumped over someone backwards." #Eagles Saquon Barkley was asked what his favorite play of the season was. "I wanna say the snow touchdown against theRams. But then I forget I jumped over someone backwards." #Eagles"
X Link 2025-02-06T00:48Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"@katrosenfield This whole thread is best read in Tina Belcher's voice"
X Link 2025-02-21T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It finally happened to me I got "so you hate waffles"-ed (Though contrary to the famous tweet this happened on Reddit not Twitter.) I wasn't even offended by the reply since I like Faker just found it hilarious to see it play out exactly like the meme"
X Link 2025-09-13T19:05Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"What picture do we like best chat Drug trip heavenly ascension or horror movie"
X Link 2025-10-03T19:39Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We got this book called The Big Slide for the little one from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library this month. Too bad I already knew how it ended"
X Link 2025-10-28T22:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My sense of humor goes unappreciated"
X Link 2025-11-14T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"What's the best tennis video game of all time https://t.co/BDbyJDyKVg What's the best tennis video game of all time https://t.co/BDbyJDyKVg"
X Link 2025-12-18T22:55Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Excellent joke. No notes. ninajirachi voice: i also agree laptops should have more holes ninajirachi voice: i also agree laptops should have more holes"
X Link 2025-12-28T00:19Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"For context: https://youtu.be/HWl1Tu9oZmYsi=s6eVsRxmHS622_JA https://youtu.be/HWl1Tu9oZmYsi=s6eVsRxmHS622_JA"
X Link 2025-12-28T00:19Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"10 Favorite Albums and Songs of [----] Now that [----] is over the window for new music releases is formally closed and I can share my list of ten favorite songs and albums of the year. (Any sites that published their lists in late November/early December are clearly less legitimate than me the random guy on the internet.) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2006846359513739531 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2006846359513739531"
X Link 2026-01-01T21:53Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"My #10 Favorite Song of the Year: Beeswing//Big Butt Billy by Willi Carlisle https://youtu.be/caZF2ugBm60si=KeGCHW4kgtCeY6Lp https://youtu.be/caZF2ugBm60si=KeGCHW4kgtCeY6Lp"
X Link 2026-01-02T21:25Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #10 Favorite Album of [----] Donny McCaslin (@DonnyMcCaslin) - Lullaby for the Lost https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555714915676265 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555714915676265"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I was introduced to Donny McCaslin ten years ago without realizing it at the time. In January [----] David Bowie released his final album Blackstar and it was praised at the time for its interesting fusion of moody rock and Avant Garde jazz elements. One of these signature jazz elements was a haunting saxophone which as I learned this year was courtesy of Donny McCaslin. When I learned of this relationship in connection with the release of McCaslin's [----] solo album Lullaby for the Lost that was certainly enough of a hook to get me to dig deeper and I was pleased with the treasures it"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Barely even a minute in to the first track "Wasteland" I was musically intrigued. The saxophone had played only two lines but it triggered something in my brain immediately. I heard those two lines and thought to myself "These lines were setup and I can almost hear how they resolve already." And indeed the resolution was close to what I was expecting (with a nice little bit of additional flair to it). I won't claim to be some musical expert so I think that even from the opening notes it's clear that McCaslin knows how to speak to the listener in terms that they understand on an archetypal"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As the song continues I was also surprised at the sonic texture. When one thinks "jazz" it's common to picture a jazz trio composed of some combination of a drummer stand up bass piano trumpet etc. "Wasteland" certain defies such conventions with the backing music dominated by fuzzy industrial drums and guitar. Later track "Tokyo Game Show" also employs strong industrial rock sonic elements. https://youtu.be/wfVgPJSjQsksi=579m0zxx6fip3L0I https://youtu.be/wfVgPJSjQsksi=579m0zxx6fip3L0I"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And that's emblematic of much of McCaslin's approach on this album. To my ear it's highly reminiscent of Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani just with a saxophone in place of Satriani's guitar (and maybe fewer notes per second haha). Indeed there are some strong rock rather than jazz sensibilities on this album. One could argue that "Blond Crush" for example is straight up a rock song that has a saxophone instead of vocals. https://youtu.be/ScRrY8eN7eYsi=KFty4fZS9xq5MmKg https://youtu.be/ScRrY8eN7eYsi=KFty4fZS9xq5MmKg"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"That's one of the exciting things about this album that every track brings something different and stimulating. No two tracks sound particularly similar and I find that they often speak to different parts of my brain. For example if "Wasteland" was more of an intellectual exercise predicting the resolutions of lines and paying attention to when the chorus is and is not employed the second song "Solace" is satisfying on a much more immediate level. https://youtu.be/GybuUmrOa6Qsi=4Ln5h8dNnpm0aIaW https://youtu.be/GybuUmrOa6Qsi=4Ln5h8dNnpm0aIaW"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Solace" employs a delightful theme with a synthetic soundscape that sounds almost futuristic (it reminds me of Jack Magnet Science which made my top ten list last year). It feels befitting of a Cowboy Bebop setting. It's an inherently exciting soundscape that still allows the players some room for their own improvisation and fun. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555732649193764 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2007555732649193764"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Stately" is an intellectual exercise in yet another form. To my ear it's less about structural depths like "Wasteland" and focuses more on the live conversation happening between the saxophone and guitar as you'll commonly hear as a feature of jazz. https://youtu.be/oMQ_UwiAQzAsi=fZk3MSD6K8IhvtMj https://youtu.be/oMQ_UwiAQzAsi=fZk3MSD6K8IhvtMj"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"McCaslin even knows how to write an earworm In addition to employing another lovely futuristic soundscape the main theme of "Celestial" (an ascending scale of ascending scales) has a tendency to get stuck in my head for days. The same goes for "KID" later in the album. https://youtu.be/liMbLbxsT5Qsi=CCZIBzViiXdXyFem https://youtu.be/liMbLbxsT5Qsi=CCZIBzViiXdXyFem"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oddly the only track that doesn't fully work for me is the title track which comes across as slightly slow and dour for my taste. But that's a minor nit and just a difference of taste rather than any claim that it's a bad song. https://youtu.be/7dMLyFNYaw0si=oXAh6pNUlBePbd9e https://youtu.be/7dMLyFNYaw0si=oXAh6pNUlBePbd9e"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"McCaslin concludes the album with "Mercy" and while I don't believe it was strictly intentional it's the one that to my ear most captures the lonely haunting feeling that permeated much of Blackstar. I'd like to think that this was a nod to the album which helped boost his name into spheres that might not have otherwise heard of him like my own. (And to be clear I'm not making too much of this connection just because I love Bowie--McCaslin's own profile on Bandcamp reads "Donny McCaslin is best known as the saxophonist on David Bowies last album Blackstar" so he openly embraces being known"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So overall Lullaby for the Lost is an excellent album. Each track brings something new to the table so no two pieces blend together and it engages the listener's brain on a lot of different levels. It's one of those albums that you can listen to several times and keep discovering new elements that you like. Really the only reason it didn't rank higher for me is because I have a little less emotional response to the music than I do for others that lie ahead. In fact to preview my #9 selection I chose the album almost exclusively because of how each song causes me to swell with emotion. But"
