#it’s one of those core albums in my memory

[spaghettificationstation]

ok blogging time. I've been playing and loving the Arkham games (Asylum, City, and I haven't gotten to Knight yet), esp since Spider-man 2018 has been my favorite game for a long time and everytime I told people that they'd be like, oh Spider-Man Arkham huh? And now I get it. ANYWAY, the only thing I ever really knew of the Arkham games before this was the PATD song Mercenary, which was some sort of collab between Arkham City and PATD? There's an interlude in the song that's lines of dialogue from Hugo Strange, and it was SO weird playing a game I'd never played before but being able to nearly perfectly say Strange's lines when I got to the scene/event they're from. What this is getting at, though, is that I think that song-- and many of PATDs early, eerie sort of songs, are sooooo perfect for a gritty Gotham feel. I have many thoughts on PATD and all involved but damn. i love kinda spooky, kinda horny bops, and I need to make a playlist since I'm obvi in a batfam fixation period from Wayne Family Adventures, the Arkham games, and rewatching Teen Titans recently :0 ok blogging over for now

[tulsa24]

taylor, my beloved, how in hell are you making this setlist? i’m trying to make my ultimate version right now and one i think is more realistic but it hurts every time i have to not put a song on the hypothetical setlist 💔

[copepods]

so, there's no official place im aware of that's compiled the names of every music track in rain world which includes DLC, unused tracks, alpha tracks, and includes every location those tracks can be found, so! i made one :) mostly just for my own fun bc i love cataloguing things.

sadly i cant include links bc there's a limit on tumblr, but these should all be pretty easy to find with a quick google search. to find the rooms listed here, since room names aren't necessarily very descriptive, you can use the interactive map!

black text = track plays in vanilla game (these songs may appear additional times with blue text in other sections)

purple text = track is unique to the downpour ost

orange text= unused vanilla track, from the files or james' soundtrack albums, which was added in-game in downpour

blue text= track used for a new location in downpour, but also appears somewhere in vanilla (these songs also appear with black text in their original vanilla locations)

all in-game tracks are sorted by the regions they appear in. some tracks play in multiple regions- these will appear on the list multiple times, sorted into each region they play in.

Trailer and promotional music (Can all be found on Youtube)

RW dayns: promotional material (Remix of Sundown)

Threat - Superstructure (Trailer Remix): Switch trailer

What Fate A Slugcat: Release trailer (Alt version of Urban Jungle)

Together: Co-op trailer

Overskog: Downpour launch trailer, creatures teaser

Downpour: Downpour teaser trailer

Triptrap: Downpour regions teaser

Landmarks: Downpour lizards teaser

Task: Challenge mode teaser

Unused threat layers (can be found on Music page of RW Wiki)

Threat - Outskirts: with unused layer SU_4

Threat - Farm Arrays: with unused layer TH_LF - CHORDS

(note: listed on the wiki are two additional unused layers for Threat - Garbage Wastes and Threat - Heavy Industrial, but listening to them I can find literally zero difference from the original release. maybe it's just my ears idk)

Alpha tracks (from the original Alpha release of the game, called Alpha_8, later added to Alphas, Gems and Junk)

RW_2: Alpha_8

RW_3: Alpha_8

RW_4: Alpha_8, Alpha Trailer Music

RW_5: Alpha_8

RW_6: Alpha_8 (titled Deathpit in James Primate's Soundcloud)

RW_11: Alpha_8

Album Exclusives

RW_12: Alphas, Gems and Junk (titled 3 Moon Sunset on James' Soundcloud)

Illegible Neon Signs (RW_17): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Beat (RW_21): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Beat (RW_22): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Beat (RW_23): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Sky Islands (RW_24): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Night City (RW_25): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Free Mind Loop (RW_30): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Sub Sub Sub (RW_31): Alphas, Gems and Junk

Frost Reaper (RW_98): Downpour OST album

Threat - Rubicon (TH_HR): Downpour OST album

Arena music

Noisy (RW_10): Arena

Action Scene (RW_13): Arena (titled Breakbeat Bonebreak on James' Soundcloud)

Weyuon (RW_33): Arena

Slaughter (RW_34): Arena

Wired (RW_68): Arena

GREY CLOUD (RW_32): Arena

Rooftops (RW_7): Arena (titled Skyline in James' Soundcloud)

Menu and cutscene

Sundown (Theme I) (RW_8): Main menu and credits (Technically combination of Sundown (no rain) and TitleRollRain) [titled Adagio for Rain World on James' Soundcloud]

Pictures of the past (RW_Intro_Theme): Survivor and Monk intro cutscene

Passages: passage screen

Reclaiming Entropy (RW_92): Saint end cutscene and credits (Was formerly named Theme V - Credits pre-Downpour)

Outro Theme (RW_Outro_Theme_B): Survivor, Monk, and Gourmand end cutscenes

Satellite (RW_72): SI_A07 (Spearmaster end cutscene)

BM_SS_DOOR: Saint intro cutscene

Train Tunnels (RW_27): Expedition menu

Garden (RW_65): Expedition loss screen

Halcyon Memories (NA_19): CL_AI, RM_AI (Music pearl), Rivulet end cutscene and credits (Spelled Halcon Memories in OST album)

BM_CC_CANOPY: Artificer end cutscene

Deep Light (Theme IV): Ascension end cutscenes (Technically combination of Deep Ghosts/VS_E_DEEP_GHOSTS, The Core/VS_F_THE_CORE and Outro Theme/RW_Outro_Theme)

Game Music

Outskirts (SU)

Threat - Outskirts (TH_SU)

Unseen Lands (NA_40): SU_A53

Urban Jungle (RW_1): SU_B04

Proxima (NA_01): SU_A07

Frosted Festival (RW_80): SU_A53 (Saint only)

Distance (NA_30): SU_PUMP03

Drainage System (DS)

Mud Pits (RW_09): DS_B02

The Wet Moist (RW_38): DS_B04

Old Growth (RW_15): DS_B01

Swaying Fronds (RW_51): DS_A26

Breathing Hyometer (RW_81): DS_GUTTER01

Industrial Complex (HI)

Threat - Heavy Industrial (TH_HI)

BM_HI_GATE: HI_B04

Bio-Engineering (RW_43): HI_B04, HI_A07

Mist Engine (RW_50): HI_A18

Sheer Ice Torrent (RW_91): HI_A07 (Saint only), HI_B04 (Saint only)

Garbage Wastes (GW)

Threat - Garbage Wastes (TH_GW)

Garbage Worms (RW_52): GW_B01, GW_TOWER02, GW_TOWER03

Lack of Comfort (RW_39): GW_D02, GW_B09_PAST

Garbage City Shuffle (RW_37): GW_C02, GW_C04, GW_TOWER15

Albino (RW_43): GW_E01

Stone Heads (RW_19): GW_C03

Overcast (RW_79): GW_A25

Accidented Condition (RW_83): GW_E01 (Saint only)

Eyes of Iron (RW_90): GW_C03 (Saint only)

Shoreline (SL)

Threat - Shoreline (TH_SL)

BM_SL_SHORE: SL_B02, SL_D05, SL_F01

Lonesound (RW_46): SL_D06

New Terra (NA_21): SL_A06

The Captain (RW_18): SL_A05

Moondown (Theme II) (NA_11): SL_AI, SL_WALL06 (also called Digital Sundown)

Vast Unlife (RW_89): SL_D05 (Saint only), SL_F01 (Saint only), SL_TUNNELA (Saint only)

New Else VIII (NA_42): SL_WALL06 (ECHO) (Saint only)

Veiled Northstar (RW_93): SL_TUNNELA

Shaded Citadel (SH)

Black Moonlight (RW_26): SH_D01

Demonic Riser (NA_25): SH_B17

Dripping Time (NA_17): SH_A05

Lantern Mice (RW_58): SH_C10, SH_A21

Floes (RW_40): SH_E05

ELSE III (NA_34): SH_A08 (ECHO)

Dark Sus (NA_08): SH_B05, SH_A24

BM_SH_CRYPTS: SH_B12 (Vanilla, patched out)

The Exterior (UW)

