Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Songs of 2019 Part 2: 75-51 [Exclusive]

December 11, 2019 Leave a comment

 

Hello Folks! And welcome to this year’s installment of our Top Songs segment. We are stepping things up a bit. Despite our coverage of this year’s music selection being a bit lacking, I can assure you that we were indeed listening. A lot. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t have a very rough time even narrowing it down to just 100. From the indie world, to mainstream hip hop, to our always beloved singer/songwriting world, there was just SO much to enjoy! And we are beyond excited to share our picks for the year.

And not to stand to high on the proverbial soap box, but I implore you all…..PLEASE check out the rest of these artist’s work. Especially anyone you haven’t heard of yet. Give it a whirl, Folks! You never know what you are missing out on. It’s likely they are touring in a city near you. Check them out live! Buy merch! For the sake of the independent artists featured on this list, help keep the scene alive. Alright, stepping down. Enjoy Day 2!

 

******

 

 

75. TSUNAMI BOMB – THE HATHORS

 

74. LANA DEL REY – DOIN’ TIME

 

73. ED SHEERAN (FEAT. CHANCE THE RAPPER) – CROSS ME

 

72. AARON SEMAR – (LITTLE BLACK SQUARE) ON MY PROFILE PIC

 

71. LIZZO – GOOD AS HELL

 

70. TOOL – PNEUMA

 

69. LIL NAS X (FEAT. BILLY RAY CYRUS) – OLD TOWN ROAD

 

68. LIL TECCA – RANSOM

 

67. CONWAY THE MACHINE (FEAT. EMINEM) – BANG

 

66. LEWIS CAPALDI – HOLLYWOOD

 

65. LOTTE KESTNER – THIN

 

64. NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – BRIGHT HORSES

 

63. SEGO (FEAT. LEAH WELLBAUM) – WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE?

 

62. CANDLEBOX – PULL AWAY

 

61. TRAVIS SCOTT – WAKE UP

 

60. ZINDY LAURSEN – CLOWNADO

 

59. DAVID J (FEAT. ROSE MCGOWAN) – THE AUTEUR

 

58. WILLIE NELSON – MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTENING

 

57. FOR I AM – DIE HARD

 

56. POOPSTICK – MY DAD SHOULD HAVE PULLED HIS DICK OUT

 

 

55. WHITE REAPER – MIGHT BE RIGHT

 

54. NORMAN – BINDMENDER

 

53. TREMENDOUS – BAG OF NAILS

 

THE WOOD BROTHERS 2019

52. THE WOOD BROTHERS – ALIBASTER

 

51. GABE DIXON BAND – HEADACHE

Filed under Exclusive!

Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Songs of 2019 Part 1: 100-76 [Exclusive]

December 10, 2019 Leave a comment

 

Hello Folks! And welcome to this year’s installment of our Top Songs segment. We are stepping things up a bit. Despite our coverage of this year’s music selection being a bit lacking, I can assure you that we were indeed listening. A lot. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t have a very rough time even narrowing it down to just 100. From the indie world, to mainstream hip hop, to our always beloved singer/songwriting world, there was just SO much to enjoy! And we are beyond excited to share our picks for the year.

And not to stand to high on the proverbial soap box, but I implore you all…..PLEASE check out the rest of these artist’s work. Especially anyone you haven’t heard of yet. Give it a whirl, Folks! You never know what you are missing out on. It’s likely they are touring in a city near you. Check them out live! Buy merch! For the sake of the independent artists featured on this list, help keep the scene alive. Alright, stepping down. Enjoy Day 1!

 

******

 

100. ONESIE – FINAL DAYS OF NINETEEN

 

99. JIMMY EAT WORLD – SSS

 

98. JILLIAN RAE – BURIED ALIVE

 

97. SCATMAN JOHN & LOU BEGA – SCATMAN & HATMAN (THE EDITZ RADIO MIX)

 

96. MOBY RICH – SABOTAGE

 

95. DAYSTAR – SUMMER GIRLS

 

94. DRAKE (FEAT. RICK ROSS) – MONEY IN THE GRAVE

 

93. LEAH VOYSEY – KEEP IT TO YOURSELF

 

92. BELLE & SEBASTIAN – DID THE DAY GO JUST LIKE YOU WANTED?

 

 

91. DJ KING ASSASSIN (FEAT. KURUPT & DON CISCO) – FROM THE LEFT COAST

 

90. OF MONSTERS AND MEN – ALLIGATOR

 

89. MIEL BREDUOUW – I’M YOURS (PUNCH UP THE JAM COVER)

 

88. THE HEAD & THE HEART – I FOUND OUT

 

87. THE STORY CHANGES – SHOOTING STARS

 

86. BUSH – BULLET HOLES

 

85. SiR (FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR) – HAIRDOWN

 

84. COFFIN ROT – COPREMESIS

 

83. JUICE WRLD (FT. NBA YOUNGBOY) – BANDIT

 

82. ELECTRIC NEEDLE ROOM – READY FOR THE DAY

 

81. SEGO (FT. VACTIONER) – YAH

 

80. DAVID J (FEAT ASIA ARGENTO & ANTON NEWCOMBE) – MIGENA & THE FROZEN ROSES

 

79. COLLECTIVE SOUL – PORCH SWING

 

78. POST MALONE – MYSELF

 

77. THE LUMINEERS – GLORIA

 

76. TUMMYACHE – COMMON PLACE

Filed under Exclusive!

Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018 Part 4: 25 – 1 [Exclusive]

December 6, 2019 3 Comments

 

 

So with it being the year 2019, Everyone seems to be wanting to make a list or seven about their favorite albums of the the 10’s, which is still so weird to say for so many reasons. But alas, it is a thing to do, and sometimes reflecting on some wonderful albums past can be therapeutic. And who doesn’t love a good bit of nostalgia for things that you didn’t even realized happen so long ago? So let’s not condemn the obvious here, and just try to have some fun with it?

With that being said, I personally felt that we should do thing s a bit differently here at Trainwreck’d Society, as we often tend to do. I decided I wanted to showcase the Top 100 albums that have made our Top (insert random number here, used to be 37 1/2 specifically, but you know, times change) Albums list since I have been doing these lists. Now, there are a couple of technicalities that need to be addressed before we progress, forward, as I know that the handful of regular readers here are already addressing to themselves and prepping wordy responses that I would rather avoid. Yes, the site has only been around since 2011, so we don’t quite fit the whole decade. Yes, we have already posted lists from 2009-2011 that were originally published on the somewhat previous iteration of TWS known as TART Productions Blog, and several of the albums from those years will be included. With that, I feel the direct need to state this: I’ll do what I want. I decided to move them over to here, a lot of people enjoyed seeing them over here, so why back away now, right?

And lastly, it is with somewhat of a heavy heart that I have to admit that there is actually a two year gap in this list do to the fact that TWS took a 15 month hiatus from July 2015 to October 2016, which left both of these years pretty much unaccounted for. It was dark period for us here at TWS, so sadly those years of (probably) wonderful albums will not be represented in this list. And somewhat related, you will notice some numerical figures beneath the album title. They represent what year they made a TWS list, and what position they were in back then. So that’s fun, right?

But hey, despite all of the asterisk and faults that make this a very human-like site, we have some incredible albums to either remind you of once again, or to make you have that sense of pride that is probably unworthy but still feels so good in knowing that another person feels the same as you about it’s worthiness to even be considered in even the most unorthodox of end of decade lists.

So Folks, please enjoy what we are calling Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018. Because why would we give you 2019’s best already? December has barely begun. That’s just not fair. Thanks for reading! And as I would like to pay tribute to the other masters of time suckage that are even more prevalent than this site, in terms that my kid’s swim teams would understand, and I’m sure you will all too by the titles: “This event will be swam in 4 heats, this is the final heat!”. Enjoy!

 

******

 

 

  1. TACOCAT – NVM

(2014, #5)

 

  1. STARFUCKER – MIRACLE MILE

(2013, #22)

 

  1. MARSHALL MCLEAN BAND – GLOSSOLALIA

(2013, #13)

 

  1. THE CERNEY BROTHERS – THE CERNEY BROTHERS

(2013, #6)

 

  1. ROBIN GREY – MORE THAN TODAY

(2014, #3)

 

  1. THERE IS NO MOUNTAIN – THERE IS NO MOUNTAIN

(2013, #2)

 

  1. GREETINGS FROM SPEKTOR ISLAND – MUSIC FROM THE FILM “TEN”

(2013, #15)

 

  1. ROBIN GREY – THE NEAREST DOOR

(2011, #1)

 

  1. CLEEMANN – DIFFERENT

(2013, #3)

 

  1. LOTTE KESTNER – BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS

(2013, #7)

 

  1. MENHIRS OF ER GRAH – MOURNING DOVE

(2009, #33)

 

  1. ANDY B – LETTERS HOME

(2011, #9)

 

  1.          DAVID MINNE – POP SARCASTIC

(2010, #9)

 

  1. PHIL THE TREMOLO KING – TRAIN SONGS

(2012, #5)

 

  1. SAM CREGGER – TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT

(2014, #1)

 

  1. THOM CARTER – ALL THAT YOU LOVE IS ALL THAT YOU ARE

(2012, #14)

 

  1. CAS ONE VS. FIGURE – SO OUR EGOS DON’T KILL US

(2017, #1)

 

  1. SOUL DISTRACTION – TICKET TO PARADISE

(2009, #4)

 

  1. JARED MEES & THE GROWN CHILDREN – ONLY GOOD THOUGHTS CAN STAY

(2011, #5)

 

  1. NO GO KNOW – TIME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

(2009, #1)

 

  1. LOTTE KESTNER – STOLEN

(2011, #2)

 

  1. BLITZEN TRAPPER – DESTROYER OF THE VOID

(2010, #4)

 

  1. BOBBY JOE EBOLA & THE CHILDREN MACNUGGITS – F

(2010, #3)

 

  1. ROBIN GREY – STRANGERS WITH SHOES

(2010, #1)

 

  1. BODI – THE FALL OF ATLAS

(2013, #1)

Filed under Exclusive!

Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018 Part 3: 50 – 26 [Exclusive]

December 5, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

So with it being the year 2019, Everyone seems to be wanting to make a list or seven about their favorite albums of the the 10’s, which is still so weird to say for so many reasons. But alas, it is a thing to do, and sometimes reflecting on some wonderful albums past can be therapeutic. And who doesn’t love a good bit of nostalgia for things that you didn’t even realized happen so long ago? So let’s not condemn the obvious here, and just try to have some fun with it?

