Attack of the 59 Inch Woman

Summer of the Nephilim

2012-07-06T20:32:00.001-04:00

If you are wondering why I haven't been blogging as much this summer, it is because I have become addicted to staying up late at night watching music videos on youtube instead of discussing my opinions on stuff. Sometimes I need to take time to absorb things in culture instead of forcing myself to write about the same things I have already discussed.

For about a month straight I have been completely obsessed with Fields of the Nephilim. They make me feel warm and fuzzy in that "favorite band" way that only Sonic Youth, Skinny Puppy, or Bauhaus does for me. I've never really had just a single favorite band.

Their music touches me in a way that is difficult to define. I feel like if the inside of me turned itself into songs, a lot of those songs would be Fields of the Nephilim songs. Almost every one of their songs is like some kind of intense epic and I feel like I have to go out and do something noteworthy after listening. It makes me want to dance around and jump on couches and wear black winklepickers and change the world.

Carl McCoy's raspy, deep voice sounds like he eats nails for breakfast. Some people compare his vocals to Andrew Eldritch of Sisters of Mercy, but I find Carl McCoy's voice to be a lot rougher and more distinctive, although they do both have that guttural gothy thing going on. It kind of made me want to laugh at first, but then I found it incredibly sexy. Also, Tony Pettitt is one of the best bass players I have ever heard. If you watch their music videos you see that they are also pretty funny guys at times, like when Carl McCoy's head sings "my heeeeeead" inside of a cauldron in the music video for "Blue Water".

Interview on MTV 120 minutes: 1990

I can't find the Dawnrazor album of theirs that I used to have, and I'm going through withdrawal until I can afford to order it from ebay or amazon (because I know just that album won't be enough and I'll also have to order all of their other albums and probably a DVD).

I also can't stop watching their music videos or googling and ogling pictures of Carl McCoy circa 1988-1991...all dusted up with flour like some kind of...dusty, dark cowboy of my dreams.

Found via some broken link on googleimages.

madameguillotine.org.uk

Here is a partial list of their videos/songs for your viewing and/or listening pleasure. What are some of your favorite Fields of the Nephilim songs?:

Moonchild: http://youtu.be/BYYy862KFyE
Blue Water: http://youtu.be/FS5RPJQVh-Q
Preacher Man: http://youtu.be/hsSFR43Z600
Dust: http://youtu.be/0UbiNKU227Y
Volcane: http://youtu.be/3g9QMveE-oA
Love Under Will: http://youtu.be/VzVIMLf0CfM
For Her Light: http://youtu.be/6OrsxYevlgw
Last Exit for the Lost: http://youtu.be/G8NMayki4Uc
Slow Kill: http://youtu.be/tJ1oRmHsJcc
Power: http://youtu.be/K70OSjPsWAo
Dawnrazor: http://youtu.be/3juNmWr_EbY
At the Gates of Silent Memory: http://youtu.be/UcdotRkKPmY
Secrets: http://youtu.be/PJXRYqHy7Zo
Reanimator: http://youtu.be/Olr5OwldYdE
Sumerland: http://youtu.be/NCMm1mJ3DRs
Wail of Sumer & And There Will Your Heart Be Also: http://youtu.be/GNTH1rhJTLo
The Sequel: http://youtu.be/uLMJLpn_JMY
Burning the Fields: http://youtu.be/gSaPDIwC8UM
Psychonaut: http://youtu.be/-dUyc1wR-h0

Gothy Sampler

2012-06-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

If you are seeking to discover/rediscover some bands that are somewhat gothy, you have come to the right place. Here I have compiled a sampler where you can watch videos and hear songs from other bands besides just the usual suspects: Bauhaus, The Smiths, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, Joy Division, and The Cure (who are all great, but I'm sure you already know them).

There is no set-in-stone definition of what goth is, so of course this list is debatable. Over the years goth has become a lame, watered-down, cartoonized version of itself that no one really wants to be associated with anymore. But to me, "real" goth is primarily about the following things: fearlessness, making society uncomfortable with gender bias (through dressing in drag/S&M/female domination), valuing personal satisfaction above convention, transcending the body, confronting fear of death and fear of judgement from others, and pointing out society's proclivity to value ignorance and fake happiness over genuine complexity of emotion. Goth is very similar to punk in that it is an outright rejection of a society that alienates pretty much everyone in it. It is a middle finger in the face of a system that tries to regulate and neuter your desires. Like any subculture, goth isn't perfect, but for many people it serves as a creative outlet, a lifestyle, and an alternative to going along just to get along.

"...the consummate Goth strategy of resistance: absolute masochistic submission. Unlike the majority of Punks, who seemingly accept the identities gender and sexuality codes impose, wishing only to restyle them to reflect their rejection of consumer capitalism, Goths not only reject them all but express their rejection through a defiantly eroticized passive resistance. In effect, they fling themselves at the feet of their tormentors and say, 'do what you please to me, I will enjoy it' and so transform punishment into triumph."

--Siegel, Carol. Goth's Dark Empire.

Here you will find a variety of goth and semi-gothish music. I had to search back in the "archives" in order to remember some of these bands, which entailed: looking through old mix tapes, checking out lists of bands on compilation CDs I have, jogging my memory thinking about what I taped from friends back in high school, reminiscing about tapes I used to have that were eaten by my tape player, looking up other goth band lists on the internet, and trying to remember some of what I ordered from Projekt, Cleopatra, and WaxTrax catalogs.

