I'm sure I've spoken about Portishead's third album, Third, here at some point, and I know I've posted my favorite song from my favorite album of theirs. Third has a quality not many albums have. It sounds to my ears like a mapping of my own personal mental interiority. I'm not sure I can adequately explain that without filling up a few pages; suffice it to say, this album lived in my blood from the moment I first heard it upon release in April of 2008. 

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Watch:

I drove up to the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville last night to see David Lynch's Eraserhead on the big screen for the first time. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.

Poster by the inimitable Marko Manev.

The sound design in this film is amazing, and to finally behold it on the big screen... man! I've seen many of Lynch's films at the theatre - everything from Lost Highway after (except The Straight Story) as they came out, as well as Blue Velvet and the original Twin Peaks Pilot, but never Eraserhead. This was everything I thought it would be. Also, the audience had a special treat, as The Belcourt is pairing many of their David Lynch Retrospective across the month of March with some of his short films, so I also had the distinct pleasure of seeing The Grandmother.

I'd seen this before, but not in years and not on a big screen. The Grandmother may be even more unnerving than Eraserhead; I'm not the first one to say it, but many of these early-period Lynch films have an unmistakable "Industrial Nightmare" feeling to them. I had indulged in a deep drag from my vape pen before the screening, only to realize by the time The Grandmother began that it hit me SUPER hard. So I went into both films completely ripped and had a full-on hallucinatory experience, which was a bit difficult to manage at the time, but eventually worked out to be an extremely memorable experience.

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Playlist:

Ghost - Satanized (single)

TVOTR - Young Liars E.P.

TVOTR - Final Fantasy (single; 2004 Recording)

TVOTR - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

Talking Heads - Speaking in Tongues

Zeal & Ardor - GREIF

Black Sabbath - Eponymous

The Bronx - IV

Ghost - Infestissumam

D'Nell - 1st Magic

Roy Ayers - Ubiquity

Isaac Hayes - Three Tough Guys OST

Isaac Hayes - Truck Turner OST

Led Zeppelin - Presence

Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions

Slayer - Show No Mercy

Drug Church - Prude

Fugazi - 13 Songs

PJ Harevey - Rid of Me

The Police - Outlandos d'Amour

Portishead - Third

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From the notes on this video: 

"This new song, along with "Cost of Living" and "Westside", will make up the Record Store Day 2025 Exclusive FLUX EP, out April 12th in independent record stores. This will be the only physical release of these three songs, on Black Vinyl with an etched b-side."

It's been so good to have these guys back again, for however long this lasts.

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Watch:

An Irish Horror film that takes place during the Great Famine of the 1800s and is entirely in the Irish language? Directed by Irish Filmmaker John Farrelly, this one looks incredible!

SO hoping this rides the Folk Horror wave into theatres. Looks stunning; creepy, dark and remote. Read more HERE on Bloody Disgusting. There doesn't appear to be a release date yet for An Taibhse - which translates to The Ghost - but I'll keep my eyes peeled.

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Playlist:

Ghost - Infestissumam

D'Nell - First Magic

Secret Chiefs 2 Traditionalists - La Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomimi

Slayer - Decade of Aggression

Ghost - Opus Eponymous

Miranda Sex Garden - Velventine (Single)

Caffeine Mit Cocaine - Supra Summus (Feat. Diamanda Galás)

Vitalic - V Live

Laura Cannell - A Compendium of Beasts Volume 1

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NEW GHOST ALBUM!!!

 

Holy smokes - the New Ghost album Skeletá is out on April 25th! Pre-order HERE!!!

I definitely haven't loved everything this band has done, but I root for them. Impera was easily my favorite since Infestissumam, and although I'm not crazy about this new song right off the bat, I can say that about two of the 'singles' on Impera. Regardless of my off-the-cuff opinion, the songwriting is here. STRONG melody on the chorus and a pretty ripping guitar solo. I don't love the video, but then, videos I do love are rare. I will say since Tobias Forge's sense of humor has infiltrated the band and all its ventures - it's on full display with this video - I long for the days when they felt a bit more ominous. But then, that was bound not to last. He's funny and always well-spoken, but I guess I prefer a little more solemnity to my Satanic Metal. 

Either way, SUPER psyched and I love that Ghost has taken to announcing their albums like two months out. It's literally right around the corner.

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NCBD:

Small pull this week. STILL waiting on a bunch of books Diamond never shipped to filter in, so maybe some of those will arrive. Otherwise, this is it for NCBD:

I love this continuation of The Nice House on the Lake; however, just as with that first book, I'm behind on my reading. This happens to Tynion's books. They're better read in trade format, but for some of these, I just can't help but buy the monthlies. I guess it's because, at this point, there are so few monthlies I buy and I want to keep the habit alive. 

