Random stuff...

The B-52s

Lately i've had some strange stuff stuck in my head, so I thought I'd share.

First up, Rock Lobster, by a fledgling B-52s. Awesome psychobilly new wave surf rock from 1978. Listen out for the bit about the matching towels and the noise the narwal makes. This was long before they appeared in The Flintstones: The Movie as the BC-52s or collaborated with R.E. fucking M. on Shiny Happy People.



Mp3:
The B-52s - 'Rock Lobster'.
Buy it.


Slim Whitman

Next, for some reason I've been singing this a lot. Dunno why because I haven't even heard it for a while. It's used on the soundtrack for Rob Zombie's 'House of 1000 Corpses' and it's got some pretty tasteful yodelling in it.

Mp3:
Slim Whitman - 'I Remember You'.
Buy it.


The Shipping Forecast

And finally, I've taken to listening to Radio 4 to go to sleep and for some reason it always tends to be exactly when the night-time shipping forecast is starting (about 12:45am in case you're interested). It's relaxing on so many levels. The soothing voice of the BBC presenter reading a coded list of conditions at sea that I don't have to deal with as I'm tucked up in my squishy cocoon. The nostalgic associations from my parents listening to in the mornings and my dad telling me what it all means. And last but not least the incredibly kitsch light classical music which ushers it in, which can't have changed in 30 years. After some considerable hunting I found it. Hope you find it as comforting as I do.

Mp3:
Ronald Binge (great name) - 'Sailing By'

A little bit about Jeffrey Lewis

I had a bit of read about Jeffrey Lewis. Turns out he write's and performs with his brother Jack and hangs out with other Anti-folks like Kimya Dawson and her moldy buddy Adam Green. He's had a couple of albums out on Rough Trade with some great titles ('The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane' and 'It's The Ones Who've Cracked That The Light Shines Through'). He's also produced his own comics which look all suitably chock full of pop culture and sharp observations.

Here's the song from the video in the previous post.

Mp3:
Jeffrey and Jack Lewis - 'Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror'

Buy his stuff here.

I know nothing about Jeffrey Lewis...

...but I love this. And know a few of my friends will too.

OO-EE-OOOOH I look just like Biffy Holly...

I came across/hunted down this awesome cover of Buddy Holly (by Weezer for those too young to remember). It's a completely different song really, but rules nevertheless. Biffy Clyro have a new album out pretty soon but i'd recommend checking out Infinity Land if you're new to their math/post-hardcore/post-grunge wonderland. It's probably their most well rounded album so far.

Mp3:
Biffy Clyro - 'Buddy Holly'

Buy Infinity Land here.

And Biffy are incredible live so go see 'em. They are unbelievably tight. Here's a little taster (many apologies for the topless hairy scotsman, I assume he was hot, okay?):

For Mario fans.

I found this on the Plan B forum. Huuuuge round of applause for he that done found it.

The 'lost' Travis Morrison interview

A couple of years ago, I briefly did a bit of writing for a webzine in Manchester. I'd just reviewed Travis Morrison's (singer/guitarist of The Dismemberment Plan) relatively weak solo album and thought I'd try and wangle an email interview out of the guy.

It worked, only the webzine shut down so I never got to publish it. So, in celebration of the impending 'Plan reunion gigs, here it is:


From 7th February 2005

Was there any one person or band that you would describe as a musical hero or heroes during your formative years?

Probably The Beatles. They could do anything.

Can you recall a specific turning point in your life where you realised you wanted to be a musician?

Well... hard to say. I always wanted to be an artist, and a writer. Music is a great place to write and also do other things. I did want to make movies too, I think cinema is the ultimate art form, but music is more social. It seems like you'd really have to be a megalomaniac berzerker to get a movie done. I'm a megalomaniac, for sure, but laid back.

Does being a solo artist feel natural yet or do you still feel maybe a bit naked?

Naked, definitely. It's hard. It's all on me. It's all my responsibility. It kind of always was anyways, but now it's really out there for anyone to bash if they want. But it feels good, as I grow into it.

The general outlook on ‘Travistan’ seems more contented than some of the themes you sang about in Dismemberment Plan. Would you say this reflects the life of Travis Morrison at the moment?

Interesting you say that, as a lot of people found it very discontented and withdrawn. But yeah, I'm having the time of my life.

Are there any plans to release ‘Travistan’ in England or to maybe play a few dates over here?

I wish, but I can't find a label.

As a songwriter what would you say to the school of thought that ‘it’s all been done before’ and ‘there’s nowhere left to go’?

Of course that's all true. But it's never been done YOUR WAY.

Is there a particular point in your musical output that you are most proud of?

Naw. Just hanging in there and trying every day is what I'm most proud of.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! The Plan reforming!

I nearly crapped myself when I read here that the Dismemberment Plan, a band I gush regularly about to anyone who'll listen, are temporarily reforming. It's just for 2 gigs for a benefit for Jawbox mainfella J Robbins' son at the moment but one can live in hope. The gigs are, of course, in Washington and sold out in minutes. Gay.

They even played at my home venue, Exeter Cavern back in 2001 and I didn't find out til months later!

"I know Lord, i got to see The Cure and Iggy Pop and Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth but please, one more favour... for old time's sake?"

Enjoy this understated anthem for anyone else in their mid-twenties currently wondering "where the fuck is my life going?"

Mp3:
Dismemberment Plan - 'Spider in the Snow'

Buy it here.

I actually quite like it!?

Robert Smith on Good Morning Britain.