Debby Friday has shared a new single, ‘let u in’. It follows her debut album GOOD LUCK, which recently won the Polaris Music Prize. Friday co-produced the track with Australian electronic producer and vocalist Darcy Baylis. Listen to it below.
Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Debby Friday.
Student life can be demanding, with lectures, exams and assignments dominating each day of college life. But every student knows that finding a balance between work and play is essential for maintaining mental well-being and making the most of the college experience. Don’t hesitate to use some help in completing your paperwork. But how can you know which services you can trust? Check this on https://scamfighter.net/review/academized.com and see the reviews on different services you definitely can’t trust, like academized review.
When you find the right one for you and your work is done, you can finally devote time to more interesting things.
Here we explore some popular games among students that provide entertainment, relaxation, and a way to build connections among peers.
Students have long turned to video games as a source of relaxation and entertainment, from engaging in epic adventures to competing in online multiplayer battles or solving intricate puzzles. Popular titles like “Fortnite”, “League of Legends”, and “Among Us” have quickly captured students worldwide with hours of entertainment as well as opportunities to connect with peers worldwide.
Though digital gaming has grown increasingly popular among students, traditional board games remain popular choices among them. Such classics as “Settlers of Catan”, “Cards Against Humanity”, and “Risk” provide students with a chance to relax with friends while engaging in competitive play against each other in friendly competition. Board game nights have become cherished family traditions across many student households that foster camaraderie and laughter.
Card games hold a special place in student culture. From high-stakes poker, strategic rounds of Magic: The Gathering, or casual “Uno”, card games offer students a great way to socialize and unwind while engaging in stimulating brain teasers! Card games require strategic thinking and quick decision-making abilities, which makes for mentally stimulating leisure activities that students may find both stimulating and relaxing.
Sports and outdoor games are popular choices among students who appreciate physical activity. Activities like basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and even capture the flag can provide students with an excellent way to stay active, reduce stress and build lasting friendships through team sports, and recreational activities.
Students of all ages are drawn into virtual realms through online multiplayer games like “World of Warcraft”, “Counter-Strike”: Global Offensive”, and “Overwatch”, where they can team up with friends or challenge rivals worldwide. Games such as these provide ample opportunity for both cooperative play and friendly competition – providing students with a compelling educational experience!
Latest tech for students is virtual reality (VR) gaming, offering immersive digital worlds where students can become fully immersed and interactive with them. From exploring fantastical realms to solving puzzles in three-dimensional spaces or experiencing heart-pounding action sequences, VR games have captured students’ attention like never before.
VR gaming not only provides entertainment but can be an excellent form of exercise as well as offer unique social interactions.
Puzzle games offer students an excellent mental workout to strengthen their cognitive skills. Classic Sudoku and crossword puzzles such as Sudoku can help develop problem-solving and critical thinking capabilities while providing hours of intellectually stimulating playback! Many students find puzzle-solving to be both relaxing and intellectually engaging pastime.
Social deduction games such as “Mafia” and “Werewolf” are popular choices for large gatherings or parties, testing players’ ability to read others, strategize effectively and make persuasive arguments. Social deduction games provide students with an enjoyable way to socialize while engaging in some friendly competition.
Students understand the significance of finding balance between academic responsibilities and leisure activities, such as student games. Popular student games provide an avenue of relaxation, socialization, and mental stimulation – whether through video games, board games, card games, sports mobile apps, or tabletop RPGs – that create lasting memories among their players and lead to an enriching college experience overall.
Philadelphia-based band Sweet Pill have signed to Hopeless Records, marking the announcement with the new single ‘Starchild’. It’s their first new music since their debut album, Where the Heart Is, released last year via Topshelf. Check it out below.
