"You are an old man who thinks in terms of nations and peoples. There are no nations. There are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no Third Worlds. There is no West. There is only one holistic system of systems, one vast and immane, interwoven, interacting, multivariate, multinational dominion of dollars. Petrodollars, electro- dollars, multi-dollars, Reichsmarks, rins, rubles, pounds, and shekels. It is the international system of currency which determines the totality of life on this planet. That is the natural order of things today." This text - pulled from the late Sidney Lumet’s 1976 masterful cinematic critique of the convergence of American media with finance capital 'Network', in which a ruthless media executive lays the hard reality of postmodern global affairs on the rogue broadcaster trying to expose some truth - perfectly distills the essence of the pervasively albeit invisibly imposed cultural limitations on thought and expectation accurately defined by the late theorist Mark Fisher as “capitalist realism.” Capitalist realism has convinced the masses that we cannot do better than this. And by this, we mean: poverty, inequality, war, capitalism. On this podcast System of Systems, a couple of disaffected downwardly mobile artist communists – millennial failing artist and cultural critic Adam Lehrer and zoomer musician and English student Ben Pseudonym – analyze the degrees to which capitalist realism governs the discourse: our politics, our culture, our entertainment, and our material realities.
New York artist Noah Stalgia discusses embracing art and leaving furniture design behind FULL EPISODE at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/jack-off-of-all-130732691?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link LINKS: Noah website https://www.noahstalgia.com/artworks
The boys discuss Ye nuking the overton window and how genuine or disingenuous leftists' complaints about the Trump admin are SOUNDTRACKPlagal Grind "Receivership live" Air Conditioning "Unravel your Navel" Offenders "Face Down in the Dirt" Victim Kennel "In Case of Aggression"SUBSCRIBE to our podcast's Patreon
Writer Omar King, as well as publisher Evan Papadakis, join the show to discuss his new short story collection An Odyssey of Dingbats, published on friends and former guests Dan Baltic's and Matt Pegas' new imprint New Ritual Press, to talk about his book, porn, Los Angeles, egirl writing, "friendfiction", Hubert Selby, Jr, autism and moreSOUNDTRACKThe Hospitals "Hairdryer Peace"Blue Eyed Devils "Fearless" Plamen "Servants of Nothing" The Brothers Johnson "Stomp"LINKSPurchase Omar's book HERE
Malcom Tent is an under appreciated legend of underground rock n' roll. From entering into the punk fold in South Florida in the 1980s with his hardcore band Broken Talent, to forming the sub-underground noise rock collective Bunny Brains, to playing in one of the most important lineups of American black metal group Profanatica, to collaborating with none other than GG ALLIN, to owning the iconic record shop Trash American Style, to acting as the proprietor of the label TPOS, Tent's distinctive stamp is all over the American sub-underground. Luckily enough, he's here on the podcast, telling all of these stories.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR THE FULL EPISODEhttps://www.patreon.com/posts/trash-american-w-126126685?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkLINKS:Malcolm Tent website https://www.malcolmtent.net/Bunny Brains https://www.bunnybrains.com/Malcolm's Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@malcolmtent5186
Adam and Matt on Brady Corbet's 'The Brutalist', one of the worst films ever made. Further commentary on Ye's Youtube drop, 'Bully'.Subscribe to Our PatreonSubcribe to Safety Propaganda SubstackOST: Faith No More "Ashes to Ashes"Absurd "Nordmannerlied"Glorious Din "Sellotape"Scott Walker "Tilt"Ye "WW3"
