WFMU's Beware of the Blog

Glengarry Glen Huck

I never liked Huckleberry Hound.  I didn’t like most of the Hannah-Barbera cartoons.  It bothered my child brain that Yogi Bear could run miles and miles and still have the same background behind him.  I had no way of knowing that animation was slouching toward the Dark Ages where a frame saved was a penny earned.  It broke my heart to watch Tom and Jerry so poorly drawn, looking as middle aged and unfunny as my parents.

But, as with Bil Keene and Family Circus, what strange, Lynchian, existential lessons lurk in Huckleberry Hound At The Fire Station?  It’s as if Mamet moonlighted for Peter Pan Records.

Huck is a loser at the beginning of the story and he’s a loser at the end of it.  Oh.  Yeah.  Should have said “spoiler alert” first.  In between, he lies, is an accessory to arson and destroys a fire truck.  Like the banking and auto industry, he expects to get treated like a hero for doing his job badly.  Unlike the banking and auto industry, he gets thrown out on his ass.

My mom always said watching too many cartoons would mess me up.  Perhaps she was right.

Download Huckleberry Hound At The Firestation

Picture Credit - http://www.gunaxin.com/

Better Living Through Bad Movies - Blood Sabbath (1972)

A walk into the woods is a primal human experience, like staring at the ocean. It re-connects us with the infinite and the subconscious. We feel fear, and irresistible expectation. Though real forests have finite borders, in the subjectivity of our psyches, anything can happen under the cover of the treetops—and that's part of what we love about the woods. It's a theme that's been explored by auteurs from Shakespeare to Sam Raimi, and in horror films from Equinox to The Blair Witch Project and beyond.

What might a stateless, flashback-ridden Vietnam vet find on a walk into the woods in 1972? That question is more than answered by the deliciously oddball American film Blood Sabbath, which despite its obvious lack of resources, comes off inventive, low-key, and generally well done—in contrast to the (nonetheless beloved by me) Euro-schlock horror/fantasy pictures of the same period. Blood Sabbath is also packed with top-shelf cult talent: David, the hapless young soldier, is played by Tony Geary, later to become Anthony Geary, and achieve global notoriety playing Luke on General Hospital (thankfully, Blood Sabbath is pre-perm); and Alotta, Queen of the Witches (yes—you read that right) is played by none other than Dyanne Thorne, world-renown for her tenure playing Ilsa in all the Ilsa movies.

Our hero David, for whatever reason, runs in terror from three aggressively playful, stark-naked hippie girls who ambush him early on in the film, yet moments later has no problem falling irreversibly and painfully in love with a mysterious lady of the lake who's wearing a very distracting wig. (As my wife put it, Yyalah, said lady of the lake, is "magical.") See what happens later in the story when David, now under Alotta's power, hungrily accepts a chalice of sacrificial blood—this clip of David's ritual-induced fever dream is most definitely not safe for work. View below or download in m4v format to have and hold.

Egnekn Montgomery's 8 Track Magic

After 15 years we now have the follow up volume to Brooklyn sound artist/laminator Egnekn Montgomery's 8 Track Magic, a CD compendium of the sounds of damaged 8-track tapes. The first volume took a thrift-store Led Zep IV cartridge (purchased for a quarter), setting the listener on a sea of queasy Robert Plant warble in even more damaged mode, Page's "Stairway to Heaven" intro sounding like Jandek, a new association with the song in your head occuring through natural (or perhaps Crowley-induced mystical) playing process. Egnekn claims this new volume is less "magic" than previous, but it definitely stands as a signifier of crumbling technology that once reigned supreme, a remark on de-evolution, or even a lesson to all the Blu-Ray fans out there. Check out Egnekn (aka Gen Ken's) ATMOTW (Artist Throwing Money Out the Window) site for more info and releases.

