Ayo! This week is a bit of a doozy but it's worth the listen. We're on here talking about one of our favourite rap groups... the uncompromising, politically charged, insanely skilled and always entertaining Run The Jewels. This is a long episode and quite the journey. Prepare your mind for a wave of nonsense. 

In this pod, we talk about the history of the group, summarize and chat about the unique stylings of both Killer Mike and El-P, rank their albums and which of the songs we love from each of them, and share some of our favourite verses from RTJ4 and beyond. Somewhere in here, we talk about PALMREADER's pineapple coconut water, have a lively discussion on RTJ's political nature and credibility as individual artists. We also go on a tirade about how politics, celebrity, and conspiracy have become intertwined to form a white noise meant to drown out real societal and political issues that are prevalent today and how that way of thinking undercuts the very real and very shitty actions of really evil people. At one point we ponder the question of if Tom Hanks is really a captain in the secret celebrity democrat cabal of unspeakable evil. 

We also talk about credibility, earnestness, and respect for the culture that is necessary to be an outsider in hip-hop (being an African-American art form) both today and throughout history. Finally, we have a nice talk about why we find the way RTJ uses rap as a platform to discuss their political perspective, especially as educated artists and active social activists, refreshing and why the two MCs mix so well. There's a couple of rants in here. We had a very intense day on the day that we recorded. It gets a little weird but always ends with a laugh. 

Thanks for listening. Anyways... We love RTJ. Jewel Runners forever. 

Next week, we're talking about the incredible, chilling, visually stunning, wildly violent TV show "Hannibal" with our guy Mads Mikkelsen. Let's get to it. 

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Wanna join a cult? Ok. Maybe get possessed, absolutely smash your head off of a desk and become the vessel for one of the Luciferian lords of Hell? Cool. How about cutting the head off a pigeon and carrying it around for a while? Nice. How about a seance? Check. Expecting a happy ending? Not likely. 

This week we're talking about a masterclass horror film and a modern classic, Ari Aster's dark and unsettling "Hereditary". Buckle up. We get so excited that there's probably a couple of sections where we just swear loudly back and forth. This one has it all... demons, tension, ghosts, Toni Collete losing her mind, hilarious text messages, the best teen party scene I've seen on screen in a while, a decapitated little girl and a dad who just married the wrong family and ends up spontaneously combusting... Oh and a bunch of weird naked Satanic cultists. Yeah. It's a doozy. This pod we get into it a bit. 

We discuss the types of horror in film, why this film is basically flawless in our opinions, the use of lore without heavy-handed storytelling, the direction and use of set pieces, how Ari Aster and "Hereditary" asks us to be active in our viewing (as opposed to passive, expository viewing) and a whole lot more. Honestly, this film rules for so many reasons and we could've done a lot more. Plus, it's a tense, dark, miserable, uncomfortable, and truly scary watch. Thanks Ari! 

Next week we're taking a swing at some of our favourite modern hip-hop, the dynamic duo that is El-P and Killer Mike. That's right... we're talking Run The Jewels. 

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We're back! We've been on a bit of hiatus due to Coronavirus but now we're back in the studio (safe and socially distanced) and doing our damn thing again. I know we didn't get the Westworld Season 1 pod out to y'all but it is on our radar still. Instead, this week we're talking about the 2019 Guy Ritchie flick "The Gentlemen" and his body of work. 

"The Gentlemen" is a return to form for Guy Ritchie and a fun, fast-paced, many charactered, Brit gangster movie within a framed narrative... We talk about the Ritchie formula, his (classic) hits and (complete) misses, why the film works, what we like and we don't like... PALMREADER talks about his mid feelings about Matthew McConaughey but we both gush about Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell and Charlie Hunnam who deliver stellar performances. 

We discuss questions of how a gangster film can be politically correct, ask "how much is a pound of flesh?", the genius of the script, grime music, movies about making movies, "banter", his use of multiple storylines, the political issues raised against the film and the differences between the UK and North American English. The movie rules if you like Guy Ritchie movies. 

Next week? Hereditary. Let's join a cult and summon a demon. 

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Yo! This week we're talking about the incredible band Poison The Well. Have you heard them? Yes? Cool. Then you know what the hell we're talking about. No? Go listen right now... 'Cause they are sick. 

