#cowboy troy reference in 2024

[gaykarstaagforever]

TNG Season 6 certainly has its good episodes. Like Episode 8, "A Fistful of Datas".

Yes, it's another goofy "Holodeck-on-the-fritz" episode. But I goddamn love these. And the writers seem to too, because they usually tend to be well-written. This one in particular focuses on Worf and Data, probably my two favorite TNG characters, which helps. And Spiner and Dorn get to flex their substantial acting chops, dealing with this fantasy situation.

Also they finally let Troi do something cool. I may be a filthy homosexual, but Cowboy Troi still gets it DONE. Hot damn.

This episode raises all kinds of questions about how the Enterprise-D computer works, and why the hell. You'd think after the "Elementary, My Dear Data" incident of Season 2, they would have physically isolated the Holodeck from the rest of the ship's computer, or at least put up some firewalls or memory-access limits. The VR computer game app should not be able to just use ALL of the ship's insane computing power to run games. Like, games are shit when they do that now. This system keeps fresh air flowing in the ship, and makes it so that not everyone explodes immediately every time you move it. Probably should wall-off the thing running Space Fortnite from the bulk of that.

But they certainly don’t. By the end of this episode, the computer has nonchalantly generated FIVE different perfect recreations of Data for its corrupted cowboy simulation. Five. He's the most advanced android in the known universe, and his inner-workings are a mystery even to Starfleet scientists. And the Enterprise-D computer just made 5 clones of him for a video game. Hot damn, this system is scary powerful.

...Of course, in "Elementary, Dear Data", it accidentally created an ENTIRE SENTIENT MAN, just because Geordi asked it to troll Data. And it let that creation seize the rest of the computer with steampunk levers and nearly kill everyone. Again, why don't they have basic code permissions in place to prevent stuff like this? And yes, I know the answer is this was written in the 80s by people who wrote it on typewriters.

And this comes up again in Season 6 in Episode 12, "Ship in a Bottle", where Moriarty breaks out of his digital prison and attacks them again. And tries to force them to make him real! And they only stop him then by tricking him into trapping himself inside a Space iPad!

Starfleet. For God's sake. Basic security protocols, my dudes!

All this said, the Moriarty thing only happened because Data and Geordi were messing around with the computer, and this cowboy mess only happened because...Data and Geordi were messing around with the computer. That's twice now, guys. Picard should at least give them a stern talking-to. You'd think the Chief Engineer and the Android would be smarter about their computer shenanigans. But here we are.

Here we motherfucking are.

Some people are always playing chicken with the train.

[thisselflovecamebacktome]

My ranking of the 250 albums/EPs I listened to that released this year

A few things to note before we get into this

This is not an objective 'best of 2024' ranking. God knows it would be a very different ranking if it was. This is simply a ranking of which projects I enjoy the most and am most to least likely to continue listening to in whole in the future. On that note, realistically I enjoyed most of these albums and even most of those close to the bottom had a list moments if not songs or even the project as a whole that I enjoyed, it simply was less so than those near the top. Like in some cases, it literally came down to me not enjoying one aspect (vocals, production etc) as much as the albums above and you will notice when I put out my songs list that some of the albums that are low ranked here have some of my highest ranking songs. Basically, don't be a dick if your faves are closer to the bottom. They weren't/that project was not for me.

Most of the artist names and albums names are not stylised. Sorry I simply am lazy and not willing to go through 250 entries to fix that at this point so sue me lmao but it is not a personal attack on your fave. Likewise, I know I have missed some of the changes of album names between standard and deluxe albums but know that in every instance, I have listened to the most deluxe version that Spotify has to offer.

I have grouped accompanied projects by the same artist into one ranking each. So for example Taylor's album is one ranking, not one for TTPD and another for The Anthology. I have also put Hozier's two EPs together given he has a history of putting his EPs onto the same album when it comes out.

I have not included predominately cover albums but have included Harlequin by Lady Gaga because I felt they were different enough rather than being flat out covers. Realistically all this means is that the Wicked soundtrack and Cascada's albums were not included but if you really must know, Wicked would've been a middle of the road ranking and Studio 24 would have ranked really high. Likewise, with the exception of LANA by SZA which had 15 tracks so was long enough to be its own album, I have not included deluxe versions for albums released before 2024. Again all that you're missing if you care that much is that Laufey and Noah's albums both would have ranked very high.

I'm going to bolden artists I've heard the whole discography of (whether due to my own tastes or my loved ones lmao) and italicise anyone I'd never heard a single song from pre 2024 for some form of reference in case anyone is interested.

I just want to make a note that while they were not my number 1, my biggest growers of the year were Dua and Tyla's albums. The rest of this list has give or take stayed the same, the have jumped over 100 spots each respectively since their first listen.

