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[erenmusic]

The Turkish Rap scene and the song Fight Kulup

When you think of Rap and Hip-hop, the Turkish scene isn't the one that comes to mind for most people. This doesn't mean that it is objectively worse compared to other scenes or underrated or whatever, what it really means is that it is a very new and growing sect in Turkish music that has become a lot more mainstream in recent years especially with young people now listening to Rap instead of the Regular Pop music that had Turkish Radio in a chokehold for the last 15 years. Before we get into the recent popularity of Rap music in Turkey I want to go to the beginnings of it, and really explain who the big players who started the scene were. First off we have Ceza. who is very often compared to Eminem because of his style and flow being very fast, (especially on a song like Holocaust which is very often seen as the Turkish alternative of Rap God where it is basically just the rapper rhyming as much as possible in the shortest amount of time.) but I feel like Ceza was always closer to actual Turkish popular music and Arabesk music especially in his use of beats. This song down here is a great example of what I mean when I say he uses traditional Turkish Instrumentation in many of his beats.

To keep on with the Theme of Ceza, another Originator of the Genre is Sagopa Kajmer. Sagopa and Ceza used to be close and made music together. Sagopa was always a lot more emotional and held up the more Lyrical part of the early scene while Ceza was more of a Flow over lyrics type person. I think an amazing example of this contrast between them is on Ceza's second album Rapstar on the song Neyim Var ki, and man, Sagopa's voice is just perfect for the chorus.

The line, ''Neyim var ki Rapten gari'' means ''What would I have without Rap'' which just goes to show how important hip hop was to these early rappers and why they tried so much to bring it into the mainstream. Unfortunately, Ceza and Sagopa split paths after this and stopped making music together for reasons we still do not completely know. Young people were starting to catch on to names Like Sagopa and Ceza and also a lot of other minor artists mostly coming from connections through Ceza when he went to Germany, names like Eko Fresh and Killa Hakan are some of the most Popular. I picked Killa Hakan from this era because he is a Turk living in Germany and is a great example of how that German scene also connects back to the Turkish Scene. I personally dislike Killa Hakan's flow on most songs. He misses the beat atrociously on almost every bar on the song Hersey Yolundadir which is shown below. However the song still kind of sounds good, and was a hit comparatively because the scene was so small at the time.

Now with the early era out of the way I think its best we start talking about the new era names. Some popular ones that I come to mind are Ezhel and Ben Fero. Ezhel is from Ankara the capitol of Turkey and he came out with his debut album Muptezel in 2017, he was very much influenced by the mumble rap and autotune era the rest of the world was going through and it can be seen in his music. He also had a lot of problems with the government because of him talking about Drugs and Political issues in his songs which is a big No-No in Turkey. The song ''Alo'' which is down below shows this really well.

The whole song is basically about how hard it is to get weed in Turkey. He starts with a verse about calling his friends to get money together, then to the plug not answering, then going and buying shit weed just for the cops to pull up and him dropping the weed and losing it, only to call up his friends again to get more money together. Its great commentary on the Drug issues in Turkey in my opinion and also a very catchy song, ''ALO ALO ALO ALO''. The next artist that really got popular in recent times is Ben Fero, he is from the Coastal city Izmir and he really came out of nowhere with an album in 2019 called "Orman Kanunlari" that got so popular I know 50-60 year old Turkish people that played these songs at social events, it was that big. I think it had a huge effect on Rap music becoming more Mainstream in Turkey. here is the most popular song on that album Demet Akalin, the name comes from a Turkish pop singer that he is eluding to in the song.

The line "Radyomuzda yine Demet Akalin, Bi kez olsun bizi Calmadin Adamim" roughly means "Demet Akalin on the Radio again, play our music for once my man" it sounds a lot better in Turkish trust me. Ben Fero is also the only Turkish rapper I know of who uses the N-word frequently, but the connotation in Turkey is very different, I do not believe that Ben Fero is a racist, he is simply too lazy to find a different word to Rhyme with. Now why did I highlight these Rappers specifically, because I wanted to show you guys a very important cultural event for the Scene, The Song ''Fight Kulup" which features all 4 artists I talked about.

