#thank you Assad for already looking like a painting

[hermit-frog]

(...) his black hair parted in the middle and curling about his ears, so that he looked now in his dreamy, fevered state like one of those lithe androgynous creatures of a Botticelli painting.

[nalyra-dreaming]

Hello! Hope it’s okay to message. I saw your post about Marius and the paintings in the series/trailer but I’m dumb and don’t understand them. Can you explain them screenshots of when they’re in the trailer and series? Thank you so much

Hey!

Of course!

So in episode 2 we see Daniel in front of a painting.

Armand: "It's Venetian. A contemporary of Tintoretto's." Daniel: ""Marius de Romanus." Never heard of him." Armand: "Little of his work survives. Mr. de Pointe du Lac covets the rare."

Now. it's probably important to know here that Marius is Armand's maker, and he painted him quite a few times. (Armand also was an icon painter in his mortal life, in the book, we'll see how they'll spin it here, though the art in that one shot in the trailer is very interesting.)

Supposedly Armand thought Marius dead for long periods of time. However, given that we're in a mixed timeline, and that there are indisputable elements of the last trilogy in the show (Fareed, for example.) I believe that we are looking at the show's version of "Trinity Gate". And in the Trinity Gate era Armand was more than aware that Marius was indeed not dead. In fact there had been reconciliation. For me the painting on the wall of that apartment indicates that a certain reconciliation between must have happened already. I cannot see Armand look at his maker's painting when he still harbors the negative feelings he must have felt after it all came down.

In the trailer we see this guy, played by Justin Kirk, who I think will be/is Marius. He says: "You should fear the other one."

And right afterwards there is a shot of Louis hurling his glass with blood at a painting.

However, that is not the painting by Marius (that would be behind Louis there). This is "Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" (something which Assad Zaman cheekily posted ages ago^^).

Here you probably need to know that after the "chase" of the Devil's Minion arc (so when Armand hunted Daniel across the globe and eventually fell in love with him) there was a phase, where they hunted down art thieves. And kept the art.

That is stolen art from Daniel's and Armand's time together on the wall.

Edit: @cbrownjc pointed out that the timeframe of the theft doesn’t match the likely DM timeframe. So the painting might be from after DM! (But still stolen art^^)

And Louis throws blood at it in obvious frustration.

In the story referenced through the painting Christ calms the storm after his disciples panic, and he admonishes them: "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

Given that (I'll just call him that until proven otherwise) Marius just talked about who Daniel needs to fear in the previous scene? Definitely not a coincidence :)

I also do not think the "presence" of Marius behind Louis on the wall there is any coincidence. (But it cannot be seen, and that is definitely no coincidence either, imho.)

Marius has been foreshadowed, and quite heavily, imho. He is also necessary for both Armand's and Lestat's backstories.

It's... too early I think to fully analyze what it means. It could mean Daniel has fully remembered and he and Armand are in their own little bubble (after all Louis seems to be alone there). We'll see.

Last but not least:

This - there's paintings.

Has Armand started to paint again? Has he shown Louis his paintings? Does he make himself vulnerable there for Louis, and Louis... accepts the invitation? Bites him there? Turns him to kiss him?

I would actually love that.

Because that would be a huge step for Armand. Huge. Cannot be overstated. Because Armand, too, carries lots of trauma. (They all do.)

[jenroseyokel]

Awesome of the Year 2018: The Music

Welcome to round two of 2018’s Awesome of the Year lists. It’s time for one of the most fun and frustrating of them all… my top albums of the year.
 

So by the time I get around to making a list for my blog, I’ve already made… um… three. Three lists that don’t match up, because they’re all for pretty specific audiences and have varying levels of criteria to meet. When I settle in to make these lists, it’s usually through the lens of recommendations more than a best of... what are the albums I loved that people who read this website will love too?

By the time I get to my blog, I’m don’t even want to try to rank albums. But here we are. I’ve attempted to semi-rank my Top 12, with a handful of honorable mentions at the end. These are by no means the OMG BEST albums of 2018, but they’re some of my favorites, whether they met me on a deep spiritual level (like my #1) or just provided some fun background for driving around.



