"Pretentious" misuse...use "Ostentatious" instead

Much like the ignorant misuse of the word "cringe" as an adjective, the word "pretentious" is egregiously misused as well. It has for much longer pathetically been MISUSED.

The word "pretentious" is derived from the word "pretend" or "pretending." 

It actually is more or less an *adjective* describing someone or something that is pretending. Or not serious, insincere or fake.

"Pretentious" DOES NOT mean full of oneself or EGO-DRIVEN. But it has been used as a condescending adjective to describe those (often artists) who are too serious or ego-headed. Believing they are smarter or better than others because they can create someting that only they can make or even understand.

"Oh, I can't understand that song because the band are so pretentious"

"On this album, the band are so obsessed and self-absorbed that they come across as incredibly pretentious"

That is incoherent NONSENSE grammatically. That basically means the music is just them being fake, or not really having any integrity in the meaning behind it. Its fake and not sincere in its intent.

No No No NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is the music trying to push boundaries and being AMBITIOUS? sure..but there's nothing FAKE or INSINCERE about it or the artists intent.

And these blowhards on Social Media and even other outlets (tv, radio..even movies and books), have adopted this pathetically INCORRECT use of the word, that like many of these verbal/vernacular trends ("not to mention"..even though when "not to mention" is used, it was just FUCKING MENTIONED!..lol).

I believe "pretentious" is used to try and sound cool and tough. It's used to sound more highly educated and smart, but in fact, it actually comes across as feeble and insecure.

Regardless, until its use fades out of the verbal zeitgeist of pop-culture, it will continue to be misused and influence countless others over the years to be misused.

PRETENSION?

a claim or assertion of a claim to something.

the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.

that is what google brings up, although that 2nd defintion I would contend is

a) newer than the 1st
b) not necessarily given a negative, insulting tone.

But the loudmouths who word-drop "pretentious" so often always intend it to be used that way.

Regardless, the wording is still derived from the latin base which comes from the word "pretend," which goes back to how misused "pretentious" is and it really needs to change. Will it?..doubtful. The best bet is for it to fade and not be cool anymore to say.

edit:

After all these fucking years..at least a decade or more, basically all these trillions or more incorrect uses of the word "pretentious"..the word that actually should be used is OSTENTATIOUS.

"Ostentatious" describes a showy or extravagant display meant to impress, while "pretending" or "fake" implies a deliberate deception or insincerity, often about one's identity or abilities. 

being a show-off, bragging, attention-whoring, etc is not the same thing as not being serious
(or too serious), pretending or PRETENTIOUS.

But, the short response to all these uses of "pretentious" should be,
you mean "ostentatious."

or just quote it, and modify the quote by

pretentious ostentatious.

fixed.


pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.

pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.

Election Audits

 

If they succeed, unless there is blatant evidence of Trump or Musk's work being done to those machines, I mostly see the benefit of this for the next election.

Between this, the Greg Palast stuff of Voter Suppression and the potential rigged elections in Poland that the Palmer Report comments mention, that could have easily occurred in the 2024 Presidential Election as well, I think History will show the 2024 Presidental Election was in fact NOT FREE and FAIR.

How did Dumpy win all 7 Swing States? the odds were miniscule.

Reverse Psychology?..

 I wonder as I've seen multiple sources suggest the best move for the Democrats those who oppose 100% of everything Dumpy and his brainwashed community does, if instead of just always criticizing them, play a better, more cunning game of Reverse Psychology.

Basically appease them, even act like you support them, Say, you've turned a new leaf and decided it's not worth it.

If you can't beat them, join them?

Because it could diffuse the tension and division, at least for a time.

Then of course, eventually when they either relax or just want to oppose you still, they indirectly could support your agenda?

It's kind of a risky move, but desparate times may call for desparate measures.

I dunno..food for thought at least.

Davanni's : A favorite restaurant of mine...

 

This may be much to do about nothing, and the Davanni's manager and/or staff may have declined to be interviewed, but if the group was approached about this, it seems there is a good chance they were promoting their politics there. Which if that happened, the manager seems to have had good reason to approach them. I've been do that Davanni's many times over the last 20+ years. My friend John doesn't live too far from there and him and I would often go there before movies at the Edina Theater or other events.

Not that it is my favorite Davanni's as there are several I go to, and the majority of the time I pickup/takeout.

But, I question if they were just *eating* and not spewing their Dumpy Rhetoric so much so, other customers may have complained.

