#a short one but a banger nonetheless

[hazelcallahan]

THE LAST OF US - SEASON 1 ↳ Episode 4, "Please Hold to My Hand"

[musicfranchisetournament]

propaganda under the cut !!

uta no prince-sama :

Lots of different media!! Originally a dating sim game series, also has rhythm games, an anime, audio dramas, and even a short manga, plus a LOT of music from each character

love live :

the original idol franchise. love live was kind of a necessity for idol franchises to get more popular and, while i understand it's not everyone's cup of tea, i think it's undeniable the impact and importance it had for idol franchises as a whole and how it spread and shaped the genre through it's decisions. it doesn't has the best writing in the world, but it's heartwarming and nice to go through and meet the characters. year after year theyre still able to drop some insane bangers and while their songs are mostly very stereotypical on the three main archetypes of jp idols, they are very good and enjoyable nonetheless. i wouldn't say it's my favorite but it's definitely one of the most important franchises out there

[an-actual-attack-helicopter]

Book 6, Episode 1: Startouched Analysis/Commentary

Gotta love how it opens with Ripples in the water reflecting the stars. Go read the short stories if you don't know what I'm talking about.

Aaravos hesitates before crumbling Viren which is the funniest shit to me. This hurts more though, having seen the whole season.

Gotta love how Terry basically said Viren just ran away to go die like an angsty teen.

He got a new son to orphan les goooo

I find the framing of this pretty interesting. Viren is still in the dark while Claudia is standing in the light. You'd think it'd be the other way around. Perhaps it symbolizes how he has come to terms with his dark side, and is going to face it. While he leaves Claudia who, hopefully, can still be redeemed. Because ultimately this isn't her fault, it's his. He's the dark one.

At first I thought it was cruel for Viren to leave Claudia, but I've come to a realization. Claudia is better off without him. He is the reason she's done all this, and nothing will change if she keeps having to save him. She needs to let go. I'm not sure if this was intentional on Viren's part, but he made the right choice nonetheless.

Man, what is it with this show and blindfolds? So far they have showed up in Harrow's little flashback speech, on the Celestial elves, and here. Is this anything??

I was expecting to be annoyed by the baitlings' presence in this season, but they didn't actually get in the way much. Glad the writers read the room. They were mostly just used to fill the comic relief void that soren has left.

Also, I love how Jason Simpson still managed to weasel his way into the High Council through Barius, since Viren isn't exactly, yk, in that position.

DESTROY IT? CALLUM, HAVE YOU EVEN LISTENED TO THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES?

THE TABLE, CALLUM. THE TABLE!!!! Bro really be like "it's remarkably easy to buy a Novablade in central Starscraper."

Also, the way Rayla says "pearl" sounds like "peril."

They play Aaravos's little motif-melody-thingy throughout this scene. Yk, from I See You and Follow my Lead. Glad to cross that off my bingo card.

You can't see it here but the eye-movements in this scene are great. I think the animation and lighting really shine in this season. Pun intended.

Barius doing some casual baking at like 1 AM or something. Bro got insomnia /j. I mean, who are these for? They don't have fridges so they can't save em for long. Maybe Callum got him some sorta magical fridge. Or- wait- maybe they do have, like, a primitive fridge. Was that a thing? Oh actually, maybe Callum and Rayla just go to bed early. Lmfao

And there we have it, the first Viren-Callum parallel of the season. Just like episode 1 of season 1, he barges into the King's bedroom.

Alright, so. Other than this line being hilarious, I'm thinking the frustrating switcharoo that turns the latter half of the season into a bloodbath happened here. Was pretty foolish of Callum to think the pearl would be safe with him on his way out.

Ezran is saddened by everyone's departure. I'm not sure why, but it's worth noting.

They pretty much have her say "my dad is gone" just so that using this clip as a trailer wouldn't spoil anything lmao. I've been waiting to say that since Wondercon.

And now Claudia is the one leaving, as she steps out of the purifying light of the setting sun. Everyone, please give Terry a round of applause for continuing to love her despite this.

And now for the credits:

These are similar. Opeli is from the credits of this episode, and Harrow, from the credits of one from Season 2.

We need this to be a shirt.

Ahhh so Aaravos isn't the only Startouch elf with a star on their chest. I might be a little late to noticing that. Idk.

WHY THE HELL IS TERRY THE ONLY ONE CRYING FOR SIR SPARKLEPUFF? WHAT THE FUCK?

One last thing. Is it just me or is the outro song a little different? Music people, help me. I must know.

But yeah, banger episode, banger season, banger show. Imma be doin' these for all the season 6 episodes. At this rate, they will all have more words than Fallout Equestria. /j

Alright, time to take my meds. 💀

[rev-was-here]

⟡ROTTMNT WITH A FUTUREFUNK! S/O⟡

⭒For those who arent familiar with future funk, It is a sub genre of vaporwave! It has a 70’s or 80’s feel to it accompanied with Japanese city style elements. Also typically upbeat in terms of tempo. (The song above is an example of it!)⭒

Raph

⟡-He enjoys his music a little bit slower, but nonetheless he’ll give it a try.

⟡-When you first introduced the genre to him. He was a little skeptical. When hearing the genre was named future funk, he focused more on the “Future” aspect of it, thinking the music would be similar to Donnie’s kind of music, which he’d admit, he’s heard more than his fair share of. ⟡-The look on his face is priceless. It’s not what he expected, but he liked it! The keyboard, the guitar, the synth, Yeah. he could get down with this.

⟡- Can't help but dance a little bit. How could he not?

⟡-He also asked for a playlist. 

⟡-Long story short, you may have got him addicted. 

⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡

Mikey

⟡-Oh you like funk do ya????????

⟡-Dr. Delicate Touch approves. 1000 percent.

⟡-It’s his new favorite thing to listen to now. 

⟡-Magic Mike is a GOD at DDR, so expect him to bust out some dance moves. 

⟡-Two peas in a pod. Like one of you will hum the tune, and the other will instantly know where it's from, then the next thing you know you’re both up and dancing around!

⟡-He also wants that playlist ASAP. 

⟡-You’re his new music dealer

⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡

Donnie

⟡-”Eh. My taste in music is better.”

⟡-Lmao he secretly likes it tho

⟡-When you first introduced it to him, you swear you saw a little head bop, but once you pointed it out he tried to cover it up with a shake of his head

⟡-Listens to it when you’re not around.

⟡-”Were you listening t-” “No.” (he was.)

⟡-His brothers clown him about it. They know he likes it. You know he likes it. He just won’t admit it.

⟡- he wants your playlist….for research purposes..

⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡

Leo 

⟡-“Where have you been hiding this all my life..”

⟡-This man, alongside Mikey, has the biggest reaction. Because WHY DIDNT YOU TELL HIM ABOUT THIS SOONER????? THIS IS A BANGER.

⟡-He’s into glamrock, so trust. He’s a big fan of the outfits.

⟡-When he wants something unique to listen to, better believe you’re the first person he comes to.

⟡-didnt ask for a playlist :( (he stole yours.)

[bangers2]

Weekly Music Roundup 28/6/24 :)

Heya! I've had a lot more free time lately to listen to some new music, so I'm going to be sharing what I listen to each week through a Friday Tumblr post. I'm aiming to listen to an album (or EP, compilation, DJ mix, etc etc) a day, and this week my schedule wasn't perfect, but I found a lot of great stuff nonetheless and want to talk about it!

Look at this pic I took omg. just wanted 2 share ^_^

Tinashe - BB/ANG3L (2023)

I'd always been aware of Tinashe, but hadn't taken the time to deep dive into her discography until she dropped the Nasty remix EP (JANE REMOVER REMIX????). "Nasty" is a banger obviously, but a lot of stuff on BB/ANG3L is excellent as well! She traverses so many genres with ease and excels at each of them. This is such a diverse showing, and it's very concise as well, having a runtime of just 20 minutes. I feel like anyone can find something they vibe with on here. Personally, my favourite track was "Gravity," a song with gentle vocals juxtaposed with a bit of a breakbeat moment. I always love a breakbeat and was shocked to hear one on here. Overall, BB/ANG3L was short enough to leave me wanting more, but in a good way. I hope that she builds upon this sound and vibe with her next album! I'm super excited to listen to Quantum Baby and listen to the rest of Nashe's discography.

