From their fabulous 1993 box set (with liner notes written by some asshole whose name rhymes with Sleeve Nimels), please enjoy The Firesign Theatre as they go ape with their ode to singing gorilla "Nasi Goring."
I'm not exactly sure why this one popped into my head yesterday; I suspect it had something to do both with President Nazi's "L'etat c'est moi" press conference and with dealing with several Les Frères Bernaise on social media, but who knows. We live in trying times.
Regular light-hearted apolitical music postings touching on the theme of this here blog resume on the morrow.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Monday, April 13, 2020
It Came From the Land of Ice and Snow (An Occasional Series)
From 2020 B.V. (before the end of the virus) please enjoy (the pride of Bergen, Norway) The Thank Yous and their brand new single (and an instant classic) "These Things Happen."
From their album Good Times Killing Us...
...which will be released April 30th, on Apollon Records, where it belongs.
And may I just say that when that chorus on the single kicks in for the first time, the effect is almost psychedelic -- as if the song suddenly switched from black-and-white to Technicolor.
Absolutely freaking gorgeous.
POSTSCRIPT: Attentive readers may recall that a certain Shady Dame and I actually visited Bergen in 2019, and had a fabulous time. Including discovering Apollon Music, the oldest and coolest record store/pub in Norway.
That's me with friend of PowerPop Einar Englestad, who -- when he's not working behind the counter at the store -- is a big shot music journalist in Bergen, doing concert reviews etc. at one of the local newspapers. A great guy, who was incredibly gracious to the loudmouth American poseur who wandered into his place of business last August.
From their album Good Times Killing Us...
...which will be released April 30th, on Apollon Records, where it belongs.
And may I just say that when that chorus on the single kicks in for the first time, the effect is almost psychedelic -- as if the song suddenly switched from black-and-white to Technicolor.
Absolutely freaking gorgeous.
POSTSCRIPT: Attentive readers may recall that a certain Shady Dame and I actually visited Bergen in 2019, and had a fabulous time. Including discovering Apollon Music, the oldest and coolest record store/pub in Norway.
That's me with friend of PowerPop Einar Englestad, who -- when he's not working behind the counter at the store -- is a big shot music journalist in Bergen, doing concert reviews etc. at one of the local newspapers. A great guy, who was incredibly gracious to the loudmouth American poseur who wandered into his place of business last August.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Your Friday Moment of Some Kind of Wonderful
From just the other day, please enjoy currently quarantined rock legend John Fogerty and family with a home-shelter version of the Creedence classic "Down on the Corner."
Absolutely charming, obviously, although they really could have given the old man a microphone.
I should add that the kid on the left playing bass is a ringer for the late Tom Fogerty, John's brother, who was the rhythm guitar guy in Creedence.
Have a great weekend, everybody, and stay safe and healthy!!! Think about getting the Criterion channel if you're bored.
Absolutely charming, obviously, although they really could have given the old man a microphone.
I should add that the kid on the left playing bass is a ringer for the late Tom Fogerty, John's brother, who was the rhythm guitar guy in Creedence.
Have a great weekend, everybody, and stay safe and healthy!!! Think about getting the Criterion channel if you're bored.
Thursday, April 09, 2020
Your Thursday Moment of Words Fail Me: Special "Everybody Sits Three Seats Apart" Edition
From 2020 B.V. (before the end of the virus), please enjoy the insanely brilliant (and heretofore unknown to me) Emma's Revolution and their obviously wildly pertinent update of Julie Gold's oft-covered folkie classic "From a (Social) Distance."
Seriously. That is just freaking brilliant -- funny, touching, gorgeously sung, and it couldn't have come at a better moment.
I have said it several times in the last few weeks, but one of the few silver linings of our current crisis is that, when its over, we're going to look back on it as a vintage time for black comedy and gallows humor.
P.S.: I just looked these kids up; you can find out more about them over HERE. And god bless 'em.
Seriously. That is just freaking brilliant -- funny, touching, gorgeously sung, and it couldn't have come at a better moment.
I have said it several times in the last few weeks, but one of the few silver linings of our current crisis is that, when its over, we're going to look back on it as a vintage time for black comedy and gallows humor.
P.S.: I just looked these kids up; you can find out more about them over HERE. And god bless 'em.
Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Closed for Monkey Business
Nothing wrong -- or virus related except the obvious cabin fever.
Regular posting -- including a fantastic new power pop song from some new friends in Norway -- resumes on the morrow.
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
It's the Smallest World in the World
From 2019 B.V. (before the virus), please enjoy Australian rock goddess Sarah McCleod in her home studio with an utterly transplendent version of the venerable "House of the Rising Sun."
As I inferred in the intro, McLeod is kind of a household word Down Under, mostly for her role as the frontwoman of a band charmingly monikered The Superjesus. You can read more about her life and career over at Wikipedia here.
I am somewhat embarrassed to admit, however, that I hadn't been aware of her until yesterday, when I was at YouTube looking for this Floor Models song...
... which was written from life by our 12-string ace Andy Pasternack in the late 80s, and -- to the best of my knowledge -- about some other Sarah McLeod.
And that "House of the Rising Sun" video popped up instead.
Needless to say, I immediately found an intertube link for Ms. McLeod, and informed her of the charming coincidence.
Her pithy response was, simply, "oh wow."
[h/t Peter Scott]
As I inferred in the intro, McLeod is kind of a household word Down Under, mostly for her role as the frontwoman of a band charmingly monikered The Superjesus. You can read more about her life and career over at Wikipedia here.
I am somewhat embarrassed to admit, however, that I hadn't been aware of her until yesterday, when I was at YouTube looking for this Floor Models song...
... which was written from life by our 12-string ace Andy Pasternack in the late 80s, and -- to the best of my knowledge -- about some other Sarah McLeod.
And that "House of the Rising Sun" video popped up instead.
Needless to say, I immediately found an intertube link for Ms. McLeod, and informed her of the charming coincidence.
Her pithy response was, simply, "oh wow."
[h/t Peter Scott]
Monday, April 06, 2020
Who Listens to the Radio? (An Occasional Series)
Long time readers are aware that friend of PowerPop Wayne Lundqvist Ford dee-jays the greatest podcast music show in the world.
Here's the playlist for his most recent show. You will note that it features some band called The Floor Models. A bunch of guys including a bass player whose name rhymes with Sleeve Nimels.
You can -- and should -- listen to the show at the link here.
And thank you, Wayne. Stay safe and healthy during this crisis.
Here's the playlist for his most recent show. You will note that it features some band called The Floor Models. A bunch of guys including a bass player whose name rhymes with Sleeve Nimels.
You can -- and should -- listen to the show at the link here.
And thank you, Wayne. Stay safe and healthy during this crisis.
Friday, April 03, 2020
And on the Third Day He Rose
In honor of President Schmucko's favorite holiday -- Easter -- here's the greatest photo of all time.
The late Jeffrey Hunter (Captain Pike on the original Star Trek pilot), as the Big J.
In Nicholas Ray's 1961 remake of Cecil B. DeMillle's King of Kings.
In which Christ ascends to Calvary in a pair of green Italian hushpuppies.
I am not sure if you can see that in the film itself; it's a production still that was in the book included in the deluxe MGM LP version of the movie's Miklos Rozsa film score.
That's truly gorgeous, BTW; Rozsa remains one of the greatest of all film composers.
In all seriousness, I bought that LP when I was a kid in the early 60s, being a big Rozsa fan, and I treasured that photo as hilarious from day one. I lost the book years ago, so I actually went to eBay in 2018 to get a new copy and scan the photo.
I should add that I bought said LP at the fabulous Teaneck Record Store on Cedar Lane in my home town. Remember record stores?
It's long gone, obviously, but it was where the restaurant on the left was in that more recent photo of Cedar Lane. I used to ride my bike there of a Saturday afternoon and browse; they didn't have rock 45s, but I used to dig going through the stacks anyway.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
The late Jeffrey Hunter (Captain Pike on the original Star Trek pilot), as the Big J.
In Nicholas Ray's 1961 remake of Cecil B. DeMillle's King of Kings.
In which Christ ascends to Calvary in a pair of green Italian hushpuppies.
I am not sure if you can see that in the film itself; it's a production still that was in the book included in the deluxe MGM LP version of the movie's Miklos Rozsa film score.
That's truly gorgeous, BTW; Rozsa remains one of the greatest of all film composers.
In all seriousness, I bought that LP when I was a kid in the early 60s, being a big Rozsa fan, and I treasured that photo as hilarious from day one. I lost the book years ago, so I actually went to eBay in 2018 to get a new copy and scan the photo.
I should add that I bought said LP at the fabulous Teaneck Record Store on Cedar Lane in my home town. Remember record stores?
It's long gone, obviously, but it was where the restaurant on the left was in that more recent photo of Cedar Lane. I used to ride my bike there of a Saturday afternoon and browse; they didn't have rock 45s, but I used to dig going through the stacks anyway.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Thursday, April 02, 2020
Adam Schlesinger 1967--2020
A very great man has passed.
I never met the guy, which is a major regret of my life. But obviously he was one of the reasons NY Mary started this here blog and why I have been doing it all these years since she gave me the metaphorical keys to the car.
I will simply say that I am heartbroken.
And filled with cold fury at the schmucks -- both in and out of the administration -- who enabled this plague. Damn them all to hell.
I never met the guy, which is a major regret of my life. But obviously he was one of the reasons NY Mary started this here blog and why I have been doing it all these years since she gave me the metaphorical keys to the car.
I will simply say that I am heartbroken.
And filled with cold fury at the schmucks -- both in and out of the administration -- who enabled this plague. Damn them all to hell.
Wednesday, April 01, 2020
Okay, Now I'm Starting to Get Really Mad
Depending on which news reports you read, Fountains of Wayne co-frontman Adam Schlesinger...
...(or, as I usually refer to him, Fountains of Wayne co-frontman Adam Schlesinger, who is a goddamn genius) is down with the virus, and either on a respirator or in a medically induced coma.
Words fail me, especially as I had been listening to this masterpiece of his literally hours before somebody sent me a link to one of the news reports.
Look, I am well aware that the title of this here blog is PowerPop, not Pissed Off Lefty, so I'm not gonna belabor the point but -- fuck you, Trump voters. If Schlesinger does not recover, this is fucking totally on YOUR heads, just like every other death from the virus so far.
Oh, and have I mentioned fuck you, Trump voters? And also fuck you every pretend progressive who told us we had to understand the economic anxiety of those Trump voters, who really weren't simply moronic bigots, neo-Confederates and neo-Nazis so it was alright for them to not vote for Hillary because her e-mails?
Thank you.
...(or, as I usually refer to him, Fountains of Wayne co-frontman Adam Schlesinger, who is a goddamn genius) is down with the virus, and either on a respirator or in a medically induced coma.
Words fail me, especially as I had been listening to this masterpiece of his literally hours before somebody sent me a link to one of the news reports.
Look, I am well aware that the title of this here blog is PowerPop, not Pissed Off Lefty, so I'm not gonna belabor the point but -- fuck you, Trump voters. If Schlesinger does not recover, this is fucking totally on YOUR heads, just like every other death from the virus so far.
Oh, and have I mentioned fuck you, Trump voters? And also fuck you every pretend progressive who told us we had to understand the economic anxiety of those Trump voters, who really weren't simply moronic bigots, neo-Confederates and neo-Nazis so it was alright for them to not vote for Hillary because her e-mails?
Thank you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
