The Walrus is a Philadelphia-based music blog written by Michael. You may send me stuff through the send a tip page or email me. All mp3s should be sent as links. NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE. If I like your music, chances are I will write about it.
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One of my favorite parts in the movie Spinal Tap is when David St. Hubbins and Derek Smalls are celebrating their freedom in the wake of the band’s “demise”. They discuss finally being able to finish their Jack the Ripper musical Saucy Jack.
As we all know the band got back together and all was well thereafter. However, the musical went unfinished and we have been waiting to hear it ever since. Now the wait is over! The musical’s main theme “Saucy Jack” is available as a free download from the band’s website. Listen to it, in all its saucy glory, below!
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Spinal Tap’s new album Back from the Dead, will be released on June 16th and will feature an hour long DVD, alternate versions of “Sex Farm” and “(Listen to the) Flower People”, as well as Derek Smalls’ previously unreleased exploration “Jazz Odyssey” parts I, II and II. Pre-order it on Amazon.
Oh wait, Tortoise are always Tortoise-y–for the most part. Is it punk? Is it electro? Is it rock? Is it jazz? Nope, it’s Tortoise. After a 5 year new album hiatus, these uber-talented musicians, perhaps the best in the game (especially you, Mr. McEntire), are back with another challenging collection of post-everything, next level vignettes entitled Beacons of Ancestorship, which is released in June on Thrill Jockey. Listen to two new ones below and catch them on tour and bow before their brilliance.
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Every musical genius needs an unfinished/lost masterpiece. Brian Wilson and Pete Townsend each had one. Why not Klaus Nomi? Look, I bet you a million dollars that his unfinished space western entitled Za Bakdaz, or “Nomi Homeland” would’ve been the biggest thing since Sgt. Pepper’s! Ok, well maybe not, but after recently reading about it on this website, I definitely think that loveable new-wave opera man was on to something. Listen to a clip below then find out more. If you are unfamiliar with the Nom-ster, see the documentary The Nomi Song immediately! Watch it/download it here for free.
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Last night I checked out Sacha Gervasi’s widely-talked about documentary Anvil: The Story of Anvil about the influential, yet under appreciated ’80s Canadian Metal band that has never given up the dream of making it big. Some have called it the “real-life Spinal Tap” due to all the tour mishaps and band squabbles that are depicted in the film, but, in the end, the story of Anvil is much bigger than those things–even bigger than the music. It’s a moving and deeply human story. At it’s heart (it has a lot of it) it’s about believing in oneself and appreciating one’s experiences and relationships in life. It also leads the viewer, and the film’s protagonist, to question the definition of success. Watch the trailer, then go see the film…I highly recommend it.
