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ctitan98official · 2 months

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Anonymous: Got an idea🧠 re8 ladies react to a heavy gothic punk style, rockstar wannabe y/n,,like I'm talking the leather, the studded spike belt/choker thingy, probably some gothic dress with those netted gloves here,,and ofc,,the extreme heavily stylized full face makeup🤯 also they probably have a more "party animal/aggressive" personality,,not mean or anything but they would definitely speak in yelling🗣️

Damn. You’re describing me in high school perfectly XD Let’s get into it!

Alcina:

Rock music? In her castle? It’s more likely than she thinks.

Alcina would never admit it, but she’s starting to develop a taste for punk. It’s so… Rebellious. It’s downright scandalous for an aristocrat like her to want to listen to such music (At least in her opinion).

While you may be a little rough around the edges (And loud), She wouldn’t change a single thing about you. She loves you for who you are.

Also, those tight black jeans you like to wear make her hot and bothered. She’s never seen clothes like this before, so it’s quite a shock to her when she first sees you in them…

Sometimes Alcina will surprise you by painting her nails black instead of their signature blood red. A non-verbal way for her to say “I love you”.

It looks really good on her and you beg her to do it more often.

Donna:

Donna was high-key afraid of you when she first so you in the village.

You were so… Confident and outgoing. Two things that, frankly, scare the shit out of her.

However, when you approached and asked if you could take her out on a date… Something about you presence made her feel… Protected. You had a kind smile and underneath all of the tough clothing and big personality, she could see you had a big heart.

Angie and you love to mosh together. Some of the other dolls want to join in, but Donna discourages it. She doesn’t want them learning bad habits… It’s a little too late for Angie, though, so she lets the two of you do your thing.

When you introduced Donna to the band… “The Donnas” She nearly lost her mind. She thought it was so cool. “Well, it is a badass name, cara mia,” She said with a shrug.

You busted out laughing.

Miranda:

Rock music… Hair gel… Black nail polish… Mm-mm. Not for her.

It’s almost like you two are polar opposites. But, maybe that’s why your relationship works so well. You balance each other.

She likes calm and peaceful music (Especially while she works). Screaming and angsty lyrics just sound like needless noise to her and it drives her crazy.

She also has to tell you to lower your voice because you tend to yell a lot without realizing it. “Draga mea, I’m standing right in front of you. There’s no need to shout,” She tuts and places a gentle kiss on your lips.

You blush and tell her you’re sorry.

Sometimes, you like to mess with her and while she’s reading or otherwise distracted, you suddenly blare a really loud song and scare the shit out of her.

You also spend the night on the couch.

Bela:

She is 100% drawn to you when you first meet. A badass rocker? She swoons, I’m convinced.

You’re just her type. A rugged, good-looking exterior with a heart of gold on the inside. Honestly, she’s more in love with your personality than anything, but you being hot is definitely a plus.

You play music for her and serenade her. For her, it’s just about the most romantic thing you could do… Even if you are singing angsty, gritty songs.

Bela is not keen on copying your style when she dresses, but it’s mostly because she doesn’t want to upset Alcina.

I think she secretly really wants to try out that “Alt girl” Aesthetic. However, she’ll leave that to you for now. She’s content to just admire you.

Cassandra:

She’s also drawn to you when you first meet. She’s never met anyone like you before and she finds you absolutely thrilling.

She loves to look at all of the different accessories you have. Your studded belts fascinate her… Maybe because they look like they could hurt somebody if they got too close to you. “That’ll keep those hussy maids away from you!” She cackles.

You sweat at how serious she looks.

If I’m being honest? I think Cass has a mad leather kink. Just seeing you in those tight leather pants… Does something to her.

She is instant putty in your hands when you sing to her. She enjoys all the gory violent lyrics tumbling out of your mouth.

Daniela:

While Dani is definitely a fan of cutesy things… She can’t deny that your brooding looks turn her on.

When you introduce her to your favorite bands, they quickly become her favorites as well.

I think she would generally be more of a fan of the pop-punk spectrum of rock, however, she might also enjoy some of the harder bands like Iron Maiden or Metallica.

Dani loves showing you off. She clings to your arm as you two take walks and feels so safe with big, bad you by her side.

You’re loud, but so is she. Sometimes you both sound like you’re literally screeching at each other but it’s only because you’re either really happy or excited.

You two are a match made in heaven. You get each other.

Masterlist

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randofics · 2 years

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Night Drive

TFP Optimus prime x southern reader

I was listening to some romantic country songs and thought this one up. It starts off slow. Optimus needs some love so let's give it to him. Soft dom Optimus but who am I kidding there's no way he wouldn't be a dom.

18+ Under the cut

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Optimus was many things but you were sure he didn't have a sexual (bone) in him. He never did or said anything towards anyone that was even accidentally sexual. But he was most definitely attractive at least to you. His voice was so deep and it sent shivers down your spine when he spoke to you. You knew however that you couldn't make a move on him. He's centuries older and not even the same species let alone size.

You were on your phone sitting on the couch when his voice caught your attention. He stood next to Rachet at the computer asking him something. With your earbuds in it was hard to tell what he was saying. He noticed you looking at him and gave you a smile continuing his chat with Rachet. You looked back to your phone and an idea came to your mind. You swapped to your camera and took a picture of him as he leaned forward hands on the edge of the table holding the computers.

You made it your home screen pic knowing that you barely used your phone when you were out in public. Let alone not have any apps open so it wasn't covered. You chuckled when you looked the photo over again. You were startled by Optimus's voice as he called to you. He had turned around and was looking at you. You took out your earbuds so you could hear him properly. " Come with me y/n." You stood and without question jogged down the steps to the concrete floor. He transformed into his alt mode and popped his driver side door open for you.

"Where we headed Op?" You buckled your seatbelt and placed your hands on his steering wheel. "You'll see." He drove out through the bases tunnel and into the cool desert night. "You mind if I put on some music?" He chuckled. "Go ahead." His radio came on and you twisted the dial to a country music station. He mentioned once that he rather liked country music, and you thought it fit his personality perfectly. As he continued to drive you looked out the window watching the desert go by in a blur.

He slowed and turned down a dirt road. You were far from town and there wasn't an artificial light in sight, only the stars and his headlights. Your heartrate quickened as you thought about what he was planning. You were sure he wouldn't do anything nefarious but it still made you a bit nervous. He drove up a hill and parked giving you a view of the Nevada desert. Large rock pillars were scattered about below, and the stars shown spectacularly. "I come here occasionally to think or clear my processor." "So why did you bring me here?" "Well it's also rather beautiful like you." You blushed at his compliment.

He did not just compliment you! You couldn't believe it, he had never even shown signs that he liked you more than as a friend. "Th- thank you Optimus." You didn't know what else to say and neither did he apparently as he didn't say anything either. You looked at the stars through his windshield, leaning back against his seat. (Sugarland- want to) started to play on the radio making the awkward atmosphere turn comfortable again. You relaxed as the calming music played. Suddenly a shooting star flew across the sky and you wished this moment wouldn't end anytime soon. As you looked at the stars you tried to find constellations. You eventually found Ursa major but couldn't find anything else. The song soon ended but it was quickly followed by (Luke Bryan- Drunk on you). The lyrics made you blush and your heart beat faster again.

Optimus had noticed the change in atmosphere as well as the lyrics. As he pictured what the man was singing about he couldn't help but think how similar his description of the woman was to you. You were wearing cowboy boots and well used bell bottom jeans with a tight t-shirt. The song slowd a bit as the man sang some of the last lyrics.

So let's slip on out where it's a little bit darker

And when it gets a little bit hotter

We'll take it off on out in the water

Those lyrics left him thinking about you in the water of a pond at night, your clothes hanging on the branch of a tree. How he would love to hold you and kiss you as you swam in the cool water.

He turned on his holoform which fizzled as it became visible. It startled you at first but when you realized it was just his holoform you relaxed again. You had seen it a couple of times and you couldn't help but think it was just as attractive as the real thing. "Hey." "Hello." He smiled at you. This was so awkward! Yet you also wished you were in his lap right now. You noticed the shirt his holoform had on was a plaid button up with a white shirt underneath. He usually had a generals uniform on but you guessed this holoform was for civilian work. (Lee Brice- Rumor) came on next and you turned the volume down a bit. You decided to try something.

You leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "What was that for?" He looked perplexed. "Cause your always so sweet and for that compliment earlier." "Perhaps I should compliment you more often then." You blushed madly as he gave you a small grin. He most definitely just flirted with you. "Why don't you come over here so I can compliment other parts of you." You were as red as a tomato now. "Um o-ok." You climbed over the center console and into his lap. His hands landed on your hips. "How about we follow what this man is singing about? Let's give the others something to talk about." You squeaked at that making him chuckle. "Would you like that?" You nodded in response and his hand cups your cheek, bringing you closer. Your lips connect and you moan into him. Your hands go up to his hair to pull on the black and grey locks.

He deepens the kiss sliding his tongue into your mouth. He pulls your hips flush to his and places a hand on the small of your back. When you break away from him for air he takes the chance to attack your neck. When he finds your sweet spot you mewl and tug his hair harder. "Op-Optimus!"

"Mmm." That sound sends shivers down your spine. He licks your throat making you thrust your hips into him. He grunts at your movement. He grabs your rear with both hands and thrusts into your clothed core making you arch your back. He kisses you again as he ruts into you. Your nails scratching his back. You cry out at a particularly well placed thrust. His hands roam over your back and sides as he thrusts into you harder he lifts your shirt over your head suddenly and then starts to kiss your chest. Your coil tightens as his thrusts get rougher.

