#he listens to classical and the foxes fight song and that’s literally it

[swampthingking]

andrew minyard listens to metal

the first time he played spiritbox (holy roller) in the car nicky was absolutely horrified. he wasn’t surprised, but seeing your headcannon come to life is jarring so i empathize with him

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

hi hello my anglest angel!!! now that i have uh caught a breath from the knight!sugu fic (i went insane btw) i am here to talk about the songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY'RE SO GOOD!!!!!! i know you said that you have Thoughts about them and now i am beggggging to hear more about those!!! please please please more knight!sugu n brat!reader crumbs i loved them so much

THE SECOND GOODBYE MY DANISH SWEETHEART STARTED PLAYING IT JUST CONJURED UP THE PRETTIEST CASTLE AND I WAS ALREADY IN THE STORY I LOVED IT SO MUCH

there’s nobody better than you // it took me a while till i knew // but you knew from the start it was us, didn't you? // it just took me a while till i knew

sad face emoji sugu the all-knowing-one sighhhhh oh i adore him so much ari i nEED TO HUG HIM

I LOVE RISES THE MOON AAAAAAAA I LOVE IT SO SO SO MUCH i think it fits the reader so fucking well. it's such a good pick for them. the little lamb the little fox. sigh they're very dear to me already.

btw i just realized that i asked moss a while ago for their knight!sugu songs and "tongues and teeth" was one of the songs!!!!!! idk if u happened to see that but if not then this is a very cute little coincidence it's the knight hivemind!!!!

i’ve grown a mouth so sharp and cruel // it’s all that i can give to you, my dear // and when you come in quick to steal a kiss // my teeth will only cut your lips, my dear

THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH THIS FITS THEM SO WELL WHAT

no but overall all of these songs were perfect for them i listened to the playlist multiple times and then i listened to classical music lmao don't ask it fit surprisingly well OKAY BUT NOW DON'T HOLD BACK ON ME!!!!! (THREAT!!!! VERY SERIOUS THREAT!!!) I NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING YOU'RE HIDING IN YOUR BRAIN ABOUT THEM LAY IT ALL ON ME SWEETHEART I'M GIDDY I'M EXCITED I'M READY!!! LOVE YOU ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS<33333

- @softgirlgonehaywire

MICKEY I’M HERE I’M HERE I’M FINALLY HERE 😭😭😭 pls ignore the fact that i’m many months late ok my brain refuses to cooperate with me sometimes but i’ve been soso excited to answer this properly!!!! this got . Extremely long. like. actually. i got VERY carried away . i’m sorry i genuinely can’t stfu when it comes to them <///3

anyway !!!!! knight!sugu & bratty royal!reader our beloveds :333

first off!!!! i’m sooo glad to hear you enjoyed the songs 🥺🥺🥺 and that you got knight!sugu/royalty!reader vibes from them too!!!!! i’m just gonna get right into it bc we have . a Lot to discuss 😭😭 i really didn’t hold back in the slightest AND ON THAT NOTE pls just know that there’s literally zero pressure to reply to this at all, esp since it’s so late!!! i’m so happy just knowing you think of these silly little guys 🥺 i love you soooo much my sweetest little kitty cat mwah MWAHH <333

goodbye, my danish sweetheart

MY FAVORITE MITSKI SONG EVER EVER EVERRR and honestly i think it fits the fic more than any other song on this list . like. just the vibes + instrumentals alone are sooo perfect for a royalty au…. it sounds nostalgic and bittersweet and very tender . and the LYRICS 😵‍💫😵‍💫ohhhh my fucking god mickey . i’m gonna need to go through them one by one but they just … make me think of royalty!reader so much . how they just want to be accepted. the feelings of inferiority …. the belief that nobody can love them as they are . :(((

there's nobody better than you // it took me a while 'til i knew // but you knew from the start it was us, didn't you? // it just took me a while 'til i knew now i lay as i study a blank wall // would you spare me your voice if i call? // ’cause you waited and watered my heart 'til it grew // you can see how it’s blossomed for you

THIS IS SOOOO READER @ SUGU. he’s the one who keeps pushing and fighting for a connection between them and reader keeps resisting until they just . can’t. and they really do think there’s nobody better than their knight !! nobody stronger or kinder. they love him sm :(((( every time they call for him he’s there. and he waters their tiny little heart until it’s not afraid to flourish anymore…..

there’s some kind of burning inside me // it’s kept me from falling apart // and i’m sure that you've seen what it's done to my heart // but it's kept me from falling apart

AND THEN THIS . oughhh . :(((( this is both royalty!reader AND knight!sugu…… they both keep their true self at arm’s lenght to protect themselves. and they both cling to something rotten to keep themselves intact. in reader’s case they cling to the idea of themself as a spoiled, bratty, scummy royal — cling to the anger and bitterness they feel . and suguru clings to knighthood. it burns him but it makes him feel alive. it’ll turn him to ashes but he doesn’t mind. etectc.

strawberry blonde

aaaand then another mitski banger :33 i picked this one mostly based on vibes !!! the instrumental just sounds like it could fit into this au … the more peaceful scenes between the two . but the lyrics are also just brimming with devotion and adoration..

i love everybody because i love you // when you stood up, walked away barefoot // and the grass where you lay left a bed in your shape // i looked over it and i ached i love it when you call my name // can you hear the bumblebees swarm? // watching your arm // i love it when you look my way

IT’S PERFECT BECAUSE . i think the lyrics work both ways !!! i can see both sets of lyrics being from reader’s pov; loving suguru makes it easier for them to love the world . they want him to call them by name. but it also works well from sugu’s pov…. he aches for them and yearns to follow them . he loves it when they call his name, too. they’re both yearners…. what can i say…..

rises the moon

ANOTHER VIBE-BASED SONGGG i also love this one mickey … it’s so beautiful and soothing :((( i imagine it playing during the scene where suguru shares a bit of his past with reader . sitting by the windowsill in their room as the moon glows….. and then he carries them to bed and tucks them in :) i can picture him humming them to sleep with this song.

oh-oh, close your weary eyes // i promise you that soon the autumn comes // to darken fading summer skies you’ll be visited by sleep // i promise you that soon the autumn comes // to steal away each dream you keep breathe, breathe, breathe

and the lyrics are just ???? soooo incredibly soothing. i think knight!sugu brings a lot of peace into reader’s life . they feel very safe with him. and the mentions of dreams and seasons feel fitting, since those are motifs in the fic :3

honestly !! i associate a lot of my character/reader pairings with seasons …. especially this one though. i’m also always thinking about your little knight and prince and how he’s the summer to their spring :3 in my case i think suguru is probably reader’s autumn!! a bridge that softens the gap between summer and winter…. he gives them stability and comfort. and they give him both summer and winter. he meets them right in the middle <33

tongues & teeth

HEAVY BREATHING …… this one is a Must for any knight character or pairing . any character who views themself as a monster . I DID SEE THIS ON MOSS’S PLAYLIST TOO AND THEY’RE SO BIGBRAINED FOR THAT !!!!! it’s just… oughh. i think i mostly associate this one with suguru’s rampage after reader gets kidnapped but the lyrics are more readercoded !!!!

i’ve grown a mouth so sharp and cruel // it’s all that i can give to you, my dear // and when you come in quick to steal a kiss // my teeth will only cut your lips, my dear oh, i will ruin you // it’s a habit, i can't help it // i know that you mean so well // but i am not a vessel for your good intent i will only break your pretty things // i will only wring you dry of everything // but if you're fine with that // if you're fine with that…

IT’S ABOUT . the violence . and tenderness. a person who thinks they’ll bring this brighter, kinder, more ”pure” person nothing but pain . reader assumes they’re too much for anyone to handle so they keep everyone at arm’s lenght . i think they view the people they admire as paintings. and they’re convinced they’ll smudge the canvas if they get too close . but deep down they want to be accepted, claws and all :(((

and suguru does!!! they both accept each other as they are . a fox and a wolf. suguru will let reader bite and hiss and claw at him as much as they need. he won’t love them any less . and reader sees suguru covered in blood, manic and frenzied, and still only thinks about how beautiful he is . how nice their name sounds when it’s falling from his lips . they don’t love each other despite their flaws or because of their flaws . they just like each other. scratch marks and all . i’m normal abt them btw

the garden

THIS ONE 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 MICKEYYYY HOLD MY HAND. this one is almost TOO perfect . i love the crane wives and so many of their songs would fit super well into this fic …. but this one is just . insane . the album cover even has a little fox 🥺 BUT AAA JUST . the instrumental and the LYRICS … i’m gonna need to really pick them apart because they’re so unbelievably perfect for royalty!reader i’m going to. scream.

the crows in the garden are laughing at my expense // drowning out all the lies that i might have told instead

OK SOOO . crows . are a bit of a motif in the fic. crows remind me a lot of suguru maybe that’s why. then there’s also the garden, which is mentioned a lot in the fic too!! all the flower imagery…

but . here’s the thing. royalty!reader is a Liar. they lie. they wear a mask. they’re not honest with their own self and not with anyone else either. and they assume everyone is looking down on them. i can picture them looking out into the garden, seeing those free crows, and imagining their cawing as mocking laughter . it drowns out the sound of their own lies . (crumbles to the floor)

my stone // my shield, my steady hand // hold your light // to the darkness in my head

AND THIS ONE . THIS ONEEEE

mickey ….. grabs your shoulders. i know you’ll see the vision. this is royalty!reader @ knight!sugu and it makes me . Ache . very deeply. he’s their stone. their shield, their steady hand. he holds a light to the darkness in their head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oughhhh they make me insane 😔😔😔 i think reader holds a light to suguru’s darkness too though . it’s more subtle with him but i wrote the fic with the idea that reader saves knight!suguru from his destined doom. he grows to care more for them than knighthood, which saves him from his fate, which is. breaking under the pressure of knighthood. you Get me. you must choose love Every Time.

put your ear to my heart or set your teeth against my throat // give me something pretty to wear beneath my blood-stained clothes

this one is just . really fitting right??? i guess this one is more knight!sugu coded though . i can imagine him returning to the castle after a bloody duel and getting patched up by a worried little reader :((( they give him a clean blouse . maybe bite his throat a little . who knows .

…. i think they also really love the sound of his heartbeat. it helps them sleep :3

get on your knees and // dig up the garden // won’t you throw down that spade and // dig up the garden, darling? // get your hands dirty and // rip up the garden // won’t you cut down that apple tree for me?

and finally This …….. i think the garden is like. a Metaphor . you know how it is . something something reader is a flower growing under the soil…. suguru has to dig their heart up…. etcetc. but i also love the devotion of it all . the loyal knight gets on his knees and digs and digs at his lord’s request. he’s eternally devoted to their joy.

my love is sick

dies . explodes .

mickey this song …. this goddamn song….. oughhh i love madds buckley sm :((((( she’s so good!!! i adore this song and i think it fits very well for both of them but especially royalty!reader…. it goes back to the whole thing where . they think they’re unloveable. their love is ”sick.” but they still crave tenderness and companionship……

my love is sick // it’s messy and wrong // but i pray for a bit of contagion // hands without fingers // like spoons at the source // coat evenly // oh, won’t you touch me? you’re an infection // i am keeping // no matter the sepsis // you are staying my love is sick // it’s taken me whole // i’m simply a host to a haunting // ghosts without corpses // still linger in flesh // holding on to a love they keep wanting

THESE LYRICS ARE JUST . soooo good. so good. the idea that they view their love as messy and wrong but still want him to touch them . they view him as an infection because intimacy scares them so much but they still don’t want him gone.

and then the final line ….. ”holding on to a love they keep wanting”…….. yeahhh . suguru and reader are both afraid to bare their hearts to one another but they keep holding onto that love anyway.

anything, anything, anything

aaaand then finally!!! another madds buckley song :33 this one is ADORABLE and it’s just . dripping with devotion and adoration !!!! i guess i see it almost as a post-fic song ??? like. after the final scene. the culmination of their relationship. it encompasses their love for each other really really well and the lyrics are just so sweet 🥺🥺

honey, i hate wine // but i’d gladly down a bottle of your name // just to get another taste of you // a single drop not on my tongue would be a waste and i hate mornings // but i like waking next to you // you always wake up before i do // so i can sleep in your embrace and i hate time // the minutes shared will never last enough // no amount of time will ever be too much // and parting leaves a bitter taste

THESE LYRICS ….. soooo royalty!reader. they’re a little sap but they don’t want to admit it!!!! i think their love comes down to making Exceptions. like. suguru is their exception. they hate wine but they’d drink some if he brewed it for them. they hate mornings but wake up early just to get a glimpse of his sleeping face . they hate time, but cherish the clock-ticks they spend with him. they’re a little softie and i love them :(((((

we burn like gentle firewood // we yearn like vines and leaves // and we settle in the comfort of // the bones that rest beneath // and i’d stop staying home and wasting time // to keep your soul with mine

THIS IS BOTH OF THEMMMM. they burn and yearn and settle in the comfort between each other…… they’d stop staying home and stop wasting time to keep each other close .

i’d do anything, anything, anything // anything, anything, anything…

this is really like . the Core of the fic i think. especially on knight!suguru’s side . he’d do anything. there’s something very gentle and tender about this repetition and it makes me wanna cry. sniffle . i adore them mickey :((((( he’d do anything for themmmmm

BUTTTT OKAY . songs aside…… the reason it took me so long to answer this (faulty brain aside) is that i really wanted to include some siken poems for you too :’3 since his poetry inspired me sooo much when i was writing the fic!!! and so many of them are knight!sugu +/ royalty!reader coded….

i’m just gonna go through the ones that remind me of them the most !!!! :33

the way the light reflects

title of the fic was snatched right from this so ofc i had to include it 🫡🫡

the paint doesn’t move the way the light reflects, so what’s there to be faithful to? i am faithful to you, darling. i say it to the paint.

i think this. encompasses the fic. i really do. the paint and the light. the Faith. what’s there to be faithful to? well, the knight by your side has something to say. if reader is faithful to the paint then he is faithful to Them. he’s made out of it. and all reader wants is for someone to have faith in them. they’re the paint, and suguru’s the light.

i paint in his face and i paint it out again. there is a question i am afraid to ask: to supply the world with what?

and this … royalty!reader is really . confused i think. to supply the world with what? what’s their purpose? what good can someone do when they’re stuck in a castle? they don’t know, so they keep painting. and maybe that’s enough.

