FEMALE TROUBLES - CHA CHA HEELS

Ah yes... this brings back sordid memories. This movie is horrific. Its Tragi-Comedic. And on the other hand it just plain sucks. But it does have some pretty good moments. These movies resurfaced in the late 80's where they were much appreciated.

The 80's were an amazing time. You could release just about anything on video tape and it would get rented. Thats where I first ran into this John Waters classic. Waters was an interesting fellow until he decided to turn into Walt Disney. Its amazing what a little money can do to some people. This new thing, "HairSpray" is just depressing and high budget. I prefer Waters when he had nothing to show in his stable but this morose heap of an actor, Divine.

Cantu posted this on Oct. 11, 2007 at 10:25 PM

THE ALARM - MAKING OF THE ALARM

"Up Close With The Alarm - and Mike Peters"

This is inside the bands perspective of putting together a video. Peters and crew called it quits years ago until a recent VH1 show got them all together. Here they are perfecting their signature sound.

They are interesting because of their stage presence. Notice the cameras and mics coming from the ceiling like a boxers mic. This adds height to the performance. Also the multiple images being shown over the band adds a bit of visual dynamicism.

These guys really carried over the look and upbeat positive feel that created the image for IRS RECORDS, (which is now defunct). There was a lot of imagery and text floating over the bands videos and live performances. This was the case for a lot of the early IRS bands and added to their complex nature. All of these bands in the early days were quite interesting.

The Alarm is still producing this type of look and it really does cut against the whiney pop diva subculture that exists today. The other thing that sets them apart from competition is their ability to deliver sharp guitar hooks that jar up against one another. Somewhere in all that chaos this Dublin band is still able to deliver a likeable melody. When the entire thing is delivered and signed over you want to listen to it again and again. It has this long lasting effect that so many bands today seem to miss.

Ted Cantu posted this on Oct. 6, 2007 at 10:08 AM

TAY ZONDAY TESTING THE PATIENCE OF AMERICA

"ONE OF THE WEIRDEST MOMENTS IN TELEVISION"

Confusing yes.... like the Kennedy Assasination.

Look at the faces of the people in the audience as he sings this .... er.. song. I haven't seen looks like that since Andy Kaufman jumped on the stage and sang his ridiculous songs. I got to give this guy credit because he is so upbeat and friendly. You want to like this guy.

But the song is absurd.

His speaking voice is just as low and strange as his singing voice. The audience warms up to him as he is interviewed. It is an interesting thing to watch.

Posted by Cantu on Oct. 6, 2007 at 9:56 PM

SQUEEZE - Michael McDonald Could Have Out Done Them Better ???

You gotta read this review.....

allenbroadway (1 week ago)
I think Steely Dan and Michael McDonald could have done it better

Comparing Squeeze, (a great UK Brit Pop band WUNDERKIND from the 80s')
to the dreary sounds of Michael (pass me a doobie) Doobie Brother McDonald or Steely Dan is a terrible unforgiveable mistake of a comparrison. Each had very different pop sensibilities.

For example, Squeeze will put you in a happy upbeat place. Where McDonald puts you in a literal Mc Donalds NEAR CLOSING TIME where you are running out of time and cell phone minutes listening to him warble over the loudspeaker while you are on a business road trip -- wondering what your entire purpose in this world REALLY IS.... ??

And Steely Dan makes you feel like ordering a 7 and 7 and sticking your head in a pothole and calling it a day. After all, you cannot get a time machine back to 1977 so why bother.

But you don't get those feelings when you listen to Squeeze. And man get a load of JOOLS HOLLAND on the keyboard. GREAT STUFF. I also adore the endless guitar solos that just build and build and build. There is so much life in those builds. I just find so much depth in those songs. It is unreal.

The last I heard Mc Donald was doing AT&T commercials.... (LISSSSEN BAYBEEEEE ETC.)

Posted by Cantu on Oct. 2, 2007 at 9:34 PM

THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY - MEETS THE MANSON FAMILY

"WE'LL MAKE YOU HAPPY... (MORE OR LESS)"

This is amusing. Considering that it stems from one of the most horrific crimes of its time this will actually put a smile on your face --- in a humorous way. There is something pop culture related to this clip that I want to point out. There is a rumor on the Internet that Charles Manson was supposed to be one of the original Monkees. I doubt that this was true after listening to his recordings, (which are more like the Velvet Underground in appearance).

Still, when you look at how young, (and confused) the killers of these crimes were it boggles the mind. Its a real contrast at how evil these people were and its further confusing when you consider the reasons why they felt they must kill. To add further confusion it is interesting to watch the killers reflect on their crimes as if THEY were the REAL victims after all this time.

Its something that should be investigated if only so history will not be tempted to repeat itself. It is troubled time that needs to be dealt with.

Posted on Oct. 2, 2007 at 9:16 PM

HOUSE OF LOVE - DESTROY THE HEART

Yes, I admit -- I do hear a bit of Echo and the Bunnymen in here -- but the middle of this song gets sort of lost. I lose the narrative when I hear the song. When you watch the video it does tend to go forward in a very clear cut singular direction. But then again -- so does the camera so the two of them sort of coincide and allow the listener to follow along.......

