CREATIVE DROUGHT AND NOTHING GOOD ON TV BLUES

The creative well has been rather dry as of late. Maybe it's been the long winter, or job burnout, or whatever, but I haven't felt like writing at all. In fact the only writing I've done has been filling out my NCAA Tournament brackets, and I was none too creative with those as a matter of fact. I'm sitting here surrounded by empty Old Style beer cans and still nothing is coming. Watching tv might help, but as I 'm flipping through channels I still can't get a kick start. However, one thing does occur to me as I watch the tube. If I never have another creative thought in my life again, I could still likely get a job in television. Talk about a freakin' wasteland.
It seems like when I was a kid there was all kinds of cool stuff being broadcast. Creature Features and B-movies on the late show, Bugs Bunny cartoons, Supercar, Leave It To Beaver, the Munsters, Have Gun Will Travel, Get Smart, Outer Limits,Twilight Zone, Spiderman cartoons from the 60's, the list goes on and on.
Nowadays things do not seem to be any where near as cool as the days of old, but then I could say that about all kinds of things, not just television. Yeah, I realize that I sound like some old codger bitching about how things just ain't like they used to be, and everybody thinks the stuff from their time period is better than what's going down currently, I get that, but it seems like there must be more to it than that.
I mean is 16 and Pregnant more fun to watch than Dragnet? Is Celebrity Rehab a more intense thrill ride than Combat with Vic Morrow? Can you honestly tell me that the Steve Wilkos show is more life affirming than Ozzie and Harriet? Maybe you can, but I won't believe it, and your coolness will be suspect.
I now have I don't even know how many channels of television, but there are only three that I really watch with any regularity. I always check Discovery, the History Channel, or Turner Classic Movies first when I decide to watch a little tv. I love these channels and if I'm watching tv it's most likely going to be these stations if there's not a game or fight that I want to watch on. I use to watch the news channels frequently, but I really don't like them much anymore. They are really more news opinion channels than hard news anyway, and I can't think of anything I care less about than Bill O'reilly or Keith Olbermann's opinion about anything. (Of course they feel the same way about me).
Anyway, to get to the semi point of this pointless post; I have 100+ channels and I have three stations I really think are great, some assorted shows here and there(and almost all of them are old shows) that I like, but for my money I'd rather be watching a DVD of some old weird movie, or reading a 1970's Fantastic Four comic book. I know I ain't hip, but lets face it, unhip is the new cool.

STRICTLY SONICS

THE SONICS - BOOM (NORTON RECORDS)

In the last 20 years or so the state of Washington had become rather famous for it's music. Nirvana and Pearl Jam were certainly living in the limelight back in the 90's. I admit that I was much more partial to the likes of Mudhoney and the Melvins, but they were not necesarilly on the lips of all the movers and shakers out there in music biz land. Yeah you'de hear the names of some of these bands mentioned and occasionaly see the videos on EMPTY V but all the heaps of praise and accolades were being heaped upon Cobain and Pearl Jam. (At least until Pearl Jam decided to stop making videos, and who knows, you just may be able to thank them for breaking the back of MTV as far as music vids were concerned).

The point that I'm going to take forever to get too is that as famous as these bands may have been or not have been, there is a giant musical heritage in the state, and although the bands I'm refering to may be well known inside the circles of people who really dig their rock and roll, out in the mainstream you most likely won't hear them mentioned at all. There are a number of bands that could fit that profile, but the band I'm talking about goes by the name of the Sonics.

This may very well be the band that forged the groundwork for all of the raw, high energy blast that has come since their existence. I realize that it can be argued that Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Link Wray, or any number of R&B shouters from the late 50's and early 60's could be credited with starting what can be regarded as the high energy jams that you can call the precurser to punk, and who am I to argue with that line of thinking, but the Sonics took all of that stuff and took it to that next level. The Sonics were raw, wild, and savage.

The record Boom, which was the second long player from the band, most certainly must have fueled a lot of mid 60's teenage rampage. This thing has intensity in spades. Take it from lead vocalist Gerry Rosalie who commented about the song He's Waitin'. "It's all about REVENGE. Like somebody treated you so rotten that you hope they go to hell!"Rosalie's tonsil shredding vocal delivery on the rockers is as electrifying as clamping a live power cable to your tongue. Larry Parypa's guitar riffage is like pile driver punch to the heart. This bands version of Louie Louie is the second best I've ever heard, and I've heard a lot. (The Swamp Rats have the best in my opinion in case you're interested. Check it out.)

This reissue gives you, not only the greatness that is the album Boom, but also two live cuts of fan favorites The Witch and Psycho, as well as fantastic liner notes by the truly great Miriam Linna. It's packed with info and great band stories. Look, it's a Norton release, so you really can't go wrong.

So pick this thing up and listen to some real Classic Rock that you'll never get a chance to hear on that radio format. Go ahead and call up your Classic Rock station and request it. They'll never have heard of 'em and probably feel superior because of it. A band like the Sonics will not fit into their extremely narrow and bland parameters of rockism and they'll quickly slap some Lynard Skynard on the laser pad to prove it.

