Favourite Song Atm. Literally Can’t Stop Listening. There’s Something So Undeniably Transcendent

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHI

Nobody knows how much I love this dude. It’s probably visible in my other posts but I genuinely believe that Chi Cheng is incredibly underrated in terms of his impact on Deftones’ music, especially in white pony and the self titled album. Somehow I get the impression that people usually perceive him as more of a nu metal-y, unsophisticated bassist when in reality his baselines are just gorgeous. He also brought something to Deftones that I can’t quite figure out; sometimes it literally feels like he was the soul of this band but hey I wasn’t there yk. AND HIS BACKING VOCALS LORDDD!!!! In a way it’s bittersweet to write this post, mainly because while death is always a touching subject, it’s especially tragic to be writing a happy birthday post about someone who will never celebrate a birthday again and hasn’t in 12 years (in reality it is more, of course).

Chi Cheng was such a bright presence in Deftones and in this world in general. Rest in peace Chi.

He is NEVER beating them gay allegations

HELP IM LOSING MY SHIT WITH SOME OF THESE

Songs of the Week (3)

1. Junkhead (Alice in Chains)

This was definitely an Alice in Chains week for me. Seasonal depression or whatever people choose to call it had me playing Dirt on repeat, and Junkhead is such an obvious standout (for me personally) that I just had to include it here. This song is so confident in what it wants to be that every listen feels different and it’s impossible to get tired of. Lyrical content and context aside, it’s a positive and enjoyable listen every single time.

2. Fist (Deftones)

Since Adrenaline’s 29th anniversary was a couple weeks ago and I forgot to make a post about it, I’m honoring it here. Besides, it was about time I added a Deftones song to one of these; just because there’s less of them in my daily rotation doesn’t mean I love the band any less. Fist is technically a hidden track, meaning that many forget about it when talking about Adrenaline, which I think is incredibly unfair. Fist is absolutely bewitching, a beautiful track that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album, but it’s such a gorgeous addition that I could never have the heart to critique it.

3. Mic Check (Rage Against the Machine)

Is it obvious that I love the Battle of Los Angeles yet? I love how inventive this song is, what is done with the guitar and the vocal effects. It’s a little too out there to play in the car or public places, but god is it beautiful. One of the best tracks off the album.

4. Riders On The Storm (The Doors)

I’m switching it up a little this week. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the weather, but for some reason this song easily made it into my daily rotation. I don’t listen to The Doors much so this feels like a very welcome change. It’s so charming and confident and beautiful that sometimes I put it on just to calm myself down.

5. I Know Something (Alice in Chains)

I fucking love Facelift and this song is one of the main reasons why. I adore the bass on this one and the way it blends with Jerry Cantrell’s guitar is insane. It’s weirdly positive and upbeat for this album and Alice in Chains in general but in the best way possible; it brings a kind of funkness (is that even a word) to their work I really appreciate. An overall amazing listen, so captivating.

6. Jimmy Recard (Drapht)

This song was introduced to me by my stepdad and it’s actually one of the biggest reasons I love it so much. Music is one of our main bonding points and it’s just always so beautiful to have people you love give you a glimpse of their music taste (especially if the taste is stellar). I tend to gravitate towards music that’s a little different from Drapht, which only makes songs like these all the more interesting to me. Absolute banger.

7. Sober (TOOL)

Sober is this week’s TOOL song because apparently I need to have one on every single one of these. If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t checked out any other tracks from Undertow, but if Sober is anything to go by this album fucking rocks. As always, the lyrics are amazing, the vocals are as intense as can be, the atmosphere is transcendental, and the passion is out of this world. I have such a deep appreciation for this track because let’s be honest, there’s nothing like TOOL out there and this is an integral part of their origins.

This video is literally a piece of art.

I rarely connect with something on such an intense level, but in this case I can confidently say that I agree with like 99% of the things that were said.

I’m going to be honest here and admit that I was never really interested in The Beatles; that is not to say that I hate their music, it’s just that I don’t actively go out of my way to listen to it. I was also never really into the whole Yoko controversy, mostly because I felt like I didn’t know enough about the whole situation to take part in the discourse or to make my own claims. However, this video still really did it for me, mostly because while it does talk (in depth) about the intricacies of the breakup and assassination, it focuses mostly on the twisted narrative of ‘the evil woman that manipulated and destroyed the genius of a sensitive and accomplished man.’ I never really thought about how often we fall for it as a society or how popular it really is in today’s pop culture.

