#extra talk

[akwardlyuncool]

Hey. Hi. Hello.

I promise I didn't forget. I made it through another year and apparently so did you and we should both feel some type of way about that. 2025 was my reunion year. It was anniversary tours and adult proms and BBQ's in the park with folks I hadn't seen in 15 years and even if I did, now they have kids or play in cool rock bands or have questionable politics. It was Hinge conversations that didn't get passed the "give me your number and I'll decide if I'm ready to use it stage" and DM's from someone you thought was cool, but turned out to take your talkative nature as an excuse to offer nudes. (To clarify they didn't actually send any, but I could have played a drinking game and gotten drunk with how many times they asked/offered and then apologized for doing so.) It was crying at work because life is uncertain and sometimes getting to see rainbows at the end and other times just more tears. CD's in car stereos and indie movies at 3 am and To-Do lists just to say I did something in the vein of survived.

We're here, I'm here and I kinda want to talk about some Akward Class Favorites.

If you're new here or need a refresher, Akward Class Favorites is where I talk about what I consumed throughout the year and subsequently about my life in the process. It's the super subjective awards that don't mean anything, but mean something to me and the folks I get to talk about it with.

Some Criteria I Guess:

I had to have heavily consumed (insert category) between January 2025 and December 2025. October through December are such weird months for things to come out in and actually make the cut, but you'd be surprised what treats me well at the end of the year.

Note: Not all of this is or has to be current. Some of the content came out twenty years ago and that’s okay, it wouldn’t be a true “snap-shot” of my year otherwise. 

For those of you who want strictly 2025 ish though, there will be some of that mixed in as well, ACF as a whole however, is simply not exclusively a current (as in only contains stuff made this year) compilation. The 2025 stuff will be easily identifiable though.

The Rundown:

I’ll be sharing posts for each category as I finish them and will conclude, like always with a BIG playlist of music recommendations. It’s a good time and I hope you have fun with it all.

*All photos are mine and taken by me.

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Standard Disclaimer: This is all hella subjective and the main goal is to have fun. I promise no feelings outside of my own were hurt in the making of Awkard Class Favorites 2025.

[akwardlyuncool]

Knock Knock........

Somehow you and I managed to make it to a new year and to that I give you a big hug. Whether you simply survived or had the best year ever or something in between, I'm hella proud of you. It was the year I got my license and made an attempt at a slightly new job. There were babies born or getting ready to be born and hats made for each one of them. Listened to a lot of physical music and realized that it's okay if Spotify doesn't look as full because of it. Cried a lot and laughed a little bit and saw some of my favorite bands of all time live. It was a decent year.

That being said, there's still some business to take care of from 2024 and one of those things is the annual Award Class Favorites.

If this is a new thing for you, Akward Class Favorites is where I talk about what I consumed throughout the year and talk about my life in the process.

Rules That I Made Up + Their Criteria:

The time frame is that I had to have heavily consumed (insert category) between January 2024 and December 2024. October through December are such weird months for things to come out in and actually make the cut, so I tend to push those to the next year or give them small shout outs when applicable. Some of them showed out in those last few months, so they get full recognition this year.

Not all of this is or has to be current. Some of the content came out twenty years ago and that’s okay, it wouldn’t be a true “snap-shot” of my year otherwise. 

For those of you who want strictly 2024 ish, there will be some of that mixed in as well, ACF as a whole however, is simply not exclusively a current (as in only contains stuff made this year) compilation. The 2024 stuff will be easily identifiable though.

I'll be sharing posts for each category as I finish them and will conclude, like always with a BIG playlist of music recommendations. It's a good time and I hope you have fun with it all.

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*All photos that aren’t screenshots of people’s profiles for ACF 2024 were taken by ME.

Standard Disclaimer: This is all hella subjective and the main goal is to have fun. I promise no feelings outside of my own were hurt in the making of Awkard Class Favorites 2024.

[akwardlyuncool]

Spotify Wrapped 2024

In years past I would come here to compare my two Spotifys and tell y'all which one I thought was more "accurate" in representing me for the year. This year though, as you'll soon see in my own reflections, was spent more with my physical media collection and less with Spotify. As you can see that doesn't mean there was no time with streaming, just that it took a backseat.

