#i’ll play my carpenters records tonight instead

[davyjoneslockr]

Fuck this post and happy birthday Guido Mista

[scarycybird]

John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) - Liveblog

Let’s start by saying the music in the DVD menu screen is... some kinda noise. Fuck. I left it playing for a bit so I could make popcorn but the kitchen was far enough back I didn’t get the chance to acclimate I was hoping for and it’s... Something. 

I’ve been advised to keep a stuffed animal on hand for squeezing during this viewing. 

I’ll be keeping my liveblog to the one post since the shit I pulled with The Wickerman wasn’t fun. I’ll just put the bulk of it under the cut. 

The opening sequence with the wolf hunter in the helicopter seems to be setting up a Man vs Nature type conflict? As always with the opening moments of a horror movie I have to question - theme or coincidence? 

Given that the next scene is a person destroying a computer he assumes cheated when it unexpectedly beats him at chess despite this being the early 80s when such machines were a rarity and he’s also not exactly in an electronics store...  I think we’re being set up to expect bad decisions from impulsivity. 

Called it, there’s already been a gunfight. 

Yeah, no one is thinking or talking anything through. Just a lot of opinions flying around. 

Superstition... there has to be a reason that song was chosen, doesn’t there? 

The friend I’m watching this with just posed the question of whether Mac is an idiot or a racist. Given he’s the one who destroyed the computer, I’m kinda going with both. 

The frozen Norwegian in his chair is definitely giving me The Naked Time (TOS) vibes, but a fuckload creepier. 

The fuck is that giant ice bathtub looking thing? 

Wait, did they dig up the thing the Norwegians burned and *bring it back*? FUCKING... How...I...that...look. I’m not... Why are Americans so stupid? ...why am *I* American?

NORMAL ORGANS MY ASS

Y’know...going into this movie with content warnings for graphic animal violence made the scene leading up to the graphic animal violence a fuckload more tense and didn’t make the scene itself any easier to take. What the FUCK was that? 

Fucking Hell

What the fuck? 

That was gross. And disturbing. And. Fucking Yikes. 

Hey maybe instead of dissecting it they should just take it out in the snow and burn it again? 

I was definitely right to make so much popcorn because if I don’t keep eating through this I might not eat for a couple days and I’m suppose to make spaghetti tonight. 

Oh jeez, here’s the paranoia. 

I think I’ve pinpointed this movie in TMA terms. Flesh/Beholding, perhaps? Certainly gross enough to be Flesh. One thing for sure, the Drive to Know is definitely making things worse.  Pretty sure if they just Noped The Fuck Out and Burned It then they wouldn’t have to deal with more of this shit. 

WHY ARE YOU CHECKING OUT WHERE IT CAME FROM YOU DUMBASSES? 

Listen, I use to think “Leave Well Enough Alone” was a threat but FUCKING HELL

god is everyone in this movie fucking racist? Mac can only remember the Norwegians are Norwegians when he’s blaming them for Aliens, other characters try to say Aleins are responsible for Native Incan civilization... fucking Yikes. 

Cellular assimilation and imitation. Scary fucking concept. A whole host of questions. Which tropes apply? 

FUCKING. ONE person with common sense gets shot down IMMIDETELY. 

I’m sitting here thinking about if the replaced crew members would *know* they were replaced or if it’s a Tomato in the Mirror situation and the thing they brought back from the Norwegion Base fucking MOVES. 

...and of course the guy who shoots down the one with common sense instantly gets snagged by the fucking alien. Fucking hell. Was he infected the whole time? 

Well, Mac’s proved he’s not a total idiot. Which means he’s an asshole. 

Ah...the guy who was most freaked out by it is missing... and given the context? I’m guessing it’s a bit tomato in the mirror. Fuck. 

Or not. Maybe he’s just freaked out to the point where he’s become the threat. 

Oh hey, a blood serum test isn’t a bad idea at this point. 

...fuck. 

“If none of us make it, at least there’ll be some kind of record.” My god how fucking Beholding is this movie? Shit. 

It had just gotten to the point where I was suspecting none of them were infected anymore because they were turning on each other so hard when of course, the one nobody suspected turned out to be the thing. 

Every Cell is its own animal... Oh... that... huh. 

HELL OF A TIME FOR THE FLAMETHROWER TO STOP FUCKING WORKING HOLY SHIT

Well. That’s it then. That’s the survivors. Oh...have to check Blair first... 

Fuck. Blair’s gone. 

...and here’s the suicide mission part of the movie I’ve been waiting for the whole damn time. 

You know, I’m not surprised this is one of the first horror movies Jonny recommends? I can see the ways it influences TMA, and the way TMA seeks to improve on those influences. I almost want to stop watching here and wait until I’m done with TMA to finish but I won’t. 

Okay that...fingers-in-the-mouth thing is...nauseating. Just like the rest of this god damn movie fuck. 

“Yeah, Fuck You Too!”  Solid. 

Oh look, he survived. Childs too!

Oh crap *I’m* back to the trust question. 

“If we’ve got any surprises for each other, I don’t think we’re in much shape to do anything about it.”  Well...that’s one way to address it. 

This outgoing music reminds me of the Mark !V movies from when I was a kid. Wish I knew which came first. ...probably this. 

Oh! Childs was Keith David! I should have recognized him! 

Well...that was...a ride.

