Idk why but I heard this song and could not unsee this like, intensely specific visual of exactly what you’re looking at, so I spent probably cumulatively 3 days straight of just making the small boi walk to his lyric-specific costume changes
Some of you are like Amy??? pixel art??? since when??? And the answer is that my boyfriend does programming professionally and sound design as a hobby, and I have a degree in art with a hobby of making sad songs on my thumb piano, and we’ve always as individuals wanted to make a game. So! I need to learn pixel art.
So far it’s been really fun. I unfortunately won’t be uploading any concept work or WIPs for it, since I have a brick wall between my fandom life and my irl professional life (s/o to the homies who use their fun projects to find work, y’all built different), but I thought this would be a fun animation project to work on to practice! Also, I may keep using IZ for practice projects, so if you have any cute little looping animation ideas, feel free to comment. I can’t promise I’ll do ‘em, but now that I’ve got the shape language of this bitch ass bitch bug’s proportions down in pixel form, it seems a waste not to do something in the future. Idk, we’ll see.
Can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it publicly but I do have a degree in the Arts/Illustration. That being said, I’ve never touched pixel art before in my life, nor was I trained in animation. So any clunkiness can be blamed on the fact this is my first project combining either lmao.
The narrative on this song really beats out any competition. The nuanced portrayal of an obscenely privileged little princess who wants punk cred, one who shoplifts and dyes her own hair to fit in. I love that this titular "Old Money Bitch" is not an effigy to privilege, but rather a somewhat layered character who feels overshadowed by their parents accomplishments while perpetually unable to escape and live a normal life. Her frivolous and misguided attempts to fit in make her stand out more as an untouchable little shit, and the ambiguity about underscores relationship to the character (as a purely fictional character study, somebody they knew irl or a self insert) in a World that wants to tear down "industry plants" makes the song's dance with danger one worth exploring across numerous listens.
awakebutstillinbed - airport
Admittedly, the mix on this song isn't perfect. However, I have to recognize the amazing songwriting and lyrics. This song is raw as hell, and Shannon Taylor can still scream like a banshee murdering her fears. The lyrics at the end about not recognizing yourself hit me hard, maybe I can relate more to them than I'd like to admit. Overall, this heart wrenching little song was one of my favorites this week, and I'm eagerly awaiting this new album!
Meh
The Menzingers - Hope is a Dangerous Little Thing
The Menzingers have a tendency to sound a bit constipated on their more anthemic tracks (looking at you "America (You're Freaking Me Out)"), but the band also tends to shine when writing simpler songs. The concept on this track is broad but very relatable, and it's not hampered by some generic-as-Muse political gesturing. Hope is a dangerous thing indeed.
blackwinterwells, FloodDubs - Glass Cannon
This newest song from blackwinterwells sounds pretty dry and faceless, as if to be buried in a playlist with thousands of similar songs. I guess I'm not surprised the sound and structure of 2012 dubstep is coming back in 2023, I just wish blackwinterwells incorporated this signature sound with their own (and didn't eschew personality).
Eyedress, Mac DeMarco - The Dark Prince
Zzzz....
Worst
The Streets - Too Much Yayo
It's been diminishing returns for the Streets since Original Pirate Material, but this is a new low. The farty synth and drill 808s make for a strange instrumental, and the horrible singing makes this a worst song of the year contender for me. Mike Skinner, lay off the yayo.