https://pcpartpicker.com/list/t74gWt
Mobo likely croaked, so investigating a new upper-mid range gamePlex servehacking/VM/general use system.
I'm trying to reuse some components to cut down cost...here's the breakdown:
CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K CPU Cooler: ID-Cooling FrostFlow X 280mm GPU: Gigabyte Windforce OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 UD AX Memory: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6000 SSD: Crucial MX100 512GB**\* HDDs: a handful of existing storage drives, mostly 1TB+ 7200 RPM stuff**\* PSU: Seasonic PLATINUM-1000 1000W 80Plus Platinum ATX12V/EPS12V Power Supply**\* Case: Fractal Design Define R5 FD-CA-DEF-R5-TI Titanium Computer Case**\*
*** - reused component, don't need to buy (hopefully)!
Thoughts/build improvements?
Some questions....

1. My existing 1KW PSU...it's old...so can't be ATX 3.0. Will this be a problem with a newer GPU? Is this a bad idea?
2. My SSD...would going NVMe be such a huge performance gain that I'd be kicking myself to sticking with an older SSD?
3. Will all this stuff fit in my existing R5 case? (Damn R5s are sexy cases!)
4. Anything else I'm missing?

Thank you for your time! :)

UK main here who has the Cent AX, Sentinel, Crusader Saint and QF Ram. I'm considering getting the Khalid and later the Rooikat 105 (whenever it goes on sale assuming it doesn't on May 6th) to grind credits and research high-tier UK faster. The APFSDS seems solid, speed is respectable (by UK standards it's outright incredible) and being a Chieftain makes it extremely sexy by default, but I'd like to know if there's anything else I should know or if it's even worth using in the first place. For the record, I've already heard about how 9.3 is currently considered a black hole, but with how constantly I get full uptiers with every lineup anyway, that just sounds par for the course.
As a side note, if I do pick it up I'll have enough GE left over to also grab either the Britstang, Britbolt or Britcat, so if anyone has a particular favourite from those three please let me know.

All Brand New unworn with tags.
PayPal invoice only! Comment before DM’ing
TIMESTAMP AND TAGGED PICS - https://imgur.com/a/jsRTkAX
UK shipping included, contact for other locations.
All orders will be shipped the next day by 3PM after payment.)
Jackets
- Supr3m3 x The North Face Leopard Jacket – Black/White
Size – Large
Price - £69
Tees
- Heron - Black
Size – Large – 21.5” Pit to Pit
Price - £27
- Gucc1 Sexiness Tee - Black
Size – XS – Oversized – 19.5” Pit to Pit
Price - £29
- Supreme – Cat in the Hat Tee - Red
Size – Large
Price - £25
- Supreme - Blue
Size – Large
Price - £27
- Supreme - CDG Split Logo - Black
Brand new - Never Worn
Size – Large
Price - £27
- Supreme - Hardware Red
Size – Large
Price - £24
- B4L3NCI4GA Tee Purple – Oversize
Size – Medium – Fits like a large Pit-to-pit size: 24”
Price - £27
Shoes:
- Dior Oblique Shoes
Price - £59 Size – 260 CN / 41 EU / 7 UK
- Dior Sandals
Price - £49 Size – 9 UK / 43 EU
- Gucci 1977 Tennis Shoes
Price - £59 Size – 5 UK / 240 CN / 39 EU
- Air Max 97 OG
Price - £55 Size – 44 EU / 9 UK / 10 US –
Inner sole size - 28.5cm toe to heel
- Yeezy 700 V2
Price - £55 Size – 44 EU/ 9.5 UK / 10 US
- Cheap A1r Jordan 1 Travis Scott
Price - £19 Size – 44 EU / 9.5 UK / 10.5 US
Hoodies/Sweatshirts
- Stone Island Sweatshirt
Size – Medium - Pit-to-Pit size: 21"
Price - £39
- Champion Hoodie - Green
Size – Large – Oversized – 25” pit to pit
Price - £19
- Supr3m3 Swar@vski B@x Logo Hoodie
X-Large - 25” Pit to Pit
Price - £69
- Supr3m3 Swar@vski B@x Logo Hoodie
Small – 21” Pit to Pit
Price - £69
- Supr3m3 Box Logo Sweatshirt - White
Size – X-Large - Pit-to-Pit size: 25"
Price - £39
Bags:
- Chanel pink canvas shopping Tote bag £39 - Has fold marks from packing on the back hence discounted
- LV Holdall bag £65
- Tory Burch Wallet - £29

