Frightful Friday Part VI - FRIDAY LIVES

Okay, who didn't see that coming. We've got a few movies to sink our teeth into today, so let's do it!

The Legacy - This movie is AWESOME. Not awesomely bad, just flat out awesome. Starring Actual Actors Katharine Ross and Sam Elliot, and Roger Daltrey from The Who? Sure, why not. Katharine and Sam are an American couple trapped in a British country manor with other mysterious guests, a creepy nurse, and an old, dying, unseen host upstairs. Dun dun dun! Oh yeah, this is my jam.

So there's a rather informal satanic ritual (I guess) at the old man's bedside, and Katharine has this great wry look on her face, like "WTF, guess I'll just humor 'em" but then, unexpected evil ring! And it won't come off! The guests start dying, Roger Daltrey has a wonderfully hammy* death scene, and of course Katharine and Sam want to gtfo, but there's NO WAY OUT. Even when they steal a car, all roads lead back to the manor. DUN DUN okay you get the point.

*pun sorta intended? He ate ham, but choked on a chicken bone! Oh, that wacky Satan!

Katharine comforts herself by petting a cute white cat, which is exactly what I would do. Sam spies on one of the servants feeding a roasted body to dogs and is understandably perturbed. Then he gets chased by the dogs and the whole time I'm like "DON'T LET SAM ELLIOT DIE," I already had to deal with that shit in Road House, but HE DOESN'T. Instead he finds a CROSSBOW, and Sam Elliot shooting Satanists with a crossbow is now my favourite movie thing ever. Maybe even better than "The Double Douche." Okay, nothing's better than that. Sam Elliot is awesome, is my point.

So Katharine, who's either the reincarnation or ancestor (?) of a dead witch who was the mother of the (really) old guy, rushes up to see him (the old guy). He's on his last breath, and what's that in the air? Oh shit, it's Satan! Sam pushes the nurse down the stairs and apparently she was the white cat? Well I don't blame them for petting her, she might be an evil nurse but she was adorbs. But he's too late to stop the Satan Transfusion, the old man is dead and passed his legacy (oh hey, that's the title!) on to Katharine. He did kill a bunch of people so she could inherit it so I guess it would've been kinda rude to refuse at that point, y'know?

Sadly, even Sam isn't immune to the Devil Virus, or maybe that's just true love, because now it's his turn to put on an Evil Ring. He does it in a very laid back, Sam Elliot-y way, and it's kind of funny, for someone giving their soul to Satan. y'know. THE END!

I LOVE THIS MOVIE. Why this isn't talked about or considered a classic, I have no idea. Maybe it is in some circles, but this was the first I heard of it. And hearing about old horror movies is kind of my thing. The kills in this movie are so good, they're all different (to suit the victim) and the pool scene was especially creative.

WTF? I'm never coming to this YMCA again!

Note: this movie has NO BOOBS. I guess nobody likes 70s boobs.

The Lamp (AKA The Outing) - My first, and probably last, evil genie movie. Well, at least it's something different. Is it good? Well... it's very, very 80s, so if you can enjoy a movie based on fashions and Grade-A 1987 Tiffany Mall Hair, this might be for you.

Actually, I think that might be Tiffany.

The acting in this movie is terrible, and the dialog doesn't help. BUT, I actually liked the effects and most of the death scenes. They were surprisingly well done. Though I was a little sad when the Figaro-singing security guard got a spear though the chest. He had such joie de vivre!

So a bunch of high school kids are locked in a museum with an evil genie. The characters are generic, except for the aforementioned security guard. He was cool. Somewhere there's an angel singing "Figaro." Anyway, there's a lot of setup in this thing, so once they're finally locked in the museum the killing spree gets right underway. Snakes in a bathtub! (Yes, this is the kind of movie where people take random baths. In a museum. Next to the snake storage area.) Dude goes in search of beer and gets a snake up his trousers, oops! In case you didn't know it was filmed in Texas from an earlier Astros reference, a wild "y'all" appears! And oh no, the BULLIES got in! (It's an 80s movie, so bullies. These are more psychopaths/rapists, though. Yikes. They get a good serving of Genie Justice, but I could have 1000% done without that rape scene.)

There's a really cool death scene involving a reanimated museum specimen. I dug the hell out of that effect. The green glowing genie is a bit cheesy in an 80s kids commercial way, but I kinda dug that too.

Hi kids! Not sure if I'm here to murder you or sell you fruit roll-ups. Guess I'll murder you just to be safe.

We also have our second piece of Evil Non-Removable Jewelry in as many movies, and hey kids, you might wanna be careful what you wish for while wearing a cursed genie bracelet. Like you know, not wishing your dad was dead or something ridiculous like that. Oh, you already did that? Well dayum, that's a stone cold bummer ending. The dad actually died. I thought it would end with him and Tiffany having a "moment," but nope! Dead as shit. Also, the acting in the bracelet scene is SO BAD. "No, this isn't happening. No." In the end, only Tiffany and her teacher are alive. I kept expecting her to turn to her and say, "I think we're alone now."

So this movie was pretty uneven, but I think I recommend it. They tried, and actually came up with a few cool scenes. I doubt I'll watch it again, but I'm glad I watched it once. Oh, and random boobs because 80s.

The Video Dead - Here's some aptly named, good old 80s straight-to-video cheese. This wasn't "good" but I enjoyed the hell out of it. In our second (I think?) zombie movie, we have zombies that come out of an old, dusty, busted up 80s tv, the kind with all the intestines and whatnot in the back. The kind you get up to change the channel. *sigh* Okay I don't actually miss that at all, but nostalgia, dammit!

This tv was supposed to be delivered to the institute of occult studies or something, but nope, house in the suburbs! Dumb, sure, but it was kind of cool seeing the zombies climb out of the old black and white movie into the coloured world of reality. Well, straight to video 80s reality. Also: ZOMBIE IN A WEDDING DRESS WIELDING A CHAINSAW. That's not an image you're likely to forget.

Til death do we part? Don't mind if I do!

How did the zombie bride get a chainsaw, you might ask? Well Mr. "listen to me, I'm wearing a hat" here is like the worst zombie hunter ever, and fell asleep (??) when he was supposed to be shooting zombies. The other guy had a chainsaw and well, it's stupid. The answer is it's stupid. But it's great.

The original YOU HAD ONE JOB.

There's a lot of stupid dialog and stupid in general, but it's what you'd expect and maybe a little better. Recommended if you like zombie flicks or this kind of camp. Also, random boobs because 80s.

Rifftrax: Ruby - I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS MOVIE. I don't know who these people are, what they're doing, why the kid is so uncanny valley despite being an actual human, why it randomly turns into the exorcist in the last 10 minutes when before it was about dead gangsters (I think??), and why I just generally want my mommy.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

tbt - eat them up, yum!

Straight on Til Morning Presents... those weird novelty videos they played in the early days of MTV!

There are a lot of things I've forgotten, but I'll never, ever forget any of these videos. They really knew how to make randomly memorable stuff back then.



I don't know why either, but it's awesome! I guess this was kind of the 80s version of a meme. It's weird, it's random, nobody actually knows why it's popular, it just is.



My first Weird Al video, though I didn't know who he was at the time. It made me laugh, and Lucy is voiced by the Crazy Catlady from The Simpsons!



And here it is, the holy grail of novelty videos and all novelty-related things, Roly Poly Fish Heads. This video was directed by Bill Paxton (RIP). What a cool dude. I used to sing this over and over to annoy my mom. Nothing will ever be that fun again, folks, that was peak life. If I could sum up my early childhood in four words, it would be "eat them up, yum!" Just thinking about it now makes me happy, so I'm gonna do that for a while before the next 2017 thing happens and makes me sad again. The 80s weren't perfect but man, they were uniquely fun.

Oh, another one was Julie Brown's "The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun," but in today's climate that's not really funny anymore. :( See how 2017 ruins everything? Damn you, the present!! 😡

Wicked Good Wednesday

The Brain - Okay, this movie is AMAZING. It's about a giant brain with a face and big snarly teeth. It eats people and rats. It wants to control your mind. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS

So by "amazing," I obviously mean very, very, very bad, but in the best way. This would make a killer Rifftrax. Everyone should see this movie. Also, it's Canadian, and there's a scene in the school where the principal says, "Where do you think you are, America?" to a student and I'm like well nope, obvs Canada, but then the principal says "YOU'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL." Oh, okay. My question is, why do these Canadian movies pretend they take place in America? Is there a reason they can't just say Canada? Also, random boobs because 80s.

Night of the Demons - I felt like revisiting an old favourite. This one is similar to Hell Night in some ways, but better. You've got the big, spooky house with the murderous history, except this time it's an abandoned mortuary. Oh, yeah! And instead of a deranged killer you've got demon summoning, but it actually makes sense here cause it's not just "welp nothing on tv, let's summon demons I guess."

That girl clearly showed up to summon some demons, and nothing else will do.

This is one of those dumb, fun 80s movies that due to just the right combination of factors, works better than it probably should. I've seen similar movies from this time period where you tweak just one or two things and it goes off the rails right into stupidtown. But this hits that sweet atmosphere and vibe. I can't even say "random boobs because 80s," because the boob scene is one of the most memorable effects!
That's right, this is the movie that finally gave random 80s boobs a purpose. Besides the obvious one, I mean.

This is a great movie to watch Halloween night if you don't like to go to parties. Start with The Midnight Hour, have some drinks, maybe some Trick r Treat, and end your night with this. You'll feel like you went to a real party the next day.

Blood on Satan's Claw - This was new to me, and it's a pretty cool little atmospheric period piece. Not too mind-blowing, but it pulls you into its world. If you like satanic ritual and possession horror, I'd check this out. And definitely check it out if you liked The Witch. Also, random boobs because... 18th century? Okay, horror movies just like boobs.

Devil Dog: Hound of Hell - The crown jewel of 70s tv horror, this is every bit as awesome as it sounds. I love the title too, I guess they couldn't decide which alliteration was better so heck it, just use both! It's about a devil dog. From hell. Really, this doesn't require much commentary. Just watch it.

