#27 Glen's Very Own Clingon

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Wholly is by far my sisters favorite charter. She demanded that I put him in another strip, and so I obliged her. Behold my master piece!

Sorry guys, no comic this Friday. I got a little busy and need didn't end up having time to update at all. We'll be back on track on Monday. No worries.

In the mean time, I bring you funny via the power of youtube. Please enjoy this video if you haven't already seen it (and even if you have...)


Have a good weekend!
-MB

#26 Better Be Women...

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Had to put in a 14 hour day at work today, thus the comic is a little late. Sorry about that. I was able to catch a good show after my shift was done though, so I'm fairly happy with the way my day turned out.

I wish more bars around here actually had NoMeansNo on they're jukeboxes... Scratch that, I wish ANY bars around here had NoMeansNo on they're jukeboxes.

NoMeansNo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QtDOeh4Zv0

I met a rapper on the myspace by the name of Black Lung who demanded (not requested mind you, demanded; dude don't take no prisoners) to be in the comic selling drugs in a Minor Threat T so I threw this together for him:

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I thought the concept was too damn funny to pass up; even if I had recycled a joke to make it happen. Black Lung is really a talented artist and I recommend you check out his material if you want to know what quality underground hip-hop should sound like.

Black Lung: http://www.myspace.com/blacklungia

#25 Why Is It That The Worst Bands Always Get Back Together? Why Can't The Pixies Do Another Reunion Tour? That Would Rock!

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I talk music with just about everyone I meet, but I've never met a soul who's told me that they like Yes. Folks confess they're love of horrible music to me all the time, but I've never heard a proclamation of affection for Yes in my entire life. I don't know who the audience is that this reunion is targeting, but I'm almost sure it's a figment of the band's imagination.

#24 March of Pigs

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There was an actual contest, almost exactly like this, held in Wisconsin last year. I didn't like Sammy Hager much before I heard about the contest but now I despise him.

#23 Sex y or Strange? ... Maybe both?

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As offensive as they are, Dwarves album covers have this enduring quality to them. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it has to do with the their shamelessly explicit nature. I mean come one, who doesn't love exposed genitalia? I like to see a show of hands on that one.

Dwarves: http://www.myspace.com/thedwarves

Sorry about the super late post everybody, hope you don't mind. Between working two jobs and keeping abreast the host of other responsibility's in my life, I'm honestly surprised I've been able to update this thing as regularly as I have. Today I learned the value of working 3 months ahead of schedule. Staying ahead of the game has made this who project possible up to this point, no doubt about it. There will additionally be no album review this week. Double decker apologies all around. They're harder to do then the comics, and I just have not been writing them as frequently as I should.

#22 Poser Problems

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There very well may be a drug called "X"out there, but who cares, the band is so much better then any drug that could coincidently share its name. Drugs bad, Rock good! Straight Edge Pride! ... now lets all get drunk and have sex.

X: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWunSUmEm4

#21 Man, That Bowie Character Is Something Else Huh?

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If this did happen to me, I doubt I'd shower for a year just to see how long I could hang on to the after glow. Am I right?

Anyway, if you can get the reference in today's comic you defiantly deserve an award. I might even consider sending you something in the mail. Because if some one else gets it, I'll feel like less of an incredible nerd for having posted it.

David Bowie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=louXPUW7tHU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tBAY0LOPBw

I'm almost sure half the stuff Bowie does only works becuase he's hansom and British. Who could hold that against him though?

Review: Cougar Den (s/t)

Artist: Cougar Den
Album: Cougar Den
Label: Self-Released

Most hardcore bands recon they can get by with pretending they’re a death metal outfit and leave the clichés of the genre do the rest. Melodic Hardcore group from Milwaukee WI, sees different potential in the genre and breaks the mold with their smashing self titled EP.

This break from the typical begins with the band’s nack for simply engrossing song compositions. Each song winds in and out of a confusing and brutal haze of noise, chucky guitar riffs, and pragmatic punchy base riffs, creating a great balance of sound that compliments vocalist Bobby Reitman’s wild, frustrated bark, as he belts out lyrics written by guitarist Justin Schmidt, with perfect angst ridden timing. Additionally, something you only wish were more common in the genre is accomplished here in that you can actually make out the words Reitman belts out as he rocks out behind the mic. Audible lyrics are a key component of Cougar Dens musical strategy and helps give the band a great deal more credibility.