Jane Remover - jane_remover_heatwave.zip [NTS Radio] (2024)

Real ones know that I am Jane Remover's no.1 fan. That is a vast exaggeration, but I love her music to bits and greatly enjoy these DJ sets she does. Each one has a different vibe and the ones she's been doing lately have been my favourites ever. The mixing is immaculate and the tracks she mashes up are always so unexpected but go so well together. I really loved heatwave, especially the mashup between her song "Lips" and the Carti song "Different Day." So damn hard. These sets are always the highlight of my month and always become mainstays in my DJ mix rotation. Give it a listen!

Mk.gee - Two Star & the Dream Police (2024)

I was a little intimidated to listen to Mk.gee (Mike Gordon), since I've heard so many great things about him. However, I heard "Are You Looking Up" in Jane Remover's new DJ mix and fell in love with it instantly. The guitar playing intrigued me since it sounded so...different to what I'm used to. The control Mike has over his instrument is phenomenal and allows him to create these really unique sounds and textures. There's a wonderful energy to all of these songs that I can't quite place. Due in part to the interesting guitar sounds, but also the really distant-sounding vocals, nostalgic melodies, and bits of noise peppered about, this album vaguely reminds me of something that would be heard in an empty building. Not the backrooms or anything, but like...a quiet mall in the suburbs. Is that weird? Probably. On songs like "Candy" the melodies sound really 80s to me for whatever reason, and...I don't know. The nostalgia? Regardless of whether I've placed the vibe or not, Two Star is a wonderful collection of hopeful, sweet guitar melodies interspersed with little bits of noise. I need more people to get on the Mk.gee train RIGHT NOW. What are you even doing with your life if you haven't listened to this? I can seriously see Mike becoming an all-time great.

lil hero - pawwwfect! (EP) (2023)

Okay, this is another one I found from Jane's set. "big flirt" is such a bop, and it sounds kind of familiar to me (upon further research, the song went viral in 2022 ish...I have no recollection of that year tbh.). It's a song that instantly puts a smile on your face with its sweet bubblegum production and wonderful vocals. This whole EP sounds like bright pink. There are pitched-up samples, bouncy uptempo grooves, and cute lyrics about falling in love all across pawwwfect, and I eat that shit up. I need lil hero and PinkPantheress to collab; I feel like that could change my life. All in all, it's a great 16-minute project that makes me feel like a...chihuahua in a pink purse. Which is exactly how I want to feel. Excited to hear what lil hero does next! :3

Radiohead - In Rainbows (2007)

I've definitely listened to In Rainbows before but I don't think I ever properly digested it. It's an overwhelming album to take in upon first listen. I revisited it a couple days ago after not really liking it the first time I listened to it, and needless to say it clicked for me. I still need to listen to this a couple thousand more times to really get it, but as of right now I think In Rainbows is an excellent and innovative record that is as thought-provoking lyrically as it is gorgeous sonically. The whole album made me feel like I was spinning. I don't know why or how, but I physically felt sort of dizzy, like the world was trembling around me. Strange how music can do that. It's magic.

Not on free Soundcloud smh

Jelani Aryeh - The Sweater Club (2024)

I got this album in my Apple Music (do NOT judge me or you're BLOCKED. STOP IT.) recommended before it came out and was really drawn to the album art. As the no.1 "person lying on grass" fan and president of "person lying on grass" NATION I was intrigued, but also had absolutely no idea who Jelani Aryeh was hahah. I presaved but didn't listen to any of his discography and just listened to it when I realized it was out. The Sweater Club is a wonderful collection of indie pop jams that are warm and summery. The art matches the music super well - I felt like I was lying in the grass on a breezy summer morning as I listened, and am definitely turned on to more of Jelani's music now. Holy shit this was such a gorgeous record.

Kevin Abstract - Blanket (2023)

I listened to this at like...2 am and have no recollection of it, other than that it was filled with jams. I really liked "The Greys." Will probably have more to say about it after another listen hahaha.

Couldn't find this on Soundcloud, sorry!

Okayyyy and that was every album I listened to this week! (minus the relistens...which there were many of lol.) I hope you enjoyed reading my little ramblings and I hope you have a great week to come :)

Now i am going to sleep. In the morning i will listen to tonight's new releases. Today is stacked tbh

[nkn0va]

Ok hear me out. Kokonoe and Tsubaki with a househusband s/o.

Anon who the FUCK gave you a cooking license? I'm taking it away.

You are now head chef, keep those banger asks incoming.

Step one to being best girl: Have hair a shade of red, pink included.

Step two: Be voiced by Julie Ann Taylor

Kokonoe A. Mercury

-Being one of Sector Seven's top scientists, Kokonoe brings in more than enough to support a household. Realistically, being in Sector Seven yourself, specifically as one of her field agents is the only way you could've gotten to know her well enough to make her of all people want to end up marrying you.

-Being her field agent for so long before marrying her, naturally you've...seen a lot of shit. You were more than happy to hang up the gear and take the role of househusband. You really had no reason not to.

-Half the time, being Kokonoe's husband is like taking care of a child to be completely honest. A hyper intelligent child whose hiding away an entire stockpile of nukes as Hakumen found out in CS, but a child nonetheless.

-Being involved with Kokonoe in any capacity, ESPECIALLY as her husband, requires a lot of patience. Even to her lover she's sassy, short tempered, and sarcastic, all the while being way too absorbed in her work and addicted to that damn silvervine candy.

-She eventually comes to depend on you entirely for her diet. The only way she's eating anything even remotely healthy is if you make it for her, otherwise she's living off silvervine, coffee, and chocolate.

-Most of the time if you wanna see Kokonoe and not just call her (which sometimes she doesn't even pick up), you're gonna have to head over to the lab yourself. If someone else is already there with her, she's gonna tell you to wait until they're gone. She's a bit embarrassed of being seen with her husband by anyone else.

-You're the only guest she ever actually looks forward to, not that she'd admit that out loud (though you already know anyway). Usually when you come visit it's to give her some actually decent food.

-She won't ever admit to it, but she really appreciates when you do it. A homecooked meal from her husband always lifts her mood, reminds her of the life she never got to have since it was taken from her by Terumi. It's one of the few things that actually makes her feel any emotion other than anger, irritation, or a sick satisfaction from watching one of her crazy ass plans come to fruition. You're just glad you can actually make her eat decently for once in her life.

-You'll also have to convince her yourself if you want her to come home for once and get some actual sleep in a proper bed. It'll take some effort but you'll get her to do so at least once a week.

-Sleeping in the same bed as you is the one time Kokonoe truly gets to relax. Once her brain finally winds down she melts into your embrace as she feels the inevitable pull of sleep, purring softly in your arms. Seeing her so unguarded like this is a unique privilege that only you have. God is it fucking precious.

-As much of a pain in the ass she is and how much she can test your patience, it's the moments like these that make it all worth it, when she finally shows her soft side to you and lets you know that she really does care about you. You wouldn't have it any other way.

Tsubaki Yayoi (my beloved 💗)

-Ending up as a househusband is pretty straightforward similar to Kokonoe. This is the heiress/soon to be head of one the families of the Duodecim, bagging this lovely heiress means you never have to work a day in your life again.

-Of course you still wanted to do at least something for such a perfect woman you had the impossible privilege of calling your wife, but she insisted you didn't need to. Eventually househusband was the thing you both agreed to. Maids and servants exist but having her husband fill the role felt much more natural. More cozy, made the house feel more like a home.

-The arrangement ends up being one you're both happy with. Tsubaki is able to continue her duties of an NOL soldier while knowing you're safe and far away from the danger taking care of the house.

-You'll occasionally drop by the base sometimes just to see her whenever you get bored. The other soldiers there eventually get used to your presence and leave you be. Hearing your knock on the door to Tsubaki's office is always the highlight of her day, she'll drop any work she's doing to spend some time with you in what would otherwise be a monotonous, boring shift, especially if you took the time to make her something to eat. It definitely beats the food offered on base.

-Of course it doesn't beat walking through the door of the house every day, having you welcome her home with a kiss. It's all blissfully domestic, like she's always wanted after living a life of such lavish luxury like she has.

-One duty of the house you both share is cooking duty. It's one of her favorite ways to spend time with you while bonding over good food. You two talk about your days, the new gossip in the Duodecim and the base, whatever tomfoolery Makoto's gotten into, overall just getting to wind down and talk about things not relating to work.

-Though speaking of Makoto, her and the rest of Tsubaki's friends on occasion sometimes are called over to have some off time together. As long as there's food prepared by you and her, the last thing anyone needs is there not being food and Noel trying to get into the kitchen.

