Wire - "Pink Flag"

In an era of hackneyed Chuck Berry riffs, ill informed "political" lyrics, and intense amounts of self destruction, "Pink Flag" emerged as a wake up call. It was a post 70's album before the 70's even ended, a classy and loud, pissed off snarl. It packed surreal (yet oddly intelligent lyrics) with a perfectly balanced sense of production of pace. It was slow where it needed to be, fast where it needed to be, sad and happy only when necessary; it was (and still is) one of the most revolutionary albums ever made. And no-one even noticed when it was first released.
I find it really crazy that an album like this came out of the U.K right around the same time as The Clash, the Buzzcocks, The Damned, and even that dreaded bunch of posers The Sex Pistols. It makes me wonder, why didn't anyone pay attention? Why is Wire scarcely (if ever) mentioned in those retrospective music lists made by Rolling Stone or NME.com? My theory is that it was to ahead of its time. I think, in alot of ways, it still IS ahead of our time. I listen to it and parts of it make zero sense to me; and I love it for that very reason. It packs the speed and intensity that would one day become 80's hardcore with the delicacy and honesty that would manifest into "emo" music later down the line. The distortion is so crunchy and perfect sounding and then it switches to a barebones, raw, clean sound that makes you sit down and listen. It rocks, it rolls, and it speaks. It is such an important album in musical history, and it is really close to my heart. Rites of Spring, Fugazi, Minor Threat, and pretty much every local band in Calgary would not exist were it not for this band and this album. I could really rant on and on about this album but you should just check it out yourself to see what I mean. Enjoy!

1. Reuters
2. Field Day for the Sundays
3. Three Girl Rhumba
4. Ex Lion Tamer
5. Lowdown
6. Start to Move
7. Brazil
8. It's So Obvious
9. Surgeon's Girl
10. Pink Flag
11. The Commercial
12. Straight Line
13. 106 Beats That
14. Mr. Suit
15. Strange
16. Fragile
17. Mannequin
18. Different to Me
19. Champs
20. Feeling Called Love
21. 12XU

DL link here!

Wavves - "King of the Beach"

Seeing as how I just got home from a King of the Beach themed party last night, it only feels right to post this rad little gem of an album.

I typically don't trust Rolling Stone to give me good music or accurate reviews, but when they mentioned a band with a guy named Nathan singing accompanied by some long haired looking surfer dude in a Misfits shirt singing and playing a jazzmaster, I had to check them out. I wasn't dissapointed.
Wavves is the brainchild of Nathan Williams. Though it started with solo recordings from a bedroom, this was the first album he recorded with a full backing band (Jay Reatard's backing band, actually) in a full on studio, and its right about when Wavves stopped being an interesting little noise experiment and became a fun, unique band. Alot of people like to hate on Wavves (or so I have heard,) saying they are boring and un original. I say nay, you haters. Wavves rules!
It's beach ready fuzz pop, with a dash of punk thrown here and there. There's a ton of Beach Boys-style "oooohs" and Ramones buzzsaw riffs, with even a hint of 90's alternative here and there. Think Nirvana, if Kurt Cobain surfed and smoked weed instead of shot heroin. Whats real interesting, however, is the occasional exploration into noise rock and shoegaze they make, sandwiching optimistic sounding pop punk riffs with really surreal effects and lyrics. The production strikes just the right balance of slick sheen and lo fi noise, making for an organic -yet raw- sound. Its funny because I tend to prefer a bands lo-fi origins compared to its production heavy evolution, but I think Wavves went from a middle of the road noise project to a legitiment musical force with better sound quality and a full band. Just dont expect any deeper lyrics then mediations on girls, having fun, smoking up, and (you guessed it) the beach.
Overall, the album is brilliant in a really bratty, fun way. It juxtaposes all that sunny American good time surfer soul shit with tight, mean sounding riffs and apathetic values that cuts open the throat lets all the sunshine out. 60's slackers had surfing and lazing, modern day slackers have... Wavves. Or whatever. Its a really good record, so enjoy!

1. King Of The Beach
2. Super Soaker
3. Idiot
4. When Will You Come
5. Post Acid
6. Take On The World
7. Baseball Cards
8. Convertible Balloon
9. Green Eyes
10. Mickey Mouse
11. Linus Spacehead
12. Baby Say Goodbye


DL link here!



PS, here's me being a King of the Beach.

"Bring All The Suckers In;" why the Human Centipede was such a tease

I love Halloween. Its my favorite time of the year, even more so then Christmas, so I'm gonna be posting alot of horror related things on the blog here for a little while. I might even post a Misfits album or two, just for kicks. But I just saw the trailer for the second Human Centipede movie and it got me thinking about shock cinema.

First off, let me say that I saw the first Human Centipede... and I laughed at it. Not because it was a bad film exactly, but because so much controversy surrounded it.

