Winnipeg's own Guy Smiley is reuniting in about Five hours at the legendary Royal Albert in Winnipeg. The show sold out on Thuraday - way to go Winnipeg - nothing ever sells out in Winnipeg except crap like Nickelback.
Anyway "Alkaline" from 1999 is one of the best investments I made, twice after losing a 40 disc CD booklet.
Let me tell you this CD is another track to track classic, including the best song a Winnipegger has produced "The Canadian Way", which is all about the loss of the Winnipeg Jets, and the decline of the NHL under Gary Bettman. I have to say though, Bettman has finally turned that ship around, and I am willing to deal with the dark years, 2000-2004, and the strike, to see that the NHL is finally revolutionizing sport as it has in the past. This years draft all-star game is the best innovation in sport since the jock strap, or the face mask - hockey innovation.
Check out Guy Smiley. They were a smaller bad, but they were great, hung with the misfits, and created "Alkaline" one of the best light-hardcore albums you will ever hear.
The video is "The Kids" from the "Alkaline" release.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
All Aboard The Lagwagon
Lagwagon hadn’t been relevant in a decade before their 2008 release of “I Think My Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon, but before that they were a top draw across the skate punk scene, and their besrt release was arguably their first - “Duh”.
“Duh” was one of the first albums ever released on Fat Wreck Chords, and it still stands the test of time with tunes that hold that mid-nineties combination of serious, and humorous songs, as well as a great cover. The cover is CCR’s Bad Moon, and Lagwagon does a good job of keeping true to the classic at times, and then cranks it up during the chorus. It is followed by my favourite Lagwagon song “Beer Goggles”, which is great although the video I found for it certainly doesn’t do it justice, but if you like Team America: World Police then you should get a kick out of it. The best part of the song is near the middle when lead singer Joey Cape sings, “she thinks I good and obviously she didn’t smell that fart,” then put on a Ken and then Barbie voice I think when he says “Hi my name is Barbie. My name is Ken.” Funny stuff, and there are fart effects added if you where concerned about that.
The album has other great tunes like the Lagwagon theme song, “Mr.Coffee”, and if you are like me and just figured out you get Teletoon Retro, you will be fired up for the Inspector Gadget theme cover as well. The rest of the album is more serious, the best of those tunes being “Bury the Hatchet”, but this is another album that is solid for first song to last. These kind of great albums are why I started to listen to the skate punk scene - or SKAE as I like to call it.
Let me know what you think of the name. There is already ska, I thought take the s-k-a-e from skate, and you got skae. It’s better than emo, and please no one tell me skae is gay. I’ve heard it before, and this is a gay positive blog, which was influenced by Winnipeg’s own Propagandhi. If you have the “Less Talk, More Rock” album you know what I talking about.
“Duh” was one of the first albums ever released on Fat Wreck Chords, and it still stands the test of time with tunes that hold that mid-nineties combination of serious, and humorous songs, as well as a great cover. The cover is CCR’s Bad Moon, and Lagwagon does a good job of keeping true to the classic at times, and then cranks it up during the chorus. It is followed by my favourite Lagwagon song “Beer Goggles”, which is great although the video I found for it certainly doesn’t do it justice, but if you like Team America: World Police then you should get a kick out of it. The best part of the song is near the middle when lead singer Joey Cape sings, “she thinks I good and obviously she didn’t smell that fart,” then put on a Ken and then Barbie voice I think when he says “Hi my name is Barbie. My name is Ken.” Funny stuff, and there are fart effects added if you where concerned about that.
The album has other great tunes like the Lagwagon theme song, “Mr.Coffee”, and if you are like me and just figured out you get Teletoon Retro, you will be fired up for the Inspector Gadget theme cover as well. The rest of the album is more serious, the best of those tunes being “Bury the Hatchet”, but this is another album that is solid for first song to last. These kind of great albums are why I started to listen to the skate punk scene - or SKAE as I like to call it.
