Eight Songs That Rocked My Socks In 2008

2008 was a crappy year for lots of people. Here are eight musical reasons from Memphis that helped me weather the shitstorm:

“Stinky Man” by The Original Cyndi – What starts out like some mutant sister of The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” quickly turns into an ode to bad hygiene. As is rote with Cyndi, the song is a little different every time they do it. I have video of it that I’ll be posting very soon. Currently unreleased.

“Pointless Drinking” by Amy LaVere – Yeah, everybody and their mama loves Amy and after having heard Anchors & Anvils I can see why. This is my favorite song off of it.

“Holly Would” by Angel Sluts – You know, one day someone’s gonna find this song and do a mash-up of it with the Talking Heads classic “Psycho Killer”. I’m just sayin’. From Designer Heat on Wrecked-Um Records.

“Make Up Your Mind” by Holly Cole – As much as I liked Fearless And Free, this song is massive. A total barn-burner. From the Makeshift 5 compilation, obviously on Makeshift.

“Carbon Dioxide” by Antique Curtains – More surf-freakout-thrash punk, delivered in the usual unhinged way. The metal bit at the end is price of admission alone. From Dressed In Vertigo on OK Stars/Makeshift (also on the Makeshift 5 comp)

“Panic” by J.D. Reager – It’s not simply because it’s a waltz, or because J.D. is at the top of his form…it’s that melody line that firmly entrenches itself in my skull. From The Repechage on Makeshift/Migrant.

“Insisting” by The Family Ghost – I’ve heard it twice now. “A Series of False Starts” aside, this might be their best tune yet. My favorite part? The interlocking clean guitar lines which create a beautiful crystalline structure. Currently unreleased.

“Sins” by Tiffany Harmon – A delicately moody track: soft guitar, Tiffany’s haunting voice, and even a little bit of whistling at the end. Currently unreleased.

Honorable mention, even though he’s no longer a Memphian, is Clouded Son for his “…And the Stereo Says” from the self-released Unfinished Business.

Hey, Twin Pilot Gig News!

Harry (of Angel Sluts fame) is in this other band, Twin Pilot, and they’re playing the Hi-Tone this Saturday night with a Nashville band called…The Medders? Anyway, it’s a $5 cover (like everything else in town) and you should go.

REVIEW: The Angel Sluts

The Angel Sluts
Designer Heat
Wrecked-Em Records, 2008

Loud, fast punk rock…you can always find it in Memphis, though the town itself isn’t exactly legendary for it. Overshadowed by the blues, Stax/Volt and Big Star, and contemporary artists that may or may not represent ethics that run counter to all that punk stands for. Consider this, though: The Sex Pistols played here at a site where now there stands a Taco Bell. This place was marked by the slimy touch of punk, christened by what would end up representing the idea itself (apologies to the Ramones, who deserve that honor far more in this semi-humble writer’s opinion).

History lesson aside, there are a handful of groups here that still adhere to the old standards that punk was established on: loudness, speed, and a blatant disregard for mainstream standards of ‘pretty’ and ‘safe’ (as sonics go). Among them there stands a transplant from NOLA named Harry, who fronts a couple of those bands. One of which, The Angel Sluts, has delivered a fiery slice of the stuff called Designer Heat.

It is precisely what you would ask for out of a record made by people with such respect for the old school. Harry’s vocals sneeringly delivered in such a manner that you feel the person is pummeling you by phone, rapid chord changes from overdriven, fuzzy guitars, and persistent urgent drumming from drummer-about-town John Boz. Only the final song, “Chalmet Girl In the C.I.A.”, clocks in at anything over the four minute mark (4:04, to be exact).

A detractor would say it’s formulaic, but I say it’s tradition. Punk isn’t supposed to be some mind-expanding, exploratory music – it is intended to be explosive and immediate. Designer Heat is that in spades.

You’ve been wondering…

I’m still out and about, up and at ‘em. I’ve been to a couple of things (a really good set from one-half of The Family Ghost at the P&H, jazz night at Neil’s, and a couple of open mics at Republic Coffee) and I swear I’m gonna have all that stuff up this weekend!

Additionally, I saw a poster just yesterday for a new Angel Sluts album…gotta find that and let you know what I think of it.