As I posted on FB (and while it got 9 likes, it also received some trolling trash replies from some Dumpy supporters, which I will add ARE IN THE MINORITY in Minnesota), if I was eating at a Davanni's or likely any restaurant, and a Dumpy party was being held, I'd get out of dodge as soon as possible. Of course the trolls are drawn to these things in droves..Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A lot of them are BOTS also. No thank you. I don't need to hear or or be exposed to their brainwashed trash. Would it be more effective to turn my phone's camera on and play Jordan Klepper-Fingering-the-pulse-of-Maga? maybe, but it would not be what I would expect to deal with when going to eat some comfort food.

Having Davanni's while being exposed to political discourse is hardly COMFORTING.

So, depending on what we may learn, it may be much to do about nothing and some local political minorities reaching for something that had no reason to be. But if there is evidence that the manager had good reason and customers complained, MORE POWER TO THE MANAGER.

I mean sure, it could just be a LEARNING EXPERIENCE and to understand WHAT THE POLICY IS. I kind of wonder if the manager had had a written document that detailed it, and read it to the group, then what happened may be totally justified.

I suspect much of what Davanni's posted on Social Media is just to try to cover themselves from a PR standpoint.

Zelenskyy to Dumpy/Vance

 

Album Milestone Anniversaries in 2025

I haven't gotten around to doing research for 2010, 2015 and 2020. 

Maybe in due time, along with collages. 

January

14: Rush - Permanent Waves (1980)

20: Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

24: Stackridge - Extravaganza (1975)

24: The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker (1990)

24: Van Halen - Balance (1995)

25: Pat Metheny - The Way Up (2005)

26: Chicago - Chicago II (1970)

26: Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

27: Sculptured - Apollo Ends (2000)

28: Spiral Architect - A Skeptics Universe (2000)

29: Fish - Vigil in the Wilderness of Mirrors (1990)

Porcupine Tree - The Sky Moves Sideways (1995)

Spock's Beard - The Light (1995)

February

1: Peter Hamill - Nadir's Big Chance (1975)

1: Bend Sinister - Through the Broken City (2005)

4: God is an Astronaut - All Is Violent All Is Bright (2005)

7: Karnivool - Themata (2005) 

8: Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (2000)

8: People For Audio - And This Will Be Our Homecoming (2005)

11: The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute (Japan) (2005)

13: Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970)

14: The Who - Live at Leeds (1970)

14: Rush - Fly By Night (1975)

14: Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)

15: Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day (1980)

16: Death - Spiritual Healing (1990)

22: Call Florence Pow - These Are the Plans...(2000)

22: Josh Rouse - Nashville (2005)

24: Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (1975)

25: Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair (1985)

28: Van Morrison - Moondance (1970)

28: Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom (1990)

29: Steve Stevens - Flamenco A Go-Go (2000) 

Ambrosia - Ambrosia (1975)

Kansas - Song for America (1975)

Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1975)

Return to Forever featuring Chick Corea - No Mystery (1975)

March

1: Steely Dan - Katy Lied (1975)

7: David Bowie - Young Americans (1975)

7: Echolyn - As the World (1995)

8: Kaddisfly - Buy Our Intention; We'll Buy You a Unicorn (2005)

10: Billy Joel - Glass Houses (1980)

11: Crosby Stills Nash and Young - Dejavu (1970)

11: 10cc - The Original Soundtrack (1975)

13: Howard Jones - Dream Into Action (1985)

19: Depeche Mode - Violator  (1990)

21: Death - Symbolic (1995)

21: Kevin Gilbert - Thud (1995)

21: The Tea Party - The Edges of Twilight (1995)

21: Transatlantic - SMPT:e (2000)

22: Soft Machine - Bundles (1975)

22: The Decemberists - Picaresque (2005)

25: The Power Station - The Power Station (1985)

24: Genesis - Duke (1980)

26: Van Halen - Women and Children First (1980)

27: Rick Wakeman - The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975)

28: Faith No More - King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime (1995)

28: Porcupine Tree - Deadwing (2005)

29: Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow (1975)

30: Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)

Ten Years After - Cricklewood Green (1970)

April

1: Journey - Journey (1975)

1: The Dukes of Stratosphear - 25 O'clock (1985)

3: King Crimson - Thrak (1995)

3: Doves - Lost Souls (2000)

4: Pavlov's Dog - Pampered Menial (1975)

10: Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet (1990)

11: Steve Hillage - Fish Rising (1975)

20: Jethro Tull - Benefit (1970)

21: Abba - Abba (1975)

22: Prince - Around the World in a Day (1985)

25: Camel - The Snow Goose (1975)

25: Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell (1980)

25: Klimt 1918 - Dopoguerra (2005)

26: The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse (2005)

26: Time of Orchids - Sarcast While (2005)

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat (2005)

sElf - Porno, Mint & Crime (2005)

May

2: Human Radio - Human Radio (1990)

3: King Crimson - USA (1975)

