MC5: A TRUE TESTIMONIAL
The combination of blue collar ethics, a burgeoning national youth culture and Detroit's 1967 race riots made an uncompromising, politically-charged band like the MC5 inevitable, and director David C. Thomas does an excellent job of keeping A True Testimonial moving in perfect pace with the music of the group and the raging era that birthed them. Told in the surviving members' own words, the story of the MC5's triumphant blitzkrieg through the late 60s and inglorious dissolution in the early 70s will be compelling even to those without much interest in rock & roll (and more than a few will be converted along the way). Guitarist Wayne Kramer is the film's primary interview subject, having been part of the band from its innocent beginnings to its bitter finale, and he's enthusiastic about the chance to relive his memories and revisit the places where it all happened. Bassist Michael Davis is interviewed at his Arizona ranch, and he appears at ease with the past and comfortable in the present. However, it's drummer Dennis Thompson who best embodies the contradictions of the MC5, a band that promoted peace and brotherhood but wielded rifles in promo shots and were openly competitive with other groups that dared to share their stage. Defending the band's rallying cry of "Kick out the jams, motherfuckers," Thompson insists that "behind the 'motherfucker' is peace and love and growth and equality, okay?" and he's often combative in his segments (he takes time to insult both Kiss and Iggy Pop over the course of the DVD's interviews). MC5: A True Testimonial would be valuable if only for the volume of archival footage unearthed, certain to thrill long-time fans who missed the chance to witness the power of the band first hand. Previously unseen home movies not only capture the MC5 tearing it up for the audience, but clowning together between gigs (including a few priceless seconds of volleyball played in full stage attire), and the weathered silent footage of these young bucks in their prime is bittersweet. Thanks to the paranoia of the United States government, the band's storied appearance at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention has been preserved, and Thomas includes ultra-rare TV performances that provide the film's best moments; seeing the MC5 blaze through "Looking at You" before a huge outdoor audience is worth the price of admission alone (and the DVD release features several more exciting television segments as extras).
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Upcoming AMG reviews? We'll see what they afford me ...
SCREAM OF THE WOLF
MOON OF THE WOLF
WOLFMAN (1982, Worth Keeter)
THE SEVERED ARM
MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE
THE DEMON (1976, Percival Rubens)
SNOWBEAST
DAY OF THE OUTLAW
MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD
THE WEREWOLF OF WOODSTOCK
THE BABY (1972, Ted Post)
BRITNEY BABY ONE MORE TIME
PSYCHED BY THE 4-D WITCH
MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE
TA PEDHIA TOU DHIAVOLOU (ISLAND OF DEATH, 1975)
NORTHVILLE CEMETARY MASSACRE
p.s.
SCREAM OF THE WOLF
MOON OF THE WOLF
WOLFMAN (1982, Worth Keeter)
THE SEVERED ARM
MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE
THE DEMON (1976, Percival Rubens)
SNOWBEAST
DAY OF THE OUTLAW
MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD
THE WEREWOLF OF WOODSTOCK
THE BABY (1972, Ted Post)
BRITNEY BABY ONE MORE TIME
PSYCHED BY THE 4-D WITCH
MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE
TA PEDHIA TOU DHIAVOLOU (ISLAND OF DEATH, 1975)
NORTHVILLE CEMETARY MASSACRE
p.s.
METHUSELAH
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (1969)
Methuselah's sole LP release didn't connect with the record-buying public of its day, but it contains some great moments, even if the entire exercise bears a heavy sheen of pretension. Singer John Gladwin wrote the bulk of the material on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and he displays a jones for biblical imagery that may have confused some of the band's potential secular audience, as well as alienating any devout listeners who wondered what any of it had to do with Christianity. There's no true gospel to be gleaned from Methuselah, just lots of familiar Bible references and name-drops, but Les Nicols' lead guitar cuts through any nonsense, ripping out snarling solo runs even during the quietest moments and keeping things grounded. At their best, Methuselah recall a noisier, uglier Fairport Convention, mixing traditional British folk with American blues and injecting a straight shot of psych-out electricity for the long-hairs. The album's standout track is undoubtedly the thumping, blazing "High in the Tower of Coombe," a down-beat tale of medieval wench thievery with an anthemic instrumental hook, and the excellent "Fireball Woman" is mournful, high-volume balladry. A finale of "Frere Jacques" is downright excruciating, unfortunately, a progressive-rock misstep complete with falsetto chorus and a jazzy instrumental breakdown. Despite Methuselah being such a very British band, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John only saw release in the United States, issued by Elektra alongside bands like the Stooges and Love. Methuselah dissolved shortly afterward, and Gladwin and rhythm guitarist Terry Wincott unplugged themselves and formed the unique folk act Amazing Blondel, which endured into the 21st century.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (1969)
Methuselah's sole LP release didn't connect with the record-buying public of its day, but it contains some great moments, even if the entire exercise bears a heavy sheen of pretension. Singer John Gladwin wrote the bulk of the material on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and he displays a jones for biblical imagery that may have confused some of the band's potential secular audience, as well as alienating any devout listeners who wondered what any of it had to do with Christianity. There's no true gospel to be gleaned from Methuselah, just lots of familiar Bible references and name-drops, but Les Nicols' lead guitar cuts through any nonsense, ripping out snarling solo runs even during the quietest moments and keeping things grounded. At their best, Methuselah recall a noisier, uglier Fairport Convention, mixing traditional British folk with American blues and injecting a straight shot of psych-out electricity for the long-hairs. The album's standout track is undoubtedly the thumping, blazing "High in the Tower of Coombe," a down-beat tale of medieval wench thievery with an anthemic instrumental hook, and the excellent "Fireball Woman" is mournful, high-volume balladry. A finale of "Frere Jacques" is downright excruciating, unfortunately, a progressive-rock misstep complete with falsetto chorus and a jazzy instrumental breakdown. Despite Methuselah being such a very British band, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John only saw release in the United States, issued by Elektra alongside bands like the Stooges and Love. Methuselah dissolved shortly afterward, and Gladwin and rhythm guitarist Terry Wincott unplugged themselves and formed the unique folk act Amazing Blondel, which endured into the 21st century.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Monday, May 03, 2004
HOUSE OF INSANE WOMEN!!