"Come on baby let go." He growls in your ear making your coil tighten even further. You're almost there. He let's out a possessive growl that makes your coil finally snap. Your thighs tighten on his hips and your body goes rigid as you release. You cry out his name and that tips him over the edge. He uses both hands to push your hips into him as much as possible. He grunts and growls in your ear as he releases. You relax in his arms and try to steady your breath. Your hand goes to his cheek making him look at you. You kiss him sweetly and feel him relax under you. Pulling away you press your forehead against his. "I suppose I should take you home so you can rest." You sigh then yawn confirming that you are tired. "Can we stay like this for a bit?" He chuckles. "Of course darling."

#transformers fanfiction #smut #fanfic #transformers x reader #tfp optimus #optimus x reader #optimus prime #transformers prime

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indigo-grimoire · 1 year

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Hi-Fi RUSH theory rambling time

I was writing this for a wiki but why the hell not post it here too -

Chai's music player deliberately chooses songs that fit his emotions at the time. The game already implies that the music player's grafting to Chai affects more than his physical abilities and reacts to stress (like when The Rush starts playing when he's hit by the SBR-001), so it's entirely possible that this includes picking the song that would be the most personal.

With the streamer mode songs, that might even include the lyrics; even before the surgery, Chai is listening to "The Beacon" which is about being rescued from a dark, lonely place (possibly his own life prospects and hope about Project Armstrong), so it could be emulating the same habits. Notably, that song in specific could be suggesting he had depression or some sort of breakdown before the events of the game, but since Chai never shares about his life before this, no way of knowing.

(spoilers under the cut, to go into the songs individually:)

"I Got This", which only starts playing after he's started his escape, is about Chai's euphoria in getting freedom and attention, and having no intention of letting his new arm be taken away from him.

"Too Big To Fail" is similar, focusing on Chai's determination to fight anything that wants to take away his newfound freedom.

"Captive Normals" adds an extra layer to the ableist angle that being called a "defect" seems to have on him, as it insists on not submitting to anyone just to be "normal", even if that means acting well out of line. The lyrics have a LOT of ableist imagery mentioned (asylums, being shoved out of conversations, being “bed bound” and forgotten) further supporting that Chai has a lot of restrained anger about it.

"Buzzsaw" is Chai's first genuine act of teamwork instead of being mostly self serving, and the lyrics reflect a need to make it count despite the odds.

“This’ll Be Rough” speaks for itself; climbing Wing 2 is a pain and a break would be nice, but Chai is gonna do it anyway; fits his character well.

"My Heart Feels No Pain" seems to specifically relate to Mimosa's contribution to Chai joining the project. The female vocals insist it can't be a lie if he took the risks knowingly, while the male vocals have a realization that it was a mistake but it's not too late; culminating in the duet talking about Chai being truly free from her propaganda as the last bit of truth about Vandelay was fully revealed in the previous Track - not even Project Armstrong was Kale's idea in the first place, and his "coolness" was all manufactured through altering the truth about his family.

"Surfacing" is a reply to "The Beacon", having realized that a miracle wouldn't turn his life around, and instead Chai had to make the best out of his situation through effort.

"In a Blink" starts out mild as the music player is malfunctioning, describing a moment of hesitation leading to being manipulated (much like SPECTRA, but with the song playing at all, it’s clear Chai still had a little resistance left in him); but once 808 breaks him out of it, the song kicks in at full force, repeatedly telling himself to "snap out" as there is too much at stake, and face Kale head on.

EDIT: I saw a different interpretation of In a Blink’s lyrics that doesn’t match up at with the previous, so putting this alt here: assuming the themes use the vampirism allegory, it actually changes the context to something far more gay I mean vengeful. Kale put Chai in a world of lies set up to be a tool; but now that Chai is part of it, “it's my turn to feed”, as in, he’ll make full use of it to turn the tables instead of becoming the puppet. No seriously the vampirism angle only makes this more gay

In constrast, "Negotiation" and "Reflection" have no lyrics whatsoever or a licenced counterpart, as Chai is focusing on the task at hand fully.

#Hi-Fi RUSH #theory rambling #hfr is living on my head rent free #might as well put it to work a bit

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i-am-arkham-asylum · 4 months

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why do i so desperately want a petekey fanfic that spans from like 2005 to current era? I want to explore like fuck it - what if they DID get together and then STAY together?

like imagine the fucking cryptic ass messages pete wentz would be leaving if he was in a relationship he couldn't directly talk about. how does that change IOH? what does the track list look like? pete has always been cryptic with the lyrics of his discography but how does that change when you can't expicility talk about your relationship or you're going to get banned on radio play? what are the heartbreak songs about only getting to love someone out of the spotlight?

how does that change everything that went down at paramour? if mikey doesn't marry alicia does he go on project revolution and meet lindsey?

I can't help but think about how lonely the 2007-2009 era was for FOB. Reading joes book and hearing about how they stayed in these impersonal apartments and then watching pete's MTV cribs episode where like, everyone lives at your house that has one single couch in it because you don't live there. What does the timeline look like when you get to build a life? When you take care of another person? do pete and mikey get to buy a house and live it it when they can? is there a cribs episode where you have to hide half of the things you own because it absolutely connects you to mikey way in a way that is waaaay more then friends?

i want some good old fashion taylor swift-eqsue sleuthing from alternate universe tumblr/twitter commenting on how pete and mikey are in the same place. Alt timeline where when mikey is playing with parx pete goes to support his husband and gets spotted so now you have several people commenting on "why the fuck is pete wentz at a waterpark show?" then cue like several theories about parx becoming a DCD2 band.

i think there is a lot of heartbreak potential in both of them having to decide if you want to sit next to your spouse at an award show or if you are going to pretend to be coworkers. when mania goes up for a grammy does pete want to thank mikey as is husband? even when he wins he looses, there is a relationship that is always out of the lights of the sun.

#petekey

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cleopatrachampagne · 6 months

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i know i’m far from an expert on history but it always bothers me to see bob marley’s portrait hanging in my local weed shop. like, i’ve loved reggae music since i was young, well before i ever smoked weed, i know listening to music is pretty rad when stoned, and i admit i understand that a lot of prominent figures and concepts idolized by the hippies and revolutionaries of the 60’s and 70’s in the usa eventually became synonymous with drug use, esp marijuana, due to smear campaigns against counterculture so maybe it is a kind of defiance to display it proudly? but while i understand the admiration a lot of disillusioned young people in the usa in the 60’s and 70’s would have felt for the people fighting the class war in jamaica and the reggae music emerging with lyrics about said war but still pushing for peace, for one love, as they worked to topple inequity and corrupt systems while redefining perspectives on race, oppression and intergenerational trauma but how did bob marley become “the weed man” in the cultural consciousness when he was a spokesperson for political change and class revolution? is it only that way in the us? do other countries and cultures see him as more than a stoner icon with his face on rasta memorabilia sold at jacked up prices to college kids who have never even heard of the rastafari revolution, the pan-african movement or the jamaican civil war, idk why but it really does bother me to see a strong voice for peace and change reduced to a face plastered on drug paraphernalia and stoner t-shirts. like… damn. that’s the death of a revolutionary in the capitalist tradition, i suppose. bob marley’s portrait hanging above the bud hut cash register, “grunge” clothing sold by fast fashion corporate hellholes, t-shirts with kurt cobain’s suicide note written on them being sold for 800 bucks a pop, eat the rich stickers for sale on amazon of all places, santa muerte being sold as a goth accessory or a “hardcore” generic tattoo in the us stripped of what she symbolizes to me and many other latina/o people who were raised with mexican neopaganism and folk catholic traditions, sanitized street art commissioned by some silicon valley suit that is purely aesthetics with no heart, no soul, nothing related to the authenticity of artistic vandalism, just imaginary street cred points for a rich dick. i get the same feeling in my stomach seeing the “aesthetic” whitewash of counterculture, the clownery of “alt” culture on apps like tiktok, the cashing in on the suffering of the oppressed for a quick buck and the tragic victory of cementing hippies and beatniks and freedom fighters in the minds of the following generations as degenerate druggies (thanks nixon and crew) that i get when i hear that pop remix of “the hanging tree” and it’s a lot to take in while i’m just trying to buy a box of strawberry cough prerolls.

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stardroptasteslikesocialism · 4 months

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Rockstar!Eddie and Alt-pop!reader weren’t looking for a rebound.

Manhattan, NY | December 1989.

“Look, Gareth, I’m not in the mood.”

Gareth sighed as he watched his friend sit alone on the beaten tour bus sofa, strumming his beloved BC Rich mindlessly.

“I’m saying this as your friend, Ed: you need to get out of here. We can’t deal with watching you mope around over Jess anymore.”

Eddie huffed at his friend, “What makes you think this is about Jess?”

“Oh, nothing,” Gareth sighed, “Just the fact that you’ve played her mixtape nonstop since Thanksgiving. Or the fact that your ass doesn’t leave this couch unless we’re playing. Or maybe, maybe it’s the fact that you booted her song - that got us on the Billboard I might add - off our set list.”

The mindless strums quieted as Eddie rested his head against the tour bus wall behind him and sighed.

‘Look, I know you loved her, dude,” Gareth slumped into the empty spot next to his friend, “But sometimes, y’know, chicks just can’t do the long distance thing. She kind of had a point, you know.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, waiting on Gareth’s point.

“We’re not kids anymore, Ed,” Gareth shrugged, “If she wants to settle down in Hawkins like everyone else our age, she has a right to. It’s not fair to drag out what’s not meant to be if you both are miserable. Face it, even when you were together you still moped because you missed her. Tell me I’m wrong. I dare you.”

Eddie sat silent. Gareth wasn’t wrong; about any of it.

“Look, Jeff’s buddy invited us out to this hole-in-the-wall club in Hell’s Kitchen. Some kind of artsy, hippie shit. Thought it’d be cool.”

