#six underground icons

[pedrometal]

#Spotify #hazzacine #icons with psd #moodboard #moodboard with psd #aesthetic #with psd #gif #icons #marvel icons #moodboard with icons #ben hardy #ben hardy icons #6 underground #6 underground icons #four 6 underground #icons four #six underground #hunter schafer #hunter schafer moodboard #hunter schafer icons #hunter schafer layouts #euphoria #euphoria jules #alice pagani #alice pagani icons #alice pagani moodboard #alice pagani layouts #metallica #pedrometal

[shifting---patterns]

How Post-Punk Influenced Nowadays Fashion

It's been a long time since Malcolm McLaren opened his boutique "Sex" in the 1970s, and Vivienne Westwood equipped the Sex Pistols with their iconic outfits and sent them out onto King's Road. The approach back then was: "Being anti at all costs, against the establishment." Eventually, it turned into "Do It Yourself." It was fashionable because it tried not to be fashionable.

A few years later, members of Joy Division met at a Sex Pistols show in 1976 and started as a punk band. However, it soon evolved into something entirely different. When you listen to old Joy Division songs like "Warsaw" you can clearly hear the punk rock influences, but the band quickly started to deviate from the common motifs of the genre.

The music slowed down. The noisy guitar sound of punk was subdued to appear more intriguing, and Ian Curtis's existentialist lyrics, influenced by authors like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Franz Kafka, focused not on chaos, rebellion, and hedonism but reflected his fears, physical sufferings, and the absurdity in the face of the zeitgeist and social influences of the 1970s and 1980s, marked by changes and political uncertainty, forced Joy Division to experiment.

They created not only something musically unique but also something aesthetic. For example, with their monochromatic designs on their album covers for "Unknown Pleasures," which is probably the third best-selling T-shirt in fast fashion stores, alongside Nirvana and the Ramones T-shirts. Joy Division ended in 1980 after Ian Curtis hung himself in his kitchen. They not only helped shape the sub-genre "Post-Punk" but were also the unofficial soundtrack of existentialism. The soundtrack that made Joy Division's music feel so genuine. Because it was genuine.

Of course, in the 1960s, there were artists who processed existential themes in their lyrics. A good example would be Lou Reed of The Velvet Underground, who, heavily influenced by literature, dealt with many serious topics in his lyrics. However, it wasn't just their music; it was also their appearance that defined Joy Division. On stage, in promo pictures, and in interviews.

Ill-fitting shirts from army surplus stores, old man's pants, a few pair of derbies, big raincoats. Everything that was atypical for the punk movement, and many other artists, including The Cure, The Smiths, Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Alien Sex Friend or Sisters Of Mercy, went in the same direction: Through a dark, introspective, sometimes minimalist, but avant-garde aesthetic, they set themselves apart from punk and society, and looking at bands from the Post-Punk Revival from the 2000s like Interpol, Iceage, Molchat Doma, Boy Harsher, or Cold Cave, it quickly becomes apparent that this aesthetic has proven itself for almost 50 years.

This trend was, of course, not only an inspiration for musicians but also for artists, fashion designers, architects, and many more.

One designer that immediately comes to mind is Antwerp-Six member Ann Demeulemeester from Belgium, whose influences clearly evoke artists like Siouxsie Sioux or Patti Smith but also the playful goth look of the 1980s era by Rei Kawakubo (Comme Des Garcons) or Japan's goth father himself: Yohji Yamamoto.

Her story begins in Antwerp, where she initially studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and quickly got to know the other Antwerp-Six members. She and the Antwerp Six presented their collections at Fashion Week and quickly became highly esteemed designers, now considered among the greatest designers of all time. Many of Ann's collections featured songs by Patti Smith, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, or The Velvet Underground.

This alone shows the influence of Post-Punk on Ann Demeulemeester's designs. Her asymmetrical cuts and draperies, her monochromatic, Kawakubo and Yamamoto-inspired, mainly black designs were groundbreaking, bringing avant-garde ideas in a consumable form to the people.

Another noteworthy designer from Antwerp is Raf Simons and his collections. Raf Simons grew up in the 1980s and was deeply rooted in the punk and goth subculture, whose influence can be traced in many of his collections or directly referenced by Raf himself. Notable are his A/W96 collection, which includes all-black looks with jet-black dyed hair and long black overcoats, his A/W99 collection with direct Joy Division references, black cloaks, and Gothic looks on the runway.

Raf's most famous collection A/W02-03 Riot Riot Riot! A coveted collection featuring cutoff and distressed hoodies, repurposed military garments, and loaded with punk references through patches. Among them, a bomber jacket with a patch depicting the self-harming Richey James Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers.

Obviously, his A/W03-04 Closer collection with a direct collaboration with Peter Saville, the graphic designer of Factory Records, featuring iconic graphics from Joy Division, New Order, and more.

These two examples of designers actively influenced by this culture are just a fraction. These designers were punks or goths themselves. People influenced by the postmodern identity of the time and post-Soviet tradition. Post-Punk fashion embodies the music of the time it emerged and aligns with deeper considerations. So, it didn't take long for the entire fashion world to embrace this style, partly because "Gothic" and "Punk" became more mainstream, and partly because its aesthetic components were easy to design due to their often penetrating monochromatic minimalism.

Not only goths or avant-garde designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Martin Margiela or Rick Owens, deeply connected to the style and subculture of that time, but also luxury designers like Prada, Balenciaga or Bottega Veneta are incorporating it.

The look is romantic, dark, longing for death, partly edgy, partly overloaded. All aspects that exude a constant attraction from the clothing, as people are often drawn to "the other," sometimes even "the forbidden." The look can also be easily detached from the actual Post-Punk/Goth culture - something postmodernity excels at. The style of the Gothic culture can be perfectly broken down into its individual parts and used as a kind of aesthetic sandbox. Here a thick heavy chain, there's a choker, here big long earrings, add a pair of black high combat boots, a slim-fitted mesh shirt, and preferably paint the nails, and you're done. All things that houses like Prada, Marni, Bottega Veneta, for example, have done right.

What we see today in the Post-Punk-influenced style and what we interpret as avant-garde should actually be considered a modern tradition. Post-Punk fashion embodies the music and the spirit of the time it emerged and aligns with deeper existential discourses. The design language and atmosphere of that time are now used by traditional fashion houses to incorporate young designers into their ranks and increase their relevance, merely fulfilling their quota to be considered part of the traditional fashion pipeline of LV, Dior, Gucci, and Balenciaga. The avant-garde cannot be seen as so established. The rapid growth these companies have undergone to make billions and the inheritance method of finding a designer to take over the house are enough to profile themselves as industry magnates.

In a world where fashion constantly reinvents itself, the enduring legacy of post-punk culture persists as a modern tradition. From the raw, rebellious sounds of bands like Joy Division to the avant-garde designs of Ann Demeulemeester and Raf Simons, the essence of post-punk continues to captivate hearts and minds. As luxury fashion houses seamlessly incorporate this style, it's vital to recognize the roots and the countercultural spirit that birthed it.