“I believe myself to be an awkward person trying really hard to have a strong backbone,” singer Zayna Youssef said in a statement. “I sometimes catch myself putting others first, leaving none for myself. Ultimately, ‘Starchild’ sums up what it feels like to having the burden of someone else’s responsibilities with a million eyes on you at the same time. Through out it all, i just dont wanna fuck up, ever. This lame idea of being perfect always swims in my head and I can never get over on it. All in all it leads to burning out and failing. What do I owe to the people around me that have done nothing but take what I have?”
“We spent a week in the Poconos recording in seclusion in a cabin – like middle of nowhere Blair Witch vibes,” Youssef continued. “It was so secluded that I was VERY freaked out. I was so scared that I refused to go to my room to sleep that had these large windows in it and since it was pitch black out you couldn’t see a thing. So I opted to sleep on the floor at like 2am where the boys were still up tracking just so I wouldn’t be alone. I believe this track is a good transitional song from our debut, Where the Heart Is. It has some ‘dancey-ness’ that our first album didn’t really have.”
Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with Sweet Pill.
Throughout Scarlet, Doja Cat is joyously irreverent and chaotic. As much as 2019’s Hot Pink and 2021’s Planet Her flaunted her versatility as a pop star, it often felt like the gloss of the music fell short of matching her unpredictable personality; at the level she was now operating, it’s a wonder it came through at all. Though Scarlet is meant to serve, above all, as a testament to her talent as a rapper, it’s more engaging as an album that shows little concern about what a blockbuster rap album is supposed to sound like in 2023 rather than one with a couple dozen things to prove. “I don’t need a big feature or a new sidekick/ I don’t need a new fan ’cause my boo like it/ I don’t need to wear a wig to make you like it/ I’m a two-time bitch, you ain’t know I’d win?” she raps on ‘Paint the Town Red’, which, of course, did end up becoming her second No. 1 hit. Commercial appeal aside, Scarlet succeeds when it feels like an energetic reminder of her early-career outings instead of an extension of the game she’s been playing with her fans throughout its rollout. Unfortunately, it often feels exactly like that.
Though probably the most compelling track on the album, ‘Paint the Town Red’ doesn’t give the best indication of what Scarlet has to offer. It’s catchy and fun, but it uses its Dionne Warwick sample to create an air of eerie disaffection the record hardly nails elsewhere. It’s followed in the tracklist by ‘Demons’, an abrasive single that boasts one of Doja Cat’s best performances as she juxtaposes the song’s ugly ferocity with cool indifference. It should probably serve as the template for the album, which quickly offers up a stream of tracks in a similar vein – ‘Wet Vagina’, ‘Fuck the Girls’, and ‘Ouchies’, each of which is rowdy and hard-hitting in its own way. But the rest of the album feels uneven and repetitive, with many of the mellower tracks draining the excitement built up early on. It would have been one thing to make an all-over-the-place record that’s not quite what it seems on the surface, but Scarlet ends up losing steam and direction the more it tries to branch out stylistically, and the experiments don’t always pay off.
Earl on the Beat, the Lil Yachty collaborator known for his work on City Girls’ ‘Act Up’, helped produce ‘Red’, but the interplay between his production, the songwriting, and Doja Cat’s delivery just doesn’t click in the same way when he flips 10cc’s classic ‘I’m Not In Love’ on ‘Shutcho’ or Troop’s 1989 hit ‘All I Do Is Think of You’ on ‘Agora Hills’; it feels disjointed rather than inventive. Jay Versace has a hand in some of the woozier cuts with a more off-kilter edge, but while ’97’ pairs an experimental piano melody with one of Doja Cat’s sharpest flows, ‘Often’ begins to grate before the first hook is even over. The latter arrives as part of a series of lovestruck, sensual tracks in the album’s second half, which – even if you know are in defense of her relationship with Twitch star J. Cyrus, who has been accused of emotional abuse – should be a breath of fresh air in an album that can get pretty self-indulgent. But it’s only on ‘Can’t Wait’ where it (almost) sounds like the only person whose opinion matters is the one she’s rapping about.