Everyone has that special toy they had growing up. A toy that was more than just a plaything, it was a companion. For me, it was Baro, the beast knight. It was an action figure from “Knights of Hukra.” Does anyone remember that anime? This toy was a huge part of my early childhood. I would take it with me anywhere I went; watch cartoons with it – I even took it to school with me. When times were tough, when teachers were mean to me, when bullies messed with me, I had Baro. This, of course, didn’t last. He was ripped from me by a bully and thrown into the woods. Despite days of searching, I could never find him.
A little background on the show. The main characters were the heroic Karo, the flame knight; Nera, the water knight; Drahu, the air knight, and finally, Baro, the earth knight (though he was more commonly known as the beast knight.) Three of the knights used weapons to control their given element. Baro, despite having an ax, couldn’t control earth. Instead, he could turn into animals and communicate with them. He kept his face covered by a mask, and never spoke to the human characters. When he spoke to the animals, it was always at a distance so the audience couldn’t hear him. The anime was a “monster of the week” type show. Said monsters were almost always controlled by a human antagonist. My favorite of them being a kraken that was being controlled by the star magic wielding pirate, Captain Radu Scurvy. Nera had once been a part of his crew. The show had a bit of an environmental message.
The anime was dubbed into English in the early 2000’s and was heavily censored. The man who wrote and drew the manga the anime was based on was inspired by western cartoons, so it didn’t quite look like a standard anime. It ran for 20 episodes before being canceled due to low viewer counts. It spawned a very short-lived and derivative card game and a few toys. It didn’t have much popularity outside of my hometown, Silvervein, which had a large Japanese population.
I wasn’t liked very much. I like to dress like a girl, so I got bullied a lot. Me bringing a doll to school probably didn’t help matters. The biggest jerk I had to deal with was a boy named Tamaki. He was the one who took Baro from me and threw him into the woods. There wasn’t much I could do about him; his dad was close friends with the mayor, so Tamaki could get away with just about anything.
My family left Silvervein after a teenager, her dad, and the mayor were murdered by the teenager’s brother, who is still on the run. The news scared my parents enough to want to leave. We ended up going to Portland, which was on the other end of the state from Silvervein. The move was hard, as they always are. I didn’t miss anyone from Silvervein, but I did miss my toy. My parents got me DVDs of Knights of Hukra. I think they did this to distract me from everything going on.
The new school I went to had an anime club, which I brought my DVDs to. The club members were enamored with the show. There was a bit of an argument about whether it actually was an anime since the character designs were western inspired, but a look at the back of the box settled that argument. Bloody anime purists. I met my three best friends in that club: Amy, Jack, and Richie.
Amy was my closest friend; she used to drag me to the mall to go clothes shopping. She didn’t have any female friends to do that with. I was happy to have someone supportive of my crossdressing. Jack and Richie would make fun of me, of course. However, if anyone else made fun of me, they would throw fists. No one made fun of their friend but them. I ended up teasing them in return, implying they might be hiding a crush on me.
In our last year of high school, my friends saved up and bought me a vintage Baro action figure. When I saw that hunk of plastic in my hands, waves of nostalgia radiated through me like warm sunlight on a cool spring morning. I was happy, yet, I also felt lonely. I didn’t have friends in Silvervein, Baro kind of replaced them. Now that I had friends, I felt weird holding something like this. Still though, I was very appreciative. I hugged them all, even giving the boys a kiss on the cheek each for no other reason than to gross them out.
After high school, Amy and I ended up getting an apartment together while she was in college. She was studying education since she planned on being an English teacher in Japan. I was able to help her study with her Japanese since I was fluent from my days in Silvervein. Well, I was mostly fluent; I was never able to decipher Kanji despite years of study.
I was trying to be an author. I had started about six different novels, but dropped them after a couple chapters. I had a few short stories in various publications, and I started playing tabletop RPGs to help me with my writing. To pay the bills, I ended up dishwashing. It was not a glamorous job, and I ended up smelling like garbage at the end of a shift. My writing was getting stagnant, like the dishwater at my job. I could start a project but couldn’t stick to it for the life of me.
One day, Amy, myself, Jack, and Richie were at a Chinese buffet. Jack was working as a janitor at the orphanage he grew up in, and Richie was working in his uncle’s garage. Things were going alright for the four of us for the most part. We were having fun talking about geek stuff and just unwinding. About an hour into dinner, Amy brought up an idea.
“Gabe, the town you grew up in is mostly Japanese, right?” Amy asked me.
“Yeah, it was founded by Japanese P.O.W.s who escaped from American internment camps after World War 2,” I said.
“Think I could see it?” Amy asked, a smile spread across her lips.
“It’s way up North,” I said, surprised by her request, “it’s almost at the Canadian border.”
“Road trip!” Jack said, throwing his fists in the air, and catching the attention of the other customers. Richie smacked Jack in the stomach with a disapproving glare.
“You want to come with us?” Amy asked, surprised.
“Hell yeah!” Jack said, “Richie can borrow a car from his uncle and we can all go. We could use a vacation.”
“Bold of you to assume I want to come, or that my uncle would lend me a car,” Richie remarked disapprovingly, folding his arms.
“Oh come on, like you’re going to miss the chance of hitting on some sexy Japanese girls,” Jack chuckled, earning him an eye roll from both me and Amy.
“You drive a hard bargain,” Richie smirked. Amy smacked the back of his head. Richie whined, “what? Did you two want some alone time or something?”
“I’m going because I want to expose myself a bit to Japanese culture, not to get my dick wet,” Amy quipped, cocking an eyebrow.
“You don’t have a dick,” Richie retorted.
“That you know of,” I interjected jokingly, doing my best to hold back a chuckle. It escaped when Amy smacked my arm.
The boys teased Amy a good bit after my comment. We ended up agreeing to go on the trip. I figured it would be good to help me stir up my creative juices. Amy had some time off school coming up. Richie and Jack were able to get time off pretty easily and Richie got his hands on a van. I, on the other hand, didn’t have such an easy time. I wasn’t able to get the time off I wanted, so I put in my two-week notice. It was just a dishwashing job; I could get another one elsewhere after I got back. After I served my two weeks, we left.
The trip was glorious. Maine has some really pretty scenery. We ended up taking a longer route so we could hit the beach. Amy convinced me to wear a bikini, which I had been hesitant to do since I was still so body conscious. When I stepped out in the bikini, Jack and Richie gagged, saying they could see my dick. Amy and I kicked sand at them. The four of us spent the day at the beach, drinking beer late into the night and enjoying a nice fire. I don’t think it was legal, but fuck it; we were having fun and the cops were never called.
After Jack and Richie headed back to the hotel to catch some sleep, Amy and I were still on the beach.
“So, Gabey, are you going to miss me when I’m gone?” Amy asked, toasting a marshmallow on a stick.
“Of course I am, I can’t drag those idiots with me to bra fittings,” I teased. I knew she planned on leaving, but I never really thought it through. She had been a constant companion for years now. She would be gone soon though. I think Amy saw my face fall because she put a hand on mine.
“You could come with me,” Amy said, softly.
My heart skipped a beat, I stared into Amy’s emerald green eyes. Her lips were spread into an enchanting smile. I didn’t know how I felt. I kept my emotional distance because I didn’t think she saw me like that. I never really let any feelings flourish. I didn’t know if any actually existed. I looked into the fire. I didn’t know how to answer her question.
“You don’t have to answer right away,” Amy said, then chuckled and added, “I know you’re not too hot on the idea of living in Japan with how bad your Kanji is.”
That got a chuckle out of me. I rubbed her hand with my thumb. Even if my feelings for her weren’t romantic, I enjoyed this. I put my head on her shoulder. “I need some time to think this through,” I told her. We sat there, staring into the fire in silence, just enjoying the cool breeze, the warmth, and crackling of the fire.
It took another couple days to reach Silvervein, it was getting more and more foggy as we drove. The temperature plummeted as we drove, you wouldn’t have thought it was summer. Richie was having trouble seeing the road ahead of him, especially with the windy roads with trees on either side. I looked around at the familiar scenery, it felt wrong. I don’t know why, but I felt like we were being watched. I squeezed Amy’s hand for comfort.
“Fuck, this is unnerving,” Richie said softly, having slowed the van down a bit.
“Damn it, I packed a tent for camping,” Jack groaned.
“Yeah, that ain’t happening, Buddy,” Richie mumbled, distracted by the road.
Jack stared out a window. His brow was furrowed. When I asked him what was going on, he gasped, “I think that deer is following us.”
Amy giggled and kicked the back of his chair, he was riding shotgun while Amy and I were in the back seat. “You little bitch,” Amy laughed.
“I’m serious, I’ve seen that same five point buck like six times in an hour,” Jack snorted.
“How do you know it’s the same one?” I asked.
“It’s got a heart in its fur on the flank,” Jack said.
I stared out the window, after a moment of looking, I saw it. I told Jack so. I saw it again another ten minutes later. What the hell was going on?
“Think it’s a skinwalker?” Richie asked, taking Jack seriously.
“Those things don’t exist,” Amy laughed again, but this time nervously. Even if she believed what she said, she still had to admit the deer was acting weird. She squeezed my hand back.
“Did you bring your gun?” Richie asked Jack.
“Yup, I put it in the glove box, do you think we’ll need it?” Jack replied.
“Doubt it, but better safe than sorry,” Richie said.
“Guys, it’s just a deer,” Amy nervously interjected.
Richie leaned in, a smile spread across his face. Through the fog, the first buildings came into view. Finally, we were in Silvervein. The entire town was blanketed in fog. I half expected no one to be here, but I could see people walking down the sidewalk and going along with their business. We found a place to park and stepped out. It was cold enough that we needed to wear sweatshirts, which sucked because I was wearing short shorts.
We started walking around, people were staring at us weirdly. I was used to that, but I guess the others weren’t. They were getting more and more unnerved. We found a small bar and went inside.
“Welcome to mini-Japan,” I announced to Amy.
Amy went up to the bartender and ordered a round of beers in Japanese, even being careful to say yon instead of shi (for those who don’t know, both words mean four, but shi also means death). She got the standard “Nihongo josu” response, a common and slightly condescending phrase from Japanese people talking to foreigners. I sipped my beer, looking at the people staring at us. People weren’t like this when I was here last. Sure, they weren’t friendly to me, but they weren’t this openly hostile.
I asked the bartender in Japanese “what’s going on? I used to live here as a kid and people didn’t act this suspicious.”
“The animals have been acting weird,” the bartender informed us, speaking in English for the benefit of Jack and Richie, who looked visibly confused.
“We noticed that on our way in, any idea of what’s going on?” I questioned.
“I’m not sure, I think it’s just that there’s something in the air. There’s been some fires up in Canada, so that might be messing with them. The elders think there’s something supernatural going on,” the bartender explained.
We later checked into our hotel. I was unpacking my stuff when I pulled out my Baro action figure. It was missing its head. I cursed, these things were expensive when my friends had got it for me and even more so by now. I looked through my stuff for the head but I couldn’t find it. I looked at the toy, I blinked, something seemed off. I examined the neck. It was cut. This was intentional. The sudden realization made me drop it. I told the others what had happened.
“I thought you locked the van when we were in the bar, Richie!” Jack snapped.
“The back door lock is busted,” Richie explained. Jack cursed, grabbed the keys and ran downstairs to check if anything else had been messed with. Richie looked at Baro and asked, “why would anyone just steal the head of your guy?”
“I have no idea…” I sighed heavily. After losing Baro as a kid, losing him again like this was disheartening. I ran a thumb over the neck. I could feel Amy’s gentle hand rubbing my back, trying to comfort me. Jack returned. He handed me the head, his hand had a small gash.
“A damned crow had it,” Jack explained, “it was sitting on the van, holding the head in its mouth. It pecked me when I took the head away. I tied the back doors shut with a bit of rope from the inside so no one else should be getting in.”
“I’m surprised you were able to catch it,” I remarked as Richie grabbed the first aid kit from his bag.
“It just sat there as I reached for it,” Jack said, “didn’t move even after I took the head.”
“Okay, THAT is weird,” Richie remarked as he started treating the cut.
“Anything else taken?” Amy asked. Jack shook his head. He lifted his shirt. A snub nosed revolver was tucked into his waistband.
“I didn’t notice anything stolen from my stuff,” Richie informed us, “Amy, did anything get taken from you?” Amy shook her head. This was beyond weird. Why would someone break into the van for no other reason than to decapitate my toy?
“I think we should leave,” Amy mumbled softly.
That shocked me. I glanced at her. This whole trip was her idea, but I could understand why she would want to leave.
“It’s a bit late to do that,” Richie said, “let’s leave in the morning, who knows, maybe the fog will lift by then.”
Everyone agreed. Instead of going back out into the fog, we ate some of our packed travel food for dinner. It was getting dark. As we ate and drank, I noticed something on the window sill. I turned and saw a crow. It must have been the one that bit Jack. It pecked against the window, getting the attention of the others. Jack jumped up and went over, smacking the window.
“Get out of here!” Jack snapped at the bird. It didn’t move. It just stared at him. Jack smacked the window again, still getting no reaction from the bird.
“Ignore it,” Amy groaned, offering Jack a pack of peanut butter crackers. He took it and sat down on the bed. The four of us would be sharing the room, we had been doing that over the course of the trip. We were silent, the weirdness of the situation was getting to us.
Later, after we went to bed, the boys managed to get to sleep in their bed. Amy and I were in our bed, still awake. We were holding onto each other, both for warmth, and for companionship. I buried my face into her orange hair. Even with everything going on, I couldn’t help but notice how nice she smelled. She looked back at me with a little smile, she turned so we were facing each other. She ran the back of her hand along my cheek. I kissed her knuckles, my heart skipping a beat. I think I knew then how I felt about her. I could feel Amy shifting closer. Her hand moved to the back of my head. I could feel her pulling me in. I knew what was coming. My heart was racing. I wanted this. I leaned in, about to kiss her.
There was a loud thump. The noise woke the boys up. Jack grabbed the revolver quickly. There were more thumps, accompanied by little scratching noises. Amy and I held each other scared. Richie himself reached for Jack. The noises were getting closer. Whatever it was, it was in the hall, and it was big. I put a hand over my mouth, I was hyperventilating. Jack moved Richie over to Amy and I’s bed and put himself between us and the door. It had to be some kind of animal. Given the size, I could guess it was a black bear, but how the hell did it get in here?
The noises stopped at our door. Amy clutched my hand tightly, we all held our breath. Each second felt like an hour. It was so quiet. Suddenly, we could hear heavy breathing. Richie let out a soft squeak. The animal outside made a grunt. I recognized the noises it was making. It was a bear. Fuck! The door shuddered as the thing was pressing against it. There was no way the door was going to hold under the bear’s weight.
Jack held the gun up, hand shaking. He was breathing heavily, but he was doing a breathing exercise to calm down. The door was bending a little, threatening to either shatter or bust the hinges. Jack pulled back the hammer on the revolver, his hand becoming more steady.
“HEY! GET OUT OF HERE! GET!” we could hear an older man outside shout. Someone was out there trying to scare off the bear. Sure, to someone unfamiliar with the wild, this seems dumb. However, there is a phrase: if it’s black; fight back, if it’s brown; lie down, if it’s white; say good night. Scaring a black bear off wasn’t impossible.
However, like the bartender said, the animals had been acting weird. There was a loud roar. A swift shifting could be heard and then we could hear liquid hitting the floor. The man whimpered. A man was being killed just outside our room. His death cries could be heard through the thin hotel walls. We could be next.
Jack moved to the window quickly and opened it. “Move, move” he whispered, keeping the gun trained on the door. He moved his finger onto the trigger, ready to fire if anything burst through. Amy got up first, pulling my hand. We slipped out the window, my bare feet sending a shock up my body as they touched the cold sidewalk. Richie slipped through next, followed by Jack.
Richie had his phone in his hand, having remembered to grab it before leaving. Richie pulled up the calling app, about to call the emergency services. There was a loud crash as the door hit the floor. The call could wait. Jack fired at the bear and the four of us started running. It was dark enough that we couldn't tell if the bullet hit. Black bears were small, but not small enough to sleep through the window like we did. We were parked nearby, so we started running towards the van. I looked behind us. I had expected to see the bear’s face as it tried to push through.
Instead, I saw darkness still. The noises had ceased. Did Jack’s blind shot strike true? Was it dead? No, that wasn’t right. There was no way Jack did anything other than piss it off. Out from the darkness something flew out, rushing right towards us. It was small and fast. It came from our room where the bear had been. It was a crow, perhaps the same one we had been seeing.
It flew right for Jack.
Jack screamed as the beak sank into his eye, blood streamed down his cheek. He grabbed the bird and struck it with the handle of the gun. Birds aren’t strong creatures, the strike should have killed the crow. The creature continued to dig into Jack’s skull. Richie ran over and grabbed the crow, trying to pull it off. The strength of two people couldn’t get the beast off my friend. Blood was gushing more and more. Jack’s mangled eye fell to the ground. People were coming out of their homes, seeing what was going on.
“HELP!!! DEAR GOD SOMEONE HELP!!!” Amy screamed. She ran over to help Richie.
“GET THIS FUCKING THING OFF OF ME!!!” Jack was crying and begging, he was scared. I ran over and pulled on Jack, trying to save him. The crow was digging its claws into my poor friend’s face, causing yet more blood to spill. Jack’s face would give way before this creature’s grip.
Amy picked up the gun quickly, she put it against the bird and fired. The beast was blasted back, feathers and viscera flying everywhere. Jack was yelling in agony, clutching at his face. Richie opened the side door of the van while Amy and I dragged Jack over to it. I heard someone yell that they called emergency services.
I looked back at the bird. I could see it twitching. It was moving far more than it should be. There’s no way this thing was still alive. There was just no way. The bird shifted more and more, its form growing larger. No, no there was no way. It was changing. The deer, the bear, the crow, they were all the same creature. They were all this creature. The figure stood up, growing to the size of a human. No, not just any figure. I looked on in horror as the creature took the form of Baro. The man stood there in his green leather gear and his animal furs, his white bear mask faced us with dangerous intent. He clutched his ax, ready to bury it in our skulls. However, something looked weird about him. His joints, something was off about his joints.
Amy slammed the door shut as Richie started driving off. Baro turned into the deer form and galloped, slamming its antlers into the side of the van. The antlers actually pierced the van door, stabbing Amy in the thigh and shoulder. She screamed in pain as I pulled her back. Richie put his foot on the gas, trying to escape Baro. I grabbed the gun. The antler piercing the door transformed into a snake and slithered into the van.
I fired at the snake, hitting it straight on. Baro slammed into the door, momentarily stunned. Amy pulled the door open and I kicked it out. Amy and I shut the door again before Baro could shapeshift again. Richie drove off fast. I looked out the back window as Baro turned into the deer again and began chasing us.
“FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS THING!?!?” Richie called out as he drove fast like a maniac. We could hear sirens in the distance.
“It’s fucking Baro!” I gasped, still in absolute shock.
“It’s not a fucking anime character!” Amy snapped. I grabbed the first aid kit from the glove box. There wasn’t much I could do about Amy or Jack, especially not Jack. He was hyperventilating. Amy was trying to keep him calm and conscious.
“Richie, which pocket is your phone in!?” I cried.
“Front right!” Richie said. I reached in and grabbed the phone.
“HA! Gay!” Jack laughed maniacally, trying to focus on a joke rather than the pain.
I called 911 quickly. As soon as I heard someone pick up, I started talking: “POLICE! We have a monster chasing us! I know that sounds crazy but we have a fuck ton of witnesses, it’s a damned monster! It killed someone at the hotel we were at, took my friend’s eye out, stabbed my other friend and is now chasing us! We’re driving down Boar Street! Hurry!”
The van jolted as the deer slammed into it again, shattering the window. We all screamed. There was a loud bang as a bystander with a shotgun fired at the deer. The deer staggered, falling back but continued to chase.
“What the fuck did we do?!” Jack asked no one in particular.
The sirens were getting closer. Help was on the way, but I didn’t know how much help they would be. I noticed Baro ignored the man who had shot him. It wasn’t us specifically. It was getting closer.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT!?” I snapped out the window.
Time seemed to slow as the creature’s mouth opened. It spoke in a raspy and dark voice: “Gabe. Friend.” It knew my name. I stared into Baro’s eyes. They weren’t normal deer eyes, they were human eyes. It knew me. A flash of blue and red appeared as a cop car crashed into the deer, pinning it against a brick wall. We soon lost them in the fog. All we could see was the flashing of lights. We could hear roaring, gunshots, and screams as we drove away.
I looked towards my friends. Richie was busy driving, but Jack and Amy were staring horrified at me. It was clear they were trying to find words. Amy was trembling like a leaf. They were scared for me. They were the ones injured, and they were scared for me. That beast wanted me. I don’t know why it did, but it did.
An ambulance caught up to us, we stopped long enough to get Amy and Jack into it. They drove towards the hospital after alerting us that a police car would be racing to catch up with us and escort us to safety. Richie and I drove off towards the edge of town. After a while of painful silence, I remarked “your uncle’s gonna kill you for wrecking his van.” A slight smirk spread across my lips.
Richie blinked a little and shook his head, “man, fuck that.” Another moment of awkward silence before Richie asked “Gabe, are you okay?”
“I have a shapeshifting anime character chasing me, willing to murder my friends to get to me, what do you think?” I replied sarcastically.
“I think you have a doll chasing you,” Richie said. That comment made me pause. I looked at Richie, shocked. A doll was chasing us? The look on my face must have been incredulous because he added, “the joints are segmented.” I blinked when he said that. I had noticed the joints were weird, but due to the fog, I hadn’t seen what was going on with them.
“A shapeshifting creature is chasing us and you’re looking at its elbows?” I asked, a hollow laugh escaping my throat. I thought back. A Baro doll was trying to get to me. My Baro doll, the one that Tamaki threw into the woods. No, this wasn’t possible. It would explain why it decapitated my other doll; it was jealous. Gabe, friend. The creature wanted its friend back. How did it become like this?
“Richie, drop me off,” I ordered.
“Excuse me, mother fucker? Hell no I’m not gonna drop you off,” Richie said.
“It wants me, not you, if you’re trying to help me escape, it’ll kill you,” I explained, reaching into the back of the van for something I dropped.
“Mate, I’m not…” Richie began as I pressed the gun against his leg.
“You can still drive with one leg, pull over and drop me off before I pull the trigger,” I warned him, my heart racing in my throat.
Richie looked like he was mulling over his options. He knew I wasn’t bluffing, the last thing I wanted was for someone to die for me. I already had a friend lose his eye for me. Richie relented and started to slow down. He pulled over, and came to a stop. I opened the door.
“Gabe, don’t die on me,” Richie said, softly. I nodded and stepped outside. “Also” Richie added, “I could definitely see your dick through that bikini.”
I smirked and replied “get moving before I shove it down your throat, Richard,” before slamming the door shut. Richie drove off. I sighed and leaned against a nearby tree. Baro would be coming soon, so would the police. I thought back to the cops who ran over Baro earlier. I remember the screaming, they were probably dead. My stomach knotted up when I thought of this. I tried to think about how all this was possible.
This was clearly magic so anything could be the answer. Maybe a fairy god mother gave this fucked up doll life, maybe the magic of the forest manifested my loneliness from my early childhood into Baro. Maybe it WAS a skinwalker after all. I thought about it some more. Maybe it was tied to me. He was my toy afterall. Maybe it could only die if… I could hear the sound of hooves on the road getting closer. Baro was here.
I stepped forward, heart racing. I knew it wanted me, I didn’t know what for. Whatever it wanted, I was resigned to my fate. I saw the shape moving closer from the fog. It changed into the humanoid form. It stepped closer. It reached out to me. I moved closer, feeling its fingers touch my cheek. Looking closer, its joints were indeed segmented. The hand even felt a bit like plastic. It was my old toy from my childhood. A tear ran down my face. Richie was fucking right, how the hell did he see this better than I did? It didn’t matter now.
My old friend, my childhood companion, was standing before me. It had been waiting for me to return for all these years. It killed to be with me again. My lip trembled as I looked into the old friend’s eyes. His hand on my cheek wiped the tear away. I could see lights shining behind him. I pulled him into an embrace as the lights got brighter and brighter. The sound of rubber on asphalt grew louder.
“Gabe. Friend.” I said softly, tightening my grip, ready for impact.
Amy, Jack, Richie, move on, and be happy. Don’t make me haunt your dumbasses. Richie, sorry for threatening to shoot you. Jack, your eyepatch looks cool. Amy, follow your dream. I love you all, take care.