The romantic, dark allure, the edgy overtones – they all beckon, inviting us to explore "the other," even the forbidden. Yet, amidst the mainstream adoption, a call echoes for authenticity. True avant-gardists, whether musicians or designers, carve their paths, declaring, "This is our thing." The new avant-garde emerges not just from runways but from the pulsating hearts of those deeply rooted in their subcultures.

In a world dominated by industry magnates, the journey of post-punk fashion from the underground to luxury houses is a testament to its enduring power. As we witness the evolution, let us celebrate the genuine, the authentic, and the countercultural voices shaping the new avant-garde.

So, whether draped in asymmetrical cuts or sporting a rebellious attitude, the message is clear: The post-punk spirit lives on, and the next wave of avant-garde creators is ready to make their mark, confidently declaring, "This is our thing."

Davis Jahn

#post punk #gothic #fashion #ann demeulemeester #prada #balenciaga #punk rock #punk #writing #philosophy #art #avant garde #avant garde fashion #raf simons

[theundergroundstories]

Greetings master. I'm a 20year dude who wants to learn how to ride a motorcycle so be a biker and more adventurous. I was hoping the underground could help me

The Underground can very much help you but we can’t just rush into things. If you want to be manly, more adventurous you should at least be respectful.

Oh don’t give me the “Oh but sir, I was respectful I called you master” shit. I’m not talking about being respectful to me, although you should. I’m talking about respecting the bikers, the motorcycles and the leather jackets. Being a biker is more than a lifestyle it’s a culture in itself. There’s a history to how the biker we envision today came to be. I won’t explain the complete history but at least take the time to appreciate and learn the history of the iconic leather biker jacket. 

The leather jacket itself has become a fashion icon that has very masculine quality to them that exudes power and coolness but did you know the original company behind the iconic biker design started manufacturing these awesome jackets in 1913. Or the fact that leather jackets were used very heavily by the military during World War 2. Not to mention we owe a thanks to great legends like Marlon Brando and that old Brit David Beckham for populating the leather jacket fashion. If they didn’t they wouldn’t be the timeless badass fashion trend they are today.

Now that you learned some history you ready for your own? You ready to respect the leather and biker lifestyle? You are? Just be warned, if you don’t I’ll make you regret your disrespect and trap you as this leather jacket.

I say as I hold a huge leather jacket for you to wear. You nod and slip your hands in the sleeves. The jacket hangs loosely on you as you feel the heavy heft of the jacket and feel the rich smooth leather material. Your body starting to swell larger. Your hair lightens and your chin starts to feel itchy as you grow a nice bushy beard and your moustache fills out some more. Your nose broadens as you feel your dick grow two inches longer to be a larger than average six inch stick. You stand up more straight as you notice you know stand at a respectable 6′2. The jacket now fits perfectly on your body and I hand you some shades to go with your new look

Keep in mind what we talked about today alright? The moment you loose sight of what it means to be a biker and a man, you’ll be absorbed into the jacket for another man to use. Now with that enjoy your new adventures.

[megafreeman]

The Bloodhounds

Okay so I've been procrastinating on making this introduction post for a while, but I wanted to make a post about Bloodhound; a gang I made for my Saints Row The Third paraquel story, Rose of Stilwater.

The gang is lead by three siblings: Anabelle (eldest, left), Gilbert (middle) and Arron (youngest, right); who hail from a small canadian town. With a base in a biker bar located between Barrio, Industries and Docks district.

The story starts well before they're formed with Arron, he was a member of the Third Street Saints in 2006 under Julius. He was really close with Playa (Lina), which put him near the main storyline of the game. Fast forward to SR1's ending, and when the Saints started falling apart after the Playa went into a coma, Arron ended up being one of the Saints that got arrested.

He was sentenced to 7 years in prison (lowest sentence for gang association, I assume with him being close to the main narrative and not as dangerous of a criminal as Gat or Playa, Troy would probably know him and argue for a shorter sentence), where he became rather popular with his inmates and formed close friendships with a lot of gang members.

Six years into his sentence, which would put it slightly after the events of SR2, he was eventually found by his siblings, who have been trying to track him down for years, and busted him out.

A lot of Arron's prison friends followed through with the escape, with over a dozen of them making it off the island in the process. The prisoners ended up being ex-Brotherhood members, the ones who managed to escape the Saints wrath by being imprisoned during the time. The ex-Brotherhood members reached out to their contacts in mainland Stilwater, eventually leading them to finding a refuge to lay low in a run down bar belonging to one of the former members.

With Brotherhood leadership being long gone, the escapees regrouped under the siblings, which essentially reformed the gang under a new management, and a new name, the Bloodhounds. Anabelle was the leader, dubbed as "The Alpha", while Gilbert, who made a name for himself in Stilwater's Underground Fight Club (known as Diesel), was her second in command. They were a lot more biker oriented now, but still rocked the red color of their predecessor (Maroon Red specifically). The gang was smaller than any other gang Stilwater ever had, with only couple of dozen people in it, which made them more family oriented this time.

With Saints being busy building their celebrity careers, Bloodhounds managed to quietly take criminal control over the Truckyard District, and the territories formerly controlled by the Brotherhood. They simply were trying to do crime just enough to support their big family and bar, looking to stay out of the Saints way not to build any tension between the two factions. Luckily for them, Saints were too busy being pop culture icons to ever bat an eye towards their direction, especially since the gentrification of Shivington and Projects.

They are involved in my Rose of Stilwater storyline, I mentioned their endgame in reboot sequel premise post.

#i hope this is alright it took me several days to write it this so it might not be best in consistency #feel free to ask anything if yall are curious tho! #I'll share the gang member designs for bloodhounds soon i swear #saints row #The Williams Universe #OC: Arron #OC: Anabelle #OC: Diesel #OC: Bloodhounds #sr

[inkbeanjo]

First and foremost to get it outta my system, fuck orbitaldropkick for being a piece of shit hack-writer with zero tact. Fiction and narrative do not defacto endorse the most horrible actions or events on earth, but you have no fucking tact in your writing of or depiction of said events- it's crassness for shock value and it's gross. You might know kill six billion demons and might even still be reading it- if you do, I suggest you don't! If you don't read it, don't start! The idea can't poison you if you don't imbibe it, and the most recent update was very much a reason for me to hate the fucker more than I already did for being an abrasively smug prick. CW for rape if you ignore the prior warning and go to his site anyway. "But its been years and im so invested-" Shut the fuck up, if an apple rots you don't keep the mush. You may be asking yourself what you ought to maybe consider reading or engaging with instead that maybe handles shit more tactfully, or overall embodies the spirit of killing god that isn't tied to tom parkinson-morgan or his works (ksbd, icon, lancer, unnamed cyberpunk), and I'm compiling a list below: Comics: Souls Foreclosed- Cast of devil-endowed trans people literally combatting society, the church and vampires that rule it, and tbqh god himself. Extremely good and creative as fuck in it's visual design. Phototaxis of a Fighter- Underground boxing with a full cast of queer and ace rep, PLEASE read this shit 'cause I'm tired of people sleeping on such a banger comic. Scam the Gods- Dreamlike and utterly surreal comic focused on committing to the title. As with the above fuckin read this shit if you want to feel caught in a dream you can't quite wake up from, quit sleeping on the comic and sleep inside it. Novels and TTRPGS:

