Hey, thanks for stopping by to hang out. You're in the right spot for discussions about my favorite pop culture topics. Subjects may include vinyl, '70s sitcoms, cosmic super hero adventures, arena rock, conspiracy theories, thrift stores, '80s horror flicks, VHS culture, all things retro, lovely ladies, and the latest happenings in my world.
So come on down the steps (watch your head), pass through the rec room, and pull up a bean bag...you're hanging in my "bedroom in the basement!" EST. 1979
Tonight I listened to one of the many records I pulled out of the dollar bin nearly 2 months ago. The main reason I purchased it was for the awesome album cover art. I also had just seen the "Behind the Music" special on the artist a week prior, and growing up in the far outer-rung of the Detroit Metro Area he is man known to all. The man we're talking about is Ted Nugent. The album? "Weekend Warriors."
Dude, his guitar is a gun! It's like he combined his two favorite things.
The active rock station I listened to during my formative years as a music fan, 101 WRIF out of Detroit, revered this man like he was a god. I heard many a dj refer to Ted by one of his many nicknames..."The Nuge," "Uncle Ted," "Uncle Tedley," "Motor City Madman," etc. His annual "Whiplash bash" concert was a big event, and every Friday at 5PM on the WRIF legendary dj Arthur P. would yell "IT'S THE WEEKEND!" and play the title track of the "Weekend Warriors" album. It was a track that personified the "working hard, playing hard" ethos of the blue-collar worker in the Detroit area. Hmm. I just remembered that the Nuge had a track on his "Cat Scratch Fever" album called "Workin' Hard, Playing Hard." Obviously this guy knows his stuff.
Anywho, I was only familiar with the title track of this album, and looked forward to discovering more of his catalog. This was Ted's first solo record without Derek St. Holmes on vocals, but Charles Huhn fills in and does a capable job. The lead off track, "Need You Bad," came thundering out of my speakers with a propulsive beat, sweet vocals, and blistering Nuge-style guitar. It just goes to show, some artists just aren't accurately represented by your average "best of" or "greatest hits" compilations. The deep cuts can be where the real gems are. His politics be damned, I really enjoy him as a musician, and think he is an amazing guitar player with a distinctive sound.
Today yet another semi-regular feature makes its grand debut, and it's one that will showcase all of the things that I secretly like but never used to advertise due to fear of ridicule. At this point in my life, I'm 32 years old, and I no longer care what others think concerning my taste in things, as I'm not looking to impress anyone. So, with that said, today's guilty pleasure is a one hit wonder song from the '80s:
Frida - I Know There's Something Going On
This song features 1/4 of the band Abba. (Yes, I like Abba. And I'm not gay. I like them because their brand of pop perfection is very enjoyable. It's made well, produced well, and the girls are talented singers with hot bods). I had heard this song a few times over the years and thought of it as your typical pop/dance one-hit wonder. It was about a year ago I discovered that not only was it a solo song performed by Frida from Abba but it ALSO featured Phil Collins on drums, back-up vocals, and production. When I listened to it again after learning this I wanted to smack myself in the head and say "duh, of course!"
It has all the hallmarks of a Collins production (the pounding drums, the dark atmosphere, etc.) and once I heard his voice in the chorus it was unmistakable. This is a song that I will frequently bust out on the drums to warm up, as it is so much fun to play. And speaking of Phil Collins, he may be the subject of an upcoming "Guilty Pleasure" feature as he gets a lot of shit heaped on him, but I love his stuff. I also love good, catchy, '80s pop songs with hooks, and this song is a good example.
Today's entry is titled "Tuesday's Tapes." Every once in while in the future I might pull out a few tapes from the archives on any given Tuesday and write some short blurbs about them.
The cassette tape, while not as maligned as the poor 8 track, is still kind of considered the red-headed step-child of the last wave of music media (LPs, cassettes, and cds). People don't dig on the fast forwarding, or rewinding, and those cases just begged to get broken. But they are extremely portable, and a record store clerk I was talking to recently said that they are in fact more versatile than cds, and typically last longer. So I have decided to show the tapes some love, even though I still do and always will prefer vinyl. As an aside, the first piece of music I ever bought was on cassette..."The Doors Greatest Hits," purchased summer 1992.
