Here's another pleasant surprise from YouTube -- rock n roll lifers The Fleshtones, somewhere in Italy, with the lead track from their fabulous Laboratory of Sound album.
I should add that both song and album would have been the most exciting music released in 1995 if not for the astoundingly crappy production by inexplicably esteemed producer/punk theoretician Steve "Teeny Weeny" Albini.
True story: I met head Fleshtone Peter Zaremba at a WMFU Record Fair sometime in the late 90s; I was looking for Fleshtones albums in a bargain bin, and as I was about to buy one, the guy running the booth said "That's the lead singer next to you. Ask him to autograph it." Which he did. Nice guy.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Jewing Me Jewing You
Nice Jewish boy Adam Sandler performs his holiday classic.
Pretty funny stuff, although I still haven't forgiven him for that piece of crap where he played the Son of Satan. I mean, talk about typecasting.
In the meantime, if you want to get me a Hannukah present (that new STAR TREK:REMASTERED box set would be nice) you can reach me here,
Pretty funny stuff, although I still haven't forgiven him for that piece of crap where he played the Son of Satan. I mean, talk about typecasting.
In the meantime, if you want to get me a Hannukah present (that new STAR TREK:REMASTERED box set would be nice) you can reach me here,
Monday, December 03, 2007
Babyblogging: Holiday Edition
Our Holiday pic.
.
.
It is literally impossible to get a good pic of all 137 at once.
..
It is literally impossible to get a good pic of all 137 at once.
Happy Hannukah!
I think steve needs this:
Damn.
h/t Michael Gross
Now offered for sale is an ultra-rare piece of rock memorabilia. It's by Cherry Vanilla with a serious scoop for you: a vintage photocopy of the original manuscript (in somewhat imperfect condition—slightly yellowed and frayed, but it’s complete and hey, it’s 33 years old) of this sex-drenched true story. No names have been changed to protect the guilty--or the innocent, not that there were any of those then.
The content is erotic and exotic and otherwise must be left to your imagination! But suffice to say this is a gift that keeps on coming, an extra-sexy present for a sex-drugs-and-rock fan you love this holiday season.
Cherry Vanilla, the 1970s Superstar, performed in Andy Warhol’s Pork, gained fame as the fabulous public relations woman for David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, and was briefly an RCA Records recording artist herse;f. Today, she manages Vangelis. But back then, she was a legend in her own time, in her own mind, and in the back room of Max’s Kansas City, she was everybody’s darling. Literally.
In a recent interview she was asked, You've been described as a groupie. Do you think that's fair since you've worked in the music biz as well [as] being a recording artist?
Her reply? “You know, someone I know fairly well--someone loosely in my circle of friends--recently posted a picture of me on his website and captioned it, "Cherry Vanilla, former groupie." Now, that upset me! Not the groupie title, but the fact that a so-called friend would chose to describe me only as that. Otherwise, I understand human nature, publicity, spin, sound--bites, headlines, selling magazines, all of that too well to get upset over what people call me. They will usually pick the most sensational thing, and I guess to most people, being a groupie is a pretty sensational thing. For me, it was just a matter of loving music and sex so much. It was simply natural for me to be so drawn to musicians. My real friends know what I'm about. And you know the old saying that "all is fair in love and war," so I guess all is also fair in rock & roll too.
Now, you can judge for yourself! Be the first on your block…be the first person in thirty years…to read Cherry Vanilla’s legendary unpublished book…a true rock and roll relic…a groupie masterpiece…a rare piece of Warholiana…perhaps even a work of art. We sell. You decide. Want more? Then bid. Not sure you want it that bad? Then read more about Cherry and her famous lost book before you decide here and here.
This is the real thing. Accept no substitutes. Remember, this manuscript is being sold AS IS--NO RETURNS ACCEPTED--but it is absolutely complete and unexpurgated at 156 pages and full of gems like “Last night was probably the all-time high in my groupie career so far. I mean, I did it.… Uhn hum. I got him – The Master to Time and Space himself, Mr. Leon Russell Far out, huh, I mean this means I can do anything…”
Damn.
h/t Michael Gross
A Hearty Power Pop Congrats
to Peter Garrett, Australia's new Environment Minister.
He's been quite active in this issue for many years, and has turned his attention to the public sector. Good for him.
Plus, he scares the bejeesus out of everyone.
He's been quite active in this issue for many years, and has turned his attention to the public sector. Good for him.
Plus, he scares the bejeesus out of everyone.
Good Vibrations?
