First Look: Bad Milo (Red Band Trailer)

This looks delightfully messed up!

First Listen: Gary Numan, "I Am Dust"

Here's "I Am Dust," the first single from Gary Numan's upcoming album, Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind):

Song Of The Day: Cold War Kids, "We Used To Vacation"

From 2006, here's Cold War Kids with "We Used To Vacation."

Enjoy!

Robert Williams: The Culture Brats Interview

If you're searching for a definitive image to represent the roaring life of Robert Williams, you will grow weary with indecision and will be hard pressed to come up with something that won't be tossed out for not fully capturing it all. Luckily for you, the newly released film Robert Williams Mr. Bitchin' comes about as close as you can get to the sustained burst of the prolific and important artist as well as a compelling inside look at the astoundingly groundbreaking work and contributions of the trailblazer to whom so many owe so much.

If you've never seen his work, my suggestion would be to immediately remedy this by feasting your eyes on this compelling documentary that is fierce, funny, and strangely sentimental. With all of life's tedium and banality, everybody needs more Robert Williams in their day.

I just watched Mr. Bitchin' and I loved it.
Really?

Yes. I was a little floored actually. They've unleashed this thing on the populace and it provides a pure escape into the fringes of your galaxy. It was like whiplash and a bit of an artistic history trip, with so much packed into one film I felt I'd been gone for two years but I suspect it didn't even scratch the surface of all the places you could've gone. How far were you willing to let the filmmaker delve into your pool and did you want anything off limits for the viewer?
That's very kind of you, I appreciate you saying that. For me and my wife Suzanne, this was really torturous.

Really?
Yeah, it took three film crews over twenty years and they boil that down for well over two hundred hours of footage. So it was an ongoing thing that just kept going on and on and on. I am so happy with the result, but I couldn't do it again. I absolutely couldn't do it again. Here's the problem: to be an artist or a writer or an actor, you have to perpetrate yourself as a celebrity and you have to push this on people. That isn't my makeup. I'm not trying to feign humility here, but continuously trying to push myself as somebody special is more than I want to do beyond the artwork. You understand what I'm saying?

It's an interesting slice of the whole pie in that you have to become a certain something that you are not in order to get what you are doing in front of people.

That's exactly right. Continually trying to be a nice guy and being humble and you know I'm just as much of a jackass as anybody else and I have an ego and I just really don't want the bad side of me to come out. I'm just all the time trying to watch myself, and I see myself in the film and I get so tired of myself. After seeing rush after rush, year after year, and thinking well, they got this far, I've got to keep this thing going. I hope what you saw, you appreciate because it was fresh. I don't have that luxury. I can't see that thing fresh.

Yeah, and I also had no idea that this was an ongoing neverending culling of your life for a twenty-year span. That's like making the world's longest movie. I thought this was put together from found historical footage, your personal stuff, and the work the filmmakers did.
No, it took three different film crews over more than twenty years and one film crew would pass it on to the other.

That is a long time to have someone watching you.
Not so much about me and Suzanne, but I think what's really interesting and important about this film is you get to see the underground and alternative art world that no one gets to see, and you get to see it over a long period of time. It's a window into underground comics and the psychedelic posters and the hot rod and gallery world. There's really no other way for a person to get a glimpse of that.

It really was a bit of a history lesson... I'm looking at Artie Shaw alongside of Von Dutch, etc. and I'm still astounded at the number of incredible people that they packed into this film about you. Also, you provide an interesting link between two unconnected worlds: commercial success and absolute artistic freedom. You seemingly never had to worry about playing it safe. Looking closely at the film, you are driven to work your ass off and leave some mark on the world but you say that off-the-wall paintings are the hardest way to success. Could you have chosen an easier way?

Well, the thrust of my life is to take enjoyable visionary work and shove it into the real art world. Now, the art world is not the friendly place you think it is. For my whole life, I have made a direct assault and entry into the real art world. It even started out in art school as an enormous amount of criticism during the abstract expressionist period when I tried to do realism. Realism was absolutely forbidden, and it still is to a certain extent. To come in with enjoyable cartoon artwork that has disregard for political correctness and to completely do away with the boogeyman of sophistication and just say "Look, this is what is really interesting, let your eyes do the looking." Your intellectual powers seem to fail you. I've been through some very important galleries and had very very important connections in the art world and I've tried to play the politics of the whole thing. I've come to the table with this off-the-wall stuff that's really been a struggle. That's what my life is really about, that's my essence. People interpret that movie as a relationship between a man and a woman, in fact when that film was showing at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York, one guy said I should have never gotten into art, I should've been a marriage counselor. I don't know, the film is for your judgement now, I think I've worn myself out on it.

So many worlds, people, and even endless facts and side stories collide in your paintings and other work that you actually have to invest time to really look. It's like getting hit with a technicolor bat. Do you ever have someone purchase something and you feel like they'll never fully appreciate the amount of furious spectacle and detail you put into it all?
Yeah, of course. But you know, I have to sell them because that keeps me alive and pays the mortgage and lets me have a future to do more of them. You know, there are always certain people who have investigative skills. And you come to find out that people in the arts aren't the ones who have them. So there's always a disappointment, a guy will say, "Well I bought the painting because it had a number six in it."

That guy might have missed something.
I mean, well, I sold a painting, it paid for its time, it will keep me going. I just have to live beyond the disappointment.

In the film there's talk of rule breaking, causing offense, and the burden of being not pleasant but accurate, and I found myself rewinding and continuously laughing at the section where you plainly spell out that horses actually don't like people and the only thing keeping your house cat from devouring you is its diminutive size. Do you think people's projecting their own crazy fantasies of what they want the world to be versus what really lies beneath is part of the appeal of your work? That maybe it opens your eyes to something you knew, but didn't necessarily want to acknowledge?
Well, for every three supporters I pick up, I pick up six or seven people who can't stand me.

You are not without your critics, that's for sure.
Yeah. The New York Times is always waiting for me, you know? I'm a prime target for them. Back when William Wilson was the head critic for the LA Times, he would always ride me. He said my art was like bad country and western music. They are always laying in wait. When the very few people come up and appreciate my work and I can make a living at it, it's justified. It's really justified.



Critics love to make sweeping generalizations about the future of art but it's always some rogue upstart who comes out of nowhere to shake things up from the unlikeliest of places. I never thought the playing field would become level enough for all kinds of different artists to compete and become known for telling a new story with a completely unique thumbprint. Now, thanks in large part to the trail you have blazed, they have somewhere to go, they can show work, they are taken seriously and enjoyed by people who may not have seen them otherwise. I know that's like an albatross around your neck saying everything before you was one way and everything after was different. But it's true.
I'm the guy who laid down over the barbed wire so they could walk over in comfort.

Exactly. Sorry to make you the Moses here, but you sort of parted the Red Art Sea.
There wasn't a lot happening for these type of artists before you.
You are exactly right. I want to be modest, but in that respect I can't be. Because I just had no support for years. I had no peer group for a long, long time.

That's got to be a lonely place, is it not?
It is. It really is. When I had so many friends that were in the arts, and they were all abstract expressionists and later conceptualists and minimalists, and they all referred to me as "The Illustrator". I haven't made it yet! I'm in one of the biggest galleries in New York, Tony Shafrazi, and I've got in the Whitney and all, but man it has just been an uphill climb like swimming up a waterfall or something.

