#i've always loved the horns mixed with the bits in this song too. and the organic drums instead of chip ones...

[hoodie-prince-kid]

Spear of Justice is a fantastic alarm tone if you need a jolt in the morning to actually wake up by the way.

[bubblesandgutz]

Every Record I Own - Day 801: The Rolling Stones Exile on Main St.

I hesitate to say things like "favorite album of all time," but if I lost my whole record collection in a fire, the first album I would replace would be Exile on Main St.

What is a favorite album anyway? One where you love every song from start to finish? That's not what this is. Not every song is a hit. Hell, even the singles off the album weren't hits. Exile is a strange, murky, uneven double album recorded in Keith Richards' basement in the south of France while the band were tax exiles from their native England. Mick Jagger is buried low in the mix. The performances are loose even by the Stones' standards. Initial reviews from critics weren't exactly positive. And yet there's something about it that keeps luring you back.

I first bought a used CD of Exile in the early '00s at the insistence of a few folks in the Against Me! camp. Aside from a handful of songs, I really wasn't much of a Stones fan. But I was okay with the $5 I'd spent after one spin of "Rocks Off." It's the archetypal Stones song---it's got the classic open-G Richards riff to kick it off. But where similar intros like "Brown Sugar" or "Start Me Up" just unfolded into songs that, at the time, felt lukewarm and uninspired to me, "Rocks Off" actually ROCKED. The song just keeps climbing up and up, ascending to greater heights. And when the second chorus comes in with the horns? Holy fuck... yes. And what's this song even about? Sexual frustration? "I only get my rocks off when I'm sleeping." Wait... is this song about wet dreams? Why have I been barraged by "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" all my life when this is clearly the most kick-ass Stones tune by a WIDE margin?

But wait... then the band launches into "Rip This Joint" and now I have to reconsider that maybe THIS is the most kick-ass Stones song ever. It's like Little Richards if he took too much trucker speed. And that scream Jagger let's out during the last verse: "Little Rock fit to drop... AAHHHHH!! JUST LET IT ROCK."

Fuckin' A. Shoot that shit into my veins.

But then... "Hip Shake." An old blues cover that just kinda simmers but never reaches a full boil. They had all this momentum, and they just completely dropped the ball. For at least the first couple of years I listened to Exile I would play the first two songs and then hit stop on track 3. Truth be told, at least part of the reason for that was that my cheap used CD started skipping at track 4.

Fast forward to 2004 and my first iPod. Now I could listen to all of Exile without the glitches. But "Hip Shake" was still a buzzkill and "Casino Boogie" doesn't exactly reignite the party with its reserved shuffle. Side 1 closes with one of the two singles off of Exile: "Tumbling Dice." And to be fair, it's a pretty good song. It's got a little bit of that gospel flair that I've always sorta hated in rock bands, but as with so many rock tropes, classic-era Rolling Stones actually did it well, and all the imitators are what ruined it.

Over the next few years I listened to Exile on my iPod a fair amount, usually when I wanted something with positive energy playing in the background but didn't want to have to actually pay much attention to it. I didn't care much for any particular songs later in the album, but it was better than listening to classic rock radio at a low volume. So yeah, not exactly "favorite album" material.

My appreciation for the album really changed when I got a well-loved used 2xLP copy at Singles Going Steady in Seattle. Now Exile was broken up into four distinct chapters. Those first five songs were like their own little universe. Two rockers, a tension builder, a strutting shuffle, and a triumphant closer. Flip it over to Side 2 and you have a whole other trip.

And holy shit, how did I not appreciate Side 2 earlier? This is where the magic really blossoms. You've got the scandalous gospel-country tune "Sweet Virginia" with it's multiple drug references and the chorus of "got to scrape that shit right off your shoes." And then you have "Torn & Frayed," a Gram Parsons-inspired country rock tune. It might not rip like those first two songs on Exile, but as far as the melodic side of Stones goes, this is easily one of their best tunes ever. And that slide guitar solo? Fuckin' hell. How was this not a single? How is it not a classic rock staple?

From there we go into "Sweet Black Angel," a political country / world music mash-up in defense of the civil rights activist Angela Davis. And then we have "Loving Cup." Ya know, when you're a kid first hearing music from the '70s, you latch onto the John Bonhams and Bill Wards and Keith Moons---the drummers that just bash like madmen. Charlie Watts seems so boring in comparison. But listen closer and you realize that Charlie keeps the show going. He's not a show pony, but he holds the ramshackle band together with a simple, graceful groove. Wanna know why Charlie rules? Just listen to "Loving Cup." And hell, the drums aren't even the best part of the song.

