Why does everyone want me to review Bladee/Ecco2k so badly? "Crest Review"

Introducing the four stages of Drain Gang appreciation. I'll take you through the first three. Bladee - Topic ‪@gtbshieldgang‬ Ecco2K - Topic ‪@year0001online‬
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[@franciscovincent7035]

When you started talking about the stages of liking Drain Gang, I was like, "Man, this dude got it all figured out. He's barely got into it and he already knows the whole cycle."

[@Eversinc3]

He literally described it perfectly, we all went through it lol

[@dublove9405]

Real shit lmao

[@girIcore]

hes already hit obsession he just doesnt wanna admit

[@marcolamb6712]

Straight facts

[@VerilyRude]

You're being overly generous considering he didn't mention anything about Nightcore.

[@aitordoval3364]

This man is going to become a ripsquad enjoyer in a few weeks, we got him boys

[@allan3442]

he will defiantly enjoy the rs zyzz tributes

[@1starmin]

He will be playing Rs aesthetics pak for his class next week

[@kinniato]

hes gonna be bumping alone and alone 2.0 real quick

[@petgrief]

i think what you thought bladee would be like is actually sematary

[@evildaughter4]

On god lmao

[@andresmargraf849]

Facts

[@skinc4rver]

grave man goated though

[@lewisjones284]

im on the rainbow bridgeeee

[@hado33_]

facts lmao

[@breakyrlegs]

overhead in line for the NY drain gang show: "yeah...this the first show i went to since carti" "how was that?" "it was sick...tbh i was a little confused because he wasn't actually rapping...but then i heard a professor on youtube call it performance art and it all made sense" we wanna hear ur takes bc, even tho you are relatively unfamiliar with a lot of the artists you review, you can help diehards see it in a new light and get even more out of it than they already do. that's super rare. legend!

[@breakyrlegs]

also you are unpretentious and never stoop to being a performative hater for clicks, which must be so tempting for a lot of "let's see what the kids are listening to" type channels. don't feel like you have to be unconditionally positive tho! speak ur mind king!

[@2phonesbabyken]

The stages of liking DG were absolutely spot-on! Went from hating Bladee & his contemporaries to having Working on Dying and E in my main album rotation.

[@Jackolis5]

WOD is insane, underrated album

[@gainsandglory6808]

I am not really a fan of new ecco/bladee stuff that’s been coming lately. It’s like ecco is trying to transcend into a dog whistle with his high pitched voices. Still like dg and ecco and bladee but just the new sound makes me feel like they really were dropping acid and watching teletubbies.

[@gainsandglory6808]

its weird I like the old shit better. Gluee, Icedancer, redlight and wodg still my favorite bladee albums. I can’t listen to the new shit on repeat it gets annoying tbh. I like bladee and ecco less than i used to (new stuff) but have found yung lean and thaiboy are making way better tracks than they used to. I think the Dj Billybool persona that Thaiboy is building up is cool too.

[@amp4105]

i think im the only fan who liked him from the jump ngl n i started listening near gluee

[@river4136]

@@gainsandglory6808 Watching drain gang as they expand creative outlets is more inspiring though. I understand you are entitled to your own opinion, but I believe drain gang's new direction is for the masses. It's beautiful music, whether you like it or not

[@djungelskogjamjam4995]

bladee constantly repeats in his other songs "I'm just like you, I'm not special" so I don't think he wants anyone to worship him. I think he just wants everyone to see how beautiful the world is. "I tried to show them there's beauty and there's magic in the air. they didn't understand. There's shadow in the light. open up your eyes, there's no day without the night" - egobaby

[@virkots]

i find it weirdly soothing to listen to someone talk positive about music i like for 36 minutes

[@yeetyeetonthestreet-colinm1186]

it’s so soothing almost as much as the music itself !

[@aidanhardcastle8652]

This might be the best review I’ve ever seen for any album

[@professorskye]

Thank you for the kind words

[@aidanhardcastle8652]

@@professorskye thank you for the video, liked and subscribed

[@xyphoxdemon]

Bladee's got a massive discography for someone who's only released their first official album 6 years ago, and it has all followed a fairly steady progression toward more ethereal pop from more dispondant rap. the spectrum of it would go something like: Crest (2022) - 333 (2020) - Exeter (2020) - The Fool (2021) - Icedancer (2018) - Red Light (2018) - Eversince (2016) - Gluee (2014) - Working on Dying (2017) Eversince is usually considered his official debut classic and it masters what it does. Ecco2k only has one album, E (2019), which i'd probably put between 333 and Exeter on the spectrum, though there's a lot more to say about it than I could justifiably fit in a tangent. Each album has a distinct character, so just know you will continue to get pestered about drain gang until they've coaxed you into listening to the entire discography