…. i can’t remember if i mentioned this to you before but. i imagine that reader paints suguru a Lot once the events of the fic are over. as in…… eventually a corner of their room is dedicated to him and no one else . he’s very embarrassed about it. cutie <333

portrait of fryderyk in shifting light

THIS POEM . richard siken when i fucking catch you. it’s one of my absolute favorites of his and it…. really really REALLY helped me write some scenes 😭 especially the one where reader is painting. the writing is just so beautiful and flows so well. and it fits the themes of the fic perfectly !!

i sussed the gesso into foam and white roses, stalling. i troubled the shadows and silvered his edges. what can you know about a person? they shift in the light.

silvered his edges …. something something royalty!reader @ knight!sugu . BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING …. what can you know about a person? they shift in the light. that’s another quote that really gets to the core of the fic i think….!!! both sugu and reader aren’t what they seem to be. they shift in the light!!!

i find the parts that overlap with mine and light them up in clayd and creams, yellow music singing pink, the flicker of his mouth a purple rust. his face congeals as he settles in. his hair is bronze in here, not gold: walnut, bark, and cinnamon, chipped brick tipped in ink.

OUGHHHHHH AGAIN I’M JUST . so . enamored with the way he writes 💔💔💔 the colours…. the paint……. this is what goes through reader’s head when they’re painting suguru

difficult, to be confronted with the fact of yourself. opaque in the sense of finally solid, in the sense of see me, not through me.

SEE ME NOT THROUGH ME 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 yeah. reader wants to be Seen but not Discovered. suguru does both. he sees them and sees through them and stays anyway. it’s difficult to accept yourself but he does it for them. he sees the wolf and the lamb and the little fox beneath !!!! and reader sees him for the kind wolf that he is :333

litany in which certain things are crossed out

h … heavy breathing …. another of my favorite siken poems . this one was my absolute fav for a while….. it’s a really long one and there are just . soo many lines that reminds me of them!!! :((((

of course, she wakes the dragon. love always wakes the dragon and suddenly flames everywhere. i can already tell you think i’m the dragon, that would be so like me, but i’m not. i’m not the dragon. i’m not the princess either. (…) okay, so i’m the dragon. big deal. you still get to be the hero. you get magic gloves! a fish that talks! you get eyes like flashlights! what more do you want?

THE DRAGON/PRINCESS IMAGERYYYY. LOVE ALWAYS WAKES THE DRAGON !!!!!!! reader views themselves as The Dragon while suguru views them as The Princess . he’s The Hero obviously. i think reader is bitter towards suguru at the beginning for a Lot of reasons but one of them is jealousy. knights are domesticated creatures so they aren’t exactly Free but . they have more freedom than a chained royal . they get to run around in the forest and by the sea and they get to see the world :((( what more could he want?

you said i could have anything i wanted, but i just couldn’t say it out loud.

throws up blood . yeah . the knight offers his lord anything they wish for but they can’t say what they truly wish for . they can’t push the words out of their mouth .

forget the dragon, leave the gun on the table, this has nothing to do with happiness.

EXPLODES !!!!!!!! one of my favorite siken lines Ever. idk it’s just the vibes . i know you’ll understand mickey!!!!!!!! forget the dragon, this has nothing to do with happiness……

i want more applesauce. i want more seats reserved for heroes. dear forgiveness, i saved a plate for you. quit milling around the yard and come inside.

🥺🥺🥺 this line is so…. pretty. and hopeful. it makes me think more of knight!sugu than reader because i think he’s done many things he can’t forgive himself for . but the forgiveness he yearns for is just within reach . all he needs is a push. and i think reader more than anyone wants the better things in life — for themselves and for their knight.

suguru is passive in his suffering, but reader is willing to reach for what they want. and i think that inspires him. quit milling around the yard and come inside!!!!!! stupid silly knight >:((

unfinished duet

this is knight!suguru’s anthem . boy oh boy do i have thoughts about this ……

he wants to be tender and merciful. that sounds overly valorous. sounds like penance. and his hands? his hands keep turning into birds and flying away from him. him being you.

heavy breathing …. he wants to be tender and merciful. sounds like penance. 😵‍💫😵‍💫 i have …. soooo many thoughts about knight!suguru but the center of his character really is Guilt. shame. he wants to repent for things he can’t remember doing. knights are meant to be ashamed . it’s the catholic in them i think

then there’s the bird line ….. as much as he pushes and pushes for that connection, he’s just as scared as reader is when it comes to intimacy!! his hands turn into birds and fly away from them . he’s afraid of crossing a line or boundary. i tried to show it in the fic but like …. he’s very particular about certain things . he’s willing to bend certain rules (esp later when his devotion starts sticking more to his lord than his knighthood) but he’s Very firm about other things . like not calling them by name at first . it’s a little… too much for him. knights really have to tiptoe that line.

…. there’s this one arthurian work that i love. that you’ve definitely heard about bc it’s so popular + they made a movie out of it and i don’t think it was a good adaptation but it was soooooo so good as a movie . gawain and the green knight….. I DON’T WANNA RAMBLE TOO MUCH BUT UM. i love the arthuriana :333 and i’m mentioning this story because gawain is tested on his value as a knight right. there’s a whole thing about how he kisses a man’s wife because it’d be impolite to deny the lady’s wishes (rejecting her would go against his honour as a knight), but he can’t sleep with her because that would go against … his honour as a knight. it’s a whole. purity thing. you need to be chivalrous but also chaste. so knight!sugu acts all charming and flirty but when reader wants him to cross the line between them he’s like 😳 yeah. he’s . a silly little guy .

what did you really want? someone to pass this with me. you wanted more.

cries . throws up . this is both knight!sugu and royalty!reader actually …. they limit themselves because they don’t think they capable of / allowed to have the thing they really want :(((( just having somebody by their side is enough for now….

was there no one else? his hands keep turning into birds, and his hands keep flying away from him. eventually the birds must land.

…. yeahhhh . 😔😔 yeah . sorry this poem is wrecking me a little . eventually the birds must land!!!! knight!suguru can resist and royalty!reader can resist in kind but one day that distance Will be breached. they’re doomed to fall (positive).

snow and dirty rain

and finally …. this beast . it’s the final poem of siken’s crush collection and it goes…. insanely hard. soooo many lines here remind me of them mickey :((((( it’s sickening actually . just a little push more and then you’re free 🫂🫂🫂 here is a drink for u to sip while reading i made it just for you ☕️

we can do anything. it’s not because our hearts are large, they’re not, it’s what we struggle with.

OUGHHH . yeah . knight!sugu and royalty!reader both have pretty small hearts but they’re kinda…. overfilled . i think . they both struggle with kindness despite wanting to Do Good .

my dragonfly, my black-eyed fire, the knives in the kitchen are singing for blood, but we are the crossroads, my little outlaw, and this is the map of my heart, the landscape after cruelty which is, of course, a garden, which is a tenderness, which is a room, a lover saying hold me tight, it’s getting cold.

….. i just realized every single one of these quotes is gonna wreck me entirely . I’M JUST???? THIS IS THEM?!????? IT WAS MADE FOR THEM?????? MY DRAGONFLY MY BLACK-EYED FIRE. MY LITTLE OUTLAW. the landscape after cruelty which is OF COURSE a garden which is OF COURSE a tenderness which is OF COURSE a room of sleeping lovers. tenderness is a garden . etcetc.

we have not touched the stars, nor are we forgiven, which brings us back to the hero’s shoulders and a gentleness that comes, not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it.

just kill me actually . i wrote some of these lines here wayyyy back when you first sent this ask so being forced to read them again is . hurting me mickey 😭😭😭 FOR THE RECORD. this one is extremely knight!reader/prince!toru coded. the gentleness that comes not from the absence of violence, but despite the abundance of it… yeahhh. you get me.

you said tell me about your books, your visions made of flesh and light and i said this is the moon. this is the sun. let me name the stars for you.

🥺🥺🥺 reader asks about his life and visions and dreams . and suguru tells them about the moon and the sun and the constellations ….. ”let me name the stars for you.” <- SUCH a sugu thing to say. i can’t stand him . he’s so devoted it hurts when i think about him

we were in the gold room where everyone finally gets what they want, so i said what do you want, sweetheart? and you said kiss me.

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😵‍💫😭😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 KISS ME . this is literally the final scene between them . under the stars. suguru asks what they want and all they want is a kiss. THE SWEETHEART …… lowkey his favorite petname. i’m partial to it. they go through all the suffering and growing together and finally arrive at the gold room. where they get what they want. and all they want is each other . (sound of muffled sobbing)

we are all just trying to be holy. my applejack, my silent night, just mash your lips against me. we are all going forward. none of us are going back.

and finally …… this 💔💔💔 it’s just . perfect. it’s so hopeful and it makes me so emotional. just mash your lips against me; none of us are going back. even though they were both born for doom there’s a bright future ahead of them :’3

OKAY I’M DONE . FINALLY . if you read all this then just know i’m smothering you in kisses…. i’m doing that regardless though . i love you!!!! thank you for loving them with me!!!!!! 🥺🥺🥺 i hope this was a fun read despite the wait </3

[revangerang]

Oh boy I really got in my feelings and wrote way too much lmao

Tagged by: @edithpattou86

Tags your friends to do their own lists: @chierafied @mother-ishvara @doughygraduatestudent @kazoomajor @pagan-assassin

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Top 5 animated movies:

1. Whisper of the Heart - Such a cute and whimsical slice-of-life coming of age story, and so inspiring for creative types! I love how Shizuku sees her fantasies come to life in the world around her, and how she just follows her whims to wander the city and treats each day like an adventure. I see a lot of myself in her. The grandpa and his shop are so cool! I want to find a place like that in my city! I love how she and Seiji inspire and encourage each other to improve themselves. Even though they’re so young and I usually hate that kind of thing, I think it’s a very realistic portrayal of what true love and a healthy relationship should be. The way her writing is treated as a creative process and something she can polish with hard work is just such a wonderful message and so inspiring to me.

2. Spirited Away - I love the Japanese culture and mythology, and the serene, still tone of the film. Truly beautiful. The way it doesn’t paint the spirits and gods in a bad light is good and correct: they were the careless humans who went into their world and took what they shouldn’t have. But it still focuses on the supernatural and eerie elements, often without even explaining anything, which I love. And the bathhouse feels like a real functioning place with workplace culture and all. And of course it’s great that Chihiro steps up and learns to be strong. I just love it.

3. Howl’s Moving Castle - I love all the characters so much, and all the magic and whimsy. The fantasy European setting is so charming, and they did a good job depicting Western magic. Ghibli movies really have such mundane magic, and they make me feel like my life is magic too. Sophie is so good and strong and I love seeing her come into her own. And Howl is hot. lmao

4. My Neighbor Totoro - I had the original Fox dub of this on a bootleg VHS my grandma made us when I was literally like an infant. My parents threw it away when I was still young- like no older than 5- because it “has Eastern religion in it” 🙄 Too bad for them the damage was already done lmfao. It was definitely one of the biggest influences of my formative years, I loved it so much and I’m so grateful to it. That mundane magic I talked about before, and just introducing me to a totally different worldview from my sheltered white American Christian bubble. I was fascinated by every single aspect from the traditional Japanese-style home to the bentos to the shrines... I really admired Satsuki and how grown up she was, taking care of her little sister like she did, making the lunches, all that. It’s really such a charming movie with great music and such a realistic depiction of childhood. Plus who doesn’t love Totoro himself?? And catbus! Iconicccc. I still look for little portholes in bushes and trees to this day lmao

5. Mulan - My little 8-year-old enby ass crying in the living room and repeatedly playing the Reflections scene over and over makes so much more sense now 😂 But really it’s just such a great film with a unique art style, fun characters, and great music. I love how Mulan fights for what she believes is right, and wants to protect her father. And I think it’s great how she also fights to find her own place in the world. I like how they don’t make it a “not like other girls” thing, but just that she personally somehow doesn’t feel comfortable in her own skin with the makeup and all that. Between her living as a man and the clear romantic relationship between “Ping” and Shang, it’s pretty good queer representation for a 2000s Disney movie lol. Also Mulan and Shang can both get it I mean what.

