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King Penguin Blog

Friday Five, Vol. 94


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We've got creative masters of all kind this week -- from musicians to actors to comedians, all at the top of their game. So if you need any artistic inspiration, look no further than Volume 94.

 

The Sound of 007

Few movies give off more style or essence than the James Bond franchise, and while the fashion is perhaps the most notable element, it all starts with the iconic soundtrack. The Sound of 007 is a new documentary that takes a deep dive into the origins and creation of all the Bond music throughout the years, and we highly recommend it. Musical icons from Paul McCartney and Hans Zimmer to Adele and Billie Eilish have contributed to the franchises’s musical canon, and all contribute their stories to the doc. While we are definitely interested in these major stars’ stories, we were also incredibly intrigued by the lesser-known musicians that brought the soundtrack to life. Seeing the players in the orchestra, and the original recording artists that laid down that first theme, is pretty awesome, and it is a reminder of the true team effort that goes into these massive creative undertakings. On top of the all the great music and talking heads, there’s also plenty of footage from old Bond movies, which is always fun to watch visually. Whether you are a huge fan of the movies, love music, or just want to listen to creative people talk about their process, this is a doc for you.

 

Christian Bale's Iconic Roles

While he hasn’t taken a turn as Bond, Christian Bale is no stranger to iconic characters. The actor is currently doing promo for his new film Amsterdam, and he sat down with GQ while on his press tour to break down some of his most well-known roles. It is fascinating to hear how someone like Bale has gotten himself into the frame-of-mind to play characters like Patrick Bateman, Batman, and Dicky Ecklund. He has a pretty unique understanding of what it takes to convey proper emotions and set the right mood, and we loved hearing him talk about the different types of music he listened to in preparation for each role. Bale definitely gives off a very serious persona on screen, so it was also fun to see him laugh and joke around a bit in the interview, because it felt like we were getting a clearer picture of the man behind these characters. We love these interviews that take us into the minds of the masters of their craft, and Bale’s turn with GQ was no different. It is inspiring to see how he takes on each challenge with an open mind, and with the conviction that he is going to pull through.

 

Hasan Minhaj: The King's Jester

After leaving The Daily Show, Hasan Minhaj has notably zigged where the comedy community at large has zagged. His last special, Homecoming King, and his Netflix show The Patriot Act both tinkered with the form that audiences were used to seeing. Minhaj’s new special, The King’s Jester, plays it a bit more down-the-middle than his other work, but that doesn’t mean it feels like your run-of-the-mill hour of comedy. Starting with a unique stage set-up, Minhaj infuses The King’s Jester with a flair that is uniquely his own. He incorporates Tweets, visual media, different lighting, and a central podium to give the special a different feel. Minhaj’s stand-up is notably personal, and while his first hour talked a lot about his childhood, The King’s Jester tackles a lot more of his adult life. He has received threats about his Netflix show, had trouble with fertility, and faced career setbacks — and he has jokes about all of it. Minhaj is also an avid fan of the NBA, and while doing press he went on JJ Redick’s podcast, which is absolutely worth a listen. He talks about life and basketball in an incredibly smart way, and it serves as a nice companion piece to the Netflix special. If you want to lighten things up for an hour this weekend, Minhaj’s The King’s Jester will give you a fresh take on stand-up special.

 

101 Places to Party Before You Die

If you still need some more levity in your weekend, head on over to HBO Max, where they just added the entire first season of 101 Places to Party Before You Die. The Tru TV travel show follows comedians Adam Pally and Jon Gabrus as they go on three-day adventures in various cities across the US. They do plenty of eating and drinking at each stop, and also try and participate in the activities that make each spot unique. This means there are ski trips, jai alai games, bike rides, and more. And of course, all of the activities are infused with Pally and Gabrus’s sense of humor, made better by the fact that they are very close friends outside the show. There is some serious Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives energy going on in this show, and while nothing will ever reach Triple-D levels, it is a great way to experience the eccentricities of different parts of the country. It will definitely make you want to hop on a plane and go on an adventure. But whether you’re getting ready to jet-set, or just have a hungover Saturday to kill, the under-30 minute episodes will be the perfect addition to your weekend watchlist.

 

Dayglow - People in Motion


Sometimes, our Friday Five music selections are geared more towards a weekend party, while others are better work soundtracks. But, in general, we prefer an album that can do it all. And this week, we stumbled on Dayglow’s new release People in Motion, and it is exactly the Swiss Army knife type of album we were looking for. Need to get some work done? Here are 35 minutes of easy listening that you can throw on repeat and get into a zone. Want to dance on a sunny fall day? People in Motion has you covered there, too. Dayglow’s newest release is upbeat and perfectly-paced, and though the tracks all blend together a bit (in a good way), “Deep End” might be our favorite combination of this relaxed vibe with big-time dance energy. We also are just beyond impressed with Sloan Struble, the 23-year-old wunderkind behind Dayglow. He writes, sings, produces, and plays the instrumentals on all the studio versions of the tracks, which is truly insane. He has a backing band with him for live performances, and we do think this album would be awesome to see performed in person. But until then, we will continue to be blown away by Struble’s singular talent.



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