Tamam Shud-Evolution OST

It's about time that this oppressive heat has lifted and I can finally venture out of my hovel. I'm sure this is only a brief reprieve, but in this passing moment I'm going to go outside and enjoy this surf rock classic. I say surf rock, because I believe that this was originally the soundtrack from some Australian surfing film. But this isn't songs about cars, girls, and waves. This is a much more fuzzy, garagey, psych out. I don't know why, but this seems like a fitting entry to cap off a bizarre month.

Here

The Angels of Light-How I Loved You

Okay, the title of this album describes it all. I think we all felt like this at some time or other, right? For a certain someone somewhere at sometime.

Here

Yoshi Wada-Lament for the Rise of the Elephantine Crocodile

After the Rufus Harley post, I thought I'd swear of bag pipe postings. But then I considered that I mentioned Wada and I figure that there might be a few people who don't have this yet. So here it is. It's definitely not like Harley. There's no jazzy goings on here. Instead Wada, and I'm guessing this is due to studying with Pandit Pran Nath, brings a full on wall of drone. And really, this is one of the best ways to make what can be a otherwise obnoxious instrument a true ear pleaser. And what a great album title.

Here

Dennis James-Cristal: Glass Music Through the Ages

Time to ready your ears for some vitreous vibrations. As the title implies, James works with glass. And to what a haunting effect. He tackles classical compositions by some pretty heavy hitters, but since he's using these glass crafted instruments, he's able to produces some pretty alien tones. But what might be the most perplexing aspect of this album is Linda Rondstadt getting co-production billing. Weird stuff.

Here

Robbie Basho-The Voice of the Eagle & Visions of the Country

If you haven't check out the fantastic ghostcapital blog yet, then don't be a chump and get your ass over there. There you'll find several essential Robbie Basho albums as well as a myriad of other delights. Here's two more Basho discs to add to your collection if you don't already have them. The Voice of the Eagle is my pick of these two, but I'm sure a few will be turned off by Basho's vocalese. Try to work with it because the guitar is just so transcendent. Visions of the Country comes from a little later and is a bit more new agey, but still worth a listen.

Voice
Visions

Sapphire

This is was requested by Miskov, and since I almost never get requests I figure I should cough it up. This is kind of a weird one in the No Neck Blues Band cannon (and that's a pretty fucking weird cannon at that). A single track on each side. Side one is a vocal/violin wrestling match (I'll let you decide the winner). The flip is what sounds like a pretty stripped down jazz duo of sax and drums. The whole affair kinda reminds me of the NY loft scene of the 70s or something. But let this post show, that if there's a request and I've got it, I'll post it.

Here

Shocking Blue-At Home

Curse my fate. My much anticipated premier as a dj was stymied by a faulty sound system and general incompetence. One more bullshit thing to happen to me this week, I guess. In any event, the crowd seemed pretty lame. I doubt they would have dug this (it was on my playlist), but that doesn't mean that you can't. This crew is probably most known to us for two things: 1.) Nirvana covering Love Buzz and 2.) writing Venus--you know, the one they play in that commercial for that razor. What people should be talking about instead is what a bad ass guitar player Robbie van Leeuwen was. Then again, I think people should really be talking about how awesome the whole Dutch psych scene was. Aside from a select few I've never really heard people talk much about that scene. Why is that?

Here

Relatively Clean Rivers

Some people were interested in that Electronic Hole album I posted a little while back and for them, I present this. I believe this is the final album in Phil Perlman's psych triptych, and as with the other two, it sounds like it's the work of a completely different band. Not so much psych as it is that whole getting it together out in the country vibe that was popular about a few years before this came out (1976, methinks). So points of reference could be American Beauty era Dead, CSN, and nearly everyone else who wanted to strum an acoustic guitar around that time.

Here

Nathaniel Mayer-Why Don't You Give it to Me?

