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October 31, 2007
Retrohump Retrospective: MS.com is primed for the terrible twos
Two years ago today Merry Swankster.com officially launched.
We aren't doing anything special to mark the occasion, but since the site's birthday falls on fan-favorite Retrohump day, we figured the time was right for a re-introduction to the feature for newer readers. Envisioned as a Youtube branded window into the past where we'd "scour the depths of the Internet and present a video we think is cool. The focus will be on older acts, the pioneers, the originals, the masters. The clips will be of very poor quality."
Happy to say it and us are still going strong. So while you reflect over this momentous occasion may I suggest indulging in a few select Retrohump videos from the archives? Forgive the lazy clip show. Thanks. (Happy Halloween too).
The first Retrohump:
Jimi Hendrix - "Machine Gun"
Jimi is ripping it up badass style for about ten minutes.
Roxy Music - "In Every Dream Home a Heartache"
If the initial slow pace isn't sufficiently livened up for you by the surprisingly interesting old time-y TV editing, please, please wait for the freak out that follows the line "I blew up her body....but she blew my mind." Is Eno ripping and manipulating tape from a huge reel to reel playback machine? Kind of makes Jonny Greenwood's fiddling with a transistor radio on stage seem a little half assed, huh?
Orange Juice - "Rip it Up" (Top of the Pops, 1983)
Edwyn Collins looks alternately charmed and frazzled, lip synch or no, and the hand selected crowd is going nuts. I only wish there was more camera time given to the synchronized dancers who are just killing it.
...and looking far into the future...Coachella 2014:
Unicorns - "I Was Born a Unicorn"
Sonic Youth - "Bull in the Heather"
Here is a precursory Venn diagram for the Long Blondes, who easily straddle the line between melody and grit; tenderness and moxy forthrightness and coyness.
Barnes & Barnes - "Fish Heads"
The collectively repressed ghosts of a generation return from backroom obscurity And Bill Paxton returns to it.
Oh, my. That is obscene. I mean, subtext is one thing, and giant dancing cocks are another thing entirely. Has anyone ever seen a lollipop shaped like that? Could you even show this on TRL today? Trumping "Dirrty" some 40 years earlier is impressive. Hats off Serge, you filthy bastard..
Wire - "the 15th"
Rockpalast, German televsion, 1979
Wire were Britain's best original era punk band. Period. They some times get lumped immediately into the post-punk category, basically because they were too interesting to be simplistic enough for purists. But look at the sneer on Colin Newman's face and tell me this isn't a punk band.
the Monochrome Set - "Eine Symphonie des Grauens"
(Minneapolis 1979)
The stern visage of singer Bid in this contextless footage suggests that he had to part ways with his former bandmate Adam Ant due to an acute allergy to foolishness and foppery.
Posted by Merry Swankster at October 31, 2007 12:00 PM
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Comments
Happy Anniversary Swankster. Thanks for all the good times.
Posted by: ms lurker at October 31, 2007 04:54 PM
Happy Anniversary. I've tried to explain that damn Fish Heads video to my 14 year old. Now she can just watch--and caustically berate the insufferable lameness of my generation even more. Thanks!
Posted by: Magister Ludicrous at October 31, 2007 05:38 PM
