#Jazzy’s legion

[toonjazzy]

My Refs

#jazzy’s art #pmtok #Jazzy’s Legion

[jester-jazzys-mind]

Another dumb image redraw—

#Jazzy’s doodles #jazzy’s legion

[sere-ness-ima]

HWS Poland during the partitions: the full timeline (1795-1918) [1]

...but it will take a long time to write, so I will divide the infodump into parts. Haha, divide into parts, get it?? Because Polan–

<concering muffled noises>

...this part contains the following topics:

[1.1] Why offing Poland during the partitions is a terrible move [an essay-flavoured rant]

[1.2] What I'm going for in shaping my hetalia universe [a short boring disclaimer]

[1.3] TL;DR Feliks' timeline 1795-1918 [because I'm not a clickbait type]

The actual essays [nessays?] detailing the events and providing contexts and sources will come later, and hell am I excited for it.

[1.1] An introduction

I’ve been sitting on it for almost 10 years at this point, which is a lot of time to sacrifice to a fictional character’s fictional biography. And I’m speaking about 123 years of Poland’s geographical non-existence, which even my fellow Polish fanfiction writers often skip by unaliving him and only letting him resurrect in 1918 after regaining independence, with cool phoenix metaphors and a jazzy remix of *Poland is not lost yet*.

It's not that I hate this concept utterly, because I have even attempted to write a fic just like that once. I couldn’t resist the picture of Poland, the snobby, aristocratic, moustached, hot-headed peasant-owner from the end of the 18th century, suddenly waking up in the middle of barely-post-WW1 turmoil, with the world having changed SO MUCH since the times he last remembers that he’s like a caveman released from a block of ice in the middle of modern-day New York. Oh, yeah, and his job is to rebuild a country which he lost- wait, he losT FOR HOW LONG???

Yeah, I like the idea. It would be a fascinating comedy plot. But let’s be realistic. The clue of all my rambling is, Poland just before the partitions and just after the partitions are two completely different people, but there’s a road between them, a story of Feliks changing drastically over the 123 years, a story which is absolutely delightful, emotional, hilarious, and honestly the director of The World should get an award for it, because oh boy does Feliks’ character arc HIT HARD. (And I’m not the director here. I’m the film editor, at best. Just choosing the best scenes to bring to light based on a personal whim.)

[1.2] A disclaimer

My hetalia universe works on my own custom-made rules. I only touch canon when convenient, otherwise ignoring it completely. My rule of thumb is to make the concept of personifications as realistic as possible and to bring the “Ness Cinematic Universe” as close to a normal history textbook as possible [some people are just built different, like and subscribe if your goal is to write a history textbook of a fic too!]. I strive for historical accuracy here – but the Rule of Cool takes priority when needed, because I also strive for whatever my heart desires. All my stuff are of the “public hetalia” variety unless stated otherwise. It means the personifications and their identity are usually public knowledge and their existence is a natural phenomenon in-universe.

[1.3] HWS Poland's 19th century timeline: TL;DR

(i'm about to elaborate on each point from this list in my future posts.)

1795 – the third partition. According to their earlier agreement, Russia takes Lithuania east and Prussia takes Poland west.

1796 – Poland moves through Saxony to France… 1797 – ...and from France to Italy, where the famous Polish legions in Italy are starting to form.

1797-1814 – Poland’s Great Napoleonic Adventure :) [to be elaborated on]

1815 – the previous agreements between the partitioning sides get nullified at the congress of Vienna. Feliks has no other way but to agree on a personal union with Russia under certain conditions.

1815-1830 – he then lives a mildly peaceful life in Warsaw, but the conditions aren’t met and the tsar’s brother is unbearable.

1830-31 – Feliks revolts in Warsaw.

1831-37 – prison time (Schliesselburg fortress, Russia)

1838-1848 – Poland’s Great Emigration :) (his mental health rapidly decreasing, he moves to live in France and travels here and there around western Europe. You can insert your ship content here, though.)

1848 – Feliks revolts in Germany.

1848-1849 – Feliks revolts in Hungary.

1849-185X – prison time (Spielberg castle, Austria [nowadays Czech])

185X – 1861 – passed from Austria to Russia, he once again accepts an offer to sit calmly in Warsaw and try not to break anything. [the plot of BSA the fic happens here – for those who know :) you can also use this time for your ship content.]

1861-1863 – mildly chaos with occassional patches of prison time (Warsaw Citadel)

1863-64 – Feliks revolts in Warsaw.

1864-1866 – Poland’s Not So Great Exile To Siberia :)

1866 – Feliks revolts in Siberia.