A very special episode here, featuring none other than Dutch artist and director of the infamous KIRAC film series Stefan Ruitenbeek and his benefactor, the Dutch art collector Philip Van Den Hurk. We attempt to understand just why Philip would allow himself to become a character in the KIRAC universe, which Philip explains brings him a kind of limit experience. Stefan explains the erotic dynamics in their relationship. Episode ends with Philip trying to strawman Adam with the abortion issue. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR FULL EPISODE HERELINKS: Watch KIRAC episodes here https://www.keepingitrealartcritics.com/wordpress/Follow KIRAC at X: @realKIRAC
Artist and MAGA OG Shay Semple joins once more to discuss the radical first month of the Trump presidencyOSTKraftwerk "Computer Love"ESG "Shinin and Grindin" M8 "Sword Shards" Kim Fowley "Bubblegum" Peste Noire "La dernier putsch"The Bomber Jackets "Legends Never Die"
Artist Zach Brown joins the show to discuss one of the stranger and more era specific art works of the 1990s, Darren Starr's adult nighttime soap series Melrose PlaceOSTDead Girl's Party "I'm a Tick Tock Bomb"Hunger! "Workshop"Diapsiquir "Aprés"
The life, the legacy, and the art of David Lynch, with Jack Mason of The Perfume Nationalist SOUNDTRACK Julee Cruise "Rockin' Back Inside my Heart"Brother JT "This is the Life"Felt "Primitive Painters" Roy Orbison "In Dreams" LINKSTPN The Films of David Lynch Part One and Part Two
Artist Kat Chamberlin discusses her political discontent and Dean Kissick's recent panel with Anna and DashaSUBSCRIBE FOR FULL EPISODE Soundtrack:Mortuary Drape "Larve"Datblygu "Hollol, Hollol, Hollol"Das Kabinette "Something's On Your Mind"Mirrors "Shirley"LINKS:Kat Chamberlin website
Memorable art, music, film and memes of 2024 OSTRed Lorry Yellow Lorry "Pushing On"Horsepower Electronics "Gorgon Sound" Thergothon "Elemental" NOFX "Vanilla Sex"
Author and filmmaker Christopher Zeischegg discusses his semi autofictional 2020 novel The Magician, a new film based on that text, and a little bit about his previous life in pornography OST:Cabaret Voltaire "A Touch of Evil"The Obsessed "Tombstone Highway" Metal Urbain "Ultra Violence" The Diplomats "Who I Am" Miss Kittin and the Hacker "Homme a la Mode" LINKSChristopher Zeischegg websiteFollow Chris on Twitter: @chriszeischegg
Sensitive young man and friend of the show Med Gold joins to discuss too good and decent men wildly condemned and deliberately misunderstood by the media SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL EPISODELINKS:Read Med's essay on The Sopranos
Adam discusses Ali Abbasi's Trump biopic, Sebastian Stan's incredible performance, and portraiture in general, and finds in the film a surprisingly and perhaps accidentally positive portrait of the President Elect READ THE ESSAY HERE and HERE
It truly is a Brave New World Perseus Traxx "Late Night Calls"Pagan Skull - Miehet Vastaan Maailma (Ramones) (attached)Tony Molina "Change my Ways" Westside Connection "Do You Like Criminals" The Byrds "Wasn't Born to Follow" Foul Play "AI"
Tennessee based recording and performing artist duo MEINSCHAFT discusses art, music, political ambiguity, more Meinschaft "This Kiss"The Residents "Swastikas on Parade" https://music.apple.com/us/album/swastikas-on-parade/518757784?i=518758551Laibach "Geburt Einer Nation" https://music.apple.com/us/album/geburt-einer-nation/828105914?i=828105929David Greenberger "The Seven Dwarfs" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOmxABJwHe4The Knife "We Share our Mother's Health" https://music.apple.com/us/album/we-share-our-mothers-health/1489763587?i=1489763595LINKS:BUY Meinschaft 'It was a Very Good Year' https://meinschaft.bandcamp.com/album/it-was-a-very-good-year MEINSCHAFT at X: @____mein
Multi-hyphenate artist, musician and writer Chino Amobi calls in from Houston to talk about his masterful new album Eroica and the state of the whole goddamn worldLINKS:Chino Amobi at BandcampChino's Eroica FloraChino At Instagram: @chinoamobi
