#scene breakdowns are my jam

[elen-tari2]

My Kastle Scene Wishlist

I’m not sure what Kastle content we might get in Daredevil Born Again, but there is also talk that they might make a new Punisher show. What are some scenes/parallels that you would like to see between Frank and Karen? Here’s a few of my musings

Reversed Hospital Scene! I would like to see Frank momentarily panic over Karen getting hurt and have a turn holding her hand in a hospital bed. I feel like we deserve this scene so bad. (Caveat: Frank CANNOT be the reason Karen got injured, even if it’s just she got shot in the arm or has a concussion; Karen is in dangerous situations regardless of Frank being near her or not and he needs a wake up call for that). Bonus points for the total opposite of telling her to walk way—this time HE GETS IN THE HOSPITAL BED and puts his arms around her and just holds her and Karen gets to feel completely safe for a few minutes. Just go all out with the hurt/comfort trope for these two. Anyway, I have a whole WIP fic devoted to this, so honestly it has become my top wish to see some parallels drawn with another hospital scene.

Karen gets to help in a fight and shoots someone. I feel like since they never got to have the Wesley conversation, a way to show-not-tell would be for Karen to kill a bad guy and then Frank come check on her to be like, ‘hey are you okay?’and she’d be like, ‘yeah, I am.’ She’d be a bit shaken up but grimly holding it together because it’s not her first time killing someone. This would also work in contrast to the scene where Amy shoots the guy in the hall and then Frank infamously takes the gun from her and takes the responsibility of his death away from her. Sorry to make Karen suffer because I know she’ll feel bad about it, but I’d be okay with seeing her character go a little bit darker to save someone’s life. She’s been carrying that gun since DDs2, she deserves to take out a baddie on her own and it’d be a great segue into rehashing some of her past that Frank NEEDS to know about

Frank meets Paxton Page. Will the show make time for this? Probably not. But damn do I want to know what Frank would say if he knew that Karen’s dad cut off his only daughter, when Frank would do anything—anything—to spend one minute with Lisa again. I’d love to see Frank go to Fagan Corners with Karen to put flowers on her mom and brother’s graves. We spent three seasons of Frank being able to open up around Karen and talk about his family with her. Meanwhile she has never once said anything about the losses she’s suffered. Frank needs to know and I don’t want it all jammed into one big backstory dump where she tells him she killed her brother and Wesley in the same conversation. Another option would be for Frank to accidentally visit Karen on the anniversary of her mom/Kevin’s death and she is having a breakdown. If we can’t get into any of Karen’s past, have Frank find out Karen has his burner phone saved in her contacts listed as Home. I’ve seen that idea in several different fics and it just needs to be canon. They are Home to each other.

A scene where Frank holds Karen all night and they don’t have sex, but it’s profound. (Think like Spike holding Buffy). If they are nervous about comics fans being mad about Frank Castle finding love again, give us some physical intimacy and closeness where you know they mean everything to each other but can’t cross the line and make things real. Fan fic writers will know we won and then fill in the rest for those cowards.

If they’re willing to make Kastle real, give us a goddamn kiss. Actually, just let them have sex, because Karen Page has been forced to stay chaste for YEARS and she deserves to get laid. And Jon Bernthal seems to be more than comfortable doing sex scenes soooo please just make it the most beautiful thing ever filmed because they are so in love with each other. It has to be noticeably different in tone from the scene with Beth. And Karen cannot get shot the next day, don’t even start with any of that bull$hit trauma for Frank.

Kastle pillow talk scene. Since it’s Disney Marvel now, I don’t know how much we can hope for with a sex scene. So the pillow talk scene that follows had better be some life-altering confessions of love and cuddles. Do not even think about him sneaking out before she wakes up like he almost did with Beth. Karen deserves something good to happen to her for once, let her have a perfect night and a gentle, soft morning after. She deserves it even if Frank isn’t sure if he does.

Karen Page and Dinah Madani Friendship. I’m rewatching The Punisher s2 and one thing that pissed me off was the scenes of fake bonding between Dinah and Krista Dumont, drinking wine together and discussing men (Frank and Billy, who else). So. To make up for that, we need some genuine female friendships, like Karen and Dinah going to a shooting range together or gym or going out to a nice bar for girls night. Even if Frank has been keeping his distance, these ladies have struck up a friendship and Karen has someone to hang out with besides her lawyer coworkers.

Karen gets to meet Micro/The Lieberman family AND Curtis. David knows how Frank really feels about Karen. Curtis needs to find out Frank DOES still have something good holding him in this world. And Karen should meet Frank’s friends.

Okay those are some of the scenes I want to see for Frank and Karen! If someone could please get this list to the Punisher writers for the future of the show, it’s actually very important that we get some of this or I’m gonna have to come write for the show myself. 🙈

[deltamb3r]

Let me tell you, there are some fantastic artists within this community but your style and characters in particular get my imagination going like no other, it's immaculate. Pardon me if this is a stupid idea but something that struck me is just how most if not all of the truly terrible things to happen in the Lamb's life were due to Narinder. Their family being culled due to his prophecy and resulting in the endless nightmares, being forced into leading a cult, and ultimately being betrayed. Even though they seem happy together most of the time I imagine every now again hard emotions come down. I had the thought that on some random day all of the guilt and remorse built up inside Narinder just comes crashing down when he realizes just how many terrible things he's done. It's made even worse by the fact that he's allowed himself to freely enjoy and indulge in the Lamb's love and affection thus making him feel even more guilty. I had the scene in my head of Narinder being solitary while he stews in remorse which eventually leads to a breakdown. He feels as though he's beyond damned and yet allows himself to feel pure joy without truly making up for his mistakes. The Lamb comforts him and reminds him that even if they didn't choose to have the life they do, and by no means is it an easy existence, it's not terrible and in fact has turned out wonderfully. The very fact too that Narinder even feels guilty to begin with is also the best piece of evidence that not only is he worth redemption, but worth fighting to keep.

I don't know, it's a bit heavy but then my mind goes to heavy places, be it happy or sad. Thanks for listening and keep making incredible art.

It really makes me happy to hear this.

Yeah, Narilamb angst be really my bread and jam, and this ask inspired me so much on working on something.

I've picked up on writing a little short hurt/comfort story you can find here! :3

Thank you so much anon! <3

[yaoisex]

We got a song preview video for the song in Pink Heart Jam! 🤩

CHIAKI SOUNDS AMAZING!!! I'M SO EMOTIONAL KNOWING FOR SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE LIVE SCENE IN THE BLCD!!! (as I hoped for). (The full version will only be available on the Animate bonus, and I really hope I'll get to listen to it!!!)

It's so cool seeing them kinda animated in this video!! I love that BLCDs start to get more and more creative, with additional MVs and songs! (like in the omegaverse idol BLCD with Toki x Chiaki!)

That was my second breakdown of the day (the first one). And both were happening while I was at work asdfghjkl.

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY

[whenmemorydies]

My meta/commentary shortcuts*

*putting all of this in one spot so its easier for me to find shit. feel free to like/reblog if this is helpful for you too. posts are in reverse chronological order by tv show/film.

The Bear (TV) - writings

Sydney won't take Shapiro up on his offer

She has no time for disloyalty, smudges or snakes.

Are the shades of my family's old sandwich shop to be thus polluted?

Donna Berzatto is Lady Catherine de Bourgh and she might propel Carmy to confess his love to Sydney, despite her efforts to drive them apart.

What happened with Chi Chi, Chuckie and Richie?

No but really, what happened between these guys?

Chicken Piccata: a succession of inspiration

Follow this dish as it inspires a few folks involved in The Bear.

That's something

Prediction that the show will end with Pearl Jam's State of Love and Trust (+ some The Bear/Cameron Crowe meta for good measure).

On that season 4 teaser

My first prediction for season 4.

Another Storer/Calo musical deep cut

Eddie Vedder has another connection to The Bear, in addition to his heavy presence in the show's soundtrack.

Restitching scenes and dialogue to set up 1x01's meet cute

Or, why the usual gooey, mushy bullshit is not bailing us out in this romantic dramedy.

Chaos and Consistency

Consistency is the antidote to chaos and Carmy needs to figure out what Sydney and Marcus already know: making something consistent is not the same as being consistent.

You love taking care of people: Fine Dining in the Time of Late Stage Capitalism

How the fine dining industry helped create season 3 Chef Carmy and how it’s on its way out. A submission to #sydcarmyweek 2024

Carmy's sketches of Syd

Carmy sketches his soulmate a found family member while another found family member gives him shit for it. A submission to #sydcarmyweek 2024

Carmen, Natalie, and the Berzattos

A closer look, through the lens of intergenerational trauma, at the Berzattos and their impact on Carmy in season 3.

