PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (02/26/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Orbiting the Earth", featuring techno, house and a special live mix by Juiceboxxx! If you enjoy it, be sure to also connect with the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Strobelyx - Yellowyx - Coloryx EP
Strobelyx - Bluelyx - Coloryx EP
Corporate Control - A Wilderness Of Size - Ten Dry Nails
Corporate Control - Vainglory - Ten Dry Nails
Cock & Swan - Looking Out (Graintable Remix) - Recess Tangle, Vol. 2
Cock & Swan - Inner Portal (OCnotes Remix) - Recess Tangle, Vol. 2
Fever Kids - Holding Grass - Holding Grass (Single)
Fever Kids - Peter, Debbie, Mary - Holding Grass (Single)
Robert Forman - Cat Juggling - Cat Juggling
Casetofoane - Enel - Electromagnetic
Casetofoane - 90 - Electromagnetic
Juiceboxxx - Thunder Zone Mondo Radio Mix (Live) - N/A
UltraCat - Orbiting The Earth - Orbiting The Earth (Single)
UltraCat - Funk The Floor - Orbiting The Earth (Single)
Jake Allison - We Got The Funk - Summer In The States
Jake Allison - Flappers And Philosophers (Strong Suit Remix) - Summer In The States
The Carrier Wave - Orange Meanies - 4X4 Acid Stompers
The Carrier Wave - Tastes Like Hairspray - 4X4 Acid Stompers
Morphamish - Bottums Up - Get My Fix EP
Morphamish - Low Slung - Get My Fix EP
Dr Nol - Proplus - The Juno Love Faction
Dr Nol - Juno Love Faction - The Juno Love Faction
The Courier - Any Excuse (Vibes Alive) - Got The Vibes - The Complete Collection
The Courier - Fellow Friend - Got The Vibes - The Complete Collection

ALBUM REVIEW: Radio Ready: Wisconsin - Lost Power Pop Hits 1979-1982

Power pop, with its infectious blend of catchy British Invasion hooks and stateside attitude, all boiled down into economically concentrated blasts of teenage drama, has developed an impressively international fan base, but one place it's popularity has proved particularly long lasting is the American Midwest, where it's simple pleasures have never fully gone out of style. It makes sense then that the Austin-based reissue label Cheap Rewards Records, after getting their native Texas out of the way, would turn their attention to the area for the second installment of their Radio Ready series of state-based compilations, and Wisconsin ably lives up to the challenge of representing the region.

Collecting rambunctious sides from 14 Badger State bands, mostly hailing from Milwaukee, Radio Ready: Wisconsin - Lost Power Pop Hits 1979-1982 zeroes in on an especially fruitful time and place, in all its Cheap Trick-inspired glory. Considered as a whole, the selections do an admirable job of seamlessly representing both the "power" and the "pop" sides of the equation, from Muscle Beach's lovably-boneheaded party anthem "Let's Get Dumb" to the almost self-consciously Beatle-esque "Wait a Minute" by the Pops (yes, "the Pops"), but each two-and-a-half minute tale of teen angst and/or ecstasy also stands alone as an earworm worth having stuck in your head for a little while.

With some songs available on other comps, a few of them free, and considering that an essential entry from the Shivvers is missing from the digital version due to licensing conflicts, it's probably best to hold out for the upcoming vinyl release, despite the unappealing cover art, particularly since it's the first time a handful of previously-unreleased tracks have found their way onto wax. That wax even comes in the signature green and gold of the state's beloved Packers in addition to your classic black, although given number of power pop fans in Wisconsin, and the high quality of these cuts, the limited run will likely go fast.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (02/19/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Drop the Bomb", featuring classic funk, go-go and more. If you dig it, be sure to also find the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Black Heat - The Jungle - Black Heat
Black Heat - Chicken Heads - Black Heat
James Brown - Fight Against Drug Abuse (Public Service Announcement) - The Singles, Vol. 7: 1970-1972
Satisfaction Unlimited - Somebody Else's Woman - Think Of The Children
Satisfaction Unlimited - Spread Your Love Around - Think Of The Children
Norma Jean & Ray J. - Right Place Wrong Time - Raising Hell
Norma Jean & Ray J. - Raising Hell - Raising Hell
L.T.G. Exchange - Sky High - Susie Heartbreaker
L.T.G. Exchange - Money Mad - Susie Heartbreaker
Willie Hutch - Get Ready For The Get Down - The Mark Of The Beast
Willie Hutch - (I Wanted To Be A Rock & Roll Star) Woman I Still Got Loving You On My Mind - The Mark Of The Beast
Poetry And Motion - Diversions - The Arf Arf Contemporary Music Sampler, Vol. 01
Betty Davis - Dedicated To The Press - Nasty Gal
Betty Davis - This Is It! - Nasty Gal
Ramsey Lewis - What's The Name Of This Funk (Spider Man) - Don't It Feel Good
Parliament - P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) - Mothership Connection
Parliament - Mothership Connection (Star Child) - Mothership Connection
Ramsey Lewis - Fish Bite - Don't It Feel Good
Bootsy Collins - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!
Bootsy Collins - The Pinocchio Theory - Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby!
Zapp - Playin' Kinda Ruff - Zapp II
Zapp - A Touch Of Jazz (Playin' Kinda Ruff Part II) - Zapp II
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - Sticks And Stones - Funk Express
Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - In The Pocket - Funk Express
Trouble Funk - Drop The Bomb - Drop The Bomb
Trouble Funk - Hey Fellas - Drop The Bomb

VIDEO: Live Music Show - Live on WMSE

Proudly presenting a killer collection of in-studio performances from Milwaukee's own WMSE FM, featuring some of the best in local music as well as a few surprises.

