Shelf Stable: A Board Gaming Podcast

Hi folks, Kenny here.

Outside of board gaming, my other hobby is music. I play in a couple bands, collect vinyl, and am constantly on the lookout for artists pushing the boundaries. Every year, I share a shortlist of my favorite albums with friends. I figured I'd share this year's list with you on the offchance that someone out there may get a kick out of it. This is NOT shelf stable, all these albums came out in 2024. Also, despite being into a number of things, my music tastes lean quite a bit towards heavy and experimental rock/punk. I know that's not everybody's thing so... heads up? Without further delay, here's the 2024 round up:

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz4bSNY4O-3IdnYmoLdKQYAVsUR9VV4h_

10) Kendrick Lamar - GNX: Kendrick is hit and miss for me depending on the concept; this is a good one. I don't have much to say that hasn't already been said by much more credentialed critics so I'll save the typing energy for the rest of these.

9) death's dynamic shroud & galen tipton - You Like Music: abrasive, obnoxious, silly, and fun. What it would sound like if TikTok became sentient, played a lot of Minecraft, and watched videos of the Netrunner 2015 world champs.

8) WILLOW - empathogen: some kind of mix of progressive rock sensibilities with singer songwriter pop. An extremely compelling and dynamic voice. All around hits that keep you hooked without being overwhelming.

7) Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She: Chelsea Wolfe does her usual spooky ghost voice. For some reason, this one resonated a lot more than previous albums. I think I like the pacing and overall direction of the instrumentals a lot more. Previous Chelsea Wolfe always felt like it was floating in the aether; this feels grounded.

6) TRAUMA KIT - TRAIN WRECKS TAKE TIME: full transparency, this is a local Boise band that I am friends with. That said, I think the album really holds up in the larger noise punk / hardcore space. Mason's vocals are a standout and create the band's unique identity. A lot of the guitar work is solid noise punk stuff. If that's your thing, you'll feel right at home here.

5) Melt-Banana - 3+5: loud and frenetic. Obsolutlely not your cup of tea, unless... Despite being released 10 years apart, this album and their previous, Fetch, feel like they came out back to back. Unfortunately, 3+5 cowers in Fetch's shadow. This is by no means a bad album, heck, it made the list. But it highlights just how good Fetch is.

4) Beth Gibbons - Lives Outgrown: I didn't know how much I needed a new Portishead album until the goosebumps started creeping up on the first listen of Lives Outgrown. I mean, this isn't Portishead but what even is Portishead? The band reinvents themselves with each album. I guess this is the year of spooky singers.

3) Help - Courage: finally, a solidly recorded version of Class War Now. That alone would make this album worthy of the list. It doesn't hurt that there are tons of other greats here, old and new. My wife's review: "this guy needs to drink some hot tea with honey".

2) Frost Children & Haru Nemuri - Soul Kiss: every year, I start to worry that I'm becoming an old fart and my frail ears can't handle the new. And every year, there's a GenZ artist that saves me from those fears by releasing an obsolute bop. Soul Kiss is a monstrosity of 2000s alternative emo (think 3OH!3)  fused with hyperpop and a pinch of Japanese spoken word. It's wild, and I can't stop playing it at game night.

1) Geordie Greep - The New Sound: Black Midi's poster child has broken off, and his solo album is a masterpiece. He really leans into the Greep-iness on this one. Self-deprecating takes on how much semen he produces; a samba about how the Earth is dying; a catchy single about gross incel culture. Virtuosity, but not at the expense of creativity and fun.

Vinyl Update:

Black Midi - Schlagenheim

C418 - Minecraft Soundtrack

The Kills - Midnight Boom

Liturgy - Aesthethica

Like I said at the start, I hope somebody got something out of all this. If anything, it's fun to write about. Got a good episode of Shelf Stable coming, so keep your ears at the ready. Happy holidays!

Kenny

This episode is equipped with state of the art print technology. If you print this episode on your printer you can actually listen to it by rubbing the paper on your ears. Sounds you may hear: Kenny and Tom mispronouncing designer names like the ignorant Americans they are.

