clowndra

[clowndra]

ty for the tag <333 love seeing "maybe" on there, it is such an underrated (g)i-dle song!!

i literally listened to "bubble gum" on repeat while i cleaned my apartment last week and i have no regrets

also genuinely surprised "once in a lifetime" made it here considering i only started listening to it like a couple of days ago. not mad though

wait why is this image so low quality LMAO

anyway...everyone that i would tag has already been tagged so i'll spare you all this time ;-)

May 2024’s Receiptify!

Tagged by: @toxicrevolver

Okay, the top four I totally agree with but the rest of those songs I genuinely have no idea where they came from. There are so many other songs that I listened to way more than them 😅 but also Red Sun number one spot two months in a row lmao

Tagging: @groovychimera @haechannabelle @ambivartence @sunminshine @nayeonline @dkbtho and anyone else who wants to!

#i am the sole bubble gum defender and i'm PROUD #i'm ashamed but i was listening to rain on me again because of iland2 LMAO HELP #okay also “you eat a lot of lettuce but you're toxic” will remain the best lyric written this year idc

[clowndra]

okay so i had literally never heard of this artist or this album before but MY GOD. revolutionary. it's like cascada's everytime we touch, liz's planet y2k album, and shygirl's entire discography had a baby. also some parts remind me a bit of the mario kart soundtrack lmao (rainbow road, anyone?). very good, very nice.

i'd say my favorites are once in a lifetime (goated tbh), if i had your number, and make it true. the whole thing is FANTASTIC, though.

well...brb it's time to add these songs to, uh, ALL of my playlists lol

Need your thoughts on this album bc it kinda changed me @nayeonline @clowndra

#no but seriously why do some of these tracks feel like they'd be epic mario kart songs #imagine driving around to foreigner??? yeah. mm-hmm. yeah. #on a related note i have an incredibly chaotic driving playlist that these bad boys are going in STAT

[clowndra]

unserious kpop album review that no one will probably ever read #7

oh yeah baby i'm back with a vengeance for aespa's new album armageddon !

supernova (8/10) - the instrumental for this song goes fucking NUTS. especially in the bridge and last chorus??? these synths teleporting me to mars man

armageddon (9/10) - yeah, yeah, i know everyone likes supernova more but imo this is better and i might even...go so far as to say...that this is aespa's BEST tt to date???? (shhhhh shut up i am right) the chorus' melody is crazy addictive. i am throwing it back (respectfully). also karina can step on me

set the tone (5.5/10) - meh, not for me. it's just kind of a generic girl crush track. the prechorus and bridge have some pretty nice harmonies, though. aespa is usually really hit or miss (sm's music is just kinda like that for me in general) but when they hit, they HIT. unfortunately, this did not...

mine (7.5/10) - love how dark this sounds and its rather minimalist production! the percussion throughout particularly fucks. also THAT BRIDGE????? the whispery, breathy vocals?? i mean, C'MON! gotta save some slayage for the other groups

licorice (4.5/10) - sick ass guitar but the rest? woof.

bahama (10/10) - only hot bitches understand how good this song is. sorry to break it to you but disliking this song is uggo behavior. slayspa bringing back hot girl summer fr fr

long chat (5/10) - i hate this song's chorus, and there's literally no particular reason why. it's like my long-standing beef with curlos from animal crossing...no i don't remember what he did to me but yes i still hate him regardless

prologue (7/10) - BABY I'M A WEIRDO, I KNOW...for liking this song, probably. it's kind of giving ballet or ballroom dancing core??? very reminiscent of red velvet's "in my dreams" (which, again, goes really fucking hard, making this the highest form of praise)

live my life (6.5/10) - CLOWNDRA'S LOVE FOR UPLIFTING TRACKS STRIKES AGAIN! time to be delusional and pretend i can do anything while listening to this song, even though i sweat profusely just by walking the few blocks to the center of town...

melody (6/10) - pretty standard ballad...and as we all know by now, i am not really a big ballad girlie. but aespa has stellar vocals, so it's still nice! :-)

#kpop #kpop gg #aespa

[clowndra]

My seasonal music highlights: spring 2024 🦋

Welcome back to my silly little songs of the season reviews, you can check out this winter’s installment here ⭐️ one fave song per artist, no particular order, there will be a mini review section and trust I loved these songs as well, just couldn’t yap as much about them, you know the drill. GIF source: Supernova by aespa.

