The B.E.E. Podcast - 11/15/21 - Sam Outlaw Returns - SILVER
Added 2021-11-16 01:31:00 +0000 UTCBret dissects Hollywood's latest silver screen adaptation of Dune before singer/songwriter Sam Outlaw returns to the podcast to play a few songs from his brand new record Popular Mechanics.
Comments
Welle:Erdball did Commodore-64 80s techno-pop really well. The lyrics are German, though. That tends to turn off Americans.
Antonio Primavera
2022-01-01 20:34:16 +0000 UTCHe thought Stacys Mom was the best thing he EVER heard in 2003? 😳 Um. All these wannabe Americana 80s rip offs are so watered down and contrived. I need to cleanse myself. For anyone that interested, there was an 80s revival in the late 2000s to early 2010a which was actually worth listening too.
Phoenix
2021-12-21 02:19:32 +0000 UTCWhile I agree (I guess) a bit about Sam, I also enjoyed this podcast a lot. I didn't dislike the guy, but the previews of his music don't compel me to go out and listen to his discography either. Definitely not as passionate about him as you, nothing he said really warranted that. As for the genre thing; While I agree genres are useful tools to understand, describe, and learn about music (the wonderful bands I found because I looked up what the hell Paisley Underground music was) – changes to them are not a bad thing. Should the only Metal music be a copy of Black Sabbath's music from 1970? Of course not, Metal is a very diverse genre (well it is its own tree of many subgenres.) I'm not crazy about Rap Metal, Rage Against the Machine's self-titled album is pretty good. As for drum machines, they are a tool like any other for creating music. They aren't all bleeps and bloops like they were in the 1970s, modern drum machines are drastically more sophisticated and can approximate the sound, feel, and rhythm of a physical drum kit and live drummer very well. Yeah, a TR-808 would sound pretty stupid on Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger record (who knows, someone really creative could reimagine those songs in a cool crazy way), but that doesn't mean you couldn't write fantastic country music (and not just modern ultra-slick Country Pop) with instruments invented after the 1800s.
Dan Citriniti
2021-11-30 14:13:10 +0000 UTCI consulted a good friend of mine, Bret Easton Ellis, and I've been doing a lot of the stuff he recommended in his podcast. Not gonna lie Bret's line of "when I go to the movies, I want to be fucked." might just be my favorite ever of his. It's fantastic representation of what I want about movies - to be mesmerized. While I don't disagree Dune (never read it myself, not scifi book guy either but I might enjoy more than Bret) may fall a bit flat emotionally and could use a bit more humor, but that thunderous silent movie-esque imagery totally enraptured me in IMAX (and the sound was pretty amazing too.) Momoa was certainly a bright spot, I hope Villeneuve can bring that sort of energy into more of the latter half. There's a few other criticisms out there I hope he takes into account, because I think he can integrate those gracefully into his vision.
Dan Citriniti
2021-11-30 13:34:03 +0000 UTCCheck out Teenage Fanclub and Rain Parade
Vin Bravo
2021-11-29 21:23:21 +0000 UTCJust hope you know that the majority of us are too busy grading papers to let you know that this Podcast is a godsend, and the time warp eps are absolutely no issue. Last week you gave us over an hour of new content, what’s wrong with that. You gave us an exclusive look at what I think will be a career redefining novel. The insights into your personal life and your always fascinating questions, make this worth whatever you want us to pay!
Matt Brown
2021-11-29 06:21:33 +0000 UTCYou ever wonder how a band like Train get together? What the hell do they have in common, what essential desire to create?
BrienPiechos
2021-11-26 02:01:03 +0000 UTCThank you for introducing Fountains of Wayne to me. I can’t get over how good Welcome Interstate Managers is. Like the second coming of Big Star or something. I can’t believe I’d never heard of these guys until now, with the exception of Stacey’s Mom, of course. I’m hooked, Welcome Interstate Managers has been on repeat here for days.
Iain
2021-11-25 10:50:05 +0000 UTCCouldn't have said it better (though I would have used paragraph breaks ;). I got the sense that he didn't care about the music and was rather crafting a persona that he believed would sell like California fusion food. I'm not a fan of country, but I was put off by how he derided a genre he was building a name for himself in.
Dirk
2021-11-23 07:26:25 +0000 UTCMonologue was great, music sounds like the music they use in movies and tv shows when they can't get clearance for real hits. I love country but whatever this stuff is really derivative and meh. Not really a fan of this guest. BrienPiechos pretty much says how I feel about this guy.
Erick
2021-11-22 06:01:24 +0000 UTCOMG country music is so horrible. Like it is neck and neck with bluegrass.
