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lost-item · 3 years ago

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Settle for Less

Late last night, or.. Was it morning? He can’t tell. It’s quiet. Outside, the rain’s pouring. The only sounds within the caverns of Pogtopia is the pattering rain on the surface, and the thunder. Tommi awakens with a jolt, panicked breaths now bringing life to the silence. He shuffles in his bed to sit up, eyes darting around the room. There’s nothing, no one. He’s in bed, in Pogtopia. He’s safe. It was just thunder. Once his breathing’s calmed, he decides to get up. He makes his way downstairs, if you can call it that, and starts picking some potatoes.

He’s so fucking tired of them. Tired of the taste, tired of the hint of dirt that still lingers. He’s cooked them in just about every way possible. It doesn’t change how they taste, though. But it’s all they really have, all he can really get. Wilbur seldomly brings anything home while he’s out. Maybe a rabbit, or apples, but that’s rare. He’d go out himself, but he’s been told repeatedly, and scolded, for doing so. The only time he’s allowed out is if it’s with Wilbur. And the only time it’s with Wilbur, is if it’s to train. Tommi hates training. He swears to Prime he was never born to fight. Sure, he can handle himself pretty well in combat, but it’s never been like he wanted to. He’s sick of it, really. He always charges in head first with things, overpowering his opponents. But now, he can’t do that the way he used to. His wings are gone, his strength is gone, and so is his confidence. His spark, his fire. So, any time they do go out for training, it’s hell. Wilbur never goes easy, never takes breaks. He just keeps coming at him. They aren’t even using wooden weapons, no. They’re using real blades. What if he fucks up and accidentally hits him? He’s so careless lately… He finishes cooking the potatoes. The smell stirred Wilbur awake, who finally decided to crawl out of his dark and dreary room. There’s never any light on in there… He’s always in the dark. How does he even see anything, is he part owl? Prime… “Morning” Wilbur yawns. “It’s already three, nearly four.” Tommi grumbles in reply. “AM?” “No, PM!” “Shit, must’ve overslept, huh?” “Y’think? Fuckin moron…” Tommi gets up from the furnaces, and hands freshly baked potatoes over to Wilbur, “Here, call it brunch.” “Mmm, potatoes, my favorite” His tongue’s laced with sarcasm. Tommi all but rolls his eyes, “Yeah, I know.” He snuffs out the flames of the furnace, the area now dimly lit by only the glow berries dangling from the ceiling of the cavern. Wilbur stuffs his face with some potatoes, while Tommi rummages through some chests, not caring to eat himself. He’s not hungry anyways, despite what his screaming stomach might argue. “So,” he begins, potatoes still being chewed, “I was thinking we’d try something new today.” He finally fucking swallows the shit. “Something new…?” Tommi turns to face him, intrigued. “Yeah!” He proceeds to pull out two axes, real iron axes, from his inventory, one in each hand, “Axe training!” He says, a grin on his face. Tommi groans, “Fuck, man, I thought you meant something NEW new, not- Not- More fuckin’ training!” “Well, it is new! You don’t exactly know how to fight with an axe, do you?” “I hardly even know enough about a sword, prick…” “True, you’re quite rubbish” “Oi!” “Anyways, enough bickering, we’re wasting daylight. Let’s go.” Wilbur spins around on his heel, both axes still in hand, and makes his way to one of Pogtopia’s many exits. “N-now?!” Wilbur turns his head back, “Yes. Now.” “But- But I don’t even have my sweater, I-” “Then go get it!” He barks, his patience running as thin as a lit thread of dynamite. Tommi quickly rushes up stairs, grabs his red sweater, and puts it on, making his way back down. Wilbur’s already gone outside, of course, and has started walking. Tommi quickly races after him to catch up in the snow. “Wilbur, fuckin- Fuckin wait up, man!” Tommi’s energy is quickly being drained, the cold weakening his already frail body. He can feel his legs beginning to freeze as he pushes on in the knee deep snow. Wilbur simply ignores him, continuing on through the spruce forest, until they reach a clearing. A familiar clearing. One they often go to to train. He finally stops, and turns around to face Tommi, who’s panting, hands on his knees. The sun’s already starting to go down, it being winter. He can feel the chill in the air starting to turn even harsher, and each breath he takes is beginning to get more and more painful. “Are you already fucking out of breath? We haven't even hiked for an hour!” “But- But I- You know I don’t do good in the cold, I-” “No excuses, I had to drag your ass all the way from Manburg, so I don’t want to hear it!” Tommi bit his cheek at that… Guilt swelling up in his chest. It’s not like he wanted to be carried after he was… He’d rather not think about that right now. “And that’s why I’m training you, so something like that doesn’t happen again!” He hands Tommi one of the axes, “Now, show me what you’ve got!” Tommi begrudgingly takes hold of the weapon with both of his hands, and takes a step back, trying to ready himself. Wilbur does the same, staying in place until the kid makes his move. Tommi charges forward, axe in hand, and brings a swing down towards Wilbur, who easily dodges it by jumping to the side. He then counters, by tripping up Tommi’s feet, causing him to lose his balance, and face plant in the snow. “Again.” Tommi wheezes for air, the wind knocked right out of him upon the landing. He uses the axe to help support himself up, and stands to face Wilbur again. This time, he begins again by running towards him, though instead of swinging the axe downwards, he does so from the left. Still too slow, and easy to read, as Wilbur blocks it this time with his own axe, and then proceeds to hit Tommi’s hand, knocking the weapon out of his grip. Then, he forces Tommi back with a shove, onto his back. “Again.” Tommi lays there for a moment in the snow, trying to catch his breath. He can feel his blood pounding in his skull, trying oh so desperately to get oxygen to his aching limbs. “I said again!” Wilbur orders. Tommi brings himself to a sitting position, the axe in front of him. He grabs it, and is shaking, but he yet again stands up. He can feel the strain that fall had put on his injured… Well, what’s left of his wings. He readies himself again, axe in both hands. “You’ve got to stop coming at me without thinking! You’re such a child, charging in at all of your problems…” Wilbur adds on that last bit more as an intimidation, but it leaves a sting. “I am not a child, I’m 17, damn it!” Tommi’s grip on the axe tightens. “LITERALLY a child!” Wilbur rolls his eyes, and Tommi takes that small window as a chance to charge at him again. But Wilbur saw it coming, and once again, he’s down on his back. “Who even raised you? You can’t fight for shit, Toms!” “YOU did, you prick!” Tommi retorts. “Ohh, righttt…” Wilbur takes a step forward, “Then, am I the one who raised you to be such a wimp? A coward?” “I- no, you-” Wilbur keeps going, “I mean, here you are, down on the fucking ground again! How many times will it take, Toms? How much longer do I have to waste my time on you for you to get this shit right?” “I-I’m trying, Wilbi, I really am, I-” “I don’t want you to try, I want you to get it fucking right!” “I-I’m sorry…” He lowers his head, unable to make contact with the judging eyes that are burning a hole into him. That’s all he can say… That’s all he can ever say these days… Wilbur sighs, “Again.” “But-” “I said, again! Your enemies wouldn’t even give you as long as I have!” “I know…” He groans, and struggles to his feet. His legs are shaking, exhausted. They’re also starting to go numb from the cold. Snow’s clinging to his pants and the back of his sweater. His fingers tremble as he picks the axe up a third time. “This time, I’m not holding back,” Wilbur warned. “Neither am I, bitch!” Tommi readied his stance as best as he could. This time, Wilbur charged first. Tommi’s now completely on the defense, caught completely off guard by this sudden shift. He raises his axe to deflect the incoming blow, and is pushed back. He stumbles backwards, but regains his footing. Wilbur doesn’t take another moment to once again charge at him, an eerie smile on his face. Tommi ducks, dodging the next swing yet again. He rolls out of the way, and quickly, but painfully, gets back on his feet, trying to get some distance. But Wilbur wont let him. He keeps coming at him, swinging. “Your enemies will never give you an opening, a moment to even breathe, to even think!” Wilbur huffs, continuing to swing at Tommi, “You need to fucking learn that, get that in your head!” “I-” He knows that, but- He can’t even catch his breath, waste it, to respond. All he can do is dodge. He fumbles back again, and is surprised by the sudden contact made with his backside. He’s against a tree. Wilbur swings, and again, Tommi dodges. Wilbur’s axe is lodged into the tree with a thwack. He tugs at it, but it won’t budge. Tommi takes this time to run across the clearing and get that distance he finally needed. “That was a perfect opportunity, Tommi, and you fucking wasted it!” Wilbur shouts, turning to face him, “I was stuck there, back turned to you, weapon stuck in place, and you didn’t fucking take the shot! Why?!” He’s genuinely angry. “B-because I- that would’ve-” “WHY?!” “I-I don’t want to hurt you, Wilbi!” He holds the axe up in front of him, close, to guard himself. “What?! Who cares about that, I want you to fucking fight! Give me your all!” “But-” “No fucking buts!” Wilbur’s stepping closer now, pissed. He doesn’t even have his axe, but in all honesty, he truly doesn't even need it. Not against Tommi. Tommi flinches as Wilbur goes to, what he presumes, grab him by the shirt, but instead he grabs the axe from his hands. “Wha?!” Tommi gasps, surprised. “Now you’re in for it, Toms…” There’s a disgusting sense of a true threat behind those words. “W-Wilbi, I- wait, I-” Tommi stumbles back as Wilbur begins to raise the axe over his head. He falls on his back once again in the snow. He glares up in horror at the sight of his brother, his own brother, once again raising a weapon at him. Just like Rev. He begins to hyperventilate, “No no no NO NO!” he covers his face with his arms, desperately, and pathetically, trying to protect himself. He can feel the hot tears beginning to well up in his eyes. Wilbur striked the axe down, barely missing his head, and it slams into the frozen ground beside him. Tommi flinches at the impact, and whimpers. Tommi’s shaking now, crying his eyes out, desperately trying to make himself as small as possible, curling up into a ball, laying on his side, glancing up at Wilbur through his own fingers. “Please, Rev, please- p-please stop, please.. Please…” He says between shaky breaths. It hits Wilbur just then what he’s done. Like the axe that pierced the frozen earth beneath him, the realization of what he just did, what he was about to do, to his own little brother, struck him. He quickly backed away, standing, looking down at his brother. “Toms, I- I’m-” He can’t say it, he doesn’t deserve to. He kneels down to try to comfort him, but Tommi screams, and begins backing away in a panic. Wilbur’s utterly shocked, dumbfounded. He really just did that. He really just… Just like his “brother”, Rev… He raised his axe against Tommi. Tommi even mistook him for Rev, he- He saw him as him, he- How couldn’t he??? Sure, they- They’re twins, but- But never in a million years did he think he’d raise his weapon against his brother like that… Though he’s sure Rev thought that, too, but… Now look where he is. “Prime…” Wilbur gasps for air, realizing he hasn't exactly been breathing. They stay like that for a while. Tommi sobs and hyperventilates, each breath more painful than the last as the stinging air pierces his lungs. The sun’s already begun to set below the horizon, and is beginning to fade. They need to head back, mobs will start spawning any minute now… “Toms, we need to go. It’s dark.” Wilbur says, dryly. Tommi whimpers on the ground, but agrees. He’s freezing, he’s tired, he’s afraid… He just wants to go home… “M-mhm…” He barely gets even that out. His throat’s tight, like there’s a hand around it. He sniffles a few more times, and begins to get up. The snow around where he laid had begun to melt from his outburst. He rubs his eyes after he stands. “Go get the other axe, the one in the tree.” Wilbur doesn’t turn to face him, instead he starts walking back towards Pogtopia. Tommi simply nods, even if he can’t see it. He makes his way over to the tree, his body aching. His arms are shaking so badly from exhaustion. He attempts to pull the axe out, but it’s futile. Pointless. He’s so pointless. He can’t even get a damn axe out of a tree, how does he expect to be able to fight with one? Wilbur turns around after he notices he hasn’t caught up with him, and looks over at where he’s still struggling. He sighs, and stomps over. “Move” he shoves Tommi away, and easily takes the axe out of the tree, “If you can’t even fucking do this, then I just won’t bother training you how to use an axe anymore. You fucking got that?” He glares down at Tommi, who has his head lowered, turned away. “Got that???” He repeats himself Tommi nods. Not good enough. “I said, did you get that?!” He barks. Tommi flinches, but proceeds to sign, [Yes]. Oh. Back to that, are we? Fuck… He really fucked up. He sighs, and puts both axes away in his inventory. “Let’s go, we’ve wasted enough time here, on you.” He continues walking, hands in his trenchcoat’s pockets to try to fight back the numbness he’s suddenly feeling. Tommi follows after him. They walk for a while, the sun now completely set. Wilbur pulls out a torch to light their path. Tommi’s head’s down the entire time, simply following by keeping an eye on Wilbur’s feet. Wilbur doesn’t dare say anything, or else he’d let himself slip back into his… Old self. Suddenly, Tommi tugs at Wilbur’s sleeve. Wilbur scoffs, “What now?” and he looks down at him, stopping in his tracks when he looks down at his brother. His little brother, who’s crying. His little brother, who’s shaking from the cold. His little brother, who he hurt, again. Tommi simply signs, [I’m sorry for freaking out, Wilbi…] Wilbur says nothing in response. He simply grits his teeth, and continues walking. You shouldn’t be the one apologizing, Toms… Ever. Thank you for reading! This is a small one shot based on a dsmp!au I take part in roleplaying! In this world, it is the Wilbur SMP (WSMP). Wilbur’s the sole founder of L’manburg. His brother and twin, Revivebur, is of another world. His younger brother, Tommi, is a magma cube hybrid. There’s many other characters, and we have so much lore! I could ramble on and on in one post, but I feel that’d bore people, so... If you are interested in other one shots I’ve written, I’ll be sure to post them and tag them with #wsmp! Thank you! ^-^

