S8E20: One Is The Loneliest Wonder

I really didn't like Fortress of Solitude. My favourite Lethen novel is Chronic City, easily

Gnome

Bret. Like the brilliant man who joins a cult and is convinced 1 + 1 =5, you are starving for spirituality. Find some or drink the koolade.

Caleb Snyder

I watched this recently and felt it was going in the right direction for a movie. At the least.

Diana Marie Delgado

Damn I wish I was your lover is a great song

Sodaheiress

and agree on Ryan O.Neil. I had the hugest crush on him as a teen.

Sodaheiress

Lars and the Real Girl is a really good movie

Sodaheiress

Brett you should watch The Beast by Bartrand Bonello it came out this year and is excellent

Sash

I enjoy it, as well!

Ashley

Imma side w/ you on this one.

James Beatty

I also like the Gwen Stefani (No Doubt?) cover of “It’s My Life”.

J Hay

Ah, the endless runner’s re-run of his previously rendered remark.

J Hay

The Plimsouls! YES. Great band. I saw them several times at my college campus pizza joint, before they were signed to a major label.

J Hay

He mentioned it! I liked it, but he didn’t.

J Hay

Who??? (Not The Who or Guess Who)

J Hay

As an older native of LA, who lives somewhere in Bret’s area, I hate summer. Winter is the best season in LA. “June Gloom” makes me smile :)

J Hay

Hmmm... Didn't even know the film was from a novel. Def gonna keep an eye out for it.

Edi Panta

I remember one of my mates once in a very stoned way asking me "hey, you ever listen to the song Electric Wizard by the band Electric Wizard from their album Electric Wizard?"

David Morgan-Brown

Where did you find the book? I thought it was out of print.

J Hay

Cutter’s Way is a great, if very sad, movie

J Hay

And Murder on the Dancefloor from Saltburn

Alex Lawrence

#1 hit in the UK

Alex Lawrence

and the first album is called The 1975

Alex Lawrence

Surprised Dogville and Dancer In The Dark were not mentioned

Alex Lawrence

“It’s My Life” and “Talk Talk”. They had some hot 100 tracks too

M. Nero Nava

I think Numan's "Are Friends Electric?" qualifies as a hit. It was #1 in the UK even if it didn't do much in the US.

Alex Lawrence

What's the 2nd hit?

Alex Lawrence

MC Hammer?

Thomas Edwards

Can't believe someone deleted my message! Not very fitting for a podcast often all about issues with censorship etc...what I said wasn't even that harsh.

Billy Vega

I just finished reading Cutter and Bone. Amazing book. Movie is great too.

Alec K. Redfearn

60 year olds should not be having kids.

Laura Woods

Gary Numan has "Are Friends Electric" and a really big following.

Edi Panta

Cool As Ice, not "cold as ice" Ha! Great pop music round-up.

Edi Panta

Jeff Bridges in Cutter's Way brings us back to the Coen Bros. as it was the inspiration for The Big Lebowski.

Edi Panta

It’s normal to be depressed about the following: 1. Turning 60 (it’s NOT the new 40 and we all know it); 2. Having a boyfriend in a psychiatric hospital (even if it’s the place he needs to be); 3. Realizing that the movie have changed so much that you can no longer use them as a source of pleasure/escape. That’s A LOT do deal with, and it’s all depressing.

George's wife Martha

I think it's important Bret keeps on with the next volume of Proust (Guermantes' Way) as it is far better and exciting than the previous ones.

Nicolas Zaks

I miss Basement Jaxx !

Keith campbell

"Slowdive" by Slowdive, off their 1990 EP "Slowdive"

Alex Bielovich

Gary Numan’s most recent album is really great.

Thomas Matich

On the subject of one-hit-wonders, "Nowhere Girl" by B-Movie was so evocative in The Shards.

