Traffic-John Barleycorn Must Die

Since I’m talking about embarrassing moments, did I ever tell you about the time I twisted my ankle because I thought I was just about to step on a dead bird (filthy) and tried to maneuver out of the way? Turns out it was just a leaf, but my phobia of deceased avian got the better of me. But with all of this airing of things I should probably keep private, I hope at least a few of you can have a laugh at my expense. Here’s an album that I think some people might be a little ashamed to cop to enjoying, but not me. I think it’s an absolute classic. Sure Winwood went on to commit some serious musical crimes, but this is him in top form. Folk, psych, soul all blend together in creative and unexpected ways. If you thought this band sucks then believe me they can never suck as bad as you.

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Blue Oyster Cult-Tyranny and Mutation

Oh, is that right? You still mock the almighty B.O.C.? Sure, they had some questionable facial hair and some pretty ridiculous pseudonyms (well, one at least), but why deny their ability to make other bands look like a crab ragoon - paper clip hybrid. Being back in a city full of asses who are more interested in pitchfork's year end list rather than good music makes me feel like I am in a foreign country. What happened to liking great albums of this sort? Does everything have to come pre-approved by someone born in the 90s who owns only cds (less than 500)? Gack...I'm sure someone will eventually write up this band (I'm sure it will be ironic) and then we'll see a bunch of pencil necks running around Buck Dharma tattoos or something like that. Beat them to the punch if you haven't already.

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Yes-Fragile

If there's one album title tht can explain my current emotional state it's got to be this one. How's about these events. 1.) got rear ended because some knob decided to do a three point turn in the middle of the road and forced a chain of cars to slam on their breaks, 2.) I have a horribly sick car that I've had to take the the vet twice this week, 3.) while trying to drive back to Chicago, I hit an ice patch did two 360s on a seriously busy highway and slammed into a semi, totaling my car. In a year that's already been the worst one in my life, I'm not sure if there's much more I can take. Hence fragile. And how dare you speak ill of Yes? They sound like Sunny Day Real Estate twenty something years ahead of time. Such a classic that any music fan should own.

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Bill Evans Trio-Waltz for Debby

Nope, this is definitely not like the jazz I usually post, so free jazz haters are welcome (though I think your taste is highly suspect). There's nothing rare about this one either. I just think it's really pretty. And we can all use some beauty in our lives in what ever form it may come to us. Almost makes me want to be in love again.

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Black Sabbath-John Peel Sunday Show

Every time I post something live people seem to be interested. At least that's what the download stats are suggesting. And my life is that dull that I actually do check them. Hey, I want to know what it is that you humans are interest in so I can at least try to post some things that you won't laugh at. No need for me to say anything here other than it's Black Sabbath. And it's on Peel's show. C'est tout.

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Celtic Frost-To Mega Therion

Classic, Classic, Classic.

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Bad Brains

I recently just upped a hundred or so new albums to my mediafire account. But rather then pull out some obscure, limited to two copies, weird out, I'll just play it safe. I'm sure everyone has this already, but even if that's the case, it had to appear at some time on this blog. I just felt..I dunno...naked without it. And since this was an album that I played on a daily rotation for far too long, it warms by bitter cold heart to finally share it with other.

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Judas Priest-Hell Bent for Leather

If the dreamer undertakes the process of tanning leather then it is likely that he will soon embark on a journey to an exotic locale. This journey will prove pivotal in the professional life of the dreamer as an offer likely will be tendered that may or may not lead to great financial gains. If the dreamer is wearing leather he may soon make unexpected lifestyle changes. He may question his sexual orientation, grow a horrendous goatee, or appear in a commercial for a cellular phone. One thing is certain about these dreams, they never portend any sexual advancements from females.

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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.

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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.

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The Gun Club-Fire of Love

This post is purely out of love and laziness. Love in that this record is supremely fucking great. A true classic. Laziness because I wanted to post another album, but didn't want to write much. And with this one, the less said, the better. An essential own.

