Music Review: Various Artists, Ork: Box

By Less Lee Moore

Rock and roll is nothing if not incestuous. Everyone likes to talk about who stole from whom (or if you’re less curmudgeonly, who influenced whom), but when music scenes are small, close-knit, and under the radar, such through lines are nearly impossible to pinpoint.

And so it is with the Ork Records Ork: Box, out on Record Store Day 2015, from the always-impressive Numero Records. You might wonder how bands as seemingly disparate as The dB’s, Television, Mick Farren, Link Cromwell (a.k.a. Lenny Kaye), and Cheetah Chrome would nestle so snugly together, but one listen to this dazzling collection of singles will dissuade any doubt. What’s even more remarkable is that the tracks are arranged in chronological order but play like the most cohesive mix tape ever.

(more…)

Music Review: Wand, Golem

By Less Lee Moore

Last year, Wand released a killer album called Ganglion Reef (review), which included a righteous track called “Flying Golem.” This year, they’ve picked up where they left off with an album named after that mythological creature. I’m not sure why they’re so fascinated with beings brought to life from inanimate matter, but the word “Golem” does provide the kind of fantastic imagery that befits their music.

(more…)

Music Review: Jellyfish, Bellybutton and Spilt Milk (Deluxe Reissues)

By Less Lee Moore

Like Big Star before them, Jellyfish developed a cult-like fandom that’s far exceeded not only their rather limited output, but also their impact on music charts. Omnivore Recordings, who recently released the soundtrack to the Big Star documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me, has now given the same loving treatment to the Jellyfish legacy with two new reissues of their studio albums—1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk—that include a ton of sensational extras, like 51 bonus tracks, full color gatefold sleeves with rare photos, two essays by Ken Sharp, and song-by-song commentary on the original albums from Andy Sturmer, Roger Manning, and Jason Falkner.

(more…)

Blu-Ray Review: Mark Of The Devil

By Less Lee Moore

The original German title of Michael Armstrong’s infamous Mark Of The Devil was Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält, literally translated into Witches Tortured Till They Bleed. It’s a horrifying, yet accurate title for a movie that contrasts lush scenery and exquisite period costumes with some of the most excruciating scenes of torture ever put on film.

(more…)

Concert Review: The Gutter Demons At The Rockpile

By Less Lee Moore

March 7, 2015
Toronto, ON

If you haven’t heard Montreal’s Gutter Demons, and you have even a passing interest in rockabilly, psychobilly, old skool punk rock, or just damn good music, you must rectify this situation immediately. I had never heard this incredible trio until last week, but at The Rockpile on Saturday night, I got schooled.

(more…)

DVD Review: Wolfcop

By Less Lee Moore

As any regular reader of this site knows, especially if you follow Brad Henderson’s reviews, ’80s throwback horror and action films are a hot commodity right now. Sometimes they work; sometimes they don’t. The ones that do have two things in common: enthusiasm and commitment. Even when these films aren’t total successes, there are usually enough enjoyable elements to make them well worth watching. Which brings me to Wolfcop.

(more…)

Music Review: Moon Duo, Shadow Of The Sun

By Less Lee Moore

Although they’ve been releasing music since 2009, I only became turned on to Moon Duo recently. Their fetching single “Animal,” and its hilarious video, quickly won me over. Yet Shadow Of The Sun opens with the minimalist, psychedelic wash of “Wilding,” full of Hammond organs and tambourines. The jewel-toned guitars throughout add a bit of recklessness to an otherwise fairly straightforward drone.

(more…)

Music Review: Marilyn Manson, The Pale Emperor

By Less Lee Moore

For many, Marilyn Manson is synonymous with the ’90s, even though he has continued to make music well into this new millennium. That’s been both a blessing (he redefined “shock rock” on his own terms) and a curse (he hasn’t had a hit single since 1998 and his record sales have decreased with each subsequent release). Confession time: I lost interest in him not long after Mechanical Animals so I had some homework to do before writing this review of The Pale Emperor, his ninth studio album.

(more…)

Music Review: A Place To Bury Strangers, Transfixiation

By Less Lee Moore

How I went this long without hearing A Place To Bury Strangers is an embarrassing mystery. To rectify my mistake, I spent a lot of hours delving into their discography before writing this review. Alternating between brooding and buoyant shoegaze, this New York trio has elevated feedback to an art form. Although they’re frequently compared favorably (and appropriately) to The Jesus And Mary Chain, over the course of their three previous albums they’ve also managed to incorporate influences such as Tones On Tail, Love & Rockets, and The Church. And that’s what makes Transfixiation such a frustrating listen.

(more…)

Music Review: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, See The Fire

By Less Lee Moore

Back in 1986, I recorded Red Lorry Yellow Lorry’s “Walking On Your Hands” from WTUL college radio in New Orleans. It was the only track I’d ever heard from this Leeds band, but one I listened to frequently. For whatever reason, I never managed to delve further into the band’s discography until now. Cherry Red Records’ recent three-disc release of See The Fire (Albums, Singles and BBC Recordings 1982 – 1987) is a wonderful introduction to a band that has a singular sound but doesn’t fit into any single musical category.

(more…)