League 5 (Sep 2025)

• fionmul +2 — Yeah. I think this is the best submission maybe including mine too but I wish we had done better as a group.
• Sam Ary +2
• Corey +2
• SamRobertsND +1 — Best song on the listen. Glad Olivia Rodrigo has taken us back to rock pop.
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — I almost hate how much I love this song, but Avril just does girly “rebellious” 2000s pop so perfectly that I can’t really be mad. Excels even if what she excels at is slightly cringe. The fact that she somehow can pull off “hell yeah I’m the mf princess” is incredible
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Gotta love avril.
• shea nowicki +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Close
• Edward James 0 — Great choice, and a great millennialcore song. But it was narrowly beat out by others for me.
• judd.baker 0 — This kinda feels too innocent

• Sam Ary +2
• fionmul +1 — Voting mainly because I like the song more than most other submissions and it made me think about the lyrics for the first time haha.
• ared56 +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Yes, petty vindictive spite! Rejoicing in the plight of enemies! Obsession not with the guy you’re with but the girl you’re waging psychological war against. This is everything I was hoping for
• Edward James +1 — It is comical how enormously this clear every single song in this playlist. I wouldn't say a single one even comes close to it. It's perfect in every way, musically and categorically. I would have given it 2 votes if there weren't other songs here I thought deserved recognition.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — yes
• judd.baker +1 — I’m a simple man. I’m always going to upvote Paramore
• shea nowicki +1
• Corey +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good song

• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — An awesome pick for the category. In case you didn't know, the music video makes it into an American Civil War song, which changes the interpretation of the lyrics in really cool ways. Well done.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Wow, this song is actually quite interesting and creative. While it does feature the obligatory millennial “ohhhhh ohhh ohhh ohhhh” singalong bit, this song takes many unexpected turns while still feeling cohesive and distinctive. The guy has a super cool voice too. No idea what it’s about but it sounds important
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — This album is one of a kind and this song is just so good. Stomp clap folk drumbeats AND vocoder bridge? I repeat my comment from last round: Jack Antonoff knows how to write a pop song. Every now and then I wonder what fun. could have become if they’d stayed together
• shea nowicki +1
• judd.baker +1 — To my mind, this is the definitive entry in the genre
• Edward James +1
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — fun. was a good shout. We translated “we are young” in high school Spanish hahah
• Brad Stalcup 0 — It's got the stomps It's got the claps It's got the Autotune It's got the falsetto And Notre Dame's Marching Band did it. It's a great song, and the best one for this category (besides maybe the M&S submission, which I had tried to do).

• Corey +3 — I gotta give it to the iconic no good son of a gun anthem.
• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — hell yeah
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — He’ll make a rich woman beg and make a good woman steal. Maybe not intended by the person who submitted, but when I heard that line I realized this song does in its own way speak to (my particular read of) the theme.
• Regina Scime +1 — You took my 🤬 song
• fionmul 0 — Honorable mention
• Edward James 0 — I want to make sure I am fair. I trashed a few of the girl villain era songs because I said they were cringe and insincere. This is the male version of that. Never liked this song.

• Regina Scime +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — Classic and contemplative, premier night driving on the range
• judd.baker +1
• Brad Stalcup +1
• Edward James +1 — I was not going to vote for this, but it just hits right especially when you think about driving through the western desert at night
• shea nowicki +1 — An immaculate vibe. I want to come along for the ride!
• Sam Ary +1
• Corey +1
• fionmul 0 — I think most people clocked that it should be 90s even tho it doesn’t have to be that late… so I’m gonna defer to the majority here
• Joseph Harvey -1

• fionmul +2 — No notes.
• ared56 +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — What a great driving song.
• Joseph Harvey +1
• Edward James +1 — 100% yes. This is exactly how this theme sits in my mind. Also, this song is the GOAT for literally having an entire verse that’s just the opening of “Idiot Wind” by Bob Dylan. That makes 2 songs in this playlist that prove the theory that every musician since 1965 is just trying to be Bob Dylan.
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good, but others beat it. Sorry.

• Corey +3 — It's quite literally perfect.
• Regina Scime +1
• ared56 +1
• Claire +1 — This is of course the canonical road trip song on how I met your mother and that’s all I can really think of when listening to this song in this round. I feel like it could be moderately annoying as a road trip song but if it’s late enough in the day and you’re the perfect amount of cracked/slap happy, it could absolutely hit
• shea nowicki +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — You’re lucky there was an anachronism to tank the downvote
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I used to blast this and shout DAH-DAH-DAH-DAH at the chorus as loud as I could during my first year of teaching. Plus it's actually a pretty heartfelt song.
• fionmul 0 — I just hate it too much. But I dont downvote because I acknowledge this fits
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Imagine going on a coast to coast roadtrip and this is the only song you can play
• Edward James 0 — Sorry Brad, but no

• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — This song best captures the spirit of "villain era." I daresay it is a perfect villain song.
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — He sounds like RFK Jr. singing through a mouthful of scrap metal. Incredible vibe
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Perfect song for this category IMO.
• judd.baker +1
• Regina Scime 0 — Sammy?

• fionmul +2 — Perf Eddie you can Google Dionysus if you’re confused Brad? No clue Drums remind me of Still Rock n Roll to Me by Billy Joel
• SamRobertsND +1 — This works, yeah.
• Brad Stalcup +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — I thought about submitting a Houndmouth song for this round and great minds think alike, therefore etc
• ared56 +1 — I have recently been on a Sedona kick so this fit nicely. 3 (Shea)
• Edward James 0 — This is a runner-up for me. Like the sound, I think Alex would like it too, but it’s a little bit too whiny in the vocals imo
• judd.baker 0 — I liked this song a lot. I don’t think it is absolutely Alexcore but I really like it.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Sounds like a Great Value rippoff of the “I’m leaving on a jet plane” song. Alex would like this but I still hate it

• Corey +2 — BUSHI BUSHI BUSHI
• SamRobertsND +1 — Tejano Japanese? Slap that into my DeWalt.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — A Japanese jazz band playing South American beats with synth? Definitely hearing you out here. Corey.
• shea nowicki +1
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — Was ok. Mexico conquered Japan core or something.
• Edward James 0 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG

• ared56 +2
• fionmul +1 — Aww love the pitch perfect version too. Good pick.
• SamRobertsND +1 — A masterful pick from an incredible album.
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire 0 — This whole album is so good and the lineup of features is next level. Idk what it is about B.o.B’s particular brand of upbeat pop rap but it feels like the sort of thing that only would’ve landed with the impact it did at this particular point in musical history
• judd.baker 0 — I was surprisingly impressed by this. Honorable mention. It’s hitting a particular corner of the millennial slop genre that the rest of the playlist doesn’t cover
• Brad Stalcup -1 — A catchy song from the Millennial era, but not something that embodies "millennialcore" or "stomp clap stop"

