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Faye Webster Returns With New Single ‘But Not Kiss’

Faye Webster is back with ‘But Not Kiss’, her first new single in two years. The track comes paired with a video directed by Kyle Ng of Brain Dead and filmed at Los Angeles’ Bob Baker Marionette Theatre. Check it out below, along with Webster’s upcoming tour dates.

“I think it could be a really romantic song or a really anti-romantic song,” Webster said of ‘But Not Kiss’ in a statement. “It’s something I’ve looked for but struggled to find in other love songs, for them to describe this conflict or contradiction.” The artist, who is currently working on a new LP, added that the song “says a lot about what’s coming.”

Webster’s last album, I Know I’m Funny Haha, came out in 2021. She followed it up with the Car Therapy Sessions EP, which featured orchestral reworkings of past material.

Faye Webster 2023 Tour Dates:

Jun 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Brain Dead Studios
Jun 22 – Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
Oct 17 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Oct 20 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Oct 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
Oct 24 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel
Oct 27 – Toronto, ON – History
Oct 29 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
Oct 30 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Nov 2 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
Nov 3 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
Nov 4 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Nov 7 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater
Nov 8 – Los Angeles, – The Novo
Nov 10 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
Nov 12 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
Nov 13 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Nov 14 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Nov 17 – Atlanta, GA – The Eastern

New Posthumous jaimie branch Album Announced

International Anthem has today announced trumpeter and composter jaimie branch’s third and final album, Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)), which will be released posthumously on August 25. The first single, ‘take over the world’, is out today alongside a video directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Jon Philpot. Check it out below.

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) was recorded in April 2022 during branch’s residency at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Nebraska. When branch passed away in August 2022, the album was nearly completed, and in the months following, her family (led by her sister Kate Branch), bandmates – Lester St. Louis, Jason Ajemian, and Chad Taylor – and collaborators at International Anthem gathered together to to finish the record.

On the abum’s liner notes, branch’s bandmates wrote: “jaimie never had small ideas. She always thought big. The minute you told her she couldn’t do something, or that something would be too difficult to accomplish, the more determined and focused she became. And this album is big. Far bigger and more demanding — for us, and for you — than any other Fly or Die record. For this, jaimie wanted to play with longer forms, more modulations, more noise, more singing, and as always, grooves and melodies. She was a dynamic melodicist. jaimie wanted this album to be lush, grand and full of life, just as she was. Every time we take a listen, we feel the deep imprint of her all over the music, and we see all of us making it together.”

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) will follow branch’s solo debut, 2017’s Fly or Die, 2019’s Fly or Die II: Bird Dogs of Paradise, as well as 2021’s Fly or Die Live.

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) Cover Artwork:

Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ((world war)) Tracklist:

1. aurora rising
2. borealis dancing
3. burning grey
4. the mountain
5. baba louie
6. bolinko bass
7. and kuma walks
8. take over the world
9. world war ((reprise))

Woods Announce New Album ‘Perennial’, Release New Songs

Woods have announced a new album, Perennial, which will be out September 15 via their own label Woodsist. To accompany the announcement, the psych-folk band has shared the new songs ‘Between the Past’ and ‘White Winter Melody’. Take a listen below.

The follow-up to 2020’s Strange to Explain grew from a series of guitar, keyboard, and drum loops made by the band’s Jeremy Earl, which were then fleshed out into songs alongside bandmates Jarvis Taveniere and John Andrews at his home in New York. The album was completed at the Panoramic House studio in Stinson Beach, California.

Perennial Cover Artwork:

Perennial Tracklist:

1. The Shed
2. Between The Past
3. Another Side
4. White Winter Melody
5. Sip Of Happiness
6. Little Black Flowers
7. Day Moving On
8. The Wind Again
9. Weep
10. Double Dream
11. Perennial

The Smile Release New Song ‘Bending Hectic’

The Smile – the trio of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with drummer Tom Skinner – have returned with a new single called ‘Bending Hectic’. The standalone track was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London earlier this year, with production from Sam Petts-Davies and strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra. Listen to it below.

The Smile debuted ‘Bending Hectic’ during their set at the Montreux Jazz Festival last year, though it was not included on the subsequent live album The Smile (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 2022). It marks their first new music since their debut LP, A Light for Attracting Attention.