With that being said, I personally felt that we should do thing s a bit differently here at Trainwreck’d Society, as we often tend to do. I decided I wanted to showcase the Top 100 albums that have made our Top (insert random number here, used to be 37 1/2 specifically, but you know, times change) Albums list since I have been doing these lists. Now, there are a couple of technicalities that need to be addressed before we progress, forward, as I know that the handful of regular readers here are already addressing to themselves and prepping wordy responses that I would rather avoid. Yes, the site has only been around since 2011, so we don’t quite fit the whole decade. Yes, we have already posted lists from 2009-2011 that were originally published on the somewhat previous iteration of TWS known as TART Productions Blog, and several of the albums from those years will be included. With that, I feel the direct need to state this: I’ll do what I want. I decided to move them over to here, a lot of people enjoyed seeing them over here, so why back away now, right?

And lastly, it is with somewhat of a heavy heart that I have to admit that there is actually a two year gap in this list do to the fact that TWS took a 15 month hiatus from July 2015 to October 2016, which left both of these years pretty much unaccounted for. It was dark period for us here at TWS, so sadly those years of (probably) wonderful albums will not be represented in this list. And somewhat related, you will notice some numerical figures beneath the album title. They represent what year they made a TWS list, and what position they were in back then. So that’s fun, right?

But hey, despite all of the asterisk and faults that make this a very human-like site, we have some incredible albums to either remind you of once again, or to make you have that sense of pride that is probably unworthy but still feels so good in knowing that another person feels the same as you about it’s worthiness to even be considered in even the most unorthodox of end of decade lists.

So Folks, please enjoy what we are calling Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018. Because why would we give you 2019’s best already? December has barely begun. That’s just not fair. Thanks for reading! And as I would like to pay tribute to the other masters of time suckage that are even more prevalent than this site, in terms that my kid’s swim teams would understand, and I’m sure you will all too by the titles: “This event will be swam in 4 heats, this is heat 3”. Enjoy!

 

******

 

 

  1. BLITZEN TRAPPER – WILD AND RECKLESS

(2017, #2)

 

  1. STEPHANIE SCHNEIDERMAN – RUBBER TEAR DROPS

(2011, #21)

 

  1. THE SELDON PLAN – COALIZIONE DEL VOLERE

(2011, #30)

 

  1. ALELA DIANE – ABOUT FAREWELL

(2013, #16)

 

  1. Y LA BAMBA – COURT THE STORM

(2012, #15)

 

  1. SIMON BISH – YOU GET TO LIVE A FEW GOOD DAYS

(2010, #14)

 

  1. EMINEM – KAMIKAZEE

(2018, #11)

 

  1. EZRA BELL – EZRA BELL

(2018, #2)

 

  1. PORTUGAL. THE MAN – THE SATANIC SATANIST

(2009, #5)

 

  1. STRENGTH – MIND-READER

(2010, #8)

 

  1. ANDY B – THOSE WERE THE DAYS

(2014, #11)

 

  1. THE SEA THE SEA – LOVE WE ARE WE LOVE

(2013, #14)

 

  1. SLEEP – LOCKLAND 95

(2013, #25)

  1. THE HEAD AND THE HEART – LET’S BE STILL

(2013, #20)

 

  1. BLITZEN TRAPPER – VII

(2013, #4)

 

  1. GRYNCH – STREET LIGHTS

(2014, #6)

 

  1. JUSTIN NOZUKA – RUN TO WATERS

(2018, #1)

 

  1. NEIL NATHAN – THE DISTANCE CALLS

(2010, #20)

 

  1. ALEXIPHARMIC – AMERICAN BEAUTY

(2009, #22)

 

  1. BLITZEN TRAPPER – AMERICAN GOLDWING

(2011, #3)

 

  1. BOBBY JOE EBOLA & THE CHILDREN MACNUGGITS – TRAINWRECK TO NARNIA

(2012, #7)

 

  1. BRADLEY WIK & THE CHARLATANS – BURN WHAT YOU CAN, BURY THE REST

(2012, #8)

 

  1. COREY CHISEL & THE WONDERING SONS – DEATH WON’T SEND A LETTER

(2009, #6)

 

  1. THE ASCETIC JUNKIES – THIS CAGE HAS NO BOTTOM

(2010, #2)

 

  1. SADISTIK – FLOWERS FOR MY FATHER

(2013, #9)

Filed under Exclusive!

Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018 Part 2: 75 – 51 [Exclusive]

December 4, 2019 Leave a comment

 

So with it being the year 2019, Everyone seems to be wanting to make a list or seven about their favorite albums of the the 10’s, which is still so weird to say for so many reasons. But alas, it is a thing to do, and sometimes reflecting on some wonderful albums past can be therapeutic. And who doesn’t love a good bit of nostalgia for things that you didn’t even realized happen so long ago? So let’s not condemn the obvious here, and just try to have some fun with it?

