80's, DVDs, Movie, Movies, Music, Punk, The 80's, Times Of Yore, Watch This

Times Of Yore: Repo Man

4 August, 2009 Brian Mc 2 Comments

Back in 1984 a certain movie came out focused around a group of men who ideally remove people’s cars from their property once the owners failed to pay the bank what was owed. The movie, Repo Man, of course was not just about stealing back cars for the bank and had a twist of sorts including aliens, drugs, and also offered one of the best punk rock movie soundtracks to date. The movie is a comedic sci-fi cult classic to many and still to this day one of my favorite movies to watch.

Starring a young brat pack Emilio Estevez (The Outsiders, St. Elmo’s Fire, Men At Work) as well as Harry Dean Stanton (Cool Hand Luke, Alien, Escape From New York) the movie focuses on Otto (played by Estevez), a young punk kid with hippie parents and no plans on life. Soon Otto meets up with Bud (played by Harry Dean Stanton) who takes him under his wing into the twisted world of booze, drugs, hi speed chases, and of course hot wiring cars. Soon Otto is part of the repo crew and he is slowly discovering a sense of maturity.

If the movie sounds boring to you then maybe I should also mention the hunt for a certain 1964 Chevrolet Malibu from New Mexico driven by crazed old man who has something hidden in the trunk. I am not going to ruin it for you but I can tell you the contents in the truck emit incredible heat and also vaporize anyone who opens the trunk door to see the actual contents. With a hefty reward for repossessing the car no one will stop at trying to get it.

Add a crew of druggie punk rockers raising hell in the city, a girl who wants to help the said aliens, and the lady with the tin foil hand this movie really goes all over the place. This crazy trip through the mean streets of L.A. is one hell of an adventure.

One of the highlights during the film for me is to see punk rockers The Circle Jerks playing as a lounge act at a bar that Otto visits. The song they play is a slowed down version of “When The Sh*t Hits The Fan”. I also loved all of the generic food products in the movie. Beer is labeled “Beer” and chips are labeled “Chips”. So generic yet so perfect for the movie especially when Otto eats of an open can of “Food”.

The soundtrack to the movie was one of the first of it’s kind as it was full of punk rock songs from major punk acts of the 80’s. Featuring Iggy Pop, The Plugz, Suicidal Tendencies, and Black Flag just to name a couple the soundtrack was like no other soundtrack of it’s time and remains a classic to this day.

I had actually purchased the soundtrack on cassette when I just was a young kid before I even saw the movie. Seeing a soundtrack featuring Iggy Pop and the Circle Jerks was good enough for me. I eventually grabbed a VHS copy of the move and watched that movie over and over. It was really one of the first movies I repeatedly would watch. Once DVDs came out a good friend of mine bought me the Repo Man collector’s DVD tin box that includes the movie and the soundtrack on CD. Score.

This movie is not going to ooh and aah people who are looking for something serious. It is a comedy action sci-fi punk rock movie with no structured plot other than a bunch of hoodlums trying to get the car to get the reward. Punk music backing up a movie about repo men, guns, drugs, violence, car chases, and a surprise ending. Can a movie get any better than this?

“Repo Man” performed by Iggy Pop:

Personal Entry

Dazed, Confused, Amused.

2 August, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

July is history. Gone. Vamoose. Out.

It’s been a tough couple months with this guy right here holding the supposed broken headphones. With all the personal crap going on I try to keep a positive head on my shoulders and keep to myself and very close friends.

I’m not going to go into details with my personal life. The only reason I am even mentioning myself having tough times is because some days are harder than others and the last thing I really want to do is post something on this site.

This site however is a huge accomplishment to myself and I can not believe it is almost one year old. I remember just one year ago sitting in a lobby with Matt in Baltimore listening to him talk about how much fun he was having with his site Addicted To Vinyl. I decided that once I got back from that trip, let me rephrase that, once I drove Matt and Rad-am back from that trip as I always do when we venture to festivals, I would research about making my own blogging site.

For a couple of weeks I was pondering what I should name the site. I wanted it to be more musical than personal so I wanted to incorporate music into the title. I sat long and hard and finally Broken Headphones came into my head. I saw that someone else out there had the same name but it was a Word Press account that was no longer active so I figured it was my turn.

