TIM CURRY

"Baby's got a dream and she can boogie"

This post is going to be a little different from the music I usually post, but I have to dig way back to the seventies now and spotlight the god that is Tim Curry. Anybody who's seen Rocky Horror Picture Show will know what I'm talking about, and if you haven't seen it, go out RIGHT NOW and rent/buy it. It's one of the two best movies ever (the other being the 2003 version of Peter Pan, but that's an entirely different story). Anyway, Tim Curry had a short recording career after Rocky Horror and it's insanely unfair that he wasn't more popular than he was. None of his albums are even in print anymore (his greatest hits cd goes for 70$ on amazon!!). So, I decided to spotlight a small taster of Curry's non-RHPS work.

First up is "Paradise Garage," a sorta rock/disco hybrid with a really catchy chorus from his 1979 album Fearless. Next is a new wave cover of the Zombie's 1960's hit "She's Not There" from his 1981 mostly covers album Simplicity. Third is "Right On The Money," a Rocky Horror-ish rocker that opens Fearless. Finally is "Bettie Jean," a song from Simplicity that I included simply because it makes me laugh everytime I hear it.

Tim Curry - Paradise Garage

Tim Curry - She's Not There

Tim Curry - Right On The Money

Tim Curry - Bettie Jean

(Unfortunately, I couldn't find anywhere you can by music by Tim Curry. If you like what you hear, let me know. I have more of his stuff. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

DEPORTEES - CHAMPAGNE EYES

"You see I gave it all I could now (quit whining)"

Another import from the wonderful land that is Sweden, Deportees sound like the lovechild of Prince and an indie-pop band. This is what his purple highness could sound like if he'd stop trying to prove to us that he can play every instrument known to man--catchy, radio-friendly, but still credible pop. Champagne Eyes, along with its colorful video, was the best of the three singles released from their debut album. It's great for a summer evening drive through the city...top down, singing along, you know, all those good clichés.

Deportees - Champagne Eyes

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

DIAMOND NIGHTS - THE GIRL'S ATTRACTIVE

"Lord, I can't resist her, please tie me down"

Diamond Nights have been hailed by some as America's version of the Darkness, but I don't think that's very accurate. They are pretty cheesy, but they're a lot less bombastic than the Darkness. I'm not sure if that's a good thing, but this particular song possesses a sleezy 80's glam swagger that I find impossible to resist. It's the kind of song that's made for strutting, and those kinds of songs don't come along very often! This version is off their first EP, Once We Were Diamonds. The version on their album is different in places and seems to have downplayed all the things that I loved in the EP version (most notably, the breathy groan of pleasure after the chorus). So, here's the preferred version of this fabulous song.

Diamond Nights - The Girl's Attractive (EP Version)

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

REYNADA HILL - COSMIC DARE (PRETTY WITH A PISTOL)

"Still sitting pretty with a pistol in hand"

This is probably the most pop-ish song I've posted yet and it comes close to the dangerous "teen pop" genre that was rampant in the late 90's. But, I like to think that it's better than that. Reynada Hill is the singer but I have no idea who she is. The song was composed by Yoko Kanno and the music's by the band Seatbelts, who have worked on a ton of music for japanese anime films/series. This particular song is from the Cowboy Bebop movie. And, anyone who knows Cowboy Bebop also knows the amazing music that goes along with it. Cosmic Dare is unlike any other song that I've heard from Kanno. It's a very fun, catchy song with really great lyrics. One listen and it'll be stuck in your brain, so beware.

Reynada Hill - Cosmic Dare (Pretty With A Pistol)

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

Buy This Album!

The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You

I've been looking forward to this album ever since I first listened to The Sounds' first LP, Living in America. It's a little different from their older stuff and actually took me a few more listens to get into than their first album. But, I am now firmly entrenched. If you liked the Surferosa song that I posted a few weeks ago on this blog, you'll definitely enjoy this. The best part of the Sounds is how they incorporate synth so completely into their pop-punk-disco sound so that they're not a "synth" or "electropop" band, they're a pop band that uses synths and electronics. It's like Blondie for the new millenium but way better (I never quite got into Blondie). Standouts include the first single, Song With a Mission, with its catchy Rolling Stones-esque guitar riff and soul/gospel background vocals, Hurt You, the most synth-driven song the band's ever attempted, and probable second single, the catchy as hell Queen of Apology. But, who am I kidding, all the songs are great. And, if you get the album this week you can find it most places in the US for under ten dollars! Plus, the cd is enhanced with two videos and a remix. Sold yet?

Listen to the album before you buy it here.

And, as a special bonus (because I'm so excited about this album finally coming out), here's the b-side to their latest, magnificent single Song With A Mission for you to sample:

The Sounds - Goodbye Seventies

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately)

MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN - DANCE IN MY BLOOD

"You don't need a reason to get out on the dancefloor"

So, I just discovered this band on the fabulous website, bigstereo (added to my links today) and I had to post this song. The reason is, their album comes out tomorrow in America. And, I get ridiculously excited when a good album actually comes out in this country and I can go to the store and buy it in person. Really, it happens all too rarely. As for the band, they are very interesting... I've been predicting a resurgence of elements of disco in music for awhile now and I think M, W & C may very well be the ones to make it popular. They mix post-punk with disco to fabulous effect. It's almost a little like the band Panic! At the Disco, but it's way better. See for yourself, and if you like what you hear, make sure to buy their album tomorrow (along with the Sounds' new one, which also comes out tomorrow :)

Men, Women & Children - Dance In My Blood

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)

KILL HANNAH - KENNEDY

"I'll be brave tonight, either live or die"

It's time for some androgyny on this blog! Seriously, when I first heard this band, I thought that the lead singer was a woman. In fact, it sounded suspiciously like Shirley Manson of Garbage. The last time that happened to me was when I first heard Daniel Bedingfield's "Gotta Get Thru This." I'm usually good with these sorts of things. As for the song, it definitely screams #1 hit. The verses are all well and good, but as soon as the sweeping chorus pops up, with its epic melody and squiggly synths, I'm completely sold. And really, when it comes to hits, it's all about the chorus anyway.

Kill Hannah - Kennedy

(you can buy the album here - music is posted for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists. If you hold the copyright to this song and wish it to be removed, contact me and I will delete it immediately.)