[quarantineroulette]

Minor Disappointments’ 10 Least Disappointing Releases of 2019

I wasn’t going to compile a 2019 year-end list for a number of reasons (lack of time to listen to new music, general malaise, little time to write), but I’ve read so much bad end of year music writing that I feel like I must either stoke the embers or assist in extinguishing it. I don’t think I’m doing either here, but everyone likes list so here’s another.

I haven’t had time to really think about 2019 in songs but my favorite this year was, no kidding, a Tindersticks song featuring Robert Pattinson. Speaking of...

10) FKA twigs - Magdalene

  I really wish I hadn’t remembered that Pattinson and twigs dated because it put a slight damper on my enjoyment of this album. Instead of appreciating it in all its genre-destroying glory, as I did on my first listen, subsequent spins led to me becoming sidetracked by tabloid speculation over what RPattz must have done to have wronged this very singular artist. So, whether this is your first listen or 50th, forget all that I just wrote and instead let twigs fill your empty mind with her sometimes delicate, sometimes Kate Bush-evoking, wholly epic songs.

Favorite moment: It’s pretty commendable and bold to place the lead single as the closing track, especially if its something as monumentally gut-wrenching as “Cellophane.” Also, that video is the visual treasure everyone says it is, no fooling. 

9) Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

If you’ve ever heard Karen Carpenter’s Beatles covers you might have some idea as to what this record is like. But beyond Natalie Mering’s cozy vocals and timeless compositions is an undercurrent of ambient mystery that sets everything ever so slightly askew. At times, Laurel Canyon vibes are completely dispelled for more crepuscular textures, as in the album’s centerpiece, the Julee Cruise-esque “Movies.” Who knows where Mering will go next, but her path, whether from the California sun or glow of the silver screen, is certainly bright. 

Favorite moment:  “A Lot’s Gonna Change”, “Andromeda”, “Everyday” - as strong of a three song run as on any release this year. 

8) Angel Olsen - All Mirrors

The cynic in me wanted to resist this album, but as soon as the cinematic strings kicked in on “Lark” I decided the enormous amount of critical hyperbole that was being thrown at it was mostly warranted. Stately, dramatic, occasionally synthy and largely devastating, All Mirrors taught me that sometimes you may find many of your favorite things in the unlikeliest of places. Please insure your heartstrings. 

Favorite moment: “Spring” which, like a lot of great songs, sounds a little like a fairground ride breaking down. 

7) Danny Brown - uknowhatimsayin¿

This might be the funnest album I’ve listened to all year. It can be hard to do positive but “Best Life” is as heartening as Nardwuar’s interview with Brown and fewer things are happier than that. With his fifth album, Brown has proven he can ably do every mood with aplomb. And if using cleaning references as euphemisms is your poison, then, hell, he can do that too. 

Favorite moment: “Hoes on my dick ‘cos I look like Roy Orbison.” Need I say more?

6) Omni - Networker

One of the strongest post-to-the-nth-degree-punk bands from the latter 2010s, I still have Omni’s 2016 debut, Deluxe, on heavy rotation. Networker, the trio’s third record and first on Sub Pop, has no shortage of twists, turns, technical dexterity, quirk and compositional audacity. Looks like I’ll be overplaying this one too. 

Favorite moment: I could listen to ��Courtesy Call” over a hundred times and I still wouldn’t be able to guess what direction it’s going to go in. 

5) Aldous Harding - Designer

 Of all the artists on this list, I find Harding the most inspiring in both her songwriting and her performing style, which is arresting to say the least. The songs on Designer are paradoxically accessible and impenetrable, with seemingly breezy songs like “Weight of the Planets” leaving you with a feeling that’s a cross between a “wow!” and a “huh?”(perhaps a bit like this). Most impressive of all, Harding draws to mind such greats as Nick Drake, Syd Barrett and Nico while always sounding completely like herself. I honestly don’t know what layer of reality Harding is from, but we should all be thankful she’s residing in ours for the time being. 

Favorite moment: “The Barrel” had been in my YouTube queue for ages; after finally watched it I was left confused, mildly disturbed, amused and completely beguiled. This kookily hatted lady is just semi-dancing in a heavily-draped room for nearly five minutes and it’s the most fascinating video in years. If the video wasn’t entertaining enough, it also happens to have one of the funniest and sweetest comment threads on YouTube. Oh yeah, and the song is brilliant. 

4) Deerhunter - Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?

Deerhunter have really only misstepped once for me and that was with 2015′s Fading Frontier. Seeing as this is the band’s first full length since then, I had quite a bit of trepidation going in. Of course, a lot can happen in four years and Why Hasn’t Everything... is a thankfully thrilling addition to the band’s canon. Whether it be Cate Le Bon’s production, Bradford’s growing ease as a performer and eccentric, Lockett’s unexpectedly Low-esque "Tarnung,” or all of the above, this may well be Deerhunter’s most consistent release since Halcyon Digest. I’m even slightly tempted to say it’s better than it, but the sacrilege is too great.

Favorite moment: “What Happens to People” -- totally unique to the Deerhunter canon and already a classic. 

3) Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell!!