White Lizard (RW_55): UW_D02

Underhang (BM_UW_UNDERHANG): UW_C03

BM_UW_WALL: UW_D07

ELSE IV (NA_35): UW_A14 (ECHO)

Stargazer (NA_28): UW_H01

Pictures of the Past (RW_Intro_Theme): UW_J01 (Inv only)

Passages: UW_A14 (Inv only)

Five Pebbles (SS)

Threat - Superstructure (TH_SS)

BM_DS_GATE: SS_B01

Interest Pad (NA_09): SS_A09

Drastic FM (NA_16): SS_F03

Energy Circuit (NA_26): SS_D03

Random Gods (Theme III) (NA_41): SS_E07, SS_L01, SS_E06

Chimney Canopy (CC)

Threat - Chimney Canopy (TH_CC)

Threat - Chimney Canopy (The Gutter variant)

BM_CC_CANOPY: CC_A02, CC_H01 (Saint only)

Wind Chimes (RW_48): CC_B06

Sky Sprite (RW_55): CC_C11

ELSE I (NA_32): CC_C12 (ECHO), SB_A14

Cracked Earth (NA_39): CC_OUTPUT

Sky Islands (SI)

Threat - Sky Islands (TH_SI)

Lovely Arps (RW_29): SI_D03

Kayava (RW_42): SI_D01

Speaking Systems (NA_23): SI_C06

Crystalline (NA_20): SI_B11, SI_D05

ELSE VII (NA_38): SI_B11 (ECHO)

Silicon (NA_04): SI_B12

BM_SI_STRUT: SI_B13, SI_F01

Chillblain Grace (RW_84): SI_C02 (Saint only)

Farm Arrays (LF)

Threat - Farm Arrays (TH_LF)

All Thats Left (RW_14): LF_A14

ELSE V (NA_36): LF_B01 (ECHO)

Distance (NA_30): LF_D01

Nest in Metal (RW_49): LF_A01

Maze of Soil (RW_47): LF_D08

Raindeer Ride (RW_54): LF_H01

Emotion Thread (NA_24): LF_J01

Subterranean (SB)

Ferrous Forest (RW_28): SB_G02, SB_G03

Leviathan Cave (RW_53): SB_J02

Grumblebum (RW_41): SB_A03, SB_H02

Deep Energy (RW_45): SB_F03

ELSE II (NA_33): SB_A10 (ECHO)

Silent Construct (NA_27): SB_D04, SB_F02, SB_I01, SB_B04, SB_E07

Gold Swim (VS_A_GOLD_SWIM): Upper void sea

Big Open (VS_B_BIG_OPEN): Central void sea

Worm Inferno (VS_C_WORM_INFERNO): Central void sea

The Ride (VS_D_THE_RIDE): Void sea

Deep Light (Theme IV): Bottom void sea (Technically combination of Deep Ghosts/VS_E_DEEP_GHOSTS, The Core/VS_F_THE_CORE and Outro Theme/RW_Outro_Theme)

BM_SB_FILTER: SB_J03

BM_SB_SUBWAY: SB_C10, SB_F01, SB_H03

Orange Lizard (RW_62): SB_TESTB, SB_TESTC

BM_SH_CRYPTS: SB_D04

Else I (NA_32): SB_A14, SB_D03

ELSE VII (NA_38): SB_D01

Pipeyard (VS)

Rooftops (RW_7): VS_A01

Rain (RW_61): VS_B02, VS_B10, VS_C13

Veiled Northstar (RW_93): VS_A09

Fragments (RW_96): VS_F01

Threat - Pipe Yard (TH_VS)

Metropolis (LC)

GREY CLOUD (RW_32): LC_GIRDERWALK

ELSE VI (NA_37): LC_highestpoint (ECHO)

Dustcloud (NA_02): LC_TEMPLEENTRANCE

Phasing (NA_06): LC_C08

Lost City (RW_59): LC_ENTRANCEZONE

Threat - Metropolis (Day) (TH_LC)

Threat - Metropolis (Night)

Train Tunnels (RW_27): Can play when cycle ends

Outer Expanse (OE)

Sparkles (NA_05): OE_RAIL01, OE_TOWER09

Reminiscence (NA_11): OE_TREETOP

Bloom (RW_60): OE_JUNGLE05

Wandering Cut (RW_63): OE_RAIL02

Daze (RW_64): OE_RUIN14

Ancient (RW_69): OE_RUIN02

Open Skies (RW_97): OE_RUINBACKHALL

Threat - Outer Expanse (TH_OE)

Threat - Outer Expanse (Night)

Pictures of the Past (RW_Intro_Theme): OE_CAVE02

Waterfront Facility (LF)

The Coast (RW_16): LM_D06 (also called Shoreline)

BM_UW_UPPERWALL: LM_WALL01, LM_WALL02

Metal Canopy (RW_66): LM_TOWER09

Trusted Component (RW_82): LM_BRIDGE02, LM_BRIDGE03

Threat - Waterfront Facility (TH_LM)

BM_SL_SHORE: LM_D05, LM_F01

New Terra (NA_21): LM_A06

Veiled Northstar (RW_93): LM_TUNNELA

The Rot (RM)

Wormpad (NA_03): RM_GSB1

Qanda (NA_07): RM_D02

Sparkling Pendulum (RW_71): RM_B04

Flicker (RW_73): RM_I03

Not Your Rain (RW_76): RM_ROT01

Threat - Superstructure (TH_SS)

BM_DS_GATE: RM_B01

Interest Pad (NA_09): RM_A09

Energy Circuit (NA_26): RM_D03

Looks to the Moon (DM)

Glass Arcs (NA_18): DM_I02, DM_I05

Flutter (NA_29): DM_WALL06

Scapeless Doubt (RW_70): DM_LEG01

Obverse of the Old Wind (RW_78): DM_ROOF01

Reflection of the Moon (RW_95): DM_ROOF04, DM_MOONCHAMBER

Threat - Looks to the Moon (TH_DM)

Underhang (BM_UW_Underhang): DM_LEG07, DM_U09

Silicon (NA_04): DM_VISTA

Silent Construct (NA_27): DM_CROSSOVER02

Random Fate (RW_67) DM_I11

Undergrowth (UG)

Past Echoes (NA_06): UG_C02 (ECHO)

They Say (NA_22): UG_B02, UG_B10

Breathing Hyometer (RW_81): UG_GUTTER01

Weathered Steps (RW_94): UG_A05

Swaying Fronds (RW_51): UG_A26

Submerged Superstructure (MS)

Garden (RW_65): MS_BITTERENTRANCE, MS_SPLITSEWERS

Random Fate (RW_67): MS_LAB14

Aquaphobia (RW_74): MS_I06

Onto A New Dawn (RW_75): MS_FARSIDE

Fragile (RW_77): MS_BITTERAERIE2

Ascent (RW_85): MS_ENTRANCE

Flux (RW_88): MS_I02, MS_I03

ELSE IV (NA_35): MS_COMMS (ECHO, Saint only)

Silent Construct (CL)

Fading Light (RW_87): CL_D01

Demonic Riser (NA_25): CL_B17

Dark Sus (NA_08): CL_A24

ELSE IV (NA_35): CL_D05

Rubicon (HR)

Pulse (NA_31): Saint ending

The Cycle (RW_86): HR_M01, HR_M02, HR_M03, HR_M04, HR_FINAL

ELSE II (NA_33): HR_C01

[lalunameli]

『タナトスの声を聞け」

Hear the Voice of Thanatos!

Translation of this snippet on Lunatic/Yuri's character song 「タナトスの声を聞け」 (Hear the Voice of Thanatos) from the Best of Hero album.

I adore this song so much and listen to it a lot!

Scans provided by @tnbscans and the rest of the article reviews the other songs in the album.

BONUS ルナティック

『タナトスの声を聞け」

ルナティック／ユーリ・ペトロフ（声／遊佐浩三）

Bonus - Lunatic

"Hear the Voice of Thanatos"

Lunatic/Yuri Petrov (CV: Yusa Kōji)

断罪者であるダークヒーロー・ルナティックも、ボーナストラックで参戦！普段のクールなイメージとは違う、意外な一面が見えるかも・・・・・·？

The Dark Hero Lunatic, who is a sinner, performs the bonus track! It's different from his usual "cool" image. You may see an unexpected side...?

