Teengenerate- Audio Recording

Recorded in Seattle during the height of the Grunge boom ('93), and featuring their original drummer, Suck, this album shows a band finding their grounding and refining their sound. Don't get me wrong, like all Teengenerate releases this is great full throttle punk rock n' roll. 6 of the 11 tracks are covers, but the promise that is realized on "Savage" and "Get Action" (both on this blog) is evident here.

1) Wild Weekend (the Zeros)
2) Shake a Tail Feather (Andre Williams)
3) I Don't Mind
4) She's a Dumb
5) Don't Come Close to Me
6) Midnight To Six Man (the Pretty Things)
7) Baby Doll (Chuck Berry)
8) White Talk
9) The American Blues
10) Dirty Robber (the Wailers)
11) Burn My Eye (Radio Birdman)

http://www.mediafire.com/?s01vywdlkcrzqko

The Dead C- The Operation of the Sonne

Released in the same year (1995) as their classic, "The White House" and the top notch live album "Trapdoor Fucking Exit" (somewhere on this blog) by Siltbreeze in a limited run, it seems to fit right in between those two, flowing between lo-fi noisescapes and detuned improv. "rock."
Three tracks in 48 minutes, but all three work like one feedbacky mass of homemade (?) slacker kraut influenced deceivingly simple sounding noise rock.
Too bad it was such a limited pressing...

http://www.mediafire.com/?j520zymd41d

The Breeders- Live 06/07/94 Metro Club, Chicago

This has MUCH better sound quality than the live Amps post below, must have been a soundboard recording. And another great performance (Last Splash era) by a band in top, if tipsy, form. Off kilter pop just doesn't get much better. One of the better live Breeders recordings I've heard...a must for fans.

1) SOS
2) New Year
3) Hellbound
4) When I Was a Painter
5) No Aloha
6) Flipside
7) Never Call Home
8) Iris
9) Lord of the Thighs (Aerosmith)
10) Fortunately Gone
11) Cannonball
12) Invisible Man
13) Roi
14) Hag
15) Divine Hammer
16) Safari
17) (Lime House) Saints
18) Doe

http://www.mediafire.com/?4b4zksvgwr11aa0

The Amps- Live in Hoboken, NJ 1995 07-01

The sound quality here may be less than spectacular but the performance definitely makes up for it. I still don't understand why the Amps aren't more well known, seeing the Breeders popularity...many people don't even know about their one amazing album. Maybe too direct...not quirky enough? No problem what-so-ever for me. No matter what the direction, Kim Deal writes some of the best songs on the market. Great, great stuff.

1) Pacer
2) Breaking the Split Screen Barrier
3) She's a Girl
4) Empty Glasses
5) Hoverin'
6) Bragging Party
7) Full on Idle

http://www.mediafire.com/?6idt2mraq7odc49

Black Star & Lucky Star Music Clubs- Nyota

A collection of Taarab (Swahili wedding music...but don't let that turn you off) recording from a revolving cast of Tanzanian musicians from '69-'76, but sounds like an album by the same band from one session (all recording amazingly done with only one microphone).
I love the sound of cheap instruments...
Keeps energetic, but never goes over the top...good porch music in the sweltering heat.

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

Charlie Chaplin- Modern Times

I'm one of those people who believe that Charlie Chaplin was a true genius in every aspect of his work...performance, direction, writing, composing, etc. The words "pure" and "universal" are used so often to describe his work that if you are unfamiliar with it, such praise may be hard to take seriously. If you're looking at this I assume you're already a Chaplin fan and know just how great it all really is along with how much of a true artist a poor little clown can be...but if not, go see all of his feature films, as many shorts as you can, read his autobiography and listen to his music...
The first side is predominately pieces to demonstrate the inhuman (mechanical) nature of factory work, a more playful version of the vision in "Metropolis" with all the workers being sacrificed to the machine. Not surprisingly this movie accelerated what would eventually lead to Chaplin being labeled, and scrutinized, as a Communist by the U.S. government and his eventual exile.
Enough of that...this music is great, this movie is great, as are all of Chaplin's movies and music.
Oddly, his "Nonsense Song" (the first time he'd ever spoken in one of his films, 9 years after the advent of Talkies) is not included...it is best to see him performing it, though...along with everything else he ever did.