#dsmp #wilbur soot #tommyinnit #dsmp au #c!tommy #c!wilbur #crimeboys #revivedbur #pogtopia #fanfic #wsmp #also the title is based on a red vox song #settle for less #it's one of the many i have on my wsmp crime boys playlist!

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bregee13 · 2 years ago

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The 5 Hour Spamton Playlist

It's been many months, and it's finally complete enough to share (though I might add more later). And yup, you read that right, it's just over 5 hours long.

I even decided to order it for some reason. So if you're able to listen to the whole thing in order, that's appreciated! Though it's not required of course.

But either way, I hope this playlist drives you up the wall as much as it did to me.

Anyway I'm gonna put a bunch of commentary under the read more. (This thing has been sitting around in my library for almost a year, since a week or two after the chapter 2 release!!!, I have every right to be annoying about it)

(I was originally going to comment on every other thing on the playlist, but then I got overwhelmed lol. Still keeping some of what I wrote. Might elaborate more on some things later idk. )

(Hope y'all like it!)

I tried to keep the Spamton songs in the same order as the soundtrack. In fact, the whole playlist is roughly organized based on those songs! I guess you could say each section has its own themes.

Imagine. You start the playlist eager to hear what bs was added to it. You listen to HEY EVERY !, and then it ends. Everything's quiet. And then "BWAH BWAH WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT-"

I've seen people add Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen to Spamton playlists, which is neat, but ngl Ring Ring and I'm a Marionette fit way better. And they're both really good.

I like to think I Get Around and Outside represent the very beginning of the bigshot era

But Telephone by Red Vox feels like it'd be from a lot later than that. Like someone looking back at the past with regret. And seeing a loss of independence and control.

Y'know, with the perspective constantly changing between different points in Spamtons story, it sorta reminds me of Death of a Salesman. Except not as good.

Anyway Spamton brings us back to the present. Even if it's just for a moment.

GAS GAS GAS I'M GONNA STEP ON THE GAS (surprised how few playlists used these tbh)

Ok ok I know Business Man has nothing to do with Spamton aside from the title, but it's goofy and gives levels of suspicion that felt relevant >:)

I Really, Really, Really Like This Image comes off as a convo between Spamton and Gaster for some reason, and I really really really like that image in my head. Also Jevil is there at the end (ps the image is an image of an egg 😊)

I'm not sure if I can properly explain It's Still Rock and Roll To Me. Pre-bigshot era? Early bigshot era? Idk. It just feels like Spamton to me. Actually Billy Joel music in general seems to fit imo. Can't explain why. Just does.

Haha All Star hehehe!!! Oh DAng it's a cool place and they say it gets colder??? Snowgrave reference??????

I hope when you hear Doin it Right, you know what I WANTED to put there...

At first Baby Hotline felt like me inserting it for the heck of it, but the more I listen to it in the context of Spamton, it fits more. Being put on hold (literally as well as metaphorically), the implications of suicide/suicidal thoughts. There's also kind of an implication of someone rooting for Spamton to improve. (Which would probably be the player, but who knows)

Ngl Promised You A Miracle is a song I stole from my Mirror Man playlist. And it's not the only one. They both share themes of religion/heaven, changing your appearance to be perfect, becoming god/superior to others, and being seen and respected.

Easy Money is a late addition. I couldn't not add it. It's good.

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A

Temporary Secretary

(But seriously, can we agree that Temporary Secretary is definitely a Spamton song? It feels scummy, unsafe, DESPERATE, and dare I say unhinged. )

Cars by Gary Numan. That's all I have to say. It's cars. Spam man likes cars!

When adding Hanging On The Telephone, I had to choose between the Blondie version and the one by The Nerves. I chose the Blondie version. It was gayer.

OuiOui's First Crime was added because Peepy's Theme didn't fully capture how much people wanna baby this middle aged puppet. Also It's OuiOuis First Crime specifically to still show that as much as people love this guy, he isn't as innocent/nice as we sometimes want to make him out to be. He's scamming and killing people! Good for him!!!

Don't You Want Me is another song stolen from the Mirror Man playlist. I like to think in perspective of Spamton, this song has multiple layers. It's about Spamton actually being seen as someone important for once, him asking for reassurance that people want him, and threatening them if they don't. It's about Spamton getting more successful because of Gaster/Mike and wanting independence from them, causing his downfall. It's about teaming up with Kris to become BIG at the expense of Kris and potentially everyone in cybercity. It's about Spamton wanting the player to like and pity him. There's probably more connections that could be made than that even!