Gabriel M. Hart

Good to hear some love for Fountains of Wayne. Underrated band 🎸

bscronin

I just want to say that I am so thankful for this podcast and for Bret being so honest and candid with his experience as I have been going through a similar situation with a long time partner having mental health issues, living alone, as well as having the existential dread of mortality creeping into my psyche more frequently as I rapidly approach 50. My age and circumstances are slightly different but Bret sharing really resonates and is very helpful. I have been experiencing these same sort of feelings and for me I think it's a combination of the loss of my partner due to her mental health issues, aging, and the total shit show the US and world is right now. It's hard to have grown up in the glorious, almost mythical at this point, 80's and 90's, and now have to accept living in this toxic, degraded clown show. As another commenter mentioned, having your long time partner be suddenly removed from your living space affects you greatly, even if on a subliminal level, and living all alone definitely allows for Increased introspection and the dread to creep in at any moment. The security blanket of our partners is gone. The dread is like a boogie man that can emerge whenever it wants now that you're alone. My approach to try to overcome it is to try and stay busy, workout, try to stay in the present, and to get out, do new things and keep life fresh. I feel like stagnation occurs when we ruminate on the past while not having any new experiences in the present. I'm sure Bret will work through it. Especially with all the helpful fan diagnosis: "IT"S THE WEED GUMMIES!!!" "IT'S TIM POOL!!!" "IT'S WHITE PEOPLE!!!" I'm just thankful for Bret, his candor, Adam, and the podcast in general. Keep it raw and real Bret, that's what the real ones are here for.

R. M.

Doctor to Bret: "You need to try and lay off the Tim Pool and white people in general. I'm prescribing some cheerful people of color and The Young Turks."

R. M.

"surrounding yourself by people who complain about the world" You have no idea what content Bret consumes, the frequency, or who the people are that he surrounds himself with. As far as "the teenagers who killed themselves he ranted about" I'm not sure what rant you're referring to but whataboutism is another peak millennial behavior.

R. M.

Nah. False equivalency. His criticisms has been about being easily offended, victim narratives and being close minded to other points of view. He’s never trashed anyone for sometimes getting the blues.

N.M. Janice.

He’s not complaining about being offended, white privilege or micro aggressions. He’s just going through a hard time. That’s a human thing.

N.M. Janice.

So you're still mad he had a Tim Pool adjacent personality on his podcast so now you're nit picking, ankle biting and choosing a moment when Bret is vulnerable to take a shot? Typical millennial behavior. Being vulnerable and candid with the listeners is not the same as whining and the podcast is about whatever the f*ck Bret wants it to be about. And like you have the faintest idea what content Bret is consuming and the frequency, or how that content factors into his current mental state. "IT'S THE WEED GUMMIES!!!" "IT"S THE TIM POOL CLIPS!!!" "IT'S THE WHITE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" If you think Bret is a "whiny Gen X'er" then f*ck off from his podcast. Also, Gen X will take the Pepsi challenge with your botched generation any day of the week avocado toast.

R. M.

Sorry actually my personality isn’t based around the year I was born

OSOS

Ok zoomer.

James__

I loved Fall Guy. Shit, it is what it is. Light, silly, and beautiful to look at. Clash - Combat Rock holds up well, I reckon. Sean Flynn anyone?

JEREMY ROBERTS

Gosh it's so rewarding to hear Bret talk about the passage of time. I really mean that. No sarcasm. I'm 46, with cancer, and can feel the clock ticking. These podcasts are a treat.

Ben

…excellent episode as usual thank you both

PETER GREER

I fully agree with BEE about The Fall Guy. Just awful. Woefully unfunny. Complete waste of time. Don't folks know what a piece of shit looks and smells like anymore?

Joe Lonie

OSOS

Does anyone know how to hear the locked podcasts from 2014-2017? Seems impossible to download.

Patrick Neal

It’s been so gloomy in LA since April, the June gloom hit us early and has been going strong. Maybe that has something to do with Bret’s malaise…🌥️

Ashley

Yeah, he's just around the cusp, but try convincing him of that.

Billy Schafer

Genuinely believe BEE needs to get off the meds, build up natural testosterone and have good sex or some kind of fun. Or have a kid!

Thomas Edwards

Living in a box by Living in a Box

Joe Marshall

Ah, Suddenly Last Summer. But which scent does he choose?

Phoenix

Bret, I had the same existential anxiety when I separated from my ex husband and lived alone for the first time in my mid 30s. Living alone, when you’re not used to it, can feel very, very uneasy. Never thought I would do it again, but after my last relationship ended, I ended up living alone again. Loved it the second time around. No one to answer to, everything is on your own schedule. Not bad. And please do a review of Challengers. I have a major crush on Josh O’Connor after seeing it. He for some odd reason reminds me of Richard Gere in this movie. Maybe it’s his voice, idk. Read the script, fantastic. Haven’t been this horny for a film in a long, long time.

