#and b) its one of my bro's fave songs too so it reminds me of him which is nice

[zvdvdlvr]

fluff alphabet ( sodapop curtis )

-> navi. | -> outsiders masterlist

A = Admiration (what do they absolutely adore about you?)

Your attention to detail. you know when somethings wrong, through that carefree façade, and you'll coax an explanation outta him.

B = Body (what is their favorite part of your body?)

Your hands, bruh. He loves watching you light your cigarettes, loves watching you fuck up the Socs that talk shit about pony and other people close to you, loves watching you lace your fingers with his, loves watching you.

C = Cuddling (how do they like to cuddle?)

Sodapop Curtis likes to smother or be smothered. Will 100% lay on tip of you if you let him, and is 999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999% willing to have you lay on top of him. In all seriousness, Soda really don't give a fuck whatever y'all are doin as long as ur both together

D = Dates (what does their ideal date with you look like?)

Soda will do just about anything with you, so you've got a variety of things you could both do. Personally, Soda really likes when you find some nice grassy field and you're all wrapped up in his jacket or whatever, and you're talking about whatever-the-fuck comes to mind

E = Emotions (how do they express emotion around you?)

Soda is one to wallow in their feelings before doing something impulsive, so you'd be given little to no warning whatever he's doing if he's upset (angry/sad)

Soda feeling cuddly and lovey is a different situation entirely. This guy is clingy and simping and jesus im overwhelmed thinking about the love he smothers you in 😣💞

F = Family (do they want one? If they do, when?)

Personally, Soda wouldn't be too opposed to having kids, biological or not. He will definitely bust his ass to give his kid the opportunities he didn't/couldn't have, and would the kind of father a lot of people would want

G = Gifts (how do they feel about gift giving? What are their habits when it comes to this?)

With the minimal amount of money this man gets, there is no doubt in my mind he would try his very best to get you a CD or book you've been eyeing

H = Holding Hands (when/how do they like to hold hands?)

ALWAYS, MEIN GOTT. Just hold his hand. He likes it and dgaf if someone says smth to him about it. Soda believes if you truly love someone than you wont be afraid to show that love (and Soda's love language is touch idgaf)

I = Injury (how would they act if you got hurt?)

Angry. Angry at whoever decided to fuck with the gang (everyone loves you, especially bc you're Johnny's second fave person ever)

J = Jokes (do they like to joke around with or prank you? how?)

Like a lot of members in the gang, Soda leans to joking rather than pranking. You both have a lot of inside jokes, and he loves just randomly bringing up said inside joke to see your smile.

K = Kisses (how do they like to kiss you?)

Mans puts effort into kissing you its pretty endearing. The way he pants into your mouth suring a makeout sesh is 😏😏😩😩😩😍😍😍😍🤭🤭🤭❤❤❤ and then he whines and pulls you closer than humanly possible with his hands on the back of your neck. i- 🥵🥵🥵❤❤🤭😍😏😍😍🤭😩🤭😩🤭😍💍💍😇😇😇💒💒💒🧎‍♀️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♂️🧎‍♀️🧎‍♂️🛐🛐🛐🛐

L = Love (how do they show you they love you?)

By affirmation and physical touch

M = Memory (favorite memory together?)

First kiss together. No details.

N = Nightmare (what is their worst fear?)

Soda's worst fears: you/Darry/Pony walking out of his life with no warning and school

O = Oddity (what is one quirk they have?)

bros kinda a worrywort

P = Pet Names (what do they like to call you?)

he calls you: babe, baby, doll, pretty girl/boy, angel

you call him: pepsi cola, babe, Coca-Cola, baby, sweetheart,

Q = Quality Time (how do they like to spend time with you?)

Smoking

R = Rhythm (what song reminds you of them?)

-You Found Me by The Fray

-Freaks by Surf Cruise

-Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

S = Secrets (how open are they with you?)

Will answer almost any question you ask him

T = Time (how long did it take you to get together?)

A year maybe? All depends on your resolve

U = Upset (how do they act when you’re upset?)

Well absolutely bust ass to help him, and will absolutely annihilate anyone that says jack shit about him. He'll get real quiet and only ease up if you or his brothers are there to comfort him.

V = Vaunt (what are they proud of? Do they like to show you off?)

