The Shockedelic Radio Show Episode 5:01 "Love Is Like Helium"

The Shockedelic Radio Show
February 25th, 2009 - Episode 5:01
"Love Is Like Helium"

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Legal stuff:

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Happy 100th Post!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn! The big 100th post! Whadaya know?

I know, you're thinking.... Where the hell have you been? Ah, life is complicated. I have a lot to say, but I just can't seem to put finger to key these days.

There're lots of new Jpop albums I'm thrilled about. The Beat Crusaders have a new best of collection (with DVD!), as does Tommy Heavenly6/February6. Yeah, more on that one in a later post. I'll probably do that when I actually receive the overpriced sets. Yes. Sets. There's two of them... one for each alter ego. I'm also grooving to the new Hot Leg album, "Red Light Fever". Hot Leg is former "Darkness" lead singer Justin Hawkins' new band. Maybe this is the album The Darkness should have done after their debut instead of the album they did release. Maybe they'd still be together.

I've seen lots of really good movies, too, with the most endearing one being the Swedish horror fable, "Let The Right One In". I loathe Vampire movies as a rule, but this one is very special.

I've not been too excited about any of the Oscar picks for Best Picture this year. Nothing stands out. I liked "Slumdog Millionaire", but while it was very well made, it is by no means an Oscar worthy film. I'm surprised "Gran Torino" was snubbed, at the very least, in the best actor catagory since Clint Eastwood was brilliant in fairly complicated role. I suppose Heath Ledger will win for Best Supporting actor, but let's face it; he was okay at best. It would be better Robert Downey, Jr. gets it for "Tropic Thunder". Seems that's a bit of lip service for his best actor snub for Iron Man. Who knows, though?

I don't have much else to say at this time. Look for a new Shockedelic Radio Show in a couple of weeks. Until then, visit my Youtube page for a journey into my past.

Best Albums of 2008

Guys and gals, Lord Shockedelic has been sick with a nasty intestinal virus for the last month and that's why there's been no updates to this blog. I'm feeling better, now that I've passed the damned thing on to all my loved ones so here's a list of my favorite albums of 2008... late as it is... No countdown here. I'm going down from one to ten; the best and the rest. 'Course they're all the best.


The Major Labels
Aquavia

The nicest surprise this year was the coupling of Mike Viola and Bleu, along with their buddy Ducky Carlisle. The result was an explosion of Pop masterpieces and song cycles. No kidding, this was the best and most enduring listen of the year. As of this writing, it can still be had by clicking on the widget to your left. Cough cough.... it's free... cough cough....

Kimura Kaela
+1

Kaela's fourth album was a marked improvement over the slightly lackluster "Scratch". This new disc was a fun pastiche of Techno and hard guitar driven Pop. Kaela has never sounded so at ease and in control of her voice. She simply keeps getting better. I'm not sure yet if this is my favorite of her albums yet. It could be this or "Circle". Regardless, this is top shelf Pop and a perfect introduction to the music of Kimura Kaela.

The Foxboro Hot Tubs
Stop Drop and Roll

This album was the 'Knock-me-over-with-a-feather' release of the year. I wasn't aware of it's release until a few days beforehand and I was, admittedly, non plussed when I head it was Green Day and their touring members, but the 1960's throwback album cover and mini album sleeve packaging (along with a nice price of $8.00!) encouraged me to try it out. I'm glad I did, because this was a phenomenal piece of garage growl rock and roll. True, some of the songs are simple rewrites of actual 1960's nuggets ("The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and The Yardbirds' "Heart Full of Soul" are dug up and redressed), but I haven't heard primitive rock and roll done so well and urgently in years. I'll never be a big Green Day fan, but The Foxboro Hot Tubs and one of the best Rock and Roll units around right now.

Anna Tsuchiya
Nudy Show!

After "Strip Me?" a few years back, I'd been wondering if and when Anna Tsuchiya was going to do a follow up. "Strip Me?" was a solid debut and "Nudy Show!" ups the ante. "Nudy Show!" throws multiple genres of pop at the listener with equally high degrees of success. Most of the album rides on amped up rock and pop while the ballads are mostly contained to the second half of the disc. Anna Tsuchiya has one of the strongest, evocative and unique voices in JPop and JRock and she has a marvelous ear for song style and arrangement. "Nudy Show!" is worth a few dozen spins.

