Wednesday, August 28, 2013

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (08/28/13)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Hammer of the Gods", featuring hard rock, proto-metal and more! If you like what you hear, be sure to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter

Artist - Song - Album
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin - Friends - Led Zeppelin III
Blue Cheer - Doctor Please - Vincebus Eruptum
Blue Cheer - Out Of Focus - Vincebus Eruptum
Cactus - One Way...Or Another - Cactology: The Cactus Collection
Cactus - You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover - Cactology: The Cactus Collection
Blues Creation - Mississippi Mountain Blues - Demon & Eleven Children
Blues Creation - Atomic Bombs Away - Demon & Eleven Children
Captain Beyond - Dancing Madly Backwards (On A Sea Of Air) - Captain Beyond
Captain Beyond - Mesmerization Eclipse - Captain Beyond
Positive Express - Not On The Outside - Changin' Times
Vanilla Fudge - The Sky Cried - When I Was A Boy - Renaissance
Vanilla Fudge - Faceless People - Renaissance
Edgar Broughton Band - Momma's Reward (Keep Them Freaks A-Rollin') - Sing Brother Sing
Edgar Broughton Band - Old Gopher - Sing Brother Sing
Pink Fairies - Do It - Never Never Land
Pink Fairies - Teenage Rebel - Never Never Land
Black Sabbath - War Pigs - Paranoid
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Paranoid
Budgie - Rocking Man - Squawk
Budgie - Stranded - Squawk
Motörhead - Ace Of Spades - No Remorse
Motörhead - Motorhead - No Remorse
Thin Lizzy - The Rise And Dear Demise Of The Funky Nomadic Tribes - Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
Thin Lizzy - Call The Police - Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
Ace Frehley - Ozone - Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley - Rip It Out - Ace Frehley
Rainbow - Starstruck - Rising
Rainbow - Run With The Wolf - Rising
Savatage - Legions - Hall Of The Mountain King
Savatage - Last Dawn - Hall Of The Mountain King

FEATURE: Behind the Curtain: A History of Bloopers

By their very definition, bloopers and outtakes are, quite literally, throwaway bits of footage, but they've attained an oddly permanent place in our popular culture.


Friday, August 23, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Spaceships - Cool Breeze Over the Mountains


Not that anyone but the wooden actor's most devoted superfans would realize, but Cool Breeze Over the Mountains, the new debut LP from Los Angeles duo Spaceships, borrows its name from the English meaning of Keanu Reeves' Hawaiian first name. It's a downright useless bit of trivia, but indicative of the pop-damaged sense of fun working just below the album's noisy surface. Its nine tracks may be fuzzy, loud and washed out in a peculiarly stoned sort of way, but you still might catch yourself humming them in the shower, and that underlying catchiness is a big part of its considerable charm.

From the beginning bars of the feet-first opener "Little", you're confronted by a sound that's bigger than it has any right to be, being made by only two people, drummer Kevin LaRose and singer/guitarist Jesse Waite. It helps that everything is slathered in reverb and distortion, but there's more than just effects at work here, a sustained musical attack that isn't aggressive as much as it is omnipresent, rarely allowing listeners to catch their breath. Whether it's applied to the punky energy of "New Wishing" or the numbed-out urban heaviness of "Limit", it lends them an arresting punchiness.