4: Mew - Half the World is Watching (2000)

5: King Crimson - In the Wake of Poseidon (1970)

8: The Beatles - Let It Be (1970)

9: Hawkwind - Warrior on the Edge of Time (1975)

10: Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel (1980)

17: System of a Down - Mezmerize (2005)

19: Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

22: King's X - Please Come Home Mr.Bulbous (2000)

23: Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel [3/Melt] (1980)

23: Shaman - Reason (2005)

24: Gospel - The Moon Is a Dead World (2005)

June

1: a-ha - Hunting High and Low (1985)

1: Sting - Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)

3: Deep Purple - Deep Purple in Rock (1970)

6: Soft Machine - Third (1970)

6: Ulver - Blood Inside (2005)

7: Avenged Sevenfold - City of Evil (2005)

7: Dream Theater - Octavarium (2005)

7: Shadow Gallery - Room V (2005)

10: The Eagles - One of These Nights (1975)

17: Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (1985)

20: Neil Young - Tonight's the Night (1975)

20: Galactic Cowboys - Let It Go (2000)

21: dredg - Catch Without Arms (2005)

21: Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams (2005)

24: Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1995)

27: The Chap - Ham (2005)

25: Frank Zappa - One Size Fits All (1975)

28: Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (1990)

30: Queen - The Game (1980)

Michael Nesmith and the First National Band - Magnetic South (1970)

Fairport Convention - Rising for the Moon (1975)

Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories (1975)

July

4: The Flower Kings - Space Revolver (2000)

5: Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)

8: Various Artists - Back to the Future Soundtrack (1985)

11: Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1975)

11: Ultravox - Vienna (1980)

11: Shadow Gallery - Carved in Stone (1995)

11: Porcupine Tree - Lightbulb Sun (2000)

12: The Ebb & Flow - Time to Echolocate (2005)

17: Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Jean-Luc Ponty - Rite of Strings (1995)

18: Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself (2005)

24: Yes - Time and a Word (1970)

25: Caravan - Cunning Stuns (1975)

25: Fates Warning - Disconnected (2000)

26: Veda - The Weight of an Empty Room (2005)

28: Black Sabbath - Sabotage (1975)

Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy (1975)

August

3: The Beatles - Help! (1965)

7: Jellyfish - Bellybutton (1990)

15: White Willow - Sacrament (2000)

16: Aviatic - Arrival (2005)

18: Daryl Hall and John Oates - Daryl Hall and John Oates (1975)

18: Yes - Drama (1980)

20: Queensryche - Empire (1990)

21: Jane's Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual (1990)

22: Gentle Giant - Free Hand (1975)

22: The Gathering - Mandylion (1995)

22: Spock's Beard - V (2000)

23: Greg Herriges - It Plays Me (2005)

23: Minus the Bear - Menos el Oso (2005)

23: Neverending White Lights - Act I: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies (2005)

23: The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (2005)

25: Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)

27: Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby (1975)

30: Opeth - Ghost Reveries (2005)

Miles Davis - Agharta (1975)

Kool and the Gang - Spirit of the Boogie (1975)

September

1: The Brecker Brothers - The Brecker Bros. (1975)

1: Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music (1975)

3: George Michael - Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990)

4: Rush - Chronicles (1990)

5: Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery (1975)

5: sElf - Gizmodgery (2000)

6: Between the Buried and Me - Alaska (2005)

12: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)

12: At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command (2000)

12: VAST - Music for People (2000)

13: Sheena Ringo - 勝訴ストリップ (Shōso Strip) (2000)

13: Sigur Ros - Takk...(2005)

14: Supertramp - Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)

15: Foghat - Fool for the City (1975)

16: Kate Bush - Hounds of Love (1985)

18: Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)

19: Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons [EP] (1995)

19: Oceansize - Everyone Into Position (2005)

19: Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites (2005)

20: Kansas - Masque (1975)

20: Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (2005)

23: Santana - Abraxas (1970)

24: Rush - Caress of Steel (1975)

24: Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)

25: INXS - X (1990)

27: Gojira - From Mars to Sirius (2005)

27: King's X - Ogre Tones (2005)

27: Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)

Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1975) (UK)

October

2: Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother (1970)

3: The Who - The Who By Numbers (1975)

3: The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)

3: Enchant - Juggling Nine or Dropping Ten (2000)

4: Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene (2005)

5: Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III (1970)

5: Mike + the Mechanics - Mike + the Mechanics (1985) 

8: Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)

9: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! (2000)

10: Tears for Fears - Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995)

10: Pure Reason Revolution - Cautionary Tales for the Brave (2005)

11: Kiss Kiss - Kiss Kiss (2005)

14: INXS - Listen Like Thieves (1985)

15: Rush - Power Windows (1985)

