Nobody could ever say Rage Against The Machine’s classic Killing In The Name isn’t impossible to cover. Even with a one-stringed, fretless guitar made from a shovel, it it’s still recognizable in the form of angst and anger.
…and watch how they made the guitar here:
For over 35 years, Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones On Tail, Love & Rockets) has been one of the seminal figures in alternative music; whether for his wildly experimental guitar playing or for his sardonic vocal stylings, or perhaps even for throwing in a bit of saxophone. Having defied categorization by fusing elements of electronica with punk, goth, and glam rock, Ash has earned the status of a living legend.
Stripped (Main Man Records) is Ash’s first studio album since 2002. The album features all “re-takes” done in a style that resembles dub-step, variations of EDM, Atmospheric and Ambient “A-La Brian Eno Meets Bowie”. Avid fans may recognize the songs but in reality they are at times completely different in a genetic recombination passing through a centrifuge
The biggest commercial hit by Love and Rockets was “So Alive” which in itself is a masterpiece. the record went to #3 on the Billboard Pop charts. Legendary producer of the original John Fryer was tapped for the new version of “So Alive” along with “Love Me” and the Bauhaus classic, “Slice Of Life.”
Stripped also features producer Mat Mitchell of Puscifer on the track “Christian Says” and Adam Bravin of She Wants Revenge on “OK This Is the Pops.” Both classic songs are originally from Tones On Tail, the band born out of the ashes of Bauhaus and later became Love and Rockets.
Tracklisting:
So Alive
Love Me
Ok, This Is the Pops
All in My Mind
Too Much Choice
No Big Deal
Slice of Life
Mirror People
Christian Says
Come On
There’s Only One
An American Dream
Netflix has released the trailer for season 2 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which premiers on April 15th. She’s making the world a #hashbrown Kimmier place.
Ellie Kemper stars as Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts life over in New York. After living in a cult for fifteen years, Kimmy decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, she’s ready to take on a world she didn’t even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way.
In this stunningly beautiful new music video for the instrumental “Disco” by German musician Ralf Hildenbeutel, director Boris Seewald used over 1,250 paintings to make it leap out from the screen in a luminous flurry.
I’m going to make you an off-fur you can’t re-fur-se. Whatevfur, I’m having a ruff day, so here’s Steve Martin performing his stand-up routine on the Carol Burnett Show, in front of an audience that’s truly gone to the dogs.
https://youtu.be/CBzwTDFq_2U
Even when a song may not say exactly what he needs it to, music is still his preferred means of communication; which is to say, Elvis Costello’s knowledge is nerdishly prodigious. He stumps George Jones with one of the Possum’s own deep cuts, and he tries to do the same with Bob Dylan — but nobody out-alludes that guy. With the obsession of a dilettante or possibly a savant, Costello jumps around from country and old-time folk to punk and reggae, from New Orleans jazz to Brill Building pop, from the classical compositions of the Brodsky Quartet to the erudite melodies of Burt Bacharach.
There are nearly 400 songs Costello name-checks as influences within the pages of his memoir, Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, and hundreds more he refers to in passing. Of those 400, Vulture culled together a 300-song playlist that is by no means complete, due in large par to, at the time, Spotify’s scarcity of Beatles, Bacharach, and Neil Young albums. (The Fab Four are the most cited artist in the book, with 22 songs — from “Please Please Me” to “Let It Be” — admired by Costello.)
In 1970, a meeting took place that changed Muppets history. Bonnie Erickson, a young costumer, met with Jim Henson, who was looking for someone to fashion the costumes for The Frog Prince. Erickson got the job, and went on to create some of the most famous Muppets, including Miss Piggy and Statler & Waldorf.
Currently a trustee at the Jim Henson Legacy, she lives with her husband Wayde in their New York City home of forty years, where the two are still creating magic under their company Harrison / Erickson, Inc. Together, they have designed mascots (from the Phillie Phanatic to the underrated Dandy), stuffed animals, and even the toys for Where The Wild Things Are.
Gothamist met with her at her home recently—which is filled with art and creations from her past and present, as well as one room that’s built out to be a partial replica of her childhood home, complete with a front porch and American flag—”when Bush was President,” she told us, “We had the flag upside down. And when he left in the helicopter, I came in with champagne and turned it right side up.”
Her life, which includes tales of riding from her apartment Uptown down to the Village on the back of a Hell’s Angels’ hog, is worthy of a full length documentary. Below, an introduction:
Now do you believe me when I tell you Ariana Grande might be around for the next 20 years?
https://youtu.be/I1b-jDJF3bI
We all work hard and most of us can appreciate some escapism, whether it’s through some Netflix-binging or just daydreaming.
Harlequin thinks it can help women make the most of their breaks from a busy day with their romance novels.
The new “Romance When You Need It” campaign from BBDO Toronto includes a playful video spot featuring a group of female co-workers celebrating their break from a hard day’s work by bringing their fantasy characters to life.
https://youtu.be/w_cXdJkwDXg
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Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
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