Yeah, but it's also been constant forward motion.
I've had some very important support and let me explain some of my support. In that film there was a shy guy that only showed up a couple of times in the movie, his name is Walter Hopps, and I'm sure you didn't remember him.

No, I took notes. Got his name right here. Walter Hopps will be here in 20 minutes, right?
Walter Hopps, okay. Walter Hopps made Ed Ruscha and Ed Kienholz and all the artists on the west coast in the fifties and sixties. He made them. He was the director of the Pasadena Museum, started all the west coast art. He tried to get Von Dutch to be an artist in the mid fifties. He had a Zap Comix show at the Corcoran Museum in Washington DC in 1970. Before he died, he was in charge of the Menil Collection in Houston and head curator at the Guggenheim in New York. Shortly before he died, he was not only nominated but elected in Europe as the world's number one museum director and curator. Walter Hopps was one of my biggest supporters. Before he died, he was working on a show at the Guggenheim, but his passing from illness caused that show to die out. But that would have been an enormous turning point in art if that show would've come about.

A number of very important people push me and help me. On the other hand, I've had museum directors in town that said they would have nothing to do with me. It's kind of a blind struggle.

Most people would simply throw up their hands and give up after so many obstacles. You seem to have an overabundance of character and drive, which seems hugely essential for success in anything but it strikes me as quintessentially an American trait. The work ethic and the never say die undercurrent that runs through the film gives it its punch. You get up at 4:00 AM and start burning it at both ends.
Look, I'm seventy years old. Let some young people take this thing, I don't know. I need someone to ride the back up now. I'm looking for some young turks to come in here and let me get in their slip stream. I've about had it.

It probably wasn't surprising to learn that people pick up your work from all angles and places and that sometimes people attach it to something they've created to promote what they've done. For instance, the Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction album cover. When musicians choose that for their album art, do you stop and take stock, worrying that certain kinds of avenues of exposure put a boot on your throat? Are there mutual expectations from both sides, or does something like that not even cross your radar?
Well, that Guns N' Roses thing was an odd situation. In the eighties, I was doing a large number of paintings that appealed to the punk rock world and they were called Zombie Mystery paintings. I had a lot of garage bands that I was licensing the images of paintings to and I heard about a call from San Francisco about some band called Guns N' Roses. They were fucking unheard of. Absolutely unheard of and I said "Well, that's not a good image for you. Come over and go through my slides and pick something else." So this guy Axl comes over and he goes through the slides and he goes, "Well, I just want the Appetite For Destruction painting" and I told him, "You're going to get in a lot of trouble but if you have the balls to do that man, more power to you. I'll tell you the sequence of events you're going to face. First, it's going to be the parents groups and then the churches and then you'll discover you can't get the thing through the Canadian borders. It's like a whole line of things is going to be your problem."

You actually predicted almost exactly what happened.
Yeah, you know, these people were nobody so I let them have this at garage band, punk rock price, see? I just gave it to them. This thing went on fourteen million albums. Just the t-shirt design they lifted off of there that I never saw money [from]. So they made a lot of money off this and it kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. And then when they started getting in trouble with the feminist groups, I was on radio a bunch of times, I was on MTV a couple of times defending this thing. Newspapers calling me all the time, I was the only one articulate enough to defend an image that I told them not to use.

I remember the MTV one. There was a whole rigamarole about what the image did and didn't represent and you laid it out pretty convincingly.
Well, I guess it all worked out. God, I don't know. I certainly wouldn't do it again. They came to me again for a cover and I just turned them down. I couldn't do that again.

At the end of this film I was actually not expecting for someone to throw out the question, "Are you happy?" And you turn to the camera and say very simply, "I am happy" and it ended on this lovely note. You come off as having a wonderful practicality, married with a warm off-kilter madness, but a controlled guy in full control of his faculties and very likable. You mentioned that you really watched yourself during the long filming. Do you ever want to have yourself an angry creative moment where you don't act so civilized?
Believe me, I'm not as stable as you think. I've worked hard all my life but I've had my fair share of problems. I've got this wonderful wife Suzanne and we both realized that you have to stabilize your life in order to get through it. You have to be very careful with every thing you do, and problems will drag you down. I guess in my neighborhood I pass myself off as a square. Just an old man running children off my yard.

Get off my lawn!
Yeah, so. I'm very very happy. I look back on my life and wonder how did I get to be seventy years old? How do I have a house? A wonderful wife and seven cars? Everything is just great, you know? I just wish that I could've changed the art world, ya know? Made it a little more open.

You know what? I think you underestimate yourself. You actually did. Watching this film left me with a great feeling about what could potentially open up and happen in the art world. It really did.
You've been so kind to me. You just really made my day great. I really appreciate it. I hope we run into each other one of these days.

Robert Williams Mr. Bitchin' is available now on DVD and VoD.

Song Of The Day: Marilyn, "Calling Your Name"

From 1983, here's Marilyn with "Calling Your Name."

Enjoy!

Gag Me With A Tweet: Gene Simmons, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Joey McIntyre, And More

Here's the latest Gag Me With A Tweet, our weekly look at some of the best tweets from some of our favorite '80s musicians, actors, and celebrities!

No matter how many times I told this young man that the job has been taken, he kept sticking his tongue out. pic.twitter.com/LQjm7wyBgo

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) July 28, 2013

Fun game: If you’re on “Jeopardy” begin all of your questions will “Pray tell…” and see how long it takes before Alex Trebek strangles you.

— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 28, 2013

At #mixtapefestival, walked out of catering and heard my name being screamed. I turned to wave- they were screaming for @JoeJonas #toughday

— Joey McIntyre (@joeymcintyre) July 28, 2013

I walked past @bjork in New York but she avoided my gaze and so I whispered 'Tree Frog' and chuckled to myself!

— boygeorge (@BoyGeorge) July 27, 2013

Watch out - another artist has seen the culk pic.twitter.com/sfridZif3M

— John Cusack (@johncusack) July 27, 2013

The 80's. When the hair was almost as big as the guitar. #TBT pic.twitter.com/cFQnUHA6Vl

— Susanna Hoffs (@SusannaHoffs) July 26, 2013

Spent my first royalty check on one of these, maybe even the same year as this one! I was 21 & spontaneous:) pic.twitter.com/kYFb3OtdxA

— MichaelSweet Stryper (@michaelhsweet) July 25, 2013

#Trollfoot 'n Sunny BHCA http://t.co/e5s474f9wM

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) July 25, 2013

we've got a sign now, we're official #nightranger @nightranger pic.twitter.com/jLRhQF38N9

— Jack Blades (@JackBlades) July 25, 2013

It's like my grandfather used to say when I was a kid, "Work hard, pay your taxes, enjoy life, and don't text pictures of your dick."

— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) July 25, 2013

People who transport bad songs across state lines should be prosecuted 4 "distributing stupidity" to the public. Do we have laws for this?

— Perry Farrell (@perryfarrell) July 25, 2013

Forgot.... Graffiti from another walk a while back. Made me laugh.... pic.twitter.com/zhbGMur7Y9

— Belinda Carlisle (@belindaofficial) July 25, 2013

No T in fool! Apart from the Spanish way 'tonto' Don’t speak Spanish, just learned fool in every language, so I can pity them wherever I go.

— Mr. T (@MrT) July 25, 2013

Meetings this morning for my Christmas musical. Full speed ahead for off-Broadway run this holiday season! Fingers crossed! This show rocks!