A quick snort of air left Eddie’s nostrils as he mulled it over. Artsy, hippie shit sounded like code for mushrooms and weed, which he could’ve honestly used more of in that moment.

“You know what? Fine,” Eddie slapped either side of the worn leather as he hopped off the sofa, “Not like I got anything to lose anymore, right?”

Gareth grinned and clapped Eddie’s back, “Let’s get you to the Land of the Living, Munson.”

It didn’t take long for Eddie to realize this club was completely different from what he was expecting. Instead of the loud, psychedelic club scene he’d been used to this tour, the club gave a starving poet’s vibe; aside from the worn graffiti on the brick walls, this place could easily double as a coffee shop (which, Eddie found out later from the bartender, it did during the day). Eddie could’ve easily brushed this place off and sulked back to the tour bus; but a unique voice, what Eddie would classify as an airy rasp, radiated from the speakers, directing his gaze to an absolute angel sitting at an antique piano in the corner of the bar.

“What’s up, guys?” You casually asked into the mic. A couple regulars called back and gave a brief applause, “Thanks for coming out tonight. I’m back again with some new stuff I’ve been working on.”

Eddie barely took his eyes off you long enough to order an old fashioned. The melody that flowed through your fingers to the keys to the speakers left him speechless. It was light, with an air of melancholy; something Eddie could relate to all too well. He fixated on the loose curls that framed your face; your large doe eyes the stars of the show before you’d started singing. Then it was your pillowy lips, painted a deep merlot. And your voice.

Goddamn, Man Child.

You fucked me so good that I almost said ‘I love you’.

That lyric earned a couple wolf whistles from the crowd.

You’re fun, and you’re wild.

But you don’t know the half of the shit that you put me through.

As you continued, Gareth glanced at his friend whose gaze never left you.

Your poetry’s bad and you blame the news.

But I can’t change that and I can’t change your mood.

‘Cuz you’re just a man. It’s just what you do.

Your head in your hands

As you color me blue.

Eddie could feel the gutteral pain in your words, disguised in such a delicate tune. He stayed in his trance until the song was over and you were met with polite applause. Eddie joined, albeit a little more loudly.

“Thank you,” you waved to the crowd, “You have no idea how much your support means to me. Look, we got some other great talent here, tonight. Be sure to show them and our barkeep, Jim, some love too. Good night!”

In the mere seconds it took for him to down the whiskey in his glass, a voice from behind made him jump.

“Well, of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, Corroded Coffin walks into mine.”

Eddie turned around, struck dumb by your presence before him.

“Uh, uh - yeah. Jeff, our drummer, invited us over,” Eddie stammered as you took the barstool next to him, ordering your usual from Jim. Eddie quickly gestured at Jim to put it on his tab, “I’m Eddie; Eddie Munson.”

“Oh, believe me, I know who you are,” you replied with a crooked smile, “My ex is a big fan.”

“I take it he’s the man child you were singing about?”

You nodded, quietly thanking Jim as he placed your drink on the bar, “But I gotta say, his taste in music was the one good quality about him. That song of yours, the one that’s on the charts right now-”

“Follow You?” Eddie guessed, his eyes lighting up.

“Yes! I actually really liked it. Definitely didn’t expect it from a bunch of metalheads.”

Eddie laughed at the (hopefully) unintentional jab, “I mean, what can I say? Us metalheads have feelings, too. Imagine that?”

“Did you write that?” You asked, taking a sip of your vodka soda. Eddie nodded.

“Yeah, yeah. That was me. I wrote it for my girl at the time, but I guess once it started hitting the Billboard, shit just didn’t work out,” Eddie quickly ordered another drink, “She broke it off last time I was back home.”

“That sucks,” you empathized, “At least my breakup was kind of mutual.”

Eddie only nodded in agreement, trying to pry the conversation out of the hole that was their exes.

“So, what’s a pretty, young, insanely talented girl like you doing playing a spot like this?”

You paused a second before answering, “I’m a junior at NYU.”

“Damn,” Eddie replied, impressed, “What’re ya studying?”

“Classical piano and composure,” you answered casually, as if you were naming off your to-do list, “Not sure if it’ll go anywhere, but I like the idea of making music. That’s why I play here in my downtime. It’s nice to play something other than Beethoven and Chopin every once in a while.”

“Are you kidding me?” Eddie asked, bewildered, “You’re incredible!” You raised an eyebrow at him, “I - I mean, your music - is, is incredible. What I heard out there? I could see that charting way above Follow You instantly.”

“Oh, I’m sure you say that to every musician you talk up at a bar,” you joked.

“No, I’m serious. Look,” Eddie swiftly grabbed a pen off Jim and a bar napkin and started scribbling, “My manager, Dave, knows some higher ups. He’s more used to managing shitheads like Corroded Coffin, but he could pull some strings if you’re interested,” he slid a napkin with a phone number scrawled across it, “There’s the number to their City office, if you want to set up a demo.”

You stare at the napkin, shocked, before sliding it into your purse, “Thank you. I’ll think about it.”

Eddie stood stunned as you grabbed the pen from him and started writing on your bar napkin, “And here’s my number. Maybe we could get together next time you’re in the city.”

“How ‘bout New Years Eve?” Eddie asked, “Got any plans? The guys & I were just gonna go to Times Square. Y’know, do the tourist-y shit and watch the ball drop.”

You met his eyes with a genuine smile, “Sure, I’d like that.”

You agreed to meet at the bar for drinks before walking through Times Square. And that’s how you rang in 1990 with a kiss from Corroded Coffin’s front man. And that’s how you rang in every New Year since.

#rockstar!eddie munson #rockstar!eddie x reader

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sleepyzenpanda · 4 months

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“The Good Left Undone” by Rise Against has Kanej vibes

Hear me out! While I know it’s not really a love song nor is it the type of song fans think of when shipping, being alt-rock and all, when I was listening to it today it struck me that the lyrics could be perceived as an introspection from Kaz’s perspective on how his feelings for Inej have changed him and his thoughts on letting her be free

My thoughts on the song below the cut

In fields where nothing grew but weeds

I found a flower at my feet

Bending there in my direction

I wrapped a hand around its stem

I pulled until the roots gave in

Finding now what I've been missing

In the first verse Kaz is was living a solitary life and hasn’t truly let anyone in since Jodie’s death. But then he found Inej in the Menagerie and realized that in his solitude he was missing out on life (and love)

“In fields where nothing grew but weeds,” - The barren field can symbolize either Kaz’s heart prior to meeting Inej or it can symbolize Inej being forcefully indentured to the Menagerie, a place that destroys souls

“I found a flower at my feet,” / “Bending there in my direction,” - Yet Inej’s spirit had not been completely broken by her time at the Menagerie. Tante Heleen told Inej to entertain Kaz probably hoping Inej could get some information on the Bastard of the Barrel Heleen could use to her advantage so Inej had silently been following Kaz

He offered her an option to leave with and work for him instead of being forced to sell herself at the Menagerie. She agreed and he bought her indenture and took her from that horrible place

“Finding now what I've been missing,” - After getting to know Inej Kaz came to appreciate her for her talents and as a person. He had been living with his heart closed off, yet he grew fond of her

But I know

So I tell myself, I tell myself it's wrong

There's a point we pass from which we can't return

I felt the cold rain of the coming storm

“There's a point we pass from which we can't return,” - But due to Kaz’s trauma and resulting aversion to touch he has an immensely difficult time letting anyone in. No matter how much he may want to open himself up to Inej and let whatever is between them grow, he believes he’s far to damaged

All because of you

I haven't slept in so long

When I do I dream of drowning in the ocean

Longing for the shore where I can lay my head down

I'll follow your voice

All you have to do is shout it out

“When I do I dream of drowning in the ocean,” - Kaz spent days on Reapers Barge with the body of his dead brother. In the books he even had to use Jordie’s dead body as a float to swim back to shore because he was too small and weak from illness to make the long swim by himself. I cannot imagine how traumatic that would be

“Longing for the shore where I can lay my head down,” - But now when he finds that he wants to open up to Inej he’s haunted by the ghosts of his past. He had been alone for so long and wants someone he can feel safe enough to be vulnerable with. To finally be human and not just the Bastard of the Barrel. But does he even deserve happiness when Jordie’s dead?

“I'll follow your voice,” - Inej believes he does and he wants to believe her

Inside my hands these petals browned

Dried up, falling to the ground

But it was already too late now

I pushed my fingers through the earth

Returned this flower to the dirt

So it could live; I walk away now

“Inside my hands these petals browned,” - Though he loves Inej if he selfishly keeps her by his side she will wither, just as she would have if she stayed at the Menagerie. Maybe not as soon, but eventually because he believes he destroys everything he touches

“It was already too late now,” - Inej loves Kaz as well, but she cannot be with him if he’s not willing to open himself up and be vulnerable with her. As much as Kaz tries to do this he finds himself unable to do so. He believes he is far too damaged

“Returned this flower to the dirt,” / “So it could live; I walk away now,” - Kaz knows Inej desires true freedom and to reunite with her family and he believes she deserves that. So he gave Inej her freedom. Their contract no longer binding her to him. With the freedom to go anywhere and do anything she pleases Inej can finally blossom

But I know

Not a day goes by that I don't feel its burn

There's a point we pass from which we can't return

I felt the cold rain of the coming storm

“Not a day goes by that I don't feel its burn,” - Not a day goes by where Kaz does not think of Inej and his feelings for her. And for someone who closed himself off to everyone, even his own emotions, the feelings are finally bleeding through and they hurt! He feels the burn of his love for her and the regret of not believing he’s good enough for her. And he hates himself for it

“There's a point we pass from which we can't return,” - Kaz is truly in love with Inej and he cannot go back to closing himself and his emotions off to the world. And he’s trying for her. But will it ever be enough?

