#tim is danny post experimentation

[flamingpudding]

Part 5 of Ghost Kid in Gotham

For those that ask, yes an AO3 link is in the works. I will post it once its ready. Also fair warning, I will be focusing on DPxDC Family Week now so I have no idea when the next part will be up.

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Thrill and chirp brother

Tim sipped on his n-th cup of specially made Tim-brand-not-Alfred-approved coffee as he shuffled into the dinning room and sat down on the breakfast table. The moment he sat down he opened the laptop again and stared at its screen for a couple of seconds. The scan of the post-it note got nothing. None of the squiggles was recognised in any of the so far known languages. Hell he even ran it through the leagues recordings of interdimensional and interplanetary known languages. No hits so far. Right now he was running a picture recognition program to see if any of these had appeared before it was on 90% with nothing found so far.

Good he hoped this really was just a prank from Cass and Steph. Because if it wasn't, Bruce would go nuts and overly paranoid as well as up the entire Manors security system a third time this month. Sadly, despite his hope, Tim knew that it wasn't a prank.

A cough resounded behind him and Tim blinked two times before sighting, closing the laptop and pushing it only a couple of inches away from him as Alfred put a plate with his breakfast before him. Knowing Alfreds rules about work at the table he would better not touch it again for now.

"Replacement, you look like the dead walking. Did you even sleep last night?" He glared at his brother before he blinked taking in his surroundings before his eyes rested on little Danny.

Tim could see that all of them, despite barely knowing the kid for a couple of hours, had already become attached to Danny. It didn't help that they had discovered Lichtenberg scarring running up Danny's left arm all the way to where his heart was after the child had finally let Damien take care of him. Hell Tim wanted to know who would give a child, a once dead then revived one, scares like that. If Talia had let the kid go through some sort of experimentation…. Well Tim knew where the explosives were stored and by the looks of it he probably could count on Jason's as well as Dick's help to blow up a league facility.

Either way Damien had become very protective of the child. The scarring didn't help calming that protectiveness either. In fact he was pretty sure it steered it more in the rest of them too. Also the fact that Danny spat out glowing Lazarus Water once they managed to wrangle the kid off Jason last night wasn't calming down a different kind of worry anytime soon either. No, it was another factor next to the scarring that spoke for the League having experimented on the poor child. He probably should start investing more time into what sort of facilities the League had built or was using lately.

On a good note, thankfully Danny had let up on Jason after he spat out the green goop and thanks to the fact that he apparently recognised Damien, let said teenager manhandle -cough- take care of the little biter for the rest of the night. It also seemed like the little guys biting obsession with Jason had calmed down, for now. He didn't trust the calm, especially not with the way Danny was still focused on his second oldest brother. Though everyone except for the demon brat was still getting the hissing treatment. Considering his theory that the League probably used the revived child to experiment with Lazarus Water, it wasn't that much of a surprise. Anyone would be feral after being subjected to experiments.

Thankfully it looked that whatever Pit Madness had overcome the child last night was not reacting towards them. But as he watched Dick trying really hard not to pout at Damien who had Danny in his lap in a protective hold, he wondered how long that would hold. Jason sat as far away from Danny and Damien as he could, probably because of the way the child was watching him with glowing blue eyes while munching on whatever food Damien gave to the little biter.

He could also see the reason for Dick's pouting as the elder reached out to attempt to ruffle Danny's hair but the child instantly snapped his head in their eldest brother's direction, hissing, bearing his teeth and even snapping at the air until Dick withdrew said hand again. A pout very evidently on his face. Like a switch flipped the child's focus would then redirect to watching Jason like a hawk again and munching on the food the Demon brat gave him.

At least he was the bitey type that would hiss as warning and not the stabby kind without warning like Damien.

"Yo, anyone at home up there?"

Turning his focus back to his second oldest brother Tim glared at him once more. "If you have to know. Yes I did sleep last night."

"More than one hour?" Dick asked next and Tim refused to look at the eldest. He was not going to answer that. He had coffee, who needed sleep when you have coffee. Besides, he was a perfectly functioning human being even with minimal amounts of sleep. He had not face planted his breakfast for three days now.

"What got you so obsessed that you didn't sleep, Drake? Another case? Or did you try to find out more from the League in regards to Danyal's scars?"

"That too but mostly the post-it note." He finally answered after stewing a little longer under the stares of his siblings. "Neither our nor the JL's language recognition programs got a hit and right now I am running a picture recognition to see if there ever was any kind of writing like that found before but it ran up to 90% before I came down and hadn't found anything like that before. And-"

"Slow down there Timber. I thought that's just a prank from Cass and Steph?" Dick interrupted him and Tim suppressed a groan.

"It couldn't be. I wish it was but both of them weren't in the Manor last night and I don't think Duke would do something like this so-"

"Hold up." Jason cut in and Tim glowered at them for getting interrupted again.

"What do you mean no language recognition program got a hit?"

"It means that there is no languages to translate-"

"Why would you need that? Yea its cryptic as fuck but its clearly written out!"

"Jason what are you talking about?" He opened his laptop again, turning the screen so it was facing Jason. "These are squiggles! How is it readable?!"

"The fuck you talking about?! Don't tell me your sleep deprived mind doesn't know how to read anymore?"

"Jason what does it say in your eyes?" Dick carefully cut in before Tim could question the other any more.

"'The daylight knight will tell the truth with eyes that see the light'. See cryptic as fuck." The older gesticulated towards Tim's laptop screen while Damien raised an eyebrow at him.

"The what now, will tell what?" Dick asked confusedly while Tim turned the laptop back towards him noting down what Jason just said. He was confused as to why Jason was able to read the squiggles but at least that gave him some kind of hint about the post-it. Aside from adding more questions to the already growing pile.

Suddenly a thrilling noise echoed in the room and the four looked at Danny. The child's now green eyes were focused on Jason. Tim could see Damiens hold tightening and Dick tensing when they noticed the green. Danny repeated the same nose he made earlier, still intensely staring at Jason.

"Who the fuck is clockwork?"

The green fated and Danny made a similar noise to chirping, his head tilting in confusion.

"The fuck you mean you don't know? You just said that Clockwork wrote the note?!"

"Todd. Did you just understand the noise Danyal was making?"

Once again the three of them stared at Jason who looked at them confused. "You didn't?"

They shake their heads and Jason let out a frustrated groan as he sat back down his head in his hands. "What did you assholes hear just now?"

"Danyal made some kind of thrilling, then chirping noise."

"Well I heard him say that someone named Clockwork wrote the note and then he said all confused that he doesn't know who Clockwork is." He looked at them frustrated. "Why do I hear the kid speak and you guys don't. You're his fucking twin, right? Shouldn't you know what the brat is saying?"

Damien glowered at their brother offended but didn't retort anything. Tim did see a hint of frustration with their formerly youngest and he could guess. Damien was most likely frustrated about the fact that Jason understood his twin's noises and he didn't. The only thing stopping him from possibly hurling the breakfast knife at Jasons, was most likely his hold on Danny.

Tim also thought about the fact for a while until it suddenly hit him. He looked up and made eye contact with Dick who most likely came to the same conclusion. The two turned towards their siblings.

"The Lazarus Water." Tim carefully offered, watching Jason and Damien tensed slightly.

"What about it?" The second oldest scoffed, turning his attention towards them.

"That's what you two have in common. Both of you got revived and came back through a Lazarus Pit. You still have the Pit in your mind right? And Danny most likely also has a lot of it in his system. It even mixed with his DNA."

After a beat of silence Jason let out a hearty groan. "Fuck. So because of the Pit I understand thrill and chirps now? Just fucking great!"

"Probably can speak it too if you try. That would be pretty cute. Come on, say something in a chirp!" Leave it to Dick to try to lighten the mood, though the glare Jason sent the eldest did make Tim hide a chuckle. He had to admit imaging Jason talking in chirps was a funny image. Should his brother ever do that he would need to make sure to take a video for his black mail folder.

"I will fucking not!"

"Come on, don't you want to communicate properly with our little teethling here?"

"Fuck off Dick!"

"You have to try it Jaybird! For little teethling!"

"Richard." Damien warned but Tim could only snicker as he watched Dick reach out to pat the kids head carelessly, apparently not hearing the warning nor hissing as the elder was too engrossed in convincing Jason to talk in chirp.

Dick let out a shriek of pain.

"Ha! Not so fun getting bitten is it now?" Jason laughed gloating with the fact that for once he was not the biting target.

Tim winched the moment he saw Danny clamp down with his sharp teeth on Dick's hand. Damien was instantly scowling both of them but the little biter refused to let go. He saw Alfred approaching the three and instantly stood up from his chair with a warning on the tip of his tongue as the butler reached out towards Danny.

"Master Danyal." Stunned and frozen the four brothers watched how the butler fearlessly patted the child's head who only let out a small hiss in acknowledgement, teeth still digging into the eldest brother's hand. "I request you let go of Master Dick's hand. I fear it will not taste as well as this snack I have prepared for you."

In an instant Danny let go and chirped, turning his attention towards Alfred who was still patting the child's head without getting hissed at or being in risk of getting bitten. Damien even let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you Pennyworth."

Dick was now cradling his hand, pouting and mumbling something about unfairness at the three as Jason laughed. Tim too couldn't help but chuckle, of course Alfred somehow became an exception towards Danny's biteyness.

It was at that moment that Duke entered the room, took one look at them, blinked, rubbed his eyes and then turned around and left again muttering something about it being too bright and early for any of this.

[millylotus]

DeadLights [Danny x Duke | DP x DC] Masterpost

THE WINNER OF THE POLE IS DEADLIGHTS!!! FUCKING LOVE THAT!!! Here's the masterpost for all the contestants, all of them will be posted in due time :]

So this post is going to have all the AUs in a line, and if you don't wanna be jumping around on Tumblr, I'll be posting these on Ao3 and Wattpad soon.

Spotify Playlist

GENERAL NOTES

Just the things that are gonna be consistent across all the AUs unless I say so.

Pt.2 [Claim Sheets]

THE FICS | AO3 SERIES

I SEE ALL OF YOU & YOU ARE MAGNIFICENT - monster x monster :

Danny and Duke see each other for the first time and are absolutely mesmerized by how gorgeous the other is. They fail to realise that being around another monster has made them both more comfortable letting their glamours fall.

MEMES!!!

WRITTEN IN THE STARS, BEFORE WE WERE EVEN BORN - betrothal au :

Light and Time met at the beginning of existence and made a deal. To make sure the other wouldn't back out and take everything, they invested in a collateral. Two of their kin to be born, will be wed. Betrothal contracts were not what Duke or Danny wanted for breakfast.

MEMES!!!

"YOU TAUNT ME, I CHASE YOU" "YOU CATCH ME, THEN LET ME GO" THEY DO IT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY - bat x cat :

Catwoman has a Kitten following her around, and that Kitten just so happens to like messing around with Batman's Sunshine Birdy. No Duke isn't a furry, Tim shut the fuck up you still haven't confessed to Kon! He and Bruce don't have the same type! Besides, the new kid Danny is much prettier than Selina's nephew. Tucker and Sam say Danny has a "vigilantes who can beat his ass" thing, which is stupid cause it's more of a "people who can beat his ass" thing. Cause like Duke Thomas from Algebra is hot.

MEMES!!!

MESMERIZED BY A BANSHEE'S SCREAMS - rockstar au :

Ember, Johnny, and Danny decided to fuck off to Gotham and start a punk-rock band. The new band that Dax found is fucking amazing, but Duke's eyes keep drifting to the pretty bassist.

No Memes, but there's a Spotify playlist on the post!

RASBERRY & LEMON DELIGHTS - countryboy!danny x emopunk!duke :

Duke and Damian go to the Kents for the summer, just for fun. The cute boy from the farm on the edge of town is definitely making the summer less lonely and more fun, they get to make sweets together. Danny is taking a gap year and has been staying with his Aunt Alicia since last summer. Things are boring until their closets neighbors the Kents get visitors. Hanging out with the pretty punk boy is making farm life fun.

MEMES!!!

THE CORPSE GROOM - corpse bride au :

Duke makes the mistake of playfully preforming wedding vows while playing pretend, and just so happens to put one of his rings on a branch that is not a branch. Now he's stuck in the underworld with a clingy new husband who insists that they're made for each other. TW: KIDNAPPING, NON-CON TOUCHING, OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR, THREATS ON ONES LIFE - when you think about it the Corpse Bride is a fucked up story, this Au doesn't get anywhere near the topic of sex or anything sexual, but Danny is mentioned and stated to be overly touchy with Duke when he doesn't want it

MEMES!!!

What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas - drunk vegas wedding :

It's completely on accident when they wake up in each other's arms thinking they're married. Danny was just so nice to get that creep away from Duke. Duke was happy to have a new friend to hang out with. Neither where all there during the wedding. The dress and suit are very pretty though. TW: DUBIOUS-CONSENT - both Duke & Danny where kinda drunk when they have sex, even though I didn't right the scene it's literally stated as INSERT SEX SCENE

MEMES!!!

"LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOV~" - love pollen :

The Everlasting Trio is visiting Gotham for a nature convention/meet up thing. A villain just so happens to attack and Poison Ivy takes great offense to them attack the few humans who care. During the scuffle Danny gets hit with a boat load of experimental pollen Ivy was making. Signal just so happens to be the hero who finds him among the rumble. Also being the first person Danny lays eyes on.

DANI DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY BUT ACCIDENTLY CALLING MR.THOMAS DAD ANYMORE - teacher x single parent :

When Danny & Ellie where traveling around the world, Dani makes the mistake of accidently drinking some Lazarus water. With his daughter rapidly de-aging to a six-year old, Danny runs and finds his sister. Jazz suggests getting Ellie enrolled in a night school, and for Danny to get a job gooning for a bit. It's a plus that Mr.Thomas isn't all that hard on the eyes.

MINI FICS

I WANNA BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, NEVER FEELS LIKE I AM - popular boy!duke x loner new kid!danny :

The portal to the Ghost Zone has finally closed and The Fenton's decided that it's better for them to just start anew and move to Gotham. Danny's never been the new kid, but he can be the weird loner. People have always adored Duke because of the way he shine like no other, and Gothamites had never experienced that before. Duke never got a big head about it, his mother never let that happen. But that doesn't mean he didn't become the most popular boy where ever he went.

MEMES!!!

MESMERIZED BY A BANSHEE'S SCREAMS - rockstar au :

Ember, Johnny, and Danny decided to fuck off to Gotham and start a punk-rock band. The new band that Dax found is fucking amazing, but Duke's eyes keep drifting to the pretty bassist.

No Memes, but there's a Spotify playlist on the post!

GHOSTLIGHTS EVENT FICS - @dcxdp-ghostlights

To See Your Face Again, is to remember you're not really there - 'I thought I knew you' :

Join Me, he beckoned. Stay With Me, he cooed. Love Me, he demanded.

He didn’t need to ask for the last one.

PENDING FICS THAT MIGHT HAPPEN

Myths

Hades x Persephone : Either or really

Eros!Danny x Psyche!Duke

Atalanta!Danny x Meleager!Duke

Noble Boy!Duke x Kitsune Servant!Danny

Dynamics

Rivals to Lovers

Guardian Angel!Duke x Demon!Danny

Bodyguard!Danny x Famous!Duke

Actor!Duke x Techie!Danny

General

Secret Identity Shenanigans

Royalty

Hanahaki Disease

Dancing

Roommates

Neighbors

Coffee Shop

Fairies

Space Things

Fake Relationship

Swapped Phones

Haunted Houese

POV Outsider : Who's your boyfriend? | Those two are so weird | Accused of cheating with your partner's secret identity

Messy Relationship [I like Drama] : Stalking | Kidnapping | Break Ups | Cheating on each other | Cheating on their partners with each other

Soulmates : Timer to meeting | Timer to Death | Death Marks | First Scars | Soul Marks | Red String | Body Swap | Body Doodles | Black & White then Color | Soulmate Goose of Enforcement [I said what I said]

ngl I am so fucking proud of this banner, worked so fucking hard on this bitch MM!

They're free to use with credit btw [with like a few minor nonos]

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Ghost Kid in Gotham

by FlamingPudding

Originally Posted Raw from Tumblr edited and revised for AO3.

Danny's Parents did not take the truth very well. Clockwork only saw one way to make sure that the Timeline would not become a doomed one and for his King not to lose his humanity. So he entrusted Danny to Lady Gotham who gave him to his rightful family.

Damian did not think he would ever meet his twin again after he had killed him. But now he was faced with his twin at the age he had died at and it looked like his mother had not only preserved his twins body but also put him through experiment's concerning Lazarus Water.

Words: 2578, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Characters: Danny Fenton, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Duke Thomas, Bruce Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Batfamily Members, Jazz Fenton, Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Dan Phantom, Tucker Foley, Sam Manson

Relationships: Danny Fenton & Damian Wayne, Danny Fenton & Jason Todd, Batfamily Members & Danny Fenton

Additional Tags: Original Raw Chapters were posted on Tumblr, Revised Version of Tumblr Posts, Danny Fenton and Damian Wayne are Twins, Twin AU, De-Aged Danny, Feral Danny Fenton, Ghost King Danny Fenton, De-aged Danny still has his ghost powers, Protective Damian Wayne, Protective Jason Todd, WARNING: Mentions of dissection and experimentation, Slow To Update, Originally Posted on Tumblr, Chapters get updated after editing the original post, no beta we die like danny, DP X DC

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/48833713

[merzbow]

Who are some of your fav non-white musicians? They are incredibly underrepresented and I really want to listen to and support more of them

oh my god, where to start? there’s so many and it’s all like, varying across a bunch of genres and some aren’t the most accessible but i’ll name the ones off the top of my head, some with description so you can decide who to listen to from what you think you might like.

The Mars Volta — progressive rock. one of my favorite bands of all time. almost everyone that played in TMV was/is non-white (and they had a lot). TMV was the Omar and Cedric show, but there would be no TMV without founding members Jon Theodore (one of my favorite drummers of all time) and the late Ikey Owens (who was their pianist). listen to De-loused in the Comatorium (2003) from beginning to end, and if you end up liking TMV, then work your way through their discography. it’s worth it.

At the Drive-In — post-hardcore, progressive. Omar and Cedric’s previous band. the most influential, and arguably the most important post-hardcore band of all time. every one except Jim Ward and his replacement is non-white. start with their third studio album Relationship of Command (2000), and if you have never heard their song One Armed Scissor, you absolutely have to.

Omar Rodríguez-López — progressive rock, indie pop, almost every genre under the sun. one of my favorite guitarists of all time. it’s impossible to condense his 49 album discography (and those are just solo albums) into a blurb so i’m not gonna try. afro Puerto-Rican. multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, to name a couple), producer, composer, songwriter, director. it’s easier to list the things Omar isn’t and hasn’t done.

Dance Gavin Dance — post-hardcore, progressive. DGD has a long, complicated history, but almost every album they have ever released is solid. their guitarist, founder, and honest-to-god visionary Will Swan is one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Will is black and latino (specifically half Mexican). i’ve been a fan since 2010. the best albums to start with are probably the last two latest releases which are Artificial Selection (2018) and Mothership (2016), but my personal favorite albums are Dance Gavin Dance (self-titled, 2008), Happiness (2009), and Acceptance Speech (2013)

the rest of the recommendations are under this read more bc this is long.

Hail the Sun — post-hardcore, progressive. Donovan Melero is one of my favorite drummers of all time, he’s also the front man/vocalist of HTS. He’s Latinx, specifically Mexican-American. Guitarist Aric Garcia is also Latinx. my favorite HTS album is Wake (2014), but their latest album Mental Knife (2018) is a good place to start. 

Sianvar — progressive rock/post-hardcore. super group consisting of the previously mentioned favorites Will Swan (Dance Gavin Dance), Donovan Melero (Hail the Sun), and Sergio Medina (Stolas). they recently went on a indefinite hiatus/disbanded this year. they have one self titled EP released in 2014, and a studio album called Stay Lost (2016).

Secret Band — post-hardcore, progressive, on the heavy side. side-project/side-group of Will and the other DGD members, basically DGD without the clean vocals/singing.

Royal Coda — post-hardcore, progressive. super-group consisting of the (again) previously mentioned favorites Will Swan (Dance Gavin Dance), Donovan Melero (Hail the Sun), Sergio Medina (Stolas, Sianvar) and ex-Dance Gavin Dance singer Kurt Travis. definitely listen to Compassion (2019).

Frank Ocean — indie pop. probably the most popular artist i’ve mentioned, besides Earl, or DG, or Denzel. also probably my favorite singer of all time, also probably my favorite bisexual of all time. listen to Blond (2016).

Mitski —indie pop. Mitski is bisexual, Japanese-American woman. her music honestly means a lot to me, all the topics are so personally relatable as another bi asian girl. Puberty 2 (2016) is my favorite Mitski album.

Japanese Breakfast —indie pop. Michelle is a bisexual, Korean-American woman. listen to Psychopomp (2016).

FKA twigs—indie pop.Twigs is incredibly talented, if you like musicians like Kate Bush then she’s perfect for you; she makes incredible music and I couldn’t recommend MAGDALENE (2019) enough.

JPEGMAFIA — experimental rap. Peggy’s latest album All My Heroes Are Cornballs (2019) was released just recently (september 13!), while that’s a good album to start with i recommend starting with his second studio album Veteran (2018). favorite songs from Veteran to name a few are: Baby I’m Bleeding, I Cannot Fucking Wait Until Morrissey Dies, 1539 N. Calvert, and Rock N Roll is Dead.

Denzel Curry — experimental rap. start with Ta13oo/Taboo (2018), or ZUU (2019)

Danny Brown — experimental rap. start with either Atrocity Exhibition (2016) or XXX (2012), either way, you can’t go wrong.

Earl Sweatshirt — experimental rap. honestly, pick any of his three studio albums to listen to and you’re set, but Doris (2013) is probably the most accessible/easiest album to start with.

Death Grips — experimental rap. y’all already probably know who DG are and who Ride is, so i don’t have to introduce them/him. recommended: Exmilitary (2011), No Love Deep Web (2012), and The Money Store (2012).

Kero Kero Bonito — indie pop. Sarah Midori Perry, also known as Sarah Bonito, is British-Japanese. listen to Bonito Generation (2015)

Covet — math rock, instrumental. their front woman/guitarist, Yvette Young, is Chinese-American.

Stolas — post-hardcore, progressive. disbanded in 2018, still worth listening to. this is Sergio Medina’s original band, again if you ended up liking ATDI, or TMV, or DGD, you will absolutely love Stolas. Sergio is latino (specifically Mexican and Argentine), i absolutely love his guitar playing, he’s honestly so underrated.

honorable mentions, not necessarily my favorites but i do like and listen to these bands/artists/musicians.

Animals As Leaders — progressive metal, instrumental. there’s nothing about Tosin Abasi’s guitar playing i can say that thousand of others haven’t said before, he’s beyond amazing. Tosin is Nigerian-American, and AAL’s second guitarist Javier Reyes is latino. If you like heavy virtuoso/technical music like maybe, Dream Theater, then AAL is perfect for you.

Nova Charisma — progressive rock. this is Donovan and Sergio’s current side project, Nova Charisma is officially just a duo but their drummer is ex-Stolas drummer Carlo Marquez (who is close friends with both Donovan and Sergio). Nova Charisma is boneless TMV, and i mean that in a very good way (both Donovan and Sergio are heavily influenced by TMV and ATDI). that might change with future releases though, since they only have a three song EP out as of right now.

Periphery — progressive metal. guitarist and founder Misha Mansoor is insanely fucking talented. Misha is Indian-Mauritian.

Chon — progressive rock, instrumental. Mario Camarena, Nathan Camarena, and Esiah Camarena are all Mexican-American.

Polyphia — progressive rock, instrumental. Tim Henson, their guitarist, is half Chinese.

Trivium — early stuff is metalcore, current stuff is metalcore and thrash metal influenced american heavy metal Matt Heafy is Japanese-American, and does a mean James Hetfield impression if you’re into that.

popular/mainstream bands that have members of color and/or musicians of color that i also enjoy/love that you probably already know of:

Metallica (Metal/Thrash Metal. this one’s pretty obvious, since this is a Metallica blog… anyway, Kirk is Filipino (like me), and Rob is Mexican-American/latino.)

The Smashing Pumpkins (Rock. their guitarist, James Iha, is Japanese-American. you have to listen to Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.)

Jimi Hendrix (Rock. Jimi is black, and the greatest guitarist of all time, duh, i don’t have to explain this one.)

John Coltrane (Jazz. the jazz GOAT. listen to A Love Supreme.)

Miles Davis (Jazz. Miles is the GOAT beside Coltrane, if you’ve never listened to Bitches Brew you absolutely have to.)

Rage Against The Machine (Rap metal. Tom Morello is black and Zach de la Rocha is latino.)

Deftones (Rock. Almost all of the band members are latino, with the exception of their first bassist who was Asian and a couple of others.)

Jane’s Addiction (Hard rock. Dave Navarro is latino.)

Soundgarden (Grunge. Kim Thayil is Indian.)

Alice In Chains (Grunge. William DuVall is black and Mike Inez is Filipino.)

My Chemical Romance (Pop-punk. Ray Toro is latino.)

Fall Out Boy (Pop-punk. Pete Wentz is black.)

Playboi Carti (Rap. Carti’s black. please listen to Die Lit.)

Megan Thee Stallion (Rap. Meg is absolutely lovable and supremely talented, and I absolutely adore her. steam her music!)