Just in case you were wondering I did have another title I almost used: Pronounce The Bark. I actually have been wanting to use that for a long time. When I was younger I had dreams of being an artist of sorts that toyed with punk rock and hip-hop. My stage name was going to be dikHed and my first album title was going to be Pronounce The Bark.

I never got there but I will always remember the days when I wrote down pages and pages of lyrics / poems aspiring to be a musician. Three of my poems can actually be found on Poetry.com. They are nothing special and never won poetry awards but they are words I jotted down on paper and I am pretty damn happy about that.

As of late I have not been going out much due to lack of $$$. I am focusing on getting those bills paid down and making sure there is a roof over my head. I miss going to multiple shows a week and seeing friends old and new while doing so. Sometimes I have to play the role of responsible adult and fight that urge to spend money.

I sadly declined an invite Friday from Matt to join him at Musica in Akron to see some bands. Honestly I wanted to go but just don’t have that extra coin to spend on admission. I know we would have had a blast and it was the first time in a while he has ventured into my neck of the woods. I bet I could have even gotten him to drive.

Instead I went to dinner with my pal Kolb and his father, sis, niece at Rocknie’s near my house. I was invited earlier in the week and did not want to miss the chance at seeing Mr. Kolb. Fatty and his brother Bill also joined us for a nice meal full of mostly insults. It was great. Kolb’s father loves Nickelback and is damn proud of it. I on the otherhand am not and tried to convince him that there is real music outside that adult contemporary crap. It was good fun.

After that I just wanted to go home and be alone. I was in a funk and really did not want to be around people.

I had plans of staying and and blogging, reviewing, catching up on email, and whatnot. I wanted to be internet hermit and I would have been happy with that. My friends Kolb and Fatty had other ideas and begged me to go with them to the “Valley” in Akron, a gathering of bars surrounded by apartment complexes filled with college kids.

I figured it could not hurt to go out just for a bit and hang wth my friends. Plus Kolb’s father joined us too and I never get to see that classy man much.

The moment I walked down the concrete steps to the bars I wanted to turn around and go home. I don’t drink, I hate mainstream top 40 music, and most college kids annoy the hell out of me. What was I thinking?

Matt kept texting me on how good of a time he is having as I am standing at a table where just about everyone around me is sucking down drinks and smoking like chimneys all while bad music is blasting. At one time some drunk moron fell on me and almost burned me with his lit cancer stick. I could only imagine what would have happened if he burnt me or my Ol’ Dirty Bastard shirt I was proudly wearing…

I was not enjoying the atmosphere but I was enjoying the company around me. It was nice to kick it with my pals and meet some of their cool friends too. There might have also been some eye candy too…

I finally left the “Valley” after the douchebag to non-douchebag ratio was 20:1 and came home to my pups who are always happy to see me. Rather than pass out I opted to stay up and play Wii Sports Resort. Before I knew it the sun was about to come up. Sheesh!

It was nice to get out but I really wish I could have gone to Musica instead. Next time Matt, I promise.

Life is tough sometimes and the personal problems and battles sometimes become too much ever for a tough guy like me. Things will work out for the best whatever they may be. I should be out of this funk soon and I will return to my regularly scheduled blogging nonsence, I just hope most of you will stick around for it!

00's, Music, Music Video, Pop, Review

Lights – Lights – CD/EP Review

28 July, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

The heavy on the synthesizer pop act Lights, also known as Valerie Poxleitner, has been getting a lot of hype for not even having a full length release out yet. It could be solely from her beauty seeing as she is capable of turning one or two hundred heads, but in all honesty this girl is more than just a looker. She is a musician and has the voice to prove it.

The Canadian born singer actually wrote her first song when she was only eleven years old. At twenty-two Valerie Poxleitner was discovered when she casted to be a model for corporate giant bastards Wal-Mart. The modeling supervisor asked if she was a musician while looking at a picture of the hopeful model holding a guitar. Without hesitation she began to sing for them and the rest is pretty much history.

Her songs were first featured in Old Navy commercials and before long, Lights was playing the Facebook party at the 2009 SXSW, appearing on Canada’s MuchMusic, and even playing live for MTV. After grabbing a Juno award for being the best artist of 2009 she jumped on board for a summer tour with the Van’s Warped Tour. All of this happened within a four year period and Lights is still going. With plans on releasing a full length album this September and also acting as a supporting artist for a Fall Keane tour, Lights certainly as a lot on her plate.