-It's not long though before the conversation of kids inevitably comes up. Unlike Kokonoe who's probably not the biggest fan of the idea, Tsubaki's quite fond of it. She'd want at least two, she wouldn't want to have an only child that grows up without a sibling like she did. As far as she's concerned, no kid should ever have to be lonely like that, even if they'd have two parents present.

-It probably happens eventually. However many kids you two end up having, she's perfectly happy. Despite growing up richer than almost all their peers, Tsubaki will ensure her kids are raised to have dignity and compassion to the people around them. They're in a safe, loving environment where they can truly learn about the world around them and learn to appreciate it for what it is.

-Now she has even more to come home to every day, with her precious little bundles of joy. It reminds her of why she does what she does why she fights to uphold justice. So that families like hers never have to suffer pain, and can live in a world free of injustice and suffering.

-You. Her children. Her family. It is why she fights, the family she would put her life on the line to protect. Her entire world. Her past, present, and future.

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 10/04/2024

The World Ends With PSY

Season 1 Featured on: GilvaSunner's Highest Quality Video Game Rips: Volume 7: Part mm2wood

Ripped by Metalik

Hey, it's the 10th of April - 10/4, like the 104 building! I couldn't resist!

Here's a fun fact for you: Long before I was running this blog, I was making a certain other SiIvaGunner project, and through working on it decided to reach out to the SiIvaGunner channel head, MtH of Bigger at Night (Chung Yard) fame, for the first time ever. So what was one of the first-ever things I directly told someone from the SiIvaGunner team? "Make more The World Ends With You rips". Yes, I was young(er) and stupid(er), awkward and strange, and I of course now know that good rips come to those who make them, but the sentiment holds true even today. The World Ends With You's soundtrack still means EVERYTHING to me. And, well, though we don't have many rips to go around for the game, I will continue to cherish the ones we do have: because as far back as Season 1, there have been absolute bangers within out small selection.

Now, if you've followed SiIvaGunner for any amount of time, you know about the joke of The World Ends With PSY already. It's PSY, the K-Pop legend, the man behind Gangnam Style, Gentleman and so many more hits, and perhaps more importantly, a YTPMV celebrity. He's had annual days of celebration on SiIvaGunner, one of which I covered back with One Winged PSYcho - V​.​S. Sepsyrop, and rippers have continued to find all kinds of creative ways to utilize the man's distinct sound, including the sentence-mixing marvel of Korean Idiot. Those two rips are still the only PSY-specific I've covered on here, but they lay a pretty concise groundwork, particularly the former: Most PSY rips made for SiIva utilize PSY's "eyys" and "ops" for truly next-level YTPMV-tier postings, the kind that you'll also hear in big meme medley rips like ULTRA S+G. Yet, that kind of makes The World Ends With PSY a neat novelty, in a way: in the days of Season 1 before PSY's presence on the channel was so clearly decided, one Metalik made a PSY rip that goes against the pattern all three prior mentioned rips follow.

Rather than usurping Calling's instrumentation with leads made up purely of PSY's immaculate soundscape, The World Ends With PSY is a no-nonsense mashup, between PSY's Daddy and the aforementioned game track. Calling as a song is defined by the contrast between its noisy electronic backing and its beautiful vocals, like a light trying to shine through the darkness - The World Ends With PSY, then, is as if more noise is added to that blend, with pieces of Daddy's instrumental persisting throughout the track as PSY's own vocals alternate in and out with the original vocalist. It's a really interesting mashup - PSY's always prominent within it, yet the original beauty of Calling's vocals never feel as if they're drowned out, just framed within such a different kind of noisiness. To cut a long yap short - it bangs!! It isn't the kind of vocal/instrumental mashup that wholly changes the track's tone a la My Dr. Eggman Can't Be This Evil!, but it undoubtedly IS different, yet different in a way that highlights the strengths of both tracks used.

And yes, this is a Season 1 rip nonetheless, I can certainly hear some slight cracks in the facade at points - but The World Ends With PSY remains my favorite rip the game has gotten in all of these years. Compared to some other efforts made earlier in the season, such as Three Minutes Clapping literally just being what the track name says, or Deja Vu just switching to the titular Eurobeat song at the chorus' end - funny gags for sure, but none quite feeling like a loveletter to The World Ends With You in the way I've long wanted. We've gotten a sprinkling of rips of the game since, but it was The World Ends With PSY that I first connected with all those years ago - the rip that reassured me that the game's soundtrack is still remembered and cherished by others aboard the team.

[sendmyresignation]

Favorite Albums of 2023 ^_^

To celebrate the coming of a new year, I wanted to spend this first week looking back a bit at the things I enjoyed both old and new. So I put together a little list of albums I spent a lot of time with this year, for a bit of personal posterity, a little of getting into the groove with music writing on a very conversational but nonetheless sincere level, and also just because I enjoy, on a base level, the exchange of music. So hopefully one person will give a new album a try, or somebody will tell me their favorite thing they listened to in 2023. That's all you can ever hope for <3

Here's the albums I loved that came out in 2023 itself:

100 gecs 10,000 gecs: If I’m honest with myself- my album of the year, both in what I spent the most time with and the tracks I’d hold up the most fondly by the end of the year. the high-octane blast of creativity in these short, sweet, never dull, and always inventive bursts made listening a very joyful experience. Hollywood Baby and Dumbest Girl Alive bangers of the year though one million dollars just oooozes and chirps sounds in the most satisfying way.

 Paramore This is Why: very much preaching to the choir with this one. undeniable groove through everything– the whole thing brims with contained energy- like trapping a storm cloud in a bottle and displaying it like it's no big deal and then, every once in a while, electricity arcs through the room. The only issue is it ends on a bit of a weak note, with back-to-back ballads I don’t revisit often. but it's a minor quibble, they’re both distinct enough to stand on their own and neither is insufferably long. forgivable transgression.

Kesha Gag Order: This is self-explanatory, to me. Kesha was the first artist I ever truly fell in love with and everything she makes is like watching a flower bloom over and over again as I grow and change and wither and regrow right alongside. But on top of that, the record itself is so. powerful. Not in the cheap, congratulatory “you’re so brave way” but in the energy it radiates, in the way it stands its ground over and over. the way it grasps its own story by the throat and still lets you peak into all the messy pieces sliding out over the knuckles. Happy is one of those truly great album closers, but the whole album is so solid. 

Vastum Inward to Gethsemane: Absolutely crushing in just about every way, This is like, the platonic ideal of death metal for me. Dense and malevolent as fuck, but there’s still room for these nasty riffs buried deep in all the disgusting muck. That opening guitar on Priapic Chasm is the sickest 8 seconds of the year. 

The Gauntlet Dark Steel and Fire: At first glance, this seems like a textbook Bathory clone. And even if it was just that it’d still be amazing, I love that sound. But there’s space! and dynamic growth! And a growling echoing personality that every other standard in this space just never attempts. Even the hints of black ‘n’ roll and thrash are expanding a series of very narrow spaces– there are these mid-tempo stadium rippers scattered throughout the album that give the whole project gravitas which loops around and gives the faster stuff more swagger and aggression. really cool record.

McKinley Dixon Beloved! Paradise! Jazz?: I checked this out because McKinley Dixon has a great featured verse on Soul Glo’s Spiritual Level of Gang Shit. To make matters worse (or better, in terms of Shit I Am Interested In), the record’s named after Toni Morrison novels. To make it even crazier Hanif Abdurraqib opens the record (he reads this really beautiful passage of Jazz that's sampled later). An album so supremely up my alley I was almost scared the pieces wouldn’t fall together– they did! It's incredible! it's short but each second is purposeful and lush in a way that speaks to measure and care. the jazz isn’t just beautiful, it's a full embracing of the album’s central conceits (not just the Morrison, but the typography of cities, the people in them and the lives they live) and Dixon just oozes poetic ingenuity. Repetition is one of the best devices in his toolkit and nowhere is that more apparent than Tyler Forever which. man.... really really good project.  

Tresspasser Αποκάλυψισ: catchy-as-fuck. not what you’d expect from an album which is very explicitly about debt strikes and anarchy. usually RABM (red and anarchist black metal) leaves me a little cold, a lot of bands in this loose conglomerate aren’t musically inventive. rabm isn't just a stand-in for anti-fascist bands, the projects associated with the label are usually politically lyrically explicit (sometimes in ways that are overtly shocking or simply following a trend). which is nice! and necessary in black metal. but it doesn't automatically make it… good. trespasser have always stood out within that paradigm. clearly grounded in what actually works in black metal (the drumming across their albums is crazy kick ass in particular) and i find myself humming some of these tracks which is such a hard skill to pull off in melodic black metal without being dull or predictable.  