15: Opeth - Orchid (1995)

17: Bruce Springsteen - The River (1980)

17: Saigon Kick - Devil in the Details (1995)

17: Burst - Origo (2005)

20: U2 - Boy (1980)

23: Genesis - Trespass (1970)

23: King's X - Faith Hope Love (1990)

24: Roxy Music - Siren (1975)

24: Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)

24: sElf - Subliminal Plastic Motives (1995)

27: Hawkwind - Levitation (1980)

30: U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)

31: Steve Howe - Beginnings (1975)

31: Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (2000)

Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte (1975)

Nektar - Recycled (1975)

Fates Warning - The Spectre Within (1985)

November

1: Michael Nesmith and the First National Band - Loose Salute (1970)

1: The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)

6: Queen - Made in Heaven (1995)

7: Chris Squire - Fish Out of Water (1975)

8: Paulson - All At Once (2005)

9: Badfinger - No Dice (1970)

9: Derek and the Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

10: Supertramp - Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)

12: Queen - A Night at the Opera (1975)

14: Chroma Key - You Go Now (2000)

17: John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy (1980)

20: Emerson Lake and Palmer - Emerson Lake and Palmer (1970)

22: System of a Down - Hypnotize (2005)

26: Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace (1990) 

27: Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant (1970)

28: The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic (2000)

30: George Harrison - All Things Must Pass (1970)

Robert Palmer - Riptide (1985)

December

1: Styx - Equinox (1975)

1: I Can't Believe It's Not Rock - I Can't Believe It's Not Rock (2000)

3: The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

11: King Crimson - Lizard (1970)

No Month or Date Found

Gypsy - Gypsy (1970)

Electromagnets - Electromagnets (1975)

White Willow - Ignis Fatuus (1995) (Spring)

Cloud Cult - Who Killed Puck? (2000)

Klimt 1918 - Secession Makes Modern Music (2000)

Substack...

So i signed up there like a week ago. There's a "Podcast feature even on there, although I suspect to make 1, I'd have to use Audacity to record it with music clips.

Here's my first "Note"

 I’m a fan of John Pratt’s radio show “WDGY Wayback Wonders” on Saturday nights. On the show is a featured Week of an historical year of the WDGY Survey (and AT40 even?) of the songs from that specific time.

With all of the calendars I’ve researched and made recently, it crossed my mind the other day, could I make a podcast of a similar format?

Maybe on Mixcloud? The copyright issue almost always is the biggest issue. That and required time to produce it. I even thought, I could just record my own, for my own enjoyment and even dictation.

Playing full songs? or just playing clips and getting to play retro dj? And maybe a bit like The Album Years Podcast, it might be random years.

Should it only be for music released around said week/month/year? maybe, at least open it up beyond just the week though.

Food for thought…

Great Album Openers

 Rush - Hemispheres

Marillion - The Invisible Man

King's X - Out of the Silent Planet

The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine

Toy Matinee - Last Plane Out

Enchant - The Thirst

Fair to Midand - Dance of the Manatee

Mew - Am I Wry? No

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same

Yes - The Gates of Delirium

Transatlantic - Duel With the Devil

The Mars Volta - Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus

Oceansize - The Charm Offensive

Renaissance - A Trip to the Fair

Crimson Glory - Lady of Winter

Everything Everything - To the Blade

Giant Sky - The Further We Go the Deeper It Gets Pt. 1-6

Karnivool - C.O.T.E.

Kiss Kiss - Janet

Spock's Beard  - The Light

Umphrey's McGee - Plunger

Jerry Goodman and Jan Hammer - Country and Eastern Music

The Flower Kings - I am the Sun Part 1

Led Zeppelin - Achilles Last Stand

The word "CRINGE" is a FUCKING VERB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 people need to stop this shit!

The word "CRINGE" is a VERB. It never has been, and never will be an ADJECTIVE.

CRINGEY is an ADJECTIVE

"CRINGE WORTHY" also can be used to DESCRIBE something.

But the word C-R-I-N-G-E is NOT a FUCKING ADJECTIVE. It's a VERB. A VERB A VERB.

It's AN ACTION.

VERB

VERB

VERB

VERB

VERB

IT'S NOT A FUCKING ADJECTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

People on Social Media need to learn some BASIC FUCKING GRAMMAR.

And STOP using "Cringe" as an Adjective!!!!!

Good Lord!

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Superbowl 59

 Will likely always be just a unforgettable footnote.

Terrible game, from 2 boring teams.

Awful waste of time of a Halftime show.

Let's get something straight...

 Dumpy did NOT win in a Landslide or even DECISIVELY.

He won by a small MARGINAL amount.