— Dee Snider (@deesnider) July 25, 2013

They got my name wrong on the concert poster. Do I care? #airportmalaga pic.twitter.com/Dc5OgCL7Yr

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 23, 2013

I don't need Emmy nods. I have a PERFECT SCORE on mutha-effin' Rock Band! Medium setting! I resign from show business! I am a Golden God!

— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) July 23, 2013

First Look: About Time

Saw this trailer before The To Do List and I'm pretty psyched to see it:

Song Of The Day: 2 Live Crew, "Me So Horny"

Blame this on The To Do List...

From 1989, here's 2 Live Crew with "Me So Horny."

Enjoy!

Ivan & Alyosha, "Be Your Man"

New Music Fridays: Holy Folk, "We Are Two"

New Music Fridays: Wallpaper., "Good 4 It (Acoustic)"

New Music Fridays: La Luz, "Brainwash"

New Music Fridays: Emily's Army, "The Rescuers"

New Music Fridays: Lucius, "Hey, Doreen"

New Music Fridays: XNY, "Jaw"

New Music Fridays: Night Riots, "Young Lore"

New Music Fridays: The Uncluded, "Organs"

New Music Fridays: Joceyln, "Miss America"

New Music Fridays: Lovelife, "Midnight Swimming"

Song Of The Day: Sara Jackson Holman, "For Albert"

From 2013, here's Sara Jackson Holman with "For Albert."

Enjoy!

"The Art of Jeff Victor" Hardcover Art Book: Gogo Pledge To Kickstart This!

We scour Kickstarter, PledgeMusic, and Indiegogo and report back with projects worthy of your money or your ridicule. It's up to you to decide.

The Art Of Jeff Victor Hardcover Art Book

Description: We're fans of Jeff Victor here at Culture Brats, so we're pretty stoked that he's putting an art book of some of his best creations!

Perks Of Note: $35 gets you an autographed copy of the book, a digital copy, and an 8 X 10" Skull Island print. $300 gets you an original Evolution of an actor of your choosing (and a bunch of other goodies). $10,000 gets you an hour on Skype with Victor dressed as Slave Leia.

First Look: Daria's High School Reunion

I hope someone somewhere can make this fake Daria movie starring Aubrey Plaza a reality. PLEASE!

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

Song Of The Day: The Box Tiger, "Set Fire To Your Friends"

From 2012, here's The Box Tiger with "Set Fire To Your Friends."

Enjoy!

Movie Review: The World's End

I was lucky enough to score an invite to a screening of the third film in the Cornetto trilogy by Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, The World's End. It's a kind of a cross between the Big Chill, Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, and The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. An unabashed fan of their previous films together, Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz, I was predisposed to liking it. And like it I did. In fact, I kind of want to go watch it again because I have a feeling that I missed a whole slew of jokes as the dialogue is fast and furious and only lets up at the very end.

The premise is simple: five childhood friends reunite to finish the pub crawl that they couldn't finish as teenagers. Now in their 40s, they've grown apart and grown up, all except for Gary King (played by Simon Pegg) who's that guy you see out at night and think "Aren't you too old for this?" Without giving up any secrets, I can say that the Edgar Wright regulars all make an appearance, the dialogue is hilarious, and it actually has a surprisingly grounded and touching heart in the middle of all the insanity. Everyone is uniformly entertaining and watching the chemistry between all the lads is a thing of beauty. There are also some outstanding action sequences; Nick Frost in particular tears it up in a sequence that's both impressive and hilarious.

There was a Q&A after the screening with Wright, Pegg, and Frost, and their 20+ year friendship was evident. I think what impressed me the most was that when asked how much of the film was improvised on the set, the answer was "none of it really." They did a rehearsal with the actors and the script and there was the occasional discovery in that process which was then written in, but even that was pretty rare.

The World's End opens in the United States on August 23rd, but the boys are doing a US tour with the film so you too might be able to see the film early and then chat with the fellows. Most of these events are offering a triple feature of the entire Cornetto trilogy which sounds like tons of fun. There are currently six cities on the tour so check out the list to see if it's coming in your direction.

CD Review: Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest

I'm usually not much for singer-songwriters, but Sara Bareilles has really won me over. The Blessed Unrest is her strongest album yet, with moments of beautiful sadness and clear determination. The way she sings "so fill up your lungs and just run" on "Chasing The Sun" makes you feel like you could actually run for miles. "Manhattan" is a gorgeous tribute to love lost, filled with vivid imagery. "I'll gather up / the avenues / and leave them on your doorstep. I'll tiptoe away / so you won't have to say / you heard me leave." It's her "Someone Like You" and it's just as showstopping.

"Satellite Call" is another standout. There's a clear Enya influence in the echoes. It seems to create an entire landscape within itself, roaming all over the night sky. The song that left its mark the most was "Islands," especially the chorus. "It's like I'm standing on the edge / of just a telephone wire / trying to get to you first / to say the world's on fire." It evokes the awful fear of rushing to save someone you love, heart in throat. It's an album about reaching out to other people to show them that they're not alone, and also to prove it to yourself. It's about the frustration of having plenty of ambition and nowhere to drive it. It's about running away before the clock runs out.

There is no one answer, no way to put an end to the frustration for good. But if you try hard enough, you can at least gain some solid ground. It's brave to embrace an imperfect solution when it seems easier to just keep searching. Her message is clear; the time is now, you alone can make it or break it.

First Listen: The Naked And Famous, "Hearts Like Ours"

In Rolling Waves, the sophomore album from The Naked And Famous, hits record stores on September 17th. But here's the first single, "Hearts Like Ours." And just like their first album, it's pretty damn amazing.

Song Of The Day: The House Of Love, "I Don't Know Why I Love You"

From 1990, here's The House Of Love with "I Don't Know Why I Love You."

Enjoy!

First Look: Grabbers

Here's the trailer for the indie alien flick Grabbers. What's it about? Aliens are taking over the world and the only way to survive being killed/eaten/sucked is to stay drunk.

Spike Lee: Gogo Pledge To Kickstart This!

We scour Kickstarter, PledgeMusic, and Indiegogo and report back with projects worthy of your money or your ridicule. It's up to you to decide.

The Newest Hottest Spike Lee Joint

Description: Iconic director Spike Lee wants fans to pony up $1,250,000 so he can make another movie. About the addiction to blood. With lots of sex.

Perks Of Note: $750 gets you a pair of autographed Nikes previously worn by Lee. A grand lands you a role as an extra. $10,000 gets you courtside with Lee at a Knicks game.

Song Of The Day: The Runaways, "Cherry Bomb"

From 1976, here's The Runaways with "Cherry Bomb."

Enjoy!

Gag Me With A Tweet: Danny DeVito, Slash, Joey McIntyre, And More

Here's the latest Gag Me With A Tweet, our weekly look at some of the best tweets from some of our favorite '80s musicians, actors, and celebrities!

Yo bitches

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) July 21, 2013

Just woke up to a ton of "Happy 26 year Anniversary" mentions for AFD. I love that that record means so much to so many. Thank u. iiii]; )'

— Slash (@Slash) July 21, 2013

My buddy saw 2 girls getting their stomach pumped in the lobby of Target Center. Who says rock n' roll is dead? #nkotbware

— Joey McIntyre (@joeymcintyre) July 21, 2013

Drove for an hour & a half to a dog friendly beach. Way too cold by time we got there so drove all the way home again. What a fun day. GN

— Gary Numan Official (@numanofficial) July 21, 2013

Let the little girls dance. #FlashbackFriday #80s #Bangles #LongLiveTheFrug #BillyBland pic.twitter.com/F6yqplto2D

— Susanna Hoffs (@SusannaHoffs) July 19, 2013

When I agreed to RAP as a professional I let RickRubin know I planned to be taken seriously.I learned that frm what I read about BillRussell

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 17, 2013

Apparently all this time I've been trying to get on the cover of Rolling Stone the HARD way.

— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 17, 2013

Who is the newest , maybe toughest female on the plant?

— Sylvester Stallone (@TheSlyStallone) July 17, 2013

Dear Lord: I promise when I get out of this courthouse I will not waste a minute of this day.

— johnette napolitano (@therealjohnette) July 17, 2013

At DMV registering motorcycle. Everyone is staring like. "What's he doing here?'" Rockstars gotta register their vehicles too! ;)

— Dee Snider (@deesnider) July 15, 2013

A Reunited Jesse & The Rippers Rocks Fallon

Uncle Jesse Katsopolis got The Rippers back together and dropped by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Friday night to perform a medley of their biggest hits:

Song Of The Day: Fishbone, "Sunless Saturday"

From 1991, here's Fishbone with "Sunless Saturday."

Enjoy!

New Music Fridays: Lizzie And The Yes Men, "Unstoppable"

New Music Fridays: Army Navy, "Crushed Like The Car"

New Music Fridays: Miniboone, "I Could, I Could"

New Music Fridays: BEACH, "O, Packaging"

New Music Fridays: Jake Bellows, "All Right Now"

New Music Fridays: The Rebel Light, "Jukebox Dreams"

New Music Fridays: TRAAMS, "Flowers"

New Music Fridays: Machines Are People Too, "Do What You Love"

New Music Fridays: Wallpaper., "Last Call"

This live video was shot through singer Ricky Reed's Google Glass:

New Music Fridays: Lou Doillon, "Questions & Answers"

Song Of The Day: Vintage Trouble, "Pelvis Pusher"

From 2013, here's Vintage Trouble with "Pelvis Pusher."

Enjoy!

Toad the Wet Sprocket: The Culture Brats Interview

After sixteen years (sixteen long years, I might add), Toad the Wet Sprocket, a seminal band for many of us in the '80s and '90s, is coming out with another album! Currently on tour, Toad is releasing its new album New Constellation on September 3rd, 2013. This band was known for their thoughtfully deep lyrics. So it's no surprise that when I caught up with lead singer Glen Phillips we had quite a philosophical discussion about the new album, the work process, the current economy, and coming together again as a band after so long.

Hello! How are you doing today?
I'm doing well. Yeah. It's all good, I suppose.

I know you are in the middle of your tour. How's that going?
Oh, so far it's been great. We just played a few shows and you know getting... switching out crew and you know whatever else, just kind of getting up to speed I guess. But, all considered, it's been quite wonderful. Happy audiences. I mean the main thing is that it's been good to have new songs. Even just a few new ones that makes a huge difference to have something that's not fifteen, sixteen, twenty years old.

So you're playing a lot from your new album then?
Oh, we're playing a few from the new album. I mean, you know, obviously only a handful of people have the new record. And there's only so far you want to stretch an audience as far as new material. But you know, we're playing a few and we're having a lot of fun doing it.

I know you guys have toured on and off over the years but what made Toad decide to start touring again full time?
Well, I've always toured full time.

I know you have!
Yeah. We would try playing a few shows here and there and... I don't know, it's kind of a chicken and the egg thing. At some point it just felt a lot better. It felt like we could make a record and there's no point in making a record unless you're going to work it. I mean, this doesn't mean I'm not doing other projects anymore. This doesn't mean other people won't be doing other projects. But you know for now we're going to be doing one thing and do it well, and put the right effort into it to make it worthwhile. So this is what we're doing this season and we're all kind of investing our time and effort. But more than anything we just did it because we felt like we could all show up and enjoy it and do the right job on it. In the past there was still kind of too much history or strangeness looming over our heads. In the last few years it just seems like we all grew up enough or got over attitudes or whatever it was to make it so we were all happy to be there. So while it's like that we should be playing shows.

First Listen: 7 Seconds, "My Aim Is You"

Check it out! 7 Seconds has will be releasing an EP on October 1st, 2013, their first new music in eight years. The EP will contain two songs, "My Aim Is You" and "Slogan On A Shirt." Here's the audio for the awesome "My Aim Is You:"



You can preorder the EP here.

Song Of The Day: Soundgarden, "Outshined"

From 1991, here's Soundgarden with "Outshined."

Enjoy!

John Waite: The Culture Brats Interview

Occasionally, there are days when I hit a hot streak while flipping through the thousands of similar-sounding songs on the radio and I have a flashback. Those kind of flashbacks remind me of all the rabble-rousers who struck a chord for those of us sick and tired of the same bland nonsense. That's when you get that zing of a wake-up call that music runs deeper than what we are fed on a daily basis.

Not too long ago I stumbled upon a rock block consisting of the band and solo work of John Waite and realized that beyond his credentials, which would be impressive to both listeners and music experts alike, there was something else. Beautiful but raw songs, born of what I can only assume are God-given talents but also embraced by legions of longtime hardcore fans.

Because I was having a hard time articulating exactly why John Waite is so great, I decided we'd have a chat and talk about music, art, and the key to longevity... even when you have a terrible cold.

Hey John how are you doing today?
Well, I've got a small cold. I'm up to my eyeballs in antibiotics so I'm a little loopy, but other than that, I'm good. Thanks for asking.

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that you're sick.
Ah, I'm not that bad.I'm on a z-pack.

Those are great.
Yeah, they're really good, but it's a bit like being from outer space for me at the moment.

If you give any bizarre answers I'll take them out when I edit, sound fair?
There you go.

Since you've got so much going on, I'd like to start out talking about Live: All Access. Live music is near and dear to many people's hearts, myself included. Is this supposed to be like a breath of fresh air for listeners, a sort of push back against all the digitized perfection of what's out there right now, since all the raw power of music and even the interesting mistakes are glossed over in most productions? What's the reason for the live album now?
Exactly what you said just there. Just write it down and that would be the answer. It's kind of like it really is a knee jerk reaction to all the synthesized, digitized, showbiz-ized kind of thing that's happened to rock and roll over the last ten years. I mean after leaving Bad English, I started a whole different writing style really. Became mostly a songwriter for a couple of years. And then gradually moved back into singing and becoming more engaged in rock. Which was great because I had a backlog of songs that were also country or blues or whatever, but I had a pretty big catalog. This time around, it was really about capturing the spirit of a live band. We had a new guitar player Keri Kelli; he had played with Slash and Alice Cooper. Our other guitar player moved to Chicago and decided he wasn't going to play gigs anymore and we were just stuck without a guitar player and then Keri showed up. I can't even remember quite how we got in touch with him, but he showed up and within three weeks we were doing shows. And about two months into it--we never rehearsed--that was a big thing. We plugged in, this friend of ours just did the session, and we just kind of sat around and played some stuff and he was on. But about two months into playing the gigs everything changed. He really seemed to get it, you know?

