FanArt_MyPropeller

A traditional pencil sketch, my first in a while, inspired by "My Propeller" by Arctic Monkeys and some Kr0npr1nz art, I'm sure. Mildly depressing.

Not normal,

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FanArt_OnGakou_Pt1

I love music, so I'm doing a few studies of some of my favorite albums' cover art using Steve Ahn's Ultimate Brush set to 50, and never zooming in past 50%, so hard-mode studies--basically painting with a blunt instrument with no gradation.

To prepare, I organized my favorite albums of all time into rough tiers and this is the first part of tier one.

These albums are:

Commit This to Memory by Motion City SoundtrackClassic hit: "Everything is Alright"
This perfectly encapsulates MCS's incisive self-reflection, self-deprecation, and bittersweet humor, all over a signature, catchy tune. It is a dear song that masterfully captures--in a deft manner only MCS and no other band can--the nervousness of living in an uncertain fog.
Don't miss: "Monsters Invisible"
Perhaps only underrated for being a bonus track, this song showcases MCS's more defiant, yet humble introspective mode, and shows the band's darker, more aggressive side.
Video pick: "Hold Me Down"
Sneaking in another one of my all-time favorite songs, which can easily sucker-punch me any time I listen to it, this video is Motion City Soundtrack--it's chilly, distant, yet inviting and warm, and the kids really comprise the MCS ethos--amidst the harsh cold, there're yet these sources of light and playfulness. The album version has an incredible outro that really brings this song home.

I Am the Movie by Motion City SoundtrackClassic hit: "The Future Freaks Me Out"
A salute to the powerlessness that creeps into our lives, the fight to regain control, and the lifelines some people/things play in our lives.
Don't miss: "Mary Without Sound"
A blisteringly fast, sometimes violent, and often-times gut-wrenching song that speaks to the uselessness we can feel sometimes.
Video pick: "My Favorite Accident"
Another one of my absolute favorite songs of all time, this one also has a really fascinating video, to boot, I especially appreciate the sheer frustration in that shot of Justin screaming.

From Under the Cork Tree by Fall Out BoyClassic hit: "Dance, Dance"
This song gets you amped and ready to go: I would draw late into the night in college to this album, and this song kept up the energy; there was a version where Pete screams at 2:47 that really crushed, but it's not on the official version, unfortunately.
Don't miss: "My Heart is the Worst Kind of Weapon (Demo Version)"
Another bonus track, this is one of FOB's groovier songs, and yet it comes right for your throat with some brutal lyrics.
Video pick: "Sugar, We're Goin Down"
This straight-up classic makes you ache for a larger world, yearn for greater connections, and the video was super sweet and really captured my imagination.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not by Arctic MonkeysClassic hit: "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
From the machine-gun drum intro, through the brash charm of the lyrics, to the lung-bursting finale, this song is an adventure of youth, bottled in 4/4 time for all time.
Don't miss: "A Certain Romance"
This ending track gives the album a quiet send-off, after feeling like a bustling night on the town.
Video pick: "The View from the Afternoon"
One of the most outstanding videos I've ever seen for one of my favorite songs I've ever listened to, this video's best moment comes when the drummer realizes the song's coming back in and he is cursed to get back to the beat, bleeding hands and all.

It's so difficult to differentiate between these "tier one" albums, but I do know Commit This to Memory is the absolute greatest, with only I Am the Movie giving it any sort of serious competition. The emotional impact these albums still pack, years and years, hundreds and hundreds of listens later makes them the undisputed champions of my musical awareness. And a credit to these albums' power: it was so difficult picking just these particular songs to highlight. That's the mark of a legendary album, where just track after track, you can't pick a stone-cold favorite, you can't skip a track, you want to hit replay on each.

Not normal,

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Fun_CornerstoneRef

Early concept sketches of Didi, but we went in a different direction.

The foundation's there, though.

3/23/16

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YDN_sls.Lullaby

 

Tonight don't make the nice girls cry.

Grab your favorite household cleaning products, it's time for Sick Little Suicide #7 - "Lullaby," in which I deal with old, ongoing, and upcoming stories.

Easter Eggs: "Y-A-L-E" above statues, 3:22pm, a shirt, a smile/tie/hairdo, a trumpet, T-shirt and tie combination.

Fun Facts: Harkness Tower in fact has "IIII" rather than "IV." This is my second time drawing something on a train for print.

From personal experience on at least two occasions, I've had some incredibly negative interactions with one of those guys. I get that people perceive me as rude, but I have great excuses: I'm not well practiced in talking to people, and I freely admit I'm socially inept. But this guy's supposed to be Mr. Gregarious!

However, I also know from personal experience that if the guy says he's going to do something, he does it, and does it well. So you're probably alright voting for him. I'm not up for letting him speak for me if I can avoid it*, but he'll probably do a great job doing whatever it is they do, and if not, I get to draw things about him! Be Bush if you want, I'll be Trudeau.

*The poll says I have to be more social, so I'll give it a try if you go first. I assure you, I'm more scared of you than you are of me, especially offline. And please don't ask other people about me, I guarantee you they don't know me. I'm the only person who knows where I will be playing the trumpet next year, for example. Anyway, I don't know how to go about being more social, but for starters, I can always draw stuff for people or give them free Monster--and am I supposed to reply to comments in the comments section rather than in future posts? Bottom line: help me out here; I want to try, but I really don't know what I'm doing.

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Herald_MCRMCS

It's Herald: Week III. I haven't yet seen the printed Herald this week, but I have a strong hunch the printing is going to be terrible (UPDATE: it is). I'm hoping for the best (UPDATE: don't be stupid).

Well, I wanted to do a non fanatical comic about My Chemical Romance, but after getting transfixed on Motion City Soundtrack thanks to an old Northern California chum's enthusiasm, plus an actual conversation involving panel 3, I went with this idea.

Easter eggs: Conan O'Brien's hair, Arctic Monkeys' old logo's M, MCS's "The Future Freaks Me Out," and MCR's "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)."

"Fun" Facts: Some expressions from Johanne "Rufftoon" Matte's "Sokka Sheet." I watched/listened to "Zaboomafoo," "Wishbone," and "The Simpsons" while inking this in the Swing Space TV room. This is our first color comic and although I don't like coloring, it was actually pretty fun, so thanks to Loide's markers.

UPDATE: Here's the printed version of the comic--it's not as easy to see here, but trust me, the thing is blurry as heck and pixelated.

Note the Herald Editor-in-Chief told me, "Yeah, it'll probably be just fine, ok *dashes off*," after I showed her a noticeably pixelated proof in the office.

Being Comics Editor isn't as pleasant as I thought it would be.

"If this is the coronation, I ain't feelin' the love." --Gerard Way

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