All Brand New unworn with tags.
PayPal invoice only! Comment before DM’ing
TIMESTAMP AND TAGGED PICS - https://imgur.com/a/jsRTkAX
UK postage - £4.95, per item, contact for other locations.
All orders will be shipped the next day by 3PM after payment.)
Jackets
- Supr3m3 x The North Face Leopard Jacket – Black/White
Size – Large
Price - £69
Tees
- Heron - Black
Size – Large – 21.5” Pit to Pit
Price - £25
- Gucc1 Sexiness Tee - Black
Size – XS – Oversized – 19.5” Pit to Pit
Price - £29
- Supreme – Cat in the Hat Tee - Red
Size – Large
Price - £25
- Supreme - Blue
Size – Large
Price - £25
- Supreme - CDG Split Logo - Black
Brand new - Never Worn
Size – Large
Price - £25
- Supreme - Hardware Red
Size – Large
Price - £19
- B4L3NCI4GA Tee Purple – Oversize
Size – Medium – Fits like a large Pit-to-pit size: 24”
Price - £25
Shoes:
- Dior Oblique Shoes
Price - £59 Size – 260 CN / 41 EU / 7 UK
- Dior Sandals
Price - £49 Size – 9 UK / 43 EU
- Gucci 1977 Tennis Shoes
Price - £59 Size – 5 UK / 240 CN / 39 EU
- Air Max 97 OG
Price - £49 Size – 44 EU / 9 UK / 10 US –
Inner sole size - 28.5cm toe to heel
- Yeezy 700 V2
Price - £55 Size – 44 EU/ 9.5 UK / 10 US
- Cheap A1r Jordan 1 Travis Scott
Price - £10 Size – 44 EU / 9.5 UK / 10.5 US
Hoodies/Sweatshirts
- Stone Island Sweatshirt
Size – Medium - Pit-to-Pit size: 21"
Price - £35
- Champion Hoodie - Green
Size – Large – Oversized – 25” pit to pit
Price - £15
- Supr3m3 Swar@vski B@x Logo Hoodie
X-Large - 25” Pit to Pit
Price - £69
- Supr3m3 Swar@vski B@x Logo Hoodie
Small – 21” Pit to Pit
Price - £69
- Supr3m3 Box Logo Sweatshirt - White
Size – X-Large - Pit-to-Pit size: 25"
Price - £35
Bags:
- Chanel pink canvas shopping Tote bag £39 Has fold marks from packing on the back hence discounted
- LV Holdall bag £65
- Tory Burch Wallet - £25

Left As An IOU?
By u/slumberingjoy
[AAA4A] [Loan Shark vs. Bookie Speakers x Innocent leverage Listener] [Tsundere] [Dark Humor] [Gambling]
Yandere: A pathetic and eager piece of sh*t. Marked in Italics.
Bookie: It’s a hard knock life. Gruff. Marked in Bold. Accent suggestions if helpful.
Loan Shark: Sexy, powerful, dirty.
Oh, no- it’s you. Just felt like it was a good day to get a pick ax in the eye ball, did you (ya)?
I..
What’s wrong, babyface? You’re as white as borax and your eyes are like quarters (qwatas). Could this be about the money you owe the boss?
Y-yes. Yes it is about the money.
Good. She’ll be glad to hear it. Now get your trembling ass in here. Woah! Hold your horses. No doubt you have a reason for bringing THEM with you (ya).
This…this is my lover. I’m leaving them as a marker.
That might just be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard (hoid).
When body parts are threatened one has little choice to give up the only thing they love.
They ain’t worth (woith) twenty bucks melted down. And People like us aren’t exactly into babysittin’.
I only have until the end of the day anyway. I’m headed to the races. I’ve got purse money on a horse with the same name as them.
Well you can’t argue with signs; my mother (muh-tha) was the first one to teach me that. Constantly scanning the papers (pay-pas) for the zodiac. Almost everything those damn stars told her about me was true. Including the bloodshed and ill-gotten gain in my future (few-chuh). Well, provided you’re not on anything, the boss will still hear you out. You’re obviously attached to the thing, or you wouldn’t have brought them to a joint like this. You ain’t got any ideas about disappearing, now, do you (yaz)?
Not if my ears have anything to say about the matter.
Alright. This way, you two.
*stepping
Boss, they’re here… within a hair’s breath of losin’ an ear. And they brought someone with them.
Good afternoon. And who might this lovely creature be?
Ma’am, this is the person I love most in the world. I would never leave them behind. I know I have until tonight to get you your money. God knows I don’t want to do what I’m doing. It probably seems like fantasy to people like you. But I really want to make a family with them. They are my oxygen.
Geez. You trying to win an oscar?
I’m a woman/man known for his/her creativity, but I only do business with people in their right mind. Honest people. Which- judging by your problem solving skills, you are not one of those people. But you’re in my office now, so let’s hear it.
If you want your money, you’ll let me in on one last bet. There’s a new horse that has the same name as my one and only. You can’t argue with signs.
My mother (muh-tha) taught (twaught) me that.
Bookie?
What? It’s true. You can’t ignore signs. The horse is good in my index.
I DO need some kind of reassurance that you’re not going to take off without making us square. But to leave this person here as leverage, as some kind of MARKER …that’s highly unusual. Ludicrous even.
I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think I stood a chance. I would rather say hello to hearing loss than lose my baby. But a lof of (lotta) exotic wagers are being placed on this horse. This thoroughbred came in first place last season. People are whispering about the Kentucky Derby. If I don’t have the money to pay you back, then I don’t have the money to take care of THEM. I would leave myself if I could, but I can’t let them escape.
Look , you ain’t in Kansas anymore. This ain’t Glinda you’re talking to here. This is the wicked witch, and her broom stick comes with bullets. You’re the scarecrow without brains, the cowardly lion and the tin man without a heart all rolled into one and this poor little munchkin doesn’t deserve this. Even a cold hearted fiend like me can say that much.
And who are you in this Oz scenario?
I’m the tornado. And if you think you’re gonna make it to the emerald city by dropping off your fixation then you got another thing coming.
By chance, does this…associate of yours have any family or friends that could be looking for them or something normal like that?
I…I kinda kidnapped them. Nobody knows where they are. They’ve been missing for months.
Kidnapped? You yanderes. I’ll never understand your impracticality. No wonder they look like they’ve just dived into a tornado. You’re almost as sick as me. So, if you’re yandere, you WILL come back to fetch your sweetheart once you have the money, and make the trade. They are your one and only, right? Not just some poor wretch you swiped off the street? Because I’m not into babysitting.
We’re not into babysittin’.
If you ask me, leaving this angel by proxy is a noxiously extravagant way of showing someone their true value in your eyes.
They’re an oxyMORON.
….but that’s none of my concern. It does sound lucky to place a bet on a horse with the same name, but I wouldn’t advise leaving them as leverage. Fate is a spider pulling threads.
Number six is my only chance. I’m freefalling. I gotta land somewhere.
Relax, relax. I’ll take the ray of sunshine if you insist…but this is not a flexible bet. You lose, your sweetheart stays with me, with or without ears. Do you understand?
I… understand. Ma’am.
That race starts in a few minutes. I suggest you get going. In the meantime I’ll get cozy with your friend. The longer you’re away, the cozier I’ll get, so no dawdling.
You don’t need me to show you the door.
*runs off
What a loser. Dropping off their unwilling beau like they were leftover Chinese.
And, cutie pie, I guess you’re stuck with me. How are you feeling about all this?
Did you know your master had a master?
Well I’m quite pleased to make your acquaintance.
I know the horse he’s talking about, of course, so I already know your name. You can just call me Boss.
That’s a good little darling.
Now, long has it been since you’ve been…incarcerated by this whacko, my dear?
That’s far too long.
Are you…unhappy?
I think I could make you happier, if you belonged to me.
*exasperated* Yes, but I have so many people that belong to me, I don’t think I have room for another pathetic victim, no matter how attractive you may be.
Help you ESCAPE? What do you take me for, an angel?
*phone rings
Bookie could you get that?
*Into phone* Yep. I’m fine, just fine. Doing some babysitting. Yes, what’s wrong with you, don’t you see me as the nurturing type? *sly chuckle. Did everything go according to plan? How bad was the fall? Alright. But the jockey is fine? Good. Good job. Now make sure they’re taken care of. *click
Well, kid, I have some good news for you. Your friends and family HAVE been looking for you. The right people asked around. Good thing I know all the crazies, or you would have been in that basement for god only knows how long.
Legal? *chuckles* As legal as my tax records.
Correct. Everything was arranged. You are no longer their prisoner.
Family and friends? Why, what on earth gave you the idea that we were going to let you go? I said you were no longer THEIR prisoner, because now…you’re mine.