A few weeks back I was at the thrift store and found a pile of cool VHS tapes, along with 4 cassettes. I'm finally getting around to listening to them tonight. Here are the titles:
1) "Top Gun" soundtrack -
This is essential for any soundtrack collector. "The Heat Is On," "Take My Breath Away," and the theme from "Top Gun" make this not only the soundtrack for a classic action flick, but a soundtrack for the whole '80s decade!
2) "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack -
Not as good as the above tape, but still pretty awesome. "Axel F", the theme of the movie, is a legit synth-pop instrumental classic by Harold Faltermeyer (who also co-wrote the theme to "Top Gun"). The rest of the songs are a mix of synth pop and sassy female R & B by the likes of Pattie Labelle and the Pointer Sisters. I found the Danny Elfman song "Gratitude" to be a pleasant surprise.
3) New Order - Brotherhood
Like most who were children in the '80s and teens in the '90s, when the band New Order was mentioned one song came to mind: "Blue Monday," which was memorably covered by electronic rock band Orgy in 1998 (the year of my high school graduation). It was later that same year while a Freshman at Western Michigan University that I picked up an '80s compilation featuring their song "Bizarre Love Triangle." That song BLEW MY MIND. It was at once urgent, haunting, beautiful and apocalyptic (for some reason it came to mind while watching a rented copy of the nuclear war telefilm "The Day After," a movie that I think may have the most depressing ending of all time. The song seemed to fit with the doom and gloom). I started listening to a lot of '80s synth pop in the past year and this band, while hard to label, were equal parts electronic/dance and equal parts rock. Sometimes that combo sounds pretty darn appealing to me.
4) 10,000 Maniacs - Our Time In Eden
Yes, I bought a 10,000 Maniacs tape. Before you tell me to put on my birkenstocks, spike my hair, and go to Lilith Fair, hear me out. I have always loved the voice of the lovely lead singer Natalie Merchant, and found this alternative/folk/college rock group to be enormously talented. I also picked this up out of sheer nostalgia, as this was a big album when it was released. Between this band and the Cranberries, 1992 was the year for folky, female-fronted bands to get big. This release was the last to feature the Natalie on vocals. I vaguely remember the band staying together with a different singer and doing that "More Than This" song. Natalie of course went on to a successful solo career.
Today I'm starting what will be a semi-regular feature, Metal Friday. Over the past 2 months I have been listening to some of my favorite metal cds from my middle school/high school years, typically on a Friday night when the Canadian Belle is at work and I'm relaxing online. Today's classic from middle school is Megadeth "Countdown to Extinction."
This album represents my first introduction to this legendary thrash band, and I still remember the first Megadeth song I ever heard, "Sweating Bullets," in the fall of 1993. It was played to me by my older cousin Travis, who was 2 years older than me and thus 2 years more experienced in the ways of awesome music. Not many people know this, but Travis was very influential in shaping my musical preferences, beginniing when I was 12-14 years old. Him and my other cousin Luke helped me get into bands like the Doors, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and of course Megadeth.
Travis was also an original retrologist/vinyl junkie, as he had many cool old records. One memory I have is of the two of us chilling in his room listening to Led Zeppelin III while playing with the famous "farmer's wheel" jacket it came in. His stereo not only had a turntable but also had an 8 track player (!). That may have been the only working 8 track player I have encountered in my 32 years, and he had a stack of 8 tracks to go with it, by the likes of Styx, the Beatles, Hendrix, etc. One time we went to a sweet record store in Grand Rapids (wish I could remember the name!) and this guy with a blonde mullet and British accent helped us find where the Zep records were. Ahh, memories.
Upon further listening of this cd (I didn't get a copy of my own until 9th grade), I discovered the titles to songs on
"Countdown" were all incredibly depressing ("Countdown to
Extinction," "Foreclosure of A Dream," etc.) At one point in high
school I had an official poster of drummer Nick Menza endorsing TAMA drums,
with the old guy from the cover of the album on the bass drum skin. My drum
instructor Ray used to keep it in the little closet that he taught in, but said I could have it one day after a lesson as he found the old guy "scary."
