Dear reader/If it feels like a trap, you’re already in one…/…Get out your map, pick somewhere and just run…/…Burn all the files, desert all your past lives/And if you don’t recognize yourself/That means you did it right/Never take advice from someone who’s falling apart…/…(You should find another)/…Bend when you can, snap when you have to…/…You don’t have to answer, just ’cause they asked you…/…The greatest of luxuries is your secrets…/…So I wander through these nights/I prefer hiding in plain sight/My fourth drink in my hand/These desperate prayers of a cursed man/Spilling out to you for free/But darling, darling, please/You wouldn’t take my word for it/If you knew who was talking/If you knew where I was walking/To a house, not a home, all alone ’cause nobody’s there/Where I pace in my pen and/My friends found friends who care/No one sees when you lose/When you’re playing solitaire/You should find another guiding light/Guiding light/But I shine so bright…/…You should find another/Guiding light/But I shine so bright/You should find another
I’m probably overreacting. Looking into things that aren’t there. Maybe being over-paranoid.
I’ve diagnosed someone I don’t know and I only was face to face with one brief time, with a CNS disease. I’m not a doctor or any kind of expert. And this is completely unsubstantiated.
All that said, I felt like Emily Sailers might have Multiple Sclerosis.
We all noticed her voice (which I vehemently defend in another post) which could be a symptom of something. People with MS can have spasmodic dysphonia from it.
More than that I noticed things were different than before. Before last week I had gone to 7 other Indigo Girls’ performances just so you know I have some kind of reference point for their norms. What I’m about to describe could definitely be attributed to:
the fact this was a make-up concert (from Covid cancellation)
it was I think the first show after a break, and before their actual tour kicks off
it was with the symphony
They could have been tired/hot/cold/hungry–whatever
I won’t call it an “off night” by any means (they ALWAYS put on a great show, and did last Sunday as well) but maybe one or both felt off.
They might not like Saint Louis
Maybe they’re still recovering their relationship after the alcoholism we just heard about
I get it. And I AM NOT saying the performance was less than Excellent. I had a lot of fun and was jazzed up. The entire crowd (an unusually straight mix of mostly older straight couples, who I think may have been symphony season ticket holders, not necessarily IG fans) were engaged and really into it. It was just a different dynamic than I’m used to seeing from them. And remember, after I noticed one thing I really started scrutinizing so this could just be my own drama talking.
I couldn’t hear well, but at one point Emily said something like this is a song full of “spit.” I heard “spit” loud and clear, though I absolutely could have missed some kind of joke. But hearing it so fast like that, I got the impression it was more of a word-finding difficulty. I thought she was trying to say something else and accidently said spit instead.
In another comment, Emily told us the following song will “speak truth to power…” Then the song was “Able to Sing” which I have always thought of as a benign, a-political song for a friend’s wedding. I totally could have missed the point of the song, and missed an underlying meaning. But after she said that, I thought–Emily is confused tonight..
During “Chicken Man” the orchestra percussion was distractingly loud. Somebody should have turned it down, because it was a bit overpowering. But it was like that threw Emily off. And I saw the Indigo Girls at Seattle Zoo Tunes. A show where people just go to chat and drink wine and consider the music background. The Indigo Girls ALWAYS get the crowd involved and have everyone riveted to the experience every time I see them. They settle distractions routinely like the pros they are. I’ve never seen even an inkling that either are thrown off by a chaotic audience. They masterfully reign in unruly crowds. Anyway, I think the drums made her lose her place and Emily messed up a part of the song. And in my memory (which could be faulty) I think I even saw Amy’s hands fly after the song was over in a fit of exasperation.
They did “Love of our Lives” during the concert, which is normally an Emily-led song. But it seemed like Amy was taking the lead this time. And that may have been a pre-planned change. But it also could have been a spur of the moment save, because I’ve never heard the song like that before.
Several times it reminded me of Carter helping Boyd-Amy turned her body toward Emily as if to deliberately play to help her back on track. And Damn it anyway! I looked at length to find one of the clips that I’m thinking of from DMB, but to no avail. There are several times when Boyd had a violin solo and it was off beat or too slow, always out of tune. Anyway, Carter would like look at Boyd and do more drumming than usual–like metronoming him to help keep him on course. I thought I saw Amy turning toward Emily several times in more of a helping way, than a vibing way…
As a matter of fact, Amy seemed frustrated with Emily at times, and their chemistry just wasn’t the same as every other time I’ve seen them.
Once I was looking for possible symptoms, I noticed Emily was very careful around the cords on the floor. She gingerly stepped around it at least 3 different times. This might be her normal, but I never looked for it before, or noticed at previous shows.
Anyway, I had fun, fun, fun at an awesome show as usual, but went home a bit sad. I couldn’t sleep all night. I hope Emily is OK. I hope she’s on top of her health and seeing doctors and specialists for ANYthing unusual. And I hope the Indigo Girls don’t quit the band/break up the Indigo Girls. Worst nightmare! The Indigo Girls have been so influential in my life I would hate for anything bad to happen. But like I’ve said throughout this post, hopefully this is just my own confirmation bias 😦
The whole year was bad. Worse than 2021, which had bright spots, and despite constant work harassment, was one of my favorite times in my life. I loved quarantining with my family and working from home! 2022 was one of the worst years of my life. The only comparably bad years were: 1993 (had to switch classes bc of Courtney drama), 2005 (dealing with sociopathic Douche post break-up), 2007-08 (narcissistic discard at the Cabin-Mansion). I bought a book about how to deal with people who have personality disorders to hopefully prevent some of this in the future.
I know this list is long, so I’m going to make separate posts too. But we have to wait for DWMHT parts A-T and Quesion… 1-20 to finish posting. Anyway, on to this list of awfulness:
#15 Worst Moment
Our settlement from from 500 Move (Glendale, AZ) was $84 and contingent on an NDA
FUCK them. I’m going to tell the truth about them everywhere possible. My silence cannot be purchased for $84 measly dollars. That is literally not even 1.0% of the money wasted. This is only so low on the list, because after all this company’s $hit, I didn’t expect much in the first place.
We had tickets to see the Indigo Girls! We slogged through work, too excited to concentrate. We primped and got ready. Cool and I ate at a (terrible and overpriced) restaurant nearby. Then, we walked to the venue through the high humidity, sweating through our cute outfits. And nobody was around… Strange. There was no line. Were WE first? I walked up to the door of the venue, and a post-it was taped to the window: Indigo Girls was canceled. But we didn’t get the memo. So we walked back home. I guess somebody got Covid, but nobody had emailed us, or anything like that. And the event wasn’t rescheduled for 9 months so we were afraid it wouldn’t be…
#13 Worst Moment
Jogre was promoted to supervisor (insert LWYMMD, “What?!”)
I know for a fact that at least one other person filed an HR complaint against her. I literally have 49 pages (standard margins, font, etc…) of logged incidents (over 11 months) with date and time of bullying and harassment. HR and the EEOC both said the amount of micromanaging and communications she had with me was excessive. Yet, the company thought she needed a promotion. What nonsense. I hope I never have to deal with her again, but it is always a fear because we’re both still in the same department.
#12 Worst Moment
Cool got Covid during our moving ambush.
While in our packing and calling frenzy, Cool got Covid. Before the move, we had been quarantining-getting everything delivered, going nowhere. In all the months Covid had been on the scene, she went inside one store, correctly wearing a mask–and got sick. Cool slept for 23 hours a day. She would try to get up and watch TV, and nod off in 20 min or less. She had a headache, aching legs, and a fever. She had a gray paler and couldn’t eat or think. For example, we keep Clorox wipes under the kitchen sink to clean the counters. While I was packing a box, I said, “Will you wipe off the counters?” And she said (after taking like a 3 min pause to think) “with what?” I about lost my mind. And she couldn’t help me with any of the moving logistics because she felt so run down. There was not enough time off from work for her to get her thinking straightened out, so she had to process claims in a Covid fog. It just exacerbated the stress of the situation. I can’t believe I didn’t catch it from her being inside the house (unventilated in winter) and sleeping in the same bed.
#11 Worst Moment
The fucking prices were bananas!
Sure, sure supply chain problems. But also corporate greed. Everybody out to make up for their two year losses, and demand from cooped up people remains high, so nothing has hemmed them in. I hate our extreme capitalism. Of course during our 1476 mile move, gas was in the $5 range. We are spending LESS than we did the last two and a half years, but struggling much more to stay financially afloat. Regular groceries jumped from about $200/mo to (same or less groceries) $800-it’s obnoxious.
#10 Worst Moment
Someone broke Jasmine’s window in our gated parking lot.
So much for the security gate, I guess they either lived here or climbed it. And we never heard if anyone got caught–per the usual here. There was nothing to steal, actually, they took one thing. I had a mini Bath & Bodyworks hand sanitizer bottle in the driver’s side door. The lovely smelling B&B had long run out, but I had refilled it with generic hand sanitizer. And that had sat in the AZ heat plenty of times, so I’m not sure it was doing much. They took that. I hope they were disappointed. And I hope they touched their face with a germy hand.
But the window needed to be repaired. Unfortunately, this is a huge issue in the city so we were far from the only ones on the fix-it list. Safelight made us wait forever (Sept 13 to Oct 4) to repair the car window and we couldn’t drive the car in all that time. Then, when they finally put in a new pane, he couldn’t fix it completely. The window will not go back up if it’s ever opened. And shards of glass were left in the back of the car. To add insult to injury, we still had to pay our $85/mo parking fee.
#9 Worst Moment
My company skipped my raise when I went to a market that was desperate for help and again when I was advanced trained in that market.
It’s a slap in the face, because every meeting was all about how behind they were, and how the mandatory 10 hour/wk overtime was indefinite (and been in place for the last three years). It was difficult to find and train people for that market because it is on an entirely different platform than the rest of the company. Yet, they still shortchanged me. I had been emailing with HR, then they just dropped out of contact. HR ghosted me for a month! And when I emailed the head HR lady (I had her info from when we moved states) she said–it’s a lateral move to the same position. Which is egregious because we had to be trained from January to late March just to be able to adapt to the new system. She knows damn well that is a specialized position requiring more skill than the average analyst.
As for the advanced training raise, both Cool and I had gotten a pay increase every time we were further trained. Obviously, because our added skillset was valuable. But not in this new, desperate market. I was skipped over, and I knew it was a waste of breathe to even ask. But it sucks.
#8 Worst Moment
Someone broke the lock mechanisms off the doors in our apt storage units.
“Lock broken, slur spoken” indeed. I had felt safe because you have to have key fob access to get into the property, where there are cameras. And you have to scan at the door to get into the building, and pass through the lobby which has more cameras. You have to use your key fob a third time to get into the storage area. But apparently someone who lives here broke the actual lock fixtures off of the doors. All of our padlocks were locked and intact, but the doors were ripped apart. This person rifled thru every box. They climbed up to the top of our washer/dryer to open boxes stacked to the ceiling. I couldn’t get up there without a full size ladder because I was too heavy and was crushing things, so they must have been more petite than me. They unpacked things, putting them in other boxes, or in a different storage unit (sometimes one of ours, sometimes a random person’s). For example, they took socks out of the homemade draft protector box, and put them in the very back, 4 deep, bottom box in one of other storage units. It was disconcerting. They opened our snow shoes and put the bag in someone else’s unit, put the pole in the hallway, and apparently took the 2nd pole of out there because we never did find it. So many things were like that! They unpacked and mixed up nearly every box of every storage unit, strewing it around. But they also stole things. Weird things like one box fan, a window plastic kit, blackout curtains, shower curtains, and a security bar. But also things I will miss like my snowboard jacket, helmet, gloves, and heavy Sorel snow boots among other things. They left Cool’s snowboard gear aside from goggles and gloves alone, and luckily didn’t take her nice waterproof jacket. We never found out if anyone was caught. It took the property manager a full month to fix any of the locks, and since we had put bicycle locks on our units, they skipped fixing ours. Not only did I lose valuble necessities, but I have to do another insurance claim. And I have to re-pack everything, which is a whole big thing.