Let's see...My Ipod, stereo receiver, and ionic breeze all just decided to crap out on me. Couple this with the fucking humidity and you've got youself one pissed off jerk (and no, this isn't some solicitation for donations). So when I need to unwind I like to blast the old A.C. right in my face and listen to this modern soul-psych masterpiece. Backed by the Dirtbombs, Nay Dog really let's it all out. Mayer was able to knock out one more album after this (good, but not as good) before he stroked out a few years back. But at least we'll always have this.

Here

Iron Lung-Sexless/No Sex

This album's title is starting to become a little too personal for me now so the aggression and frustration expressed by this duo really sound right. Somehow, this has been sitting in my mediafire account for months, and I didn't notice. Lucky for you that I happened upon it when I did. Also, these guys get tons of bonus points for the Nick Blinko cover art. If you're in the mood for some heavy shit that'll leave you feeling like you got kicked in the dick, then look no further.

Here

Baby Dodds-Talking and Drum Solos

I have a weird relationship with drums. They are definitely fun to play, even though I am one of the worst drummers ever. Of course they are necessary (but keep the cymbals in check people), but to listen to tracks of solo drums just didn't sound that exciting at first. Sure, I love albums by Han Bennink, Milford Graves, Sunny Murray, etc, but those aren't things I can listen to all that often. Dodds, however, is able to maintain my interest. I'm not going to air drum along with this or anything (no one should ever air drum to anything (Alex)), but it's still a worthwhile listen if only as an academic exercise. There are some brass band workouts that vary the tone, so don't be afraid. Oh, it should also be mentioned that Dodds is most famous for being the inventor of the kick drum.

Here

Rudimentary Peni-No More Pain

Number 5 now in the continuing saga to post all of R.P.'s material. They seem to be some of the more downloaded albums, so I guess I'll give the people what they want. Pretty atypical for a jerk like me. Anyways, I don't think I need to keep writing up this band. But this e.p. is worth note due to the odd inclusion of a cover of Pachebel's Cannon. I can't say I love it or anything, but it does seem like a weird choice. Then again, it's not like these guys are known for their rational thinking.

Here (Reuped 6/7/12)

Morgen

Oh brother...this has to be in my top 5 psych records of all time. It's heavy and fuzzed out, but there's also some tracks that have a nice hypnotic groove. And the guitars. They are monstrous. This is another one kinda like the Sainte Anthony's Fyre album I previously posted. A sleeper hit that's been reissued a few times, but still doesn't get the hoopla. Maybe it's because he was from Long Island (I think) and not Turkey or South Africa that this isn't as well loved as it should be.

Here

Shonen Knife – Minna Tanoshiku (Everybody Happy)

It's been years since I've seen anything by these ladies, until recently when I came across a photo of them in a magazine. They still are really cute and all, but they had a kinda hip makeover that just didn't sit too well with me. I want to remember them as these nerdy office workers who got together to play some really shambolic pop nonsense. I mean, I'm still having a hard time understanding how this band was signed to a major label and had videos on mtv. But the 90s were a weird time I guess.

Here

Sparks-Kimono My House

No joke, this is one of my all time favorite albums. But I can see why some might not like it. It has complex arrangements, painstakingly executed by top flight musicians, yet it's not some masturbatory prog nonsense. The lyrics have a dry sense of humor and clever wordplay, but it never seems condescending or insulting. While the songs are pretty diverse in style, the album has a glammy unified cohesion. Yeah, I can see why people don't like this.

Link Removed

Yoko Ono & Wife Beating Junkie-Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With The Lions

More proof that Ono was the real genius here. I'm getting really tired of seeing John Lennon tee shirts. I have this sneaking suspicion that he and Bob Marley are actually alive and are hiding out together after they realized that they are more profitable pretending to be dead. Just think how many college dorm rooms would have tons of empty wall space if it wasn't for their posters.

Here

Jerry Goldsmith-Logan's Run OST

Anyone else sick of all the bullshit remakes? I heard this is another one that Hollywood plans on ruining soon. I was just reading the history of the remake and apparently this has been planned as far back as the mid 90s. I'm sure that's not a good sign. It'll probably have some bullshit Daft Punk-like garbage that could never replicate what Goldsmith achieved here. Awesome electronic nightmares that robots jerk off to meshed with more heavy symphonic works. This dude was one of the best soundtrackers (is that a word?) ever.

