The Toad's Burrow

      Am I doing another review of a Conscious Hip Hop album that I almost certainly shouldn't be doing? Yes. Will I almost certainly just say that I like the instrumentals and that I'd vibe with it in a car? Yes. Will I ever play this album again? Almost certainly not. Was this recommended by my friend Sweaty? Yes. Is this my track-by-track review of it? Of course. Changes of Atmosphere - Dela Changes of Atmosphere (Intro) [feat. Liza Garza] - N/A It's a spoken word intro I'm not rating this. I Say Peace [feat. J-live] - 50/100 The flute and horns are cool? I'm not sure why I'm doing a track-by-track review of this album I already know I won't have anything to say. Is it a copout to give every song a 50? Live The Life [feat. J.Sands] - 60/100 This track feels like it has a little bit more energy than the last one, I'm kind of digging the small sung outro. My Ni@#a [feat. Elzhi] - 50/100 I have come to the conclusion that I really just don't have str...

      The Scott Pilgrim series certainly has an interesting legacy, from people not understanding the real point of the movie, to the discourse that it has spun, especially with everyone's favourite song  Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Ruined a Whole Generation of Women   which only highlights the issue. I mean just look at the comments, I used to like the song because I thought it was catchy as a kid, but looking at the comments that are still been floating to the top of that video show that people are mostly just using it as an area to vent any and all frustrations about women. Which is ironic because like you'll see comments talking about how someone had an abusive ex, or something about pedophilia, and you just ask yourself if they even watched the original series, because Ramona did all of her exes dirty, but that's basically it. Why am I discussing all of this on a review of a Netflix adaptation? Well that's because the fans really have not changed at all. ...

      Am I just reviewing artists that I saw live this year? Yes obviously, because it was one of the best decisions I made this year. I only found this album because I was checking the top albums of 2023 on AOTY (to see if people were giving HELLMODE  by Jeff Rosenstock the love it deserved), and I stumbled on this album which was receiving some super high ratings. Intrigued, I went on a walk and put on this album, and while it was a bit of a challenging review at first (I mean it still is if you don't like hyperpop you won't like this album) it grew on me considerably. Then, I bought 20 dollar tickets to see Underscores on a whim, and it was one of the best decisions I could make. I mean I'm genuinely impressed by them as a whole, shades of pop-punk, but absolutely drench it in autotune and vocoders, and add a zoomer touch and what comes out is a surprisingly fantastic artist. And with that introduction out of the way, here is my track-by-track review of Wallsocket...

      Look, I've already listened to this album, many many times and all I have to say is that it's fantastic. I'm not sure if it's one of my favourite albums of all time, because right now I do still stand on the hill that WORRY. by Jeff Rosenstock is the best pop-punk album ever released, but I'd be lying if it wasn't closing the gap these days. I mean I literally saw them perform this entire album live for it's 10th anniversary and I can tell you it was fantastic, I was practically singing every single lyric as loud as I could and I even caught a guitar pic from one of the guitarists. It was a fantastic night and it really made me appreciate just how good this album is and how many people it's touched. So when my friend CJ recommended this album I jumped at the chance, because this album really is special, and as I've grown older it only resonates with me even more. The only major gripe I have with it is that if you aren't a fan of pop-punk th...

      I'm re-reading my review of Rick and Morty  and how in the world did I let that come through? I've been saying throughout my re-watch that I like what they've done with Jerry, but re-watching this episode, yeah Jerry's become better, but realistically the character I like the most was Beth, both Beth's actually. I think if I had to define this episode, I think I'd have to say that this season really feels like a season five rehash. I mean much of it is spent without portal travel, and there are some mixed results, but it really did feel forced, why couldn't Rick fix it exactly?     I mean I get that he's working on it, but surely the smartest man on Earth would remember how to create portal travel, or was it Rick Prime that invented the central finite curve, because he had a green portal too. I don't know, I mean it's good that they're trying new things, I think it's interesting for them to try their hand at the horror genre with ep...