Games we played:

2:09 - Bus (1999, Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter)

8:43 - Le Havre (2008, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout)

13:54 - 7 Wonders Duel (2015, Antoine Bauza & Bruno Cathala, Repos)

20:30 - Imperial Settlers (2014, Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal)

100 games before you die:

26:39 - Jaipur (2009, Sébastien Pauchon, GameWorks)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

31:32 - Print and Play

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Imagine just being absolute trash. Like get good. I was playing blindfolded and my little brother was holding the controller and there was glare on my screen and I wasn't sitting in my gaming chair and I was using a Wiimote that didn't even have the nunchuck instead of my state of the art Logitech mouse. Some folks just don't know how to take an L am I right?

Games we played:

2:39 - Through the Desert (1998, Reiner Knizia, Z-Man)

8:03 - Love Letter (2016 og2012, Seiji Kanai, AEG)

12:17 - Tongiaki: Journey into the Unknown (2004, Thomas Rauscher, Schmidt Spiele)

16:29 - Brass Lancashire (2007, Martin Wallace, Roxley)

100 games before you die:

24:01 - The Quiet Year (2013, Avery Alder, Buried Without Ceremony)

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Topic:

30:03 - I Should Have Won

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

We're tired... so tired. Tired of eating all these meeples. They all taste the same, sawdusty and hard. Give us something to crunch on with a little kick. Maybe put some gochujang sauce on there or a little truffle oil. In the meantime, we'll go back to swallowing a granola of Everdell berries and Azul tiles.

Games we played:

3:36 - Raccoon Tycoon (2018, Glenn Drover, Forbidden)

7:07 - Root (2018, Cole Wehrle, Leder)

13:13 - Mandala (2019, Trevor Benjamin & Brett J. Gilbert, Lookout)

16:06 - Survive: Escape from Atlantis (1982, Julian Courtland-Smith, Stronghold)

Debiasing BGG: https://blog.recommend.games/posts/debiasing-boardgamegeek-ranking/

100 games before you die:

21:20 - The Great Dalmuti (1995, Richard Garfield, Wizards of the Coast)

Topic:

25:28 - Stale Workers

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

This week, on Shelf Knizia, we talk to you about the latest Knizia's we played followed by a revisiting of the 100 Knizias to Knizia before you Knizia. Later on, Tom shares a Kniziafeed article about The Great Doctor followed by our main topic: why Knizia is so great. Oh yeah, and Tom talks about 9/11.

Games we played:

3:24 - Nusfjord (2017, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout)

7:57 - Monopoly Deal (2008, Katharine Chapman, Hasbro)

15:36 - Tigris & Euphrates (1997, Reiner Knizia, Mayfair)

24:40 - Bee Alert (2012, Reiner Knizia, SimplyFun)

28:21 - MTG Jumpstart (Bonus)

100 games before you die:

31:37 - Codenames (2015, Vlaada Chvatil, CGE)

Topic:

35:39 - BGG's Top 2001

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1TyzHMNi4

Sourced from Jarrod Carmichael and Patrick Zoch

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

I'm playing trash games and don't care if you judge me. What these? Yes, these are sweatpants. Those rules aren't real, and these sweatpants are all that fits me right now! On Wednesdays we play Skull Third Edition...

Games we played:

2:45 - Medici (1995, Reiner Knizia, Steamforged)

9:36 - Codenames (2015, Vlaada Chvatil, CGE)

13:17 - Omen: A Reign of War (2011, John Clowdus, Small Box)

16:12 - Lost Cities (1999, Reiner Knizia, Kosmos)

100 games before you die:

21:01 - Crokinole (1876, uncredited, public domain)

Topic:

25:07 - Overrated and Underrated

51:14 - Divisive Games (bonus segment)

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Sometimes I rub the cardboard tokens of my new games against the cement on my street to make them look like they've been played to death. They just end up looking like they got run over by a cheese grater, but hey, what matters is the satisfaction of saying I'm just better than anyone else that buys new games and plays them right out of the box. Turns out you can also just buy used games. Although, oftentimes they will still come with components that look pristine. In the unfortunate circumstances where my used games come too new, at least I'll be rubbing tokens on the cement for a fraction of the cost.