#7 Worst Moment
I had to file the moving claims.
They intentionally make it as difficult as possible to discourage you from filing. It was time-consuming and retraumatized me every time I had to work on it. I honestly think I have PTSD over the whole situation. The whole thing took months to prepare! The moving company’s insurance would not accept emails, files, usb drives, discs, nothing–it HAD to be snail mail. And of course it was a lot of pages, with some colored pictures to convey the damage. Going to the UPS store was a disorganized nightmare, that took 4 times longer than it should and required me to go behind the counter in the back and help. It cost more to mail the claim ($100) than we were offered as a settlement ($84). Actual size of the finished claim components:
Surprisingly, only #6 Worst Moment
Gunfight right outside.
How can an actual gun fight (with automatic weapons) be in the middle of a worst-of list, you ask? That explains my 2022–it was one of my worst years ever. See my other post about how scary and weird the gun-fight was. And there are now actual bullet holes in my car, giving it a ghetto aesthetic. Here, are some comments from my community, which ranged from apathy, to unrealistic do-gooders, to gun-happy, to judgy.
#5.5 Worst Moment
My supervisor micromanaged my every click and berated me over hours
We did group work during the entire advanced training. So I was able to gauge that I was picking the information up the fastest, and doing the best of my team. The trainer also told me I was doing really well on the last day. The day after training reports went out (I’m assuming mine was good) codename MNarc started treating me dumb. She watched me process claims for 30 min one day and an hour on another day. It was more time than she spent watching my peers (according to them). And she was “helping” me with things I did not need help with–like reading the workflow. She kept saying I was getting ahead of myself in the workflow when I wasn’t and said that I needed to learn how to read them (I’ve been using workflows at this company for over 3 years). But also she was saying the workflow was wrong, couldn’t be trusted, and she never used it.
She was telling me things like not to take notes, and saying my personal claims tracker was a waste of time that I didn’t need. Even after I gave her 4 ways that the tracker helped, she didn’t want me using it. She also said not to open all the attachments, just one. She told me if the EOB was for a different member than the claim, just to say YES there is an EOB. She said not to read into boxes, just answer the question they write–is there an EOB, YES/NO? Which leads you to apply that coordination for the wrong person.
I’ve worked there for over 3 years, so I knew some of what she was telling me was bad advise. Her words were contradicting my training, my work over the years, Cool’s training, and everything Cool’s teams have told her. It was confusing, and I didn’t understand what had caused the major change in MNarc’s demeanor. I was afraid that I present myself as confused and flaky. Why else does this keep happening to me? Jogre and KDouche also treated me like I was stupid (despite having access to my production data, and my end of the year review, which was the highest you can get on every quantitative measure).
So I went to YouTube and asked why my boss thinks I’m dumb. In researching why, I found out MNarc, KDouche, Jogre, and my ex-mentor are narcissists. Everything fell into place (there will be many future posts on this topic)! But I also felt shock and had an impending sense of doom. Being targeted by yet another narcissist that was in a position of power over me made me maximally anxious, hopeless, and depressed. How could this be happening to me again??!
#5 Worst Moment
Processing Tests (slightly different/worse than the processing belligerence of before)
I had to process for an hour and a half and another hour in front of JFM under the guise of support. But each of the five of us on my team had to process on one screen instead of the normal two, while JFM watched silently, and took notes on what we did wrong. Leadership kept saying it wasn’t a test, it was help, yet they wouldn’t answer questions–they were just watching and noting. Which is exactly like an exam. As you remember from my Riverpoint days, I have major test anxiety, and adding the layer of narcissism over that made me nearly incapacitated by stress. But I used all of my best test-taking strategies. I took it slow, read every instruction carefully, and double checked my work. I did not change answers or second guess myself or overthink it. And I made sure to write things down, showing my work because that helps me not get lost (or forget the little things) if anxiety takes over. I even took a deep, cleansing breathe between every claim to calm down. It’s nerve-wracking to be watched. Once, I floundered, then got confused, and spiraled into anxiety and panic-confusion. But then I stopped myself, closed the claim entirely, breathed and started over. JFM kept insisting it wasn’t a test.
Except I guess my screen-sharing froze. On my side, it looked just as it had the entire 40+ minutes, and I hadn’t touched it or done anything different. I didn’t even know there was a problem until JFM said my screen was in the same place it had been for minutes. My screen said “stop sharing” which indicated it WAS sharing. But for some reason I think JFM thought I unshared on purpose? I don’t know what’s so hard to believe about technical difficulties at my job–we are constantly having them! But I think she tattled, because MNarc suddenly came into my meeting and her tone was so over the top annoyed that it was completely unprofessional. And she was condescending. She was like, “go to the top right and press share” but like in the shittiest voice possible. I said, “I did.” I tried to un-share and re-share, but that didn’t help. I don’t know why they thought I was too dumb to share, or was un-sharing (after 40 min) on purpose. When JFM had watched me do 8 claims over almost an hour. I could tell both of them blamed me for technical issues of my screen not sharing. I couldn’t stop ruminating about how rude and belligerent MNarc was. I was dreading the next session. I had no one to turn to. We know how last year turned out when I went to HR, the Director, then finally the EEOC. I felt hopeless.
I went to IT right away, and they were able to see my shared screen. They could see it via chat, and within a meeting. And they said they would be able to tell if there had been problems on my end–and there hadn’t. IT said the issue must be on my leadership’s side of things. And I knew my leadership would not want to hear that. I didn’t know what to do.
When the make-up test was scheduled, my screen showed I was sharing, but JFM couldn’t ever see it. Again, MNarc came in to our session and sounded SO annoyed. I’m not just exaggerating, Cool sits across the desk from me, and works at the same job, different market–and she said it was really bad. This tone was not work appropriate. MNarc was insinuating that I was either doing something stupid or purposely not sharing my screen. So I sent screenshots of the “stop sharing” over the meeting chat to show that my system said it was sharing. She lost her shit when I sent pictures and roared, “Why are you sending pictures??! Talk! How can we help you if you won’t talk to us??!!” Looking back, I think MNarc was trying to paint me as insubordinate, but when I sent physical evidence that it was an IT issue, it foiled her plan and upset her. She abruptly hung up the call.
JFM didn’t say anything about it! I said, “I’m not used to being talked to that way.” There was the longest pause, and then she just said to go back to IT, because the problem was on my side. I even sent her the entire IT transcript from before, but since MNarc said the problem was me, JFM believed the problem was with me.
MNarc went on vacation, so I asked JFM to call me. I honestly wanted her advise on how best to deal with MNarc in order to not provoke her. JFM seemed to get along with her, so I hoped she could give me tips about what to do and what to avoid. JFM pretended there was no problem. I was like, “Are you really going to normalize what happened the other day?” JFM made excuses for MNarc. She said she’s just blunt. And frustrated. And really busy. On and on. And I told JFM she’s a mandatory reporter of harassment, yet she didn’t say or do anything. Then, JFM went from making excuses for the bad behavior to saying she hadn’t noticed anything–I was just oversensitive… I was so frustrated and disheartened I had no allies because this flying monkey was brainwashed or afraid or both!
#4 Worst Moment
My company gave me a 5% COL raise.
Except they took away our quarterly quality bonus. Without my reward for quality four times a year, it’s a $0.37/hr pay cut!!! But the company mailed us a candy bar, amIright?! It’s a slap in the face. When we complained in meetings they gaslighted us and told us that it WAS a raise.
#3 Worst Moment
Our landlord ambushed us with 25% rent increase on renewal.
When we moved into the house in Dec of 2019, we hoped to be there awhile. And the landlord said, “I hope you stay for 10 years.” We are great tenants paying on time and in-full, not wrecking the place or upsetting the neighborhood. After all was said and done only $100 was taken off our deposit, and that was for the damage 500 Move had done, not us. I just couldn’t fix it, because our tools were packed in the truck along with everything else. Anyway, we had been planning to stay but couldn’t pay the extra $400/mo. He gave us 5 weeks notice. being completely unprepared for a move, I negotiated 8 weeks with prorating bc we weren’t going to make it. Packing, moving, and logistics were chaos for months. I was not ready to leave Arizona. We hadn’t been to the Grand Canyon, Saguaro Park, or Four corners. We hadn’t really been anywhere, because as temps we got no time off work, then pretty much as soon as we were both permanent employees, Covid hit. We were pretty much home for the entire 3 years we lived in the state. Cool and I got to drive through Sedona on the way out, but had 4 cats in the car so couldn’t take advantage of it very much. The whole thing was horrible, and put us in a financial bind. Luckily, we had been saving to replace Cool’s car, or I don’t know what we would have done. I wish bad things for that landlord.
#2 Worst Moment
500 Move, 5555 N 51st Ave, Glendale, AZ
On loading day (March 11) the 500 Move foreman said the broker (who had not identified themselves as such) HOMESAFE TRANSIT put down “27 boxes” in order to artificially lower our estimate and secure our business. We had more like 250 boxes, and the moving foreman said, “This is going to cost “thousands and thousands and thousands more”. When he said that, and when he berated me for a full 30 minutes, I knew this was a bait and switch scam. But we were between a rock and a hard place. Our lease expired at that rental house the next day, and utilities were being shut off the 12th. If we weren’t in St. Louis in person on the 14th of March, our lease would be canceled and we’d lose that deposit. If we haggled or tried to negotiate, this foreman seemed like he was going to just take his crew and leave. I did not think I could find movers for that same day, or make accommodations to move all the items, my Rav4, and 4 cats to a different state within the time-frame. In short, I knew that was scammy and a bad deal, sketchy contract, but felt I didn’t have any other options, so I regretfully signed. I had to pay $5,000.00 that day in order for them to load our stuff. And I paid $3797.00 to get them to deliver it.
We had carefully packed, for example, putting shoes in shoe boxes then tying yarn around the boxes so they would not open in transit. The movers redundantly packed our boxes into larger boxes, taking no care at all with even the most delicate things. For one example of many: Cowboy hats were thrown into the bottom of 5 foot tall wardrobe boxes, and heavy furniture and boxes were thrown on top, crushing them. I had staged all the boxes on the patio and in the living room, and even with their carelessness, it took the two movers 4 hours to load everything in their truck.
As I was going through the contract, I noticed it said the moving company had 45 days to deliver our belongings. I said, “That’s not gonna work! It doesn’t really take that long, does it?” The foreman assured me they are a national company who works with Alaska and Hawaii so that timeline is for the longer trips. He said ours would probably take 1-3 days (total lie). I underlined the 1-3 days portion of the contract and initialed by that time-frame (instead of the provided line by 45 days) to indicate my expectations. The contract asked when we were available to accept our delivery and we wrote we’d like them to be there on March 16th.The AZ foreman did not say that this date would not be guaranteed, or explain their process of storing, and combining our items with other jobs. Kenneth at Home Safe Transit had said we would just tell the movers the date we wanted our stuff delivered, and he promised we would have the cell phone number of “his” movers to allow frequent communication with the driver ( a lie).
500 Move was completely uncommunicative. That was not the case. We kept calling to get a status on when the truck would be here and got the run-around from Lisa, the lady who answers the phone no matter what option you press on the phone tree. Communication was nonexistent and atrocious, and Lisa just seemed annoyed when we kept asking for an ETA. We were told (for the first time) that our items were being stored in a warehouse, on their property, until the truck was available. It had not been made known to us that our items would be stored, or combined with other moves. Had I known this was their process I would have never used this company!
Lisa was getting very ugly on the phone so I said, “We are paying more than double any other company, literally ten thousand dollars, and I would like to see better customer service.” Lisa doubled-down on her rudeness telling me, “10,000, 30,000, 100,000 gets the same customer service! She refused to tell us when our stuff would leave the AZ storage facility, and insisted that we wait for an email 24 hours prior to delivery. I told her we had not received that email at pick up so how could I trust that we would receive it on delivery. She hung up on us during any pause in the conversation. We kept trying to find out why we were waiting so long for our belongings to be delivered. Nobody ever explained the process to us, or why there was a delay. Did they not own their own truck? Did they only have ONE truck??? We were promised 24 hours before delivery, but we had been promised that at pick up too, and it didn’t happen so I was not confident.
