USR roster well represented on new comp

http://urbankill.tumblr.com/post/104883936783/2014-mix-24-25-features-an-exclusive-track

There ya' go…a handy link to a massive free comp of experimental/punk-ish what-have-you featuring Kaleidoscope Death, Hun Bed, Ivan the Tolerable and TONS of others…have at it!

USR #9: HUN BED

  Straight from Groningen, Netherlands comes the debut cassette from HUN BED.  You may remember them from  "Contemporary Music Primer," but the recording quality here has definitely improved (not that I have a problem with lo-fi), adding extra punch while losing none of the raw authenticity…full of tension and release with no need for a bass player (the twin guitar assault of groups like The Dead C and The Cramps have left me with a fondness for this approach).  There is a sense of immediacy and the perfect amount of looseness that keep these songs sounding fresh and timeless.
This is punk the way it should be, it doesn't conform to any specific or established sound or look, they just burn through these songs with a feverish intensity, healthy disdain for professionalism, and do it in their own damn way…you know, what punk was supposed to be about all along.
Unfortunately I don't understand a word of Dutch, but that has absolutely no affect on my enjoyment of their music…and extra credit to them for not pandering to English speakers.
  This tape gets better and better with every listen and this US edition is limited to only 25 copies, so act fast!

 

Uuhngreh Schpuggenuh's Oldies Radio: 45's Vol.2

This past weekend while visiting my parents, they presented me with the box of their old 45's that I hadn't been through in at least 15 years.  A number of the old 45's and most of the previous USOR was taken from the stuff I took from that box way back then, so I was very happy to take another large pile of 45's off their hands.
A lot of these records (plus their old LP's and the release of the soundtrack to "Stand By Me," a cassette I completely wore out) are the reason I lost almost all interest in popular contemporary music by the age of 7.  I made the switch to Oldies radio stations, and maybe a little Classic Rock for variety…anything but that dreadful 80's crap.  The 2 known novelty tunes on this were my favorite records when I was even younger.
Don't get me wrong, there is some corny shit on this…but that is part of the appeal…a nice change of pace.
I do recommend playing this on SHUFFLE…minutely more like commercial-less radio…
33 songs

http://www.mediafire.com/download/4an7khry6dw5cw7/US+Oldies+2.zip

The True Brothers- Early and Rare Vol. 1 & 2

I've lived in the same area of North Carolina for almost 36 years, and very soon I'll finally be living somewhere else (Baltimore).  There are many things about this town that I can't wait to get away from, and of course there are others I will miss…but Greensboro has changed so much in 17 years, and not for the best (at least as far as I am concerned).
Anyone from Greensboro who makes a name for themselves, music-wise, either moves away or tours a lot and lives here in obscurity (best example: Eugene Chadbourne), or lucks out when time catches up…like what happened with an old local favorite of mine (who completely deserve it), Ashrae Fax (their last recording,  2003's "Static Crash," is probably still available on vinyl from Mexican Summer for y'all fans of avant-electro-pop…they're recording a new album, too).  Other old friends have found success in Red Fang.  Plus Cat Power, Vetiver, and one of Teagan & Sara are from here …Emmylou Harris briefly lived here and it's rumored that Townes Van Zandt's, "Greensboro Woman" is named after her.  Add Billy Crash Craddock and the drummer from Pentagram who died here and what do you have?..
...The blank, confusing, ever-changing mess of Greensboro.
As always, most bands just fall through the cracks and many people I know have never been to a True Brothers show.  Granted these recordings are from the early 90's, and I wasn't familiar with them until the late 90's, but when they made the change to "outlaw" country (kinda like Toby Keith…even though they still sang some good songs here and there) a couple of years ago it just wasn't a change for the better.
In their day, when they dressed up in full embroidered/sequined/tassel laden country star get-up, while playing beautiful guitars in custom leather casings (and if there were even strings on them, they were never in anything resembling any kind of tuning...they were just props) singing a country music hit parade of yesteryear along with karaoke accompaniment.  Full showmanship.  When they played in dive bars and punk-houses between indie, punk, hardcore, etc. acts…they always got a great reaction from the beer swilling audience.  Many people long to see stuff like this in the South, but when they're faced with it there's a very clear dividing line in the audience.
Anything that squashes indifference is automatically art.
Many of these songs are covers, but there are several True Brothers originals (#9, 12, 15, 17-21).
They're really nice guys, but they'll talk your ear off.  Their house looks like a rustic country home, but it's in a very nice yet busy neighborhood divided between college kids and upper-middle class white liberals.  Their holiday decorations, no matter what the holiday, are always worth a gander.  Before their Fathers' passing, every Christmas he would sit in front of their garishly decorated shack dressed as Santa, ready to pose for pictures.
Those old (late 90's, early 00's) True Brothers shows were always so much fun and always provided a wonderful alternative to punk/indie/etc. which we could see anytime.  It rare to see so many scenesters lighten up so much...
People tend to give the South a bad name, and rednecks are always given WAY too bad of a name.  OK, some live up to the negative stereotypes but most of them have way more common sense and a far better sense of humor than almost everyone else you'll meet, especially cool/hip/scene people.  Many will joke about what they, and others, think is their lack of intelligence…common sense is the most valuable intelligence, in my opinion.  I'm not sure if I could ever live above the Mason/ Dixon Line.
Pop open a few beers and cast expectations aside…taking yourself seriously is rarely enjoyable for anyone.  Country music is so down to Earth that pompous pedants won't be anywhere near it, therefore keeping things simple and enjoyable for everyone.


 http://www.mediafire.com/download/9ak1jc79691pqlk/True+Bros.zip

BONUSES:

PERISCOPE BREATH- "Blind Miles"

Periscope Breath's 5th tape in the past two years is now finished!
There were no records used to further fuck things up this time and the result is as "focused" as PB has been to date.  "Last Ditch Exit Strategy" was just too damn long, so this one returns to the previous 30 minute running time.
PB continues with detuned guitar ramblings, squealing/buzzing synth, bass on one track, even some vocals and mic noise.  I hope fans of the Dead C will find something to enjoy here (not that this sounds like them, but it could be said to be in a somewhat similar vein).
Limited to only 10 cassettes.  Free downloads.

USR #8: SUMMER CAMP CASANOVA- Little Pieces of Big Things

The label's next release continues on with the new digital release program, but seeing how Bandcamp now makes bands pay for free downloads, and the very obvious fact that money helps labels exist, all downloads in this series now cost a whopping $1.
"Little Pieces of Big Things," goes from banged out experimental indie, to nuanced instrumental, scuzzy detuned rumbling guitar, humor, criticism, and whatever else all in under a half hour.  This was Erik's 3rd CD as Summer Camp Casanova and, as far as I know, his last album (??).  Previous CDs had been done solo, but the addition of a full band (members of Blank_Blank, Secret Message Machine, and Casual/Curious) packed an added punch.  The band started to get some local attention, and promptly fizzled out and a few months later Erik moved to California.
In addition I have added their live set from the "LPOBT" release show and an instrumental piece that Erik and I did back in 2006, just to have a back up why not.
More to come!!

USR #7: POODLESTICK: Reasonable People- Deluxe Edition

USR #7 is the first in what will hopefully be a series of free DIY digital reissues…for those odd groups that never made it far enough to even be able to fall through the cracks.

Poodlestick was a short lived experimental instrumental duo from Greensboro, NC.  Members Michael and Erik met as neighbors in crumbling apartment buildings on Wilson St., and discovering they had similar tastes in music, started playing music together.  Their first recordings were released under the name Blank_Blank, but more neighbors (Sarah and Dana) joined up to fill out the line-up, and a new band was born.  Therefore, Michael and Erik continued their more experimental, yet musical recordings as Poodlestick, who played a handful of gigs and released their only CDr album in 2005.

Around this time they made the acquaintance of another Greensburling experimental then-instrumental odd-ball Chuck, whose first recordings as Kaleidoscope Death were in a similar vein, and for the next 4 years they continued to make noisy experimental music as Mystery Pill.
Then in 2008 Poodlestick all too briefly reunited, performing one infamous show and recording one 10 minute experimental piece.

Unfortunately, instrumental music seems doomed to extinction, so for those of you who like music in the back ground, more for mood, etc…this doozie's for you.

This Deluxe Edition contains the album REASONABLE PEOPLE, a live on College Radio performance (Summer, 2005), and the one reunion recording, UP IN THAT JUNK.

The solo projects of Poodlestick members were also included on UUHNGREH SCHPUGGENUH'S CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PRIMER….Secret Message Machine (Michael) and Summer Camp Casanova (Erik).  Check back for more reissues from those 2 groups.

Digital Dingoes: ///EP

Freshly released 3rd EP from Kaleidoscope Death's somewhat electro-pop spin-off group.  Lo-fi cheap keyboard and drum machine dark pop...
Free downloads: