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555 by Ainjo
555 by Ainjo
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Ainjo is a singer-songwriter based in San Diego, California. Not too long ago, she released a chill contemporary R&B tune, entitled, “Toxic”, which is featured on her 5-track EP, entitled, “555”.

“What you wanna fuss and fight for? You can make ya way out the door. I don’t really understand why we keep on arguing. This is toxic you’re so hectic. I do not recommend this sh*t.” – lyrics

‘Toxic’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who shares a very toxic relationship with her significant other.

Apparently, she’s unhappy because she’s tired of riding on the same emotional rollercoaster attached to their failing relationship.

‘Toxic’ contains a relatable storyline and ultra-sultry vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses laidback instrumentation flavored with contemporary R&B and neo-soul elements.

“My goal is to create songs people can relate to and turn on whenever they want to get into their feelings.” – Ainjo

Ainjo began her music career in 2017 when she released her debut single, entitled, “Cash Flaws”.

Her music inspirations influences include great artists such as Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, and Eartha Kitt.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/ainjo-toxic/
  
Band of Gold/Contact/Best Of/Reaching Out by Freda Payne
Band of Gold/Contact/Best Of/Reaching Out by Freda Payne
2009 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I’m a gigantic music fan. I love fifties rock‘n’roll, Chess, Sun, Motown. All the Merseybeat bands, Sixties girl groups, folk. This is just so cool: it’s a combination of the way it’s produced, the cool pop/R&B sound, and Freda’s voice. Its kinda kitschy in a way – y’know, it’s got a really up-tempo tune – and, the first few times I heard it, I was, like, totally into the coolness of the song. It was only on the third or fourth listen I realised the lyrics were so fucking heartbreaking"

Source
  
In the Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett
In the Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett
1965 | Compilation
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"Love it, love it, love it. Wilson Pickett was one of the greatest R&B vocalists of our time. Of course, being a label mate, I heard all of his music. He could sing off the melody, but it was still on. He would go into what you call a ‘squall,’ a scream that might not be in the key of the song, but it worked. He did that on ‘In the Midnight Hour.’ Now, how much are you going to pay me for these trade secrets? How ‘bout ten cover issues?"

Source
  
For, Lost Thoughts by Ballad
For, Lost Thoughts by Ballad
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Ballad is a rising singer-songwriter from Luanda, Angola. Not too long ago, he released a groovy contemporary R&B tune, entitled, “If”, produced by Jay Muse.

“‘If’ is the first track on my ‘For, Lost Thoughts’ EP, which touches on the themes of joy, love, depression, and acceptance. Also, ‘If’ represents joy.” – Ballad

‘If’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and lush instrumentation flavored with contemporary R&B and neo-soul elements.

The likable tune is featured on Ballad’s latest EP, entitled, “For, Lost Thoughts”. Also, you can get acquainted with the artist’s music by streaming his project via Spotify.

“This felt like therapy for me, like I needed to get out all of these emotions that life has taken me through.”

Ballad’s soulful sound is reminiscent of Maxwell and Prince, all wrapped up in one. Also, his music has amassed over 200K streams online.

His “For, Lost Thoughts” EP is his most personal project to date because it’s laced with vulnerability. Also, every word uttered from Ballad tells a story, his story.

The 5-track project highlights a transitioning period in Ballad’s life where he ultimately learned some of his biggest lessons in love. Also, it includes his “Wondering” single, which is dedicated to love lost.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/ballad-if/
  
Don't Go by Xenia Manasseh
Don't Go by Xenia Manasseh
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Xenia Manasseh is an up-and-coming singer-songwriter with Kenyan roots. Not too long ago, she released a bittersweet R&B tune, entitled, “Don’t Go”, produced by Ayo n Keyz.

“Staring at your picture hanging on the wall thinking of our last encounter. Wasn’t ready for the fall. Wondering when you’ll get here, I wanna talk it out. If you’ll just be patient with me, we can work it out.” – lyrics

‘Don’t Go’ tells an interesting tale of a single young woman who regrets telling her ex-beau to depart from their problematic relationship.

But after some time alone, she realizes that he’s the only guy who truly gets her. Therefore, she wants him back and doesn’t want him to leave anymore.

Later, she admits that she can’t remember what was said that put them in a bad place, but apologizes for the part she played in their looming breakup.

Even though her heart is in the right place, she fears that it might be too late to rekindle the flames of their dying romance.

‘Don’t Go’ contains a relatable storyline, pleasing vocals, and lush instrumentation flavored with contemporary R&B and neo-soul elements.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/xenia-manasseh-dont-go/
  
Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror
Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror
Ellen Datlow | 2016 | Horror
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-reviews/nightmares-a-new-decade-of-modern-horror-by-various-authors

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK!

