#yall this song is so him its him just snapping in grief and stress of everything and wanting to lash out especially at morando right

[jessenitrogen]

until it doesn't hurt - mother mother

[nako-doodles]

🌸BEST OF 2021: 🌸

post your favorite or most popular post from each month this year!

thank you for thinking of me darlings @rumue @kithtaehyung @minieggukie @hyunsung @rainycle @intronnevermind @min-boongie @jeonjcngkook @bisexualrapline @jeonbunkook @bangguks @suga-ssi @kkulmoon 💖✨

embarrassingly enough i barely make enough content to maintain a monthly schedule so this should be fairly simple🤣🤣 sophomore year of pixel-ing and you would think id be better at planning and time management 🤣🤣🤣

i feel like everyone has done this already so im going to poke @jung-koook @taeunwoo @gimbapchefs @hobeah @sugaftrm @blueandtaes @userjiminie @abcdefghi--lmnopqrstuvwxyzz @taee @sugajimin @slipped-away to tag me in theirs so i can relive my fave posts in 2021 💖✨

🌟 JANUARY

most popular: you gucci?

favourite: hello, we are dts!

��� i forgot i made both of these for january tbh. i only remember being stressed about frame matching for this gif of the tannies dancing, but that came out new years eve oops (i kept this in my 2021 folder tho? it sounds right?)

🌟 FEBRUARY

favourite: bts rpg mockup: taemon

⤷ the inauguration of my rpg mockups! even tho these didnt get that many notes, i learned a LOT about appropriate pixel size vs grid size, color theory, sprite animation, formatting menus, how much hubris i had for undertaking the work of professionals w my poor overworked laptop and gimp 2.10. i had all 7 members mocked out but there were too many math and formatting mistakes in my base for my perfectionist self to tolerate making more.....a moment of silence for chimrub, ggukdian, jinari (神) and their unrealized potential.........

🌟 MARCH

most popular: bts rpg mockup: hoba

favourite: bts rpg mockup: erljönig

⤷ in true 94z soulmate fashion, these two practically have the same note count, but im just sliiiiiiightly more partial to joon bc i actually planned out his palette beforehand! i know! me! planning ahead!!!! im also really proud of getting hobi's item skin just right.......those rainbows gave me so much grief bc airbrushing in squares is counter-intuitive

🌟 APRIL

most popular: piu~! u quiz on the block jinnie

⤷ what? you thought i would see u quiz on the block jin and NOT pixel him? banish the thought. i think this is the last time this year i leaned this heavily realistic rather than the more traditional abstract style of the medium. both have its challenges, but i find this more realistic approach to be less maddening despite the smaller size of pixel bc i didnt have to worry about details as much. and not worry my snap to grid function didnt poop out on me, gimp

🌟 JUNE

most popular: tiny tan dynamite teaser

favourite: the applejinnie doesnt fall far from the tree

⤷ im actually mad proud of both of these ngl 🤣🤣🤣 for the tinytans, im really proud that i got their complicated motions a lot smoother than i did w chilsung, or w the rollerblade chaos. plus they look like they just escaped from my folders to wreck havoc i love my lil minions so much 🥺🥺🥺 yes. all ～60 frames of utter frustration, tears, and insanity. cel animators deserve all of the accolades holy fuck. for applejinnie, i was testing out a new pixel style, and i was so surprised it all worked out!!!! hes one of my fave headers that ive made, even tho i spent 10 minutes drawing him, and 4 days trying to get his apple to bounce correctly.

🌟 AUGUST

most popular: moonprince jinnie

favourite: whats melting?: a butter jinnie game

⤷ moonprince jinnie is my first attempt at making those ✨aesthetic✨ pixel art loops, even tho theres only 10 frames in mine, and like....300 frames in the traditional kind........either way im super proud of him and im glad yall agree 🥺🥺🥺 butter jinnie was actually just gonna be like 3 separate jinnies that gradually morphed into a behemoth of a project like i genuinely had no idea how it went from 'oooo dilf jin' to 'lets make a whole butter themed game around this' yoongi should have told me the song is not actually about butter

🌟 OCTOBER

favourite: pumpking patch kids

⤷ this might be my favorite thing ive ever drawn this year. like. look at them being chaos and wrecking havoc on those poor pumpkings! anyways im still trying to manifest a 🕯halloween practice vers🕯 cov*d begone! leave!

