Is This Art Good? - podcast cover

Is This Art Good?

Devin & Alfonzpodcasters.spotify.com
Two lifelong best friends review and give their occasionally biased opinions on well-loved, hated, and undeserving pieces of media. Devin and Alfonz started Is This Art Good? out of a desire to expose one another to entertainment that they may not be familiar with (or perhaps, are TOO familiar with). In the face of diverging tastes, the pair will force each other to consume various films, tv shows, albums, books, and video games in an attempt to answer the ultimate question...Is This Art Good?

Episodes

Milk Buds 04 - Retro Treetop Home

In this episode, we review our first building! It’s a retro treetop home in the forest of Oregon. Come explore Alfonz’s future house with us in this Milk Bud! The walkthrough of the house we review is available on the Architectural Digest YouTube channel.

Nov 27, 202225 min

Episode 54a - The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

In this episode, we get down to brass tacks and examine what it truly means to be an actor with a review of “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”! We star as Nicolas Cage starring as Nick Cage in this film about Nick Cage. Join us as we explore the bleak realities of a character actor, dissect the intricacies of best-friendship, and attempt to stop political turmoil in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Nov 20, 202258 min

Milk Buds 03 - Makudonarudo

In this episode, we review a tiny piece of American-Japanese media. Or is it Japanese-American media? It’s MAKUDONARUDO. Come learn Japanese with us in this bite-sized Milk Buds episode!

Nov 06, 202214 min

Halloween SPOOKY SPEC(TRE)ACULAR 2022 Part 2/2

The second half of our 2022 HALLOWEEN SPOOKY SPEC(TRE)ACULAR!!! The pieces we review will only be revealed INSIDE the episode! Listen to find out what they are! OooooooOOOOoooOOoooooooooo

Nov 01, 202257 min

Halloween SPOOKY SPEC(TRE)ACULAR 2022 Part 1/2

The first half of our 2022 HALLOWEEN SPOOKY SPEC(TRE)ACULAR!!! The pieces we review will only be revealed INSIDE the episode! Listen to find out what they are! OooooooOOOOoooOOoooooooooo

Oct 31, 20221 hr 6 min

Episode 53 - Halloween

In this episode, it’s the final week of OCTORROR!! We review an indisputable Halloween classic…HALLOWEEN! Seriously, if you think this isn’t a Halloween classic, you are objectively incorrect. We discuss the prison industrial complex (sort of), the pitfalls of being a horny teenager, and the best way to ensure your safety when entering your vehicle as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Oct 23, 20221 hr 4 min

Episode 52b - Demons

In this episode, we continue our month of OCTORROR specials with a review of Dario Argento’s 80s classic, “Demons”! Devin heard about this one from a podcast he can’t remember and thought it would make for a truly terrifying tête-à-tête. We discuss ancient artifacts, the truth behind our favourite dates, and what counts as a zombie as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Oct 16, 202252 min

Episode 52a - Nope

In this episode, we confront the bizarre being in the sky with a review of NOPE. Alfonz picked this as our first OCTORROR film of 2022. We confront carnivorous apes, western-themed attractions, and sibling telepathy as we attempt to determine...Is This Art Good?

Oct 09, 202252 min

Episode 51b - Wario Land 3

In this episode, we get sucked into a mystical world inside a musical box. It’s Wario Land 3! Allegedly nothing like any other game ever created, Alfonz gave Devin this game so we could finally indulge in a platformer starring our least-loved Mario character. That’s not even true, actually. We discuss repetition, repetition, repetition, stealthy windows, and bastard tortoises as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Oct 02, 20221 hr 5 min

Milk Buds 02 - Two Tiny Frogs

In this episode, we review a piece of art from Devin's home! Maybe it's two pieces, but we count it as one. It's two tiny frogs! Check our Instagram @isthisartgood for a 360 view of the frogs to follow along!