If Cool Breeze Over the Mountains were any longer than its 30 minutes, that all-out aesthetic might get to be a little much, but as it stands, its range and dynamics more than carry it through, and make repeat listens an enjoyable endeavor. Beyond that, it's mostly the earworm hooks, which manage to slice right through the density of the production, as well as Waite's imposing voice, which feels right at home among it, that elevate the album above your run-of-the-mill lo-fi garage rock. It's an impressive album, though what Keanu Reeves has to do with it is anyone's guess. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (08/21/13)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "The Bag I'm In", featuring heady garage rock, psych punk and more. If you dig it, be sure to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
The Fabs - That's The Bag I'm In - Back From The Grave, Vol. 1
The One Way Streets - We All Love Peanut Butter - Back From The Grave, Vol. 1
The Music Explosion - Sunshine Games - Collector's Records Of The 50s and 60s, Vols. 19 & 20
The Brooklyn Boys - The Normal Ones - Collector's Records Of The 50s and 60s, Vols. 19 & 20
Mother's Worry - Can't Seem To Come Down - Psychedelic States: Wisconsin In The 60s
Gorde's Horde - I Don't Care - Psychedelic States: Wisconsin In The 60s
The Robbs - Cynthia Loves - The Robbs
The Robbs - Jolly Miller - The Robbs
The New Colony Six - Last Nite - Breakthrough
The New Colony Six - Dawn Is Breaking - Breakthrough
? And The Mysterians - "8" Teen - The Best Of ? And The Mysterians: Cameo Parkway 1966-1967
? And The Mysterians - 96 Tears - The Best Of ? And The Mysterians: Cameo Parkway 1966-1967
Jan Panter - Scratch My Back - Freakbeat Freakout
The Troggs - Feels Like A Woman - Freakbeat Freakout
The Count Five - Psychotic Reaction - 7" Single
The Count Five - They're Gonna Get You - 7" Single
The 13th Floor Elevators - (I've Got) Levitation - 7th Heaven: Music Of The Spheres - The Complete Singles Collection
The 13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House - 7th Heaven: Music Of The Spheres - The Complete Singles Collection
Real Life - Exploding Bullets - Savage Streets: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat - White Light/White Heat
The Velvet Underground - I Heard Her Call My Name - White Light/White Heat
Simply Saucer - Here Come The Cyborgs, Pt. 2 - Cyborgs Revisited
Simply Saucer - Dance The Mutation - Cyborgs Revisited
Debris - Leisurely Waiting - Static Disposal
Debris - Flight Taken - Static Disposal
The Soft Boys - Leppo And The Jooves - A Can Of Bees
The Soft Boys - Human Music - A Can Of Bees
Television Personalities - I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives (Original) - Yes Darling, But Is It Art?
Television Personalities - King And Country - Yes Darling, But Is It Art?
Black Lips - Cold Hands - Good Bad Not Evil
Black Lips - O Katrina! - Good Bad Not Evil
The Hussy - Way With Words - Way With Words EP
The Hussy - Wrong Right (E. React Mix) - Way With Words EP
The Delphines - Careless - Single
The Delphines - Strut - Single
King Tuff - Bad Thing - King Tuff
King Tuff - Stranger - King Tuff
JEFF The Brotherhood - Region Of Fire - Hypnotic Nights
JEFF The Brotherhood - Dark Energy - Hypnotic Nights
Spaceships - Limit - Cool Breeze Over The Mountains
Spaceships - Ghost - Cool Breeze Over The Mountains
Catholic Spray - Kiss The Smack - Fruits Of The Moon
Catholic Spray - Ouija Drunk Party - Fruits Of The Moon
Ty Segall Band - Wave Goodbye - Slaughterhouse
Ty Segall Band - The Bag I'm In - Slaughterhouse

CONCERT REVIEW: Hunx and His Punx, Hunters & Pow Wow (The Cactus Club, Milwaukee)

A supremely baked Seth "Hunx" Bogart leads his band of Punx through a ramshackle, but rocking, set at the Cactus Club in support of their stellar new album, Street Punk.


Friday, August 16, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: The Delphines - Careless (Single)


With the popularity of the cassette as an affordably trendy way to release their own music, it was only a matter of time before its scrappy little cousin the cassingle made a comeback as well. Now local garage pop favorites the Delphines have embraced the quirky format, making their speedy, characteristically catchy new single, "Careless", available as a limited edition pink tape, out now on Milwaukee's own Organalog Records, in addition to the usual digital download.

The real reason to pick up the release in any form is the music which, as you may expect from the Delphines, goes by in a flash, its two tracks rushing by in less than five minutes altogether, but leaves a big impression in spite of its brevity. "Careless" is a stomping, snotty kiss off with a short but effective psychedelic breakdown, while the lovesick B-Side, "Strut", is a tad more vulnerable, but rocking nonetheless. 

