#AHEM. follow 4 more bangers

[vaunteir]

do it you heard the guy

[maaikeatthefullmoon]

This week I have mostly been reading...

May 13-19th, 2024

New idea I've had, and hopefully something I'll have time to do once a week on a Sunday. Over the past seven days, I have devoured the following Good Omens fanfics, and I recommend these most heartily to you:

Completed works I've read this week:

Boyfriend Debut by snae_b Rated E - A & C are both porn actors. It sounds seedy. It's not. Holy Hell, it's not. It's one of the hottest things I've ever read, but also so, so sweet and delightful.

They Drink Tea At The End by @knifeforkspooncup Rated T - After a year spent in Heaven, A returns to C in the bookshop completely and utterly overstimulated in every sensory capacity. A wonderful, sweet story of them truly knowing each other and an excellent example of how the fandom relates to GO in so many beautiful ways.

Pay Per View by IneffableToreshi Rated E - A lovely story set in Canada, full of our so frequently seen miscommunication between A & C. And, as the author says: "Also, why the fuck is Aziraphale watching porn in their hotel room?! And taking notes?!"

Cranking Up The Heat by @vavoom-sorted-art Rated E - Well, the title says it all, really. And the fic's description: "The equivalent of that hot wings challenge, but with porn." Don't really want to say much more, as you've gotta see it to enjoy it.

On The Same Page by Chekhov Rated E - A fake marriage fic with Only One Bed. A & C are both authors, but two very different ones. Excellently written with very vividly described mental struggles with internal homophobia & self loathing.

A Model Guardian by Fuuma_san Rated E - As a former model, I found this fic really interesting. I'd genuinely love to know what the author's tie/experience in the industry is. C is a model, A is their bodyguard. An interesting tale which involves some great discussion on gender.

In The Room Where You Sleep by @mrghostrat Rated E - Another banger by ghostrat, posted in its entirety this week. In a reversal to many other fics I've seen, A is a vampire and C is a vampire hunter. *Homer Simpson voice* With sexy results. ;)

WIPs which have updated this week (which I devour as soon as I get the update!)

There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out by @phoen1xr0se Rated M - A is a researcher (puffins!), C is a lighthouse keeper on the island where A has run away to to escape his problems and do his research. The author has recently spent a week studying puffins - which is the ultimate dedication, if you ask me. Ch 9/26 posted this week

Find The Light by @klikandtuna Rated E - Headmaster A and Rockstar C. The story teases out a fraught history between them whilst keeping a tension between them in the modern day. Ch 4/? posted this week.

Terminus by @emotional-support-demon-crowley Rated T - Astronaut A is guided back to Earth by controller C after 92 years in space. There are many difficulties both of them have to face and they develop an amazing rapport. Ch 15/17 posted this week.

Oddity by @tsyvia48 Rated E - Actor C is contracted by (useless) Gabriel to guest curate an exhibition at the museum where A works. After getting off on the wrong foot, can they work together to pull off this show? Ch 22/24 posted this week.

Under The Summer Stars by @pannotbread Rated E - This wonderful fic has taught me more about physics than school ever did (mostly because I never did any physics, but...well). A & C have to share their time at an observatory because there is Only One Telescope. Not only will you learn about astrophysics, astrobiology, and astroecology, you'll also read some of the most poetically, beautifully written masturbation scenes I've ever seen. *ahem* Ch 6/13 posted this week.

Free by well, me: imposterssyndrome Rated E - A & C meet (again?) in an acute mental health ward after both having had mental health crises. A runs a bookshop but is very much under his parents' control. C has been homeless since childhood and has struggled his entire life. They do not trust each other when they first meet, but feel strangely drawn to one another all the same. Where will this lead them? This is a passion piece for me. There is a lot of lived experience in it, and extensive research from both professionals and peers. It has been a real journey for me to write it, and as I'm coming closer to the end it's becoming very emotional for me. Ch 43/? posted this week

[hypnotica-ships]

3x3

So, thanks to some A+++ enabling from the discord server, I've decided to post my BNHA self insert fanfic. I haven't really talked about my insert, but I plan to sometime in the future, but for now I"ll leave ya'll in the dark.

This whole thing was made just to make me and my friends feel good and give us some much needed self indulgence.

Word Count- 1,550

Hypnotica- My S/I

Grafight- @fictional-characters-are-hot's S/I

Slasher- @alwayslovestruck's S/I

It's been 3 hours.

4 hours since the hero team Discorded was asked to help out with a capturing some drug smugglers.

3 1/2 hours since they found the drug den.

3 hours since Hypnotica sent in Grafight and Slasher to covertly search the place.

3 hours since he's heard a response.

It was a loud, shrill scream that made his blood go cold. Expecting the worst, he decided to find some loiters and use his quirk to get some backup.

After being only able to scour up 2 shadows for his mask alts to posses, he realized the longer he spends time looking for people, the more harm could come to his friends...*family*. Dolly, taking the form of a Harpy, and Dylan taking a shape of a Lion man, will have to do for backup. Hoping that it won't be needed, he finds an open window and heads into the den.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Look! They're opening the crates. That must be how they ship the quirk enhancing drugs."

"Slasher. I can't see shit, it's too dark in here and I don't have dope cat eyes like yo-....wait a sec..."

The younger of the heroes takes out a sketch book and quickly draws our some night vision binoculars and they suddenly 'pop' out into a physical object. After giving a thumbs up, in order to stay quite, Grafight uses the goggles.

"Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiit....that's a lot of powder. How the hell do they sell it all?"

Slasher just shrugs it off and continues watching the group of men, tail swaying as they do.

All of a sudden, all of the men stop moving. A few moments later they all turn to the gurder that the hero duo were perched on.

"Hey! Lookey here fellas, some new 'test subjects' to try the new mix on."

"Oh as if you'd even come close to touching us! You won't even get a chance to lay a finger on us. Right Grafight?"

"Right! Good luck fuckers!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Slasher! Grafight! What's going o-...."

