There's a fine line between awesome and moronic

Municipal Waste - You're Cut Off

vs.


Apes Of Wrath - Booze

You be the judge. They both look like cartoons to me. (And this is from someone who loves Gang Green.)

7/04/2012: Update - I started writing this in my next entry, but this is probably a more fitting place.

I really do like Municipal Waste. They were one of, if not the first of the crossover/thrash revivalists. But unlike a lot of similar current bands who deliver a competent rehash, Municipal Waste have taken the crazy, party vibe of some 80's thrash to a more fun and ridiculous (in a good way) level, on record and especially live. The first time I was supposed to see them, they couldn't make it because apparently the night before the show, one of the band members was doing flaming shots at a bar and had lit his arm on fire. The first time I did actually see them was at The Fest. The show had filled to capacity while we were waiting in line, so JGoon and other people started climbing over a wooden fence to sneak in. The fence broke before I could climb over, so I crawled on my back underneath a small opening in the fence, narrowly avoiding a very aggressive bouncer and then walked nonchalantly to the outside bar to order 2 beers. It was a pretty fitting entrance to a show full of beer bongs, boogie board crowd surfing, guys dressed as wizards and general mayhem not unlike another of their videos.

Missing Persons - Spring Session M (1982)

I used to watch A LOT of MTV when it first went on the air. And then for maybe 10 years after. At the beginning, every band seemed flamboyant and weird, even for the 80's. Every video seemed iconic. But one band that always stood out was Missing Persons. That was probably in part due to lead singer, Dale Bozzio.

For a strange New Wave band, they had a lot of videos that were in regular rotation on MTV in the early days. And in each of their videos, Dale was always oddly and scantily dressed. As a kid, her punky sexuality scared me a little b/w made me feel funny in the pants. Her weird and revealing style could definitely be seen as an influence or precursor to Lady Gaga (especially according to youtube comments) with lots of tape, little fabric and wild makeup and hairstyles. She actually started out as a Playboy Bunny, which led her to L.A. and then to working with Frank Zappa with her future husband and Missing Persons drummer and co-founder, Terry Bozzio.

Although a lot of 80's bands are remembered as much, if not more so, for their style, Missing Persons' first album had a string of hits including "Words," "Walking In LA," "Destination Unknown" and "Mental Hopscotch." Spring Session M is probably one of my favorite New Wave albums, combining a sense of punk, hard rock playing ability, plenty of keyboard and catchy pop melodies. And besides Dale's unique look, she also had a unique singing style, hitting high notes with an unusual squeak. Terry Bozzio had a unique and energetic drumming style of his own as well, as you can see from any of their videos.

Missing Persons put out 2 other albums, but I can't say that I listen to them that often. There are some good songs here and there, but nothing as solid as their first album. The band and the Bozzio marriage split soon after the release of their 3rd album Color In Your Life. Their albums were re-released on CD a while back, but are all out of print now.

Missing Persons - Noticeable One

Missing Persons - Spring Session M (R) (vbr 0)

This is the 1995 CD Reissue version.

Bands still make videos?

Obits - Pine On

So Primavera Sound is going on here in Barcelona. I'm not a huge fan of any of the bands playing, except maybe The Cure, but luckily Veronica Falls and Milk Music are playing for free in the park tomorrow. I missed Obits today in the park, but I've seen them before, and laziness won out.

This video is actually almost 3 years old, but I hadn't seen it until a few days ago. I have actually watched a lot of these upside down face videos on Youtube though. (This one is probably my favorite.) So this video really spoke to me.