There are two things at play here but sometimes they overlap. First off, I absolutely hate artificial perfumy scents on guys. I don't want a guy to smell like a chemical a woman would wear. I actually love a certain type of sporty scent, but to me it is accomplished either through a nice deodorant or even body wash or shampoo, and that's all the residue of smell I want that is artificial on a man. I'm the type who thinks pure sport or some type of sharp musky smell that ax deodorant can offer is sexy, but nothing stronger than that, and certainly nothing that could be mistaken for women's perfume.
Secondly, I also can't stand it when the same thing occurs via a lotion the guy has put on after getting out of the shower. And this gets into a second point. I hate what lotion can do to a guy's skin when you touch it. It almost makes it difficult to grip or something, and I just can't stand it. It makes a guy's body feel like rubber or something; even when it's dried, I hate what it does to the texture of a guy's body.
This is just a rant against artificial scents and lotions.

I enjoy sleeping in briefs and an under shirt. I’m a hot sleeper so the thin cotton fabric is perfect for me. However, all the undershirts I get at Marshall’s turn to literal carpet after several washes.
I know pilling will happen and that the more you wash the less it will last. But these shirts aren’t even lasting me 6 months, <20 washes before they are deformed.
I tried Pima cotton by AX which satisfied all the above, however, the fit is too form fitting. My chest and bis look great while brushing my teeth in the mirror, but to no real benefit once under the blanket. Just unnecessary tightness in certain positions. I’d prefer something that has a more relaxed fit.
Thus, I need something more durable and less sexy. I’m willing to pay $50/shirt at this point.
BONUS: if you are hot sleeper and can recommend a pajama or other fabric that is also durable enough in that price range, please share

I'm continuing the series with 1991-1994 (early 90s), analyzing which songs sound more like it fits with the Neon era (80s/90s transition) and which songs just scream 90s.
Let's begin.

1991

Neon Era

• Baby, Baby - Amy Grant
• Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
• Unbelievable - EMF
• Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave) - Roxette
• Don't Cry - Guns N' Roses
• The One and Only - Chesney Hawkes
• Hold You Tight - Tara Kemp
• You Could Be Mine - Guns N' Roses
• I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd
• Set Adrift on Memory Bliss - P.M. Dawn
• Rhythm of My Heart - Rod Stewart
• Something to Talk About - Bonnie Raitt
• I Adore Mi Amor - Color Me Badd
• Joyride - Roxette
• When a Man Loves a Woman - Michael Bolton
• Right Here, Right Now - Jesus Jones
• P.A.S.S.I.O.N. - Rythm Syndicate
• All 4 Love - Color Me Badd
• Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
• Every Heartbeat - Amy Grant
• Emotions - Mariah Carey
• Romantic - Karyn White
• Learning to Fly - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
• Justified and Ancient - The KLF
• Love Is a Wonderful Thing - Michael Bolton
• Live And Let Die - Guns N' Roses
• 3 A.M. Eternal - The KLF
• I Can’t Make You Love Me - Bonnie Raitt
• Time, Love and Tenderness - Michael Bolton
• Real Real Real - Jesus Jones
• Everything I Do, I Do It for You - Bryan Adams
• Do Your Dance - Prince & The New Power Generation ft. Javelle Steele
• O.P.P. - Naughty By Nature
• Rush Rush - Paula Abdul
• Everybody Plays the Fool - Aaron Neville
• Iesha - Another Bad Creation
• Good Vibrations - Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch ft. Loleatta Holloway
• Piece of My Heart - Tara Kemp
• Cry for Help - Rick Astley
• Power of Love / Love Power - Luther Vandross
• Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

Core '90s

• None

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '91" songs, I guess)

• Uhh Ahh - Boyz II Men
• Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee) - Crystal Waters
• It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Boyz II Men
• Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
• Love to Hate You - Erasure
• Two Princes - Spin Doctors

Anomaly (odd one out)

• It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over - Lenny Kravitz (sounds like it could potentially come out in the 60s/70s transitional era)
• All This Time - Sting (a hybrid between the Core '80s and the Neon era, a.k.a. "Live '87"; it sounds very '80s)
• The Motown Song - Rod Stewart ft. The Temptations (a hybrid between the Core '80s and the Neon era, a.k.a. "Live '87"; it sounds very '80s)

1992

Neon Era

• I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
• Everything About You - Ugly Kid Joe
• Would I Lie To You? - Charles & Eddie
• If You Asked Me To - Celine Dion
• Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg - TLC
• What About Your Friends - TLC
• How Do You Talk To An Angel - The Heights
• Let’s Get Rocked - Def Leppard
• Friday I’m in Love - The Cure
• November Rain - Guns N' Roses
• Jump Around - House of Pain
• Jump - Kris Kross
• Warm It Up - Kris Kross
• Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
• I’m Too Sexy - Right Said Fred
• Too Funky - George Michael
• Wishing On a Star - The Cover Girls (the remix is more of a Neon era/Core '90s hybrid, a.k.a. "Live '91")
• Humpin' Around - Bobby Brown
• Live and Learn - Joe Public
• Keep on Walkin’ - CeCe Peniston
• Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
• Symphony Of Destruction - Megadeth
• The One - Elton John
• Deeply Dippy - Right Said Fred
• She's Playing Hard to Get - Hi-Five
• You Won’t See Me Cry - Wilson Phillips
• Good Enough - Bobby Brown
• Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad - Def Leppard

Core '90s

• They Want EFX - Das EFX
• I'd Die Without You - P.M. Dawn
• Nearly Lost You - Screaming Trees
• So What'cha Want - Beastie Boys

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '91" songs, I guess)

• Rhythm Is a Dancer - Snap!
• Give Him Something He Can Feel - En Vogue
• Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough - Patty Smyth ft. Don Henley
• If I Ever Fall in Love - Shai
• Drive - R.E.M.
• Real Love - Mary J. Blige
• They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) - Pete Rock & CL Smooth
• The Best Things In Life Are Free - Luther Vandross ft. Janet Jackson, Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant
• Don't Talk Just Kiss - Right Said Fred
• I Wish I Was Your Lover - Sophie B. Hawkins
• Twilight Zone - 2 Unlimited
• This Used to Be My Playground - Madonna
• Ebeneezer Goode - The Shamen
• Free Your Mind - En Vogue
• Am I the Same Girl - Swing Out Sister
• Out Of Space - The Prodigy
• Back to the Hotel - N2Deep

Anomaly (odd one out)

• Remedy - The Black Crowes (Core '70s)

1993

Neon Era

• I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) - Meat Loaf
• If I Had No Loot - Tony! Toni! Toné!
• Ordinary World - Duran Duran
• Boom! Shake the Room - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
• Informer - Snow
• Soul to Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Nothin' My Love Can't Fix - Joey Lawrence

Core '90s

• Lately - Jodeci
• Knockin' da Boots - H-Town
• What Is Love - Haddaway
• That's the Way Love Goes - Janet Jackson
• I Don't Wanna Fight - Tina Turner
• Regret - New Order
• If - Janet Jackson
• Dazzey Duks - Duice
• I Get Around - Tupac Shakur
• Show Me Love - Robin S.
• Whatta Man - En Vogue ft. Salt-N-Pepa
• Heart-Shaped Box - Nirvana
• Mr Vain - Culture Beat
• All Apologies - Nirvana
• Cannonball - The Breeders
• Breathe Again - Toni Braxton
• Anniversary - Tony! Toni! Toné!
• Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads
• Daughter - Pearl Jam
• Can We Talk - Tevin Campbell

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '91" songs, I guess)

• Insane in the Brain - Cypress Hill
• Whoomp! (There It Is) - Tag Team
• Again - Janet Jackson
• Whoot, There It Is - 95 South
• Another Sad Love Song - Toni Braxton
• Looking Through Patient Eyes - P.M. Dawn
• More and More - Captain Hollywood Project
• Mary Jane’s Last Dance - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
• Ditty - Paperboy
• Creep - Radiohead
• Dreamlover - Mariah Carey
• Go West - Pet Shop Boys
• True Love - Elton John ft. Kiki Dee
• Oh Carolina - Shaggy
• The River of Dreams - Billy Joel
• I Feel You - Depeche Mode
• Break It Down Again - Tears for Fears
• If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Sting
• That’s What Love Can Do - Boy Krazy
• Gangsta Lean - DRS
• Livin' On The Edge - Aerosmith
• Ooh Child - Dino

1994

Neon Era

• I'll Stand by You - The Pretenders

Core '90s

• I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men
• Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
• Wild Night - John Mellencamp ft. Me'Shell Ndegeocello
• Zombie - The Cranberries
• If You Go - Jon Secada
• Another Night - Real McCoy
• Back & Forth - Aaliyah
• On Bended Knee - Boyz II Men
• Cotton Eye Joe - Rednex
• Tootsee Roll - 69 Boyz
• 100% Pure Love - Crystal Waters
• When I Come Around - Green Day
• I'll Remember - Madonna
• Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Nirvana
• Let Her Cry - Hootie & the Blowfish
• Hold My Hand - Hootie & the Blowfish
• Only Wanna Be with You - Hootie & the Blowfish
• Run-Around - Blues Traveler
• Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
• I Wanna Be Down - Brandy ft. Queen Latifah, Yo-Yo, & MC Lyte
• Stay (I Missed You) - Lisa Loeb
• Unbelievable - The Notorious B.I.G.
• Before I Let You Go - Blackstreet
• Better Man - Pearl Jam
• Glycerine - Bush
• What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? - R.E.M.
• Loser - Beck
• Red Light Special - TLC
• Regulate - Warren G ft. Nate Dogg
• Fantastic Voyage - Coolio
• Prayer for the Dying - Seal
• Girls & Boys - Blur
• Do You Remember the First Time? - Pulp
• Gardenia - Kyuss
• Rocks - Primal Scream
• Fell on Black Days - Soundgarden
• Sour Times - Portishead
• Seether - Veruca Salt
• Secret - Madonna
• Wilmot - The Sabres of Paradise
• Karmacoma - Massive Attack
• Fall Down - Toad the Wet Sprocket

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '91" songs, I guess)

• Stroke You Up - Changing Faces
• So Much in Love - All-4-One
• Closer - Nine Inch Nails
• Endless Love - Luther Vandross ft. Mariah Carey
• Stay Together - Suede
• Stay Another Day - East 17
• Glory Box - Portishead
• Bellbottoms - The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Edit: Thank you so much for all the input. I've spend the weekend reading articles, watching reviews and hunting for discounts. Turns out there are a LOT of great bikes in this category!
New short list:

• Orbea Occam M10 2022 (3600€) - with a second set of light XC wheels/tires this might be too good of a deal to pass up
• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT 2023 (4999€) - Allaround solid well balanced bike
• Pivot Trail 429 - Pro XT/XTR Enduro 2022 (6200€) - Light for a trail with beefy Fox 36. Premium all around.
• Rocky Mountain Element C70 2023 (6500€) - Short travel, super slack. Price is a strech but the concept is super interesting

Considering if I find a good offer:

• Santa Cruz Tallboy - Good bike, super sexy in Gloss Ultra Blue, expensive for the components, definite maybe
• Transition Spur GX Fox - Interesting, expensive for the components, if I find a good offer it's a maybe
• Ibis Ripley - Amazing bike, would consider but no offers available (8-9k€ custom orders).

Considered but ruled out:

• Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS 2022 (4300€) - I'd rather have the 2023 XT model.
• Canyon Lux and the Canyon Neuron - Great bikes, without sale just competitive in price, not worth losing LBS support for me.
• Specialized Epic Evo - Another great bike, too stiff and unforgiving for me, not the best price/performance without a sale.
• Scott Spark - Fast bike, expensive with no good offers and I'm skeptical about the headset.