1コマレビュー

作：武若丸

1 Koma Review

By: Takewakamaru

Kotetsu and Barnaby's comments while listening to track:

生あったかいですね…

It's warm...

業なの

The performance...

これは...この歌はぁ...‼︎

This...this song is...!!

やんちゃだった頃の

When I was naughty

過ちっつーか

And made mistakes

黒歴史っつーか

My dark past

抉り出される感じがオジサンもう・・・ッ‼︎

It feels like it's being gouged out. Old Man, you too....!!

Lyrics Update 12/21/2023:

Replaced the transcription of the lyrics originally posted, with the official lyrics from the Best of Hero booklet courtesy of @tnbscans (Previously added scan of lyrics to this post).

Added Romaji

Tweaked some of the translation choices to match the official lyrics as written in the booklet.

Removed link to UTA.net as there are incorrect kanji

LEGEND:

Bold - Original Japanese Lyrics

Blue - Romaji

Green - English Translation

『タナトスの声を聞け」

"Tanatosu no Koe o Kike"

"Hear the Voice of Thanatos"

ルナティック／ユーリ・ペトロフ（声／遊佐浩三）

Lunatic/Yuri Petrov (CV: Yusa Kōji)

蔓延(はびこ)る邪心を　青き炎で鎮め

Habikoru jashin o Aoki honode shizume

Calm the spreading evil heart with blue flames

醜き悪には　月からの報いを

Minikuki aku ni wa Tsuki kara no mukui wo

Reward from the moon for the ugliness of evil

裁きの標(しるべ)に　罪人(つみびと)は導かれ

Sabaki no shirube ni Tsumibito wa michibikare

Sinners are guided by the mark of judgement.

テミスの秤は　平衡を取り戻す

Temisu no hakari wa Heikou o torimodosu

Themis' scale restores its balance.

ひび割れた暗闇で掴んだ正義に

Hibiwareta kurayamide tsukanda seigi ni

To the justice I grasped in the cracks of darkness

迷いなど何ひとつない それなのに何故

Mayoi nado nanihitotsu nai sorenanoni naze

There's nothing to lose, but why?

消えない痕(しるし)が疼く

Kienai shirushi ga uzuku

The indelible mark hurts.

己の罪の深さを嘲笑うように

Onore no tsumi no fuka sa o azawarau you ni

Like laughing at the depth of your sins

誰が一番呪わしいのか

Dare ga ichiban norowashii no ka

Who is most cursed?

囁きはまだ届かない

Sasayakiwa mada todokanai

The whispers have not reached me yet.

棺はいらない　全て灰に変えよう

Hitsugi wa iranai Subete hai ni kaeyou

I don't need a coffin. Let's turn everything into ashes.

この手で与える　相応しき最期(おわり)に

Kono tede ataeru Fusawashiki owari ni

I'll give those deserving their ending, with this hand.

購(あがな)いは　唯一の残された道

Aganai wa Yuiitsu no nokosareta michi

Purchase is the only road left behind.

誰ひとり逃れることは　許されない　さあ

Dare hitori nogareru koto wa Yurusarenai saa

No one is allowed to escape.

癒えない痕(しるし)を抱いて

Ienai shirushi o daite

Hold the unhealable scar

非業の罰を我が身に科そう　怯まずに

Higou no batsu o wagami ni kasou Hirumazu ni

I won't falter to inflict the punishment of untimely death

やはり悪は滅びる宿命(さだめ)・・・

Yahari aku wa horobiru sadame...

After all, evil's destiny is to perish...

刮目し今、省みろ

Katsumokushi ima, kaerimiro

Look at it now, reflect on it.

業火でさえ 燃やしきれず

Gouka de sae Moyashikirezu

Even the fire can't be burned.

記憶の底 こびりついた

Kioku no soko Kobititsuita

The core of my memory is stuck.

憎しみごと焼き尽くしてしまえば・・・

Nikushimi goto yaki tsukushiteshimae ba...

If you burn up all the hatred...

消えない痕(しるし)が疼く

Kienai shirushi ga uzuku

The indelible mark hurts.

己の罪の深さを嘲笑うように

Onore no tsumi no fuka sa wo azawarau you ni

Like laughing at the depth of your sins

誰が一番呪わしいのか

Dare ga ichiban nowashii no ka

Who is most cursed?

囁きはまだ遠い

Sasayakiwa mada tooi

The whispers have not reached me yet.

癒えない痕(しるし)を抱いて

Ienai shirushi o daite

Hold the unhealable scar

非業の罰を我が身に科そう　怯まずに

Higou no batsu o wagami ni kasou Hirumazu ni

I won't falter to inflict the punishment of untimely death

これが私の正義の形

Kore ga watashi no seigi no katachi

This is my form of justice.

さあ、タナトスの声を聞け

Saa, Tanatosu no koe o kike

Now, hear the voice of Thanatos!

Scan of lyrics from "Best of Hero" booklet courtesy of @tnbscans

Listen on YT here

[sweetarethediscords]

You're the meaning in my life, you're the inspiration...

The Maiden of the Barren of the Rime wouldn't exist if it weren't for Critical Role, Liam O'brien, and most importantly Caleb Widogast.

I'm sure every Critter out there has asked themself the question: 'What character would I play if I ever got to play at the table?' My answer was Mina.

Mina, originally, was a ranger/bard eladrin cursed to stay forever in the winter season. Specifically made with Campaign 2 in mind, I wanted to design a PC that would create a good juxtaposition to those already at the table. A literal iceblock that the Mighty Nein could chip away at as they often did with too-serious NPCs, and someone who could be mirror to Caleb, my favorite PC from Campaign 2.

As Campaign 2 steered it paths towards Aeor and the Eyes of Nine however, Mina didn't fit in the campaign any more (as most fandom OCs will do as canon goes along) but I couldn't abandon her. Couldn't throw her into my constantly growing pile of character sheets.

And she wouldn't let me forget her. In fact, her and her eventual counterpart, Sebastian, are some of the first characters of mine in recent memory to invade my dreams.

There was something in her I had to explore. Her rage echoed my rage. Her want to overcome her trauma, but fear that she would always be chained by it, mirrored my own healing journey.

Other characteristics of myself and themes I wanted to explore became the other characters. Sebastian became the other side of Mina's coin, someone who met inconveniences with relentless optimism instead of rage. A self-sacrificing people-pleaser against a self-preserving misanthrope, whose flaws both came from coping with past hardships.

A dirty little fire wizard sparked a rich story exploring the societal expectations of womanhood, the nature of generational trauma, and the complex journey of learning how to love one's self through others (among many other themes)...

...and a incredible talented singer/songwriter from Ireland helped hone them.

When I first started writing The Maiden of the Barren Rime in 2021, Hozier's music played an important, but minimal roll in providing emotional clarity for the characters. "Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene" helped to color the more ethereal and deadly nature of Mina, the fae part of her that lures people in, while "Nina Cried Power" grounded her fury, and helped to shape the larger world of Mina's story that will be revealed in later books.

As the core of the novel was written and finished in January 2023, the editing and refining process became my next great beast to slay. A huge slab of marble that with my fantastic editor and outside readers I was able to carve away at, but Hozier's Unreal Unearth steadied my hands.

It was already a wild enough coincidence that 'Blood Upon the Snow', a song meant to capture the brutality of winter in God of War: Ragnorak, released during writing MBR; eerily capturing exactly how I pictured Mina's upbringing. Hearing Unreal Unearth, a beautiful album about heartbreak, healing, death, and grief among other things, while I was writing an novel about heartbreak, healing, death, and grief among other things was surreal. And wonderful.

It helped to inspire the words I was missing, helped me carve out more cutting prose to capture the depth of my characters' emotions, and most importantly gave me the reassurance that the themes and emotions I was exploring were not singular, but shared. In different shades and presentations, but all coming from a same source of universal human truth.

I can not thank these two enough for the inspiration they've given me, and I can not thank you enough if you've read this much of my ramblings (and suffered my cheesy use of a Chicago lyric.)

[thefootnotes]

One Direction Ask Game!!

