Video of the Day

"40" by U2

Video of the Day

"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Brassknuckle Boys

Blast from the Past: Four

Title:  Four (Sub Pop Records, Amazon, iTunes, Last.fm, AllMusic)

Artist:  Seaweed (MySpace, Sub Pop Records, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

In the midst of the Seattle surge of 1991-’93, the post hardcore / emo band Seaweed (though technically from Tacoma, WA) managed to gain notoriety and underground popularity without going mainstream, despite the fact that the band eventually signed to a major label but that is a tale for another time.  1993’s Four was the band’s fourth full-length release and would turn out to be their last for Seattle’s Sub Pop Records (see the aforementioned story for another time).  And what made Seaweed standout from their contemporaries was the fact that they were doing something completely different.  Much of the Seattle scene tended to focus on bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Mudhoney, but Seaweed instead seemed to take inspiration from the scene in Washington, D.C. (there is an obvious Fugazi and possible Dag Nasty influence to their music).  In some ways I suspect that Seaweed was either an influence on or helped paved the way for fellow Seattle post hardcore / emo champions Sunny Day Real Estate. 

Seaweed is probably best known for their hilarious spoof of Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” video with their video for “Kid Candy.”  The rest of the album pretty much follows suit with melodic and sometimes poppy post hardcore.  In true emo / post hardcore fashion, the lyrics on Four deal with personal emotion and relationships (and I’m not talking love songs).  Seaweed had an energy and intensity on Four that was well contained, like a perfectly bred and trained quarter horse that knows how and when to show its bursts without letting it consume them.  Shortly after Four, the band contributed a slammin’ cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” to the Clerks soundtrack. 

For those who were around for the alternative explosion of the early ‘90s but are looking for something that they may have missed, Seaweed’s Four is a great record from that amazing time.  What’s also great about it is that it is not dated sounding.  Fans of bands like At the Drive-In, Hot Water Music, Sunny Day Real Estate, Quicksand, and Fugazi could totally get into Seaweed. 

Currently Listening

1. “It’s Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)” by The Ramones (from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: The Anthology Disc 2)
2. “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up” by The Pavers (from Wrecking Ball)
3. “I Want Out” by ALL (from Problematic)
4. “Minor Threat” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
5. “I Don’t Want to Grow Up” by Descendents (from I Don’t Want to Grow Up)
6. “Pin ‘Em All Down” by The Jesse Minute (from Shut Up and Play)
7. “Premature Mid-Life Crisis” by The Methadones (from Career Objective)
8. “Downtown Lights” by One Man Army (from Dead End Stories)
9. “Never is Now” by Sinkhole (from Groping for Trout)
10. “Wasting Time” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from Warning Device)

Video of the Day

"Pack Up" by Eliza Doolittle

Jon Snodgrass & Friends Tri-State Record Streaming

Jon Snodgrass' latest project, Jon Snodgrass & Friends Tri-State Record, includes Snodgrass working with the likes of Stephen Egerton (ALL, Descendents), Chris Wollard (Hot Water Music, Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves), Brandon Carlisle (Teenage Bottlerocket) and Addison Burns. The record takes its name from the three states that its collaborators hail from (CO, OK, and FL). You can here the songs streaming here.

Based solely on this first listen, this is great stuff.  Snodgrass is one of the best singers and songwriters in the underground music world and this record is another testament to that fact.  If you like what you hear, you can purchase the seven inch record here (it comes with a digital download as well).

So...

As I mentioned recently I have started at a new job with an amazing company. Today while sitting in training a sense of dread started to creep over me. Not the kind of dread that filled my entire being that I experenced at my last job. It was more of a realization that this could become the company that I someday retire from. That's a good thing, right? It really is and I feel extremely lucky to have been afforded this opportunity, but at the same time I have a sinking feeling that I may never finish college or become a teacher. This new job really could be something long-term, a real career, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet. Granted I'm 36 and should have this all wrapped up a long time ago, but as Buffy Summers onces said, I don't think I'm done baking. Sure the schedules at my new job will give me the chance to go to school, but due to the mandatory overtime that is going on right now, I'm most likely not going to be able to go to school this fall. That makes me sad. I'm 29 hours away from a BA in journalism and I was looking forward to getting back to school and finishing up. Now that's probably not going to happen. Sure I'll probably be able to go in the spring, but by then I'll be another year older and it just seems like time is starting to slip away from me. Of course I could just be homesick. Being away in a different state from my family is harder than I thought it would be. I miss my wife and kids.


So I'm probably just worrying to worry. There's also the fact that I realized today that it's going to be a lot harder to be the "voice of reasoned discontent" for a company that is actually run well and takes care of its people. I'm so used to being the disgruntled employee that I'm not really sure what to do with myself. I shouldn't complain and I'm not really complaining because I do feel very, very fortunate but I also feel like things are really starting to change and I'm just use about how it's all going to work itself out in the end.

Chart of the Day

Hillarious and true!!!!

Thanks to PunkNews.org for the find.

Songs That Should Be Done as Medleys: "Piles" and "I Was A Teenage Anarchist"

This week we have the Re-Volts’ “Piles” and Against Me’s “I Was a Teenage Anarchist.” 

