TOP STORY: Updates Big and Small
I've been getting hot and heavy with the code this week, making small edits, useful updates, and new pages for the THUGficial. I know it isn't always easy to tell, but check out our main page. I am now putting a small update line below the THUGficial logo, so you can quickly see if there's anything new on the page. So far we have a UIL page, a SDOAP page with daily updates, and a photo album and Mariner page that should be out any day now. Since I am ahead of schedule this time, the page is a great source of timely information. If you want to know show times, rehersals, etc. Check the THUGficial. That's what it's there for.Album Review: "Sing Along With Los Straitjackets" by Los Straitjackets
This week I step out of indie blues and into the surf. That's right, famed modern instrumental rock band Los Straitjackets have a new album out (Holy sh*t, I'm reviewing a new album). I approached it with apprehension, after all, the title is SING ALONG With Los Straitjackets, that's like Talk on the Phone With Amish People, it doesn't happen. Once I realized they weren't singing, I was relieved (Their singing skills are repudiated to be only slightly above mine), however, I was re-distressed to learn it was a "and Friends" album, which generally suck. The intro to their arrangement of Black is Back allieviated all my fears. The repetative double guitar-backed lead bass lick just moans classic instru -mental rock, and the fearless cheese vocals (Provided by virtual unknown Raul Malo, who seems more than qualified to sing the theme of a Bond flick) cap off the feirce instrumental mix. It dashes through a dozen more breakneck-paced (11 out of the 13 cuts are under three minutes) feats of surfabilly insanity. It continues on and gets even madder. Big Sandy and El Vez deliever three Spanish-language tracks (Sandy with two and Vez with one, respectively), while the boys lay down more than respectable backing. Rockabilly God Mark Lindsay lays down the smooth "Treat Her Right," while Danny Amis lays down a twangy, Ventures-inspired riff, then Jimmy Lester hits the hi-hats and the bass drum while the Straitjackets scream, "HEY! HEY! HEY!" and it busts into a blues -based solo. Allison Moorer and Lonesome Bob lay down some inspired Nashville/ Motown lines while the Jackets suppy significant backing. Dale Alvin down a crazy-fun Shadows-style re-arrangement of pop favorite "California Sun." The Jackets also engage in Balladry with Leigh Nash on "The End of the World." My favorite track, tho, is their mad cover of A Huevo (One of surf's most famous instrumentals). They combine it with Link Wray's rawhide (Played by two guitars, the lead bright and twangy, the rhythm sounding more like an electric razor than a guitar). The only standout bad track guest stars one of my Favorites, The Reverend Horton Heat. I don't know how he could cut a bad track, it started off good enough, then he got lost. I am amazed amazed, but Straitjackets were too much, even for the awesome powers of the Rev. He just sorta got lost. He never had the strongest voice, but God, I coulda sung that track better. It's rather sad he messed it up because the Jackets play so strong (That's probably why they kept it). The bottom line is: The Straitjackets are able to bring honor to the normally dismal "and friends" genre (Anybody ever heard of the Double Trouble album, shudder). The best part is, they are the stars. This album actually gave me more respect for the band, as they are able to spread out and do some great songs they can't normally attempt. All the arrangements are perfectly (dis)taste and done with the amount of (dis)respect for the origion -als that the Jackets have been known for. One of their best albums so I am proud to give them: SCORE:
of 5 penguins.
Haiku For the Taco Bell Chicken Quesedia
Feat of Strength #12
The Feat of Strength competition is a test to see how ballin' my Thespian brothers are. Each week's winner (The first to mail me the correct/best answer) will recieve a nominal prize. Last week's winner was: Mike "Sparky" Fiori This week's prize is: A random Billy Joel album and three Hot Wheels cars This week's feat is: Give me your best plan for declaring yourself an independent nation. (You have until next 0600 Thursday GMT (Or midnight Wednesday, here), or more likely, whenever the hell I get to making a new newsletter (My release dates are bad, but they ain't worse than Spence), to e-mail me the answer.Until Next Week... Have fun and give it up to the Dutch.
