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abnerkrill · 9 months

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Nik! Did you watch Rebel Moon? How was it?

Yes hello this is my 4 star review of rebel moon on letterboxd.

But first: a professional, somewhat critical review of rebel moon that engages with the film well, especially regarding anti-colonial themes, and isn't just knee-jerk regurgitated Snyder haterism:

And now more of my thoughts: [edit: Oh No, He Went And Talked For 3 Hours About It, Thanks For Coming To My TedTalk:)

No one has a better knack at putting together a cast list SO ATTRACTIVE TO THE BISEXUALS. read it and weep, boys. (Jena Malone is there too but really just for 1 set piece)

...Jena Malone's one (1) scene set piece features her as an alien spider woman with legitimate grievances against the Empire who now wants to kill kids because all her kids were killed. Like, so valid, girl. Also, did I say Jena Malone as an alien spider-woman? And this is just one scene.

Look, if that pitch doesn't hook you, this film may not be for you, and that's okay, but by GOD my people are the people who hear "Jena Malone alien spider woman" and perk up. I love you, freaks.

The cinematography is ace and always will be under Snyder's direction. music by Tom Holkenborg SLAPS. Costuming and design overall is super super strong. (People on this hellsite are always complaining about inadequate, boring as hell sci-fi design and you get RM and you don't appreciate it for what it is. WAKE UP.)

Costume showcase! Second from the right in this photo showing off those sweet sweet sci-fi costume designs is my beloved non-binary they/them revolutionary Milius. CANONICALLY non-binary, let me add. Imagine SW doing that lmaoooooooooooo D*ve Filoni would fuckin keel over and die

Kora! Our tragic female protagonist of color who's over 40, with a dark edgy sexy background. [KIDNAPPED AS A CHILD!! DEAD FAMILY!!! DEAD LOVER!!!!!!! SHE FAILED TO PROTECT HER WARD FROM ASSASSINATION!!!!! SHE IS THE MOST WANTED WOMAN IN THE UNIVERSE!!]

Bitches on tumblr LOVE taking failmen with sad backstories from media and blorbifying them, but the second it's a woman? please. If this was a man people would be writing the filthiest x reader smut you've seen since Mandalorian S1 came out. If this was a man you'd already have seen 20,000 fan drawings of her with her muscles and tits OUT. God where's my Kora fanart.

I personally have no problems with the plot of this movie (part 1 of 2) being "we must collect warriors to fight the evil empire." That's kinda fantasy story 101 and I still love new, varied interpretations of that plot.

If there's not much interconnecting plot because Kora's just gathering fighters, it's kinda like... that's the point, babes, they'll actually get to it in part 2. We're just at the "forming the team" stage. I revel in that part of a fantasy film and I always want it to be longer, so this film is like catnip to me.

Uh, yeah, this is getting long. More under the cut.

Entertainment professional nitpick time! I've seen someone say RM would be better as a TV show to introduce a new character each episode. And I truly don't think that fixes any of the problems this person has with the film, while introducing way more problems. (Who the fuck would go in on an original concept TV show where each episode introduces a new hero. You could not sell that pitch to a studio, ever, and viewers would instantly check out if they didn't like the introduced character of the week, and the same complaints would be made: it’s just a new character intro blah blah blah. This wouldn’t fix anything! It would very much make it worse!)

Me, like every day, through gritted teeth: that's... not... how... tv... works...

Like be realistic for a hot second with me. Television is not "long movie"—it is a different medium with different rules. Yes, the past decade has blurred many lines between TV and film, but they're still different mediums, and when people blur them ("it's a 10-hour movie!") the results often suck ass, because you either lack episodic structure or you lack feature structure. Snyder is a feature filmmaker who has never worked in TV. Whenever features people jump into TV, it's a whole other learning curve! They're usually terrible at it! You want Snyder to have to learn a new medium? You want him to learn 5/6-act TV structure from scratch? You want him to (horrified gasp) lead a writers room? Those are not his strengths, baby. Let him play in his space opera sandbox.

And I'm not done! You want the casting team to have to deal with the headache of getting feature film actors to star in a TV show? (Pay cuts! Longer commitments! TV production timelines!) You want to do that to me, personally, and fuck up the TV landscape some more by going, "Oh, we can basically just make a Longer Feature Film in TV"? Fuck off with that. TV has different production realities and different basic story structures. A [long] film [with two parts] is still a film, in structure and production practicalities.

Truly, Tumblr media studies brains (derogatory) at it again.

To each their own, but again, I think RM's structure is fun because it gives me more of the goodies (badass, varied character intros) for the price of one (2-hour film.) Like... that's the good stuff, that's often the most exhilarating part of a film for me. And contrary to popular belief, it's not intro to intro without rising tension or stakes. It builds tension as it goes because new facets of resistance against the Motherworld are explored in each character's intro scene. New ways they fight back, new worlds on which they fight back. And a ticking time bomb of the King's Gaze (king's gays lol) catching up.

Here, have a trailer bc Tumblr's mad at me for too much text in one block.

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...I like the RM characters. I want to spend time with them and see what other zany shenanigans Snyder will have them do. (Alien bar fights! Taming a space gryphon! Lightsaber battle!) I like the side-quest-y, exploratory, space opera sandbox playground nature. It's fun, and like, again, if you don't perk up at the concept of collecting cool characters like action figures, this film may just not be for you.

To me it's a polycule. Like, the most messed up polycule in the whole galaxy, but it's a polycule.

Speaking of: THE CHARACTERS ROCK. Yeah, we're missing some significant character development because Netflix truncated Snyder's 4-hr, R-rated film into a 2-hr PG-13 version (likely to be able to release the 4-hr cut later, drum up new press, and get more eyeballs on the movie in total in a few months.) That's... not really Snyder's fault [even though he claims he's in on the plan... some part of me thinks it was Netflix's idea and not his. Stinks of studio meddling.] And it's not indicative of the quality of the actual film, which I currently see as more of an abridged version of the R-rated film that's gonna come out and fill up some of these story holes.

If people are judging the film for not being the 4-hour version, and then decide not to see the 4-hour version, that's their call, but it's kinda shitty to act like the 2-hr version is all there is. Like it probably wasn't Snyder's call to do a 2-hr cut! He's said that the 4-hr one is a whole different movie. I betcha the common criticisms (not enough character development, just jumps from character intro to character intro without interconnection, lack of structure) will be helped, if not outright solved, by the longer cut.

I think people are also happy to take a Part 1 of a movie if it's, say, Dune, and the source material has another part, so Part 1 is allowed to be fucking boring, whereas people don't give that kind of allowance to original sci-fi movies, WHICH IS A REASON WE DON'T GET ORIGINAL SCI-FI. If you're painting with as huge and cosmic a palette as space opera Rebel Moon, the 4-8 hours total across the 2 four-hour parts is kinda bare minimum for an epic. So... patience is a virtue? Let part 1 have elements of IT'S KIND OF A PROLOGUE?

What's that saying? If you want the rewards of space opera worldbuilding with an ensemble cast, you must submit to the mortifying ordeal of 2 hours of setup. Geez. Enjoy the wacky exposition or get out of the space opera genre.

Yeah, that leads me to the point of people who don't enjoy space opera are getting mad at RM for fulfilling the promises of the genre. You might truly be happier elsewhere. The whole thing is over-the-top, huge-scale MELODRAMA and I thrive on melodrama. If it's too cheesy for you, don't come to space operas!!!!!!!