I never thought I could ever love an album with a Sublime cover on it, but here we are. In all fairness, the inclusion of “Doin’ Time” matters little when the originals on this treatise on Americana is so glorious.  Between the torchiness and the LA-specific witchiness of songs like “Bartender”, there’s not much on here that I’m able to resist. There may still be haters but “The Greatest” drowns them out a little more with each play.  Favorite Moment: “And we were so obsessed with writing the next best American record” - yeah, thank you for doing that.  2) Karen O & Danger Mouse - Lux Prima Truth be told, the first time I listened to this record I cried when it ended because I didn’t want to leave its world. There may have been more radical records by newer artists in 2019, but hearing Karen O doing what she does best, as well as trying many new things, was such a joy to me. I’m probably among only a handful of people who wanted to hear Karen do a straight up disco song in 2019, but we got it and it’s something to be treasured for years to come. To paraphrase Sparks + Franz Ferdinand, collaborations don’t (often) work, but thanks to O’s flawless vocals and Brian Burton’s sometimes Dave Fridmann-esque production, this one is an exception.  Favorite Moment:  I’m tempted to say the whole thing, but “Turn the Light” and “Redeemer” are maybe two of the biggest surprises on an album of many. 

1) Purple Mountains - Purple Mountains 

Purple Mountains is quite possibly a new touchstone in gallows humor. Given David Berman’s suicide less than a month after the record’s release, what should now be a grim and discomfiting listen is so mordant and wry that it somehow overpowers its bleakness. More striking than perhaps even the moments of humor is the album’s tenderness, so beautifully represented in songs like “Snow is Falling in Manhattan” and “I Loved Being My Mother’s Son.” Although it’s undeniably tragic that there will be no more words from Berman, the ones he’s left us with will fascinate and move us for decades to come. 

Favorite Moment: Unsurprisingly, Berman’s lyrical dexterity on this album is beyond measure. From the internal and slant rhymes in a line like “see the plod of the flawed individual looking for a nod from God” to the layers of meaning in “the light of my life is going out tonight”, the wordsmithery here is mesmerizing. If I had the time, I would gladly write an essay on how Berman used color to further emphasize a point. Thanks for the music, David, but thanks especially for the words. 

[theabominableblogger]

My Reaction to “Gotham” S4E16

ONLY TWO MORE OF THESE TO GO, KIDDIES!

The rest of these reaction posts I’ll be uploading are not chronological order.  They’re like that because A) college and B) more college.

My sister watched it with me (as well as the other episodes left in my epic “Gotham” reaction series) so my comments will be in bold, and hers will be in regular font.  Author’s notes courtesy of me will be bolded and italicized.

Also, quick warning (and probably obligated to say this), we don’t like Barbara’s storyline.

AN:   I managed to record our reactions to this episode and hopefully I can transcribe what I said into this post. 

*Lee shoots Sofia in the recap*  Oooooohhh!!

But she’s not dead though, apparently!

*sighs*  Nobody’s dead on this show...

And he’s [Jerome] alive!

*flatly*  Was there any doubt.

Meanwhile, at Arkham Asylum...

*The Arkham guard turns on her Walkman*  Oh, this is never a good idea...

*starts slow jamming out to "Fool For You” by Alice Smith*

Yeah headphones are required...

Ohhhh OK...

Because!  *points excitedly at screen when Jervis appears*

*scoffs in hilarity when Jervis tries to talk to the guard, who can’t hear him*

What.

*gasps when one of the guards pops up behind the main guard*

“Tortuga!  You almost gave me a heart attack!”  Tortuga?

*shrugs cluelessly*

*Tortuga slices the guard’s neck*  Ooooooohhhhhhh!!

Jesus God!

Jervis, I like your shorter hair much better.

Tortuga.... *claps hands*  THE MOCK TURTLE!

OH MY GOD!

YEAH!

Wha- oh my God...

*jaw drops in excitement when we see Scarecrow*

[Jervis] I LOVE YOUR NEWSPAPER HAT!

That’s a different actor [playing Scarecrow].  That’s not Charlie Tahan.

*chuckles*  He’s [Scarecrow] experimenting in his toilet.

Did he just put a whole bunch of that sodium stuff in his freaking toilet?

That thing is gonna get blown right off the wall in a matter of minutes.

I know!

*Scarecrow pours that crap on a lock*  Holy shit!

That’s all you were doing with that?!?

*Cue Jerome*  EEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Ohhh dear.

EEEEYYYYYY!!!

“When I [Jerome] say ‘three hairs past a freckle,’ gentlemen, I do not mean five hairs past.”  *both immediately smile*

“Boys, boys, let’s not squabble too early in our partnership.  There will be plenty of time to stab each other in the backs later!”  *both chuckle*

“That’s the spirit, boys.  Think big- and kinky.”  *done*

“And lose the weirdo.  She’s [Tortuga] giving me [Jerome] the heebie jeebies.”  *trying her absolute damndest not to laugh*

*laughs*  Stop calling us out!

*both yell in horror when Tortuga slices her own neck*

“Now, to free the rest of our cronies and blow this pop stand.”  WELL DANG!

It’s “Popsicle stand,” you cretin.

*laughs*  He don’t know that.

If you’re gonna insult me, do it properly.

WHO’S THE LOSER WITH THE DRUMS?!?

I KNOW, I LOVE THAT DUDE!!!

*both crack up at Jerome going down the aisle and making stupid faces at other inmates*

Ohhhhh, he’s great.

*jams out to opening theme*

“How many got out?”  “87.  The entire violent ward.”  *jaw drops in shock*

“Yeah, we’ve rounded up most of the serious nutjobs; they’re the guys that think they’re walruses or what not.”  *both immediately do finger guns at screen*

EEEEEEYYYYYYYY....

