weekly mlog ♪ #11

this one feels less fun to me I wasn't in the spirit of the spacehey zeitgeist this week. maybe next week will be better. or perhaps I will take a week off. the only music I looked up this week was old man music hence the Thin Lizzy. they're great... NEWAYZzzz

nara leao - nara dez anos depois (1971)
genre: bossa nova
FFO: astrud gilberto, gal costa
rating: 8/10

I didn't know this entire album was full of mostly famous bossa nova covers, so I will be looking further into the songs I didn't know. Nara offers a unique spin on some bossa classics such as fotografia (sylvia telles) and meditacao (antonio carlos jobim). I am a huge fan of the instrumental renditions on this album, from harmonious, orchestral strings, swooning piano, and expertly plucked guitars. this artist's take is also unique in her voice, which is adult and somewhat sultry yet you can tell she has a vitality to her. she was 29 at the time of recording the album, which is relatively young on the spectrum of bossa nova artists over time. obviously my favorite songs here are the peppier ones with a definitive beat, but there is one thing that disappoints me about nara's delivery-- in songs like medicatao you can tell she sort of slurs words into one another, as opposed to Jobim's staccato delivery. I think this makes the overall feeling of the album a little more depressed than their original form. but otherwise, beautiful renditions that hold up to my modern standards of what "good" bossa nova should sound like. I realize that is subjective but so many can agree on the classics, which nara leao provides many on this album, some of previously lesser known artists. songs I would recommend: fotografia, medicatao, este seu olhar, outra vez

STEROID - CHAINMAIL COMMANDOS (2025)
genre: post punk, egg punk, hard rock
FFO: gee tee, snooper
rating: 7.5/10

I really enjoy the power pop/hard rock/classic metal influences here. anthemic melodies for the DIY punker of modern times. you can be safety pinned together and still rock out to these guys, who offer a modern take on bands like girlschool and motorhead. the vocals blew me away upon first listen. songs I would recommend: rock your own way, nowhere to run, rotting in the prison
[featured performance is without the studio vocalist on this specific album who I haven't been able to find information about but I didn't look very hard. please leave me alone <3]

artist recommendation: plexi stad (2022-present)
genre: post punk, neu deutsch welle? idk they're belgian/dutch/german or something like that
FFO: wire, gang of four, television personalities, zounds
rating: 10/10

this group sounds straight out of 1980's Antwerp. they could square up with the likes of Ideal and Abwarts... very excited to see when they come out with a full length album. so far they have released a couple EPs and a few singles. songs: action and joy, probation baby, your parade (but the whole catalog is worth checking out if that's your vibe)

thin lizzy - black rose: a rock legend (1979)
genre: hard rock, blues rock
FFO: black sabbath, deep purple
rating: 9/10

ever since I discovered them from an amoeba what's in my bag video I have been in love with their fully fleshed out sound featured on their hit album Jailbreak (1975) and later black rose: a rock legend. I am not super familiar with their entire discography but their particular brand of bittersweet, melodic blues rock and glam metal is particularly pleasing, especially here on songs like "get out of here". jailbreak was an unexpected new all-time favorite upon first listen, and this new to me album black rose follows suit. songs I would recommend: get out of here, do anything you want to do, toughest street in town

thank U for reading and i love you and also goodbye and thanks for all the fish xx