Mary Shelley Overdrive - Learn Karate

I just received a very exciting email from The Manchester Morgue's favorite band Mary Shelley Overdrive. I'll let the email do the talking:

"Here it is ... Learn Karate, a new full-length LP from Mary Shelley Overdrive. This is a FREE compilation of outtakes, demos, interviews and bootleg-quality live recordings. As with our other freebies, you share this music however you want. Post it, e-mail it, stream it, etc.

Learn Karate runs 59 minutes and has 21 tracks. Inside the ZIP bundle is a TXT file with notes on each song, an MP3-file sized cover, a printable cover and a PDF scrapbook of band photos.

This is a grab-bag collection of random songs recorded over the last two years, so expect a disjointed feel. Some of the tracks have less-than-perfect sound quality."

Phelpster says check it out (especially The God In The Bowl, my personal favorite of the bunch), and be sure to share it wherever you see fit:

Now...The World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets Can Be Yours!

1. I Heart Cthulu
2. Spider On The Ceiling
3. Dread Media Interview
4. The Siege and Investiture of Baron Von Frankenstein's Castle at Weisseria
5. Birmingham Jail
6. Dinner With Drac
7. A Word From Our Sponsor
8. Dread Media Interview #2
9. The God In The Bowl
10. We Heart Music Interview #1
11. Pornstar 80 (Stardust Demo)
12. One Quarter, One Play (8-Bit Kill Screen Version)
13. The Tomb of Dracula
14. We Heart Music Interview #2
15. Zombie Apocalypse Blues
16. Murderworld USA
17. Charlie's Angels (Live)
18. Jack The Ripper (Live)
19. Pornstar 80 (Live)
20. The Devil You Know (Live)
21. Science Fiction Double Feature

Miracle Beach

This is Miracle Beach, one of my favorites I used to catch pretty frequently on HBO around 2 in the morning in the early 90's. It seemed like this always came on right after Dream On. Why I was up at 2 in morning watching Dream On and Miracle Beach when I was 11, I don't know.

Miracle Beach is comedy about a hot lovelorn genie starring Dean Cameron, Ami Dolenz and Pat Morita. It was directed by Skott Snider (yes, with a 'K'), you may remember his work on Playboy's Video Centerfold: Playmate of the Year Reneé Tenison, and Playboy: Wet & Wild II. Miracle Beach has been out of print on VHS for a good 15 years and as of this post it has never been released on DVD anywhere in the world. Shame really.

The plot, as written by some dude on the IMDB:
"A romantically hapless young man (Scott) has his life changed when he finds the proverbial genie-in-a-bottle, in this case a very comely lass (Jeannie). With Jeannie granting wishes left and right, Scott soon has a fine house, a wonderful car, and a chance to impress the girl of his dreams. But is this the way to true happiness?"

By traditional standards, this is not a very good movie. However, for some reason I really find it to be an enjoyable, and dare I say sweet movie - terrible 90's fashion aside. (Dean, is that a shirt or a Jamaican flag?) I think if you enjoy slightly fantasy based comedies with likable leads and a bit of heart thrown in for good measure, or you just like Dean Cameron and Ami Dolenz you should at least get something out of this one.

Star-Studded Things To Watch For:
Dean Cameron in the dorkiest "favorite hat" ever
Ami Dolenz - Cutest Genie since Jeannie
Pat Morita in overalls
Pre-She Alexis Arquette
Dean Cain one year prior to his big break with Lois and Clark. He was Clark.
Jim Miller as Himself, whoever the hell Jim Miller is
Afterbirth - Kings of Rock

While I'm here, I thought I'd plug a book some of you guys might want to check out. Simon, of the band Mary Shelley Overdrive has just published a collection of 16 pulp stories from the 1930's and 40's entitled Hideous Sexy: Giant Shock Show Vol. 1. For more info on the book, plus several others check out Penny Dreadful Books

He was kind enough to let me advertise my site in the book, so I thought it was only fair to return the favor and advertise the book here on the site. Plus, look at the cover, how could you not be intrigued? Readers of this site who are interested in purchasing a copy can get 15% Off by using the code NWSHAFU6 over at CreateSpace. Tell them Phelpster sent you, they'll know what that means.

Mary Shelley Overdrive Unveils Full-Length Debut

Back in July I made a post featuring a free EP download from a group of very cool guys known collectively as Mary Shelley Overdrive. Since that post a couple of guys from the band have been nice enough to keep me updated with the various goings-on that are, uh, going on with them. Well today they let me know that their first full-length album is officially available for purchase. You can buy the album at Createspace, or you can download the MP3s from Amazon or Snocap if you prefer. If that cover doesn't scream out "Buy Me!" I don't know what does. For more info on the album and the band check out their site. You can also hear a lot of samples of their music on their MySpace page (see the Snocap link above). If you like what you hear, I urge you to buy the album. Hell, buy two, they're cool guys.

That's not the only reason I'm posting though, today I am proud to debut a couple of songs from their upcoming EP entitled Bride of Shock Theatre, that were sent to me by Simon (he's in the band!). One is a cover of New Math's song They Walk Among You, the second is a MSO original called The Lament of Janos Skorzeny. You can check both of those tracks out exclusively-ish (I think) at the link below. The EP will be available as a free download on their site starting October 4th.

The aforementioned "link below"

Also, before I go, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to both Simon (see above) from Mary Shelley Overdrive and my best-friend-since-I-was-9, better known as David.