FEATURE: A Platform for Milwaukee Music: WMSE

I catch up with station Promotional Director Ryan Schleicher to find out more about the past, present and future of live music on Milwaukee's listener-supported WMSE.

Read the full piece here.

FEATURE: A Minor Hero of a Big Thai Poem: Sudsakorn

A relative bit player in the sprawling Thai literature staple Phra Aphai Mani captures the imagination of generations of filmmakers, with decidedly mixed results.

Read the full piece here.

CONCERT REVIEW: All Messed Up IV, Day 1 (Linneman's Riverwest Inn, Milwaukee)

After four years, Milwaukee's randomized musical experiment All Messed Up has become a familiar sight on the city's winter concert calendar, but thanks to its embrace of chance, imperfection and pure fun, it remains as surprising as ever. 

Read my full review here.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (02/12/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode "Radioaktivität" featuring krautrock and German prog. If you dig it, be sure to also connect with the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Faust - The Sad Skinhead - Faust IV
Faust - Jennifer - Faust IV
Can - Mother Sky - Soundtracks
Can - Tango Whiskyman - Soundtracks
Amon Düül II - Mozambique - Vive La Trance
Amon Düül II - Apocalyptic Bore - Vive La Trance
Fresh - Space - Omniverse
Ton Steine Scherben - Halt Dich An Deiner Liebe Fest - Wenn Die Nacht Am Tiefsten...
Ton Steine Scherben - Wir Sind Im Licht - Wenn Die Nacht Am Tiefsten...
Guru Guru - Girl Call - UFO
Guru Guru - Next Time See You At The Dalai Lhama - UFO
Agitation Free - You Play For Us Today - Malesch
Agitation Free - Sahara City - Malesch
Cluster - 7:42 - Cluster
Cluster - 15:43 - Cluster
Tangerine Dream - Mysterious Semblance At The Strand Of Nightmares - Phaedra
Tangerine Dream - Movements Of A Visionary - Phaedra
Kraftwerk - Geigerzähler - Radio-Aktivität
Kraftwerk - Radioaktivität - Radio-Aktivität

CONCERT REVIEW: 2 Chainz, Pusha T & August Alsina (The Rave, Milwaukee)

Red-hot Atlanta MC 2 Chainz draws a sell-out crowd to the massive Eagles Ballroom, with a little help from his 2 Good to Be T.R.U. tourmates Pusha T and August Alsina.

Read my full review here.

PLAYLIST: Mondo Radio (02/05/14)

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Music the Machines Make", featuring synthpop and new wave. If you like what you hear, you can also follow the show on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album
Elton Motello - In The Heart Of The City - Pop Art
Elton Motello - Pocket Calculator - Pop Art
Fischer-Z - Pretty Paracetamol - Word Salad
Fischer-Z - Lies - Word Salad
Einstein's Riceboys - Morbid Orbit - Civil Rice
Einstein's Riceboys - Massacre Of Love - Civil Rice
Soko - At The Cinema - History In 3 Chords: Milwaukee Alternative Bands 1973-1982
Colour Radio - Bound For Life - History In 3 Chords: Milwaukee Alternative Bands 1973-1982
Gary Numan - Down In The Park - The Complete John Peel Sessions
Gary Numan - I Nearly Married A Human - The Complete John Peel Sessions
Ultravox - Just For A Moment - Systems Of Romance
Ultravox - Maximum Acceleration - Systems Of Romance
Michael Perilstein - A Hero-Monster Frets No More, Ha! - Godzilla Vs. Your Mother
Devo - Mongoloid - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Devo - Come Back Jonee - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Silicon Teens - State Of Shock (Pt. 2) - Music For Parties
Silicon Teens - Chip 'N' Roll - Music For Parties
Depeche Mode - New Life - Speak & Spell
Depeche Mode - I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead - Speak & Spell
The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd - Dare
The Human League - Seconds - Dare
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Messages - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - The Messerschmitt Twins - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Yazoo - Nobody's Diary - You And Me Both
Yazoo - Sweet Thing - You And Me Both
Erasure - Imagination - The Innocents
Erasure - Heart Of Stone - The Innocents
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (Extended Dance Mix) - International
New Order - Touched By The Hand Of God (Original 12") - International
Ministry - Should Have Known Better - With Sympathy
Ministry - I Wanted To Tell Her - With Sympathy
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls - Please
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) - Please