I'm too overwhelmed to comment too much more atm, but please know that at a certain point of making this and listening to it over and over trying get the order right, I momentarily mentally turned into Chris McLean from Total Drama. I will not elaborate lmao

#Spotify #spamton #deltarune #spamton g spamton #spamton neo #spotify playlist #It's nowhere near as good as the mm one but prob nothing will lol #I want everyone that listens to this to feel like they're getting hit by a truck

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komatsunana · 5 years ago

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The Chronicles of Exandria: The Mighty Nein I

And so I do what I did the last 2 times for the Vox Machina Chronicles of Exandria books, which you can read [here] and [here].

These posts by no means contain all of the information in these books, but plenty of what would most interest other fans. This is by no means a replacement for actually seeing the book.

My best guess on up to where this book spoils is episode 46. Anyone who has not watched passed 46 can read this without spoilers outside of vague references that don’t really matter.

First and foremost, as usual, the artistry is the most important part of the book. All of the lovely fan-created art work is even more beautiful in ink than on screen. This I promise you.

As has been noted by other people who have received the book, it is written as though it was transcribed by Beau’s journals by the Cobalt Soul. Some unnamed writer(s) from the Cobalt Reserve from Tal’Dorei have written all parts that are not excerpts from Beau’s journals. There are edits by Zeenoth, which indicate that the book is not a final draft. Zeenoth is not impressed by their work.

The books’ foreword is a dedication to critters. I won’t transcribe all of it but it ends, “As always, we are richer for your company. For truly, what good are stories unless they can be shared?”

Unlike the Vox Machina ones, which started with pages dedicated to Vox Machina and their adventures first before branching out for guest and NPCs, this one’s table of contents shows that everything is scattered.

The first section is dedicated to the Storyteller - accompanied by art of Matt as “The Storyteller.” An excerpt follows below:

“A story walks the land through the songs and tales of those who are touched by its heart. And then one day, long after all the players within have met the Matron, a story will be told for the very last time. Unless, by the Grace of the Storyteller, we are let to it. [...] Through Ioun’s blessing we make his favorite children immortal. You hold one of them in your hands even now. Wake it carefully.”

Thoreau contacted the Cobalt Soul immediately after Beau’s first arrest - presumably the one with Tori. As the monks took Beau away, Thoreau referred to her as “his misfortune.” It is also noted in the margins that Thoreau is a good friend to the Archive.

Unlike the rest of the M9 and characters, there are no excerpts about Beau herself from her journal... Because obviously she doesn’t need to take notes in herself. However the Cobalt Soul write their own notes about her and her reputation in the Cobalt Soul and note... more than a few times that Zeenoth thinks she is aggressive, stubborn, and quick to judge and anger and as a result they can’t put a lot of stock into her notes on other people. However, Dairon was right to put their trust in her because her insight in invaluable and is quick to call out injustice.

Beau’s note taking is exceptional - and color-coded.

Beau’s first notes about Molly is that he is “not that bright, definitely drunk, completely full of shit, and not nearly as good of a liar as he thinks he is. His outfit is loud, far louder than the man himself.” His coat contains iconography from at least half a dozen gods. Beau also noted that Molly’s swords were interesting to which the footnotes immediately made note that Molly’s swords were just swords. Beau thought, in her first impression of him, that he might be on the run from a family of Warlocks.

The librarians decided to omit all of Molly’s earlier lies that he told Beau and the group about his background, and instead only described the climbing out of the grave and only able to say “Empty” story. He had scars and 9 red eye tattoos on him at the time.

There are sketches of the tattoo in full, after Molly had added to it, but it’s noted by Beau that part of the tattoo is covered by Molly’s hair. Looking at the sketch, it is implied there are more tattoos on his scalp, rather than just the length covering it.

For Molly’s story of climbing out of the grave to be true, it means that Molly relearned to speak both Common and Infernal, learned to perform his skills and duties with the Carnival, covered his eye tattoos with additional, elaborate tattoos, befriended Yasha, and discovered his innate magic ability to use his blood to infuse his weapons with magic.

Beau had made a list of every book she knew Caleb had on his person or expressed interest in. This includes the erotic books and the 2 spellbooks.

On the spellbooks, Beau says she isn’t sure about them. One she knows is a spellbook, but she’s not sure on the other as he never opens it. She wonders if it is a journal of some kind.

There is a page on Beau’s notes in the first arc with the Fletching and Moondrop Carnival - notes about the victim and all her possible suspects of which it is everyone that is part of the carnival. All of them have a strike through their name, indicating she had eliminated each of them as a suspect at one point, including Kylre.

Among the notes she has, my favorites are that Beau thinks that everyone in the circus hates each other, never trust a clown (about Desmond), and that everyone has a title such as Molly “The Ice-Spinner” and Yasha “The Brute.” Beau also notes Yasha as being human.

Outside of Beau’s notes, the best information to be found about Shakästa “Hush” is from an anonymous book from Deastock titled “Heroic Deeds of the Golden Grin.” It is because of Beau’s notes that Hush is confirmed to be real, not a myth, once and for all.

Because of how cool Shakästa was with his cool bird, Beau notes “I gotta get a bird.” So we have him to thank for Professor Thaddeus.

Unknown what deity Shakästa draws power from.

Known members of the Tombtakers:

Lucien Nonagon (Molly)

Cree: currently employed by the Gentleman. Blood powers like Molly’s.

[A name which as been severely crossed out but looks like it says Tyffinl]: Currently said to be in Nogvurot.

Otis and Zoran: Still at large, whereabouts unknown

Jurrell: Deceased

Some lady spellcaster from Rexxentrum

The Myriad is currently gaining footholds in Tal’dorei as well. There is also a written notation by Zeenoth to cross reference the Myriad activity with the Tombtakers, indicating that he believes that the Tombtakers and the Myriad might be connected.

Cobalt Soul theorizes that the blood Cree claims the Gentleman took from the M9 to track them might be a new form of blood-based mutagenetic tracking.

Beau’s first impression of Nott and Caleb’s relationship was that Nott heaped praise on him and that there might be some sort of blood debt or magic going on.

Beau’s early theory on Caleb was that he was hiding from a criminal employer and had done a high-level theft. She made note to watch if he attempted to side-step certain kinds of work.

Everything about Caleb sounded like bad news to Beau, but because he stuck around to get her out of jail Beau comes to the conclusion that that’s endearing.

Beau has made an observation that Caleb was searching for some kind of information in a book, related to transmutation. She wonders if bartering to get him into the Cobalt Soul library will get her into his good graces, though she hopes he won’t find out that the library is technically open to all if you ask nicely.

There is an entry (in Beau’s second journal, it should be noted) were several pages were ripped out about Caleb. This indicates that Beau had written down Caleb’s backstory of killing his parents but she, Caleb, or someone else had ripped it out before it got into the hands of the Cobalt Soul. The Cobalt Soul draws the conclusion that Caleb is connected to organized crime. They are also unable to find anyone born with the name Caleb Widogast in the Empire and they believe it to be an alias.

There are written notations that say that at least one of the ripped out pages were recovered, in which Beau describes the night Caleb told her and Nott about killing his parents. Both mentions of Trent Ikathon’s name were crossed out until illegible. Beau was unconvinced that Caleb’s memories after killing his parents aren’t still jumbled (rather than missing).

Fun fact! All of the Caleb illustrations in his art section all either have fire or Frumpkin in them. Because when you boil down Caleb to his essentials that’s all I’m saying.

The strangest thing about the M9, as far as the Cobalt Soul is concerned, is that they have a goblin among their party.

Beau also wonders if Nott’s relationship with Caleb isn’t also out of love or blind loyalty. Upon finding out that Nott feels like the parental figure (rather than the other way around, as Beau had assumed) Beau wonders what it is that Nott wants Caleb to be stronger for... Revenge? Or to change herself.

Beau notes that while Nott might have named herself so to call herself not brave, Beau thinks she is pretty brave. She describes Nott diving into the water for Fjord’s arc twice (even if she complained the entire time) and Nott saving Jester from the blue dragon which “absolutely saved Jester’s life.” Nott is very focused on everyone remaining together as a team. Beau believes that while Nott’s loyalty to Caleb has not lessened, her loyalty to the rest of the party has extended to them all.

“I think we might all be her kids now. It’s kind of sweet, in a really weird way.”

Zeenoth is extremely salty their junior drew lots of buttons instead of researching the crossbow Nott got from Hupperdook.

A list of all phrases that Beau noted in her journals that Kiri had learned in her time with them.

Welcome to the Mighty Nein!

I am Kiri!

Yes, I am very sweet.

It’s sharp.

Ooh, I’m a captain.

Where do babies come from?

Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!

If it bleeds, we can kill it.

I killed people!

Get into trouble!

She’s probably a good egg.

Go fuck yourself.

Zeenoth is VERY upset about the word fuck and wants that entry removed.

Beau thinks Calianna is too polite.

Cobalt Soul believes there is at least one other bowl like the one Calianna destroyed with the M9.

Beau hopes they don’t pick up any more stragglers, as she thinks it is getting crowded.

Cobalt Soul theorizes about why Keg had a four o’clock shadow rather than a proper Dwarven beard, wondering if she wasn’t forced to shave. This indicates that beards are normal on female dwarves.

Beau thinks Shady Creek Run is so called because it’s full of shady criminals, but the Cobalt Soul notes that Shady Creek Run has a creek that is in near constant shade in the abundant pine trees.