LAST UPDATED: August 7, 2020

[lifeduringwar-time]

help I'm sort of getting into oingo boingo could you tell me a bit about them .x.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OKAY SO im not the best person when it comes to oingo boingos history (yet 👀) but ill tell you everything i know!

so you probably have heard of danny elfman before: hes the guy behind the simpsons theme song, the soundtrack of almost every tim burton film ever, the singing voice of jack skellington, etc. oingo boingo is the band he fronted from 1979 to 1995!

ob started out as a surrealist circus troupe called the mystic knights of the oingo boingo: it was formed by richard elfman (danny elfman, ob’s eventual frontman’s brother) in 1972 in california that lasted a good 7 years and was pretty popular in the areas of cali where they performed! most if not all of the original members of ob started out as a mystic knight, so even though they were all literal clowns back then this is basically where the band began siwhsnwmsksjsjsjs

over time richard passed on his leadership of the band to danny because of his increasing interest in filmmaking, which worked well for danny because he wanted the group to focus less on the theatrics and more of the music: this eventually culminated into forbidden zone, richard’s movie that was a send-off to the bands theater origins and a springboard for oingo boingo (the groups new shortened name) to launch their career as a new wave/ska band

ob wasnt a conventional band to say the least - they consistently had 8 members of their band throughout their career including a three-person horn section, id list all the band members in this ask but i think that could be a separate post entirely - but they released their first ep in 1979 and by 1981 had scored a record deal and released their first album only a lad! over the next thirteen years they released seven more studio albums each showcasing different genres of music, with the earlier albums having a more experimental ska punk sound and the last album just being straight up 90s alt rock (they got rid of the horn section in the last album smh)

it was around the recording of the last album where danny found himself losing interest in the band and ob ultimately decided to go on a farewell tour and disband in 1995 to focus on other projects like dannys film scoring career, etc. the band members still keep in touch with each other tho, and their work still lives on through their 8 studio albums and fans ofc!

hopefully this is a pretty okay job at explaining their history??? i hope it works for you sgsvsbssbsnsnsn

[aion-rsa]

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks Review: Sci-Fi Comedy Aims Low And Scores High

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

No one sets out to make a cult movie. Most filmmakers aspire to commercial heights even if they only have the budgets for a B-movie. They see films like Blair Witch realign box office accounting and apply all kinds of quantum physics to mimic the exponential multiplication. Very few achieve it, and the ones which do usually do it by accident, and certainly not with serious intent. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is not afraid to be ridiculous. It joins the ranks as such brave films as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, and Frankenhooker.

It is also so much more than these films, dripping with artistry, and yet considerably less, with masturbating aliens, pussy ping pong, and sphincter-pinching obelisks. Richard Elfman’s sci-fi comedy has an abundance of experimental fun and a happily reckless disregard for taste. It owes as much to Frank Zappa as it does to Frank Capra, and can in some ways be seen as a screwball comedy take on the 1955 film noir classic Kiss Me Deadly. For a silly film, Aliens, Clowns & Geeks summons serious plot twists. It captures the casual surrealism of the Marx Brothers in hyper-speed.

Though it’s not on the level as Forbidden Zone, how could it be? Elfman’s 1980 cult classic ranks way past closing time on the clock of midnight movies. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is still completely original. Unlike other films where low budget hobbles creativity, this uses a lack of funds to its advantage. In some ways this is like Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!, except done on one-thousandth of the budget and with 1/100th of the stars. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks marks the final feature film role for the late Verne Troyer (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Goldmember, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). His Clown Emperor Beezel-Chugg is a memorable turn. Narcissistic, lethal, and commanding, he is the Emperor of the Nine Planet Federation, and still gets hauled in for Illegal dwarf tossing.

The little clown who gets tossed around is played by Nic Novicki, but don’t feel too bad for him, he takes dirty pictures of nuns in porta-potties in his spare time. George Wendt plays a priest who condemns him to eternal damnation for it. French Stewart (Stargate, 3rd Rock from the Sun) gets the Fickle Finger of Fate Award for being able to maintain an Arte Johnson impression throughout a whole film as the German scientist Professor von Scheisenberg.

Mimicry is only one extra talent the actors bring into their roles. Rebecca Forsythe contorts her voice and face excruciatingly and exquisitely as Swedish lab assistant Helga. She’s studied quantum, subquantum and super-quantum dynamics, and delivers one of the greatest pickup lines in cinema history: “you would be surprised at how incorrect the calculations of many rocket scientists can be.” Her body proves to be equally supple whether during head-banging sex or in one-on-one martial arts combat.

No one quite makes the faces or shrieks the screams quite like Bodhi Elfman, who plays the lead, a jaded actor named Eddy Pine. Bohdi, the actor playing the actor, is a cartoon character masquerading as a person. His cynical Steve Buscemi-esque delivery grounds him even as the only missed opportunity in the film is a Looney Tunes sight gag where hens lay so many eggs they rise to the roof of Porky Pig’s barn. 

Happily, the camera turns away when the obelisk is introduced to the film. Whether it is just a worthless novelty or the key to the universe, Eddy’s anus is “the chosen portal.” The Chinese military wants the obelisk, there’s an intergalactic battle between alien clowns and green Martians over it, and Dr. von Scheisenberg wants to melt it down for clean energy. About a foot long, and looking like the Washington Monument with squiggly sub-particle lettering, it is also known as the jamtoid key, and is worth more than a three-picture deal, but “money won’t mean nothing if the world explodes.”

Elfman, who also directed Shrunken Heads, and Modern Vampires, has a background in theater, and uses troupe mentality by casting actors in multiple roles. Anastasia Elfman brings the fire of a true believer to five characters. Helga’s sister Inga is played by Angeline-Rose Troy, who also plays Eddy’s junkie-whore mother. The noises she makes in one particular chase scene is so alien and unexpected, it brings the whole movie to another level. Steve Agee plays Eddy’s recently transitioned Burlesque dancer and bar-owning sister Jumbo, as well as the chicken-suit wearing Eddy Pine. Richard Elfman plays the clown Da-Beep. Martin Klebba is an angry clown captain.

The final character is the original soundtrack, which upstages the action in the best of ways. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks could be called a musical, but not in the same way The Rocky Horror Picture Show is, even if there is gender fluidity flowing through it. For the film, Elfman reunited with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, who starred in Forbidden Zone. The score was written by Danny Elfman and Ego Plum. Danny Elfman wrote the theme song to The Simpsons, the music to Nightmare Before Christmas, and did the singing voice of Jack Skellington. Plum is best known for the noises he made for SpongeBob SquarePants and The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, but also plays in the band Mambo Demonico. Consisting of 75 minutes in a ninety-minute movie, the music makes the film unique. The diverse mix of genres makes the movie feel like live performance.

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is laid out in the three-act story structure of classic comedies. It is zany, evoking the feel that logic has been usurped by the most unreasonable intrusions. The film opens on the road. The first victim is a large biker clown who is mind controlled to be some kind of monosyllabic Terminator-style obelisk retrieval machine. Eddy is taking his sorrows for a swim in the deep end of a dive bar. His network series, “Cry Me Dry,” was cancelled a day before it was set to air. Their first encounter is inadvertently suspenseful, as the clueless Eddie chalks up a seemingly random request to another day in Hollywood. 

The movie then takes on a science fiction turn while keeping to an LA Noir sensibility, albeit with frenetic sexcapades (“May you procreate and spread your clown seed wide”), campy caricatures, vampy vehicular battles, and trampy throughlines. Masturbating aliens remotely manipulate blond femme fatales with X-box controllers, making the conquest of earth look like a video game. This highlights the depersonalization of battle, intergalactic or terrestrial. This very human alienation is further accentuated every time the green aliens have to get approval from corporate. There are impossibly surreal scenarios, like a ménage à trois scene where Eddy’s on the bottom and the POV shows the two girls on top. The scene ends in a nuclear explosion, topping the fireworks display of the first climax of Deep Throat. There is a head exploding scene which is more over-the-top than Scanners.

As comedy, each of the set ups have great payoffs, and the running gags never trip up, even if Eddy slips into Shakespearean soliloquies before exiting, stage left. Elfman mocks Hollywood itself, pointing out that the Beverly Hills Police Department only takes calls from celebrities while actors kiss ass on Hollywood Boulevard all day. The film even throws in visual sight gags, like a bucket of brains which is kept in a joint compound container labeled “head stuff.” One character is reading a book called “The Strawberry Fields of Heaven by Blossom Elfman.”

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Aliens, Clowns & Geeks makes no apologies. You just have to go with it. Groucho Marx once advised if nothing else is getting a laugh, “drop your pants.” This turns out to be the greatest weapon of the movie. It saves the day as much as it lowers the bar. It is worshipfully irreverent, and politically incorrect. There is no shame nor the slightest consideration given to cancel culture. “Life is complicated, take if from the guy with a dick in a dress,” we are advised in the film. Even insane biker clowns may not be what they seem. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is silly, goofy, stupidly intelligent, and absolutely what a mad scientist would order.

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks will be opening in a drive-in run, double billed with Forbidden Zone: Director’s Cut. Details will be announced. 

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[fanfictionlive]

Fanfic Recs

All are complete and in English.

Snapshots by meyari: What if Tim had followed Jason to Ethiopia? Tim follows Jason to Ethiopia when he tries to find his mother. At a critical moment Tim acts to save his hero, changing everything as a result of that one moment of bravery. (Rated T for teen, graphic depictions of violence, life threatening injury, minor character death, amnesia, paralysis, physical disability, parental neglect. Batman fanfic.)

Spirited Away by CoronaIgnis: Verb, past tense. Meaning: "To be abducted by supernatural entities." In this case, those entities would be wizards, and their abductee is none other than the very annoyed Danny Fenton. (Rated K+ for mild swearing. Harry Potter and Danny Phantom crossover.)

Missing Hood by Who First: What happens when Tim comes home early during the events of Under the Red Hood? (Rated M for lots of violence and swearing. Batman and Under the Red Hood crossover.)

Phantom of Truth by HaiJu: Locked away in a secret government lab with Phantom as her subject, nothing stands between Maddie and the truth... except, perhaps, herself. (Rated T for child harm, and experimentation.) Danny Phantom fanfic.

Help by Loxare: Red Hood never went to Gotham. Instead, he went to Bludhaven, to start his reign of terror away from Batman's sphere of influence. One night, one distraught teenager, and he gives away his phone number. "If you ever want to talk, or you need help or something, call me. I'll answer. I promise. And I'll do what I can. (Rated T for heavy subject matter including suicide, self harm, pedophilia, drugs, violence, hurt children, gangs, and an alternate universe.) Batman fanfic.

exactly how this grace thing works by irnan: Dick gets de-aged. You'd think this would be a routine thing. (Rated Gen for general audiences.) Batman fanfic.

I saw Grayson Kissing Santa Claus by pupeez4eva: It’s Christmas time, and Damian is on a mission - to stop this ‘Santa Claus’ fellow from molesting his older brother. (Rated Gen for general audiences. Swearing, discussion of sexual topics, some violence.) Batman fanfic.

all you have to do is call me by tanyart: Nathaniel keeps his promise. (Post-Ptolemy's Gate) (Rated Gen for general audiences, alternate universe.) Bartimaeus Trilogy fanfic.

Of Uruk by electrumqueen: Five stories of origin for the djinni known as Bartimaeus of Uruk, as told to Ptolemy of Alexandria over the course of his research. Some of them might even be true. (Rated Gen for general audiences.) Bartimaeus Trilogy fanfic.

The Plutonian Shore by Youko-Kokuryuuha: And so he sat there, on the plutonian shore, turning the piteous screams of the dead over and over again in his head. The downfall of a king was never graceful. (K+, OC, obsessive behavior.) Percy Jackson and the Olympians fanfic.

Percy's Bullies by Liana Legaspi: A collection of one-shots focusing on Percy's bullies. Chapter 1: While working at Caribou, Nancy recognizes an old rival. Chapter 2: Clarisse meets a chip-toothed punk. Chapter 3: Sloan meets his old nemesis in unlikely circumstances. Chapter 4: Isabel Gonzalez. Chapter 5: The "Old Sot." Chapter 6: Octavian. Chapter 7: Drew Tanaka. Chapter 8: Gabe Ugliano. Chapter 9: ? (Rated T for teen, bullying, mild swearing, mentions of child abuse, expanding on minor characters.) Percy Jackson and the Olympians fanfic.

Why One Must Not Attempt to Analyze a Child Genius by fiercejinx: "Artemis Fowl had retired half a dozen counselors from St. Barleby's already this year." Here's how. (Rated K, Ocs.) Artemis Fowl fanfic.

Irritation by Lexical Item: The psychiatrist spoke. "You might as well help yourself to a book, as it is your time that we're wasting." "You don't consider this a waste of your time?" Artemis enquired. "Oh no," the psychiatrist replied offhand. "I'm getting paid." (Rated K+, expansion on a minor character.) Artemis Fowl fanfic.

The Demigod Games by FandomsForeva: Once a year, 24 children are Reaped to participate in a fight to the death. This year is no different. From a blonde genius from 3 to a bitter black-haired boy from 12 to the reluctant green-eyed volunteer from 4, the contestants come from all walks of life. Still, they all have one common goal-to survive. Who will come out on top? (Rated T for Teen to M for Mature, lots of major character death, murder, swearing, child death, violence.) Hunger Games and Percy Jackson and the Olympians crossover.