We were in our new place with just what would fit in a Rav4 (not much). A comforter and pillows, jammies, workout clothes, and 2 outfits each. Our work laptops (but not the 2nd monitors). And the 4 cats and their carriers, bowls, food, litterboxes and that’s it. After a few days of sleeping on the concrete floor we went to Walmart and got an air mattress, a card table and kids folding chairs to work on, and a bed for the kitties. Remember, 500 Move had charged $10,000 which was pretty much all of our money and our credit card limit (I had to apply for a credit line increase to make it). We had to shop around the whole store for an extended time looking for the cheapest items. We finally got mini cutlery in the baby section. It was sparse.
On March 21st we got an email when the truck left AZ, but the next day we didn’t hear anything. Our items had been in a storage unit in AZ for a full 10 days! We didn’t understand where the truck was, or why it was taking so long to get to us. We called, and Lisa said they didn’t know where the truck was or how long before our delivery arrived. 500 Move kept us in the dark and would not reveal what was happening. We just waited, not knowing what was going on.
The driver said they would arrive Saturday, March 26 around 11 AM. But it was 1:30 PM and we hadn’t heard from them. Completely unprofessional and uncommunicative as usual. At around 2PM, the driver said he was 5 miles away and got pulled over by the police. They said he could not continue driving in this wind. The driver said they would be waylaid until tomorrow.
On March 27 (6 days after the truck left AZ, 16 days after packing day, a full 2 weeks later than we wrote on the contract) They were supposed to show up at 8AM. At 8:47 AM the driver called and said he just woke up [LATE,LATE,LATE]. He needed to have his coffee and go to the bathroom [TMI] then he would be along. OK… When the truck arrived at 9:37 AM, it was two men that looked over 50 ( if not 60) years old, both with obvious COPD (yet still smoking), and both terribly out of shape. It took them about an hour (until 10:20 AM) just to park the 18 wheeler, which was packed with six other customer’s items, as well (there had been one customer prior to us). Before unloading, the driver demanded $75 more dollars, in cash for “75 foot long-carry,” which I felt was sketchy because we were paying for a 2nd floor move, but the building has an elevator, so I was paying for stairs already that they didn’t have to use. But like everything else, I just paid it because we had to have our stuff back.
Even though we had paid literally $10,075.00 for the moving service, I moved the majority of the 250 boxes and rubbermaid bins (probably 40% of all of our belongings). Since the movers took a 35 min lunch break, and a 20 min break, and they moved with no urgency, it took 6 hours to unload the truck (we finally finished at 4:30 PM). As items came in, Cool was doing inventory, checking box numbers off on a list provided by the company. When there were no more items in the truck, the sidewalk, the hall, lobby, or elevator, that checklist still had many boxes unaccounted for. The driver brushed that off, and had us sign the original contract under the box count. I told him their box count was different (240 vs 266) on different pages of their contract, and also didn’t match the box inventory that we had been marking in real time. He said that was fine (another direct lie), but I had to sign. I thought it was sketchy that he also asked for my carbon copies of the contract’s box count so we could both sign that.
Many, many things were damaged by the moving company:
500 Move took no care at all with any items. They also took no care with either rental upon packing up or delivering. While loading, they wrenched the curtains by the sliding glass door so hard that the curtain bracket was ripped from the wall! They bumped and left scrape marks on the walls of the loft while delivering. Luckily, the floor of the loft is concrete or that would have been damaged the way they were dragging heavy items.
They had carelessly stacked very heavy items on top of these smaller boxes, instead of putting lighter items toward the top of the load. As a result, 7 medium sized rubbermaid boxes were cracked, broken, and unusable. A long, christmas tree rubbermaid storage box was broken to pieces, and those shards cut and sliced the contents inside of that box.
When the movers were staging all the items, I saw a Walmart 5 shelf bookcase in the apartment lobby that had the back piece folded in one corner, akin to the first fold of a paper airplane. I was helping load items on the elevator and that fold was the only damage on that shelf by the time that shelf went in the elevator. Some time between the elevator and the door to our loft (apparently 75 feet, according to our extra charge) the movers were so egregiously rough with that lightly damaged piece of furniture that it was literally ripped in half and unusable by the time it got to my door!
A large 5 shelf pantry was carried and stored upside down, and handled so roughly the back board became un-nailed along the entire top of the shelf. Both of the cambers were ripped out and completely unattached at the top left side. The bottom frame was completely ripped from the sides. We tried to repair it, but the walls were now too wide to hold the shelves, and the damage caused the pantry to shift forward, dangerously.
500 Move Dug into Our Secured Boxes to Steal:
I had a paperwork box and tucked inside the bottom was a wallet. Tightly inside the clear pocket of the wallet was my spare car key. When I opened the box after delivery, the wallet was at the top of the box and that car key had fallen to the bottom of the box. The box labeled “Wii” had no tape at all on it anymore. The box labeled “computer games” had tape but a round rip was near the center of the box as if someone put their hand through. A box labeled “mail” was missing a new book of stamps. I had a clear rubbermaid packed full of shampoo, body wash, and lotion. When I packed it it was so full I had to strategically move things around in order to fit everything. Upon delivery, things in that box were loose and rolling around because so many things had been removed. A small shoe box sized rubbermaid contained bar soaps, bath salts, etc… was packed so tightly that nothing moved. Upon delivery, the box was half empty!
The company does not seem interested in finding the items. We called at least 7 days in a row from the delivery date to report more and more missing items and ask for an update on the status of the search for any lost things. The receptionist, Lisa and dispatcher, Stephanie, seem annoyed that we keep calling. On the 4th day we called they said they still hadn’t talked to the driver (even though the driver called headquarters prior to and immediately after our delivery) and couldn’t get ahold of the customer who was right after us. They keep telling us to just file a claim, but we actually want them to finish the delivery that we paid them to do and give our items back. They declined to give us any contact information for the elderly lady immediately after us in Nebraska, or any of the other customers who delivered before and after us. 500 Move stated they looked for the items in their truck and warehouse and called all the other customers that had been loaded on the truck with us, and no one could find anything. That doesn’t make sense to me, because I saw the rubbermaid containing the items we were now missing on the sidewalk in front of our complex on unloading day. If we don’t have it, none of the following customers got it, and it wasn’t held back on the truck–where did it go? I suspect they are not making an effort to track down our remaining items, and I would like to motivate them to do their due diligence so we can rescue our items.
We were not getting anywhere by calling or writing 500 Move, or via all our complaints against the company. So my mom, tried to call 500 Move to get information and try to get them to give all of our belongings back. She did not have success either. She was unable to get much more information, and Lisa would not allow her to escalate the call to the owner. My mom was able to find out that 500 Move had not yet entered their warehouse (10 days after notification) to search for any of our things! Lisa said the warehouse was too crowded and it was difficult to find anything in there, so nobody had been sent to look.
And just to show the kind of sketchy company 500 Move is, here’s a random call we got from them 10 days after delivery:
4/5/22 @ 2:38 PM:
Cool: Hello?
Caller: Long pause
Cool: Hello
Caller: Sound of typing
Caller: Is Charles there?
Cool: You have the wrong #
Caller: Oh OK well Just so you know here’s the story of what happened. somebody named Charles asked for moving quotes from AZ to WI and wrote down a number one digit off so you might get several calls.
Cool: That’s funny bc I just moved and had called for quotes–What company are you with?
Caller: 500 Move
Cool: That’s who we used. But we’re having a bit of a problem with some missing items.
Caller: Oh I’m really sorry to hear about that. Stephanie our office manager usually handles that. She’s on lunch right now but I’ll give you her ext so you can call her.
Caller: Stephanie 8775006683 & ext219
Cool: And who am I speaking to?
Caller: Anthony at 6023317010 “cold called” for 500 Move
Caller: Who am I talking to?
Cool: gives name
I still don’t know what they were phishing for, but the call, was NOT random. They were up to something, and it was weird and unprofessional.
We’ve contacted the BBB, FTC, Move Rescue police for both AZ and MO, the Glendale non-emergency police line, the FCMSA, the Attorneys General of Missouri and Arizona, Mark Kelly (AZ Senator), 6 members of congress on the housing or transportation committees, and abc15’s Let Joe Know. We really don’t know what to do to get those items back at this point. Everyone we’ve spoken to indicates this business and contract seem sketchy, and scammy, but nothing they’ve done is illegal. That needs to change! This whole situation is egregious and needs more regulation. This has been the most stressful, horrible experience, and it seems like no one is able to help us.
#1 Worst Moment
The kittens opened the bathroom drawers locking the bathroom door closed.
The day 500 Move was finally supposed to deliver our stuff, after 14 days of camping. One of us got up for the morning and headed to the bathroom to pee. The door would only open a teeny crack. The kittens have always slept in the bathroom so that the senior cats can eat, sleep, and go potty undisturbed. Goose is underweight and blind and needs full access to food at night. And Bison tends to bully C.L. for fun, so it works out better to have them separate while we sleep. It has always worked out fine, the kittens have their beds, water, 2 litterboxes, and it’s their habit.
But in the night (the 15th night we lived in the loft) the kittens had opened all the drawers of the bathroom vanity. Unfortunately, some idiot had built the bathroom cabinets so that the drawers opened immediately next to the door. Even more unfortunately, the bathroom door opens IN to the bathroom, with the hinges on the inside of the bathroom.
The door would hardly open at all. I couldn’t get my hand through. The kittens were purring and nuzzling, but obviously couldn’t help the situation. When Cool wedged herself against the wall across from the bathroom door, and pushed on the door with her feet, it would open just enough for the broom handle to be pushed through. But there was such tension on the door, that the broom handle broke in half.
We have to pee first thing in the morning. And have been living in this empty apartment for 14 days–none of our stuff is there. We have no tools, and even if we did they wouldn’t have helped. I didn’t know what to do. And it was urgent, not only because I had to pee really bad, but because now two live animals were trapped. There was no way to even put food in there, let alone water. I was panic-stricken. What were we going to do if we couldn’t get into the bathroom before the movers arrived??! We had 2 cats locked inside, and 2 cats out in the apartment. The door is nearly flush to the floor so we couldn’t reach under.
I said fuck the deposit I guess, and started kicking the door hard, hoping to break the drawers and get in. The drawers were too strong. I tried to use the broken broom handle to force the drawer back in so we could open the door. But because you had to push the door open in order to get the opening large enough for the handle, it put tension on the drawer, and it sat diagonally on it’s track, unable to slide. Since the drawer was askew on the rails, and there was pressure on just one side, it would not slide.
This was BAD, and I didn’t know what we (or anyone) could do. It was Sunday at 5AM so there was nobody to call. We had to get the door open before the movers came!
I have no idea how I got my hand through. It was pure desperation. I shoved it through and it pinched and scraped my skin off and hurt. It was squeezed so tight and I could barely move it. But somehow through the crack that even a broom handle barely fit when pushing the door in, I got my whole hand and arm through. I had pure adrenaline so I don’t remember the details of how I jimmied that wedged, open drawer in order to close it. After 45 minutes we were able to close the drawer to open the door!
My hand and arm were scraped and bruised, the broom was broken, the drawer is completely bent on one side, and the drawers don’t slide properly on their tracks anymore. But we got to let the kittens out and finally pee that morning. And we needn’t have worried about the time, because of course the movers were an hour late, and it took them a full hour to park.
P.S. We took all the drawers out and put them in the closet, because even if we got child locks to keep them closed I would have been paranoid. That can NEVER happen again!
The Logistics (skip if you don’t care about math or the quantitative stuff):
I only judged good and up ranked songs this year. I threw out OK, meh, and skip bc with streaming those will no longer get listened to. Also, I did a percent of good and up songs per number on the album. Because just stacking an album with garbage songs shouldn’t rank higher either. You have to have good, great awesome songs, no matter the number of tracks. I added the % of tracks that were good and above on the album to the score of the level (elite, A, Gr, G) for the final scores. Highest is best.
