Category: Miscellaneous

Random sh*t we don’t know where else to put

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Miscellaneous

Top Choice: Horror Movies

Written By Miranda Owen

I am a big fan of film and have watched hundreds of horror movies. My parents both love scary stuff and so I’ve grown up loving crime shows, horror movies, crime podcasts, and all the slasher movies I can handle. The following are my favorite horror movies, hopefully you can check some of them out for tomorrow’s Halloween festivities!

  • The Shining (1980) 
  • Us (2019) 
  • Get Out (2017) 
  • Midsommar (2019) 
  • Psycho (1960) 
  • Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) 
  • Cloverfield (2008) 
  • Silent Hill (2006) 
  • Bird Box (2018) 
  • Alien (1979) 
  • Train to Busan (2016) 
  • Hereditary (2018) 
  • It (2017) 
  • Pet Sematary (2019) 
  • Gerald’s Game (2017) 
  • The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) 
  • The Babadook (2014) 
  • Mama (2013) 
  • It Follows (2014) 
  • Case 39 (2009) 
  • The Ring (2002)
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Miscellaneous

Friday Favorites

Written By Miranda Owen

This week my Friday Favorites are composed of the best spooky/Halloween-themed songs perfect for the season on the eve of the best holiday. Be sure to check out these songs at more on WKNC’s Spotify page here. 

1. Season Of The Witch by Lana Del Rey 

Lana produces some amazing cover songs and this is one of my favorites, which happens to be perfect for the Halloween season. 

2. House of the Rising Sun by Lauren O’Connell 

Another cover song, this one is great because it has a more creepy, spooky vibe than the original making it perfect for your Halloween enjoyment. 

3. Sisters of the Moon by Fleetwood Mac 

This song is great for your Halloween/Blue Moon Celebration with an upbeat melody great for dancing. 

4. Spellbound by Siouxsie and the Banshees

A perfectly unique song for your art-punk loving friends during the holiday. 

5. I Put A Spell On You by Creedence Clearwater Revival 

A great mix of spooky vocals, witchy theme and intricate melody that’s perfect for the full moon. 

6. Batcaves by Kap Bambino 

Loud and spooky, just like we like it. 

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Miscellaneous

Top Choice: Indie Folk Album Covers

Written By Miranda Owen

Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine 

Every Iron & Wine album has unique art, but this one is probably my favorite as it has the most interesting detail and linework. The album art is vibrant and covers the full spectrum of the rainbow. I love how accurately the theme of the artworks reflects the theme of the album. 

The Flying Club Cup by Beirut  

I absolutely love the vintage and minimalistic album covers used by Beirut. This one is cute and vintage, perfectly encapsulating the timeless feel of the album. Truly a special album deserving of such a unique album cover. 

Hozier by Hozier 

This album cover is unique because it was painted as a portrait of the artist, by his mother, and the artist Hozier chose to have his face painted out of it to keep with the theme of his other album covers. 

Bon Iver by Bon Iver 

Bon Iver also utilized the work of an artist for his album covers. My personal favorite cover is his self-titled album, Bon Iver, created by artist Gregory Euclide. This work is a beautiful contemporary painting that’s perfectly suitable for the simple, pretty tones of the album. 

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes 

This 2008 indie folk album utilizes the work of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a famous piece of work created in 1559. Overall the painting appears beautiful, but as you look into it more closely, you’ll realize the intricate weirdness it contains.

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Miscellaneous

Film Highlight: This Is Spinal Tap

Spinal Tap band members
Spinal Tap Movie Poster

I am not exaggerating when I say “This is Spinal Tap” is the most underrated movie ever. I was allowed to watch it at way too early of an age, but after revisiting it recently, I have found an incredible new appreciation for it.

If you’ve never heard of it, imagine Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same” documentary but satirized and completely ridiculous. The film is a “mockumentary” that follows a (fictional) fading rock group on their tour across America, aka Spinal Tap. The band encounters one unfortunate situation after the next. Their drummers are always dying of strange, unexplainable circumstances, some of which including spontaneous combustion, being eaten by a pet python, and gardening accidents that the police said were “better left unsolved.” They can’t sell out a show to save their lives, the guitarist’s astrology-obsessed girlfriend slowly takes over the band’s livelihood, and their bassist somehow gets trapped in a giant egg on-stage.