Phoenix

Great song.

Phoenix

with each of these intro monologues, ironically bret is sounding more and more like the millennial / Gen Z snowflakes he can’t help but complain about from time to time 😂

Nick Not Nolte

INT Bret's Mercedes Bret scream sings "My Worst Enemy" by Lit as he drives to the car wash. BRET Please Tell ME WHYYYYYYYYYYYY EXT CAR WASH Bret whips into the car wash parking lot, coming in slightly hot, parks his car, and enters the car wash. INT CAR WASH Bret walks to the counter and pays for a deluxe car wash when the gift shop off to the side catches his eye. "Suddenly Last Summer" by The Motels plays in the background as he peruses the trinkets and spots some candles on sale. He stands over the candles for a long beat, sniffing them and contemplating the purchase as if it is a major decision while the melancholy of The Motels tickles the dread. Bret purchases the candle just as Thompson Twin's "Doctor Doctor" comes on and then walks to the window to watch his car pass through the car wash, contemplating life and holding back the dread. BRET (WHISPERS) Doctor Doctor, can't you see I'm burning, burning?

R. M.

Recommend checking out In a Violent Nature. Packed house on a Wednesday night at The Grove. Has its cliches but found it wildly entertaining.

Nick B

He turned 60 in March, his longtime partner had a major mental health episode a few months ago and is currently institutionalized, he's now all alone in his house, and the world around us is going to shit, so plenty of reasons to have anxiety besides "weed gummies." Bret is plenty intelligent enough to figure it out, I don't think he needs a fan weed gummy intervention.

R. M.

shoot sorry man i said same thing above. that bad co album is pretty good classic rock

Collin Myers

bret is technically not gen x either if you go by the dates online

Collin Myers

very excited for this

Collin Myers

lol

Collin Myers

bad company by bad company on their debut album which was self titled bad company

Collin Myers

Bands with songs that are also their name: The 1975 by The 1975

DS

It was just a few weeks ago when Molly and Judd were part of a TBC reunion on stage at one of those conventions. AMH was there too. It’s on YouTube. Weird they wouldn’t turn up for the documentary.

Christopher Ward

I cant believe BEE wanted to review The Fall Guy. Anyone could see that movie is complete garbage. Yet no Furiosa review??

Alexander Quattlander

Bret sounds like the spitting image of the guy from Death in Venice.

Alexander Quattlander

Great to hear Brett go off on a 'Combat Rock' tangent (& to go against fashion & dislike it)

Steven Hamilton

what about gosling's half nelson (2006)?

James Beatty

It’s the only variable that seems to be new

Masha

One hit wonder add: “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling. Love you guys and Adam, you are so fucking funny! You are the perfect ying to Bret’s yang. Carry on !

Gary Wood

If Molly Ringwald won’t be in the upcoming Brat Pack documentary, I think we all ought to have an idea why given her recent reevaluation of the John Hughes films she was part of

Ryan Peck

Agree with Masha. Timelines kind of match and any kind of consciousness altering chemical can be weird. I give them a miss for a month and see what happens. The alcohol won’t be helping either but after 40 years, tolerance will be high.

James__

Couldn’t be the booze or pills? Gotta be the devils lettuce… OK Fauci.

R. M.

Numan had a period from 1979 to 1981. In the UK he dominated the charts, before "retiring". In the nineties his music made a comeback. Armin Van Helden and Basement Jaxx sampled cars and M.E. Which were hit records. From this the second phase of his career started.

Stevan Popovic

Picturing Bret cruising down Sunset blasting My Own Worst Enemy.

N.M. Janice.

Gosling is also great in Fracture, the Believer. I watched Murder by Numbers—thanks for recommending it! Gosling is mesmerizing in this movie. I realized watching it and verified on Wikipedia that it’s based on the Leopold and Loeb murder. Two Jewish university of Chicago students killed an adolescent boy to prove they could commit the “perfect murder.” Their IQs were reported as astronomical, Leopold had an IQ of 210! I suspect this was a fabrication to lessen their penalties, however. Also, I had the suspicion that the murder was really sexual in nature. Get this, turns out they were homosexuals in a relationship! Now who has an iq of 210?

