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Blog Entry 21 of 44 Welcome to The Retroplex
I'm usually in full-blown reminisce mode anyway, so why not make the rest of you poor saps suffer along with me, right?

Here, you'll find no shortage (well...unless I can't think of any new material) of meaningless but ultimately harmless bits of ephemera covering the past 20 or so years of pop culture, and my occasional interactions with it. Whether you're into the iconic or the ironic, sooner or later, I'll probably get around to it.
Watch, as the hilarity ensues! Or, if you prefer, gawk like a shocked passerby witnessing a horrible accident!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~TheRetroplex

No More Kings - speaking my language

Contributed by: Jared Keller   on 1/19/2007

Oh, man. I'm still giddy like a schoolgirl. Wait...that didn't come out right. Did I write that? Blast. Internal monologue busted again...

What's got me so flustered? Well, I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count, if you've paid any attention to me at all over the past year-plus here at YourHub.com, or the past four-plus at my old digs.

Yeah, you're right if you've guessed that my current state of elation is due to some nugget of 80s ephemera's re-entry into the public consciousness, and furthermore, you're even righter if you suspect that only something involving The Karate Kid could provoke such instant affection in me. Lastly, you're even more righter if you'd wager that I'm on cloud 9 largely thanks to a little LA-based band who've just released their debut album for Astonish Records, and in support of that release, have created the most perfect music video known to man.

You psychic, you.

Before going on, I must suggest...nay, demand that you click on over to www.sweeptheleg.com, and see perfection in action. The video for the title track features an embarassment of Karate Kid riches, ranging from all but one of the original Cobra Kai (the video was written and directed by Billy Zabka - Johnny Lawrence himself), and several other cast members who sharp-eyed nuts like me should be able to pick out pretty easily. Oh, and watch for the surprise appearance at the end.

I'd have to rate the video a mild PG-13, thanks to a bit of gyration on the part of some wimminfolk in the piece, but overall, it's good, clean, nostalgic, irreverent fun aimed at telling Johnny's side of the story. This is classic stuff, kids.

I just don't know what else to say about the video itself, so I'll just leave it at that. As for the music?

That's the real kicker; you owe it to yourself to head on over to iTunes and check out No More Kings' debut album, called, of course , Sweep the Leg. There are pop culture references scattered throughout, the musicianship is tight, and it's obvious that, while they take their craft seriously, the members of the band - Pete Mitchell (the band's co-founder), Beau Burtnick, David Grant, Tim Maglothlin, Christian Wojcik, and Josh Taylor - don't take themselves too seriously. In a music world all-too often defined by angst and ennui, it's a blast to have something fun to listen to. Besides...how can you not love a band that describes its debut release as "a love letter to the 80s", perfect for "anyone who's ever wanted a talking car" (K.I.T.T.), its influences as " Knight Rider, the Karate Kid, and Schoolhouse Rock", and its target audience as those who were "born in the 70's, raised in the 80's, and perfected in the 90's"?

They're right in my wheelhouse, and I'd suspect that I'm not alone in feeling that way.

It's spunky, melodic, addictive, and alive. Sweep the Leg is the best pop album I've heard in months, and not just because they've captured the small-but-loyal Karate Kid-fan market, either. Should we be able to persuade Astonish Records to send the band thisaway for a performance or two, you'll find me right up front, dressed in my favorite Cobra Kai t-shirt, and bobbing my head like nobody's business.

In short, this is a summer album - perfect for the cold days of January.


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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
Submitted By: John Zwick
posted on 1/20/2007 @ 1:09:31 PM
(Not Rated)
There's also a defunct band called Sweep the Leg Johnny - really wild, frenetic stuff. Some guy made a myspace profile collecting some of their music. You can hear it at www.myspace.com/sweepthelegjohnnyy (Yes, it's got that extra y.) The whole thing is a far cry from your discovery here, but I rather like some of it. Kind of in that deliberately ugly avant rock vein like Mike Patton.
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Submitted By: John Denver
posted on 1/19/2007 @ 2:54:05 PM
(Not Rated)
Hey this music rocks! I just downloaded the track too. It's great music with all 80's pop lyrics. Are they coming to Denver any time soon?
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Submitted By: David Claassen
posted on 1/19/2007 @ 2:43:41 PM
Rated Blog Entry
This was an awesome video and I just bought the album on MP3 dot com and am loving it! Thanks for the tip man.
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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Jared Keller

Littleton

Jared Keller has posted 44 blog entries and 57 comments since joining on 12/1/2005. Jared Keller 's average blog rating is 5.
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