Love-Hounds-request@EDDIE.MIT.EDU (01/12/87)
Really-From: Sue Trowbridge <ins_aset%jhunix.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU>
Bad news, guys. I was shopping at a local record store that does much of
its business selling imports, and while I was there, they got a disturbing
message on their FAX machine -- there's a new tax on all imported discs!
As of this week, U.S. record merchants will be paying 3.5% more for their
records, and they'll pass the tariff on to us, needless to say. Which
means that my fave store will be raising their prices for imported LPs
(already a pricey $10.99) by at least fifty cents. Ouch! I will try to
get some more details on this. I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. major
labels were somehow involved, though...first parallel import bans and
now this. What better ways to make imported discs a turnoff for
retailers *and* buyers?
However, not much of interest has come from the Brit music scene lately.
The so-called "shambling" movement (a.k.a. "the new innocents," a.k.a.
"anorak bands") has brought us the Woodentops and the Housemartins and
the Pastels, but little else worth checking out. Talulah Gosh, Mighty
Mighty, The Bodines, etc., are marginal talents at best. Melody Maker,
NME, and the Face acknowledged the dormant scene in their year-end
issues -- the vast majority of the bands on their best-of-86 lists were
American. The Beastie Boys and Prince clobbered the competition, with
Throwing Muses, Run-D.M.C. and Anita Baker making strong showings as well.
Whoever would'a thunk it?
***
I finally got around to seeing "Sid and Nancy," and I cannot recommend
it highly enough. It is a truly frightening film -- there are plenty
of touching and romantic moments between the two doomed lovers, but
their love was ultimately just destructive. Exceptionally well-made
by Alex Cox and while it doesn't exactly entertain (what did you
expect?), it's the best movie I've seen in ages. Grotesque footnote:
when Sid died of a heroin overdose, his mother had him cremated, then
sprinkled the ashes over cornflakes and...yuk.
***
FAB MUSIC: The Volcano Suns' "All Night Lotus Party" is my current
favorite LP...some melodic guitar stuff and some thrashier tunes and
a nifty/bizarro cover pic...and you've got to hand it to a band who
names a song "Bonus Hidden Mystery Track."
***
It looks like they're headed for Next Big Thingdom, so I thought I'd
check out Barrence Whitfield and the Savages before they head up to
Boston to begin work on a Nick Lowe-produced EP for Warner Bros.
Barrence is an R&B shouter (the Sam Kinison of rock?) who often leapt
out into the crowd to dance with or tease audience members ("Why are
you holding that drink when you could be clapping along?"). Pudgy
and comical in appearance, maybe (picture Rerun from "What's Happening!"
a few years older) but man, whatta voice. The band was excellent as
well. (Milton, the guitarist, is a Johns Hopkins grad and M.D. who
practices medicine two days a week and plays in the band the rest.)
The poppier blues numbers (sometimes reminiscent of the very cool
Robert Cray Band) and ballads worked best...I can't work up much
enthusiasm over the 50s-style rockers, though, many of which sounded
like outtakes from the "Happy Days" soundtrack. Still, it was a fun
show.
-- SueLove-Hounds-request@EDDIE.MIT.EDU (01/13/87)
Really-From: Low Life Scum <wicinski@nrl-css> I gues this means now that all the little wanks who spend money on import records will be buying less copies of NME and MM so they can buy their records. What they should tax are those excuses for magazines. completely boring, cliqish, and thupid. Even thound thoice is better than those mags. Probably record companies pay these rags to write good stories about the new band who needs to make money, or better yet, pay magazines money to slag a band. Now that is capitalism what, you don't believe ? check out the Crass RIP from Sound Choice. While me and them get along moderately, and sometimes they're spouting much more than they should, its interesting enough. Especially for those 'fans' of english music. >However, not much of interest has come from the Brit music scene lately. >The so-called "shambling" movement (a.k.a. "the new innocents," a.k.a. >"anorak bands") has brought us the Woodentops and the Housemartins and Is that was the excuse for this shit is called ? I have a better word for you: "Scumbling: an art term, a contraction of "scrambling" and "fumbling" - originated in art school when all the drug-sodden art-wavos have to turn in 6 paintings by tomorrow, and all they've done so far is bleed and puke all over a couple of canvases they were sitting on while shooting heroin." >The Beastie Boys and Prince clobbered the competition, with >Throwing Muses, Run-D.M.C. and Anita Baker making strong showings as well. >Whoever would'a thunk it? Beasties suck. they should die. Prince is in disputes with local Siouxsie clones Madhouse. Seems that the purple pecker decided to release an album by one of his groups, Madhouse. I believe now they're in court arguing it out. >FAB MUSIC: The Volcano Suns' "All Night Lotus Party" is my current >favorite LP...some melodic guitar stuff and some thrashier tunes and shit, now I have to think of something to slag it. Gotten some bad reviews which is uncool. could this be - me and sue actually agree on something (someone get me a match quick.... Like Big Black came on masturbated on stage for us on New Years day. Cool show I guess. Pussy Galore sucked with unheard vocals. Though their tape with an entire cover of 'Exile on Main Street' is pretty bitchin'. And Slimbini is cool in my book for opening up the set with "We're 9353 and thanks for coming (cumming?)" Doug was bored and wanted to watch men beating off, so we left early. Trainor beat up some little punk kind and took his lunch money. It was trendy. They played Sue's favorite song, "Kerosene". It was coolness. Flipper this friday. There last tour, too many hassles with touring I guess. Also I have a tape of a really bad sonic youth interview in case anyone wants to peel their pud over it. contact me know or be bored. Stabb is god t