[@stevie2673]

Already want to hear his opinions on every Bladee project. He should make it a series or something. I'd watch

[@burner1-]

you forgot working on dying

[@tom4787]

i think exeter is furthest left on the scale

[@xyphoxdemon]

@@tom4787 exeter is the most ethereal but i also feel like it has more cloud rap influence than 333 or crest, tho its easily debatable

[@hbzdgaf9010]

justice for Good Luck smh I like the spectrum you made though! GL is definitely poppy but less ethereal in the whitearmor/Gud sense and more ravey. I'd either put it left of Crest or between Exeter and The Fool (since ripsquad's production also has contains rave/EDM elements). And surely AvP belongs somewhere on the right side.

[@Fahim321]

"head of the fountain, head of the arrow" the fountainhead is a source of water, water is essential to life the head of the arrow pierces the heart and is a metaphor for death Ecco is saying he embodies life and death.

[@franciscovincent7035]

To clear some of the confusions I've heard you voice: The pronunciation is "Blade" The title "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is part of a common trend where Bladee titles certain songs after pop classics (Such as I Want It That Way or Valerie), as he employs a lot of "pre-teen girl music" imagery in his style

[@NicoBirknicnoc]

eh did you watch the nardwuar video? hes cool with blade e even lean called him bladee kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJrOgqeLr91kitU

[@owensimmons4379]

@@NicoBirknicnoc yeah either one is fine

[@vwnb]

Blah-dey is the new standard estabilished by Professor Skye

[@tooavantgarde5216]

@@NicoBirknicnoc as you can see he was not happy with lean mispronouncing his name so he corrected quickly.Pretty sure he's fine with both but still Blade is the right way to pronounce.He also adressed it in the song Hotel Breakfast.

[@NicoBirknicnoc]

@@tooavantgarde5216 dayum didn't even catch that lyrics you right, he still is cool with the wrong pronunciation though ^^

[@iv3477]

As a huge DG fan I'm very impressed with how quickly you were able to grasp the group. Another interesting thing to note is what is arguably the most core idea to the group, which is that "loss and gain are the same". This concept shines through their whole catalog extremely well when you look at the styles they've tackled, as they have a lot more aggressive hip-hop works under their belt as well. If you wanted to check out something similar to this, I would highly recommend the Exeter EP, as it is very similar sonically and clocks in at an easy 20 minutes.

[@TedHolmwood]

Love that you gave Bladee a real chance and got through the repulsion stage. I'm a big fan and I'm 28, I remember the teletubbies haha. You should listen to The Fool and 333 by Bladee and E by Ecco2k as well, they're quite different from Crest.

[@TedHolmwood]

Also the album Good Luck by Bladee and Mechatok. It's full on hyperpop.

[@tuurg4194]

his earlier work, like eversince for example, actually matches your expectations a lot better.

[@Jackolis5]

Agreed, start playing WOD and his expectations would have been met. I think Gluee personally stands out as a beautiful calming album for me, but in a much different way than Crest

[@amp4105]

and its better music

[@eludee119]

u guys r normed too hard literally show anyone who doesn’t fw bladee eversince and they will laugh, tbh.

[@tuurg4194]

@@eludee119 i prefer newer bladee 333 is my favorite album, im just saying eversince matched his expectations more

[@marky7103]

@@eludee119 tru:/

[@danjoe9291]

I absolutely love your outsider perspective, diehard drain gang fans including myself often take stuff like this as normal bladee speak, but you really help unwrap it and show a much, much deeper meaning. Not to mention the entertainment value in your old daoist stories

[@occultst921]

this album has very strong gnostic themes. the importance of the soul and the rejection of flesh. also bladee is well known for his occult lyricism and themes.

[@artifrac7al]

Exactly what I was thinking when I listened to this tape. I love gnosticism:))

[@occultst921]

@@artifrac7al gnosticism is so interesting. u should check out max derrat and uberboyo. they mostly talk about jungian psychology, but they talk about gnosticism sometimes.