Anyway, this album makes me think of my cousin, who I haven't seen in about 5 years. He's busy with his now SEVEN kids. Yikes! He was a funny guy, and when he played "Sweating Bullets" for me he lip-synced to it in a funny, exaggerated manner. I need to find an old pic of him to put up, for perspective...
Welcome to the inaugural edition of my new semi-regular column about comic books I'm currently reading and old memories of collecting that I like to call "Off the (Spinner) Rack."
Hey kids, remember these? I'm lucky enough to have a vintage one in my office.
The first comics I ever received were a pile of about five Marvel Comics from 1986. The titles included Conan, Transformers, GI Joe, the Avengers, and the Incredible Hulk. My mom bought them for me to keep me occupied during a road trip to visit my grandparents in Florida when I was in first grade, April of 1987, for spring break. Driving from MI to the Orlando area is a good 20 hour trip, and I needed all the diversions I could get.
In hindsight, the comics must have been from a multi-pack, where 3 or more comics would be bundled together and sold (in a sealed plastic bag). It also seemed like the comics featured more of their licensed properties than actual Marvel characters, which might have made the multi-pack more appealing to a mass market. All 5 comics were cover dated Novemeber 1986, when every Marvel comic published that month was given a company-wide trade dress
featuring many of their well-known properties. The pic below is a sampling of what some of those covers looked like that month.
I can remember studying those multi-character covers for hours. They are definitely a time-capsule for how the heroes looked in the mid '80s.
Flash forward 1.5 years, to the fall of 1988, when my official phase of collecting had gotten underway. While I loved the comics mom bought me in first grade and spent hours poring over them (that Conan one was pretty gory in retrospect!), I didn't actually start collecting them on a regular basis until 3rd grade. And what got me into regular collecting you ask? That will be a story for another time. But the first Batman comic I ever read was issue #430, which I just reread the other day. The story title? "Fatal Wish."
I can remember mistaking the perspective of Batman walking on a ledge in the city for a giant Batman stalking through the streets! I purchased this at a party store, not far from Gun Lake, where my dad kept our pontoon boat.
The story is a good one, and an excellent intro for an 8 year old into the world of Batman. In it, Batman has to stop a disgruntled banker turned sniper. At one point early on the sniper (named Tim Conrad) yells "I wish you were all dead!" At that moment, Batman has a flashback to a child on the verge of adolescence.
The story then reveals that in the days leading up to the death of his parents, his father, Thomas Wayne, had suffered some financial set-backs. Because of this, one day a frustrated Thomas lashed out at Bruce, striking him with the back of his hand. Bruce was then consoled by his mother Martha, who told him his father didn't mean it. Bruce then yells something out of anger he would later come to regret: "I wish he was dead!"
Father and son eventually made up, and as a peace offering Thomas decided to take Bruce and Martha out to the movies to see "The Mark of Zorro." Those of you familiar with Batman's origin probably see where this is going...walking out of the movie, a thug named Joe Chill attempts a robbery, kills his parents, and the rest is history. The reason they went to the movie could indirectly be traced back to Thomas becoming angry with Bruce.
This issue was also setting up the new status quo for the character, as the previous 4 issues were part of the storyline "A Death In the Family," which featured the Joker killing the second Robin, Jason Todd. When Batman arrives on the scene at the beginning, Commissioner Gordon asks him if Robin is coming tonight, to which Batman lowers his head and quietly says "no." Gordon then asks him if something is wrong, and again Batman quietly says "no." Powerful stuff.
Looking back, that first issue of Batman I ever picked up was a great way to get started in the world of Batman. The origin was retold and a new status quo, with Batman going out without a Robin by his side, was set firmly in place. It also featured art by legendary Batman artist Jim Aparo, whose rendition of the character will always be the most definitive. The following summer the Batman movie came out, featuring Michael Keaton. The summer of the bat was soon to be upon me. But that's a story for another time.
Tonight's blog will be a double-look at two recent records I picked up. First on deck is Paul Kantner & Jefferson Starship "Blows Against the Empire."
I had heard about this one over the years and finally got a chance to listen to it this past Saturday after picking it up on Friday. It was released in 1970 during a time when Jefferson Airplane was starting to splinter as a band. Two of their members had formed a side project called Hot Tuna, and rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner decided to record a solo album with his old lady Grace Slick.