Video of the Day

"Lonesome Johnny Blues" by Cracker

Video of the Day

"Love Song" by The Damned

Out of the Office So to Speak

I’m going to be out of town for the next few days.  I’m heading down to Dallas, TX to attend the first three days of training at my new job, so I highly doubt that I’m going to have a chance to post much, if anything until I return.  I’ve got Video of the Day posts waiting to be published (all the way through October actually) but beyond that there will probably be very little going on here.  Not that anyone really cares mind you, but I figured I’d give a heads up to the small handful of people who read this blog (from somewhere other than links on Facebook and Twitter). 

Wish me luck! 

Movie Review: Cars 2

Title:  Cars 2 (Official, IMDB, Wikipedia)

Let me first start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Pixar and that I have been eagerly looking forward to seeing Cars 2.  Now that I’ve gotten that admission out of the way I’ve got to be honest…Cars 2 was a let down.  It’s not that it wasn’t good, because it was a good movie, but it wasn’t great.  It lacked that spark of magic that is usually overflowing from Pixar’s films.  In fact Cars 2 felt more like a Disney movie than it did a Pixar movie. 

I knew that at some point Pixar would release a less-than-stellar movie, but it was still sad to see it happen.  I guess though when you raise the bar so incredibly high that even when you do something that is good when compared to others out there but fails to live up to your own standards, it will be viewed as a disappointment. 

Blast from the Past: Breaking Things

Title:  Breaking Things (Amazon, iTunes, CD Universe, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  ALL (Official, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

ALL’s 1993 album Breaking Things was the first for vocalist Chad Price and the band’s last for Cruz Records.  This was also the first ALL record that I ever owned.  I’d been a fan of the Descendents for a few years but never knew what happened to them after Liveage (remember, this was pre-internet).  When I was a freshman at OU I met a guy in geology class who mentioned that ALL was coming to play at Rome in Norman.  I’d seen flyers for the show around campus but didn’t know who they were.  He then told me that ALL was the Descendents with a different singer.  Shortly after that I picked up a copy of Breaking Things (I actually remember buying the cassette at the old Crossroads Best Buy) and was blown away. 

Breaking Things was ALL’s sixth full-length album (counting the TonyALL record New Girl, Old Story) and probably the most ferocious thing the band had released since Milo Aukerman left the band and their moniker changed.  The energy level on Breaking Things is a few notches higher than previous ALL releases.  The record opens with “Original Me” and infectious song written by Price that also includes some pretty heavy lyrics (an omen of things to come from Mr. Price throughout his career in this band and other projects).  Next is “Right,” penned by bassist Karl Alvarez, a song about that one right girl.  “Shreen,” the album’s first single follows with an ode to trying to salvage a failing relationship.  The fact that this song was completely overlooked by the mainstream, while not surprising at all, is fairly disgusting.  “Shreen” is one of the catchiest songs ever written and should have been a huge hit.  The rest of the album follows in pretty much this same fashion with songs about girls, making the most out of life, responsibility, and girls.  There are lighthearted moments (“Horizontal”) and serious moments (“Birthday I.O.U.”).  There are songs with social commentary (“’Cause,” “Politics”), songs that attack do-nothing attitudes (“Excuses”) and songs about cars (“Rosco”).  And did I mention that there were songs about girls (“Stick,” “Guilty”)?  From top to bottom, Breaking Things is a stellar album. 

Since 1993, Breaking Things has been a mainstay in my life.  This is the record that truly introduced me to the world of ALL and has thus had a huge impact on my life (I have since procured the band’s entire catalog—including singles—and most of the catalogs of their side projects, some of which are not easy to attain).  And even though I’m more of a bands person than a records person, if I was asked to pick an all-time favorite album it would be Breaking Things.

If you are someone who has always like the Descendents but never really got into ALL, I highly suggest that you give Breaking Things a listen.  The songs are powerfully played, passionate, and catchy while having all of the energy and urgency that the Descendents were famous for.  Also if you listen carefully you’ll hear a certain biochemist on backing vocals.  

Romney, Bachmann, Cain Top 3 in Recent Iowa Poll

According to this story, a recent poll of “likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers” showed Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann, and Herman Cain in the lead of the 2012 GOP Presidential contenders.  Romney came in with 23%, Bachmann 22%, and Cain 10%; the rest of the pack all came in with single digit results. 

This should be a golden opportunity for the GOP to take back the White House but I’m not sure if a walking Ken doll (i.e. Romney) is the one that can beat President Obama.  But then again I’m looking at this through the lenses of an independent who holds no loyalty to either party and little philosophically in common with the GOP.  Sadly I doubt that we will have any choices other than the candidates from the two major parties on the 2012 ballot thanks to the Sooner State’s notoriously restrictive ballot access laws. 

Currently Listening

1. “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Have a Ball)
2. “Wild World” by Me First & the Gimme Gimmes (from Blow in the Wind)
3. “Rosie” by The Smugglers (from Rosie)
4. “Pick ‘Em Up Truck” by The Smugglers (from Selling the Sizzle!)
5. “I Don’t Believe You” by The Thermals (from Personal Life)
6. “We Were Sick” by The Thermals (from Now We Can See)
7. “Leaner Days” by Sinkhole (from Groping for Trout)
8. “Fountains” by Sinkhole (from Core Sample)
9. “Sweet on Me” by The Jesse Minute (from Shut Up and Play)
10. “Teen Model” by The Jesse Minute (from DO or DIE)

Shonen Knife to Release Ramones Cover Album

PunkNews.org is reporting that Shonen Knife will be releasing a Ramones tribute album this summer. 

