Dyer’s “In the Space of a Song” essential for film and music buffs alike

book-cover-in-the-space-of-a-songFor those unfamiliar with the material discussed in the collected essays of Richard Dyer‘s In the Space of a Song: The Uses of Song In Film, I would highly suggest a viewing party before reading each section. While quite familiar with Meet Me In St. Louis, I was astounded at the depth to which Dyer gets with his dissection of the film. Having never seen A Star Is Born, I was hopelessly lost as to what Dyer was specifically referring. Having a fresh image of the films spoken of will make this a much easier read.
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Tacocat, “Woman’s Day” 7-inch

cover-tacocatLet it be said that Tacocat has an instantly notable name. Of course, it’s a name that makes it difficult to tell your friends that they’re great – cringe-worthy, as it were.

“You should get this new single. It’s fucking good.”
“Oh, yeah? Who’s it by?”
“Tacocat.”
“… Right.”

No, but really, Tacocat’s new single on Minor Bird Records, Woman’s Day, is an excellent piece of chiming, sunny, garage-pop. “Partytrap” is as good as anything you’ve ever heard from the likes of Dum Dum Girls, Shannon & the Clams, or any of the other Spector-ish throwbacks over the past few years.
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Podcast #73, “The 2011 Year-Ender”

2011This second-annual year-ended podcast exemplifies the idea of of “Better late than never,” but at least it’s before New Year’s. We’ll count that as a victory, shall we? Ignore the hiccups, coughs, burps, throat-clearing, and assorted other annoyances and focus on the fact that I’m running everything through a lovely Tascam mixer and Sennheiser mic setup now, meaning the podcast sounds crystal clear. No more sibilant consonants. It’s a Christmas miracle.

Podcast #73, “The 2011 Year-Ender”
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Stupid holidays

In between getting involved in a hit-and-run, our furnace blowing fuse, and just generally going crazy, the site’s on hiatus until the week after Christmas. I promise you a Boxing Day year-ender podcast, and then a slew of new record reviews. In the meantime, enjoy some a half-assed Christmas present in the form of free punk rock from Spain’s Hermanastra. You can listen to and download their new album, Tic galopante, below.

Podcast coming next week

Despite promising you the year-ender podcast today, I figure I might want to spend a little more time on it. I want to make sure to throw in some reissues and recent arrivals, so expect it bright and early on Monday morning. In the meantime, I’ve been running the Pitch‘s Wayward Blog this week, so do check out some of that.

The In Out, “The Venal Column” LP

cover-in-outThe In Out‘s newest LP, The Venal Column, is yet another one of those releases that defies classification. The tear sheet that came with the record uses “the Cramps meet the Fugs.” The dirty, swampy overtones favored by the Cramps definitely shine through on this release, but I’d say it veers closer to early ’80 weirdos than late ’60s acid casualties.

Granted, yes, they do cover the Fugs’ “Frenzy” on this release, but the In Out’s sound seems more like a grab bag of ’80s college radio vinyl than anything else. Listening to this album over and over again (as you will find yourself doing, trying to parse the influences and sounds made by this trio) reminds me of the times when I’d be digging through the vinyl stacks of KJHK late at night or early in the morning.
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Full of “Mistakes,” Tyler McMahon’s novel still steals your attention

book-cover-how-the-mistakes-were-madeThe recent tale of a grunge-era Seattle act making the big time, How the Mistakes Were Made, might just be the latest in a string of involving, yet deeply-flawed novels about fictional musical acts. Author Tyler McMahon‘s book has a story that grabs you by the hand, and pulls you into the story of the Mistakes, as well as its drummer (and the story’s protagonist), Laura Loss.

Loss was the bass player for D.C. hardcore band in the early ’80s called Second Class Citizens. Their story is told in flashback chapters in between the story of how Laura meets a couple of kids from Montana, and they end up forming an instantly iconic band, called the Mistakes. The story is strong, and McMahon’s depictions of concerts and inner dialogue are stellar.
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Various Artists, “Cheap Beer” LP

cover-cheap-beerThe debut release from Replay Records is the compilation Cheap Beer. Comprised of local acts from the Lawrence and Kansas City area, this is a primer for anyone wondering what’s worth checking out in Kansas. While acts like Mouthbreathers and Dark Ages have seen releases earlier this year on In the Red and Sorry State, respectively, others such as Fag Cop and Rooftop Vigilantes are probably only known to those who troll the TermBo forums.

Hopefully, though, those four bands will hopefully draw some attention to Der Todesking’s angular post-punk or Spook Light’s garage rockabilly, allowing the lesser-known bands to make an impression outside the Midwest.
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Podcast #72, “Comped”

compedThis is it – the last episode before the big year-ender and our annual winter break. Strange to think I’ve been doing this (unlistened-to) podcast for long enough to have anything be considered “annual.” Anyhow, the title of this episode is “Comped,” and could just as easily have been “Amped,” considering the sheer ridiculous amounts of coffee I ingested while working on this week’s episode.

No, but “Comped” it is, and comps are where 60% of the tracks in this week’s episode come from. More, if you count the Ska Is Dead series as such, which’d bump it up to over 70%. Damn, that’s a lot. No, but CD comps used to be more than just label samplers you’d throw away. Many folks have pontificated on the discovery of new music through these things, and I agree. Lots of good music to be found on some of these moldering slabs of plastic.

Podcast #72, “Comped”
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