X Link 2026-01-03T20:52Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #9 Favorite Song of 2025: "Subroutines" from the videogame Blippo+ (written by Rob Kieswetter & Jana Bechtolt) https://youtu.be/aLWBkQcVajksi=kzEk4o3zCWfkNiof https://youtu.be/aLWBkQcVajksi=kzEk4o3zCWfkNiof"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"Because my music collection is quite curated it's not often that I end up listening to songs several times without specifically setting out to do so. "Subroutines" was an exception to this rule for [----] and it ended up being a highlight of my week for weeks on end"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For context: this is a Playdate handheld game system. It's a fun little device with excellent indie game support and I recommend that everyone look into it (though I digress). When you buy it you get access to a "Season 1" of games and after a couple of years of development gamers were able to buy the Season [--] bundle as well which included a game () called Blippo+ https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001737840288027 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001737840288027"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Blippo+ isn't so much a game but a unique storytelling medium. When you fire it up you're on a channel select screen able to freely tune to ten channels' worth of tv shows (five minute-long episodes per channel on a loop) and the intriguing thing is that the channels update every single week. As you view the news entertainment and.miscellaneous programming you see a story unfold over the course of ten weeks about the discovery of a mysterious "bend" in space connecting their world to ours their attempts to explore the bend and seeing what comes back. It's fascinating stuff you should check it"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""Subroutines" was one such program every week and endearingly it was one of the few that didn't change from week to week. So every week I was greeted with this charmingly pleasant minute-long song accompanying an exercise routine"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oh I didn't mention that there's an exercise routine That's right this song is interactive too. Behold in all its glory"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So yes even though this song wasn't a part of my library until I discovered that you could buy it on Bandcamp in December I made sure to tune into Blippo+ every week in part to experience the glory of Subroutines for the week sometimes getting out of my chair to move along to it. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001747709481408 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008001747709481408"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And look context aside it's just a neat minute of music too It has a cute soundscape a pleasant chorus sequence and is surprisingly catchy. It's everything it needed to be and then some"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For these reasons this song firmly embedded itself as a surprisingly big part of my year and I'd have been remiss had I not included it in my favorite songs of the year"
X Link 2026-01-05T02:24Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #9 Favorite Album of [----] Bienquererse by Andrea Cruz https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359541474254893 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359541474254893"
X Link 2026-01-06T02:06Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"If you fire up a random track on Bienquererse you might initially think it to be a strange inclusion on my top [--] list. It's acoustic-forward music from an artist who (to my understanding) isn't particularly known outside of Puerto Rico singing entirely in a language of which I only understand bits and pieces. You might listen and think sure this is pretty easy listening but compared to other things he likes what's the true hook here and then that moment in the song hits and it becomes clear all of a sudden. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008359550789755258"
X Link 2026-01-06T02:06Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #8 Favorite Song of [----] "Metal" by The Beths (@THEBETHS) https://youtu.be/YrVEgP0LkDAsi=uO3oc2hBQ-pdXvX8 https://youtu.be/YrVEgP0LkDAsi=uO3oc2hBQ-pdXvX8"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"New Zealand is a lovely place. It has beaches penguins Maori hobbits and now The Beths"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"For those not in the know The Beths are a New Zealand indie band that appears to be building momentum and is well worth keeping an eye on and with songs like "Metal" it's not hard to see why. It's a little jangle pop a little indie a little Kiwi and a lot of heart"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
""And I know I'm a collaboration Bacteria carbon and light A florid orchestration A recipe of fortune and time Yeah it's a lot to take in When I try I see a short word" The verses describes our bodies in very robotic mechanical terms (the titular "metal" being the iron in our blood). Accordingly the chorus builds on this idea being left in awe about our place in the universe. We're lucky to be here just a concoction of "bacteria carbon and light" and in the grand scheme of things it really is a lot to take in. The final line also draws the music to a more hushed dynamic letting it linger as"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The chorus itself is a lot to take in and for that reason it's a pleasant respite when we get to the third verse and we get another way to build on the perfect melody: this time we get layered vocals trading off back and forth double the perfect melody"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For such an easygoing sound this song packs a surprising punch and its this combination of sound and content that propels the band to higher heights which is a consistent theme throughout the whole album"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As I mentioned above this band is one to keep an eye on. I discovered them on Bandcamp just like 90% of new music I listen to these days but since then I've noticed that they "escaped containment" and have been highlighted in other notable ways: they were featured on.one of the late night talk shows (don't ask me which one) they sold out two shows in Philly on their recent tour and this song even made Barack Obama's [----] recommendations. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008730399615189476 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2008730399615189476"
X Link 2026-01-07T02:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #8 Favorite Album of [----] The Swell Season (@TheSwellSeason) - Forward https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079016175657295 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079016175657295"
X Link 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I havent had much occasion to think of The Swell Season in a while. Their popularity naturally peaked on the back of the success of the movie Once and winning an Oscar for Best Original Song at the [----] Academy Awards. I continued following them with the release of their subsequent album Strict Joy in [----] and aside from seeing frontman Glen Hansard in concert in [----] I havent had much occasion to think of them since then. It was by pure luck that I just happened to see that they released a new album when I visited my local music store this year and what good luck it was that I saw this"
X Link 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Forward is actually their first album since Strict Joy a full sixteen years between releases and song-for-song it might actually be their best outing overall being true to their roots while also displaying some heartfelt growth. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079021422715073 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009079021422715073"
X Link 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"One decision that makes this album so strong is its brevitythere are only eight songs which helps to combat emotional exhaustion or a sense of filler. Structurally its also written in a way thats easy to digest. The first song features Hansard the second song features frontwoman Marketa Irglova (apologies that I don't know how to type the appropriate Czech accents on PC) the third again features Hansard the fourth Irglova etc. In that way it actually feels like the album is best read as four pairs of songs one by Hansard and one by Irglova and of those four pairs of songs I would argue that"
X Link 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The opening pair Factory Street Bells and People We Used to Be is what I would lovingly dub the try not to cry pair because the emotions hit fast and hard. The former is an example of lyrical growth for the band with Hansard singing to his new child reminding them that even when hes away hes thinking of them and with them in spirit. Lyrical growth aside the music itself shows that the group hasnt lost a step either. The chorus itself is already strong and just when you think its at its peak Hansard dials up the intensity hitting yet another higher chord as all of the background voices swell."
X Link 2026-01-08T01:45Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #7 Favorite Song of [----] Golden by HUNTR/X https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4Asi=9n_lHBetvzQ25by9 https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4Asi=9n_lHBetvzQ25by9"
X Link 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"I kid of course. This was certainly the year of the Demon Hunters and I wasnt immune to their pull either. I checked out the movie after the initial positive buzz and while it wasnt quite as good as I was expecting (still well above average for a kids movie) I had to agree that the soundtrack was great particularly Golden. I probably cant shed any new insight on it that others havent already said but Ill at least say a few words"
X Link 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"For one I just love the message. Pop culture is a bit dreary these days. To speak broadly good guys cant just be good guys anymore and must be subverted bad guys have to be humanized and understood. So many works have to be grey and bland palette wise and morally. Golden stands in blatant defiance of these trends. This song is unabashedly about positivity togetherness and embracing who you are. Im not saying that life has to be all sunshine and rainbows all of the time but this song stands out right now for a reason. Its an incredible breath of fresh air"
X Link 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"But the lyrics would hardly matter if the music didnt sell the sentiment equally well. That pre-chorus After hearing some bland ones this year Ive come to have a greater appreciation for pre-choruses and this is a masterclass. The way the music drops out the melodic jumps up with steps down to build a sense of momentum toward that note (which even has plot significance) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009432146880979194 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009432146880979194"
X Link 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"If anything it almost outshines the chorus itself. (You know together were glowing/Gonna be gonna be Golden could probably have been lyrically punched up a little bit.) Accordingly it was a wise choice to incorporate the pre-chorus into the chorus itself as it repeats itself. Despite my little jab above the chorus still gets a lot of little details right too. Word choice like glowing and shining arent random but tie in with the key word golden. Also using up up up with our voices to literally move upward to the highest notes is a small but clever songwriting touch."