🌟 DECEMBER

most popular: happyjinnieday!

favourite: star turned villain bts & cafe date taehyung

⤷ december may seem to be surprisingly prolific for me, but its bc i spent most of october, all of november, and half of december to make all the things that came out 🤣🤣🤣 im just proud i got jin's applejinnie website up on time, and even though i missed christmas, at least the start turned villain post came out this year! i cried literal tears of blood trying to get all the details right but it was worth it™️ im also really proud of how tae came out even though i spent a fraction of time on him vs. star turned villain 🤣🤣🤣

[parks-involving-water]

Review: Midnight by Set It Off

Okay let's just get straight to it. Yall know I’m a slut for Set It Off. This is just gonna be me going in-depth into all of my favorite parts of the songs and lyrics. Les go

1. Killer In The Mirror

This has been a bop since DAY ONE are you kidding me????? The sampling? The sheer amount of fuck you energy? The fast part during the pre-chorus? The DROP for the chorus? Cody saying “knock ‘em all the FUCK out” adds 10 years to my lifespan every time I hear it.

Favorite Lyrics: Now I know, there’s no one I can trust I used to think there was Tell me that I’m cut throat- I think you got your eyes closed Feel the fear, and swallow back the tears Let weakness disappear There’s nobody but me here- the killer in the mirror

We been knew this shit goes hard NEXT

2. Hourglass

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW BAD THIS DESTROYED ME WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT. The fucking,,,, instrumental!!! The beat!!!! Cinematics is on the phone and she said this is it chief!!!! God!!! Like can we PLEASE talk about the nananas during the bridge?? It’s such a small thing but it adds so fuckin much to the song,,,, unbelievable

Favorite Lyrics: I'm falling through the hourglass And I don't think I'll ever make it back So I throw stones at walls I'll never climb Victim to the sands of time

This is also such like? Such a defining song for the sound of the whole album, if you think about it. Quality shit

3. Lonely Dance

ANOTHER one we already knew slaps. The guitar? The trumpet? Iconic. This one has such a fucking Vibe. Also???? So relatable. Cody came through with the social anxiety moods and I owe him my life for it.

Favorite Lyrics: Some days I’m up, some days I’m down Some days, the world is way too loud Some days my bed won't let me out But I’m okay with missin’ out on the social anxiety Out on the phony friends I don’t need So I just turn off my phone, turn on TV Cause solo’s the only way I can breathe

Okay a great song but OLD NEWS let’s get to that Fresh Content

4. Different Songs

Possibly the danciest song on this album. The fucking guitar riff and the bass? The melodies? The harmonizing in the bg of the pre-chorus and the bridge? It all blends together and it’s SUCH a bop. The most poppin song about falling out of love I’ve ever heard

Favorite Lyrics: We once called it love, devolved into lust Jealousy speaks out to silence the trust We temper our words 'cause we're scared of the truth Humming tunes that we can't get through

5. For You Forever

The instrumental in this one KILLS me. So do Cody’s vocals, honestly. He really poured his heart out into those “forever”s and you FEEL it. This one really hits me in the heart tbh. The whole theme of giving up on something that you want so bad is big oof

Favorite Lyrics: She said; “I won't wait for you forever, for you forever So, don't you say it's for the better, it's for the better 'Cause I can't take later than never, later than never No, I won't wait for you forever”

6. Dancing With The Devil

THIS SHIT IS SO BRUTAL. Like even the opening- the distorted vocals,,, god. And the lyrics! So fucking pissed off. Cody once again KILLS the delivery. I will never be over the emotion he puts into every song he sings. And when that hook hits the second time with his normal vocals and then the distorted version UNDERNEATH? Hits so hard. Don't even TALK to me about the rap part god. Also,,,, idk if this is about who I Think It’s About but like either way,,, go off sis

