She falls into frame with a professional pout but the polaroids ignite on seeing their subject and the aperture shuts-too much exposure
Voyeur sucks into focus-floodlit the glossy kiss-pit but as emulsion drips down…down
the aperture shuts-too much exposure
Come into this room-Come into this gloom See the Red light rinsing another shutterslut wincing the sagging half-wit sister
pretty, pretty picture
of an ancient nipple shrinking-that Kodakwhore winking ’til the aperture shuts-too much exposure.
*Siouxsie*

Robert Smith un ejemplo de rocker a seguir con mucho maquillaje

Cuántas veces he escuchado que el rock es un estilo de vida, que de repente me entró la necesidad de cuestionarme hasta qué punto este enunciado puede ser una realidad en una persona común y corriente, fuera de lo que es un rock-star, que sin duda alguna vive de esa música y todo se lo debe a ese género.

Por ejemplo, hay gente que por su ropa, ya sea una camiseta de una banda, su forma de hablar, caminar o incluso su cabellera, te podría dar indicios de que lleva el estilo de vida del rock, pero ¿cuál es ese estilo? o  ¿cuáles son los requisitos para entrar en esa vida?

Quizás algunos me podrían contestar que te conviertes en rockero por llevar la cabellera larga o los pelos parados o una chamarra de cuero al estilo de los Ramones, pero eso sólo entraría en lo que es el mundo vanidoso de la moda.  Desde mi perspectiva personal muchas veces cuando toqué en bares vi gente que se veía rockera y terminaban cantando a Los Tigres del Norte, como cualquier fan de música regional.

De hecho esa actitud de ver personas que podían cambiar de forma extrema de gusto musical, me hizo reflexionar y concluir que no valía la pena seguir armando una banda para tocar ante  gente que no tenía ni idea de lo que era realmente el rock y sólo iban a emborracharse viendote tocar, dándoles lo mismo si tocabas a Metallica o a Caifanes.

Pero….¡ alto! No caigamos en traumas personales,  mejor recordemos lo que alguna vez dijo Johnny Rotten de los Sex Pistols, cuando lo cuestionaron sobre el boom punk que hubo a finales de los 70’s y concluyó que traer pelos de punta como él, no te convertía precisamente en un punketo, sino que tenías que crear un estilo propio para protestar por todo lo establecido, incluso contra el mismo rock, y a él no le caía nada bien la música que hacían  súper estrellas como Queen o David Bowie. Es decir, todo se basaba en ser honesto y criticar abiertamente todo lo que no te parecía, por eso es que siempre etiquetó a su extinto bajista  Sid Vicious como una caricatura del punk.

Y si lo analizamos, The Clash, The Ramones y The Damned, no se parecían en nada, ni en su música ni en su imagen, pero seguían siendo punks, además hicieron la música más honesta de la que se tenga memoria en el rock. A final de cuentas mostraban que tenían un estilo de vida real, que no sólo se basaba en el dinero, por eso es que cuando Green Day aparece, fueron etiquetados como happy punks.

El punk recuperó un poco la rebeldía que dio origen al nacimiento del rock, donde el chico blanco cuestionaba a sus padres racistas por prohibirles que disfrutaran y escucharan música hecha por los negros. Esa maravillosa combinación de gustos de diferentes razas, fue lo que hizo al rock, pero en esencia era un protesta.

Así que llevar un estilo de vida del rock, podría quizás confundirse con que ser uno de esos tipos que hacen manifestaciones por todo para exigir respuestas del gobierno, pero tampoco va por ahí, quizás lo más cercano sea el cuestionamiento intelectual ante la propia vida que llevas o los problemas que ves a tu alrededor. Es como una denuncia constante, pero sin querer realmente hacerte el héroe.

Suena hermoso, pero también está el lado del fanático del rock que sólo quiere divertirse con buenas dosis de volumen con sus mejores bandas, asistiendo a todos los conciertos que pueda, devorando todas las revistas rockeras, comentando todos los sitios que hablen de sus grupos, además de crear su propia colección privada de música para presumirla al primer amigo que lleve a casa, pero corre el riesgo de quedar en sólo una víctima más del consumismo, con la diferencia de que en vez de que compre zapatos, gasta su dinero en rock.

Hace poco U2 cuestionó que su disco no se estaba vendiendo como hubieran deseado y comprobaron -lo que se ha dicho antes- el consumidor de música ya no le interesa tener un CD, sino más bien el archivo para combinarlo con otras bandas. Aunque no lo afirmaron, el cuestionamiento de Bono y compañía iba dirigido hacía que probablemente se estén viviendo los últimos días de popularidad del rock, porque si ellos ya no venden, pues ¿cómo le irá a los demás?

