Sarah Hodges – Google

Truly a beautiful testament to healing from mental wounds. I'm very happy he reached out to get help, and from that decision, we now have this gorgeous album that others will be able to relate to. This album actually helped convince me to ask my parents for help with my own mental struggles. Now I have a lovely therapist and my life is slowly yet surely becoming happier and healthier. Also, it's kind of sad to see that some of you only support him and/or like him when he's depressed or not doing great. This music is also wonderful. Maybe you're just not ready to heal yet, so you can't relate to it, but it doesn't mean it isn't a work of art, labored with love and perseverance.

Say What You Want; At It's Core, It's Fabulous Frankenweenie is a kid-level cult classic (by that, I mean movies I'd consider that are to kids as movies like Halloween, Scream, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre are to older audiences). It easily slides in beside movies like Corpse Bride, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, and Halloweentown. I love it so much. It's Frankenstein for younger audiences, and honestly, it's kind of creepy in that freakadelic way that only Tim Burton movies can be. It's so intriguing, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. At some parts, I grimaced, at others, I smiled, but the entire time, I was entranced. A wonderful movie made in a dazzling, whimsical, and spine-tingling way.

The only way I think I can fully conceptualize how I feel about this album is that I was in complete awe. It's like after listening to "The Click" and "Living Room", I didn't really know what I was expecting, but I knew it was going to be good. I just didn't fully understand how good it would be. The first song I listened to on the album was "100 Bad Days" (as soon as it came out, I gave it a go), and I was thinking, 'Oh, so I was right. It's pretty good.' So I did some work around the house, earned some money, and bought the rest of the album. When I say that I was blown away just by "Next Up Forever" alone, that's exactly what I mean. I remember sitting in my bedroom and just devouring the album. Every end to every track made me hungry for more. I clawed my way through "Don't Throw out My Legos", "The Entertainment's Here", "Karma", and "Wow, I'm Not Crazy" (these are not all of the songs, but you get the gist), craving the next song. After I finished one, I'd go, 'There's absolutely no way this song can beat that one,' but I was proven wrong every single time. The release of "Bang!" hasn't changed my views at all, either. Everything is so creative and fresh, but still with that nostalgic and anxious undertone that makes you ready to spring into dancing. I especially love the samples from the 30's and orchestras. As a classicist, I found an appreciation in those snippets that I haven't found in very much of anything else, music-wise. I'd love to touch on "Karma". After some decision-making and hard debating, that song became my favorite. I've battled depression from a young age, and it just felt so nice and refreshing to hear something and my immediate thought be, 'Oh my God, they did it. That's exactly what I feel. Someone finally put it into words. I didn't know you could do that. This is wonderful!'. I felt like for once, someone else knew what I was going through and was sitting right next to me, as if saying, 'Yeah, I get you. I go through it, too. It's okay. You're valid and normal in feeling like this.' And the little snippet of "100 Bad Days" towards the end? GENIUS! I truly can't say how much I love this song and deeply admire you boy's work ethic and lyricism. This album's now a regular listen for me. Music's always been an escape for me; from bullying, school, mental illness, everything awful. This album not only distracts me, but transports me into another world. A world filled with color and sound. I love it so much, and I thank you guys for everything that you've put into this.