On Molly’s death Beau says:

“Fuck. That went horribly. We lost Molly, and I don’t know what to do. [This part is crossed out: Maybe if I had-] I’m trying my best to stay objective.”

Beau also crosses out “I’m starting to like her” about Keg, and replaces it with “She’s fine, I guess.”

On Nila Beau says: “She said something really nice about Molly. How in her clan, someones spirit never leave you. They return to nature, and are forever by your side. I don’t know if I believe it, but I like the thought.”

Beau wants her own “lucky smell bag” that’ll make decisions for her.

The Blooming Grove was built post-Calamity.

Beau’s first impressions of Caduceus is that he is both grounded and flighty.

Because Caduceus hasn’t eaten meat or alcohol in the time she’s known him, she thinks he’s got to have some sort of vice.

Because of Beau’s talk with Caduceus after killing the blue dragon, Beau remarks that she likes her edge and doesn’t want to lose it and go soft. But maybe it is a better, more efficient way of doing things by being there for the M9. “Gross.”

There is a note in the margins telling the editor to contact Archivist Demid (AKA the guy studying the moons) for information on the Dust family. This indicates that he may have some special information.

Because of Jester’s defacing every town she visits, the Cobalt Soul has been able to track the M9′s movements.

The Cobalt Soul’s 2 working theories on the Traveler is that he’s a smaller/younger deity either from folk tales about a cloaked figure that either rewards or punishes heroes with a ironic twist OR a god of vandalism.

Zeenoth notes that if the Traveler IS a god of vandalism... they may have a secret follower in their ranks because of all the smut doodles in their books lately. Which of course Jester probably drew.

Beau says that as Jester told the group about her prank causing her to have to flee from Nicodranas she was full of her usual bubbliness... But was starting to see that there was underlying sadness in Jester.

Beau has known Jester has had a thing for Fjord since they first met, but after she got Tusk Love it became full-blown infatuation.

“Fjord seems super oblivious, though, which isn’t surprising for a man who occasionally wakes up covered in seawater and confusion.”

Beau stands by her and Jester’s purchase of the owl and blink dog, but she wonders how long the weasel is going to last in their line of work.

Beau wonders if it’s weird to be attracted to your friend’s mom and comes to the conclusion it is so she’ll back off... But the Ruby is smoking hot.

Beau can also see why people who want to release and evil god for Avantika. Not that she would. “She’s hot, but come on.”

No really new information on The Plank King is revealed in his section, but quite a bit is crossed out until illegible. This could detail what connection to the Cobalt Soul he has, but was redacted.

The Cobalt claims that while the M9 titled a leader, Fjord often took that position.

Beau is making direct reports on Fjord to the Cobalt Soul and his connection to Uk’otoa. In her latest report, she says that they’ve bought some time until their next trip to the sea............

Waiting for the rest of the M9 to come out of the Happy Fun Ball, after fighting the blue dragon, are among the rest worst few minutes of Beau’s life.

Beau believed Twiggy that she killed the blue dragon, in part because Caduceus believed her.

Beau accidentally writes “cute and dry” instead of “cut and dried” about Yasha’s background.

“For someone dressed in greys, who carries herself like a dark cloud, Yasha sure seems drawn to color and light. I wonder where it stems from.”

On Yasha being tested by the Stormlord by the “man made of lightning” the Cobalt Soul says it is not uncommon for the Stormlord to test his disciples through acts of physical, mental, or spiritual exertion.

The final notes by Zeenoth indicates that whoever wrote the book (outside of edits from Zeenoth himself and excerpts from Beau’s journals) were by someone from Tal’dorei. Who might it be? Someone we know?

#critical role #critical role: the mighty nein campaign #cr #the chronicles of exandria #critical role art book #i scream #my crit role feels #long post

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queennvirgo · 5 years ago

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1. emo punk

2. hot mulligan

3. financial independence/stability

4. it’s not living - the 1975

5. niki fm, it changes often. i like how niki fm switches from 6/8 time to 4/4 time and have to play it each time i’m driving.

6. panic

7. right now grayscale’s adornment

8. i have a pair of red fingerless fishnet gloves

9. tons, i’ve been collecting for years - my favorite current pieces are my MCR ouiji shirt and varials hoodie

10. i do not

11. right now my hairs natural, the last color i had was auburn. i also had bright red

12. i want to dye my hair pink when i graduate college

13. i have a crush on a drummer i know

14. never did that but i took a test and it said “symptom jumper” which is just a lovely representation of my bipolar ass

15. freshly, actually

16. yes, mostly lyrics and associated art

17. drums and vox, a bit of ukelele. the most base level guitar but i’m not good at it.

18. mama, lately i listen to na na na all the time tho

19. no i do like their music though

20. some songs, saw them live for the first time last year

21. not everyday, but when i do i love it and have tons of palettes. i also do SFX makeup

22. not in awhile but i plan to bring it back soon

23. spencer from ice nine kills, kurt cobain from nirvana, oceans ate alaska signed tour poster, mom jeans tour poster signed by eric

24. i have 6 and plan on getting at least two more this year

25. PTV is one of my favorite bands of all time, i fuck with SWS too and fucked with them first but not as intensely or as long. ATL basically invented my alternative music taste back in the day so

26. i mean I’m building my entire career around punk and metal music, i want to work in the industry with bands forever

27. dragons

28. i had a heavy bvb phase when i started college, and i’ve always loved andy

29. love. it comprises so much of what i listen to. MIDWEST EMO. hot mulligan, prince daddy & the hyena, mobo/tfb, free throw, kayak jones, mom jeans, safe bet, brand new, taking back sunday... the list goes on.

30. hardcore/metalcore

31. another band i wasn’t into when they were big but LOVE NOW

32. tell that mick. of their newew catalog i love american beauty/american psycho title track and the remix of it

33. i listen to a lot of other bands but MCR is god tier

34. waterparks is undermined by awsten’s ego, i like them but think theyre overrated. palaye royale i’m sure make good music i refuse for get into bc of how verbally abusive and fucked up members are. “choke” by idkhow is amazing and it’s their only song i know

35. LOVEEEE

36. extra large holiday card, chris from hot mulligan. one song released and it’s my anthem.

37. yes but like toned-down modern emo

38. i’ll show some in my next post.

39. black and light pink but not always together. green and red but not always together.

40. honestly this is too hard a question to answer off the top of my head

41. the black parade

42. paramore is actually a band I’ve listened to since i was young. green day are legends and popularized pop punk giving so many bands the opportunity to shine on radio, plus they give back to the community to this day and billie embodies punk ethos <3 blink are ... not technically amazing but certainly write some bops and their influence on pop punk and so many of us is undeniable, i feel similarly about sum 41 and others in that bracket. even ATL. their lyrics seemed a lot better when i was a kid. with some exceptions, i still think weightless and therapy are timeless and very good. but they’re catchy, relatable, and most importantly they’re so much of the reason i’m so invested this genre in the first place. for that reason alone they’re always gonna be one of my faves, just because it’s not as lyrically or instrumentally complex as i may look for now that doenst mean it’s not good.

RAWRING 20s ASKS

I made some asks! Have fun!

1. Are you more emo, scene or punk?

2. Favourite band?

3. Any New Year's resolutions?

4. Favourite music video?

5. Favourite song?

6. Panic! At The Disco or Fall Out Boy?

7. Favourite album?

8. Do you own a pair of fingerless gloves or skeleton gloves (or the combination)?

9. Do you own any band merch? If so, from what bands?

10. Got a jacket with pins?

11. Have you got dyed hair? What colour?

12. Any hair dying or haircut plans for 2020?

13. Crush on any band member?

14. Killjoy name?

15. Are you into The Used?

16. Do you want any tattoos? Of what?

17. Can you play any instruments? Which?

18. Favourite My Chemical Romance song?

19. Do you think Twenty One Pilots are emo?

20. Are you into Taking Back Sunday?

21. Do you wear any make up?

22. Do you have black painted nails?

23. Have you got any band posters? Of what bands?

24. Do you want any piercings?

25. What's your opinion on All Time Low? Sleeping With Sirens? Pierce The Veil?

26. Do you think it's just a phase or that you'll be emo/punk\scene forever?

27. Favourite magical/mythical creature?

28. Are you into Black Veil Brides?

29. Do you like any newer emo/scene/punk bands? Which?

30. What's your favourite music genre besides emo/punk\scene?

31. Are you into Mindless Self Indulgence?

32. Favourite Fall Out Boy song?

33. Are you mostly into the so-called "emo trinity" or "emo quartet" or do you listen to a lot of other bands too?

34. What's your opinion on Waterparks? Palaye Royale? I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME?

35. Are you into Bring Me The Horizon?

36. Favourite solo project by a emo/scene\punk band member?

37. Are any of your friends IRL emo/scene\punk?

38. Are you into drawing? If so, show some of your art!

39. Favourite colours and colour schemes?

40. What are some of your favourite lyrics?

41. The Black Parade or Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge?

42. What's your opinion on Paramore? Green Day? Blink-182?

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sweetest--melody · 8 years ago

Note

ALL O' THEM PROPTS LES GO

LETS DO THIS

🌜: Favourite song(s)?

I have a lot of them! My most recent is In The Garden by Red Vox, but I’m also a huge fan of Basket Case by Green Day, Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, Africa by Toto, Bat Country by Avenged Sevenfold, Beast and the Harlot by Avenged Sevenfold, Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters, Burden in my Hand by Soundgarden, and Did I Let You Know by Red Hot Chili Peppers

🥓:Favourite movie(s)?