Here

Sainte Anthony's Fyre

Don't let this boring ass cover fool you. This is one serious fuzz monster that's just as punishing as the ergot poisoning from which they poached their name. This one was always super hard to find. I think Void might have reissued it sometime back in the 90s but even then it's not like this had tons of fans. With all the psych heads out there I always thought this would get more attention, you know, with the internet and all. Also, I'm still trying to figure how this came out of Trenton.

Here

Kim Fowley-Outrageous

Outrageous indeed. Everyone knows Fowley is a nut. Whether masterminding jail bait pedo rock, producing the Modern Lovers, writing for Kiss, and about a million other things, the guy continues to remain pretty interesting. His own albums are typically pretty out there affairs. This is probably the one I enjoy the most as it is a cracked psych masterpiece. One time I was riding up to Pittsburgh with a Japanese exchange student who doesn't have the strongest grasp of the English language. He was also very high. Once this album came on, I could tell he wasn't going to be able to control himself. He laughed for the length of the album and when we got out of the car he puked. That seems like a logical reaction.

Here

Blessure Grave-Unknown Blessures

I know it's kinda rare that I post newer things here. What can I say aside from the fact that I'm pretty sick of most new bands. It just seems like all the shit is starting to sound the same, and there's almost always some record 30 years old that it just rips off. Well, looking at this cassette's title I'm sure you all can figure out whose altar this band worships at. I guess a lot of people complain about them, and it all sounds pretty petty. They're not breaking any new ground or anything, but currently there's little that is. And for some reason, I just think this crew is doing it better than most.

Here

Turid-Bilder

Part of me is just posting this because I love this cover. I know exactly how this girl feels. Kind of weird because she resembles an ex who hates me. But really things have been pretty eclectic here today (viz. too lazy to come up with any thematic principle) so why not some pretty Swedish songs. I believe Turid is one lone woman and not a band, at least that's my understanding. But what she does over the course of this album is amazing. Some songs feature bird field recordings and her haunting-yet-pretty voice. There's piano ballads. Turid also isn't afraid to bring in the psych too. I assume this has a pretty devoted following, I just haven't ever talked to anyone who knows about this.

Here

Don Letts, Stratetime Keith, Steel Leg & Jah Wobble-Steel Leg v Electric Dread

Keith Levine is the best guitar player of all time. Really, it is that simple. I can't think of any other guitarist that can play in his style. And if you don't like Public Image (at least through Flowers of Romance) then I don't like you. If you do like them, you'll probably want to hear this if you haven't already. Jah Wobble is obviously Jah Wobble. Stratetime Keith is Keith Levine. Don Letts is Don Letts (though I always thought of him as a dj and film director). And Steel Leg acts in horrible reality tv shows and does commercials for butter. The first song might have you thinking this is just going to be a loose P.I.L. jam session, stick with it and you find it's much more dubbed out and reggaefied.

Here

Sir Douglas Quintet-Mendocino

But maybe the cold isn't your thing and you actually prefer this bullshit weather. Perhaps you seek to not only warm your cockles but to burn the fuckers straight off. Nothing to me says hot summer day like this band and ugly shirtless dudes. You probably already know the title track, but have you ever considered that it sounds oddly enough like a lot of the kiwi shit that came a few decades later. Is it the farfisa? Who knows. But to my ears it sounds like some people in the Southern Hemisphere were digging this (arrows pointing towards the Clean).

Here

Skepticism-Aes

Things have gotten a little light around here. And while no one ever downloads any of my metal posts, I figure I going to post one anyways. I mean, what is more egotistical then writing a fucking blog. It's super fucking humid here, and an album like this can really ice the marrow. This behemoth is one sloooooow, chilling track that I find utterly relaxing. Not unlike a comforting drone album, I can put this on and feel the arctic blast hit my already too cold heart.