[@chewableviagra6394]

true but he has said multiple times that he is a catholic but everybody should be spiritual

[@Tommy-bg6wm]

@@chewableviagra6394 where did he say he was catholic i thought he said that he wasn’t christian

[@chewableviagra6394]

@@Tommy-bg6wm nah he’s said multiple times in his insta story, and literally most of his lyrics over the past 3 years have been flexing things from the catholic doctrine and bible verses

[@meelz812]

Teletubbies are definitely low key drained

[@leroyjenkins6521]

Certified drain scholar here: yes we have all gone through the stages. Would be interesting to do some studies on if everyone ends up liking them or not naw mean

[@gskull705]

I would highly recommend going through bladees whole discography his transformation as an artist is really interesting and hes incredibly consistent

[@gskull705]

Also whitearmor, along with the other producers he has worked closely with (Gud from the sadboys, ripsquad, F1lthy from working on dying) are unbelievably talented

[@Ruben-zd8hj]

I think this is the most insightful Bladee review I've ever seen, and admittedly you got a lot of things right. The parallels you draw between Carti and Bladee are perfect, and indeed Bladee did have an album produced by the collective Working On Dying, with producer F1lthy actually working on Whole Lotta Red. I love Bladee with my heart and soul, and although I know you've gotten a barrage of comments recommending likely every Bladee project, I want to put in my two cents for Eversince and Gluee. Eversince is a baroque and complex masterpiece, laden with weird strings and synths that make the project feel completely alien in the most amazing way possible. Bladee's vocals sound removed, like they're trying to express a distant anger. Personally, I think it's his masterpiece- perfect execution on every level. Gluee is different, and certainly more amateur, but in the best way possible. The best moments are those on tracks like Deletee where Bladee is screaming into the mix, grasping for a presence in the music. The thing is, Gluee sounds *bad,* it's like a horrible drug trip, an awful descent lined with jewelry and fancy clothes. The musical peaks and troughs of this album make no sense, and it's absolutely amazing. Both albums are awkward and futuristic, music that I didn't think *could* exist, music that takes the conventions of trap and directs them into territory that I think hasn't been explored since. I hope you listen to one or both of these albums, and I'm so glad you liked Crest!

[@carsicc]

I could not understand drain gang for about 6 months but my brother would keep playing it. Once I listened to ecco2ks album “E” i finally got it. Now Bladee is my most listened to artist of all time and Im very much in the obsession stage 🛡⛓

[@carsicc]

also theyre music varies in style quite heavily over the years so I wouldnt assume all their work is gonna sound like crest

[@alexsickntired]

new gen

[@spongegar]

If you'd like to hear a less ephemeral album by either of the artists, you should consider reviewing e by Ecco2k or Icedancer by Bladee. These are basically their most popular projects respectively and they're both different from Crest. A big part of the appeal of Drain Gang is that they've shifted styles completely multiple times, seemingly always ahead of the curve of popular music.

[@JeffreyJDavis]

From one (even older) OG to another OG , thanks for being transparent on your feelings as you went through the various phases. Welcome, from one OGDrainer to another. stream Ecco2K "In the Flesh" as your next jump off to understand how creative this collective is. PS I'm pretty sure they're saying Literal Crest , not Literal Christ. you could have deep dived into that Crest symbolism.

[@declanomalley3766]

they are actually saying “little red crest”

[@JeffreyJDavis]

@@declanomalley3766 excuse me, while i kiss this guy

[@thebaseshow7002]

@@JeffreyJDavis WHOOOOO ELSE FIND TRU LOVEEEEE SOMEONE SAID I NEED TO GET HELP

[@jakmak94]

You should definitely check out lil ugly manes work. I think the album you’d like the most is third side of tape but it’s over 2 hours long(really doesn’t feel like it). The music he makes is so diverse, he has hip hop, black metal, indie rock, harsh noise, punk, ambient, and so much more. Definitely very good

[@wooden_girl]

please review the fool or 333

[@shakescs]

Glad I was brought to this elaborate review while just searching to listen to the album once more. It's clear you've done extensive research on dg and have a grand understanding of multiple disciplines and a range of philosophical understanding and connectedness. As bladee is my favorite artist right now, I would love for you to look into his earlier albums and perhaps see the growth he's made as a human that can be seen through the music. Icedancer is your next step.