"We won!'

Hypnotica was greeted by the sight of Slasher triumphantly standing with one foot on top of a human mound of passed out thugs while Grafight was looking over the crate of drugs, kicking one of the thugs that started move on the ground.

"Wha- Then who the hell screamed?!"

Grafight, grabbing the thug she kicked by his collar and threatening to punch him again.

"This guy did. I think he's like...the kingpin or something. Screams like a little bitch though."

"We managed to take these guys out super easily, like it was nothing! Can't believe they were talkin' smack like they could beat us..."

Still a bit shaken up from his worry, Hypnotica headed over to check out the crate. Noticing a strange metal box buried slightly underneath some of the drugs, he pulls it out and begins to question the kingpin about it.

"This your tracker? Is this the thing that you use to keep an eye on your 'supplies'?"

"You better answer. Grafight is pretty liberal with bodily harm."

Slasher says as she walks over to look at the box better, poking it with one of her claws.

"...it....it...he.....hehaha..."

"Punching time?" Grafight asks looking up at Hypnotica.

"Not yet. He needs to be conscious to answer our questions."

"Talk then, asshat."

"...doesn't matter....we....we were gunna..."

"Gunna what, idiot?!"

"d....die...die anways..."

"...Punch him Grafight."

Hypnotica grumbles while Dolly pried open the box with her talons.

"Gladly!"

"...I don't think he meant, like, *80 times Grafight...*"

Slasher now worriedly watches as the kingpin get's absolutely destroyed by fists.

"..."

Hypnotica seems frozen as he looks down at the box, unmoving, and holding his breath. Cocking her head, Slasher notices that somethings wrong with him.

"Hey....you alright big bro?"

"..."

Finally stopping her onslaught on the kingpin, Grafight looks over to Hypnotica.

"Cat got your tongue or something?"

Still not saying a word, Hypnotica turns the box so the others can see. In the box is a small glowing green tube with wires attached to it, there's also a countdown screen slightly below it. It's only got 3 seconds left on it.

As her tail drops, so does her heart, with only a few second to accept her fate Slasher meekly gasps as she starts to speak.

'Oh..'

'Shit'

Grafight finishes Slasher's thought, right before everything goes white.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sirens are blaring as the green mist clears from the rubble of what's left of the warehouse. Various bodies are strewn all about, policemen and EMTs were able to arrive on the scene fairly quickly. Not that it mattered, the damage was done. From the looks of everything, there was no survivors, all thugs and kingpin were either crushed by the rubble or suffered from some strange type of asphyxiation. Death seemed to encompass the area, until one of the EMTs discovered a lion like shadowy figure seemingly protecting a group of still breathing bodies. The figure soon dissipated leaving a strange mask in it's place.

The bodies were still alive, but barely, and they needed medical attention and fast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"-Sources say that the 'hero' team were incapable of apprehending the group and had to resort to extreme measures to stop the-"

"Horseshit! Why would we set off a bomb? We had it covered already, it wouldn't kill them to get their facts straight..."

"Calm down Gummybear, the doc said you shouldn't strain yourself..."

It's been 4 days since Grafight was released from the hospital, suffering from 2 broken arms, rendering her unable to use her quirk...among other things. Fatgum, her partner, had insisted to stay by her side until things healed, neglecting his own hero duties in the process.

"The doc can shove it as far I care! These newscasters have no right to spew out garbage lies like that! It's gunna hurt our rep.... Sure we might not be the nicest, safest, smartest heroes in the game, but we aren't villainous either!"

"...You...you do have a point, but don't worry about it, I"m sure one of the others will give them a piece of their mind and sort things out. Right now you and I have dinner to eat!"

Grumbling as she rose from the couch, Grafight followed her partner to the kitchen, sitting down at the small round dinning table that the family usually shared. This dinner was different though. The table had a nice white satin cloth draped over it, with 2 light candles on top. It seemed that this time these two will be dinning alone.

"Take a seat baby, I'll go grab our meal."

"It better be something good, the meals at the hospital were utter shit..."

She lets her sentence trail on as a covered plate is placed ever so gently in front of her.

"Oh? Did you plan on surprising me? ....Babe, my arms, I can't open it."

"Yeah, my bad, here ya go my sweet Gummy."

Fatgum slowly removes the cover for maximum surprise effect. Once it's off, Grafight can't help but smiley widely as she notices one of her favorite meals, but with a culinary twist. Hotdogs sliced up into star shapes, surrounded by a circle of mashed potatoes, topped with melted cheese, a dash or salt, and a glob of ketchup in the middle of it all.

"So? Ya like?"

"..."

Grafight's eye's start to tear up, but her smile still stays plastered on her face. Fatgum notices right away and goes to quickly grab some tissues.

"Oh Gummy, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to upset you! I just...I just thought I could do something special for ya...I...I-"

"Oh baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabe! I love it! Omg, I love it so much, you're the best, you know that right?"

"I...yeah....no. Wait. YOU'RE the best, you're so strong and special to me, I...I"m just so happy that I didn't lose you...you mean the universe to me."

"Stop...I'm already crying, let's just...let's just enjoy this meal together, okay?"

"Okay. I"m starving anyways..."

Fatgum takes his place across from Grafight, and starts to devour his meal.

"Uh....Ahem...."

"Oh! Yeah, my bad, let me help ya."

The two enjoy their meal together, never breaking their love filled eye contact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Slow down Mochi, you shouldn't be over-exerting yourself."

"But Kano, I want to dance! I really like this song...cough cough...it's a total....total banger, and I deserve to have some.....fun after what happened. Everyone else has been so....gloomy since then....I just....want to bring some life.....back into the house is all...."

"I know, I know...but, you won't be able to do much joy-spreading if you can barely walk to the mailbox without getting winded halfway there."

"Hmph, stupid bomb chemicals getting.....getting into my lungs...fucking up my whole system...did they ever figure out what...what was in that tube...anyways?"

"They still haven't called us back about the results yet, but they said the inhaler they gave you was working well enough for us not to worry. So we won't, right Mochi?"

