Happy Monday on this glorious holiday week in the US. I hope you enjoyed this past Friday's inaugural issue of Willful Listening. One of my favorite things about the Internet is being able to collaborate with others on creative endeavors and having Will joining foofaraw has been a blast. I'm hoping to find ways to do more of that in the future.
I'm working on a few fun zine projects right now, two of which I'm really excited about. I've started, what I hope to be a series, called a tiny, infinite internet, where I'm featuring ~30 sites on the Internet, including personal blogs, indie services, etc. I've started reaching out to a couple people for quotes to go along with their sites and have a lot more reach out to do still. The second project is a fanzine dedicated to Jeff Rosenstock's HELLMODE. If you're interested in contributing thoughts, an essay, a piece of art, photograph, etc. reach out.
streaming variability
what's on tv this week
New Shows
Fargo S5 (FX/Hulu) — 22 Nov
I've bounced in and out of Fargo, which is one of the great things about anthology series', but this season looks absolutely killer. Must watch for me.
Hard Knocks: In-Season - Miami (HBO) — 22 Nov
Another must watch here. Miami has been playing great, but even more important is head coach Mike McDaniel who is an absolute joy to watch and listen to.
Faraway Downs (Hulu) — 26 Nov
I guess this is based on the Baz Luhrmann's 2008 film, Australia (which I never saw)... and he's back with a six episode miniseries starring the same leads: Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (HBO) — 26 Nov
I never watched this growing up, but the images of the characters have still somehow been seared into my brain. Might give it a go...
The Schedule
Days based on streaming availability for the majority of people
Looks like Apple is moving their Friday shows up to Tuesday night / Wednesday morning (depending on your time zone) including the epic Monarch and the season finale of Lessons in Chemistry.
Tuesday
A Murder at the End of the World (Hulu) 1:3
Wednesday
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple) 1:3
For All Mankind (Apple) 4:3
Lessons in Chemistry (Apple) 1:8
Fargo (Hulu) 5:1-2
Hard Knocks: In-season (HBO) 3:1
Friday
Shining Vale (Starz) 2:7
Invincible (Amazon) 2:4
Rap Sh!t (HBO) 2:4
Sunday
Rick and Morty (Adult Swim) 7:7
Fellow Travelers (Showtime) 1:5
The Gilded Age (HBO) 2:5
The Curse (Showtime) 1:3
Faraway Downs (Hulu) S1
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (HBO) 12:1
sonic vibrations
this past Friday's best album releases
Release of the Week
💽 Quaranta — Danny Brown
I don't think there was much that really blew my socks off this past Friday, but I think Danny Brown delivered on a solid rap effort, especially given how long it's been in gestation with fans eagerly waiting.
Other Releases
Runner-Ups
Troper Sings Brion — Mo Troper
Fun story about this one over on Stereogum.
Plain White T's — Plain White T's
I view PWT as a one hit wonder, so I was pleasantly surprised when I threw this on and actually enjoyed it.
hmmmmmmm
Simplicity — Matt Berry
I know everyone is talking about Mr. 3000's turn to flute music, but, Matt Berry's instrumental album is better...
Hearth Room — Frost Children
Leans a little into the emo-pop-punk vibes from the aughts. Might be a bit to "whiney" for some, but still enjoyed it.
And the Win (Live and Loose!) — MJ Lenderman
New Blue Sun — André 3000
Back to Moon Beach — Kurt Vile
Welcome 2 Collegrove — Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz
Only including this because I still think Lil Wayne can rap even if he's past his prime. I've always hated 2 Chainz though...
Bits and Bobs
Infinite Joy (EP) — Bad Suns
Fun up-beat indie EP. Definitely worth checking out.
Don't Forget Your Bags (EP) — Mia June
sequential variants
this weeks best comic releases
No. 1s
Batman: Off-World (DC) #1
Jason Aaron writing Batman for the first time. Need I say more?
Somna (DSTLRY) #1
Becky Cloonan (writer) and Tula Lotay (artist) debut their DSTLRY series. Cloonan has written some great stuff recentyl with Wonder Woman and Batgirls and Lotay's beautiful painterly style was on show in Barnstormers.
The Holy Roller (Image) #1
Andy Samberg (yes, that one) and Joe Trohman (guitarist from Fall Out Boy) join Rick Remender to write this one with artist Rolan Boschi. Writing all of those names together just feels weird.
Carnage (Marvel) #1
Torunn Grønbekk kicks off a new run on Carnage with artist Pere Pérez.
Best
Bord Orchard: Tenement (Image) #6
Black Hammer: The End (Dark Horse) #4
Dracula (Skybound) #2
Void Rivals (Skybound) #6
Kill Your Darlings (Image) #3
Kaptara: Universal Truths (Image) #4
The Ribbon Queen (AWA) #5
The Rest
Nightwing (DC) #108
Superman (DC) #8
The Incredible Hulk (Marvel) #6
Catwoman (DC) #59
Wolverine (Marvel) #39
Avengers Inc. (Marvel) #3
Immortal X-Men (Marvel) #17
silver-screen voyage
movies hitting the big screen this week
The Boy and the Heron
New Miyazaki at the age of 82! And an absolutely mind-blowing cast for the English dub.
Napoleon
Joaquin Phoenix is easily one of the greatest living actors so I'll check out anything he does even if Ridley Scott hasn't really impressed much as of late.
Maestro
Consider me curious for this one. Bradley Cooper obviously made a splash with his directorial debut, A Star is Born, but I'm not sure we will see a repeat of success with this one.
Wish
The new animated musical from Disney Animation.
Outro
Another issue in the books.
I'm hoping to get out a new issue of nonsense. Friday that will cover both December and January as I prepare for foofaraw to go on a little break towards the end of December before kicking off Season Two in the new year.
Stay sane,
—humdrum