Like lightning in a bottle.
There you go. It's exactly it. And I realized something was going on that was intangible, really as far as technical things go. It was pure energy and music and I wanted to capture that as fast as I could. We started with two shows in south Philly, in a church that's been converted into a recording facility called Philly Sound. We bought three kegs of beer for two nights and announced it on the radio as a free concert and we did two shows. Some of the shows were great, some were a little out of tune and couldn't be used, but we got a big selection of songs. There and then, two months later I decided to try it again and by this time the band was on ten. We went up to New Hampshire, in the middle of winter.

Ugh. Cold.
Yeah, Manchester. Ice cold. And I don't know how it happened but it was just one of those things where all the planets align and everything just goes right. Although, the sound check was terrible, and I thought, "Oh no" and then we plugged in. But the audience went nuts and from the downbeat we had this incredible show. I sang my ass off, sang well, I was holding back in the end and Keri and the rhythm section were locked and it was one of those shows. A majority of the album comes from that show. It's trying to go back to that thing that you heard in Rolling Stones live stuff or the similar seventies bands that could do it really well like Humble Pie. It's like going back to that before synthesizers kind of made it so middle of the road. There are no overdubs on this whatsoever. It's completely live so that's why I'm proud of it.

It's really great. And part of the fun for me is that I've seen so much live music in my life I like to think I can really appreciate a great spontaneous performance. So many people have so many wonderful memories tied to the epic concerts of their life. The audience really does play such a large role in the whole experience.
Yes. Absolutely. You get the bounce from the audience when you are on stage. It's like being in some vast moment of communion. It's like everybody is in this space together. That's what my job is. I've said this before: the only difference between me and the audience is that I've got the mic. That there is something that happens that pulls us all together. That's rock and roll that's just worth every second. It's what it's all about.

So many people come away with life-changing experiences at a concert. Some terrible and some life-affirming. You've done your fair share of concerts for the masses and I was wondering what some of your best and worst memories of being on stage?
Oh man. Well, one of the worst would have to be being pulled off stage at the Palladium.

With the Babys, right?
Yeah, pulled off stage by an overzealous fan by the lead in my cord and my bassist. Some girl ran up and I just went straight into the audience, and that was our opening night in New York. So that was a lot of fun.

Welcome to New York.
Ha, I know right. Also, on the way back from Japan we were added to a gigantic bill in Hawaii in some gigantic stadium and they were having power outages and things like that. It was very badly put together and we all had terrible jet lag. We went on stage in broad daylight and everything blew up but the bass sound and I remember singing "Head First," just me and Ricky Phillips, him playing the bass and there are about thirty thousand people watching. But, conversely, there are moments when you do an acoustic show in a theater somewhere and there's such an immediate connection to the audience where there is such a profound oneness and your feet are on the ground and your head is in the clouds, you are somewhere else and it's almost like sleepwalking but it's a vivid experience. Like I said, these songs that I wrote and even in Bad English there are songs on an album called When You Were Mine that are almost country, but then kind of aren't. They are story songs. And you can put those songs into those shows and then do an unplugged version of "Head First" and it just brings the house down. That's where I want to live. I want to live in a world where I can do those kind of songs and then turn around and rock until the roof comes off.

First Look: Ghost Shark

Not content with shark-riddled tornadoes, Syfy will be bringing us Ghost Shark on August 22nd. Judging by the trailer, this bad mofo can even get you in the bathtub.



And yes, that was Bull from Night Court.

Song Of The Day: John Waite, "Missing You"

From 1984, here's John Waite with "Missing You."

Enjoy!

First Look: The Gathering Of The Juggalos Infomercial

It's that time again! Make those travel plans now because ICP has your itinerary:

Song Of The Day: White Zombie, "Thunder Kiss '65"

From 1992, here's White Zombie with "Thunder Kiss '65."

Enjoy!

Gag Me With A Tweet: Johnette Napolitano, Corey Feldman, Boy George, And More!

Here's the latest Gag Me With A Tweet, our weekly look at some of the best tweets from some of our favorite '80s musicians, actors, and celebrities!

Flat tire. Guess the ghosts don't want me 2 leave..

— johnette napolitano (@therealjohnette) July 14, 2013

I've been up crying all nite, cuz of what the media is saying about my video, they r brutally attacking me! It's terrible harassment! #awful

— Corey Feldman (@Corey_Feldman) July 14, 2013

Anything is catchy if it's played all day on the radio, even a fart on a loop could be stitched to your cranium!

— boygeorge (@BoyGeorge) July 13, 2013

Charlie in Pacific Rim...check him out...Guillermo del Toro kicks ass

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) July 13, 2013

Vote for man's greatest gift: THE DISWASHER SANI SEATS FOAM HAND SOAP CHEEZITS AMY'S POT PIES

— Fred Schneider (@FredSchneider3) July 13, 2013

This guy tried to sell me an invisible horse last night. Told him I already had one. http://t.co/89bJblE6wM

— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) July 12, 2013

Shopping and now packing for the tour

— Adam Ant (@AdamAOfficial) July 11, 2013

I have a zit on my face so big that on my flight home last night it qualified as a "carry on." #pubertyrepeating

— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) July 11, 2013

Life is crazy https://t.co/TLFRVnWUl7

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) July 11, 2013

Day 20. Echo just threw Raven's shoe out the window. Forget the cinema, I'll show you World War Z. GN

— Gary Numan Official (@numanofficial) July 11, 2013

Falon and myself doing Adventure Time for Cartoon Network. Cool being Dad she's an honor student! #sup pic.twitter.com/noapYL6NF1

— Rowdy Roddy Piper (@R_Roddy_Piper) July 11, 2013

A blast from the past!!..... pic.twitter.com/0qRuTFQyaT

— William J. Drayton (@FlavorFlav) July 10, 2013

Social Media makes it a perfect playground for a cultural Civil war of brilliance vs bullsht. A philosophical battleground for minds & souls

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 10, 2013

My favourite song was Midnight Rambler.

— Simon Le Bon (@SimonJCLeBON) July 9, 2013

Mike Tyson and I at KISS MIMI GOLF course opening, Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/3Sz5Lnkg1X

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) July 9, 2013

I just remembered I had. MySpace page. But can't for the life of me remember my username or password. Ahh 2005, so long ago. SOL

— christina applegate (@1capplegate) July 8, 2013

I just had 1 of those moments where I realized, I lead a really whacked out life. Carry on. iiii]; )'

— Slash (@Slash) July 8, 2013

First Look: Mr. Bitchin'

Here's the trailer for Mr. Bitchin', a documentary about famous artist Robert Williams, which hits theaters on July 30th:

Funky Fresh In Lisa Frank

The website The Mary Sue tipped me off to my new favorite thing: Funky Fresh In Lisa Frank, celebs wearing (Photoshopped) Lisa Frank shirts.


A couple of my faves:

and

Yeah, that's right, Iron Man and Thor wearing rainbow sparkle ponies. The full tumblr doesn't have tons yet, but I hope the mad genius behind these keeps on trucking.

Song Of The Day: Toad The Wet Sprocket, "Walk On The Ocean"

From 1991, here's Toad The Wet Sprocket with "Walk On The Ocean."

Enjoy!