*: Full album review guaranteed to be presented in my year-end favorite project list

☾ Adulter8 - Sega Bodega*

Father… you have raised the bar yet again. Sega Bodega’s new album Dennis was by far my most anticipated project of the year, which unquestionably delivered the excellence I was expecting and more. I was so captivated by Adulter8’s intricacies that I couldn’t help but play it at least 92 times within first week of the album’s release. What starts off with an 8-bit-like sequence escalates into one majestic pre-chorus and afterwards the best beat drop I’ve ever heard in my life. The lyrics are a result of a thesaurus browse, simply the distorted “dilute, adulterate, diminish, reduce me to nothing, seduce”, effortlessly accompanying the elaborate Arabic-influenced instrumentals. Those beat drops though… especially the first one… that build-up… calling that “top-notch” would be insulting. I felt like my soul left my body for a split second when I was first listening to it at 12AM. I cannot even attempt to comment on the greatness of that singular drop. The song is overall just incredible and addictive, and will most likely end up as my favorite song of the entire year. I don’t even feel the need to comment on more for now because come on, this is Sega Bodega, this is off of Dennis, this is Adulter8. If you get it, you get it.

☾ Mine - aespa

The looooooong anticipated release day of Armageddon the album was a national holiday for Synkcity. We’re seeing such bright times after all these hate trains, mismanagement from SM, the sabotage from rival companies coming to light and what-the-hell-not, honestly. After nearly three whole years and three EPs, aespa finally present their full-length debut. Needless to say, singles Supernova and Armageddon are top-notch, continuing aespa’s all-smash title track streak. However, there was an album delight that blew my damn mind, and it was Mine. Hearing the first chorus in the highlight medley was enough to keep in mind that the track would be one of the best b-sides of the album, but I regretfully have to admit I didn’t think it would be one of aespa’s biggest guns as a whole. My jaw fell harder with every. second. of this. song. Karina and Ningning’s breathy, sassy, forceful, majestic raps kickstart the track along with tambourines that feel like digital diamonds jingling up in front of you. Winter comes through with the earth-shattering second half of the prechorus, and Giselle kills it by spitting one of her most plate-shifting rap verses. A major reason why Mine is my personal favorite off of the album is because how much everyone shines in their own right. Winter and Ningning are back at being one of 4th gen’s iconic vocal duos (as well as their pleasing rap lines), Giselle retrieves her well-deserved main rapper position (SM you can still catch it), and Karina effortlessly wraps both the vocal and rap roles around her fingers as she always does. That bridge? That bridge is disgusting even for four of the bridge architects of K-pop. The girls absolutely outdid themselves on this. The instrumental track may be less maximalist than the title tracks’ or, say, Set The Tone’s, but oh boy are they vehement and so hypnotic. The drums, the synths, especially the ones in the last chorus… it all forms together to make the song nastier and nastier as it progresses. Everyone involved in this walked into the studio with a mission to change the trajectory of music. I’m afraid I’m in this MY lifestyle for long. aespa truly are unsteppable.

☾ Fácil - Empress Of*

For Your Consideration promoted Empress Of into my new favorite indie popstar, and Fácil is my chosen earworm off of it. Every song on the album is so sultry and charismatic, and Fácil has this distinguishing sharpness in its sound, courtesy of umru, to top it off. Empress Of’s ear for memorable melodies and catchy lyrics especially come in clutch here, with casual melodic beatboxing in the background and the looping “tócame aquí, tócame ya, ya, ya, ya”. The self-made hisses and snares go hand in hand with umru’s signature punchy splices. Multiple layers of vocals linger in the entire track, from panting and breathing to sensually delivered lines in the higher range. The bit I’m gonna point out next is more self-indulgent (and I’ve pointed it out on my page previously lol) but nevertheless, I felt like the casual bravado and the combined danceability and grit of the track was akin to candy bOmb by OnlyOneOf, and the more good music with similar vibes, the merrier. Can’t get enough of either.

