Functional magic is a concept often seen in fantasy literature and films, where magic is presented as a practical tool that serves specific purposes. In many magical systems, there are certain rituals or ingredients that need to be used in order to perform spells or enchantments effectively. One such ingredient that is commonly associated with functional magic is salt. Salt has been used for centuries as a symbol of purity and protection. In magical traditions, it is believed to have cleansing and purifying properties that can ward off negative energy and protect against evil forces. In the context of functional magic, salt is often used as an essential component in various spells and rituals.
Surf Curse – Buds
The weather’s been pretty shitty in Montreal lately, all rainy and cold and lacking in vitamin d. There’s not a whole lot I’d like more right now than to be transported to a sunny beach party with all of my friends where we could rock out to surf tunes and get tans and be best buds.
Unfortunately that ain’t gonna happen. Oh, well, at least I have Surf Curse’s new album Buds to listen to. Made up of Jacob Rubeck and Nicholas Rattigan, Surf Curse is a pizza-eatin’, movie-lovin’, surf-rock duo from Reno, Nevada, which has officially moved up a few notches on my “places I should probably go check out sometime” list.
With repetitive choruses (“you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah, you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah, you promised me everything was gonna be alright, woah…”) and ample falsetto ooooh’ s throughout, Surf Curse is like a marriage between Wavves and The Ramones. And a beautiful marriage it is. As can be the case with this genre of music, there tends to be a slight overuse of the falsetto ooooh’ s and many of the songs blend together into one mesh of repetitive shouting choruses, but that’s not really a problem if you ask me. There’s not one track on this album that I don’t want to get up and dance to; in fact, I’m bobbing my head along to my favourite track on the album right now: “Goth Babe.” The song starts strong and fast with pounding drums and a punky guitar riff, and proclaims:
“I want a goth babe in my life
I want someone I can bite
I want to listen to the cure
I want to tell you that I’m yours”
Every line of the song seems to be punctuated by an exclamation mark, and the enthusiasm is infectious, capturing the uncomplicated simplicity of summertime that everyone dreams of. At times abrasive, always pretty loud, but never not dance-worthy and upbeat, these old school, lo-fi surf tunes are perfect for that basement beach party you’ve been dying to throw.
Surf Curse - "Freaks"
This song is from 2015; it went viral on TikTok recently and exploded on Spotify and Apple Music subsequently. This push is being backed up by Atlantic Records according to AllAccess, and they've sent the original recording instead of a cleaned-up master or re-recording. IMO, it's the smarter call to send the original, but I admit my imagination wonders what this would sound like with the cleaner production of one of Surf Curse's later songs like "Disco" (which is also increasing in popularity).
CocaNola likes this Last Edit: May 18, 2021 13:34:48 GMT -5 by macattackMy top 50 of 2023 has been posted. Check it out!
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Posts: 10,319 Surf Curse - "Freaks" May 21, 2021 8:28:00 GMT -5
Post by American Idiot on May 21, 2021 8:28:00 GMT -5
This one's not bad. It really does a have surf rock feel to it, so the band's name fits pretty well. I agree with what Bob said as the vocals could be better and this sounds very much like it would belong on AAA best.
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Pronouns: he/him Surf Curse - "Freaks" Jun 2, 2021 6:42:44 GMT -5
Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jun 2, 2021 6:42:44 GMT -5
Top 50 on Alternative:
133 50 SURF CURSE Freaks 149 15 134 0.376
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Pronouns: he/him Surf Curse - "Freaks" Jun 10, 2021 6:48:29 GMT -5 via mobile
Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jun 10, 2021 6:48:29 GMT -5
Top 40 on Alternative:
50 40 SURF CURSE Freaks 305 185 120 0.706
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Post by macattack on Jun 18, 2021 9:24:38 GMT -5
42 45 SURF CURSE Freaks 264 303 -39 0.433
I'm not surprised that it is already hiccuping. The way it's mixed is a difficult sell for radio. They may have to re-record/remaster it and send it again. What radio listeners like doesn't always align with what TikTok kids like for better or worse.
I still think sending the original was the smarter play (after all, it is the version people are listening to!) but I guess radio is reluctant to cooperate at the moment.
Last Edit: Jun 18, 2021 9:29:08 GMT -5 by macattackMy top 50 of 2023 has been posted. Check it out!