Favorite Lyrics: You try to act as if you're saving me But you wouldn't cut the rope if it was hanging me I'm sick of people saying what you sow you reap 'Cause I've been counting down the minutes of that, so to speak Think of all the hours and hours of grindin’ That would turn into sour findings As I wonder if our resigning is becoming the silver lining But I’m not a coward, I’m fighting Cause if they’re the meat, then I’m biting So go ahead, ignoring and smiling Cause I’m climbing til’ I let you know

7. Go To Bed Angry (Feat. Wayfarers)

This is! Such a good song, and I love the message. Like, settling issues instead of being passive aggressive or quietly angry. And it’s so nice to listen? Like everything feels so clean and leads into each other so well. Also!!! I’ve never listened to Wayfarers before but GOD the guest vocalist is AMAZING. Her and Cody’s voices harmonize so well. All in all a fuckin BOP

Favorite Lyrics: So don't you walk away from me Let's settle this, rather hear you scream Than whisper shit- there's no in-between 'Cause if we sleep in our feelings, we'll never start healing

8. Midnight Thoughts

ANOTHER one with some heavy Cinematics vibes. Honestly, I feel like this one is a great example of how amazing this album’s production is. Like, there’s so many little background elements that come together to make it sound so fuckin cool. For example, that one hook near the end where it suddenly strips back to just a beat and vocals? KILLED me. Also, another relatable anxiety bop,

Favorite Lyrics: Dim the lights, shut the blinds, but I’m counting the time Am I nervous or am I insane? Try to turn up the sound, but I can’t shut it out 'Cause I’m hearing the pulse in my veins

9. Criminal Minds

The orchestral feel to this one is so nice, and the rhythm of the lyrics feels so cool. The strings were such a good touch, they go really well with the electric guitar somehow. Cody’s vocals also feel really smooth in this one? Like this is just a pretty sounding number I love it

Favorite Lyrics: This stress eats at my soul I can't tell if I'm breathing at all Street drama takes its toll So, hit the road

10. No Disrespect

UGHHHHH don't get me STARTED on the chorus here. The stripped back staccato rhythm of the vocals with the bursts of instrumental, and then the way it flows into the full instrumental for the repetition in the second half of the chorus. It sounds so fucking gooooooooooooooood I'm having a crisis

Favorite Lyrics: 'Cause I don't see you the way you want to Forget your rescue, we're dreaming, dreaming, dreaming We had our good times, but time has passed by Begin your new life, I'm reaching, pleading, screaming

11. Stitch Me Up

I have SO much to say about this song. Cody and Shay are so fucking cute and their relationship is so nice. Any time Cody talks or sings about Shay you can feel how fuckin in love they are. The only two nice love songs I can ever remember him writing (The other one being Diamond Girl) have been about her and they’ve both been absolute gems. This one especially. It has such a potent vibe that I can really only describe as a summer song. It’s so,,, bouncy and lively and genuinely sweet with just a faint hint of sadness and ughhhhhhhh. PLUS the fuckin commentary Cody gave for this song on his insta story,,,,

“One of my favorites. These lyrics came straight from the heart. [Shay] and I have both come from damaged relationships, but somehow being broken is what made us whole.” 

Anyways love is real and I’m soft don't TOUCH ME

Favorite Lyrics: Stitch me up, stitch me up, don’t tear me apart I’ve been stuck in a rut, patched up in the dark Stitch me up, stitch me up, there’s pins in my heart Oh, pardon all my precious scars

12. Raise No Fool

Cody fuckin SNAPPED with this song and I’m living for it. One of the things Cody does so, so well, is delivering just the Most intense anger through his vocals and he brought it ALL for this one. You don’t know what happened but you fuckin FEEL it. Idk who this is about but like,,, killem Cody go Off bitch!!

