Finally Friday Video's Part IV

If there was an award for most feminine hairmetal band, Poison probably would have won it. You only have to look at the cover of their 1986 debut album "Look What the Cat Dragged In" to see why. Poison is the kind of band you won't admit liking, although you can sing along to every song. Their bandname should have been 'Guilty Pleasure', cause that sums it all up. This is popmetal, with songs that are so sweet, it makes your teeth ache. Without hesitating I can name 10 reasons why this band sucked (or sucks, cause they're still around), but these reasons can't take away the fact that I still love playing their first two albums "Open Up and Say..Ahh!" and "Look What the Cat Dragged in". The band released so many singles, that it's hard to choose which video's to post here. I guess it doesn't really matter which one I post, because their video's all look pretty much the same. Pay attention to the drummer who's trying so hard to be cool, that it gets to the point where you can't decide whether you want to laugh or feel sorry for him. His motion behind the drumkit will at least raise an eyebrow here and then.

I've posted the video's to the songs "Talk Dirty to Me" and "Fallen Angel". If you want more (don't admit this to anyone!), there are a dozen more music video's of poison on youtube.

Sing me to Sleep, Joanna Newsom

There are styles of music that I mustn't play right before going to bed, because they activate my brain too much. It's at that time of the day that I play folk-ish, singer songwriter music (I am terrible in adding labels to an artist, just call it whatever you want). Johnny Cash and Sufjan Stevens are the most famous examples of good sleeping music at FTC HQ, but there are more and the best will probably will be discussed here eventually.

Recently, Joanna Newsom's new album Ys (scheduled for a release in november) has been a wonderful addition to my sleeping music playlist. The album has 5 songs on it..total playing time adds up to 55 minutes! I usually like my songs under 3 minutes, but Joanna's songs are like bedtime stories and her stories are so diverse, beautiful and creative that you're not even aware that the songs take 10 minutes or longer. The song I've posted (Emily) passes the 12 minute mark.

I could try and explain how the songs on Ys sound, but it's hard. Wikipedia actually has a pretty good description. "Her songwriting incorporates elements of indie pop, Appalachian music, avant-garde modernism, African harp rhythms and a sensibility that some listeners describe as quirky. Many are struck by Newsom's unusual voice, childish and weathered (at least one critic has compared it to Lisa Simpson's)."

I do believe she has a way of singing that you'll either love or hate. It's clear that I'm a lover, not a hater here. Did I mention she plays the harp? Oh my, don't let my punkrock/hardcore friends hear this!

Joanna Newsom - Emily

Be Your Own Pet

Sometimes you just want to hear something that rocks hard, something to get you pumped up for a special occasion (a party, a match, an exam), sometimes you just want something you can play out loud to piss off your neighbours (I'm talking about you, not me here. I never fight with my neighbours...). When your in that mood, there is one band that will fulfill all your needs: Be Your Own Pet.

Put on their self titled debut album, turn up the volume, remove all dangerous object from your room and dance, scream, jump! This band rocks so hard. This album is filled with an amount of energy you rarely come across. What I like most about it though, is that from this album you get a feeling that this band isn't trying to be original or trying to write something the critics will love, they just wanna rock with loud music...and they succeed. I can't believe the average age in this band is only 18...then again, it might explain their raw, youthful sound. My favorite song is "Bicycle, Bicycle, you are my Bicycle, for which they just released an awesome video. The video for "Adventure" is also really worthwile/crazy.


Be Your Own Pet - Bicycle, Bicycle, you are my Bicycle
Be Your Own Pet on MySpace

The Mint Chicks

With the introduction of sites like MySpace and Purevolume, it seems that bands don't really put an effort into their regular websites anymore. Some new bands don't even make a website at all, which is a shame. Luckily, New Zealand's (!) The Mint Chicks are not one of those bands. With beautiful colorful and provocative artwork it provides eye candy in addition to information about the band you actually want to know.The well written biography teaches us that the quintet is into comic books, the Buzzcocks, a Clockwork Orange, Slayer ringtones, Refused, the Beach Boys and Grand Theft Auto. If that doesn't give you an idea what this band sounds like, their 2003 album 'Octagon, Octagon, Octagon' is described as "hardcore damaged beyond control by bubblegum, LSD and art school". Are you confused yet? On their latest album Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! the Mint Chicks "hone their disjointed noisy assault into an album of shiny pop anthems". What to expect? An album where:
* every song sounds completely different
* harcore, punk, pop and rock are put in a blender with excellent results
* weirdness doesn't neccesarily mean that it's unaccessible...in fact, this is some very catchy and accessible stuff!!
* the title track Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! might as well turn out to be their breakout song. It's a great tune but the drum riff makes it awesome.


The Mint Chicks - Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!
The Mint Chicks - Walking Off A Cliff


The Mint Chicks on MySpace