Status Quo Screw It Janelle Monae

BONUS SONG FOR PATRONS

I'm working on a track for PAXAMANIA IV, and as per tradition, I'm N64-ifying one of my old songs. Which song, you'll have to wait for it, but...

It's coming out free with March's Patreon song!

For everyone else, it'll be the same deal as with "Fire In The Hole" where you can get both versions of the song for a dollar. 

FRIDAY NIGHT MYSTERIES PRESENTS: DANGANRONPA EPISODE 3


NOW we're talking! I was kind of spoiled on this first mystery before hand, but I guess they made it easy enough so that you can KIND of guess who did it. I enjoy this more "active" way of handling the court cases in Phoenix Wright.

JAM OF THE WEEK: "Make Me Feel" by Janelle Monae


EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP WE HAVE ALL BEEN BLESSED WITH NEW MUSIC AND APPARENTLY PRINCE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD.

She seems a lot rougher on these new tracks she put out the other day. Not production wise, because it sounds slicker than ever, but how much she's willing to reveal about herself and open up.

I'm still not sure if "Dirty Computer" is the supposed to be the next set in The Metropolis Saga, but I'm there either way.

Status Quo Sunday Will Be Back Next Week

Going away this week for work, so I'm front loading all the goodies here.Plus, the Superbowl happened:


NEW SONG AVAILABLE ON PATREON! "WHEN ALL IS SAID AN DONE"

"We found our legacy,
Acheived immortality
But when all is said and done,
You'll have to forget about me"

Took a while, but it's finally done!

"HIGH NOON" ON YOUTUBE


Yeehaw mofos! Something for you free freaks!

Also, I've been running polls the past couple weeks on my Patreon for my 10th Year Anniversary album. Partrons get to them a week early, but a couple of them opened up for everyone else!

EARLY STUFF

DINO HUNTER MD

FRIDAY NIGHT MYSTERIES: READ ONLY MEMORIES FINALE

What a long, strange trip it was.

Not a difficult game or... much of a game, but it's still a very endearing world. All of the little details and politics lend itself to a very plausible setting that, while socially and technologically progressive (genesplicing is common place to where they are their own class with their own issues, a lot of the characters in the game are LGBTQ+, AI and robotics have advanced locally instead of regressed), are still beholden to capitalism (gentrification, the late game involves corporations getting away with murder, and said corporation using an AI created that would feed on every user's personal data through their devices and tailor search results for them), made even worse as time goes on.

There are at least a DOZEN little things I can point to that have no bearing on the overall plot but I love to pieces: Hikkikomori invented sick ass VR worlds, turning into a furry cures disease, we went to Vietnam. Again.

Plus the spoiled milk. The spoiled milk is the key to everything.


I also think I adopted two dorks by the end of it (even though one of them is voiced by the inferior nerd music person NateWantsToBattle):


JAM OF THE WEEK: "Givin' Them What They Love


This was going to be Paradise City by Guns N' Roses since I'm getting into Burnout Paradise, but 1. It's Black Currenty Month and 2. Prince was "featured" as part of Justin Tmberlake's Half Time performance.

Plus, we should all know by now the glory of Ms. Monae.

This is sex making music. Starts out a slow jam with a lot of punch, then out of nowhere Prince fucking rips out a solo. Perfect opening number for Monae's 2013 The Electric Lady. It also leads nicely into Q.U.E.E.N., like "Yeah, she was looking at me for some undercover love" at the end here, which leads into Q.U.E.E.N. where she opens with "I can't believe all of the things they say about me" in the privacy of the bedroom, where she is then treated like a Queen.


Shit, I need to write that "Status Quo Radio" move treatment...

Status Quo Wednesday Celebrates Black Current-cy Month

TINY DESK ENTRY


NPR's Tiny Desk Contest was due this past week, so I farted out an entry 30 min before the deadline. I figured "Status Quo Radio" was that fine line between "Sounds good for NPR" and "Trupunx". Still, I'm on a hot streak with putting up video content!