http://www.mediafire.com/?8aznorm4pc8maoy

3 7"s from the Mummies

I was lucky enough to get all three of these for free many years ago working in a record store. I came in and my co-worker said there were some free records. He didn't know what they were, wouldn't take them, but the guy left them there anyway...3 Mummies 7"s, a Germs CD (to back up my worn out cassette), and some Rip Off Records 7"s. Lucky me.
Needless to say, free Mummies 7"s are not going to be in the best condition (you will hear a few pops and there is one skip). I guess fans treat the records with the same delicacy as the Mummies treat their songs...




The Mummies had the best liner notes of anyone. Click on the picture of the back cover to read.
No song over 2 minutes...no need for more.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6rw286ao1m05pg4




"Food, Sickles, and Girls" deserves a place on the same high alter shared by "Louie, Louie" and "Wooly Bully" as one of the most fun inducing rock n' roll A-Sides ever.
The back record picture is blurry. If it's illegible it tells you, in detail, how to steal it from the record store.

http://www.mediafire.com/?0nij5o058nnn4ol




Early stuff...funny stuff. Timelessly funny cover, certificate, performance, level of stupidity...the "Runnin' On Empty" (both volumes a few posts down) liner notes were right, they were more like a Vaudeville act.

http://www.mediafire.com/?9jme8c7eofny4ei

The Raincoats- Fairytale In The Supermarket 7"

The first Raincoats album is one of my favorites ever. But disregard...hype is a horrible thing.
However, the Raincoats still remain a unique band. This is their debut E.P. from 1979 and the first two tracks were used on the first album, and, this is why fans might be interested in, there is a different recording of "Adventures Close To Home."
I highly recommend letting the Raincoats into you life.
And/or keeping them there.

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

The Mummies- Runnin' On Empty Volumes One & Two

Where to start on the Mummies...the first time I ever heard them was at a house I used to hang out in, when I was 18, that belonged to 3 gutter punks, a really creepy guy, and a crackhead, where I had to hide my beer in the windowsill, between the closed glass and the screen, to ensure that I would be the one to drink it...it somehow fits...
These two LP's were compiled posthumously (they "existed" from late 80's-early/mid 90's) in an attempt to cash in (if you ever see the records be sure to read the liner notes, even if you find them hard to believe, they are really entertaining) but are no less loose, drunken full throttle junk rock, or as they put it, "Budget Rock," all for a good time, money and/or beer if possible, belo-fi mayhem. Like hearing the rotting corpse of rock n' roll out for one last go.
There is a sense of humor in every last thing they do. The Devo covers are a nice touch too (branching out further than their Dwarves and Thee Mighty Caesars covers).
And, go figure, you should play these albums fucking LOUD.
To quote the liner notes: As we close this "electrifying" anthology; keep in mind that for a cut rate outfit which bore closer semblance to a vaudevillian act than that of a legitimate rock group, "The Mummies were proof that you CAN eat shit and live."