"Going Off the Deep End" (MP3)
"Fever Down" (MP3)
"Hey Hey Number Nine" (MP3)
"I'm a Clown" (MP3)
"I Won't Do That" (MP3)

and one from Volume One:
"Lonelytime" (MP3)

I'm Not That Blogger

 So J.G. Ballard has died, and he was pretty old--78, I believe.
There are times when I prefer blogging to doing a radio show, but this isn't one of them. If I were broadcasting to you now, I would probably read some excerpts from some Ballard short stories, and then I would play music by some of the bands who were influenced by his work, or who quoted his work in their music, and you might be surprised: Joy Division's "Atrocity Exhibition," sure, but what about "Video Killed the Radio Star?" And there are others. (I would not play Hawkwind, but that's just personal taste.) I would probably talk about the movie "Crash" and make fun of Holly Hunter fishing out her tit at the slightest provocation.  It would probably be a nice little half hour or so, you and I together, considering the life, and the work, and all. Maybe if I were more clever, I could do all that here for you, give you the quotations to read for yourself, and set up some links to all those songs, or maybe even a video clip. But ... I dunno. It's not how I want to do it. Sorry. I'm not that blogger.

But let me at least share my favorite Ballard factoid: He started writing when he was in the R.A.F. and they stationed him in Moose Jaw, Canada, for 6 months. Jeez, you can't blame him.

Thanks for reading my blogpost this week, etc.

Gasoline Stew and the Dump

(Don't call the SPCA on us, its from Gasoline Stew and the Dump's My Space page) From the Australian duo of Macaroni (guitar/mic) and Betty Bowser (bin/stump/cymbal/table/mic/garbage lid): "We live part-time in a caravan in a small rural ghost town called Steiglitz (population: 9), out there it's as dry as a nuns clacker and you got to watch for falling trees when you step outside.... we collected old rusted junk leftover from the goldmining days, found a $20 acoustic guitar in a wca store and built a couple of microphones from broken telephones and electrical tape. We play shows in laundromattes and cemetaries, youth hostels and factories and other places." The new CD Neanderthal Dance Floor Vol. 3 reminds me of an even less-equipped Bob Log or Rube Waddell, muttered lackadaisical vox sound as challenged as the guy from the band Jon Wayne. Fun stoopid blues from a duo that utilize the word gutbucket in a deserved way.

"Drag Racer" (MP3)

"Giant Man" (MP3)

"Two Tack Thumber" (MP3)

"Stinking In the Stew" (MP3)

Marimba, Mambo Y Cha-Cha-Cha

  God help me, I love Marimbas! There are other singularly great instruments - trumpet and clarinet come to mind - and even among the percussion, I'm almost as big a fan of the vibraphone, but Marimbas are on another level altogether.

I've never owned one (it seems to me it would probably take up way too much space), but thanks to the wonders of modern keyboards, I've been able to work virtual marimbas into many of my own recordings. But that's a pale imitation of the sound of a bunch of marimbas playing together. So when a friend and I went to an estate sale not long ago, he knew, upon coming across this album, that he needed to pass it my way. I was not disappointed.

The '50's echo is a bit much in places, but the wonderfulness of the instruments, and of many of these songs, can't be missed. Personal favorites are Rico Mambo, Oye Negro and Guadalajara, but every track has its charms.

Bob

1.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Chivirico (MP3)
2.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Cherry Pink (MP3)
3.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Solamente Una Vez (MP3)
4.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Quien Sera (MP3)
5.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Carioca (MP3)
6.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Rico Mambo (MP3)
7.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Rico Vacilon (MP3)
8.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Oye Negra (MP3)
9.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Frenesi (MP3)
10.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Burundanga (MP3)
11.) Orchestra Marimba Chiapas - Guadalajara (MP3)

Front Cover (JPG)
Back Cover (JPG)

Chris Morris - Blue Jam Monologues (video)

I recently discovered a whole series of Chris Morris monologues from his 'ambient radio comedy' series Blue Jam on YouTube. It was originally aired on BBC Radio 1 between 1997 and 1999, and if you don't know it, just imagine a British version of Joe Frank. Here is monologue #1, "Guns".

