#prepare for despair

[foxxear]

14 of my all time favorite albums, because this is my blog.

I like a lot of albums quite a bit, but there aren't a huge amount that become an utmost favorite, in the sense that I really like pretty much every song on it. Many artists have released an album's worth of songs I love, but not quite on a single release. We're going to look at who has pulled it off, and a bit of how.

^ Badfinger - "Straight Up" (1971)

This is my all time favorite "classic rock" album. It's just good. Every song is so listenable, memorable, and generally well constructed. The production is also unusually punchy and high-fidelity for something well over 50 years old. The collective songwriting ability and musicianship on display here has always been very personally inspiring, and many of these tracks are rather special to me. Sometimes one of the songs will make me just weep so good.

This band and all of it's members are rather underrated/unknown amongst the artists of their era. Their career is a shockingly tragic tale of severe mistreatment by the selfish, and that is probably the only reason you may not have heard of them. Seriously. These guys deserved so, so much better. In a different reality, this record is as famous as anything.

Favorite Tracks: "Baby Blue", "Take It All", "It's Over", "Day After Day", "Sometimes", "Flying"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Come And Get It", "No Matter What"

^ Paramore - "Riot!" (2007)

Probably my favorite "pop punk" or "emo" record of all time. The material is energetic and hard hitting, with lovely contrast provided by gentler sections, and the production quality is just excellent. Perhaps too excellent for some, because I see people acting like this is just some pop record, not to be confused with a "real band" playing "authentic" material.

Paramore here is as authentic as the next garage band... it's just that they happen to sound good, too. Confusing, I know.

The guitars rip, the drums pound, and the vocals bring delightful musicality & power. I've studied this album a lot to develop much of my own musical style. This thing is also named perfectly — This is definitely music to riot to. Listen to it when you're pissed off.

Favorite Tracks: "For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic", "That's What You Get", "Hallelujah", "Misery Business", "Born For This"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "All I Wanted", "This Is Why", “Careful”

^ Point North - "Prepare For Despair" (2023)

Certainly the newest band in my favorites, Point North is on repeat for me a lot these days. They started out rather "pop punk", and have have been leaning "heavier" with the release of this album. I'm all for it, this thing sounds amazing.

The production is top notch by any standard, and so many of the songs simply sound cool as hell. Jon Lundin's singing is exceptional, and I like many elements of his lyricism. Sage Weeber's drum parts strengthen everything further — He has strong technique, and the crucial ability to walk the line between tasteful and technical. The guitar work deserves similar praise, and it's turned up enough that you can actually hear it. Thanks, Jon.

A few electronic "additional production sounds" pop up on this album, which I can be pretty picky about on "band music", but it's done tastefully enough here for me. This is a great no-skip record, and overall, very inspirational for my own debut album.

Favorite Tracks: "Psycho", "Like A Weapon", "Recover", "Someone" You Don't Know", "Social Suicide"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Heartbeat", "Nice Now", "Gasoline", "Dearly Departed"

^ Set It Off - "Midnight" (2018)

Maybe the closest thing to a "pop" album in my utmost favorites, which kinda makes it refreshing. Ironically, Set It Off is a band with emo/scene roots, whom I have seen live a few times. They put on a great show. Naturally, this album brings some punky aggression and passion to the songwriting, but I feel like it's done in a way a lot of people would enjoy. These guys just know how to write memorable tunes, and they blend that with a lot of wonderful & mature messages in the lyrics here. Some of it may surprise you to hear, in a good way.

I am very fond of this record, along with my memories from back when it came out. I think I actually prefer listening to the band's very latest material now, with more heavy guitar work, but I firmly believe this is a really solid album. I'd listen to it any day.

Favorite Tracks: "Hourglass", "Happy All The Time", "Lonely Dance", "Killer In The Mirror", "I Want You (Gone)"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Punching Bag", "Wolf In Sheep's Clothing", "Skeleton", "Evil People"

^ Led Zeppelin - "Led Zeppelin" (1969)

I like a LOT of Loop Zoop records, I used to listen to them all the time. I love the grooving songwriting, musicianship, and creativity. I like this album (and much of the early material) for the "blues" appeal. I don't exactly have a deep passion for the blues, or jazz, but I kinda get really into that stuff when it comes on regardless. Don't play this album near me or I'll start talking about "swing" and "feel".