This song came out around 4 years ago, at Ezhel and Ben Fero's peak popularity and Ceza and Killa Hakan at their comparative lowest. The song was Clowned on online by people who Liked the old era better and they didn't like that Ceza was coming together with this new mainstream. (The Ceza fans think they are better and more musically in tune than everyone else and hate on anything that isn't similar to Ceza's style.) The dislikes were immeasurable and almost every comment was a hate comment against Ezhel, Killa Hakan and Ben Fero while no one really could bring themselves to Hate Ceza. However, the hate the song got didn't change the fact that the song was still extremely popular and has a million YouTube likes to this day. I personally do not enjoy the song a lot but I understand why it was so big. this was a clash of eras and it brought Turkish Rap back into the conversation for the average internet consumer even though it was because people were making fun of it. At last Turkish rap had become mainstream and now you can ask someone on the street in Turkey, do you remember the Blup Blup Blup Joke that was everywhere because of the song Fight Klup?, I bet you 100 Lira that they will know what I am talking about.

[erenmusic]

Review and Short Analysis of Nihavent Overture, a song by Orhan Gencebay one of the best Turkish artists ever.

Hello everyone, Today I really wanted to talk about this song because I bet practically no one outside of Turkey has listened to it. But before we can get into the song I have to tell you about the Artist, at least for a bit. Orhan Gencebay is one of the most innovative and important figures in Turkish Music, especially in the Arabesk category, But Orhan doesn't agree that he is an arabesque artist, he talks about his music as more than just arabesque. His fans like to say that he makes Arabesk music, but not all sounds he makes can be qualified as Arabesk and I think this song is a great example of him leaving the roots of Arabesk and trying out some very experimental stuff, especially for the time in turkey. So lets get into the song, Nihavent Overtur.

The song came out in the early 90s, 1994 to be exact, on his album meant for his interpolation of a famous play in Turkey called Leyla and Mecnun which was also made into a movie in which he acted. now with the shortest possible background I could give you on the artist done, I can talk about the song itself. The song is extremely energetic and it lends you that feeling the moment it starts. The moment you hit play an extremely fast riff starts playing that's coming from the Baglama (also called Saz) which is a very popular and traditional folk instrument that is a staple of Arabesk Music. I have a picture here to illustrate what the instrument looks like, It is very similar to a lute, it has 7 strings and can create very interesting microtones that you wouldn't get in other music, I do not know enough theory to be able to tell you guys but you can hear sounds on this song that you just can not get anywhere else.

Along with using a very specific instrument, what makes this sound really special is that the instrument is set up in a way that you would use an electric guitar which just changes what the Baglama can do drastically. Instead of the folk sound that the Baglama gives normally there is now a very interesting new instrument that can riff just as well as an electric guitar while also giving out a hint of raspiness and Arabesk sound to it. After the long intro riff around 12 seconds in the Riff switches up again, this time going slowly higher and higher on the notes and then coming back down but still higher than the first time gradually building up the noise only to come down again. the cycle of the riff going up and down over the spectrum is a theme that goes throughout the song. The buildup goes on until about 45 seconds in after which the song almost flips into a western sound, like cowboy style, and does this really cool swinging sound towards the end of that riff which I think is only made possible by the electric Baglama. after the first minute, the song gets slower for a bit, the Instrumental misses some beats and very hits low notes start being played almost like the song is being suppressed. this goes for about 15 seconds before the song jumps right back into a traditional Turkish sound with small cymbals and ringing sounds paired with the saz and this time a Kemence and a Flute to pair with it.

The Kemence is also a very traditional Turkish Instrument and is used widely in Arabesk music, so it really isn't a surprise to hear it in this song for me, but I bet for a lot of people getting into this music for the first time, that violin-like sound might catch your ear in a way that other instruments cannot achieve. as you can probably hear since the small intermission in the middle of the song it just keeps going nonstop, Drums, a Flute, the Kemence, The Baglama, they all come together to form this amazing 40-second window of pure instrumental that I cannot equate to any other song, I simply have not heard of another song that is like this and it is interesting to think that most other people will also never hear something along the same lines. the song eventually after that long and powerful orchestral section fades back into the original riff and slows down to a very comfortable and deserving ending. I wish I had a better explanation of how the instruments sound because in my head I just imagine a Turkish wedding and these instruments being the background noise, but the best way I can put it is that this song is a display of skill from Orhan Gencebay. using these very Traditional instruments in creative ways, using only a couple instruments to bring about a song with the complexity on par with orchestral music is just really impressive to me and it goes to show that these instruments have a lot of power in them and are untapped potential. Someone like the Beatles has to come along and use these Turkish Instruments the same way they used the Sitar and other Indian instruments and make them popular. Because man, this song just shows you what is possible and even though I find it hard for someone to make a song better using these techniques it still must be tried.

[erenmusic]

A very short Playlist with a lot to say, some Favorites I listened to in the last 5 years.