New Music Fridays: Walking Shapes, "Champagne"

New Music Fridays: Dame, "Holy Moly"

New Music Fridays: Crushed Out, "Push Down & Twist" (NSFW)

New Music Fridays: Holy Ghost!, "Teenagers In Heat"

New Music Fridays: Itch feat. Adam Lazzara, "Homeless Romantic"

New Music Fridays: Ben Folds Five, "Sky High"

New Music Fridays: Smallpools, "Mason Jar"

New Music Fridays: Raglans, "Digging Holes"

New Music Fridays: In The Valley Below, "Peaches"

New Music Fridays: MS MR, "Think Of You"

New Music Fridays: Heaven, "Telepathic Love"

New Music Fridays: Jamaican Queens, "Can't Say No To Annie"

New Music Fridays: The Frail, "You Just Wanna Leave"

Song Of The Day: The Neal Pollack Invasion, "Beer And Weed"

From 2013, here's The Neal Pollack Invasion with "Beer And Weed."

Enjoy!

First Look: Sharknado (The Too Violent For TV Trailer)

Sharknado airs tonight on Syfy, people! Here's what star Tara Reid said about the film:

"I hate sharks, personally, to be honest with you. When I read the script, I actually thought the concept was so ridiculous that it was almost so bad that it was good. Do you know what I mean? I mean, sharks flying in the sky. I mean, come on, this whole thing is so unrealistic."

Which is what makes it AWESOME!

And here's another treat for you: the "too violent for TV" trailer for Sharknado!

First Look: The Canyons (Official Trailer)

Yeah, we've been talking about The Canyons for awhile now. It finally comes out August 2nd and here is the official trailer:

Song Of The Day: Matthew Wilder, "Break My Stride"

From 1983, here's Matthew Wilder with "Break My Stride."

Enjoy!

Your Guide To Becoming A Docuphile: A Band Called Death

The "punk" lifestyle and movement typically conjures up anger, rebellion, isolation, etc. However, the new documentary, A Band Called Death is about the world's nicest punk band, Death, formed by three brothers in Detroit in the early seventies. What other punk band has the support of their parents to play as loud as they want in an upstairs spare room, but only from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM? That isn't the only out-of-the-ordinary detail in the lives of the Hackney brothers documented in this film, which I have been eagerly anticipating ever since I heard Death's For The World To See album a few years ago. The documentary, out now in theaters and video on demand, can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of your interest in punk music.

It's hard to even figure out where to start when talking about A Band Called Death. It's a film about music, religion, the importance of family, and a film about amazing consequences and fortuitous events. David, Bobby, and Dannis Hackney wanted to start a band in the early seventies and, being black, assumed that they would start a funk/soul band. After David saw The Who and Alice Cooper live, he convinced his brothers to play rock and roll. What emerged was the origin of the greats like The Ramones, The Stooges, MC5, and other punk-influenced bands. However, Death was doing this years before any of those bands did, but no one had heard them until 30 years later.

David Hackney, the leader and visionary of the band, had a very set vision for Death, which included a triumvirate of spiritual elements, represented by their triangle logo. Death's music got the attention of major labels with the one stipulation: they must change the name. David refused, and his brothers, despite their frustration, valued sticking with their brother over doing what the labels suggested. After numerous rejections merely because of their name, the Death concept was abandoned and the master tapes of their album were relegated to storage in an attic. Bobby and Dannis Hackney continued with music, finally forming a reggae band and putting death behind them.

Thirty-odd years later, the amazing journey of one of their record singles begins. A record collector foumd their single "Politicians In My Eyes" in a batch of used records, listened to it, was amazed at what he heard, told another major collector about it, who then posted about it on a popular message board. Suddenly everyone was on a mission to find an elusive Death single, and one appeared on eBay for eight hundred dollars. The single is transferred to mp3, played by punk music aficionados and at a party attended by Bobby Hackney's son, who never knew his father and uncles had a punk band. He begs his father to find the master tape, and the album is re-released to critical praise thirty-five years later.

As with any documentary that chronicles a time in the past, it can only rely on flashbacks from interviews. The surviving Hackney brothers (David died from lung cancer in 2000) and their families are so funny, emotional, and charismatic that I found myself not needing actual footage to relive the story. They seem generally so happy and at peace with life, it's hard to imagine them as a hardcore punk band. They are also delightfully "aw shucks" about their newfound fame, illustrated by a great moment and Bobby Hackney proclaims, generally surprised, "Why would anyone want to pay eight hundred dollars for that record? I would have just given him one."

This documentary is already rich with different parts of Death's story, and there is only so many elements it can cover, but it also leaves so many fascinating questions. Firstly, what was it like for these men to play a music genre associated with white artists in Detroit during the early seventies? What were people's reactions to that? Also, is this another case of something created by black artists, co-opted by white artists who then receive all the acclaim and fortune? Hard to say, since the music wasn't found until now, but the idea must have come up. I believe this film will bring Death even more attention than they already have had among music bloggers and record collectors, and perhaps these issues will come up in further discussions.

The surviving family members recall David Hackney as a genius, a visionary, who like many creative people, also struggles with depression and substance abuse. "Don't lose these tapes," he tells his brother Bobby after they get the master tapes back from the studio. "One day someone will come looking for them," and he couldn't have been more right.

First Look: Curse Of Chucky

Were you pining for another Child's Play flick? This one's headed straight to DVD on October 8th.

Song Of The Day: The Dolly Rottens, "Temporary Girl"

From 2013, here's The Dolly Rottens with "Temporary Girl."

Enjoy!

Seven Questions In Heaven With Slander

Today, we've got something special lined up for you: Seven Questions In Heaven with Slander alongside a pictorial lead singer Julia Farrar recently did with photographer Michelle Gemma.



Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
Rich Freitas: We are a rock band playing pop songs, a pop band playing rock songs.

Luke Hunter: The tagline "A rock band playing pop songs, a pop band playing rocks songs" is a great introduction in terms of our sound. The songs that Gray and Julia write are typically more "rock" driven, but have the hooks and style of a pop tune, whereas the ones I write start off with a folk/pop feel before being rounded out by the "rock" sound. I would never identify with a single hyper-specific genre, but rock is just broad enough to cover what we do, and also where we want to go.



Who are your musical influences and idols?
Rich Freitas: As a big fan of Sonic Youth, I have subscribed to their theory of "kill yr idols." Musically, my influences have been Pete de Freitas, Levon Helm, and Carlton Barrett.

Luke Hunter: Personally, I grew up with a stereo from a yard sale I bought for a dollar when I was seven, and even though my parents aren't really into music, I still managed to find their cassette collection: Hall & Oates, '50s compilations with Carl Perkins and Elvis, '70s comps that would have Toto, Mott the Hoople, Jim Croce, Gary Glitter, The Hollies, The Moody Blues, etc. Things got much more complicated when my uncle showed me Deep Purple, Kiss, Meat Loaf, and hard rock in general. That's when I knew I needed to be in a band. After that, I started exploring everything, and eventually went deeper into all the previous eras of music. I enjoy post-punk, and that's a label which is thrown at Slander quite a bit, but my songwriting influences over the past few years have been very far away from the post-punk or contemporary music scenes. I've been increasingly drawn into all types of folk and singer/songwriter stuff--Nick Drake is sort of the apex of everything for me in terms of emotional resonance--but there's a laundry list of stuff outside of that too. I listen to many different genres, but my writing is really rooted in quiet acoustic songs, and for that reason the demos I do for the band are completely different textures and moods than the finished Slander product turns out to be.

Grayson Connelly: Incredible Force of Junior.

Julia Farrar: PJ Harvey. Siouxsie Sioux. David Lynch is a huge inspiration musically. Sometimes directors and visual artists are more influential to me than musicians.