So what is the hype about Lights you ask? Trust me I was asking myself the same question. While at the Warped Tour this summer I missed out on seeing this Lights act everyone was talking about. I read the schedule wrong and completely missed her set. Finally I have obtained a copy of her EP and I must say it was an interesting listen.

Opener “Ice” reminded me of all the cheap pop acts out there I just never cared for. You know, the one time Mousekateers that grew up to be pop stars that have everyone else do the work for them while they look pretty. I had to keep reminding myself that this was an honest musician. This song aside from the poppiness was catchy and I loved the Vanilla Ice throw in.

“Drive My Soul” was down shifted a few gears from the opening track as was “February Air”. At times I though of Gwen Stefani when she ditched No Doubt to go solo. The one song I actually enjoyed was “I Owe You One”, a thank you song for someone special. I think if Ben Gibbard did some back-up vocals on this track it would have been awesome. I guess it’s me, but I feel the song was very reminiscent of The Postal Service.

Think of a modern day Cyndi Lauper, Tiffany, or Debbie Gibson with keyboards galore and that pretty much sums up Lights. Honestly while listening to the EP I kept hoping for Lights to break into “Goonies Are Good Enough” cover. All I could image was 80’s style throughout the six songs. It was just too much for me.

Björk may be Lights’ most major influence but there is not any egg laying on the red carpet crazy experimental anything going on in this EP. It is straight forward syth-pop music for all the pop fans out there and not for me.

Lights certainly has an amazing voice, and the looks as well. I think it is just the music that backs her vocals that turned me off from most of the tracks. I think with a full band backing her she would sound amazing in my ears and others for that matter. With her full length debut The Listening dropping in a little over a month I can honestly say I am curious to see what is to come.

“Drive My Soul” video:

Download This!, Live Shows, Music, Music News, Music Video

Kid Koala Presents The Slew: LIVE

27 July, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Kid Koala in my opinion is one of the most amazing vinyl manipulators out there. His ability of scratching vinyl is more of an art form at times especially when he lifts the needle from one groove on a record and drops it to the exact location of the next without missing a beat.

I have been a huge fan of him since I was first introduced to him on his debut Carpel Tunnel Sundrome on Ninja Tune. I loved the experimental feel and the constant scratching that was more of an instrument to the album over just your typical beat interjections.

I have been a fan of scratching for as long as I can remember. Thanks to acts like Praxis as well as RUN DMC I was fond of the style. I used to take my old records and try to emulate them on my Fisher Price record player. Sadly I never acheived the sound.

Recently I learned that the DJ is back with an all new project titled The Slew Tour. The tour is rather a score for a film turned into live set featuring Dynomite D as well as the former rhythm section of Wolfmother. The film was actually scrapped while Kid Koala was working on it but thanks to interest from the Austrailian rockers and Kid Koala’s determination the score was turned into a traveling show.

Armed with six turntables Kid Koala and master mixer Dynomite D will be taking stage with Chris Ross and Myles Heskett of Wolfmother. This is going to be one of those performances not to miss.

Of course the tour is skipping Cleveland. Every opportunity I have ever had to see Kid Koala live has failed. Years ago he came to nearby club in Oberlin with his jam band project Bullfrog. For reasons unknown I did not go and I regret it.

Let me give you a hint of how much I dig Kid Koala. Two of my tattoos are Kid Koala inspired. Actually they were taken from his graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall.

I hope one day to see Kid Koala live. His turntable abilites blow me away while listening, I can only imaging what would happen if I were to see it with my eyes. Oh well, there is always next time

Info about The Slew from an email I received from the fine people of Terrorbird Media:

A couple of years back Eric San (aka Kid Koala) and Dylan J. Frombach (aka Dynomite D) were approached to soundtrack a new documentary feature film that was in production. Koala was already well known for his uncanny turntable manipulation, whilst Dylan had remixed Money Mark and collaborated with the Beastie Boys, amongst others. The duo worked for a long time on the psych rock-influenced score, only for the filming to collapse and any release to be canned. Although the film may never see the light of day, its music is about to be brought to life on stage.

