January 1, 2006

The Turning of the Year

The month of December pretty much kicked my ass. In fact, the last part of this last year could really use some revisionist history. It hasn’t been all Haagen Dazs and Katamari Damashii, I’ll tell you that much. It’s been kind of lonely, and that’s why you haven’t seen an update in more than a week. First, my baby moved back to NYC back in June, around the same time that my kitty cat died. Some rich asshole dilettante ran a red light and hit my car and near-totalled it. And I got a sudden promotion last month - which basically just means I’ve had to start giving a shit again about what happens at work. Oh, poor me!

Wait a minute - I think I hear the world’s smallest violin section playing. It’s good to know you care, even with that hangover.

I thought about making a public New Year’s resolution to post more frequently, but then I mentally kicked myself for cooking up one of the dumbest cliches in the blogger’s handbook. Then I kicked myself again, using my real foot this time. Ouch. I predict more, better and less painful times to come.

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Here we are, six years after the dawn of 2000 A.D. The Rezillos foresaw the end of cool happening way before this. Who’s to say they were wrong? Maybe we’ve all been living on borrowed time, like some second-rate glammed-up episode of The Twilight Zone, you know, like the ’80s version.

All but one of the following songs are from the essential, definitive, classic studio album Can’t Stand the Rezillos on Sire, which you should definitely buy. (I stupidly traded my original heirloom copy long ago to Jon Spencer for a Whitehouse record.) Their cover of the Kinks’ “I Need You” comes off the posthumous 1979 live LP Mission Accomplished…But the Beat Goes On.

For those not familiar with the Rezillos, they were a bunch of high-energy, fun, aggressive, theatrical Scottish rock’n'roll punks, with male/female vocals, dolled up as sci-fi villians and mod heroes. Their heyday was short (1978-79) but sweeter than breakfast cereal. Unfortunately, the later offshoot bands (the Revillos and Shake) just didn’t have the same oomph.

The band’s big “hit” on these shores (not really) was an awesome cover of “Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight” which later got used for the touching golf-cart sequence in Jackass: The Movie (I didn’t include that tune here because it’s easy to find, and you’re getting spoiled, you lot). Behind all the rave-up noise, the Rezillos have thoughtful lyrics dealing with issues of social paranoia and the price of fame, amid all the usual yucky stuff about love.

Of course, this being the age of punk fogeydom, there’s a revised/reformed version of the Rezillos touring about now that they no longer hate each other. Even though the group still sports the searing guitar punch of Mr. Jo Callis, the perky pipes of Fay Fife and the growling attack of Eugene Reynolds, nothing can live up to that first album. Not if you live in the future.

The Rezillos - “2000 A.D.”
The Rezillos - “Glad All Over”
The Rezillos - “It Gets Me”
The Rezillos - “I Need You (live)”
The Rezillos - “Cold Wars”

And for Michelle:
The Rezillos - “I Can’t Stand My Baby”

Rick at 5:23 am

5 CommentsÈ

back in the days of our high schooling together, Lee Highway had a copy of this record, or maybe it was William13. anyway, i don’t remember a single beat or melody from it. i DO remember Tammy Rezillo from Bay Ridge, whose liberally endowed bosom was matched only by the decibel level of her over-active vocal chords.

Comment by hymey sfumato Ñ January 2, 2006 @ 3:47 am
that was me who had that hot little number. i traded mine for something as well, but nothing as long lasting as another disk…if you know what i mean… schÃ¶nes neues Jahr!

Comment by wi11iam13 Ñ January 2, 2006 @ 3:06 pm
Happy New Year, Starshine!

Comment by Balb Kubrox Ñ January 4, 2006 @ 8:29 am
Hi Rick,
Sorry to hear about your woes.
You have a swell blog, keep yer chin up!
It all evens out in the end.
Thanks for the Rezillos, SPK n’ such!

Comment by Rich Ñ January 11, 2006 @ 11:46 am
just to warn ya if ya wanna war, dis shit be goin off line…..>>>>>>>>

Comment by g4jima Ñ January 25, 2006 @ 3:14 am