Benjanun's Machine Series- hoohboy there's a lot here please let her explain it better than i can ;///; Gubat Banwa + Maharlika- TTRPG steeped in southeast-asian culture with mechanics emulating the snappy combat of martial arts movies and godkilling™ (mecha robo for the latter of the two), and with far greater understanding of the cultures it references than those Tom outright rips from. Devil, Aim for Me- If there could be a oneshot/single system to encapsulate the vibe of Souls Foreclosed, this'd be it- Ran a game several years ago centered around a post biblical rapture world with the goal of crawling out from the ash to kill god, so I'm including it here as well worth your time. tl;dr fuck you abbadon, i wish you'd go back to being john neverpost and fucking stay that way you cunt

#ksbd #psa #cw

[rito-flips]

We need to talk about Benchmade.

Ah, Benchmade. The reason why balisongs are called buttefly knives by the general public, and an absolute juggernaut in the larger knife community. There's a reason people swear by Benchmade and their other stuff, but more specifically, I want to talk about the new balisong they've supposedly been cooking up that is insanely worrying at best and a slap in the face to the community at worst.

Before we get into the knife in question, let's take a trip down memory lane with Benchmade's past balisongs. First up, we have the Model 42 and its siblings:

MSRP of around $200 USD, washers only, and you had a choice of either steel or titanium handles, but back then it was all that you could get your hands on that wouldn't fall apart in a matter of weeks. They're what some of the first flippers ever had their hands on, up until its discontinuation, and I stand to say that it is the most iconic balisong of all time. It's in all the movies, it's one of the first knives that pop up when you search balisongs on Google—hell, some people now are asserting that its flipping still stacks up to what's on the market today. But it and its siblings did not last forever, and it was discontinued in the early 2010s, replaced by the Model 51:

~$280 USD MSRP, and still only on washers, but this time it was on titanium liners and G10 scales. People didn't like the 51 as much as the 42, but again, options were very limited (your only other real choice was a Bradley Kimura), and with the handles not being one solid piece of material, it soon became a bit of a modding platform alongside the BRS Replicant when that came along. But yet again, things don't last forever, and the 51 saw its discontinuation a few years back.

Benchmade was always a company that didn't seem to care much for the flipping community, considering the last balisongs they used to offer, the 8x series, are 5.5 oz bearing knives that retailed for $500+ USD. But around 4 months ago, a page from their 2024 catalogue got leaked to the balisong subreddit about a new balisong they're trying to cook up, which is the subject of today's rant:

Meet the Necron, a liners + G10 knife with an adjustable balance, options for handle extensions, and a weight that wasn't totally unbearable. While some people didn't like its resemblance to the Replicant, it seemed like Benchmade was finally paying attention to the flipping community with the fact that they geared the knife towards flipping. Even if the base live blade was marked at $450 USD, it was about par for the course considering Benchmade's prices on all of their current products.

Then Blade HQ released a video about Benchmade's 2024 catalogue along with preorder listings. Included was the Necron, and when the knife's full specs were revealed, I witnessed an entire community go "what the fuck" in real time.

Before I reveal the Necron's full specs, there's something I want you to understand. The community's bar for Benchmade has been six feet underground ever since the release of the 8x series with how overpriced it was. Considering their importance in the early days of the hobby, a good chunk of older flippers I've talked to would be perfectly content with a rerelease of the 4x series or even the 51—Cold Steel is doing this with an aluminum version of the Arc Angel, and some people are at least mildly interested in it. But Benchmade seems to be allergic to that, and in recent years with them jacking up prices all across the board, opinions surrounding them have soured.

Anyway, here are the Necron's full specs:

Did you notice that the liners are steel? Did you notice that it's only on washers?

In its price bracket alone, you have things like the SlifT and Serif-P from Machinewise, the Tsunami Trainer from Squid Industries, the Cygnus from LDY, the Specter, Chimera, and Basilisk-R from Jerry Hom—all of these knives are just one step below the absolute best of the best of production balisongs, and all of these have bushings, at least use titanium in the handles, and are built with the utmost care and attention to detail (except for maybe the Tsunami, but that's a rant for another time).

The Necron is none of those. Instead, it is a knife that would have been outdated 5 years ago, lacks features that 85 dollar knives have, and is only going to be bought by braindead shills who care about the brand of the knife and nothing else. The Replicant outclasses it in every way, and for the price of the Necron you could build a custom one entierly from aftermarket parts. Even within Benchmade's past knives, both the 42 and the 51 used titanium in some capacity, and both of those knives were considerably cheaper than what the Necron is gonna retail for. At least Ben Parli's gonna get some more customers...

In the Blade HQ video I mentioned earlier, the Benchmade representative touted on about how they're tracing back to their roots with what they call a "modern knife" that'll be good for flipping. But with the sheer cognitive dissonance between what they say about it and what's what the truth of it is, the community at large can't help but feel that they're completely out of touch and only want to line their pockets with more money. If this is the way Behcnmade goes out making balisongs, then so be it. It's not like Benchmade cares anymore anyway.

#balisong #knife #butterfly knives #knives #balisong flipping #butterfly knife #hobby #skill hobby #skill toy

[shimmerbeasts]

👑 + Kai'Sa

Testing Muses You Suggest||Accepting.

WOULD I: YES / MAYBE / NO

HAVE I EVER BEFORE: YES / NO 

ICON & WRITING SAMPLE (IF YES TO EITHER PREV. QUESTION):

The caravan had been taken by surprise. You would think that after five years of the Void constantly encroaching upon Shurima, bursting forth from the underground like a perverted, twisted form of magma, the denizens of Shurima had finally developed better means of defences and caught the signs easier. But they didn't. They never did. Which was what led to situations such as this one.

Kai'Sa managed to hit the Voidling with a plasma blast right as it was about to bear crooked and rudimentary fangs down upon a mother and her infant. The creature exploded, splattering purple, slimy and scaly skin all over the hot dunes. Kai'Sa's feet skittered across the dirt, her soles as hard as the toughest snake's scales. She couldn't even feel the heat. Looking at the mother, her radiant, purple pulsing eyes softened. Sleek, black hair fell around her face, making her look more humane for just a second. Not that it would matter for the caravan.

"Go", Kai'Sa told the terrified mother, "Take your husband and your cattle and run. Burn your dead to ash. This infestation hungers for anything with substance. Starve it and it will not go near you. Now, run!"