I'm also pretty sure these guys would get cancelled now, like most people in 1969, but I'm not gonna pretend I don't enjoy the sounds of a 55 year old album from my childhood over that. I wish people were better, though

Favorite tracks: "Good Times, Bad Times", "Communication Breakdown", "Dazed And Confused", "I Can't Quit You Baby", "How Many More Times"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: Too many

^ Sueco - “It Was Fun While It Lasted” (2022)

This guy’s debut album was hugely inspirational to me as an artist, in the way that it seems completely unbothered about unity through genre. This album is a collection of songs that, on their own, would arguably be categorized as completely separate genres from one another. Some of the tracks are fully "pop punk", some are entirely "hip hop", some are kinda "emo", and some blur the lines.

You’d think such a track list would feel like a disjoint playlist, instead of an album, but no. Ultimately, the collected songs STILL reveal consistencies in the artist’s personal taste/style overall… perhaps more comprehensively than if he were conforming to the same style concept on every song. The album's sound is unified by the artist's taste, not a restrictive concept, and this makes it sound very him. I like that a lot. Most newer records I listen to deserve similar praise, but it is perhaps most strongly applicable here.

The album drips with authentic enthusiasm and inspiration in everything it does, and the resulting material is very strong. Strong enough that I'm willing to disregard some lyrics that I really do not resonate with, along with the cover image being very "graphic design is my passion". Maybe it looks cool to people from LA, I dunno

Favorite Tracks: "Today", "Loser", "Paralyzed", "It's Going Good", "Toxic Therapy, "Motel 666"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Wreck", "novacane:)", "Wanna Feel Something"

^ First four Ramones albums (1976-1978)

These are my all time favorite albums, and they might as well be a packaged set. Despite having their own unique nuances, they were all recorded within a span of two years, and produced by the band's original drummer, who left the group after these were done. They represent the original Ramones' sound, which many would call the genesis of true "punk" music.

I can say more about these than I could ever summarize, but know that they simply never left my regular listening rotation after my early teens. This band captured something special which fascinates me to this day. Their sound, their look, their philosophy... it pushed many important things forward with genuine innovation, and offered a much needed reminder in the mid 70s that "virtuoso guitar playing" is not the only way to make "rock" worth hearing.

Seriously, these guys changed music, inspiring countless artists in countless genres. Many have taken a handful of the ideas presented here into their own work, and perhaps evolved them, or even taken them to greater heights, but nobody has ever done precisely what the Ramones coalesced. And you know what? Nobody else needs to. This band already existed, and these records are always waiting to be played. RIP Ramones, and thank you.

Favorite Tracks: All of them.

^ Bad Drugs - "Old Men, Young Blood" (2014)

You wanna talk about underrated? THIS is an underrated punk album, from an obscure German band. Fantastic musicianship on display here, with exciting songwriting and well-sung lyrics that range from impactful to hilarious. The playing and production is coarse in all the right ways, blending punk and grunge sounds into something aggressive, fun, and perhaps thought provoking?

If a wise old sage released a punk album, I suppose this might be it. You ever heard the phrase "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"? Well. These guys say some important things VERY simply. One such lyric confidently states "Life is about the people, and the world, and how we treat them". It blows by, sung only once, but damn... they're kinda right, aren't they? They say such things like it's all so obvious, and in that moment, you believe it is. This album lets you live in a world of bold yet sensible people at times, not the one we're actually in.

Favorite Tracks: "We Are F*cked (Not)", "This Will Kill Me", "Your RAMONES Coverband Sucks", "Oh My My My", "Superheropower", "You Got The Answer", "Hold On"

^ The Strypes - "Little Victories" (2014)

Dude, my brother and I were vibing with this album when it dropped. "Get Into It"? I think I will. The Strypes were a very blues-influenced "alternative rock" band, and they were like, teenagers. This particular album represents them finding a bit more of their own sound, a bit darker and more versatile than their debut.

I love this record. It's just some kids rocking out, with pretty clear themes of adolescence, and a lot of really catchy melodies. Sadly, the Strypes split up after the album following this one, due to typical creative difference issues. A shame, because they were onto something. They should have stayed into it.

