#augh im very excited to get too the good bit but i dont think i do well with actual intercource etcetc so :/

[autism-corner]

finally working on something thats literally only for me o7

[royal-songbird]

JUST FINISHED LISTENING TO THE NEW CRANE WIVES ALBUM. HOOOOOOLY SHIT. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. time to ramble about each song because i can <3 lalalalala

(under a cut cause this got a little long)

Scars: Listened to this one the second it was officially released, so i've had some time to listen to it !!!and . ough. its so good. i love when the crane wives make angry songs <3 really REALLY happy that they've incorporated violin into their newer songs too. the subtle shriek halfway through, the buildup near the end....GRAH (and i know they did on past albums but tbh they did not include them Enough. i love the violin <3)

Bitter Medicine: another one that was released ahead of the full album! also very good. reminds me a lot of the queen of nothing, mainly because of "someone take my keys im in no shape for driving" vs "stop the car, i wanna get out". and the AH AH OH AH OH'S NEAR THE END. YES !!! THEYRE SO FUN TO SING ALONG WITH I LOVE THEM. and the instrumentals. GRAAAAAH !!! the electric guitar (?) at the end is AMAZING.

Higher Ground: right off the bat i loved the instruments. and then when they start singing? INCREDIBLE. the vocals for this one are so so so good. like im actually in love with them, especially the first "should i head for higher ground". and its also like. very upbeat and fun. it makes me want to run around and just get myself Moving somehow. AND THE SUBTLE STRINGS IN THE BACKGROUND AS THE SONG BUILDS UP!!! i love the plucking, it so. hrgahgrhahghr. and once again. THE VIOLIN. I LOVE THE VIOLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Predator: i came into this song expecting something similar to the hand that feeds, so it was MUCH different than i anticipated! and honestly, i love it so much?? the guitar...? whatever funky instrument thats all wobbly is. sounds so fun. and i love the vocals so much they scratch at my brain. THE CLAPPING TOO. ITS SO FUN. another one that makes me want to get up and run around or dance <3

Say It: i was excited for this one! my friend heard it live and absolutely loved it, so i'd heard a lot about it going in. its a lot calmer than i was expecting but ohhh its so good. "please dont leave me in the dark, praying for a wayward spark" augh. ough. gruahgrh. "IF YOU COULD WOULD YOU ERASE ME. ERADICATE ME FROM YOUR MIND." RAAAAAAHHHH.

Mad Dog: another song i heard good things about! i was expecting something high energy and BOY did it not disappoint. obsessed with the pace of the beginning vocals, they sound like so much fun to sing i cant wait to learn the lyrics. AND THEN. THE CHORUS!!! OHHHH. THE ECHOES OF RUNNING AND COMING. IM GONNA EXPLODE. THEY SCRATCH MY BRAIN SO WELL. and the funky instrument in the back that i think is maybe a guitar but i cant tell....its so good and funky and oh my god i love the crane wives. honestly, this is probably one of my favorites of the album. its so good. i need to tear something apart with my teeth

Arcturus Beaming: i heard this song live back when i went to their concert in april, and oh my GOD. genuinely this song changed me i think. it rearranged my atoms. it means so much to me i literally love this song, even if the instrumentals arent my favorite out of the rest of the album i cannot put it any lower than my absolute favorite. THERES MORE TO LIFE THAN SUFFERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time Will Change You: and this song. right off the bat its INCREDIBLE. the steady beat in the back. the guitar. the vocals. and just . the general Vibes. AND THEN. AND THEN !!!! THE STRINGS. HOLY FUCKING SHIT THE STRINGSSS. THE SECOND I HEARD THEM I LOST MY MIND. they are SO pretty and THIS is exactly why i wanted the crane wives to use strings in their songs more. they include them SO well. AND AUGH. THE INSTRUMENTAL HALFWAY THROUGH....AND THE VOCALS BEHIND IT....AND AGAIN!!! THE STRINGS !!!! this is SUCH a pretty song and it blew me away the first time i listened to it

Black Hole Fantasy: i wasnt entirely sure what to expect going into this song so i was a bit surprised by the introduction- and then it just kept getting better. right off the bat it reminded me of arcturus beaming, and then the general story of the song.... just. the feeling of aching so desperately for a better life, but being afraid to take that first step because you dont want to face the risks that come with it..... i genuinely almost cried listening to it, especially as the song began to ramp up. the fantasy of taking that chance but still being afraid. AND THEN. AND THEN!!!!! "AND NOW SHES LAUGHING, AND ITS KILLING ME THAT I CANNOT SEE WHATS MAKING HER LAUGH FROM WHERE IM STANDING." AND THE SUBTLE BUILD UP OF STRINGS IN THE BACK AS THE SONG RAMPS UP FURTHER. AND YOU FINALLY TAKE THAT CHANCE, TAKE THAT FIRST STEP. AAUEUEUAGHHHH. GOD!!!!!!!!!!

