30
Jul
2002
· The carefree, drug-fueled excess of late-1980s British club scene is documented this Tuesday by the Essential/FFRR label as it releases the original motion picture soundtrack to 24 Hour Party People. The comedic film re-creates the famed era when punk rock evolved on the dance floor of the Hacienda club and in the Manchester sound of the Happy Mondays and other sweaty ravers.
The soundtrack is serious about getting it right, featuring the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Clash, 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, and The Durutti Column. Most prominent in this skip down memory lane are four songs each by Joy Division and New Order, including a new Chemical Brothers-produced New Order track, "Here to Stay." Further investigation into the legendary development of the first band into the latter can be conducted on the just released Joy Division and New Order set entitled Before & After: The BBC Sessions. This Fuel 2000 Records two-CD set features more than two hours of tracks, and a rare interview with Ian Curtis and Stephen Morris.
· Speaking of documenting British musical madness, Penelope Spheeris is set to direct a new film biography on the life of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten, based on his 1994 autobiography Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs. Spheeris is best known for her 1981 Los Angeles punk epic The Decline of Western Civilization and Mike Myers' Wayne's World.
· My pick of the week is the snortin' and snotty new live album from The Hangmen, We've Got Blood on the Toes of Our Boots, a ripsaw-and-whiskey scorcher on the Acetone Records imprint. Hitting the stage full-throttle like a wild amalgam of Lords of the New Church, Warrior Soul, Johnny Thunders, and Beggars Banquet-era Rolling Stones, this Southern California four-piece knows the "Amen, brother!" power of monster rock music that makes your body shudder and grunt out a healthy James Brown "hoouhhhh" at the guitar break. And guitar-powered it is, from slow-eyed pedal-steel Skynyrd to bluesy Black Crowes to Zodiac Mindwarp hang-on-tight "Johnny sport-fisher" guitar - you know, when you lean way back and reel that solo in like la petite morte is taking you home that very moment. Highlights include the track "Over for You," perhaps the best kiss-off song since the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers," and special guest Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers dropping in on "Coal Mine."
· The debut solo album from Violent Femmes singer-songwriter Gordon Gano promises a most interesting twist. While Gano has written and performed all of the music, each track was originally conceived as a film soundtrack, and penned specifically with a guest lead or duet-vocalist in mind. The range of Gano's friends that answered his call sounds deliciously intriguing, with Mary Lou Lord, Frank Black, John Cale, PJ Harvey, Linda Perry of Three Non Blondes, and Lou Reed. Entitled Hitting the Ground, the 11-track CD is due August 20 on the Instinct label.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Duncan Sheik tonight, Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss on Thursday, Counting Crows on Friday, Tweet on Monday, and Bush on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman features special guest Bruce Springsteen on both Thursday and Friday nights; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Belle & Sebastian on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn boasts Howie Day on Thursday overnight and Paulina Rubino on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly gets friendly with Dirty Vegas on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Pink.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 6:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
24 Hour Party People - original motion picture soundtrack (Essential/FFRR) with music by Joy Division, The Clash, Happy Mondays, New Order, Buzzcocks, and 808 State
Dee Dee Bridgewater - This Is New (Verve) new interpretations of songs by Kurt Weill from this Grammy- and Tony-winning jazz vocalist
Biffy Clyro - Blackened Sky (Beggars Banquet) new rock trio from Scotland
Clinic - Walking with Thee (Universal) hot buzz on this scrubs-attired British quartet that opened for Radiohead's Kid A tour
Good Clean Fun - Positively Positive 1998-2002 (Equal Vision)
John Guliak & The Lougan Brothers - The Black Monk (Mint) Canadian prairie folk featuring covers of Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta," Uncle Tupelo's "Still Be Around," and The Stanley Brothers' "Hey! Hey! Hey!"
Mali Music - Mali Music (Astralwerks) west-African jam sessions helmed by Damon Albarn of Blur
Caroline Mark & The Room-Mates - Terrible Hostess (Mint) recently found on the terrific Tribute to Robert Altman's Nashville CD
The Microphones - Song Islands (K Records) squawky, dreamy, and lo-fi, this 21-track CD compiles all the seven-inch singles and homegrown cassette releases from this alter ego of Phil Elvrum
Nicotine - Samurai Shot (Asian Man) Tokyo punk featuring a cover of the Band Aid smash hit "Do They Know It's Christmas"
Nightmares on Wax - "Know My Name" (Warp UK) import-only two-part 12-inch and CD single
N.O.R.E. - Grimey: God's Favorite (Def Jam) formerly known as Noreaga with guests Capone, Final Chapter, and Maze & Musaliny
Off by One - Off by One (LMC Records) San Diego power punk featuring a cover of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"
Providence - original television series soundtrack (MCA Nashville) with music by Shawn Colvin, Kim Richey, and Eva Cassidy
Road Rules - original television series soundtrack (Roadrunner) 21 tracks featuring Jimmy Eat World, Unwritten Law, Dashboard Confessional, and more
Scarface - The Fix (Def Jam) enhanced CD featuring a bonus demo of the upcoming SWAT: Urban Justice
various artists - Total Lee: The Songs of Lee Hazelwood (Astralwerks) tribute album saluting the songwriter and producer with contributions by Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Evan Dando of The Lemonheads, St. Etienne, Tindersticks, Lambchop, and more
Wolf Colonel - Something/Anything (K Records)
XXX - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) enhanced two-CD set with new music from Rammstein, Moby, Queens of the Stone Age, and Orbital
· Speaking of documenting British musical madness, Penelope Spheeris is set to direct a new film biography on the life of Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten, based on his 1994 autobiography Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs. Spheeris is best known for her 1981 Los Angeles punk epic The Decline of Western Civilization and Mike Myers' Wayne's World.