Recently Koala & Dylan met the former rhythm section of Grammy Award-winning Australian rock band Wolfmother and began telling them all about the film and its lost music. Chris Ross and Myles Heskett loved the clips and urged that the material had to be heard; subsequently Kid Koala and the guys decided to put a show on the road.

After intensive rehearsals the show is now ready to go. Featuring drums, bass/keys and the DJs working across a truly excessive six turntables, the set is seventy minutes of raw guitar cuts and heavy beats. We can guarantee that you will never have heard anything quite like this and also that you are unlikely to again. It’s a one-off tour, so when it stops in your town you’ll either be there or will have missed it forever.

Anyone who has seen previous Kid Koala events will not be disappointed – from Kid Koala’s incendiary solo turntable spectaculars to the Nufonia book launch, Deltron 3030 live to the Short Attention Span Theater.

Brash, loud and defiantly turned up to eleven. The Slew Tour is coming to your town. Don’t miss it.

TOUR DATES:

WED 9/23
VANCOUVER, BC
Commodore

THUR 9/24
SEATTLE, WA
Nectar

FRI 9/25
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Independent

SUN 9/27
LOS ANGELES, CA
Key Club

WED 9/30
BROOKLYN, NY
Music Hall Of Williamsburg

THUR 10/1
BOSTON, MA
Great Scott

FRI 10/2
MONTREAL, QC
La Tulipe

SAT 10/3
TORONTO, ON
Lee’s Palace

SUN 10/4
CHICAGO, IL
Abbey

Here are a couple MP3’s from the tour only album 100% for your listening enjoyment:

DOWNLOAD THIS! – Kid Koala – “It’s All Over”
DOWNLOAD THIS! – Kid Koala – “You Turn Me Cold”

Kid Koala in action:

Neat video for “Fender Bender” found on Carpel Tunnel Syndrome:

Speaking of Bullfrog:

Art, Funny, Photography, Road Trip, Watch This

Sexy Brokenheadphones?

26 July, 2009 Brian Mc 2 Comments

The other day I was taking my boys on their morning walk around the marshmallow ghetto. As usual I was wearing my headphones that were not broken and jamming out to good jams contained within my iPod. As I got to an intersection I stopped to avoid getting run over.

While waiting for the light to turn green I noticed a car containing two cute girls smirking at me. Immediately I smiled back thinking that the sun might have been reflecting on me making my appearance that much more stunning. They both started giggling and I immediately thought they were giggling at my dogs because they are pretty cute too. I turned to look at them and thank them for attracting cute girls for me and that is when I discovered what all the smirking and giggling was all about.

Sweet Lou was taking a sweet poo.

Awesome.

Anyways I wanted to apologize for the lack of posts within the last few days after almost overflowing the site earlier this week with reviews and whatnot. Don’t worry I still have tons of material to review but sometimes work gets the best of me.

Today though I was approached by my friend’s website Sexy Photo Trip (SPT) about helping them out. The site is 18+ so all you youngsters you need not know what they are all about.

So what is Sexy Photo Trip you ask?

Here is a video that can explain it:

Bascially SPT is according to their site:

We are 2 photographers and a make up artist, traveling the country documenting our travels and telling our stories. We shoot naked girls throughout all of this. They are very nice and very tight. We like girls who chew gum and walk with confidence.

We are road trippers, documentarians and voyeurs. We’re here to document a day in the life of interesting women willing to share intimate details of their life with us and to make very nice, very tight sexy photo shoots.

It’s not porn by any means, it’s art and it’s fun. Marcos and I made nice nice a few years back when I was a writer for a certain site I care not to talk about any more. We met up in Austin for an event and have remained friends since. He is one of the reasons I got a little more serious with the camera and he is also the reason I speak like Borat a lot.

Marcos asked me if I could help SPT with supplying music for future videos seeing on how I am exposed to a lot of bands these days. Of course I said yes. I am looking forward to working with SPT in the near future and hopefully one day can be in on of their videos being remixed as I scream at traffic.

If you are interested in photography of beautiful women with little or no clothing as well as witty smart humor head over to Sexy Photo Trip and see what happens when three friends travel around the country for the sole purpose of taking sexy photos. Nice.