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Monday, May 21, 2012

Bad Brains and Homophobia

Posted by on Mon, May 21, 2012 at 1:01 PM

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Daryl Jenifer, the Bad Brain's bassist, answers this important question:
I got to ask you this because I think it's important. You'll be playing this weekend and at the same time the Gay Pride Parade will be going on in the city. A lot of people have written about and speculated on the whether the Bad Brains are homophobic or anti-gay. I was hoping you could address that and tell me exactly why the controversy exists, maybe put it to rest.

Check it out. All the things I've been telling you about the road and path of The Bad Brains, there was an era that lead into us discovering Rasta and Jah, and these things that were part of us being black and recognizing this part of our culture. Like with anything, say you're a young Krishna, there's a tendency to be over-zealous. We were over-zealous in our views about homosexuality, due to our ignorance, and the fact that we hadn't matured to a certain level. Just like anyone getting into anything. Every member of The Bad Brains are loving and we have nothing against any of god's creatures. In our growth and in trying to become wise and see life for what it is, without judgment, we went through a time where we did judge. Anyone can remember a time and say, "oh you remember when I was like that." A doctor can say, "Remember when I first worked the ER and was all nervous and people were looking at me when I was crazy." So when you're coming in as a young Rasta and discovering it, just like in Christianity, homosexuality isn't accepted. So being young Rasta and studying the religion that's what you see. But if you still continue to study and mature you'll find other texts that say, "love all god's creatures." So you can't just make your own thing and say, "This guys black, or this guys homosexual, I don't like him." The Bad Brains had a period of time where we might have said some things. Meanwhile, we were in a band and were popular, so it got out there. But someone took that and ran with it.

Fair enough. But the Bad Brains should do what the Beastie Boys did: Make an official apology. It matters. Bad Brains' influence was and still is huge. My experience of BB's records is far from orginal. I was one of the many lives changed by their music—its heaviness, its energy, its originality. "Pay to Cum," "I Against I," "Re-Ignition," "Return to Heaven"—these tracks exploded my understanding of culture. It was not fixed, it was not genetic, it was not destiny; it was fluid, mercurial, plastic. Culture was, for me and many others, permanently ungrounded by BB. Daryl Jenifer in another interview linked on Punk News:

When the Beastie Boys came down and saw four black dudes from D.C. shredding this punk, and then when they see Cool C or the early rap days [and] they say they want to rap: "If the Bad Brains played punk, I can rap."

If Bad Brains has officially apologized, and maybe this apology is in the new documentary (which I have not seen), then forget this post.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Atomic Bride's New Album, Dead Air, Fucking Rules!

Posted by on Fri, May 18, 2012 at 5:38 PM

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Locals Atomic Bride have a NEW album, Dead Air, coming out out this Tuesday!! Yup, and to celebrate they have a record release show tomorrow, Saturday, night at Lo-fi!!

If you're not in the know, Atomic Bride are a Seattle punk/garage band. I know...uh, it's 2012 what the fuck does "punk," much less "garage" mean? Well, Atomic Bride mixes it up, kinda, they know their shit. I'd say they're more of a punk group really 'cause they got a BIG sound AND are adept at ROCKIN' their shit OUT. Um, in the past I've seen 'em get a couple Cramps refs, and a few Rezillos comparisons, but I don't hear the Cramps. However, I'd reckon them Rezillos nods are kinda there. Miss Astra Elaine and Chris Cool switch off vox duty, so the boy vs girl hollerin' could make for the shoehorn. Of course, Miss Astra's inflections have plenty o' Cherrie Curry rock sass. I always thought they sounded like a real smart mid '90s SoCal/Flipside magazine group. Tho' I'd actually say they're way smarter than nearly all the SoCal/Flipside magazine groups, because their songs are written SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better.

So...the album?!? On Dead Air, their driving songs are all fucking GO-GO-GO, and the slow weird bits are moody and a little creepy—it works well. They keep dynamic variety balanced without shifting the vibe, and the songs are hung/strung together concept style. Whether or not there IS a concept, to me, don't matter, but it creates a mood and pulse that just WORKS. Dead Air is fantastic beginning to almost end. Speaking of the ending—my only problem, like, the ONE thing I wish was different—is IT NEEDED TO BE LONGER. Seriously, I want more. Dead Air clocks in at just under thirty-eight minutes...CRAP. I!! Want!!! More!!!!!! Next time, if y'all make a record THIS good, make it last twice as long...please!! Whatever, I'm quite stoked on this record. Really, I've almost worn the 0's 'n' 1's off'a my copy of the advance CD. Okay then, see y'all tomorrow night!

