June 2023: News, Views and Perspectives

* I recently found one of my all-time favorite yard sales items EVER...an old hand carved wooden frame with leaded glass from the 1930s.  At first I assumed the large black and white photo of three cats had been placed inside the frame at some later date because it just didn't look right.  But upon closer inspection, it seemed like the photograph was an original from that time period.  The sealing tape on the back revealed that it had not been tampered with...so the photo is the original artwork that was placed inside the frame.  And THAT is what makes this item so interesting.  It is a large black and white photograph of three cats sitting among some slabs of granite.  You don't find many large photos of felines from that time period, probably because taking photos was still an expensive hobby and reserved mainly for human subjects.  But what pushes this one over the top is that one of the cats has it's injured front leg in a big white cast.  It's a very striking and unusual photo, and unlike anything I have found before.  It is WONDERFUL.  The best part?  It had been sitting around all day long and no one even bothered to purchase it for five bucks...!  *  In the mood for some good solid cheap chuckles?  Not sure how on earth I overlooked the 2007 motion picture Smiley Face (?!).  But I recently watched it and found some parts to be hilariously funny.  This all-out stoner comedy movie was produced by Gregg Araki and stars Anna Faris, Adam Brody and John Krasinski.  Faris is particularly believable, portraying a girl who is completely out of touch with the real world.  *  I'm psyched that June 2023 will see the release of a long-overdue deluxe remastered version of Alice Cooper's Killer.  It's one of the most perfect rock albums ever recorded so perhaps this new version will do it justice.  My question now is...will we EVER see the same treatment for Love It To Death, Easy Action and Pretties For You . . .?  Those albums deserve some deluxe treatment as well.  New remixes by the right person would be welcomed.  *  May 2023 marked the 15th anniversary of PARMA Recordings.  While most folks are only familiar with classical composers from past centuries, the folks at PARMA are focused on top-notch twenty-first century composers.  Their labels are Navona, Ravello, Big Round and Ansonica.  If you are seeking strikingly original modern classical music, you'll find more than you ever imagined on these excellent labels.  *  Like so many others, I refuse to read or use Wikipedia.  It is sad that so many consider it to be valid.  Wikipedia is not a good source for valid and relevant information.  *  British television shows are superior to American television shows in so many ways.  While American television has digressed into a pit of rotting pig slime in the twenty-first century, British television has continued to explore more and more horizons in new and inventive ways.  A great example of this is  Hyperdrive, a super cool television show that ran from 2006 to 2007.  This one might best be described as something like a cross between Monty Python and Star Trek.  The shows stars Nick Frost and Miranda Hart, both wonderfully unlikely heros sailing through space.  If you loved the costumes in Terry Gilliam's Brazil (probably my all-time favorite motion picture), you will find a lot to appreciate here.  Such a well-made series.  The dialogue is often unpredictable and hilarious.  Hyperdrive is highly recommended.  *  Another British show that is super cool is the animated series Sarah & Duck.  The show ran from 2013 and 2017 and is light years beyond your average American animated series.  Super cool and simple with great graphics.  The voices are wonderful.  *  Now located in Spain, the cool folks at MoonJune Records have announced their upcoming Second Annual International Music Festival.  The festival will take place in Toledo, Spain on September 29, 30 and October 1.  This one is bound to offer a wealth of cool credible concerts.  *  Not too long ago I received and reviewed the album Charlie Faye & The Fayettes.  It was universally embraced by writers and fans, probably because it successfully captured and idea and spirit of acts from the past like The Ronettes and The Supremes.  Charlie took a bit of a break to deal with other aspects of her life.  But now she's back with a brand new album entitled Charlie Faye & The Fanimals.  Nine hooky clever songs written with a childlike spirit.  *  The Belgian group KermesZ a l'Est has an intriguing new album out entitled Octophilia.  Nine curious tracks that slip and slide all over the place.  *  Swiss experimental noise-kraut band Film 2 is the collaboration between Jonas Albrecht, Elias Bieri and Elischa Heller.  The Three musicians have released a compelling new album entitled Sorge.  Cool sounding stuff.  *  Everyone's favorite band Ex Norwegian is playing Great Britain this month as part of David Bash's International Pop Overthrow Festival.  The band will play The Cavern (!!!) on June 3 and June 4.  This festival is bound to be a particularly spectacular event.  *  Canadian power pop quartet The Get Arounds have released a new album entitled I Wanna Live.  The band's music has been compared to artists like L7, Bikini Kill and Babes in Toyland.  I'm a huge fan of 1990s buzzsaw pop so this one sounds especially exciting.  *  Lauren Calve has just released a cool tune entitled "Shift."  The song will be included on her forthcoming album (also entitled Shift) that will be released September 1, 2023.  *  French rock band Les Lullies have a new album out entitled Mauvaise Foi (on Slovenly Recordings).  Cool modern rock with garage rock and punk thrown into the mix.  *  Jeremy Morris is the Energizer Bunny of underground guitar pop in the United States.  He has released yet another stellar collection of songs entitled A Better Life.  On Jam Records, of course.  Great choice for an album title, as that's probably what most people are searching for in 2023 (!).  *  Underground pop genius Bruce Gorden has a new album out called One Tall Order.  Ten groovy songs that are bound to put you in the right frame of mind for some solid summer fun.  *