Any carpenters in there?

Please tell me there’s gonna be more Benedict Samuel.  Two minutes of that guy, and I already love him.

*chuckles*

Like he’s not the Jervis Tetch I know and love, but he’s entertaining as hell.

He’s very good!

Yeah, Benedict Samuel’s real voice sounds nothing like that.  It’s like stereotypically British.  But not Cockney, just British.

AN:  WHAT?!?!  HE’S ACTUALLY FROM AUSTRALIA?!?

*smiles*

“All right, listen up!  If I’d [Jim] have known I’d be seeing your ugly mugs tonight, I’d have stayed in the hospital.”  *both chuckle*

Ben McKenzie directed this episode, I forgot!

I take it that means we’re in for a good one.

AN:  Yes.

“Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim, Jim!”  *laughs*

JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM JIM

“Do it, OR I’M [Jervis] GONNA KILL SOMEONE!  In case you have any doubts.”  *both crack the hell up*

I shouldn’t be... God, he’s good!

“Let’s go.”  Here we go go go go gooooo!

"You [Jim] said we had to have each other’s backs tonight, right?”  Yes!

“So what, we’re [Jim and Harvey] either idiots, or we’re hypnotized?  Good choices.”  *both laugh*

Oh please tell me this is the episode with Harvey being awesome.

Uh, that’s the next episode.

AAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!

*Jervis meets Jim with a hypnotized couple*  SON OF A BITCH! 

Who the hell are they?!?

*so done*  A random married couple!  Because in the previous season, Jervis was all like “Oh, Jim, what are you worried about?  Your love life?!?” and I’m like “SHUT UP!”

“Lo and behold!  The bold Captain Jim Gordon, and his rusty caboose in tow.”  *chuckles*  ‘Rusty caboose in tow...’

*giggles*

Dude, look at that scarf [that Jervis wears]!

Do you recall when I [Jervis] first came to this fair city, Jim?  A bawling mess, wanting nothing more than to address the safety of my dear sister Alice?”  :/

“You gave me NO CHOICE!”  *tries not to laugh at the SUDDEN YELLING*

“I was willing to give you any life you wanted, just to keep you out of mine.”

*Jervis gives the command to drop the wrecking ball*  Ooohhh..

Oh shit-

*both yell and reel back in absolute horror when the couple gets squashed*

*both still in :O for a good minute or so*

He [Jervis] drives off!  *laughs*

I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I JUST SAW!

That just killed the moment, just him randomly driving off.

I don’t know what the hell I just saw!

I don’t know either.

That was kinda awesome!  I’m not gonna lie!

*Bruce and Selina enter the precinct*  Yaaay!

The dynamic duo.

Yaay!

*laughs*  She [Selina] just growled at him [Bruce]!

Ooooohhhh I like that [Barbara’s] office.

I like her hair.

Season 4:  the season of Booze ™ !

*chuckles*

There’s just so much booze in this season!

*sings*  Alcohol... my per-ma-nent accessory...

*mouths while aggressively pumping hand holding phone in air*  Shots shots shots shots!

[Barbara] Don’t mix pills with booze.  Don’t do that.

“He [Ra’s] brought me [Barbara] back to life.  We’d never even met.  Why choose me?”  Because he brought you back to life?!?

Are you two [Barbara and Tabitha] still going out or like what?  What’s the situation here?

*shrugs*  I guess...

What’s the situation here?

Friends with benefits?

I guess...

*chuckles*  I don’t know...

*gasps when we get a flashback of Barbara’s death in S3*

Oh shit!

WHY HER THOUGH?!?  That is my question!

That’s a great shot though [of Ra’s reviving Barbara], I have to say.

What the hell...

*Ra’s brings out the Lazarus water*  Oooo-oohhhhhhh...

Is that from the Lazarus pit?!?

I think that’s from the Lazarus pit!  Yeah, ‘cause it’s like a neon color in this show!

Oh my God!

*Ra’s revives Barbara*  There we go.  That explains it.

So you can drink in it rather than bathe in it in this continuity.

Yeah.  I mean, you can do both.

*Barbara is resurrected*  Ohhh!

Oh shit!

“Oh, what a vital, poisonous little mind you [Barbara] have.  And yet, everybody hates you for it, don’t they?”  I don’t think that’s why they hate you.

“You are just the one I’ve been looking for.”  :/

“You [Barbara] shall become the Demon’s Head.  The League of Shadows will be yours to command, an army of assassins.”  *rubs head in frustration*  Ohhhh, are we doing this again... ohhh....

They’re not talking “Oh, Dark Knight!”  That’s later.

[Ra’s] You’re gonna hand the League of Assassins over to her [Barbara]?!?

I know, I don’t like it either.

WHy?!?

I don’t know.

That sounds stupid.

“I’m [Barbara] OK.”  No you’re not.

*The remnants of the married couple*  Oh my God.. those are just dummy parts sticking out of the bottom!

I mean, it was effective.

Yeah.

It was hella effective!

It was very effective!

“Midnight, right?  That’s less than an hour.”  Midnight?  Why is it always midnight?  *chuckles*

*shrugs*

“’Fliers become die-rs.’”  It’s like in “Lovers and Madmen.”  He rigged all of those people to jump to their deaths.

Ohhhhhhhhh!!