In this sampler you won't find much cybergoth, medieval-themed goth, goth metal, instrumental music, or bands like Blutengel and Cruxshadows because I am just not that big of a fan. In addition, I don't have the attention span to sit through most neo-classical goth songs without falling asleep. Different music speaks to different people. As you will see, I have a strong preference towards what some might call "post-punk" or "death rock", and I think early darkwave synthpop is criminally underrated.

Instead of posting the actual youtube videos for each of these songs, I will just post direct links you can click on because this list is quite long. I hope you discover something that makes it into your music collection if it isn't there already...

Clan of Xymox: "Obsession": http://youtu.be/sHH71eHS7rg
Clan of Xymox are not only fantastic, but also seem like the nicest goths ever.

In the Nursery: "Iskra": http://youtu.be/MB3neXX-qGk
In the Nursery's "Counterpoint" album used to be my jam when I cleaned my room. At first this song sounds like it is being sung by a masturbating gorilla, then it becomes progressively more awesome.

Fields of the Nephilim: "Moonchild": http://youtu.be/ZEzmOAoovWU
Carl McCoy=gothic Lone Ranger? I must say, he has one of the sexiest voices.
The Stranglers: "Nice n Sleazy": http://youtu.be/OYqllpnyWrY
Love the song title. McDonalds should offer the "Nice n Sleazy" as an alternative to the Big n Tasty sandwich. Watch out for the special sauce. This band doesn't necessarily look or sound "goth" but they appear on a lot of goth band lists.

Fad Gadget: "Collapsing New People": http://youtu.be/tGplqi8GWZE
My friend Chad gave me the Fad Gadget "Under the Flag" cassette tape in high school. Interesting stuff. This video can be filed very neatly into the WTF folder of your mind.

Sisters of Mercy: "Black Planet": http://youtu.be/x6Oh4aaLCFM
I'm waiting any day now for Sisters of Mercy to come rescue me in their gothmobile.
Specimen: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang": http://youtu.be/rOPEIMpJQ4A
If you "get" Specimen, then you realize how much fun it is to see a man knock slutshaming back on its own ass by exploiting his own whorishness.

Lycia: "Ionia": http://youtu.be/Tigi-_oyhNA
I mail ordered one of their tapes from the Projekt catalog back in the day and at first I thought it was boring, but eventually it grew on me. This song and "Pray" are my favorite Lycia songs.

Cabaret Voltaire: "Sensoria": http://youtu.be/RkfzXq0tA3c
An early influence on industrial music; electronic creepiness and hardcore sexiness. Stephen Mallinder is so oddly attractive I feel like staring at his face for hours. Also, "I Want You" by this group is probably the funkiest song you will hear, and you won't be able to stop singing the chorus to yourself.
Attrition: "Shrinkwrap": http://youtu.be/cNyuDklF-F8
I love the lyrics to this song and how the singer sounds like a male phone sex operator from Germany.
Skeletal Family: "Promised Land": http://youtu.be/41AqlPjc-Wc
The first time I heard Skeletal Family I couldn't not dance. Heroes!
These New Puritans: "Elvis": http://youtu.be/lzHwRcOsDNw
This band is pretty recent. Not sure if they would be considered goth-ish by most people, but I think they are. They are astounding, dark, and strange. Also love the song "Hologram" by this same band.
UK Decay (postpunk): "Mayday Malady": http://youtu.be/cy0l4XlD0k0
So punk, so goth, so awesome.
Kabuki/Ausgang: "King Hell": http://youtu.be/098iNWqXEak
Amazing, hilarious, handsome musicians with incredible hair. They also wrote a song about their hair called "My Hair." I'm going to go blush and faint like a schoolgirl now.
The Wake: "Christine": http://youtu.be/Um_tRg-cGg0
You were about to be arrested by the gothic museum police, but then they got distracted and fondled the statues.
Zero le Creche: "Last Year's Wife": http://youtu.be/vCesBGH8DQ0
So lovely and anthemic, like a gothic prom song.

Rosetta Stone: "The Witch": http://youtu.be/9CtDErVTsoA
Their singer is a pretty, pretty man. I'm not gonna lie--I'm not really into the song. I just felt like ogling the dude.

Current 93: "All the World Makes Great Blood": http://youtu.be/AV3LGPJnRpI
It was difficult to pick just one song by Current 93 because their musical style is all over the place (in a good way). I just sort of picked this song at random. I also really like that one song about the blacksmith, and that other song about the raindrops in May. Shame on me, I always forget Current 93 song titles.
Trance to the Sun: "Homewrecker": http://youtu.be/I148U2iQvCE
This song takes my heart out and squeezes it. Creepy and beautiful. Also, does the presenter think he is acting in Shakespearean theater...and is that Igor over by the speakers?
Sex Gang Children: "Sebastiane": http://youtu.be/UTgDfSF_2Pk
Like punk... but with cheesy Halloween makeup and violins.
Killing Joke: "Millenium": http://youtu.be/K1jvrvdQMt8
Killing Joke makes me feel warm and fuzzy, like seeing a friend who I've missed for a long time.
Birthday Party: "Junkyard": http://youtu.be/KvlS4BwTUQw
Nick Cave before the Bad Seeds. I am amused by his spastic crotch dancing. I have two Birthday Party albums and I never really listen to them. I appreciate this music in theory, but when I actually listen to it, it makes my earholes feel violated and in need of a recovery period.

