Hello and happy day-after-National-rewatch-Gossip-Girl-Thanksgiving-episodes-day! My family didn’t go around saying what we’re all thankful for this year, but if we had I was prepared to say, “Michelle Branch retweeting me for a second time last week.” If only I could get her to join Jitter………
I’m writing this on Thursday whilst on my grandparents’ WiFi, an incredibly honorable and even brave thing to do, so I’ll keep this short. I have three (3) album retrospectives for the month of November, and before you roll your eyes — I get it! I don’t want to write it, you don’t want to read it, no one wants this! But it’s going to happen regardless, so let’s try and make it as painless as possible, shall we?
Do you know what today is? It’s Your Anniversary!
Today’s album: Justified by Justin Timberlake
Release date: November 5, 2002 (20 years)
So much for making this painless. I know the general consensus around Justin Timberlake these days is mostly thumbs down, and in many ways I agree, but when your debut album is produced by the likes of The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Scott Storch, you can’t pretend it doesn’t hold up or that his music career was overhyped. You just can’t. Out of all his albums, Justified is by far the one I return back to the most. But don’t ask me if it’s my favorite, because there’s just something about FutureSex/LoveSounds that does something for me.
Song I would recommend: “Last Night” !!!!
Favorite lyric: “Oh no (girl) / Is that your hands / Rubbing on me?” is such a funny chorus to me.
Do you know what today is? It’s Your Anniversary!
Today’s album: True (EP) by Solange
Release date: November 27, 2012 (10 years)
Solange’s earlier projects tried so hard to translate her sister’s pop-stardom into her own success, but True proves Solange was never meant to be a popstar — rather, she’s simply an artist whose main medium for creating just so happens to be music. There’s not much else left to say except: Dev Hynes, thank you for your slay-vice.
Song I would recommend: This EP is literally seven tracks long just listen to the whole damn thing. You’ll be better for it. (But “Lovers In The Parking Lot” might be my favorite.)
Favorite lyric: “And still I try to throw you into my own hurricane / It's like you spot me trying from a thousand miles away / I look down on your soul, deep down I know that we're the same / It's stupid thinking that you would want to come play my game.” Ughhhh sooo true, chica.
My second favorite line is, of course, “Remember when you kissed me / At Jimmy John's when I was 17.”
Do you know what today is? It’s Your Anniversary!
Today’s album: Thriller by Michael Jackson
Release date: November 30, 1982 (40 years)
I wanted to make this painless, so I’ll just say: Off The Wall is better!
Song I would recommend: Nearly every song on this album was a major smash hit success, but it’s a damn shame “Baby Be Mine” never got to be a single.
Favorite lyric: The humorless banter between Michael and Paul McCartney at the end of “The Girl Is Mine” is — I’m sorry to say this — camp.
That’s literally all you’re getting from me this week, please stop begging you’re embarrassing yourselves. Oh my god now you’re on your knees? Jesus Christ man, you’re scaring the hoes! C’mon bro, you’re better than this. Have some dignity.
Justified holds up soooooo well