Here

Devo-Hardcore Vol. 1 74-77

Oh no! Devo! Why are you attempting another comeback? Haven't you learned you lesson already? While the first Eno-produced record still rules, there was a pretty fair quality degrade soon after. Sure, there's some solid songs on following albums, but really this is a case of first work best work. The earliest stuff has an almost Residents-like quality to it. Its simple and lo fi and awesome. But bands please, lets end this comeback shit. Once you're done it's over. Get the fuck back in the grave. And I promise, I'll always remember you like this, and not that corpulent, balding, thing you've become. And who is this lovely lady that graces this cover. My word.

Here

A Cry From the Earth: Music of the North American Indians

In my eternal quest to find more tribal thud in the mode of Amon Duul, one hip guy at a record store in some nowheresville burgh in Illinois, suggested I give this a listen. Sure shit like this can have some ethical questions for some people. But I don't care about them. So if I say there's a brilliant primitivism going on here, i don't need to here some bullshit about imposing European aesthetics onto another culture or any other of that fooey. Anyways, to me, thjis has an almost psychedelic feel to it. So cultural relevatism aside, this is a fine record.

Here

Screamers-Demos 77-78

For cryin' bones (thanks grandpa for that phrase (I still have no idea what it means)), but I surely do love the Screamers. Their synth punk (no guitars) was so far ahead of their time, people are still trying to crack the recipe. Too bad it ain't gonna happen. This shit is really one of a kind. Okay, Never Gender & Beelzebub Youth are kind close and also super awesome, but I think the Screamers win the battle. It's hot as shit here today, and walking around I noticed some asshead wearing those weird Juggalo black pants, and full length duster, but no shirt. Not a good look, but it did provide hours of mirth for me, just like this album does.

Here

Poison Girls-Chappaquiddick Bridge

I have this recurring fantasy that from the dark recesses of my closet some gothy seductress will materialize and sing "Be my Tender Lover" to me. Then we'll rob a bank. Flee to Budapest and eventually I'll die. And at that moment it will be revealed that it was all some beautiful fantasy and that I actually choked to death on a gobstopper while laying in bed. So this is another one from the NWW list. I assume that will get at least a few people to download it.

Here

The Bob Seger System-Ramblin' Gamblin' Man

I know, most of you would rather get raped than listen to the king of dad rock. I would have agreed with you if we were discussing the Silver Bullet Band (how fucking corny). But before Seger was workin' on his night moves, he was once actually pretty rad. Back in Detroit, Seger would have been around the Stooges, MC5s, Frost, SRC, etc. And it must have rubbed off since his early discs were solid hard rock with funk & psych flourishes. Much better than you think it's going to be. Really.

Here

The Monkees-Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD.

Scoff if you wish, but you'd be a pretty dumb asshole for doing so. I hear a lot of shit talked about the Monkees due to their business model, teen target, construction. But who really cares about that? That has, is, and will continue to be the nature of pop music. You think your beloved Beatles would be nearly as successful if they were some slope-headed, cromags? I'm doubtful. And here's another band that I would rank higher than the Beatles. I loved their show as a kid. I loved their movie Head as an adult. And I've continued to love-particularly this one-for as long as I can remember. These guys still aren't getting their proper dues.

Here

Pink Fairies-Kings of Oblivion

What a mistake I have made. Several posts mention this great band, and for some reason I thought I had already posted this. Time to make up for that error. This is their last album, and if you're more familiar with their earlier psych work outs, then this proto punk, hard rock, early metal monster might be a bit of a surprise. At this point the line up had changed around a bit, but adding Larry Wallis (later in Motorhead) is always a smart move.

And for those of you lucky enough to inhabit the Morgantown area, there's some rumors that I will be djing down at Jay's this Thursday. I'm not sure if this is actually going to happen but if you want to see some old bastard play sad shit then I have a night planned for you. Unfortunately, my prog rock fantasy night that I've been threatening my friends with will have to wait for another day.