With that in mind, lets get into it.

What Happened To The Heart? – Aurora

The Second Act – Missy Higgins

All Born Screaming – St Vincent

The Great Impersonator – Halsey

Cowboy Carter – Beyonce

Warrangu: River Story – Dobby

Heart Is Not Beating – Green Apelsin

What A Time To Be Alive – Raechel Whitchurch

Lana – SZA

Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish

The Sex Was Good Until It Wasn't – Xana

Blund + Close Your Eyes – Ionnalee

I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain – Sarah Blasko

Deeper Well – Kacey Musgraves

Opus – Ryuichi Sakamoto

What A Devastating Turn of Events – Rachel Chinouriri

Room Under The Stairs – Zayn

On My Own – Ricki Lee

Megan + Act II – Megan Thee Stallion

Harlequin – Lady Gaga

For Your Consideration – Empress Of

Between The Fires – Troy Cassar-Daley

Born In The Wild – Tems

Hummingbird – Carly Pearce

Where The Butterflies Go In The Rain – Raveena

Yours Until The War Is Over – Amigo The Devil

Quantum Baby – Tinashe

No One Gets Out Alive – Maggie Rose

Bird's Eye – Ravyn Lenae

Waku: Minaral A Minalay – Christine Anu

VII – Chrissy Costanza

Prelude To Ecstasy – The Last Dinner Party

Saviors – Green Day

Revenge – Muni Long

Beautifully Ordinary – Tones And I

Dauntless Manifesto – Cupcakke

Radical Optimism – Dua Lipa

Moon Music – Coldplay

Observations From A Crowded Room – Joy Oladokun

Access All Areas – Flo

Mirror Starts Moving Without Me – Pom Pom Squad

Bouquet – Gwen Stefani

The Lost Ones – Florrie

Unheard + Unaired – Hozier

Kissing Death – Mothica

Gloom Division – I Don't Know How They Found Me

Trouble In Paradise – Chloe

Lives Outgrown – Beth Gibbons

No Hard Feelings – Leigh Anne

Sincere – Khalid

Coco By The Fireplace – Coco Jones

The Year I Turned 21 – Ayra Starr

Soaring Heart – Liyuu

Timeless – Kaytranda

Armageddon – Aespa

Short n Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter

Ehhthang Ehhthang – GloRilla

High – Keith Urban

Inhale/Exhale – Rufus Du Sol

Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney

Submarine – The Marias

Capicu – RaiNao

Glorious – GloRilla

That Ain't No Man That's The Devil – Jessie Murph

In Sexyy We Trust – Sexyy Red

This Is How I Remember It – Beckah Amani

The Greatest Love – London Grammar

For Cryin' Out Loud – Finneas

The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology – Taylor Swift

Late Slap – Dana Gavanski

Orquideas – Kali Uchis

Insano (inclusive of Nitro Mega) – Kid Cudi

Patterns – Kelsea Ballerini

I'm Doing It Again Baby – Girl In Red

The Glorification of Sadness – Paloma Faith

Heaven x Hell – Sum 41

Bando Stone & The New World – Childish Gambino

Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert

Carnival – Sheena Ringo

Something In The Air – Elio

Trail Of Flowers – Sierra Ferrell

Blue Dreams – Holly Arrowsmith

Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii

Mountain Music – Nina Nesbitt

Tyla+ – Tyla

Gratitude – Mary J Blige

From Zero – Linkin Park

Evergreen – Soccer Mommy

Backbone – Kasey Chambers

Intermission – Maren Morris

Toxic – Yours Truly

Open Your Mind And Your Trousers – Scooter

A Girl With No Face – Allie X

Metamorphic – Stayc

Vertigo – Griff

Satellites – The Script

Forever – Bon Jovi

Bitter Sweet Love – James Arthur

Fireworks & Rollerblades – Benson Boone

The Past Is Still Alive – Hurray For The Riff Raff

How To Build An Ocean: Instructions – Bear In Trees

Yesterwynde – Nightwish

Avenge The Fallen – Hammerfall

Where I've Been Isn't Where I'm Going – Shaboozey

Tiger's Blood – Waxahatchee

Reasonable Woman – Sia

Partynextdoor 4 (p4) – Partynextdoor

Blue Electric Light – Lenny Kravitz

Venus – Zara Larsson

Paradise State of Mind – Foster The People

Dopamine – Normani

Crash – Kehlani

Dark Times – Vince Staples

Winter's Diary 5 – Tink

Coming Home – Usher

Born To Be – Itzy

Feels Like Home – Jessb

With You-th – Twice

In Search of The Antidote – Fletcher

7 – Nelly Furtado

What Now – Brittany Howard

Dark Matter – Pearl Jam

Mayday – Becca Hatch

Rosie – Rose

Muse – Jimin

Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith and Fables – Dolly Parton & Family

What Do You Believe In? – Rag'n'bone Man

Telos – Zedd

Kygo – Kygo

God Said No – Omar Apollo

Big Ideas – Remi Wolf

Ask That God – Empire Of The Sun

Tension II – Kylie Minogue

Willson – Ashe

Infinite Icon – Paris Hilton

The Forest Is The Path – Snow Patrol

Brat + And It's Completely Different But Also Still Brat – Charli XCX

The Surface Seems So Far – Seether

Afters – Adam Lambert

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

Glad You Came – Mario

Eternal Sunshine – Ariana Grande

Boy – Luke Hemmings

The True North – Peter Garrett

When A Thought Grows Wings – Luna Li

Sunday Sadness – Amy Shark

Mother – Logic1000

The Loop – Jordan Rakei

Happenings – Kasabian

Burnt Tapes – Eves Karydas

Between2worlds – Chanel Loren

Romanticism – Hana Vu

Love & Limerence – Olivia O'Brien

She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She – Chelsea Wolfe

Visions – Norah Jones

Charm – Clairo

Believe Me Now? – Becky Hill

Easy – Le Sserafim

Can We Please Have Fun – Kings of Leon

Yours Forever – Jessica Mauboy

This Is Me Now – Jennifer Lopez

Before The Album – Hunxho

For My Dreams – King Stingray

Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson

Glorious – Kate Hudson

How To Be Human – Debbie Dawson

Beep Beep Repeat – Isaac Dunbar

This Is How Tomorrow Moves – Beabadoobee

Blue Raspberry – Katy Kirby

Evolution – Sheryl Crow

Older – Lizzy McAlpine

Gothic Summer – The Veronicas

Chaos Angel – Maya Hawke

Millenials – The Snuts

Zora – Sheppard

The Secret of Us – Gracie Abrams

Heat – Tove Lo + SG Lewis

A Journey Through The Virtual Dystopia – Red Handed Denial

Sugar Honey Iced Tea – Latto

Encuentros – Becky G

Y2K! – Ice Spice

What Happened To The Beach – Declan McKenna

Weird Faith – Madi Diaz

Fe304: Break – Nmixx

Buzz – Niki

Easy Eighth Album – Kaiser Chiefs

Polaroid Lovers – Sarah Jarosz

Honeymind – Ben Platt

Woodland – Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

Viva Hinds – Hinds

Princess Pop That – Anycia

Here In The Pitch – Jessica Pratt

Rayo – J Balvin

F-1 Trillion – Post Malone

Found Heaven – Conan Gray

Troubleshooting – Xdinary Heroes

Daniel – Real Estate

Fourever – Day6

A Dream Is All We Know – The Lemon Twigs

Marmalade – Phoebe Go

Cape Forestier – Angus & Julia Stone

Nu King – Jason Derulo

Shiny New Thing - Cxloe

Romance – Fontaines D.C

Only God Was Above Us – Vampire Weekend

If I Were A Real Man I Would Be Able To Break The Neck Of A Suffering Bird – Lala Lala

Empathogen – Willow

Mountainhead – Everything Everything

Timeless – Meghan Trainor

Young In Love – Kita Alexander

With Love – Snarls

Chapter & Verse – Gabby Barrett

Loom – Imagine Dragons

American Hero – Towa Bird

Nara – Emily Wurramara

Yoyotta – Molly Payton

The Epilogue – Dean Lewis

My Favorite Dream – John Legend

Un-American Activities – Molly Nilsson

Three – Four Tet

Underdressed At The Symphony – Faye Webster

Cure – Erra

Hyperdrama – Justice

Love Heart Cheat Code – Hiatus Kaiyote

Til My Song Is Done – Emma Donovan

Ramona – Grace Cummings

Memoir of a Sparklemuffin – Suki Waterhouse

As It Ever Was So It Will Be Again – The Decemberists

Bright Future – Adrianne Lenker

Troubadour – Taylor Sheridan

Clancy – Twenty One Pilots

Wall Of Eyes – The Smile

Trackhouse (Daytona 500 edition) – Pitbull

Gravity Stairs – Crowded House

Don't Forget Me – Maggie Rogers

American Dream – 21 Savage

Ten Days – Fred Again

1432 – Katy Perry

Light Verse – Iron & Wine

This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway – Lola Young

Safar – Chaii

Bleachers – Bleachers

You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To – Knocked Loose

Supercharged – The Offspring

The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace) – Eminem

Por Cesarea – Dillom

Tangk – Idles

Right Place Wrong Person – RM

Gamma – Gesaffelstein

Where's My Utopia – Yard Act