1867-1890 – a free time slot. Show your OTP some love here. Personally I want to see him in Austria-Hungary, Prussia works too. So does going west and crying into France’s sleeve. So does prison time in Irkutsk, Siberia. Let him have a trip to China. Or Australia. Do your worst.

1891-190X – I’d love to see him in Russia around here, though, in Petersburg. At least when he’s not running wild and committing crimes.

190X-1914 – I’m currently reworking this section. The old version had him start WW1 in Prussia, in the Prussian army, then switch to the Russian side. The new one will probably have him do the exact opposite, so he’d be starting in Russian.

1914-16 – not like it matters, because he manages to fight for all the three occupants’ armies (until they notice he's jumping sides and...

1916-1918 – ...have him sit on his ass till the end of the war).

1918 – he finds his people eventually, or they find him. And the real fight starts now. :)

...see you in the next nessay, which will probably be all about the three acts of partitions and making an attempt to paint a picture of Feliks the moment his country collapses? We'll answer cool questions like:

"should the partitions be blamed on Feliks or is he helpless about his people's stupid decisions",

"was the canon partitions scene with Poland laying in the snow actually the battle of Maciejowice (1794)",

"is Austria the kind one, because you know, Hungary likes Poland"

"yeah but how can we make it pruspol" And more! Maybe I'll even add a picture to the wall of text. As a treat.

#hws poland #hetalia #historical hetalia #hws poland headcanon #ness cinematic universe #nessay #hetalia headcanons #hetalia essays #i'm finally doing it i'm finally doing it i'm finally doing it

[the-antiapocalyptic-man]

[I don’t see why I have to do this (...) well it’s not like anyone cares, Imra, I just narrate the things, which wasn’t even my idea to (...) Alright, alright, FINE. Ahem.]

I, Rond Vidar, was born in 2992. I’m...well I guess technically a Green Lantern, a Legionnaire, and the son of a former United Planets President-turned-Cosmic Supervillain (a surprisingly crowded category of being). A multi-hyphenate, so to speak, but uh really just an engineer? I like making things and unfortunately I have a weird dad and weird friends and it’s all weird. Some guy named Absorbancy Lad who took over Earth tried to fight me, and he had a ring too?

[can I please have a script, I hate doing this off the cuff...]

Anyway I’ve got a pretty good memory [it’s not photographic! stop saying that] so ever since getting my ring, I’ve been the only member of the Legion who can create temporary perfectly functional Time Spheres on the fly.

That’s how Irma roped me into this wildly unprofessional archival project, her Time Trappers. Now weirdos from whenever keep showing up to try and kill me because they think I’m alternating the timeline on the fly [which is not even how that works! I’m not some Perpetuan].

Everything is bad, Irma gave me this cape because my engineering uniform wasn’t “jazzy” enough, and... [I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell them that yet]

...Chairman Ardeen of the Legion of the Legions has an all-points message:

Crisis Infinitum

#dc #headverse #fanart #rond vidar #losh #green lantern #time trapper #the narrator

[oftoska]

It oozed so thickly that there was a rhythm to the drips, if you listened hard-enough. Cutting through waves of the undead could be cathartic, something of a release for the rage that seemed to make a home in the pit of his belly.

He'd watched those old flicks when he was a teenager, before he'd graduated high school by the skin of his teeth and enlisted. Hordes of the reanimated overwhelming everywhere by sheer numbers alone, never exhausting and hungry despite burst stomachs or missing jaws. Their only intact instinct was to consume and it bothered Mal that some part of him understood it. Not to eat, no. But to destroy.

There had always been a loose wire in his head, though.

Still, he'd never figured that he'd be apart of something George Romero had conceptualized and made into a hot commodity. It was a lot easier to consider how one would fare against the fantasy of the idea where the hardships of real life didn't quite connect yet. Living it was something else entirely. Mal was bred for this: war, fighting. He'd seen the efforts of the military to contain the outbreak and how horrifically it had failed, wondered if his fate would be different had he not been on medical leave when it all happened. Had he actually had surgery a day or two before. Sitting meat, a veritable buffet for the freshly turned.

That's not how the cards were dealt, though. Mal was mostly in one piece, causing his own little hell in their ranks. Not that it mattered, in the end. For all he knew they replenished faster than he could knock them out. At the very least he could take out what threatened him and his in the now and worry about the rest as he stumbled across them. Or vice-versa. Whichever fate decided first.

