All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: White Mystery S/T [2010]

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Band: White Mystery
Release: 3/2010
Label: White Mystery

1. “White Widow” – A-
2. “Power Glove” – A
3. “Lions of Tsavo” – A-
4. “Overwhelmed” – B+
5. “Vorpal” – B+
6. “Switch It Off” – B+
7. “Farmer” – A-
8. “Take A Walk” – A-
9. “Don’t Hold My Hand” – A-
10. “Halloween” – B+
11. “Respect Yourself” – A-
12. “Aaron” – B+
13. “Ye Olde Stone” – A-
14. “Trance” – A-

Comments: That voice! She sounds eerily familiar…you know the female vocalist in this band? Maybe Alissa Mosshart? White Mystery know how to rock quick. Press the record, play some inspiring hooks and beats, press stop, and call it a day. Like the Hives and the Dirtbombs, White Mystery plays passionate ’60s rock revival. Sure, most of these songs — for no fault of the female vocalist — sound pretty much the same or have the same construct. That’s a turn-off for a lot of garage enthusiasts. BUT, these songs are too good not to like. They have that “right now” appeal that I treasure.

Grade: B+ (89)

Entertainment, Jay Reatard, Music

Jay Reatard Demos/Other Tunes

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“Bending Steel” (Demo Version of “Man of Steel” recorded in 2007 and later reworked/released in 2009 on Watch Me Fall) LINK

“You’re Gonna Lose” (Released in 2009 on Jay’s Shattered Records Label…one of my favorite non-album tracks) LINK

“Tiny Little Home” (Demo Version of “Tiny Little Home” recorded in 2008 and later reworked/released in 2009 as a bonus track to Watch Me Fall) LINK

“Where I’m From” (Unreleased and recorded in 2007) LINK

“Please Say So” (Unreleased and recorded in 2007 after listening to Deerhunter on a hot day) LINK

“No Time To Feel Right” (Demo version of “No Time” recorded in 2007 and later released in 2008 on Matador Singles ’08) LINK

“Wounded” (Demo version of “Wounded” recorded in 2007 and later released/reworked in 2009 on Watch Me Fall) LINK

“In Heaven [Lady in the Radiator]” (Cover version of “In Heaven” from David Lynch’s Eraserhead recorded in 2008) LINK

Black Lips, Entertainment, Music

Black Lips “Before You Judge Me”

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A new song from KLYAM’s favorite band in the world for the Adult Swim Kia promotion I told you all about a couple of weeks back:

Listen and download here: http://www.adultswim.com/promos/201005_kia/index.html

It’s an instant favorite. I don’t think we’ve ever heard Black Lips lead guitar licks quite like what Ian St. Pe has done on this song. Credit, also, to Joe Bradley for singing the shit out of this.

CD Review, Entertainment, Mark Sultan, Music

CD Review: The Ding-Dongs S/T [2010]

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Band: The Ding-Dongs (Mark Sultan & Bloodshot Bill)
Release: 5/2010
Label: Norton

1. “Ding-Dong Party” – B+
2. “Don’t Ring, Come On In” – A-
3. “Until I Die” – B+
4. “Come On Lil Dolly” – B+
5. “She’s A Tiger” – B+
6. “Woman Cops” – A–
7. “Knock Me Down” – B
8. “You Better Hide” – A-
9. “Military Mama” – C+
10. “Worried Man” – B-
11. “What’s That Sound” – A
12. “Crazy Dreams” – B
13. “Last Laugh” – B

Comments: BYODD. Bring your own ding-dong. That seems like the most logical thing to do at a “Ding Dong Party.” Bloodshot and Mark sing with such conviction that I almost forgot that the concept of such a song is total cheese. The same goes for pretty much all the tracks on this record. As you’d probably guess (judging by the ghost of Mark Sultan and Bloodshot Bill past), this is textbook Rockabilly For Dummies or Primitive Rock and Roll for Junkies. “Woman Cops” stuck in my head since I heard it first a few months ago. Walking down the street or sitting down reading a book, the words “Woman Cops, when you love to beat me” suddenly came to me. It’s such a quick song that I got a feeling of, wait a second, I don’t remember it being THIS short! Oh well! Good track. As I mentioned when I reviewed Waylon Thornton’s latest offering…there is only so much you can do within this kind of framework without really changing things up. True, a lot of these songs are just undifferentiated old school party numbers. Unless, you are listening with absolute acuity, it’s hard to argue otherwise. “What’s That Sound” is more gritty and resolute, more instantly catchy than any other track on here. To answer the song title’s question…I’ll guess pee pee. All right, so let’s get something clear: if you are a die-hard Bloodshot Bill fan, you’ll be loving this. If you are a die-hard Mark Sultan fan, but only like BB marginally (who am I talking about?), you’ll be liking this. If you don’t like anything either of the two have put out (in their respective bands), shit, you are out of luck. BUT WAIT…if I like the King Khan and BBQ Show, will I like this? Not as much as you probably wanted to. This is like Hunts Ketchup vs. Heinz Ketchup. Hunts just doesn’t match up.

Grade: B (86)

Entertainment, News, No Age

Very Technical No Age Album Info.

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If you want to know precisely how No Age recorded their upcoming to-be-released-in-the-fall third album, then you ought to head over to here: http://www.eqmag.com/article/this-test-/May-2010/113857. If you aren’t very technically inclined (musically), the information might just be a little bit over your head. It was a little bit over mine. You should still check the article out, though.

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Something for Everybody [2010]

2 Comments

Band: Devo
Release: 6/2010
Label: Warner Bros.

1. “Fresh” – A+
2. “What We Do” – B
3. “Please Baby Please” – B
4. “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” – A-
5. “Mind Games” – B+
6. “Human Rocket” – A-
7. “Sumthin” – A
8. “Step Up” – B
9.”Cameo” – B
10. “Later Is Now” – A+
11. “No Place Like Home” – A-
12. “March On” – B+

Comments: Twenty years later Devo is still “Fresh.” They do what they do. It’s still the same. They still have (now) retro ’80s electro-dance beats going for them. For a somewhat modern reference point, I’d pinpoint you towards the Lost Sounds. There are tons of sci-fi noises, synths, and the kinds of vocal styles that Alicja Trout and the late Jay Reatard mastered. Why compare such a prolific New Wave band to a short lived one? I don’t know! I just did. Of course, Devo is full of more pop hooks and a continually fast rhythm. I would be lying if I said the album through-and-through was constantly catchy. There are some songs that really hit you immediately, others have some lulls. By lulls, I don’t mean bad parts, but rather mild spoilers that bring a song down from memorable to a tad forgettable. Growers like “No Place Like Home” are utterly impressive. The Bob Marley “Buffalo Soldier” esque closer “March On” does its job. It reminds me of some of the dance mixes of Legend. I’m not sure if that is what the band was going for, but it sure sounds like it. Conclusion? This album is awesome. Not awesome in one of the best of the year, but as I’ve said a number of times (about other albums), the great songs on here are just worth listening to over and over. That said, there couldn’t possibly be twelve “Fresh” a-likes. That wouldn’t…be…fresh.

Grade: B+ (89)

Entertainment, EP Review, Music

EP Review: Everything Must Go [2010]

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Band: Top Surprise
Release: 5/2010
Label: Pug Records

1. “Samsara” – (A-)
2. “Saturn (The Season)” – (B+)
3. “More Than Cool” – (A-)
4. “Home” – (A-)
5. “Lagarto Drugs” – (C-)
6. “I Shoot the Devil” – (B+)
7. “80 Comes” – (B-)

Comments: The rock and roll aspect of this album (minus the bullshit) is very pleasing and competes with the likes of honorary KLYAMers like No Age and maybe even Thee Oh Sees. The bullshit is bullshit and brings the album down; I’m looking at you tracks number 5 and 7! There’s some excitement to be enjoyed here. So enjoy it.

Grade: B (85)