Brian Wilson was feted last night for his Kennedy Center Honors Award. The Honors gala will be broadcast Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. on CBS. Here's the run down from the WaPo:
Wilson got the final set of Honors, a tribute kicked off by a fuzzy-as-ever Art Garfunkel, who described hearing Wilson's music for the first time: "It was this unique, crazy creation: a mix of rock-and-roll and heartfelt prayer."
And, er, drugs? No, no drugs were mentioned, just as no diva antics were mentioned for Ross. This was an evening of whitewashed kindness, unadulterated gushing. (Garfunkel did say, "He is in a world of his own vibrations.") Next to fete Wilson was Lyle Lovett (Lyle Lovett?) doing a melancholic take on "God Only Knows (What I'd Be Without You)." Not your typical association with California surfin' and sunshine, but Wilson seemed touched.
As he also appeared to be by a Hootie and the Blowfish (Hootie and the Blowfish?) medley of Beach Boys tunes, which ultimately brought the audience to its feet for a "California Girls" singalong.
And finally, a South London boys choir (a South London -- oh, ; cherubic kids are always a crowd-pleaser). "We were born a long, long way from your California beaches," said one member of Libera, "but the warmth of your music can be felt" all the way in England. They sang a harmonic and tear-jerking rendition of "Love and Mercy" -- Ross could be seen dabbing her eyes and looking toward the ceiling to prevent mascara runnage.
Then there were dozens and dozens of beach balls raining from the ceiling and batted up to the first balcony so each honoree could take one home.
Wilson got the final set of Honors, a tribute kicked off by a fuzzy-as-ever Art Garfunkel, who described hearing Wilson's music for the first time: "It was this unique, crazy creation: a mix of rock-and-roll and heartfelt prayer."
And, er, drugs? No, no drugs were mentioned, just as no diva antics were mentioned for Ross. This was an evening of whitewashed kindness, unadulterated gushing. (Garfunkel did say, "He is in a world of his own vibrations.") Next to fete Wilson was Lyle Lovett (Lyle Lovett?) doing a melancholic take on "God Only Knows (What I'd Be Without You)." Not your typical association with California surfin' and sunshine, but Wilson seemed touched.
As he also appeared to be by a Hootie and the Blowfish (Hootie and the Blowfish?) medley of Beach Boys tunes, which ultimately brought the audience to its feet for a "California Girls" singalong.
And finally, a South London boys choir (a South London -- oh, ; cherubic kids are always a crowd-pleaser). "We were born a long, long way from your California beaches," said one member of Libera, "but the warmth of your music can be felt" all the way in England. They sang a harmonic and tear-jerking rendition of "Love and Mercy" -- Ross could be seen dabbing her eyes and looking toward the ceiling to prevent mascara runnage.
Then there were dozens and dozens of beach balls raining from the ceiling and batted up to the first balcony so each honoree could take one home.
No word yet as to Brian's condition after prolonged exposure to Condi Rice.
Oh, For Crying Out Loud
Guess who penned the following opening sentence without (to our knowledge) subsequently dying of shame?
The Houston hip-hop pioneer Scarface was once known for his bloodcurdling voice and for his vivid lyrics, which were even bloodcurdlinger [emphasis mine].
Yup, it's extremely irksome NY Times music writer Kelefa Sanneh embarassing himself and the paper yet again today with an album review that for obvious reasons I don't plan on reading the rest of.
Apparently, the poor SOB just can't help himself, although I can't imagine what his editor's excuse is.
The Houston hip-hop pioneer Scarface was once known for his bloodcurdling voice and for his vivid lyrics, which were even bloodcurdlinger [emphasis mine].
Yup, it's extremely irksome NY Times music writer Kelefa Sanneh embarassing himself and the paper yet again today with an album review that for obvious reasons I don't plan on reading the rest of.
Apparently, the poor SOB just can't help himself, although I can't imagine what his editor's excuse is.
Hard. He Said Hard. Heh Heh.
Opened today's mail and found -- along with the obligatory solicitations from AARP -- the soundtrack for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, the latest comedy from prolific filmmaker Judd Appatow (who's bidding to become the John Hughes of the first decade of the 21st century, apparently).
That's John C. Reilly, of course, as the made-up superstar title character. As the clip makes clear, Cox is an amalgam of all sorts of real life folks, and his story seems mostly to be an excuse for Appatow to do broad parodies of various pop cultural moments (Dewey meets Elvis, Dewey meets the Beatles, Dewey goes disco). And of course lots of dick jokes.
In any case, the soundtrack's not bad (Reilly does his own singing, for what it's worth) and as you can see, the title song's actually pretty good. Which shouldn't be a surprise, considering that it was co-written by power pop god Marshall Crenshaw. Makes sense -- if you want a flawless pastiche of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, who else are you gonna call?