Sep 25, 202217 min

Episode 51a - Larks' Tongues in Aspic

In this episode, we sink our teeth into some savoury gelatinous goo with a review of Lark’s Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson! Devin gave Alfonz this piece of classic prog rock in the hopes that it would change Alfonz’s mind about dry 70s production. We discuss medieval minstrels, keyboard wizards, delicate little birdies, and every other prog stereotype as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Sep 18, 202257 min

Milk Buds 01 - How To Cook From Tokyo's Vending Machines

IT’S A PREMIERE! Yes, in this episode, we premiere our new sub-series MILK BUDS! Milk Buds is a series of bite-sized mini-episodes where we review things that are too short to warrant a full episode. For our first one, we sink our teeth into Munchies’ "How to Cook from Tokyo’s Vending Machines" featuring Ty Demura. What happens when someone gets drunk and makes a banana milkshake? Open the Milk Buds carton to find out!

Sep 11, 202227 min

Episode 50 - 50th Episode Celebration!

In this episode, we have a celebration! We’ve hit a milestone - 50 EPISODES! Because of our format, it’s a lot more than it seems like, so we decided to look back on our catalogue with a fun little special. We quiz each other on the art we’ve reviewed, get into some deep lore that we were not aware of, and rank our personal top 10 pieces we’ve reviewed in the first part of our history as…Is This Art Good

Sep 04, 202243 min

Episode 49b - Ugly Is Beautiful

In this episode, we review an album that may be a harbinger of the shape of pop to come…it’s “Ugly Is Beautiful” by Oliver Tree! Alfonz gave this to Devin expecting that it may not be the most highly praised review we’ve given…are Alfonz’s expectations met? We discuss our favourite lyrical subject matter, the problem with old men, and our favourite haircuts as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Aug 28, 202255 min

Episode 49a - Driver: Parallel Lines

In this episode, we take a trip back in time to 2007 with a game that takes a trip back to 1978 - it’s Driver: Parallel Lines! Devin used to play this a bunch with a VERY janky set of controls, and gave it to Alfonz to see if it holds up. We get in deep with the wrong crowd, walk in chunky pudding, and finally learn how to drive stick as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Aug 21, 20221 hr 13 min

BONUS - Billboards Across Canada

In this episode, we have a special road trip surprise! As a little thank you to YOU, the listener, and a welcome back to ourselves from vacation, we have a bonus episode! We review a bunch of billboards (and a few things that are not at all billboards) that Devin saw on his recent trip across eastern Canada. We discuss Kraft Dinner’s graphic design, invisible telekinetic pizza chefs, and the urge to text and drive as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Aug 14, 202259 min

Episode 48b - Crystalis

In this episode, we travel forward in time to the year 2097 to defend humanity from terrible mutant monsters. It’s our review of CRYSTALIS! This 1990 NES smash hit (maybe) RPG deals with high fantasy in a futuristic setting...what does that look like? We get lost in a mountain, nearly choke to death in a poison forest, and find enough “medicinal herbs” to cure every single one of our ailments as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Jul 10, 20221 hr 3 min

Episode 48a - Kajillionaire

In this episode, we hunker down in an abandoned garage and get ready for THE BIG ONE with a review of "Kajillionaire"! Alfonz picked this dark comedy-drama-crime film in the hopes it would throw us a whacky curveball with its plot...listen to see if that happens! We discuss the difficulties of parenting, how to plan a heist [film] and the importance of understanding your own body before understanding someone else's as we attempt to determine...Is This Art Good?

Jul 03, 20221 hr 21 min

Episode 47b - The Box

In this episode, we review everyone’s favourite shape…it’s “The Box”! This lesser-known psychological sci-fi thriller brings us through the twists and turns of the most difficult types of decisions one can make. We discuss our favourite animal sounds, the difference between fire and lightning, and the importance of knowing your 20th century philosophy as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Jun 19, 20221 hr 10 min

Episode 47a - Anatomy

In this episode, we go into the basement with a review of ANATOMY. This very tiny game is full of psychological body-horror that made us reconsider the places we feel safest. We talk about the social stigma around housing, our favourite parts of the human body, and the benefits of having a big backyard as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Jun 12, 202255 min

Episode 46b - Pony

In this episode, we have another podcast first: our first review of a country album with “Pony” by Orville Peck! Alfonz gave Devin this album to challenge his tastes and see what we could both glean from a genre we have traditionally avoided. Alfonz demonstrates their lack of familiarity with mainstream country as we go deep into where Pony lies within the genre, dig into a bit of music history, and of course, kick off our celebration of Pride Month in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?...

