"You should be sad" by Halsey

Halsey released this song recently and it has been stuck in my head for the past few days. I guess it's catchy. The opening hook has a country twang to it. Not real country, but what a girl from New Jersey imagines all country songs sound like. The same Jersey girl who might depict line-dancing bars as cowboy sex parties in her music video. Wishful thinking! I like it, though.

The lyrics struck a chord. They're written like a letter. Some of the lyrics aren't pretty - they aren't the sort of things you say in a song. The words don't exactly rhyme - some rhyme in an incidental, unconventional way. Or the rhymes are too obvious, i.e., rhyming "sad" and "mad." You'll notice the title is just a statement. You should be sad. The operative word being "should." Implying that the person she's singing to isn't sad. Probably doesn't even think what they did was hurtful. And that really tells you everything about this situation. I remember someone asking on Facebook once about what pagans thought happened to bad people if they didn't believe in the concept of Hell as a place where people are punished for their misdeeds. I think my response was something along the lines of "we hope justice gets dealt in the end but we're aware that it might not...and we make peace with that fact." It's not comforting. But I'm pretty sure it's the closest I can get to the Truth. I spend a lot of time thinking about karma, even though I know karma doesn't work the way most people think it does. Honestly - and this is what I've struggled to grasp for the past three decades - is that most of the time, even when you tell someone that they've hurt you, their first reaction isn't to feel guilty. Their first reaction is usually to justify it. To invalidate how you feel because "they didn't intend to." And that's when you realize that you aren't looking for an apology, you just wish they felt a little bad about it. Knowing this and seeing this ugly shadow rise up in my misdeeds, I've tried to cultivate the art of a sincere apology. Of understanding the pain I've caused before I even say the words. Even though I'm not sure I've ever received a genuine apology myself. There have been times I've been tempted to write a letter that says much of the same things Halsey put into her lyrics. But I have doubts about how much good it would do. No matter how impactful the letter I wrote would be, there's no guarantee that the person reading it would even comprehend what they were reading. Sometimes, I wonder if the guy Halsey is writing these songs about knows they're about him. But then I remember - even if he does, the words are falling on deaf ears.

I'm gonna start this out by saying (By saying)

I really meant well from the start

Take a broken man right in my hands

And then put back all his parts

But you're not half the man you think that you are

And you can't fill the hole inside of you with money, girls, and cars

I'm so glad I never ever had a baby with you

'Cause you can't love nothing unless there's something in it for you

One of my latest hobbies as I dive deeper into astrology (among other things witchcrafty and spiritual) is watching a few of my favorite astrologers give the forecast for the changing cosmos. It's part of self-learning. I watch each of them, compare notes, see if what they're saying matches what the others are saying. There's variation in interpretation but there shouldn't be glaring inconsistencies. Usually, I'm listening to the same forecast two or three times - which I consider a good thing. Sometimes, the way one astrologer frames their ideas resonates more. Makes things click into place faster. Lately, I've been thinking I should also write down how the energy feels and my impressions of the current state of affairs before watching these videos. Because - usually - the forecast matches what I've been feeling build up in my own body, in my own mind. I'll notice if I feel more sluggish or if I'm having trouble focusing - and I'd like to correlate that data to what's happening in the biweekly astrological forecast. Use myself as an occult test subject, if you will. Anyway, we just had the Aquarius New Moon on Friday and all the astrologers said the same thing. A shift has definitely happened - everyone can feel it. But the inability to see it in the physical is causing frustration and impatience. There's also an uncomfortable square between Mars in Sagittarius and Venus/Neptune in Pisces. It's a feeling like there should be more happening right now than what is. We should be seeing more change in our world but everything is still static. Infuriatingly static. And we're getting frustrated because - even internally - we feel like we should've made more progress. We should've broken these old patterns already. We made the decision that things were going to be different in 2020 - Why is everything still the same?! But, I was watching another favorite tarot reader and she stated the uncomfortable truth about times like these - when it seems like nothing is changing, everything is. It's the calm before the storm. So, if you feel like a rubber band about to snap, take a breath - that's normal and everyone is feeling it. Uranus only went direct a couple weeks ago - he hasn't had a chance to get up to speed yet. Be patient.

