#oh schmood ?

[fervency-if]

Author, I was not kidding when I say I will start spreading this masterpiece to othe people because it's that good! 😤

My first victim is my friend and here are some compilations of her reactions that I think you would enjoy (I got her permission to send don't worry!) These are in no particular order.

We both went to the Metropolitan route and romanced Audrey, because we have the same superior taste in men 🤝🏻 and got shocked by how much horniness they got in their system 😭 So most of these are just gonna be Audrey thirsts.

Was committed to being a good person but then Audrey shows up and morality goes down the drain. Tsk tsk tsk.

He got us hook, line, and sinker and we don't know how to get out 😭

Our morals are basically non-existent at this route.

Showing signs of early ✨ codependency✨

Context for this is the one choice before all hell breaks lose in The First Feast where we can have a choice in eating/drinking him. And she got the jumpscare of her life. I avoided it in my playthrough and rightfully so 😌

Read that there was an achievement by turning him on during the first painting scene and we found it. And we were not surprised. He's just a little freak.

Not gore, not death, not murder, but hurting him is the only trigger warning we need.

Lastly,

That scene was just that good 😭💯

Question:

This is basically just a yes or no question, but will we get Vampire/Anemiac Hunters in the later parts of the game? Because it doesn't take a genius to connect one point to another that there's basically something strange happening in certain parts of the cities and towns. And our fav murderers aren't exactly discreet about their victims. I'm guessing shit will hit the fan later on and I'm so worried for these blood thirsty fiends 😭

Second, did MC grow up in the same town? Because chances are Audrey and then already met. If so, what first impressions did they have of each other? 🤔

That's all for today author, thank you for coming to my tedtalk, sorry for cluttering your asks again. Don't worry we will recruit more and more readers for you!

Oh dear, this was so much fun to read! I actually laughed/chuckled out loud several times reading this... Thank you for sharing, and a big thank you to your friend as well, who let you share this! I was thoroughly entertained, no doubt about it...

Aubrey definitely agrees - you do have a great taste in men, both of you. He approves with all his wicked little heart.

"And then things escalated quickly." Yes, that's often how it goes...

Naturally. Good person, schmood schmerson, along with morals schmorals, who needs that?

Aww, cannot leave him for long. That's the result he would wish for, so he is definitely satisfied with the outcome.

"Author is absolutely unhinged for this I salute" was one of those things that made me laugh out loud. Oh. Oh. Perhaps I am... But aah, indeed - I can imagine it being a bit of a jumpscare, haha! Poor soul - it's good that one can save and reload, at least!

"He's just a little freak" made me chuckle as well. He might be...

I have actually heard that before - the blood and gore? No problem. Hurting Aubrey? Oh, for shame!

Let's call it that. But seriously, haha, I'm glad that it was appreciated! "These two are horrible on their own," yes, that's legitimate. Ah, truly, you're both so funny, you and your friend.

Now, as for your questions:

There might be in some paths, yes... (In one upcoming path, the main character themselves will be able to be one, even.)

And when it comes to the main character; it's up to the reader if the main character was born in the village, or if they came there a bit later on - but they've lived there for a while, at least, and gotten a feel for it, so to speak. I imagine that Aubrey has been curious about the main character, and wished to get to know more about them/get to know them better - there is a certain interest from the start from his side. As for why they haven't gotten close yet as the game starts, that's up to you to decide. Perhaps they simply didn't get the chance, perhaps there were things in the way for one reason or the other, and so on - but at least Aubrey did feel intrigued by the main character in some way.

And thank you. Oh, and never apologise for cluttering my asks - I adore getting asks, so feel free to do just that any time you wish! 🫶

[marvelmaniac715]

Specifically for @lydiavalentino. This is the cast list that accompanies my Schmigadoon! Season Three pitch. I’ll include actors, character names and character descriptions so that you can get an idea of what I’m going for :).

