Remember the days when Adult
Swim was full of great content? For a year or two it seemed as if they
could do no wrong with their lineup of bizarre shows like: Aqua Teen Hunger
Force, Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman, and Brak. These days I can't seem
to turn it on without seeing a load of crap that doesn't even come close to
golden days of Williams Street (except for the great Venture Bros. and Robot
Chicken). Anyway, I mention all of this because while the former TV
greats have missed the mark on putting out quality programming they have
been doing a stellar job in slipping out fantastic free compilations.
The first couple were hip hop themed, and now they have delved into the
indie world with a collection of new and unreleased tracks. I picked
my three favorites. Enjoy.
:Raveonettes - Dead Sound:
I have been a fan of this band for a long time, so I say without a doubt
that this is a gem. The retro garage pop sound is as crisp and
energetic as ever, and it's catchy as hell, which is pretty much one of
those things that should always be expected from these guys. I hope
this is from some sort of unannounced full length and not just an unreleased
track.
:Broken Social Scene - Canada Vs America:
Before I even listened to this song, or saw which artist had created it, I
knew that I would be sharing it simply because of the title. Still,
this is a great band and they don't just deliver a clever title, but a
brilliantly complex experimental pop song that is one hell of a
rollercoaster ride. Be prepared to stroll around with the line "The
big guns are coming out" stuck in your head.
:The Rapture - Crimson Red:
This is no Sister Savior, but it's still pretty good. The
pounding beat is more than dance-worthy, the scratchy guitars are playful
and the vocals are energetic. In other words, it's pretty much a track
that was probably cut from their recent album. It's actually a shame
if that's the case because I keep finding myself a bit more enamored with
what I'm hearing here.
On a grindhouse related side
note, I recently watched Cannibal Holocaust. The film
revolves around a group of students that venture into the Amazon to study
the cannibalistic tribes there, but die in the process. A lot of people say
that this film was ripped off by the bunch behind the Blair Witch Project
and I completely agree. Everything from the way its shot with a
handheld camera to the pacing of the story was lifted by those hacks.
If you want to see something that was clearly ahead of its time then I
recommend seeing this. Though, you should really only do so if you are
willing to view some incredibly graphic images such as: live animal
killings, extreme gore, and rape.
-
John Laird -
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