☾ Hypertonic - TAN (+ my Soda origin story 😙)

TAN have proven themselves to be masters of old gen K-pop revivalism since they came out the gate with their 2022 debut Du Du Du. The group first came to my attention with Walking On The Moon and later in 2023 with the hit Fix You, which went multi-platinum on my personal devices. For some strange reason, I still didn’t fully open my eyes and get into them despite their almost unmatched title tracks. That is until they released the first-day diamond-certified Hypertonic. Hypertonic, as a song, is pretty much everything I could ask for from a new gen pop boyband: in-your-face electronic production, intriguing composition, high-powered vocals and raps, and a full song structure, despite the track duration falling slightly below 3 minutes. The gritty synth heavy instrumentals are robotic and over the top in the best way possible, giving you the feeling that they’re straight out of 2000-10s Japanese EDM archives. The verses, chorus, rap and bridge hit all the right spots, going with the instrumentals instead of being overshadowed by them or vice versa. The high notes in the bridge and outro couldn’t have topped off the track’s overflowing energy any better. Now, I wanna bring up how was particularly taken over by the first half of the second verse. I mean it when I say “taken over” because I was so obsessed with that particular member’s flawless line delivery that I was scrambling to learn their names. The particular member turned out to be their main vocalist Jooan, and it all made sense because he was behind the perfect vibratos (earned by his musical theater education), a good amount of high notes and runs (along with brilliant lead vocalist Hyunyeop) and bits that blew me away in previous songs I’ve heard from the group. Honestly, I was starstruck by all of TAN at first Kprofiles browsing sesh. I mean, what’s there not to love about a band of superb singers (+ superb main rapper Jiseong who’s obviously included in the “singers”), dancers, songwriters, producers (the self-production makes the music even more impressive), choreographers and overall artists who are intensely passionate and excellent at everything they do? This type of multi-skill and well-roundedness is exactly what I seek and keep up with in both K-pop and outside of it. Jooan though… you will pay for being the cause of some of my most humiliating K-pop fangirl posts. Love me a mind-blowing vocalist (duh), dancer, rapper, songwriter, producer, sound engineer, overall a true all-rounder with an irresistible face card. Please give these dudes’ music a stream or two because they really have no business not getting their flowers from K-pop fans and tasteful people.

☾ Malena - Domiziana

Somebody took “after your biggest flop comes your biggest slay” a bit too literally, and I am more than satisfied with that. After the colossal washout that was Domiziana’s previous single Katholisch Erzogen, which was merely another one of the examples of cheap blasphemy for shock factor accompanied by a fake-creepy beat straight out of the Tiktok “musician” archives, Malena turned everything around. Not only was it a massive bounce back from whatever she had going on with that disaster, but also an upgrade in her whole career in every single way. The production is arguably her most minimal but most defined and well-executed to date, with the amapiano influences and siren-like background vocals doing wonders. The vocals and lyrics are her best by a landslide as well. The whispery, high head voice stays, but this time with more emotion and variety in delivery. We listen to a story about cheating, betrayal and a lack of commitment, enriched with references to the cult classic movie Malena, the namesake of the track. The music video is set in Domiziana’s mother’s hometown, Catania, with different sets, cameras and editing. Malena ends up being an incredible audiovisual experience and the current highlight of Domiziana’s work. Maybe it’s just her highs and lows, maybe it’s her taking her career more seriously than ever, hopefully the latter. May she beat the one-hit wonder allegations (mind you, Ohne Benzin doesn’t hold a candle to this masterpiece) and continue to serve like this.

☾ Lipgloss - Terror Jr

A portion of pop music fans constantly ask for the good old 00-10s to be brought back, meanwhile some others wish to move on and focus on more future-oriented, complex sounds instead. Lipgloss masterfully combines both, delivering nostalgia yet nonetheless sounding shiny and brand new. The simple repeated chorus, casual lyrics and the vibe of the production overall feel 2016, and fans have likened the song to Terror Jr’s Bop City era’s sound. Still, the natural execution of this song makes it solid and refreshing on its own rather than a pathetic attempt at reviving what pop used to do. It took me a bit too long to find out that the experimental pop duo’s producer David Singer-Vine was ½ of The Cataracs, a producer duo behind numerous 2010s pop hits such as Like a G6 by Far East Movement and In The Dark by DEV (along with the entire The Night The Sun Came Out album). As a solo artist he produced songs such as Gold by Kiiara and Stuck With Me by Tinashe. This made the Terror Jr experience make a lot more sense: listening to their music feels like taking a trip to the present in a fancy time machine, with hosts who have a nice grasp on the past and the future. Special shoutout to that music box all over the instrumentals by the way, that scratched my brain just right.