Games we played:

2:48 - High Society (1995, Reiner Knizia, Osprey)

5:55 - Modern Art Card Game (2008, Reiner Knizia, CMON)

10:05 - Tyrants of the Underdark (2016, Peter Lee & Rodney Thompson & Andrew Veen, Gale Force Nine)

14:50 - Quarto (1991, Blaise Muller, Gigamic)

100 games before you die:

18:43 - Dixit (2008, Jean-Louis Roubira, Libellud)

22:56 - Mr. Tom's Wild Ride

Topic:

25:18 - Used Games

Geek Market - https://boardgamegeek.com/market

Geek Auctions - https://boardgamegeek.com/geekshopper

Trades - https://boardgamegeek.com/trade

How To Math Trade - https://youtu.be/tIVfatR2_oo?feature=shared

OLWLG - https://bgg.activityclub.org/olwlg/

Weekly Thrift Store Thread - https://boardgamegeek.com/guild/193

Noble Knight - www.nobleknight.com/

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Hi folks. We turned on the "blog" feature on Libsyn and will be using it moving forward to notify you about housekeeping items that don't make it into the podcast proper.

Both Kenny and Tom got new matching microphones, expect some snazzy audio in the next episode.

There's a new about section on the site:

https://shelfstable.libsyn.com/about

It includes, bios, links, FAQ, and a glossary of our twisted terms.

GMT featured our chat about Twilight Struggle on the Twilight Struggle product page!

https://www.gmtgames.com/p-927-twilight-struggle-deluxe-edition-8th-printing.aspx

That's how you know we made it.

That's it. As always, thanks for listening and stay rad.

Kenny

Join us for a frightening boodcast about the most horrifying board game experiences. This week, Count Kenny and Tom Bonesworth imagine a world of only Cthulhu-themed games where box lids fart and humans assist Cylons in their efforts to sabotage.

Games we played:

3:07 - The Great Dalmuti (1995, Richard Garfield, Wizards of the Coast)

7:59 - Medici (1995, Reiner Knizia, Steamforged)

13:05 - Terraforming Mars (2016, Jacob Fryxelius, Stronghold)

21:07 - Anomia (2010, Andrew Innes, Anomia Press)

100 games before you die:

24:52 - Love Letter (2012, Seiji Kanai, AEG)

Topic:

28:52 - Tales from the Crypt

Forum https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3393242/board-game-horror-stories

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

I hope you like hearing "polyo-nemo" a lot cause Tom says it like a hundred times this week. I hope Tom finds that poor fish cause his dad is worried sick.

Games we played:

1:38 - 51st State (2016 og2010, Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal)

7:01 - Hanamikoji (2013, Kota Nakayama, EmperorS4)

13:08 - Agricola (2016 og2007, Uwe Rosenberg, Lookout Games)

17:43 - Scarabya (2018, Bruno Cathala & Ludovic Maublanc, Blue Orange)

100 games before you die:

22:27 - Can't Stop (1980, Sid Sackson, Eagle-Gryphon)

25:39 - Arkhipov Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Arkhipov

Topic:

27:14 - Gaming With Newbs

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Don't let the title mislead you. Despite having played a ton of solo-focused games in preparation, Kenny and Tom elect to mostly argue about whether or not Pandemic is a good game. I'd tell you more about it, but I just realized you're just a figment of my imagination. Why must I hurt myself repeatedly? There is no audience... I am but a speck in a simulationist void...

Games we played:

1:59 - Bohnanza (1997, Uwe Rosenberg, Amigo)

5:48 - Tsuro (2005, Tom McMurchie, Calliope Games)

12:31 - Twilight Struggle (2005 Ananda Gupta & Jason Matthews, GMT)

18:24 - Imperial Settlers (2014, Ignacy Trzewiczek, Portal Games)

100 games before you die:

26:37 - Jungle Speed (1997, Thomas Vuarchex & Pierrick Yakovenko, Asmodee)

Topic:

32:16 - Solo Gaming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdWkzF2l23U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_Bj6VI2mco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDDbCBZj78A

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

And the award for best board game podcast of 2024 goes to... Lady Gaga? Umm... Lady Gaga come up and receive your award I guess. This week, two sleepy boys are reminded of what it's like to wake up early on the weekend to record a podcast.

