Gate- The Dew Line

More lo-fi, minimalist, detuned guitar, droney, noisy slacker/stoner "rock" from Michael Morley (from The Dead C...hear more from them and Gate on this blog). This album is fucking great. Sedentary intoxication and solitude recommended. I really love this stuff, even if I don't listen to it that often. Dark+loud+mumbly+simplicity/a little too slacker to be menacing=yesyesyes.

http://www.mediafire.com/?kfaymkf12m0

Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 2

See thoughts with "Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1" a few posts down.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ziy2mzuxcye

...and if you are curious about the song "The Mummy" is referencing ["Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)"-a novelty single from the TV show, "77 Sunset Strip"], my Mom had that 45...so here it is.

http://www.mediafire.com/?y4nzm2zzy5v

Gamelan Music of Bali

This one's for Sarah and Andrew because if you guys don't get your asses over to Bali, at some point during your year in Indonesia, and see some of this there'll be one hell of an ass whuppin waiting for each of you next time you're in Greensboro. Dammit.

http://www.mediafire.com/?yqywyfzj1el

Die groBe Starparade

A find from a Goodwill on the outskirts of town, and seeing all the 60's Swiss records I found there too I presume these were souvenirs from someone's military service (seeing the age and that rural North Carolinians aren't normally into "world" music).
This was a great find: a collection of 60's German easy listening and pre-soft-rock. I also love the sound of the German language (check out the spoken interlude in the cover of "Are You Lonesome Tonight"). The worst is when one guy sings in english. I've said it before and I'll say it again: pop music is best in a language you don't know so you have no idea how bad the lyrics probably are.
This record isn't going to blow any minds, but it is a highly enjoyable listen.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmml2w03zxy

Country Teasers- Back To The Future (Brideshead Revisited Revisited)

This is a compilation of the early band's ("Pastoral Not Rustic"/"Satan Is Real Again" line-up) out-takes and live recordings (1994-96). Some are heard on "Science Hat..." and solo versions on Alan Country Davidson tapes. Personally, I can't have enough different versions of any Wallers song plus the first Country Teasers I ever heard was this line up and it's nice to hear a more from them, even if Guided Missile made them censor "Women and Children 1st" and their joke take on "Tainted Love" from a condom awareness show in Slovenia might be taken the wrong way by people without a sense of humor (as well as most C.T. songs).
The first 11 tracks would fit comfortably on either "Pastoral.." or "Satan is Real Again." Plus "Milkman" has one of my favorite opening lines: "Network first program on Irish Siamese twins plays Enya as the family visit the grave of the dead one." I'm not sure why I love that line so much, apart from my absolute hatred of Enya and it's overly cheesy phony bullshit. Wallers should write a book already.
The drunken live tracks are a nice touch too, especially Wallers alternate take on John Denver's "Country Roads" [followed by live takes on "I'm a New Person, Ma'am (not listed)] and "Axe Greenan" shows them at their worst. It's nice to have bands have a sense of humor about their own fuckings up.
If any of you have links to other live Country Teasers or Rebel recordings, let us know, please.
"Christ on a fucking rubber bike, let it be."

http://www.mediafire.com/?klzwofji25d

Jungle Exotica Vol. 2

Martin Denny on crack?
Yet another compilation of obscure old R'N'R, but instead of the standard primitive R'N'R beat, you get a primitive jungle beat with your R'N'R and with fantastic results. Something a little more wild...
If you are one of the unfortunate ones who don't understand the simple brilliance of early rock 'n' roll, do yourself a favor and give this a listen. Has the combination of simplicity and primitive energy, especially with a jungle beat, ever gone too wrong?

http://www.mediafire.com/?ugdi0mzymjm

(I must say that I prefer Vol. 2 to Vol. 1, but it's not bad in any way. If you can't find it anywhere else let me know and I'll post it, too.)

Duane Eddy- Yep/Three-30-Blues

Another from my Dad's collection of old 45's that has been a favorite of mine for a long long time. I was lucky enough to get a hold of his Duane Eddy collection at a young age and I consider Duane Eddy as an integral part of my love of instrumental music.
Another reason I love this 45 is the way it jumps out of the speakers and you can still hear it unamplified, which unfortunately is lost in the digital transfer.
Once I got into Lee Hazlewood in college I was surprised to learn that he had written many songs early on for Duane Eddy and "Yep!" oozes with that wonderful Hazlewood cheesyness. It's not to hard to imagine his reverb drenched baritone over this one. I may be wrong, but I think he may have played a part in Eddy's aquarium tank echo system.
A great well balanced single.

http://www.mediafire.com/?z1koiuinzmj

God Less America

This is a collection of obscure country songs from 1955-1966 covering topics as alcoholism, drug abuse, murder, mothers reduced to stripping, fear of the dark, dumb risks, Johnny Cash impersonations, paranoia, despair, death, etc. Depending on your mood this can be outstanding or overwhelming. Drunkenness and a bad mood are encouraged.
Have a few for the ongoing decline of humanity.