Honorable Mention: Prince of Egypt - That animation tho! So fucking cinematic!! And the music and everything just ugh so good! The characters are really compelling too and you can totally feel the brotherly love and familial issues.

Top 5 live action movies:

1. Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day - This is a movie where you can’t look away for a moment or you’ll miss something important. It really is just one entire heck of a day for the main character like howwww does so much happen. It’s really just written so well honestly that they manage to pack so much into a single movie and a single day. I aspire to that level. The 30s setting is so great with the costumes and set and music ahh I get so much inspiration from it. Every single character (and actor for that matter) is just fantastic. It’s super funny- that situational comedy is my jam. And there are touching moments that give me inspiration for my own life. I relate to Miss Pettigrew with her clear social anxiety, and perhaps neurodivergency? But I love how the events of the film bring out the best in her. And Delysia is just so charming! I want her confidence

2. La La Land - Such a fun and whimsical musical about life for creatives in Los Angeles~ It makes me feel nostalgic and proud to live here. I love all the different homages to classic Hollywood, and the music is so good!! The love story feels realistic and I actually really like that they don’t end up together in the end. They just encourage each other to be better, and if that means being apart, they’re willing to do it. It is another one that gives me inspiration for my life and creative endeavors, especially The Fools Who Dream 😭 Gets me every time.

3. Mamma Mia - This is my shameless feel-good movie. I love just putting it on in the background as I clean or whatever. It’s just so upbeat and fun!! I love Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep especially. And I like that the main character learns what she wants (and doesn’t want) out of life right now. And I love that they depict older characters and women!! having full and rich lives including romance and sex. The message that it’s never too late for love is so great! And also just like please communicate and you will probably save yourself so much heartache lmao.

4. Across the Universe - I have an affinity for the 60s and 70s, and I love how this movie kind of takes you through that era with the various characters. It’s such a fun movie with great costumes, cinematography, and music! I just love all the covers of the Beatles songs!! I honestly like them just as much as I like the originals. This is one of the first things I ever saw with positive/neutral queer representation?? Like Sadie is presented just as she is, without it being like WHAT SHE LIKES WOMEN?????? I”MPOSSIBLE !! Or making it all about sex or whatever. It’s literally just like “I want to hold your hand.” Also the whole bit with Eddie Izzard is just incredible lmfao

5. LOTR - My first fandom~ I love these movies so much ughhh. The music! The costumes! The characters! The world! The high fantasy!! I think PJ was so true to the books, or at least as much as he was able in just 10-ish hours. I love that they just went for it and filmed all three in one go, and made them over 3 hours long, which was basically unheard of at the time for blockbuster films. They did so good fully representing the different races through costume, language, culture, and the music too. I literally used to just lay on my bed for hours at a time in junior high, listening to the soundtracks and being immersed in the world. My friends and I would often play pretend that we were in Middle Earth (so lame for middle schoolers lmaooo). I love every single (not-evil) character and I will fight for them. I will especially fight Denethor I don’t even cARE !

Honorable mention: A Little Princess - Sooo whimsical and lovely, even when the girls are going through hardship! I love Sarah and how she literally does magic and even puts a curse on what’s her face omgg. She’s so charming and a genuinely good person too, even though she could have been a spoiled brat. The big climactic scene is so !! Omg I still get the adrenaline when she’s crossing the board and then hiding from the police even though I’ve seen this countless times since I was a small child. And it’s so wonderful that she’s reunited with her father, and they adopt the other girl. It taught me at a young age that the world isn’t fair and people will be nasty and abusive for no reason, but that you can still believe in magic and “fancy yourself a princess.” And the neighbor guy taught me that strangers will step in to help out of the goodness of their heart.

Top 5 TV shows:

1. ATLA - One of the best series of all time. The worldbuilding, lore, storyline, character development, animation, music, etc, are all incredible. If they had gone with the original intention of making Zutara canon it would have been literally perfect and so subversive and innovative! As it is it is still nearly perfect and they still did an amazing job with Zuko’s redemption arc. I just ignore that very last scene tbh. In my mind, it didn’t happen. The series addresses so many issues like imperialism, sexism, abuse, family, disability, war, etc, in a very realistic way. Uncle Iroh is literally a treasure.

2. Steven Universe - So charming and wonderful!! I just love it so much!! It is so goddamn queer, it makes me so happy. Stevonnie is the nonbinary representation we don’t even deserve!! I love every single character. I love the animation and the music too! The bgm is so bubbly and glitchy and cool, super on point for trends these days. And the original songs are so charming~ It also deals with a ton of important issues like imperialism, interpersonal relationships, oppression, self-identity, abuse, leadership, mental health, boundaries, consent, brain-washing, unlearning unhealthy behavior, etc. I love that every single character, even minor ones, get character development and a chance to be strong and improve themselves. And it shows that even the ones we initially think are super strong and have it all together, actually have their own issues that they struggle with too.

3. Yuuri!!! On Ice - This show!!!! Oh my goddddddd. Literally perfect. I love that it just subverts every single trope???? Especially with the events at the beginning and the big spoiler in episode 10. Simply incredible. I love every single character so much??? Even ones I was expecting to hate, like how Yurio is a little shit at the beginning, and then when Lilia is introduced as this super severe tyrant, but she ends up just being a good, yet strict coach because she really wants Yurio to succeed. It’s honestly just so wholesome! The music is so amazing and the ice skating is really realistic too! It really shows that they had an actual skating choreographer and worked off video of him performing. I love how realistic the whole show is like with lots of social media, youtube, instagram, etc. And it does a queer romance without it being a gimmick. It’s just a sports anime with a side plot of a romance but it just happens to be gay. And Kubo-sensei has stated that homophobia doesn’t exist at all in their world which makes me so happy. It’s honestly so queer and I adore how all three main characters are genderfucks a bit. I also love how realistically Yuuri’s anxiety and depression are portrayed. I relate so much to him, especially because mine exhibit in the exact same ways as his. It’s another one that inspires me to fight to be better and live the life I want to live.

4. OTGW - So charming. A perfect addition to the canon of New England fairy tales. The music is great, the animation is wonderful and nostalgic, the characters are fun and interesting and spooky. I love how liminal it is and you aren’t really sure where they are or what’s going on for the majority of the episodes. Greg is the most realistic depiction of a small child and the brothers’ relationship is the most realistic I think I’ve ever seen in my life lmao. He’s just so random and weird and has such Little Kid Logic I love it so much lmao. The story is perfectly contained in its 10 short episodes, and it gives a very satisfying ending. I still can’t get over how many huge stars were in it too?? Like fucking Tim Curry as Auntie Whispers???? I can not believe.

5. Inuyasha - I’m weeb trash and this show is also trash but I love it so much okay. As a big fan I hold so much against the anime for changing things from the manga, but even so I love it. Overall I think the animation, music, and voice acting is perfect. It’s so cool with all the mythos of youkai and the shikon jewel, plus I love traditional Japanese culture stuff. And isekai type stuff is my jam. If I found a portal to another world or to the past you bet your ass I’d go through it. I totally don’t still look for portals as a 30 year old adult, I don’t know what you’re talking about 😂 Kagome is such a great mc tbh like she’s so smart and strong and talented and kind I just love her so much??? I want to be more like her. And I love all the characters honestly. I have to overlook some questionable 90s anime tropes for certain ones, but I still love them. As much as we rag on the constant upgrades thing, the battles and stuff are pretty thrilling, and overall the series is good fun. And yes Sesshoumaru is my husbando, next question.

Honorable Mention: Doctor Who - I love how this show manages to be like every single genre?? SciFi, historical, comedy, thriller, mystery, slice of life, etc. I love all of the Doctors, and all of their companions. I just love how much the Doctor loves humans, and how much faith they have in humanity. And again it’s that whole isekai, time travel, normal modern human goes on magical adventures thing. I would go with the Doctor in a heartbeat. I still cry over Donna 😭

[pathosketch]

[ATAXO] AU sans amalgamation:frustration drawing

(TL;DR I was frustrated and pissed because I’m working on something and it’s taking a lot of time,and decided to make this after listening to a song,and this isn’t the final design)

(Click “keep reading” for more info about the character and ideas.)

So, I’m working on a ref sheet for Soul (From soul collector,an undertale Thing-) and it’s taking a long time..like...really long, it’s been days and I’m still working on it because it has little gifs and I had to learn how to draw skeletons fully- but I digress, 

I was so pissed off that i decided that I wanted to let my pent-up frustration off on an idea I had from a song I listened to the other day named “Insomnia” and after like..one quick sketch I made this because it was 3 AM

The amalgamation is formed from: Classic,Fell,Blue,error and fresh’s parasite.

Some ideas I came up with:

-The Black spots are from Error,but because the rest are normally colored skeletons it appears as spots.

-The parasite rarely takes control,That’s because the rest of the skeletons over power it,so when it takes control,ONLY it takes control

-The Sanes Either exchange turns taking over the body,or two/three take over the body at the same time,or each two take control of a head while one takes control of the body (the last one I might delete because it feels like a cliché but idk)

-I also thought that maybe Ataxo could be his own Skeleton when all four (without the parasite) and content, whenever he’s under pressure or the four of them get into a fight they would go back to exchanging turns,or whoever is more powerful at the moment would take control.

-I imagine the skeletons would be like ghosts in front of Ataxo whenever they talk with each other or argue.

-When bored,they watch TV while exchanging turns flipping channels and knitting The scarf to calm down or as a pastime

-The name,Ataxo refers back to Ataxophobia which is a fear of Untidiness (A:No  Taxo:Order phobia:fear)

-A small kid (prob frisk I’m not sure it might be just the person reading this or literally any kid) takes care of them,making sure they eat normally,not kill people,The parasite not taking the body to weird places etc.

-I imagine blue being depressed or scared and sad in that body,he and Classic sometimes take control (after one of error’s outbursts because the kid touched them for too long) to find a mess of souls and destruction in front of them,that would lead to Blue not having any sleep and having Not much control unlike Classic, Fell and Error 

-the bandaid on the middle head is the equivalent of Fresh’s glases,it changes into chapes instead of words but sometimes it changes into basic words like “yes” “no” “wtf” “why” very short stuff like that.

I’m still thinking of ideas,and this is all messy because I’m just pouring my ideas in this post- so uh- yeah

Classic (Undertale sans) belongs to Toby Fox

Fell (underfell sans) belongs to @/underfell

Blue (Underswap sans) belongs to the community of undertale

Error and Fresh belong to @/loverofpiggies

Ataxo belongs to me

Alright that’s all,More along.

[kneelbeforeclefairy]

Me vs my father in the enjolras is javert's son Les Mis AU that is my life

So. Me. 28. THIS close to her master's degree. Liberal. Socialist. Mixed kid. New Yorker. Just got home from living on her own in Greece. Been living away from parents for seven years. Queer. ADHD . Rsd. Imposter syndrome. Bad at rejection. Torn between two parents who are STILL fighting for me.

Living with Father because who picked the year of the coronavirus to give up her life .62. Barely completed high school. Said Regan was the best president he lived through. Trump voter. New Yorican who doesn't understand the world doesn't see him as white. Conservative who moved south and got worse. Blue lives matter dude. Not Batman.

Will not STOP. Provoking me.

It started with him mentioning you can't get aunt Jemima syrup any more because....you know . Me saying yes you can. The brand firs of all hasn't rebranded itself yet. It currently is still aunt Jemima and the packaging hasn't changed, still widely available. It's just going to rename itself. Get told no it's not "you can't do that any more." interrupted. Get to squeak out the bit about its gonna be the same recipe just called something else. Auntie J maybe. I think that's a good syrup name. He laughs and says it's gonna be BLM syrup.

(and you know what I find that trivializing but if that's what they wanted to name it who cares.)

(more context. His grandfather was black. He told me about being told as a kid by his father that little brown boys just say yes sir to the police. He got The Talk)

And then it goes to Porgy and Bess. Porgy and Bess is on so we watch it. All of us enjoy it thoroughly. He says "isn't this racist? What's the difference between this and aunt Jemima?"

Me.....

