music of the week thoughts 12.30.23 - 1.6.24
(❁´◡`❁) 🎵 Welcome to Lryn’s Music of the Week! 🎵 (❁´◡`❁)
To start, I want to share the purpose of this project. I started this project to share music with others, get music suggestions from others, collaborate with other music lovers in making playlists, and engage with others online, regardless of the communities they identify with. While I consider myself very versatile when it comes to what music I enjoy listening to, I want to expand my taste more and open myself up to art that I may end up loving, but am not just aware of it yet. I look forward to seeing what comes out of this project and can only hope that others are able to get something out of this as well.
Anyways, now that that’s been established, let’s get into the first installment of this project. You can listen to this week’s music here. So, for this first week, I wanted to focus on songs, artists, albums, and playlists that spoke to various aspects of myself.
Starting with my playlist of the week, I chose “Lauryn’s Listens” by one of my besties, Em. I love this playlist because Em was able to completely encapsulate how I present myself to others, especially those who are close to me. As you listen to this playlist, try to think about what songs you would use to describe your bestie. What songs exemplify your relationship with them? What songs do you think they would use to describe themselves? Are there certain songs that relate to any specific aspects of them?
Next I want to take a massive shift to the album of the week: XO by LeATHERMOUTH. Now this album may not be the biggest vibe for everyone, but that’s okay. I think what attracts me to this album so much is just the raw emotions, diminished fear of holding back, anger, angst, and just energy in general. This album has gotten me through a lot of very anger-induced moments haha. Also, this album and the messages within have stayed relevant across the 10+ years it has been around. The spewed out hate and anger that is released in the songs on the album come from a place of wanting action against different messed up systems, events, and institutions in place. For example, songs come from themes of police brutality, overmedication of children, corrupt politics, and school shootings. As stated by Frank Iero, co-founder of LeATHERMOUTH, “… this record is about trying to wake people up to what is happening right in front of their eyes” (Epitaph Records, 2024). It seems that everyone is still pretending that the world isn’t as messed up as it really is. When are we going to stop just complaining about nothing changing and actually do something? Anyways, if this album is something you have some thoughts on, I would be curious to hear about the feelings you get from this album…
Alright y’all, it is impossible for me to keep this brief AND passionate, so I am going to dial it back on the passion to keep this synopsis brief (if you want more passion though, reach out and we can discuss). The artist of the week is Mac Miller. While my relationship with Mac’s music is brief in nature, there is a love that developed very quickly for the range of emotional release that I gain from listening to his music. Whether it be releasing pent up sadness, grief, or even pent-up positive energy, he has a song for it. Without being weird about it, this mans has helped me try to understand how to express and receive love in a verbal manner (which is very difficult for me to do). Again, reach out if you want to share any thoughts on this week’s spotlight artist!
Lastly, we have reached my top 3 songs of the week.
#3 is “Black Sheep” by Metric. Say all you want about it being a Scott Pilgrim song, but look at it outside of that movie for a second. The energy, the switch-up in moods within the song, etc… just an overall great song. Preferred way to listen to this song is on a sunny day in the car with the windows rolled down on the highway, pretending to perform on stage, being the baddest and demure B possible lol.
#2 is “Babydoll” by Dominic Fike. OKAY. SO. I am unable to truly put into words the way this song makes me feel. The longing, the flow, the everything is just *chef’s kiss*. Everytime I listen to this song I imagine myself achieving higher feminine power; not going to comment on that any further…
#1 is “She’s My Collar” by Gorillaz ft. Kali Uchis. In general, Gorillaz is one of my top 10 favorite bands of all time. Not only do they produce banger after banger, but the lore behind and presence of the band in general is absolutely elite. Specific to this song, I love the meaning behind the song: feeling so connected to someone you met, as if you are on the same wavelength, despite the risks that come with that person. As someone who both rarely achieves, yet easily attracts these sort of connections, this song is relatable practically all the time for me. My favorite way to listen to this song is by myself in my home, doing chores and little dances with my cats.
Stay tuned for next week’s music picks. I am hoping to update weekly on Sunday’s so fingers-crossed that actually happens haha.
References
Published on 1/1/2024 at 5:15pm by Lauryn Lellos