He's proud that he can call you his. He loves showing you off, even if you insist theres nothing to show off.

W = Warrior (how do they feel about you fighting? Would they fight for you, beside you, etc?)

Is confident in your ability to fight if you are, but will always look out for you. Soda will definitely fight for you. no comment

X = X-Ray (how well are they able to read you?)

Pretty well, actually. He would observe you for a while before you started dating, and would definitely pick up subtle hints from your body language

Y = Yes (how would they propose to you?)

By proposing to you with a ring pop and then if you said yes you would both go buy a ring

Z = Zen (what makes them feel calm?)

you, smoking, sleeping.

xXx

sodapop curtis taglist:

@orphan--obliterator

[gingerlywuzhere]

intro post for da goobs <33

name(s): lyn (spelt however)

prns: he/they :3

sexu: demi-aroace + bi (male pref), polyamorous

gender: trans man

age: 15 :> (birthday 5/6 if u wanna get me smth <3)

relationship status: 4 yrs w/ my 1st bf (he/they), a few months with my 2nd bf (he/him), and a few months with my qpp (ask/any)

language(s) (known): English, Spanish

language(s)(learning): German, Romanian, Icelandic, Irish

nationality: 🇺🇸 (but also secretly 🇩🇪 >:) )

if i dont know your prns, ill refer to u by ur user

you can refer to me however, as long as you acknowledge my existence, im fine w/ it

about me (random order) (:3 = ask me abt it!! /nf)

-audhd

-dyslexic

-paranoid schizophrenic

-Mahayana Buddhist convert :3

-rbs, likes, and tags will differ based of current hyperfixation

-band kid

-i play saxophone :D

-im demonkin and fallen angel-kin :3

-my fursona is a scene-core fruit bat w/ an emo vampire bat bf :3

-i swear too much in my everyday language lmao ('bestie that's trauma' IK)

-scemo-alternative style

-natural ginger

-eyes dont work right (nearsighted + astigmatism)

-trying to post and interact more with moots & audience

-jus a weird lil queer kid tryin to not die yet :D

things i like:

-fnaf

-creepypasta

-metal (nu, alternative, jazz, etc)

-ww/att

-class of 09

-sdv

-tsp/ud

-minecraft (not the movie dawg NOT THE MOVIE 😭)

-markiplier (he's mine don't touch him /silly)

-the blair witch project movies

-charlie slimecicle

-that handsome devil

-ICP

-system

-tadc

-tattoos

-piercings

-system of a down!!

-jschlatt

+ like a lot more things

my fave stuff :DD :

-fave fnaf character: michael afton <33

-fave animatronic: foxy <33

-fave cp: the grieving (tawog cp)

-fave cp character: EJ

-fave game: currently either mc, sdv, or tsp

-fave band: slipknot or mcr!!

-fave singer: Mitski

-fave song: Welcome to the Black Parade - MCR

-fave youtuber: markiplier or funkyfrogbait

-fave streamer: charlie slimecicle

-fave actor: matthew lillard (hes so cutie :3)

-fave show: tawog

-fave movie: The Blair Witch Project or Silence of the Lambs

-fave hobby: marching band :3

-fave food: pizza bites :3

boundaries + things that'll get you blocked 🤗

-18+ content, ie; asking me sexual things (bro u drake or smth 🤨), blocked

-calling me by my irl name, dead or preffered, blocked, bc that's just.. creepy

-harassing people over things ive said, vice versa, blocked

-shipping me with my friends/people i interact with prominently or shipping me w/ people i dont know, blocked

-treating me like a child, blocked

-be nice to each other in notes

-if i vent on this blog, dont openly relate to what ive been/am currently going through, u can vent in my dms or asks

-proshippers/comshippers dni, or be blocked

-terfs/homophobes dni, or be blocked

-pro-israel/hamas dni (its NOT about religion), i will block you if you interact with me in anyway

-also just a reminder to support the palestinian people, not the palestinian government or israel, as they're both killing innocent civilians

-anti-furries dni (i am one 🤯), or be blocked

-anti-therians dni (ESPECIALLY if you're one of those 'i NEED a therian gf/bf bro' typa mf, bc therian gf/bf does not need you bro), or be blocked