(Non-Directioner Accessible! 1D themed names, but open asks!)

Band: Up All Night - What was your best childhood experience? Take Me Home - What's a phase you regret from your childhood? Midnight Memories - What's your biggest core memory? FOUR - Who are four people you consider your platonic soulmates? Made In The A.M. - What's something you've only confessed to one person? Rarities - What is something your mutuals probably wouldn't suspect about you? Acoustic - What is a song you think is better acoustic? Live - Who is an artist you want to see live? Remixes - What is a twist or lie you've added to a retelling of an experience? This Is Us - What is one word you'd use to describe your relationship with your partner or best friend?

Niall: Flicker - What is something/one you miss? Heartbreak Weather - What is the worst situation you've found yourself in? The Show - What is something you consider painful but necessary? The Voice - Who's your favourite artist, and what's your favourite song by them? Homecoming: Road To Mullingar - What is something from your hometown that's changed since you were a kid?

Liam: First Time - What is a movie/tv show you wish you could watch for the first time again, and why? LP1 - What is your favourite music album, and why? Naughty List - What is your best holiday memory or tradition, and who do you share it with? Sunshine - What makes you happiest? Drop The Mic - Who is a celebrity or influencer that you'd really just like to punch in the face, and why?

Louis: Walls - What is something you wish you'd done, and why didn't you do it? Faith In The Future - What is your biggest dream/hope for the future? All Of Those Voices - What is your biggest insecurity? Just Hold On - What is something that got you through a hard time? 28 - What's your lucky number, and why?

Zayn: Mind Of Mine - What is an unpopular opinion you have? Icarus Falls - What is your biggest weakness? Nobody Is Listening - What is something about you that people judge/misunderstand? I Don't Wanna Live Forever - What is your least favourite thing about your life? Yellow Tape - What are your biggest red and green flags?

Harry: Harry Styles - Who is a celebrity who's had a positive impact on your life, and how so? Fine Line - What is a risk you took that ended well? Harry's House - What is your safe place? Dunkirk - What's your favourite historical era/moment/fact? My Policeman - Who is someone you would trust implicitly to protect you?

[tipsheda]

Favorite Music I Listened to in 2023

Through Census Designated this year and her various Dariacore albums, I discovered Jane Remover in 2023 and I'm really glad I did (thanks for the recommendation, Imogen!). Census Designated has an utterly fantastic vibe that resonates with feelings of nostalgia and melancholy like nothing else for me. It puts me in such a unique headspace and I will treasure it for that.

The album is supposed to embody dead grass, and it nails it. It makes me recall timeless moments with friends doing nothing together. Of countless nights driving back and forth between Rochester and Minneapolis back when I didn't live in Minneapolis yet but had friends there. It brought me back to some of the feelings I had right after college when I had to leave so many friends behind to join the Real World, and how I was able to hold on to some of those relationships despite distance and change. I didn't even like this album that much on first listen. It's been through repeated listens in different contexts that it's won its way into my heart. In my basement, listening with a friend. Outside, listening with some friends around a bonfire. On lonely drives to and from my various old stomping grounds.

TLDR: I have imprinted on this album and it's now a core memory and feeling that I can reference back to in the future when I want to revel in the emotions of a certain time period in my life. Good shit. Also, good companion piece to the game, Fallow.

I listened to some of the songs from Caroline Polachek's new album, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, for the first time in the car with some friends driving through a small town in Wisconsin. It was on full blast. What a sound! The album has so much energy. It's just absolute banger city.

Say what you want. But I've waited so long for a new Skrillex album and we got 2 in one year. Been a fan ever since listening over and over again to every single track he put out back in middle and high school on my school bus rides from 2011-2014. His work had a huge impact on my musical taste and my own music. Not every track on these albums hit for me. They never have on any of the past albums. But the ones that hit, fucking hit.

I had listened to some underscores songs a couple years ago and liked them, but never looked much further into the artist's music until a friend brought them up again. Then they released a new album this year and all hell broke loose. Great music. Energy, passion, emotion, all the good stuff.

Frost Children is great. Saw them live this year. They sound even better live. Listen to Frost Children. Favorite song is COUP.

Also saw Arooj Aftab play live with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily and it was just chill and beautiful sounds with haunting vocals the whole time. Good stuff.

Dodgr had only really put out the occasional single for so long and each one was an absolute banger with a great and unique vocal style over some good beats. I missed that she put out a whole album last year. It slaps.

Also, I want to give one final shoutout to a band I forgot to mention, Geese and their album this year 3D Country. It's like neo-Dad Rock or punk country. A blend of country/rock music with punk cowboy vocals. It was the music that was the most out of my wheelhouse out of everything I've listened to this year and I love it now. Saw them live and they were great.

Honorable mentions:

Elise Trouw - Losing Sleep

KNOWER - KNOWER FOREVER

Alexander Panos - Nascent (2022)

Rebecca Black - Let Her Burn

[7grandmel]

Todays rip: 02/05/2024

The Great Weed

Season 1 No Album Release (Read More)

Ripped by toonlink

Chat, I'll be real - It's been a long day for me today. Lots of shit just didn't want to work. I had a bigger post planned, but it'll have to wait for tomorrow. Sometimes, you just gotta return to the simple stuff. That simple stuff is what Season 1 of SiIvaGunner is filled with - but if there's anyone who could make the simplest of concepts work, it was toonlink. Dr. Soulja, by the very same ripper, still stands as one of the most effective rips on the entire channel, but for my money...The Great Weed is where it's at. Delightfully simple, yet never fails to put a smile on my face.

As I've clarified with many of Season 1's rips in particular, its important to remember that these videos were uploaded before SiIvaGunner as a concept was really known at all to the wider internet. Wheras today we see a lot of rips made far more to impress with their quality rather than to solely catch viewers off-guard, a la Sweatpants Select and Luna, mi Amor - in 2016, the novelty of the surprise was CORE to the rip-making process. Gags like Live and Ooooooooooooooh worked so well specifically because of how innocuous they appeared - the video looks like any other YouTube upload of Live and Learn would, and the featured joke only kicks in deep enough into the rip to where the average listener will have tabbed over to another window. But what makes rips like The Great Weed work so well, part of Toonlink's pioneering magic in a way, is how the joke only served to enhance the listening experience in a way that's still incredibly funny.

Much like the aforementioned Live and Learn, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker's The Great Sea theme is one that surely sits as a nostalgic core memory to many - the music to exploring the vast seas of a flooded Hyrule dominates much of Wind Waker's playtime. It has such a majestic opening, such a way of putting you at ease right away...and then, right as you're lulled to tranquility, you notice the additional backing instruments, you notice them increasing in volume - and before its had time to sink in that something's wrong, the video changes to the coolest fucking thing you've ever seen. It's of a bunch of people sandboarding (that is, snowboarding in the sand!!), taken directly from the video "Dank ass sandboarding son". The reason for said video reference is of course the song used, I Smoke Weed by Chrome, being featured therein - but the way its used in The Great Weed gives the song and attached video an entirely different vibe.

Because like, as I said, it's that atmosphere and vibe attached to and created by The Great Sea that's made it such an enduring tune, and it somehow manages to work that magic in here as well. That sort of "relaxed majesty" to the theme takes a video and song that, otherwise feel almost like they're trying a bit *too* hard to be cool, and effortlessly turns it into something so joyous, fun in the most playful way possible. The mashed-up-with song's declarations of smoking weed go from sounding almost boastful, to sounding playfully self-congratulatory - does that make sense to anyone else? There's just such whimsy and fun to The Great Sea as a theme, paired with the video depicting an equally great sea of sand and the people who explore it for fun, it transforms the vibe of the entire video into something you just can't help but smile watching.

It's the kind of rip I've sent to countless friends in my time, the kind of joke everyone can understand. Without having ever heard I Smoke Weed, you've likely heard The Great Sea theme in a YouTube video here or there at one point - and you understand just how funny the mix of majestic sailing music paired with DANK SANDBOARDING is - althewhile admiring just how dank that sandboarding do be. Its hardly the most meaningful rip visuals out there, nowhere near something like i love(d) you - but god it makes the bit land so much harder. Those visuals were an amazing way to introduce the joke to unsuspecting viewers 8 years ago, and even in today's SiIvaGunner-aware landscape, it helps in keeping The Great Weed as a super entertaining experience. And whenever I DO manage to catch people off-guard with the rip, using it to introduce the channel to new friends, it brings just as big a smile to face as it brings to theirs.