With that being said, I personally felt that we should do thing s a bit differently here at Trainwreck’d Society, as we often tend to do. I decided I wanted to showcase the Top 100 albums that have made our Top (insert random number here, used to be 37 1/2 specifically, but you know, times change) Albums list since I have been doing these lists. Now, there are a couple of technicalities that need to be addressed before we progress, forward, as I know that the handful of regular readers here are already addressing to themselves and prepping wordy responses that I would rather avoid. Yes, the site has only been around since 2011, so we don’t quite fit the whole decade. Yes, we have already posted lists from 2009-2011 that were originally published on the somewhat previous iteration of TWS known as TART Productions Blog, and several of the albums from those years will be included. With that, I feel the direct need to state this: I’ll do what I want. I decided to move them over to here, a lot of people enjoyed seeing them over here, so why back away now, right?

And lastly, it is with somewhat of a heavy heart that I have to admit that there is actually a two year gap in this list do to the fact that TWS took a 15 month hiatus from July 2015 to October 2016, which left both of these years pretty much unaccounted for. It was dark period for us here at TWS, so sadly those years of (probably) wonderful albums will not be represented in this list. And somewhat related, you will notice some numerical figures beneath the album title. They represent what year they made a TWS list, and what position they were in back then. So that’s fun, right?

But hey, despite all of the asterisk and faults that make this a very human-like site, we have some incredible albums to either remind you of once again, or to make you have that sense of pride that is probably unworthy but still feels so good in knowing that another person feels the same as you about it’s worthiness to even be considered in even the most unorthodox of end of decade lists.

So Folks, please enjoy what we are calling Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018. Because why would we give you 2019’s best already? December has barely begun. That’s just not fair. Thanks for reading! And as I would like to pay tribute to the other masters of time suckage that are even more prevalent than this site, in terms that my kid’s swim teams would understand, and I’m sure you will all too by the titles: “This event will be swam in 4 heats, this is heat 2”. Enjoy!

 

******

 

 

 

  1. INFIDELIX – NOMADIC

(2014, #16)

 

  1. KENDRIC LAMAR – GOOD KID, MAD CITY

(2012, #25)

 

  1. SOPHIE MADELINE – THE RHYTHM YOU STARTED

(2011, #6)

 

  1. DEDERE – LITTLE EASE IN THE BELL JAR

(2013, #11)

 

  1. DAMIEN JURADO – MARAQOPA

(2012, #23)

 

  1. MENHIRS OF ER GRAH – FROM HERE TO YOU

(2010, #5)

 

  1. FUN. – SOME NIGHTS

(2012, #6)

 

  1. NATHAN ANGELO – OUT OF THE BLUE

(2013, #26)

 

  1. EZRA HOLBROOK – SAVE YOURSELF

(2011, #10)

 

  1. AXEMUNKEE – VORTEX

(2011, #16)

 

  1. THE MEMORIALS – THE MEMORIALS

(2011, #20)

 

  1. GUILT MONKEY – WORLD ON A THREAD

(2013, #10)

 

  1. ORMONDE – CARTOGRAPHER/EXPLORER

(2014, #4)

 

  1. SMOOTH HOUND SMITH – SMOOTH HOUND SMITH

(2013, #12)

 

  1. HOSANNAS – TOGETHER

(2010, #7)

 

  1. POST MALONE – BEER BONGS & BENTLEYS

(2018, #4)

 

  1. LOTTE KESTNER – OFF WHITE

(2017, #4)

 

  1. ROBIN GREY – FROM THE GROUND UP

(2017, #3)

 

  1. ELECTRIC NEEDLE ROOM – THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA VOL. 3

(2013, #21)

 

  1. VIOLENT PSALMS – SLOW TO SPEAK

(2014, #2)

 

  1. KENDRIC LAMAR – DAMN

(2017, #11)

 

  1. THE WALKING – WANDERINGS & DISTRACTIONS

(2009, #10)

 

  1. GOOD OLD WAR – COME BACK AS RAIN

(2012, #13)

  1. ANJA MCCLOSKEY – AN ESTIMATION

(2012, #9)

 

  1. MARK GEARY – SONGS ABOUT LOVE, SONGS ABOUT LEAVING

(2012, #11)

Filed under Exclusive!

Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018 Part 1: 100 – 76 [Exclusive]

December 3, 2019 Leave a comment

 

 

So with it being the year 2019, Everyone seems to be wanting to make a list or seven about their favorite albums of the the 10’s, which is still so weird to say for so many reasons. But alas, it is a thing to do, and sometimes reflecting on some wonderful albums past can be therapeutic. And who doesn’t love a good bit of nostalgia for things that you didn’t even realized happen so long ago? So let’s not condemn the obvious here, and just try to have some fun with it?

With that being said, I personally felt that we should do thing s a bit differently here at Trainwreck’d Society, as we often tend to do. I decided I wanted to showcase the Top 100 albums that have made our Top (insert random number here, used to be 37 1/2 specifically, but you know, times change) Albums list since I have been doing these lists. Now, there are a couple of technicalities that need to be addressed before we progress, forward, as I know that the handful of regular readers here are already addressing to themselves and prepping wordy responses that I would rather avoid. Yes, the site has only been around since 2011, so we don’t quite fit the whole decade. Yes, we have already posted lists from 2009-2011 that were originally published on the somewhat previous iteration of TWS known as TART Productions Blog, and several of the albums from those years will be included. With that, I feel the direct need to state this: I’ll do what I want. I decided to move them over to here, a lot of people enjoyed seeing them over here, so why back away now, right?

