Plastilina Mosh — Aquamosh

• Artist: Plastilina Mosh
• Title: Aquamosh
• Year: 1998
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – SecondSpin.com
• Keeper: Yes

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo this coming Saturday I’m going to spend the week posting about some Mexican musicians who are my favorite band. And I don’t mean my favorite band from Mexico; I mean favorite band, period. Ladies and gentlemen… Plastilina Mosh!

I would like Beck as much as PMosh if he were twice as energetic and half as moody, and the Beastie Boys as much if they were as consistent. There is a connection there, but they are no imitators. They use Spanish and English, and other languages, in the same songs. They play songs in styles ranging from pure hip hop, rock and roll, punk, disco, lounge, noise, stuff I can’t explain or have never heard before, jazzy Stereolab-sounding things, and more. They appear to have no rules other than making good music. All that from only two guys, Alejandro Rosso and Jonás González.

Plastilina Mosh has had some real commercial success, especially in Latin markets. If you’re lucky you can catch one of their videos on MTV3, or MTV “Tr3�?s.” This is the one MTV that actually plays music videos. Isn’t that what MTV2 was for? Or, for that matter the original MTV? Anyhow, even their videos are great. I’ll get back to that later in the week.

Auqamosh is their debut album, but I didn’t get hip to them until their second release, Juan Manuel. My favorites from this one are the slamming rock hip hop opener “Niño Bomba”, “Afroman”, the hit “Monster Truck.”

Introduce yourself to Mr. P. Mosh.

OMD (Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark) — Telegraph

• Artist: OMD (Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark)
• Title: Telegraph
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1983 – Somewhere in Fairfax, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Long overdue, here’s the latest record: “Telegraph” by Ochestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, better known as simply OMD. I didn’t expect to like this very much despite the fact that I bought an OMD record myself way back when, but I have to say I do. This single is an almost eight minute “extended version” of the song with a variety of cool synth sounds and vocals that remind me of Alvin and the Chipmunks, or maybe 999. My favorite bit is the chime sound prominent in the early part of the song. The flip side is a drum-less instrumental titled “66 and Fading” that sounds like the band’s name.

King — Won’t You Hold My Hand Now

• Artist: King
• Title: Won’t You Hold My Hand Now
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I’m so tired of these King 12 inches. “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now” was not motivating me to update this site, but I’m getting it over with now. This single is extra boring. I’m not all-out hatin’ on King, it’s just that this is really blah. Buh-bye.

Leftfield — Leftism

• Artist: Leftfield
• Title: Leftism
• Year: 1995
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – SecondSpin.com
• Keeper: Yes

More than once I’ve read reviews that called Leftfield’s Leftism “the greatest dance record ever.” To that I say, “OK.” It’s good all right; that’s for sure. Leftism was their debut. I’ve had their second, darker and somewhat minimalist, record Rhythm and Stealth for some years, and it’s one of my favorites. I couldn’t find Leftism easily because it’s now out of print. Then, just recently I discovered SecondSpin.com. I’m sure they’ve been in business for quite a while, but they’re new to me. They have used CDs, DVDs and games, the prices are great, and best of all they have hard to get stuff like this record. You can bet I’m going to be picking up a lot of back catalog stuff from them.

Anyhow, the Leftfield deal is like this: They are two DJs with numerous guest vocalists (no less than John Lydon on this one) and have been described as the finest example of freestyle British club music. Yes.

Read more about Leftfield at Wikipedia.

Debbie Harry — Liar Liar

• Artist: Debbie Harry
• Title: Liar Liar
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Dunno
• Keeper: Maybe

“From the film ‘Married to the Mob.'” Never saw the movie and never heard this record until today. I have no idea where Mary got it. Debbie Harry does a decent cover of “Liar Liar”, the 1960s hit by The Castaways. The flipside is some weirdness called “Queen of Voudou” by The Voodooist Corporation. I’ve never of them at all. It doesn’t appear to have anything to do with Ms. Harry. The song is sorta synthy and it didn’t really hold my attention so I can’t describe it beyond that.