JAM OF THE WEEK: "Q.U.E.E.N." by Janelle Monae


It's Black History Month (which I'm making Black Current-cy Month), and I firgured I'd focus these jams on black artists I like who are doing cool stuff today.

First up, Janelle Monae. I've gushed about her before on this site, but she deserves way more attention, even with two movies coming out in 2016. "Q.U.E.E.N." is the first single of her 2013 album The Electric Lady, and while "Dance Apocalyptic" is my favorite track, this one can't be discounted, because it was the song that got me into her.

The music video starts off in this very clean, elegant museum, while a voice over talks about "time traveling rebels". Then the sick guitar riff kicks in and so it begins, slowly ramping up until Erykah Badu's verse breaks it down to the slick bassline. Finally, top it off a tight, defiant verse set to so,ething striaght out of a James Bond movie.

"Q.U.E.E.N." is everything thing I love about J.M.'s music: smooth, weird and proud.

I wanted to see Hidden Figures, where she plays one of the black female NASA mathematicians that helped launch the programs' first sucessful space missions but it's a movie and apparently I don't watch movies.

GIANT ROM 4!
Giant Bomb's Game Jam is going on right now, and I'm working on a project with frequent I'd Rather Not guest Trace Evans. The themes for this edition were "ONE GIANT CHOMP" and "EAST VS. WEST".
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW

SHIT YEAH.

PODCAST RECAPS for 6/4/2016

WE HAVE A RADIO STATION! 

New This Week:

• Echo Chamber Episodes 151-159 and 167
• I'd Rather Not, Episodes 12 and 13

I'D RATHER NOT 13








Sorry guys, it looks like we've been beat to the punch with the YakPak. Oh wait that's a B. nvm.

Omorashi is defintelty A Thing, as evidenced in this F+ Podcast Episode.

The Yu-Gi-Oh comparison leads me to believe that Maxamillian Pegasus wasn't a corporate exec or a talented player, he just sat on a bunker's worth of booster boxes.

Personal thing: The one thing keeping me from living is the Pokemon world is because Pokemon are a hair to sapient for me to eat. Like, Cows don't die for you and nuzzle up to you and saw "Cow!". Cows and chickens don't shower me with love. They shower my stomach with tasty.

Beaker's word picture was glorious, but I figured in RL Pokemon "God" would be very difficult to catch, and 10 year old would probably fucking die.

I found this image when searching "Pac Man Neo"


Rhythm Bastard Island is like Zach Island only I'd probably open up to the public and fly around on my jetpack.

I'D RATHER NOT 14



"Tightrope Dick" feels like the next in line for "Words Said By People You Can Safely Disregard", behind "cuck", "SJW", "beta", and apparently, "legbeard".

Sorry to bum you out with that, here's Janelle Monae:

Status Quo Sunday IN YOUR HOUSE

APPEARANCE NEWS:
Coming soon to an Anime Festival in Orlando near you:
THE AFO RUMBLE!!!

X COMBATANTS ENTER, ONLY ONE WILL LEAVE WITH THE PRIZE... which we're still figuring out. But yeah, while I'm not playing at this years AFO, this is still just as exciting. Who knows? I might play a few guerilla shows in the halls...

ZONE CASTS RADIO STATION!
The plan is to have more podcasts ready with each weekly podcast recap, along with some more music and hopefully some filler stuff.

THIS WEEK'S JAM:


You should know by now that I am an unabashed fan of Janelle Monae. She's has an amazing voice, makes some beautiful music and is adorable as all get out. What you may not know is that Nile Rodgers is one of my favorite guitarists, who's done work on the greatest pop songs ever, such as "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, "Magic" by Mystery Skulls, and "Le Freak" by Chic. He also plays notes at the exact tones and rhythms to achieve Maximum Sex.

Duran Duran is Duran Duran.

The song is to me isn't something big, or relevating, it's a bunch of my favorite people who got together and said "wanna make a song?" I've seen Duran Duran do more complicated and deeper songs, but there was really no need for it.

