#humility in the background bc it's the song that I heard in the best part of the process

[milangakokoros]

Average blond twink and his shirt thief YIPEEE

I'm in a creative block and the only thing I can think of is patonejo shit

THE BLACK SHIRT THAT SHUN WEARS IN SAINT SEIYA OMEGA IS HYOGA'S AND HE WEARS IT ROLL UP BECAUSE IT'S BIG ON HIM (my best headcanon)

in unnecessarily saturated colors because I'm a kidcore guy (I don't know how to do cell shading)

[alienshea]

And now, for no absolute reason, I will give every Gorillaz song from the main 6 studio albums my rating from 1-10

Self-Titled

Re-Hash: 7.5/10

Bopping tune, 2D doing his own backup vocals make me swoon, Noodle is great as always, no one really knows what the lyrics are but they’re valid

5/4: 6/10

Better than average,not the best song i’ve ever heard but still pretty good, kinda uncomfy with Noodle screaming about someone turning her dad on, drumbeat makes me wanna dance, wished they couldve made the music video

Tomorrow Comes Today: 7/10

The kind of song that gets stuck in your head all day, love the overall sad tone, music video makes me laugh now bc that one murdoc gif, makes me cry when i have depressive episodes

New Genius (Brother): 7.5/10

Love 2D’s voice in it, lyrics hit home a little bit for me, have never skipped this song tbh, overall pretty good song

Clint Eastwood: 8.5/10

I literally know all the words, I love the rap, iconic, there’s a reason it’s popular, Del is everything

Man Research (Clapper): 3/10

oooo boy i’m gonna get shit for this one, i always skip this song, i can’t stand the whole “yeah yeah” thing, the only great part about this song is the “tHiS Is a bReAkFaSt ClUuUuuUB!”

Punk: 6.5/10

gets me turnt, toooooo short, tbh i like any song where 2D yells

Sound Check (Gravity): 9/10

looooove this song, gives me body chills when the drums kick in, love the deep ass voice, overall emo kid bop

Double Bass: 8/10

nice jam, I like listening to this when I do homework or art, relaxing

Rock The House: 8/10

legit makes me get up and dance, great rhythm, music video is beautiful

19/2000: 9/10

amazing bop, gets me pumped, iconic af, first gorillaz song i ever heard and first music video i ever saw, n o o d l e

Latin Simone: 7/10

I don’t speak spanish so i cant really sing along, love the feel of it, will listen on repeat, prefer the english version but im biased

Starshine: 6.5/10

idk I don’t really listen to this one, not a bad song i just wouldn’t play it on repeat or actively look for it, i do like the vocals

Slow Country: 8.5/10

love the feeling this song gives me, kinda like im just floating, super chill song to get high to, have never skipped this song, i like the lyrics

M1A1: 8/10

super fun song to sing along with, honestly the best song they couldve ever chosen to start a concert, he   s c r e a m

OVERALL SCORE FOR SELF-TITLED: 7.5 (rounded up)

Demon Days

Last Living Souls: 9/10

absolute favourite song on the album, breakdown gives me chills, constantly changing it’s tune and i love it, the basssss <3

Kids With Guns: 6/10

I love singing the chorus, great song to have in the background, chill af

O Green World: 7.5/10

i love the instrumental of this one, vocals give me chills, kinda wish you could hear the singing more tho

Dirty Harry: 6.5/10

bopping beat, i love the rap part, overall not really the type of song i’d play on repeat but not bad

Feel Good Inc: 8/10

first and foremost the fucking bass of this song is the reason i’m learning bass, chorus gives me chills, kinda overused but i understand

El Manana: 6/10

kind of a meh song for me personally, not a bad one just not the greatest

Every Planet We Reach Is Dead: 9/10

banger, the reason im also learning guitar, vocals are on point, has made me cry before

November Has Come: 7/10

love the chorus, rap is kinda meh for me, i like the beat

All Alone: 5/10

not really a song i listen to, i like the bloopy noises

White Light: 4/10

I always skip this one tbh, better than man research but not by much

DARE: 6.5/10

this song haunts my dreams, its like the best kind of elevator music, on another note you fucking go noodle

Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey’s Head: 7.5/10

I WANNA BE A COWBOY BABY, narrative is really fucking good tho

Don’t Get Lost In Heaven: 8/10

beautiful, usually dont like gospel-esque music but i love this, gives me chills

Demon Days: 6.5/10

not my favourite tbh, meh for me

OVERALL SCORE FOR DEMON DAYS: 6.5 (rounded up)

Plastic Beach

Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach: 7.5/10

i love snoop dogg, also this song gives me good vibes

White Flag: 5/10

ehhhh not a fan of this one, i usually skip it, i like the orchestra tho

Rhinestones Eyes: 8.5/10

i fucking love this song, great tune great vocals, i never skip it, i even got my boyfriend to start loving this song even tho he doesnt really like gorillaz

Stylo: 9/10

jesus this song, makes my heart hurt, i absoultely long singing along to this, his voiceeeee, bobby womack!

