The latest Plastilina Mosh record came out just in time for my birthday a few weeks ago. After the first full listen of All U Need is Mosh I was stunned that is wasn’t the greatest record ever made, because I’m huge, huge fan. I guess it’s bound to happen, but it’s always a downer when a band seems to take a step backward. I know, it’s all in my head. After several more complete listens I do love more than at first. There are a large number of great tunes and the whole world should buy it. My favorites in general are the more electronic stuff, but the punk-pop single “Let U Know” is totally fun. Other standouts include the slow electro-funk “Paso Fino” and the pretty “Pervert Pop Song.”

It’s my birthday, and I’m celebrating by posting one of my all-time favorite records, Tweet Tweet My Lovely by Snuff. It’s not even my favorite record by Snuff. I’m playing it as I write, I’m only on song number 6, and it’s given me goosebumps at least as many times. Snuff is the most soulful punk band that ever existed. These cats are the real deal, they know how to have fun, but they also know how to make some of the most poignant heavy music you’ll ever hear. And the details! Everything is perfect: the gang vocals, the crescendos, the speed, etc. Layer on some Hammond organ and trombone, and then seeing them live and it’s more exciting than I can describe. I’ll save the live show for the next Snuff record I post.

Don’t believe me? Don’t be ridiculous. Check out the snippets at AllMusic.

Then go to Snuff at MySpace. Then get all the Snuff history at Wikipedia.

Goosebumps. Goosebumps.

This Mother Love Bone record, Apple, is better than I remember. Too bad the singer Andrew Wood wasn’t able to manage his state. He died of a heroin overdose before this album was released. On the back cover there is a note: “In memory of Andrew Wood.” At the time I thought they were a little too perfect, too Seattle, too trippy. Some of the lyrics and titles still strike me as a bit uh… something, but the record has plenty of great riffs and hooks. My favorite song is a dirge, “Stardog Champion.” I’m a sucker for gang vocals from a bunch of kids. Check out the video, and stay tuned for the kinders at the end.

More about Mother Love Bone at Wikipedia.

What a complete breakdown in posting discipline. Things happen, and these records take time to post. This one is worth the wait though. Not that I’ve been waiting. I’ve been spinning Supershitty to the Max (1996) by The Hellacopters every day since I mentioned the guys last week. This is their first record and I’ve been in love with them ever since. Thanks to Bob Schick for turning me on, and tuning me in.

Supershitty is totally raw rock and roll in the spirit of The Stooges, Motorhead and roots punk. There’s no hint whatsoever of the occasional power pop song you hear on their later recordings. My favorite, and what too often feels like my theme song, is “Born Broke.”

Now that my son Mars discovered there is a bonus song by The Hellacopters in Guitar Hero III I can’t imagine my productivity is going to increase any time soon.

I think you need to read more about The Hellacopters.

I am not a particularly big fan of Garbage, but I am a James Bond lunatic. I have every single legitimate Bond movie made, along with some not-so-legitimate 007 flicks. In addition to the movies I have an odd assortment of Bond music from every relevant decade. So, I was happy to get this CD single “The World Is Not Enough” (1999) from a coworker at the time, Mona Sharma. I used to have a real turntable on my desk along with a “now playing” sign, just like in the record stores from the good ol’ days. For a while, I sat next to Mona. I asked her once what kind of music she liked and she replied that she really only listened to soundtracks. I thought that was funny at the time, in a cool non-conformist way, but in the years since that conversation I have been collecting more and more soundtracks and film scores. Mona was on to something.

As far as Bond movie themes go this one by Garbage is pretty solid. This is a promo that includes the original version along with the “Chilled Out Remix.” To be honest, after several listens I can’t tell them apart. Both are chilled out, and good.