I'll be back shortly
Hey folks, I've been occupied this week with some personal business I had to tend to. I'm finishing things up today.
Once I get some much needed sleep, I'll have some new stuff for you including two book reviews (Dan Fante's "Spitting Off Tall Buildings" and Jacob Slichter's "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star"), this week's top 10 CDs as picked by yours truly and some Web sites and videos that made me laugh out loud.
Catch a good deal
I've been finding lots of good coupons and deals on dealcatcher.com.
Borders coupon.
20% off almost everything at Borders in-store. Good for stocking up on CDs! Hurry up though, the coupon expires tomorrow, Monday, August 9.
Old Navy coupon.
$5 off a $25 Old Navy purchase in-store. They also have a $10 off a $50 purchase coupon.
I shop at Old Navy because everything they sell matches easily. On their website, it even tells you which shirts match which pants, which is essential for a person like myself who was raised on Garanimals.
I've been finding lots of good coupons and deals on dealcatcher.com.
Borders coupon.
20% off almost everything at Borders in-store. Good for stocking up on CDs! Hurry up though, the coupon expires tomorrow, Monday, August 9.
Old Navy coupon.
$5 off a $25 Old Navy purchase in-store. They also have a $10 off a $50 purchase coupon.
I shop at Old Navy because everything they sell matches easily. On their website, it even tells you which shirts match which pants, which is essential for a person like myself who was raised on Garanimals.
McG's current top 10 CDs
I hate it when people say things like, "You know, there isn't any good new music out there!"
I just give them a look that says, what the !*$#? are you talking about?!
I think the problem is just the opposite; there's too much good new music out there, and try as I might, I can't keep track of it all.
Anyway, here are my current picks for top 10 CDs.
10. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First - Business as usual with the catchy melodies and oohs and aahs, but played with impeccable precision. The drumming on this record is sick. I downloaded this and was so impressed, I bought my own copy.
Bad Religion MP3s
9. The Lovekill - The Lovekill EP - Kinda has the urgency of mid-'80s Dischord bands such as Scream and Rites of Spring. Songwriting is interesting and rocking and singer sounds like Guy Picciotto at times and like Mick Collins at others. The kind of band Touch & Go would put out - if they were still a rock label.
The Lovekill MP3s
8. Floor - Floor - They just released their lost album from 1994, but its this 2002 self-titled CD that is must-have. Heavy in the vein of Karp, Melvins and Sabbath. Easily one of the most dense recordings I've ever heard.
MP3: Floor - "Scimitar"
7. The Paybacks - Harder and Harder - What a rockin' record! Brash, confident swagger with cut-to-the-chase riffs. Reminds me a little of Joan Jett, but much harder and grittier.
MP3: The Paybacks - "Scotch Love"
6. Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell - Slicker and more cleaned up and produced than "Jennie Bomb," but still some good songs here.
Listen to clips at saharahotnights.com
5. Career Suicide - Career Suicide LP - Raw and crude hardcore punk. Short songs, fired up singer and good ol' fashioned punk rock vibe circa MRR 1984. This is supposed to come out on a Career Suicide comp CD. Can't wait for that.
MP3s at careersuicide.com
4. Henry Fiat's Open Sore - The Parallel Universe of - Really kicks ass. Fast-as-hell thrash rockers who spew out 25 songs in 35 minutes. Swedish dudes who just unleash everything and give it their all. Rock and roll in its most primitive and accelerated state.
MP3: Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "Hey Ju"
3. The Knockout Pills - 1 + 1 = Ate - New LP on Estrus is a ripper. A polished 4-track recording (i.e., it's raw and alive!) with some killer cuts. Fans of Clorox Girls and Marked Men take note.
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Target H"
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Do the Skin Crawl"
2. The Soviettes - II - Every record store I've been to in the past month hasn't stocked any Soviettes CDs. I can't understand why, since this is primo punk-rock-and-roll and is rife with killer melodies and well written songs.
MP3: The Soviettes - "#1 is Number Two"
1. Mastodon - Leviathan - Over-the-top metal infused punk with jazzy drumming, pummeling rhythms and intense guitar work. This band just slays it on every song and is one of my favorite new discoveries (even though they have an EP and two LPs to their credit.) Out at the end of August, I downloaded this recording, but you can bet your ass I'll be buying a copy when it comes out.