· My pick of the week is the snortin' and snotty new live album from The Hangmen, We've Got Blood on the Toes of Our Boots, a ripsaw-and-whiskey scorcher on the Acetone Records imprint. Hitting the stage full-throttle like a wild amalgam of Lords of the New Church, Warrior Soul, Johnny Thunders, and Beggars Banquet-era Rolling Stones, this Southern California four-piece knows the "Amen, brother!" power of monster rock music that makes your body shudder and grunt out a healthy James Brown "hoouhhhh" at the guitar break. And guitar-powered it is, from slow-eyed pedal-steel Skynyrd to bluesy Black Crowes to Zodiac Mindwarp hang-on-tight "Johnny sport-fisher" guitar - you know, when you lean way back and reel that solo in like la petite morte is taking you home that very moment. Highlights include the track "Over for You," perhaps the best kiss-off song since the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers," and special guest Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers dropping in on "Coal Mine."
· The debut solo album from Violent Femmes singer-songwriter Gordon Gano promises a most interesting twist. While Gano has written and performed all of the music, each track was originally conceived as a film soundtrack, and penned specifically with a guest lead or duet-vocalist in mind. The range of Gano's friends that answered his call sounds deliciously intriguing, with Mary Lou Lord, Frank Black, John Cale, PJ Harvey, Linda Perry of Three Non Blondes, and Lou Reed. Entitled Hitting the Ground, the 11-track CD is due August 20 on the Instinct label.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Duncan Sheik tonight, Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss on Thursday, Counting Crows on Friday, Tweet on Monday, and Bush on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman features special guest Bruce Springsteen on both Thursday and Friday nights; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Belle & Sebastian on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn boasts Howie Day on Thursday overnight and Paulina Rubino on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly gets friendly with Dirty Vegas on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Pink.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 6:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
24 Hour Party People - original motion picture soundtrack (Essential/FFRR) with music by Joy Division, The Clash, Happy Mondays, New Order, Buzzcocks, and 808 State
Dee Dee Bridgewater - This Is New (Verve) new interpretations of songs by Kurt Weill from this Grammy- and Tony-winning jazz vocalist
Biffy Clyro - Blackened Sky (Beggars Banquet) new rock trio from Scotland
Clinic - Walking with Thee (Universal) hot buzz on this scrubs-attired British quartet that opened for Radiohead's Kid A tour
Good Clean Fun - Positively Positive 1998-2002 (Equal Vision)
John Guliak & The Lougan Brothers - The Black Monk (Mint) Canadian prairie folk featuring covers of Townes Van Zandt's "Loretta," Uncle Tupelo's "Still Be Around," and The Stanley Brothers' "Hey! Hey! Hey!"
Mali Music - Mali Music (Astralwerks) west-African jam sessions helmed by Damon Albarn of Blur
Caroline Mark & The Room-Mates - Terrible Hostess (Mint) recently found on the terrific Tribute to Robert Altman's Nashville CD
The Microphones - Song Islands (K Records) squawky, dreamy, and lo-fi, this 21-track CD compiles all the seven-inch singles and homegrown cassette releases from this alter ego of Phil Elvrum
Nicotine - Samurai Shot (Asian Man) Tokyo punk featuring a cover of the Band Aid smash hit "Do They Know It's Christmas"
Nightmares on Wax - "Know My Name" (Warp UK) import-only two-part 12-inch and CD single
N.O.R.E. - Grimey: God's Favorite (Def Jam) formerly known as Noreaga with guests Capone, Final Chapter, and Maze & Musaliny
Off by One - Off by One (LMC Records) San Diego power punk featuring a cover of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"
Providence - original television series soundtrack (MCA Nashville) with music by Shawn Colvin, Kim Richey, and Eva Cassidy
Road Rules - original television series soundtrack (Roadrunner) 21 tracks featuring Jimmy Eat World, Unwritten Law, Dashboard Confessional, and more
Scarface - The Fix (Def Jam) enhanced CD featuring a bonus demo of the upcoming SWAT: Urban Justice
various artists - Total Lee: The Songs of Lee Hazelwood (Astralwerks) tribute album saluting the songwriter and producer with contributions by Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Evan Dando of The Lemonheads, St. Etienne, Tindersticks, Lambchop, and more
Wolf Colonel - Something/Anything (K Records)
XXX - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) enhanced two-CD set with new music from Rammstein, Moby, Queens of the Stone Age, and Orbital