Virgin Prunes: "Pagan Love Song": http://youtu.be/qgoJn5SUa_4
Get down with your greasy goth mullet, and with your bad self.
The Bolshoi: "Happy Boy": http://youtu.be/0JKVPW-h80E
Eighties as fuck.
Death in June: "Nothing Changes": http://youtu.be/ACc9897ulUU
Death in June is one of those groups where you never really know what to think or say. You just kind of feel "wow", whether it's in a positive way towards their music, or in a somewhat confused way towards their pseudo-fascist, militant image.

Southern Death Cult: "False Faces": http://youtu.be/3lGPSA2U_4E
Pure and primitive music that doesn't try to be anything but itself. Ian Astbury before The Cult.

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry: "Heaven": http://youtu.be/r6iydP5NU78
A song so beautiful and sad it's almost painful to listen to. Dont' know whether to smile or cry.
.45 Grave: "Concerned Citizen": http://youtu.be/vgJgonJkYgw
Female-fronted death rock that was around in the early '80s, then reformed recently.

Chris and Cosey: "October Love Song": http://youtu.be/WMLQ4FRsepg
One of my all-time favorite songs. This music video is so entertaining--there is a disturbing beast mask, low budget special effects, and S&M stuff going on.

Six Underrated Bands of the Nineties

2012-02-22T19:58:00.003-05:00

Sure, there were plenty of great, influential bands in the nineties such as: Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc. No one ever stops talking about them and I'm grateful for that. But what about the lesser-known bands who had just as much creative merit and talent, who were not recognized on a grand scale? Here is my list of six underrated bands of the nineties:

Daisy Chainsaw: Daisy Chainsaw was a one-hit wonder, which is a shame because almost all of their songs are pretty great...well, to me (sadly, I don't think I've ever met any other Daisy Chainsaw fans). KatieJane Garside's vocals are really distinctive (aggressively sexual, breathy, infantile, and sometimes giggly and maniacal) and the band has this amazing, chaotic/beautiful sound. KatieJane is gorgeous--she looks like a woman who bakes mud pies and just doesn't give a damn. The music video for "Love Your Money" on Beavis and Butthead was my introduction to Daisy Chainsaw, and since then I have listened to their Eleventeen album pretty regularly, like probably at least once every few months, and it never gets tiresome. My favorite Daisy Chainsaw song is "Pink Flower", especially at the end of the song. Too bad I can't embed the video for that one.

Jawbox: I first heard Jawbox on a Dischord music sampler...or maybe on a mix tape, I think; it was the song "FF=66". I was pretty blown away by it and bought the album, For Your Own Special Sweetheart, which really impressed me; every song on it was so self-contained and complete. Normally when I buy an album based on liking one song, all the other songs on the album seem disappointing in comparison. But Jawbox are pretty solid. Jawbox sounds like the nineties on steroids, with awesome bass lines and vocal harmonization.   They never wrote anything boring.

Unwound: I discovered Unwound from a Kill Rock Stars compilation that had the song "MKultra" on it. I admire their disregard for conventional song structure and ability to alternate quietness and LOUDNESS. My god, they are soooo loud in the best possible way. I can feel their music vibrating around in my rib cage, and it's so intense it makes me feel like I could explode living room furniture using only the powers of my mind.

Unwound: "Here Come the Dogs"

Refused: I discovered Refused while watching Headbanger's Ball. The music video for "New Noise" came on, and when Dennis Lyxzen took the microphone while wearing that adorable little outfit, and shrieked that introductory line of "Can I screeeeeeeaaaaam?!", it felt like he just stole my virginity.  That song and video made my heart palpitate and gave me the urge to jump on my couch and scream "YESSSS!!!!" (in other words, it made me feel like I was in a Mountain Dew commercial), so I bought their albums. Refused: The Shape of Punk to Come is a masterpiece. It is a mini-epic. It even has cellos and stuff. It's metal--but different.

Shudder to Think: If you've been reading this blog, you probably already know I am a fan of Shudder to Think, and of the singer, Craig Wedren, in general. Shudder to Think is an acquired taste, for sure. They definitely have their own sound, which seems kind of dissonant and unstructured at first but is actually very mathy and deliberate. The first time I listened to the Pony Express Record, I felt kind of confused, but in a good way... like when a college professor says something profound and you replay it in your head until it makes sense. Shudder to Think's music is composed of a whole bunch of elements that don't really seem to be cohesive at first, but then halfway through an album you realize it's probably the best thing you've ever heard.

I remember being in high school and seeing a picture of Craig Wedren--I think it was in a magazine, and I stared at it, transfixed. It was a semi-blurry photo of him standing in front of a microphone leaning forward like he was caught in motion, and I think it was accompanied by an article that said he liked to perform naked sometimes (or maybe I made that up?). Anyway, I would take this clipping out of my pocket and stare at it a few minutes every day for a few months, and then put it back in my pocket. I mean, it wasn't even a clear picture, and I would literally just take it out and almost meditate to it. Yeah, Craig is handsome and all, but seriously, my portable pocket shrine to him went way beyond that. It was more about inspiration than teenage lust.

