Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Put Some Clothes On

A recent rekindled romance with the Friends of Hell album by NWOBHM stalwarts Witchfinder General [not to be confused with the film, which is excellent -- ed.] inspired a search for merchandise so that we could feel superior while wearing it around the office and then explain to the uninitiated about the band.

Lucky us, we landed at Grumpy Clothing. Aside from being the official source for Witchfinder General t-shirts, the Canadian retailer also offers dozens of tees with art both clever and high-quality. Go now and check it out, surely you'll find something for yourself or a friend. Stimulate the global economy and then wear it with pride.

[Image courtesy of Grumpy Clothing, copyright 2009]

And though you didn't ask, the Witchfinder General tee looks fantastic. You must wear something, no?

Friday, September 17, 2010

What's Your Vocoder's Name?

The always interesting, frequently outstanding Stones Throw label is about to issue a compilation of music by the late Canadian electronic music pioneer Bruce Haack. This particular assembly collects compositions and experiments done with an electronic vocal device that Haack named "Farad."

Get the details on Farad: The Electric Voice here, along with a couple free tunes. Then get in line for a copy and pick up one for a friend.

[This isn't Farad, but it is Mr. Haack with a device he called "M" -- photo courtesy of BruceHaack.com]

Friday, September 10, 2010

We'll be right back after these messages.

"It's Springtime"

[courtesy of NantoVision1]

The weather is changing at TMI headquarters, which always makes us think of that wonderful song and animation. And that inevitably leads to thoughts of the equally stirring "Madrigal Alphabet" which might make you feel a little sad for reasons you can't quite determine, but still you love it.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Tankcrimes Brainsqueeze

Please enjoy this advertisement for a thrash festival in Oakland, CA this October. It does reference that 17-minute infomercial for the 2010 Gathering. But if you haven't seen that, the entertainment value of the Tankcrimes Brainsqueeze ad will in no way be reduced. (Some cussin' involved, so tell the kids to go outside.)




[A neck-snapping headbang to Cosmic Hearse.]

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

We Are Your Overlords

Bossman S.L. Kreighton insisted we all listen to "Immigrant Song" this morning to, in his words "start the month off right." It is Zeptember, so we obliged him and went back to our filing.

Later, unable to get Robert Plant's Godzilla-esque wail out of our heads, we decided to give the Website Unhearit a try.

"Using the latest techniques in reverse-auditory-melodic-unstickification technology," Unhearit helps alleviate the stress caused by song tumors and earworms -- ostensibly by replacing the offending tune with something equally, maddeningly catchy.

The first result was one of the various Auto-Tune treatments of the Double Rainbow Guy. Had to stop that because rather than ease our troubles, it merely annoyed.

Clicking the "new song" button got us "Shut Up and Let Me Go" by the Ting Tings. That worked really well, except when it was done, and we hit the "new song" button again, it reloaded the same song. And again, the same song.

After refreshing the Webpage, we got a 55-second MIDI-crafted bit of silliness with a playful melody followed by a sampled voice saying "meow." It was hardly catchy and by no means capable of breaking the Hammer of the Gods or stopping two good-looking Brits who make cheerleader pop.

One last click netted the truly dreadful "Conga" by Miami Sound Machine, a band whose string of hits during the 1980s can only be washed out of the brain via self-administered lobotomy or several long pulls from a jug of grain alcohol.

So, mission accomplished, Unhearit. If we get enough "Communication Breakdown" and "Ramble On" in the remaining 29 days of this month, perhaps we'll revisit the site.


(Tip of the wizard cap to Buzzfeed)