Curiosamente es ahí donde entraría el estilo de vida del rock, ya que en una época donde todos escuchan hip-hop, reggeaton, norteñas, duranguense, pop bailable y otros ritmos, seguir escuchando la música que creó Chuck Berry, Little Richard o Elvis Presley, te hace prácticamente un sobreviviente o hasta un elitista musical y la élite, sin duda, es una forma de vivir.

Ya no importa que no uses pelo largo, incluso puedes usar tu saco y corbata diariamente, vestir traje sastre, y tener la imagen de un padre o madre de familia cualquiera, pero en tus bocinas seguirá sonando Black Sabbath, The Cure, Santana o Def Leppard.

Y mantendrás una actitud rebelde siempre contra lo establecido,  porque seguramente, serás el que más se enfrenta al jefe, el que más ha renunciado a un trabajo, el que más vive apasionadamente, el que sigue soltero, el que más se ha divorciado o hasta el más fiel del mundo cuando encuentras a la compañera que escucha aTestament.

O quizás eres el que se emociona cuando un niño baila con Mötley Crüe, el que vive su vida acompañado siempre con una rola de una banda de rock, el que hace el blog de su estrella favorita sin que la paguen nada, o el que recomienda siempre a un grupo para que te hagas fan de ellos.

Casi puedo apostar  y sino que se me aparezca el diablo ahorita, tú solamente pones a Siouxsie o a Megadeth, a todo volumen en tu vecindario, ya que eres el único en tu calle que escucha rock del bueno, del chingón.

Y eso es un estilo de vida y no depende de tu imagen, sino de lo que sientas y de la pasión que tengas por el rock. Por eso muchas veces me pregunto de dónde sale tanta gente en los conciertos, cuando en tu cuadra todos están escuchando a Wisin y Yandel. Tristemente creo que son los mismos que fueron a ver a Metallica, porque su pareja los llevó.

Mejor relajémonos, pero creo que en pocos años el rock se volverá tan elitista como el jazz, y sólo será para unos miles, ya no para millones, es así donde verdaderamente se volverá un estilo de vida sin ningún cuestionamiento.

SALUD Y LARGA VIDA AL ROCK.

Manchmal wünschte ich mir ich hätte das Selbstvertrauen anderer, wie zum Beispiel von Beth, der Sängerin von The Gossip. Anscheinend hat sie in ihrer Kindheit und Jugend zu viel Hühnchen gegessen, doch trotz ihres Aussehens steht sie auch gern mal in Dessous auf der Bühne oder posiert vor der Kamera. Anfang der 90er Jahre nannte man das Rrriot-Girl-Bewegung, eine neue aggressivere Form des Feminismus. Übrigens, das auf dem Cover ist nicht Beth.

Zur Musik: Die klingt wie New Wave Anfang der 80er Jahre zu seinen besten Zeiten. Nach Blondie oder Siouxsie and The Banshees. Und es klingt stark nach Kosheen. Ich liebe New Wave und ich mag Kosheen, von daher hatten Gossip also leichtes Spiel. Hinzu kommt noch Beth’s Stimme, die manchmal etwas dünn und zu hoch klingt, aber im Großen und Ganzen wunderbar zur Musik passt. “Dimestore Diamond” beginnt noch etwas verhalten, es klingt fast als würden Gossip mit angezogener Handbremse starten. Aber schon mit “Heavy Cross” gehts richtig zur Sache, leider hat man diesen Titel schon zu oft im Radio gehört. “8th Wonder” brettert dafür richtig rein und “Long Love Distance” ist einfach nur Klasse. Im Mittelteil des Albums wird es dann etwas ruhiger, aber mit “2012″ gehts dann nochmal richtig zur Sache. Für mich der stärkste Song des Albums, “Love and let love” reicht da ebenfalls fast heran. Die letzten beiden Tracks sind ein starker Abgang und machen Appetit auf ein weiteres Gossip-Album, oder ich schau mal wo das neue Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Album ist. Von mir 4 Sternchen.

Tracklist:

1. Dimestore Diamond
2. Heavy Cross
3. 8th Wonder
4. Love Long Distance
5. Pop Goes The World
6. Vertical Rhythm
7. Men In Love
8. For Keeps
9. 2012
10. Love And Let Love
11. Four Letter Word
12. Spare Me From The Mold

This week I’m staying in S. Agata, on the coast about an hour south of Naples, and today I’m off to see for the first time Pompeii, so buried stuff is on my mind. It’s in the nature of a blog that stuff gets buried – this post is me resurrecting 4 of my favourite posts from this blog:

1 Starless and Bible Black

on titles, jazz, Dylan Thomas and Joyce’s Ulysses

2 What Is It Worth?

on Buffalo Springfield, Belsen and what’s of true value

3 Fear & Sex

a survey of the Daily Mail, anxiety and sex

4 In the beginning of the End (serpent mix)

a remix of The Doors’ The End and the first chapter of Genesis (the bible book not the band)