Let me know what you think of the name. There is already ska, I thought take the s-k-a-e from skate, and you got skae. It’s better than emo, and please no one tell me skae is gay. I’ve heard it before, and this is a gay positive blog, which was influenced by Winnipeg’s own Propagandhi. If you have the “Less Talk, More Rock” album you know what I talking about.
Monday, January 17, 2011
L7
L7 is another band in what has become a streak of bands that I thought sucked, but have good albums. L7’s self-titled album was the second non-Bad Religion album released from now legendary - and currently crappy Epitaph records.
This album reminds me of the punk tunes that Nirvana used to put out on a regular basis, despite what some referring to them as grunge - the real rock n’ roll swindle. I tell ya I put quotations on punk in my title because “punk” is - I don’t know what it is that is the point. Grunge is just a buzz name given to rock (Pearl Jam), metal (Sound Garden), punk (Nirvana) bands that got a boost a fabricated genre that thank goodness actually forced mainstream music listeners to hear something original, although there is an irritating amount of people who thin k “Come as You Are” is the best Nirvana song ever.
Back to L7, I have only heard this album twice as of this posting this entry, but I assure you that if you like songs such as “Breed“, “Lounge Act“, or “Territorial Pissings“, all of which are off Nirvana’s “Nevermind”, you will be pretty stoked for this release.
This album is filled with the great power chords, and light lyrical content that made the early 90s great. Check it out - I swear it is nothing like “Pretend that we’re Dead” - a later, and most popular some would argue L7 release.
This is cover from the album, and the first song "Bite The Wax Tadpole"
This album reminds me of the punk tunes that Nirvana used to put out on a regular basis, despite what some referring to them as grunge - the real rock n’ roll swindle. I tell ya I put quotations on punk in my title because “punk” is - I don’t know what it is that is the point. Grunge is just a buzz name given to rock (Pearl Jam), metal (Sound Garden), punk (Nirvana) bands that got a boost a fabricated genre that thank goodness actually forced mainstream music listeners to hear something original, although there is an irritating amount of people who thin k “Come as You Are” is the best Nirvana song ever.
Back to L7, I have only heard this album twice as of this posting this entry, but I assure you that if you like songs such as “Breed“, “Lounge Act“, or “Territorial Pissings“, all of which are off Nirvana’s “Nevermind”, you will be pretty stoked for this release.
This album is filled with the great power chords, and light lyrical content that made the early 90s great. Check it out - I swear it is nothing like “Pretend that we’re Dead” - a later, and most popular some would argue L7 release.
This is cover from the album, and the first song "Bite The Wax Tadpole"
Friday, January 14, 2011
Good Tunes Calling
Kenton got me all fired up with his Career Opportunities quote to start Pr 2, so it’s time to break the rules o the blog and flashback to the early eighties. That is my second favourite Clash tune next to Rudie Can’t Fail, which is why I have chosen to my first second term blog on The Clash’s London Calling Album.
I live by the river, and let me tell you this is one heck of an album. You can get punk, ska, reggae, and even a little rock-a-billy between “London Calling”, “Brand New Cadillac”, and “Jimmy Jazz”. Those are just the first three songs. This was the first Clash album I ever bought, because even though I had the singles collection years earlier, it actually soured me on the Clash. To tell you the truth after hearing “Rock the Cazba” I thought The Clash were the most over-rated, fondly remember, piece o’ carp I had ever fished out of the used bin. Not So!
These guys deserve all the recognition they get. They put out complete albums, if you listen to rap, that means that every song is listenable, and it great cases such as the Clash they are original too. “Guns Of Brixton” is a tune you may have heard covered by Dropkick Murphys, but it is a great example of the rebellious spirit that the punk scene, I believe, was supposed to embody.
As I mentioned before my favourite Clash song is “Rudie Can’t Fail”, but “Wrong’ Em Boyo” is another similarly great ska-style track that can really get you going if you are in the right mood, or state of mind if you will. Then it is followed by Death or Glory, which is another great example of Joe Strummer, and the Clashes great lyrical content, and yes A,A,A,A, calls that I believe was the start of catch noises that are seen in later punk bands such as yearly Green Day (Ssooooo), Bad Religion (Watch Oouuuut), and others I cannot think of right now.