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El-P's Cancer For Cure Out Tuesday, Streaming Now

Posted by on Fri, May 18, 2012 at 1:46 PM

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  • COURTESY OF FAT POSSUM RECORDS
It's 2012, and Brooklyn hiphop auteur El-P is one of the genre's most hardened veterans. Founding Company Flow in 1992 and helping establish Rawkus Records as an East Coast powerhouse before leaving them on bad terms, and founding/leading seminal early-'00s indie-rap label Definitive Jux before having to put it on indefinite hiatus in 2010, El has rarely received proper appreciation for his vital and continuous contributions to hiphop music.

Thanks to the good people at Fat Possum, El Producto is releasing his fifth solo album (and his first in five years) this Tuesday. After a few listens I can definitely say that his pummeling, post-apocalyptic production style has evolved and aged well, and he can still weave a cryptic, paranoid narrative (see the eerily open-ended "For My Upstairs Neighbor") or flex some classic NY spit-flecked lyrical stuff with the best of em. Cancer For Cure shows El still in top form after fighting the good fight—that is, trying to release quality rap in a climate that continually promotes disposable wackness over good music—for all these years. Turn this one up, but use caution when listening to tracks like "Oh Hail No" (especially if you are a rapper), as the guest verses from Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire and Danny Brown might make you rethink your life.

Stream it here via Rolling Stone, cop it on Def Jux's otherwise abandoned website, and be sure to snatch up your tickets for El-P's July 1 show at Neumos with Killer Mike and Mr. Muthafuckin' Exquire soon, missing that kinda bill in Seattle would be a huge mistake on your part.

Meet King Khan's Black Jaspers!

Posted by on Fri, May 18, 2012 at 11:05 AM

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  • bumbershoot.org

Did you know King Khan, who's coming to Bumbershoot this fall with His Shrines, also has a spooky-ookey side project called the Black Jaspers? It's true!

Watch the new video, then read the spooky-ookey manifesto after the jump!

†SPIRITUAL† REVOLUTION †THROUGH† SONIC POLLUTION†
·≈∆¥º¥∆≈·†LSD·†2⁄10†SCUM†·≈∆¥º¥∆≈·

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sonny Boy Williamson (the Second) Blows It Clean

Posted by on Thu, May 17, 2012 at 10:53 AM

Here, pulled from the American Folk Blues Festivals Tours of 1963, is Sonny Boy Williamson (the Second) blowing harp and singing three songs, "Keep It to Yourself," the classic "Bye Bye Bird," and "Getting Out Of Town." Just watch the performance, he's always so smooth and slyly subtle. Always. His almost whispered sung voice never cracks or breaks big for show.


If you watch closely you can see him blowing harp using the inside of his mouth, like he puts his harp is IN his fucking mouth. Yeah, on the side where he seems to be missing a ton of teeth and lets it rip. It also looks like he plays with his nose too, uh-huh. Also...dig his two toned suit. NICE!! (sigh) This kinda genius just does not exist anymore.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Listen to a Bunch of New Main Attrakionz Songs That Came Out on the Internet Today

Posted by on Wed, May 16, 2012 at 3:52 PM

Twitter and other manners of teh modern Internets are telling me that it's Squadda B's birthday, so combined with the fact that nobody (neither me nor Larry, I mean) has posted about Main Attrakionz since the colossal-bummer announcement of their 4/22 show cancellation (which I am still HELLA bitter about) I thought I would throw these up for the enjoyment of the, like, four people that should find enjoyment in them.

First, here's birthday guy Squadda linking up with Arkansas MC Pepperboy on a typically cruising Ryan Hemsworth beat for "Stop Tryin." For a guy who couldn't legally drink until today, sounds like he's led quite a life.

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The Ragged Doo Rag

Posted by on Wed, May 16, 2012 at 1:50 PM

Before Bob Log, a jumpsuited man who plays an f holed guitar and sings through a phone attatched to a motorcycle helmet, went solo, he was not solo. He played with a guy who beat on cardboard boxes and metal buckets with sticks...together they were called Doo Rag. Right, so here they are playing live. Godamn.

If I remember correctly Doo Rag played at the OK Corral Hotel in, perhaps late 1995 or early '96. I didn't get to see them as my ride to the show NEVER showed. Uh, yeah, I'M STILL FUCKING ANGRY. Anyway, it's amazing how much that open-tuned f hole can fill the room, then add that guy beating on boxes and pieces of metal, and suddenly they were Pussy Galore-ing the shit out of everything. 'Cept, like, not so Pussy Galore angry. Obviously, then, their records are great—track 'em down. Bob Log, of course, would go on to be Bob Log the one man "I Want Your Shit On My Leg" show, from Tucson, Arizona.