*slaps knee*  And it’s like in “Mad as a Hatter” [in Batman:  The Animated Series], when he told those guys to jump in the river!

*gasps*  Yeaahhhhh!  Oh my gosh!

AN:  Also, I highly recommend the comic “Lovers and Madmen.”  Different interpretation of the Joker but still pretty solid and also quotable.

*wheezes when Bruce tries to give Detective Harper money to protect him*

*tries not to laugh when Bruce starts to fake cry*

*laughs when Bruce pulls a Stealth Hi-Bye on Harper*

Bruuucceee!

*gasps and claps hands*  His [Jervis’s] theme in the background!

*jaw drops when it’s revealed that a lot of rooftops are lined by people ready to jump*

Ohhhhhh shit.

“Your ego, Bruce.  It’s huge.”  *tries not to laugh*

“Get over yourself.  It’d make you a little easier to be around.”  *both try not to laugh*

Oh...

Oh shit!

Oh... oh-

*Bruce ends up opening the door for Selina instead*  Oh.

*groans in frustration*

That’s not a hug, I’m just getting the door for ya!  *laughs*

*both laugh at Selina’s little giggle*

That little giggle, oh my God!

“You don’t owe me [Bruce] anything, Selina.  You never did.”  You two are adorable!

They’re cute!

“Geez, there’s a lot of gum under here!”  *chuckles*

*whispers*  What?

Ew no no no-

Oh no no-

*both yell loudly in disgust when Jerome eats some ABC gum*

You are crazy!

*chuckles*

“Jim,  it’s happening all over the city.  Thousands are climbing up roofs!”  How many people are in this freaking city?!?

Probably at least a couple thousand, I’d say.

“He [Jervis] must’ve commanded them [the drivers] to change the station so that we couldn’t find him.”  How complicated are these commands?  It’s like explaining Kilgrave’s powers.  Did he tell them to do that or...

“Ugh, it’s that song I [Harvey] hate!”  *chuckles*

*jams out and sings along with “Foolish Pride” by LAB*

“Just right!”  Oooh, broccoli cheddar [soup] though.  Good choice.

“Mamma Mia!”  *both start singing “Mamma Mia”*

“What was the special ingredient again?  Ah, right.  It was my [Jerome’s] hand.  The one you [Uncle Zach] dipped in a boiling pot of chicken stock!”  *both bug eyes*

“That smell, it was ...mouthwatering....”  *shakes head in disgust*

You are disgusting, dude!

“I [Zach] set out three bowls of soup, nephew, so I’d have enough for all my guests.”  [Crap]

*small gasp when the strong man drags Jerome out of the booth*

Ooh shit!

“The ‘just right’ soup is for him.  The ‘cold’ is for me!  I always loved gazpacho!  The ‘too hot,’ that’s for you, nephew.”  Ohhh shit!

Oh he’s gonna heat it again!  Damn!

*jaw drops when the microwave starts shorting out*

Isn’t this the Iceberg?!?

No, it’s her [Barbara’s] lounge.

The Sirens, right?

Yeah.

*All the lights go out*   Ooooooohhhhh!

Shit!

“We’re [the League] here for the Demon’s Head.  Where is he?”  “She.... is right here.”  I call bullshit.

It’s a flashlight.  I could make a joke out of that but I’m not going to.

*gasps when Hypnotized!Harvey knocks out Jim*

“Hickory, dickory, dock.  The copper went up the clock.  The clock struck 12, he fell pell-mell, and that was it for the cop.”  *in unison*   Noooooooooooooo.....

Ohhh dear.

*Zachary takes out the boiling soup for Jerome*  Oh no.

*gasps when Zachary prepares to pour the boiling soup on Jerome*

“Here, nephew, have a taste of one of my three soups!”  *in shock*  Roll credits!

AN:  The name of the episode actually came from in the writers’ room.  Tze Chun came in having ordered 3 soups and Charlie Huston (the writer of this episode) said “I’m gonna put that in the script” and Tze Chun went “Yeah, right.”  Welp.

*both yell in horror when Zachary pours the soup down Jerome’s throat*

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!  [Jerome] You’re gonna have welts all over your face for a month, dude!

“No one deserves that.”  “You tell ‘em!”  *both have to stifle a laugh*

That is a very Joker moment, I have to say.

“Let him [Jerome] go... and get rid of the kid [Bruce].”  *bug eyes*

*Bruce throws a bunch of plates at the strong man*  Ohhhh shit!

Did he just No-Sell a porcelain plate to the face?!?

Yeah, he just did!

*both jaws drop in horror when Jerome finds the gallon of bleach meant for him*

He [Zach] was gonna poison his nephew!

“She’s [Barbara] got the Demon’s Head.  Ra’s chose her.”  “She doesn’t even know what it is.”  Fair point.

I don’t know what that haircut is.

Whose haircut?

That dude’s!

He doesn’t have any hair!

Exactly!

“Women serve in the League, but they do not lead.”  “That’s now a law, just a stupid tradition.  Ra’s chose her.  We need to honor his choice.”  Barbara’s like “Yes, random lady, I accept you!”

*gasps when Barbara takes out the male League member who tried killing her first*

“Anyone else want a shot at the title?”  Everybody does.

“Here comes the airplane!”  *tries not to laugh*

“Got it.  Lost it.  Write it down!”  Me in school.