The recordings more than do the material justice, preserving their usual clean, crisp mix while emphasizing the low-end a little more than some of their previous releases. That, naturally, comes through best on analog, which is one reason to shell out a few bucks for the physical copy, another being the slick packaging and cover design, the Delphines having as good an eye as their ear. Cassingle or otherwise though, "Careless" deserves a listen.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (08/14/13)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "When the Night Falls and Others Sleep", featuring techno, house and more. If you like what you hear, be sure to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
UltraCat - Disco High - Single
UltraCat - One Nice Thing Once A Day - Single
Basement Jaxx - Kissalude - Rooty
Basement Jaxx - Jus 1 Kiss - Rooty
Jake Allison - We Got The Funk - Summer In The States
Strong Suit - Flat-Billed Cowboy (Jake Allison Remix) - Summer In The States
Casetofoane - Enel - Electromagnetic
Casetofoane - Waha - Electromagnetic
David Bowie Vs KCRW - Golden Years (Anthony Valadez KCRW Remix) - Golden Years EP
Pulp - Party Hard (Stretch 'N' Verns Michel Lombert Remix) - Single
Cain - If The Right Don't Get You The Left One Will - A Pound Of Flesh
The Carrier Wave - Tastes Like Hairspray - 4X4 Acid Stompers
The Carrier Wave - Sky Eyes - 4X4 Acid Stompers
Morphamish - Low Slung - Get My Fix EP
Morphamish - Bottums Up - Get My Fix EP
Spank Rock - #1 Hit - Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar
Spank Rock - Turn It Off - Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar
Green Velvet - Genedefekt - Whatever
Green Velvet - Sleepwalking - Whatever
Container - Perforate (Live) - Live On WFMU's Distort Jersey City With Deed Runlea - April 3, 2013
Container - Treatment (Live) - Live On WFMU's Distort Jersey City With Deed Runlea - April 3, 2013
Simian Mobile Disco - Hákarl - Delicacies
Simian Mobile Disco - Fugu - Delicacies
Egyptrixx - Bible Eyes - Bible Eyes
Egyptrixx - Recital (A Version) - Bible Eyes
Richie Hawtin - Range/Smart Card?/10 Strikes To 2001 - DE9|Closer To The Edit
Richie Hawtin - Formenverwandler/Friday Night With B. Reynolds/Chemistry/Octagon/A Factory Dub/Edit Blue/Concept Loop U:2/Concept Loop U:3 - DE9|Closer To The Edit
Zachary Wilson - Light Travels - Endless Breakfast
Zachary Wilson - Deficit Blvd. - Endless Breakfast
Chrome Sparks - Your Planet - Sparks EP
Chrome Sparks - Marijuana - Sparks EP

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

CONCERT REVIEW: The New Flesh, Stoic Violence, Bored Straight & Holy Shit! (Quarters Rock 'n' Roll Palace, Milwaukee)

Some hefty, last minute lineup changes made tonight's bill look a lot different than the flyer seen below, but, with so many bands about, it all worked out in the end.


CONCERT REVIEW: Juiceboxxx & Rio Turbo (Hotel Foster, Milwaukee)

Local kindred spirits Juiceboxxx and Rio Turbo take over the east side's trendy Hotel Foster with memorable, but rather mixed, results. 