And that's it!

submitted by /u/GreenGirlWriter [link] [comments] from FanFiction: Where Magical Ponies battle Imperial Titans http://ift.tt/2EuFUv2

[littlemusicreviews]

50 Best Albums of 2011

50. Battles – Gloss Drop [math rock / best tracks: “Ice Cream (feat. Matias Aguayo)”, “Wall Street”, “Rolls Bayce”]

49. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy [art pop / best tracks: “Strange Mercy”, “Year Of The Tiger”, “Cruel”]

48. Katy B – On A Mission [dubstep / best tracks: “Easy Please Me”, “Katy On A Mission”, “Why You Always Here”]

47. Radical Face – Family Tree: The Roots [indie folk / best tracks: “Always Gold”, “A Pound Of Flesh”, “Black Eyes”]

46. Natalia Kills – Perfectionist [electropop / best tracks: “Free”, “Heaven”, “Mirrors”]

45. Destroyer – Kaputt [chamber pop / best tracks: “Chinatown”, “Savage Night At The Opera”, “Poor In Love”]

44. Rustie – Glass Swords [wonky / best tracks: “Ultra Thizz”, “City Star”, “Death Mountain”]

43. Julia Holter – Tragedy [art pop / best tracks: “Goddess Eyes”, “Tragedy Finale”, “Try To Make Yourself A Work Of Art”]

42. Royal Headache – Royal Headache [garage rock / best tracks: “Really In Love”, “Honey Joy”, “Wilson Street”]

41. blink-182 – Neighborhoods [pop punk / best tracks: “Up All Night”, “Wishing Well”, “Snake Charmer”]

40. Go Radio – Lucky Street [pop punk / best tracks: “Lucky Street”, “Why I’m Home”, “Forever My Father”]

39. Sleeping With Sirens – Let’s Cheers To This [post-hardcore / best tracks: “If You Can’t Hang”, “Do It Now Remember It Later”, “Who Are You Now”]

38. Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes [pop punk / best tracks: “For You, And Your Denial”, “Hang You Up”, “Be The Young”]

37. Danny Brown – XXX [hip-hop / best tracks: “Lie4”, “I Will”, “Blunt After Blunt”]

36. Friendly Fires – Pala [indietronica / best tracks: “Hurting”, “Blue Cassette”, “Hawaiian Air”]

35. Foster The People – Torches [indie pop / best tracks: “Pumped Up Kicks”, “Houdini”, “I Would Do Anything For You”]

34. Lady Gaga – Born This Way [pop / best tracks: “Judas”, “Born This Way”, “Marry The Night”]

33. Set Your Goals – Burning At Both Ends [pop punk / best tracks: “Certain”, “The Last American Virgin”, “Product Of The 80’s”]

32. Macintosh Plus – Floral Shoppe [vaporwave / best tracks: “リサフランク420 / 現代のコンピュー”, “ECCOと悪寒ダイビング”, “Untitled”]

31. Jenny Hval – Viscera [art pop / best tracks: “Blood Flight”, “Milk Of Marrow”, “Black Morning / Viscera”]

30. Breathe Carolina – Hell Is What You Make It [electropop / best tracks: “Blackout”, “Sweat It Out”, “Waiting”]

29. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l [freak folk / best tracks: “Gangsta”, “My Country”, “Bizness”]

28. Rihanna – Talk That Talk [pop / best tracks: “We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)”, “Where Have You Been”, “You Da One”]

27. Sparks The Rescue – Worst Thing I’ve Been Cursed With [pop punk / best tracks: “60 Minutes Of Fame”, “Saturday Skin”, “She’s A Bitch, And I’m A Fool”]

26. Lydia – Paint It Golden [indie rock / best tracks: “Get It Right”, “Hailey”, “Eat Your Heart Out”]

25. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes [indie pop / best tracks: “Sadness Is A Blessing”, “Love Out Of Lust”, “I Follow Rivers”]

24. Panic! At The Disco – Vices And Virtues [pop rock / best tracks: “The Ballad Of Mona Lisa”, “Ready To Go (Get Me Out Of My Mind)”, “Let’s Kill Tonight”]

23. Björk – Biophilia [experimental pop / best tracks: “Sacrifice”, “Virus”, “Mutual Core”]

22. Cults – Cults [indie pop / best tracks: “Oh My God”, “Go Outside”, “Abducted”]

21. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming [dream pop / best tracks: “Midnight City”, “Wait”, “Reunion”]

20. Adele – 21 [pop / best tracks: “Someone Like You”, “Rolling In The Deep”, “One And Only”]

19. Real Estate – Days [jangle pop / best tracks: “Easy”, “Municipality”, “Kinder Blumen”]

18. Washed Out – Within And Without [chillwave / best tracks: “Amor Fati”, “Before”, “A Dedication”]

17. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials [chamber pop / best tracks: “Never Let Me Go”, “Shake It Out”, “Lover To Lover”]

16. Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra [R&B / best tracks: “Songs For Women”, “Novacane”, “Swim Good”]

15. The Cinema – My Blood Is Full Of Airplanes [indietronica / best tracks: “Satellites”, “The Wolf”, “Kinetic”]

14. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972 [ambient / best tracks: “In The Air I”, “In The Air II”, “In The Air III”]

13. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues [indie folk / best tracks: “Blue Spotted Tail”, “The Shrine / An Argument”, “Lorelai”]

12. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver [indie folk / best tracks: “Holocene”, “Towers”, “Michicant”]

11. Beyoncé – 4 [R&B / best tracks: “Countdown”, “Love On Top”, “End Of Time”]

10. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica [ambient / best tracks: “Power Of Persuasion”, “Sleep Dealer”, “Explain”]

9. Britney Spears – Femme Fatale [electropop / best tracks: “I Wanna Go”, “Till The World Ends”, “How I Roll”]

8. Starfucker – Reptilians [electronic / best tracks: “The White Of Noon”, “Recess Time”, “Hungry Ghost”]

7. SBTRKT – SBTRKT [future garage / best tracks: “Wildfire (feat. Little Dragon)”, “Right Thing To Do (feat. Jessie Ware)”, “Go Bang”]

6. Ball Park Music – Happiness And Surrounding Suburbs [indie rock / best tracks: “It’s Nice To Be Alive”, “All I Want Is You”, “Alligator”]

5. Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind Of Fix [indie rock / best tracks: “Shuffle”, “Lights Out, Words Gone”, “Leave It��]

4. Mayday Parade – Mayday Parade [pop punk / best tracks: “Stay”, “When You See My Friends”, “Without The Bitter The Sweet Isn’t As Sweet”]

3. LIGHTS – Siberia [electropop / best tracks: “Banner”, “Day One”, “Toes”]

2. Vanessa Carlton – Rabbits On The Run [piano pop / best tracks: “London”, “Carousel”, “The Marching Line”]

1. The Wonder Years – Suburbia I’ve Given You All And Now I’m Nothing [pop punk / best tracks: “And Now I’m Nothing”, “Local Man Ruins Everything”, “Came Out Swinging”]

[all-they-say-is-na-na-na]

All They Say Is Na Na Na’s Favorite EPs of 2017

#25. ‘1UL’ by Danny L Harle (Bubblegum Bass/Electropop)

PC Music has always toyed between commercial dance-pop and experimental music, but this seems to be most straight-forward approach the former. Even though it could be improved in some ways, the EP ‘1UL’ contains Danny L Harle’s strongest material. The title track could easily be a number one hit if promoted the right way, and his collaboration with Carly Rae Jepsen “Happy All the Time”, despite not featuring Carly herself on the vocals, still has all the charisma of any of her pop anthems. It would be interesting to see how would his music translate to a full-length release, but if this is a little teaser, we should not worry.

Highlights: “1UL”, “Happy All the Time”

#24. 'Paradise' by ANOHNI (Art Pop/Electropop)

Last year, former Antony and the Johnson frontwoman ANOHNI released her debut solo album 'HOPELESSNESS', which was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2016, due its heavily political lyrical content and its production, handled by Oneohtrix Point Never and Hudson Mohawke. 'Paradise' is essentially a compilation B-sides from that album, which is mostly fine. The big single from this album is the title track, which is one of her best tracks under this moniker, but there are also some other nice tracks that, despite not being as good as the ones on her main album, are still worth a shot.

Let's hope she's not retiring

Highlights: "Paradise", "Jesus Will Kill You"

#23. ‘Steve Lacy’s Demo’ by Steve Lacy (Hypnagogic Pop/Alternative R&B)

Even though Steve Lacy is only 19 years old (and 18 at the time when he released his debut EP) he already has a quite long list of collaborators. After becoming a member of neo-soul band The Internet in 2015, he went on to work with Isaiah Rashad, Kali Uchis, Tyler the Creator and even Kendrick Lamar on one of the highlights of his latest album ‘DAMN.’, the song “Pride”. But his debut EP ‘Steve Lacy’s Demo’ remains one of, if not his strongest work. Even though it is quite short and seemingly simple, it feels like a really strong take on the post-Mac DeMarco sound of vaguely-psychedelic lo-fi indie-pop. But Steve’s own sound feels more full overall due to his strong melodies and excellent voice. We really need a full length album from this guy pretty soon, by the way.

Highlights: “Dark Red”, “Some”

#22. ‘Unalloyed, Unlicensed, All Night Long’ by Jesse Osborne-Lanthier (IDM)

The term “deconstructed club music” is thrown out way too easily these days, but it rarely ever feels accurate. Jesse-Osborne Lanthier’s latest EP for the Raster-Noton series, the last in their Unun series, is definitely “club” music, while simultaneously being challenging of its purpose and overall sound and aesthetic. Tracks like “Blackwell Dynonetics” or “Lick and a Promise” take elements from commercial EDM or trance, but doesn’t feel like a cliché, in fact, what Jesse does seems to be stripping it down to its most basic elements (like on “The Zika Slam”, where he takes that to its literal extreme) and it sounds like nothing else. Whether that is a “deconstruction” of typical club tropes is entirely based on the listener’s opinion, but one thing is certain, this EP actually sounds “fun” and promising for Jesse’s upcoming work.

Highlights: “Blackwell Dynonetics”, “Lick and a Promise”

#21. ‘Sudan Archives’ by Sudan Archives (Folktronica/Art Pop)

Sudan Archives is the project of singer, songwriter, producer and violinist Brittney Denis Parks, and this is her proper debut under this moniker. Having been part of a rather conventional pop and R&B band in her teens, she decided to take her own path as an experimental electronic artist, taking inspiration from Sudanese music, specially its usage of pentatonic scales and fiddles, as well the usage of violin in a non-traditionally Western way. But the R&B and pop influences are still very present on the record, overall it sounds a midpoint between tUnE-yArDs' deconstructed folk and FKA twigs' electronic-soul music, and definitely presents a very promising future for the artist.

Highlights: "Come Meh Way", "Paid"

#20. ‘Skin Companion EP II’ by Flume (Wonky/UK Bass)

Flume is one of the few producers who helped shaping the commercial club sound of the decade. But unlike all the other “chilltrap”/”future bass”/whatever producers, you can really tell when you are listening to a Flume song. And if his latest album ‘Skin’ was not enough, his companion EPs should not leave you a single doubt about it. The second one of those is probably the most “leftfield” out of them. Opening song “Enough” (feat. Pusha-T, delivering an excellent performance) is one of the most aggressive, jaw-dropping rap tracks that are closer to Death Grips than anything else. His other collaborations with Moses Sumney and indie-pop group Glass Animals have a more R&B-vibe which melts perfectly with the smooth production. It is dance music, it might get played in the radio, but it still feels unique. And extremely fun. Also, if you are not convinced about Flume’s greatness, just go to one of his shows. He really delivers.

Highlights: “Enough” (feat. Pusha-T), “Weekend” (feat. Moses Sumney)

#19. ‘KILL’ by Nkisi (Afro-House/Acid Techno/Hardcore EDM)

The Belgian-Congolese, London-based producer Nkisi is one of the founding members of the Afro-diasporic collective NON, and despite releasing a lot of killer music throughout these past few years and delivering excellent DJ sets as well, she never released an actual EP until now. ‘KILL’ shows everything that makes her one of the most interesting producers as of lately. In this release, hard-hitting techno, house, hardcore dance music, trance, kuduro (and smooth organic sounds that sound influenced by Central-African folk music and coupé-decalé, as you can hear on the rhythmic title track) and even the often-forgotten genre of gabber coexist - and all of that actually sounds cohesive. And if you are a fan of dance music, it should be impossible to miss this one.

Highlights: “Parched Lips”, “Kill”

#18. 'Tommy' by Klein (Sound Collage/Ambient Pop/Glitch)

By looking at this EP's cover (one of them, anyway) you might suppose this comes from PC Music... in a way, it kinda does, as the cover was made by Hannah Diamond. But, the music sounds nothing like it. At all. Having released music under NON Worldwide and Howling Owl, this is Klein's first release under Hyperdub... and doesn't sound like anything else ever done. While she has always done a very experimental take on the pop, R&B and gospel music she was raised with, this is absolutely unbelievable. One of the most mind-bending and occasionally disturbing releases of the year, probably the midpoint between Tim Hecker and like... Brandy. But still, completely unique.