MEURTRIERES Ronde de Nuit: very surprisingly, a lot of this list ended up including black metal, which is uncharacteristic of me. but thankfully, MEURTRIERES is much more aligned with my tastes– epic old-school heavy metal with that galloping Maiden-esque bass and fiery, straining vocals that sit so expertly in the groove and then just push and push and push against it. simple, enjoyable, energetic.

Home Is Where the whaler: At its most basic level this is like. what emo can pull off when it wants to sound incredible. The swirling layers, the inclusion of shit like horns, the abrasive but catchy screams, crashes in and out of earshot, the rhythms!!! this is a very 2023 album, thematically and that's important and immediately apparent, but it's going to last much longer just with how the sound works and works and works until you find yourself continuously coming back, listening to it out of the blue.

Thantifaxath Hive Mind Narcosis: quote-unquote dissonant metal is so hit or miss for me. dissonance is oft a cover for boring, or unoriginal material that hangs its lapels on being disorienting or impenetrable. but when the tone is just right it swallows you up. Thantifaxath got the tone right; I was listening to this a lot while reading or writing during the latter half of the year because it just becomes a part of your world in such a wonderful, subsuming way. I really love these vocals too, they’re vaguely inhuman in a way that pairs so exactly with the balance of spacey and gross earthy magic, outside the world and grounded in flesh simultaneously. 

Crotaline The Hemipenes Demo: This is my friends’ band. They are cool and talented and I love first-wave black metal. They are also people whose projects I listen to in a fundamentally different way; when they pull something off it's a little bit life-changing because you know that person, you’ve seen them do human things! And then they are capable of great art. It's weird and disorienting and one of the best parts of being alive. But I do also think their demo is good without quantifiers, it's exactly what they wanted, it's got riffs that sound gnarly on tape, and it's dedicated to salamanders. like what else could you need in life?

Dawn’s Reflection Demo MMXXIII: This short little demo is a perfect burst of raw-ass lo-fi black metal. Which I usually cannot stand. but for some reason is just incredible here. I think it's the way the riffs and vocals interact– there’s these really solid, almost crust-punky guitar lines that shine perfectly in this kind of (basically non-existent) production. And then the vocals just completely rip over them in the loudest most batshit way possible, but there are always pauses that allow the instrumental to recalibrate. The synths are just a fun touch that drone in the back until they’re pulled to the fore which makes for these great, dense peaks instead of overwhelming the balance. It works! I am always hooked! 

And here are some new-to-me albums I listened to for the first time in 2023:

Nuclear Death …For Our Dead: Nuclear Death is already a favorite of mine (I feel like I never stop talking about them) but I finally got around to their demos/EPs this year. this one takes the cake, easily. Topping out at under 10 minutes, this record achieves a kind of demented brutality other death metal bands would kill for in a fourth of the time. It's a miasmic stormcloud of a project that proves (as everything they recorded did) that nobody can out-sick Lori Bravo.

Moral Decay To Build an End: This is a couple of kids in the 1990s writing a thrash record. Not notable in and of itself. However, it becomes clear immediately that these technically proficient metalheads are obsessed with emo. Like oldschool dc emocore. And it is thrown into their mix of sonic influences plainly and obviously. It is one of a kind. It shouldn’t work. It probably doesn’t, unless, of course, you are me and obsessed with it. The vocals on this are punky as hell and they work surprisingly well over these speedy, late-stage neoclassical thrash riffs. It's wild. I love it; the gem of the year!

Little Teeth Child Bearing Man: you will either love this or find it insufferable. Mathy emo-y touches, but this is freaky folk through and through. Flits in and out these crazy choral vocal moments and harmonies that fall in and out of comfort-level– lots of borderline screaming (or just gives up the ghost and becomes screaming). Everything devolves but the sense of melody is always lurking out of frame and comes back around to quiet and confessional. Manages artful and cathartic with a lack of grace and a hell of a conviction.

Helen Love Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Musik: the best punk understands punk is pop music. This is why I love this record. Helen Love loooovvess The Ramones, she does. And since she loves them so much she wrote dance music in their honor and got Joey Ramone to feature on the record. Incredible. 

The BellRays Black Lightning: Soul-filled garage punky rock that’s just masterfully loud, catchy, and full of unlimited swagger. Lisa Kekaula’s vocals are clearly grounded in a long, long line of rockers and soul-stirrers but what stands out is her maturity and control which allows for the slow-burners to feel huge and impressive– she’s the center, the burning star of the whole enterprise. 

Chinchilla 101 Italian Hits: this album is weird and, obviously, I love weird. Situated in the already weird San Diego post-hardcore scene, Chinchilla still stand out with their epic song lengths, murky 90s alt-rock depths, and the way Sioban Dixon’s vocals shift endlessly between a distorted fry, throaty shouts, and sweet elongated falsetto. So fun to get lost in these songs. 

Heaven’s Gate Livin’ in Hysteria: German power metal is always good. Heaven’s Gate is so obviously following in Helloween’s footsteps but Helloween is one of the greatest metal bands on planet earth and they execute that Keepers era sound so well they make a little magic themselves. Add onto that an album cover with a dragon smoking a pipe… it's over, it was love at first sight. 

A Few Honorable Mentions (if you've made it this far):

-Corinne Bailey Ray Black Rainbows (mostly here because I got to it wayy late in the year and haven’t sat with it long enough. but this was incredible all the way through)

-Smoulder Violent Creed of Vengence (was initially disappointed by this one and then I finally got a tape player for Christmas and it just… clicked in the new format)

-Be Your Own Pet Mommy (i love, love, loved be your own pet as a teen and seeing them return to music after so long with the same blast of energy is so cool. I just think the album overstays its welcome; the EP they released with just a handful of tracks just puts it into sharper relief too)

-Melissa II (incredible it was just such a good year for black metal it didn’t quite squeeze up there for me)

and that's it for me; Happy New Year may we all find new music to fall in love with in 2024 <3

[h-doodles]

hi, can I ask for your top ten favorite fics ? :)

Hi anon hiiiiiiii welcome!!! u caught me at a good time, ur soooo lucky bc i just glanced at my notifs and saw this ask get sent <3 KDBDKDKK its been literal years since i checked my ask box 👉🏻👈🏻

BUT ANYWAY! top 10 of all time???? be warned that while i am currently enchanted with ONE (1) 6 ft 3 in actress, I still do consider myself a girlie with varied tastes so. my old & other fandoms are mixed in my current list!

without further ado:

#10: knowledge for knowledge's sake by tigriswolf (ao3) || quite an old piece detailing how a change in the personality of one Hermione Granger could have had a massive impact to the story— and while I don't fuck with JKTerfling, the fics I've read from the old fans in the HP fandom are still honestly, some of the BEST I have EVER read. This one in particular irrevocably changed me as a teen, and is one story that I continue to draw inspiration upon when I create dark!AUs for my SI/OCs.

#9: Zutopia by itslivybear (ao3) || the fluff, the worldbuilding, an AU where Izuku is mentored by our beloved Rat God & together, they fix the world problems? GIRLIES catch me forever LOVING this concept like you could NEVER believe <3

#8: (not so) Bad Idea by @sarahpaulsonsoftie (tumblr post) || HEE HEE ITS LIVING IN MY MIND RENT FREE LIKE HELP THESE BITCHES GAY!!!!!! GOOD FOR THEM!!!!!!! ft a meddling plantita who really mothered; Marilyn Thornhill <3

#7: Hold my Soul by connyhascontrol (ao3) || I got into Trixie/Katya completely by one @montaguehphm introducing me to UNHhhh (HIIIIIII bestie I hope everything is going good and that ur gay keeps slay <3) and I haven't recovered ever since— reading the fics by writers on AO3 was a happy little accident, but one i will FOREVER love, nonetheless. Anyway, this particular fic was SO brilliantly original and YET so entrenched in the personalities between T&K that it ABSOLUTELY just wrecks me everytime I reread it. anyways hi @connyhascontrol pls know ur brilliant <3

#6: I think I'm gonna call him out by hellelf (ao3, users only) || again, another AU for Hermione fic, that's chockfull of world building and interesting relationships! It's been unupdated from its 5 chapters since 2021, but I still LOVE to look back at it from time to time 💖

