Meatmen - “Savage Sagas From The Meatmen” CD

Ugly, dirty, and ultimately great return from Tesco and friends!

The immortal Tesco Vee and compatriots are back with their first Meatmen album in 5 years, an the first of all new material in over 20! “Savage Sagas” doesn’t tidy things up neatly for the kids, though. Nope, it’s as offensive, raucous, and out of control as ever before. With such family-friendly tunes as “Pissed Hot For Weed”, “The Ballad Of Stinky Penis”, “Big Bloody Booger On The Bathroom Wall”, or “Rock ’N Roll Enema”, you know it’s gonna be fast, hard, and ugly. And it is.

“Men O Meat” opens it all up with 55 seconds of speedy garage punk. “I’m Gonna Fuck You Up” is an anthem of only a minute and a half. Yikes! Tesco, Danny Dirtbag, Hindu Kush, and Bun Length are certainly firing on all cylinders. Production is perfect — raw but clear, and these 20 songs turn in at a quick and bouncy 48 minutes. “Shecky Presents…” is a bit of a comedic interlude, but fear not, kids, as “Speed Kills (But It Sho’ Feels Good)” is a thrashy, metallic punk monster. This one takes me back to the classic days of hardcore punk — with all the subversive nihilism and attitude. I will never tire of this sound. All hail the Meatmen! 

Self Destructo Records

Tesco Vee world

Woodchuck Cider Tasting - 2014

So we here at Goatsden are sort of known for enjoying a good beer now and again (and again, some would dare say). But, in the interest of NOT being snobbish or in any way clique-ish, we thought it high time to review some other spirits. And what better way to celebrate the snowfall in Fall as to review some new ciders?

Woodchuck (based in Vermont, USA) is probably the best-known cidery on this side of the Atlantic. And for good reason. Their distribution is amazing, and their ciders are all solid and well-balanced, at least by Goatsden standards (say no more). This review is of three specialty Woodchuck ciders, either seasonals or new varietals. On with the tasting, shall we?

Hopsation - Hop Forward Cider

Hmm, this is a nice collision of tastes, and it works better than you’d expect. It pours a very pale complexion, with a pleasant floral aroma. The grassy, citrusy, piney Cascade hops blend well among the sweet apple. It’s a subtle mix here, not overwhelmingly hoppy, but with a distinctive flavor I've not had before. Mrs. Goatsden says this one tastes more “beer-like”, and she’s spot-on. It’s balanced, tasty, and one I’ll be seeking out again. 

Winter Chill - Oak Aged Apple

This one is a mellow blend, with the cider being aged in French and American oak. Winter Chill brings a subtle vanilla accent to the apple — but it’s subtle, and there isn’t a lot of the oak character otherwise to detect. Nonetheless, this one is among my favorites from Woodchuck’s fine line.

Fall Harvest - Just Like Apple Pie

Filled with plenty of Fall spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), this tasty and sweet cider has a hint of heat from the spices to accent the sweet apple character. I really liked this one, but can see why it will be a favorite among fans of apple pie or generally sweet drinks.

Woodchuck

Beer: Gordon Biersch - Winter Bock

GORDON BIERSCH - WINTER BOCK (San Jose, CA) 4.0 (excellent)

San Jose-based brewery/restaurant chain Gordon Biersch isn’t distributed in Indiana, but I was able to score some samples for review thanks to Colin at Emblem PR. And what samples they are! Biersch brews exclusively classic German-styled beers, so for the cold season ahead, we at Goatsden were delighted to get some bottles of Gordon Biersch’s Winter Bock for tasting.

Pours a deep caramel amber with a heaping head of of-white carbonation. I get spoke-like, spiderwebby lace on my GB25 glassware. Great appearance!

Nose is caramel malts, some spice, and nice sweet roastiness. 

Taste is, again, very much a roasty, malty, semi-sweet melding of dark malts, with a chewy caramel or toffee character dominating. There’s also an element of nuttiness in the flavor, which is perfect for a chilly snow day. This is everything a solid doppelbock should be. The body seems a tad light, but the flavor does not suffer. A solid drinking bock, and at a strong 7.5%, this is a deceptively enjoyable brew. Bravo!

Gordon Biersch site

Beer: Hacker-Pschorr - Animator Doppelbock

HACKER-PSCHORR ANIMATOR DOPPELBOCK (Munich, Germany) - 4.25 (excellent)

The final brew in Hacker-Pschorr’s limited seasonal series of 2014, this is a classic doppelbock straight from Munich, and apparently is available for the first time in North America this year, albeit in very limited quantities. I’d recommend picking this one up if you do see it out and about.