Cecily Strong - Melissa Gimble:

Melissa is the same as she always is, kind, funny, a big fan of musicals, but the stress of parenting two hyperactive twins is starting to wear her out, and she’s less willing to join in with Schmigadoon shenanigans than usual, and she may yell at this season’s leprechaun when he eventually appears for putting her children in danger. Also, is a forbidden romance with a stranger who’s not so unfamiliar in the cards? Melissa is faithful to Josh, but old lovers and crushes have a certain way of getting to you…

Keegan-Micheal Key - Josh Skinner:

Again, Josh is the same as he always is, except he too is stressed out by raising twins and his teaching position, and he’s developed a much stronger interest in musicals that he, along with his wife, tries to pass down to his children. In my hypothetical third season, his reaction to the newest version of Schmigadoon (the ‘Schmoods’ and surrounding French district) is a lot like Melissa’s reaction to Schmigadoon in Season One, because this is the period of musicals he is most familiar with and he gets so excited whenever he spots a reference. Is he a cool dad? Well… he certainly has a thing or two to learn from a few Schmigadoonians, but he and his kids get along great (even if he is a little overprotective at times).

Dove Cameron - The Princess:

That isn’t a placeholder. That’s the character’s name. Think of Rapunzel from Into The Woods, but combine her with Cosette from Les Mis and Christine from Phantom of the Opera. She’s your typical ingenue at the start of the season, sheltered from the world by her adoptive mother (we’ll get to her) and dreaming of romance. But as the season progresses, she (with a little encouragement from Melissa) begins to break out of her shell and pursue romance with mysterious French Schmigadoonians (oh, the scandal of it all!).

Aaron Tveit - The Prince:

The Prince is a more villainous character, he falls in love with The Princess and is convinced that they are destined to be together (think of the two princes from Into The Woods with Marius from Les Mis levels of pining) and refuses to take no for an answer. This would be a sort of dark reimagining of Jenny and Topher’s romance from Season Two, and Melissa would point this out at one point (but nobody sees the comparison except for her). Does he find romance by the end? Perhaps, but that is yet to be decided.

Alan Cumming - The Wolf:

As you can see, a lot of character names are symbolic (a lot like Into The Woods). At the beginning of the season, Josh and Melissa are convinced that he’s the one who lured their children away (hey, they’ve seen Into The Woods and The Wolf looks VERY similar to the wolf that ate Little Red Riding Hood in that musical, they don’t want to take chances) but it’s a red herring, and the ‘sneaking around’ they catch him doing is merely to provide for his pup, Clawsette (Little Cosette from Les Mis, slightly inspired by the SNL Diner Lobster Sketch with the lobsters in terms of naming). His character will help to teach lessons about parenting to Josh and Melissa via a song, and the character may be French, with subtle references to Duly Blight and Mayor Menlove because of course there will be.

Kristen Chenoweth - The Witch:

What can I say? She’s the witch from Into The Woods, I just wanted to allow Dove Cameron and Kristen Chenoweth to play mother and daughter again. She would also teach Josh and Melissa about parenting in a VERY Children Will Listen inspired song.

Jane Krakowski: Leader:

Leader of the troupe of children that lures Josh and Melissa’s twins into the woods. She’s seemingly kind at first (she’s inspired by the Narrator from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat after all) but she soon reveals a sinister dark side reminiscent of Bill Sykes from Oliver, and she makes the children under her employ carry out her dirty work (crime such as theft).

Patrick Page - The Narrator:

The Narrator from Into The Woods, but more sinister. There’s a running gag where Josh and Melissa (big Into The Woods fans) continuously try to sacrifice him to whatever monster or rival is onscreen, thinking that that will help them to ‘reclaim their own stories’ like it did for the characters in Into The Woods. He gets more songs that show off his awesome deep voice, and he isn’t employed by the leprechauns. He’s their father. That would extend the parenting theme I’m trying to build and show the sometimes strained relationships between parents and children.

Martin Short - All Three Leprechauns:

He’s back as the leprechauns! This season’s new addition is Johnathan, a very Rent inspired character who may have a striped scarf. And yes, he would have a line paying homage to that show, such as ‘sorry my land isn’t as flashy as my brothers’, I’m struggling to pay rent’. It’s stupid, I know, but it brings me joy.