Superfast Jellyfish: 8.5/10

quirky af, i love de la soul in this one a lot, have never skipped this

Empire Ants: 9/10

so beautiful, has made me cry, both of their voices are so soft and lovely ugh

Glitter Freeze: 6/10

starts off strong but when it starts sounding like a drill i usually yeet out

Some Kind Of Nature: 8/10

used to be my favourite until i started listening to the album more, 2d’s part is so soulful omg

On Melancholy Hill: 8.5/10

so sad and amazing, music video is probably my favourite, is me and my best mate’s “song”

Broken: 9/10

ugh beautiful, i know all the words and always sing them loud af, has never skipped this song, honestly is everything

Sweepstakes: 5.5/10

not a big fan, i usually skip this one, not a horrible song just not for me

Plastic Beach: 7.5/10

love it, better at the beginning than the end, still a bop

To Binge: 10/10

WHEEEW BOY, i love this song, its so sad and amazing and gay jesus christ, the best thing murdoc has ever done

Cloud of Unknowing: 7/10

soulful and beautiful, again bobby womack!!

Pirate Jet: 7/10

i love the tune bc it gets me feeling ~spooky~, lyrics dont really make sense but thats okay

OVERALL SCORE FOR PLASTIC BEACH: 7.5 (rounded up)

The Fall

Phoner to Arizona: 8/10

gets me bopping and grooving, great music to play in the background while writing or doing art, my go to for when i draw or need background sound while I relax

Revolving Doors: 9.5/10

OOF, it so sad and it makes me feel things, i scream the lyrics errytime

Hillbilly Man: 10/10

fell in love with this the second I heard it, has been my favourite song of all time for over 2 years now, will never skip it in my life, i yearn to learn the guitar 

 Detroit: 6.5/10

generally a good happy bop, usually play it as background sound

Shy-Town: 6/10

nice to the ear, i don’t really like the prerecorded vocals of 2D but when Damon sung it live it sounds much better

Little Pink Plastic Bags: 8/10

i love it ugh, relaxing af, will never skip

The Joplin Spider: 9/10

big love for this song, its just soooo goooood

The Parish Of Space Dust: 7.5/10

big cowboy energy, sounds so sweet, 2D’s voice is unnnf

The Snake In Dallas: 7/10

good for when you wanna party but you’re depressed and can only stay in bed, love the little robotic sounds

Amarillo: 9.5/10

i meeeean what can i say, this song is so sad and gay and beautiful, ive cried while listening it this, will never skip

The Speak It Mountains: 7.5/10

this track is really weird and creepy and kind of not a song but i adore it anyway

 Aspen Forest: 8/10

beautiful sounds, the piano is so soothing, will play this on repeat while i zone out

Bobby In Phoenix: 9/10

i wanna cry every single time i hear this bobby come back

California and the Slipping of the Sun: 7.5/10

this song so so pretty and i cry every time ugh, he sounds so fed up im sorry pretty boy

Seattle Yodel: ???

what

OVERALL SCORE FOR THE FALL: 8 (rounded down)

Humanz

Ascension: 8.5/10

absolute banger, i get pumped everytime this comes on, skys falling bb

Strobelite: 7.5/10

i used to hate this song but then the music video came out and i tried it again and now i love it dont @ me

Saturnz Barz: 9/10

theres so much i could say about this song ans the mv unf

Momentz: 9/10

banger, i dance like a maniac every time i hear it, will never skip

Submission: 8/10

gives me a good chance to work on high notes, makes my skin tingly

Charger: 8.5/10

2D’s voice is so griity and i can help myself

Andromeda: 8.5/10

I’ve never skipped this song, has made me cry, makes me dance

Busted And Blue: 9/10

has made me cry several times, vocals are everything, will never skip

Carnival: 7/10

is a bop, don’t really listen to it much anymore but it’s alright

Let Me Out: 8/10

i love it, one of my favourites to rap with

Sex Murder Party: 4/10

ehhh dont like this one, i always skip it

She’s My Collar: 8.5/10

i dont want to admit the things 2D’s voice in this makes me wanna do

Hallelujah Money: 7.5/10

hated this at first, grew to love, very soothing

We Got The Power: 9.5/10

gets me FUCKING PUMPED, we do got the power fuckers

OVERALL SCORE FOR HUMANZ: 8.5 (rounded down)