Her roar at the end was louder and more aggressive. Kai'Sa did not like using fear to spur someone to run, but she knew that the caravan saw her as a monster more than a human. And who could blame her? With her second skin as toxic purple as the rest of the Voidlings and the pulsing beams of plasma, she emitted, she could have easily been mistaken for one of those not-creatures.

The mother clutched her infant tighter before she gathered up her robes and ran towards her husband. Pulling herself on the back of his donkey, the caravan began to run away. Donkeys and camels, the few which had survived, baaed and moaned in concern as their hooves thudded across the sand. Kai'Sa turned back to face the Voidlings.

They were a horde, a misshapen flock of too many legs and eyes, of purple puss leaking out of their body. Kai'Sa's second skin itched like hundreds of needles, jabbing into her flesh. Her stomach contorted. She could feel their ravenous hunger. The Void was a bottomless pit. It could never be filled. It should never be filled. Not with sacrifices, not with victims, not with beliefs. It was nothing, and so Kai'Sa would treat it as that very same nothing.

The second skin enveloped her face, crafting itself into the short snout-like extension, filled with sharp, needle teeth and the six eyes, spouting from Kai'Sa's head. This was the face of the thing, which had tried to kill her so many years ago. It had given her the plasma shooters on her shoulders and the sensation of a million needles. It hurt for even now it still hungered. But Kai'Sa never let it feed. Better to use that constant hunger during the fight.

A low growl spilt from Kai'Sa's monstrous mouth and her shooters heated themselves up, readying themselves. Small crossbowlike expansions formed around her hands, each loaded with a needle, hot from plasma. Her body shifted backwards as her posture seemed to become more alien.

None of you are getting your bellies filled tonight.

And with a scream, which seemed to be a cross between a human's yell of desperation and anger and an alien's rattle on the edges of famine, Kai'Sa shot up into the sky and unloaded everything she had upon the Voidlings as she plunged downwards right into the heat of battle.

#weavertali #playground: meme #letter: ask #welcome to the lanes: test muse

[hawkogurl]

corpse harry au? omg please elaborate

Thank you for bringing up my favorite subject.

Also known as For the Departed, it’s my elaborate ass lovecraftian horror au. Technically canon compliant because I love living in delusion that Harry’s ass survived sm3. I’m taking this as a chance to over-explain the premise.

Harry remains conscious in his own dead body after his dead for reasons he doesn’t know and gets to experience this very cool thing in which he undergoes funeral preparations and his fucking autopsy completely conscious but unable to move and signal that he’s alive. End up stuck in his grave enduring horrors such as insects and sensory deprivation for six months before he gains the necessary strength back to dig himself out of his grave and walk the full 22 miles from his grave and break into Peter’s apartment.

While he’s trying to heal the emotional scars of six months of isolation, sensory deprivation, and insect based torture, he unintentionally starts uncovering New York’s occult underground which he might be involved in against his will as a result of certain dealings made prior to his birth.

It has far too much lore and is secretly just a character study of Harry where I also get to turn iconic spider man villains into spooky little Halloween monsters.

Know that I am always willing to talk about it it’s my favorite subject.

#harryposting #harry osborn #raimiverse #raimi trilogy #spider man #peter parker #parksborn #spiderman #corpse harry au

[noloveforned]

welcome to 2024! no love for ned is still here and still on wlur every friday night from 8pm until midnight! i was hoping to have a new theme set to go this week but we're going to stick with our fall 'food songs' for another week.

our last show of the year was the annual look back twenty years ago for our best of 2003 show (now streaming on mixcloud). if you enjoyed the show, you can also check out the previous nine retrospective shows spotlighting 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1993 (1994 will be produced later this year as a special a 30th anniversary show).

no love for ned on wlur – december 29th, 2023 from 8pm-midnight

artist // track // album // label the aislers set // languor in the balcony // how i learned to write backwards // slumberland shout out louds // the comeback // howl howl gaff gaff // bud fox matt suggs // calm down // amigo row // merge belle and sebastian // i'm a cuckoo // dear catastrophe waitress // rough trade the rosebuds // kicks in the schoolyard // make out // merge the lucksmiths // midweek midmorning // naturaliste // drive-in sprites // do it yourself // starling, spiders, tiger and sprites // march camera obscura // suspended from class // underachievers please try harder // elefant st. thomas // a long long time // hey harmony // racing junior bishop allen // little black ache // charm school // champagne school herman düne // why would that hurt? (if you never loved me) // mash concrete metal mushroom // shrimper bearsuit // itsuko got married // itsuko got married 7" // bearslut dressy bessy // baby six string // dressy bessy // kindercore the new pornographers // testament to youth in verse // electric version // matador all girl summer fun band // dear mr. and mrs. troublemaker // 2 // k david and the citizens // graycoated morning // until the sadness is gone // adrian saturday looks good to me // alcohol // all your summer songs // polyvinyl the essex green // the late great cassiopia // the long goodbye // merge beulah // landslide baby // yoko // velocette reclinerland // give up your film career (lenny's theme) // the ideal home music library // hush blanket music // hyper-ballad // read: interpreting bjork tribute // hush tobin sprout // doctor #8 // lost planets and phantom voices // mr. whiggs plastic mastery // i fell in love on the way to a funeral // sverige ep // 555 the thermals // no culture icons // more parts per million // sub pop rainer maria // mystery and misery // long knives drawn // polyvinyl joel plaskett emergency // extraordinary // truthfully truthfully // maple music sloan // false alarm // action pact // vik guided by voices // useless inventions // earthquake glue // matador deerhoof // dummy discards a heart // apple o' // kill rock stars lil' hospital // there could be girlfriend // i wanna be well // best friends the national splits // she's my baby and she's alright // fontana // mr. whiggs murder beach // eight great ways // first string teenage high- songs of tullycraft played by people who aren't tribute // bumblebear casiotone for the painfully alone // jeane, if you're ever in portland // twinkle echo // tomlab bobby birdman // i will come again // heart caves ep // states rights

erykah badu // back in the day // worldwide underground // motown the books // take time // the lemon of pink // tomlab nanang tatang // bunny hop hop // muki // tiger style so // a // so // thrill jockey piana // hide and seek // snow bird // happy broken social scene // anthems for a seventeen-year-old girl // you forgot it in people // arts and crafts califone // michigan girls // quicksand/cradlesnakes // thrill jockey the strugglers // the new room // the new room // tract magnolia electric co. // just be simple // the magnolia electric co. // secretly canadian crooked fingers // big darkness // red devil dawn // merge the trouble with sweeney // the break up // i know you destroy // burnt toast vinyl barzin // past all concerns // barzin // where are my azure ray // hold on love // hold on love // saddle creek seekonk // move // for barbara lee // kimchee sun kill moon // carry me ohio // ghosts of the great highway // jetset the american analog set // come home baby julie, come home // promise of love // tiger style the twilight singers // teenage wristband // blackberry belle // birdman spiritualized // she kissed me (it felt like a hit) // amazing grace // sanctuary the postal service // the district sleeps alone tonight // give up // sub pop her space holiday // my girlfriend's boyfriend // the young machines // mush styrofoam // a heart without a mind // i'm what's there to show that something's missing // morr music howard hello // my friend / the parasite // don't drink his blood // temporary residence pernice brothers // one foot in the grave // yours, mine and ours // ashmont the salteens // damn you // let go of your bad days // drive-in the unicorns // i was born (a unicorn) // who will cut our hair when we're gone? // alien8 the hidden cameras // ban marriage // the smell of our own // rough trade yo la tengo // today is the day // today is the day ep // matador