*giggles when Jerome looks over at Bruce still fighting and does a quick second of fake shadow boxing*

*Jerome kills Zach*  :(

“Boy billionare Bruce Wayne, my [Jerome’s] savior!  Wow, I did not see that one coming.”  *both chuckle*

“Really makes a man wonder... what the hell is wrong with you?!?”  :[

*sighs*  Ohhh dear...

*claps hands when Jim finds Jervis at the radio station*  Let’s go!

How is he doing the whole hypnotizing thing?

It was over the radio.

Yeah, I know, but what does he use to do it?

He has a ticking mechanism.

Oh.  Does he always keep that on him or what?

He always has that [pocket watch] on him.  He goes “Look into my eyes and listen.”

Wait, if they can’t look into his eyes, then-

It’s the noise.

Oooohh kay.

It’s the stimuli.

*both yell and reel back in horror when Jim shoots Jervis’s hand*

What the hell was that for?!?

OK, here’s the thing:  he [Jervis] got shot in the freaking hand!

And it’s like nothing!

I will say though, the rhyming integrated in with the dialogue is done really well!

*in unison when Selina comes to save the day*  EEEEEYYYYYY!!!

*Bruce finally knocks out the strong man*  Oooohhh.

“Selina, huh?  Well isn’t that a nice name...”  Go to hell.

*Selina pulls a gun on Jerome*  Ohhh.

“Uh, uh, uh.  She’s not that kind of girl.”  Wanna bet?

“Oh, all right!  See you crazy kids later!  Ciao!”  *both crack up*

“Ra’s chose me [Barbara] for a reason, I know it.”  Looks like he was playing you for a stooge.

“You’re all so damn weak.  That’s it.  That is why Ra’s chose me.  Because he knew I would see how pitiful you all are.  Afraid of change.”  Yeah, that’s gonna endear you to them.

*bug eyes when the lights suddenly go out and gunfire ensues*

Shhiit!

Whaaaaaat?!?

What the hell is going on?

*The midnight bells go off*  Oooohhhh...

Noooo... nooooo....

Noooo.... we’re not doing this... noooo....

*both freak out in unison when the jumpers get ready*

*both freeze when there’s absolute radio silence*

“It worked!”  *both let out a huge sigh of relief*

That was good.  That was damn good!

*both giggle when the DJ gives Jim a thumbs up*

*Jim lets out a sigh of relief*  Same.

*Jim and Harvey enter the captain’s office*  That requires... some booze!  No, I’m kidding.

I’d want some booze after that.

OK, yeah.

“You [Jim] need a drink.”  *waves hand toward screen in agreement*

“Squirrels hide nuts for the winter.  I [Harvey] got this for whenever.“  EEEEYYYYYYYY!!!

The hell is that?

BOOOOOOZZEE!

*both giggle*

That looks like scotch.

No, that’s whiskey.  Like Fireball whiskey.  See, Harvey’s the hard drinker.

Yeah.  Gordon looks like he’s getting used to it.

He’s like “It’s dull.  Whatever.” *pretends to take a shot*  It’s like Steve Rogers. 

As long as it’s alcohol.

For glory, for justice-

*in unison*  -for sweet, sweet booze!

“[Jim] You know what I [Harvey] was thinking when I jumped in that car and I was flicking through those channels?  I was thinking ‘I can do this crazy thing.  ‘Cause if it goes sideways, Jim Gordon will save me.”  *both smile*

“Feet of clay are heavy to carry around.  That’s what the whiskey’s for.”  *softly chuckles*

“There are no heroes here.”  I will clink to that!

“Got the Wayne kid on line three.  Something about Valeska.”  Oh dear.

“I’ll see you at St. Ignatius, Jim.  You can yell at me [Bruce] there.”  *softly* Hoooooooo.... hoo hoo....

“Kid in trouble again?”  “More than he can handle.”  Summary of the show.

They put a mouthguard on him [Jervis]!

At least somebody’s gotta shut him up.

*Scarecrow douses a guard with fear toxin*  AAAAYYYYYYY!!!

Scarecrow!

*Jerome in his final costume*  EEEEEYYYYY!!

“How do you like the new threads?”  I like ‘em a lot!

Those are awesome!

*gasps and points excitedly at Scarecrow’s new costume*

“We have fish to fry.  And by fish, I mean faces... or feet... ah, something fun to fry!”  *laughs*

Man, he [Jerome] looks so good.  So does Scarecrow!

I know!  Everyone looks great!

Scarecrow looks amazing!

“ALL ABOOOOAAARRDD!”  Hey look, the Joker hijacks another truck!

And that’s the end of the episode!

Man, that was awesome!