​
Hi guys,
I'm FreakDC and I'm an addict. It's been 10 month and almost 2 weeks since I have bought a new bike. Now that the snow has melted and the sun is shining again (some days) I feel that itch again.
​
Some background:
Two years ago I started mountain biking again, after over a decade of not biking, and I got a 160mm travel, heavy enduro(ish) bike. I wanted something that I can take anywhere and not have an issue. It worked really well and I love it. I even visited some bike parks and even though I am a lot slower and more cautious than I used to be, I am making it down the mountain mostly unscathed (just minor scrapes and bruises every now and then).
However I noticed that I now that I am a bit older, I really enjoy the longer mellow trail rides as well as just exploring the forests and backcountry. For that the heavy long travel bike was not just overkill but also quite dull.
Last summer it was really rainy for over two month straight and most of the more exciting tails were mudslides and unrideable (without wrecking them). So I spontaneously bought a gravel bike for the fire roads, hiking trails, small country roads and mixed hiking trails. Somehow I always end up on trails again, and although I could handle most of the mellow trails, I had to carry my bike quite a few times and I got rattled and shaken till my fingers went numb on other occasions.
I've put over 3000 (mostly) trail miles on the two bikes and I am definitely hooked again.
Long story short, I am looking for a lighter and efficient "down-country" or trail bike. The travel I am looking for would therefore be in the 120-140mm range. The riding I am enjoying is mostly mellow trails for hours on end, with some unavoidable chunk (since those trails are mostly natural). I live in a hilly area but no big mountains. I've done 35+ mile rides on the 160mm Enduro and I want to push that a further so a comfortable bike would be great. I want to continue to improve my riding, so too much travel is counter productive. No racing, so pure XC bikes are out?
I'm in Europe so not all bikes (brands) are in stock over here but I have picked a couple of candidates that I could buy at a decent discount:

1. Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS 2022RockShox SID Select+ DebonAir 120mm + RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT 115mmSRAM GX Eagle AXS~4300€
2. Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT 2023RockShox Pike Select+ DebonAir 130 mm + RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT 120mmShimano XT~ 4999€
3. Pivot Trail 429 - Pro XT/XTR Enduro 2022Fox Factory 36 GRIP2 140mm + Fox Factory Float DPX2 120mmShimano XT/XTR~ 6200€

I have also looked at a couple of XC focused down-country bikes (Orbea Oiz M10 TR 4500€, Specialized Epic Evo Expert 2023 5600€) that I am still considering, but so far they have not "clicked".
​
Regarding the budget. If there are some cheaper options I'm always open for suggestions but I've gotten so much joy out of my current bikes, and according to Garmin have aged -12 years in 2 years, so I am willing and able to spend the money for the bikes mentioned above. The Pivot is stretching the budget but that is a nice bike.
Depending on how well the new bikes does on the chunkier parts I ride I might also sell my Enduro. For the few days in the bike park I can always rent something bigger.
​
So which bike would you pick and are there any other bikes I should be looking at? Grateful for any feedback ♥

Hey I’m Isabella, Izzy (Kozycompanion)
Welcome, I’m really happy that you're here wanting to get to know me! I would love to get to know you back!<3
I wanted to share a bit about myself, what I do, and why I'm on the internet.
(If you would like to read it as a google doc it's here) (looks cooler in the doc imo)
I’m a single 23 year old female, living in Canada with my 2 cats and one roommate… lol don’t get any ideas, we are just two friends sharing the cost of living.
I love it here, but I would like to eventually move or at least travel more. I’ve traveled outside of Canada only a few times, and I crave to see the world more! One of my fears is that I’ll barely get to see it and all it has to offer!
Even though I’m pretty outgoing and love to be active I live a pretty simple life and have a close knit group of friends and family, which I hope to keep expanding.
I work full-time as a Caregiver, offering in-home care. It’s something I plan to do for a while, since I actually really like my job and the people I work for. I also love getting to know new people, which my job is great for since I care for a wide range of individuals.
I like to listen to music when work days are slow, on off days I'll probably be listening to music 24/7, even while doing other hobbies. I also like gaming, writing, graphic design, and yoga. Of course I'll never turn down a hangout, or travel somewhere if I’m able too.
I know this wasn't much, but I hope you feel closer to me already! <3
I will continue to be updating my socials, so you’ll come to learn a lot more about me if you stick around:)
Below, I go a bit into why I'm on the internet and what Kozycompanion is.
I’m quite proud of what I've put into Kozycompanion, so I hope you continue to read<3
I created Kozycompanion for several reasons, and I do go more in depth of what I provide in another post. Below I list the main things that went into creating Kozycompanion.
Firstly I love being a caregiver, and wanted to offer care elsewhere, but in a different way ;)
I know that I want to be a caregiver for as long as I can, but it’s something that I also know won't sustain me forever. I want to be my own boss, and I want to have something I can do no matter where I am, especially if I can start traveling more.
Secondly I really like talking to people. I really enjoy pretty much talking about anything, or hearing people talk about anything. I'm a pretty open and sexual person, so nsfw chats I definitely don't shy away from! Honestly sometimes I'll just go to the mall or anywhere just to sit and listen in on people… I hear some pretty sexy things sometimes and that turns me on!
Last but not least;
I love being explicit with other people online! Anything from chatting, flirting to phone sex, with strangers is a huge turn on for me…
So with that I created Kozycompanion my GFE (girlfriend experience) for anyone
What I offer on Fansly is a very personal experience.
My page is a text/audio journal/blog style feed, where I update/post consistently about my daily doings, sexual fantasies, and sexual experiences.
My visual anonymity is on purpose. Though you may not see me, you'll know every inch of me
You can imagine me however you like, your perfect companion.
But seriously that's what Kozycompanion is for. It's up to you if you want a friend, girlfriend, listening ear, or someone to get off with ;) Once you feel comfortable we can text/sext/call each other, or even play games on steam together!
You can choose to have a profile with me, so that our time together is as smooth as possible. I also made it super easy to interact with me, including booking with me. Your profile would have info like: tailored messaging style, pet names, interests, kinks/fetishes, your personal companion created by you.
If you don’t have any specifics in mind or just want to chat genuinely, then you'll get me, Izzy your favorite companion<3
I’m here for you, to talk to , listen to, do whatever you say or just have a casual long distance hangout
Thank you :) so much for reading, I hope this answered some of your questions you may have had and if not, at least you got to know me a bit more. Please feel free to ask me any questions, or read some of my other posts on my page. I recommend checking out my Guidelines post where I give in depth details of everything I offer.

Hi everyone! Last year, I made of list of 50 Songs You May Have Missed in 2022, and I'm doing it again this year!
I've pulled from a wide variety of genres and artists, but ultimately every song is one that I believe my fellow Popheads will enjoy. I spent a lot of time on this so I'm super eager to hear from people! What songs do you already know? Were there any releases that you missed? What recommendations do you have for people that like a certain song? Let me know! FFO = for fans of.
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Here is the playlist link!

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Now, in order of release, here are 50 songs you may have missed in 2023:
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Tennis - Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight / from: Pollen

• Colorado, US
• FFO: Beach House, Kate Bush
• It’s dark, it’s hazy, it’s groovy, and it’s ethereal. Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight is the second single from indie pop duo Tennis’ sixth album, and it’s giving Running Up That Hill à la 2023. For best results, listen late at night while driving on the highway, as is referenced repeatedly in the lyrics: “Let's cruise in the vesper night / Concrete in the headlights.”

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5p Nips (feat. swaggylotti) - ICH BIN DIE BITCH

• Germany
• FFO: Tiësto, Brooke Candy
• I have no recollection of discovering this song, it simply appeared in my library one day, and it bangs so I haven’t questioned it. ICH BIN DIE BITCH (“I’m The Bitch”) is a club-ready techno track with a super catchy chorus, which, despite speaking no German, I’ve pretty much memorized at this point.

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Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha

• Finland
• FFO: Vengaboys, ABBA
• I had dabbled in Eurovision over the years, but I had never fully gotten into it. That is, until I saw Käärijä’s performance of Cha Cha Cha at Finland’s national selection and I became encapsulated. The strange combination of EDM, metal, and rap. The manic, dead-eyed dancers. The energy, the stage presence, the ridiculousness of it all–I was immediately obsessed. Cha Cha Cha is a boatload of fun–and yes, Käärijä was robbed!

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INJI - THE ONE / from: LFG (EP)

• Turkey
• FFO: Charli XCX, Ava Max
• Maybe this is self-incrimination for having the brain of a toddler, but damn do I love a song with counting! “I got two, three lovers in my life / Four, five fellas on my mind” INJI sings in THE ONE’s refrain. This song is a standout from LFG, her debut EP. Like the rest of the project, THE ONE is a bouncy, cheeky, and lighthearted pop track that shows off INJI’s coy songwriting and nonchalant but enticing voice.

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Jodie Harsh - Hectic

• England, UK
• FFO: Charli XCX, Danny L Harle
• Many drag queens are active in the music industry, but few are as acclaimed as Jodie Harsh. She has many accolades, including production credits on Charli XCX’s Vroom Vroom EP. After listening to her chaotic single Hectic, this shouldn’t be too surprising. The bumping house beat and heavy use of autotune are reminiscent of Charli and make this song a blast. See also: Jodie Harsh’s music video for her rendition of In My House by the Mary Jane Girls, featuring over 50 drag queens from the UK.

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Lil Yachty - drive ME crazy! / from: Let’s Start Here

• Georgia, US
• FFO: Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• This had to have been one of the most unexpected releases of 2023. Trap artist Lil Yachty (featured on 2016 smash hit Broccoli by DRAM) caught us off guard with his psychedelic rock album, Let’s Start Here. drive ME crazy! is a highlight–it’s upbeat and super groovy, and featured artist Diana Gordan’s voice really makes the song shine.

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RHYME SO (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Wuh Oh) - DEEP IN VOGUE

• Japan
• FFO: Hikaru Utada, Róisín Murphy
• RHYME SO is the musical duo of Australian musician RHYME and legendary Japanese producer Shinichi Osawa (stage name: Mondo Grosso). They worked with English pop legend Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Scottish producer Wuh Oh on their cover of Malcolm McLaren’s 1989 single, Deep in Vogue, which is stacked with samples and references from legendary documentary Paris Is Burning. Have I mentioned that the song is legendary? The fresh take on this classic has lush and atmospheric production, rich saxophone riffs, and crisp vocals from RHYME and Ellis-Bextor. See also: RHYME SO’s severely iconic and campy music video for Fashion Blogger.

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Samia - Honey / from: Honey

• New York, US
• FFO: Clairo, boygenius
• From her second album, Honey, indie pop artist Samia stated that the title track is about “being drunk all the time and being around people that were in […] toxic relationships,” but you certainly wouldn’t get that from the upbeat and chipper instrumentals. Honey is primarily driven by acoustic guitar strums that you’d hear sitting around a campfire. These allusions continue into the song’s final chorus, where a chanting ensemble brings the song to its hypnotic end: “It's all honey, honey / It's all honey.”

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SG Lewis - Another Life / from: AudioLust & HigherLove

• England, UK
• FFO: Tove Lo, Jessie Ware
• SG Lewis’ AudioLust & HigherLove was my most-listened to album of 2023, in large part due to Another Life. I still remember hitting play on the album right at midnight of its release date, hearing Another Life’s instrumental break for the first time, and absolutely transcending to the swelling of the synths and violins. This is deep house at its finest.

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Anna of the North - Swirl / from: Crazy Life (Deluxe)

• Norway
• FFO: Sigrid, Dagny
• If it’s pop music coming from a girl from the Scandinavian peninsula, you know it’s gonna be good, and Anna of the North is no exception. On Swirl, the Norwegian songstress goes full dream pop. Everything about this song is blissful and carefree. From the hazy vocals to the soft drum beats, this encapsulating song genuinely does feel like a swirl.

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Juan Pablo Vega (feat. Ximena Sariñana) - Tenemos que hablar / from: Despídeme de Todxs

• Colombia
• FFO: Kacey Musgraves, Bob Marley
• Colombian singer-songwriter Juan Pablo Vega teamed up with Mexico’s Ximena Sariñana for the soft and wistful single Tenemos que hablar (“We Have To Talk”). The song is a conversation between two lovers who are essentially mourning their relationship. Gentle guitar strums flow throughout the track and the soulful singing of Vega and Sariñana make Tenemos que hablar a pleasant listen, if not a sad one.

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100 gecs - The Most Wanted Person in the United States / from: 10,000 gecs

• Missouri, US
• FFO: PC Music, SOPHIE
• Written from the perspective of a fugitive on the run from the FBI, The Most Wanted Person in the United States has got to be one of the most relatable songs of 2023! It has a jarring array of samples: 80’s dancehall’s Sleng Teng riddim, the iconic “I’m supposed to run, right?” quote from Scary Movie, a looping Looney Tunes-esque boing sound effect, and much more. 100 gecs have captured the essence of pure chaos in a single song.

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Barney Bones (feat. Channel Tres) - Fashion Week / from: ESCAPISM (EP)

• California, US
• FFO: KAYTRANADA, NEIL FRANCES
• Barney Bones has been a songwriter for quite some time, but the focus he’s been putting towards his solo work is relatively new. In the past, he has collaborated with Giveon, Gus Dapperton, and Channel Tres, the last of whom is featured on his debut EP, ESCAPISM. Fashion Week is a funky house track with great rapping from both Channel Tres and Bones himself. Channel Tres’ signature sexy voice adds a lot of character to the song and makes it extra memorable. See also: Jungle (feat. Channel Tres) - I’ve Been In Love.