I have to get this information put as fast as possible . He's not really listening. He doesn't care. He's not asking . He doesn't find them both genuinely racist. He just....seems to want to catch me out. I try to explain. Porgy and Bess DOES Have some problems. But it was written in 1935 and was one of those Fair For It's Day things. Launched the careers of a lot of black classical singers. Still does. Some charecters might be a little sterotypical (Sportin Life did not age well) but in the hands of a good production and a good actor depth can be found. Rewrites have been made.

But I don't get to SAY any of these things. I try. I, well spoken, bordering on eloquent, stumble through a few poorly thought out points about interpretation and employment and he didn't see the difference between a classical singers playing Bess at the met and being well payed singing beautiful music and even if the roll is somewhat sterotypical and a product of it's times, through a good actress can become a wonderful three dimensional role, or at least no less than any other opera heroine and a poor black woman playing a completely one dimensional mammy sterotypes to sell syrup to enrich white people while playing off their own created nostalgia for oppression of the black race cause I WASNT PREPARED FOR FUCKING WAR OVER PORGY AND BESS. He just asked the questions. I'm on the defense. I've never even SEEN it before. I'm not ready to defend it. I didn't know I was going to have to. Hell, I'm not sure if it IS racist or problematic yet, we're 15 minutes it. He seems to know why I'm watching it at all if I'm so sensitive that a syrup name must trigger me.

He's not concerned it IS racist. Just seems to want to catch me in inconsistancies. Why do you watch this but you want the syrup renamed

(I didn't bring up the syrup. We were talking about the difference between brands in the north and south. He just brought up the fucking syrup and said it wasn't there any more. By the way. It is. I saw it in the fucking Kroger. And I literally do not care about the name of syrup. it's largely symbolic sure but if they want to rename themselves because yeah totally cringe history that's their business. Fine. It literally does not affect me. The recipe is there I'm just gonna call it aunt j or whatever)

And then this morning when I showed him a picture of the Alexander the Great statue o took on Thessaloniki

(masters degree in macedonian history/archeology, me)

He says

He SAYS

"I'm surprised they haven't taken that down."

In this stupid sing song way.

(like obviously this statue thing is an American thing with some England thrown in. I don't know much about Greek politics but I'm PRETTY FUCKING SURE they weren't invovled in the American transatlantic slave trade or the age of exploration my dude)

But he says "it's imperialism isn't it?'

Me "well yes but..."

"he conquered the world didn't he? Did he or did he not conquer the world. You think he did that by being nice to people?"

"well you'd be surprised how much alliance building and diplomacy was used but yes but--"

"so how's it different? Did he conquer the world? Did he own slaves?"

"actually probably not as macedonia wasn't really a slave society and the Persians DEFINITELY didn't have slaves"

"well I just think it's the same"

(frustrated. Can't show emotion or he wins. Already cracked a few days ago when he was talking about a cop iniured by "the mob" and COULDN'T because how many of my people were injured by them? And had to tell him to stop. Told he wouldn't talk politics. Does the above count)

Me. Lightly. "You're unable to grasp nuance. And you're just trying to provoke me"

Something happens. Subject changed. Did I win? Did I lose? We're always battling.

Thing is.

Yes.

There is an INCREDIBLY subtle and nuanced discussion to be had about imperialism in general and its effects and how even ancient imperialism effects us to this day. And how we view warfare and conquest in general and the stories we tell. I would argue Alexander was great because of his kindness, the cultural exchange he sparked, his clever tactics , his mastery of grand strategy, his diplomacy, his ability to use image, and only last his undefeatedness in battle. But I wasnt the one who called him Great, to whoever that was it was about the war. There is A LOT about Alexander and his affect on Persia,which, while we shouldn't layer modern politics over it (especially race based one. Yes Alexander was Caucasian but WHITENESS didn't exist then and Persia was the sophisticated empire , Greece was tiny and insignificant. It's just that Greece wrote the story and got to paint them as barbaians but it has nothing to do with race and they REALLY REALLY WEREN'T and even the Greeks knew that) did destroy an empire and affects the region to this day. Persian perceptions of Alexander are obviously not as kind, and equally important.

So yes there is a discussion to be had about that. And why we venerate a man who did kill thousands and why, I would argue, he still is a very good person who, despite his faults, does deserve that statue.

But we weren't having that

We were playing gotcha.

Cause even if he Couldn't grasp the difference between Alexander the Great, who yeah, totally did sell thebans into slavery in a system that attributed slavery to bad luck and if he had lost would have expected the same treatment to anyone who was not killed,and Confederate generals who thought and entire race was inferior due to their birth, fought for their continued enslavement, committed treason to the country he loves SO much, and LOST, and were memorialized in stupid statues by a bunch of sore loser white supremacists in an attempt to rewrite history to turn what could have been and should have been an Embarrassing chapter in a regions history that should have been healed from into the DEFINING THING about that area despite lasting onl five years and still the symbol of pain and murder to a large percentage of our population within VERY CLOSE TO LIVING MEMORY that has affects that are still here in a very real way because *gestures vaguely at everything* and have caused riots TWICE in your lifetime because it hasn't changed has it and also YOU'RE NOT SOUTHERN and why do you care?

Then I'm not sure what to say.

I don't know what he wants. He wants me catch me out? Debate the liberal cause they're so stupid ? Vent frustration at the liberal because fox news tells you to hate them? His way of processing Something he doesn't understand? Men can't ask for directions? He wants me to argue him, some nerd version of beating the old man at basketball? He feels inferior to his kid so he's gotta put me in my place? A nerd version of not letting the kid beat you at basketball? Test me? Make me prove myself? Make me represent all liberals so he can win?

I don't know what he wants. But I'm SICK OF IT.

And I'm sick of being torn between the mother who is frightened and overbearing and the father who seems to want to always make me keep up.

And I cant

Deal

With

Conservatives

Any more!

[burnouts3s3]

Yu Yu Hakusho, a review

(Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit unprofessional blog post written by an unprofessional blog poster. All purported facts and statement are little more than the subjective, biased opinion of said blog poster. In other words, don’t take anything I say too seriously.) Just the facts 'Cause you're in a Hurry! Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for Season (MSRP):  80 dollars for the entire series on Digital. 80 Dollars for the entire series on DVD. Animation Studio: Pierrot Licensed and Localized by: Funimation Entertainment Audio: Both English and Japanese Audio available Price per episode: 2 USD per Episode when bought digitally. 1.40 When bought in a season. (20 Dollars when bought per season vs 56 Dollars when bought individually). Length per Episode: 25 Minutes on average. 21 Without Intro and Ending song. Number of Discs: 4 DVD Discs per season. 16 DVD Discs in total. Episodes per Disc: 6 or 7. Bonus Features: Trailers for other Funimation licensed shows. Also on: Blu-ray, Hulu, Crunchyroll and Funimation Now, paid subscription services that allows dual language streaming of select shows. How much I paid: 160 Dollars/USD. (80 for the DVDs. 80 for the digital licenses for the show). Number of Episodes: 112 Episodes My Personal Biases: Gather round, old Toonami Faithful. Back in the 2000’s, I followed Hakusho closely when it was released on Toonami and Adult Swim. So, you can imagine, I’m heavily biased in favor of this series. My Verdict: Yu Yu Hakusho represents the last of an era. Not only is it a classic from the 90’s, but it’s a lean, matter of fact Shounen Anime that probably has the least amount of filler during a time Dragon Ball Z spent endless days on the Namek Saga. Still beautifully rendered, great score, fast paced action and one of the few Funimation dubs that manages to be more interesting than the sub script and you have one of the last few anime out there worth seeing. Buy it! KEEP IN MIND: Anime series and Western Television have very different formats when selling shows. While Western TV Seasons have one story arc that ends and begins within the season, Dubbed Anime is usually released in multiple volumes and releases. For example, While Yu Yu Hakusho each as 28 Episodes per season, Story Arcs, such as the infamous Dark Tournament Saga, beginning and ending points not found in an individual season. Author’s Note: The following review will be a review of the dubbed version of the show localized by Funimation Entertainment. While the majority of the scenes remain unchanged, the Funimation translated script contains additional dialogue, observations and jokes not found in the original version. Please keep that in mind. WARNING: SPOILERS Yu Yu Hakusho, a review

"And so it all begins. This boy's name is Yusuke. He's fourteen years old, and is supposed to be the hero of this story. But oddly enough... he's dead."

Yusuke Urameshi is a delinquent more likely to get into fistfights with classmates than attend class. Scolded by everyone, from his alcoholic mother to childhood friend, Keiko, to his principal, Yusuke ditches school. But when a young boy is about to be hit by a car, Yusuke literally dies protecting the child. As a ghost with the help of a surprisingly cheerful Botan, the Grim Reaper, Yusuke learns that there was something of this life worth living. When Yusuke returns to life, he becomes a Spirt Detective, assigned from Spirit World to hunt down Rogue Demons. With the help of his classmate, Kazuma Kuwabara, and two enemies turned teammates, the Fox Demon reborn Kurama and the mischievous Hiei, Yusuke faces a whole slew of opponents he’d never thought he’d face. Has it really been 25 years since Yu Yu Hakusho first debuted in Japan? It’s hard to imagine Yu Yu Hakusho being made the way it was. This 112 Shounen Anime series managed to end on a complete note. Think about other shows in the genre. Shows like DBZ, Naruto, Bleach and One Piece manage to have over 200 episodes each and filled with filler and theatrical released movies. Other Shounen shows like this, like Soul Eater, manage to end on 26 episodes or around 50. But then there’s Yu Yu Hakusho, a show that had over 100 episodes with little to no filler but never achieved the merchandising empires Dragonball and Naruto had. Even Bleach, a series that had popularity drain out by the end of its run, was able to span more episodes and had more theatrical releases. One of the key successes was limiting the cast to a group of familiar but complex faces. The Team of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama were all memorable, but the interaction within the group was so great that it could span a couple of episodes. Each had a different morality and perspective. The Main character was a smart-ass with a potty mouth with a deep sense of morality, Kuwabara seemed to have a strong sense of honor and persistence, Kurama had a collected calm of a general while Hiei was always getting into trouble for his own reasons. Not only did the four manage to make each scenario interesting but the interaction with one another is something to be written about for the ages. One of the things I found surprising was how beautiful the animation manages to hold up. Granted, it still uses 90’s tricks such as speed lines and fade outs, but each fight seemed not only well choreographed but colored and detailed in a way that made me come back to watch more. Add to that, Togashi’s emphasis to make fights more strategic and detailed, and I found myself rewatching old fights again and again. Looking back, the fights always thrilled me but as I grew older, I appreciated Kurama’s fights more. That’s not to say Yusuke’s, Hiei’s or even Kuwabara’s fights were bad, but they generally devolved into “who’s stronger” fistfights with fireballs. Kurama’s usually revolved around a sense of strategy and out smarting his opponent with plant based wapons. The series got a number of dubs but the most famous one by far is the English version by Funimation Entertainment. I know Funimation gets a lot of flak for its translation issues, but Yu Yu Hakusho manages to use localization to its benefit, in that they make Yusuke, the loud mouthed delinquent that had little cares for the world, extremely likable and funny. Fans will recognize veteran voice actors such as Chuck Huber (who voiced 17 in Dragonball Z) as Hiei, John Burgmeier (Who voiced Tien) as Kurama and Chris Sabat (Who voiced Vegeta, Yamcha and Piccolo) as Kuwabara. Each shows a surprising amount of range as each character (especially Sabat) and manages to rival their Japanese counterparts. But Justin Cook steals the show as Yusuke Urameshi. That’s not to say Nozomu Sasaki, Yusuke’s Japanese Voice Performer, does a bad job, but Justin Cook manages to bring Yusuke to life thanks to some adlibbing and great comedic timing. (While Cook voiced Yusuke, he also acted as the Line Director at Funimation).

The Funimation Script took liberties from the original source material and added additional lines not found in the original version. But, I feel this is one of the times where it benefits the scripts as well as the personalities. Yusuke’s additional dialogue not only manages to be funny but also solidifies the fact that if Yusuke were a real person, he’d be a pain in the ass to deal with. The soundtrack is a masterpiece. Another Yusuke, Yusuke Honma, composed the soundtrack. It not only managed to be dramatic, but comedic, emotional and powerful at the same time. Struggle of Sadness manages to be one of my all time favorites to listen to.

The clear fan favorite out of all the story arcs is the Dark Tournament. When Yusuke is forced to compete in a life or death tournament involving some of the strongest demons out there, he’ll have to gather up his teammates and duke it out with some of the series most memorable opponents. It not only manages to be a good tournament arc, but also a great training arc and a lesson in mortality vs immortality. If nothing else, get the Dark Tournament saga. Verdict: Do you like Shounen Anime? Do you like owning a series and paying far less than for other long running series? Are you a fan of 90’s anime? IF you’ve answered yes, Yu Yu Hakusho is definitely a show to check out. Don’t let this one miss you! Full Price!

