Episode #37, The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears with Blanck Mass

On this episode, we're talking with Blanck Mass about the rescore of the 2013 giallo film, The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears. Blanck Mass is better known as Benjamin John Power, one half of Fuck Buttons. In 2015, Powers was commissioned by the East End Film Festival to curate a rescore for Bruno Forzani and Héléne Catet's film. The original score for The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears wasn't actually original. Instead, as the University of Wisconsin's Mike King wrote in a blog post for UW's Cinematheque, "much of the soundtrack is directly lifted from the 1970s cinema that inspires them."

Tracklist:
Blanck Mass, "John Doe's Carnival of Error" (World Eater)
Ennio Morricone, "Erotico Mistico" (Maddalena)
Blanck Mass, "Laura's Blood" (The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears Re-Score)
Blanck Mass, "The Hole" (The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears Re-Score)

Episode #36, Joe Bob Briggs

Movie critic Joe Bob Briggs is known for his reviews of drive-in movies, even if there aren't all that many drive-ins around these days. He's become something of a go-to guy for films with exploding heads, car chases, nudity, and all aspects of action, be it kung-fu, car-fu, or chainsaw-fu. While he was once best known for his hosting duties on The Movie Channel and TNT, introducing films as part of Joe Bob's Drive-In and MonsterVision, he's now an author of some repute, with the essential movie guides Profoundly Erotic: Sexy Movies that Changed History and Profoundly Disturbing: Shocking Movies that Changed History.

Tracklist:
Joe Bob Briggs, "MonsterVision" (TNT's MonsterVision)
Herschel Gordon Lewis, "Blood Feast Main Title" (The Amazing Film Scores of Herschel Gordon Lewis)
Gary Ham, "Prescription Beer" (The Howling 7: New Moon Rising)
Herschel Gordon Lewis, "Robert E Lee Broke His Musket on His Knee" (The Golden Turkey Album)
John Carpenter, "Assault on Precinct 13" (Assault on Precinct 13 OST)

Episode #35, 48 Hours with the BusBoys' Brian O'Neal

On this episode, we're talking with Brian O'Neal of the BusBoys about the band's appearance in the buddy-cop classic, 48 Hours. The 1982 film was the film debut of Eddie Murphy. In it, he plays convict Reggie Hammond, who is taken out of jail for the titular period of time in order to help Nick Nolte's cop, Jack Cates, catch a thief and murderer named Albert Ganz. It's funny, cool, and made Murphy a huge star. 

In one of the film's two rather classic nightclub scenes, at a bar Vroman's, Hammond tries to pick up a lady while a band play some kick-ass boogie-woogie rock 'n' roll behind it all. That band, the BusBoys, plays a song, "The Boys Are Back In Town," which is so immediately catchy that it makes a return over the end credits, and even gets referenced in the tagline for the sequel, Another 48 Hours, when it came out eight years later. Strangely, it never saw release as a single -- or in any form -- until the Busboys re-recorded it in 2000 for their fourth album, (Boys Are) Back in Town, along with the other song from the film, "New Shoes." We talk about all of this with O'Neal, as well as the band's work on the soundtrack for Ghostbusters.

Tracklist:
James Horner, "48 Hours Main Title" (48 Hours OST)
The BusBoys, "The Boys Are Back In Town" (48 Hours OST)
The BusBoys, "New Shoes" (48 Hours OST)
The BusBoys, "Cleanin' Up the Town" (Ghostbusters OST)

Episode #34, April March's "Chick Habit"

On this episode, we're talking with April March about her song, "Chick Habit.," an English language rewrite of the song, "Laisse tomber les filles," composed by Serge Gainsbourg and originally performed by France Gall. March's song was featured in the opening credits of 1999's But I'm A Cheerleader, and in the closing credits of Death Proof in 2007. We go deep into the history of March's version, as well as discussing her upcoming projects.

Tracklist:
France Gall, "Laisse tomber les filles" (Laisse tomber les filles)
April March, "Chick Habit" (Gainsbourgsion!)
Cecil Milner, "Blaze of Brass"
King Palmer, "Holiday Playtime"
Shitbirds, "Oh Joy!" (Oh Joy!)

From the Stereo to Your Screen #1, "Clerks & Soul Asylum"

We talk the video for Soul Asylum's "Can't Even Tell" from the soundtrack to Clerks for the inaugural episode of From and Inspired By the Stereo to Your Screen. These podcasts will be short mini-episodes focusing on music videos for various films, and will run in the weeks where there aren't new episodes of From & Inspired By. Episodes are audio versions of the From the Stereo to Your Screen columns I write over at Cinepunx.