On that note, people have said RM is too tropey and too Star Wars-y. But like I said. If you don't love the tropes get out of the genre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you aren't here for bloodier/hornier Star Wars get out of RM!!!!

Another big idea I would be remiss to skip over. RM is an explicitly, deliberately anti-colonial, anti-imperial text—far, far more so than any other mainstream sci-fi currently being released. Well-intentioned liberals love to tout Star Trek/Star Wars as progressive media but they really hedge and defang all their political commentary, especially in their 21st century franchise form—think the SW sequels/shows straight up woobifying K*lo Ren in realtime and the Trek shows that (while fun!) are really often just nostalgia bait.

RM is pretty fucking radical. Its theme basically is Kill Nazis—or in expanded form, something along the lines of "The empire will eat up everything of value in the universe unless it is met with unified armed resistance built on solidarity."

And just look at RM's casting. We're not colorblind here; we're very color-conscious. (That's a rant for another day, but I've really started to despise colorblind casting for its extremely well-intentioned-liberal "we're all the same" mentality. It just winds up erasing.) Anyway: RM features the explicitly American-English-Afrikaans empire vs. the Algerian Amazigh protagonist, Black freedom fighters, Japanese revolutionary... and like. Snyder's always gonna be into Vikings so obviously we have Space Vikings too, whatever. Look at me, I can criticize Snyder too! The Poor Sad Space Vikings are not the strongest part of the film!

...Anyway of course the empire vs. revolution is absolutely kind of Star Wars-y since RM is highkey Snyder's Star Wars, but it goes so much further than SW dreamed (or, perhaps, nightmared). SW's rebels/resistance continually get defanged because they're kind of foundationally space magic/singular hero's quest deals, and modern SW with the exception of Rogue One/Andor is just politically, socially stupid. In contrast, RM is about forming a coalition, without something like the Force to help you out. I could write an essay on the ways RM starts in the same place Star Wars starts but takes its politics so much more seriously, so much further.

While I'd argue "good politics" and "artistic quality" rarely correlate, RM is explicitly and doggedly a text about the colonial empire that exploits, enslaves, abuses, and seeks to utterly control marginalized people groups in its quest for domination—and god, I would LOVE to see a resurgence in very fanged, very angry political sci-fi.

One more aside. Snyder has been rightfully criticized for his earlier works basking in fascist-adjacent, hypermasculine aesthetics; 300 is notably super duper racist in how it depicts savage/monstrous Persians vs. Beautifully Good White Spartans Defending Their Culture. (more on "300 Bad" stored up in my brain if anyone wants THAT rant.) To Snyder's credit, none of his films since 300 have really done that—parts of Batman v Superman and his cut of Justice League purposefully poke fun at it. The hypermasculinity is kinda still there, but it's subsumed in the service of melodrama and mythic-flavored cinema, and it's kinda a staple of the action genre anyway, and if you're gonna criticize Snyder without criticizing EVERY ACTION MOVIE EVER, that's just more regurgitated Snyder haterism.

No one is doing mythic action like Snyder these days. No one has the balls and the command of melodrama & operatic visuals. And it comes clearly from Snyder's background in art & art history because all his shots are jam-packed with symbolism and meaning and allusion. So criticize the film for its weaknesses if you like but geez, if I see another post railing about the lack of CRAFT in RM, I will start biting. ALMOST NO BLOCKBUSTER HAS THIS LEVEL OF CRAFT. It's okay that you don't understand visual storytelling, babygirl, but please don't accuse Snyder of lacking craft.

Sorry, you've triggered Cinema Defense Mechanisms in me, I'm gonna have to sit down for a while after this.

I have more takes. Takes hot enough to fuel the King's Gaze (king's gays lol.) But I'll end with a funny observation: I transed my gender (cheers, shouts, hoorays) just about the time I was getting ready to watch Rebel Moon, and in one shocking, epiphanic moment I turned to my partner and went "Of COURSE I'm a man. I like Zack Snyder." So........... do with that what you will.

#rebel moon #dragoninthelibrary #rebel moon spoilers #long post

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jimin-bangtan · 5 months

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🧡💛 MASTERLIST 💛🧡

The top 3 sections are links to my own written posts.

At the bottom are links for my reposts for interactions of Jimin with each of his BTS members.

See my Jimin-Bangtan Archive Page for all of my posts as well as reposts from others in calendar form.

See my BTS Official Content and Social Media Links for new fans and for quick reference to official music, events, activities for the company & members.

⭐JIMIN⭐ Pre- and Post- Release of FACE thoughts After Promotions for FACE - My thoughts My thoughts about Jimin's LETTER The Significance of Jimin's Achievements Jimin's FACE EP - 1 Billion Spotify Streams🎉 Chameleon Park Jimin Part 1 (Jimin "Biography") Chameleon Park Jimin Part 2 Chameleon Park Jimin Part 3 Chameleon Park Jimin Part 4 As Information Unfolds Jimin's Production Diary Documentary Jimin Breaks Glass Ceiling? Jimin //\\//\\// Military Duty Closer Than This Thoughts Closer Than This MORE Thoughts Jimin & Bangtan 2024 Chameleon Park Jimin: Your Filter - Afterthoughts LIKE CRAZY, Jazzy Version: Reviewer's Video LIKE CRAZY, Jazzy Version: Performance Jimin's Tattoos Jimin's Thorns & Studs Jimin's SGMB🌺 - The Comedy MUSE, Jimin’s 2nd solo album: My Thoughts How Did I 1st Notice "JiKook"?🤔 (Re: "Are You Sure?") WHO, Acoustic Version: Vocal Analysis Video Jimin's MUSE EP - 1 Billion Spotify Streams🎉

💜BTS💜 Cheers to the Whole Gang - Part 1 (Hyung Line) Cheers to the Whole Gang - Part 2 (Maknae Line) Cheers to the Whole Gang - uncut (Maknae Line) BTS Solo Chapter - Part 1 BTS Solo Chapter - Part 2 BTS Solo Chapter - Part 3 BTS Solo Chapter - Part 4 BTS Solo Chapter - BONUS (My solo chapter wishlist) My BTS Experience - Part 1 (How I came to know BTS) My BTS Experience - Part 2 A BTS Chapter 2 (3?) Idea My Bangtan Love (Things I love about each member) 🌠MISCELLANEOUS🌠 Selective Hypocrisy BTS Fandom As Information Unfolds 🎀BTS INTERACTIONS🎀 Compilations / Pic or Video Posts & Reposts Jimin & Jin JM & Jin 1 JM & Jin 2

Jimin & Suga JM & Suga 1 JM & Suga 2

Jimin & JHope JM & JH 1 JM & JH 2

Jimin & RM JM & RM 1 JM & RM 2

Jimin & V JM & V 1 JM & V 2

Jimin & Jung Kook JM & JK 1 JM & JK 2 Maknae Line Maknae Line 1 Maknae Line 2

BTS - All 7 OT7 1

***Colors are random, just to break up the visuals. ***

#BTS #Jimin #Jimin FACE #Bangtan #Park Jimin #Jimin MUSE #BTS Jimin

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sunnydaleherald · 25 days

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The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, August 31

BUFFY: I wanna hear about you and Oz. You saw him, right? WILLOW: I was with him all night. BUFFY: All night? Oh my god. Wait. Last night was a wolf moon, right? WILLOW: Yup. BUFFY: Either you're about to tell me something incredibly kinky, or- WILLOW: No kink. He didn't change, Buffy. He said he was gonna find a cure, and he did. In Tibet.