Fun fact: A couple years ago, Halsey tweeted that she wanted to date Evan Peters. Guess who she's dating now? Yep....Evan Peters. That's some hella good manifestation magic. I wonder if that would work for me. Hey Universe, I want to be married to ...... who? Sebastian Stan? Henry Cavill? I don't even know if those guys are into sex magick....suppose it doesn't matter, since I'm not single anyway. Although, it is kind of surprising/disappointing that my celebrity crushes are actually somewhat close to my age now. Like everyone, I still feel very much like a teenager and, thus, I assume all my celebrity crushes are too old for me. Time is strange magic.

"You should be sad" Video

"Elvis Presley" by Elvis Presley

Ranking: #56

Original Release Date: 23 March 1956

Genre: Rock and Roll

"Elvis Presley" was the inaugural album by - you guessed it - Elvis Presley (affectionately known as the King of Rock and Roll). This album is notable, not only because it is the first album of possibly one of the most prolific musicians in contemporary pop culture, but because it also marked rock & rolls entry into the domination of the airwaves. Elvis' self-titled album spent 10 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts, the first rock & roll album ever to do so. His music would define the genre and he is still well loved by fans (like myself) today.

Let's take a look at what was happening in 1956. At this point, it's no secret that Elvis was heavily influenced by the blues music being created by African-American artists of the time. Not so coincidentally, 1956 also marked a critical year in the Civil Rights Movement. In November 1956, the Supreme Court would rule that the Alabama bus segregation laws were unconstitutional in the landmark Browder v. Gayle case. From the end of 1955 until this ruling, anti-segregationists held the Montgomery bus boycott, the initial act of social protest that would evolve into the Civil Rights Movement. This protest would spark other bus boycotts in the South and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s involvement would elevate him as a leader for social justice. Unfortunately, this would put him in danger and in January of 1956, Dr. King's home was bombed - just one of many attempts that would be made on his life until his assassination in 1968. He was far from the only public figure targeted - Nat Cole was attacked in April while he was performing onstage in Birmingham in a racially charged incident. And the first attempts to integrate public schools are met with venomous opposition throughout the South.

Blue Moon (moon, moon, moon, Blue Moon)

You saw me standing alone (moon, moon, moon, Blue Moon)

Without a dream in my heart (moon, moon, moon, Blue Moon)

Without a love of my own

In other news (and perhaps as a distraction from the events of the day), the first soap opera, "As the World Turns," premiers on network television. Cecil B. DeMille's masterpiece, "The Ten Commandments" is released in the United States. And the Suez Canal crisis leads to war between Israel and Egypt. Other than that, it was a big year in the world of sports and it was an especially big year for Elvis Presley. Throughout 1956, practically every single he released became a hit both domestically and internationally. He was making the rounds on the talk show circuit, to include his famous performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." And he also made his film debut in "Love Me Tender." Nope, not a bad year at all for a 21-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee.

I wanted to take a look at both Elvis' natal chart as well as the chart for the album release. In this day and age, we don't blink twice at a 21-year-old being famous in an instant - between Disney Channel stars and the glut of celebrity children, it's bound to happen. But in 1956, Elvis meteoric rise was almost unheard of. Elvis' birthday is 8 January (he shares this birthday with our last featured artist, David Bowie), which makes him a Capricorn. When his debut album was released, the ascendant and Uranus were directly opposite his Sun, indicating a major shift in how he would perceived. Uranus was also square his natal Uranus - squares are known for being rough, but they can also be a sign that events happen suddenly, without warning. Another interesting thing to note is that when this album was released, the North Node was conjunct his ascendant in Sagittarius, an indication that he was just following his destined path. Speaking of Destiny, his North Node, his Moon, and his Saturn were all in Aquarius. Revolutionizing the music scene wasn't just his Destiny, he may have felt it was his duty as well. Elvis' midheaven is in Virgo, which isn't much of a surprise. A Virgo MC, being ruled by Mercury, usually points to a person who is detail-oriented and highly skilled at self-learning. Elvis didn't have formal musical training, and mostly learned and played music by ear. Ironically, he said music was the only class he ever failed. But he loved music as a child and he'd seek out ways to listen to it, frequenting shows at local blues venues (something good boys didn't do in the segregated South) and spending time at record stores to hear the new releases.