☾ Perfect - Cosha

I didn’t call the MurMurs EP the “free therapy album” when it first dropped for no reason, you know. Alternative R&B hidden treasure Cosha returns to heal us all after her 2021 re-debut album Mt. Pleasant, with more of her sublime melodies and vocals. In the EP, Cosha keeps switching from soulful, serene and down-tempo (Fire Me Up, MurMurs Interlude) to drum-heavy, danceable and inviting (Relish, Glow). Meanwhile, Perfect pinpoints that sweet middle ground. Firstly, the beat is absolutely hooking. The drums, bass and recurring plucks pull me in the most, and Cosha’s higher-range head voice is pure magic, especially in the chorus. The second verse has this slight beat switch that brings forward the bass that I’m obsessed with, and then we’re back to that divine chorus with even more adlibs, high notes and harmonies. It’s laced. I feel like the whole project, but especially this specific song, would suit many people’s tastes, so this is especially a deep cut recommendation of mine to everybody.

Mini reviews

❥ Nasty - Tinashe: I feel so bad that this is going into the mini reviews section because the song has been on rotation since it dropped, I don’t believe I need to elaborate on its earworm factor. Obviously, Tinashe has an ear for hits, and the production is relatively simple yet so effective. So glad that it’s going viral and Tinashe is getting the hype she deserves.

❥ You know what (Hey listen) - 4s4ki: I’m afraid as long as 4s4ki keeps making music, she will keep appearing on all my favorites lists. She just can’t miss no matter what genre or sound she tries out. This one’s for the people that get their head in their hands and slide down a wall at 1AM. Give us vocals, give us guitar breakdowns, give us a REAL love song, give us everything, queen.

❥ Hard dreams - Gesaffelstein feat. Yan Wagner: Real techno’s been so back since Gamma dropped. The visuals for this album still hold their title of being the best of the year, by the way.

❥ Botoxxx - Isabella Lovestory: She SLID on that bridge. Love to see the budget in the MV. We need the sophomore album.

❥ Caught Up - FLO: The guitars? The vocals? That key switch in the bridge? FLO’s discography is still flawless. We need the debut album.

Thank you for reading, feel free to give feedback on the song recommendations or review formatting ☻

#aespa 4s4ki and flo??? ELITE taste as always #this was my reminder to check out more of empress of's stuff! #also i actually quite like the blurb style review!!

[clowndra]

thank you for the tag hahaha <3

empathy (muna remix) - lauren aquilina, muna

the original is good but this one fucks so hard and just SCREAMS summer. the synths doing some magic frfr

lucid - rina sawayama

yes i am the number one lucid defender! everyone in my life tells me this is rina's most boring/basic song but idgaf it's a legit banger. summer is an edm core season anyway and you can't convince me otherwise!!

rollin' - brave girls

i feel like this is self-explanatory lmao. it's THE summer anthem no ifs ands or buts

Tag: Three songs to bring on summer vacation!

Ty @a-moth-to-the-light for the tag 🌞

thicc - Shygirl & Cosha 🫧 Club Shy EP consists of dancefloor hits, some with a colder vibe but this one is so perfect for the summer! Youuuuu got me feelinnnnn

Whiplash - NCT 127 🫧 this has been a personal summer classic for years, it takes me straight to the 2000s, the production and everything conveys that vibe so well

Co-Star - Amaarae 🫧 Fountain Baby was on repeat the whole summer of 2023, it will always be loved by me

Tagging @timetravellingkitty @nayeonline @clowndra (wanted to tag you but I forgor at first 🥸) probably will tag more people rq, anyone who sees this can join though 😁

#rollin rollin rollin #ROLLIN ROLLIN ROLLIN #Spotify

[clowndra]

guess who's back, back again

i'm back, baby! i took a lil break so i could wrap up some stuff for my classes...but now i've graduated college! woop woop! also dear god there's so much kpop shit i need to catch up on...guess i'm going back into the trenches...on the bright side, maybe expect some more silly album reviews soon?