Games we played:

1:07 - Ra (1999, Reiner Knizia, 25th Century)

4:53 - For Sale (1997, Stefan Dorra, Eagle-Gryphon)

7:43 - Pax Pamir 2nd Edition (2019 og2015, Cole Wehrle, Wehrlegig)

17:03 - Red7 (2014, Carl Chudyk & Chris Cieslik, Asmadi)

100 games before you die:

21:41 - Say Anything (2008, Dominic Crapuchettes & Satish Pillalamarr, North Star)

Topic:

26:03 - The Spiel des Jahres

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

How does my box look? Fabulous! How about my cultural representation? Questionable! This week we dive into the more icky parts of the hobby and how some folks are making an effort to update that ickiness for a modern audience.

Games we played:

2:06 - Puerto Rico (2002, Andreas Seyfarth, Alea)

4:25 - It's a Wonderful World (2019,  Frederic Guerard, La Boite de Jeu and OriGames)

7:42 - Circus Flohcati (2023 og1998, Reiner Knizia, Playte & Popcorn Games)

11:10 - Nine Tiles Panic (2019, Jens Merkl and Jean-Claude Pellin, Oink Games)

100 games before you die:

15:34 - Monikers (2015, Alex Hague & Justin Vickers, CMYK)

Topic:

19:02 - Pet Peeves

Jason Perez and Shelf Stories - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iArLXVNbgzc

Sue Ann Harkey interview - http://blog.killgold.fish/2015/04/an-interview-with-sue-ann-harkey-magics.html

The Privilege of Play - https://nyupress.org/9781479818433/the-privilege-of-play/

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Well I would have won if it wasn't for having pizza grease all over my hands while checking my phone and not listening to the rules for the game. It's really simple actually, allow me to walk you through all the ways in which I am a better gamer than you despite losing.

Games we played:

2:19 -Take 5! aka 6 Nimmt! (1994, Wolfgang Kramer, Amigo)

5:22 - Deep Sea Adventure (2014, Jun Sasaki, Oink)

7:35 - Railroad Ink: Blazing Red (2018, Hjalmar Hach & Lorenzo Silva, CMON)

12:06 - Brass: Birmingham (2018, Gavan Brown & Matt Tolman & Martin Wallace, Roxley)

100 games before you die:

19:39 - Telestrations (2009, uncredited, The Op)

Topic:

22:30 - Pet Peeves

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

I give up. Tom is better at games, and he has a better podcasting voice, AND he's got sexier abs. What even is the point? This week we talk about those moments when it's just not worth it and you'd be better off hitting the gym than trying to collect enough lemonade to satiate the carnal desires of these fast food consumers.

Games we played:

1:34 - Food Chain Magnate (2015, Jeroen Doumen & Joris Wiersinga, Splotter)

9:32 - Yokohama Duel (2018, Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel)

13:05 - Sidereal Confluence (2020 og2017, TauCeti Deichmann, WizKids)

18:02 - Catan 3D (2021 og1995, Klaus Teuber, Catan Studio)

100 games before you die:

21:25 - Just One (2018, Ludovic Roudy & Bruno Sautter, Repos)

Topic:

24:59 - When to Concede

Songs:

100 Games to Play Before You Die by Michael, Tyler, Devon, and Josh of The Boise RainBeaus

ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

I give this episode a 7 out of 10, or was that a 5 out of 10? Can't remember. Regardless, this definitely ranks in the top 800 episodes of Shelf Stable ever created. In this episode: Tom forgets to hit record. Enjoy a well rehearsed edition of "people yell at boxes".

Games we played:

3:04 - Everdell (2018, James A. Wilson, Starling Games)

6:03 - Eclipse: New Dawn of the Galaxy (2011, Touko Tahkokallio, Lautapelit)

10:01 - Play Nine (2004, Ceil Anderson & Kathy Assell, Double A)

12:56 - Android: Netrunner (2012 og1996, Richard Garfield & Lukas Litzsinger, Fantasy Flight)

100 games before you die:

24:29 - Rhino Hero (2011, Scott Frisco & Steven Strumpf, HABA)

Topic:

27:32 - The Arbitrary Rankings of BGG

BGG Wiki:

https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/ratings#:~:text=All%20recorded%20User%20Ratings%20are,for%20the%20game%20is%20used.