From the story –

Shonen Knife will celebrate thirty years together by paying tribute to their "biggest musical inspira­tions," The Ramones. The pop-punk trio from Japan will be releasing Osaka Ramones on July 19, 2011 . The album will feature 13 Ramones classics performed by the band. It will be supported by a North American tour.

For those who have never heard Shonen Knife, the influence of the Ramones is obvious, but in a good way.  These girls have never come off as a gimick or anything other than a high energy band.  I’m looking forward to getting this CD.

Shark Jumps Surfer

No kidding.  Read the full story here or check out the video below.

 

Video of the Day

"All Ages Show" by Dag Nasty

Bill O’Reilly Likes Glee

No joke.  In his latest column, Fox News host and commentator Bill O’Reilly spoke very highly of the show Glee. 

From the column –

But there is an important social upside to the show. Gays, physically challenged people, and overweight kids are all put in a positive light compatible with the show's liberal tone.

[...]

The trendiness that Glee embraces on the tube doesn't much bother me, and I like the fact that chubby performers are often front and center. Also, the kid in the wheelchair sings great, and his presence sends an anti-stigma message as well. So, there is much good in the program.

At this point in America, young people are being barraged with tattooed vulgarians who dominate the rock and reality show world. The kids see anti-social behavior, hear poor grammar, and understand that crude conduct is often rewarded with fame and fortune. You don't have to go to the Jersey Shore; just arrive at your local beach or pool this summer, and you'll see young boys and girls with body ink and piercings all over the place. Do these children not have parents? Are their no mirrors in their homes?

The Glee crew is basically clean cut, and do you know what? It's refreshing. That's right, it's nice to see some young Americans on stage who don't look like living dead zombies or Charles Manson. I'm not asking for a comeback from the Kingston Trio or an Up With People convention, I'm just promoting equal time as far as grooming is concerned.

Also, the PC stuff on Glee is in context. It doesn't slap you in the face, like the faux trendy garbage you see on the nightly news, for example.

[...]

Yeah, it's positively gleeful. And I'm happy about it.

This positive review is in stark contrast to O’Reilly’s Fox News cohort Glen Beck’s reaction to the show. 

I love Glee and think that it sends some extremely positive messages to today’s youth.  I’m glad that O’Reilly was able to see that too. 

And for the record I have no problems with tattoos and whatnot.  I prefer to base my opinions on the behavior and conduct of others and not on how they look or dress.

Cover Wars: "One"

U2 vs. R.E.M. (sort of) vs. Johnny Cash






My Vote:  This is a great song and all three versions are excellent.

Blast from the Past: Over the James

Title:  Over the James (Amazon, iTunes, CD Universe, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Avail (MySpace, Fat Wreck Chords, Jade Tree Records, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

I first heard Avail when my friend Kevin McBride gave me a tape that had The Donnas’ self-titled record on one side and Avail’s Dixie on the other.  I was immediately struck by Avail’s powerful songs that seemed to mix the best of pop punk, hardcore, and working class rock ‘n’ roll (kind of like ALL meets Minor Threat meets Fugazi meets John Mellencamp – the album did close with a killer cover of “Pink Houses” after all).  Shortly thereafter I picked up a copy of Avail’s latest album Over the James at Music Dimensions.  From the first listen I was hooked, an instant fan.  This was two great records in a row; you can’t go wrong with that. 

Over the James worked on the same exact levels that Dixie worked but did it just a tiny bit better.  This mix of pop hooks and sensibilities with melodic hardcore tendencies and southern flair produced an album that from top to bottom was stellar.  From the opening riff of “Deepwood” the closing melodic crescendo of “Fifth Wheel,” Over the James is an album that is as uplifting as it is heartfelt and touching.  The album’s lyrics are passionate and personal and feel like the anthems for the lost misfits and disenchanted, while still finding time to throw in an anthem for their hometown of Richmond, VA (the ridiculously infectious “Scuffle Town”). 

Originally released on Lookout Records in 1998, Over the James was reissued by Jade Tree Records in 2006.  The reissue included new artwork, liner notes, photos, flyers, tracks from The Fall of Richmond seven inch split with the (Young) Pioneers (which included an acoustic version of “Lombardy Street” and a cover of Billy Joel’s “You May Be Right”), and cuts from two compilations (a cover of “Suspicious Minds” from Return of the Red Menace and from Land of Greed World of Need a cover of Embrace’s—the one from Washington D.C. fronted by Ian MacKaye—“Said Gun”).  Admittedly the liner notes aren’t as extensive as I’d like them to be but I tend to geek out over stuff like that. 

Avail is a great band for fans of all types of punk rock; if you like The Bouncing Souls, Minor Threat, Descendents, Dag Nasty, Hot Water Music, Fugazi, ALL, or even bands like Jimmy Eat World then I’d bet you could find at least one song on Over the James that you’d love.  One of Avail’s strengths was that you couldn’t easily pigeonhole their music.  One song is hardcore, one is pop, another rock, and yet another melodic hardcore; there are even hints of country throughout the band’s catalog (which makes sense for those who have followed lead singer Tim Barry’s solo career).  Sadly that lack of a coherent subgenre probably didn’t help the band in the ‘90s when much of the punk rock scene seemed to be obsessively splintered into different sub-scenes.  Personally though, I love that they can’t be easily classified and I just prefer to think of them as a freaking great band.    

