i think i better follow you around

The fascination with the series “Stranger Things” is baffling to me. The show is ok at best but it sure as hell/the upside down is not the best. The arguments as to why is one of the great series seem hollow and shortsighted. The supposedly great music selection is in reality just subpar at best. The original music in it is ok, not amazing and breathtaking as it has been insisted upon. The acting on the show is equally as middle of the road (why has no one said that Mike acted and looked like Shelley Duvall in the Shining?) as is the editing trying really hard to keep you on the edge of your seat as it is trying to “genuinely” scare you or to get you to jump out of your couch, now that being said if this is the kind of thing that gets you off in a movie or tv show then in that case I sort of kind of understand why you would be so enthralled in a show like this.

One of the many issues with the show is that I found it really hard to care about almost any of the characters in the show. The children were boring. The supporting cast seemed like they were just hanging around. Winona Ryder I just can’t seem to understand, neither why was she in the show or why is she even an icon of sorts to some.

The one thing that the Duffer brothers got right was the tribute that they were paying to all of their filmmaking heroes of the late 70’s and the unremembered 80’s. The homages were not subtle either, nods to the movies were so blatant that you could almost taste a lawsuit occurring. the one thing I sort of hoped from this was that some of the fans would go watch some of the great works that they might not be familiar with. I’m sure by now they’ve seen the videos or comparison charts as to who they were paying tribute to.

The show felt like an exercise in nostalgia and fans of anything/everything cannot get enough of their daily serving of the same. Here’s to hoping that the inevitable Season 2 is better (I doubt it), the the acting improves (one can only hope), that the music selection actually improves and that the score can actually make you feel uneasy or scared instead of just being there filling up dead air time and making you feel almost nothing, that they stop with the fade out/cut into the next scene, that technique is just dull.

Hopefully for their next season they can find other (better) movies to pay homage to. I doubt it. Nostalgia will always sell.

Massive Attack new song, “The Spoils” featuring Hope Sandoval.
The video was directed by John Hillcoat and shows images of the queen, Cate Blanchett.

This is Silent, the most recent release from the record label Three One G.

“Miles Davis said that “it’s not the notes you play, it’s the notes you don’t play”. It’s when one is silent that sound suddenly becomes the most meaningful, the most necessary—moments of reflection or restraint punctuate the importance of what’s there versus what’s not. This is the case not only in music, but in history and in daily life. Framed in this way, a band named Silent suddenly seems like less of a paradox and more of an awareness. This is especially the case when considering their album title, “A Century of Abuse”, of which one could draw many connections between oppression and silence.

Created in Baja California, Silent’s music takes on various aural approaches. Interludes bring forth hypnotic sounds that have an almost cinematic quality, all heartbeat and boots on cement rhythms with sunsets on a desert landscape distortion. Other tracks take on a more fast-paced approach, sometimes even crossing barriers into catchy, surf-like guitar riffs. While Andrea Varela’s drumming, Rodo Ibarra’s (Maniqui Lazer) bass, and Alejandro Lara’s guitar lines do vary quite a bit depending on the track, Jung Sing’s (Maniqui Lazer, All Leather) vocals are a common thread throughout, consistently emitting honeyed grief: soothing but woeful, desperate and yet in no rush, perhaps calling to mind something in the spirit of a Mexicali-reincarnated Nick Cave. – Becky DiGiglio”

Tracklisting:
Lies co.
Lost voice
Self
nothing for nothing
Near to us
If you said
Ripped me
Wrong dream
Damage and violence
A Century

Listen to their single “Self”

As a disclaimer, first and foremost this is just something that came across our minds since the passing of the artist known as David Bowie. There is no known evidence other than looking at the music and circumstances at a certain angle, kind of like the “Blackstar” record itself if you must.

This theory starts off with the idea that in his last years everything that Bowie was planning was more or less controlled by him. He was known to only collaborate with artists/musicians that he wanted to, not to follow a trend but to participate in what he thought of meaningful. SO, we arrive at the collaboration at hand for the album “Reflektor” by Arcade Fire. Why is this meaningful? Well, because the band itself could have elevated the anticipation of their album just by mentioning that Bowie himself would be singing backup vocals on the title track, BUT they did not do it. The track itself is great, however the line that Bowie sings on is the following: “Thought you would bring to me the resurrector, Turns out it was just a reflektor”, now the lyric itself might not be much then, but in retrospect and specifically with the theme of his last album it gives us more into what he might have been thinking as fas as themes go for his album. Now, i’m not saying that he came up with the idea for Blackstar here but I’m pretty sure the thought did cross his mind now.