[tsqdance]

Starting with the chillwave movement and French touch acts and artists in the late 2000′s, music with a decidedly 80′s influence has been in vogue for the better part of a decade now. Proto-synthwave acts like Anoraak, Justice, and M83 helped start and continued to stoke the fires of the 80′s revival. By the early 2010′s, acts like Com Truise and Mitch Murder began perfecting and popularizing 80′s influenced electronic sounds, and some offshoots of those movements followed with a deadset intention on perfectly emulating those neon 80′s vibes. Outrun differed from synthwave, chillwave, and vaporwave in that the intent seemed to be to recreate those specific sounds utilizing equipment and techniques from that bygone era. Acts like Betamaxx, Lazerhawk, and Miami Nights 1984 created landmark albums and EPs that led to a steady increase in the internet’s thirst for the sounds of yesteryear. Today, we have artists like Carpenter Brut, Gunship, and Power Glove doing things like releasing physical albums, playing at music festivals, and soundtracking apps and major video games. As a result, though, the outrun synthwave movement has also become saturated with people that want to emulate the sound of the 80′s, so it’s become a bit more difficult to find those diamonds. One such absolute precious stone in that rough is Jim Govoni’s project Botnit. Having been a huge fan of his intricate melodies and incredibly punchy and polished work for quite some time, I felt like Jim’s work was a best kept secret that is severely underrated. Having truly considered his work among the best that the entire genre has to offer, I was elated when he agreed to an interview. The resultant conversations that followed were way too long to post, so I’ll stick with just the highlights of my interview with Jim Govoni (Botnit).

1. What is the story behind the moniker "Botnit"?

It doesn't mean anything as a matter of fact. When I first started making tunes, it was under the name "Bill vs. the World", which was really cheesy electronic tunes with secretly-recorded audio of my friend Bill yelling at video games played over it, honestly: https://billvstheworld.bandcamp.com/ When I started making serious music, this didn't really work out, so I needed a better name. My friend (who later put out synthwave tunes under the name Roburai) and I were regulars at a gym at the time, and developed a fairly strong micro-language. I worked in a few from my past playing video games with my younger sister. The video game Tekken 2 had a fighter named Baek Doo San, this somehow transformed into Nit San Face for short, and when it transferred to Roburai chats, the 'nit' part became a suffix to other words, like Beentnit, Fartnit, and Botnit was just one of those. When it was time to pick a name, he recommended to just take Botnit, so I did.

2. How would you describe your own music?

Tough question, I think emotion is a big part of music, when it lacks it, I sort of sit there and wonder what the hell the point is. I can remember back in 2012 when I started making serious synthwave, that I wanted to be able to make tunes with feelings, to allow a person feel a certain way about a song, without having to force-feed them vocals as instructions on how they should feel. My only real goal was to have a nice little package of 10 songs, or 8 in the case of State of the Art, and have it all sound like it was made by the same guy at the same time, which was difficult as the albums ranged from 6 months to a year and a half in completion time. Obviously you change a little bit over time, so it's tricky. I think all it takes to make evocative music is to let the synths do the talking for you, so that's what I do. I don't crush you with heavily compressed Drumulator kicks and bass arps and upside down crosses, because it's been done already by many copycats and phonies, quite frankly. At the time I started, Mitch Murder was one of the few artists to put lots of old samples in their tunes, and I took a cue from him, speaking of copycats.

3. What are your greatest influences (artists, experiences, weather, etc.)?

Musically Mitch's "Current Events" and Betamaxx's "Interface" were giant influences, as well as MPM Soundtracks, who made some synthwave that has yet to be surpassed in my own opinion (Summer of '84, original, NOT the Flashworx remix). Like a lot of people back then, the movie "Drive" definitely set something in motion for me, but I think it was more about an aesthetic than the two big tunes that came from that film. Almost more important, I used to work at a video arcade in the late 90's, and those experiences shaped a good number of tunes ('Hi-Score', 'Arcade Cowboy', 'I'm Somebody Tonight')

4.  What is your opinion on the ever-changing structure of independent music?

This could go on forever, but all I will say as a main point is that I like how social media helps people get exposure. Bandcamp helped me incredibly, as did soundcloud. But a big problem is that whoever promotes themselves the most wins, they get the most plays, they get the most attention, because they self-promote. I don't self-promote really unless like, I'm trying to raise 100 buyers for a vinyl release for it to be manufactured, and I'll post twice about it. There's a few synthwavers, including one I have met in person, who I feel makes supremely inferior music to me, if I'm to be honest. The guy's very nice, but I think his synthwave is objectively bad - though he has 20 times the followers because he promotes the shit out of himself, nonstop each day, so you can either have 100,000 people come across your music and 2,000 like it, or 1500 people come across you music and 900 people like it, I think I'd take the latter. But it just sort of seems like connections, pay to play (promote), and "what's hot" will always be king. At least in independent music also, you can be successful and not have to look like a model also. It's not a coincidence that somehow the most popular singers all don't look like weathered clock tower keepers, but that is another topic for another time. :-)

5. Does making music pay the bills? Is it more of a dedicated hobby?

Definitely a hobby at this point, I never really had aspirations of it becoming a career, as I started making music when I was 33 years old, and already had a career. I put out albums in 2013, 2014 and 2017, and I haven't actually made any new music since August 2017, and don't really have any plans to make more right now. (I think retiring in 2015 really hurt me). Every now and then I think about breaking the keyboard back out, but I haven't yet, as I don't have such a desire to anymore. I like making the tunes, but it's so unbelievably time-consuming. You could work for 3 hours on tunes and come away with nothing. I simply can't afford that at this point in my life. As for paying the bills, I lucked out this year as a very well-known Twitch streamer started playing my tunes on his streams, and they were added to some Spotify playlist based on him. Revenue from that allowed me to buy a new computer this year after about 9 months of saving botnit money. So I can't stress enough if you're an artist, get your tunes on Spotify/General Digital Distribution if you want anyone to really hear it. Bandcamp is dead, they just don't know it yet.