The Claw, The Scrunchie and The Prayer Card: Part 2 (Timing)

A deduction as to why we see the hair claw in 3x01 and not in 3x09 with the scrunchie and prayer card in Carmy's apartment.

Breakdown of a racist microaggression in Ice Chips 3x08

Analysis of one of the more uncomfortable moments during Natalie's labour. Includes @vacationship's reblog with excellent meta re: Donna's POV.

See this? Carmy trying that shit with Tina

In which Carmy reverts from ally to a regret.

Reply to @mitocamdria on Sublimation and Shame

Theorising on sources of Carmy's shame.

The Claw, The Scrunchie and The Prayer Card

Carmy's mementos as breadcrumbs back to his loves.

This needs to get good or go away.

Trauma-informed analysis of 1x07 The Review in light of seasons 1-3 of The Bear.

The things you learn...

Where Sydney learns some things about her spouse platonic business partner while dining with him.

Reply to @vacationship on Christopher Storer's cameo(s)

Storer makes an appearance in 3x06 Napkins but has he shown up at other times as well?

The legerdemain of racism: demands for season 4 of The Bear

Can The Bear rise to the challenge put forward by Toni Morrison?

Mikey's ghost and Claire as a reverse-engineered haunt

Reblog thread discussing the concept of "the haunt" in season 3 and how it likely relates to Claire - with @vacationship, @thoughtfulchaos773, @espumado, @kdbleu

Claire Dunlap = Clear [as] Mud

Reblog thread discussing the meaning behind Claire's name - with @currymanganese, @vacationship, @moodyeucalyptus, @ago0112

Richie and the viewer

Querying some 4th wall breaking by Tiff and Richie. With analysis in reblog by @currymanganese of Richie as Chris Storer's author avatar in the show.

Alone

Analysis of the use and editing of "Together" by Nine Inch Nails in 3x01 Tomorrow to convey elements of Carmy's trauma response.

Ancestors and The Bear

Analysis of culinary ancestry and legacy as they relate to Carm and Syd.

3x01 Tomorrow

Brief look at how the first episode of season 3 has been crafted through the lens of a traumatic episode. Also a remembering of my Ammamma.

Liveblog of my first watch of Season 3

Or don’t binge season 3 whilst in a feverish fugue state.

Lessons from a mentor: every second counts

Analysis of the parallels between Chef Terry and Sydney and what "every second counts" means to various characters in The Bear.

90s alternative rock, masculinity and The Bear

Analysis of the use of 90s alternative rock, including grunge, in The Bear's soundtrack, and its use to further the show's take up of masculinity.

3x06 Napkins

Predictions for the sixth episode of season 3. CW: discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation as it relates to Mikey; also contains discussion of the 'Napkins' scene in 1x08 Braciole and how its 2nd out of my top 3 tender scenes in The Bear.

2x06 Fishes (Copenhagen/Pantry scene)

Analysis of the Copenhagen/Pantry scene in 2x06 Fishes between Carmy and Mikey/ 3rd out of my top 3 tender scenes in The Bear.

Quit? And where you gonna go Ritchie?

Short analysis of Richie and Tina's relationship.

Reply to @sydcarmyfan on the story between Syd and Carm's clothes.

I mend clothes in my spare time and so does Syd.

2x09 Bolognese and Richie’s apology to Nat

Short analysis of Richie and Nat's relationship, based on a personal theory that Richie and Nat previously dated.

Reply to @hwere on if Syd was a white character

I wouldn't be watching the show, lmao.

Reply to @mod-doodles on what will happen when Syd finally lets her guard down with Carmen

Lucky ass man is not now nor will he ever be ready lol

Reply to @yannaryartside on gaslighting showrunners (lol)

The maths is mathing and all signs point to Sydcarmy endgame

Sydney is Carmen's best friend

Analysis of 2x03 Sundae and when Carm tells us that Syd is his best friend.

1x03 Brigade alley scene as a balm

A balm for the anxiety I felt when Season 3's episode list was released LOL.

Reply to @thoughtfulchaos773 on 1x03 Brigade alley scene

Thoughts on why the alley scene in 1x03 Brigade is my favourite Sydcarmy scene in The Bear (thus far).

Preliminary thoughts on The Bear, race, power and privilege

Analysis of The Bear and its approach to the white gaze (hint: it dgaf about it), power and privilege.

The Bear (TV) - image-based meta/snark

Sydney x Carmy - Mirroring

A non-exhaustive journey of some serious soulmatism through gifs.

Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross summarises the premise of The Bear (with the help of a few gifs)

Blood ties and lineage

Charting the creative journey of an ingredient and a dish through Carmy and Syd's culinary ancestry.

Offerings

Love is a language and language is nothing if not pattern recognition. A look at Carmy's patterns.

Warm/Cold Light

Just gifs to make an unsubtle point (re: Sydcarmy & Clairmy)

Lunch or Dinner

Lyric/GIF set to Lunch or Dinner by Sunshine Anderson

Wet T-shirt Contest (Bridgerton vs The Bear edition)

Some of us get lakes in a garden, some of us get the Fak-ed toilet.

You're the most excellent CDC at the most ex...cel...le....

A journey to the end of Sydney's hero worship.

Coming Back

Lyric/GIF set to Coming Back by James Blake feat. SZA

Head Tilt (The Bear vs Bridgerton edition)

Sydney, don't do anything Anthony wouldn't do!

Syd and Carm making eye contact

Thats it.

Under the Bridge (TV)

Reply to @cairhienin on Under the Bridge and the actual murder of Reena Virk

Discussion of Reena Virk's murder and the absence of race in analysis of the case, then and now.

Monkey Man (Film)

Violence and Love in Monkey Man

Analysis of Monkey Man in the context of state violence and resistance. CW for mention of rape, murder and forced displacement.

Immediate reaction to Monkey Man

My immediate thoughts after watching Monkey Man in cinema.

[skynapple]

Girl who doesn't know KPOP gives unbiased opinion on HOP by SKZ

I don't even go here and don't know names or faces (except Felix even my dad knows him) so here's my unbiased opinion

Walking On Water, 4/10, nice title, cool beat, the record beats are very 90's-2000's, I feel this song was made to perform live or just dance to live in general, there's a lot going on

Bounce Back, 6/10, a bit too much rap but not bad, this song has elements from Unbelievable (2013) by EMF like I wouldn't be surprised if they sampled seriously go listen to it

U, 10/10, actually probably the most American sound I've ever heard from a kpop band just musically, rhythmically, harmonically, etc idk it just made my ears happy

Walkin On Water (HIP Ver), 3/10, the year is 2006 and my dad is blasting jams in the garage while he cleans and the radio DJ is pressing every button he has on his pad

Railway, 9/10, ok sir that INTRO? I really want to applaud the mixer and producers for the musicality,, -1 for the autotune augmentation for "effect" ik its not to tune his voice per say, it's just the style but it's overused a tad in this song. Style points for the ultra-clashy diminished chords and harmony at 2:37 very crunchy and nice

Unfair, 5/10 Metro Boomin' is that you???? I've never actually heard a whole Felix song. Again the augmentation for the hip-hop song I think is diminishing him, also the chords are very repetitive just kinda bland lol 

Hallucination, 10/10, instantly, very cool vocal and they're clear, very cool reverb and cool mixing, great chord and harmonic work, that breakdown harmonically at 0:43 is so good and difficult but they make it so smooth, great percussion work also. Excuse me 2:26?? The tenor vocals go crazy

Youth, 6/10 very fun reminds me of JPOP rhythm, bubblegum pop vibes like honestly a female vocalist would be so good over this too, 2:00 is the most Korean melody thing I've ever heard in my life they just have a way with these bridges lolll

So Good, 2/10, he's just kinda nasal and there's some kind of percussion note the whole song that my adhd brain locked on to and I can't unhear it and it hurts my ears lollll also this song just lacks some creativity to me from the rest but the syncopation at 2:00 and breakdown is cool

Ultra, 7/10, this sounds like it was made for a video game commercial like I already see people making edits and AMVs to this

Hold My Hand, 6/10, the year is 2010 and Owl City is on the radio after this song, songs you play in the car

As We Are, 6/10, this is the song that plays at the end of an emotional scene in a Kdrama movie, the guitar at 2:26 sealed it and now the ML is running for his life to the airport to the stop the love of his life from leaving to the USA forever and at 3:26 he watches the plane fly off as he gets out of the taxi just a little too late

I can definitely hear the American hip-hop influence so if you listen to that genre I feel like it's not a hard sell it's just in a different language (Except Felix who sings in Aussie.) (Yes that's a joke).