#5: The Confectionary Chronicles series by cheshire_caroll (ao3); Into the Black series by angelholme (ao3); Hermione Granger & the Serpent's Renaissance series by epsi1on (ao3) AND New Blood by artemisgirl (ff.net) || if it's not evident, i am an absolute slut for fics ft. Hermione being badass & put into a v cool plot w/ insane amounts of world building, so yeah, def a top 5 most contender <3

#4: The Infinitely Curious Woman by chararii (ao3) || literally ALL of their fics are absolute bangers, and while I forever mourn their decision to stop all Naruto fics thanks to the great harddrive incident of 2022, I have nonetheless the GREATEST respect to their skill & talent to bring SUCH LIFE to their stories. In particular, I chose this particular fic of theirs because the premise of Sakura making her own way by shedding off her morality the more she learned & got influenced by her 2 greatest teachers was absolutely nothing short of DIVINE. It was and IS such an inspiration to read, reread & explore, and I will forever love @chararii for this brilliant piece of a fic

#3: The Endgame that never was series by @heleneplays aka me (tumblr masterlist) || ok I know this seems self-absorbed but DEAR MOTHER OF CHRISTIE i literally WENT OFF for a whole ass day and a half going feral for the Relics of the Lost Age series book 3 finale (hi @jamesshawgames pls know im still here and STILL simping even tho i am currently having a brainrot for a different thing on main sjdhdkdk i hope ur doing well dearest mr. chief author sir!!!!) and created this series from my dreams + nonstop ben&ben playlist— and honestly, I think it's VERY sexy of me <3 bc I rarely like things that I do after a while, but THIS— alongside Universal Constant (ao3) are truly my BEST work <3

#2: Across the Stars by nomisunrider (ao3) || I CAN NEVER STRESS THIS ENOUGH, HOW MUCH THIS FIC ALTERED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY LIKE. its been 4 YEARS since it was completed but HOLY. MOTHERFUCKING. GOD. The story between Michael & Philippa persisting beyond the odds, in a twist of the canon happenings in Star Trek: Discovery is FOREVER ingrained in my heart and soul and honestly once again THANK YOU @nomi--sunrider for SUCH a beautiful story 🥺🥺🥺

and drum roll please!!!

#1 (current): I literally cannot pick between Better than Gold + Little Cat by @lady-dimimi / @azu-zu (tumblr post for BtG | LC ao3); How to woo a Hot Principal by @softshrimpy (ao3); and Lipstick Stains by @weemssapphic (ao3) || LIKE HOLY SHIT THE FUCKING AMOUNT OF TALENT, PLOT, FLUFF, DRAMA AND UTTER GAYNESS THESE FICS BRING ME— its SOOOOO insanity inducing in the best of ways <3 also, i really count myself lucky to get into a very active (x reader) sphere LIKE ITS SOOOOO INSANE i get to consume CONTENT daily for such wonderful characters and these special morsels be like. authors, I am sending you all a MWAH from me

[himynameisobed]

Our Indie Band Era

Above: Felix Ross at The Waiting Room - 6/8/24

-

About a month ago, Shannon came across a tiktok advertising someone called Felix Ross's gig at The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington. It was only £10 and close by so we got tickets.

We went to the show this past Saturday and it was honestly so fun - surprisingly so, and very much worth what we paid and more.

We saw 3 acts: Hamish Donald (opener - an indie singer with catchy songs), Woon (opener - more of a wild rock band), and Felix Ross (headliner - another indie singer with catchy songs, but also a full band, which sweetly includes his younger brother).

The venue was small and intimate, with ambient lighting and a small bar at the back of the room. The crowd was younger and seemed much more familiar with the acts, but we were pleasantly surprised by everything we heard, with each act offering something different (mellow, indie tunes; harder, wilder bangers; and then something in between those two things, catchy and upbeat but not screaming and thrashing).

We swayed and bopped to all the rhythms in the dark light, alternately turning to each other and saying "This is honestly so fun," and "I can't believe this was only £10."

It was really hot though, so in between Woon and Felix, we stepped outside for some air in the smoking area and ended up talking to Hamish. I told him he did a great job and that he was a talented lyricist, and he seemed to take the compliment sincerely to heart, saying compliments about his lyrics are his favourite.

I thought it was going to be a short, kind of passing interaction, but he ended up talking to us for a while, telling us about himself and his music, asking us about ourselves and how we knew each other and came to know about the gig.

The beauty about these smaller, more intimate shows is that there's such a good chance of being able to interact with the artists, while they're at a point where they actually enjoy being immersed with their fledgling fans.

At one point, Felix came down from the stage and played an acoustic song in the middle of crowd and it was really cute. Later he would post a video of that part of the performance commenting that it was really special.

When it was over, we debated whether or not we should stay and try to hang out with the bands, or immediately go home and watch "Challengers". We chose the latter (arguably coming to later regret it), stopping by Eden's Cottage for some chicken wings on the way home.

Honestly, part of me simply didn't want to be one in the crowd of several young women, pining away for the attention of these artists who were in all likelihood several years younger than me.

Nonetheless, Shannon and I decided we should go to more of these shows because they're so affordable and we had such a great time (she's been playing Hamish and Felix's music since), and next time, we'll stay.

[awerzo]

∞∞∞ :3

[put ∞ in inbox and i'll give you a fav lyric from a random song ask]

oooo a short one but a banger nonetheless this verse is def a fave

"Observe your hands and faces They're red from god's blood Think about what you've done If you have really killed him" Also for the Patho enjoyers in the audience, this song is SO Artemy coded

[surpriseslmkshecares]

ONE MORE TIME ALBUM REVIEW

BABE WAKE UP ONE MORE TIME JUST FUCKING DROPPED

ANTHEM PART 3 5/5 [equal to expectations]

I'm going to vomit this song screams new era blink, I am literally so thriving right now, oh my god, please, I am living I am screaming help, I-HwcvuieADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

DANCE WITH ME 3.5/5 [slightly below expectations]

This song is really good, honestly. Video is a fantastic homage to the ramones, obviously. It's all been said before about this video. Song of the summer type vibes from this one

Only reason I say it's a little below expectations is because I personally expected to like it more than I actually did, but I'm not angry at it, definetly have an affinity for it.

FELL IN LOVE 4/5 [idk honestly, I came in this with zero expectations]

I like this song a lot, I'm not gonna lie. Will definetly be bumping this. This is one of their more pop leaning songs, and I love to have that kind of dynamicism throughout blink's stuff. I think that it echoes the sound of NINE (which I hated, but this song it good) and brings it into the current era

TERRIFIED 5/5 [above expectations]

Very neighborhoods (my favorite album) and AVA vibes, love this one, honestly. Will probably obsess over it. this is very new era blink, and this is probably my favorite song on the album

ONE MORE TIME 3.5/5 [slightly below expectations]

I can't really explain what I expected from this song. Maybe I expected more Travis? I think the lyricism for this song goes so hard, and it's a reminder that all the wild bullshit that's gone on has only been for the better to get here. It's been crazy, but it's been so fucking crucial. Proud of the boys, I really am.

MORE THAN YOU KNOW 4/5 [equal to expectations]

This might be my favorite song of the new era, ngl. I really enjoy the instrumentals, the lyrics and the vocals for this one. It just reflects their improvement so well, and it's an absolute fucking banger, dude.

TURN THIS OFF! 5/5 [above expectations]

Didn't realize this was one of the short interlude(ish) songs going in so I expected a super like banger punk song and was pleasantly surprised lol.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG 3/5 [equal to expectations]

Lots of EOTS and Untitled vibes, I fuck with 100%. I will also definetly have this in my blink rotation. I don't have a lot to say about it, thus far the album does not have any bad songs lol

EDGING 4/5 [above expectations]

Lost my fucking mind when Edging dropped earlier this year, dude. I love this song so much, and I'm honroed to have been able to see it live. When it first released I was terrified that I was going to hate it, or that it was gonna suck and I would have to just grit my teeth and hope for better new music, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new era was looking up. Edging is the tone setter for new era.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 3/5 [equal to expectations]

I'm excited to learn so many of these songs on guitar, this is one of them for sure. The instrumentals + Tom and Marks vocals together is just heaven, dude. I love this song, and think that it's one of those songs that drives home the weight of Tom re-joining, and all of the crazy shit that's happened to get here.

BLINK WAVE 3/5 [below expectations]

It's alright, the most mid out of the whole album thus far, a good song nonetheless, though. Kinda forgot I listened to it right after, if I'm honest. It's got some really great vocals and lyrics that should not be slept on though

BAD NEWS 3.5/5 [equal to expectations]

I feel lots of TOYPAJ energy from this one. Their sound is so much more refined and it makes me so happy to hear, man. Don't let my rating deceive you, this is also definetly going in my steady blink rotation.