More on YouTube: The Blue Jam Monologues

Motor/Mouth: Debbie D.

Motor/Mouth is a bi-weekly series featuring WFMU staff and their rides. This installment puts Debbie D. (Debbie Does WFMU) behind the wheel.

Main form of transportation: 1999 Ford Ranger.

Mileage: 79.236.

Where did you get it? Macon, GA.

What made you pick it? It had been repossessed and was affordable.

How long have you owned it? 9 years.

How much longer will you keep it? Until it has some major repair job needed.

Favorite thing about it: I can hook up my ipod to the radio.

Least favorite thing about it: It has a busted window on the camper top.

Rate your satisfaction level from 1 (least) – 10 (most): 10.

What is your dream form of transportation? Ferry.

Anything else you’d like to mention: A few years ago, Rex and Coco and Spazz and I drove out to the Chiller Convention in Jersey. I got ticketed for having Rex and Dave riding in the back without seatbelts.

Debbie's Favorite Truck Driving Songs (from the bottom up):

Jim & Jesse Diesel On My Trail
Dave Dudley I Got Lost
Ray King Big Wheel
Russ Meyers Up
Doyle O'Dell Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves
Del Reeves Girl On The Billboard
Dick Curless Chick Inspector
Hylo Brown Truck Drivin' Man
Red Sovine Woman Behind The Man Behind The Wheel
Kitty Wells My Big Truck Drivin' Man
Merle Haggard White Line Fever
Red Simpson I'm a Truck
Kay Adams Little Pink Mack

The Brady Kids (1972)

Much like Oscar the Grouch and most WFMU devotees, I love trash. No real explanation for this, although I imagine psychologists would conclude it has something to do with a feeling of superiority over the content being consumed. This is one of the worst. Watch the entire episode here if you dare.

A Tummy Tickler from The Soul Clowns : Skillet & Leroy

Department of Less-Than-Hilarious Comedy Albums/ Today's offering:  The Okra Eaters.
A scandalous, shocking, nasty damned dish.
They really need little introduction, just pour a libation, settle down and get ready to laugh until some okra comes up.
This is the complete 1974 adults-only lp, with ripping incidental music by the Johnny Otis Show, and another lovely (?) Laff Records cover designed by Howard Goldstein with Bud Fraker photography. Oh, and I fixed the tracklist- the original lp had the cuts listed wrong on the cover and the label. But who would care or notice? Tracklist schmacklist.
Again--if you didn't glean this already--This is NOT work-safe or even safe for pets or children, for that matter- just very down and dirty.  It hovers somewhere just short of 'foul' and nearby to 'cute'.

70's Culture Quiz: The concept "Karate Jaws" is a send-up of an ad campaign related to what 1970's icon?

Here is the link to the corrected cover art, and here are the 13 tracks:
01  Bazooms     02  House of Pleasure     03  Miscarriage     04  Eat My Okra     05  Chocolate Ice Cream     06  Proud     07  Hold That Tiger     08  Son in Law     09  To Be Sure     10  Bad Weather     11  Blowin' Mule     12  Big Mary     13  Dr. Weightoff

UPDATE 3/12/2012: Audio has been removed. Keep an eye on www.oldschoolcomedyclassics.com for the official reissue.

Right Here, Right Now

Where were we?

It's been nearly three months since I started gardening: or, three months since I started poking about in bits of dirt and blindly flinging seeds about without much idea as to what I was actually doing.

Megapolis Audio Festival, Boston : April 24 - 26

Heads-up Bostonites, a cool DIY audio arts festival is headed your way: Megapolis, April 24-26.

"Artists, documentarians, musicians, and fans come together to share secrets on producing and presenting challenging audio works online, on-air, and on the stage."