And lastly, it is with somewhat of a heavy heart that I have to admit that there is actually a two year gap in this list do to the fact that TWS took a 15 month hiatus from July 2015 to October 2016, which left both of these years pretty much unaccounted for. It was dark period for us here at TWS, so sadly those years of (probably) wonderful albums will not be represented in this list. And somewhat related, you will notice some numerical figures beneath the album title. They represent what year they made a TWS list, and what position they were in back then. So that’s fun, right?

But hey, despite all of the asterisk and faults that make this a very human-like site, we have some incredible albums to either remind you of once again, or to make you have that sense of pride that is probably unworthy but still feels so good in knowing that another person feels the same as you about it’s worthiness to even be considered in even the most unorthodox of end of decade lists.

So Folks, please enjoy what we are calling Trainwreck’d Society’s Top 100 Albums 2009-2018. Because why would we give you 2019’s best already? December has barely begun. That’s just not fair. Thanks for reading! And as I would like to pay tribute to the other masters of time suckage that are even more prevalent than this site, in terms that my kid’s swim teams would understand, and I’m sure you will all too by the titles: “This event will be swam in 4 heats, this is heat 1”. Enjoy!

 

******

 

 

  1. ST. VINCENT – ACTOR

(2011, #36)

 

  1. OF MONSTERS AND MEN – MY HEAD IS AN ANIMAL

(2012, #30)

 

  1. THE SPIN DOCTORS – IF THE RIVER WAS WHISKEY

(2013, #31)

 

  1. THE MIDNIGHT VEIN – THE MIDNIGHT VEIN

(2018, #20)

 

  1. A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS W/ THE PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – ASCENSION

(2018, #14)

 

  1. GASOLINE MONK – DISLOCATED JOINTS VOL. 1

(2011, #23)

 

  1. THE VERVE PIPE – OVERBOARD

(2014, #8)

 

  1. COWBOY MOUTH – GO

(2014, #17)

 

  1. HOTPANTS ROMANCE – IT’S A HEATWAVE

(2009, #27)

 

  1. PORTUGAL. THE MAN – AMERICAN GHETTO

(2010, #6)

 

  1. THE COFFIN COLLECTORS – LEOPARDSKIN TALES

(2011, #37)

 

  1. PASSENGER – THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF

  1. KANYE WEST – MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED ROMANCE

  1. THE ATLANTIC MANOR – THE WORLD BENEATH THE WORLD IS BRIGHTENING

  1.          REEL BIG FISH – LIFE SUCKS, LET’S DANCE

  1. ANDREW JOSLYN – AWAKE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN

  1. FABOLOUS & JADAKISS – FRIDAY ON ELMSTREET

  1. GRAYSON CAPPS – SCARLET ROSE

  1. AYRON JAMES & THE WAY – AUDIO PAINT JOB

  1. STAR ANNA – GO TO HELL

  1. SIMPLE STEVEN – ABANDON ALL ANCHORS

  1. SERGIUS GREGORY – SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE

  1. THE HANDCUFFS – WAITING FOR THE ROBOT

  1. ATMOSPHERE – THE FAMILY SIGN

  1. BIKE THIEF – STUCK IN A DREAM

Filed under Exclusive!

Teri Brown-Jackson [Interview]

November 27, 2019 Leave a comment

 

Hello Folks! And welcome to what may be our very last interview of 2019! It has been a incredible year making all of these wonderful friends, and our guest today is truly the cherry on top of the proverbial cake that would emulate our year here at Trainwreck’d Society. It’s the wonderful Teri Brown-Jackson, Everyone! Teri has an incredible story of triumph, especially in the world of television writing. She has worked on some of the finest programs you know and love, such as a personal favorite of mine, House of Payne, as well as the hit series The Parkers, and as I would learn in the answers below, one of my favorite series from my youth, In The House. I will admit, I felt pretty ashamed about the fact that I had forgotten about this wonderful show that I thoroughly loved in my youth. Yet, I am so excited that we Teri had some wonderful things to say about this delightful series, her work on the absolutely brilliant House of Payne, and SO much more.

So Folks, please enjoy some incredible words from the insanely talented human being that is Teri Brown-Jackson! We shall catch you again in 2020 with some more incredible interviews after the December recaps of the year/decade that are coming soon. Until then, please enjoy this absolutely amazing interview that we are so happy to have cap off our year! Take care!

 

******

 

What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it an aspiration you have had since you were very young? Or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I actually fell into it starting out as a journalist. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in telecommunications/journalism, I planned on becoming a news broadcaster. I knew what I wanted so my senior year of high school I got braces because I needed the perfect smile. Lol (Thank God I had my senior pictures taken before the braces came on.) Anyway, I had several internships at NBC and CBS affiliate stations while attending MSU, so when I moved to Los Angeles, one of my first jobs was working at KFWB news radio as an editor assistant. Soon I found out I would have to start out in a smaller market like Barstow if I really wanted to pursue that career. Knowing that I didn’t want to relocate to “hick town USA,” I had to alter my career path.