-anti-otherkin dni (again, i am one 🤯), or be blocked

-anti-xenos dni, or be blocked

-anti-mspec lesbians/gays dni, or be blocked

-including anti- hesbians, and/or she/her achillean people

-trans fetish pages dni, or be blocked

-overall dni if you don't think you'd mind me as a person irl

-keep this blog a safe space for all/most ppl pls :) (or ur b-b-b-blocked pooks <3)

[heirloommtomatoes]

[rhiminee]

Therapy Sessions: Track by track feels

So ok I’ve had time to listen to David’s new album *mumble hundred* times since it came out earlier this week and I think I finally am ready to share my thoughts and feelings as I listen to each song. Sorry this took a few days. I’ve had some personal things going on and I wanted to be in a clearer state of mind before I wrote all this down. :) Here we go!!!

Track 1 - Paralyzed

This song. This song is like a whole different side of David. I honestly don’t usually have favorites of any album but this song is such a favorite of mine. I almost don’t think it’s fair because this is the only song off the album that I’ve seen him perform in concert and that’s a huge factor for me. He SLAYS this live. It’s been out since last August and it’s so next level. It’s almost like it comes from another universe??? Not that there’s a single thing wrong with the rest of the album it’s just that this song is WOW. Its like its own entity. It’s a banger and an anthem and I could listen to it 24/7. David wails on it and you feel every second with a sense of urgency. Honestly one of my favorite things he’s ever done. Wait. Change that. It’s my favorite song he’s ever done. Period. 

Track 2 - You Worry

This title is such a false lead! lol. I thought ok this is gonna be about trying to control your worries and how to be positive, etc. But spoiler alert: David Archuleta is a sneaky cupcake. DON’T YOU WORRY BOUT ME. icu what you did there David. This song is just such a mood. It starts off kinda slow but then it kicks up after the first verse and you know David is messing with you. It’s almost got a reggae type chill vibe to it with the ya-da-da-da-da and the melody. Or maybe that’s just me. “I’ve got my reasons why I am the way I am, so don’t you worry me”. “Living life in a bubble still comes with it’s troubles, I’ve still got a lot to learn about me but that’s ok.” This reminds me of a more mature version of Other Things In Sight from his last album. Like he was a bit bothered in OTIS but now he’s just like whatev. lol. I love it!! One of my faves from this album.

Track 3 - Ok, All Right

This is the 2nd of 3 songs on this album that we had already heard when the album was released. This song is fun and a good mantra for 2020 to try to keep ourselves sane. We need it. I like the sassiness of this and the unexpected changes in melody! David did an acoustic version of it during his launch party that I’m fully 100% in deep love with. Check it out if you get a chance.

Track 4 - Patient

Oh hi, song that I love! I don’t know why I love this so much but I would put it in my top songs on the album. Maybe it’s the stutter singing (is that what you call it??? Le-le-le-le-le-let me know) it makes my heart feel joyful. “I tell myself remember, remember to breathe, I’m trying to be patient, so won’t you please be patient, be patient with me” “Jump the gun, tend to run off at the mouth, I see that it’s in your eyes” “Find the beauty in the letting go, hurry up and learn to take it slow”. It’s almost got a bit of an R&B feel to it. Is that just me?? Maybe it’s just me. I have a pure love for this song. It just makes me so happy listening to it.

Track 5 - Need

This one of only two slower tempo songs on the album (Just Breathe is the other). David uses his lower register, especially in the first verse. Honestly when this song started I was like...is this a duet? Who is singing? Lmao. It was David. In addition to it being a lower register there’s almost a bit of a slurry quality to his pronunciation when he sings here. Or maybe it’s an overlay for the song? Idk. His voice just sounds different to me here. I’m gonna be honest and say this is my least favorite track on the album. Maybe I need to listen more. It’s not a bad song, just not my vibe and the vocals throw me off a bit. Listen and let me know what y’all think!

Track 6 - Brave

This song is such a change of pace from the previous one! It’s got an intriguing percussive cadence in the beginning, fast singing with short phrases and then bursts out into long soaring notes in the chorus, braaaaaaaaaaave!! It’s also has the honor of containing the lyric “bit me in the butt” and I laughed so hard I had had to start the song over. I really like this one!