[389]

Varial - Empty Club / Eurorack Jungle Techno Breakcore Drum and Bass

Back again with another live jam on the modular rig and 1010 blackbox making some nasty jungle! This time you get a close up of how I am mixing everything by hand as it goes into the audio interface which makes for quick editing later. As usual I am using the lower modular case for drums, the upper case as a four voice melodic groove box, and the 1010 blackbox for a pad, soundfx, and vocal samples. I've been enjoying the new song mode on the blackbox, makes it easy to make big changes with one button press and have it keep looping until you press another scene. I'm going to be working more on my liveset and mixing these tracks I've made so I won't have as many singe track videos but lots more videos planned with live set practice and rig breakdowns to come.

[she-toadmask]

A post where I say random things (including spoilers) about Earthspark Season 2 Part 1

The season started great, I was super here for it. Aftermath is fun and Breakdad is entertaining. Didn't love the part where they had the flashbacks and the photos of Aftermath and Breakdown's faces pasted on stereotypical father/son things. Felt weird.

Not a ton to say on the second episode other than fuck yeah Quintessons and lore!

Hashtag upgrade was really fun and we got some great Con scenes. Ravage finally gets some solo time and Shockwave is here being cool too. This is also the episode where I sent the text "Hhggngnhngng starscream" to my amica. Starscream is fucking amazing in this drop.

Swindle and a human immediately threw me back to TFA, Fairmaestro is voiced by the guy who voiced the villain in The Bad Guys and I had to skip to the credits to make sure I was right because nobody had updated wikis with the new VA info. The butterflies thing was kind of funny but I'm too aroace to enjoy it. Cosmos didn't get enough lines. Still a really fun episode though!

The ending to this episode made me sad. Like ok we got the return of the contaminated energon and new horrors and that's great. Jawbreaker is a sweetheart and he was making a friend and they were cooperating so well! JBAM! They were friends! But then Aftermath just was mean and it was upsetting. I am aware that I am a soft baby.

I liked Spitfire during this episode. She had a fun attitude and I liked her vibe. Her asking if everyone there was old as dirt was great. Obstacle course and a fun fight!

I stopped liking Spitfire and get to the first of two episodes I am unlikely to rewatch even beyond me usually not rewatching stuff. The title says it all, it's an impostor episode and a significant number of characters are frustratingly unobservant. The Decepticons are fun though, this is another example of Starscream getting to be cool and stuff. Also I do not like that they made it seem like Wheeljack could have died and then didn't make it clear that he was fine???? Like I was going OK BUT IS WHEELJACK OKAY for a while. Spitfire going to the Con base with the weapon at the end was great though.

The second episode I'm unlikely to rewatch! It's not as personal as the other one, it's just a flavor of cringe-adjacent comedy (especially the Jawbreaker things - I love him but god the interview bit was not my speed) I don't jam with. The family helping to fix up the trailer was really good though.

The finale! This one I'm like 90% down for. Hashtag wanting to keep exploring is amazing and a mood (yes yall keep going let us see the Lore), TITAN TERRATRONUS, QUINTUS AND QUINTESSON LORE (Mo asking if Quintus was good and Terratronus saying he is a Prime deserving of respect....that's not an answer I'm excite), the fucking fights, Starscream having some really good lines and once again obtaining cosmic powers, STARSCREAM CHANNELING FUCKING HORROR AND STABBING AFTERMATH AND SPITFIRE, THE ENTIRE PART WHERE HE CONTROLS TERRATRONUS, Shockwave going "fuck this" and all the other Cons following him as Starscream does his ego stuff....

I know this is just the end of the first drop, but I really found the ending unsatisfying. Like I was just going 'Terratronus is still there'

And also I don't like that the rest of the Cons were trapped inside the dome with Terratronus and Starscream. If the dome stays up to contain Starscream, that means that none of those Cons can do anything. I want to know what Shockwave's plans were. He talked about returning to Cybertron, he can't work on that from Green Quintus Magic Jail.

The other thing is so many characters got good moments (I didn't go into all of them but most of the Cons got them, Wheeljack got multiple really good things, Megatron and Optimus got some highlights) but there was ZERO sign of Tarantulas. Hardtop even got some good lines! Like if it just means he's getting his own episode again in another drop that's OK ig, but like. We didn't see him at all after his debut. Soundwave in the s1 finale was originally going to be Tarantulas, that's why he's sitting like that. Where is spider.

Cosmos was also underutilized, but maybe he'll come back later on. He's definitely voiced by Weird Al (positive). The lore dump was great, can't wait for more screaming about Quintus Prime and his creations (and there being a Quintesson Judge in one of the lore dump images).

Again, it was a fair drop. I said 7.5 but maybe more of a 7.8 idk. The two episodes i don't vibe with and the way it ended take it down but there's a lot to enjoy. Steve Blum continues to be fucking fantastic as Starscream, one who gets to experience all the cosmic powers TFP didn't. He gets to be cool as fuck and also mildly terrifying

[scummy-writes]

Scum, my great ikemen inspiration, is ikevil worth it?

bahaha, this wording made me laugh, thank you.

So! It depends on what you mean by worth it. Is it worth spending money on? is it worth getting invested in? etc etc.

I'll answer a generic 'is it worth downloading?', with my very biased opinion.

In comparison to other Cybird games, I believe that Ikevil delivers a bit more in several ways, but also lacks a bit in others.

Story wise, there are not many routes out, and they vary in intensity and interest for me. Each route will likely deal with some form of child abuse/neglect, drug abuse, sexual abuse, or all three- and that's the background content, the main routes each have some special trauma relating to the suitors.

The main (common) story is that you play as Kate, who is a postal worker who accidentally runs into the residents of Crown - a special group of 'cursed' individuals hired by the queen to do dirty work. But not just any dirty work! They're going after people the queen realizes are abusing the commonfolk, and since she can't go tell the cops to kill these awful people, she can indeed ask Crown to! (Lazy summary). Due to Kate witnessing them, and some of their powers, the lead of Crown, Victor, tells her she has to live with the group for a month so that they can make sure she won't actually blab her mouth and ruin their hidden cover. During this month, she will have to take records of one cursed individual (of our choosing: the routes).

Despite how dire it sounds like, everyone treats Kate decently well, if we ignore those with gruff attitudes - but that's just it, even the gruff ones don't want to hurt her (as far as we know), so she's clearly not in danger living with them.

As for the routes, as I said, each one will have a lot of tws of some degree. While some of the starter routes may not get too dark, the later ones do (Elbert's route has CSA warnings, Alfons has Dubcon and other warnings). You can find a list of warnings by @kurishiri for each of the released routes so far, and if you're sensitive to dark content, then I strongly recommend it.

If the prologue breakdown doesnt entice you and you want more details and my biased opinion, I'm putting that under the cut.

Scum's biased pros: The game design is neat, while some of the routes are not my jam (liam), the others I have enjoyed so far ( minus Harrison, I haven't played his yet). The stories are not groundbreaking, though William does end up being sorta our therapist instead of the trope of mc being his, but they've been interesting to me. As of late, Alfons is my top route in the game, since the subject of him as a person is interesting to me, and they do a lot of back and forth with the romance that suckers me in pretty well.

The events seem like they may carry over as well, like in ikepri. What I mean by this is that they may reference past events in the current event story, where it sounds like you're getting more depth to their relationship and actually feel as though time is passing (not like ikevamp where you have to rehash with isaac 2938292 times that you both need to work on communication).

The smut is also a LOT more than any of the other games. The Mc, depending on the route, is more into it. In multiple routes (ok, at least 2 to my knowledge) she gets to ride that disco stick FAST. Multiple times! She's really an mc 'diving into the dark' in that regard, and the smut scenes are decently written. In the current story set, apparently she even has details about sitting on alfons face. In one event, where the shrunk, they even talked about cannibalism in a romantic context.

They also still maintain the interactions between the suitors, that cybird does in every game. Bluntly, that is a huge reason why I enjoy the cybird games, because the suitors have more depth to them other than trauma and slammin' mc's junk with theirs. Depth!!! This one lacks in it just a little, since some are standoffish with rach other, hate each other, or just don't seem to interact much, but they will still interact.

But...

