Weekly Abysmal Video – 6/2/10

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from one of my fave bands from the early 90’s…with ties as diverse as Robert Plant and Eurythmics. Singer Toni Halliday and multi-instrumentalist Dean Garcia met through mutual friend Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Halliday did guest vocals on Robert Plant’s 1985 release Shaken N Stirred, while Garcia went on tour with Eurythmics. In 1990 they formed Curve and, while they never rose above cult status, they were a major influence on more mainstream artists like Garbage.

Curve’s early releases were on Stewart’s Anxious Records label and featured some brilliant songwriting along with Halliday’s alternately strong and vulnerable vocals. This is one of my favorite tracks of theirs, from their 1993 release Cuckoo. Halliday and Garcia both said they all wound up with the flu after the video shoot. Ahh, what we will do in the name of art.

Enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJaiRYnpXMc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE TO BUY CUCKOO AND OTHER CURVE MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video – 5/24/10

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Moosejuice

Man oh man this week’s WAV is from a soul-influenced Cincinnati, Ohio band from the 1990’s who managed to influence many grunge and alternative artists while never quite getting the recognition expected for them by so many. In fact, lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Greg Dulli has the distinction of being the only musician other than Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters eponymous debut CD. How’s that for respect?

I was first introduced to this band by my friend Mark Mohundro in the early 90’s, right around the time of their “Gentlemen” CD…from which this track obviously comes:) This is a really tight performance from the Jon Stewart Show when this CD first came out. Enjoy Abysmally…

CLICK HERE TO BUY Gentlemen AND OTHER AFGHAN WHIGS MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYJl_p-P4E&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 5-3-10

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Moosejuice

I almost can’t believe I’m posting this one. If you’re easily offended, you don’t want to watch it. But if you like Monty Python-style irreverence, have a laugh and a jam with this gem from the late 80’s. Zodiac Mindwarp is the alter ego of British graphic artist Mark Manning, and the whole concept was intended as a parody of the “rock n roll lifestyle” so ridiculously exploited in the 80’s heyday of hair bands.

If you got the joke, it was great…and there was some pretty cool music providing the soundtrack for the craziness. If you didn’t get the joke (and most critics DIDN’T), it was nothing more than offensive drivel that led to a review I saw in the Baton Rouge Advocate’s “Fun” section back in 1988 that said “…it’s enough to make me swear off recorded music.”

Special thanks to Dr. Paulo for this suggestion. Man, this is just too damn over-the-top hilarious!

And on that note, enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtnCcWOS7y8&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE TO BUY ZODIAC MINDWARP MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 4/5/10

Posted on April 5, 2010 by Moosejuice

Gotta give some love to the Badlees for this week’s WAV. One of the very best rock bands you’ll ever hear, their CD’s play like movies about life. You’ll find it all…happiness, sadness, melancholy, joy, the full gamut is there wrapped up in wonderful songs. I saw them this past Saturday night at Front Street Station in Northumberland, PA and it’s my favorite show of theirs that I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend. These guys just smoke live…an emotional machine with songs you can get lost in.

Since Badlees videos are a tad hard to come by, this week’s WAV isn’t a video but rather a track off their latest CD “Love is Rain.” Enjoy Abysmally…and give the Badlees some love by stopping by www.badlees.net and getting your own copy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=874Y_rxaPjI&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 3-29-10

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Moosejuice

Back in 1983, a Louisiana band with a well-deserved excellent reputation released their debut album on Atlantic Records. At the time, and for a few years afterward, it was the top-selling debut in Atlantic Records’ history.

That band was Zebra, and this week’s WAV is a song and video off that debut album…and it still sounds incredible 27 (gulp) years later. Oddly enough, their name doesn’t come up nearly enough in discussions about 80’s rock…and their debut is timeless and one of the very best albums of the 80’s. No gimmicks…just great music.

Click below and enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHSCnu0k9y4&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 3-17-10 St. Patrick’s Edition

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV comes from (DUH!) Northern Ireland. I mean, it’s St Patrick’s Day, I’m Irish…it would just be a crime for it to be any other way! lol

It’s one of my favorite unsung Irish bands who debuted back in the 90’s alternative boom with the “Troublegum” CD and produced some really cool stuff that rocks with intelligence. Really one of the more intelligent bands you’ll ever find anywhere.

Here’s their video for “Isolation.” Enjoy Abysmally…and please, for the love of the leprechaun, don’t drink the green beer tonight. Have a Guinness.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZwXCDqlE9I&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 3/8/10

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Moosejuice

This week’s WAV is from a very short-lived California band from the early 2000’s (man that number just looks improbable) that never took that proverbial “next step” despite very close ties to the band Incubus. Truth is, I thought their CD “Dirty Sexy Knights in Paris” was okay but not great; however, one track from that CD is very close to challenging for a spot amongst the 10 Most Truly Abysmal Songs. I hope you dig it as much as I do.

Click on the picture below to link to the video for “The Energy” by Audiovent. I’ll apologize ahead of time for the fact that there’s a 30-second commercial before you watch the video. YouTube’s doing it, too. Damn commercialism…

We are the energy.
Enjoy Abysmally…

Yes, that was intentional. lol

CLICK HERE TO BUY Dirty Sexy Knights In Paris BY AUDIOVENT THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video (WAV) – 3/3/10

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Moosejuice

I’m constantly surprised by the number of people who remember this song…especially since it came out back in my radio days in good ol’ Baton Rouge, LA. I totally missed it at the time, but it just seems like a perfect choice for a WAV.

RIP Jim Ellison…the terrific singer/guitarist for this band, Material Issue. And whatta great chorus line: “No one can save us from Kim the waitress.”

Cheers to you, and by all means…enjoy Abysmally:)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS5oa5IPSX0&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Weekly Abysmal Video 2/15/10

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Moosejuice

If ever there was a band who didn’t get the success they deserved during the 90’s alternative boom, it’s Catherine Wheel. Bands including Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol have called Catherine Wheel a major influence, and deservedly so.

Haunting, atmospheric and really quite beautiful…this week’s WAV is Black Metallic, the song they’re perhaps best known for from their first CD “Ferment”…which will be re-released next month (March 23rd), containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes. Enjoy Abysmally…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtTqR9oZX6Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

CLICK HERE TO BUY Ferment: Special Edition AND OTHER CATHERINE WHEEL MUSIC THROUGH AMAZON.COM

Weekly Abysmal Video 2/8/10

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Moosejuice

Do you remember this band? If you were watching MTV when it was brand new, you’ll probably crack a smile. This was a band from Atlanta, GA who were among the very first bands to benefit in popularity from having videos on MTV.

Yeah, there’s a bit of a campiness watching it now, but the fact is The Producers were a good, solid pop band. I’ve always been a sucker for a good pop song performed well and that’s the case here. Plus, I gotta love any band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. They look like they’re having fun and, although their fame was short-lived, they left some enduring pop that still sounds fresh nearly 30 years after the fact.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do…Abysmally, of course.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lx2vH2Q5yo&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

BUY Producers/You Make the Heat THROUGH AMAZON.COM. C’MON…IT’S GOOD STUFF!