More vids by old school bands

La Decadencia del Cuchifrito Video Compilation Trailer (Computer Crime Records)


Fobia Estatal-Live 1992


Nalgada de Oro-Live 1997


These hardcore-punk bands used to play at Steps Club (Río Piedras, PR) in the late 80s and early 90s. They were documented by the incredible Jeff Spazz. More vids, here.

Cuban MC, Rxnde Akozta, in BCN

Amazing live performance and interview to Cuban MC Rxnde Acozta, done by catalonian indie collective Fauna Nocturna. Enjoy!

New flicks from the usual auteurs

Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime


Gaspar Noe's Enter the Void


Chris Nolan's Inception


Robert Rodríguez's Machete

Hip Hop, TV and History..

After a four month hiatus, I'm back with a couple of things worth checking out. The first mixtape by Fort Apache, a valencian hip-hop duo featuring Nega from the infamous political hip-hop outfit, Los Chikos del Maíz [Children of the Corn in spanish], called "Cine, Ideología y Cultura de Masas".

Then, a few cool promos of Breaking Bad Season 3, that begins tomorrow Sunday March 21st, 2010 in AMC. Finally, a trailer of 2008's documentary "The People Speak" that features famous personalities reading pieces from Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States". RIP, Mr. Zinn, one of the greatest american intellectuals of the 20th century (meaning greats such as Hunter S. Thompson, C.Bukowski, W. Bouroughs, A. Ginsberg, Hemingway, etc)

One Nine Nine Four: a 90's punk documentary

One Nine Nine Four is a documentary about the birth, growth and explosion of the SoCal 90s punk scene. Featuring nineties trademarks such as Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Offspring, Warped Tour, Epitaph, Fat Wreck Chords, Lookout records, among others.

S.E.V.I.L.L.A. City

SFDK's first video clip from their highly anticipated sixth album, Siempre Fuertes 2, is called S.E.V.I.L.L.A, an ode to their hometown, the andalusian capital. Featuring cameos from Jesuly, Dogma Crew, El Límite and the Malviviendo guys. Album comes out November 24th.


Also from Sevilla, Tote King is releasing his documentary "Tengo que volver a casa" (I have to return home) on December 11th. Done by Xclusif & Conflict Films and filmed in Sevilla, Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao, Valencia and Alicante. Features appearances by La Mala Rodríguez, Juan Solo, Ernesto Sevilla, Pachama Crew, La Excepción, Dive Dibosso, Shotta, Felipe Reyes, Chico Ocaña and Antonio Orozco.

Some piece of the history of Puerto Rican Punk

Here some late 80s-early 90s video gems from Puerto Rico's pioneering punk bands. Intro to doc "La Decandencia del Cuchifrito", Abuso Legal (Oi/Punk from SJ), Sham Pain (Hc/Punk from Carolina), Rechazo Social (Punk Rock from Bayamón), Hypocrite Solution (Hc/Punk from Sábana Grande) and Corrupted Society (Hc/Punk from Isabela).

Then, via Boricuas Bestiales, an interview with Puerto Rican descent-Connecticutian Jeff Spaz, founder of Computer Crime Records.

This label released in 1991 the seminal "V/A House Arrest" featuring Frontside Generation, Sham Pain, Subculture Underground and Hypocrite Solution. They also released the first recordings by Sham Pain, Golpe Justo and Hijos de Nadie.

In 1993, CCR released the first Puerto Rican punk documentary "La Decadencia del Cuchifrito" featuring Volcanic, Hijos de Nadie, Fobia Estatal, No More, Resistencia, Descojón Urbano, Sham Pain, Golpe Justo and Abuso Legal.

Intro "La Decadencia del Cuchifrito"


Abuso Legal Live 1989


Sham Pain-No Más


Rechazo Social Live 1991


More Vids:
Hypocrite Solution Live 1988
Corrupted Society Live 1988

Interviews/Articles: (In Spanish)
Jeff Spaz from Computer Crime Records
Computer Crime Records Discography

The Limits of Control by Jim Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch's new film is called The Limits of Control. Starring is Isaach De Bankolé with supporting roles by John Hurt, Bill Murray, Gael García Bernal, Tilda Swinton, Óscar Jaenada and Paz de la Huerta.

The loner (De Bankolé) travels throughout various Spanish cities meeting with strange characters in Cafés who exchange with him matchboxes containing instructions in codes. Several vignettes with repetition of sequences, stunning photography and minimalist dialogues.

The mysterious characters talk to the loner about music, art, bohemian life and other themes that reflect Jarmusch's view. It is constructed very smoothly but without the unity of his prior work, although the nudity and the multilingual scenes is a reference to this other films. Overall is an art film that has a lot of abstract messages, with non-acting performances that are followed by the camera. Definitely, his most incoherent film and not for everybody (specially those not familiar with his other work).

Defensa Personal Release Party

The release party of Correa Cotto's album was in La Respuesta (Santurce, Puerto Rico). It started at 1:00 am with Velcro in the turns. The first mc was Profound, from New York, who rapped in english and one song in spanish. He forgot the lyrics on one of his songs and the crowd did not respond after that. Next was The Kings of Mic, J'Rebu, Guajiro and Embajador, who rocked the stage with their energetic set. These puertorican hip hop pioneers were dressed in camuflage resembling their No Mel Syndicate days.

Correa Cotto was presenting every mc while Velcro was at the control putting the beats. Then came Babalú Machete from barrio La Marina in Isabela, Puerto Rico (West Side). A veteran of the local scene sang his gangsta-rap hits "Gángsters de Borinken" and "Cosa de Borikua", as well as some english tunes from the Infinite Clip recordings. This mc can truly flow in both languages perfectly and the crowd was singing along excited. Definitely the highlight of the show.

The west side invasion continued with Mayaguez/Añasco's own, Desde el Campo. Only 2/3 of the group came on stage but rapped very tight. They began with their hit "Me Gusta" and followed with "Puerto Rico", "No creo en promesas", featuring Shaggy from Absoluto Independiente, among others. In their set, they invited a spoken word guy who recited a poem. The set ended with a freestyle/improv by the two mc's, Fico and Souldier.

It was quite late and we left without seeing the remaining acts (Velcro, Nébula and Correa Cotto) that we have seen in other occasions. Very good show but it began rather late for my taste.

Pictures vía Hip Hop Boricua Blogspot.com

Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino

The latest flick by writer/director Quentin Tarantino is Inglourious Basterds, based on the italian movie "Quel maledetto treno blindato". Starring are Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth (horror movie director), BJ Novak (The Office), Mélanie Laurent and Julie Dreyfus (Sophie Fatale in Kill Bill). With cameos by Mike Myers and Sam Jackson's voice.

To Nazi-occupied France is sent a US guerilla command led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Pitt) to kill as many nazis as possible. The Basterds are blood-thirsty jew mercenaries who terrorize SS and Gestapo soldiers because of their out of control manners of killing them.

Like prior Tarantino's films, the storytelling is divided by non-linear chapters and the dialogues prime over all. Gory, funny and entertaining as only the eccentric director can make it happen. Also, with references to his prior films and a twisted take on the Nazis (From Minister of Propaganda, Goebbels to the newbie nazi officer). Superb performance by Waltz as nazi Col. Hans Landa, who dominates the screen entirely and speaks perfectly in german, french, italian and english. Two-hour and a half tour de force film, who is definitely one of his best films yet. Run to see it!