And on the subject of great songs, the soundtrack for today (fortunately it’s on the ol’ iPod) must be Siouxsie & the Banshees’ Cities in Dust – after all these years it’s going to come into its own:

“Water was running, children were running
We found you hiding, we found you lying
Your city lies in dust
Ohh oh your city lies in dust, my friend

Hot and burning in your nostrils
Pouring down your gaping mouth
Your molten bodies blanket of cinders
Caught in the throes

Ohh oh your city lies in dust, my friend
Ohh oh your city lies in dust, my friend”

The Great Kat

Opera IX  ” Cadaveria”

My Ruin

Atari teenage riot

Nuclear Death

Demonic Christ

Die Form

Garbage

Elastica

Shellyz Raven

Sonic youth

Arch Enemy

Astarte

Plasmatics

Siouxsie And the Banshees

Doro

When I was a young girl I thought I’d lose my virginity to Robert Smith and become his sidekick like Siouxsie (both pictured above). It didn’t happen and I’m ok with it.

I thought we’d go to Pluto…

I stumbled across this incredible street art piece last week. Someone meticulously created this exquisite piece out of sheet moss and then stapled it up onto the board near the sidewalk. I’d love to know who did this and if they’ve done anything else. Certainly I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled.

(Photos by Christopher Stribley. Union Square, New York, September 19, 2009.)

The title comes from one of my favourite Siouxsie & the Banshees songs, “Scarecrow,” from Peepshow. I’ll post the lyric here, as this is a prime example of Siouxsie at the height of her powers.

Scarecrow

(Siouxsie & the Banshees, 1988.)

He trembles in the bitter wind
Until it’s time for us to speak
Whilst others here are sleeping sound
I’ll slip away by floorboard creak

Upon the hill he’ll hear my secrets
Shock the colours to bleach inside
Whilst others there are sleeping sound
Just we two will confide

Listen to his body moan
Make a wish and send us home
To spin the gold and silver stitches
We can turn his rags to riches

With frosty Jack on fingernail
Thro’ shoe black smile he’ll tell-a-tale
Come whisper thro’ your lips of straw
A moment torn forever more

Listen to his body groan
Make a wish and send us home
To spin the gold and silver stitches
We can turn his rags to riches

My so-called friends say you’re not alive
I’ll bake their bones for telling lies
Then pull the pastry from the pie
And pour the gravy in their eye

Listen to his body moan
Make a wish and send us home
To spin the gold and silver stitches
We can turn his rags to riches

(Photo by Christopher Stribley. Lower East Side, NY, September 7, 2009.)

Swing Youth, a Watford quartet, are releasing a double a-side single, Myself To Blame/Blade of Grass on October 12th. Half of all proceeds made from the single will be going to the Royal British Legion, which I’m helping the band to promote.

You can check out the video for Myself To Blame below, and then if you like it, have a look at their Myspace: www.myspace.com/weareswingyouth

It’s very rare that I’ll copy and paste wholesale a press release on here, so forgive the switch in service, but It’s for a good cause!

SWING YOUTH

MYSELF TO BLAME / BLADE OF GRASS

Swing Youth release their infectious double a-side debut single ‘Myself To Blame / Blade of Grass’ on October 12th. The band who only formed in the spring of 2009 have been busy writing and crafting their enthralling set above the music venue they run in Twickenham London, where the buzz around this band and music scene is really building.

Word is spreading fast about Swing Youth’s fast and frantic live performances and musically the bands influences from the postpunk era are clear to see, the likes of The Cure, Siouxsie, Joy Division, and X-Ray Spex are all in the mix.

The single will be available as a limited edition CD, downloadable through most digital outlets and streamable through Spotify. The official video for ‘Myself to Blame’ is now available to listen to and watch on the Swing Youth YouTube channel.

Swing Youth are a pair of brothers originally from Watford, Chris and Dave Chanell and Louie and Jimmy Johnson. The band take their name from the 1940s German counter culture which gave German youth the freedom to express themselves in a National-Socialist society through meeting in secret jazz and swing clubs.

Following the death of a former schoolmate serving with the British forces in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, 50% of the single sales will be donated to the Royal British Legion.

“When we heard the news of Captain Tom Sawyers death, it really brought it all home and made the on-going troubles in Afghanistan far more real. The Royal British Legion do some amazing work to support families of servicemen and so we wanted to give something back.

“We have since played some rock n roll covers shows regularly at the Royal British Legion, its always busy for us and we are made to feel really welcome within that community.

In the autumn Swing Youth will be continuing to build on the buzz around their local area with a series of shows in both Twickenham and Watford whilst also coming into central London.

Further Swing Youth tracks are available at www.myspace.com/weareswingyouth

The Swing Youth Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/swingyouth

October 17th – Royal British Legion, Rickmansworth – Myself To Blame Single launch

(w/ Marner Brown)

Making it louder is always a good approach towards making it better.