Tituss Burgess - Unsure:

I want him to be in this, but I’m not sure HOW. He’s a phenomenal actor though, so I want him to at least have a cameo as a French villager (Ratatouille the Musical, anyone?).

Fred Armisen - Unsure:

He’s in the same boat as Tituss for me, but I would perhaps cast him as Alan Cumming’s character’s ‘mate’ or something so that Layton x Menlove could live on in a way.

Ann Harada - Leader of the Rats:

Somebody had to do it. She’s basically Grizzabella from Cats as a rat, and when the characters help out in the final episode, she leads the charge. This is no slight against Ann Harada, she’s great, but I thought it would be fun if she could have a song (or a brief snippet of a song that keeps getting cut off as a running gag similar to ‘I’ll drink to that’ lady from last season) inspired by Memory from Cats.

Jaime Camil - The Phantom:

No prizes for guessing which 1980s musical inspired this character. Melissa has a big crush on the Phantom of the Opera, and she may have a brief romance with this character (Baker’s Wife from Into The Woods all over again) but she gets over herself and sets him up with The Princess, seeing her as a version of Christine, and that it would be the ultimate fan service to set the two up together in order to ‘fix the ending’ of Phantom.

Ariana Debose - Francine:

Fantine from Les Mis, but she doesn’t die. And she has a son unlike Fantine. (Mason, played by the boy who played Carson in Season One). She helps to teach parenting lessons due to her dedication to her son. By the end of the season, she may have a romance with The Princess, but I’m currently undecided.

The Twins - Casting Unclear:

The twins are about nine or ten, and they’re scrappy and adventurous. They love musicals like their parents, but because this is their coming of age story (Into The Woods, remember) they will go from naive to wise by the end of the season, after overthrowing a powerful dictator, of course…

[lalunanymph]

frothing at the mouth cause i just read the latest chapter of between love and ego (btw i literally did this without even realising it was a series I HONESTLY THOUGHT IT WAS A ONESHOT FIC AND WAS SO CONFUSED WHEN I DIDNT HAVE CONTEXT TO SOME THINGS) and like. oh my goddddd i need rin to DOOOOOO SOMETHING BROOOOO U CANT LOSE TO SAE AGAIN COMEEE ONNNNNNNNNNN

frothing at the mouth what a schmood !! 🥹🫶🏻 honestly rin needs to do something about it too and UR RIGHT HE CANT LOSE TO SAE AGAIN CMON BBY </333

[fakeblack]

me, trying to figure out where j is in the alphabet: a b c d e f g.. a b c d e f g... a b c d e f g... also. dussy

[bloom-louis]

me: I'd be hella cute if I lost some weight

me: fuck that I'm hella cute already

me: ok but really tho

[haknew]

could you gif Eric in the breaking dawn jacket shoot? i know he doesn't have a lot of screen time but he looked sooo good :(

I AGREEEEE ANON and of course ^^ ! ask and you shall receive heh  here !   hope you like it :)) !

[tteokdoroki]

i feel awful. being sick is always bad, especially for me since i only get sick maybe once a year. i just want to curl up in bed with my plushies but nooo, i just have to do my school work

it’s an atrocity, i tell you, an absolute atrocity

i’m pretty sure the universe has some vendetta against me. first, the only ppl i’m attracted to are celebrities/fictional characters (aka ppl i’ll never be with). then, it gets me sick at the time i’m trying to be very productive

i’m in a very needy and whining mood at the moment :(

- 🍯

oh my poor honey love :(( im the same and it’s absolutely awful. i don’t know what you’re sick with but try drinking some lemon, ginger, honey and hot water !! it usually clears me right out but you’ll have to have a few cups!! it’s gross but adding garlic can also help <3 take breaks and stay hydrated !! esp if you’re not up to eating

what a schmood, im sure itll get better tho love <33

[smokingtomas]

So how do you picture Soma and Erina confessing their feelings base on the manga !? I'm still salty how it went and just here to satisfy my cravings. Lol

Warning: Trust me, this could be the (NSFW) ending you prefer. ;)

A Silent Conversation

It startled her when Soma pulled her arm to the side between the crowd of their friends just to say, “You’re staying for sake later, right?”