McFly
Radio:ACTIVE (MAIL UK Free Paper Edition)

I'm giving the high marks on McFly's new album to the version they gave away with the Mail UK paper a few months before the actual, official CD release of "Radio:ACTIVE". Te reason for this is simple. The Giveaway Edition is a shorter, stronger album. The Song selection is strong as well as the very sequencing of the tracks. The retail edition is longer with 4 new (weaker) songs and a re sequencing of the existing songs that takes away the power the earlier version had. That said, the giveaway edition is a powerhouse of a powerpop album from a group of talented kids that become men right before your ears on this album. Either version has great songs and is worth a listen, but the UK Mail edition is the one to own.

Furukawa Miki
Bondage Heart

Miki Furukawa, founder and bassist of the late great band Supercar finally released an album this year and it's a doozy. Equal parts Mazzy Starr and T. Rex, this is an album that defies classification. It's raw and dirty, but sweet and gentle... often in the same song at the same time.

SHAKALABBITS
SHAKALABBITS

I'd only heard of this established Japanese Ska Band this year. I thought their latest, self titled album was a debut. I was so very wrong. This, their 6th album, actually finds them drifting further away from their ska roots; relying instead of monster guitar riffs and super sly hooks. Lead Singer UKI's mousy vocals slam right up against the bands' wall of sound. I love this band and, late or not, am glad to have joined the party.

Kaiser Chiefs
Off With Their Heads

The Kaiser Chiefs 3rd album is an improvement over "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" in that it actually sounds like the band is more comfortable in their skins. This current album pretends like YT, AM never happened and picks up where "Employment", their debut, left off. It's loud and ballsy, catchy and snotty. That's all anyone could ask.

Humbert Humbert
Makkurayami no Niramekko

Another discovery for this year, Humbert Humbert is a Japanese band that plays Western Roots music. That's right, you'll find Appalachian Mountain music here as well and German and Scottish folk. It's a bit jarring to hear such familiar traditional music being sung in Japanese, but it's certainly welcome. The vocals are relaxed and the playing simple and assured. This one is for the adventurous Country Bluegrass fan.

Brian Eno and David Byrne
Everything that happens will happen today

What happens when two Avant Garde Rock Gods reunite for an album? Magic. Be prepared to be transported back to the 1980's with this quirky and lightly funky selection of songs. Byrne's vocals never age and Brian Eno will always be the penultimate alt rock weirdo. Together, they create the stuff of legend. Kids today won't care (and should they?), but us oldsters can indulge in a bit of old school alt rock comfort food.

On a lighter note...

Remember love.
JWL
9 October 1940
8 December 1980

RIP, Forrest J. Ackerman

I've been itching to write something, anything, just to say, "I'm still here."

Whatever I was about to write has to take the back burner today. Friends, Forrest J. Ackerman has died at the age of 92. The Obit is here. There isn't much I can say that isn't being written across the world right now by people as sad and heartbroken as I am right now. I just found out about it a few minutes ago. What I will write about right now is a remembrance.

I met Forry a couple of times at conventions, the first time in 1997 at the first Monster Bash in Ligonier, PA. I was actually a little scared to meet him. Whenever I'm faced with someone in my adult life who meant something to me as a child, I freeze up a little. The inner child comes forward and takes over. I become that shy little boy again. That's what happened when I met Forry the first time. When I finally mustered the strength, I found I needn't have been frightened. It was almost like meeting the REAL Santa Claus.

I approached him when there was a moment to get him alone and I introduced myself. He responded in kind and, while shaking my hand, he noticed me noticing his ring. He smiled and beckoned for me to join him on the other side of the table. He sat me down and presented the ring. He asked me if I knew what it was from. I shook my head, no. He explained it was the ring that Boris Karloff wore in "The Mummy". He pointed out a part of the ring that still contained a bit of makeup from Karloff. He then went on to show the ring Bela Lugosi wore in "Dracula". That was priceless. We talked for a long time and he tested my knowledge of fantasy and horror films, gently correcting me when I faltered.