Here

Remko Scha-Machine Guitars

Taking the human element out of things typically leads to improvements, as you no longer have to spend time dealing with more idiots than necessary. If only life could be lived through vending machines and weird interconnected pneumatic tubes, then I would be a happy man. Not sure if that's how Scha feels, but there has to be some misanthropic sensibilities at play. The idea is pretty simple but the execution seems pretty difficult. Scha basically constructed a bunch of robots that would then play his guitar compositions. So if your a robot lover like myself (and where are those German sexbots I heard rumors about) this is something worth a listen. On a weird side note, I once had a dream about hanging out with this guy. Even though I have never seen him and his name was never mentioned, I somehow knew it was him. Ugh...even my dreams are starting to get dull.

Here

Strahler

Not going to lie this time. I don't know anything about this band. They're from France (I think) and put this out in the (early?) 80s. Sometimes they sing in English. Sometimes they sing in German. Sometimes their arms bend back. Who knows?

On a separate note: It's come to my attention that not only have some of my posts been pulled, but several of my mediafire uploads have been deleted. I'm probably npt going to fuck around with reposting things unless I get a pretty strong demand for something. Just to let you know, love.

Here

The Rutles

This album came up in a recent discussion with some friends so I figure I might as well post it. As I've ranted on before, I really could care less about the Beatles' over rated asses. For that reason, this album is such a treat. In a proto-Spinal Tap mockumentary, these former members of Monty Python, Bonzo Dog Band, the Beach Boys, etc constructed some classic songs that out Beatle the Beatles. I would rather play this over any Beatles record at any time. And the movie's hilarious to boot.

Here

Rashied Ali & Leroy Jenkins-Swift are the Winds of Life

Has anyone else found this summer to be intolerably dull? Aside from the disgusting heat, there has been almost nothing of note. The highlights for me have been playing trivia at a local tavern and making my cat's legs swing like a pendulum. That's how pointless my life is. But in these times of crushing boredom it's nice to have a little violin free jass action to pass the time with. I picked this one up some years ago off a friend and have always found the novelty of the drum/violin duo an interesting context to explore the limits of jazz structure. Being that I love the violin, this has always been a fun listen for me. Add to that Coltrane's former drummer and you've got yourself a pretty great disc.

Here

Portsmouth Sinfonia-Plays the Popular Classics

This one goes out to the Eno lovers out there. Of that guy's rather deep catalog, this is one that often goes unnoticed. Gavin Bryars fans may also participate in appreciating this album, as I believe he was one of the primary architects of this non-musician/musicians plays unfamiliar instruments orchestra. They really do play the popular classics, as the title explains, but it almost makes you question if a few mongoloids weren't dicking around in a room some where and attached some names of worth to the product. It sounds pretty half assed, but that's what makes this so much fun. And who wants to hear some stuffy interpretation of shit you've heard ten thousand times before. Fuck that academic sterility.

Here

Megadeth-Killing is my Business...And Business is Good!

Anyone else notice that once Megadeth stopped using ellipsis in their titles they started to suck? I don't believe this one requires any write up.

Here

The Deviants-Ptooff!

Something strange is afoot. Typically, on my short jaunt downtown I would get called a faggot by passing cars. However, something has changed. The last two consecutive days, rather than the typical epithet, I have carfulls of idiots who just laugh at me. Two days ago, this happened three times in the fifteen minutes this walk takes. Yesterday, only twice. I don't know what all this means, and I'm not sure if this is an improvement or not, but it is curious. And speaking of curiosities, this curio of bygone times still has the allure of an ancient artifact that continues to be relevant. In many ways, this album is like a rosetta stone, capable of transcribing British 60s counterculture for modern times. It might, in fact, be the most important Limey psych record of all time. This ain't some bullshit about riding purple elephants over Saturn's rings or anything. It's much more slimey and dark. It has a dirty hippy stink, but mixed with blood and spunk. Punk still owes these dudes.