I still stand to thinking that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is one of my favorite all-time movies, with so much visual flare and great writing and direction, its incredible GO AND WATCH IT. Resevoir Dogs, The Shining, and The Pianist are also incredible and I highly recommend them to all of you. If you want something more comedic though, The Cornetto Trilogy of films all have the same flair and production value as Scott Pilgrim so go watch those too.

🎱: Favourite TV show(s)?

Avatar: The Last Airbender, Samurai Jack (thank god for the new season bringing that back to my memory, its SO GOOD), Rick & Morty, and BoJack Horseman!

💃: Height measurement?

Real talk, I haven’t taken mine in like four years so I have no idea

🌎: Dream holiday location?

Just somewhere visually beautiful, both natural and man-made. The rolling hills of Scottland, Ireland with its flowers and botanical gardens, Paris the city that shines like the stars at night, anything like that.

🦑:Favourite weather?

Dark, cloudy, promises of rain or snow on the horizon but not quite here. Nice and cool, grey skies. I like to sit inside with a nice hot coffee or tea and just look out the window at the clouds on days like that.

🌈: Sexuality?

youtube

🐲:Favourite video game(s)?

Wind Waker, Fallout: New Vegas, anything Kirby, Rainbow Six: Siege, Breath of the Wild, any of those rhythm games with the fake plastic instruments so Guitar Hero or Rock Band, Banjo-Kazooie, Bayonetta, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, Nuclear Throne, and so many more I probably am not remembering!

👾: Any fandoms you part of?

I use the Rainbow 6 Reddit a lot and make Siege memes sometimes, does that count?

💩: Biggest fear(s)?

Being alone or forgotten. But honestly its happened to me so much, I guess I’m not as afraid of it anymore, except for the looming threat of it happening permanently I guess. Dying alone with no friends and nobody to mourn would be a better description, but at the same time I don’t want anyone to mourn, yknow? I don’t know, I’m weird.

👽: Favourite book/comic(s)?

I’m… Actually not a big reader. Like, at all. Nearly everything I remember ever reading was from elementary school.

👑:Biggest idol?

I have two of them! Dave Grohl and Jack Black! Two incredibly gifted musicians (though one is more of an actor) with incredible, funny, and likeable personalities!

🙉: Tell me a secret?

Its not that it would make me uncomfortable, its that I think that going the way that we want to isn’t a smart idea because all of those old fears and anxieties and problems would still be there or even come back worse. There’s a reason why we are where we are now. Really its not that I want to forget, or that I hate you, because I don’t. I’m just afraid.

Remember that post about the giant toad written to the tune of Boulevard of Broken Dreams? Well I tried to write out an entire song based on it and make an audio joke from it. It was awful and I trashed it immediately.

🕸: Favourite food(s)?

God damn I love me some grilled shrimp, season it right and hoo boy.

💫:Single or taken?

Very very single

💥: Ever got in a fight?

Once in middle school. It didn’t last very long…

🌵:Done any drugs?

Does smoking pot once and not liking it count?

🦄: Got any talents?

I like to sing and play guitar, but I’m not very good at them but I can edit and play the plastic drums like a motherfucker.

👅: Follow any religions or beliefs?

Why is this one the tongue emoji wtf No, I don’t actually. The universe in infinite with infinite possibilities.

👻:Country you live in?

🤡: What are you currently wearing?

Tee-shirt and sweatpants. I woke up late and am answering these from bed lol Last night was hell.

💲:Last thing you bought?

Nothing big, just a coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

💯: Best gift you ever received?

A very close friend of mine sent me a fucking desktop computer, and I am still eternally grateful for that!

⚜️:Name your 3 favourite tumblr blogs!

Hard mode: No mutuals allowed cause they would ALWAYS have these on lockdown. @valentinakerman @new-gin-clever-title-goes-here @revscarecrow

🔮: Any paranormal experiences?

Not really. They say the place I work at is haunted but like… It’s totally not? Like everything that seems paranormal is literally just wind, like I can hear it blowing before the stuff happens every time.

💻: Best pickup line?

I don’t really know any and nobody has ever used one on me, so TO GOOGLE

“ Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile. “ OMG THAT IS ADORABLE

🐮: Favourite animal(s)?

100% the Capybara. Just look at this thing.

I identify with this thing on a spiritual level.

🌸:Speak any languages?

Just English. I thought I was getting better at Italian for a while but I just kinda… picked up some phrases that my family used and that’s it.

🐙: How long is your hair?

Pretty long actually. Shit goes past my shoulder blades.

🍙: Selfie?

why do i feel like my eyes look super fucked up at this angle

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dustedmagazine · 8 years ago

Text

Dust Vol. 3, Number 3

A little past Valentine’s Day, midway through the winter, we interrupt our regular schedule to present a series of short reviews of albums that have caught our interest in these short, dark anxious days. There’s a posthumous EP from the Thin White Duke, a jangly solo effort from Ought’s Tim Darcy, a study in American primitivism from Joseph Allred, a bit of costume party revelry from Gorilla Mask and a slice of latter day jangle pop from the Courtneys, among others. Contributors this time include Ian Mathers, Bill Meyers, Justin Cober-Lake, Derek Taylor and Jennifer Kelly. Make a cup of tea, turn the heat up and dig in.

David Bowie — No Plan EP (Columbia/Sony)

youtube

The headline, of course, is that this the last(!) new(!) material from David Bowie before his death, and that’s true as far as it goes. It’s also true that one of these four songs was already released on ★, and the other three were included both in Bowie’s musical Lazarus and twice on the cast recording of the show (once by the case, once on the bonus disc in the versions found here). But whether you take the stance that this release is essential or deeply redundant, it confirms two things: Bowie still had plenty left in the tank when he passed (whether or not these three songs would have found their way to the album he wanted to make next), and his curatorial instincts were still firmly intact. Whatever work the songs here do in the musical, they would have made for an odd fit with the compressed, keening, weird melancholy tracks that make up ★ and would have been the weakest material there (the majestic, keenly felt “Lazarus” excepted, of course).

That doesn’t make them scraps or afterthoughts, it’s just that they’re more on par with more prosaic material from The Next Day instead. The title track is another in a series of wavering elegies later-period Bowie has been mostly nailing since, let’s say, “Thursday’s Child” in 1999. It’s immediately contrasted with the insistent, grinding guitar of “Killing a Little Time,” a song that is the most conventionally “rock” thing Bowie did in 2016, although the closing “When I Met You” comes close. That last track is mostly notable for being an unusually direct song of love and devotion from Bowie; it’s hard to hear it and not assume it’s about Iman in some part. It’s a lovely note to go out on, and probably more true to Bowie’s existence at the end than the more self-consciously iconic (and tremendously powerful) “I Can’t Give Everything Away;” after all, he was fighting to keep living and working until the end.

Ian Mathers

The Few —Fragments of a Luxury Vessel LP (Two Cities Records)

Fragments of a Luxury Vessel by The Few

Some music falls into the cracks, but that’s where The Few finds space to navigate. The Chicago-based trio of guitarist Steve Marquette, bassist Charlie Kirchen and violinist/vocalist Macie Stewart has ties to both inside and outside jazz traditions as well as song-based rock and their acoustic instrumentation invites folk comparisons as well. Marquette’s Bailey-esque crabwalks on “Do You Still?” and stark harmonics on “Variations on ‘The Truth Is Marching In’” confirm his familiarity with no-net improvisation, but even though the music is freely played it doesn’t conform to any idiomatic proscriptions against tonal melody. And while Kirchen cuts some bold, Mingus-like shapes in the foreground of “Foot Fall,” the flamenco-like guitar flourishes and Stewart’s parallel streams of vocalized and long bowed tones put it in a context where dreamlike flow counts more than swing.

Bill Meyer

Tim Darcy—Saturday Night (Jagjaguwar)

youtube

Tim Darcy, the front man from Ought, wields a sharp guitar and a wobbly voice to great effect, channeling the oddball earnestness of Gordon Gano, the woozy pop surrealism of Jeff Magnum. Saturday Night is his first solo album, recorded at around the same time as Ought’s denser Sun Coming Down, but stripped of aura and overtone and guitar effects to reveal a jaunty pop core. (The Ought song that this album most resembles, as others have noted, is “Beautiful Blue Sky.”) Thus “Tall Glass of Water” rips and struts and slashes with pop-punk bravado, while intimating vulnerability in the tremble of the words. “You Felt Comfort” blares more dissonantly (and it’s this one that reminds you of Neutral Milk Hotel), but around a sweet, heartening tune; it’s a rampage with a fetching smile. The song stretch out and grow weirder after the midway point. The title track slips some abrasive bowing into its disconsolate mix, with Darcy muttering “I wish I’d run away sooner…to save time,” but it sounds to me like he got out at exactly the right moment.