• ared56 +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Surprisingly thoughtful and powerful song, especially as a new(ish) father. Is the pain of the end of life worth the beginnings of it? Or is it just wishful thinking? Beautiful.
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Holy cow what was this. Incredible
• Claire +1 — At first I thought this song was gonna be kinda corny but by the end I did quite enjoy the picture it painted lyrically
• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — This didn’t seem Memento Mori to me exactly but something adjacent
• judd.baker 0 — Big Thief knows how to write a downer

• Edward James +2 — Perfect choice. I feel like there needs to be a certain melancholy and reflectiveness for this category, not just to be about death itself. Well done, well worth the need for me to go to Spotify since this is a Spotify session song and not on Apple Music.
• ared56 +1 — While not as good as the Jason Isbell version, still very good.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I liked this song quite a bit. But is it a memento mori? There's a difference between a song about death and memento mori. But I liked it enough to give it a vote.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This probably made me feel the saddest of anything here. So cute and sad
• Claire +1 — Is it possible that I voted for this in part because I love Noah Kahan’s music and also because he just has fall vibes? Sure. But it’s also on point thematically
• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — I just think this is such a cool and beautiful song. Not the original but the version I discovered first.
• judd.baker -1

• ared56 +2
• SamRobertsND +1 — In loving memory. You're a self-appointed villain when you call yourself the prince of darkness. Also, what an amazing opening this has.
• Edward James +1 — A Prog rock song about a vaudeville style occultist magician. Easy upvote.
• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — I liked this too
• Joseph Harvey 0 — 😴
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I'm not sure this quite fits the vibe, as he's just wondering about Mr. Crowley and never particularly endorses or idolizes someone... even though that someone is about as evil as it gets.

fionmul: Some comedian once said “there has to be a worst person in the world. And we know it’s a man. If it were a woman she would be so good at it she’d be the best.” And while I dont agree with this, it’s sorta funny and this song makes me think of it.

• Edward James +2 — This is the only one of the villain era 💅 style submissions I actually liked. Especially since this is so early in her career, it doesn’t come off as forced also love the idea of the guy thinking he’s the villain, but he’s not. It gets a second up vote because I think it was most on theme
• Regina Scime +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Man this is a cool song. So understated and creepy
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I think this really captures the vibe of the playlist.
• shea nowicki +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Good, but she can and has done better.
• fionmul 0 — 😈 should have been the emoji subtitle but this song fits 💅🏼as well
• Claire 0 — Maybe this is a me problem but I’ve simply never liked this song, even thought I think some of her music is really cool. It’s pretty on theme but I simply am not moved to vote
• judd.baker -1

• SamRobertsND +1 — Funky beat, blaxploitation, Ohio: what more could Alex ask for.
• Corey +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — Cool song. I’d guess he rocks with it
• judd.baker +1 — Awesome
• ared56 +1 — Yes. For some reason, I have heard this beat but had never put two and two together. Well done. 1 (Corey?)
• fionmul 0 — Latina vibes 💃🏽 Corey?
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I did not enjoy but Alex would probably. Down with Ohio
• Edward James -1 — Risqué…..bopping…… not exactly Alex’s top words Good tune but idk about the fit

• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — This song was awesome, and on a list like this, I’m handing out votes for songs I actually like.
• Regina Scime +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Really enjoyed this one musically. The drop was unexpected and had a huge payoff. The toxic feminity is an immature one, but toxic nonetheless.
• judd.baker +1 — I enjoyed this more than I expected
• fionmul 0 — The overall sound just isn’t right for this and other elements weren’t enough to strengthen it as a submission imo
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is fitting in a vague way, but I want more specificity
• Edward James 0 — This is a good pick but it didn't stand out to me
• Claire 0 — This was lyrically on theme for sure but idk musically it just didn’t do it for me. Kinda felt like they recycled and stitched together old my chemical romance backing tracks

• ared56 +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I was warned not to submit another M&S song (Little Lion Man, which I think was a bigger hit). I can't not vote for this.
• Regina Scime +1
• judd.baker +1 — lmao. Essential
• Edward James +1
• fionmul 0 — Our millennial chaplain in college loved his homily on this song and the beatitudes and st Francis. Not the most iconic Mumford song but one I generally like even now. And as we know I generally believe the subtitle matters even if I dont like it
• SamRobertsND 0 — Every one of their songs is the same lol
• Joseph Harvey 0 — 😴 yawnfest but not as egregious as little talks which wins in this lane of millennialcore for me.
• Claire 0 — cf. my comments on little talks and Ophelia. It’s an enjoyable song though

• judd.baker +2 — A psalm of 2pac
• ared56 +1
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — Enjoyed this pull. This is also how I learned that Spotify censors the n word in its lyrics (assuming this is Alex but perhaps Sam??)
• Regina Scime +1
• Edward James 0 — Amazing song, and a great idea going with some 90s rap, but I didn’t see this as much of a Memento Mori
• Brad Stalcup 0 — A song about death, but memento mori?
• fionmul -1 — Just dont vibe with this although it’s on theme. I think I wanted something a bit more serious and deep and the genre is hard to take that way for me

• Edward James +1 — Already submitted in past leagues, which biased me. Maybe this was Brad, and because of this possibility, I give it one vote.
• Sam Ary +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Can’t not vote for Sufjan. This just sounds so vulnerable and raw like everything on this album.
• Regina Scime +1
• judd.baker +1 — Excellent
• fionmul 0 — Sufjan/this song is just sorta too predictable to me at this point for this theme
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Perhaps this is anathema in this group, but i've never quite got the hype for Sufjan Stevens. This is no exception.
• Claire 0 — Fiona has the receipts but I told her before this round that if somebody submitted Sufjan it would be the first time in music league history that I didn’t vote for him. I just feel like it’s too easy. Also despite the line “we’re all gonna die,” I feel like this song is more properly about the experience of his mother’s death rather than reflecting on his own mortality

Joseph Harvey: The last week of senior year, your high school sweetheart broke up with you. Heartbroken, you set out with your best friend from your childhood home in the suburbs of LA on a summer-long roadtrip to nowhere in particular in the family wagon. As the dying sun sets the canyon walls ablaze and you settle in for a long night on the road, this song comes on on the radio.

• judd.baker +1
• fionmul +1 — Compelling story here but Radiohead just isn’t a thing for my fam until more recently.
• Claire +1 — Is it really a road trip if you don’t sink into a melancholy reverie at some point?
• shea nowicki +1 — This is everything hahaha
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Nice story, not a fan of the band.
• Edward James 0 — This was actually good, which I was sad to learn. Never been a big Radiohead guy, but props to Thom Yorke and whatnot
• Corey -1 — This may just be me, but when I hear Radiohead, I think more of a cold urban hallway than a road trip.

