37 Minutes Left of My Sanity

I keep drinking soda, which I hate.

I keep researching stuff that I should've researched weeks ago, but anyway it's all really interesting and I'm learning a lot.

I still haven't decided on any characters names besides my MC, and I also know that there's going to be a girl named Sarah but I don't know which girl she's going to be.

I'M FREAKING OUT.

Productivity

I'm like deathly sick right now. My voice is completely gone. I'm not any better than I was yesterday. I actually filmed a short video (about 8 seconds long) last night, and I'm still in pain from talking then. That clip was filmed for a secret project of secret which I am forbidden to talk about until Friday(?) when it is released. Then I shall link to the video here on this blog.

Speaking of linking videos, did everyone see this awesome Thoughts From Places video that I uploaded last week:

I have another Thoughts From Places video in the works. I keep getting ideas for it, but right now I have to settle for just writing the script, because the voice over will have to wait until I actually HAVE a voice.

It's weird; now that I'm sick, I have all of these great ideas. I've gotten a good amount of writing done, and have also written THREE SONGS. Yep. I'm going to be working on the music for them today. Again, I have to write the lyrics and music to songs that I can't practice singing because I have no voice with which to sing.

And I just updated my blog two days in a row. I need to become sick much more often.

"I've got massive hammers on my mind. Everyone is friendly, sweet and kind." - Massive Hammers, Baby Rodeo

-Jess

Vices & Virtues Review

Today, I'm quite sick. Like, it hurts to move sick. But I've been strangely productive today. Three songs have been written, and now this. Yeah.

So, right now, I'm going to review Panic! at the Disco's new album, Vices & Virtues. Specifically, the Deluxe Version available on iTunes. Okay.

I freaking adore this album. I've been a fan of Panic since a little before Pretty. Odd. came out, so I've been looking forward to this album for a long time. But I'm going to try to look past that, and review this album objectively. I'm going to start with the faults.

1. It's really short. I mean, it's not like it's only 10 minutes long. But even in the version that I own with its extra songs, there are only 13 songs. Besides the actual length, it feels very short as well.

2. The lyrics are meh. But really, with the loss of Ryan, who wrote most if not all of their songs, that's to be expected. Even my favorite songs on this album have little to no moments of lyrical brilliance.

And... that's all I can think of, really. Hmm. Now, for the positives! (Which shall not be numbered in a list, but instead explained over several paragraphs. Yep.)

The Ballad of Mona Lisa

I'll admit, I've been fangirling over this song for a while. It's already my second most played song EVER on my iPod. I question the placement of it, however. I've read many reviews that say that it is the best song on the entire album. And although it's certainly not my favorite, I'm inclined to agree. It probably would've been better if they had started out with a less awesome song. Also, it doesn't sound much like any of the other songs, giving a false impression of what the rest of the album will sound like. Anyway, Mona Lisa gets a bit repetitive, but is really, really good anyway. It's definitely the only song I could hear being played on the radio. (8.9/10)

Let's Kill Tonight

On my first listen, this instantly became my favorite song on the album. It isn't anymore, but still. It actually really reminds me of that book series that I really need to get on writing. As opposed to Mona Lisa, this track definitely gives you a view of what everything else will sound like. I adore the chorus, and the orchestral music spread throughout. (9.4/10)

Hurricane

THIS SONG. OHMYGOODNESS. LOVELOVELOVE. This, this is my favorite song on the album. Possibly. Maybe. I don't know. But, but... It's just... So amazingly amazing. Also, I love the You'll dance to anything line, which was the first quote from this album that I tweeted. I don't even know what else to say. (9.8/10)

Memories

I haven't listened to this song much, to be honest. It didn't leave a huge impression on me the first time I listened to it. I just feel like I've heard this all before. Not the music, the story that it's telling. I can definitely see it getting popular, but... It just doesn't do it for me. (7.8/10)

Trade Mistakes

This song starts out with the orchestra that most of the songs end with. Which is intriguing. It ends with the same thing. Interesting. I haven't listened to this song much, either, but unlike with Memories, I can't see why. It's very good. The verses are okay, but I really like the chorus. (9.1/10)

Ready to Go (Get Me Out of my Mind)

lovelovelove. Okay, so maybe lyrically this isn't the best song... And it's repetitive... But... YES. I really, really love this song. It's the basis of... something... that I'm going to talk about at the very end of this blog post. Yeah. (9.7/10)

