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Jack White's Blunderbuss: Finally Something Rocks at the Top



Cover of Blunderbuss
As I wrote earlier in this post, I’m a total music junkie. No genre standard whatsoever, everything sounds good to my ears will pretty much do. Ray of Light, Creeping Death, Chiquitita, Smells Like Teen Spirit… Yet, I won’t deny that I miss seeing something (really) rocks hits the big mainstream again. Jack White’s Blunderbuss snatching the top of Billboard 200 is still nothing sort of psychedelic hype or grunge/ alternative explosion, nor does it really matter, but in this time of days, yeah, it sounds pretty cool.

Having some band or musician whose next album is something you impatiently look forward to surely is a fabulous thing. It’s a luxury. After losing that luxury for some years, around 2003, I found it again upon watching Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes for the first time on TV. (Yeah, our local TV stations are that slow.) And for the next couple of years, “Is there any new White Stripes album yet? So when?” became a recurring question. And when the albums did come, they didn’t disappoint me. Get Behind Me Satan in 2005 then Icky Thump 2007, their fifth and sixth studio albums. Jack and Meg White seemed getting better and better. But suddenly, on February 2, 2011, an official announcement was released saying that they would cease recording and performing music as The White Stripes.

Jack White in performance collage
I always think that Jack is not the kind of musician who can just sit and do nothing with his guitar. He is Rolling Stone magazine’s number 70 best guitarist of all time anyway. So, after the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, he finally released his own solo album, Blunderbuss, on April 24, 2012. The media, critics, and charts react pretty warmly.

Being spoiled with the White Stripes’ simple-raw-arse-kicking county/blues/garage rock, Jack’s solo debut is a bit…too much work. I mean, sure he wants to explore further into things he couldn’t have with his previous band projects—different music styles, beat, instrumentation—but I feel that in some tracks the arrangement is so “rich” it kinda hinder the energy of the songs. Or at least it complicates the way for the energy to show up.

However, it’s not a bad album. Not at all. Some of the tracks are absolutely brilliant. And what’s more important, all the great things about Jack White are still there. His blues-garage musical roots, his clever vocal takes, and his wicked guitar plays. All in all, he still rocks. And this time, for a while, he rocks at the top.

Here are my two favorites out of thirteen tracks in this album. Enjoy!
Freedom at 21


Take Me with You when You Go
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: Forrest Gump



It’s Like a Box of Tasty Chocolate. I Know You’re Gonna Get Something Good

I’ll try to make this one to be “more music and fewer gibberish ramblings” post, because…well, there are simply so many great classics in this Forrest Gump OST (a double album it is). I’ll keep the intro to a shorter one, so you can read less and listen more. (Or just jump to the listen part right away.)
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World



An Awesome Ultra Combo
Actually, I can do this post simply with mumbling “awesome, awesome, awesome…” Let say…200 times for the film and another 200 for the soundtrack. And I guess it could become such a word-effective piece of presentation, since everything will be covered with that single word…For me at least.
Hmm…Okay, where should I begin? Scott Pilgrim vs. the World—with the seemingly illogical scenes and frames here and there—might look kinda absurd or at least vague. Yet that style is the perfect wrapper for the pure-fun elements. What elements? There are this and that in the movie: the presence of comical comic book tone (no surprise since this film is an adaptation of a novel graphic series with the same title, Scott Pilgrim), classic arcade battle games taste (which reminds me to old arcade game such as Street Fighters, Mortal Combat, and the likes), unexpected and nonsensical (if not immature) surreal gimmicks (but, hey, it’s a teen movie tight?), and off course, the cool great sounding scores and songs that feel so fresh, youthful, raw, and…indie. So, all in all, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is one hell of a movie.
Now, here comes the ultimate fun part. The soundtrack! When I said Ultra Combo, I’m kinda mean it to combine the fighting game style assimilated in the movie and the awesome tunes in the soundtrack that come one after another.
Some of the blasts sequence of the combo comes from The Sex Bob-omb, the fabulous band of Scott Pilgrim himself, with their ear-blowing and body-shaking songs. They have something that I’ve been craving for so long: crucnhy, raw, vintage garage sound. Too bad, this band is merely fictional, so to have their new stuffs would mean waiting for sequel of the movies. The next hit is from Plumtree, an indie rock band from Canada, which has more or less similar sound characteristic with The Sex Bob-omb. What a great guitar sound! Then comes the psychedelic beat of Black Lips, which with their O Katrina, this Atlanta band sounds like something come from The Ed Sullivan Show.
There’s also a fabulous ballad from London’s T-Rex, a glam rock band of the 70’s. Metric, amazing new wave rock indie band from Toronto, gives their contribution with an amazing up-beat dance rock number. The milder part of the combo is also presented by Broken Social Scene with their haunting dreamy number. Another garage punk blast is brought by Blood Red Shoes, a great a-girl-and-a-boy two-piece band from Brighton (England) that I hope could fill the “empty space” left by the “late” White Stripes.
The other sequence of this amazing combo is made by bigger names. There is one number from the Rolling Stones in the soundtrack. Though Beck only contributes one song (in two versions), he wrote all songs played by The Sex Bob-omb. Here, Beck really show his capacity as a great musician and songwriter. Another big name in the soundtrack is Frank Black aka Black Francis. Francis is the frontman of the great and legendary Pixies, the band that could be said as the biggest influence for the 90’s music scene, and in I Heard Ramona Sing we still could hear that Pixie-ness.
So, there it is. The double Ultra Combo of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, a great movie and an awesome soundtrack.

