W.O.R.N #3

I know I said that I'd do these every six or so months, but I'm going to be so honest when I say casual blogging does now go well with the whole full time job type thing. But, it's been 11 - so at least we're in for a big ol' change compared to last time! For all of those uninitiated to what WORN is (I don't blame you) it stands for 'What's On Repeat Now', and serves as a fun little exercise into what I've been playing to death day in and day out. So let's have a peek at what I've had going on for the last six months - again, cheers to Stats.Fm for helping out with the numbers, let's get into it!

Genres

Let's start with the top five genres I've been listening to over the last six months, we've got;

1. Alternative

2. Emo

3. Pop Punk

4. Rock

5. Midwest Emo

Alternative still sits at the No.1 spot - no surprises there, but elsewhere there's been some movement. Emo wasn't even in my last WORN, and there it is at number 2, along with Pop Punk at 3. I have been listening to a lot of throwback music at the moment, as well as a healthy (I'm lying) amount of The Story so Far, so I reckon that's the reason they've found themselves up there. Rock is again standard, but here we see a brand new entry, Midwest Emo! I love Midwest Emo as a genre, and have been listening to a lot of Carly Cosgrove, Microwave and Joyce Manor recently, as well as a load of other bands from that neck of the woods. It's great to see it finally cropping up in my top five, and I reckon next time I do one of these it might even be higher on that list.

Top 10 Tracks

I really enjoyed doing my top 10 tracks in a fun list like last time, so enjoy a countdown to my top ten tracks over the last six months;

Starting off at No.10...

DESTROY ME // PRESIDENT // KING OF TERRORS

DESTROY ME was a track that, at first I was a little sceptical of - mainly because of the goofy bell sound effect in the final breakdown. But I can confidently say it's a real grower, and such a solid track that is so easy to listen to on repeat, I'm honestly surprised this one isn't any higher. However, I reckon this isn't the last we've seen of PRESIDENT on this list...

Coming up next at number 9...

Tally // Twenty One Pilots // Breach

If you need a song that feels like a shot of pure adrenaline straight into your jugular, then this is it. All parts chaotic, perfectly melodic and anthemic as hell, Tally is a rapid journey underpinned by some brutally emotive song writing. Both excellent as a background track when excercising or just weaving through people at the station like Jason Bourne, get this track into your movement playlist asap.

Sitting comfortably in at number 8...

High Regard // The Story so Far // Under Soil and Dirt

There's a reason why this one is one of their most popular tracks - it is an absolute bop. It has some brilliantly chunky instrumentals, hefty drops, and enough pop punk prowess to create what is all in all a pretty pitch perfect song front to back. But I could say that for a lot of The Story so Far's discography. But again, go listen to this one, you won't regret it.

Next up at number 7...

Don't Lick the Swingset // Carly Cosgrove // Don't Lick the Swingset

Having been on my recent Midwest Emo kick, I have discovered a lot of bands that I didn't really know about - one of which being the amazing Carly Cosgrove. All parts emotionally in touch, sarcastically brilliant and lyrically complex, this band merges some of the most impressively bonkers words with some excellent musicianship to create catchy tracks that hit all the desired metrics. It's really a one stop shop for this genre - and has such a catchy chorus that you'll be humming it for days after you listen for the first time.

Vibing out in the 7th spot is...

Solo // The Story so Far // Self Titled

When I say that this song had me in a chokehold for weeks, I really mean it. I had this song on almost permanent repeat for at least a couple of days. It's a beautiful song, so human in it's lyricism and emotional depth. The phrase 'feeling indigo' - wow. More than blue, more complex than just a simple throwaway metaphor. Even past that, it's just a brilliant song, full of power and signature pop punk edge that makes it almost perfect in my eyes. If you haven't heard it, go and listen to it. Right now. Then come back.

Taking another top 10 spot at number 6 is...

Garbage // Twenty One Pilots // Breach

Back again, this time with a more emotional cut. This song is some of the most heart on sleeve song writing we have seen from frontman Tyler Joseph. It's cutting, grounding, and underpinned by a catchy repeated piano riff. It also has that signature energy coming from Dunn on the drums, moving the song along at a steady pace. I think we all have days where we feel like we're operating at 20%, and this song is the perfect companion for those blreary eyed mornings.

A strange one at number 5...

Death of a Strawberry // Dance Gavin Dance // Instant Gratification

I have to caveat this one instantly - I by no means knew when I started streaming this track the controversy surrounding this band. I just heard this song online and kinda messed with it, so listened for a little while - the hooks are fun, it's overall pop rock vibe is cool, and although a bit cringe, the lyrics are dumb enough to be ignored. However, upon hearing that this band has had not one, but two lead singers who have been fired for sexual misconduct, I quite quickly stopped listening. Yeah, woof. I hear these days they've got a new singer, and are touring around and still doing their thing, good for them - but I think their past is a little too tumultuous for my taste.

