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.
My word, has it been a year already? I can't believe that this crap heap continues to ooze down shit mountain. But I suppose there's no reason to stop now. I've hit my goal of having over 50 followers in a year (I have pretty modest goals) and have received some pleasant e-mails from readers. So I guess I'll continue to air my grievances and sound like the old prick that I am. So here's a special treat for you (of course you can always send the site a birthday present) since it's all the readers that make me want to keep this going. It's really not overselling it if I call this a classic. Influential to so many groups, this odd lot of Texans continue to get played around here. Blast this the next time you're at your local glory hole.
I am not lying when I tell you that I recently saw a goat (3rd best animal) being driven around in the back of a pick up truck. But keep in mind I live in West Virginia so bizarre animal occurrences of that nature are not that rare. Nonetheless, it did make me smile (that is a rare thing nowadays). Now that anecdote is only germane to this conversation in that it involves an animal. But what better way to introduce a record that everyone probably already has. No, this isn't the one with "Sky Pilot" (love that song to death) but it's still a really great and under discussed psych rock classic. Burden never really seems to get the due props despite the fact that he recorded some seriously great material. I wonder if the fact that he was popular clouds record geeks minds and doesn't let them see how much amazing material he produced. Fuck them then. It's their loss and our gain.
This is one I've been saving for a while because I just have a strong infatuation for Ackles' deep croon, and I'm a selfish prick that doesn't cough up the goods without some resistance. Now, I know that he really didn't hit his stride until later, but I'm going to claim him as another great Illinois musician (born in fucking Rock Island), only because my home state is typically overlooked when it comes to music. So I'd say listen to "Down River" and you'll quickly see why this record is so crucial. If you don't then it's time to get those ears cleaned. Here's a q tip for you, waxy.
Might as well tarry down South but shift over to Australia for the moment. Along the way we can pick up this trio of hooligans who definitely bring the mother fucking ruckus. I guess it would be easy to say that they've got a style that seems like a more hard hitting, punked out Birthday Party, but that might be simply do to geographic relativism. I'd say that claim has merit, but feedtime are no mere copyists so when people make this comparison I normally don't get it. I'm not sure why I love Australian noise rock so much. I've never been there. And though I'd like a visit, I doubt it will occur anytime soon. But my buddy was recently there and was amazed by the amount of prostitutes and bathrooms where you pissed against a wall rather than having urinal. Not sure what that's saying.
Hung out with a friend last night that I barely ever see. And he's a big advocate for all things New Zealand. So for that guy I'll post this though I'm sure he already has it. But for the rest of yins this is a really underrated batch of folkish, deconstructed pop done up in that kiwi fashion. At it's core there's a girl, a dude (previously in Shoes this High), and an acoustic guitar. Typically, this triad is supplemented by other sound sources, but it still has that olde folk undercurrent. I've been trying to figure out why this band isn't discussed when kiwi legends are listed. I still have no answer.
I am well aware that this has been posted on pretty much every blog around. But it's not like I've really been breaking any new ground with this crap heap, so what the hell. I figure I have a few friends out there who'd probably like this and don't have it yet (mean you Matt). Maybe there's another reader who doesn't have it as well. And you should since Harper is a super awesome. And even if you don't recognize the name, I'm sure you've already heard him. Remember that Pink Floyd song "Have a Cigar"? Well, that's Harper singing. Led Zeppelin even has a tribute to him. So the heavy hitters were even him to this guy way back when, and you should be too if you aren't already.
I won't pretend that two years of studying Russian was enough for me to fully get at what this album is about. Nevertheless, I still love it. And you probably will too. I think I read about this band (now defunct after the untimely death of main man, Yegor Letov) in an interview with Kevin from Pink Reason. Good think I paid attention since this is some really essential stuff. Pretty strange that for a group considered to be one of the most important Russian bands of all time they're hardly ever mentioned. Find out why they were significant. And then find everything else they recorded since it's all worth owning.
I don't know why, but I cannot find a single decent pic of this album. And I'm definitely too lazy to up one myself. So you'll have to deal with this shitty, undefined blur. Regardless, it's not like you're getting the actual album. Just download it and give it a listen and the cover art won't matter as much. I've already proclaimed my love for Ruins elsewhere, and this is an important historical document as the band is comprosed of drum demi-god Tatsuya Yoshida. But this isn't the spastic, Magma mimicking pummel. Instead this is much more in the goth/death rock style. Just take a look at their picture and you can guess what this is going to sound like. And you'll be correct.
Haven't been posting since I'm trying to find a job that will get me out of West Virginia. Anyone out there in the market for an English professor. Victorian poetry, composition, pop culture, tech writing--I'm not choosy. I do nude scenes. I play nerd (this will only make sense if you watch the Simpsons). Anyways, enough of the boring personal things. Here's one more from the NWW list. And if you liked the Catherine Ribeiro (how could you not?) then this is something you will enjoy as well. She's got a few other albums floating around, but I've never had much luck tracking them down. But this definitely makes me want to find them.
Whoo Hoo, Halloween is finally here. I had a million potential albums I could have posted today. But then I realized that no one ever downloads the metal records I post and chose this one instead. And why wouldn't you want to listen to somebody named Satan on a day like this. I don't really see to much bout him on line, so I don't claim to be all that knowledgeable. I know he was a cult figure, mental patient, convicted murderer, gay poet, and probably many other things before he died. Hail Satan.
