Archive for the ‘video’ Category

Shoegazer Sunday: Bailter Space’s “Robot World”

Sunday, December 15th, 2013

Here’s New Zealand’s Baltier Space with the title track from their Robot World shoegaze album, which checks in on the crunchier side of classic shoegaze:

Insanely Awesome Japanese Lego Ball Machine

Friday, December 13th, 2013

Happy Friday the 13th!

I’m not a LEGO fanatic, but I know two people who are, so I thought I’d put this up for them:

This is for Kurt Baty and Steve Jackson, who now need to step up their LEGO game…

New Godzilla Trailer

Tuesday, December 10th, 2013

There’s a new Godzilla trailer out:

Points:

  • I’m a Godzilla fan from way back in my youth.
  • This is directed by Gareth Edwards, whose Monsters I loved.
  • It has a script by Frank Darabont, AKA “The Only Guy Who Can Make Great Films From Stephen King’s Novels.”
  • Holy shit does Zilla look big.
  • If you need something to fill the time between now and May 2014, may I suggest Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack? Despite the cheesy title, this is actually the best Godzilla film since the original Gojira
  • Mood: Cautious Optimism.

    Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark

    Friday, December 6th, 2013

    Thanks to the keen eye of SF Signal’s John DeNardo, we have word that the auteurs at The Asylum or offering their homage to Terror of MechaGodzilla: Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark.

    It looks like pretty much everything we’ve come to expect from The Asylum…

    William Shatner’s Annual Warning Not To Set Yourself On Fire Frying a Turkey

    Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

    Just as I’ve done the last two Thanksgivings, I bring you a public service announcement from William Shatner: try not to set yourself on fire while frying a turkey.

    For those with low Shatner thresholds, the advice is:

  • Don’t overfill the pot with oil.
  • Turn off the flame when lowering the turkey into the oil.
  • Always fry your turkey away from your house.
  • Properly thaw the turkey before cooking.
  • Use a grease-approved fire extinguisher.
  • If you’re going to fry a turkey, this is pretty sound advice.

    The remix!

    Shoegazer Sunday: Golden Garden’s “Ghostwood”

    Sunday, November 24th, 2013

    I was in the mood for something mellow, and Golden Garden‘s “Ghostwood” admirably fits the bill, even if the video comes in almost entirely on the cheap side of the “cheap but arty” continuum.

    Lead singer Aubrey Rachel Violet Bramble (if in fact that’s a single person’s real name and not a real name + fake name combo) has the most obvious “little girl” voice this side of Alison Shaw of Cranes.

    The Complete Monty Python Reunion Press Conference

    Thursday, November 21st, 2013

    In case you hadn’t heard, Monty Python’s Flying Circus is reuniting for a live show at London’s 02 Arena next July 1st.

    Because I like Monty Python, and because I’m not above blatant click-bait, here’s a video of the entire press conference announcing the reunion.

    Random Notes:

    1. The sound seems screwed up after about 5 minutes, but you can still hear them.
    2. Love the wrong names.
    3. Love Gilliam’s Mr. Bill shirt.
    4. Carol Cleveland looks really, really good for her age.

    Finnish Bread Ad, As by Ingmar Bergman

    Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

    Don Webb alerted me to this Finnish bread ad which is so depressingly grim that it’s hilarious:

    Translation to the only dialog: “Well are you hungry or not?”

    On Don’s Facebook page, Marc Laidlaw suggested that the father and son might be the same actors who were in Rare Exports, and I think he might be right.

    I worked with a Finn once, and he said Finnish National Health care didn’t bother with such frivolities as Novocaine when they were drilling your teeth when he was growing up. No wonder they kicked the Soviet Union’s ass in the winter war…

    Shoegazer Sunday: Slowness’ “Walls of Blue”

    Sunday, November 17th, 2013

    For your Sunday dose of Shoegaze, here’s San Francisco’s Slowness (who describe themselves as a “drone pop band”) with “Walls of Blue,” a steady-state song that sounds like an extended riff off the end of Pink Floyd’s “Time.”

    The Lion Sleeps Tonight

    Thursday, November 14th, 2013

    Since I’ve reached the age where being “cool” is impossible anyway, I can link things others might find corny, like this version of The Tokens revisiting their big hit “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”:

    This, of course, was an adaptation of Solomon Linda’s “Mbube”:

    But the Tokens version is better and more interesting, despite the fact that they could be mistaken for 4 Jacks and a Jill. It’s obvious lead singer Jay Siegel still loves singing this song even after four decades.

    But my favorite version, which sort of combines the sensibilities of the two, is Ladysmith Black Mombazo and all-girl acapella group The Mint Julips covering it, from a PBS special called Spike and Company Do It Acapella from back in 1990.