Oh, bandom. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

[sparkfrost]

Panic's new demo makes my heart stupidly happy. If you haven't heard it, check it out at their website. Pete Wentz said that the new album would be a natural progression from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, and the new song certainly sounds like it.

Depending on who you are, this could be a good or bad thing. Palmer, for example, really likes Pretty.Odd., and had hoped that they would continue in their Beatles-inspired 60's rock. I think a lot of people may feel that way. People who kind of grew up with Panic's music, and they may feel that they've grown out of the emo dance-pop. Me, I'm excited. I loved Pretty.Odd>., don't get me wrong, but Fever is what got me into Panic, was my summer soundtrack, and really helped me get through a lot of shit that was going on in my life. Listening to Brendon sing about how 'only his head knows his heart is lying' is like a breath of fresh air, and really fills me with hope. I am really excited to see what else he and Spencer come up with, and cannot wait to hear the new album.

For those who loved Pretty.Odd., fear not! It seems as if Ryan and Jon's new album will be a natural progression off of that. Obviously no one can say for sure, but they were definitely the driving forces behind a lot of the last album, and it makes sense that they would continue to experiment with that sound. So, have hope!

Now, onto the scandal.

I know a lot of people are really hurt and disillusioned by what Ryan has done, and I am not at all trying to trivialize those feelings or say that you should not have them. What I am about to say is solely my own opinion, and my own reaction to the past few days.

-First of all, everyone in that photo is an idiot. It reminds me of those fail!photos, where someone is taking a pic of themselves, unaware that their giant purple dildo is visible in the background. (Or anal lube, or ball gag, or whatever else that they do not want the public at large to see)

-Second of all, Ryan's Tweet after the incident was really fucking stupid. It turned anyone who was on the fence about what to feel against him. Evil twin? Really? Way to make it seem like you don't even care about getting caught on film with your big old tray o' coke, Ryan Ross. Good job!

-Finally, Keltie's blog is really heart-breaking, and clearly illustrates how a lot of people involved in the situation are reacting. My sympathies go out to her, as well as to all my LJ friends who have posted about their bad experiences with loved ones on drugs. That fucking sucks, and I can't even imagine going through it.

But here is where unpopular opinion time kicks in. I don't really have a problem with cocaine. I don't have a problem with most drugs. I'm not saying all- I have a very specific list of drugs that scare me and that I will never touch. Acid, crystal meth, ketamine, crack cocaine, and heroin are all drugs that I will stay the hell away from, and I refuse to associate with people who use them. Cocaine itself isn't on that list. Yes, it can be dangerous, yes it can be addictive, and yes, its stupid for someone from a family of addicts to do. But I don't consider it as bad a drug as many of my flist does. So while I think Ryan's dumb for getting caught, I'm not going to chastise him for it. Oh, I'll mock the hell out of him on Twitter, "to his face" if you will, but I'm not going to tell him what to do with his life. It is his to screw up.

There ends my unpopular opinion. Again, I am not trying to tell other people what to think or how to feel. I'm also not trying to say that cocaine is good for you, it isn't. I am saying that because of things I have done and probably will continue to do, I have no right to judge Ryan on his lifestyle choices.

If you don't want to be friends with me after reading that, I get it. (I seem to be saying that a lot lately.) But, as before, I'd prefer it if you'd talk to me in the comments or PM me.

Much love to all!

Comments

[ernestinewalker.livejournal.com]

Naw, I get it. Acid, crack, and heroin are mine. Unfortunately, I've had too many friends decide to be meth-heads (and thus had to be there through their rehab) to actually refuse to talk to people who do/have done it. I've tried it, myself, because it was a stupid time in my life. I hate it, personally. I understand why people do it, but those people I've known who HAVE done it... would advise anyone to stay the hell away from it as well. I'm on that list.

Ketamine... that was super-popular during the raver days.

Coke, though? It's somewhere on the list with weed and x. There's no rational reason for that. I don't think they're good for you, or should be condoned, but I can't be a total hypocrite.

I would never encourage anyone to do drugs at all, really.

[stele3.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

My unpopular fannish opinion on the ~Scandal~: My god, a musician is doing cocaine? Stop the presses! Monumentally stupid to let a picture of it wind up online, though, and I wonder at the timing...this photo cropping up just days after the band split. *head tilt* I don't know what to think about that.

That being said, definitely count me among the people who dnw cocaine. Sometimes it's hard for me not to feel judgmental of people who do use (which, I mentally categorize cocaine as a hard drug), but I recognize that there are people who can do that stuff and be just fine. *shrugs* I doubt that I'd be one of them, that's all, and I don't ever want to take that chance. I don't want it around me; too much addiction in my family, and I tend to go to excesses - as evinced by my problems with hard liquor in college.

As far as professional rock star hipsters go -- whatever, Ryan Ross, have fun. Hope you fall into the "be just fine" category. And for the love of Pete (hah) put the cameras away before you indulge.

[notsolaconic.livejournal.com]

actually, i'm kind of surprised by how many people are up in arms and disillusioned now, just because one skinny rocker dude did some blow and was retarded enough to be caught on film. i mean-- he's a grown ass man, with a lot of money and a lot of free time, and i'd honestly have been quite surprised if he had never tried it. it's his life to live, and if he wants to do a few lines, who are his fans to say he can't? it kinda sucks, but it's his life.

that said, coke is a terrible drug and it's one of the only that i tell people to stay the fuck away from. it makes you stupid, it fucks up your body, it's expensive as hell, and most people who use don't know the meaning of moderation because it is fun as hell, and when you're enjoying yourself that much it's hard to take a step back and think, "maybe not today. maybe not this year, even." hopefully ryan ross is not one of those people, but if he is i'm not about to look down on him for that and will in fact defend his right to use, if he wants to.

i don't know, man. i'm in a serious minority here on lj-- i do a lot of drugs, including a few on your no-no list, and i'm pretty unrepentant about it. but i have also never had a problem with addiction; the day i wake up and think, "hey, i'll just go do that again as soon as i can" is the day it all stops for me. i don't see anything wrong with that, personally, but i empathize with those who have known addicts and dealt with that situation and i understand why drugs are such a polarizing topic. ryan ross, you started somethin', you dick.

and forgetting drugs for a moment-- the new panic demo ahahahaha oh god. i feel like the video should be a long continuous swooping shot of a thousand drag queens dancing, but that's just me. get yer gay on, brendon and spencer, get it on. i liked pretty odd more than fever, but anything both groups put out will most likely be fantastic!