| Location | Manchester, UK |
| FurAffinity | https://www.furaffinity.net/user/dragon.dat/ |
| Weasyl | https://www.weasyl.com/~dragondat |
| AD | https://rubber.social/@ADoveux |
No 51: The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches
I felt compelled to listen to more Chvrches so I decided to have a listen to their highly regarded debut album. Admittedly this was a couple of days ago so I've forgotten some of the finer details of the album but I think what I wrote about Love is Dead still applies to this album. I don't don't find this album as lyrically cutting as Love is Dead but it was still a pleasure to listen to.
No 50: Love is Dead by Chvrches
A very worthy album of the half way point in my list of 100 albums. It's admittedly a bit of a cheat, there's a good few songs on this album that I've listened to as singles before but it's the first time I've listened to the full album.
Musically, it's some of the finest synth pop I've ever heard. The sound is honestly euphoric and carries you through the whole album. There aren't any weak songs to my ears. The penultimate track is an acoustic piano build up the final track which really works for me.
Lyrically, there's a juxtaposition, happy upbeat sounds meet songs about bodies on shores. I can't quite tell which side of acceptance or defiance this album is on at times, the final track in particular "you tell me that it'll be alright, but I don't know if you're right". It's given me some complicated feelings but I absolutely am glad I've given it a full listen. I might do more Chvrches later. For now... I need either a cigarette or a hug.
No 49: Moonlight Pyromancy by Argesk
Black metal is a genre I've not delved into before but the symphonic aspects of this album provide a lot for me to like. The screamo is, as I've written before, a very mood-dependent thing but today I've been enjoying it.
I will confess, I feel the album doesn't change much in sound so I'm not certain how to differentiate between the songs. Not so much a musical journey as a heavy metal trip to the kitchen for a snack.
Still a nice listen though. I think I'll revisit Argesk. Apparently they're local too so I'll keep an eye out for any tour dates.
No 48: Shame by Jim E. Brown
I felt compelled to listen to more Jim E. Brown.
I do worry having listened to a fair bit now that I'm seeing behind the curtain a bit. I have these moments when I'm listening and I can almost predict what the next line to a lyric is going to be. It makes the music seem formulaic.
It's still the same style as the more recent album, good sounds, nice bit of synth, self deprecating humour. All good stuff.
No 47: Midnight Signals by Starcadian
I think the same applies to this album as I wrote about Radio Galaxy. Individual tracks from it I've listened to on repeat, especially New Cydonia, but I don't think I'd listened to the full album before; I don't think I'll ever get sick of this sound.
As an album, I think it's my favourite of Starcadians; I think the standard is so consistently high for all tracks. The mix of deep bass with the sparkly trebles makes it feel like some kind of intergalactic journey. There's plenty of emotion in the lyrics too, and even a cheeky bit of humour on FAMVS which I adore.
No 46: I Urinated on a Butterfly by Jim E. Brown
I think it would be reductive to call Jim E. Brown a musician, his character is an elaborate art piece. It's like if you took the self-deprecating vibe of Morrissey (minus the fascist tendencies) and turned them up to eleven. I do think the point is to laugh as the absurdity of the self pity but I also can't help but listen to "my life is utter bilge" and think 'big mood'.
I do enjoy Jim E. Brown's singing voice, but really we're here for the ludicrous songs about the mundaneties of life. Standing in a queue at Gregg's, sitting on a wet bench in St Peter's Square.
I find an extra layer of enjoyment in the overly specific local to Manchester references like St Peter's Square or the McDonald's on Princess Road. A song of his that isn't on this album is about falling over in Salford Asda Express. He's also got a song about Didsbury being a dump which amused me because I thought it was one of the nice bits of Manchester.
Getting a bollocking for not completing tasks that I haven't had time to do because of all the meetings I keep getting dragged into.
Think I'm gonna update my CV.
No 45: Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
I recognise Pink Floyd are one of the greats, and somehow I've got this far without ever having listened to them.
I think this is one of the most peak album-as-an-albums that I've listened to this year. The sound is such a beautiful musical journey. The vocals accompany the music nicely but they're not the main show. Those guitar riffs and that cheeky bit of synth is just... *Chefs kiss*
A sublime listen, hot damn.
No 44: Horrorwood by Ice Nine Kills
This was a recommendation from a colleague. There's things to like here but I find the tone a bit trying too hard to be edgy. It opens with basically "this is the story of how the lead singer murdered his fiancée" (happy international women's day btw) and it might be that it's tongue in cheek but if so then it's lost on me. Paired with the whiny high-pitched nasally vocals that put me off a lot of indie/emo bands in the 2010s... It's not one I'll go back to.
No 43: Event Horizon by Matinée
I saw this album earlier in Piccadilly Records and there was no way I'd see this album and not buy it.
It's pretty much what you'd expect from an album that looks like this, I could expect heavier synth but I think I've been spoilt by dark synth.
Anyway yeah, bought it, had a listen tonight. Lovely stuff.