~~BtVS 4x19 “New Moon Rising”~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

A Little Effort (Spike, Dawn, PG-13) by veronyxk84

the puzzle piece i've been trying to find (Buffy/Giles, G) by Skyson

The ink no longer on her skin (Buffy/Willow, not rated) by Murderpart1

M is for ... (Buffy/Giles, E) by The_Crazy_Knight

Painted Red Upon the Snow (Buffy/Spike, T) by LiraelClayr007

[Collection] Mad Science Flash 2024 (2 BtVS fics + 1 AtS fic) (various ratings) by unrevealed authors

[Chaptered Fiction]

Forty-eight days in L.A., Chapter 1/6 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Blissymbolics

My (love) Kill, Chapter 1/6 (Buffy/Spike, G) by witchywriter3

Night of the Slaywolf, Chapter 1/? (Buffy/Giles, M) by mabus101

Laid, Chapter 5/5 COMPLETE! (Buffy/Spike, E) by HollyDB

Her Eyes All Have the Seeming of a Demon that is Dreaming:, Chapters 1-2/5 (Willow/Tara, E) by TheLightdancer

The Dawn Chronicles (Summer of 1998), Chapter 9/? (Dawn, Ensemble, T) by MGAllan

Supporting Loki (And Thor), Chapter 2/18 (Buffy, Willow, Marvel xover, M) by SomeMeaninglessName

Double Date, Chapter 2/? (Buffy/Giles, E) by Rippertish

Meow, Chapters 7-11/13 (Buffy/Spike, E) by CheekyKitten

Lindsey's Pride, Chapter 11 (Angel, Lindsey, T) by TinyDancer96

[French Language] Do as Romans do, Chapter 43 (Dawn/Spike, T) by OldGirl-NoraArlani

Forty-eight days in L.A., Chapter 1 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Blissymbolics

Stiff Pole, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by scratchmeout

Little Light, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Melme1325

What It Means to Be a REAL Savior, Chapter 2 (Buffy, TWD xover, FR15) by Buffyworldbuilder

Stiff Pole, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by scratchmeout

What the Drabble? Vol. 2, Chapter 65 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by VeroNyxK84

[Images, Audio & Video]

Gifset: now, i’m gone but you’re still laying; next to me, one degree of separation (Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Spike, worksafe) by clarkgriffon

Gifset: Every Tara look: S4E15 This Year’s Girl (worksafe) by lovebvffys

Artwork: Collage #116 (Buffy, worksafe) by thedecadentraven

Artwork: my spike and darla dynamic vision (Drusilla/Spike, Darla, worksafe) by artsying-ifer

Artwork: Faith Lehane - Bad Child Mood Board (worksafe) by theoverlookedoneedits1997

Icons: Charisma Carpenter in Buffy - 1x11 (Out of Mind, Out of Sight) (Cordelia, worksafe) by nostalgc

Icons: Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy - 1x11 (Out of Mind, Out of Sight) (Buffy, worksafe) by nostalgc

Fanvid: [Spike fanvid] (worksafe) by bananabeans88

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fashion crimes against humanity (90s fashion slayage) by Lisa Fevral

[Reviews & Recaps]

Teacher's Pet by Slayin It with Juliet Landau

Interview with Musetta Vander [the teacher] - Teacher's Pet part 2 by Slayin It with Juliet Landau

PODCAST: A Big, Bursting, Poltergasm (S4E18) by It Stakes Two

[Recs & In Search Of]

The Closing Distance (Buffy/Angel, T) by fluffernutter8 recced by iwillrememberyoumarathon

[Community Announcements]

Fanged Four Family Bingo 2024 collection opens TOMORROW by runsintheblood

[Fandom Discussions]

Sexual intimacy in seasons 1-3 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer - continued by secretsofthewilde, girl4music

a moment in btvs that a lot of people love but that i absolutely despise by moistvonlipwig

I really liked Rm w/a Vu! by agirlinsearchof

What Do You Think Is Overrated On BTVS/AtS? by hoponlilmama, multiple posters

Does anyone else think the dynamics of the characters ages are a bit off sometimes? by LightBlueSky55

I'm still amazed this place is so active for a show that ended in 2003! by precita

The [AtS] finale... by FloydLady

Angel vs Buffy [the shows] by Piratedking12

Random Buffy Aging/Resurrection Question by Edkm90p

How has the Buffyverse helped you through hard times? by controlxoxo

Cordelia's purifying light by illvria

What's an opinion that you have that separates you from majority of the Buffyverse fandom? by PristineSituation498

Dawn’s Introduction by fableSimmer

Spike: The Vampire Who Turned Chaos and Charm into an Art Form by Randy_Giles1880

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

#btvs #buffy the vampire slayer #angel the series #ats #fan art #fan fiction #meta

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thehaniverse · 2 months

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[Han Radio 📻 #1] TXT - Chikai ✨ Album First Listen & Review

Eh hem.

Yes, I am aware this album dropped 2 weeks ago. And yes I am aware that Jimin's <Muse> dropped today, and I still have not written my RM <RPWP> review, but you know what, bite me - life happens!

Anyway, now that I've finally had a second to get my mind straight, and I will likely be hearing all of these songs live in Osaka next weekend, I'm finally ready to give <Chikai> my first listen and share my personal thoughts on the album!

So without further ado, let's jump in!

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Track 01. We'll Never Change [Title Track] My Rating: 8/10

One thing I can confidently say about TXT is that their title tracks always hit the mark - and for me, their more ballad/RnB songs always match my taste perfectly - this song being no exception. 😌

The distorted piano rift at the beginning of the track creates an enchanted atmosphere, which I find is reminiscent of the unique fairytale influence that has become characteristic of TXT's concepts and musical message. Then it's complimented by the juxtaposition between the thumping of the bass representing a racing, anxious heart against Beomgyu's ethereal vocals which are instantly soothing.

My favourite part is definitely the pre-chorus with the repeating 'let go let go let go' motif - particularly in the second verse with the transition from Soobin to Beomgyu's voices. I think these two really have soft airy voices that truly compliment this track. And the layering of the other members' voices underneath really adds to the magical and emotive mood of the track.

I think using Yeonjun to build up the tension in the first pre-chorus, and keeping Hueningkai and Taehyun's more powerful vocals until the choruses was a great choice to build the atmosphere. On the flip side, I do have to say this song lost points for me because the chorus just didn't hit as hard as I was expecting for how much it built up the emotion. (It felt like all that build-up with no payoff?! 😭)

Again, Soobin and Beomgyu's voices really complete this song for me, the reprise of 'you you' after the chorus just causes my emotions to swell and both of them have these beautiful forlorn vocals, which goes wonderfully with the message of the song.

Speaking of the lyrics, I think the song is pretty transparent with the meaning from the title alone - it's a beautiful reflection of a promise between two (or more) parties to never forget their relationship regardless of how far apart they are and what else may change around them - they themselves, and the essence of their relationship will never change.

The other gripe I have with this song is the typical 2024 complaint, but the song is just so short 😔 I would have loved just one more chorus at the end, potentially with the more stripped-back audio and distorted piano and then a final crescendo of all the vocals and music... but yeah, streaming so short songs.

