The Friday Roundup

featuring Ratboys, Chaos Chaos, Harry Styles, and more!

Hi, happy Friday! Happy March! Even happier Pisces season! I hope the sensitive, emotional, dreamy, lover girl energies of my favorite time of year move you in some way. Here’s a Pisces season mix if you need some inspiration:

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I just finished listening to Harry Styles’ new album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally., which came out today. I have been feeling some type of way about Mr. Styles since the absolute nightmare that was trying to buy tickets for his Madison Square Garden residency this fall. For two straight weeks, I suffered through [number redacted because it’s so embarrassing] different ticket presales and, despite a few close calls, came up empty handed. If and when I ever got through a queue while tickets were still available, the cheapest seats were “dynamically priced” at around $1,000. One thousand dollars. To sit in an upper level at Madison Square Garden for a concert. That should truly be… against the law?

Now, I recognize that Harry Styles is not in charge of Ticketmaster. This system is a mess and getting tickets to basically any major show feels near impossible. HOWEVER. There are options available to artists that make it slightly easier to get tickets in the hands of actual fans and at decent prices. One way is for artists to opt out of the “dynamic pricing” model. So, wow, does it make you look bad if you agree to it. Another is to make tickets non-transferable in an effort to eliminate the resale, scalping market [which does not work perfectly, but at least is an attempt]. Harry Styles chose neither option. And frankly, that has soured me on him a little!

He won me back a bit with his Brit Awards performance [he’s moved away from channeling Mick Jagger and is now channeling David Byrne], so the album was the first thing in my queue this morning. My initial reaction is that it is aptly titled- there are occasionally songs you could dance to on here, but there are lots of songs for making out. And that’s a vibe! It will not be my favorite Harry Styles album [and I fear there is not a clear standout Hit here], but sure, throw it on in the background!

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I was effectively out of my mind OR actually out of office for the entirety of February, so I’m still catching up on my new music queue. In addition to the new Harry Styles album, I’ve listened to and liked new albums from Mitski, Ratboys, and Lala Lala plus new tracks from Chaos Chaos, RAYE, Mikaela Davis, and more! Would love to know what you’re listening to!