This was a fun album to listen to, mostly because I grew up an Elvis fan. My dad would always remind me that he was in the 10th Mountain Division when he served in the Army, which is one of the units my dad was in when I was a kid. It's not a long album and it doesn't even have most of the hits people can point to as being Elvis. But it was an important album - there isn't a pop or rock musician today that can say they weren't influenced by Elvis. If they say they aren't, they're lying because they probably wouldn't exist without this album. I can't even imagine what music would sound like today if this album was never released. We'd probably be listening to elevator music or untuned violins or something like that. Oh wait....

"Blue Moon" Video

"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars" by David Bowie

Ranking: #35 (but it's higher on my personal list)

Original Release Date: 16 June 1972

Genre: Glam Rock

"The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars" was a concept album that wasn't really a concept album. Essentially, it was pieced together from pre-recorded songs, with a loose theme behind it. Most of the story was written after the album was released, but Ziggy Stardust was a bisexual alien rockstar. David Bowie had built a reputation as having an androgynous persona and Ziggy was an extension of that. Ziggy Stardust became a character that David Bowie played when he performed, because that was his style. He totally immersed himself in the characters he created for his music. Ziggy was inspired by Vince Taylor, Legendary Stardust Cowboy, and the fashion imaginings of Kansai Yamamoto. The story goes that Ziggy Stardust is Earth's Musical Messiah. With only 5 years to live and complete his mission, he gathers a following of disciples. Ziggy meets his end on stage, being torn apart by the Infinites while he performs for his fans. A fitting end for Rock'n'Roll Space Jesus. I can't imagine it any other way.

In the Year of our Lord 1972, the world was in its usual turmoil. It was a particularly bloody year in partisan terrorism. In the United Kingdom, the Irish Civil War raged on and in June of 1972, a couple of British soldiers died after stepping on land mines planted by the IRA and gun fights ensued throughout Ireland. The fighting results in negotiations between the IRA and the British Government. More deaths, more fighting until an agreed cease-fire is reached. Unfortunately, after the implementation date of the cease-fire, the infamous Bloody Friday bombings occurred in July. Over 20 bombs exploded in the span of 80 minutes, killing 9 people and injuring over 100 more. This was followed by Bloody Sunday, when 14 unarmed Catholic protesters were gunned down by the British Army. The Troubles, as the Northern Ireland Conflict is affectionately known as, carried on until 1998. I knew a guy from Ireland who grew up during these times. He recalled being in a pub with his friends when the IRA walked in, announced that any Catholics should leave, and then shot up the place. He, being Catholic (and not an idiot), obviously left. I know that story makes the IRA look bad, but the Loyalists were just as bad, possibly even worse because 85% of Loyalist casualties were civilians. All this is still very relevant, by the way, especially as Brexit looms over the UK. The hard border that resulted from Northern Ireland joining the UK was one of the aggravating factors during the Troubles and Brexit may result in the loss of the current open border situation. It should also be noted that the majority of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, making the reunification of Ireland an actual possibility. With a younger generation in charge - a generation that grew up during the Conflict and is less concerned with religious differences - it's a possibility that seems even more likely as the British government keeps bumbling the negotiations.

There's a starman waiting in the sky

He'd like to come and meet us

But he thinks he'd blow our minds

There's a starman waiting in the sky

He's told us not to blow it

Cause he knows it's all worthwhile

He told me:

Let the children lose it

Let the children use it

Let all the children boogie

Outside of the United Kingdom wasn't much better. The US was still embroiled in the Vietnam War (and it is not going well) but this year will mark the withdrawal of the last ground troops in Vietnam. Oh....and the Watergate Scandal broke, which ultimately led to Richard Nixon being impeached and resigning in disgrace. Three Arab gunmen opened fire at an airport in Tel Aviv, killing 26 people. Then, in September, an Arab gunman murdered 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. And deadly earthquakes hit Turkey, Iraq, and Nicaragua, killing thousands. Clearly, we needed Ziggy Stardust (or some other savior, alien or otherwise) during 1972. But it wasn't all bad. This was also the year that Martin Scorsese's iconic film, "The Godfather" was released. Don McLean's classic song, "American Pie" held the number 1 spot in the US for four weeks. And HBO launched as the first subscription cable services. On the day "Ziggy Stardust" was released, the sun was in Gemini. This is fitting because Gemini's planetary ruler is Mercury. The Roman god, Mercury, is often depicted as an androgynous figure, much like David Bowie early in his career. There was also a lot of cardinal energy on this day, with multiple inner planet placements in Cancer, Uranus in Libra, North Node in Capricorn, and the Midheaven in Aries (I used 0800 as the "birth time" for this chart). Cardinal energy is all about getting shit started. Although David Bowie was already a popular artist when this album was released, "Ziggy Stardust" is considered the album that truly cemented his status as a music legend and pop icon. Finally, the Moon was in Leo, enhancing the desire for passion, creativity, and drama, which this album has in spades.