Then one day a neighbor, who knew I wrote for news, asked if I would be willing to be his writing partner because he tried several times to get into the Warner Brothers Writers Workshop, and was denied each time. He figured he’d have a better chance if he teamed up with me. He taught me what he knew about sitcom writing and together we wrote a spec script. Funny, I don’t even remember what that spec was, but we entered it into the Warner Brothers Workshop, and we got in. From then on I went from journalism to entertainment writing and never looked back.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that you still use in your work today?

Okay, this is going to tell my age, but my first gig was working on In The House not to be confused with House of Payne. This was a sitcom on NBC staring L.L. Cool J. I’m happy this was my first job, but I soon learned all the “glitz isn’t glamor”; like learning that promises can be made all day, but unless it’s in your contract, it doesn’t mean much. I also learned that some people are willing to do anything for a little taste of money, and this business can be cut throat.

Unfortunately, after one season, my writing partner and I went separate ways, and I had to reestablish myself as a single writer. I think the hardest part from that experience was losing a partner, a friend, and my agent behind it.

You worked as a writer on a sitcom that was one of a kind for its time I believe, and that would be House of Payne. I am curious to know how your experience was working on this program? Was there anything that set itself apart from other projects you had worked on prior?

Working on House of Payne was like working on a sitcom to the 10th power. It was ground breaking because prior to that show the typical format was after a table read, the writers would work on that same script for the rest of the week until the day of shoot, which could be 4 days later. Each day we would make edits or punch up the script after each run-thru so on the day of the shoot, we knew we had a tight and funny show. Hearing the audience laugh during the taping was our confirmation. That all changed working on House of Payne. Instead of taking the time to produce one episode a week, we were shooting 2-3 episodes per week, which was unheard of. It felt like we were a well-refined factory kicking out shows. While one episode was being shot, we would be working on two different episodes in the writers’ room. It was crazy. While half of the writers were working from L.A., the other half were in Atlanta at Tyler Perry Studios. We would work by conference call with the Atlanta writers every day.

Normally it takes five seasons (or five years) to produce 100 episodes, which is the goal to become syndicated. We however produced 100 episodes in one season. Btw, I also learned how to write well under pressure. (LOL)

 

 

If you were handed the opportunity to write and produce the biopic or series about any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

It’s funny that you ask. Years ago I read the autobiography and wrote a biopic on the First Family of Gospel, The Winans. Unfortunately, things fell through and it never came to fruition. However, currently as we speak I am working on a biopic about Isaac Hayes with my manger/actor Ro Brooks. Isaac Hayes has an amazing rags to riches story. He was entered into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and is the first African-American to win an Academy Award for a music score, yet people still know little about him.

There are so many amazing people with untold stories, and one day I will write another one. But for now, I’ll take one at a time.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

My desire is to be the next Shonda Rhimes, having several TV shows on the air at the same time and during hiatus write award winning feature films. Until then I plan on teaching a Half-Hour TV Spec Writing class at UCLA Extension this spring, and my award winning short film, Dark Chocolate, can be seen at various film festivals around town.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

I really smile every day. In fact, most people don’t know when I’m having a bad day. My grandma used to say, “Any day above ground is a good day,” and that alone should give you a reason to smile.

 

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Sunday Matinee: Cuck [Film]

November 24, 2019 Leave a comment

 

“Cuck is a gripping fly-on-the wall character study and psychosexual thriller tracking an isolated and lonely young man as he is indoctrinated into the online echo chambers of Alt-Right Ideology and hate. Touching on several topical nerves, Cuck gives a raw, unforgiving glimpse into a dark world that hides in plain site.” – cuckthefilm.com

 

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Strap in, Folks. Because holy mother of hell do we have a film to tell you about. Believe me, as shocked as you may be by the name of this film, I can guarantee you that the content of this masterpiece of a film is going to shake your world even more. It’s actually sort of sad, and definitely frightening, that this film could have easily been a straight up documentary about the times we are living in. Cuck is a film that examines the tough reality that is alive and shockingly thriving in the US, and the world, in this day and age. Zachary Ray Sherman gives a performance that is almost too spot on as a “repressed” white nationalist who feel alienated from factions of his country who strive towards progress. He feels isolated from everything in the world – especially the opposite gender in which he is attracted to, yet wants nothing to do with him. It’s this sort of behavior and thought patterns that have caused some of the insane tragedies, one being a presidential election (Hey O!), that have been far too frequent in the last 20 years, at least. Again, I have to reiterate here, as crazy as you think a film like this will be, I promise you it is more than that. Take your initial reactions, and prepare to have them shattered.

 

 

Controversy and down-right sadness aside, I feel as though it is important to acknowledge that Cuck is also a very well made work of art. Filmmaker Rob Lambert has a very obvious gift, and I am so excited to continue to examine his work in the years to come. And holy shit, Mr. Sherman! Former guest here at TWS, and star/writer/director of yet ANOTHER amazing film to be released in 2019 (Barbie’s Kenny) gives a performance that is hands down one of the best I have ever seen. He is almost unrecognizable from his previous roles on series like Everything Sucks! and the aforementioned Barbie’s Kenny. He clearly put on a ton of weight for this role, proving his dedication to the performance side of storytelling is some of the best in the game today. Seriously Folks, I wasn’t sure how Zach could outdo himself from his previous work, but hot damn he managed to pull it off.

I implore EVERYONE to watch this gem of a film. Cuck is one of the most important films of the last decade, and should be viewed by all.