But what surprised her even more was her mouth slightly gaping and stuttered, “Oh, um, sure.”

So it happened just as it was planned– when all their friends are leaving, she waved them goodbye. Alice apparently decided to get out the door last just to grab her arm and whisper something that wasn’t on Erina’s mind.

“Good luck, Erina. And by luck, I mean you’re so gonna get a good load of it.”

This girl just knew how to embarrass her. “Goodbye, Alice!”

Nothing interesting occurred from the point she shut the door behind Alice. Not even when he swept the floor as she helped him wash the dishes. 

Erina kept thinking that Alice didn’t know what she was talking about. That her assumption was nothing but a mere tease in an orderly Alice fashion. Good luck, schmood luck– the girl had even managed to dodge his questions regarding the dish he served her. Thanks to her friends who fought to get a spoonful of his–

“Yo, Nakiri,” Soma’s touch on her shoulder jerked her out, “Ready for that sake?”

“R-Right, I’ll just have to wash this pan.”

“Nah, it’s alright. Leave it and sit here.” He said, opening up a bar chair for her.

She glanced at where he rest himself, just him casually filling her glass with sake. Just before she turned back, Soma looked up and chuckled.

“Cmon, what’re ya waiting for? This good sake ain’t gonna drink itself!”

With that, she set the pan aside. “Very well.”

The clinking of their glasses followed by the word kanpai had turned into a few more pours, episodes of travel stories, a series of laughs, and were spiced with some unapologetic grazes on arms and thighs. 

Both of them had realized how rare these kinds of moments are. Where they were alone in a room and only their voices echoed. Where Erina would start to notice new things each time he came back from his months of travel.

The corners of his eyes that crinkled when he laughed too loudly, or the recent knife cuts on his callous fingers, or that strong arm that reached through her to tuck a piece of her blonde locks behind her ear.

And how it never failed to heat her cheeks.

“Wow, your hair is really, really short now.” He pointed out.

“Long hair is tedious to take care of.” Erina brushed the back of her hair, “Do you not like it?”

“You kidding? I love it. Makes you ten times hotter.”

Now, this is an example where you need to stay cool, Erina. “Flattery and flirty remarks won’t change how I think of your dish, Yukihira-kun.”

He laughed at her remark, “We’ll get back to that, but I’m serious. You’re beautiful in long hair, and hot in short.”

“Well, if you start using proper hair products, I’m sure you would… not look half bad.” She hesitated.

“I’d take it as a compliment. Cheers.”

Once again, they took another shot.

“So how long will you stay this time?” Erina asked.

“Uhm… a while, I think. Haven’t booked a ticket anywhere in the near future, so I’ll just be here in Yukihira. Updating the menu and serving ‘em to our regulars.”

She couldn’t help the release of her long breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, but it was no secret that she acknowledged the relieve.

“I see.” She took a sip from her glass.

“Aren’t ya gonna ask why?”

“Yukihira, you just said you wanted to update the diner’s menu.”

“Technically, that’s what I’d be doing in the time being.” Soma corrected, “Go ahead, ask me why I’m staying.”

“Ugh, fine.” Erina rolled her eyes, “Why do you plan on staying so long?”

“‘Cause I miss cooking for you.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Y-You do?” Then as if something jolted her, she shook her head, “I-I mean, hmpf. It’s always cooking with you. Isn’t there anything else you want to say to me?”

He slowly cocked his head forward. “Like… how I know you’re looking forward to eat my cooking too?”

My God, he hadn’t changed. “No! It’s– ugh, nevermind.”

He laughed once again. Damn, those crinkles making him look cute.

“Cmon, Nakiri. Y'know how I feel about you.” Soma ruffled her hair. “You already forgot that hell of a kiss before I left the last time?”