X Link 2026-01-09T01:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #7 Favorite Album of [----] Dream of Snakes by Lila Tirando A Violeta https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803415778472241 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803415778472241"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A running theme throughout the entire album is that it consists of EDM tracks becoming of a horror movie a fact especially highlighted by her choices for certain song titles e.g. New Flesh being a reference to Cronenbergs Videodrome and Eye Slice referencing the most famous scene of Un Chien Andalou. Thick bass distorted vocals bizarre sound clips and minor keys abound it sounds like club music played at Halloween in all the best ways. (In fact I may or may not have put this on the speakers while handing out candy at Halloween this year.)"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Even as most tracks have a haunting ominous sound Lila employs a lot of different styles in service of this overarching sound. In particular Im a fan of the tracks with continuous forward momentum like theyre making progress on a journey exploring rather than standing still. For example the aforementioned New Flesh opens with disturbing vocals imploring I can help you I can guide you over heavy bass tones before a surprisingly light synth melody kicks in like sun shining through a crack in the clouds. The music then goes largely quiet as the voice continues To become the new flesh you first"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Similarly later track Eco de Olvido commences with accessible vocals sayingsomething in Spanish in a reliable eighth-note rhythm. The steady rhythm starts to break down as the music starts to unravel while the vocals get stuck in place repeating Donde Where When it emerges from this hiccup everything is dirtier. The vocals are more distorted the delivery more desperate. Eventually the music gets quiet the vocals become fully digitized repeating single syllables but when it eventually emerges again it feels upside down this time. The vocals are still a steady eight-note rhythm but this time"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Some tracks rely on more traditional EDM sensibilities too exploring variations on a beat rather than pushing them forward continuously. Its just in these cases that the beats tend to be extremely weird. Take for example Ostrich/and which as appropriate for the title makes use of ostrich calls over a heavy jungle() beat. () At least I think jungle is an appropriate descriptor. Im still getting used to identifying different subgenres of electronic music via Bandcamp descriptions so I may be mistaken. Similarly Eye Slice which lands in the sweet spot between braindance and the sweaty"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Other tracks even adopt a structure vaguely reminiscent of a traditional verse-chorus structure such as the goth-rock inspired and heavily layered Heavy is the Soul. https://youtu.be/XH8YM5gsFdQsi=UZo1_esROu1plfqK https://youtu.be/XH8YM5gsFdQsi=UZo1_esROu1plfqK"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Or the highly addictive Rest & Relaxation. Of particular note in this track aside from the earworm chorus is the clever use of its lyrics in a way that one might not typically expect from an EDM album. The main hook approximately goes When your alarm says its/ Time to Wake Up (x3)/ Get up and take that (x4) which later just gets condensed to a haunting invitation of wake upwake up https://youtu.be/aoX6prHnIEssi=PWjaCF-SqxWrrT2Y https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803432014565587 https://youtu.be/aoX6prHnIEssi=PWjaCF-SqxWrrT2Y https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803432014565587"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The only decision I dont quite understand with respect to the album is its incorporation of a rework of Rest & Relaxation as well as remixes of two other tracks. Theyre certainly not bad but I dont think that any of them live up to the original versions so Id wonder whether they are viewed by the artist as being integral to the release. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803434392719581 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803434392719581"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Otherwise though its an excellent album. Its bold in interesting ways and even if that can potentially come off as abrasive its among the best and perhaps the single strangest* album of the year. Wait -I_ /I by launau & jarxa exists so lets say second strangest* **Wait Control Your Souls Desire For Freedom by Heathe exists so lets say third strangest https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803436309598253 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2009803436309598253"
X Link 2026-01-10T01:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It occurs to me that I neglected to tag the artist above so tagging @TirandoaVioleta here so she's aware of some appreciation from this random Twitter-er"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #6 Favorite Song of [----] Dont You Hear Me Calling by Annie & The Caldwells https://youtu.be/jXDlOmQXCussi=xMv4e5WSaBuoRfiC https://youtu.be/jXDlOmQXCussi=xMv4e5WSaBuoRfiC"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"To understand part of why I enjoy Dont You Hear Me Calling you must first know a little bit about the band itself. Annie & The Caldwells consists ofAnnie Caldwell and her family: husband (of [--] years) Willie Sr. on guitar son Willie Jr. on bass son Abel on drums and daughters/goddaughter Anjessica Deborah and Toni as backing singers. The Caldwells are or at least were when they recorded this album just regular folks living in West Point Mississippi. Willie Jr. drives a forklift Abel drives hospital patients Anjessica works for an insurance company Toni is a teacher Deborah is a hairdresser"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The reasons I focus on this background so much are two-fold. For one for a humble family affair the music sounds really good. Turning on some of their songs you wouldnt think that this is their side project that everybody has day jobs of their own. This is some great disco-soul that you could swear comes straight out of the 70s. Annies voice in particular is an incredible commanding presence. Musically they sound like professionals which is impressive considering their background. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010170278647587011 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010170278647587011"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Second Dont You Hear Me Calling comes across as a very genuine personal song. Knowing what family means to these people knowing their relationship to the church its apparent that Annie has lived every word that she sings"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:01Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So for the uninitiated what is the song even about Its a testimonial through and through. Annie recounts a story from when she was a kid. Her brother needed a heart transplant or he would die. Returning from the hospital to their hotel room Annies mother turned the bathroom into her prayer room where she makes the titular plea. And indeed God comes through for the family. They get a call that a young woman died in an accident that she could be the donor they needed. He gets the transplant and three days later (ha) hes feeling better able to walk around. Annie and her mother know that what"
X Link 2026-01-11T02:03Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #6 Favorite Album of [----] The Return of Magik by Rwake https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908676039524427 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908676039524427"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Considering that metal or metal-adjacent bands took three of the top four slots on my rankings for last year this year felt comparatively like a down year for the genre. There were still some great releases but this is the only one that stuck with me enough to land within my top [--]. So what sets Rwake apart from the pack https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908678912647402 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908678912647402"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The second half of the song shifts a little greater focus to the lyrics. From what I can gather the song or at least this portion is an attempt to cheat death to not let death be the parting of a couple (hence the title). This half recites a recipe and incantation to achieve their goals with a literal reference to bubble bubble toil and trouble. In addition to Terrys vocals being slightly less gruff here the guitars are fully in sync with and emphasizing his rhythm. Its not about a groove anymore. Now were brewing a potion and the music is fully aligned with the vocals to convey its contents."
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Next is the titular track which builds on a lot of these concepts. We start with another call-and-response section between the vocalists that employs a slick guitar riff at the end of the verse. This type of verse is repeated a few times but each repetition brings a new element to give the impression of consistent progress: first the drums are heavier then a descending guitar is added then a second descending guitar is added to harmonize with the first. Again you can turn your brain off and just bask in the atmosphere but if you do want to pay attention there are a lot of details here to pick"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The back half of the song feels akin to a sermon. Much of the music drops out as Terry in a near spoken cadence expounds on a sort of cosmic mother entity. Occasionally some wicked guitars and Fugates howls with interject almost like a dark choir punctuating the sermon. The song wraps up with my favorite riff of the album rhythmically designed for maximum headbanging"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After the intensity of this track the band rightfully concludes that a change of pace may be in order so as to not overwhelm the listener. Its kind of astonishing how well they commit to this change of pace in Distant Constellations and the Psychedelic Incarceration The opening consists of an odd distorted vocal clip lecturing about the intellectual harm caused by youth consuming psychedelic drugs supplemented by fairly subdued music led primarily by an acoustic guitar and occasional cello highlight chords that will be employed minutes down the line."
