Music

Even More Wants!!

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I lost my second job at the end of April … yet all I can think about is all the cool shit I want to purchase. I need to start pimping myself out! Any takers out there?

Pet Shop Boys It Couldn't Happen Here Limited Edition It Couldn’t Happen Here (Limited Dual Format Edition) from the BFI

The first feature-length film starring the Pet Shop Boys alongside Joss Ackland, Gareth Hunt and Barbara Windsor finds Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe on an extraordinary adventure from the coast to London, encountering a curious array of eccentric characters along the way. Pop surrealism meets classic road movie, the film is peppered with hits from the duo’s first two studio albums, including ‘West End Girls’, ‘It’s a Sin’ and ‘Always On My Mind’.

  • Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
  • Limited Edition 48-page Digi-book includes a new interview with Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and previously unseen excerpts from his personal on-set production diary, as well as an introduction to the film by director Jack Bond and writing on the film by Anthony Nield, Jason Wood, Omer Ali, John Ramchandani, William Fowler and Vic Pratt
  • Comprehensive feature commentary by Jack Bond, James Dillon and Simon Archer (2020)
  • West End Boy: Jack Bond (2020, 27 mins): the director discusses his eclectic career as a filmmaker and his enterprising approach to the making of It Couldn’t Happen Here 
  • It Can Happen Here: Arlene Phillips (2020, 26 mins): the renowned choreographer reflects upon a life in dance – and the trials and tribulations of working on It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Always on My Mind (1987, 5 mins): the full-length promotional video for the Pet Shop Boys’ acclaimed ‘Christmas Number One’ hit, featuring Joss Ackland and footage from It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Actually: an unfilmed early version of the script for the film, included here in its entirety for the first time anywhere
  • As it Happened: Image galleries including the complete final version of the script, the director’s shot lists, Pet Shop Boys reference lyric sheets and promotional materials for It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Original theatrical trailer (digitally reconstructed for this release)

Second Sight Dawn of the Dead 4K UHD Limited EditionDawn of the Dead Limited Edition 4K UHD from Second Sight Films

With the U.S. in the grip of a zombie apocalypse, four desperate survivors find refuge in a shopping mall. But the flesh-eating hordes, still possessed by an instinctive desire to consume, are drawn to the same destination. What follows is a nail-biting fight for survival. George A Romero’s ‘Dawn of the Dead’ remains one of the greatest horror films ever made, often imitated but never equaled, and is now presented in a brand new restoration.

UHD DISC 1: THE THEATRICAL CUT

  • New 4K scan and restoration of the Original Camera Negative by Second Sight at Final Frame New York and London supervised and approved by DoP Michael Gornick
  • Presented in HDR10+
  • Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono – New restoration of the original OCN Optical / DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
  • Commentary by George A Romero, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest
  • NEW commentary by Travis Crawford
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 2 – THE EXTENDED (‘CANNES’) CUT

  • Produced using 4k scan of the Theatrical Cut Original Camera Negative and 4K scan of the Extended Cut Colour Reversal Internegative
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
  • Presented in HDR10+
  • Commentary by Richard P Rubinstein
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 3 – THE ARGENTO CUT

  • 4K scan of the Interpositive by Michele De Angelis at Backlight Digital, Rome
  • Audio: DT-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 / Surround 5.1 / Stereo 2.0
  • Commentary by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Emge
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

BLU-RAY DISC 4: SPECIAL FEATURES

  • NEW Zombies and Bikers: with John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest, Tom Dubensky, Tony Buba, Taso Stavrakis and a whole host of zombies and bikers! (59 mins)
  • NEW Memories of Monroeville: a tour of the mall with Michael Gornick, Tom Savini, Tom Dubensky and Taso Stavrakis (34 mins)
  • NEW Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics: with Michael Gornick, Christine Forrest, John Amplas, Tom Dubensky (23 mins)
  • NEW The FX of Dawn with Tom Savini (13 mins)
  • NEW Dummies! Dummies!: An interview with Richard France (12 mins)
  • NEW The Lost Romero Dawn Interview: previously unreleased archive interview (20 mins)
  • Super 8 Mall Footage by zombie extra Ralph Langer with option of archive commentary by Robert Langer and new commentary by Ralph Langer (13 mins)
  • Document of the Dead: The Original Cut with optional commentary by Roy Frumkes (66 mins)
  • Document of the Dead: The Definitive Cut (100 mins)
  • The Dead Will Walk 2014 Documentary (80 mins)
  • Trailers, TV and Radio Spots (TBC)