Scum's biased cons: these guys are villainous, but they are not bad guys. If you go into this game expecting 50 shades of a worse gilbert, you won't enjoy it. I keep expecting these men to be awful, but they're really not (in comparison to other otome villains), so the name is misleading for the Emotional Villain aspect, but they do kill and maim so like. They're not saints AHAHA.

Sometimes, the routes focus on the trauma more than anything else, and while I'm not against that, it leads to them hamfisting an antagonist at the end and it barely doing anything for the plot. Elbert's route is the biggest example of this, as towards the end he has a major event happen that he SHOULD show some sort of emotion towards, but instead has little to no reaction. He's a great character but the route fell very flat for me there, as they lost a great chance to expand on him further with that.

I also find myself forgetting what happened in liam and Willaims route. And while I know for Liam it may due to him just not being my type, I actually enjoyed Wills but cant recall too many things that were personally interesting or held and impact.

I am also biased since I realize a lot of the characters don't appeal to me. Which is a taste thing more than a criticism of the game.

Other notes:

- UI is great, it's very similar to ikepri but it's *darker* and my eyes are blessed. I'm no longer squinting as I play. But outside of that, the UI is pretty straightforward and more streamlined than Ikevamp or Ikesen.

- It also continues bond stories, like ikepri does! I love this feature a lot, however it is a bit lacking in comparion to the ikepri one. I feel as though ikepri has a system to where at least One choice will get you a few lines of unique dialogue, yet with ikevil I feel as though there have been multiple times where you get one unique line per choice. Additionally, I'm kinda bummed that they have no uniqueness in terms of emblems or similar. A lot of early bond avatar items are just the same ugly crown flag in different colors. Who wants that?

Aaand that's all I can think of at the moment. If you want specific answers, I will need more specific questions! I gave it a shot because ive enjoyed their other games from the recent years, and I do enjoy this one to a degree as well.

These are my opinions at 1am in the morning, ive likely forgotten some stuff or misremembered.

[gunsatthaphan]

~ Monthly BL Breakdown: February 2023 ~  

🧚🏻‍♂️ Happy March!!! 💐

Disclaimer: ALL shows can be streamed here or here, as well as on Youtube and other platforms. For more info on where to watch what, check out this post!

New breakdowns are coming at the end of every month - feel free to add stuff! (previous breakdowns)

What came out this month? (green tick = seen or currently watching)

🌟 Our Winter - February 3rd (Thailand/South Korea) ✅

🌟 Because of You a Thousand Times - February 4th (Vietnam) 

🌟 Moonlight Chicken - February 8th (Thailand) ✅

🌟 The Promise - February 8th (Thailand)

🌟 My Beautiful Man Season 2 - February 8th (Japan)

🌟 Marry My Dead Body - February 10th (Taiwan)

🌟 Oh My God! (movie) - February 10th (Vietnam) 

🌟 Cafe in Love - February 11th (Thailand) 

🌟 Bus Stop - February 11th (Myanmar)

🌟 Moments of Love (movie) - February 14th (Thailand, theaters) 

🌟 Destiny Seeker - February 14th (Thailand) 

🌟 Ghos Two Kita - February 14th (Philippines) 

🌟 Pure Vanilla - February 14th (Singapore) 

🌟 Boyband - February 16th (Thailand)

🌟 Jack Frost - February 17th (Japan)

🌟 Bed Friend - February 18th (Thailand)  ✅

🌟 Chains of Heart - February 18th (Thailand)

🌟 Justice in the Dark - February 18th (China, censored) 

🌟 Tin Tem Jai - February 27th (Thailand) 

🌟 Teach Me How - February 27th (Philippines) 

🌟 Blue Sky Complex - February 27th (Japan)

Monthly likes/dislikes

❣️ Moonlight Chicken - one of my most anticipated shows over the past year and admittedly the first 2 episodes had me a bit unsure about the pacing and the characters as it was so divergent, which changed rapidly with episode 3 though and by episode 4 I was hooked lol. The storytelling approach is unconventional and so many nuances about the characters and their lives feel so real that it hits home hard lol and the realism + minimalism is a very nice change of scenery coming from gmmtv. The cast is superb to say the least and also the ppl behind the scenes deserve tons of praise because it’s obvious that it takes a good amount of life experience as well as in directing and writing to narrate these stories in the distinct way that they do and I applaud everyone who’s part of it because you can tell they put their heart and soul into this production. 9/10.

👎🏻 609 Bedtime Story - this is a bummer because I was really excited for this one, also since it’s from the eclipse director, and it had a very promising start but then it got real weird. Like why make it so complicated? there’s no need for that. We get the idea and what you’re trying to tell us. So why make the plot so tangled? sigh. On the other hand I really liked Ohm in this role and it might be his best one yet. He was finally able to showcase that he is capable of more than just 1 facial expression lmao so I liked him as Mum but unfortunately he wasn’t able to save the plot. what a shame. 6/10.

New series & movie announcements

🎥 Playboyy (produced by Copy A Bangkok) - Date TBA (Thailand)

🎥 7 Days Before Valentine - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Dinosaur Love (novel adaption) - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 STAY - Date TBA (Philippines)

🎥 Colorful Melody - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Love Puzzle - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Born to Be Y - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Venus in the Sky - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Love Mate - Date TBA (South Korea) 

🎥 My Blessing (produced by 9NAA) - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Let’s Eat Together (Manga adaption) - Coming June 2nd (Japan) 

🎥 The Last Time - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Y Universe - Date TBA (Thailand) 

🎥 Forever Yours - Date TBA (Philippines) 

🎥 My Dear You - Date TBA (Myanmar)

Other news from the BL world

❗️ Jam & Film, the mains of the BL To Sir, With Love, will be starring in a new series together under OneD. Further details have yet to be announced.

❗️ The main actors for the upcoming BL Pit Babe were announced. The main roles will be played by Pon Thanapon & Benz Natthapong. Others include Pavel Phoom, Nut Supanut, Michael Kiettisak and more.

❗️ The upcoming BL My Universe will consist of 12 stories with 12 couples and 24 chapters. 

❗️ The upcoming BLs Buddy Line Y Animal, as well as Man Suang, have commenced shooting. The release date for both is still unknown. 

❗️ Shootings for the upcoming multi-strand BL Our Skyy 2 have started. The episodes for KluenDao (Star in My Mind), PuenTalay (Vice Versa) and AkkAye (The Eclipse) have wrapped filming. Dates are still unknown. 

❗️ Actor Mew Suppasit (TharnType) expressed his frustration with his fans in a series of tweets where he stated that #MewGulf was never real and everything that him and his costar hinted at in the past was merely for fanservice purposes as him and G. were told to act like a couple according to their contract. He said him and G. have not spoken in over 2 years and told his fans to finally move on, as their obsession is having a negative effect on both their personal lives. He further told certain fans to get psychological help if they are unable to separate fiction from reality and stop their unhealthy obsession with a ship that never existed. Reactions from the fandom have been ambiguous. At the same time, filming for his upcoming BL Love Is like a Cat has begun. 

❗️ Actor Jeff Satur has left Be On Cloud. He will still be part of his upcoming series Wuju Bakery. 

❗️ The Chinese BL Novel “Silent Reading” has been adapted into a series called Justice in the Dark. Due to censorship, it looks like the show will mostly be bromance-themed. 

❗️ Fittings for the upcoming Domundi BL Punk Spy have started. An air date has not been announced. 

❗️ The currently airing BL Boyband has stopped airing on Youtube as announced by the production company and is currently only available for national fans. It is still unclear whether it will continue to be available for international audiences. 

❗️ Thai BL Triage won “Best BL Series of the Year” at this year’s BL News Awards

❗️ Thai BL Love Mechanics won "Best of Thai Series" and "Best of BL Series" at this year’s WeTV Awards. 

❗️ Park Seoham (Semantic Error) won “Best Drama Actor” at this year’s Forbes Korea Best Brand Awards. 

Upcoming series & movies for March

👉🏻 The Promise - March 1st (Thailand) 

👉🏻 All the Liquors - March 2nd (South Korea)

👉🏻 A Boss and a Babe - March 3rd (Thailand) 

👉🏻 Love Syndrome - March 4th (Thailand) 

👉🏻 Pastsenger - March 8th (Thailand) 

👉🏻 Our Dating Simulation - March 9th (South Korea)

👉🏻 Future - March 12th (Thailand)

👉🏻 A Shoulder to Cry On - March 14th (South Korea)

👉🏻 Unintentional Love Story - March 17th (South Korea)

👉🏻 Make a Wish - March 22nd (Thailand)

👉🏻 The Eighth Sense - March 29th (South Korea)

👉🏻 The Last Basic Together - March TBA (Vietnam) 

[outpost51]

The 51 Post

so. bad week, if the prolonged absence wasn’t enough of a clue. but! i did write a... moderate amount. listen, i've been coping with sims.