The album was based on a sci-fi idea he had conceived about the counterculture leaving the Earth in the not-too-distant future in a starship to start civilization anew, away from a rapidly deteriorating planet. Paul received help recording not only from his girlfriend Grace but also an ad-hoc conglomeration of musicians dubbed the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (consisting of members of the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Crosby Stills & Nash).
Paul and Grace with collaborator Jerry Garcia and legendary Bay Area impresario Bill Graham.
The album is far out in terms of concept and music, but is very interesting and better than I expected. At times it was folky, and at times it was cosmic. It was also nominated for a Hugo Award, an honor typically reserved for sci-fi novels. As for the name Jefferson Starship? It would be dusted off four years later after the Airplane finally crashed, with a line-up consisting of members of that old band plus some new folks. Consider this the early beginning of what would become phase 2 of the Airplane's ultimate metamorphosis into the "Starship." You know, the ones who built this city.
Dig it, man.
C
Next up on the platter we have the self-titled debut of psychedelic heavy rock/metal pioneers, Vanilla Fudge.
Released smack in the middle of the summer of love, 1967 (a year which saw the first releases of SO many influential bands...Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, the Velvet Underground, the Doors, etc.), the Fudge's main trip was covering other artist's songs in a slowed down, sludgy, heavy form. And they were good at what they did. Their most well-known song was from this album, a cover of the Supremes "You Keep Me Hanging On." The track is dirge-style with heavy guitars and organ, and I'm getting a contact high just THINKING of it.
As cool as this band sounded on this record, they definitely were NOT cool looking.
The faces of early metal...yikes!
Drummer Carmine Appice also happens to be the older brother of Black Sabbath/Dio drummer Vinny.
NEXT
A new feature covering comics I'm currently reading called "Off the (Spinner) Rack"
Tonight's slab is the sole release by a hard rock/AOR duo from the early '80s that went by the handle of Whitford/Saint Holmes. First, some background...
Brad Whitford, rhythm guitarist for Aerosmith, left the band in 1981 just 2 years (and a lackluster album) after the departure of lead guitarist Joe Perry. Looking for a new gig, he hooked up with vocalist Derek St. Holmes, late of the Ted Nugent band. Derek was the lead singer on the first couple records Ted recorded following the demise of his group the Amboy Dukes, belting out such classics as "Stranglehold," "Hey Baby," and "Just What the Doctor Ordered."
I picked this up at a record show I went to last month for a buck, and I would say I got my money's worth and then some. The songs are catchy and rockin' with a kind-of Sammy Hagar vibe. Not overly memorable, but fun, and featuring a talented singer and guitarist. It didn't surpass either Aersomith or the Nuge but it is definitely a worthwhile part of their respective catalogs.
By 1985 Whitford was back with a fully reunited Aerosmith, who soldier on to this day. I even heard their singer, Steven Tyler, is on some tv show now. I don't watch it. St. Holmes languished in obscurity while occasionally reuniting with Ted Nugent.
Crank this up while cruising down to the local DQ in your Trans Am...
I found this clip on the Record Store Day web site. I love seeing people on these videos who feel the same way I do about records...now if only I could find some in real life. One guy describes the urge to seek out vinyl as a "hunter/gatherer instinct." I couldn't agree more.
And don't forget, Record Store Day is April 21 at your participating independent record store. In my neck of the woods (East Lansing area) that includes the Record Lounge, FBC, Replay, and East Grand.
Sorry for the scarcity in posts over the last several days. On Friday night I met up with my buddy Doug who was in town from Cincinnati, along with a mutual friend named Brad. We went to an overpriced MSU bar in East Lansing to watch some March Madness basketball while receiving looks of contempt from hot 22 year old girls. I was then out of town from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning to celebrate St. Paddy's in my old stomping grounds of Kalamazoo, MI. It got pretty crazy...2 bars and a house party. Someone may have been found naked in a torn apart bathroom early the next morning. Hint: It wasn't me...I was passed out on the couch from the '70s in the living room.