Also, it must be said that this is where he met/worked with James Murphy, at this point in Murphy’s career he had already said goodbye to LCD Soundsystem. Now, I firmly believe that Murphy’s intention was to have LCD Soundsystem retired for good. I really did believe him. BUT, when you have Bowie in a stage in his life where he is terminally ill and still being productive and creative and still has vitality in his career; when he speaks to you, you shut the fuck up and listen.

Before I move forward I have to point out that he “resurrected/saved” Iggy Pop’s career. He also produced Lou Reed’s “Transformer”. He also “resurrected/saved” Trent Reznor’s life/career. He worked with Brian Eno. With Goldie. With Giorgio Moroder. With Queen. With Robert Fripp. And on his much latter collaborations he sang with TV On The Radio and more frequently with Arcade Fire who he really liked.

This is where the idea come in that his last artist to convince to get back to work was James Murphy. Just imagine being on the receiving end of the conversation that Bowie tells you that you have to get your band back together. Not so much for the fans, or the tours, but because you still have to get that music out and who cares if you retired your band and who really cares if you are called a hypocrite and who cares if you have to eat your words, IF Bowie speaks to you, you listen. Who are you to argue with a man that has influenced punk rock, fashion, art, music, film, AND he also killed/retired some of his most memorable characters to further his career.

In James Murphy’s letter to announce that he was coming back from retirement he did and said everything that you could expect from someone like him. He acknowledged the silliness of the fake retirement, the possible backlash, but he was being as honest as he could. I’m pretty sure that was the only rule, Bowie’s name was NOT to be mentioned in any of this. Not the Arcade Fire album. Not the imminent return of LCD Soundsystem.

I have high hopes that the new album by LCD Soundsystem will be one of the best albums of the decade. Mostly because you wouldn’t want to disappoint Bowie himself. And besides I’m sure you would want your album to be on the great company that is “The Idiot” “Lust For Life” “Transformer” “Hunky Dory” and many many more. I’m sure Bowie is the honorary producer of the album. I’m positive that LCD Soundsystem wouldn’t be here had both of them not worked together in the Arcade Fire album and on Blackstar itself.

Tonight!, Savages live at The Observatory North Park San Diego with Head Wound City.
The show starts at 8:00 p.m. / All Ages, see you there.

Here is Head Wound City‘s new video, Directed by Kelsey Henderson, for the song “Born to Burn”, off the album ‘A New Wave of Violence’ (Vice Records).
And don’t miss the chance to see them live, this Friday July 29, opening for Savages at the Observatory North Park San Diego, CA.

Here are the rest of the tour dates:

7/29- Observatory North Park / San Diego, CA
7/30- Observatory / Santa Ana, CA
8/28- FYF Fest / Los Angeles, CA
9/17- Saint Vitus / Brooklyn, NY

Last night we played music at a bar and the first song was “Girl” by Suicide and today we are very sad to find out that Alan Vega has passed away..

The following statement was taken from Henry Rollins webpage:

07-16-16
“Hello. Henry here. I am afraid I have some unfortunate news. Below is the family approved statement.

We will have a special show tomorrow on KCRW, celebrating the great man’s work. Thank you for reading and thank you for respecting the family’s privacy at this difficult time.

July 17 1618 Hrs. PST

With profound sadness and a stillness that only news like this can bring, we regret to inform you that the great artist and creative force, Alan Vega has passed away.

Alan passed peacefully in his sleep last night, July 16. He was 78 years of age.

Alan was not only relentlessly creative, writing music and painting until the end, he was also startlingly unique. Along with Martin Rev, in the early 1970’s, they formed the two person avant band known as Suicide. Almost immediately, their incredible and unclassifiable music went against every possible grain. Their confrontational live performances, light-years before Punk Rock, are the stuff of legend. Their first, self-titled album is one of the single most challenging and noteworthy achievements in American music.

Alan Vega was the quintessential artist on every imaginable level. His entire life was devoted to outputting what his vision commanded of him.

One of the greatest aspects of Alan Vega was his unflinching adherence to the demands of his art. He only did what he wanted. Simply put, he lived to create. After decades of constant output, the world seemed to catch up with Alan and he was acknowledged as the groundbreaking creative individual he had been from the very start.

Alan’s life is a lesson of what it is to truly live for art. The work, the incredible amount of time required, the courage to keep seeing it and the strength to bring it forth—this was Alan Vega.

Alan is survived by his amazing family, wife Liz and son Dante. His incredible body of work, spanning five decades, will be with us forever.”

R.I.P. Alan Vega
June 23, 1938 – July 16, 2016

We will play your music forever.