Quicksand: I don't remember where I heard of Quicksand, I can only say that I am a big fan of their music, and I feel disappointed that they weren't given more recognition.  When it comes to inventiveness and musical complexity they completely surpass a lot of the more well-known nineties bands/artists. I was heavily influenced by them back in high school when I was developing more "grown up" musical tastes. I think Quicksand's genius is how they managed to embody the '90s zeitgeist (they had that basic nineties sound), but they also incorporated a lot of dissonant solos and instrumental break-downs that really set them apart. They were both of their time and before their time. Quicksand is often compared to a lot of other bands, and yes, they do kind of remind me of a mixture between Filter, Tool, and Sonic Youth. But overall, Quicksand is Quicksand and I like sinking into them (bad pun intended).

Ifs, Ands, and BUTT SONGS

2012-02-08T00:41:00.000-05:00

I just realized something: there are so many songs about butts. It's pretty unbelievable and also somewhat hilarious. Here is a virtual mix tape of butt-related tunes.

Virtual Mix Tape: Dark "Love" Songs

2012-01-29T00:05:00.013-05:00

I have a goal: to write an incredibly dark, borderline-stalkerish, intense love song that will make people feel both uncomfortable and turned on. I want it to sound sexy or beautiful, but for people to actually be shocked once they pay attention to the lyrics. I want it to make people initially be like "Oh wow, that's really intense and passionate--it feels almost personal", but then to read the lyrics and be like "Oh no, that's actually kind of twisted/sad...or is it?"

I wonder what instruments would best compliment such a song. Maybe a ukelele and the sound of duct tape? Writing the lyrics should be no problem.

Here are some examples of the kind of song I'm shooting for:

The Toadies: "Possum Kingdom"
Echo and the Bunnymen: "The Killing Moon"
Big Black: "Precious Thing"
Bruce Springsteen: "I'm on Fire"
Black Tambourine: "Throw Aggi Off the Bridge"
Ani Di Franco: "Untouchable Face"
MC5: "I Want You Right Now"
Richard Hell & the Voidoids: "Another World"
PJ Harvey: "To Bring You My Love"
Smog: "Cold Discovery"
The Sisters of Mercy: "Some Kind of Stranger"

Songs I Couldn't Stop Listening To: 2011

2011-12-16T01:56:00.001-05:00

As this year comes to an end, it's time to get all reflect-y. One of the major things that I punctuate my life with is music. I can listen to certain albums or songs and they remind me specifically of certain times in my life, or even of particular life events. There were times when I'd listen to alt country for a while, hard core punk, folk for maybe a week, industrial, and towards to end of the year my musical cravings have gotten kind of metal-ish. Here are the songs I couldn't stop listening to in 2011:

Smooth Tutors

2011-11-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

I was talking to my ex-boyfriend/best male friend, Zack, today. He mentioned that the band he plays guitar and handsomely wears glasses for, Smooth Tutors, has some live videos on youtube.com.

Smooth Tutors are from Pittsburgh. Check them out, or go to one of their shows if you are in the area!

Any info to add, Zack? Just let me know and I'll edit this entry and repost.

*These vids are really short.

Songs for a Rainy Day

2011-09-07T19:04:00.000-04:00

So... it's been raining all weekend, and now supposedly it's going to be raining this whole week until Sunday (according to weather.com). I like rain, but this is a bit much. I feel like going home and watching Goonies and eating kettle corn instead of doing anything else, really. Anyhow, on rainy days a person needs songs that suit the mood. So here are some.

Eyes without a face? More like head without a body! And a flame for a crotch (for the first few seconds of the video)...BWAH HA HAAA . Sorry, I haven't been out much lately.

"Fade Into You" is one of my favorite songs of all time, regardless of weather.

This song reminds me of summer, or rather the end of summer as a teenager when the guys from school who I had a crushes on always had crushes on the party girls instead of the responsible, "straight" girls like me.

Every time I hear this song it reminds me of Pittsburgh's college radio stations and rainy sidewalks.

I love the Elephant Man/Joseph Merrick, so naturally, I would like a song by one of my favorite bands that was about him. In the movie when he says "Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams" it makes me tear up.

I guess the keyboards kind of sound like how I imagine raindrops would sound if they could sing.

I very often "sit in my little room working on something good" when it rains. In fact, this could be my rainy day, sitting in my room theme song.

Super-Happy Song Day

2011-06-02T22:05:00.000-04:00

...and because yesterday was super-angsty song day, today I'm gathering songs that instantly lift the spirits.

This song reminds me of studying for humanities courses in college and of smoking clove cigarettes with my best friends.

When this song first came out, I was only ten years old and didn't really understand what "touching yourself" meant. I thought the singer just liked some guy so much it made her touch her own face and mess up her hair when she thought about him. Now that I'm older I understand exactly what she is singing about.

This song is strange. It's a beautiful song that gives me goosebumps. It's really sweet and makes me smile, but I also feel some kind of lingering sadness or desperation behind the lyrics.

Lyrically, this is probably one of the funniest songs ever.

This song has amazing sound and transports me to another place. I think it makes a perfect song for a long drive. And besides, the lead singer's vampire-as-pirate get-up is awesome enough to warrant some kind of recognition.

I used to want to live inside that ice cream truck.

This song is perfect. It makes me wish someone would write a song like this about me someday. And the video with the clouds and her sitting at the bar in that beautiful blue dress is romantic as well.

See, goths can be happy too. This was one of my favorite songs in high school.

