“From Inside” DVD (director: John Bergin)

Superb apocalyptic animation

Written, produced, animated, and directed by John Bergin (of the industrial band Trust Obey and creator of the soundtrack to “The Crow” graphic novel), “From Inside” is an imaginative and contemplative journey through a futuristic post-apocalyptic landscape from the point of view of a tragically alone pregnant woman whilst traveling via train. Her ruminations waver from sad and regretful to strong and driven. It’s a harrowing journey, to be sure

The animation is unique, stylish, and gritty, while the script is immersive and interesting. Bergin’s stark artwork is fittingly dark and uniquely drawn, rather than a full-on CGI style. I applaud this effort, as it makes the film that much more original and personal.

As well, there’s an appropriately dark electronic industrial soundtrack by Gary Numan and Ade Fenton that brings mood, atmosphere, and tension to the visuals. It’s never intrusive or even so noticeable, which only lends to the starkness of the film.

This is an excellent piece of dark animation for the apocalyptic-minded, and one I’d be keen to watch again. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.

From Inside site

Lakeshore Records

Rye Coalition - “The Story Of The Hard Luck 5” DVD (director: Jenni Matz)

Comprehensive look at indie rock "could-have-beens"

This documentary details the rise (and fall, in some sense of the word) of the not-famous indie rock act Rye Coalition, who in the 90s were poised for greatness, or so it seemed. Having recorded with Steve Albini and toured with Foo Fighters should’ve been the start of something bigger. Having Dave Grohl himself produce their to-be-major label debut would’ve put them over that edge, surely. But just then, their label dissolved, and Rye Coalition found themselves with nowhere to go, their stride towards greatness broken, and their record in limbo for years.

The band, intent on playing out and recording for almost no financial rewards, finally folded due to pressures both internal and external. “The Story Of The Hard Luck 5” is a thoughtful and serious documentary of the band’s times from then until now, with full band participation, as well as interviews with cohorts and supporters like Albini, Grohl, fans of the band, and their families and associates. It’s a fascinating look at some nice New Jersey boys who never aspired to much, yet got so very close to indie rock “star” status. Albini’s comments that the band were considered the best of the “Jesus Lizard wannabes” is both apt and unfair. Rye Coalition shared much with Chicago’s finest post-jazz aggro-scuzz outfit, but the differences were plenty, as evidenced by the many live clips here.

Director Matz has done a masterful work encapsulating the band’s history, and this 78-minute film is fascinating even for Rye Coalition novices like myself. Thumbs up here.

MVD Visual

Rye Coalition movie site

Revolting Cocks - “You Goddamned Son Of A Bitch” 2xCD + DVD

All-time great electro-rock

Ah, this is classic Revco, recorded live at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago in 1987. Originally released as a single disc by Wax Trax!, this double-CD format simply adds a couple of live tracks from the later “Beers, Steers, & Queers” CD single, and expands it all over 2 discs. It’s basically the same package as Rykodisc’s 2004 reissue, but with most of the original artwork restored. The distinct lack of liner notes, and some glaring errors (like the back stating that Chris Connelly is from Killing Joke. Hah!) are both unforgivable and lazy. It’s this lack of historical notes or credits, and the fact that it’s housed in a cheap case that’s easily broken signals a quick cash job on the part of Jourgensen (who recently sold the rights to this to notoriously shoddy Cleopatra Records) and MVD Audio (whose label and name is attached to the packaging, rather than Cleopatra’s, oddly).

Anyway, the music sounds as good as it ever has. This was Connelly’s inaugural release with the band, and thus began a long partnership with Cocks/Ministry members Jourgensen, Barker, and Rieflin, all of whom feature prominently here alongside Belgian pop star-slash-madman Luc Van Acker. 

Opening with the droning noise and murderous caterwauling of the title track, the band pushes into the massive “Cattle Grind” — a sinister, murderous rampage that also showcases a young, brash, and hungry Connelly (literally and figuratively — check out how skinny he was in the video counterpart. Hah!). A series of punishing electronic rock assaults follows, with iconic cuts like “38”, “TV Mind”, and “No Devotion” being even more aggressive live than their studio counterparts. This, as I’ve said already, is seriously classic industrial rock, both hypnotic and stomping with a perfect melding of live instrumentation and electronic programming. 

The huge, pulsing “Union Carbide” opens the second disc, and the wild rampage continues through “Attack Ships On Fire” and “No Devotion” before giving way to the 1991 live tracks that do flow rather seamlessly, despite the difference in venue, era, and personnel. Mr. Connelly’s impersonation/performance “as John Lydon” on the cover of PIL’s “Public Image” is perfect and spot-on!

The DVD release (oddly sold separately from the music) also shows a curious and alarming lack of care and attention. Having never been available on DVD, this was always part of a Ministry/Revolting Cocks fans’ bucket list. But MVD (or Cleopatra)’s shoddy packaging again seems slapdash and careless. The transfer is merely adequate, possibly from a VHS source (most certainly not cleaned up in any way), and the art and labeling echoes the same misinformation as the CD (Connelly being from Killing Joke, etc.). 

All said, a lackluster treatment given to an album and video that remains, at least to me, a near-perfect representation of everything the Cocks ever stood for — unbridled hedonism, excess, and stainless steel precision. It’s a shame to see this great album and video treated so poorly, though I am quite happy to have an “YGDSOB” on DVD officially after all these years.