• Regina Scime +1
• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND +1 — Getting out of city traffic and accelerating down the open interstate vibe. Thematically on point too
• Brad Stalcup +1 — This song deserves a boat because 1. I would definitely expect my dad to have put it on 2. I would listen to this even in the absence of my dad
• Joseph Harvey +1
• fionmul 0 — I had never heard this. It seems to fit the vibe pretty well. I will say, however, that I wished it were at least a minute shorter.
• judd.baker -1

shea nowicki: My dad picked this song hahaha

• judd.baker +1
• Brad Stalcup +1
• fionmul +1 — And he cooked
• Claire +1 — Your dad cooked with this one. Perfect vibe for driving through the CA mountains
• SamRobertsND 0 — Dad should get better taste
• Edward James 0 — I’ve just never really liked this song. Can’t describe exactly why, since by all accounts it’s very good

• judd.baker +2
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — This is surely Sammy. And yet I’m voting for it anyway—why, you ask? Because it’s sassy, and in that sense, it captures the spirit of the 💅
• Corey +1
• Edward James 0 — I don’t actually think this is a good pull for the category, but it’s a great song
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I’m assuming this was Sammy. Very fun song
• shea nowicki -1

• SamRobertsND +1 — Of the "nail polish" options, this was my favorite. What a great song.
• fionmul +1 — It’s just a bop plain and simple, not sure who did this but I approve ofc since I submitted it a few leagues ago.
• Claire +1 — I feel like I can’t not vote for this one. Girly villain era fr
• Regina Scime +1
• judd.baker +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — This one is very on brand for the category, but at the same time, I can’t imagine Taylor Swift singing this without forcing it. Just can’t take you seriously when you put this out after 10+ years of girl pop.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Petty and vindictive.
• Sam Ary -1
• Corey -1 — Perhaps this is my bias speaking, but I just can't take Swift seriously on this subject.

• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Yes
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — To me, this is too mopey to be villain era. I know she’s talking about being evil, but there’s too much simping.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Love the melody in this one.

• Sam Ary +1
• Regina Scime +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is painful to listen to so I bet Alex likes it. Any “The _ Band” I am very unlikely to enjoy and Alex is very likely to enjoy it seems
• shea nowicki +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Nah
• Edward James 0 — I really like this song, and I like going for a vaguely classic rock angle, but I think this just misses the leaderboard
• fionmul 0 — I bet yall have heard this but didn’t know the title Just such a damn bop
• Claire 0 — I see why one would pick this vibe wise, but idk it just didn’t stand out to me
• ared56 0 — I’ve always enjoyed this song! 7 (Brad)

• Edward James +1 — I was back-and-forth on this one. In the end, I think it deserves a vote because it’s the musical style that I think really works, and even if Alex doesn’t agree with every part of the message, I think he would greatly enjoy the political themes.
• Sam Ary +1
• Regina Scime +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Doesn’t get any more Alex. Perfect submission
• shea nowicki +1 — WOW-- Kingston Trio! I vibed!!
• SamRobertsND 0 — Alex probably would love this song as an Ohioan, but Kentuckians own Bluegrass, and a truly great Bluegrass song can never be about....Boston.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I picked a song my dad loved and loved showing people.
• fionmul 0 — Okay I didn’t consent to this podcast. Jk but not feeling it. Sammy? Or Edward…?
• Claire 0 — A classic, it takes me back to playing and singing this around the bonfire at the annual homeschool family picnic. Maybe Alex really loves Boston and this is just a fact I don’t know about him. But I think it’s equally if not more likely that he has beef with the city of Boston for some reason
• judd.baker 0 — Really enjoyed
• ared56 -1 — All my homies hate Boston sports teams. Bizzar-Al (the evil version of me) is a known Boston sports fan. You were on point with the folk nature and might have gotten a vote with any other city. But alas. 11 (Judd)

• SamRobertsND +1 — Good beat, he reminds me of Steve Goodman
• Brad Stalcup +1
• Edward James +1 — I feel like this is a direct hit. Good tune, good vocals, just solid
• shea nowicki +1 — I love this song. Thank you for this!
• fionmul 0 — My dad chimed in from the other room so that’s on brand Shea? Idk at this point
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Left zero impression
• judd.baker 0 — Loved this and a good submission but beat out by others.
• ared56 0 — This is such a fun song. 6 (Fiona?)

• fionmul +1 — BNL coded but not BNL so good to me Claire? Judd?
• Regina Scime +1
• judd.baker +1 — Enjoyed very much, and I think in a (maybe?) slightly niche way it’s a good Alexcore fit.
• ared56 +1 — Well done Joseph. 2
• SamRobertsND 0 — I liked this but just a touch too late for Alex, I think. Mid-2000s would've been safer.
• Edward James 0 — This was so good, but I feel like Alex is pop-punk adjacent. Would have been a ringer for Claire round
• Claire 0 — Love this song SO much. Not sure Alex would tho. But a little part of me is holding out hope that maybe this was a sneaky Alex submission
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Not an Alex vibe at all but I enjoyed!

• SamRobertsND +1 — Fantastic song. Idk what Alex's feelings are on Elton John exactly but we'll give it a spin.
• Claire +1 — I think he’d rock with this simple as. Never heard this song before but it’s a cool pull
• Regina Scime +1 — Freaking loved this
• judd.baker +1 — Wow this goes so hard
• fionmul 0 — This was great, I enjoyed Shea?
• Joseph Harvey 0 — 😴
• ared56 0 — 10 minutes. You really want to start this game with me? I will rain hellfire upon you. Luckily, there was a different option this time around. A man who listens to commercials doesn’t have this kind of time. 10 (Regina?)

fionmul: The only time I’ll ask you to listen to something for this long… Listen for the musical nods to nearly every neighborhood and culture of the city. You got a taxi at LaGuardia. You’re crossing the bridge into Harlem at night. The keys ring out as your driver weaves his way along Grand Central Parkway. As the Manhattan skyline comes into view, Bruce’s voice is heard…

• ared56 +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — This is really cool. I can’t say I was paying 100% attention for the full duration of the song but I did hear it out. I wonder if it’s meant to be sorta ambient at times
• fionmul 0 — This is just so beautiful I can’t. It’s magic.🥺🥹
• SamRobertsND 0 — Sorry, Fiona, if it's a famous artist, not really starting point for "hear me out." Already assume it will be decent.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Ok… this has some merit to it. Can’t stand the vocal delivery and it doesn’t have to be that long, but it’s fine
• Edward James 0 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I guess I need to hear you out because of the length? Anyway, this song didn't blow me away. Was waiting for an amazing drop, but it never came. Fiona

Joseph Harvey: Those who give this gem of early 2010s djent a fair listen will find a gorgeous song replete with great melodies, incredible vocals, and buckets of groove and atmosphere

• SamRobertsND +1 — Really thought I'd dislike it and ended up being fine with it. Nothing special but listenable for sure. Sufficient Josephslop.
• Regina Scime +1
• Corey +1 — As my guitar djently weeps.
• Claire +1 — Okay Joseph I hear you
• fionmul 0 — Points for using the word “replete” Not making a huge impression but the vocals are talented and the melody is good. I like the word Nocturne tho. The end is too long. I was ready for it to be done. AI generated lyrics.
• Edward James 0 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This band is basically just a worse version of Evanescence. So I'm probably not going to hear you out here. (note: this comment was crafted specifically to troll Joseph). Joseph.