Jennifer Kelly

Gorilla Mask – Iron Lung (Clean Feed)

Gorilla Mask strikes a precarious balance of costume party extroversion and dialed-in intensity on Iron Lung. Theirs is pile-driving, peel-out-on-a-dime music that wastes nothing in the way of quarter given to skeptical neophyte listener or avaricious industry suit. Altoist Peter Van Huffel punches, jabs, ducks and weaves from his reed like a jacked-up cousin to John Zorn, riding the tight, pounding metrics of drummer Rudi Fischerlehner and liquid mercury electric bass lines of Roland Fidezius that often also rely on fuzz pedal and delay. “Before I Die” has the sweaty basement door gig flavor Boston-era Vandermark, a head-bobbing backbeat bolstered by detours into Echoplex dub. “THUMP!” divines memories of the sort of circumscript, drain-circling jams that were the purview of SoCal punk jazz pioneers Bazooka while “Crooked” projects Brötzmann-worthy peals of pathos above a pulsing mallets-driven processional. The German power trio proves better suited to the former context as the fire-stoking title track also beautifully and implacably bears witness, but who’s to fault them for trying to beat their chests outside the box.

Derek Taylor

Joseph Allred—Fire & Earth LP (Scissor Tail Records)

Fire and Earth by Joseph Allred

There’s more than one mountain to climb in American Primitive guitar territory, and Joseph Allred favors the holy one. Like Robbie Basho, he totes a 12-string guitar, augments his playing with other instruments and some line-in-the-sand singing, and uses his music to convey mystical and nature-dazzled themes. But he’s no copycat. Instead of feverish exaltation and slack-jawed awe, he expresses humility and a more measurable appreciation for his subjects. And some of his recurrent instrumental effects do not come from Basho’s playbook at all; the blurry tremolo effect he employs on “Holy Blue Window” and “A Waltz for Winter” recalls the early work of James Blackshaw. On two of the album’s nine tracks, Allred sets his guitar aside to play harmonium. “Musica Humana” is so closely recorded that you can hear him hum subliminally along with the melody while his feet work the pedals. It feels as intimate as the thoughts of a true nature lover communing with the divine during a long afternoon walk through the woods. Allred lifts his voice just once, on the hymn-like “Useless Air.” His high quaver is not as easy to embrace as his strumming, but the song’s prayerful quality is of a piece with the rest of the album.

Bill Meyer

The Courtneys – The Courtneys II (Flying Nun)

youtube

The Courtneys' aptly named second album has found the proper label, matching the history that the Canadian trio mines for their pop-rock. Flying Nun pillars like the Clean stand as sonic predecessors — there's still a bit of jangle here and a bit of pop and a particular sort of rock that touches on but isn't limited to its late 1980s and early 1990s roots. The group hints at a fuzziness it never quite dips into. At times, particularly in the second half of the album, the Courtneys reach more toward Sonic Youth, but this group never loses a brightness of tone that keeps a pop sound to even its more driving numbers. “Virgo” shows the anxious undercurrent of the band's music and while it hurtles along, it never dips into darker sounds.

That sort of edge keeps the album from leaning too far toward bubblegum. The group writes fantastic melody after melody, a sort of bright punkiness carried by a stream of hooks. “Silver Velvet” is a new teen love anthem, a little goofy and a little resistant, but completely given to its own ends. Like that opener, much of the album is fit to go over well when sung either in a safely grungy club or in a similarly half-cleaned bedroom.

Justin Cober-Lake

Tim Daisy—Red Nation “1” (Relay Recordings)

Tim Daisy [] Red Nation "1" (relay 018) by red nation

It has been a long time since you could just call Tim Daisy a jazz drummer.

Consider the classically steeped themes he has written and the marimba melodies he has played in the ensemble Vox Arcana, or the radio captures that he releases into the electrified environment of Ken Vandermark’s Made To Break; he’s a fully ledged agent of sonic and aesthetic diversity. Consider also that he helps program Option, an improviser’s salon at Chicago’s Experimental Sound Studio and runs Relay Recordings; Daisy is an unstinting contributor to Chicago creative music scene, which has thrived despite the soul-corrosion and economic stress of 21st century American disaster capitalism.

Maybe it’s not a total bust to live in these times. In the mid-20th century, it took considerable institutional support for the pioneers of musique concrete to make music that sounds like Red Nation “1.” Daisy was able to make the album in just two days without a single overdub by drumming along with stuck and triggered records and was able to get it from the recording studio to a finished silver CD in just 30 more. Being his own label boss means that his business practices can be as instantaneous as his playing, which synthesizes composition and improvisation into music that is spontaneous, witty and complete. “The Drunken Captain” is anchored by a hard-to-source electronic lurch that vividly evokes the gait of the titular skipper, who miraculously never quite trips over the streams of distorted piano and restlessly searching snare action that crisscrosses his path. And on “Shadows Play” and “Beats for an Owl,” Daisy plays spare and evolving beat patterns around layers of remorselessly rotating sound.

Why red? Daisy isn’t making any sort of political statement, he just likes the color, and sometimes when you’re your own boss you get to do what you like.

Bill Meyer

#dust #david bowie #the few #tim darcy #gorilla mask #joseph allred #the courtneys #tim daisy #ian mathers #bill meyer #jennifer kelly #derek taylor #justin cober-lake

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omegalomania · 4 years ago

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i was tagged by both the delightful @ofalltheginjoints and @ybcpatrick so it’s time for me to do a GAME about MUSIC because i love them both <3 song titles are bolded because i ramble lol

1. favorite song at the moment.

in the interest of not making literally every answer to this thing a fob track, i will sayyyyyyy i’ve looped east jesus nowhere by green day entirely too many times so let’s go with that one. honestly i’ve had the entirety of 21st century breakdown on repeat for like the whole past week (shoutout to viva la gloria/little girl and peacemaker).

2. a song you associate with your favorite ship.

fun fact about me! i dont have any ships. like literally none, neither real nor fictional or anything in-between. i simply do not care enough.

so ill pick a good friendship song instead. an act of kindness by bastille is a go-to for me when it comes to one of my favorite dynamics, which is “someone who thinks they are monstrous and irredeemable is treated with unfailing compassion and understanding by someone who Gets It” - i won’t tack any names to this, but it’s a dynamic i’ve written in original works and played out in RP circles and it’s routinely formed into a sort of “adoptive parent and child” platonic relationship that i treasure very deeply.

3. a song that could be about you.

it’s a cliche buuuut...disloyal order of water buffaloes by fall out boy. for a lot of reasons. lyrically and musically it just speaks to me in a lot of different ways. struggles with self-identity and mental health and how that’s executed through what i create. even small, specific pieces - coming to terms with being aromantic in a world that puts such a premium on romance in virtually every respect, developing trauma from brushes with US law enforcement, what it meant to grow up as a mixed kid and not always know where i fit, watching people i love succumb to substance abuse and get clean and relapse and get clean and relapse - it all binds itself together into something that taps very deeply into how i look at myself. it’s one of those songs that restructured me on a very base level over time and the more i go back to it the more of myself i see in it. sorry, long answer and i waxed stupid lyrical here but...it’s an important song to me, as i’m sure is now obvious lmao

4. a song you think is overrated.

probably gonna get burned at the stake for this but tbh? mama by my chem. it simply does not do it for me sorry!

5. a song that reminds you of a good memory.

never been in love by will jay. i had this song sent to me by a very dear friend of mine. they aren’t aro but had often sat through many of my frustrations and vents about what it was to be aro and sympathized. they were extremely excited to send me this song with the message “oh my god z IT’S AN ARO POP SONG” and the delight i felt in hearing this song for the first time was only second to knowing i had this friend who thought of me and wanted me to hear it.

6. the last song you listened to.

bishops knife trick by fall out boy. i’ve been listening to mania on a loop for like the past four days because I’ve Been Having A Time.

7. a song that makes you laugh.

between the cheeks of love by red vox. yes it’s a song that is about exactly what you think it’s about. don’t listen to it without headphones, it’s VERY MUCH NSFW AS A HEADS-UP but my god does it earn its four minutes of pure audio batshit. the man hired a gospel singer for this. it’s incredible.

8. a song you want your mutuals to listen to.

i know people out there have some very diverse tastes so i’ll cheat do a wee little grab bag of what’s been rattling around in my head lately. listen to all or none of them as you desire!

disco! in the panic room by bug hunter - bouncy, upbeat acoustic tune about the spiraling anxiety thought patterns that can often plague you as a creator, and what it means to make things purely for yourself.

drugs by EDEN - turbulent, melodic edm that serves as an excellent sonic and lyrical representation of a mental breakdown. there are deeper cuts from EDEN i could plug here but this is one of his more well-known. but in general if you like this you’ll definitely like his other stuff and i heartily recommend it.

devil’s face by nova twins - gritty, delicious punk rock. nova twins are an excellent duo and i’d recommend anything by them. i particularly love this track for its frantic pace and how just barely in control it sounds, perfectly reflective of what it calls to mind lyrically.

temporary bliss by the cab - yeah you all know who the cab is. angel with a shotgun band blah blah blah but they do legitimately have some incredible stuff in their discography and this song is probably my favorite of theirs. swelling alt-rock with an orchestral bent about a tumultuous relationship.

the louisville shuffle (rip) by sarah and the safe word - think 20′s-era cabaret jazz put through a modern punk-adjacent blender. like a lot of sarah and the safe word’s work, this song has kind of a theatrical, narrative element woven into it and who doesn’t love that kind of thing? it’s delectable.

redemption by red handed denial - cinematic metal track about the importance of self-forgiveness and, perhaps obviously, redemption, and what it means to no longer be the person you were. honestly i recommend this entire album, it’s fantastic.