Episode #33, Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo

Letters to Cleo came out of Boston in the early '90s, and scored a hit with their song "Here and Now," from the 1993 LP, Aurora Gory Alice. That song received a nice bump as part of the soundtrack to the Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off, Melrose Place, when it was released in 1994. The band also had music in The Craft, wherein they covered the Cars' song, "Dangerous Type."

The band had two further covers, along with two originals, when they not only appeared on the soundtrack to the 1999 teen romance 10 Things I Hate About You, but also made multiple appearances in the movie as Julia Stile's character's favorite band. Letters to Cleo would disband a year later, with frontwoman Kay Hanley recording the vocals for all of the Josie & the Pussycats songs in 2001.

On this episode, we discuss the band's work in these films with Hanley, as well as talking about Letters to Cleo's new EP, which you can pre-order here.

Tracklist:
Letters to Cleo, "I Want You to Want Me" (10 Things I Hate About You OST)
Letters to Cleo, "Dangerous Type" (The Craft OST)
Letters to Cleo, "Cruel to Be Kind" (10 Things I Hate About You OST)
Josie & the Pussycats, "3 Small Words" (Josie & the Pussycats OST)
Letters to Cleo, "Here and Now" (Aurora Gory Alice)

Episode #32, The Splathouse with Jim 'Rock' Schiller

Happy New Year! We're back from our holiday hiatus. Welcome back to the show. For our first episode of 2017, we're talking with Jim 'Rock' Schiller, the man behind the music and production of The Splathouse, one of our favorite new podcasts of 2016.

The Splathouse is a weekly podcast focused on cult and classic films. Episodes include a panel discussion around the film of the week, celebrity critic interviews and picks, artist interviews with actors, directors, and crew, and discussions with independent film distributors.

It's a goddamn delight, and we were happy to speak with Schiller about his work on the show, as well as his musical endeavours with San Francisco comedy rock band For the Ladies and hip-hop duo Emu & Lookalike.

Episode #31, Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys

On this episode, we're looking at the latest movie from director Ang Lee, Billy Lynn's Long Half-Time Walk, and talking the soundtrack with Scott Hobart, frontman for Kansas City honky-tonk outfit, Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys. 

It was quite a surprise to see a Kansas City band on the soundtrack to such a big-budget movie from a marquee director, so we reached out to the eponymous Rex Hobart of Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, better known as Scott, and discussed how their two songs came to be in Ang Lee's film, as well as the band's music in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys.

Tracklist:
Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, "Forever Always Ends" (The Spectacular Sadness Of)
Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, "Gotta Get Back to Forgetting You" (Your Favorite Fool)
Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, "Nothin' But Nothin'" (Forever Always Ends)
Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys, "A Long Shot of Hard Stuff" (A Long Shot of Hard Stuff)
Ying Yang Twins feat. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, "Salt Shaker" (Me & My Brother)

Episode #30, Record Store Day Black Friday 2016 with Tony Giles

We once again welcome Tony Giles, of the Damn Fine Cast, the Lakeshore Records podcast, and 5/5/78, to talk Record Store Day releases. This Friday, November 25, brings a slew of exclusives to record stores for Black Friday, and we break down the various soundtrack and score-related titles. We also both offer up out most-anticipated non soundtrack releases.

Tracklist:

Charles Fox and Bob Crewe, "Barbarella" (Barbarella)
Sesame Street, "Letter B" (Born to Add)
Eric Cartman, "O Holy Night" (South Park: Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics)
Puscifer, "Rev 22:20" (Underworld OST)
Electric Wizard, "Dunwich" (Witchcult Today)

Episode #29, Basketball with Reel Big Fish's Aaron Barrett

On this episode, we're looking at Baseketball, the 1998 American sports comedy film co-written and directed by David Zucker and starring South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. We discuss the Mojo Records soundtrack with Aaron Barrett, frontman for long-running ska-punk act Reel Big Fish, who were not only on the soundtrack, but in the film itself.

Tracklist:

Reel Big Fish, "Take On Me" (Baseketball OST)
Reel Big Fish, "Beer" (Turn the Radio Off)
Reel Big Fish, "241" (Turn the Radio Off)
The Supersuckers, "Psyched Out" (Baseketball OST)

Episode #28, Wu-Tang Kung-Fu with Dustin Pryor

On this episode, we delve into the way music can open your mind to new movies and vice versa, courtesy the intersection of the Wu-Tang Clan and kung-fu films. To delve into this, we talk with Dustin Pryor of the Media Rewind podcast. It's a great discussion, and we get into some interesting areas, not the least of which is a much-deserved RZA lovefest.

Speaking of which -- the RZA is currently touring a live re-score of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. There's one date left: November 10 at the Town Hall in Manhattan. You can find details here.