Tons of cool sessions are planned: learn about field recording, circuit bending, illegal art, activist films, sound art and collage, audio production, radio wizardry, electro-acoustic instrument building, and more! Folks from the Third Coast Audio Festival, free103point9, WZBC, WYPR, WNYC, Mecca Normal, MIT, and tons of other groups and working artists will be representing.

On top of all this wonderment, Jason Sigal and I will make a mind-blowing presentation about the Free Music Archive on Sat Apr 25, 11:30am-1pm (@ Public Radio Exchange, 3rd Floor, 50 Church St., Cambridge UPDATE: venue change.... Nelson Mandela room at the Democracy Center, 45 Mt. Auburn St).

Hope to see you there!

Megapolis Schedule | Ticket Info | Blargh

Virtual CBGB's

I kept peering around corners thinking I was gonna run into Vinnie Stigma, hopefully not in the bathroom. Link courtesy John Neilson (who wonders if maybe this actually the Vegas recreation being that it was lit so well)

Slap Chop remix

Everyone's favorite TV gadget huckster Vince Offer got a bad rap after that bloody tongue-biting incident with a prostitute a few weeks back. But even after that circus came and went, some in the FMU office had never heard of Vince's pet products, Sham Wow and Slap Chop.

And because sophomoric jokes about nuts never get old, here's a slap chop musical remix for you by the Working Mothers (MP3). Thanks Dennis!

You’ll Never Walk Alone

Twenty years ago today Liverpool was playing Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final soccer match at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium. There was construction work on the main highway from Liverpool to Sheffield and a lot of fans arrived late, just minutes before the game was scheduled to start. There was a big crowd at the turnstiles, and a lot of shoving as people made their way through a narrow tunnel that led to the standing-room pens behind one of the goalposts.

In retrospect, there were a lot of things that could have been done: The game could have been delayed; the fans could have been directed into less-crowded pens; the police could have pulled their heads out of their asses. Instead, there was a perfect storm of crowd hysteria, police stupidity, and bad stadium design. 96 men, women, and children died, some by being stomped on and crushed and some by compressive asphyxiation (they remained standing, but couldn’t breathe). Meanwhile, the soccer game started promptly at 3:00 and went on as the fans were slaughtered; the referees didn’t order the players off the field until 3:06.

In the aftermath, there was the obligatory government inquiry, an inquest that failed to take into account anything that happened after 3:15 that day, and the early retirement (with full pensions) of some of the police. One of Rupert Murdoch's so-called newspapers blamed the victims.

BBC News’ UK Web site has video of some survivors today; I thought Damian Kavanagh's segment was particularly moving. And most of the memorials feature an old Rodgers and Hammerstein song from the Broadway musical “Carousel,” which for some reason has been associated with Liverpool F.C. since the early 1960s.

Thanks for reading today’s News of the Dead blog post, and may God bless.

Mining the Audio Motherlode, Vol. 12 (MP3s)

Give the Drummer Some's
10 Favorite Downloads from the MP3 Blogosphere
(see Comments, below, for helpful info about downloading)

AFRO-POP EDITION!!

For a change of pace, the miner decided to stick with a single continent this week, with all selections hailing from the source of the original funk. Yes, it's African danceables galore in this haul of downloads. Highlights include a campaign tune from a Beninese pop star who ran for president (G.G. Vikey), afro-soul out of Italy from a multinational crew (African People) and enchanting mixes of country-esque numbers (yup!) from Nigeria (Naija to Nashville). So pull up a stool in this here virtual shebeen and slurp the head off these sonic suds.