The entire movie mimics the rise of rock groups in the 60s and 70s, like The Beatles, Aerosmith, and Led Zeppelin, whose successful beginnings often ended due to misfortune or division. Spinal Tap even mocks their evolution from psychedelic hippie groups to long-haired rockers. Though “This Is Spinal Tap” wasn’t an immediate success after its release in 1980, it has come to be a favorite cult classic.

All in all, it is absolutely hilarious, and I highly recommend giving it a watch if you’re into classic rock or just need a little comedy relief!

I’ll leave you with my two favorite scenes from “This Is Spinal Tap”:

The egg scene, as I described earlier. Their poor bassist doesn’t make it out until the end of the song.

“But this one goes to eleven” is one of the most quotable lines throughout the whole movie. Nigel, the lead vocalist and guitarist, gets really excited that his amp goes up to 11, while the others only go up to 10.

Take a watch, and let us know what you think!

– DJ Butter

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Miscellaneous

Top Horror Movie Slashers

You all know that I am a BIG horror fan and that I rate horror movies based on their gore factor (remake of Evil Dead is a 10/10 btw). This week I was talking to my roommate about the OG’s of horror. We started to compile a list and I thought it would be cool to share with you our OG’s of horror. I love all of these slashers because they helped me get the idea of the Butcher Shop and I use some of their lingo from time-to-time! 

Michael Myers – Halloween 

Y’all already know I had to put the legend on the list. The plot tells us about a mental patient who was committed to a sanitarium for murdering his sister on Halloween night when he was 6 years old. Fifteen years later, he escapes from the sanitarium and stalks his baby sister and her friends. This man has been after his sister for YEARS and no one can kill him. They have literally made so many movies about him trying to get to his sister. 

Freddy Krueger – Nightmare on Elm Street 

I just love Freddy’s humor; I think The Saw would vibe with Freddy the most. The plot for these movies is that the people who live on Elm Street, in a fictitious town of Springwood, Ohio, are invaded and killed in their dreams by a burnt killer with a bladed leather glove. Side note: I think Freddy has the best fashion taste. 

Jason Voorhees – Friday the 13th

We got a mama’s boy in the house!! Jason is silent but deadly, he is simple with the tools he uses to kill; he and Michael Myers would be the best of friends. The plot for these movies is that camp Crystal Lake is open for the summer and it’s history of murder does not stop people from wanting to attend. Unfortunately for them, they are stalked by a brutal killer.

Pinhead – Hellraiser 

Pinhead has some of the best one-liners, I use them all the time because they are so iconic!! For the first Hellraiser, Frank Cotton buys a puzzle box. Once solving the puzzle, he’s hooked to chains that emerge from nowhere, and tear him apart. Later the room is filled with swinging chains and remnants of his body. Frank is soon resurrected, and all hell breaks loose. These are some of my favorite movies. 

Leatherface – Texas Chainsaw Massacre 

FIRE UP THE CHAINSAW YEEHAW!!!! My two favorite things in one movie; Cannibal Corpse song references and crazy ass rednecks. The best duo. When Sally hears that her grandfather’s grave has been vandalized, she and her brother, Franklin, set out with their friends to investigate. As they are exploring the family’s old farmhouse, they discover a group of murderous people who live next door. They are attacked one by one with a chainsaw by a person who wears a mask of human skin. 

Pennywise – IT

Okay, clowns are hella scary. Yes, the remakes are good but you wanna know what’s scarier than an intentional scary clown? A REGULAR CLOWN. That is why the OG IT is the best! This movie follows along with kids who have incidents with a clown that feeds off their fears. They think they have defeated the clown but once they are all adults, the clown comes back for round two! I definitely recommend the book, iconic. 

Jigsaw – Saw 

Y’all already know that the saw is the law, and this is no exception. These movies are the ones that got me into gore horror and rating movies based on their gore factor. These movies have the craziest kill scenes. They are about individuals who do bad things; in other words, assholes, who are taken by Jigsaw because of their horrific acts and are put up in a device that they have to get out of, or they die. Do you think the people who make it out alive have changed their ways? 

Chucky – Child’s Play

Now, I am not a fan of dolls (they creep me out) and the Chucky movies are the OG scary doll movies. How Chucky came to be is that fictional murderer, Charles Lee Ray, used black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky. A mother buys this doll for her son – we all know how this is going to end. Chucky kills the babysitter and when the boy tries to warn people about the doll, he is institutionalized. Typical. I find it interesting that in most of these movies, it is adults vs. the kids. They are always against one another and the parents never believe the kids when spooky things occur. Is this a common theme? What does that say about how we view society? 

Well, there you have it! My OG’s!!! Did I miss any? 