Popular Vote: 154, 891, 827 total votes

Trump: 77, 303, 573 (49.9%)

Harris: 75, 019, 257 (48.4%)

2,284,316 more votes which 1.47% more of the vote.

Other Candidates
Stein 782, 528

RFK Jr 756, 393

Chase Oliver  641, 289

Other Candidates 388, 787

Total 2,568,997 (1.65%)

Swing States (which I and many others believe may have had election interference given Dumpy won all 7). Total Votes = 31,888,797.

Arizona 5.53% (187,382)

North Carolina 3.22% (183,048)

Nevada 3.09% (46,008)

Georgia 2.19% (115,100)

Pennsylvania 1.72% (121,454 )

Michigan 1.42% (80,618)

Wisconsin 0.86% (29,417)

763,027 total more votes in the 7 Swing States which 2.39%.

Pennyslvania = 7,031,770 total votes

Trump 3,542,701 (50.4%)

Harris 3,421, 247 (48.7%)

121, 454 more votes (1.72%)

Other Candidates

Stein 34,513

Oliver 33,309

Michigan = 5,638,701 total votes

Trump 2,804,647 (49.7%)

Harris 2,724,029 (48.3%)

80,618 more votes (1.42%)

Other Candidates

Stein 44,697

RFK 26,847

Oliver 22,599

Terry 6,723

West 6,721

Kishore 2,438

Wisconsin = 3,414,473 total votes

Trump 1,697,298

Harris 1,667,881

29,417 more votes (0.86%)

Other Candidates

RFK 17,681

Stein 12,266

Oliver 10,501

Terry 4,056

West 2,749

De La Cruz 2,041

North Carolina = 5,679,647 total votes

Trump 2,898,423

Harris 2,715,375

183,048 more votes (3.22%)

Other Candidates

Stein 24,762

Oliver 22,125

West 12,099

Terry 6,863

Georgia = 5,250,047 total votes

Trump 2,663,117

Harris 2,548,017

115,100 more votes (2.19%)

Other Candidates

Oliver 20,684

Stein 18,229

Arizona = 3,389,319 total votes

Trump 1,770,242
Harris 1,582,860

187,382 more votes (5.53%)

Other Candidates

Stein 18,319

Oliver 17,898

Nevada = 1,484,840 total votes

Trump 751,205

Harris 705,197

46,008 more votes (3.09%)

Other Candidates

Oliver 6,059

Skousen 2,754

Others 19,625

So from a NUMBERS standpoint, he only got 2.84 million more votes which is just under 1.5%. And among the SWING STATES which in truth did and does decide the election based on Electoral College concerns, he only received just under 2.4% more votes.

1.5% 

and

2.4% in the most important races.

Electoral College

Trump 312 57.99%

Harris 226 42.00%

86 more EC votes which is 15.99%. Yeah that is closer to "Decisive" however, if you look at the margins in the Swing States, some of those were pretty close, so much so, to call those "decisive" does not fly for me and many others (also someday we may find out Trump and Musk manipulated the results).

If Harris were to have won (or even a recount was done) on those closest 4 Swing States, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were all between .086%-2.19% difference, she gets 60 more EC votes to 286 and wins.

I mean it's semantics, "Decisive" vs "Marginal" but if  this win is considered "Decisive" than BIDEN's was a LANDSLIDE. Or better, Obama in both 2008 and 2012 were massive Landslides. But while those were, especially the 2 Obama wins were definitely DECISIVE without a doubt wins, this Trump win, was a lot closer than those. 

I mean taking just the Popular vote, Biden beat Trump by more than Trump beat Harris then. So, the Biden win was more DECISIVE and clear-cut.

The fact those Swing States were basically pick-ems and Dumpy won all 7 will likely always question how free and fair this election was.

Now we just need him to get removed and deal with Vance until January 2029.

2024 Albums of the Year

 

Rank Item

1 Falling Up/The Chilling Alpine Adventure - Falling Up Presents the Chilling Alpine Adventure

2 Bend Sinister - Mostly Great Things

3 Pepe Deluxe - Comix Sonix

4 SJS - A Sequence of Mistakes

5 Willow - Empathogen

6 Ugly - Twice Around the Sun [EP]

7 DK the Drummer - Lockers Volume 1

8 Pure Reason Revolution - Coming Up to Consciousness

9 Doom Flamingo - Measurements [EP]

10 Dirt Poor Robins - Firebird

11 The Pneumatic Transit - Forbidden Trinkets

12 Toehider - Toad Hirer [EP]

13 Menomena - The Insulation [EP]

14 Cloud Cult - Alchemy Creek

15 The Crooked Fiddle Band - The Free Wild Wind & the Songs of Birds

16 Circe Link & Christian Nesmith - Arcana

17 Persefone - Lingua Ignota: Part I [EP]

18 Ours - New Age Heroine/Encore [EP]

19 Barock Project - Time Voyager

20 Dirty Loops - Beagle [EP]

21 The Warning - Keep Me Fed

22 Meer - Wheels Within Wheels

23 In Vain - Solemn

24 Darren King - Temporal

25 Gavin Castleton - Pattern Breaker

26 Yannis & The Yaw - Lagos Paris London feat. Tony Allen [EP]

27 DJ Slow - Helsinki Mixtape (Continuous Mix)

28 Everything Everything - Mountainhead

29 Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding - Milton + esperanza