I don't care what anyone says--I love this song, and will sing it non-sarcastically and non-ironically in mixed company.

Super-Angsty Song Day

2011-06-01T22:00:00.000-04:00

On certain days this song is the soundtrack of my life. Especially the lyrics: "In my life, why do I give valuable time to people who don't care if I live or die?"

Is it wrong of me to find the phrase: "Damn your eyes!" unintentionally hilarious?

Yes! I feel his pain and annoyance with people who want to study "common people" as if we are curiousities.

There are times when I blare this song at full volume. Because I really wanna hear about how he doesn't want to hear it...because, yeah, I don't wanna hear it either.

Headbanger's Ball: My Version

2011-05-10T17:59:00.001-04:00

This past week, all I've been listening to is metal/hair metal/thrash/death rock/80s metal, so I figured it was time to put up some favorite songs/videos.

Side note: Oh, how I miss Headbangers' Ball. Anytime I lived somewhere that had cable, I prioritized that show above all else.

And here are some music videos that I would play if I was somehow magically put in charge of Headbangers' Ball, and if that awesome show still existed:

Arch Enemy - Music - More Music Videos

And I just had to add this one, mainly for the hilarious WTF factor.

Devil horns, and have a nice day.

Musical Guests on The Young Ones

2011-02-10T10:00:00.001-05:00

This entry is dedicated to my college friends, especially Emily, with whom I watched this show. I also loved the musical guests on it, and thought: I should make a blog entry where people can find all the music videos/musical guests that were on the show.

I can't find the video clip of this song from the "Summer Holiday" Young Ones episode, but here is John Otway performing "Body Talk". I remember this song being painful to listen to, and the character Vyvyan saying: "I'll bloody well make his body talk in a minute."

And here's Cliff Richard and The Young Ones singing "Living Doll."

Finally, here's the Young Ones theme song:

Favorite Music Since the Year 2000

2011-01-22T10:58:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when looking through my CDs, I realize that hardly any of the albums I own were released after the year 2000. I'm not sure if it's because I was going to college around that time and didn't have enough money to buy CDs...or because I started liking Pittsburgh local bands more than anything I could buy in a store...or because I stopped getting music magazines...or because now the CD player in my car is broken, so I use an MP3 player. Eh, it's probably a combination of those factors.

Either way, because I'm delusional, I have an imaginary friend inside my head who cares about my opinion and asks: "But Ricki, don't you like any music that came out past the year 2000, and don't you want to post on your blog about it?" And my answer to that is: yes. Here are some videos:

Top Ten Favorite Cover Songs

2011-01-11T18:15:00.001-05:00

I can’t say that cover songs are my favorite things in the world—most of them are sacrilege because of how embarrassingly bad they are. Most of the cover songs I hear sound stolen and recrafted for the purposes of getting more mass appeal, rather than being respectfully covered. However, there are some good cover songs out there.

When working on independent music projects (and when I was in a band) I’ve often been tempted to cover certain songs because I felt like the lyrics spoke to me, or that the song really embodied a part of my life in a very personal and touching way. So I can definitely understand why a band would cover another band’s song. I think a good cover song tackles the difficult task of sounding like it still belongs to the original artist, but also to the artist who is covering the song.

Here is a list of my top ten favorite cover songs:

“The Blood” covered by Fahrenheit 451 (originally by The Cure)

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” (banjo version) covered by Uncle Tupelo (originally by The Stooges)

“In Every Dream Home a Heartache” covered by Jared Louche and the Aliens (originally by Roxy Music)

“Hurt” covered by Johnny Cash (originally by Nine Inch Nails)

“Baby Doll” covered by Laether Strip (originally by Soft Cell)

“I’ll Come Running” covered by The Murder City Devils (originally by Neil Diamond)

“Age of Consent” covered by Grant-Lee Phillips (originally by New Order)

“Fear of Trains” covered by Love, Execution Style (originally by The Magnetic Fields)

“The Choke” covered by Element (originally by Skinny Puppy)

“A Hit” covered by Sebadoh (originally by Smog)

"Age of Consent" by New Order

"Age of Consent" covered by Grant-Lee Phillips

Note: I had a really hard time finding the music videos I wanted to display on this blog for both the original and cover songs. I really want to show the Roxy Music video for "In Every Dream Home a Heartache", even though the cover version of this song performed live by Jared Louche isn't downloading properly from youtube. Despite being anal and only wanting to display videos for original-cover pairs, I love the original version of this song so much, I just have to post it, even without its accompanying cover song...

My Love Affair with Industrial Music

2011-01-06T18:04:00.001-05:00

Today I'd like to travel back in time--back to the Saturday nights of my life in the mid-to-late 1990s. During this time I was in high school, listened to industrial and goth music, wore stripey tights, and hung out with guys who had reverse mohawks, as well as people who had nervous ticks and played Magic: The Card Game. Every month I'd look forward to getting my free Wax Trax, Projekt, and Cleopatra Records catalogs in the mail.

On Saturday nights I stayed up until the sun rose, drinking powdered "international" instant coffee, and listening to music until my headphones made my ears feel like they were full of itchy water. One of my favorite things to listen to was "The Mutant Dance Party"--a radio show featuring electronic and industrial music hosted by Zoltar on 99.1WHFS. I discovered a lot of cool bands from that radio show, but I also had my all-time favorites as well.

