Weird for Wednesday: Todd Rundgren

If you know Todd Rundgren from just his hits (which he's had several), you don't know the full spectrum of how wonderful and strange his music is, and how odd some of his history is (not to mention the amazing feather ensemble in the "Hello, It's Me" clip below). From his pseudonymous efforts to his experimentation to his work on TV shows such as Crime Story and Pee Wee's Playhouse, Rundgren has proved himself to be a workhorse who can both tickle the pop fancy and branch out into some pretty odd territory.

"Hello, It's Me"


"Piss Aaron"


"Bread"


"You Cried Wolf"


(With Taj Mahal) "Never Mind The Why And Wherefore"

Weird for Wednesday: Man Man

Take those musical favorites from childhood--cartoon themes, circus songs, parade standards--add some extremely infectious beats, campy lyrics, and a down-and-dirty sound, throw it all into a bag (a six-demon-bag, perhaps) and shake it up...there you have Man Man. They're funny, but that's not all; some of the songs ("Feathers" comes to mind) are quite touching, and some (like "Top Drawer") ring with a cleverly derisive sneer. And they put on a helluva live show, too.

"Rabbit Habits"


"10 lb. Moustache"


"Feathers"


"Top Drawer"

Weird for Wednesday: Dean Gray

Not all mashups are created equal. Some are poorly matched; some grate on the nerves; some take themselves too seriously; some just seem to forced. Not so, however, with 2005's brilliantly excecuted and controversial American Edit by Dean Gray, the songs of which enrich Green Day's American Idiot with an added sense of time and place:

Dr. Who On Holiday:


Boulevard of Broken Songs


The Bad Homecoming (Waiting)

The Bleeding Edge: Free Blood

It's hard to sum them up, but Brooklyn, NY's Free Blood, a collaboration between John Pugh (formerly of !!!) and designer Madeline Davy; but for brooding experimental dance rythms, you couldn't do better.

More info and news (and a sweet t-shirt...) at Free Blood Speaks.

"The Royal Family"


"Audacity"


"Grumpy"

Wednesday Weirdness: Alan Parsons Project, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination"

The Alan Parsons Project's little-known concept album "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" contains a wide variety of musical styles, all bound together by the album's inspiration, Edgar Allen Poe's tome of the same name.

From gentle to brooding to manic to nearly comic, the songs offer first-person views from the characters in the stories. The album art, simple yet haunting images, perfectly illustrates the stories' underlying feel.

"The Raven"


"The Cask of Amontillado"


"The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Feather"


"The Tell-Tale Heart"

Bleeding Edge: Lonely London Lad

Experimental music is alive and well, and bursting out the collective minds of Robert, Johnny, and Billy of Lonely London Lad. Their new double-cd is filled with treats, ranging from classical/techno-novelty-esque numbers like "Drop Dead Lizzie" to ambient tracks like "Buffalo Jump" to lovely White Town-reminiscent songs like "The Love" and "Madness." It may take a couple of listens to really wrap one's brain around it, but patience will be rewarded.

Some full tracks from the fabulous CD can be found on their MySpace page.





Special Bonus: "Another Planet," A Space Opera

Wednesday Weirdness: Atom and his Package

The story of a boy and his sequencer....

Adam Goren, from the Bronx via Pennsylvania, was a one-man-whirlwind of productivity from 1997-2003. As Atom and His Package, his brand of synth-punk has an distinctive sound and style, and never fails to bring a smile to my face. His lyrics are simultaneously smart and silly, filled with fun references, and who doesn't love Eddie Money?

"Punk Rock Academy"


"I'm Downright Amazed at What I Can Destroy With Just a Hammer"


"Lord It's Hard to be Happy When You're Not Using the Metric System"

Tapped Out: Your End of a Long Weekend Jukebox

Cousteau, "Last Good Day of the Year"


White Wires, "Ha Ha Holiday"


Yacht, "Summer Song"


The Dogs, "Punk Rock Holiday"


Strawberry Alarm Clock, "Soft Skies, No Lies"

Bleeding Edge: HALSTON!

HALSTON! bills themselves as "a two-man, one-take Cosmiche American Disco & Western band from Boston, Massachusetts," but that's only scratching the surface. A nearly undefinable mix, the band really needs to be heard to be understood. "From Here to Here" is a beautiful dance song with a bit of old-school flair, and "Big Boy Car" pulls out plaintive vocals and a mean keyboard. "Gurl Grope" hearkens back to the girl-band songs of the 60's--but for the excellent twist of male vocals, it could be a just-discovered Shangri-La's song.


If you listen to nothing else, listen to "Terry Jive," which weaves futuristic noises into a jazzy ditty, through their MySpace page. It's far and away better than any of this summer's radio hits.

"Crocodiles"



Newest trailer for Family Property, featuring music by HALSTON!