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Madge - bbq

• Utah, US
• Slayyyter, Shygirl
• Madge is the enigmatic pop project of Cat Leavy. They were raised by a Mormon family, and something went right along the way, because by 2020, they were collaborating with Russian protest and performance collective Pussy Riot. Madge’s music usually falls into the hyperpop, punk, or rave genres. But on bbq, they’re giving a sound that’s much more relaxed–hypnotic, even. The chorus is especially catchy, as they glide seamlessly between Russian and English: “Я не знаю don't know you.”

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OG MarlynMonROLLUP - Vox (Extended)

• New York, US
• FFO: Azealia Banks, Bree Runway
• OG MarlynMonROLLUP has been active in both the Brooklyn drill and New York house scenes for years, but Vox was her first song to garner widespread attention. Initially less than a minute long, Marlyn later dropped an extended version. And I will say that she sounds similar to Azealia Banks (like, do not let Azealia hear this, otherwise Marlyn is getting hexed), but even so, Marlyn certainly has her own signature flair. She’s been ahead of the curve, and I’m excited to see where she goes in 2024.

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Dimitri from Paris & Chatobaron - I Like The Music (That You Play)

• France
• FFO: Jamiroquai, Purple Disco Machine
• This is song is a hell of a lot of fun. The lyrics are just a chorus of chants being directed at a DJ, but it totally works. I Like The Music (That You Play) is a mix of jazz, disco, funk, and house and it absolutely demands to be danced to.

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Chase Icon - Club Cooter: Reloaded

• California, US
• FFO: Kim Petras, SOPHIE
• Chase Icon’s hilarious lyricism never disappoints. I’m hard-pressed to pick a favorite bar from Club Cooter, but it’s between “Old slow ass bitch on an iPhone 4 / On an air mattress tweeting out, ‘stop being poor’” and “Real cunt I could even rock a terf bang / Rich trade lined up like a chain gang.” Icon is giving me party girl/y2k pop princess/bad bitch, and I’m here for all of it. See also: SoCal Girl.

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Grupo Frontera (feat. Bad Bunny) - un x100to / from: El Comienzo

• Texas, US
• FFO: Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain
• Last year was a big one for regional Mexican music. Grupo Frontera (“Border Group”) had been gaining traction, but they shot to new heights with the release of their Bad Bunny collaboration, un x100to (un porciento, or “one percent”). The breezy, summery song displays the beauty of norteño music with the use of traditional instruments like the bajo quinto and accordion. Bad Bunny fits in perfectly with the six-piece ensemble, showing off his seemingly endless musical versatility. Side note: I know I’m putting a song with 800 million streams on a list of underrated music, but Popheads has been sleeping!

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49th & Main - Crash and Burn / from: B.O.A.T.S.

• Ireland
• FFO: Two Door Cinema Club, Arctic Monkeys
• Irish indie pop duo 49th & Main could have easily fit in among the indie big hitters of the early 2010’s: Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, Arctic Monkeys, etc. Their sound is very upbeat and lighthearted, especially so on Crash and Burn. It’s overflowing with brass instruments and has a summery feel to it. I hear it playing on a clear, sunny day during an extravagant yacht party in the Mediterranean.

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Snakehips (feat. Kilo Kish) - Deal With It / from: never worry

• England, UK
• FFO: AlunaGeorge, Cashmere Cat
• Snakehips has been releasing quality electronic singles since what feels like the beginning of time, and they finally released their debut album last year. never worry is a cohesive album that is stacked with great features from Tinashe, Tkay Maidza, Lucky Daye, Daya, and more. On the extremely groovy Deal With It, Kilo Kish’s voice sounds silky smooth as she sings–rather bluntly–about being a bad bitch up in the club: “And if you don't like it, huh / Then deal with it.”

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Liza Anne - Cheerleader / from: Utopian

• Georgia, US
• FFO: Maggie Rogers, Florence + the Machine
• Cheerleader by Liza Anne has has queer anthem potential. The punchy, bawdy, and infectious chorus is hard not to sing along to: “So cute and you don't even know it / You're walking that talk and I love it, I love it.” Cheerleader sounds like it could have been a B-side from The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan. It’s like the older, punk sister of HOT TO GO! Why have one sapphic song about cheerleading when you can have two?

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MOTLEY FLOWER & Cherub (feat. Gothic Tropic) - Seasons Change / from: Garden Groove (EP)

• Thailand & Tennessee, US
• FFO: MIKA, Remi Wolf
• This collaborating is quite an eclectic mix of artists. You have MOTLEY FLOWER, an up-and-coming pop act from Thailand, and Cherub, the electronic indie duo responsible for the timeless classic Doses & Mimosas. Additionally, featured artist Gothic Tropic is the music project of Cecilia Della Peruti, the daughter of a Polish opera singer and an Italian composer. All different kinds of influences comes together for Seasons Change, and the result is a saccharine and cheeky love song that’s undeniably catchy.

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Revenge Wife - Fantasy Girl

• New Hampshire, US
• FFO: Ryn Weaver, Sleigh Bells
• Revenge Wife is the solo project of brat pop pioneer Liz Nistico of HOLYCHILD. Her single Fantasy Girl is so severely Popheads-coded: it’s ABBA-inspired Italo disco with brash and fun vocals. Heavy on the electric guitar with some dramatic strings thrown in for good measure, the instrumentals and overall song production are just exquisite.

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Allison Russell - The Returner / from: The Returner

• Canada
• FFO: Brandi Carlile, Hozier
• Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell’s second album, The Returner, is all about embracing the present. The title track is overflowing with soul and catharsis: Russell’s vocals are stunning and the use of each instrument feels intentional. The relaxed percussion and wistful strings are beautiful, and the clarinet that comes in after the first chorus is a wonderful little detail. Side note: I want to mention Sage by Imani Coppola–I became obsessed with this song a few years ago and had yet to find anything that hit like it until I heard The Returner, so check it out!

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Carter Faith - Smoke Too Soon

• North Carolina, US
• FFO: pre-Golden Hour Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini
• Smoke Too Soon by Carter Faith is so reminiscent of early Kacey, especially the lyrical wit. Faith opens the song: “He walked out, no two week notice / Didn't even notice he was gone / Who's gonna gas up my Ford Focus / Who the hell's gonna mow my lawn.” It’s classic country pop and a ball to listen to.

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Kah-Lo - GD Woman / from: Pain/Pleasure

• Nigeria
• FFO: Tkay Maidza, Rihanna
• This song is dripping in pure funk. The trifecta of Kah-Lo’s smooth voice, the bouncy bass guitar, and the groovy wobble bass synth create a pared-down yet rich sound. While the production on GD Woman is simple, it’s very effective. Kah-Lo’s colorful Nigerian accent and effortless flow transmit her charisma in a way few other artists can do through song alone. Pain/Pleasure was one of my favorite albums of 2023, and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

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Disclosure - Looking For Love / from: Alchemy

• England, UK
• FFO: Flume, Jamie xx
• 2023 marked ten years since Settle, the debut album English electronic duo Disclosure. Four studio albums later, they’re still crafting quality house music on Alchemy. The second track, Looking For Love, stands out with its heavy bass drum. The strong beat, excess of synths, and distorted vocals all contribute to the song’s atmospheric feel.

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COUCOU CHLOE - DRIFT / from: FEVER DREAM

• France
• FFO: Shygirl, Arca
• Now this song has a HOOK. French producer COUCOU CHLOE’s repetitions of “But I don't, but I don't” were stuck in my head for days after I first heard this. Her music has been described as “deconstructed club music” and I couldn’t agree more. With Chloe’s warped, deadpan chanting and the slick beat, DRIFT is perfect for dancing in a dark nightclub.

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Cowgirl Clue - Trust Fall / from: Rodeo Star

• Texas, US
• FFO: PC Music, Bjork
• Assigning a genre to Texas’ Cowgirl Clue is difficult, but I’m going to settle for the broad label of alt-pop. Her second album, Rodeo Star, mixes grunge, punk, techno, electronic, and even country into a project that still remains cohesive. The third track, Trust Fall, has a lot going on sonically. The brash guitar playing has a nostalgic feel to it, and you can really get a sense of Cowgirl Clue’s DIY, bedroom pop origins. See also: Rodeo Star’s lead single, Trailblaze ☆.

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Bonnie McKee - Hot City

• Washington, US
• FFO: Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen
• Bonnie McKee has a history as an accomplished songwriter. Alongside Katy Perry, she co-wrote Teenage Dream, California Gurls, and Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.). She has also written for Britney Spears, Kesha, Cher, Christina Aguilera, and more. McKee’s songwriting skills are out in full force on Hot City, a blissful synthpop bop that attests to her industry repute.

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COBRAH - MANIC / from: SUCCUBUS (EP)

• Sweden
• FFO: Slayyyter, Charli XCX
• BDSM pop pioneer COBRAH is back with her SUCCUBUS EP, and her flow is undeniable on gritty club banger MANIC. The song has a bit of ebb and flow to it–there are two brief choruses, during which the beat lies in wait as the focus is on COBRAH’s voice. But once the full instrumentals are back for the verses and outro, MANIC is all the more hard-hitting.

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DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Will U B Mine / from: Destiny

• England, UK
• FFO: Daft Punk, lofi beats to study to
• DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ creates nostalgia in music form. Destiny is a four-hour-long album that is more meant to be listened to as background music, rather than something that requires your attention. Think lofi hip hop beats to study to, but y2k. Sabrina layers sample after sample over electronica beats, leaving you awash with nostalgia.

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Ana Frango Elétrico - Electric Fish / from: Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua

• Brazil
• FFO: Bjork, Prince
• Brazil’s Ana Frango Elétrico is a multi-hyphenate extraordinaire: singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, poet, and the list continues. The influences on their third studio album, Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua (“Call Me A Cat And I’m Yours,” roughly), are as eclectic as the singer themself. There’s elements of bossa nova, funk, rock, and disco, to name a few. On the lead single, Electric Fish, all of these genres are present, and more–the infectious melodies and whimsical layers of sound make for a, dare I say… electrifying experience.

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LSDXOXO - J’adore / from: Delusions of Grandeur (EP)

• Pennsylvania, US
• FFO: PC Music, Sega Bodega
• Some of you may know LSDXOXO for his reimagination of Alice on Lady Gaga’s Chromatica remix album. The Philadelphia-born, Berlin-based producer released the Delusions of Grandeur EP in 2023, which featured the super sexy house anthem J’adore (“I Adore”). Of the track, LSDXOXO said “J’adore’ is a step further into my exploration and appreciation of electroclash.”

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hemlocke springs - enknee1 / from: going…going…GONE! (EP)

• North Carolina, US
• FFO: Remi Wolf, Grimes
• In September, up and coming alt-pop artist hemlocke springs released her debut EP, going…going…GONE! Per Pitchfork, her “lyrics make her sound like a cursed Victorian ghost, doomed to live in heartbreak for all of eternity.” As for her sound, it’s very 80's-inspired and nostalgic, and eknee1 is giving Steven Universe on psychedelics. Her unique voice fits her kitschy music well, and I just know she can do a nasty Toad impression!

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TTRRUUCES - Cherry Cola / from: JJUUIICES

• England, UK
• FFO: Soccer Mommy, Wet Leg
• English psychedelic rock band TTRRUUCES released this summery single from their second album, JJUUIICES. The gentle guitar strums and filtered vocals send me to a hazy, relaxed afternoon on the beach. Cherry Cola’s melody is very enjoyable and memorable, and I especially love the outro–the switch from Spanish to English followed by the whiny scat singing brings the song to a fun end.

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Baby Tate - Jersey / from: Baby Tate Presents - Sexploration: The Musical (EP)

• Georgia, US
• FFO: Flo Milli, Bree Runway
• Jersey speaks to Baby Tate’s versatility as an artist, reminding us that she’s more than just a rapper. This song is a club banger about heartbreak that describes Baby Tate crying in a New Jersey nightclub. As is her right! As Megan Thee Stallion reminds us, bad bitches have bad days too.

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Romy - She’s On My Mind / from: Mid Air

• England, UK
• FFO: Dua Lipa, The Blessed Madonna
• 2023 was the year that, at last, we got solo albums from all three members of English indie band the xx. Romy’s debut, Mid Air, is chock-full of dance pop bops, including She’s On My Mind. The disco-inspired number is defined by a giddy keyboard melody that will fill you with euphoria and make you want to dance.

