Hepcat released “Out of Nowhere” in 1994 and got into the third wave ska revival that was garnering a lot of success amongst new school music fans, and rude boys around the country. The majority of third wave ska acts were heavily influenced by the British second wave of ska music (two tone), but Hepcat was different. They much more resembled Jamaican ska music and even leaned on reggae at times, and it showed. Hepcat’s “Out of Nowhere” had tracks on it that were in similar waves as The Skatalites, and the early Wailers music. What makes this record great is not so much the classic tracks, but more so the instrumentals, which includes a ska remake of the Duke Ellington song, “Train To Skaville”. This album has been touted as being an essential non-traditional ska record and it really paved a good foundation for the band’s success through the years.
This record is quite good, and really offers a “left of center” approach to mid 90’s ska music. You won’t find many other records that sound the same, coming from the same years of this release.
Here is a classic review done by the Angry Video Game nerd. It’s a quick review of Bruce Lee’s Game of Death, and man…makes me want to watch some Brucesploitation film.
I got this song stuck in my head today, and had to share it with all you…well I highly doubt anyone reads this diatribe of mine, but it’s a cool song. Here’s New Order playing Age of Consent live from 1984.
Today marks the release of the latest record from third wave ska group The Slackers. The Slackers is one of the most notable bands to come from the New York ska revival of the 1990’s and is comprised of some of the finest musicians in modern ska. They play traditional rocksteady and 2-tone in the vein of many of the 80’s biggest ska acts.
They issued some fine ska in the mid to late 90’s playing with all the top touring acts. Then they took a long time off, and came back strong with some great records, including some live material and much more. Two years after they released a cool cover of “Wanted Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi, the Slackers put out a harsh toned record as a reaction to 9/11 and a look at what was to come in the history of United States and around the World.
Political leanings aside, the band has matured through recent years and has come through swinging with some classic swagger and new ska rhythms that doesn’t exactly hit the chart, but still brings back that revivalist ska, two-tone revival that made third wave so popular around the country.
Today, their latest record, The Great Rocksteady Swindle on Hellcat Records once again tries to recapture the glory of mid-90’s ska, in an uncrowded market of ska and two tone junkies, like myself. Check out the new record from The Slackers on vinyl and cd, and if you’re going to download it, do it legally. I still buy music, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do so. Support your local ska scene and buy the new Slackers record.
BONUS!
Check out these Ska 1” buttons that I made. They are available via the Sir Jorge Etsy Store.
When I was a kid, I had to try and descramble adult content on my old cable box, but never managed to spot this interesting black box concept. Apparently, I’m not the only one that was trying to steal cable at the time. This is a really cool throwback video:
The Specials once again are on the radar, well, not really on that big of a radar, but last night they played “A Message To You Rudy” on Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon.
This spring (2010) Anti Hero skateboards has gotten help from Dennis McNett to design some sick skateboards and t-shirts. These are a bit better than the traditional Anti Hero fare, and offer a glimpse into the art of Dennis McNett.
Refused put out one of the best hardcore punk records of all time when they released “The Shape of Punk to Come”. I was floored when the record came out, and I loved their music video for “New Noise”. If you haven’t seen that, or haven’t heard Refused, you don’t know what music is, and you most likely are a complete ignorant baffoon.
Well, it’s been a while, and Refused is getting the special red carpet treatment through Epitaph records. They are re-releasing “The Shape of Punk to Come” in a limited edition Double LP set and a Three DISC set with special bonus disc and dvd!
You’re going to be floored too when you see all the stuff that is coming out with this set. You can pre-order it now, so don’t sleep on this amazing box set.
All refused fans are going to love this special three disc box set re-release of the Shape of Punk To Come. You can’t go wrong. Don’t download it, buy it, and hopefully they will do a full length tour to boot.