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Five minutes pass in an instant and the acoustic guitar plays a new riff which is then replicated on an electric guitar and the vocals finally emerge. Fugate takes the lead and her voice is soft and clean gently chanting lines with a lot of atmosphere e.g. Dreams that you followswallow you whole. Terry also joins here speaking lines in response to Fugates. A couple minutes into this pattern the volume starts to rise again but is again tamped down by Fugates serene voice. The song doesnt actually get heavy until a whole nine minutes in which again doesnt feel nearly that long. From this point"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Unfortunately In After Reverse doesnt quite pay off well to the anticipation. Its my least favorite song of the album largely because it seems to eschew the tools that the band has used in each other track in favor ofa lot of noise. The first four minutes are relentlessly heavy the pace is fairly plodding it feels non-melodic and doesnt even incorporate much by way of instrumental or vocal dynamic change. The next section employs a neat backward vocal section possibly by means of summoning the devil as referenced in the lyrics but otherwise the song itself is a bit of a disappointing end to a"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"So overall aside from one misstep Rwake have assembled a potent concoction to discuss their cosmic philosophy. For as heavy as the music and vocals can be its a surprising breeze to sit through consistently doing enough to keep forward momentum without feeling like the shifts are random making it my favorite metal album of the year. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908703327973774 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2010908703327973774"
X Link 2026-01-13T02:56Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #5 Favorite Song of [----] Environmental Catastrophe Film by La Dispute (@ladisputeband) https://youtu.be/AHusIjLTu_Msi=NxonGsnEdtVNt88I https://youtu.be/AHusIjLTu_Msi=NxonGsnEdtVNt88I"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"La Dispute probably needs no introduction. With their distinct blend of speaking/screaming post-hardcore and bleak heavy emotional lyrics chances are that if you're even passingly familiar with the genre you've heard of them and either love them or hate them. Landing more toward the former side I of course picked up their new album No One Was Driving The Car on release. Although it's another accomplished emotional album it didn't quite crack my top [--] for the year but standout track Environmental Catastrophe Film kicks off my top [--] for individual songs."
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A few months ago I had actually drafted a long Twitter thread comparing and contrasting this song from another track by The Beths that had interesting comparisons of symbol usage but ended up discarding the idea (too many tweets to thread and it's not like anyone would really read it anyway haha). However I'm still happy to be able to highlight its strengths here as its an epic journey. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268909802959250 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268909802959250"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We may as well start with the aforementioned themes and symbolism. The title refers to the primary symbolic device a real life creek in singer Jordan Dreyer's hometown in Grand Rapids called Plaster Creek so named for becoming poisonous following the deposit of harmful amounts of gypsum mined from the area as it was first being settled. This symbol expands outward into many topics: a rotting home the ripple effects of an individual life the irreversible march forward toward death and being trapped in your own river of fate unable to escape the heaven or hell that lies ahead along with the"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Over a subdued but anxious guitar Dreyer in a soft speaking voice (similar to Aaron Weiss from mewithoutyou) starts by describing a bystander to the creek itself telling of its history and the poison it holds. He then muses what would happen if he fell in the water when the poison would take his life whether eating with his family or sitting in church. As he flows from one subject to another new instrumental voices appear slowly building the intensity. It hits another level at the mention of church where he was taught the strict fatalistic view of his sect instilling him and his friends with"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Around 3:00 we're clearly building up to a new section with the music starting to crescendo and Dreyers vocals taking on their normal hoarse texture and we narratively skip forward in time. Were back at the church attending the funeral of a childhood friend who took his own life who gave in to the poison inside. This leads Dreyers mind back to the creek as the music reaches a heavy fever pitch and he ruminates on the inescapable nature of it: Theres only one direction the water flows It only goes forward Forward Forward https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268917210062970"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The heaviness and pain builds with Dreyer now sounding like Cedric Bixler-Zavala at his At the Drive-In loudest and in a climax he hauntingly laments: And every moment passing is one youll never get back And you can only get older Older Older Its hard to match the intensity of their previous masterpiece King Park but this one certainly gives that song a run for its money. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268919131013466 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011268919131013466"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The music drops out nearly entirely and the final section is another slow sad build further exploring these themes wondering about our place in the world how one small part can have ripple effects on the whole: a piece of wood on a lathe becomes a chair becomes the railing on the staircase at the first place where we kissed becomes a roof becomes the bedframe in a room becomes a house where the occupants became what they in turn became. And brilliantly this circles back to our primary imagery as Dreyer likens us to the wood on the lathe then observes: All our lives against the blade Because"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Weve smoothly made it back to the creek and the music again starts to crescendo similar to when the band took us to church earlier. Appropriately the last thoughts contemplated at the side of the creek are again of God. Despite the anxiety and trauma caused by his religion as a child Dreyer cant help but plea to some being more powerful than him to grant him peace to help him escape this river: Let me sleep in the sun let me feel you reach Hold me out keep me up above now Let the time freeze come and lie here with me At the creek before we go before we must fall in it with me"
X Link 2026-01-14T02:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #5 Favorite Album of [----] Whispers in the Speech Machine by The Laughing Chimes (@LaughingChimes) https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011636697864294794 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011636697864294794"
X Link 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A late January release Whispers in the Speech Machine had me immediately entranced and I wondered just how high it would land on my eventual year-end rankings. Eschewing the jangle pop of their debut album (which I hate to admit was probably all for the better) this Athens OH band (Mid-Ohio Valley shoutout) embraced their inner Southern Gothic and drew inspiration from the late 80s in their follow up. Landing somewhere between The Cure and Joy Division the entire album is a consistently moody engaging masterpiece earning a top [--] spot for me."
X Link 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As it happens this atmosphere is established immediately in the very first notes of the album. Sad chords and a slightly fuzzy bass underscore a guitar melody that sounds like a more wistful version of Dont Fear the Reaper. Singer Evan Seurkamps vocals are delivered quietly enough already but theyre also buried in the mix betraying a heavy melancholy like he's mired and trying to escape. (Funny fact the vocals are buried deeply enough in the mix that I ordered a copy of the vinyl to get the lyric sheeta very worthwhile investment especially since it gives me greater opportunity to support a"
X Link 2026-01-15T03:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And indeed this melancholy carries through to the lyrics as well which is another highlight of the album in two different ways. For one I appreciate when the band incorporates oddly-specific references to help sell the content of a song. In Atrophy the first line reads Laid out like a parlor by Kirkbride himself while the chorus laments I cant sleep in batwing rooms. Following from the Bandcamp description that the band embraced their Southern Gothic in this album thats where my mind first went. I pictured a heartbroken man in some Southern mansion splayed out dramatically on a chaise lounge"
X Link 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The Kirkbride Plan was a system of mental asylum design advocated by American psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century Oh"
X Link 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"and then there was the accompanying image of this Kirkbride Plan: Double oh. That looks.batlike. Well that certainly adds an extra dimension to how the singer is dealing with his melancholy now doesnt it"
X Link 2026-01-15T03:09Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #4 Favorite Song of [----] Absent Thereafter by Between the Buried and Me (@btbamofficial ) https://youtu.be/UDhUsgxKeaMsi=G4RUartKAhH0c4aK https://youtu.be/UDhUsgxKeaMsi=G4RUartKAhH0c4aK"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Between the Buried and Me has shown resilience in the face of adversity this year releasing an album The Blue Nowhere following the departure of long-time guitarist Dusty Waring. Many may have wondered whether the band could still produce their magic after losing a key piece becoming only a four-piece. They may have especially raised eyebrows with the release of the titular song as the first single (a very nice song even if it didnt sound anything like were used to from the band). With the release of the full album all such fears were assuaged especially when the band can produce songs as"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Broadly speaking I would break up the song into three different sections or movements (with the third section having a few different sub-sections the connective tissue of which is just have fun). The intro section is pretty typical for Between the Buried and Me. Howling vocals frenetic yet calculated guitars and high energy. Of specific note here though are two different elements. First certain musical phrases are punctuated by a unique bluesy picked acoustic and electric guitar lick (often preceded by a humorous la-di-da-di because the band knows how to inject lightheartedness into their"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After the introductory auditory assault for the first 2:10 we slow down for a while for the second section. The frenetic riffs give way to broader sustained chords and Tommys switches to clean vocals. Guitarist Paul Waggoner is also given a nice almost anthemic classic-rock-sounding guitar solo. These are also pleasant enough elements in themselves and the loud-soft dynamic is certainly nothing new for Between the Buried and Me songs so one may be tempted to wonder if or how the band is going to switch things up to find a new gear this far into their career. and then the third section kicks"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"At 6:50 the music gets quieter again primarily leaving Dan Briggss bass and Blake Richardsons drums (ever the unsung hero of the band being able to string together so many styles seamlessly) giving us a chance to breathe again. Tommys vocals re-emerge and guitar layers get added clearly building up to something. That something ends up beingan interlude with an Old West style piano Sure why not"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"But we cant stick with anything for too long so BTBAM makes a swing towarda jazzy swing beat This might feel gimmicky for other bands but it works well here because a) its an oddly natural progression of the piano that precedes it and moreover b) the band has already shown that they like this type of sound a la the excellent Voice of Trespass. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011988829796724921 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2011988829796724921"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Finally entering the homestretch at 9:30 into the song were now back to a more standard 4/4 riff again with a little bit of the blues sound (and re-introducing the picked blues riff from the first section). Its a solid way to round out the song and the band manages to get one last bit of fun in with a false ending before progressing into the real ending ("ta-daaaaa")"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Theres so much going on with this track. Its interesting to look at on an instrumental and structural level but at the end of the day every minute of the song just gets more fun than the last making for an excellent ten-minute experience one of the best of the year"
X Link 2026-01-16T02:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Last year I had a funny interaction on reddit. Someone posted on r/music how it felt like there were so few talented groups these days who really felt like they were all operating on the same level. A lot of people kind of dismissed him as if he had excessively high standards but I sympathized with him because while I find a lot of music pleasant there arent many groups who excel at a high level who feel like theyre always on the same wavelength producing a whole thats greater than the sum of its parts. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693932447035681"
X Link 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I told him that he might have to look a little bit harder and broaden his horizons and one album that I recommended he check out to hear a group firing on all cylinders was the jazz album Urban Crawl by SLUGish Ensemble. He responded to me as if he had just had a revelation. He had given it a spin and it was exactly the type of songwriting he was searching for. He went so far as to explain that he never got into much jazz just one or two albums but this one was an eye-opener for him such that he was going to dive into a rabbit hole trying to find more. Such is the power of SLUGish Ensemble."
X Link 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The ensemble doesnt have to reinvent the wheel to be satisfying. Its not a highly complex game of find the theme or tease out the structure or listen for the conversation between instruments. Its more about soothing your brain rather than testing it and to that end this album just makes me happy while listening"
X Link 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"All that said there is one track that I need to specifically draw your attention to: Washington & Taylor I believe that this is the single most beautiful piece of music Ive heard this whole year. https://youtu.be/dKTGiglAy8Msi=zSbm2rFuFqpZCbGz https://youtu.be/dKTGiglAy8Msi=zSbm2rFuFqpZCbGz"
X Link 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #3 Favorite Song of [----] iPod Touch by Ninajirachi (@ninajirachi) https://youtu.be/MxekyGtqcNEsi=Blfsxsg5qeFUAEoD https://youtu.be/MxekyGtqcNEsi=Blfsxsg5qeFUAEoD"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Music can be a powerful thing. A song can allow you to lose yourself entirely to just disappear in the waves of the music. Another may put you in somebody else's head to hear a story play out to emotionally sweep you away. Others may transport you in time taking you back to places that you didn't know you forgot about that you welcome with a nostalgic smile. iPod Touch by Ninajirachi is one such song. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423865079194017 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423865079194017"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This mix of the mundane and the narrative in particular is masterfully executed because the mundane has meaning primarily because of the overarching narrative of music discovery. It's the music that gives meaning to otherwise meaningless moments: I've got a song that nobody knows/ And I heard it in a post when I was twelve years old/ I didn't know that it would score the 64-bus home/ Turn a Monday to a memory and change my world Ive never ridden the 64-bus and Im not even certain what post refers to in this case (Nina is Australian). I cant identify with this but you know what I can identify"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I remember the first time I listened to my favorite album Full Collapse by Thursday while cleaning my moms minivan. I remember sitting in a college hall lounge between classes when I was [--] when I heard "Nemesis" by Arch Enemy for the first time introducing me to the world of metal. I remember sitting in my basement eyes closed in my recliner when I listened to Vision Creation Newsun by the Boredoms for the first time cementing itself as a benchmark for any experimental music I heard from then on. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013423871530066065"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Oh and did I mention that the music itself absolutely slaps Because it does"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It immediately flies out of the gate with a high energy beat and the soundscape is bright. However theres also a slight reservation or shyness in the music and the melody. For example in the line Ive got a song that nobody knows the last note doesnt jump as high as the preceding notes. It breaks the pattern as if Nina is slightly hesitant about continuing and sharing. I dont often describe music itself as sounding introverted but I feel it here which is an especially intriguing choice for club music. Just as Nina starts to open up and share though so too does the music. Vocal and instrumental"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This momentum of opening up is even reflected with how the rhythm itself unfolds. The first line is more restrained a more hesitant uneven pace alternating between quarter and eighth notes. The next stanzas rhythm e.g. It feels like high school front gate smoke in my face becomes more confident. High school front gate are still strong quarter notes but grouped together leaving the eight notes of smoke in my face to finish the line strong. Its more punchy. And eventually lines like Hidden underneath my pillow cause I should be asleep are fully eighth notes. Whether you consciously notice or"
X Link 2026-01-20T01:30Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Anybody who has seen Hamilton could likely attest that one of the strongest parts of the whole show is the performance of Daveed Diggs as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson. Turns out that his rapping talents arent just for Broadway as hes part of a real rap group clipping. as well (shocker I know) Combining the vocal talents of Diggs with the production talents of William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes yields a concoction no less magical and impressive than Diggss turn in Hamilton"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"While Hamilton was a look toward the past clipping. is oriented toward the future. The music draws upon the digital age in all respects (the intro incorporates sounds of a dial-up modem for instance) and across twenty tracks the group highlights vignettes of a cyberpunk dystopian world full of hackers people talking in code futuristic drugs and of course mirrored shades a la The Matrix. Given the albums subject matter its appropriate that its consistently bombastic and in-your-face. Diggs is a showman at heart and the album exudes his charisma and energy as a result. Across its fifty-three"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"On the flip side certain tracks such as Run It Code and Madcap are primarily built around a particular rhythm or line that gets repeated through the verse. These are nicely intermingled with and contrast appropriately from the high energy tracks showing that clipping. is far from a one-trick pony. In addition to again displaying rhythmic talent by knowing specifically when and how to deviate from the main rhythm for impact these tracks also often serve as venues for Diggs to exercise his Broadway chops by trotting out different pitches and inflections to the words. Code in particular excels"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Code also overlaps with a third category of tracks that I will simply callthe swagger tracks. Diggs is a man of near infinite charisma and some tracks in particular emphasize his swagger such as Scams and Mirrored Shades (Part 2) These tracks are as technically adept as any other but they need basically no deeper analysis than they just sound cool. https://youtu.be/StIcDroU2nYsi=uTVQ3C6byn2ArPCv https://youtu.be/StIcDroU2nYsi=uTVQ3C6byn2ArPCv"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Five tracks are also instrumental interludes of sorts giving Hutson and Snipes (plus occasional guests) a little room to experiment with their futuristic soundscapes while letting the audience take a breather. I dont know that I would call each one strictly integral to the structure of the album (in particular Malleus acting as an outro to Dodger is an excessively difficult shift in energy) but I appreciate them for what they are nonetheless. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785737196388526 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785737196388526"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #2 Favorite Song of [----] Dodger by clipping. https://youtu.be/Dvp5mSVs3Cssi=TYXqmAp3hqUcGDJy https://youtu.be/Dvp5mSVs3Cssi=TYXqmAp3hqUcGDJy"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Well this name sounds familiar now doesnt it Anyone who read my rundown of Dead Channel Sky from yesterday may have thought it odd that a standout track like Dodger would barely get more than a passing reference from me. This would be the reason why. Ive already introduced the group and their strengths in yesterdays posts so lets just skip right into how this song helps bring out so many of these strengths shall we"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"After an oddly noisy intro the slate is wiped clean with just Daveed Diggs and a bass drum beat. The minimal beat and his pauses line by line signal to the listener that this is just a beginning building anticipation for whats to come. And indeed after just a few lines we get the payoff. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140314785649058 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140314785649058"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The first verse is a shotgun blast of rhythmic ideas that constantly keeps the listener on their toes shifting every few seconds. In fact I was trying to break down in words just how much it shifted but concluded that a diagram would be much easier. Behold:"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Section A is the anticipation-building intro. Section B is the immediate payoff keeping tempo but largely filling in the spaces between lines. After only a few seconds though Section C kicks in and were suddenly in a multisyllabic rapid-fire delivery reminiscent of Eminems famous fast sections (e.g. Rap God and Godzilla). Sections D and E shift the pace again in addition to going hand-in-hand with each other. While Section C had a relatively steady if high speed rhythm Section D is more staggered being slightly syncopated. Section E has similar staggering but is actually on-beat rather than"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Were greeted with the second chorus and I want to take time to praise the chorus as well. In addition to very strongly demarcating different verses given how much the style shifts between verses the chorus is also oddly catchy in itself. Its not as pleasantly melodic as last entrys iPod Touch but the repetition of Kill that st has such conviction and punchiness that it embeds itself in my head often after I hear it. The second chorus in particular is executed well because with the repetitions of Kill that st the music fades out and goes almost entirely silent. Were approaching a sober"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The bridge is yet another different look this time holding very steady to eighth-notes consistently emphasized on the beat while reciting a mantra imploring to Be the citizen you need to be/ if innocence is in your future/ you are either in the net/ or you against the wall Its time for our protagonist to make a choice as to where she fits in in the new society. The music re-enters toward the end of the second repetition of this mantra leading to another chorus this time ending with another musical shift: a change in key and the introduction of digital strings as were approaching the climax."
