Periodical Prattle with Ben & Gio

Episode 18 (NME Magazine, February 17, 2017)

On this week's Periodical Prattle, Ben and Gio go back to February 17, 2017 to talk about the Pet Shop Boys! They received the NME's Godlike Genius award in 2017, which leads into a deep discussion into their remarkable career. Ben and Gio also spend some time in the present by going into the line-up for California goth music festival Cruel World, and give a hearty recommendation to Rose Matefeo's BBC3 comedy Starstruck. They also get into some wild tangents which we'll let you hear for yourself, and they wrap it all up with a talk of 1996's Big Night, directed, written and starring Stanley Tucci. Timestamps: Cruel World festival (2:57) Starstruck (12:10) Box office of February 17, 2017 (27:30) NME Magazine: Pet Shop Boys (1:05:40) Big Night (1:36:04)

Episode 17 (NME Magazine, February 25, 2012)

On this week's Periodical Prattle, Ben and Gio finish their two-part Blur + Oasis BritPop series! They go back to 1995 and dissect the Oasis vs Blur battle for #1, Ben shares thoughts after watching the Oasis: Supersonic documentary, plus we look at NME Magazne from Februrary 25, 2012, and look at Blur's reunion and the reconilation of Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon. You won't get a more detailed analysis on Blur and Oasis than this podcast. Ben and Gio also watch and review Elaine May's A New Leaf from 1971, starring Walter Matthau and Elaine May. Timestamps: Blur vs Oasis battle (2:00) Oasis: Supersonic thoughts/final thoughts on Oasis (15:44) Box office of February 25, 2012 (31:10) NME Magazine: Blur (44:50) A New Leaf (1:18:25)

Episode 16 (NME Magazine, January 17, 2015)

On this week's Periodical Prattle, Ben and Gio go back to January 17th 2015! They talk about Noel Gallagher post-Oasis break-up, figure out where they stand with Oasis in general, with some fun detours talking about Paul Weller and Blur along the way. Ben and Gio also talk about Michael Hutchence's unfortunate experience with Oasis, do another THE HIVES BEAT, and go over the box office of January 17, 2015, which includes some fun detours, talking about Into the Woods, Armando Iannucci and Josh Gad. Finally, Ben and Gio do a deep dive into John Waters' trashy magnum opus, Female Trouble from 1974 starring Divine. Timestamps: The Hives Beat (1:33) Michael Hutchence is better than Oasis (8:04) Box Office of January 17, 2015 (14:40) NME Magazine: Noel Gallagher (37:53) Female Trouble (1:08:37)

Episode 15 (NME Magazine, August 27, 2011)

On this week’s episode of Periodical Prattle, Ben and Gio go back to August 27, 2011 to discuss Muse, and the Reading & Leeds festival! They discuss the festival’s history, the 2011 line-up, and the history of artists getting “bottled” on the show. There is also talk of this year’s Academy Awards telecast, the most hated band on TikTok Tramp Stamps, Morrissey hating The Simpsons, the entire cast list of The Smurfs movie, and much more. For this week’s movie segment, The Two Dweebs discuss Albert Brooks’ masterpiece Defending Your Life, starring Brooks and Meryl Streep. Timestamps: Morrissey/The Simpsons talk (2:24) Box Office of August 27, 2011 (7:03) NME Magazine: Muse/2011 Reading & Leeds Festival (33:00) Defending Your Life (1:12:10)

Episode 14 (NME Magazine, September 13, 2003)

On this week’s Periodical Prattle, Ben and Gio go back to September 13, 2003 to get into a truly bonkers Muse cover story. You will not believe how it starts! The Two Dweebs also cover The Darkness’ Permission to Land (which Ben makes the bold claim by calling it one of the best debut albums ever), and the downfall of Fred Durst. Ben also discusses the remarkable event that was the Earth, Wind & Fire vs The Isley Brothers VERZUZ event, and how new artists and producers should take notes. For the movies segment, they cover the 1982 cult movie Ladies and Gentlemen… The Fabulous Stains, starring Diane Lane, Laura Dern, Beowulf’s Ray Winstone, plus members of The Clash and Sex Pistols. Earth Wind & Fire/Isley Brothers VERZUZ recap (1:07) Top 5 at the Box Office on September 13, 2003 (10:08) NME Magazine: Muse (23:50) Ladies and Gentlemen.... The Fabulous Stains (62:14)