Wise Guy History:

https://youtu.be/_eRoQBmWsWA?feature=shared

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

We got one HUNDRED games for you, hot off the griddle ready to eat. Pop them in the microwave for 3-5 minutes. If they each cost a dollar and you had a $100 dollar bill, you'd be able to purchase every one of these games and try them out. But they don't cost a dollar, so I guess good luck?

Games we played:

01:50 - Dominion (2016 og2008, Donald Vaccarino, Rio Grande)

06:24 - Yokohama (2016, Hisashi Hayashi, Tasty Minstrel)

13:00 - El Grande (1995, Wolfgang Kramer, Hans im Gluck)

17:25 - Oh Really? (2019, MC Marquis, Randolph)

20:35 Topic: 100 Tabletop Games to Play Before Turning 100

THE 100 LIST IS HERE, CHECK IT OUT

https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/321471/100-tabletop-games-to-play-before-turning-100

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

A little birdie told me that in Canada, games come in bags. Here in USA, we're all about those boxes. Boxes, boxes, and more boxes. Join us as we think a bit outside of the... um.. realm of what we usually think of, and come up with some interesting insights about game display and packaging.

Games we played:

01:30 - Ca$h n’ Guns (2014 og2005, Ludovic Maublanc, Repos)

06:39 - Century: Spice Road (2017, Emerson Matsuuchi, Plan B)

10:40 - Brass: Lancashire (2018 og2007, Martin Wallace, Roxley)

17:21 - Roll for the Galaxy (2014, Wei-Hwa Huang & Thomas Lehmann, Rio Grande)

23:55 Topic: Box Art and Box Presentation

Actualol spirals https://youtu.be/86wRhlUlT1M?feature=shared

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

Blublublub, quick! HELP. Kenny is podcasting underwater and he needs your help to get back on land. Prep your ears for the devastating misclick that is selecting the Occulus Rift mic a full 5 feet away instead of the microphone on Kenny's head. WIP folks, we'll have it fixed for next week. Thanks for bearing with things as we learn to be just a little bit better, and thanks for listening.

Games we played:

01:28 - Hansa Teutonica (2019 og2009, Andreas Steding, Dennis Lohausen, Pegasus Spiel)

05:56 - Skull (2011, Herve Marly, Rose Kipik & Thomas Vuarchex, Space Cowboys)

08:42 - Res Arcana (2019, Tom Lehmann, Julien Delval, Sand Castle Games)

11:45 - Brass: Lancashire (2018 og2007, Martin Wallace, Gavan Brown & Lina Cossette & David Forest & Damien Mammoliti, Roxley)

Original Brass: Birmingham cover - https://boardgamegeek.com/image/8367730/kensiebensie

19:09 Topic: So Bad It's Good

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning

You could argue that this is the first time we’re doing this, but Tom and I have been blabbering to each other about games for nearly a decade… we just forgot to hit record. A lot of pushing luck in this one, a lot of piggies going Oink, and a lot of hot / incorrect takes. Thanks for listening and looking forward to the future!

01:46 Why is it called Shelf Stable

Games we played:

03:17 - Chicago Express (2008 og2007, John Borer, Michael Menzel, Queen)

07:22 - Can't Stop (2011 og1980, Sid Sackson, Gabriel Laulunen II, Eagle-Gryphon)

12:30 - Race for the Galaxy (2007, Tom Lehmann, Martin Hoffman & Claus Stephen, Rio Grande)

15:26 - Welcome to the Dungeon (2013, Masato Uesugi, Paul Mafayon, Iello)

18:44 - SCOUT (2022 og2019, Kei Kajino, Jun Sasaki, Oink)

26:06 Topic: What Makes You Enthusiastic About Board Games?

Song: ROT by Bone Haus https://bonehaus.bandcamp.com/album/in-mourning