For the two bands that put their albums out in installments (Weezer and Young the Giant, Imagine Dragon doesn’t count because I already ranked their entire 1st installment last year) I am going to judge them separately, but also as one unit. So I’ll place each installment in their ranked position, but then I’ll also do a fifth entry for each band judging it as one album.
One last note: I went back and fourth on Brandi. She released some obvious Grammy reminder music this year. They are different versions of her 2021 album, but it’s still the same album pretty much. Other artists like the Indigo Girls have released a double album with rock on one disc and acoustic on the other. And the price point might have been a bit more expensive than just a single disc. But Brandi released her separately–to get more albums sold, acquire more streams, and remind everybody that last year’s album is Grammy nominated. But I think the acoustic version was even more expensive than my signed copy of the original album, and that plus the cheatee numbers game left a bad taste in my mouth. If it had not been one of my top-tier favorite artists of all time, I would have thrown the copycat album away and not bothered ranking it. But it’s Brandi, so I included it. And she’s amazing so of course it ranked high. But I counted it as a half number so as not to throw off the totally legit albums in the ranking. So there’s that, Brandi is making me messy. Again. Ok, Weezer is really messing up my ranking because they aren’t releasing their fourth installment of this concept album until December 21. I told me I would only rank my A+ favorites after October 21st. I had to finish the countdown by the time Midnights dropped so I could focus on that. And I like to post this prior to Christmas on the first week of December, while anybody is still paying attention to things aside from the holiday. BUT I have ranked ¾ of Weezer’s material. I might stop if it had been mediocre and toward the bottom since it wouldn’t make that much of a difference if they were 35th place rather than 39th, for example. But they are nudging the top spot without 7 more songs! So what I’m going to do is post this with them in their mathematical position, but then edit to include Winter in late December, which may change up the whole top of the list…
From Lowest to Highest:
9.
Lissie:83.33%+ 32.5 = 115.83 Final
10 of 12 total songs = 83.33%
2 Great 4; 1 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 7 Good 3
8+3.5+21 = 32.5
Sad- angsty. Bitter song! Catchy. Gr
Lonesome Wine- personal. G
Night Moves- catchy. Sounds like Stevie Nicks. G
Flowers- self permission for emotion after a breakup. G.
Carving Canyons- deep! Descriptive. G.
I Hate This- autopsy of relationship. Regret. Breakup feels. Feeling. G
Unlock the Chains- Inspired by Fleetwood Mac but original and not a copycat. Lyrics. Catchy. Gr.
Heart’s on Fire- Adult contemporary soft rock sound. G.
Yellow Rose- backing sounds like Lord Huron, a little cowboy. G.
Midnight- good ending song for emotion after a breakup and for the album. Cohesive album. Tells full story. Notes. Brass. G-Gr
8.
Avril Lavigne:75%+ 41 = 116 Final
9 of 12 total songs = 75%
1 Elite awesome 6; 3 awesome 5; 2 A-Gr cusp 4.5; 2 Great 4; 1 Good 3
6+15+9+8+3 = 41
This was such an exciting album! I really, really thought it would take album of the year, because I liked it so much, all throughout 2022. It dropped very early, and I listened so many times and never tired of it. For treadmilling, it’s perfect. It reminds me of her first album, still edgy, but an adult. Nothing seemed forced or disengenuine and it’s so great to hear pop-punk rock again! I hope Avril stays right in this very genre and does more of this. I LOVED this album. But also, numbers don’t lie, it’s fair and square eigth.
Cannonball- Such a high energy opener! Always gets stuck in my head. Good beat. Great example of pop-punk. Elite-A.
Bite Me- Tough girl. Talking shit to ex-loser. Catchy. Gr-A.
Love Sux- bitter song. I love that she holds HIM accountable but still acknowledges her hurt. More edgy version of Avril is back and I’m happy to hear it. A.
Avalanche- more of a vulnerable song. Touches on mental illness. Always stuck in my head. A.
Deja vu- Relatable song about someone doing the same garbage over and over and the girlfriend getting tired of it. Bitter song! A.
FU- Frustration of talking to someone you can’t get through to no matter what. Realizing you can’t change someone. Gr.
All I Wanted – They sound perfect together. Just a touch of that late 90s CA pop-punk. Gr-A
Dare to Love Me- Quiet song. Strong singing. G.
Break of a Heartache- ends album on an upbeat note. Says she’s tired of hurting. Gr.
7.
Michelle Branch: 90%+30.5 = 120.5 Final
9 of 10 total songs = 90%
1 Elite awesome 6; 1 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 7 Good 3
6+3.5+21 = 30.5
Who knew?! I liked her (overplayed) stuff in my younger years, and really, really liked her side project the Wreckers. I didn’t know where she went, but Michelle is back. And she’s speaking up. I love how she addresses real issues, yet keeps the songs themselves light and catchy.
Beating on the Outside- jarring opening line. Sex and marriage. Snippets of guitar sound good. G.
Closest thing to heaven- swirling guitar. G.
You got me where you want me- cello. Beautiful. Descriptive. G-Gr.
I’m a Man- I like how straightforward and blatant. Abortion rights. Why men are problematic. First notes get me pumped up! Elite awesome.
I’m sorry- the backing music increases intensity. Instrumental bridge. G.
Not My Lover- sounds like band Garbage. G.
When that somebody is you- quiet. Introspective. G.
You get me- adult contemporary. G
Zut! Alors- G.
6.5
Brandi Carlile: 90.91%+36 = 126.91 Final
10 of 11 total songs = 90.91%
1 A-Gr cusp 4.5; 3 Great 4; 3 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 3 Good 3
4.5+12+10.5+9 = 36
Doesn’t count?
You already saw my disclaimer at the start of every ranking. I am not here for the money grab. Same songs but acoustic. IG just gave both same time same price. Don’t like $18 for the same stuff. I need to have a talk to the Grammys about album sales. She’s not the only one, but it $ucks all the same. But yet.. that VOICE. Brandi has the chops and knows how to use them. And I appreciate that the twins are featured more prominently in the acoustics. Brandi should know that the band can rock and harmonize since she was basically the third Indigo Girl for years. But alas, this is good, just not fair to fans.
Right on Time- stripped down. Focus on harmonies. More twin involvement is good. They took out everything that made the song excellent. Touch of western on the instrumental brought it up a notch. G-Gr.
You and me on the Rock- pretty harmonies. Quiet. Nobody can compare to Brandi’s singing I would just have had Catherine sing with her bc her voice is thin by itself. G.
This time tomorrow- I don’t like when they change key or whatever for a song I’m familiar with. It always sounds off to me. Nice piano and harmony though. Instruments bring a fullness that wasn’t in the original. G-Gr.
Broken Horses- not as punchy. Not as impactful. Not THE scream-note. Doesn’t make the cut.
Letter to the Past- nice harmonies. Good that the twins are heavily featured. Like the different instruments on short interlude. More western. G-Gr
Mama Werewolf- love the bridge – angelic. Harmony sounds good. Piano brings a seriousness to it. She took out high notes unnecessarily, making the vocals a little worse. G
When you’re wrong- wish that the rocking versions also featured more twin harmonies. Piano is nice. Cello is star. Singing is haunting. Gr-A.
Stay gentle- swelling strings. Should have been in the original version. Gr.
Sinners Saints and Fools- dropped from elite awesome to excellent. Still great, but the other version is whoa. Lyrics more easily heard here. Gr.
Throwing good after Bad- nice harmonies. G.
Space Oddity- God. She has such a voice. She can make anything sound good. Gr.
I thought this album might win. I love how cheeky and feisty Miranda always is in her songs. She really brought in with this album and it was a fun, yet sincere set of cohesive songs. The cowgirl vibe and outlaw mentality add a lot and seem totally apt for the singer. Miranda always does her best to shake up the boys’ club that is the country music industry, and I appreciate her always putting herself out there. More. Like. This. Please!
Actin Up- I like a cheeky song. Also liked the state call-outs . G
Scenes- catchy. Gritty sound puts you in the gritty travel that is living on the road. G-Gr.
Carousel- emotional. G.
I’ll be lovn you – catchy. Piano. Gr-A
If I was a cowboy- gender bender. Feisty. G-Gr
Country money- fun. Sassy. Is that Gwen Stefani’s voice at the end? G.
Geraldine – Lambert’s take on Jolene is one of my favorite songs of the year! Elite awesome
Music City Queen- probably the best featured artist of the year. The B52s fit the vibe of the song and make their presence known without overwhelming the song. Catchy. A.
Pursuit of happiness- empowering. Hopeful. G-Gr.
Strange- catchy . She is not specific about the problems that cause these strange feelings , but in this year 2022 we can guess the COVID/quarantine &/ politics. I like how she gives suggestions for letting loose and being easy on yourself during these odd times. A.
Wandering spirit -. The begging is low- and quiet then the backing instruments and choir come in on the wandering spirit part. Sounds full and conveys cowgirl to match the cover art. Gr-A.
Waxahatchee- G.
5.
Weezer-Summer: 100%+ 28.5 = 128.5 Final
7 out of 7 total tracks = 100%
1 awesome 5; 2 A-Gr cusp 4.5; 2 Great 4; 1 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 1 Good 3
5+9+8+3.5+3 = 28.5
Lawn Chair- strings sound orchestral and lovely. Adds a beat. Lyrics are jarring compared to instruments. Gr.
Records- electric guitar is great. Like the beat. G-Gr.
Blue like jazz- I like the harder rock. Instruments are edgy. Swirling backing. Rounds/harmony. Gr-A
Opposite of me- piano swirling! Do do do are catchy. Gr-A
What’s the good of being good- a march. Best friend stole his gal and talked $hit so he’s contemplating why not to go low. G.
Cuomoville- rock is nice to hear. Hopeful, positive lyrics. Feed em to the lions sounds really cool. Love the beat. Gr.
Thank you and good night- perfect to end the show. Electric guitar is awesome. Hard rock howl is cool. End is awesome! A.
4.
Taylor Swift: 75%+57.5 = 132.5 Final
15 out of 20 (I didn’t buy the Target album, so there’s one song I don’t have) = 75%
I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t love it. The rollout for the era was very retro 1970s so I think my expectations ruined my perception. I have no idea why there was a random 70s theme, because the songs do not convey that to me–it’s a very Man of the Woods moment. If Taylor had not had some rando promo, I think I would have enjoyed the album more. Also, the tricky, cheatee way of dropping a 100 different colored albums, different pictures, having 4 make a clock, recording a million versions of one song to amp up streams doesn’t set well with me. I wish the charts and the Grammys would modify the rules and records so that fans were not exploited. Buying the green album only to find out the purple album with an extra song was rolled out a week later is $hitty. I don’t like it, but it shows the power of curating a loyal fan base. Taylor’s sales and records may be inflated, but the number and buying power of her fans is not–she has a legitimate, obsessed following.
I will say the songs grew on me over many listens. What the album did do was inspire me to research and analyze and think. So I love that! Engaging with the work is my favorite part of being a music fan, and Taylor gave me a lot of fodder this year.
That said, if I was ranking Midnights against Taylor’s own catalog, it would not fare well. Every song had some element that I didn’t like: A beat, a phrase, the lyrics, etc… I think the entire thing would have benefitted from another draft and another edit. It shows that some of these lyrics, some of the songs were drafts, or vault, or half-worked. I think Taylor hustled to finish them up to feed the audience while the legalities of the Re-records get worked out. Taylor had to keep attention and her Eras tour substantiates that this album is to keep people listening and waiting for each old album to drop. She needs the “Taylor’s Versions” to be successful to complete her plan.
At any rate, I wish I liked the songs better, but I do like trying to decode the subtext.
Sidenote, I did not calculate anything below Good in my ranking to stay consistent with the whole list. I did include my opinions on those lower songs just for funsies. They are marked XXX to show I didn’t count them.
Lavender haze- Catchy. Good message. Calling out heteronormative milestones and pressure to hit them quickly/at all. Didn’t like the little ah ah stuff at first but it really grew on me. Like the faster go viral. One note. Good heartbeat noise in parts. Gr
Maroon- The song itself is just good. But the fact Taylor inspires me to research and analyze the meaning brings it up to great. So G-Gr
Question…- Catchy. Tells a story. I like the sexy noises. Pronoun game is on pointe. Kissgate and it’s aftermath. Brave of Taylor to be so direct. The slowed down mean-girl /tone statement. Gr.