#at least i'm back before the aespa album drops #did y'all miss me??? #...that was a joke i swear

[clowndra]

AE1 IS REAL… ARMAGEDDON… WE’VE BEEN PRAYING FOR DAYS LIKE THIS… @nayeonline @timetravellingkitty @clowndra LET’S SMILE

#AHHHHH I SAW I SAW #if this isn't good i'll riot!!! sm will be hearing from ME personally

[clowndra]

thank you for the tag <333 having youha, muna and rina on yours???? PERFECTION!

this is about to be reeeeeaaaallllly embarrassing for me though lmao

"blush" by woo!ah! (i wasn't lying when i said i'll listen to this on repeat for the next two months)

"magnetic" by illit (this song has almost 80 million streams on spotify and i alone am probably like 10 million of those)

"never need me" by rachel chinouriri (indie movie soundtrack vibes!)

"till i die" by sophie holohan (depressing girl shit i mean what's new)

"midas touch" by kiss of life (serving 2000s britney realness right here)

"could you love me while i hate myself" by zeph (i am so embarrassed by all the sad ass music on here...it's just because they're on my thesis writing playlist lmaoooo)

"if i weren't me" by katherine li (again, sad as fuck)

"navy blue" by wooseok (a rare man finds his way onto my on repeat??? great rock vibes though)

"midnight fiction" by illit (i am once again embarrassed)

"imcoolimgoodimstraight" by ericdoa (hahaha it's a straight banger hahah god i am so fucking funny)

Tagged by @starchild--27 to post the top ten songs on my On Repeat playlist 💚

In The Stars by Benson Boone

Nightwalker by Ten

Bad News by Bain, Bitsaeon, and Minseo from Mnet’s Build Up

Dangerously by Bitsaeon and Jay Chang from Mnet’s Build Up

Good Things by Ekoh and Lø Spirit

Beautiful Things by Benson Boone

Grab Me by AB6IX

Meos (The Real) by DKB from Peak Time

Slow Dive by A.C.E

What Do You Want by Benson Boone

I’m still not over Peak Time clearly 😂 also if you wanna cry just give In The Stars a listen

Tagging: @groovychimera @kim-woonhak @toxicrevolver @sunminshine @onmywayv @babytunninjadrac @elevators-and-things @apencilandpen @a-moth-to-the-light and anyone else that wants to!

#i swear my taste is better than this #okay maybe it's not lol

[clowndra]

they fucking ate with this one i fear...obsessed with the sickly-sweet bubblegum pop vibes! probably going to listen to this on repeat for the next two months LMAO it feels so summery <33

#you make me wanna blush ahhhhhh #YOU MAKE ME WANNA BLUSH AHHHHHHH #first kiss of life midas touch now this? ggs going hard this month #Spotify

[clowndra]

Most-Listened of March 2024

[last month]

This was such an exciting month of releases--Purplekiss, Day6, BLEACHERS?? Chung Ha gave us a couple of songs, Nina Suárez came back out of nowhere, Lucy dropped a single, OLIVIA RODRIGO IS BACK?? I've been super excited for the J-Hope album, too, but I haven't been emotionally ready to check it out, yet, since I want to have the energy to really love it! Not to mention the Seori EP-- PLUS Bol4 and StayC both dropped some covers of huge 2019 k-pop hits.

And that isn't all. The highlights of my month were seeing Bruce Springsteen (only my favorite artist ever.) and Gregory Alan Isakov in concert(s)! So honestly, I'm a little overwhelmed by just how exciting music is right now. (It doesn't help that this month gave me my first album of the year candidate, too!!) This post will be my opportunity to go a little wild, then :)

1. Leopardos -- Ine Güemes

I should not enjoy this listening experience as much as I do. That whistling noise should annoy me by now, after all these listens, right? ... Right? Nope. I love it. This song is so soothing, it's literally the musical equivalent of a deep breath.

2. Appaloosa Bones -- Gregory Alan Isakov

Concert prep + THE sulking song this month. Look, I'm a guy who needs my daily floor time (floor time. perhaps you require it.), and it always involves considerable sulking. (At this rate, you're gonna see a sulking song on this list every single month. It's a tradition now!) I've been losing it about "Was I that gone? / Man, I hope not / Glad you found me when you did" and "The pages slow / in the room I called your name" and "They haven't made no pill / To get us across the winter time" ...

