VIDEO: Danger Mouse - Episode 01 - Rogue Robots

Nowadays, this classic UK animated series may be mentioned more often for inspiring the producer behind Gnarls Barkley and The Grey Album, but it shouldn't be forgotten that it's also an amazing show in its own right.

Trouble viewing the video? Watch on Network Awesome!

FILM REVIEW: The Man Who Would Be Polka King

The music industry and scandal go hand in hand. From organized crime seeing easy marks in profitable night clubs and venues to troubled, drug-addicted artists spiraling out of control to record company executives engaging in white collar crime like payola to help their product sell better, people involved in music often find themselves on the wrong side of the law. But by no means is this impropriety relegated to those scenes most often associated with crime, namely rap and dance music, and in fact has little to do with the content or the perceived "outlaw" character of any particular genre. In the end, corruption is more entwined with money than with art, and even a cheesy, ostensibly family-friendly style like polka is not immune to people trying to make a buck off of it in a less than legal way.

Released in 2009, but screening Friday at Turner Hall as part of a series called "DONK-umentaries with Bob & Brian" (which, despite the name, disappointingly has nothing to do with the Blackout Crew), The Man Who Would Be Polka King entertainingly recalls the biggest scandal to ever rock the polka world. At the heart of the trouble is Jan Lewan, a Polish émigré who chased his musical ambitions to Pennsylvania, where the large population of eastern Europeans allowed him to build a profitable polka empire. Unfortunately, the love of the people, and even a Grammy nomination in 1995, proved not to be enough for Lewan, who used his considerable popularity to launch a large scale pyramid scheme that swindled hundreds of his fans out of their paychecks and pensions. It's a fascinating tale of greed and delusion, one that begins with a talented and driven young Soviet defector and nearly ends in a vicious prison shanking, with plenty of detours, including his alleged rigging of a beauty pageant, in between.

But while it may be an interesting story, it's also a relatively small one, which leads filmmakers Joshua Brown and John Mikulak to make some odd choices. Chief among them is the decision to hire an actor to play a fictional Stan Tradowski, who narrates the proceedings from a bar stool at the local VFW hall. It's a distracting and unnecessary framing device, especially since the interviews with Lewan himself, who has always professed that he had no idea he was doing anything wrong, even in light of several warnings from the government, reveal a much clearer view of his pathological misunderstanding of the American dream he sought so feverishly. Being a few years old, the film is already available for free on Hulu, but given the $10 all-you-can-drink special going on during the screening, The Man Who Would Be Polka King, with all of its head-scratching weirdness, is probably best enjoyed in the company of a large, well-lubricated crowd. 

CONCERT REVIEW: Kool Keith (Mad Planet, Milwaukee)

Kool Keith may have a reputation for being late to shows, and in some cases blowing them off entirely, so it was a great relief when he showed up on time and ready to rock.

Read my full review here.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (01/25/12)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. If you dig it, please find the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Artist - Song - Album

New Order - Chemical - Republic 

Depeche Mode - New Life - The Singles 81-85

Depeche Mode - The Meaning Of Love - The Singles 81-85

Laid Back - Elevator Boy - Keep Smiling

Laid Back - Sunshine Reggae - Keep Smiling

Prince - Do It All Night - Dirty Mind

Prince - Uptown - Dirty Mind

Cameo - Candy - The Best Of Cameo 

Cameo - Attack Me With Your Love - The Best Of Cameo

Chromeo - You're So Gangsta - She's In Control

Chromeo - Woman Friend - She's In Control

Daft Punk - Aerodynamic - Discovery

Daft Punk - Crescendolls - Discovery

Reverend Billy C. Wirtz - Will There Be A Shopping Mall In Heaven? - Deep Fried And Sanctified

The Essex - Easier Said Than Done - Girl Group Greats

Joanie Sommers - Johnny Get Angry - Girl Group Greats

Hunx And His Punx - Don't Cha Want Me Back? - Gay Singles

Hunx And His Punx - You Better Tell That Girl - Gay Singles

Shannon And The Clams - Baby Don't Do It - Sleep Talk

Shannon And The Clams - The Cult Song - Sleep Talk

Ramones - Needles And Pins - All The Stuff (And More) Volume 2

Ramones - Do You Wanna Dance? - All The Stuff (And More) Volume 2

Ramones - Surfin' Bird - All The Stuff (And More) Volume 2

Ramones - Substitute - Acid Eaters

Ramones - When I Was Young - Acid Eaters

Ramones - Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Acid Eaters

Minutemen - Don't Look Now - Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen - The Glory Of Man - Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen - Nothing Indeed - Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen - Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing - Double Nickels On The Dime

Gang Of Four - Ether - Entertainment!