Usually he had Pax beside him to mow through the small legion that had shambled into the little hick town they passed through, but he'd ordered his companion to stay inside with Melissa and keep watch. (The truth was Mal understood probabilities and losing Pax would drive him over an edge that he couldn't ever return from. Sometimes it was smarter to risk just himself than his other half). He knew the dog was uneasy with it from the moment he clamored through the door, trailing viscera and ichor everywhere.

So it oozed so thickly there was a rhythm to the drips, if you listened hard-enough. Something jazzy and erratic, matching the crazed glint in his dark eyes one might associate with a criminal psychotic on trial. His chest rose and fell with concerted effort, adrenaline easing through his veins enough to leave the addictive shake behind. His fingers twitched by his side around the grip of his combat knife. In the other hand was the shotgun he'd pulled from the duffel before going down. Both were soiled from his efforts.

"You're getting blood on the carpet."

Mal grunted in response. Something short and caught in his chest, more animal than human in sound. If she was afraid he could understand, sometimes it took a while for the switch to flip back from machine to man. From whatever the military had made him to something relatable. Something that smiled. When he moved he felt the resistance of his boots on the carpet, the near-velcro sound and effect of the rubber soles peeling away from where the blood had already begun to congeal.

He'd bring the ruined gun and knife into the bathroom with him so he could clean them up after he showered without making much mess elsewhere.

"Sorry 'bout that."

Pax huffed. Mal blinked and realized there was enough caked on his face that it was making something of a mask as it dried.

"Gonna wash this off. Gimme twenty." He'd help her clean up the mess he made on his way from the door to the bathroom once he was out. "Lock the door. Barricade it."

The weapons clattered on the porcelain of the sink, echoed through the quiet cavern of the apartment. His form filled the bathroom frame as he peered out - his face something more human than other, now. "You all right?"

@stingslikeabee + prompts (accepting).

#threads. #answers. #main verse. #stingslikeabee

[thelensofyashunews]

DC The Don and Jace! -"Tell Shyanne" [NEW SONG]

DC The Don endeared himself to a loyal legion of fans with his soaring melodies and strong conceptual storytelling. Continuing a saga that started earlier this summer, DC remixes a recent fan favorite with “Tell Shyanne 2,” featuring Jace!. Equal parts come-on and kiss-off, “Tell Shyanne” stands out in DC’s ambitious catalog, bringing jazzy electric piano and R&B chord changes as DC tells a…

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[regkerlon]

A phantasmic parade lyrics

This song is like a second attempt to get a similar message across but it actually works, and has some of the best riffs in the album. Still this song worked out a lot better musically than the title track of TQE did, which started strong but gave way halfway through to directionless orchestral meandering and a rather anticlimactic finale. Not bad lyrics, but Epica try to make this seem like a scientific album when it's really just a couple new scientific terms mixed in with their already established philosophy about life. The only thing marring this song is that the lyrics are basically another recycled mix of material from TQE and possibly DYU with the phrase “Holographic Principle” thrown in a couple of times. The chorus is nice but is mostly a typical Epica chorus with a few new orchestral flourishes. These riffs have heavy guitar accompaniment and go with Mark's growls for another new Epica element – I think the only other time growls and fast scale-heavy/technical riffs occurred together was for a short time in Deter the Tyrant, but this goes way beyond that and is appreciated. Near the end there is a groovy orchestral riff (actually 2 or 3,) that are fast and complex and sound like a more jazzy and much longer (fortunately) version of riffs from The Obsessive Devotion or Kingdom of Heaven. This song has some of Epica's best orchestral writing – possibly THE best, and considering that it is all performed by a live orchestra instead of samples or part samples/part live strings, only makes it all the more epic. A fresh Latin choir intro that sounds like late Renaissance or early Baroque counterpoint, leading into orchestra and piano building up into a new kind of growling riff: staccato guitars and orchestra for the ultimate punchy and kind of soundtracky accompaniment to Mark's growls. While the title sounds a bit pretentious, this is an excellent song. The Holographic Principle – A Profound Understanding of Reality I see this as becoming one of the most iconic and popular songs of the album, as it's really one of the few truly new elements in this album which has so far been just improvements upon the TQE style and tributes to past albums. This reminds me that the drums in the whole album are mixed lower than in TQE so they kind of fade into the mix instead of being a prominent driving force. It manages to keep sounding fresh and majestic even when there are brutal double bass drumbeats supporting the chorus. In other words, it's a fresh breath of air and doesn't really sound like anything else Epica has done so far. It almost seems to have a more Gypsy or Jewish folk sound to it (sorry if this is vague, it reminds me of the Jewish songs in Prince of Egypt or the songs of the Israeli band Orphaned Land more than of the Arabic types of Middle Eastern songs that Epica has done in the past). The Holographic Principle is set for release on September 30th via Nuclear Blast Records.įor more information on EPICA like their official page on Facebook.While Epica has done a TON of Middle-Eastern sounding songs before, this one really stands out. The Holographic Principle – A Profound Understanding Of Reality Track listing for The Holographic Principle is as follows:ġ2. Watch the official lyric video for Universal Death Squad here: Hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did creating it!” The song is very much fun to play and I expect this one will do very well on stage. We have chosen for a different kind of lyric-video concept in which EPICA plays the track in a rehearsal room. The lyrics are dealing about advanced robotic legions with a self-determination to kill. Speaking about the track, guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen says, “”The first song we unleash upon you is Universal Death Squad. This track is representative for The Holographic Principle, as it’s a heavy and melodic album. The track, titled Universal Death Squad, is the first track to be unveiled from the band’s highly anticipated new record, The Holographic Principle which is set for release in September. EPICA have released the first single from their upcoming record!