Who are some of your favorite horror movie thrashers? 

Stay Metal, 

THE SAW 

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Miscellaneous

Tips for Learning a New Language

Written By Miranda Owen

I am a Senior in Political Science at NC State, but to fulfill my major’s requirements I decided to take on a difficult challenge: spending two years studying Japanese language. I took beginner lessons in Spanish during high school, but going in-depth to learn a language and taking college courses is a lot more difficult (but rewarding too). Improving my foreign language skills has been a long journey but I have acquired many different tips for learning a new language. 

Listen to Music

Something that’s really helped me expand my vocabulary and practice pronunciation is listening to and learning songs in my target language. Listening to foreign music can expose you to different cultural elements and help you practice your skills anywhere, at anytime. 

Try Quizlet 

I have loved Quizlet to help out with all of my classes but especially Japanese. I can review everything I’ve learned so far quickly, and it’s just like using flashcards but with less paper waste and no chance of losing your work. 

Start a Journal 

It really helps to write as much as possible in your target language, especially if you’re learning a language that has a unique alphabet and characters such as Japanese or Arabic. I use a bullet journal to help me track my progress learning the language and write a few lines about how my week is going. Writing your own thoughts in your target language can help you practice grammar, writing, and vocabulary. 

Reading Books or Comics 

Likewise, it’s helpful to read books or, if you’re also studying Japanese, manga. I’ve found that books targeted toward a younger audience – like teen novels are easier to read but still entertaining. 

Games and TV 

Taking in any type of media that’s spoken in your target language can help you take in new vocabulary and get exposed to more casual, modern speaking styles. For this purpose I absolutely love learning Japanese by watching Japanese reality TV like Terrace House. I love it because I can learn how people my age talk to each other  (this is really important if there are different dialects or honorifics you need to learn). 

Join Practice Groups 

Whether you’re studying with a class or learning solo, it really helps to talk to people on your skill level and practice together. The students in my class have a Discord to discuss in, and I am also a part of some Facebook groups for practicing the language. It’s great to socialize while practicing your skills and getting some new ones as well. 

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Top 5 Halloween TV Episodes

If you can’t tell already, I’m trying to squeeze in as many spooky blog posts as I can before the 31st. To try to get in the Halloween spirit, I’ve been watching A LOT of the films that I mentioned in my previous post, but sometimes I’m too tired to sit through an entire movie. So, if you need a little pick-me-up, here are some of the best Halloween episodes from my favorite TV shows:

  • King of the Hill: Season 2, Episode 4 “Hilloween”

Bobby loses his Halloween spirit when an overexcited religious zealot moves into Arlen and convinces the town that Halloween is a satanic holiday. Hank, Bobby’s dad, tries to get him back in the mood for trick-or-treating.

Favorite Quote: “You’ll go to hell!” “You’ll get candy!”

  • Bob’s Burgers: Season 5, Episode 2 “Tina and the Real Ghost”

An exterminator/spiritual medium comes to Bob’s Burger’s to get rid of their bug problem, but the Belchers find out that they have a ghost living in their basement who was a 13-year-old boy named “Jeff.” After trapping him in a shoebox, Tina develops a crush.

Favorite Quote: “Where’s Tina, crying into her butt?” “No, my butt is dry…and strong.”

  • New Girl: Season 2, Episode 6 “Halloween”

Jess takes a gig at a haunted house and confesses feeling for a handsome doctor who just isn’t into her. A lovestruck Schmidt accidentally matches with Cece while her own boyfriend dresses as a Ninja Turtle.

Favorite Quote: “What am I looking at here? Robbie, man to man, you didn’t want to wear something a little more form-flattering, maybe like a pile of towels? Or the number 8?”

  • Spongebob: Season 1, Episode 13 “Scaredy Pants”

Couldn’t leave this classic out. Spongebob wants to be a real ghost for Halloween but his square shape makes him look more like a mattress. Patrick gives him a makeover so he’ll look more realistic under the white sheet.

Favorite Quote: “Pink hat? Oh, that’s not a hat. That’s my brain.”

  • Nathan For You: Season 1, Episode 5 “Mechanic/Realtor”

This isn’t exactly a Halloween episode, but it’s absolutely worth a watch. Nathan Fielder helps a struggling real estate agent by rebranding her as “The Ghost Realtor,” who promises to only sells houses that are demon-free.

Favorite Quote:

“I could tell Sue was thrilled with her new image, but to fully rebrand as the ghost realtor, she’d need to work with a professional psychic medium who could verify whether her homes were truly ghost-free.

