Do the Shy Tuna: The B-52s rocked hard when they were young

I've always loved The B-52s. For all the snarling rebellion it represents, rock and roll can take itself pretty seriously. The B-52s took the stuffing out of rock, dedicating themselves to ridiculous lyrics, ridiculous dancing and having a damn good time. More than anything, they were silly, which more people should try practicing in life. It's kind of a shame they get tossed off as a novelty band - though even as novelty, do you know anyone who hates "Rock Lobster?"

The sad thing is people don't bother exploring their earlier records, which are pretty solid. Their first two albums in particular - a self-titled debut and a follow-up called Wild Planet - deserve to be in any record collection (or at least on your hard drive).

"I'll give you fish / I'll give you can-dy." Lyrics like these made me fall in love with this band. Cindy and Kate's presence didn't hurt - ah, hell, and Fred, too. The guy knows how play a tambourine for sure.

The band has some incredible music besides their hits. "Dance This Mess Around" is definitely a favorite, and looks awesome in the live show up above. But what I really wanted to post is this video from 1978, when the band was lighting up the Athens, GA scene. It's muddy as hell, the performance doesn't gel as perfectly as on the album, and the band is clearly still getting used to the stage. Still, they sound awesome, and you can't help but wonder what it was like to be in a dingy rock club back then, watching these college kids doing the shy tuna onstage. As Cindy wailed back then, they weren't no Limburger.

Thee Oh Sees' Castlemania makes for a thoroughly weird status quo

Ever buy an album solely for its cover art? It's usually not a great idea - much like buying a pulpy paperback novel based on the cover illustration, or renting what looks like an awesome '80s horror flick, only to get home and realize they blew the entire budget on the clamshell box art.

Once in a while, though, things do work out, and you end up with a record that looks as awesome as it sounds. I feel like most Thee Oh Sees albums are like that - their artwork always manages to be playful, and even a little childish, while conveying a menacing undercurrent. I loved the cover for Castlemania as soon as I saw it, and the songs didn't let me down, either.

Treblezine has my review of the record, which, I have to be honest, isn't all that different from the rest of the band's output. That said, there's nothing wrong with being consistent, especially when you're this good (and this weird). The band's scuzzy garage-punk is the perfect way to get your summer started right.

Watch the video for "I Need See" below:

Lobisomem - Onze Pedras review at Verbicide

Looks can be deceiving. Just because an album cover features a woman throwing Gozerian-style bolts from her eyes doesn't mean the music matches the image. In the case of Lobisomem's new record, in fact, it's quite the opposite.

It's ironic, too; Lobisomem is Portuguese for "werewolf," so you'd expect music you wouldn't want to jog to under a full moon. But Onze Pedras is actually a collection of chill, if rather bouncy, electronica. There are some surging beats and lots of clatter, akin to Caribou's work back when he was still known as Manitoba.

Read my review for the album at Verbicide.

As a little bonus in the spirit of Halloween, read on past the jump to see a few of my favorite frightening album covers.

The Dead Weather proves rock is alive and kicking with Sea of Cowards

The latest Dead Weather album is a lot of things: Bizarre, dark, alluring. But mostly it's old-fashioned hard rock, with guitars crunchier than your breakfast cereal, and probably twice as good for you.

Verbicide Magazine has my review of Sea of Cowards, their new album.

Zola Jesus raises goth from the dead

My high school wardrobe included more flannel than solid black, but despite that, I've always been a big fan of goth's dark theatricality. Zola Jesus is the most recent musician I can think of to bring back that old undead sound, blending it with synthesizers and dream-pop.

Check out my review of Stridulum, her new EP, over on Treblezine.

EDIT: Anyone interested can listen to her music at its most creepy and flighty over at SickoftheRadio.com. Yes, there's lots of moaning, wailing and funeral march drumbeats--and I love it.

Welcome!

This blog is a portal to my past, linking to various writings from throughout my working career.

I grew up in San Diego, CA, and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from San Diego State University. I learned a lot about writing while working at the school paper, The Daily Aztec. While there, I served as the assistant editor of the arts section, Tempo.

Journalism

After graduation, I covered a variety of news stories for The Orange County Register. I have a passion for features, and published a few on the Register's front cover, including a story about Leonid Stadnik, one of the contenders for the title of "tallest man in the world." (part two is here)

Other subjects I covered included:

Crime                          Education                           Business                      Features

Marketing

I left journalism in 2008 to work for Nobis Interactive, a SEO marketing company. Our clients included StubHub.com, Playphone.com, and Appitalism.com. I've helped enhance their SEO rankings with blogs, articles and online content.

Read some examples of marketing copy I've written for smart phone apps:

Fruit Ninja

The stealthy arts of the ninja include assassination, deception, and making one heck of a fruit salad.

FatBooth

You! With the taco! Put that down and check out what you might look like if you eat five hundred more of those.

Bubble Wrap Wallpaper

It’s the most addictive substance known to man. Once you start poppin’ these, you’ll be hooked. 


Veggie Samurai HD

The produce department hates you. Benihana won’t take you back. Unleash your skills in the only place left where you can make your mark: Veggie Samurai HD, the long-awaited follow-up to the popular Fruit Ninja app.

Arts and Entertainment

I've written music reviews for Treblezine and Verbicide, and film reviews for The Parallax Review.

Music reviews:

The Dead Weather, Sea of Cowards                         Zola Jesus, Stridulum

David Bowie's Scary Monsters                                  Lou Reed's Transformer

Film reviews:

House of Games                                                         Exit Through the Gift Shop                                      

More film reviews can be found here.