Basil Poeldouris-Conan the Barbarian & the Destroyer OST

For Cary. Happy birthday babe. Here's the perfect music for all of your sword and sandals adventures around Connecticut.

The Barbarian
The Destroyer

Venom-Live at City Gardens 7"

Yes, yes, Venom rule. But this isn't their typical sound. Instead, this is a live recording of Cronos's lovely stage banter with all the songs removed. As you can see on the flyer above, Venom toured with Black Flag, whose roadie, Joe Cole, recorded these hilarious stage antics. Thurston Moore later put this out on his label, and I think the Beastie Boys might have even sampled it. And note that evil ticket price.

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Paul Giovanni & Magnet-The Wicker Man OST

Fuck you Nick Cage. I was thrilled when I recently heard your gullible ass was duped out of most of your money and that you had to sell of your chateaux and other luxury items you clearly do not deserve. I hope the rest of your money get soaked in syphilitic blood, which you then contract, and your dick falls off. That might almost be proper compensation for ruining such a classic film. And you'd still owe us for what you did to Ghost Rider. Anyways, this is the soundtrack to the real Wicker Man.

P.S. Everyone knows your bald so stop pretending

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Kenneth Higney-Attic Demonstration

I probably shouldn't slag on an entire state, especially since so many of my students are from there, but man I do not like New Jersey. I've been told that there's actually pretty parts (where?). All I've seen is nasty urban wastelands and muscly dudes with terrible haircuts. Fine, shore core was alright, and who doesn't like the Misfits? But this is my pick for Jersey's finest. Higney was a trucker who recorded these demos with the hopes of getting some record deal. But there's no way anyone would touch this mutant. These songs are demented, atonal, yet rocking, glimpses into a mind that has been on the road so long that he's convinced himself that he can actually be a rock star. And since I'm generalizing about states anyhow--Fuck you Texas.

Just been contacted by Nick at One Kind Favor. He's working up a reissue of this great album. Support him here: kickstarter.com/projects/onekindfavor/one-kind-favor-reissuing-70s-private-press-lps.

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Lifelover-Pulver

Metal heads get sad too. Sometimes the corpse paint isn't enough to mask the sorrow. Typically, the response comes in some form of buzzy, lo-fi, blackened metal. This album opts instead to draw from The Cure and other Brit goths but it still maintains a metal sound despite what all of my friends say. Judge for yourself. And what a cover.

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Hapshash & The Coloured Coat - Featuring The Human Host & The Heavy Metal Kids

Need more caveman thud? Who doesn't? If the Amon Duul album was of any interest then do yourself a favor and acquaint your ears with these English gents. Comprised of celebrated poster/album cover artists and members of Art (pre-Spooky Tooth) and Procol Harum, this baby was clanging away even before Psychedelic Underground. And check out that title. But don't be mislead, this is 1967 so the "Heavy Metal" is really present.

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Bronson

Living near Pittsburgh, I felt obligated to post this. And considering how most of the songs deal with wasting creeps or sons turning into creeps, I'm even more compelled. Ever wonder what it would sound like if Charles Bronson (one of the best actors ever) a garagey punk band? This isn't the punk band from DeKalb but some weirdos who put this out as an internet release. Paul Kersey lives!

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The Weeds

This one is for Ryan. This is Fred Cole's first band before a string of equally great ones (Zipper, King Bee, The Rats, Western Front, Range Rats, Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows). Pretty much everything he's done is worth checking out. This is a garage rock classic that seems as relevant now as it 43 years ago. The band later adopted the much lamer name The Lollipop Shoppe at the behest of their manager but still continued to rock. Fred also has a super cool face tattoo.

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Roy Wood-Boulders

Since I'm on my Roy Wood jag, I figured that this should be posted as well. Now, this really isn't that much like E.L.O. Wizzard, Idle Race, The Move, or any other Wood involved project. This reminds me more of some 90s bedroom dweller's music. It has that man alone in the studio vibe, which makes sense since I believe Wood played all of the instruments here. Charming and odd.

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Electric Light Orchestra-S/T (No Answer)

For Alex. There's no need to front, E.L.O. rule. While they might be overused as a cross word answer, they still rock. Especially on this first album, largely in part to the participation of Roy Wood. Jeff Lynne had the cool shades, but Wood really brought the weirdness. If your more familiar with this band through commercials and fake indie films then give this a listen and be enlightened.

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Mick Jagger-Invocation of my Demon Brother

Here's another soundtrack for an Anger film. But this isn't like the Halpern track at all. Instead, we get Mick Jagger dicking around with a moog. Even if you hate the Stones (why would you?) this is still something to be heard. As the song progresses it gets to some proto-industrial doom morse code.

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Tapeworm-7"

Just look at these dudes and you should know what territory you're heading into. I have to imagine that this group was way out for Connecticut in the 70s. With band member names like Macho Beady, Fuzz Box Flynn. Spider Zito these guys weren't your typical punks. Man, that hair.

