Posts by Casey Flores

I’m going to try and push one more solo project forward that really deserves some attention, though it seems to have flown under the radar for quite a few people...

Skinshape - Filoxiny

Gerald Jackson48 said:Of course we can just stop talking... I don't even get why you're still pushing this debate if you think it's stupid in the first place?

Well, it only turned stupid because you completely lost the plot.

Yeah, I'm with you there. Personally, I think the voting principle is perfectly fine as it stands... no need to go changing things now.

Gerald Jackson48 said:Well, yeah, but you didn't specify congressional elections...

See, political elections aren't just about the President. You've got congressional races, local ones, all sorts of things... How was I even supposed to know you were specifically talking about the presidency?

Can we just move past this silly argument now?

Aha, so they're talking about the upcoming elections... 😁

Gerald Jackson48 said:The whole thing might be a bit messy... since the rules have been shifting around quite a bit lately, I can totally see why some folks are feeling a little lost. But honestly? Just jump in... ask questions, suggest an album... we'll figure out the specifics as we go. Nobody’s going to think you're an idiot for asking, at least not me... though I can't speak for everyone else here. 😁

And regarding voting for your own suggestions... well, it’s a different ballgame than when people vote for themselves in, say, a US presidential election, which is generally seen as a massive ethical no-no. Now, voting for your own political party is considered slightly less questionable, and as far as I know—though I haven't seen it firsthand in any specific 😁—parties actually expect their members to do that, because it's about the platform rather than just the individuals. But this isn't exactly a "political election," is it?

We aren't casting votes for ourselves or our own creations here... instead, we're voting for other people's work that we find significant or valuable for ourselves, or perhaps even for the world at large, which is why we put them forward in the first place. Or maybe we're just trolling... but let's not get distracted by that right now.

When I notice someone doesn't vote for their own suggestion, but instead votes for someone else's, it tells me one of two things... either they are absolutely certain their pick will win, or they've found something even better than their own idea... which, if anything, makes me reconsider my own choice too, especially if I don't know the artist or the record very well yet.

Basically, I expect the person making the suggestion to really stand behind the album they're putting up there.

Your analogy is a bit off base... I wasn't thinking about congressional elections where a bunch of corrupt local officials return favors every four years by voting for the party that secured them a cushy government job in some tiny town in the Midwest... I was thinking more along the lines of a presidential race where candidates run for themselves. To me, that's not necessarily immoral, but those politicians are total scumbags... and voting for an album I personally suggested feels a bit too much like them. So, I agree with Charles Ramos4... my suggestion is essentially my way of giving that album a voice, and it's up to all of you whether you decide to pick it or not.

Don't get me wrong... I'm not trying to stir the pot or argue that proposers should be banned from voting for their own picks... I'm just explaining why I personally would never cast a vote for an album I suggested myself.

Is there a better anthem for those moments when you’re absolutely desperate, just begging for one more shot at things? When all logic goes right out the window and raw emotion drags out the absolute weakest parts of who we are...

I'll drown my beliefs
To have your babies
I'll dress like your niece
And wash your swollen feet
Just don't leave
Don't leave
I'm not living, I'm just killing time
Your tiny hands, your crazy-kitten smile
Just don't leave
Don't leave
And true love waits
In haunted attics
And true love lives
On lollipops and crisps
Just don't leave
Don't leave

It's funny how someone can write lyrics this childishly... yet still manage to hit you right where it hurts most.

It could even be gG, acting like a blown fuse... 😁 Something like 63 Amps. 🤦 😁

I didn't end up casting a vote because I was still just trying to wrap my head around how this whole thread works... I had no clue the poll would basically wrap up the very same day it was proposed. Or, well, the day after, but how much longer? Like, an hour past midnight?

But if I had, my vote probably would've gone to New York City or maybe Sonic Youth...

Voting on my own proposal... it just immediately brings to mind those political hacks who show up at the polls every four years just to vote themselves back into office. 😁

So, I was just wondering... what's the actual cutoff date for getting a thread opened?

Steven Newman50 said:P.S. I really hope Casey Flores manages to drop a suggestion soon, assuming someone else hasn't already jumped in with the album they were eyeing... 😁

Heh, I was actually tempted to hold back since everyone is saying how tough it is to choose, and honestly, looking at all these solid suggestions, I see why... But, well, whatever happens, happens...