Philly based musician and artist Morgan Garrett's excellent recent album Purity has been compared to bands as unrelated as Korn and the Shadow Ring by midwit rock writers. Nevertheless, there is something interesting about the references, and Adam found himself shocked by how fascinated he was by this strange, disorienting and highly original music. Morgan joins the show to discuss the album as well as the very upsetting personal experience that inspired it SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON Morgan Garrett "Suck" Korn "ADIDAS" (Live at Woodstock) The Shadow Ring "Cold Coffee" Bladee "WODRAINER" Pink Reason "Cranes are Flying" Morgan Garrett "Mercy and Grace" LINKS:Morgan Garrett, Purity
With Jack Mason of the Perfume Nationalist and Ryan Simón American Vulgaria Magazine OST:Raffertie "The Substance" Butthole Surfers "Dum Dum" Endor "Pump it Up" JJ Band "Live I Kungston" CLOSER Raffertie "French Cuisine" LINKS:Adam on The Substance
Matt and Adam discuss Ryan Murphy's second season of Monsters on the Menendez Brothers, the Gary Indiana novel Resentment also about the case, and other goings on OSTMIlli Vanilli "Girl You Know It's True"Batrider "Tara" Skinny Puppy "Bites" Associates "Party Fears Two" The Lox "Money Power Respect"
Inspired by Ye's recent posting of clips from the iconic video piece by Los Angeles conceptual and performance artist Paul McCarthy, 'The Painter', Adam shares his writing on McCarthy originally published in 2021 OSTPaul McCarthy, Mike Kelley and Violent Onsen Geisha "Guitar"Brainbombs "How to make an Adult Man Feel Sick" Kids See Ghosts "Feel the Love"LINKSAdam on Paul McCarthy
The Safety Propaganda guide to style PATREON LINK OSTVINCENT GALLO "HER SMELL THEME" LOU REED "METAL MACHINE MUSIC, PT 2" SUICIDE "CHEZZAZE" (LIVE)MILES DAVIS "ORBITS"NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS "JACK THE RIPPER"
Inspired by Alex Gibney's recent documentary on David Chase, Adam finally tries to communicate what 'The Sopranos" means to him SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREONLINKS:Adam's essay on The Sopranos
Convening around the topic of the culd oddity that is the 2000 Cash Money Records produced film Baller Blockin', Anna K wades into her love of hip-hop culture, the differences between the intellectualism of New York rap versus the ratchet experimentalism of Deep South rap, shared Cape Cod roots, and moreSUBSCRIBE FOR FULL EPISODELINKS:Follow Anna on Twitter: @annakhachiyanRed Scare Podcast
Sex Magazine is now in its 14th issue and its 4th since it was reborn as a print journal, and it's a doozy. Sam Hyde, the man who started it all, and Million Dollar Extreme grace the cover . Sex Mag editor Asher Penn joins to discuss the new issue, as well as the differences between the art movement of the 2010s that the project was born out of and the reactionary avant-garde that ushered in its print rebirth OSTDrain Gang Archive "Sleep Walk 2 the Jeweler" Arab on Radar "Saint Patrick's Gay Parade" White Void "Confessions on Bad Edges" Oval "Do While" Kanye West "Famous" LINKSBuy Sex MagazineFollow Sex Mag on Instagram: @SexMagFollow Asher on Instagram: @ashermixtapehell
Finnish multimedia artist, painter, and recent author Jukka Siikala joins SOS by SP to discuss his zine series Seksnobyl, new film work, doing album art, the differences and similarities between writing and making visual work, and the state of Finnish politics.OSTCannibal Corpse "Born in a Casket" Pharoah Overlord "Verbi" Impaled Nazarene "The Horny and the Horned" Bizarre Uproar "Purification" (ATTACHED)Rattus "Sodan Tragedia"LINKS:Jukka websiteBuy SeksnobylAdam interviewed by SP
Why is the art market tanking? Economic instability is obviously mostly responsible, but Adam thinks there might be a more spiritual quandary at the root of it OST: Omit "Restrain""Nuit Noire "Mystery I"LINKS: Adam's text on the art market crash HERE Art Newspaper on the Crash HERE The ridiculous shit that Nina Hartmann says HERE