All because of you

“All because of you,” - All because of Inej Kaz had changed as a person. Because of her he’s grown to care for others (his Crows) as well. Even how he approaches the world as a criminal had changed. He considers how Inej would act and what she would think of his actions and has become softer

All because of you

I haven't slept in so long

When I do I dream of drowning in the ocean

Longing for the shore where I can lay my head down

Inside these arms of yours

“I haven't slept in so long,” - I imagine Kaz has had trouble sleeping since Jordie’s death, maybe even his father’s death, as that was also pretty traumatic. But now his feelings for Inej also keep him awake

“Inside these arms of yours,” - Kaz truly wants to be able to touch, hold, and be held by Inej. But between both of their trauma it’s very challenging. In their time together Inej has grown and is willing to open herself up to him, but so far he has not been able to. But he wants to. He’s willing to work on opening up for her

All because of you

I believe in angels

Not the kind with wings

No, not the kind with halos

The kind that bring you home

When home becomes a strange place

I'll follow your voice

All you have to do is shout it out

“I believe in angels,” / “Not the kind with wings,” / “No, not the kind with halos,” - Kaz is not a spiritual person. He doesn’t believe in Inej’s saints or Ghezen. But he believes in Inej. Inej has preformed a miracle that Kaz thought impossible, she made him feel something again and he wants to be worthy of her love

“All you have to do is shout it out,” - All Inej had to do was ask and he was willing to change for her. He may not have conquered his demons yet and he may not yet believe he’s worthy of her love, but he’s trying for her. He waits for the day when she will return and silently hopes by then he’ll be able to open up to her and finally be worthy of her love

If you look at the song from that perspective “The Good Left Undone,” can indeed be viewed as a Kanej song. Maybe not a love song per se, but it definitely has Kanej vibes and will give you the feels! Let me know if you all have any other suggestions for alt-rock songs that have Six of Crows vibes especially wesper

I’ve added the Spotify link to the song below

#kanej #kaz x inej #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #grishaverse #six of crows #crooked kingdom #shadow and bone #netflix shadow and bone #netflix #character analysis #the good left undone #rise against #song recs #soc songs #spotify #song analysis

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bodgei · 1 year

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Do I keep trying for accessibility?

I know this isn’t gonna go anyplace, I don’t really have followers here and although I follow people here, since there is no way for me to read my dashboard I don’t think anyone will read this. I started trying to use this site again about a year ago, but there is no way to make it readable for me. I can’t read posts. Something about the site coding means I have to restart a screen reader for each line brake.

like this

and this

I have been asking for and suggesting reasonable accommodations since March - with not much in the was of response from the staff - depending on how you count it early March, second attempt first week of September, and the last update was 11-9 (basically ‘give us what phone you are using and we will see what we can do about the app. I gave them the info and they haven’t said anything to me since) I posted to humans asking how long I should wait to hear back - nothing, I tried to blaze it (hoping a mod would look at it and reach out, I didn’t expect them to actually let it blaze. Them letting something less than positive out there? LOL) also nothing.

So here is the thing, accessibility is hard. It takes time and money, and the staff is overburdened with everyone coming here. But here’s the thing, if they had starting addressing it in March this wouldn’t be an issue at this point. They could have been working on it for months before we got here.

Here are my suggestions as someone who is working on accessibility at her job:

Accessibility NEEDS to be part of your FAQs and a choice for your service tickets. I searched the FAQ and could only turn up a short thing about alt text - for tickets there is “Customize your blog” and “something else”

on the app serif fonts should be an option, with both light and dark background.

look into a accessible fonts there are tons of them out there (I know sans have been sold as more accessible and for some they are, but not for everyone.

There needs to be a way to make your dashboard have a dark serif font on a light background. I can make my blog look like that - so I can post but I can’t read my dashboard (guess what 4th person to touch my service ticket, low contrast doesn't have a serif font, so the wait for that answer was not productive)

Also, from my reading of the case law around websites, you need to be offering different sized fonts.

Twitter is going away, so basically I’ll be out there looking for a place that, or without social. I guess I will have a ton of spare time.

The TOG fandom is here, so I will never really be a part of it. Once twitter is gone I will have some affinity groups on discord - but the over arching fandom? So much of it comes back to this site and without pulling whole posts off into Word to change the font I can’t even know if it is something I want to read (also I use likes to denote the posts I want to try to read and culturally this site is super shitty about that)

One last thing - every bit of accessibility added helps non disabled people as well.

For my fandom friends from twitter and discord, how many of you had issues when dark mode was taken away? Think about how you would feel if the staff response was “you never needed that, you just need to try harder” and then they ghost you. And then every time you try harder your fellow fans are talking about how shitty it is for people to do the only thing that, ironically, is allowing you to read that post.

Do I care enough about this site to fight to make it better? Because I think that is what the staff isn’t understanding - I am trying to help them make this site better.

OK this really is the last thing, have some song lyrics: (from Working In A Coal Mine by Lee Dorsey)

workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down'Course I make a little money Haulin' coal by the ton But when Saturday rolls around I'm too tired for havin' funToo tired for havin' I'm just workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip down Workin' in a coal mine Goin' down, down, down Workin' in a coal mine Oops, about to slip downLord, I'm so tired

#TOG fandom #accessibility #accessibility helps everyone #disability #learning disability #I think I will miss social media

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iloveamagician · 8 months

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OH, DISMEMBERMENT PLAN...

what an insane band name, when I first started listening to them, I had no idea what "to dismember" meant, I only looked up the dictionary definition after seeing people's reactions such as "????????" and "the WHAT plan????!!!!", when they had been recommended the band. It happens. I feel it belongs to the experience of people who aren't native speakers of English, yet they've grown up surrounded by music in the language. Music comes first, lyrics second, meaning... third??

I still have a clear memory of ten-year-old me memorizing all the lyrics to my favorite Linkin Park songs. While I recognized some of the words I was singing along to, I wasn't able to decipher their meanings and wasn't even trying to. That band was my first real obsession. Hyperfixation, perhaps. They were the music I would play when I was given access to youtube on the family computer. Turns out I didn't get to grow up to be the person who gets the aux. In my teenage years I went through so many more music phases, a journey I'd love to discover in better detail across many more posts in the future. There was my metal phase with a milion subphases within it (since there is probably more subgenres than bands), then a prog and alt rock phase, then in the summer of 2019 a friend introduced me — 16 year old, coming to terms with their newly discovered queer identity — to car seat headrest, which swept me like an ocean wave and irreversibly changed my music taste and also me as a person.

The world of indie music opened itself to me, so many new artists, bands, but more importantly specific albums by those artists, dc snuff film/waste yrself, the glow pt. 2, itaots, souvlaki... all the classics, but none of them had a hold on me as strong as Twin Fantasy by CSH, Come In by Weatherday, Funeral by Arcade Fire, YWNKW by Sweet Trip, and – well, my Elliott Smith obsession was yet to come but we can count XO in there too. But in the midst of all these albums, you could find Emergency & I, a record that I enjoyed when I first listened to it, I didn't really think much of it, but I really felt the need to return to it. And then again and again, I best enjoyed the fun, most standard songs, What Do You Want Me To Say and Gyroscope, I loved hearing the small weird details in them, the time signatures, the mindblowing drumming... the album didn't mean a lot to me at first. I was still 17 when I first heard it, I needed to grow into it.

A year later I got into a long distance relationship, I started university, I moved from my small town to a big city. And it sucked, I wasn't really able to make any friends, I couldn't handle the pressure of schoolwork, my depression got much worse, my adhd meds weren't really doing anything, at some point I stopped leaving my dorm room and I ended up sinking into a deep metaphorical pit and eventually dropping out after four months. Fun stuff. The reason why I am mentioning all this is that there is a strong correlation between my music journey and my life journey. And Emergency & I is the college age young adult album. There is so much loneliness packed into it but it's not exactly sad or depressing. This album can be kind of laid back, or extremely anxious, it can be very nihilistic and dystopian, it can be very fun or it can completely rip your heart out, it can make you think "yeah I do know these people", it can be very silly and the next second it throws the most poetic and beautiful words at you that fill your heart and head with an abundance of images and feelings. And it gets better the more you grow into it and the more you relate to it, and even if you don't relate to everything, the songwriting and storytelling is so perfect and emotionally intense that it will rip its claws into you and never let you go.

In the last year and a half I've managed to get myself into a much better place in terms of mental health and academic success. I started studying again, this time a subject I love (languages), I found some amazing friends, the long distance relationship has turned into a less distance relationship and we see each other relatively often and things are going great and I finally realized that Emergency & I is the best album ever made. Because even when everything is going great, maintaining all those parts of my life is not easy at all and this album knows it too well. Okay, maybe it is not the best album ever made, but it is the best album for me. At this stage of my life.

But do I claim that after over three years, I understand the meaning of this album perfectly? Not really. Well, I bet not even Travis Morrison does, because how could he have predicted the intensity of the feelings I go through each time I listen to the album, or the impossible to fill void that appears inside of my chest after the final track ends, making me long for more of those feelings but also making me sad becuase there is nothing else quite like E&I...

And, you know, maybe I was wrong and the song meaning does not come third. Maybe the first time you listen to a song, it already means something to you. Maybe that is why I was drawn back to the album. Each time I listen to it I am a different person. And the songs mean different things. Of course I understand more of the song lyrics the more I read them and listen to them and analyze them but words can only go so far in terms of meaning. The band created the songs with certain ideas in their heads but those ideas have been transformed so many times, from their minds through their instruments, on paper, to the recordings, the masters, and then to the ears and minds of thousands of people, through different mediums, through different means of discovery. Songs mean different things to you when a friend recommends them to you or when you find them on your own, even before you listen to them. And I am not even mentioning live performances where your body vibrates with the music and the room and the songs are changed ever so slightly each time. Nobody experiences music the same way.

