Album of the Week: New Religion

New Religion – Crazy Lixx (2010)

The truth of the matter is, I’m a very lazy person. I am far too lazy to take albums that I own on CD and put them onto my iPod. This is a real life struggle for me. You have to like, put the CD in the computer man, and then like wait for it to download, and then dude, the worst part, you have to upload it onto your iPod. Way to much work for me. And don’t even get me started on vinyl man! (I don’t know why that explanation took a weird California surfer stereotype turn. I’m sorry. It just felt right.)

Due to my lack of ambition, if it’s not on Spotify, it’s not on my iPod. I don’t know if other people have noticed this, (or possibly you have and just don’t care nearly as much as I do) but there is no Def Leppard on Spotify. Everybody knows that Def Leppard is my jam. So how the hell am I supposed to listen to Def Leppard when I can’t make a playlist of their music on Spotify? What is my life without High ‘n’ Dry!?!?!

This fact saddens my inner 80‘s party. So being the evidently logical person that I am, I knew I had to turn to something different. I knew there had to be someone I could turn to, to quench my glamish (not a word) sleazy hard rock/metal thirst. Then I thought, well, if we are talking dirty LA Sunset Strip style metal, I should turn no further than Sweden right?

Sweden. Makes total sense right?

Yeah, I didn’t think so at first either.

For those who aren’t aware, there is an amazing group of sleaze metal bands that have come out of Sweden is the past decade. Crashdiet,  Hardcore Superstar and Vains of Jenna, just to name a few, but today we are talking purely about Crazy Lixx. They have released three albums since 2007 (all very solid), but New Religion is my favorite.

It’s just straight forward melodic hard rock, that is insanely catchy. I remember the first time I heard these songs, I was singing along with them as if I had heard them a million times. The choruses are huge. Seriously. Vocally the arrangements scream Def Leppard. It brings a tear of joy to my eyes. Everything from the lyrics down to the riffs is just music you know you will be singing to at the top of your lungs in your car. You will. Don’t deny it.

For those people who haven’t left the 20th century that think, “they just don’t make good music anymore,” you have been proven wrong once again. If it is the classic sound of 1980’s sleazy LA metal that you want, it is what you get with Crazy Lixx.

Favorite Songs: “Blame it On Love”, “My Medicine (R.O.C.K)”, “21 ‘Till I Die”

Movie of the Week: Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters (1984)

Director: Ivan Reitman

Starring: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson

Written by: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis

Music: Elmer Bernstein

Producer: Ivan Reitman

 

A few days ago I was in a class of about 60 people who ranged from the ages of about 17-55. The instructor of the class was going over some very important safety information. He reached a point in his PowerPoint where he had several numbers listed of places to call in case of specific emergencies. After going over the numbers several times to really drive home the point of memorizing the numbers he then, very seriously, asked the class, “so who are you going to call?” Without fail the entire class responded in unison “Ghostbusters!” He then sighed, ignored us and kept going on with the important information. He wasn’t impressed. I on the other hand thought it was extremely entertaining. I was happy to see that Ghostbusters really is a film that transcends generations and it’s such a huge pop culture reference that everyone knows.

Ghostbusters is a comedy about a couple of out of work scientists who, due to the recent outbreak of paranormal activity in New York City (it’s always New York City), start an agency to capture the roaming vapors. As it generally does, chaos ensues. Disasters of biblical proportions (dogs and cats, living together! Mass hysteria!), crossing streams, giant stay puff marshmallow men,  you know, real wrath-of-God type stuff.

Ghostbusters is one of my favorite comedies of all time. I could write an entire post on the “throwaway lines” alone (don’t doubt I won’t one day). Most of which are said by the always zany and lovable Bill Murray.

On a side note I was once asked that if I could invite anyone in the world to dinner who would it be. My response was Bill Murray. My friends thought that was ridiculous and still make fun of me about that to this day, but I stand by my answer! Bill Murray is awesome.

I have heard Ghostbusters discreetly referenced dozens of times. Sometimes they are so subtle that, unless you have memorized the movie like I and many other Ghostbusters fanatics have, you wouldn’t even pick it up.

So if you haven’t seen Ghostbuster I urge you to go out and see it. It is a film that is loved and adored by all ages or people from all over the world. You wont be disappointed, unless busing ghost doesn’t make you feel good, then I cant really help you there.

Cue Bill Murray: “We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!”