Mastodon official site
I hate it when people say things like, "You know, there isn't any good new music out there!"
I just give them a look that says, what the !*$#? are you talking about?!
I think the problem is just the opposite; there's too much good new music out there, and try as I might, I can't keep track of it all.
Anyway, here are my current picks for top 10 CDs.
10. Bad Religion - The Empire Strikes First - Business as usual with the catchy melodies and oohs and aahs, but played with impeccable precision. The drumming on this record is sick. I downloaded this and was so impressed, I bought my own copy.
Bad Religion MP3s
9. The Lovekill - The Lovekill EP - Kinda has the urgency of mid-'80s Dischord bands such as Scream and Rites of Spring. Songwriting is interesting and rocking and singer sounds like Guy Picciotto at times and like Mick Collins at others. The kind of band Touch & Go would put out - if they were still a rock label.
The Lovekill MP3s
8. Floor - Floor - They just released their lost album from 1994, but its this 2002 self-titled CD that is must-have. Heavy in the vein of Karp, Melvins and Sabbath. Easily one of the most dense recordings I've ever heard.
MP3: Floor - "Scimitar"
7. The Paybacks - Harder and Harder - What a rockin' record! Brash, confident swagger with cut-to-the-chase riffs. Reminds me a little of Joan Jett, but much harder and grittier.
MP3: The Paybacks - "Scotch Love"
6. Sahara Hotnights - Kiss & Tell - Slicker and more cleaned up and produced than "Jennie Bomb," but still some good songs here.
Listen to clips at saharahotnights.com
5. Career Suicide - Career Suicide LP - Raw and crude hardcore punk. Short songs, fired up singer and good ol' fashioned punk rock vibe circa MRR 1984. This is supposed to come out on a Career Suicide comp CD. Can't wait for that.
MP3s at careersuicide.com
4. Henry Fiat's Open Sore - The Parallel Universe of - Really kicks ass. Fast-as-hell thrash rockers who spew out 25 songs in 35 minutes. Swedish dudes who just unleash everything and give it their all. Rock and roll in its most primitive and accelerated state.
MP3: Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "Hey Ju"
3. The Knockout Pills - 1 + 1 = Ate - New LP on Estrus is a ripper. A polished 4-track recording (i.e., it's raw and alive!) with some killer cuts. Fans of Clorox Girls and Marked Men take note.
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Target H"
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Do the Skin Crawl"
2. The Soviettes - II - Every record store I've been to in the past month hasn't stocked any Soviettes CDs. I can't understand why, since this is primo punk-rock-and-roll and is rife with killer melodies and well written songs.
MP3: The Soviettes - "#1 is Number Two"
1. Mastodon - Leviathan - Over-the-top metal infused punk with jazzy drumming, pummeling rhythms and intense guitar work. This band just slays it on every song and is one of my favorite new discoveries (even though they have an EP and two LPs to their credit.) Out at the end of August, I downloaded this recording, but you can bet your ass I'll be buying a copy when it comes out.
Mastodon official site
Negative feedback
Sometimes I wonder why I do this website, write about music and make an effort to tell people about interesting things.
Feedback is rare, but when I receive it, its usually negative and has tones of hostility and is usually topped off with a nice insult.
I've understand what Howard Stern says about his recently launched bulletin board on howardstern.com. He built a place where interested people could meet up in a forum and share ideas. Most people go there to insult people and express a lot of "negatism." (That's a word invented by O.J. Simpson.)
There's something removed about the Internet that allows people to feel they can unleash harsher sentiments than they would when talking to someone face to face.
Sometimes I wonder why I do this website, write about music and make an effort to tell people about interesting things.
Feedback is rare, but when I receive it, its usually negative and has tones of hostility and is usually topped off with a nice insult.
I've understand what Howard Stern says about his recently launched bulletin board on howardstern.com. He built a place where interested people could meet up in a forum and share ideas. Most people go there to insult people and express a lot of "negatism." (That's a word invented by O.J. Simpson.)