[@jimmyjohnson2465]

As someone who's dabbled in Bladee's music before and enjoyed it quite a bit, this album was actually pretty surprising. It seems quite a lot of his other material is centred around materialism, sort of flexing his clothes and his cars but in a very tongue and cheek way. There's also a lot about being sad and lost in the world with a lot of lyrics about loneliness. This album was definitely something new

[@loverollcake]

bladee doesnt even drive

[@alexandertoback5553]

@@loverollcake yet still pulled up in the lexus

[@ffredalot]

@@loverollcake "lamborghini, fourteen in the driveway"

[@ivynbean]

@@windom9922 post lightning struck bladee hit different

[@VicerFx]

First of all, this is probably one of the best reviews of a drain gang album I've ever seen, you gained a subscriber. If you want to listen to more stuff from them I would recommend "E" by Ecco2k and "The Fool" by Bladee

[@stevie2673]

As a language professor, I think that if you listen to more of Bladee's discography, You could give a very interesting perspective on how he deals with having a limited English vocabulary. I think the way that he builds continuous worlds, themes and motifs is quite smart. It allows him to use similar words throughout all of his songs without it ever getting boring or grading. In reality I think it has the opposite effect. His world building (Drain Gang, Trash Island, Rainworld and many more) is what I think makes him such a infatuating performer. I think it is also a main contributor to the 4 stages or Bladee obsession. Once you start to notice the recurring themes in his music, it really feels like you are one with the music. It also adds a backstory to his progression as an artist and can almost be like an inside joke at times. This is what I think makes him such a difficult artist to understand, in the beginning it is very confusing and almost disorienting, but once you get it, it adds so much depth to his (and all of DG's) music.

[@vishalvallabhaneni3884]

I think bladee is great, but if you want to understand the softness I’d listen to the album “e” by Ecco2k

[@7p7m7]

yeah please listen to e

[@pinksnoww4449]

24:00 ish - Purely my speculation; they realize the impact and spiritual tools catholicism has been using and are bringing that into their music. I'm a Norwegian Drain gang/Sad boys fan, born mid-90s - I watched Teletubbies. When it comes to Genius, I think the site itself has lost a lot of its appeal over the years and there are just a few who think to contribute. I think the lack of information there reflects the user base of genius more than it represents Draingang. Great video, thank you for taking it seriously. Loved the video.

[@McDudes]

about the cult thing. My experience of being a fan but not necessarily a huge one over the last year or 2. Is that the drain gang fans are kinda making a cult like culture for themselves but jokingly. For example being a fan and going through the stages of liking their music is called being "drained" and that the music is only for people who "gets it" and if you don't get it yet you just haven't been "drained" enough. Also if you look in any comments of their music videos and songs you'll probably find comments saying bladee is music jesus, ecoo2k is the most beautiful angel or that bladee invented music etc. Of course we know bladee didn't invent music. But he, drain gang (and Yung Lean) was so ahead of the times with their sound.

[@godaniel4532]

29 year old drainer chiming in. yes, I watched Teletubbies, and you'll actually find a few videos with similar imagery (the Reality Surf video as the best example). I completely agree with how you've made the connection, but a big part of the what and why of Crest is hard to really understand in a vacuum. Crest isn't so much independently a representation of Bladee and Ecco and, subsequently, their fans tastes. A huge part of why Bladee (specifically, as his discography is larger and the main subject of what I'm about to say) and his music are so beloved and singular is the journey and artistic development that we've seen as fans since he started making music. His original sound was equally (if not more) strange, but much more clearly a rap project. We've watched him over the last 10 years go from outsider trap, designer obsessed, vaguely threatening characterizations of 'Bladee' in his lyrical and musical content, to what you see today. And what's even better, it's been nearly a seamless progression. So not only have we as fans been able to go along with Bladee on his journey musically, since every album is distinctly Bladee and never too far a departure from the last album, preserving its accessibility to the existing fanbase, but we've also kind of grown up in our own lives alongside his progression lyrically. The 'eras' of Bladee are never truly thematically homogenous, but generally, his earlier work was much more about asserting the self as a source of power against the backdrop of his environment, and has cascaded through phases of hyper- and now anti-materialism, ambivalence towards and now deep respect for the cycle of life and death, relative inner turmoil has given way toward a search and perhaps discovery of inner peace. And the group has overall continued to get more consistent and (in my opinion) better at making music (but that could also be part of just having a more clear concept for each project), so as the lyrical and musical content becomes more 'enlightened' so does Bladee's ability to communicate those ideas. I think part of the cycle of liking Bladee is in how he at first scratches our collective itch for something supremely different which develops into a realization that behind and inclusive of the experimental aspects, the music is exceptionally good. The inaccessible and veiled character that is Bladee somehow ends up warm and familiar, strange and alien still but also distinctly human. And then we're kind of along for the ride in the strange and wonderful world of Drain Gang. I'm simplifying it a little but you get the idea. This is all really to say that you can't really characterize what his fans are or want based on the content of Crest, but in how Crest exists as an extension of the journey we've all been on with Bladee and Whitearmor (and Ecco and Thaiboy) and the myriad other artists and producers who have helped influence and shape Drain Gang along the way (Yung Lean as an entry point for many of us, Working on Dying for the heavier trap albums, ripsquadd for some of the equally genre-defining works, even a rap industry deep cut legend like DJ Kenn etc). To call Bladee 'hyperpop' is to perpetuate our inability to decide what his music is, and ultimately to deny his longevity in and influence on whatever scene we've decided he's a part of this particular season (is it cloud rap? is it hyperpop? is it guttertwink? is drain music its own thing entirely? is it simply 'experimental pop' or hip hop?). He is hyperpop's Lil B, except his relevance continues alongside the rise of those he has influenced. It's not wrong to call him hyperpop, but he existed long before the terminology and was arguably making more 'hyperpop' sounding music earlier in his career (i.e. My Magic Is Strong). Also you nailed the 'stages' of listening to Bladee. It's happened to all of us. And oh, your note on how some might think the kids need to listen to 'hardcore prog rock' or what have you, I grew up listening to Yes a TON. It was like the only band of which my dad had multiple tapes and he played them nearly constantly. If I wanted to waste an incredible amount of my own time, I would try to draw Yes and Bladee together, but it really boils down to how I tend to enjoy the proggier sides of every genre, and Bladee and Ecco are part of that lineage for me.