Ah, sounds great. 🙂 See you tomorrow then...

Am I allowed to suggest an album here? And if so, when exactly does that happen—is there a specific time the poll opens?

There’s this one particular album... honestly, both the record and the artist just hit me right in the feels... I'd really love to hear what you all think about it...

Jamie Davis9 said:The snow is falling and I’m feeling just foolishly joyful😍 😁
snow

Honestly, I can't even put into words how much happiness I get just walking the dog through these dim, half-lit streets covered in white... letting myself just feel this way. It feels like I've stepped right into a movie scene, and somehow, all of it just fills me with this quiet hope that everything is going to work out. Everything always turns out fine in the end, dear friends...

I didn't realize there was already a thread on this... I mean, if there is, what's even the point of everyone just dropping their little snippets here and calling it a day? 🤣

You actually gave me a good laugh with this one, in the best way possible...

And I was just thinking to myself, what's the point of a thread like this if people just drop a lyric without saying why they picked that specific song, or what those words actually mean to them personally... or how it hits home...

Ashley Grant66 said:I actually shared a link to them recently... Arab Strap is always so wonderful, and the lyrics are just stunning. Such a simple, raw, and visceral story. 🙂

Yeah, I think that’s probably why they leave such a lasting impression on everyone.

Lisa Davis46 said:Because of your post, I feel like I really need to check out Arab Strap. I haven't ever listened to them properly, or even consciously heard anything by them... honestly, just reading the lyrics was such a trip.

Honestly, paired with his delivery and that Scottish accent, the lyrics are pure genius... yet so incredibly straightforward. 😁

If you're going to dive into Arab Strap (by the way, just Google the band name to see what they're actually about 🤣), I'd highly recommend this one too. It’s a bit different, but just as heavy-hitting:

The Girl I Loved Before I Fucked

I can't even escape you in my sleep when all I need is rest
Knowing when I wake up I can't watch you get dressed
And pretend I'm sleeping and imagine you with child
A suggestion often made by me and by you always reviled
I wanted to watch your body change and loosen all your clothes
To hold a new-born baby with your eyes and my nose

I suppose that was the first sign
That you never really were mine

My twisted spine is aching now this bed's got so much space
In direct contrast to my mind which is cluttered with your face
You're the girl I loved before I fucked and that's so rare
So I'll help you leave your home while you decide if you still care

I really thought we never could end
Or at least I'd always be your good friend
But then I think about what you've done
And his tongue pressed against your tongue
Your bodies together in our bed
His cock in your cunt, his cock in your head
And instead of a new platonic future for you and me
I hope you get an abortion or at least an STD

When out with married friends I sat with them on the bus
I watched the way they were and that could never have been us
So the girl I loved before I fucked you'll always be
But the woman you've grown into is no woman for me

Casey Flores said:Honestly, I wouldn't agree with that at all... not even by a fraction of a percent, let alone a tiny little sliver.

Just had to fix that typo... it was honestly driving me crazy.

I’ve seen people on this forum mention a few times now that they just don't care about lyrics in music. Like one old-school regular—shout out to him, wherever you are, if you're reading this—once put it perfectly, to paraphrase... if the melody sounds good to the ear, the lyrics could be about washing laundry for all it matters. Honestly, I couldn't disagree more. Not even by 0.1%... not even a fraction of a percent. For me, the lyrics are absolutely vital. That doesn't mean you can't find absolute masterpieces in instrumental tracks, of course, but it’s the words that, when paired with the melody, "puts shakes into my soul," as Peter Hammill would say in one of his equally phenomenal, lyrically dense songs.

And that’s exactly why I’m leaving here one such simple, raw—maybe even primitive, if I'm being honest—lyric, but one that is incredibly emotionally charged, which I experienced for the first time right here on this forum. I can't quite recall who posted it, but thanks again. Perhaps it'll leave a deep impression on someone else too... 🙂

Arab Strap - New birds

You just have to be sure you're doing the right thing. I mean, it's so easy to lose track—she's just sitting there in the pub with her new crowd, her new life, and her new hair. Even if it's been five years, you'd know just by looking at her.

I wasn't even certain it was her at first; I was almost ready to just turn around and walk away, but then she smiled and waved me over, and we chatted for a bit. Once we got back to our respective tables, we both tried so hard not to keep glancing at each other, telling our friends to quit staring. I didn't see her again for the rest of the evening, but by the time the bar was closing and the drinks had finally kicked in, I went up to talk to her. We ended up taking a walk, just talking about our new places, our new jobs, our new friends, and our new birds.

