The Descendents - 'Filmage' Review

 

The Descendents - Filmage 2014

What can really be said about the Descendents? They craft amazing punk tunes that hit from all angels. No matter who you are, the Descendents have a song, or many, that will resonate with you. When people talk about 'relatability' its usually a 'get out clause' for people who want to validate why they don't want to hear songs about anything else other than love and relationships.You know whats ACTUALLY relatable? Liking food, coffee, being a nerd, having your own interests, as well as relationships, whether they be familial or otherwise. The good thing about the Descendents is that they don't bullshit or beat around the bush, they get to the point, expressing themselves and their situations.

Songs such as 'Silly Girl' are so sweet and vulnerable, almost to a fault. While others such as 'Orgofart' are downright dumb. And inbetween these two extremes is a lot of middleground, which is where the Descendents come to their fore.

So then, considering the thirty-odd years they've been at it, how do you summarise such a multi-faceted band that has had many member changes in just and hour and a half?

'Filmage' opens up with various high-profile punkers lamenting on The Descendents and their legacy as the forefathers of 'pop punk'. Among the talking heads are Tim McIlrath, Joey Cape, Mike Watt, Fat Mike, Mark Hoppus, and the 'always interesting' Dave Ghrol, right guys? As typical with these types of intros there is a lot of genralizing, broad statements, and over-exaggerating from excited musicians. I'm not a huge fan of this type of beginning, but it summarises the career of The Decendents/ALL nicely in four minutes or so.

After the intro credits we see the desolate landscape of Fort Collins, Colerado. Bill Stevenson gets out his car, starting off the story with a fishing anecdote. The early stages are told and documented well, its cool to see legends such as Keith Morris refelcting on the past, particularly of Bill as a youngster, the musical climate of the time, which included 'the worst of Fleetwood Mac', and highlighting the influence of powerpop/punk legends 'The Last'.

One particular highlight for me is the fatefull meet up and relationship between Bill and Frank Navetta. This documentary is a must watch just for the demystifying of Frank as a person. When i started getting into punk, the Decendents being a big fixture there, I remember desperatly wanting to know what happened to Frank. As it seems that he played with the Descendents for a few years and then dissapeared of the face off the planet! He was/is one of my favourite guitar players, and the main thought going through my head was 'why would someone just stop playing music if you're THAT good?'. Well it turns out that Frank just stopped being musically active (WTF, right?), and became a fisherman, unfortunatly passing away in 2008. Sad stuff.

Straight from the get go the Descendents were a democratic unit, with different members writing songs/lyrics. The background on Navetta really gives insight to some of the angstier tracks such as 'I'm Not A Loser', 'Parents', and 'Statue Of Liberty'.

Throughout the film it introduces the members as they come and go. Tony Lombardo's sections are quite powerful, fun, and moving. The introduction of Milo, 'Fat', coffee, and DIY all take a small amount of time, eventaully cultiminaing in the greatest record ever made, 'Milo Goes To College', with funny stories about the 'Milo drawings' and band testimonials from Face To Face, Hagfish, Joey Cape, Mark Hoppus...and Dave Ghrol, again...yaaaay...

Around the 25 minute mark the story follows Bill and his Black Flag excursion as well as the eventual reunion with Milo after Bill proposes his 'not-fit for Black Flag material' to him. In order to push the story further the records aren't covered in such detail, the passing from 'I Dont Want To Grow Up' to 'Enjoy' and 'All' doesn't take long at all. Which sucks in a way, but then again, if it went into more detail then the film would end up being long winded.

At the 40 mins mark the story of ALL begins in a similar quick moving fashion, with some neat stories by Dave Smalley, Bills increasing creative control, and the rotating singers. I've got to say that the Scott Reynolds moments are also quite moving as he seems like such a cool guy fallen on hard times.

At about 55 minutes into the film the focus shifts back to the Descendents. 'Everything Sucks', the impact of the reunion on the punk community, and the last few records from ALL are all covered well. And then we come to the the next 'must watch' part of the film, Bill. In the last 20/30 mins or so, the focus shifts to Bill, his personality, work ethic, familial discord/relationship with father, as well as his unfortuante and life-threatening health complications. Not to give anything away, but its almost like a fairy-tale ending!

Overall, 'Filmage' is a definate 'must watch' for any Descendents fan. The information on Frank and Bill is priceless, and the general story arc is entertaining, with plenty of fun and sad moments. It seems that the history of the Descendents is more complicated that i ever thought it was, which makes for a seriously interesting film.

If you get the chance to see it, do it! Highly recommended!

Ban This - Humanware 1996

 

Ban This - Humanware (1996)

Ban This are a mysterious band, not much is known about them and not much has been documented in either records or live videos. So who the fuck are Ban This and why should you care?