Tracklist:
Wu-Tang Clan, "Wu-Tang Ain't Nuthing Ta F' With" (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers))
Wu-Tang Clan, "Bring Da Ruckus" (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers))
Wu-Tang Clan, "Uzi (Pinky Ring)" (Iron Flag)
Wu-Tang Clan, "Triumph" (Wu-Tang Forever)
Wu-Tang Clan, "Gravel Pit" (The W)

Episode #27, Red State with Adam Lee

The 2011 film, Red State, was the first departure of Kevin Smith from his rather more comedic roots. It’s a grindhousey horror action film more akin to The Devil’s Rejects than the suburban hi-jinks of Mallrats or Clerks. Smith self-produced the whole film, then released it under his own Smodcast Films banner.

In an interesting turn of events, as Smith was wrapping filming on the movie in October of 2010, he put out a call via Twitter for speed metal and country tunes. The country tune he picked was Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Company's "Drinking, Cheating, Loving, and Leaving," from their 2010 album, When the Spirits Move Me. We spoke by phone with Adam Lee about that song, as well as Smith’s movie Tusk. We started off with a discussion of Lee’s new solo album, Sincerely Me, which was released earlier this year.

Tracklist:
Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Co., "Drinking, Cheating, Loving, and Leaving" (When the Spirits Move Me)
Adam Lee, "Good Days" (Sincerely, Me)
Adam Lee & the Dead Horse Sound Co., "Holy Roller" (When the Spirits Move Me)
Adam Lee, "Stray Cat" (Sincerely, Me)
Adam Lee, "Misery" (Sincerely, Me)

Episode #25, Septemburton with the Alamo Drafthouse's Ryan Davis

On September 30, 20th Century Fox will release Tim Burton's latest feature film, an adaptation of Ransom Riggs' 2011 young adult novel, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. In celebration of the director's latest, as well as his entire career, the Alamo Drafthouse will turn the month of September into Septemburton, with screenings of Burton's best films, including a 35mm screening of 1989's Batman. We spoke with Ryan Davis, creative manager of Kansas City's Alamo Drafthouse Main Street by phone about the series, as well as some of his favorite Burton films.

Afterward, we delve into our own thoughts regarding Prince's soundtrack for Burton's Batman. You should totally read Steven Hyden's 2012 AV Club article that makes the case far better than I ever could, entitled "Prince’s Batman soundtrack is not the embarrassment it’s reputed to be."

Tracklist:
Danny Elfman, "Beetlejuice Main Titles" (Beetlejuice OST)
Danny Elfman, "Big Fish (Titles)" (Big Fish OST)
Prince, "Trust" (Batman OST)
Prince, "Batdance" (Batman OST)
Prince, "Partyman" (Batman OST)
Danny Elfman, "The Bike Dream" (Pee-Wee's Big Adventure OST)

Episode #24, The Good The Tough & The Deadly

For those who enjoyed David J Moore's first massive, textbook-sized tome (World Gone Wild: A Survivor’s Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Movies), his latest -- The Good, the Tough & The Deadly: Action Movies & Stars 1960s-Present -- is even bigger, better, and badder. In addition to interviews with action stars and directors, he teamed up with the likes of Vern, Mike “McBeardo” McPadden, and Destroy All Movies’ Zack Carlson to write reviews. It's a fantastic bit of reading and a very necessary addition to your reference library. We spoke with Moore via Skype about the book, as well as the majesty of his favorite action soundtrack -- 1987's Over the Top.

Tracklisting:

Alan Silvestri, "The Delta Force" (Delta Force OST)
Vince DiCola, "Training Montage" (Rocky IV OST)
James Horner, "Commando Main Title" (Commando OST)
Kenny Loggins, "Meet Me Halfway" (Over the Top OST)
Sammy Hagar, "Winner Takes It All" (Over the Top OST)
Paul Hertzog, "Advanced Training" (Kickboxer OST)

Episode #23, Scored to Death with J Blake Fichera

On this episode, we speak with J Blake Fichera, musician and author of the new book, Scored to Death: Conversations with Some of Horror's Greatest Composers, out now from Silman James.

In Scored to Death, the author spoke with 14 different composers of music for horror films. Be it the greats like Harry Manfredini, John Carpenter, and members of Goblin, or newcomers like Jeff Grace and Joseph Bishara, Fichera asks great questions and gets inside the creative processes of these amazing musicians. Scored to Death is the sort of book which appeals to newcomers to film score fandom, as well as deep-digging heads.

There's a chance at the end of the podcast to win a copy of Fichera's book, too!