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Track 02. Deja Vu (Japanese Version) My Rating: 10/10

Okay, as a self-identify 'translated song hater' - I have to say this is one of the best translated tracks I've heard in a long time! I don't know if it's a mental block or what, but in my 17 years of K-Pop, I have always found listening to translated songs SUPER jarring, even if I hear the translated one first, I could just tell.

And that does somewhat apply to this track too, like Hueningkai's rap and the chorus sounds a little staccato but otherwise, it's not a half-bad effort. (Honestly, the only song I can say is flawless is TXT's {Your Light}, but that's probably because they intentionally recorded all 3 language versions at once. I still only listen to the Korean one though! 🤧)

It also doesn't hurt that Deja Vu is just such a bop of a track. I loved it in <Tomorrow> and I love it in <Chikai>, and I love songs with dope fan chants too, and this is just hitting all the marks for me!

//I'm not going to get into the lyrics because I'm far too lazy to check if the translation matches the Korean, but if you want me to review the original <Tomorrow> album or at least {Deja Vu} track, then lemme know.

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Track 03. Kitto Zutto My Rating: 7/10

I'm SO happy they kept an upbeat song after {Deja Vu} on this album just like they did on <Tomorrow> because my body was just waiting for {Miracle} to play, so having this album have a truck that's equally high tempo and high tension was great.

I also think this song is really tailored to the tastes of the Japanese audience, it would fit right in as the OP/EP of an anime or game - however, I do think that could hurt its marketability elsewhere. (However, it's no secret that K-pop idols' Japanese songs really do well outside of Japan, so maybe they just don't care at this point.)

For me personally, I do think the transition between the verses and choruses could have been a little smoother, the sudden change in the tempo of the vocals from the subdued verse to the upbeat chorus is a tiny bit jarring. In their defense, they do build up a little, which lets you know the speed change is coming, but it's just not my style and this is my review so... (It's also just a lot on my sound-sensitive ADHD ears.)

Nyangnyangs are taking it vocals-wise for me in this song, but Hueningkai starting the bridge was an absolutely artful choice, his voice is just perfect for those moments, especially in Japanese songs.

All in all, while it is a good song, it's definitely going to be one of those I enjoy when it comes up on shuffle, but isn't necessarily a track that I will search for, that's why I capped it out at 7 points.

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Bonus: We'll Never Change [Choreography] My Rating: 10/10

WOW. Just WOW.

Honestly, my heart hurts so much for Beomgyu because I can only imagine how much they all practiced for a routine this artistically stunning.

When I talk to others about TXT, I often comment on how absolutely breathtaking their live performances always are, and this song is no exception at all.

The incorporation of their stage outfits into the dance, and the way the harp-like movement actually compliments the piano motif in the music is just... URGH, I LOVE IT.

I really hope Beomgyu's condition has improved by Osaka as it would be an absolute honor to see the first complete version of this stage in all its glory - but if not at our show, then I hope he is able to perform before the end of the Japanese leg of the tour.

While I know I said Japanese songs usually aren't that popular overseas, I do wish that K-pop idols would perform one or two of their Japanese tracks throughout the whole tour - especially artists with such amazing Japanese tracks like TXT.

If I'm completley honest, seeing {Ring} live is one of the major reasons I even wanted to go and see them in Japan so badly. It is undoubtedly my fave of their Japanese songs, and arguably one of my fave TXT tracks in general (the cute lyrics and Taehyun's vocals just blow me away every time) - so yeah, anyway, please show some love to your fave J-tracks and maybe we can set a new president.

Anyway, my final rating for this entire single album is a solid 8/10. While it's not perfect marks, with so few songs (one of which is a remake), I think it's a fair score for what we were given.

TXT never fails to impress me with their ability to add their own color to everything that touch, and the magic truly is never lost. <Chikai> is a fantastic way to round off this chapter and I'm excited to see what they bring us next once Act: Promise has ended.

One thing we can be sure of is that their unique musical identity will never change~!

//Okay, cheesy ending aside - I'd love to hear what you all think of the album, and if you agree or disagree with my review. This is genuinely my first listen so my mind may change in the future, but that's the beauty of first impressions.

Till the next one! Thanks for tuning in to Han Radio! 📻✨☺️

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lesbianslovebts · 6 months

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I'm looking forward to your reviews on their individual albums/music etc

Okay, I will tell you as long as everyone promises to be nice!

First, I want to be upfront with the fact that I do not have the technical knowledge required to critique their individual singing or songwriting skills in depth, so this is not that kind of review. However, I believe that people should actively engage with art, be it music, painting, or writing, at whatever level of expertise they may have, rather than consume it mindlessly. The following are my personal opinions and observations as a fan since 2015. I will focus mainly on their Chapter Two individual works, but I will also reference their previous solo and group work. And as a friendly reminder, the members of BTS are not above criticism as artists or as people.

"Indigo" by RM

If I had to use one word to describe this album, I would use "growth." More specifically, I would classify the transition from "RM" to "mono." as linear growth, and the transition from "mono." to "Indigo" as exponential growth. This is a project that Namjoon worked on for several years, which is apparent by the way each song is like a chapter of the same overarching story. The diverse genres and moods depict the ups and downs of life really well, and listening to the entire album in one sitting is a cathartic experience for me.

When I first saw the tracklist and noticed how many other artists were featured, I was nervous because a lot of BTS' collaborations feel like forcing a puzzle piece into a spot where it doesn't fit. What I mean by that is, they either cut out a chunk of the original song or insert a blank space and then fill it with a clipping of what sounds like an entirely different song. A substitution rather than a collaboration, if you will. However, that was not the case here. I think Namjoon did an excellent job of blending his own sound, style, and emotion with that of the other artists.

The only thing that I actively disliked on this album is the beat in "Change pt.2" from about 0:49 to 1:00. It's grating on the ear, which might have been intentional given the content of the song, but it isn't pleasant to listen to, and I cringe every time I hear it. As for a favorite, I can't really choose, but I think the objective number of replays would point to "Lonely."

"The Astronaut" by Jin

This one is an outlier because it's only one song, but I will discuss it just the same. I really liked Seokjin's voice in this one. I don't know the official terms, but it's lower and less breathy than usual. To me, that makes his voice sound warmer. Overall, this was a soothing song that left me wanting more when he gets back. I am waiting (im)patiently.

P.S. I know people tend to love or hate Coldplay. I don't listen to them or know anything about them as people, so the fact that this was cowritten by them doesn't really factor into my opinion of the song, if that makes sense.

"D-DAY" by Agust D

The amount of money I spent to see him live in Chicago should tell you how much I liked this album. Similar to what I said about Namjoon above, there's tangible growth from his mixtapes "Agust D" and "D-2" to his studio album "D-DAY." It's to be expected that experience will improve the craft, of course, but I still have to say it.

Yoongi is my favorite composer of BTS, by far. "Interlude: Dawn" and "Snooze" give me goosebumps every time I listen time them. Also, I love it when he uses traditional instruments like the haegeum. There's just something about the emotions he conveys in his tone, lyrics and melody that made this album a nonstop repeat for me.

My complaints are few and small. The autotune gets to be too much in the song "D-Day," and I'm not crazy about "People Pt. 2." Personally, I am not a fan of IU's voice. I have nothing against her, by any means, and I know she can sing, but I prefer women with deep, husky voices. And for the life of me, I can't figure out what her part means. I'm guessing this was a direct translation from Korean that didn't really...well, translate.