In the bronze medal spot is...

Pixelated Kisses // Joji // Piss in the Wind

A bitesize track for sure, but that just means you can listen to it over and over again. The lead single from Joji's latest effort Piss in the Wind is nothing short of peak Joji - full of electronic kick and bite, all distilled down into less than two minutes of music. I replayed this one a lot in the run up to the new album being released, and although it isn't my favourite from PITW, at this point it's become a bit of a classic.

A new entry at number 2...

Drown // Microwave // Much Love

Another one from my Midwest Emo odyssey, Microwave is an emotional powerhouse of a band, and this track is truly some of their best work. One of the most backwards love songs ever written, with the lyrics depicting a messy ending of a relationship, and the speaker revelling in their ex partner struggling in the wake of their heartbreak. But it has no edgy parts to it sonically, it's almost entirely upbeat until the final hook, with glittery guitars and soft spoken vocals dancing on top. Another awesome song that I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to recently.

And at number one, taking the gold medal...

Conclave // KING OF TERRORS // PRESIDENT

Starting and ending with PRESIDENT? I like it. The closing track of their most recent record is one of my favourite they have ever released, alongside Angel Wings, and is a perfect song top to bottom. From the electronic opening, the introspective lyrics, to the gritty and hefty breakdown in the final moments, this is the heartbeat of this band down to it's core. Full of genre bending moments, and raw cutting vocals, I play this song almost every day on my commutes - yes, it's that good.

Top 5 Artists

Now we've boiled down our top tracks, let's take a look at my top artists over these last months, because they're not exactly the same as all of those wonderful bands that make up my top tracks (some are.)

Sitting in the number five spot are the ever amazing, and ever reliable Fall Out Boy. I have been going back to their music every now and again recently when I need a change of pace, but still something familiar, and I am really enjoying worming through their discography front to back. From the punk centred Take this to Your Grave to the seminal Foile a Deux, this band will never make a record that's mediocre, or a song that won't match any mood.

One step up at number 4 is another unsurprising entry for me, dropping down three places since the last WORN, it's masked metal gods Sleep Token. Sure, since the release of Even in Arcadia I haven't been listening to their music as intently as I was, but that by no means indicates they're going anywhere in terms of my listening habits. I really do believe that Sleep Token is a once in a lifetime band, who continue to elevate their music and artistry with every single release. I can't wait to see what they do next, and for the time being I'll keep their discography in permanent rotation.

In third place, just like in the track chart, is Joji. Off the back of Piss in the Wind, a lot of those songs have made it into my repeat playlists, and so he's getting a lot of airtime. But how can you blame me, a lot of those brand new tracks are insane, like Sojourn - that song is an absolute go to when I need something to get me up and mobile.

In the silver medal position, surprise surprise, is The Story so Far. I have become a pretty steady fan of these guys since I had my little Midwest Emo kick, where a couple of their earlier tracks were popped into some generated genre playlists, and it made me do a real deep dive of their discography. I love what these guys are about, from their early pop punk projects to their more recent punk rock sound with glimpses of hardcore, they have a serious command over both their craft and sound. Their lyrics are also amazing, and so easy to connect with - the band really is something special. I am not surprised they're in the middle of a massive boom at the moment, and I hope they continue striving on to new heights.

And at number one for my top artists is... Twenty One Pilots. Let's be real, I had a hardcore hyperfixate over these guys that has lasted what... years? Since the release of Clancy and the dramatic climax of their storyline I have been fully invested in the band and their music, and it's no real surprise to me that they have clinched the number one spot. Since the release of Breach, this fixation hasn't stopped, and I still listen to a lot of the tracks from that album to this day, because they're just brilliant. Even though I listen to a lot of the other artists in this list more, I'm glad that TOP is here, just so I can do a little more gushing about how amazing these two musicians are, and how I really think they deserve their prolonged stay in the spotlight.

Overall

So, even though it's been more like a year since my last WORN (11 months to be exact) it's still cool to be looking at my listening habits, and see the bigger picture on what I've had on repeat. In terms of predictions, I was spot on with thinking Twenty One Pilots would be appearing high up in the next one - so do I have any ideas who may come out on top next time around? Well, with what PRESIDENT are doing at the moment, releasing new music etc, I think if a full length record is on the way from them, then they'll definitely be heading up in the rankings (in terms of artists, they clock in at number 11 in the last six months), I think Joji may end up being replaced by a Midwest Emo artist, like Microwave or Hot Mulligan, but that'll remain to be seen, especially because I'm actually seeing him live in August.

But truly, who knows? Who knows what'll happen in the next six months, who's music I'll be feeling, what songs I'll have on repeat - hell I might even forget about this series for another year! But what I do know is that I'm very excited about the future of music, and can't wait to keep discovering and listening. Who knows, it might end up in the next WORN!