Poetical Gore
2021-11-22 05:26:12 +0000 UTCThe anxiety monologue was the best
George Barnett
2021-11-20 22:02:33 +0000 UTCDear Bret, I really love the new season, in particular, for your extended focus on film reviews. Still, I absolutely loved and appreciated you sharing a slice of your current life and fears -- it reminded me of your fascinating personal essays into the early days of COVID-19 in the podcast, as you were going about your day, fearing catching the deadly virus. Please share more of these personal insights; they are fascinating. Thanks again, and congratulations on the new season. Manny
Manny Ramos
2021-11-20 21:33:10 +0000 UTCYes. The time warps are fine especially since Bret still does something new before each one. Plus, admittedly, relistening to the Zombie interview was awesome (3rd listen?)
Brian Rooney
2021-11-20 15:00:56 +0000 UTCSounds like a really tough stretch, Bret. Hang in there. Shards will be a phenom
Nicholas Vinocur
2021-11-20 07:52:50 +0000 UTCfor the record i have no issues with timewarps. i love this pod unconditionally regardless of who the guest is and all i want is for more podcasts and for the shards to be published as a book. this was a great episode. i love the eagles. dune is whack and will always be whack. sam outlaw: i'd have a coors original with him. this podcast rules. bret talk to us about your thoughts on eyes wide shut. i like it but i dont know why
Collin Myers
2021-11-20 01:43:56 +0000 UTCEnjoyed the Dune piece, with one caveat: Ridley Scott left Dune to make Alien, not Blade Runner, taking H.R.Giger, (whom he had met on the Dune project), with him.
Philip Huntley
2021-11-19 23:06:13 +0000 UTCwould love a review of Laughter in the Dark when you’re done reading it, Bret.
Darren Ankenman
2021-11-19 07:57:09 +0000 UTCI just can't dig this Sam "Outlaw" character. I find his music boring and his opinions lacking for exactly the reasons he holds them. At least he is honest. But he admittedly has no fundamental drive to produce art, or communicate anything with deeper meaning. He just wants to make a shiny product because he's "in it for the music, maaaaaan." And it shows. I suspect the "outlaw" moniker has something to do with his attitude towards critics, purists, and anyone who seeks to put labels and definitions on art and genres. He seems quite pleased with himself for refusing to acknowledge these time tested definitions and the result is exactly what you would expect. Something soulless and best suited to a Starbucks sampler. Some amalgamation of past musical movements stuffed into a blender and perverted into something that is lesser than the sum of its parts. Sam, there is no room for a drum machine in country. There is no room for rap in heavy metal. There is no room for rap in country either. Genres happen organically because the right mixture of influences congeals into something unique and self defining in a way that can be participated in and perpetuated by others who respect the limitations and seek to contribute to its legacy. There is a "spirit" to a genre, and when you attempt to redefine it or create some over-spiced fusion the spirit is not only lost, desecrated. No behavior could be more contrary to that spirit than deliberately eschewing those traditions because you fancy yourself a rebel. When you fuck with the recipe you almost always fail. Before now I might have agreed that past trauma and some backstory littered with suffering wasn't a necessary component of a great artist, but Sam mentioning his lack thereof really proves the rule. What I took away from this is my time is better spent listening to Amy Winehouse .
BrienPiechos
2021-11-19 04:55:49 +0000 UTCI listened to the anxiety monologue twice. I feel like it should be put in a sort of Covid 2021 time capsule.
Tom Davidson
2021-11-18 21:43:53 +0000 UTCWhat a great podcast. Amazing comeback. I enjoyed the honesty. I enjoyed it cuz BEE was genuine. I would love more releases just like this.
Knokkel knokkel
2021-11-18 21:08:01 +0000 UTCIt blows my mind how shitty yr taste in music is
Dal Rhoads
2021-11-18 16:33:54 +0000 UTCFor sure, I thought after Blade Runner 2049 the Villeneuve team would only step the visuals up more. But like you said its just tons of sand.
Alex Waller
2021-11-18 15:47:16 +0000 UTCmy jaw dropped when you said you never heard brandon flowers’ solo records! hope you got into them recently. they’re amazing.
Nick Not Nolte
2021-11-18 07:13:52 +0000 UTCOk granted LA is not *all* pretty people, but compared to Nashville... 😉
Sam
2021-11-17 23:41:04 +0000 UTCI think Bret talked about JG Ballard on the most recent questions pod. I don’t remember specifics but I think he gave some thoughts and generally praised his writing.
Ryan
2021-11-17 14:41:33 +0000 UTCI took a break from the show for over a year or so. I’m back, and what a fantastic episode. Missed hearing Brett’s take on current cinema culture, his reviews, etc. He sounds super sharp and pensive… and funny as ever. I’m very glad I’m back.
M. Nero Nava
2021-11-17 14:00:53 +0000 UTCSam Outlaw is funny, LA is not all pretty people. And post-pandemic the city is more trashed than ever, ayayay
Ashley
2021-11-17 05:09:22 +0000 UTCIt’s ‘OK’…
MikeE
2021-11-16 20:59:31 +0000 UTCOkay Boomer. I'm 28 and I don't think I know anybody who doesn't know what "selling out" means. It's still an incredibly common attack against almost any artist that was in some way "underground" or niche and became popular in a short amount of time.