Track 7 - Good in the Bad

THIS SONG. I wasn’t sure what to think the first time I listened. My brain was like, do I like this? Then the second time I was like, ok yeah. Then the third time and the next 500 times I was like, hi you are my true love. Seriously my level of obsession with this song now. If Paralyzed wasn’t on this album this would be my favorite song. I don’t think Paralyzed should count because yeah it’s a phenomenon and should not be compared to anything else. So. This is my favorite song on the album. I love love love love it. I can’t stop listening. “When it all goes wrong and you’re having a moment, you got to go all out, go bring back the sun out. And if it all goes wrong and you’re living in darkness, well that’s the only way the stars can shine” YES SIR “Fear is like a magnet that keeps pulling you down, so take another look because yeah it won’t take you long, give a break to your mind”. I don’t know why this song speaks so much to me but it does. Maybe because I tend to get stuck worrying about worst case and bad things that could happen and have happened. I know you can’t just ignore that stuff but idk this song just hit me different. Also the cadence and beat really drives the message. I just love everything about it.

Track 8 - Switch

Omg yep. #2 fav song after Good in the Bad. This is such an earworm! Honestly very radio friendly song. “why do i do that why do i do that” that hook. I always hit the switch and the tables start to flip, then the walls come up again, the beginning starts to end. why do i do that. Y’all. I feel that on every level. You need this song in your life. Along with Paralyzed it’s one of only two songs on this album that’s just plainly stating here’s my problem without offering a solution or “hey it’s ok we’re all like that”. I appreciate that David offers these songs too. I know and completely understand that for him music is about offering a message and hope and help to others. That’s one thing I love so much about him. But I also like that sometimes he just says here’s my issues. The humanity jumped out, that sometimes we’re just critical of ourselves without positive thoughts. Sometimes you just wanna be sad or mad at yourself. There’s time later to re-focus. It’s ok to just claim that personal honesty for a bit. If that even makes sense. But yeah. Love love this song. It’s a true jam.

Track 9 - Just Breathe

This song is like a bath in warm silk after you’ve been cold and lonely. It’s an experience. It’s like meditation in song form. Refreshing and hypnotizing. ‘I am not weak I am strong, there is still more I can offer. Someday you’ll see the better version of me. When it all stops spinning, when it all slows down. I was swimming deeper but I didn’t drown. Just breathe. So I open up to the flow and learn to love you as we go, until I don’t think I just know.’ It’s like a midsummer night’s dream in song form. <3

Track 10 - Future Self

So true and surprisingly funny! This is such a quirky song. Any song that references reddit and smash bros gets an A+ in my book lol. I was surprised because a lot of times the last track is kind of a throw way imho but this one had me smiling and bopping! It’s a love letter to finding yourself and being kind to yourself. 

Final thoughts:

You guys are gonna laugh because I feel like I say this anytime a new album comes out but I honestly think this is my favorite album that David has ever done. It’s cohesive and fun to listen to and says a lot without being too heavy. It’s so awesome to see the progression in David’s music but even more so to know it’s a reflection of the progression in his life. He’s not afraid to say he’s got issues but he has been working hard on facing those and making strides. It shows in his music. I feel a sense of joy I haven’t heard before. This album is so good. The production quality, the vocals are on point, the beats are stellar. Please check it out if you haven’t already!

http://lnkfi.re/TherapySessions

[cncobby]

Fluffy ABC’s series: Joel

happy new years my loves! i hope 2019 is good to all of us (its still 2019 in california but eh close enought)

so this is a new series (maybe) that i’m thinking of starting!! i got inspo while browsing through tumblr and i saw a couple other fandom writers for marvel do this so I wanted to do it for Joel at least bc he my baby but if you guys like this i’m thinking of doing it for the rest of the boys?? lmk what you think!!

i thrive on positive (or any) feedback so hearing what you guys think motivates me and lets me know how i’m doing so i can write more!!

A = Attractive: what do they find attractive about the other?

For you its definitely his hair, you love running your hand through his curls and playing with his hair while you guys are all cuddled up. He loves your smile, the way it lights up the room when he makes you laugh and how your nose scrunches up just slightly when one of the boys tells a bad joke.

B = Baby: do they want a family? why/why not?