Favorite Tracks: "Get Into It", "Eighty-Four", "(I Wanna Be Your) Everyday)", "Three Streets And A Village Green", "Scumbag City"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Blue Collar Jane", "What A Shame", "Hometown Girls", "Angel Eyes"

^ Weezer - "Weezer" (1994)

The blue album

Favorite Tracks: "Buddy Holly", "Undone - The Sweater Song", "Say It Ain't So", "Holiday"

Bonus Favorites from the artist: "Pork And Beans", "The End Of The Game", "Beginning of the End", "Back To The Shack"

^ The Muffs - "Whoop Dee Doo" (2014)

This is such a cool record. The music/production doesn't sound "modern", but it is crisp, thick, and high-fidelity... and the songwriting is so good. Aggressive, hooky, fun, & authentic. If you like the Ramones, The Clash... just the CLASSIC "punk" sound, this album has you covered. I was pretty ecstatic when I just stumbled onto this one.

It is also one of the final releases by The Muffs, a band from the 1990s that made a comeback in the 2010s. Tragically, their lead singer/guitarist Kim Shattuck died in 2019 after a two year battle with ALS, but her incredible work writing, performing on, and producing this album will live on. RIP Kim, you were really cool.

Favorite Tracks: "Weird Boy Next Door", "Up and Down Around", "Where Did I Go Wrong", "Forget the Day", "Like You Don't See Me", "Paint by Numbers"

Bonus Favorite from the artist: "You Can Cry If You Want"

[doyoulikethisemoband]

[grapecherry]

The Tragedy of David Chiem & Arei Nageishi: A Comparative Analysis

the absolute Tragedy of arei meeting the exact fate she feared for eden. david reprimanding arei for having a gentler worldview that he is responsible for fostering — one she reprimanded eden for having.

the Tragedy of arei using cruelty to protect eden and david using kindness to disarm arei. arei who hated seeing the hurt her efforts yielded for others’ benefit and david who relished in seeing the relief his efforts yielded for his own benefit.

the Tragedy of realizing david lives by arei’s sentiment and echoes her behavior. they’re both willing to be hated for what they see as the greater good of those they deem Good.

david deemed xander as his Good.

arei deemed eden as her Good.

and they were ready to change everything they had grown to be for them — to do anything. to feel Worthy of them.

and yet, we’re once again faced with the Tragedy of those influences having been separated before either could begin to truly trust the existence of unconditional love and opportunity to be kind.

but like I’m normal about it.

[kaitobromota]

I've been thinking about the Future Foundation watching the events of Jabberwock Island lately.

This is specifically meant to be the first murder. I imagine no matter Byakuya's actual feelings on the imposter, seeing someone who looks like you get murdered is pretty jarring.

[kadextra]

Idc who you main the POV of, I’m so serious that anybody who likes watching qsmp, likes the eggs, needs to watch the Funeral Preparations Badboyhalo stream. see all of the recent ones starting with Sweet Despair too if you can!!! and catch the next one live!!

These are never-before-seen amazing QSMP lore experiences. with beautiful heartbreaking acting and EGG POVS, where the eggs are the sole protagonists of a whole stream outside of their parents- it’s an idea that used to only exist in our distant wishes before. He is literally doing it right now while his character is gone, doing rp as his own ghostly canonical chat. Funeral Preparations spotlighted 9 eggs for a whole day :D

Idk if I can put into words how much I adore these past few streams omg, so if you haven’t yet please watch. You really don’t want to miss out on this, it’s something incredible here

To those of you who are watching! Be sure to share them! Talk about them as much as possible. We need to praise the acting, camerawork, creativity of bbh, and of course cheer the egg admins for their amazing performances <3

[goldkirk]

hey this isn’t aimed at anyone in particular but I’m saying it for the record here: if I tell you no, please stop messaging me about fundraisers and mutual aid.

I get enough messages that it’s impossible for me to keep up without devoting at least half an hour each day, when I’m not even on tumblr that long most days. Me having a boundary about this isn’t a moral failing, it’s a lifeboat for me on my own blog.

In my personal life I’m already advocating and donating literally as much as I can spare. This is not me not caring, it’s just me not willing to interact with that on the one place I go online to not interact with irl news and world events for the most part.