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Like the first verse the final verse starts simply with shortened lines and rests between them. Shortly however Diggs picks up the vocal pace again as were racing toward the endin a sense were literally racing forward as the predominant rhythm is an addictive gallop. We hear how our protagonist has made her choice joining the cause of the revolutionaries falling in love with their leader and becoming a dodger herself. With the sum of the music the lyrics and the delivery Im often left out of breath by the time the song ends"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Its a phenomenal piece of work overall epic in scale with constant forward momentum. For a long while I thought that it would be my song of the year but to my surprise a song that Id first heard months earlier grew on me over time surpassing Dodger at the finish line. Stay tuned for a few days for the reveal https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140341482389764 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2014140341482389764"
X Link 2026-01-22T00:57Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This time were treated to four repetitions on Melody A under this funky beat and as we hit that final line again (its importance previewed earlier) the music hits a crescendo and the final instrumental voice enters the mix: a string section This new voice frames the refrain as Cassidy inquires with maximum volume and passion Would you be afraid of me Tell me tell me tell me https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697975662153747 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697975662153747"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #4 Favorite Album of [----] Urban Crawl by SLUGish Ensemble https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693929221570974 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2012693929221570974"
X Link 2026-01-18T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #3 Favorite Album of [----] Dead Channel Sky by clipping. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785723762045105 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2013785723762045105"
X Link 2026-01-21T01:28Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #2 Favorite Album of [----] Triste Animal by Lou-Adriane Cassidy https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016317926081528252 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016317926081528252"
X Link 2026-01-28T01:10Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Adieu (Farewell) is a pure heartbreaker with lyrics and chords particularly in the chorus evoking bittersweet emotion for the singer's impending death (in song). The musical swell and change to the lyrics in the final chorus in particular are breathtaking. https://youtu.be/wXr_m3ZB7AAsi=MfofR02esbBV_iCb https://youtu.be/wXr_m3ZB7AAsi=MfofR02esbBV_iCb"
X Link 2026-01-28T01:13Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Gardien des fous (Guardian of Fools) in contrast serves as a nice relief. It's not even that it's more upbeat than the preceding song but the ethereal keyboard texture multiple vocal lines (first in parallel then out of sync) and taunting chorus all come across as playful almost like a fairy tale. https://youtu.be/LBUMd-TDStgsi=nTknibCK6vUJxI4W https://youtu.be/LBUMd-TDStgsi=nTknibCK6vUJxI4W"
X Link 2026-01-28T01:14Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And Les hirondelles (Swallows) is a pleasant cooldown after the emotion of the rest of the album also serving as a neat bookend to the album by repeating the piano introduction to J'ai l'habitude at the end. https://youtu.be/i-DnGNLk2Lssi=6K0SptoKfY4mvpBT https://youtu.be/i-DnGNLk2Lssi=6K0SptoKfY4mvpBT"
X Link 2026-01-28T01:15Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"At a little over [--] minutes this album is a very brisk listen and if anything I think it could stand to be slightly longer. But still I would much rather an album leave me wanting more than adding songs that feel inessential. Everything here is essential and compelling making it minute-for-minute one of the strongest releases of the year well worth a few spins to fully absorb its content. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016319266467799190 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016319266467799190"
X Link 2026-01-28T01:15Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My favorite song of the year is by an artist who needs no introduction (mostly because I just introduced her in yesterdays album list entry) although the song itself does need an introduction. While Triste Animal was my #2 favorite album of the year this song does not actually come from that album but is instead the opener to Cassidys January release Journal dun Loup-Garou. Id mentioned in my rundown yesterday that Journal may have had higher highs than Triste Animal even if the latter was more consistent and this is precisely what I was referring to"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This song is art pop of the finest variety. Its substantively well-written on the macro- and micro-scale consisting of a number of different musical looks all arranged for an excellent buildup and payoff. It contains a perfect melody that never grows tired even over the course of five minutes. Moreover unlike other tracks that ranked high on this years list (e.g. iPod Touch or Dodger) I dont have to be in a particular mood to feel like firing it upit will spring to mind for no reason at all and no matter my mood Ill want to pull it up. Lets take a closer look."