Pours a cloudy, hearty amber with crimson highlights, and a thick head of fine off-white carbonation Virtually no lace here, though! 

Aroma is toasty malt grains, dried candied fruit, toffee, and fireside roasted nuts. Complexity? Yes!

Taste is rich, malty, and sweet, again with hints of toasted malts and dark, dried fruit and toffee. The thick malt profile gives way to a light, hoppy zing of bitterness at the finish, and I do detect a slight alcohol heat as well. Overall, a delightful and world-class doppelbock that’s packed with complexity and drinkability despite the high 8.1% ABV. 

Hacker-Pschorr site

“Freeload” DVD (director: Daniel Skaggs)

Harsh look at modern day hobos

A relatively brief (65 minutes) but startlingly honest documentary here dealing with something most of us consider little more than a romantic anachronism — railway hobos. It’s difficult to imagine, in modern times, people who hop trains and travel as a lifestyle. “Homeless” could also be used to describe these folks, but this designation sometimes misses the mark. Often, today’s train riders do so out of choice. They’re renegades who buck the modern system of menial labor and expectations, and often seek adventure and a “live free or die” attitude and lifestyle. 

Skaggs’ documentary focuses on several young vagabonds, most of whom, at least on the surface, ride trains by choice. Their “fuck everyone” attitudes come straight from a subcultural or punk rock playbook. Some are good people who just don’t fit in. Others seem to be troubled characters, with alcohol or drug problems that are only encouraged by what can be a lonely and frightening future. I was left fascinated by the characters and way of life, though “Freeload” certainly doesn’t romanticize the lifestyle. There are moments of refreshing freedom and joy nestled among other moments of depressing nihilism that I can’t help but feel are a harbinger of doom for some of these people. If anything, it’s a realistic portrait of an outsider viewpoint that some don’t even realize still exists. Well-done, but not something I’d ever want to see again.

MVD Visual

“Looking For Johnny - The Legend Of Johnny Thunders” DVD (director: Danny Garcia)

Superb documentary on legendary rocker

For some, Johnny Thunders was a rock legend — never quite making a dent in the mainstream, but inspiring countless garage and punk guitarists through the years. His work with the seminal glam/punk band the New York Dolls, as well as his later work with the Heartbreakers and beyond influenced everyone from the Sex Pistols to Guns ’N Roses. Found dead of mysterious causes in New Orleans in 1991, at a young 38 years of age, Thunders’ legacy exists with the numerous recordings he left behind. Speculation of possible foul play are persistent, but with Thunders’ serious drug addictions (and his vaguely hidden advanced leukemia), the police in New Orleans are seemingly content to let the case cool.

Garcia’s documentary took him 18 months to assemble, and his efforts don’t go unrewarded. Most of Thunders’ former bandmates, family members, friends, and associates are all featured here, as well as tons of live and behind the scenes footage. It’s probably about as complete and comprehensive a documentary as can be done on the subject, and will easily stand as the hallmark of Thunders biographies. Not being all that familiar with Thunders’ work, this proved to be a great intro and a completely respectable look at the man who was plagued by several (likely fatal) vices, yet stood tall as a rock icon. A wonderful rock bio, and a fine film detailing a tragic rock star’s rise and fall.

MVD Visual

Johnny Thunders unofficial site

“My Name Is A By Anonymous” DVD (director: Shane Ryan)

Tragic, affecting, and harrowing indie

Now, this is one disturbing flick. It’s loosely based on the true story of teenage murderer Alyssa Bustamonte, who killed a friend just for kicks, and that whole nihilistic mindset is echoed here. Filmed on a handi-cam in parts for a hyper-realistic texture, “My Name Is A is not horror, per se, but simply horrific. It’s a tough to stomach film that absolutely nails the bottoming out of modern teens at the hands of abuse, bullying, and peer pressure. 

Following several girls who one by one unravel until they all converge upon a terrible fate, “My Name Is A” features all unknown actresses, all of whom do fantastic and believable work here (especially Alex Damiano, who is more than convincing in her role as abused teen with awful secrets). Realistic beyond arthouse, this film can't help but be affecting. I left shocked and almost sad. Sure, this one’s very much a low-budget indie, but don’t let that stop you — "My Name Is A" stands out from the pack with a very realistic punch to the gut.

Wild Eye Releasing