The Bloodsugars
Purpose Was Again
Video Single
Engineroom Recordings

It's not often that I get all revved up about a video, especially in a day and age where the idea of a music video has become passe, other than a way to pass the time on YouTube. The Bloodsugars have somehow rediscovered the magic that made us fall in love with music videos a quarter century ago (and yes, it has been that long).

The group revives the spirit of the early 80s with their song Purpose Was Again, a positive and upbeat pop tune that lends itself to the goofy animated imagery in the accompanying video. The band plays with cartoon instruments and flies weightless in outer space, while cartoon rocketships cruise by. It doesn't make sense, but it's not supposed to, and that's the beauty of it all. A great effort, and one that perfectly embraces the essence of music video. Now if we could only talk MTV into playing them again...

MISH MASH Mandate: MTV Killed The Video Star
Engine Room Recordings Website

Johnny Foreigner
Waited Up Til It Was Light
Nettwerk Music
13 song CD

Johnny Foreigner's critically acclaimed UK debut will soon be unleashed on the US, and believe me when I say that you have something to look forward to. Their music is pure pop mayhem, a crazed and frantic adventure that never lets up. It's beautifully noisy and loud, reveling in anarchy while loosely holding on to just enough pop hookery to keep from going completely off the rails.

In other words, it's edgy but still listenable, chaotic without falling into pretentious avant garde wankery. The dual male/female vocal team becomes a unique platform to launch lyrical projectiles, their voices singing, shouting, and screaming through the veritable traffic jam of musical noise.

MISH MASH Mandate: New Noise
Johnny Foreigner Website