Oh, by the way: shoutouts to the Raft Ride rip lmao for unintentionally referencing this rip seven years after the fact. Seeing that during the Raftmageddon may honestly have been the main factor for me deciding to cover this rip LOL.

[owliellder]

Music Recs (for writing)

I thought it would be fun to make a post of the type of music I listen to when I'm writing while also providing music recommendations cause i love finding new music myself. obviously I'll add more as I go along

I use music to help with feelings (like angst, love, fluff, etc) since I struggle conveying those naturally and I only really use apple music because spotify has always evaded me, so I'm literally just going to write each song and then link it on youtube 😭

also heads up, my music taste is EVERYWHERE so there is no rhyme or reason to any of this

Fluff/Happy Mix:

Fall On Me by R.E.M.

Fresh by Daft Punk

Keep Feeling Fascination by The Human League

Around and Around by John Denver

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

Feel It All Around by Washed Out (don't mind me, just adding Washed Out's entire discography here)

You'll See It by Washed Out

Angst:

Veridis Quo by Daft Punk

Face to Face by Daft Punk

Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

It's Raining Again by Supertramp

Take The Long Way Home by Supertramp

Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol

Goodbye Again by John Denver

Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve (this is a very specific type of angst I feel)

Belong by Washed Out

Phone Call by Washed Out (this version of the song can only be found on youtube)

You and I by Washed out (again, this specific version is only on youtube)

Clap Intro by Washed Out

What Once Was by Hers

Just Wait Til Next Year by John Maus

Sprawling Idiot Effigy by Nero's Day at Disneyland (I do not suggest you listen to this one unless experimental music is your thing cause I tend to listen to Nero's Day at Disneyland when I am too under-stimulated to write)

(In) Love:

Love Story (Instrumental) by Lana Del Ray (I put this on loop for hours it's such a beautiful instrumental)

Digital Love by Daft Punk

Cheri Cheri Lady by Modern Talking

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths

Linger by The Cranberries

Annie's Song by John Denver

The ENTIRE Paracosm album by Washed Out (trust me on this one it all flows as one song)

Eyes Be Closed by Washed Out

Amor Fati by Washed Out

Everything in You by Adventure Time (ft Half Shy) (the Fionna and Cake series ruined me)

Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues, London Festival Orchestra

Baby I'm Yours by Cass Elliot

Stay by Oingo Boingo

Spice 😈:

not a lot of this yet since i tend to listen to my BG music when writing smut

Lose Yourself to Dance by Daft Punk

Make Love by Daft Punk

Hurt/Comfort:

Something About Us by Daft Punk

Instant Crush by Daft Punk (ft. Julian Casablancas) (I really like Daft Punk)

Why (12" Version) by Carly Simon

Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac

Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

Back Home Again by John Denver

Poems, Prayers, and Promises by John Denver (I also really like John Denver)

Kids by MGMT

The Ghost Inside by Broken Bells

Andromeda by Weyes Blood

Luck by Washed Out

Far Away by Washed Out

Fly Away by John Denver

General Scene Building/BG:

now this is my favorite part since these are what I use most often when writing. you can pick out obvious tone indicators here in the titles 😭

a way i've learned to tap into certain feelings for when i'm writing is by using my own feelings on personal experiences, so a lot of these playlists i'm linking I have a lot of personal connection to (also because they're all so damn specific)

you're inside the last memories of a dying person (playlist) by nobody

you're an astronaut lost in space (playlist) by nobody

i feel like i've been here before (playlist) by nobody

|| nobody here || Silent Hill fog core playlist by Armand Tormo

February 22, 2001 - A liminal playlist by Dan

recalling moments of a christmas that never happened (playlist) by nobody

you're visiting the grave of an old friend while remembering the moments you spent together (playlist) by nobody

you found a place where spring is eternal (playlist) by nobody

you're staring at the ceiling while creating romanticized stories in your head (playlist) by nobody

you're walking under the golden trees watching the melancholic leaves dancing in the air (playlist) by nobody

Lost in the Poolrooms (a visual vaporwave mix) by K1K1n

Music for Vibin' on Jupiter's Hydrogen Sea (vaporwave mix) by olimar124

Unknown Songs (Lost Media Comp.) by Christopher Cherigo (one of my hyperfixations is unknown songs lololol)

[webslingingslasher]

FINALLY U LISTENED!!

can i know your ranking for eternal sunshine, j 🥹

sorry it’s just the only thing i listen to after she released it and it’s so good i listen the album from start to finish every time

yeee!!!! i forgot i wrote out my reactions as i was listening so first listen reactions under the cut!!! but my faves gotta be eternal sunshine, we can't be friends, don't wanna break up again and true story.

1 strong opener 

2 hallmark movie dance number lowk a little weak 3/5

3 i fuck w this - DON’T!!! WANNA!!! BREAK UP!!! AGAIN!!! NO- I DON’T!!! DON’T!!!! DON’T!!! 5/5 FRAT!PETER AND TROUBLE CORE!!!!

4 love science. yes queen. 

5 what the fuck. 11/5 BAR AFTER BAR the chorus 🤤🤤 HER PITCh??  THE PRODUCTION??? yeah- yes. TITLE TRACK FUCKING ATEEEEE every line SCRATCHES my brain 

6 the delivery??? it’d taking over me!!!! it’s like supernatural!!!! SEATED. 4/5 

7 OOP. THAT OPENING?? i am listening!!!!! miss ariana!!! this song is soooo cunty IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER -  i’ll be the one you love to hate, can’t relate, too much on my plate. SEE IT IN YOUR EYES,  yOU GOT TOO MUCH TIME IMM IMMEE!!! 5/5 gimme LOVE LOVE !!

8 THAT OPENING BEAT!!!! that. BOY. Is MINE. the chorus ohhhh she didn’t come to PLAYYY. 5/5 THAT BOY IS DE-VINE- VINE- VINEEEE

9 peak retail speaker song. 2.5/5 not a bad song but compared to the rest of the album I have no idea why she chose this as a lead single. it’s giving side to side to me. ((why do you care whose dick I ride line ate ngl.)) 

10 oh girl. OH GIRL. this is THE breakup song. she fucking ate this so so hard. idk this is actually such a good song. whether it’s a friendship or a relationship, it tells you that even if it was mostly bad, you want to keep those memories because the good was so good. idk this song is actually so special and relatable for all. WE. CAN’T. BE. FRIENDS. BUT. I’D LIKE. TO. JUST. PRETEND. 10.5/5 

11 :/ this is a continuation to we can’t be friends. I wish I hated you to make this easier, but I don’t. this is another really really good grieving song. 5/5

12 the chorus UGH yes. using each other as an escape… yeah this one is really good too. I feel like track 10-13 are all connected to each other.  5/5

13 she just wants the domestic, ordinary things :( lowk giving “nothing is ever good enough” vibes. i think it’s a very fitting closer. 4/5

I think this album is really good, one of her best. It tells a story all the way through and you can feel her emotions throughout the album as she process the end of her relationship. 

[jemmo]

i cannot even begin to describe how much i just sobbed like a baby. like I think I was crying for the entire ep start to finish. It was just perfect, and ends a series that no word of a lie was absolute and sheer perfection start to finish. they seriously just did something special, like incredibly, unbelievably special. every step, every plot point, every story beat, every character, every relationship, ever song, every outfit, every shot, every choice and performance and inch of it was just perfection. i literally don’t know how else to describe it. it’s sweet and heartfelt and sincere and meaningful and fun and sentimental and kind and so full of care and passion and talent and love, i could try and put it into more coherent words but at the end of the day it is just a show so perfect bc at its core is so much heart. and it just goes to show that silly little high school romcoms, the simple, unassuming, uncomplicated, age old story, when done with care and attention and respect and sincerity can truly be one of the most moving pieces of media. it’s teenage coming of age at it’s absolute finest, and it’s comfort for outsiders and dreamers and for the teenage you that wanted this high school experience, wanted to chase your dreams and participate in clubs and mess about with friends and fall in love for the first time. that’s what this show captures down to a T and turns into a piece of art. it’s the fairytale we all want brought to life and made real and grounded with emotions we’ve all known and felt. I just can’t explain how special this show is, and how much I will keep it with me like an old blanket I’ve had since I was a child, to hold and give me comfort when I need it, to remind me of simple and happy days, and of the love I’ve gave and been given back. this show is the shirt I have with written messages from school, it’s the albums I listened to as a teenager, it’s pictures of me with my friends at graduation, it’s the universal experience of growing up and finding love and happiness and moving forward, holding onto those memories you created. and I just can’t explain how grateful I am for that.

my school president, the show you are. thank you for everything.