She mentioned she’s been seeing him for about two and a half years now, but they don't live together, so he'd never catch on. And you find yourself thinking back to chasing her after school when you were kids, lying in bed listening to love songs and pretending they were all about you. The first time you asked her out, she said no. But then one night, you went to a wedding, and by the time you hit the pub afterward, she’d changed her mind and you finally went out. You still remember how she used to swing her arms when she held your hand, but you can't quite recall how she kissed... and now, suddenly, you have the chance to find out.

But you have to keep in mind there's this other kiss. She’s back at her place, wondering where you are and what you're up to. And you worked so hard on *this* kiss. You know it inside and out; it belongs to you as much as it belongs to her. It took forever to get it right—months of practicing and months of feeling awkward—but now you've finally perfected it, and you've been looking forward to this moment all week.

You can actually see her breath in the air between your faces as you stand among the fallen leaves, and she just asks you point-blank if you want to come back to her apartment. But you make sure to call separate Ubers, and you head home. There might be a tiny flicker of regret, a thought of wondering what you might have missed... but you have to remember that kiss you worked so hard on. And you'll know you did the right thing.

Jose Scott3 said:Shame on you. Why don't you come try a shift at my job before you start calling everything "spin"...

The point was that there’s a whole bunch of roles in the public sector that just don't exist in the private sector—jobs where people actually work instead of just sitting around drinking coffee. So why wouldn't a young guy want to jump into those public sector roles ASAP if they're actually legitimate careers? But no, you'd rather just label them all lazy...

I have no idea who Horvat is.

Look, buddy, I genuinely believe you work in the public sector and aren't just some cushy bureaucrat—and I mean that sincerely, no sarcasm intended... The real issue is the people who actually do nothing, and honestly, they make up 80%, if not more, of the government workforce. But you’re part of the problem too, though I’ll get to why that is in a bit... You're wasting your breath, Zuce, venting to the wrong crowd. There's no point trying to justify yourselves on a forum like Reddit to the private sector folks who are currently looking to trim the fat... You should be taking this straight to all those deadwood employees in the public sector, starting with your own boss. But you won't do that, because deep down, you're just too much of a conformist...

Jose Scott3 said:Actually, you're proving the opposite. You can't get certain medical specializations in the private sector. Same goes for intellectual property, standardization, and metrology. Even most roles in energy, robotics, and materials science fall under that umbrella.

And don't even get me started on pure science. Before the 90s, industry actually had R&D, but now that’s all been gutted along with our tiny industrial base. Most science happens in the public sector now, unfortunately...

The people I'm talking about aren't just some bureaucrat wasting time at a Department of Mining. They're the ones pulling 12-hour shifts without asking for a dime of overtime. I'm one of them.

What would we do? Throw them out on the street or just Decrease their pay? It's still technically the public sector...

Man, the rhetoric and the spin is just classic Horvat. For me, this discussion is over...

Jose Scott3 said:Could the private sector actually push the government to start slashing public sector wages and cutting jobs during a crisis? Or is that just wishful thinking...
Is it even possible for the private sector to... It draws a line between different parts of the public sector...?

Working in the public sector, I get it—you’ve got your fair share of parasites and people just coasting to keep their cushy jobs, but you also have folks who actually put in the work...
Same goes for private business owners... you get some real legends, and then you get the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel losers...

Look, I'm sorry, but people in the private sector don't get to claim that everyone working in the public sector is just lazy...

In my case, it’s actually the exact opposite. I spent an entire year after graduation hunting for work strictly in the private sector, but man, it just wasn't happening... Now, I'd basically be trading a government job in my field just to land something in private industry...

So, what are we supposed to do about the fact that certain jobs only exist in public service and don't exist in the private sector, at least here in America?...
Not saying this about myself, just so we're clear...

Are you talking about roles like "advisor to the advisor of the agency director"? Or maybe an assistant secretary for some pointless office? A junior clerk for the head stamp-presser? Sure, those kinds of positions only exist in government service and you won't find them in the private sector. So, what's actually your point here?

Don't try to hide behind professions that are actually essential to the state service—roles without which the world would stop spinning. We aren't all idiots in this backwater town...