I’m reviewing these VHS tapes full of old alternative videos from 1994. See last week’s here.
Being 10 at the time, some of these bands I’d heard of, some I’ve since heard of, and a few are new to me. Where there is a youtube video I link it so you can share in some nostalgia and ridicule with me. Here we go:
Jawbox- “savory“ from for your own special sweetheart (Atlantic)
I feel like a lot of videos were doing this at the time - saturated colors and creepy looking families in suburban 50’s getup - however, I think this one does it well. It’s like the band is playing a nine-year-old girl’s birthday party that takes a surreal turn when she gets stabs her cake then receives an ax from Grandpa (followed by a grenade and a dead puppy….) I think she’s dreaming the whole thing, actually; dig the Alice in Wonderland vibe. Jawbox is a canonical band for me and they fucking rock, especially their hot chick bass player.
Buffalo Tom - “i’m allowed“ from big red letter day (EastWest)
I remember hearing of Buffalo Tom on My-So-Called-Life when she tells her dad she’s into them and Rage Against the Machine (who are also on this video.) Sorry, Ang, I don’t think this is that cool . The singer constantly has chain link fence or film scratches or scrawly words. I don’t know if that’s trying to be symbolic or if he’s shy but I don’t care.
Dig - “believe“ from dig (Radioactive/MCA)
This video is a pretty dead-on combo of the last two videos in imagery, sound, etc. It’s…ok. Pretty mediocre, really. Skip it unless you knew of this one-hit wonder. I did not, thankfully.
Meat Puppets - “backwater“ from too high to die (London/PLG)
Here’s a much better example of a catchy grunge-pop hit than the last one. I question the video treatment, though. Backwater. Water. You’ll be reflected in glass shards in a fish bowl then you’ll be underwater in the bowl and then…OH GOD! WHY is there an old clown in drag and a man with a treasure troll head?! Buzzkill, dude. Not cool.
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - “simmer down” from ska-core, the devil and more (Mercury)
It’s them playing in the streets in the Caribbean somewhere with like, voodoo shit. I totally got into ska in middle school and stole all my dad’s old Madness tapes and stuff. I still think it’s pretty cool. MMB has someone in the band whose only job is to ’skank’ around. That’s funny.
Beastie Boys - “egg raid on mojo” from some old bullshit (Grand Royal/Capitol)
I can’t find a link to this video…just newer performance footage of the song. The video on the cassette is some really old performance footage from their punkier days (slam dancing instead of break dancing). These are pretty much the three coolest men on the planet and this video you can’t see is from back when Kate from Luscious Jackson was still their drummer. Badass.
Rage Against the Machine - “freedom“ from rage against the machine (Epic Associated)
It’s too bad that most people just thought they were totally hard for listening to Rage, all about the rapping over those amazing riffs, and didn’t seem to pick up on the message or the cause. It’s also too bad Audioslave is so shitty and Zach De La Rocha doesn’t do much these days except try to reunite Rage. The video is pretty much the song plus a radical piece about the CIA fucking over some Native Americans. You know…whatevs.
Rocket From the Crypt - “ditch digger” from circa: now! (Interscope)
Yet again, no video. I know a guy of about thirty who is obsessed with this band - he’s even been known to fly from NYC to San Diego for their shows. I don’t see it. The music’s not bad, maybe some of it is better than this. The video has this Mexican cowboy, bullfighting thing going on with it and something about it seems a little gay to me…
Stabbing Westward - “nothing“ from ungod (Colombia)
Ooh, they’re so hard and dark. Pfft. You’re no Trent Reznor, guy. As for the video, I think my boyfriend said it best: Apparently the answer to a shitty video concept is a lot of out of focus shots and shifting color filters with bad lighting.
Cocteau Twins - “bluebeard“ from four-calendar cafe (Capitol)
Whoa, Enya with Coolio braids? Damn hippies. Green screen with fancy 90’s computer swirlies. I think you need to see this one for yourself. Whoa, again.
2 Comments »
god, rage against the machine was a fucking terrible band. just pointing that out.
cocteau twins - yay!
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Comment by joiezabel — April 3, 2008 @ 8:19 am
this is my new favourite column on superstarcastic. even though it makes me feel old. i was 17 then, man. good times.
also, i have never seen a cocteau twins video, but i used to LOVE that band back in the ‘heaven or las vegas’ era.