When Michael Calls - more classic 70s tv, with a Michael Douglas so young you'll do a double take and say, "Is that Michael Douglas?" This is actually a pretty damn good psychological thriller. Man, I miss tv movies like this.

I still have 45+, maybe 50 movies left on my List of Doom. And that's not counting the Christmas/Winter ones.😨

Frightful Friday 5 - Seed of Friday

I'm a dirty cheater. I've never actually seen Seed of Chucky, but it was the best part 5 name I could find. I mean come on, "A New Beginning?" That sounds like a rehab clinic, not a horror movie.

Graveyard Shift - A Stephen King movie I hadn't seen, this one was a really cool surprise. While Brad Dourif as the exterminator was fun (I think he chewed more scenery than the rats), the real star of this movie was the SETS. Old mist-shrouded cemetery, abandoned basement full of rusty machinery, and whatever the hell you'd call the lair of the rat-bat (??) thing. A pit of doom? It looked AMAZING, whatever it was.

MY AESTHETIC 100%

Legend of Hell House - And now for something completely different, a 70s British haunted house movie. Oh man, I love this one. I THINK I saw this way back in the day, as I had an obsession with haunted houses as well as Roddy McDowall after Fright Night. But I didn't remember anything if I did, which is exactly how you want to go into this. This is one of those movies where the characters really make the mystery more compelling. I especially liked this medium, fresh off her win of the prestigious Britain's Floppiest Collar award.

It set a new record! Seriously though, good vintage spooky house movie.

Brotherhood of Satan - This was right up my alley and would have been an easy 3.5 if it hadn't been so darn slow in parts. But man, when it's good, it's good. The M. O. of the kills is really creative, and the ending is at least worth the buildup. I would have loved to see this paced better because there are some cool ideas here.

Return of the Living Dead - Aw man, what a perfect Friday night movie. I just finished watching this, and it was pretty funny. "Send more cops" lol. This is another one I might have seen way back in the day, but it might as well have been new to me. This was actually pretty groundbreaking. It was the first to introduce zombies saying "braaaaains," as well as (I believe) the first significant zombie comedy, 20 years before Shaun of the Dead. Complete with laughs, genuine scares, cool practical effects and a kickass 80s soundtrack, I'd call this a classic. Oh, and our 2nd Clu Gulager alert of the season! Also, people in the 80s sure liked to get naked for no reason. I don't remember that happening!

tbt

This was supposed to be the day I saw Creeper, but for some unknown reason, I'll be home watching sports as usual. NOT THAT I'M BITTER OR ANYTHING. So, on what could be another shitty day in 2017, let's instead have some sunshiney 60s goodness!

Addressing a couple things

This blog is a 99% safe, politics-free space. However, when politics enters into music, then it's in my territory and I've got something to say.

I did not watch the CMA's last night, because I never watch awards shows. I hate them. There are three kinds of people in the world - people who watch awards shows, people who hate-watch awards shows, and people who don't watch awards shows. Seriously, I can't think of a better way of stereotyping people. Anyway, looks like some of the good guys won, for whatever that's worth. Stapleton, Miranda, and that Brothers Osborne song freaking kicks, good for them! Tin Man should have beat the hell out of Keith Urban, though. :( I don't get Garth Brooks winning, I love him but he hasn't been relevant since like, Third Eye Blind was relevant. Think about that. Nor Taylor Swift, who has never really been country but has officially not been country since 2014. See, this is part of why I don't watch awards shows, I don't need to overthink silly stuff that doesn't matter. (The other reason is they're boring and inane.)

Anyway, apparently Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood made some Trump jokes, which sent dumb people who don't understand how things work into a tizzy. Here's the main point I want to make: The US is SO. FREAKING. POLARIZED right now they no longer realize that people joke about whoever's in office, regardless of "side." How many Clinton jokes did Letterman and other liberal comics make back in the day? Not only that, apparently these same two people also made Obama jokes when he was in office, because that's how things work. Making a damn joke doesn't mean you're on one side or the other.

(That said, it is way easier to joke about Trump because he's a buffoon. Maybe this whole thing is a conspiracy by comedians to make up for the comedy dry spell of the Obama years.)

ALSO: this whole towing a party line thing is ridiculous, and has gotten out of hand to the point of being destructive. Putting aside that joking about a president doesn't automatically mean you dislike them, why would joking about or even disliking ONE person in a party automatically mean you're on the other "side?" You have to fall in step with everyone who claims to be part of your side or you're a traitor, or something? That is some dangerous thinking. What are all the conservatives who hate that their party has been hijacked by a buffoon supposed to do? They should fight, not cower behind a damn party logo. We've really lost sight of things like context and critical thinking. It scares me.

One last point, which is tangentially related: A music critic I follow was being harassed on twitter by someone I can only call a "fangirl" for criticizing certain artists. These were all artists the critic likes and has praised more than criticized. Look, IT'S OKAY TO CRITICIZE THINGS YOU LIKE. It's healthy, even. This goes back to my points about critical thinking and not just falling in step with every damn thing because you're "supposed" to. "I'm a fan of this person, so I have to like everything they do or I'm a hater!" "I support this political party, so I must agree with everyone who stamps that label on or I'm a traitor!" NO. This is not how we make great art or great nations.

Criticism is vital to society, and is not the same as "hating." This fangirl mentality, this "if you're not with us you're against us" bullshit contributes to the bigger picture of what's happening in the world today. We WERE NOT always like this. I know that social media and biased 24/7 news have helped create and exacerbate this problem, but it's still, always, up to the individual to think for themselves. I know it feels good to "belong" to something, but if the thing you belong to discourages independent thinking, it's not worth belonging to.

Not everything is black and white. Some things are, like Nazis are bad. But most things aren't. Embrace the grey.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go clear my head with a nice devil movie, BYEEEEEEE

Wicked Good Wednesday

Just finished Stranger Things season 2. It was amazing. Still processing. I love Dustin more than most things on earth right now. That is all.

Now, back to movies! First up: Stephen King's Graveyard Shift, which is new to me.

SpoOOoky Saturday - how much Keeffe is in this movie?

I haven't had a lot of movie time the past few days, but I managed to sneak a few in. :) Mostly shorter ones, but I finally got to Conjuring 2. 134 minutes, dayum!

It was worth it though. Awesome movie, some of the best modern horror I've seen. If you liked the first one, this one might be even better? It had so many sweet character moments, genuine scares (that creepy flooded basement, you couldn't pay me to go down there), great performances by everyone, and I thought the "hoax" part added some interesting texture. I have such an interest in hauntings, possessions, the occult in general. Whether you believe or not, it's an endlessly fascinating subject and I love how this movie covered different aspects of it.

Waxwork - a classic 80s horror I'd somehow missed. This one's a lot of fun, paying bloody homage to old timey monsters like the Wolfman, the Mummy, and Dracula (played by Miles O'Keeffe!) This is one of the most stylish 80s horror films I've seen, I just love the look and tone of it, and it concludes with an EPIC evil-wax-people vs non-wax-people fight. Highly recommend! I wish 14 year old me had seen this late one Friday night, but hey, 14 year old me is still very much present. :P There's a sequel, and I miiiight watch it, but...

The Gate 2 - Well except for Conjuring 2, which I knew was going to be good, I'm not doing too hot with sequels. This was another Pumpkinhead 2 for me. So Nerdy Metalhead Kid is back, except now he's Nerdy Wizard Kid Who Kinda Looks Like Harry Potter. He's having troubles at home (mom died, dad lost his job and drinks too much) which should be really sympathetic, considering how much I loved this kid in the first movie, but it never really resonates.

I mean, when I say it's like Pumpkinhead 2, it kind of IS. NWKWKLLHP (as we'll call our main character) decides to go back to the ol' gates-of-hell house for nostalgia, cause man those were good times, right? Okay, actually he goes back to try to summon the demon to get his dad a job (???) Maybe you can already see the problem here. This was the smart kid in the first movie. Then of course, the BULLIES show up, because while it's not an 80s movie it is 1990, close enough. And the 80s were just full of bullies roaming the streets in search of stray nerds, apparently. So in true Pumpkinhead 2 fashion, the bully kids are totes down with summoning demon minions cause you know, they're bored, whatever. Better than doing homework, I guess.

I hate this premise for a movie. Can you tell? So pointless. I mean, if you summon demons you kinda deserve what you get, you know? Not like those poor tormented people in The Conjuring who didn't ask for that shit. This is just setting something up so there can be a movie, without understanding the movie needs purpose to be effective.

So there's a love interest for NWKWKLLHP, we'll call her Not-Kelly-Kapowski. She doesn't look that much like her, but there's a lot of feathered bangs and denim going on, you know the deal. This was the only part of the movie that kinda worked for me. She's the girlfriend of the main bully, but she's into the occult so she and NWKWKLLHP come together by common interest. Aww. Except for the demon summoning part, because in the first movie he used his knowledge to FIGHT demons. That was the point. Now he's using them to drive a Corvette. He doesn't seem like the same character. He doesn't even have any good lines in this one. Also, he has a Motley Crue poster in his room. That seems like a rather mainstream choice for someone who was repping KILLER DWARFS when they were 12, and am I overthinking things again??

Then he dies, but it's okay, because he pops out of his coffin (???) and he and his dad and Not-Kelly walk out of the graveyard, laughing arm in arm like the end of a sitcom. I wish I was kidding. Then the no-longer-dead bullies also pop out like a clown coffin. The end!

Yeah... this one was a disappointment, in fact it kinda takes away from the first one, so I don't recommend it.

Finally we have Shock em Dead and AHHHHH, Zombie Nightmare Voodoo lady flashbacks! Yeah, this one wasn't very good either. It had a few really funny moments involving the band and their songs ("I'm in love with a SLUT!") And the band's name was Spastic Colon. That's really all I can recommend this movie for, watch the musical numbers, skip the plot. It's not Hack O'lantern bad, it's just... the lead character is unsympathetic. When it starts out and he's a nerd, you should feel something for him but NOPE, he's creepin on his coworker while she changes. Ewwww. So you're not invested in him at any point, he's just a creep. I liked the premise of nerdy guy makes a deal with the devil to be a rockstar, but this didn't work for me. I think when you have an underdog kind of character become the "villain," it needs to be told more like Carrie. Without the emotional connection, it falls flat.