My idea for this playlist was a compilation of songs I was listening to religiously at different points in my life. Since I don't remember every song I was really into and I only have specific dates to go from on Spotify, I decided to go with the last 5 years. to say it all again this playlist is songs I personally found out about or really got into in the last 5 years listed chronologically. so lets get into it!

The first song I wanted to go with is Dishes by Jeff Rosenstock.

I was having a hard time picking a song to start from but I ended up with what really got me into indie and just different types of music other than stuff. This whole album 'I Look Like Shit' is just so personal to the artist and unashamed about being sad and admitting all his Problems and just feeling like shit, all his worries (See his other album Worry which is a lot more popular and acclaimed than this one.) and regrets, it just goes on and on. Now that I listen to the album less often, I have less of a connection to it and I feel better in general, so the songs do not hit me as hard anymore. However, that doesn't mean that I will ever forget about this album and what it did for me in bad times, The actual Song Dishes I picked because I was listening to this guitar solo that starts around the 2-minute mark that was just stuck in my head for months. I couldn't recommend the album enough, but you definitely have to go into it with a certain knowledge that it will not censor itself and is extremely personal.

The second Song is Passing Complexion by Big Black off of their Album Atomizer.

This song and band in general got me really into Noisy music and just sounds that are very unorthodox, using pedals and distortion, using electric cables to make these insane ringing sounds not just on this song but the whole album. It's a different sound from the album they made after this, which I am sure you have seen the album cover for, I really prefer the harshness and sound of this song and album even though I enjoy the album right after this one for different reasons, no other song they made got caught in my head as much as this one did. It is a sound like no other and I was listening to this song just replaying it as soon as it ended so many times I can't even count it. For the Third song, I went with Translyvania Boogie by Frank Zappa off of the album Chunga's Revenge, which is also the first record I ever bought.

I was really into Frank Zappa by this point, especially his album Apostrophe which I just love to death and which I also have a record of now but didn't have at that point. The reason I picked this album and song is that I was walking in Kadikoy in Turkey and I was walking through the record stores and I found this album for extremely cheap. I had never bought a record before because of the absurd prices people put on popular records over there, but this one was not in the best condition and the guy said the price was 135 Liras (which was like 8 dollars at the time) so I couldn't not take the bargain for an album I loved so much.

The moment I brought it home and put it on, the first song Transylvania Boogie had me hooked even more than before. The guitar work and just booming instrumental that this song is was made even better because I would play the record in my living room all day and we had an awesome sound system there that connected to a record player. I don't have a player now so all my records are kind of just sitting around or left back in Turkey. A day will come I'll actually get to use them again. The Fourth song I picked is When You Sleep by My Bloody Valentine off of their album "loveless".

Oh man, this song and album. I don't think I was more obsessed with a certain sound ever in my life. I had already gotten into unconventional music and just the spaciness, vocal distortion and instrumentals on this album are some sounds that you just don't get anywhere else and I loved it the moment I listened to the album. even other Shoegaze bands and MBV's previous work, just nothing comes close to what they achieved on this album. the main reason I picked this specific song is because of the absurd amount of times I listened to it in 2021.

the song really fits any possible way you are feeling, this is also the reason I could listen to it on average once a day for a year. I would put it on when I was sad, happy, energetic, down, scared, feeling accomplished, just wanting a fun song. It genuinely fits to exactly how you feel, it could be a song about breaking up and missing the other side, it could be about yearning, it could be about how much you love someone, and it could just be an insane instrumental that just rattles your head clean off and you have an experience every time you listen to it. Love this song to death. (very hard to pick a favorite off of this album so I just went with the classic undeniable great song on there, Sometimes and Soon were also big contenders.) My Fifth pick is very specific version of Box of Rain by the Grateful Dead. Live at Portland Memorial Collesium in 73.

I have always listened to the Dead all throughout my life, especially the Road Trips CD's and Dick's Picks CD collection my Father had but this compilation I had never heard before. my brother was a lot more into the dead than I was so he would show me these great live shows that I would never have found otherwise. So while listening to one of them that he reccomended, Box of Rain, one of my favorites and probably the best Phil Lesh song came on. I already love most of the versions and especially the studio version on American Beauty. However, this version I have up here I was listening to religiously especially the part I have clipped up in the video. The piano merges with the vocals and guitar work perfectly and it is honestly just unexplainable how much it brings me down to earth, I feel great whenever I listen to this song, and man I was just playing this every time I did a Dead Run where I listen to a bunch of songs from them. and these days I still listen to it whenever I am on a long walk, it just fits. My Sixth pick is, Positively 4th Street by Bob Dylan.

