Hard Core Logo
Soundtrack
Velvel
Fictitious documentary of punk band on road trip.
Think about it: good idea? Maybe, times were pretty different “back then” and all the “kids” need to know about it. My advice would be to watch Repo Man and Dudes. That’s about it. Then go to the “record” store and buy a bunch of “1980’s” punk records. See what happens when you try out an idea like this on a cynic like me? Apparently the film is from a Canadian novel and really is about a legendary Canadian punk band trying out the road after a long hiatus.
As far as this CD is concerned, however, I don’t know, something is lacking. The film is clearly not This Is Spinal Tap, and since it’s not comedy, don’t expect any side-splitting laughs from Hard Core Logo’s (i.e., that’s the band’s name, too) originals like “Who The Hell Do You Think You Are?” and “Rock & Roll Is Fat And Ugly.” Those two and “Somethin’s Gonna Die Tonite” have pretty good energy for punk rock, but it comes off as a Cannuck rip off of Social Distortion, and played too slow. There are even some “punk ballads” that ape the Rolling Stones. It’s punk rock, but it’s boring punk rock. They do cover the Dead Boys’ “Sonic Reducer,” which, as one should expect, blows away all the “original” material. They include “Bonerack” by Teenage Head, a Canadian band that I remember doing the most punk version of Eddie Cochran’s “Something Else” I’d ever heard, and the Ramones’ “Touring,” that’s somewhat appropriate; at least I hope the Ramones get a good cut
… And I can’t leave out that Chris Spedding’s “Wild Wild Women” shows up as well. Now, that’s darn impressive in that a whole new generation (sure… ) is exposed to a great journeyman guitarist. Of course I doubt any of them are as cool as I am, since I have Chris Spedding’s autograph… Velvel Records, 740 Broadway, New York, NY 10003; http://www.velvel.com
