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Sunday, April 29, 2007

Woody Woodpecker: A Habitual Line Stepper

Sunday is TV theme song day here at POP ZEUS!

woody

Woody Woodpecker theme song

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Woody Woodpecker was an absolutely insane cartoon character. I remember working at a video store and the only things we were allowed to screen there were G rated tapes. Well one day we found a Woody Woodpecker compilation in the family section and it quickly became one of our favorite things to watch. In this particular installment, Woody had gone absolutely mad.

I think that the writers of this episodes may have been trying to somewhat subversive, or perhaps they were commenting on the virtues of sainty, but this cartoon was completely bat shit. And by the way, the people who scored the music for these old cartoons were out of their minds as well. Listen to the music without the cartoon and its like a bad acid trip. I couldn't find the cartoon in question on YouTube so here's a different one, dubbed in German instead. Which is in itself just as nuts. Birds don't speak German!

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Circular Saw Gets The Square

silverfishcover

Robert Pollard "Circle Saw Boys Club"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

The indominatable Robert Pollard has another new record out this month; Silverfish Trivia, the first release on his own Prom Is Coming label. I've lost count of how many records this dude has made and at this point it doesn't matter anymore. He's still one of the best living song writers and he proves it with this latest release. Take "Circle Saw Boys Club", where Pollard delivers his whimsical musings with the grace of an old hand at this shit, which he is. But don't take the word "old" in the wrong context. He's still as sharp on Silverfish as the rest of the indie rock kids, and still one step ahead. Go cry over that, Cold War Kids.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Show Us Your Weenus!

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Ween "Buckingham Green"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

If you read this regularly (and if you do, hey thanks!) you'll know that I've been developing an affinity for 70s progressive rock, mostly early Genesis. Well to mt progalicious delight I dug out this Ween track from 1997's The Mollusk that fits the early Genesis mold to a tee. "Buckingham Green" has all the makings of a Selling England By The Pound outtake, with it's weird upbuild and giant guitars. Enjoy prog posturing at its most pompous and proper!

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Costello's Petals

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Elvis Costello "15 Petals"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Elvis Costello never fails to impress me. Even when it's something I just rediscovered from a record he mad five years ago. "!5 Petals" from 2002's When I Was Cruel popped up on the old shuffle the other day and I was amazed by the creativity of the song as well as the artist, although I guess I shouldn't be anymore. This dude has been breaking new ground for years with no end in sight/

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Get To The Workin' Overtime Part!

big business hctww

Big Business "Hands Up"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Big Business is back with their latest LP Here Come The Waterworks, and they haven't seemed to fall off track at all. Their music is just as loud and unrelenting as ever before; maybe even more abrasive this time around. These guys are going to come to your town sooner or later, and yr going to go see them and yr gonna come back deaf. I'm gonna take this opportunity right now to deny any responsibility for that. Don't say POP ZEUS didn't warn you. But don't wear ear plugs, that would just be pussy.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Early Man Site, A Sign That Confuses Me Everytime I Drive To Vegas

earlyman

Early Man "Four Walls"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Early Man harkens back to Kill 'Em All era Metallica or Armed & Dangerous era Anthrax. This is defintely not a bad thing. One question concerning Anthrax by the way. They only have one song in the Guitar Hero games, and its the song "Madhouse"? Whose idea was this? Not "Belly Of The Beast" or "Skeletons In The Closet". Not even "Only". No the powers that be decided to go with "Madhouse". A weak choice if you ask me. But oh yeah, Early Man is good. Check 'em out.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Street Pharmacists

leo living_w_living

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists "A Bottle Of Buckie"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

You get what you expect from Ted Leo. Usually you expect tightly wound pop rock hymns that always go on just a little bit longer than they probably should. You expect song writing that's a cross between traditional Irish drinking songs and the Buzzcocks early catalogue. You expect sort of an ADD approach to guitar playing, and the refusal for any song to just sit still. As expected, all of this can be found on Ted Leo & The Pharmacist's latest Living With The Living.

It's a hit or miss collection of songs, the brightest spots being when Leo and his gang go the full frontal attack method of straight ahead rock ("La Costa Brava", "The Unwanted Things"), the darker moments being when Leo gets political and conceptual ("Bomb Repeat Bomb", a song so inane that it's the only one I deleted completely from my iTunes). But as expected, most of the record is fun enough to make you bounce around yr living room with the headphones on. Just watch out you don't step on your pets. They don't understand rock n roll like you do.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Can You Tell Me How To- Damn That's Some Shit Hot Funk!

