Rock'n'Roll High School
Shout FactoryThis feature film from 1979 would be just another mindless teen flick if not for one thing---the presence of the Ramones. The band agreed to appear in the film because they respected producer Roger Corman and they end up saving the day not only in the movie's plotline but also in reality. The standard teen film antagonist/protagonist battle ensues when a tough lady principal takes over at Vince Lombardi High School where she meets her match in the form of a rebellious and strong-minded girl, Riff Randell. Riff can concentrate on little more than the upcoming Ramones concert and that leads her to put a variety of Machiavellian schemes into play as she butts heads with the principal. The cast as a whole "chews the scenery" (overacts) but that is intentional; the technique doesn't play as well today as it did thirty years ago. Still this is a fun viewing and mandatory for fans of the Ramones' early work. Songs performed include "Blitzkrieg Bop," "Pinhead," "Teenage Lobotomy" and "Rock'n'Roll High School." buy it here
Suburbia
Shout Factory
Another Corman work, this one from 1983. Written and directed by Penelope Spheeris of Wayne's World fame, Suburbia takes a look at the early '80s punk scene in Los Angeles through the eyes of two young brothers who run away from home to escape an abusive and alcoholic mother. The boys fall in with a "family" of punks and that sets up the plot for plenty of social commentary as the group tussles with various haters and do-gooders. Amongst all the squalor-and-holler though the kids find a way to attend a few punk concerts where the Mohawk-rockin' beat is thrown down by the Vandals, T.S.O.L. and D.I. Keep an eye out for Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; he made his acting debut in this film. buy it here
Klaus Schulze featuring Lisa Gerrard
Dziekuje Bardzo
SPV
Schulze is getting up there in age but it hasn't slowed him down; here the former Tangerine Dream front man plays Moog and banks of additional keyboards on three very long songs: "Shoreless Two," "Bazylika NSJ" and "Godspell." "Shoreless Two" runs for about half an hour with Schulze cycling through a variety of styles starting with a moody, Gothic loop. From there the piece progresses into a Kraftwerk-like percolation, into a segment of spacey effects and ultimately to an ending on a melancholy note. Schulze calls Gerrard to the stage for the remaining two songs and the result is stunning; the former Dead Can Dance singer has a phenomenal stage presence even though she stands riveted at the microphone as the pair blissfully creates otherworldly opera. At about two hours in length this film represents only a portion of the program available separately on a companion CD and fans of either of these artists will want both configurations in their collection. buy it here