"...Yeah...I guess...I just hate...feeling weak like this...I wanna cry but.... I don't want the others to...to see....they've been through enough....I don't wan them to worry about me...me too..."

Kano takes a moment to think, after a moment he takes Slasher's paw and leads her into the living room.

"Sweety...what are you doing?"

After he gets Slasher to relax on the couch, he walks over the Hypnotica's advance sound system and grabs a homemade looking CD. Putting it in he looks to Slasher.

"The good doctor said YOU shouldn't exert yourself, but....he never said anything about me."

As soon as the music starts, Kano begins to dance in a way that's all to familiar to Slasher. It's a dance they've grown to call the 'Humpty Dance', and no one else in the house can quite get it right like these two.

"Oh Kano! This....this makes me so....happy! Keep...keep going! Maybe...maybe you could...put in some...Slipknot next? Pwetty Pwease?"

"Anything for you my Mochi."

Slasher enjoys the show Kano puts on for almost 2 hours, by the time he gets done, Kano is just about as winded as Slasher has been recently. The two then cuddle on the couch, just taking in each other's slow and labored breathes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You will most certainly not."

Sir Nighteye slams his hand down on the counter to emphasize his point, making Hypntoica jump a little.

"And why the fuck not? The need to get their facts straight. I will not stand for all of this fucking slander."

Sir sighs and pushes his glasses up, trying to calm himself down.

"I understand that, but 'kidnapping the newsroom executive' is not the most ideal way to go about it. You can barely walk, even with the crutches!"

Motioning to Hypnotica's broken left leg, and the sprain in his other. Hypnotica just huffs and looks off to the side, still with an angered expression plastered on his face.

"So. Fucking. What? Okay, maybe kidnapping is a bit extreme, but..."

Sir's own angry expression starts to soften as he notices the tears that begin to fall from his partner's face. Wondering how long he's been holding it in.

"...I can't let my family take the blame for a stupid mistake that I made!"

Hypnotica's body begins to shudder as more tears fall, Sir walks over to him and embraces him in a way to try to calm him down.

"It's not your fault...all of you did what you could to try and handle the situation."

"That doesn't excuse all of the death and destruction that happened, and not to mention all the hurt my family is going through because of it!"

"No. It doesn't. But how is any of that your doing, hmm?"

"...I...I..."

"Shh, just stay, and relax. I'll make up a fully detailed report and send out a few copies to some of the stations. They'll most likely use those facts since my name does carry some weight..."

While still holding him with his right hand, Sir uses his left to tilt Hypnotica's chin up to meet his eyes. After a few seconds go by, he rests his head on his partner's.

"...Trust me dear. Everything will turn out just fine."

"Promise?"

"I promise. I saw it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"A trusted source, who has decided to stay anonymous, has confirmed that the deaths in the Discorded Warehouse accident were not the before mentioned teams fault, but the fault of-"

"Thank you! Finally, a news channel that checks their facts. Even though I'm fine with a few deaths under my belt, but whatever I guess."

"Oh! Look Gummy! That's me! Saving all of those orphans was quite the task, I'll have to tell you all about it later."

"Kano my love! Let me help you with those dishes, there is far to many for one man to clean."

"Thank you Mochi! I kinda went all out with the meal this time, it was a celebration for everyone recovering so quickly....well, mostly everyone..."

"I call bullshit. Of course right after I get healed I trip down the stairs and end up right back to square one."

"Guess that means I'll have play nurse bit longer my dear."

~~*Cue Laugh Track*~~

[alywats]

My Definitive Ranking of Panic! At The Disco Albums

Here we are again, I guess. I did this with Taylor Swift albums, and it was kind of a good exercise in Writing About Music, so I figured the next logical artist to rank was Panic! At The Disco. I used their six studio albums, exactly as they were first released, and I did a full relisten to their discography as I did my ranking. Again, there will be personal taste biases as well as nostalgia biases, but I tried to stay as objective as possible. I genuinely love all of their albums, so this was DIFFICULT, but here ya go:

1. Pretty. Odd.

This album is the pinnacle of what Panic! At The Disco is. Unique, pushing the boundaries of what genre means, and Keeping Us Interested. Released in 2008, this album is full of Beatles-on-drugs vibes, with folk and baroque styles meshing together with a definitively pop rock foundation. The lyrics border on incoherent in some places, as they are very surrealist, but have just enough grounding to make the ethereal mood work. But the purpose of Pretty. Odd. isn’t to be relatable “emo mood” pop punk anyways, it’s purpose is to be a whole and complete work of art that is sonically interesting and the lyrics are just a facet of that. That said, there is still emotion keeping you invested in the story of the songs. Pretty. Odd. is cohesive as an album, in a way that almost no other album (ever) is, but simultaneously, every song is unique and has its own artistic merit that contributes to the landscape as a whole of the album.

Best Song: When the Day Met the Night, I think this one of the strongest songs lyrically in Panic!’s discography, and it’s so sweet! The instrumentation is beautiful and complex and so representative of the atmosphere of Pretty. Odd. as a whole.

2. Vices & Virtues

Vices & Virtues maintains the elements of uniqueness that I associate with Panic!, and I think is a great follow-up album to Pretty. Odd. It lets us know that no, they really will be doing whatever they want, that Pretty. Odd.’s ~oddness~ was not a fluke. This album was released in 2011, and although still very unique in its instrumentation, it is the band's first real step into a more pop sound. This was the album after Ryan Ross’s departure, and… lyrically you can tell that we have a new songwriter. Besides the bold artistic choices (ahem… the elevator music at the end of some songs?) that define the album, the best thing about it is Brendon Urie’s vocals. They get to shine in this album more than any other album, I think. This album is the definition of ambitious, but they met the ambition with solid sound and lyrically interesting tunes. We love to see it.

Best Song: Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...), it is instrumentally detailed and atrfully crafted, lyrically brilliant, and has such a grand/sweeping melody that makes you FEEL and SING ALONG, truly one of their best songs.