The inspired song composition works wonderfully with Reitman’s vocals to give the album a brooding, angsty, forlorn feeling of absolute desperation and deprecation. This combined with meaningful song lyrics that inspire as much thought as awe, the album cements it’s self as a sure bet for all listeners, even those not normally keen to hardcore as a genre. Myself included.

Score: 6 out of 10

Check 'um out at: http://www.myspace.com/cougarden

#20 Faux Folk

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The obsession with Folk punk is analogous to a Panda a bear. While the music might be punk, it is by no means folk. Just like a panda is a large furry animal, but is by no means a bear. The label itself, in both cases, in simply incorrect; with folk mostly being an acoustic art form and pandas belonging to the raccoon family. If you wanted to combine both incorrect labels, you'd get a punk rock raccoon with a fetish for bamboo... to which, by all intensive purposes, would be absolutely adorable.

Simon and Garfunkel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dau2_Lt8pbM

And since the Simon and Garfunkel video is from a central park performance I thought I might add this video as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N86NN0FJM8
It's the best video I could find on youtube for NY Ranger by The Misfits, so enjoy.

#19 Listening To Polyphonic Spree makes you Less of a Man Evidently...

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I heard you can contract the "gay" from listening to Polyphonic Spree. Can anyone verify this for me?

Polyphonic Spree: http://www.myspace.com/polyphonicspree

Enya: http://www.myspace.com/enyaofficially

#18 The Future? Maybe of Suck...

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Instead of going on a big ol' speel I'm just going to post links to the bands referenced in the comic. After a conversation I had with a friend of mine tonight I'm adopting the attitude that if you don't get the joke, tough cookies. Listen to the bands and work it out for your self. I'm usually not as harsh as all that, but its come to my attention that explaining the joke after the comic is damn near a death nel for it, so I will no longer go through the laborious process of explaining myself to y'all.

Paramore: http://www.myspace.com/paramore

Nirvana: http://www.myspace.com/nirvana

Limp Bizkit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pp38SR1lMU (Hate hate hate hate hate hate this cover! I posted it only to show you how much I disapprove of this band and how pissed I am over Fred Durst ruining one of my favorite Who songs. What the hell is the matter with that man, seriously. )

Review: "Keep Their Day Jobs" by The Disabled

Title: Keep Their Day Jobs
Artist: The Disabled
Genre: Pop Punk/ Punk Rock

Wisconsin’s favorite sons (and daughter) of classesless punk rock and roll have returned to the studio to record and present to the public their sophomore effort “Keep Their Day Jobs”. As the title implies, the band does not take it’s self seriously, reminding us that the best things in life are simple… and tone deaf. On this release the group sticks to it’s usually formula and style of brief, irritating, brutal, and highly distorted punk anthems that are sure to please the perverted 15 year old in all of us. From the wacky titled Paris Hilton v Bear, to the lude escapades described in Sunshine Happy Rainbows, the band successfully maintains it’s sense of humor while rocking out. The creative streak they exhibit on the album has a charming naivety to it, similar to that of the Promise Ring, early Weezer or select material by Screeching Weasels, ushering in a welcome change from the generally aggressive grind of today’s underground punk scene. Also included are some highly entertaining untitled bonus tracks, featuring an entirely amusing cover of The Misfits Astro Zombies and the very jah Dayo, some jam session outtakes, absurd conversations, and even a punk rock sing along session. All these elements combine to cementing this release as another irritating, quirky, mind-numbing, and truly enjoyable album from one of Wisconsin’s more true to form punk outfits. It’ll be sure to amuse and delight listeners of all ages… or make them scream and tare their hair out in a fitful spasm. Either or, they could probably care less.

Score: 6 out of 10

Check 'um out at: http://www.myspace.com/thedisabledwi

#17 Welcome To Wholly World II

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Sorry about the late post guys, but its up and that's what counts. In addition, this comic concludes my first arch. Hurray for me!