3. All Things End -- Hozier

You know what ended? My eight-week class. *sigh of relief* All things end, truly! Now I just need the reminder that this semester will end, too...

4. Death To My Hometown -- Bruce Springsteen

I'd never heard this one before, but I ASCENDED when I heard it live (the horns section was. fantastic.) and I left it on repeat all month post-concert.

5. The Ledge -- Fleetwood Mac

This song makes me proud of my music taste, honestly--see, I can like weird experimental stuff, too! It sounds wonderfully, comfortingly crowded--like the ambient noise from a nearby café, or like falling asleep with the TV on. I don't know, it's just a feeling I find myself really enjoying. I'm also SO deeply in love with the round-style singing (see: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" rounds in middle school choir) Fleetwood Mac sometimes does (see: my obsession with "Paper Doll"), and they do it in this song !!

6. I Don't Want to Know -- Fleetwood Mac

I like this one for the same reason I like "Second Hand News"--that cheerful self-deprecation just never fails to draw me in. ("Second Hand News" is still better, though!)

7. Smart -- Le Sserafim

Does anyone NOT like this song? I missed the Eve Psyche hype train last year, so this one's hitting me doubly hard. I think the sweeter tone of "Smart" suits Le Sserafim's vocals much better, and the production is just plain adorable! This has been my go-to song during classes, when I need something to cheer me up without making me too overwhelmed.

8. Luz -- Ine Güemes

That vocal processing is SUCH a standout--so soft and hazy and fluffy, just a fascinating texture when you really focus on it, but endlessly pleasant when you leave it on loop and zone out, too. (Look, I REALLY loved this album this month.)

9. Nota de Voz -- Los Hermanos Laser

Classic indie boy music! I like "Azul Plateado" from this album, too, and I have a feeling the whole album will hit for me during the summer--I tend to like that exhausted-sounding alt-rock stuff a whole lot around July & August :)

10. Light Sprite -- Baby Pantera, Isabella Lovestory

Thanks for the rec, @pocima !!

11. I Am Right On Time -- Bleachers

This is a weirdly muted album for Bleachers (especially on the heels of "Stop Making This Hurt" and "How Dare You Want More" from their last album), and this is the most weirdly muted of them all--I really feel like it should be... more, somehow? But it's still quite a cathartic listening experience, and I keep coming back to it!

12. Really Like You -- Gyubin

I've started giving myself 30 minutes of reading time in the mornings, to help me wake up and not be completely miserable about it, so I've been reading a whole bunch of webtoons. (Hell, maybe I'll read a book one day!) This one's the perfect cutesy webtoon soundtrack, and I think it might be here because I left it on repeat while reading Blooming Season?? (I just finished catching up with Jackson's Diary, and I think I'm gonna start Death of a Pop Star next!) Anyway, Gyubin sounds lovely here, can't wait for a comeback!

13. Self Respect -- Bleachers

The production on this song is just SO exciting overall!! But I'm mostly here for the saxophone. God, it's not even that much of the song but it's gorgeous !!!

14. Nieve Sin Fin -- Ine Güemes

Nice aesthetic piano :)

15. Rush -- Twice

I love how dizzying this song is--it's chaotic and overwhelming in the most wonderful way! I was a little disappointed by it when I first listened to the album, I think because their vocals here are much softer than usual. When I let myself get swept away in the production, though, I totally get the appeal.

Five-Star Songs (& Albums!) This Month

BBB -- Purplekiss (the tiktok-music trend finally got me last year--against my will, admittedly. unfortunately for me, "bbb" is a fantastic example of that easy-listening, viral-tiktok sound from a group i'm already obsessed with, so of course i'm a huge fan. great vocal performances and silky songwriting? yeah, it's great--the muted aesthetic doesn't bug me at all--and i actually kind of love the super-short horn sections in the chorus. they're surprisingly full-sounding!)

Beam Beam -- Jeon Soyeon (i didn't get this one at all when it first came out, but i've warmed up to it over the years--and this month it just HIT. it's the perfect showcase of soyeon's energy, and it's such a rush!!)

Death To My Hometown -- Bruce Springsteen (five stars bc it has the words "robber barons" in it!!)