Always

This is the slowest song on the album. It really reminds me of Pretty. Odd. which isn't necessarily a bad thing. And the song title reminds me of Snape. I'm not a huge fan of this song, and probably won't be listening to it much. (8.4/10)

The Calendar

FNURIGNRENFIOL. The first time I listened to this song, I didn't like it much, but after a few days, I really like it. A lot. I will come back to life/But only for you/Only for you It's really cute, and meaningful, and yeah. Wow, this review is slowly becoming less and less eloquent. (9.6/10)

Sarah Smiles

This is another song that reminds me of Pretty. Odd. but again, not in a bad way. Yet again, I haven't listened to this song much, and I'm not sure why. It's sososo good. Also, if my name was Sarah, I would be squeeing. (9.5/10)

Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...)

The French in the beginning just kills me. Gahhhh. This song is so WEIRD. Just amazingly strange. And therefore really reminds me of AFYCSO. Not exactly in sound, but just with its oddity. Woah, oddity is a word? Really? Wow. The little children sing lines from Mona Lisa. I just. Gahhh. (9.4/10)

Stall Me

It's a bonus track, and not a fantastic one at that. I can't find any real reason why I don't like it much, I just don't. I think it's one of those songs that I'll listen to if it comes on shuffle, but I'd never purposely listen to it. (9.1/10)

Oh Glory

angieranfienrwirgnerflertgdsnfhrwetoeqfnuendfweihrf. IUREFINAWEFBOEWFO. THIS FREAKING SONG. This is my favorite song on the album. Yes. It is a bonus track and a demo, but it's by far the best song on the entire album. The falsetto in the bridge kills me. I love it so much. That part of the song was actually stuck in my head all day on Friday. This song is the reason why you need to buy the Deluxe Version. (9.9/10)

Bittersweet

Oh God, this song is amazing. And has my favorite line in it from the entire album: And my favorite place/Is the warm embrace/of holding your hair back in a bathroom stall. LOVE. That line doesn't sound nearly as amazing when you write it out. But just... Just go listen to it. (9.6/10)

Overall Album Rating: 9.3/10

My favorite songs:

-Hurricane

-Oh Glory

-Let's Kill Tonight

-The Calendar

What Songs to Definitely Buy:

-Hurricane

-Oh Glory

-Let's Kill Tonight

-Sarah Smiles

-Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...)

-The Ballad of Mona Lisa

By the way, that special announcement thing that I referenced in the review is that I'm going to be writing a musical based on all three of P!atD's albums. I'll be taking part in Script Frenzy this April. I'm kind of freaking out, because I wrote a screenplay last year, and I have no idea how to write a musical. At all. But I must master this art form by Friday. Sigh. I'll be talking more about Screnzy later on in the week.

Character Names are Amazingly Important for the Future

At least for me.

As a writer, I have an appreciation for particularly good names. I've acquired a list of names that I'd love to use somewhere. Most of these names are used for characters, but sometimes I save them for if I ever have any future children.

One name that I really like, but am going to save for if I ever have a daughter, is Claire. As far as actual children go, I think that having names that are easy to pronounce/spell is important. Also, I think that having an older name that is still kind of popular but not really is nice.

I may or may not be writing a new story right now.* I'm liking the names Alastair and Casimir** as far as my MMCs. But I'm considering going with Blanche as the FMC.***

My only problem is that I really like the name Blanche, and might want to actually use it one day. It pretty much fits every requirement that I have. Easy to pronounce. Easy to spell. Recognizable, but older. And, also, apparently, French. I suppose I have a thing for French girl names.

If I use this name for the character, I will never be able to use it for a child, because I'll forever be reminded of the character.

Actually, y'know what...

I have just found an answer to my dilemma. New FMC name = Kaida. It means "little dragon," which is much cooler than "white." Yep.

"Didn't you know that all along you didn't need to hear your song, and if you don't know that then you might as well be dead." -The Muse, Darren Criss

-Jess

*I'm not trying to be mysterious; it is as likely that I will start writing this as it is that I won't.

**Love the names; would never subject an actual child to them.

***Something I just noticed now: I really have a thing for names that start with the first few letters. Don't know why.