All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

Art, Cassette Review, CD Review, Cumstain, Entertainment, Music, music video, pictures, Punk, reviews, Video

CD Review: Cum Stain [2010]

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Band: Cum Stain
Release: 6/2010
Label: Burger Records

1. “Bachelor’s Life” – A+
2. “Broke My  Dick” – A
3. “No Hearts/Big Mean Maniac” – A-
4. “Just A Kid” – A+
5. “Vicdumb” – A-
6. “Slip It Off Slip It In” – A-
7. “Smoker” – B+
8. “I Want It Now” – A
9. SuckHer4U” – A
10. “Jack Shack” – A
11. “Cum Stain” – A+

Comments: Just when I thought I heard the ‘last of the libertines’ so to speak, I hear this. Cum Stain. Whether the composers of Cum Stain realized it or not, they boldly described bachelor life from start to finish. Literally. When push comes to shove, the narrator is just another “cum stain on your rug.” This man is a heavy drinker, a heavy smoker, and a passionate lover. Except, he doesn’t actually love you or want to. Well, he wants to, but he figures that’s just a waste of time. He just wants to do it and get it over with. On “Bachelor’s Life” we learn a little bit about the dude. Every hour he “masturbates” and “just sits around and watch cartoons.” On a more positive note, he stocks whiskey and rum. “Broke My Dick” is pretty self-explanatory, but the narrator offers an alternative like none other: “slap you in the face while it’s limp.” Might as well do something, right? In a proto-hardcore punk, let me tell you what’s up kind of way, the narrator reiterates on “No Hearts/Big Mean Maniac” that he has no heart and that he is a maniac. The guy is straight nuts. Fuck, he even invented his own fetish: throwing manure in the faces of grade school children. So, just a quick recap. The dude is in his 20s, but he’s purely “just a kid.” He exemplifies that word, but puts an added spin on in it. I’m not really sure what he’s going for on “Vicdumb.” It seems like he is necessarily stating the obvious. Anything anyone does to you makes you a mere vicdumb. Perhaps the “dumb” instead of “tum” allows him to get away with whatever he wants. You’re the dumb-ass, not me for screwing you and then leaving. Vicdumb. “Slip It Off/Slip It In” is probably the maniac’s fantasies after a long day at the beach. Oh yeah, and everything you learned about smoking is all a bunch of shit. Smoking is for winners and the more the better. Another thing: impulse control? This guy has none and doesn’t care. If you can’t give him what he wants (as he says on the apropos “I Want It Now”), then he’ll go find it. Peace! It seems as if maybe there was a possibility for a relationship at one time (“SuckHer4U”), but he just couldn’t commit to anything more than casual. “Jack Shack” tells of a ride down to a “Gentleman’s Spa” where no (sleazy truck driver) knows your name. I must say, this is one of the best stories I’ve ever heard. The lyrics aren’t genius or intricate in any regard, but the narrative comes across very clearly. The music is incredibly lo-fi garage pop (similar to Nobunny circa Love Visions). It makes you think, too. Is this your average single guy with a job or an unemployed psychopath who has never had any women in his life?

Grade: A- (93)

CD Review, Music

CD Review: The Age of Adz [2010]

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Band: Sufjan Stevens
Release: 10/2010
Label: Asthmatic Kitty

1. “Futile Devices” – B
2. “Too Much” – C
3. “Age of Adz” – C+
4. “I Walked” – B
5. “Now That I’m Older” – B+
6. “Get Real Get Right” – B-
7. “Bad Communication” – C
8. “Vesuvius” – C+
9. “All For Myself” – B-
10. “I Want To Be Well” – C
11. “Impossible Soul” – B

Comments: S.S has made a return to show business…as the band Phoenix. Not quite, but as you may or may not know, this is an electronically driven piece of work. A bit like when Peter Bjorn and John went electronic…except that actually worked rather well. Sufjan is still pretty much Sufjan of old. He sort of “wow”-ed me with Illinois — not going to lie — though I’d never consider myself particularly fond of his work, holistically. You either have to stick orchestral or go full electronic. None of this half and half BS is acceptable in my eyes. Sufjan thinks since he’s Sufjan he can do whatever he wants. He’s not Radiohead. Some of these tunes are decent throw-away listens. That’s a depressing thing to say given the current music culture, but it’s true. I mean, I have a pretty short listening span so these 4+ minute tunes aren’t ever going to cut it. Even the shorties are just little one timers. Twenty-five minute songs aren’t acceptable…ever.

Grade: B- (80)

Local Music, Music, News

Documentary On Young Adults, Other Boston Garage Rock Bands

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November 6, 2010.

Young Adults of Allston, Massachusetts will play their record release show at Great Scott. Filming will be by ExNoise. This show will be the pinnacle of a documentary featuring Young Adults and other Boston area garage rock/punk bands. You could be in the documentary…if you go to the show.

Music, News

Paul Weller @ Apollo Theatre

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That's my go-to undershirt right there. Good looks, Paul.

November 6th and 7th, the Modfather Paul Weller will be in New York City playing shows. One is at the Best Buy (Nokia) Theatre and the one I am going to is at the Apollo in Harlem. I’ve been re-familiarizing myself, coincidentally, with Weller’s solo work so I’m looking forward to this thing.

business, Entertainment, Music, Video

The Rifles Ft. In iPod Commercial

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In yet another strange pop culture twist, The Rifles (a favorite of mine) are currently being featured in an iPod commercial. Not directly, of course. The listener of the iPod in the commercial clicks on The Great Escape at the very end. The album art is very visible. This is yet another strange pop culture twist because The Rifles were being played on satellite pop radio throughout summer 2010. I found that weird because nobody knows about the Rifles in the United States…or so it seems. More exposure can’t hurt.

Link to the Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8hYZDJpXI&feature=related

CD Review, Music

CD Review: Rock and Roll [2010]

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Band: Woozy Viper
Release: 2010
Label: ?

1. “You Can’t Find Me” – A
2. “Dinner And A Movie”- B
3. “Dirty” – B+
4. “Party Town U.S.A.” – B
5. “It’s Such A Drag” – B+
6. “I Want To Strangle You” – B+
7. “She’s Mine” – B+
8. “Black Is The New Black” – A-
9. “Real Good Time” – A-
10. “Dislocated Shoulder” – A

Comments: Good stuff. To me, it’s rather run of the mill rock and roll (appropriate title) that plays like your (above) average power-pop/garage rock revue. Not too much on here blows my mind, but there are a lot of fun listens to be had. I’ve read about Black Lips comparisons and that’s simply not appropriate or fair. These guys are more Nobunny than Lips. Lyrically and musically.

Grade: B+ (88)

Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Music, Video

Vids Ft. BOTW Gentleman Jesse + Those Darlins

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I’m going to link to some YouTube videos that you ought to check out. These really HIGH DEFINITION (if you want them to be) vids were shot a couple of nights ago in Philadelphia. Gentleman Jesse and His Men and Those Darlins.

GJ+HM:
“Highland Crawler” and “Kinda Uptight” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAVLyG5-uo
“Careful” and “Word Gets Around” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifm_TopXpB4&feature=channel
“I Don’t Wanna Know” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZMf8_8vjLo&feature=channel
“Butterfingers” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxyKO0njszs&feature=channel

TD:
“Who’s That Knockin”? – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2kkHi372kw&feature=channel
“Wild One” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXkO2bxku7M&feature=channel
“Night Jogger” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgeofK-yXQw&feature=channel
“I’ve No Clue” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fsOblpp77k&feature=channel