What was the first album, cassette, or CD you bought with your own money?
Rich Freitas: The Police Synchronicity on LP at The Mystic Disc.

Luke Hunter: I wish I could remember. Probably the second Led Zeppelin album, the first Backstreet Boys record, or Smashing Pumpkin's Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness. I found out about The Smiths around the same time because someone had thrown out a bunch of their cassettes up the street from me And naturally, I grabbed them. Somewhere between all of that I bought an album with my own money.

Grayson Connelly: Beastie Boys, Check Your Head.

Julia Farrar: Crocodiles, Echo and the Bunnymen.


You worked with Serena Reynolds for your new video, "Device." What was the shoot like? Who came up with the ideas used in the video? What was your favorite part of the shoot and final video?
Rich Freitas: Serena is a complete professional, and the entire shoot was fun, smooth, and easy to do. We are going to do a video for "Flood" with Serena during the summer.

Luke Hunter: The shoot was great. The weather had finally started feeling like spring, so we threw a bunch of equipment outdoors and got to boogie outside. It was very groovy. The majority of the ideas came from Serena and Julia: the settings, the look of the band, the vibes at different times and places. They did a great job with that. My favorite part of the shoot was dancing around outdoors after such a gnarly winter in New England, but my favorite part of the final video was seeing and remembering that I had put a flower in my hair. It's the little things in life that strike me sometimes.



Grayson Connelly: The shoot was a shoot. Ideas were pretty much on the spot. Favorite thing was jamming in that field!

Julia Farrar: Serena is an amazing artist and working with her was very exciting. As a band we tried to give Serena as much creative control as possible while still remaining true to our aesthetic. My favorite part of the video is really Serena's editing. She explained the meaning of the song with her visuals in an unexpected and captivating way and that's why we wanted to work with her. She has an amazingly fresh style.


You have released two singles and an EP so far. Any plans for a full album?
Rich Freitas: One goal is to record a full length LP. And then another LP!

Luke Hunter: We've been back and forth on the idea of doing a full-length album, but there's also something fun and nostalgically beatific about doing only singles. Good singles, like good albums, have a cohesive feel to their moods, textures, and emotional response. With the a-side/b-side formula, you have the ability to hit people with either two very similar or two very different tracks, and as a band with several songwriters, it's been fun to play with the various elements people bring to the table. A full album would be great for the same reasons, so it's been on the table for discussion since the band started, but our real focus now is the writing end of things.

Grayson Connelly: Yeah. We're a band.

Julia Farrar: Someday, but I'd love to keep doing EPs and singles.


Tell us about living in Mystic, CT and what effect the town has had on your music.
Rich Freitas: The best thing artistically about living here is that there are so many people that you can draw inspiration and discipline from.

Luke Hunter: Mystic is a beautiful place with a great community of artists and a very scenic, contemplative feel. It's also somewhat deceiving, because many people think it's a town populated exclusively by upper middle class families. The reality is that there is a very diverse set of people in Mystic/Groton and New London County in general, so Mystic has its fair share of everything, and everyone drifting through. I'd have to say living in a town called "Mystic" has definitely given me an interesting perspective on things ontologically, and a strange heady philosophical/spiritual bend, so that has definitely filtered into some of my songs, especially "Trial."

Grayson Connelly: Mysterious, earthy. Much time thinking by the water.

Julia Farrar: I grew up 2 towns over in New London, CT which is similar to Mystic in that it has a long history of rock music. Both of my parents were musical growing up and were involved in the local music scene. For me, the area fostered a relationship with live music and rock that started at birth.



Final question: you're the opening act of a music festival. You can get any five artists, living or dead, to perform on the bill with you. Which five do you choose and what song do you all perform as the final jam?
Rich Freitas: For me, I would want to dance at a night out like that. The Orb, New Order, Daft Punk, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and Primal Scream. The closing number would be Primal Scream's "Higher Than The Sun" at sunrise.

Luke Hunter: My five artists would be The Clash, CAN, Sly & the Family Stone, Todd Rundgren, and Love, with the epic final jam being a soul-psych mish-mash of Frank Zappa's "Willie the Pimp!" It sounds strange, but I feel like it would be a blast given all the influences that filtered through those bands and our own: dub, punk, experimental, dance, AM pop, and psychedelia.

Grayson Connelly: Happy Mondays, Otis Redding, Creedence, Bill Withers, Parliament, and Sly playing "Knee Deep" by Parliament.

More Slander: Official | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

More Michelle Gemma: Official

More Serena Reynolds: Official

Gimme That: Jay Kill & The Hustle Standard, "Never Seen Runaway"

Remember a few weeks back when we premiered the Jay Kill & The Hustle Standard's kickass "Never Seen Runaway" music video? Here's the video again in case you forgot:



Now you remember how cool the song was? Well now you can download the song or the entire Stuck On The Sunrise EP at iTunes. Go! Consume! Make the boys rich!

WORLD PREMIERE: Metropolis America, "Bittersweet"

We have something really awesome for you today: the world premiere of Metropolis America's "Bittersweet" music video! But first, here's some info about the song:

After their daringly contrarian video for “A Burden Of Our Youth,” Philadelphia’s Metropolis America return with their new single “Bittersweet” today.

Recorded with producer Brian Sperber (Julian Casablancas, Moby), “Bittersweet” covers emotional territory that will be familiar to many: what do you do when you love your best friend without any assurance that it’s requited?

The song’s structure reflects its title, with intensely bitter verses offset by a sweetly danceable guitar hook. “I know about the crushes you’ve felt, who broke your heart, who made you melt,” vocalist Christian Mora complains, but that hook comes in to lift the mood before it gets too melancholy.

Still, the song never entirely shakes that sense of sadness. In the chorus, Mora bemoans the incompleteness of his situation, wondering when he’ll be the one inspiring emotions instead of absorbing them and offering condolences. He’s not optimistic. “What do you care?” he asks, and without the song’s shining guitars, active groove, and dreamy synth tones, you’d think he’d already given up.

Metropolis America formed in Philadelphia in 2010, inspired by the tension and sense of drama of their Cold War upbringings. Coining their sound “Cold Pop,” they’ve captured that tension with a sound reminiscent of The Human League and Green-era R.E.M., as well as more recent artists like Editors and Snow Patrol. With Sperber’s forceful production, Metropolis America’s songs feel like the aural equivalent of a global fist pump, not unlike what Eno achieved with Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto.

“Bittersweet” is due for release with accompanying video in early July, and Metropolis America plays Lit Lounge in New York City on July 11.

More Metropolis America: Official | Facebook | Twitter

Song Of The Day: The Ruts, "Babylon's Burning"

From 1979, here's "Babylon's Burning" from The Ruts.

Enjoy!

Gag Me With A Tweet: Nikki Sixx, Perry Farrell, Susanna Hoffs, And More

Here's the latest Gag Me With A Tweet, our weekly look at some of the best tweets from some of our favorite '80s musicians, actors, and celebrities!

I was watching a guy rapping really bad on SNL and I thought it was a skit but it turned out to be Macklemore.

— Nikki Sixx (@NikkiSixx) July 7, 2013

My life's ambition has been to write songs people fall in love with; have an unbridled desire for. A prized possession they'll never lose.

— Perry Farrell (@perryfarrell) July 6, 2013

Never underestimate the power of the rock 'n' roll handclap. Exhibits A, B, C: Eight Days A Week Cecilia Stuck in the Middle With You

— Susanna Hoffs (@SusannaHoffs) July 5, 2013

In a day that will live in infamy, Weekend At Bernie's was released 24 years ago today.

— Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy) July 5, 2013

Saw "The Lone Ranger" today. I'm pretty sure the script was written while on peyote. By a bunch of high ho's.

— julie brown (@missjuliebrown) July 5, 2013

I'm not saying I LOVE the chorus to Selena Gomez' single, but.....not sayin' I don't.

— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) July 3, 2013

I just washed my clothes in hotel room sink w volumizing shampoo. Do you think they will be a size bigger when they dry?

— Jane Wiedlin (@janewiedlin) July 2, 2013

"If ya see a shark Hooper, Swallow!" hey M J S and B; eat this remora lose-bagz how ya like me now? hash tag win c http://t.co/ryZV5eTh5T

— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) July 2, 2013

I'm a Thrillionaire bitches!!!!!

— T O M M Y L E E (@MrTommyLand) July 2, 2013

Gene Simmons: 1973. First attempt at make up. We were a trio then. Peter, in the background. 10 E 23 St loft pic.twitter.com/A9IbejaZgq

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) July 2, 2013

Day 11. Tahoe. Stayed on site all day. Watched Persia whittle a stick into a slightly smaller stick. A small dagger probably. GN

— Gary Numan Official (@numanofficial) July 2, 2013

I was on productivity roll. Acting, writing, singing. And then Candy Crush. #doomed

— Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) July 1, 2013

Gotta get home. Work 2 do. Fuck the dollar store in Joshua Tree.

— johnette napolitano (@therealjohnette) July 1, 2013

So The Hoff Has An App Coming Out Soon...

David Hasselhoff's Knight Rider vs. Zombies vs. Baywatch mash-up app will be released soon. Take a look at the trailer and let us know how much you'd pay for such an app.

Song Of The Day: Sully Dunn, "Awkward Song About Quitting School"

From 2013, here's Sully Dunn with "Awkward Song About Quitting School."

Enjoy!

New Music Fridays: Janelle Monae, "Dance Apocalyptic"

New Music Fridays: The Royalty, "Won't Be Long"

New Music Fridays: Haerts, "All The Days"

New Music Fridays: Izzy Lindqwister, "Cosmosonic Hipshaker"

New Music Fridays: Beck, "I Won't Be Long"

New Music Fridays: Dresses, "Gotta Love"

New Music Fridays: Turnpike Glow, "Her Flaming Lips"

New Music Fridays: Alexander, "Say Hello"

Song Of The Day: Lords Of The New Church, "Open Your Eyes"

From 1982, here's Lords Of The New Church with "Open Your Eyes."

Enjoy!

First Look: Sharks. Tornado. Sharknado.

For America's birthday SyFy gives us this, a trailer for SHARKNADO!



I really have nothing else to offer that wasn't already stated in the trailer. Be safe today, America!

Song Of The Day: X, "4th Of July"

From 1987, here's X with "4th Of July."

Enjoy!

Song Of The Day: DeBarge, "Rhythm Of The Night"

From 1985, here's DeBarge with "Rhythm Of The Night."

Enjoy!

Your Guide To Becoming A Docuphile: The Woman Who Wasn't There

Let's be honest. When you get to the core, everyone one of us wants a sense of belonging and purpose. Some people spend their lives trying to hone this purpose, while others will force themselves into a purpose. Tania Head is one of these people, in one of the most bizarre and heinous crimes of human manipulation, chronicled in the great documentary The Woman Who Wasn't There.

Tania, so she claims, was on the upper floor floor of the World Trade Center when the plane hit on 9/11. Holding tight to her arm, which was nearly severed from her body, she escaped down the eighty-some flights of stairs until she collapsed in the arms of a firefighter. Only nineteen people were rescued alive from the floors above where the plane hit. If that wasn't traumatic enough, Dave, her husband of one month, perished in the other tower.

Tania's story was inspiring to other survivors, and her charisma led her to become the head of the WTC Survivors' Network. The only problem, as if you couldn't guess from the title, was that she made it all up. She was never at the WTC. She didn't work at Merrill Lynch as she claimed. Dave was a real victim, but they never knew each other.

The film uses earlier footage of Tania talking about her survival story, footage and interviews from her former friends and fellow survivors, and clever use of illustrations to visualize Tania's story. What causes someone to do this? Was she so starved for attention that this was the only way she could get it? Was she just a manipulative sociopath? How did no one question her on her story? My guess is that in their immediate grief, none of the survivors were in a place to question another survivor, and Tania was able to hold up her rouse for quite a while.

The Woman Who Wasn't There provides all the background and exposition, but will leave you with the question of why someone would do this, and this wondering is part of the appeal of the film. I discussed this film with four of my friends who saw it, and we all had different, but equally plausible explanations of her motives. Playing on Netflix Instant, it's a great watch and a great conversation starter.

First Look: Pink feat. Lily Allen, "True Love"

Here comes another #1 for Pink:

Song Of The Day: Miss Guy feat. Deborah Harry, "God Save New York"

From 2013, here's Miss Guy and Deborah Harry with "God Save New York."

Enjoy!

Gag Me With A Tweet: Julie Brown, Boy George, Belinda Carlisle, And More

Here's the latest Gag Me With A Tweet, our weekly look at some of the best tweets from some of our favorite '80s musicians, actors, and celebrities!

Me as Mary Kate Olsen tonight at Improv Olympic! I was so hungry after playing Mary Kate, I ate a cigarette! pic.twitter.com/OmLmbSprSl

— julie brown (@missjuliebrown) July 1, 2013

These big companies like 'Star Bucks' build their dream on the spirit of community and then abscond with the golden beans!

— boygeorge (@BoyGeorge) June 30, 2013

In my bunk, very cozy and coffin like :)... Nap time:!

— Belinda Carlisle (@belindaofficial) June 30, 2013

I am so much nicer, and so much .happier when I am allowed to sleep for as long as I need to. Why don't I sleep more often? I am going to ..

— Perry Farrell (@perryfarrell) June 30, 2013

I hate to say it, but can we all admit that Johnny Depp, who looked so cool as a pirate, looks very silly as an Indian

— Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy) June 30, 2013

I've only 1/2 a quart of untainted blood left in me. & the plasma thieving mosquitos at Jurassic Forest took a good portion of it. iiii]; )'

— Slash (@Slash) June 30, 2013

One of those nights!! Baby Jesus!!! pic.twitter.com/cVuj8gNssw

— Rowdy Roddy Piper (@R_Roddy_Piper) June 30, 2013

On stage tonight singing with @BretMichaels here in Nebraska!..great crowd! : pic.twitter.com/RUCqlqLAW9

— Lita Ford (@litaford) June 30, 2013

Anyone remember this rap?!? https://t.co/rMvSlwbh2y

— Debbie Gibson (@DebbieGibson) June 30, 2013

Well immigration kept Flav from leaving the USA this Glastonbury weekend. This Sucks . The show goes on...sht, these damn governments ,..

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 29, 2013

First Look/Listen: Corey Feldman, "Ascension Millennium"

Corey Feldman released the music video for his new single, "Ascension Millennium," early this morning. Sean Astin even makes a cameo! What do you think?

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If the video's not working, head over to MTV to view the video.

Song Of The Day: Slander, "Device"

From 2013, here's Slander with "Device."

Enjoy!