I decided that instead of rating this book overall, it would be better to rate each individual story, so that’s what I’ve done. Obviously I had to rate the overall book so I actually calculated the average of all the ratings lol.

<b><u>Shallaballah</b></u> by Mark Samuels
<i>1 star</i>
Not a good start to the book for me. I was over the stitched up face appearance, creepy hospital, shady operations kind of horror story long ago, so this did pretty much nothing for me. Yes there were creepy elements to it but not enough. I also get what it was trying to do with the whole vanity, television thing, but it didn’t really work and so for me, added nothing to the overall plot.

<b><u>Sob in the Silence</b></u> by Gene Wolfe
<i>3 stars</i>
This was a pretty good creepy story, I much prefer stories that don't really have any paranormal elements to them and are more about the madness of the human brain. This short story had a bit of both to it so it was much preferable to the last! Didn't like the weird abrupt ending though, it felt like the story had been cut short.

<b><u>Our Turn Too Will One Day Come</b></u> by Brian Hodge
<i>4 stars</i>
This definitely had my skin crawling a bit. I love this kind of horror story that incorporates creatures and family secrets, kind of gave me The Village vibes… Is that the name of that film? Anyway, yes, great short!

<b><u>Dead Sea Fruit</b></u> by Kaaron Warren
<i>3 stars</i>
This short was pretty good, the Ash Mouth Man was pretty freaky but the writing was a bit all over the place and I felt too much was squeezed into such a small story. I'd love to read a full length story about this Ash Man, that would definitely be disturbing to read!

<b><u>Closet Dreams</b></u> by Lisa Tuttle
<i>4 stars</i>
Really well written and completely terrifying! I hate abduction stories so much because it could happen to anyone. It's not like the demonic ghost stories that you choose to believe or not believe, men who rape and steal little girls are <b>real.</b> The ending was… Predictable… Done before… Boring… But the rest of it was good enough to warrant it 4 stars!

<b><u>Spectral Evidence</b></u> by Gemma Files
<i>1 star</i>
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I didn’t like the way this was set out, very frustrating to read on a Kindle! Also, I didn’t really get it, it was so all over the place I forgot what was happening previously.

<b><u>Hushabye</b></u> by Simon Bestwick
<i>2 stars.</i>
I wanted to like this one but there was too much missing from the story, maybe it was meant to be mysterious but in my eyes it just felt unfinished. Like what was the man sucking out of the children? And what really happened to Hardiman? Also I thought the narrator was a woman until we finally learnt his name was Paul, don’t know why, I just imagined him that way.

<b><u>Very Low-Flying Aircraft</b></u> by Nicholas Royle
<i>3 stars</i>
I’m not really a big fan of war based novels / stories so from the get go I knew I wasn’t going to get on that well with this story but it wasn’t so bad. I didn’t feel like this story explained itself enough or maybe it did and I just didn’t get it? Like why did it matter that Frankie looked like Victoria and why did Flynn go to the clinic? Also, I didn’t think it of a horror story really, though it was scary and horrible, it didn’t give me the heeby-jeebys like some of the others have done.

<b><u>The Goosle</b></u> by Margo Lanagan
<i>2 stars</i>
Seriously, seriously grotesque. If you have a weak stomach, <i>avoid this.</i> A very peculiar branch off the traditional Hansel and Gretel story we all know. This isn’t my kind of horror at all. I much prefer scary, mysterious human crime and occasionally a paranormal story. Torture porn is not at all my thing. This was very well written though, so props to Lanagan for that.

<b><u>The Clay Party</b></u> by Steve Duffy
<i>4 stars</i>
Again, not exactly what I’d classify as a horror story, but a great read nonetheless. Excellently written and enjoyable the whole way through, up until the end… the ending definitely wasn’t my kind of style so that was disappointing for me personally, but I’m sure others would love it!

<b><u>Strappado</b></u> by Laird Barron
<i>3 stars</i>
Definitely one of the strangest of the shorts in this novel. I thought it was excellently written but I didn’t quite get it? Maybe I was just having an off day when I read this but it didn’t really do anything for me.

<b><u>Lonegan’s Luck</b></u> by Stephen Graham Jones
<i>4 stars</i>
This is one of those stories I don’t know why I like. I never used to be into these kinds of rural town, religious apocalyptic kind of books, but ever since reading Mammoth, I’ve begun to enjoy reading them. Admittedly this had me a little confused to begin with, there were what felt like a lot of characters, but in the end none of the mattered anyway, they were just there to set the scene.

<b><u>Mr Pigsny</b></u> by Reggie Oliver
<i>3 stars</i>
I feel like I’ve read this book a million times. It’s one of those stories that's been redone time and time again with just slight changes here and there. It isn’t a bad plot per say, I certainly enjoyed it, it just had nothing unique about it.