Nevermind Getting 20th Anniversary Reissue

Spinner is reporting that Nirvana’s 1991 breakthrough album is getting reissued this September.

From the story –

The deluxe edition will be made up of four CDs and one DVD, reports the NME. It will include rarities, previously unreleased material, alternative versions, live recordings and BBC radio appearances by the band. Meanwhile, the DVD will contain a previously-unreleased live recording.

Originally titled 'Sheep,' 'Nevermind' has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Although the band had recently moved from Seattle independent Sub Pop to major label Geffen, commercial expectations were not high. However, on the back of the success of the first single, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' went on to become a surprise hit, reaching No. 1 in the US.

In the process, the record turned grunge from a local scene centered on the American Pacific North West to a global phenomenon. In 2005, the American Library of Congress included 'Nevermind' in its National Recording Registry, which collects important recordings.

This should be a great collection and a must for Nirvana fans.  I just hope that it’s not too expensive. 

Quote of the Day

Discussions of what to do about the current crisis commonly take the form of an argument between “socialism” and “capitalism.” However, such a discussion is flawed in both of its terms. Real socialism collapsed in 1989, and few would want to return to that horrific system. What is less well understood is that pure capitalism itself collapsed in 1929, never to rise again anywhere in the world. There are few citizens with any living memory of real capitalism, and the memories they have are generally unfavorable.

Capitalism collapsed for the same reason as communism, a victim of its own internal contradictions that caused chronic instability. Workers found the system unacceptable, to be sure, but so did the capitalists themselves, and few were very sorry to see it go. Pure capitalism had proved itself toxic to both capital and labor, just as Belloc predicted it would in 1913.

-- John Médaille from the post The Political Economy of Distributism

Video of the Day

"Minor Threat" by Minor Threat

EP Review: The Mule Gonna Kick Your Head In: The Hellbent Honky Tonk Stomp Hillbilly Blues One Man Band EP

Title:  The Mule Gonna Kick Your Head In: The Hellbent Honky Tonk Stomp Hillbilly Blues One Man Band EP

Artist:  Bloody Ol’ Mule (Facebook, MySpace, ReverbNation, Last.fm)

Bloody Ol’ Mule is Shilo Brown’s one-man country/blues band and The Mule Gonna Kick Your Head In… is his latest release, a limited edition CD/DVD (only 100 have been made, all signed and available at upcoming live shows).  The EP includes six songs that cover the traditional blues/country topics of love, cheating, and the Devil.  The songs are all extremely well played, Shilo’s singing is quite good, and the production is fitting for the music (good but not too slick or over-done).  The standout moments are “When Thunder Claps the Sky,” “Hayride to Hell” (with its great opening guitar riff), and the fantastic “Sweet Kelty Lonegrove Blues” (a song with excellently played country guitar that takes you down a long winding road and hooking you in with the opening plea “Please tell me, please tell me, that you love me so”).  My only complaint with the EP is the somewhat extensive use of curse words.  I’m not a prude, in fact at times I have the mouth of a sailor, so as a general rule I have no problems with “bad words.”  My complaint here is that they are used so often that they lose their potency.  Those words should be used to drive a point home and not be the center of a song because when they are over used the listener can often lose sight of the greater meaning of the song sifting through the curse words.  Being a parent may also have something to do with this criticism.  Other than that though, this really is an excellent release. 

Shilo’s been playing and releasing music as Bloody Ol’ Mule for quite a few years now.  What really impressed me about The Mule Gonna Kick Your Head In… is how far he’s come as a musician, singer, and songwriter.  I have a couple of the early Bloody Ol’ Mule CDs and while they were pretty good, this release is better by leaps and bounds.  Shilo has obviously honed his craft other the years and it shows in his execution of these songs.  His voices are smoother and more at easy and his guitar playing is tighter and more natural than on those earlier releases.  Shilo is a wicked talent guy and he is also super cool.  It’s great to see him grow in his writing and his music.  If you’ve never heard Bloody Ol’ Mule and you are a fan of traditional country and/or the blues then I highly suggest that you check out The Mule Gonna Kick Your Head In…   

Currently Listening

1. “Original Me” by ALL (from Breaking Things)
2. “Sarah Saturday” by The Bouncing Souls (from The Gold Record)
3. “Lombardy Street” by Avail (from Over the James [Bonus Tracks])
4. “Friend of Mine” by Big Drill Car (from No Worse for the Wear)
5. “Starting Line” by The Methadones (from This Won’t Hurt)
6. “Runner” by Re-Volts (from Re-Volts)
7. “Just Broke Up” by Smoking Popes (from Born to Quit)
8. “You Alone” by Street Dogs (from Back to the World)
9. “Skate or Die” by Teenage Bottlerocket (from They Came from the Shadows)
10. “(You’ve Got To) Give It All to the Man” by Swingin’ Utters (from Here, Under Protest)

Video of the Day

"Take This Job and Shove It" by Dead Kennedys

Blast from the Past: Bedtime for Democracy

Title:  Bedtime for Democracy (Amazon, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Dead Kennedys (Official, Facebook, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Bedtime for Democracy, released in 1986, was the Dead Kennedys’ final studio album and my introduction to the band.  The album opens with a manically blistering cover of Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the record.  The album’s lyrics are typical Dead Kennedys’ fare, attacks on the government, war, conformity, commercialism, the music industry, and the punk scene.  The music is generally hyper-fast but has its “slower” moments (though nothing on the record is really slow) and typical mid-‘80s hardcore punk rock.  Bedtime...’s best moments are the brilliant criticism of scene conformity “Chickenshit Conformist” and the thoughtful “Where Do Ya Draw the Line” (the later having some of the best lyrics in an ‘80s punk song; it is also my favorite DK song).  Some of the songs on the album are less than stellar and overall this is not the band’s best work but it is a blazing way to go out, that’s for sure. 