And I could talk for hours about what exactly the album means to me but I cannot and also do not want to fit all of it in one post. I want to dedicate a separate post to each of the songs on this album, which is one of the things my blog is going to be about, but I don't want to limit myself to being only a dismemberment plan fan, I want to document my music journey here, both by looking into the past and sharing my current favorites (for example get ready for a ton of weatherday posting this year). This post is just me speaking random sentences into the void, to prepare everyone for all of my future long posts, which are also going to be me ranting into the void, hoping things will end up making at least some sense to at least one of you (assuming somebody will read this, but I know this place is full of nerds just as obsessed with things as me (or even more, actually) so my chances aren't a complete zero).

tldr listen to dismemberment plan, it might change your life. I am not conscious enough to proofread. goodnight <3

#dismemberment plan #indie rock #music #csh #90s music #indie #weatherday #nonbinary #I plan to irreversibly damage the music taste of all the gays on here and I am not sorry

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musicastrologer · 9 months

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90s Music and Uranus Neptune Conjunctions

I personally don't fall under this aspect as I was born in the late 90s not early 90s but those who do are part of a pretty intriguing generation as uranus neptune conjunctions take over 100 years to repeat

There's loads of stuff on the Internet about how people with this aspect in their natal chart are into fringe philosophies and mysticism so I won't go into that but it does interest me to see which albums where released when this conjunction was taking place or in the shadow of it:

Nirvana, In Utero

Weezer, The Blue Album

Alice In Chains, Jar of Flies

Greenday, Dookie

Oasis, Definitely Maybe

Bad Religion, Stranger Than Fiction

I may have cherry picked a bit as I am into a lot of alt rock but let's analyse some of these releases in light of the planetary conjunction. There was also a lot of technological innovation that same year as musicians began to dabble with internet sales but that's a classic uranus-neptune aspect. uranus neptunw governs boundary pushing and taking things to the edge of creative consciousness, so it makes total sense that these albums were released while this conjunction was in the sky as all of them represented a change or nee beginning in terms of creativity for the artists who made them

My personal tastes aside, is it any coincidence that so many alternative rock albums were released in this year? The grunge scene dealt with depression and addiction; uranus neptune conjunctions often govern these matters and thus the energy was probably right for these lyrical and musical themes to be brought to light. Just my two cents.

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alarrytale · 2 months

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Are you a fan of the band W*llows? (censoring as to not attract stans) Something about them really hits the spot for me of what Louis' place could be in the industry/ the type of thing I feel like he's going for.

Hi, anon!

At first i thought you meant "Willows", and let me just say if you're starting an alt/indie band, don't name your band Willows lol. There are so many! Since i didn't think you meant americana/folk music or ru*sian indie-pop (no stans to attract by censoring the band name either lol) i finally figured out you must mean "Wal*ows". The band of the 13 rea*ons why dude.

I hadn't heard of them and i just heard three of their songs. I half liked one of them. The sound isn't bad, but to me the lyrics were uninspired and the songs were repetitive. It's like i've heard it before and it doesn’t stand out? Sorry if you really like them. I get what you mean sound wise, i feel like there are some similarities with Louis' music. I just feel like if Louis moves more in that direction he'll have so much competition. There are just so many bands making this kind of music and i feel he'll struggle to compete, stand out and be taken seriously.

Louis' strenghts in my opinion lies in his lyrics and his emotional delivery of them. He's also good at melodies. What's working against him is that he's solo and not part of a band, doesn’t play an instrument, hasn't got a social or political message he wants to convey, or is struggling to make it in the industry (like a true indie artist). So if i wants to play to his strenghts, pop/indie-pop is what he should aim for in my opinion.

The more he moves away from mainstream pop music, the less he's going to be played on radio (even less than now). The more he moves away from mainstream pop music the less of appeal he's going to have to the gp. If he's still wanting to be a world touring artist, able to sell out 20k venues, he needs the gp (or to mobilise and engage his former 1D fanbase). I think he's got it in him, but i don't think he can afford to make big changes in his sound away from pop. He's currently splitting the fandom, he's gained young more indie/punk pop fans and he's losing his louies from the 1D days who reminisce about "Stole my heart" and the Ed Sheeran sounding songs. He can't, of course, please everybody. That's why Matt Vine*s is trying his hardest to force the 1D fandom/louie directioners to support Louis as an indie artist. I don't know how well that’s working for them. I don't think fans of indie music sees Louis as an indie artist. Right now it feels like he's got his feet in different camps. He could stay where he's at right now, but he isn't fully pleasing anybody. Problem is, if he chooses a camp he'll lose fans. So i'm really interested to see what he does for his next album. What i think he should do, what i expect him to do and what i want him to do is three different things entirely.

#this got long #long post #solo louis #fandom #lthq

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whataweirdfeeling · 3 months

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HELLO welcome to WAWF WEDNESDAY your monthly WAWF update [1st Wednesday of each month]

Considering it is now the month of February check out some of the new things WAWF has been up to for the final month of WAWFswinter

Read below to find out what else WAWF has been up to this month

WAWF NEWS: WE ❤️ WAWF WEDNESDAY

As you may know WAWF was announced as a brand last year in early January[2023] and was officially announced as an unofficial e-magazine on the first Wednesday of February[2023] WAWF Wed was announced later that week making TODAY an official YEAR OF WAWF WEDNESDAYYYYYY AHHHHHHHHH

WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT WAWF HAS RECEIVED THUS FAR To show just how happy we are.. just how much WE ❤️ WAWF WEDNESDAY.. and just how much we're gonna miss WAWFswinter..

WAWF will be dropping a BRAND NEW article EVERY WEDNESDAY this February with fellow friends and artists from all over

Read more to find out what other exciting things WAWF has planned

WAWF’s CRANKING

Recent: All Is Yellow [Album] - Lyrical Lemonade

Bars ~ A Cold Sunday [Single] - Lil Yachty, Bandit [Single] - Don Toliver, 2 Faced [Single] - LUCKI

Alt ~ Underdressed at the Symphony [Album] - Faye Webster, MADRA [Album] - NewDad, Burning Down The House [Single] - Paramore

Smooth ~ act i: stickerz “99” [Single] - 4batz, talking to the wind [Ep] - UMI, ORQUíDEAS [Album] - Kali Uchis

Lowkey: King Tut [Single] - Hardrock

Bars ~ Decatur [Single] - tana, Bye [Single] - Yung Kayo, Empire [Single] - D Savage

Alt ~ Pick-Up Full Of Pink Carnations [Album] - The Vaccines, Melt the Honey [Album] - PACKS, glass beach [Album] - plastic death

Smooth ~ santhosam [Album] - Priya Ragu, Sundown [Album] - Eddie Chacon, The Omnichord Real Book [Album] - Meshell Ndegeochello

Still in Rotation: Drunk [Album] - Thundercat

Bars ~ To Pimp A Butterfly [Album] - Kendrick Lamar, Coloring Book [Album] - Chance The Rapper, Black Up [Album] - Shabazz Palaces

Alt ~ Diary 001 [Ep] - Clairo, Honeybloom [Album] - Choker, Salad Days [Album] - Mac Demarco

Smooth ~ The ArchAndroid [Album] Janelle Monáe, Negro Swan [Album] - Blood Orange, MAGDALENE [Album] - FKA Twigs

Throwback: A Future without a Past [Album] - Leaders Of The New School

Bars ~ Madvillainy [Album] - Madvillian, Phantom of the Rapra [Album] - Bushwick Bill, SlaughtaHouse [Album] - Masta Ace Incorporated

Alt ~ Summerteeth [Album] - Wilco, Strangers from the Universe [Album] - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, Charmed Life [Album] - Half Japanese

Smooth ~ II [Album] - Boyz II Men, St. Elsewhere [Album] - Gnarls Barkley, Vanessa Paradis [Album] - Vanessa Paradis

WAWF’s MAKING

Welcome to WAWF’s Making where you can check out new WAWF creations or join in on the fun

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MORE DETAILS ON WHAT WERE MAKING ^

Check out the link below for our 'What A Weird Sticker' form and submit your own design to be placed on it’s own WAWF sticker and be purchased through our WAWFshop by all

WAWF’s Wearing

Checkout the latest WAWF article to see some of our new 'w❤️Ww' pieces

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Check out videos like these on our official WAWF Instagram @whataweirdfeeling or our curators very own @vyngak

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We hope you have been enjoying WAWFswinter and of course our 3rd [most recent] WAWF SHOP DROP

WAWF Magazine pushes art fashion culture and much more Stay tuned for all of the exciting new things we have planned for the future

Words/Curated by @vyngak

#Instagram #magazine #wawf mag #fashion #wawf #wawf magazine #fashion magazine #what a weird feeling #Spotify #SoundCloud

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just-otter-thoughts · 7 months

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Hello

Hi! Welcome to my blog.

My name is Lex, but you can also call me Mason, Opeth, Vladislav (Vlad for short), Aragorn, Ezra, Thall and Paddy. I'm a certified otter and wish I had the confidence to post thirst traps like all these other otters on Tumblr. This blog is just posts that I think are cool and original funnyposts. I may reblog fanart and furry art sometimes.

I really fucking like music, especially progressive metalcore and progressive death metal (and a touch of djent). My favorite bands are Jinjer, Periphery, Opeth, Meshuggah and A Sense of Gravity. I also like pop (Billie Eilish, Melanie Martinez, Britney Spears) and EDM (Crystal Castles, Alice Glass). I like screaming a lot (the metal kind). Oh, and there's some artists I really like that I don't know how to categorize (Kim Dracula, Jazmin Bean). I'd like to be in a band at some point doing vocals.