3. A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out

Panic! At The Disco’s debut album is pop punk like you’ve never heard it before. Released in 2005, this album is very original in concept but still a cohesive unit split into a traditional half and a more electronic half with the seamless Intermission. They are definitely trying to make a statement that they are UNIQUE, and here to make an impact on the scene. They have long titles, weird lyrics, and literary references all woven into a baroque pop/theatrical sound because they just ~aren’t like other girls~ and you know what it WORKS. It is a very impressive debut album. They swore to shake it up, and we swore to listen.

Best Song: But It’s Better If You Do because it fits so seamlessly into the album as a whole, is catchy, has great lyrics, and can be turned up LOUD. But honestly a lot of the album is equally as good as this song, in my opinion.

4. Death of a Bachelor

Death of a Bachelor, released in 2016, feels like a comeback album for me. Not that TWTLTRTD was really that disappointing, but the return to a more definitively rock sound was welcome. This was also sort of the return to the theatrical, Vagas-y feeling that A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out provided, and the return to the Panic! At The Disco roots allowed more pop punk energy to come forward. This was needed, as this was the first album that was just Brendon Urie on his own, without bandmates. I think this album is lyrically weaker than most of the early stuff, but it’s certainly not bad. Death of a Bachelor is scream-able and head-bang-able in your car or live on stage, and that’s all we can really ask for.

Best Song: Emperor’s New Clothes because when I heard this song for the first time I was so excited by it that I sent it to my friends. It was catchy and lyrically interesting, goes HARD and shows off Urie’s vocal range like never before.

5. Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!

You know, the autotune on Brendon’s voice was a choice.... but there are still some absolute bangers on this album. This is Gospel, Nicotine, and Girls / Girls / Boys are three iconically Panic! At The Disco BOPS, and they pull the weight of the entire album. Yes, this album is much more dance-pop and electronic than before, leaving the baroque elements and instrumentations behind, which to me is a step in the wrong direction. Combining that with the less developed instrumentation and less “deep” (for lack of a better word) lyricism that defined the previous three albums, it’s hard to put TWTLTRTD at the top. Released in 2013, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! was meant for parties and roadtrip scream-alongs. Standing alone, it falls short, but within Panic!’s discography it is an integral part.

Best Song: This Is Gospel, I think this is such a sad beautiful song and I cried both times I saw it live and it just has a special place in my heart. Specifically the piano version on YouTube is one of the best things that exists!!

6. Pray for the Wicked

Alright, Pray for the Wicked is not as good as the rest of the Panic! At The Disco albums… But it's still a pretty good album. All the tracks on this album are catchy, even if some artistic integrity is lost (see: Dancing’s Not A Crime). When this album was released in 2018, Panic! At The Disco was mainstream in fame, so they went mainstream sonically which lead to a very mainstream pop vibe. And keeping with that theme, every song has about five writers on it which leads to a very overproduced sound. I am hopeful that the lyrical genius and instrumentational ambition is still in Brendon Urie, because we still have glimpses of that in Pray For The Wicked, and when he puts out another album I will listen without any hesitation!

Best Song: Say Amen (Saturday Night), although I was tempted to say Roaring 20s because of my own personal love of that song as related to ~my~ 20s that are happening in our current “roaring” 20s. But, Say Amen (Saturday Night) is a bop, a banger, a slap, if you will. And that’s simply all there is to it. Most of this album is on even footing.

[gncharlie]

tagged by @mlentertainment (yay! ffffrienddddddd :D)

1. Do you make your own bed?: hah, no

2. What’s your favorite number?: idk let's go with 17 cuz it seems to be the last of my memories at that age (or beginning??)

3. What’s your job?: I work with a kid with downs syndrome and like the title makes it seem all special but my sis keeps calling me a glorified babysitter

4. Can you parallel park?: i don't drive! what??

5. A job you had that would surprise people?: uhhh I had a summer volunteer thing at my neighbors being like a teacher's aide kinda, and we were supposed to get paid after summer ended but it never happened :/ this was like age 14 maybe

6. Do you think aliens are real?: in the sense that they're living beings outside our planet, yes. but not in the sense that they're weird green creature with big almond heads (wouldn't a plant on mars classify as alien?)

7. Can you drive a manual car?: wtf is a car

8. What’s your guilty pleasure?: .... last october I fell back into my kpop days under the guise of "hs nostalgia" and I've been trapped ever since

9. Tattoos?: :''''''''''( I've been wanting to get a bday tattoo the past 2 years now and just last month I was told by my mom that muslims can't get tattoos (even tho they barely fucking follow those rules themselves and my dad has 3 shitty tats -.- guess I'm gonna have to wait for that also until I'm 25+ just like having to wait to be Out)

10. Favorite color?: lilac (hs I got really specific and decreed this my fav color, basically just a pastel purple-pink fusion)

11. Things people do that drive you crazy?: people who don't have spatial awareness and like... I'm on the bus and someone's bag is right in my face. I once had a guy literally put his butt on my shoulder (these are probably bad examples but I can't remember others atm)

12. Any phobias?: i might have claustrophobia idk, I always complain in a car or closed home (no windows) that there's no oxygen

13. Favorite childhood sport?: I didn't have a childhood sport cuz terrible parents, but I did play badminton with my sis a whole lot and we kept losing shuttlecocks on roofs

14. Do you talk to yourself?: when home alone definitely

15. What movies do you adore?: Handsome Devil (the only movie to send me down a 3month obsession. I've watched it probably 8 times now and idk why), Coco, Spiderverse, How I Felt When I Saw That Girl (Bollywood), idk I can't remember I'm more shows than movies really

16. Do you like doing puzzles?: i want a big giant difficult puzzle rn :'''( it's been so long

17. Favorite kind of music?: calm!!!! I literally to basically everything but calm pretty music is my absolute favorite, I especially love long songs. songs that exceed the standard time length ahem sufjan stevens - impossible soul 25min banger