Highlights: "Cry Theme", "Everlong"

#17. 'All Bitches Die' by Lingua Ignota (Death Industrial/Modern Classical)

This is probably one of the most abrasive releases of the year, but also one of the most vulnerable and personal. This is Lingua Ignota's (the project of musician Kristin Hayter) second EP this year, and explores themes of domestic violence and abuse in a very raw, angsty yet emotional way. But it also has some of the most interesting music to come this year, a combination of loud industrial-noise similar to that of Pharmakon or Dreamcrusher, combined with piano-and-vocal-centered classical music. It is not very accessible for those who are not already into those genres of music, but it still is an incredible, one-of-its-kind records.

Highlights: "Woe to All (on the Day of My Wrath)", "Holy is the Name (of My Ruthless Axe)"

#16. 'Shaneera' by Fatima Al Qadiri (UK Bass/Arabic Pop)

Fatima Al Qadiri has always been an artist who has explored the concept of identity and culture in a political context, from the fixation on Orientalism in 'Asiatisch', to the oppressive nature of 'Brute'. However, on 'Shaneera', she decides to take on LGBT identity in Arab countries. This is not only her best release to date because of its concept, but also because of its production. 'Shaneera' is probably her most fun, dancefloor-oriented project to date, mixing UK club music with Arabic pop and mahraganat, as well as funny and attitude-filled vocal samples from her collaborators, in a very inventive and unusual way.

Highlights: "Spiral" (feat. Bobo Secret), "Alkahaf" (feat. Bobo Secret and Lama3an)

#15. 'Whities 011' by Lanark Artefax (IDM/UK Bass)

Irish producer Calum MacRae has been music as Lanark Artefax for a couple of years, and has big fans such as Aphex Twin or Björk. His second EP, 'Whities 011', is a big example of why. A combination of techno, IDM, UK bass, grime and ambient music that sounds like both a combination of underground dance music genres of the past few years, and also something that has never been done before. Fans of atypical uses of vocal samples, dreamy atmospheres and weird rhythms will find a lot to like on this EP.

Highlights: "Voices Near the Hypocentre", "Hyphen to Splice"

#14. ‘Now That the Light Is Fading’ by Maggie Rogers (Art Pop/Synthpop)

The Maryland-born musician Maggie Rogers was discovered by Pharrell Williams, and her song “Alaska” became a cult hit thanks to the Internet. But there is more to Rogers than her potential to become a viral star. The previously mentioned track seems to pick up where Ellie Goulding’s debut ‘Lights’ left off (and actually succeeds at doing that) but the overall sound of ‘Now That the Light Is Fading’ feels more expansive. Tracks like “Dog Years” or “On + Off” take on a hazy-electro-R&B sound which sounds closer to a mix of Bat for Lashes and Nao, and fits perfectly with her soft voice. Her debut EP is, surprisingly, extremely strong, one of the best pop releases of the year so far, and shows that she has potential become a great artist on her own.

Highlights: “Alaska”, “On + Off”

#13. ‘Transphobic’ by Quay Dash (Hardcore Hip Hop/Experimental Hip Hop)

Quay Dash is not fucking around. The NY rapper came through with one of the most fun, diverse, innovative yet hard-as-fuck rap releases of the year. From the SOPHIE-produced opening track "Bossed Up" to the closing track "Decline Him", she proves that she's one of the better upcoming rappers. With an unbelievable flow, attitude and direct lines as well as a production that matches all of that, she is way better than most of the hip-hop acts in the mainstream nowadays, and definitely deserving of a spot in the limelight.

Highlights: "Decline Him", "Bossed Up"

#12. 'Alice Glass' by Alice Glass (Electropop/Post-Industrial/Glitch Pop)

2017 was a very intense year for Alice Glass. And not only because of the release of her debut solo EP, but also because she came forward about her experience in Crystal Castles, about being raped and abused by her bandmate, Ethan Kath, and the repercussions against that. Personally, while I always liked the EP (even though it was, understandably, quite divisive,) it truly clicked with me lyrically once she explained what happened. The lyrics deal with all the angst, sadness and confusion of being in that situation, along with the excellent production that accompanies it - musically, it combines the synthpop and punk vibes from her band, along with a more electronic production, influenced by industrial music, trap and even gabber. I really hope we do get an album from her next year, because I feel like we need more.

Highlights: "Blood Oath", "Natural Selection"

#11. coucou chloe - 'Erika Jane' (UK Bass/Experimental Hip Hop)

One of the best club music releases of the year was the second EP of French singer, rapper, producer and DJ coucou chloe. Having her music played by both Björk and Rihanna, her music is a very creative, minimal take on dance music, and 'Erika Jane' (also her birth name) proves that. The hip-hop influences are presented in the same way they appeared on Arca's first projects: very deadpan and at times impossible to wrap one's head around, but still extremely interesting for those who are interested in the genre.

Highlights: "GS", "Flip U" (feat. Sega Bodega)

#10. ‘Luz Mala’ by Bungalovv (IDM/Post-Industrial)

While the concept of “luz mala” (literally translated as “bad light”) does not appear on the whole concept of the Argentinian musician Bungalovv (member of the Buenos Aires electronic music collective TRRUENO) other than as an inspiration, his latest EP released under the Mexican-Canadian label Infinite Machine seems like a really odd take on the country’s folklore, both theme and sound-wise. Also inspired by African and Middle East rhythms, it takes on a sound that is decidedly “club-oriented”, yet feels innovative and playful, organic and industrial simultaneously. It is one of the label’s best releases in a while, something that trascends the usually vague term of “global bass” and does something actually exciting that will surely leave us waiting more (as the label promises an LP by 2018) and that is something to be excited for.

Highlights: “Ulna”, “Fémur”

#09. 'Shadow Expert' by Palm (Math Rock)

Palm are one of the most innovative new bands in rock music. Following their 2015 debut LP 'Trading Basics' with this EP, they leave the noisy intensity of their sound back then in favor of post-punk-influenced rock music with completely odd structures yet ridiculously catchy hooks, provided by both of the band's vocalists, Eve Albert and Kasra Kust. This sounds like a modern take on Battles or early Foals, but it is completely its own thing as well. Can't wait for their next album, 'Rock Island', to be released early next year!

Highlights: "Walkie Talkie", "Shadow Expert"

#08. ‘EP II’ by Buscabulla (Synthpop)

When people talk about music from Puerto Rico, the first things that tend to come to mind from there are salsa, bachata, reggaeton and so on. In theory, Buscabulla would be an exception, but does not mean that the Caribbean influences in their music are not present. That is probably the thing that distinguish them from any other of their contemporaries. While on their debut, self-titled EP the influences were a bit less obvious, at a musical level ‘EP II’ shows them being more unafraid and unashamed to show them. Their lyrics and music are likely influenced by the experience of living the USA as Latin American people, trying to reconnect with their roots. And their approach has a very successful result.

Highlights: “Tártaro”, “Frío” (feat. Helado Negro)

#07. ‘Finding People’ by Croatian Amor (Sound Collage/Post-Industrial/Minimal Synth)

Danish producer Loke Rahbek, member of bands such as Damien Dubrovnik or Lust for Youth, released this EP earlier this year as Croatian Amor, in which he makes the perfect "bubblegum industrial" album, finding the midpoint between experimental sound collage pieces and sweet, almost poppy synth melodies. 'Finding People' comes from an alternate world where the most influential Kate Bush track isn't "Wuthering Heights" or "Running Up That Hill", but "Waking The Witch" or even "Hello Earth". Personally, this EP was the soundtrack of my winter.

Highlights: "Sky Walkers", “Keepers”

#06. ‘ADD VIOLENCE’ by Nine Inch Nails (Electro-Industrial/Industrial Rock)

Last year, Nine Inch Nails released an EP called 'Not the Actual Events', which was probably their most abrasive, most metal release since the 'Broken' mini-album. Personally, I was into it, but my favorite NIN EP was without a doubt this EP. It is abrasive and experimental, while maintaining the "poppy" elements of their 2013 'Hesitation Marks'. From lead single "Less Than" (which was a minor radio hit in Alternative radios) to the William Basinski-esque loop on the ending of "The Background World", this might be one of the best things Reznor ever made (in my opinion, at least) and proves that Nine Inch Nails still have a lot to give.

Highlights: "The Background World", "Less Than"

#05. ‘When I Was Young’ by MØ (Electropop/Art Pop)

I was personally surprised by this EP. While I never really lost faith in MØ, after her singles I thought she'd make something that would be completely radio-oriented pop. I guess I was wrong and I'm thankful for it! The surprise-released 'When I Was Young' EP back to her debut album 'No Mythologies to Follow' but still feels a little more accessible and playful. While "Roots" and "Run Away" are both gorgeous Dirty Projectors-esque art-pop ballads, the title track and "Linking with You" have more colorful dancehall vibes. But the EP's strongest tracks are "Turn My Heart to Stone" and "BB", both career highlights. This might be my favorite release of hers, and I'm definitely down to hear more of this stuff.

Highlights: "BB", "Turn My Heart to Stone"

#04. ‘Steroids (Crouching Tiger Hidden Gabber Megamix)’ by Death Grips (Industrial Hip Hop)

I think this kind of represents my entire relationship with Death Grips:

https://twitter.com/iamvulnicura/status/866813534566481922

And this… release sounds like Government Plates + NOTM + gabber music. What’s not to love?

Highlights: uh… the whole thing?

#03. '13' by Denzel Curry (Trap Rap/Hardcore Hip Hop)

This is what rap music in the charts should sound like... in my opinion at least. '13' (Denzel Curry's first EP on a major label) is fun as hell, but still has extremely unusual yet accessible production and beats. Also, Denzel really kills it with his flow and lyricism, not being afraid to get political or serious but not afraid to have fun either. It also has excellent features from underrated rap hero Lil Ugly Mane and Ronny J. Probably one of the best rap releases of the year.

Highlights: "Hate Government", "Zeltron 6 Billion" (feat. Lil Ugly Mane)

#02. 'EP2' by Yaeji (Ambient House/Ambient Pop)

I'm probably going to say this several times, but, 2018 is going to be the year of Yaeji, and this is the perfect proof of that. Her production, fusing ambient music, deep house and trap, is immaculate, and so are the hooks found in this album. The way in which she alternates lines in Korean and English on "Drink I'm Sippin On" and "Raingurl" is something I have never heard before, same thing with the way in which she does it, full of attitude and passion. It also has the second best Drake cover released this year (the best is the Paramore one,) so you know, you must check this out if you do not want to miss something completely new.

Highlights: "Passionfruit", "Drink I'm Sippin On"

#01. 'RINA' by Rina Sawayama (Electropop/Contemporary R&B/Art Pop)

I have rooted for Rina Sawayama ever since I heard "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome". And with this EP she certainly did not dissapoint.

'RINA' is probably one of the most innovative pop releases since Charli XCX's 'Vroom Vroom' EP. The way in which she explores themes of loneliness in the modern age, the Internet, identity, depression and loss of love are really personal, but still playful enough to engage the listener. The production, handled by Clarence Clarity, is also very reminiscent of late-90's/early-00's pop (like Britney, N'Sync or Kelis) and modern J-pop (like Perfume or Utada), but also feels noisy in a Sleigh Bells-like way.

Rina Sawayama is one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in the last few years, and we will be definitely hearing more of her soon.

Highlights: "10-20-40", "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome"

[evanvanness]

Annotated edition, Week in Ethereum News, Jan 19, 2020

This is the 6th of 6 annotated editions that I promised myself to do.  

Like last week, it’s an opportunity to shill my Gitcoin grant page.  Right now a 1 DAI (you can give ETH or any token) has an insane matching.  Where else can you get a 150x return on a buck?

There’s about 24 hours left at the time this was published.  

I shared on Twitter the graph of my subscriber count for the last 90 days:

The newsletter has gotten big enough to the point where the subscriber churn is enough to force negative days.  It used to be that the day I sent the email, I’d get 90% of my new subs for the week from posting on Reddit.  Now Reddit is saturated, and the number only goes up because of the long tail of word of mouth - which seems to be mostly seeded by the RTs of people who make the weekly most clicked as I post it to Twitter.

It’s clear that I’ve mostly bumped up against the ceiling of people who are willing to subscribe to a tech-heavy Eth newsletter.   Perhaps there are other marketing channels, but seems unlikely to find people who want a newsletter, even if they are Eth devs.

This annotated version is an attempt to test whether writing for a larger audience would succeed.  I think to some degree it has, but I also haven’t done a great job of contextualizing, nor adding narratives.  Still working on it.

Eth1

Notes from the latest eth1 research call. How to get to binary tries.

Guillaume Ballet argues for WASM precompiles for better eth1 to prepare for eth2

StarkWare mainnet tests find that a much bigger block size does not affect uncle rate and argues that a further decrease in gas for transaction data would be warranted

Guide to running Geth/Parity node or eth2 Prysm/Lighthouse testnet on Raspberry Pi4

Nethermind v1.4.8

Eth1 is moving toward a stateless model like Eth2 will have.  This will help make Eth1 easier to seamlessly port into eth2 when phase 1 is live.