I really fucking like Half-Life. Like really. If you want me to I can narrate the entire story from Half-Life 1 all the way over to Half-Life 2 Episode 2. I also am a huge fan of Portal and speedrun Portal 1. Under the cut is my latest Portal Inbounds run (257th place as of writing this).

I write fanfic sometimes, you can find that stuff under #writing and #fanfiction. Sometimes there'll be a poem and original fiction here and there.

Under the cut is my tagging system and some alt codes for myself (though you can use them as well). This post will have all the tags because Tumblr's search feature is dookie.

All the tags that use "Mason" as a first name are older, the ones that use "Lex" are newer. I'm tagging both because changing all the posts with the old tag would be a hassle.

#mason speaks his mind & #lex speaks his mind — Original posts.

#mason does vocals — Currently don't use this tag much, I used to post singing clips and what I thought were safe fry screams. Please don't listen to the screams. Please.

#mason takes meds — Inactive tag that I once used to report on how my psych meds were affecting me.

#lex shows himself — Pictures of me.

#lyric posting — Sometimes I just feel like posting lyrics and sometimes I like to go back and see those posts.

#important — Legal things and things to look at when feeling down.

I have a dreamcore/liminalcore sideblog which is @abaddon-of-secrets. I don't use it a lot at the moment but there's still stuff there. I also have a ventblog but I don't want anyone seeing that shit.

Hex codes for special characters:

U+2003 -> [EM SPACE]

U+2013 -> – [EN DASH]

U+2014 -> — [EM DASH]

U+01F7 → Ƿ Uppercase Wynn

U+01BF → ƿ Lowercase Wynn

U+201A -> ‚ [SINGLE LOW-9 QUOTATION MARK] (comma for tags)

U+2122 -> ™ [TRADEMARK SYMBOL]

U+2026 -> … [HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS]

Post that leads to alternate dashboards

Portal Inbounds run (no video only demos)

Portal Inbounds run with video (2min slower than my current PB)

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thisworldisablackhole · 4 months

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Top 25 Albums of 2023

These are not reviews, simply blurbs of my thoughts on each release. Some have more effort put into them than others. So without further ado...

25. Cursetheknife - There’s A Place I Can Rest

SOUNDS LIKE: HEAVY SOFT ALT ROCK FOR STARGAZING ENTHUSIASTS / LISTEN

Oklahoma rock group cursetheknife caught me by surprise with this release. This was one of those unplanned listens that I checked on a whim because I was intrigued by their 2000s emo "no spaces allowed" type band name paired with a black and white still life painting of an urn and some... cubes? I like it. This record is really great at being loud and quiet. Acoustic guitars and hushed, tired vocals are interrupted by a massive wall of crunchy guitars coloured by pretty harmonics and sustained tremolo bends. Reminds me of both the earth shattering gaze of Hum and the moody depressive folk of Pygmy Lush. A combo I never expected to hear but one that won me over without hesitation.

24. Militarie Gun - Life Under the Gun

SOUNDS LIKE: MELODIC POST-HARDCORE FOR GROOVERS / LISTEN

I wasn't a huge fan of the mix on Militarie Gun's earlier EP's. I liked what they were trying to do musically, but it sounded dry and flat, and vocalist Ian Shelton's strained pleas for love hardly changed their inflection enough to keep me waiting on stand by. My first impressions of this band were completely turned on their head and booted into outer space when I saw them live. Everything made sense. The mix from stage was loud and dynamic, with just enough room verb to slick up their sound. The songs were tight, catchy, and had enough punch to shake you to your core. Their performance that night left me awed, and I’m happy to say that version of the band I saw on the big stage is much better portrayed on this LP. What we get is 12 songs of 90s influenced, groove laden post hardcore that would make any fan of Fugazi, Lungfish or Self Defence Family happy.

23. PinkPantheress - Heaven Knows

SOUNDS LIKE: DRUM & BASS WITH SOUR KEY POP HOOKS / LISTEN

Where are you feat. WILLOW was the first song to draw me into the downtempo bubble gum world of PinkPantheress. Downtempo and bubble gum might sound like distant, thrice removed descriptions, but melancholic piano leads, ambient backing vocals and breakbeat drum samples are combined with PinkPantheress’ signature high pitched, sweet vocal delivery and highschool journal-esque lyrics in a way that hasn’t been done before. Things are generally more upbeat on this album, and it’s good that way. I actually think her style works better when the energy is high and the drums are quick. This album is almost flawless with the exception songs like Bury me, Internet baby and Feelings where the bass lines slow down into a warp, the drums become more sparse, and the lyrics become more repetitive. It’s these moments where the energy and charm are lacking and the result is just meh. Trim the fat, take out a few of these songs, and the album would be a 5/5.

22. Year of the Knife - No Love Lost

SOUNDS LIKE: HEAVY HARDCORE WITH LONG HAIR SENSIBILITIES / LISTEN

Woof, not only does this band have the grit and claws to survive and face real life tragedy, but their tough as nails resolve as individuals is fully apparent through the music they create as well. This album is punishing, frantically violent, but measured and controlled. This band absolutely smokes through powerviolence blast beats and nasty death metal riffage with a cool head, creating a record that teeters on the edge of deathcore at times without ever giving in to the cornball theatrics (which I love btw).

21. END - The Sin of Human Frailty

SOUNDS LIKE: CHAOS, PANIC, CAUSTIC BURNS, METALCORE / LISTEN

Face melting, pummeling madness, blah blah name your adjective, this band has it. Dissonant and chaotic metalcore that will make you feel like you’re being buried alive - face down in the dirt fighting for your life. The production on this thing is DENSE and begs to be played loudly. The layers of noise are packed together in a tight weave that really adds to the oppressive, suffocating nature of their music. Yet it all begins to break apart and show it’s intricate colours the more volume you pump into the speakers. If you’re not a fan by the time Hollow Urn hits you with that cinematic, theatre rumbling bass drop that sounds like a war horn from hell, then I don’t know what to tell you.

20. Panopticon - The Rime of Memory

SOUNDS LIKE: UR LAST MOMENTS BEFORE YOU DIE IN THE WOODS ALONE LOL, ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL / LISTEN

This is it, this is gonna be the album that finally reignites my love for black metal. Beautiful, atmospheric, sad. The opening two tracks are full of gothic folk passages packed with orchestral strings, acoustic guitars and even a softly blown flute. By the time the blasting drums, guitars and tortured howls kick in 8 minutes into Winter’s Ghost, it feels like you just got snapped thru a speed run flash back of someone’s personal grief simulation. Your heart will sink through the fucking floor, but from that pain will rise immense beauty and the courage to trudge thru the brutal, frozen wasteland soundscapes of The Rime of Memory.

19. Silent Planet - SUPERBLOOM

SOUNDS LIKE: THE SOFTWARE CHIP IN YOUR BRAIN IS MALFUNCTIONING, METALCORE / LISTEN

I’ve been watching Silent Planet from the sidelines for a couple years now, first being introduced to them through their 2021 effort Iridescent, and then dabbling in some of their older catalog which oddly made me think of an alternate timeline where La Dispute was a metalcore band. I wasn’t a huge fan of hearing melodramatic slam poetry before my breakdowns, but they had a knack for songwriting which made them hard to discredit. Their earlier work just seemed like something I would have had to be there for on release to fully appreciate. Now was my chance. When singles started dropping for SUPERBLOOM, I was excited to finally be on board the hype train for one of their records. This record ended up showcasing a heavier, more modern and electronic influenced side of the band than we’ve seen before. Anecdotally, when this was released I was in the midst of a Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough, and found it to be a very fitting soundtrack to the game. Colourful and archaic. There are a lot of fun and creative ideas on this LP, some of which aren’t given ample room to breathe, but are nonetheless present. I found some of the tracks a little unmemorable at first but it honestly sounds better the more time I give it between listens. Only time will tell how it continues to age.

18. Polaris - Fatalism

SOUNDS LIKE: THE BOUNCY CASTLE AT UR PARTY IS DEFLATING, METALCORE / LISTEN

Polaris are good at what they do. Maybe too good. They are at the pinnacle of modern progressive metalcore alongside bands like Erra and Northlane, but whereas Erra excels in technical proficiency, and Northlane excels in synth pop metal integration, Polaris just brings down the emotional hammer. This band excels in the art of mixing heavy progressive riffs with soaring, passionate, radio ready choruses that just tug at your heart strings. I think Fatalism is overall heavier than their 2020 album The Death of Me, but they have doubled down on all the parts of their formula which make their songwriting so effective at simultaneously jerking tears and making your fists swing in a rage.

17. Night Verses - Every Sound Has A Color in the Valley of Night…

SOUNDS LIKE: SWIRLING, INTOXICATING INSTRUMENTAL PROG METAL / LISTEN

I was pretty adamantly opposed to instrumental music outside of electronic and ambient for a long time until I recently started reading books again. I wanted to see if I could get two birds stoned at once and listen to some tunes that I would usually avoid while I absorb words. I ended up enjoying this release so much that I started listening to it even when I wasn't reading books, but it does make every page you read play out like an intense action scene, so I'm inclined to continue listening in that fashion. Night Verses are an instrumental metal band, but don't go into this expecting full gas technical wankery. Night Verses are pro's at utilizing restraint and softer textures to weave a narrative with their instruments. Never have I encountered a band so skilled at telling a story without words.

16. Termina - Soul Elegy

SOUNDS LIKE: EMO ROBOTS FROM NEPTUNE DISCOVER TECHY DEATHCORE / LISTEN

I was first introduced to this outfit through their single Parasocial and was immediately sold. Sharp, twisting angular guitar leads over over deathcore inspired instruments and vocals. At one point the instruments drop out into an evil bass heavy hip hop beat with pitch shifted demon vocals before launching straight back into full auditory assault. It was just straight up one of the coolest switch ups I've heard in a metal song before and I was really hyped to hear what else they had in store. Ultimately I didn't enjoy the other singles on first listen as much as Parasocial, but the rest of the album really delivered upon release. There are points during this record where I feel like it was written by an AI; algorithmically engineered to release the right amounts of dopamine in my brain at specific intervals to keep me engaged. I don't mean that as an insult, as the result is a highly addicting LP that hits all the hallmarks of modern metal while still feeling innovative and fun.