• Joseph Harvey +2 — This is absolutely sick and atrocious. My stomach was turned, I cringed and offered a prayer. Well done
• Edward James +1 — The ultimate anthem of gaslit, gatekept, girlbossed. Don't think like me? Guess you're not feminine, guess you're not a woman. Love the meta conception of the theme as women gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing the very concept of womanhood away from other women. Inspired read, and wins a vote despite the song actually sucking so bad.
• Regina Scime +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Great song (I hated it)
• Claire 0 — Idk this doesn’t land for me bc it feels like it’s just trying way too hard
• fionmul -1 — I just think the title was looking for more than angry nasty promiscuous liberal woman.

• judd.baker +2 — Grand slam of a pick.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is incredibly toxic. “Happy wife happy life” energy
• Corey +1
• fionmul 0 — this is toxic femininity vibes enough. And girlboss. The song “that’s love” by Brad paisley is a cuter healthier version of this vibe.
• Edward James 0 — IMO one of the most insidiously evil songs ever. Probably the only song I can think of where a woman objectifies a man in such a uniquely feminine way. And the only song I could think of that hits all three themes.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Shania is usually a Sammy vote cheat code but not this round sorry
• Regina Scime 0 — Not toxic enough for me
• Claire 0 — Maybe I’m crazy but I see no problem here, it is good and fitting for a man to be a little bit obsessed with the woman he loves and that’s what she’s asking for
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Really enjoyed this song. And it's a *kind* of toxic femininity, but not the "gaslit gatekept girlbossed" version

• fionmul +1 — Not being a girls girl is definitely part of the toxic feminine realm. Oh Sabrina. I like her less and less. This was a better choice than espresso.
• ared56 +1
• Edward James +1 — Of the pop hits, this is the only one for me that really gets the theme fully. Narrowly beats out two others to get my "4th place" vote.
• Claire +1 — I remember hitting play on this album when it came out and immediately thinking this was just a perfect pop song. Hate to say it but Jack Antonoff has the formula. Subverts the “gatekeep” element of the theme in a fun way
• shea nowicki +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Why do people like her
• Corey -1

• Brad Stalcup +1 — No song embodies millennialcore more.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Musical torment. The indie voices. The “hey”s drowned in reverb. The boring chord progression beaten to death and beyond. This is the ultimate millenialcore
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James +1
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Mountain Sound or Numb Bears was the play
• Claire 0 — My apologies to whoever submitted this, it’s absolutely a valid read of the theme, it’s just (imo) a predictable and not particularly exciting pull
• fionmul -1 — I actually hate this song. I can only listen to it if I make fun of it. The opening instrumental alone fills me with dread. And then the cursive singing… 😑 I decided to downvote because I hate it but it’s defs on theme sry

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Perhaps the clearest and best interpretation of the theme here
• SamRobertsND +1
• Regina Scime +1
• judd.baker +1
• Edward James 0 — Don’t see this as memento Mori as much as the justice of God
• Claire 0 — At first I was like “this is so spot on” but as I was reflecting on all the songs again I felt like the vibe of this one is more about God’s judgment catching up with the sinner than about the inevitability of death for all. I’d apologize for being nitpicky but I feel like that’s what music league is for

• ared56 +1
• Edward James +1 — Another perfect choice, because it perfectly places you in the frame of mind of thinking about your eminent death. Incredible song and very unique.
• fionmul +1 — This album is just so iconically good
• SamRobertsND +1
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Compelling and haunting

• fionmul +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — on the nose.
• Regina Scime +1 — No brainer
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — I listened to this while driving through winding hills in West Virginia. Beautiful, and I am grateful for it, but didn’t connect theme wise.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This was very pretty

• fionmul +1 — This one wasn’t the vibe I wanted but is the best outlaw song which is not the exact same thing as a villain. But it was great I enjoyed it and the fact that I didn’t have to go back and read the lyrics to check if it fit.
• Edward James +1 — I enjoyed this a good deal, but I didn’t see it as a great fit for the category. However, I disliked most of the songs, so it comes out with an upvote.
• Brad Stalcup +1 — YES! Love it.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Jolly men cannot be villains.
• Regina Scime 0 — Brad?
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Close enough but others were more fun

Edward James: No song has better plumbed the depths of modern American ennui

• fionmul +1 — I’m going to a concert in Boulder next weekend with an ex roommate of mine who has my old mattress so I’ve been in the chainsmokers mood. Also she’s so relatable. “Oh no ugh I feel like I’m gonna throw up. Oh wait never mind I’m fine. Let’s go dance.” This is me emotionally all the time. Also the line “I guess I took a good selfie” iconic. #Spaghettibraincore
• SamRobertsND +1 — The only one on here that I thought I would hate initially but grew to really love over the course of the song. Perfectly captures the vapid, impulsive mindset of the modern secular girl, I imagine this is what plays in their head on loop.
• Claire +1 — It’s kind of insane how hard this goes
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Oh dear goodness
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I heard you out... but all I heard was unoriginal EDM background behind an unbearable voice track. The only way I could unironically tolerate this song is if I were intoxicated out of my mind. But I have to admit, it did make me laugh. Sam

• fionmul +1 — Alex? I actually smiled to myself about this one. BNL comeback. Nice mashup. Jesus the barenaked baby boy was born to save even Barenaked Ladies. I think the inclusion of a Christmas song was important in this playlist thanks. Pop off Sarah McLachlan.
• Edward James +1 — Proper use of the category
• Regina Scime +1 — I didn’t hate it, so I suppose that’s the definition of hear me out
• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Same as the Bruce song. I went to see BNL voluntarily, why would I need to be convinced to stick around and listen to them?
• Joseph Harvey 0 — My thoughts on BNL are known. With that said, it got me singing along and harmonizing and the swing is a playful addition
• Brad Stalcup -1 — Don't know what needed to be heard out about this one. A great band and an incredible vocalist singing a classic Christmas song. Eddie