"Jack in the Box" by j-hope

When I first watched the MV for "More," I stimmed for joy. I was rocking, flapping, and squealing. I braved Lollapalooza as an autistic person, surrounded by a hundred thousand people in the summer heat, wearing the denim jacket I painted and an N95 mask to hear this man live. Hoseok's personality shone through in the concept, the MVs, the music, and the lyrics. He burst out of the box to show who he is as an artist. Perhaps I am (Hobi-)biased, but I don't have much else to say other than that I love this album, and I'm excited to hear more from him in the future.

"FACE" by Jimin

"Set Me Free Pt. 2" was the first single that was released, and it thoroughly crushed my hopes for the rest of the mini album. Though I liked the melody of the chorus, the 9 repetitions of "set me free-e-e" left a lot to be desired lyrically. I think he was trying to portray the desperation he felt by repeating the phrase, but his voice didn't show a progression in emotion as he continued through the chorus. For comparison, in Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name Of," the last line "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" is repeated 16 times, but the way it starts as a murmur and builds up to a scream is powerful; it hits you in the chest. "Set Me Free Pt. 2" didn't have that effect. Also, the autotune in the middle when he "raps" is awful. I saw people on here reaching to explain why the autotune wasn't actually that bad, but...it just doesn't sound good. And him saying "fuck all your opps"? Yikes.

The other single "Like Crazy" was much better and more in line with what I was expecting. Rarely do I like any of the excessive remixes they put out, but the deep house one is actually good. I liked the music video, too. But unfortunately, the mud on his hand after all that bathroom imagery was a...shitty decision. Overall, I don't go out of my way to listen to any of the songs but "Like Crazy" and "Letter," which is my favorite.

"Layo(v)er" by V

I was underwhelmed by this mini album. I expected R&B and jazz from him, and I think his voice suits those genres well, but none of the songs had a particularly strong impact on me. I would say I like "Love Me Again" the most, but it doesn't even compare to "Singularity" and "Stigma" for me. I have to be in a specific mood to listen to slow music in general, so the odds were stacked against this album from the beginning.

"Golden" by Jung Kook

This album was the biggest disappointment I have ever felt as a fan. Honestly, I didn't think it could get any worse than "Permission to Dance," but I was wrong. Before I continue, I feel like I need to offer some context on my general opinion of BTS' music from 2020 onward before I get too deep into the weeds. So let me start with that.

A lot of people think BTS peaked before or during the "Wings" era and sold out with the release of "DNA." I am not one of those people. Most of my favorite BTS songs come from the "Love Yourself" and the "Map of the Soul" eras. There are songs that tug on my heartstrings, songs that give me energy, and songs that are inextricably tied to certain memories from college and my first job. This was when I felt like I was changing and growing in a positive way thanks to BTS' message and music.

That changed with Covid-19. I loved "Map of the Soul: 7" and had tickets to see BTS in Chicago, but then the concert was postponed. Later, it was canceled. Half a year into the pandemic, BTS released "Dynamite" as a fun summer song to lift everyone's spirits. It was their first all-English song, which might've had more global appeal due to the number of people who speak English as a first language, second language, or lingua franca. Personally, I don't hate "Dynamite," but I do hate what it led to.

This was their first Billboard #1. It succeeded far beyond anyone's expectations, and I was proud of them for that. I was glad that more people were checking out their music because BTS is one of my main special interests. However, a lot of what followed felt like an attempt to recreate the success of "Dynamite" rather than an effort to grow as artists. Whether that desire for numbers came from the company or from BTS themselves, I'll never know. All I can say is, I'm glad DynaButterPTD did not get a Grammy. Let's continue.

"BE" came next, and if I had to describe it in a word, I would say "homemade." BTS were more involved in this album than any other, including the concept, the album design, the photoshoots, the music video, and the songs. Because of that, the overall vibe was different, and combined with the effects of the pandemic, the album gave me the feeling that the members of BTS were struggling with who they were as a group, as artists, and as people.

This continued into "Butter" and "PTD," two more all-English songs, and various collaborations of the puzzle-piece-that-doesn't-fit variety I mentioned above. It was an identity crisis. I can't think of another way to describe it. Eventually, BTS decided for themselves that they had to take a step back, spend some time alone, and regroup later. I was both sad and relieved to hear the news. Releasing "PROOF" was a good way to look back on what they'd accomplished so far and put an end to Chapter 1.

That brings us to Chapter 2. More specifically, "Golden." Now, I love Jungkook. Spend 5 minutes scrolling through my blog, and that much will be obvious. But this album was not it for me. First, I want to make it clear that the members of BTS can sing in whatever language they so choose. Having said that, I do tend to prefer their songs that are entirely in Korean or are a mixture of Korean and English. Why? Emotion.

BTS' all-English songs tend to be written by other people, and those people tend to be the ones who write the same bland, unoriginal songs for overrated American/Canadian/British pop singers. Although Jungkook sings the English lyrics of this album with excellent pronunciation and technique, it doesn't have the magnitude of emotion in songs that he participated in writing, such as "Your Eyes Tell," which is in Japanese and English.

I don't know a lot about song credits, but I've noticed the following pattern: the more the members' names show up in the credits, the more I like the song. Looking at the credits for Golden? Jungkook's name isn't listed on a single song. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lot of wonderful singers all around the world can take a song that is given to them and make it their own by contributing their own talent, their own voice. But frankly, Jungkook didn't do that with these songs. I didn't want to say it, but...these are Justin Bieber songs. Especially "Too Sad to Dance," which is nearly indistinguishable from Justin Bieber's "Love Yourself."

On episode 21 of Suchwita, Jungkook said he recorded five songs in a week, which amounted to one song per day in a 3-hour session, give or take. Yoongi said that was a sign of unbelievable growth, and for comparison, Taehyung said it takes him 3 days to record one song. If I remember correctly, Namjoon worked on "Indigo" for 3 years. So, it's really no wonder why this album is the music equivalent of fast fashion.

I've already talked about how much I hated "Seven" (the song and the MV) in other posts, I can't do it again. Jack Harlow's part in "3D" makes me gag. I can't take the lyrics for "Shotglass of Tears" seriously. I mean, "she the life of the party...42 in her body...tell me, am I ever gon' feel again?" Yikes! "Closer" is generic runway music. "Yes or No" is tolerable. The only song I really liked is "Standing Next to You." I'm just disappointed. I don't have anything else to say.

#llbtsanswer #llbtspost

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gertlushgaming · 11 months

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GhostBusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

For this GhostBusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Review, we play with all the iconic gear and gadgets, from Proton Packs to PKE Meters and Ghost Traps, that fans would expect and new gamers to the universe will enjoy when playing as a Ghostbuster. Ghosts have multiple abilities in their arsenal, like possessing objects, of course, sliming, and more, that make haunting all the various locations a blast to play. In addition, many will recognize the Firehouse and Ray’s Occult Books that act as the game’s hub.

GhostBusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Review Pros:

- Decent graphics. - 4.4GB Download size. - Action 4 v 1 gameplay. - Opening optional training area. (replayable) - Full single-player support against the Ai. - Officially licensed game. - The Firehouse and Ray's Occult shop is your hub where you can soak in the atmosphere, talk with the guys, take on jobs, and side hustles, and customize yourself. - Character customization options - Body (physique, face, and hairstyle), outfits (name tag, tops, shirt logo, shirt patch 1 and 2, bottoms, and full outfit), accessories (headwear, eyewear, elbow pads, gloves, knee pads, and footwear). - Gear customization - particle thrower, proton pack, PKE meter, and the ghost trap. - Unlock new upgrades and parts for your gear to affect their stats and general usage. - Earn EXP and level up to get new outfits and gear unlocks. - The collectible fungus can be found in levels for Rewards and exp. - You lose money for damaging property. - Civilians will run around scared of ghosts or your behavior. - You can calm civilians down by completing a mini-game. - Secondary Gadgets can be unlocked and equipped - VAD, ionizer pods, radar Puck, belt gizmo, disruptor pylon, and Ecto goggles. - You can indeed slide down the pole in the firehouse. - Little trinkets and Easter eggs lying around the firehouse. - Unlock new side hustle missions as you level up. - Research contracts add more experience and rewards to a job. - Has the iconic theme tune. - Excellent voice work. - Ten locations to play in - New Motion Club, S C Y County Courthouse, Moros Medical Facility, RMS Artemisa, Clock Tower Brewery and pub, Rock Island Prison, Hudson Canyon Lodge, Petey’s Pirate Cove, Galway Station, and Whitestone Museum. - You get an opening and closing cutscene of your team. - Does include uniforms and tech from the the real Ghostbusters cartoon. - Has the latest update adding new locations, More narrative, and Tobin pages along with Halloween events and cardboard shells for your gear. - A lot of visual feedback on your performance from calming civilians to picking up fungus or busting ghosts. - Your AI team will ping ghosts and locations. - Pings show locations. - A lot of fun even solo. - Gets addictive. - If you level up during a job it bangs up saying it and shows any unlocks. - End of job breakdown. - You can play as a ghost and get a full training match. - Ghosts (including you) can inhabit objects. - As a ghost you can slime up the place, slime people, use abilities, see through walls, find rifts (your spawn point) and hide it or move it, sabotage Ghostbusters kit, haunt and possess items, and more. - When possessing an item you can jump from one to the other. - Pke is the source of ghosts and this goes down when using abilities but also regents slowly over time. - The goal of the Ghostbusters is to clear out all ghosts and destroy all rifts, the ghost's goal is to fill that haunted meter up to 100 percent. - Ghosts can escape a tether and even the ghost trap if they line up in the direction and mash the correct button. - Put new shells over the top of your gear to completely change their appearance. - Ghosts and Ghostbusters are the same rank so any exp earned from any goes towards unlocks. - Many types of ghosts with each have unique abilities and flaws including the newly added Overlord ghost types with three variants. GhostBusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition Review Cons: - No local multiplayer which is a huge oversight. - Cannot rebind controls. - Takes a bit of getting used to the flow and judging distances. - The AI can get a bit clingy and it makes finishing solo jobs harder. - So easy to damage property. - When playing offline the game still requires you to leave the party in order to watch new narratives and if you miss it or decline then you have to restart the game to trigger it. - Got stuck in a weird loop in solo play where I couldn't back out of the job setup screen. - A fair bit to take in and remember. Related Post: A Boy And His Blob Retro Collection Review (PlayStation 5) GhostBusters Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition: Official website. Developer: Illfonic Publisher: Illfonic Store Links - Nintendo Read the full article

#NintendoSwitch #ghostbusters #GLG #ghostbustersspiritsunleashed

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heyyouknowbts · 1 year

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BTS Content Watchlist: September - November 2015

This list includes official fan content, member lives, and variety show appearances.

Master post: BTS Content Watchlist

September 2015

150901 [BTS in NAVER STAR CAST] Namhansanseong

150901 Jungkook's log

150902 [BANGTAN BOMB] It's the pose when BTS sleep normally

150902 Eat Jin

150903 [BANGTAN BOMB] Becoming younger brother

150903 What are 95z up to? (Jimin and V)

150906 [BANGTAN BOMB] Happy barbecue dance performance

150909 BTS GAYO Season 1 track 3

150910 [Live] BTS live on the way out

150911 Rap Monster's birthday

150912 Eat Jin

150915 Run BTS! Season 1 Episode 4

150920 Running Man 265 (RM) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

150920 [Live] BTS RM, Suga & J-hope at ALL FORCE ONE

150920 Hope on the street

150920 Rap Monster's log

150921 Eat Jin

150922 BTS GAYO Season 1 track 4

150922 [BANGTAN BOMB] Who is the wave dance king of BTS

150922 Eat Jin

150925 What are 95z up to?

150925 [EPISODE] Fantastic 4 with ARMY

150926 [Live] Chuseok greeting from BTS

150927 Show Champion special KMF 2015

150928 [BANGTAN BOMB] Cheerleader Jin with ARMY Bomb

150929 [BANGTAN BOMB] 400 meter relay race (BTS ISAC on MBC compilation video)

150929 Run BTS! Season 1 Episodes 5 – side note I feel like the numbers on their jerseys were printed upside down and they just went with it??? lmao

150930 [BANGTAN BOMB] Shooting guard SUGA with cheerleader 2 Jimin

150930 [Live] Hwagae Market 화개장터 pre-open

October 2015

151001 SUGA's HYYH/화양연화/The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt.1 Album review

151003 Show Champion backstage

151005 Eat JIn

151006 BTS GAYO track 5

151006 [BANGTAN BOMB] Jimin self cam with ARMY

151008 Hope on the street 1 2

151012 [Live] BTS Jimin's Birthday!!

151013 Run BTS! Season 1 Episode 6 Part 1

151015 [Live] Eat Jin

151016 World Changing Quiz Show 315 (RM) – link is to an English sub of RM cuts, which looks really weird because it's a lot of really short clips of his face reacting to something with no context lol. You can watch the full episode on KissAsian (not going to link because their domain changes often and ads can be kind of sus)

151018 What are 95z up to?

151020 Run! BTS Season 1 Episode 6 Part 2 - FYI the YouTube version has the English subs for Part 1... lol

151027 BTS GAYO Season 1 track 6

151029 [Live] Halloween Party with BTS – missing a lot of translation throughout :\ The video segment they play from 1:03:50-1:09:18 is part of a NAVER STAR CAST that got uploaded a few days later, and there is an English sub of that full video on 151105

November 2015

151103 BTS and SEVENTEEN backstage at The Show (very lq)

151105 [BTS in NAVER STAR CAST] Halloween Party with BTS

151105 V's log

151110 BTS GAYO track 7

151111 My Pet Clinic Episode 6 (J-hope, Jimin, V) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

151114 [EPISODE] 2015 MELON Music Award

151116 Run BTS! Season 1 Episode 7

151121 [BANGTAN BOMB] Know-how for making a handsome look (bonus Mr Lip Balm JK)

151122 [Live] BTS Live (J-hope, V)

151123 [Live] BTS Live (RM, Jimin)

151124 [Live] BTS Live (Jin, Jungkook)

151125 [Live] BTS Live (Suga)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Jin)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Jimin)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Suga)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (RM)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Jin)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Jin) – homie came back because he was bored lol

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (J-hope & Jungkook)

151127 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Suga)

151128 [Live] BTS HYYH on Pre-Stage Live

151128 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Jin)

151128 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (Suga)

151128 [Live] BTS HYYH on Stage Live (V)

151130 [Live] BTS in MAMA BACKSTAGE

Let me know if a link isn’t working, or if you find something I missed! My ask box is always open, anon or not 💜💜💜

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swangtup6 · 10 months

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Album Review: GUT - Odour of Torture (1995)

this ones gonna be long bc theres a lot to say abt it. do read it tho

Gut is a goated band in... a certain grindcore subgenre which i do not feel like naming but im sure one could guess after looking at their lyrical content... this is their first full length album and best work in my opinion, but how good is their best?