Here we go back in time...woooooo...............................

Time machine image from colemanzone.com

Hooray!!!......I think we have arrived. Strap on your irrelevant welding goggles now.

And because they are freaking hilarious, I have to include these next videos, which are industrial genre parodies titled "League of Extraordinary Industrial Retards".:

A Tribute to My Cat's Favorite Band

2010-12-21T13:51:00.001-05:00

My cat, Millie, absolutely loves Stone Temple Pilots. Every time I put in one of their CDs, or watch one of their music videos, she comes right into the room and sits by the speakers, or sits right in front of the television and watches intently.

Millie likes music in general, and will sit with me the whole time when I make MP3 playlists, but it's usually because she wants to watch the CD get sucked into the player, and whack it with her paw.

But when we play some STP, it's almost a given that she will come running into the room. It's how my boyfriend and I find her when she hides in the couch or in the closet. Funny...she won't come out if you offer her treats, but she'll come out to listen to "Sex Type Thing."

"Plees play for me da Pilot Stone Pemples. I lubs dat song: 'Kitchin Wears and Crakerjacks'."

Here are some Stone Temple Pilots videos that my cat, Millie, has requested that I post...

Most of STP's official videos have the embedding disabled, so I can't post them here. But if you're interested in watching, here are some links to a few more.

Wicked Garden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA4hSZ1Xy1g
Sex Type Thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hhu-OyHqZM
Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVPzWkdhwrw

Here is an article I found online about cats, and how they react to music: http://www.suite101.com/content/cats-and-music-a85584

MP3 Mix: Caffeine Songs and Videos

2010-12-16T13:47:00.002-05:00

Wake up! Wake up! It's time for the Caffeine Mix. I might not like or drink coffee (which is apparently sacrilege because I'm a writer), but I can still get my energy from loud music and tea. I don't think anyone has ever asked me out "for a cup of coffee" before, but if they ever did, I'd probably say, "Eww, no," not because I disliked them, but because of my disdain for coffee.

Here are some songs that function in the same was as caffeine--they open your eyes and make you want to jump off of couch cushions.

Dead Kennedys: Straight As
The Adicts: Viva La Revolution
Spahn Ranch: Vortex
Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Art Star
Huggy Bear: Can't Kiss
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Dang
Siouxsie and the Banshees: Love in a Void
Plasmatics: Nothing
The Rezillos/Revillos: Where's the Boy for Me
Motorhead: Love Me Like a Reptile
Pixies: Tame
Fucked Up: Son the Father
Prong: Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
Scratch Acid: She Said
Sonic Youth: Orange Rolls, Angels Spit
Refused: Life Support Addiction
Minor Threat: I Don't Wanna Hear It
Make-Up: How Pretty Can U Get
Murder City Devils: Get Off the Floor
Gang of Four: Damaged Goods
Julie Ruin: Crochet
.45 Grave: Concerned Citizen
Q and not U: Black Plastic Bag
Bad Brains: Banned in D.C.
Wire: 12XU
X Ray Spex: Oh Bondage Up Yours

MP3 List: The Crying Songs

2010-12-01T14:18:00.001-05:00

"I never heard a sad song that I didn't like."--Murder City Devils "That's What You Get"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldberg/277474865/sizes/m/in/photostream/

This is a compilation of songs that make me want to cry when I hear them. Some of them have sad lyrics, and other ones make my eyes get misty before the lyrics even start. Some of them don't sound sad at all, but they make me get all sentimental because they remind me of better times, or of particular people. This isn't an exhaustive list of every sad song I have, but I did list some of my favorites. Also, there are a few music videos at the end...

New Order "Age of Consent"
Xiu Xiu "Fabulous Muscles", "Hives Hives", and "Sad Redux-o-grapher"
Radiohead "Creep" and "All I Need"
Moving Units "Dark Walls"
The White Stripes "Do"
Beat Happening "Foggy Eyes"
Red House Painters "Grace Cathedral Park"
Modern Lovers "Hospital"
Sonic Youth "JC"
Okkervil River "Satisfy You"
Uncle Tupelo "Black Eye" and "Moonshiner"
Tori Amos "Mother"
Joanna Newsom "Sadie"
Neko Case "The Tigers Have Spoken" and "South Tacoma Way"
Archers of Loaf "Web in Front"
Devendra Banhart "Pumpkin Seeds"
Soggy Bottom Boys "You are my Sunshine"
Arcade Fire "Haiti"
Neutral Milk Hotel "Two Headed Boy"
Pete Bjorn and John "Up Against the Wall"
Velvet Underground "Jesus"
Sebadoh "Willing to Wait"
Silkworm "Swings"
James "Sometimes"
Daniel Johnston "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievances"
The Black Keys "All You Ever Wanted"
Smog "It's Rough"

My Favorite Bands to See Live

2010-11-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my favorite bands to see live.

I went to see Jon Spencer Blues Explosion many years ago in Pittsburgh. This video is not from the show that I went to, obviously. The live show that I went to was awesome, but I was a little sad that they didn't play "Full Grown". I mainly remember the funny lady standing next to me who kept petting my hat and trying to offer me a drink from her flask. Later on, she kept trying to touch Jon's leather pants from the edge of the stage. Good times.

