Monday, June 30, 2008

State Route 522

The Angel Assassins played with State Route 522 in Seattle during our disastrous West Coast tour. That was one of the best shows we played however, in a basement. It was my first time in Seattle and I was blissfully unaware of the fact that my car would break down the next day.

They were great though. I haven't listened to this record in years but it certainly did bring back some memories of the mid to late 90s.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single and a CD by State Route 522.

State Route 522(Henry's Finest Recordings)
1. Find
2. Ten Years
3. Waste Of Skin
4. Hit


















Samson Is Apollo (Excursion)
1. I.V.
2. 1910
3. Solid State
4. Intermission
5. Avenue Of The Giants

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Kaleidoscope

I first got hipped to Kaleidoscope when I was working at Midnight Records. Mike played Tangerine Dream for me and I was totally blown away. I'm still blown away by it, to be honest.

We got this CD in when it came out and listened to it constantly. I particularly like "San Francisco".

Recently I was listening to them and realized that I didn't have a copy, digital or otherwise, of this record. I found it on Amazon for a few bucks and figured it was a worthwhile investment.

I know there were several Kaleidoscopes, but for my money this one was the best. Is there really any argument?

Some of the tracks are a bit rough as they are from acetates. Acetates they hadn't seen since the 60's. How does this happen? How do things like this go missing so easily? Don't people care about the past?

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a CD by Kaleidoscope.

The Sidekicks Sessions 1964 - 1967 (CD Alchemy)
1. And She's Mine
2. Reflections
3. Please Stay, Don't Go
4. What Can I Do?
5. He's Gonna Ba a Star
6. San Francisco
7. Walking in the Park
8. I Wants to Be Loved
9. San Francisco
10. He's Gonna Be a Star
11. I'm Looking for a Woman
12. House of the Rising Sun
13. Roadrunner
14. Wee Wee Hours
15. You're Not Mine
16. Drivin' Around
17. Holiday Maker
18. And She's Mine
19. Please Stay, Don't Go
20. What Can I Do?
21. High Heel Sneakers

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Service Anxiety

Cowboys & Indians played a show with Service Anxiety at Free 103. They were fantastic.

Coptic Light also played that show, long before Kevin and I had ever even considered being in a band together. Little did we know.

I have to admit that I got this record off them at the show but didn't actually listen to it until the other day. It is super good, however. Also, the packaging is pretty deluxe.

I recently heard that there was an Action Patrol reunion and I missed it. Sleepytime Trio even played! I probably wouldn't have made the trip to Virginia for it, but it sounds like it was probably a good time.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Service Anxiety.

The Persistent Inversion Of Solution By Protective Powers (Dead CEO)
1. Needs Gasoline
2. New Theology Of Desire
3. Art History

Friday, June 27, 2008

Currituck County

I have had the sincere pleasure of seeing Kevin play many times over the years, first in Aden and then solo.

When we first met we discovered that we were in the same film program at different schools. Thus I had read his professors and vice versa.

Of course, that was 1999.

One night I stayed up very late listening to Unpacking My Library, waiting for a telephone call from a girl. The call never came. I was, needless to say, less than pleased.

I haven't heard from Kevin in a while but I hope he is doing well.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, Currituck County.

Currituck County (Troubleman Unlimited)
1. Henry
2. Antichrist
3. Texas



















Punaluu (Dutch Courage)
1. Punaluu
2. Did I See You
3. Prelude
4. Intertwining Hands


















Medleys (Death Rattle Of The West)
1. Intertwining Flowers
2. Sailing

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Amy Linton + Stewart Anderson

What a fun one off single! I love these things.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Amy Linton + Stewart Anderson.

Amy Linton + Stewart Anderson (555/Slumberland)
1. The Lights Are Out
2. Romance, Baby I Don't Care
3. Hipsters, Scenesters, Teenstars And Fakers
4. I Cut My First Tooth On One Just Like You

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

In/Humanity

I almost saw In/Humanity. They were on tour with End Of The Century Party and jumped on a show I attended at the Huntington Beach Library. Only one band got to play, and it wasn't In/Humanity. For the life of me I cannot recall who was actually playing, maybe Embassy? It was 12 years ago, after all.

I don't know why I purchased the Japanese import CD of this rather than the vinyl. It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense, but it did save me some time ripping it.

Huzzah!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a CD by In/Humanity.

The History Behind The Mystery: Music To Kill Yourself By (HG Fact)
1. If It's Wrong It's Real
2. Let There Never Be Another Song Ever Wrote (Sic)
3. Mystery Solved...
4. The Execution Of Clive
5. New Discarded Evidence In The Case
6. The Anakrinomphicon Quintilogy
7. Too Drunk To Molotov
8. Against All Youth
9. Intermission
10. Me And My Shadow
11. No Thanks Mr. Roboto
12. We're Sick Of Music And We Hate Each Other
13. Kids In Cults

Monday, June 23, 2008

Chisel

I made the mistake of listening to my friend Scott Miller when I was younger. He told me Chisel was no good and I believed him.

I had not, of course, actually listened to them. It wasn't until years later that I started listening to Ted's solo stuff that I decided to go back and reexamine his earlier work. My roommate Andrew was super into Chisel, and it wasn't long before I was too.

I accidentally saw The Sin Eaters at Coney Island High in 1998. I wish I had a clearer memory of that show because I know they only played two and they are supposedly legendary.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 3.5 singles by Chisel.

Swamp Fox/Spike b/w Listen (Assembly)
1. Swamp Fox/Spike
2. Listen



















Chisel/Brian, Colin, And Vince (Sudden Shame)
1. Spectacles





















Sunburn (Gern Blandsten)
1. Sunburn
2. Little Gidding
3. 3 O'Clock High



















It's Alright, You're O.K. b/w The Guns Of Meridian (Gern Blandsten)
1. It's Alright, You're O.K.
2. The Guns Of Meridian

Sunday, June 22, 2008

David Scott Stone

There are 20 copies of this disc, made to sell exclusively at the Ooga Booga store in Los Angeles. I listened to it recently in the middle of a huge thunderstorm and it was very surreal.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a business card CDr by David Scott Stone.

VCO>VCF>VCA>Go! (Self)
1. VCO>VCF>VCA>Go!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Roads To Space Travel

I used to see the single around all over the place but I never really knew what it was so I gave it a miss. Being on Jawbox's label wasn't that big of a selling point.

Some years later I saw The Oranges Band open for The Hold Steady and they were fantastic. I purchased a few of their records and discovered that Roman was previously in Roads To Space Travel.

As you can see, I made some purchases based on this information.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, seventeen cuts by Roads To Space Travel.

Roads To Space Travel (Amish)
1. Represent
2. Still Lame Punk
3. I Didn't Pay My Taxes '95
4. New Mathematics
5. Crescent City Garage
6. W. H. Harrison
7. RDS Theme
8. From A To Point B
9. March On McKinley!
10. Black Van
11. Remember Your Lines Pt. 1
12. Remember Your Lines Pt. 2
13. Mitch... Tryout For Dancer
14. Two Point Two
15. 1001110





 


Before, Before Now b/w Guest Photographer (Desoto)
1. Before, Before Now
2. Guest Photographer

Friday, June 20, 2008

Marine Research

There was a time when I was really into indie pop. Well, maybe not really really into it. But I did like a lot of the Sarah Records stuff.

I never got to see Heavenly but I did see Marine Research at Bottom Of The Hill. I remember being pretty excited about it too.

This is, ironically, the first request I have fulfilled (and quite belated at that). Matt, I hope you are happy.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 3 sides of Marine Research.

Queen B b/w Y.Y.U.B. (Where It's At Is Where You Are)
1. Queen B
2. Y.Y.U.B.




















Marine Research/Built To Spill (K)
1. Sick & Wrong

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Neon King Kong

I was a always big fan of Le Shok and had the pleasure of seeing them several times. Unfortunately Neon King Kong never came out to the east coast. Their records did, however. I always liked them but never listened to them much as they are ridiculously short. It is annoying to have to keep flipping over records that are less than two minutes long.

Those days are a thing of the past, as they are now committed to mp3. You can listen to all five released songs from the comfort of whatever digital device you prefer (you could even run them to cassette if you like). You can do whatever you want with them, to be honest.

It wasn't until years later that I discovered I was friends with the drummer. Jeremy never mentioned anything to me about being in this band, but I suppose it just never came up. I already knew he was in Wives though.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, two singles and a Red Kross cover by Neon King Kong.

Mix Up The Mix b/w Jerks Are Creeping (GSL)
1. Mix Up The Mix
2. Jerks Are Creeping




















Get What's Going Around b/w There's A Party (Vinyl Dog)
1. Get What's Going Around
2. There's A Party




















GSL 50 (GSL)
1. Annette's Got The Hits

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Audience

The first time I saw them was the second time they played, somewhere near Santa Cruz I think. The show was at a weird bar and they were amazing. This was the era when they would play with TVs tuned to static behind them.

Apparently their first show they wore silver suits that made them look like spacemen, although I don't think that was their intention. I am still sad that I missed that show.

The CD of Das Audience had a really silly hidden track that was funny the first time I heard it and gotten really tiresome after that.

I am glad the LP does not feature that cut.

I wrote the following review of Young Soul for Zum #11 in 1998:

"This is sort of the same band that had out a recent LP, but it sounds totally different. Maybe it's because since then, they've kicked out their singer and been through three (four? who can keep track anymore?) keyboard players. They rock and roll and all that, but they definitely have a certain charm not found on many of the records of the pretty-boys-from-hardcore-bands-rediscovering-soul-and-rock genre (or whatever, I don't really know), and if you like that sort of thing, then this is the record for you. I don't, but I still like it. Go figure."

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, 2 records by The Audience.

Das Audience (Hymnal Sound)
1. Doctor Huh
2. Painless Dentistry
3. Love A Doorframe
4. Solomon's Son
5. Studio! Studio!
6. Barson Stills
7. Something Signal
8. The Ramona Pageant














Young Soul (GSL)
1. Young Soul
2. The Voyeurs

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Juhl

I don't really know too much about Juhl other than that they were from Colorado and I like these two songs.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, two songs by Juhl.

Juhl/Malcriada (GSL)
1. For The Purpose Of...
2. Conversation With A Friend

Monday, June 16, 2008

Emperor

I never got super into the black metal thing. I knew people who were stoked on it, but I wasn't that impressed by the penmanship.

Then someone played this for me and I was floored. It is truly epic.

I was told at one point that I have an original copy of this CD and it is worth some money, but I have never been able to confirm this.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, Emperor.

Hordanes Land (Candlelight)
1. I Am The Black Wizards
2. Wrath Of The Tyrant
3. Night Of The Graveless Souls
4. Cosmic Keys To My Creations & Times

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Assembly Line People Program

I always heard good things about this band, but if you didn't live in Chicago or London their records were impossible to find.

I found all the English records in (wait for it) London, and I found the other one in Los Angeles (all roads lead to Amoeba, eventually).

I am not sure how Graham Coxon found them, but apparently he did.

I never asked Michael about that for some reason. Or maybe I did and forgot. Who knows?

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a few records by Assembly Line People Program.

Chicago, IL (Constructive Interference)
1. Glass Static
2. Knight Logic
3. New Minds



















Noise Vision 80 b/w Who's Outline (Live) (Transcopic)
1. Noise Vision 80
2. Who's Outline (Live)




















Critical Gate b/w Glass Static (3rd Eye Foundation Remix) (Transcopic)
1. Critical Gate
2. Glass Static (3rd Eye Foundation Remix)




















Subdivision Of Being (Transcopic)
1. Ambiguity Of Crowds
2. In Need Of Language
3. Red Line Observation
4. Machine Gets Oil
5. Critical Gate
6. From Him, Another
7. Dover Butterfly
8. Noise Vision 80
9. A.L.P.P.
10. Selective Perception/Notion Implanted

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Telepathe

I was astounded to find this at a record store in Austin because you don't typically see bootlegs of bands like Telepathe. It is also #36 of 50! How could I resist?

They were partiularly good in this era too!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a live disc by Telepathe.

Live In Austin (Distillery)
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Yummy Fur

Welcome to the 100th Post! Imagine balloons and confetti falling to mark the occasion, if you like.

100 bands in 100 days is nothing sneer at, I would say. I am officially taking this opportunity to pat myself on the back. If you feel like patting me on the back as well, please feel free to do so by leaving me a complimentary comment.

I decided that to celebrate, I would share one of my favorite bands with you. As you can see by the sheer volume of records here, a lot of work (and love!) went into this post.

If you are unfamiliar with The Yummy Fur, this is your lucky day. You might have just discovered your new favorite band.

I was introduced to them whilst working at Epicenter. One of the singles came in and was described as sounding like The Fall so I purchased it. More singles kept coming in, and I kept purchasing them.

I've still never seen an actual copy of Kodak Nancy Europe. I will keep looking. Should I find one, this sentence will disappear and be replaced by mp3s.

When I finished college I was determined to move somewhere but I hadn't quite decided where. I considered moving to the United Kingdom and turning up on John McKeown's door, demanding to be in the band (much as Ed Crawford did to Mike Watt). I moved to New York City instead.

I was in Glasgow recently and was disappointed that I didn't have any time to look in record stores to see if I could unearth any memorabilia.

One of my all time favorite lines is from "Policeman":

"Oh, policeman, I'd love to spend the evening snorting cocaine off the stomach of your girlfriend."

My old roommate Mel Flashman used to have a dance she would do to "In The Company Of Women". It was hilarious.

"Shoot The Ridiculant" is, in my own estimation, a masterpiece.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, many records by The Yummy Fur.

Music By Walt Disney But Played By Yuri Gagarin Thus A Political Record (Slampt)
1. Goosebump
2. Shrinky-Dinc
3. Pink Pop Girls
4. Kabuki Actors Christmas
5. Candy Clark
6. Hong Kong In Stereo
7. Mao Tse Tung
8. Father Ubu Says
9. Frankenstein A Go-Go
10. The Optical Meat Dress












Elastic Jet Mission (Slampt)
1. Bugs Bunny
2. Popcorn




















Night Club (Slampt/Guided Missile)
1. Plastic Cowboy
2. Prole Birthday
3. Kirsty Cooper
4. Theme From Ultrabra
5. Films
6. Cheloveck
7. Republic Of Salo
8. Rollerderby
9. Theoretically Pink
10. Kodak Nancy Europe
11. Carry On Nurse
12. I Am 'Cosmetic Man'
13. Roxy Girls
14. Klaxxon Education Film
15. Exact Copy Of Herman Friendly
16. Sergeant Jumper
17. Chinese Bookie





Homosexuals, Clowns, And Film-Makers Caught In The Nightclub Death System As Explained By The Group (Guided Missile)
1. Plastic Cowboy
2. Flapy Clown Disco
3. Chinese Bookie



















Supermarket (Vesuvius)
1. Supermarket
2. The Career Saver




















Policeman (Guided Missile)
1. Policeman
2. 70's/Car Crash




















Stereo Girls (Roxy)
1. Stereo Girls
2. We're Always Crashing In The Same Car




















Male Shadow At Three O'Clock (Vesuvius)
1. St John Of The Cross
2. Catholic
3. Department
4. Colonel Blimp
5. The Canadian Flag
6. Vacuum Cleaner
















Shoot The Ridiculant (Guided Missile)
1. Shoot The Ridiculant Part 1
2. Shoot The Ridiculant Part 2




















Sexy World (Guided Missile)
1. Sexy World
2. Playboy Japan (1971)
3. In The Company Of Women
4. British Eyeballs Ltd
5. Cryptdang
6. Analogue People
7. 50 Million Bees
8. Deathclub
9. Fantastic Legs
10. 801
11. The Ballad Of Piggy Wings
12. Young Pop Things
13. Shoot The Ridiculant









Glasgow (Plastic Cowboy)
1. Shivers





















Club Beatroot Part Eight (Flotsam & Jetsam)
1. This Is Andrew Sinclair

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Diamond Nights

My friends Morgan and Tim were in a band called Diamonds. I saw them a few times and they were sort of okay.

Then some time went by and I saw them again. Somehow in the meantime they had gotten awesome.

Then they had to change their name because some band called Diamonds from the 60s was threatening to sue them. Morgan asked me what I thought of Diamond Nights. I said it was perfect, like Baywatch Nights or something.

One night I ran into Morgan at 4am and he explained to me that he had just been at the SNL after party. He seemed bewildered by this turn of events, even though it seemed normal to him as well. He was wearing a belt made of bullets, which impressed me. They always seem so large and unwieldy to me, but he was pulling it off well. I suppose that's what minor rockstardom does to you.

I haven't seen Morgan for a while so I don't know what's happening. Is Diamond Nights totally kaput or just on hiatus? Has he started a new band? Who knows?

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a 12" by Diamond Nights.

So Fantastic (Kemado)
1. Saturday Fantastic
2. The Girl's Attractive
3. All Your Lovin'
4. Old Oaks

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Har Mar Superstar

I don't think I have ever seen Sean not high. Of course, it has been a few years since I've seen him, so maybe things have changed.

I saw one of the first Har Mar shows in New York at The Cooler. He opened for The Rondelles. It was, needless to say, an enjoyable evening.

The last time I saw him was at Spa (or was it Plaid by then?). He appears to have done well for himself. Kudos!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a tour CD by Har Mar Superstar.

Insound Tour Support 9 (Insound)
1. Baby, Do You Like My Clothes?
2. I'm Your New Babydaddy (Featuring Dirty Preston)
3. Girl, You're Stupid

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Lux Vanitas

I saw Lux Vanitas play with Nuzzle once upon at time at Chateau in Berkeley.

I kept telling them how great they were, but they didn't seem convinced. I don't understand why Nuzzle never hit it big, I always loved them.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Lux Vanitas.

The Mysterious And Deadly... (Paralogy)
1. Jim Lupient
2. Killed By Robots
3. I Really Get Into It

Monday, June 9, 2008

The Carrots

I saw The Carrots at Silent Barn recently. They were amazing. Everyone left with a smile on their face, and I purchased every record they had available.

Sometimes when you see a band you sort of know you will never get to see them in an intimate environment like that again. Sometimes you have a feeling that they are about to get huge.

Four part harmonies! Amazing! Every song is a hit!

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, everything I could find by The Carrots.

Doing Our Part (Elefant)
1. Doing Our Part
2. Jimmy Don't Cry
3. Secret Since '99
4. Ladies Of Givens


















Beverly (Elefant)
1. Beverly
2. Kissing & Telling
3. I Tried To Call You
4. Gloria


















Covers EP (Self)
1. Bulldog
2. Breakaway
3. Funnel Of Love
4. Chains
5. Who Will Be The Next In Line
6. Best Part Of Breaking Up
7. Postman
8. Then He Kissed Me
9. Remember (Walking In The Sand)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Kublai Khan

I don't believe I had the pleasure of seeing Kublai Khan. I did see the first Jakarta show, which my hazy memory tells me featured members of Kublai Khan. I could be wrong, however.

Slowly but surely, every record Brooks put out will make it up here. How many are left now? The internet doesn't seem to know.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Kublai Khan.

Kublai Khan EP (Chocolate River (Deconstructions))
1. Alexander The Great
2. Ricky "The Dragon" Speedboat
3. Popular Mechanics

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Electrosleep International

My friend Dave used to tell me about his friend Josh's band Electrosleep International. I later met Josh and played with and saw his current excellent bands (Deerhunter and SIDS, respectively). But it took me a few years to finally hear this one.

Man is it good! Some hardcore records have held up better than other, apparently.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, a single by Electrosleep International.

A>A>A>A (Ex-Space 6)
1. After We Steal The Identity Of The Pharohs
2. Unite On Impulse
3. These Purchases
4. Thirteen Toes