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Royal Trux-Cats & Dogs

My friends and I have a tendency to get nostalgic for the 90s. I suppose that it had to do with that time being particularly good for many of us, and the fact that the way we live now seems pretty shitty. But then a friend and I watched a documentary on 90s rock and all of the sudden it was as if I ate a madeline and all the memories came flooding back. I realized that for every band like this, there was at least 20 completely bullshit bands trying ever so hard to look kooky. I'll admit that this took me a while to get into this band. I guess I never really got what they were attempting to do. Then one day it all made sense and all was revealed. Now, Royal Trux have got to be one of my favorite bands of that period. I would feel fine posting any of their material (and if you're about to slag on their major label releases you can go scratch) as I love their entire catalog. How the fuck were these people not major stars is beyond me. Jennifer Herrema, marry me.

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Big Star-March 31, 1974; Performance Center; Cambridge, MA

Yeah, so time to follow the bandwagon. I have had a shitty internet connection, so I miss out on all the dope that people have been dishing about Sir Alex. And maybe that's a good thing. Around here, he's a sainted figure that has written some of the best songs these dirty ears have ever heard. And while people might be singing his praise to high heaven now that he's dead, I could care less. He has written some of the best songs of all time. And I'll stand by that. Normally, a pop star's death (is he really a pop star?) doesn't mean shit to me, but fuck, this is Alex fucking Chilton. Pay you're respects fucko.

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Buck Owens-I've Got a Tiger by the Tail

Time to break out your nudie suit, because here's some classic country coming at ya. Yeah, I get it, this shit is probably de rigueur with all those who dwell in some far off land where only country music is played. And while I live in West Virginia, this shit is still foreign to me. So, this isn't a tears in my beer album all throughout, but there's still plenty of sadness to relish. I don't know if anyone will give a shit about things like this, but it's either post something or try to figure out what the fuck I want to teach about Emerson for tomorrow. I'll go with Buck Owen.

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Terry Reid-River

I think it would be impossible to call Terry Reid a careerist. He turned down the vocal duties in both a fledgling Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple so he could continue his solo work. How's that for some cred? Not only does he have a great white soul voice, the guy is equally adept at guitar. This album comes after his more modish, soul, rock earl period. Now, the sound is much more stoned. There's plenty of grooves and soul here, but when you get to the second side, things really take a mellow turn. And that's what really makes this album a real classic. I wonder how much the Black Crowes wish they could be this man. An all time favorite.

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Gandalf

I mentioned this band in my post on Eden Ahbez (they cover Nature Boy), so I figured I probably shouldn't hold out on those poor souls who haven't been enlightened by this bliss. Easily falls into my top 10 American psych records. As much as I like Tim Hardin, Gandalf's covers of a few of his songs far improve on the originals. It's classic psych pop with all the 60s studio trickery, but the trickery is never at the expense of the song (as many great psych pop records have been ruined by). The cover should probably clue you in to what the sound is all about, but it's so much more.

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Moby Grape

A lot of my friends are really into Skip Spence's Oar and all of the psychotic beauty it contains. But when asked about their take on the Grape, nary a option is rendered. In an attempt to alleviate this travesty, here's their debut for your listening pleasure. Yes, Skip has a few tunes here (and they're some real doozies), but that's only one reason to listen to this true psych classic. From opening track to its close, there's not one bum track. It has to be one of the most consistent psych classics of all time. There's plaintive meditations, blues rave ups, psych noodle scratchers, and so much more. Fuck Cat Power for messing with the fantastic "Naked, If I Want To." Keep your mitts off the classics sugar, and stick with your temper tantrums. Go on, give it a taste.

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Groundhogs-Split

Not rare or anything, just super awesome. Indie celebs like Steve Malkmus et al have been championing this albums for the past few years once rock became 'cool' again. Too bad people have been sleeping on this for so long. These limeys started off as a pretty standard blues trio, who backed John Lee Hooker several times. But something happened and the purist roots faded and were replaced by more heavy experimentation. This album sounds pretty much how the Dirtbombs want to sound. I think they might even cover "Cherry Red," and that makes perfect sense. This is some powerful, yet tasteful and never over the top, shredding backed by a stone groove. If people claim Crapton is God, they're worshiping in the wrong temple. Give T.S. McPhee a listen for real enlightenment.

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