Contents:

Things You Might Have Missed

This Week's Jams

WIP Breakdowns

From the Skwad

Around the 'Blr

Things You Might Have Missed

get on my taglists for WIP updates, 51 post, tag games, and ask events!

BRHP: Chapter 17 posted; K A DM O S.

Unlikely Adventures, Ch 2 posted; it’s literally in the blurb but it hurt me to write too

BRHP: Chapter 16 posted; baby's first fight pit, and a family secret is revealed.

Murky Water: the 7th entry into the Lighthouse in the Fog shorts; our new Keeper finds her answers.

This Week's Jams

aliens (porcelain remix) || xylø, porcelain [spotify/youtube]

avoidant attachment || libby larkin [spotify/youtube]

fire fire || flyleaf [spotify/youtube]

no care || daughter [spotify/youtube]

let the flames begin || paramore [spotify/youtube]

devil’s teeth || muddy magnolias [spotify/youtube]

WIP Breakdowns

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

hngggg i am. behind. it’s all outlined but my god i was too tired to write much

Unlikely Adventures of Bitchface and Go F*ck Yourself

[affectionately strangles zadimus]

Blinding Neon, Shades of Grey

[vibrates] hhhhhh i love the orville scene, i forgot how much i love the orville scene, yes i will post the orville scene this week if yall bully me (pls)

Stellar Parallax

elmorise.gif

Lighthouse in the Fog

8th short will be coming out some time tonight or tomorrow, it’s been an uphill battle to write today, anyway things have Developed in a Direction i was not Expecting

In the Works

i have noodled some of those random shuffle prompts. some of you are getting whacked with the emotions stick

From the Skwad

SSSC 006 wrapped up! see the entries here.

@thetrashbagswasteland posted a little too good to be true, a follow up to a little too much like me as their submission for MEBB 2023 and it is rife with snark

speaking of MEBB, @sparatus also published his triumphant return to His Original Bullshit: serpents in the garden and i am living. he also wrote skewed results for FFF208 bc we all need more teia

@uraniumwriting also wrote a submission for FFF208 in which caspian is forced to be a reporter for a day

we have FIVE updates from @teamdilf this week: a sweet piece in which adrien is offered some kittens, ch 20 of in-laws and the grandparents, this drabble that actually ripped my soul out through my eyes, ch 16 of man of many talents, and the first chapter of father, daughter, rocket launchers, and a side of wrex

@bambino1294 dropped the second chapter of upright tower and it was well worth the wait

@equusgirl has given us two more treats for sapphic summer: heaven or hell and if the bird likes it's cage so very much, why is the cage so tightly shut

@commander-krios wrote this squee-worthy despina/theron piece and also this stolen moment between jeff and john

@writernopal wrote a character study with mariel and sartor that i’m still thinking about actually, it’s wild to see how much the characters have developed between the first and third books

@asher-orion-writes posted another installment of fairweather YAY hhhhhh i fucked up and peeked at the last few lines before i read it and now i’m trying to wrap up so i can go eat it

Around the ‘Blr

@tabswrites blessed us with both the second chapter of ascension and chapter 4 of silver sentinels!!!

@vacantgodling’s art comms are open which i will be taking a look at given it does not fall through the holes in my swiss cheese brain, he dropped toph art that i’m OBSESSED with AND a lukewarm rejection sneep bc toph’s bday was the 7th. tell him happy birthday 4 me

bit over a week but i missed it last week — @autumnalwalker announced that the archivist’s journal is COMPLETE, so if you were ever looking for a reason to binge it, now’s the time (the anniversary is july 16th!). find it here @thearchivistsjournal

@captain-kraken dropped a sonhara lore masterpost oh my GOD

screaming crying frothing at the mouth over @liv-is’s fae headshots WOW

@void-botanist gave us the LORE on the revalo tailory & hotel and i will chew off my arm if tumblr doesn’t start giving me gd notifs about this

@artdecosupernova-writing dropped SO MANY shorts this week, so here’s the tag, go nuts; also a post on the planet holeph that i am eating with a spoon

we now have such amazing faces to put with the cast of @elshells’s agent ace (courtesy of @illjustpretend)

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Outpost Updates Taglist: @tabswrites @writernopal @freedominique @asher-orion-writes @liv-is @starknstarwars @captain-kraken

Ask to +/- in the tags, replies, DMs, or HERE!

[stillness-in-green]

On Chapter Posts (and What Comes After)

Just a heads-up to everyone that, at least for the time being, I’m putting the chapter posts on moratorium.  I’ve been far more critical than not for months on end, and while I do get some satisfaction out of the venting, it’s just gotten more mentally demanding than it’s worth.  Compliments are easy and fun to write!  I always end up feeling like I have to do more writing to support negativity, however, providing enough explanation to support my complaints, and often going even further to anticipate and preemptively counter responses.

That big slab of nitpicking sits at the top of my to-do list week-in and week-out, a responsibility to keep on top of lest I fall behind, pushing answering asks and working on other projects behind it, and with the chapters of late having become incredibly demotivating, not getting them done means I get nothing done.  It certainly doesn’t help that Horikoshi’s writing has become so dependent on fake-outs, asspulls, retcons, and purposefully misleading cliffhangers, all of which make it unrewarding in the extreme to put effort and thought into meaningful analysis on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

I apologize to anyone who was really enjoying them—I’ve had a number of people tell me they love my meticulous breakdowns, and I’m forever grateful that my anal-retentiveness has found some like minds!  That said, please don’t fear that I’m out of the BNHA analysis game entirely!  I’d just rather focus my attention on larger-scale material, subjects that require analyzing the work as a whole, rather than the week-to-week grind.

First up will be clearing out my ask backlog—not, I think, a terribly burdensome prospect this time—as well as give the Mina fan the answer I promised them months ago to their last reply in our series of lengthy exchanges about Chapter 383.

Afterwards, my current and wishlist projects include:

Below the jump, I've compiled a list of my projects, meta and fanfic alike.  Feel free to skim through if you’re interested in what the chapter posts have been keeping me away from!

Meta Projects:

An absolutely massive documentation of heteromorphobia in the main series and Vigilantes that I’ve been erratically working on since March of last year—41 pages and I’m still only at the beginning of the war arc!  I’ve been trying to decide if I want to just start posting this in arc-length breakdowns or finish the whole thing first for optimal organization and presentation, though I suppose I could do the former on tumblr and the latter on AO3. Anyone have a preference?    

The much-delayed essay laying out the evidence for the possession plot with AFO and Shigaraki not being the originally intended endgame for those characters, at least not in the form it wound up taking.  Currently six pages, this one is still mostly bullet points; it also hasn’t been updated to reflect some of the more recent wild inconsistencies.  I’d like to give the series time to wrap up whatever it’s going to do with AFO before I publish this one, in case of eleventh hour reveals, but there’s certainly a lot of draft work I could be doing in the meantime.    

Some follow-up/companion pieces to my MVA In Memoriam series.  I’d like to go back to the PLF Spotting posts, which were intended to run through the anime’s treatment of the PLF in the war arc, and I’ve also been compiling points for a schadenfreude-y post on the dazzling variety of ways the anime’s butchering of MVA has complicated its own future as an adaptation.  This would cover things like the anime having to hastily jam in the CRC scene as a flashback because, whoops, it turns out heteromorphobia is going to play a major role in the climax, or the whole-hog deletion of Curious talking about quirk counseling, given that Horikoshi would later directly depict how said counseling exacerbated the psychological abuse Toga was already facing from her parents.    

An essay I promised an anon last year about my perception of the MLA’s ideology.  I’m salty about what the lazy, rushed writing in the final arc has reduced my favorite villain group in the manga to, however, so at this point, I want to do two things with this piece.  First, analyze why the MLA's current portrayal is so problematic*—what they say doesn’t even match up with who they are and how they act now, much less in their MVA portrayal!  Second, discuss how I write them, extrapolating from the non-caricatured aspects of their portrayal with the intent of offering a version of the MLA who are still extremist, cultish villains but who are allowed to have some proper nuance, and an ideology that’s actually consistent with their history, their tactics, and their MVA-era characterization.    

