The Good News, #13
Hello True Believers!
Welcome back to The Good News!
We've got another show coming up! Tickets are here:
https://dice.fm/event/eorqry-zealottwin-archer-28th-mar-skylark-lounge-denver-tickets?pid=3b6c903d
Something fun to get lost in this week:
Apparently the powers of the X-Men character Cyclops (and I think all his siblings? Hard to say) are derived from The Punch Dimension. His eyes are portals to that dimension, a dimension of pure kinetic energy. There’s a little debate about this online, but it appears, to me, that most people think this is stupid. I think it’s hilarious and amazing.
A nice thing to listen to this week:
Minimal-minded sound, this creepy glitchy jammy indie rock band feels like time slowing down on the edge of a crack into a liminal space between dimensions (now there’s a sentence you only get from a late-2000’s-music-blogger haha). This album deserves a little attention to really interface with it, otherwise it might just blend into the background, and I think it deserves the love. Clever, at times bizarre guitar and bass riffs, Zeroes QC is a curiosity I hope everyone one days learns to love.
Terrific thing to watch:
*batteries not included (1986)
What in the heck is up with Spielberg and aliens? After watching this, and knowing about his upcoming film Disclosure Day (which *has* to be aliens right? If it’s angels I’m outta here), as well as that heart wrenching moment on stage when someone reads him for filth (in a good way if that’s how that phrase can be used?) outlining why Close Encounters ends the way it does, Spielberg’s haunted by aliens. I’m not qualified to psychoanalyze him, but there does seem to be a core theme of connection, understanding, and love of The Other. This film definitely explores that, on top of a handful of other themes and tropes that, honestly, don’t come together as well as they could. There might be a reason this one is only remembered fondly by 80’s and 90’s kids, but I think there’s a lot of heart left in the film. It’s a tear jerker, and a contains a nice hopeful message about sticking together and standing up to the man. It’s a bit of a pipe dream, but that’s not all bad these days.
A good read:
Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea - The Illuminatus! Trilogy (1975)
Truly one of the maddest, most wild books I've ever attempted several times to finish but have never truly gotten over the line. I was made aware of Robert Anton Wilson through a tenuous connection between him, his work, and The KLF (a band I may dedicate an entire The Good News about in the future), making this a "if you know, you know" situation. This book maybe single handedly is why "The Illuminati" as a conspiracy concept exists at all, as it blended all known (and many made up just for the book) "conspiracy theories" into one giant True Theory as a book. First time I tried to read it in high school I bailed because it felt like if I kept going I might start believing some of this stuff haha. I found the audio book version years later and bailed on that because the narrator was just SO off the wall I couldn't concentrate on the story. Now, many years later, I am convinced the best way to experience the story is through audiobook, because you simply HAVE to hear this man's performance. There is truly nothing else like it. Nay sayers will say it's impossible to follow if you're just listening ... and there might be something to that, but you've at least got to experience the audiobook version some time in your life. Oh and the story is good and cool too haha.
And finally, our weekly pic of the pup, Apollo:
Be nice to each other, and we'll see you next week!
Best,
Luke