Static, Episode 6: The Guggenheim Grotto
Interview
“Heaven Has a Heart”
“Her Beautiful Ideas”
“The Universe is Laughing”
Video of the Day: Company of Thieves, “Oscar Wilde”
Impossibly catchy single from this Chicago band. In terms of actual thievery taking place, Wes Anderson might want to check his pockets. But I like to think of it as a loving homage.
Tanner Shoots Ra Ra Riot
Ra Ra Riot at The Conservatory from tannerherriott on Vimeo.
Static videographer Tanner Herriott shot performance and interviews with Ra Ra Riot last night at the Conservatory — absolutely superb.
Random 10 for March 19, 2009
1. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, “Everything With You.” Love the pre-grunge, do you? This is like manna from heaven. Look for a review shortly.
2. Parliament, “Rumpofsteelskin.”
3. CSS, “I Fly.”
4. The Autumn Defense, “About to Change.”
5. Scritti Politti, “Snow in the Sun.” In 1999, Green Gartside broke a 12-year silence with Anomie and Bonhomie, a credible hip-hop disc featuring guest work by Mos Def, and in 2006 he surprised fans again by going in an avant-pop direction with White Bread, Black Beer, earning a Mercury Prize nomination for his effort. I’m completely unapologetic in my love of Scritti, whether it’s the post-punk, minimalist electro, louche pop, hip-hop or current sound. Gartside only records with comet-like frequency, but it’s always interesting.
6. Air, “Mer du Japon.”
7. Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Beauty Mark.”
8. Steely Dan, “Kid Charlemagne.”
9. Warm In The Wake, “Skeleton Friends.”
10. Lily Allen, “LDN.” I’m deeply bummed that It’s Not Me, It’s You didn’t get the great acceptance it deserves over here, but I’m not terribly surprised, either. The American/British divide in pop music continues, Adele’s Grammy notwithstanding, and continues to tick me off.
Video of the Day: Art Brut, “Alcoholics Unanimous”
Bring me tea! Eddie Argos (apparently played here by Alfred Molina) gets into the wrong support group. From Art Brut vs. Satan, produced by Frank Black and due May 12.
DVD Review: “Escape To Witch Mountain”
Rating: 45
Disney’s live-action family films of the ’70s packed theaters with kids — this was a time when “The Wonderful World of Disney” still ruled Sunday nights, and with few channels of entertainment available, devotion to the Mouse House was sky-high despite the waning quality of its animated features. “Escape to Witch Mountain” held considerable curiosity since the title promised pint-sized scares, but the 1975 film, recently “re-imagined” in “Race to Witch Mountain,” is surprisingly slow-paced fare. It works far better as a dim memory.
Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann starred as Tia and Tony, two kids with telekinetic/clairvoyant powers living in an orphanage and ostracized because they move things with their brains and converse with cats. Tia carries a “star case” that holds clues to their true out-of-this-world origins, Tony plays harmonica to take the edge off, and they face exploitation at the hands of evil lawyer Lucas Deranian (Donald Pleasance) and his boss, occult-obsessive megalomaniacal millionaire Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). Bolt holds Tia, Tony and their cat Winkie captive, but they promptly escape thanks to cranky-but-kindly Winnebago pilot Jason O’Day (Eddie Albert).
This was great fun at the time, but these days “Witch Mountain” has the look and feel of a grade-school Hammer film, replete with crazy ’70s zooms, creepy glares from Pleasance and close-up glowering from Milland. The kids were cute and the effects were good enough for the standards of the day, but as nostalgia pieces go, “Escape to Witch Mountain” is better left in the mind’s eye.
Music Review: Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is”
Rating: 70
Austin-based soul man Black Joe Lewis sings like Wilson Pickett and James Brown in a shouting match, and if that wasn’t enough, his backup R&B revue mates, the Honeybears, deliver the mean retro-funk better than anyone this side of Muscle Shoals. Any doubts about the sincerity of this enterprise evaporate like sweat drops on a hot skillet when “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is” fires up and the opening track “Gunpowder” ignites. It’s all horns, nimble guitar riffs and rotgut nastiness.
After the manic rant-and-stomp dance party of “Gunpowder,” Lewis leads the Honeybears through the killer funk slider “Sugarfoot,” a riff-heavy monster nearly worthy of Brown at his late-’60s peak. Even when the band downshifts on the slow-burning “I’m Broke,” Lewis still delivers soul screaming that could give Screamin’ Jay Hawkins a scare. And Lewis’ wicked sense of humor runs through all 10 tracks, from “Sugarfoot” to “Bobby Booshay.”
Produced by Spoon’s Jim Eno and featuring the horn section from Grupo Fantasma, “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is” doesn’t attempt to replicate ‘60s production styles. The stereo separation doesn’t have the ring of scratchy-vinyl authenticity that Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings achieve, but ultimately Lewis and the Honeybears’ strength is in the delivery, and “Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is” delivers.
Video of the Day: Depeche Mode, ” Wrong”
Perfectly disturbo video, and fairly violent so those with delicate sensibilities might want to hold off. A bold move for a band in its 30th year or so. Seriously, not for the kids.
Video of the Day: Camera Obscura, “French Navy”
The wait is finally over: “French Navy” is the first single from “My Maudlin Career,” which arrives on April 14.
Static, Episode 5: Crocodile
Interview
“Satellites and Radiowaves”
“Disposable Hygiene”
“August Is Over”
