Lost and Found Video - Martini Ranch

Wow, that guy looks like Bill Paxton...

From martiniranchmusic.com: Martini Ranch is a band established in 1982 by Andrew Todd Rosenthal. (Writer/Vocals/Guitar). Bill Paxton was making videos and joined Martini Ranch in 1984 as video conceptualist, singer and sometimes lyricist. Robert O'Hearn played keyboards. Patrick O'Hearn of Frank Zappa & Missing Persons plays bass on "New Deal ". Martini Ranch released one album two singles and two videos on SIRE/WB Records. Album titled "Holy Cow" in 1988 was a alternative hit on KROQ and others. The song "How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self-Culture?" produced by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo features Bob Casale and Alan Meyers (OG DEVO Drummer)."How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self-Culture?" video is fantastic. Directed by Rocky Schenck,Bill & Andrew. James Cameron directed the video "Reach", both videos played on MTV and VH1. Cindy Wilson of The B-52's also sings background on some of these songs. Additionally, Mark Isham is on "World Without Walls" and actor Judge Reinhold (of Beverly Hills Cop fame) is the Whistler on the song "Reach".

Links!
Martini Ranch at All Music
Martini Ranch on Wikipedia

Headlines...

From Billboard:

• Reissues May Mark Replacements' Final Chapter
• Depeche Mode Unveils Summer Tour Plans
• U2 Album Leaks, Gets Streamed On MySpace
• Jane's Addiction Anchors Sasquatch! Lineup
• Simple Minds Sings From Its 'Soul'
• Gabriel Won't Perform At Academy Awards
• U2 Playing Five Nights On 'Letterman'

From NME

• New Order man guests on new Crystal Method album
• David Byrne to play The Big Chill 2009
• Men At Work singer receives death threat from guitarist
• Pet Shop Boys accept Outstanding Contribution To Music award at BRITs
• Paul Weller wins Best Male Solo Artist award at the BRIT Awards 2009

Elsewhere on the Internets:

• The English Beat Celebrates 30th Anniversary...For Crying Out Loud!
• Tears For Fears Tour Dates Confirmed
• Peter Buck On The All-New Murmur
• 'Years of Refusal' Out Now

And speaking of Morrissey...

I.R.S. Records Goes Digital!

Beginning February 10 and continuing until March 17, more than 100 albums and tracks from the celebrated vault of I.R.S. Records will make their digital release debuts. In an extensive, six-week online catalog campaign by Capitol/EMI, I.R.S. classics by The Fleshtones, Wall of Voodoo, Concrete Blonde, Oingo Boingo, The dB's, General Public, Lords of The New Church, and many others will be available for the first time for DRM-free download from all major digital service providers. Four new Best Of The I.R.S. Years digital collections will also be released, for The dB's, Over The Rhine, dada, and Dread Zeppelin.

> Read More

Lost and Found Video - Scruffy the Cat

This long-overdue entry is courtesy of Paul. As always, thanks! I am not worthy...

The sound of this Boston-based quintet straddled melodic pop and revved-up rockabilly, but inconsistency held them back from achieving the cult status of their contemporaries the Pixies and Throwing Muses.

From the 1987 album Tiny Days, this is My Baby She's Alright, their lone 1987 hit (and probably one of the few to deploy a banjo in the rhythm guitar slot). The tune had a brief run on the college/alternaradio-charts and MTV's 120 Minutes, but today they are fondly remembered primarily in their hometown, where this video was shot (at The Rat in Kenmore Square). Front man Charlie Chesterman now heads up Chaz & The Motorbikes.

Links!
The Unofficial Scruffy the Cat Homepage
Scruffy the Cat on All Music
Scruffy the Cat MySpace Fan Page
Chaz & the Motorbikes -- CharlieChesterman.com

Headlines...

Here (finally) are some headlines to peruse...

From Billboard:

• U2 Reveals New Album Track List
• Depeche Mode Unveils New 'Sounds'
• Lennox Closes Chapter With Solo Collection
• U2 To Play New Single At BRIT Awards

From NME:

• Exclusive David Byrne (among) tracks previewed online
• Famed LA indie rock station goes off the air
• Ron Asheton's family release details about late guitarist's funeral
• Morrissey to quit music?
• Morrissey reveals new single details
• Sonic Youth ready new album
• Pet Shop Boys announce Johnny Marr-featuring album

From Rolling Stone:

• Iggy Pop Remembers Stooges’ Ron Asheton In First Interview Since the Guitarist’s Death
• Talk Show Flasback: The Stooges Remember The Good Old Days
• Bono Talks Frank Sinatra in First “New York Times” Op-Ed
  

Lost and Found (Christmas) Video - The Wedding Present

Here's a little present from The Wedding Present, a band formed in Leeds, England in 1985.

