James Blake - "Coming Back (ft. SZA)"

From James Blake's exquisite fifth album Friends That Break Your Heart is the lovely duet with SZA called "Coming Back." It's a delicate track about trying to restart a relationship that ended poorly. 

Doja Cat Ft. SZA - "Kiss Me More"

Doja Cat teams up with SZA for this fun, flirty, and breezy track. They play off each other very well. This should be a huge summer hit.

 

SZA - "Good Days"

 Beautiful new track from SZA that is a preview of what to expect from her follow-up to Ctrl. Her voice flutters over muted beats, dreamy guitars, and subtle synths. The song seems influenced by a relationship in flux, along with musings on life during COVID.

Jam of the Day: SZA - "Prom"

From her amazing new record CTRL, SZA throws down this smooth pop track. You really need to check out the album, as it blurs all the lines between pop, R&B, rock, and electronic music. A true gem.

2016 Favorite Songs (Numbers 50-41)

Once again, it is that time for end of the year lists. It was a really good year for music, which made it even more difficult to come up with my choices. This week I will be counting down to my favorite song of the year. Here are my selections for 2016, starting with numbers 50-41:

50. Blaqk Audio - "First to Love"



Since Depeche Mode still refuses to up the BPMs on their songs, we have to get our dance floor slammers from Blaqk Audio.

49. M83 - "Solitude"



Though the album Junk pretty much lives up to its title, this track is a gorgeous, cinematic stunner.

48. Underworld - "Low Burn"



Love the build up on this track; it's a great driving song.

47. Pantha du Prince - "Frau Im Mond, Sterne Laufen"



The only way to describe this song is techno lullaby.

46. FFX - "Little Boy"



Thumpingly good bass track from German duo FFX.

45. Deftones - "Prayers/Triangles"



Another amazing single from Deftones that perfectly meshes the atmospheric with the pummeling.

44. Braille Face - "Backwards/Medicated"



Haunting bedroom pop track from Braille Face.

43. David Bowie - "Lazarus"



David Bowie left this earth a better place with his music. His final album was truly brilliant, and this lead single was quite magical; a fitting rumination on aging and death.

42. Rihanna ft. SZA - "Consideration"



Sometimes simple is best. Over a skeleton beat and minimal musical backing, Rihanna and SZA's verses flow and intertwine with one another.

41. Clams Casino ft. Kelela - "A Breath Away"



Gorgeous future R&B from Clams Casino, featuring the emotive vocals of Kelela.

Jam of the Day: SZA - "Two AM"

Gorgeous reworking of the track "Come and See Me" from Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.

Jam of the Day: Rihanna ft. SZA - "Consideration"

While I think Anti is a massive mess of a record, this track, featuring the vocals of SZA, is pure brilliance, and makes me wish the album held more tracks like it.

Non-Sequiturs

I'd be damn proud of that belly too.

Leather gar daddy.

Sniff.

Abs.

Lovely fur.

Wouldn't mind waking up to that.

Beefy man.

Tatts and stomach.

Ditto.

So darn cute.

Wow.

Woof.

Damn.

Hey Daddy.

Grrrrrr.

Beefy lad.

Massive chesticles.

Belly and bulge.

Damn.

Woofy.

Speechless.

Beautiful pic.

Don't piss hunky dad off.

Yum.

Sexy.

Seriously, what is the point of reviewing a Nickleback album?

We are nothing more than what we choose to reveal.

Coffee and chicken fried rice are not a good combination.

To all the sports fans out there, and especially the guy sitting next to us at wings the other night, they can't hear you when you scream at the television.  Just so you know.

What's the difference between Kirk Cameron and Jesus? Jesus exited while his career was still hot.

Ha!

There are some people that will always be tough nuts to crack.

As much as I love and respect Annie Lennox and Bette Midler, it strikes me as the height of hypocrisy for them to lecture younger female artists on using sexuality in their work when they used it so effectively early in their careers.

I don't try to convert anyone to atheism, and I certainly don't include daily mentions of it in my FB posts or any other conversation. I would appreciate it if everyone else would do the same with their religious beliefs.

Evolution is a good thing.

Although SoundCloud does try my patience sometimes, it really is a good way to discover new music.

LOL.

Moby may be slammed a lot, but he knows how to make some beautiful ambient music.

I dislike it when someone mentions that a band sounds like x, then someone else chimes in and says they sound like z, which is a bargain basement scum sucker band that only got recognition for aping band x.