Gang Of Four - Guns Before Butter - Entertainment!

Disappears - Revisiting - Guider

Disappears - Halo - Guider

Catacombz - ReSurf - Catacombz

Catacombz - Anhinga Tundra - Catacombz

Can - Spoon - Cannibalism 1

Can - Tango Whiskeyman - Soundtracks

Can - I Want More And... - Cannibalism 2

Steven Wright - Shopping Carts - I Still Have A Pony

VIDEO: Metal Mickey - Episode 01 - Metal Mickey Lives

Created by the British musician and record producer Johnny Edward, the robotic Metal Mickey appeared on a variety of television programs, the first being ITV's The Saturday Banana, before eventually gaining enough popularity to be given his own starring vehicle, this eponymous, lovably corny sitcom. Strangely, the series was produced by The Monkees' Micky Dolenz, though I'm sure he was hired based on his prior work in film and television and not because he coincidentally shared a name with the titular character.  

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FEATURE: Documentary or Propaganda: Berlin (1945)

As part of their weekend long salute to Berlin, Network Awesome asked me to take a look back at one of the bloodiest, most decisive moments in the capital city's history, "The Battle of Berlin", which saw the Red Army breaching Hitler's defenses and effectively ending World War II.

Read the full piece here.

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PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (01/18/12)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. If you dig it, please find the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Artist - Song - Album

Bruce Haack - Listen - Electronic Record For Children

Gary Wilson - Groovy Girls Make Love At The Beach - You Think You Really Know Me

Gary Wilson - 6.4=Make Out - You Think You Really Know Me

Screamers - I Wanna Hurt (Live At The Whisky, 01/07/78) - In A Better World

Screamers - Punish Or Be Damned (Live At The Whisky, 01/07/78) - In A Better World

Suicide - Rocket USA - Suicide 

Suicide - Che - Suicide

Gary Numan - Metal (Live) - The Complete John Peel Sessions

Gary Numan - Cars (Live) - The Complete John Peel Sessions

Nine Inch Nails - Terrible Lie - Pretty Hate Machine

Nine Inch Nails - Down In It - Pretty Hate Machine

Villafontana Violines - No Puede Dejar De Mirarte - 70"

Kate Bush - The Big Sky - Hounds Of Love

Kate Bush - Waking The Witch - Hounds Of Love

Talking Heads - The Facts Of Life - Naked

Talking Heads - Ruby Dear - Naked

Roxy Music - Ladytron - Roxy Music

Roxy Music - Virginia Plain - Roxy Music

David Bowie - Watch That Man - Aladdin Sane

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) - Aladdin Sane

Of Montreal - Forecast Fascist Future - The Sunlandic Twins

Of Montreal - I Was Never Young - The Sunlandic Twins

Blur - Girls & Boys - CD Single

Dusty Springfield - Crumbs Off The Table - Dusty In London

Ila Vann - Got To Get To Jim Johnson - The Ila Vann Collection

Ila Vann - Flying Solo Tomorrow - The Ila Vann Collection

Ike & Tina Turner - All I Can Do Is Cry - A Date With John Waters

Dr. Octagon - Earth People - Dr. Octagonecologyst

Dr. Octagon - No Awareness - Dr. Octagonecologyst

Deltron 3030 - 3030 - Deltron 3030

Deltron 3030 - Upgrade (A Brymar College Course) - Deltron 3030

Jeff The Brotherhood - Hey Friend - We Are The Champions

Jeff The Brotherhood - Bummer - We Are The Champions

Nirvana - Son Of A Gun - Incesticide

Nirvana - Dive - Incesticide

VIDEO: Doc - Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Japan's monstrous representation of nuclear anxiety, Godzilla initially struck a chord with Japanese audiences as a thrilling and soothingly fantastical way of releasing the trauma, paranoia and fear caused by the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The titular beast proved such a powerful icon, however, that he outlived the atomic age, reinvented by its creators for every new generation. This in depth BBC documentary, which aired as part of their Monster Night programming, follows the towering, scaly monster from his creation and through its many eras before looking to the future, which, at this point, included Roland Emmerich's big-budget American adaptation.   

Trouble viewing the video? Watch it on Network Awesome!