HURT (INTERLUDE) 5/5 [above expectations]

This is fantastic <3 First official interlude of the new era, and it is perfect in it's essence.

TURPENTINE 4/5 [above expectations]

I don't really have much to say for this song lol -- love the lyricism of this one. Really good, I'm understanding more and more why people feel like this is their best album.

FUCK FACE 5/5 [equal to expectations]

Will 100% have this on repeat, and this will be now living in my fucking head rent free lmfao. This and Built This Pool are now my two favorite short songs of blink's.

OTHER SIDE 4/5 [above expectations]

Happy to see blink still covering all of the various ranges of emotions lolol. I really love this one. It's great, dude. I was reading up on the songs backstory, and I think the whole piece is just so masterfully done, man.

CHILDHOOD 4/5 [equal to expectations]

NEW ERA ADAM'S SONG NEW ERA ADAM'S SONG

Goes hard as fuck, another song to talk about the craziness that has been the boys in the in-between-time. I love this, will be overplaying the shit out of it.

FINAL THOUGHTS 4/5 [equal to expectations]

No skips, all absolute bangers, love this fucking album, would give all 3 of the boys any of my internal organs upon their request. Per usual my favorite song off the album is linked, yo.

[anosci]

(317-331 albums etc that I’ve listened to this year, copied from twitter) (now with art. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23])

names and thoughts below cut

317/ (all music entries from Assembly Summer 2023) all over the place etc. only a few standouts for me. i think my fav is "pedigree". its a rly good synthy (poppy? dosky?) romp. "line of the dead" is a fun cool change of pace. also: more d fast! "romanza"!

---

318/ (all music entries from Function 2023) not much rly worked for me here actually… :( top 2 tunes are alrite. the best tune was in UFDD's demo… luv u slyspy

---

319/ Savant - Vybz (2016) "Boss" immediately bangs woahoah after that its peaks and valleys imo "Worship" big highlight imo!! "Siluette" is another big highlight for completely different reasons also shoutout to "Zombie Cats" for a fun double retro romp

---

320/ Planetary Assault Systems - Arc Angel (2016) vast atospheres. some of these are beautifully hypnotic. others are rather annoying. many overstay their welcome… hilights: "Max" is a rinse! still overstays tho… "Message From The Drone Sector" hits good. hypnotic.

---

321/ Sakuzyo - Glitched Universe (2023) this took a while to set in for me.. i still have some mixed feelings. something about the sound design doesn't quite hit me right. highlights are either "Conversion" or "Distorted Fate". the latter feels like all the elements work together

---

322/ Varien - My Prayers Have Become Ghosts (2016) initially just "p alrite" but it picked up for me! "The Pink Killing Floor" reaches into some BT vibes, but, ykno. 2016 monster. (this is cool.) "Dawn Will Bring Us Death" second fav track

---

323/ Autechre - 2008-04-04 Echoplex [replication by ios & digit] not enjoying this as much as i thought i would. it kinda leans into the parts of the 2008-era-ae that i didnt dig as much that said: track 4 and 5. the ae-dnb in track 7! that iteration of IO!

---

324/ VA - Commodore Trilogy (2016) surprised at how well "Short Bossa" holds its ground. vic20 what! possibly fav of this batch is "Never Succeed" and its sunshine field vibes second fav is "antimod". it just hits rite.

---

325/ caro♡ - wild at ♡ (2023) incredibly light and fluffy and poppy. it doesn't quite work for me, though a few songs still stand out to my ears. (the ones with numbers lol) "in2u" is biggest soundout i think. its kinda ballad even, but. yeah it works for me.

---

326/ Lapix - Flying Method (2023) mostly high intensity bangers here! "Primitive Vibes" has a wild energy, god damn. "& Intelligence" makes me want to use that headphone emoji. what was it? d-_-b "Glitch Angel" stuttery intensity, beauty <3

---

327/ (all the music entries at Nordlicht 2023) sadly, I didn't really get into these for the most part. :\ my fav was actually "Train Station Candy Shop Shuffle Bop" it's a bit cheesy but i really really admire what Triace pulled from the pokey here.

---

328/ (all ocremix posts in 2016) yeah im grouping these by years now. obviously it's a huge grabbag and a crime to only pick 3 highlights. nonetheless, for twitter: "Battle Against a Malignant & Repugnant Opponent" !! som "Thick Jams"! "Lucre"!! "Dancing in the Jungle"!!

---

329/ Bibio - Sunbursting EP (2023) EXTREME lazy afternoon vibes. soft sunshine ykno. tbh it doesn't rly grab me. bibio is hit and miss for me sometimes. it's a bit meandery but I think "Rosewoods" is the highlight here.

---

330/ イルマ - ソレユエ (2023) this is actually a little outside of my taste but it has a few tunes that really really work for me: "∴" has a touch of prog energy to it, which i enjoy despite the odd vocals and then "アイマイソウメイ" goes ham with those guitar licks! ez hilite

---

331/ Ryuichi Sakamoto - async (2017) not what i was expecting! lots of ambient stuff that appeals to me in varying degrees. "disintegration" has a cool spooky sound to it that appeals to me. very tangible. piano. loving the swirling "stakra" thats abt it tho…

---

next page...

[widowshaze]

destined lovers | y. belova

pairing: yelena belova x gn!reader

summary: this was a requested work! the link for the post with the request and the synopsis can be found here!

warnings: straight fluff

word count: 1.7k

authors note: this was by far the cutest thing i have ever read. thank you @didujustcallmedumb for sending in this absolute banger of a request. i enjoyed writing it and i hope you enjoy it just as much reading it. <3

navigation | yelena belova masterlist

Lick.

You groaned as you wiped at your face, still in a comatose state of slumber, thinking you were dreaming, it wasn’t that difficult for you to begin to drift back to sleep, until it happened again.

Lick.

You wiped at your face for a second time, rubbing at your eyes and letting out a yawn as you peeked one eye open, which the second your golden retriever, Hunter, saw you do so, he yapped happily and began dancing in circles on your carpeted bedroom floor.

You couldn’t be mad at the pup as you finally pushed yourself to a sitting position on the bed, Hunter perching himself right at the edge of it as you reached a lazy hand down and patted his head. “What’s got you awake so early buddy?” You asked him through a yawn, as you stretched your limbs, trying to shake the rest of the sleep out of you. Hunter walked away at your question, to which you quirked an eyebrow at, before he came sauntering back into the room, his red and black leash in his mouth as he dropped it into your lap on the bed.

“Oh I see, you want to go see your girlfriend at the park huh?” You teased the dog as you ruffled the hair on the top of his head, to which he yapped at happily as he began to once again dance around your room. As much as you teased your dog for wanting to go to the park, you couldn’t help but contain your excitement either.

Your first trip to the park was eventful to say the least. Hunter was having a field day with the other dogs the second his leash was released from his collar. It didn’t take long for him to find his favorite, a dog smaller than him, light brown in color with bits of black and white on their fur, no wonder why she stuck out to Hunter, he picked well, just like his mother of course.

Hunter came back to you whining after a few short minutes, to which your eyes followed his own gaze as you spotted the owner of the other dog attaching a leash to its color and leading them away. Your breath caught in the back of your throat when your eyes caught a glimpse of the blonde. The sudden attraction takes you by surprise, but nonetheless as you watched her leave the park, you knew you had to see her again.

It became a daily routine with you and Hunter. Waking up, the both of you having breakfast and then finding your way to the park, each of you wanting to catch a glimpse of the beauties that struck your eye from that very first day. The park was a busy place, always filled with dog owners and the ample amount of dogs chasing each other, but no matter how crowded it was, the second you saw that blonde head of hair making its way through the crowd, your eyes were immediately zoned in on her.

Her bright smile could honestly light up the sun if it was to ever run out of energy, her eyes radiated nothing but warmth and comfort and if it was up to you, you’d find yourself staring in them everyday for the rest of eternity. One day she caught you, her eyes flitting up from her book, as if she could sense someone was staring at her, and you quickly diverted your gaze, blushing furiously at being caught.

Yelena couldn’t help but let a small smile form on her lips when she caught you. Your reaction sent an unknown feeling to the pit of her stomach, and it was then that she found herself not being able to take her eyes off of you. She watched you busy yourself with what seemed to be a sketchbook, and watched you flawlessly drag a pen across the paper, crafting up something she could only imagine to be as beautiful as you.