I also wanted to do a quick look at David Bowie's chart. Both his birthday (Jan 8) and his deathday (Jan 10) passed recently, which is why I chose this album to listen to. His Moon is in Leo, meaning that Ziggy was released during his monthly moon return. He was an Aquarius rising - this sign is co-ruled by Uranus and individuals with placements in Aquarius are often future-oriented and inventive, taking great interest in big ideas and new concepts. Aquarius placements tend to be independent and can have a reputation for rebelliousness. This all sounds very applicable to David Bowie. I also found it interesting that his 12th House (considered a House of Endings) is ruled by Capricorn (his Sun sign) and he died very close to his birthday. I'd be interested to see if there's a pattern of dying near your birthday if your sun falls in the 12th House. Coincidentally, his North Node (considered an indicator of Destiny) falls in Gemini and "Ziggy Stardust" was released during Gemini season. Finally, his Chiron was in Scorpio, indicating that he was gifted in helping people through periods of extreme transformation and had a talent for "alchemy," i.e., making something beautiful out of the unwanted. David Bowie as an artist, especially in the early days, attracted people who felt like freaks, outcasts, and strangers. By embracing his own inner weirdness, he signaled to his followers to be unafraid of who they truly were. That he accepted them as they accepted him, inside and out, eccentricities and all.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: As I'm writing this, I'm extremely pissed off. Mercury in Capricorn is square Uranus in Taurus. That's obviously not why I'm angry, but it's certainly not helping. I've had an extremely busy and stressful week. I'm a little off schedule with this project but I'm hoping to get back on track next week. More to come.

"Starman" Video

"The Widow" by The Mars Volta

I was finishing up my first listen-through of "The Velvet Underground & Nico" when I was struck by a sudden urge to listen to The Mars Volta. No reason for it. The band's name just suddenly popped in my head. The Mars Volta is a band from El Paso and they were active when I was in high school and college. Since they were local, the University radio station played them quite a bit. Earlier this week, I rediscovered this wonderful, dark ballad, which I felt compelled to share to mark the lunar eclipse. Because that is something I do now.

There's something haunting about this song. The vaguely Spanish lilt to the melody. The twangy guitar and the slow rhythmic drumming. How the music comes in waves, receding as the lyrics come in soft, slowly and then rising up dramatically, to consume the listener. A lonely trumpet playing a funerary dirge, as the words hit your core. Then, of course, Cedric Bixler-Zavala's vocals infuse the lyrics with emotion - pain, desperation, contempt, envy, resignation - and that's what really makes this song feel so dark. Che Aimee Dorval sings a cover of this song. It's good, but it's not the same. There's something about the original that you just can't capture. The album version, after the last lyrics, devolves into a cacophony of noise. As the Widow succumbs to madness or so I assume.

Side note: I'm starting to see a pattern in what I like in songs lately. If it's dark and has a flamenco guitar (or a Spanish influence), I'm there. Apparently, that's my jam right now.

Look at how they flock to him

From an isle of open sores

He knows that the taste is such

Such to die for

And I hear him every night

On every street

The scales that do slither

Deliver me from?

Freeze without an answer

Free from all the shame

Then I'll hide

'Cause I'll never never sleep alone

There's this theory that the Widow is singing about Death. She sees his spectre everywhere. Death is a presence the Widow sees constantly. Though she sings about Him ruefully, she admits there's also a dark attraction she has. Some of my favorite depictions of Death are in the guise of a beautiful young man. I'm not sure where I read it but there is a fan explanation that this song is about a woman who is addicted to heroin and her drug dealer is her son whom she gave up for adoption. Or it could be that she's singing about her dead husband and remembering the early days when she was first drawn to him. Either way, there's a suggestion here that Death and her husband are one in the same. And she longs for him.