[allylikethecat]

Omg, also a TS fan since debut and I massively took a step back from her personally prior to the reputation era because of her antics and victim complex. The music will always mean so so much to me, her lyrics mean so much to me, but her actions as a person and TS™️ as an entity is just weird and greedy. I think she accrued a lot of fans when she disappeared for a while who've completely constructed a narrative in their heads of who she is and they believe it and are eating up this current era, but those who've been here a long time know how PR and image driven it is. Exhausting.

I apologize in advance I have been having way too many feelings about this whole situation and how it relates to my identity as a 28 year old woman and you are about to get an oversharing novel in response lol

Also, I guess CW: this post is about Taylor Swift and if anyone sends me any kind of hate or whatnot related to my own personal opinions and feelings I will be deleting it because I am NOT playing that game.

My Aunt bought me the Debut album CD at a concert after seeing her open for Rascal Flatts. She was like "I thought that you would like her!" and she was RIGHT Taylor Swift became my entire personality. One of my FAVORITE core memories as a child was the day Fearless came out. For some reason we didn't have school, and my Mom and I watched Taylor on the Ellen show, and then we went to Target and bought the physical CD, we then drove around town so we could listen to it together. My mom hasn't been well and that is one of my favorite memories of us together. It's silly but when you're in middle school that kind of thing is important to you. Then in high school I actually got MADE FUN OF for wearing Taylor merch and being excited about Red. BUT I loved her music and felt like she actually stood for something, so I brushed it off and continued to be a HUGE Swiftie. I had the Taylor Swift dolls, I had the perfumes, I had the LOVE LOVE LOVE bracelet, I had the sundresses from WALMART. I saw her on the Fearless and 1989 tours, I had the fucking 1989 haircut. I was supposed to go to Loverfest.

I was still a HUGE Swiftie during the post 1989-pre Reputation eras, then the Reputation era. I'm a few years younger than her, but I felt like I could relate to the kind of manic panic that she was sharing with us (lol turns out I was just unmedicated and we're doing much better now). It felt (in my probably naive mind) like she was experiencing the same insecurities that I was and reacting accordingly. Was she playing the victim at times? Oh 100% BUT I also fully believe that she thought she was one. (Plus... Kim is my least favorite Kardashian lol)

I LOVED the Lover era even as it was shit on at the for the sunshine rainbow hyper colorful aesthetic. Like, I don't know if new fans realize but when Lover was released? It was NOT as beloved as it is now. Then Folklore and Evermore were absolute genius, it felt like Taylor had grown up, and she got all of these new fans, which was great! She was in an "adult" relationship and her music and publicity choices seemed to reflect that. It was so refreshing to see a celebrity keeping their personal life, personal, and sharing what they wanted to share through music. Midnights broke all kinds of records, again, amazing! Even if it wasn't as strong as say Folklore. I fought for my life and got Eras Tour tickets (opening weekend!!) I had the BEST TIME EVER.

Taylor has always been extremely calculated with her public image. She was over exposed during The 1989 era and the public turned on her, so I truly cannot figure out why she is doing it again 100x in this new era of whatever the fuck this is. I don't know her, maybe she is legitimately happy, or maybe this is a cry for help. But I have been so grossed out by her behavior lately, and how in your face everything is with Kelce. It's no secret that I hate Kelce (and people that know me IRL know that it's not a new Taylor related thing lol) and if she actually loves him, fine, that's great for her, BUT we don't need to see it! Yes she was public when she was dating Calvin but ALSO she was what 25-26? She's a 34 year old woman now with the biggest platform of any celebrity ever. She feels too old (and this is not me age shaming her because I would be grossed out if my friends were doing it, and I would be embarrassed if *I* were to ever do it) to be licking a man's face in public like this. This feels like sorority girl in her first college relationship (I was *in* a sorority for a hot second so this isn't hate on sorority girls either!) and not record breaking Grammy award winning artist. ALSO I feel like she used to come across as so articulate and well spoken? Controversial opinion but I thought she sounded like a fucking idiot in that Time Person of the Year piece.

I think that this whole thing is PR for something, but because it just feels too icky to be real, but I don't know what it's PR for, (trying to bury the Matty situation from May? Because if so that just makes me even more sad for him or trying to get back at Joe? Which if that's the case, I feel bad for him too and she's even more immature than I thought) and now, for the first time, AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS I'm embarrassed to be a fan of her, both because of her own actions and also the actions of her fanbase as a whole.

It feels really weird, and I know I'm being parasocial about it, but when the times got bad I always had her music to fall back on and now I just, I don't know it feels cheapened somehow because the current image that's being crafted doesn't match the one that we originally fell for. And you know what, people change, she's a celebrity, I don't know her, what she does DOES NOT affect me any way, and how I feel does not AFFECT HER in the slightest, and I know it's being parasocial but I feel like a big part of me is in mourning about it. Less because of her changing her image so drastically, and more so because I feel like I'm mourning the loss of childhood and joy that used to be associated with her music for me and I think that's what's making me the most sad.

I have Eras tour tickets for one of the London dates this summer. I'm probably going to still go, because I paid for them, and I also have tickets to see Noah Kahan that same week in London (... and also the Longines tour has ALSO decided that the London stop is that week...) But I don't consider myself a "big fan" anymore. Maybe I will be one day again, but this current image that she's putting out just isn't it for me.

Sorry for the longest Taylor related novel in existence, I have had a lot of bottled up feelings about this that feel ridiculous typing out and sharing out loud BUT I know I will feel better sending them into the interwebs and your ask was the perfect catalyst.

Thank you so much for sending this in and for your continued support! I hope you continue to enjoy my fics and my secret sports hot takes 😂

❤️Ally

[degloved]

we're never getting reputation (taylor's version) and here's why:

1. the color-coding

taylor's discography is very obviously and deliberately color-coded, each album strongly associated with a particular color or shade. although there is some overlap (1989's light blue vs midnights' dark blue), the variations are distinct enough to avoid any confusion between them. in that sense, b&w is an extremely inflexible color assignment, on account of not being... well, not a color. b&w is b&w (not to be confused with folklore's grey; monochrome ≠ b&w), there aren't exactly many (or any, as it were) ways to stretch that palette to the extent it'd successfully take on an identity (album) of its own. which i believe blondie is aware of, and on that basis i believe it was a deliberate choice. and why? it's not as though she'd exhausted all of her options. there are colors she has yet to use, as well as different shades, tones, and tints of already used colors that would've been just as viable. why take this extremely particular and inflexible palette and, essentially, risk shifting that association from one album to another? unless she wasn't risking anything.

2. the pre-ttpd announcement period

as is customary for her, in the weeks before the official announcement of ttpd, all of taylor's social medias began taking on a b&w color scheme. the same had happened with purple and speak now (taylor's version), with light blue and 1989 (taylor's version), so on and so forth. a kind of unique mass-hysteria ensued as all signs pointed to reputation (taylor's version.) as it turned out, every last one of us was wrong in that assumption. if reputation (tv) were to drop, she'd have to go the b&w route again—which, for one, would in this case be predictable (we got bamboozled once, no way is it happening again) and that's very much not her style; and for two... there'd be no novelty. doing the same bit twice, really? not her!