• shea nowicki +2
• fionmul +1 — A banger. The sort of submission that I should have thought of. Makes me wanna sing along full heartedly but also whip and naenae. I do think you could have found a more full hearted version tho. This guy and this choir are giving 40% effort. Sam?? Regina? A fuller version would have earned more points.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Wow. Straight banger. Major musical theater energy
• Edward James +1 — Don’t need to hear you out, already a banger. But a good choice for the category, hence its vote over the jelly one
• ared56 +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — This is an amazing example of how more is less. "the meadows of faithfulness and love ... the quiet waters of peace" is so much weaker than the original "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters"; let the images stand on their own!
• Brad Stalcup 0 — On my listen through of the playlist, I was confirmed in my pick of this song. Not sure if it's appropriate for the liturgy... but it is a certifiable banger.
• Regina Scime -1 — Sorry, I just can’t
• Sam Ary -1
• Claire -1 — I feel like what makes this song a “banger” in the estimation of many—whether they think so earnestly or with a hint of shame or irony—is the sentimentality of both the melody and the lyrics. I hate to be a snob but I think that the song profits off of cheap thrills rather than real spiritual or emotional depth. I will sing this at someone’s funeral if they requested it (though it really should not be in the place of the responsorial psalm). That’s about the only time I’m not annoyed

Regina Scime: just let your brain phase out…

• Joseph Harvey +1 — As an ambient music appreciator this was great! Very cool textures
• Edward James +1 — Heck yeah
• Sam Ary +1
• Claire +1 — Okay wait I see (hear) the vision
• fionmul 0 — 😌 Sam? Regina? My brain feels like it’s smoothing out
• SamRobertsND 0 — No
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Regina
• shea nowicki -1

SamRobertsND: Mostly cloudy. You'd think there'd be more stars at the end of the earth. Finding the Ulaanbaatar Young Adult Scene to be "somewhat less active than I had anticipated," Joseph wanders the byways of the ancient capital on another wasted Friday night. First South Bend, then DC, now Ulanbator, what next? When will it end? The Miata rumbles over the cobble, and Joseph returns to the apartment bloc, opening another can of cabbage and another can of worms. Mostly cloudy. And yet. The window is quite nice. The city sprawls forth, illuminated by streetlights, televisions through windows, light lamps in nurseries and yak dairies. Joseph gazes out with glistening eye and smiles. Another cloudy bright Ulaanbaatar night.

• Joseph Harvey +1 — Incredible bit and the song is the cherry on top
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Folk-sounding Mongolian acoustic music? Definitely hearing you out here. Sammy. Caption is a dead giveaway.
• Corey +1 — Hanggai is a band I continually forget until I hear them, and remember what's there to like.
• fionmul 0 — This story was lowkey beautiful. Joseph, ever our muse and protagonist lol. But this song didn’t make an impression. I think this is Brad but idk. Could be Sammy but he seemed to suggest he submitted pop so I think he’s cascada ? Or maybe that’s Eddie
• SamRobertsND 0 — The accordion reminds me of a Studio Ghibli film, like Kiki's Delivery Service or Something
• Edward James 0 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG IN MONGOLIAN

• Edward James +1 — I LOVE COUNTRY SONGS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• SamRobertsND +1
• Regina Scime +1
• Claire +1 — Excellent read of the theme. What a story
• fionmul 0 — Hope a couple people enjoyed. I wanted to do a bit of a classier spin on the category (Tate McRae was another option but I didn’t want to scandalize Joseph) I own this album on CD and it would make an Amish teenager feel sorta excited and edgy. Other songs on this playlist would send an Amish teenager into a coma.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is an artful song. I love the subtlety. Swine is just so terrible that it needs two votes
• judd.baker 0 — Clever
• Brad Stalcup -1 — what's toxic feminity about this lamentation of cheating?

• fionmul +1 — 🥲 there was a traumatizing skit from a retreat with this as the background song but it could never ruin it for me
• SamRobertsND +1 — There are other Coldplay songs I would've picked, but I said in chat that Coldplay was the right move for this round, and I'm gonna stand by it. Listening to this took me way back.
• Claire +1 — The first Coldplay song my mind went to for this round was viva la vida. But I grew to like this particular pick because I feel like sonically it hits all the hallmarks of 2000s alt/rock, but in an authentic (rather than derivative) way. (Hi Joseph)
• shea nowicki +1
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Just kidding this is Joseph's submission
• Regina Scime 0 — Wish I had another upvote for this
• judd.baker -1 — There are really no bad entries on this playlist, but this one felt the least fitting to me

fionmul: 😌

• SamRobertsND +1 — Britta’s marrying, Britta’s marrying, Britta’s marrying Jeffrey Winger!
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Classic
• Claire +1 — It’s just a perfect song in general. But also perfect for driving with the windows down, reveling in the freedom of the open road, which to me was really the litmus test this round
• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — I really went a different direction. Should have asked my dad. But this is road-trip to me and the right era. But not American so my b? But maybe it’s the Irish coasts hehe my parents were in Ireland in September 1995
• Edward James 0 — Yes, of course, but also not the vibe I was imagining. If you downvoted this, know that Joe Torma knows it was you and he felt it personally
• Regina Scime -1 — Sorry, I just needed to downvote something
• Brad Stalcup -1

• judd.baker +1
• Edward James +1 — Heck yeah. Absolutely. This to me is such a road trip vibe. Also the 2nd Bob Dylan shoutout, props for that.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Brad?
• fionmul 0 — This was OK and then it got worse and I got annoyed by it

judd.baker: I hope you haven’t already heard this but I admit you probably have

• Brad Stalcup +1
• Corey +1
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is really great! This is something Alex and I both enjoy if I had to guess
• Edward James 0 — Gotta dig deep for one that you know people haven’t heard
• fionmul 0 — Cool. Perhaps joseph or maybe Eddie. Fallujahcore voice
• Claire 0 — He must have heard of this. So good tho
• ared56 0 — I know this and enjoy it. A wonderful driving or grilling song. Well done. 8 (Claire)
• SamRobertsND -1 — The most painful downvote I've ever given, but Alex has told me he doesn't care for Stone Temple Pilots. Amazing song.

SamRobertsND: German Romantic opera set after the Thirty Years War and centered around an enchanted marksman

• Corey +2 — I didn't know I needed this in my life. Although the question is, does Alex? We may never know, but as the self appointed steward, I'm casting my vote.
• Edward James +1 — YES
• Claire +1 — I feel like thematically he’d be super down. Musically I could see it going either way. We’re gonna hope he digs it
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Doesn’t get any more Alex. Perfect submission
• fionmul 0 — Ugh why am I vibing so hard with all of these songs 😭 I loved this and the description sounds alex vibes but I just don’t see him listening to this stuff Regeen?
• Regina Scime 0 — Iconic
• ared56 0 — Sami, I’m sorry. Not a big opera guy. 9
• Brad Stalcup -1
• shea nowicki -1 — I love this!!! But it didn't make me think of Alex! I want to be wrong tho!
• judd.baker -1 — I don’t think I get it. Maybe I don’t understand Alex (or opera) enough.