Of course she hadn’t. It had intoxicated her brain and left her sleepless for a week.

She remembered said moment as if it was photographed. 

He’d placed his palms on her cheeks and pressed his lips gently against her. When he’d deepen his movement, it was silence. There were no passerby with luggage, no crooked voice announcing it was his flight’s last call, or the thought of him leaving her again for months.

Even just thinking about it, that tingling sensation on her lips and butterflies in her stomach came back.

Wait a second– she did know how he felt. Yes, he kissed her well, alright. 

Was it her that hadn’t said or did anything?

“No, Yukihira. I remembered well.” Erina finally said, “But do tell me if what’s coming is better.”

It might be the alcohol taking charge, or it could be her plain desire, but as she lifted herself from the chair and grab his cheek, her body wasn’t aware that her lips were already on his.

Yes, she was trembling. Yes, her heart was jumping out of her chest. But none of it mattered when the feeling from that autumn came rushing down like a waterfall. Lips were as soft as she remembered and she wouldn’t know what to do if he’d kissed her back at this moment.

So before he had the chance, she pulled away and opened her eyes slowly, revealing how he’d been mimicking her movements.

She gulped, wiping her lips as she rose completely and headed through the door, “Goodnight, Yukihira.”

In her mind, saying that goodnight meant she’d rather go home and overthinking what just happened, or even worse, what could have happened if she’d stayed.

But a good grip on her arm stopped her from taking another step.

“Y’know it’s rude to kiss a guy like that and walk away, right?”

Soma’s voice was an invitation and her soul would want to be an attendee. All it took was another step from him and a good pull of her waist back into his arms, drowning into that deeply familiar kiss that swept her feet away.

The feeling was welcomed with her lips’ slow dance, reciprocating the gentle brushes he kept on gifting, and she didn’t mind his fingers that crept up through her back to finally end up tangling her short blonde locks. 

To her, it wasn’t just about the growing heat, or that tongue of his that had started invading her mouth making her gasp for air, it was also their buried feelings– the newfound emotions she only recognized ten years after a pair of golden eyes started haunting her dreams.

So when Soma got hold of both her legs around him, she let him lift her off the ground and hooked her arms behind his neck.

The dance continued as soon as Erina was rested on one of the dining tables, but it was cut short and the sensation had moved to the junction of her shoulder. A small whimper escaped her, but the urge to remove his white t-shirt was bigger.

As his top flew across the room, she didn’t have much chance to admire his physique. Even in the split second he undid her blouse, she knew he’d spared some time to work out.

His lips never left hers. His hands wouldn’t stop grazing her exposed thighs. And she found it hard to hold back her sweet noises when they left to roam around, touching and nibbling on her other sensitive flesh.

That was before he suddenly lifted a knee to hover over her. Ragged breath fanned over her like a tempting sin.

“Nakiri,” He whispered, “Should I stop?”

She shook her head quickly before pulling him in for another kiss. It quickly turned into a blur when she found him buckling his fingers to the hem of her skirt.

He looked up to her for confirmation, and when she responded with a nod, he slowly pulled every single fabric covering her most sensitive areas before landing his lips back on hers.

Erina’s head rested on the table’s hard wood and she was weak. Her knees had been trembling, and it trembled more when his fingertips gently tease her inner thighs. She didn’t react when she felt his lip dropped. All she squirmed to was the feeling of his digits, finding that spot that felt too eager for him.

Moans after moans went into his mouth. Mirroring the rhythm he set was her arched back that continuously bucked at his thumb. He’d kiss her at times to suppress her noises, but he’d be the only one to end up groaning. She knew he enjoyed sketching away his feelings this way– in a delicious, circular motion. And the harder his finger pushed, the louder her moans had gotten.

And when she was on the edge, he stopped and fished his wallet.

“Wh-Why did you stop?” She panted, obviously disappointed.

“Condom,” He told her, “No way I’d leave you like that.”

She smiled and rose up to help him free, watching with anticipation as he rolled the rubber on himself.

