Selfish Rubbish

Posted, ironically, on John Lydon's official website, this excerpt from a Jah Wobble article in the January 2010 issue of Record Collector suggests that at least one person out there had a better idea (and a little more musical ambition) for a 21st century PiL than the late 80s alternarock facsimile making the festival/nostalgia circuit this year.

Below that, the 1980 American Bandstand appearance back when Lydon still cared about something more than cheap theatre.

New Gil Scott-Heron Album Streaming In Full

Gil Scott-Heron's new album for XL, I'm New Here, is out February 9th. The whole thing's streaming in the widget thingy below. Check out "New York Is Killing Me" and "Me & The Devil". More on the man and the album at his website. Vinyl includes a second disc with seven extra tracks including new versions of "Home Is Where The Hatred Is", "Winter In America" and "Is That Jazz". Video for "Me & The Devil" below the player.

Vicious Pink

Leeds' Vicious Pink are chiefly remembered for their shouty backing vocal contributions to Soft Cell's Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, but released half a dozen singles in the early 80s - "Take Me Now" and "Cccan't You See" were regular parts of the average DJ's set, at least in the Dallas clubs of my youth. They never released an album proper, but various unofficial comps have been floating around the 'net for a decade or so, and the most comprehensive of them is currently features on New Romantic Rules. Below, the 12" of "Cccan't You See".

Random YouTube Friday: The Hotrats - EMI (Unlimited Edition)

Supergrass side project/cover band on Craig Ferguson performing the Pistols' EMI with Jonesy himself on guitar. That solo starting at 1'50 is the greatest guitar solo ever performed. Fact.

Hotrats album Turn Ons is out now and includes covers including Roxy Music ("Love Is The Drug"), The Cure ("Lovecats") and Squeeze ("Up The Junction"). Oh, and a surreal take on the Beasties' "Fight For Your Right". Amie Street's got it for just under $7 at the time of posting.

Random YouTube Friday:Garbage - Kick My Ass

Garbage covering the late Vic Chesnutt's "Kick My Ass" from the 1996 Sweet Relief II project. More fully Garbagized version available on that album.

"Sex Pistols" - Silly Thing

Hadn't got a clue the "Pistols" ever made a video for the post Rotten "Silly Thing", but here 'tis. An examination of Jonesy's footballer perm and Cook's truly offensive mullet suggests filming must have been right around the time of Rock'n'Roll Swindle and the film's release in late '78/early '79. This is the arguably superior 7" single version, louder than the album version, with altered lyrics and Jones singing instead of Cook. Originally written as "Silly Cunt", either about Vicious or Rotten, depending on who's telling the story.

These New Puritans - New Single

"We Want War" off the forthcoming (1/18) album Hidden on Angular/Domino. Available on 10" or via download.