[@leena3330]

beautiful 🥲

[@girIcore]

i love how natural and smooth your videos are, feels like im talking to my neighbor

[@girIcore]

yes i did see teletubbies a few times, i really liked spongebob & the amazing world of gumball later on in adolescence

[@girIcore]

i liked ur dentist story too

[@CantMakeMoney]

In 5 Star Crest, I’d like to think that the “arrow” is a metaphor for one’s life moving in a straight, constant line, hence he is “always on the head of the arrow.” I also believe that the “fountainhead” represents the source of life, which when taken in the context of the lyrics, is made from the “arrowheads” of those that lived before us. As lives are lost, they build what comes next. I think the song uses the adlib “loss and gain” after these lyrics to make a beautiful connection from life and death to loss and gain, making me believe that the writers of the lyrics are grieving peacefully. I’m unfamiliar with memento mori, but I believe its ideas are played with in this song.

[@iamvaske]

Wonderful explanation

[@fleshflavor]

the fact i only got into bladee because of my ex and 2 years later im obsessed to the point i got usernames with bladee in it and official merch 😭 shits literally my entire life now his music is so good my lastfm is crowded with all his songs being 2k+ played within 2 months

[@prodfentani]

this was a good video, i’ve been listening to dg for a while now and i feel like i’ve grown with them and their philosophies. they’ve come so far and have experimented so much to find the sound they inhabit today, they have probably progressed even further because they’ve been working on this album since 2020, i’m so excited for the future

[@dr3693]

you described the cycle so perfectly i didn’t like bladee for 3-4 years until someone played me sugar back in high school and i don’t think i listened to anything that wasn’t drain gang till i graduated

[@XercesBlues]

Yh, I did watch the teletubbies as a kid lol, they were still showing it into the very early 2000s so some of the earlier gen-z kids and later 90s kids will have watched it I think. Was not expecting this line of inquiry from a review of a Bladee album but it does kinda make sense.

[@Arawadewiseman]

Bladee/Drain Gang is one of those things that I immediately liked and couldn’t get a single friend of mine to like.

[@judegalloway9183]

I hella watched telletubbies as a kid, and always appreciated the aesthetic throughout the rest of life. Never thought I’d see a fully realized piece of art embody that setting, feeling, and sound-scape so well, realizing now it’s probly why I liked Crest so much on first listen. very good point on this connection

[@itsberzerk9279]

drain gang does have stages i whould say, try listening to ecco2k s only album, its called "E", best drain gang project

[@REALLIFE12325]

i've been watching for a while and its nice to hear you talk about my fave artists, i appreciate you engaging with them on this level and i think you hit on what was special about them , i could honestly write paragraphs responding to stuff you said but i'll spare you lol. I would recommend the fool if you want to do another video on bladee, its full of the same naivety, playfulness, spirituality etc as this album, just the way you talked about the use of the 'perfect' sample alone makes me feel like you'd get what its going for and would have interesting things to say about it :)

[@ginger5343]