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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: Kill Bill Vol.1




A Killer Soundtrack Album

Though some critics, as well as viewers, are rather “harsh” on Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, I personally like these series, especially Vol.1; the second volume is a bit disappointing with Bill’s “easy death”, and now waiting for the who-knows-it-is-for-real third volume. Borrowing David Gilmour’s term in his book The Film Club, this is my "fuck-you movie," a movie that makes me imagine (and act a little tiny bit) crazy nonsense stuffs (being an adversary of Musashi in a duel is one of those stuffs).
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: RocknRolla



What A Real RocknRolla Wants

The first thing that comes to me when talking about Guy Ritchie’s movies is middleclass and not-too-successful mobsters and thugs, with messy, strange, wicked, and uncool-but-cool twists of the conflicts. (That’s a compliment.) Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels will always the best among his such works, but others like Snatch and RocknRolla are not that far from the previously mentioned.
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: Little Miss Sunshine




Something a Bit Different for a Good Change

I believe many of you already watched Little Miss Sunshine. A born-again and unsuccessful (yet) motivator father, a mother in the shadow of divorce, a junkie addict grandpa, a son in silent-vow who worships Nietzsche, a daughter with the dream of being Miss-something, and a suicidal uncle who’ve just lost everything. All of them off on journey in a van, all of them reveal themselves, and all of them learn what being a family is. No ultra-expensive CGI special effect, no super glamorous stars, no convoluted twisted plot. Yet, the film is a totally freakin AWESOME!!!
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: The Boat That Rocked (A.K.A. Pirate Radio)



And Thus We Have Rock ‘N’ Roll

For you who haven’t seen the film, I will tell you a little that it is a comedy about culture and music revolution, pirate radio, and a pissed-off old fashioned government. Though not stated clearly in the movie, looks like the “Radio Rock” station does resemble Radio Caroline North, one of the early 60’s pirate radio stations in England who also broadcast offshore from a ship. Radio Rock broadcast rock ‘n’ roll and pop songs which weren’t aired much by BBC at that time. Since the station was unlicensed and aired what was deemed as the source of moral degeneration, they really pushed the button of the government so they made Marine Offenses Act.
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Superb Soundtracky Saturday: Saturday Morning Cartoons Greatest Hits




Dude, that’s a lame title.


 
Buzz off! It’s my watch now. You’re history, and I’ll do as I please.

Soundtracky? That’s not even a word.

Oh. You’re a lexicographer now?


Are you a brain surgeon?

“???” No. But I’m the figure of the banner now, and of every ID! This is my reign. A new era for this blog! And thus…


Okay, okay. I’m off. (Please…)


Hey! Wash up? I’m nut finnish yet.
You’re not and you won’t. I better find John. He speaks that language better?


What language? Hey! Where are you…


I’m leaving! Buy, buy!

Well, he’s gone now. That means I could elaborate this latest project, the brilliant and genius “Superb Soundtracky Saturday”, to you…But I’m kinda, not in the mood now. So just read what is written and listen the songs below, after the break. Idieu amigieu!

SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS GREATEST HITS: THE CELEBRATION OF THE SO CALLED “ALTERNATIVE ERA”
Actually, this is a bad start for this SSS, since it’s not a soundtrack album. It’s an album of theme songs, cartoons theme songs. But it’s not too far as being addressed as soundtrack. Okay, enough with that. This is all we have for this week and we gotta make do with it.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Greatest Hits was released in 1995 it contains 19 theme songs from 19 cartoon series of the 60’s and 70’s (mainly); such as Speed Racer, Scooby Doo, Spider-Man, Underdog, Johnny Quest, etc. The interesting part, the one that makes this album special, is the performers of those theme songs are mostly, if not saying all, the 90’s bands or singers who carried out the 90’s sound. Yeah, that alternative sounds. You can have pop, rock, pop/rock, punk rock, (a bit) grunge, you name it.

There are Mary Lou Lord (the busker girl who once made Courtney Love jealous because of her relationship with Kurt), Frente! (I’m sure you know their song “Bizarre Love Triangle”), Ramones (Hey, I did say mostly before), Sublime (who doesn’t know Santeria?), and many others, or 15 to be exact.

The album became an interesting package for the 60’s/70’s cartoons lovers and 90’s music lovers. And from the reviews I see on the net, on average, this album gets a positive one. In the scale of 1 to 5, it gets 3,5. So, if you’re wanna get nostalgic with your favorite cartoons or your favorite bands or singers, you better try this one. Enjoy the very first of Superb Soundtracky Saturday!

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Greatest Christmas Songs (For Any Kind of Christmas You Like)



I couldn’t remember anymore, when was the last time I felt the-so-called Christmas Spirit. However, I still embrace the “soul” of Christmas songs (well, at least some of them). And I’m sure, though I don’t want to bet on it, that I’m not the only one to feel that way

To tell the truth, the mood I have from those songs is far from anything religious. But I gotta say that those songs do present an-almost-spiritual experience... What spirit?! ...Err…Vodka everyone!

1. Charlotte Church - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Description: A Christmas in Gotham City.
Intended Audience: Anyone who has watched and loved Tim Burton’s Batman Return, and still wanna celebrate Christmas.
(Editor’s note: Is this your idea of MERRY?)





2. Brian Setzer Orchestra - Jingle Bells

I would like some “spiritual” eggnog at my Christmas party, and I guess this’ll be a matching background song.








3. Jackson Five - Little Drummer Boy

Little Michael Jackson’s has one of the purest voice I’ve ever heard. He made this simple song sounds terrific. And he did prove that you don’t have to sing difficult melody scale to sound great.







4. Jeff Beck - Amazing Grace

Is this a Christmas song or an anti-slavery song? Whatever… I got this version from Merry Axemas compilation anyway, and I really love the song. (Well, that’s reasonable enough.)







5. Ted Nugent – Deck The Halls

Hell Yeah! It kicks! It’s great! It’s far better than Mariah Carey’s version!








There. Those are my Christmas carols this year...and last year...and maybe next years....
Hope you'll enjoy them too.
(To download the song, just click the artist's picture.)
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Weakly Tough Cent Cracks



Music-less weeks is finally over (at least for this one)
It's the week of Soundtrack (and not)

(Couldn't catch a word...Sounds stupid...Makes me like it even more. Got it from RockNRolla)

("Bang! Bang! Die, My Baby! Die!" What else to say...it's Tarantino's Kill Bill)

(Got it from "All the Young Cults Vol. 3" compilation made by Wok "Jogja's-living-music-bank" the Rock)

(She looked rather "mature" in this movie, Bobby. Okay, okay...she's near fifty. Still adorable nonetheless)

(A cover of Muddy Water's. Love the bass-line, a really good intro to RockNRolla)
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Weakly Tough Weirdeo



I still won't make another favorable song list this week, but instead of music, I will reveal some clips I really like lately.

The Beatles - Helter Skelter
It's not a video clip actually, but totally breathtaking. Never heard this version before. This one is really raw.

Radiohead - Bodysnatcher
Man, every time I see Tom sings and enjoys himself like that, it's just make me envy him.


White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
The progressions of both Jack's riffs and the triangles in the video are really mesmerizing.


Sonic Youth & Iggy Pop - I Wanna be Your Dog
Ear piercing performance from Sonic Youth and Iggy. The way Kim sings and moves up there, it's just...


Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Black and white video in a kaleidoscopic pattern. Gloomy song and alluring dark images equal to great masterpiece.
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Weakly Tough Tent Cracks



I fell no insidement to mew sick dis weak.
So, there woolled bee no weakly top cent track now.
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Weakly Tough Tent Cracks



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Weakly Tough Tent Cracks



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