The Now Now

Humility: 8.5/10

summer bop, makes me wanna dance, have never skipped

Tranz: 9.5/10

i love singing along to this bc it makes me feel sexy oops, always screams the lyrics

Hollywood: 7/10

not a huge fan of this but ill listen to it, favourite part is the chorus, also snoop doggy dogg

Kansas: 9/10

oof this song makes me cry, i always scream this 

Sorcererz: 7.5/10

ooo them vocals thooo, makes me relaxed

Idaho: 8.5/10

i love this song sm, one of my favourites of all time to sing, i wanna learn the guitar for this

Lake Zurich: 8/10

I love to listen to this while relaxing or writing, makes me wanna dance, COWBELL

Magic City: 8.5

always dancing to this, billboards on the moooon

Fireflies: 10/10

yall saw this coming, i always cry, its so somber, in close competition w HillBilly Man for my all time favourite

One Percent: 6.5/10

only song on the album i would skip and it isnt even that bad

Souk Eye: 10/10

its so gay and sad i love it sm

OVERALL SCORE FOR THE NOW NOW: 8.5 (rounded up)

So after months of me saying i’d rate the songs in order I finally did! Now keep in my the overall scores are averages, my personal rating for each album is:

Self-Titled: 8/10

Demon Days: 7/10

Plastic Beach: 8.5/10

The Fall: 8/10

Humanz: 7.5/10

The Now Now: 9/10

thanks for reading, i did this so i wouldn’t have to write an essay oops! <3

[kclenhartnovels]

Unexpected Harbor

[After the events of The Book, here’s more background on Raen from Theory of Souls. All of this happens before the book takes place. Some references are better understood after reading Engine Oil and Rosewater, though it isn’t necessary.]

“You see? This is what happens when little black boys mess around with magic.” Aldoron tossed the newspaper onto the table with a scoff, gesturing at the headline, Saint Augustine Massacre.

Eve gave him a look over the top of her mug that would have curdled milk. “If you're going to talk like that, you can get out of my shop and let the door hit you on the way out.”

“Oh, come on, Eve,” the mage insisted, pressing his finger into the headline. “You know, I went over to that church when the news broke? Place reeked of ill-formed ideas and anger. Filthy magic, isn't it? The boy needs a proper teacher to get him away from that nonsense.”

“I'm sure the boy has a name.” She set down her mug. “And I'm sure you're not going to rush over to teach him.”

“Me? Gods, no,” he huffed. “I wouldn't touch that dirty magic with a ten-foot pole. Corrupts the soul, don't you know. There's a reason why the ones you see practicing it are always—”

She raised her hand to cut him off. “Stop. Stop before I drag you outside by the ear. Aldoron, you have to get your head out of your ass. You started practicing magic in, what, right around 50 BC?”

He shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, depends on which calendar you're looking at. The Roman Empire lasted for so long, things got rather confusing when it comes to how we dated things. I mean, it's not as if we were basing our calendar around Christ, or even the Jewish God. You know—”

“I'm in the middle of making a point, not looking for a history lesson,” she interrupted. “In all that time, two thousand years give or take, how have you not learned a modicum of tact and humility? You claim you've mastered all of the elements of magic. Doesn't that include necromancy?”

“Listen, to be fair, I've spent the latest hundred years or so with my soul trapped in a medallion,” he defended, doing his best to look offended, but he seemed more put off by the fact she had stopped his ramblings about history. “And no, I wouldn't sully myself with that twisted magic. It's unnatural. There are other ways to heal, and even bring the dead back to life without splitting your soul ten ways to Sunday.”

“Even if this kid shows promise? If no one was there to teach him, he had to have taught himself,” Eve pressed. “And necromancy, no matter what you think of it, is not easy magic. Anyone with enough inclination towards magic and enough emotional stress can light a fire in their palm or make the rain fall. But to raise a body? Surely that's worth at least talking to him, if not teaching?”

Aldoron rolled his eyes. “I did not spend all those years being taught the pillars of magic by a God to sully my reputation now with a little Moor that learned how to read a book.”

Eve stood abruptly from her table, and snatched the newspaper. “Get out, Aldoron. I have errands to run.”

“What happened to breakfast?”

“Lost my appetite,” she muttered, turning her back on him to rinse out her mug. “I'll let you know when the book you want arrives.”