I couldn't keep myself from putting Bob Dylan on here. this song I was listening to almost every day for months last year. The Lyrics are just heartbreaking and he doesn't stop at all throughout the song, no chorus, no bridge, he is relentless and just keeps telling the other side off. The amount of emotion Bob can bring out of me is very overwhelming sometimes. It is also important to say how well this song met the situation I was in, it really came at the right time. After a breakup trying to not have contempt for the other side, still being in love, but also saying fuck off, you treated me as if you'd rather see me paralyzed. Trying to make myself believe that they are not at fault and that they didn't mean how they came across, but still feeling horrible because I just couldn't believe that they didn't understand how bad what had been done was. "I wished that for just one time, you could stand in my shoes. and for just that moment I could be you. yes, I wished that for just one time, you could stand in my shoes, You'd know what a drag it is to see you." This song would just get me going, and get me thinking about how I need to move on. It really helped me at the time, and even though I know Bob Dylan writes breakup songs in such a way that you think he's in the wrong, this song makes me feel for whatever Bob was going through and it helped me see clearly what situation I was in. I will always keep it in my back pocket for a rainy day. And for the Final song I decided to go with is a song I have been really into recently. I'm On Fire, by Nas on his album King's Disease III.

My roommate is really into Nas and he got me to listen to a lot of his albums, I had been steadily listening to Rap music for years but I hadn't really gotten into Nas and the 90's New York scene as much as I wanted to. I had listened to Illmatic and It was Written by him but I hadn't really gone farther than that. Thanks to his recommendations I really have a larger catalog of rap music that I would be willing to show people. This song specifically he had actually shown me last semester however I forgot to add it to any of my playlists. so when I found it again and played it, man. The beat, the sample, the way he flows on this song, and just the fact that This joint came out last year is so crazy to me. Nas fell off for a bit in the middle of his career but the comeback he made with this album is awesome to see. Love this song and I will listen to it until I get sick of it, which might take a looong time. So to sum up, these are all songs that correspond to important times and events in my life and I get a wave of memories thrown at me every time I play them again. I would say every song on here is a 10/10 for me, but that is obviously is very subjective and I can see why people would think, huh really? this song? Also, I have to point out that I had a really hard time picking these songs out of every song I have ever listened to, so I might just do more of these playlists, listing out some great songs every now and then. Stay tuned! there are definitely more songs I can list and that I want to show to people, but this is just a little peek into some classics and very personal picks I enjoy.

[erenmusic]

Live Review of Splintered Sunlight, Grateful Dead Tribute band, at the Machunk Opera House

This was a show I saw almost a year back, but I remember it like yesterday. My whole family is filled with deadheads and I've been accustomed to them for most of my life, This show and Band, Splintered Sunlight is one of the best dead cover bands out there and they play in New Jersey all the time!

Splintered Sunlight was live. | By Splintered Sunlight | Facebook

Splintered Sunlight was live.

so to set the stage, I was out in the Poconos and we found tickets to this show. I had seen Splintered Sunlight play before in Asbury Park and Long Branch, in much bigger venues than this one, sometimes even standing outside the show and listening to them because we didn't get tickets. But this venue was just amazing, in a little town up in the mountains inside of an Opera house, it was raining and the concert started around the evening, It couldn't have been cooler. eventually after everyone got in we sat down and the music started playing and as you can see since I somehow found a video of this so you can really see how the lighting and stage was set to the tone of a good dead show. The first set started out with Missisipi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo Which Is one of my favorite songs from the Dead so It got me right into the mood for the concert. In classic Dead fashion I had also found some materials to enhance the experience. So after a long time of the first song going, right when I was almost about to get bored, Franklin's Tower starts playing, and man was the guitar and keyboard combo just magical. The ''Jerry'' of the group, Buchy really gets the feeling of Grateful Dead right and especially his voice and how he plays the guitar really reminds me of my favorite era's of Jerry playing. Also Franklins Tower is usually played in tandem with Help on the way and Slipknot, so I was really pleasantly surprised when they just switched right into it. after they ended Franklins tower, most of the rest of the set was them playing songs that were too Obscure for me. I honestly hadn't heard of many of the songs or at least couldn't recognize them properly (Will probably be called a poser for this) except Cumberland Blues which made me switch right back into the groove. Ive always loved the energetic feeling and the vocals on that song( I gotta get doown! I gotta get down!). The set ended shortly after that and there was a slight intermission. I went outside the venue and bummed a cigarette from a guy and we talked about the show for a bit before going back in. Shortly after that, the Second set started. After a bit of tuning their instruments and a warm-up song, In the Midnight Hour, they got right into China Cat and afterward, I Know You Rider. By this time I was already standing in the front dancing (You can actually see me in the video lol). they did a really good job with China Cat this night, I know you Rider was also one of the best versions I have ever heard live, the Keyboard player was really on his game in this show. I remember just closing my eyes and dancing. I am normally very self-conscious about being watched while having fun, but the combo of I guess the materials and the feeling of the concert allowed me to let go of the thought of people seeing it. I was having a great time and I kinda got lost in the music after a point. then after a couple more songs, they got really really heady. A very well done Drums and then an ambient piece right after it was the most psychedelic the concert got and it was really an experience I haven't had anywhere else yet. I was very zoned out and kind of dancing and moving, swinging around on autopilot but then eventually towards the end they started The Wheel which just has the greatest hook. (Won't you try just a little bit harder) and Not Fade Away I was just blown away by the energy it gave me. I was jumpy and I was feeling the music so much more but then very quickly they stopped and got really heady again before finally transitioning into a version of Hard to Handle by Otis Redding which was just icing on the cake of an already amazing show. Some of the best Dead Cover Bands you will ever see, Check out Splintered Sunlight, and don't gatekeep them, the Dead is still out there, you just have to find them.

