Yeah, it was definitely a bummer when Stephen Brodsky put an end to his first post-Cave In band, The Octave Museum. But it took a mere few weeks for him to resurface with another project. This one is called Pet Genius and it also features J.R. Conners who was also in Cave In.
This shit proves that Stephen Brodsky is some sort of super-human. Everything he touches turns to sonic gold. He could probably stand in front of a microphone and make armpit farts and it would come out sounding like the most beautiful music anyone has ever heard.
The first song on the site is called "Man of the Mountain" and I can't stop listening to it. It starts out with some West Coast-style stoner metal and then abruptly turns into a pretty acoustic folky pop song with trademark Brodsky vocal harmonies and weird spacey guitars. The lyrics are kinda stupid, but this dude smokes tons of dope so lay off. And besides, The Beatles wrote really stupid lyrics and everyone seems to like them just fine.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Pet Genius
Friday, March 16, 2007
"I'm Gonna Live" by The Circle Jerks
If there is anything that Keith Morris is, it's a complete nutcase. Once I saw an interview with him and he spent most of the time talking about how delicious the Nutrageous bar he was eating at the time was. And he wasn't doing it to be funny or ironic or anything. He just thought he was making some sort of valid point. Apparently he tells a bunch of lies about D. Boon on the Minuteman documentary too, but that's neither here nor there.
Another thing that Keith is, without any sort of doubt, is the greatest punk rock singer of all time. Crusty old dudes who probably wear jean shorts will tell you that "Nervous Breakdown" by Black Flag is the greatest song ever written. Why? Because Keith Morris' vocal delivery is unreal. Full of energy and character, he was spastic and unique, full of a type of soul unheard of at the time. Have you ever heard Hank Rollins sing "Nervous Breakdown?" Jesus Christ, what the fuck was Greg Ginn thinking when he let that shit go down?
Either way, Keith's work with the Circle Jerks has its moments as well. Group Sex is nearly flawless. Their later records tapered off into a whole lot of OK, but the Jerks have just recorded a new song! And guess what? It's really great! In true Circle Jerks style, this bad boy clocks in at about 50 seconds. Unrelenting energy and a phenomenal performance by Mr. Morris makes you hate the fact that all these great bands of your past are cashing in on reunions a little less. If a new album is in the works here, all I have to say is "bring it on, you old dorks!"
Listen to "I'm Gonna Live" on the Circle Jerks' official myspace page HERE.