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This passage concludes with a choir-like group of vocals pensively inquiring Existais-tu vraiment (Do you really exist). For lyrical context the entire album is to my understanding a reflection on the life of an actress feeling the disparity between her real life and her life on screen leading a double life akin to a werewolf (hence the album title and the imagery in the music video). Accordingly this line is an appropriate reflection for one living this double life"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Although it is not obvious upon a first listen I love the restraint shown in this entire section. The song is going to get more exciting. Well hear these passages again with more instruments and higher tempo but not yet. In the TikTok age of songwriting spending an entire minute before picking up even slightly is admirable. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697967349039347 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697967349039347"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As the next section kicks in we return again to Melody A and the same piano chords but its not quite the same. Many artists build momentum through the addition of musical elements before anything else but thats not the case here. The piano is the same but in a subtle touch the tempo has increased. Its not a significant change just a few BPM but it feels a lot more confident. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697969190355225 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2016697969190355225"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"In addition to serving as a signaling device this line also serves as the musical turning point of the entire song. We enter into Melody B again but everything changes this time. In addition to the higher tempo the piano suddenly becomes more active (think the pre-chorus of Green Light by Lorde) we repeat Melody B a whole five times (with some fun overlapping the end of one repetition with the beginning of the next) and in the course of these repetitions she also ascends to a new chord twice. As Cassidy holds the last note a bold bassline enters before she picks up with Melody A again this"
X Link 2026-01-29T02:20Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Honorable mentions for my favorite albums of [----] As mentioned at the beginning of the month when approaching my top ten list this year I tried to recognize my bias toward albums by bands that I wanted to give credit to rather than those that I truly found myself listening to the most throughout the year. In order to maintain the integrity of my top ten list as truly representing my ten favorites I figured it would be a reasonable compromise for me to save a little bit of space to shout out some of these bands and albums that I want to support even if they couldnt quite crack my top ten so"
X Link 2026-01-30T01:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Cult Subterranea by Celestaphone & Dealers of God This is the only album that was wholly disqualified from consideration. Its a fascinating listen a trippy rap album that roughly takes the listener through a sci-fi quasi-kaballistic journey. The beats are aggressive and abrasive Celestaphones vocals are angry the lyrics (while boasting impressive rhymes per minute) are manic and full of highly obscure references and an SAT vocabularylistening to these songs feels like having a panic attack. Its compelling how unabashedly itself it all iswhich also leads to the disqualification. While much of"
X Link 2026-01-30T01:04Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"So there we have it the rest of the albums that I wanted to highlight this year for one reason or another. Tomorrow (orhopefully tomorrow) Ill reveal my #1 favorite album of the year. A minor hint: if you paid attention to last years list I mentioned a possibility that might inform what my #1 entry is. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017041333332897951 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017041333332897951"
X Link 2026-01-30T01:05Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"My #1 Favorite Album of [----] Start Anew by Shad https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017760613326360718 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2017760613326360718"
X Link 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"First even before paying close attention to the lyrics listen to his rhyme scheme alone. From the beginning of the verse all the way through the pre-chorus he consistently strings together aah-oh rhymes none of which feel forced. (One could argue that he mispronounces Vamanos to make it rhyme but the very next line is Please excuse my Spanish so hes clearly being cheeky about the pronunciation.) The point is its not easy to keep a single rhyme up for this long so that alone is noteworthy"
X Link 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Now pay a little closer attention to actual content of the lyrics and youll see that his flow from subject to subject is just as smooth as his flow of rhymes. He goes from: not mechanical - animals - Daniel and the lions - biblical/spiritual contemplation - spiritual soul - soul singer - pop singer (specifically Go Deep by Janet Jackson) - Peyton/Eli Manning (because their throws go deep). So not only has he come up with so many disparate phrases that fit a single rhyme scheme hes arranged them in such a way that none of these feel like random throwaways By contrast I love Eminem but Ill also"
X Link 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"On yet another level its one thing to smoothly connect these disparate ideas and transition from one to the next but its another to do this while still also being thematically cohesive Every single one of these references tie pretty directly to the theme of this song: in his art hes consistently trying to tap into higher truths and spread these basic truths to audience i.e. hes trying to keep it simple stupid (K.I.S.S.) (Funnily enough the guest rapper on this track like a few others on the album come across as a bit simpler which just makes Shad look even more impressive by comparison.) This"
X Link 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I mention his themes here as well because this is also another excellently-realized element through the course of the entire album. Shad has a definite philosophy about him and hes using his art to express it. Specifically Start Anew is trying to say: 1) The state of the world (and to a lesser extent the rap industry) isnt great right now; 2) People would notice these things if they looked around them and embraced truth and reality; 3) Changing the world takes courage and sacrifice which he exemplifies; 4) A lot of people struggle with this because of a fear of death 5) This fear of death"
X Link 2026-02-01T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"-I_ /I by launou + jarxa This is less of an I love this album and want to listen to it all of the time and more of a this album just lives rent-free in my head recommendation. This is pretty much as experimental as it gets with each of the albums four tracks consisting of miscellaneous sounds clipped together with barely a hint of any traditional instrumentation anywhere. The reason it lives rent-free in my head isI kind of get it. Its very weird at first (and the second track in particular has a grating sound sample) but if you pay close attention you can actually hear a steady pulse to the"
X Link 2026-01-30T01:04Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Endings like this are among my least favorite where they subvert something the writers go out of their way to make the audience believe. Like "well yeah I believed x was true because you're the ones who told me to in the first place" I'm always reminded of an episode of Bob's Burgers where Linda wants to write a murder mystery for dinner theater in the diner. At the end she polls the audience "So who do you think was the murderer Was it x Was it y Whoever it was it definitely wasn't the butler.Surprise it was the butler What a twist" (paraphrasing). There are better and worse ways to do this"
X Link 2026-02-11T00:38Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"This isn't to say that unreliable narrator storytelling can never work but they have to be done with care. In the case of this game I feel like the nature of the twist ending is remembered better than the theme it was trying to convey (something about your character trying to escape reality out of denial of his own problems). And it certainly doesn't help when criticism of the ending is quickly dismissed as "you just didn't get it" when it is indeed possible to get the intent while disagreeing with the execution to get there. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2021384541412221034"
X Link 2026-02-11T00:43Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And to elaborate on the twists that I think are most effective I love the approach with Oldboy where the knowledge given to the audience that later ends up being untrue occurs very organically in the plot and is mentioned almost in passing. It's fed to the audience by the writer yes but undue attention isn't drawn to it. And for the "audience brings in their own knowledge" kind of twist my mind was blown by the twist in the "Death Note: Another Note" novel which relied on the audience's knowledge of characters from the original manga to make an assumption that ended up being untrue. (Although"
X Link 2026-02-11T00:47Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I mean.Blood on Your Hands is among my all-time favorite songs even today so I'm gonna have to go with that. The 7th ARCH ENEMY studio album RISE OF THE TYRANT was released [--] years ago today Got a fave song off this album #archenemy #riseofthetyrant https://t.co/MiU4HfMEBv The 7th ARCH ENEMY studio album RISE OF THE TYRANT was released [--] years ago today Got a fave song off this album #archenemy #riseofthetyrant https://t.co/MiU4HfMEBv"
X Link 2018-09-24T23:07Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Happy Anniversary to my love and my Muse @ltlmsnietzsche Each year with you has better than the last Thanks for being my better half and inspiring me to be a better person"
X Link 2019-10-24T01:32Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I missed this It's back. https://t.co/97FXljMGmz It's back. https://t.co/97FXljMGmz"
X Link 2020-02-04T04:42Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Super helpful assistants working at home"
X Link 2020-03-20T21:00Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Sees oil prices Envisions hundreds of barrels of oil sitting around my house like turnips Cracks fingers Daisy Mae this is the moment you've been training me for"
X Link 2020-04-20T21:08Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"We need to relearn what ancient cultures knew about breathing correctlythat its essential to the health of body and mind James Nestor writes https://t.co/SxC3cx1IbK We need to relearn what ancient cultures knew about breathing correctlythat its essential to the health of body and mind James Nestor writes https://t.co/SxC3cx1IbK"
X Link 2020-05-22T02:23Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This might end up being good but I think even trying to adapt it partially misses the point. The writing is INCREDIBLY dry and sterile but it's because Asimov wants it to be about the ideas not the world or the individuals. A visual adaptation necessarily shifts the focus. [--] years in the making. Isaac Asimovs epic Sci-Fi universe comes to Apple TV+ 2021: https://t.co/SbImWPSSoR #Foundation https://t.co/LEGYXFvskm [--] years in the making. Isaac Asimovs epic Sci-Fi universe comes to Apple TV+ 2021: https://t.co/SbImWPSSoR #Foundation https://t.co/LEGYXFvskm"