 

Lead Singer's (First) Name Is Jagger
Kelenkye Band  ~  "Moving World"
(Blog: Prog Not Frog)
From the album: No One Is Born to Suffer (mp3)

 
 


"Country" Music, Mostly from Nigeria
Various  ~  Naija to Nashville: Mix #1 & Mix #2
(Blog: With Comb and Razor)





Doubtfully African, Definitely A-Funk'n
African People  ~  "Stop Pushing"
(Blog: Diggin' the Crates)

 
[7 more Sub-Saharan stunners, after the jump]

Throbbing Gristle: Visiting WFMU/Fabio's Strength Through Failure Tonight

Tonight: The one and only Throbbing Gristle will be visiting WFMU's Fabio from 8-11PM.
Formed in 1975, reformed in 2004, TG are the premiere Industrial/art/noise pioneers, playing their first ever NYC shows (Brooklyn Masonic Temple dates are sold out, but a night at Manhattan's Le Poisson Rouge has been added April 17 w/FMU's Michael Goodstein DJ-ing before the show) and the lineup of Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Chris Carter, and Peter Christopherson will be chatting here in WFMU's studios, playing unreleased recordings and taking your live phone calls on Strength Through Failure.

Jesus Loves "Danny Boy" But Not So Much Jews (mp3s)

Danny Boy, according to Wikipedia, started life as Londonderry Air (heh - he said derriere") in 1792, going through several changes before becoming one of the top 10 songs that people only know the first line of.  It was also recorded, as pretty much every song has been, by Pat Boone on his 2005 Dream of Ireland album. (Note: Wikipedia shows its liberal bias by NOT listing Boone as an artist who covered it).  It's not surprising the tune gets reworked frequently since it's easy to write lyrics for.

Oh FMU
We love your blogger's postings
Giving us music interesting and odd
You're our home page
We hit F5 repeatedly
And many here
Think Pat Boone is a sod

Only the Dead Know Flooring

I had kind of a shock when I opened my suburban housewife reading material on the train last night and saw Gilda Radner advertising fake-wood laminate flooring. Not that I object in principle to dead people having jobs, and I'm always pleased when dead people are elected to political office, or win posthumous awards, or something. But, you know, it's Gilda Radner, who was funny and nice, and who died an awful, painful death and is probably best known now for the cancer support groups established in her name. And of course it's not really Gilda Radner, it's a Gilda look-alike (as in, the floor is not really wood, either). But still. And I wasn't in the market for a fake-wood floor, anyway. But it still creeps me out.

Thanks for reading my additional blogpost this week, and may God bless.

WFMU's Free Music Archive: Jump in!

Hey folks, in case you haven't had your ear to the pavement, WFMU recently launched a new site, the Free Music Archive!

The FMA is a fantastic resource of free, legal, and (most importantly) good music downloads. WFMU teamed up with audio curators like KEXP, Dublab, KBOO, CASH Music, Issue Project Room, Phoning It In, and even a fantastic internet radio station in Israel (Halas.am) to offer up wonderful and free music for the masses, and we expect the site to grow even larger and better with time.

Most of the songs offered on the Free Music Archive are licensed using Creative Commons, which is a more flexible version of copyright. The CC licenses used in the Free Music archive allow for non-commercial use with attribution (by-nc). This means you can download songs for free under two conditions:

1. You aren't making any money off of whatever you use the song for (listening on your ipod = ok, e-mailing the song to a friend or posting on your non-ad-driven blog/podcast = ok, using the song in your company's shoe commercial = not ok).

2. You credit the artist.

Some songs even allow for remixing (under the share-alike clause). Anyway, enough about the rules, go forth and explore!

As I was poking around on the site, I came across a great live set by the band Weave, which I found in Dublab's portal of the Free Music Archive. Since I originally hail from the northern sector of California, I am by nature skeptical of anything to make a peep from the state's lower half. I swallowed my pride and took a listen to Weave anyway, and loved what I heard: melodic yet slightly dissonant and hopping post-punk tunes with fun sing-along multi-lady vox. Fans of Liliput, the Slits, the Shaggs, Vivian Girls, and early B-52s, take note! Take a listen to Weave's live set right here, and download away!