The mage shrugged, and took his time sliding into his coat again. “You know, Eve, a woman like you shouldn't be so quick to push away her friends. Jupiter knows you don't have that many of them. You can't afford to be picky. Don't get yourself in such a fuss over some boy that fell out of place. I know how you feel about the street urchins around here, but—”

“Goodbye, Aldoron.” She refused to turn around until she heard him descending the stairs. She scrubbed at the mug harder than necessary, and Prince leapt onto the table to lap at Aldoron's discarded cream beside his coffee cup. She touched the cat's head in passing, struggled into a warm winter coat, and locked up the shop behind her.

The bells of Saint Augustine were a familiar sound, though now they tolled while covered in the velvet of grieving. Eve had been to the cathedral many times over the years, and her feet took her to a well-tended grave before she thought about going into the chapel. With a sigh, she knelt in front of the tombstone, brushing a few flakes of snow from the inscription. “Mary,” she whispered, tracing the name with her fingertips. “I wish you were still here. You would have chased that old fool outside with a broom, and boxed his ears for good measure. Do you remember the protest we went to, before you got sick? We stood arm in arm, and at first we were the only white folk there. But we stood beside the black women that had worked the factory with us, and we wouldn't be moved. We brought them food and water, and I think your little voice was the loudest there. We almost got arrested.” She smiled weakly, blinking back tears. “What would you think of the world now?”

She heard a crunch on the frozen earth, but didn't turn.

“You come to talk to her often,” Raen greeted quietly. He stood a row back from her, holding a rake and watching the blond woman cautiously. “She died in 1959. Your grandmother?”

Eve shook her head. “No, she died young. Without children. Well, living children.” She turned to sit on the cold ground, looking up to him at last. Was this the gravedigger Aldoron was ranting about? The coat he wore was at least two sizes too big, but he was so slender it seemed hard to find anything that would fit him. His dark eyes had a familiar haunted look, but ahead of that was a laser focus like she had never seen before. He kept his hair natural, and pulled back at the top of his head to keep it out of his face. His cheekbones could cut glass. She was sure he would be a heartbreaker in a year or two, if he could put any weight on. And if he cared to get that close to anyone. “You're the gravedigger, right?”

Raen didn't answer right away. He watched her with a frown, and she could see the muscle in his jaw pulse as he puzzled over her. When he finally answered, the words tumbled out as if unleashed from a dam. “There's something wrong with you. Where is your soul?”

She smiled despite herself. “You must be the necromancer too, huh?”

He gripped the rake harder, but didn't move. “I don't know about that.”

“Well, you're learning it, right?” She stood at last, brushing the snow from her pants. “Do you have somewhere warmer we could talk?”

Raen took in a quick breath, and glanced between her and the grave. “Since I read the book—this book that I've found—I've been able to see things. People's souls, their essence, whatever you want to call it. I can feel it. And what comes with it, or what gets left behind.” Another quick breath, as if he was afraid if he stopped talking, he would never dare speak of it again. “Ghosts, I guess. Fragments of self. Some people never seem to fully cross over. She—that grave. I've seen her before. Her name is Mary.”

Eve nodded.

His hands flexed against the hard wood of the rake. He didn't look away from her. “I have seen her in glimpses before, but this is the first time I've seen you come since I've been really seeing these fragments. And when you sat down at the grave, she—” He blinked heavily, and his breath caught in his throat. Eve saw a dampness at the corners of his eyes, and the rake wobbled. “She saw me see her. She wanted me to tell you that she's still waiting for you. She will always be waiting.”

Eve struggled to contain her composure, but her smile was so genuine it made her cheeks ache. “I know,” she whispered, swallowing thickly. “Thank you, though. It's good to hear it.” She extended her hand. “Can we talk somewhere in private? My name is Eve. I think I can help you understand a few things.”

Cautiously, he took her hand, his fingers as flighty as a nervous bird. “Raen Toussaint. I live there,” he gestured back towards the small gravedigger's house. “It's still messy but...yes. I think we can talk.”

The bells of Saint Augustine rumbled a low song as the sunlight began to fade, their velvet-muted tones echoing across the church graveyard. They reverberated around the small light from the gravedigger's house like a beacon of hope on a foggy night, as two ships found unexpected harbor amongst the dust of castaways. As the dusk faded to purple, then black, and the people trickling from night mass had their breaths clouded in front of them like the whisper of ghosts, the light burned on. When the bells sang midnight, smoke puffed from the gravedigger's chimney, carrying with it the murmur of voices and the scent of green tea. When the priests came in at daybreak to light candles and pray for a better day, only when the first golden lances of the sun broke the stained-glass windows, only then did Saint Augustine see one soulless woman walk from its grounds, sleepless but smiling. Sleep would have to wait; she had books to find for one eager little student of magic.

[Part three. For more about the universe, click here.]