Five Song Sunday
I missed Friday somehow! Maybe it’s because I was in a rage fugue about America having concentration camps now. Because we are fucking monsters. But, okay, let’s try and momentarily distract ourselves with music. The Hold Steady – Denver Haircut Hey, The Hold Steady are back. Did they ever tour with Tom Waits? They should, as both tell stories in song format, usually about people who often don’t get songs written about them. Admittedly, Waits’ songs are usually much sadder. Malibu Ken – Corn Maze I have been leaning on this entire album lately for support. It calms my nerves, for reasons I can’t quite explain. Except it beautifully encapsulates how fucked up the world is right now, with great flow and a soothing, almost ambient background...
Read MoreSome Rifftrax Recommendations
Everybody knows I’m a fan of MST3K, but, in these dire and dismal times, we all need to laugh. So I decided to go ahead and recommend some Rifftrax for those who might be new to it, and not sure where to start. (Also, they’re having a father’s day sale, so now is the time!) Of course, humor is subjective, and your mileage may vary. But I tried to narrow it down to the most ridiculous. Because, as in all thing, a solid foundation is a great place to start. R.O.T.O.R. – This has to be the quintessential Rifftrax, because the movie – even without the riffing – is extremely silly. An ’80’s mash up of both The Terminator and Robocop, this movie boils down to a mechanical cop going rogue. But it doesn’t encapsulate the insanity of this...
Read MoreFive Song Friday
Mostly new, but one really old one, because it is still relevant, somehow. God, the world’s a fucking mess. Metz – Dry Up Okay, let’s get noisy. Although, for Metz, this isn’t that noisy. Maybe an eight and a half on their scale. But hey, Canada won a sport last night! So we needed some Canada rep. Brutus – Cemetery ‘Speaking of noisy, here’s a slice of aggression from Brutus. I’m not sure if the video is genuine, ironic, or a bit of both. You decide. Sarah and the Safe Word – Dead Girls Tell No Tales On a different tip entirely, enjoy this band, who I don’t know a lot about, but I like their style. I’m sorry I didn’t find a video for them. Christelle Bofale – Origami Dreams Let’s try something a little more...
Read MoreFlash fic – A Portrait of an Artist in Repose
I had an odd idea for a flash fic set in the Infected world, in the form of an interview with Dylan. Minor spoiler alert if you haven’t read the series, but why are you here if you haven’t? ** Now that Dylan Harlow is leaving the art world, collectors can’t get enough of him. “The art world is ridiculous,” the handsome artist says, gripping a glass of iced tea. “No one can buy it anymore. The one percent have made sure that only they can afford art, and yet most artists are starving anyway. Late stage capitalism is fun, huh?” He says this with a great deal of irony, especially considering he is speaking from the dining room of a neat, well appointed house on the outskirts of Vancouver. Through a gauzy curtain, the backyard is visible, as is his...
Read MoreThe Josh of the Damned pre-order is live!
Not only does it have a spiffy new cover, but it has some never before published shorts included! Click here!
Read MoreFive Song Friday
As America sinks deeper and deeper into autocracy, I thought I’d do this in case you didn’t want to think about how bad things are. (On the plus side, we probably have only a decade or so before global climate change kills us all, so that’s something to look forward to.) Anyhoo, let’s enjoy some new music while Rome burns. Marika Hackman – I’m Not Where You Are A lesbian break up song? The video makes it look that way. I’m here for it. Otherwise, the song is very catchy for being rife with alienation. Russian Circles – Arluck The heavy instrumentalists are back, to soundtrack the end times. Sounds good to me. seablite – There Were Only Shadows For those who need something a bit more shoegaze-y, here’s some for you. Torche...
Read MoreA Boy and His Monster – The Beginning
Remember A Boy and His Monster? That short about the guy who somehow made a connection with a kaiju as a kid, and grew up as its caretaker? I threatened to write a novel about it, and I decided to treat you to the flashback of the meet cute between Toshi and Jerry, the big monster he calls his best friend. It a first draft, but I wanted to prove to you I am indeed writing this thing. I mean, why not? Who else is going to write a found family kaiju story if not me? (Please don’t answer that.) Tokyo, Japan – 2001 Toshi looked out at the ocean, and wondered if it hurt to die. It probably depended on how you died, right? Like dying in your sleep probably didn’t hurt. But what about a car crash? You’d think that would hurt. Aunt Hanako and Uncle Takara...
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