#wlur #radio shows

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, October 21st

FRED I need these as soon as possible. WESLEY Hello, Wesley. Nice to see you. FRED Oh. Sorry. Little preoccupied. WESLEY The Magdalene Grimoire, Necronomicon des Mortes, Hochstadter's Treatise on Fractal Geometry in 12-dimensional Space. "Preoccupied" might not be the word we're looking for. FRED How fast can I get 'em? WESLEY Half of these are antiquities of the rarest order. If I exploit every connection I've made over the last month as the new head of research and intelligence... 20 minutes.

~~Hellbound~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Teaming Up by veronyxk84 (Spike & Dawn, PG-13)

Vampires Victorious by CambrianBeckett (Buffy/Toru, E)

walking the fine line by The_Eclectic_Bookworm (minor Giles/Jenny, G)

Daisy DOESNT need saving (until she does) by LilLesbianLauren (Faith/Daisy, Daisy Jones & The Six crossover, not rated)

Karma's Bitch by fatalfae (Angel/Spike, M)

Wooing Me, Wooing You by nomelon (Angel/Spike, M)

In The Know by fatalfae (Buffy/Angel, T)

Burden by AidenFlame (Xander & Giles, T)

I Love You. It's A Nightmare. by acekoomboom (Buffy/Spike, E)

So Not Dead by Safire (Buffy/Spike, G)

I Love You. It's a Nightmare. by acekoomboom (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion, Chapter 397 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure crossover, T)

Buffyverse Flashfic, Chapter 4 by NotASlayer (Buffy/Anya, T)

A Matter of Life After Afterlife, Chapters 1-3 (complete!) by WolfingtonEsq (Buffy/Spike, M)

Bound, Chapter 52 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Drive, Chapter 17 by Holly (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Better the Devil You Know, Chapter 26 by SlayrGrl (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Under The Rubble, Chapter 50 by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, R)

New Normal, Chapter 18 by holetoledo (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

The Violet Underground, Chapter 2 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Violet Underground, Chapter 3 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Dead End Plots, Chapter 8 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

In the Depths of October, Chapter 3 by mcgnagallsarmy, acekoomboom, violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

kaleidoscope, Chapter 12 (complete!) by all_choseny (Buffy/Spike, PG)

I Want To Bankrupt Someone, Chapter 1 by Saranac (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

An odd Couple of grumpy old Brits, Chapter 4 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, G)

Blood and Black Lace, Chapter 17 by SlayrGrl (Buffy/Spike, R)

What the Drabble? Chapter 29 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Never Let You Die, Chapter 2 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Autumnal Shorts, Chapters 20-21 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

He's a Friend from Work, Chapter 1 by DeamonQueen (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Spike and Astarion by 63choux (worksafe)

Artwork: Fanart of the end of season 12 comix by Lia Livingstone (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy Summers and vampire Buffy by Miniimegs-art (worksafe)

Artwork: Angel is better than Spike meme by Superfandomcorp (worksafe)

Manip: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) movie poster by Superfandomcorp (Buffy/Angel, worksafe)

Gifset: Halloween by taylor-sweeft (worksafe)

Gifset: Buffy Summers and Riley Finn by sunnydaleslayer (worksafe)

Gifset: Faith and Buffy - Get him back! by slayer-pride-parade (worksafe)

Icons: +20 new Joan and Randy icons by spuffygifs (worksafe)

Fanvid: Faith & Buffy | Lacy by Sixtine

Fanvid: Buffy|Spike - I Hate Everything about You by Wendy57813

Fanvid: Buffy and Spike: Grace by T.S

Fanvid: Buffy Summers: Class Protector by T.S

Fanvid: Are We Too Young For This? Btvs by T.S

Fanvid: Can't Break Down Buffy & Cordelia by Calisto Pendragon

Cosplay video: Buffy the vampire slayer Spike story by Spike.55

Video: Blade VS Buffy (Marvel VS Buffy The Vampire Slayer) | Fanmade Death Battle Trailer by Cryotechnics

Video: ASMR 🕸️ Drusilla Looks After You - Buffy The Vampire Slayer / (Compliments, Personal Attention) by Miss Chloe ASMR

Artwork process video: day 30 of 300 days of drawingchallenge spookyseason edition by MegzRich (Buffy, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: Buffy Review - 5x5 No Place Like Home by Reverse Angle

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (GBA) - Review by gull payne

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) On the Shelf Physical Media Movie Review by Hugh's Movie Reviews

Buffy & Books | Season 2 ep. 6-14 by Mishelly

Video: The BTVS Twisted Guide - S01 Episode 12: Prophecy Girl by Twisted View

[Recs]

Top 5 2022 Fanfic and Meta recced by yourlibrarian in buffyversetop5

Classic Buffy 'verse Ensemble vids recced by sparrow2000 in buffyversetop5

5 Classic Crossover fics recced by sparrow2000 in buffyversetop5

Fic rec: Psyche (Buffy/Angel, T) by gracenm recced by I Will Remember You Marathon

[Fandom Discussions]

Willow never shows herself as she authentically is by Girl4Music

Darla/Angelus is great because they exist to serve as contrast and hateful competition to THE ship by winepresswrath

Once More, With Feeling propaganda by episodeoftv

Willow Propaganda by Morally Ambiguous Girlboss Tournament

Buffy propaganda by dracothulhu

salty that we didn’t get a scene where spike dru and angelus are missing Darla bc she’s dead by randompersona786b

Spike Pre and Post Soul continued by NoShip

Holtz would have been a more interesting character if he had developed some type of genuine affection for Connor by LightBlueSky55

If Buffy and Cordelia reunited on screen when Cordelia became more serious about fighting for the Greater Good in season 2 do you think they would had become friends? by jdpm1991

Lilah by BunnyButt24

Appreciation for the Groosalugg by Sweet-Siren

Any love for young Wes? by JellyfishDry9464

Passion, how'd you react when it first aired?? by Almost_Sweet_Music

Scariest Episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer by The_cats_pjammas

Does no one else find it weird that Xander has kiss / slept with almost all of the female cast except for Joyce? by Parking_Stop8305

Spike and Faith would have made a better couple than Spike and Buffy by JumpFantastic