MUSIC NEWS:
While I am working on stuff, I don't plan on putting anything out publicly yet. I'll send a BRAND NEW cover to the Newsletter people, and will be premiering a new song at Florida Fandomania so it's not like I'm depriving you guys of anything, I just want to know what to do with it all.

Status Quo Sunday is Really Just Black Friday on Rhythm Bastard Time

This week's jam:


I have professed my love for Janelle Monae in the past, but recently I got turned on to Estelle, who most people who know of her from he role as Garnet on the series "Steven Universe". She also sings the theme songs for that show and "We Bare Bears":


Why Estelle? Well, it recently came to my attention that she sang the song "American Boy" (feat. Kanye West), which is song that always seemed to show up in the background if I were in a public place long enough, recognized by it's sweet, airy chorus. Like most of those songs, the hook is recognizable, but I never had a title, artist or any other part to attribute to it.

ENOUGH OF THAT, NEW SHIT!
Chibi Pa 2015 Recap Video is out!


This one is done (relatively) on time! Unfortunatley, there are a lot of costumes I wanted to feature, but couldn't for timesake (I shoot for under 3 minutes)

PHYSICAL COPIES OF STATUS QUO RADIO ARE COMING!
And they'll be (hopefully) available at Holiday Matsuri! This took way to long to get done, because of internet screwups and everything, and I was going to include some ARG type stuff, but they're coming out, it's going to be very cool, I've been working really hard on all of this, and learning a SHITTON of Photoshop.

I ALSO GOT GUITAR HERO LIVE!
So far, I'm enjoying it, but the new guitar layout takes some getting used to. The feature I'm making the most use out of is GHTV, and leaving it on in the background while I've been working on the album design stuff. The song list/GHTV setlist is very solid, with a lot of good recent songs, and a fuckton of indie songs that don't suck, so the list has been pleasant to play through.

Really, the main difference between the two games is the same as it always has been: GH for loners, Rock Band for party people, but it's imnportant to note that the latter has a backlog of over 1500 songs, and is committed to monthly updates. Rock Band is safe and sound, being very secure in the weekly DLC, and for Guitar Hero to continue, it needs to keep updating with adding more content to GHTV every week.

Echo Chamber Recap Episode 132

OH CRAP WE NEED TO LINK THE DOWNLOAD

-Courage The Cowardly Dog feels like creepypasta before creepypasta was a thing but creepypasta was still a thing.





one day i found a slab buyt then it got all foggy and a scary voice said RETRN THE SLAB but then i said 'what's your offer' and the voice said RETURN THE SLAB OR SUFFER MY CURSE and i said 'NO I WILL DEFY YOU' and then he threw bugs at my house and i said NO1 and i punched him in the face and
everyone was clapping for me.

except my brother who WAS DEAD ALL ALONG!!!1


-"Karaoke Bar In Hell" is the name of my shitcore cover band.

It's also the name of my "Cheers"-esque sitcom about demons who run a karaoke bar in hell. Thankfully, we only have to license three songs: "Livin' On A Prayer", "Let It Go" and "All I Want For Christmas Is You". There's silence anytime the demons are talking, but whenever you see things from the perspective of the damned....

"WHOA, WE'RE HALFWAAAAAY THEEERE, TURN AWAY AND SLAM THE DOOR for yoooooou...."

Then during sweep week: SATAN shows up! They've got to make the place good and torturous before the big guy (played by WWE Superstar Ryback) but guess who just died? MAROON 5's ADAM LEVINE, and he's ready to bust out some hot new grooves!

-Robot Hell, in both classic and SFM:


-10th Circle of Hell, according to the Onion, will be sponsored by Blockbuster... So, they REALLY wanted to make sure nothing else could be added then...

-Peas in Guacamole is such a non issue, I'm not going to talk about it.

-The article "Rickrolling is sexist, racist and often transphobic in context" has to be one of the greatest pop culture thinkpiece within the past decade, and it truly is worth a read.

It's important to notice these things, and while we can't blame ourselves for our ignorance- IT'S A FUCKING RICKROLL AND WE WAITED FIVE MINUTES FOR THAT SHIT


-XKCD Rickrolling comic:




-Minion memes:




Because if I'm wasting the bandwidth, it's going to be with this shit.
FUCK YOU OWEN!!!


