Delve into my deep conversation with SOM, a shoegaze/ post-rock squad featuring former members of Caspian, Junius and Constants, courtesy of Treble.
SOM: ‘There’s Enough Doom and Gloom. We Don’t Need to Contribute to It’
Posted in Interviews with tags SOM on 03/17/2025 by Kurt OrzeckUnto Others and the Best Stephen King Rock Song Ever
Posted in Essays with tags Gabriel Franco, Pet Sematary, Stephen King, Unto Others on 03/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
There’s a very strong case to be made that so-called “dark rock” band Unto Others out of Portland is one the most exciting underground bands of the past 10 years. For those of us who hated the prevailing clean production style that dominated the 1980s, Unto Others have found a way to revisit that sound and plaster it with emotionally charged, melodically masterful licks.
That fact should’ve shone through in our extensive interview with frontman Gabriel Franco and The Bad Penny’s review of an Unto Others concert almost three years ago.
But both articles neglected to underscore the writing acumen of Franco, the lyrical brilliance he injects into songs that are–yes, catchy as hell–but challenge the listeners attracted to them with easily overlooked wit.
Take “Pet Sematary,” a song that references the Stephen King novel of 1983 and, presumably, the schlocky, same-titled film that followed. For most heavy-rock bands, shouting out the story about a graveyard where the dead are reanimated would be sufficient to establish or reiterate their (often faux-) “dangerous” cred.
But Franco, as he does with his remarkably smart handle on songwriting, takes the metaphor a step further. Rather than suggesting he wouldn’t want to be brought back to life for the obvious reasons on paper–one’s skin would be falling off, they probably wouldn’t want to be seen in public, etc.–he takes it a step further. Instead, Franco posits that the reason he wouldn’t want to be buried in a so-called pet cemetery is because that would force him to live his miserable life all over again:
“I don’t wanna be buried in a pet sematary/ I don’t want to live my life again/ I don’t want to live my life/ Oh, not again/ I don’t want to live my life/ Not again.”
A tip of the cap to Franco and his woefully underrated Unto Others. Stay tuned for a longer conversation with him very soon.
Two Cent Review: Tim Hecker’s ‘Shards’
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews on 03/16/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Tim Hecker’s ephemeral EP feels like a placid segue from 2023’s No Highs, even if it largely just serves to chronicle the ambient composer’s recent film and TV work. Go here to read my review for FLOOD.
Dez Dare Never Gets Led Astray. His Pets, on the Other Hand …
Posted in Interviews with tags Darren Smallman, Dez Dare on 03/15/2025 by Kurt OrzeckOne of the most genuinely lovable and universally adored figures in independent music across the world, Dez Dare (a.k.a. Darren Smallman) recently humbled The Bad Penny by participating in the latest installment of our Pet Sounds series on New Noise‘s website. Check out the bulk of our conversation here:
Sanhedrin’s ‘Heat Lightning’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Sanhedrin on 03/15/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Don’t miss my Treble take on Sanhedrin’s latest LP, Heat Lightning, which captures the band in all its trad-metal splendor.
Courting’s ‘Lust for Life’: Two Cent Review
Posted in Album Reviews, Reviews with tags Courting on 03/15/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
Check out my review of the third record by electro-fied Liverpool trio courtesy of Treble.
Lo-Pan: ‘We Play at the Audience. We Do Not Play for an Audience’
Posted in Favorite Films, Features, Interviews with tags Big Trouble in Little China, Lo-Pan, Magnetic Eye on 03/01/2025 by Kurt OrzeckHeavy-hitters Lo-Pan give New Noise an early preview of their fifth record ahead of its April release–and, to The Bad Penny‘s particular delight, geek out about Big Trouble in Little China.
Video Interview: Watch 37 Houses’ Husband and Wife Play Ad Hoc ‘Newlywed Game’
Posted in Comedy, Exclusives, Fun And Games, Interviews with tags 37 Houses on 02/28/2025 by Kurt OrzeckThank you, New Noise, for publishing a video I’ve wanted to create for a while: “The Newlywed Game,” as played by rock-music spouses or significant others. Watch the husband and wife duo of 37 Houses take part in our inaugural edition of what we hope will be an ongoing series. Artist interviews are sorely in need of more levity these days, amirite?
Catch 37 Houses perform at Prototype on Mar. 15 in Paterson, NJ; and at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY, on the following day.
Go to 37 Houses’ Bandcamp page for much more on the lovable lovers.
Robyn Hitchcock ‘Could’ve Sung About Michael Caine’ Instead of Gene Hackman
Posted in Esoterica, Interviews with tags Gene Hackman, Michael Caine, Robyn Hitchcock on 02/27/2025 by Kurt Orzeck
A funny thing happened when Robyn Hitchcock released his 12th studio album, Jewels for Sophia, in July 1999 and toured behind it: Quizzically, he decided to devote one of its songs to actor Gene Hackman, whose previously ubiquitous appearances in gritty crime capers from yesteryears had inexplicably slowed to a trickle.
Hitchcock latched onto Hackman’s fading presence like a mesmerizing curio one might find in an antique store, haunting him to the extent that he felt compelled to address it in song. (Hackman passed away this month at age 95, according to news reports from today, hence this homage of sorts.)
The lyrics to “Don’t Talk to Me About Gene Hackman,” which was unlisted on Jewels for Sophia, went like this:
I’ll have a warm bath
I’ll have a bottle of wine
I’ll put myself to bed
And I’ll feel just fine
But don’t talk to me about Gene Hackman
He’s got an evil grin
He’s got curly hair
And every time he smiles
It means trouble somewhere
So don’t talk to me about Gene Hackman
He’s in every film
Sometimes wearing a towel
And if it isn’t him
You get Andie MacDowell
So don’t talk to me about Gene Hackman
Don’t talk to me at all
Don’t say hello
You could be Gene himself for all I know
In Unforgiven
He was totally mean
But when he got his
I really felt for Gene
But don’t talk to me about Gene Hackman
I’ll have a cold shower
I’ll have a bottle of pop
I’ll get a dog named Laszlo
From a Laszlo shop
But don’t talk to me about
G-E-N-E H-A-C-K-M-A-N
Gene Hackman
Some fans regarded the song as Hitchcock at his quirkiest, while others dismissed it as irritating British wit. But in one of the first interviews I ever conducted, in the same year as Jewels for Sophia reached the CD bins at record stores, Hitchcock elucidated his train of thought while writing “Don’t Talk to Me About Gene Hackman.”
Here is an excerpt from my feature on Hitchcock for my old magazine The Creature; the full interview isn’t online yet:
“When asked why [Hitchcock] chose [to focus on] Hackman [in song], Hitchcock says, ‘Who knows? He appears to be in almost every film. I could’ve sung [about] Michael Caine, but it was more fun singing [about] Gene Hackman. I hope he doesn’t have me rubbed out or anything. I gather he’s quite genial. Have you seen the film Unforgiven?’ “
RIP Gene Hackman. Long live Robyn Hitchcock (who is 71, for those keeping score at home). And for that matter, long live 91-year-old Michael Caine too.
The Bad Penny (beta) 