I'll be back with more movies, but I think I'm taking a break to watch Stranger Things. :)

Frightful Friday Part IV: The Final Chapter (yeah, right!)

No time today, but here's a cool song from The Conjuring.

Don't give up on me, cause I'm just in a rut

Guys... this new Weezer album... 👎😢. I loved their last two albums, but I'm kinda back to not wanting to say they're my favourite band. Maybe it's Paramore instead. Or Creeper!... yeah. I wanted to buck the crowd and like this thing, like I did Cage the Elephant's last album, but there's a reason this is being met with a resounding "meh."

Oh, there are a few decent Weezery choruses. "Mexican Fender," "Beach Boys," "Weekend Woman," even "Feels Like Summer" is catchy, but... none of it sticks. None of it crunches. The production is awe-inspiringly bad, but I'm not sure the songwriting could be saved anyway. It would help if it didn't sound like it was put out by Generic Pop Factory #5, though. :/

This is supposed to be an homage to the Beach Boys, and a couple of the hooks almost get there if you squint a little. Squint your ears. yeah. ANYWAY, the Beach Boys were about harmonies, kind of this beautiful wall of sound, and this is pretty much the opposite of that to me. It feels empty. In one ear and out the other. Sweet Mary and QB Blitz are okay. But that's it, even the "standout" songs are just... okay. With better production, I might have enjoyed those a lot more. There's something there. However, Happy Hour and La Mancha Screwjob are two of the worst Weezer songs I've heard in a while. Happy Hour is basic pop crap, and La Mancha is ruined by those damn "whoa ohs" that have wormed their way into every pop song like the alien parasites in Night of the Creeps. Weezer should not EVER try to be "trendy" or "cool." It's like your dad dabbing or something. And that's not an age thing, Weezer has never been cool. That's why I like them.

If Everything Will Be Alright was a feast, and White Album a tasty dessert, this is the next day's warmed up leftovers. At best.

The Killers' new album is better. I wouldn't call it amazing as an album, but at least I like several songs (Run for Cover, Tyson vs Douglas, and Rut are my favourites). That's more than I can say for Weezer. I wasn't crazy about Beck's album either, though I've only heard it once. The best album I've listened to in the second half of 2017 is Kesha's Rainbow. Yeah, really. It's a good album, but speaking of Rut, I'm in one. I've been saving Margo Price's album for a rainy day, cause she hasn't let me down yet. Other than that, guess I'll just stick with my classic rock and movies for a while. I managed to work a Night of the Creeps reference into a music post, so I'm pretty awesome.

tbt

Let's take a break from movies with a classic song! Thank you, Rushmore soundtrack, for bringing us this one-hit wonder gem we'd probably never hear otherwise.

Wicked Good Wednesday

I've always said that October 31st is the happiest day of the year, and November 1st the saddest. I mean, November sucks. Baseball's over (well, almost over this year), the weather's shitty, there's nothing November-y to do, you're pretty much just counting the days till Christmas. More like Nofunber, amirite?

NOT THIS YEAR. I have so much leftover stuff to watch, including all of Stranger Things season 2, and I'm determined to enjoy this month even if I can't go outside. But before that, let's properly conclude October, the king of all months.

This might have been my best horror marathon yet. This year I really went full force watching stuff I hadn't seen, both old and new, popular and obscure. I also rewatched a lot of stuff I hadn't seen in a long time. That means it was a different kind of year, maybe the first time I haven't watched any of the major franchises (unless you count Halloween III). No Jason, no Freddy, no Living Dead at any time of day or night. For the most part, this wasn't a year for the tried and true favourites, though I snuck in a few. As a result, I found a number of new favourites, relived some forgotten memories, and will probably be revisiting most of this year's picks.

Halloween day:

I started the day off right with Trick r Treat. This one's a favourite, but I was dying to see it again. Kind of an updated Creepshow where all the stories interconnect, this thing is just brilliant. Definitely watch this more than once, there's a lot to pick up on you might miss in the first viewing.

Next was The Conjuring. Along with The Last Exorcism, which I'll probably rewatch next year, this is one of my favourite newer horror films. I probably would have waited another year to rewatch this, but of course I had to get ready for the sequel. This movie does a wonderful job setting location, atmosphere, and tone, which makes the scares effective. Also, Vera Farmiga. I love haunted house movies, and this is based on real people AND takes place in Rhode Island, where I used to live. I wish I'd known about this then, I would have visited the town. Lots of spooky goodness, and did I mention Vera Farmiga (who autocorrect insists is called Vera Farming)? Watching the sequel today!

Next up, another favourite, Halloween III: Season of the Witch. I've probably ranted about this enough, but please, watch the damn movie before whining about how Michael Myers isn't in it. If this movie was just called Season of the Witch, or something else not-Halloween, wouldn't it just be known as fun, cheesy 80s horror instead of the black sheep of a franchise? (At the time, I mean. The Halloween franchise got really bad.) This thing is actually really creative. Killer masks, robots, ancient magic, Stonehenge?? There's nothing else like this. And that song. That magical, horrible little song that will be stuck in your head till Christmas.

I was going to finish the day with The Exorcist, but I chickened out decided to check out this 80s rock n roll horror instead. Come on, it's the last day of Rocktober! I also wanted to watch one new-to-me movie. So, Black Roses it is! How was it? Kind of amazing, actually. It was pretty funny, but unlike Hack O'lantern, it was genuinely entertaining and not just hilariously bad. So there's Italian Stereotype Dad who makes a faggot joke, because 80s, but then he gets sucked into a speaker by a demon! Hooray! And THEN THE SPEAKER BURPS, and I am the happiest person on earth. While that was obviously meant to be funny, the movie plays it straight for the most part. I think that's why it was so funny, as well as another scene involving a tennis racket and a demon's head. The lead singer of the all-demon rock band is named Damian (OOH, SUBTLE)! This all makes it sound like a parody, but while it is silly and the demons look ridiculous, I don't think it is.

This movie is just a lot of fun, so grab some popcorn and your tennis racket (just in case). If you've ever wished for a full-length version of those old cheesy metal videos, well, Happy Halloween to you! In the grand tradition of Rocktober Blood, Trick or Treat, Rock n Roll Nightmare (which I've seen several times thanks to Rifftrax), and not-Hack O'Lantern, we have another rock horror classic. I have one more of these to go, 1990's Shock 'em Dead. I might watch that today.

Hurry up, it's Halloween!

Before I get into today's marathon, what did I watch yesterday?

Creepshow - Continuing my King marathon (which I'll keep going the next couple months), we have the delightfully cheesy Romero-directed Creepshow. This movie delivers exactly what it intends to deliver, the feeling of being a kid reading an old horror comic under the covers in the middle of the night. I love the little animated interludes between each vignette, as well as the kid's story that bookends the movie. Each of the vignettes has its own creepy charm, but The Crate is my favourite and probably the most memorable. Great cast, great performances, great direction, with just the right amount of over-the-topness without descending into goofyville.

Hell Night - continuing my Blair-a-thon, this is one of my favourite standalone 80s slashers. It's pretty standard in most ways, but what really sets it apart is the setting. Spooky old abandoned house with secret passageways and a deranged killer on the loose? Hell yeah, this is my jam. Oh, and don't go in the basement!

Final Exam - this came up in relation to Hell Night (same year, also a college slasher), so I figured why not. This is a basic campus slasher, but it was a decent late night diversion. Can I just say, I miss the 80s "nerd" trope so much? The classic nerds were these sweet, sincere, smart guys, and you can't really do that anymore unless you set your story in the damn 80s. That innocence is gone, and now nerds are just as jerky as everyone else. *sheds a tear for the bygone nerds*

Anyway, the movie. The killer was kinda Michael Myers-y, I guess. No mask, but he seemed extra... durable? Also he was just some random dude. Not sure what was going on there. Not great, but fun if you wanna add a guy named "Radish" to your 80s nerd list. This thing is SO tropey it's almost like, is this the movie that MADE the tropes in the first place? It's kinda charming in that way, honestly.

Hack O'Lantern - oh, Lordy, children. I was gonna watch this tonight but I just couldn't wait, so I made it my Halloween Eve movie instead. I probably should have waited for the day after Halloween, cause this is one discarded candy wrapper of a movie. It's GLORIOUS though. This is perfect Rifftrax fodder. They'd have to cut some nude scenes, but it's not like they're integral to the plot. Well... "plot." They'd have a field day with the evil folksy grandpa alone. Driving his evil pumpkin truck! Spooky! (No. Pumpkin farmers are not scary, no matter how much they overact. No.)

Come for the dramatic pumpkin flinging, stay for the dramatic headband-tying-on! Enjoy a random music video with a lady shooting green lasers out of her eyes! Cool! Enjoy a random, unfunny stand-up act right smack in the middle of a "horror" movie! (My guess: dude helped fund the movie in exchange for getting his schtick on.) In fact, this movie is kinda The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies of the 80s, with all the weird padding that has nothing to do with the plot. Well... "plot." Then you have the girl who just found her boyfriend's murdered body and almost got killed by her folksy satanic grandpa and what does she do when she arrives at the party to find help? Fixes up her makeup, of course! Let's party! And then acts shocked when she finds more bodies, like that hasn't happened before. Oooh, short term memory loss? Spooky, I guess?

Best of all, I don't think this movie is meant to be funny, except the stand up act, which is the only part that isn't. I think this is pure, genuine, Troll 2 style badness. Rifftrax, I'm begging you, you've got a classic here.

I probably won't watch quite as many movies today as I was planning to, since I'm extending the marathon, but we'll see how many I get to! And Happy Halloweeeeen, though it's much more Overlook Hotel than Haddonfield here in Edmonton today. :(❄️ I guess it's an excuse to stay in and watch movies.