There's something removed about the Internet that allows people to feel they can unleash harsher sentiments than they would when talking to someone face to face.
Hacking murder & Zeke "West Seattle Acid Party"
If you've been following the story of the missing woman from Utah, Lori Hacking, and her husband Mark Hacking who was just arrested for the murder of his wife, you may have picked up on the mention of a song by punk rock band Zeke.
During a search of Hacking's house last month police confiscated a shirt from murder suspect Mark Hacking's house that said, "West Seattle Acid Party" on it.
I was almost certain that the shirt had to have been referring to the Zeke song of the same name. In fact, after some googling, all that came up was Zeke's song.
I first heard the mention on Court TV, then read it in this article:
"The police report also detailed some of the evidence seized on July 19. That evidence included papers, two T-shirts that said "Big Rock" and "West Seattle Acid Party," a hat, orange twine, pillow, pillow cases, bedding packages, men's athletic shoes size 11, a blue and white plaid shirt and a pair of men's denim jeans." (...more)
Of course, this is no way whatsoever implies any actual connection between Zeke and the Hacking case. I just found it an interesting tidbit.
***
In completely unrelated news, according to Zeke's official site, they will be touring with Motorhead! A perfect match if I've ever heard one.
If you've been following the story of the missing woman from Utah, Lori Hacking, and her husband Mark Hacking who was just arrested for the murder of his wife, you may have picked up on the mention of a song by punk rock band Zeke.
During a search of Hacking's house last month police confiscated a shirt from murder suspect Mark Hacking's house that said, "West Seattle Acid Party" on it.
I was almost certain that the shirt had to have been referring to the Zeke song of the same name. In fact, after some googling, all that came up was Zeke's song.
I first heard the mention on Court TV, then read it in this article:
"The police report also detailed some of the evidence seized on July 19. That evidence included papers, two T-shirts that said "Big Rock" and "West Seattle Acid Party," a hat, orange twine, pillow, pillow cases, bedding packages, men's athletic shoes size 11, a blue and white plaid shirt and a pair of men's denim jeans." (...more)
Of course, this is no way whatsoever implies any actual connection between Zeke and the Hacking case. I just found it an interesting tidbit.
***
In completely unrelated news, according to Zeke's official site, they will be touring with Motorhead! A perfect match if I've ever heard one.
McG's Tuesday playlist
Everyone at the post office knows I'm a music writer so they often chat me up about new music. Today somebody asked me if I was into the Allman Brothers!
If I see that "Whipping Post" video on VH1 one more time, I'm gonna hurt someone.
Then the conversation turned to country and rockabilly, and then to the Eagles training camp. Totally weird, as I just wanted to pick up my mail and not have to think about sports (which I have to deal with at work), because I really hate them!
Anyway, I'm sitting in front of the computer today and writing record reviews and listening to music. Here's the playlist for today.
The Knockout Pills - "1 + 1 = Ate" - The 2nd album by this Tuscon, AZ quartet. A really killer LP in the vein of recent rippers by Clorox Girls and The Marked Men. Not out until Sept. 14, but Estrus has graciously posted 2 MP3s to rev up your appetite.
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Target H"
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Do the Skin Crawl"
Mastodon - "Leviathan" - I heard John Peel play these guys a month ago and was instantly hooked. Insane metal with great melodies. Imagine Slayer crossed with King Crimson. There's also a prog rock feel a la Don Caballero. Is it punk? Is it metal? It doesn't really matter, it kicks ass. Out August 31.
Check Relapse Records for MP3s
The Undertones - "Listening In: The BBC Sessions" - Not the best sounding radio sessions I've ever heard. The performances aren't as tight and punchy as the studio recordings. I recommend the band's first album, "The Undertones" highly.
Here's an MP3 from from that album, which you can get on vinyl from No Ambition Records.
MP3: The Undertones - "I Gotta Getta"
Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "The Parallel Universe of" - Just listening for the first time. Kind of reminds me of the Dwarves and the Hives' first record. The band members are wearing suits and masks on the cover. I think this will be good driving music as I commute into work at 4:00 a.m.
Here's an MP3 from the band's 2001 7", "Makes Your Cock Big."
