John Otteni

I made a mockumentary about hunting vampires

Freaky Fridays: The Stuff

The Stuff (1985)

If you’ve ever stumbled across this blog in a drunken stupor, you know I love horror movies. So much so that every year my fellow bloggers and I review 31 horror movies in October. Naturally, some films slip through the cracks, this is one of them. The VHS box to The Stuff is an image firmly burned into my memory. Tell me, how could you walk past this film at the video store (image posted above) without at least a second glance? “Why is marshmallow fluff pouring out of this man’s eye sockets?” Well past John, let me show you the way.

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Freaky Fridays

Disclaimer: This post has nothing to with either the 1976 or 2003 version of the film Freaky Friday, my deepest apologies.

Earlier this week I alluded to a new weekly segment at Mildly Pleased and the time has come. We’ve had many segments over our eight years in existence; Classic Album Tuesdays, Top Ten Thursday’s, The People’s Albums, Obsessong, Retrospecticus and The Vault. Let’s not forget my favorite yearly tradition, Shocktober, where we spend 31 days reviewing 31 horror movies.

Recently, I was contemplating whether I could extend my love for Shocktober to all year round. An opportunity to discuss not only horror movies, but all kinds of cult cinema. An opportunity to delve into hard sci-fi, 80s action movies, Exploitation, Blaxploitation, Christploitation, and maybe a few Beastmaster films.

Think of this as a love letter to the VHS era. Many of the movies I will review will be ones I vividly remember sitting on shelves in colorful cardboard boxes. In fact, the name “Freaky Fridays” refers to what my Dad use to say when it was time to rent a video on a Friday night. It’s not because every Friday we switched bodies… Or did we?

My goal is to carry this new segment all the way to Shocktober. Whether I will continue it come November 2016 is unknown at this time. Hey, remember how we’re going to have a new president in November? *shudder. Let’s not get too freaky yet. Stay tuned.

Rokk Talk Ep. 03: So You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star

We all have a song in our hearts. The question is: do we all have a song worth hearing? Some of the celebs on this list seem to think so. This week, Colin and John talk about ill-fated heroes of Tinseltown who have attempted a transition from the silver screen to the bargain bin at the last Sam Goody in existence. From Shatner to Willis we have it locked down. It’s a party all the time at Rokk Talk!

P.S. R.I.P Alan Vega – frontman of Suicide – who is mentioned in this podcast. We miss ya already brother!

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C.A.T.: Somethin’ Else

Cannonball Adderley – Somethin’ Else (1958)

Four years ago, Colin and I did a series of Classic Album Tuesday reviews spanning 1957 to 1984. There wasn’t any particular theme or reasoning behind it, but it kept posts steady and let me explore a wide range of artists I otherwise wouldn’t have heard. Such artists included; Bobby Bland, The Beau Brummels, The Feelies and Briano Eno. I would like to try this again. Any other Mildly Pleasers are welcome to join me but don’t feel obligated. The truth of the matter is I could use the motivation to listen to more classic music. This being said I present you with my two cents regarding one of my favorite Jazz albums of all time.

I’m probably the last person who should write about Jazz. Do I even need to capitalize “Jazz?” I’ve probably heard less than ten Jazz albums in my life, and probably have no more than five I can say I love. Lucky for Cannonball Adderley, this album is one of them.

Somethin’ Else released in 1958 is a classic for more reasons than I can snap my fingers at. Here, the legendary alto saxophonist is not only accompanied by some of the most accomplished jazz artists of the time, he’s accompanied by Miles “Freaking” Davis. This is notable not only because Miles Davis is the most famous Jazz musician you’ve ever heard of, but because it is one of the few times Davis was a sideman. Adderley takes the spotlight with his busy yet bluesy playing style, well complemented by Davis’ more understated work. I have no idea what I’m talking about.

Though I can’t say much regarding the playing style, I can tell you how Somethin’ Else makes me feel. It makes me feel like a 1940s noir detective, smoking a cigarette and peering out at the rain-soaked streets from my office. You better believe I have an inner monologue going too. The leadoff track, “Autumn Leaves” best accompanies this fantasy (or delusion). At nearly ten minutes it’s a moody piece with a creeping piano and bittersweet horns.

I like to listen to Somethin’ Else when I write. I don’t usually listen to music when I write as I find it distracting but jazz feels just mellow and atmospheric enough for it to work for me. Especially if I have a hot cup of joe, looking out at the rain with an inner monologue in my head.

P.S. I plan on revealing a NEW weekly blog feature this Friday. Stay tuned!

Favorite Tracks: “Autumn Leaves,” “Dancing in the Dark,” “Love for Sale”

Rokk Talk Ep. 02: DontGetIt

Some people say, “I like all kinds of music.” Those people are either liars or pod people. Probably both. The truth is we all have different musical tastes. Nobody has the time to listen to and like everything. Meaning this week, John and Colin discuss some of the artists they have never gotten into. Maybe it’s a lack of interest or time or patience or whatever. I mean, who has the time for Krautrock? Everybody has their reasons, and on Rokk Talk… The Reason is you.

P.S. Don’t forget to stick around for John and Colin’s album recommendations. Click more on this page if you just can’t wait!

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Rokk Talk Ep. 01: In Concert

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the poet laureates of rock ‘n’ roll. The voices of promise. The guys who forced folk into bed with rock. Who disappeared into a haze of substance abuse only to emerge and find Jesus. Who were written off as has-beens only to shift gears and release some of the strongest podcasting of all time. Ladies and gentlemen — Mildly Pleased presents, ROKK TALK!!! With John Otteni and Colin Wessman.

P.S. In this episode we talk about concerts!

P.P.S The spelling of “Rock” as “Rokk” was an artistic decision not a mistake. Deal with it. *puts sunglasses on*