It’s back! Yes, the inane wittering of yours truly, only in text form. I’ve lost a lot of confidence over the last two years, due to personal tragedy, so I’m finding it difficult to communicate vocally at the moment. Still, my fingers are as lucid as ever, so I thought I’d regularly jot down here some of the cultural stuff I don’t feel moved to write more complex reviews about. It’s also a chance to give first impressions of things that, knowing my changeable mental state, I’ll probably not complete anyway. So, basically, there’ll be a lot of “Well, this TV series at least starts off well…”.
Quality all the way, folks!
I’ve called this “Issue 1” as, let’s face it, it’s been seven years since the 27th and last episode of the podcast version, which nobody ever listened to anyway. So let’s start afresh! I gave the podcast a good shot though, so it’s not like a rage-quit after two episodes.
So, without further ado, let us indeed whittle!
SOBS
I’ve gotten into East Asian indie bands in recent years, finding some life-changing artists from countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan. I’ve had a dry spell with them over the past quarter or so but, as always, I think I have eventually made my way back. Sobs is from Singapore, I believe, and the band produces some fantastically upbeat indie-pop. I don’t think, in their two albums so far, there’s been a single song in a minor key. I need this at the moment. Being a lifelong fan of dour stuff, I’m finally in a place where I need an emotional energy boost. Anyway, I initially thought, for some strange reason, that Sobs were a two-member DIY “bedroom band”, but it terms out that they are six of the fuckers. And they tour. I get very odd notions sometimes. The singer has an adorable lisp, as if she’s wearing braces, which gives their music a cute edge. I don’t know whether she adopts the lisp just as an affectation for work, but it does it for me. Their last album was a couple of years ago, so I’m hoping some new stuff is along the way. I recommend “Vacation”, “Eastbound”, and “Friday Night”, for anyone curious.
MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS
I’m definitely more familiar with the Monty Python films than the TV series, although I’m sure I would have caught some of it when I was a kid. Because of this unfamiliarity, I thought it was time to bite the parrot and dive into the boxset. This is not a difficult task, as it’s all so much fun. Counterculture in the 1960s was never so easily digestible. The Python’s are essentially mocking the innate seriousness of society, but without being mean-spirited about it. I suppose nowadays you’d get sociopathic frat-boys doing this sort of thing, only with none of the subtlety or intelligence. I guess wanking off a horse is funny to somebody though. Sigh. So, yes, I’m not very far into this set as yet, but I’m recognising plenty of their classic sketches already. The menus on the DVD are rather hard for me to navigate, but that may be to do with my forever-deteriorating eye condition. They just seem unnecessarily complex and stylised. There’s also no “play all” function, which is the greatest sin a TV series boxset can commit.
THE PYTHON YEARS
Ha! Speaking of Monty Python, I thought I’d look into whether there was a making-of in audiobook form somewhere, to listen to as a companion piece. It turns out Michael Palin has published his diaries from the era, and what’s more… I already own them! Yes, I am apparently that dumb and forgetful. So, yes, lying in bed last night with Palin whispering into my ears made for a very nice treat indeed. I could have met him about ten years ago actually, when he did a brief lecture in Sheffield about one his new books, but I got too nervous about going up to him. Knowing me, I’d have dwelt heavily upon the moment for the rest of the life, letting my own anxiety ruin everything Monty Python had ever done. My brain’s like that, you see. It likes to attack me. Anyway, so far, the set of diaries are an interesting look into life in the 60s, plus it’s cool being privy to casual interactions with such great talents off-camera. Getting to hear about Palin having a picnic with Terry Gilliam, one of my favourite film directors, is just delightful. Isn’t that every nerd’s fantasy? Just say “yes”, so I don’t feel so creepy. I thank you.
ASH VS. EVIL DEAD
I’ve been trying to get through this series since it first came out, but I’m finally getting there. I guess I just kind of don’t want it to end, so I’m savouring it like a fine wine. I’m glad they only made three seasons though, as TV shows usually run out of steam around that point. Still, it’s the perfect continuation of the fun side of Evil Dead. I don’t think many people count the original film, a bit like the first series of Blackadder, as it is very dour. In fact, it plays out more like a tragic drama about a guy who’s friends succumb to mental illness. Anyway, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness are classics, and Ash vs Evil Dead fits right in there. There’s been a couple of dull episodes, which usually involve characters running around a dark building for the duration, but every TV series has a “bottle episode”, the qualities of which vary wildly. I also jumped for joy, probably quite literally, when Lucy Lawless first appeared on screen. Is she immortal or something? Girl doesn’t seem to be aging. I’m guessing she doesn’t smoke or drink or has never been a head of state. Well, I’ve just started Season 3 and the going is still good, although some of the comedy schtick seems to be getting a little tired. We shall see…
Well, that’s all for now, folks. I hope posting these digests inspires me to get more hobby stuff done, as I’ve become more nihilistic and low-energy than usual lately. I need stuff to pull me out of my funk, so recommendations are welcome!
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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