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Meatus Murder-More Songs About Balling and Food

I'm pretty sure this is an internet only release. While you can still probably download it from their site, I figured that I'd post it here anyways. Being from Chicago, I can appreciate any song about Scotty Pippen. Most of these songs are about sports, bad music, and other things set against music from other songs. For example, you hear the story of Mark McGuire unfold over Springsteen's "I'm on Fire." Hilarious.

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Q Lazzarus-Goodbye Horses (Extended Mix)

For Jason and his spot on Buffalo Bill impersonation. Steve's is good too, but you win. So for everyone else, here's the track to soundtrack your next tuck job prance around. Oh Stottlemeyer, nice nip ring.

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Neon Boys-7"

Here you're getting a pre-Television Billy Ficca & Tom Verlaine plus Richard Hell. Just looking at the names involved it's obvious that it's good. But sometimes these early, before-they-were-stars bands fail to live up to the hype. That's not the case here. Solid early, early punk that completely rules.

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Kathy McGinty

Despite the fact that this is a prank call cd, and it's hilarious, it can also be quite sad. The whole premise of Kathy McGinty is a dude, a girl, and a sampled woman's voice, who talks to lonely guys on sex chats. As you would expect, this is trashy, crude, and tons of laughs. But I feel for these lonely guys. I'm amazed just how powerful horniness can be when it comes to willfully ignoring the absurd just for a yank.

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Ahulabrum-Magonia

Time for something local. As a whole, West Virginia has had a pretty poor music history. There's Hasil Adkins, Bill Withers, Frankie Yankovic, Th' Inbred, and a lot of bluegrass. Metal, not very much. Especially, bizzaro, droney, black metal where every song documents a historical alien abduction. Please come and play Morgantown Ahularbum.

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Jonathan Halpern-Puce Moments

The Ecstasy Of Saint Theresa - Fluidtrance Centauri EP

Beautiful. While this band might have erred in judgment with their later incorporation of electronic things into their sound, this e.p. stands as one of the greatest shoegaze moments. Breathy vocals, reverb, dub-like production (at times), buzzing guitars; all the classic tropes are present. But somehow this Czech unit transcends the conventions and destroy my mind in the process.

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Circus Mort-S/T 7"

I Love the Swans. So should you. Their early tribal, low end sound has pummeled my face several times. Even their unfairly maligned later work is frequently played around here. Well, this is Swan's main man Michael Gira getting funky and dancey in that no wave sorta way. As far as I know, this is the only work by the band.

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Dave E. & The Cool Marriage Counselors-7"

You should know by the retardo art that this is going to be pretty cracked. Dave E. was formerly the singer of the Electric Eels, who produced some of the most vitriolic proto-punk to spew out of the city so foul its river caught fire. And while everyone should check them out, this is a whole different affair. I think this was recorded in the 70s but I'm not sure when. I picked it up when it was finally released a few years back. It's full of toy xylophones, humming, annoying sounds, talking, etc. Fun for the whole family.

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Amon Duul-Psychedelic Underground

This was one of those albums that makes you rethink all the music you've previously heard, or at least that's what it did to me. Apparently, the story is that a bunch of German hippies living on a commune took a bunch of acid and recorded all of the Amon Duul (not to be confused with Amon Duul II) in this one session. The music reflects that freaked out, stoned cavemen feel. I've still yet to find anything else that sounds like this, although my quest has led to equally important discoveries like Exuma. A complete classic mind melter.

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Awesome Snakes-Venom

The premise of this side project (of the Soviettes, (I haven't heard them)) is so sweet. Of course, we all love snakes and their little limbless bodies. They're great to throw at people and there's been several times where I slipped one into someone's car. So an albums worth of songs that describe how cool snakes are is obviously going to be equally as awesome. And check out that kick as Motley Crue inspired (Sticky Fingers inspired) album cover. But the girl vocals really need to go. Just tune those out.

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Acting Trio

Released on the legendary, French, Free Jazz label BYG/Actuel; this is another odd one. for a label known for it's unusual releases, this one always stood out to me. The trio utilizes tenor sax, piano, and cello and really avoid a lot of the trappings that make people hate free jazz. I'm not sure if this will change anyone's mind, but it will surprise those expecting some type of Arthur Doyle/Frank Lowe heavy blowing sax storm. Oh, and I forgot to add track titles after I ripped this, but if that's a problem then don't download it.

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A.R. Kane-Lolita

This one's a little more normal than what I've previously posted. This e.p. (the second release from the band) dwells somewhere between the Jesus & Mary Chain's pop noise fusion and the shoegaze horde that would follow them. But don't be scared off by song titles like "Sado-Masochism is a Must." A.R. Kane do not want to whip you into submission with noise, but they might drip a little hot wax on you. Bonus points for pre-empting the nude Surfer Rosa cover (also released on 4AD). And they we partially responsible for "Pump up the Volume" (the song, not the movie). Hmm...

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