Johnny's Drive-In

Shelly.

2009-11-10T00:38:00.001-08:00

It's sunny out today in Twin Peaks,A town where everyone knows everyone and nothing is what it seems. You enter the local "Double R Diner" oblige the cute waitress leaning against the bar,twisting her auburn hair with her finger,and smacking her gum. Her name is Shelly Johnson, and she is played by Mädchen Amick for those who might remember the short lived 2 seasons of David Lynch's Twin Peaks in the early 90s. Maybe not...although the ratings might have failed, there still remains a loyal fanbase.

The Show concentrated on the mysterious murder of local girl, Laura Palmer and the Detective assigned to her case, Agent Cooper played by Kyle MacLachlan.The faint plot in these episodes are enigmatic,and puzzling. If you start off on an episode in mid-season, your out of the loop. But if you are following it, you can't wait for the next one...and it all build's up to a memorably creepy finale somehwhere between The X-Files and Friday the 13th:The Series.

Shelly does not start out as a concentrated charater for the show, but she ain't half bad either. In the beginning you see her as a plain bored housewife by night,heartbreaker of the town by day.The story unfolds and we go in and out of her troubled relationships;beaten by her husband,nearly killing him,and finally rising as one of the central characters of the show.In the end,she was happy...Shelly deserved it. You might have also seen Mädchen Amick as the lead girl in the Horror movie 'Sleepwalkers'...or on the also short lived series 'Fantasy Island'.Here tonight I have an excerpt from the Twin Peaks Soundtrack Vol. II devoted entirely to her by the same composer who scored A Nightmare on Elm Street 3:Dream Warriors.

David Lynch & Angelo Badalamenti - Shelly

Blue Dress

2009-11-08T14:20:00.001-08:00

As I've expressed in past blog's I have become more and more enamored in the sound that is Nightwaves,and the Binary label that represents them. All acts of this label are equally talented individuals, and I am excited to see what sounds and music I can discover while taking a slightly different turn from my usual "Straight-out dance music" affections. A blissful combonation of pop/electronic & new wave, this is the kind of music I daydreamed about in middle school...that one day I might be able to make music or find artists like this.

Nightwaves are composed of Kyle Petersen and Josh Legg, they also run the BINARY label,and Blog. I am a fan of some of their other work, or remixed tracks. I bought the Vega Italo Dub off their single "She's Electric", and I can't stop playing it on my Ipod...it always finds it way to my playlist. I remember leaving the grocery store parking lot, this song playing with windows rolled down, and it immediately brought out the cute 20-something yr old "girls next door" it was undoubtedly aimed towards.

Blue Dress makes me think of watching the sunset, as your walking home alone after a beautiful night gone awry, and that is almost a direct translation of the lyrics itself. Your trying to think of what has gone wrong with the girl you spent most of the night with...you can't forget the blue dress she was wearing. It takes you back to the good times, but the bad always tend to linger around.The synths compare to Binary's version of "Digital Love" by Daft Punk,the Chorus a very good tribute to New Order's work in the late 80s/early 90s.Back in those days I would recite the lyrics to "Bizarre Love Triangle" over and over.Now at 26 years old, I am reciting the lyrics to blue dress just as much.

"we just sat and talked for hours..."

"...never told me why you said goodbye."

Nightwaves - Blue Dress

Legendary

2009-11-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

The other day while raiding a bargain VHS sale at Half Priced books, I managed to find a few tapes rekindling that nostalgia again. Filmations Ghostbusters, (The original GB's before the popular movie/cartoon series), Career Opportunities with a buxom young Jennifer Connelly,and hidden at the very bottom of a large stack was the ever mystical 'Legend' directed by Ridley Scott.

Starring Tom Cruise,Mia Sara, & Tim Curry. Legend centers around Jack and Lili, a pair of "Innocent" lovers who dwell in a far off Fantastical world. They know nothing of Darkness,and Evil, but when they are used to capture the mystical Unicorn,and Lili is captured...Jack must face the other side in order to rescue her alongside his Mythical friends and free the Unicorns.

I don't remember much from my first time seeing it in the late 80s, rather than a few scenes here and there. I remember how beautiful Mia Sara was,that she was also in Ferris Buellers Day Off--a regular Kelly Kapowski for the big screen in those days. I recall the raspy voice of the elven 'Gump',and Tim Curry as 'Darkness' .(Finally getting the Dave Chappelle reference?)

