Nirvana - “In Utero - 20th Anniversary Tribute” 2xDVD

Repackaged retro

This repackaged set of 2 full-length “unauthorised” DVDs from Pride DVD (aka Sexy Intellectual) is a pretty solid wealth of info for serious Nirvana fans. Disc 1 is simply “In Utero: A Classic Album Under Review” from a few years prior, which of course examines the band’s rise and fall with a focus on their final studio album. Plenty of journalists and biographers are interviewed here, as well as several people who were close to the band. There’s nothing here that will shake the ground for Nirvana fans or solve the supposed mystery/conspiracy theory of Kurt’s suicide, but expect plenty of obscure anecdotes and stories from some folks who were supposedly there for the band’s rise.

Disc 2 is a lengthy (90 minute) collection of extended interviews from the first disc, including deep conversations with Cobain’s grandfather and former Nirvana drummer Chad Channing. Again, there’s a load of collection trivia represented here, and proves a fascinating (if exhausting) watch.

Serious Nirvana fans, this may be a must-see. Casual fans like me? Take it or leave it.

Pride/Sexy Intellectual

Nirvana official site

Cosmic Psychos - "Blokes You Can Trust" DVD (director: Matt Weston)

Stellar bio on Aussie punks Cosmic Psychos 

It's a shame I had never been familiar with this veteran noise/punk act from Australia. Seems they've been quite influential on a number of famous Pacific Northwest rockers -- many of which are interviewed here. Director Weston qualifies this fine, engrossing documentary with testimonials from folks like Eddie Vedder, Mudhoney, Donita Sparks of L7, Melvins, Butch Vig, Steve Albini, and label supporters from both Sub Pop and Amphetamine Reptile Records. 

But the best parts of this film are the in-depth interviews with Cosmic Psychos members, namely the rock wildman Ross Knight, who's steered the band through (as the subtitle proclaims) a million beers, parties, women, and all the requisite tough times that serious devoted rock bands encounter (like a longtime member passing away due to an addiction). It's curious that, while still performing with a rejuvenated Cosmic Psychos, Knight is a professional body builder as well as a devoted family man and farmer, with a penchant for big tractors. Through it all, Knight is a good guy, likable and full of entertaining yarns.

There's classic footage of the band, as well as interviews with other members, their families, friends, and supporters. "Blokes You Can Trust" is everything a great rock doc/bio should be -- entertaining, fun, and even emotional. Recommended even for those unfamiliar with the band's heavy, raucous punk sounds. Bravo!

Umbrella/MVD Visual

Cosmic Psychos dot com

Melvins Lite - "Freak Puke" album

Adding Tomahawk/Fantomas bassist Trevor Dunn to the duo of Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover, this incarnation of the Melvins (deemed "Lite" because they are a trio, rather than the band's normal 4-piece) creates a wildly disparate din of avante-garde noise and dirty classic rock. In short, it's another fine Melvins album. Beginning with the spooky strings of "Mr. Rip Off", the album runs the gamut, from the disturbing cinematic textures of "Inner Ear Rupture" to the thick stoner rock of "A Growing Disgust". "Leon Vs. The Revolution" is a big, spliffy Sabbath-style riff-rocker, and the closing cut, "Tommy Goes Beserk" is a weird collision of "pop" elements and driving lysergia, as close to melodic as these guys choose to get. Fine, weird, and heavy sounds for the adventurous. (Ipecac) Melvins site

Zu - "The Way Of The Animal Powers" LP

After 10 years and a number of releases on genre-bending labels like Atavistic and Ipecac, this Rome-based quartet turn to Public Guilt for the James Plotkin-mastered vinyl version, and it's a wonderful blending of elements and out-there instrumental (and organic) textures. Zu are like the missing link between free jazz, Black Flag, and no-wave, if you can imagine that. Or maybe the mutant offspring of Tortoise and Mr. Bungle. Either way, it's great and imaginative music. The memorably-titled "Tom Araya Is Our Elvis" opens, and this sets the stage with a monolithic SWANS (pre-"Filth") groove that meets Greg Ginn somewhere in a New Orleans bar. Awesome and annihilating. "Things Fall Apart" is a bewildering avante-tribal-jazz-improv that sounds like Crash Worship jamming with Ornette Coleman. Very kuhl. "The Witch Herbalist Of The Remote Town" is an apt title, capturing a feral set of magical tones, scrapings, and rolling percussion. Jungle jazz, indeed! Zu's innovative and out-there music can safely be called experimental, but whereas most sounds classified as such can be overly conceptual and academic, this album is both evocative and engaging, from start to finish. Stupendous work, and something that should be mandatory listening for jazz, metal, or indie rock purists alike. (Public Guilt)

Zuspace site

Shrinebuilder - "Shrinebuilder" CD

Heavy and and melodic psychedelic metal here, from a new project from prominent members of Om, Melvins, and Neurosis, with Wino (from the Obsessed) on vocals. "Shrinebuilder" draws on everything from stoner rock to classic metal to drone/tribal hybrids to lysergic improv, and to good effect. "Solar Benediction" evolves from heavy groove to mellow psychedelia in it's almost 9-minute duration, while "Pyramid To The Moon" is a huge and head-nodding slab of post-Sabbath groove, albeit with added space-out textures. "Blind For All To See" is a slow, churning drone-stone wanderer, sounding like a massive epic jam from another time and space. If big, monstrously heavy and monolothic doom metal is your thing, Shrinebuilder are certainly a must-hear. (Neurot Recordings)

Shrinespace