so stay with me here;

MyChem: *frantically figuring out how to add you to the band, offers you cheap black eyeliner, a flowy black dress, big boots and a tambourine*

ticketmaster literally is evil & has ruined the live music industry like it cost no more than $25 to see large bands at stadiums until like the 90s. this is evil & bad. & ALSO large shows are essentially luxury purchases now that you have to save for & there are many other great shows to go to that don’t cost this much. both are true either way the consumer gets fucked & blamed when really we should be trying to destroy this literal monopoly & also pressure artists to not allow surge pricing bc its possible to do & it’s evil mcr doesn’t take any action to avoid it

it's crazy how santi opens with same blood, a song about unity and overcoming societal differences, this overarching hopeful anthem that we can come together despite adversity, and then takes us on this journey of a snot-nosed band coming off the heels of three years of nonstop touring, flexing their new found confidence, having their heads filled with promises of success and fame and riches by fbr execs, and then closes with unexpected places, a song about a band in total despair that asks the repeated question "is this the way to carry on?" and then the tragedy of santi underperforming and being labeled a critical failure. it's almost as if they predicted this inevitable failure. or perhaps it was a self-fulfilling prophecy? by chanting "is this the way to carry on?" over and over, perhaps they brought about their own demise by second-guessing themselves. santi is a tragic album, one that is quietly cool and confident at face value, but ultimately a facade, an album written by a band in turmoil and chaos, not knowing which way to go, unable to have one unifying idea, dealing with the pressures of writing a sophomore album as catchy and timeless as almost here. was it the way to carry on? or would they have found more success if they followed the same formula they used to pen almost here? but there's something that has to be said for taking chances. did the swing and miss of santi force them to redouble their efforts next time they were in the studio? would they have the success of fast times at barrington high if they hadn't stumbled through the tumultuous santi era? i think santi was necessary growing pains for this disjointed group of very young men. they had to get through this to truly come together. nothing like overcoming differences and unifying, nothing like coming together despite adversity...