• SamRobertsND +1 — Lol this was fantastic. Mickey Mouse ass voice at Kitchenette
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Loving these funky beats + bass lines in a song about toast. I'll definitely hear you out here. Alex
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is kind of normal. Very groovy though
• Edward James 0 — Absolutely incredible. This is probably my favorite song with the bunch, but to me, it’s not a “hear me out” song.

• fionmul +1 — 🙏🏼🌞 I liked this better than the tesseract one. More like to the Son I pray amirite. Feels like Scottish/Viking vibes and I’m effin with it. Won me over.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Wow, very cool! Very doomy and sounds a bit like Tool. Major pagan vibes which works well for this. Well done Corey
• Brad Stalcup +1 — I think the bagpipes were a nice touch. (if that's what they were). And then the saxophone came in and I was like "yeah." The interesting instrumentation is why I will hear you out. Judd
• Edward James 0 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG
• ared56 -1

• SamRobertsND +1 — A really amazing song, and the only one on here I'd never heard before. It's got a bit, it's got piano, trumpets, what more can you ask for. It's become my new obsession, thanks!
• Claire +1 — The dog barking thing is weird as hell but it made me think to myself “2010 is the only possible time in history this could’ve worked.” Looked up the release year and sure enough, 2010. And the bright poppy piano and horns with the driving beat are delightfully 2010 as well. Even the guitar solo and tone just scream this time period. Cool pick, and I respect the choice to go with something less mainstream (Hi Eddie)
• judd.baker +1 — This was extremely fun
• fionmul 0 — No thoughts
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Great Song. But I don't think
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Total Bradcore. I actually love it, the screams are awesome!
• Regina Scime -1 — I didn’t absolutely hate it, but I needed to downvote something

• fionmul +1 — I didn’t think of this and I could see how some may judge it as basic but this theme sort of implies nostalgic classics and I’ll never not bop to this. Might be my top pick of the non stomp clap possibilities for this round. (The movie About Time made me like this song even more!) it is the only one here that you could say “defined a generation” I would give it 2 votes if I didn’t like others as much as I do. Is this Sam?
• Brad Stalcup +1 — Garage Rock sound (check) Overly Sappy and Whiny Lyrics (check) Low Quality Synth (check) I think this is the perfect 2005 song. Therefore I grant it one upvote.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — Hard to argue. A shame that this is their only good song (that I’ve heard)
• SamRobertsND 0 — Catholic Communists at Hillsdale would be upset with me but I've never loved it, mostly because I associate it with pseudo-intellectual hedonism
• Claire 0 — Was torn on this one. On the one hand, it’s a pretty predictable/mainstream pick. On the other hand, this song played at a wedding reception has the power to activate the sleeper agent inside every millennial and make them jump up and down with reckless abandon. In the end it was narrowly edged of my top 4, but thank you, to whoever submitted this, for the massive serotonin hit that I got from hearing the opening guitar riff. Never fails
• Sam Ary -1

• Regina Scime +1 — I vibe with this!
• Claire +1 — Twilight soundtrack = automatic upvote. It doesn’t get much more millenialcore than that. Also just genuinely incredible soundtracks
• judd.baker +1 — I had never heard this before, I really liked it
• fionmul 0 — Nostalgia factor is nonexistent for me here
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I think only Joseph would believe that Muse was "millennialcore" edit: Apparently there was another Muse song submitted... so I stand corrected.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Glorious. What a wonderful musical journey. I love how the French part feels like a totally different world to the rest of the song and then they bring it back into main song, it’s very effective and unique. I sang along to this in the car like a total goofball. This was legit one of my favorite songs in college, when I was obsessed with Muse. Unfortunately, this is not millennialcore in any sense except being by a band active during peak millennial years

• fionmul +1 — I get the analogy to the earth/this life as a whole
• Claire +1 — This song is really haunting and cool musically as well as lyrically. The way that, in this song, a very specific manner/place of death is inescapable no matter how you may try to run away feels like an image or perhaps a microcosm of the more universal reality that it is inescapable for all of us
• Edward James 0 — Amazing song. True Sammy round with all the banger country tunes. Didn’t see this as Memento Mori tho
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Dang, that was very compelling. Country is a perfect genre for this theme as many people clearly agree

• Edward James +1 — I have to assume this is Sammy’s return to music league, and he understands what no one else in this group does. And that’s that in 1995 if you were road tripping across America, you were listening to Garth Brooks.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Lovely song, I like the idea of thinking about life on a road trip.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — What kind of sappy relationship do you expect me to have with my dad? Some kind of emotional connection?
• fionmul 0 — This is cute and it’s the sort of country song my family listens to from this era
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Loved the subversion of expectations in this
• shea nowicki 0 — It's a me problem! I'm sorry!

• Sam Ary +1
• SamRobertsND 0 — Sorry, folks, the park is closed. The moose out front shoulda told ya.
• fionmul 0 — Ok so you submitted the 2024 remaster? SMH. Jk but would love to hear all these on cassette 😔🤌🏽
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Unmemorable
• Edward James 0 — This is a banger, especially for being barely 2 min long. But not the vibe for me.

Sam Ary: 💋

• Claire +1 — I can’t say this is my favorite musically but I think it suits the theme well
• Joseph Harvey +1
• Brad Stalcup +1 — A song about saudi women driving is honestly an amazing pick for this category. Well done.
• SamRobertsND 0 — See above on nail polish
• fionmul 0 — No
• Edward James -1 —  there are parts of this song that are so awkward and listless I was genuinely in awe
• Regina Scime -1

• Brad Stalcup +1
• Edward James +1 — I LOVED this so much. I forget often that Taylor really deserves her fame and adulation. What a story and exactly in the vein of musical storytelling I think Alex likes
• fionmul +1 — Spectacular pick Haters will downvote Shea or Claire?
• shea nowicki +1 — Brilliant submission. Loved.
• SamRobertsND 0 — I loved this but I checked the receipts, and Alex has never upvoted Taylor. Idk if this will change that.
• Claire 0 — The pg version of this song cracks me up lowkey. As Taylor songs go this does seem like the sort of song he’d like but I didn’t know if he’d like it enough to make the podium
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Dang I really enjoyed this but I don’t think it will land for Alex
• judd.baker 0 — I liked other submissions more but I felt this to be a pretty inspired choice
• ared56 0 — I love this song, specifically this version. Of all of her music I’m very impressed by the anxiety inducing nature of this song. The fear building up to a serious talk marked by the acoustic crescendo, whether it be apologizing, breaking up with someone, or even asking someone out, I just think it captures that so well.
• Corey -1
• Sam Ary -1
• Regina Scime -1