Here's a scary story for you all. Last night, whilst at the bar a ridiculous girl approached me and told me how great my costume was. To her surprise I wasn't even wearing a costume. Yet she thought I was dressed as Justin Timberlake. But before you form some mental image of me I should say: 1.) I am much older that J.T. 2.) I have glasses and facial hair. 3.) I, in no way, resemble Justin Timberlake. Somebody must have been boozing it up a little too much. But it did make me think that maybe I do look out of sorts. I mean, I do currently reside in West Virginia and it definitely isn't the hippest place on the planet. So now to the disc. Lovecraft is certainly well loved by metal heads and horror enthusiasts. I'll admit that I'm a late comer to his work, but find this series very relaxing. Last fall I would go on 20-30 mile walks and just listen to these tales. And it was oddly comforting. So this is atypical for me to post things of this nature, but I figure who better to listen to come Halloween than this guy. Don't blame me if you pee your pants though.
Here's another spooktacular album to scare the kiddies away. Well, really it isn't all that scary I suppose. But the cover is kinda creepy. I think what makes this so desirable is the fact that they played some serious hard rock and were based in Iceland. Not typically the country you associate with this type of stuff. I always thought they had to sing about elves and shit. Not here. Instead, Icecross choose to rally against religious zealotry and the like. Songs like "Jesus Freaks" still make me smile. Then again, I hate religious nuts so most things that blatantly address their ridiculousness are going to make me smile. 
Yesterday I saw something that was utterly grotesque. Whilst walking home after teaching, a couple nearly ran me over on the side walk. They were on a jogging date. Who does such things? Who decides to get suited up in horrible nylon clothes and then run for no reason? And how is this activity enhanced with a partner? If you're with someone and you're sweating that much, you should probably be doing something more enjoyable than running. Ugh...the horror. And speaking of, Josefus has a scary cover, but they are going to terrify you or anything. And kids like skulls these days. Just check the popularity of all that Ed Hardy paraphernalia. I even see moms walking around with skulls on their shirts. So maybe this isn't as Halloween related as I'd like it to be. Well, you can always blast Dead Man and scare off a few kiddies.
Halloween is easily the best holiday. I don't have a costume yet and I can't work out the logistic of my original concept of 2-Pacman (you know, 2 Pac & Pacman combined). Still, when it comes to this time of the year, there's plenty of good albums to set the mood right. And if you haven't started celebrating, then it's about time to blast this. If you're still playing those old Misfits 7"s and crying every time some ad hoc version drags their bloated carcasses through town, then this album is for you. Honestly, this sounds just like the Misfits. They're even from Lodi. I won't call them original, but there's definitely worst bands you can rip off. Anyways, I think I'll post Halloween related things to get the mood sinister. Stay tuned.
Since you can't get drunk and listen to Abba every night I figure I should just get back to the albums. Believe it or not, there is a sort of a format here. And since all the clip I posted are all songs you've heard a million times, I figure I should dig a little deeper with this post. These guys played along with previously posted bands like Shocking Blue and Group 1850, but never really achieved much success. I've read that they were briefly courted by e.s.p.-disk, but unfortunately, nothing was to come of it. And really, I think this would have fit nicely in that stable. There's certainly an interest in free jazz, but they add more global sounds and psych moves. Making one hell of a out there classic in the process.
Just behold those fantastic mod haircuts. Now I know while Phil Collins loves them so much. Good thing the Action were about more than hair and posturing. They actually brought the musical goods. Not really psych (though some people what to label them as such) and not entirely mod pop either, the Action seemed to provide the blue print that Bob Pollard found within some old record sleeve. Eventually, these guys made the unfortunate decision to become hippies. And despite losing their cool dos, they did become Mighty Baby and went on to melt many psychedelic minds.
I know this album has a cult following of sorts, but that cult should flourish. I think this has been relegated to minor status for those outside the know because it is pretty complex and difficult. On the surface, it's some really great, piano-driven, country rock. But this album is far more complicated than that. It's much more in league with the classic song cycle type of albums. Outsider figures, alcoholics, and murders appear and then vanish into the desert. Maybe Allen is kinda like Texas Tom Waits or something, but that's probably a pretty lazy comparison. There's so many damned good songs that every time I listen to this I have a new favorite. Which one will be yours?
Since we're nearing the best holiday of all time, I should probably provide you with something to make the flesh creep. And what is creepier than twins? Especially identical twins. Even though these gals look kinda pretty, twins are still weird. But hearing their paired voices, supplemented by some dude, singing odd, jazz inflected covers of Donovan and Simon & Garfunkel seems somehow right. Extra bonus points received for the Baudelaire reference. If you're into bizzaro vocal harmonies with a slightly experimental edge (I know, it's such a popular genre) than this is for you. If not, then too bad for you. 
Here's one that's often forgotten about when discussions turn to the esp-disk label. Not sure why either. Maybe it's because Watts didn't really seem to make it as a musician (he released just one other album (that features Patty Waters)). It's really too bad, since this is a really great out jazz album. And Watts proved to be a pretty key player in the whole NYC loft scene, where he hosted parties that feature all the usual jazz luminaries of the time. I'll admit that this isn't the easiest album to get into, but if you already enjoy things of this nature, then this one must be heard. Also, Sonny Sharrock, Henry Grimes, Byard Lancaster, and Clifford Thornton are involved.
Here's some sounds to enjoy while watching the leaves fall. If you're into tropicalia of any sort, you'll find that Caymmi probably influenced whatever band/singer you're a fan of. With a career spanning over 60 years, this guy was definitely one of the most important Brazilian musicians of all time. Most of his stuff is worth checking out, but there can be moments where the over produced sounds muffles the great songs. Here, however, we find Caymmi doing it solo. And for some reason, this cover always weirds me out.
Here's another in the series of albums I love but know almost nothing about. Try searching for Coma or "In a Coma" tell me what you can dig up. All I know is it's the last album released on the ADK label (bonus points if you're familiar with their catalog). It's Japanese. It's punk. Those three things should compel you to download this immediately.