[buzzdixonwriter]

Four Problematic Movies About The Civil War

None of these should come as a big surprise.  All four are landmarks in the history and development of American -- and by extension, world -- cinema, but there’s no avoiding the baggage they carry with them.

In order of most to least problematic…

Birth Of A Nation:  #1 with a bullet, Hollywood’s equivalent of Triumph Of The Will.  Vile, racist propaganda based on vile, racist propaganda (full disclosure:  I am a distant cousin of the Thomas Dixon who wrote the novel The Clansman that the movie is based on; I’m pleased to report he sunk his tainted profits into a company to make his own movies and went bankrupt).  Still used as a recruiting tool by the Ku Klux Klan to this very day.  Director D.W. Griffith was a Southerner who grew up listening to his father and uncles explain how they really won the war; like many Southerners of his generation he was a white supremacists but never thought of himself as a hateful bigot.  The pushback against Birth… disabused him of that idea and he spent the rest of his cinematic career denying his previous held views, making such films as Intolerance and The Greatest Thing In Life in an attempt to undo the damage he had done.  As a cinematic historical artifact, Birth… is important as one of the very first American feature films (the Italians had been doing them for a couple of years by that point) and as an encapsulation of Griffith’s mastery of technique, as an actual historical artifact it is a vile piece of hate mongering that boosted the Klan’s power and retarded civil rights for generations.  Not recommended for anyone, though I can understand film and civil rights historians wanting to see it as an example of the era.

Gone With The Wind:  A truncated-yet-still-turgid adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel, GWTW continues the pernicious historical revisionism pioneered by Birth… albeit in a slightly less hateful form.  It embraces the lie of the noble lost cause while avoiding most of the overtly hateful racism of Birth…, and in doing so possibly inflicted more cultural harm by making racism less obvious and more genteel.  Arguments can be made for Scarlett O’Hara as a proto-feminist character, true, and when the melodrama is going great guns it can be entertaining, but as more than one critic has observed, the Scarlett / Rhett / Ashley / Melanie quadrangle floats atop the uncommented on suffering of literally millions of people.  African-Americans have little impact on the story other than as sounding boards for white characters to vent feelings; “good” African-Americans enable the whites’ emotional foolishness while “bad” African-Americans act independently.  While it represents the Hollywood studio system at its technical apex (Casablanca a few years later would be the artistic apex of the studio system, but by then America and the world had changed irrevocably from the historical fantasy found in GWTW), its ranking as a classic is greatly overstated because of successful marketing; it’s too long by at least an hour and you could stop watching when it breaks for intermission and still have a solid story.  While I’m no fan and wouldn’t recommend it except to people who are film buffs, neither can I fault those who still enjoy it.

The General:  The only fact-based film on the list is ironically one of the best silent comedies ever made.  It also literally white washes the cause of the Civil War and despite being set in the American South during the conflict, I can’t recall any African-American characters being in the film.  The story is a prolonged chase by Southern railroad engineer Buster Keaton after a Union raiding party that stole his train; it ends with Keaton wrecking a real locomotive by dumping it from a burning trestle into a river.  In a purely visual sense the story is about the light uniforms fighting the dark uniforms, and as such can be watched and enjoyed without a scintilla of guilt.  In an actual historical sense, it also enabled the white washing of history by pretending the conflict was over noble defenders of “states’ rights (to own people)” resisting despotic invaders.  While not as culturally damaging as Birth… or GWTW, it did contribute to a gross misrepresentation of actual history.  If you are the sort of person who takes righteous umbrage at that, The General is not a film for you; if you’re a film historian or if you just like comedy, I can recommend it with the aforementioned caveats.

Song Of The South:  This one is all over the map, with genuine critics and defenders among all ethnicities and on both sides of the issues.  On the one hand, it’s part and parcel with the attitudes portrayed in GWTW, on the other it’s an open celebration of African-American culture; on one hand it’s that culture being celebrated in hokey sounding dialect by white writer Joel Chandler Harris (his original draft is virtually unreadable today with its burlesque spellings and pronunciations), on the other literally millions of people in the United States and around the world would have never realized how remarkably inventive and entertaining African-American story telling was without Uncle Remus.  Walt Disney may not have been the most enlightened person to run a studio, but mark this:  For his very first live action feature (and in Technicolor, no less, very costly at the time), he built his story around a black man -- that took guts in 1946 America (find another Hollywood film that did that).  Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and the other cartoon characters are not the problem -- they’ve been peeled off and repurposed as all around funny cartoon animals -- but the live action framing story (which takes place during Reconstruction but already bears earmarks of Jim Crow).  The live action portion -- both in attitude and cinematic style -- has not aged well, and if something like that could possibly mar one’s viewing pleasure, it certainly will mar that pleasure (when they recorded “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” the Disney studio had no idea of the racist implications in the minstrel song that inspired it).  Still, while I would caution modern audiences before seeing it, I can recommend as worth seeing.

 Text © Buzz Dixon

[heysnowflake]

Disney/Non-Disney Questions (Strictly Animated- you’re about to see how sad I am when it comes to animated films)

1. Scene you wish you could live out? Ooooh I love the idea of seeing Atlantica in person so probably the first scene of the Little Mermaid where all the mermaids are swimming into the castle. 

 2. Do you prefer CGI or Hand/Cell Animation? HAND/CELL ALL THE WAY!!! There is just... an endearing quality to the original hand/cell animation style of movies that I adore. It has a personality. Plus, the contrast of the painted background and the hand-drawn characters is so wonderfully nostalgic and captivating. Furthermore, hand/cell animations takes a tremendous amount of work in comparison to CGI which, whilst I understand why Disney does it CGI now because of it, it makes me feel like I’m watching something with more heart in it because of all the time, sweat and soul that went into it. I could honestly go on and on about hand/cell animation but I shall leave it there. Yes. Hand/Cell Animation will always be my preference. 

 3. Which fairytale would you like to see animated next? Hans Christian Anderson’s The Wild Swans immediately springs to mind. 

 4. Favourite voice actress? I’m terribly torn between Jodi Benson and Liz Callaway. I just... I can’t choose! I mean, Jodi Benson was singing/voice acting for both Thumbelina and Ariel (two of my favs). And then Liz Callaway singing/voice acting for Odette, and then singing for both Anastasia and Kiara. How do I choose?!?!?!

  5. Favourite voice actor? Has to be John Cusack for me, Dimitri’s voice in Anastasia just melts me and I could listen to it all day. An extremely close second is Gary Imhoff who voiced Prince Cornelius but Dimitri’s voice just gets to me whenever I hear it. 

 6. Favourite first meeting scene? I want to say Ariel and Eric but it’s hard to say which one counts as their first official meeting... so, I’ll say Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, that whole scene is just pure gold. 

 7. Mention one Disney related thing that can always cheer you up, no matter how sad you are (scene, song, character, movie etc.): The song “Why Should I Worry” from Oliver and Company never fails to make me smile. Such a classic catchy song. 

 8. Mention one Non-Disney related thing that can always cheer you up, no matter how sad you are (scene, song, character, movie etc.): Batty from FernGully: The Last Rainforest is easily my answer for this one, every time he’s on screen, my depression fades away for a while.

 9. Which scene/s always makes you cry? Oh man, I’m a big cry baby when it comes to movies so I have a few but I’ll name my main ones. Like the ones where I really ball like an idiot. 

- Fox and the Hound: when Widow Tweed takes Tod into the woods. 

- Thumbelina: a few scenes honestly- when Thumbelina wishes she were big and felt all alone in the world, when Thumbelina is told that Cornelius is dead and when Thumbelina and Cornelius finally find each other.

- Dumbo: when Dumbo finds his mother and cuddles her before he has to leave her again. That entire scene kills me.  

- Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: when Rains gets shot. 

- TInkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast: when the fairies take Gruff into his cave to go into hibernation for a thousand years (I am not joking one bit when I say that I cried at this for half an hour solid). 

- Anastasia: when the Empress and Anya realise that they are indeed family 

- Lion King: you know the fucking scene... 

 10. Favourite Duet (romantic in particular)? It’s an absolute tie between Let Me Be Your Wings sung by Thumbelina and Prince Cornelius, and Far Longer Than Forever sung by Derek and Odette. Whilst there are many great Disney duets, none quite do it for me as much as these two. In my personal opinion, these two perfectly define what a duet should be. They all harmonise beautifully with the other, they use different pronouns sung together, they each have their own part as well as singing together, the lyrics are exquisite... I honestly am such a fan of these songs. If you’re curious, a second place option to this would be If I Never Knew You from Pocahontas (both the pop version and the original version that was cut from the first version of the movie). 

11. A couple you wish had sung a duet together? Ariel and Eric. Whilst they did sing together very briefly in Little Mermaid 2, they never got an official duet. I mean, I know Eric didn’t sing at all in the first one but I don’t know... I would have loved to have them sing together. 

 12. An underrated duet? I mean, my favourite duets are honestly very underrated, but I’ve already mentioned them. So… I feel like Looking Through Your Eyes sung by Kayley and Garrett is extremely underrated as everyone thinks of The Prayer when they think of Quest for Camelot.

 13. Name your top three Disney princes/male protagonists: Prince Eric, Flynn Rider aaaaaaand Kovu.

 14. Name your top three Disney princesses/female protagonists: Snow White, Ariel and Pocahontas.

 15. Name your top three Non-Disney male protagonists: Oh that is fucking easy for me- Prince Cornelius, Dimitri and Derek (Pips from FernGully almost made the cut).

 16: Name your top three Non-Disney female protagonists: Anastasia, Thumbelina and Odette (I absolutely adore Crysta but I just couldn’t not include one of the other three… choosing three is so limiting).

 17. Favourite sidekick/s? Bartok (Rasputin’s sidekick, I kill myself laughing at his lines), Baymax (Hiro’s sidekick) and Meeko (Pocahontas’ sidekick)

 18. Favourite villain/s? Beetle (Thumbelina- he makes me laugh so much), Scar (Lion King), Zira (Lion King 2- she’s such an underrate villain, she is just so set on revenge) and Rasputin (Anastasia).

 19. If you were to marry a female/male protagonist, who would you choose? Before, my answer would have been Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid, but now my answer would be undeniably Prince Cornelius. And here is why. When it comes to Thumbelina, nothing is more important. He literally endeavours the harshness of autumn and winter to find her when she’s been kidnapped, and he never stops for one second. The only way he was stopped was when he was forced into water by the wind and was frozen alive. And even, as soon as he’s been melted free, he immediately goes to find her and fight for her. Like, you have to admire that utter devotion and dedication. And when he is with Thumbelina, he takes care of her in every way possible. If you watch him during their duet Let Me Be Your Wings, you’ll see that he always makes sure to have a hold of her when they’re flying. Like when Thumbelina bends down to run her fingers through the water, he has his arm around her waist to hoist her. He lifts her onto the boat where the Toad lives. He catches her when she falls (yes I know that’s a meme where he sings that he’ll never let her fall and then she does but the whole point of that damn part is that, when she does fall, she falls with no fear because Cornelius catches her the next second). He’s so attentive with her and the way he loves her name is just so cute. Also, I really love how he made sure Thumbelina’s mother was looked after by Hero the dog. He is so kind, heroic, skilful and loving. But then he is also funny, cocky (in the nice way), sarcastic, a cutely clumsy sometimes, and has a slight rebellious streak that is so god damn attractive. I mean, he loves flying and literally misses royal events and princely duties to fly around the world. Plus, he literally flies on his bumblebee, Buzzbee, like a motorbike, if that ain’t a badass fairy, I don’t’ know what is. You definitely can’t say he’s boring at all. Okay, that’s covering his personality kinda. Going into physical traits, he is of course extremely handsome. I have always been a sucker for red hair (and now my best friend thinks he is the original reason why). Green eyes… I mean, come on. A damn heart-melting smile and smirk. His speaking voice is as wonderful as his singing, including a hypnotising soft-spoken voice when he gets close with Thumbelina. He’s great with a sword. He shows that he’s good at dancing. And if I got anything from that last five minutes, it’s that he looks like he’s a great kisser. Like the passion in that kiss (for an animation too) is something I’ve never forgotten. He’s not overly muscular but has muscles for sure, but it’s in a slender form. And… you know… he’s a fairy. A fairy prince! I realise I really got into this answer but I really do feel like Prince Cornelius gets overlooked and… ugh, I just love him.

 20.  A song you love from that isn’t sung by the characters? Baby Mine from Dumbo.

 21. An underrated song? A Dream Worth Keeping by Sheana Easton from FernGully.

 22. An underrated ballad? Where Do I Go From Here sung by Pocahontas in Pocahontas 2.

 23. If you could be friends with a Disney character, who you would you choose? Mushu would be amazing, I’d forever be entertained.

 24. Favourite friendship? Robin Hood and Little John.

 25. Favourite villain song? In The Dark Of The Night sung by Rasputin in Anastasia. Other contenders are No More Mr Nice guy sung by Rothbart in The Swan Princess, My Lullaby sung by Zira in Lion King 2 and… of course… Be Prepared sung by Scar in Lion King.