Nicolas
2021-11-16 20:52:31 +0000 UTC“Enemy” is one of my favorites. “at other times appears as an emaciated twink”
Dirk
2021-11-16 18:48:05 +0000 UTCCouple other thoughts from this one…if you want an exercise in frustration, try to explain/discuss the concept of ‘selling out’ to anyone under, say, 30. They literally have no idea what you’re talking about, and cannot grasp it. What’s the point of ANYTHING if not to sell it?? Huh?? Secondly, I think Sam is the ideal BEE guest. Super opinionated but self deprecating, inside but not too inside, articulate, an interesting mixture of knowledge and intentional pop culture ignorance, and actually living the post-Empire pop artist’s life. I honestly think you two should spin it off into a pop culture podcast, Ellis, Outlaw…whatever. It’d be great, I think fun for both, and a big success, probably pretty easy good $. Just my likely very stupid 2 cents, anyway. But I’m positive I’m right.
MikeE
2021-11-16 18:35:14 +0000 UTC“It seems to me that what most of us have to fear for the future is not that something terrible is going to happen, but rather that nothing is going to happen… I could sum up the future in one word, and that word is boring. The future is going to be boring.” -JG Ballard, 1991
Fernando
2021-11-16 18:28:52 +0000 UTC🐝 monologue on the humming anxiety in the background threatening to swallow him is tasty
Fernando
2021-11-16 18:20:25 +0000 UTCThe only sci Fi I ever enjoyed was jg Ballards which takes place in the present, in many ways he runs parallel to BEE, the flat non emotional presentation & psychosis as a thing; Ballard was also fascinating in his interviews, like 🐝 an interesting voice in the culture during his time, Ballards motto was dangerous curves ahead place foot on the acclerator, I would love to know if 🐝 read Ballard and his thoughts, although I suspect Brett probably has not read Ballard
Fernando
2021-11-16 18:17:12 +0000 UTCDune, as a cultural phenomenon, is a better subject for BEE than regular movie reviews. After all, four times somebody has tried to make this movie, which says something.
Michael Walsh
2021-11-16 17:41:14 +0000 UTCGreat episode. Love Sam Outlaw - I discovered him via this podcast in 2017 and had the good fortune of watching him live in a room of about 100 other people while he was touring Tenderheart in the UK. John Mayer calling his latest album a flop was funny…what I guess is the lead single has 494m listens on Spotify. Give a break man.
P Smoke
2021-11-16 17:33:30 +0000 UTCYou will be seeing more and more sudden deaths, aggressive cancers appearing out of nowhere in 60, 50, 40, even 30 somethings. Strokes, odd autoimmune and gastrointestinal disorders. You’ve noticed them, almost everyone has. I certainly have. A 38 year old woman who on her yearly mammogram discovered a small tumor that normally would have been a snap to treat, lumpectomy, round of radiation, done, but it was a VERY rare and incredibly aggressive cancer and was already in lymph tissue. The oncologist was at a loss to explain it. As was the GI specialist of the 59 y.o. man I know that suddenly had horrible pain and bloating in his stomach and digestive system which after weeks of testing and agony they’ve decided is Crohn’s Disease. Very odd. It’s almost as if millions of people have had an incredibly tissue damaging and mutagenic substance enter their bodies…crazy, I know…
MikeE
2021-11-16 17:01:28 +0000 UTCThat Thing You Do! is a really fun movie.
Brian Rooney
2021-11-16 16:36:41 +0000 UTCGreat episode this week. Personally, I really loved Blade Runner 2049 and wouldn't group it in with Dune as I don't think it has the same issues. The thing with Dune is that it's plot of a young kid destined for greatness during some big conflict has been done so many times and is typical hero's journey stuff. That's compounded with the fact that Star Wars used Dune as a template, and countless YA franchises have used Star Wars as a template, so those themes and the basic framework have been used countless times, and even though Dune is done more artfully it doesn't really distinguish itself in any real way from the pack either. While BR 2049's themes and story are more interesting, it can't be overstated how much more visually interesting it is than Dune as well. The city lights, holograms, flying cars, freaking hovercraft trash compactors, and futuristic dams, there's always something to get immersed in and its definitely one of my most memorable times going to a movie theater. Dune is essentially Tatooine without Mos Eisley, lots of people walking around in SciFi robes. It was fun to hear the conversation with Sam. Regarding there not being a big reward for an artist when they make something of quality, I don't see how that can be a good thing at all. People seeing the opportunity to make a life for themselves doing something they like usually brings out the best in them, at least for a while it does. It kinda has the effect of 'let me drop some of my pretensions and baggage and make something that people will actually like.' The artist staying in their corner and self-indulging sounds a lot more like surrender than freedom.
Alex Waller
2021-11-16 16:06:26 +0000 UTCI am going to skip this one
Chase
2021-11-16 14:22:06 +0000 UTCam going to listen on my run. will say more later, after my run
richard owain roberts
2021-11-16 06:30:41 +0000 UTC