The first time I saw Grizzly Bear was around 2007 or so, at the Sonar in Baltimore. They were opening for TV on the Radio, and I actually liked Grizzly Bear better than TV on the Radio at that show. Most people looked kind of bored when they were playing, but I thought they were amazing. They were so loud, soft, and creepy-sounding. And the drums were so loud I could feel them in my chest. I got all excited and bought their albums, which I don't listen to.

Last year for my boyfriend's birthday I bought us tickets to Skinny Puppy's 2009 In Solvent See Tour. We went to see the concert at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia. It was one of the best shows I have ever been to. We were only one row away from the stage because we got there almost an hour and a half before the show started. They played a lot of older songs from "Remission" and they played "Morpheus Laughing", which I was very excited about. The opening act was this guy with a guitar playing what sounded like speed metal, who was extremely sexy in an "I'm going to tie you up and make you watch movies about chainsawing watermelons" kind of way. My boyfriend recorded the whole show on his phone, but you can barely hear the music over him singing along very loudly, and a lot of shaking from me dancing in front of him, so that's why I thought it best to use someone else's video footage from a different show, but the same tour. The costumes Cevin wore were still the same though. And there was a lot of fake blood everywhere, which is always a plus.

Here is a picture of the inside of the Trocadero Theatre. I didn't take this picture:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/-4HMjEGQgduIMMTe0WPQBA?select=4z2iGlU5JTLcXNI2-xznaA

This is one of those bands that makes me feel all nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside. I used to go to see them all the time in college, and they even played where I worked/volunteered at the Rea Coffeehouse. I couldn't ever see one of their shows without dancing around like a maniac. Now they are semi-famous.

This is another band that played where I volunteered in college. The line up back then had about four people and a whole shelf of gongs, and a few more keyboard/synthesizer people. I saw Jamie play just an acoustic show before--just him and a guitar--and it was so emotional that it made me cry. He's also a very friendly person, and asked my best friend and I if we wanted to get some Indian food with him. I didn't end up going, but I think she might have went. I haven't seen them in years, and I miss it a lot.

My friend Jessie got me into Bill Callahan/Smog back in college. We went to see the show when they came to town, and it made me very sad because I think Jessie and I were the only people that actually went there to see Smog/Bill. We just stood transfixed at the edge of the stage. Every time he looked over in our direction with his bright blue eyes, I felt paralyzed...as if he had so much hurt and joy and experience in his life that it made my heart feel like sand. And I just wanted to give him the biggest hug ever.

Wow, I went to see Bauhaus when I was in high school in the late nineties. They had broken up for a long time, so I didn't think I'd ever see them. I think it was the "Resurrection" tour. I even wrote an AP English paper on the subject. My friends Dave and Sherry took me with them to the 9:30 Club in D.C., and the place was so packed we had to stand on the balcony. I almost never stand on the balcony because I like to be close enough to make myself deaf, ha ha. Either way, it was still probably in the top five concerts I've ever been to. I just remember dancing around on the balcony, then looking over onto the other side of the balcony and seeing this boy with bright pink hair air-drumming, and we both kept looking at each other in comradeship because most people were afraid to dance, or they just all did the same gothy hand-wave dance.

MP3 List: The Sexy Mix

2010-11-19T14:39:00.002-05:00

Making this MP3 list was more difficult than I had originally imagined. First of all, I had to think about how a song could be sexy or not, and how I was going to write a blog entry on this topic without making it too raunchified. As I was going through my music, trying to pick out all the sexy songs, I realized that a lot of songs that I think sound sexy are not written about anything sexy. In fact, some of the lyrics to these songs are pretty disturbing.

Here is my compiled list of sexy songs. They were chosen by me because something about these songs was kind of hot—mostly the music itself, or the singer’s voice. My main methodology for compiling this list was to imagine what songs I would use for love scenes if I was a movie director. It’s a mixture of the ethereal, the sensual, and the cheap and degrading. So enjoy this list, and maybe if you’re making a mix tape or CD for someone special, you could use some of these ideas.

Sexxxy Mix:

“Sexy Boy” (cover song) by Jared Louche

“Makeout Club” by Unrest

“Sexy Results” by Death From Above 1979

“Mkultra” by Unwound

“I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen

“Cherry Chapstick” by Yo La Tengo

“Lover Man” by Billie Holiday

“Rain” by Holly Golightly

“Science Killer” by Black Angels

“I Wanna Be Adored” by Stone Roses

“Baby Doll” (cover song) by Laether Strip

“Instinct Blues” by The White Stripes

“Precious Thing” by Big Black

“Get Up Get Down” by Dead Meadow

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” (cover) by Uncle Tupelo

“Persephone” by Cocteau Twins

“I Want You Right Now” by MC5

“Something Hot” by Afghan Whigs

“So Into You” by Shudder to Think

“The Hollow” by A Perfect Circle

“Burn” by Sister Machine Gun

“Do What You Wanna Do” by Lords of Acid

“Leif Erikson” by Interpol

“You and I vs. The World” by Make-Up

“Little Animal” by The Raveonettes

“Dirty Pants” by Smog

“Gently Johnny” from the original Wickerman soundtrack

“Another World” by Richard Hell

“Mellow” by Tricky

“Swing Low” by The Gossip

Sexy Photo Montage...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gozalewis/3351469469/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/calamity_photography/4640356465/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640@N07/2896126057/sizes/m/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artbystevejohnson/5102657472/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auspices/3029922099/

Favorite Music Videos of the '70s and '80s

2010-11-16T17:47:00.003-05:00

Here are some of my favorite music videos and songs from the '70s and '80s.

“October Love Song”: Chris and Cosey

This song makes me want to cry, but in a happy way. It’s such an adorable song. This music video is, well, special. Especially with the weird mask and bondage/S&M thing going on. I have no idea what that’s about, but it’s entertaining.

“Teenage Riot”: Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

This music video pretty much reminds me of my life: the generation before mine, and the generation I grew up in.

“Dr. Martens Boots”: Young Ones

This song is so true (except they are much more expensive than 19 pounds). Also, it reminds me of watching the Young Ones with my friends in college. I love the brief random lapse into the "Don't You Want Me" Human League song.

It's not class or ideology,
Color, creed, or roots
The only thing that unites us
Is Dr. Marten's boots
Dr. Marten's boots of the world
So that everybody can be free
They're classless, matchless, ageless and waterproof
And retail for only 19 pounds and 99p

What should everyone be wearing?
Those boots with the air-flow soles
And your boots will have a meeting
And your boots will take control

Thanks to Dr. Marten everyone will have warm feet
Thanks to Dr. Marten they'll be dancing in the street
No. Don't You Want Me.
OK, Boots. Do your stuff!

Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's boots
Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's boots
Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's, Dr. Marten's boots!

“Send Me an Angel”: Real Life

I love this song. The music video is awesome--there's some kind of creepy beauty and the beast theme going on. Sometimes the band members look like they are about to burst into laughter. This is the earlier promo video from '83. They redid the video in '89 and that one is not as good.

“Spasmolytic”: Skinny Puppy

A metaphorical music video. You decide what it's about. I love the part when the man on the bicycle comes out (I think it's Cevin Key) and hands Nivek Ohgr a note that says "U owe me an apology".

“Der Kommissar”: Falco

Wow. A guy in aviator shades dancing around in front of police and traffic. It kind of makes me sad because Falco died in a car accident in real life.

“Voices Carry”: Til Tuesday

I love the part when she starts singing in the theater at the end of the video. And as someone who has dated people who probably weren’t right for me and who rolled their eyes at my little eccentricities, I can relate to this video.

“Gary Gilmore’s Eyes”: The Adverts

This song and video makes me feel like jumping around on couches.

“House of Fun”: Madness

This whole video is fun. I actually like Madness quite a lot. But if I hear “Our House” one more time...

“Attitude”: Bad Brains

Classic.

“Cruel Summer”: Bananarama

This video makes me miss wearing overalls. I don't care if they make me look like a midget farmer. I’ve always felt I was the fourth undiscovered member of Bananarama. Oh, and what was up with overalls in ‘80s music videos? This video also reminds me of “C’mon Eileen”.

MP3 Song List: The Flannel Mix

2010-11-05T18:28:00.001-04:00

Here in Baltimore, it’s that time of year when the weather becomes brisk and the sky is an otherworldly bluish-gray. The leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, burgundy, and yellow, as if they are performing some kind of pyrotechnics grand finale right before they fall off and die. My car and driveway is covered in rank-smelling ginkgo berries (shit berries), which I have to step around to avoid getting on my shoes, or else I’ll leave a putrefying aroma on the carpet.

Image of shit berries found via Creative Commons:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brownpau/3094926693/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Although I reach for a sweater just about every day, I long for the times when I didn’t have to dress business casual, and I dream of my trusty ‘ole red flannel. I have flashbacks of watching MTV’s “The State,” and taping band pictures from 1992-1996’s editions of Circus magazine on my bedroom walls.

Image of flannels found via Creative Commons:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beche/2400500463/sizes/s/in/photostream/

In the spirit of autumn and flannel, I made a Flannel Mix on my MP3 Player. There are some songs that were quite popular and emblematic of grungier times, and other songs that still have the same spirit, but never got much recognition. Here is the list:

Guided by Voices “Alright”

Sonic Youth “Becuz”

Pixies “Break My Body”

The Breeders “Cannonball”

Filter “Consider This”

Radiohead “Creep”

7 Year Bitch “Disillusion”

The Mekons “Empire of the Senseless”

Jawbox “FF=66”

The 6ths “Falling Out of Love (With You)”

Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain”

Rage Against the Machine “Freedom”

For Love Not Lisa “Had a Lover”

Stone Roses “Here it Comes”

Unwound “Hexenzsene”

Hum “I’d Like Your Hair Long”

Sponge “Molly (Sixteen Candles)”

Minutemen “No Exchange”

Nirvana “On a Plain”

Daisy Chainsaw “Pink Flower”

Nada Surf “Popular”

L7 “Shitlist”

R.E.M. “Sitting Still”

Unrest “Six Layer Cake”

Yo La Tengo “Sugarcube”

P.J. Harvey “To Bring You My Love”

Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick”

Placebo “Every You, Every Me”

Superchunk “Seed Toss”

Belly “Feed the Tree”

Deconstruction “Wait for History”

Helmet “Wilma’s Rainbow”

Shudder to Think “X-French Tee Shirt”

Videos by some of the lesser-known artists:

So button up your flannel with pride, tie up/slide on those Doc Martens, and hop into a mound of leaves. Just make sure there aren’t any glass bottles, concrete curbs, or shit berries lurking under the pile (Believe me—a curb to the spine can still be felt under leaves). Happy flannel time!