30 The Kind City - This

31 The Decemberists - As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again

32 Geordie Greep - The New Sound

33 Akphaezya - Fell Down the Veil

34 Local Natives - But I'll Wait for You

35 Chromeo - Adult Contemporary

36 Early Music Minnesota - Origin Stories: Popular Violin Sonatas Performed on Historical Instruments/PLATTI Sonatas for Three

37 The Radicant - We Ascend [EP]

38 Toehider - Space Famous [EP]

39 Vennart - Forgiveness & The Grain

40 The Mavericks - Moon & Stars

41 Lenny Kravitz - Blue Electric Light

42 Paul Meany - The Distance [EP]

43 Radical Face - Mixtape

44 Another Sky - Beach Day

45 Tuxedo - Tuxedo IV

46 Sound & Shape - Pillars of Creation

47 Jonathan Nesmith - High Volume One

48 Godspeed You Black Emperor - No title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead

49 Béla Fleck - Rhapsody In Blue

50 Radical Face - B-Sides and Rarities (2002-2011)

51 Toehider - rediscovery

52 Public Service Broadcasting - The Last Flight

53 Matt Page - Apocalypse Garden

54 Airlands - Strange Beast

55 Azure - Fym

56 Toehider - Children of the Sun 3 [EP]

57 Josh Rouse - Live in Utrecht

58 North Sea Echoes - Really Good Terrible Things

59 TWRP - Digital Nightmares

60 Kyros - Mannequin

61 Sykofant - Sykofant (Between Air and Water)

62 Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Of the Last Human Being

63 Amanda Palmer - New Zealand Survival Songs [EP]

64 Toehider - Stereo Night Ash: Music For Relaxation, Meditation, Decatastrophizing and Deep...[EP]

That's kind of the list. I may write something more about it and the whole AOTY process soon. I an Edit or new entry, unsure.

2020-2024 list coming. Also that is video #750 on YouTube for me.

When You Feel Like Your Taste is in No Man's Land

Been feeling this way for ages, but maybe more so relatively recently.

Bands I love, champion and try to promote, just don't do much or get a comparison that doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Pepe Deluxe is a big one. I get it, they are inspired by and similar to some of these genre-blending artists that are only appealing to a certain demographic.

Mr. Bungle of course. Thrash Metal meets Ska and Pop with even some quasi-rapping? and older styles (50's/60's lounge?) and Soundtracks.

Pepe Deluxe don't fit all of that exactly, but the DJ element and quirky style just doesn't work for many including progressive rock fans. Why? well, for one, many progressive rock fans are much like pop fans, rap fans, metal fans, etc..their tastes and open-mindedness and patience isn't all that high.

They like their prog a certain way, it has to have certain things, otherwise, no thanks.

Small Leaks Sink Ships, similarly, I find them brilliant and unique sounding. Their vocals are kind of odd and quirky, but not over the top weird. And the songs have a lot to discover. But progressive rock fans, even people who enjoy "indie" etc stuff, don't find them impressive and immediately engaging.

It's like so many of these music fans have short attention spans, so even if they might like their music with time, they'll never give their music enough time to know.

I suppose I am guilty of that somewhat as time is a valued commodity, and honestly, I am much more attached to Talk Radio and podcasts/YouTube than even investing a certain number of hours with many albums I have yet to hear or hear enough times.

But it doesn't change the frustration and just apathetic feeling about others liking music I love if it's not well known enough.

Even Bend Sinister. They are hardly super niche sounding, but, they're from Canada and they channel Classic Rock too much for some people. Maybe it's just there's too many other bands and albums for them to compete with, i dunno.

I really do want to try and make those shorts with clips for Facebook and Instagram and maybe TikTok. Although I don't think TikTok has the ability to add from a music database like Instagram and Facebook does. 

I wish there was a way to access the database of song clips online. And I sadly have concluded, it's only available on a Phone of course. So, what I likely will want to do is some combination of shooting a brief clip or image of my physical copies on my Phone and then upload it via the phone. I just am skeptical if a lot of super obscure music is available on there like Distrails or Brice Plays Drums or something. Maybe a lot of them are. A lot of Kevin Gilbert's music of course is not, but Toy Matinee and Thud are at least.