To-watch list (today and the coming week):

Conjuring 1 & 2
Trick r Treat
The Thing
The Exorcist
Halloween III
Stranger Things season 2
1922
Graveyard Shift
The Gate 2
Lost Boys
Legend of Hell House
Just Before Dawn

Morbid Monday

One more day till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, one more day till Halloween, Silver Shamrock!

I've gotta get my butt in gear, I really slacked over the weekend. Only 3 movies. :(

Cheerleader Camp - It's an 80s slasher called Cheerleader Camp. It's exactly what you think it is. Is it worth watching? Of course! If you want a cheesy 80s horror featuring cheerleaders... at a camp... it's there for you. It's serviceable.

Ghostkeeper - This is an obscure one, filmed here in Alberta so of course I had to watch it. For a very low budget 1981 film, this was better and scarier than a lot of stuff made today. I mean, this movie has an honest-to-God Cat Jump Scare and that doesn't even kill the suspense. (Hey, it was 1981, was that even a joke yet?) Just goes to show you can do a lot with a little when it comes to horror. This would make a nice double feature with The Shining, since they both feature a creepy old hotel in the middle of nowhere (snowhere?)

Rifftrax: Wes Craven's Mind Ripper - Of course I had to get the new Rifftrax Halloween offering. I love me some Wes Craven, and most of the films he actually directed are good, but boy did he put his name on some stinkers. This one actually has a decent concept (reanimated corpse terrorizes people in the desert), but poor execution, terrible acting, and it commits the sin of wasting Lance Henriksen. Watch the Rifftrax of this, cause it's very funny, and then watch Pumpkinhead.

I have a full slate of movies lined up for today and tomorrow, then I'm riding this crazy train right into November. Yeehaw! Or something.

Frightful Friday Part 3: Dream Warriors or Season of the Witch, take yer pick

Well, I managed to squeeze in three movies between yesterday afternoon and today. I'm actually a wizard, shhh. Two new-to-me's, one rewatch.

The Gate (1987) - Not sure how I missed this one in the 80s, I would have been the perfect age for it. Turns out, I'm still the perfect age for it. Holy shit, this was AWESOME.

The 80s was truly the golden age of kids in movies, especially adventure/horror type stuff. Before Disney Channel-style mugging became the go-to for child actors, we got to enjoy natural performances like this. Can we talk about Nerdy Metalhead Kid in the KILLER DWARFS jean vest?? Because he might be my favourite character ever. Killer Dwarfs is a real band, apparently. Guess I'll have to check them out. Man, I wish I liked metal music half as much as I like the aesthetic. Also, if jean shorts are jorts, would a jean vest be a jest?

Okay, that's all my tangents, back to the movie. Of course, Nerdy Metalhead Kid is your go-to for dealing with the occult, because he is both smart and into metal, and his favourite band "Sacrifyx" has some lyrics pertinent to the situation. This is the kid you want for your best friend when a gate to hell opens in your backyard, for he will calmly stare down into said gate and say, "you have demons," in the same way an exterminator would say, "you have termites." He is a DELIGHT, is my point. He will likely grow up to be the Badass Academic™ in another horror movie. Totally Metal Librarian. I'd watch the hell out of that movie.

This movie does have a "fag" joke, because 80s. It was at least from an annoying character you were meant to groan at (in the words of my new hero, Nerdy Metalhead Kid, "can we knock her out again?") I'll chalk it up to the times and move on. This would be a great starter horror for kids, but I had a lot of fun with it as an adult. It's likeable, it's exciting, the effects hold up, and KILLER DWARFS RULE, MAN. 🤘 (I assume.)

This is my second-fave "new to me" this year, after Pumpkinhead. There is a sequel, and I will watch it. Apparently it's not great but has its moments. Nerdy Metalhead Kid is back, so that's all I need. He was never in anything else, which is a real shame. Dude had charisma.

Scarecrows (1988) - I'm on a roll, cause this is another cool atmospheric gem from the 80s. I LOVE scarecrows in horror, they're right up there with clowns* in creepiness factor. Scarecrows that MOVE. The scarecrow episode of Supernatural is in my top 5 for sure, and this movie lived up to it. Imagine a whole field full of different, creepy looking scarecrows and an old abandoned witchy house. There NEEDS to be a Halloween attraction based on this movie, it practically makes itself. Just put a bunch of scarecrows out in a field, some of them just scarecrows and some of them live actors that move, and you don't know which is which until it's TOO LATE. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Yeah, this was pretty much an automatic win for me with that premise, and the execution did not let me down. I'd never heard of this until this year so it might not be very well-known? Highly recommended, especially if you love the creepy farm aesthetic like I do. I also like the idea that you can just randomly land a plane out in the middle of nowhere and you might end up in EVIL SCARECROW COUNTRY.

*my clown phobia is weird. I'm not afraid of them in their natural habitat, like a party or the circus, but say I was walking alone somewhere and no one was around and I heard a noise, the thing I'd be MOST afraid to see when I turned around would be a clown. :/ idk. Luckily that is an unlikely scenario.

Happy Birthday To Me - hadn't seen this in a while, and it was different than I remembered. By that I mean I only really remembered two scenes, the guy getting crushed by weights and of course THE ENDING. This was longer and slower in parts than I remembered, like it's a cool little slasher but you could easily trim 20 minutes off. Totally worth watching for the ending though. The mask thing was silly and far-fetched, but I also feel like it inspired the writers of Pretty Little Liars, so I kind of dig it in retrospect.

After the opening kill there's a stretch where not much happens, the only really important part is the bridge scene, but be patient. It does pick up. This is a 3 star movie that gets bumped up purely by how memorably batshit the ending is. It pleases my macabre little heart so much. The song that plays over the closing credits is great too; it's funny how some music just sounds creepy.

I have some stuff to do this weekend, including the last Eskimos home game, but I'll try to fit in as many movies as I can. TBH watching and writing about these movies is the happiest I've been in like, a year? So I'll probably keep this going into November, and then of course winter-themed horror in December. (I've never seen Krampus! I haven't seen Gremlins or Nightmare Before Christmas in years! I've been dying to rewatch The Visit! The Shining counts, because snow! Can I possibly withstand another watch of Black Christmas?! Wheee!)

Uh, Thrilling Thursday!

What I watched yesterday, and a test of my alliterative skills (solid). Heck, might as well do one of these every day. I have a surprising lot to say about a silly 80s slasher.

The Initiation (1984) - Starring The Sure Thing's Daphne Zuniga, Psycho's Vera Miles, Clu Gulager alert! (hi, MST3K), some totally awesome 80s fashions, and um, Barb from Stranger Things??

Barb has always existed. Barb will always exist. All hail Barb.

I had no idea if I'd seen this before I started watching it. I could have, I've seen The Initiation of Sarah, Sorority House Massacre, House on Sorority Row, Black Christmas, Sisters of Death, and probably some I'm forgetting. Sororities lend themselves well to horror movies, maybe because they're so damn weird. Think about it, you've got "normal" pretty people, the kind of girls you were probably afraid of in school if you were a shy bookworm like me, doing these crazy rituals and stuff they'd probably think were weird in any other context. It's like the closest they'll ever get to witchcraft.

Turns out, I hadn't seen this, and holy shit! First of all, this thing is pure, uncut 80s. If Material Girl-era Madonna licked a filmstrip, this is what would develop. It's also completely batshit. So it starts out as nightmare/repressed-memory-weird-family-shit movie. Okay, cool. Then it turns into sorority movie. Okay, cool. Then suddenly, it's Chopping Mall before Chopping Mall existed! Okay, cool?? It's also REALLY tonally weird. Most of the time it's your usual 80s slasher, screaming sorority girls, wisecracking frat idiots, nothing too serious. But then there's the underlying repressed memory story, which is played straight and seems like a different movie. AND THEN, in the worst tonal shift I've ever seen in a movie, 1000% SERIOUS TEARFUL STATUTORY RAPE STORY followed by SEX SCENE FEATURING SAID RAPE VICTIM?? And THEN, they get KILLED BY THE SLASHER. Really, 1984?

But other than that, I kinda enjoyed this mess. The ending is stupid. The whole thing is stupid. But it's mostly a fun kind of stupid. The part where the douchey frat guy starts randomly talking to the mall Christmas decorations made me laugh out loud.

Because of Vera Miles, I was inspired to rewatch Rifftrax: Psycho II. Believe it or not, this is the movie that started this whole crazy journey. Yup, Psycho II, pretty random I know. But that's how it was back then, you never knew what you might find on cable. When I was 13? I watched this late one night, and I was HOOKED. I'd never even seen the original, other than the famous scenes. But something about Anthony Perkins' performance (and Meg Tilly's) drew me in. I then watched the original Psycho and a few of Perkins' other movies (most of them bad, sadly, for such an engaging actor). I started staying up and watching every horror movie I could get my hands on. I was officially a ghoul, I was never happier, and I never looked back.

Psycho II may not be a great movie, but for me, it kinda is. Not only because I genuinely enjoy it, but for the memory of that night and what it represents.

Norman Bates is still my favourite horror character, maybe even favourite movie character. And what this sequel does even better than the original is get you to sympathize with him, even relate to him. It has its silly moments, but this is a movie that humanizes a serial killer and doesn't make you mad about it. You root for Norman; not to kill people, but to NOT kill. What kind of weird slasher movie is that?? Well it's not really, it's more of a character study and I find it effective, especially with Perkins' moving performance.

If I have one complaint about this movie it's the tonal shifts. It can't seem to decide if it wants to be drama or comedy. A few of the comedic moments work, and the ending scene actually made me laugh out loud - CLANG! - but it's the serious, human moments that work the best. 3.75 stars.

I also highly recommend watching Allison Pregler's Movie Nights review on youtube-



All that said, it's still rife for riffing, especially the silly ending, and I love the Rifftrax version. "Welcome to the Bates Motel, please ignore our Trip Advisory reviews!"

I might skip Frightful Friday, unless I can squeeze in a movie tomorrow afternoon. Going to a beer event tonight so only time for one movie.

Wicked Good Wednesday

The latest thrills. And chills.