12:20 Carti from the beginning of his career was heavily inspired by drain gang and sadboys, they were in the studio together too

[@iamozone8658]

Skye!! So happy you reviewed this album and am amazed at how quick it clicked for you. I first found bladee and co years ago and your stages are such a great representation of my relationship with the music haha really was confused at first but found myself coming back until now I can’t get enough. I found some of your lyric analysis very interesting (and much more likely than some of the stuff on genius haha) feel like we would all benefit with you in those annotations

[@KealstYT]

This is surprisingly open and welcoming of the bizarre and creative nature of drain gang and I love your energy and side conversations. Makes me feel like I'm talking to my dad

[@NicoBirknicnoc]

Man you gotta listen to "my magic is strong" grabing on and understanding the development of drain gang is truly beautiful

[@nathancrudup9603]

I feel like your expectations of what Bladee was going to be basically describe the rapper Sematary. He tends to do the exact opposite of everything Bladee does with his music. Like Bladee has a hyperpop influence and creates a soft ethereal dreamscape with his sound while Sematary samples a lot of black metal and distorts them into haunted mangled drill beats. It’s funny though because theres a lot of overlap with their fanbases and Sematary often gets compared to Bladee (mostly as an evil doppelgangar). l think it’s more about their oddball approach to music than it is their actual sound. Definitely a super interesting artist though and i’d recommend checking him out. I’d say listen to Rainbow Bridge 3 although that might be a little too unapproachable for a first time listener. Like Bladee you have to really acclimatize to his sound to fully appreciate it.

[@FazeKazookid]

Rb3 would make this man question everything he ever did in his life

[@nathancrudup9603]

@@FazeKazookid lol true. I do think Dr Skye would appreciate RB3 even if he doesn’t personally like it though.

[@alexandermcclain5561]

Thanks for reviewing DG, you and your family are always in my prayers, thanks for the daily dosage of wholesome.

[@franciscovincent7035]

AYOOOO I was waiting for this one!

[@daasdasdasdasd-j5w]

What you said at 14:00 made me very emotional for some reason. I think its because as a young person I see the effects of mental illness around me and my generation and the lack of spirtuality that people have now just because they have never experienced it due to the bad parts of religion or just never learned about these eastern philosophies. Just this basic understandings can help so many people feel better and I remember listening to so much depressing music a few years ago cause that was popular and it just made me feel shittier and dwell in my shit. These albums and another good one is Raveena's new album, but make me feel very good about the world and life for myself.

[@dinkat3956]

This is the greatest review I have ever watched. The fact that you took the time to study the lore of drain gang and gave it multiple listens is amazing

[@Eversinc3]

Bladee has a super interesting progression in music. From his first songs in 2013 and 2014 to nowthere are MANY distinct sounds that he goes through. Some are cold and depression like his album Eversince (many people think to be his best), some are futuristic and very cloudy like his first mixtape gluee. Some are soft and welcoming like his album 333 and crest to an extent. But at the same time all the songs have either extremely washed out (or drained) beats or vocals. Its also a joke and saying at this point in the fanbase that the first time you hear bladee you hate it, and then a few days go by and you are like okay i want to hear it again, to see what the hype is about, and then you start to like very small things about it, and before too long you are in love with his music and it feels like his artistic vision is years ahead of everyone elses.

[@lindboknifeandtool]

I’d suggest “tiger - thaiboy digital” It’s a modern classical piece IMO. Anyone else agree?

[@DS-xg7hk]

Sonically, i agree. Lyrics wise is more typical in it's hip hop themes, but damn are the synths to die for in that album !!

[@ollyflashman]

thank you for posting the always positive music review show !

[@ether49]

drain gang has significantly changed styles over time and bladee, who is the most prolific of them, is very interesting to listen to the albums in order as you not only see the evolution of the sound. you also get to see a person slowly learn to deal with their depression and find solace in spirituality

[@j55165]

Being born in 2005 and growing up in Poland, pretty much the only stuff I watched as a kid was Tom & Jerry, Teletubbies and some Czech cartoons. It's weird, I almost feel like a late 90s/early 00s kid because of how far culturally and technologically Poland was from the US. We also weren't that rich so I only played games on my grandfather's NES while (I believe) the PS3 had already come out; it was just too expensive for us. Good times... So technically I'm a Bladee fan who is old enough for teletubbies. Been watching you ever since your Milo review (with the cookie)! Love your channel!

[@j55165]

Also love how you literally nailed the stages of being a bladee fan, in the community the joke has always been 'I know it's shit but you'll get used to it and likely center your entire personality around it' Looking forward to you reviewing yung lean in april!