So I found a local psychic online.”

Happy watching!

– DJ Butter

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Miscellaneous

Film Review: The Lobster (2015)

Movie poster for The Lobster (2015)

The Lobster is a film featuring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and John C. Reilly. It is a film that is hard to explain, and even harder pigeonhole into one genre: it contains elements of drama, thriller, and romance, but the genre it most closely resembles is dark comedy.

The film takes place in a near-future dystopian setting in which everyone is required to be in a committed relationship. Singles are sent to a hotel where they have 45 days to find a mate, or they will be transformed into the animal of their choice. The film centers around David, a man who is all alone after a failed marriage, as he tries to navigate awkward courting rituals at the hotel before he is turned into a lobster.

The Lobster is full of twists, turns, and convoluted plot points that some viewers may not like. There are also elements of the absurd in the film that I think are intentionally confusing, such as non-sequiturs, nonsensical dialogue, and long shots that seem to overstay their welcome. There are only 3 characters with names in the film; the rest are identified by their traits or roles. The ending of the film raises many more questions than it answers, which is simultaneously tasteful and frustrating. Depending on your perspective, the film has a lot to say or absolutely nothing at all.

In spite of its downfalls, The Lobster is one of the most entertaining films I have seen this year—I don’t usually watch films more than once, and I have seen this one three times. There were plenty of scenes that made me laugh, some that made me uneasy, and some that were genuinely touching. The ambiguity of the film leaves plenty of room for thematic analysis. Perhaps the film is criticizing our society’s obsession with monogamous relationships and our willingness to sacrifice individuality to conform to be better partners, or perhaps it means nothing at all – either way, it’s worth watching.

Have you seen The Lobster? If so, what did you think?

– DJ Mango

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Miscellaneous

Friday Favorites (10/16)

Written By Miranda

Friday Favorites is a biweekly playlist series created by Miranda featuring her favorite songs from the past two weeks with a focus on new releases and  lesser-known music. You can check out this week’s new tracks as well as all songs from previous weeks on WKNC’s Spotify here. This week’s Favorites include some of the best indie breakup songs. 

  1. Bad Day by Darwin Deez 
  2. Compromise by Phony Ppl 
  3. Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys
  4. Putting The Dog To Sleep by The Antlers 
  5. Not In Love (ft. Robert Smith)  by Crystal Castles 
  6. No Destruction by Foxygen 
  7. Flowers In December by Mazzy Star
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Miscellaneous

Top Choice: Nardwuar Interviews

Written By Miranda Owen

Nardwuar is a YouTube personality known for his podcasts, radio show, and interviews of celebrities and musicians. He interviews a huge variety of people including many genres of artists and the interviews are always entertaining to watch. In this article I’ve highlighted my very favorite Nardwuar interviews with a little description of why I enjoy them. 

Nardwuar vs. CHAI 

I discussed my love for Japanese girl-band CHAI in my article on Japanese musicians, so I was excited to see this interview. The girls of CHAI showed up in cute matching outfits and dished on Peach Kelli Pop, their favorite foods to eat on tour, and their favorite musicians including the Beastie Boys and N.E.R.D. The band has a high energy sure to serve as a pick me up when you watch. 

Nardwuar vs. Eric Andre 

Not technically an interview of a musician, but this list wouldn’t be complete without it. Both Eric Andre and Nardwuar have bizarre personas and are experienced in leading interviews (if you’ve ever seen Eric Andre’s show, you’ll know what I mean). The two duke it out in a contest of weirdness that’s entertaining, if not edging on uncomfortable, to watch. 

Nardwuar vs. Kendrick Lamar 

This interview is now almost a decade old and shows young Kendrick Lamar being shocked at all the research Nardwuar has done about him. Kendrick’s reactions are insanely funny, but the interview also gives fans glimpses of his childhood and early career. 

Nardwuar vs. Rich Brian 

I love this interview because not only is Brian Imanuel/Rich Brian my favorite Indonesian artist, he’s one of the best and most talented members of the label 88rising. This interview is great because fans get a deeper understanding of the artist’s upbringing and life in Indonesia. Watching this interview made me love Rich Brian even more. 

Nardwuar vs. Soccer Mommy

A wholesome interview featuring the best girl, Sophie from Soccer Mommy. This interview is one of the cutest of Nardwuar’s recent ones and I love learning more about Soccer Mommy and front-woman Sophie Allison.

-Miranda