Why does this sub find it hard to believe that Willow is a lesbian? by jdpm1991

Grade Riley as a character by Tuxedo_Mark

Glory vs (Pre power drain) Illyria, who wins in a fight? by Almighty_Push91

Giles could have handled "Consequences" better by chlorinecrown

Ted by JewelerDear9233

Friendships you wished happened but didn't due to obvious needed drama for the story line? by jdpm1991

Did Spike cause all the carnage Angelus did to Buffy and her friends? by AndrewHeard

I Will Remember You hits way harder when watched in tandem with Buffy by 570rmy

Who was a better addition to season seven? [Andrew or Principal Wood] by SafiraAshai

In your opinion who is more likeable? [Dawn or Connor] by broken_doll_911

Buffy gets money -- when slaying meets capitalism by V48runner

Pangs - Something Blue - Hush is the best 3 episode stretch of the show by MoreGull

Riley and Faith heavily influenced each others stories by Just-Messin

About Willow being bi/gay by Senior_Juice5380

Giles season 6 by Lobothehobosexual

What dramatic moment did not land in your opinion? by InfiniteMehdiLove

Things that are connected by SvenVersluis2001

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Meets Logic by Vigorelli Institute

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Video: SLAYERS Brings Us Back to the Buffyverse in this Audible Original by Den of Geek

Video: Amber Benson & Christopher Golden on Slayers: A Buffyverse Story at NYCC by thegeekywaffle

Video: James Marsters and James Leary on Slayers: A Buffyverse Story at NYCC by thegeekywaffle

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

#buffy the vampire slayer #btvs #angel the series #ats

[melblur]

Todays rip: 24/05/2023

Hopes and Divinity+

Featured on: SiIvaGunner's Highest Quality Rips: Volume GS Ripped by Nikki+ YouTube Visuals by Netyasha Roozi

As mentioned prior, Nikki+ is a standout name on the channel and one whose rips I always seek out to listen to as soon as possible. The last rip I shouted out from them may not have made the reason for such obvious - it was a nice mashup, but not really anything out of this world. Its rips like Hopes and Divinity+ that remind me both of what makes Nikki+ such an incredible part of the team, and what makes me stay with the SiIvaGunner after all this time.

The concept is nothing new for the channel and is, really, intentionally derivative, mashing up Undertale music with Porter Robinson in the exact same way as Goodbye To The Underground did back in Season 1. Todays rip was actually released under the Nostalgia Critic Takeover of Season 3, during which rips were made with the goal of resurrecting the spirit of the channel during its first season, and in that sense Hopes and Divinity+ is an absolute triumph. It sticks to the original winning concept as described beforehand, yet embellishes it with further touches: several of the channel's most iconic inside jokes show up across the six minute runtime to add to the initial mashup, as if to show how far the channel has come since the initial Season. Its one of those rips that manages to be both a nostalgic look back at the past whilst reminding the audience of how much time has passed, helped especially by the fantastic visuals of the YouTube upload.

The track succeeds in so many ways - as a testament to Nikki+'s capabilities as a ripper, to how far the channel has come from Season 1, to Season 3, to the track's remaster in Season 5, and to how much Undertale still means to SiIvaGunner's creators and audience. Godspeed.

oh also a fun fact: the creators of these two rips, MtH and Nikki+, are actually lesbians and dating

#todays siivagunner #siivagunner #siiva #undertale #porter robinson #hopes and dreams #vgm #Youtube

[a-tale-never-told]

History of Novoselic (Part 2)

So Novoselic was a free nation, with a constitutional monarchy and Josip at the head. He married a fellow soldier, named Maria Bronchek, who would be the first Queen of the nation. She would then go on to father two children: Zoya Nevermind on October 20th 1911, and Paul Nevermind on May 5th, 1912.

However, peace didn't last for long as WW1 broke out, and Novoselic had no intention of getting involved. However as the German Empire, Austria-Hungary,, Turkey, and Bulgaria began to get more involved in the Balkans, with Serbia falling in 1915, Josip realized that war was pretty much inevitable and declared war on the Central powers in January 1916. The Central Powers in response invaded Novoselic in March of the same year and destroyed the Novoselic forces. Josip might have had a decent army, but they were no match for three powers coming at them from all sides. Within just six months, 90% of Novoselic's army was annihilated on the field

But Josip didn't give up, as he led an underground resistance movement against the German empire and its allies. Despite some success, they weren't really able to get a decisive victory, though they did weaken the enemy forces considerably, inflicting mass casualties. Eventually, the British, French, and Italian armies managed to push the Central Powers out of Novoselic by April 1918. Novoselic was free again, but at the cost of a thousand dead and many more wounded, and the nation was devastated.

Josip decided to solve the issue by rationing goods and sending people to the agricultural fields. He also announced that every man would have to work in the industry business, like railroads and shelters as a plan to industrialize Novoselic. He adopted the Western style of market economics and focused both on the agricultural side and on the industrial side. He allowed private ownership of small businesss as a way to rebuild the economy. In short, Capitalism was applied here.

But as the 1920s progressed, Josip was starting to fall ill. Now he had contracted typhus during the winter of 1917 and the typhus issue stayed with him for the rest of his life. While he was overseeing a nation prospering and rebuilding, Josip was dying. Once that was head in the Rastek, which is the Novoselic version of Parliament or Congress, a debate occurred about who was to succeed him. His wife planned to abdicate due to age as well. Most agree that Zoya would succeed him, after all, she had the ability to be a leader and had some of her father's qualities.

However, in his mind, Josip I believe wanted Paul to succeed him. He was afraid of Zoya's friendship with Fascist Italy, where Mussolini and his Blackshirts were rising to prominence, as well as strained relations with the new Yugoslavia, who wished for Novoselic to join Yugoslavia, which Josip basically told them to fuck off. And then, if this wasn't bad enough, the Great Depression hit.

Novoselic's economy crumbled and with it, the era of prosperity was over, a return to the post-war years. And to make matters worse, Josip died. The King and Father of the Nation died on February 15th, 1931. Across the nation, millions mourned the death of their leader and he was buried in his hometown of Plejeck, Novoselic. Still, Josip left a legacy, coming from the humblest of beginnings to leading Novoselic through dark times. To them, he is the true king, a god-king for them. Across the nation, Books, literature, poems, musicals, theaters, everything was dedicated to Josip, becoming a Novoselic icon.

However, the real question was on everyone's minds: Who would succeed him. This question would have to be answered as the 1930s rolled in.....

#mod talks #hajime hinata #dr2 #dr #twlight syndrome arc #a tale never told #novoselic #josip nevermind #zoya nevermind #paul nevermind

[sleepless-crows]

book fans are really going to have to think about it as an au, or a different timeline. With that in mind, it was so good. The very last scene?!?! Alina’s struggle with her morals when it comes to mal, her struggle with needing more power when it comes to the point where she turns to merzost- since they didn’t adapt it with the apparat’s underground shit, with her discovering there, that was the perfect decision.