In the meantime, people are figuring out what makes sense.  Is it WASM precompiles?  Will client devs agree to it? 

StarkWare wants to reduce the gas cost again, which would make rollup even cheaper and provide more transaction scalability. 

Eth2

The incentives for good behavior and whistleblowing in Eth2 staking

Danny Ryan’s quick Eth2 update – updated docs explaining the spec currently under audit

Options for eth1 to eth2 bridges and phase1 fee market

Simulation environment for eth2 economics

Ryuya Nakamura proposes the subjective finality gadget

Lighthouse client update – 40x speedup in fork choice, 4x database speedup, faster BLS

Prysmatic client update – testnet with mainnet config

A guide to staking on Prysmatic’s testnet

How to build the Nimbus client on Android

Evaluating Eth2 staking pool options

If you’re going to read one post this week in full, the “incentives for good behavior” is probably the one.  This isn’t new info, but it’s nicely packaged up and with the spec under audit, this is very likely to be the final info.  This answers many of the questions that people come to Reddit and ask.

Danny Ryan’s quick updates are also packed full of info.   

the spec is out for audit.  the documentation all got overhauled to explain the decisions -- ie, things needed for an audit -- with the expectation of a post-audit spec in early March.  Obviously we hope for minimal changes and then set a plan for lunch.

There’s been lots of talk about how long we need to run testnets for, but i think it’s quite clear that anything more than a month or so of testnets is overkill.  We’ve had various testnets for months, the testnets will get increasingly multi-client, including from genesis.  Phase 0 is going to be in production but not doing anything in production - a bit like the original release of Frontier in July 2015.

We should push to launch soon.  Problems can be hardforked away and the expectations should be very similar to the launch of Frontier.

Layer2

Plasma Group -> Optimism, raises round from Paradigm/ideo for optimistic rollups

Auctioning transaction ordering rights to re-align miner incentives

A writeup of Interstate Network’s optimistic rollup

Plasma Group changed their name to Optimism and raised a round.  It’s hardly a secret that layer2 has been a frustration in Bitcoin/Ethereum for years, with no solution reaching critical mass, and sidechains simply trading off decentralization/trustlessness.   Plasma Group decided to go for rollup instead of Plasma, due to the relative ease of doing fully EVM through optimistic rollup.  Respect to Paradigm for having conviction and leading the round, as well as IDEO.  

The auctioning of ordering rights is part of their solution.

Also cool is Interstate Network, who is building something similar.  I’m unclear why they decided to launch with a writeup on Gitcoin grants, but it is worthy of supporting.

Stuff for developers

Truffle v5.1.9, now Istanbul compatible.

Truffle’s experimental console.log

New features in Embark v5

SolUI: generate IPFS UIs for your Solidity code. akin to oneclickdapp.com

BokkyPooBah’s Red-Black binary search tree library and DateTime library updated to Solidity v0.6

Overhauled OpenZeppelin docs

Exploring commit/reveal schemes

Using the MythX plugin with Remix

Training materials for Slither, Echidna, and Manticore from Trail of Bits

Soon you’ll need to pay for EthGasStation’s API

As of Feb 15, you’ll need a key for Etherscan’s API

Hard to miss the “time to get a key” for the API trend.  But to be fair, it makes sense to require keys.  It’s not surprising that providing it for free is not a business model.

Ecosystem

Gavin Andresen loves Tornado.Cash and published some thoughts on making a wallet on top of Tornado Cash

MarketingDAO is open for proposals

Almonit.eth.link launches, a search engine for ENS + IPFS dweb

Build token pop-up economies with the BurnerFactory

Tornado.cash is such a huge thing for our ecosystem that I feel no problem highlighting it forever.   The complete lack of privacy isn’t 100% solved, but if you care about your privacy, Tornado Cash is super easy to use.  I’ve said it before, but participating in Tornado is a public good -- you’re increasing the anonymity set.

The dweb using ENS and IPFS is interesting, worth watching to see how it evolves, though currently it only has 100 sites.

I hope to see more pop-up economies happen.  It’s a great way to onboard people and give a better glimpse of the future than making people wait an hour for transactions to confirm.  

Enterprise

EEA testnet launch running Whiteblock’s Genesis testing platform

Plugin APIs in Hyperledger Besu

Privacy and blockchains primer aimed at enterprise

A massive list of corporations building on Ethereum

Sacramento Kings using Treum supply chain tracking to authenticate player equipment

Neat to see the Kings experimenting with new tech, even if in small ways.

Meanwhile that list of building on Ethereum has 700+ RTs at the moment.  Goes to the MarketingDAO above - there are many ETH holders who feel like Ethereum is undermarketed.

Governance and standards

EIP2464: eth/65 transaction annoucements and retrievals

ERC2462: interface standard for EVM networks

ERC2470: Singleton Factory

bZxDAO: proposed 3 branch structure to decentralize bZx

Application layer

Livepeer upgrades to Streamflow release – GPU miners can transcode video with negligible loss of hashpower so video transcoding gets cheaper

Molecule is live on mainnet with a bonding curve for a clinical trial for Psilocybin microdoses

Liquidators: the secret whales helping DeFi function. Good walkthrough of DeFi network keepers.

Curve: a uniswap-like exchange for stablecoins, currently USDC<>DAI

New Golem release has Concent on mainnet, new usage marketplace, and Task API on testnet

Gitcoin as social network

rTrees. Plant trees with your rDai

In typical Livepeer fashion, they didn’t hype up their release very much, but I think Streamflow could end up being very big. They think they can get the price point down for transcoders to being cheaper than centralized transcoders.  How? Because GPU miners want to make more money and GPU miners can add a few transcoding streams with negligible loss of hashpower.  This will become even more crucial when ETH moves to proof of stake, and miners will need to get more out of their hardware.

Lots of people loved rTrees.  As a guy who has done all the CFA exams, I have had the time value of money drilled into me too much to ever think of anything as “no loss” but people love the concept.

Psychedelic microdosing and tech has become a thing.  Tim Ferriss led fundraising a Johns Hopkins psychedelic research center, it will be interesting to see if Molecule becomes a hit in the tech community outside crypto.

Tokens/Business/Regulation

The case for a trillion dollar ETH market cap

Continuous Securities Offering handbook

The SEC does not like IEOs

Former CFTC Chair Giancarlo and Accenture to push for a blockchain USD

Tokenizing yourself (selling your time/service via token) was all the rage this week, kicked off by Peter Pan. Here’s a guide to tokenizing yourself

Avastars: generative digital art from NFTs

Speaking of the Eth community wanting more marketing, the trillion dollar market cap piece was the most clicked this week.

If you haven’t checked out Continuous Securities, it’s a neat idea.  

The tokenizing yourself trend is easy to laugh at or dismiss, but they’re some small experiments that are worth watching.

General

Chris Dixon: Inside-out vs outside-in tech adoption

baby snark: Andrew Miller’s tutorial on implementation and soundness proof of a simple SNARK

Blake3 hash function

Justin Drake explains polynomial commitments

New bounty (3000 USD) for improving cryptanalysis on the Legendre PR

Mona El Isa’s a day in the life for asset management in 2030. We need more web3 science fiction

SciFi and zero knowledge (”moon math” as it occasionally gets called) section.  

SciFi shows us the future, and zero knowledge solutions increasingly aren’t just the future, but also the present.

Full Week in Ethereum News post

[bthenoise]

ICYMI: Here Are Nine Newsworthy Items You May Have Missed Over The Holidays

Hello everybody and happy new year! While getting back into the swing of things here at the office, we noticed a handful of exciting things have been announced while we were off celebrating the holidays.

So, instead of pumping out article after article for you to comb through and catch up on, we thought we’d compile all the things you may have missed into one, easy-to-read post.

Let us begin:

Bring Me The Horizon, Dance Gavin Dance, Asking Alexandria and The Acacia Strain Drop Surprise Releases 

In case you weren’t paying attention to streaming services and social media sites over the holidays, four very well-known acts decided to end their 2019 with brand new releases -- those being Bring Me The Horizon, Dance Gavin Dance, Asking Alexandria and The Acacia Strain. 

Coming in all different types of records, Bring Me The Horizon dropped a spiritual and experimental EP aptly titled Music to listen to~dance to~blaze to~pray to~feed to~sleep to~talk to~grind to~trip to~breathe to~help to~hurt to~scroll to~roll to~love to~hate to~learn Too~plot to~play to~be to~feel to~breed to~sweat to~dream to~hide to~live to~die to~GO TO, Dance Gavin Dance released yet another impressive instrumental album -- this time for Downtown Battle Mountain -- Asking Alexandria shared a new deluxe version of their 2017 self-titled LP featuring demos, remixes and more, and lastly, deathcore champions The Acacia Strain debuted the first of two new releases with their bruising EP It Comes In Waves.

The Coachella 2020 Lineup Is Here Featuring Rage Against The Machine, PUP, Code Orange And More      

As many expected when they announced their long-awaited reunion, political rap-rock activists Rage Against The Machine will be one of the main headliners for this year’s Coachella festival. Along with the “Guerrilla Radio” penmen, the annual Southern California music and arts fest will also feature -- as far as our scene is concerned -- King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, IDLES, The Chats, PUP, the HU, The Regrettes, Beach Bunny, Snail Mail, Emo Nite LA, Mannequin Pussy, Yungblud, and most surprising of all, hardcore outfit Code Orange. This year’s festivities will take place April 10th - 12th and 17th - 19th. 

Silent Planet To Release New Re-Recorded Version Of The Night God Slept

Starting off what should be a busy 2020, metalcore maestros Silent Planet are planning to release a newly re-recorded version of their debut album The Night God Slept. The new re-tracked, remixed and re-mastered effort is due out January 24th via Solid State Records. Along with the exciting news, the band also released a sample of what’s to come sharing “XX (City Grave) Redux” and “Wasteland Redux.” To check out the re-worked tracks, be sure to see below. Afterward, make sure to pre-order The Night God Slept here.  

Ice Nine Kills Made A “Merry Axe-Mas” Video Game 

To help make everyone’s Christmas as fun and evil as possible, horror-obsessed outfit Ice Nine Kills debuted a new online video game based on their  music video for “Merry Axe-Mas.” The game, which can be played on a desktop computer or mobile phone, stars an evil Santa Claus delivering green skulls to unsuspecting children. To check out the free game, head here.    

Set It Off Share New Surprise Single “So Predictable”  

Just days before kicking off their tour with Sleeping With Sirens, Belmont and Point North, Set It Off shared their second new b-side taken from their recently released album After Midnight. Titled “So Predictable,” according to frontman Cody Carson, the new track comes from a place of total frustration. “We've all been there before — same argument, same issue, same nonsense, different day,” says Carson. “This is one of those songs written out of complete frustration of those kinds of moments — whether it be someone you love who you butt heads with or someone so irritating yet you can't avoid them. We had a blast making this song because of the overall attitude that surrounds it.” To check out the new track, see the video above. Afterward, make sure to grab tickets to see Set It Off out on tour here.

State Champs, Simple Plan and We The Kings Share New Music Video For “Where I Belong”

Hot on the heels of wrapping up their massive winter tour together, pop-punk acts State Champs, Simple Plan and We The Kings shared a brand new music video for their collaborative track “Where I Belong.” Featuring all three bands performing their infectious single together, the high energy video also showcases what it’s like to be on tour with the fun-loving musicians. To check out the video, see above. 

Watch Some Of Metal’s Best Come Together For “The Biggest Shred Collab Song In The World III”

Last week, acclaimed YouTuber and diehard metal fan Jared Dines returned with his annual “Biggest Shred Collab Song In World.” For 2019′s version, Dines enlisted help from some pretty big names like Animals As Leaders’ Tosin Abasi, Trivium’s Matt Heafy, Polyphia’s Tim Henson, Megadeth’s Kiko Loureiro and more. To check out the nine-minute shred-fest, see above. Additionally, you may notice something off for Jason Richardson’s (All That Remains, ex-Chelsea Grin, ex-Born Of Osiris) solo. Dines commented on that below.   

“Hey guys! Unfortunately, I am a dumb dumb and put Jason Richardson’s part over the wrong backing in the final file for the big shred collab video this year. I know I know.. you’d think I’d have my act together by now…  WELL, here is what he actually intended for you all to hear haha merry Christmas everyone! (Tbh, Jason could play over dumpsters fucking and it would sound good). My deepest apology to you Jason, please don’t SLAPP me at namm.”

Attila Recap Ragefest 2019 With New “Toxic” Music Video

To help highlight just how much fun they had on last summer’s Ragefest, deathcore/metalcore party-starters Attila debuted a brand new music video for their Villain track “Toxic.” Mixing chaotic live footage with non-stop party antics, Attila’s new video shows just what it’s like to be on tour with Fronz and company.  