It wasn't until almost a decade later that I realized that Tangerine Dream even composed the score. So I was now owner of the Soundtrack,but still hadn't refreshed my memory with another showing of the movie. For all these years I ignored it until now. I might've been watching the Jerry Goldsmith version when I was younger, as there seem to be two versions of the movie released, with two different composers scoring. I happily stumbled onto the version I wanted, with Tangerine Dream in front seat.

I guess I didn't remember what I was missing, I absolutely loved the movie...and since I had known the score so well, it was great listening to its meaning while watching the specific scenes it was made for. I especially found my two favorite tracks on the score particularly mesmorizing in accordance to their scenes. "The Dance" & "Unicorn Theme" are movie magic at its best,and I highly recommend you go out and rent or buy this movie. I am fixing to get me the Directors Cut DVD soon,and eventually the score on Vinyl if I can find it, the score on CD is getting a 2010 re-release.

Tangerine Dream - The Dance

Tangerine Dream - Unicorn Theme

It's not them, its us.

2009-11-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

Today I finally got to sit down and enjoy a VHS copy of 'The Burbs' that I found at a great goodwill store deal of 5 movies for $1. it was time to make some use out of the VCR/DVD combo in the living room. These days its easier to get VHS tapes for cheap,and a very affordable way to enjoy a flick for a dollar or less at home.

The film is very Tim Burton-ish,despite being directed by Joe Dante.The Burbs centers around a group of Surbabnites who are set in their daily routines and lives. In the morning they all get up and eat a healthy breakfast, compete for the best lawn, and go down the street to the local deli for a sandwich and friendly conversation. Seems perfect huh? All until the Kopek family moves in next door to Ray peterson (hanks). From then on, urban legends and campfire stories about how they might be deranged maniacs fill the heads of the suburbanites. The gossip eats away at them until they decide to secretly invade the Kopek house to figure out their creepy secret.

Last time I saw this movie I was pretty young, I think i caught it right as it was out of theatres and new to video stores. One of the only memories I had, was the scene where Tom Hanks' Character Ray eats a sardine on a pretzel to gain his eccentric,creepy new neighbors trust. Courtney Gains (of Children of the Corn fame) pulls off a hilarious role with very few lines. All the actors do their part to contribute to the offbeat dark humor presented. Mid-film, we get to see Ray's nightmare of who he thinks the neighbors really are,and we get an excellent homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II (Since he was watching it before bed). Corey Feldman takes it easy from his usual starring role in the 80s, as Ricky Butler the annoying rebel of the neighborhood but also brings in the laughs.

Take a listen to the main title from the Score by Jerry Goldsmith...it's a hint of 'Beetejuice',with some creepy dracula-esque organ sounds thrown in for good measure.

Jerry Goldsmith - The Burbs Main Title

Business Woman

2009-11-03T22:00:00.001-08:00

No rules. No curfews. No nagging. No pulse.

In case you don't know the rundown of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Sue Ellen Crandell is inadvertently left in charge of her four siblings after their nagging bitter psycho-geriatric babysitter dies of natural causes. Hi-jinks,adventures,and romance ensues all in a quirky post 80s backdrop.This is the first in the few sleeper hits that Christina Applegate rose to fame in, and with the added character of Kelly Bundy became the definitive 90s girl and #1 Crush.

Throughout the film, Sue Ellen rises from teen misfit to Business Woman as she is forced to take up a job...and all too easily in fashion/design...but hey, its a movie. Lots of great 80s references including a Samantha Fox poster on her brother Kenny's wall, to a visit to Showbiz Pizza AKA Chuck E Cheese before it started to suck. I managed to pick up the soundtrack at the CD exchange and I got to be honest in saying there is not alot of "hits" among the tracklist but the songs clearly do define the movie, and the original score is lost in time somewhere. Too bad, I enjoyed the little hits of strings here and there.

This is where French group Minitel Rose come into the mix...after hearing the track "Business Woman" on The French Machine album, I immediately made the connection to the movie. I feel like this song should've been on this soundtrack...and would've played out greatly as Sue Ellen was preparing for another day at the 9-5 grind. Shuffling papers,bright red lipstick,the occasional cigarette mixed in with a sultry image of sex and sophistication. Give the song a listen,and then drop everything and rush to your local bargain bin and pick up the DVD.

Minitel Rose - Business Woman by valeriecollective

You can buy "Busines Woman" by Minitel Rose here...

Other Notably links include:

Thanks to Sue Ellen's Myspace for the images!

...and check out some great screencaps from the DVD here!