 26. Three songs you can’t help but jig to? You’re Beautiful Baby from Thumbelina, Why Should I Worry from Oliver and Company, and Friend Like Me from Aladdin.

 27. Favourite Disney Reprise? Has to be Mother Knows Best Reprise, it’s leaps and bounds ahead of Mother Knows Best.

 28. Spell you name with character names/movies:

Ratatouille

Eric

Baloo

Esmerelda

Cornelius

Crysta

Anastasia

 Jim Hawkins

Ariel

Nala

Eeyore

 Robin Hood

Iago

Gaston

Bambi

Yzma

 29. How often do you watch an animated movie? At least twice a week. I’m legitimately watching Thumbelna as we type this and it’s the fifth time I’ve watched it in the last week and a half. Besides Horror, Disney/Non-Disney is my favourite film genre.

 30. What animated movies have taught you? To always believe in magic, to be kind even when no-one else is, and that there is nothing wrong with loving animated movies as an adult, animation is for everyone.

 BONUS Q: 31. An animated movie that everyone needs to go and watch right now: Hunchback of Notre Dame, I’ll guarantee that you haven’t seen it in a long time and you are missing out one of Alan Menken’s greatest achievements in his musical career and beautiful story with a powerful message.

[daniellethamasa]

Hey all, Dani here.

Welcome to the first Calendar Girls post of 2019. What exactly is Calendar Girls? Well, I’m glad you asked. Let’s talk about all those details before I start talking about this month’s theme and all the possible book options.

Calendar Girls is a monthly blog event that was started by Flavia and Melanie, but is now being hosted by Katie and Adrienne. They are all wonderful ladies, and you should check out their lovely blogs. Oh, and if you go to either Katie or Adrienne‘s Calendar Girls post each month, they will have links to all the other wonderful book bloggers participating in this event.

First, more about the Calendar Girls. It is designed to ignite bookish discussions among readers, and was inspired by the 1961 Neil Sedaka song, Calendar Girl.

Just like the song, each month has a different theme. Each blogger picks their favorite book from the theme, and on the first Monday of the month reveals their pick in a Calendar Girls post. Make sure to post back to the hostess’s post, and both Katie and Adrienne will make a master list for the month. The master lists allow everyone to see the other Calendar Girls’ picks and to pop on over to their blogs. Thus, we all get to chat about books and even make some new friends!

Oh, and you don’t have to identify as female to join the Calendar Girls. We welcome readers of all types. So if this sounds like fun for you, join us in all of the fun bookish conversations. All right, let’s go ahead and get to talking about the January theme, and then the runners up and the winner. Forewarning, this is a pretty long post and I talk about quite a few books. Sorry, not sorry. I love books.

The theme for January is…

Happy New Year

2019 Release You’re Most Looking Forward To

Oh man, there are so many 2019 releases that I’m looking forward to…and I know I’m probably missing some great ones too. So, I really look forward to reading all the other posts for this month, just in case there are books that I really should have on my release calendar.

But, for the purposes of selecting a pick for this month, I managed to narrow my options down to 12 books. So I’m going to start with talking about my contenders, and then I’ll have to choose my winner from all of them.

Obviously, most of what I’m excited for is fantasy releases. What can I say? They’re my favorite.

First up is the newest release from Brigid Kemmerer, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which is coming out January 29th. This is apparently an adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, so I’m definitely excited about it.

Then there is Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen, expected January 22nd. The first book, Reign the Earth, was outstanding, and I’m really curious to see what will happen next, because the magic and the politics were very intriguing.

Obviously, King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo has to make this list. This first installment of a Nikolai centered duology will be released January 29th as well, and I’m hoping for wonderful and diverse characters, plenty of drama and complications, and a romance I can root for.

Next, I have to mention Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard, which will be released on February 12th. Now I just talked about this book a little bit a couple days ago, so I don’t want to say too much this time, but I love all the different witcheries in this series, and I’m happy that this book will have a focus on Aeduan, because he is a fascinating character.

Crown of Feathers by Nicki Pau Preto is a relatively new add to my release calendar, but we’ve been getting a lot more Asian inspired fantasy books these past couple years, and I have been super pleased with pretty much every one I’ve read, so I can’t wait to see what other wondrous reads we get. This book will also be released on February 12th.

Rin Chupeco’s conclusion to The Bone Witch trilogy–The Shadow Glass–is definitely one of my highest anticipated books. I was lucky enough to be granted an e-galley of the first book and an ARC of the second book, but no such luck with this one, so I have been waiting for what feels like forever. I can’t wait to pick this one up March 1st.

I won’t spend much time at all talking about Emily A Duncan’s April 2nd release, Wicked Saints. If you want to know all my gushy feels, go check out my early review for it. But this is a book that makes my D&D cleric loving heart so dang happy. This is definitely a contender for one of my favorite books right now.

When I read Ashley Poston’s Geekerella, I loved all the fandom and charm. So to find that it is getting a sequel/companion just made me super happy. I’m ready to go to another fandom and have more cute geeky interactions. I wish I didn’t have to wait until April 2nd to get my hands on The Princess and the Fangirl.

Kingsbane by Claire Legrand obviously has to make this list, considering how much I loved reading Furyborn last year. I want to know more about these women, this world, and the magic and politics going on. This book will be released May 21st.

I love some good epic fantasy, and I was expecting quite a bit when I read Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep last year. It didn’t disappoint, but I’m still hoping for more with the sequel, Protect the Prince, expected May 15th. I want more badass gladiator women, and obviously more tantalizing descriptions of food.

Give me more fun and tricks, plus more action, drama and romance, with Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa, to be released June 25th. I absolutely adored Shadow of the Fox when I devoured it last year, and I need more of this fantasy adventure with Asian mythology and folklore influences. So good.

Finally, I have The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee, set to be released on July 16th. This is a book set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and follows a previous Avatar, namely Earthbender Kyoshi. My fiance introduced me to both Avatar and Korra since we started dating, and I have watched both shows, as well as reading all of the comics. I am so ready to see what we’ll learn with this book series.

Okay, so there are a lot of fantastic options here. And I’ve already realized that I’ve missed a few books. More than a few if I’m being completely honest, but I read a lot of books, so my release calendar is pretty full already. But the more I look at all of these, the more I’m thinking that my choice actually isn’t any of the ones I’ve mentioned already. If this had been the theme a couple months ago, my answer would have been Wicked Saints, but I feel bad picking that now because I already have read it and I know that I absolutely love it. So I can’t really call it an anticipated book any more; all I’m anticipating is having a final edition in my hands.

So I’m going to pick another book, and that’s great. I love getting to talk about even more books than I originally planned. All right, so here is my final choice for this month’s Calendar Girls theme.

I think I need to re-read the first book before I write up the review for it, but the Tales of Pell series is utterly hilarious. It is filled with so many classic fantasy tropes that get turned on their heads, as well as pun after glorious pun. This isn’t a dark or serious fantasy, like some we’ve come to expect, but it is still entirely worth a read.

Based on the summary, I’m thinking No Country for Old Gnomes will be just as entertaining.

Go big or go gnome. The New York Times bestselling authors of Kill the Farm Boy return to the world of Pell, the irreverent fantasy universe that recalls Monty Python and Terry Pratchett.

War is coming, and it’s gonna be Pell.

On one side stand the gnomes: smol, cheerful, possessing tidy cardigans and no taste for cruelty.

On the other side sit the halflings, proudly astride their war alpacas, carrying bags of grenades and hungry for a fight. And pretty much anything else.

It takes only one halfling bomb and Offi Numminen’s world is turned upside down—or downside up, really, since he lives in a hole in the ground. His goth cardigans and aggressive melancholy set him apart from the other gnomes, as does his decision to fight back against their halfling oppressors. Suddenly Offi is the leader of a band of lovable misfits and outcasts—from a gryphon who would literally kill for omelets to a young dwarf herbalist who is better with bees than with his cudgel to an assertive and cheerful teen witch with a beard as long as her book of curses—all on a journey to the Toot Towers to confront the dastardly villain intent on tearing Pell asunder. These adventurers never fit in anywhere else, but as they become friends, fight mermaids, and get really angry at this one raccoon, they learn that there’s nothing more heroic than being yourself.

In No Country for Old Gnomes, Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne lovingly tweak the tropes of fantasy and fairy tales. Here you’ll find goofy jokes and whimsical puns, but you’ll also find a diverse, feminist, and lighthearted approach to fantasy that will bring a smile to your face and many fine cheeses to your plate.

Come on. Does that not sound like an absolutely hilarious and awesome book? I’m thinking I may actually try to pick this series up in audiobook. I have the hardcover of the first book, but I think this might be a good series to listen to.

I laughed so much while reading Kill the Farm Boy. I’ve read quite a bit of Kevin Hearne, but not much Delilah S Dawson, which is going to change sometime soon-ish. But they have co-authored an amazing series, set in an awesomely put together world, with a random and hilarious cast of characters.

Wow…this post went so much longer than I expected it to. Oh well, there were lots of great books to talk about. That’s all from me today, but I’ll be back soon with more bookish content.

Calendar Girls: January 2019 Hey all, Dani here. Welcome to the first Calendar Girls post of 2019. What exactly is Calendar Girls?

[blendsweil]

Essential/Important Emo/Screamo/Post-Hardcore/Indie Songs

This is a list of songs that I think are important in the world of alternative music. Specifically emo. I said screamo and post-hardcore to try to please everybody that may come at me saying, “ that’s not emo.” Whatever. I do hope you agree with the importance of these songs. The order is not in a specific way besides a predecessor being after the song I think its fits after.

1. American Football - Honestly? (1999) - LP1

This song, to me, is what emo is all about. Beautiful on all fronts, from the lyrics to the way each instrument is played. It is the definition of 90′s emo, even though it came out in 1999. Emo bands are still trying to pull this off, with little success. That was mean. Some can do it ok. 

2. American Football - My Instincts Are the Enemy (2016) - LP2

Who can put out emo as good as American Football? Well, American Football. So 17 years later and they can drop an album that is every bit as good as LP One. Good job guys, good job. 

3. Bilmuri - Timing (2016) - Bilmuri

This is just one of those bands that lyrically you can tell is deeply inspired by American Football. Not as intricate but the vocal delivery is nothing short of passionate. I think this is important because it is saying something. It is saying that you do not have to finger pick and play ridiculous of beat drum patterns to make passionate emo. 

4. Pianos Become The Teeth - April (2015) - Keep You

This song is pure beauty. Just listen to it and you will hear why it is important. It was completely unexpected for me because i was so used to hearing PBTT screaming. This album will go down as a classic for me. It is the emo that we had been  waiting for since Thursdays’ War All The Time. 

5. Touche Amore - Benediction (2016) - Stage 4

Just like Pianos Become The Teeth, Touche, in my opinion, has heavy Thursday War All The Time influences. Not saying that they a copying Thursday at all. They have their own completely unique styles. This song is just one of those songs that shows how to scream on an emo song. Like Pianos, it has  really deep meaning, and this song is one of those that you can feel the loss.

6.Title Fight - Murder Your Memory (2015) - Hyperview

I feel that this song is important instrumentally more than anything. That guitar riff in the song is just haunting. It literally hits you right in the feels. Then comes the drone like lyrics.Just gives you the chills. With this song out, the bar was set really damn high for cool sounding emo. 

7. The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (2003) - Give Up

Do I really need to say much about this? Poetic with technoish type beats going down. This song paved the way for so many others. This is important due to its future influence. This band overall is important. 

8. Into It. Over It. - Your Lasting Image (2016) - Standards

This definitely would not have existed without #7 on this list. A listener would be very naive not to notice the influences. This song is just as important as The District Sleeps Alone Tonight because it reminds us that things like this can still be done, and done well. People will remember this one after the fact.

9. Lydia - It’s In Your Blood (2005) - This December; It’s One More And I’m Free

This song from the legendary “This December; It’s One More and I’m Free” album is song that made emo what it is today. The vocal delivery mixing male and female vocals so perfectly was the first time many of us 2000′s emo kids have heard anything like that. They definitely paved the way for many bands to come. I would like to say Straylight Run got it from Lydia but that is not true. I can say that Lydia set the bar high, so Straylight Run had to come out with some bangers after Lydia.

10. Lydia - The Sounds In Your Dream (2015) - Run Wild

Bet you thought Straylight Run was going to be next. Nope. Like American Football, no one can make music like Lydia except Lydia. Though not the same band as they once were, they still make great music 10 years later. The importance of these long running bands does not need explaining. 

11. Thursday - Understanding In A Car Crash (2001) - Full Collapse

Obviously Thursday was going to be on here. If it was not for this band you would not have all that post hardcore, melodic hardcore stuff you listen too. This is the song that had significance because it out Thursday on the map. Ask any emo fan, this song is classic. I bet most of your favorite post hardcore bands will site Thursday as a major influence and can probably still to this day sing this song word for word. Honestly, Thursday taught us we can scream while sad.