I thought about not sharing my wrapped for 2024, but felt didn't like how future me would feel with there being a gap. On that note, I'm not gonna say much about it and put more energy in getting my own reflections out.

What I Will Say:

This year was the first year that my 2 favorite bands were also my top artists on Spotify. Relient K is always a feature somewhere in the ranking and although Green Day has never made my Wrapped I saw Green Day live for the first time in 2024, which meant they were featured everywhere. So shout out to the bands that assisted in raising me finally getting their superficial flowers.

Now as far as everyone else on the top list goes, they're all pretty predictable. I'm a Pop Punk human, who also sat with a lot of Sabrina Carpenter, like many of y'all did. The only thing not featured is my R&B/Neo-Soul stuff and although I get it, I am bummed about that. They made appearances in the playlist though, so they were around, just not as publicly known I guess.

My rational for the year not being as rounded as in years past, is simply time. I spent more time physically elsewhere, instead of sitting with Spotify for almost everything. So less rational, but more just the facts.

Here's to continuing my streak of consuming the stuff I've purchased, while also finding ways to experience new and different things.

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Stay tuned for Akward Class Favorites 2024, coming up next.

[akwardlyuncool]

Friday January 3rd 2025

Apparently it's 2025 and I think time is irrelevant. Jai is playing a ton of catch up with all of her projects and rather than saying we missed a deadline so forget about it, when it's my ish, my time, my everything, I'm here to say that we're gonna just keep going. All that means is I'm gonna continue posting what I'm working on, even though it's the new year, simple as that. I feel like I sound like a scratched record that keeps repeating the same line over and over again, but who would I be otherwise?

The List Of What's Coming:

The end of Sitting To Know Your Collection 2024 is chugging along, but it's almost done. Check the progress on that if you want.

As for Akward Class Favorites 2024, I'm making us a deadline and getting that completely posted this month. (She says as she just got done saying how self-made deadlines are falling short for her.)

I'm also just gonna drop my Spotify Wrapped for 2024 without a ton of commentary, cause I want to spend more time on other blog stuff.

So that's really what I wanted to come and say (like people listen lol) but I felt I needed more words, so let me just say a preemptive thank you for being around in this blogs life. I usually save these sentiments for the end Akward Class Favorites, but I don't mind saying it twice. I'm glad someone out there, even if I had to send you the link personally, to get you to read a post or listen to a playlist. I overall appreciate folks and hope that people find something to enjoy here. I also say thanks to me because I love havingthis thing exist in my life that I can reference as Polaroids of my existence, feelings and thoughts. It doesn't matter if it's on time or late, my words and art and creativity are existing and I like that. Again thank you specifically and here's whatever you see on my blog next.

Signed,

Akwardly Uncool (Someone who essentially just wants to keep going.)

[akwardlyuncool]

Friday March 15th 2024

Hi..... (Picture me akwardly in the corner figuring out how to intro this ish.)

Some people say that if they tell the internet something, toss it out into the universe or just write it down somewhere somewhat visible, that you're more likely to do the thing. I don't know if that is true or if it will work for me, but it doesn't seem like it would hurt.

I took a little break after Akward Class Favorites 2023 (go check that out, I spent a lot of time on it) and now I'm ready to start chipping away at the backlog of stuff I've been wanting to post and write out and get out to the universe and even current ish, cause I've been doing things in 2024 too. I have concert posts from 2022, an album listening project that I've been doing every week this year and I even took some really cool pictures for my favorite albums lists the last few years and don't know if any that work will ever truly get the shine it deserves. Again there's just all kinds of stuff I want to share and I hope that this is the moment I really get back into sharing that work.

So to start, I'm testing out a collage/ "Love Letter" format for older concert posts that I just want up and documented and the first one will follow the post you're reading now. This weekend I might also share the weekly album listening project I've got going and maybe you might want to join along?

Don't know how often I'll do these update posts, but I like the idea of them so I might just toss one up periodically. So here's to sharing sharing more and giving myself the project feelings that I love and crave so much.

Akward Goodbye.....

PS: I have an Akward Side Blog that I made for "behind the scenes" content and reblogs, that rarely gets used (mainly cause no one follows me there) but it might also be time to add stuff there too.

