All posts by Brian Mc

Check It Out: A Tribute To Repo Man

A Tribute To Repo ManExcuse the dust folks, I am trying to find a new layout for the blog that I like.  So far, I think keeping it simple is going to be the way I go.  I have a few other ideas up my sleeves, so we shall see what happens.

Anyways…

Last September, the cool peoples over at American Laundromat Records released a very deserving tribute album for the Repo Man soundtrack.  I have had this album since it was dropped and will admit that I do not listen to it enough.  Hell, I remember when I got the original soundtrack on cassette at Record Revolution on Coventry when I was a kid.  Needless to say, I am very well versed in this soundtrack.

For anyone who remembers the classic 1984 Alan Cox 80s punk cult sic-fi movie, many can agree that the soundtrack that backed up that movie was just amazing.   Having created a tribute album for this iconic soundtrack was just a brilliant idea by American Laundromat Records.

I know I have spoken on this release in the past, but it deserves a repeat mention.  I love the Those Darlins cover of  Iggy Pop’s “Repo Man” (shocking, I know).  I probably should also mention that Polar Bear Club does a spot on job with Black Flag’s “TV Party” too.  I was very impressed to see Black Francis and Mike Watt each get to take a stab at some classic cuts later on during the release.

I can’t say I dug all of the covers, but overall the tribute is just as entertaining as the original soundtrack.  Perhaps I just can’t shake the idea of having someone cover the Circle Jerks.

Overall, this tribute to a classic soundtrack I feel has been slept on by many.  If you remember how great the original release was, I really think you should give the tribute a try.  Classic tracks by modern bands never sounded so good, and now I really have a hankering to watch the movie.  I hope to hell that no one ever tries to re-create that gem.

American Laundromat Records is also carrying the Criterion Collection of Repo Man on Blu-Ray.  I really really really really want this in my collection (hint, hint).

Track List:

  1. Repo Man – Those Darlins
  2. TV Party – Polar Bear Club
  3. Institutionalized – Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra
  4. Coup D’Etat – New York Rivals
  5. El Clavo Y La Cruz – Black Francis & Spanish for Hitchhiking
  6. Pablo Picasso – The Tellers
  7. Let’s Have A War – Mike Watt & The Secondmen
  8. When The Shit Hits The Fan – The Suicide Dolls
  9. Hombre Secreto – Matthew Sweet
  10. Bad Man – Moses Coltrane
  11. Reel Ten – Weekend

Repo Man

BHP @ 6 Years

BHP 6 Years

It just occurred to me this morning that my blog is now 6 years old.  In observance of this important milestone, I did my best to make a very generic, basic JPEG.  This got me thinking that maybe it is time for a complete makeover of the site.

Thanks for everyone out there who has ever visited the site on purpose or on accident.  I may not update this blog daily like I used to, but I still enjoy what I do and plan on keeping up with it.

Tony Sly Tribute Album To Drop This Fall

I still have a tough time believing that it has been a year since Tony Sly left this world.  Sure, I did not know him personally, but I was pretty damn good pals with the music he wrote seeing how much I listened to it.  To this day, I still listen to No Use For A Name as well as his acoustic material.  It will forever be on my playlist.

I remember bumping shoulders with him backstage at a Cincinnati Warped Tour years ago where I was more concerned about how many beers I had consumed over taking in all that was going on around me.  I was quick to apologize and he just smiled at me as he and the rest of his band headed to the stage to play some songs to a sea of fans.  I recall taking in their set and telling my partner in crime that day how lucky I felt to have just seen them play live again.

On October 29th, Fat Wreck Chords will officially release The Songs of Tony Sly: A Tribute.  This important release will include 26 covers of Tony Sly songs from Tony’s friends such as Bad Religion, Rise Against, Frank Turner, Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls, The Gaslight Anthem, and many many more.  I am still waiting for more details on when the album can be pre-ordered and check FatWreck.com almost daily as I know the vinyl version of this will be something that will sell out quickly.

Tony Sly Tribute

The good folk at Fat had this to say about the upcoming release: “We can’t express how much it means to us and Tony’s family that each of the artists and bands on this album took the time and effort to contribute such meaningful and interesting interpretations of Tony’s songs. All proceeds from this compilation will go to the Tony Sly Memorial Fund.”

Tony Sly passed away in his sleep on July 31st, 2012.  He was 42 years old.

Home.

Cleveland

“Cleveland, I ain’t never felt nothing so strong…”

After being away for over a year, I have returned home.  It still hasn’t sunk in yet, but I know it will as the days pass.  Once I get situated here with home, work, life, I plan on getting making the blog a little more regular.  Hang tight folks.

The above belt buckle was custom made my the good folk over at Scrap & Smith.  Metalsmithing at its finest.  Go check them out.

Photographer Ryan Russell To Release New Book Via No Sleep Records

Ryan RussellChances are if you are fan of music and photography, you may know the name Ryan Russell.  This humble photographer has taken thousands of photos of bands and scenery in his career.  Russell has worked with bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Against Me!, Mastodon and his photographs have appeared in such periodicals as Rolling Stone, Spin, Esquire, Playboy and New York Times.

No Sleep Records has partnered up with celebrated rock photographer Ryan Russell to release a new photo book titled “Continental Obscura: From Birmingham to Bellingham” this coming fall/winter 2013.  The title is derived from his recent departure of his long time home to a new city all the way on the other side of the states and will showcase photos taken by Russell prior, during, and after his move.

I am really stoked to see this book.  I have been a fan of him, and his dog Ava, for quite some time now.

Fans are invited (if not already doing so) to follow Russell’s journey via his Instagram account http://instagram.com/ryanrussell where he will be posting daily photos over the course of the trip with the hashtag #continentalobscura.