MP3:Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "Hey Ju"
Everyone at the post office knows I'm a music writer so they often chat me up about new music. Today somebody asked me if I was into the Allman Brothers!
If I see that "Whipping Post" video on VH1 one more time, I'm gonna hurt someone.
Then the conversation turned to country and rockabilly, and then to the Eagles training camp. Totally weird, as I just wanted to pick up my mail and not have to think about sports (which I have to deal with at work), because I really hate them!
Anyway, I'm sitting in front of the computer today and writing record reviews and listening to music. Here's the playlist for today.
The Knockout Pills - "1 + 1 = Ate" - The 2nd album by this Tuscon, AZ quartet. A really killer LP in the vein of recent rippers by Clorox Girls and The Marked Men. Not out until Sept. 14, but Estrus has graciously posted 2 MP3s to rev up your appetite.
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Target H"
MP3: The Knockout Pills - "Do the Skin Crawl"
Mastodon - "Leviathan" - I heard John Peel play these guys a month ago and was instantly hooked. Insane metal with great melodies. Imagine Slayer crossed with King Crimson. There's also a prog rock feel a la Don Caballero. Is it punk? Is it metal? It doesn't really matter, it kicks ass. Out August 31.
Check Relapse Records for MP3s
The Undertones - "Listening In: The BBC Sessions" - Not the best sounding radio sessions I've ever heard. The performances aren't as tight and punchy as the studio recordings. I recommend the band's first album, "The Undertones" highly.
Here's an MP3 from from that album, which you can get on vinyl from No Ambition Records.
MP3: The Undertones - "I Gotta Getta"
Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "The Parallel Universe of" - Just listening for the first time. Kind of reminds me of the Dwarves and the Hives' first record. The band members are wearing suits and masks on the cover. I think this will be good driving music as I commute into work at 4:00 a.m.
Here's an MP3 from the band's 2001 7", "Makes Your Cock Big."
MP3:Henry Fiat's Open Sore - "Hey Ju"
10 dollar bag of heroin, just off I-95
$10-a-bag heroin, just off I-95 describes how you can pull off of I-95 in Wilmington, Delaware and buy yourself some reasonably priced and nearly pure heroin.
I live in Wilmington and while I've seen drug deals go down in the street, I had no idea I could get heroin so cheaply. And in my neighborhood nonetheless. Convenient!
$10-a-bag heroin, just off I-95 describes how you can pull off of I-95 in Wilmington, Delaware and buy yourself some reasonably priced and nearly pure heroin.
I live in Wilmington and while I've seen drug deals go down in the street, I had no idea I could get heroin so cheaply. And in my neighborhood nonetheless. Convenient!
McG's movie trailer recommendations
Watching movie trailers online is fun if you have a solid high-speed connection and the video doesn't get all choppy.
The trailer for John Waters' new film, "A Dirty Shame," is pretty friggin funny
Waters should wear the NC-17 rating as a badge of honor.
"Mean Creek" looks good
But it does raise the question, how many of these Culkin kids are there?
Check out the kid in the McDonald's costume in "The Corporation"
This is from the same folks who did the Noam Chomsky documentary, "Manufacturing Consent."
I've heard nothing but glowing praise for "The Battle of Algiers"
I hope this comes to my local art theater, Theater N.
The Japanese version of "The Grudge (Ju-On)"
looks way creepier than
the American Version of "The Grudge"
Why does Hollywood have to remake foreign films all the time?
Watching movie trailers online is fun if you have a solid high-speed connection and the video doesn't get all choppy.
The trailer for John Waters' new film, "A Dirty Shame," is pretty friggin funny
Waters should wear the NC-17 rating as a badge of honor.
"Mean Creek" looks good
But it does raise the question, how many of these Culkin kids are there?
Check out the kid in the McDonald's costume in "The Corporation"
This is from the same folks who did the Noam Chomsky documentary, "Manufacturing Consent."
I've heard nothing but glowing praise for "The Battle of Algiers"
I hope this comes to my local art theater, Theater N.
The Japanese version of "The Grudge (Ju-On)"
looks way creepier than
the American Version of "The Grudge"
Why does Hollywood have to remake foreign films all the time?