Volume One

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

Volume Two

http://www.mediafire.com/?jmmjhzy3emz

ignore everything I've said, just watch

Alexander Spence- All My Life (I Love You)/Land Of The Sun

If you have never heard Skip's solo album, "Oar," (still available from Sundazed) I highly recommend starting there.
Any album by a guy who, after a drug induced axe attack on a friend while on tour, upon being discharged from a mental institution in New York, rode a motorcycle down to a Nashville studio to record a solo album, (and also being the original drummer for Jefferson Airplane, hired because he "looked cool" even though he said he couldn't play drums, and then got kicked out because he wasn't a good enough of drummer, and then being in early Moby Grape) is bound to be "interesting"...then you find that the bonus tracks on the CD get even stranger... (AKA it's really good).
This 7" is all I've been able to find of his since that late 60's solo album.
The first track (from '72...solo in studio) almost sounds like it could be an early Moby Grape outtake. The lyrics, sung by almost anyone else, are moronic...BUT few musicians are quite as sincere as Skip...and his simplicity only amplifies it.
Track two is where it gets interesting to me. I've heard a lot of this guy's stuff from the 60's and one song from the 70's, but for the next thing I hear is a solo track from '96 that he sent to the X-Files people because he heard they were putting a CD together and thought his song would fit their "spooky" theme...he had definitely stayed weird.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zngdxu1hgz0

Zbigniew Preisner- The Double Life of Veronique

If you haven't seen this movie, do yourself an ENORMOUS favor and see it as soon as possible (along with the rest of Krzysztof Kieslowski's amazing filmography). Seriously!
If you're searching for the currently incredibly overpriced, out of print soundtrack, I assume you've seen the movie and I don't need to tell you how great it all is...or spoil it for anyone else.
Like with any movie, the less you know in advance, the better.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tjxlfomy5yj

Michel Legrand- Le Cinema de Michel Legrand (Nouvelle Vague)

I am a total dork for French New Wave films, and Michel Legrand is probably my favorite of the regular New Wave composers ("Band of Outsiders" is still left off, dammit...if you have it, please share it). I love his other albums from this time period, but even those records have the same kind of cinematic energy and seem to be crying out to be used in films.
The tracks from Godard's, "A Woman Is A Woman," each begin with commentary from Godard make me wish I knew French...
The only other movie on here I've seen is Agnes Varda's "Cleo from 5 to 7," (great music, great great movie) but all of the other music still has the Legrand charm, even without having seen the movies. Need to find the ones in print in the US on Netflix? Probably, yes. Please re-release "Lola," dammit.

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

The Impalas- Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)/Fool, Fool, Fool

The A-side should be familiar to some. I would prefer it to be more like "I ran all the way home, just to say fuck you," but that wouldn't have sold as many copies, unfortunately. The main reason I posted this was for the excellent B-side...a should be classic in white boy Doo Wop.
Boo fuckin' hoo.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mm3lndtln1j

Leni Okehu and his Surfboarders- "Hawaiian Holiday"

Another score from the Salvation Army (Attn. Greensboro residents: last time I was there they had another copy...$1). Another great record for doing absolutely nothing on balmy summer days. The lazier, the better. The more they try to be rock n' roll, not so hot, but all tracks are brief and relaxing...too much longer may have overdone it.
Sit back, sip, and be silent.
Yes.

http://www.mediafire.com/?m45z5xzhuoz

Teenage Dance Party with King Uszniewicz and his Uszniewicztones

I posted the other 2 King U. albums at the very beginning of this blog. I definitely prefer those two to this one, but that is not saying anything against this record in any way, shape, or form.
There is a long write up there, too.
But what made Cub Koda [of Brownsville Station ("Smokin' in the Boy's Room") fame] want to record them is that he realized it just wasn't the drunkenness or an off night, they just were THIS BAD. Even though this album is probably the most "competent" of the 3. The first two tracks were actually issued as a single on Koda's "1 Shot" label. Their only release in their six year existence, and at least it was put on the jukebox at the Orbit Room, the bowling alley where they where regular performers, until it burned down.
I think if I could go back in time and be in any band I wanted...I would want to be a U-Tone.
All 3 LP's are still available from Norton Records. If they've managed to track down Ernie "King" Uszniewicz yet, please put some royalties in his pocket. These 3 records are priceless artifacts of the most true rock n' roll band of all time. Great for having drinks with friends.