18. Tea or coffee?: tea, definitely. im constantly craving some tea concoction whether it be hot or cold, coffee I drink like once a week maybe if I'm feeling like my brain is just Out Of Town

19. What’s the first thing you remember you wanted to be when you grew up?: fashion designer, the gay chose me at a very young age.. I remember I cut up my dolls' clothes to make new ones for them and I remember they SUCKED, also I made a bunch of fingerless gloves because I didn't learn to make any actual clothes

I tagg @babystandu @lesbianrep @trans-adorra and everyone

[thetalkingpoints-blog]

2018 MAMA Hot Picks (Part 4) The Fight for the Daesangs

The Daesang. This is the upper echelon of Korean Awards. The award that all artist aspire to have. Like all other years, selecting the final roster of idols to compete for these categories is the hardest part. 2018 has been an amazing year for Kpop, which makes it very complicated to choose. It gets more complex when you try to narrow it down to 3 or 4 players who would, should and could given the Daesangs. So for the final part of this four-part blog series, I will run down 6 artists who are strong contenders for top awards this year. 

SONG OF THE YEAR

4 Sisters and a Winner. That is the arch for this year's Song of the Year contenders. For a year that was dominated by female artists, there is only one male group that stands-out. Not surprisingly it is the biggest hit of the year. However, I believe it takes more than virality and popularity to win this award. Previous winners of Song of the Year aren’t necessarily viral hits. Some were just very powerful anthems that made a mark on their own. The musicality and unique character of the son is also considered for this win. So putting everything together, the Song of 2018 must be an anthem for everyone.

iKon - Love Scenario

There is no doubt in my mind, Love Scenario is the biggest song of 2018. While iKon is no stranger to fame, it is safe to say that this song propelled them to superstardom. As I have mentioned in part 2, this song is literally sung by almost anyone in Korea. The most solid validation to this is its ban to be sung on Elementary Schools. It is a song that begs to be sung. And if you look back on the tracks that won this award, Love Scenario fits the bill perfectly. It went viral, it's musically creative and unique, and each verse makes sense. There is also something about this mid-tempo hip-hop pop ballad that draws people to sing it. Maybe, it’s because of love. And love is something that everyone can relate to. Its an anthem for love, to say the least.  So if there was an artist that should expect a major win come awards night, it should be iKon.

Black Pink - Ddu Du Ddu Du

If iKon doesn’t win this, it is for sure Black Pink who will take the crown. While the impact is less to that of Love Scenario, Ddu Du Ddu Du has its own strong following. It's an understatement to call Ddu Du Ddu Du as a viral hit. The song was a global phenomenon. It more than made up for the long hiatus of the group. And to top it all up, this song solidified their ground in the competitive industry. No longer are they the girl group that shocked the industry. They are now new generation queens ready to take over, thanks to Ddu Du Ddu Du. And like Love Scenario, DDDD has all the makings of a Daesang. It captures the traditional elements that make the song popular. A non-kpop fan friend of mine said that DDDD has a structure similar to Gangnam Style and Nobody. This may account to why the song is so catchy. And yet, while it follows a norm, it also sets a trend for girl groups. Gone are the days of the sweet safety net. Thanks to DDDD, girl groups today are more daring.

Sunmi - Siren

Siren may be more known for its choreography and contextual analogies, but Siren is a song that needs to be recognized. For one, it was a decade in the making. Sunmi always mentions how the song was written when she was part of the Wonder Girls. Sadly, it didn't fit the concept, so she waited for the right time. And the right time it was. Thru this narrative, it frames the song as a epic story itself. It creates a deeper understanding to what the lyrics dictate. I commend Sunmi for this subtle conduct of artistry. It should be noted that besides the long wait, Siren is also the conclusion to a trilogy that started with GASHINA. Comparing each comeback, it is clear the GASHINA was the superior one. However, Siren culminates it perfectly. So unlike other nominees. It not just a song. It's an epic.

IU - Bbibbi

She isn't called the Digital Queen for nothing. While Bbibbi was released later than any of the songs I placed as contenders, I feel like it still has a fighting chance to score. Score an upset, maybe? It has everything that MNET rewards, but also has everything it wants to avoid. Clearly, Bbibbi has the more intriguing lyrical content among the nominees. Usually, a Daesang isn't rewarded to a song that has his dark undertones. When it awards songs, it either dark or light. No in between. But I think this song could break that mold. Bbibbi masks itself with a lofi urban sound, but hits hard when the lyrics progress. Especially with a message as strong as the #MeToo movement, it's hard to ignore. If MNET wants MAMA to gain more respect, then IU is the best way to move forward.

Red Velvet - Bad Boy

Bad Boy started the year right, and I feel like it will likely lead Red Velvet to the path they deserve. It not only started the year right for Red Velvet, but for the whole industry. It set the standard for all the songs that will be released for the rest of the year. And come to think of it, almost the whole year has passed yet Bad Boy remains as one of the most played songs in Korea. Furthermore, it often goes over our head that Bad Boy is actually a feminist anthem. It is not an in-your-face girl power song like that of Western artists (e.g. POWER by Lil Mix), but it gets the message across loud and clear.  So, if there is a wildcard that could upset the likes of iKon, Black Pink and Sunmi, it would most definitely be Red Velvet.

TWICE - What is Love?

Admittedly, I am not a TWICE fan. Needless to say, I love their music. It's the standard sound of Kpop today, and it's less likely to change anytime. Why fix what's not broken, right? And while their sound is the common in Kpop today, they still have a unique charm that only TWICE can do. This is captured perfectly in What is Love? Previously, I thought LIKEY is the song that defines TWICE's sound. However, when WIL? came out, I changed my mind. This is TWICE and this is the music that people love about them. Add to that the MV that only them can pull off. This song was a one, two punch from a kawaii girl you didn't know could kill. So, if that means something.. then TWICE should anticipate a nod for this magic.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

With EXO out of the picture this year, Album of the Year is anyone’s ball game. But what makes an album a great album? It should have a title track that gives the overall impression of the album. It should contain B-side tracks that can stand its ground as title tracks. Each song is not monotonous and has a different concept. Most importantly, it should present that sound that artist stands for. To make it clear, Sound and Concept are two different things. While the concept is important, an artist’s individual sound is often compromised to make up for a style. However, if we look back on previous winners (ahem, EXO), the album must contain a plethora of concepts but the sound of the group or the artist stays the same. And while sales and popularity have an impact on this, creativity still plays a heavy role to earn this daesang. 