The first thing that grabs attention on this album is the use of samples. After 2 back to back p*rn samples on the first and second tracks on the album (Woundfuck and Perpetual Sp*rm Ej*culation), one realizes that this is going to be a theme for the project. and indeed it is. I haven't been counting but over the course of my most recent listenthrough of this album (I'm about 42 minutes in as of writing this part of the review) most of, if not all of the tracks have some kind of sample. these range from horror movie clips, to p*rn clips, to just random noises, and also helped establish a norm for this subgenre of grind. I think they add to the atmosphere, ik a lot of ppl hate them, but either way, at least theyre short.

The next thing that tends to come up when I discuss this project with my weirdo friends is the vocals. a lot of ppl HATE the vocals on this album, which i completely understand as I did too upon first hearing this. I got into the second track and heard what sounded like a hobbit being waterboarded and immediately turned it off, as most reasonable people would. But overtime, theyve grown on me. in fact, i think the unique vocals r one of Gut's strong points. Unlike most grind bands, which tend to focus on one or 2 main vocal techniques, Gut's vocalist does a LOT. from deep pitch shifted gurgles to death growls, to the aforementioned hobbit waterboarding noises, this album is a multi-tooled vocal ASSAULT and i think it works rly well in the bands favor, especially when it sounds like hes shredding his throat with his shitty technique /gen.

The songwriting is after. This album doesn't get stale, and it isnt too samey, but it still feels consistent and has a solid atmosphere through out the entire thing. This album is like the musical equivalent of being trapped in a sex dungeon, but in a good way and not in the horrible trauma way of the real thing. Every song is distinct from the other, except for maybe the several filler tracks which are usually only 10-30 seconds long and usually only have a sample, a simple drum beat, and a single riff which repeats the entire time. The full-length tracks on this album are all sick and great in their own ways.

A quick nod to the production, the guitars sound GREAT, very muddy and washed out, and the drums compliment them perfectly, crisp and snappy without sounding too processes. Really just a great production job overall. This album feels dirty and claustrophobic, and while most of that is due to the songwriting, the production compliments it perfectly to create an album that i feel like i need to shower after listening to.

95/100

Standout tracks: Woundfuck, Vomitorium of Maggot Infested... , Consequence, The Taboo Room (really all of them r standout, but these came to mind first. please listen to this album)

youtube

#grindcore #goregrind #music review #music #youtube #metal review #metal music #death metal #grind #Youtube

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beautifulpersonpeach · 2 years

Note

BPP, Indigo is so majestic. I have no words. I all feels.

Joon did so so well. I want to give him the biggest hug.

Are you as emotional as well? I need like 7 business days to process Indigo.

What a privelege to listen to Joon's music.

Ask 2: Anonymous asked:

Hello bpp ! Can i request a album review for Indigo? I think it is getting very very good reviews even non armys love it !!! I love Wild flower, Closer and All day ! Namjoons lyrics hurt me but in a good way like releasing old feelings. Im very happy !

Ask 3: Anonymous asked:

BPP, did Indigo pass muster for you? 😊

Ask 4: Anonymous asked:

I'm the anon that asked about Indigo. Do you think BTS are overdoing it talking about their struggle with fame all the time? Like we get it it's hard but you guys are millionaires, You know what I mean BPP?

***

Hi @rantingravingliving and anons!

The first time I listened to Indigo I hated it. The album met my expectations, but like I said for Jack in the Box, it's not that the album took time to grow on me, it's that at first it felt too much like an album he had to put out. But I was wrong, emotional and silly. Indigo is way better than that. Indigo is the most polished album any of the BTS members have put out so far, which isn't surprising given Joon likely had more time to work on it than Hobi had for his (though how Joon recreated Wild Flower in practically no time after losing it all in 2021 is amazing). The way Joon highlights his collaborators on all the tracks makes the songs feel like duets rather than features - we have two reasons to love each song: Joon and whoever is on the track because they all kill it.

For lyrics and references for all the songs, please consider checking out Doolset's notes linked here. I agree with her most of the time about BTS's lyrical references, so consider everything I'm writing in this post incremental to her notes.

My favourite parts of some songs:

Yun: Joon channels Biggie in this song which is so fitting for a song that has Ms. Badu on it. The soundscape on Yun is luscious. And the lyrics? People, stop what you're doing now and read the English translation here. His cadence is reminiscent of Asheru's on the Boondocks theme at a slower tempo. Joon's mastery of this sound is so good I almost blacked out listening to it the first time. Oh, and Erykah Badu is a goddess. This is Quincy Jones lounge music at its finest.

youtube

Still Life: I'm a sucker for a prominent bass so the way the song starts is perfect. The beat change at 1:44 to 2:00 is so fucking sick. That "Oh shit" from Anderson at 2:05 was felt.

youtube

Forg_tful: I love Joon's voice and singing on this song. His vocals, the scarce processing on his vocals, the whistling, Kim Sawol, it all fits so well.

youtube

Closer: 90s/00s R&B and slow afrobeats perfection. That run at 1:42 is mental like are you crazy?

youtube

Change Pt 2: All that static is the perfect break for the flow of the album. Like, even its placement is perfect. The schizophrenic breakdown at 0:47 makes up for the almost boring sequence before it. And the magic that is 1:01 to 1:50 is a masterclass in storytelling.

youtube

Lonely: The fusion of mood pop and rock is kinda unexpected for Namjoon but now that we've heard him try it out, I think it's fair to say RM can absolutely pull off a mainstream cross-over.

youtube

Wild Flower: My friend sent me this comment: "He says Flower work instead of fire work because he doesn't want to be up among the stars and burn and be gone. He wants to be on the ground like a field of flowers, a flower work and be grounded, flourish, and last. Namjoon be deep in the feels jesus christ." Lol. Joon is a bit superstitious and you hear it in Wild Flower. But this is my shit. Youjeen's piercing bright voice contrasts Joon's perfectly. At timestamp 3:13 to 4:10 she completely steals the show. Like this is very much her song as well and it shows Joon's awareness in arranging music. He knows exactly what he is doing. Because no matter what you might think of him, Youjeen is too good to ignore.

youtube

I'd rate the whole album a 9/10. He didn't disappoint and this is why I'm seated. His style reminds me of Nas' songwriting, Common's too, and bit like Hov with almost no Ye.

About BTS/Namjoon talking about their fame or their struggle with it all the time, and it being old and overdone, I get what you mean. But like, what else do you expect them to talk about? They are seven men in their 20s from one of the most status-conscious countries in the world, from middle-class families at best, now some of the biggest stars in the world. BTS are Michael Jackson famous and I don't say that lightly. It's mad. Attention like that fucks everybody up. I doubt they're excessively doing drugs to cope and keep perspective, so they need an outlet. They will speak about their experiences and their desires and their fame will factor in at some point. The loss of that fame will also become a touch point in their music as they mature. Going to the military will completely reset their outlook and that too will be reflected in their songs. As they age, get married and have kids. As they lose relevancy for a sub-set of the current fandom. Expect to hear every member reference it at some point in their music. My two cents.