http://www.mediafire.com/?4vnznwdhmxy

Harmonica Blues- Great Harmonica Performances of the 1920's and 30's

If I could find all these Yazoo comps on vinyl I would be a very happy man. Just got this one...for the time being...
The harmonica seems like the most obvious choice for blues musicians, it's a very proletariat instrument:
1) It's cheap
2) It's one of the most portable instruments. Pocketsize!
3) It's loud
4) It can imitate all kinds of sounds (the first track is train sounds...not my favorite track, but just pick up a harmonica and try for yourself. Not so easy)
The players on this record are definitely masters of their craft (the first ever black musician on The Grand Ole Opry was De Ford Bailey...last track on this comp.). This is just great blues, besides. Great stuff now that the dog days of summer are upon us. uhhggg.
Plus R. Crumb's cover art is fantastic...sums it all up.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mgcqvin1jmy

Charlie Ryan & the Timberline Riders- Hot Rod Lincoln/Thru the Mill

Late fifties hillbilly rap rock? More like rockabilly storytelling which Bob Dylan came to be famous for, in a more pretentious way. Too bad he never used slide guitar for sound effects or was this direct and down to earth...common folk ain't into all that poetry shit.
The A-side is a rockabilly classic, but as time goes on I think I prefer "Thru the Mill." Worrying about your music "career" versus your crappy day job? Sounds awful familiar...
"I said that job wasn't fit for a jackass. I'm still here..."

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

Les Baxter- Caribbean Moonlight

This is one of my favorite Lounge/Exotica records. It has the breezy romanticism of Jackie Gleason and (a more subdued) island percussion of Martin Denny. Denny was for more lively times, this is anything but (and more consistent that the Denny LP's I've heard).
So dim the lights, fix a drink, and relax. Hell, more than relax...all but shut down. Just sip and imagine...

http://www.mediafire.com/?zb50bwyuiwz

Devo- He/She/Or/It's/Devo

I was lucky enough to find this bootleg LP in the $1 bin of a used record store owned by a guy who knew absolutely nothing about music other than Elvis, Buddy Holly, and the Beatles [also found originals of the 2 Joy Division LP's, Boys Next Door (AKA "Hee Haw" by the Birthday Party), and several Gun Club LPs for $3 each...unfortunately this store is long out of business].
It is from a show at Max's Kansas City, September, 1977. Not surprisingly, the sound quality is not the best (it's pretty dang quiet and the sound drops out a little bit in "Uncontrollable Urge" and "Mr. D.N.A.") but that is really not that important. What matters here is the quality of the performance, which is definitely top notch (especially "Smart Patrol-Mr. D.N.A.). There is no denying Devo's greatness at this period of their career and this is a great find for enthusiasts.

WARNING: I didn't separate the tracks on each side of the record. Live records are best heard like the show; from start to finish. Sorry to force you into my preferences, but oh well.

http://www.mediafire.com/?hy5oymzjkw5

Throbbing Gristle- Dimensia In Excelsis (Live in L.A. 22.5.1981)

Throbbing Gristle is one of the few, if only, bands whose live albums I prefer to studio.
This record is from their first ever U.S. show (SWA and 45 Grave opened) and to quote the liner notes, "probably the most viciously nihilistic holocaust of sheer emotional and sonic distortion they ever unleashed. This LP is a perfect document and distillation of the confrontation aspects of the Throbbing Gristle legend. Entertainment through pain. Release through intimidation."
Maybe that review was a bit over-blown, but it still rings true.

WARNING: I didn't break up the tracks on each side for 2 reasons: 1) Sometimes it's hard to tell where one track ends and another begins and more importantly 2) I think live albums stand stronger when you have to sit through the whole thing, like you would at the show. Sorry you have to be subjected to my preferences, but you aren't paying for this...
Also, there is a skip on the record a few minutes into side 2.

http://www.mediafire.com/?lwmmzjdimo5

Secret Museum of Mankind- Music of East Africa 1925-1948

It's odd to hear a 20's-40's Western influence on non-professional 20-40's African traditional music. I swear some of these songs, other than the language, sound strikingly similar to American blues from the same time, others more Arabic, more of what we would think, as Americans, as "African Music," and all points in between.
This comp. goes all over the place, but a very simple joy permeates each song. This is music for these very (for lack of a better term) "real" non-corrupted people and those in their immediate vicinity. You know, what "folk music" was and is supposed to be. Now if we can only make American college kids realize that we wouldn't have to hear so much shitty neo-(pseudo) folk hipster bullshit... Remember it's about all of the folk, something more universal instead of self indulgent whining.