Anti-hero- This might be the most Catchy on Midnights. Self aware. Really putting herself out there more than usual. HATE sexy baby. It just makes my brain go to pedophile. DIL is confusing. The video didn’t count toward this ranking, but it was cheeky-Taylor (my favorite Taylor) I liked the quirky humor and wink wink aspects. Adorable! Gr-A
XXX Snow on the beach- Boring. Not really a duet. Not that catchy. Janet reference is jarring. M.
You’re on Your Own Now Kid- Explains why Taylor feels so lonely and isolated. G
XXX Midnight rain- I absolutely hate the distorted voice. Tells a story. Nothing really going on with backing. No notes. OK
Vigilante Shit- A bitter song! Calling people out. Superhero imagry- consistent throughout. Moag! The production is perfect – understated Reputation. A
Bejeweled- Kind of a throway song. Lyrics kind of superficial. I like the nice! Who is she talking to? The bridge brings something interesting to the song. G.
XXX Labyrinth- The backing has some nice touches but it’s not enough to redeem the blah. It’s too dreamy and half asleep. Lyrics repeat too much. M.
Karma- To everyone who closeted her, started her bearding, and foiled her coming out. With the masters heist. Subtle moag. Very detailed. Visual. Gr.
Sweet nothings- Sweet song. I listen to it through the lens that it’s about her mom. The only person who loves Taylor unconditionally. Very subdued but it fits well the story perfectly. Tranquility and calm. G-Gr.
XXX Mastermind- This song makes her seem sociopathic. I think it addressed how she is an active participant in bearding and furthering her career with meticulous planning. I think she meant it cheeky but to me it comes across as creepy. That said this might be my favorite production on Midnights. Love moag and videogame noises. It would be looking at awesome territory if not for the psychopathic words.S-A
The great war- The story of Kaylor! Catchy. I like the snare to go along with war. Lyrics invoke war symbolism. Gr.
Bigger than the whole sky- Jarring transition between songs. This song so beautifully encapsulates grief. This is where dream pop really shines. Conveys agony. I think a lot of people will find solace in this song after any ending A
Paris- Snarky. Someone gossiping about kissgate and the 1975 guy being a hookup. Pictures = kissgate. The fictional Paris is when Kaylor boarded up the windos and went private. Cleaver change of characters. Her fantasy world. Not the kind that’s thrown is clunky. Meant to say it’s Tree, her publicist doing PR damage control. Brainwash Karly to pick her over josh. Go to the lakes or tower in actual paris. But it’s all imaginary The song is flat and one dimensional in my opinion (which all of this is). G.
XXX High infidelity- Compelling. Makes me want to dig into the analysis. Multiple story threads weaved together masterfully. The oooo ooos are reminiscent of the train so many songs talk about. Lots of callback. Sort of boring musically but lyrics are elite. M-elite
Glitch- Catchy. Is this about Kaylor being a deviation from bearding. Or her dalliance with Kelsea? G.
Could’ve would’ve should’ve- Finally not boring at all. Good backing. Telling a few stories covertly. Extra points for motivating me to untangle who and why. Finally some actual skillful singing in the bridge. I wish the album had more of this. I like the different sounds of the song throughout. The fast part at the end makes me FEEL. Gr-A
Dear reader- I didn’t like it at first. Found the title like the start of a 3rd graders essay. But after a couple of listens I realized Taylor wrote a letter directly to the Gaylors- which is very special. I like the echoing sound. The vulnerability is really likeable. G-Gr
3.
Kelsea Ballerini: 86.67% + 49 = 135.67 Final
13 of 15 total songs = 86.67%
1 Elite awesome 6; 2 awesome 5; 1 Great 4; 4 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 5 Good 3
6+10+4+14+ 15 = 49
Oh my goodness! This album inspired me to analyze so much. I love the multiple layers and hidden meanings throughout every song. I think Kelsea is one to watch, and I also hope she will fully come out one day. This album is just brimming with Sapphic feelings and I would love for a successful country singer to be open AND remain famous.
I can’t help myself- fun! Inspired by Shania. The repeated words make it cute. Gr.
If you go down I’m going down to- very much could be a (Dixie) chicks song. Strings sound good with it. A.
Love is a Cowboy- good imagry- being with you is like ropin the wind. Hints of fiddle. G.
Muscle Memory- catchy. G.
I guess they call it Fallin- love the faster lyrics. G-Gr
Weather- upbeat. Catchy though lyrics are kinda sad. G-Gr.
Universe- slow. Pretty. Love song. G.
Walk in the park- love despite being difficult sometimes. G-Gr.
Heartfirst- following your heart. G
You’re drunk go home- fun! Love talking shit. Love the features. Notes! Like Shania, chicks, any country that’s cheeky. Elite awesome.
Doin my best- relatable. Talks about insider info. Snaps/claps. G.
Marilyn- thoughtful sounds. Double subject. G-Gr.
What I have- appreciate what you have. Introspective. A.
2.
Weezer:
16/21= 76.19% ¾ year + 60.5 yr = 136.69 Semi-Final
16.5 + 28.5 + 15.5 = 60.5
1.
Amy Ray: 100%+37.5 = 137.5 Final
10 out of 10 total songs = 100%
2 awesome 5; 1 A-Gr cusp 4.5; 1 Great 4; 2 Gr-G cusp 3.5; 4 Good 3
10+4.5+4+7+12 = 37.5
Amy Ray has always been political. She continuously makes her work mean something, it’s not just words on a page to her. She also puts her beliefs into action with her advocacy. I have always loved the Indigo Girls duo (They are my top of the top all-time favorite music/artists/band) and have grown to love Amy’s solo efforts as well. The transition between the two musical entities is sometimes jarring, but still on-brand.
I like how this album tells a story rarely (never?) heard. Amy Ray is Southern and loves her rural roots. She is also part of the LGBTQQAA community and I think based on interviews I’ve heard, that her identity has shifted over time, and with society’s level of acceptance. Amy Ray started out just being herself, and not really acknowledging her queerness, or taking an identity, let alone projecting it out to the masses. She pinged anyway and her band became pegged “lesbian music” by the mainstream. As part of the Indigo Girls, Amy was portrayed in a stereotypical, non-flattering light on sketch shows, sometimes derided, always in the center of her close-knit fan’s hearts. She learned to embrace her differences and used that to help others. I think now she leans NB or even trans, but in the podcast I heard Amy Ray indicated that it wasn’t a visible option for her when she was younger. Now she may feel too old (her sentiment, not mine) to totally change her trajectory.
All that is to say that this album of a southern queer is an important contribution to the landscape, and as with the Indigo Girls, I hope it opens doors for other artists to embrace their queer/rural roots simultaneously.
Joy Train- Reminds me of Bonnie Raitt. Great banjo! Vocals are intentionally discordant but it’s not that pleasing to the ear. G.
Chuck will’s widow- Strings are the star. Very folksy. G-Gr.
They won’t have me- Recycled song. String interlude great. More powerful, emotive singing. Heavier bass gives it more urgency. Gr-A
From the room- slow. Harmony. G.
Tear it down- slow. Harmony. G
A mighty thing- after slow/bleak a welcome faster, brighter instrumentation. About homophobia. A.
Subway- could be an IG song. Love string interlude. Singing is powerful & longing. Gay rights. A
Cowboys and pirates- catchy. tells a story. Folksy/Americana. String! Gr.
Muscadine- slow. G.
North Star- a bit more triumphant sounding. Hint of choral/gospel. Hymn-like. G-Gr.
The due known as the Indigo Girls are my besties. i mean they don’t know it–but they’ve been there for a lot of moments in my life. Nomads, Indians, and Saints at my first job. Become you when I was a lonely only child in a rural town slowly figuring out that I didn’t really connect with anyone. Come On Now Social when I was dipping a toe into politics. Shaming of the Sun my first year of college, alone in the dorm. Despite Our Differences when my mate and I went to Zoo-Tunes in Seattle. They (via their music) have been my support system for 2 decades. Many people, especially lesbians have much the same experience.
Which is why I feel very defensive for Emily’s voice. Criticism is creeping in. I would have said something in the Reddit group if I had seen the post before it was archived. People were saying: Emily’s voice i,s worse/bad. They say it cracks, and that she can no longer hit/sustain notes.
I noticed something off some of the times (not all), but thought it was lack of breathe control from obesity, honestly. Emily had gotten very heavy there for awhile, and I just figured her overall fitness was impacting her singing–nothing irreversible.
BUT those people said they noticed it on a couple recent albums and at a concert, and would not be buying IG concert tickets.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Valid reasons not to buy concert tickets:
The artist is chronically late to concerts.
The artist always cancels shows.
The artist is so fucked up they only sing 2 songs.
The artist pukes on stage.
The artist molests you.
The artist falls to the ground on stage.
But seriously, fans of the Indigo Girls are not going to attend concerts because of a intermittent voice issue?! Jesus, have some empathy and BE A FAN.
A voice can be iffy for any number of reasons ranging from the mundane to emergent:
(this list is not exhaustive)
-dairy
-alcohol
-smoking/vaping/chewing, etc. . . whatever route of administration of nicotine/tobacco products/weed, etc…
-tired/fatigue (either or both voice and whole body)
-screaming too much or general overuse
-cold/flu/Covid
-weight gain
-aging
*Spasmodic or tension dysphonia (which can be the 1st manifestation of M.S.)
-Multiple Sclerosis
-(early) Parkinson’s Disease
-Stroke
-many syndromes cause it
Have a little empathy and loyalty! Emily (both IG) have been with us through thick and thin for over 35 years! When your spouse burns dinner-you divorce them? When your child gets in trouble at school-you put them up for adoption?
And the Indigo Girls PUT ON A SHOW! It’s not just the singing. It’s the comradery, the activism, the community visibility. Anyone who has belted out Closer to Fine with everyone at a show knows the communal pride and excitement I’m talking about! Emily’s writing talent and musical ability is amazing–and that has not changed. There’s a lot more to a band than just hitting and sustaining notes.
Also, men seem to get away with aging voices, ruined voices and still sell albums and concert tickets. The Rolling Stones are OLD. And honestly, their voices suck at this point. But you don’t hear about that–they’re legends! Dave Matthews often has problems, and his voice has degraded, but he still sells out 3 shows at The Gorge. Every year. I could probably name 100 men (Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash who talks through all of his songs, Every dude over 60yo that’s done duets with Lady Gaga or Sheryl Crow in recent memory… Famous, successful men with iffy in the first place voices to major shimmer and jitter and degradation don’t get this negativity and criticism. Don’t hold women to different standards.
I wish Emily well with whatever is going on ❤
And fellow “fans” get it together! Show some loyalty for a band that has been there for you for ages >:-/
I did this project while working. As such, I just ranked the songs on that post-it app on my desktop. So if this is easier for you to read than the bottom to top list of songs–here ya go!
IG Awesomes
1= elite awesome
1a top ever songs
1b = exactly elite
1c = better than your avg awesome
2= solid awesome
2a = top of list
2b = bottom of list
3 = better than good
3a = top of list
3b = bottom of list
IG AWESOME-ELITE 1
1A top of the top (final)
Closer to Fine (1200): C, L, N, S(!), U (pennywhistle?) = 1a (b/c you can hear how important/popular this song is w/the crowd = pure joy & a lesbian initiation)
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (SDtBD): C, L, N (harmonies), S, U (Brandi!) = 1a (this song makes me super-enthuastic!)
Watershed (NIS): C, L, N, S(!) = 1a
Go (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 1A (Amy belts it out!)