I first got Bedtime for Democracy when I was a freshman in college.  My girlfriend and I went to Camelot Music and picked up this cassette and The Circle Jerks’ Group Sex.  At first Bedtime… was for her and Group Sex was for me.  We got into the car and immediately listened to our new purchases.  It didn’t take long for her to decide that she didn’t like Jello Biafra’s voice (that opinion has since changed by the way, but I’ll admit that he can be an acquired taste).  Eventually we picked up copies of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, In God We Trust, Inc., Frankenchrist, and Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (and have since sold them). 

Honestly the Dead Kennedys’ weren’t the greatest band in the world.  They did what they did well, don’t get me wrong, but much of their music is extremely dated and there were other bands at that time doing this same thing better.  What has always made DK unique though was Jello Biafra, his voice and his lyrics.  Whether you agree with him or not, the man always gives you something to ponder. 

Making a Change

Three years ago I left a job that I’d been at for seven years to take an opportunity closer to home.  Since then the amount of money I’ve spent on gas for my car has greatly diminished, I’ve met some great people, and had some good laughs.  Today that is coming to an end. 

Today will be my last day at the Convergys call center in Moore.  I appreciate the people there for the opportunities that they have given me and the experience, while not always pleasant, has been a learning one and I know that I’m the better for it.  Starting on Sunday I will be working for an airline at their call center in Oklahoma City.  The job is the same thing that I’ve been doing for the past 12 years (customer service) but the company that I am going to is extremely well known for taking care of its employees and being a great place to work.  If all goes well, this new job could turn into something long term with lots of potential for growth.  Its hours of operation are also very conducive for going to school so I’ll be able to stay enrolled for the fall at UCO (it turns out that I’m only 29 hours away from a BA in journalism). 

To all of my friends that I’m leaving behind at Convergys, I wish you all the best of luck.  You can do anything that you set your mind to, so don’t stop trying and working hard.  I will miss you all. 

Currently Listening

1. “Take This Job and Shove It” by Dead Kennedys (from Bedtime for Democracy)
2. “Myage” by Descendents (from Milo Goes to College)
3. “Red Tape” by The Circle Jerks (from Group Sex/Wild in the Streets)
4. “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” by Against Me! (from White Crosses)
5. “New Direction” by Gorilla Biscuits (from Start Today)
6. “Think Again” by Minor Threat (from Complete Discography)
7. “God Damn Job” by The Replacements (from Stink)
8. “Ugly” by Violent Femmes (from Violent Femmes)
9. “Punk Rock Girl” by The Dead Milkmen (from Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the ‘80s Underground Disc 2)
10. “Take It or Leave It” by The GC5 (from Everything’s Too Fast To Last – Rarities and Unreleased)

Video of the Day

"City Lights" by The GC5

Quote of the Day

The good news: We may only get 'Episode I' in 3D. The bad news: We're getting 'Episode I' in 3D.

Because there's nothing George Lucas loves more than killing his legacy from the inside out, the 3D version of 'Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace' is currently set to hit theaters on Feb. 10, 2012. Why? Because there will always be more memories to crush and wallets to rob. But in brighter news, it looks like if we all rally together and decide to not support a movie we've already seen and already hate, then the rest of the series may very well be saved.

-- Aiden Redmond from the post 3D Star Wars Conversions May Stop After 'Phantom Menace'

According to the story, if the first one flops they won’t bother putting out the rest in 3D.  And this made me giggle almost as much –

Folks, this is our time. Knowing George, he'll probably just convert 'em all anyway, but this is our moment to band together, to put crazy George in his place and take back our beloved Star Wars before it's too late. As interested you are to see the Death Star blow up with those Roy Orbison glasses on, you know you don't want to see Jar Jar in 3D, and you know you don't want to see Hayden Christensen weep and moan for another two hours in 'Episode II.'

As much as I love the original trilogy, there is no way that I’m going to pay to see these films in 3D. Lord only knows what Lucas changed in them and honestly I just can’t in good conscience give that man any more of my money. After seeing all of the films in the theaters (except A New Hope…I was too young at the time), spending gosh-knows how much on the nearly 40 SW books that I have read over the years, and buying, selling, and buying again the films on DVD (I only own the original trilogy and it is the versions with the theatrical releases on them) I think that I have invested more than enough to the Lucas fortunes.

It’s really sad how someone could create something that captured the imagination of a generation and then completely alienate that generation when that he tries to “correct” what he had made.    

The Muppets Take on Green Lantern

This looks AWESOME!!!

Thanks to Moviefone for the find.

Happy Summer Solstice

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!  Enjoy this, the longest day of the year. 

Thanks to NPR for the picture. 

Someday I'd love to visit Stonehenge.

Songs That Should Be Done as Medleys: "Build Me Up Buttercup" and "Achin' To Be"

This week’s edition of Songs That Should Be Done as Medleys include “Build Me Up Bettercup” and “Achin’ To Be,” but not as they were done by the original artists.  For this medley you have to combine The Goops’ and Pinhead Gunpowder’s versions of each song. 

