“Salad Days: A Decade Of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)” DVD (director: Scott Crawford)

The quintessential DC punk document

A welcomed and superb full-length documentary on the DC punk scene by longtime scene journalist Scott Crawford, “Salad Days” is as comprehensive as they come. Just about every major scene player is interviewed here, including Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Dave Grohl, J. Robbins, Craig Wedren, Kevin Seconds, and tons more.  

As well, there’s an abundance of great live footage of all the bands, Dischord-based and otherwise (Positive Force and the straight-edge movements are discussed here, of course, too), including Minor Threat, Fugazi, Marginal Man, Embrace, Egghunt, Government Issue, Dag Nasty, Gray Matter, Beefeater, Holy Rollers, Soulside, and more. Detailing the beginnings and endings of the whole scene, from the earliest teenage days to the alternative explosion of the early 90s, “Salad Days” highlights the reverence and relevance that the punk scene had and continues to have today. It’s a loving portrait of the misfits and freaks behind the scenes making a difference and changing attitudes in a city where bureaucracy and corporate interests undermine basic humanity. For anyone with even a passing interest in classic punk rock and the idealism it embodies, this is a must-see. Superb!

MVD Visual

Branca - "Songs '77-'79" CD

Collecting 8 tracks recorded by Glenn Branca's early New York "no wave" groups The Static and Theoretical Girls, this 32-minute set shows 2 distinct faces of the post-punk legend's history. Since then, Branca's "guitar symphonies" have become a well-known part of underground music history, and he's inspired countless avante-rock bands and artists (some of which include SWANS and Sonic Youth -- both of which include members who, at one time, performed as part of Branca's symphonies). These early works show hints at what was to come, but remain firmly attached to the "rock" paradigm.

"Don't Let Me Stop You" and "My Relationship" are both songs from The Static, and the resemblance to early Sonic Youth is uncanny. Clearly, a large part of Sonic Youth's inspiration came from Mr. Branca. These tracks (which pre-date SY by several years) are evidence. There are weird, de-tuned walls of guitars, primal drumming, and quirky vocals. Excellent and seminal work.

The remaining 6 cuts are Theoretical Girls, and are more artful slices of odd post-punk weirdness. "You Got Me" is a bouncy bit of art pop, and "Jill" is a twisted attempt at  acoustic pop, whereas "Fuck Yourself" could almost be very early Swans with it's repetitive riffs and nihilist simplicity/single-mindedness. Simply said, this is a historically viable, if brief, look at an underground inspiration in his earliest permutation. Very cool and unique work.

(Atavistic)

Glenn Branca website

Rowland S. Howard "Autoluminescent" trailer

Back in December, the world lost one of it's visionary guitarists and a true rock legend. Rowland S. Howard, best known as primary screech-noise guitarist for the Birthday Party, died, but not before this documentary was filmed. I don't have details on release dates or anything (just did a bit of a search), but this extended trailer shows what looks to be something worth looking into...



Rowlandspace

DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid - "The Secret Song" CD

Suffice to say this is possibly DJ Spooky (aka Paul D. Miller)'s most fully realized and wide-reaching release in his already deep and extensive catalog. He's got collaborators from nearly every continent (and genre) at hand. The list alone is impressive: Thurston Moore, Jungle Brothers, Rob Swift, The Coup, Mike Ladd, Sussan Deyhim, Abdul Smooth, Vijay Iyer, Zimbabwe Legit, and more. But the star of the show is unquestionably DJ Spooky himself, who takes the material from these disparate sources and creates a worldly, wise, and hopeful travelogue that traverses the fringes of culture(s). "Dazed And Confused Dub" is a massive rock symphony. "Where I'm At" is forward-thinking hip-hop. "Heliocentric" is funky electro-jazz, and "Azadi" is full of smooth, sensual, Middle Eastern chants. And that's just a few of the 20 cuts here. DJ Spooky masterfully fuses the sounds of urban hip-hop, academic electronica, gritty rock, futuristic classical, musique concrete, and out-jazz, and in effect creates as close to a comprehensive modern-day pop music/sound collage as you're likely to hear this year. Or this century. Stunning and essential. (Thirsty Ear)

DJ Spooky's home

Angelique Bosio - "Llik Your Idols" DVD

This documentary of the late 80's-early 90's New York movement now known as the 'Cinema Of Transgression' examines the reactionary/nihilist film/art/music scenes that intersected at this revolutionary time. Interviews with scenesters like Nick Zedd, Richard Kern, Lydia Lunch, Thurston Moore, Richard Hell, Jarboe, Joe Coleman, Russell Simmins, and others lend an air of credibility to the proceedings, as folks like Zedd, Kern, and Lunch were responsible for some of the most shocking and (some would say) tasteless films of our generation. The violence, gore, and sexual depravity of this period is examined and reflected upon by actors and film-makers alike, and although some can be arguably be assessed as little more than Z-grade trash cinema (or fetishistic titillation), there were some important inspirations and aspirations there. In fact, it can be noted that some of this underground cinema has infiltrated modern pop culture, with everything from fashion spreads, photography, and horror films taking cues from some of these still-hard-hitting films. Bosio does a fine job illustrating what made this "scene" tick, with plenty of excerpts and clips. The bonus bits include 2 of Zedd's films, 'Police State' (which is a horrifyingly extreme and pointed look at police brutality, starring himself as the victim), and 'War Is Menstrual Envy' (a weird and almost moving look at, eh, a burn victim, Annie Sprinkle, and Kembra Pfahler in various compromising positions). Well worth a look if this sounds like your cup of tea leaves. (MVD Visual)