I honestly don’t know how I feel about Sturmhond!Mal, and I love Inej going after slave traders already, but what with the introduction of jurda, how will her return (or absence) for the ice court job play out? (Also, so glad kuwei didn’t get in the way of the first wesper kiss. I think they did an amazing job with older wesper, and I will die on that hill)

Did you see the look between tolya and inej when he helped her up? Hoping and praying that wasn’t a ship thing.

JESPER ALMOST SAID SIX OF CROWS- HE ALMOST SAID IT

Pekka deserves to die, actually. He didn’t suffer enough. Poor Matthias </3

I really need to read the lives of saints now.

Oh, speaking of Pekka, it was so cool to see Kaz’s revenge play out on screen

i could go on, but bye for now babe

oh my gosh i have so many opinions about the finale. i really did not like alina's ending and just for zoya i would gladly prefer that she faked her death and lost her powers. if many people didn't like that, then they should've done literally anything else so long as it did not do zoya like that.

also i entirely just forgot about the apparat now that you mentioned him. i don't know i kinda liked what he did for the story even if i forgot what that was but i guess the show au was an intriguing decision.

I KNOW RIGHT. i'm glad mal is like finding his identity or something but sturmhond is nikolai's thing. i feel like the whole sturmhond thing was also done a little weirdly in the show. also how they talk about sturmhond like he's an act nikolai puts up instead of an alternate identity which he can take up to do things he wouldn't be able to as prince/king but where he is probably the most himself.

yeah i'm also glad inej is going after the slave traders already but like this was all because they killed off tante heleen. like she's not a part of the main crows anymore??? just like that??? i don't like that decision.

i think show!wesper was really cute and really fun and i loved it. but i love it separately from book!wesper. i have some controversial opinions about how they handled wesper in the show so sakdjfhlksjdf

OH I SWEAR. TOLYA IS ACE. AN ARO ACE ICON OKAY. AND INEJ WOULD NEVER FALL FOR ANYONE ELSE THAT KIND OF RUINS THE WHOLE POINT OF KANEJ? THEY ARE EACH OTHER'S RIDE OR DIE. INEJ HAS HER TRAUMA, THE ONLY REASON SHE EVEN FELL FOR KAZ WAS BECAUSE HE WAS THE BOY WHO SAVED HER. THEY BETTER NOT DO ANYTHING WITH TOLYA AND INEJ FOR THE BOTH OF THEM

HE ALMOST DID AND THEY CUT HIM OFF LIKE WHY

i just find it really frustrating that we still have pekka like the guy infuriates me so much i don't want to think about him or see him after he's been rid off like stop talking to matthias and interfering with helnik. i also really liked matthias' storyline in the show though. they changed a lot, but i really loved what they did with it.

and yes, violent kaz showed up so much and i loved that

#amandayetagain asks #i hope you know if you rant in my inbox i will also rant in turn <3 #i want to ask you to dance right there* #sab spoilers #shadow and bone spoilers

[ashen-crest]

[ID: a black and white, digitally drawn map. The text on the border reads “Thalis.” The province in the middle of the map is “Vidanya.” It’s framed by mountains and a sea on the north side, and is dotted with forests and lakes. The lines criss-crossing the province are labeled in the key as “underground river routes.” end ID]

The Stray Spirit has a map!!

I meant to post this earlier- oops. But TSS will have a map at the front of the book!

Lucia Vasquez de Prada designed this, along with the six illustrations in the book & the chapter icon. I knew early on that TSS would benefit from having a map (and, like, maps are cool?). I’m so glad I was able to find Lucia, who is an incredible artist and an author herself who drew a map for her own book! How cool is that??

Slowly inching closer to publishing this thing :) :) :)

TSS Taglist under the cut, ask to be +/-:

@crystallized-ink, @little-boats-on-a-lake, @semblanche, @theramwrites, @wordsbycreed, @pretend-im-normal-blog, @mel-writes-with-her-dragons, @wildswrites, @ladywithalamp, @ettawritesnstudies, @mj-is-writing, @cecilsstorycorner, @write-your-own-stories, @chayscribbles, @storytracks, @lightningmastertrilogy, @magic-is-something-we-create, @authortango, @thegoldenseries, @lunewell, @vellichor-virgo, @writeblrfantasy, @weaver-of-fantasies-and-fables, @bronwennjames, @akindofmagictoo, @pheita, @talesfromaurea, @a-wild-bloog, @starryeve88, @the-finch-address, @alexwritesfiction, @47crayons, @jadeywrites, @writing-with-l, @the-titular-bird, @sagasofazeria, @thelaughingstag, @dragon-swords-prophecies, @drabbleitout, @houndmouthed, @inksandpoisons, @drowsy-quill, @jaimistoryteller, @zmwrites, @pe-ersona, @booksnotbookies, @the-orangeauthor, @extra-magichours, @athenswrites

#the stray spirit #writeblr #writblr #fantasy books #fantasy maps #my wip

[ogradyfilm]

Hadestown: Mythology Remixed

[The following essay contains MAJOR SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

Hadestown is a brilliant reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. And not just because of the play’s updated setting; while transposing the plot to a Dust Bowl/Great Depression era company town—with the protagonist as the archetypal “starving artist,” Hades as a greedy industrialist, and Persephone as the proprietress of an underground speakeasy, delivering a bountiful “harvest” of wine and spirits to weary laborers—is certainly clever, cleverness alone does not necessarily a great adaptation make. Its true excellence lies in how it elaborates upon the ancient source material, adding complexity and nuance to the familiar tale.

One such embellishment is the fleshed-out relationship between Hades and Persephone; whereas the Lord of the Underworld and his abducted bride were happily wed in the original version, their marriage here is decidedly rockier. In keeping with the traditional canon, this iteration of Persephone is allowed to venture beyond her husband’s domain for six months of every year, thereby bringing spring to the lands outside of the kingdom’s walls (at this point, I should acknowledge that the narrative often vacillates between literalism and symbolism—which is absolutely fine by me, but could possibly alienate less adventurous audiences). And in her absence, insecurity—the nagging fear that she might abandon him for good—drives Hades to the brink of madness. Desperate to prove himself worthy of her love, he has performed a series of increasingly Herculean feats—his miners tunnel deep into the earth, extracting precious metals from mere stone; his furnaces burn red hot even in the dead of winter, smelting and reshaping raw ore; and his vast electrical grid ensures that his factories remain illuminated and operational twenty-four hours a day—in a misguided effort to impress her enough to expedite her return.

This is, of course, a futile endeavor: Persephone, being an avatar of nature, considers this desecration of the natural order to be utterly obscene—a betrayal of everything that she represents. Her resentment only serves to exacerbate Hades’ possessiveness; he permits her fewer opportunities to visit the surface and frequently cuts her excursions short, thus throwing the seasons into disarray.