The Babysitter (Netflix 2017) - Saw this on a whim after reading positive feedback and yeah, this is definitely worth a watch. Very entertaining with some laughs, some suspense, and some surprisingly heart-wrenching moments. Kinda the perfect popcorn movie. If you like "evil cult" movies like I do, and a good mix of bloody horror, humor, and heart, check this out. It's modern, but with an 80s heart.

My Stephen King marathon continues strong with two movies I'd never seen, The Dark Half and Silver Bullet.

I'm surprised I just got around to The Dark Half, as I read and enjoyed the book as a kid, but I'm glad I did. Good performances by Amy Madigan, Michael Rooker, Julie Harris, and especially Timothy Hutton. I LOVED Julie Harris' character, and after seeing this and another movie I watched recently, I realized I love the "badass academic." Like badass in a librarian-y, I'm gonna defeat you with KNOWLEDGE way, not "I will suddenly throw off my glasses and kickbox you!" (Because that would be unrealistic, in this movie about an evil absorbed twin come to life. Anyway.) That was her character, and she was so great. They're always open-minded too, like they're the character who will listen to you when you start spouting crazy shit and research a possible answer like they're just writing a paper, no big deal. Also Timothy Hutton in the dual role was amazing, it actually took me a moment to realize it WAS him.

Silver Bullet - This is now my favourite werewolf movie, yup, beating out The Howling and The Wolf-Man. Granted I haven't seen American Werewolf in London yet, but I'll probably still stubbornly cling on to Silver Bullet. This is just one of those 80s movies, like Fright Night or Night of the Creeps, that's fun to watch and makes you feel good. It has an uncynical spirit of adventure, and great performances by Corey Haim and especially Gary Busey.

Haim's character is in a wheelchair and he's just a kid that happens to be in a wheelchair, there's no sappy crap and he's not special or anything, he's a regular kid. He's a jerk to his big sister sometimes. I love how he's played and the family dynamic, it all feels natural. Gary Busey is the raddest drunk, foul-mouthed uncle ever who builds him this sweet wheelchair, the Silver Bullet. And oh yeah, there's a werewolf in all this, and it's obvious who it is, but it's really the stuff with the family that makes this great.

And I kick off my three-movie Linda Blair-a-thon with Summer of Fear, AKA Stranger in Our House. This seems to be one of those movies that I, specifically, love. Witchy stuff? Check. Linda Blair? Check. 70s made for tv? Check! It probably also helps that I loved the book by Lois Duncan as a kid. Like The Dark Half, this also features my beloved Badass Academic™ trope, this time the local professor of occult studies or something (of course). And of course, he listens to poor Linda Blair about her witch problem when No One Else Will™. I am seriously gonna seek out every movie with that kind of character and watch it. It's just so comforting and makes me happy, idk.

I continued my three-film John Carpenter-a-thon with The Fog (the first was Christine). What can I say about The Fog, another stylish, classic 80s gem with one of the best casts you'll see in a horror movie. We've got Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook and Tom Atkins (from Halloween III and Night of the Creeps, he sure picked good movies), but of course Barbeau steals the hell out of this thing. The way she switches between her sultry radio persona and concerned single mother, damn girl, just one of my favourite performances. This is also right up there in the coveted "atmosphere" department. VENGEFUL FOG SPIRITS, people. It doesn't get much more atmospheric than that, the monsters are literally IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

Rifftrax: City of the Dead - The Rifftrax is fun, but this movie is super watchable on its own imo. On the surface this seems like a pretty standard witch movie, but something about it got under my skin. Maybe it's because I love these kind of movies, and the fog-shrouded, nearly-abandoned New England village was a perfect setting. Maybe it's because it felt like our lead actually travelled back in time when she visited the town, it seemed so out of step with modern times (well, 1960, but you know). The whole thing kind of felt like a dream, and it's actually really well done. What can I say, atmosphere can really make a movie.

Dead and Buried - this is a 1981 film that was New to Me, and just another great 80s watch. This one was really different, a take on "zombies" (of sorts) I've never seen before. I did guess the final twist, but it's still fun and suspenseful even if you do. Great concept, well-executed. It kind of seemed like a Stephen King story, mysterious goings-on in a small town, locals who aren't what they appear, spooky!

I still have lots more to watch, including my Halloween All Day and All of the Night Spooktacular, which I've tentatively scheduled as: The Conjuring 1 and 2, Trick r Treat, The Exorcist, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and possibly the hilarious Hack O'Lantern if I have time. If I have even more time, Rifftrax Plan 9 is always fun to throw on. I might go to sleep to that one lol.

Man, October *ahem* Rocktober is just Peak Content time here at Straight on Til Morning. After this I probably won't post again till next year lol. Or maybe I'll keep the horror stuff going... Frightful Friday Part VIII, Melissa Takes Manhattan?? No, I'm in Canada. Melissa takes Manitoba. Okay, well now it HAS to happen.

Frightful Friday Part 2: The Revenge

The last few night's fine film selections.

Rocktober Blood - That's right folks, I just watched an 80s rock n roll slasher movie called ROCKTOBER BLOOD. I think I have fulfilled my final purpose on this earth. Farewell.

Okay, maybe not. So who's the real star of this movie, Headband Skeleton (totally metal, man!) or the worm playing pinochle on his snout?

Bloody Birthday - not to be confused with the gleefully demented Happy Birthday to Me, this is a decent watch if you're looking to complete your 80s holiday horror bingo card. (Y'know, My Bloody Valentine, April Fool's Day, Trick or Treat, Hack O'Lantern, Home Sweet Home, Silent Night Deadly Night, New Year's Evil, etc. Has there ever been an Easter horror film? Arbor Day? Canada Day? My guess is the answer to all of those is "yes, but it sucks." This one has killer children by way of astrology, so if that sounds like a good time, go for it.

Oh and the real star of this movie, this sweet vintage 7up can!

I'm not saying the movie was upstaged by a soda can, just that I'm interested in weird things.

And continuing down the holiday road, I rewatched April Fool's Day. WARNING: SPOILER FROM 1986

Usually this kind of movie would annoy me, but this is just campy enough to be fun. It's set up so you think it's gonna be an April fool from the start, but as the movie goes on you're like, is the twist that it's NOT an April fool? Has Muffy (yes, MUFFY) really gone off the rails on the crazy train? I love how forgiving all her friends are (oh, that wacky Muffster!) and how she didn't get like, totally murdered by any of her "victims." Ridiculous, but fun if you like 80s cheese and the girl from Valley Girl.

I have lots more movies left on my list, and I'll be staying Up All Night* to watch them all. Stay tuned!

*Man, I miss that show. Nothing else will ever be watching Prom Night II: Hello Mary Lou or Night of the Creeps at 2AM when your mom's asleep and you're a dumb kid and the rest of your life kinda sucks but that night, man, that night of watching horror movies... that belongs to YOU.

It occurs to me that some people might think using horror movies to escape, well, the horrors of the world is a bit odd. But give me a good old fashioned spine-tingling SCARE over the real life creeping dread of say, a disgusting stupid bigot who might blow us all up, any day. Most of the movies I watch tend to be supernatural themed. I'm not saying that witches, ghosties, demon possession and the like are 100% not real, because idk for sure, but I can tell you they're not plastered across the depressing ass news all day long making me want to hide under a rock. Horror films are fantasy, often with a note of reality to make them actually scary. But not this reality, not the constant onslaught of man-made injustices, cruelties and atrocities. So yes, I escape that stuff with the kind of fear that gets my blood pumping, not the kind that defeats me.

Creeper update

http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/creeper_drop_from_canada_tour

Turns out they're not touring with Silverstein at all anymore, and I was looking at out of date info. I wonder what happened? Still super bummed, but no longer feel conspired against by the universe so got that goin for me. 👌

On the subject of live shows

I used to go to quite a lot of them, rock and country, mostly smaller shows. Biggest name I saw was probably R.E.M. A lot of my concert-going has been dictated by geography and having someone to go with, obviously, which brings me to where I am now. I moved to Canada five years ago and haven't been to a show since. To put this in perspective, the last show I saw was DIO, and he died in 2010 (RIP man).

This isn't all a bad thing. My husband and I are into a lot of things like sports, beer shows, hikes, travel, etc. which take up a good part of our time and finances. It's not like I'm suffering not going to concerts, it's just something that's been put on the back burner. I remember a few years ago when Tim McGraw came here, and my first instinct was yes, he's a 90s country legend I haven't seen, I should go! But he was playing a big arena. It was expensive. It would have been crowded and trafficy and my husband doesn't even like country music. So all that hassle and expense for a show only one of us would enjoy, not worth it. And it's kinda been that way ever since. Miranda Lambert came here this month, she's one of my favourite artists and I've never seen her, but I missed the boat on that one. I was into her from the very beginning, before she was huge, and I should have seen her then. Now it'll be the same issue as Tim - a lot of hassle.

So that's the situation in Edmonton. A lot of big names come here, but I like smaller shows. If it wasn't too much of a hassle or too expensive, my husband could probably endure a few evenings of country music a year, but it's all these huge venue shows. A mid-tier artist like say, Sunny Sweeney, just isn't going to come here unless as an opener.

So that leaves rock, which still suffers from the Edmonton Problem of being mostly big arena acts, but at least my husband likes it so that's one barrier removed. Then, the seemingly perfect thing happened. I got into up and coming UK band Creeper, started following them, and learned they're touring with Canadian band Silverstein and coming to Edmonton! Now that's one way to see a smaller act here, if they get on a tour with a mid-tier Canadian act. I looked up the venue and it sounded great, a cozy tavern with tables and a dinner menu and great craft beer selection. My kind of place, 100%. I looked today to make sure tickets were still available, and saw Creeper had been removed from the lineup. :(

Okay, shit happens, but here's where I feel angry and fucked. It's not like they cancelled the Canadian leg of their tour, NO, they're still playing SK the night before and BC two nights later! It's JUST EDMONTON that's been cancelled. Why? They have to bloody well pass through AB to get from SK to BC!!! So, with the kind of year I've had, I can only presume it's to personally fuck me over. They're apparently coming next February with another UK band, but at a different venue that sounds awful. Some shitty nightclub with no craft beer. I'd say I'm too old for that shit, but I've never been young enough for that shit.