Solid Batman werewolf series that reminds me of something we might have found in an arc of the late 80s/early 90s Legends of the Dark Knight series.

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Read:

So, I started reading Grant Morrison's Multiversity again. Back when this hit the monthly comic shelves in 2015, I tried for about four issues and gave up. I didn't really admit that I didn't like it, but my life was undergoing escalating turmoil and I was cutting down on my monthly spending in favor of saving my arse, so Multiversity got cut and I never really looked back.

A few months back, my Drinking with Comics cohost Mike Shinabargar gave me a copy of the collected trade paperback with the request we cover it on the show. We recorded yesterday - editing is still in progress - but I have to say, after re-reading the same four issues I read in 2015, I do not love this book at all. What's more, it's making me think I should just up and sell my Final Crisis HC and my Seven Soldiers of Victory complete set of monthlies on eBay because I am no longer the person who I was when I could muster fervor for GM delving into every single nook and cranny of the DCU - a comic book universe I have always held little to no interest in. 

But then I think, is this just me at this moment? You know the feeling; you tire of something, let's say an album or movie or comic book. Not just tire of it but grow disgruntled toward it. This isn't that weird inevitability that some things you love when you're a younger person you will grow to hate for idealistic issues. No, this is the fan inertia I had for GM wearing off a bit and me realizing the stuff I love from him - other than his masterpiece, seven-year Batman run - is his non-IP stuff. Especially non-DC IP, because the DCU is a deep well of superhero stuff that makes me cringe more than it makes me excited. 

I've committed to finishing this book, but man, at this stage, I think it's going to be very tough. Part of my issue is also very much what makes Multiversity a masterpiece accomplishment: when I was younger, the appeal to the Big 2's continuity (well, for me, the Big 1's) was the endless continuity to investigate. I mean, if felt like you could never get there. And with Batman, Morrison read every bit of continuity for one character and synthesized it into one spectacular narrative that incorporated all of it. That's what he's done on a larger scale with the entirety of the DCU, starting with his JLA run, into Earth 2, Seven Soldiers, Final Crisis, and finally Multiverity. As my cohost Mike brings up several times in the episode, this was the final word by the man who was on staff at DC for several years as their "Universe Consultant." That means it's amazing; it's a Mozart concerto of comics, but one I have very little time or bandwidth for in my life at the moment. Maybe never again.

Part of that, then, forces me to reflect that some of my inability to joyously engage with this book is I've gotten fucking lazy. It's not a good thing to reflect on, but I try to be self-aware of the zero-point fluctuation level. So there's really no failing with the artist, just the reader. Damn, when I started this, I didn't expect it to come out like this. 

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Playlist:

Morphine - Yes

Prince and the Revolution - Purple Rain

The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust

Nothing - Guilty of Everything

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Led Zeppelin - Presence

TVOTR - Young Liars E.P.

The Raveonettes - Blackest (pre-release single)

Ghost - Satanized (pre-release single)

Drab Majesty - An Object in Motion

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Card:

From Jonathan Grimm's Hand of Doom Tarot, which you can buy HERE.

• Queen of Pentacles

• Ten of Pentacles

• II: High Priestess

Low bandwidth. Lots of Feminine energy, which is almost always a good thing. Earthly matters. Fertile interests.

RIP David Johansen

Originally debuted on the New York Dolls' 2009 album Dancing Backward in High Heels, this live version is taken from the 2011 album Live From the Bowery. HUGE loss. David Johansen became a pop culture icon in the late 80s/early 90s, appearing in movies, paling around with Bill Murray, and just generally being a 'personality.' Normally, those are folks that don't have a lot to offer. Not the case here. 

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Watch:

They had me at "Tom Hardy."

Drops 4/26.

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Playlist:

Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables

Firewater - The Ponzi Scheme

Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum

Ween - Paintin' the Town Brown: Ween Live 1990 - 1998

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Me and That Man - Burning Churches

 

This song makes me unbelievably happy. Not condoning arson, mind you. 

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Watch:

I have not been excited about anything Marvel has done in a long time. Feels really good.

I never did get around to watching Season Three. Back when it aired, the cancellation had already been announced, so I figured, why bother? Now, I'd like to go back and do all three seasons in a tight burst. 

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Read:

I am completely unfamiliar with Author Cory O'Brien's work online, but this forthcoming debut novel Two Truths and a Lie, sounds particularly inviting:

"... a debut novel that introduces an unforgettable investigator to the drowned streets of LA in a hugely imaginative and heartfelt blend of Noir and Cyberpunk."

This one drops tomorrow, March 4th! Already added it to my list.