Girl I've Always Been -- Olivia Rodrigo (i keep underestimating olivia rodrigo's power as a performer. of course she could make this country-sounding track work. of course she could make it my favorite from the album in an instant. who am i to question??)

Hey Joe -- Bleachers (a sing-along for the politically disillusioned. happy 2024, fellow usamericans. well, at least the harmonies here are delightful!)

Jesus is Dead -- Bleachers (i mentioned that this album is unusually muted for bleachers--not dull as in 'boring in terms of production or songwriting', but dull as in dead-eyed and zombie-like. the vocal delivery, especially, is unusually bland and flat. "jesus is dead" is definitely the best use of this half-asleep, grayscale aesthetic on the album--a song as hopeless and monotone as its delivery. it's strange and stylish and messy, too, AND there's also a sax solo ?? and it works great ?? i admire it so so so much--i'm very surprised this didn't make the most-listened list, i've been looping it a whole bunch.)

The Ledge -- Fleetwood Mac

Self Respect -- Bleachers (re: saxophone.)

White Rabbit -- Jefferson Airplane (i don't think it's much of a hot take at all to say this one is fantastic. i heard it for the first time in february, and i've been completely obsessed since!!)

Heráldica -- Saramalacara (okay, i've had like. a week. with this album, but it was love at first listen--and "humo" already had my heart, anyway. the atmospherics are breathtaking, the production crisp and intense, and saramalacara's voice // the vocal production here fits SO well!! there's a song called ".tumblr" that's definitely worth checking out, though i enjoy every song on here !! except "_cuervos". i admire that one but god it disturbs me i never want to hear it again.)

Qué Nos Mantiene Despiertos -- Ine Güemes (first album of the year candidate of 2024 !!! not much of a surprise, i'm sure, given my top 15. more breathtaking atmospherics, but in the exact opposite direction of heráldica! this album is full of really unique textures, but all that chaos doesn't make it any less soothing. each song is distinct, but they all come together into this sweet, fluffy youtube-lofi-mix type of experience--and look, i'm a college student. could i ask for anything more in an album?)

#really like you by gyubin is such a hit!! #impeccable taste as always ;-)

[clowndra]

thank youuuuu for the taaaaaag @flowerflowerflo <3

last song: "super shy" by newjeans

favorite color: yellow !! <3

currently (re)watching: ...kamisama kiss (LMAO)

relationship status: single

sweet, spicy, or savory: might be controversial but...spicy ;-)

current obsession(s): stardew valley (new update bay-bee!)

last thing i googled: uh...pictures of starfish...i swear it's for my thesis don't look at me like that

Thank youu @ragnyra for the tag!! 🫶🏻

Last song: We shall remain by Elaine

Favorite color: Red, purple and black currently watching: Nothing, tbh. I'm just watching YouTube here and there

Relationship status: in a situationship 😔 pray for me

Sweet/savory/spicy: Sweet

Current obsession: Still Yellowjackets 🤷🏼‍♀️

Last thing you googled: Cher in ‘Mermaids’, lol. I'm looking for new pfps and yeah… She looks so beautiful in that movie!!

Tagging 💟 @memberoflottiescult @lunarzomb @voredere @iscariotmilf @asalesbian

#the unholy trinity of liking video games kpop and anime #i'm not proud i'm deeply embarrassed LMAO

[clowndra]

unserious kpop album review that no one will probably read #6

lmao better late than never i guess? it's time for purplekiss' bxx !

intro: crush (5/10) - again, intro tracks will always be getting a low rating just because i would never listen to them outside of the context of the whole ep/album. love the harmonies at the end but the rest is honestly kinda meh...the instrumental gives "memem" (derogatory).

bbb (7.5/10) - zombie is purplekiss' best tt (don't fight me on this, i am right) and bbb is similar in concept plus they're both craaaaaazy catchy, so i do quite like this song. swan's part in the pre-chorus is HEAVENLY. that being said, i wish the song had a different bridge...i wasn't a fan of using the prechorus as the bridge...it just made the song a bit too repetitive imo and i feel like it really would've benefited from a bigger switch up in the bridge leading into the final chorus.

bittersweet (6/10) - oooh yeah that fucking low ass bass synth thing FUCKS. yeah, that's the stuff. i don't typically like girl crush much anyway, but the anti-drop in the chorus just hasn't grown on me at all...tbh i think this song would be a lot better with a different chorus!