This came off a BBC CD from Uncut magazine recently celebrating the late John Peel.

Posted by Cantu at 11:12 on Sept. 13, 2007

CAPTAIN SENSIBLE - HERE IS THE GOOD POP - HAPPY TALK

"HAPPY TALK ---- One of The Great Unknown POP Songs You Never Heard"

This is one of the greatest songs that existed in its time period. It came out one Captains solo efforts when he wasn't acting like a revved up maniac with THE DAMNED. This album allowed Sensible to do some pretty off the cuff things you may not expect from the UK's First PUNK band. This is a great effort.

Around this time it was rumored that Sensible was paying for Robyn Hitchcock to write songs and to create music. Hitch's band THE SOFT BOYS had recently broken up and now he was solo. Sensible heard his music and thought it was important enough to support. I have only heard this rumor by club kids growing up in this time period but was never able to validate this curious fact.

This song HAPPY TALK was featured in a few comedies of late. Its whimsical like Sensible himself. The other notable songs on this effort include YANKS WITH GUNS. If you can locate this on disc its worth owning. Unfortunately ITUNES does not carry it.

Posted by Cantu on Aug. 6, 2007 at 8:56 pm

HEY GIRLS... ITS BIG TRACK !!!!

BIG TRACK = LOTS OF HOT CHICKS
In the 80's you had a few choices. If you played with action figures that meant that you
were a homosexual.... seriously. If you played with a ten speed and ...... BIG TRACK.. that meant
that you scored ALL THE CHICKS......

RIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

Course if you wanted to be REALLY COOL you would bitch slap the principal in the
lunch room like our colleague and criminal.... Jeff Simpson. And to put it another way
if you wanted to be THE KING OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD then you had to risk jail time,
felonies, and grand larceny.

Seriously.

the Horrors of Flood Junior High
This is a very tall order to fulfill when you are 12. Still in our neighborhood we had young
men and women aspiring to great heights of ... er um... greatness. It was scary going to Junior High back in the day. Oh sure, we didn't have guns back then in our schools but you sure
could get knifed up pretty good like a slab of apple wood smoked bacon.

But I'm getting WAY off course here. Simply said, Junior High in Stratford Connecticut was a lot like the county lock up. The food was on par to boot. Scary shit.

THE BIG QUESTION IS......

DID THE CHICKS... REALLY get impressed with Milton Bradleys Big Track? Unlike my 13 year old counterparts opinion I beg to differ. My guess was they probobly did not.

Get impressed that is. This toy in my opinion sucked balls. Due to the simple fact that it had no doors or action figures to go with it. The windows were painted on in the form of a decal. This was kind of a weird toy. Notice that the kid playing with it has to interact with a dog of all things and a bored father who is trying to read the paper on his day off. That is the level of ACTION you get with this toy. FOr added charm you had to lay your action figures on top of the BIG TRACK and pretend that they somehow could coexist in a doorless and windowless society.

Milton Bradley never did come out with anything to go with this toy. You had to supply your own dog and ... bored dad to partake in the great BIG TRACK experience. This toy offered little emotional comfort back in the day. It hardly took your mind off the mindless monsters that clogged up our public school system waiting to cave our young heads in.

I never got my ass kicked up and down the block ..THANK GOD. Nor was I shot or stabbed while I attended public school.

But this toy offered little escapism as the 80's began. It brought very little peace of mind. But most of all.... The thing that i remember most about this toy was that it sucked.. BIG TIME.

Cantu posted Aug. 29, 2007

THE NEW FAT BOYS - BIG WALMART BUTTS

This video takes a lot of balls. There is nothing wishy washy about these guys and they totally understand comedy. They understand confrontation. If they are somewhat lucky they may actually get fame and fortune. This is the sort of thing that can get you on the JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW. Seriously.

"EXCUSE ME SHOPPERS YOU ARE IN FOR A SPECIAL TREAT...."



posted by CANTU at Aug. 23, 2007 at 8:50 pm

EDITH MASSEY - DONT LEAVE ME GATOR - NO NO NO

"A THOUSAND BELLY LAUGHS LATER -- THIS ONE STILL FLOORS ME"

FROM THE FILM.... FEMALE TROUBLE... WITH EDITH MASSEY.....

Yes, I am aware that this film is truly terrible. But that is half the beauty. The acting in this flim is beyond deplorable but thats part of the charm of John Waters, the director. I have no idea of actress Edith Massey had a low I.Q. My guess is that she probably did.

The 90's are over. Its time we forget the whole,,,, "politeness" act.

Lets face it this film is just plain hard to watch. But as you watch it you will find it even harder to take your eyes off of it. This thing is really demented, strange and sad. Through it all there is a rainbow glimmer of comedy in it in very small proportions.

Massey by the way had a punk band in the L.A. punk movement in the early - mid 80's. I find this very hard to believe. Yet, I would have liked to have seen her perform and wouldn't mind even finding some of her recordings. This of course is for educational purposes only.

Posted by Cantu, Aug. 22, 2007 at 10:14 PM