This cover of the 1973 Bernie Taupin/Elton John composition Step Into Christmas was originally recorded for the 1991 alt Christmas compilation A Lump of Coal, later released as the b-side of The Wedding Present's December 1992 single No Christmas, and eventually appeared on their singles & b-sides collection Hit Parade 2.

For a time, singer David Gedge led the indie pop band Cinerama, which was re-branded The Wedding Present in 2004. The band is still together, and released an album, El Ray, in May of this year. Their official website lists March tour dates in the UK and Japan.

Links o' plenty can be found here and in their Wikipedia article, which is located here.

Thanks to Paul!

Happy Holidays from the Classic Alternative Blog!

Headlines...

From Billboard:

• U2 Looks Toward New 'Horizon'
• Morrissey Inks U.S. Deal, Plots Spring Tour
• Indigo Girls Team With Vanguard For New Album
• Morrissey Unveils New Album In London

From NME:

• Paul Weller campaigns to save British pubs
• The Smiths in free iTunes download
• The Specials announce Coventry homecoming gig
• Anthony Kiedis almost suffered 'organ failure' claim friends
• The Cure perform marathon 'secret' show in LA
• Johnny Marr: 'The Smiths are not reforming'
  

From Pitchfork:

• Brian Eno Scoring New Peter Jackson Movie
• Sonic Youth Plays No Fun
  

Headlines...

From Billboard:

• Roxy Music Members Issue Solo Projects

From NME:

• Simple Minds announce Edinburgh Castle show
• Boy George found guilty in male escort case
• Morrissey to play homecoming gig on 50th birthday
• Tony Wilson honoured by Manchester Council
• Led Zeppelin and Sonic Youth for live collaboration
  
• Appeal launched for missing Bob Marley, Peter Tosh songs
• Morrissey reveals new 'baby' faced album sleeve
  

Oh, the neglect...

Many apologies regarding my recent lack of posts. I would like to give a really cool/interesting/weird reason, such as realizing my life-long dream of traveling the country in the weinermobile and/or indulging in various forms of bacon-related cuisine. In reality it was due not feeling well for a couple of weeks, as well as other circumstances that have come up and pushed this blog down a little lower on the ol' priority list. I'm feeling better, but for the foreseeable future, will have less time to dedicate to the blog. I think I will still be able to find headlines each week, and will have lost and found videos (albeit the postings will likely be a bit utilitarian), along with the occasional tidbit.

If you regularly check for posts, thanks! Drop me a line or comment sometime -- I could use some inspiration!

Now here's a random cool video I recently stumbled upon...

Headlines...

From NME:

• Feargal Sharkey attempting to stop live music bureaucracy
• REM complete world tour in Mexico
• U2 producer talks about their new album
• Elvis Costello turns talk show host
• Johnny Marr joins John Frusciante on new album
• Billy Bragg: 'Barack Obama is good for rock 'n' roll'
• Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis' book set for TV adaptation
• Paul Weller's smoking results in official warning
• Peter Gabriel 'free' music service launches

From Pitchfork:

• The Kinks to Release First-Ever Box Set
• New Order Camp Addresses Reissue Grievances
• Pitchfork.tv: Nick Cave: Interview Part 2
• R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe Designs Polo Shirt for Lacoste
  

Headlines...

From Billboard:

• Ultravox Reuniting For 2009 Tour
• Social Distortion will Anchor Musink Tour

From NME:

• Depeche Mode singer asks to appear on frYars debut
• Johnny Marr gives first university lecture
• Ray Davies says a new Kinks album is underway
• The Cure to headline Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig 2009
• Pet Shop Boys to receive Outstanding Contribution Award at BRITS
• This came on the eve of the election: Ramones deny they're backing John McCain in US presidential election

Out Tomorrow: Rio ‘Classic Albums’ DVD

Now available for ordering at Amazon.com.