With some months separating now between her exit from Compact Magazine, Nina Power discusses the chaos of post-cancellation cultural life, RFK, Jr's Trump endorsement, the extinction of education, and the battle between good and evil FULL EPISODE LINKS: Nina on her court case
Combat sports expert JJ discusses the peculiar psyop that was the Algerian "intersex" boxer competing in the women's division of the 2024 Olympics OST Chrome "Wranglers" Manson Family "Bar None" Manowar "Hatred"Red Cross "White Trash" LINKSOn the Imane Khelif controversy
Montana's own avant-garde good ol' boy and sturdy lad Ryan Simón joins SOS by SP once more to discuss his magazine's upcoming 4th issue, The Girl Issue...FULL EPISODE LINKLINKS:Buy the American Vulgaria "Girl Issue" Follow Ryan on X
Adam documents observations, thoughts and dreams he had from July to August, 2024 OSTJandek "Blue Blister"Non "Fire in the Organism"The Vaselines "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" Van Morisson "Streets of Arklow" Read Adam's text at Substack
In the second part of a two-part series, Adam laments a culture where eroticism has collapsed and content is all porn... OST:Meatshits "Forced to have Sex"Coil "Paint me as a Dead Soul" The Cure "The Holy Hour" READ THE ESSAY AT SUBSTACK
In the first of a two-part series, Adam looks at the mainstream's insistence on buckets of goreOST:Regurgitate "Fleshfeast"Unit Moebius "The Groove" The Smiths "Cemetry Gates" READ THE FULL TEXT AT SUBSTACK
Jack Mason, the iconic creator of the Perfume Nationalist podcast, joins the show to definitively define what we call "The Gen-X Problem", with numerous digressions into topics like Huysmans, Nan Goldin being a junkie hag, Gavin McInnes, Satanic Panic, Howard Stern, Steve Albini, Brat, Kamala and more... SOUNDTRACKDouglas Coupland on Gen-X Madonna "Pray for Spanish Eyes" Burzum "Dunkelheit" Kool Keith "Blue Flowers" Trump on Stern Aphex Twin "Digeridoo" LIVE Nirvana "Aneurysm" LIVE LINKSThe Perfume Nationalist on Patreon Follow Jack at X: @lotus__pointAdam Lehrer, The Safety Propaganda Conceptual Manifesto, point #190Adam Lehrer, A Generation in Transition Part #1Adam Lehrer on Steve Albini
DJ, producer and founder of iconic NY techno label L.I.E.S., Ron Morelli, makes the honorable decision to redeem his entire generation and join in the effort to save America LINKS:L.I.E.S. at Bandcamp L.I.E.S at Instagram
Gary Beauvais is a Michigan based artist and musician who has been recording beneath the name Mammal since the beginning of the '00s. This year, however, he released a new album called Deserted. I shit you not, this is one of the best records of the year. Haunting and emotive.Gary discusses the record with the boys, as well as the transition of his project from industrial noise to the haunting electro folk he makes now, shitty record labels, physical pain, and his relationship with God. SOUNDTRACKMammal "I believe in God" Black Flag "Can't Decide" Saint Vitus "Zombie Hunger" Laundry Room Squelchers live in 2000 Mammal "The Drift" LINKSFollow Gary On Instagram: @oldmammalMammal on Bandcamp
Self-medicated on benzos and weed, Adam hits up Matt to discuss the assassination attempt on Donald Trump's lifeLINKS:Adam on Trump
Adam explains his experiences as a contributor of Compact Magazine, how it was pitched to him versus what the magazine has become, based around the recent resigning of friend of the show Nina Power as an editor of the project after Luke Turner leaked private communications between her and former guest Daniel Miller that were presented as evidence during their legal battle with the sociopathic British artist Turner.. Hate to have to be acknowledging Luke Turner in 2024, but that's where we are. FULL EPISODE at PATREON SOUNDTRACKCoroner "Mental Vortex" Unrest "I Do Believe You are Blushing" Nervous Eaters "Shit for Brains" Pentagram "Sign of the Wolf" Ginuwine "So Anxious" LINKS:Nina Power on the debacleDaniel Miller on the trial between himself, Nina and Turner Sohrab Ahmari on Elena Velez