The momentum picks up again with the album’s three final tracks, which effectively mix Scarlet‘s lavish and menacing qualities, particularly on the singles ‘Attention’ and ‘Balut’. But the fiery energy Doja Cat hinted at initially doesn’t return until the closer, ‘WYM Freestyle’. Too often, her self-awareness gets the best of her, dragging the pace of the album for fear of her not getting the last word on a record that’s all her. But though it was included last minute, ‘WYM Freestyle’ delivers on the promise of Scarlet in ways that the most well-crafted tracks on it don’t. Even if you’re tired of her taking aim at her detractors after nearly an hour – they just don’t deserve this much space – you’re suddenly forced to pay attention. “Always knew I was gon’ change from the beginning,” she raps, knowing how to convince you she’s always been one step ahead. You just hope that on the next record, we catch her with a better idea of where she’s going.
San Francisco punks Spiritual Cramp have dropped their latest single, ‘Herberts on Holiday’, which is lifted from their self-titled debut LP. Frontman Michael Bingham wrote the track, which follows ‘Talkin’ on the Internet’, as an ode to his wife Barb. Check out a homemade video for it below.
Speaking about the song in a press release, Bingham said:
I don’t really like the idea of trying to sell the fact that I had a rough experience growing up to a musical audience for credibility but this song is probably the closest I’ll ever get to talking about what life was like. It wasn’t good.
I feel really lucky to have met Barb. It’s hard to quickly summarise in a clip the impact she has had on my life but I can say with all honesty everything I have in my life today is because of her. To this day I am constantly making mistakes and oftentimes not living up to my fullest potential. But through the 18 years of knowing her, she’s never rubbed my face in it. All she’s ever done is cheer me on – even if I don’t feel like I deserve it.
She always told me she wanted me to write her a song. I always tried but it always came out as some sarcastic thing because I have a hard time being open. I use humor to mask the way that I really feel. When I wrote this song I was on a plane home from our tour with V**gra Boys – I was crying uncontrollably and I knew while I was writing it that it wasn’t guarded. Hope you enjoy.
Spiritual Cramp will be released on November 3 via Blue Grape Music.
Maria BC has shared ‘Still’, the latest single from their forthcoming album Spike Field. It follows the recently unveiled dual singles ‘Amber’ and ‘Watcher’. Listen below.
“I wrote the piano part for this track when I was 16 and never forgot it,” Maria BC said of ‘Still’ in a statement. “The original song I wrote then was awful, but in the years since, I’ve wanted to resuscitate the piano riff for something, to write a new melody on top of it. I thought it might be healing in some way, since I struggle to feel compassion for my past self/selves and in fact often find myself wishing I could mindwipe anybody who ever knew me – a clean slate! Would if I could, but I can’t. So, how to move on? A lot of trial and error, then I found the melody for ‘Still’ and these lyrics came out that seemed to describe the process of writing the music, these lyrics addressed to my childhood self, like, “I haven’t forgotten you. You’re still with me.”
Spike Field, the follow-up to last year’s Hyaline, is due out October 20 via Sacred Bones. Check out our Artist Spotlight interview with Maria BC.
La Force has unveiled ‘xo skeleton’, the title track from her new album that’s out on Friday (September 29). It follows previous cuts ‘condition of us’, ‘october’, and ‘how do you love a man’. Check it out below.
“”xo skeleton”, the song – is the overarching theme of the record,” Ariel Engle explained in a statement. “It’s an image I’d love as protection. A carapace that keeps the goo inside. This protection is in love, kisses, and hugs. It’s what bolsters us in life. The love is an invisible shroud that we adorn others in and are adorned in. It’s a reminder that within us are skeletons. Symbols of death and yet the architecture that animated us while we are alive. It’s a song about the inevitability of death as both a motivator to love fully and at times disincentivizing Force – why bother if I’m going to die versus I must do so much while I’m still alive.”