Got a hell of a DVD box set at Video Vertigo last night ... one of those cheapo no-frills Brentwood releases, ten films on five discs, all sick zombie/etc. masterpieces for eight bucks. It's worth the price just to have Night Train To Terror at my fingertips, and the rest of the lineup features films I've been looking for (The Severed Arm, Memorial Valley Massacre) as well as plenty of bonuses that are quickly bearing fruit (like the amazing Horror Rises From the Tomb and a few of those "Blind Dead" flicks).
Got a hell of a DVD box set at Video Vertigo last night ... one of those cheapo no-frills Brentwood releases, ten films on five discs, all sick zombie/etc. masterpieces for eight bucks. It's worth the price just to have Night Train To Terror at my fingertips, and the rest of the lineup features films I've been looking for (The Severed Arm, Memorial Valley Massacre) as well as plenty of bonuses that are quickly bearing fruit (like the amazing Horror Rises From the Tomb and a few of those "Blind Dead" flicks).
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
SIFF press screenings started yesterday, and I've got dozens of films ahead of me in the next several weeks. I get uncomfortable with swag, I always feel like I'm stealing when I get on a guest list, but yesterday my nerves were salved by the man next to me, who introduced himself as the film critic from "SGN." By god, if Seattle Gay News can earn a free pass to every movie at SIFF, then Resonance belongs for sure.
First up was Saved! A big joke at the expense of Christian teens ... poor kids. I get my hackles up whenever filmmakers make sport of easy targets, and for certain audiences, all you have to do is make a Christian appear foolish and you got yerself an effortless laugh. That's how the thing began, but eventually the characters began questioning their faith without rejecting the idea of religion altogether, and the film moved into a smarter, more human sphere. A simplistic sit-com ending ruined any good will I had brewing, and when the characters erected a giant Jesus statue in the first scene, I should have known it would come toppling down as a climax (cheap symbolism). Mandy Moore was funny, though, and the girl from Ginger Snaps always drives me wild.
After that I was blessed with Godsend, one of the worst big-budget movies I've ever seen. Went nowhere, made no sense, more cheap symbolism (Robert DeNiro smashes Greg Kinnear with a crucifix, then storms out of a church as a fire blazes behind him). The room was filled with inappropriate laughter, muffled at first, but growing stronger as the film progressed and we all started realizing there was no other reaction possible. And that kid! There's one "intense" scene with Kinnear and the kid ... "I see things, Daddy!" "What do you see? What do you see?" I guarantee that four out of five audiences will have one wag who shouts out, "Dead people!"
The free t-shirt did nothing to sway me ... maybe if they had sprung for some graphics or thicker material. Keep that in mind, Hollywood. A red tee with your website address is not going to get a lot of wear.
First up was Saved! A big joke at the expense of Christian teens ... poor kids. I get my hackles up whenever filmmakers make sport of easy targets, and for certain audiences, all you have to do is make a Christian appear foolish and you got yerself an effortless laugh. That's how the thing began, but eventually the characters began questioning their faith without rejecting the idea of religion altogether, and the film moved into a smarter, more human sphere. A simplistic sit-com ending ruined any good will I had brewing, and when the characters erected a giant Jesus statue in the first scene, I should have known it would come toppling down as a climax (cheap symbolism). Mandy Moore was funny, though, and the girl from Ginger Snaps always drives me wild.
After that I was blessed with Godsend, one of the worst big-budget movies I've ever seen. Went nowhere, made no sense, more cheap symbolism (Robert DeNiro smashes Greg Kinnear with a crucifix, then storms out of a church as a fire blazes behind him). The room was filled with inappropriate laughter, muffled at first, but growing stronger as the film progressed and we all started realizing there was no other reaction possible. And that kid! There's one "intense" scene with Kinnear and the kid ... "I see things, Daddy!" "What do you see? What do you see?" I guarantee that four out of five audiences will have one wag who shouts out, "Dead people!"
The free t-shirt did nothing to sway me ... maybe if they had sprung for some graphics or thicker material. Keep that in mind, Hollywood. A red tee with your website address is not going to get a lot of wear.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Permit me to think aloud for a moment ... potential AMG reviews are as follows:
GUN GIRLS
MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD
BOARDING HOUSE
EL GATO CON BOTAS
URGH! A MUSIC WAR
SNAKE RIVER Spinach Ep
SHELDON ALLMAN Folk Songs for the 21st Century
V/A Just Something My Uncle Told Me
I always love to get ahead of myself. One more list to be ignored ...
GUN GIRLS
MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD
BOARDING HOUSE
EL GATO CON BOTAS
URGH! A MUSIC WAR
SNAKE RIVER Spinach Ep
SHELDON ALLMAN Folk Songs for the 21st Century
V/A Just Something My Uncle Told Me
I always love to get ahead of myself. One more list to be ignored ...
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