He most DEF wants a family with you. We know homeboy wants seven (why this specific number I have NO idea) but he always daydreams about this all the time. Sometimes you guys will just be sitting on the couch, cuddling and watching Netflix or something when he’ll suddenly be like “so when we have kids do I have any say in their names?” And you’re jokingly like “boy who told you I’m giving you kids” he’s like “um duh we’re having seven. Three girls and four boys ... We’ll have to buy a big house since they’re not gonna wanna share when they’re older.” 

C = Cuddle: how do they cuddle?

Like a fucking koala. Literally wraps you around him like a blanket. His head below yours so you can play with his curls. This is his favorite when you guys are lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, or just waking up. He’ll hold you against his body if you try to leave “five more minutes baby, then we’ll get up”

D = Dates: what are dates with them like?

They're super lowkey, but that doesn’t mean they’re anything less than special. You both love nights in since he doesn’t get to spend much time at home with you, so any chance you guys get to cuddle up and catch up on tv while eating your fave foods is always a good time. Its also a good idea so you guys don’t end up getting mobbed/bombarded by fans or paparazzi. Even though most of your dates are at home, he goes out of his way to make them special and surprises you every time. Whether it be ordering food from you favorite restaurant, or hiring a private chef, or sprinkling rose petals on the floor, he knows exactly how to bring a smile to your face.

E = Everything: “you are my ____” (e.g my life, my world…)

“You are my sunshine.” He always compares your smile to the sun. 

“Why do you always say I’m like the sun?” 

“Because you’re the biggest star in my solar system” 

“that was so cheesy” 

“yeah but you love it”

F = Feelings: when did they know they were falling in love?

I feel like it’d be super random and unexpected, like he was having a bad day so you spammed him with goofy pictures and videos and he just felt his heart burst with this overwhelming amount of fondness for you. He looked at your face with that stupid filter on it and just thought at how sad he’d be if he wasn’t able to see that everyday.

G = Gentle: are they gentle? If so, how?

I feel like during sex he’d def be more the slow and sensual type. He loved taking his time with you and seeing all the different sounds and expressions you made when he’d kiss you in certain places. Not to say he wouldn’t be rough at certain times, but I feel like he’s the more gentle love making type.

H = Hand/Hold: how do they like to hold? how do they like to hold hands?

He likes to hold your hands, but a lot of the time he’ll grip your waist while your arm is slung around his. He likes the closeness of this since he doesn’t get to walk around like this with you all the time.

I = Impression: first impression/s

So you were a low-key super fan of them, like running a blog about them super fan but when you saw him randomly at a coffee shop you were like “oh fuck do I ask him for a picture?? Do I respect his privacy?? WHAT DO I DO” but u ended up like just sitting there and not picking any solutions. 

He saw you sitting there alone and was like hooooly who that be. A part of him hoped that you recognized him and were a fan and wanted a picture so that you’d come a talk to him but after he stood around for a few minutes he was like “fuck she has no clue who I am” so as he was walking towards you someone accidentally ran into him and his drink spilled. All . Over . Your . shirt. You were like “holy fuck” and his brain went into panic mode and was like omg I’m so sorry are you ok?? Here take my jacket and legit stripped off his jacket and put it around you.  

And then it was like a really awkward period where you were like silent and petrified and he was panicking bc “oh fuck i spilled a drink on the prettiest girl i’ve ever seen.” But then you eventually were like “...well this wasn’t how I was gonna ask my favorite singer for a picture, but...” And he feels such relieft bc OMG she doesnt hate me. You end up getting your picture (and his number!!) and leave smelling like coffee, but with a cute new hoodie and potential boyfriend.

J = Joker: are they into pulling pranks?

He’s not that big of a prankster. The only reoccurring prank he does is surprise you by showing up randomly at your work/school/house when he’s supposed to be on tour. He prob tells super corny jokes ESPECIALLY when you’re having a bad day so you smile at how bad they are.

K = Kisses: how do they kiss?

Lots of quick smooches, one quirk is that he loves to kiss the back of your hand. Every so often, he’ll steal your breath with a slow, deep kiss that leaves you dizzy.

L = Love: who says I love you first?

Well after he realized that you were a fan he knew that you loved him but you were afraid to say it too early out of fear that he’d think it was just fangirl admiration. You don’t officially say it until he does, but he hears you whisper to it after you thought he had fallen asleep.  