6. What do you do for a living, and do you like it?

Some of my coworkers know my artist name and look it up from time to time, so I will be careful here. I work as a network engineer a major New England university. Do I like it? I like it when the internet works, less so when it does not. There's a pretty good work/life balance in higher education, a workplace not driven by profits and corporate greed is a great thing, but it's tough - Early in my career we were rolling out wireless internet to buildings that never had it before, like dormitories, or adding it all over a building instead of centrally locating it in a student lounge or something. We were like white knights bringing freedom of wireless computing to people. Fast forward 10 years, and people are upset when they can't watch 4K netflix on their 3 wireless devices simultaneously, and only pulling down moderately awesome speeds that beat anything they could get at home. Wireless went from a privilege to a commodity, like water and electricity, your sewer bill, and some of that shine will never really come back. Some days I wish I ran a taco truck, or was a winemaker or something, but that's no cake life either. Most people don't love their jobs, but you find something you're good at, and you just try to do good work.

7. What are some other things you enjoy about life besides art?

Video games, definitely a part of my DNA, retrogames specifically, Genesis, PlayStation 1, Dreamcast. 90's arcade games (it's somewhat of a secret that I'm actually much more of a fan of the 90's than the 80's). I spend a lot of my time around video games, though it's waned in the last few years as I move on with my life and there's other things that need to be done instead. Sometimes I think I'm less of a video game fan and more of a nostalgia fan. I like dining out, when a new restaurant in my city opens up, I like checking it out, having a fancy cocktail. I like wine a lot, going to Napa Valley on my honeymoon was a great experience, and someplace I can see retiring someday (I'm 38 years old, Jesus). I used to like running, 5k's mostly, but have done a 10k and a half marathon, though I don't run anywhere near what I used to these days. We cook a lot, and go to the Boston Ballet about 3 or 4 times a year, which is a wholly expensive experience overall, but my wife enjoys it very much, and I dig it too, it's a fun night out. I think sometimes I don't enjoy enough about life than I should. I'm approaching middle age now and I've never been out of North America, not that I've had a real desire to, but I need to spend more time enjoying little things that might not register as a real event if a day were to be summed up, just something to be happy about.

8. As a known music fan, what are some of best musical experiences you have had with other people's music?

I don't think I ever told this story, but I used to be a focus group game tester for Harmonix here in Boston. I was a fan of their first music video game FreQuency for the PlayStation 2, and before Amplitude came out, I was Harmonix's forums moderator, so they would occasionally bring me in to test new games. I playtested Amplitude, 2 Karaoke Revolution games, an Eye Toy game also for PS2, and Rock Band 1, all before they were released to the public. I went to the Guitar Hero and Rock Band release parties in Boston, that was a hell of a time. I applied to be a game tester when Guitar Hero 1 was in production, but didn't get the job (the pay was terrible anyway, sour grapes). A lot of the bonus songs in those games were Harmonix employees, so meeting them was really cool, and going to all their concerts in the mid-2000's was a unique thing, special slice of life, something that you can really only do in your early 20's. I even helped a bit with Guitar Hero II forum moderation (I'm listed in the Thank You's in the game credits). Synthwave wise, I can remember being on the third date with my future wife, and playing her Mitch Murder's "In the News" to demonstrate what kind of music I liked. And before that, riding the train to Boston listening to Betamaxx's "Senior Year '84" and "Contra", wondering how the hell me made such cool tunes, and not thinking I would ever make anything like that.

9. Also, what are some of the most memorable moments for you in your own musical journey?

Too many to list, but I'll try: Being a fan of New Retro Wave and them picking my album for album of the week twice, back when they actually answered my emails (though it was 2013, so it might have been the only synthwave release that week :-)) There was a little synthwave meetup in 2015 with Marko Maric, Protector 101 and myself, hell of a fun time. I've seen Com Truise and Toro y Moi live in the last couple years, both big influences, DJ Tiesto and Paul Oakenfold in 2000 and 2001 respectively, though I don't fancy live music so much. Seeing Maniac Synth's music video for Hi-Score was mindblowing to me, and super awesome. Related strictly to my music, I'm pretty selective about a song making it to an album - there's no more than 10 tunes per album, and I want there to be no fillers. For this to happen, there has to be a point in making a tunes where it just clicks, you get an idea to try something, and either by mistake or on purpose, you play it back, hearing this tune for the first time, and you're just smiling stupidly because you realize you just made a new album track. It's an intoxicating high actually. Oddly enough I'm far enough removed from my early pre-Vivid Memories tunes from early 2013 that I'm already nostalgic about it when I listen back. I remember time alone in my apartment when I could bang out 1 song a week, music production was all new, and how somehow synthwave was just more relevant back then.

10. Ever have anything particularly weird happen while touring or playing shows (if applicable)?

I've never played live, I don't really have the setup. I could just get up there and play mp3's and push buttons and bob around like an idiot, I guess. There's a guy in San Francisco who runs a club that's asked me to come out and play so many times I feel bad, but it's 3,000 miles away and maybe I should try it in Boston first. :-)

If you enjoyed getting to know Jim better or already enjoy his work, click HERE to be one of the final 13 people (at the time of this post) to reserve your vinyl copy of a limited pressing of only 100 copies of his 2013 full-length “Vivid Memories”. It’s only $15.99, which is a steal for a wonderful piece of visual art and arguably one of outrun synthwave’s most polished and melodic releases to date. Check out my favorite deep cut from the album, “Innovation“, if you need convincing.