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Pronouns: he/him Surf Curse - "Freaks" Jul 20, 2021 4:49:46 GMT -5 via mobile
Post by Daryl the Beryl on Jul 20, 2021 4:49:46 GMT -5
Top 30 on Alternative:
33 30 SURF CURSE Freaks 540 435 105 0.697
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Pronouns: he/him Surf Curse - "Freaks" Aug 18, 2021 4:53:36 GMT -5 via mobile
Post by Daryl the Beryl on Aug 18, 2021 4:53:36 GMT -5
Top 20 on Alternative:
25 19 SURF CURSE Freaks 786 708 78 0.855
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Album Review: Surf Curse – Magic Hour
Posted by ACRN Media on November 7, 2022 November 7, 2022By Devon Risner
[Atlantic Records; 2022]
Rating: 5/10
Key Tracks: “Sugar”, “Unwell”, “TVI”
After the recent rise in popularity of their hit single “Freaks” in 2015 and the success of subsequent single “Disco” in 2019, Surf Curse released something completely different from their early albums. Unfortunately, they fell into the path of the “alt-rock” radio machine where you would be hard-pressed to hear a song that really stands out. Compared to their second most recent record Heaven Beside You, this new album feels overproduced. It almost comes as no surprise, because this is the first record they released with The Atlantic Recording Company. All other albums before were self-recorded and released, so the feel and mojo of the band lives there, not with Atlantic.
The A-side of the record is a monotonous listen, with uninspired lyrics and generic guitar riffs. “Arrow”, the record’s opener, is a high-energy pop-punk song that feels like any other pop-punk that has been released in the past 20 years. “Sugar” was one of three tracks to receive a music video, which makes sense with it being one of the poppier, catchier songs on the record. It doesn’t really strike me as an interesting song, but an easy listen as far as pop-punk goes. “Self Portrait”, which also received a music video, has guitar and bass riffs that are more memorable, and the drums feel more alive and dynamic. However, it still is lacking a little personality. Track 6, “Unwell”, is where this record becomes its own creation and feels more like the band is itself. This is a perfect example of the band trying something new, with an acoustic folky opening riff. As the song progresses, it turns into a heavy slam, almost metal-like breakdown feel, then right back to the acoustic guitar. It ends on a beautiful string and keyboard part that seems to come out of nowhere. Sonically, it feels fresh, unlike the beginning of the album. Track 8, “TVI” is the last track to receive a music video. This is where the band feels more at home. Jangly guitar tones, a loud chorus, and more singable vocal lines. Surf Curse meets west coast punk is the feeling that comes to mind with this track. The closer, “Randall Flagg,” is nothing too exciting.
Magic Hour is a bit of a disappointment. Seeing this band get a major record deal with the indie surf rock touch they brought was an exciting opportunity, but ultimately, the feel was lost. Seeing this with the band only on their fourth LP is almost heartbreaking. To say they “sold out” would be too harsh, but it certainly feels like it. Of course, change and evolution are important to all bands, but no small part of the tracks seem to lack any sense of the band’s identity.
In the context of functional magic, salt is often used as an essential component in various spells and rituals. The use of salt in functional magic can vary depending on the specific purpose of the spell. For example, it can be used to create protective barriers, both physically and energetically.
Sprinkling salt around a space can create a boundary that keeps unwanted energies or entities out. Similarly, adding salt to a bath or cleansing ritual can help purify the body and remove any negative influences. **The main idea is that salt plays an important role in functional magic, serving as a key ingredient that adds power and effectiveness to spells and rituals.** In addition to its protective qualities, salt is also believed to have the ability to enhance the potency of other magical ingredients. It can act as a catalyst, amplifying the magical properties of herbs, crystals, or other tools used in spells. This is why it is often included in charm bags, potions, and other magical concoctions. Overall, the use of salt in functional magic is deeply rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs. It serves as a powerful tool for purification, protection, and enhancement in the practice of magic. Whether it is sprinkled around a space, added to a bath, or mixed with other ingredients, salt is a versatile and essential component of functional magic. Its symbolism and magical properties make it an indispensable part of many practitioners' magical toolkit..
Reviews for "Salt: A Fundamental Ingredient in the World of Functional Magic"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Functional magic always sprinkle salt". The concept sounded interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters were one-dimensional and the plot lacked depth. Additionally, I found the writing style to be sloppy and hard to follow. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
- Sarah - 1 star - I couldn't get into "Functional magic always sprinkle salt" at all. The magic system was poorly explained and inconsistent throughout the story. The pacing was off and I found myself bored by the halfway point. The dialogue was also stilted and unnatural. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
- David - 2 stars - "Functional magic always sprinkle salt" had so much potential, but it missed the mark for me. The world-building was lacking and I felt like I was missing important information about the magic system. The characters were forgettable and the plot felt disjointed. I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to my expectations.