15. Dying Wish - Symptoms of Survival

SOUNDS LIKE: THAT SHIT UR 40 YEAR OLD METALHEAD HOMIE PUTS ON THE AUX, TURN OF THE CENTURY MELODIC METALCORE / LISTEN

I was exposed to this band when they were on tour with Counterparts. The bill that night was supposed to be Counterparts, Dying Wish, Foreign Hands and SeeYouSpaceCowboy, but unfortunately Foreign Hands had their vehicle broken into in Washington and couldn't cross the border. I was still treated to a ménage à trois of metalcore excellence that night, but was especially blown away by Dying Wish as they were the only band on the bill I wasn't familiar with. My expectations were low and they spin kicked me in the teeth with their oldschool melodeath inspired riffs. From that moment on I was eagerly awaiting this album. The singles they drip fed us showed a marked improvement in their songwriting and especially in Emma's performance as a vocalist. The full album proved to be a worthy contender, bringing back a solid nostalgic sound to an arena packed to the brim of tiresome modernity. I still can't get the sound of those crash laden breakdowns out of my head.

14. fromjoy - fromjoy

SOUNDS LIKE: CHAOTIC GRINDIN MATHCORE MADE BY DEPRESSED ZOOMERS WHO PROBS GREW UP ON 4CHAN / LISTEN

This is a very recent addition to this list, but one that has swiftly earned it's place. There have been plenty of bands this year that have done this kind of chaotic, math influenced metalcore, but none that have blended the sound with electronic breakbeats and haunting choruses the same way fromjoy has. I can get kind of tired of albums that are just 100% speed and brutality front to back, but fromjoy have injected enough elements of other genres here to offer moments of respite from their brain melting, hellish soundscapes. Songs like of the shapes of hearts and humans, or the saxophone vaporwave of Helios, are much like a bench atop a canyon vista. A moment to regroup and recover before you continue pushing that boulder up hill.

13. Invent Animate - Heavener

SOUNDS LIKE: U JUST PISSED OFF SOME ANGELS BRUH, METALCORE / LISTEN

Invent Animate are a progressive, atmospheric metalcore band. Sounds pretty fuckin cool to me, but I have a strange relationship with this album. It's an album that I've always liked, but have really struggled to connect with on an individual track basis. It took months of casual listening before I could really differentiate one track from another. It all sort of blurred together, which is on one hand a testament to the atmosphere they have created with this record, but on the other hand it created a challenge to find specific moments to draw me back in. Despite that I still really enjoyed the general sound of what I was hearing; heavy polyrhythmic riffs backed by icy reverberated synthesizers which melted into breakdown ASMR in my headphones. It wasn't really a hard decision to continue giving it a chance to grow on me, and I'm glad I did.

12. TesseracT - War of Being

SOUNDS LIKE: IF DREAM THEATER WAS GOOD LOL, PROGRESSIVE METAL / LISTEN

I was a huge fan of TesseracT's album One back in the early 2010's. I decided to revisit that album earlier this year just out of curiosity to see if I would still enjoy that kind of music, and I was pleased to find that the album still sounded just as good to my 28 year old brain as it did to my 16 year old brain. It's always a nice feeling to realize that your younger self didn't have terrible taste in music. During this time of re-listening to One I had no idea that they were on the verge of releasing a new album. When the single War of Being dropped in July I was absolutely floored to find out that not only did their old material still hold up, but their newest material was absolutely on par with it. The groove, the heaviness, the atmosphere, Daniel Tompkins sultry sweet vocals and crushing screams. It was clear to me that TesseracT hadn't missed a single step in their newest endeavor. It was a full package that made the 16 year old in me gleam from ear to ear.

11. Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht

SOUNDS LIKE: LEGOLAS FUCKED UP AND TOSSED GIMLI STRAIGHT INTO THE ORCS, SYMPHONIC DEATHCORE / LISTEN

I didn't even really know what deathcore was until I saw Lorna Shore's Pain Remains plastered all over the front page of sputnikmusic and the users top albums of 2022 lists. I decided to give it a try out of morbid curiosity and discovered that I actually really loved the combination of heavy as fuck instrumentation, twisted pig squeal vocals and symphonic, fantasy soundtrack-esque passages. It was like nothing I had ever heard before and I loved the total absurdity of it. Discovering Mental Cruelty just cemented my newfound love for this genre. Zwielicht is epic, grandoise, brutal, disgusting and beautiful all at the same time. The symphonic breakdown on Pest makes me feel like I'm listening to a metal record while witnessing firsthand the battle of Helm's Deep in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkein's The Two Towers. Dark and dramatic, this album perfectly conjoins my love for both extreme metal and fantasy.

10. The Republic of Wolves - Why Would Anyone Want To Live This Long?

SOUNDS LIKE: YOU JUST GAVE THE INDIE KID A NOOGIE, LOUD ALT ROCK / LISTEN

The Republic of Wolves completely blindsided us with a surprise EP in December, just two weeks before Christmas. I had listened to this band very briefly back in 2011 when they released The Cartographer, but it wouldn't be until discovering Shrine a couple years ago that I really fell head over heels for them. Their moody, dim lit and introspective brand of post hardcore tinged indie rock felt like it was tailor made for my tastes. To put it simply, this new EP is fantastic, but it comes with a caveat; the mix. It is raw and unpolished. Maybe a little thin and tinny sounding when compared to Shrine. This release is kind of like a haphazard demo tape thrown together just to remind the world that they still have the chops, and boy do they ever. Hidden below the rough edges of this recording is some of their most adventurous and rewarding song writing. Beautiful moments reveal themselves like treasure chests on the high seas, and the closer you get the more they glisten.

9. Koyo - Would You Miss It?

SOUNDS LIKE: I DONT HAVE ANYTHING FUNNY FOR THIS ONE, SAD POP PUNK IS ALREADY A JOKE / LISTEN

Pop punk! A genre that I always thought was kinda corny and lame until I started listening to The Story So Far and realized that it can actually be incredibly potent, emotionally charged and energetic form of catharsis. Koyo really fit the bill when I was searching for more bands that would satisfy my TSSF cravings. Although I'm not a huge fan of "gruff bearded IPA guy" vocals in punk music, Koyo's songs were so catchy and impactful that even the singer eventually won me over, and this record found itself in constant rotation.

8. Maruja - Knocknarea

SOUNDS LIKE: HARDCORE KIDS STARTED LISTENING TO JAZZ AND NICK CAVE, POST PUNK / LISTEN

My friend randomly sent me a song from this, saying that it auto played for him on spotify and he thought I would like it. I was enthralled by it immediately and it ended up being the best thing he has ever recommended to me. I am a huuge sucker for saxophone and firmly stand behind the opinion that horns can improve almost any genre of music, especially when that genre is moody post punk blasting straight out of the smoky stairwell exit of an underground english club. Maruja's use of the saxophone is much more than just a garnish though, it is woven into the structure of each song the same way a guitar would be. When paired with the anguished croons of vocalist Harry Wilkinson, the result is an atmosphere almost oppressive with it's heavy yet deeply moving temperament. This will undoubtedly be a band to pay close close attention to in the coming years.

7. Johnny Booth - Moments Elsewhere

SOUNDS LIKE: BOTCH TAPE IS IN THE STEREO AND UR BRAKES JUST STOPPED WORKING, METALCORE / LISTEN

I had never heard of this band before this album dropped, and I only checked it out because their name sounded weird as hell to me. I thought we left name-names like Billy Talent in the dust years ago. What I wasn't prepared for was the scourge of angry-fun math infused metalcore behind it's surreal cover art. One thing that made this album stand out to me was the pure variety of sounds and influences available. Everything from Botch worship, dreamy alt rock reminiscent of the softer cuts on Loathe's 2020 mammoth ILIIAITE, and Blood Brothers inspired "four on the floor" dance punk. This album portrays itself like a psych-ward colouring book, and the result is an album that never feels boring or out of touch.

6. Spiritbox - The Fear of Fear

SOUNDS LIKE: NEW AGE, EASY LISTENING, ALTERNATIVE METALCORE / LISTEN

Spiritbox have been a controversial band in the metal community, mainly criticized for their streamlined, "sterile" (not my words) take on pop infused metalcore. I for one love the fact that they are creating heavy music that is still accessible, smooth, and packs enough heart to caress the unwrinkled surface of my brain. This EP is extremely succinct, all killer no filler, and just a really great example of all the strong suits this band has to offer. Songs like Cellar Door and Angel Eyes are just heavy and intense, purely utilizing harsh vocals to convey the feeling of anxiety that comes with grappling your sense of self. Nothing has resonated with me this year more than Courtney screaming "I can't live in this world while I breathe in another one" right before the heaviest fucking breakdown. Too Close / Too Late, The Void, and Ultraviolet are all shimmering and beautiful alt-metal tracks with no harsh vocals present at all. Jaded sits firmly in between, open arms firmly grasping from all corners of Spiritbox's repertoire to create a perfect balance of screaming, frost bitten metallic riffs and a chorus so catchy it could rival some of the biggest pop R&B artists on the radio today.

