Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 174

January 5, 2021: In case you missed it! And I was ahead of my time!

In the event you missed it (And I’m assuming you have a good excuse), here is yesterday’s Dark Matter panel discussion of Episode 201, Welcome To Your New Home, with the gang at Orville Nation and special guest Production Designer Ian Brock!

Yes/No?

Would you try a krispy kreme fried chicken burger with bacon and cheese?!

January 4, 2020: Let’s talk Dark Matter with Production Designer Ian Brock! Stuff from the Stargate Vault!

Join us later today (5:30 ET) when the gang at Orville Nation and I discuss Dark Matter Episode 201: “Welcome To Your New Home” with special guest star Production Designer Ian Brock!

DARK MATTER MONDAY Plz…RETWEET… Thx!

w/ Creator

January 3, 2020: Suji Sunday!

Strawberry Princess.

Close enough.

Beware!  She’s ready to pounce.

Not sure if this new cleaning service is going to work out.

She demands payment in ear rubs and turkey treats.

The post January 3, 2020: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

January 2, 2021: Ringing in the New Year Japan-style!

This year, we celebrated a Japanese-style New Year.

New Year’s Eve, it was tosh-koshi soba.

And, as is the custom here, we were in bed by 10:00 p.m. and missed the countdown.

Then, on New Year’s Day, it was osechi (snapper, ozoni, marron rice, fish cakes, and mochi).

Then, for dessert, we picked up for different cream buns from Hattendo: marron (chestnut), umeboshi (salted plum), matcha (green tea), ichigo (strawberry).  Surprisingly, the umeboshi was my favorite for its sweet, salt, and slightly sour combination.

Speaking of sweet and salty, what say you to this?  Yes/No?

Mountain Dw Pie with Doritos Crust? Yes/No
Recipe for Mountain Dew Pie With Doritos Crust https://t.co/33hyfsLulg pic.twitter.com/c9ZcGLcAAo

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) January 2, 2021

The lurid green beckons me.

Ah, this takes me back to the good old Stargate days…

Finally, I leave you with this…

What I miss most about being in production is going down to the craft service truck first thing in the morning, stuffing two breakfast sausages into a grilled cheese sandwich, slathering it with sriracha, and having it for breakfast.
That and the art.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) December 29, 2020

The post January 2, 2021: Ringing in the New Year Japan-style! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2020!

Happy New Year!

I was going to write that it was an overall disappointing year in K-pop and, I suppose, in comparison to 2019 which was, in my opinion, a stellar year, there were far fewer home-runs.  And yet, as I was compiling this ranking, my initial list amounted to about 50 tracks which, really, makes it a pretty solid year after all.  Of course the tough task, as always, was narrowing it down.  My first pass identified a top 12.  A subsequent pass identified another 5 worthy additions.  And then, I spent much of the morning agonizing over the final 3.  It’s an imperfect system and I still waver, but I’m pressing “publish” now before I can change my mind yet again.  If your favorites have been left off the list, I’m sure you’ll find them on my K-Pop Ultimate playlist (link provided below).  If not, perhaps we have very different tastes in music.

Anyway, as always, your mileage may very – but these were MY Top 20 K-Pop Tracks of 2020!

#20. Make You Happy – NiziU

JYP’s 9-member Japanese girl group project kicks things off with this single off their pre-debut EP, a catchy, upbeat tune whose MV includes a cameo by company founder Park Jin-young as a hapless rollerblader.

#19. Eight – IU

IU is a powerhouse and she delivers a beautiful song here with an assist from BTS’s Suga.

#18. Initial S – SoRi

This was, surprisingly and sadly, SoRi’s last single before quitting the music industry to, presumably, focus on acting.  A damn shame because it’s an exceptional song. The MV was directed by film director Sohn Il-hyung

#17. Lalalilala – April

They’ve been around for five years, scoring big two years ago with Oh! My Mistake, but I didn’t really take notice until this song dropped back in (appropriately enough, I suppose) April.  And I wasn’t the only one judging by the fact the MV has garnered over 5 million views to date.

#16. Rocket Ride – Oh My Girl

I really enjoyed Non-Stop (much less so the other song with the dancing mascots), but I elected to go with this Keanu Silva collab.  Available in both English and Korean (You should get both!) but the official MV is in English – which is fine because it’s an equally rock solid version.

