July 2010

  • Freaks Amour: NArt (Not Art), NNoise (Not Noise)

    By cobwebsandstrange on 7/20/10 12:20pm
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    On occasion an ensemble’s name should grant access to its sound. In the case of Freaks Amour, that’s true and then not so true. Surely, being a freak might endear one to any number of sub-terra rock genres. And while this isn’t a rock and or roll band, that’s the closest proper genre these folks might be associated with.

    Freaks Amour and its 1989 album Regressive Music for Mind and Body has been figured as the confluence of the Velvet Underground, Pere Ubu and Throbbing Gristle. There’s unquestionably an industrial vibe here – both Ubus and Gristle have been cited as founding the genre – but that’s not the overwhelming and dominant thread here. Nor is it the Velvet Underground’s R&B come freak out.

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  • Baltimore Maryland Music

    By colormejosh on 7/19/10 11:59am
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    When many people think of Baltimore music they think of the musical "Hairspray". I know because I am one of them. The sounds of Corny Collins and the rest of the cast can go on forever. Hairspray is about social change through the power of song and dance and the message and tone can be quite powerful. All of the best scenes - whether they are from the original film, the Broadway Musical, or the remake - take place in the great city of Baltimore. How many other cities in America can (at least fictitiously) claim such positive social change through the power of song and dance?

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  • Albums of Note: "Rio" by Duran Duran

    By msarko on 7/7/10 7:04pm
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    Today, the British dance pop group Duran Duran is synonymous with the sleek, fashion-obsessed music scene of the 1980's, but the band came very close to falling apart at its most crucial moment. The 1982 album Rio eventually went double platinum by the time it was reissued in America and grabbed the #1 spot in Australia, both major events that wouldn't have been possible without a real eye for innovation.



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  • Molly Ringwald: What's She Up to Now?

    By becksta on 7/6/10 12:10pm
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    Molly Ringwald in "The Breakfast Club"Molly Ringwald in "The Breakfast Club"
    I grew up in the 80’s and considered myself a huge John Hughes fan. I watched, “The Breakfast Club” too many times to count and “16 Candles” was my favorite movie of all time. When I shared “16 Candles” with my Grandma, she said I looked and acted like Molly Ringwald. Of course, I took this as a great compliment, but in truth, all Molly Ringwald and I really shared was short hair- she was much cooler than I was in her roles in the John Hughes films and in her personal interviews.


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