FEATURE: Half Shark Alligator, Half Man: The Many Faces of Kool Keith

Just for the record, I couldn't care less if Kool Keith is crazy or not, either way, the man's got skills.

Read the full piece here.

VIDEO: Quark - Episode 01 - May The Source Be With You

Created by TV and film legend Buck Henry, probably most recognizable right now as Liz Lemon's dad on 30 Rock, Quark did not garner enough fans to be brought back for another season after it's debut 1975 run, but it's irreverent take on sci-fi classics like Star Wars and Star Trek remains keenly observed and funny. Enjoy!

Trouble viewing the video? Watch it on Network Awesome!

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (01/11/12)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. If you dig it, please find the show on Facebook and Twitter.

Artist - Song - Album

Talking Heads - Blind - Naked

James Brown - Make It Funky (Part 1) - Soul Classics

James Brown - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - Soul Classics

James Brown - Soul Power - Soul Classics

James Brown - Give It Up Or Turnit Loose - Soul Classics

James Brown - It's A Man's Man's Man's World - Soul Classics

JC Brooks And The Uptown Sound - Baltimore Is The New Brooklyn - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Marion Black - Come And Gettit - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Freddy Scott And The Four Steps - Same Ole Beat - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Soul President - Got To Have It - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Black Merda - Take A Little Time - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Chuck Garbo & The Soul Finders - Can I Be Your Main Squeeze - Mojo Presents: Heavy Soul

Sly & The Family Stone - In Time - The Essential Sly & The Family Stone

Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay - The Essential Sly & The Family Stone

Funkadelic - The Electric Spanking Of War Babies - The Electric Spanking Of War Babies

Children Of The World - The Time Is Now - Children Of The World

The Specials - Rat Race - More Specials

The Specials - Doesn't Make It Alright - The Specials

The Specials - A Message To You Rudy - The Specials

The Specials - Do Nothing - More Specials

Nick Drake - One Of These Things First - Bryter Layter

Belle & Sebastian - The Stars Of Track And Field - If You're Feeling Sinister

Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying - If You're Feeling Sinister 

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Today I Started Celebrating Again - At Home With The Groovebox

LFO - Mentok 1 - Frequencies

Squarepusher - Dedicated Loop - Selection Sixteen

Aphex Twin - Vordhosbn - Drukqs

Aphex Twin - Milkman - Richard D. James Album

Joy Division - Atrocity Exhibition - Closer

Joy Division - Isolation - Closer

The Flaming Lips - Jesus Shootin' Heroin - Hear It Is

Love And Rockets - Mirror People - Earth, Sun, Moon

Love And Rockets - The Light - Earth, Sun, Moon

Spacemen 3 - Walking With Jesus - Sound Of Confusion

Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space

Sonic Youth - Free City Rhymes - NYC Ghosts & Flowers

Sonic Youth - Side2Side - NYC Ghosts & Flowers

Sonic Youth - Disconnection Notice

Sonic Youth - Candle - Daydream Nation

FEATURE: The Future Was Awesome: Bertone Cars

I don't know shit about cars. That admission of ignorance, however, doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the work of Italy's Gruppo Bertone car stylists, whose innovative, shockingly futuristic designs not only rethink automobile aesthetics but also represent an idyllic technological future that has, sadly, yet to materialize.

Read the full piece here.

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VIDEO: On the Air - Episode 02

Though seven episodes of this off-the-wall David Lynch/Mark Frost sitcom were filmed, only three ended up being broadcast by ABC in 1992, which is kind of baffling given the substantial, if unlikely, success of their previous series Twin Peaks. The fact that the show was unceremoniously and prematurely cancelled would be an easier pill to swallow, however, if it eventually found wide release on video, but the suits and the fat-cats (I'm assuming) have continually prevented that from happening. The series is even rather hard to find on the web, which is all the more reason to enjoy episode 01 and 02 while you can.

Problems viewing the video? Watch on Network Awesome!

CONCERT REVIEW: Wu-Tang Clan (The Rave, Milwaukee)

Does Wu-Tang Clan require an introduction? I should think not, I mean, it's the goddamn Wu-Tang Clan, right? Anyway, they played The Rave over the weekend and the show was pretty sweet! That shouldn't be a surprise, right? Right?

Read the full review here.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (01/04/12)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. If you enjoy it, please find the show on Facebook and Twitter.