<b><u>At Night, When the Demons Come by</b></u> by Ray Cluley
<i>4 stars</i>
One of the longer stories in this book but also one of the best. It had a pleasing twist to it and some interesting characters. I guess I quite like the whole apocalyptic feel when it comes to stories. I personally don’t feel this one was a horror story, more like a fantasy thriller.

<b><u>Was She Wicked? Was She Good?</b></u> by Mary Rickert
<i>4 stars</i>
This was a sad horror story, but in a way, it was also quite beautiful. I really liked the plot, it was something quite different to all the others in this collection and I thought the way it was written flowed well. Enjoyable short story!

<b><u>The Shallows</b></u> by John Langan
<i>2 stars</i>
I liked how this was written but I didn’t get it? I got bored halfway through it too, it was a half an hour read and I just couldn’t understand it so I skimmed the last 10 minutes or so. Yawn.

<b><u>Little Pig</b></u> by Anna Taborska
<i>3 stars</i>
Meh. This was well written and very different to the rest of the stories in this collection but was it a horror story? No. It was tragic, but not scary. Disappointing because whenever I see the word “pig” in relation to something “scary” I think of AHS.

<b><u>Omphalos</b></u> by Livia Llewellyn
<i>3 stars</i>
<b>TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ABUSE</b>
This story was definitely very unique to the rest of the stories in this collection in the terms that this was a horror story that focused more on the real life horrors of families rather than made up monsters and ghouls. This story isn’t for the faint-hearted, it was horrific and gruesome and very upsetting. It wasn’t the best story in the collection when it came to plot or writing style, but it did bring out strong emotions in me, which other stories have been unable to do.

<b><u>How We Escaped Our Certain Fate</b></u> by Dan Chaon
<i>5 stars</i>
I liked how this was a different take on a classic zombie story - <b><i>”It wasn’t the end of the world… of course, a bite would infect you, but they weren’t terribly aggressive, in general.”</b></i> This was by far my favourite story in the entire book, it was so sad and emotional. It was beautiful.

<b><u>That Tiny Flutter of the Heart I Used to Call Love</b></u> by Robert Shearman
<i>4 stars</i>
Creepy, creepy, creepy. Dolls terrify me thanks to modern horror, although, really, I’ve always felt unsettled by them. Enjoyable story though. Poor Julian.
(This story almost had my name in it! “Suki” is close enough to Zuky.)

<b><u>Interstate Love Song (Murder Ballad No.8)</b></u> by Caitlin R. Kiernan
<i>3 stars</i>
Hmm, why did the shorts at the end of this book get all meaningful and loved up? I think that kinda ruined this for me. Granted it was disturbed and pretty grotesque at times but sadness of the ending ruined that creepy effect of the book and just left this kind of hanging in the space between horror and tragedy.

<b><u>Shay Corsham Worsted</b></u> by Garth Nix
<i>4 stars</i>
This was an interesting story and I liked our harsh but caring main character, Sir David. I wish this story was a little longer so we could find out more about Shay because I feel the missing backstory left this plot wide open. Enjoyable nonetheless.

<b><u>The Atlas of Hell</b></u> by Nathan Ballingrud
<i>3 stars</i>
I really enjoyed this to begin with though I thought it had a little David Wong influence, a writing style I’m not into. All was going well for this story until I got towards the end of it, where it completely lost me. Whether this is down to the annoying man sat on the train next to me, speaking into his phone at 32596 decibels, or just because the plot went AWOL, we’ll never know.

<b><u>Ambitious Boys Like You</b></u> by Richard Kadrey
<i>4 stars</i>
I like these kinds of creepy stories! They’re not particularly unique anymore, because they’ve been done so many different times in so many different, but similar ways, but they’re still fun to read. The old man was especially disturbing just because he was so witty and chilled out. I liked that this story had elements of humour to it, it made a nice change to the more recent emotion filled stories.

I’d like to thank Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for giving me the opportunity to read this in an exchange for an honest review.
  
New to You by Samie Bower
New to You by Samie Bower
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Samie Bower is a rising singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Not too long ago, he released a lovely alternative R&B tune, entitled, “Tell Me”, released via Mickey Shiloh’s BDRM Records.

“Forget who you thought was around. What you allow? Let me take you outta town. I know you down. I’ma go show you around. Tell me what you wanna do now. I’m in awe, I called out. Staying with you, me and you. I’ma go start on the car now. I’m with tunes and food now. I don’t stall, I pull out. So demanding, yet monotone. I’m all up in there.” – lyrics

‘Tell Me’ tells an interesting tale of a young guy who fears that his significant other will leave him one day for the same guy who she broke up with in order for them to be together.