Great Band Alert: Mazes

Mazes is a fantastic indie rock band in the vein of Pavement and Guided By Voices.  As one can imagine, with a name like Mazes, doing a Google search is a bit tricky.  According to the band’s Facebook page (see below) they hail from England, New Zealand, and the United States but current reside in London.  Their music is catchy and fun and needless to say, I’m going to have to see if Guestroom Records can get some of their CDs for me.

For more information on Mazes check out their official website, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Last.fm pages.

Thanks to Drowned in Sound for the find.

Mazes 'Summer Hits' from FatCat Records on Vimeo.

New to Me: Born to Quit

Title:  Born to Quit (Amazon, iTunes, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Smoking Popes (Official, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Born to Quit, released in 1995, was the Smoking Popes second album and first for major label Capital Records.  Hailing from Chicago, IL the band started in 1990 originally under the name Speedstick by the Carter brothers Josh, Matt, and Eli.  In 1991 they changed their name to Smoking Popes and began writing, recording, and playing shows.  Ben Weasel, of Screeching Weasel fame, became a fan of the band and helped them hook up with Mass Giorgini, of Squirtgun, to record their full-length debut Get Fired.  That record caught the attention of Green Day who asked the band to open for them in 1994.  After that the band opened for ELO and was signed to Capital who then re-released Born to Quit. 

The album itself is a mixture of pop punk and power pop with Sinatra-meets-Morrissey lounge-esque vocals.  It’s the uniqueness of the vocals that makes this record really work.  The songs are all catchy and infectious (especially the two singles “Need You Around” and “Rubella” the videos of which both got a good amount of airplay on 120 Minutes and my personal favorite “Just Broke Up”) and cover the standard pop punk / power pop topics of love and girls.  The album really is a ‘90s classic and is scheduled to be reissued by Asian Man Records “sometime in 2011.” 

So why is this a New to Me post and not a Blast from the Past post?  Two reasons really.  First I just got this CD a few days ago for the first time (I found it in a $0.99 bin at a Vintage Stock).  Second, a lot of my Blast from the Past posts also include some kind of personal anecdote and since I have none for this record I figured that it didn’t fit. 

Currently Listening

1. “Need You Around” by Smoking Popes (from Born to Quit)
2. “Capital Letters” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (from God Fodder)
3. “Angels Walk” by Paul Westerberg (from Eventually)
4. “Problematic” by ALL (from Punk-O-Rama, Vol. 5)
5. “Left Behind” by The Jesse Minute (from Shut Up and Play)
6. “Back to the Lake” by Guided By Voices (from The Best of Guided By Voices: Human Amusements at Hourly Rates)
7. “I’ve Got a Secret” by Kate Nash (from My Best Friend Is You)
8. “Ugly Truth Rock” by Matthew Sweet (from Altered Beast)
9. “Effortless Amnesiac” by Swingin’ Utters (from Here, Under Protest)
10. “Possibilities” by Weezer (from Maladroit)

Video of the Day

"Never Be What You Want" by We Are The In Crowd

Blast from the Past: God Fodder

Title:  God Fodder (Amazon, iTunes, CD Universe, Last.fm, Rhapsody Music, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (Official, Facebook, MySpace, Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Ned’s Atomic Dustbin did what few other bands have been about to do in the past 30 years – they created something unique.  Within their sound you hear hints and textures of everything from The Charlatans UK to The Ramones but I have yet to hear any band before or since that you can directly compare to Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.  The band mixed dance-friendly beats with effects-laden guitar and dual bass to create a high energy sound that fans of the Manchester scene and punk could all readily enjoy. 

The band’s 1991 debut album, God Fodder, was nothing short of brilliant.  Opening with the anthem “Kill Your Television,” Ned’s Atomic Dustbin perfectly set the stage for the rest of the album mixing the fast and fun with irreverent lyrics.  Three singles were released from the record, the aforementioned “Kill Your Television,” “Happy,” and “Grey Cell Green” – all three of which are brilliantly catchy, fun, and were mainstays on 120 Minutes in 1991.  The rest of the album is equally as strong; there really isn’t a slow or bad moment on the thing. 

God Fodder spent a lot of time in my tape deck during my sophomore and junior years of high school.  This album and band blew me away with their catchy songs and irreverent yet hopeful lyrics.  In a lot of ways Ned’s Atomic Dustbin perfectly captured the feeling of the early 1990s (angry yet hopeful) and it’s this energy and vibe that has kept me coming back to God Fodder for 20 years.  To this day this record still holds all of the exuberant energy, anger, and hopefulness that it did in 1991.  This of course could be my own nostalgia talking and those who didn’t experience Ned’s Atomic Dustbin the first time around may hear a dated record, but I like to think otherwise.       

And something that I just learned, Ned’s was apparently part of the Grebo scene in the UK along with bands like Pop Will Eat Itself and Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine.  I’m not sure how I missed hearing about this little subgenre but I think that it is a pretty good fit for Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.  That having been said, I still stand behind my statement that I have yet to hear any band that you can directly compare to Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. 

Video of the Day

"Everyday Sunshine" by Fishbone

Why Are Band Press Photos So Pretentious?

One thing that just kills me is the pretentious nature of so many band press photos, like this one.  I see a picture like that and all I can think is what a bunch of jackasses.  And sadly, that one is one of the better ones that I have seen in the past few months.  