In that way, this song is strangely perfect for the upcoming Saturn-Pluto Conjunction on January 12th. Technically, we're already in the conjunction - it just won't be exact until Sunday. With the God of Death meeting the Lord of Time and Karma in his domain, the themes surrounding this conjunction are very much about doom and gloom. And imprisonment, especially the self-inflicted kind. The Widow is a label defined by Death. She can only exist after her husband - or lover - has died. Etymologically, widows aren't strictly defined by legal marriage and historically, women who lost men whom they were in love with, but not married to, were also considered widows. I think those situations are even more tragic - to lose a loved one but not have the societal standing for your grief to be adequately recognized. What happens to a man's mistress once he dies? She has to pretend she never loved him, to appear as just another mourner among the faceless funeral goers, while she dies inside. Assuming she dares to go to the funeral. Regardless, she's doomed to face the grief and pain alone. Something about the lyrics makes me think that's the case for the singer of "The Widow." Those situations make for some of the most compelling ghost stories, though. A young woman forever awaiting the return of her beloved from the War or the Sea, pacing the grounds of her estate or leaning on the rail of a Widow's Walk. It's always been a dream of mine to own a house with a Widow's Walk (but I'd settle for having a regular old balcony). Unfortunately, that's a style that's more common in expensive homes on the Eastern Seaboard, so that dream is unlikely to happen any time soon.

The Widow is also a common archetype in stories. She's a character who is both haunting and haunted. The Widow is someone to be feared, usually because she's wise, but often because she's cold and heartless. She generally has a tragic backstory. The implication is that she's unfeeling because she lost the love of her life. So if she seems reckless or ruthless in her actions, it's because she has nothing to fear. Not Justice, not Pain, and certainly not Death. She's survived the worst and now she's just biding her time until Death comes for her and she'll reunite with her beloved. The Widow doesn't care when or how or even why anymore. She is a solitary figure who is mysterious and seductive, but also a little dangerous. In a way, she's Death's match. I better stop there - this song has been stuck in my head off and on all week and it takes my mind to dark places.

Freeze without an answer

Free from all the shame

Let me die

'Cause I'll never never sleep alone

Finally, one of the greatest drummers of all time - Neil Peart (Rush) - died today. Completely unrelated to everything else I was ranting about but still worth mentioning.

"The Widow" Video

"The Velvet Underground & Nico"

Ranking: #13

Original Release Date:  12 March 1967

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

This was the debut album for The Velvet Underground, which they developed during their work in 1966 with Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour. At Warhol's urging, they included the vocals of German singer, Nico, in their recording of certain songs on the album. Let's set the stage - the bulk of the recording was done in April 1966. It was pretty boring month in what was an overall dramatic year - "The Sound of Music" won at the Oscars. Historically, the tide was turning regarding support for the Vietnam War, as protests sprung up more frequently in the United States and across the other parts of the world. The hemlines for the iconic '60s mini-skirt hit the upper thigh, causing mothers everywhere to clutch their pearls in horror. And Star Trek made it's debut in September of 1966, amidst a smattering of American and Soviet successes in the race to space. The airwaves were being dominated by the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones. In the face of all this talent, both at home and abroad, the Velvet Underground - with their proto-punk sound and songs that veered a bit too deeply into controversial topics - were fairly unknown. When "The Velvet Underground & Nico" was released, literally no one cared. Their debut album would initially only sell about 30,000 copies - nowhere near platinum (or even gold) status - but this album is cited as a major influence in the emergence of more experimental sub-genres that came in later eras.

The content of this album was, at the time, explosively controversial. It covers drug abuse, prostitution, BDSM (the song, "Venus in Furs," was inspired the iconic 19th century novel about sado-masochism), and other forms of sexual deviancy. Lou Reed, the chief songwriter, was inspired by the poetry and works of Beat generation writers, such as Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. He felt that combining the dark subject matter in their works with the rawness inherent in music was "obvious." The music on the album varies from song to song. Some songs tend towards the folk music, others are more obviously rock-based. The band wanted to experiment with the range they could get from their instruments, to create a truly unique sound. John Cale played viola on "Venus in Furs" and "Black Angel's Death Song." In the latter, you can really hear the effect of his style of detuning and distorting the notes to get a distinct quality. On other songs, the guitars were often tuned in different ways, including Reed's invention of "Ostrich Tuning" in which all the strings are tuned to the same note. Combine that with Nico's deep crooning and Reed's sing-song chanting, and you've got an album that is somewhat of a mess but also deeply interesting to listen to. The final song, "European Son," ends with what essentially a 5-minute jam session that slowly devolves into chaos. An assault to the senses, but in a good way. I'd like to think Lou Reed would consider that a compliment.