#15. Hmph – WJSN Chocome

The WJSN sub-unit delivers a bop with some major Orange Caramel vibes and I am here for it.

#14. Sahara – Dreamcatcher

Love Dreamcatcher and their atypical rock girl group concept.  There were quite a few 2020 releases that could have made the list (most notably Boca), but I went with Sahara.  My favorite Dreamcatcher song this year, and a fun self-made video presumably shot around the HappyFace Entertainment offices.

#13. Bazooka – GWSN

The Chocome sub-unit made the list at #15, and the main GWSN lands here at #13 with Bazooka, a song that really grew on me.

#12. Riff Raff – Band 88

And now for something completely different, an under the radar indie synth band with a terrific song reminiscent of New Order.

#11. Ullaeli Kkollaeli – 1Team

I really dislike the MV (and can never spell or pronounce the name), but really do like this song from the boys who brought us the equally great Make This.

#10. End of Spring – ONEWE

It may surprise you to learn that ONEWE is not, in fact, a sub-unit of ONEUS despite the bewilderingly similar names and the fact that both groups are under the RBW umbrella.  The song is called End of Spring but it feels more like the perfect summer song to me.

#9. Hide and Seek – Loona

This was the year I discovered Loona, the Odd Eye Circle sub-unit, and the complex fan theories on the Loonaverse.  B-side darling Star just missed this list, but two songs in the Top 20 is a pretty good showing nevertheless.  No official MV released for this particular song so let’s go with the bass boosted version.

#8. Dingga – Mamamoo

I’m a big fan of Mammoo.  Their commitment to individual empowerment and fun is unparalleled.  The ladies were very busy this year, releasing an EP as well as various solo projects, but Dingga was my favorite single in that it (and the official MV) does such a good job of showcasing all four unique personalities, something HIP did equally well back in 2019.

#7. Alien – Suhyun

This is another one that really grew on me over time.  Love the bass intro, the vocals, and, of course, the kitschy sci-fi trappings of the MV.

#6. Pporappippam – Sunmi

Another unpronounceable and impossible to spell title, yet by far Sunmi’s best song.  Hey, I really liked  Gashina, but this one is tops.

#5. Teddy Bear – Natty

Well, this is a surprise.  The uber-cutesy Natty’s uber-cutesy song makes my top five.  It’s one of those tracks that I’ll never skip over so it rightly deserves its high ranking.  P.S. The MV is pretty uber-cutesy too.

#4. Why Not? – Loona

Some have criticized the decision to make this the lead single off the 12:00 EP and while I respect their opinion, they are, of course, wrong.  This is a terrific song that builds in impressive fashion, then pays off beautifully at the 3:04 mark.  After the first time I heard it, Why Not was on replay for a lot longer than I’d care to admit.

#3. Ready Or Not – Momoland

Momoland can do no wrong (although I do miss Daisy, Taeha, and Yeonwoo).  Baam remains my #1 favorite K-Pop bop, but Ready Or Not ranks right up there with Bboom Bboom, I’m So Hot, and Thumbs Up.

#2. More – Youra (featuring Giriboy)

Amid all of the flashier more polished entries in this Top 20, here’s the grossly under appreciated Youra sitting in the #2 spot with an assist from Giriboy.  This song, and her voice, are simply magical.  Absolutely love it.

#1. Wannabe – Itzy

Itzy made a huge splash in 2019 with their debut single Dalla Dalla followed by the even more popular Icy (although I’d argue B-side track It’z Summer is an overlooked gem and the best track on the EP).  In 2020, they’re back with not one but TWO EP’s.  I love Not Shy (having acquired an even greater appreciation after watching the ladies sing a live Christmas edition, in wacky costumes, while decorating a Christmas tree), but Wannabe is my favorite in their discography, and my favorite song of 2020.  I cannot get enough of that dance break at the 2:31 mark.

As I mentioned off the top, there were a lot of really solid tracks released in 2020 but I limited myself to my top 20.  Still, if you’re curious too see what made my wider list – or looking to expand your K-Pop horizons – might I suggest you check out my K-Pop Ultimate playlist over on spotify:

The post The Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2020! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Best Anime I Watched in 2020!