Sofia Kourtesis has previewed her upcoming debut album Madres with a new single, ‘How Music Makes You Feel Better’. “During every storm, during every ups and downs, pain and grief, music is always the most beautiful thing that is going to make you feel better,” she said of the track in a statement. Listen to it below.
Madres is set for release on October 27 via Ninja Tune. It features the previously released songs ‘Si Te Portas Bonito’, ‘Estación Esperanza’, ‘Vajkoczy’, and the title track.
PACKS have announced a new LP, Melt the Honey. The follow-up to March’s Crispy Crunchy Nothing arrives January 19 via Fire Talk, and its first single, ‘Honey’, is out today. Check out a video for it below, and scroll down for the album’s cover art and tracklist.
“I wrote this song while I was living in a tiny beach town in Chile, nestled between two hills,” bandleader Madeline Link said in a statement about ‘Honey’. “They don’t have maple syrup down there so we’d have honey instead. To keep the honey from burning you have to melt it a special way! As this developed into a habit, I think I was struck by how cute it was.”
Melt the Honey was recorded over the course of 11 days just before the release of its predecessor. Link and the rest of her band – guitarist Dexter Nash, bassist Noah O’Neil, and drummer Shane Hooper – gathered in Mexico City to practice the new songs in a rented studio space before taking a bus to Xalapa, where they worked at a house known as Casa Pulpo. “The house has no straight lines, it puts you in a creative mindset,” Link explained. “Plus, it was really warm, we were there for three weeks enjoying the weather and self-recording with minimal equipment.”
Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with PACKS.
Melt the Honey Cover Artwork:
Melt the Honey Tracklist:
1. 89 Days
2. Honey
3. Pearly Whites
4. HFCS
5. AmyW
6. Take Care
7. Her Garden
8. Paige Machine
9. Missy
10. Trippin
11. Time Loop
Cozying up with a relaxing video game sounds more and more enticing as the days get shorter and the air gets a little sharper. Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Stardew Valley, and The Sims 4 have been staples in our rotation for quite some time. If you’re tired of the same old games and want to try something fresh, we have plenty of options for you to enjoy while kicking back on the couch, whether you choose to play on your mobile device, computer, or console.
Cult of the Lamb
It’s like Animal Crossing, except in Cult of the Lamb you sacrifice lambs instead of creating their cozy little homes. It’s technically gloomy and gruesome, yet paradoxically soothing to listen to. (Perhaps it tells something about myself, but you’ll have to trust me on this.) You play a lamb that is sacrificed and then resurrected by an underground god, who demands that in exchange for his favor you create a cult in his honor. In order to accomplish this, you must battle through roguelike stages in an effort to destroy an opposing cult and win over the hearts of the cute animals you encounter. When you’re not out in the field fighting for your life, you’re likely running your own little colony, which involves things like keeping the cultists happy, farming for supplies, and making leadership decisions that have consequences for you and them.
Tsuki’s Odyssey
The world of Tsuki’s Odyssey, Mushroom Village, is packed of adorable characters and gorgeous illustrations reminiscent of the Winnie-the-Pooh tales. Every time you log in to this non-interactive game, the characters’ activities will be different because they are tied to the real-world clock. And it doesn’t take up too much of your time; the game may be played in little bursts throughout the day. The villagers and your treehouse furnishing experience will provide low-stakes amusement, just what you need to feel all warm and fuzzy inside on a chilly day.
Alto’s Adventure
This small game about a llama farmer who snowboards is one of the most relaxing video game experiences I’ve ever had. The music of Alto’s Adventure is relaxing, and the visuals are captivating despite their simplicity. Your llamas have escaped, and you have to chase them down the mountain as you snowboard. With no goal in sight than to rack up more points, you may relax, zone out, and enjoy watching Alto glide across the snow.