Later albums would be more organized and orchestrated, but the Velvet Underground's debut reflected the culture it was born into. A nation trying to reclaim its voice in the midst of a Civil Rights movement and an unpopular war. A music scene dominated by overseas pop-rock, where everything seemed happy, even when it wasn't. And a future that was ripe with possibilities as we got closer and closer to reaching the moon. America was a hot mess during the '60s, much like this album. But the events that occurred during those years shaped the country for decades to follow.

I am tired, I am weary

I could sleep for a thousand years

A thousand dreams that would awake me

Different colors made of tears

Astrologically speaking, 12 March 1967 was a fairly good day. The Sun was in Pisces, which is fitting since a good portion of the album is chill and dreamy sounding. Mercury was retrograde, which could explain why critics at the time didn't get the album, but it's cited retroactively being influential. That tends to happen in charts where Mercury is Retrograde - the person or event's underlying messages aren't understood clearly but become more powerful as time goes on. There are a lot of Aries placements in this chart as well - Aries is the sign of individuality and those with key placements in Aries tend to blaze a trail wherever they go. The final thing I will point out about this album's chart is that multiple planets/points were in opposition and conjunction. The Sun was opposite Uranus - an individual with this aspect would be considered a free-spirited person who believes they are immune to the rules. Uranus was conjunct Pluto, a generational aspect that indicates a shifting global environment away from the status quo. Pluto was also conjunct the Midheaven, another placement which would indicate the potential to be powerful and influential. Interesting.

The song featured to day from the album will be "Venus in Furs," to showcase the creative use of the viola. It also embodies the exact blend of irreverent lyrics and hazy, psychedelic melody that defined the Velvet Underground. Enjoy!

"Venus in Furs" Video

New Year, New Project

As I've been hinting at for the past couple of months, I've been itching to take this blog in a different direction. The theme format has been working for the past year and a half and I've taken a lot of great lessons from working with it. I've learned how to focus in on patterns, broadened my knowledge of lesser known musical genres, and generally have had a lot of fun ranting on the various topics explored. My new project, in a way, is a natural evolution of that. Before I get into it though, I did want to go over the success (as I define it) of the past year. My goal was to write more and I have accomplished that. Prior to December, I was hitting an average of 10 posts a month, or roughly 2 a week, which I believe is a very sustainable rhythm to be retained this year (in fact, in order for my new project to really work, I need to try to hit that average again). During December, I didn't quite hit my goal of writing a post every day, but I did hit 21 posts in a month. This is a personal record for me and is pretty good considering how busy I was during December. Overall, my writing style has evolved considerably. The goal is always to develop and become more confident in my own voice and I think I've moved the goal posts a fair distance in that respect.

Now, for the project. I intend to write and research the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time. There are many lists that recount and rank all the albums, so to keep it simple, I'm using Rolling Stone's list. Say what you will about them regarding their current direction as a publication, but Rolling Stone has been the standard for music writing since the '60s and that's something to be respected. I considered going in order from 100 to 1 but, that's really not my style and it's not really important for the goal of this project, so the album choice will vary in ranking from week to week. My goal for this project is to expand my musical knowledge in a more structured way. Each album has been shaped by events on both the micro-and-macro levels. I plan to research what was happening at the time of the album's development and release in the artists' personal lives, the historical backdrop of the era, and in the skies up above in astrological regards. These won't really be reviews - as far as I'm concerned, my opinion is insignificant. These were listed as the greatest albums for a reason - even if I'm not completely in love with the music, there is probably something there I'll appreciate and respect on an intellectual level. At most, I may interject any stray thoughts, emotions, or images that were evoked while I was listening. For the most part, I want to focus on the historical aspect and why these albums had the impact they had.

Additionally, I have a few music-related movies and books I've been meaning to watch/read. I may do some short reviews on them throughout the year. I'm not going to say this year will be completely Song du Jour free, but they will be few and far between. Thank you for your continued readership and I'm super excited to see what 2020 brings.