HEAVY METAL MINDBENDERS

I have to say that I really don't know what the term Heavy Metal refers to anymore. But I am sure that the two platters of sonic assault that I'm about to discuss certainly fit the bill. Buckle up, we're about to hit warp drive.

SLEEP - SLEEP'S HOLY MOUNT IAN (EARACHE)

If you told me that this was a lost Black Sabbath record from around '73 I'd probably believe it. The music is a dead ringer and really the only difference is the vocals of Al Cisneros, and even that has a certain Ozzy like quality. This sound is big, earthshaking, like the footsteps of some giant Lovecraftian creature loose upon the planet. The riffs on this album don't stomp you, they crush you under the earth. The lyrics are kind of what you would expect; mythic, apocalyptic, and filled with solar seas and atomic skies. Wallpaper your bedroom with black light posters, put this disc on the stereo, and pass the bong brother.

MAINLINER - MAINLINER SONIC (CHARNEL MUSIC)

This super group from Japan are the ticket when you want loud, distorted, fuzz, and feedback drenched rock n roll. This group is comprised of members from High Rise, Acid Mothers Temple, and Ruins. If you are familiar with those bands then you pretty much know what your in store for with this. Set the controls for the heart of a star going supernova. This may be what it sounds like to have a building come down around your head. These guys know how to make noise and man does it satisfy. The drums sound like chunks of metal being beat on by iron bars, the bass hits with an atomic nightmare ferocity, and the guitar is a flurry of solar storm chaos that hits all the right spots. Velvet Underground's "Sister Ray" aesthetics taken to some extreme cosmic levels? I don't know, but this sonic nerve blast will leave the weaklings brain dead in the dirt.

REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS

Since the Grammys will be coming up soon it gets me to thinking about music. Actually it gets me thinking about good music. You know, the kind of music that the Grammys will completely ignore, opting instead to promote and honor all of the least common denominators and music business droids. So in honor of this prestigious event I have decided to discuss a few platters that ( as far as I know) have never received the award.

ELIAS HULK - UNCHAINED (BEAT GOES ON RECORDS)

Early 70's hard blues psych. Proto metal, stoner rock, that will conjure up images of guys with long, greasy hair, and glazed stares playing some seedy bar in some nowhere town. Great acid guitar, and the singer kinda sounds like Pete Townshend in places. The whole thing recorded in only a day or two (as it should be). The cover is pretty cool and makes me wonder if Marvel Comics ever tried to sue these guys? Although there sub - unknown status and lack of money making would, I guess answer the question.

FLAMING GROOVIES - TEENAGE HEAD (BUDDHA RECORDS)

An anabolic and amphetamine speed ball fueled stomp blast by these California born and bred monsters. The Groovies shed their musical skins a couple of different times through their career. This period is my favorite, although I do like their later power pop phase as well. Roy Loney, Cyril Jordan, and the boys lay down a high energy groove that has one foot in early 70's Rolling Stones, and the other foot in Charlie Feathers. This disc will take you where you want to go.

JESSE HECTOR - GORILLA GARAGE: THE JESSE HECTOR STORY(RPM RECORDS)

This disc gives you an overview of the musical life of Jesse Hector with his various bands and whatnot. This thing delivers on a lot of fronts; glam, proto punk, proto metal, garage, and rockabilly. It's all there in Jesse Hectors music wrapped in all of its high energy glory. Crushed Butler, The Hammersmith Gorillas, and other of his bands are here. When listening to this I find it impossible to understand how anyone can give a crap about stuff like Breaking Benjamines, Buck Cherry, or whoever it is now days that is supposed to be getting out the jams. This music is the real crash and smash that you need, owing a lot to the Who, Mott the Hoople, T-Rex, and Jimi Hendrix. The song "Carolina" alone will probably add 10 years to your lifespan. In fact, in these dark days where everything has become permeated with abysmal dross, this disc will save your life. WHAT ARE YA DOING STILL READING THIS? GO GET IT.

BOOGALOO BOOK NOOK

With all of the cold, windy, winter weather going on, I find myself much less inclined to feel like walking outside my door. I would just as soon sleep the whole winter away, but those bills have got to be paid. Gotta keep the lights on here at Driver 13 HQ after all. And although these dark and desolate days can really get one down, there are always a few items of interest to keep things from getting downright bleak. Which brings me to a couple of books that have found their way to my mail box.

TRASH! THE COMPLETE NEW YORK DOLLS by Kris Needs and Dick Porter. (Plexus)
Just as no record collection is complete without the New York Dolls, neither is any library complete without a book on said New Yorkers. I'm not really sure how many books there are on the subject, but this one would seem to be a worthy book to invest in. I certainly don't consider myself any kind of expert on the band, but I knew about a great deal of stuff that's in this book from other sources. And there are a lot of different sources out there about this band, but it is nice to have a lot of this info in one place, and the book is well written, which is really what it's all about when your gonna plunk down some hard earned cash for a book.