It didn’t take long for him to finally dipped inside her, colliding their warm skin that melted into one. He kissed her goosebumps, before kissing her lips once again. He tasted so sweet even when it was only their breaths that meld, and she couldn’t stop the crave her god tongue desired.

She never understood the words she wanted to say to him because what she felt was deeper than its surface. It had been eating her alive, and she’d die if he’d never known of it.

With that feeling, with every thrust he stroked, gentle or rough, she pulled him deep. Maybe the only way he’d acknowledge it was only by the desperate moans of her lungs whispering his name in his ear. He’d know these voices, the peak she had reached, only belonged to him.

This was that silence conversation: where only their bodies spoke, and their heart listened.

And as he hushed and cursed her name repeatedly, his throbbing strengthened, that was where she knew he felt the same.

//

“Yukihira,” Erina mumbled as he zipped up her top, “It was good.”

He chuckled, kissing her shoulder, “Are you talking about my cooking or the sex?“

“I’ll let you figure it out.” She said, "Thank you for today, Yukihira.”

“Pleasure’s all mine,” Soma responded.

He held her in his arms for what felt like a long time. Long enough for her to notice and not minding the seafood smell intact on his t-shirt. All she felt was that warm embrace she had missed.

“Sweet dreams, Yukihira-kun.” She pulled away and gave his cheek a peck.

“Wait, Nakiri. You’re leaving?”

“W-Well, it’s 2 am. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your rests.”

“Oh…” He said dejectedly.

Strange– she’d never heard that tone before, “Wh-Why? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t you… wanna stay? I mean, you just had a drink and it ain’t good to drive after all that sake you just drank, y'know.” Soma persuaded. “And I got a great breakfast recipe I’d make ya in the morning! What a deal, eh?”

“Yukihira, I have my driver waiting for me. I’d just have to give him a call.”

“Aight. Then stay for me.”

She blushed.

“E-Eh?”

“Don’t go, Nakiri.” He pulled her into another embrace, “Stay for a little while, will ya?”

“For how long?”

He paused and caressed her hair.

“If I say forever, would you do it?”

Erina swore her heart was about to burst. It was the first time he spoke something somewhat heartfelt. No food. No recipes. Just him as a man, showing his vulnerable side.

She knew she needed to say no more– she knew he meant it.

“I… suppose I can arrange that.”

A/N: YEAAAA so I haven’t written this kind of thing in a pretty long time so… feedback would be greatly appreciated :) and the only non-anon in the bunch @lisa786786, hope this helps and good luck if you decided to create it!

[transvavsquad]

Tbh Id kill for a doodle of a cuddle pile/dog pile of the gang with with cat!ianite ontop 💜

oh schmood

[queenscene2]

Ace Attorney but its The Office

Oh and thats me on the far right hugging Apollo cause hes my soulmate heehee

Klavier hiding behind the shield is a SCHMOOD

Edit: here's the colored version!

[taste-in-music]

It’s been four years, so let’s talk about LOVE + FEAR!

MARINA dropped the diamonds and came back swinging with her fourth studio album, a two part experience built around the concept that all positive emotions stem from LOVE and all negative emotions stem from FEAR. Up until this point, I’ve heard the LOVE side of the album, but I thought that I would give my thoughts on each song on the record, as well as my overall consensus. There are sixteen songs, so sit back, grab a snack, listen along to the album with me if you want, and let’s dive right in. 

LOVE

Handmade Heaven

I 👀 ENVY 😑 THE BIRDS 🦅, HIGH UP IN THE 🌲 TREES 😊

I’ve talked before about how much I love this song, so I’ll try not to say to much 

the production on this song is so lush, with the trilling flutes, pianos, gently tapping cymbals, and explosion at the chorus. this song just feels so grand and larger than life. we stan this production

this is definitely one of the strongest tracks on the album, if not the strongest