M = Memory:  their favourite moment together

When he brought you home to his family for the first time, and you just fit. His mom loved you (thank god you were both freaking out over this) and his brothers instantly bonded with you as if you were their sister. His brothers teased him to no end, but were happy they finally had a sister to love and care for.

N = Nickel: do they spoil? 

He looooves spoiling you. But not only materialistically, even though he loves to buy you gifts. He knows you prefer smaller more meaningful gifts than extravagant ones, so he’ll always buy things with your name on it from all the countries he visits, or sends you one of his hoodies with his cologne sprayed on top so it’s like he’s home with you.

O = Orange: what colour reminds them of their other half

For some reason, he has a habit of buying you things that are yellow. Once you asked him why, and he said  that it reminded him of your smile, the way you light up a room when you laugh or giggle. Also goes along with how he says you’re his sunshine.

P = Petnames: what pet names do they use?

Lots of babe/baby, especially when he’s whining for your attention. 

“hey babe what hat should i wear?”

“baby come cuddle with me”

“look at how cute you are look at how cuuuute my baby is”

He calls you angel on certain occasions, like if you’re mad at him or when you’re having a bad day and he’s trying to cheer you up.

“angel whats wrong?”

“i’m sorry angel, you know I didn’t mean it like that”

“look angel!! this is how happy you make me”

Q = Quaint: what is their favourite non-modern thing?

He loves black and white silent movies. You guys will often call/facetime each other and watch these movies together, making stupid comments throughout the movie to each other.

R = Rainy Day: what do they like to do on a rainy day?

You guys loved to cook/bake on rainy days. Lots of reenacting scenes from your favorite musicals and doing lots of duets of your favorite songs together. (This results in lots of burned cookies)

S = Sad: how do they cheer themselves/each other up

Lots of times he’ll just call you because he’s on tour and will go on a long rant about whatever’s bothering him. But if he’s there with you, you’ll instantly be able to tell if he’s upset bc he’ll just look really pouty and in those times the thing he loves is when you lay his head down on your lap and just gives him a scalp massage while asking whats bothering him.

T = Talking: What do they love to talk about/hear you talk about?

He really likes it when you talk about school/your job because although he loves his life sometimes its nice to feel like a normal person. He likes to talk about all the dumb shennanigans the boys do when on tour and all the beautiful places he’s seen. 

U = Unencumbered: What helps them relax?

Sounds corny and predictable, but singing. He loves doing covers of all songs, and when he’s feeling stressed he likes to cuddle and serenade you.

V = Vaunt: what do they like to show off? What are they proud of?

He loves to show off your couple pics to all the boys. They often find him just scrolling through his photo albums looking at the pictures you guys took together. “Look guys, look how photogenic we are.” “Bro we know you’ve shown us that picture like a million times”

W = Wedding: when, how, where do they propose?

It was about two years after you guys started dating, and you were talking to him about which job offer to take, the current job you had allowed you to travel with him if you wanted to go on tour with him, but the new job you were offered was a definite step up from the one you had, but wouldn’t give you as much freedom. He obviously wanted you to take that one, but you were worried that it’d put a strain on your relationship since you wouldn’t be seeing each other that often and your trust issues started to creep into your mind when all of a sudden he was like “Well would being married make you feel better?” 

And you’re like “…did you just” 

A smirk starts to creep up on his face, “Did I just ask you to marry me? I think so, what do you think angel? Wanna get hitched?” 

You low-key wanna smack that smug smirk off his face but you’re too stunned and just nod. “Yeah I’ll marry you dork” 

Later you guys are cuddling after you ‘celebrated’ your engagement and you’re like ... “You do know your mom is gonna kill you for proposing like this though” and he’s like “FUCK you right”

X = Xylophone: What’s their song?

Sun and Moon from Miss Saigon. The lyrics represented your relationship so well, and you’d always ask him to sing this to you if you weren’t able to fall asleep

Y = You the ___ to my ___ (e.g the cookies to my milk, the macaroni to my cheese)

He’s a dork so he’d prob make some corny joke like 

“You’re the bomb to my diggity” 

The boys overhear him say that to you and are like bro PLEASE never say that again

Z = Zebra: if they wanted a pet, what pet would they get?

We know his family already has three dogs so I’m sure he’d get another dog! Especially to keep you company when he’s away on tour or doing band stuff!! Bonus scene: I can so see him coming home randomly like “…I got us another dog” and you’re like 

“JOEL WE TALKED ABOUT THIS” 

“ok listen but I went to go get more dog food and he just looked SO SAD”

i hope you guys like it!! its longer than most of my headcannosn and is a different style but i had so much fun writing this and its dear to my heart so show her some love <3

[nedraggett]

Thoughts on 2018

No need for me to be fancier than that!  And yeah I realize that nobody should be using Tumblr any more but until I figure out a proper revive of my old Wordpress site, this will do for now.

So anyway: I wrote this up for a private email list reflecting on the end of the year in terms of things I especially enjoyed culturally. Well, why not share it?

My year went very well — steady at work and in life, being 47 means more aches and pains but you have to learn to live with it.  The state of the world is something else again of course and we need not spend more time on the blazingly obvious.  That said, the history bug in me has been constantly intrigued by the slow drip of the investigations (and revelations) and were it all fiction, I’d be thoroughly enthralled instead of quietly apprehensive, of course.  November did provide some partial relief on that front so bring on the new year.  In terms of my own written work, nothing quite equalled my heart/soul going into last year’s Algiers feature for NPR, but my two big Quietus pieces this year — on Gary Numan’s Dance  and Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings  — were treats to write, while my presentation on the too-obscure Billy Mackenzie at PopCon was a great experience.

In terms of music this has been one of the most concert-heavy years I’ve spent.  Even having moved to SF in 2015 I only did the occasional show every so often — there was so much going on (even in a local scene lots of long-timers say has been irrevocably changed) that I was almost spoiled for choice, and part of me also just wanted to relax most nights.  But deaths like Prince’s and Bowie’s among many others served as a reminder that there’s no such thing as forever, and you never know what the last chance will be.  More veteran acts than younger ones in the end for me — greatest missed concert regrets this year included serpentwithfeet, Lizzo, Perfume Genius and Emma Ruth Rundle among the younger acts, while being ill when Orbital came through will be a lingering annoyance, still having never seen them live.  But the huge amount of shows I did see outweighed that, ranging from big arena stops like Fleetwood Mac to celebratory open-air free shows like Mexican Institute of Sound to small club sets by folks like Kinski, Six Organs of Admittance, Kimbra and many more, including, for the first time in years, a show in the UK, specifically a great performance by Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera.  If I absolutely had to grade my top picks among shows, Cruel Diagonals, Johnny Marr, Wye Oak, Peter Brotzmann/Keiji Haino, John Zorn/Terry Riley/Laurie Anderson, Laurie Anderson again separately, Nine Inch Nails, VNV Nation, Jarvis Cocker, Beak and, in terms of no real expectations turning into utter delight and thrills, a brilliant set by Lesley Rankine under her Ruby guise, with Martin Atkins on drums.  Best damn combination of righteous ire, hilarious raconteurism and compelling, unique approaches to how performance can work I’d seen in a while.  (As for recorded music in general, uh, endless?)

TV, as ever a bit sporadic, with a few things on my to-do list — still need to catch The Terror for sure, and what I saw of The Alienist looked good; I love both books so I need to see how it all worked out, similarly with the just-dropped version of Watership Down.  Pose I definitely need to catch up with since it sounds like Ryan Murphy stood out of the way to let the best possible team do the business on it, but my real unexpected delight of a show this year was also Murphy-based, American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace.  While not down the line perfect, it was absolutely more compelling than not, and in fact at its best was a shuddering combination of amazing music cue choices, a reverse structure that helped undercut any attempt at making Cunanan seem sympathetic or an antihero, and, at its considerable best, a ratcheting up of terror and horror that a friend said was almost Kubrickian, and I would have to agree.  And, frankly, Darren Criss really did the business as Cunanan, a controlled and powerful turn. Only a few of us seemed to be following it at the time, but when it scored all those Emmys, then while it was as much a reflection of Murphy’s status, it honestly felt well deserved.  Meantime, you’ll pry my addiction to all the RuPaul’s Drag Race incarnations from my cold dead hands but it’s the amazing online series that Trixie Mattel and Katya do, UNHhhh, which remains my comedy highlight of the year, with at least a few jaw-dropping/seize up laughing every episode. (Kudos as well for Brad Jones’s The Cinema Snob, ten years running online and still funny as fuck while digging up all kinds of cinematic horrors.) Also, tying back into music a bit, late recommendation for something you can only see on UK TV/streaming so far, but get yourself a VPN and seek out Bros: After the Screaming Stops, in which the two brothers in the late-80s monster hit pop band Bros (never had any traction here but pretty much owned the entire Commonwealth and beyond) try for a comeback.  It’s an unintentionally hilarious and harrowing portrait of two twins who have a LOT of issues, have clearly been through a LOT of therapy, but are still…not quite there.  UK friends said it was a combination of Spinal Tap, Alan Partridge and David Brent and they were ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. 