[sujantim]

Dark Side of the Moon- Pink Floyd

Who hasn't even heard the name Pink Floyd? Every Gen X to Gen Z knows Pink Floyd. By any chance, if you don't know, which means you haven't listened to any of their songs, and if you dislike them, there is something wrong with you.

Pink Floyd is an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments, philosophical lyrics, and live shows. They became a leading band in the progressive rock genre, cited by some as the greatest progressive rock band of all time. Pink Floyd was founded in 1965 by Syd Barrett (guitar, lead vocals), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass guitar, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). 

Today, we are discussing them because 50 years ago, they dropped a nuclear bomb on the music industry with the album Dark Side of the Moon on March 1st, 1973.  They launched a composition of sounds of the instrument, an electric guitar solo with different elements which can’t be decoded easily, known as A timeless album, as if recorded just yesterday, impossible for others to find a comparison, too advanced in years for its time, it remains an absolute masterpiece, more than a record, a cult object! New electronic sound effects and recording techniques extended instrumental solos and improvisation.

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (Full Album HQ)

The album " Dark Side of the Moon" begins with the track Speak to Me, which only lasts for about a minute and doesn't contain any lyrics with a bit of background, producing faint sounds of a heartbeat, quiet conversations, and cash registers slowly. Fade out into another song, Breathe in the Air, begins with the overlay of different instrument tracks. Verse 1: don't be afraid to care; look around and choose your own ground. For long you live and high you fly and smiles you will give and tears you'll cry and all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be. Remains as my favorite lines,

On the Run is another masterpiece that considers different sounds, including electric sounds, but not the lyrics. Pink Floyd is probably the band that can play with the instruments and elements without having lyrics, and still, the track struck in my head and is still your favorite. It was the first band to invent music and given psychedelic music. Music can be subjective from one to one, but these psychedelic rock bands could be a regular drug to balance someone's study or work-life balance.

The other song from the Album, Time, starts with a tickling sound and tense music. The verse;

“Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain

And you are young, and life is long, and there is time to kill today

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you when to run; you missed the starting gun."

This Could be the best thing someone can tell about the time. I would say this song is their best work,  with perfect lyrics and the composition of the musical elements. This sound could say hundreds of words at the same time. This song remains a reminder of time. The track ends slowly and beautifully, taking us to The Great Gig In The Sky. This track leaves with phenomenal worldless vocals, creating the feeling that this will end even though we are halfway through the album.

The album's second part begins with the Money, which starts with the same kind of sound as Speak with Me, cash counting, and coins. The song goes with a beautiful baseline, and the sound of an electric guitar and saxophone played goes faster and faster with the instrument and sudden slow composition ;

Money

Getaway

You get a good job with more pay, and you're okay

Money

It's a gas

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash

New car, caviar, four-star, daydream

Think I'll buy myself a football team

The song slowly fades out with a background conversation and begins to fade in with the same background sound with another track. The unique thing about this album is that all the songs are related to each other. Us and Them begin with the pleasant sound with classic jazz sound, organs, pianos, and percussion. The song starts with

Us, and them

And after all, we're only ordinary men.

Me, and you.

God only knows it's noz what we would choose to do.