TAGGING: @infintyonhigh @clusterhugmp3 @luvselfishluv @stumph aaaaand you! if you also want to do it! i won’t discriminate!!

#*making poasts #also consensus on the songs u guys posted on ur own questionnaires #the mtrench song was interesting! i havent listened to a ton of mtrench #i liked the ending most i think #the bad suns song was rIGHT up my alley and im interested in checking them out more i think :V

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caveartfair · 7 years ago

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15 Emerging Illustrators Every Art Lover Should Know

What separates illustration from art? For most emerging illustrators, the answer is complicated.

“I’m not really sure there is a major distinction—boundaries between artistic practices are increasingly and refreshingly blurry,” says Brooklyn-based illustrator and painter Sam Kalda. Milan-based Olimpia Zagnoli agrees: “I’m not really interested in dividing my work into separate boxes. I’m interested in doing good work and cultivating my curiosity for things.”

While illustration has traditionally referred to drawing commissioned for media and advertising, times are clearly changing. And no longer confined to paper sketchpads and print publications alone, contemporary illustrators are indeed expanding their toolkit, techniques, and the range of projects they’re pursuing. Some stick to pencils and paint, but others employ Photoshop brushes, the new and improved iPad Pro, and animation software.

Below, we highlight 15 young illustrators pushing the medium forward, whether through obsessive drawings of cats, anime-inspired gifs, or satirical portraits of Donald Trump.

Panteha Abareshi

Panteha Abareshi, It's All Excruciating, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Panteha Abareshi, Just Cut It Out, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

“My pieces are an encapsulation and depiction of my struggles and my feelings, literally inspired by my daily experiences with depression and anxiety,” Abareshi says. In one recent work, The Problem Is On The Inside!, Abareshi drawsa young woman whose face is split down the middle, revealing a pink brain and bright red innards; she wears a pairs of blood-drenched scissors as an earring.

The young illustrator, who recently started her freshman year at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design, began to realize she could pursue illustration as a career while receiving her GED, a path which she took “because my mental and physical health made it impossible to function in the traditional high school setting,” she says. Drawing not only provided her an emotional outlet, but also a sense of fulfillment: “I had never experienced loving the act of doing something, despite failures and disappointment with the pieces I was making,” she says of her practice.

Daiana Ruiz

Illustration by Daiana Ruiz. Courtesy of the artist.

Ruiz’s muses are strong, chic, acrobatic women. In one of her graphic illustrations, her female subject dances and hoists a boa constrictor high in the air, dressed to the nines in a peach jumpsuit and sizable bronze accessories. The artist defies the tall, lanky frames which have traditionally filled fashion illustrations and magazines, rendering her figures in a vast range of skin tones and body types. In step, she has become a go-to illustrator for brands and projects looking to celebrate women, body positivity, and diversity.

This past year, Riposte Magazine commissioned Ruiz to illustrate an article titled “Self-Care as Warfare.” The digital drawings which accompany it show two bendy women who truly know how to multitask—they stare confidently at the reader while striking yoga poses and applying perfume. The Buenos Aires-based artist also recently teamed up with Cartoon Network for its PowerpuffYourself.com project, in which a number of artists around the world created their own version of the pint-sized cartoon female superheroes. As Ruiz explains, the project “demonstrates that everyone can embody the spirit of The Powerpuff Girls, regardless of gender, race, or creed.” Her own adaptation depicts a new POC member of the team—the three original Powerpuff girls are all white.

Shawna X

Shawna X, How Much Do I Love You. Courtesy of the artist.

Shawna X, I Still Love You. Courtesy of the artist.

Filled with rich gradients and hues borrowed from Hawaiian sunsets and heat maps, Shawna X’s illustrations look like they might burst into flames at any moment. Warmth emanates from the the artist’s work, which has recently surfaced in hypnotizing collaborations with Adidas and Samsung. For the former, she conceived banners and courts for the Adidas x USA Volleyball High Performance Championship, as well as created a “girl gang floor mural” in Los Angeles’s Griffith Park in support of women’s equality.

The Portland-born, Brooklyn-based illustrator cites a smattering of inspirations, from “the aftermath of a dimsum lunch” to “the way a shadow is cast on water” and the eccentric novelist Richard Brautigan. Sometimes, the ups and downs of the creative process itself provide fodder. The artist’s recent public mural collaboration with Portland nonprofit Forest for the Trees depicts a naked woman submerged in water on one side of the mural, and rising to her feet on the other. The figures represent “the dive into a rut/depression and a rise again to inspiration,” she explains on her website.

Sophie Koko Gate

Illustration by Sophie Koko Gate. Courtesy of the artist.

“I’ve never really seen myself as an illustrator,” notes London-based Koko Gate. “Once I was able to make my illustrations move, that’s when I knew I had found my calling!” Gate was 21 at the time. Since then, her animations—filled with figures whose googly eyes, angular bodies, and very large mouths gyrate and occasionally explode into pieces—have popped up with regularity on The Guardian, as well in special projects for Airbnb, Vox, and MTV.

In a recent collaboration with Lena Dunham, Gate brings to life a conversation between the actress-filmmaker and her father, the painter Carroll Dunham. They ponder the question: “How are you feeling about the extinction of white men?” The animation concludes when an oblivious pink man-monster is squashed by a giant high heel.

Gate often reaches outside her own field when on the hunt for inspiration. Ceramicists like Hans Coper and Lucie Rie have informed her approach to shape and form. Science, too, offers a trove of visual stimulation: “Anything under a microscope, plankton, the little mites that live in your eyelashes” have all jarred fresh ideas, she says. But the artist does concede that some animators have inspired her path, particularly Sesame Street’s Sally Cruikshank and Faith Hubley, and claymation guru Jan Švankmajer.

Angelica Hicks

Illustration by Angelica Hicks. Courtesy of the artist.

Hicks’s cheeky illustrations—with their blend of no-holds-barred wit, wordplay, pop culture savvy, and art-historical innuendo—have popped up on Manhattan and Milan walls, couture t-shirts, and many an Instagram feed. The young London- and New York-based illustrator’s work has graced the pages of the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar US, and Vogue UK, but it was a 2017 collaboration with Gucci that catapulted her career. The Milan-based couture house tapped Hicks to create illustrations for a series of t-shirts that poke light fun at the fashion world—and at Gucci’s signature items, in particular. One shows three plump loaves of bread decorated with the label’s logo, rebranded as “GUCCI LOAF-ERS.”

This year also marks the publication of Hicks’s first book, Tongue in Chic. One illustration shows a half-topless Frida Kahlo, accompanied by the phrase: “FRIDA NIPPLE!” In another diptych, we see two coffee cups. One bears the likeness of a young Leonardo diCaprio with the description “LEO DECAF-RIO,” while its partner mug is labeled “ARIANA’S GRANDE.”

Jack Dylan

Jack Dylan, A Song of Love and Fire, created for the Pop Montreal Festival. Courtesy of the artist.

Illustration from Jack Dylan's recent series chronicling the Trump presidency. Courtesy of the artist.

“Lately, I’m most inspired by my neighborhood of Fort Greene,” he says. “It’s cats, people, gardens, and beautiful brownstones.” One recently posted gif, captioned “Dance of the cat naps,” depicts Dylan’s own felines—one black, one orange—as they snooze in different spots on his bed.

Dylan excels at translating the scenes that surround him—whether his everyday life in Brooklyn or the political environment looming over it—into charming, sweetly humorous drawings. Like many artists, he’s also been affected by the Trump administration. One series of drawings (which Dylan is in the process of turning into a book titled I’m President and You’re Not) pokes fun at POTUS’s hubris. “I’m happy with the way I draw Trump,” Dylan says. “He’s like a fat little beetle with tiny arms and legs.”

The Canada-born creative also works extensively with publications and brands, as both an illustrator and art director (in another manifestation of his cat obsession, Dylan named his design studio Meow Magazine). Recently, he contributed an animated video for Architectural Digest in which actress Jenny Slate describes her childhood bedroom and dream home to fashion designer and man-about-town Derek Blasberg. He has also contributed illustrations to Pitchfork and art direction expertise to Esquire and Popular Mechanics.

Sam Kalda

Sam Kalda, Boyle Heights, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

Sam Kalda, Illustration of Paul Klee from Of Cats and Men, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

This spring, Kalda celebrated his first book, which is about famous men who happen to share a deep love for cats. Released by Ten Speed Press, Of Cats and Men assembles detailed portraits of Nikola Tesla, Winston Churchill, Andy Warhol, and others alongside their favorite felines. These, and all of Kalda’s drawings, radiate warmth and humanity through his inclusion of intimate details: a paint-splattered coat, an open book forgotten on a coffee table, or a half-empty glass of wine. It’s an approach that has attracted an impressive range of publications and brands. He has worked extensively with the New York Times, which has published some 45 of Kalda’s animations alongside its “Meditation for Real Life” series. Lately, the South Dakota-born, Brooklyn-based artist is immersed in illustrating a children’s book about the first moon landing, slated to publish this fall.

Olimpia Zagnoli

Illustration by Olimpia Zagnoli. Courtesy of the artist.

Zagnoli’s bold, Pop-inspired style stands out—even in a sea of hurried New York City commuters. “Henri Matisse is my spiritual guide when it comes to color,” the artist notes, also citing Saul Steinberg (“the Elvis of illustration”) and Pablo Picasso (the one who “really makes me cry”) as influences.

