Song of the Day

The Band: Devo
The Song: Gut Feeling  / (Slap Your Mammy)
The Album: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We are Devo!
The Reason: Yesterday morning KEXP DJ John Richards did a last minute tribute show to Ian Curtis, as it was the 30th anniversary of the Joy Division front man's suicide. Richards played tracks from Joy Divisions entire catalog from their original EP (when they were still called Warsaw, the songs, which are all totally raw punk classics, appear on the compilation "Substance") in 1976, all the way to the Unknown Pleasures, the bands last record before Curtis' death in 1980. Not only did he drop some Joy Division tracks, but cuts from influential bands of the same ilk from the same time period of 76-80. They ranged from the obvious influences like the Buzzcocks, to the likes of Talking Heads, Brian Eno, Devo, Iggy Pop, The Jam, The Cure, The Fall, The Damned, Gang of Four, Bowie and the Clash.

I really think this post punk/new wave era is an oft overlooked source of rock solid classics. I feel like the word "new-wave" has been bastardized about as much as the word "emo". One of the most misunderstood of these artist is Akron, Ohio's own Devo. I'm sure anyone who ever even hears the words Devo muttered instantly thinks of "Whip It" and silly cone hats. Delve deeper then that though and you find a band who was probably more intune with their punk roots just as much, if not more so, then most of the other bands of the time. Hell, the majority of music you've heard in film and television over the last 20 years has been scored by folks from this movement. Most notably Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo, consistent Wes Anderson contributor) and Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo, every fucking Tim Burton movie, The Simpsons, you name it). David Bryne and Brian Eno (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) have also had their fair share of scoring duties.

The build of this track is killer before it just starts totally spazing out. Think  Green Day- Brain Stew / Jaded (you know you dug it). Sure they sang about silly shit most of the time (see "Mongoloid") but when they brought the energy like this, they slayed it.

The Video:

Song of the Day

The Band : Two Gallants
The Album: S/T (20007, Saddle Creek)
The Song: Reflections of the Marionette
The Reason: Thank god for my iPod having a momentary resurrection. Two Gallants have a knack for writing songs about loves lost, in the most bitterly poetic way possible. Jaded, angry, and convincingly justified. All delivered with the swagger of a loner wandering down the dusty deserted streets of a old west town in the moments before a gun fight. Although it's well tucked away in my past at this point, this song reminds me of a time where I felt exactly this same way. As cheesy as it is (and god knows I'm a sucker for that) I've pretty much lived these words. Stumbling across it now, it just makes me laugh. Amazing band, amazing album

Lyrics: Call the dogs and sound the horns; the city key of wheres I borns; has been stolen by someone; I thought I knew; she blew in with some angel dust; from southern state where love is lust and I hope she's gone; by the time this song is through

the streets she only knows by name; of dead white men who rose to fame by slitting every throat along the way she transcends the avenue; an eye for me, a wink for you; I feel myself becoming yesterday

Darlin I can't wait; for you to leave this town; you just got here too late; and no one wants you 'round; with one foot on my back; and the other on the rail; I don't want to see you fall; I just want to see you fail

and the night is sweet; the night's divine; it stains your cheeks; with blood-red wine; and leaves you lyin'; in your enemy's arm; and while you mumble down the hall something bout a skin made wall; you find you're just a sucker; for her charms; and the vanity that cased the skin shoves you in before they sin; and see your sense of self; just fade away; and see you're just a one man show and once you're done; it's time to go; hear yourself your footsteps down the way

Darlin I can't wait; for you to leave this town; you just got here too late; and no one wants you 'round; with one foot on my back; and the other on the rail; I don't want to see you fall; I just want to see you fail

and his youth protects the failing light; with his shirt sleeves rolled; and the humid night
and he drags his heels; when he hears her call his name; and wondering when love will descend from a lofty; room where all dreams end; in her waiting room; he leans upon his cane; and his turn comes
the next in line; the well-worn steps he slowly climbs see a line of meathooks on display and in the streets; the siren sings; what words they tell; what news they bring; the puppet and his cold coat strings obeys

but darlin' I can't wait, for you to leave this town; you just got here too late; and no one wants you 'round; with one foot on my back; and the other on the rail; I dont want to see you fall; I just want to see you fail; I dont want to see you fall; I just want to see you fail

The Video:

The Narwhal: A Man's Unicorn

On a note completely unrelated to anything I've ever posted on this blog, until today I had no idea such an awesome creature actually existed. A sea dwelling, spear toting, total badass. Although I'm pretty sure it uses it's tusk for some mating ritual and not for the impalement of baby animals, he is still quite the majestic metal beast.