Danny Worsnop Shares Bluesy New Solo Track “Another You”

Finishing up his very busy year fronting Asking Alexandria and releasing a new solo album called Shades of Blue, the outgoing Danny Worsnop released a brand new solo track titled “Another You.” Talking about the bluesy new tune, Worsnop said, “Beyond excited to finally have this out. ‘Another You’ was the first song I recorded in my home studio when I finished building it. It might have even been before it was finished! But either way, it was a great sense of accomplishment, and it instantly became one of my favorite songs I’d ever written.” Worsnop is currently on tour now and tickets can be found here.

[malspinningyarns]

Tony Predictions Part 2

It’s only a few days to the Tony Awards so I’m going to post my predictions, but I’m going to split them up this year.  Part one was the design awards.  This part are the non-design creators: directors, writers, musicians, choreographers.  (Side note: if anything is spelled wrong, blame the Tony Awards site’s shitty, shitty font choice.) Also: I have not seen any of these shows, this is based on research and opinions based on how I noticed the Tonys usually vote. 

Best Book of a Musical

Irene Sankoff and David Hein- Come From Away

Steven Levenson- Dear Evan Hansen

Danny Rubin- Groundhog Day

Dave Malloy- Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Thoughts: This could go many ways.  Danny Rubin adapted his own film.  Dave Malloy somehow adapted a 70 page section of War and Peace and made it work.  But I feel that the big race for this is between Steven Levenson and Sankoff and Hein. Both Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away are supposed to be moving shows that create a deep impact in their audiences, being about teen suicide and 9/11 respectively. 

My Prediction: Irene Sankoff and David Hein for Come From Away

 Best Original Score

Irene Sankoff and David Hein- Come From Away

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul- Dear Evan Hansen

Tim Minchin- Groundhog Day

Dave Malloy- Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Thoughts: Like the award for book, this could go a few ways.  It really depends on what Tony voters this year prefer: traditional or experimental scores.  And this is a time old argument for this award show (or at least since the 1960s). Both Dear Evan Hansen and Groundhog Day lean towards the “traditional” end of the spectrum (or at least how we view “traditional” in the 21st century Broadway sense) though DEH is the stronger score of the two.  Come From Away is mostly folk music with more traditional stuff thrown in.  The Great Comet is very experimental.  It’s an “electropop opera” whose music hits everything to Russian folk music to indie rock to EDM and almost everything else between.  Some people think Dave Malloy using actual War and Peace in some lyrics is “cheating”.  I don’t (Godspell did it.  Other shows have done it.)   because the score is versatile and complex.  I admit it is not for everyone- it’s kind of bizarre- but I like it.

My Prediction: I think they’ll go experimental, so Dave Malloy. (If they go traditional, it will probably be DEH)

Best Direction of a Play

Sam Gold- A Doll’s House Part 2

Ruben Santiago-Hudson- Jitney

Bartlett Sher- Oslo

Daniel Sullivan- The Little Foxes

Rebecca Talchman- Indecent

Thoughts: This is the one I am most out of my depth on.  I like Sam Gold’s work.  Oslo, Indecent, and The Little Foxes have gotten a lot of nominations.  Ruben Santiago-Hudson has already won awards for Jitney.

My Prediction: Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Best Direction of a Musical

Christopher Ashley- Come From Away

Rachel Chavkin- Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Michael Greif- Dear Evan Hansen

Matthew Warchus- Groundhog Day

Jerry Zaks- Hello, Dolly!

Thoughts: This could be an interesting race.  Ashley won the Outer Critics.  Chavkin won the Drama Desk.  Greif won the Helen Hayes when the show was in DC.  But in terms of who presents a clear, distinct vision for their show, I think it’s Rachel Chavkin. 

My Prediction: Rachel Chavkin for The Great Comet

 Best Choreography

Andy Blankenbuelher- Bandstand

Peter Darling & Ellen Kane- Groundhog Day

Kelly Devine- Come From Away

Denis Jones- Holiday Inn

Sam Pinkleton- Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Thoughts: As I have only seen clips of these shows, it’s hard to say.  But, when in doubt, bet on Blankenbuelher.

My Prediction: Andy Blankenbuelher for Bandstand

Best Orchestrations

Bill Elliot, Greg Anthony Rassen- Bandstand

Larry Hochman- Hello, Dolly!

Alex Lacamoire- Dear Evan Hansen

Dave Malloy- Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Thoughts: First of all, who on earth writes AND orchestrates their own show? Dave Malloy, that who.  Who wrote a piece that involved four accordions at once? Also Dave Malloy.  We all love Lacamoire, but I feel this show did not give him the opportunity to go as big as he usually does.  There is not an album of Bandstand yet, so I can’t speak to Elliot and Rassen.  I’m also sure Hochman did a good job.  Like score, I think this is split between traditional and experimental.  But I think Bandstand and Hello, Dolly! might split the traditional vote, so it might just go to Dave Malloy. 

My Prediction: Dave Malloy

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Ghost Kid in Gotham

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/E6lMPDK

by FlamingPudding

Originally Posted Raw from Tumblr edited and revised for AO3.

Danny's Parents did not take the truth very well. Clockwork only saw one way to make sure that the Timeline would not become a doomed one and for his King not to lose his humanity. So he entrusted Danny to Lady Gotham who gave him to his rightful family.

Damian did not think he would ever meet his twin again after he had killed him. But now he was faced with his twin at the age he had died at and it looked like his mother had not only preserved his twins body but also put him through experiment's concerning Lazarus Water.

Words: 2578, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Danny Phantom, Batman - All Media Types

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Characters: Danny Fenton, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Duke Thomas, Bruce Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Batfamily Members, Jazz Fenton, Danielle "Dani" Phantom, Dan Phantom, Tucker Foley, Sam Manson

Relationships: Danny Fenton & Damian Wayne, Danny Fenton & Jason Todd, Batfamily Members & Danny Fenton

Additional Tags: Original Raw Chapters were posted on Tumblr, Revised Version of Tumblr Posts, Danny Fenton and Damian Wayne are Twins, Twin AU, De-Aged Danny, Feral Danny Fenton, Ghost King Danny Fenton, De-aged Danny still has his ghost powers, Protective Damian Wayne, Protective Jason Todd, WARNING: Mentions of dissection and experimentation, Slow To Update, Originally Posted on Tumblr, Chapters get updated after editing the original post, no beta we die like danny, DP X DC

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/E6lMPDK

[noiseartists]

The Academy Of Sun: Psychaedelic Pop from Brighton

Formed in Brighton nine years ago, The Academy of Sun is a four-piece comprised of Nick Hudson (piano, synths, hammon organ, harmonium, vocals, percussion, synths), Kianna Blue (bass, synths), Guy Brice (guitars) and Ash Babb (drums). Together, they present dystopian fantastic creations that combine the deeply personal and the poetically arcane. Dark yet buoyant, this is a controlled explosion of psychedelic and dark power pop with atmospheres couched in vast and expansive landscapes and cinematic arrangements.

Nick Hudson's musical juggernaut has been active in various incarnations since 2012, always transcending expectations. The Academy Of Sun has collaborated with Massive Attack's Shara Nelson, members of NYC's Kayo Dot, David Tibet of Current 93, Asva and Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey). Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey of The Mission, as well as Canadian queercore icon GB Jones. Known for explosive and psychedelic live shows, The Academy Of Sun has performed in a medieval castle in Italy, a boat on the Thames, an abandoned railway carriage in Offenbach, colossal churches, The London College of Fashion, The Old Market theatre in Brighton, the MS Stubnitz in Hamburg, Brighton Dome, and a string of L.A. shows in 2019. Having toured 3 continents, highlights include appearances with Mogwai, Toby Driver and Keith Abrams from Kayo Dot, and Timba Harris (Mr Bungle, Amanda Palmer). 'The Parts That Need Replacing' is out now, available across online stores and streaming platforms such as Spotify. The full album 'The Quiet Earth' will be released in summer of 2020 on CD, as well as digitally.

THE INTERVIEW

Who are the group members?

Myself, Kianna Blue, Ash Babb, Guy Brice.

How did you meet?

A poet introduced Kianna and I. We ended up living together, In our modest cottage on the edge of a cliff we kept house goats. Guy was one of them. It became quickly apparent that if he kept his hooves pedicured, he had an incredible way with a guitar. Ash and I met in a local tavern, courtesy of a mutual online awareness via the blog of author Dennis Cooper.

How did you come up with your name?

I'd been reading literature on pagan sun-worshipping cults and came across Heliogabalus, the queer teenage anarchist emperor of ancient Rome. Artaud wrote on him. So I wanted to unleash and harness the unkempt nuclear blaze of that energy within a formalist framework.

What is your music about?

It's about invigoration and alchemy – stimulating the mind and soul in tandem with the body. Music to dance and cry to. It's about pole-vaulting transgressive and subversive narratives over the iron gate of mainstream normativity. Spiraling wells of energy and dynamism. Loud and shimmering vibrancy. “Did I really hear that?”

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

Artistically I just want to continually evolve my craft, critical faculties, and general state of awareness so as I can get ever closer to precisely articulating the atmospheres, geometries and ghost stories that circle my head like ever-mutating angels, day and night, on the brink of expelling light and form. And in doing so, to gather those who are similarly drawn to peering through the cracks. Commercially, I - and we - really just want to connect this with a bigger audience. We're aware that we're a weird band, and that it's a long game. So it demands stoicism, patience and persistence. The ideal would be to get to a level where we have sufficient economic backing to be able to actually deploy all the ideas we have without compromising on logistics or production values.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

The music industry.

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

It's more interior than exterior. Albeit I respond very palpably to landscapes, just not the one that I'm writing this interview from within! Haha. I'm drawn to severe, wild landscapes, and likewise to art and music that evokes such landscapes.

What inspires you for the music or for the Lyrics?

I've always written prose and poetry, and so a key factor in my embarking upon songwriting fifteen years ago was preserving the conditions of unabashed literary aspirations in my lyrics. I like to think/strive to ensure that as much as they might stand successfully alone on the page they also transmit the melodies with ease. I'm drawn to art in any medium that explores and expresses extreme states of being – modes of transcendence, ultimately. Ecstasies, agonies, the uncanny, the transgressive, the sublime. Stillness can also be extreme. Lots of nature imagery. European cinema and literature.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

I think we all share a delight in unusual sonics – there were some genuinely experimental moments in the studio – for example, the first sound heard on the record is a drone created by my playing a pre-recorded vocal through the speaker of a cassette recorder into the pick-ups on Guy's guitar, which was then sent through waves of delay. We created a MIDI church organ by recording the bass pedals of the church organ of St Mary's, Brighton and turning that into a MIDI instrument. The idea of pitch-bending such a monolithic and defiantly analogue instrument was irresistible. There's one track where we recorded the drum part four times and placed each take peculiarly across the stereo field. And there are field recordings scattered throughout, evoking radioactivity and harsh landscapes. I usually, with each track, have a pretty clear idea of the aesthetic and formal parameters within which experimentation can occur, and we go from there.

Explain your songwriting process.

Sometimes I'll be improvising on piano and motifs will surface that later impose their will upon my subconscious, continually knocking until I open the door and allow them to become a song. Other times I'll have the completed lyrics and sit and just experiment with ways to place them, and edit, and edit until they're homed. Some songs arrive in one swift nuclear wind, and others take years to ferment. I keep a lot of audio notes on my iphone.

Describe your palette of sound.

Rich but not cloying, Psychedelic but not nostalgic. Adventurous. Green and gold. Complex but not arbitrarily technical. Deconstructing, rerouting and inverting obvious formal choices but not at the expense of comprehension.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

Trent Reznor, Bjork, Tim Palmer, David Lynch, Danny Elfman. I thought I'd compensate for not saying 'why' by instead listing five, haha.

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

Well I know he's technically on the cusp of retiring, but assuming this questions dwells in an amorphous temporality (as we do ourselves under quarantine), I'd say Ennio Morricone. Because he's peerless. I would love to have played piano/organ on one of his sixties/seventies film works. To say I've been produced by Morricone and appear on, say, the Sacco and Vanzetti soundtrack, would see me fairly ecstatic.

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

I'd like develop further fluency in classical notation and orchestration.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

I don't really subscribe to coupledom or its rituals but maybe Jack from These New Puritans. NB. I would never, EVER date a musician. Haha.

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

Probably Mr Bungle. In that they not only blew my mind at a young age with their own music, but laid breadcrumbs for me to explore the family tree of John Zorn, Tzadik, and the sprawling concentric circles of artists making up the experimental underground of LA and NYC.

You are from England. What are the advantages and inconvenient?

Hold my hair back. Well. Its primary advantage is its proximity to the European mainland.

Its disadvantages are manifold and voluminous – aside from a micro-percentage of wonderful, compassionate, intelligent and progressive entities and institutions, its a nasty little hotbed of misplaced Churchillian hubris and post-imperial egocentrism, ruled as a playpen by which neo-liberal public schoolboy millionaires can move their assets around and grow their wealth while 'ironically' masquerading a paper-thin veneer of concern for the public interest and welfare.

Boris Johnson and his monstrous cabal aside, the UK treats its musicians appallingly. I've toured Europe, America and The Middle East and it shames me to say that the worst treatment I've experienced out of any of the countries I've played is that of the UK. I'm not alone in this assertion either.