Well to answer those questions: 1) I don't fucking know, stop being such a snotty brat, and 2) they play a weird concoction of 90s hardcore/90s industrial/Machine Head/Sepultura (Arise-Roots eras) with occasional death metal moments. Sounds cool, right?

Since not much is known about these guys Its hard to pigeon-hole them as either metal or metal influenced hardcore. But what is surely known is that this record came out in 1996, a very weird time for music, especially for hardcore and metal. Like the record title 'Humanware' suggests, this has a very mechanical style. Its reminicent of what was blooming in the 90s with acts such as Godflesh/Fear Factory/Machine Head. But they certainly have an organic element to them, its really weird to describe.

When searching for info on these guys many people tag them as Nu Metal or Groove Metal. I think that doesn't do Ban This any justice. Honestly, they sound a lot like Biohazard. They have hardcore vocals/rapping/mosh-riffs and they mix it with some Robb Flynn-rip-off vocals/Roots-style groove riffs/ industrial-manipulation, and death metal. In a way, its quite original.

Track: 3 - 'Traitors Pay With Blood'

This track shows off a lot of the different aspects of the band, it has some rapping, Sepultura style vocals, natural harmonic sprinkled riffs, grooves, lead guitars, and death metal vocals over a hardcore section.

To be honest, the whole record can get a bit repetitive and monotonous, but then again, the running time is around 1 hour and thats long for any kind of music.Overall, Ban This have an interesting sound and 'Humanware' is a facinating document of 90s hardcore/metal crossover. 

Linky, Link

https://mega.co.nz/#!0cZ2WYoD!NKF0JGqTrebTrJ8uzTlBOYi25sHwLl72kosu5_ZSnzA

Link taken from: http://skaterockradio.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/ban-this-humanware-1996.html

Writers Block: The Many Versions Of 'Pipeline'

*Before we get on to the post, this is the first installment of 'Writers Block'. A series about cover versions and music cliches, in which i put a compilation together for your listening pleasure. Hope y'all enjoy!

Snow Delay At The Frankfurt School Presents: Writers Block: The Many Versions Of 'Pipeline'

First recorded and released in 1963, and originally called 'Liberty's Whip', 'Pipeline' is a defining 'surf' tune. With the heavy reverb on the guitars, catchy melody, and jivving drum beat, it is not only a great surf song, its a great song in general.

Pipeline, somewhat surprisingly, became popular for many American punk bands to cover and take influence from. As with many things, this could be due to many reasons. Its a cliche, but 'nature vs nurture' is always relevant. Where you're from and who you interact with, directly and indirectly, influence your personality and choices.

This song will always have significance for me. It was one of the first 'surf' tunes I heard, after Miserlou, that is. And above that, it was one of the first 'non-punk' tunes that i wanted to play on guitar. It basically opened up a whole new world of possibilities to discover, not only as a, a-hem, 'musician', but as a music listener in general. I remember actually playing this for a few auditions in the past, and, surprisingly, being successful in such situations! ... i know, i know. Crazy, right!?

My interest with 'surf' music will be dug up again in a soon-coming post/compilation on 'Surf Punk', lucky for you guys, eh? But for now i'll leave it here. In Summary: Pipeline is raaaad maaan, check it ouuut.

In this compilation I have compiled some rad versions of this classic tune, ranging from the original by The Chantays, to the blistering punk of Agent Orange, and the Thrash attack of Assassin! All tagged and ready to go, brother!

Track List
1. Chantays (From 'Pipeline' 1963)
2. Hellwoxters (Live Recording 1990s)
3. The Humans (From 'Play' 1980)
4. Johnny Thunders (From 'So Alone' 1978)
5. Necros (From 'Jail Jello' 1986)
6. Exploding White Mice (From 'A Nest Of Vipers' 1985)
7. Elton Motello (From 'Victim Of Time' 1978)
8. Assassin (From 'Interstellar Experience' 1988)
9. Anthrax (From 'Attack Of The Killer Bs' 1991)
10. Agent Orange (From 'Bitchin' Summer' 1982)
11. Weird Riders Of The Surf (From 'Off Limits' 1992)
12. Gx3 (From 'En llamas' 1990)
13. Bill Of Rights (From 'Surf, Skate, Ski & Skank' 1985)
14. The Boneless Ones (From 'Skate For The Devil' 1986)
15. J.F.A. (From 'Untitled' 1984)
16. Bleach Boys (From 'Pukewave' 2007)

Linky, Link:
https://mega.co.nz/#!NMQTHbrR!HJ14oBH5ZrWph911aD2fffQ9D6ETMbskubKp2dFDblA