But finding a long if not complete list of the database of clips Instagram and Facebook have I don't know if is available. It might be worth posing to somewhere on Reddit actually.

Because I sort of envision doing like a Short/Story of a Song of the Day or Song from an Album of the Day at least. or more ideally, 5 great songs from 2005, etc and then include a pic or video showing the 5 albums (vinyl or cds likely) and then it plays a clip from all 5 in the short. Aka a REEL of course.

Ideally, that would work, but I'm thinking more practically, it'll just have to be 1 song from 1 album or just 1 song per clip. But if it works, so be it. Beggars can't be choosers.

Afa as all the Projects..MPAR Calendars..my immediate plan is to do 2008 and then 2009, likely 2 videos for each year given the length. And then take a break. 

I will then likely go back to the CD's A-Z.

And maybe, just maybe I will also start the Movies of the Year.

The Kevin Gilbert Shaming Tracks series will be anticipated. Massive deal, but a super labor of love much like the Thud Tracks. It will all be contingent on when the Shaming Multi-Disc arrives.

Yes, 2024 AOTY video is coming, probably next week. And there's a laundry list of albums that will be MIA.

And a 2025 Preview video. Unsure if the Calendars will be done again or at least as often. Maybe just QUARTERLY + anticipation (which felt like a lot of REHASH doing this year at times)

And the thing I proposed towards the end of the Prog Corner's Sunday stream last week of a Top Albums of the 2020's So Far now that we are 5 full years-into the decade,

I'll make a video for that, and if someone else doesn't do 1, I should create a topic on the DTF and maybe Reddit for it.

I can say though, my belief for years now, 2000's > 2010's > 2020's

And there's a big gap between the 2010's and 2020's. Granted, it's only 5 years in for the 2020's and we have 5 more years left. And of course there's a lot of 2020's albums I have yet to hear, that I may in the next 5 years+ anyway. But no, as of right now for my taste, the 2020's is a big dip in depth. I'd love to be wrong or off, but the 2020's could for me, very likely be the lightest decade for favorites and great albums since the 1960's actually. But we'll see in fairness. At the end of 2029 or in 2030 2031, I may not feel that way.

The Social part of YouTube continues to kind of get to me as well (FP's). 423 Subscribers and I make those epic MPAR and AOTY videos and barely anyone watches them. They still have value to me, even just for dictation. But it goes back to is YouTube fully worth my time and effort? 

I do still want to make a MPAR doc or doc series. Voiceover and using stock footage or pics, but you know instead of having the ambition of doing 5 year periods and whatnot. I should try and just make 1 video that just scratches the surface. Maybe talk about 5 albums only. Or maybe 10.

And I sadly MUST write a script for it.

But it's something that to put on expectations from a time frame standpoint is maybe not best. It could be made in a year, it could 10 or more years. I suppose if I actually didn't need to work. You know, the day I reach retirement in 19 years or whatever, I could at that point in 2044 or whatever, give the needed time to actually be able to create 1 given my lack of work hours obligation.

That's also assuming I'm alive and not suffering physically too much to be able to.

I dunno, maybe the Calendars and like a Playlist. Then maybe Ranking Videos actually. But if I do them, I guess I would limit them to a Top 10+ HM's maybe. Maybe that'll be it and maybe I go back to just writing about MPAR instead.

That was my original plan anyway. And maybe it's just in this fucking blog. No book deal, etc. Just in here for now. I dunno.

I just feel Modern progressive Art (and Atmospheric) Rock deserves a documented story, and I'm 1 of like 3 or 4 people who could tell it. And I would like it to be done and then out there to be discovered by current and future music listeners, 20, 50 even 100+ years from now. And if I don't do it soon, it may never be done (or it'll be done by someone in a few decades who was not around when it was happening).

Also I wish I could curate my own radio station. It may seem kind of silly, but i could sort of do a fantasy/fictional Playlist. Spotify and/or YouTube I suppose. I dunno, maybe Internet Radio could be in my future at some point like my friend Rai on Wild Dogs Radio. That fantasy of a Station that throughout every week, would play songs from a different year around the clock. Every hour, a different year, the following year, etc. Hypothetical, but it would be neat.

5-star Albums compared to RYM Average Rating

 The other day on the rateyourmusic subreddit, someone brought up how many of your "Masterpiece" albums (5-stars?) does rym have an avergae rating at 3.30 or lower? I only found 1, but actually I missed a couple. It just had me wondering what they all are rated at on rateyourmusic. Which of course is hardly the be-all-and-end-all and changes/gets updated regularly.