O Emissão 17 é um programa dedicado a grandes canções que viraram covers de outros artistas, que com sua arte, deram às músicas personalidade e vida própria, com arranjos e interpretações que marcaram época.

Tudo começa com o Van Halen, em sua formação clássica do disco Diver Down detonando com “Dancing in the Street” do grande Marvin Gaye. A canção recebeu inúmeras versões ao longo de décadas – essa com a maestria de Eddie Van Halen e os maneirismos de David Lee Roth ficou impagável e junto com a versão de Jagger e Bowie são as reproduções mais conhecidas da música.

O primeiro bloco abre com THE KING, o cara é um grande cover do Elvis e lançou nos anos 90, o álbum Gravelands, fazendo versões improváveis de canções no estilo Elvis Presley. Selecionamos de Bob Marley – “No Woman no Cry” que ficou sutil mesmo com o vozeirão do figura que tem muito talento e bom gosto. O bloco continua com os escoceses do Aztec Camera que direto dos anos 80, nos trazem versão interessante do clássico “Jump” dos já citados Van Halen.  Essa versão - clássico eterno da banda californiana, rolou muito no final dos anos 80 e virou uma grande referência para o mundo dos acústicos à partir da década de 90. Continuamos com REM, e cover dos sempre malditos Velvet Underground com a singela “There she goes again”. Fecha o bloco o sensacional Echo and the Bunnymen na grande versão de “People are Strange” com produção e teclados do próprio Ray Manzarek até superando a original dos seminais The Doors.

O segundo bloco chega com Depeche Mode e sua incrível versão de “Route 66″ do mega Chuck Berry – eternizada pelos Stones nos anos 60 e que na roupagem eletrônica dos caras ganha vida nova. Para mantér o pique nada como Siouxsie and the Banshees com “Hall of Mirrors” dos eletrônicos Kraftwerk. Já no pique dos Banshees, pegamos a banda feminina Lunachicks com “The Passenger” que ficou famosa com a Siouxsie mas é original de Iggy Pop, fecha o bloco os ingleses do Garbage com homenagem aos Ramones – “I just want to have something to do”.

O bloco final, sempre mais roqueiro, começa com os ingleses The Automatic e a sonzeira de “Epic” do Faith no More, seguido dos super talentosos Living Colour e cover de James Brown – “Talking loud and saying something” em versão pesadona e cheia de groove. Agora é porrada com Metallica em versão dos Misfits ao-vivo - ”Last Caress”. Fecha o programa Sepultura em formação clássica fazendo versão do Black Sabbath - ”Symptom of the universe”

CURTE O SOM GALERA !!

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Friday’s song is #383:

Siouxsie & the Banshees – Bring Me the Head of the Preacher Man

Strong case for the argument that this band’s best period was around 1983-86 with Robert Smith from the Cure moonlighting on guitar. This is a marriage made in heaven, Siouxsie at the absolute top of her game as outraged witness, Smith tossing off one eerie Arabesque after another in this absolutely hypnotic, macabre, epic masterpiece from the Hyaena lp, 1983.

my beloved cardigan. it’s black has washed out in some places take care of it if you want it. for more photos just ask!

As concerts in New York go, this was something of a landmark, representing both the vanguard and the old guard of cutting-edge Turkish music, something that according to people involved with the project would have been far less likely to have taken place on Turkish soil. Istanbulive AKA the Turkish Woodstock was a quick sellout (or the equivalent – the Summerstage arena was filled to capacity minutes after the opening act, the NY Gypsy All-Stars took the stage). This time around, acclaimed Turkish clarinetist Husnu Senlendirici stood in for the mostly instrumental group’s usual reed man Ismail Lumanovski, taking the music in a surprisingly but effectively murky, pensive direction. In Turkey, the clarinet carries the same connotation as the sax does here, frequently the instrument of choice for bandleaders and for party music in general. Where Lumanovski is a ferociously intense player, someone who typically goes straight for the jugular, Senlendirici took a characteristically more spacious and contemplative approach, an apt fit for several of the ballads in the set. With a rhythm section including electronic keyboards along with guitar and kanun, they alternated between tricky, rousing dances and quieter fare, some simply instrumental versions of Turkish pop hits which became mass karaoke for the high-spirited audience. One of them sounded like the old Burt Bacharach standard Never Gonna Fall in Love Again set to a more complex rhythm. Their best number featured a guest chanteuse doing a wistful, homesick Armenian folk song backed by just keys and clarinet.

The unannounced Brooklyn Funk Essentials followed with a brief, entertaining mini-set with Senlendirici out front (their 1998 album with him is a major moment in American/Middle Eastern fusion), working a dark reggaeish vibe on the first tune, following with a straight-up funk number that lept doublespeed into ska. They then did a funny ska version of the Mozart Rondo a la Turk, and were out of there – a quick rehearsal for their show later at City Winery maybe?