I absolutely loved the segment about Kurt Cobain and the ‘Courtney killed him’ conspiracy, as well as how passionate the author is about defending women in the industry by calling out those that villainise them without idealising these women in the process. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the overall argument is very cohesive and balanced and doesn’t let it sway too much in one direction.

I wholeheartedly recommend anyone with 2 hours to spare to give this a watch. Even I with my fried attention span was able to enjoy it, and I also just think that it’s beautifully made.

Songs of the Week (1)

1. Bodies (Sex Pistols)

Really got into Sex Pistols this week, can’t get this song out of my head. Questionable messaging aside, this song is brilliant. I rarely find myself able to separate the music from the lyrics, so being able to enjoy this so much is a big deal for me. Indescribable energy.

2. Whale & Wasp (Alice in Chains)

The Jar of Flies EP is a goldmine that just never stops giving. I don’t know what Jerry Cantrell did to make his guitar sound like an actual whale, but this song really takes me places. Breathtakingly beautiful.

3. Disintegration (The Cure)

One of the best songs off this album. I’ve wanted to make a separate post on Disintegration (the album, not the song) for a long time now, just because it’s one of those rare records that I consider to be genuinely flawless. Cried to this song multiple times, I just don’t know how to put into words what it makes me feel.

4. Estranged (Guns N Roses)

I feel like this is an obvious one but out of their entire discography, Estranged is definitely one of my favourites. Absolutely adore Slash’s solos in this one, especially the fact that at some point the guitar becomes a second voice on equal standing with Axl’s vocals. Heartbreaking. Could cry to this for hours, no joke.

5. Guerrilla Radio (Rage Against the Machine)

One of my favourites off of The Battle of Los Angeles. Had the whole album on repeat a lot recently, but this song especially is a godsend. There’s something so special about finding music that you can really call yours, that really fits you. Guerrilla Radio is definitely one of those for me.

6. Problems (Sex Pistols)

I don’t know what it is with me and Sex Pistols this week but I feel like Problems is another song that translates their energy best. It’s provocative and dirty, I’m absolutely in love with it. Anything sporting raw emotion or genuine sentiment is an instant yes for me.

7. Halloween in Heaven (Type O Negative)

The first Type O Negative song in my playlist ever, mostly because I never really liked them much if I’m being honest, but the female vocals somewhere around the middle of the song really won me over. I’ll check out some more stuff from Dead Again, we’ll see where it goes.

crying rn

Alice In Chains, Nutshell, MTV Unplugged, 1996

OH MY GOOOD I ALMOST FORGOT HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ONE OF THE BEST DEBUTS OF ALL TIME!

Appetite for Destruction, released on July 21st 1987, is what I would personally consider a perfect debut for a band such as GNR. From the lifechanging opening of Welcome to the Jungle to the concluding chord of Rocket Queen, this album is EXACTLY what it wants to be: it’s mean, it’s dirty, it’s unpredictable, and it’s completely unapologetic. While I personally don’t think any of their other material is interesting enough to dissect, I find Appetite to be engaging enough to literally grab you by the balls and keep you listening, singing, dancing, screaming, and doing whatever else this monster of an album pushes you to do. While the musical side of this record is obviously quite primitive and doesn’t reach for any new or groundbreaking heights, it’s still effective as fuck (seriously though, try to put on It’s So Easy and stay in one place). The energy it brings is unlike any other, it’s so beautifully and uniquely messy that I struggle to find the words to describe how much I love it. I wish I had a vocabulary wide enough to explain what I find so bewitching about the 80s-LA-SexDrugsAndRockNRoll vibe it creates but oh well. Happy birthday/anniversary Appetite!!

When Chino said “fuck with me” I really felt that ngl

I feel like for Slash lovers the november rain mv is the same thing as the I disappear mv for Kirk Hammett lovers

What did they put in their water in the 90s literally giggling and screaming rn