Geese Share New Single ‘I See Myself’

Geese have shared another track from their upcoming album, 3D Country, ahead of its release on Friday. ‘I See Myself’ follows previous cuts ‘Mysterious Love’, ‘Cowboy Nudes’, and the title track. Give it a listen below.

“‘I See Myself’ was one of the last songs we pulled together for the album,” frontman Cameron Winter explained in a statement. “I was inspired by my favorite Funkadelic songs, which are dead simple and have big choruses with beautiful backing vocals, so this was our version of something like that. This might be Geese’s first proper love song. Seeing your humanity reflected back in someone else is one of the most pure kinds of connections that exist, to me. But I think there’s a lyrical darkness to the song too, about wanting to save someone you love from something evil and unstoppable.”

Album Review: Killer Mike, ‘Michael’

Michael has been a long time coming. It’s Killer Mike’s first solo album since 2012’s R.A.P. Music, a collaboration with rapper/producer El-P that led to the formation of Run the Jewels and convinced him the duo “should never not make music together.” Which, of course, does not mean they should or would only make music together. But it would be easy for his follow-up to feel more like a retread of old ground than a necessary expression of ideas that don’t quite fit into the RTJ universe. And so, with production from No I.D., Michael embraces a clear gospel influence while maintaining an eclectic palette that’s distinct from his recent work, favoring live instrumentation that suits the soulful and electrifying performances threaded across the album. The rapper uses it as an opportunity to look back, but he’s more interested in unraveling the complications of his past than offering a clear-cut celebration. It’s a tastefully arranged, heartfelt, occasionally misguided, and compelling project that delivers on yet rarely shows interest in exceeding expectations. Killer Mike has said it’s the album he wanted to make his entire career. For all its flaws, you don’t doubt him for a second.

Michael is undeniably a personal album, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely introspective or autobiographical, which often works to its benefit. Any celebration of success is framed through the lens of family and community, a smart choice that also honours what was at the heart of R.A.P. Music. ‘Something for the Junkies’ finds Mike grappling with his personal history of dealing drugs but ends up more of a tribute to those around him, particularly his aunt: “She said Michael, you say you love me, I know you mean it/ Cause you still treat your junkie auntie like a human being.” Such words provide the fuel for an album that’s refreshingly geared towards empathy and tenderness, pushing him to write a song as bracingly vulnerable as ‘Motherless’, in which he unpacks his complicated relationship with his late mother. It’s sort of remarkable, and somehow not distracting, that Michael remains just as hook-focused during those unflinching moments of self-reflection. It’s that unifying quality he leans into on closer ‘High & Holy’, which begins with the lines: “Real niggas it’s my honor to pay you homage/ And extend the same respect to all your baby mommas.”

What prevents Michael‘s directness from feeling hollow is its underlying nuance, which doesn’t only come from Mike’s lyrical dexterity. Heightening the emotionality of ‘Motherless’ into something vividly striking is Eryn Allen Kane’s vocal presence, which elevates all three tracks she’s featured in – including ‘Scientists & Engineers’, the outstanding collab with André 3000 and Future. This is unsurprisingly a star-studded affair, with guest spots from the likes of 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Curen$y, Ty Dolla $ign, and, disappointingly, Dave Chapelle and CeeLo Green – and while some are just serviceable, they often have the effect of forcing Mike to be more versatile in style and flow, which helps keep the nearly hour-long album engaging. Still, nothing beats the camaraderie on display when El-P turns up on the penultimate ‘Don’t Let the Devil’, where his pen game turns from broadly respectable to absurdly funny (“Slap chickpeas out your cheek until you drool hummus” takes the cake for me).

Sonically, Michael never feels quite as visceral or hard-hitting as R.A.P. Music – it’s not trying to be – but in its more uplifting moments, Mike’s confidence is still thrilling. There are times, though, when his tone becomes blatantly defensive in a way that kills the music’s momentum and lacks the specificity that renders his storytelling on songs like ‘Slummer’ so memorable. On ‘Talk’N That Shit’, he raps: “Niggas talk to me on that woke-ass shit/ Be the same niggas walkin’ on some broke-ass shit.” He boasts about his landlord status on ‘Spaceship Views’, asking, “Bitch, pay rent.” Perhaps worse are tracks that coast on the same mood but register as filler, like ‘Exit 9’. But Killer Mike never allows himself to get too comfortable with the position he occupies, especially when he accounts for what it took to get there. After all, the most admirable and revealing aspect of Michael, a project made by one of the most celebrated rappers alive, is that it somehow feels bigger than himself.

