MJMcG (he/they)

#TheTenx5

18
Wednesday Campanella
Jeanne d'Arc
Non-Single
2014
Japan

A song that dares to ask, "what if Joan of Arc fled her gruesome fate and instead became a tour guide in Japan?" The song is every bit the equal of the pitch.

This came at the perfect time, since I asked my players which CfB game they'd like to play next - after a very successful Brindlewood Bay campaign - and this came out on top. Very excited!

I probably would have been fired if I'd tried that at my old office. They were aggressively disinterested in anything that strayed from the mainstream.

Interestingly, Google has this listed as a 2009 release, and Bandcamp says it's 2011. Since the former is riddled with AI and the latter often just goes by when it was listed on their own site, we'll split the diff at 2010 - which, happily, is when Discogs says it was released.

#TheTenx5

17
And So I Watch You From Afar
K Is For Killing Spree (An Ode To)
The Letters EP
2010
UK

Massive guitars from Belfast today. I've enjoyed pretty much all their output, but to me, they've never bettered the first thing of theirs I heard. Crunchy, dynamic, and thrilling.

I frequently get stopped on walks by people who think he's a fox. He just loves the attention, since he is the friendliest little guy you could hope to meet.

Noodle the shiborgi, curled up around a computer mouse for reasons known only to him.

I also have a singular Noodle, who is a corgi/shiba inu cross and a delightful buffoon.

Oh damn, totally forgot about this track. Straight onto my HM list it goes...

YouTube video by Akidachi Alone At The Edge Of A Universe // The Magnus Archives Finale MV [SPOILERS]

I first heard it when I found this gorgeous animation made to celebrate the end of The Magnus Archives, and the two things are now inextricably bonded in my mind.

(Loads of spoilers for TMA, obv)

#TheTenx5

16
Miracle Musical
Dream Sweet In Sea Major
Non-Single
2012
USA

My most self-indulgent pick. Basically BoRhap for people who think of Montreal lack whimsy. I love it so damn much.

Owl Communication.

The optimum listening experience.

That was on my longlist for sure. Love that video!

Delighted as I was to see Hate enter #1C000LEST, I'm even more chuffed to see them get recognised for more than that one (brilliant) tune.

I very nearly picked this for #TheTwen2ie5 since the Junebug album was released in 2020, but beyond the kayfabe the reality is that this was a 2014 track created by Ben Babbitt with lyrical assistance from Jake Elliott, and nary a gender-shifting android between them.

YouTube video by wabba weeba Kentucky Route Zero - Act III - Too Late to Love You (in-game version)

Of course, you had to have seen her performing it live along the Zero, when she and Johnny were still workshopping the lyrics. They really raised the roof at The Lower Depths.

#TheTenx5

15
Junebug
Too Late To Love You
Kentucky Route Zero Act III EP
2014
USA

On paper, it sounds like little more than a vocoder and a Casio preset drumbeat. But oh the beauty they contain...

Deadloch S2

Yes yes yes yes TIME FOR THE BEST SHOW TO COME BACK I MISSED MY IDIOTS

Ah wait, looks like they removed it recently. Never mind.

If you have a Netflix account, it's included in the games section, handily.

It's a whole experience. I loved it - it fed right into my taste for tall tales and surrealism.

YouTube video by Desert Sessions - Topic Dead In Love

For TOKEN 2, some nice big grumpy guitars.

Desert Sessions
Dead In Love

YouTube video by wabba weeba Kentucky Route Zero - Act III - Too Late to Love You (in-game version)

Mornings! For TOKEN 1, a beautiful tale of love and loss, as sung by a robot to a mostly-empty dive bar somewhere beneath Kentucky.

Junebug
Too Late To Love You

#TheTenx5

14
Lady Gaga feat. Beyoncé
Telephone
Single
2010
USA

At last, a proper big one. And it's a really good big one.

I do feel a bit like ubiquity was part of its undoing. Possibly also it being from an animated film? I dunno - I love the movie, and have a lot of warmth for this tune.

Given all the snark this seemed to attract from the commentariat, I'm still surprised it entered the top 50, let alone top 10. Well done to my 6th favourite KPDH track, and my final surviving vote.

I really featured this and Kate Nash breaking the top 10. Happy to have spent time with both, regardless.

I liked him too! Not my favourite, but a fun lil guy.

Seeing it at least twice, in fact!