Sunday is TV theme song day here at POP ZEUS!

sesame coles

Sesame Street Colsing Theme

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Everbody watched Sesame Street as a kid. In fact I hear some kids are actually still doing it. If you ever wanted to see two siames twin monsters argue with each other or watch old grainy footage of black and asian kids playing with each other then Sesame Street was the place to go. But did you ever make it through an entire episode? I don't know how long that show's running time was but for a kid it seemed like an eternity. If you ever did make it to the end credits that you would know that the closing theme was funky as shit. So you got your dose of the funk as well as getting learned. And getting learned is real good. Cause then you grows up and you know how to spell good.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Man Loses Pants, Life.

dusk at cubist castle

The Olivia Tremor Control "Jumping Fences"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Let's dip into the past for a minute. The year is 1996. Bill Clinton is running a scandal proof administration, a young Jim Carrey is teaching the world to smile, and the Houston Oilers are still playing football with impunity, unaware that they will soon become the Tennessee Titans. They will later resurrect as the proud Houston Texans. But forget about that.

There's this whole musical collective that call themselves the Elephant 6. Have you heard about these guys? They all have weird names and some guy wrote a record about the ghost of Anne Frank. That'll probably suck, but this Olivia Tremor Control record is really good. It's called Dusk At Cubist Castle and it says it's "music from an unrealized film script". Whatever. This stuff sounds like great 60s pop to me. Now I wonder what that silly old 2Pac is up to? What? He's been shot? Oh noes!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

I Was Playing Golden Axe At The Time

neon bible

The Arcade Fire "Keep The Car Running"

The Arcade Fire "(Antichrist Television Blues)"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Here yet again is another post that the blogerati will scoff at. This is very two months ago, I know, but I stayed away from the Arcade Fire on purpose. I guess too much hype scares me away. This band has had its share of limelight for a while now, and the only song in my iTunes by them that was listenable was "Rebellion (Lies)", but sometime in the past few weeks the Arcade Fire finally clicked. So I decided to go out and buy their big new hit record, Neon Bible.

First off, I immediately liked this better than anything I had heard before by this band. I hear Springsteen all over this record. I know they're supposed to be so arty and everything but listening to tracks like "Antichrist Television Blues" and "Keep The Car Running" I get a familiar, Boss-like feeling. So I didn't believe the hype and Neon Bible came through for me. I guess that means I should go out and buy the new Shaw Blades record now. I mean, that shit has been EVERYWHERE!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Gored By The 'Lope Horn

antelope

Antelope "Mirroring"

Antelope "The Demon"

Antelope "Wandering Ghost"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

If Antelopes were angular, minimalistic animals, then this band's name would be right on the money. They're not, but they decided to call themselves Antelope anyway. This Dischord band recently played up in SF with my beloved DIE!DIE!DIE!, but seeing as the D!D!D! show started at six and Antelope came on about eleven, I can't tell you much about they're performance. Let's just say it was a long night. I can offer you some of their tracks however, and curse myself for imbibing too much to enjoy this sharp minded rock.

http://www.myspace.com/ant3lop3

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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Why You Wanna Stooge Me Up?

stooges

The Stooges "The Weirdness"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Yes, I bought the new Stooges record, The Weirdness. No. I don't like it. I keep giving it chances though. I know I should like it. Its Iggy and the Stooges for fuck's sake. But I just can't force myself to enjoy it. The songs sound like they probably could been written in the early 70s. The guitars sound cool and Iggy's performance is good, but it's still slightly off. I just don't know what it could be.

Perhaps its merely the fact that a highly influential band is now cashing in on their acclaim, but about twenty years too late. I saw these guys perform and they were good, but on record it just doesn't have the oomph of Fun House and Raw Power. I'm still going to keep digging away at this record, though. I want to like it so bad. Maybe in a year I'll realize its greatness.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

You've Been A Bad Girl. I'm Here To Take You Downtown.

Sunday is TV theme song day here at Pop Zeus!

chippydippy8er

Chip N Dale: Rescue Rangers theme song

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

I had this as a Nintendo game. It sucked. Duck Tales was away better game as well as a way better theme song. So basically, fuck Chip And Dale. That is all.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

I Turned It Off Before The CD Even Ended

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Modest Mouse "Little Motel"

Modest Mouse "Edit The Sad Parts"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

So now that every blog in the universe has weighed in on what they think of the new Modest Mouse record I guess it's my turn. I'll keep this quick and to the point: I don't like it. I'm not going to go on a diatribe about how they've sold out or anything like that. I just feel it doesn't sound like their other records that I really love. Modest Mouse's appeal to me was always that they sounded very messy and muddled but broke through that with amazing emotional clarity.