10 Questions with Gentle Ghost

Hailing from Norman, OK, Gentle Ghost is an indie rock band in the vein of Arcade Fire, Cursive, Criteria, and the White Octave.  Their music is spacey and reminds me a bit of My Bloody Valentine. 

This interview was conducted with Seth McCarroll via Facebook June 9-16, 2011. 

For more information on Gentle Ghost check out their BandCamp, Facebook, MySpace,  Twitter, ReverbNation, and Last.fm, pages.

Dave: How did the band get together?

Seth McCarroll: In the winter of 2009, I showed some tunes to my friend. They were really, really rough. Kinda terrible actually. But, I guess he saw potential in them because his reaction was "show me those chords. Okay, now we're a band.." and it is was serendipitous from there. We had friends that loved us, loved the potential of the songs, agreed to play and so the band just came together. I feel like it should have been harder than that, but it wasn't.

Dave: For those who have never heard the band, how do you describe your music?

Seth: There's definitely a lot going on, as there should be in a band with three guitars. I can tell you that I draw some heavy influence from Cursive, Criteria, Mogwai, Broken Social Scene, Arcade fire, Desaparecidos, and endless other acts. I won't say that we're ripping anyone off, we are our own, fresh expression but I also am acutely aware that there's nothing new under the sun. No artistic expression is clear of the shadow of influence. I could get really deep with this answer (and am open to doing so with anyone who is interested) but in the interest in keeping this brief interview just so, I will keep it at that.

Dave: You released Family through Nice People Records. How did you get hooked up with the label? Why did you decide to go with a digital and vinyl only release and forgo releasing the album on CD?

Seth: Nice People took an interest in the band in our earliest stages. They went out on a limb with us, making our full length release their first release, which was also a vinyl release with a digital download. That was huge for us, to have a label see our vision, agree with it and then support it. I personally don't like CDs. I don't buy them; I think as a means of conveyance they're ugly, awkward/ cumbersome. Nice People supported this decision and allowed us to make an LP.

Dave: What on your thoughts on digital versus physical releases for music? Do you think it is better for artists to go digital only or to still produce physical records (on vinyl and CD) for fans?

Seth: To continue on from my previous answer, I will say I prefer the sound and surface area of a vinyl release. It allows the album layout room it needs to breathe and speak its part. We Die-cut, screen-printed, and assembled all of the packaging by hand. So, it was a pretty DIY endeavor. I can't say that we'll do it with future releases (due to the almost insurmountable amount of labor involved) but I am quite pleased that we undertook the process for our initial release.

Dave: Do you have a specific songwriting process for the band?

Seth: That's been a process that's been ever evolving. Because all of the songs are teeming with layers of parts and melodies, it takes a lot of work to get the songs completed. We've mostly narrowed it down to a step system; two of us start working on the skeleton, then bring in a third member, then introduce the whole song to the rest of the members where it then often becomes something with a different personality altogether.

Dave: Have you had the opportunity to tour much outside of the region (OK, TX, KS, etc.)? If so, where have been your favorite places to play? What are your favorite places to play locally and favorite bands to play with?

Seth: We've mostly played regionally in the states you've mentioned. It's interesting for me, I've been in a few bands that toured nationally but the plain truth is, we're getting older. We're a band of best friends that have domestic and fiscal responsibility. So we're careful with our choice of out of town shows. We had the good fortune of opening for Los Campesinos! of the UK at the Granada Theater last fall. Because we're all older, I think we are …how can I put this, smarter about how we book our shows. I've played endless shows to no one in small Texas, Kansas and Missouri towns when I was younger. I don't feel like we have to do that. Play less and enjoy it more has been the mantra so far. We really enjoy playing all of the local venues we've had the fortune to play at. We always enjoy sharing the stage with Broncho, Riley Jantzen, Legs Dead and Well, and countless others.

Dave: What are your thoughts on the music scene in Oklahoma?

Seth: I've been playing shows and been involved in some facet of the Oklahoma music experience since I was a teenager. I am always encouraged by its growth and how the bands continue to help one another. If I had to choose to wag my finger at anything, it would be a sense of entitlement that some people saddle being from Oklahoma. Your expression is its own entity and deserves to stand on its own integrity, not stand on the periphery of another musician's success.

Dave: This is a High Fidelity inspired question. What are your top five favorite bands, albums, movies, TV shows, and books/authors?

Seth: I love/ hate/ love these questions. Hold onto your butt.
(please note that none of these are in any sort of descending/ ascending order)
Bands: 1. Discordance Axis 2. Botch 3. Low 4. White Octave 5. Evangelicals

Albums: 1. Times of Grace—Neurosis 2. Pinkerton—Weezer 3. The Ghost of Tom Joad—Bruce Springsteen 4. Broken Social Scene—You Forgot it in People 5. Jane Doe—Converge

Movies: 1. Chinatown—1974, Polanski 2. The Man Who Wasn't There—Coen Brothers 2001 3. 2001: A Space Odyssey—1968, Kubrick 4. Dead Man—1994, Jarmusch 5. Jesus' Son—Maclean

TV Shows: 1. Lost 2. Dexter 3. Walking Dead 4. Friends 5. Mad Men

Books: 1. Windup Bird Chronicles—Murakami 2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being—Kundera 3. My name Is Asher Lev—Potok 4. No Country for Old Men/ The Road—McCarthy (tied) 5. Middlesex—Eugenides

Dave: What’s next for Gentle Ghost?