I then expressed interest in his CD ROM set of the Ackermansion. I told him I was tempted to buy one. He leaned back, his eyes widened and he bellowed, "NO! You must always give in to temptation!!!!!" We both cracked up and I bought that set. He autographed it and we had our picture taken together.

I saw him a couple of times after that, the last being in 2006 at another Monster Bash. It was my Birthday and I was keen to meet Zacherle, The Cool Ghoul. Lo, and behold, they were in the same room together. Forry looked so thin and frail, his skin pasty and oxygen being fed to him via a portable oxygen machine. There were so many people around, but I'll never forget this: I looked over and he looked up, smiled a big open mouth smile and raised his hand high in the air. I saluted him back. We didn't speak, but it was nice that there was that recognition.

I still have that CD Rom set and Picture (I keep them together), but they're all in storage. If I ever dig that photo out, I'll post it with pride.

I'll miss ya Forry. I've missed you for too many years already; your puns, your way of making those old, moldy silents seem new and vibrant. Really, who is going to keep the giants of fantasy's memories alive now?

Rest in pieces, old friend. Horrorwood, Karloffornia will never be the same. And neither will the rest of the planet.

Beloved Invaders!

Beloved Invaders is on my Top Ten Best Rock and Roll Movies Ever Made list. The movie is essentially a feature length travelogue following The Ventures through their first tour of Japan in 1966 (the core members eventually moved there for good). In between scenes of The Ventures walking around Japan and learning the culture are white hot excerpts of their performances on the tour. It was only released in Japan and the only soundtrack currently existing is a Japanese dubbed track, but that does nothing to squash the impact this movie has on a viewer.

The opening of the film is one of the best ever. It starts in the countryside, where a bell is rung by a monk to start the day. We cross cut to a bustling city, people starting their day and teenagers playing "Group Sounds". A boy walks up to a jukebox and makes a selection: Out of Limits, by The Ventures. We're then treated to a montage of a record pressing plant manufacturing discs by the hundreds. The discs are put in sleeves and shipped off to record stores where rock crazed teens buy them up. All this happens before the opening credits and it's marvellous. Then... the credits start and the world is treated to one of the best opening credit sequences ever in a motion picture. I'm not exaggerating or throwing out hyperbole. It's really what life is all about; youthful exuberance captured in Cinemascope!

Here it is in all it's glory.





If this doesn't get you going, then there's no hope for you.

The meaning of life, man. The meaning of life.

Papermoon!

Did you have a good Halloween? I did. It was a quiet one. I didn't even dress up. I wasn't even tempted. Strange days...

Well, if you were looking at the photo above, you'll get the hint that Tommy Heavenly6 has released a new MV. It's called Papermoon (single out Dec. 10th) and it's yet another great one from Ms. Kawase (yes, I know that's her maiden name). The song (the theme to the new Anime, Soul Eater) is prime Heavenly6 material and the video plants viewers into new territory. Whereas, Tommy February6 once did a video as Alice (In Wonderland; the video was for the song Bloomin'), this is the first second time Heavenly6 has donned a famous costume (the first time being Snow White in the Heavy Starry Chain Vid. Thanks to k' for correcting me!). She's decked out as Dorothy from MGM's The Wizard Of Oz and, as you can see from the photo above, she's absolutely smokin'. Yes, I suppose it's true. I only hang around Kaela and Kumi to pass the time until my true Jpop/rock love comes back around. Forgive me, girls. Tommy's my true love!

Here's the video. It's Youtube and it's likely to get banned. I'll keep changing the links as much as I have to to make sure it's available for your viewing pleasure.



Yep, had to replace it. This one has English captions now. Just click on the triangle on the lower right had corner and choose CC. We'll see how long this one lasts...

The Scarecrow in this video, I'm told, is named Jimi Blumer from a Visual Kei band called Laverite. That explains all the fey and precious looks he's shooting the camera with in his shots. What's Visual Kei? I don't want to go too long into it, but it's kind of a really Flamboyant Goth style. Read about it here.

If Google is your friend, then Wikipedia must be your guide.