 

Cuck is available on VOD now wherever you purchase wonderful films. Visit cuckthefilm.com for more details!

 

 

Filed under Film

Saturday Special: Animal Among Us [Film]

November 23, 2019 Leave a comment

 

“Fifteen years ago, two teenage girls were murdered at Merrymaker Campgrounds. The case was filed as an animal attack, the camp was condemned, and the killer never found. But something horrific still waits in those woods, ready to kill again.” – October Coast PR

 

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Hello Folks! I am very excited to share with you all, a brand new thriller that I can guarantee you is going to be a big surprise. Please allow me to explain. The film, for all extensive marketing and publicity reasons, is billed as a Bigfoot movie. Which is indeed, a fair description. Sort of. Much like a film like Jaws could, for the sake of fairness, be deemed a “killer shark” movie. But, when you dig deeper beneath the surface of what is happening in the film, you will begin to see that one of the key elements of the film is not actually a scary AF monster hidden somewhere out in the woods, but it is the human condition. It’s about familial loyalty. It’s about surviving in this world with the odds that were place before us, and the sometimes absolutely psychotic lengths we will go to in order to protect what we feel we deserve. The Bigfoot element of Animal Among Us is more of a metaphorical glue that is holding the fabric of these characters together. The element of “things aren’t as they seem”  begins to take even more prevalence whilst watching this extremely well done film than the idea that there is something out there in the woods waiting for you to become its meal. This is a suspense/thriller that has heart. Albeit a dark twisted and frightening heart, but heart none the less.

Or maybe I’m overthinking it? I don’t really believe this, but it’s comforting to know that I can recommend a film that is simply a delight and should be enjoyed by all even if you don’t feel like dissecting a Bigfoot film to be something larger than it really is. That’s fine. There’s something here for everyone!

 

 

No matter how you decide to decipher the meaning behind Animal Among Us, it can not be denied that director John Woodruff has taken a brilliantly written script from Jonathan Murphy and spun cinematic gold in this wonderfully stylized thriller. And you simply cannot sleep on this incredible cast! Everyone was fantastic, but it behooves me to specifically mention the “Bishop trio” of Heather Tom, Christine Donlon, and Larisa Oleynik. The latter being a specific performer who I have thoroughly enjoyed for over a couple of decades now.  Suffice to say that I went from the age of 9 to 13 during Larisa’s run of The Secret Life of Alex Mack. Take from this information what you will, but just know that a quarter of a century later, Oleynik is still a force to be reckoned with, and absolutely crushes it in this truly wonderful film!

 

Animal Among Us is available now on VOD and DVD from Uncork’d Entertainment.

 

Filed under Film

Marissa Melnyk [Interview]

November 22, 2019 Leave a comment

 

Hey Folks! Happy Friday to you all. I am so damned excited to share this incredible interview with you all. Over the last 3 years or so, I have looked forward to every Thursday for the dropping of the best podcast out there in the digital airwaves today. That podcast would be the brilliant All Fantasy Everything. We’ve talked about it quite a bit here at TWS, especially since I first discovered the podcast through our interview with co-host Sean Jordan! We’ve also had the honor of having fellow co-host David Gborie (who we just talked about last Saturday, actually) on the site a couple of years ago as well. And today we have a third member of the Good Vibes Gang with us here today! It’s the incredible, super producer Marissa Melnyk!

Some of you may know her as the background giggler for AFE, and if you know this, you know that she is an absolute gem of a human being who is adored by the show’s hosts and my fellow fans in the All Family Everything as well. Or maybe from Punch Up the Jam, where she also does some amazing work. Or any other delightful HeadGum podcast she’s worked on! It is such an honor having Marissa with us today gracing our digital pages. While I love all of our guests equally, I really really wanted to learn a bit more about the greatest producer in podcast history! And she does not disappoint! She gave some wonderful answers, and I am so excited for you all to check them out!

So, I will stop my babbling, and just get right into it! Folks, please enjoy some amazing words from the even more amazing person, the great Marissa Melnyk!

 

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What inspired you to get into your line of work? Was production in the world of entertainment you have wanted to do so since your youth? Or did you happen to find yourself in this world?

I watched a lot of TV growing up and liked the idea of producing entertainment for others. The idea of working on something that could make a stranger somewhere around the world laugh,  felt very fulfilling to me. I’d always been a fan of technology and the “behind-the-scenes” of production, and I put that in practice through making content for the web.

I never expected to fall into podcasting, but it oddly came full circle in my life. The first podcast I listened to regularly was the Nerdist podcast with Chris Hardwick. My favourite episodes were the “hostfuls”, where Chris, Jonah, and Matt would just gab for an hour. They often would reference their off mic producer Katie Levine, and I always wondered just what her role was on the show. 8 years later, I now find myself working on a show where 3 hosts gab and I sit off mic as a producer. It’s a little surreal that ultimately Katie’s position that I questioned about, I would find myself in years later. 

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And where there any sort of lessons learned from this project that you still use in your work today?

I used to love attending local anime conventions, where I would bring my DSLR camera to shoot cosplay montage videos. It was a fun way to practice videography, editing, and get a free media badge for the weekend. 