Limited Edition Contents

AUDIO CD DISC 1

  • The Goblin Soundtrack – 17 tracks including Alternate and Bonus Tracks

AUDIO CD DISC 2

  • The Complete De Wolfe Library Cues Part 1

AUDIO CD DISC 3

  • The Complete De Wolfe Library Cues Part 2
  • Rigid box with lid featuring the original iconic artwork
  • 2 inner digipaks
  • 150 page hardback book featuring 16 new essays, archive article, archive George A Romero interview and rare Behind-The-Scenes stills
  • Dawn of the Dead: The novelization book by George A Romero and Susanna Sparrow with exclusive artwork
Even More Wants!!

Music Madness

Chas.Leave a comment

Everyone surviving the pandemic craziness? No? At least we have been treated to some really excellent music releases over the last week!

Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters is already the front runner for best album of the year. It’s complex and challenging … and you need to listen to it right now.


The Twilight Sad have dropped IT WON/T BE LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME LIVE. I really do love this band and it’s great to see them continuing to gain popularity. My only complaint is that I wish they had trimmed down the two minutes of audience noise at the beginning of the show/first track. But that’s a minor quibble.

X's ALPHABETLAND
X has dropped ALPHABETLAND (the first album in 35 years featuring all the original members). Clocking in at a lean 27 minutes, it’s loud, aggressive, and everything else you would expect from X. I didn’t know how much I needed this in my life until I heard it.

Music Madness

Compare/Contrast

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Back in 1988, Bernard Sumner (of New Order) and Johnny Marr (formerly of The Smiths) formed a group called Electronic. On their self-titled debut album (released in 1991), they collaborated with Pet Shop Boys on the song “The Patience of a Saint.” It’s a really great album and you should seek it out for a listen. Now, after the album came out, Sumner went back to record Republic with New Order and Pet Shop Boys went to work on their fifth album, Very. End of story?

So, this is of interest to nobody but me but … those subsequent albums which were released in 1993 (Republic in May and Very in September) both contain songs titled “Young Offender.” Planned? Just coincidence? Probably the later … but I still find it to be a fun factoid (that I probably never would have thought about had I not all this “stay-at-home” induced free time).

Now amuse yourself by listening to both songs.

New Order “Young Offender”

Pet Shop Boys “Young Offender”

Compare/Contrast

Updating Randomness

Chas.Leave a comment

Yeah. Things have been going. Last week was stressful as one one my bosses ended up in the hospital and I had to cover all her work (on top of mine) for three days. Ugh. Thankfully, things are looking up and she was back at work today.

Meanwhile …

I got started on and finished the Stranger Things: The Upside Down LEGO set that I got for our anniversary in December. It was fun to make … but, I really do hope Will Byers survives. Plus … how cute is that Demogorgon minifig? Very!
Lego Stanger Things The Upside Down
Run, Will! Run!

I took my sister to Biltmore. I love this picture I took (near the grand staircase) with lots of overlapping archways.

We went bowling with our friend, Chris, at Sky Lanes. My highest score was 86 which confirms that I suck as bowling. Here’s David getting ready to gutter-ball it. 😛
Sky Lanes Fun

On the vinyl collecting front, I have FINALLY managed to acquire a first pressing of X‘s debut album, Los Angles. Score!
X: Los Angeles

Meanwhile, meanwhile …

I watched two more of the Best Picture nominees.
– 1917 (Technically impressive but DOA as far as tension and emotional engagement.)
– Joker (It’s Taxi Driver-Lite. Just watch Taxi Driver. It’s sooooooooo much better!)

So, yeah. Totally bumfuzzled as to how Joker scored the most Oscar nominations this year. Parasite is still the movie to beat. Seriously. Go see Parasite!

Updating Randomness

Welcome to 2020

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So … a new year. Hopefully it will be better than 2019.