Seth: Oh, lots. We're currently working on new tunes for the next record, Are in the midst of tracking for a new 7 inch ep. We'll be playing a few out of town shows later this summer. I dunno, I guess this band will continue on as long as there is something worth expressing coming out of its well. And that seems like that's going to continue for a while longer.

Dave: Any final thoughts?

Seth: Thanks Dave for the opportunity. Please respond to this message with your answers to "What are your top five favorite bands, albums, movies, TV shows, and books/authors?" I love hearing those. Keep up the good work!

Dave: Well since you asked… :o)
Bands (all-time) –
1) ALL; 2) R.E.M.; 3) U2; 4) 7 Seconds; 5) Dropkick Murphys

Bands (current) –
1) Drag the River; 2) Chuck Ragan; 3) The Replacements / Paul Westerberg; 4) The GC5 / Doug McKean; 5) Avail / Tim Barry

Albums (all-time) –
1) Breaking Things by ALL; 2) Rattle & Hum by U2; 3) Out of Time by R.E.M.; 4) Walk Together, Rock Together by 7 Seconds; 5) A Juvenile Product of the Working Class by Swingin’ Utters

Movies (all-time) –
1) The Lord of the Rings trilogy; 2) The Star Wars trilogy (the original one, not that blasphemy Lucas called prequels); 3) Say Anything; 4) The Breakfast Club; 5) Clerks

TV Shows (all-time) –
1) Buffy the Vampire Slayer; 2) Alias; 3) Mystery Science Theater 3000; 4) My So-Called Life; 5) The Vampire Diaries

Authors –
1) Terry Brooks; 2) Steve Alten; 3) Leslie Simon; 4) Amber Benson; 5) [tie] Michael Scott and Charlaine Harris

Cover Wars: "To Have And Have Not"

Billy Bragg vs. Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards




My Vote:  I like them both.

Blast from the Past: Walk Together, Rock Together

Title:  Walk Together, Rock Together (Amazon, CD Universe, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

Artist:  7 Seconds (MySpace, PureVolume Last.fm, AllMusic, Wikipedia)

7 Seconds’ magnum opus Walk Together, Rock Together is one of the greatest albums to come out of the early ‘80s hardcore punk scene.  It was also the first truly punk rock record that I ever bought.  By that I mean that it was the first punk album released by an independent, punk rock, record label that I ever owned (interestingly though, I didn’t realize at the time that they were a punk band; I thought they were a straight edge band…oh did I have much to learn).  The day that I bought this tape I also picked up The Ramones self-titled debut.  Amazingly I still have that original cassette of Walk Together, Rock Together.  I have since gotten the album on CD but I held on to the tape for sentimental reasons (plus it has better liner notes). 

Originally Walk Together, Rock Together was released as an EP.  Then in 1986 BYO Records re-mastered and re-released Walk Together, Rock Together as a full length album with a set of live tracks to fill out the release.  The live tracks include a couple of songs from Walk Together’s follow up New Wind and the rest from earlier releases.  The first half of the record was produced by Ian MacKaye (of Minor Threat and Fugazi fame) and recorded at Inner Ear Studios (where Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and Dag Nasty all recorded).  The production is fantastic and makes many of the releases from that era sound terrible in comparison.  The lyrics throughout contain the common threads of working together, sharing emotions, and equally rights.  The songs are blisteringly fast while remaining incredibly catchy and seeming designed to be song along with at the top of your lungs.  The album is probably best known for the band’s stellar cover of “99 Red Balloons.” 

Next to U2’s Rattle & Hum, Walk Together, Rock Together had more of an impact on my life than any other record.  At the time that I first heard 7 Seconds, I was completely anti-drinking and anti-drugs.  Someone at school said that I was straight edge, but I had no clue what that meant.  Shortly there after I was listening to the Wednesday night Chuck Wagon edition of The Underground Circus (which was broadcast on a community radio station out of Tampa, FL), heard 7 Seconds’ cover of “99 Red Balloons,” and was completely blown away.  It turned out that some of my friends at school were huge 7 Seconds fans and they told me that the band was a straight edge band.  I then picked up Walk Together, Rock Together and was amazed by the songs, especially the message that they were send.  Here was a band that was essentially taking what I loved about U2 and their message to the next level.  This band sang about unity and equality and living a clean life.  I was hooked.  Soon after I got my hands on Minor Threat’s self-titled cassette (which included their first two seven inch records and is basically the first half of the Complete Discography CD) and it seemed like I had found my place in the world.  Interestingly though, the scene in central Florida in the early ‘90s didn’t make a lot of distinctions between things like punk, goth, hardcore, industrial, alternative, emo, college rock, etc.  We listened to it all.  We’d go from listening to 7 Seconds to the Violent Femmes to KMFDM and because of that I never thought about 7 Seconds or Minor Threat as punk bands until years later.  It made perfect sense to me to listen to the likes of R.E.M. and the Descendents and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult without getting all nit picky about the differences in sub-genres.  At the time we were called the “progressive kids” and we thought of this as progressive music. 

The energy and passion of 7 Seconds, especially on Walk Together, Rock Together, always hit home with me.  This is a record of youthful exuberance and hopefulness that through the power of music the world can be made a better place.  This is actually something that I still believe and this is a record that will always hold an extremely special place in my heart.