Or of course, you could skip this long list and just queue up My Listening Year 2018 playlist on Spotify. It’s 3 hours of 2018 releases I enjoyed that starts out all rock and roll then runs from folk to pop to CCM to whatever. Hopefully you’ll find something you like in this crazy mix. :)

2018 was a pretty dang great year for music. What were your favorite songs and albums? Let me know in the comments!

Audrey Assad - Evergreen 



Audrey Assad’s first collection of original songs in five years tells a painfully honest story of faith lost and found, spiritual growth, and evergreen hope. Lovingly crafted from start to finish, this marks a courageous new chapter in her career and was my personal most-played record of 2018.



Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour 

Blending small-town country with glistening pop and songs that waver between wistful and playful, Golden Hour quickly won me over. I guess this means I like country now? 


Andrew Osenga - The Painted Desert



Thankfully, Andrew Osenga isn’t done making music after all. The Painted Desert comes after time off from the road and studio, and these songs about renewal and hope create one of the most powerful records of the year.



Andrew Peterson - Resurrection Letters Vol. 1 


Ten years later, the prequel to Resurrection Letters Vol. 2 is here, and it is 100% worth waiting for. These joyful songs show a seasoned songwriter at the top of his game, with big arrangements and powerful lyrics to celebrate coming back to life.

 (Don’t miss the Resurrection Letters Prologue EP for Lent and Good Friday too!)

1/11 EDIT: Ben Rector - Magic

Chris: Ben Rector came out with a remix EP today. Me: Oh cool! Wait.... did Magic come out in 2018? Chris: ...

HOW DID I FORGET TO PUT MAGIC ON MY LIST IT’S SO GOOD Y’ALL. We saw his tour and everything. I am super disappointed with myself right now.

The New Respects - Before the Sun Goes Down



Elements of funk, soul, blues, and 70’s rock n roll come together for one of coolest rock records of 2018.



Liz Vice - Save Me

I loved hearing Liz Vice at Hutchmoot this year and immediately checked out her music. Save Me blends classic R&B, soul, and gospel influences with pop beats and her expressive singing for one powerful, hopeful musical experience.



Andy Gullahorn - Everything as It Should Be

For a certain core of Nashville indie folk fans, Andy Gullahorn needs no introduction by now. Once again this master songwriter delivers a thoughtful folk record that observes the small beauties of life and speaks hope into a divisive culture, all with the right mix of humor, profundity, and grace.



Sandra McCracken - Songs from the Valley



Songs from the Valley is an album of lament, drawing from the Psalmic tradition and Sandra McCracken’s own broken heart, but the shafts of light in the valley shadows lend this album a real, hopeful beauty. 

Death Cab for Cutie - Thank You For Today

There will always be a part of my soul that loves sad Seattle indie rock. I never expected a new Death Cab album, but that sad Seattle indie rock part of my soul is really thankful this exists.



Lauren Daigle - Look Up, Child



Lauren Daigle’s debut was a pretty solid and safe pop record, but her sophomore release is everything I ever wanted from her. Rather than sticking with CCM radio style, she embraces her New Orleans roots, and it sounds like this is the music she was born to make. 

Paramore - After Laughter

Technically a 2017 record, but I discovered it around this time last year. I never could get into Paramore in the past, but geez, this is a fantastic pop rock record. (And apparently, my most played album on Spotify this year? Ya figured me out Spotify.) 

Honorable Mentions (There was a lot of good music this year!) 

Joy Ike - Bigger Than Your Box, The Lone Bellow - The Restless, Beta Radio - Ancient Transition, Mumford & Sons - Delta, The 1975 - A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships, Mat Kearney - CRAZYTALK, Mutemath - Voice in the Silence EP, Jason Gray - The Kipper Gray Sessions EP, NEEDTOBREATHE - Forever on Your Side EP