So the quest for my 1st Canadian show continues. Will it ever happen? Who will it be? Stay tuned I guess, but not like, too closely. It has been five years already. 🙄

Feel Good Friday the 13th

Rewatching The Midnight Hour reminded me of how much I love this song. Awoooooooo!

tbt ~ Stevie Nicks

Bella Donna is a beautiful album. Everyone knows the duets with the great Tom Petty and Don Henley, but this gorgeous, country-tinged track needs more spins.

Wicked Good Wednesday ~ scary movies!

Don't Go To Sleep

You might not believe it, but THIS THING SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Yup, a TV movie from 1982 scared the pants off of this veteran horror fan. Like, you don't expect an old TV movie to be too hardcore, but this one goes there, man. This thing murders small children and has one of the scariest-looking apparitions I've EVER seen in a movie. If it were redone today, it would be fakey-looking CGI going BLARGH at you, and not scary at all.

AHHHHHHHHH WHAT IS IT I THINK IT JUST TOOK MY SOUL 😨

Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings

Hoo boy. I said I would watch it, and watch it I did. Welp, nothing about it is remotely as good as the original, the end! Okay, okay. So there's a Pumpkinhead, and an old witch, but not the same old witch, and maybe not the same Pumpkinhead?? Yeah, it's one of those "sequels," where nothing actually continues from the last one.

I'll put aside that the acting, writing, story, and most sadly, the effects and cinematography are noticeably lower quality. It's a direct to video "sequel," I don't think anyone from the original returned to work on this, and boy does it show. But I could excuse all that if it wasn't missing one important thing the first one had - heart. And also a damn point. The plot to the first movie made sense - kid gets hit by bike, revenge ensues. But in part II, a bunch of dumb kids just randomly decide to raise the dead, spur of the moment like! No build up, just "welp, we're here, might as well do this!" In other words, pure contrivance. There's no reason for any of it to happen, and therefore there's no real reason to watch this movie.

The main character girl, we'll call her not-Nicole-Eggert cause I kept having to remind myself it wasn't her, was SO DUMB. The guy she hooks up with is obviously a creep, and not in a charming "bad boy" way, he has all the blank faced charm of Michael Myers. But this girl is just like "tee hee, whatever!" I guess to show she's rebelling against her cop dad, but it would have worked better if the guy was remotely appealing. She just comes off as a future abuse victim here, and it's kind of unsettling how it's glossed over. I don't feel like she learned anything about future boyfriend selection, though I'm pretty sure her head is stuffed with circus peanuts so she might not have learned to tie her own shoes either.

Also unlike the first movie, not all of this made sense. The Pumpkinhead in this one was... son of Pumpkinhead? How the hell did Pumpkinhead conceive a child? I know that kind of thing has been done before but there's no explanation for it here, just "well, this thing happened," like you're ordering a sandwich and a demon baby from the deli, no big deal. Also, were there two Pumpkinheads in this world, or did this one just become the new Pumpkinhead? IS IT POSSIBLE I'M OVERTHINKING THIS? I should not be so confused by a movie called Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.

So, any positives? Well, the opening scene was interesting, if disturbing. It drew me in. Then the dumb kids showed up, and NOPE. When your most interesting character is the deformed guy that doesn't speak and gets killed in the first few minutes, you might have a bad movie.

Umm... Kane Hodder, Roger Clinton, and Punky Brewster are all in this, so that's a sentence I just got to say.

The blood wings imagery was cool enough, and the mystery element might have worked if they didn't give it away in the first scene. There was a semblance of an idea here, but it never took shape.

And NO PUMPKIN GRAVEYARD, boooooo! 😡

FRIGHTFUL Friday ~ horror movie spotlight

PUMPKINHEAD (1988)

You know when a movie just hits you, just right? That's what happened with my first viewing of Pumpkinhead last night. HOW did I miss an 80s movie with pumpkin in the title all this time?? I would have loved staying up late and watching this as a teenager. Hell, I loved staying up late and watching it as an adult.

This movie has a pumpkin patch graveyard. A PUMPKIN PATCH GRAVEYARD. All your spooky Halloween imagery in one convenient location!

So first off, this movie LOOKS gorgeous. It has those perfectly creepy, atmospheric settings you want in a horror movie, from the pumpkin patch graveyard (still not over the awesomeness of THAT) to the old witch's cabin. I love movies that take place in isolated, rural settings, it just amps up the creepiness. Not only does it look great, it actually has a good and occasionally heart-wrenching story, as well as good acting. Lance Henriksen gives a great understated performance, you really feel for him, and what happens at the end makes sense and feels like a logical conclusion to the movie's events (sometimes horror films devise endings that feel like they were pulled from the nearest ass). The monster and the visual effects in general are awesome. This film is a great argument in favour of practical effects vs CGI in horror, and how much more they make you feel the movie. Not surprising, as it was directed by special effects master Stan Winston.

I am planning to check out the sequel made in 1994. I doubt I'll check out any of the other sequels, as they were made in the 2000s (ugh).

Feel Good Friday ~ 80s Fall playlist

I grew up in the 80s, and for me three things are forever linked with the decade of my childhood - Fall/Halloween, horror movies, and rock music. GOOD rock music, back when it popped, before it sludged into Nickelback and wannabes. 😡

(Forgive me if I'm a little salty. They were playing that awful "I'm sorry I'm bad" song at the supermarket.)

Anyway, here are some classic power pop/rock songs that are perfect for long walks in the crispy leaves. You can close your eyes* and pretend Journey is still together. (Just open them again before you cross the street.)

*When you close your eyes, do you dream about me? Okay, guess I have to add Night Ranger now.

Way too many songs to post videos, so here's a Spotify playlist. 31 songs (cause there's 31 days in October, GET IT??) Ft. Journey, Pat Benatar, The Cars, Huey Lewis, Marshall Crenshaw, Stevie Nicks, Asia, The Moody Blues, Prince, Tom Petty (RIP), and more.

https://open.spotify.com/user/emperorcupcake22/playlist/0jiriOlHOHVvHRMGBrwj2q

Have a spooktacular Rocktober!🤘

New Music Tuesday

I haven't listened to The Killers' new album yet. It's gotten kinda "okay" reviews and of the three songs I heard, only this one grabbed me. But boy, did it ever grab me. This is my official Rocktober™ jam, crank it!

tbt ~ Hey man, is that Freedom Rock?

This ad pretty much was my childhood. I think it started my love for classic rock, which was of course later cemented by Dean Winchester. So have a good old-fashioned hippie peace song. And turn it up, man.



I wonder if something like this could ever happen again? I mean people using the word "groovy," clearly the whole "coming together in peace and harmony" ship has sailed.

tbt ~ 15 favorite Beatles songs!

Even though it's September, it's officially the start of my Rocktoberfest. Which means lots and lots of, you guessed it, rock! Mostly classic, as well as some newer stuff like Creeper.

Is it cliche for a music blog to talk about the Beatles? Who cares! Is it cliche to worry about what's cliche? You bet! Should we just do what we want cause the world's crazy and we need to suck all the joy out of it we can? Um, yes. Yes we should. So, favorite Beatles songs! The top 5 is in order, the rest is random.

15. It's All Too Much
14. Let it Be
13. I'll Follow the Sun
12. Penny Lane
11. Got to Get You Into My Life
10. The Long and Winding Road
9. Revolution
8. I Will (Amazing song. The Alison Krauss cover surpasses the original.)
7. Here Comes the Sun
6. Hide Your Love Away

5. Across the Universe
4. Don't Let Me Down
3. I've Just Seen a Face
2. Blackbird
1. Strawberry Fields Forever (note: The "Take 1" version from Anthology is my favorite, but of course the standard version is great too.)

Hon. mentions - Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, Hey Jude, You Won't See Me, I Am the Walrus.

Obviously I prefer their later work, which isn't to say a lot of their early stuff isn't great, and better than most all mainstream music of the past 20 years. The later stuff is just more musically interesting to me, and invites more repeated listens.

tbt ~ classic album spotlight

Today I'll be spotlighting an album I love, whitechocolatespaceegg by Liz Phair. Autocorrect just changed that to Liz Hair. sigh. Moving on.

Liz Phair was EPIC to me in the 90s. Her first three albums are all classics in my library. There isn't a single song I skip on Exile in Guyville, Whip-Smart, or whitechocolatespaceegg. She was truly an album artist, maybe one of the first that got me interested in listening to albums as a whole. While Exile and Whip-Smart are probably more known/popular, my favourite is 1998's whitechocolatespaceegg.

Her first two major releases (look into her old Girlysound stuff too, some cool rough cuts there) were pretty similar in style. I'm not sure how to describe them to do them justice. It's kind of anti-pop music in its production, lyrics, and presentation, yet almost every song is sing-along catchy. Pop music for people who don't like pop music? It definitely has the vibe of something recorded in a garage or basement, in the best way. The production is excellent, not in that it's slick, but how it complements her voice and style perfectly. It's different, but it clicks. I guess the best way to describe it is it sounds 100% her, like she just got to do and say whatever the fuck she wanted without any hacks interfering. Or anyone at all. A genuinely distinctive artist.

I should briefly mention her sudden lurch into full-blown POP after whitechocolatespaceegg. I'm not going to discuss whether those albums were good or bad, they're just very much not for me. The overly slick, clean production and pop princess style just rubs me the wrong way. It's not interesting, and for an artist like Liz Phair, that's just like, death. :(

Here's where we get to whitechocolateetc, the album I want to spotlight today. It definitely marked a change in sound, and you can almost see it as a bridge to where she was going. The production is cleaner, the writing more down to earth and mature. With themes of motherhood and growing up, you could almost call it a concept album. It's a more accessible album in some ways, but here's what I love about it. There's a trippy, spacey vibe here that really complements her style and writing, even more than her earlier work IMO. There are even, I think, two Beatles/McCartney allusions. The one on "Fantasize" is obvious ("you've got to hide your love away), but I'm pretty sure "Uncle Alvarez" is a nod to "Uncle Albert," or it makes me think of it anyway. I mean, I thought of this album because I was listening to The Beatles.