      Rick and Morty season five is where the grooves feel just that much better again. I mean just look at Rickmurai Jack , while it was preceded by one of the most random episodes involving two crows, it genuinely was one of my favourite episodes of Rick and Morty ever. I mean fans have been waiting years, for any sort of confirmation involving Evil Morty, and while not everything is confirmed yet, it's good to know that he did find a way to escape the crushing grip of Rick. I mean not everything about this episode is amazing, it is the incest baby season, and it's clear even the other Rick's never let this dimension live it down.     I mean Amortycan Grikfitti  isn't the best episode, but this season genuinely has consistently great episodes for you to enjoy. Are you saying you didn't enjoy Mr. Nimbus and his oddly flamboyant behaviour. He even mentions Diane for all you degenerates (me) interested in Rick's wife and who he was prior to become the jaded ...

      I'm going to be honest, this is the part of the show where Rick and Morty  started blending for me. It's not that it's bad, it's just that eventually you so many episodes of the show that some just pale in comparison to others. I mean this one has Jerry back, but at the same time it's also just like, he's still kind of annoying in this role. I mean he surprisingly becomes more respected as the seasons go on, and I kind of dig it, here everyone still mostly makes fun of him. And also it has Elon Tusk.     I mean it's not like anything's become noticeably worse, it's just that my two favourite episode out of this favourite season are the first and the last one. While I think Morty is a giant pussy for just using the crystal in the dumbest way possible, Rick going through multiple phoenix protocols was so funny to me. I guess I can be amused with funny yet dumb Hitler jokes. As for Star Mort Rickturn of the Jerri , well it's pretty obvious wha...

      Let's get this straight, pretty much the only thing I disliked in this season was Jerry, and by a pretty good margin too. I have long maligned about how abhorrent I found the entire debacle the Jerry-Beth divorce was. I mean he's pathetic, but eventually you reach such pathetic levels that it becomes almost unbearable, and no one, not even their most ardent supporters, want to see them try and climb out of the whole again. You need little victories, and Jerry's divorce was just an opportunity for people to laugh at him at almost any instance, and it was hardly focused on either, so once they did end up getting back together, it didn't feel like much changed.     Otherwise though, this season is fantastic. I mean come on, I know people hate Pickle Rick , and for good reason too I think the people who like to yell Pickle Rick or think it's the funniest thing are annoying as well, but I do have to admit I thought the action sequences in that episode were...

     Once again re-watching Rick and Morty  has made me feel old again. I distinctly remember the beginning and the ending of both of these seasons. I'm a bit embarrassed to say it's how I discovered Hurt by Johnny Cash, but we can't all be perfect can we? Looking back, I think I'm in love with this season, I mean I'm not the craziest fan about Interdimensional Cable 2 or Big Trouble in Little Sanchez, but only two dud episodes in what is a fantastic season is pretty great. If I had to describe this season, I'd say it's better than the first one, and it's where the show starts finally coming into it's own.     Look, it doesn't really begin expanding or building on a bunch of lore that fans have come to love from the series, but what it does it really find it's voice. I mean I think they finally realized what they have in Summer, and while there is a lot of Rick and Morty, the show is finally realizing the potential they have in exploring oth...

      If I had to describe Dominic Fike, I would say I only remember him being that character in Euphoria  that I hardly remember, and that he sang a song that went on way too long in the TV show. Other than that, I think he looks like Timo Cruz from Coach Carter, and I still think Timo Cruz is still cooler. Regardless, I do actually like two, maybe three songs from Fike, and considering how he's trying to make himself as this "accessible indie artist" I'd hope that would be the case. I thought Hey Blondie  from the Barbie movie soundtrack was actually a pretty cute track, I have a soft spot for that one, Babydoll is a genuinely catchy track from him though, and despite being so short that song's been stuck in my mind for longer than it should have. Oh, he was also in Photo ID  with Remi Wolf but frankly I don't think he added too much to the song. He also did that decent cover of Bags  by Clairo, but reaslitically all I remember Fike for is making sho...