There are exceptions of course, but as a rule, this sadly remains the case. Ten years of Tory rule certainly hasn't helped this.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

There's that amphitheater built into a rock face somewhere in Central Europe. I'd like to do a tour of churches and cathedrals. And acoustically-dynamic natural rock formations.

It's my dream to take The Academy Of Sun on an extensive tour of Europe, but we'd need solid economic backing to be able to do so with production values intact, let alone keep us all afloat while doing so.

So that's something to push for. There's a pueblo in New Mexico called TAOS – obviously it's pre-destined that we play there. I went to Svalbard in the Arctic last year, and there's a beautiful concert hall called Huset right between two glaciers. I'd love us to play there. (Johannes, are you reading this?)

When is the next album/EP due?

June! We inevitably had to postpone the release from its intended release in April, when the whole world went on pause. We're super-excited to have you all hear The Quiet Earth.

Some artists you recommend

I can't get enough of Oingo Boingo right now – Danny Elfman's band that split in 1995. Peerless songwriting, arrangement, production and performance. Otherwise, Arca is amazing. I'm listening to a lot of Nico. Devouring Clive Barker's early novels. Revisiting Diamanda Galas' earlier catalogue. Watching a lot of Chris Marker and Maya Deren. And I just read Marina Abramovic's memoir, which is profoundly inspiring.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

Mainly – thank you for your support, engagement and enthusiasm, especially during this wayward, hazy and anxiety-inducing time. We hope you'll enjoy the record, and we're super-psyched to play shows all over the place when concerts are indeed a viable concern once again. Stay well, breathe deep, and celebrate and nurture the connections that enrich, comfort, soothe and embolden you.

MORE ON THE BAND

Find The Academy Of Sun here:

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[aion-rsa]

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks Review: Sci-Fi Comedy Aims Low And Scores High

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

No one sets out to make a cult movie. Most filmmakers aspire to commercial heights even if they only have the budgets for a B-movie. They see films like Blair Witch realign box office accounting and apply all kinds of quantum physics to mimic the exponential multiplication. Very few achieve it, and the ones which do usually do it by accident, and certainly not with serious intent. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is not afraid to be ridiculous. It joins the ranks as such brave films as Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Killer Klowns From Outer Space, and Frankenhooker.

It is also so much more than these films, dripping with artistry, and yet considerably less, with masturbating aliens, pussy ping pong, and sphincter-pinching obelisks. Richard Elfman’s sci-fi comedy has an abundance of experimental fun and a happily reckless disregard for taste. It owes as much to Frank Zappa as it does to Frank Capra, and can in some ways be seen as a screwball comedy take on the 1955 film noir classic Kiss Me Deadly. For a silly film, Aliens, Clowns & Geeks summons serious plot twists. It captures the casual surrealism of the Marx Brothers in hyper-speed.

Though it’s not on the level as Forbidden Zone, how could it be? Elfman’s 1980 cult classic ranks way past closing time on the clock of midnight movies. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is still completely original. Unlike other films where low budget hobbles creativity, this uses a lack of funds to its advantage. In some ways this is like Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!, except done on one-thousandth of the budget and with 1/100th of the stars. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks marks the final feature film role for the late Verne Troyer (Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Goldmember, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). His Clown Emperor Beezel-Chugg is a memorable turn. Narcissistic, lethal, and commanding, he is the Emperor of the Nine Planet Federation, and still gets hauled in for Illegal dwarf tossing.

The little clown who gets tossed around is played by Nic Novicki, but don’t feel too bad for him, he takes dirty pictures of nuns in porta-potties in his spare time. George Wendt plays a priest who condemns him to eternal damnation for it. French Stewart (Stargate, 3rd Rock from the Sun) gets the Fickle Finger of Fate Award for being able to maintain an Arte Johnson impression throughout a whole film as the German scientist Professor von Scheisenberg.

Mimicry is only one extra talent the actors bring into their roles. Rebecca Forsythe contorts her voice and face excruciatingly and exquisitely as Swedish lab assistant Helga. She’s studied quantum, subquantum and super-quantum dynamics, and delivers one of the greatest pickup lines in cinema history: “you would be surprised at how incorrect the calculations of many rocket scientists can be.” Her body proves to be equally supple whether during head-banging sex or in one-on-one martial arts combat.

No one quite makes the faces or shrieks the screams quite like Bodhi Elfman, who plays the lead, a jaded actor named Eddy Pine. Bohdi, the actor playing the actor, is a cartoon character masquerading as a person. His cynical Steve Buscemi-esque delivery grounds him even as the only missed opportunity in the film is a Looney Tunes sight gag where hens lay so many eggs they rise to the roof of Porky Pig’s barn. 

Happily, the camera turns away when the obelisk is introduced to the film. Whether it is just a worthless novelty or the key to the universe, Eddy’s anus is “the chosen portal.” The Chinese military wants the obelisk, there’s an intergalactic battle between alien clowns and green Martians over it, and Dr. von Scheisenberg wants to melt it down for clean energy. About a foot long, and looking like the Washington Monument with squiggly sub-particle lettering, it is also known as the jamtoid key, and is worth more than a three-picture deal, but “money won’t mean nothing if the world explodes.”

Elfman, who also directed Shrunken Heads, and Modern Vampires, has a background in theater, and uses troupe mentality by casting actors in multiple roles. Anastasia Elfman brings the fire of a true believer to five characters. Helga’s sister Inga is played by Angeline-Rose Troy, who also plays Eddy’s junkie-whore mother. The noises she makes in one particular chase scene is so alien and unexpected, it brings the whole movie to another level. Steve Agee plays Eddy’s recently transitioned Burlesque dancer and bar-owning sister Jumbo, as well as the chicken-suit wearing Eddy Pine. Richard Elfman plays the clown Da-Beep. Martin Klebba is an angry clown captain.

The final character is the original soundtrack, which upstages the action in the best of ways. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks could be called a musical, but not in the same way The Rocky Horror Picture Show is, even if there is gender fluidity flowing through it. For the film, Elfman reunited with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, who starred in Forbidden Zone. The score was written by Danny Elfman and Ego Plum. Danny Elfman wrote the theme song to The Simpsons, the music to Nightmare Before Christmas, and did the singing voice of Jack Skellington. Plum is best known for the noises he made for SpongeBob SquarePants and The Ghastly Love of Johnny X, but also plays in the band Mambo Demonico. Consisting of 75 minutes in a ninety-minute movie, the music makes the film unique. The diverse mix of genres makes the movie feel like live performance.

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is laid out in the three-act story structure of classic comedies. It is zany, evoking the feel that logic has been usurped by the most unreasonable intrusions. The film opens on the road. The first victim is a large biker clown who is mind controlled to be some kind of monosyllabic Terminator-style obelisk retrieval machine. Eddy is taking his sorrows for a swim in the deep end of a dive bar. His network series, “Cry Me Dry,” was cancelled a day before it was set to air. Their first encounter is inadvertently suspenseful, as the clueless Eddie chalks up a seemingly random request to another day in Hollywood. 

The movie then takes on a science fiction turn while keeping to an LA Noir sensibility, albeit with frenetic sexcapades (“May you procreate and spread your clown seed wide”), campy caricatures, vampy vehicular battles, and trampy throughlines. Masturbating aliens remotely manipulate blond femme fatales with X-box controllers, making the conquest of earth look like a video game. This highlights the depersonalization of battle, intergalactic or terrestrial. This very human alienation is further accentuated every time the green aliens have to get approval from corporate. There are impossibly surreal scenarios, like a ménage à trois scene where Eddy’s on the bottom and the POV shows the two girls on top. The scene ends in a nuclear explosion, topping the fireworks display of the first climax of Deep Throat. There is a head exploding scene which is more over-the-top than Scanners.

As comedy, each of the set ups have great payoffs, and the running gags never trip up, even if Eddy slips into Shakespearean soliloquies before exiting, stage left. Elfman mocks Hollywood itself, pointing out that the Beverly Hills Police Department only takes calls from celebrities while actors kiss ass on Hollywood Boulevard all day. The film even throws in visual sight gags, like a bucket of brains which is kept in a joint compound container labeled “head stuff.” One character is reading a book called “The Strawberry Fields of Heaven by Blossom Elfman.”

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Aliens, Clowns & Geeks makes no apologies. You just have to go with it. Groucho Marx once advised if nothing else is getting a laugh, “drop your pants.” This turns out to be the greatest weapon of the movie. It saves the day as much as it lowers the bar. It is worshipfully irreverent, and politically incorrect. There is no shame nor the slightest consideration given to cancel culture. “Life is complicated, take if from the guy with a dick in a dress,” we are advised in the film. Even insane biker clowns may not be what they seem. Aliens, Clowns & Geeks is silly, goofy, stupidly intelligent, and absolutely what a mad scientist would order.

Aliens, Clowns & Geeks will be opening in a drive-in run, double billed with Forbidden Zone: Director’s Cut. Details will be announced. 

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[ddc-edm]

[PREMIERE] Stream Minnesota’s Powerful Oregon Eclipse Gathering Set In Full Roughly a month ago, various artists and thousands of attendees gathered in rural Oregon for what will likely be a once in a lifetime event: a massive celebration of the total solar eclipse that took place on Aug. 21 of this year. The Global Eclipse Gathering  was held from Aug. 17-23, bringing together people from all over to witness the eclipse together in the presence of art, music and community. Twelve collaborators from across the globe collaborated to host the gathering, which took place at Big Summit Prairie, a picturesque private ranch located in the extensive Ochoco National Forest. Everyone from Bassnectar to The Glitch Mob performed, and today we have the exciting opportunity to premiere Minnesota ’s explosive set from the festival. It’s no surprise that Minnesota brought vigorous energy to the entirety of this set – his genre-blending, glitch-hop/dubstep style has electrified festival stages and dancefloors alike for years now. Beyond this intensity, he tied in warbly bass lines and trippy synth patterns to really drive the unique atmosphere of this gathering home. The producer incorporated a healthy 53 tracks into the set; in addition to plenty of his own music, songs like RL Grime’s “ Stay For It ,” Bassnectar’s intense take of Noisia’s “ Get Deaded ,” Ekali and Krane’s “ Akira ,” Noisia’s remix of What So Not’s experimental “ Divide & Conquer ” and much more appear throughout. Enjoy! Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Minnesota - 2017 Oregon Eclipse Set Tracklist 1. Eclipse Intro 2. Minnesota - HiLow 3. Truth - The Moon 4. Peekaboo - Revenge 5. Kai Wachi - Demons (Liquid Stranger Remix) 6. Liquid Stranger & Space Jesus - Space Boss 7. Minnesota - Bass Power (The Frim Remix) 8. Collie Buddz - Come Around (Minnesota Remix) 9. DMVU - Blubbles 10. Cardi B - Bodak Yellow 11. Pineapple (G Jones Remix) 12. Danny Brown - Break it 13. Graves & Tails - Vega 14. Flume - Say it (feat. Tove Lo) [Stwo Remix] 15. Tim Gunter - First Breath 16. Hudson Mohawke - Cbat (Boombox Cartel Remix) 17. Minnesota & G Jones - Empire Master 18. Ekali & KRNE - Akira 19. SLUMBERJACK - Ra 20. SLUMBERJACK - Ra (Yvng Jalapeno Edit) 21. Minnesota - Thunderdome 22. Minnesota - Thunderdome (Buku remix)   23. Hydraulix - Headbang (original mix) 24. 5 & A Dime X PEEKABOO - Make ‘Em Bounce 25. Big Sean - Bounce Back 26. Minnesota - Purple Daze 27. Stylust Beats - A million bucks 28. JOKER - B.I.G 29. Minnesota - Yoga Pants   30. Pigeon Hole - 6AM 31. Khalid - Location (DJ Mustard Remix) 32. BALATRON - DAT ASIAN SHI 33. V.A Kozmo & Moniker - Untouchable   34. Signal - Indirect (Vorso Remix) 35. Minnesota - MEOW (Bassnectar Remake) 36. Noisia - Get Dreaded (Bassnectar Remix) 37. What So Not - Divide & Conquer (Noisia Remix) 38. DMVU - Lately I’ve been walk the way you do 39. Notorious BIG - Gimme the Loot (Minnesota Remix) 40. Minnesota - Ice Cream in its right place (Radiohead/dorrough Mash-up) 41. Minnesota - Stardust Redux 42. Minnesota - Subterranean 43. Flume - Smoke & Retribution feat. Vince Staples & Kucka (Ekali Remix) 44. Congratulations (Ramzoid Edit) 45. Anh & Mo Vibez - Spacin (feat. Anuka) 46. DIMEBAG & Pasdat - Ride Out 47. Psy Fi - As I go 48. Colors (IGLU remix) 49. Minnesota - Raw   50. RL Grime - Stay for it (TWERL x Oriental Cravings flip) 51. RL Grime - Stay for it (feat. Miguel) 52. Jakes & Joker - 3Klane 53. Borgore - Foes (16Bit Fuck hoes Remix) http://thissongissick.com/post/minnesota-oregon-eclipse-set