Four Long Yearwyrms

ISSUE #194

It’s been four long years since I started Earwyrms. If the sum of life’s experience is a tidal wave of shit (I don’t like to be dramatic, but it happens without permission), this project gives me a set of water skis. It’s my stabilizing rudder, to mix metaphors—and what is Earwyrms if not a blender of imagery?

To celebrate, I’ve put together a playlist of all the music I missed from the past four years. Songs that didn’t make it to the year-end lists, albums I didn’t catch until far too late. An ode to the constant blooming that comes with loving music. All these songs should have been included in issues long ago.

I’ve gone through a lot of different phases on here, played with different voices, traveled through tones—from casual speak to maudlin theatrics, tossed-off dry wit to fictional aspirations. As embarrassed as I am by all of that, I still like to leave them pinned to this virtual, very public fridge. I suppose, if nothing else, it’s proof of my diligence. If this bee can’t dance the best, then watch him dance the most.

Here are a few of my favorite routines:

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The Earwyrms Canon: the objectively subjective 100 best songs ever.

All Under One Roof Raving: for all your dancing needs.

Artistography: for single-artist catalogs.

Brutalism: for paeans to the heavy stuff.

Genre Fluid: for all my creative coinings.

Gimme Fiction: for my stories.

Golden Hour: for relaxing on a beautiful weekend.

Running Up That Hill — for secular worship music.

Sleep Well Beast — for a collection of anxiolytics.

So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings: for crushes that make you tear your hair out.

The Annivyrsaries: for all my history lessons

The Best Of: for my little lists.

The Last Earbender: for each of the four types of benders

This Emotion: for certain emotional tenors.

Weathering With You: for songs about how it feels outside.

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Thanks for sticking around, I hope I’ll see you next week. Maybe we can share a dance!

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