2019 vs 2020

Yeah. I am really living for these horror-themed memes about what a shit year 2019 was.

Meanwhile … we might have been spotted out and about on New Year’s Eve.NYE 2020

Meanwhile, meanwhile … Pet Shop Boys have dropped a new single. Delicious!

Welcome to 2020

Survivin’ It

Chas.2 Comments

So, yeah … the first Christmas after Dad died. Survived it. My step-mother decided to still have the annual Christmas Eve Breakfast for Dinner Gathering. The familiarity of it was nice but sad at the same time without Dad running around handing out presents to everyone. Nobody got weepy which was good. I saved that for a few of days later.

I was in Walmart on Friday evening and walked past a guy who was wearing a uniform from the place my dad managed right up until he got too sick to work. Dad generally wasn’t seen out of his work shirt the last few years. The loss and sadness really hit me. I managed to make it out of the store and back to the car before breaking down and creating a scene.

Saturday we tripped over the Gatlinburg with Graham and Kristen for moonshine and an escape room adventure. The usual places were visited … Ole Smoky, Sugarlands, and Doc Collier.

Big Maw Bertha’s Fussin’ & A’ Feudin’ Moonshine Hill Hootenanny
Graham and Kristen are big into escape rooms and wanted to check out MOONSHINE HILL HOOTENANNY at Gatlin’s Escape Games. The room was fun and way more high tech than I thought it would be. I felt like we overthought some of the puzzles and that got us behind time with only one hour to break into Maw’s shack, sabotage her moonshine recipe, and blow her ‘shine still to smithereens. SPOILERS: We failed (and found out that Kristen’s desire to win is both awesome and a little scary). But it was fun and I am looking forward to trying another escape room sometime soon.

And yesterday, I was bummed to read about the passing of Vaughan Oliver, mastermind designer of some the most iconic album sleeves of the 80’s and 90’s. He provided the visuals that went right along side of some of my favorite albums of the era (most notably for me are Cocteau Twins’ Treasure, The Pixies’ Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, and The Breeders’ Last Splash).

Vaughan Oliver

Survivin’ It

New PSB!!!

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Stupid excited that the new Pet Shop Boys album, Hotspot, will be out next month on January 24th 2020. Woot! So far, two singles have been released (Dreamland and Burning the Heather) and I am digging them. Needless to say, the 2-Disc Deluxe CD and Vinyl have been pre-ordered. Woot! Woot!

Pet Shop Boys Hotspot
Pet Shop Boys Hotspot

New PSB!!!

Vinyl Obsessed [Moloko Edition]

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Music on Vinyl’s Moloko reissue series came to and end this month with the release of Statues (the final Moloko album). They have done a really spot on job with these new pressings. Each album has colored vinyl, comes individually numbered, and is limited to 3,000 copies. They replicated the tri-fold sleeve for I Am Not a Doctor and included printed lyric inserts for Things to Make and Do and Statues. Super awesome!

Music on Vinyl Moloko Reissues

The albums’ individual numbers are stamped in silver foil. Not too shabby!
Music on Vinyl Moloko Reissue Numbering

The only complaint I have is that the plastic sleeves the albums come in are pretty flimsy and the seams split pretty easily. If you happen to not get the album straight into the plastic sleeve, you will bust the side seams. Boo hiss.
Cheap Bags

But seriously … I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing all four of these albums are. Listen to them now (and then discover Róisín Murphy‘s incredible art pop solo work).

Vinyl Obsessed [Moloko Edition]

Finally Acquired [Skinny Puppy Edition Redux]

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Remember when I went to Toronto and found one of the Skinny Puppy original vinyl pressings that I had been looking for? Well … after nearly another year, I have acquired two more original pressings. Whoo!

The first is Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse which has a lock grove at the end of Side 2 and an insert with the track listing (as they were not listed on the back of the sleeve).

The second is Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate which has really cool A & B Side labels and a printed inner sleeve.

Skinny Puppy's Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate
Skinny Puppy's Cleanse, Fold and Manipulate

Stupid excited to have both these on their way into my “more money than brains” hands. Ha ha. Now, I just need an original pressing of Bites and life will be complete.

Finally Acquired [Skinny Puppy Edition Redux]