Maybe you're thinking that I could have done some writing Sunday? Nope. I was busy recovering. My body can't handle mass amounts of beer like it used to. I did watch the pilot episode of the old PBS TV show "Ghost Writer," which I found on VHS at a thrift store a few weeks back. Wow, was that a blast from the past. And released almost 20 years ago. Remind me to do a review of it sometime.
Aside from drinking beer over the weekend, I picked up a butt-load of records and VHS tapes also. I plan on documenting the record purchases soon. I'm especially fond of the VHS I found at a record store in Kalamazoo, as they were all music related and 99 cents a piece (except for one, which was $2.99). Here's a pic to showcase the sheer awesomeness...
Expect a few editions of "Tonight's Slab" this week...until then, keep rockin.'
The Canadian Belle is away (at work till 9:00PM), so the records will play!
Tonight's Slab: Paul (and Linda) McCartney - Ram (1971)
RAM was the second solo offering by the cutest of the Beatles, although it's not truly a solo effort as his wife and new musical collaborator Linda appears on most of the tracks providing both lead and back-up vocals. The rumor is that she is credited as part of a duo with Paul due to disputes with the other Beatles that entitled them to a cut of Paul's income related to their partnership in Apple. Linda was not a signatory to any Apple shenanigans, so she was entitled to her full share of the income from the record, which also meant (by amazing coincidence of course) Paul was too, as they were married, her money was his, etc...
But all cynicism aside, I love this record. This is currently the second copy I have purchased as the first one had a huge skip that occurred during the last track of side 2. Thanks CD Warehouse in Kzoo! I spent $3.99 for that?
I like to call this album "McCartney 1.5" as it is very close in spirit to Paul's first record, "McCartney" (Paul has an album called "McCartney II" that came out in 1980 after his venture with Wings imploded. It features Paul experimenting with synthesizers and, with the exception of one song, is pretty forgettable). It is more professionally recorded than that first one, which Paul recorded at home on his own equipment.
This album can definitely be described as "pastoral," as the cover no doubt indicates. Paul and Linda had been spending a lot of time at their Scottish farm getting away from all the hustle and bustle of London and the gloom attached to it from the very recent split of the Beatles. The songs range from mellow romps through the country to epic ballads with soaring choruses filled with orchestration and vocals. Linda's voice is in fine form, and while she was not an overwhelmingly good singer she puts in a competent performance, and sounds better than she did on "McCartney." The production is fuller too, and not as spartan as that of the first record.
Paul (looking pretty grizzly) and Linda, out and about in '71
Allmusic has this to say: "...in retrospect it looks like nothing so much as the first indie pop album,
a record that celebrates small pleasures with big melodies, a record
that's guileless and unembarrassed to be cutesy."
I'd say that is pretty accurate. Some of the songs ("Too Many People," "Dear Boy," and "Three Legs") were seen as digs at the other ex-Beatles at the time, Lennon in particular. John answered back later that year on his Imagine album with the track, "How Do You Sleep?" This song was considerably more blatant in pointing out who it was about, whereas the Paul tracks were at least a little bit vague. John even included a postcard insert of himself holding a pig by the ears. Now that's symbolism, folks.
Here's a video showcasing my favorite track. It reminds me of my own long-haired lady.
This video features Paul performing the track "Ram On" (with a mandolin!) in 2010.
On the way home from work, I noticed myself bobbin' my head and reciting the lyrics to the Beastie Boys 1998 classic "Intergalactic" when it came on the tuner.
This is how I looked...
You rock that powder blue dress shirt!
I am now "that guy." Rocking out in my car to a song from the year I graduated high school on the way home from my white-collar gig.
...I yanked this off of the Facebook page for one of the handful of record stores I frequent semi-regularly, Green Light Music & Video in Kalamazoo, MI. I tell ya, this guy is living the dream. If I can get the dough together, maybe I can open a record store when I'm 40.
Well, the Canadian Belle (my "Zooey-esque" girlfriend) is at the bar with co-workers, so I'm holed up in the office of Castle JEP looking at cool stuff online and digging some tunes. I purchased a BOATLOAD of records over the past month and am slowly listening to the mountain of sides that recently came into my possession. To record some of my purchases for posterity, I thought I would start a new semi-regular blog feature I'll call "Tonight's Slab."