The Who - The Seeker - Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy

Love - Live And Let Live - Forever Changes

Love - The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This - Forever Changes

Harry Nilsson - Remember (Christmas) - Son Of Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson - Ambush - Son Of Schmilsson

Neil Young - Come On Baby Let's Go Downtown - Tonight's The Night

Neil Young - Speakin' Out - Tonight's The Night

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Someday Never Comes - Mardi Gras

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Effigy - Willy And The Poor Boys

Bob Dylan - One More Cup Of Coffee - Desire

Bod Dylan - Shelter From The Storm - Blood On The Tracks

Leadbelly - C.C. Rider - Leadbelly

Leadbelly - Baby Don't You Love Me No More - Leadbelly

Martin Mull - Trailer Waltz - Sex & Violins

ABC - Poison Arrow - The Lexicon Of Love

ABC - The Look Of Love (Part One) - The Lexicon Of Love

New Order - Spooky - Republic

New Order - Young Offender - Republic

Primal Scream - Slip Inside This House - Screamadelica

Primal Scream - Don't Fight It, Feel It - Screamadelica

Primal Scream - Loaded - Screamadelica

Happy Mondays - Donovan - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches

Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches

The Stone Roses - Waterfall - The Stone Roses

Blur - Look Inside America - Blur

Blur - Parklife - The Best Of Blur

Supergrass - I'd Like To Know - I Should Coco

Supergrass - Sofa (Of My Lethargy) - I Should Coco

Super Furry Animals - No Sympathy - Rings Around The World

Super Furry Animals - Juxtapozed With U - Rings Around The World

Tricky - Ghetto Stars - Mixed Race

Tricky - Murder Weapon - Mixed Race

Saint Etienne - Mario's Cafe - So Tough

Saint Etienne - Calico - So Tough

Stereolab - Black Ants In Sound-Dust - Sound-Dust

Stereolab - Space Moth - Sound-Dust

CONCERT REVIEW: Rio Turbo & Dude X 2 (The Cactus Club, Milwaukee)

New Year's Eve is always something of a crapshoot. Few other nights are saddled with such expectation, with such an obligation to be fun and, more importantly, memorable, and while logically we know that this anticipation only fuels disappointment, it's still hard resist. We've all had dull New Years, but most of us also harbor memories of those rare instances when the holiday delivered on its promise, where libations and laughter just seem to flow a little easier, where you can actually feel like you're moving into a brighter future, even if in the morning you realize it was just strong drink and loud music. Stepping out the door, we know we probably won't capture that communal, celebratory feeling of transition and renewal, but, hey, it's happened before, so it can happen again, right?

A good chunk of the anxiety associated with having a good New Year's Eve is deciding where to go, and if the Cactus Club turned out to be the wrong choice, on its face, it seemed to have a lot going for it, namely a performance by Rio Turbo, whose sleazy party raps are ideal for a boozy night out. The crowd awaiting his 11:00 show was hideously scarce, and while I've personally seen Turbo make more out of less, forging that connection seemed to be tricky tonight. People continued to filter in, but even a handful of slick new tracks (or his vivacious backup dancers, the Turbettes) couldn't really fill all that negative space covering the dance floor.

If he came off somewhat underwhelming tonight, though, it had less to do with Rio Turbo's act than the promoters failure to drum up a good crowd. The failure of Dude X 2 on the other hand is more attributable to the fact that, honestly, they're just kind of terrible. In many ways Turbo and Dude X 2 are the very different sides of the same coin. Both traffic in big beats and an in-your-face humor, but where the former has a good ear for well crafted tracks and an Andy Kaufman-esque ability to bait the audience, the latter brings only affected offensiveness and, apparently, an out of date copy of FruityLoops. They seem to have about one genuinely funny line for every 20 they spout, but since they sounded so atrocious, you were likely to miss it altogether. By this point in the night, the club had filled up noticeably, but the contrast between the crowded bar and the sparsely populated area in front of the stage was unmistakable, and I couldn't help getting the feeling that the only ones hanging in there were their close friends, party promoters trying to inspire interest and masochists like myself.

Still, though things as they turned out made for a pretty forgettable New Year's Eve, they didn't add up to that bad night either, after all, going from one calendar year to the next is a completely arbitrary moment to mark in the cosmic sense, but if it provides an excuse to have a drink, meet friends and make a bit merry then you ultimately can't go wrong. Hell, there were even sandwiches, and if there's anything we can reasonably expect from 2012, it's a bit of good music, a bit of bad music and, if we're lucky, the occasional sandwich.