[akwardlyuncool]

I Don't Know How, But We Got Here!

*All photos that aren't screenshots of people's profiles for ACF 2023 were taken by ME.

Hey. Hi. How are ya? I truly do not know how we made it to the end of the 2023, but here we are. And no we cannot breathe just yet, however we can say that we made it through another year and that is an accomplishment in and of itself.

It was a year of meandering and then not meandering, strikes and unions, us wanting to break ukuleles and continuing the fight for a Free Palestine. Among all the other bits and pieces of life that took place, there were bad movies and good concerts and potential carpel tunnel from the hobby you picked up to make yourself feel better cause you stopped meandering lol. A lot happened in 2023 and I'm here to mention some of it, so we can keep going.

If you’re unaware, Awkward Class Favorites is where I toss all of the things I consumed during the year at you and hope that someone wants to have a conversation about them. So if you want to talk comfort music, bad "Lifetime" movies, the TV shows you started but didn't finish and where you get your information on Palestine, then come sit down.

Rules That Are Made Up + Their Criteria:

The time frame is that I had to have heavily consumed (insert category) between January 2023 and November 2023, with some December bits in there as well. October through December are such weird months for things to come out in and actually make the cut, so I tend to push those to the next year or give them small shout outs when applicable. That being said, I count any movie that I saw before the ACF post was completed. Also not all of this is current, some of the content came out twenty years ago and that’s okay, cause it’s my list and I say that’s okay. It wouldn’t be a true “snap-shot” of my year otherwise. 

For those of you who want strictly 2023 ish, there will be some of that mixed in as well, ACF as a whole however, is simply not exclusively a current (as in only contains stuff made this year) compilation.

So I’ll be sharing posts as I finish them and will conclude, like always, with a moderately sized playlist where a ton of my musical recommendations can be found. Enjoy cause it's one of my favorite parts.

Standard Disclaimer: This is all hella subjective and the main goal is to have fun. I promise no feelings outside of my own were hurt in the making of Awkard Class Favorites 2023.

Not-So Standard Disclaimer: There are many genocides happening in different parts of the world as I type this, in Palestine, Congo and Sundan just to name a few. I didn’t think I could come out with Akward Class Favorites 2023 without acknowledging some of these tragedies that are happening around the world. I also didn’t want to talk about the movies and music I consumed this year that may feature folks who are not standing with the oppressed right now, without letting y’all know where I stand first and foremost, which is always with oppressed and marginalized people.

If none of that resonates with you and you think otherwise or that we only need escapism right now, then this blog and space is not for you. I am not for you. I want and will continue to talk about all of the music and media and books and the like that I enjoy, however I’m still going to acknowledge that is a privilege I hold and will continue to speak on injustices when and where I see fit. I also hope that you desire to do the same. It’s Free Palestine! Free Everybody!

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This is getting posted in January (maybe even February) of 2024, but know that when I say "end of the year" or "this last year" I mean 2023.

[akwardlyuncool]

Spotify Wrapped 2023

So I'm here to talk about my hella basic year in music lol. If you're new here I got 2 Spotifys, which means I compare them every year to see which one I think is more accurate.

Basically I got my daily driver,  what I use most often and what’s signed in on my phone and then the Spotify I use for/while I’m working on projects on Akwardly Uncool. Anyway the LEFT side is the Daily Driver and the RIGHT is AkwardlyUncool.

So I'mma Start By Proudly Waving My Basic Card:

I might be wrong, but I feel like everybody who was even slightly in the Pop-Punk, Midwest Emo, Post Emo space had Hot Mulligan in their top 5, either artists or songs for 2023. It was just bound to happen and I ain't mad at it, cause have you listened to them?! Just had to acknowledge that real quick lol.

Minutes and Hours and Just Time:

15,850 minutes. About 264 hours. 11 Days.

Not gonna lie, based on some personal calculations, this was a shorter year for consuming music for me. (If you stick around for ACF 2024 I might divulge some of that reasoning, but for now I'll just say, It is what it is and I know why.) That being said I'll try to beef up my numbers again next year.