[@slunkzilla]

Fellow Polish bladee and Ecco fan here, my mom would never let me watch teletubbies, she thought it was too weird and would brainwash me

[@DirtyJeans]

Review Viper the Rapper - One Day You’ll See Me Again (1997-2009) compilation album

[@1gltch]

thank you so much, i am obsessed with drain gang and can appreciate them so much more after viewing this. you are so intelligent and well spoken, i love it.

[@galac2094]

i think you summed it up perfectly, even the part about it being "voluntary-celebacy-feeling", to me this album kinda shows what attaining wisdom and enlightenment (in a "non-religious" way) and appreciating life for what it is, and death as its unavoidable counterpart would feel like. its like detaching from your lowly human needs and desires and becoming a perfect ethereal being

[@Roman-xk7fk]

I like your channel a lot, and how you express your thoughts. I’m a big fan of a lot of ‘90s post hardcore and indie rock. DG music has taken over my life this past month. Has little relation to a lot of music I like but a lot of relation to feelings I didn’t really think I could describe well. It just fits. Just some insight from someone else who came at this new, but fell through the stages you described.

[@eliotcolburn2680]

yes! there’s a huge postrock /slowcore and dg fan overlap

[@Jackolis5]

Playboi Carti wouldn’t be who he is today without Yung Lean and Drain Gang influence. Some of the most influential musicians of our generation (particularly Lean). There are a few demographics that are Drain Gang fans. There are the younger gen z types that you spoke of, most of them are Bladee and Ecco2k fans. Then there’s a large fan base in the mid 20s-30s, that grew up to see the birth of internet rap and found Yung Lean and Drain Gang through KZbin. Also, for future reference the most active drain gang subreddit is /r/Sadboys.

[@seanp9915]

Hey, enjoyed the video! Think the allusions to the fountainhead and arrowhead stems mostly from the neoplatonic tradition, its a common theme in plotinus' writing to allude to the godhead 😊

[@seanp9915]

Desire is a trap could also be referring to Fakhruddin Iraqis writing on the lover and beloved

[@un1d]

28:30 bit late, but from what lyrics I’ve seen it says “little red crest” and “six sails”, although I also misheard these lyrics the same way you did

[@gskull705]

You are so on point with the drain gang listening stages

[@TylerNorCal]

Your stages of drain theory is spot on lmao that's exactly how it was for me. I think it has an innocence and atmosphere that you just grow to latch on to and gives you a certain feeling. I wouldn't really argue that its technically "great music" and i can see why ppl think it sucks...but i utterly love it and idc 😂

[@aaronpescasio]

man, your channel is gold

[@leorrocher]

Really happy you’re reviewing this ❤️ Bladee and Ecco are my favorites, they are definitely part of one of most interesting movements in rap history You should definitely go back to their 2014 material to understand their art 🇸🇪😉 Edit: By the way we are not all young, me and my friends are 22, 23 and we are from France. So, yes we watched Teletubbies

[@discomutt1503]

Really good review. Interesting take on Daoist themes in this album. Never thought about that.

[@geoffreydi5377]

Amazing analysis of everything dude, especially the part of how our generation needs more soothing calming music

[@bladees_gf]

The Bladee effect really hits hard when u get a few listens

[@masoncase6896]

massive GTB/SBE fan througout the years and your stages explanation is literally perfect.

[@emmy3335]

really great review and spot on description of the path of becoming a drainer lol. lots of people have said it already but you should take a listen to some of bladee's earlier work too, the thematic and aesthetic evolution from gluee all the way to crest is so crazy and interesting. Also ecco's solo stuff has some vibes it seems like you might rlly enjoy.

[@coldercoronet6248]

Do Gluee next!!!!! It’s an insane blend of dreamy, ethereal beats with insane over the top auto tune vocal layering. Sometimes it feels similar to 90’s My Bloody Valentine or some other noisy shoegaze band. It’s cathartic in all the best ways.

[@henryjones4125]

Love this! More bladee reviews!!

[@ben9975]

Love hearing ur perspective on this stuff very engaging and entertaining review

[@volumeproductions6203]

New to the channel, this is my first video I’ve had the absolute pleasure of watching. Love the content! Quite pristine.

[@mikel287]

Only halfway through the review, but to your question re: fountainhead and arrowhead, the fountainhead is a symbol for a particular stage of spiritual realization. Namely, reaching and attaining to the Source. Whether or not this was experienced or merely talked about, who knows. The arrowhead could refer to devotion (in a spiritual sense) or onepointededness.

