The Clash-"The Magnificent Seven" (1980)

This is one of the best Clash songs ever. Dancey and groovey, it just makes you feel good. Here's two versions, the original (which unfortunately has no music video) and then a live version from the Tom Snyder Show in 1981. There is quite the tempo difference between the two. (So much so its almost comedic, like when Dewey Cox starts doing coke and plays his song at breakneck speed).

Album version:

Live:

I really like both versions. There's a great

party scene in We Own The Night (2007) set to

this song. I wish i had the Magnificent Dance 12"

single that has an extended dub version. yuh...

Fela Kuti-"Teacher Don't Teach Me No Nonsense" (1986)

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Fela Kuti/Ginger Baker LIVE! album i ordered from Amazon. There is some footage of Fela filmed by Ginger Baker from 1973 on Youtube but the sound quality is terrible, so i posted this Afro-rock gem from the 80s.

The only place I've ever actually seen a physical copy of a Fela cd for purchase was at Amoeba music in LA (wait.... Good Records has some LPs, but not sure about CDs. probably, though). I picked up only one of his albums there (Opposite People/Sorrow Tears and Blood), but i do regret not getting more these ...

Depeche Mode - Shake the Disease (1985)

D Mode is coming to town this Saturday (gotta score some last minute tickets) so I thought I'd take the opportunity to hype one of my all time favorite groups.
This is the quintessential Depeche song for me. It's all there the defiance, the despair, the rejection, the hope, the longing...all of it. "Here is a plea, from my heart to you..." how catchy are the keyboards here, Gahan's overlaid vocals our sweet, the rhythm--all on point. Love Gore's backups on this track too. I've seen DM twice and both shows were incredible. If you have a bone of 80's nostalgia in your body do yourself a favor and scope this one 8/29.

DJ Tommyboy at Fall Out Lounge 8/22/09

At first I was a little apprehensive about going to Fall Out Lounge. After a rough week, the last humiliation I needed to endure was dancing in public. And for another thing, between some drinks and a cover charge I was gonna dial away the rest of my bank account. I know it's no substantial amount, but between the horse track, alimony and my transmission falling out, I was in no position to enjoy myself.

Anyhow, with such low hopes, I figured I couldn't be too devastated. But the whole thing turned out to be the complete opposite. I mean, I have no grasp of what Tommyboy was playing, but I know all of a sudden I got into a passable mood. It's hard to articulate it was but it was rousing yet not overbearing. It's the sort of thing you wished they'd play a massage parlour. I mean that as a compliment. And out of left field, I started to get a little rhythm, and I moved around discreetly without any paralyzing embarrassment. That was a big step for me to tell you the truth.

So, if you're feeling miserable and you wanna put the world in rational perspective, see Tommyboy. Thanks to John and Jessica for the booze by the way.

'Lil Wayne-A Milli (2008)

I wasn't one of the many people who won tickets to see 'lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and Drake. I knew i should've hopped in my ride to try and win 'em from a K104 scavenger hunt ticket give-away. They were droppin hints on the radio as to where their bus was and if you were smart enough to figure out their location and find them you win. I lost. oh well..

The video for "Gucci Bandana" by Soulja Boy had embedding disabled so this is what's getting posted as my consolation for missing this nasssst-yyy show going down today at Superpages Center aka Starplex.

Keanu Reeves: Greatest Hits

The Matrix was whack. And, no matter what anyone says he is no good in Point Break. He almost ruined Coppola's Dracula. His acting in Devil's Advocate was equally weak (maybe its just hard to star opposite to Pacino?). He should've stuck to roles he was good at. Like these....

River's Edge (1986):

Parenthood (1989):

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1991):

Freaked (1993): this one totally blows my mind. He plays the unrecognizable Ortiz, the dogboy (and is uncredited). This was a favor for his friend Alex Winter (Bill, from Bill and Ted's) who co-wrote and directed this heap of garbage. (Unfortunately, i was unable to find a screen shot or a clip of this character. update: Travis found me a photo but i'm unable to attach it....)

sidenote: I never saw My Own Private Idaho and i've heard that it's great. My mother really liked The Lake House so maybe he's gotten his acting chops back. Not likely.

Van der Graaf Generator-"Darkness" 1970

Something about these vocals remind me a little bit of David Bowie. The double sax attack is amazing and predates Morphine by quite a few years.

Talking Heads-This Must Be The Place(Naive Melody) 1983

Jonathan Demme does a great job of filming this classic performance.

The synthesizer (played by former member of Parliament-Funkadelic, Bernie Worrell) on this version from Stop Making Sense sounds so much fatter than the album version.

The Cove (2009) & Assault in the Ring (2008)

There are parallels to these heavy-hearted documentaries. One is about a misguided Puerto Rican welterweight beating a young Irishman with illegal gloves in a bout (and subsequent demise of both fighters) and the other is about a Japanese town secretly killing thousands of dolphins a year for mercury-laden, toxic meat. yikes. Both are somber yet enlightening stories.

(Thanks to Xavie for tipping me off to these dismal stories.)

R.I.P John Hughes

2/18/50 - 8/6/09

His filmography speaks for itself. Uncle Buck, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller's Day Off-i can't figure out which one is my favorite. I think people often forget how many classics he wrote, too (Christmas Vacation, Home Alone).

Here's a real news article about the man.

Kraftwerk-"Telephone Call" and/or "Der Telefon Anfruf" 1987

By 1987, the core duo of these electronic pioneers had been making groundbreaking and innovative music for almost twenty years. This is a good one from Electric Cafe which i had been cruelly neglecting to listen to (on wax) until recently rehearing on my friend's Zune.

here's english

here's German

Gang of Four-"To Hell with Poverty" (1981)

I was gonna post a Delta 5 video of "Anticipation" i recently found, but when i googled it (to found out the exact year it was from) i noticed the Kill Rock Stars blog had just put that one up a few weeks ago. I really shouldn't let that effect my posting since i had never been to that blog before and only approx. 15 people read this shit, but i just don't want anyone to think I'm 'biting someone else's shit' (to use the term from one of the best hip-hop intro's ever, Wu-Tang Forever, disc 2). So here's another more well known post-punk band from Leeds.

These guys were so fucking amazing when i saw them perform(original line-up) most of their album Entertainment! live at the Gypsy Tea Room back in October of 2005. Definitely didn't seem like a gimmicky reunion show. man....