I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: DANKO JONES-Never Too Loud [US edition bonus tracks] (2009).

I reviewed this disc a few posts ago.   Since then the disc has finally been released in the States.  And, naturally, since I bought the import version there are three bonus tracks added on this one.  The three tracks are “My Problems (Are Your Problems Now);” “Sugar High”; “R.I.P. RFTC”

The tracks aren’t radically different from the rest of the disc.  However, the first track is notable for having a lot of backing vocals (yeah yeahs and other things).  It’s a bit weird.  As is the fact that the song sounds less bass heavy than most of their other songs–it’s still loud, but it seems a bit tinny.

The second track “Sugar High” sounds like Danko for a kids show.  In just about every other song I’ve ever heard that was about “sugar,” the sugar was a metaphor for sex.  And yet, this song’s chorus quite proudly proclaims, “ice cream cakes and candy cars, I’m the kind of guy who likes a sugar high” and “cotton candy and caramel I’m that type of guy.”  It’s almost too comical to be considered a real song, and yet it rocks really hard.  Some cartoon absolutely needs to use this song in its soundtrack.

The final song is about Rocket From the Crypt, obviously.  It’s also the first Danko song where I’ve had a hard time deciphering all of the lyrics.  But, suffice it to say that it’s a blistering fast track about the sad news that RFTC broke up.

Just three more interesting reasons to track down the CD now that it’s available in the States.

[READ: November 6, 2009] The Apocalipstix

The premise of this graphic novel is that a nuclear explosion has hit the U.S.  Our heroines are a kick-ass band comprised of three women (like Josie and the Pussy cats only really bad ass).  And despite the global destruction, they are still going to play their gigs.  Call it the “End of the World Tour.”

The main characters are: Mandy, a bad-ass black woman on guitar and vocals; Dot, a rather sweet (until she’s pushed) blonde bombshell on bass, and Megumi, a Japanese cowgirl (!) on drums who is mostly silent (she speaks Japanese) but who is very intense.

There are three short stories in this volume.  In the first, the girls fight in a Mad Max-inspired road battle against the thugs who stole their equipment (here’s where we see Dot’s wicked streak come out–when someone touches her bass).  The thugs lead them to the King of the region–how will he treat our heroines?

The second is a comic interlude in which the girls’ picnic is invaded by gigantic mutated ants.

The third is a battle of the bands.  In a Thunderdome-like setting, musicians from all over have come for the grand prize: gas!  The winner gets it all and, the losers have to walk.  Each of the ladies makes an acquaintance in the story (naturally with the men from the main competition in the contest–Hemageddon).  Until…  Well, the story sort of ends unresolved because of an upcoming sequel.

The sequel promises a drive to California.

So the book was fun.  It was a nice twist on the Mad Max style story (perhaps Tank Girl is a better reference?)  There was some good humor, so funny conceits and some rocking scenes (not too much in the way of lyrics to comment on, though).

The art work was one the best things about the book.  The style was great: strong lines, really effective scenes of motion and very expressive individual characters.  And the characters are so well drawn (and of course, they’re super hot) that you actually care about what happens to them.

I’m really looking forward to the next volume.