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Playlist:

Firewater - The Ponzi Scheme

The Delta 72 - Ooo

The Jesus Lizard - Down

Drug Church - Prude

Me and That Man - New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Tender Prey

Cop Shoot Cop - Release

The Raveonettes - Blackest (pre-release single)

The Raveonettes - In and Out of Control

Turnsile - GLOW ON

Eels - Beautiful Freak

New York Dolls - Dancing Backward in High Heels

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New Music from The Raveonettes!

 

New Raveonettes! In fact, check out this note from the band on YouTube:

 "We're back!!! Pa'ahi II will be released shortly followed by another new album later in the year! US/EU/Asia tour dates will be released shortly! RAVE ON XXX SUNE & SHARIN"

Having just seen them live last May, I can attest The Raveonettes are still in perfect form! Can't wait! No pre-order I see yet, but all those old, OOP albums are back up on The Raveonettes Merch Bar site HERE.

Now, important... The DEI blackout is today. Don't know what that is?

So, if you're conscious of this (you may not be, that's okay), wait until tomorrow to order anything because, although the Blackout doesn't boycott an independent band like The Ravenoettes, it does boycott credit card/Debit usage. It'll still be there in the morning.

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Watch:

I had not heard of The Rule of Jenny Penn until now. However, I only had to make it 27 seconds into the trailer before I was sold on giving it a shot, especially with John Lithgow and Geoffrey Rush in the cast.

 

This hits theatres next Thursday, and I've already got my tickets.

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Playlist:

Drug Church - Prude

Drug Church - Cheer

Me and That Man - New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1

Frank Black - Teenager of the Year

Spotlights - Seance E.P.

The Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps

The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia

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New Music From Deafheaven

 

I haven't listened to this yet and likely will not in an attempt to preserve the album experience when Lonely People With Power drops on March 28th. You can pre-order your copy directly from the band HERE.

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NCBD:

Short pull this week, although I'm hoping some of those outstanding books start to filter in today.

I'm still waiting on issue #6 with that awesome cover, so maybe that will show up today, too? 

LOVE this cover. It's not the "A" cover, so I may not find this in the wild, but I'm going to try. Stalker fucking rocks!

I did not love The Seasons issue #1. In fact, I struggled quite a bit to get through it at first, and about halfway through, I began to grow listless, flipping to the backmatter where I saw Rick Remender reference  Miyazaki as an influence. 

This doubly convinced me this book would be a hard pass for me. I can recognize Miyazaki's grandeur, but his work is just not for me. Then I begrudgingly finished the issue and actually found myself drawn in at the end. So, in the interest of always supporting independent comics and giving Rick Remender the benefit of the doubt (he's earned it for sure!), I'm jumping into issue #2 with an open mind and will reassess after I read it. 

Also from Remender's Giant Generator, I'm very much digging Phil Bram and JG Jones' Dustbowl slow-burn Horror show Dust to Dust.  

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Peaks:

The Twin Peaks Day/David Lynch Tribute at the Eastside Bowl on Monday night turned out to be pretty fun. K and I didn't stay long due to a general creeping exhaustion from long days at work, but here are a few pictures we snapped.

David Lynch shrine. Very cool. We stopped to pay our respects.

My cousin pointed out that in pictures, this bar looks a bit like Power and Glory from FWWM (when that name became available, I have no idea. I'd never heard it before a few months ago, but it pops up here and there. 

"It's kickin' in, Jacques!"

"A log for you, an owl for you. Presto!"

Special thanks to Easide Bowl and The '58 for putting this on. Hoping it recurs next year - I'll end up getting the day after off or something so we can properly celebrate (maybe wake up in Canada).

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Playlist:

Frank Black - Teenager of the Year

Melvins - Houdini

Various - An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music/Second-a-Chronology Vol. #2 (Disc 1)

The Ravenonettes - The Raveonettes Sing...

X - Under the Big Black Sun

Tennis System - Technicolor Blind

Hangman's Chair - Saddiction

Drug Church - Prude

Ritual Howls - Into the Water

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Card:

Getting back to some more rigorous study interpretations - or as rigorous as I can provide at this point with my attention split between finishing a novel, an ever-increasing mental demand at work, and the encroaching apocalypse.

The Hermit reminds me of a lot of my friends. Also, myself, really. 

From the grimoire (within which, there's not a whole lot on this one): "Dark and lonely period of gestation. Fetal; a re-grouping."

Sounds like everyone with half a fucking brain in 2025, doesn't it? What's good ol' A.C. say? That the card is tied into the Hebrew letter Yod, the first letter in Yod Hau Vau Hau, the name of God. The figure on the card is shaped to resemble Yod, and the color of his cloak reflects Binah, the great Mother, tying this back into Fertility. Gestation is the result of Fertility; ideas are the result of Gestation. You get the point.