If Exile ended there, I don't think it would've endured years / decades of derision. But there's still a whole other LP of music and it starts slipping into some strange territories. I could easily go track by track and explain what I love about each song, but I think the thing that's kept me coming back to Exile over and over again is the mystery, and maybe it's best to leave that mystery alone for the uninitiated. Like, why was the second single for the album one where Jagger doesn't even sing ("Happy")? What's even going on in "Just Wanna See His Face"? Why wouldn't they follow the ripping two opening tracks with the equally hair-raising "All Down The Line"? Why would they end the album on "Soul Survivor" after the apex of "Shine A Light"? Give it a listen and try to solve the puzzle yourself. It's worth the journey.

By now we all know that Exile was a record made at the peak of the Stones' debauchery and resulting consequences. And maybe on some level it sounds like a band barely holding it together. But it also sounds like a band where the creative peak overlapped with their most desperate times. It's a record that sounds like a party with its moments of elation, chaos, druggy haze, and inevitable comedown. It's a record with its faults, but the faults become part of its charm.

Nowadays, it's rare that I go more than a week at a time without listening to Exile. I have so many great memories listening to this record. It's picked me up when I'm down; it's made the mundane seem magical; it's made a sunny afternoon feel even sunnier. And somehow it still feels fresh and exciting and ecstatic and reflective every time I listen to it.

A perfect record? Absolutely not. But one of the best records ever made? Absolutely.

[plexiglassonion]

my fave revolver song mixes and versions (note that I listen to everything in Mono on spotify because stereo hurts my brain):

Taxman - Take 11

It's pretty much the same in many regards as the the end product, save for the little "anybody got a bit of money" backing vocals which I adore they're just so playful and I love how they vary from the rest of the song in terms of speed.

2. Eleanor Rigby - Remastered 2009

The reason I didn't pick the 2022 mix is because I did not like how... empty it felt. I feel the instrument and vocal cleaning up and isolation really removed a lot of the rich atmosphere from the song, which is extremely obvious in a song with verse instrumentation at the beginning that is very calm. The vocals feel worlds apart from the instruments too, like they're not occupying the same space. The 2009 remaster therefore is automatically the better one to me.

3. I'm Only Sleeping - 2022 Mix

Just some solid bass right there, makes it sound more hearty. Because the instrumentation is more busy and varied you cannot hear any of the cons you hear on the 2022 Eleanor Rigby.

4. Here, There And Everywhere - 2022 Mix

Again, the cleaning up is handled better here too. I do feel it does slightly over-do it, but it doesn't render it unlistenable to me. I am as fine with it as the original.

5. Yellow Submarine - Songwriting Work Tape / Part 2

I will admit: I am not the worlds biggest yellow submarine fan in the first place. It's fun, but I won't put it on unless I'm listening to the album all the way through. But this working version just... clicks better with me I think. The tempo being faster and the rhythm being a bit different does it wonders to me as a song. My favourite thing about it though is the additional chorus vocals though. "We all live in a yellow submarine- Look out! yellow submarine- get down!" guys why the FUCK did you remove them??!! they're just so damn fun and whimsical :(( .

6. She Said She Said - 2022 Mix

oi loike ringoes drooms :) 😎☮🌺 you can hear um so clearly.

7. Good Day Sunshine - 2022 Mix

I don't have much to say on this mix because I do not like relistening to this song too much because it is my morning alarm and the intro always instils me a feeling of dread for the oncoming day therefore.

8. And Your Bird Can Sing - 2022 Mix

It's just so crisp. so bright. The guitars absolutely kill it, they sound like biting into a fresh cold juicy apple.

9. For No One - 2022 Mix

Idk if it's just me but I feel like I can hear Paul's emotion in his delivery much more due to the clean up. His voice is front and centre without pushing back the instruments into another room like with Eleanor Rigby 2022.

10. I Want To Tell You - 2022 Mix

I also think that the clean up really does good to the drums and the vocals. it all seems a little brighter. Then again, I didn't really listen much to the 2009 version in the first place.

11. Got To Get You Into My Life - Second Version / Unnumbered Mix

I have feelings about this. I have many feelings. I never really gelled with the original 'Into My Life. It was mostly due to the structure of the song, where Paul builds up with this lovely melody with all these intensifying horns only for the chorus to be. one word. It just ends there. And while this version still has that, I feel the lack of horns lets you hear this sparse guitar instrumentation which grows and gets this interesting groove in the chorus that I feel is more worth it than the original chorus fanfare. The guitar work in this is also great to me I am a sucker for a good staccato guitar, and THE VOCALS. Paul sounds like he has more passions, and there are BACKING VOCALS. Now that I've heard them, it's so obvious they are missing from the original. However, my ideal version of this song is not just this take. It would combine this take with "Second Version / Take 8" where it's just the brass instrumentation which feels more exciting to me than the original version, and would combine it in a way where you would get the best of the horns and the best of the staccato guitar and also the b a c k i n g v o c a l s and also the interlude with the backing vocals.

