Monthly Archives: January 2009

Morricone: Ma Non Troppo Erotico

Featured, Media, , , , ,

morricone-peggy-moffit
I don’t want to turn into a YouTube repository here, but this one’s definitely worth the effort. Morricone turned the film soundtrack business on its ear, especially in the 60s when he was pushing the boundaries of traditional composition by using improvisation, vocalizations-as-instruments, and other innovations. One of his greatest collaborations was with Edda Dell’Orso, one of the most recognizable voices in music from that era…if you were paying attention.

Normally I hate these types of YouTube clips–they generally lack imagination and I wonder why people make the effort. This one’s a bit different, and I have to say much better than the other posts of this type. The model you see in all these images is the legendary Peggy Moffitt, who was featured in Blow Up, worked with Rudi Gernreich, and also appeared in William Klein’s Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo? Her career is just as interesting as Morricone’s for vastly different reasons.

This track is one of Morricone’s more straightforward Italian soundtrack tunes, but Dell’Orso’s voice over the top of the orchestra makes this a groovier affair…you’ll either be a Morricone convert or wonder why we’re bothering you with all this “Austin Powers” crap…either way, now you know.


Super Furry Animals Announce New Album

album, Blogs, Featured, Media, , ,

super-furry-animals
Stereogum reports a new album by Super Furry Animals and a list of release dates between the US and UK:

Digital–16 March on www.superfurry.com, Physical–13 April on Rough Trade Records. 21 April for U.S. release. No word on vinyl, though. Bah humbug.

The Stereogum clip also mentions the Super Furries have disposed of the ballads for this one. Good news, lads. Turn it up, please.

I am hoping we’re on a quality level with Radiator and Outspaced here. Below, behold a classic Super Furries moment with “The Man Don’t Give a F*ck”. You’re welcome.

P.S. You get bonus points for spotting the blatant Steely Dan reference here.

Top 10 Reasons Vinyl Records are Better Than MP3 Downloads

editorial, snark, , , , , , ,

vinyl-records-are-better-than-mp3s

Vinyl records vs. MP3s? I own them both. Why are album versions of records better than their MP3 counterparts? The digital Black Flag vs. the original SST Black Flag recordings? Naked Raygun on your iPod shouldn’t sound much different than the vinyl record of the same album, right? Can you find Big Black on MP3? Here’s a a little list:

10.  You can’t accidentally delete a vinyl record. However, your cat may urinate on it. That won’t affect playback…unless you have friends over.

9. You don’t get the nice big cover art off an MP3 download. This doesn’t matter much for modern releases, but for those old, elaborate LP releases or soundtracks to sexy Italian horror and “sexual awakening” movies, big covers are nice. Especially for those Piero Umiliani soundtracks. There’s nothing more fun than a cheesy sexy 60s era album cover, is there?

8. Nobody tries to sue you for making a CD-R burn of some old dusty record in your collection. They’d love to try, but the RIAA would get laughed out of court faster than Rod Blagojevich proclaiming his innocence. Nice try.

7. Unlike an MP3, you can shatter a vinyl record and use the pieces to gash somebody in face when they make fun of your pants.

6. In Shaun Of The Dead, the heroes tried to kill zombies using 12-inch singles. Try doing that with an iPod and you’ll join the ranks of the undead faster than a screaming teenage girl in a filmy white nightgown.

5. George Carlin comedy albums just plain SOUND BETTER on vinyl.

4. You can actually clean a record album with soap and water. You can clean an iPod by…BUYING A NEW ONE.

3. Stores with high theft issues should stock vinyl. You can hide an MP3 player in any body cavity. An album tends to stick out of the most obvious places. Painful, too.

2. Vinyl records are better than MP3s because you can play them backwards and get the messages Satan wants you to hear. Try doing THAT with a downloaded version of Ashford & Simpson’s “Solid as a Rock”.

1. When you get bored, you can safely microwave an LP, put it on the turntable and play it for laughs. Put an MP3 player in the microwave and it will explode. Need we say more?

The Yardbirds in Blow Up

album, Media, , , , , , , , ,

blow-up-soundtrack-yardbirds

Blow Up is one of my all-time favorites from the 60s. Shot during the heyday of Swinging London, this movie features a soundtrack by Herbie Hancock (listed in the credits as “Herbert Hancock”, heh) and an appearance by Jimmy Page and company as The Yardbirds. The crowd is completely motionless for the duration of the performance, til you get to the best part of this great clip—some apeshit guitar smashing.

Blow Up is one of the best movies of the mid 60s, and the soundtrack is amazing. Check out the discontinued 180 gram vinyl edition of this while you can, it’s going fast.

I also highly recommend the Herbie Hancock Blow Up Extra Sessions CD, if you can find it…