Vape Tricks and Cloud Chasing: The Thrilling Side of Vaping Culture

Vaping, once considered a smoking alternative, has evolved into a cultural phenomenon of its own especially with people who use vape pens. With its rising popularity, a vibrant subculture has emerged, showcasing the artistry and excitement surrounding vape tricks and cloud chasing. Vape tricks refer to the impressive displays of skill and creativity in manipulating vapor clouds, while cloud chasing involves the pursuit of massive vapor production. This article will delve into the thrilling side of vaping culture, exploring the history, techniques, and community behind vape tricks and cloud chasing.

The Evolution of Vaping

Initially, vaping gained popularity as an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, with many individuals using it to quit smoking or reduce their nicotine intake. However, as the technology advanced and e-liquids diversified, vaping became an activity enjoyed for its own merits rather than simply a smoking cessation tool. E-liquids now come in various flavors and nicotine levels, allowing users to customize their vaping experience according to their preferences. 

Similarly, vape devices evolved from rudimentary e-cigarettes to intricate mods, tanks, and atomizers that enable users to control their devices’ temperature, wattage, and airflow. Suppose you are using a box mod. In that case, you can tweak the wattage to achieve more enormous clouds or reduce it to produce flavor-rich vapor. Also, look into reviews of 510 thread batteries to ensure you pick the best one for your device. Depending on the specific device, atomizers and tanks can vary in design and provide different vaping experiences.

Vape Tricks: The Art of Vapor Manipulation

Vape tricks represent the fusion of creativity, dexterity, and the exhaled vapor e-cigarettes produce. From simple rings to intricate shapes, vape tricks have become a captivating form of self-expression within the community. These tricks are often performed in social settings, where enthusiasts gather to showcase their skills and learn from one another.

  1. Basic Tricks

For beginners, mastering the basics is crucial. The most common vape trick is the “O-ring,” which involves creating perfectly formed smoke rings by shaping the mouth, exhaling vapor in a controlled manner, and manipulating it with small bursts of air. Other entry-level tricks include the “Ghost Inhale,” where a cloud is exhaled, then quickly inhaled back in, and the “French Inhale,” where the exhaled vapor can flow upwards as the inhaler simultaneously inhales through the nose.

Intermediate Tricks

Once the fundamentals are grasped, vapers can progress to more complex tricks. “The Dragon” involves exhaling vapor through the nose and both sides of the mouth simultaneously, creating an illusion of smoke coming from all directions. “Bane Inhale” refers to exhaling vapor while wearing a mask or cloth, mimicking the iconic character’s appearance from the Batman franchise. The “Jellyfish” trick requires blowing an O-ring, then using a flat surface to push it into a larger, jellyfish-like shape.

Advanced Tricks

Advanced tricks push the boundaries of what is possible for those seeking a challenge. “Bull Ring” involves exhaling vapor through the nostrils, then using the tongue to blow an O-ring out of the nostril vapor stream. “Tornado” is a mesmerizing trick where a large vapor cloud is shaped into a funnel-like vortex by swiftly swiping the hand through the middle of the cloud. “Blowing Os in an O” takes the O-ring concept to another level by creating a large O-ring, t

Cloud Chasing: The Pursuit of Vapor Production

While vape tricks focus on manipulating the shape and movement of vapor, cloud-chasing enthusiasts take pride in producing immense vapor clouds. This pursuit has created a competitive subculture, with cloud-chasing events and competitions held worldwide. Participants modify their vaping devices, using specialized atomizers and high-powered batteries to achieve the desired results.

Equipment and Builds

Cloud chasers often use advanced mechanical mods or high-wattage regulated devices paired with rebuildable atomizers capable of handling large amounts of power. These atomizers feature low-resistance coils with a high surface area, allowing for rapid heating and vaporization of e-liquid. Additionally, cloud chasers experiment with different coil configurations, such as complex multi-strand builds or exotic wire types like Clapton, fused Clapton, or alien coils. These intricate coil designs maximize the surface area in contact with the wicking material, producing more significant vapor.