12. Thursday - War All The Time (2003) - War All The Time

I listen to a lot of music and am always on the lookout for new bands. I always find a underlying music theme just like the one in this song. Thursday brought back political views back into emo. Not that it was not there, but it had not been done this genuine in a some time. I promise you the influence of this song is heavy, which is why it is so important. 

13. Spitalfield - I Loved The Way She Said L.A. (2003) - Remember Right Now

2003 was a fantastic time to be into emo, and yeah, actually into Victory Records. Spitalfield was one of those emo bands that was kind of pop punk crossover. They lets us know that emo can be fast and fun as well as sad. After Spitalfield I feel so many bands came out just trying to sond exactly like them. I still heard hear songs that remind me of them.

14. Mark Rose - You Come Along (2015) - The Wild Type

The lead singer from Spitalfield is all grown up and making more adult music. Its like us that grew up on 2000′s emo grew up with Mark Rose. Keeping that long running emo contenders can still do it. He also adds some funky jazzy stuff into his music adding to the concept that emo has no boundaries factor. 

15. Foxing - Night Channels (2015) - Dealer

This song is important in many ways but I am trying not to be repetitive. The main reason this song is important is because of the maturity. This song is very mature and is a statement saying that emo is not just for teenagers going through some breakup that will not mater in 6 months. 

16. Taking Back Sunday - You’re So Last Summer (2002) - Tell All Your Friends

I feel that there is not much needed to be said here. This song showed a side of emo that I feel had not been shown very well. It gave that violent factor that had been missing for so long. The band in general are emo legends. 

17. Brand New - Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis (2003) - Deja Entendu

This is one of those bands that needs no explanation as to why it is one this list. This song was a step forward in emo. The lyrical content is just flat out cool. Really had not been done like this before in emo. It gave emo that cool guy with bad decisions look. 

18. Citizen - The Night I Drove Alone (2013) - Youth

Citizen to me really in like the reincarnation of Brand New. Not in a band way. Not in a copy cat way. They are just heavily influenced by them are you can hear it through the speaks. This song is one of those emo anthems, and it is not yet but, will go down as a classic. 10 years from now fans of this song will still know every line word for word. 

20. The Early November - I Want To Hear You Sad (2002) - For All Of This

This band holds a significant place in my life. I found this band at a time when it was exactly what i was looking for. This song made it easier for us in the emo community to move on. It made it to where emo was not all about wanting a person back, or I miss you. It let us say, “I’m better off without you.”

21.  I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business - So I Finally Decided To Give Myself A Reason (2004) - I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business

This band is the side project of Ace Enders (The Early November). This song was yet another step forward in the emo community. This song is sad and pretty, yet uplifting all at the same time. Enders brought story telling to the table and, I mean, he really brought it. Setting in motion tons of other artists. 

22. Boys Night Out - I Got Punched In The Nose For Sticking It In Other People’s Business (2003) - Make Yourself Sick

This song and band is pretty different from all the rest. It has anthem like sign-a-longs, crazy good lyrics, and its always changing. It has the perfect mix of screaming and singing. Everything about it is good. It has fast parts and slow parts. This song seriously has everything you are looking for, and more, in an emo song. 

23. Senses Fail -One Eight Seven (2003) - From The Depths Of Dreams

Classic emo anthem. Also at a time when profanity was barely in any emo songs, Senses Fail pulls out a great big FUCKING. The lyrics are just dark and that is what made this song and this band as good they were. The went to a more hardcore sound but shit, they are still good. The song just has that violence in emo that rarely gets used in anymore these days.

24. Name Taken - I Quit My Scene (2004) - Hold On 

The thing about Name Taken is that song sounded completely genuine. the songs did not feel or sound like they were forced. They were not trying to be the cool band. They were just making music they loved an pouring their hearts into it. This song is shows everything that they were good at. Unfortunately they did not stay around that long. I would love to see a reunion show.

25. The Starting Line - Cheek To Cheek (2002) Say It Like You Mean It

Some call these pop punk legends, which would not be wrong. I see them also as emo legends. These guy had that crossover sound that was done properly. Cheek To Cheek just comes in so smoothly and straight into your heart. Another classic.

26. Bright Eyes - We Are Nowhere And It’s Now (2005) - I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

I feel like the name says it all. Bright Eyes did their own thing. Vocally and lyrically is what makes this song and band so legend. Story telling emo at its finest. These stories really can not be beat.

27. mewithoutYou - Nice And Blue (2002) - A To B Life

This band brought pure poetry to emo. They slapped us with some good ole spoken word while giving us all the rest. These guys really made spoken word in emo what it is today. 

28. Glassjaw - Motel Of The White Locust (2000) - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence. 

Violence is common throughout on this list but no one did it as violent as Glassjaw. Specifically this song. It is so dark and pure rage. This is one of those song that you can feel the emotion put off by the band. Glassjaw made other bands want to put 110% of themselves into the song. Not many songs can get you to actually feel what they feel.

29. Hawthorne Heights - Ohio Is For Lovers (2005) - The Silence In Black And White

This song is as influential as it is cheesy. I think that this band also brought the generalization about emo fans cutting their wrists. They kind of put the suicide in the genre. Not really a good thing but it was meant to be there for people with mental illnesses and for people that do hurt themselves. 

30. The Used - Blue And Yellow (2002) - The Used

This song showcased at the time what the used were all about. This song like many on this list is one of those anthem songs that most fans, to this day, can repeat word for word. So many emo bands coming out now quote The Used as a major influence.

So here are 30 essential and important emo songs in my opinion. In reality, all the albums that these songs came off of are essential in general. Emo has always been a strong style of music, and it continues to do so. Yes, many band sound generic but, there is a lot out there that is very original. I could have probably made this list much bigger. I am sure i could make this at least a 50 essential list but i wanted to really think about it and make it shorter. I would like to know what you think so hey, please say something. 

[n64josh]

Nintendo Switch Games With Soundtracks That Go Unnecessarily Hard (And Each Game’s Biggest Bop!)

Nothing immerses us in a game more than a boppin’ soundtrack.  Music has the ability to quickly manipulate our moods and some games just do it so right.  Whether you find yourself fighting a boss to the horns of a heroic symphony or collecting seashells on a beach to a smooth groove, games with good soundtracks always have a way of burrowing into our memories.  Catchy tracks are exactly what make some games so memorable. Just mentioning a certain game can call to memory tunes that never seem to have left our minds. Anyone who’s played a video game before surely has strong memories associated with the game’s soundtrack (from Dark Souls to The Sims).  Some games, like Grand Theft Auto, have allowed people to discover real life artists and even continue to shape our taste in music.

  Our question for you is do you ever find yourself playing a game and thinking “Woah, this music goes unnecessarily hard.”?  Sometimes we wonder what was going through the composer’s head when they were in the studio cranking out their tenth Donkey Kong track that still manages to bring us to tears.  They don’t have to go so hard, but they do it for us.  In this list, I will be highlighting some Nintendo Switch games that have soundtracks that make you think “Wow, I can’t believe the composer went in like that”.  To do this, we will explain why the game deserves to be on the list, how the music relates to the gameplay, then highlight a song from each game that we consider the biggest bop.  Full disclosure: this is just our opinion and we’re no music theorists. Without further ado, here are 8 games (in no particular order) with soundtracks that go hard.  3… 2… 1… let’s jam!

  Cadence of Hyrule:  Crypt of the Necrodancer featuring The Legend of Zelda

What do you get when you cross an iconic Nintendo IP with a kick ass indie rhythm game?  Cadence of Hyrule, obviously.  Crypt of the Necrodancer developer Brace Yourself Games really outdid themselves with this 2019 indie classic.  Cadence of Hyrule tasks players with navigating through a rhythm based rogue-like Hyrule (easily an iteration of Hyrule we’ve never seen before nor may ever see again).  The music and gameplay this time around are tightly knit. The player is tasked with moving Link to the beat (and the beat has never been more satisfying to move to).  Composer Danny Baranowsky had no business going as hard as he did remixing countless Zelda classics into rhythmic jam fests. If you thought Zelda music couldn’t go any harder, you were sorely mistaken.

The one that bops the hardest:  We love us some sick Zelda beats, and the one that goes the hardest this time around is easily “Gerudo Valley”. 

The way the rhythm guitar and drums kick in when you enter the area, then the iconic melody blasting on (what sounds like) horns joins in, it really gets us going.  Watching the little bokoblins dance and grove towards their inevitable death to the beat of this track never fails to satisfy. “Gerudo Valley” has always been a bop, and this version is easily the best of this game.

  Cuphead

Here’s a real high class bout! Cuphead, released for Switch on April 19th, 2019, boasts a fully orchestrated swingin’ jazz + big band soundtrack.  Composer Kristofer Maddigan lovingly crafted 51 jazzy tracks, which act as the backdrop for Cuphead’s many smoothly animated boss fights.  Even Cuphead and Mugman seem to groove with every track in their animations during battle.  Cuphead gave many of us a jazz addiction that we didn’t know we were capable of having.

The one that bops the hardest:  This one is a hard pick because they’re all so good, but we have to go with “Floral Fury”. 

This track plays while fighting the ornery flower Cagney Carnation. Right out of the gate the player is met with quick drumming and a catchy trumpet melody.  As the fight plays out, so does the song. As Cagney throws out more varied attacks, more instruments are added to the track culminating in a hectic battle that really gets the juices flowing.  The jazzy solos and scales add to the hecticness, which makes for an extremely memorable experience.

  Megaman X Legacy Collection 1 + 2

You can’t have a video game music list without mentioning Megaman somewhere.  We know, we know,  this is a legacy collection of multiple classic games, should it really belong on this list?  Yes, it absolutely should.  Megaman X goes hard in the music department.  Developed by Capcom and composed by their inhouse Alpha Lyla group, the original Megaman X had a lot to live up to in the music department.  Where the original Megaman games had classic 8-bit video game-y jams, Megaman X had rad, attitude filled rockin’ 90’s tunes.  Capcom could have just settled for a sound similar to the original games, but this was the 1993, and if you didn’t go hard you might as well have gone home.  The SNES graphics combined with the radical tracks is a match made in heaven.

The one that bops the hardest:  I’m gonna focus on the first game here, and again, this is going to be a controversial pick because all the music is so good, but we’re going to have to go with “Storm Eagle”. 

Many will never forget the first time X dropped into this stage and the sick guitar riff kicked in. It’s truly exhilarating. Controlling X and toughing it out through this sky machine is made all the more exciting by listening to the tasty, recurring guitar lick.  The rhythm guitar just goes so well with the escalating melody and Megaman action. (Man, I’ve got to play through Megaman X again…)

  Super Mario Odyssey

We love Super Mario Odyssey.  A return to 3D sandbox form, Odyssey is filled to the brim with jazzy tracks that are just as fun-loving as the stylish platforming gameplay.  Released in October of 2017 and composed by video game music legend Koji Kondo, Super Mario Odyssey is just as much of a joy to listen to as it is to play.  When one thinks of Mario Odyssey’s music the first song that comes to mind is probably “Jump-Up Superstar!”.  While that one does go hard, it would be too easy to say that it goes the hardest.

The one that bops the hardest:  In our humble opinion, we believe “New Donk City: Daytime” goes harder than it should. 

The New Donk City festival music (“Jump-Up Superstar!”) was already the show stealing track, so one wouldn’t expect the basic daytime music to be such a bop.  With an intro reminiscent of Super Mario 64’s “Bob-omb Battlefield”, New Donk City’s daytime track sounds like a bunch of jazz musicians just having an absolute blast jamming with each other.  There’s even a moon to collect by finding jazz musicians scattered throughout the city! Also, it’s interesting how this game’s music evokes nostalgia in us even though it came out in 2017.

  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Developed by Retro Studios and originally released for the Wii U, Tropical Freeze is arguably one of the greatest 2D platformers of all time. The Donkey Kong Country series has always had some real slick tracks. With a soundtrack composed by long time series composer David Wise, Tropical Freeze has music that at times sound ambient, and at others feels thrilling. Similar to how every platform in the game organically fits in with the environment, the music seems to always fit perfectly as well.

The one that bops the hardest:  Okay, this is really kind of cheating because it’s a remake from the original game, but “Aquatic Ambiance” always goes the hardest. 

Remember how I mentioned ambiance above?  This track has it right in the title. Starting off very slow and somber, things in this song don’t really kick off until about a minute and a half in.  This melody is so melancholic yet so beautiful. It flows in and out like water, perfectly tying into the gameplay. What’s also great is the sections with in and out of water platforming because the music changes based on DK’s position.  

  Super Smash Brothers Ultimate

Again, we feel like we’re cheating a bit because Smash Ultimate is an amalgamation of gaming’s greatest hits.  Ultimate has over 800 tracks in total!  There is literally not enough hours in the day to sit and listen to the whole soundtrack.  We have to include Ultimate for that very reason.  Also, most of the tracks in the game (which come from different series) have been remixed to match the fast pace Smash Bros gameplay.  The head composer for the game’s original music is Hideki Sakamoto.  Sakamoto made the song that bops the hardest.

