u/Hot_Historian_6967

I’m getting a little tired of seeing people frame “I don’t enjoy this” as evidence that there is something objectively “wrong” with this new album (both the vocal version and now the instrumental).

Totally fair to dislike the album. If you find the melodies/rhythms forgettable/repetitive, production subpar, or the whole thing simply unenjoyable, those are totally valid reactions. But there’s a massive difference between describing your listening experience vs. claiming that there is something objectively “wrong” (as a result of you not liking it).

I’ve also seen people suggest that they “composed too much” or should have approached the album more spontaneously. There’s a weird assumption behind this that composition is somehow the opposite of feeling, while improvisation and spontaneity are inherently more “authentic.” That’s a pretty simplistic way of thinking about how musicians actually create. Improvisation can be highly practiced and deeply crafted, while composition can be intuitive, expressive, and rooted in feeling.

With this duo especially, the amount of rhythmic, harmonic, and textural detail is clearly intentional. You don’t have to like the result, but “I don’t like what they did” doesn’t automatically equal “they did something wrong,” nor does it mean “removing all the vocals will fix the problem.”

And to those disappointed with the instrumental release because it “sounds more like background music”: I think that’s worth considering in the context of what the vocals contribute to these arrangements. Removing the vocals removes a major melodic, rhythmic, and textural focal point, so naturally the instrumental version occupies a different sonic space. You’re basically now hearing the arrangements without one of the most important components. The vocals aren’t some random layer that can simply be removed to “fix” the songs. They were constructed as an integral part of the music’s rhythmic and textural structure.

TL;DR: It’s completely fine to not connect with this album. I just wish more people would distinguish between “this doesn’t work for me” and “because I don’t like it, there must be something wrong with it.”

Hey everyone!

I'm planning to start apartment hunting soon with the goal of moving somewhere in the Seattle area around Oct/Nov (open to Lynnwood, Mt Lake Terrace, Kenmore, North Seattle, Green Lake, etc). I've already done a good amount of research re: these neighborhoods, so I'm not really looking for recommendations on where to live.

I've also spent a lot of time reading Google/Yelp reviews and have made a list of apartments/ management companies to avoid.

So what I'm really looking for is the stuff that *doesn't* necessarily show up on Google/Yelp.

In other words, I'm curious about all the things you *wish* you'd known A) before you started apartment hunting in Seattle, B) during the process of looking and communicating with management, and C) after you signed the lease.

Some examples might include the following (you don't have to touch on all of these, just whatever advice you have to offer):

-Hidden fees or lease terms that caught you by surprise

-Questions you wish you'd asked before signing

-Dealing with property management companies during/after signing a lease.

-Application/move in costs you didn't anticipate

-Red flags you only recognized in hindsight (and patterns that become red flags over time that may not be recognizable at first glance)

-Lessons you only learned after living somewhere for a bit

Basically, if you could go back and give your "pre-apartment-hunting" self a bunch of advice, what would it be?

If it helps, I'm a female in my mid-30s, who will be living alone with no pets. That may or may not inform the advice, but just mentioning that in case it does.

Thanks so much in advance!