E-liquids and Nicotine Levels 

Cloud chasers often opt for e-liquids with high vegetable glycerin (VG) content to produce voluminous clouds. VG is responsible for creating dense vapor clouds due to its thick consistency and ability to hold flavorings. Cloud chasers commonly prefer e-liquids with a VG ratio of 70% or higher. However, it’s important to note that high VG e-liquids may require more powerful devices and may only be suitable for some vaping setups.

In contrast, nicotine levels in cloud-chasing e-liquids are typically lower. Cloud chasers prioritize the smoothness and flavor of the vapor over the throat hit provided by nicotine. Many cloud chasers prefer nicotine-free e-liquids or low nicotine concentrations, allowing them to take longer and deeper inhales without experiencing discomfort.

Techniques and Safety 

Cloud chasing requires specific inhaling techniques to maximize vapor production. Deep lung inhales, also known as direct-to-lung (DTL) inhales, are commonly used by cloud chasers. Unlike traditional smoking or mouth-to-lung vaping, DTL inhales, drawing the vapor directly into the lungs without holding it in the mouth. This technique allows for more excellent airflow and a larger volume of smoke.

It’s crucial to prioritize safety when engaging in cloud chasing. Cloud chasers should be knowledgeable about battery safety, ensuring they use high-quality batteries with the appropriate amp limits for their devices. Proper maintenance of their vaping equipment, including regular cleaning and coil replacements, is essential to avoid potential hazards. Additionally, cloud chasers should be mindful of the environments they vape in, respecting local regulations and the comfort of those around them.

Community and Competitions 

Cloud-chasing competitions have become popular events within the vaping community. These events bring together cloud chasers from various regions, allowing them to showcase their skills, compete for prizes, and gain recognition. Competitions are typically judged based on vapor density, length, and overall aesthetics of the cloud produced. Judges, often experienced cloud chasers or vape industry professionals, evaluate factors such as cloud thickness, duration, and the ability to perform tricks within the cloud.

Vape tricks and cloud chasing have become integral aspects of vaping culture, bringing creativity, skill, and excitement to the community. They showcase vapers’ artistry and technical capabilities, providing a platform for self-expression and friendly competition. While enjoying these thrilling aspects, it is crucial to prioritize responsible vaping practices, maintain respect for others, and stay informed about the potential health risks associated with vaping. By doing so, vapers can fully appreciate and engage in the vibrant and captivating world of vape tricks and cloud chasing.

Top 10 Best English Literature Books

What if we told you that a vast world of literature can be explored? And what if we also told you that reading it all in your life is possible? You may wonder whether it is a dream or not, but it is not. You can read all the literature you want to and never run out of ideas.

If you are a person who likes to read, then it is time for you to explore the world of literature. You will never regret it.

Suppose you are in the middle of your studies or a professional career and must improve your English skills. In that case, you can choose from various English online tutors available on the italki platform. italki is an online marketplace where you can find tutors like teachers, coaches, and writers. So, when you register on this platform, you can connect with thousands of tutors and get the best tutor according to your requirements.

Here is a list of the best 10 English literature books to help you read and enjoy.

  1. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This is one of the best classic novels written by Oscar Wilde. It is a short novel that tells the story of Dorian Gray, a man considered the most beautiful. He looks good, but his soul is ruined.

  1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

This is the most popular book in English literature, and it is also the most controversial. It is about a group of children stranded on a desert island.

  1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This is a novel about a lawyer and his family living in south America. The lawyer defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.

  1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is the most famous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald and one of the most influential novels. It is a story of a young man who lives in New York and is obsessed with the past.

  1. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

This dystopian novel is about a man forced to undergo treatment, and the results are not good.

  1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This is a psychological novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The main character is Raskolnikov, and he kills an older woman because of his greed.

  1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

This is a story of a beautiful and talented woman who gets married for the sake of her career.

  1. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

This is a story of a group of people who go on a bullfighting trip to Spain. They have their ups and downs, but the most important thing is that they have their own stories.

  1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This is a psychological novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The main character is Raskolnikov, and he kills an older woman because of his greed.

  1. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita is a novel that Vladimir Nabokov wrote. It is a story about a man who falls in love with a girl and how he tries to win her heart.

Conclusion

So, these are the top 10 best English literature books. Reading these books will help you to learn English language.

Slowdive Announce New Album ‘everything is alive’, Share New Single ‘kisses’

Slowdive announce a new album: everything is alive is out September 1 on Dead Oceans. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the new single ‘kisses’, alongside an accompanying Noel Paul-directed video. Check it out and find the album cover, tracklist, and Slowdive’s upcoming tour dates below.

