STRESSED TO KILL (Mark Savage, USA 2016)

 I watched Mark Savage's STRESSED TO KILL last night and the film proves that, as a viewer, you don't necessarily have to make room/allowance for a lowbudget film's shortcomings. That may be the case of lesser (or lazy) lowbudget directors. It certainly wasn't the case with STRESSED. No bad script, no bad acting, no bad filming, no bad anything I can think of. It grabbed me and kept my attention ALL the way thru.

I used to read Mark's HK reviews in Fatal Visions (Melbourne film zine in the '90s) but this is the first film of his that I see. Certainly not the last (well, not least cos I've already bought his follow-up, lol). Oh, and the cast was GREAT. Man, Bill Oberst Jr. was very good, and Armand Assante delivers his part so all I can think of is Harvey Keitel in BAD LIUTENANT. 
Highly recommended.
 
PS: In Euroland; get it cheap from wowhd. I think I paid £7

CRYPT RECORDS tv special (1996)

"Wah Wah" (VAVA tv, Germany 1996, English language) 

TV special dedicated to the American record label Crypt Records. The label is run out of Hamburg by Tim Warren. Interview with Warren and The Oblivians + live footage with the band and music videos by New Bomb Turks, Lazy Cowgirls, Chrome Cranks, Elvis, Pegans, 13th Floor Elevators, and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

I've just reuploaded this TV special (which I talked about in my previous post). I don't know who taped this off TV in 1996 but in 2010 he uploaded the programme to YouTube and, uh, made a bit of a mess of it. He uploaded the full show in five parts. YouTube then deleted part 2 after which the uploader edited the programme into just two parts and uploaded them. So try and figure out which part 1 and 2 you watch before part 3, 4 and 5!! Some of the music was missing from some of the parts and ... it was a mess. In this upload I've edited the parts back together and have created the most complete version possible.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the original uploader for sharing the programme. Unfortunately, YouTube has removed the PM option so I can't even get in touch with him.

Hanging at the CRYPT owl nite

I found an old cool music programme about Tim Warren and his label CRYPT RECORDS on YouTube. The show also included an OBLIVIANS interview + live footage, and videos by other bands on the label. It was broadcast (in English) on a German music TV channel called VIVA in 1996. Back in the old days, you had to upload longer programmes in shor 10 minute bits. In 2010 the uploader divided the approx. 50 min. show into five parts. Unfortunately, the truly anal copyright Gestapo police decided that parts 1-4 were objectionable (in reg. to copyrights I assume) and had to go (i.e. according to a later post by the uploader).

In order to keep the Crypt special on YouTube, in 2011 the uploader edited the 50 min. programme into two approx. 10 min parts and uploaded them leaving out the copyrighted music. However, when I discovered the programme (yesterday) it soon became clear that - without the uploader being aware of this - YouTube had reconsidered and let parts 1, 3 and 4 back on (part 5 was never censored). So now only part 2 was missing.

I had a look at the various parts and discovered that part 1 of the re-uploaded/edited part actually contained all the missing interview parts from the missing original part 2 (still missing the music videos, though). So I'm spending the night editing together a "complete" version of the show (it's missing a couple of music videos but the full OBLIVIANS and Tim Warren interviews are there + the OBLIVIANS live footage).

It was a pain but fortunately I had a pile of new LP's from Crypt to listen to while working (see my previous post). Ive been away for a few days and have only had the chance to listen to one of them so far (Reatards - "Teenage Hate") so I pulled out CHEATER SLICKS - "Skidmarks" + a second hand copy of THE RUNAWAYS debut LP I got a while back (but haven't really listened to). The Cheater Slicks record was great (needless to say). Runaways is ... fun, and interesting in a historical context (as several of the band members went on to have long careers in rock music, not least Joan Jett and Lita Ford), but I doubt the record is gonna get into my top 10 or even top 5000.

REATARDS - teenage hate

Last time I ordered records from Tim Warren's CRYPT Records was 8 years ago! (and as I've mentioned the past ten posts or so) My record player broke down years ago and but I've finally got a new one (second hand but good condition). First thing I did was to check out and order a pile of platters at CRYPT's way cool online shop, stuff that I wanted way back but just never got hold of. Yesterday, I recived 10 (!!!) albums (LP + 1 cd) (good thing records these days are way cheaper than back in the 80s!). Here's one of them, REATARDS (sic) and their debut LP, "Teenage Hate". It's a reprint which includes an extra record. If you're into garage punk you'll most likely to be well aware of Jay Reatard's his band Reatards but it's just one of those bands I never got around to getting hold of back in the day. I'm playing the album for the second time now and it's awesome!

Btw, if you're an old garage rock fan who (like me) fell outta the loop and wonder what became of Tim Warren; no need to worry, according to this quite new interview he's still at it!

DEATH VALLEY '69 (Richard Kern, 1985)

I've owned Richard Kern's DVD "Hardcore" collection of his underground films from New York for well over 10 years. Last night I rebought the collection - this time on blu-ray. From Oldies.com, haha.

The above video is Kern's short film for the Sonic Youth track "Death Valley '69" about the Manson murders. It has the look and feel of any Richard Kern underground film. It has Kern regulars Lung Leg and Lydia Lunch in it! (although the latter only on the soundtrack) Great video/Kern flick.

I admit I haven't watched one single movie the past few days. I'm rediscovering my record collection. Here's some more that I played today.

I bought the JIMI HENDRIX - "Live at the Isle of Wight" LP in 1987. That's 32 years ago! Most of you weren't even born in 1987.

The IMPERIET mini LP is a favourite that I bought in 1984!! It still has perfect playback.

The CRAMPS four track ep is new to me but it's second hand and the cover is worn and so is the record. There's no skipping though and needless to say the Cramps are great. The B side is three live tracks that were initially recorded for John Waters' CRY BABY (but he didn't use them). Incidentally, the title track is from their record "Stay Sick!"

BLACK SABBATH - "Greatest hits" is a great record. I bought it in 1985 and I'm playing it as I type this.

LP's on the turntable this arvo!

I posted some record covers over on the Danish part of this blog. It's in Danish but you can still have a look at the sleeves. Go here.