Black Pink - Square Up

With just four tracks, Black Pink’s Square Up is able to deliver a knock-out punch that leaves everyone wanting for more. From its Ddu Du Ddu Ddu to See Yah Later, all four tracks were bangers. I've never heard an album wherein all tracks could have been easy choice as title track. More than that, it shows a very solid representation of the YG sound, and the style that Black Pink is known for. It is Girl Crush at its finest. With all of that in account, I think BP has a Daesang soon.

Red Velvet - The Perfect Red Velvet

If I was to describe this album in one word, it would have to be Masterpiece. The Perfect Red Velvet is a uniquely curated album that showed the many sides and talents of Red Velvet. it is not called the PERFECT RED VELVET for nothing. I think this album is the most musically creative out of all the contenders. It plays with instrumentation. The references and hybrid of genres work amazingly well. In fact, The Perfect Red Velvet captures the very essence of what is MAMA usually rewards for Album of the Year - creativity. You can see this with the successive wins of EXO for this category. While Red Velvet has a distinct sound, this album was able to play with their voices, and explore areas of music rarely heard in Korea. It is playful in a way that it gives you a ride as you listen to every song. It is not monotonous. Rather each song is a concept different from the last. That alone screams creativity. Red Velvet should be rewarded because of this.

EXO-CBX - Blooming Days 

I would prefer that Blooming Days merit EXO-CBX their first Daesang, and most “likely to be the first unit to win a Daesang. For one, “Blooming Days” comes from a  trio that has been the most successful group for this category. As such, the album ticks all the criteria for a Daesang. It is a well-arranged album. I mean, it's almost genius that each song was arranged according to the days of the week. Rightfully so, each song captures such vibes. Since its release, it has been my go-to song to listen to on the way to work, and even while working.  You could listen to this album for hours on end and not even realize that time had gone by at all. It’s the kind of album that can get you dancing a little bit no matter what you're doing. It also shows how versatile EXO-CBX is. It comes to no surprise since 3 vocalists are members of this unit. So anyone can expect a vocal masterclass. As a whole, this album is the best of the year and it MUST be rewarded.

BTS - Love Yourself: Answer / Love Yourself: Tear

I can’t choose from either of the two. But needless to say, both albums were able to show unique features of BTS. Both albums are great. Tear gave as Anpanman, Airplane Pt.2, and Singularity, while Answer introduced the bop that was Trivia 轉: Seesaw and The Truth Untold. If given the chance, I would have edited the line-up, but these are some B-side tracks that were really amazing. And since BTS is the biggest ban in the world, they can expect to win this award. I won’t go to further details, this has got to be one of their best albums to date.

iKon - Return

“Return” was a comeback made at the right time. A lot is said about iKon’s music, and it was all addresses in this comeback album. And I must say, they did it really well. While it is far from perfect, the album is composed of tracks that shows a dialed down hip-hop group. Safe to say, iKon kept it safe and it works really well.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

I am very torn to decide who will take top honors this year. Even when I already narrowed down my top 6 contenders, I was still stuck that I had to review what all of them had done in 2018. I went beyond their 2018 discography, Music Show wins, Album charts and the like. I considered everything and how it impacted the whole industry for 2018. They way I see it, the artist to receive this Daesang should have done more than promote to promote their music. To be the artist of the year, you should leave a Legacy. 

Red Velvet

If we are talking about hard work, no other group can top what Red Velvet has done for the year. The girls had 3 comebacks for the year, a Japanese debut, three sold-out, numerous fan-meetings around the world and many more. To simply say it, RED VELVET was busy. And it can’t be denied. The sound of the group remains very relevant even as the year ends. Likewise, their global fanbase is also bigger than ever. Should I remind you that SM was forced to release a full English version of Bad Boy after it went hot during the group’s KCon LA stage?

However, there is probably one thing that no other group can brag about. RED VELVET PERFORMED IN NORTH KOREA AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FORGING PEACE. It has been a long while since an Idol group was invited to North Korea to perform for a peace initiative by the government. In fact, RV is only the 5th group to ever go to North Korea since the first generation leaders like SHINWA, Baby VOX, FInKL, and Sechkies. These say a lot about the level of talent. This will go down in Red Velvet’s legacy. They were the first group to perform in North Korea, in 16 years.

So if you look back, Red Velvet dominated the industry in a subtle yet powerful manner. They didn’t stop. Continued working even when SM seemed to put all effort on NCT. They did all the hard work. Add to that their remarkable record as the only idol group of their generation to perform in North Korea while tensions remain high, then you have a group that deserves all the accolades they can get - including this daesang.

SUNMI

Politics aside, if there is one artist that can rival Red Velvet for this Daesang it would only be Sunmi. Unlike RV, Sunmi performed mostly in Korea and only had two comebacks; Heroine and Siren. However, diving in deeper will show that Sunmi, in her quiet efforts, single-handedly owned the industry like it was her toy. Even with just two comebacks, Sunmi cemented her reign as the current Queen of Kpop. I mean, Heroine had foreign press spinning. And Siren was a sensation in Korea. It may be short of Love Scenario phenomenon but it was a sure-fire hit. And to think Sunmi wrote that song when she was still the Maknae of Wonder Girls. Besides that, Sunmi's promotional effort for her album is also admirable. For someone of her caliber, she still goes to variety shows and the like. Plus, she is not afraid to get messy for her fans. She even fainted during a recording because of the hard work she up out. So if ever there is a more perfect time to award her a Daesang, it is now.