That's John C. Reilly, of course, as the made-up superstar title character. As the clip makes clear, Cox is an amalgam of all sorts of real life folks, and his story seems mostly to be an excuse for Appatow to do broad parodies of various pop cultural moments (Dewey meets Elvis, Dewey meets the Beatles, Dewey goes disco). And of course lots of dick jokes.
In any case, the soundtrack's not bad (Reilly does his own singing, for what it's worth) and as you can see, the title song's actually pretty good. Which shouldn't be a surprise, considering that it was co-written by power pop god Marshall Crenshaw. Makes sense -- if you want a flawless pastiche of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, who else are you gonna call?
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Saturday Night Glam Blogging...
Here's former Jellyfish member Roger Manning's fab Imperial Drag doing a spot on T-REX impersonation with the great Boy or a Girl. This tune came from their eponymous 1996 CD which unfortunately, sunk without a trace upon its release. Roger went on to release the super Land of Pure Imagination last year.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Weekend Listomania (Special Higher Than a Barking Dog Video Edition)
Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental manservant Hop-Sing and I are off to a legal seminar at Joe Klein's Hamptons estate (or at least we think we are; Joe hasn't yet confirmed that he has the time for it). In any case, posting by moi will be necessarily sporadic for a while.
But in my absence, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:
Best Drug Song, Pro or Anti!!!!!!!!!!
[An editorial note: Obviously, the Sixties and Early Seventies were the Golden Age of Pharmacological Songcraft, so the selections here are mostly rather moss laden; I tried my best to find contemporary examples, but all the good ones seem to be moldy oldies. In fact, the most recent example of the genre I can recall is that awful Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" crapola, and that's from 1992 fer crissakes. So please -- if some of you younger degenerates can point out a 21st century exemplar, I'll be happy to tag it onto the list as an honorable mention. Have your dealer call me.]
In any case, my carefully considered Top Ten would be....
10. (tie) Bob Dylan -- Rainy Day Women #12 and 35
and The First Edition -- Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
9. Brewer and Shipley -- One Toke Over the Line
8. Neil Young -- The Needle and the Damage Done
7. Jefferson Airplane -- White Rabbit
6. Grandmaster Flash -- White Lines (Don't Do It)
[sorry -- could only find the inferior Duran Duran version]
5. Velvet Underground -- I'm Waiting For the Man
4. Marianne Faithfull (with the Rolling Stones) -- Sister Morphine
3. Paul Revere and the Raiders -- Kicks
2. John Lennon -- Cold Turkey
and the number one drug song is....
1. Flaming Groovies -- Slow Death
C'mon, apart from the fact it rocks as hard as any number of Stones classics, it's also the only anti-drug tune I can think of that combines clear headed realism about the perils of addiction with genuine humor. Really -- who else but the Groovies could have written a cautionary drug song that was actually, intentionally, funny?
Okay -- what are your faves?
But in my absence, here's a fun project for you all to contemplate:
Best Drug Song, Pro or Anti!!!!!!!!!!
[An editorial note: Obviously, the Sixties and Early Seventies were the Golden Age of Pharmacological Songcraft, so the selections here are mostly rather moss laden; I tried my best to find contemporary examples, but all the good ones seem to be moldy oldies. In fact, the most recent example of the genre I can recall is that awful Red Hot Chili Peppers "Under the Bridge" crapola, and that's from 1992 fer crissakes. So please -- if some of you younger degenerates can point out a 21st century exemplar, I'll be happy to tag it onto the list as an honorable mention. Have your dealer call me.]
In any case, my carefully considered Top Ten would be....
10. (tie) Bob Dylan -- Rainy Day Women #12 and 35
and The First Edition -- Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
9. Brewer and Shipley -- One Toke Over the Line
8. Neil Young -- The Needle and the Damage Done
7. Jefferson Airplane -- White Rabbit
6. Grandmaster Flash -- White Lines (Don't Do It)
[sorry -- could only find the inferior Duran Duran version]
5. Velvet Underground -- I'm Waiting For the Man
4. Marianne Faithfull (with the Rolling Stones) -- Sister Morphine
3. Paul Revere and the Raiders -- Kicks
2. John Lennon -- Cold Turkey
and the number one drug song is....
1. Flaming Groovies -- Slow Death
C'mon, apart from the fact it rocks as hard as any number of Stones classics, it's also the only anti-drug tune I can think of that combines clear headed realism about the perils of addiction with genuine humor. Really -- who else but the Groovies could have written a cautionary drug song that was actually, intentionally, funny?
Okay -- what are your faves?
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