toy boy (6.5/10) - chill, relaxed vibes. don't really have much to say (which is RARE lmao), it's a pretty average song. one thing though is that i wasn't really a fan of this song's rap...(again, kinda rare, because i actually think yuki is one of the better kpop rappers)

heart attack (8.5/10) - THIS IS THE SONG Y'ALL. their voices sound so good on this kind of sweet, cutesy track! there's not much more to say - this is just a solid song and gets clowndra's (allegedly) sought-after stamp of approval ;-)

voyager (7/10) - y'all already know i'm such a little slut for uplifitng tracks...so is this rating really a surprise? the guitar building up in the chorus is ELITE.

#kpop #kpop gg #purple kiss

[clowndra]

WAIT i love this idea <333 ty @flowerflowerflo for the tag <33

c: "cyberspace" by 4s4ki

l: "lucid" by rina sawayama

o: "out of time" by slayyyter

w: "where are you?" by clc

n: "never need me" by rachel chinouriri

d: "daydream" by the aces

r: "red wine supernova" by chappell roan

a: "attitude" by fromis_9

@pocima and @a-moth-to-the-light y'all can try this out if you want??? +anyone else who sees this!! <3

rules: pick a song for every letter of your url and tag that many people.

tagged by: @janaispunk, thank you for tagging me jana! <3

s: symptom of life by willow h: hertz by amyl and the sniffers e: echolalia by faetooth l: l'amour looks something like you by kate bush l: leikara ljóð by susanne sundfør s: swim good by frank ocean h: habibi by tamino o: orange by big thief c: cranes in the sky by solange k: kiss by mannequin pussy l: laughing song by black country, new road o: one of these things first by nick drake v: virgo's groove by beyonce e: electricity by joni mitchell

no pressure tags: @dustydaddyyy, @perotovar, @hollandweather, @sweetercalypso, @swiftispunk, @covetyou, @silkscream

#all my posts recently have just been tagging games lmao #i promise i'll post something else soon! #but i mean c'mon this is too fun to pass up

[clowndra]

thank you for tagging me @pocima !!

and before anyone asks, yes, i AM ashamed.

i have very few people to tag but @flowerflowerflo and @a-moth-to-the-light y'all should join in if you want!!

#i own MULTIPLE albums and i'm not proud #also idk why i bother watching survival shows when all they do is make me MAD #like y'all remember produce48??? truly infuriating

[clowndra]

HELLO sorry for being rather inactive! i'm in my final semester of college and it's currently kicking my ass :( but, here's a couple fun things that i have in the works: purplekiss' bxx review (yes, i'm slow af i'm sorry) and a march round-up of my favorite songs that i've been listening to this month!!

#i've just been listening to illit's magnetic on repeat while i write my thesis lmao

[clowndra]

ayyyyy very late to the party but here's mine!! (in no particular order)

"daydream" by the aces

"stereotype" by stayc

"3.14159" by lexie liu

"twice" by charli xcx

"unnatural" by wjsn

i don't have that many people to tag but if you see this please feel free to join in!!

moot appreciation! list your top 5 favorite songs!

1. right where you left me - taylor swift

2. ptolemaea - ethel cain

3. the boy is mine - ariana grande

4. need you now - lady a

5. prokofiev: alexander nevsky, op. 78: V. the battle of ice - sergei prokofiev

im tagging @lak3cityqui3tpills @be-myonceinalifetime @angelbowerz @alzeys @julia-bonkers

#just five???? how do i choose ahhhhh #i feel like my favorite songs change every two minutes

[clowndra]

/not pressuring, just curious!

would love to hear any thoughts you have on the new purplekiss mini !!

yes! i have lots of thoughts!! i'm planning to do another one of my reviews for it (so i'll save some of my commentary for that) but overall, i liked it! i thought the tt was pretty good aside from being kinda repetitive. that being said, i do think it's my least favorite mini album of theirs...the bsides are good, but not stand-out for me like "cast pearls before swine," "autopilot," "oh my gosh," etc. were. my favorite song from this mini atm is probably "heart attack."

#purplekiss doesn't really make bad songs though #well except for maybe memem #but still #also bbb's chorus is perpetually STUCK IN MY HEAD AAAAA