Painted on Water maintained the cutting-edge vibe, delivering the afternoon’s most electrifying moments. Frontwoman Sertab Erener is a star in her home country, and this mostly English-language project – her vocals and accent are flawless – ought to expand her audience exponentially. Kicking off the set with a long, passionate, intense vocalese intro, it was clear that she had come to conquer. Like Siouxsie Sioux without the microtones, she showed off a forceful, defiant wail that on the next-to-last song of the set she unleashed with unrestrained fury, a stunning crescendo that seemed to defy the laws of physics. That such a relatively small, lithe frame could cut loose such a powerful blast of sound was a wonder to behold. Then she did it again.

They built up to that with an intriguingly cross-pollinated blend of tastefully jazzy, guitar-driven, blues and Turkish-inflected rock songs. Guitarist Demir Demirkan came across as something of a warmer Andy Summers, casually tossing off artfully precise flourishes in a multitude of styles, sticking with a clean, trebly tone. The anthemic 1000 Faced Man, from the group’s brand-new debut cd packed a funereal, Doorsy wallop, courtesy of some totally Manzarek-esque organ from the keyboardist. On the next number Demirkan matched Erener note for note, his lines thick with vibrato and apprehension, as she went off with more vocalese. The catchy, swaying, syncopated Shut up and Dance brought back the psychedelic vibe with another long, haunting organ solo. On one of the tables in the seating area to the right of the stage, a little girl methodically built an impressive pyramid out of the plastic wine goblets they were using back there, which stood resolute until blown over by a gust of wind. It made a good visual counterpart to the steadfastly wary, purist intensity of Demirkan’s playing.

Legendary Turkish rockers Mazhar Fuat Ozkan turned the vibe back to haunting, at least for awhile. Because of their three-part harmonies, the comparison they always get is CSNY and that’s completely wrong because they’re far darker – their closest western counterpart would probably be early, Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, or perhaps Barclay James Harvest before they turned into the poor man’s Moody Blues, with more than a few echoes of Pink Floyd. Their mostly slow-to-midtempo anthems mixed lush, sometimes elegaic layers of guitar over stately descending progressions that owe more to western classical music than to either rock or traditional Turkish melodies, and these were potently effective. As with many of their contemporaries who date back to the early 70s, their attempts to incorporate slicker, funkier, more commercial sounds were less successful (artistically, at least, though the crowd loved them), taking on a derivative feel that the lead player’s metalish guitar licks only aggravated. As Kerouac said, first thought, best thought – stick to what you do best and you can’t go wrong.

• .punching up some bag lady named everlast.here comes hobocop.had better flee like a flea now.3:57 PM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• @BrodyDalle .fork the cook.in the face.and ears.and eyes.3:50 PM Jun 13th from mobile web

• .do you have three testicles? .shooting an ad campaign for rape your neighbors and the theme is triple threat.3:48 PM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• .i need a new taboo.my cinnamon bun humping offends no one.1:43 PM Jun 13th from web

• .humping warm cinnamon buns at @FamousCinnabon.12:29 PM Jun 13th from web

• listening to “Misery Signals “The Year Summer Ended in June” – ” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~85hz45:34 AM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• .i want to remix your seven inch.6:42 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Muppet Face – Xiu Xiu” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~84qhp6:19 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .if i never die sanctified let me die blessed.6:19 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .the release date for the new chumbawamba ep? the date that nasty margaret thatcher dies! www.chumba.com/thatchep.html .die die die.6:12 PM Jun 12th from web

• @ooohchristina .protège-moi de mes désirs!5:55 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to ooohchristina

• .v is for vino. http://twitpic.com/786q3 .such is the plunder of a house abandoned and seized by the bank.picture of the broken window next?2:22 PM Jun 12th from web

• listening to “Just A Thought – Gnarls Barkley” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~84bgu2:09 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .the perm whales are waiting to beach.1:58 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Interview (1963) – Salvador Dali” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~848xu1:31 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• @deathoftheparty .invocation of demon brother.a soundtrack by mick jagger. http://ubu.clc.wvu.edu/soun…1:11 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to deathoftheparty

• .cactus jack is a prick.9:18 AM Jun 12th from web

• “Nature has put no large object on the face of New England so glaringly white as a white house.”7:38 AM Jun 12th from web

• .quite excited for surveillance: http://www.apple.com/traile… .looks like daddy @DAVID_LYNCH is executive producer.7:28 AM Jun 12th from web

• listening to “Crazy English Summer – Faithless” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~83igr7:16 AM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp Or what’s a heaven for?”7:04 AM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• for this #followfriday do f the following five: @quietube @TheRealElvira @sseverin @jimgoad @vsxe3:57 AM Jun 12th from mobile web