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Chappell Roan - Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl / from: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

• Missouri, US
• FFO: Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift
• One thing about me is that I will recommend Chappell Roan to anything with a pulse. Fortunately, she’s given me plenty to work with in her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (my personal AOTY). Since I can’t list all 14 songs, I’ve selected Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl, the ultimate sapphic bop. The spoken word intro is immediately iconic, and the way she BELTS that chorus? I clutched my pearls. Pop perfection. Roan truly has something special–her songwriting abilities, her ear for melodies, and her bright personality all make her such a star.

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Sam Gellaitry - ALONE / from: UNDER THE ILLUSION (EP)

• Scotland, UK
• FFO: PinkPantheress, Daft Punk
• Off of Scottish producer Sam Gellaitry’s EP UNDER THE ILLUSION, ALONE is a euphoric and lush song. It comprises layer after layer of distorted vocals, dreamy synths, ethereal guitar riffs, and a vibrant bassline. It seems as though Sam Gellaitry can do no wrong–everything he produces turns to gold. If you need more proof, look to his collaborations with PinkPantheress: Picture in my mind and Blue.

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Aliyah’s Interlude - IT GIRL

• Georgia, US
• FFO: Bree Runway, cupcakKe
• Depending on what parts of the internet you frequent, it’s very likely that you know this song by sound, if not by name. Aliyah’s Interlude’s viral hit IT GIRL is a cunty pop-house anthem about–you guessed it–being an it girl. If this song comes on while you’re walking somewhere, you legally have the right to shove everyone out of your way and into oncoming traffic!

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Mike Taveira - Bloom All Night / from: Bloom All Night (EP)

• New York, US
• FFO: Troye Sivan, Tove Lo
• In the last few years, there have been many up-and-coming queer pop singer-songwriters, including Tom Aspaul, Michael Medrano, Vardaan Arora, and Bronze Avery. Among them is Mike Taviera, who dropped his Bloom All Night EP in 2023. Taveira said that the title track was written as a “dark and ironic dialogue” between the singer and his eating disorder. Despite the somber subject matter, the song itself is upbeat with frantic drumming and intense orchestrals. Truly dark pop excellence!

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Allie X - Black Eye

• Canada
• FFO: Turn Off The Lights era Kim Petras, Lady Gaga
• Allie X is giving us 80’s slasher synth-pop excellence on Black Eye. Right from the opening four synths, which sound like they could be out of a horror movie soundtrack, you immediately know what you’re getting here. It’s dark, intense, and great for being chased by a serial ax murderer.

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Priya Ragu - One Way Ticket / from: Santhosam

• Switzerland
• FFO: Rina Sawayama, Amber Mark
• Last year, Swiss-Tamil singer-songwriter Priya Ragu released her debut album, Santhosam, which is the Tamil word for happiness. Prior to this in 2020, she broke the mold of music industry ageism by debuting at age 34 with her single Good Love 2.0. Ragu has an eclectic take on pop music, which is highlighted in One Way Ticket. It’s upbeat, danceable, groovy, and an all-around good time.

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Coco & Clair Clair - Pop Star (Chaeyoung Remix) / from: Sexy (Deluxe)

• South Korea
• FFO: PinkPantheress, Magdalena Bay
• Bedroom pop duo Coco & Clair Clair’s deluxe version of their 2022 album, Sexy, saw each track reimagined with remixes from the likes of George Daniel of The 1975 (Charli XCX’s fiancé), Empress Of, and of course, Chaeyoung of Korean girl group TWICE. Pop Star was already an excellent song, but Chaeyoung takes it into a completely new direction on her remix, and it slaps! The song maintains the original DIY-esque synths, but adds a pounding house beat that is just top-notch. Plus, Chaeyoung’s eats her verse up. All in all, a very enjoyable listen.

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Javiera Mena & Depresión Sonora - Ya no hay verano

• Chile & Spain
• FFO: Magdalena Bay, EASYFUN
• Last year, Chile’s Javiera Mena and Spain’s Depresión Sonora (“Sound Depression”) did what I guess could be called a cover exchange. Depresión Sonora released his version of Cámara lenta (“Slow Motion”), which Mena dropped back in 2006, while Mena released her rendition of Depresión Sonora’s Ya no hay verano (“There’s No More Summer”). Originally, Ya no hay verano is an elegy to the summer of 2020, mourning all the fun we missed out on due to the pandemic. Mena’s fast-paced, 8-bit interpretation is chaotic, nostalgic, and fun, and while her take seems contrary to the original lyrics, it works well.

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Baby Queen - i can’t get my shit together / from: Quarter Life Crisis

• South Africa
• FFO: Lily Allen, Billie Eilish
• Every year, there are one or two artists I stumble upon that I become completely obsessed with. In 2022 it was Chappell Roan, and 2023 was Baby Queen. The South African artist released her debut album, Quarter Life Crisis, in which she navigates the trials and tribulations of being in your early 20’s. A definite highlight, i can’t get my shit together is a relatable, punchy pop song with an earworm of a refrain and a hard-hitting chorus.

​
Goldie Boutilier - Penthouse in The Sky / from: Emerald Year (EP)

• Canada
• FFO: Stevie Nicks, Lorde
• Goldie Boutilier’s Emerald Year EP contains elements of rock, dark pop, and alternative country. Through just six songs, it offers a dramatic retelling of Boutilier’s resilience throughout her experience with the underside of the music industry. In what she describes as the “crescendo” of the EP, Penthouse in The Sky stands out for its haunting array of dark instrumentals. Halfway through, Boutilier’s voice goes silent, and the song seemingly comes to a close. But then begins the bold, two-minute-long outro that feels like it would play in a movie as the hero loses their final battle, tumbling into an abyss.

​
Holiday Sidewinder - Ripe

• Australia
• FFO: EMOTION era Carly Rae Jepsen, Magdalena Bay
• Australia’s Holiday Sidewinder (that’s her legal name, fun fact) has been involved in the entertainment industry since childhood. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that she released her debut solo album. Sidewinder has a consistent history of releasing high-quality indie pop music, and Ripe is some of her best work. This jubilant single is a display of just how good pure pop can be.

​
Pharrell Williams (feat. Swae Lee & Rauw Alejandro) - Airplane Tickets

• Virginia, US
• FFO: Silk Sonic, Funk Wav Bounces era Calvin Harris
• I will be seeing Pharrell Williams in court for releasing this chill, summery single in December. I could see myself cruising with the windows down on a hot July night to the serenades of Swae Lee and Rauw Alejandro, but alas. Regardless, both artists always deliver on their features, so it’s no surprise that their voices sound great together. They play off one another wonderfully and Pharrell’s production is of course superb.

Just like the 2001-2004 (early 2000s) list, I will do the same with 1996-1999 (mid-late 90s), analyzing which songs either scream 90s or sound more like it fits with the Y2K/Millennium era (90s/00s transition). The reason why I'm doing 1996 instead of 2000 is because I'm more likely to find Y2K era-sounding songs from that year than I would really find core 90s songs from 2000 (even if there are some).
2000 was arguably the quintessential year for Y2K era music as you only had a few songs that sounded remotely core 90s or core 00s (at least based off the Google list, I showed). But I could probably mention 2000 in here anyway.

1996

Core '90s

• It's All Coming Back to Me Now - Celine Dion
• Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
• Nobody Knows - The Tony Rich Project
• You're Makin' Me High - Toni Braxton
• Where Do You Go - No Mercy
• Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
• One Headlight - The Wallflowers
• Follow You Down - Gin Blossoms
• A Long December - Counting Crows
• Return of the Mack - Mark Morrison
• Coco Jamboo - Mr. President
• Hit Me Off - New Edition
• You're The One - SWV
• Twisted - Keith Sweat
• The Earth, the Sun, the Rain - Color Me Badd
• Keep On, Keepin’ On - MC Lyte ft. Xscape
• Tonite's Tha Night - Kris Kross
• Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue
• I'm Still in Love with You - New Edition
• Change the World - Eric Clapton
• What’s Love Got to Do With It - Warren G
• Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand - Primitive Radio Gods
• Kissin' You - Total
• All the Things (Your Man Won't Do) - Joe
• Touch Me Tease Me - Case
• You're Gorgeous - Babybird
• Po Pimp - Do Or Die
• If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
• Words - Boyzone
• I Believe in You and Me - Whitney Houston
• I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
• Set U Free - Planet Soul
• You Must Love Me - Madonna
• Fu-Gee-La - Fugees
• E‐Bow the Letter - R.E.M.
• Pepper - Butthole Surfers
• Hay - Crucial Conflict
• Beyond The Invisible - Enigma
• I'll Never Break Your Heart - Backstreet Boys
• When You Love a Woman - Journey
• If You Could Only See - Tonic
• This Is Your Night - Amber
• Salvation - The Cranberries

Y2K Era

• Pony - Ginuwine

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '97" songs, I guess)

• If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah
• No Diggity - Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen
• Fastlove - George Michael
• Spaceman - Babylon Zoo

Anomaly (odd one out)

• Real Love - The Beatles (Core '70s, I think)
• Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai (Core '70s disco-style)
• Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai (Core '70s disco-style)

1997

Core '90s

• Bitch - Meredith Brooks
• I Want You - Savage Garden
• How Do I Live - LeAnn Rimes
• Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit - Gina G
• Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
• The Jock Jam - Jock Jam All Stars
• C U When You Get There - Coolio
• Big Daddy - Heavy D
• All Cried Out - Allure
• Look Into My Eyes - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
• D' You Know What I Mean? - Oasis
• It's Your Love - Tim McGraw
• The Drugs Don’t Work - The Verve
• Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
• Midnight in Chelsea - Jon Bon Jovi
• Paranoid Android - Radiohead
• I Belong To You (Every Time I See Your Face) - Rome
• Encore Une Fois - Sash!
• It’s No Good - Depeche Mode
• Step into a World (Rapture's Delight) - KRS-One
• I’ll Be Missing You - Puff Daddy
• Song 2 - Blur
• Butta Love - Next
• Got ’til It’s Gone - Janet Jackson
• We Trying to Stay Alive - Wyclef Jean
• Go the Distance - Michael Bolton
• Luchini AKA This Is It - Camp Lo

Y2K Era

• Around the World - Daft Punk
• Firestarter - The Prodigy
• Smack My Bitch Up - The Prodigy
• You Make Me Wanna… - Usher
• Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '97" songs, I guess)

• Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
• 4 Seasons of Loneliness - Boyz II Men
• G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T. - Changing Faces
• Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
• Barbie Girl - Aqua
• As Long as You Love Me - Backstreet Boys
• Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
• Fly - Sugar Ray
• Walkin' on the Sun - Smash Mouth
• Honey - Mariah Carey
• Can't Nobody Hold Me Down - Puff Daddy ft. Mase
• Your Woman - White Town
• My Love Is the Shhh! - Somethin' for the People
• Block Rockin' Beats - The Chemical Brothers
• Up Jumps Da' Boogie - Timbaland & Magoo ft. Missy Elliot
• Never Ever - All Saints
• The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) - Missy Elliott
• Invisible Man - 98 Degrees

1998

Core '90s

• No Matter What - Boyzone
• Nobody's Supposed to Be Here - Deborah Cox
• Teardrop - Massive Attack
• Closing Time - Semisonic
• My Favorite Mistake - Sheryl Crow
• Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
• Deja Vu (Uptown Baby) - Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
• Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
• I'm Your Angel - Celine Dion ft. R. Kelly
• Body Bumpin' (Yippie-Yi-Yo) - Public Announcement
• Waltz #2 (XO) - Elliott Smith
• When You Believe - Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey
• Frozen - Madonna

Y2K Era

• The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
• This Kiss - Faith Hill
• You Get What You Give - New Radicals
• Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
• Music Sounds Better With You - Stardust
• Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz
• Still Not a Player - Big Pun ft. Joe
• Still Not a Player - Incubus
• Got the Life - Korn
• Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill
• Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
• Are You That Somebody - Aaliyah
• Make It Hot - Nicole Wray
• La Copa de la Vida - Ricky Martin
• Get at Me Dog - DMX
• Superthug - N.O.R.E.
• Rosa Parks - OutKast
• Money, Power & Respect - The Lox ft. DMX & Lil 'Kim
• Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks
• Ciega, Sordomuda - Shakira
• I’m Alright - Jo Dee Messina
• Take Five - Seo Tai ji

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '97" songs, I guess)

• One Week - Barenaked Ladies
• The Way - Fastball
• So Into You - Tamia
• Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) - Jay-Z
• Ray of Light - Madonna
• Crush - Jennifer Paige
• No, No, No, Pt. 1 - Destiny's Child
• I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
• When the Lights Go Out - Five
• C'est La Vie - B*Witched
• Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) - Pras ft. Ol' Dirty Bastard & Mýa
• The Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim
• My Favourite Game - The Cardigans
• Feel It - The Tamperer featuring Maya
• Sexy Boy - Air
• Never There - Cake