This band has influenced both of us individually as artists and the band we shared a few years back. They are metalcore titans, super groovy, and, at times, very experimental. This episode has it all... we talk about our musical history, how one's taste evolves over time, bad teenage music preferences, why we love PTW and their unique sound, how they influenced us, and their influence on heavy music in general. We also spend a bit of time talking about the Fast and Furious 9 trailer and how insane it is. 

That's a good cap on this episode.

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Yo! This week we're talking about Richard Linklater, his films and cinematic style and, more specifically, a film that may have flown under your radar... "Everybody Wants Some!!". 

This week we discuss country bars, 90's "reality" style films, deconstructing masculinity, why his films are problematic but it's ok in context (which is specifically important to think about when dealing with art), casual dialogue, character-driven filmmaking and Linklater's subtle humour. It is the spiritual sequel to "Dazed And Confuzed" and, if you're a fan of Linklater films, you'll probably love it. 

Next week we are talking Poison The Well. Yeah, that Poison The Well. Rock on. 

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Hey hey hey! This week we talk about Tarantino's ninth film, "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood". There's a lot to unpack here. 

Great scenes, great quotable dialogue and surprising humour. Plus... that LAST ACT is insane. We talk about how this film deviates from the Tarantino style but still hits all the high notes and how it explores different genres, we explore our Tarantino best-of lists, muse on classical Hollywood, discuss what we would make as our own alternative history films, and of course... what REALLY works within the film and why it is so sick. 

Love it. Next week we have Linklater's "Everybody Wants Some!!" (the often-overlooked spiritual successor to "Dazed and Confused"). Hell yeah. 

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Hey hey! This week Otis and PALMREADER talk about one of the underrated gems of this decade, "Deepwater Horizon", and how much this movie kicks ass. Mark Whalberg vs. THE OIL, BABY! You know what the f*ck is going on here and if you don't, you should definitely watch this movie! 

This is a film we both really love for tons of reasons, some that may surprise you, and in our opinion has stood the test of time (one could even argue it got better upon revisitation). This criminally overlooked film has it all: Wicked mustaches. Mother nature going buck wild. Sublime small talk and banter. Insane and sometimes questionable accents. Mark Whalberg. Kurt Russel. John Malkovich. Capitalist guilt and Big Oil shaming. What else could you want?! THIS IS A GOOD ONE. STRAP IN. 

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This week we talk about Martin Scorsese's "The Irishman" but instead of doing research we just podcasted right after we saw it with our buddy Kieran. This is self-pretty explanatory but every month we are going to do a "first impressions" episode like this one, sometimes with one of our friends, instead of talking about something we've seen and heard a bunch. 

So it might be a bit less organized but that's ok. 

Anyways, in this episode, you can enjoy Otis doing bad Italian accents, listen to all of us misinterpret each other multiple times while we talk about the wonderful acting, pacing, and the general tone of the film... oh and you will hear us babble about Scorsese's whole filmography incoherently for a while. Maybe we will revisit this later after we have seen it a few times and see how we feel. Maybe not. 

Next week we're doing one you may not have seen... Mark Whalberg vs. the OIl... er... "Deepwater Horizon". It is a fun little flick that actually kinda rules so you should see it. We have a soft spot for it. 

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YO! This week on BP we talk about Rage Against The Machine and why they RULE. Lots of us imitating riffs and bass licks with our mouths this week. We also discuss Nu-Metal, hiring hitmen and Stray From The Path amongst a few other things. PALMREADER tells a story about breaking a guy's nose by accident when he was sixteen. Great. 

Next week is a special "first impressions" episode where Otis and PALMREADER go see a movie and record their podcast directly afterward. We're gonna watch "The Irishman" and talk about Scorsese and why it (hopefully) is the masterpiece everyone is saying it is. 

And remember... 

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Hey friends! We are so very happy to present the first episode of BIRD PROTOCOL... the podcast where Otis Morris and PALMREADER ramble about movies/music/tv/whatever! It's a pop-culture podcast... I guess?? We basically just talk shit. Otis and PALMREADER met studying film and have since been in multiple musical projects together. They love to riff on stuff we like so it seemed logical to make it a podcast! 

This week we revisit the modern classic that is John Wick (aka THE BABA YAGA) and talk about how the understated moments in the film are just as UNBELIEVABLY HARD as the parts where Mr. Wick beats everyone's ass to a pulp. 

Next week? Rage Against The Machine!!!!

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