#kim namjoon #namjoon #indigo #bts rm #rm #bts

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amiharana · 1 year

Note

BTS BOTW AU OMG WHAT??? pls share with the class immediately

LMFAODJFNKD it's honestly not even that interesting

back in 2019, i was writing for taegi week and the last day was a free day, and at the time i was still in my baby revalinker phase so i decided i wanted to write the most self-indulgent bts x botw au in which bts members took the places of botw characters. i actually had a tumblr post drafted to talk about this, but i guess we'll talk about it here now! in the case you are familiar with bts while also being a botw player, this could be of some interest to you.

i never actually got very far in writing it out (because i was 15 and school was beating my ass), but after reviewing the two unfinished drafts and the conceptual outlining style i do on every post, i remembered that i planned to rewrite the mount lanayru-calamity awakening memory with bts members as well as putting the revalink dynamic in there

please don't laugh i was 15 when i wrote this LMFAODJFKFJKD i don't plan on showing you what the unfinished drafts look like because like i said, i never got very far in writing them so there's nothing of interest to really note in either of those

as you can from the pic, i wrote V/taehyung as revali and SUGA/yoongi as link. looking back on it now, i probably would not have chosen yoongi as link and i should have written taehyung as link and yoongi as revali because that makes more sense regarding their personalities, but i guess 15-year-old me was really set on that dynamic. other characters included:

RM/kim namjoon as princess zelda

park jimin as mipha

jeon jungkook as baby sidon LOL

j-hope/jung hoseok as daruk

jin/kim seokjin as urbosa

and *drumroll*

bang pd as king rhoam bosphoramus hyrule ✋😩

i'm going to assume most of my mutuals and followers are probably not familiar with bts, so i'll try to give you a quick rundown!

V (or kim taehyung) is one of the group's vocalists and is one of my biases, or favorite member :> he's been my bias since 2018 when i became a bts fan! (the other one is jungkook he's the one in my pfp KJDHFHJKD) he has this show recently called 'jinny's kitchen' but i haven't watched it yet because i've been busy with school 😭 but from the clips i've seen that shit is funnyyy. SUGA (or min yoongi) is one of the rappers and he's coming out with a new album called 'D-DAY' soon + just released a song called 'people pt 2' ft. iu! the first part of 'people' on his last album was a fawking banger.

revalink had to be taehyung and yoongi because this au was originally intended to be uploaded for taehyung and yoongi (taegi)'s ship week. i definitely didn't place them as revali and link correctly, but i think know why i made it that way? there used to be this huge stereotype against yoongi that he was really mean and cold-hearted, and i was and always have been against that stereotype because bro really isn't like that. he's a soft sweet and sensitive tangerine boy fr! and making yoongi as revali wouldn't help that cause so i did what had to be done. i do think that taehyung still a relatively good fit for revali though; they be dramatic gays fr

RM (or kim namjoon) is the leader of bts, one of the rappers, and is a really smart guy. bro has an IQ of 148 and was also once one of the top 1% of students in south korea. so naturally, i made him zelda, the figurehead of the champions and the representation of the triforce of wisdom. but i was thinking about this connection more the other day when i first was writing out the post to talk about this, and i think namjoon and botw zelda actually have quite a few parallels. if anyone is interested in hearing more, please send an ask or a dm or something because i don't wanna make this post longer 😭

jimin is one of the group's vocalists and is also an incredible dancer. he had a solo debut recently with the album 'face' and title track 'like crazy' which you guys should all check out! :) but the reason why i put jimin as mipha is because he studied contemporary dance in high school and his personal style of dance tends to be very fluid and graceful, and like. do y'all see the connection lmao. mipha, being a zora in a watery domain? thus also being very fluid and graceful in her movements? TEEHEE

jungkook is the youngest member of the group another one of the vocalists and dancers, is my boyfriend and is Thee Golden Boy of K-pop and also the world. sidon being a baby pre-calamity and also everyone in general both in-game and online being obsessed with how boyfriend sidon is, as well as how polite and goofy jungkook is... i think the connection between jungkook and sidon is very clearly there LOL i also just didn't know how to include him in the story because i felt that jungkook just didn't fit into the personality of the other champions. if i had the chance to rewrite this au, i would have had jungkook as link because jungkook is so Main Character Vibes, and then taekook (taehyung and jungkook) would literally be revalink

back then, i remember having a difficult time trying to place who would be daruk and urbosa, but i think i made the right call with hoseok and jin. j-hope (or jung hoseok) is one of bts's rappers and is known as the sunshine of the group because he's just so energetic and positive, and i think that definitely matches with daruk's jovial and encouraging disposition. jin (kim seokjin) is one of the vocalists and is the eldest in the group, and as the kind of like "older brother" figure, he takes care of everyone in the group in a way that's different from how namjoon is as the leader y'know? i think urbosa fills that role for the champions because i personally think she might be the oldest of the group (daruk gives man in his 50s lowkey so i'm like hmmm) and takes care of them in a way that isn't the same as leading.

as for king rhoam bosphoramus hyrule... bang pd (or producer bang sihyuk) is the founder of the company bts is under and is the chairman of the label that bts eventually created. he is, in that sense, the "guy who made bts." he kind of has this fatherly relationship to the rest of bts, but that's where the similarities between him and king rhoam end LOL because rhoam is kind of an asshole who puts too much pressure on zelda and assembles the champions as his own tools to save the country, while bang pd is just this super chill guy who unlike other kpop ceos tends to stay out of the limelight and really just has a passion for making good music. but i thought it would be funny to emphasize a fatherly relationship between namjoon and bang pd KDJHFDKF

there's so many implied dynamics that could go here between the bts members as champions. like for one, taehyung and jimin are regarded as soulmate-besties in the bts fandom, so the implication that revali (taehyung) and mipha (jimin) are soulmate-besties is Feeding tf out of my brainworms like hell yeah. daruk and urbosa shenanigans are gonna line up perfectly with hoseok and jin's dynamic. NAMJOON (zelda) HAVING FEELINGS FOR YOONGI (link)? also lines up, these hoes have been living together for 10+ years and namjoon was practically proposing to yoongi in that one 'respect' performance.

idk.... maybe i'll come back to this, workshop it, and actually write it one day haha!

#revalink #loz #botw #loz botw #legend of zelda #amihan's revalinkverse #ask #cryiling #botw x bts #i know most of this was just me talking about why i chose certain bts members as botw characters #but idk what else to tell y'all about rewriting a scene LMAO u know how it goes down #rewriting it with bts members will probably only have a significant impact on armys tbh #also i'm looking at the outline doc again and my best idea out of this entire au #was mixing the names of the divine beasts with bt21 characters #vah ruta? i've never heard of her i only know vah chima #vah metah.... vah rajoris..... vah rumang.....#for my non-kpop/bts mutuals and followers #you are welcome to ask any questions about anything i just said i know it was a lot

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whimsicaldragonette · 2 years

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Best Books of 2022 -- In Which I Fail Spectacularly to Compile a "Top Ten" List.

Image: Goodreads Year in Books 2022 - 166 Books read.

I read 166 books in 2022. Yes, some of them were shorter books: several middle-grade books and a few advance review copies of picture books. Most were novels, though few were truly giant tomes. I really enjoyed most of them. Which is to say, trying to pick the "top ten" was excruciating and an exercise doomed to failure. So... I cheated. Or rather, I modified the goal. Thus I present to you... my top 10 42 books read in 2022 (and even that is fudging things a bit as there are a few instances here of me using a single book to stand in for the entire series if I read the entire series in 2022 and didn't want my list to balloon uncontrollably) organized like so:

Top 18 (Non-Romance) Books read 2022