Tracklisting:

Harry Manfredini, "House Main Titles" (House OST)
Goblin, "Profundo Rosso" (Deep Red OST)
John Carpenter, "Vortex" (Lost Themes)
Claudio Simonetti, "Demon" (Demons OST)
Bernard Herrmann, "Psycho" (Psycho OST)
Josepha Bishara, "The Conjuring" (The Conjuring OST)
Fabio Frizzi, "Suoni dissonanti" (City of the Living Dead OST)
Jeff Grace, "Original Inhabitants" (House of the Devil OST)

Episode #22, Life Moves Pretty Fast with Hadley Freeman

On this episode, we speak with Hadley Freeman, writer for the Guardian newspaper in the UK, and author of the new book, Life Moves Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned From Eighties Movies (And Why We Don't Learn Them From Movies Any More), which is out now from Simon & Schuster.

On its cover, Freeman's book looks like a frothy summer read, full of goofy observations on fun movies, but once you're into the first chapter, you realize that Freeman has actually noticed that what we learned from '80s movies was way more consequential than you might think. We spoke with the author via Skype from her home in London. It got a little glitchy at times, but we've cleaned it up pretty well, and the conversation was an absolute delight.

Tracklisting:

Yello, "Oh Yeah" (Stella)
Patrick Swayze, "She's Like the Wind" (Dirty Dancing OST)
Flesh for Lulu, "I Go Crazy" (Long Live the New Flesh)
Harold Faltermeyer, "Axel F" (Beverly Hills Cop OST)
Deniece Williams, "Let's Hear It for the Boy" (Footloose OST)
Starship, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (No Protection)
The English Beat, "March of the Swivel Heads" (Special Beat Service)

Podcast #21, Tom McLoughlin

On this episode, we speak with Tom McLoughlin, director of Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, about the return of his band the Sloths, after a 50 year hiatus. Their album, Back from the Grave! is out now via Burger Records.

In addition to talking about the Sloths, we touch on Alice Cooper's iconic song for Jason Lives, "He Back (The Man Behind the Mask)," as well as McLoughlin's involvement with the forthcoming Friday the 13th: The Game.

Tracklist:

The Sloths, "Makin' Love" (original single)
The Sloths, "End of My Rope" (Back from the Grave!)
Alice Cooper, "He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" (Constrictor)
Harry Manfredini, "Friday the 13th Game Music Track 02" (The Music of Friday the 13th: The Game) buy it
Harry Manfredini, "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives Main Theme" (Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives)

Podcast #19, Gotham with Jason Alexander

On this episode, we speak with Jason Alexander, music supervisor for the Fox television program, Gotham. As anyone who follows me on Twitter is aware, I'm a big fan of the Monday night show, which is essentially a prequel to the Batman mythos. The show's a crazed bit of fun, featuring new takes on old characters, and really shines as an ensemble piece.

For me, a large part of the appeal to Gotham comes from its use of music, which contains a width and breadth of sound not frequently found in a primetime show. We were really excited to speak with Mr Alexander, especially given his bonafides on the likes of CSI and Nikita. It's a great discussion that really goes deep into Gotham's aesthetics.

Tracklisting:

David Russo, "Gotham opening sting"
The Stooges, "Down on the Street" (Fun House)
Grenadiers, "Fanny Pack" (Summer)
the Damned, "New Rose" (Damned Damned Damned)
David Russo feat. Suzanne Waters, "Penguin's Lullaby" (YouTube)
Metropolis, "I Love New York" (single)
David Russo, "Gotham end titles"

Podcast #18, Green Room with Ben Macensky

On this episode, we speak with Ben Macensky, the musician whose songs -- written with Sam Jones -- became the music of the Ain’t Rights, the punk band featured in the new film, Green Room, the latest from director Jeremy Saulnier, known for his movies Blue Ruin and Murder Party. It tells the story of said punk band, who take a gig at the end of a less-than-successful tour, only to have things go very very wrong after the show.

For some in-depth discussion of the other music in the film, check out this great piece at Birth.Movies Death.

Tracklisting:

Blair Brothers, “Weapons Ready”
The Ain’t Rights, “What Have I Become?”
The Ain’t Rights, “Coronary”
The Ain’t Rights, “Toxic Evolution”
Bad Brains, “Right Brigade”

Podcast #17, It Came From the VCR

On this episode, we speak with Ralph Abel, the man behind the insanely-popular online VHS-digging social media accounts, It Came From the VCR. We spoke about his plans for an iPhone and Apple TV app, as well as the Le Matos score to the recent backwards-looking retro fest, Turbo Kid. Ostensibly, at least -- our chat is pretty wide-ranging, and works more as a conversation about retro things in general. Thanks to Mr. Abel for finding the recording of this interview, which we'd thought was lost to capricious computer gods.

Le Matos' score can be found at Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:
Le Matos, "Intro/Wasteland"
Elmer Bernstein, "Slipstream"
Le Matos, "Eyes Throat Genitals"
Le Matos, "Skelotron"
Le Matos, "Playtime Is Over (OST version)"
Le Matos ft. Pawws, "No Tomorrow"