A surprisingly solid year for anime-viewing.  I ended up watching an even mix of pre-2020 anime and new releases.  These were my Top 10 favorites…

#10. ID – Invaded (2020 release)

A trippy tech-driven thriller that spins a compelling world-within-a-world mystery.  As the body count rises the viewer descends down a rabbit hole of of mind-bending deceptions.

#9. Hinamatsui

A mid-level yakuza member has his life turned upside-down by an oblivious little girl from the future with destructive telekinetic powers.  Humor, heart, and a wonderful relationship at its core.

#8. Once Punch Man – season 1

Late to the party on this terrific series about a most unlikely hero capable of defeating any enemy he faces with a single punch.  What makes this anime particularly brilliant is the contrast between the over-the-top battles and One Punch Man’s blasé attitude throughout.

#7. The Promised Neverland

Oh, boy, don’t let the cutesy anime-style fool you.  It’s a shockingly dark tale of a group of young orphans who begin to question the reality of their secluded existence.  The truth is grimmer than you can imagine.

#6. Japan Sinks (2020 release)

The title says it all.  Japan is rocked by an earthquake that sends survivors scrambling.  It’s quite harrowing in its depiction of the aftermath, so much so that Akemi couldn’t make it past the first episode.  But if you do, you’ll be rewarded with an absolutely stunning work.

#5. Akame ga Kill

This one is one of the most entertaining battle anime in recent memory, but beneath the high-flying action are some truly wonderful personalities and colorful character dynamic relationships in a show that isn’t shy about killing off its regulars.

#4. A Silent Voice (movie)

A high school boy attempts to make amends for his past by reaching out to the deaf girl he bullied while in elementary school.  At turns heartbreaking and hopeful, but wholly memorable.

#3. Vinland Saga

A young boy is kidnapped from his peaceful Icelandic village by a band of Vikings.  We then follow his journey, growing up amongst his captors, a bunch of sea-faring mercenaries who eventually become his family.  This one is epic.

#2. Dorohedoro (2020 release)

Where to begin in attempting to describe this insane, ultra-violent comedy involving post-apocalyptic sorcerers, alternate dimensions, mushroom-themed magic, and an amnesiac lizard man with a love for gyoza?  Wild.

#1. Beastars (2020 release)

The murder of a young alpaca at Cherryton Academy creates a rift between its herbivore and carnivore student body, further complicating the already complicated love triangle involving Legoshi the wolf, Louis the deer, and Haru the dwarf rabbit.

Tomorrow (provided I can get my shit together), I’ll be dropping my Top 20 K-Pop Tracks of 2020!

The post The Best Anime I Watched in 2020! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

December 30, 2020: Amazing Comic Book Covers!

Here are a few that caught my eye…

The Amazing Spider-Man #55 (cover art by Patrick Gleason)

The Amazing Spider-Man #55 (cover art by Garbriele Dell’otto)

Detective Comics vol. 4: Cold Vengeance (cover art by Doug Mahnke)

Avengers #40 (cover art by Taurin Clarke)

Avengers #40 (cover art by Leinil Francis-Yu)

Batman Annual #5 (cover art by In-Hyuk Lee)

Robyn Hood 2020 Annual: Worlds Apart (cover art by Sun Khamunaki)

Punchline #11 (cover art by Matthew Weldon)

The Life and Death of Toyo Harada #1 (cover art by Doug Braithwaite)

And what were your favorites?

The post December 30, 2020: Amazing Comic Book Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

December 29, 2020: Ringing in the New Year with Mr. Clean and dust pans!

In case you missed it, here’s my Dark Matter Episode 13 discussion with gang at Orville Nation and special guest star Marc Bendavid (ONE) as part of Virtual Trek Con.  But beware!  Spoilers abound for future episodes!

Well, my hopes of an upset victory fizzled last night.  Once again, the Patriots screw me – but by NOT winning for a change.

Sad monkey.

December 28, 2020: Marc Bendavid joins the chat! Snow Monkeys on the brink of defeat! Projects, the Legion, and Snow Globe Pie!

Join us later today for a Dark Matter post-episode 13 discussion with the Orville Nation panel and special guest star Marc Bendavid (ONE)!

DARK MATTER MONDAY is Honored to be part of @VirtualTrekCon Monday!

w/ Creator

December 27, 2020: Suji Sunday!

The happiest reindeer.

Keeping an eye on mom…

Savoring some banana…

Massage time…

The silent snoozer…

Bundled up!

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