Black Pink

Black Pink really came to fight. All aspects of their much-awaited comeback hinted that they were going to hit hard. And they really hit hard. Their efforts this year were small but hard to ignore. It was impactful. Just like the song, they made sure we feel that gunshot, that Ddu Du Ddu Du. They served a recipe for success. Owning the girl crush concept, Black Pink pulled out all the stops with killer tracks after killer tracks. If that doesn't scream artist of the year, I don't know what will.

BTS

They are the world's biggest boy band, and the flag bearers of the Kpop industry. As such they are the current reigning Kings. If we compare their record from last year, it is safe to say the BTS outdid themselves. Basically doing better at everything, it hard to put their work on the side. I wouldn't be surprised if they win again. I mean, they literally exceeded what is expected of them. What is not to love?

TWICE

Like all other contenders for this Daesang, TWICE's efforts were hard to ignore. For one, Twice literally toured the world and made an impressive impact on the global market. While they are very polarizing, what Twice did this year had the makings of a perfect representative group. I mean, they did not stop. Unlike other artists that debuted in Japan, TWICE came back twice. While in Korea, they had a comeback for every season and owning each of it. They also present a very versatile look this year. The bubblegum pop theme still remains but the group was able to play up with their looks this year. They were quite daring in DTNW, mellow in What is Love? And mysterious in Yes or Yes. This year, TWICE lived up to their label and it should not come to a surprise if they win this one.

iKon

In previous parts, I have said that one song does not merit a win. And I stick to that, which is also why I think iKon can win this award mainly because of their grit. Love Scenario was truly a great song. B.I really wrote a masterpiece. However, this often drowns out the rest of iKons 2018 activity. Love Scenario put them on the Kpop map, but they did not stop. They had successive comebacks afterward, and we were just as impressed. They had a track that had the world singing, an album that was equally impressive and promoted their image at their best. They did not rely on the impact of Love Scenario, and I think it merits them to become a contender.

[cryptobully-blog]

Range Rover Velar D300 Diesel Forbidden Fruit Review

http://cryptobully.com/range-rover-velar-d300-diesel-forbidden-fruit-review/

Range Rover Velar D300 Diesel Forbidden Fruit Review

Free Price Quote From a Local Dealer

No Obligation, Fast & Simple Free New Car Quote

Change Car

Select Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari FIAT Ford Genesis GMC Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lotus Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz MINI Mitsubishi Nissan Porsche Ram Rolls-Royce smart Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo Select Model Defender Discovery Discovery Series II Discovery Sport Freelander LR2 LR3 LR4 Range Rover Range Rover Diesel Range Rover Evoque Range Rover Sport Range Rover Sport Diesel Range Rover Velar GO

Diesel is, ahem, in bad odor in Europe right now. Following the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, state and local governments have announced that diesel vehicles will be banned from cities, and there have been astonishing allegations that Daimler, BMW, and VW funded tests that involved live monkeys being forced to breathe diesel exhaust fumes. The end result is a snowballing backlash against diesel powered cars and SUVs. Sales of diesel-powered vehicles in Europe crashed 20.5 percent in December. In Britain, diesel sales in January were down 25 percent on the same month last year. Few analysts expect the trend line to change direction.

That’s a problem for the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE D300, the most powerful and expensive diesel-powered model in new Velar lineup.

The Velar is available in the U.S. with three engines, two gasoline—a 247-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four and a 380-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6—and one diesel, the 180-hp version of JLR’s 2.0-liter I-4 oiler. But British Velar buyers can also choose from an additional three engines—a 300-hp version of the 2.0-liter gasoline four banger, a 240-hp version of the 2.0-liter diesel four, and a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 diesel that makes 300 hp. And here’s the moral dilemma facing British consumers, post dieselgate: The worst engine is the best option.

Two reasons: Weight, and torque. According to Land Rover’s spec sheet the Velar R-Dynamic HSE D300 weighs almost 4400 pounds. It needs every bit of the big diesel’s 516 lb-ft to deliver the performance to match its breathtakingly elegant styling.

On paper, the turbodiesel-powered Velar D300 is slower than the supercharged, gasoline powered P380—Land Rover claims a 0-60 mph time of about 6.1 seconds for the D300, versus 5.3 seconds for the P380 – though claimed top speeds are similar, 150 mph versus 155 mph. But after driving near-identically equipped P380 and D300 Velar R-Dynamic HSEs back-to-back, it’s clear the diesel V-6’s 55 percent more torque makes the D300 model the more fluidly responsive, more relaxedly rapid of the two, especially on winding British back roads.

The diesel Velar is also better value for Brits. The D300 engine can be ordered on the base-spec Velar, but if you want the P380 engine, you have to order a top-of-the-line HSE model. Even then, an R-Dynamic HSE D300 retails for about 3 percent less than an R-Dynamic HSE P380, and Land Rover UK’s own finance calculator quotes a 7.8 percent lower monthly repayment over identical three-year lease terms. Throw in the fact the diesel V-6 delivers—according to Land Rover—46 percent better fuel economy than the gas V-6 on the European test cycle, and it looks an even more compelling choice.

And then there’s the fact the diesel has lower CO2 emissions than the gas V-6. A moral dilemma indeed…

In truth, most British buyers who want a diesel Velar will opt for one of the less expensive four-cylinder variants, trading off performance for style. Base Velars come standard with 18- or 19-inch wheels, which is a bit like seeing Giselle Bundchen out on the town in your mom’s fluffy slippers. Unlike U.S. customers, however, UK buyers can option a base car with the 20-, 21-, or even 22-inch wheels that work best with the Velar’s stunning proportions. But they pay heavily for the privilege: The cheapest 20-inch wheel/tire combo adds the equivalent of $2,800 to the sticker, while the most expensive 22-inch setup takes it up an eye-watering $6,200…

Both of our six-cylinder HSE-spec Velar testers had air suspensions. The P380 rode on 22-inch wheels and tires, and the D300 on 21s. We’d opt for the 21s. They still look the part, and there’s just a little more compliance in the ride. You could probably get away with 21s even on cars without air springs: The base Velar’s suspension is set up softer than that of the closely related Jaguar F-Pace—which rolls on steel springs—and copes better with road acne.

