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Showing posts with label country teasers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country teasers. Show all posts
Made in a rival between ACD (Wallers) and Country Teasers (click on the pictures of the sleeve to read more, which I highly recommend) this is yet another top notch 7" from Wallers and occasional company. If you have "Science Hat..." (vinyl especially) you'll already know most of these songs. "After One Thing" and "Henry Krinkle's Theme" were taken from the "Pastoral-Not Rustic" sessions and the rest are from ACD tapes from '94-'96. Great stuff.
1) After One Thing 2) Bryson's The Baker 3) Small Shark In Tiny Pool 4) Adam Wakes Up 5) Kenny Malcolm On Smack Left Prettiest Slave On The Right 6) Henry Krinkle's Theme
It's been barely over a year since I've obtained these 3 LP's, all of which are still available from Junior Aspirin Records (and this being the reason for not posting entire LP's...a musician as great as Ben deserves far more royalties, you like to help him out, right? and any label putting out this many Rebel LP's deserves to be supported as well, dammit). Like most of Wallers' output, each LP is a change of pace from the last, but none ever lose any Wallerness, thankfully. The first listen or two always confuses me, then it hits me just how fucking good it is...then gets better. In order of release: -"Mouthwatering Claustrophobic Changes!"- Mostly electronic and some more instrumental but believe me it works best as whole. Maybe these are reasons this record was so overlooked. included here: 1) War, Politics 2) TNK 4 (a take on a song by a more famous group) -"The Incredible Hulk"- Described by Ben as "a deliberate fuck-all-of-y'all," I still feel that I am one of the few who loves this record. No, it's not the best thing he's ever done, but so what? It's fucking funny, has great songs and a long drawn out joke, which seems to be what annoys most people (not me, though...I have a bastardly sense of humor). Two tracks also appeared on the "Aiming Low" E.P. More musicians need the guts to fuck with their audience like this. And why are Wallers fans complaining about that? Hasn't he done that all along? Country Teasers lyrics? Music? included here: 1) Cherish 2) On My Own -"The Race Against Time Hots Up"- Wallers wanted to follow 'Hulk' "with a crowd-pleasing, melody-centric, live drums trad songs classic." This album is still growing on me like crazy...had the most trouble narrowing it down to 2 tracks for this one, not that it was exactly easy to do so on the others. Left off the Gillian Welch and Sade covers...great originals: one against collaboration and another based on "1984." included here: 1) Colaboration 2) To the Future or to the Past: Greetings! BUY THIS, AND THE OTHER TWO> it's very worth your while.
1) The Fall- Look, Know 2) The Fall- I'm Into C.B. An incredible single from The Fall's output on the Kamera label, possibly their strongest period. Again, I'm more drawn to the B-Side, at no fault of the A-Side.
3) Teengenerate- Out Of Sight 4) Teengenerate- Pushin Me Around Maybe not their strongest release, but still good.
5) ? & the Mysterians- I Need Somebody 6) ? & the Mysterians- 8 Teen Great Latino Stomp n' Pomp pre-punk.
7) Blue Cheer- Summertime Blues 8) Blue Cheer- Out Of Focus Why not follow that up with some classic Stoner Rock?
9) George Jones- Ya Ba Da Ba Do! (So Are You) Is there any going wrong with a song about getting drunk by yourself from an Elvis shaped whiskey bottle, poured into a Fred Flintstone jar, and the resulting conversation with Elvis and Fred? Hell no! (The same song is on both sides of the record)
10) Country Teasers- Anytime, Cowboy 11) Country Teasers- No. 1 Man
Taken from the cassette that got them a deal with Crypt (was tacked onto the "Pastoral, Not Rustic..." CD...I think it stands better on its own than as bonus tracks) and possibly more lo-fi than the Alan Country Davidson tapes from the same time. Time for another beer?
12) The Dukes Of Dixieland- Quand Mo T'est Petite (When I Was a Child) Why do all 4 tracks when all those better bands only get 2? The rest of the E.P. is good, but this track by far stands out as the best.
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."
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?
I probably don't have to tell you how great the 19 tracks left off the CD version are...right? right!
1) I Get Hard 2) Kill! 3) Thank God I'm Gone 4) Let's Have A Shambles 5) So Lonely 6) Tights 7) Go Down Mighty Devil 8) Kenny Malcolm On Smack 9) Good Pair Of Hands 10) Demon Eyes 11) Trendy Mick Fleetwood's Fast Tail 12) Son Of Treble Faced Man 14) Julie Halard 15) Only A Woman 16) Sickening Lack 17) Prettiest Slave On The Barge 18) Full Shark Tiny Pool 19) Prettiest Slave On The Barge (Reprise)
This record, released by Guided Missile in 1999, features three people getting away from the current line-ups of their bands. Amnesiac Godz (2/3 Sebadoh-Jason Loewenstein and Russ Pollard) and Country Teasers, which is just Ben Wallers by himself (The Rebel), both take any pressures off for a mutually loose, enjoyable E.P. Amnesiac Godz seems almost like primal scream (being away from Lou Barlow?). While not sounding much like early Sebadoh, the songs have the same loose, lo-fi lack of seriousness as the records up to "III," even though neither Loewenstein nor Pollard were original members. And it is SO much better than later Sebadoh especially due to Barlow's absence. A.G. vocals are silly, hardly structured, and not remotely sensitive, which is far more the way I like it. Quite simply, it "rocks" more than Sebadoh. The Country Teasers' side features two early, home recorded versions of "Hairy Wine" and "Reynard The Fox," both of which were re-recorded on, the Country Teasers most "pristine" (in recording quality, that is) album, "Destroy All Human Life," also released in 1999. Though a great album,"Destroy All Human Life," is probably (if such a term could apply) their weakest album, but not due to the song writing rather the more polished production and more subdued performances. Hearing the same songs on this EP and C.T.'s live album brings out the differences in the intensity of each performance. I think I prefer the version of "Hairy Wine" on this 7," and I can't make up my mind about "Reynard The Fox." I like each one for different reasons. These versions are more immediate, bouncy, and lo-fi. But why pick favorites? It's all part of the greatest catalog of song, that of Ben Wallers.
1) Amnesiac Godz- Mournful Oatmeal 2) Amnesiac Godz- Ghost In The Practice Space on Grammy Eve" 3) Country Teasers- Hairy Wine 4) Country Teasers- Reynard The Fox
1) The Last Bridge of Spencer Smith 2) Prettiest Slave on the Barge/Kenny Malcolm on Smack
You may know "The Last Brigde..." from "Science Hat..." and a different (and the definitive, in my opinion) version of "Prettiest Slave..." from "The Country Teasers Live Album." Here's the version from 1996. This is a great single and you know why? Because it's by the fucking Country Teasers!
This was given to me by an old co-worker I used to trade music with after I had put something by the Country Teasers on a mix. The similarities are fairly obvious, even though this is quite unique from the Country Teasers [I swear Ben (in homage?) throws in several Jon Waynish "YEP!"'s on 'Satan is Real Again']. Jon Wayne is all American, for better or worse. They are obviously drunk, don't know how to tune instruments, have a rare sense of humor/intolerance. In other words, this is a great, lost classic. Gets better with every listen. Yep! The slighty more competent King Uszniewicz of country music? Legendary Stardust Cowboy toned down by too much whiskey? No use telling you the jokes here, no matter how bad (good) they are. Sometimes dumb seems much smarter...
1) But I've Got Texas 2) Texas Funeral 3) Mr. Egyptian 4) Texas Cyclone 5) Texas Jailcell 6) Workin' Man Blues 7) Shades 8) Texas Wine 9) Is That Justice 10) Texas Polka 11) You & the Kitten 12) Apple Schnapps 13) Truckin' 14) One Hundred & Fifty-One Owl Caricatures 15) Texas Studio
This is actually more of a Rebel E.P. than Country Teasers, even though "Raglan Top..." was rerecorded for "The Empire Strikes Back." The version here has the bouncy drum machine (I usually hate drum machines, but not how The Rebel uses one), sped up vocals and lo-fi guitar that was so dominant of Rebel release around this time (2004). I heard the "Empire" version first, which is one of my favorites off that CD (why it was left off the vinyl, I have no idea) I enjoy this one equally. There's just no going wrong with a song this good. Hearing is believing, Schpuggenauts. "Laziness" is another gem. What better excuse for not finding success, smoking hash, napping, not recording, or fixing mistakes? Yesyesyes. Each side is rounded off by a more electronic piece. I must say I am partial to "Assfucksiation Initiated!" over many of the electronic instrumentals, and is he singing in another language on "Ahoy There"? German? All in all this is an excellent little record.
1) Raglan Top of Lonsdale Grey 2) Assfucksiation Initiated! 3) Laziness 4) Ahoy There
This 7" was recorded live by Ben and Sophie (w/ some overdubs) and launched the label Kanker Mongool with the all too limited pressing of 350. I love Sophie's drumming. Few drummers can back away and add something as creative as she does. Ben mostly sticks to keyboard, but in a more subtle way than many of his other electronic experimental-video-game-musicy pieces. "You're Just Like Tammy Wynette" is not too drastically different from the "Northern Rocks..." version (nothing wrong there) and stands out as the most immediate song on the record. Worth the price of admission alone. Just give the other ones some time...they'll grow om you like crazy.
1) In My Wallet 2) You're Just Like Tammy Wynette 3) Sweet Little Eyes 4) Knapsack 5) Beware Nicole Intro
I came to The Yummy Fur through the Male Nurse, by way of the Country Teasers and I do not hold it against them that some later (? I sure hope so ?) members went on to form the insufferable Franz Ferdinand (YUCK). The Yummy Fur is far more punchy and accessible than CT and the MN, drawing strong influences from the Fall, the Fire Engines, and the Minutemen (more noticeable on "Kinky Cinema") and of all of their records I've heard this one stands as my favorite. Short punchy Fall inspired off-kilter punky skronky poppy good time mayhem=good in my book, especially when I've been O.D.ing on denser music, as I tend to. This is weird and poppy...crossover! Seriously though, give this record a shot...something accessible to today (even though this is from '96...modern enough, right?) on this blog? Take advantage! (too lazy to type out the song titles)
I came to know the Male Nurse through the Country Teasers (front-man Ben Wallers, Alan Crichton, once in CT and subject of the song, "Deaths," and one time CT and Yummy Fur drummer, Lawrence Worthington were all in the Male Nurse). In a perfect world they would've been a supergroup, and not a band hardly known for a novelty-ish single, "My Own Private Patrick Swayze," not that that single is anything to sneeze at... Not surprising for a band with members of the Country Teasers and the Yummy Fur, the easiest band to compare them to is the Fall, but more than the others, the Male Nurse stick to the law of repetition, and unlike the Fall, in the vocals as well as the music. The vocals are slurred and unintelligible but that's how I like it. The voice is just another instrument in the band. If you like the riff once, I hope you like it the next however many times. The recording quality of the Male Nurse took me by surprise...it's so clean, but not in a bad way. A great single through and through, but I still find myself more drawn to the B side. If any of you have their 2 Peel Session PLEASE share them...I've only heard three tracks and want...errrrrr>need the rest.
Upon hearing the great live in studio album, "Northern Rocks Bear Weird Vegetable" the song of the ones I wasn't already familiar with that stood out the most was "Bums on a Rock." A near obsession for finding the original 7" followed. Like the rest of "Northern Rocks..." I love how different the live band recordings are from the solo home recordings. Each works in its own way and has its own charm, which work for us obsessive Wallers fans, giving us two versions of these wonderful songs to compare, contrast, and have more to listen to endlessly. The title track is a Wallers classic. I could go on and on about it, but will let you find out for yourselves. Fans of the halfway between guitar driven and electronic Wallers will be in heaven here. Songs like this one deserve to be massive global singles, but I guess the world just ain't ready yet...they never seemed quite bright enough to realize Ben's brand of genius. "Yellow Boy Game" and "Nurse, Nurse, Nurse" venture more into the electronic, Game Boy tracks that seem to annoy Country Teasers fans to no end, but these tracks are a good place for those types to open their minds and still hear the same music through a different medium, aided by these tracks' brevity and melodic leanings. "Black Policeman" sounds, musically, very similar to "The Idiot" (on "Idiots V. Spastics" also on this blog) and is a new personal favorite. Dig the sax solo. I could (and do) listen to music like this all day. "Brite Yn's Cnut" is one of the instrumental electronic pieces I'm not quite as into. Not that it's bad, it's just not as strong as the rest of this fantastic 7".
1) Bums on a Rock 2) Yellow Boy Game 3) Nurse. Nurse, Nurse 4) Black Policeman 5) Brite Yn's Cnut
Yet another extremely solid 7" from the Rebel. Those of you who know "Northern Rocks Bear Weird Vegetable" and Country Teasers "The Empire Strikes Back" will be familiar with 3 of the 4 songs on this E.P., though in different versions. This is one of those 7''s I have trouble listening to only once. It's a perfect example of the medium: 4 short punchy (fucking great) songs combined into a compact, well rounded package. Should i go on kissing Ben's ass or should you download it and form your own opinion? Your opinion is that Ben is a genius. Just so you know.
1) Turtle v. Octopus 2) Please Ban Music 3) Keith 4) Spiderman in the Flesh
This all too limited E.P. was released in 2009 as an appetizer for Ben latest album, "The Incredible Hulk" (available from Junior Aspirin Records). One thing I love about all of Ben's records is that each one confuses me for the first few listens. They're never what you expect. "Aiming Low" is no exception. The music is much murkier than normal plus there are far more layers of vocals (on the two tracks that have them) than we're used to. It's almost psychedelic, as least as far as the Rebel goes. However, instead of sunshine, elves, and kaleidoscopic freak-outs you get stoner self loathing, confusion, and Nazis. Negative misanthropic psychedelia? YES! "Aiming Low, Getting High" (winner of the best song title in a long ass time award) and "Riding in the Sun" are top notch Rebel. "The Pot" and "Back Out Yellow Boy" are electronic experiments that come across as villainous themes from deranged 80's video games. I know a lot of Country Teasers fans aren't into tracks like this, and they're normally not my cup of tea either. However, the more i listen to them the more they grow on me. So be patient and open minded...you know the rebel is just gonna do whatever the hell he wants to do.
1) Aiming Low, Getting High 2) The Pot 3) Back Out Yellow Boy 4) Riding In The Sun
Out of all the Rebel's 7"s I've come across, this one just may be my favorite. I have nothing against Ben's more experimental electronic pieces, but he can write a solid "song" better than almost anyone alive. The evidence is here. "The Idiot" (as heard in a more drunken version on the Country Teasers Live Album) is a retelling of the film "Stroszek," by Werner Herzog. The lazy shuffling music fits the feel of the film to a T and the lyrics work on their own to anyone who hasn't seen "Strozsek" (if you haven't, well, you should...it's a great movie) and is, in my opinion, far more effective than Ben's retelling of "American Beauty" on "Tarskoffsky's the Snackrifice." Not that it's bad in any way... His vocal sound effects to replicate the film's strange ending are a nice touch. Other people's new year's resolutions, lamentations on being too lazy to record music, let alone leave the house, and an old Canadian folk song for rebels exiled to the States round out the rest of the E.P. The closer, "Un Canadien Errant" first came to my attention in a live video on youtube with Ben and Sophie backed up by the French group, the Sentimentals (see it below). I was immediately pissed that i had no idea how to find a copy of this song. Over a year later i was hanging out on a friend's porch, helping him get rid of his 20 gallons of home-brew before he moved away, and this song came up. Needless to say I immediately insisted a copy and, presumably, another pint. I listened to it almost non-stop for the remainder of the summer. Definitely one of his "nicest" recordings. But every song here is truly great, as you will soon find out...
1) The Idiot 2) Julie's Resolution 3) The Spastic 4) Un Canadien Errant
