Planet Claire - the B52's

[link] Off their first album, this song kind of summarizes the retro-kitsch-camp aesthetics. It simultaneously utilizes imagery reminiscent of golden age science fiction as well as a statement about a certain kind of person (Claire) who seems to be an image of themselves, and eventually their fans. All aspects of the song feed into this: the lyrics, the spy theme rhythm track, and the sound effects. Claire is an alien because she is different. A lot of people I knew in the 80s found this very appealing. The B52s were on the ground floor of what became a standard trope of what are now called hipsters.

the episodic 3rd The Gamers movie

[link to first episode] This one is funded via Kickstarter.  The hilarity continues. These guys are idols in the con world.

The first The Gamers movie

[link] Microscopic budget.  Still quite fun.  The actors are quite a big younger.

Alcest - Délivrance

[link] Slowgaze with a pretty simple progression.  Going for big atmosphere here. Works pretty well.

The Gamers: Dorkness Rising

[link] I'm enjoying this immensely.  It's only a put-down of D&Ders in the self-deprecating title. Overall, I find it to be a loving tribute of the people and situations of gaming. Really really funny.  But there are also some honest statements about the sociology of gaming and perhaps larger things.  This deserves a wide cult audience.

Ernesto Lecuona's Malagueña on the Moog

[link]
Always great to revisit this music from my youth.  So powerful. Helps that it is a great piece of music to begin with.

Warcraft 2 music

I loved the original Warcraft (2 and 3, never played 1) real time strategy game, before they went to World of Warcraft.  Found the Human and Orc music online.  Brings back memories.

Two of my very favorites from ABBA

S.O.S. [link]
Chiquitita [link]
Sweet but complex harmonies.  This is as atmospheric as high pop gets. Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson write great pop. All the cliches about this band and their popular fandom are unfortunate. Really good music often is very popular.  There's nothing wrong with that fact.

Sade - the two original classics

Smooth Operator
The Sweetest Taboo

These songs were ubiquitous on Top 40 radio in the 80s and they deserved it. Was working out to them the other day.  They don't get old.

Sade - Never as Good as the First Time

[link] Another really great one from Sade.  I really like the keyboard-bass interplay in the main lick.  There are great breaks in this song as well.

Not much time to play lately

Life has been too busy with work, health, caregiving, and parenting to play much music.  But I have had the uke out a few times lately.  No Earthstock performance this year - they didn't get in touch with me (possibly a new person is running it). Now that the weather is nice and Ru-Jun is going to playgrounds a lot.  I hope to bring the uke with me to sit and play.

Nothing Can Come Between Us - Sade

[link] Nothing can come between me and my love for Sade.  I really like the staccato base licks.  Sade surrounds herself with amazing jazz/funk arrangers and performers and it really pays off.

Tralfaz Wizard's special mix

(just created; still a work in progress - was working out to some of these tunes this evening)

Terence Trent D'Arby - Sign Your Name
Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
The Mary Jane Girls - In My House
Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall In Love
JENNIFER PAIGE "CRUSH" original version
Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack
Scritti Politti Boom! There She Was
Scritti Politti Sugar And Spice
Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do for Love

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqzdqL0Df0_8GkW7ATLVrCvrpK78mUk9H

Floating Area - Shelling

[link] Sloegazey. Lots of poppy little bellish high keyboard sounds on top of the whispery vocal. Atmosphere - but the whole thing has an anticipatory edge. Somehow doesn't take me nearly as far as Plastic Girl in Closet does.

Pretty Little Bag - Plastic Girl in Closet

[link] Very poppy, smooth SG. This goes a long way. Like salve on a rash. It's calming, reassuring. Triumphant, even.

Rondo Acapricio - Tosca

[link] A find on Groove Salad from back in 2008.  A really great ambient piece with a beat. I love the radio sample from Singapore. Not sure about the audio samples that mix in toward the end (the male voice), but the rest is great ambient art.

Nightspots - The Cars

[link] Another track, less well known, from the same album (Candy-O).

Dangerous Type - The Cars

[link] One of the very best by one of the best American bands ever. The R&R H.O.F. is a fraud until these guys get in.

Bubblegum pop

Been reading a little about this genre.  Green Tambourine, by the Lemon Pipers is thought to be one of the first bugglegum pop singles. Pretty innocuous but fun in a way.  Here are a few other early bubblegum pop songs.
Simon Says - 1910 Fruitgum Company
You can definitely see the kid appeal here.
Yummy Yummy Yummy - Ohio Express 
 This song has some almost new-wavish complexity to it.
A Little Bit of Soul - Love Explosion
This sound was arrived at by a lot of artists coming from various different angles.

Thru The Flowers - The Primitives

[link] From 1987. This was the same time as the roots of SG were getting off the ground.  In addition to the bugglegum catchiness, the interest was the contrast between soft and hard.  This kind of feel is one of the essences of SG.

Rounders sequel

I really liked the 1998 movie Rounders, which was really important in popularizing Texas Holdem poker to the huge extent it has grown in the last 15 years. I don't like watching the whole thing because the Ed Norton character is annoying.  The Mat Damon character should never have let the Norton character get him into trouble, which was the central plot complication of the whole movie.  I really like the poker scenes with Damon and Malkovich as Teddy KGB.
I just read that there is a sequel in the works with Damon and Norton that will involve playing in Paris to start and Robert DeNiro as the new villain.
For a long time I've had a different idea for a sequel (which maybe they could still do something like after the current sequel): Damon has moved to Vegas and become a successful pro, playing big televised tournaments, publishing books, etc.  Then Teddy KGB shows up in Vegas and establishes a club.  Initially it looks like KGB is simply expanding.  But it will become clear that he really is running from the Russian mob.  Damon has to save him.  By playing poker of course.  There are a lot of ways that could play out.

Breaking Curfew - Red Rider

[link] And here's the title track from that album.  Really good song. The little unplugged intro version I had never heard before.

Can't Turn Back - Red Rider

[link] Another great one from the same album.

Work Out - Red Rider

[link] One of their bouncier tunes. Still has their edge. I have a special relationship with the album Breaking Curfew.  There was a multi year period in the mid-late 80s when I didn't go a week without listening to this album a few times. Love the synth work flitting around the background. Good hooks in this pretty simple song.

Sunbeam - Submarine

[link] This track was included on iTunes on a mac I had about three computers ago.  I went nuts for it. Really really amazing song.

Semi obscure movie recommendation #3

The Moderns

The trailer title is weired b/c Mickey Rourke is not listed in the cast and I'm pretty sure he does not have a major (or any) role.

Semi obscure movie recommendation #2

Bear Island

Semi obscure movie recommendation #1

Hanover Street

Honeymooners Rap - Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy

[link] I never stayed up late enough to watch SNL in those days but this song was really big on Top 40 radio for a short time (summer of 85 I think).  It hasn't stood up well, but not much old school rap style comedy has.

Wind Up - Pity Sex

[link] Low key up temp SG. Peppy but still glum chorus. The contrast between mood and tempo + sharpness of guitar lead is one of the most interesting aspects of this strain of SG.

Harpoons - Sisu

[link] This might be the reason for the Sinead earworm.  Sisu evokes a whole bunch of really great predecessors: Siouxsie, Bjork, Cocteau Twins, and a bit of Sinead. The chorus here is a force of nature.

Mandinka - Sinead O'Connor

[link] Had this as an earworm this morning.  Not complaining.

Slowgaze by the Tralfaz Wizard Experience

Recorded last night.