A Review of Varied Works by Longestsoloever

I've long shunned YouTube, and only hear of it becoming worse.  I've regardless recently had regular
access to a machine whose value amounts to little beyond browsing YouTube, and have started to spend
some of my time watching videos there and elsewhere.  It's horrifically addictive, so I'm glad to be
without constant access.  I once heard a song in a stream, and enjoyed it so much that I located its
source, a musician by the moniker ``longestsoloever''.  As I listened to more of his work, I found a
musician who regularly releases excellent music with very nice music videos; unfortunately, he seems
to have no venue selling his music, such as my preferred store, Bandcamp.  The program yt-dlp can be
used to download his videos and music conveniently, and I'll list the relevant URLs to make it easy.

I intend to add more to this review over time; his personal website and YouTube channel page follow:
https://longestsoloever.me
https://www.youtube.com/@longestsoloever

Many of his songs are fanworks, although knowledge of such works isn't necessary to enjoy the music.
I nevertheless recommend watching his music videos at least once, to get ideas of the songs' topics.
Most of his music sounds like it fits under the rock or metal genres, but much of it's experimental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3wzOJa-kPM

His first song I heard was ``Open The Door'', which I originally mistook as his concept.  The song's
based on a video game ``That's Not My Neighbor'', regarding with monsters who disguise themselves as
people, poorly, in their attempt to infiltrate human society.  The song opens slowly before breaking
into a short arguments from monsters, or the same monster, with the doorman.  A guest voice provides
yet another monster, or monsters.  All of the vocals, especially the chorus, are very memorable, and
very nearly overshadow the song itself, with the catchiest bit early on and not repeated.  This song
is easy to understand even without knowledge of the game.  The music video is very creative with its
monster designs, mostly using edited images of the musician himself.  This is one of his best songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAJfWCC_rfg

His song ``Going In Lethal'' is a rap based on a video game ``Lethal Company'' which concerns itself
with people duped into visiting hostile worlds to collect treasure on behalf of a malicious company.
The lyrics very smoothly flow into each other here, and the song slowly builds up its composition as
the singer realizes his lethal situation.  The chorus sounds much more present here than some of his
other work, even if that be false; the final chorus is altered and repeated.  I usually dislike rap,
but this isn't a song I'd recognize to be rap if I'd not been told as much, but that may be topical.
This song alternates between calm and chaotic, slow and fast, full and bare, in its beat and lyrics,
telling its story well.  It's not clear if the song is sung by the same singer, but death is certain
for many of the other characters.  The music video is very well done, with its varied 3D animations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHAsKSsaRcM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7ftJsCApYI

This song ``No Exit (Bill Cipher Version)'' I learned to be an alternative version of another of his
songs with the same name; I prefer this version after listening to both, as the other is earlier and
flows less well in comparison, although both are worth hearing.  The song is sung by Bill Cipher, an
evil, extra-dimensional entity from the Disney cartoon ``Gravity Falls'', I believe triangle of that
all-seeing eye found on the back of the US dollar bill.  Unlike his other works, the lyrics are good
but avoid overpowering the rest of the track, which would be rather enjoyable even without them, not
that this quality isn't shared with his other works; it's merely more noticeable in this song.  This
song maintains a rather consistent tune throughout, but for three segments in which most instruments
disappear and the lyrics become a nearly-cheerful yet threatening whisper, relatively.  The original
song undoubtedly has better lyrics, however, particularly ``The name's Cain, and I'm Able to tell''.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n61DAPeD890

The song ``Let's Get Weird'' is similar to ``No Exit'', also concerning itself with Bill Cipher, but
is entirely original.  The song entirely consists of Bill mocking and threatening the listener.  The
weight of the lyrics ``When you're dead and gone in a billion years, I'll still be here.'' impressed
me.  This is another very fast song, although less consistent than the previous, with another chorus
repeated more noticeably than in his other works, even if not more in actuality.  Unlike many of his
other works, these two music videos are naught particularly special; nonetheless, they're well done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNCDSz5BeE

This song ``INTRUDER'' and the following are both about ``Mandela Catalogue'', which concerns a type
of demonic insurrection; this song should be heard before the next, which references it.  This music
video is live action, and very well done, from the view of a man attacked by the demons in his home.
The instruments in this song involve fragments of warning sirens and screams amongst the more normal
sounds.  It's a deeply foreboding song, with constant threats coming across very smoothly and slowly
as its plays.  Many of the lyrics are repeated until they blend into each other, helping to give the
impression of a hijacked television broadcast.  While a delightful song, it's not as pleasant to put
on repeat as some of his other works, due in part to this very apparent repetition, and gentle beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sNcSdlPc2s

The song ``Overthrone'' also concerns itself with ``Mandela Catalogue'', a song by a deman disguised
as an angel; the religious imagery in the lyrics are very well done and catchy, likely the strongest
lyrics across all of his work, particularly ``I will intercept your prayers, steal your dreams.  Now
your god's an absentee.'' and ``Your god imprisoned, forgotten and buried in sand.'' sung so smugly,
serving as the chorus.  The song tells an interesting tale of a longterm plan to destroy humanity by
religious deception, implemented over human history, and I find it pleasant without further context.
This is another song for which the music video is relatively basic, but still more than adequate.  I
found the drums in this song to be particularly pleasant, as they play almost constantly as the base
of the song.  The interlude which references the previous song is the worst stretch of the song, yet
not at all unpleasant; merely, the song is so catchy and pleasant that an interruption is unwelcome.

I'll review more of the songs by longestsoloever later; I can very easily recommend his other works.