Bananarama — The Wild Life

• Artist: Bananarama
• Title: The Wild Life
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: “Used… later at Plan 9.”
• Keeper: Maybe

The pop just keeps comin’. I think I spelled their name right, so many letter ‘A’s to keep track of. I don’t remember either of these Bananarama ditties, “The Wild Life” and “The State I’m In” on the back. I think I like the latter the most. It has a 1960s-Supremes vibe to it. Both of them are sort of middlin’ as far as Bananananananarama tunes go. Sorry, lost count there for a sec. Anyhow, Mary thinks she wants to keep this record.

From looking at the record queue it appears the parade of pop records won’t stop until we get to “E.” Stay tuned.

King — Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)

• Artist: King
• Title: Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984? – Tower Records in DC
• Keeper: Maybe

I’ve said this before, I think it was the last King record, guess when this was made. I like pop as much as the next guy, well not really but I’m incredibly tolerant of most forms of music, including pop. The main song, “Love and Pride (Body and Sould Mix)” is solid, listenable pop, but the flip side has two really lame filler pieces. If it were up to me this one would be a goner, fo’ sho.

Madonna — Madonna

• Artist: Madonna
• Title: Madonna
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

I gotta remember to check the inner sleeves when I take these pics. There’s a large pic of Madonna on the inside cover sporting a look that screams 1980s, a look she popularized as much as anyone I can think of.

If you haven’t heard this in a good while you might be surprised how nasal her voice is on this self-titled debut record. Speaking of surprises, this album has only eight songs, but some of them are on the long side. I’m not a huge fan a Madonna, but as is often the case the world doesn’t agree with me. I will say that it’s solid pop, and come on, who doesn’t like “Holiday”?

King — Steps in Time

• Artist: King
• Title: Steps in Time
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 – Tower Records in D.C.

Guess when this record came out? Just look at it. It was 1984. I remember hearing King on a “progressive” or “modern rock” radio station while on a family trip in Los Angeles. It doesn’t sound that progressive or modern now, more like a rocked out version of ’80s pop, or maybe a popped out version of ’80s rock. Anyhow, it’s not bad, but it does nothing for me. “Steps in Time” is Mary’s record and she wants to keep it in case we’re ever drafted to DJ an ’80s dance party down at The Orange Peel. I didn’t make that up.

Billy Idol — Hot in The City / White Wedding Promo

• Artist: Billy Idol
• Title: Hot in The City / White Wedding Promo
• Year: 1982
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1986 ? – She probably got it when she was working at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

This is just between us. I went to see Billy Idol in a concert during what was probably his first big US tour. That’s embarrassing enough, but since we’ve known each other for so long, I’ll keep going. I’m pretty sure what follows, or something similar, is what I was wearing:

• Camouflage BDU pants (probably from the local surplus store).
• Black tee shirt with the name of a local new-wave band, “The Nerve”, printed on it in neon pink, with the sleeves cut out, because I’m cool and all.
• Not sure about the footwear, probably army surplus boots or maybe Vans.
• Hair? I wish I could remember because I know it would be funny.
• And the best part… a wide black leather wristband with chrome spikes, not sissy studs, spikes!

While we were waiting in line outside, forever, a police officer apparently inspecting the line for trouble-makers saw my wristband and said it had to go. They knew. I was dangerous!

This 12 inch single has a remix of “Hot in The City” on one side and a remix “White Wedding” on the other. It was a promo, but it looks like it’s been sold a few times. Everybody knows these songs; they were huge hits. I even think they’re decent pop songs. But there is one hilarious detail to this version of “White Wedding” that isn’t on the original.

After one of the verses Billy yells “Rock… Music” and then later “Dynamite… (plus something else I couldn’t make out). ” What?!?… What?!? Did he just yell “Rock Music”? And there is a mega “delay” or echo so it’s really more like “ROCK ROCk ROck Rock rock rock… MUSIC MUSIc MUSic MUsic Music music…” What?!? Was this record intended for a non-english-speaking country? In the studio did someone say “Billy just scream the silliest thing you can think of and we’ll make it sound cool with effects”?