After having lunch with Andrew's grandmother at her assisted living community, it got me thinking about the day when Andrew and I will need the same sort of care. I am hoping by that time, there will be more gay-friendly, or even gay only places for us to consider.

I hate that I am missing Micky Friedmann at Xion in a couple of weekends. Oh well, at least we will be in San Francisco hearing Abel spin.

I'm a lumbercat and I'm ok.

I don't like to post about political things or anything truly controversial on FB or any social media. It doesn't mean I don't care about those issues or that I don't have an opinion about them. Most people these days don't know how to politely debate issues and I certainly don't feel like getting wrapped up in some shit storm because of it.

I have never seen a Jurassic Park movie.

There is a special wing in hell for people who don't get out of the way when you come through an entrance to a building/hallway/floor, exit an elevator, or exit a subway car. Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Way.

Someone I have chatted with on FB for years recently passed and I never had the chance to meet him. It's amazing how you can be affected by the death of someone you have never actually met. He was a sweet man. I hope he is at peaceful rest.

Confidence is attractive, cockiness is not.

Your cute for the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"Day after day I'm waiting
Sitting around here poised and ready
Why do I feel so numb?
Hear me now, still when I feel most lonely
There will be people all around me
Shuffling past my eyes
So I live in my head
Regrets

Leave 'em on the floor, wrap 'em in an old black sheet
I'm gonna set it all ablaze, watch it burn to ash and dust
Looking for a sign, karma's coming back for us
I was waiting on you, waiting on you

The leap, leap, leap
Don't look, don't look down
Leap
(Ooh hurry up don't miss your chance)
Leap
(Time is running out the clock ain't gon' stop for no man)
Leap
For you, for me

Night after night I'm suffering
Months have gone by it seems like dozens
Why do I feel so numb?
Hear me now
If you're the man you claim to be
Why do you drain the the life right out of me?
Never make a move, never make a change
I needed, I needed, I needed, to make a shift of faith."

Tinashe
"The Leap"

"I had a dream last night you gave me a ring
With a fucking castle on it
And a diamond on top that's all I really wanted
Whoa oh
Whoa
Until two aliens came and chopped both our heads off
With samurai swords
At least we died together, that's what I thought
I woke up huggin' leather, am I out of pocket?

She ain't got no soul she ain't got no heart
Love will stunt your growth
Love will make it hard to stay sober
So hard to stay sober

I'mma be fine anyway
I'mma be cool
I'mma keep calm
I'mma be right anyway
Better than you, better than her
I'mma be old anyway
I'mma be on/off anyway
I'mma be on/off anyway

I been through like six Swishers
In one day with one grape and one blueberry
What would my mother say? She want me to be married
And happy and whole not high and alone
Whoa, that Xanax make you trip, I still ain't got no whip
I still ain't got no friends
At least I got my family, bullshit
My daddy still can't stand me
That hate don't make you hard
Hate'll make you old
Haters gone too far
Hate is all I know
And I just can't stay sober
I can't stay sober

You should see the look on your face

Just can't stay sober
I'm trying to stay alive
I can't stay sober
I'm just trying to stay alive
I can't stay sober, I
Alive
I don't know man."

SZA
"Sobriety"

Appealing Things

"Yellow Flicker Beat"
Desperate Journalist
Pianos Become Teeth
Meeting Andrew's Grandmother
Going to San Francisco
Unseasonably warm weather

Annoying Things

Driving for four hours in a steady rain
People who never listen
People who think they are funny, but aren't
Territorial cats

Jam of the Day: SZA - '"Sobriety"

Languid yet funky track from SZA that shows her working her dusky vocals to perfection. Produced by Thundercat, whose slinky bass line is heard throughout, with assistance from Chris Calor, Cody, LoveDragon, Sounwave & Ifan Dafydd, this track makes me forget how much of disappointment her debut album was, and how much potential she has. Seems like SZA is back on track.

Videos of the Week

It has been a rough re-entry back into the real world after the wedding and Bear Week; these videos made it better:



Post-apocalyptic video from alt-rockers Spoon.



Post-apocalyptic appears to be a theme this week, with another setting taking place in this Lykke Li clip.



Moody clip from SZA which is slightly NSFW.



Segways and pogo sticks feature in this heist clip from UK pop-house producer Duke Dumont.



Stylish clip from buzz band Merchandise.



Sleek, digital animation highlights this clip for RL Grime's bass heavy track.



Watch a sinister dance rivalry unfold in this clip from Magic Hands.



Stunning and striking clip from Alt-J focuses on a man running through the forest with his body riddled with arrows.

