New Swans!!!

New music from Swans! From the forthcoming album The Beggar, out June 23rd on Young God Records. Pre-order HERE.

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Watch:

One of the things that saved my sanity over the last few days of my recent two-week stint in LaLaLand was getting stoned at my hotel one night and discovering Bobby Fingers had released his new Diorama video. The subject of Mr. Fingers' machinations this time?

 

There is a level-up in this video that absolutely blew me away, and that's all I'll say. Well, besides confirming that Bobby Fingers is now my favorite anything on the internet. Watching these literally helped quell the total disgust for humanity that arose in me while stationed in LaLaLand this time.

 

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Plastic:

I have to confess that I've become one of the many disillusioned Hasbro Pulse fans. The company's entire manner of doing business is just disgusting. Due to this, and because I've cut my nerd-spending in half, there have been quite a few recent releases from their GI JOE Classified and Transformers lines that I want but have ultimately passed on. That said, here are a few I did allow myself to splurge on:

Copperhead is one of my all-time favorite characters, and this redesign is spot-on perfect in my opinion.

I don't know anything about Range Vipers, and this is obviously a rather "Sci-Fi" figure - an approach I do not normally appreciate in the series, but as a straight-up horrific-looking action figure, this thing is rad AF. Look at that brain!!!

This last one I actually have not yet ordered but am on the fence. One of the issues I (and a lot of other collectors) have with Pulse is their insane price markup. I've had Scrap Iron in my cart on their site for a few weeks now and, although this guy was one of my favorites of the original series' earliest figure designs AND a figure I never had as a child, this figure's pull is strong. I loved the character in Larry Hama's comics - that scene where he blows up the station wagon with the Soft Master, Billy and Mr. Coffee-in-my-Brandy has always stayed with me. That said, when you're at checkout and see a final cost of $57 for one figure, well, that's just INSANE, regardless of whether or not it comes with a 'vehicle' like old Iron's anti-tank drone. Magic eightball says I'll probably end up ordering this, but it irks me nonetheless. 

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Playlist:

The Veils - Total Depravity

King Woman - Celestial Blues

King Woman - King Woman on Audiotree Live EP

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti

Lard - Pure Chewing Satisfaction

Godflesh - Pure Live

The Police - Regatta de Blanc

Silent - Modern Hate

Savages - Silence Yourself

Neverly Boys - Dark Side of Everything

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Card:

From Missi's Raven Tarot:

I turn 47 today, and in light of this event, I wanted to pull a card from Missi's Raven Tarot as a sort of "Card for the year." Makes sense I would see The High Priestess, as I feel like she has been lurking in quite a few of my dailies of late. 

From the Grimoire:

"Can denote change and/or fluctuation. Matter or situation shaped by gracious or pure influences. The Priestess taps into the power of Life and the Universe."

All of which is to say - or at least in my interpretation - I will have a year where I continue to shape my future. Sounds boring, but as anyone who has changed their life for the better multiple times and is generally unafraid to do so at the drop of a hat, it's not easy. Nor is continually affecting my own creative force, honing these lumbering documents of a novel that is hard A.F. to write, but ultimately rewarding A.F. when it begins to come together.

Here's to the voyage to 48!!!

Tomahawk - Dog Eat Dog

 

New Tomahawk track gets a music video! Can't wait for this record.

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Watch:

Last night, K and I watched the original Black Narcissus film from 1947. Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, I'd never heard of this one before seeing the trailer for last year's remake.

 

The original is beautiful. Shot in Technicolor, the film earned cinematographer Jack Cardiff an Academy Award that was well warranted. Also on display are the extensive matte paintings. It's a gorgeous film, although acting-wise, it's a bit over-the-top drama for my tastes. Also, I am going to assume the plot will far much better in the newer version (if it doesn't get carried away).

We finished the film and went directly into the first episode of the three-episode FX mini-series remake. Also visually stunning, where the matte paintings are replaced by aerial drone shots of no small ambition. 

I think together, these will make perfect counter-points to one another.

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Playlist:

Tomahawk - Tonic Immobility (pre-release singles)

Tomahawk - Mit Gas

Queensrÿche - Jet City Woman (single)

Blanck Mass - Animated Violence Mild

Odonis Odonis - Post Plague

PJ Harvey - Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea

Nothing - The Great Dismal

Realize - Machine Violence

 

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Card:

Always a favorite card. That Boaz and Jacin behind her, the pillars from King Solomon's temple. I did a lot of research on these about 17 years ago (!?), but most of it's a fog now. Interesting though, this might run parallel to some of the content in Shadow Play, so I'll take this as a nod to dig up my notes.

New Year's Resolution: More Creedence!

 

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, however, this year is different: More Creedence. Simple and easy to do, as every time I fall into a binge with this band - and it's been over a decade at least - I remember just how much I love them, and how much they influenced my early guitar playing. Also, they remind me to no end of my good friend JFK, who I haven't talked to in some time and really need to reach out to.

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Watch:

I completed my current re-watch of Cowboy Bebop. Man! For someone who doesn't really get into animation, this has got to come in just under Twin Peaks in my 'Favorite Things Ever' category. I love it so much. The final two episodes - "The Real Folk Blues" parts 1 and 2 always blows me away, and the one major regret/gripe I have about that vinyl edition of the score that came out this year is the song of the same name - which Bebop fans know as the ending credits music - is not on it.

Like Twin Peaks, this is a show where I never skip the intro or outro credits. Ever.

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Playlist:

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country

Thou - Rhea Sylvia

Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color

Alice in Chains - B-Sides and Unreleased Playlist

Allegaeon - Apoptosis

Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

Tomahawk - Oddfellows

Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

Jóhann Jóhannsonn - Mandy OST

Goatsnake - Breakfast with the King b/w Deathwish (single)

Goatsnake - Black Age Blues

Deftones - Ohms 

Joy Division - Still

Electric Wizard - Black Masses

Type O Negative - The Origin Of the Feces

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Card:

My 2021 pull:

Initiation? I'll take it.