120 Minutes

Ok, so here is the Best of 120 Minutes...yes, I'm extremely bored at work again. You may remember the bit on MTV's AMP (the late night music video program comprised of techno/rave music) that I did a few weeks ago. Once again I'm pulling videos that I feel really epitomized the show and the era. In the case of 120 Minutes, its the classic "Alternative" of the 90s! My bread and butter! What a great time for music. The great pendulum of music was reversing its trajectory as we were all leaving the 80s behind, along with the manufactured pop drenched music that was so popular at the time. 120 Minutes was aired from 1986 - 2000 but if you ask me, the best videos were played between 1989 and 1995. After '95 the quality began to progressively worsen as bands like Everclear, Presidents of the United States of America, Silverchair, Bush, and Sugar Ray were annoyingly placed into the rotation, ultimately hinting at the great pendulum's inevitable return to....well, N'SYNC. Anyway, I'll be your host, Lewis Largent (or Matt Pinfield), lets watch some videos!

(I'll be leaving out a few of the obvious contenders (Nirvana) and ones I just don't particularly care for (Mathew Sweet).) Look out for the Headbangers Ball edition coming soon!


JESUS AND MARY CHAIN - I Hate Rock and Roll
JAMC, a perfect starting place.

SMASHING PUMPKINS - Cherub Rock
Ok whatever, I loved the Smashing Pumpkins. Thats right. And yes, I'm going to see them when they come to Austin later this year. I think I went out and bought a guitar the day after I saw this video. The Pumpkins ruled and I will literally fist fight you over this.

PRIMUS - My Name is Mud (1993)
If you played bass in the early nineties you probably thought Les Claypool was a badass. I know I did. "Where you going city boy?"

SONIC YOUTH - Kool Thing
Gotsta have Sonic Youth on this list.

HELMET - Unsung (First Version)
John Stanier's gig way before he started playing for some goofy keyboard players. I'm sorry, I don't like Battles. Get it out.

BJORK - Human Behavior
A great song by a great artist in a great video by a great director. I finally got to see Bjork live at ACL this year. It was great but I'm afraid she is insane...literally.

DEPECHE MODE - I Feel You
Another all time great, Depeche Mode. If you don't like Depeche Mode, well then, there's really no point in you being alive.

R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe (First T.V. Appearance on David Letterman 10-06-1983)
Ok, this isn't a video and this performance was aired way before 120 Minutes BUT, if you were channel surfing at any given time and happened to land on 120 minutes, you were probably going to see a R.E.M. video. This performance is just so great!


BLUR VS. OASIS
The great Battle of Britpop. You just had to choose sides...if you liked Britpop I guess...and I did...still do. Blur wins.

PAVEMENT - Cut Your Hair
Classic

RIDE - Leave Them All Behind
Another favorite import.

HUM - Stars
I break this record out maybe once every two years. If you still own and listen to this album then you should give me a call, we'll be good friends. A cult classic.

WEEN - Freedom of '76
What's not to like about Ween?

FAITH NO MORE - A Small Victory
Angel Dust is probably...no, definitely one of my top albums. Mike Patton's projects are always pretty good but uh, Faith No More just needs to go ahead and have themselves a reunion tour. By the way, Jim Martin is a totally underrated guitar player.


BUTTHOLE SURFERS - Who Was in my Room Last Night
Last video. I guess we'll leave things with the Texas locals. Hope you enjoyed my geekfest.

Band Logos

I think making logos for various bands (actual and imaginary) for myself and friends was the beginning of my graphic design career. Making a logo for your band was just as important as writing the songs...what else were you going to draw all over your notebooks in school. Check out this article from stylus magazine here.

Also, you have to love metal band logos! I love the ones you can't read. Check a few.

Blast

Ok, I don't know about this blog thing. I kind of cheese myself out writing on this thing...of which I wouldn't read if it wasn't me writing the goddamn thing. I need some new music. Everything is boring the hell out of me. Could someone come up with a whole new genre to cure my boredom. blast. West Coast by Studio is about the only thing I've been able to find recently that isn't a heap of doggy terds.

I also made the horrible mistake of watching a bit of the MTV VMA's. That almost caused me to lose faith in humanity all together. Jesus christ! Getting my nails did will cheer me up. Beer time.