1) Ramblin Red Bailey- 8 Weeks in a Barroom
2) Arkey Blue & the Blue Cowboys- Too Many Pills
3) Billy Ray- The Story of Susie
4) Chuck Wells- Down and Out
5) Harry Johnson- It's Nothing to Me
6) Horace Heller- Ed's Place
7) Pierce Brothers- Death Row
8) Country Johnny Mathis- Caryl Chessman
9) Troy Hess- Please Don't Go Topless, Mother
10) Hi-Fi Guys- Rock 'N' Roll Killed My Mother
11) Mohawk & the Rednecks- Enchanted Forest
12) Cal Veale- Paralysed
13) Paul Barton- My Neighbor the Firefighter
14) Granpa Joe- The Drunken Driver
15) Eddie Noack- Dolores
16) Lum Hatcher- Behind the Fear

http://www.mediafire.com/?15njjzlxoid

Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1

What I like so much about this kind of "strange" music versus contemporary "strange" bands is that these musicians use their own inner weirdness instead of relying almost solely on effects pedals, sampling, referencing what has already been done, half-assed improvisational bullshit, and a bunch of dumb hollering. These sound more otherworldly by being more unique personal manifestations by uniquely strange people. Just imagine the musicians in the studio recording any of these songs.
Examples: what sounds like an Art Carney impersonation over Beach Boys style harmonies, a ten minute telling of a telephone conversation between Buddha and a Yogi who sounds like a mid-western housewife, frantic xylophones, everyday noises turned into songs, self loathing and societal parody, solo whistlers, etc.
100% enjoyable and makes me want to go search through every thrift store record pile I can get to.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ygzxnqaduuy

Country Teasers- "Pinball Machine" *PLUS*

This is a C.T. (more like the Rebel) track from a comp. put out by Multiball Magazine. I've never heard the rest of the comp., but this track is more than strong enough to stand on its own. In the same vein as "Secret Weapon Revealed at Last," "Exciting New Venue...," etc. AKA drunken country swagger with bleeping electronics and lo fi drum machine shuffle. Result: a song I can listen to for hours on end (and if you think I'm exaggerating...).
Pure fucking genius.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xcj2yvmmvyj

3 more versions by The Fall, Lonnie Irving, and Merle Kilgore. So surprising that Wallers' version most resembles the Fall's. Who woulda thunk it?

http://www.mediafire.com/?tnh5jzmmymh

Devo- Hardcore Devo Volumes 1 and 2

These CDs are made up of Devo's basement 4-Track recordings from 1974-77. Is this my favorite Devo? I can't say, but these are definitely their strangest, grittiest and least P.C. recordings. All pluses in my book. Here's what they sounded like before they understandably resulted to pop to get their message across to a larger audience (with a succession of brilliant L.P.s).
No use writing...just listen.
If you ever get a chance to read the lyric sheets, do yourself a favor, they're hilarious.

Vol. 1

http://www.mediafire.com/?n4tntyctqnk

Vol. 2

http://www.mediafire.com/?ovz0umojznl

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs- "On Tour" and "Their Second Album"

"On Tour" is the more solid of these two albums, and no, it's not a live album. Though many of the songs have some sort of "on the road" theme, it seems to me like more of an attempt to break away from the campy, spooky witch doctor type crap that bogged down "Their Second Album" in both song material AND image.
Ring Dang DO!

http://www.mediafire.com/?xrmnjtymdon



...but this album isn't bad. The second side is unfortunately a series of uninspired covers (reeks of record label pressure). Just check out the last six tracks to see what I mean. But this record does have 'Ju Ju Hand' and 'Medicine Man.' No going wrong there.
What's a little hard drive space to find out for yourself?

http://www.mediafire.com/?yynmzyja3md

also check out the post for the album and single of "Li'l Red Riding Hood," just a few posts down...

Out of Tune Pianos=Southern Sentimentality

These two records, found on the same day in two separate $1 bins, reek of sentimentality, for better or worse, and also a lazy, drunken, Southern feel. Therefore I hope Erik, Andrew, and Sarah (if they hear this) can use these if they feel nostalgic for Greensboro. Chub Cheer!
I also love out of tune tack pianos.



There are skips in a few tracks, but for $1 from Habitat Restore with the record falling through the jacket, what can you expect?

http://www.mediafire.com/?dhvzzwmynkd



I must say I prefer this record to the previous one. The addition of drums and banjo definitely give it that little something extra. Is it more hokey? I don't know and I don't care! Salvation Army does it again!

http://www.mediafire.com/?enjlzczm3vu