Red Clay: going into this song, i was expecting something with the vibes of the icarus or keep you safe, and i wasnt disappointed!!! BUT BEFORE I COULD REALLY PROCESS THE BEGINNING, I GET COMPLETELY BLIND SIDED BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN EMILEE OR KATE SINGING. im not entirely sure who it is, my best guess is dan, but its so so good. something about red clay is so specifically nostalgic for me, and for it to play right after black hole fantasy just. completely destroyed me/pos this song is so so pretty. i love it so much.

River Rushing: AND IMMEDIATELY IM HOOKED. again, i expected something high energy/upbeat like sleeping giants- and while its not the exact same, its similar, and i LOVE IT. the vocals are probably my favorite part, especially the backing vocals. BUT OH MY GOD THOSE HIGH NOTES. THEYRE SO GOOD. a VERY strong ending for the album, which i absolutely adored

and thats every song!!!! god i love the crane wives. im going to listen to this album on loop until each song is burned into my brain okay bye

[dreamdripdistance]

LET'S GET HARD FOR SHINEE (shinee's new comeback album review!!!!)

i love shinee so much lets fucking goe

hard: oh LETS FUCKING GO!!!!! sooooo retro, i love the interesting textures and everything, all the experimental samples make it soooo shinee to me, its like 'dont call me' but Expanded, i love it !!! the "WE GO, WE GO- WE GO HARD!" is SOOOO 'kick it' nct 127 lmao, but its soooo groovy and it sets up the mood of the album soooo well. getting hard with shinee in 2023 babey ‼️

juice: 10/10 SORRY THIS IS THE BEST SONG OF THE YEAR, i know this is gonna be such a polarising opinion but i love this so much. its SO FUN and SO SILLY i love the lil flip phone beep thing in the back of the post chorus "you got the, you got the juice", and the vocal samples all through the song r so fun, and the breakdown bit?? augh so groovy this song absolutely rules, you can absolutely tell how its produced by the same guy who did "dont call me" in their last cb lmao (im gonna have the "i think you liiiike me i think you liiiiike me-" stuck in my head)

10x: ohhhhh groovy... i dont know why but this didnt stick with me the first time i listened to it but i looooove the choppy piano, and the "ten times-" chorus is HEAVENLYYY . unfortunately it is vaguely similar enough to a song that plays all the time at my work, so i cant listen to it for very long without my body subconsciously revolting, but its SOOO GOOD

satellite: i thought the intro was gonna lead to something completely different? for some reason? i like this though!!! it almost feels like it couldve been a very basic slow K-Drama type song but then its shinee so its actually interesting lmao!!!

identity: ouuuUUU i really really like that low buzzing bass synth that goes through the song, its sooo chic and very sneaky sound system i like it!!!! the "my-y identity (i dont wanna hide it)" chorus is a bit meh but the "dont hide it, dont hide it" ost chorus is saur good, and the groovy intermission bit is so good, i love the disco influences too!!!

that feeling: not a fan of this, sounds like smth that would play on the top 50 from 2016 which was never my fave and sounds kinda basic, the vocals r sooo nice even if i haaate the horn thing thats in the instrumentals

like it: OUHH so sparkly, i really like this, it sounds like it should be in a movie credits? so so groovy, so summery, not to sound like a pretentious idiot but its soooo rich im gonna take a sip of this song.... the guitar solo near the end vaguely reminded me of an old homestuck fansong lmao?

sweet misery: VERY similar complaints as 'that feeling', its that genre of Emotional music that i personally dont like (the "sweeet misery" line in the chorus is very taylor swift to me, which. yknow. no comment.), but the production on this track is insane

insomnia: oh this is INTERESTING!!!! i looove the deep synthy intro going into the groovy bass in the verse and then opening up into the smooth jazzy chorus, this is such a good slower song and you can hearrrr how good the vocals are... its got really interesting aspects in it that kind of differentiate it from similar songs, esp the really nice piano-y bits

gravity: this makes sense for a final song on an album but tbh this is what i feared satellite was gonna be? i like the chorus though, but the 'snapping' verse was never my thing

all in all this album is SO GOOD, it has a consistent thesis and theme as is expected of shinee but its still so so so fun and so extra and im so so so excited to see them active again <333 its almost like a return to form in a Cool way, which i love ‼️‼️‼️

[kavehpilled]

cactus, daffodil (i know but i Want To Hear About Ash... miss him augh <3) + ivy <3333

WAHHHHHH I MIGHT JUST CRY. RN

cactus: what's something youre currently learning?

ummm ^_^ i am learning. how to make friends. which sounds dumb but im so awkward irl and i kinda just feel like a burden but im trying super hard to start becoming comfortable talking to more people so that is. exciting

daffodil: do you have siblings? if yes, in what ways do you think you are similar to or different from them?

THIS IS JUST AN EXCUSE TO GWT ME TO TALK ABOUT ASH LMAOAOA

well i have a little brother and hes a menace. we dont have a lot in common and hes super different from me but he likes mcr and he stole my eyeliner once and eats all my food but hes. hes my little brother. nothing similar

ash and i have nearly the exact same music taste. same sense of humor, interests, etc. hes really easy to talk to and thats a trait that i Don't have, so there's a difference. heeees really good at cooking and i burn the house down whenever i try. but hes handsome and i like to think that i am too. aaand. IDK ITS HARD TO THINK ABOUT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES WITHOUT BEING TOO SPECIFIC

hes very loving. he loves telling people how much he loves them and he loves showing appreciation for his loved ones and he loves affection, and i do too. he got me into dan and phil and reawakened my love for haikyuu so thanks for that bro 💀✋️ but uh. in a way im like the batshit crazy version of him. with a bit more cringe

ivy: what are your 'tells' for emotions or moods?

my Lord ok so. the most recent one is when im anxious i get nonverbal, or i wont look someone in the eyes if i am. if im upset about something i probably say im fine more times than. i should. but its alright

anything positive im a lot more giggly or whatever the word is. just assume if im not laughing i feel awful, basically

[stlaika]

I saw you doing some MCR loveposting and got so excited! I love music so much and it makes me unreasonably happy to see people talking about how much they love it too. You are NOT pretentious and never will be, you deserve to talk about the things you like with passion and respect!!!

How do you feel about The Black Parade, as a concept album? I've always been into albums that tell stories and I love hearing what other people think about TBP, since it's so open to personal interpretation!! :0

Firstly that is SO sweet of you to say oh my god,,,,, i really appreciate it man bc ive been feeling VERY weird abt this particular interest of mine ayejdhisj,,,, thank you so much <3 !!

Secondly you have awakened a BEAST so i apologize in advance

ROIGHT. THE BLACK PARADE....

I LOVE the fuckin black parade man, altho its not my favorite concept album by mcr [that title belongs to danger days] its p high up there still.

The thing about TBP is that gerard way's penchant for storytelling really shines thru in this album, bc you can really feel the sort of..anger and anguish and eventual acceptance that the dying man of this story is feeling. It's absolutely mcr's most,,, whats the word. Musically diverse? Argh idk what the word is but they definitely experimented w different styles for this album [see: cancer, bits and pieces of mama, blood, and the first half of welcome to the black parade in particular].

Cancer in particular is a really good example of this bc it swaps out their usual guitars for a softer piano, and it really adds to like. The emotional rawness of that song yknow? Particularly w the way gerard's voice is so. Augh i wouldn't say growly but its like..rough and emotional and it just. Makes the song so fuckin moving to hear [Frank iero my friend frank iero cant listen to it without crying which says a lot when you know hes been w mcr for 20 years]

NOW. ONTO THE CROWNING FUCKIN JEWEL OF THIS ALBUM. WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE!!

My god am I truly an mcr fan if i dont wax poetic abt this song at least once? Anyway GSKSJ

The thing abt wttbp is that its structured like bohemian rhapsody, which is smth i noticed after my week long binge session of their albums. The marching band opening of wttbp is like the classicl choral/opera style of the opening of borhap, the swap to rock halfway thru is used in both, and theres that section around the middle point [the im just a boy section in wttbp] that once again shifts the musical style of the song [and focuses on ray toro's absolutely BRILLIANT fuckin shredding, god bless that man]. Theres also the fade out w music similar to the intro, and combine all of that w the fact that queen was one of mcr's inspirations and you can see my point. Theres also the fact its the band's most well known song, and even ppl who've never heard of the band know the song [again, much like borhap]

Like ALL of mcr's albums theres this like. Powerful mix of emotions that makes itself known throughout the album. Whether it's the resigned, bittersweet goodbye of cancer, the almost hysterical anger and self deprecation of dead!, or the apologies and declaration of death being inevitable in mama, each track carries parts of the emotional progress of the dying man TBP is written from the perspective of, and portrays it in such a way that even at its most abstract its just. SO clear what this man is feeling and what the band is trying to convey,,,, AUGH