People have been telling me for years that the artist Shay Semple and I would get along. Finally, we started bonding on Instagram over a shared contempt for the Tumblr art of Nina Hartman. Shay, who hails from the Fentanyl cesspool of Vancouver, is the OG MAGA art world figure, known equally for his irreverent paintings, his provocative zines, and his hilarious rants, discusses with Adam his art world cancellation, the downfall of all that is punk rock, moral and intellectual weakness, demographic shifts, the Opioid Crisis and more. SOUNDTRACK:Blasphemy "Nocturnal Slayer" D.O.A. "Woke up Screaming" Mike Kelley, Paul McCarthy and Violent Onsen Geisha (attached)RBL Posse "More like an Orgy"Shinki Chen "Gloomy Reflections"T. Rex "Life is Strange" https://music.apple.com/us/album/life-is-strange/1443929834?i=1443930741LINKS:Follow Shay on Instagram: sancho_panza69 https://www.instagram.com/sancho_panza69/Buy Shay's "Right Wing Yoga" zine https://www.printedmatter.org/catalog/63775/
Udith Dematagoda, editor of Hyperidean Press and author of the stellar new novel Agonist, joins Adam and Matt to discuss his home country of Scotland's greatest cultural export: Trainspotting and Trainspotting 2FULL EPISODELINKS Buy Udith's novel Agonist Follow Udith on SubstackThe cast of Trainspotting reunites
Adam discusses the good, the bad and the bewildering of 2024, as of June. WRITE-UP LINK
Ben Werther is a conceptual artist, born in Nashville and living in New York, whose new exhibition at No Gallery, “WHEN YOU CAN NO LONGER SPEAK, SING ME A SONG.” , presents a fascinating sequence of photographs that initially look like on the ground photojournalistic documents of armed combat. Upon further inquiry, however, you learn that these images were captured during Werther's attendance at a number of MilSim LARP rituals, in which Americans don military fatigues and arm themselves with airsoft rifles and pantomime military conflict. The exhibition also offers the work in book form, along with the cryptic writing of the artist complicating the images' meaning.Here, Adam and Ben speak about the work, MilSim, the cultural condition of LARPing and identity craft, Thomas Ligotti True Detective Season 1, mythology, Joseph Campbell, and more. PATREON LINK SOUNDTRACK:Gak "Gak 1" Veles "A Dark Dream" Point Blank "Prone to Bad Dreams" Engurdetz "Det ar Dumt" Fields of the Nephilliim "Moonchild"Rhythm and Sound "King in my Empire" LINKSBen Werther at No GalleryBen's Instagram: @neverben
Famed fashion designer and high fashion's Dimes Square rep Elena Velez discusses her last two insta-iconic shows, the mud fight of SS 2024 and the Gone with the Wind Ball of FW 2024, and her resilience in the face of high and mighty fashion editors and her refusal to play along. We accept you One of US!Soundtrack: Total "You'll Get Yours Yet" Lungfish "Amnesiax" Andy Stott "Dark Details" Nico "You Forgot to Answer" Goldie "Angel" LINKS: Elena Velez websiteAdam Lehrer on Elena VelezElena Velez at Twitter: @_velcel
Musician and former member of the Fat White Family Saul Adamczewski and another lowly Brit join the show to finally settle their score with Adam and America OSTSaul Adamscewski "Gulag"Syd Barrett "Rats" Insecure Men "All Women Love Me" Laibach "Brat Moj" Country Teasers "Country Fag"
Amongst the many legends Adam met in Osaka, experimental musician, comics writer/illustrator and creator of the now legendary and historic No Fun Festival, which captured noise and experimental music at the peak of its power in the 2000s. Carlos discusses his discovery of noise living in Miami in the '90s, creating the best noise festival of all time, his many collaborations with some of the best artists of the last few decades, and his new, tranquil album Dream Walker. SOUNDTRACK:Carlos Giffoni "Saltas"Incapacitants "Living Zombie is About to Die"Monotract "Big N" Harry Pussy "Smash the Mirror"Pita "Get Down" Peach of Immortality "Stepping Stone" Carlos Giffoni "A Proper End" No Doubt "Spiderwebs"LINKS:Carlos Giffoni BandcampCarlos Giffoni on X: @carlosgiffoniCarlos Giffoni DreamwalkerNo Fun Festival 2006 report Blastitude
