Orange County Blog

Kristin Chenoweth in 'Wicked.'

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It's hard to believe it's time for Incubus to release a greatest hits album. For a band that entered the fray in the mid-to-late 90's and enjoyed considerable success in the early part of this decade, this release may feel rushed, but could be a sign they are entertaining the idea of slowing down... let's hope not. 

England's loudest band, Spinal Tap, was on Conan last night. Not only did they play "Heavy Duty," they sat down with the very tall redhead to discuss their new record, Back from the Dead, which comes out today.

The 19-track disc compiles classic tunes such as "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight," "Rock 'n' Roll Creation," "Hell Hole" and "Big Bottom" with six new songs powerful enough to kill even the toughest drummer. Back from the Dead also comes with a DVD and a fold-out/pop-up diorama of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls, along with a mini Stonehenge.

Seriously folks, if you haven't seen "This is Spinal Tap," do yourself a favor, cancel whatever you're doing tonight and watch this. I can't recommend this flick enough and I hate movies. 

Before they embark on the Warped Tour's maiden voyage to Pomona, there's one major house keeping issue that some bands chose to attend to before traveling all over the country playing to thousands. That usually involves cranking out a new album.

Tomorrow, three of the tour's bands are releasing new material for die hard fans and downloaders alike. Veteran punks  Anit-Flag (pictured) release their eighth full -ength album of politically-driven protest anthems titled People or the Gun on Side One Dummy Records. Sacramento screamo/post hardcore artists Dance Gavin Dance are on their 4th release, titled Happiness on Rise Records, pregnant with angst and explosive breakdowns. Though you might leave a little room to actually dance to a sliver of snappy, pop driven song structures.

Then we have the gel-swept bangs and alt-rock offerings of Orlando four-piece There for Tomorrow, who are currently touring a Japan. Running the gamut from punk to pop, this handful of Warped Tour participants is looking for plenty of support heading into the summer so I'm sure they'd appreciate if you scraped up some of your extra gas money to support the cause. You're down right? Look at that pic, how could you say no to those faces?  

Long Beach's On Blast recorded a full-length album a few months ago. I was one of the lucky ones to get a copy and right away I knew it was good. I also knew if the songs got to the people, the band would have a pretty good chance at making some waves. Well, people, here's your chance.

The 12 songs are available at iTunes for $9.99. Thank me later.

Weezer just announced a merch deal with Snuggie. Yes, Snuggie, that thing on tv that you (and I) laugh at until you actually try one and realize it's the best invention ever.

 

The contraption is called a Wuggie, and is basically a regular Snuggie with a Weezer logo. I'd be shittin' all over this if I didn't own a Snuggie. Seriously folks, I don't get paid to tell you this so you know I'm speaking the truth when I say that Snuggies freakin' rule.

 

One thing Snuggies don't mention in their ads (but should) is how much the robe/blanket hybrid makes people feel like a Jedi. I ain't lying when I say I am Obi-Wanfucking Kanobi when I rock my blue Snuggie with the hood on. Sometimes I sit on my couch and when my girlfriend passes by, I wave my hand and say, "you aren't too tired for intercourse tonight."

 

The soon-to-be issued Wuggies should go perfect for that Sept. 17 date Weezer has at the Irvine Enorma-Dome with Blink-182.  

HB/LB punks TSOL are releasing a new record. Sorta.

 

Last December, the group went into the studio to record its 16th album, Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Free Downloads on Hurley Records. The sessions were documented and can be found at the band's myspace page.

 

The tunes became available for download in January, but are getting a vinyl makeover thanks to DC Jam Records. The label says the album will be issued in limited edition colored vinyl and will hit the shelves sometime in September. 

The Riverdales, a Ramones-inspired band led by former Screeching Weasel members Ben Foster (Weasel) and Dan Schafer (Danny Vapid), have "dropped" two new songs on its myspace page. The tunes, "Atomic Brain" and "Prince of Space," pick up perfectly where the Riverdales left off when they released Phase 3 in 2003.

According to legend, the Riverdales began as a way for the members to get more in touch with their Ramones infatuation after one of the many demises of SW. Originally, the band also included Screeching Weasel drummer Dan Panic, but he left the band after the first two records. 

 Whereas SW had Foster singing lead all the time, this band allows Schafer the opportunity to grab the mic for his songs. The result is a healthy dose of variety while never sounding like Weasel's just throwing him a bone.

The Riverdales are releasing Invasion USA July 14 on Asian Man Records. And don't expect them to come around here anytime soon.  

The Beastie Boys' 1992 classic Check Your Head has now been given the re-issue/re-master treatment. Not sure why, as this disc sounded pretty good the last time I listened to it last week, but what do I know?

 

The new version comes with a total of 36 tracks (the 20-song original album and 16 B-sides and rarities and is available as very modern high-quality DRM downloads and the very old school four LP ultra-deluxe 180HQ vinyl. The latter comes in something described as a coffee table book and is limited to 2,000 copies. There's also a two-vinyl version for non- record collector geeks and a CD ecopack. Audio commentary regarding the album is available at the group's site for those who need to know where that first sample came from.

 

The B-Boys had an interesting career before Check Your Head. The group began as a hardcore punk act and somehow morphed into frat guy hip-hop. As great as License to Ill is, in hindsight, it's a bit, how do I say...cringe worthy? Some great tracks, but the shadow cast by "Fight For Your Right," "Brass Monkey" and "Girls" unfortunately dominates less embarrasing songs such as "Time to Get Ill," "Slow and Low" and "The New Style." Their follow-up was Paul's Boutique, perhaps the most beloved and unknown record in their collection. If only one hip-hop disc was needed to a time capsule of any era, this would be it. The production (provided by the Dust Brothers) is fucking sick. And the rhymes? Dope as dope can be.

 

Check Your Head was do or die time. The B-Boys could have gone in any direction and made the right choice by showing the world that they were not just emcees, but bona fide musicians. To date, I still can't think of a hip-hop disc as diverse and Check Your Head while still sounding 100 percent authentic. I'm also amazed at how the group didn't inspire more rappers to learn how to play instruments.

 

Just last week I was listening to Check Your Head and without even noticing, my feet got moving and my ass was shaking. Although the hits ("Pass the Mic" and "So What'cha Want") are amazing, I'll never get enough of "The Maestro," "Something's Got to Give," "Professor Booty" and "Gratitude."  

 

As I mentioned in my Pearl Jam post regarding the Ten re-issue, this whole thing is getting out of hand. Yes, we'd all love to hear the B-sides and whatnot of our favorite groups. And yes, we'd also love to hear our favorite albums sound even better than they do, but there's got to be a better way for people who already own these discs to get the current version without forking over dough for a record they already bought. In my case, Check Your Head was one of the first tapes I purchased. I still have that copy, along with a CD version. If ya ask me, the B-Boys got enough of my cash for this one.

 

But if you haven't already bought Check Your Head, you're either 11 years old or you think Chuck Mangione is God.

Yes, more Lady Sovereign news from me. Why? Because she rules. That's why.

Her latest disc is called Jigsaw and it's out today. You can buy it at these things called record stores or do what everyone else in 2009 does and get it at iTunes. Either way, I'm pretty sure the songs are the same.

The first single, "So Human," charted in the UK. Come on Americans, let's help out the biggest midget in the game. Buy that shit.