This book does seem to be pretty comprehensive, you get not only the history of the band, but some prehistory as well. It also covers the post Dolls events of all the members, mostly Johnny, but then he was rather prominent (along with Jerry) in the punk scene of the middle to late 70's, with the Heartbreakers and all, but the other guys are covered as well. It also covers the new version of the band that is still going ( as far as I know) , and all of the attention that they seem to be getting, or at least had been getting a few years ago.
If you don't know anything about the Dolls, then definitely get this book. If you know a little, or even a lot about them, you might want to go ahead and get it anyway. You're bound to pick up a little piece of info that you didn't know.
Heck there's even facts in here that I could have lived without knowing. I mean, I'm not sure that I wanted to know that Johnny wasn't happy with the guitar sound on the two records. I mean wow. I have always considered both of those albums as ultimate primo blast, talismanic objects of power, and johnny didn't feel the true sound of the band was captured. Sounds like freakin' perfection to me, but what do I know?

WACKY PACKAGES (ABRAMS)

Next up is a book dedicated to the greatness that was Wacky Packages. When I was a little kid in the 70's I thought these things were absolutely great and my opinion of just how great these are hasn't changed any. The Topps company put these stickers out alongside their baseball and football cards. Some of the artwork was done by underground comix names like Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead) and others.The book is pretty much a couple of page interview with Art Spiegalman, an afterword by Jay Lynch, and the stickers. Well not the actual stickers, but each page is a reproduction of the stickers, series 1 through 7, from 1973 to 1974. The dust jacket of the book is like the wax wrapping that the stickers came in. These stickers were as important to my cultural formation as MAD Magazine, 60's and 70's Marvel comics, and rock and roll.

A POST YULE BLOG

PHIL SPECOR - A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU FROM ....

Christmas is over and done now. I hope everyone had a great time. I really enjoyed the holiday this year and even the usual nastiness of the season which is shopping did not seem to bring me down all that much. The reason for that is clearly the Phil Spector Christmas album. This is hands down my favorite Christmas record. I actually like most Christmas music (although I hate most anything done by modern artists and bands, but then that applies to almost everything for me, so I guess that ain't no big deal)but stuff by Mannheim Steamroller, symphony orchestras, church choirs and most any of the classic stuff I can get with and enjoy. The Phil Spector album however, is always heavy rotation during this time of year and I probably play it on a nearly daily basis. This thing is so ingrained into my vision of Christmas that I can't imagine not hearing this at the magic time of year.

You can hear a lot of this stuff on the radio around this time, especially Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" seems to get a fair amount of radio airplay. This record is chock full of greatness. You get the Ronettes (possibly the greatest girl group ever) as well as the Crystals, Darlene Love, Bob B Soxx and the blue jeans. Of course all of this music gets the Phil Spector "wall of sound " production that you know and love. Also many members of the "Wrecking Crew" show up to lay down their chops (and you would expect nothing less) such as the legendary Hal Blaine and Jack Nitzsche as well, as well as Leon Russell and even Sonny Bono lends a hand on some percussion I believe.

I think the origanal record was relesed on the same day JFK was shot, therefor it didn't do as well at the time. It has been reissued a number of times since and is a true classic, not just of Christmas music, but pop music in general, although you won't hear it outside of the holiday parameters unless you spin your own copy in the month of July.

THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO

Rob Zombies foray into adult animation is something I've been waiting for with some level of anticipation. Rob Zombie's comic book that had the character El Superbeast in it was really good, and I was disappointed when I couldn't find it anymore. So when I heard he was going to do a movie with one of the characters I thought it might be pretty good. I'm not a fan of Rob's music, although he does seem to like a lot of the same bands I do. He also likes a lot of the movies that I like, so you would think that i might be able to get into the guys work, but not so much really. "House of a Thousand Corpses" was ok, I haven't seen "Devil's Rejects" or his remakes of the Halloween franchise. I mean why remake those first two movies? Oh well, that's freakin' Hollywood for ya.

Anyway, back to the movie at hand. The thing is I can't really give my take on this movie because I didn't watch the whole thing. I turned off a little way through it. It started out cool. Black and white, with a nice old school horror film vibe. As the film took off though I just couldn't get into it. It's not because it's a cartoon, I'm a cartoon fan, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, Popeye, and most all of the classics I enjoy to this day. I just found myself watching El Superbeasto and it seemed lik a waste of time that I wasn't willing to engage in. I will possibly give this movie another chance in the future, but then again maybe not. I don't know. Many people will probably get into this and more power to 'em. I will hope the Rob Zombie will bring back his SPOOKSHOW INTERNATIONAL comic instead.

Before I go, I would direct to check out The Hounblog. This is a great blog and I have to say that Gillian's Found Photo#32 says more about real, bonafide rock and roll than anything your gonna find in a years subscription of Rolling Stone.

THIS MADE ME LAUGH TILL I CRIED

The only thing they had in
common was solving crimes

I took this from here