In this context, the challenge that Hades issues to Orpheus during the show’s climax resonates with new significance. Navigating the perilous path back home in darkness and solitude, forbidden from glancing behind to confirm that Eurydice is indeed following him, our hero’s conflict perfectly mirrors the test of faith that his villainous counterpart must endure each time Persephone departs. Despite his sincerity and conviction, however, the singer’s experiences within the borders of Hadestown have irreparably tarnished his innocence; having witnessed oppression, exploitation, and dehumanization firsthand, his previously optimistic worldview is now thoroughly tainted by doubt. A notorious swindler like Hades wouldn’t hesitate to stack the odds in his own favor, after all; and Eurydice’s loyalty is hardly unwavering…

This narrative parallelism and thematic cohesion—juxtaposing the principal characters via mutual flaws, vulnerabilities, and moral failings—enriches Hadestown considerably, elevating it to the level of masterpiece. It may be an “old song,” but its imaginative innovations—a faster tempo, a few additional verses, some minor tweaks to the lyrics—radically transform its meaning and emotional impact. Which just goes to that a story never really goes stale, no matter how intimately you know it; a bit of extra spice can completely alter its flavor. And with each retelling, each reinvention, each variation on the well-worn formula, the author touches immortality.

Orpheus—folklore’s most iconic defier of death—would be pleased.

#Hadestown #Greek mythology #musical theater #Broadway #Orpheus and Eurydice #Orpheus #Eurydice #Hades #Persephone #writing #review

[nctzenkane]

Nctzen Kane presents... the top 10 Kpop Songs of 2022!!!

This year was insanely good musically, so it was really difficult to narrow it down to just ten fantastic songs.  If your fave didn’t end up here... then make your own list, what do you think this is?

Anyway, without further dudes...

NUMBER TEN: FOREVER 1- GIRL’S GENERATION

 This song feels like a wish come true. It’s not the most complex or interesting song out there, but it deserves its spot on this list just for the fact that we got a full group comeback from the one and only SNSD in the year of the goddess Hylia 2022.  I love the vibes of it, it puts me in a great mood, and that’s enough for it to be on here

 NUMBER NINE: VENOM- STRAY KIDS

 All I need to say to justify this one is… pewpewpew

 But seriously, this song’s beat is so SKZ that it’s INSANE. Like disgustingly addictive, springy sound that perfectly encapsulates the feel of a spider’s legs. It’s so fucking *chef’s kiss*. Of all the songs on the Oddinary album, this one really tickles my brain just the right way. However, there is one other song on the album that works just a tiny bit better…

 NUMBER EIGHT: MANIAC- STRAY KIDS

 And that’s Maniac.  All the disparate pieces of this song coalesce in a way that is just so perfect. I’ve always loved the way SKZ utilizes Felix’s unique voice, and the chorus of Maniac is the perfect example of that. It’s an absolute bop, and the superior track on an album with no skips

 NUMBER SEVEN: OPENING SEQUENCE- TXT

 I love TXT. I love everything about them so much. But what I didn’t love, was Good Boy Gone Bad. It pained me to admit that when the track dropped, so imagine my delight when I started listening to the album and I heard this absolute gem.  I love the atmosphere of this song so much, and TXT is incredibly skilled at capturing feelings of discomfort and desolation in their music, and those feelings fit the lyrical content perfectly

 NUMBER SIX: I HATE YOU- WOODZ

 The pop punk trend in kpop is one of the best things to happen to the genre in years, and in my opinion, there’s no one better suited to capture it than Woodz.  In the past I’ve described Woodz as something of a musical chameleon; able to tackle any genre and absolutely kill it.  He captures the carefree “fuck you” vibes of early 2000s pop punk effortlessly, and I’d love to hear more of this sound from him in the future

 NUMBER FIVE: 28 REASONS- SEULGI

 Seulgi as a dark, sensual, domineering badass? Yes. Very yes.

 Jokes aside, Seulgi absolutely murdered this concept both visually and musically.  I’m not sure if it was meant to be a throwback, but it definitely reminds me of something Aaliyah would’ve released in the late 90s. This was a strong solo debut for one of kpop’s most high profile aces, and I really can’t wait to see what she’ll do next

  NUMBER FOUR: CYBERPUNK- ATEEZ

 This song is why I love ATEEZ as much as I do. This shit hits you like a wall of unstoppable sound the moment the chorus kicks off, and it’s the type of sonic euphoria that I’ve been desperately missing with 4th gen groups. It’s no secret that this generation has pivoted more towards choreography and elaborate concepts, and away from killer vocals like 2nd and 3rd gen.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing mind you, but ATEEZ proves why having killer vocals is such an asset.  I love every second of this one start to finish, and uh… let’s just say those concert stages were iconic *wink wink*

 NUMBER THREE: TIME LAPSE- NCT 127

 I mean it when I say that the 2 Baddies album might be NCT 127’s best one yet.  Almost every song is phenomenal, but none more so than Time Lapse.  I love the attention to detail; the computerized/digitized sounds at the beginning, and the old Hollywood style music sting at the end really tie in well with the concept of ‘time’, and the fucking CHORUS. Every czennie has been bumping “can we fix it?!” for MONTHS.  It was hard for me to pick a single song from this album, but after some thought, I knew it just had to be this one

 NUMBER TWO: BEGIN- ONLYONEOF’S YOOJUNG

 OnlyOneOf’s “UndergrOund IdOl” project has been one of the best things to ever happen in the history of kpop.  What really endears me to it is not just its unflinching depictions of explicit queerness (no teasing or implication here) but also the fact that the music is ACTUALLY GOOD.  Not gonna say any names (not looking to insult people here) but we shouldn’t have to sacrifice musical quality just to have some queer rep in the industry.  Of all the releases so far though, I think the one that kicked it off is still the best.  There’s just something magical about Begin; I’m not sure if its his delivery of the lyrics, the mellow energy of the track that builds to a satisfying climax, or just the relatability of the single line “hate this city” as a queer person.  Whatever it is makes Begin such a perfect song, and so far its yet to be topped by the rest of the series in my opinion

 HONORABLE MENTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

 -The rest of the UndergrOund IdOl series (Be Mine, Be Free, Because, and Beat)- OnlyOneOf

-Gold Rush- NCT 127

-Birthday- Ten

-Limbo- Jun

-Pose- Kino

-Gasoline- Key

-Hair Cut- Xdinary Heroes

-Taste- Stray Kids Danceracha

-3racha- Stray Kids 3racha

 NUMBER ONE: STRAWBERRY CAKE- XDINARY HEROES

 Yeah, if you know me, this is no surprise.  I’ve been a Villain since Happy Death Day, and this band just keeps getting better and better with every release.  I love their unique sound and their insane vocals are truly showcased on this track. The moment I heard this one, I knew it was gonna be my number one song of the year and as the months passed, nothing quite managed to dethrone it.  I can not fucking wait to see how the guys evolve as time goes on

#xdinary heroes #onlyoneof #NCT 127 #girl's generation #seulgi #red velvet #ateez #TXT #stray kids #Woodz