Seriously, this was what offended people so much? The film was all hype and premise, with little to no pay off. Kinda like sex in a hot tub, or so I hear. The whole shock element (the centipede in question) was left almost entirely offscreen, there was little to no gore, and the whole "shitting in the mouth" situation was surprisingly un-graphic. Has nobody seen Salo, where tongues were cut off and excrement was eaten? Or Audition? (I'm not even gonna describe that one, just go youtube it and vomit.)

In other words, the film was either a brilliant social experiment to see how ultra PC types will judge by title alone... or it just sucked. The acting? I found the performance of the german doctor brilliant. He oozed a disturbed sense of evil that I haven't seen since Cushing last graced my screen. Just about everybody else was unbearable to watch onscreen, fulfilling every single modern horror cliche in the book. The script? Fair genericeric, if you've seen any other horror film or two.
Overall? The film accomplished exactly what I think it set out to do; shock people, play on expectations, and make alot of money. All of this, while in actuality being a fairly middle of the road film; not particularly good or bad, not shocking but not kid friendly either. It was bland. And yet, it made such a fuss.

I find it funny just how seriously people take these films. If your going and buying a ticket to a movie called "The Human Centipede" or "1000 Days In Sodom," you should know EXACTLY what your getting into. For me, I prefer the terribly produced grindhouse films of the 70's where the gore is just so ridiculous, you cant even take it seriously. I'm not a fan of shock and awe for the sake of shock and awe, which is why I'm more into "The Toxic Avenger" then "Flowers of the Flesh." For me, that kind of ultra violence can be equal parts bad ass and laughable. Hobo With A Shotgun was amazing, showing ultra violence so obscene that it just seemed goofy while anchoring it with an 80's sountrack, a solid story, and Rutger fucking Hauer. Plus, it was Canadian! (seriously, go see that film, a random little side note/recomendation.)

But at the end of the day, its all just cinema. Its entertainment, its a natural (and more conveniant) source of fun that has evolved from those old gladiator matches where slaves were killed for sport. Remember those sideshows full of "freaks and deformities" they had at carnivals during the turn of the century? These films are a distillation of that. Its aweful and kinda gruesome that humans are so entertained by these things but its just morbid curiosity out in the open. Why do you think so many people will gather around a crime scene, or watch a fire burn down a building? Its in our DNA to be messed up and fascinated by the extreme.

A movie like "The Human Centipede" would have simply been relegated to the arthouse theatres and sketchy movie rental places were it not for its title and the promise it made. But a shocking title and a sideshow-like slogan ("100 percent medically accurate")? That will bring all the suckers in.
In another brilliant move, the director of Centipede (Tom Six) went ahead and made a meta sequel that actually showed all the gore and violence. A perfect middle finger to critics like myself who laughed at his wannabe piece of shock entertainment. I wont go into details, but just reading the plot synopsis made me feel a bit ill.

Anyways, thats just me ranting. I find these films fascinating, even if they truly are just badly made... but I'm just messed up that way. And like any horror fan, I'm always game for something that might just make me want to vomit. Which is why I'm gonna watch The Human Centipede Part 2, and soak in all the family friendly entertainment it has to offer.

But I'm downloading it, because Tom Six already owns more of my money then he deserves. Fucker.

- Nathan

The Exploding Hearts - "Guitar Romantic"

So here's a sad story for yea.
A bunch of perfect looking young adults get together to write some of the most perfect music ever made. They make one sole, brilliant, underrated album. And then they get in a car crash after a gig and 3 of the 4 core members die far to young. Saddest story in a long time, especially after you listen to this one album of what could have been.
What could have been is one of the most influential power pop/rock bands ever. Seriously, I'm not exagerating, this entire album is just perfectly made and produced. The songs all sound different yet consistant, packing enough poppy garage punk jams with romance and cheap thrills to get your rocks off. Its poppy enough to appeal to the little girl in everybody yet raw enough to still feel legit. The lyrics are clever, fun, light hearted yet full of timeless teenage angst and mature longing. Its like a John Hughes movie and an episode of Happy Days had break up sex and spawned a baby that plays music. Oh and the best part? These old 70's sounding souls were active in the early 2000's. Bet you wouldnt have guessed that!
So download this and listen to a snapshot of what could have been. Best songs include "Throwaway Style" and "I'm a Pretender," for fans of dancable pop music that you wont feel guilty for listening to. Also, a great alternative to that "Moves Like Jagger" bullshit.

1. Modern Kicks
2. I'm A Pretender
3. Thorns In Roses
4. You're Black & Blue
5. Sleeping Aides & Razor Blades
6. Rumours in Town
7. Throwaway Style
8. Boulevard Trash
9. Jailbird
10. Still Crazy


DL Link here!

(ALSO GUYS, It is officially halloween season! which means plenty of schlocky horror movies, music, and dress up shows! expect a post on what to check out this october real soon.)