• .vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.6:50 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• listening to “UMBRELLA (VNDLSM REMIX) – RIHANNA” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~82ly36:46 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .soldiers with erections die hard.like old habits.6:34 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Jet Boy Jet Girl – Elton Motello” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~82kuy6:28 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .finally saw gegen die wand this morning. http://is.gd/ZfzQ .gegen die wand.that means against the wall.head-on.this tweat means i liked it.4:42 PM Jun 11th from web

• .using croutons to build a crouton.e pluribus unum.2:40 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• @stoya .foggy in philadelphia? .but i thought… http://en.wikipedia.org/wik…’s_Always_Sunny_in_Philadelphia1:58 PM Jun 11th from mobile web
• “There’s so much buried in the past to steal from, one’s resources are limitless.”8:11 AM Jun 11th from web

• listening to “Trash – New York Dolls” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~81b9g7:40 AM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .seventy years ago orwell wrote “last night fairly heavy rain for 4-6 hours, which has freshened things up greatly.” .not much has changed.6:23 AM Jun 11th from web

• @clintcatalyst .oh hedda hopper.am i the only one who thought morrissey pronouncing head as hed-da in sing your life was a bit of a nod?5:42 AM Jun 11th from web in reply to clintcatalyst

• Λ: All i know is that opportunity knocks. V: .all i know is that opportunity knocks you up.2:58 PM Jun 10th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Living On Video – Trans X” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7zzly2:54 PM Jun 10th from Ping.fm

• listening to “The Only Good Fascist Is A Very Dead Fascist – Propagandhi” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7y1tt5:54 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawlwo’ole” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7xz9z5:14 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• @rstevens .you seem afraid of a watery grave so allow me to comfort you.in space no one can hear you steam.4:06 PM Jun 9th from mobile web

• .an amtrak en route to star trek is slicing thru a gang of drunks at play on the rails.hobos under bridge point and laugh at the meat heaps.4:02 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .231 followers? .glad to be over 132 followers but why not 321 followers? .i suppose 321 will come in time.how soon is NOWGODDAMNITNOW?3:54 PM Jun 9th from mobile web

• .watch devil doll: www.is.gd/VEei .not to be confused with the 1936 film the devil-doll by freaks director tod browning.see that too.1:35 PM Jun 9th from web

• listening to “The Metric System – Trash Palace feat Brian Molko” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7xhvq1:05 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• @Nick13Official .entire b-movies including devil doll on the amc site: http://www.amctv.com/b-movi…10:08 AM Jun 9th from web in reply to Nick13Official

• listening to “Nostalgia – Mirror feat. Dave Gahan” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7×1649:13 AM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .carl: “Vjesci u are a mystic A wonderful poet who is very smart Wish I could know more about u I never get a direct answer to my questions”7:21 AM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .a living hell is the best revenge.10:27 PM Jun 8th from web

• listening to “tomorrow never comes – VNV Nation” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7wawo10:26 PM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• @Wossy discussing vulva fragrance: http://bit.ly/SbvP2 .buy a bottle: www.smellmeand.com10:12 PM Jun 8th from web in reply to Wossy

• .big brother is swatching you.big brother is swatching me.big brother is swatching you.big brother is swatching me.being swatched.swatched.9:23 PM Jun 8th from web

• .glazed your favourite barbie with the cum i pumped out of you last nite and while i nibble vegan voodoo donuts i melt barbie in a skillet.9:08 PM Jun 8th from web

• .audrey: who r u?? @VJESCI: .a spell checker.you may want to write that again.6:03 PM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Caroline Says – Suede with Siouxsie Sioux” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7uigt6:52 AM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• .any of you not-that-easy-being-gemini types out there who listen to @duranduran should enjoy what nick rhodes wrote: www.is.gd/SZfd4:22 AM Jun 8th from web

• .not that easy being green with envy.3:45 AM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• “Sister is busy learning to shave, Brother just loves his permanent wave, It’s hard to tell ‘em apart today! Hey, hey!”7:15 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @Rayke .erotically pouring coffee on yourself will not get you laid but will get you hurt and when you call 911 www.is.gd/SaGw will happen.4:25 PM Jun 7th from web in reply to Rayke

• .any watcher of invader zim should recognize @rikkisimons in zoo ambience as the the darling voyce of gir.or not. ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7tfvh3:55 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @DarylPalumboCC http://bit.ly/rEjRc .vote @brokencyde off @warped09 www.is.gd/S6yI3:13 PM Jun 7th from web in reply to DarylPalumboCC

• .prayer.from your lips to gods rear.3:06 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @tommy_rumor .forget the tommyknockers. @tommyhilfiger is a tommynazi.SIEG HEILFIGER: http://bit.ly/BstDZ12:47 PM Jun 7th from web

• .that last captcha was PANTIESS.12:06 PM Jun 7th from web

• “LICENSED TO SELL ALL INTOXICATING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF THE PREMISES”12:06 PM Jun 7th from web

