Weekly Abysmal Video – 11/1/10

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Moosejuice

Starting off this month of Thanksgiving, I’m thankful that The Beat (aka English Beat) left such a nice, if oh so brief, legacy of music including this week’s WAV “Mirror in the Bathroom” from their debut CD “I Just Can’t Stop It.”

Something about this band always connected with me, and some 30 years after their debut it sounds just as lively, fresh and life-affirming as ever. Here’s a double-WAV, as I found a partial video of another great track off the aforementioned debut.

Be thankful…and enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY I Just Can’t Stop It AND OTHER MUSIC BY THE BEAT THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTNpaaPHENE&fs=1&hl=en_US]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jt1hDXVfNk&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 10/24/10

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from a band born out of the breakup of 80’s pop band Berlin. Yes…THAT Berlin. And you’d never guess that in a million years from the sounds you’ll hear on this video. I remember working in a record store (RIP Paradise Records in Baton Rouge) when this was released and Elektra Records being very secretive as to the origin of the band and its members, presumably because the tie to Berlin would have ruined any credibility with rockers.

Well, nobody bought it anyway. ‘Cept me, of course, and a few other risk-taking new-music-seekers who own a copy of this gem of an album. A real shame, as it holds up quite well 20+ years after the fact. Simply called The Big F, two of the three members come from the aforementioned Berlin, and the sound is anything but what you would expect. The fact that this released at the height of hair bands, it’s anti-commerciality earns an extra thumbs up.

Oh, what the hell…here’s a double dose, including my personal fave “Alpert Tango.”

Some will hate it, some will love it…and I hope you all enjoy it Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY The Big F’s 1989 SELF-TITLED CD THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3xpJ8tmzm4&fs=1&hl=en_US]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYxrH2zmy84&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 8/16/10 (I’m freelin’ Swell)

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Moosejuice

I spent a lot of time this weekend with the entire Swell catalogue on shuffle play on my computer at home, so needless to say I’m freelin’ swell. All the reason enough to bring one of my absolute all-time favorite bands back for a WAV encore, this time with the very song that made me a fan in the first place.

From the very first time I saw the video back in 1992.

It had nothing to do with the hot VJ who introduced the video.

Well, maybe a little.

But still, this is one of those songs that to this day haunts (in a most excellent way) every week of my existence. A big Abysmal shout-out to the amazing David Freel (guitarist/singer/ songwriter/master cynic) and Sean Kirkpatrick (drummer/Dad/painter/artist extraordinare). Thank you for the years of great music that are a part of the soundtrack to my life.

Enjoy Abysmally…in a breezy So-Cal kinda way…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Well…? AND OTHER SWELL MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsQCOPi4t1g&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 8/9/10

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from a post-grunge Seattle band that is widely considered the godfathers of emo. While emo is way too confining of a term to describe their sound, they are highly revered and have released 4 acclaimed albums. They reunited in 2009 with all of the original members and are currently working on a new album. In the meantime, here is an excellent track off their 2000 release “The Rising Tide.”

Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY The Rising Tide AND OTHER SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUuoTD9bWcY&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 8/2/10

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Moosejuice

Way back in 1992 or 1993 (in my radio days at 100.7FM The Tiger in Baton Rouge, LA) I got passes to an Ugly Kid Joe concert at the Varsity Theatre. Ugly Kid Joe’s flame was being blown out by the tornado of grunge, but they still put on a good show. The opening band, however, totally stole the show in my opinion.

It was an unassuming 3-piece from Queens, NY who just blew the roof off the place and had ridiculous chemistry. No one there really knew who they were, but they won over the whole crowd and I was so blown away I went right out an bought their CD when the show was over.

They would release a second CD in 1994 and then disappear without a trace. It’s a shame, because they were excellent and it took a lot of guts to release a flat-out ROCK record when grunge was king. Maximum respect? Totally, here in the Sonic Abyss. And the bass player rules. Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Collision Music THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj9osxc6KpM&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 7/26/10

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from an Irish band that I’ve been able to find very little info on, but this song drove me absolutely crazy back in the day. I truly couldn’t decide if I liked it or not for the longest time, then I decided I LOVED it as well as the follow-up single Run.

The album that spawned this tune, “Grow,” is well worth the moolah…and it’s every bit as eccentric and unique as you would expect it to be based on this song. So what are you waiting for? Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Grow THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6CrcHjWsug&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Weekly Abysmal Videos – 7/19/10 (O Canada!)

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Moosejuice

One of my two favorite new albums is the debut by Canadian rockers Crash Karma. All four members have histories in excellent Canadian bands going back into the 90’s and my intention for this week’s WAV was to post the video for my favorite song by Crash Karma front man Edwin’s former band I Mother Earth. Then, I thought it would be cooler to take a moment to celebrate the histories of all four members.

Yeah, I’m a fan just looking for an excuse to write something more about them…and in doing so, I discovered that bassist Amir Epstein’s previous band Zygote had some great jam, too. And with that, enjoy (Abysmally, of course) 4 of my favorite songs from the pasts of Edwin, Mike Turner, Jeff Burrows and Amir Epstein…then check out their official video for Fight from the Crash Karma CD.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cZT4vYiMxU&hl=en_US&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQKuqncW6c&hl=en_US&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVq57Z6Dhe0&hl=en_US&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCye7v79Tz0&hl=en_US&fs=1]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLPI7vw0x80&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Weekly Abysmal Video – 7/5/10

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV is from Washington DC’s Shudder To Think, whose 1994 CD “The Pony Express Record” was listed at #29 on Pitchfork Magazine’s original Top 100 Albums of the 1990’s list. An excellent and diverse album, this song from it was my first exposure to the band and remains one of my sentimental favorites from my 1990’s radio days. I loved the alternative explosion because no one really knew what alternative was…so a lot of bands got exposure who wouldn’t have otherwise. Hell, even the one-hit-wonder songs were cool for the most part.

Anyhoo, check out X-French T-Shirt and (as always) enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY The Pony Express Record AND OTHER SHUDDER TO THINK MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eLnhDzf6p8&hl=en_US&fs=1]

Weekly Abysmal Video(s) – 6/14/10

Posted on June 13, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from a London band whose 1995 self-titled debut CD is simply brilliant…kinda like The Cars melded with The Ramones with female vocals. 16 songs in 40 minutes…The Ramones would indeed be proud.

This is a song that I think should have been huge…I hope you dig it as much as I do, and I hope it brings back some good memories for those of you who already know it. Incidentally, I found two different videos for it…the second one’s kinda racy, so you have been warned.

Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Elastica MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilKcXIFi-Rc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbvkwiFg3Yw&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

6-7-10 Weekly Abysmal Video

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV is from Toronto’s indie power-popsters The Pursuit of Happiness, whose 1988 Chrysalis Records debut album “Love Junk” was produced by the legendary Todd Rundgren.

This is perhaps their best known song…witty, hooky, intelligent and fun. And the lyrics are a riot.

Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE Love Junk AND OTHER MUSIC BY THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSDF8VvU13M&hl=en_US&fs=1&]