3. the themes of reputation

reputation centered two core concepts: joe & falling out of public favor. a "good" thing and a "bad" thing. this would remain true for several years after the fact, yet no longer is—instead having turned into two "bad" things. i would not blame her if she chose not to return to this notably awful period of her life by way of re-recording, especially given the fact that the thing—person—that was once a shining star in all that proverbial darkness simply blends into the void with the way things are now. and while, yes, she had re-recorded songs about her exes, she'd only done so after a long while has passed. not only was this the longest relationship she's ever had and therefore likely uniquely devastating, the breakup itself is also very recent.

4. the contrast and the timing

and continuing the last point, only last year she'd dropped a couple devastating songs about this relationship on midnights, followed by more than a fair share of them on ttpd. doubtless she's still moving on/healing (judging by ttpd); i simply do not see her delving into an album that'd dredge up all those memories of the good times, the better times—not to mention that ttpd and rep are as antithetical to each other as it gets. if she'd recorded lover any earlier and had no ownership of it, for very similar reasons i wouldn't believe she'd re-record that one either.

4. the ttpd logo (NOT!!! my finding!)

now i never put much stock into this when i first saw it, as whoever had found it had taken it to mean "yay reputation (tv) soon!" and i simply did not agree. i actually thought it was a really freaky coincidence. bc, c'mon. let's be serious. however, i did realize it sort of fits remarkably well into my "ttpd is replacing rep because ttpd is reputation (taylor's version) in fewer words."

5. thanK you aIMee

kim? we're talking about kim now? who was maybe relevant around the year 2017? around the release of rep? oh. okay. i'm sure that means nothing

but that's just a theory... a game theory.

[waterparksdrama]

ok track by track review of Intellectual Property. GO!

as you wish anon. be warned this is literally like one of maybe 4 times i've listened to this album in full again

st*rfucker - a bit too saccharine on first listen but it has better replay value as time goes on. the beginning of the shoehorned jesus lyrics and the continuation of limo imagery to represent fame which is actually fitting admittedly bc just like a limo that is supposed to represent glamour and celebrity living, they are just as widespread and accessible as him and aren't really that glamorous at all. also this is me saying again wow he complains a lot about fame for someone who isn't really that famous. i still hate the cutoff at the end bc. cmon man. 7/10

real super dark - ok i did like the gilbert gottfried inspired melody i think that's fun actually. the song lyrics? uhhhhhh. just more complaining. if you have listened to any of the albums since fandom you are not missing much there other than the otto serial killer jokes he has inserted here? which is a choice i guess. instrumental is great tho. i feel incredibly stupid listening to a lot of the other parts of the song tho. 7/10

funeral grey - god i can't bear listening to this one on my own i'm sorry. live it's fine, but the studio recording i would rather kill myself than listen to again. IT'S SO ANNOYING. the terrible overenunciated vocals. awsten's attempt at humor by writing these wattpad fic lyrics that make me cringe to my core because i know there's a part of him being genuine. the one direction ripoff hook because he managed to get one of 1d's actual songwriters to help write the track. the only saving grace is the ending but at that point it's too late for any redemption. 2/10

brainwashed - ironically this was written with the 1d guy again and. i'm actually fine with this one LOL. it's simple and lowkey so it's considerably less annoying than funeral grey. considering awsten said the lyrics on this album were hypersexual, but it's 2023 so this is fairly tame, it just makes me wonder how much he has repressed in his psyche. 6/10

2 best friends - ok now we're back to simple annoying. if you tune out the lyrics enough, it sounds like disney channel filler music. but it's actually about ~~sExxxx~~ hahahahaha everything about this album so far is like reading fanfics clearly written by middle schoolers. awsten's sad about his situationship so he goes out with his 2 best friends to forget but it doesn't work :( but he could just fuck his friends bc it wouldn't hurt to try at this point. hey what if this was what the song was actually about that because in travis' insane songfic he made jawn and awsten hook up during this chapter #neverforget #riptravisficeventhoughmebitchingontumblrmadehimkillit 4/10

end of the water (feel) - hearing awsten try to hit those high notes reminded me of people saying brendon straining on his high notes on the last panic tour was like hearing a dog that needed to be shot out back for its own good. this is very obviously a charlie puth ripoff to the t because not only does he hit high notes that no man should ever reach, but i'm pretty sure the verse instrumentals rip off "light switch" by charlie. anyways more of "ughhhhh i'm not getting a text backkkkkk" that makes me want to throw awsten's phone into the pacific. i still don't know why kurtis conner is here and how this is supposed to relate to any of this at all. also actually now that i'm crossing checking the genius pages for these, the descriptions for these songs make them sound much better than they actually are lol. 3/10

self-sabotage - this one is mid on it's own but funny because i remember the amount of twitter discourse this song has spawned. "awsten's being toxic and misogynistic" did we not listen to some of the songs off fandom "awsten has bpd" what if he just sucks sometimes. the memories of this are more memorable than the song itself. 5/10

ritual - remember when i found out the soundbyte at the beginning was from an aids psa. good times. fine song other than the shoehorned soundbyte. the entire song is just a repetition of the verses and chorus like a ~~ritual~~ spooky! i like the flair vincente void adds with his screams i feel like this feature makes more sense because it's a song about protecting yourself from the doctrines of religion that harmed you when you were growing up and apparently vincente has known awsten since he was 13???? only thing i hate is the corpse ripoff ending so much so that i have a personal version where i edited that out. 8/10

fuck about it - BORINGGGGGG OH MY GODD. if you've heard one blackbear feature, congrats you've heard them all because they all sound the same and blackbear adds no energy whatsoever. he made a bayside instrumental sound boring you really can't underestimate him. anyways back to the song itself; the situationship has dissolved into pure sex and disinterest and annoyance outside of that and with the way awsten sounds like he plans having hate sex, i don't think he's ever had hate sex before. there's the ending synth i think is fun and that's the only reason this gets a point at all. 1/10

closer - it's a sweet song but um. haven't we heard this in a way before? *cough cough 21 questions* i think this is the closest (lol) parx comes to at a return to pre-fandom form, but when i listen to the chords too much i'm just like "did he lowkey rip off that one smashing pumpkins song". anyways it's just about needing to be closer to someone or ending the relationship completely. simple but effective but not nearly as effective as 21 questions for me sorry. 7/10

a night out on earth - ok i had physical tickets to the last tour bc i won them on idobi so i was like "THIS SONG BETTER BE AT LEAST DECENT BC I STILL HANG UP THE TICKET WITH THIS NAME" and it was at the least. it's like. a good waterparks song, but i feel like i've heard it already? my mind goes back to see you in the future but for these i can't tell who's ripping off who more lol. yeah i feel like other than some interesting production here and there it's a rehash of shit we already heard before. shoehorned religious lyric. fake ass band guys. "i turn my agony into songs and people only like when i'm hurt". "i've been dead since 2016" (part two). "i'm evil now. idgaf. wat ever."

and then i think the part that makes me go awwww but also confuses me is the im a natural blue radio interview snippet? like why does this all tie in together now. geoff's not even here bro how is this the only release where otto's the only one namedropped when awsten hasn't even named dropped him until last album. 80% the album is about some random relationship how is this supposed to tie into all of these.

idk i feel like i've just had this on my mind when when of my mutuals made their own analysis on awsten's mindsets towards life and said how he uses fear as motivation but his perfectionism keeps him from using failure as an editor and how this song was the peak example of this; the rehash of the same ideas over and over because despite his stubbornness, despite "ultimately -not- giving in to the perception that you’re worth ‘Demonizing'", he never confronts the problem for real, just compartmentalizes the problem away and doesn't truly overcome the root of his problems. that's what i feel like manifests in this album for me to be put off by it at its core. nothing ever changes, he just finds a new situation to complain at. maybe that's also why his fans never change even as new ones come though. maybe that's why we also stay stagnant in this with him.

again i get it, he's a public figure; if he did dive too deep into this and didn't choose to generalize the lyrics for his own sake, he would probably end up incriminating himself way too much and have a hard time performing some of these songs. but i can't help but wonder. if he's truly getting over a mental obstacle like that, or keeps himself so set on the future that he ignores the problems he never solved. like he always does. like he always seems to be doomed to. anyways, 7/10 song.