Superstar

I’m not going to lie, this isn’t one of my favorite tracks. I think the lyrics are kind of flat (despite this song having four writers,) and the production just doesn’t do that much for me

however, I do like the sparkly and fun drop, and, as always, MARINA’s vocals

Orange Trees

I’m just in love with those “🍊𝓸𝕆𝖔๏ⓞ𝓸𝕆𝖔๏range 𝓸𝕆𝖔๏ⓞ𝓸𝕆𝖔๏range🍊” riffs

this is definitely a bop. it makes me want to sprawl out on a beach so damn badly

I can see this song getting giant this summer. I hope it does, it’s the kind of song we need on the radio right now

this song makes me want to jet set to Greece

Baby ft. Clean Bandit & Luis Fonsi

you know what? some people I’ve seen in the MARINA fandom don’t like this song because they think it’s “basic” or “too mainstream,” but I don’t mind it at all

Clean Bandit’s production is sharp as hell here, the Latin influences like the guitar and beat in the instrumental help it stand out from the rest of MARINA’s discography and also make me want to dance. I don’t mind Fonsi’s presence either, I think he and MARINA have pretty good vocal chemistry

especially that chrous! say it doesn’t slap, I dare you

I can understand the critique that this song doesn’t really fit in the with the flow of the album, I don’t mind its presence here. if anything, it’s a refreshing switch up 

Enjoy Your Life

this does work as a song to listen to if you just need to feel better

I don’t know if this was intentional, but the way the lyrics are written kind of make it seem like the song’s message is to just sit back and enjoy your life despite anything wrong that might be going on. I get what this is trying to communicate, but you don’t necessarily have to “sit back and enjoy your problems” and “might as well accept” your lot if you’re unhappy. you just have to be proactive and work to fix whatever it is you’re unhappy with. I don’t believe MARINA is saying that you should be passive and just let anything happen to you, I just think this song would hit a little harder if it mentioned how you can go about improving and enjoying your life 

True

the chorus of this song low key goes hard as fuck, it’s so damn catchy

nothing much else to say about this song

To Be Human

the imagery in these lyrics really elevate this song. little details like the “gold leaf” on the buildings, “Lenin's body lying dead" in the Red Square, and the village “where [her] father’s from” are just beautiful.

more great lines! “the missiles and the bombs sound like symphonies gone wrong,” “and if there is a god, they will know why it’s so hard to be human”

“Savages” may have been MARINA roasting humanity, but this song is her appreciating it. while this song might not have quite the biting, poetic wit of “Savages,” it still has some of the sharpest writing on this album

End Of The Earth

that vocal processing at the start of the song might only last a handful of seconds, but I really like it

also, those dark synths are great

this song has a more entrancing atmosphere, and works as an interesting transition track from LOVE to FEAR

FEAR

Believe In Love

the synthy bassline at the start of this song is giving me major Grimes vibes

the restrained and almost whispered vocal delivery is a nice change of pace form the LOVE portion of the album, but some of the vocal processing messes with MARINA’s rich tone and it’s kind of annoying. just let her sing, she has a great voice!

I love how the lyrics of the songs link together the themes of love and fear, like the final line in the chorus: “losing you is what I'm afraid of, I need to believe in love” 

Life Is Strange

yesss, violins! and tambourine?

we’re dipping back into those sweeping themes of humanity and human nature, like on To Be Human and Savages

“is it ever gonna be enough to love another and be loved?” IS THAT A MOWGLI’S ROAD REFERENCE I HEAR??! cuckoo bitches! (I guess she really does envy the birds high up in the trees)

“seems like everybody's having the best time of their lives but we don't know what's going on at any given time” is a big fat schmood

still, I wish the lyrics went more in depth here, like there were more specific details or music on why things are the way that they are

You

I’m sensing another tropical beat here

this is a real treat if you’re listening with headphones. that vocal warping on the “you”s in the background are fun

I wish that this drop had more oomph to it. it feels kind of like an anti-climax

the flowing feel of this song is nice. if I had one word to describe this song it would be “nice.” it’s not too over the top or surprising but I don’t hate it either

Karma

some more Latin-y guitars like the ones on Baby, as well as some hi-hats? I’m excited to see how this song builds

this song is giving me flashbacks to The Family Jewels with the “oh my god” and Electra Heart with the “heartbreaker” name drop. 