Movies, less specifically to choose from — I remain an essentially sporadic populist when it comes to what I see in theaters, but I can say for sure that Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse is a hell of a thing and will almost certainly prove to be a real year-zero moment down the line.  Possibly the most affecting watch was Bohemian Rhapsody, in that I also saw this in the UK — in Brighton, which besides making me think of the band’s song “Brighton Rock” is also notably the country’s most LGBT-friendly city; those I was with felt the movie’s themes, successes and flaws/elisions deeply, and the constant discussion of it for the next few days was very rewarding. As for books, John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood, delving into Theranos and the amoral duo behind it, was properly enraging and compelling, while Beth Macy’s Dopesick, if not perfect, nonetheless adds to the good literature on the opioid crisis, while as ever indirectly calling into question who’s getting the focus and care now as opposed to in earlier times and places. My favorite music publications as such probably remain the two I most regularly write for, The Quietus and Daily Bandcamp, while Ugly Things is the print publication that I most look forward to with each issue, and am never disappointed. 

Podcasts now consist of a lot of my regular cultural engagement, kinda obvious but nonetheless true.  Long running faves include My Favorite Murder — Karen and Georgia are an amazing comedy team who have figured out how to reinterpret their anxieties in new ways — The Vanished, which at its best often casts a piercing eye on how official indifference from law enforcement is almost as destructive as their more obvious abuses (recent discovery The Fall Line does this as well, even more explicitly), Karina Longworth’s constantly revelatory Hollywood histories You Must Remember This, Patrick Wyman’s enjoyable history dives on Tides of History, my friend Chris Molanphy’s constantly excellent investigations into music chart history Hit Parade, the great weekly movie chats by MST3K vets Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu along with Carolina Hidalgo on Movie Sign With the Mads, and The Age of Napoleon, which really has hit my history wonk sweet spot.  New to me this year was It’s Just a Show,  a really wonderful episode by episode — but not in exact order — deep dive into every episode of MST3K ever, by two fun and thoughtful Canadian folks, Adam Clarke and Beth Martin. (Adam also cohosts a new podcast, A Part of Our Scare-itage, specifically looking at Canadian horror. It’s not just Cronenberg!). Among the excellent one-off series this year: American Fiasco by Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett on the failed US World Cup attempt in 1998, Dear Franklin Jones, a story about the narrator’s experience growing up in a California cult and how his parents came to be followers in the first place, and the Boston Globe’s Gladiator, their audio accompaniment to their in-depth story of the life and ultimate fate of Aaron Hernandez. Finally, totally new series this year that quickly got added to my regular listening: American Grift, a casual and chatty look at various scams and schemes, overseen by Oriana Schwindt, The Eurowhat?, a running look at the Eurovision competition throughout the year from the perspective of two American fans, and The Ace Records Podcast, an often engaging series of one-off interviews with various musicians, fans and so forth by UK writer Pete Paphides (I highly recommend the interviews with Jon Savage and Sheila B). Hands down my two favorite totally new podcasts of the year were The Dream, a more formal story of American grifting in general hosted by Jane Marie — this first season’s focus was on multilevel marketing, and Marie and company’s careful way of seemingly backing into the larger story makes it all the more compelling and ultimately infuriating, especially in the current political climate — and the hilarious Race Chasers, a RuPaul’s Drag Race-celebrating podcast by two veterans of the show, Alaska and Willam, loaded with all kinds of fun, behind the scenes stuff, guests and an easy casualness from two pros that strikes the perfect balance between going through things and just shooting the shit.  Returning podcast I’m most looking forward to next year: the second season of Cocaine and Rhinestones, hands down.  Check out the first season for sure.

And there ya go!  Keep fighting all your respective good fights.