AUGH!! i love mcr man its such an incredible fuckin band and the just. The fact that the members are just such ordinary people who really poured their hearts and souls into every song they wrote [to quote ray toro: "it all started to make sense. Now i know why we're here"],,,,,,,,,,, they really are the band that changed the world dude like i cant talk about them without getting worked up. Mx way if you can hear me you did it man

[journeysintowebcomics]

Homestuck Liveblog #150

UPDATE 150: It’s a Circus in Here

Last time Aranea made a building fall on Jade right after she was knocked out. Needless to say, this can’t be good for Jade’s health. So let’s continue!

...way to shatter the excitement, Hussie. You just...took all the tension and dramatic momentum the recent events had, and singlehandedly destroyed it with two out-of-place images that weren’t even needed. Geez. I never had any doubts Hussie wrote at least half of Homestuck by the seat of his pants. I mean, I’m pretty sure he had many things planned, maybe an outline of the order of some events and what some characters would do, but also in moments like this it’s painfully obvious Hussie just...threw in whatever crossed his mind. That’s a terrible way of writing. My ask screener often told me that Andrew Hussie’s story would be refused by any editor unless the pay was monumental, mostly because Hussie’s shenanigans were simply no good at all in terms of keeping the pacing and momentum of the scenes, and in moments like these...I fully agree with her. Damn it, Hussie.

So what’s the judgment for Jade’s death?  The clock seems to indicate she’d revive – hopefully phasing through the building in the process – but Aranea’s powers seem to be way too powerful right now, to the point where her luck influenced the clock and made it have a Just verdict. Jade is dead. Permanently. Would Jane’s life powers even work now? It’s worth a try once Aranea has been dealt with and Jade can’t be controlled again, but until then...Jade is completely out of commission. Dang, Aranea. She’s cold, but I can’t help but admire a bit her methods, as a reader, of course.

Dave has decided to go to the planet where everything is happening and gives the Mayor a heartfelt goodbye, even kissing the Mayor on the forehead. Dave, um, you should stop that. I hadn’t realized it until a month and half or so ago, but infatilizing characters is something that irks me a lot. But yeah, Dave flies away to a portal, trying to get in contact with Rose to inform her there’s something very bad possibly happening.

Since Jade is currently dead, Jane knows she needs to use her powers of life to bring her back and try to turn the tides around, and Aranea isn’t going to try to stop it. She just will fly and tell Roxy to appear, she knows she’s there, observing the situation. Before Jane can use her powers...Gamzee comes flying from the sky and towards Jane. Okay, this is totally Aranea’s doing. I have to wonder how exactly she got Gamzee flying in middle of the sky when last time he was on the battleship, which was in Derse, which was transported who knows how long away. Maybe the Damaras transported him flying all the way here, I guess, but I can’t say I thought Gamzee would be in this scene! Kinda random, but fine.

Roxy isn’t happy at all to see Aranea and demands to know what’s going on.

ROXY: for real though we were gonna give that ring to callie  ARANEA: Hmm?  ROXY: callie my goddamn bffsy from space  ROXY: shes a ghost and i wanna save her from her bro  ARANEA: Ah yes. The female cheru8.  ARANEA: I am perfectly familiar with her plight, as well as the relevance she purportedly has with respect to her 8rother's downfall.  ARANEA: In fact, I was one of the first ever to theorize a8out that! :::;)  ROXY: SMUG  ARANEA: 8ut the situ8tion has changed. That is all ancient history now.  ARANEA: I'm sorry, Roxy. 8ut I have no use for your cheru8 friend in my plans.  ARANEA: She will not 8e playing a role of any significance.

When exactly did things change, Aranea? I mean, I’m pretty sure Vriska’s influence on Aranea had a lot to do with this, but it can’t have been an immediate change of plans. If I had to guess, I’d say it happened when the ship was almost getting to the place where Lord English’s juju was hidden. In terms of storytelling that was in this very same day, but since time doesn’t pass linearly everywhere in the Medium...that may have been millennia ago.

Roxy immediately tells Aranea to give the ring back, but of course Aranea refuses. In fact, to troll standards, everything Roxy said would count as a black romance solicitation. Oh, boy, what an odd romance pairing that’d be! Roxy/Aranea kismesisitude, hah. Aranea then proceeds to kill the levity by saying Jake couldn’t resist throwing himself all over Aranea earlier. Okay, you’re trying to goad Roxy into doing something, aren’t you? This is a trap. In fact, she outright says she needs to get rid of Roxy, just to make sure she won’t be able to meddle and keep trying to get the ring off Aranea’s hand. With some luck it’ll be just knocking her out, not murdering her via crushing with heavy objects.