Many of my freelance videography jobs I got were through people watching my videos on YouTube, or seeing me filming in public. This cosplay side project lead to job opportunities, which eventually built to bigger projects. Looking back on it, it taught me that the best way to get into the industry is to just start making something. Just do the thing and learn every step of the production- from planning, shooting, editing, publishing, and marketing. It lead me to understand what roles I was passionate about, and allowed me to be a flexible player in any project. 

Having that passion project was so valuable. It’s a great learning experience and in the end you’ll have a published product online that can be seen and shared. And could lead to the eyes of your next employer. 

I also learned that word-of-mouth is a very powerful tool – if you’re nice and a good person to work with, the word will spread to others, and more opportunities will come your way. 

I am a proud member of one of the greatest families of all time, the All Family Everything. I never miss an episode of All Fantasy Everything. It’s so great, and the work you do on the show shines through. So, what is it like to work on a show like this? Is it as much fun to work on as it is for us to listen to?

Aha, the All Family is the best family. The boys give me too much credit – I just ensure it’s tech’d and published to the web. it’s their amazing personalities, heart, and good vibes that make the show so special. 

When hosts work day jobs, we often record evenings or weekends – but it never feels like work when you’re working with those guys. They are 100% certified good, funny AF dudes.  And the emotionally-open nature they promote has lead to real positive influences on my mental health, and for many of our listeners too. We’ve gotten some amazing feedback from listeners who started pursuing self-care or therapy after hearing it promoted frequently on the podcast, which is nice to know the show has made a positive impact on people’s lives.

AFE’s host dynamic emanates the same magic that drew me to podcast listening in the first place, and now having the opportunity to produce that content for others to enjoy makes it rewarding work. 

 

 

What would you say is your favorite AFE pick thus far?

It was Nicole Byer’s first pick in the “Dating” draft. The stakes were high – It was her first time on the podcast for a very open-ended topic, so she could’ve gone anywhere with it. Nicole was set to draft first, and since the first pick tends to set the tone of the entire show, there was a lot of pressure on what it would be.  I remember waiting with bated breath to see what she would draft as her #1 pick about “Dating” … and her answer was “Being Eaten Out”. 

It made me laugh a lot. She nailed it.

Another wonderful HeadGum podcast you work on that I never miss when it comes out, is the incredible Punch Up The Jam. It’s so much fun, and again, you do amazing work on it! So sort of the same questions: Is working on Punch Up The Jam as fun to work on as it is to listen to?

Demi and Miel are such incredibly talented people, and I’m always blown away by their work every week making the punch ups. That’s another show I felt so lucky just to be in the same room. What listeners don’t get to experience is the amazing energy during the recording – When the song clips play there’s often scream-singing, dancing and head banging. The hype is contagious. 

That show’s format is incredibly fun to edit and taught me a lot about mixing music in podcasting. Fans might notice the latest All Fantasy Everything musical draft episodes (such as Weddings Dance Songs, Disney Songs, and an upcoming Love Songs episode) have musical clips heavily incorporated in the mix, and I thank PUTJ for giving me the practise.

Plus that show has such a killer theme song. Anytime I hear “PUNCH IT” I wanna throw a fist in the air. It’s just so good.

And what would you say is your favorite Punch Up that Miel or Demi have made?

Hands down, it’s the “Sk8r Boi” punch up they did together. They turned my middle school anthem into a hauntingly beautiful musical performance. Having grown up as an angsty Avril Lavigne-loving teen who also loved broadway musicals, this punch up really resonated with me. 

It’s so well produced and truly an experience – an absolute gem of a track hidden at the end of a podcast episode. 

Your Instagram is deifnitely one of my favorites. You get into the BEST shenanigans involving the world of video games, podcasting, etc. I understand you were actually just back in your homeland for the Toronto International Film Festival. Simply out of curiousity, how was your trip? Were you there to promote a specific project, or just because you are dope and you do dope shit?

Aha TIFF was great. I used to volunteer with the festival for years before I worked there freelance. Working there was a very rewarding experience since it introduced me to my mentor, Aaron Van Domelen, who taught me most of what I know today. 

This trip however, I wanted to enjoy the festival instead of work it. I also brought my Michigan-based boyfriend Zach, and it was great to experience the city through his eyes. Would an American love the city as much as I do? Luckily, he loved it! Toronto’s an amazing city, and it really lights up around TIFF’s season. I was recognized twice there from my podcasting work – which is just so wild to me? Most people who listen to podcasts don’t know what the show’s hosts look like. So the fact that people could recognize me who works off-mic on a show is just crazy to me. It’s really magical when it happens though, because it allows me to geek out about my love for the podcasts with a listener.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I recorded my first guest appearance on All Fantasy Everything! We drafted Bucket List Items, which is a topic I’ve been wanting to draft for nearly a year. Just had to wait until I had the nerve to appear on-mic.

HeadGum is also launching a slate of new original shows soon with some amazing new talent. Be on the lookout for it!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Just about every podcast episode makes me laugh, so the last thing that made me smile would be the last thing I edited. At the time of writing, I just finished editing All Fantasy Everything “Scariest Fictional Characters” In the episode there’s a lot of mention of “peepee poopoo” and David had a bit about “cutting off his dumps” which made me laugh a lot. It may not sound like the best sell for the podcast, but it was really silly. 

I’m thankful that I get to laugh a lot at my job 🙂

 

Filed under Interviews

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