A number of shorter fancies and trifles that I’ve thought about and taken a few notes on, but have never gotten around to fully drafting:      o A post on how heroes and villains respectively engage with dramatic unmaskings.      o A post on directionality of movement in visual media, highlighting some particularly interesting examples in BNHA to discuss what those examples indicate about the characters’ mentalities and the narrative’s silent, implicit judgement thereof.      o A post on how frustrating it’s been to see all of Toga’s powers and abilities get retroactively leashed to—and limited by—her girly love-love emotions.      o A post on the chronic underestimation of Shigaraki Tomura and the woes it consistently leads to.      o A post or two analyzing the final beats of each chapter in the War Arcs with the aim of critiquing the way the series undermines the threat presented by the villains during said arcs.

   

Fanfic Projects:

On the fanfic side, it’s been frustrating me for months now that I haven’t written a substantial piece of non-prompt-driven fanfic for BNHA since January of last year, and even that's being generous with the word "substantial." Before that, I'd have to go all the way back to 2020 to find a non-prompt-based fic with a distinct beginning/middle/end. Suffice to say I’ve got lots of projects on that front!

While the rest of these are all BNHA fic, I do have a Gundam IBO fic I'm, like, two-thirds finished with the final chapter of that I badly want to finally, finally finish. It's basically down to an awkward conversation or two and a pair of wedding vows I've consigned myself to writing by virtue of drawing attention to them in the preceding chapters, RIP.    

The perpetually languishing Obon fic, in which Re-Destro has a lot of feelings he is taking care not to examine too closely about his ancestors. Six thousand words and not even halfway finished.    

The self-indulgent ShigRD mermaid fic, which has a number of cheerleaders in my friend circle and also my id.    

Finish the MLA May AUs.    

I'd like to circle back and write something for those last three days of Spinaraki Week Level 3 I never got to.    

Brainstorming two distinct massive fix-it fic AUs I would at least like to draft some solid outlines for, even as it's unlikely I'll ever have the patience to write all the scenes about the kids they'd require.      o "Forward Different" (the current name on the OneNote tab) would start from the first war arc, being faithful to the canon up to that point, but with major and minor changes that ripple outward to take the story farther and farther from canon the longer it progresses.  (In that story: the MLA not folding like a bad hand in the raids, a Lady Nagant who's true to her professed hatred of empty platitudes, OFA being less of a perfectly good pushover, etc.)      o "Backward Different" would also start from the first war arc, but things would drastically diverge almost immediately because of a number of strategically placed changes to prior events and character motivations; these would be wildcards to be uncovered or deduced as the story progresses.  (In that story: Aoyama was revealed as the traitor all the way back at the training camp, cast members who actually matter turn out to be MLA, OFA is less of a perfectly good pushover, etc.)      

I also have a number of deeply backburnery ideas, still more in the category of "idea" than project, that I could to move to more active project status.      o The one where my might-as-well-call-them-my-MLA-fancharacter has to team up with Toga post-Jakku and travel across a rapidly unraveling Japan in order to meet back up safely with their allies.      o The one where I use an OC detective to examine the official response to the Shimura massacre, and how it got squashed.      o The Kotarou Lives AU, in which Kotarou survives said massacre. Look, gang, I just really want to write about AFO gleefully and aggressively coming on to Shimura Nana's deliciously bitter, traumatized, handsome, ignorant son. I also really like my idea for a lead-in/stinger on this one.      o The one where Geten busts himself and his allies out of prison, be it the canon-verse story with his now-confirmed cell neighbor Mr. Compress or the teenaged AU where he gets thrown in the same high-security juvie Mustard is in.

And that's about all I can dig up out of my notes at the moment. Let me know if there's anything you guys are particularly interested in, though priority is likely to go to shorter or more fully developed projects. Thanks for reading!

(* In the academic sense, not the moral one.)

[thisaintascenereviews]

Stand Atlantic - Was Here

Two years ago, Stand Atlantic dropped one of my favorite albums of that year, and maybe even of the 2020s as a whole — f.e.a.r. Standing for “fuck everything and run,” that record really blew me away when I heard it in 2022. It was a refreshing dose of pop-flavored pop-punk with some pop-rock, hip-hop, and hardcore thrown in. It was a unique album, especially for a genre that doesn’t like to be unique. I absolutely loved it, and I couldn’t wait for the follow-up. Now we got it in the form of Was Here, and I had no idea this was coming out soon, unless I just wasn’t paying attention. I was instantly excited about this, because if their last album was any indication, this thing was going to be just as good, if not better.

I’ve given this album a bunch of listens throughout the last week, and I’ve got some mixed feelings on this album, but I do love it a lot. It’s a fantastic album, but not without its issues. Their last album, for as much as I loved it, had a couple of small issues, too, but I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not Was Here is better than f.e.a.r. I came to the conclusion that it’s not better overall, but they’ve improved quite a bit on other stuff. I would definitely listen to this if you enjoyed f.e.a.r, but I would also go into this album with an open mind and realistic expectations, especially if you loved their last album as much as I did.

Let’s start with what they’ve improved on, and it comes down to two key things: their sound and their guest features. There wasn’t much you could really do to their sound, but this album ups the ante with how unique and eclectic they could get. This album features metalcore, pop-punk, pop-rock, straight up pop, some R&B, trap, and many more styles of music that really shows the band taking on unique and interesting influences. Each song has its own feel, whereas their last album had a few songs that fit one style, you can’t say that here. No two songs sound alike, and that’s not something I can say for a lot of albums this year.

They also make use of the guests on here, but there aren’t a whole lot. Singer Sueco is on “Nose Bleed,” which is a fun pop-punk banger, and the song “GIRL$” features PVRIS and Bruses. The latter artist I know nothing about, but PVRIS is a solid pop band, and this song is basically a pop-rock cut. The last guest is progressive metalcore band, and fellow Aussies, Polaris on “Criminal,” and that’s a really cool and inventive pop-punk meets metalcore track. Most of the song is an upbeat pop-punk track with a cool riff running through it, but it suddenly erupts to a metalcore bruiser in the bridge with some harsh vocals and an awesome breakdown. They didn’t quite utilize the few guest spots on f.e.a.r, but they don’t miss out this time.

Now, like with their body of work, they’ve got some stuff that’s always works, such as their vocalist being one of the best in the scene (and she sounds even better throughout this album), or the band being in top form throughout the album. They’re chameleons of the pop-punk scene, being able to change their sound at a moment’s notice, most of the time in the same song at a later point. It’s absolutely impressive, but that also leads me to the issues I have with this album, and there are two big ones: its eccentricities and its lyrics.

As much as I love how unique and off the wall this album is, that also comes to bite itself in the ass, because this album is a little too eccentric for its own good. It would work a bit better if the album was a bit shorter, but it’s around 42 minutes, which is a good length on its own, it’s just a bit long for an album with a lot jammed packed into it. With more unique albums, you almost need a shorter runtime to help with how overwhelming it can be. The album’s sounds don’t feel so jarring, but it’s when each song is so different, it can be a bit of musical whiplash. I love the unpredictable sound it has, but at that same time, this album has its clear highlights and some lowlights.

I don’t think anything is bad here, make no mistake, but the highs and lows are more noticeable when everything is so unique and different. I can see this album being a lot for some people, especially people that just wanted a catchy pop-punk album, but for what it’s worth, this album is a lot of fun. Its unique sound is a great aspect, but it also brings it down slightly because it’s a little too eccentric at times.

The other main issue I have with the album are its lyrics, and while I enjoyed the band’s weird and twisted sense of humor on their last album, I don’t quite like the lyrics as much here. The lyrics are played less for laughs and they’re less cheeky, but they’re played straight here and they just aren’t that good. A handful of songs have some solid lyrics, but a good example is a song like “GIRL$,” which has a good message but reads like a “girlboss” anthem and it’s a bit cringy. Some tracks work wonderfully, like “Love U Anyway,” and “17,” but a lot of others just don’t stick the landing for me. They don’t hinder the album enough that I hate the album, or even dislike it, but it makes me not want to go back to it that much.

I still love this album, and while it does improve on some things, it also takes a couple steps back, so it’s not quite on the same level as their last album, although it’s close. The vocals, hooks, and instrumentation is awesome, being some of the most inventive of their career, as well as this record being the most unique of their career so far. Unfortunately, it’s uniqueness is a little much at times, because of how each song is completely different, and the lyrics aren’t anything special, despite not being horrible. They don’t have that cheeky sense of humor they did on their last album that made them so fun. This is still a really good and unique album, so if you want a unique pop-punk album, I definitely would listen to this one.