I cannot be upset all the time. I cannot be upset everywhere. I cannot use all my emotional and mental energy fielding my own upset from ongoing events. My options are to hold boundaries about this or stop coming online at all.

I’m all for sharing information and signal boosting to reasonable extents, but the scale of it this year is so large and so enduring that it is literally not possible to for me to participate on every account I have. I’ve previously shared links to Gaza eSIM donations and a major hub of verified Go Fund Mes here and elsewhere online. We, the online humans, know how to look those things up ourselves by now. There are many, many people choosing to do advocacy work, and right now, I can’t be one of them.

If you’re extremely upset when I tell you I can’t share/donate right now about a Gaza family or personal fundraiser you ask me to share here, just unfollow and block me. That’s what those buttons are for. Protect your own emotions and energy and get me off your feed instead of staying upset and continuing to engage with online people or content that upsets you.

Please don’t send repeated angry messages based on manufactured purity politics and moral outrage into my messages and inbox when I exercise the right to run my own blog.

[drdtfuitgumies]

I need Hu being a mom to Ace in any way

i sent them to a chinese family restaurant. thank you for the request!

[yuseirra]

wanted to expand on the idea that he wears suits because he wants to see Ai with his best looks on...

what Ai says is from these tag by @insertname099 (thank you!// these have been giving me a lot of ideas lately!!)> #ALSO while i think that he wears suits all the time mostly as an easy way to play the role of the Suave Millionaire CEO#like formal menswear is so regimented that's it easy for him (someone who probably was also from a children's home and wasnt born rich)#to use it to fit into the high power corperate world that he's lived in since he was an adult#its a part of his social camouflage#like he's always been one to try and fit in with others and play the role of how others see him after all

Mhm, I also agree with it, couldn't have said it any better-

it's an idea that can coexist with> #BUT the thought that he's always wearing suits because Ai once said that he would look good in one#and that he always wears suits because he wants to look his best whenever he mets Ai again#and for someone as self hating and probably passively suicidal as him he probably thinks that the day he dies could come anytime...#that thought is just so. augh#my heart. its taking tick damage. oof. ouch. oof. augh.#he loves her so much... he wants her to see him at his best...

I really love these tags ;v;///all the likes, reblogs, tags.. they motivate me to keep going, thank you so much. I'm sure it's been making me draw twice as much as I would have without them, it means a lot!

I personally see Hikaru's character as someone who has Ai as his core, he's devised to be her partner from the character development stage. So whatever he does...I see it having to do with Ai or his feelings toward her. He's that kind of character :) I like that about him!

[raisomething]

spoilers for chapter 2 drdt!!

'Who is the culprit?'

Honestly I hope neither of them are the culprit—

Last minute art before the reveal TvT

[mystiquedrops]

CW: FLASHING IMAGES !! And kinda spoilers for DT.

This is the post that inspired this idea btw.

(Also if you wanna start writing paragraphs on how "IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND!!", don't bother..

Either make your own edit, or just find something that fits your POV- both are free.)

[spittyfishy]

Tenko and Angie, which one out of the two of you is more devout and committed to Junko and her despair?

It’s a point of contention lol

[emotional-mess-in-distress]

Xanvid week day 7 : Free choice

I drew some xanvid toxic yuri >:) (aka just gender swaps lol)

Might've been a day late but I really enjoyed this event a lot, and I'm very proud of myself for managing to keep up with it ^^

Thank you to the organisers for putting it together 💕

I hope everyone had a good time :)

[seraphic-sibyl]

I should have been born a frog. I should have been born a frog. I should have been born a frog. I should have been born a frog. I should have been born a frog. I should have been born a frog. I should have been

[vaguely-concerned]

I was just ambushed within the turbulent halls of my own mind by some headcanons about rye ingellvar's childhood that did 15000000 points of psychic damage to me and my heart personally and also made me almost sure of how I want to play it all at the end (very very differently from how I imagined going in!). some 'oh holy fuck this changes everything' rocking my own world bullshit going on in my neurons right now I'm reeling

[blupengu]

Oh how naive I was…

[cementcornfield]

Mike and Charlie being back on the field is ALSO good news!!