02/02/08
HOWLIN WUELF MEDIA
VASHTI BUNYAN/Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind: Can the resurrection of Anne Briggs be far behind? Talk about fading into legenddom—this twofer collection of stuff that mostly was never intended to be records finally comes to the light of day now that she had found her overdue due as the high priestess of the freek folk movement. An enigmatic figure that made one of the most glorious flops in the history of English folk music, she faded away but did her music ever have a half live of it’s own! In a process of demystification that has taken almost as long to unravel as the mystery of Bettie Page, you can now really get into what her out there sound was about and had to offer. One of those wily document recordings that true believers cherish and pass along in hushed tones, this is for the real music freek that wants to believe as well as revel in the fact that there was more to Bunyan than one legendary album that you really had to be too cool for school to love.
(diChristina)
TROLLEYVOX/Secret Safe-Luzerne: Solid double album from this rite of passage power pop band that can take it to the twee limits of some forgotten English folk rock record that was just the right thing to get high to or go around the bend to some Philly version of LA sunshine pop, and you can get toasted to it. With Beth Filla’s vocals out front, she has just the right sound to appeal to the children of all those boys and girls who were alone up in their room thinking Joni Mitchell was speaking just to them. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously in the deal. Fun stuff that’s a welcome addition to the lite side of pop, pomo style.
(Transit of Venus)
DVD SUPPLEMENT
PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
FAMILY TIES the third season: This is when Alex firmly became The Fonz of the Reagan Revolution; Mal still was our sweetheart because she hadn’t begun dating below herself yet, mom and pop realized they could earn their check just phoning it in and that idiot new kid hadn’t shown up yet. Still in it’s prime as the front runner as the suburban family comedy of it’s time, this inside out version of “Cosby” is still a lot of fun to watch.
Volume 31/Number 94
February 2, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record