Have fun babe. It's cute when you come to bed with Pabst on your breath!
Spinning on the table tonight is the debut album by The Go Gos, "Beauty and the Beat." I dropped the needle on this one, cranked the sound way up, and could feel the pulsing beat of the kick-drum as their song "Our Lips Are Sealed" bounced exuberantly out of my speakers. I have dug the Go Gos since high school, when I became acquainted with their hits via VH1 shows like "I Love the '80s." Their music has a punk attitude melded with catchy pop hooks. Unlike some of the *shudder* "mall punk" bands of 10 years back or so, the Go Gos had real punk credibility.
I picked up this record, along with their third studio album "Talk Show," for $2 each at East Lansing's legendary Flat, Black & Circular. Near mint vinyl for $2 a pop...you can't beat it! This store been around since 1976 and has a great selection with reasonable prices. When I went in there Super Bowl weekend the place was busy as heck! Word of warning, the record store clerks I have encountered are of the surly, music snob variety.
The Go Gos broke up in 1985 but have had numerous reunions. I think it would be a fun show to go see if they end up on tour again sometime soon. There's one other thing I should mention when discussing my fondness for the Go Gos: my humongous crush on rhythm guitarist and co-vocalist Jane Wiedlin. I just love her spunkiness and cutesy voice. And I have a thing for brunettes.
Pay no mind to what they say, Jane. It doesn't matter anyway. Shall we go to the pub for a Pabst?
DC published a John Carter tribute in this issue of Superman, which came out during that weird limbo period of time between the end of "Crisis" (issue #12 was cover dated March 1986) and the beginning of John Byrne's newly rebooted adventures in "Man of Steel."
Those of you with knowledge of comic history will know what I'm talking about...the next 6 issues of Superman (under the editorial hand of the legendary Julius Schwartz) basically had a "let's try whatever" approach as they had nothing to lose, knowing that a new direction would be starting soon. I may explore this topic further in an upcoming post. Stay tuned!
Legendary French comic artist Moebius passed away earlier today. American cartoonist Larry Marder had this to say...“Moebius RIP. He died during the solar storms so it’s as if even the universe wept.”
A beautiful sentiment indeed. Here's one of the earliest images by him I ever saw, a pin-up from 1984's Superman #400.
It's been almost 2 weeks now since I was flipping through the channels on a Saturday afternoon (the day before I started this blog, in fact) and came across a movie I haven't seen since I was in second grade. I now know why it had been nearly 25 years in between viewings. It was because it sucked. It sucked BAD.
First, some background....
I loved the original "Teen Wolf" film as a kid , which was released in 1985. In fact, it's still one of my favorites. It is by no means a classic of American cinema, but it is a highly entertaining movie that has heart. It also had likeable characters and a fun premise. For those who haven't seen it, Michael J. Fox plays an awkward teen who becomes the star of the basketball team when he becomes a werewolf capable of amazing athletic feats.
I remember my mom renting it from the video store (on a video disc no less...anyone remember those? If not, here's the obligatory link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc). Anyway, I still recall mom picking it off the shelf and saying I might like it because it has "the guy from 'Family Ties' in it".
I ended up loving the movie and its portrayal of the lives of a bunch of '80s teenagers, one of whom happens to turn into a werewolf. I've been to my share of parties, but I don't think any have been as fun as the one portrayed in that movie, with the fun party games involving feathered-haired girls writhing around in pudding. I remember it airing on TV when I was in first grade and we taped it onto a blank VHS tape for future viewing. I watched THE HELL out of that tape!
I was especially fond of the two love interests in the movie, the characters Boof (what the fuck kinda name is that?) and Pamela. Once again, like with "Three's Company," you had the best of both worlds with the sexy blonde and down-to-earth brunette. The actresses who portrayed these characters didn't go on to do much else...I saw the chick who played Boof on an episode of "Charles In Charge" and the actress who played Pamela was in the '80s horror flick "Cheerleader Camp." Despite their less than impressive resumes, I thought their performances were quite memorable.
Scott "Teen Wolf" Howard with Pamela. I can do that.
Hey, how about a sequel?
