Bands in Costume, Opinions on Battles & Farewell to Music Critic Nick Tosches

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Rock and roll has never been purely about the music. The image a band puts forward can be almost as important as their songs. Some bands take it an extra step and make theatrical costumes an integral part of their act. In honor of Halloween, Jim and Greg share some of their favorite bands in costume. They also review the latest from rock band Battles and bid farewell to music journalist and biographer Nick Tosches.

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Bands in Costume

raiders Daft

In the spirit of Halloween, Jim and Greg share some of their favorite songs by artists who wear costumes year-round.

Greg

  • Paul Revere & the Raiders, "Just Like Me"
  • Madvillain, "Accordion"
  • Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, "I Put a Spell on You"
  • Misfits, "Night of the Living Dead"

Jim

  • The Monks, "Monk Chant"
  • Daft Punk, "Robot Rock"
  • Mercyful Fate (King Diamond), "Satan’s Fall"
  • Priss (KISS coverband), "Detroit Rock City"

Juice B Crypts Battles

Battles Juice B Crypts

Twelve years after their debut album, Battles is back with their fourth full length record, Juice B Crypts. The experimental art punk project boasts a strong lineage connecting it to Helmet, Don Caballero and Tomahawk. That lineage is boosted on this album by guest appearances from Jon Anderson of Yes, Tune-Yards, Shabbaz Palaces and more. Greg says in some ways this album reminds him of cartoon soundtracks and Jim agrees, citing Carl Stallings and Milt Franklyn's work on Looney Tunes as an apt comparison for the album's frenetic pace. They're both very enthusiastic about the latest from Battles.

Greg

Nick Tosches

Nick Tosches began his writing career as an iconoclastic music critic. Along the way Jim and Greg both developed friendships with him, Greg even assisted with his biography of Sonny Liston. Jim also admired Tosches' work on non-music topics including noir novels and explorations of Dante. Greg pays tribute to their recently deceased friend by playing a deep cut from Jerry Lee Lewis, who Tosches immortalized in his book, Hellfire. It's "Good Golly Miss Molly" from his 1964 live album recorded at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany.

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