• .imagining james dean driving jayne mansfield home and whether they live or die will be defined by how much ink is in this pen.11:54 AM Jun 7th from web

• @Franklero .no past no present no future is thee punk album of the year.alas dominic mallary is dead… www.myspace.com/lastlights11:37 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to Franklero

• .do you dj on blip? http://blip.fm/invite/VJESCI .hang the dj hang the vj…esci.11:29 AM Jun 7th from web

hey, look – its june 2009 & i haven’t made a mix-tape (disk? playlist?) in sometime.  i was killing time the other day so i threw together some shit that i’m loving at this moment – some of it is new, some of it old, some funky & filled with hooks – other tracks a lil’ quieter… but all good imho.  want a copy?  let me know… or better yet, show the bands some love & spend .99 on them, most of these tunes are on itunes.

baditude | spoon, harris + obernik

this was a huge dance floor jam last summer & it still amazes!  dave spoon, paul harris & vocalist sam obernik join forces for this instant classic.  we’ve used it a ton in runway shows & trust me, girls can walk the fuck out of this groove.  turn this baby up loud in the car, with the windows down.  

disco heaven | heloise & the savoir faire

what do you get when you mix “tina turner beyond the thunderdome era…diana ross central park 1983 era…and the french revolution”?   nyc’s club scene/fashion provocateur’s heloise + the savoir faire.  disco punk never sounded so fun.  debbie harry is swooning in her hair bleach even as we speak.  i’ve been addicted to their cd ‘trash, rats & microphones’ for about 6 months now, the full album never ceases to get me to jump around my apartment like a fool.  

heads will roll | yeah yeah yeahs

what new order started in 1983 with ‘blue monday’ evolves sweetly into the brand new yeah yeah yeahs track ‘heads will roll’ – it’s urgent, synth-y & pure dance floor sex.  the infectious groove get’s under your skin & sticks to your bones.  and based on their gig last week at minneapolis’ 1st ave, we finally have a proper heir to siouxsie’s throne.  throbbing, sexy, hard, soft, aggressive & vibrant.  all at the same time.

i was made for loving you | queen of japan

having absolutely nothing to do with japan (are a nebulous group of producers + catriona shaw on vox), queen of japan are a confusing lot.  they’ve made their underground name on remaking (reworking?  destroying?) well known tunes with an ear towards sleaze/electroclash.  the track here, originally done by kiss, turns into a slow-burn, deeply intimate/sexual come-on to an unseen girl.  is the music a lark, or is it meant to be taken serious?  not sure, but i do know i love the groove they’ve laid down & again, this thing sounds massive in a car or in headphones.

black + gold | katy perry

yeah, yeah, she kissed a girl and the track sucked balls.  she’s redeemed herself a bit here with this cover of last year’s sam sparro smash.  completely up-ending the tune and reworking it as an urgent, quiet ballad works well for the song (!) and for katy’s thin voice.  yeah, i love the original, but katy’s version opens new layers to sparro’s grammy-nominated song.  

listen to the darkside | charlie mars

this track is my new favorite as i just discovered it a week or so back.  one review i read compared him to the ethereal quality of daniel lanois mixed with a bit of g. love.  to that i would add some of the country-rock flavor the jayhawks.  the tune is a simple little groove that is quite lovely and subtle, but with a lot of soul.  

front street | the gutter twins

anyone who’s ever read any of my blogs knows i love me some greg dulli.  along with prince, siouxsie, peter gabriel, kate bush & concrete blonde; his songs have informed the better part of my musical world for the better part of 15 years.  this tune, off last year’s saturnalia was the result of a partnership with screaming tree’s mark lanegran  and finds dulli at his most confessional.  admitting secrets is never an easy thing, but his words evoke a dark feeling most of us are too afraid to tell the world.  for me, it’s amazing when a song can take you on a journey – and that’s just what front street does, granted its a dark journey, but a journey just the same. 

lassoo | the duke spirit

i discovered the duke spirit after they appeared on the last UNKLE record & was immediately taken with liela moss’ voice (NME calls moss’ a proper lady of rock, and what a wonderful thing that is).  then i checked out their sophomore effort, neptune, from-which ‘lassoo’ was taken and was quickly blown away.  the mix of big horn’s, 60’s grooves and tight hard rock makes for a pretty impressive sound.  

you can’t see me | grand ole party

ok, you won’t be able to get this track for a bit o’time – the band gave it out at a show i saw last week (they opened for the yeah yeah yeahs).  matt and I were completely impressed by this cali trio (by the way, the vocalist is also the drummer, how cool is that?)  the music itself is such a brilliant mix of that classic 60’s sound mixed with the modern edge of a siouxsie or a pj harvey.  i see big things happening for grand ole party .