-Phantom Pregnancy is a very complicated phenomenon, where what would once be a strange occurance that would eventually fade away, is now reinforced by the Echo Chamber known as the internet.



-Married by a hipster shark. This is normally where I'd link the episode, and do a recap, but that episode isn't up yet, OWEN.

FUCK YOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!

-Janelle Monae is one of those artists that you look at them, and think, "Yeah, that's exactly what I want to do!" Her music videos are very creative, most being straight up science fiction elements, not unlike the late Michael Jackson.

All of this in encapsulated in her albums, known as "The Metropolis Saga", explained here.

While the story of the albums are very loose, usually handwaved away by time traveling shenanigans, but thematically, revolution, resistance and being an "other" (android) are at the core of the EP and 2 albums that make up the saga.

-Also, FUCK YOU OWEN!!!

10 NEW Bands Who I'd Curbstomp Babies To See In Rock Band 4

So like I did last week with returning bands, I'm doing with bands that haven't had a song debut in Rock Band, Guitar Hero or Rocksmith yet. This cancels out some I wanted to do like The Misfits, but these should be reasonable.

1. THE AQUABATS 

The ONLY downside I can see with the Aquabats is that the loss of keys hurts some of the songs, but there's plenty straight rock songs in their library that would fit in well. Plus, their stock is rising with The Aquabats Super Show and Yo Gabba Gabba! so the younger kids will be familiar the everyone's rock and roll superheroes!
If Harmonix ever has a brain hemmorage and releases Lego Rock Band 2, The Aquabats should be front and center!
SEE ALSO: "Super Rad!" "Look At Me, I'm A Winner!"

2. DAFT PUNK

Another band that feels the loss of the keys, but there's still workarounds, it just requires very liberal interpretations of "guitars" and "vocals". Maybe not on disc songs, but it's time for add some Robots to Rock Band.  
SEE ALSO: "Digital Love", "One More Time/Aerodynamic", "Harder Better Faster Stronger"

3. FOXY SHAZAM

With operatic vocals that could give Freddie Mercury a run for his money and the energy of nine coke-fiends crammed into 5 guys, Foxy Shazam is a rock band in every sense of the word, who's soujnd has changed enough over the years to give a wide variety of play styles. You want thrashy, trashy and in your face? Go with something off of their album "Introducing Foxy Shazam". Harder rock? 2012's "The Chruch Of Rock and Roll". Found out that you don't have a lo9t of hard songs on vocals? Anything off of 2010's self titled album will have the guy with the mic putting in A LOT Of work.
SEE ALSO: "Unstoppable", "The Church of Rock and Roll"

4. JANELLE MONAE

Have I mentioned I fucking love Janelle Monae? Another artist that bounces all over the place with genres, Cindi Mayweather captures the more mellow side rock, while adding in a ton of funk and hip-hop influences, which Rock Band is sorely lacking. A few of the songs on RB3 that tried to fall into this category were either too spastic or too easy. No keys is a bit of a loss, but depending on the track, you wouldn't even notice it. Any vocalist worth their salt should be begging to have these songs included.
SEE ALSO: "Q.U.E.E.N.", "Tightrope", "Cold War", "Many Moons"

5. JAPANDROIDS

Imagine if the Black Keys got their influences from Arena Rock, and you'd have a pretty good idea of The Japandroids. It's really good "Drive With The Windows Open" music that's plenty of fun for the whole group.
SEE ALSO: "The House That Heaven Built", "Adrenaline Nightshift"

6. THE PROTOMEN

The Protomen make concept albums based off of Mega Man and try to sound as 80s as fuck while doing that. If that sentence alone doesn't convince you, let me repeat it: The Protomen make concept albums based off of Mega Man and try to sound as 80s as fuck while doing that.Keys are missing, but we can still give it the old college try, right? RIGHT?
SEE ALSO: "The Hounds" "Hope Rides Alone" , "The Will Of One"