something about those “doubt doubt doubts” remind me of the DJ Snake remix of “You Know You Like It” by AlunaGeorge. on that note, what the heck ever happened to AlunaGeorge?

this song is very melodically satisfying, especially the chorus, but I still can’t help but feel like this song is missing something. maybe harder-hitting percussion? some bass? I can’t quite put my finger on it

I still like that there’s some more sass on this track, with the vocal delivery and in the lyrics

Emotional Machine

everyone’s been shitting their pants over this song, so I’m excited to hear it for the first time

that “I’m a ,-*'^'~*-.,_,.-*~ må¢hᵢïᶦᶦᶦᶦᶦᶦᶦᶦiᵢñê,-*'^'~*-.,_,.-*~ ” really threw me for a loop and it’s fucking great there’s that MARINA weirdness I know and love!

Too Afraid

I don’t really have anything to say about this song. it’s fine, but there isn’t anything that special about it

the lyrics are kind of relatable, at least. with the idea of being afraid to open up in a relationship and be vulnerable

No More Suckers

everyone has also been shitting their pants over this song, but in a less enthusiastic way than with “Emotional Machine.” let’s pray this is an underrated bop

I like those peppering piano notes in the background, it’s very summery and fun

the instrumental reminds me of “Cheap Thrills” by Sia a little bit?

“you eat all of my food” and “you mess up all my towels” made me laugh out loud. are these suckers just really bad house guests? it kind of plunges so far into the valley of ridiculous that it rebounds back to being great

at least there’s a bit more sass and personality on this track

I don’t see why people dislike this. it’s about on par with the other songs on the album so far, at least for me

Soft To Be Strong

her vocals on this track are so lovely and delicate

“I choose to love you without fear, no shame in being sincere” is a really good lyric, I appreciate its sentiment 

the way the production builds up near the end allows the song to gain more momentum, especially with those echoing background vocals and prominent drums. there’s some of that oomph I was looking for 

My Thoughts Summarized: I’m all for artists evolving with their sound. Of course somebody who has been in the game as song as MARINA is going to sound different now then when she did back in 2010 with The Family Jewels when she was in her early twenties, and she has every right in the world to make the music that she wants to and that makes her happy. But something about a majority of the songs on this album don’t invoke the enthusiasm that I have for songs of hers on other albums. One of the qualities of MARINA’s that I especially admire is her strong lyricism, and the lyrics on some of these songs just fell a little flat for me, not going into detail or being clever with their wordplay. Along with that, the production on all the songs never really goes there, if you know what I mean. I was expecting a little bit more experimentation or change-ups in sound as the album progressed, and I didn’t really get that. As always, MARINA’s vocals are great throughout the entirety of the album. I just love how complex and unique her voice is, and I’m convinced she could sing “Happy Birthday” and have it sound amazing. To me, the best tracks are Handmade Heaven and To Be Human, which showcase strong writing and grander-scale production.

slay goddess aslhldghsdklgda 

Overall, LOVE + FEAR is a pretty standard pop album. It’s not my personal favorite in MARINA’s discography, but there are some standout tracks and moments that will stick with you after every listen. What did you think of LOVE + FEAR? Agree or disagree? Comment or reblog with your thoughts, I’m excited to hear what you think.

[mega-taiga]

God I wish could build good

Oh schmood

[le-lex]

signs that can....

bullshit an essay in a day but can't do maths: taurus, cancer, leo, libra, sagittarius, pisces

do maths problems in 5 mins, but can't write an essay for shit: aries, gemini, virgo, scorpio, capricorn, aquarius

[gloombean]

i’m afraid of the dark depths of spiraling failure beyond my years as everything 50-60 years from now is all dependent on how i do in the first 20-some years of my life. also rails, for some reason i’m afraid of railing.

oh abi babi... this a big SCHMOOD but i know we got this!! if we don’t we can just take all our savings, move out and live somewhere in japan and work at a cafe or something for the rest of our lives adkgjsf

[camillusion]

oh schmood