FEATURE: What a Visionary: Russ Meyer's Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Love him or hate him, you've got to admit that breast-obsessed filmmaker Russ Meyer was a one of a kind, and that his 1965 magnum opus looks and feels like little else.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (08/07/13)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Dope on Plastic", featuring hip hop, rap and turntablism. If you enjoy it, be sure to also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Public Enemy - Lost At Birth - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black
Public Enemy - Can't Truss It - Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton - Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A. - If It Ain't Ruff - Straight Outta Compton
Beastie Boys - Pass The Mic - Check Your Head
Beastie Boys - Jimmy James - Check Your Head
A Tribe Called Quest - Ham 'N' Eggs - People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm
A Tribe Called Quest - Push It Along - People's Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm
Gang Starr - Code Of The Streets - CD Single
Gang Starr Feat. Inspectah Deck - Above The Clouds - Moment Of Truth
Dead Prez - It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop (Hip-Hop Remix) (Censored Version) - CD Single
Dead Prez - Hip-Hop (Censored Version) - CD Single
Spontaneous Combustion - 200 Lives - Spontaneous Combustion
The Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck - Wu: The Story Of The Wu-Tang Clan
Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge - Twelve Reasons To Die - Twelve Reasons To Die
The Wu-Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin' - Wu: The Story Of The Wu-Tang Clan
Mr. Nogatco (A.K.A. Kool Keith) - Dark Space - Nogatco Rd.
Mr. Nogatco (A.K.A. Kool Keith) - Night Flyer (Force Field) - Nogatco Rd.
Deltron 3030 - Battlesong - Deltron 3030
Deltron 3030 - Positive Contact - Deltron 3030
Rob Swift - Dope On Plastic - The Ablist
Rob Swift - All That Scratching Is Making Me Rich! - The Ablist
Willbe - Walking All Day Long - Waxxelerated
Willbe - Cruise The World - Waxxelerated
Madlib - Introduction - Shades Of Blue
Madlib - Slim's Return - Shades Of Blue
Jaylib - The Red - Champion Sound
Jaylib - Heavy - Champion Sound
Blackalicious - Cliff Hanger - Nia
Blackalicious - Do This My Way - Nia
De La Soul - Shopping Bags (She Got From You) - The Grind Date
De La Soul Feat. Yummy - Much More - The Grind Date
Aceyalone - All For U - Magnificent City
Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels - Sea Legs - Run The Jewels
Fat Tony - Smart Ass Black Boy - Smart Ass Black Boy
Fat Tony Feat. Old Money - BKNY - Smart Ass Black Boy
Show You Suck - Flowers - OMPP2: Mo Slices Mo Problems
Juiceboxxx - Gone Til' November - Beyond Thunder Zone
Juiceboxxx Feat. Fielded - Never Surrender Forever (Remix) - Beyond Thunder Zone

CONCERT REVIEW: Best Coast (The Rave, Milwaukee)

California duo Best Coast encounter some of the drawbacks of 21 and up shows during an underattended, Bud Light-sponsored stop at the Rave.


Thursday, August 1, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW: Raw Geronimo - Dream Fever


Appropriate for a band hailing from the bustling, diverse Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Raw Geronimo sound assuredly eclectic on their new debut LP Dream Fever, packing a lot of musical ideas, and a lot of style, into its 38 minutes. The sextet, led by multi-instrumentalist and versatile singer Laena Geronimo (daughter of recently departed Devo drummer Alan Myers for what it's worth) has a couple 7"s under their belt, but it seems they've let loose with both barrels on the first full-length, leading to a whole that at times feels a little over-produced, but is never uninteresting.

After the poppy, purpose-stating opener "Lose My Mind", the album careens off in a number of different directions, including the Elastica-like morality tale "Faustine, the candy-coated punk of "Chinatown" and "Bird's Eye Bonsai"'s sultry faux tribalism, which owes a rather large debt to Bow Wow Wow (at times, Geronimo's brash voice even hews pretty close to Annabella Lwin's). There are plenty of other ingredients in Dream Fever's percolating mix, like some syrupy girl group balladry and a dose of glammy sneer, but, somewhat remarkably, it all hangs together rather well, united by a sense of fun and a bristling teenage energy.

As a debut, it makes you wonder where they'll go next (though an overstuffed first record can sometimes foretell the dreaded sophomore slump), but as it stands Dream Fever is an enjoyable summer outing, one with both credibility and crossover appeal. However, there are a few moments, such as the otherwise rocking "Bitched", where there might be a little too much polish, where Raw Geronimo could be a bit more, you know, raw. That's a relatively minor quibble with an album that's well worth a listen, especially one that pulls of so many other tricky balancing acts so well.
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