The movie was a success, and two years later a sequel was released. Seems like a no-brainer right? Teen Wolf was such a hot property that there was even a cartoon!
Upon my initial viewing I noticed there were some significant changes in the cast and characters from the first film. Instead of Micheal J. Fox reprising his role as Scott Howard, we instead got Jason Bateman playing Scott's cousin Todd. Also returning from the first film was Scott's dad (and Todd's uncle) Harold Howard and "Chubbs", the fat guy from the first film. Two additional characters from the first film appeared also, except they were played by different actors. That's how bad this movie was folks. They couldn't even get the original guys who played Stiles and Coach Finstock.
The movie revolves around Todd trying to fit in as a dorky freshman at Hamilton College. First off, how weird is that he is dropped off by his uncle at college, and is friends with all of his cousin's friends who all mysteriously ended up at the same college? And they never did explain what happened to Scott...
He was captured by authorities after satisfying his "meat tooth." *Crickets* Yes, that was a bad pun.
Like Rocky II and Home Alone 2, this movie followed the same premise as the first film almost exactly. In the first film, Scott's wolf powers helped the high school basketball team win some games. In the sequel, Todd's wolf powers help the college boxing team (because colleges are well-known for their boxing teams of course). This movie differed from the first film in one major way, though: musical sequences which helped pad out the running time.
The first musical sequence is honestly one of the most horrible in film history...it features Todd Howard in wolf mode wearing an '80s style skinny-tie and suit dancing to the old '60s song "Do You Love Me." Why? All I can ask is why. WHY WHY WHY was this is in the movie? I have a few theories. Padding out the running time in an already weak-plotted movie was one theory. Cashing in on the '60s nostalgia that was currently in vogue was another. Here's a clip, if you're brave enough...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKeFqMLWRs
The second musical sequence was utilized in a montage that showed Todd cramming for some test he blew off studying for because he was busy being a big 'old bad ass wolf, driving around Gomez Addam's bad ass car. Yes, the guy who played Gomez on "The Addams Family" tv show played the dean in this movie.
Lamborghini? Check. Hot broads? Check. Miami Vice suit? Check. Unholy freak of nature? Check.
The song that played during the study sequence was "Send Me An Angel," which I guess was some metaphor for how the average girl who he dug at first and then spurned for the skanks was now helping him. I can think of at least two other movies this song appeared in. Originally it was in some movie that I can't think of the name of, but it was about BMX bikes and featured the chick who played Becky on "Full House." It was also in the '80s kid movie classic "The Wizard." I think the song was utilized better in both of those movies.
Was there ever a movie you liked as a kid, and then watched years later and realized you didn't like anymore? It could have been any number of reasons...maybe you realized after years of growing up and sampling other cinematic fare that it wasn't a quality film. Or maybe it was something that was enjoyable within the original context of the times it came out in, but seems out of place in this modern world. Well, with Teen Wolf Too, I remember not liking it as a kid, and I do not like it even more as an adult. It's hard to sit through, even for the ironic humor factor. It will always be a pale imitation of the original classic (which itself was no Kubrick film).
And here, lastly, is the trailer. Remember that trailers are made to make someone WANT to see a movie.
The Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist turned 66 yesterday...here's a clip of one of my favorite songs of his from Floyd's post-Waters era in the '80s. This song was a staple on the radio station I listened to in middle school, WRIF out of Detroit.
Some say the Floyd album this song came from was glorified Gilmour solo, but I think that is unfair. The band was finding their voice without Waters, and I found the music they put out to be very good. This song is Floyd-style mellow, with some interesting percussion. The video is cool in how it juxtaposes the industrial sounds of a factory with the agrarian worker using his scythe. I always loved the symbolism Floyd used, on album covers and their in-concert video back-drops. When it came out this song signaled that Floyd was back, and it's too bad this line-up was only good for 4 albums (2 studio, 2 live).
On VH1 Classic over the weekend I saw a documentary about the making of "Wish You Were Here." It was incredibly fascinating, especially the part where the album cover designer described how the album cover and interior photos were shot.
I'm holding my breath for a reunion, but it's hard to see Waters and Gilmour ever collaborating again. Plus, it would not be the same without keyboardist Rick Wright, who passed in 2008.