“If this video evokes emotion, it’s largely due to our excellent cast,” Paul commented in a statement. “In particular Charlie and Claudia, two courageous and beautiful souls who threw themselves into their roles and set a tone of fearless vulnerability.”

everything is alive, Slowdive’s fifth LP, arrives six years after the group returned with their self-titled album. It is dedicated to vocalist/guitarist Rachel Goswell’s mother and drummer Simon Scott’s father, who both died in 2020. “There were some profound shifts for some of us personally,” Goswell said in a press release.

“It wouldn’t feel right to make a really dark record right now,” Neil Halstead explained, reflecting on the lead single. “The album is quite eclectic emotionally, but it does feel hopeful.”

The new album, which began with Halstead working on demos at home, was originally conceived as a “more minimal electronic record” before the band’s collaborative process led them back to their signature reverb-drenched sound. Shawn Everett was brought in to mix the LP’s eight tracks.

“As a band, when we’re all happy with it, that tends to be the stronger material,” Halstead remarked. “We’ve always come from slightly different directions, and the best bits are where we all meet in the middle.” Goswell added: “Slowdive is very much the sum of its parts,” Goswell adds. “Something unquantifiable happens when the five of us come together in a room.”

everything is alive Cover Artwork:

everything is alive Tracklist:

1. shanty
2. prayer remembered
3. alife
4. andalucia plays
5. kisses
6. skin in the game
7. chained to a cloud
8. the slab

Slowdive 2023 Tour Dates:

Jun 24 – Exeter, UK – Phoenix [sold out]
Jun 25 – Glastonbury Festival, UK
Jul 17 – Perth, Aus – Astor Theatre [sold out]
Jul 19 – Brisbane, Aus – Princess Theatre [sold out]
Jul 21 – Sydney, Aus – Enmore Theatre
Jul 22 – Melbourne, Aus – Forum [sold out]
Jul 23 – Adelaide, Aus – Hindley St Music Hall
Jul 26 – Auckland, NZ – Powerstation [sold out]
Jul 29 – Fuji Rock Festival, Japan
Aug 5: Off Festival, Poland
Aug 11 – Ypsigrock Festival, Sicily
Aug 18 – Green Man Festival, UK
Sep 23 – Toronto, ONT – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sep 25 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues Boston
Sep 27 – NYC, NY – Webster Hall
Sep 28 – NYC, NY – Webster Hall
Sep 29 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
Sep 30 – Washington, DC – 930 Club
Oct 2 – Cleveland, OH – The Roxy @ Mahall’s
Oct 3 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
Oct 4 – St. Paul, MN – Palace Theatre
Oct 6 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
Oct 7 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union
Oct 9 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Oct 10 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
Oct 12 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
Oct 14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether
Oct 30 – Glasgow, UK – QMU
Oct 31 – Manchester, UK – Ritz
Nov 1 – Bristol, UK – SWX
Nov 3 – London, UK – Troxy
Nov 5 – Belfast, UK – Mandela Hall
Nov 6 – Dublin, IE – National Stadium

Butthole Surfers’ Teresa Taylor Dead at 60

Teresa Taylor (aka Teresa Nervosa), one of the drummers in Butthole Surfers, has died of lung disease. “Teresa Taylor passed away peacefully this weekend after a long battle with lung disease,” Butthole Surfers wrote in a statement on social media. “She will live in our hearts forever. RIP, dear friend.” She was 60.

Born in 1962 in Arlington, Texas, Taylor played drums in various marching bands in high school alongside fellow Butthole Surfers drummer King Coffey. She joined the band in 1983, following the release of their debut self-titled EP, and left in 1989. She appeared on the albums Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s SacRembrandt PussyhorseLocust Abortion Technician, and Hairway to Steven.

In 1990, Taylor had a role in Richard Linklater’s Slacker as Pap Smear Pusher, a character trying to sell a pap smear she claims belongs to Madonna. The character is featured on the film’s official posters.

“Teresa passed away clean and sober, peacefully in her sleep, this weekend. She was so brave, even in the face of her horrible disease,” Taylor’s partner wrote on Facebook. “We were all fortunate to have her beautiful, strong spirit in our lives. She will be forever missed. We will have a memorial service sometime in the future.”