X Link 2020-06-22T21:17Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Same energy Get ready for Scooby-Doo and the Curious Case of Creepy Collectibles. https://t.co/ounoCbgn1f Get ready for Scooby-Doo and the Curious Case of Creepy Collectibles. https://t.co/ounoCbgn1f"
X Link 2020-07-09T00:53Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I can't not post something for hashtag International Cat Day"
X Link 2020-08-09T03:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I saw Cancel Culture open for Bad Religion in the 90s. "Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world" Australian rock star Nick Cave compares cancel culture to 'bad religion' https://t.co/ZIXsldIk7w "Political correctness has grown to become the unhappiest religion in the world" Australian rock star Nick Cave compares cancel culture to 'bad religion' https://t.co/ZIXsldIk7w"
X Link 2020-08-13T18:53Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Who did it better"
X Link 2021-07-08T01:03Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"I pre-ordered an album and a few days ago I got a message that there was going to be a printing error when it arrived. Well ok then"
X Link 2021-08-21T18:27Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Just seen in the r/eagles game day thread. I don't know that I've ever witnessed such Philly energy"
X Link 2022-12-04T19:39Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Americans will use any measurement to avoid having to use the metric system smh"
X Link 2023-09-29T19:21Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The movie Chicago has several of my favorite deliveries of swearing but the reaction by Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to "I just hope the fall didn't hurt the baby" lives rent-free in my head: https://youtu.be/6nf-EyJHPRcsi=L9tifF_ZaHd6Ygh3 what is your favourite line delivery https://t.co/2t0nyjR7Vf https://youtu.be/6nf-EyJHPRcsi=L9tifF_ZaHd6Ygh3 what is your favourite line delivery https://t.co/2t0nyjR7Vf"
X Link 2023-12-17T01:44Z [---] followers, [---] engagements
"@jessesingal Nice one I need to listen to this album with fresh ears sometime. For a supergroup I could never shake the feeling that they didn't transcend the sum of their parts but I'd love to have it "click" better with me at some point"
X Link 2023-12-25T05:41Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"My Five Favorite Albums from 2023: While I generally try to keep an open mind and explore new releases when I can I realistically only listened to a dozen or so new releases this year. Nonetheless I always like to make recommendations so here we go"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As a preface I noticed one consistent pattern among these artists: while their styles of music vary wildly each of them understood the assignment. They knew what music they wanted to create and knew exactly how to extract the most value from their style"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#5 The Hold Steady The Price of Progress. After a slight hiccup with their last album 2021s Open Door Policy they returned to form with this album. THS knows what they do best: making music about people doing drugs and living sad lives"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"As always THS excels convey intimacy through hyper-specific references. To go on a tangent to explain see the first lines from the upbeat Sideways Skull:"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"She ordered me a Newcastle and handed me a Marlboro/Stuck a dove in my right hand/She took a quick picture but even when we squinted/I didnt look so much like Robert Plant. I know who Robert Plant is but whats with the rest of this setup This:"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"In this context a dove is a pill (possibly ecstasy) which is some clever wordplay and this exchange tells so much about our characters. Theyre two people having a fling pretending to be rockstars while staying in a halfway house. OF COURSE they would bond over this image"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The album is packed with vignettes like this the music is fun usually tinged with sadness and in Sixers they may have written their best song to date a gut-punch about a woman wasting away unable to decide if she wants to make a deep connection or just have some fun"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:33Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more of what youd expect though I highlight two things:"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [---] engagements
"First I unironically like their lyrics. Yes theyre all about brutal depictions of violence but to their credit theres a surprising amount of variety in these lyrics as well. Each song is about a very specific scenario or act of violence. Just from this album"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Summoned for Sacrifice gruesomely details a ritual sacrifice. Vengeful Invasion is about a trafficking victim getting vengeance on her traffickers. Fracture and Refracture tells of an evil artist who breaks and heals bones in deformed ways"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Chaos Horrific is about a zombie attack. Pestilential Rictus is about a world plague that leaves its dead with a terrifying grin. Pitchfork Impalement is about peace on Earthor maybe just about being impaled by a pitchfork"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"A lot of other metal bands rely on general dark or violent themes without much variation (I love you Goatwhore but its true) so this level of variety is appreciated"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Second I also think that this album is slightly more accessible for newbiesas far as CC can be accessible. People may have an image of death metal as being mindless growling but as heavy as it is most songs still have a recognizable verse chorus solo/bridge structure"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:40Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"It's being fussy letting me post all of these as a single thread so I'll be chaining together entries like this. #4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more of what youd expect though I highlight two things: https://t.co/sGivdNxbtD #4 Cannibal Corpse Chaos Horrific. While I only recently started getting into CC after listening to 2021s Violence Unimagined I now understand why theyre the kings of brutal death metal. This album is more"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:41Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#3 Fall Out Boy So Much (for) Stardust. I was just the right age to get into peak FOB but fell off when they started relying on the dreary mid-10s pop sound (i.e. mid-tempo epic choruses that ultimately sound too self-important and boring)"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"When FOB released their first three songs from this album I was cautiously optimistic that it was a return to form. Hearing the full album I can confirm that this is very much the case (although YMMV as to whether you cared for their form to begin with)"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Listening to this album I realized how masterful FOB are with keeping you invested in a song. Sure pop-punk bands write upbeat songs with catchy choruses but FOB know how to give you several melodically or rhythmically interesting hooks in every song. For example"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"There are so many great individual moments in opener Love From the Other Side alone. [--]. The first lines have interesting syncopation. [--]. That high note on You know Im DYING out here immediately stands out and draws your attention"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"3. What would you trade the pain for is a hook connecting verses together (and is repeated in a later song). [--]. The We were a hammer to the Statue of David section switches from bouncing off-beat syncopation to solid descending eighth notes on the beat"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"5. The pre-chorus is a standard build-up but then PUNCHES with Id never go I just want to be invited before building even more ascending and imploring get the feeling dont fight it fight it. [--]. The chorus is appropriately explosive and catchy"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"And [--]. Every lovers got a little dagger in their hand is such a 00s emo line that I love it. Nearly every song is like this standing out as the sum of several strong parts"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Sure the lyrics are still the same puddle-deep half-clever witticisms theyve always had (e.g. Part-time soul mate full-time problem) and Heaven Iowa is a bit of a slog of the mid-10s variety mentioned above but just turn off your brain and enjoy"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:44Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#2 healthyliving Songs of Abundance Psalms of Grief. The first entry on this list from a band that Id never heard of before healthyliving a female-fronted Scottish three-piece is one I discovered via monthly Bandcamp recommendations"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Their bread and butter sound is melancholy post-metal (To the Fields) but they know when to change speeds as well ranging from radio-friendly barnburners (Dream Hive) to a heavier what-Ill-call coven metal (To the Gallows) to 90s alt-rock (Bloom)"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"Their lyrics are appropriately atmospheric and their music consistently hits well-above the quality of a standard debut album possibly because all of the members have been involved with prior projects"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The only reason that I cant call this my #1 is because the end of the album drags just slightly with the last three songs not having enough variety among them. Nonetheless Im well looking forward to whatever comes next from them"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:46Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"#1 Ahora Melenas This is another album that I discovered via Bandcamp recommendations (seriously yall should regularly read them) and I knew right away that this all-female four-piece was something special"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:49Z [---] followers, [--] engagements
"I dont even know how to classify the music. Synth-laden indie pop/rock maybe I hear strong elements of several artists: song simplicity of Tegan and Sara synth lines like Twin Shadow fuzziness of 90s Yo La Tengo and most importantly"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"The emotion/sadness inherent in music by the pillows. Like the pillows I dont understand most of the lyrics being entirely in Spanish but I dont need to. I FEEL the music which is saying a lot for a robot like me"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"This is an album that I dont hesitate to recommend to a broad variety of people for this reason. Just listen to [----] the most perfect dream-pop Ive heard since Cradle by The Joy Formidable"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
"On the flip side there are tracks like K2 content to be a more relaxed vibe somehow both chill and expressive. Its also timeless simultaneously feeling like the 80s 90s and 00s to my ears. And need I even mention the sublime background vocals"
X Link 2023-12-30T23:49Z [--] followers, [--] engagements
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