The song addresses the mindless essence of war and the issue of being chained by consumerism and materialism. The track ends  as we transition into our next, “Any Colour You Like.” It is an electronic-filled song with distorted guitars to compliment the psychedelic feel it produces. With no vocals, it quickly ends, where “Brain Damage” quickly begins. The lyrics were inspired by the mental instability of one of the form band members. Brain Damage and Eclipse are often played as a single track. The song ends with the line.

And everything under the sun is in tune

But the sun is eclipsed by the moon

This track feels as if it were an amalgamation of all the songs previously heard. It contains repeated melodies and vocals as the moon ‘eclipses,’ marking the album’s end with the same faint heartbeat we heard in the first track, “Speak to Me.” 

Overally, Dark Side of the Moon is the greatest album ever. It feels like all the gods came together to to create this masterpiece. It remains timeless, being a fantastic listen every time, and it still feels damn this album existed 50 years ago, and people are still listening; it will continue to distinguish itself in a never-ending cycle like a moon. The Story behind Dark side of the Moon;

[erenmusic]

The Best Album you have never heard, Bluffers Guide to the Flight Deck by Flotation Toy Warning.

This album was introduced to me by my brother around 2017 and I still listen to it every now and then. I still haven't met someone else that listened to this in real life, however now that I checked online there are a small number of opinions and reviews out about it. but not enough methinks.

The Pitchfork Article on the album gives it an okay score and I like the way they describe most the songs and where the band gets their influence from, but I feel like they don't really dive into it and appreciate the sound of it as much as I would like them to. so lets talk about it! The album starts off with the song Happy 13 which shows us the dreamy sound of this album right from the start. I really enjoy the vocals and the violins at the start which set the tone and then around 30 seconds in this synth mixed with another 10 instruments and samples just comes in blasting,

the sound and voices take you on a journey and it honestly feels like you are flying right into this album. Its a great 4 minute song that really sets the tone, if you don't like this song, I don't think you will like the rest of the album.

The album goes on to the next song which is Popstar Researching Oblivion. This song has a very nice background beat going, it sounds fun and energetic but the lyrics are so concerningly depressing it makes me think how good it was for me to listen to this when I was in middle school lol. Here is my favorite part of the song, you can just hear the creativity its amazing, the horns and the blinking sounds work so well and man, the vocals are they great.

The next song which is Losing California for Drusky, really keeps the feeling of the album going, it starts off with the classic weird lyrics and amazing instrumentals and just these different noises that you just don't hear in other music. I don't even know how to explain it. This part below might help with what I mean.

also the song switches the riff and beat around 5 minutes in and it turns into a much calmer song with almost Opera like vocals and a very light guitar riff with just these long humming synths, Please if you check this song out listen to the last half as well.

After that adventure we get to the very short and fun song Made from Tiny Boxes, which has some of my favorite bits from the whole album in it, the Lyrics are fun and the instrumental in the back is very nice and mellow and it just leads perfectly into the next song which in my opinion is a highlight of the album.

When I was looking up reviews for this album I noticed one that doesn't have the same take as I do for this next song, Donald Pleasence. The complaint the review I found said that It got old quickly and that it was too long of a song which I can understand but still I think this song even with its length does more than enough to deliver.

The song starts slowly but really heats up eventually ending with Horns and then the ending Lyrics which really give the album its kick I think. This song I would say is depressing and is very obviously about Heartache. Very well done and emotional song that in my opinion doesn't get stale.

This song then ties into the 2 parter of Fire engine on Fire. The First part starts out with some interesting vocals that echo the lyrics to come, (Big Piig, Baad Dog)

it goes for a bit with a low guitar riff and vocals but eventually the song switches up and becomes a completely different tune. a very light synth starts in the background and all the instruments slowly build on it and the whole thing turns into this perfect slow build of strings violins, keyboards and all the other noises they come up with working together. The clip I put up there and the couple minutes after it are some of my favorite parts of the whole album. The next part has a lot less lyrics but the instrumental makes up for it because the experimentation and just overall creative sound on this song really proves where this album can go.

The second half of the song slows down considerably and even has points where it goes completely silent, until right at the last minute another riff starts and a light whistle is sung over the light guitar and drums its very calming and melancholic, the whole album is.

The next song Even Fantastica is a long track that a repetitive slow guitar riff, I could see why people don't really love this one but I like it a lot. I usually hate repetitive songs but this one really calms me down and the lyrics do hit hard for me. Also the riff is just very well made and the background sounds still make the song interesting to me.