As a CreComm student I have to finish of by mentioning “Kola Kola”. “Kola Kola”, I believe takes shots at the good ol’ advertising world and “the pause that refreshes” in particular (Coke) - but if I not mistaken they liken the effect of advertising to that of Cocaine. If you agree or not the song is written well, and makes it’s point with out offending like bands such as the Sex Pistols were often prone to do.
I live by the river, and let me tell you this is one heck of an album. You can get punk, ska, reggae, and even a little rock-a-billy between “London Calling”, “Brand New Cadillac”, and “Jimmy Jazz”. Those are just the first three songs. This was the first Clash album I ever bought, because even though I had the singles collection years earlier, it actually soured me on the Clash. To tell you the truth after hearing “Rock the Cazba” I thought The Clash were the most over-rated, fondly remember, piece o’ carp I had ever fished out of the used bin. Not So!
These guys deserve all the recognition they get. They put out complete albums, if you listen to rap, that means that every song is listenable, and it great cases such as the Clash they are original too. “Guns Of Brixton” is a tune you may have heard covered by Dropkick Murphys, but it is a great example of the rebellious spirit that the punk scene, I believe, was supposed to embody.
As I mentioned before my favourite Clash song is “Rudie Can’t Fail”, but “Wrong’ Em Boyo” is another similarly great ska-style track that can really get you going if you are in the right mood, or state of mind if you will. Then it is followed by Death or Glory, which is another great example of Joe Strummer, and the Clashes great lyrical content, and yes A,A,A,A, calls that I believe was the start of catch noises that are seen in later punk bands such as yearly Green Day (Ssooooo), Bad Religion (Watch Oouuuut), and others I cannot think of right now.
As a CreComm student I have to finish of by mentioning “Kola Kola”. “Kola Kola”, I believe takes shots at the good ol’ advertising world and “the pause that refreshes” in particular (Coke) - but if I not mistaken they liken the effect of advertising to that of Cocaine. If you agree or not the song is written well, and makes it’s point with out offending like bands such as the Sex Pistols were often prone to do.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The Kids Are All Right - It’s The Ham That’s Salty
Not a music related post here, but I have been pushing Kids In The Hall on everyone I can get to at Red River College, so I thought I might make the clips I talk about more accessible.
Here are three of my favourite skits.
Here are three of my favourite skits.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Punk o' 90s Planet Smashers Red River College CreComm Blog Bowl brought to you by Dill Pickle Chips
This is not so much a “punk” flashback, as it is a third wave ska skankin’ blast from the past. I bring you the Planet Smashers - “Attack of the Planet Smashers“. This album is a great display of the range this band has as they move from traditionalish tunes like “Dirty Old Man”, to tracks like the one before it “Uncle Gordie” that is a skate punkish tribute to the greatest sport on earth - Hockey. My favourite line is when Matt Collyer sings he wants to “play in the NHL on the same line as Oleg and his brother Kjell.” This type of fun, humorous theme runs throughout this album, and the rest of the Planet Smasher catalogue. Including
My two favourite tracks are “Take From The Top”, and “80 Bus”. These are two of the faster songs, and “80 Bus”, which is a jolly romp of a ska track, as it has what most of the track on this album do which are funny, but well written lyrics, and a nice groove that soothes the soul.
“Attack of the Planet Smashers” is an album for all seasons, and moods. It is a great pick me up on those tougher days, and great party listening on a rockus Friday, or even Saturday night.
“My Decision” just came on as I listen to this CD, and this is another skankin tune that you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check it out.
My two favourite tracks are “Take From The Top”, and “80 Bus”. These are two of the faster songs, and “80 Bus”, which is a jolly romp of a ska track, as it has what most of the track on this album do which are funny, but well written lyrics, and a nice groove that soothes the soul.
“Attack of the Planet Smashers” is an album for all seasons, and moods. It is a great pick me up on those tougher days, and great party listening on a rockus Friday, or even Saturday night.
“My Decision” just came on as I listen to this CD, and this is another skankin tune that you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check it out.
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