12. Tomorrow Never Knows - 2022 Mix

good mix 👍 feels more weighty, which this should defo be.

[seariii]

Okay now Azulita and Saori!!

Of Saori I won't say much because I reaaaaaally wanna talk about her and show her story and everything like milgram intended but I'll say a little bit about her!!! This'll probably be shorter than the previous one!! (2/3)

(also lmao ship art I haven't shown before of Saori and Kotoko jsjsjsjsjsjs)

First Azulita!!!

So, she's my "official" online persona!!! That's why she's the face of my art account!! And will be the one I use on my YouTube channel when I finally move forward and start to make covers!!!

ACTUAL OFFICIAL CANON LORE she doesn't have any, because she's just online me, right?

Anyways, she is what I think you all perceive of me?? Which is why I was so surprised... She is happy, excitable, cheerful, loving, has a lot of energy and isn't afraid to show her feelings. She's a ray of sunshine and kinda dumb, ngl. She's the definition of "No thoughts head empty"

She loves sweaters!! And her favorite one has the colors of the rainbow!! She used to be insecure about her horns (she's a demon!!!), so she always used to wear a hat or flower crown or anything she could to cover them, but has slowly grown comfortable with them and now doesn't care about showing them!

So, truth be told, Azulita was originally a dsmp self insert. Anyways, angst, because she was part of the Eggpire

And now Saori!!!

Saori is my Milgram oc/self insert!! She was created both because of my hyperfixation with milgram and wanting to be a part of it aaaand to self ship with kotoko, because I'm gay <3

She's kind and friendly! She's cheerful and a people pleaser!! She gets embarrassed easily, loves to sing and tries to be a friend and a safe space to everyone in the prison! She cares a lot about the others, going out of her way to make sure they are okay and a lot of time putting their needs before her own.

She canonically gets guilty first trial (⁠.⁠ ⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠) either because people needed to "teach her a lesson" or because they saw the situation, identified with it and said "she's wrong" or "how could she ever do that. She's horrible" or "to her best friend? I hope she dies" so yeah the second option is most probable. I can also see it being a really close vote, but ending up guilty. Buuuut I can't say more because I really wanna try to do something with her!!! And see what people think and come up with!!!

I'm actually making the story board of her first trial song!! Her first trial song being Ghost City Tokyo!

She's My Melody and Kotoko is Kuromi <333

Also I swear, I promise I will draw the other version too! I was gonna make a set of drawings (the ones above) with Saori on a suit and Kotoko on a dress and another one with Kotoko on a suit and Saori on a dress...

OH RIGHT!!! I've told this fun fact about Saori's name to a couple people now!!! But that her name is similar to Seari is a complete coincidence!!!!

So, all of this girls are me and are called [irl name], sometimes referred to as Seari too because yeah, but to talk about them I always call them by their colors!! When milgram came around and I wanted to share Saori's stuff I had to come up with a name, becase till then she was just [irl name] or "my milgram girl".

Saori's name is actually her middle name, her first and last names are irl me's. (Lol) but Saori was really close to actually being MY irl name, my parents considered naming me that, and that's why I gave her that name. While the name Seari is a mix of my irl first and middle names.

seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!! seari inno!!

RABIES ILY (⁠´⁠；⁠ω⁠；⁠｀⁠) THANK U

Also have you heard about the Seari verse? It's just my self inserts/sonas/ocs(?). Well, the one who plays the warden role is Rosita

She's not proud of herself, but is happy people are having fun

[the-girl-who-cried-wolf]

Comedown - L.H.

5SOS Luke Hemmings fanfic

I've been listening to Luke's album on repeat lately, and thought up a little scene that i couldn't stop myself from writing. This one is somewhat inspired by Comedown, hence the title, but also a mix of other songs off the album too!! Enjoy reading <3

Background: dating someone famous always comes with worries and fears

Warnings: none (slightly sad-angst?)

Word Count: 1.2k

The late-night moon hung low over the city, its glow blending with the lights shining from below. A warm summer breeze drifted through the open window of the bedroom, rippling over the sheer curtains and flowing through the room.

The quiet hum of city reached through the fog of your dreams to gently tug you from sleep and you stirred in the sheets, reaching out for the body that should have been beside you. You hand was greeted by the cool rumpled sheets and a frown scrunched up your face as you looked around for your boyfriend.

His broad shoulders were silhouetted by the city lights soaking through in the window as he sat on the edge of the bed, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his legs, fingers fiddling with one of the rings on his fingers.

You shifted in the sheets and sat up, the noise making him turn his head at little. “Luke?”

“Hey. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” You waved off his concern, a little yawn escaping you.