I like the distorted vocals in this bit and the dreamy background layering of 3-4 different riffs along with how the guitar eventually leads into a faux-solo that gets cut off with another round of lyrics. It just works and I really enjoy this song, I can understand why people would call it boring though.

The next song is almost like an intermission before the ending, it sounds like someone calling out of a void trying to get someone to hear him, but its just not working. Saying hello over and over and not getting an answer. It is a great lead in to the Final Song.

The Final song How the Plains Left me Flat starts out with a layered with some very weird keyboard sounds right before distorted vocals come in and jumpstart the song.

The Lyrics are followed by a guitar that really complements the flow of the vocals. I really enjoy the way he says Sunday Paper his tone of voice is perfect. after about 4 minutes of bliss in your ears you are met with a blank slate, for almost 10 minutes there is not a chirp except a small piece of noise around 9 minutes in. Whenever I relisten to this album I usually skip the ambient part honestly and I don't get why they did it in the first place BUT, just because they made a weird creative decision on the last song I wont fault them, the rest of the album is amazing.

So to wrap it up. I think its a great album from start to finish, I know a lot of people will call it boring and pretentious(Which I can see honestly) and I know it has a nostalgia factor for me, But I still think its one of my favorite things to listen to when I am in need of something familiar. I hope this will get others to at least give a chance to this album especially if you are into experimental indie stuff.

[sujantim]

Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” Re-recorded Version Surpass the Original.

Taylor Swift’s ALL Too Well has long been admired as one of the most touching tracks.  “All Too Well" narrates a failed romantic relationship, recalling the intimate memories and exploring the painful aftermath. Nearly a decade after the original release, Swift released the 10-minute version. This extended cut revealed layers of depth and emotion that were left untapped in the original.

The original All Too Well was a five-minute power ballad blending elements of country, folk, and rock. The song recounts a fallen relationship that happened in the fall. The song starts with the trip of two ex-lovers to upstate. When the narrator visits the ex-lover’s sister’s house, she leaves her scarf. The narrator then recalls the intimate moments with her ex-lover ("There we are again in the middle of the night/ We dance around the kitchen in the refrigerator light"). The bridge, featuring the line "You call me up again just to break me like a promise / So casually cruel in the name of being honest," remains one of Swift’s most iconic, where the track reaches its climax.

Despite being one of the standout tracks on Red, the original All Too Well was trimmed from what Swift later revealed to be an even more extensive version of the song. Co-written with Liz Rose, the song was originally much longer, with Swift and Rose working to condense it down for the album She talked some more about writing All Too Well in an interview with Country Weekly:

"It's about this relationship that I had, and it tells the story of it from start to finish, so it's all these pieces of memories, one by one, listed off. It's one of the most vivid pictures that I've ever gotten to paint with a song," In 2021, when Swift released Red (Taylor's Version), the 10-minute version of All Too Well emerged as a centerpiece of her musical reclamation. Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, this longer version featured atmospheric pop-rock elements that helped amplify the song’s emotional depth. The new verses provided richer context, delving further into the painful dissolution of the relationship. The 10-minute version takes listeners on an even more detailed journey through heartbreak, anger, and eventual acceptance. Lyrics like "And you were tossing me the car keys, ‘fuck the patriarchy’ keychain on the ground" expand on the political and personal undertones of the breakup, turning the song into a more textured narrative. This version of All Too Well doesn’t just recall memories — it unpacks them in a way that feels raw and therapeutic. Swift’s vocal performance, which shifts from soft introspection to full-bodied exclamation, helps deliver these lines with the intensity they deserve. Why the Re-Recorded Version Surpasses the Original

While the original All Too Well was already celebrated as a career-defining song for Swift, the 10-minute version builds upon that foundation, offering more clarity, depth, and emotional complexity. The re-recorded version feels like a fully realized masterpiece, made even more impactful with the short film's release. In many ways, the song’s longer version allows Swift to tell the story she always intended without the restrictions of time or commercial considerations. This extended version not only provides closure to the emotional journey Swift began in 2012 but also gives fans a new lens through which to view her artistry.

By reclaiming her music and revisiting one of her most beloved songs, Swift has transformed All Too Well from a deeply personal ballad into a timeless anthem of heartbreak, growth, and empowerment.

[erenmusic]

Revisiting The Life of Pablo and ''Old Kanye'' in 2024

Seeing how Kanye has been acting recently and the quality of his music going down in recent years, especially with the unfinished mess that was Vultures 2 got me to revisit The Life of Pablo (TLOP), Which in my opinion is Kanye's most interesting and creative project to date. It has been a long time and his style has changed a lot since then, so Could TLOP be considered Old Kanye now? Lets see.

