Cultural Futures Exchange

Ep 50: Rush-Part 1 of Fear

ATTENTION PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! That's right, eh! This is the big one, episode 50, and so, it's time to grab a Molson Golden, don that kimono, and tuck into some poutine, because CFX are covering one of the all time greats, Canadian rock gods, RUSH. This is an episode so huge and magnificent, that we couldn't do it in one go, but had to split it in two. That's right, for a total of 5+ hours, we dive into the history, zeitgeist and take on the whole discography of these virtuosic prog wizards from the Great White North. In part 1, we chart the rise of the band, from their humble beginnings as heavy riff rockers to hash oil imbibing prog rockers to multi-platinum FM radio rulers. RUSH are great, we all know that, but how well do they stack up really? In the first part, we cover everything from the early days of the band with drummer John Rutsey before Neil "The Professor" Peart would blow everyone away with his Objectivist philosophical beliefs and superhuman drumming all the way to the band's megablockbuster Moving Pictures album (in part 2, we'll cover the rest). We decide if the band really does mold a new reality or if their music is just a silly whim (that doesn't fit the plan). And, along the way, as you've come to expect, we also learn...
What rush song nerds listen to to get "in the mood"
How to pronounce Alex's real last name (actually, we could never figure that out)
What band wouldn't allow Rush to have a soundcheck and, let's face it, were total hoseheads
What cartoon character did critics say Geddy Lee sang like
What was the most difficult album to record? The easiest? And the most hash-influenced?
How your esteemed hosts rank the albums of this era
And, finally, will we be dining on honeydew or will this episode end in Tears…
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 49: The Breakfast Club

Teen archetypes! Melodramatic method-inspired soliloquies! Stepford Wives teen makeovers! Flaring nostrils! Hairy butt loving sportos! Quarterflash sound-alikes! And, who could forget… Neo-Nazi Zoom DWEEBIES?! If you’re wondering what we’re talking about, you’ve obviously never seen the 1985 classic John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club! We were bound to get to this one sooner or later and this week we do, diving into the history and zeitgeist of this film and deciding whether it is indeed one of the great and enduring teen-centered films ever made or if we should just ignore the advice of Simple Minds and just FORGET ABOUT IT. We also have some fun talking about which of the teen archetypes we most resembled (it’s not hard to guess… we’re looking at you, Brian Johnson) and go through a meticulous walk-through of just about every detail and event of the film, and, as you’ve come to expect, we also learn…
What the Brat Pack was and what a Rat Pack version of this film might be like
Who originally was cast as rebel John Bender and what physical characteristic led to Judd Nelson getting the part
Which of your CFX hosts also took shop and how he messed up his project worse than Brian
About Jeff’s foreign film movie career starring alongside of Molly Ringwald and Patrick Dempsey
Which character was probably most interested in what, besides Bender’s weed, was in Johnson’s underwear
How to not fake being stoned
What happens when you mess with the bull…
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 48: Firefly

This week CFX takes on the short-lived cult sci-fi show, Firefly. We dive into the history of the show, explore its eleven TV episodes and the 2005 fan-driven film Serenity to decide whether this oddball mix of western and space opera is “shiny” or just a whole lot of “Fei-oo”. What about this show made fans dress in space cowboy outfits, speak bad Chinese to each other, serenade Renaissance Faire crowds with Firefly-inspired ballads, and finally wage an internet battle against the evil Hollywood “alliance” to save their show? Will CFX join in the rebellion by proclaiming Firefly as the greatest show that never was or try to “take the sky” from all of these dedicated fans by pointing out that maybe this is just Star Wars meets Battlestar Galactica meets The A-Team and Have Gun WIll Travel? You may be surprised, and, as usual, along the way, you’ll learn…
What Simon and Simon and Simon LeBon have to do with this saga
How NOT to speak Chinese
Who didn’t cry when Wash died
What it means to be a "good" smuggler
How to conduct business as a space prostitute
What it takes to be lured away from Klingon fandom
And finally, the fan favorite liaison that had us headed to our bunks with Jayne
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 47: The Catcher in the Rye

This week CFX tackles one of the most popular and controversial books of all time, J.D. Salinger’s 1951 coming of age novel The Catcher in the Rye. This is a book that nearly everyone has read and we talk about how the book affected us when we read it as teenagers and how we view it now. We got into Salinger’s incredible life story, including his harrowing experiences in World War 2 and how his experiences influenced his writing and his difficult relationship with success  eventually led him to live life as a recluse and to stop publishing altogether. And, more importantly, we decide if this novel really knocks us out, really kills us, if you know what we mean, or is just phony and corny.  And, as usual, along the way, we also learn…
Why Jeff’s favorite character in the novel is (good ol’) Edgar Marsala  
Why Salinger might have identified with the more perverted residents at the Edmont Hotel
What famous actor wanted to adapt the book and play Holden himself even though he was a 40 year old man (actually, we forget to include this fact but it’s JERRY LEWIS!) 
What a butt-twitcher is and why we care
How Paul Stanley’s hairy chest plays into the story
And finally, will we be able to get past all that David Copperfield shit and channel our inner Stradlater to give Jane Gallagher the time or will we regress to our outer Ackley kid and get punched in the gut by Maurice the pimp?
 