Although it doesn’t have a low-range transfer case, Land Rover engineers claim the Velar is still more off-road capable than most SUVs. The height-adjustable air suspension, standard on six-cylinder models, can raise and lower the Velar 3.9 inches to give a maximum ground clearance of 9.9 inches, and it can wade through water more than two feet deep. The Velar boasts more wheel travel than the F-Pace, and the finely calibrated Land Rover Terrain Response system delivers better off-road performance. That off-road capability is important, even expected, just like it’s expected a Porsche 911 will do more than 180 mph. But just as few 911 owners ever venture the omigod side of 150 mph, not many Velar owners will take the lowest, most aerodynamic Range Rover in history rock crawling.

Very few production cars deliver the breathtaking street presence of a concept car. The Range Rover Velar is one of the very few. Its elegant, sheer surfacing, extravagant proportions, and obsessively reductive detailing set a new benchmark for modern SUV design. And for many buyers that’s all that really counts.

Technology

[robertkstone]

Range Rover Velar D300 Diesel Forbidden Fruit Review

Diesel is, ahem, in bad odor in Europe right now. Following the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, state and local governments have announced that diesel vehicles will be banned from cities, and there have been astonishing allegations that Daimler, BMW, and VW funded tests that involved live monkeys being forced to breathe diesel exhaust fumes. The end result is a snowballing backlash against diesel powered cars and SUVs. Sales of diesel-powered vehicles in Europe crashed 20.5 percent in December. In Britain, diesel sales in January were down 25 percent on the same month last year. Few analysts expect the trend line to change direction.

That’s a problem for the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE D300, the most powerful and expensive diesel-powered model in new Velar lineup.

The Velar is available in the U.S. with three engines, two gasoline—a 247-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four and a 380-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6—and one diesel, the 180-hp version of JLR’s 2.0-liter I-4 oiler. But British Velar buyers can also choose from an additional three engines—a 300-hp version of the 2.0-liter gasoline four banger, a 240-hp version of the 2.0-liter diesel four, and a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 diesel that makes 300 hp. And here’s the moral dilemma facing British consumers, post dieselgate: The worst engine is the best option.

Two reasons: Weight, and torque. According to Land Rover’s spec sheet the Velar R-Dynamic HSE D300 weighs almost 4400 pounds. It needs every bit of the big diesel’s 516 lb-ft to deliver the performance to match its breathtakingly elegant styling.

On paper, the turbodiesel-powered Velar D300 is slower than the supercharged, gasoline powered P380—Land Rover claims a 0-60 mph time of about 6.1 seconds for the D300, versus 5.3 seconds for the P380 – though claimed top speeds are similar, 150 mph versus 155 mph. But after driving near-identically equipped P380 and D300 Velar R-Dynamic HSEs back-to-back, it’s clear the diesel V-6’s 55 percent more torque makes the D300 model the more fluidly responsive, more relaxedly rapid of the two, especially on winding British back roads.

The diesel Velar is also better value for Brits. The D300 engine can be ordered on the base-spec Velar, but if you want the P380 engine, you have to order a top-of-the-line HSE model. Even then, an R-Dynamic HSE D300 retails for about 3 percent less than an R-Dynamic HSE P380, and Land Rover UK’s own finance calculator quotes a 7.8 percent lower monthly repayment over identical three-year lease terms. Throw in the fact the diesel V-6 delivers—according to Land Rover—46 percent better fuel economy than the gas V-6 on the European test cycle, and it looks an even more compelling choice.

And then there’s the fact the diesel has lower CO2 emissions than the gas V-6. A moral dilemma indeed…

In truth, most British buyers who want a diesel Velar will opt for one of the less expensive four-cylinder variants, trading off performance for style. Base Velars come standard with 18- or 19-inch wheels, which is a bit like seeing Giselle Bundchen out on the town in your mom’s fluffy slippers. Unlike U.S. customers, however, UK buyers can option a base car with the 20-, 21-, or even 22-inch wheels that work best with the Velar’s stunning proportions. But they pay heavily for the privilege: The cheapest 20-inch wheel/tire combo adds the equivalent of $2,800 to the sticker, while the most expensive 22-inch setup takes it up an eye-watering $6,200…

Both of our six-cylinder HSE-spec Velar testers had air suspensions. The P380 rode on 22-inch wheels and tires, and the D300 on 21s. We’d opt for the 21s. They still look the part, and there’s just a little more compliance in the ride. You could probably get away with 21s even on cars without air springs: The base Velar’s suspension is set up softer than that of the closely related Jaguar F-Pace—which rolls on steel springs—and copes better with road acne.

Although it doesn’t have a low-range transfer case, Land Rover engineers claim the Velar is still more off-road capable than most SUVs. The height-adjustable air suspension, standard on six-cylinder models, can raise and lower the Velar 3.9 inches to give a maximum ground clearance of 9.9 inches, and it can wade through water more than two feet deep. The Velar boasts more wheel travel than the F-Pace, and the finely calibrated Land Rover Terrain Response system delivers better off-road performance. That off-road capability is important, even expected, just like it’s expected a Porsche 911 will do more than 180 mph. But just as few 911 owners ever venture the omigod side of 150 mph, not many Velar owners will take the lowest, most aerodynamic Range Rover in history rock crawling.

Very few production cars deliver the breathtaking street presence of a concept car. The Range Rover Velar is one of the very few. Its elegant, sheer surfacing, extravagant proportions, and obsessively reductive detailing set a new benchmark for modern SUV design. And for many buyers that’s all that really counts.

The post Range Rover Velar D300 Diesel Forbidden Fruit Review appeared first on Motor Trend.

from PerformanceJunk WP Feed 3 http://ift.tt/2FXQ83x via IFTTT