Stephen Curry

You are having panic attacks since starting the gummies. Please be careful/stop taking them!

Masha

if you have read Bret's books you can handle some hot guy talk. And Adam is funny AF. It is fun when they both talk like on the one hit wonders bit. Oh, and they forgot Marcy Playground.

Poetical Gore

“Torn” originally by Ednaswap

Darren Ankenman

For sure. I have the Regal version. Which I think is even better. $23 for unlimited movies, everyday, all month long. Plus I rack up so many points that I can get free drinks and popcorn when I want.

Richard Raymond

Von Trier may have slowed down due to Parkinson’s. He was discussing it in 2022. And he was casting a net out in search of a romantic partner to help him in this new phase of life (on his instagram).

Darren Ankenman

Maybe it's the gummies that are messing with Bret... I'm pretty sure he started mentioning the darkness around the time he started taking them! I'm no expert, but I heard a few times that weed can create a sense of dread in some people.

FlyingWaffle

Bret finally realising that nihilism + hedonism + aesthetics are not the meaning of life.

Billy Vega

My Best Fiend is a terrific Herzog documentary about his tortured relationship with Klaus Kinski. Amazing film.

Adam Long

BEE might be suicidal

Happyhead

Not that it matters but Vanilla Ice had a million selling remake of Play That Funky Music that made the Billboard top ten in late 90 or early 91. Definitely not a one hit wonder. Also John Paar, Men Without Hats and Aha scored other top 20 hits with Naughty Naughty, Pop Goes the World and The Sun Always Shines on TV. Cutting Crew also had a top ten million selling followup with I've Been in Love Before. Again, not that it matters.

Adam Long

If we’re including great bands with one hit, these two - Plimsouls ‘million miles away’ and Flamin Groovies ‘shake some action’ (not exactly a hit but definitive)

Dan

New Bruce Wagner novellas Adam please bring him back for a 3rd round

Fernando

Bret should invest in an AMC Stubs membership, it really pays for itself if you see a couple movies a month and would likely take a lot of the sting out of "paying" for a movie ticket or heaven forbid renting 'The Fall Guy' for 19.99!

Thomas Matich

It's funny they mentioned it because I just got the blu-ray two weeks ago. Haven't seen it since it came out so I've been wanting to revisit it.

John Q. Thompson

Songs named after the band are a lot more common in hard rock and heavy metal hence their struggle to recall any of them.

John Q. Thompson

Kris is the only filmmaker I can think of who not only “gets” the Shards, but could translate it on screen. S/O to Borgli, cinema’s new hope!

Normaling

Feel similar to Bret, lately. Very gloomy. Lost all Interest in movies and music. Weed gummies are a nice break but can't seem to find joy in anything. I do enjoy listening to Bret talk about his problems. Very honest guy. Refreshing in a world of phonies.

Dave Mason

am going to listen on my run. will say more later, after my run.

richard owain roberts

Yes, A-ha also recorded a Bond song, "The Living Daylights." I don't know if Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" qualifies as a hit, but it's been covered by a few different artists. Lots of electronic bands consider him a big influence.

Billy Schafer

Aha and Gary Numan continued making albums. Currently Numan is doing a 45th anniversary tour. The lead singer of Brand new radicals became a songwriter.

Stevan Popovic

Franzen's a Boomer, not Gen-X.

Billy Schafer

Happy to hear Bret discuss the very cringey moment when John Parr is singing to the cast of St. Elmo’s Fire. It’s SO awkward.

Thomas Rankin

“That’s also the best song about pulling out.” So quick. Adam on 🔥 again!

Patrick

Yeah, i'm a monday again. Bret, check your biorhythm, all is right with the universe

sean in hawaii

I’m glad the one-hit wonder conversation dragged BEE out of his funk. My favorite band with a similar same song title is Talk Talk. They’re a two hit wonder. These type of conversations are why I worked for ten cents an hour at Amoeba for a decade. Get better, BEE!

M. Nero Nava

How could you forget “Bad Company” by Bad Company?

Brian James

Bret thinking Chumbawamba holds up is very disappointing to me.

John Q. Thompson

I actually really like The House That Jack Built.

N.M. Janice.

New Radicals wrote the music for Begin Again starring Mark Ruffulo

Elizabeth