“Time For Heroes” !!!!!!!!!
Category Archives: Music
The Cramps – “Way I Walk”
Introduction: “The following video tape was a free concert given for the patients at the California State Mental Hospital in Napa, CA on June 13, 1978 by The Cramps who where (sic) on tour from New York and the Mutants from San Francisco.
Lux Interior: “We drove 3000 miles to play for you. And somebody told me you people are crazy, but I’m not so sure about that.”
Link: http://www.kinodv.net/movies/archive/Cramps-Way_I_Walk.swf
CD Review: I Am Not A Human Being [2010]
Rapper: Lil Wayne
Release: 10/2010
Label: Young Money
1. “Gonorrhea” – B
2. “Hold Up” – C+
3. “With You” – A-
4. “I Am Not A Being Human” – C-
5. “I’m Single” – C+
6. “What’s Wrong With Them” – B+
7. “Right Above It” – A
8. “Popular” – B-
9. “That Ain’t Me” – B-
10. “Bill Gates” – B
Comments: Lil Wayne is an interesting fellow. He has an adoration of playing around with words. He particularly utilizes metaphor and simile. His rhymes range from cheesy Weezy to fairly intelligent and thoughtful. Beats have never really been a focal point for Weezy, especially on non-singles. He almost can’t be taken seriously, nor can his guest rappers, but some how they always end up with something called a song. It’s striking. On the R&B slow jam “With You,” we get a good sense of what Wayne is capable of in terms of sensible writing. He effectively tells a romantic story without much effort. What I’m saying is “With You” doesn’t sound forced or random. “Tonight it’s moonlight and candles and shit.” That’s all. It’s so Human Being. Imitating Beastie Boys rock-rap style isn’t Weezy’s thing. He made a terrible rock-esque album earlier this year, didn’t he? Let Wayne shine. He doesn’t need power beats or abrasive guitars. I was expecting Nicki Minaj to rap not sing a chorus on her feature in “What’s Wrong,” but I must say she doesn’t do that bad of a job. Wayne’s verses are solid. “Right Above It” was the first single (featuring Drake) from this record and contains the record’s most distinguishable beat/chorus. It deserves all the accolades it has/is getting. I didn’t expect much out of this relatively short LP. There are high points and other points that just seem to exist without much fanfare.
Grade: B- (82)
Is She Really Riding Down Dead Man’s Curve?
Jan and Dean- Dead Man’s Curve (1964)
v
Shangri-Las- Leader of the Pack (1964)
Both were released in 1964, both captured two distinct and highly influential pop styles of the era (Surf Pop and Girl Group ballads, respectively) and both masterfully represent the teen tragedy concept of early Rock and Roll; with someone dying in a road accident in each song. In fact, both are set up the same, musically and as a story. So, which one do you think is better?
I personally dig “Dead Man’s Curve” more, but both are classics. Check em out.
CD Review: Cum Stain [2010]
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)
Weezer To Play Blue Album, Pinkerton @ Orpheum
December 14 and 15.
CD Review: The Age of Adz [2010]
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)
Documentary On Young Adults, Other Boston Garage Rock Bands
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.
Paul Weller @ Apollo Theatre
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.
The Rifles Ft. In iPod Commercial
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
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 