The Shape of Punk To Come (Deluxe Edition) CD Tracklisting:
Disc 1: CD Track Listing
1. Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull – 7:05
2. Liberation Frequency – 4:08
3. The Deadly Rhythm – 3:34
4. Summerholidays Vs. Punkroutine – 4:01
5. Bruitist Pome #5 – 1:25
6. New Noise – 5:08
7. The Refused Party Program – 2:38
8. Protest Song ‘68 – 4:32
9. Refused Are Fucking Dead – 5:08
10. The Shape of Punk to Come – 5:31
11. Tannhäuser / Derivè – 8:07
12. The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax – 4:13
Disc 2: “Live” Bonus Disc Track Listing
1. Shape Of Punk To Come - 4:38
2. Refused Party Program - 1:28
3. Circle Pit - 2:48
4. Worms Of The Senses / Faculties Of The Skull - 5:31
5. Hook, Line And Sinker - 2:51
6. Summer Holidays vs. Punk Routine - 3:54
7. Rather Be Dead - 3:42
8. Burn It - 2:33
9. The Deadly Rythm - 4:05
10. Coup d’Etat - 5:10
11. New Noise - 4:48
12. Tannhäuser - 7:30
Disc 3: “Refused Are Fucking Dead” DVD
The Shape of Punk To Come (Deluxe Edition) Digital Tracklisting:
1. Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull – 7:05
2. Liberation Frequency – 4:08
3. The Deadly Rhythm – 3:34
4. Summerholidays Vs. Punkroutine – 4:01
5. Bruitist Pome #5 – 1:25
6. New Noise – 5:08
7. The Refused Party Program – 2:38
8. Protest Song ‘68 – 4:32
9. Refused Are Fucking Dead – 5:08
10. The Shape of Punk to Come – 5:31
11. Tannhäuser / Derivè – 8:07
12. The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax – 4:13
13. Shape Of Punk To Come (live) - 4:38
14. Refused Party Program (live) - 1:28
15. Circle Pit (live) - 2:48
16. Worms Of The Senses / Faculties Of The Skull (live) - 5:31
17. Hook, Line And Sinker (live) - 2:51
18. Summer Holidays vs. Punk Routine (live) - 3:54
19. Rather Be Dead (live) - 3:42
20. Burn It (live) - 2:33
21. The Deadly Rythm (live) - 4:05
22. Coup d’Etat (live) - 5:10
23. New Noise (live) - 4:48
24. Tannhäuser (live) - 7:30
George Clooney is an interesting actor to me, and to many other people. He sold me as Michael Clayton, but in this film, I just don’t care. Maybe I’m a jaded movie watcher, or maybe the movie isn’t as great as people think it is.
The movie, Up In The Air, has some interesting moments. The character driven romantic comedy, daramatic, piece of junk has a few interesting premises.
This is what I liked:
The fact that people are getting fired, and there’s someone there to help them out. I find it rad. I wish I got fired with 6 months severance, and a helpful placement service alongside health benefits, that’s awesome! Every time I’ve been fired I just got thrown out and that was that, so seeing that a film based on firing people (at least initially) actually took the time to do some research on a what a real company does when you get fired, wasn’t half bad.
The second aspect of the film was travel, I liked it. I like the idea of detachment and sometimes wish I had a job that let me travel, but instead I’m stuck in a city that offers NO jobs to the educated.
The things I didn’t like:
Clooney’s character starting to realize that he might want this sort of pseudo-perfect life with a new woman in his life. It’s so cliche to have a character be a stark isolationist only to find a random woman and then hook up…it’s fantasy, throw me a curve ball.
The way the movie shifts from being about travel, to something else.
The shoe-horned metaphor about life and how precious it is, so we shouldn’t waste it, even if we’re scared.
Man this movie sucked.
Forget it, it bored me.
I am not a good reviewer these days, so just go somewhere else…man I hate these highly praised movies that suck when you watch em.
Clooney’s been better….everyone’s been better…even the music was better in other films…man I’m tired.