tell the lie | the bellrays

discovered these guys via lead singer lisa kekaula’s appearance on the ’05 basement jaxx album kish kash.  and was a little taken aback by the bands punk/soul vibe (vs, the straight up soul/disco of the ‘jaxx), but the more i listen, the more i love.  this is what i think me’shell ndegeo’cello would sound like if she ever made a straight up bar/rock record.  powerful pipes supported my a very muscular lil’ punk/soul band.  nice job bellrays!

exit through you  | joseph arthur, peter gabriel aka big blue ball

i’ve talked at length about how much i love the world beat fusion rock record big blue ball (recorded over a 4 year period in the early 90’s & then guided to release over the next 13 years by karl wallinger (world party) and stephen hague (pet shop boys, annie lennox) before, and the album is still a-must listen to a couple times a week – and this is the track that fires on all cylinders.  arthur’s moody earthy vox and words partnered with gabriel’s world view is a great mix.  filled in with a cast of players from all over the world and you get one great tune – a tune that you’ll be humming for days to come.  

fucking boyfriend (peaches remix) | the bird & the bee

as a huge fan of the bird and the bee, i was giddy happy to see what electroclash queen peaches would do to this killer track.  what she does as a remixer is brilliant; she takes the track, twists it and builds the monster groove (in a club this would be amazing), but holds onto the essence of the song (love when it all drops out about 3/4 of the way in and your left with the simmering original vocal).  very nice peaches.  and yes, i would be your fucking boyfriend.

puppets | atmosphere

winning the title for best album name of 2008 (when life gives you lemons, you paint that shit gold), minneapolis based hip hop kings return with this moody, atmospheric (!) slow burning anthem.  puppets is simply an amazing piece of poetry with a really great groove underneath.  who’s it about?  who knows, but given they’re from minneapolis – there’s a ton of speculation that they’re about our purple prince.  slug’s words are nothing short of amazing:

i think its great how you used to be great

i cant hate on how you choose to relate

but i know that you had the potential

i understand why you wanted to let go

a lot of pressure in the middle of those shoulders

and we aint gettin nothin but older

aint nothin change but the day we run from

but nobody knows it better than you huh?

billionaire | peaches featuring yo majesty’s shunda k

all hail the queen.  peaches came back this year with the utterly amazing ‘i feel cream’ album.  what puppets did for subtlety, billionaire does for sheer force of power and bravado.  billionaire is raunchy, hard, throbbing and completely inspiring.  there’s power here in both her rap and shunda’s – these are women completely, unapologetically in control of their lives and sexuality.  lucky is the man (or woman) picked to please them.  peaches is the female equivalent to every male rock-fantasy icon in a way madonna can never be. 

absent minded friends | moloko

this is an old track that is stuck on repeat for me lately.  what grabs me every single time is the amazing production (layers upon layers; listen to it in headphones = amazing) mixed with róisín murphy’s amazingly fragile voice.  normally she sounds strong and hard, but her voice here is like a pane of thin glass.  i love that dichotomy.  surprise me like they did in 2000 with this release and i’ll come back time and time again.

i’m good, i’m gone (black kids remix) | lykke li

hailing equally from stockholm, portugal, lisbon, morocco, nepal & india, lykke li is much like a better travelled bjork.  albeit a better travelled bjork with more accessible tunes.  equal bits new wave & dance-pop – this tune is infectious and slinky.  as rolling stone said in their 100 best singles of ’08; “hand claps are the new power chords.”

quiet steam | peter gabriel

rumor has it that gabriel, fearing that his 1992 hit ‘steam’ would simply be dubbed ‘son of sledgehammer’, simultaneously recorded this muted, ambient version & released it as a b-side.  as great as steam is, this version just blows it away.  there is an aching, yearning quality to his voice that the pop version simply doesn’t have.  the rhythmic percussion, simple repeating guitar line (that maintains a bit of that soul/stax vibe the original has) & flutes move the song along a gentle winding stream. 

drifting away | faithless

i am dying to use this song in a show; i have the whole production mapped out in my head, now to just find the money and the talent!  hard to sum up this song in a paragraph – it’s just beautiful plain & simple… the opening vocals, to the percussive  (loose) beat.  the song just moves me.  

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Friday’s song is #418:

Siouxsie & the Banshees – Playground Twist

Throughout the best years of the punk icon’s career, her persona was that of an outraged witness and this is characteristic and offhandedly savage. As Margaret Atwood put it, to little girls, other little girls aren’t cute. They’re lifesize. From the classic Join Hands lp, 1979; mp3s are everywhere.

Every day, our top 666 songs of alltime countdown gets one step closer to #1. Sunday’s song is #437:

The Creatures – Venus Sands

When Siouxsie and Budgie aren’t busy with Siouxsie & the Banshees, they do this frequently scary minimalist project. This is that group’s best song, a ghastly, marimba-driven, atmospheric evocation of death from above that actually succeeds at what Hitchcock was trying to do with The Birds. From the Boomerang cd, 1989; mp3s are everywhere. The link above is the stream at last.fm.