Category Archives: Uncategorized

MTV's Real World Killed The Video Star

Let's watch early-80's videos!

Aldo Nova, "Fantasy"

Oh man, I wanted this album so bad. But thanks to a long series of record club screw-ups, I could never manage to get it. You might be tempted to skip the intro and get right to the leopard lounge gear rock action, but then you'd miss the laser guitar blast. So don't.

The Cars, "Just What I Needed"

Benjamin Orr got no respect. Everybody assumes Ric Ocasek sang all the Cars songs, but Orr sang many of them - many of the hits, even. And Elliot Easton remains a criminally underrated guitarist.

Red Rider, "Lunatic Fringe"

Back in the day when MTV wasn't pure flaming ass, they played this one a lot. I loved it. And then he did that fucking "Life Is A Highway" song.

Split Enz, "One Step Ahead"

I always liked this one better than "I Got You". I'm not sure if I still do.

Devo, "Girl U Want"

Search the iTunes store for "Girl U Want", there are dozens of covers. For good reason. Devo's best song, IMO.

Pretenders, Tattooed Love Boys

My favorite Pretenders song, I think. The guitar break is just fucking awesome. I get chills every time I hear it. All hail J.H. Scott.

Blue Oyster Cult, "Burning For You"

Not a great song, but a sentimental favorite because it was one of the first wave of vids on MTV.

The Kings, "This Beat Goes On/Switchin' to Glide"

Not sure if there was ever a real video for this one; I don't remember seeing one. But I remember hearing this song a lot because my mother and all her friends were really into it. "Nothing matters but the weekend, from a Tuesday point of view". You said it, head King.

David Bowie, "Ashes To Ashes"

Love this video.

Depeche Mode, "Just Can't Get Enough"

I was amazed when I first saw this: it was all done with keyboards! The future was now. Then. Whatever.

60 Second Reviews

  • Genesis - A Trick Of The Tail. I used to love this record, when I was 15. Now it's 50% cringe-worthy and 25% meh. The other 25% is OK; I can still listen to "Dance On A Volcano" and "Squonk". For some reason, the iTunes version of this album is nothing like the official release: some of the songs are replaced with live versions, and many of the songs are completely missing. Looking at the original track list, I can't say it matters: I'd still give it one thorn: Þ
  • The Who - Live At Leeds (deluxe edition). This is a hugely expanded version, with like 30 songs (including all of Tommy). But, I want to like The Who more than I actually do like The Who. Basically, I really do not dig rock-operas - except for "A Quick One While He's Away", which is funny, goofy, and quick (but which gets a 5 minute spoken intro on this). Most of Tommy makes me yawn and I won't even bother with Quadrophenia. Still, the rest of it ("Young Man's Blues", "Substitute", "Summertime Blues", etc. - the early songs) is fantastic. Three thorns: ÞÞÞ for the whole.
  • Beck - Modern Guilt. Beck being Beck... always a good thing. Most of his records run together for me. But, I still like them. Three thorns: ÞÞÞ
  • Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. This is growing into a new favorite. It's a chunk of enthusiastic alternative pop: very catchy, but just quirky enough to keep it from a broader audience. They're a bit louder than their fellow Swedish indies Peter, Bjorn and John - not heavy, but more guitars, louder drums, more-aggressive vocals; and the singer's style reminded my wife of Steven Malkmus from Pavement (whom she Does Not Like) because he goes willfully off-key here and there. I think it's charming. Four thorns: ÞÞÞÞ
  • Cassandra Wilson - Loverly. On this record, she goes back to jazz standards and classics - there are no covers of contemporary pop songs on this record, for a (welcome, IMO) change. But, old or new, nobody covers a song like Cassandra Wilson. Between her unique vocal style and her amazing and unconventional band, every song she does becomes, unmistakably, a Cassandra Wilson song. Another solid record. Three thorns: ÞÞÞ
  • Faces - Best Of The Faces (Good Songs From Bad Boys). There are some good songs here ("Ooh La La", "Stay With Me", "Sweet Lady Mary", etc.). But that early 70's style grates on me: too much noodling, too much of that heavy "one and TWO and three and FOUR and..." chugging. I can't help but picture Rod Stewart stiffly strutting around, pouting to the beat, ridiculously. I hear they're going to do a reunion soon. On the revelatory side, after listening to him here it seems like the most obvious thing in the world that Ron Wood would eventually end up with the Stones. Either two or three thorns: ÞÞ / ÞÞÞ
  • Sea and Cake - Car Alarm. Their last album had only one or two memorable songs. This one has zero. It's all flat and samey. I know they're still capable of good ideas, but they're putting all the good stuff on their solo records. When they get together, it's just flat. Which is not to say it's offensively bad or anything. I can certainly listen to it if I want to - I just don't want to. One thorn: Þ