• SamRobertsND +1 — This works undeniably but should’ve submitted something from her new trailer trash album
• Claire +1
• fionmul 0 — Sure. Taylor doesn’t really makes a convincing bad bitch as she herself admits in the new album. The “ooh” in the chorus annoys me.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This has the attitude but there’s no specificity. She wants us to think she’s a bad girl but has offered no evidence. What exactly did I make you do?
• Edward James 0 — Taylor Swift will never escape her origins for me. Imagine how ridiculous it would be to hear Joseph this song, it's just as ridiculous coming from her. The only person she's gaslighting is herself.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Couldn't stand this song.
• Sam Ary -1

Laur: She’s basically the icon of feminist gaslit, gatekept, girlbossed femme idolization rn

• shea nowicki +1
• fionmul 0 — She is. But this song isn’t the one for this category.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This would win in a “feminine wiles” round, but toxic femininity it is not.
• Edward James 0 — I don't see it in this song. She's girlbossing but it's benign compared to the others.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Also unlistenable
• Claire 0 — I get where this submission is coming from but (to a lesser degree than Shania) I’m like…yeah it’s reasonable to want a guy that’s a little bit obsessed with you and this song may be a bit hyperbolic but in a playful tongue in cheek way
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Can't stand the girl in this song, but I'm not sure it qualifies as "gaslit, gatekeep, or girlboss"

• fionmul +1 — Good example of male gaslighting here.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Anakin and Padme-core
• Edward James 0 — I’ve always been ambivalent on this song, but paying closer attention to it made me really dislike it. The lyric “looking at you leaving out the window that’s why they call it window pain” is maybe the worst lyric I have ever heard
• Claire 0 — Another song that I really love but that doesn’t feel like it fits the theme. I feel like villainy isn’t the right way to describe the (admittedly dark and fraught) kind of relationship that’s depicted here
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Eh, I don't think this is villain era, because it's quite clear that he's a really bad dude, and we're not supposed to be okay with it. Great music
• Joseph Harvey -1 — This is a breakup song with reunification at the end

• SamRobertsND 0 — Utterly forgettable, Joseph.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I love this song a lot, so catchy. Would have been a great submission for "Songs Brad would Love"
• Edward James 0 — This is a good pick but I feel like Alex goes in more for the gravelly, melancholic folk (overall). A good choice but not a leaderboard choice for me
• fionmul 0 — Cute. Irish ish 🇮🇪 Judd? I forget if it was you or Joseph who showed me a song by this artist in the past.
• Claire 0 — Not a boomer rock caricature but idk, this feels kind of like the slightly less popular but still well known bluegrass Alex caricature to me. (Apologies if this was your song Alex)
• judd.baker 0 — Joseph knows I am a Nickel Creek fan but unless I am mistaken I’m not seeing this as sufficiently Redlepilled
• ared56 0 — Oh man, I really do like this one. My favorite version is the We Banjo 3 version. You should check it out! 4 (Eddie)

• judd.baker +1 — Absolutely correct. Fabulous
• ared56 +1 — Love this song, but well known. Notably also on the Redle Sibling Dishes playlist (which requires 66% of the vote to be approved with each sibling getting a full veto if they desire) 5. After careful deliberation, giving this a vote because I imagine it has received too many votes and I don’t think of the ones I didn’t know that there was another I wanted to vote for. (Sam Ary)
• SamRobertsND 0 — Alex quite possibly submitted this. He certainly loves this, but it's "would", not "does."
• Edward James 0 — This is SUCH a good pick tbh. Would never have thought about it, but the millennial vibe fits. But there is LITERALLY no one in these united states who has not heard this song. Cannot reward
• Regina Scime 0 — I can’t not think of Terry Crews when I hear this song
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Great, but not Alex in particular enough
• fionmul -1 — Stupid since he has defs heard this. The rules of this round are simple. But I was indeed bopping around to it. Sam?
• Claire -1 — There’s absolutely zero way he hasn’t heard this one

shea nowicki: Hear me out... what if we talked about images of God after listening to this song?!

• Edward James +1 — The fact that this made me vaguely uncomfortable, despite its positive message overall about hope for the downtrodden and , means you understood the category and therefore you get upvotes.
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — 👀 I could hear you saying this caption, Shea. I like your caption as a guide to the hear me out. Jamie Taberna made a funny Instagram comment once using a quote from this song and inserting my brother’s name lol. “Here comes Johnny Mulholland in an Astrovan” the Viking won stole your vote away in the end.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — I guess I'm supposed to hear you out because of the lyrical content? Claire.
• Regina Scime 0 — I love you Shea😭
• Claire 0 — I don’t find really find this either profound or scandalous—it strikes me as kind of a milquetoast attempt at making an edgy/deep point but I don’t think it lands. Maybe I just don’t see the vision
• SamRobertsND -1 — I hear what you're saying, but his voice is so, so, so annoying to me.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — No

Sam Ary: Banger alert!!!

• ared56 +2
• Regina Scime +1 — Actually here for the high school vibes
• Joseph Harvey 0 — So ubiquitous that it’s hard to say this is hear me out
• Brad Stalcup 0 — A certain dormant part of me (my middle school persona) came to life in the first few seconds of this song. Shea
• Claire 0 — Truly a banger. Maybe I’m unfairly projecting my own opinions but I feel like enough people earnestly recognize it as such that it isn’t quite a “hear me out”
• fionmul -1
• Edward James -1 — THIS IS JUST A NORMAL SONG.  and also the most popular of the normal songs posted hence the downvote.
• Corey -1 — I hate to hit Cascada with the arrow like Boromir, but in this category it feels like bringing a PB&J to a potluck. It's welcome, but it's shockingly vanilla.

• fionmul 0 — I’m overall disappointed in yall like I think there could have been some more subtlety to these submissions. I’m saying this in this comment since it’s the last song. This felt like slightly heavier fallout boy and I just didn’t like the song very much.
• Edward James 0 — VERY NARROWLY beat out by my 4 votes. Loved this musically a lot more than 2 of my votes, but their themes were just so spot on that I had to vote for them.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Better than most on this list
• judd.baker 0 — Lyrically perfect but listening to this was painful

• ared56 +1
• fionmul 0 — This fits enough but I don’t like it
• Joseph Harvey 0 — The basketball metaphor just throws me off. Also too vague
• SamRobertsND 0 — Yawn
• Claire 0 — Definitely on theme, just annoys me musically, sorry. And I love other songs by both artists. This one just doesn’t do it for me
• Edward James -1 — This song is just not good. The Nicki Minaj part was the best part by far, only further proving my first point. Girlboss, yes, but not a standout.