I've always wondered, as busking weirdos, how Doo Rag's sookie madness would'a gone down at, say, the staid Ballard Sunday Market.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Azealia Banks's "Jumanji"

Posted by on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 3:46 PM

I think Line Out may have "slept," as the kids say, on the new Azealia Banks track, "Jumanji," which popped up on the intertubes at the end of last week. Go listen! Azealia Banks is so so so so so much fun! More great than this new one, actually, and one I've been thinking about lately because of our lovely weather and the video's perfect summeriness, is her older song "L8R." You will probably get parts of it stuck in your head. I hope, for your sake, they're parts that are okay to accidentally sing in a grocery store, as opposed to the particularly raunchy awesomeness that will get you weird looks. Enjoy!

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Bobby Womack Is The Bravest Man In The Universe

Posted by on Tue, May 15, 2012 at 12:36 PM


May god bless Damon Albarn and Richard Russell for giving The Womack a platform to sing his truth in 2012. I absolutely love this making-of video, and it does my heart glad to see Bobby pick up the guitar again. "I know I ain't the guitar player I used to be, but when I was a guitar player, I was bad. I knew I was, they couldn't keep up with me." Goddamn right.

But, as Guru said, with Bobby, it's mostly the voice: I got hooked on that beautiful, lifeworn voice the second I heard "Across 110th St" on the Jackie Brown soundtrack. Let the record show that he is one of the greatest to ever do it. His new album on XL drops next month, and it will be my first Tuesday afternoon, new music purchases in years. The title track debuted a couple weeks ago. Check it out after the cut.

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Friday, May 11, 2012

Kaplan's "I Like," Indeed, I Do!!

Posted by on Fri, May 11, 2012 at 2:26 PM

If any of you nerds are keeping up, admittedly I might be alone with THIS one, Kaplan Kaye is the son of English comedian Davy Kaye, not famous American Danny Kaye, close but no see-gar there eyeballs! GAH! Okay? So, why there has been interest Davy Kaye's son, Kaplan. Kaplan's real cool sike 45, the B side of his first single, "I Like."

Kaplan had two 45s on UK Phillips "Do You Believe In Magic"/"I Like" and "I Love It/Trousers Down." I haven't heard the second single...or anyone mention it, so I'm not sure how it rates. As Kaplan Kaye he continuned making records, he's now in artists management.

Monday, May 7, 2012

THIS Has Gotta Be the Most Motherfuckingest PUNK CD...EVER!!!

Posted by on Mon, May 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM

Watch these spokesmodels in "metal head" wigs try to sell you 36 top 40 hits from the 1980s as "punk" rock. Seriously, y'all, don't waste your money on CDs or tapes with only one or two GOOOOODDDD SONGS! Buy THIS!!

Huey Lewis, INXS, Men At Work, AND A Flock of Seagulls!! YEAH!! SO, just one question remains after hearing this sweet, sweet and most motherfuckingest of all punk comps...do you wanna MOSH or do you wanna THRASH, bro?!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Chris Hodge AKA/RE: The Semi-Forgotten Fruit of Apple Records

Posted by on Fri, May 4, 2012 at 10:24 AM

Ms. Fennessy, in line with your Apple post, here is another sorta lost Apple label 45 EVERYONE should know. It's a great glam that almost could be pop sike record. And never, usually, sells for more than TEN BUCKS!! With a sleeve no less. Hubba hubba!

Hodge only had a couple American singles on the Beatles' label, Apple, he was (drum roll) a Ringo (!!!) signing.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Bring on the Rabbitheads!

Posted by on Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 1:55 PM

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  • K.C. Fennessy

Until I came across this video, I'd never heard of Hamutsun Serve, the Japanese duo behind the "Usataku Dance," which I'm adding to my list of favorite rabbithead releases. While attending college, Rikiccho and Dah-yoshi formed the dance unit in 1999, and have since collaborated with Madonna on her Sticky & Sweet Tour (they appear during four songs). That still doesn't explain the rabbithead in the track suit—and I'd prefer not to know. It's more fun that way.



"Hamutsun Serve's dance lesson."

More clips below! Plus, rabbitheads from my collection.

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Friday, April 27, 2012

I Hearby Declare Today ELECTRIC DREAMS DAY

Posted by on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 10:31 AM

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Electric Dreams is a British-American film from 1984. It featured actors from Twin Peaks, Moonlighting, and Harold & Maude, and was directed by the man behind a certain A-ha video.