Now, he’s having doubts, buggin’ out, paranoid, wondering if she will be around in a month’s time. Later, he admits that he doesn’t want her to do him like she did her ex-beau.

Even though they say they shouldn’t be together, neither one of them really wants to leave their problematic relationship.

‘Tell Me’ contains a relatable storyline, harmonious vocals, and melodic instrumentation flavored with PBR&B (R-neg-B Hipster R&B) elements.

“It’s an on-going situation about how the one you left your past for, is now worried you’re gonna leave them and go back to who you left originally. With the chorus saying ‘I don’t want that done to me’ is basically a translation of ‘yeah, you can do that to get to me. But you can’t do it towards me so you leave’. It’s a string of webs for a storyline, but a true situation people go through every day. Being in a good relationship, but then suddenly finding someone else, so you leave to be with the new person. But at the same time, as time goes on, you have second thoughts and think about going back to who you were with originally. Meanwhile, the new person isn’t too happy to see it take place. I see it happen so often, and honestly, it’s a disappointing thing to see, but then again, depends on your perspective.” – Samie Bower

‘Tell Me’ is featured on Samie Bower’s “New to You” album. Check it out below via Spotify.
  
Parachute - Single by Jaclyn Manfredi
Parachute - Single by Jaclyn Manfredi
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Jaclyn Manfredi is a singer-songwriter from Long Island, New York. Not too long ago, she released a grungy contemporary R&B tune, entitled, “Parachute”.

“We’re five thousand feet in the air. But it feels like you couldn’t care. I can see right through your blank stare. And I know it’s time for me to prepare.” – lyrics

‘Parachute’ tells an interesting tale of a young woman who feels cold whenever she’s by her significant other’s side.

Every day, thoughts about their relationship being a mistake filter into her mind, and her frustration about her partner’s missteps has multiply sky high.

Later, she admits that they’re running out of time, and the air in their relationship is running thin.

‘Parachute’ contains a relatable storyline, ear-comforting vocals, and groovy instrumentation flavored with retro-soul, R&B, and funk elements.

“‘Parachute’ is a song about a toxic relationship that you can’t wait to get out of and the feeling of having a weight lifted off your shoulders.” – Jaclyn Manfredi

At the age of seventeen, Jaclyn Manfredi performed at the acclaimed Apollo Theatre and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Shortly afterward, she won the IMTA national singing talent competition in 2017.

Her musical influences include Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, and the contemporary funk of Bruno Mars.

https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/jaclyn-manfredi-parachute/
  
Since I Had You - Single by Stan Taylor
Since I Had You - Single by Stan Taylor
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Stan Taylor is an LA-based singer-songwriter and Bubbs is a music producer. Not too long ago, they released an adorable R&B tune, entitled, “Since I Had You”.

“Just a simple approach to the kinds of music we love, writing about life in our mid-20s and trying to find someone to settle down with. Stan and I get lost in the melodies of Marvin Gaye and the old soul heroes but throw in our own new school approach. Sprinkling in a few live instruments to go along with a Dilla-inspired groove. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” – Bubbs

‘Since I Had You’ tells a romantic tale of a young guy who feels a certain type of way whenever his significant other isn’t around him.

Apparently, she departed in the morning to do something important, and ever since then, he’s been miserable, missing her dearly.
Later, he admits that the thought of her makes him lose his cool. Therefore, he smokes a cigarette to calm down.

Even though it’s only been several hours since they last held each other, he can’t wait to be back in her warm embrace.

‘Since I Had You’ contains a relatable storyline and ear-welcoming vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses groovy instrumentation flavored with a nostalgic R&B/Soul aroma.
  
Hell Yeah - Single by Raffaella
Hell Yeah - Single by Raffaella
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Album Rating
Stan Taylor is an LA-based singer-songwriter and Bubbs is a music producer. Not too long ago, they released an adorable R&B tune, entitled, “Since I Had You”.

“Just a simple approach to the kinds of music we love, writing about life in our mid-20s and trying to find someone to settle down with. Stan and I get lost in the melodies of Marvin Gaye and the old soul heroes but throw in our own new school approach. Sprinkling in a few live instruments to go along with a Dilla-inspired groove. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” – Bubbs

‘Since I Had You’ tells a romantic tale of a young guy who feels a certain type of way whenever his significant other isn’t around him.

Apparently, she departed in the morning to do something important, and ever since then, he’s been miserable, missing her dearly.
Later, he admits that the thought of her makes him lose his cool. Therefore, he smokes a cigarette to calm down.

Even though it’s only been several hours since they last held each other, he can’t wait to be back in her warm embrace.

‘Since I Had You’ contains a relatable storyline and ear-welcoming vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses groovy instrumentation flavored with a nostalgic R&B/Soul aroma.