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 46: Thin Lizzy

This week CFX celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by covering the greatest Irish band in history, Thin Lizzy! And if you consider that to be a controversial statement, we understand because as great as Thin Lizzy were, they weren’t nearly as popular as they should have been. Why weren’t they absolutely huge? Why wasn’t Phil Lynott, their charismatic leader and brilliant songwriter and bassist, a household name? Why did American FM radio barely play them? We dig into the band’s troubled history and do an analysis of their very interesting discography. We talk about the innovative twin guitar attack that spawned a thousand bands, Lynott’s poetic lyrics and brilliant storytelling, and what’s got to be the most under-appreciated drumming of all time. We talk about all the sex and we talk about all the drugs. This is a tragic story, but is there a happy CFX evaluation in the end? We decide that, and, as usual, along the way, we also learn…
How tough does a town have to be to have more than one jail?
What the deal is with ‘70s rock stars and their obsession with buffaloes?
Why Dean Martin may be the new Steely Dan of CFX
How does one get chocolate stains on one’s pants?
Why Phil Lynott missed his chance to write 70’s sitcom theme songs
Finally, are there any “gurls” who want a little more Irish in them? (Asking for a friend)
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 45: The Exorcist

This week, the power of CFX compels you to listen to our second Satanic episode in a row! That’s right, for Episode 45, we take on 1973 horror classic, The Exorcist! Is this the greatest, most shocking horror film ever made or just a pile of pea soup colored puke? We answer this by digging into every detail of the incredible story of how this film was made, its impact at then and whether it still stands the test of time. And, as always, along the way, we also learn….
Which CFX host has something creepy in common with Rick Springfield, Rick James and CFX alumnus Neil Giraldo.
What William Friedkin would do on set to get the best performances from his cast
How Mercedes McCambridge prepared for her role as Pazuzu
What words Jeff used to make the Ouija board spell out back in the day (and no it wasn’t Steely Dan Rules!)
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 44: Here’s to My Sweet Satan

This week CFX takes on the whole idea of Satanic music and the phenomenon of backmasking. Are rock artists intentionally hiding secret Satanic messages that are only revealed when the record is played backwards? And can our subconscious minds pick up on these messages somehow when the records are played forwards? We do a deep dive into the whole history of backmasking, the origins of Satan and God and all that and, of course, we got all the facts right because “we did our own research”! At any rate, join us for a fun, stupid episode where we make fun of some seriously stupid shit and, as usual, along the way, we learn…
How batshit crazy legendary heavy metal musician Dave Mustaine is now
Why you should never go near your fundamentalist Christian neighbor’s tool shed
What Satan has in common with Perry Mason
How the Satanic metal band Venom once outdid Weird Al Yankovic at musical comedy
How Iron Maiden contributed to fun with a Rasta spoof about Idi Amin...
 
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 43: Strangers with Candy

We’re back! And, this week, we take on the short-lived landmark cult comedy show, Strangers With Candy. This is an episode that really demonstrates, perhaps more than any other we have done, how the prospects of a CFX artifact can change so quickly. This show is only just a little over 20 years old and yet times have changed so dramatically, we can’t imagine it being made today. This is dark satire that crosses more than a few lines, but it also was ahead of its time in a way that makes it relevant today. It’s gross, edgy, provocative, controversial, full of memorable performances and at times, extremely funny. But does it stand the test of time? We find out and along the way, we also learn…
About the true story of a reformed junkie and hooker that inspired this show
Why you wouldn’t want to be stranded in the desert with Amy Sedaris
Who Roberto Gari is and why he might be the best silent comedian since Charlie Chaplin
How Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed Chris Pratt to the family.
How it must be nice to hope for the thing you wish to want
Why you’ll never think of the “liberty bell” in the same way after listening to this episode
Why does your finger smell like his ass?
What poetry should really be about
About what could have been one of the best "presidential" video games ever…

Ep 42: Creedence Clearwater Revival

 
Proud Mary! Lodi! Bayous! Prince Valiant Hairdos! Flannel! Lawsuits! Self-plagiarism! That’s right, this week, there’s a whole lotta chooglin’ goin’ on as CFX takes on Creedence Clearwater Revival, the short-lived, but critically and popularly acclaimed rock band helmed by American icon, John Fogerty. Is this band really all that great and does their music stand the test of time? Can we even call CCR a band? We get to the bottom of all that, diving into the history, the myth, the zeitgeist and our personal CCR stories. And, as always, along the way, we also learn…
What was that noise coming from Doug Clifford’s hotel room
How John Fogerty financed three best picture winners and the most successful film trilogy of all time and yet has nothing to show for it
Why Ike Turner was even scarier than you might think
How CCR inspired Jeff's first Dr Demento parody submission
What John Fogerty thought of hippie bands like the Grateful Dead
What poignant advice Jeff has for Stephen Stills
How John Fogerty showed his a-hole bandmates what’s up at the HOF
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 41:War Games

Do you want to play a game? Let’s play… Global… Thermonuclear… War. That’s right, this week CFX takes on the classic 1983 technological thriller, WarGames, the film that introduced most of the world to a new kind of hero/villain, the “hacker”. But we put kind of a different spin on things as we also include quite a bit of discussion of a real life case of hacking as described in Cliff Stoll’s 1989 best seller, The Cuckoo’s Egg. We talk about our favorite and least favorite aspects of the film, how well it not only mirrors reality but how well it has stood the test of time, and also our personal histories with not only the film but with computers in the time period in which the film takes place. And, along the way, we also learn…
How to tell the difference between a “super” nerd, a “weird” nerd and a standard nerd.
How to properly butter a raw ear of corn.
What real life computer guru appeared in the nude in is his own biopic.
About another extremely dumb password cracking trope
Why it’s a poor idea to bring an alleged spy into the command center for the US nuclear arsenal
What pissing on a spark plug actually did to one shocked farm boy
And of course…who first suggested the idea of asexual reproduction….
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.