music

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 490 – “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”

Pinocchio fan poster by Aleks Phoenix (IG: aleks_phoenix)

Gobbledygeek episode 490, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

Is that a tree branch on your face, or are you just lying to me? An extra-long Gobbledygeek season finale takes root with a discussion of Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson’s new stop-motion adaptation of Pinocchio. Paul and Arlo discuss the numerous ways del Toro has made Carlo Collodi’s immortal tale his own, chiefly by making it a study of mortality–oh, and fascism too. The boys rave about Ewan McGregor’s take on the Cricket, the awe-inspiring puppetry and animation on display, and Arlo’s pot-addled epiphany. Plus, tributes to Angelo Badalamenti and Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, as well as a look at the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer.

NEXT: happy holidays, y’all. We’ll be back in 2023.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:45  –  Intro
  • 00:17:18  –  Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
  • 02:10:16  –  Our brief, incomplete list of Best of 2022
  • 02:33:17  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Twin Peaks Theme” by Angelo Badalamenti, Soundtrack from Twin Peaks (1990)
  • “Big Baby Il Duce March” by Gregory Mann, Pinocchio (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) (2022)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 488 – “Weird: The Al Yankovic story (feat. Kenn Edwards)”

Evan Rachel Wood and Daniel Radcliffe in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022), directed by Eric Appel

Gobbledygeek episode 488, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

Now that rock star biopics have peaked with Elvis, what else can the genre do but get Weird? Dare to be stupid with Paul, Arlo, and Alex Jonestown Massacre guitarist Kenn Edwards as they discuss Weird: The Al Yankovic story. Everyone’s favorite accordionist parodies Oscar bait bologna to tell a fact-free version of his own life story, starring obvious choice Daniel Radcliffe. The gang recounts their history with “Weird” Al, dives into the film’s loving homage to early alt-comedy, and can’t help but wonder what Madonna thinks of it all.

NEXT: I’m dreaming of a Geek Challenge featuring the holy jolly classic White Christmas and the yuletide wet dream Eyes Wide Shut.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:38  –  Intro / Guest / Theater Trauma
  • 00:15:37  –  A brief history of our heroes histories with “Weird Al”
  • 00:34:35  –  Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
  • 01:41:00  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

  • The Alex Jonestown Massacre on Spotify

MUSIC

  • “The Weird Al Show Theme” by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Running with Scissors (1999)
  • “Now You Know” by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 480 – “Elvis”

Tom Hanks and Austin Butler in Elvis (2022), directed by Baz Luhrmann

Gobbledygeek episode 480, “Elvis,” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

From Tupelo to Memphis, from Hollywood to Vegas, Elvis Presley conquered America–and now, telling his story, an Australian filmmaker has conquered the biopic. The operatic, maximalist, subtlety-eschewing Baz Luhrmann returns to the screen with Elvis, delivering the glitzy, excessive tribute this mythical/kitsch-ical icon deserves. Paul and Arlo share their personal connections to Elvis, rave about Austin Butler’s transformation into the King, discuss how the film’s portrayal of Elvis’ racial and sexual impact stack up to the real deal, and behold Tom Hanks’ embodiment of Satan. Here comes Sandy Claws! 

NEXT: when the last streaming podcast deletes, our job will be finished. Eric Sipple joins us to discuss Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:21  –  Intro
  • 00:03:08  –  Our histories with The King
  • 00:29:48  –  Elvis
  • 01:54:05  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Hound Dog” by Big Mama Thornton, Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings (1992)
  • “Steamroller Blues” by Elvis Presley, Walk a Mile in My Shoes (1995)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 479 – “Sad & Weird”

Gobbledygeek episode 479, “Sad & Weird,” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

For another freestyle, Paul and Arlo are getting weird. As in “Weird Al” Yankovic, whom Arlo recently saw with their good buddy Kenn Edwards. Arlo recounts the concert moment he’d been waiting for all his life, then Paul discusses the joys and frustrations of the first-ever virtual Slayage conference. Plus, brief ruminations on Nope, Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Rehearsal; and we remember our friend Chelsea Hawk.

NEXT: TBD.