What goes up...must come down

I woke up with this song stuck in my head, and subsequently it has been there all day long. I feel like it's something Tony Soprano would be caught singing in his Suburban, before diving into some surreal metaphoric dream state involving gabagoul and talking fish.

Current Addictions

A) Electric Wizard
Quiet possibly the heaviest damn band on the planet? Yes. I've only been listening to "Dopethrone" but I'd say it's enough for them to take the crown. This band, and the Black Breath's Southern Lord debut "Heavy Breathing" have single handily reignited the meandering metal fire in my heart.

B) Fringe
This generations X-Files? Not quite, but Fox's Sci-Fi equivalent of CSI is a blast to watch. While ultimately it's very clear that the show runners can't make up their mind as to whether or not they want to make the show a completely serialized mystery, or just stick to the monster of the week format; oddly enough they've found a happy medium to satisfy fans of both. When the mythology kicks in it kicks your face in. The episode "Peter" may be the finest hour of television I've watched all year.

C) Half-Life 2
I've always considered myself a gamer, but a casual and picky one at that. I find my niche games, and I stick to them. You will see my collection lined soley with Metal Gear, Resident Evil, Silent Hilll, and Soul Calibur titles. I love these series and will replay the hell out of all of them. A whole 6 years after its release the Half-Life 2 universe has blown its way into that echelon for me recently. It's combination of out of control physics, rousing gameplay and intriguing storytelling put it above any FPS ever made, IMO. Games like MW2, are too much for me to handle, I'm right at home with a title like this.

D) Dr. Dog
If the Beatles ever did actually have a musical marriage with super fan Jeff Lynne (ELO), Dr. Dog is pretty damn close to what I think they would of sounded like. The pop of Dr. Dog is endearing. It's retrospective, and humbling, a kind of sound that the bands they are influenced by would be caught looking down at their shuffling feet with a "ah-shucks" sort of embarrassment. These kids got range, they have some rockin' numbers, but really know how to smooth things down as well. New album Shame, Shame isn't as strong as previous outing "Fate" but, honestly their whole catalog is worth a hefty listen. Current favorite track by um: My Friend.

 E) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Slightly embarrassing, yes, but god damn that Joss Whedon actually is a pretty damn funny fellow. I have had a slight curiosity in checking out this series for a while now for a variety of reasons; a) I've always heard the writing is great, and a lot of the shows writers went on to be writers for "Lost," B) I absolutely love Whedon's "Firefly" universe and C) The cult following of this show is just too damn hard to ignore. Netflix Instant has bestowed every season to me, and I have accepted the offering. Half way through season one, its kind of a blast to watch, I'm glad they go well beyond vamps too. Sunnydale is a "Hell Mouth" which bestows us with all sorts of hilariously over the top creatures and situations (see: My Substitute Teacher is Actually a Praying Mantis Episode.) Overall, I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy this outing when it's all said and done, and finally maybe get all that academic literature about Buffy I stumbled across in my upper division English electives. Did I mention Sarah Michelle Gellar has a endless supply of the shortest television legal skirts?

Post FIT: George Washington

Dir. David Gordon Green
Star. Paul Schneider, Donald Holden

"down this twisted road, please watch over my soul and lift me up so gently so as not to touch the ground"

I have a really hard time defining the kind of movie David Gordon Green's debut film "George Washington" is. It's a still of frozen time, it's a voyeuristic look at the everyday lives of seemingly real people, it seems unscripted, everything about it just breaths and bleeds the grim and joyous beauty, reality and emotions of life.

The film follows the lives of several kids growing up in an economically depressed town in North Carolina. The kids experiences run the gamut of emotional touchstones most don't experience until they've lived their whole life through. They are hardened individuals, they are caring, they are brutally honest. The dialogue can be wonky, but endearing, and altogether incredibly poetic.

The only other filmmaker I can think of whose made films like this is Terrance Mallick, while watching "George Washington" I get the same chills I get while watching "Badlands," "The Thin Red Line" or "Days of Heaven." The two film makers have the uncanny ability to assault your senses while watching their films, your are immersed and mesmerized. I don't think there are many films or filmmakers who can make life and death blend so seamlessly into such a singularly beautiful fluid motion. This is definitely creeped its way into my all time favorites. Looking at Gordon Green's filmography and the direction its headed (ok I liked Pineapple Express quite a bit, but...), I doubt he'll come near to touching this level of work again.

ICP, you just blew my fucking mind

Fucking magnets, fucking pelicans and fucking rainbows...all pondered here by ICP