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

the Suicide Commandos Make a Record

The Suicide Commandos were the premier Minneapolis punk rock group (lasted 1975-1979). This was their one and only album, recorded and released in 1978 and for some reason (being from MN?) didn't make much a splash.
Thankfully they fit the punk rock cliche of no song over 3 minutes but (also thankfully) avoid being too political, macho/ meatheaded, uptight, or serious (they do a great cover of "She," by the Monkees)...more about the energy and attitude.

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

and the video of the song about the reaction to the city burning down their house/ practice space.



and backing David Thomas in 2009, playing all early Pere Ubu in benefit for the Bush Tetras' bassist.

78 RPM Explosion!

Nothing can quite deliver me from modern day bullshit like listening to some scratchy old 78s. When I first recorded these from an old Elementary School console turntable it only recorded on one channel. So i loaded them into Garage Band and made them mono and altered levels. BUT the files are fucking HUGE [had to break the 22 track comp...78s cannot hold more than 3 minutes per side (perfect)...into 4 files]. Just to warn you...



One of the few consistent 78 "Record Albums" I've ever come across...8 tracks of mind clearing woozy accordion balladry. Not sure if the track listing is accurate because my 78 turntable is busted. Should be close enough, though.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dm5dmazjhmx




Here is a compilation of some of my favorites from the 78s I've come across so far. A few are very well known but if anyone wants to complain about hearing familiar, well known, songs I suggest they take a minute to think why they're complaining. About hearing Chuck Berry? Or Moonlight Serenade? Fuck that...don't want to appeal to pretentious assholes anyway...I'll just end the rant....uh, tracklist!

1) Glahe Musette Orchestra- Hot Pretzels
2) The Davis Sisters- You Weren't Ashamed To Kiss Me Last Night
3) Gene Austin- To-Night You Belong To Me (also known from "The Jerk")
4) Vincent Lopez and his Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra- Southern Rose
5) Nappy LaMare's Louisiana Levee Loungers- High Society
6) The Ink Spots- Do I Worry?
7) Bing Crosby with Dick McIntire and his Harmony Hawaiians- Hawaiian Paradise (I normally HATE Bing Crosby...but I have a soft spot for Hawaiian songs)
8) Champ Butler- Way Up In North Carolina (home-state pride!)
9) Frank Kamplain- Sleep Baby Sleep
10) Georgie's Tavern Band- Give Me A Girl And A Waltz (And A Barrel Of Beer, Beer, Beer)
11) Glahe Musette Orchestra- Beer Barrel Polka
12) Webb Pierce- Slowly
13) Billy Jones and Ernest Hare- Paddlin' Madelin' Home
14) Vincent Lopez and his Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra- All Alone (another great version on "Player Piano Roll Favorites" a few posts down)
15) Pablo Casals- Traumerei (Reverie)
16) Yerkes Jazzarimba Orchestra- My Mammy
17) Jan Gerber and his Orchestra- Sleepy Lagoon
18) Crescent Trio- I'll Be In My Old Dixie Home Again To-Morrow
19) Frank Crumit (?...label was really faded, can't make it out)- True Blue Sam (The Traveling Man)
20) Chuck Berry- Maybellene
21) Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra- That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
22) Glenn Miller and his Orchestra- Moonlight Serenade

pt. 1
http://www.mediafire.com/?2gyqhynqzwo
pt. 2
http://www.mediafire.com/?yjzzijym2ok
pt. 3
http://www.mediafire.com/?mjczycntmzz
pt. 4
http://www.mediafire.com/?zdy4yzloj0y

Random Summer Saturday Beer n' 7" Bo-nanza!

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.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zdv21mzyyrn

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