Favorite Lyrics: Well, first you try to tell me that we're family Then you try to tell me that it's for the best You promise that you'll be there if I need ya But I don't need your handout, you can take it back!

13. I Want You (Gone) (Feat. Matt Appleton)

Another more mellow song, but it’s still so fuckin Good. It just has such a palpable vibe and feel. From what I can gather it’s about leaving a toxic relationship behind, and it Feels that way, in a sense? Like when I listen to it I just get this Feeling of something solemn yet triumphant and clean and new, like cutting someone shitty out of your life. PLUS, that sax? It adds SUCH a nice element to the second half of the song. Matt Appleton is a gift I’m so glad they brought him on for this song

Favorite Lyrics: I guess you'd say I'm blessed I threw away stress the moment I said I want you, I want you gone I'm on my own path, you're stuck in the past I want you, I want you gone

14. Unopened Windows

GOD,,, OKAY,,, HERE WE GO,,, Imma be real with yall. I cried the first time I heard this. It just be like that sometimes. But like this is LITERALLY Dad’s Song 2 and I wasn’t fuckin READY for that. There was no WARNING,,, I wasn’t told I was gonna get hit with that much EMOTION Okay okay for real though, this song is actually gorgeous. It’s just,,, pure fucking grief, so much of it, poured into a song. The composition, the vocals, every element of it is so powerful and heartbreaking. This is the kinda song you cry to- but like, a healing cry, the kind you have right before you take a deep breath and start moving on, y’know? The moment I heard Danny Boy near the end, I started crying all over again. Any time I hear this song or Dad’s Song, I cannot fucking begin to imagine how Cody must feel about what happened to his dad. It’s a kind of grief that can’t be explained. I’m just glad he feels like he can share it with all of us, and that he has a support system behind him. Also, I cannot communicate enough just how much this feels like a fucking,,, movie soundtrack. Like this shit would not feel out of place in a musical or something. The swelling orchestral music near the end fucking kills me. Gotta go cry again brb

Favorite Lyrics: All the stories left unwritten that we drew up in the past It's the game we never went to or the drinks we never had As I look up to the stars and make a wish to bring you back But I curse the roof above me and I learn to live behind all these Unopened windows, bound to my heart Fantasy so close feels so afar But I long to break the lock And live among the life we lost Through unopened windows; they tear me apart...

15. Happy All The Time (Feat. Skyler Acord)

WHAT a closing number. Addmmitedly a bit of a jarring followup to Unopened Windows, but it also makes a lot of sense, to go from a song about grief to a song about letting yourself process negative emotions. It also feels like SUCH a culmination of the album. Maxx even said in his Midnight release livestream, he thinks that it sort of represents the entire message of Midnight as a whole. The album was written to deal with a collection of sad, angry, and upsetting topics or experiences- this song takes all of those and says, “Dude, it’s fine, it’s okay to feel shitty, you don’t have to bottle it in or hide it” and honestly, there are so many people who need to hear that- it’s such an important message. Also??? The fucking???? Choir??? WHAT a touch. Honestly there are Several songs on this album that feel like they could be off a musical soundtrack and this is DEFINITELY one of them. It feels like a finale, and it’s so just powerful and uplifting and emotional, I love it so much.

Favorite Lyrics: It's okay, you're not crazy! Gotta taste the salt to love the sweet Let it out and scream “I'm okay, I'm not crazy!” 'Cause the tears remind me I'm alive It's fine to not be happy all the time!

Honestly, this may be my favorite album by them yet. It’s such a fucking monument to everything they’ve been through and learned and explored as a band for ten years, it has such a clear vision and comes together so well. The lyricism, vocals, instrumentals, composition, and production are all fucking fantastic. I’m so excited to see where this era leads us, and I’m so happy with what we’ve seen so far.

In conclusion, the boys did it again, I’m weeping, and stream Midnight on Itunes and Spotify. Peace out kids a bitch is gonna take a NAP