The Life Of Pablo

Album · Kanye West · 2016 · 20 songs

The album starts out with the song ''Ultralight Beam'' which sets the Tone for the whole album, giving a feeling of holiness in its sound, and the child's voice at the start praising the lord definitely makes what Kanye's trying to make you feel here very obvious. It is a song to get you ready for what's to come in this album, starting off calm and slow and ending with choir sounds that then lead into some of the best-produced songs ever created in ''Father Stretch My Hands'' parts 1 and 2. My favorite sample from the album comes from an old '70s choir band and it is actually crazy how well Kanye uses these old-timey sounds and makes something that feels brand new and so different from other stuff we got in 2016, it is honestly sad to see how far he's fallen from the peaks on this album. that's not to say that part 1 doesn't have some pretty questionable lines like this one here,

However the songs are still very fun and man is that instrumental good. It can almost get me to forgive any wack line Kanye comes up with.

After the Trip that is both of those songs you make your way to Famous which has one of the best instrumental parts on the whole album.

This part where the Woman singing reminds me of Jazz musicians doing scat and the idea of using unintelligible noises to make stuff sound good is just so cool.(also really reminds me of The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd where the feeling is given to you not with words but with sheer vocals) Bam bam Bilam Bam was stuck in my head for years after listening to this album.

Unfortunately I think after this song the album does go on bit of a slow streak. Feedback is a fun song but I see it as almost like a filler episode, songs like Low Lights and Highlights never really stuck with me and I don't love the skits and freestyles he does on this album so I will skip them for this review except obviously the song that defined kanye for the rest of his career after this album

The song I Love Kanye really shows us what he was going for on this album. Shutting up all the critics, saying and showing us he is better than his old self, he is confident in knowing this new experimental stuff IS really better and he shows us that he is always ahead of the game. After understanding how Kanye saw himself in 2016 now we can see the opposite situation happening today. Kanye with his new albums like Vultures 2 still imagines himself as a pioneer and the unfinished experimental sound does feel similar to how it was in 2016 However the difference this time is that (at least in my opinion I might feel very different on the album in a couple years, maybe I don't appreciate Vultures 2 enough and I will come to love it later on in life.) the songs are simply less creative and he doesn't have the same messaging and just straight passion that went into TLOP. Vultures 2 feels commercial and it feels like Kanye is trying to cling to success while TLOP was a definitive part of Kanye's career while he was already extremely successful, He didn't need to prove himself he could have fun, have bad bars, and also still make great music. Now it just feels like Kanye is taking the piss on every song, Not even trying to make something artsy, and just wants to be shocking so people will still pay attention to him hence the whole tirade about Jewish people. (Maybe it really is the Nox that got to him.)

To get back to the Album at hand, after the halfway point of ''I Love Kanye'' you get great songs like Waves which really holds up in its production and Wolves with even more amazing production, what makes Wolves special I think is that it has some very different messaging about the modern dating life of people, saying that everyone is in danger of being taken advantage even Mary would be at risk being soured in this day and age is what I get from that song, Definitely an interesting perspective and definitely a Kanye perspective on things.

When you get towards the end of the Album there is a bit of a shift in tone, Kanye gets serious again. (except for Facts which is just a diss song against Nike lol) the main two songs I want to focus on at the end of the Album is probably 2 of the best songs on it. Firstly we have to get to No More Parties In LA. Not only does this song have some of the best bars and overall meaningful lyrics on the album it actually sounds so good that the song has not aged a day in my opinion. if Kendrick and Kanye came out with a song on the same level as No More Parties in LA this morning, it would shoot up to Number 1 and kill everything else on the billboard lists.

Lastly and most importantly we get to the Titular and in my opinion the best song on the album Saint Pablo. This song touches on many points and just sounds amazing start to finish, I love the vocals that Sampha does in his verse and especially the Bridges and choruses in between,

he adds a really nice and mellow tone to the song and the lines for example ''wondering where's god in your nightlife'' stick with you.

Overall I love this album very much however there are a couple dud songs in there now that I listened to it again. However even though they are some mid-level songs, man do the Good ones keep the album together. I love the concept, the whole idea of Kanye being unapologetic about being himself, not being afraid to say what he wants and the fact that the songs on here are undeniably super important to Music history since it came out. You can hear the influence this album has on Rap music still and almost every song on here still holds up. unfortunately though at this point I think we can even classify The TLOP era as Old Kanye considering how much he has fallen off since this album.