We all have music collections, and therefore we all have guilty pleasures. One of mine is Billy Talent. Their self titled album is one of my favorite items to air out like so much dirty laundry to confuse people who think they have my music tastes pretty well pigeon holed and have written me off as belonging to any one category of scenester. Nah, I say to them! Billy Talent is the kind whinny, hipper aggressive, speed guitar, post-hardcore, mess that is easily mocked and lumped in with names like Thrice, Thursday, and Poison The Well, to define the limits to which the kids will go to disappoint their elders with their horrible tastes in music, and I love them for it! But that's becuase there's something very different about Billy on their self titled depute that separates them from the previously mentioned ranks of screamo purgatory. While relying heavily on call-response, sing-scream vocals, the contrivances generated by this singing strategy are counter balanced by guitar riffs which utilize a classic chord switch technique and beats that are as simple and straightforwardly aggressive as anything you'll find elsewhere. The lyrics in addition, are well crafted, passionate, and inwardly focused, but never to the point of interfering with the rock they accompany. In other wards, the group never chooses prose over power. What I like about Billy Talent on their debut album is that the band demonstrates themselves to be straight shooters in a world where the art of honest, passionate, punk'rock 'n roll is a rarity at best. While on the surface they may appear to be another band in a long line of tight pantsed wanna bes, bellow the tides of lopsided haircuts and vans, dwells the the hungry spirit of an angsty leviathan I could only wish more bands would learn to embrace as their own.

And thus ends an other chapter in what I'm listening to while I update my blog and decide to, unprovoked mind you, defend and recommend. Have a good one!

The Misfits, original 70's lineup with Danzig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKWIrG-HegE (Live performance of 20 Eyes); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a-4WInmYlg (Live performance of Skulls)

The Misfits, '95 reunion with Michael Graves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2-ysJORoHY (Live performance of American Psycho)

Discharge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0WgrGRawcQ

#16 Welcome To Wholly World

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I have a friend, or rather a guy who I'm acquainted with, who is a big fan of Lower Class Brats but could care less about The Exploited. He holds the opinion that "Sex and Violence" by LCB is the only song by that title that matters, and as a result, I often feel compelled to inflict violence upon him when we talk about music (Not really, I'd never hit anybody over such a minuscule disagreement. No matter how much of an idiot they are...).

The opinions and tastes people have about music , and things in general for that matter, I find really intriguing at times. It always strikes me as funny when some one says the love fruit but cant eat cantaloupe, hate country music but love Kenny Chesney, hate dark or depressing films but are always the first one at the video store to rent a copy of the newest vampire movie as soon as its hits the shelf (my mother), or who love The Circle Jerks but feels sorta neutral about Black Flag. That last one is me. I'm not afraid to recognize the contradictions in my own musical tastes. Believe me there are plenty. I'm not a metal fan by any stretch of the imagination and have to leave room when someone throws Van Hallen on to avoid violently vomiting the contents of my stomach all over their Cd player/ computer. Yet I'm a die hard System of a Down fan and can't help doing a little head bobbing every time Rage is played on the radio. But thats pretty much what I'm talking about, we're all so inconsistent, and similar examples, as those previously mentioned, can be found in all of our lives. The inconstancies in our opinions and tastes seem so natural sometimes its hard to notice them unless they're specifically pointed out to you. I don't think that dilutes anyones conviction in the things that they enjoy, the things people like still matter to them even if they don't make sense to other people. What is really poignant about these contradictions in my opinion is: A. it shows the variability in our experiences, and how the things we encounter in our lives effect everyone differently and therefore produce varied habitual reactions that are specific to that individual and B. that we should be charitable to others when they express they're opinions becuase they're experiences differ from our own and our own experiences often do not lend themselves to an absolute continuity of tastes and opinions, any more then theirs do. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, those that criticize are often as flawed (or more so) then those who they are critiquing. I try to keep this in mind when I write my album reviews to varying degrees of success.

Other times, there are situations were someone is just flat our wrong... like Wholly in todays comic... that kid just doesn't have a clue does he? My heart goes out to Glen, it really does.