The Rise of the Black Messiah (OLD): C, I, L, N, P, U (strong & haunting) =1a
Galileo (RoP): C, L, P, S = 1a (same with this old friend-felt guilt out-ranking it)
Fill It Up Again (AtWLI); C, L, N, S = 1a
Kid Fears (ST): C, L, N, S, U (feat Michael Stipe) =1a
Closer to Fine (ST); C, L, N, S = 1a (I felt like I was somehow betraying these staple-favorites ranking any song higher)
Pushing the Needle Too Far (NIS): C, L, P, S = 1a
Prince of Darkness (ST): C, L, N, P, S =1a
Second Time Around (SDtBD): C, I, L, P, S, U (live = more emotional) 1A
Become You (BY): C, I, L, P, S = 1a
Compromise (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1a
AWESOME-ELITE
1B (exactly elite)
top exactly elite = i (final)
Galileo (1200): C, L, P, S = 1bi
Kid Fears (SDtBD): C, L, S, U (feat Shreena Mead sounds good) = 1bi
Moment of Forgiveness (SDtBD): C, L, N, S = 1bi
Yield (BY): C, I, L, N, S = 1bi
Hammer and a Nail (NIS): C, L, N, P, S! = 1bi
Chickenman (1200): C, I, L, N, P, U (harmonica= 1bi (best version?
Become You (SDtBD); C, L, P, S, U (accordian?) = 1bi
Yoke (BQS): C, I, L, P, S = 1bi
Moment of Forgiveness (BY): C, L, N, S =1bi
World Falls (1200-live): C, L, N, S = 1bi
Happy in the Sorrow Key (OLD): C, I, L, N = 2Bii (ENDING!)
Happy Joyous Hanukkah (HHD): C, I (BASS!), L, P, U (mandolin?) = 1Bi
Devotion (SDtBD): C, L, N = 1bi
I Feel the Christmas Spirit (HHD): C, I, L, N, U (blue grass) = 1bii
AWESOME-ELITE
1B (exactly elite)
bottom exactly elite = ii (final)
Tangled Up In Blue (1200); C, I, L, N, P = 1bii (Emily sings her ASS off!)
Pushing the Needle Too Far (1200): C, L, P, S = 1bii
Second Time Around (PatBB): C, I, L, P, S, U (harmonica?) = 1Bii
Go (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P, U (talking about activism in background, chanting) = 1Bii
World Falls (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N!, P = 1bii (sounds just different enough; the singing!)
Land of Cannan (ST): C, I, L, S = 1bii
Least Complicated (1200): C, L, N, P, S = 1bii
Deconstruction (BY): C, L!, N, S! = 1bii
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200-live @ atwood): C, L, N, P, U (feat artists, drumming) = 1bii
Money Made You Mean (DOD-live): C, I (banjo-wow!), L, P = 1bii (don’t like plosives)
Cold Beer & Remote Control (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1
Love of Our Lives (PatBB): C, L, N, S = 1bii
Joking (1200): C, I, (bass @ end) L, N, P, S, U (false ending) = 1bii
Fugitive (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1bii
AWESOME-ELITE
1C (better than your avg awesome) (final)
Hope Alone (BY): C, L, N, S =1c
Last Tears (DOD: C, L, N, S = 1c
Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): C, I, L, P, S = 1c
Heartache for Everyone (AtWLI): C, I, L, S = 1c
Shame On You (SotS): C, L, N, P, S, U (road block trippin’ break-down) = 1c1
Scooter Boys (SotS): C, I (jengling) L, P, U (wail) = 1c
Shit Kickin (LL): C, I, L, P, U (choral backing) = 1c
Go (SDtBD): C, I, L, N, P = 1C
Howl at the Moon (LL): C, I, L, N, U (tribal) = 1c
Get Out the Map (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1c
Salty South (SDoBD): C, I, S = 1c
Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (SDtBD): C, L, N, P =1C
Land of Cannan (SF): C, L, N, S, U (harmonica) = 1c
Make It Easier (SF): C, I, L, N, P = 1c
The Wonder Song (HHD): C, L, N, U (country) = 1C
Second Time Around (PatBB-acoustic): C, L, P 1C
Shame On You (SDtBD): C, I, P, U (cajin instrument) =1c2 (different tempo from orig bothers me)
Money Made You Mean (DOD): C, I, L, P = 1c
see other post it for lower awesome groups
between awesome and good
final
1,2,3 (NIS): C, N, S = 2a
Blood & Fire (ST): C, L, N, P, S = a1i
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200): C, I, L, P = 2a (a cause near to my heart)
Chickenman (LwUoCSO): C, I!, L, N!, P = 2a
Tether (SDtBD): C, I, L, P = a1i (Amy belts. it. out!)
Sugar Tongue (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, P = a1i
Yoke (LwtUoCSO); C, I, L, N, P = a1i (wow-low register!)
final
You and Me of the 10,000 Wars (NIS): C, L, P, S = a1i
Hand Me Downs (NIS): C, I, L, S = 2b
Driver Education (PatBB): C, L, S = 2a
Cold Beer & Remote Control (CoNS): C, L, P, S! = 2a
Joking (RoP): C, L, P, S, U (false ending) = 2a
Collecting You (BY): C, L, N, S! = a1i
Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): C, L, P, S = a1
Fugative (SDtBD): C, L, N, Pa= 1i
final
Heartache for Everyone (SDtBD): C, L = 2b
It’s Alright (SotS): C, L, P, S = 2b
Get Out the Map (SotS): C, L, N, P, U (banjo?) = 2b
Kid Fears (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = a1i (crowd singing)
Midnight Train to Georgia (1200): C, L, N, P = a1i (Emily really sings!)
Sugar Tongue (SDtBD); C, N = 2a
O Holy Night (HHD): C, I, N, S = a1i (high difficulty notes)
Our Deliverance (BY); C, L, N, P, S = a1i
Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (DOD): C, L, N, P = a1i
Fill It Up Again (SDtBD); C, L, S = 2a ( a bit different from my fave version, audience sings)
Faye Tucker (CoNS): C, L, N, P, U (laugh, chanting) = 2b
Center Stage (ST): I, L, N, P = a1i (ending)
final
All the Way(DOD): C, L, S! = 2a (strong vocab, meaningful to me)
I’ll Change (PatBB): C, L, S = 2b
Believe in Love (SDtBD): C, I, L, N = a1i
Burn All the Letters (SotS): C, I, L, N, P, U (powwow chant) = a1i
Land of Cannan-radio single (ST): C, I, L, N, P, S = a1i
Love’s Recovery (ST): C, L, N, S = (don’t like Emily’s deep singing) = 3
final
Dairy Queen (AtWLI): C, I, S! = 2b
Olympia Inn (OLD): C, P = 2B
Learned It On Me (OLD): C, L, N (harmonies) = 2b (yes! a burn-song)
Favorite Flavor (LL): C, L = 3
Little Perennials (DOD): C, L = 1C
Love of Our Lives (LwtUoCSO): C, I!, L, N = a1i
This Train Revised (1200-live): C, I, N = 2b
final
Touch Me Fall (SO): I (really rocks at end) = 2b
I Don’t Wanna Know (1200); C, I, L, N = a1i (more lively version, “I don’t care either!”)
I Believe in Love (DOD): C, L!, S = 2b
I Don’t Wanna Know (SF): C, I, N, U (harmonica?) = 2b
Run (DOD): C = 2b
final
Chickenman (RoP): C, L, P, U (harmonica?) = 2b
Last Tears-acoustic (DOD): C, L, N, S = a1i
Least Complicated (SO): C, L, N, P, S = 2a
Beauty Queen Sister (BQS): C, I, L, P = a1i
ig good
a= almost awesome
b= exactly good
c= almost OK
1 = top of catagory
2 = bottom of catagory
i = top of almost awesome
ii = bottom of almost awesome
a= almost awesome
1 = top of catagory
see different post it for higher goods group
a= almost awesome
1 = top of catagory
ii = bottom of almost awesome (final)
Closer to Fine (SDtBD): C, I, L, N, P, S = a1ii
World Falls (NIS): C, L, N, P, S = a1ii
Secure Yourself (ST): C, L, N, P, S = a1ii
Faye Tucker (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = a1ii
Fugative (SO) = C, L, N, P = a1ii
Tried to be True (ST); C, L, S = a1ii
Happy in the Sorrow Key (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = A1ii
Cut it OUt (SotS): C, I, L, P = a1ii
You’ve Got to Show (BY): C, L, S = a1ii
Three County Highway-live (DOD): C, L, N, P = a1ii
Damo (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = a1ii
Lay My Head Down (DOD); C, L, N, P = a1ii
Airplane (RoP): C, L, N = a1ii
Little Perennials-live (DOD): C, I, N = a1ii
Angels We Have Heard On High (HHD): C, N, S = a1ii
a= almost awesome
2 = bottom of catagory
i = top of almost awesome (final)
Welcome Me (NIS): C, I, L, P, S = a2i
Galileo (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = AIi (good, but I like original better)
Tether (AtWLI): C, I, L, N, P = a2i
Able to Sing (LwtUoCSO): C, I!, L, N = a2i
Sugar Tongue (PatBB): C, L, P, S = a2i
Shed Your Skin (SofS): I, L, N, P, U (native american backing) = a2i
Starkville (BY); C, I, L, S = a2i
Southland in the Springtime (NIS): C, L, S = a2i
Pendulum Swinger (DOD): C, L, N, P = a2i
Gone Again (CoNS): C, I, L, P = a2i
Strange Fire (SF): C, I, L, N = a2i
Three County Highway (SDtBD): C, L, N = a2i
Love of Our Lives-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, N = a2ii (stronger singing)
Making Promises (BQS); C, L = a2i
Watershed (SDtBD): = C, I, L, N, S = a2i (5d, live singing = less)
Damo (BQS): C, I, L, N = a2i
a= almost awesome
2 = bottom of catagory
ii = bottom of almost awesome (final)
They Won’t Have Me (DOD): C, I, L, P = a2ii
Trouble (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = a2ii
This Train Revised (SO); C, I, L, N, P = a2i
Free in You (AtWLI): C, N = A2i
Leeds (SotS): C, L, P, U (Indian chanting) = a2ii
Let it be Me (RoP): C, N, P = a2ii
Three Hits (RoP): C, I, N, P = A2ii
Romeo and Juliet (RoP); C, L, N, P = a2ii
What Are You Like (PatBB): C = A2ii
Crazy Game (SF): N = a2ii (great harmonies, bluesy)
b= exactly good
1 = top of catagory (final)
Keeper of My Heart (NIS): C, L, P, S = b1
Woodsong (LwtUoCSO): C, I, N = b1
Down by the River (1200): C, I, N = b1
True Romantic (PatBB): C, L, N = b1
Love of Our Lives (SDtBD): C, L, N = b1
Ozilline (SDtBD): I, L, N = b1
Reunion (SO): C, I, L, N = b1
Ozilline (CoNS): C, I, L, U (old lady talking) = b1
Jonas and Ezekiel (RoP): C, I, L, P = b1
Jonas and Ezekiel (1200): C, L, N, P = b1
The Girl w/the Weight of the World in Her Hands (NIS); L, P, S = B1
Run (DOD): C, N = b1
K.C. Girl (LL): C, L, = b1
b= exactly good
2 = middle of catagory (final)
Fleet of Hope-acoustic (PatBB); C, L = b1
What Are You Like-acoustic (PatBB): C = B1
The Wood Song (SDtBD): C, N = b1
Your Holiday Song (HHD); C, I, L, N = b1
Muster (LL): L, P = b1
Elizabeth (OLD): L, N = B1 (DETAILED STORY)
Change My Heart (LL); I, N, P = b1 (kinda weird lyrics)
Mariner Moonlighting (BQS): L = b1
b= exactly good
3 = bottom of catagory (final)
Fly Away (SDtBD): C, L, N = b2
Come a Long Way (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = b2 (Uneven singing; ending!)
I’ll Change-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, S = b2
True Romantic-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, N = b2 (the yearning!)
