It’s December 1996 at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ. I’m interviewing ROBYN HITCHCOCK pre-show and we’re talking about the afterlife, endorphins, Captain Beefheart and the 1960’s. From the first song on his 1981 debut solo album, The Man Who Invented Himself, to his new 2014 record, The Man Upstairs; concerns about that Man in addition to time, sex, food, death and insects have been some of the psychedelic troubadour’s primary lyrical concerns. Continue reading “Robyn Hitchcock – The Man Upstairs”
“The difference between Pop and Rock ‘n Roll? You might get fucked!” – Robert Fripp.
Continue reading “Throwback Thursday: Daryl Hall – Sacred Songs”
The SPIDER BAGS fourth full-length album, Frozen Letter, may have just nabbed the award for best psychedelic-garage rock summer jam of 2014 (if such a thing even exists in these troubled times). A concise-but-concentrated dose of riffage that channels the spirit of both classic and even punk rock with just the right dash of wooziness at times; it’s a record that channels the chaotic spirit of such seminal works as Alex Chilton’s Like Flies on Sherbert to these ears. Continue reading “Spider Bags – Frozen Letter”
The machines are humming, the band’s locked in and the psychic damage has been done. The question is where do you go from here? BEAR IN HEAVEN’S latest entry Time is Over One Day Old captures a group that’s grappling with those questions; trying to find the answer and move forward. Continue reading “Bear In Heaven – Time Is Over One Day Old”
PIP PROUD was a true psychedelic rock pioneer. Some consider him a punk before the term even existed and others consider him the Australian equivalent of Syd Barrett (some have even gone as far as to wonder if Syd might have even knicked a move or two from Mr. Proud). The fine folks at Osaka-based EM Records have done a stellar job with A Fraying Space; which is a collection of both previously unissued and otherwise difficult to get material drawn mainly from Pip’s prime 1960’s output. Continue reading “Throwback Thursday: Pip Proud – A Fraying Space LP”
Yoshimi has returned with Gamel, the first album in over five years from her group OOIOO. Her roots date back to 1986 when she appeared on the Japanese noise scene with legendary vocalist Eye as part of the group UFO or Die.
Continue reading “OOIOO – Gamel”
A few weeks back on an excursion to the local flea fair, I thought I struck gold. It was Father’s Day. As a still somewhat freshly minted Dad, my wife decided to cut me a break on this sunny Sunday morning by giving me license to zip around the dusty used vinyl stacks and milk crates with impunity while she hung back keeping a much slower pace with our 3-year old daughter. My rounds soon became a race, as there was a fellow record geek who was hot on my heels trying to nab the rare wax before I could get to each stand. I won the race – my big score was a copy of The Left Banke’s debut LP Walk Away Renee/ Pretty Ballerina, a monaural copy for $2 with some of the original shrink wrap still on. Continue reading “Throwback Thursday: The Left Banke’s (Not Quite) Monaural LP, Walk Away Renée”
Family Crimes is the latest entry in the SKYGREEN LEOPARDS’ growing discography. The band, which is comprised of Donovan Quinn (who is also a collaborator with Ben Chasny as part of the group NEW BUMS) and Glenn Donaldson, trace their origins back to the psych CD-R boom of the late 1990’s as a part of the Jewelled Antler collective. Family Crimes follows the bands’ trajectory following their last album, the country-flavored Disciples of California. It reveals a band that continues to refine their vision and scope. Continue reading “Skygreen Leopards – Family Crimes”
SHANTIH SHANTIH check in with two primitive-sounding, 60’s-influenced garage sides on their recent single Ruby. They’re a four-piece band from Atlanta, GA that features the songwriting prowess of Anna Barattin. Some readers might remember Miss Barattin as a former member of the Vermillion Sands (who recorded for both the esteemed Trouble in Mind and Fat Possum labels). Continue reading “Shantih Shantih – Ruby 7″”
It’s Easter Sunday, April 4th 1999. My friend and I had just driven two hours to see a show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey in my brown 1980 Dodge Diplomat. The group who I had just braved the drive for in my ancient battlewagon was the Olivia Tremor Control.
Continue reading “Throwback Thursday: The Always Red Society – Talkin’ Giant Chocolate Think Tank Blues”
Styrofoam Drone 