A primary reason that I chose “Nude Beach,” by California-based pop trio Roses, for this week’s Video Clip, is specifically because the video contains no nudity! Yeah, they didn’t take the easy way out with a bunch of lazy nudity, that’s for sure. Instead, the first half of the video shows the guys (their names Juan Velasquez, Victor Herrera, and Marc Steinberg) peeking out from behind leafy branches in a lush garden, or laying in beds of flowers, over music that fondly brings both The Smiths and Depeche Mode to mind. Marc’s sultry vocals address a figure who is addicted to sunbathing, but they also speak to a larger acknowledgment of our own mortality and within that realization urge us to take risks. Maybe that is why I felt like I was watch a commercial for reruns of Six Feet Under. Or maybe not.
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Tag Archives: eighties
Video Clip of the Week: Killing Joke, “I Am The Virus”
When it comes to making dangerous music that reliably brings the Sturm Und Drang while also maintaining a tenuous grip on melodic pop sensibilities, nobody beats Post Punk/Industrial legends, Killing Joke. While we are not super fond of the current phenomenon known as the Lyric Video, when you have a chance to post new a Killing Joke video, you put your personal preferences slightly off to the side, just as we have long since forgiven Jaz Coleman for allowing one of his band’s most menacing anthems to be used as the theme music for a Short-lived TV Sitcom. Yes, it happened.
I don’t know what to say about “I Am The Virus” except that it provides solid evidence that Killing Joke refuse to compromise on their sound, ever. There is no rap/metal Killing Joke and there is no EDM Killing Joke; there is only hard, fierce aural terror that comes from guys who also know how to play their instruments. What other band that’s been around for over 3o years can you even say that about? I ask yez.
“I Am The Virus” comes from the group’s sixteenth studio album, Pylon, releasing October 23rd, 2015 via Spinefarm Records. Enjoy, bitches.
Still With All Original Members! Geordie, Jaz Coleman, Youth, and Big Paul
Video Clip of The Week: Night Riots, Contagious
Back in the day, my friends and I used to the affectionately refer to the Post-New Wave Dance tunes played on LA radio station KROQ as “Butt Music.” I don’t remember why, exactly, but I do recall that it seemed entirely appropriate to do so at the time. Butt Music (also branded as the Rock of The Eighties) was a musical phenomenon that included bands like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, ABC, Flock of Segulls, Adam Ant, Spandau Ballet and A-Ha, among countless others. I listened to all of it, because it was awesome. Also, Boys Wearing Make-Up. Yes.
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Video Clip of The Week: “Strobe Light” By Night Club
Hello and welcome to Video Clip of The Week! This week’s featured video clip also qualifies 100% as a Pink Thing of the Day, because it is just so effing pink. Oh, the Pinkness. Their love of Pink aside, Night Club has a fascinating pedigree, being comprised of Keyboardist Mark Brooks (a co-director of Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse as well as videos by Slayer and Danzig, among others) and singer Emily Kavanaugh, whose dad is the keyboard player in the legendary Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
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Happy Birthday, Billy Idol!
Billy Idol was born on this day, November 30th in 1955! Above is the non-video for my favorite of all of Billy’s Eighties Monster Hits, “Eyes Without a Face.” Have an awesome Birthday, Billy!
Here I am with Billy, a Long, Long Time Ago