War Rugs (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = b2
Perfect World (AtWLI): C, L, P = b2
Digging for Your Dream (PatBB) = C, L, P = b2
Nashville (RoP): C, L, P = b2
The Wood Song (SO): C, L, N = b2
Ghost of the Gang-acoustic (PatBB): L, P = b2 (substancial story)
Peace Tonight (CoNS): C, L = b2
We are Together (CoNS): C, N = b2
Wild Horses (SDtBD); C, N = b2
Sorrow and Joy (LL); N, P = b2 (WTF is this song about? I like the sentiment of the chorus)
Southern California is Your Girlffriend (OLD): C, L = b2
Dead Man’s Hill (SO): C, L, P = B2
Get Together (SF) = C, L, P = b2 (NICE HARMONY)
c= almost OK
1 = top of catagory (FINAL)
Digging for Your Dream (SDtBD): C, L, P = C1
Salty South-acoustic (PatBB): C, I, L, P = c1
Dirt and Dead Ends (DOD): L, P = C1 (BLEAK)
Spread the Pain Around (OLD): C, I, L = c (CAJUN SOUNDS)
Feel this WAy Again (LL): C, L = c1
Something Real (AtWLI): C, L, N = c1
It Really is (A Wonderful Life) (HHD): C, N = c1
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (HHD): I, N = c1
Come a Long Way (OLD): L = c1
Love Will Come to You (RoP): C, L, N = c1
Walk Away (SF): C, I, N = c1
c= almost OK
2 = bottom of catagory (FINAL)
Love’s Recovery (1200): C, L = c2 (too much brass)
Thin Line (1200): c2
Ghost (RoP); C, I, L, N, P = c2
Country RAdio (LL): L, N, P = c2
Gone (BQS): C, N = c2
Back Together Again (1200): C = c2
Everybody’s Waiting for Someone to Come Home (SF): C, N = c2
Alberta (OLD): C, L = c2
IG OK (A[1,2], B, C)
IG OK
OA
1 (final)
Prince of Darkness (SDtBD): C, N, P, S = OA1
Compromise (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = OA1
Three Hits-live (RoP): C, I, L, P = OA1
War Rugs (BQS): C, I, L, P = OA1 (instruments!)
What are You Like (SDtBD); C, I, L = OA1 (end!)
Pendulum Swinger-live (DOD): C, L, P = OA1
Virginia Woolf (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA1 (some of the singing a bit iffy, instruments good!)
Rise Up (AtWLI): C = OA1
Bitterroot (BY): C =OA1
Three County Highway (DOD): L, S = OA1
Ghost of the Gang (PatBB); C, L, P = OA1
We Get to Feel it All (BQS); C, I, L, N = OA1
IG OK
OA
2 (final)
Fleet of Hope (PatBB): C, L = OA2 (harmonies even stronger than usual)
Driver Education-acoustic (PatBB); C, L, P = OB1
Ghost (LwtUoCSO): I, L, N = OA1
In the Bleak Midwinter (HHD): I, N = OA1 (original; harmonies!)
Don’t Give that Girl a Gun (SotS): C, L, N, P = OA2
Caramia (SotS): C, I, L, N = OA2
She’s Saving Me (BY); L, N, S = OA2
Come On Home (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA2
Share the Moon (BQS): C, I, L = OA2 (pretty strings)
IG OK
OB
1 (final)
Sugar Tongue-acoustic (PatBB): C, L = OB1
Crazy Game (SF): C, N = oa2 (kinda bluesy & has flute?)
Sister (CoNS): L = (too quiet) = OB1
Dirt and Dead Ends (PatBB): L, N, P =ob1
Fly Away-acoustic (DOD): L, N =OB1
Virginia Woolf (1200); C, L, N = OB1
Digging for Your Dream-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, P = OB1
IG OK (final)
OB
2
Center Stage-live (ST): C, L, P = OB2 (little off-key)
Come On Home (SDtBD): C, L = ob2
Everything in it’s Own Time (SotS): C, I, L, P = OB2
Ghost-live (1200): L, N = OB2
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (HHD); N, S = OB1
Cordova (SDtBD): C, L = OB2
Fishtails (OLD): L, N, P = OB2
Soon be to Nothing (CoNS); C, L =ob2
Virginia Woolf (RoP): C, L = OB2
IG OK (final)
OC
1
Fly Away (DOD): C, L, N, P = OC1
Power of Two (SO); L = OC1
All That We Let In (AtWLI): C, L = OC1
If I Don’t Leave Here Now (OLD): N = OC1 (more in depth)
Hey Kind Friend (SotS): I, L = OC2
Look Long (LL): C, L, N, P = OB2
Language or the Kiss (1200): L, N = OC1
IG OK (final)
OC
2
Language or the Kiss (SO); L, U (bike bell) = OC2
Love Will Come to You-live (RoP): L = OC2
Mystery (SO): L, N = OC2
Closer to Fine (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, P = OC2 (Emily sounds out of breath; slow)
Texas was Clean (OLD): L = oc2
Findly, Ohio 1968 (OLD); L, P = OC2 (slow & depressisng)
I actually started this catalogue-ranking prior to my Taylor Swift ranking. It just took much longer, because the Indigo Girls have an enormous body of work! I started around December off and on, then January-March, all of first quarter. Then, formatted the list for almost a whole month. So I’ll link the methodology I used for Taylor Swift (and every ranking project) here:
As for the categories, enjoy them if that’s your thing, ignore them if it’s not. The list is from my least favorite song to my very favorite song. Oh, and I included most of the legit albums, including lives and repeated songs, except a very redundant live (Retrospective) and a short EP (I think, those are the ones I skipped, I’m too lazy after all this work to Google).
Here’s what the letters stand for:
(C)ATCHY (I)NSTRUMENTALS-extra (L)YRICS (N)OTES-super high or low or complex (P)OLITICAL MESSAGE (S)ENTIMENTAL (U)NIQUE
Without further adieu: Here is the catalogue of my long-term favorite music group–The Indigo Girls!
Skips:
Skip-dislike; skip-boring
Skip: Last place song:
-Fare Thee Well (SO):
Skip-dislike
-History of Us (ST): L, N
-Left Me a Fool (SF): L
Skip
-Sister (CoNS): C, L
Skip-Boring
-Birthday (BQS): N
Best skip:
-Feed & Water the Horses (BQS):
Meh:
Last meh: -Mystery (1200): L, N
-When We Were Writers (LL): N
-Andy (CoNS): L, N
-Power of Two (1200): L, N
-Power of Two (LwtUoCSO): I, L, N
-Cedar Tree (RoP): I, N, U (bag pipe sounding)
-There’s Still My Joy (HHD): L, N
-Peace Child (HHD): C, L, N
-John (BQS): L, N, P
-Mistletoe (HHD): C, L
-Cordova (AtWLI): C, L, N, P
-Neuvose Senorita (BY): L, P
-Mystery (LwtUoCSO): I, N
-Able to Sing (BQS): C, N
-Dead Man’s Hill (1200): N, P
-Come On Home (AtWLI): C, L
Best meh: -Strange Fire (1200): C, I, L, P
IG OK = neutral songs
A = top of OK [1 =higher part of OK-A; 2 = lower part of OK-A]
B = exactly OK
C = lower OK [1 = higher part of OK-C; 2 = lower part of OK-C]
Top Awesome-Elite-1-B-i: -Galileo (1200): C, L, P, S = 1bi
IG AWESOME-ELITE 1
1A top of the top
Last awesome-elite-1A: -Compromise (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1a
-Become You (BY): C, I, L, P, S = 1a
-Second Time Around (SDtBD): C, I, L, P, S, U (live = more emotional) 1A
-Prince of Darkness (ST): C, L, N, P, S =1a
-Pushing the Needle Too Far (NIS): C, L, P, S = 1a
-Closer to Fine (ST); C, L, N, S = 1a (I felt like I was somehow betraying these staple-favorites ranking any song higher)
-Kid Fears (ST): C, L, N, S, U (feat Michael Stipe) =1a
-Fill It Up Again (AtWLI); C, L, N, S = 1a
-Galileo (RoP): C, L, P, S = 1a (same with this old friend-felt guilt out-ranking it)
-The Rise of the Black Messiah (OLD): C, I, L, N, P, U (strong & haunting) =1a
-Go (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 1A (Amy belts it out!)
-Watershed (NIS): C, L, N, S(!) = 1a
-Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (SDtBD): C, L, N (harmonies), S, U (Brandi!) = 1a (this song makes me super-enthusiastic!)
***Very top of all IG songs: -Closer to Fine (1200): C, L, N, S(!), U (pennywhistle?) = 1a (b/c you can hear how important/popular this song is w/the crowd = pure joy & a lesbian initiation)
1= elite awesome 1a top ever songs 1b = exactly elite 1c = better than your avg awesome 2= solid awesome 2a = top of list 2b = bottom of list 3 = better than good 3a = top of list 3b = bottom of list
IG AWESOME-ELITE 1 1A top of the top Become You (BY): C, I, L, P, S = 1a Closer to Fine (ST); C, L, N, S = 1a Closer to Fine (1200): C, L, N, S, U (pennywhistle?) = 1a Compromise (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1a Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (SDtBD): C, L, N (harmonies), S, U (Brandi!) = 1a Fill It Up Again (AtWLI); C, L, N, S = 1a Galileo (RoP): C, L, P, S = 1a Go (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 1A Kid Fears (ST): C, L, N, S, U (feat Michael Stipe) =1a Prince of Darkness (ST): C, L, N, P, S =1a Pushing the Needle Too Far (NIS): C, L, P, S = 1a The Rise of the Black Messiah (OLD): C, I, L, N, P, U (haunting) =1a Second Time Around (SDtBD): C, I, L, P, S, U (live = more emotional) 1A Watershed (NIS): C, L, N, S = 1a
AWESOME-ELITE 1B (exactly elite) Become You (SDtBD); C, L, P, S, U (accordian?) = 1b Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200-live @ atwood): C, L, N, P, U (feat artists, drumming) = 1b Chickenman (1200): C, I, L, N, P, U (harmonica?) = 1b Cold Beer & Remote Control (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1b Deconstruction (BY): C, L, N, S = 1b Devotion (SDtBD): C, L, N = 1b Fugitive (LwUoCSO): C, I, N = 1b Galileo (1200): C, L, P, S = 1b Go (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P, U (talking about activism in background, chanting) = 1B Hammer and a Nail (NIS): C, L, N, P, S = 1b Happy in the Sorrow Key (OLD): C, I, L, N = 2B (ENDING!) Happy Joyous Hanukkah (HHD): C, I (BASS!), L, P, U (mandolin?) = 1B I Feel the Christmas Spirit (HHD): C, I, L, N, U (blue grass) = 1b Joking (1200): C, I, (bass @ end) L, N, P, S, U (false ending) = 1b Kid Fears (SDtBD): C, L, S, U (feat Shreena Mead sounds good) = 1b Land of Cannan (ST): C, I, L, S = 1b Least Complicated (1200): C, L, N, P, S = 1b Love of Our Lives (PatBB): C, L, N, S = 1b Moment of Forgiveness (BY): C, L, N, S =1b Moment of Forgiveness (SDtBD): C, L, N, S = 1b Money Made You Mean (DOD-live): C, I (banjo-wow!), L, P = 1b (don’t like plosives) Pushing the Needle Too Far (1200): C, L, P, S = 1b Second Time Around (PatBB): C, I, L, P, S, U (harmonica?) = 1B Tangled Up In Blue (1200); C, I, L, N, P = 1b World Falls (1200-live): C, L, N, S = 1b World Falls (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 1b Yield (BY): C, I, L, N, S = 1b Yoke (BQS): C, I, L, P, S = 1b
AWESOME-ELITE 1C (better than your avg awesome) Get Out the Map (SDtBD): C, L, N, P = 1c Go (SDtBD): C, I, L, N, P = 1C Heartache for Everyone (AtWLI): C, I, L, S = 1c Hope Alone (BY): C, L, N, S =1c Howl at the Moon (LL): C, I, L, N, U (tribal) = 1c Land of Cannan (SF): C, L, N, S, U (harmonica) = 1c Last Tears (DOD: C, L, N, S = 1c Little Perennials (DOD): C, L = 1C Make It Easier (SF): C, I, L, N, P = 1c Money Made You Mean (DOD): C, I, L, P = 1c Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): C, I, L, P, S = 1c Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (SDtBD): C, L, N, P =1C Salty South (SDoBD): C, I, S = 1c Scooter Boys (SotS): C, L, P, U (wail) = 1c Second Time Around (PatBB-acoustic): C, L, P 1C Shame On You (SotS): C, L, N, P, S, U (road block trippin’ break-down) = 1c1 Shame On You (SDtBD): C, I, P, U (cajin instrument) =1c2 Shit Kickin (LL): C, I, L, P, U (choral backing) = 1c The Wonder Song (HHD): C, L, N, U (country) = 1C
AWESOME-SOLID 2A 1,2,3 (NIS): C, N, S = 2a All the Way(DOD): C, L, S = 2a Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (1200): C, I, L, P = 2a Chickenman (LwUoCSO): C, I, L, N, P = 2a Cold Beer & Remote Control (CoNS): C, L, P, S = 2a Driver Education (PatBB): C, L, S = 2a Fill It Up Again (SDtBD); C, L, S = 2a Joking (RoP): C, L, P, S, U (false ending) = 2a Least Complicated (SO): C, L, N, P, S = 2a Sugar Tongue (SDtBD); C, N = 2a
AWESOME-SOLID 2B Chickenman (RoP): C, L, P, U (harmonica?) = 2b Dairy Queen (AtWLI): C, I, S = 2b Faye Tucker (CoNS): C, L, N, P, U (laugh, chanting) = 2b Get Out the Map (SotS): C, L, N, P, U (banjo?) = 2b Hand Me Downs (NIS): C, I, L, S = 2b Heartache for Everyone (SDtBD): C, L = 2b I Believe in Love (DOD): C, L, S = 2b I Don’t Wanna Know (SF): C, I, N, U (harmonica?) = 2b I’ll Change (PatBB): C, L, S = 2b It’s Alright (SotS): C, L, P, S = 2b Learned It On Me (OLD): C, L, N (harmonies) = 2b Olympia Inn (OLD): C, P = 2B Run (DOD): C = 2b This Train Revised (1200-live): C, I, N = 2b Touch Me Fall (SO): I (really rocks at end) = 2b
AWESOME-BETTER THAN GOOD 3 Favorite Flavor (LL): C, L = 3 Love’s Recovery (ST): C, L, N, S = (don’t like Emily’s deep singing) = 3
ig good a= almost awesome b= exactly good c= almost OK 1 = top of category 2 = bottom of category i = top of almost awesome ii = bottom of almost awesome
The groups were too big so I had to narrow them down to a, b, and c almost awesome, exactly good, and almost OK respectively. Than those groups were too big so I did 1 as top of their category and 2 as the lower part. And still, some of those groups were too large so I split those into top and bottom (i and ii).