Top Artists:

Now don't get me wrong I love The Wonder Years down, however I made a collaborative playlist of The Wonder Years and Hot Mulligan with a friend and basically didn't turn it off lol (it was definitely a shower mix for sure) and that's how they ultimately won the award on my main account.

As for the "side" account, which felt like the main this year, Winnetka Bowling League is just one of those groups that's so good to put on and let run. Now of course I have my repeats, that I've been talking about for the last few years and then I added more and so whether it was going to their page and hitting play or seeking out my repeats, I totally get why they won there. They're coming out with a full album next year, so get used to me talking about them 90% of the time. And if you hop on their train, remember I'm the conductor.

As for the other artists who touched the top 5, I saw 3 of them in concert this year, so naturally their numbers are going to be higher. Also Watsky made it cause Intention is not on CD, hopefully yet.

Genre Sandwiches and Top Tracks:

It's Pop-Punk season mixed with Winnetka Bowling League and Watsky, so both sides reflect that. That being said, the main diver is where I play the majority of the R&B, Neo-Soul and the likes, so they're rarely reflected on my second. But KNOW, I am a mix of Pop-Punk and Neo-Soul, always!

Again it's Pop-Punk season or rather Hot Mulligan season and I spent a lot of time learning every word to those two tracks that won, but are too long for me to desire to type out now. "Draw and quarter a stranger to feel some blood on your fingers. You take away, robbery follow trends as a hobby, find flaws in everything else because you don't like yourself. Woe is me!"

Collector vs Alchemist:

They both say essentially the same thing which is that I make and listen to my own playlists more than anything else, but anyone who works with me could have told you that lol. Geniuses.

Winner? Winner? Chicken Dinner?

Again they basically say the same thing this year, which is that we listened to a lot of Hot Mulligan, Relient K is still my favorite band and if i see you in concert you tend to show up on my Wrapped for the year. I will say though that I'm hella surprised that this is the first year Lyfe Jennings didn't show up on my Wrapped and although that makes way for other folks, it's still a little sad lol.

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Hey we made it through Spotify Wrapped Time and now must move on to the more nuanced and obviously better Akward Class Favorites 2023. If you don't know, it where I just go through my year in movies, music, online content consumption and other things of the like, so better lol. Don't have an ETA on when that will go up, but I've taken the notes, so hopefully before the end of December.

[akwardlyuncool]

Knock Knock Your Akward Class Favorites Mail From 2022 Has Arrived!

2022 had a lot going on with it and instead just tossing all of the posts I didn’t get finished in time in the trash, I’ve giving myself the freedom to be late. There were 30@30′s and some great concert posts and ACF and I couldn’t see this this blog being full without them, so here we are.

The concert posts and 30@30 will be coming soon. Stay tuned!

If you’re unaware, Awkward Class Favorites is where I toss all of the wonderful things I consumed during the year at you and hope that someone wants to have a conversation about them. I barely touched anything currently relevant, but I guess now is as good of time as any to talk about how “Zach and Miri Made A Porno. Or how the same album can make the Albums Of The Year 2 years in a row by simply being the “complete” version. Hey it happens.

Amended Rules/Criteria:

This go around the time frame got extended. I had to have heavily consumed (insert category) between November/December 2021 and December 2022. October through December are such weird months for things to come out in and actually make it on a list, so I tend to push those to the next year or give them small shout outs when applicable, but normally things get cut off in October. Being late just gave things like songs a bit more time to make the cut.

Note that not all of this is even required to be current anyway, some of the content came out twenty years ago and that’s okay, cause it’s my list and I say that’s okay. It wouldn’t be a true “snap-shot” of my year otherwise.

There is also a playlist of my Top 12 Tracks of 2022 if you’re looking for something strictly 2022. That being said, it does feature a couple songs that were dropped in that December pool, but I loved them so much I couldn’t not include them.

I’ll be sharing posts as I finish them and will conclude with a moderately decent sized playlist of what I was listening to this year. Take my recommendations and stories and just have a good time. And like always if you want to have a conversation, so do I.

Standard Disclaimer: This is super subjective and the main goal is to have fun. I promise no feelings outside of my own were hurt in the making of Awkard Class Favorites 2022.

Photo Note: Yes the photos are mine!