Seeds Documentary!

Not sure how a doc about some of my favorite proto-punks got past me.  This goes straight to the top of my list if it’s available anywhere.

I’m Not Trying to Be Elvis

I noticed this was leaving the Criterion Channel, and figured I’d watch it. I never really knew much about Orion (Jimmy Ellis) or listened to him at all, dismissing him as an Elvis impersonator. I know y’all aren’t Elvis (RIP PBUH) devotees like I am, so I don’t know if you’d find it as fascinating, but I was transfixed. Also, there is a ZINGER about 3/4 in, that they focus on for about 5 seconds, that discusses who his real father is (you can guess), and why he may sound EXACTLY like Elvis when he sings. As someone who has listened to a lot more EP than you have, I mean Exactly.
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And Now For a Bassist Who Sucks

Who’s the opposite of Jamerson or McCartney?  Phil Lesh, of course.  I could not listen to all of this, I just sampled here and there.  What I did hear sounded like the noodlings of a tin-eared fifteen-year-old who recently took up bass.  There is nothing remotely interesting going on musically or technically.  What he needs is a nun to slap his hand with a ruler.

The War on Sugarlumps

“Here Come the Nice” was Marriott/Lane’s ode to their dealer.  The song clearly says, “he’s always there / if I need some speed,” but this one got past the Beeb censors, peaking at a respectable #12.  But sugarlumps?  Forget it. Maybe they were so busy looking for metaphorical drug references that they missed explicit ones.

Honeybus

For whatever reason, I found myself revisiting cult faves Honeybus over the weekend.  If you’re unfamiliar and craving some late 60’s psychedelic/baroque/folk/pop, they could be your fix.  I recommend streaming the anthology pictured above.  Some good hooks and harmonies throughout, though I found myself skipping a good amount of songs.  Your mileage may vary.  Perhaps due to the drug-addled times, there are some oddities, such as this otherwise good song marred by a fucking kazoo.  They had a top ten UK hit with this, which almost, just-about sounds like it could be a parody of the baroque pop of the time.

Speaking of twee pop parodies, nothing will ever surpass this masterpiece (said to be a parody of Ray Davies’ “Funny Face”) from Neil Innes, the man who would one day compose the entire Rutles catalog in something like a week.

Something Cringey

I recently re-watched The Beatles Anthology with recent convert, Renfield Jr.  Great series, but I had a hard time making it through this video featuring the hirsute-era Beatles mooning over and frolicking with their significant others.  I’m not sure why anyone thought this would be entertaining, but maybe the point was narcissism rather than entertainment.

Bassists Get The Job Done

This comically inept singer looks like a coked-up CPA trying to channel Screaming Lord Sutch.  He rivals Mike Love in creepiness.  If real, I’m guessing this was an open mic thing.

And all of you who ever played in a band can ‘fess up: you either struck or wanted to strike whoever did most of the singing with a guitar, bass, mic stand, cymbal stand, floor tom, etc.  Or said, “go ahead and grab the mic” when you knew it wasn’t grounded.

And if you did most of the singing, you probably deserved it.

Agent Elvis

So silly it could work? We’ll find out in March!

This ten episode, Netflix adult animation series from Sony Pictures Animation is an irreverent action comedy starring Matthew McConaughey as Elvis Presley and follows Elvis as he lives a double-life as a secret agent. The show was created by Priscilla Presley and John Eddie, and was developed by Co-Showrunners Mike Arnold and John Eddie, who also serve as Executive Producers along with Executive Producers Kevin Noel, Matthew McConaughey, Priscilla Presley, with Fletcher Moules serving as Co-Executive Producer and Seranie Manoogian as Producer. Jamie Salter, Corey Salter, and Marc Rosen with Authentic Brands Group also served as Executive Producers. Vancouver-based Titmouse served as the animation studio with Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, and Ben Kalina serving as Executive Producers and Gary Ye as Supervising Director, Chris Thompson as Art Director, and Josue Sanchez as Editor. Robert Valley created original character designs, and Agent Elvis’ wardrobe was designed by John Varvatos. Music and original score was composed by Tyler Bates and Timothy Williams.

What Did Yogi Find In That Picnic Basket

I’m not sure I believe this. Allegedly, a bear consumed 30 KG of cocaine, and someone made a documentary about it. According to this, the booger sugar was being smuggled by plane and fell out or was thrown out into the woods near Knoxville. A bear found it and did what bears do. Pablo Escobar was impressed…