Jun 05, 202258 min

Episode 46a - Poet McGonagall's Masterpieces

In this episode, we review a form of art we haven’t explored yet - poetry! It’s our review of Poet McGonagall’s Masterpieces, a compilation of works by the Scottish poet William McGonagall! Known as one of the worst poets of all time, we give Mr. McGonagall a fair shake at being appreciated for what he’s contributed to the world. Alfonz gives their first poetry recital, and we discuss unpronounceable place names, the importance of rhythm, and our secret cocktail recipes as we attempt to determin...

May 22, 202249 min

Episode 45b - O Canada

In this episode, we dig deep on some pieces of animation from our homeland - it’s O Canada! Devin gave Alfonz this hidden gem of Canadian media which is NOT our national anthem, and which we admittedly had a very hard time finding in order to review - more on that in the episode. We discuss absurdist comedy, nuclear war, our own family histories, early careers in logging, and the danger of damage to the male reproductive system as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

May 01, 20221 hr 53 min

Episode 45a - Omnibus

In this episode, we go on a public transit rampage with a review of OMNIBUS - a little game about a bus, where you ARE the bus! This episode is proof that even if the art is short, we can have a long, ridiculous discussion around it. We stretch the limits of relevance to their absolute breaking point as we touch on our driving history, celebrity deaths, and one of our favourite internet-based artists in our attempt to determine...Is This Art Good?

Apr 24, 20221 hr 24 min

Episode 44b - Blade

In this episode, we go back in time to the dawn of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 1998, with a review of Blade! Alfonz picked this edgy, action packed progenitor of modern vampire films in the hopes we could contrast it with current vampire films. We do not. We do however talk about the importance of prioritizing sound design, the effect that ads can have on one’s viewing experience, and end up designing an entirely new line of vehicular accessories in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Apr 17, 20221 hr 9 min

Episode 44a - SNL: The Best of Chris Farley

In this episode, we review the first thing Devin ever watched on DVD - SNL: The Best of Chris Farley! It’s a NEW form of art for us because it’s a COMPILATION. How do compilations affect he way that we perceive art? How much does context matter? We discuss these questions, the importance of owning your physicality, and how one person can be a vessel for so much activity in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Apr 10, 20221 hr 26 min

Episode ??? - It's a Surprise!

In this episode, we review something special! It’s a surprise, of course. Listen to find out what exactly this is. Maybe you’ll learn something, or maybe you’ll find yourself mostly listening to us make “X” sounds for nearly an hour as we attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Apr 01, 202244 min

Episode 43b - Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken

In this episode, we get a lesson in animation with a review of the slice-of-life anime “Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken”! Alfonz gave Devin this short series in the hopes that we could both have a close look at what makes animation great, through the eyes of a few kids who make some animation. We discuss the finer points of filmmaking, how to be a shrewd businessperson, and a groundbreaking new podcast idea in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Mar 27, 20221 hr 20 min

Episode 43a - The Most Wanted & Unwanted Song(s)

In this episode, we have another Is This Art Good? first - a PAIR of songs: The Most Wanted Song and The Most Unwanted Song. Who determines what’s wanted? What’s unwanted? How can you possibly figure it out? We go into all of these questions, flex our musical imaginations, take a brief journey through the history of popular music, and have a surprise musical performance in our attempt to determine…Is This Art Good?

Mar 20, 20221 hr 1 min

Episode 42b - Celeste

In this episode, we delve into a twitchy, adventurous, Canadian-made platformer: it's CELESTE! Alfonz makes it no secret that he's a big fan of this game, so our discussion takes us through why and how it got on his good list. We discuss geography, mountain climbing (of course), our new co-host (!!!) and the importance of honestly approaching your own struggles in our attempt to determine...Is This Art Good?

Mar 13, 20221 hr 36 min
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