Album Rating: 4.0

I am scared baby... that I can't keep it up for long

Album Rating: 4.5

Really surprised to see "Normal Song" turned into a Toyota Tv commercial, it's not what I would call happy-car-buying music.

Album Rating: 4.0

This is so powerful

Album Rating: 4.0

Just saw the Toyota ad. What in the world was that..?

Album Rating: 4.5

Man, 17 is absolutely soul-crushing

Album Rating: 4.0

17 is indeed haunting, but I suppose the whole album is. Hood's probably my favourite. (:

Album Rating: 4.5

Oh gosh, I'm getting in the mood for this again











:,(

Album Rating: 4.0

RUN AWAY AT ONCE

still his best if i do say so

Album Rating: 4.5

It's close between this and his newest. Though they bring upon almost polar opposite emotional reactions [most of the time, No Shape has its own share of :,(].

Album Rating: 4.0

mmhmm. dive to the bottom vs. emergence to the top. in this case i'll shamelessly envoke the rule of predecessance

Album Rating: 4.5

tbh I'm at a point in my (short) life where the latter feels more satisfying, but the occasional plunge is needed, and it is amazing when went through.



In layman's terms: nothing like a good cry!

Album Rating: 4.0

mmhmm. all perspective. totally understand and appreciate the viewpoint. i think as a straight male the previous feels more prescient due to personal context rather than artistic merit

Album Rating: 4.5

I feel like both albums really represent the ups and downs of the queer experience beautifully. While I definitely haven't experienced nearly as much grief and pain as Mike, and even problems adult gay men have to live with that I haven't fully yet, I catch whiffs of them as I get older and begin my transition into that point in my life. They fill me with a sense of dread, but also a sense of not being alone in these struggles.



Songs like the title track that express the desire to be open with one's passion for others, especially hit me in a personal way because I have a fear in the back of my mind that something grim will happen if I'm too open with my sexuality.



On the other hand, songs off the new one are really inspiring in their fearlessness to let those fears go. It reminds me that the pain that may come ahead may not define you in the end, as long as you do not let it define you.



I know the importance of representation is often derided by people who don't face the issue of not seeing themselves in a lot of media, but albums like this and artists like Mike have been extremely important in a phase of my life where I'm doing some self-reflection, wondering if who I've living as throughout my teenage years is who I truly wanted to be. I don't know if this is just my late-teenage mind attaching itself way too closely to something, but I know that albums like this did have a positive effect on my formative years (at least, from my perspective) and I can't be thankful enough for its existence.



Oops, I went off rambling

Album Rating: 4.0

Oh no, emotional rambling!

In all seriousness, getting these perspectives in a world where criticism uniformly veers towards the familiar (white male heterosexual) is super helpful. the power of pieces like "No Shape" is likely to be shoved aside due to a lack of appreciation for the impact it has on those most affected. The more perspective, the better.

Album Rating: 4.5

Agreed. A life looking through one lens is not one worth living.

Album Rating: 4.0

Have you read Kolodny or Derrida?

Album Rating: 4.5

No, I want to read more, but a mixture of filled schedules and general laziness has kept me from doing so. A goal of mine once I reach college is to change all of that.



Though I am always open to suggestions so I'll have some material to work with once I start!

Album Rating: 4.0

shoutbox me bro

Album Rating: 4.0

And nooooooooooo secret no matter how nasty can poison your voice

Album Rating: 4.0

You would never call me baby...