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “We Would Be Building” by John Fahey, Days Have Gone By, Vol. 6 (1967)
  • “Lame Claim to Fame” by “Weird Al” Yankovic, Mandatory Fun (2014)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Episode 475 – “GC: Everything Everywhere All at Once vs. The One”

Top: Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), directed by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert / Bottom: Jet Li in The One (2001), directed by James Wong

Gobbledygeek episode 475, “GC: Everything Everywhere All at Once vs. The One,” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

In a multiverse without limitations…you have chosen to listen to Gobbledygeek. Let that sink in. While you do, you’ll also get to hear Paul and Arlo’s latest Geek Challenge! Arlo sort-of challenges Paul to The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All at Once, the year’s big breakout movie, starring Michelle Yeoh as infinite versions of herself; and Paul in turn challenges Arlo to James Wong’s 2001 action flick The One, featuring Jet Li vs. Jet Li in a dystopian future. The boys discuss The Daniels’ hyper-maximalist approach to filmmaking, how Everything Everywhere earns its zaniness with real emotion, the shocking amount of hair Jason Statham sports in The One, and that film’s perfect time capsule of a soundtrack.

NEXT: Die! The Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans comic book, that is. Eric Sipple joins us for this month’s Four-Color Flashback.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:29  –  Intro / RIP Tim Sale
  • 00:09:55  –  Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • 01:09:30  –  The One
  • 01:36:49  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Googly Eyes” by Caspar Babypants, This is Fun! (2011)
  • “Down With the Sickness” by Disturbed, The Sickness (2000)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to ‘Gobbledygeek’ Episode 454 – “Gobbledyween: Rockula (feat. Eric Sipple)”

Dean Cameron in Rockula (1990), directed by Luca Bercovici

Gobbledygeek episode 454, “Gobbledyween: Rockula (feat. Eric Sipple),” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

Gobbledyween has come to a close for another year–and we’re going out with a fang! To round out our month of frightening films, we’ve chosen a movie most people have probably never heard of: Rockula, a vampiric musical from 1990 starring Dean Cameron as the bloodsucking Ralph, cursed to try and win back the love of his immortal life every 22 years. We have also chosen to torture none other than Mimesis author Eric Sipple, who has been forced to endure this film with Paul and Arlo. The gang discusses mirror selves, farting bats, resentful stars, and of course, Bo Diddley.

NEXT: enough inner darkness, how about some Outer Darkness? For our next Four-Color Flashback, we explore the interstellar terror of John Layman and Afu Chan’s 2018-19 Image series.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:40  –  Intro / Guest
  • 00:09:36  –  Rockula
  • 01:29:46  –  The Box Office Game!
  • 01:52:26  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Rockula” by Los Straitjackets, Damas y Caballeros (2001)
  • “Rockula” by Jesse Cutler, Test of Time (2008)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 453 – “Gobbledyween: The Fly (feat. Kenn Edwards)”

Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum in The Fly (1986), directed by David Cronenberg

Gobbledygeek episode 453, “Gobbledyween: The Fly (feat. Kenn Edwards),” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

Have you ever heard of insect podcasts? Neither have we. Paul and Arlo continue Gobbledyween 2021 with a deep penetrating dive into the plasma pool, as Alex Jonestown Massacre guitarist Kenn Edwards teleports on over to discuss David Cronenberg’s 1986 classic The Fly. The gang places the film in the context of the AIDS epidemic, marvels at just how charming it is, raves about Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis’ chemistry, and declares makeup effects artist Chris Walas to be one of the unsung heroes of ‘80s cinema. Plus, Kenn gives us a breakdown of the 20 (!) live events he’s been to post-vaccine.