Here

Electronic Hole

Some of you might already have the awesome psych rock album by Beat of the Earth. And probably less of you have the Dead-like country/psych/folk/rock album by Relatively Clean Rivers. But all of you should have both because they demonstrate just how great Phil Perlman (now mostly known for having a terrorist son) was at constructing odd psych records that prefigured sounds that would later become de rigueur. Droney, almost VU-like tones contained in bizarre, sitar-laced song suites. Just a swell record.

Here

Emil-S.St.Stammer

Oh, it must be the weather because all I can think about right now is icing up some nipples and burning down a pizza joint. Lately, people seem to be acting more idiotically than ever before. And it's been smelling like worms around here. So, as you might expect, I am not in a good mood right now. But here's a pretty unheralded cassette only release that does give me some summer cheer. A bit fey, but not some cry baby wimp fest. Nice pop tunes for summer days when you wish there was a bomb big enough to wipe out all the people who need to just disappear. Unfortunately, there isn't a bomb capable of killing off that many dummies. I think I might start researching black matter or something.

Here

Rudimentary Peni-Pope Adrian 37th Psychristiatric

They Live is on tv, and everyone knows how great that is. So rather than write more bullshit, I think I'll watch some Rowdy Roddy Piper kick some alien ass. And this one doesn't require much of a write up. Continuing my series of bringing you the complete Rudi P works, comes this e.p. Now, I might, might, claim this as my favorite work of theirs, but that's almost near impossible to do, so don't ask me to do such things. This is the one that really divides people. There's a repeated loop that runs through every track. I think it works and really gives this album a psycho-edge (I think Blinko was in the nut house when he wrote most of this). Some will disagree with me and find it really annoying. But you can't please everyone. "You, you're okay. This one: real fuckin' ugly." See, even Roddy knew, you formaldehyde face.

Here  (Reuped 6/7/12)

Abgas

I can't really figure out what's going on on the cover of this album, but I can tell I don't like what ever it is. Okay, I see that a few people class this as punk, and I guess it kinda is, but this would be punk with some shouted German lyrics, a flatulent, out of tune guitar (or sometimes just a bass though), and a tambourine/paper drums. Really, some songs are that simple and stripped down. This is punk like you might consider The Fall to be punk. It's super primitive and homemade sounding. But really, really fun. It's like one of those lo-fi, loner/weirdo records that all you kids love. My German is shit, but from what i can piece together this whole thing seems pretty ridiculous.

Here

Lou Harrison-Double Concerto for Violin and Cello

This weekend, some of my buddies and I were discussing our favorite instruments. All the usual suspects appeared--kazoo, piece of paper and comb, clogs, etc. This whole talk go me thinking of this album, as the cello is probably my favorite instrument of all time. I love violins too. And gamelan? That might just be my 3 favorites (sitar is sneaking around there too). Harrison was a student of both Cowell & Schoenberg but doesn't really sound like either. There's much global fusioning going on here but it doesn't sound touristic or forced. Just a really pretty record. And look at those beards.

Here

Hubble Bubble

I'm sure the band name and album cover might lead some to expect a saccharine sweet bubble gum dross. For sure, there's some strong, pure pop elements to be found, but there's much more of a buzzy punk feel than something slick and sanitized for the 80s. Plastic Bertrand later gained some success with "Ça Plan Pour Moi" (which you most likely know from its over appearances in commercials over the last few years), but I'll take this instead. Be forewarned, a track or two does incorporate some whistling, but it's not nearly as annoying as it almost always is. Perfect for these days where the temp is pushing 100.

Here

Burning Star Core-Let's Play Like Wildcats Do

C. Spencer Yeh has been representing the Cincinnati experimental music scene for some time. And really, I can't think of another person doing much from that area. But good news for Southern Buckeyes that they can claim this guy. He's got a million releases and they have a pretty broad music pallette, but this is the one that I currently dig. It might even be his most accessible work (and that doesn't mean it's his worst, mind you). There's still plenty of drone, but Yeh definitely was into some Kraut grooves when recording some of this, as there's some almost funky moments (in a Can sorta way). Droney, but never boring. And that can be a tricky thing to pull off. So do.

Here