Mark Grondin
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spectrum-pulse.ca
Mark Grondin
@spectrum-pulse.ca
Canadian author and critic. On YouTube. Strategist elsewhere. Metamodernist punk. Postmodern audiophile. He/him. If you know you know. Host of Spectrum Pulse. https://www.spectrum-pulse.ca/
Yeah, I had to get into this one this week and ughhh.

This is one where the more you think about it the worse it gets. youtu.be/h9VhcthLQw8
Billboard BREAKDOWN - Hot 100 - Nov. 22, 2025 (Travelin' Soldier, La Perla, Past Won't Leave My Bed)
YouTube video by Billboard BREAKDOWN
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Seriously, the song keeps emphasizing how young the girl is across multiple verses, it only works from her first-person perspective and two lonely souls finding an odd connection? More innocence is at least presumed.

Johnson adding the fucking drum line and a more 'masculine' framing... feels ick.
November 19, 2025 at 7:58 PM
It's the exasperating problem where on the right system I know this would work, especially live where certain frequencies are prioritized.

But on my Audio-technicas (ATH-M50x), the grain and compression hits a really rough tone, and that's distracting as all hell.
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Also I've unfortunately let a lot of "alternative R&B" / electronica acts pile up on my schedule, and I kind of want to get through a bunch this week...

So yeah, I'm thinking it's time for round two with fka twigs tonight, stay tuned!
November 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM