Old Fart at Play

An Augustus Loop Correction

bitemefanboy — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:40:54 +0000

It was brought to my attention that the download link for the Barnaby’s Augustus Loop Part 2 was incorrect. I have corrected it and you now should be able to download Part 2. Sorry for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

Scenes from a Yuppie Restaurant: Barnabys & Eggs

bitemefanboy — Tue, 13 May 2008 02:09:15 +0000

Two bands that typified the second generation of America’s indie-pop scene were Philadelphia’s Barnabys and Washington D.C.’s Eggs.

Formed in Philadelphia in 1990 the Barnabys consisted of Joey Sweeney (guitars, vocals), A. Michael Blanche (drums) and Cory Neale (bass). Their first full-length, the 1993 Spin Art release, Delightful Browns shows that while the group might know how to craft a good indie-rock song;

“one part off-kilter vocals (à la Scott McCaughey of the Young Fresh Fellows), a chorus the kids can sing along with and a sense of naïveté to make it all endearing”

delivering that consistently over the length of an album proved to be a much more daunting task.

Released on Spin Art in 1994, the ambitious Augustus Loop , reprises three tracks from Delightful Browns (“Wilmington,” “Arts & Sciences,” and “Yeah Whatever” ), but with it’s resemblance to the folk-pop sound of Small Factory and it’s

“complex mixture of energetic jangle pop and anxious subject matter”

combined with

“Sweeney’s pleading adenoidal vocals”

and standout tracks like “Yuppie Restaurant,” “Borders,” and “Punk Rock Love” helps to make this a much under appreciated album.

While they were one of Washington D.C’s best indie bands in the early 1990’s the group Eggs was often overshadowed by fellow TeenBeat label mates Unrest.

Their debut full-length, 1992’s Bruiser, was primarily a solo vehicle for singer/guitarist Andrew Beaujon, but 1994’s Exploder was created by a more permanent ensemble with the addition of guitarist/trombonist Rob Christiansen and bassist Evan Schurack and a revolving cast of drummers.

Exploder was Teenbeat’s first-ever double album and

“the CD release even contains one-minute silent tracks to mark the breaks where the listener would have to flip the sides of the vinyl version.”

The overall tone of the album is marked by Beatlesque melodies, raucous post-punk noise, tongue-in-cheek quirkiness, and the occasional 30-second sound collage.

DISCOGRAPHY

BARNABYS

“Shinola” (7″ EP) (Spin Art) 1992
Global Teen (CD, EP) (Spin Art) 1992
Delightful Browns (Single, LP, CD) (Spin Art) 1993
Augustus Loop (Spin Art) 1994
“Gargamel” Ten Cent Fix - A Jiffy Boy Records Compilation (CD) (Jiffy Boy Records) 1993

EGGS

Singles and Eps

“Skyscraper” / “Ocelot” (7″, Single, Ltd., Whi) (Teenbeat) 1991
“A Pit With Spikes” (7″) (Teenbeat) 1993
“Sexual Tension”/”In State”/”Fever” Jade Tree EP (7″, EP, Col) (Jade Tree) 1993
“Song With Contemporary Influences” Eggs/Pitchblende Split (Jade Tree) 1993
“The Government Administrator” (7″, Single) (Hemiola Records) 1993
“Roll Away The Stone” Working Holiday (April) (7″, Single, Spl) (Simple Machines Records) 1993
“Genetic Engineering” (7″, Single) (Teenbeat) 1994

Full-Lengths

Bruiser (LP, CD) (Teenbeat) 1992
Teenbeat 96 Exploder (2 x LP, CD) (Teenbeat) 1994
How Do You Like Your Lobster (CD, Comp) (Teenbeat) 1995

Tracks Appear On:

“Baked Alaska” Teenbeat 100 (7″) (Teenbeat) 1993
“It’s Hard To Be An Egg” Teenbeat 50 (LP, CD) (Matador, Teenbeat) 1993
“The Argument” The Monsters Of Rock II (CD, EP) (Simple Machines Records) 1994
“Roll Away The Stone” Working Holiday! (2 x CD) (Simple Machines Records) 1994
“Why Am I So Tired All The Time?” Working Holiday Party! (Simple Machines Records) 1994
“Catch” Give Me The Cure (CD) (Radiopaque Recordings, Corduroy Records) 1995
“Love With A Tumblin’ “O” Slow Children At Play (CD, Album) (5th Beetle) 1995
“Sugar Babe” Wakefield Volume 1: A TeenBeat Sampler (CD) (Teenbeat) 1995
“Skyscraper” Wakefield/The Teenbeat Story/Vol. 3/1986-1995 Superstars On Forty-Five (CD) (Teenbeat) 1995
“Government Administrator” Rough Trade Shops - Indiepop 1 (2 x CD) Mute Records Ltd. 2004

Barnabys - Augustus Loop

Playing Time: 57 minutes 49 seconds

1. Yuppie Restaurant (3:39)
2. Kool-Aid (3:20)
3. Borders (3:27)
4. Wilmington (2:44)
5. Dhee (3:19)
6. Arts & Sciences (3:17)
7. Yeah Whatever (4:39)
8. Losers from Rodman St. (4:01)
9. Punk Rock Love (4:19)
10. Negative Vibe (3:05)
11. Serenity (3:15)
12. Theme from Barnabys (1:36)
13. Me & Cory (3:20)
14. Room 17 (0:51)
15. Nunas (3:15)
16. Anvil (3:47)
17. Disneyland (4:05)
18. Augustus Loop Interlude (1:50)

Buy Augustus Loop

Augustus Loop (Part1) (Part 2)

Eggs - Teenbeat 96 Exploder

Playing Time: 1 hour 6 minutes 15 seconds

1. Eggs Teenbeat 96 Exploder Let’s Go! (0:38)
2. Why Am I So Tired All The Time? (4:41)
3. Erin Go Bragh (3:09)
4. Music Without Keys No. 3 (1:01)
5. Ampallang (2:26)
6. SIDE DIVISION (1:00)
7. March Of The Triumphant Elephants (3:25)
8. Claire’s Snares (4:33)
9. A Pit With Spikes (3:55)
10. Evanston. IL (3:29)
11. Willow. Willow (3:29)
12. Eggs Tnbt 96 Xpldr How’re You Doing? (0:29)
13. SIDE DIVISION (1:01)
14. Minestrone (0:28)
15. Saturday’s Cool (3:20)
16. Maureen’s Beans (4:17)
17. Rebuilding Europe (2:21)
18. Conchita (4:23)
19. SIDE DIVISION (1:01)
20. The Obliviist Part 3 (4:34)
21. Rollercoaster (4:42)
22. Music Without Keys No. 7 (2:05)
23. Salsa Garden (5:00)
24. Eggs Teenbeat 96 Exploder Bye! Bye! (0:48)

Buy Teenbeat 96 Exploder from Teenbeat Records

Teenbeat 96 Exploder (Part 1) (Part 2)

Music From Some Springtimes Past

bitemefanboy — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:26:48 +0000

Having just returned from a weeks vacation in Colorado and with nothing prepared I’ll leave you this short post celebrating the return of spring, both past and present.

Between A Flower And A Chainsaw: A Caroline Sampler Spring 1992

Playlist length: 38 minutes 16 seconds

1. Revolver - Venice (4:30)
2. Revolver - Red All Over (3:30)
3. Walt Mink - Miss Happiness (3:26)
4. Walt Mink - Chowdertown (3:02)
5. Dim Stars - She Wants To Die (3:43)
6. Dim Stars - Rip Off (3:01)
7. Snatches Of Pink - Mother Crane (3:41)
8. Snatches Of Pink - Powder Blue (4:36)
9. Drop Nineteens - Winona (3:28)
10. Drop Nineteens - Angel (5:19)

Buy Between A Flower And A Chainsaw

Zero Hour: Full House Spring ‘96 Sampler

Playlist length: 56 minutes 50 seconds

1. 22 Brides - Lullabye (3:31)
2. 22 Brides - Truck Stop (3:15)
3. Varnaline - Hammer (3:15)
4. Varnaline - Gary’s Paranoia (4:11)
5. Grover - Bend (3:11)
6. Grover - Hole in My Eye (3:01)
7. Boyracer - Small Consolation (1:16)
8. Boyracer - Aluminium Heart (1:37)
9. Beatrice Nine - Bare Bulb (4:07)
10. Beatrice Nine - Man o’ War (3:58)
11. Reservoir - Gate 21 (5:55)
12. Shallow - I Love You (6:19)
13. The Multiple Cat - High School Girls (3:10)
14. Space Needle - Sun Doesn’t Love Me (3:07)
15. Chomp - Arizona (3:37)
16. Kittywinder - Bats (3:20)

Buy Zero Hour: Full House Spring ‘96 Sampler

“I Think of a Robot World With Neutron Decay” : Bailter Space

bitemefanboy — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:00:34 +0000

“As The Gordons in the early ’80s, “When they played at the same size venue as Motörhead they required four extra P.A. sound systems,” according to Everett True of Melody Maker.”

“Towards the end of a two hour set at Indigo Bar in Wellington, New Zealand in 1998, approximately a dozen police entered the bar and stopped the concert because it was too loud and breached local noise control regulations.”

Evolving from the early 1980’s post punk band The Gordons Christchurch, New Zealand’s atmospheric noise rock band Nelsh Bailter Space (eventually shortened to just Bailter Space) was formed in 1986 by ex-Gordons guitarist Alister Parker, Clean drummer Hamish Kilgour, ex-Pin Group bassist Ross Humphries and Glenda Bills. Following the release of their debut EP, Nelsh Bailter Space on New Zealand’s Flying Nun Records Humphries and Bills left the group. Ex-Gordons bassist John Halvorsen then joined the group just in time to record 1988’s full-length Tanker. Following a tour in support of the album Kilgour left to join the re-formed Clean on a permanent basis. He was replaced by ex-Gordons drummer Brent McLachlan.

While at first glance they might appear similar to Sonic Youth the difference was that Bailter Space never seemed quite as interested in accessibility.

The group’s sound is marked by extremely high volume, distortion and feedback, harmonics, and the use of sampling. Vocals tend to be treated as simply another instrument, and are often buried in the background.

“A subtle layer of white noise/ feedback generally bathes each song… adding to their dreamy-yet-nightmarish feel.”

Robot World, released on Matador Records was the group’s first release on an American label. Described as “curiously cold” Robot World hints at MBV’s influential re-interpretations of rock, lo-fi experimentalism and punk-style thrash.

DISCOGRAPHY

Singles

“Nelsh” Bailter Space (12″) (Flying Nun) 1987
“Grader Spader” Tanker (7″) (Flying Nun) 1988
“Shine”/”The Unseen” (7″) (Clawfist) 1992
“The Aim”/”We Know” (7″) (Flying Nun) 1992
“Splat”/”At Five” & “Fascination” (7″) (Flying Nun) 1995
“Capsule”/”Argonaut” Capsul (7″) (Turnbuckle) 1997

Full-length

Tanker (LP, CD) (Flying Nun) 1988
Thermos (LP, CD) (Flying Nun) 1990
The Aim (CD, EP, Maxi) (Matador/Flying Nun) 1992
B.E.I.P. (CD, EP, Maxi) (Matador/Flying Nun) 1993
Robot World (LP, CD) (Matador/Flying Nun) 1993
Vortura (LP, CD) (Matador/Flying Nun) 1994
Wammo (LP, CD) (Matador/Flying Nun) 1995
Capsul (CD, Digipack) (Turnbuckle) 1997
The Photon EP (CD, EP, Maxi) (Turnbuckle) 1998
Solar.3 (EP) (Turnbuckle) 1999
Bailter Space (CD) (Flying Nun) 2004

Tracks Appear On:

“Grader Spader” In Love With These Times (CD, LP) (Flying Nun) 1989
“Skin” Getting Older 1981-1991 (CD, Cass) (Flying Nun, Festival Records) 1989
“Glimmer Dot” Dope-Guns-’N-Fucking In The Streets Volume Nine (2×7″) (Amphetamine Reptile Records) 1994
“X” The Trip 4 (CD) (Warner Music New Zealand) 1994
“Splat” Extra Cheese (CD, Sampler, Promo) (Matador) 1995
“Splat” Pop Eyed (CD) (Flying Nun) 1996
“Glimmer Dot” Dope Guns ‘N Fucking In The Streets Volumes 8-11 (CD) (Amphetamine Reptile Records) 1997
“Splat” What’s Up Matador (2xCD) (Matador) 1997
“Grader Spader”, “Fish Eye” In Love With These Times / Pink Flying Saucers Over The Southern Alps (2xCD) (Flying Nun) 2004
“Splat” Second Season - Flying Nun DVD II
(DVD) (Flying Nun) 2004
“Splat (NYC Version)” 25 Years (4xCD, Ltd, RM, Box) (Flying Nun) 2006

Robot World

Playing Time: 45 minutes 8 seconds

1. Begin (3:35)
2. Robot World (4:19)
3. Morning (4:04)
4. Be on Time (5:14)
5. Fascination (1:48)
6. Ore (3:33)
7. Get Lost (6:02)
8. EIP (3:59)
9. Orbit (4:04)
10. Make (3:35)
11. Remain (4:55)

Buy Robot World

My Radio Can Pick Up Static: St. Johnny

bitemefanboy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:27:16 +0000

With their massed, fuzzy, feedback laden guitars, lethargic vocals; that often seem like an after thought, and a lead singer who at times seems to be channeling Day Dream Nation era Thurston Moore Hartford’s St. Johnny manages to combine both the best and worse elements of post Sonic Youth guitar rock.

Formed in 1991 the quartet consisted of Bill Whitten (guitar, vocals), Jim Elliott (bass), Wayne Letitia (drums) and Tom Leonard (guitar). Their debut single, released on their own Asthma label, caught the attention of Chicago’s Ajax Records who released 1992’s “Go To Sleep.” The two singles lead to a minor bidding war with the band ultimately signing with DGC. The Caroline Records release High As A Kite collected the singles and early eps.

Produced by Tom Leonard, their debut album, 1994’s Speed Is Dreaming, is characterized by controlled, methodical guitar sculpting, massed guitars and Whitten’s lackadaisical, stoner like, vocal stylings.

The group’s sophomore full-length, 1995’s Let It Come Down, co-produced by Whitten and Mercury Rev’s Dave Fridmann is almost unrecognizable as St. Johnny. Gone is the noisily melodic dirty punk rock replaced by Pavement-lite shambling and hip-hop/skronk hybrids.

St. Johnny broke up at the end of 1995 and Bill Whitten launched a new band the decidely less lethargic Grand Mal which still continues to record and release to this day.

DISCOGRAPHY

St. Johnny

Singles

“Go To Sleep” (7″) (Ajax Records) 1992
“A Car or A Boy” (7″) (Geffen) 1993
“Gilligan/Live at the Sports Page Cafe…” (7″) (Twisted Village) 1994
“I Give Up/One Of The Boys” (7″) (Love Kit) 1994
“Scuba Diving/Welcome Back Kotter” (7″) (Geffen)

EPS

Four Songs (EP7) (Asthma) 1992
Go to Sleep (EP7) (Ajax) 1992

Full-Length

High As A Kite (CD, Album) (Rough Trade UK, Caroline) 1993
Speed Is Dreaming (CD, Album) (DGC) 1994
Let It Come Down (CD, Album) (DGC) 1995

Tracks Appear On:

“Wild Goose Chasing” DGC Rarities: Vol.1 (CD) (Geffen Records) 1994
“Scuba Diving” Buy-Product (CD, Comp) (Geffen Records) 1995
“Scuba Diving” CMJ New Music April - Volume 20 (CD, Promo) (College Music Journal) 1995
“Scuba Diving” CMJ Presents Certain Damage! - Volume 64 (CD, Promo) (College Music Journal) 1995
My Companion (LP)
Incredible Son of Swag (CD) (Geffen/DGC) 1995

Grand Mal

Singles

Whole Lotta Nothing/Life’s a Gas (CDS) (Slash/London) 1998
Stay in Bed (Death in Vegas Remix) (CDS) (Slash/London) 1999

Full-Length and EPS

Grand Mal (EP) (No. 6) 1996
Pleasure Is No Fun (CD/LP) (No. 6) 1997
Maledictions (CD) (Slash/London) 1999
Precision Exits (self-released) 2000
Perfect Fit (CD) (Unsounds) 2002
Bad Timing (CD) (Arena Rock) 2003
Love Is The Best Con in Town (New York Night Train) 2006

Tracks Appear On:

“Stay in Bed” Jawbreaker: Music from the Motion Picture (London) 1999
“Hey Man” This is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation (CD) (Arena Rock) 2001

High As A Kite

Playing Time: 45 minutes 29 seconds

1. Go To Sleep (3:44)
2. God In My Head (3:56)
3. Highway (3:45)
4. Velocity (3:41)
5. My Father’s Father (3:37)
6. Matador (3:29)
7. Black (3:47)
8. Stupid (3:16)
9. High As A Kite (3:54)
10. Ashes/Slashes (3:19)
11. Unclean (9:01)

Speed Is Dreaming

Playing Time: 46 minutes 15 seconds

1. A Car Or A Boy? (4:02)
2. I Hate Rock And Roll (3:14)
3. Down The Drain (3:12)
4. I Give Up (3:24)
5. What Was I Supposed To See? (2:57)
6. The Devil’s Last Stand (5:09)
7. You’re Not My Friend (0:17)
8. You Can’t Win (4:29)
9. Gran Mal (3:02)
10. Everything Is Beautiful (3:24)
11. Black Eye (4:47)
12. Turbine (5:01)
13. Stupid (3:17)

Let It Come Down

Playing Time: 50 minutes 45 seconds

1. Scuba Diving (3:37)
2. Just When I Had It Under Control (4:54)
3. Bluebird (3:02)
4. