Category Archives: Entertainment

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]

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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)

Entertainment, King Khan, Mark Sultan, Music, News

KK+BBQ To Finish Dates

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Word on the street courtesy of Bloodshot Bill (Tandoori Knights co-founder with Khan and Ding-Dongs co-founder with Sultan…talk about being in the middle of things!) courtesy of Facebook:

yo, BBQ himself asked me to post this on behalf of the band:
“king khan & BBQ want everyone to know that they are going to play all dates left on their asian tour. It’s on!”

That sounds inspiring. If I had to make a guess Kristin Klein, tour manager of KK+BBQ’s East Coast Autumn 2009 Tour and many other bands that KLYAM loves, will do everything in her power to get these dudes to reconcile and continue. It’s been mentioned before…but might this whole thing be a mere exaggeration or prank? Seriously. Maybe not, but seriously?