The one that bops the hardest:  The main theme, “Lifelight” just goes so dang hard. 

When players first caught a glimpse of Ultimate’s story trailer, they were mesmerized by this powerful track.  “Lifelight” is also remixed throughout the game, acting as a menu theme amongst others.  Sakamoto didn’t have to make the melody so catchy; he certainly could have settled for less.  But he went hard for Mr. Sakurai (as we all should).

  Undertale + Deltarune

Undertale and Deltarune are getting lumped together because they’re both tiny indies and part of the same series.  Though they may be small and independant, they quite possibly have more heart than any game on this list. Developed (and composed) by the enigmatic Toby Fox, both games are filled to the brim with charming tracks that complement the active RPG-style gameplay.  Calling Fox a bit of a musical genius wouldn’t be a stretch; some of the music from these games have become somewhat of their own beast (a la the “Megalovania” meme).

The one that bops the hardest:  Just saying “Megalovania” and calling it a day would be easy mode, so we’re going to have to go with “The World Revolving”, featured during a hidden bossfight in Deltarune.

This track evokes a feeling of major frantic danger, while sounding slightly circus-esque. This fits perfectly with the boss’s gameplay style and design. When this track first kicked off and the fight began, any reasonable player was definitely hit by a huge shot of adrenaline.  The way the entire track seems to come to a chaotic head in its chorus.  Chaos, Chaos!  It makes us feel like we can do anything! 

  The Legend of Zelda:  Link’s Awakening (2019)

We couldn’t help ourselves!  We just had to include a Zelda game!  While Breath of the Wild has tracks that are more atmospheric than anything, the 2019 version of Link’s Awakening has music that is more in line with what you would expect from a Zelda game.  Originally composed by Minako Hamano and Kozoe Ishikawa for Gameboy hardware, the games soundtrack has been brought up to date by composer Ryu Nagamatsu.  We must say, it sounds better than ever. With memorable tracks (like the woods theme or the shop keeper theme), Nagamatsu’s mix really brings the original tracks to life.  We have to give an honorable mention to this version’s “Animal Village Theme”, which is sung by actual (not really) animals !

The one that bops the hardest:  The most memorable and emotional song in perhaps any Zelda is “The Ballad of the Windfish”. 

Without spoiling too much of the games ending, this song, heard throughout the length of the game, evokes an emotional response out of anyone who has completed Link’s Awakening.  The game is about gathering instruments to play this song, so we’d say it ties into the gameplay pretty closely.  Sung by Marin, “The Ballad of the Windfish” is definitely a song we will never, ever forget.

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[melttmagazine-blog]

(via https://open.spotify.com/user/123781039/playlist/1H5Ya3J1wwvLBJxaeXNrMt?si=UIAkohW9Reyp2iPZeXGxxw)

Happy Sunday! I hope it is lazy.

A playlist featuring: Foxing, Slaughter Beach, Dog, Runaway Brother, A Boy Named John,  Seaway, Macseal, The Killers, Mom Jeans., Coldplay, The Front Bottoms

“Rory” by Foxing - My favorite version of this song, and the version i’ve been listening to today, is a Couch King session from YouTube. It’s just the two of them standing next to a building/busy street with an acoustic guitar and a trumpet. The song is already such a vulnerable song that adding the element of performing literally out in the open adds a certain courageous sentiment.

“Buttercup” by Slaughter Beach, Dog - This song is just how I felt today, and I don’t know how to describe it any way beyond that. (Also, SBD is currently touring the UK, so we hope they’re doing well with that!)

“Hummingbird” by Runaway Brother - I’m in this Prince Daddy & the Hyenashitposting group on facebook, and Runaway Brother kept coming up in the new music post that I follow for the purposes of this magazine, so I decided to check it out.

“Don’t Kill the Messenger” by A Boy Named John - I know I’ve featured this song before, but it deserves another. Fuck, man. “Who the hell drinks alone out of spite?” Me. Right now, honestly.

“Stubborn Love” by Seaway - I think this lays somewhere between emo and pop punk; but everytime I listen to it I like it. “‘Cause nobody likes slipping out the backdoor/but I can’t crawl back to you anymore”

“Harry” by Macseal - The intro to this song reminds me a lot of the riff in “Always Focused” by Tiny Moving Parts, but the rest of the song is a lot more relaxed in comparison. Sweet lyrics: “It’s so amazing how much comes to life/And I wonder what the last thing you remember was/Was it scratching my back ‘til I fell asleep?/Or was it pulling me apart 'til you made me leave?”

“All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers - Sometimes when I listen to this song it’s like I’m realizing something about myself, I just can’t put a finger on what that something is. Maybe it has something to do with “I want to stand up, I want to let go/You know, you know - no you don’t, you don't”

“Season 9, Ep. 2-3 - Audiotree Live Version” by Mom Jeans - At this point, there’s ONLY an Audiotree Live version, because this is a track that’s (supposedly) going to be on LP 2! I bring it up today because the gang is amidst tracking it this week. We hope all is going well! LP 2 is scheduled for some time this summer.

“The Scientist” by Coldplay - This was my go-to sad song from about 2008-2012, and still remains one of my favorite songs on my “emotional torture” playlist. Simply a classic.

“Ocean” by The Front Bottoms - This song represents so much about letting go. Every time I listen to it, I feel like a weight is being lifted off my chest. I’ve always admired The Front Bottoms’ ability to coordinate an album in an order that makes sense and flows well emotionally. (Going Grey is a good album. Fight me.)

hope you all have a good week! Hopefully some exciting announcements coming soon :)

[alissaanne23]

Looking for some guidance... I need to branch out musically. It used to be something that was a very big part of my life but these days at most I get time for the radio. I also just lack the general knowledge of what to look for when finding a good artist. I would really appreciate it if you could give some pointers, I really do like all genres, it's rare I find something I don't like. I love everything you post, thanks for being awesome! 💕💕

Aww thank you!! I listen to massive range of genres and artists so sometimes it's hard for me to give recommendations. I'll give you a few artists that I tend to just recommend to everyone because they're some of my favorites/they're the best of their genre/they're classics/etc:John Mayer (I'm serious, everyone laughs at me when I recommend him, he's such a talented guitarist, you've got all the older legendary guitarists calling him the best current guitarist, just listen please)Anderson .PaakBon Iver (if you ask me about 22, A Million I will talk for hours about how much I love it and give you a college-level, well-written essay on why it's so good)Chance the Rapper (aka the first rapper I ever enjoyed listening to, a good one for non-rap fans to try)Frank OceanGlass AnimalsThe BandSufjan Stevens (Illinoise!! Michigan!!! Seven Swans!!!! His whole discography. But start with Illinoise)The Velvet UndergroundHozier (!!! where is he??? I miss him he disappeared and I need more music)Grateful Dead (especially their live albums)LCD SoundsystemMac Demarco (the BEST chill summer music to listen to in the car with the windows down on a car ride to the beach)Tame Impala (literally their whole discography so far. Currents is a bit different from their past albums but still a bop just in a different way)Pond (aka Tame Impala's weirder, more fun and quirky counterpart, has some of the same members and producers)Portugal. The Man (I'm feeling a little meh about their recent album, it's more pop than their old psychedelic rock, but still great overall and you should just listen to their whole discography lol)Cage the ElephantRay LaMontagneTroye Sivan (I love him fight me)Vulfpeck (really cool funky music with good vibes and good beats 100% recommend)WhitneyRed Hot Chili PeppersThe Arcs (side project by lead of the Black Keys who I actually like way more than the Black Keys)Jimi Hendrix (duh) (I could probably recreate the entirety of bold as love with air guitar and my voice simultaneously doing the guitar and the lyrics)Pink Floyd (duh) (wish u were here is my favorite album in case u were wondering)Alabama Shakes (sound and color!!!! One of the best albums of the decade so far I will fight you on that)Kendrick LamarCoast ModernFunkadelic (as u may have guessed from their name, they're funky and psychedelic and just great)Now that I've given you a sort of unsolicited, way too long list of my favorite artists that I'd recommend, I guess I can explain how I find new music?In complete honesty the best way to do it is to have cool friends with good taste in music. I'd say at least half of those artists I listed were recommended to me originally by one of my friends. Just let your friends know that you're open to music recs!Be open minded!And don't judge by the top tracks of a band. I usually start by listening to their top 2 or 3 songs and then their most recent song/single. Then I'll explore individual albums a bit to get a feel for the artist.If you find an artist you really like, check out their related artists in whatever music source you use (I use Spotify and Google Play Music).Also figure out the overly specific name for their genre! You don't have to like tell other people that your favorite genre is new jack swing or chamber pop or neo psychedelic rock or whatever, but knowing the name helps you pinpoint other artists you'd like.Speaking of which!! Highly recommend trying Every Nosie at Once. It's a project to make like scatter plots of music artists in genres in order to organize them and most easily find similar artists. They also have very very specific genres like what I was talking about above.If you're ever looking for music suggestions, I'm here! I love forcing my music taste on others haha I'm currently checking out all the new albums out today. Specifically Woodstock by Portugal. The Man (moderately ok I'm still forming opinions I guess), Melodrama by Lorde (I wasn't ever that into her but I'm SO into this album), Weather Diaries by Ride (haven't heard enough yet to say my opinion), and Crack-Up by Fleet Foxes (again, haven't listened yet). In case you were wondering, I did NOT like Halsey's new album, sadly.Anyway, good luck with your music exploration!! Have fun with it!!! Make it a community thing. I have friends that I've become a lot closer to because of sharing music taste and talking about it. A few of my closest friends at NYU I made by talking about Twenty One Pilots with them haha seriously music can be a very personal thing (like for me, my love of Troye Sivan is a very personal thing that goes more into sexuality and being closeted at a time he was making LGBTQ-inclusive music in the public eye than just being about music) but it can also be a social thing that brings you closer to others! And you can feel so much closer to someone by knowing what music is important to them and what makes them happy, ya know?

[melttmagazine-blog]

Happy Sunday! I hope it is lazy. 

A playlist featuring: Foxing, Slaughter Beach, Dog, Runaway Brother, A Boy Named John,  Seaway, Macseal, The Killers, Mom Jeans., Coldplay, The Front Bottoms

“Rory” by Foxing - My favorite version of this song, and the version i’ve been listening to today, is a Couch King session from YouTube. It’s just the two of them standing next to a building/busy street with an acoustic guitar and a trumpet. The song is already such a vulnerable song that adding the element of performing literally out in the open adds a certain courageous sentiment.

“Buttercup” by Slaughter Beach, Dog - This song is just how I felt today, and I don’t know how to describe it any way beyond that. (Also, SBD is currently touring the UK, so we hope they’re doing well with that!)

“Hummingbird” by Runaway Brother - I’m in this Prince Daddy & the Hyena shitposting group on facebook, and Runaway Brother kept coming up in the new music post that I follow for the purposes of this magazine, so I decided to check it out.

“Don’t Kill the Messenger” by A Boy Named John - I know I’ve featured this song before, but it deserves another. Fuck, man. “Who the hell drinks alone out of spite?” Me. Right now, honestly.

“Stubborn Love” by Seaway - I think this lays somewhere between emo and pop punk; but everytime I listen to it I like it. “‘Cause nobody likes slipping out the backdoor/but I can’t crawl back to you anymore”

“Harry” by Macseal - The intro to this song reminds me a lot of the riff in “Always Focused” by Tiny Moving Parts, but the rest of the song is a lot more relaxed in comparison. Sweet lyrics: “It’s so amazing how much comes to life/And I wonder what the last thing you remember was/Was it scratching my back 'til I fell asleep?/Or was it pulling me apart 'til you made me leave?”

“All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers - Sometimes when I listen to this song it’s like I’m realizing something about myself, I just can’t put a finger on what that something is. Maybe it has something to do with “I want to stand up, I want to let go/You know, you know - no you don't, you don't”

“Season 9, Ep. 2-3 - Audiotree Live Version” by Mom Jeans - At this point, there’s ONLY an Audiotree Live version, because this is a track that’s (supposedly) going to be on LP 2! I bring it up today because the gang is amidst tracking it this week. We hope all is going well! LP 2 is scheduled for some time this summer.

“The Scientist” by Coldplay - This was my go-to sad song from about 2008-2012, and still remains one of my favorite songs on my “emotional torture” playlist. Simply a classic.

“Ocean” by The Front Bottoms - This song represents so much about letting go. Every time I listen to it, I feel like a weight is being lifted off my chest. I’ve always admired The Front Bottoms’ ability to coordinate an album in an order that makes sense and flows well emotionally. (Going Grey is a good album. Fight me.)

hope you all have a good week! Hopefully some exciting announcements coming soon :)