[@postboymujin]

Absolutely flawless description of the stages we all go through listening for the first time. Love your sense of humor as well man, great video.

[@elevated6794]

React to Semetery! His music and aesthetic is the polar opposite of the “angelic” sound drain gang has been going for as of recent. You’d find him very interesting

[@jakesaylor3646]

Be like water 🛡

[@alejandroperez-vazquez2588]

I need a review for icedancer I loved this.

[@Rhapsolin]

i really enjoyed your review. i like the way you describe things 👍

[@CuteBuddha]

Love this guy's open mind and unscriptedness. I liked the review alot!

[@lyleugleman9799]

“i’m bladee she call me bladey” - hotel breakfast

[@DS-xg7hk]

Thank you for diving into this album's references ! I sort of knew it, but it's nice to see it more closely analyzed. I'd say Drain Gang's music has changed a lot throughout the years and looking at the lyrics it's really cool seeing how Bladee's thoughts have evolved over time. His music has always had an impermanent and ethereal quality to it, even back when he rapped about drugs and depression and clothes...His lyrics have always been very Bladee from the start! As someone who loves trap and hip hop as much as they love great electronic pop music this album is a treat (btw i did watch teletubbies, my toddler brain loved how surreal and colorful it was)

[@drhashtagyolo]

The arrowhead and fountain head is from a passage in the Bible. The arrowhead representing the end of life and the fountain head representing the beginning

[@user-po5bi6jb9g]

Finally someone with the INTELLIGENCE to review a drain gang record

[@Saltedmeatconsumer]

I'm 28 and remember when Teletubbies was brand new on American TV. I got into Yung Lean and by extension Drain Gang around 2014 and pivoted from being more of a fan of Leans work to a major Bladee fan. The stages of liking their music is also extremely on point. During the boom of Vaporwave, sad boys and all the aesthetic stuff a lot of my interests were steeped in ironic appreciation. I grew to genuinely enjoy the music and am now at a point where Bladee and Ecco2k's songs actually help quell my rampant anxiety and depression symptoms. Kinda rambling but I'm glad to see people giving them a try. I'd recommend you listen to The Fool, Exeter and 333 as well as Ecco2k's album "e"

[@7p7m7]

You hit the nail on the head with the stages hahahahah Some of the older stuff has less soft padded soundscapes, with more icey metallic trap beats

[@MrSomarw]

Fountain head and Arrow head i think are an abstract way of describing a part of human experience. The Fountain head is ejaculation or amazingness, the feeling of pleasure and just expulsion of energy. The Arrow head is facing problems head on. There is no soft edge. The pain of losing a loved one your shot right into it like the head of an arrow you are the point and all 3 sides. You feel it all. Yk? What u think

[@skjdhgkjsfhg]

Professor, this is a wonderful video!

[@viralparadise1541]

I used to be a big fan of Yung Lean for a couple of years, and new of Bladee and ecco2k but always avoided them. Then heard bladees part on Cherry bracelets and I was so hypnotized. From there I started to listen to Bladee and eventually Ecco2k too and they’re some of my favorite artists. The way you describe the repulsion at first was very true for me too. I have this often when hearing a new song from them and suddenly after a few listens I am hooked

[@abelkeke]

LOVE watching your videos so much! I subscribed after watching the one on Dorian Electra, now I'm always eager to hear your thoughts on everything! Thank you for putting so much love and care into your content!

[@michaelcoletti6217]

you should listen to Eversince album.. it is very interesting to see the change in the lyrics - from nihilism to optimism and spirituality - old fan saw this change basically 'live' though the years. your review is great! no teenage editing.

[@edv.]

someone free me from my skin

[@liluglypolo]

Watched teletubbies growing up AND love the whole Drain Gang squad.. we do exist!

[@ThoereProductions]

i grew up on teletubbies! Also yeses was my favorite from the album too, ecco's verse is so poetic. I wasn't as into this album before as previous drain gang albums but after watching your analysis I have gained a new appreciation for it.

[@spiralations7304]

It's so true when you have to earn enjoyment of something it makes it go harder!! Immediately liking something takes away from all the other scopes you'd experience and understand it in

[@Bkaliczkapotter]

This is my favourite video I’ve ever seen talking about DG :)

[@ilyjupiter]

this is my first video of yours i have watched and i want to say.. you come off incredibly charismatic and cool. very pogged i like u