[gxilgramore]

INTRODUCING THE FRIDAY MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS!

So how it's gonna work?

Basic really, every friday (if my adhd let me remember) i will recommend a set of tracks that i've been listening, the image you are seeing above you is my last.fm collage but not all songs will be from that collage, but it's there as a cover for the post and a showcase of the songs i'm not gonna mention but i still recommend.

Let's go then?

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST WITH ALL THE SONGS MENTIONED BELOW!

Will I See You Again? - Thee Sacred Souls

I discovered these guys recently while trying to sample them for a track i was doing, i took my a while to appreciate this song but now that i do i can't stop listening, that clean guitar with that gorgeous main melody, those open hats that give such a beautiful atmosphere, the incredibly catchy but mesmerizing chorus, the amazing vocal performance, holy shit this song is so fucking good in so many different levels, one of the better jams i found this year.

No Problems - Ginger Root

So fucking funky, christ, one of the most catchy songs released this year, if you like funky shit it's unmissable.

Is It a Crime - Sade

I'm getting into Sade and most of the stuff i heard from her is gorgeous, this is the best example, it sounds big, passionate, beautiful, music luxury, also sound sad and emotional, absolutely perfection from beginning to end.

Suffocate (feat. Poppy) - Knocked Loose

I'm not a metal guy, but the two Knocked loose songs i listened this year are so fucking brutal that made me interested in metalcore, the reggaeton breakdown at the end is so fucking unexpected but it goes so hard, holy shit.

Junho de 94 - Djonga

I'm brazillian, and the rap from our country sometimes can go toe to toe, and a lot of times even be better than the shit from the states, Djonga is a big example of why, this dude's flow and lyrical hability is unmatched, truly a special artist in our scene, how he guides a story of his own life in this autobiographical song is truly a thing of genius, and the confidence he has plenty, one of the best rappers that came out from this amazing country

Down Under - Man at Work

I wanted to also put Who Can It Be Now? here but I'll keep just to Down Under since Man at Work is already a popular new wave group, it's so dancy and catchy its really hard not to like, those songs made me want to go to australia.

The Argus - Ween

Those couple of weeks had been full of ween for me, not the way you're thinking, and this one has been one of my latest passions with the band, one of the most beautiful climaxes to any song ive have ever heard, still sad that the rest of the album didn't click for me.

No Hands - Joey Valence and Brae:

One of the most fun rap songs of the year, im seeing these guys since the PUNK TACTICS song on tiktok and they are truly amazing at being fun, No Hands is a bit more personal but it has such infectious energy and an amazing beat.

The Invisible Man - Maruja

Literally the best song that came out this year, holy shit, the incredible build up, tension heavy saxophone, the heavy vocal performance, the best climax maybe fucking ever? Ive been seeing this live performance they did on youtube and is truly a stuff of legend being more intense than in the studio version in a song that demands so much, truly amazing, keep your eyes on Maruja, these guys are gonna hit it big like Black Midi or Black Country, New Road.

I Got The... - Labi Siffre

Literally discovered this one today, the sample to My Name Is from Eminem that is bigger and way better, so many incredible parts coming to this amazing whole, could not recommend it enough.

One on One (feat. Headband Henny) - Micah Dailey-White

This funny guy of the TikTok released an amazing neo-soul, post-punk album with this amazing catchy song in it that i could not recommend enough, is charming, cute, catchy.

Ginkgo Biloba - Querida, Faça As Malas

Back to Brasil, this ska punk band is hella catchy, one of the best ska punk bands this country could ever offer, their lastest album is also really great.

Storge - samlrc

Still in Brazil but going post-rock is this amazing, layered, larger than life track from the trans artist that has been bubbling on the underground samlrc, again, keep you eye in her.

Saudade - ElevenWAV

We still on Brasil, but now going jazz fusion, Eleven is an amazing artist overall, but her recent projects have been proving how much she is evolving and how much she is gonna hit it big when the time comes, also one of the best trans artists coming out of this country.

Psiu - Liniker

YOURE GOING TO FUCKING BRAZIL! Liniker the best trans artist to come out of this country with her amazing fusions of MPB, Bossa, Jazz, Pagode, Neo-Soul, an amazing power house pf a voice, an undying passion, unmatched to all, literally the best ever, GO LISTEN.

Think we over? OH NO BABY!

miss you - Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

Going to japan, I could gush about this group for years since I love ska and i love them, but i will only say this is one pf the most insane songs and music videos to come out of the country in years, you should absolutely listen to it.

All the Strange Creatures - Murray Gold

It would not be a Gxil post without your obrigatory Doctor Who mention, one of the most energizing and epic tracks in the modern series.

AND FINALLY

Canned Heat - Jamiroquai

One of the funkiest songs ever, im not gonna say anything more, needs to be experienced, go listen.

Spotify playlist with all the songs mentioned below:

And that's fucking it for today, it was a lot but ive been wanting to talk about music for months now, the next posts on this series are going to have less songs because of it but i don't care, you have any recommendations you want to make? I'd love to listen to, im pretty open to new music, so you can send anything you want, and also, what did you think of these songs? Already love them, tell me more id love to listen.

Follow me on my music socials:

LAST.FM

SPOTISTATS

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

[night-faye]

OHO YOUR'E ON THAT BANGER EPISODE. Apparently I really love the trope because how I got into this show was all my friends freaking out about how I wrote this episode for another fandom while having NEVER SEEN IT LOL. It was super funny, like frame by frame for details. (The start in ep 6 with the ink demon.) It’s 100% my jam as far as tropes go, I also give my OCs the Wukong treatment 😂 He’s so fun here I adore it, StarBurst Duo makes me so insane ESP IN S5 you WILL have a breakdown I freaking PROMISE YOU. It will be your Macky S3 Breakdown but for them. Anyways. Ooh, Wukong just HEARS MK and the way he crashes the party, he’s always going “kid!!” and rushing for him in this show. I love that the writers didn’t make him actually retire lol, he stuck around and it was a pleasant surprise and they even share the staff sometimes. Wukong still takes charge and haunts the narrative LOL. “Not really, but I like the energy.” Crying we NEED Wukong interacting with the gang more. Shout out to Mei’s “you're not looking very immortal yourself Mr. King.” I love her I love them we need more sob. And MY FAVORITE SCENE OF ALL. Bro is sweating a bit like Macky did when LBD showed up. “Enough! I’ve never let anyone dictate my destiny in the past and I’m not about to start now. None of us are! We can’t change who were yesterday or in a past life or a hundred lifetimes ago. We live with the choices we make, but what matters is the choice we make. Right. Now. Only we decide who we are and what we do with the power we have.” “Nice hero speech bud. But I know better. Deep in your heart, you don’t believe a word of that.” SO EVIL. Literally SO EVIL to make THIS GUY aka secretly depressed monkey give a motivational hero speech, bc you don't think there's anything wrong with that at first. That it's anything BUT Wukong to ~ not ~ be the happy guy. But then THIS happens pulling an unexpected thing every character analyst could ever want. He's struggling and trying and fighting the emotional turmoil within, barely holding on, and Inky calls him out with SUCH AUDACITY while wearing Wukong's clothes from the past AND TWIRLING THAT CIRCLET even the screen slows and pauses for emphasis. Suddenly, there's a dark cloud hanging over our idea of this monkey. Our naive illusions shatter as a deep profound thing beneath it all is revealed. This story will not go how we think. It's not all sunshine, there is something wrong. Yeah somebody did dictate your destiny with that circlet eh? And just those words ugh if you know JTTW you know how heavy his past actions are also killing Macky but wow he's fighting, he's trying so hard but NOBODY lets him live down the past. Always the same monster. *chefs kiss* gorgeous voice acting, the strained emotions are beautiful.

“I won’t let some curse bully me or my friends a second longer!” Sure bud, sure. I mean, I like how he glows here and the images of his old friends is DEVASTATING. It hurts to be the mentor character in any piece of media. But don't think we didn't notice the deflection there, the pause and tight grip on the staff as you turned around. You can't look us in the eye eh? the windows to the soul. It's also nice how he does the "special teamwork move" and calls everyone his friends :') shout out to Nezha and his "Wukong is not the loner he pretends to be." At long last, he's finally opening up to others rather than his smiley distance. They look so much like your old companions. Don’t you love how the tension builds up with Wukong’s confusion over Azure’s name and think innocently of it until he’s stepping forward to protect MK? Hehe.