Sam Ary: I hate this song so much but it’s literally the epitome of this round’s prompt.

• fionmul +1 — Hating this song? What sort of Grinch are you? I’m glad this album was included. I considered submitting Gale Song. You dont deserve the points for hating this but I must vote for it.
• Regina Scime +1
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This really captures the "stomp clap slop" part of the prompt.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This is truly an awful song as you say. I feel that it was beat out by little talks which is even worse and more obnoxious. What people see in this band I fail to fathom. I played this one with my college band
• Claire 0 — It’s okay if not everyone agrees with my voting rationale, but stereotypical/predictable stomp clap bands just won’t wow me enough to claim an upvote
• SamRobertsND -1 — A genuinely awful song by a bad band. I know the subtitle might justify this pick, but I just can't do it, I'm sorry
• shea nowicki -1 — I love this song... but, hot take, I think it's more Gen Z than Millennial 😬😬😬 Released 2016

judd.baker: courtesy of Radio 105.7, Metro Atlanta’s millennial alternative radio station (2010-2014, is now a reggaeton station)

• fionmul 0 — I’m unaware of muse
• SamRobertsND 0 — I like my Muse song better
• Brad Stalcup 0 — What? A second Muse song?! You people think too highly of Millennials' music tastes.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — Another great muse song, but not iconic enough or famous enough to really typify the era. I used to not listen to this one because they say F, guess my standards went down the drain
• Regina Scime 0 — Do I detect a hint of superstition??
• Claire 0 — Not at all complaining about two Muse picks. So good. The other one just hit more

shea nowicki: Real ones choose this song over Oasis’ Wonderwall

• Brad Stalcup +1 — A little earlier Millennial... but It checks out.
• Joseph Harvey +1 — This is a great song and feels iconic enough to be millenialcore
• Sam Ary +1
• fionmul 0 — Aww this one. Not enough votes
• SamRobertsND 0 — A beautiful song, utterly intimate song writing. It got beat by others, but know that I treasured every second of it, and I hope others begin to see the life-changing joy of this song.
• ared56 -1 — Real ones know this is Gen X not Millennial.
• Claire -1 — This one is for sure beloved by millennials but chronologically feels a little early for the category imo
• Edward James -1 — THIS CAME OUT IN 1997

• SamRobertsND +2
• Sam Ary +1
• Edward James 0 — Don’t see how this is Memento Mori, but amazing song
• fionmul 0 — Not really seeing this being on theme ?
• Joseph Harvey 0 — This was a great song, but theme connection is not the strongest. The implications are there though
• Brad Stalcup -1 — This was a fun and catchy song, but I'm not sure what it has to do with memento mori.
• Claire -1 — Respectfully, being haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams just isn’t the same as confronting your mortality imo
• shea nowicki -1

Edward James: Some of you might be too young to fully comprehend the stranglehold this song had on the entire decade of the 1990s. Doesn’t matter if your parents stopped listening to new music in 1987, they were listening to this.

• SamRobertsND +1 — Fantastic, I’d absolutely listen to this during the sunset/night driving portions
• Brad Stalcup 0 — This would be a great cruising song. Tempting.
• Joseph Harvey 0 — I don’t know it’s a great fit, but it’s a vibe
• ared56 -1
• fionmul -1 — No me gusta and toooo long

Joseph Harvey: This is the closing song on this album, released shortly before the lead guitarist (and principal lyricist/songwriter) died of cancer in his late 20s

• Brad Stalcup +1
• shea nowicki +1
• Edward James 0 — Sorry Joseph, good lyrics, but if I have to read them to have any sense of what the song is about, it’s just not gonna do it for me. This was on the theme so I won’t downvote.
• fionmul 0 — This was my 5th vote
• Claire 0 — Joseph I did think this was cool, but it did not make my top 4 alas
• ared56 -1
• SamRobertsND -1
• Regina Scime -1 — I can appreciate the text, but I just can’t vibe with the music, sorry Joseph

• Regina Scime +1
• ared56 +1
• Joseph Harvey +1
• fionmul 0 — Not from the 90s so I’m confused but it isn’t a terrible fit.
• SamRobertsND -1 — I like the absurdism of the pick but nothing else
• Claire -1 — I like the song well enough but downvote on grounds of anachronism
• Edward James -1 — This song came out in 2013
• shea nowicki -1 — Hahah, I love everything absolutely about this song, but gotta downvote it for the sake of historical accuracy (released 2013)
• Sam Ary -1

• Regina Scime +1
• ared56 0 —
• Edward James 0 — I just really don’t like this song, and it also strikes me as too cringe for the villain category
• SamRobertsND -1 — Revivals rarely work; King of the Hill is the exception, not the rule. This album was a mistake, and the members of FOB know this in their hearts. Sugar, We’re Goin Down here was the proper play here for them.
• fionmul -1 — Exceedingly unpleasant (if this is Claire ily)
• Claire -1 — Fall out boy is one of the bands I love most in the world and it causes me actual pain to downvote but this just does not feel villainous to me

judd.baker: The villain often thinks he is the hero of his own story

• SamRobertsND 0 — This band is strangely obscure.
• Edward James 0 — This is the most Gen X slop song I have ever heard.
• ared56 -1
• Brad Stalcup -1 — Sorry, a little to schmaltzy for this category.

• fionmul +1
• Edward James -1 — Just don’t like it, simple as
• Sam Ary -1
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Musical fingernails on chalkboard. The melodies don’t work and everything is irritating, this song feels like a itchy dress shirt or a bathing suit with sand in it

• fionmul 0 — This song annoys me so much and it’s also not really toxic at all since it’s trying to be positive. Girlboss but not the other 2
• Edward James 0 — Sorry, this is not the category for empowerment. This is a girlboss song, but the category "gaslit, gatekept, girlbossed" implies some negativity/toxicity in some way. It could be a unique read i.e. it's responding to toxic femininity, I guess. But I can't square a positive song with the category and the way it was described.
• Brad Stalcup 0 — Not sure this is "toxic femininity" so much as combating body image issues. Different things.
• ared56 -1
• SamRobertsND -1
• judd.baker -1 — Song is not bad but this isn’t toxic at all

• fionmul 0 — Similar to how I feel about the Hell is a Teenage Girl one
• Edward James 0 — Don't really see the themes in this one. Seems to just be a normal breakup song.
• SamRobertsND 0 — Unlistenable
• Brad Stalcup 0 — "I'm better off without you" isn't really the vibe of this playlist.
• Joseph Harvey -1 — Doesn’t really fit and is annoying
• Regina Scime -1 — It’s not explicit to me that this is toxic femininity…
• Claire -1 — This was one of the more pleasant songs to listen to on this list but thematically didn’t hit for me
• shea nowicki -1