Ooblets
The last year has been rough, but the nutritious game Ooblets has been my chicken soup for the soul. Once you’ve accumulated enough resources from farming, cooking, and exploring, you can challenge the Ooblets to turn-based dance wars. If you’re successful in recruiting them, they’ll join your team and fight alongside you in your quests. Over fifty completely bizarre species are available for collection; I particularly like Hermble, a birdlike creature with a bad haircut on the sides of an otherwise bald head. A model of perfection in the animal kingdom. Ooblets’ unexpected depth of content, cute visual design, and infectious dance-off tunes never fail to lift my spirits whenever I return to the game.
Two Point Campus
Two of the creators of Theme Hospital and the original Fable series also worked on Two Point Campus and its medical prequel, Two Point Hospital. With its blend of wry British humor and friendly simulation gameplay, it’s almost like getting the best of both worlds. In Two Point Campus, you play the role of a university administrator who is tasked with designing a unique curriculum that includes subjects like “Wizardry,” “Internet History,” and “Money Wangling,” the latter of which teaches students how to get rich by shady financial means. You’re in charge of the school’s aesthetics and operations, planning and overseeing extracurricular programs and keeping an eye on the faculty. This game is perfect for you if you like to construct things but get frustrated or confused when given too much freedom or complicated mechanics. Achieving financial success in company can be done with less specialized knowledge if one so chooses. Two Point Hospital features the same gameplay style and weird additions, but this time it’s set in a hospital rather than a college town. It’s still a fantastic game if that’s more your speed.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley exceeded my lofty expectations, which had pegged it as a generic Animal Crossing knockoff with a Disney skin applied. This game has everything I look for in a relaxing simulation game, including a charming tale and well-polished gameplay that will keep players of all ages engaged, from young children to their parents. Your mission is to rebuild the village of Dreamlight Valley, where well-known Disney characters formerly lived before a catastrophe known as the Forgetting wiped out their memories and forced them to escape for their lives. Discover many fantastical places as you search the globe for famous Disney and Pixar faces. The inclusion of newer Disney characters and ones like WALL-E and Moana that are underrepresented in Disney-spinoff games or at Disney theme parks made me very happy. Even the piles of junk and discarded metal in WALL-E’s environment look like they were lifted straight from the movies and placed there. Homesteading activities in Dreamlight Valley, such as gardening and fishing, can quickly take up a large chunk of your time, but the game rewards your efforts by allowing the other characters to level up their skills and advance in the story. One of the best things about cozy games is that you can take your time with the plethora of personalization options and tasks.
Megaquarium
Every once in a while, I get a pang of memory for the days when I used to play the first Zoo Tycoon game. There were lots of adorable creatures to take care of, and I enjoyed the challenge of keeping everyone happy while the park was being constructed. Thankfully, I no longer have to scratch that itch; instead, I can obsess over my array of colorful sharks, fish, and crustaceans in my Megaquarium. This simulation game may not have the best visuals or the most robust set of tools for constructing things, but I find myself coming back to it again and again because of how soothing and interesting I find it to be. Putting everything in their proper places is simple, but keeping an aquarium healthy and happy calls for a lot of planning. You must maintain the happiness of your visitors and, more importantly, your marine life, just as you would in a theme park simulation. You’ll spend a lot of time crafting aquariums with just the right temperature, population, and water quality for each unlockable animal. You can adjust the game’s level to make it as relaxing or frantic as you wish, and play in either the guided story or the open sandbox mode.
Last thoughts
In conclusion, as the seasons change and the weather turns cooler, the allure of cozying up with a relaxing video game becomes increasingly appealing. While classic favorites like “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” “Stardew Valley,” and “The Sims 4” remain ever-popular choices, there is a treasure trove of new and unique gaming experiences waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re gaming on your phone, PC, or console, there’s something out there for everyone, titles like Cult of the Lamb , Tsuki’s Odyssey, Alto’s Adventure, even rainbow riches are bound to give you hours of entertainment.
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