a= almost awesome 1 = top of category Philosophy of Loss (CoNS): a1 ugh–this song. It’s a secret song only. And the song it’s attached to is on a different ranking list, so it’s always harder to rank… I did it after I published this post.
a= almost awesome 1 = top of category i = top of almost awesome Beauty Queen Sister (BQS): a1i Believe in Love (SDtBD): a1i Blood & Fire (ST): a1i Burn All the Letters (SotS): a1i Center Stage (ST): a1i (ending) Collecting You (BY): a1i Fugative (SDtBD): a1i I Don’t Wanna Know (1200); a1i Kid Fears (LwtUoCSO): a1i Land of Cannan-radio single (ST): a1i Last Tears-acoustic (DOD): a1i Love of Our Lives (LwtUoCSO): a1i Midnight Train to Georgia (1200): a1i O Holy Night (HHD): a1i (high difficulty notes) Our Deliverance (BY); a1i Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate (DOD): a1i Sugar Tongue (LwtUoCSO): a1i Tether (SDtBD): a1i You and Me of the 10,000 Wars (NIS): a1i Yoke (LwtUoCSO); a1i
a= almost awesome 1 = top of category ii = bottom of almost awesome Airplane (RoP): a1ii Angels We Have Heard On High (HHD): a1ii Closer to Fine (SDtBD): a1ii Cut it OUt (SotS): a1ii Damo (LwtUoCSO): a1ii Faye Tucker (CoNS): a1ii Fugative (SO) = a1ii Happy in the Sorrow Key (LwtUoCSO): a1ii Lay My Head Down (DOD); a1ii Little Perennials-live (DOD): a1ii Secure Yourself (ST): a1ii Three County Highway-live (DOD): a1ii Tried to be True (ST); a1ii World Falls (NIS): a1ii You’ve Got to Show (BY): a1ii
a= almost awesome 2 = bottom of category Able to Sing (LwtUoCSO): a2 Crazy Game (SF): a2 Free in You (AtWLI): A2 Damo (BQS): a2 Galileo (LwtUoCSO): a2 (good, but I like original better) Gone Again (CoNS): a2 Leeds (SotS): a2 Let it be Me (RoP): a2 Love of Our Lives-acoustic (PatBB): a2 (stronger singing) Making Promises (BQS); a2 Pendulum Swinger (DOD): a2 Romeo and Juliet (RoP); a2 Shed Your Skin (SofS): a2 Southland in the Springtime (NIS): a2 Starkville (BY); a2 Strange Fire (SF): a2 Sugar Tongue (PatBB): a2 Tether (AtWLI): a2 They Won’t Have Me (DOD): a2 This Train Revised (SO); a2 Three County Highway (SDtBD): a2 Three Hits (RoP): A2 Trouble (CoNS): a2 Watershed (SDtBD):a2 (5d, live singing = less) Welcome Me (NIS): a2 What Are You Like (PatBB): A2
A lot of the songs in this section remind me of Seattle ZooTunes. Whatever year I went it seemed like they played most of these.
b= exactly good 1 = top of category Change My Heart (LL); b1 Down by the River (1200): b1 Elizabeth (OLD): B1 (DETAILED STORY) Fleet of Hope-acoustic (PatBB); b1 The Girl w/the Weight of the World in Her Hands (NIS); B1 Jonas and Ezekiel (1200): b1 Jonas and Ezekiel (RoP): b1 K.C. Girl (LL): b1 Keeper of My Heart (NIS): b1 Love of Our Lives (SDtBD): b1 Mariner Moonlighting (BQS): b1 Muster (LL): b1 Ozilline (CoNS): b1 Ozilline (SDtBD): b1 Reunion (SO): b1 Run (DOD): b1 True Romantic (PatBB): b1 What Are You Like-acoustic (PatBB): B1 The Wood Song (SDtBD): b1 Woodsong (LwtUoCSO): b1 Your Holiday Song (HHD); b1
b= exactly good 2 = bottom of category Come a Long Way (LwtUoCSO): b2 (ending!) Dead Man’s Hill (SO): B2 Digging for Your Dream (PatBB) = b2 Fly Away (SDtBD): b2 Get Together (SF) = b2 Ghost of the Gang-acoustic (PatBB): b2 I’ll Change-acoustic (PatBB): b2 Nashville (RoP): b2 Peace Tonight (CoNS): b2 Perfect World (AtWLI): b2 Sorrow and Joy (LL); b2 (WTF is this song about?) Southern California is Your Girlffriend (OLD): b2 True Romantic-acoustic (PatBB): b2 War Rugs (LwtUoCSO): b2 We are Together (CoNS): b2 Wild Horses (SDtBD); b2 The Wood Song (SO): b2
c= almost OK 1 = top of category Come a Long Way (OLD): c1 Digging for Your Dream (SDtBD): C1 Dirt and Dead Ends (DOD): C1 (BLEAK) Feel this WAy Again (LL): c1 I’ll Be Home for Christmas (HHD): c1 It Really is (A Wonderful Life) (HHD): c1 Love Will Come to You (RoP); c1 Salty South-acoustic (PatBB): c1 Something Real (AtWLI): c1 Spread the Pain Around (OLD): c1 Walk Away (SF): c1
I suspect these songs are ranked relatively low bc they’re a bummer. They all have serious, heavy (very important) topics, but the bleakness just gets to me. In all this ranking, I learned I prefer upbeat and fast songs.
c= almost OK 2 = bottom of category Alberta (OLD): c2 Back Together Again (1200): c2 Country RAdio (LL): c2 Everybody’s Waiting for Someone to Come Home (SF): c2 Ghost (RoP); c2 Gone (BQS): c2 Love’s Recovery (1200): c2 (too much brass) Thin Line (1200): c2
Ironically, Spotify and Lastfm will probably say I listened to this section most. But only bc I’d either tune out, or it wasn’t clear where they should be ranked on the list…
These are the songs that aren’t meh or skip, but also aren’t great enough to make the goods. They’re A-OK. I split it into 3 parts: OA which are nearly good, OB = exactly neutral, and OC which are just above a meh. Then, I split the 3 groups into top of that list (1) and bottom of that list (2)–just to make it a bit more manageable. The songs within each group aren’t in order quite yet.
IG OK OA 1 Bitterroot (BY): C =OA1 Compromise (CoNS): C, I, L, N, P = OA1 Ghost (LwtUoCSO): I, L, N = OA1 Ghost of the Gang (PatBB); C, L, P = OA1 In the Bleak Midwinter (HHD): I, N = OA1 Pendulum Swinger-live (DOD): C, L, P = OA1 Prince of Darkness (SDtBD): C, N, P, S = OA1 Rise Up (AtWLI): C = OA1 Three County Highway (DOD): L, S = OA1 Three Hits-live (RoP): C, I, L, P = OA1 Virginia Woolf (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA1 War Rugs (BQS): C, I, L, P = OA1 (instruments!) We Get to Feel it All (BQS); C, I, L, N = OA1 What are You Like (SDtBD); C, I, L = OA1
It was tough narrowing down each group, and it took many, many listens to get the Awesomes, goods, neutrals, mehs, and actually the skips were easy bc you know what you don’t like. And these just weren’t as good as the good-list. But it’s VERY close!
IG OK OA 2
Caramia (SotS): C, I, L, N = OA2 Come On Home (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, N = OA2 Crazy Game (SF): C, N = oa2 Don’t Give that Girl a Gun (SotS): C, L, N, P = OA2 Fleet of Hope (PatBB): C, L = OA2 Share the Moon (BQS): C, I, L = OA2 She’s Saving Me (BY); L, N, S = OA2
IG OK OB 1 Digging for Your Dream-acoustic (PatBB): C, L, P = OB1 Dirt and Dead Ends (PatBB): L, N, P =ob1 Driver Education-acoustic (PatBB); C, L, P = OB1 Fly Away-acoustic (DOD): L, N =OB1
I pretty much like all these songs a lot, but picked better versions of each to rank higher.
I’ll Be Home for Christmass (HHD); N, S = OB1 Sister (CoNS): L = (too quiet) = OB1 Sugar Tongue-acoustic (PatBB): C, L = OB1 Virginia Woolf (1200); C, L, N = OB1
IG OK OB 2 Center Stage-live (ST): C, L, P = OB2 (little off-key) Come On Home (SDtBD): C, L = ob2 Cordova (SDtBD): C, L = OB2 Everything in it’s Own Time (SotS): C, I, L, P = OB2
These are good songs, and in any other catalogue would be ranked that way. But relative to the other good songs, they just don’t hold up as well.
Fishtails (OLD): L, N, P = OB2 Ghost-live (1200): L, N = OB2 Look Long (LL): C, L, N, P = OB2 Soon be to Nothing (CoNS); C, L =ob2 Virginia Woolf (RoP): C, L = OB2
IG OK OC 1 All That We Let In (AtWLI): C, L = OC1 Fly Away (DOD): C, L, N, P = OC1 If I Don’t Leave Here Now (OLD): N = OC1
Language or the Kiss (1200): L, N = OC1 Power of Two (SO); L = OC1
The fans love these 2, but I find them overrated. I just find them OK, no matter how many times I listen.
IG OK OC 2 Findly, Ohio 1968 (OLD); L, P = OC2 Language or the Kiss (SO); L = OC2 Closer to Fine (LwtUoCSO): C, I, L, P = OC2 (Emily sounds out of breath; slow) Hey Kind Friend (SotS): I, L = OC2 Love Will Come to You-live (RoP): L = OC2 Mystery (SO): L, N = OC2 Texas was Clean (OLD): L = oc2
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