Listen to the soundtrack.

Watch the whole thing.

Wear the belt.

Repeat!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

I Hearby Declare Today ELECTRIC EELS DAY

Posted by on Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Electric eels were a band from Lakewood, Ohio. They went to the same high school that I did, but graduated exactly 20 years earlier. Lakewood, Ohio is a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. The electric eels were active between 1972 and 1975. Those were dour times for the Cleveland area.

The Cuyahoga River had caught on fire, unemployment was through the roof, crime was rampant, but the Cleveland music scene was thriving with some of the most original music ever. The Mirrors, Rocket From the Tombs, Pere Ubu, X Blank X, the Dead Boys and the Styrene Money Band all came from or were influenced by this brilliant era of pre-punk art music.

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Electric eels (actually lowercase "e"s in reference to e e cummings) only played in public five times. Each performance was rife with audience conflict, police visits and the band members beating each other to a pulp. Founder + guitar player John Morton admits to being influenced by free jazz: "I remember listening to Ornette Coleman, John Cale, Sun Ra and Albert Ayler. That's what the eels was supposed to be, but we didn't really understand it." We're friends on Facebook, but he's never responded to any of my interview requests. The original band was rounded out by Dave "E" McManus on vocals & clarinet and Brian McMahon on guitar. Many of their early Cleveland gigs included hitting sheet metal with sledgehammers, anvils, and a power lawnmower on stage. The band soon left Cleveland and moved to Columbus after receiving death threats for sleeping with "one too many married women."

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Nick Knox (later to drum with the Cramps) was in electric eels in 1975, shortly before the band collapsed. The recordings of rehearsals from this era comprise most of the output of the band, including the 1978 Rough Trade single "Agitated" b/w "Cyclotron." Rumor is that the band broke up after playing a gig at Case Western Reserve college which ended in a fist fight between the members. There is a ton of material available that has been released over the years. If you're interested, check out the Eyeball of Hell compilation LP, or the Those Were Different Times collection. Unfortunately, both of those might be out of print at the moment.

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Boy, I've Got Wood...Deadwood

Posted by on Thu, Apr 26, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Well, SHIT, I got nothing on this group, Deadwood. Perhaps...maybe, they weren't for real, like they were a studio group?! Well, I do know they were English and had two 45s on Decca, "The Turning Of Them All" b/w "That Don't Help Me None" and "Me And My Friends" b/w "Little Joe," and both were issued in early 1971. "That Don't Help Me None" seems to be the best they had to offer. It's even gotten some club spins, but to me seems a bit too on the prog end of things to make the dancers groove. It is great track tho' it and certainly nods to late 1968. The second single I've not heard and is said to be quite lame.

Forgive, if you can that vid, it's a clip from Village Of The Giants. I think the clip was slowed down for MAXIMUM go-go girls in bikini effects!! Hubba HUBBA!! "That Don't Help Me None" has been comped twice, on A Visit To The Spaceship Factory and Psychamania.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tanlines at Neumos

Posted by on Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 1:06 PM

Eric Emm of Tanlines
  • ER

Last night, Eric Emm and Jesse Cohen of Tanlines took the stage at Neumos knowing that they were supposed to play the smaller room below. Because of that, Cohen confessed that he felt he needed to "really bring it", and he certainly did not disappoint. With an impressive percussive array at hand - snare, tom, bongos, crash, MIDI drum pads, synths, and laptop—Cohen and Emm brought a pumped up set to a pumped up crowd, who comfortably wiggled and shook throughout their 11 song set. There were even a handful of crowd surfers—at a synth pop show. Not too shabby.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Re: July 20-22: Partial Capitol Hill Block Party 2012 Lineup and Ticket Info

Posted by on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 3:00 PM

With all due respect to the other artists in the Capitol Hill Block Party lineup (announced earlier today), the most exciting band playing, to my mind, are the Psychic Paramount. I wrote about the New York group on Line Out and in The Stranger before, and I hope to do so in some depth in the future, but for now just know that the Psychic Paramount stand as one of the country’s foremost creators of transcendental noise-rock maximalism. They’re the best Load band that’s never been on Load.

Check out one of the Psychic Paramount’s peaks, “Para5,” which sounds like High Rise covering Miles DavisOn the Corner.

Babysitting W/ The Nuge

Posted by on Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 2:27 PM

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Friday, April 20, 2012

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Thursday, April 19, 2012

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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

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I <3 Tomten

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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

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Everyone Loves Blondie

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

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Origababes

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

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RIP, Dale Yarger

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Monday, April 2, 2012

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

 

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