This record does not have that (nor did their last, for that matter). I'll continue to buy their records but I'm not suggesting this one to anyone. Seeing as you're used to seeing mp3s from what I talk about here, I'll put up "Little Motel". I chose it pretty randomly. In case you want to know what I mean by older MM, here's "Edit The Sad Parts". Contrast and compare.

Friday, April 13, 2007

In The Beginning

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Genesis "In The Cage"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

My newfound appreciation for prog rock continues to the most obvious next step, Genesis' The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Never being a fan of Peter Gabriel nor Phil Collins, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the two of them together. This is Genesis before Collins and that douche from Mike & the Mechanics took the band over and started recorded pop drivel like "Invisible Touch" and "I Can't Dance". I'll let Phil Collins have "Sussudio" though. That is a good song.

Anyway, early Genesis was weird in a fabulous way. Watching this video from Youtube alone got me up to speed as to what they were like. Not everyone's cup of tea, but art rock at it's finest for sure. And I've never seen a cool looking Peter Gabriel before, yet here he is!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Bring The Thunder

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Lair Of The Minotaur "Behead The Gorgon"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Lair of The Minotaur. Yes that's the name of the band. Yes they rock. It's hard not to when you have a name like that. No it's not juice harp music, but I can easily see how you made that assumption. It's death metal of the heaviest variety. And with titles like "Juggernaut of Metal" and "Engorged With Unborn Gore" its obvious that they are through fucking around with you. LOTM has come to bring the god damn thunder. And if you're not ready for it then you should start training for it right away. I know this Yugoslavian dude who can help you out. I'll give him your email address.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Last Chance To See THE!THE!THE! (If You're German)

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DIE!DIE!DIE! ""Auckland Is Burning"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Have I mentioned DIE!DIE!DIE! lately? I know I have, less than a week ago at that. But you know I saw them in San Francisco and I have to tell you this band is among the best I've ever seen live. They're playing one more night here in Los Angeles and I compel you to go out at see them. I've mentioned many times that they're from New Zealand. Well I looked at a globe and I realized that's really far from California. From that I deducted that they might not be around again soon. Don't miss out on your chance to get rocked Kiwi style!

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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Lady Priests? Now I've Seen Everything!!

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Priestess "I Am The Night, Colour Me Black"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Priestess has that 70s hard rock thing going for them. Its like they grew up only listening to two cassettes: Judas Priest's Turbo Lover and the Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits. This Montreal baased bands major label debut is actually a remastered version of their earlier independent release, which means they have no excuse for not writing more rock songs very soon. Unless of course they're lazy strung out drug addicts coasting along on the rock n roll lifestyle. To which I say HUZZAH!

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Ralphie Is A Genius

robot snakes

Robot Snakes, Robot Snakes
they attackin me
and Andy

Robot Snakes, Robot Snakes
they attackin me
and Andy

Snakes, snakes they attacking
oh my god, i'm backing
oh god, snakes attacking
come on police, come with me
why you do these snakes on me?

snake attack
AAAH AAAH AAAH!
snake attack
AAAH AAAH AAAH!

what's goin snakes around
they looking at me now

whats goin on snakes?
you wanna snake me up?
snakey clown?
you wanna snake me up?

look like a steak
but i'm not a steak
i'm a shrimp, steak!
let's get on this steak!

Robot Snakes, Robot Snakes
they attackin me
and Andy

Robot Snakes, Robot Snakes
they attackin me
and Andy

"Robot Snakes" video

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Everybody's Gotta Die Right

thethethe

Die!Die!Die! "Blue Skies"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

As many of you may know, I have been a huge proponent of New Zealand's DieDie!Die! ever since I saw them in Austin last year. Well they're here in the states for (what I think is) their first U.S. tour in support of their latest record produced by Steve Albini (of Page & Plant fame). I'm going up to San Francisco to see them at the Hemlock and then they're playing down here in glamorous Hollywood at the Echo. See them if you want some cream in your jeans.

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Monday, April 02, 2007

Whot's All This Then?

Huh?

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Holy Fucking Shit, Batman!

Sunday is tv theme song day here at Pop Zeus!

batmen

"Batman Theme"
"Batman Riddles The Riddler"
"Batusi A-Go! Go!"
"Batman Blues"
"Batman Thaws Mr. Freeze"

[right click to download, ctrl or option click if yr a mac!]

Keeping in the 60s television spirit of yesterday's Monkees post, it only makes sense to turn to what I feel to be the Monkees television companion piece, the Batman show. Perhaps I relate them because they used to be on back to back reruns every day on Channel 50 in Chicago, which has since I believe gone the way of UPN. Batman was hands down my favorite live action show as a child, the silliest thing in the world even then.

Enjoy now some selections from the Batman show, and remember to keep your carousel-reversal spray in yr utility belt!