kitsch & curios from around the world

Where did the time go?

2009-06-20T21:28:00.001-07:00

Well, obviously it's been a while since the shop blog was updated. In the last 6 months a lot has changed -- and even more will change in the next couple of months. First off, the partnership that started All-Pop (namely my marriage), has, sadly, disintegrated and I'm still figuring it all out. I'm also now part of that awesome group of women known as single moms. Some more figuring it out there. Anyway, I've neglected the shop more than I'd have liked, and it's time to dust myself off and get back to work.

All-Pop will probably get a name change as part of this whole Moving On With My Life stuff. An updated layout. Some new products. Heck if I know it exactly what, but there will be some changes. Kinda like repainting the living room and buying way too many lipsticks. What won't change is my love of kitsch, color, and tchotchkes from around the world. Please check back again soon!

Holiday Shipping

2008-12-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

Order by Wednesday, December 17th to get your gifts and stocking stuffers in time for Xmas! Any orders after that date will go out as soon as possible. We'll be closed for the holidays from Wednesday, December 24th until Friday, January 2nd. Happy Holidays!

NEW! Christmas in the Woods Advent Calendar

2008-11-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

I love advent calendars! Especially ones with woodland scenes and plenty of glitter. Order today and get it in time to start opening those windows on December 1st.

Stocking Stuffers

2008-11-15T22:56:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas stockings with all the little gifts that Santa brings! This year play Santa to your favorite people with all-pop stocking stuffers. And don't forget to check out our papergoods pages either -- we have a bunch of stickers, notebooks and other goodies that are perfect for stockings.

NEW! Prophesy Board

2008-10-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

All-new to All-Pop, the Prophesy Board. Tell your future with it, or give it as a gift to those who need to know their future.

NEW! Palmistry Poster

2008-10-05T22:47:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool retro palmistry poster! It will make a fine addition to your work area or studio space, or even better yet, it will make a fun, unique gift for that friends or family member who appreciates interesting curios.

NEW!! Super Cute Japanese Dessert Erasers

2008-09-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

Cute! Just try to not smile at the sight of these adorable little erasers. Cakes, pancakes and a donut - they're just too sweet! Get 'em while we got 'em.

BACK IN STOCK! Japanese Food Erasers

2008-09-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

FINALLY. Yep, these fun Japanese Food PVC erasers are back in stock at last. They're perfect for that student in your life who has just gone back to school. And keep them in mind as the holidays approach - they make the best stocking stuffers.

NEW! Oilcloth Cosmetic Bag

2008-09-10T23:18:00.000-07:00

We like the design of this oilcloth cosmetic bag a lot. It's a great size that fits nicely into a purse. And, as always when it comes to oilcloth, we love the beautiful, colorful patterns. Pictured above is the Pineapple Red pattern - check out the site to see the others, Forever Yellow and Rosegall Blue.

Vacation

2008-08-13T08:23:00.001-07:00

We're going on vacation! The shop will be "closed" from Fri, 8/15 through Sun, 8/24. Starting tomorrow, all orders will be shipped after we return beginning on Tues, 8/26.

See you in two weeks!

Lots of Oilcloth In Stock NOW!

2008-08-05T22:54:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone - just a quick post to let you know that we got a big shipment of oilcloth in. If you've been wanting certain colors or patterns, now's the time!

Phoenix pt. 2

2008-07-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

Phoenix in the sixties, "Saguaros in Paradise Valley," continued.

When in Doubt: HEINO

2008-07-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Do all roads through Euro Kitsch ultimately end up back at Heino?

Quite possibly, Yes.

Dana

2008-07-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

Another one from the Euro Kitsch file - this one by Irish singer (later turned conservative politician) Dana singing "Fairytale" from 1976. This really sounds Abba-esque to me. Anyone with me?

Phoenix pt. 1

2008-07-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

Here's the cover of a great old postcard booklet with images of Phoenix from at least 30 years ago or so.

Fireworks Packaging pt. 2

2008-07-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

Let us all solemnly hope that the beautiful packaging for "Cobra Black Snakes" never, ever changes.

Same goes for the "Booby Trap."

Like the "Defcon" fireworks I mentioned in my last post, this one called "Nuclear Blast" continues the seemingly ever popular nuclear inferno theme.

4th of July is a great time to remember our nation's first nuclear tests with this interestingly packaged fireworks called "Trinity Force."

Not every fiery explosion needs to be imagined as man-made. For example, "Solar Explosion" asks that we imagine what would happen if the sun exploded.

Then there's this style of fireworks packaging which gets right to the point of what fireworks and holidays are all about, I suppose.

Shakes head. Crazy.

The All-Pop family hopes you have a fun and SAFE holiday weekend. See you next week.

