Episode 37 — Guest Vocalist: Ben Garant

[admin 330]

Is there anyone more fascinating than Ben Garant? We all know about his success as a screenwriter and sketch comedian, but did you know about his impressive toy collection or his amazing charitable past? A guest this chill and easygoing only deserves the best, and he gets it with the ultra chill, hazy Alternative Albums Chart. This Hollywood insider brings his master screenwriter expertise to the Movie Chart and builds an immediate rapport with Hermes the Chart Goose. Learn about Ben's odd adolescence and Howard's cure for homophobia on this thrilling episode of Who Charted?!

[Podus 108]

Love the show, gonna listen right now. Just wanted to comment seconds after it was posted.

[jeffullrich 652]

Damn, you beat me to the first comment!

[BenV 8]

"Lighting up the room like it was 1999" is getting worked into my day-to-day vocab.

[Gym Sockerman 1326]

I think I've listened to the Who Charted earwolf commercial about 30 times. Kulap has such infectious laughter. And she is definitely my conduit to the East. Unsure if she's The Ring, though.

[Julia 477]

[CarolineEAnd 41]

Ben Garant's appearance means that OVER HALF OF THE STATE HAS BEEN ON EARWOLF! Yaaaaaay!
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Also, just a quick note about Schlittebahn and the uphill slides Howard was talking about: When you arrive at Schlitterbahn, you basically put down your stuff, get in a tube, and never stand up until you leave. The whole place is connected by a flowing stream and instead of walking from slide to slide, the water takes you there. So in order to get you everywhere, there are a few points along the flowing stream where these crazy conveyor belts (aided by Schlitterbahn employees) elevate you. It's pretty rad.

[endoftherebellion 4]

Really loved the music chart from today! Been hearing better and better music lately. Big Washed Out fan, Battles are great.

[wo 265]

Hey guys, a quick little suggestion: the clips (especially from the music) used to highlight the "hook," but lately it seems like for each song, you're just hitting "play" and hearing the intro of the song. Since you guys don't always know the song, you wind up hearing the intro and asking each other whether "this is it" or it's going to pick up. Maybe someone could find the "hook" and cue that up?

Anyway, keep up the great work... you guys are the best part of my Wednesday mornings!

[CarolineEAnd 41]

Nerd question for all my fellow Nerdy McNerdensteins: During Chart Goose, when the question was "What's the best way to see America?" did anyone else think the answer was State By State with The State (a rare, out or print guide to America by, you guessed it, The State) ???

[spillthrill 0]

Howard! Why didn't you plug that Omaha show?! I would have been all over that if you gave some notice :C

[Gus1326655057 1]

I enjoy Ben and enjoyed the show in general. However, the music chart was giving me fits. Admittedly, I am punk/garage snob, but you couldnt have been more off the mark with math rock and Ty Segall and The Oh Sees. Not gonna rant, but it is like a pebble in my shoe. I fear that it is going to color my opinions on music charts going forward.

[stk 2]

Ben, your new book is insanely funny. Like Kulap, I finished it in two days. I would honestly recommend that everyone BUY it. In addition, I will be using all your 'free ideas' from the book and moving to LA to begin my screenplay. I can sleep on your couch, right?

Awesome show guys. Kulap, I am personally requesting more chart exclusives. You need to 'Marc Maron' this info out of your guests.

[ben mcd 127]

Dusted bases their charts off of college/alt radio plays, which can be totally random. That music chart made for uncomfortable listening for a host of reasons. Still a good episode, guys.

[DustinMartian 89]

@Michael Wo - Thank you for your suggestion. I am new to Earwolf but this was an issue also brought up by the hosts to me this week. I'll make sure to supply you and the listeners with plenty of hooks from now on.

[papavb 23]

I could listen to who charted from dawn to sleepy time you guys <3

As people have noted, the battles info was kind of, um, off (Tyondai wasn't really considered a lead singer, he's an avant garde artist who likes to play with voice looping/modulation etc.) The band's strongest point is timing, which is obvious for any band, but crucial for them because it grounds a lot of the fancy stuff, all owed to the fact of their insanely precise and respected drummer/possible cyborg John Stanier. The keyboardist/kind of invented "math rock" (with Don Caballero), Ian WIlliams controls loops and samples on Ableton via an akai controller and a macbook, he also uses tapping on his guitar and simultaneously hits his keyboard when he's not just hitting his keyboard. The bassist/other guitarist Dave Konopka has an insane effects pedal board, and what looks like an alien processing/looping/compressor/whateveritis unit full of lights. I guess what I mean is that the band is as analog as it is digital, not just some dude dropping samples and randomizing patterns, the drums are laid after all the fancy stuff is worked out I've heard 'em say.

This well directed performance will go a long way to explain the giddy gibberish above

Sooooo, trying to describe music is a lot more boring than listening to and enjoying it, sorry wee-wee and ku-ku, have a lovely rest of summah !

[tequila bunrise 0]

Delighted to hear a couple good bands like Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall on a chart! Embarassed to hear math rock described!

[JW Buchanan 1]

Here are peppier Thee Oh Sees songs for Howard:
Tidal Wave:

Ruby Go Home: http://youtu.be/4M_ZlCFPX2U

[m0nastic 6]

Another awesome episode. Harold talking about "shame" might be the funniest thing I've ever heard on here (and that's saying a lot).

[Julia 477]

@Chris Tengu... That discussion cracked me up as well. Feel free, if you like, to add it to the "Best Howard quotes and questions" forum topic at: http://www.earwolf.com/forums/topic.php?id=594

[Podus 108]

i have to agree with the other poster. Dustin is doing a great job, but the music chart songs need to be played at a point where a "hook" or full instrumentation comes in. 30 seconds of an intro will always suck

[Flashy Molasses 2]

I have to admit, and this is quite embarassing- I've never seen The State. I'm out in the UK and as far as I'm aware it was never broadcast here, and I haven't seen any DVDs or anything on the internet. I've heard so many interviews and appearances but haven't gotten round to handling it... This will be dealt with SOON though, promise.
Another ace episode, and that Turtles rap was a complete trip too... Kulap has one of the most infectious laughs as well- always makes me bust a proper chuckle (alongside the rest of the show, naturally). Bigups.

[Bucho 188]

Loved the episode as always but the chart songs totally need to be played so that the hook is heard. Tooooooootally.
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Even so, OF COURSE Unknown Mortal Orchestra were the best and sexiest band on the show. NZ is the best and sexiest.

[Gym Sockerman 1326]

@Jeff
I almost cried when I saw that Howard was going to be so close and I wasn't going to be able to make it. I'm refusing to have a summah as a result of no plugs for that Omaha show.

[Mr.Pete 79]

Yeah, that's like the 2nd time that they've tried and failed to explain what math rock is. I'm surprised none of the guests never know what it is either though. Is it really that obscure?
.
You kind of have the aesthetic part down: angular, choppy, dissonant or abrasive at times, but it makes more sense if you explain it from the structural/compositional aspect because that's where the "math" label came from - either playing in odd time signatures, switching time signatures, or layering instruments that are playing in time signatures different from each other.