#A phantasmic parade lyrics

[asavt]

Who's your favorite member of the Legion?? Mine are Hole Punch, Tape, and Scissors. -Jazzy

I think is kinda obvious...

#ask #asa answers #I mean... #I drew them the most

[randomvarious]

Today’s mix:

Code4109 by DJ Krush 2000 Trip Hop / Illbient / Hip Hop / Abstract Hip Hop / Turntablism

I think this might be the greatest hip hop and trip hop mix I've ever heard in my fucking life. Like, I know we haven't found a way to slow down the passage of time yet, but musically, this feels like the closest that anyone's ever gotten to accomplishing it. From start to finish of this hour-plus masterpiece, Tokyo's DJ Krush shows us why he's simply one of the greatest jazzy hip hop and trip hop musicians to have ever produced and spun records. The man digs deep into his own notoriously vast collection and pulls out an unbelievable set of obscure tracks, ranging from boom bap raps and beats you're likely to have never heard before, to super chill Japanese jazz, to even a blend in which he incorporates a Bulgarian orchestra and choir. And Krush manages to make every single song on this sound as if they were actually made in his own image.

Molasses-slow, brain-frozen, on-another-planet, stoned-to-the-point-of-seeing-stars type of stuff; the absolute pinnacle in hip hop and trip hop haziness; a desert island DJ mix if there ever was one.

Listen to the full mix here.

Highlights:

The Legion - "Jingle Jangle (Mental Mix)" Gravity - "Back to the Essence" DJ Cam - "No Competition" Nick Wiz - "Four Elements" / John Klemmer - "Yes to Life" / Beats International - "Just Be Good to Me (Acapella)" The 45 King - "Flipshot" / John Klemmer - "Love Is Life/Life Is Love" Old World Disorder - "3hree6ix5ive (Detrimental)" Gravity feat. Kamam Leung - "What Is It..." Monkey Ken & DJ Seto feat. Hazaed & Daddy Shadow - "Taiyou Ga Arukagiri" / Orchestra & Choir of Bulgarian Radio - "Polegnala E Pschenitza" DJ Krush feat. DJ Yas & DJ Hazu - "No More" Jazzanova - "Coffee Talk" DJ Fashion - "Wild Drums" Virtuoso - "Incinerator (Radio Version)" DJ Krush feat. Esthero - "Final Home (Vocal Version)" DJ Krush - "Ryu You" The Blue Herb - "Chie no wa" RYU - "Ilektrik" RYU feat. The Beat Knuckles - "Beataholic Reformatory" DJ Krush - "Kemuri" / Minoru Muraoka and New Dimension Group - "El Condora Pasa"

#trip hop #illbient #hip hop #rap #old school hip hop #old school rap #abstract hip hop #abstract rap #abstract #abstract music #turntablism #music #90s #90s music #90's #90's music #90s trip hop #90's trip hop #90s illbient #90's illbient #90s hip hop #90's hip hop #90s rap #90's rap #90s abstract hip hop #90's abstract hip hop #90s abstract rap #90's abstract rap #90s abstract #90's abstract

[aguycalledkwest]

'Paint The Town Blue?' 1990s Independant Hip Hop Documentary featuring Swollen Members, Foreign Legion, Dilated Peoples, Q-Bert, Rob Swift, Scratch Perverts HIP HOP REALM - A film dedicated to the golden age of underground hip hop. 3rd Bass - 7L & Esoteric - Alkaholiks - A Tribe Called Quest - Above The Law - Anticon - Army Of Pharoahs - Arsonists - Artifacts - Atmosphere - Beastie Boys - Beat Junkies - Beatnuts - Black Moon - Black Sheep - Blahzay Blahzay - Bored Stiff - Bomb Squad - Boogie Down Productions - Boot Camp Clik - Brand Nubian - Channel Live - Cocoa Brovaz - Company Flow - Comptons Most Wanted - Constant Deviants - Cypress Hill - Da Beatminerz - Da Lench Mob - Double Life - Das Efx - De La Soul - Def Squad - Da King & I - Deltron 3030 - Digital Underground - DITC - DJ Jazzy Jeff - EPMD - Eric B & Rakim - The Fab 5 - Flipmode - Finsta Bundy - Funkdoobiest - Freestyle Fellowship - Foreign Legion - Gangstarr - Geto Boyz - Ghetto Concept - Goats - Grandmaster Flash - Gravediggaz - Heltah Skeltah - Hieroglyphics - High & Mighty - House Of Pain - Invisibl Skratch Piklz - Jedi Mind Tricks - Jungle Brothers - Jurassic 5 - KMD - K oatix - Leaders Of The New School - Lootpack - Lords Of The Underground - Mad Kap - Mysterme - MOP - Main Source - Madvillain - Mantronix - Molemen - Mood - Mobb Deep - Natural Elements - NWA - Nextman -Nice & Smooth - Non Phixion - Non Prophets - Obscure Disorder - Onyx - Organized Confusion - People Under The Stairs - Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Pharcyde - Polyrhythm Addicts - Poor Righteous Teachers - Public Enemy - Rascalz - Roots - Run DMC - Run The Jewelz - Screwball - Sacred Hoop - Showbiz & AG - Siah & Yeshua - School Of Hard Knox - Souls Of Mischief - Smif n Wessun - Stesasonic - Styles Of Beyond - Swollen Members - Tha Mexakinz - Third Sight - Three Times Dope - Ultramagnetic MCs - Wu Tang Clan - Yaggfu Front - Zion I - Akrobatik - Aceyalone - Aesop Rock - Afu ra - Alchemist - Apathy - AZ - B Real - Big Daddy Kane - Big Mike - Big Pun - Blaq Poet - BUMS - Blade - Buckshot - Buckwild - Busta Rhymes - Cappadonna - Celph Titled - Charizma - Cage - Chino XL - Citizen Kane - Common - Dr Octagon - Daddy O - Del - Diamond - DJ Shadow - Defari - Doug E Fresh - Dr Dre - Easy Moe Bee - Easy E - ED OG - El Da Sensei - Erick Sermon - Evidence - Eyedea - Fat Joe - Funkmaster Flex - Grand Puba - Grand Master Flash - Guru - GZA - Hi Tek - Ice Cube - Ice T - Ill Bill - Inspectah Deck - J Dilla - Jeru The Damaja - J Zone - Keith Murray - Kid Capri - Killah Priest - King Tee - Kool G Rap - Kool Moe Dee - KRS ONE - Kurious - L Swift - Large Professor - LL Cool J - Lord Jamar - Lord Finesse - Mike Zoot - Madchild - Madlib - MC Eiht - Nr Live - Mark B - MC Serch - Method Man - MF Doom - Mic Geronimo - Nas - Necro - No ID - Notorious BIG - Ol Dirty Bastard - Paris - Pharoahe Monche - Phife - Planet ASia - Positive K - Peanut Butter Wolf - Prince Paul - Prince Po - Problemz - Prodigy - RA the Rugged Man - Rasco - Raekwon - Ras Kass - Redman - RZA - Saafir - Shamus - Sean Boston - Sabac Red - Sage Francis - Scott Lark Da Sensei - Schooly D - Sean Price - Shyheim - Snoop Dogg - too Short - Tragedy Khadafi - Xzibit - Yungun -

#90sundergroundhiphop

[toonjazzy]

My Collection of Stupid Legion Doodles

WHAT THE FUCK WAS I ON WHEN I MADE SOME OF THESE!?!? (Stayed up late)

#Jazzy’s Doodles #Jazzy’s Legion

[jester-jazzys-mind]

Get Total Drama-Fied, Bitches—

#jazzy’s art #Jazzy’s legion #Jean #Reese #Devon #Tyler #Lia #Stacey #Harley

[majestic-salad]

new gw2 elite specializations

Guardian: Gundian. You get a pistol, you can now defend people by shooting the offending party before they reach you. Virtue of Gun was added, which allows you to give your allies small guns every few seconds.

Revenant: oh no I mist. You went to the mists and all you got was this lousy rifle. also the new legendary stance is Tybalt Leftpaw and you can only get this specialization if you’re order of whispers. 

Warrior: Hurr Durr Durr Pistol. Lots of adrenaline and already a stack of weapons? what do you need? a gun. congratulations you are now a raging idiot with an intelligence of 6 in armour that’s heavier than the iron legion. with a gun.

Engineer: Bad News(tm). Everyone has been stealing your beautiful handmade weapons for all these years. time to steal theirs! You gain a staff, because you are now a magic class. except you get no magic powers. so I guess it’s time to tie your pistol to your staff and create a Not Rifle(tm) which allows you to hit people with a gun from far away. By swinging your staff at them.

Ranger: Hunter. Bows are old and nobody uses those anymore mom, can I please get a rifle? yes! you can now get a great rifle so you can go hunting for sport with your lovely pet! your rifle only shoots tennis balls though, but I guess your dog is happy with that?

Thief: Epic Sax Guy. You get a warhorn. okay guys someone has to be the bard and since mesmer is super scary I guess it’s going to be you. if you get caught stealing you can now play some nice jazzy tunes and hope they hire you for fancy noble parties. You gain new skills such as ‘memes’ and ‘please get out of my house, oh my god no put the gun down’. maybe better to stick with deadeye. your elite skill is now turning into a dinosaur. 

Elementalist: Toph. You gain a new element to attume to: metal! you gain access to fun new spells such as ‘pistol’!* you can now combine the elements to make special weapons, like: fire gun, water gun (fire extinguisher), air gun (fart noises) and earth gun (just throw a rock at them, it’s fine).  *note that if you use this spell when attuned to an element other than metal, stuff might get weird

Mesmer: Shame. Do illusions bore you? Are you tired of having to look at yourself all the time? People keep wanting you to make portals? ‘who’s on chrono, where’s the portal, why r u such a noob? no-one asks how is the mesmer. you are now this meme.  sometimes it’s just tiring to do magic all the time. You gain a rifle. just a normal one, no magic this time. if someone asks for a portal once more...

Necromancer: Life needs things to live. You now have to make a list of targets to work out during the game. you get one rifle(tm) that jams every now and then, but good luck anyway. oh and if you don’t keep hunting down that list you might die, just so you know. You do get a nice new shroud though! oh,, that looks a bit scary,, darling take the mask off D:

aka I had an idea at midnight last night, what if everyone had a gun.

#gw2 #guild wars 2 #hmmm this turned into a lot of critical role references

[two-are-the-trees]

“The Goddess of Spring”: Disney’s most poppin’ version of Hell

Since it’s warm outside and spring is officially here, I was trying to think of some dark media to recommend for the springtime, and of course my mind immediatly jumped to the 1934 Disney short, “The Goddess of Spring.” While by no means gothic and not even especially dark at the beginning and end, most of the short takes place in literal Hell, which contrasts the bright innocence of the spring scenes very nicely and still provides plenty of creepy imagery. The short is based on the myth of Persephone and Hades, and while not very accurate to the original story, the creative liberties that Disney takes with its depiction of Hades and the underworld are super interesting and actually give us a rather unique take on The Devil and his domain. 

So when looking at Disney’s original version of “Hades,” you might think he embodies everything about our stereotypical idea of Satan or The Devil. He comes from underground in a flourish of fire, complete with horns and a dark, threatening aura. He has a legion of demons armed with pitch forks who seek to cause torment and recive pleasure from others’ pain. His entire goal is to kidnap the Goddess of Spring to make her his wife, thereby depriving the world above of warmth and vegetation. But surprisingly, for such a dispicable villain who is clearly based on The Devil himself, Disney’s depiction of Satan is rather... fun! After his initial introduction, in which he appears rather serious, he quickly devolves into a flamboyent showboat rather than the epitome of all evil. Like, he has a red pleather outfit and everything. 

Throughout the rest of the short, he behaves a lot more like a Hollywood movie monster than a plotting terror against goodness. I can’t be the only one getting Dracula vibes from some of his appearences. 

And though he does take the Goddess to his domain and refuses to let her leave, he lavishes gifts on her like a queen rather than maintain her status as a prisoner. She has no power or authority to leave, and yet for some reason, The Devil feels the need to make her actually like him and enjoy herself in Hell. He even pleads with her, “I’m willing to do anything you say, if only you’ll smile, be a little bit gay!” This almost presents a complete flipping of the classical “deal with The Devil” scenario, in which a person ends up disadvantaged by The Devil in the end in a way they didn’t expect. Here, this Devil is vulnerable, and capable of falling victim to his own emotions and empathy. 

In fact, The Devil is the one who must make a deal in the end, as the Goddess explains that she will only be happy if she is allowed to return to the world above, and The Devil must begrudgingly agree to let her go for half of every year. It is quite strange to see a depiction of The Devil in which he already has his victim secure in Hell, and then decides later to concede and let them go, if even only partially. 

Speaking of which, I call this domain “Hell” because it is very clearly taken from popular culture imagery of Hell. Everything is firey red and demons run amok. But rather than a population of suffering sinners, Hell here seems to be populated entirely by these little demons. And rather than committing heinous acts, these demons seem to... just be having a giant party.

Hell here doesn’t actually seem to be that evil. These little demons are rather non-threatening with their cutesy design and small stature, and for the majority of the short, all they do is sing and dance around. The soundtrack during this part of the short is upbeat and jazzy, fitting with the most popular music at the time. It’s a fun and toe-tapping tempo, complete with exciting visuals. It’s at this point in the short when we start wondering why the Goddess DOESN’T want to stay here. It looks like the best nightclub Disney’s ever conceived. 

We know, as viewers, that all of these images are supposed to evoke evil, and the idea that this is probably Hell and Satan is understandably dark given tradition. But Disney’s theatrical, emotionally vulnerable Devil and the jazz-filled spectacle that is Hell are just too much fun to resist. It’s an affirmation that while delving into dark concepts and evil, media can also be lighthearted and enjoyable, and I think that’s something that all of us who study the gothic or just darker and creepier media in general can relate to. This short makes you like The Devil and his increasingly desperate need to please his bride; it makes you like the mischevious little demons that are supposed to be manifestations of evil; it makes you like Hell and wish that you could spend your time partying around a giant fire pit. We all like a little darkness now and again and this short fully embraces how fun a little exploration of evil can be. 

#spring #disney #the goddess of spring #animation #vintage

[andrewrosswatson1987]

REVIEW: TOOL FEAR INOCULUM ON NEW ALBUM

Los Angeles progressive metallers, Tool, have now reached that fifth full-length album point. This brand new album, Fear Inoculum, out yesterday in some places (August 29), is released via labels, Tool Dissectional/Volcano/RCA. Said progressive metallers from Los Angeles have strode far since their debut, Undertow, in 1993. They focus on the rather esoteric and conspiratorial, and with that have carved their own rhythmic, syncopated sound.  Fear Inoculum their first release in thirteen years due to creative, personal and legal reasons stemming since 2006’s 10,000 Days.  Both those albums produced by Joe Barresi. It was on May 5 that, at Welcome To Rockville in Florida, they played album tracks “Descending” and “Invincible”.  Then three days later, it was confirmed that the band’s new album was scheduled to be released on August 30.  Then on July 29, vocalist, Maynard James Keenan, announced the album would be titled Fear Inoculum.  The album’s title track was released as a single on August 7, the band’s first release in thirteen years. On August 2, the entirety of Tool’s discography (with the exception of Salival) became available on digital streaming platforms, the band one of the last major holdouts to release their music digitally.  The release of the discography online resulted in every release re-charting on several international charts and the band breaking several Billboard chart records. The singles for the project are, so far, “Fear Inoculum”.

First, there’s the “Fear Inoculum”. It pulses eerily, like an alarm. Feedback mournful like bow weaving over violin strings.  World music percussion follows, and then you can hear Justin Chancellor on bass.  The latter quite faint, then more pronounced.  Maynard airily breathes, “I exhale you.”  Guitar then gets more animated.  “Feel the light, feel the breath” calming, musical ASMR.   A groove develops before crushing riff takes hold, mighty and epic.  No longer calm, now in state of distress.  Emphatic chords ring out, only to go into the realms of the wayward. Bass, syncopated, marshals this back into something more to the point.  The vocals distort and subsequently clean, latter for extra clarity.  Then a machine gun attack via rhythm section, guitar ringing out in sparse fashion.  Then it breaks out into solo; gnarly, grave and almost righteous.   Second track, “Pneuma”, begins sedate, weird percussion either putting you at ease or your teeth on edge, unsettling. Things ring out for a seeming age before chorded bass takes hold.  It then grows loud and despondent, guitar syncopating as bass sways a little more nonchalantly.  Both team up to crush. What follows is quiet yet jazzy sort of industry on the drums, frenetic in a pattering sort of way.  Weird synth noises embellishing this. This grows impassioned, more so come the mighty, scratching guitar riff. Laying waste to all, laying waste to all and beyond when the bass and drums join its side. “We are born of one breath, one word; we are all one spark, eyes full of wonder” quite profound in line with the instrumentation. “Litanie Contre La Peur” (French for “Litany Against Fear”), now. This echoes like in some sort of modulated talkbox effect.

Then comes the time to be seen or unseen, “Invincible”.  This starts with quiet intrigue on the guitar.  This builds and builds, percussion like hitting upon massive jugs of water.  Then the bass grooves with just the drums behind it, moody refrain.  “Beating chest and drums,” indeed.  It gradually develops into a swaggering rocker, with periods of stripping back dynamically before building incrementally. The guitar then wails in pain, with no clear direction with synth threatening to deafen and overwhelm all.  Bass drags its heels for a low slung groove before guitar urges some syncopated chugging.  The ending couple of minutes brings the song into the world of highlight contention. Something like “Legion Inoculant” wouldn’t be complete without whizzing noises akin to that of a low hovering flying saucer.  Then feedback akin to radio frequencies gone haywire.  Waves splash taking you somewhere else, heavenly like monks singing in a monastery.   “Descending” seems like far off rumbling, a downpour.  Waves, again, actually.  High register bass then chimes, delicately yet with some urgency.   This justified with immediate guitar arpeggio coming later. The bass slings lower, giving oomph and an undercurrent of thunder. Then another example of guitar holding down the rhythm, bass taking lead melody. Then both adjoining eachother for latter aspect. Hit of drum and bass hammering shotgun blasts in order that the guitar truly gain flight.  One of the most thoughtful Tool guitar solos in a fair while.  Dust is left to settle as the instrumentation grows quieter.  At least for a little while.  Low end brings a sense of foreboding, guitar crying out for life. Latter wah-wah like caged animal set free.  Splash of cymbal and company followed by those rolling waves returning.

“Culling Voices” has an ethereal feel, before building of volume and noodling on guitar bring down to ground level. Two tracked guitars brings a sense of atmosphere, ramping up the sense of the ambient.  Subsequent bass rounded as if fingerstyle, ever so slightly. Finally comes the moment when the track picks up, gritty and snarling. Growing in confidence, stomping riff followed by a paring back to just the subtlest of movements.  Then the cacophony heralding a majestic, powerful end.  It ends as it began, slightly of a plane above this mortal coil. Then the “Chocolate Chip Trip” to take you on a journey.  This tinkles, a more premier example of musical ASMR.  This growing more electronic, more unsettling than serene peace and tinkling quiet.  More so when the drum rolls at the tops of its skins.

Beware the “7empest”, next.  This soothing of guitar arpeggio, percussion adding to the feel of something afoot by way of its tempo in accordance with said guitar.  Then that chugging machine gun drum and bass to accompany that raucous guitar.  “Looking dead in the eye” like a threat from the most tempestuous of people challenging you to test their temper.  Solid groove as guitar aims to soar the skies. Then falling, despondently.  A glassy teared eye with another lead guitar moment, yelping with pain in solo. Badass bass lays the foundations amidst tribal drum and that howling wolf lead guitar.  “Disputing intentions/Invites devastation/A tempest must be true to its nature” followed by more automatic fire.  Harmonic picked solo lending an extra dimension of losing control.  Then finding it, again.  “Control your delusions,” instrumentation suitably manic without much order. “The tempest will be just that,” as the song slows to its end. The finale via the “Mockingbeat” species.  Mockingbird, and the like, noises spliced into a rhythmic curiosity? Ones to look out for are “Fear Inoculum”, “Invincible”, “Culling Voices” and “7empest”. One particular thing to remark upon looking at this album is how well peppered these highlights are.  However, these feel spread out deliberately.  Granted, the seven track physical copy probably sounds stronger than the ten track digital copy reviewed here.   Neither three bonus instrumentals “Litanie Contre La Peur”, “Legion Inoculant” and “Mockingbeat” in highlight contention. Tool have delivered something only occasionally good.  Prior album, 10,000 Days, was nowhere near as classic as its 2001 predecessor, Lateralus, but still, relatively speaking, a very good album.  As said, maybe removing those aforementioned instrumental three tracks from both editions of the album would at least help it flow better. Tool’s Fear Inoculum can be bought on iTunes, here. Also visit their Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Spotify, Deezer, Google Play Music, TuneIn and website pages to keep tabs on Tool.

#Tool #Fear Inoculum #Tool Dissectional #Volcano #RCA #10000 Days #Joe Barresi #Maynard James Keenan #Justin Chancellor #Welcome To Rockville #Salival

[saltineofswing]

#Jazzy's Jams #Marcy Playground #This album is giving me HEAVY Legion moods rn