Oh, also, imaginary Dirk is over there.

Yeah, Roxy was just knocked out. Good! No one died right now. Roxy is bound to appear in Calliope’s dream hideout, I suppose, where Calliope currently is feeling very, very lonely. It’s actually pretty heartbreaking to see her so dispirited.

CALLIOPE: have they all forgotten aboUt me?  CALLIOPE: i gUess i coUld not blame them for getting on with their lives.  CALLIOPE: after all, what Use am i?  CALLIOPE: the only remotely important thing there is for me to do is to go looking for a more important version of myself.  CALLIOPE: and i can't even bloody well do that mUch! 

...okay, Roxy, once everything is over and paradox space is saved you should consider asking the other revived Calliope to give the ring back so you can revive this version here. I’m not entirely sure what kind of person the doomed Calliope is, but if she’s anything like Calliope then she’d understand. Martyrdom would be nothing new to her, too, because I suspect the doomed Calliope took the second option when Yaldabaoth gave it, the option to die now and be very beneficial in the future. I just...it just feels rather sad to see Calliope like this.

Oh! What’s this, hm? Looks like a stage of some sort. The spiral also turns bright yellow. I’m not sure what’s going on...this isn’t something Roxy would do accidentally or intentionally, I think. There are footsteps coming, so Calliope hides behind the curtain and hopes for the best while also...shouting aloud to be left alone. That doesn’t help hiding, silly Calliope.

Well hello there! How did you even get here, Jade? Did you bring this stage with you? I suppose it makes sense, given that Jade just died, although it seems she hasn’t realized yet she’s dead, judging from her still visible eyes. Calliope hesitantly steps out, disguised as a troll, aaaaand scene change. Back to the trouble.

JANE: GET YOUR PAWS OFF ME YOU SHITFUCKING SHITFUCKER AUGH FUCK SHIT SHIT SHIT FUCK FUCK. 

...well that language doesn’t fit Jane at all. Too simple and crude. I’m sure if she insulted it’d be a tad more complicated than this. Jane tries to shake Gamzee off, but isn’t able to do it.

JANE: DID YOU JUST TOUCH MY BOOB. DON'T TOUCH MY BOOB YOU FUCKFACED DUNG HUFFING TOILET GUZZLING IDIOT QUIPSTER SHITPECKER DICKLARK. 

That’s more like I imagine Jane would cuss, hah. Dave arrives right in this moment. Welcome to the party, Dave. He almost immediately finds Jade underneath the building, and then asks Gamzee for an explanation.

DAVE: not gonna answer me huh  DAVE: youre just gonna keep manhandling johns evil mom and not tell me what jades doing under this house  DAVE: sweet jesus youre an awful dude

There’s something charming in Dave’s way of talking I just find charming. I can’t exactly saw what it is, because I’m not sure, but I like it.

So, the deal here with imaginary Dirk is that he’s turning less imaginary. Perhaps a direct consequence of Jake’s hope powers? Soon he’s completely real and prepares to kill Aranea while Jake continues shouting lingo from 1890.

Down in the ground looks like Terezi and Rose have arrived to the planet! Terezi’s first action is to kick Gamzee away from Jane, much to Dave’s pleasure, who instead asks Jane about what’s happening. Yeah, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind telling it while she resurrects Jade.

DAVE: hey johns hot mom did you see what happened  DAVE: shit i mean  DAVE: johns evil mom  DAVE: did you happen to...  DAVE: damn  DAVE: ok that was a really embarrassing and inappropriate freudian slip there  DAVE: dont think im gonna rebound from that one 

You sure like calling people’s moms hot, Dave!

Terezi starts shouting everything she surely have wanted to shout for quite a while, insulting Gamzee’s religion and preference in beverages. Gamzee, still under Aranea’s control, I suppose, doesn’t respond at all. In middle of the rant, Terezi realizes Aranea is up there.

TEREZI: YOU 4ND SH3 4R3 1N C4HOOTS NOW, 4R3NT YOU  TEREZI: 4R3NT YOU!!! 

I’m not exactly sure what were Aranea’s intentions when she offered to heal Terezi, but maaaaybe Gamzee did make Terezi hate herself so she’d accept the offer. He can be that manipulative, whether it’s by his own will or under someone else’s orders. I don’t know. So while Terezi starts beating up Gamzee, Dirk starts trying to slice Aranea. Aim for the hand, Dirk!

So I’m stopping here for now.

Next update: three updates