>*shaking you*< I need to make it clear to you that while I love my macky's of the world so much. my second fave character dynamic is "Sunshine on the outside. deep withering depression on the inside"

I am getting the sense these monkeys (MK included) are going to fucking destroy me. help. (You won't and you shouldn't)

[athetos]

What I’ve been jamming 1/9-1/15: modern grind, punk veterans, and sluggish metal

Instead of doing 10 songs per week, I’m just going to do however many I can based off my schedule and what’s been occupying my mind. I’ll eventually cross-post these to my website once that’s up and running, but for now, here it is!

NOFX - the Decline: 18 minutes may not be an eyebrow-raising song length for a heavy metal band, but for a hardcore punk band that has had as many ups and downs as the world’s most neck-whipping roller coaster, it’s easy to be skeptical that it won’t outstay its welcome, as many believe NOFX itself has. However, this 1999 single is easily NOFX’s magnum opus, and considering the band have finally announced their impending breakup, it both has and will never be topped in the 25 years since. What keeps this jaded anthem from growing stale and repetitive? Fat Mike’s stellar bass lines, a lack of their typical crude humor, and varied tempos and instrumentation that while never goes anywhere completely unexpected, is interesting enough to keep you on your toes. So long, NOFX, and thanks for the Decline.

Gatecreeper - Emptiness: The second longest song on this list, clocking in at a perfectly reasonable 11 minutes, Emptiness is the best doom metal song I’ve ever heard, and it’s not even from a doom metal band. Gatecreeper, hailing from the arid deserts of Arizona, has a reputation as one of the best modern old school death metal bands, but they weren’t content to have mastery of just one genre under their belt. Their 2021 surprise EP, An Unexpected Reality, starts with seven songs of blisteringly fast metal that isn’t quite death, isn’t quite thrash, and isn’t quite grind, but is undeniably catchy and brutal. But it’s Emptiness, the final track, that blew me away three years ago, and still blows me away today. It’s a slow, crushing track that’s saturated with dread and despair, building ever upwards over thick breakdowns and submerged melodies until finally spilling over to glorious catharsis, then fading back into those dreadful depths. It’s powerful stuff, and would have easily have been my song of the year, if there wasn’t competition from the absolute mad geniuses in Archspire and First Fragment.

Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties - In Lieu of Flowers: This song just dropped Friday, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s their first song in a fair while, and Soupy once again proves he’s the undisputed master of writing painfully earnest, heartfelt songs about healing. While their music is ostensibly about the fictional Aaron West and his road to recovery, there’s no denying the truth that it’s grounded in. I was initially surprised, then immediately blown away by the song’s fusion of emo and americana. It’s a triumphant return for one of the scene’s most iconic side projects, and I can’t wait for the rest of the album, especially since the entire thing was recorded with a 16-piece band according to the post they made announcing it. While their music is sonically different from The Wonder Years, veering more into folk rock territory than the mature pop punk they’re famous for, it’s absolutely required listening for fans.

Moonlight Sorcery - To Withhold the Day: Moonlight Sorcery are a band I recently discovered from a “best of 2023” list via BrooklynVegan, and I’m so glad I discovered them. They’re a Finnish black metal band, but this isn’t the lo-fi or harsh sound you’re expecting. They’re easily the most melodic and symphonic black metal band I’ve heard, and they effortlessly blend the discordant, chilling textures of the genre with a dark, catchy, and triumphant atmosphere that at times almost has a power metal bent. Their lyrics bounce back and forth between English and Finnish, and while they of course have the misanthropic and mythological elements found in most bands of this nature, they’re a bit tamer, and a bit more fantastical. Truly a band to keep your eye on, and one I’d recommend for metalheads that don’t particularly like black metal, as it just might change your mind.

Slugdge - Crop Killer: It would be easy to write Slugdge off as just another substanceless gimmick band by looking at the song titles alone, like “Lettuce Prey,” “The Sound of Mucus”, and “Slimewave Zero.” But you’d be sorely mistaken, and missing out on one of the most underrated metal bands of all time. They chose the name Slugdge as a joke after seeing so many sludge metal bands being themed around animals, and created a slug god complete with mythology and lore that they write all their songs around. But don’t be fooled, these guys are anything but unserious. They write haunting and cinematic metal that borrows elements from sludge (obviously), death, black, and progressive metal, and have a sound that’s not quite like anything else out there. Crop Killer is one of their best, who sets the mood right from the beginning with a nauseating 15/8 time signature and a tapped bass riff that’s meant to be disorienting. The mix of clean and harsh vocals really elevates it as well, and makes them stand out from the pack.

Full of Hell, Nothing - Rose Tinted World: I’m pretty sure I talked about the Full of Hell and Nothing grindcore/shoegaze collab a week or so ago, but I just have to bring up this song. The first half is a wall of distortion and beautiful fuzz that’s both punishing and melodic, before the second half takes you to an entirely different place. Radio hosts and weather reports slightly overlap each other as static rises in the background, before enveloping the listener entirely in a muddy mess of screeches and ambient noise. Truly must be heard to be believed, and if I ever did shrooms, I’m absolutely listening to this song on them.

Green Day - One-Eyed Bastard: I haven’t listened to much Green Day in recent years; the last record I ever listened to in full was 21st Century Breakdown, which I purchased at Hot Topic when I was, what, 13? It wasn’t a bad album, and had some great moments, but it was a far cry from their punkier days with albums like Dookie and Nimrod, and didn’t have the same spark that American Idiot had that made it an instant classic of a rock opera. None of the singles released from Uno/Dos/Tres or whatever came after really appealed to me, and I no longer had any interest in paying attention to what they were doing now, especially when I could always listen to their old stuff whenever I wanted. But I’m keeping my eye on this next record, because the singles have been surprisingly listenable, and One-Eyed Bastard is my favorite of the lot. They’re definitely no longer the kids who pelted their audience with mud at Woodstock, at least not sonically, but there’s plenty of value here, with a catchy riff and all the charm and rebellious spirit I’ve been missing from them. Only time will tell if this album earns a proud spot among their legacy, but I’m oddly optimistic.

That’s it! If you have any recommendations for me, or want to chat music in general, send me an ask and lemme know what’s on your mind!

[99point9percentwhump]

How about a whumpy game of this or that? Shot or stabbed? Panic attack or emotional breakdown? Hair stroking or hand holding? Falling unconscious or waking up? Insomnia or night terrors? Hidden injury or old scars reveal? Hyperthermia or hypothermia? Trapped or stranded? Whipped or beaten? Tied up with rope or chained? Screaming or whimpering? Gagged or blindfolded? Carried or dragged? Field medicine or hospital treatment? Loud sobs or silent tears? And finally hair pulling or face grabbing? 🤗

Oooooooo omg I love these!!!!!!!

Shot or stabbed Oh damn.... uhhhhhh shot cuz we get some bullet removal ehehe

Panic attack or emotional breakdown tricky..... both.. so good... emotional breakdown cuz it can be so great in a scene like in a Combat! ep it happens its so heavy so much anguish

Hair stroking or hand holding Hair stroking deffo I loooveeee it its so comforting even platonically gaahhhh

Falling unconscious or waking up Can't I mix them asdfgh.... falling unconscious esp if we get some good eye fluttering

Insomnia or night terrors night terrors I love the writhing and muttering waking up in a cold sweat or being woken up while theyre still in the throws and they need to be held while till they realize theyre awake

Hidden injury or old scars reveal HIDDEN INJURY EVERY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Hyperthermia or hypothermia ohhhh I do love hypothermia more and treatment allows more caring

Trapped or stranded uhhhhh.... damnit... stranded has more options and they might have to keep on the move so stranded

Whipped or beaten I like both but vote for beaten its more universal I'm very picky about whipping has to be done just right

Tied up with rope or chained rope 110% not a big fan of chains on my whumpee *shrugs*

Screaming or whimpering curses who made this how can you make these a choice of one asdfgh..... ok... whimpers cuz theyre always good just the little sounds are epic

Gagged or blindfolded blindfold over the eyes deffo its classic never get it enough either

love it cuz theyre so jumpy and disoriented

Carried or dragged carried love a good carry

Field medicine or hospital treatment FIELD MEDICINE every day of the week its my jam

Loud sobs or silent tears silent tears they can lead to so much more the whumpee suffering in silence just in so much pain and the shame of their emotions poor things

Hair pulling or face grabbing face grab its more of a threat the whumper so close mocking the whumpee forcing them to look at them love it

woo done ok thank you Anon for really making me choose gahhh these are deffo my fav types of tumblr games thannkkk yyooouuu!