1999

Core '90s

• Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
• Everybody's Free - Baz Luhrmann
• Got Your Money - Ol' Dirty Bastard ft. Kelis

Y2K Era

• Every Morning - Sugar Ray
• Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin
• No Scrubs - TLC
• Bills, Bills, Bills - Destiny's Child
• Unpretty - TLC
• Where My Girls At - 702
• All Star - Smash Mouth
• Someday - Sugar Ray
• Smooth - Santana ft. Rob Thomas
• (You Drive Me) Crazy - Britney Spears
• Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys
• That's the Way It Is - Celine Dion
• Summer Girls - LFO
• My Name Is - Eminem
• What's My Age Again? - blink-182
• I Need to Know - Marc Anthony
• I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
• Sometimes - Britney Spears
• Learn To Fly - Foo Fighters
• Still D.R.E. - Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg
• All the Small Things - blink-182
• Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
• She’s All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin
• Bring It All Back - S Club 7
• So Anxious - Ginuwine
• Heartbreaker - Mariah Carey ft. Jay-Z
• Breathe - Faith Hill
• Ten Minutes - The Get Up Kids
• Wa - Lee Jung-hyun
• Una Noche Más - Jennifer Lopez (basically the Spanish version of "Waiting For Tonight")
• New - No Doubt
• Nookie - Limp Bizkit
• A Shot in the Arm - Wilco
• She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy - Kenny Chesney

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "Live '97" songs, I guess)

• Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating
• Quiet Storm - Mobb Deep ft. Lil 'Kim
• Wild Wild West - Will Smith ft. Dru Hill, Kool Mo Dee
• Back at One - Brian McKnight
• Music of My Heart - Gloria Estefan, NSYNC
• Coffee & TV - Blur
• Satisfy You - Puff Daddy ft. R Kelly
• Vivrant Thing - Q-Tip
• Red Alert - Basement Jaxx
• He Didn't Have to Be - Brad Paisley
• Stay the Same - Joey McIntyre
• Take A Picture - Filter

Similar to my 2001-2004 (early 2000s) post, I will do one for the 2007-2010 period (late 2000s) on whether each random song from Google screams 00s or belongs more with the Recession/Electropop era (00s/10s transition).
There may have been a few songs from 2006 that sounded more like Recession/Electropop era ("SexyBack" is an example of a proto-electropop song but even that song screams 00s) or even from 2011 that sounded core 00s (although I doubt it), but they predominantly belong in their respective eras.
Let's begin.

2007

Core '00s

• Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
• Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
• Party Like A Rock Star - Shop Boyz
• Bartender - T-Pain
• Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy
• Icky Thump - The White Stripes
• Because of You - Ne-Yo
• Never Again - Kelly Clarkson
• This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy
• What I've Done - Linkin Park
• This Is Why I'm Hot - MIMS
• Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
• Brianstorm - Arctic Monkeys
• Hate That I Love You - Rihanna ft. Ne-Yo
• A Bay Bay - Hurricane Chris
• Wait for You - Elliott Yamin
• Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston
• Pop, Lock & Drop It - Huey
• Shadow Of The Day - Linkin Park
• How Far We've Come - Matchbox Twenty
• Valerie - Mark Ronson ft. Amy Winehouse
• Make Me Better - Fabolous
• 1234 - Feist
• Shawty - Plies ft. T-Pain
• Get It Shawty - Lloyd
• Cyclone - Baby Bash ft. T-Pain
• Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
• Bed - J. Holiday
• Last Night - Diddy ft. Keyshia Cole
• Wake Up Call - Maroon 5
• Everything - Michael Bublé
• I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem) - Good Charlotte
• Taking Chances - Celine Dion
• Give It to Me - Timbaland ft. Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake
• Bleed It Out - Linkin Park
• I Tried - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
• Same Girl - R. Kelly ft. Usher
• Dear Maria, Count Me In - All Time Low

Recession Era

• Don’t Stop the Music - Rihanna
• Stronger - Kanye West

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K7" songs, I guess, whatever you wanna call it)

• Umbrella - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z
• Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - T-Pain ft. Yung Joc
• The Way I Are - Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson, D.O.E., Sebastian
• Tattoo - Jordin Sparks
• Kiss Kiss - Chris Brown ft. T-Pain
• Ayo Technology - 50 Cent ft. Justin Timberlake
• Stop and Stare - OneRepublic
• Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna
• Apologize - Timbaland ft. OneRepublic
• Make It Rain Remix - Fat Joe

2008

Core '00s

• Leavin' - Jesse McCartney
• What You Got - Colby O'Donis ft. Akon
• Dead And Gone - T.I. ft. Justin Timberlake
• Addicted - Saving Abel
• Fall for You - Secondhand Serenade
• Touch My Body - Mariah Carey
• Gotta Be Somebody - Nickelback
• Bust It Baby, Part 2 - Plies ft. Ne-Yo
• Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Beyoncé
• The Time of My Life - David Cook
• Gives You Hell - The All-American Rejects
• Dangerous - Kardinal Offishall ft. Akon
• It's Not My Time - 3 Doors Down
• Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
• In Love With a Girl - Gavin DeGraw
• That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
• The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script
• Love Remains the Same - Gavin Rossdale

Recession Era

• Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
• Circus - Britney Spears
• Live Your Life - T.I., Rihanna
• Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf
• DONTTRUSTME - 3OH!3

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K7" songs, I guess, whatever you wanna call it)

• Lollipop - Lil Wayne
• I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry
• Sexy Can I - Ray J
• In the Ayer - Flo Rida ft. will.i.am
• Whatever You Like - T.I.
• Love in this Club - Usher ft. Yung Jeezy
• Burnin' Up - Jonas Brothers
• Viva La Vida - Coldplay
• So What - Pink
• Heartless - Kanye West
• American Boy - Estelle
• Independent - Webbie
• When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
• Take a Bow - Rihanna
• Got Money - Lil Wayne ft. T-Pain
• Damaged - Danity Kane
• Love Story - Taylor Swift
• Miss Independent - Ne-Yo
• I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
• Crush - David Archuleta
• Right Now (Na Na Na) - Akon
• Sex on Fire - Kings Of Leon
• 4 Minutes - Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake, Timbaland
• Closer - Ne-Yo
• Use Somebody - Kings Of Leon
• A Milli - Lil Wayne
• If I Were a Boy - Beyoncé
• Human - The Killers

2009

Core '00s

• 21 Guns - Green Day
• According to You - Orianthi
• Fallin’ for You - Colbie Caillat
• No Surprise - Daughtry
• Obsessed - Mariah Carey
• Irgendwas bleibt - Silbermond
• Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear

Recession Era

• Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
• Down - Jay Sean
• Bulletproof - La Roux
• Knock You Down - Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West, Ne-Yo
• 3 - Britney Spears
• Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship ft. Leighton Meester
• Sexy Bitch - David Guetta ft. Akon
• Right Round - Flo Rida
• Sugar - Flo Rida
• Two Is Better Than One - Boys Like Girls ft. Taylor Swift
• I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull
• I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
• Number 1 - Tinchy Stryder ft. N-Dubz
• Goodbye - Kristinia DeBarge
• Rockin’ That Shit - The-Dream
• Battlefield - Jordin Sparks
• All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
• My Girls - Animal Collective
• She Wolf - Shakira
• Best I Ever Had - Drake
• I Love College - Asher Roth
• One Time - Justin Bieber
• Forever - Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K7" songs, I guess, whatever you wanna call it)

• Her Diamonds - Rob Thomas
• The Climb - Miley Cyrus
• Throw It in the Bag - Fabolous ft. The-Dream
• Love Drunk - Boys Like Girls
• New Divide - Linkin Park
• You Found Me - The Fray
• Big Green Tractor - Jason Aldean
• I Do Not Hook Up - Kelly Clarkson
• My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
• Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys
• Crack a Bottle - Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
• Birthday Sex - Jeremih
• Break Up - Mario ft. Gucci Mane, Sean Garrett
• Heads Will Roll - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Bad Boys - Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida
• Love Sex Magic - Ciara ft. Justin Timberlake
• Zero - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Daylight - Matt and Kim
• Turnin Me On - Keri Hilson ft. Lil Wayne

2010

Core '00s

• None

Recession Era

• Dynamite - Taio Cruz
• Airplanes - B.o.B
• Love the Way You Lie - Eminem
• Nothin' on You - B.o.B ft. Bruno Mars
• Billionaire - Travie McCoy ft. Bruno Mars
• Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz
• Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna
• Like A G6 - Far East Movement ft. The Cataracs, DEV
• Animal - Neon Trees
• F**k You(Forget You) - Cee Lo Green
• Over - Drake
• Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
• All I Do Is Win (Remix) - DJ Khaled
• Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida ft. David Guetta
• DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love - Usher ft. Pitbull
• Right Above It - Lil Wayne ft. Drake
• California Gurls - Katy Perry
• Not Afraid - Eminem
• Alors On Danse - Stromae
• Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars
• Teach Me How to Dougie - Cali Swag District
• Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) [The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup (TM) Song] - Shakira
• We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool
• Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner
• The Time (Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
• I Like It - Enrique Iglesias
• Shout - Dizzee Rascal
• Promise This - Cheryl
• Young Blood - The Naked and Famous
• Monster - Kanye West
• Misery - Maroon 5
• Baby - Justin Bieber
• Blah Blah Blah - Kesha ft. 3OH!3
• Dancing on My Own - Robyn
• There Goes My Baby - Usher
• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
• Lover, Lover - Jerrod Niemann
• OMG - Usher
• Alejandro - Lady Gaga

Hard to place (could go either way or neither way; quintessential "2K7" songs, I guess, whatever you wanna call it)

• Solo - Iyaz
• Everlasting Light - The Black Keys
• Don’t You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean ft. Kelly Clarkson
• American Honey - Lady Antebellum
• If I Die Young - The Band Perry
• Just a Dream - Nelly
• Impossible - Shontelle

Anomaly (odd one out)

• Gave It All Away - Boyzone (Y2K era)
• Good Intentions Paving Co. - Joanna Newsom (I don't know but it sounds nothing like either period; maybe 70s or 90s sounding to some extent)
• Runaway - Kanye West ft. Pusha T (this kind of sounds like an Electropop/Core 10s hybrid, a.k.a. 2K12; it weirdly fits for a year like 2013)

Hey all,
Was finally paid out damages to replacing my 22 Trek Emonda SL6 AXS (RIP). I loved this bike for sentimental value (first fondo, health journey) but also realized it was a bit heavy and not the most comfortable ride out there.
Over the last few months, I’ve done an embarrassing amount of research on a potential replacement. Something aero, lightweight, not too-aggressive in geometry, can navigate mixed terrain of British Columbia and Washington state. Aiming to do the Vancouvers triple crown twice this season. Looking to try some crit racing, club riding, etc.
Based on aesthetics, I really love the following four:

• cervelo Soloist force
• canyon ultimate cf8 slx
• wilier filante slr
• tarmac sl7 expert

Obviously, the wilier is an outlier cost-wise, but red is sexy AF. My top choice is the Soloist. It looks great (embers or gold) and according to YouTubers, it feels snappy and has a semi-aggressive geometry.
But that’s it. While the frame is great, the other components are underwhelming, given the hefty price ($9k CAD). It’s nearly impossible to find a frame anywhere (56cm). Thinking of maybe buying the mech 105 model and then stripping it down for some upgrades I had in mind (Coefficient RR cockpit) and adding on pieces from my Emonda (HyperSE wheelset, SRAM rival group set from my Emonda).
With the insurance money, budget is $10k CAD max.
Anyone have suggestions any recommendations? Possible recipes or swaps? Reviews of those bikes?

So I have many issues with DC's Punchline that many people on here have said already. She's basically just DC going "Hey, we need a new girl to hang out with Joker since we finally broke him and Harley up." She's basically the Carnage to Harley's Venom in that she's the more generically evil counterpart to a former villain that was made to fill the character slot left behind. Her design is basically a jumbled mess of concepts compared to Harley and she has 50% less personality compared to her as well, in that she's basically just a generically ax-crazy Joker fangirl.
But everything about how she uses social media to get people on her side is legitimately amazing and the fact that she had a Joker podcast made me lose my shit. I just love the concept of a supervillain doing the pathetic youtubber crying apology video. It's got this perfect blend of deranged and pathetic that I just love out of a character! It just makes me think about how much more interesting she'd be if she was written more like that in general. I just really like the idea of her being written as a representation of toxic stan culture and how weirdos on the internet fetishize actual mass murderers. I don't want her as just the sexy new evil clown girl, I want her to be absolutely pathetic underneath all that facepaint!