He turned back to face the window, running a hand through his messy curls. Silence. Only the wind outside and the sound of a car horn in the distance. He was tense, that much was obvious, but this seemed…different. Like whatever was bothering him was more than just a bad dream or a simple worry to be brushed off.

“You okay, love?”

You shuffled over to sit beside him, feet brushing the cool floor and hands tucked under your legs, your arm pressed flush against his. You felt him lean into your warmth as the midnight air washed over you both now, a moment of silence lapsing before he spoke.

“I…I’m not sure,” he whispered, his gaze sinking from the twinkling city lights to the moonlight reflecting on the wooden floor. A hand subconsciously running over the stubble on his jaw as he took a moment to gather his words.

"I’ve been thinking, y/n," he shook his head a little and looked up at you. His stormy eyes were dark in this dim light, and his brows were drawn together to form a small crease between them. You thought about reaching out and smoothing it away with your hand.

“Thinking about us,” he continued.

A shiver ran through you, a spark of worry. “What do you mean…us?”

He stood suddenly, the warmth disappearing from your side, and began to pace back and forth. The worry in you was growing, raging through your gut now as he paced, running his hand over his jaw and through his hair again.

"Please, Luke. Talk to me." You voice sounded so quiet and weak as he paced and paced, and you couldn't even bring yourself to move.

He stopped at the window and looked out, the soft light settling on his features smoothly, highlighting the crease that knotted his brows together.

"Don't you hate it?" the barest of tremors shook his voice. "Don't you hate living in the spotlight?"

You bit your lip as you thought. There were only two real answers to that.

"Sometimes," you replied, unsure of where he was going with this, "but I have you."

You could see his eyes close for a moment, then he turned to pace back and forth once more.

"I'm not worth this," you shook your head in protest, even though he didn’t see it. He just continued talking as he moved, fingers now playing with another ring again. "No matter what we do, what you do, they will always be judging." He stopped at the window again, his bitter scowl turning out to face the sleeping city, making it clear who they were.

You had both seen the magazines and articles last week, the photos of you that were not flattering to say the least. And the accompanying headlines...you couldn't forget the way Luke had swore and cursed them all.

"You're better off without me."

"No." It came out a little sharper than you had intended, as you stood and walked over to stand in front of him. You gripped his hand to bring his attention back to you, but his eyes tracked the moonlight dancing over the floor. "No, I'm not better off without you, Luke. I can barely breathe when we're apart, how could I ever live without you?"

Tears began to blur your vision, but his eyes still stayed downcast. You needed him to understand.

"I knew what I was getting into when we started,” you voice had become a whisper, “I’m not quitting now, okay?"

You reached out a hand to cup his face, drawing his gaze back to yours. “Nothing else matters, as long as we’re happy, Luke. As long as you are. Are you happy, with me?”

“Of course, y/n, but that’s not the point. You deserve better than-“

“Do you love me?” the sudden question caught him of guard, his eyes finally meeting yours.

“What?”

“Do you love me?”

You searched his eyes for a response, but he squeezed them tightly shut for a moment, letting out a defeated breath before answering. “Yes! Of course I love you, y/n. I love you with everything I am- but- but love doesn’t make it all right.”

“No, love doesn’t make it all right, but it’s doesn’t have to. It just makes it worth it.”

You traced a hand traced along his arm as you spoke quietly. “I always knew that things might not be so easy…but I love you, Luke, and I want to be with you. All strings attached."

His ocean eyes met yours, full of wonder, and a single tear slipped out and left a trail down his cheek. You lifted a hand to cup his face and wipe it away with your thumb.

“I don’t deserve you.” The whisper fell from his lips as the smallest of smiles began to creep onto his face, despite the tears. You gently pulled his head down until his forehead was resting on yours.

“Funny,” you whispered back, “I was just about to say the same thing.”

A huff of a laugh escaped him, making your mouth curve into a smile as he leant forward to press a kiss to your lips, then another. His lips lingered on yours before he pulled back to look at you, drenched in moonlight, and happy to be in his arms.

“Thank you, y/n.” You watched the reflections of light sparkling and swirling in his eyes, and the corner of your mouth tugged up into a smile.

“What for?”

“For not leaving me alone.”

He leant in to kiss you once more, then wrapped his arms around your waist to pick you up and carried you the few steps back to bed. Your giggles faded as he laid you down and hovered over you on his arms, the curls of his hair falling down into place. You both stayed there for a moment, silently reading the stars in each other’s eyes, constellations of a map that would lead you both home - to one another.

This time when his lips met yours, it meant so much more. All the doubts and fears and insecurities, they were undeniably there, but so was the love, bringing with it the certainty that you were going to make it. Together.

Thanks for reading!!

[masterlist]