YOUTUBE CHANGED THEIR SHIT AND IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO FIND HOW TO EMBED VIDEO GRRRRR

I just thought of this, she's kind of the Beatles in reverse, isn't she? She started out with the cool, weird, interesting stuff and ended up doing more basic pop.

So while the production here is more polished, it doesn't come across as OMG SHE WENT POP, but as a feature, a concept. Like the album was actually recorded from inside an egg. ... I'm not high, I swear. This album is just that awesome. Some of my other favourite tracks are "Perfect World," "Polyester Bride," "Big Tall Man," Baby Got Going," and the trippy title track. This album showed so much promise, and I wish she'd explored this direction further rather than what she did. But it makes for a unique album that moves nicely between time and space. Like, this doesn't scream 90s at you or anything, it's a self-contained project that still sounds fresh* today.

*don't make a pun about eggs don't make a pun about eggs don't...



I think it also shows that we always, ALWAYS, no matter how far removed we are from the 60s, need artists that were inspired by the Beatles. It just makes for the best music.

Peace and melodic guitar rock forever, man.
:)

Feel Good Friday ~ Top 8 favourite songs of 2017 so far

One song per artist, playlist link at the end.

1. Black Rain - Creeper

Eternity, In Your Arms is already a lock for my favourite album of 2017. Um, spoiler alert lol. And this glorious, scream-out-the-chorus arena-ready goth rocker is the crown jewel. "They don't make music like this anymore," I might have said last year before I heard Creeper. But they do. THEY DO. And Creeper is coming to Edmonton in November and I'm probably going! eeeeeeeeeeee!

2. From Outer Space - Jaime Wyatt

"Honey, it's a long way home from outer space." Country music that's actually about something is the best. And that's exactly what Jaime Wyatt is making. I've never been to prison, but this song resonates with me. I guess outer space is a big place.

3. Idle Worship - Paramore

First of all, this is an album that needs to be listened to as a whole. Picking just one song was tough, but I guess this one spoke to me the most. It's also really catchy and pretty indicative of the album. Basically the message is, your heroes are human and just as messed up as you are. Don't put anyone on a pedestal, they didn't ask for it and you'll just be disappointed. Hayley Williams has been through some shit, she's pulling no punches, and it's amazing.

4. Redbone - Childish Gambino

Get Out is my favourite movie of 2017, even beating out Guardians of the Galaxy 2. And hey, they both have cool music. This is a soul song, in every sense of the word. A good soul jam immediately takes you back to the 70s, the glory days of the genre, but this manages to sound both retro and fresh. Even without the amazing movie attached to it it's a fantastic journey of a song, but I love that the two are connected forever. A couple of bright spots in a year that's been... well, better than 2016 at least?

5. I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight - Sunny Sweeney

I doubt I'll hear a more beautiful song than this all year. Chills. Apparently this is a cover (I haven't heard the original), but Sunny sure sings it like she wrote it. And lives it. I mean, I guess we all live this from time to time. That's the point. Again, nothing resonates like country music that's about something. The radio's lost that, but happily artists like Sunny Sweeney have not. Great song, great album.

6. Tin Man - Miranda Lambert

I hate damning this song by calling it the second most beautiful song of 2017, but that's still pretty high praise, right? I love songs that make pain beautiful. More than anything. Miranda's been kind of hit or miss for me these past few years, but this is right in the centre of the bullseye. "Take it from me darling, you don't want a heart." Well, shit.

7. I Feel it Coming - The Weeknd and Daft Punk

It's been a surprisingly good year for mainstream r&b. A bright, catchy, 80s-ish jam with some of the tightest production you'll ever hear. The Weeknd is becoming one of my go-to artists for quality mainstream music. Don't let me down.

8. Kiwi - Harry Styles

Guys... I don't know how else to say this, but Harry Styles kinda rocks? Seriously, if you like 70s rock, or Cage the Elephant for that matter, check out his stuff. Close your eyes and pretend he's ugly and was never in One Direction. Cause this is a killer track from a pretty damn good album. Maybe he'll be the one to save rock n roll, cause Fall Out Boy sure as hell didn't lol.

Honorable mentions: Crickets - Creeper, 26 - Paramore, Stone Hotel - Jaime Wyatt, Broken Halos - Chris Stapleton, Black Butterflies and Deja Vu - The Maine. My fun summer jam, Parking Lot - Blink-182 ("Fuck this place, let's put up a parking lot!" You said it, Blink-182.) And my country summer jam, One Beer Can - Brad Paisley. I haven't been super impressed with Brad Paisley lately, but this one does it for me. Prominent guitar and fiddle, catchy and fun with good energy. It's basically 2017's "Chattahoochee."

EDITED TO ADD: Margo Price just dropped an EP! It's really good! After a couple listens my favourites are "Paper Cowboy" and "Weakness." I'll just call them honourable mentions for now, since I literally just heard them.

https://open.spotify.com/user/emperorcupcake22/playlist/1Wwzl8TKhdEvfdln9y46Gn

Albums in my to-listen queue:
Childish Gambino
Chris Stapleton, again (listened once but was distracted)
Angaleena Presley
Aaron Watson
Killers Battle Born (not from this year, but still)

We're getting new albums from Weezer, Beck, The Killers, and maaaaaybe System of a Down? this year, so hopefully lots more to come!

Underrated albums Spotify playlist

In my effort to keep spreading good music, here's a playlist!

https://open.spotify.com/user/emperorcupcake22/playlist/4QVxwXodnOXWcxBAa8ZQzE

At least four favourite songs from each album, except Crawdaddy which isn't on Spotify. My favourite song from Forever Halloween, Ice Cave, also isn't on Spotify, but I still found 6 must-have songs from that album. Yeah. Plus a couple extra songs from a few artists and that great Killers song "Runaways." I haven't listened to Battle Born yet so I don't know how I feel about the album, but that song is underrated as hell. Oh and "Little Rosa" isn't on there twice, the first one is actually "Pizza Cutter." Silly Spotify. Enjoy!

Seriously, this song kicks ass.

9 underrated alt rock albums you should be listening to right now!

Clickbaity title, as if this thing is out there to be clicked upon lol. Why 9? Unlike the Nostalgia Critic, I like to go one step below. Anyway, in no particular order, except #1.

9. The Strokes - Angles

Is this underrated? Idk, but in 2002 the Strokes were everywhere and I don't remember hearing about this album when it came out in 2011. That might be because rock wasn't much of a thing then, or I just wasn't paying attention, but holy crap am I glad I found this. This is actually my favourite Strokes album with my favourite Strokes song, "Taken for a Fool." That song alone is enough to warrant a spot here, but this list is about albums and this one's a really good listen. I hope these guys get back on track after their disappointing last release. More like this, please.

8. The Toadies - Rubberneck

Guys. This album is AMAZING. Everyone knows "Possum Kingdom," but how did this album not produce several hits?? I feel like "Away" and "I Come From the Water" would have been perfect followups to Possum Kingdom. No idea why these guys didn't catch on beyond that one song. There's a real distinctive sound to this album, like just describing them as "alt rock" doesn't quite get the job done. It's just good hard, driving music and this is a fun listen all the way through. They disappeared after this and I never heard anything else from them, which is such a shame.

7. Letters to Cleo - Wholesale Meats and Fish

Or really, anything by Letters to Cleo, except maybe Aurora Gory Alice which got some recognition. This album, the followup, got like no attention which might indicate the dreaded sophomore slump, but NO! This thing is bursting with fruit flavour, and it's actually my favourite LTC album. "Pizza Cutter," "St. Peter," "Little Rosa," it's full of should-be 90s classics.

6. Local H - As Good as Dead

Is this list gonna be all forgotten 90s bands? Maybe! Here's another band that's well known for one song, "Bound for the Floor." You know, the "copacetic" song? Oh yeah, those guys! Here's what you might not know: this band, which is still together, has an awesome discography I'm still working my way through. I'm putting this album on the list because it's the one with the classic Bound for the Floor, and it's also really good. But this is a band to dig deeper into, from their 1995 debut Ham Fisted to their 2004 release, Whatever Happened to PJ Soles? If you dig that title like I do, you're in for a good time with Local H. Also, they took their band name from two old R.E.M. songs, and I'm not sure it gets cooler than that.

5. My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Can anything by MCR really be underrated? I say yes, because - yes, really - I think I like this album as much as the beloved Black Parade. See, I feel like if a band makes an album like Black Parade - so perfect, so iconic, so game changing - no matter what they do next isn't gonna measure up. You're kind of screwed by being so good. And no, I don't hear Danger Days get even half the love that Black Parade does, yet... it could? Should? Because it's really damn good. It's a concept album with an epic glam-rock feel and great songs like "Bulletproof Heart" and "Planetary (Go!)". It's a more upbeat-sounding album than, well, obviously the one about cancer, or anything in their discography. It would be a good radio rock album if the radio still played rock. The deluxe version is also worth a listen.

4. Kay Hanley - Cherry Marmalade

The bad news is, Letters to Cleo was broken up for many years. The good news is, we got this gorgeous solo album from frontwoman Kay Hanley. Man, this album got me through some rough times. I feel like no one has heard this album other than diehard LTC fans, and that's a real shame because every song on here is catchy and punchy and great. Even if you've only heard LTC's big song "Here and Now," if you like it, check this album out. I think you'll be hooked from the first song, "Fall."

3. The Darling Buds - Crawdaddy

Forgotten 90s bands, ahoy! This album had a couple minor hits you might remember if you were there and paying attention, "Tiny Machine" and "Crystal Clear." If you like those, well, the whole album is like that. Catchy and pop-rocky and short and sweet. "It Makes No Difference" and "Honeysuckle" are other faves of mine.

2. The Maine - Forever Halloween

And a more recent album, which has become an all time favourite. I did an entire album retrospective of The Maine when I got into them last year, and my favourites by far are the harder, classic-rocky Pioneer, and this more darkly-themed, also rockier album. While Pioneer seems to get a lot of love from fans, I don't feel like Forever Halloween gets the love it deserves. This seems to be the theme of this post - my favourite album from a band is not most people's favourite.