MVD Audio

Al Jourgensen's official site

“Not Another Celebrity Movie” DVD (director: Emilio Ferrari)

Fun parody with star value (kind of...)

This low-brow comedy throws some really entertaining curves, even if the comedy itself falls a bit flat. Surely, the plot and story are secondary here, though, as Ferrari’s absurd and over-the-top collection of celebrity impersonators keeps this one pretty engrossing, especially as he parades out a virtually continuous array of them. In short, this is a fun and really 

Suffice to say, Charlie Sheen (alongside his many porn-star girlfriends) meets up with his “dealer”, Johnny Depp, and thus begins to plot a big “Oceans 11” style kidnapping of Justin Bieber. Along the way, Sheen (and cohorts including Brad Pitt and George Clooney) meet up with Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Donald Trump, Robert DeNiro, Usher, Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Daniel Craig, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah, and more. Sure, some of the impersonators are a wee bit “off”, but others are marvelously “spot-on”, making this one a real hoot.

Forget the silly dialogue, as you could do a lot worse with more “mainstream” comedies. “Not Another Celebrity Movie” is a fun and memorable film, and one worth seeking out if watching a full-length film of celebrity impersonators sounds like a good time. You may just be pleasantly surprised.

MVD Visual

Beer: NOLA Brewing

New Orleans Lager and Ale Brewing Company (NOLA) started up in 2008, surely to help jump-start the craft brew scene in Louisiana (which, in my opinion, was sort of lacking). Since then, they’ve established themselves as premier purveyors of quality brews, and although their distribution footprint is only in a few Southern states, I was able to sample some of their brews thanx to a friend visiting New Orleans. Here’s my rundown:

REBIRTH PALE ALE - 4/5

Appearance: Pours a semi-clear golden amber, with a nice head of off-white bubbles. Lace is negligible.

Aroma: Crisp citrus hops and a touch of caramel malts. Very nice.

Taste: Heavy-handed on the hops — citrus and tropical fruit come through here loud and clear, with a lingering bitterness. I do detect a pleasant malty backbone, but this is first and foremost about the hops. Call this one a session IPA and it would be a big hit. Solid!

HOPITOULAS IPA - 3.5/5

Appearance: Semi-cloudy amber, with some slight sediment. Maybe an older can? Big, thick head of bone-white carbonation, and a solid tree-line of lace.

Aroma: Subtle floral and pine hops. Not bad.

Taste: Tangy, bitter, acidic hops. Very spiky and incisive on the palate, with more pine and bitter citrus grapefruit hops dominating the malt backbone.

Not a bad IPA, just not a great one.

BROWN ALE - 3.5/5

Appearance: Pours from the can a muddy, murky brownish amber, with a fair head of fine off-white bubbles. Lace seems spotty and light.

Aroma: Nose is a dirty, earthy mix of malts — a tad sweet with a tinge of citrus underneath. I get some roasty chocolate malts, and some sweetness. 

Taste: Light and almost lacking. I get a slight nuttiness and roasty element on the palate, but the light body is deceiving. There’s enough taste here to remain drinkable and sessionable. This one is faithful to the classic English brown ale style, and pretty decent.

BLONDE ALE - 3.5/5

Appearance: Pours from the can a cloudy golden with substantial head of off-white bubbles. Thin wisp of lace.

Aroma: A little caramel, a little toasty grain, and a hint of citrus hops falling behind. Pretty solid.

Taste: Mild and malty, but balanced nonetheless. A very engaging session ale here, though it certainly won’t impress hop-heads or most beer nerds. I can imagine this being quite refreshing on a hot summer day. Overall, not a complicated brew, but certainly an enjoyable one.

NOLA site

“A Free Bird” DVD (director Gregg Russell)

Charming indie redneck comedy

Endorsed by Headline News vixen (and amateur country pop singer) Robin Meade, this indie comedy certainly has its perks. Down-and-out slackerly country boy J.T. gets fired from his steakhouse job, sees his car break down, and has a jealous common-law wife on his ass about, well, everything (his slutty side girlfriend notwithstanding). 

Anyway, J.T. meets up with his not-so-upstanding friends to plot a robbery of the same steak house he was once employed by. So after hundreds of steaks end up stolen, and the boys can't find a buyer for the stolen meat, things just go further South. Equal parts comedy and silly drama, “A Free Bird” is a charmingly well scripted and acted film, albeit not as “hilarious” as the packaging proclaims. Still, this was an enjoyable little film that won’t get much notice, but could end up a sort of cult indie hit, given the right exposure. Well-done

MVD Visual

“Arkham Sanitarium: Soul Eater” DVD (director: Julian Grant)

Bad, bad Cthulhu

Like a scripted “Ghost Adventures” or “Ghost Hunters”, this lame flash-lit, hand-cam stinker has virtually nothing to offer toward watchability or interest. The premise? A team of pretty abhorrent paranormal investigators (each less likable than the last) enter the famous Arkham Sanitarium to discover Lovecraftian Cthulhu monsters. Really? If that sounds like a bad idea, you’re right. It is.

First, it must be said that a viewer has to empathize with the protagonists. We’re led to hate them all. They are simply bad people, with no redeeming positive qualities. The hand-cam “genre” (possibly inspired by the classic “Blair Witch Project”) has been beaten to death, and this one only serves to eulogize the style. Effects are poor, script is poor, and I could barely sit through this one. You won’t get the gore, the suspense, or the breasts that a great z-grade horror film requires.

Avoid this one at all costs.

Chemical Burn Entertainment