Non-Sequiturs

Leather Daddy.

Beautiful eyes, and that fur.

Woof.

Sunning that chest.

Damn.

Beautiful tatt.

This man is so damn gorgeous.

Drool.

Woof.

Yum.

Pretty darn perfect.

Sup.

Nice abs.

Nice belly.

Grrrr.

Sigh.

Big slab o' man.

Amazing furry chest.

Nature boy.

Lick.

I don't follow rugby, but I'd follow him anywhere.

Damn, I want abs like that.

And this.

So. Damn. Cute.

See, I told ya he was cute.

Haaaaay!

So. Damn. Hot.

How about another one of him?

Love the look in his eyes.

Hot bubba.

Sexy.

Burly.

Woof, grrrr, and stuff.

Fuuuuuur.

Yummy.

Love his belly.

Amazing body.

Lick.

So cute.

Sexy man.

God, I love spring.

Astrology is such horseshit.

I feel very fortunate to live in a city where I have access to gay doctors.

This cracked me up.

Obviously I don't follow sports, but I would watch rugby just to look at James Haskell.

Coachella starts tomorrow. I miss going, but I still remember the last year I went being so bad that it still clouds my mind.

"When you've had the taste of silver, pennies just won't do."

Some how I have caught up with all of the Mad Men episodes, heading into the 7th and final season. While I haven't always liked where they have taken the characters, it has always been a riveting show.

I love these.

I just read an article which said that TomorrowWorld, the giant EDM festival held outside Atlanta (sister festival to Belgium's TomorrowLand), brought over $81 million in revenue to the state. That is as much as the NCAA Final Four tournament that was held in Atlanta

I really dislike cold weather of any kind.

21 years ago this week I moved to Atlanta. We've had our ups and downs, but she has become my home.

Patiently waiting for my leg hair to grow back after having my tattoo done; sigh.

People have gotten so damn lazy, they don't even Google something anymore.

Star Wars sunshade.  I want!

I am not into role play.

Usually when I see "consultant" on a resume, and it is not attached to a firm or company, I automatically assume they are unemployed.

The only thing I don't like about spring is that my office building thinks it is still winter and the heat keeps coming on.

Yes, yes he does.

Based on the new music I have heard from M83, they are going to be putting out the soundtrack from St. Elmo's Fire any day now.

Seriously, you have no pictures on your phone for Scruff? Whatever Mary.

I don't understand people you rarely talk with or interact with tell you they miss you.  Um, we never did much of anything together; what is there to miss?

It still amazes me how many people take my posts on FB so seriously.

Your cute for the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"When I couldn't see you for the wall
What was that you said?
What was that you said, before you called?

And when I couldn't catch you for the fall
What was that you said?
What was that you said?

"Nothing hurts this much"

But I've seen the way
That bodies lie
And bodies tend to break

And I've been away
I've been away too long
Too long to be afraid

But you know
What you know is better
Is brighter

And you know
You know
What you know is better
Is brighter

And this is where we were
When I showed you the dark
Inside of me, in spite of me
On a bench in the park
You said to me:

"This is not you.
This is not you..
This is not you!"

But I've seen the way
That bodies lie
And bodies tend to break

And I've been away
I've been away too long
And I don't know a better place

But you know
What you know is better
Is brighter

And you know
You know
What you know is better
Is brighter

And this is where we were
When I showed you the dark
Inside of me, in spite of me
On a bench in the park

And this is where we are
In your bed, in my arms
Outside of me
In spite of, 'we'

I showed you the dark
And you said to me:

"You know
What you know is better
Is brighter"

"And you know, you know
What you know is better
Is brighter."

Future Islands
"Light House"

"I don't have to leave anymore
What I have is right here
Spend my nights and days before
Searching the world for what's right here

Underneath and unexplored
Islands and cities I have looked
Here I saw
Something I couldn't over look

I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore

See what I've done
That bridge is on fire
Going back to where I've been
I'm froze by desire
No need to leave

Where would I be
IF this were to go under
It's a risk I'd take
I'm froze by desire
As if a choice I'd make

And I am yours now
So now I don't ever have to leave
I've been found out
So now I'll never explore

So now I'll never explore."

The xx
"Islands"

Appealing Things

Aquilo
Calamari Fritti
My SoundCloud page
Future Islands
Game of Thrones back on TV
SZA

Annoying Things

Mad Men ending after this season
Being tired for no reason
Humid gyms
Hung bottoms
Shots in the butt