You captivated her in every way imaginable, from your striking y/h/c hair, to your piercing y/e/c eyes that seemed to draw her in from the second she looked into them. She found a blatant attraction towards you, and everytime she thought she had willed up enough courage to go up and say hi, you were grabbing your dog, who she noticed happily played with Fanny almost every time you came, and you left without a glance in her direction. She would slump back against the tree she was perched under, telling herself tomorrow was a new day and she could easily say something then.

But then, days went by and then it turned into weeks, and you glanced at each other in passing, neither brave enough to speak a word. Hell, you couldn’t even grow the balls to say hi to the girl and her here you were, day after day, sitting on your regular park bench, sketchbook in hand as you drew her. Pages upon pages of your sketchbook were filled to the brim with her, ranging from when she was reading her book under the tree, or when she would find herself lazily lying in the grass, basking in the sun, those especially were your favorite ones.

The routine never changed, that’s why today wasn’t any different. You made yourself and Hunter each breakfast, before changing into some comfy clothes, the weather becoming a little more brisk as the closer fall drew into the year, so a sweater with some leggings would be enough to keep you warm.

Hooking the leash to Hunter’s collar, and after grabbing your sketchbook and a few pens, you made your way out of your apartment and began the quick walk to the park. The slight breeze sending shivers up your spine, goosebumps rising on your arms and you had wished you had maybe brought a coat.

The entryway to the park came into view, and you had to stop Hunter from almost ripping your arm off by the way he was tugging at his leash, trying to fully sprint into the park. “Calm down buddy, we’re almost there.” You spoke through a laugh as you entered the park, the trees becoming coated with yellow, orange and red leaves, making the setting almost serene.

You were walking to your normal spot, nothing out of the ordinary, until Hunter started barking, and began running towards something. You were quick to follow behind him, “Slow down boy!” You yelled a few times until he stopped, and you were face to face with the woman who had captivated you for weeks on end.

Her dog, who seemed to be as happily excited to see Hunter, lurched forward and ran around you, trying to get to Hunter, and almost effectively tied her leash around you and Yelena, pulling the two of you flush against each other. Each of you letting out squeals of surprise at the sudden impact, your hands automatically finding her waist to steady yourselves and her hands finding your shoulders, gripping them tightly as she held on.

You looked at her, and she looked at you, both faces red with embarrassment from the situation, but her eyes shined even brighter in the bright sun in the sky, and you caught yourself gazing into them. You weren’t sure exactly how long you were staring, but the shy smile that formed on Yelena’s lips and the way she diverted her gaze from you snapped you out of your trance, and you mumbled out an apology. “I’m so sorry,” you spoke quickly, afraid if you thought too long on your words, they would come out a trembling mess.

“You’re apologizing? I should be the one apologizing. Fanny quite literally almost knocked you off your feet,” she exclaimed and you let out a soft laugh. “If anything, I definitely think she helped me out.” Yelena looked up at you from her crouched down position, as she took the liberty to unhook each of your dogs from their leashes, letting them run off to play.

“What?” She asked, and you smiled, looking down at your feet before speaking, the whole situation finally catching up to you. You were standing there, face to face with the woman who’ve you absolutely become enamored by and you’ve set yourself up for disaster. “It’s uhm,” you paused as you tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. Yelena could sense your hesitance, as she reached out to grab your hands in hers and squeezed them, a small smile on her face as she urged you, “Go on.”

You looked up at her from the sudden contact of your hands, and let out a breath, it’s now or never. “I uhm, I find you attractive, and I, well, I’ve been drawing you for weeks and you’re quite literally the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and-” She cut you off, not with words, not by walking away and shutting you down completely, but by the soft touch of her lips against yours and you could’ve easily melted into a puddle on the sidewalk. You fell into the kiss, your hands gripping hers as your lips folded together in perfect unison, sparks igniting in your bones as she kissed you, and Oh my god, she was kissing you.

Yelena was the first to break the kiss as she took a step back, her cheeks red from embarrassment at the sudden confidence she just had to shut you up with a kiss. The grin on your face made her feel slightly better about what she did, and the way your eyes lit up and the way your smile was so wide it reached your eyes, she couldn’t help but smile back. “If it wasn’t obvious before, I find you quite attractive as well,” she admitted sheepishly as you let out an airy laugh, reaching forward for her again and you intertwined your hands together.

“I’m Y/N, by the way,” you said with a smile and she smiled back, testing your name as the words fell out of her mouth. “Well Y/N, I'm Yelena, nice to finally meet you.” You smiled, as your eyes connected with hers and you felt yourself falling deeper for this woman, you knew that this was the beginning of something special, something forever. You were destined lovers from the beginning, and this was just the start.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

general taglist:

@gae4redheads @in-my-body-bag @inluvwithfictionalwomen

➳ join my taglist here!

[lesbian-stu-macher]

Musicals based on history/true stories that aren’t Hamilton (most of which are better imo)

my personal faves are bolded

- lizzie: THIS FUCKING SHOW OKAY— 1. all women cast. 2. lesbians. 3. sickass rock score. based on the borden axe murders (tw for murder, sexual abuse, and animal abuse)

- assassins: i fucking love this show ok. if you’ve seen the politician, yes it’s a real sondheim show about (most of) the people who killed (or tried to kill) us presidents. (tw for murder obv, suicide, and the n-word is used once)

- six: if you’re on tiktok, you probably know about it. i always said it’s like if lady gaga wrote hamilton. based on the six wives of henry viii (tw for death and some sexual assault mention?)

- catch me if you can: two words: Aaron Tveit. based on the autobiography of frank abangale jr, a conman during the 60s (based on the movie!) oh also kerry butler and norbert leo butz r in it

- jesus christ superstar: okay hear me out. alw wrote this without the intention of religion, he wrote it to tell a story of someone who was in the right place at the right time. written in the 70s and full of absolute bangers. the recent nbc version featured John legend, Sara barrellies, Jason tam, and Brandon victor Dixon. tw for death obv

- evita: okay so there is a total whitewashing issue with this cast, but the music really does slap. alw back at it again and you can’t move an inch in any direction of the theatre fandom without knowing don’t cry for me Argentina exists. tw for death

- 1776: this is an older one, but my local library had the movie, so i watched it. Hamilton actually references this show (“sit down, John, you FAT MOTHER-“ is a reference to one of the best songs from the show, sit down John.) and the music vibes. it’s a pretty short soundtrack, so definitely recommend. there’s a weird song about slaves in there somewhere but they don’t say the n word or anything in it, I’ll have to listen actively if there is an issue.

feel free to add!

UPDATE: others that i love sm and totally forgot abt bc this is an old draft

- fun home: inspired by the book of the same name! tells the story of Alison bechdel; a lesbian cartoonist. first broadway musical with a lesbian protag, very gay, jenn colella and Caitlin kinunen (I cant spell it’s fine) were in a reading of it as Alison and medium Alison respectively. oh Michael Cerveris too. tw for death, a literal song about kids having fun in a funeral home, and suicide (mentioned multiple times, given a visual description and acted upon)

- Bonnie and Clyde: cmon. it’s Jeremy jordan and Laura osnes, need I say more? Oh also Louis Hobson from n2n is in it as the antagonist. not gay but it’s the 20s and the music slaps hard. also harmonies that could literally kill. tw for death, murder, guns, crime, I think that’s it?

- come from away: probably my favorite show on bway rn. absolutely gorgeous show about the planes rerouted to Newfoundland, Canada after 9/11. shows the impact on real life people in multiple situations, how minorities are impacted, etc. tw for Muslim hate, 9/11, death mentions, I think that’s it?