In 2014, the city’s mass transit system hired the young, Milan-based illustrator to design a poster that was showcased in subway platforms and cars across the five boroughs. Riders were treated to one of Zagnoli’s typically fabulous characters—a woman with a neon red hair wearing a bright green turtleneck and big sun-yellow hoop earrings, each bearing the words “New York.”

In May of this year, Milan’s Antonio Colombo Gallery hosted “How To Eat Spaghetti Like a Lady,” featuring a dozen illustrations responding to a series of photos from a 1942 issue of LIFE Magazine meant to instruct women how to properly eat a plate a spaghetti. (Zagnoli’s women show that “they’re free to enjoy a plate of spaghetti however the fuck they want,” she says.) This month, the artist also launches her second collaboration with the Italian fashion brand Marella, which has covered its Fall/Winter collection with patterns designed by the illustrator.

Sara Andreasson

Illustration by Sara Andreasson. Courtesy of the artist.

After several years of illustration for clients like Wired, Selfridges, Nike, and Tumblr—for whom she illustrated a Drake playlist—Andreasson has lately been taking “a much needed break from commissioned work,” she says. This past summer, she focused on her personal drawing practice while traveling across the U.S. (Andreasson is Swedish and based in London). The resulting illustrations, which can be seen on her Instagram feed, depict risk-taking women and explosive, untamed house plants rendered in her signature palette of cool tangerines, hot pinks, and calming periwinkles.

In between commercial gigs and her personal drawing practice, Andreasson also makes time for a steady stream of collaborations with friends and fellow creatives. She works regularly with director-animator Anna Ginsburg on animated films; edits an independent all-female/queer magazine, BBY, with Josefine Hardstedt; and shares a studio with several of her favorite illustrators (and close friends) Hattie Stewart, Lynnie Z, and Annu Kilpeläinen.

Tomi Um

Tomi Um, Harry’s crowd scene. Art direction by Garrett Morri. Courtesy of the artist.

Tomi Um, Harry’s studio scene. Art direction by Garrett Morri. Courtesy of the artist.

How do you convince a generation of young people to buy their beds on the internet? You enlist the vision of a creative like South Korean, Brooklyn-based Um, whose ad campaign for Casper mattresses has been an urban-commuter favorite since 2015. Her sweet, playful drawings depict all manner of creatures (mustachioed koalas, vampires, bookworms, even Bob Ross) tucking into bed.

Um originally moved to New York to pursue her BFA at Parsons, and the city has provided constant stimulation. “I like to people-watch, try to read their expressions, and see how they carry themselves,” she says. The spoils of this pastime show up across her work, which captures the chaos, energy, and diversity of busy, urban spaces. In a recent campaign for Harry’s Razors, an illustration by Um shows an aerial view of a city street packed with men—all lathered with shaving cream—who are running, cycling, surfing, directing traffic, walking dogs, and fighting fires. Um has also contributed to publications such as The Atlantic, Curbed, and FiveThirtyEight, and is currently working on a mural and a children’s picture book. (Full disclosure: Um’s illustration work was recently commissioned by Artsy as part of a partnership with Bombay Sapphire.)

Cristina Daura

Cristina Daura, Illustration for Eat Street. Courtesy of the artist.

Cristina Daura, Illustration for the project #BorraelSida with PlayGround magazine and La Fundació Lluita contra el Sida. Courtesy of the artist.

Barcelona-based Daura’s illustrations read like contemporary cautionary tales rendered in a hyper-saturated palette. Take one poster from a recent series Daura made for the Barcelona nightclub Razamatazz: A melting smiley face covers the face of a girl at its center. Below, a pair of young women play polo atop blindfolded horses, their mallets bursting into flame.

Daura isn’t always as dystopic, but her images always lean toward the surreal. One, called Cats and Plants / Plants and Cats / and a volcano, shows a smiling black feline (a recurring character across Daura’s work) holding a fern in its mouth. The creature floats next to a stoic girl whose features are shrouded by an anthropomorphic plant sprig (it, too, sports a smiley face). Behind them, a volcano erupts with a lotus blossom.

Daura’s inspirations are eclectic, from cult cartoonist R. Crumb to Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, novelist and cartoonist Phoebe Gloeckner, and Catalan Romanesque art. The bold, darkly humorous style that results has led to commissions from local Barcelona music festivals, magazines, and AIDS awareness organizations, as well as international publications like the New York Times and The New Yorker, who have both commissioned her work.

Daniel Zender

Daniel Zender, Illustration for the New Yorker. Courtesy of the artist.

Daniel Zender, Illustration for the New York Times. Courtesy of the artist.

Zender’s paintings and illustrations are laced with cinematic drama: Eyes shine from behind screens of smoke, and the glow of roaring flames illuminate screaming faces. It’s no surprise, then, that the Brooklyn-based artist looks to film for inspiration: “I have always loved movies, especially horror, and a lot of my atmospheric choices and lighting comes from that,” he says. The 1977 film Suspiria, in particular, provoked Zender to use “garish and highly saturated colors to illustrate something ‘scary.’”

His unique ability to capture fear and frustration has led to a number of topical commissions. In July, The LA Times ran one of his illustrations alongside an op-ed titled “How to stop trigger-happy cops,” which explored the role of de-escalation training in reducing unnecessary shootings by police. Similarly, in early September, the New York Times paired Zender’s work with another op-ed, titled “Hands Up. It’s Showtime,” about how police militarization has been shaped by violence depicted on television and in films. Zender’s illustration for that essay depicts an armored SWAT team which blends together like an ominous black cloud.

Outside of his illustration work, Zender also maintains a painting practice. While he keeps the two mediums in separate spaces—illustration at home, painting in a studio—the two occasionally overlap. “My illustration work continues to integrate tiny innovations from my art studio, like textural solutions,” he says. And when it comes to painting: “I always return to my sketchbook to see how I can incorporate bits and pieces from my illustrations back into my art.”

Rebekka Dunlap

Rebekka Dunlap, Illustration for short story "In Foreign Territory, Wondering: Who is the Alpha Monkey?" by Leigh Shulman. Courtesy of the artist.

When Dunlap told her family that she had decided to study art in college, her mother cried. “My teachers and family viewed it as a total black hole of a future,” she remembers. “I had to have a come-to-Jesus [moment] about the fact that drawing bootleg anime and coming up with stories made me happier than almost anything else.”

Fast forward to 2017, when Dunlap made a buzzy career of her otherworldly illustrations, inspired by sci-fi, horror comics, and Manga, from Sailor Moon to Kaito Jane to a dusty copy of 3x3 Eyes. Her fluid, brushy streaks of color and loosely cartoonish figures have caught the eye of publications from the The New Yorker and Oprah Magazine to Buzzfeed and the MIT Technology Review. The Brooklyn-based illustrator also manages to find time for non-editorial passion projects. Currently, she is collaborating with fellow illustrator Topher MacDonald on an animated short film-cum-music video, which she describes as a “surreal and cerebral adventure story.”

Jon Han

Jon Han, The Room. Courtesy of the artist.

Brooklyn-based Han has become a favorite illustrator of MIT’s Technology Review, Surface Mag, the New York Times, and Bleacher Report, among others. Across these publications, his work stands out for its unique blend of painting and digital drawing. The compositions that result explode with streaks and splatters of brilliant color and nebulous shapes that convey movement and volatility. Often, small, faceless figures stand within these brilliant visual tumults, looking suitably overwhelmed.

The Times, in particular, has coupled Han’s illustrations with a vast range of articles and special features. This past May, the publication ran an article penned by conceptual artist and activist Ai Weiwei titled “How Censorship Works.” Han’s accompanying illustration shows a figure in front of a dazzlingly colorful wall blocked by a barrier of dense black rectangles. For another piece (“Climate Change Is Complex. We’ve Got Answers to Your Questions”) Han contributed an animated backdrop that, as the reader scrolls, transforms from a lush mountain landscape into a barren wasteland.

Joana Avillez

Joana Avillez, illustration from her travel diary for New York Magazine, 2015. Courtesy of the artist.

As a child, Avillez fantasized about a career in illustration. But by the time she arrived at Rhode Island School of Design, she’d decided to pursue painting instead. Even so, she remembers that “the things I had always loved—magazines, books, printed anything, paper anything, comics, humor, writing, stories, typography—hovered nearby me at all times, waiting for me to catch back up.”

Indeed, they did. Today, the New York-born and -based Avillez spends her days making illustrations for the very publications that inspired her when she was young. Her drawings of sprightly, eccentric, and wildly fashionable humans (“People watching is my only hobby,” she says) regularly make their way onto the pages of The New Yorker, Travel + Leisure, ZEITmagazin, and more.

Recently, The Guggenheim Museum also tapped Avillez’s talent. A new series of illustrations reveal what happens within the spiraling walls of the Gehry-designed building in-between exhibitions. In one, several funkily-attired museumgoers hold phones above their heads, snapping pictures of the institution’s famously dizzying rotunda. Next year, look out for Avillez’s first book, D C-T!, a collaboration with writer Molly Young that brings together delightfully mischievous illustrated and coded word puzzles about New York City.

—Alexxa Gotthardt

Header image: Sara Andreasson, Petite, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.

from Artsy News

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