After months of criticism about the fight card, 300 indeed ended up being the best martial arts card in history, and launched fan favorite and fighter's fighter Max Holloway to instant superstardom after he knocked out Justin Gaethje in the final five seconds of a five round right, for the coveted BMF title, arguably the grandest and most artistic knock-out in history. Alex Pereria, light heavy weight champion, also knocked out challenger Jamahal Hill in the first round. To discuss the ramifications of UFC 300, we are joined by friend of the SP Kurt and host of the Wake Island podcast Paul K. PATREON LINK SOUNDTRACK The Crazy World of Arthur Brown "Come and Buy" Anarchy Condoms "Fuck Escape" Type O Negative "Black No. 1" Westside Gunn "Raisen Bagel" Cockney Rejects "Teenage Fantasy" LINKS: Wake Island Podcast Wake Island at Twitter: @WakeIslandPod Kurt at Twitter: @KurtUnchained
Damen Corrado is a Chicago-based writer and actor with old school links to Adam Parfrey and the broader American underground. In 2019, the late Parfrey's Feral House publishing imprint published a book co-written by Damen and James "Jinx" O'Connor. Entitled Compliments of Chicagohoodz: "A rare, private collection of photos, calling cards, and ephemera serves that analyzes the unique visual language and graphics of Chicago's gangs, drawing upon decades of interviews, documentation, and collecting of memorabilia, and featuring commentary from gang members and Chicago artists." Here we discuss that book, Adam's kneejerk contempt for graffiti, Dean Koontz, the evils of music critic Brandon Stosuy and music dickhead Steve Albini, the Ukraine and LGBT shilling of Douglas P, the heroism of Jim Goad, the hideous growing pains of Generation X, the fortitude of Dominick Fernow, and more... There were technical difficulties with this recording. DEAL WITH IT! SOUNDTRACK Terminal Cheesecake "Chrome" Organum and the New Blockaders "Pulp" Dean Blunt "Pedigree" The Kosmik Kommando "Lost Horizon" Electric Eels "You're Full of Shit" Necrovore "Divuus Mortuus" LINKS Follow Damen on Instagram: @vonravenholz Follow Damen on Twitter: @von_ravenholz Purchase Compliments of Chicagohoodz Jim Goad on Steve Albini
Bjorn Copeland is a mixed media artist, sculptor, and musician perhaps best known as a founding member of the long-lived and ever shapeshifting experimental rock group Black Dice. FULL EPISODE Soundtrack: Black Dice "Seabirds" Black Dice "Re-Reading" Wolf Eyes "Black Vomit" Aaliyah "Are You that Somebody" Masonna "Untitled" Burning Spear "The Ghost" Black Dice "Chicken Shit" OUTRO: Britney Spears "I'm a Slave 4 U" LINKS: Bjorn interview Black Dice Black Dice Interview
At the end of 2023, Adam took to the podium to explain the Safety Propaganda ideology and the Counter-Agency of the Avant-Garde to a small but captivated audience. This event was sponsored by UNCENSORED NY
Adam is back from Japan: tales of shopping, noise, fem-boys, etc OST Merging Moon "Blackout before Shadow" Prurient and Linkekraft "Container of Souls" Beherit "Sadomatic Rights" LLoyd Banks "Empathy" Blancmange "Living on the calling" LINKS: Hospital NWN Fest
Shortly before Adam's journey to Japan, he and Matthew discuss two trashy arthouse thrillers from the past and present: Ingmar Bergman's 1980 made for TV movie From the Life of the Marionettes and Rose Glass' 2024 bodybuilding lesbian romance thriller Love Lies Bleeding. From the Life of the Marionettes is a disturbing slow burn of a masterpiece – restrained and haunting in equal measure. Love Lies Bleeding, however, takes a good narrative conceit and then destroys it with every Tumblr millennial girl trapping: shallow Lynch wannabe surrealism, style suffocating substance, and an obnoxious girl power message. It also owes Adam royalties. FULL EPISODE HERE Soundtrack Martin Rev "Jomo" Hanatarashi "Ultra Cocker" (attached) E-40 "My Drinking Club" GISM "Frozen Dirt" My Bloody Valentine "Feed me with Your Kiss" LINKS Buy BOTCHED CHADIFICATION PUMP METAL