The Maine is an interesting band with pretty strongly varying sounds. I liked their big breakthrough American Candy a lot, and I like this year's followup, Lovely Little Lonely, which is kinda American Candy Part II sound-wise. (Something which I predicted in my post.) And I think that bright, airy pop-rock is what most people associate with them, but man do I love this darker vibe. It's almost like they became a different band for this one album, like musical cosplay? The deluxe version is a MUST here, as it features my favourite The Maine song, "Ice Cave." Just listen to the opening riff and you'll be in. It rocks.

1. Weezer - Maladroit

Well what else would it be?? My favourite album from my favourite band. Every time I listen to this I ask myself, how is this not everyone's favourite Weezer album? And then I'm like, well, people have different tastes, you KNOW this, your list of favourites is pretty weird. And then I stop talking to myself, cause that's also weird. But - it's not like I wanna impose my taste on people, this album is just so damn good! It's catchy Weezer songs with a harder rock edge. It's the best of both worlds. Oh dammit, Hannah Montana ruined that phrase forever.

Here's the thing about Weezer - while I dislike entire albums they've put out, they're my favourite band because I list six of their albums among my favourites - SIX!* And Maladroit is the cream of the crop, from my favourite track, the riff-happy "Burndt Jamb," to the ridiculously catchy "Keep Fishin'," "Slave," "American Gigolo," and of course the single "Dope Nose," it's pure melodic guitar rock heaven. I keep waiting for this album to get Pinkerton'd, for people to look back on it and be like, holy shit, this is amazing, why do I not listen to this all the time? Pinkerton is great and it was overlooked for a long time. This is even better, and it doesn't get nearly the love it deserves, even among Weezer fans. Maladroit, in my totally not humble opinion, should be required rock listening. It has classic written all over it. Don't miss out.

*6. Pinkerton
5. Green Album
4. White Album
3. Blue Album
2. Everything Will Be Alright
1. Maladroit

HONORABLE MENTION: Cage the Elephant - Tell Me I'm Pretty

This is an honourable mention because it's more unfairly maligned than overlooked, and also it won a Grammy, not that that means anything really except yeah, it's not overlooked. But among CTE fans, holy crap does this album get a ton of shit! And I have no idea why! Okay, it's not Melophobia, but what is, a freaking Beatles album? Melophobia is a masterpiece, they're probably not gonna reach that height again. But that doesn't mean this album is bad, and it's actually good!

Look, I love CTE, they're one of my favourite modern bands, but that doesn't mean I'd love any old thing they put out. I've listened to this album many times and I've never been able to hear what people are criticizing. It's "formula?" Yeah, it sounds like a CTE album, what else do you want? Bands get criticized when they change their sound or when they don't. I don't care, as long as it sounds good to my ears. CTE making a typical-sounding album sounds good. Paramore changing their sound and making a new wave album also sounds good. Some bands change their sound and it's awful, or, in the case of ZBB's latest album, they try to recapture their old sound and it does sound kind of formulaic. Maybe what I hear in that album is what others hear in Tell Me I'm Pretty. But all I hear is an enjoyable 70s-esque rock album with great vocals and riffs. Put it on on a Saturday night with some good beers and you'll dig it. No, it's not the immediate awesome punch of Melophobia, and I don't like Dan Auerbach's production as much as Jay Joyce's, but again that's no reason to dismiss it. It's a grower, really. And "Trouble" still gives me chills every time I hear it.

Whew, I've been wanting to make that list for a while now. The things I'll do to avoid going through 400 vacation photos. In all seriousness, it's been a tough few months. Hug your rockstars, they deserve it. <3

tbt

Here's a great, forgotten song from the early 90s... if anyone wants it. I used to listen to this over and over and over.

Feel Good Friday ~ The Killers

You ever hear a song and think welp, this was pretty much made just for me? I guess Brandon Flowers was reading my blog because this is precisely the kind of music I wish for people to be making. It somehow sounds like every 80s power-rock hit and none of them at the same time. The opening kind of reminds me of that "believe it or not, I'm walking on air" song, there's a riff that reminds me of "Heat of the Moment," a little "Don't Stop Believing," a little "Livin' on a Prayer," and probably a dozen other songs I can't put my finger on. It's the perfect homage, is what I'm saying. And I love it.

tbt

The nostalgia when your local supermarket, of all places, plays a song you haven't heard since the early 90s and had completely forgotten about. Happy to hear it again, sad because nothing sounds like this anymore. Damn I loved this sound.

General update-y thing, I guess?

Well, it's been a minute. I've been wanting to update for a while, but I was 1, on vacation for two weeks, which really means three weeks counting the prep and recovery time, 2, dealing with emotional crap, and 3, possibly the hardest to deal with, coming to terms with the fact that I really like Harry Styles' album. I mean, I'm a grown ass woman, not a *shudder* "directioner." But I'll be damned if he didn't make a grown ass adult album. And not in a Miley Cyrus LOOK AT ME I HAVE SEX AND DO DRUGS CUZ I'M AN ADULT NOW, GET IT??? kind of way, like an actual mature classic rock type album. It reminds me of Cage the Elephant at times, and that's not a comparison I make lightly. Yeah, I don't know either. But it's good, I listen to it, and being ashamed of what you like is stupid. So there you go.

Um. I guess first things first, I have to talk about Linkin Park. LP is one of those bands that I never threw myself into like say, MCR or Weezer, but were always just kind of... around? Like, until their last album (oh God that actually will be their last album, how incredibly fucking sad), I never disliked anything I heard from them, and I actually think Meteora is a great album. I wouldn't generally seek them out, but if they were playing, yeah cool, I wouldn't object. Now after a disappointing and critically panned album, singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide.

I guess what I wanna say is, as someone who makes fun of music as a hobby, I really hope that all the shit he took for the album didn't contribute to him wanting to end his life. I think it's important to be able to freely criticize music, even if, or maybe especially if, you're a fan of the band. But it's also important to remember that these are people we're talking about (except for the Chainsmokers, who I'm pretty sure are bro robots. Brobots?)* and to keep the criticism about the music and not personal.

*sorry, cheap shot, but I had to lighten things up a little.

Obviously if you reach the point of taking your own life, there are probably a lot of issues built up including depression, addiction, and God knows what else. It's just really hard to see all those scathing reviews in light of this, you know? Even if the album deserved it. It's kind of a tough line to walk. I can say whatever I want here because nobody reads this, but if you're a widely read music critic, do you have the responsiblity to be constructive with your criticism and not just be like "THIS SUCKS?" Either way, RIP man. Suicide's always the saddest and most frustrating thing to see. It feels less like a failure of the person and more like a failure of the world around them.

EDIT: Oh shit, today would have been Chris Cornell's birthday. That can't be a coincidence. Sadder and fucking sadder. :(

I have a couple other posts I want to make, so I guess that's all for the update. Be nice to each other and keep on keepin' on. <3

Worst song ever?

Well, I hate to burst the positive bubble I've been in, but yesterday I was at the mall and... I heard it. The WORST SONG EVER WRITTEN (ending the tragically short reign of that new Fall Out Boy abomination). This song makes bro country sound like Johnny Cash. This song makes The Chainsmokers sound like Beck. THIS SONG MAKES THAT FUCKING FALL OUT BOY SONG SOUND GOOD. This song... makes me say ridiculous things.

You have been warned.



Yes, a "love" "song" with lyrics about "swiping right" and "tapping twice," and I don't want to live on this planet anymore. :( :( :( I'll be in my haunted treehouse on the moon.

At least the mall trip was successful. I got a sweet Oilers shirt, and in a youth size so it was cheap! #hobbitperks

Music Monday ~ Awesome Mix Vol. 2!!!

Guardians of the Galaxy speaks in music. It gets me. I think I was equally excited for the new soundtrack as I was the movie, and neither let me down. As for the movie itself, I have no words except it's funny and amazing and GO SEE IT. Also, I am Groot.

Back in 2015 I made my own Awesome Mix 2; songs I'd like to see on the next soundtrack. None of them were on it, but they did use an ELO song, so I'm half counting it. :) I love the choices they did make - I mean honestly, how did I not pick "Surrender???" And they even managed to dig up two songs I'd never heard before, a couple of one hit wonders that never made it out of the 70s. And they're good ("Lake Shore Drive" and "Wham Bam"). I think I love old music that's new to me even more than new music. Just great stuff, from Glen Campbell to Sam Cooke to Fleetwood Mac. I couldn't be happier, and eagerly await Volume 3!

It just hit me: I'm like the mom in the movie. I'm the girl who knew every word to every song on the radio (back in the day, obvs, not now).

Of my original list, four songs I'd really like to see on Vol.3:

1. September
Come on, Earth, Wind and Fire are like the ultimate GotG vibe band!

2. I Love a Rainy Night
Again, something about this song just vibes. I think it's from the early 80s, but it has that kind of upbeat 70s-ness to it.

3. Shambala
A 70s song that has that upbeat 70s-ness to it.

4. Crimson and Clover
Because it's one of my all-time favorite songs and also fits.

Also, "Bad Time" could be good for a romance subplot. I'm not sure there's really a good time to be in love when you're always out saving the galaxy. :D

The original list:

1. It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers

2. Takin' It To the Streets - The Doobie Brothers

3. Strange Magic - ELO (A lot of ELO songs fit, IMO. "Telephone Line" or "Do Ya" would be good too. Strange Magic is just my favorite)

4. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

5. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

6. Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells (oh please please please...)

7. September - Earth Wind and Fire (another band I really hope is included)

8. Shambala - Three Dog Night

9. I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (how perfect is this song??)

10. A Lover's Concerto - The Toys (TOTALLY UNDERRATED 60S HIT)

11. Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher and Higher) - Jackie Wilson

12. Bad Time - Grand Funk Railroad

A few other possibilities:

Crazy Circles - Bad Company
Working My Way Back to You - The Spinners
Little Bit of Soul - Music Explosion