NEXT: all things must come to an end, and so Gobbledyween returns to the grave after one final performance. Mimesis author Eric Sipple helps us lift the coffin lid on Luca Bercovici’s 1990 masterpiece Rockula.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:20  –  Intro / Guest
  • 00:05:42  –  The Fly
  • 00:11:18  –  Oh wait, it’s Ted Lasso tangents and concert reviews…
  • 00:47:35  –  Okay, back to The Fly, for real this time
  • 01:26:46  –  Kenn blindsides us with his House of the Devil thoughts
  • 01:30:00  –  Aaaaaand the finale of our The Fly discussion
  • 02:01:20  –  The Box Office Game!
  • 02:26:28  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” by The Offspring, Americana (1998)
  • “Fly Away” by Lenny Kravitz, 5 (1998)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 448 – “Miserable Children”

Paul and Arlo hard at work recording the podcast

Gobbledygeek episode 448, “Miserable Children,” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

What happens when a regularly scheduled episode gets regularly postponed? A freestyle, that’s what! In lieu of talking about The Americans season 3, Paul and Arlo talk about…well, whatever the fuck they want to talk about. Paul’s angry, Arlo’s drunk, it’s an angry drunken ramble! “Topics” of “discussion” include dumb reality shows like Clash of Cones, the intrinsic value (or lack thereof) in a star rating system, how disappointing the new Lorde album is, and whether or not the boys are actually going to see each other in person this year.

NEXT: The Americans season 3 with Wesley Mead? Maybe?

MUSIC

  • “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, Girl (2013)
  • “Happy Jack” by The Who, Happy Jack (1967)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Episode 441 – “The Americans: Season 2 (feat. Wesley Mead)”

Margo Martindale, Keri Russell, and Matthew Rhys in The Americans season 2 (2014)

Gobbledygeek episode 441, “The Americans: Season 2 (feat. Wesley Mead),” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

You know what they say: Parenting is hard, especially when you’re undercover KGB operatives masquerading as a suburban American couple. As Paul, Arlo, and special guest Wesley “Wezzo” Mead dive into season 2 of Joe Weisberg and Joel Fields’ modern classic The Americans, they discover all the ways child-rearing is difficult for Philip and Elizabeth Jennings. This includes concealing your secret identity; setting up a decoy aunt; keeping your kids out of the church; and shielding them from the dreaded “spurtsposition.” Plus, Paul and Wezzo rock out to the new Fratellis album and share some nice words about Ted Lasso.

NEXT: it’s My Favorite Year to take a stroll down Sunset Blvd. on a new Geek Challenge.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:01:16  –  Intro / Guest
  • 00:14:17  –  Main Topic
  • 01:51:00  –  Outro / Next

MUSIC

  • “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring, Cut (1982)
  • “Here Comes the Flood” by Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (1977)

GOBBLEDYCARES

by

Listen to Gobbledygeek Episode 425 – “evermore (feat. Joseph Lewis)”

Taylor Swift in the music video for ‘willow’ (2020), directed by herself

Gobbledygeek episode 425, “evermore (feat. Joseph Lewis),” is available for listening or download right here, on Spotify, and on Apple Podcasts.

‘Tis the damn season. Last summer, we convened the Three Heathens–Paul, Arlo, and A/V writer-director Joseph Lewis–to discuss Taylor Swift’s first surprise album of 2020, Folklore. It was surprising not only for the nature of its release but for the folk pop/singer-songwriter shift it marked, becoming the finest achievement of Swift’s career. On her second surprise album of 2020, Evermore, she may have equaled that achievement. The Heathens are back to discuss the progression of Swift’s Joni Mitchell phase, as her lyrics become more reflective and complex. They’re strengthened by producer/co-writer Aaron Dessner’s sonic palette, introducing new sounds to Swift’s oeuvre. It’s true, the boys go a little off the rails into Lynch references, but one thing is undeniable: the more we say, the less you know. Plus, a discussion of the Disney+ making-of/concert film Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions.

NEXT: it’s Hawk the Slayer vs. The Adventures of Robin Hood in a Geek Challenge.

BREAKDOWN

  • 00:00:37  –  Intro / Guest
  • 00:03:40  –  Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
  • 00:16:47  –  Evermore
  • 02:36:36  –  Outro / Next

LINKS

MUSIC

  • “Willow” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “Champagne Problems” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “‘Tis the Damn Season” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “Should’ve Said No” by Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift (2008)
  • “No Body, No Crime (feat. HAIM)” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “No Body, No Crime (The No Hugo, No Stiglitz Remix)” by Joe Lewis
  • “Coney Island (feat. The National)” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “Ivy” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)
  • “Cowboy Like Me” by Taylor Swift, evermore (2020)

GOBBLEDYCARES