all in all, it's an album that tries to reach a concept of coming to terms with your sexuality and religious trauma all entwined in fame but in reality it's mostly just about a sucky situationship and awsten complaining again while putting in random religious references sometimes and the beginning and ending are about fame. my hot takes are: tennis imagery = gay sex, there's not enough of a distinction between "soulsucker" and awsten to make "album lore" when the overarching concept of parx's discography is "awsten's life sucks", and darth vader is luke's father. - iz

[vechter]

top 5 albums :on

hiii <3 this one is easier than picking 5 songs but not by much:

blonde by frank ocean life changing album for me. i will never get tired of listening to it. the imagery, the lyricism, the music. beat change in nights. when he croons i thought that i was dreaming when you said you loved me. i loved it even before i realized how it's so densely packed with meaning and stuff about his personal life (one of my core college memories is listening to the dissect podcast about this album on my commute to classes). i love u frank ocean <3

free 6lack by 6lack literally one of my biggest regrets in life is not being able to go for his concert in 2019. i would kill to see him live. he's usually one of my top 10 artists every year so it's very evident how much i fuck with all his stuff but this album has a special place in my heart

the interstellar soundtrack by hans zimmer this movie was one of my most beautiful depictions of space and love and how it persists and a big, big reason for that is the soundtrack. obsessed with cornfield chase and no time for caution. my go-to study music. honorary mention to one of the hardest movie lines ever- i can't be your ghost, right now. i need to exist

born to die- the paradise edition by lana del rey i've been listening to this album for over 10 years and i still haven't gotten sick of it. i probably never will. she changed the game for pop and r&b girlies with this one. it's you that i adore, though i make the boys fall like dominoes. my pussy tastes like pepsi cola. mascara running down her little bambi eyes, lana, how i hate those guys. HER BRAIN. no one has ever made a more lyrically insane, decadent vibed album like her.

the house is burning by isaiah rashad you can always start over. once, twice, thrice. banger of an album. every song hits. tde has never failed me and neither has isaiah. i remember i used to lose my mind whenever i heard the snippets he released. just pure vibey music.

honorary mention to billie eilish bc she's also always in my top 3 artists as well but i don't love any of her albums as a whole (although her new album is pretty great), just a select few individual songs. and kota the friend's FOTO makes me bop to the beat every time. this year, i've also been obsessesively listening to fin by syd and nebraska by bruce springsteen a lot so shout out to them as well <3

[starvels]

SteveTony Reclist: Road-Trips

@stevetonygames 2023 team future. challenge: camouflage. a reclist in the style of the inspiring @carsonian ! (thanks for your fun reclisting haha)

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A Long Road To Share [FANART] by SirSapling

Summary:

After 50 years in the ice and a couple exhausting years leading the Ultimates, Steve realises he isn't quite sure he knows anything about the new modern America he's supposed to represent. Luckily, Tony has an idea how to show him.

Notes:

such a sweet hopeful look at ults in the future! the landscape is warm and so is my heart. this comic encapsulates the road trip vibes in its scenery, colors and soft focus on steve and tony discussing believing in each other.

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After the Devil is Gone by Ironlawyer

Summary:

When Steve leaves to travel the country on his bike, Tony comes with him. But Steve is not ready to face those particular demons yet.

Notes:

CW for noncon offscreen. a super sharp desolate view of steve's 616 roadtrip, this fic aches to its core! the things it doesn't have to say ring so loudly and painfully across the text.

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Are we satellites? by starvels

Summary

In between sunrises on the road, Steve is speaking, eating, stepping into diners to save people like coming back to his childhood home. And Tony, Tony is watching him. Tony is relearning being awake. - A cross country roadtrip where Steve and Tony find the typical American town, a fuckton of trees and finally, finally, find the right questions to ask each other.

Notes: a self rec! this is an ode to winding american roads, the trauma and aches of being a superhero, the longing that comes with being in love with your best friend, and both steve and tony being the little spoon.

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BACK IN BLACK!! Eyes on the road Tony… [FANART] by @shaggybeetle

Summary:

MCU roadtrip featuring sing alongs to blaring music, delicious snacks and a phone ready to topple off the dashboard

Notes:

what a style! what a scene! steve and tony jamming out is so fun and they both look so at peace and ready to dig into vacation. great atmospheric details like trees through the windows!

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Flight of Icarus by Missy_dee811

Summary:

“Tony,” said Kamala, hurried. “I loaded up some music to give you a little boost,” she said. “Oh no,” he said, shaking his head. “Don’t worry,” she added. “It’s not mine.” He smiled. I knew I liked you. She wished him luck. He thanked her, though he didn’t believe in luck. He had one try, one try to get it right. She was counting on him, they all were. It felt good to be needed. It felt good to be useful. All these years, he had wanted nothing more. He couldn’t fail now. Not again. [Written for Lights On Park Ave - Round 13.]

Notes:

a marvel avenger's video game rec! a wistful retrospective of tony dealing with the loss of steve, flipping through memories like a photo album, topped with a reunion cherry!

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the honeymoon suite by CapnShellhead

Summary:

Wade Wilson is getting married and he's assembling a team to get him to Vegas for his bachelor party. Requiring a team with a special set of skills, he asks Wolverine, Spider-Man, Special Agent Preston and Captain America to come along. Steve decides this would be a wonderful opportunity to fix a rift between him and an old friend.

Notes:

a thoroughly enjoyable 30k 616-verse fic based in an oft-overlooked moment in canon featuring delights such as: bed sharing! team fight scenes! wistful conversations! snark! accidentally thinking of your crush while jerking off!

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On the Road We Find the Journey Home by navaan

Summary

In the Aftermath of Secret Empire, Steve goes on his Road Trip to find out who Captain America can be after Hyda!Cap put fear into the hearts' of the people who used to cheer for him. His thoughts trail back to Tony.

Notes:

follows 616 canon for steve's post-hydra road trip gives this fic the opportunity to have steve connect genuinely to things in a way that reminds us all why we love cap. the end pay-off is good and the writing is so very even keel and wonderfully paced.

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somewhere along the oregon coast by Marvellous

Summary:

Tony stared at the door of the coffee shop they’d pulled up to, watching multiple people come and go. He crossed his arms and laughed to himself, “How much do you want to bet he’s having a very in depth conversation right now?” A deep but agreeable woof sounded from the backseat of the car.

Notes:

small and sweet like a little dessert! a tale of a pup and a love so warm it melts your heart to look at it. sometimes, it is that easy.

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ride (with) me [FANART] by wingheads

Summary:

kobik brought steve back. tony woke up from a coma. a road trip seems like a good place to start some reacquaintance. square filled: e1 motorcycle lol i really wanted that stevetony roadtrip in 2018 bc it had been a long time ?? since steve and tony were together where steve isn't old (i love old man steve btw) or evil and tony isn't in a coma or an ai. etc. etc. inspired by steve's road trip.

Notes:

a vibrant scene of steve and tony on their way to reconcile some loving feelings, complete with a gorgeously detailed motorcycle. the vibes here are so picturesque and the pose is so sweet.

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You Go Up Instead of Down [FANART] by MissionCritical

Summary:

This is set in the universe of the 1966 Marvel Superheroes cartoons (Earth-600026). Only two years ago, Iron Man and the original Avengers discovered Steve, frozen and floating in the Arctic Ocean, and rescued him. It's been rough for Steve, adjusting to this new world, but he has a lot of support -- from two people in particular. Tony Stark is brilliant, handsome, and a generous benefactor to the team. He's even given Steve a place to live in his own actual mansion! Steve doesn't really understand why, but it's clear Mr. Stark is good man, devoted to helping the Avengers. And then there's Iron Man, who has quickly become Steve's best friend, Iron Man is brave, and determined, and just a terrific teammate. He's given Steve the thrilling experience of flying into battle by riding on his back! And in that gleaming suit of armor, Iron Man always has Steve's back. Steve is Iron Man's biggest fan.

Note:

a delightful lil glimpse into a fun, small universe, this edit is such a delight to experience! we all need a little more flying steve in our lives, don't we?

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go forth: stevetony beans, greens, potatoes, you name it! and give these treats the resounding kudos/comment/retweet/reblog chomps they deserve!