5. Nothing,nowhere. - Void Eternal

SOUNDS LIKE: THE PICTURES IN YOUR HIGHSCHOOL LOCKER, NU METAL, METALCORE / LISTEN

Given the fact that this album features Pete Wentz, Shane Told, Buddy Nielsen, Underoath vocalists Spencer and Aaron, as well as some more contemporary artists such as Will Ramos, Connie Sgarbossa and Olli Appleyard, it confuses me to see how little it is talked about. I don't know if this album completely flew under the radar of post hardcore and metalcore fans, or if it was just written off as over produced studio nostalgia bait. Naysayers be damned as there are some seriously catchy, well written songs here. Even when the album ventures into Linkin Park nu-metal rap territory, Joe Mulherin is just such a talented vocalist and song writer that he always brings the songs back to earth with a bangin chorus or death defying breakdown.

4. Wednesday - Rat Saw God

SOUNDS LIKE: IF MBV WAS A COUNTRY BAND, TWANGY ALT ROCK / LISTEN

Kind of the oddball addition to this list, but god damn I love this album so much. Even though I come off as a metalcore fan first, a lot of my favourite artists are actually 90s indie rock bands of the slacker variety, and adjacent americana influenced singer songwriters. Wedneday checks all the boxes that I love about 90s alternative music. Rough around the edges but infectious with it's melody. Reminiscent of both the untuned honesty of David Berman and the super charged, off kilter charm of Swirlies.

3. Hail The Sun - Divine Inner Tension

SOUNDS LIKE: AN EDGIER, COOLER MARS VOLTA, PROGRESSIVE POST-HARDCORE / LISTEN

This was my most anticipated album of the year, and one that I made the unfortunate mistake of burning myself the fuck out on it's singles. I listened to Maladapted, Under the Floor, Chunker, and Mind Reader so many times in a row that when the full album was released, it just sounded WEIRD to me. Obviously I didn't let that get in the way of my enjoyment, but my brain had been wired to expect certain songs to be preceded by and followed by certain songs. Ya know what I mean. It threw me through a loop and it took a long time for the other songs to really click into place. Divine Inner Tension is one of Hail the Sun's strongest and most fun albums to date. These tracks are smart and witty, dazzling with it's technicality and playfulness. Math rock guitar harmonies, funky bass lines and spastic drum fills phase in and out of battle stances before breaking free into powerful choruses and descending back down their stairwell of madness. Vocalist Donovan Melero can be a bit of an acquired taste, but fans of The Mars Volta will feel right at home listening to the dramatic flair in the ceiling shattering range of his voice. Despite the fact that he can sometimes hold me back from recommending this band to people in my inner circle, I couldn't imagine a more perfect vocalist for the band. He knows how to command a room, and sometimes (if you close your eyes) the instruments feel like an extension of his voice, spreading from his open mouth like tendrils to do his bidding. Admittedly I still feel a stronger emotional connection to New Age Filth and Wake, but this band doesn't miss and I'm sure my emotional attachment to Divine Inner Tension will grow the more it marinates and the singles that I burnt myself on begin to simmer down into a stew on low boil.

2. Aviations - Luminara

SOUNDS LIKE: BEING EMBRACED BY THE SWEET WARMTH OF THE COSMOS, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, METAL / LISTEN

Beautiful melodies, progressive signatures, intricate harmonies, bright pianos and sweet, soaring vocals. This album engulfed me in it's gorgeous fiery glow and there was no looking back. Despite technically being a metal band, pure heaviness is merely a fork in the road on Aviations journey, a stormy mountain passage per se. In fact, I think one of the most impressive aspects of this band is their ability to utilize downtuned guitars and hard hitting polyrhythms in the softest way possible. Screams are sprinkled here and there on different tracks for emotional emphasis, but fourth track Legend is the only song on the album where the band goes all in on the heavy. They offer us a brief, deafening glimpse into their realm of madness before switching gears with La Jolla back into a band that sounds suspiciously like a modern church worship group, almost as if Legend was just an accidental slip of the mask that you were definitely not supposed to see. Watch your back. It doesn't matter which mask this band wears though, as everything they do is just beautiful and unique in it's ability to sound like a sunrise in motion. Adam Benjamin's vocals are just icing on top of an already sickingly sweet cake. His ability to dance between delicate falsetto and smooth, passionate wails makes me believe he has cherry blossoms and bleeding hearts in place of vocal chords. Luminara is a testament to what can be achieved when six technically proficient musicians come together with a central vision to create a a metal album that moves mountains with it's tenderness. The artistically explorative and emotionally impactful music they have laid down here make it an easy pick for second place.

1. Currents - The Death We Seek

SOUNDS LIKE: JUMPING IN THE BATH WITH A TOASTER OVEN, STICKING A FORK IN AN OUTLET, METALCORE / LISTEN

See below or click here for my full thoughts on the undisputed AOTY of 2023.

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luuurien · 5 months

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Garrett Atterberry - Vectrex

(Electropop, Synthpop, Alt-Pop)

Garrett Atterberry’s third full length pulls out every trick he has, breakbeats and psychedelic rap and dramatic balladry all part of Vectrex’s brilliant formula. It’s a colorful, bold, and lovingly overstuffed album that makes the most of his maximalist production and greater confidence as a vocalist.

☆☆☆☆½

Garrett Atterberry’s music is a combination of luxurious pop and a messy interior world, his sound the result of endless self-teaching and a constant pursuit of connection. It’s what made the best moments of his sophomore album Fairchild Channel F, surprise turns into pop rock and industrial dance-pop and atmospheric indie folk surprising but always delightful despite how far off course they veered, his wonderfully layered production and subtle vocals the throughline for it all. In the last two years, though, he’s further refined his style while holding onto all its distinctive qualities, his third and latest album Vectrex a loving overstuffed album that makes the most of his maximalist production and greater confidence as a vocalist, still jumping between genres and placing every texture he can fit in there but tightening the hooks and committing to a cohesive atmosphere even if he’s focused on playful hyperpop or brooding pop rap. It feels much longer than its 37 minute runtime because of how much is going on, pulling you into Atterberry’s world and balancing out weighty pop songs with slow jams and atmospheric electronica until there’s few other pop albums this year able to match its addictive formula. Vectrex knows what makes good pop stick and fuses it with his impossibly detailed production - it’s easy to see why it sticks the landing.

Atterberry’s writing and tone haven’t changed much, still painting in broad strokes with lyrics focused on heartbreak and mental instability, but it’s the triumphant tone and reinforced core of the music he uses to hold Vectrex together. Lead single Waste builds on its industrial percussion and buzzing pads with swirling vocoders that makes its anxious pining thick and overwhelming, later released in the warmth of The Road Home and Flatline Hotline’s final plea for understanding, the outline of Vectrex’s narrative found in the push-and-pull between waiting on connection and all the hope and anger between those few moments of release. The album’s first half is a killer six-track run, going from Sunshine (Like a Butterfly)’s apocalyptic electropop into the explosive back-to-back synthpop of Executioner and Heart Racer into the murky pop rap cut Mayday and Remains’ gorgeous drum and bass, culminating in the fiery centerpiece Light for a finale of jersey club drums and gospel harmonies - spreading the album out track by track might seem straightforward, but it outlines how Atterberry’s music can change in an instant, always pushing the boundaries of what can fit into his wiry electronica. There’s dozens of things to point out in any song here, be it Heart Racer’s panning arcade synths or the vocal sampling in New Vortex fully revealed in the outro, Vectrex filled with all these little things that make the full experience so fulfilling, sitting squarely in the sound and energy of homemade pop and operating on the idea that being able to make music on your own time should result in the fullest sound possible. Atterberry’s got as much time as he desires to pull off his vision, and Vectrex reaps the highest possible rewards from that.

All this detail can come at a cost to clarity, which is where the few rough spots of Vectrex reveal themselves. Vocal harmonies can feel unevenly balanced due to Atterberry’s lower voice and the digital effects needed to add those higher octaves, Sunshine (Like a Butterfly)’s chorus noticeably muddy between the thick chord layers and electric guitars and noisy drumming, while the undeniably lovely The Road Home is mixed quieter to fit in Atterberry’s dark bass voice, leading guest vocalist TaylorMae to stick out in her verse - none of these little things are enough to cause any major issues, but Atterberry’s fine tuning of the production for himself can leave features and certain instrumentation exposed much more than the rest, the monumental force of his music still tailored foremost to him. That’s not to say there aren’t fantastic features: hyperpop darling saoirse dream makes an appearance on the penultimate Flatline Hotline with a short and sweet verse atop its breakbeat drumming and thick piano chords; That Guy Veezy drops one of his strongest verses to date on the trippy final half of Mayday; shoegazer Divine Intentions layers their voice in hyperpop voice filters for the ear candy chorus of Heart Racer; but these features are given distinct sections where the production can be brought down to their level, whereas TaylorMae or The Arizon don’t fit in nearly as tight in their respective tracks. Regardless, Vectrex's uncompromising nature and passionate energy takes it all the way to the finish line, Atterberry’s quest for a steady path diverging across twelve lovely songs that make it clear how powerful he is with a specific and singular goal in mind.

A ton of ideas in just 37 minutes, Vectrex makes good on its promises, not a moment going to waste as Atterberry creates synthpop as catchy as it is adventurous. He never loses sight of what makes his music tick, even when drifting off into drum and bass or moody piano ballads, always daring to add one more level to his music and see how he can twist and turn it to fit somewhere in the mix. There’s no telling where he might go, but when he does reveal it the results are always electrifying - how many other albums would be so ambitious as to include a romantic dream pop cut between two of its heaviest electronic songs? It’s a joy from start to finish, cataloging the emotional waves of an uneven relationship and the loneliness that comes with every moment. His writing may speak of insecurity and confusion, but his music undoubtedly is not: Vectrex knows what it wants to be, and Atterberry materializes its every wish. He may still be doing it all on his own, but it’s tough to imagine him doing it any other way, Vectrex’s galactic pop achieved completely on his own terms. It’s a lot, and that’s exactly how he pulls you in.

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