Fireworks photos are from:
Spirit of '76
B.J. Alan

Fireworks Packaging

2008-06-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

Fireworks packaging is a strange and wonderful cul-de-sac of pop culture. Packaging that hasn't changed in many, many decades lives on, beautifully, as you can see in the case of these "Black Cat Flashlight Firecrackers."

My guess is that the graphics for "Defcon Alert" were originally done in the eighties when the Cold War was still raging and the prospect of nuclear annihilation was something everyone enjoyed simulating with 9-shots worth of flaming balls. On the lower left, note the hand about to "push the button."

Now, the 12-shot "Boston Tea Party" strikes the right patriotic tone that we expect for 4th of July. Like the "Defcon," it too shoots flaming balls.

Why did the makers of the 25 shot "Battle of Khe Sanh" choose to name their fireworks after this obscure battle from the Vietnam War? Strange.

Heino pt 2

2008-06-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

You can't do just one post about Heino. It's impossible. Here's another one from the seventies, this time live on German TV singing "Carnival in Rio." Enjoy, or whatever it is you do when watching a Heino vid.

Heino

2008-06-23T22:40:00.001-07:00

After our last post, we realized no trip through German kitsch is complete without at least a quick visit with the main man of volkmusik, Heino. So here he is doing this tune from 1970 called "Karamba, Karacho, ein Whisky." Enjoy, if you dare.

Yippee Yi Yay

2008-06-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Shifting gears from the Hammond organ, we're taking a crazy turn for the wurst with this wacky German Country Western klassic, "New Wave Country" by Tex Haper. Terrible, horrible, but also infectious, like the flu perhaps. You've been warned.

Ethel Smith, Kickass Hammond Organ Gal

2008-06-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Ahhh yes, the Hammond Organ. We love it. For the past few days we've enjoyed the entertaining sounds of Cherry Wainer playing her organ - but needless to say there's an entire strange history of Hammond organists out there for us to discover.

Take for example, Ethel Smith, here doing her best known tune "Tico Tico." Nice!

Cherry Wainer pt 3

2008-06-16T16:32:00.001-07:00

What's that you say? You want even more Cherry Wainer? More???

Okay, okay! We aim to please here at All-Pop.com, and so please enjoy yet another video of Cherry Wainer performing live on the German TV show Beat Beat Beat from 1966.

This one is possibly the best, don't you think? The tune, "What Now, My Love" has a great sort of swinging, ice skating rink music thing going on. And do I even have to mention how super cool the poodle sitting on her piano bench is?

Cherry Wainer pt 2

2008-06-13T17:13:00.001-07:00

What's that you say? You want to hear more Cherry Wainer? Well, I knew that you would!

Check out Cherry doing a bluesy number, "Green Onions," on the same German TV show (Beat Beat Beat).

Cherry Wainer, Kickass Hammond Organ Gal

2008-06-11T16:04:00.000-07:00

I discovered Cherry Wainer recently and what can I say, this stuff is odd. But then aren't all Hammond organ soloists a little odd? I mean even Jimmy Smith - by far the coolest Hammond organ soloist ever - was a bit strange. It has something to do with organs, I think.

Anyway, Cherry is a very capable organist, as you can see here with this fine rendition of "A Taste of Honey," but even more than that, she's got irresistible showmanship, and... she can speak German! Cherry Wainer, thank you for being such a kickass Hammond Organ Gal.

Japanese Craziness: YMCK

2008-04-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

The Tokyo-based blog, PingMag should be a regular stop for anyone interested in Japanese design and culture. A recent entry on the band YMCK seemed to tie in nicely with our current Japanese obsession over here at ALL-POP.com. Check out PingMag for more background about the band, plus an interview.

YMCK's sound is based entirely on 8-bit video game-style music from the 70s and 80s. Yep, you heard me right. The idea totally rules - no question about that - but when it comes to the execution of the idea, y'know, the actual songs themselves... well, I'll be the first to admit that the songs can be a bit challenging to listen to. But then I've always thought the video game music of that era was kind of irritating.

On the other hand, this song "Starlight" from their third, most recent album, Family Genesis definitely works, impressively transcending it's source reference to be a wonderful song in its own right. The video is great too.

I'm into this tune ("Panic Racer 005" - from their second album Family Racing) mostly for the video. What a great take on the classic old school racing game. And don't forget the song's absolutely red hot jazzy 8-bit synth solo. Too funny.

Other thoughts: it's funny how sounds that were at one time associated with state of the art game tech now seem raw, almost like cheap old guitars and analog distortion pedals that you might find secondhand at a pawn shop. Also, the interview on PingMag mentions that they tour and play live - imagine going to see them and hearing these tunes 10 times as loud. Head banging to video game music... sign me up! Or not? Not sure.

More links:
YMCK's Official Web site
YMCK's Myspace site