- parade: haven’t heard it all, but the one song I have heard is amazing. Based on the true story of a Jewish man being sentenced to death (I believe?) after a false accusation of him raping a young girl. tw for rape, death mention, probably some antisemitism (again, haven’t heard it all the way)

These two are more so period pieces inspired by true events but nonetheless

- ragtime: haven’t heard it but I’ve heard it’s really good. talks about three different groups in the early 20th century America (African Americans, Jewish Latvian immigrants, and an upper class family)

- miss Saigon: original production is kinda a big yikes but the music is good. they’ve noted some of the error of their ways and there is no more yellow face and there is actual Vietnamese rather than gibberish in the show now. Pulls a lot of white savior bullshit too. (ppl can stop telling me about how problematic this show is because I’m fucking aware, okay? That’s why I wrote disclaimers. Jesus Christ.) About the Vietnam war. tw for death, war, prostitution

[finnified]

a list of things i absolutely love about / kind of analysis on hog hunt, compiled as i watch it for the second time:

(under the cut cos this got really long)

right near the beginning when they’re raising the anvil, she does this really cool transition from the light on the anvil to the light on the curtain in tubbo’s first few frames. it’s incredibly smooth and it works rlly well. the pattern is also continued to the shine on tubbo’s axe when he twists it to see his face in it which is also rlly neat.

i’ll probably point this out several times, but the use of perspective in this animatic is amazing. we first see it from phil standing on his balcony looking at the raised anvil, but the use of perspective is absolutely INCREDIBLE all throughout this animatic.

we see it right after this, actually, with the trees and the crow flying over it. not only is the perspective so cool here, but the motion with the feathers is also amazing.

i also love how whenever ghostbur shows up, the screen gets a little glitchy. i’m not sure what i like about it but it’s just kinda fitting with his static-y eyes and such.

PHILS CROWS!!

THE TRANSITION SCENE FROM TUBBO WALKING DOWN THE HALL OF THE WHITE HOUSE TO HIM PULLING OUT THE AXE AND SUDDENLY THE BUTCHER ARMY IS ALL THERE. that was so absolutely satisfying, with the sound effect of quackity’s torch and all. also ranboo is there which is <3

the transitions in this animatic really might be my favorite part. we get the bit with techno suiting up with his cape and his crown and then the really cool fog that allows him to appear outside with the butcher army, and we can see someone level their axe in front of them and BOOM techno appears out of the smoke, pulling the axe back and swinging. it’s AMAZING.

the swinging motion from that last scene allows a little bit of a still waving transition into the butcher army room, which is STUNNING by the way (and also ranboo) which then flawlessly pulls into phil and then the scene in phil’s house with the shattered glass visual and audio combination it’s AMAZING. the frame with phil’s chest in white on the black background with the only color being ghostbur’s blue is also really neat here as well.

i absolutely ADORE the frames where tubbo finds the compass, because you can hear and see the smirk in his voice and i love how the compass drops down on the little string and it’s just. so poggers. love that. the part directly after that where it zooms in on phil and you get the opportunity to see the weight of the situation from his perspective is AMAZING.

and the collection of frames after that that go in the flashes of light? quackity with his back to the screen, techno reading the letter (TECHNOGLASSES POG) phil’s compass slowly pointing forward to the viewer? the flash of phil standing on his balcony, and then the butcher army which gets cut off of view by one of phil’s crows, with the feathers in the background that morph into his wings? this sequence is so powerful, for a reason i can’t quite place, but i absolutely adore it.

THEN WE GET THAT PHIL SCENE THAT EVERYONE’S FAWNING OVER, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. the camera slowly pans down to phil’s face, and then his hat tips forward so the shadow can grow on his face, and then we get that really cool glitch effect where he turns all black with the white eyes and such. it’s so cool.

then we get the ‘i choose blood’ scene, which in all honesty i had to replay several times to properly get my thoughts down on. this whole bit is so incredibly smooth and flows so well, with techno’s cape and the butcher army readying their axes and then techno pulling the potions from seemingly nowhere and then the colored smoke again from earlier- which i quite literally can’t get enough of, sad-ist do your shoes need shinin ma’am, and then the whole sequence where tubbo is pinned by techno and screaming at quackity to do something, which transitions FLAWLESSLY into big q and carl. you can see techno’s shock even before he realizes quackity actually has carl, and i applaud sad-ist for being able to convey that much emotion even without techno’s eyes.

the spinning from the camera being right next to techno to right behind quackity is also amazing. i think the color of the background shifts slightly? which i think might represent something, but it sort of just stood out to me in the moment. the perspective when quack is talking and holding carl’s reigns is amazing, because it’s slightly below quack’s eye level, which gives us the impression of looking up at him, and also really allows us to see how much danger carl is actually in.

once again i applaud sad-ist for her ability to convey so much emotion in techno even with half of his face covered. his resignation of his own safety for carl’s is aggressively clear as he drops the cape and the crown away.

and then we get the phil sneaking out sequence, which i had to slow down to properly appreciate, but it’s REALLY cool. the blue handprint on the tree? the entire skull motif? (which my friend mysso pointed out) it ties back into The phil scene from this animatic earlier and i really love it.

then we have literally what might be my favorite scene in this animatic!! which is stupid maybe because it’s one of the less important scenes, but i love it nonetheless. it’s the scene where they’re walking techno into lmanburg and phil is on his balcony and says “you actually got him” which transitions into tubbo reminding him that he’s on house arrest and then techno running forward with the chains (which have their own noise, which i think is such a poggers detail) and demanding to know what they did to phil. i love absolutely everything about this scene, from (once again) the extreme amount of expression that techno has even with the mask to the fact that it takes both quackity and fundy to restrain him once he’s pissed off to once again the absolutely FLAWLESS motion in that bit. you can see the struggle happening perfectly with techno’s flailing and quackity reaching forward to grab his arm and all, and i love it.

the little short scene we get with techno shifting slightly side to side to imply walking slowly in time with the music is also really cool. detail in sad-ist’s animatics my beloved.

THEN WE HAVE THE PUNZ SCENE!!! i absolutely love this one because of the use of perspective as well. it flips from tubbo doing his speech to the rooftop with punz and dream, and dream slowly raises his hand and punz flips the ender pearl and then APPEARS on the ground, sheds the cape in a single movement (might honestly be my favorite singular motion in this animatic) tosses the potions, we see the beloved colored smoke again, and when it clears punz and ranboo are going at it. you get the amazing panic in tubbo’s voice with him screaming at big q to pull the lever, and techno’s iconic little ‘heh??’ and then-

anvil drops. here comes the best scene in this animatic.

we get a few seconds of techno staring up at the anvil in shock, holding the totem, and it’s super cool actually because at the very end of that you see the bottom of the anvil come into super sharp detail in the reflection of techno’s eye. it flashes to ghostbur on the outside, watching the anvil fall, and when the sound of impact comes the totem explodes. that frame on its own is amazing and i might make that my background just because of how dynamic it is, with the light exploding and everything, and THEN. THEN WE GET TECHNO’S ABSOLUTELY STUNNING REANIMATION SEQUENCE with the flesh wrapping back around him, being stitched together it’s the green totem threads, his skull underneath and the blood, it’s amazing. he jumps through the bars of the cage with the chains mostly broken except for one on his hand, and he runs off after dream who has carl. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, (and someone on tumblr just pointed it out,) techno is still actually reforming. one of his legs is only fully solid once he’s outside the cage and one of his arms is still reforming when he swings it through the bars- thats why he’s able to get out so easily, and that’s why it’s bleeding in the next few scenes.

dream in this animatic is terrifying, by the way. he’s the most inhuman we’ve ever seen him, with the hood always up and the shadow covering half the mask so there’s no way to see under it. i know a few people on tumblr have pointed out sad-ist’s design progression with dream (from very very human with the mask on the side to the mask on to the mask and the cape) but it’s so wonderful that i felt the need to say it again.

and then dream is gone and quackity is here. time for the most banger fight scene to ever be animated in the history of animated fight scenes!

the motion in this fight scene is amazing. techno never stops moving. he’s darting under quackity’s legs, twirling the pickaxe (he’s fighting with a pickaxe!) JUMPING OVER QUACKITY’S HEAD AND YANKING HIS AXE OUT FROM HIS GRASP WHICH IS HONESTLY THE COOLES THING, and that motion continues smoothly when you see the axe get imbedded in the wall, and then you get the ‘put it through your teeth’ which is AMAZING.

and then it slowly fades back to techno’s cabin, and then TOMMY!! he looks so soft in these few seconds when he’s here, and i love that for him, mostly because it shows how much he’s changed. the sound effects when the wither wall is dropping are flawless as well, and i know everyone is saying this as well but i literally cannot, CANNOT get over how techno does the spreading-his-arms-curling-his-fists thing in front of the wither vault like he did in the dawn of the sixteenth animatic in the revolutionary’s vault. we get those two frames- one with techno suddenly splashed in blood, and then the one where that blood turns green and we’re left with only the blood, techno’s eyes and tusks, and the very barest outline of the wither vault, all in the same bright green. techno’s laughter also draws out even through the closing scene, which is another nice touch.

overall? absolutely amazing animatic, so many things to point out and pick apart, and i am definitely going to watch it like eight hundred more times.