7. REEL BIG FISH

While "Beer" might not be the most "family-friendly" song from the Boston ska band, it's the song that suffers the least from losing the keys. Like most ska (see "This Gigantic Robot Kills"), the bass is challenging, and the small licks on the lead guitar keep the mostly chord focused song interesting to play. Also, "Beer" was MADE for harmonies. It has "Whoa-oh-oh" part! Bitches love "Whoa-oh-oh" parts!
SEE ALSO: "Take On Me", "Sellout"

 8. BOWLING FOR SOUP

We have "Nerd Rock" in Rock Band with "Still Alive" by Glados, Brony music and Kirby Krackle, but we need more "Dork Rock" and Rhythm Bastard, while awesome and cool and talented and well endowed, it's JUST NOT ENOUGH. Bowling for Soup are a bunch dorks that make some really sweet pop-punk, and everyone's guarantee to know AT LEAST 1985.
SEE ALSO: "Girl All The Bad Guys Want", "High School Never Ends", "Punk Rock 101"

9. WALK THE MOON

I'm really surprised these guys haven't had a Top 40 hit yet. Hopefully by the time RB4 comes out they will have gained some mianstream attention, but it could still be an opportunity for Harmonix to be kingmakers.
SEE ALSO: "Tightrope" "Different Colors"

10. THE WOMBATS

Another alternative rock band that's been around for a while, but only managed one radio hit recently. The accent and British Pop Culture references my throw a couple vocalists off, but the relentless energy makes up for it.  
SEE ALSO: "Kill The Director", "My First Wedding"

The Electric Status Quo Sunday

CHIBI PA RECAP VIDEO!


Fun fact: The guy who was Bojack Horseman was also the Hulk from my Hero Hype Con video.

JANELLE MONAE'S BIRTHDAY!


Can we talk about her for a second? Every time I look at her, I think “That’s the kind of thing I want to do!”
It’s earnest music wrapped up in something fantastic. You can tell there’s a method to her madness, looking at the videos like “Many Moons” and “Primetime”, which are mini sci-fi movies. 

In the process of making Status Quo Radio (my Team Fortress 2 inspired concept album), The Electric Lady has become one of the biggest inspirations; an album the rocks, an album that rolls, an album that takes you to another place for a little while.

-The album? MORE SONGS BEING TRACKED! MORE COVER ART... ARTED! This thing is actually starting to take shape, and I couldn't be more pleased. I'm working with three awesome dudes making this all work right, so the end product can be something I'm proud of.

Status Quo Radio Act 1 Complete

Or at the very least compiled.

For the past few weeks, it's always been the Week Of _____
The first week of the year was The Week of Sands Of Anime
Which then began The Week of Getting Ready for SCG Orlando
Then this past week was The Week of Finishing Writing for TF2 Promptfest
Now, I don't really know what's coming up for this next week, (most likely a Magic PTQ that will get waylaid by doing stuff with friends), but for now, and from now on, it's about working more on "Status Quo Radio".

Between how busy I've been, I haven't touched upon the music that much, but for time being, it's full steam ahead on the album.

ESPECIALLY considering that for the first time ever, I've compiled Act 1, which stands to be about 15 minutes long. It was amazing to have it come together, but it's not without errors. At least now I have a checkpoint.

Since I didn't cover it in last week's State Of The Bastard 2014, I'd like to cover my favorite album of 2013: Janelle Monae's The Electric Lady.

There were plenty of contenders: David Bowie, The Studio Killers and Daft Punk and make badass driving music and are put together beautifully, but they didn't resonate with me the say way Lady did.

Ever listen to something or some one and say "YES! That's exactly what I want to do!" That's how I feel with The Electric Lady; it's schizophrenic, it's strong, and it's all made by a woman who has nothing but absolute conviction in what she's doing. The first half is front loaded with this awesome, catchy music, and the second half is equivalent to Bowie's Low where it's like "Yeah, there's no hook/chorus but you're going to love it anyway"

The skits are OK and do a teensy bit of worldbuilding, but they don't really go anywhere.

All in all, 2014's going to be a hell of a year, just you wait.