The Mosquitos - This Then Are The Mosquitos (Kool Kat Musik).  Dallas Mclaughlin - I Didn't Start the Fire (and Other Lies).  John Robb - The Art Of Darkness: The History Of Goth (book).  Stinking Lizaveta - Anthems and Phantoms (SRA Records).  Mason Lowe - Morning People.  Miter - Washed Memoir In Real Time.  Anita Bryant - Love Songs for Barbeque Sandwiches (Arbor Tree Boss).  Troll House Fixation - Nice To Meet The Real Fixation (Proper Button Media).  The Monkbees - The Bees, The Bees and The Monkbees (Hafferton Esquire).  Babs Dylan - Wearing Makeup In The Wind (DCA Mash).  Prank Floyd - Snorkle Side of the Booms (Harness).  The Ranones - Pocket to Fusia (Sore).  Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds - Cruel.  Lil' Andy - Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter.  Sun Wave Mountain Cave - Familiar To Me EP.  Popes of Chillitown - Take A Picture (Criminal Records).  Maia Sharp - Reckless Thoughts.  Rihannar - Your Processed Cheese Is Ready To Purchase Again (Maintronics).  Monday McCready - I Shot My Dawg On The Porch Again (Nashville Penny).  Vanity Mirror - Puff (We Are Busy Bodies).  David Buoy - The Pounce and Prowl of Fluffy Kittycat and the Mousers From Baltimore (RCB6).  The Foreign Films - Magic Shadows (Kool Kat Musik).  The Coastal Futures Conservatory; Matthew Burtner, EcoSono Ensemble - Soundscapes of Restoration (Parma Recordings).  Ariel Marx & Este Haim - A Small Light: Original Score (Hollywood Records).  Kickstand Jenny - Between the Lies.  Chris Murphy - The Road and the Stars (Teahouse Records).  The Blow Monkeys - To Know Monkeys Is To Blow Monkeys (Mouse Topper).  Anita Bryant - Anita Sings Morbid Angel's Biggest Hits (Tralala-dee-do).  Judy Garland - There's No Pill So Big You Can't Swallow At Least A Dozen Of 'Em (Amplords).  OSEES - Intercepted Message (In The Red Records).  Slip Ons - Heavy Machinery EP (Scamindy Records).  At Pavillon - Personal Development Deals (Las Vegas Records).  The Bankes Brothers - In Waves EP.  Moon Riivr - Vol. 1.  George Harrison - Here Comes The Judge (Raffle).  Taylor Swiff - Taylor Sings the Songs of The Butthole Surfers (RDAKTR).  The Melvins - The Melvins Sing the Songs of Taylor Swift (RTKADR).  Erin Hunt - Brave New World.  Violet Night - Daydream Drama EP.  The Weather Holds - You Couldn't Ask For A More Beautiful Day.  Juliana Eye - Late Bloomer EP.  Daryl Mosley - A Life Well Lived (Pinecastle Records).  Dave Cope and the Sass - Killer Mods From Inner Space (Kool Kat Musik).  Johnrose - The Prophet's Dance (Dr. Music Records).  Arvo Zylo - 333.  Groundation Meets Brain Damage - Dreaming From An Iron Gate (Baco Music).  Parker Ferrell - Love Runs Through.

[This section only includes full-length releases and EPs.]

   

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