X Ray Spex, Identity

Posted in X Ray Spex, Youtube Favs on May 28th, 2011 by Willie

Part 75 continues my unplanned punk week, this time with the legendary X Ray Spex performing their underground surf punk classic, “Identity.”  Never heard of X Ray Spex?  Well, they were an original punk group from London whose goal was to be “deliberate underachievers.”  Releasing only one album, Germ Free Adolescents, X Ray Spex were like a shooting comet of high octane punk rock.  They were fronted by Poly Styrene, whose voice traveled like a laser beam of effervescent power over roaring distorted guitars and awesome surfy saxophones.  Sadly, she just recently died this past April due to breast cancer.  This post is a tribute to Poly, her amazing band, and this amazing video.  Check it out.

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The Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop

Posted in The Ramones, Youtube Favs on May 27th, 2011 by Willie

Part 74 roars on, as I guess its punk week here on williesimpson.com.  This time I have the Ramones smashing through a blistering live performance of “Blitzkrieg Bop,” the lead off track from their debut record.  The Ramones, hailing from Forest Hill, Queens, NY, are probably the world’s first original punk rockers.  This video is amazing.  First of all, they are performing “Blitzkrieg Bop” in Germany of all places.  Second, its almost a note perfect recreation of the record, which speaks to the Ramones awesome live power.  Their energy and passion just fly off the stage, and off the screen.  This is one of the coolest documents in rock and roll history, and everyone who likes music needs to watch it.

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The Sex Pistols, Anarchy in the UK

Posted in The Sex Pistols, Youtube Favs on May 26th, 2011 by Willie

I’m in a punky mood, so for part 73 of my youtube countdown, I have the Sex Pistols with their 1976 classic, “Anarchy in the UK” from their seminal LP Never Mind the Bollocks. There is not much I can say about this record that the video doesn’t give you.  Oh, its Glen Matlock on bass not Sid Vicious, (he must have been MIA.)  I like how Johnny Rotten is staged behind the drummer, you never see that in a band’s stage presentation.  I like this song for its musicality.  It’s got a sludgy almost phasered electric guitar sound, and Johnny Rotten’s vocal delivery has just the right amount of that classic English bite.  Lyrically, the song is genius, with the idea of the song right up front, no metaphor, no bullshit, and its FUNNY!  Most people like to associate danger and violence with the Sex Pistols, but I always associate humor.  They were funny in interviews, their lyrics were clever and sharp, and they were media pranksters.  Pretty cool.

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Elvis Costello, Pump it Up

Posted in Elvis Costello, Youtube Favs on May 25th, 2011 by Willie

Lets “Pump it Up” with part 72 of my youtube countdown.  That’s right, I got Elvis “Declan MacManus” Costello’s 1978 hit “Pump it Up” from This Year’s Model. Now according to wikipedia, “Pump it Up” is a double entendres song about turning up your music’s volume and masturbation.  The two seem to go hand and hand…(see what I did there?)  Anyway, this is a rocking new wave classic video making Costello really seem like the second coming of Buddy Holly.  I’m just getting into Elvis myself, so this seems like a nice taster before I dive full in on all his best records.  Hopefully I’ll discover something a little more obscure from this era and I’ll put it right up.  Suggestions always welcome.

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