But it's interesting to look at.

I have approximately 58 5-star albums (a few on this list below I would lump-in together like KG's Nuts/Bolts + maudlin of the Well Bath/Leaving Your Body Map. And I really don't consider The Dear Hunter's The Color Spectrum 5-stars, but whatever, I did at 1 time anyway).

https://rateyourmusic.com/collection/SoundscapeMN/r5.0/1

4.27 The Beatles - Abbey Road (67,987)

4.19 Pink Floyd - Animals (54.146)

4.10 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (61,564)

4.00 Kevin Gilbert - Nuts (41)

4.00 Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick (15,463)

3.99 Genesis - Selling England by the Pound (20,229)

3.96 Genesis - Foxtrot (14,121)

3.91 Rush - Hemispheres (11,278)

3.86 Yes - Relayer (10,282)

3.86 Rush - A Farewell to Kings (10,107)

3.84 Kevin Gilbert - Bolts (39)

3.83 maudlin of the Well (5,504)

3.78 maudlin of the Well (7.048)

3.77 Queen - A Night at the Opera (21,172)

3.74 Marillion - Clutching at Straws (2,974)

3.74 John Arch - A Twist of Fate (309)

3.72 Pain of Salvation - Remedy Lane (3,730)

3.71 Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element I (3,062)

3.71 Jellyfish - Spilt Milk (2,849)

3.69 Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1,552)

3.69 Between the Buried and Me - Colors (8,444)

3.67 The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading (2,056)

3.67 Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (5,146)

3.67 Call Florence Pow - These Are the Plans (39)

3.66 Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior (3,391)

3.66 Kevin Gilbert - Thud (244)

3.65 Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever (1,395)

3.65 Marillion - Marbles (1,787)

3.65 Marillion - Brave (1,999)

3.65 Angra - Holy Land (1,752)

3.63 Dream Theater - Images and Words (13,634)

3.61 King's X - Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (1,254)

3.61 dredg - El Cielo (3,044)

3.61 Dream Theater - Awake (8,583)

3.58 Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight (1,245)

3.58 Jerry Goodman & Jan Hammer - Like Children (261)

3.56 The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum: The Complete Collection (1,188)

3.54 Yes - Drama (4,278)

3.53 Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (3,694)

3.53 Galactic Cowboys - Space in Your Face (247)

3.52 Ours - Distorted Lullabies (366)

3.52 Menomena - I Am the Fun Blame Monster (1,480)

3.51 The Stiletto Formal - ¡Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta, Fiesta! (76)

3.51 Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming of the True (341)

3.50 Coheed and Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (4,123)

3.49 Toy Matinee - Toy Matinee (351)

3.47 The Receiving End of Sirens - Between the Heart and the Synapse (792)

3.47 Kaddisfly - Set Sail the Prairie (333)

3.46 Jack Lancaster & Robin Lumley (98)

3.42 Soundscape - Grave New World (24)

3.41 Ours - Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy) (188)

3.40 The River Empires - The Empires (Epilogue) (171)

3.39 Small Leaks Sink Ships - Face Yourself, and Remove Your Sandals (38)

3.38 Apes & Androids - Blood Moon (127)

3.35 Pepe Deluxe - Queen of the Wave (1,264)

3.20 Bend Sinister - Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers (18)

3.18 Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Terror and Everything After (60)

2.88 Soundscape - Discovery (18)

I have 3x's as many 4.5-star albums on rym, which I may try doing the same.

Modern progressive Art Rock Videos, Stage 2 (year-by-year)

 MPAR History Videos Gameplan:

1990's Origin Part 1

1990's Origin Part 2

2000-2024?

1960's Origin

1970's Origin Part 1

1970's Origin Part 2

1980's Origin Part 1

1980's Origin Part 2

Modern progressive art rock Subgenres Umbrella terms

----------------------------

Modern progressive art rock

----------------------------

art rock

art pop

art folk

art metal

alternative prog/alt-prog

indie prog (per Indie Rock/Indie Pop/Indie Folk)

college prog (per College rock)

new prog

nu-prog

indietronica

dance punk

progressive post-hardcore

prog adjacent

prog related

crossover prog

atmospheric rock

atmospheric pop

atmospheric folk

progressive pop/prog-pop

chamber rock

chamber pop

baroque rock

baroque pop

post rock

post metal

jazzy post-rock

math rock

math metal

math pop

progressive folk

progressive r&b

progressive dream pop

progressive shoegaze

progressive power-pop

progressive psych

neo psychedelia

Psych pop

Psych folk

Psych electronic

Stoner Prog

Modern prog

Modern art rock

Modern art pop

Modern art folk

Modern conceptual rock

Modern art pop

Retro art pop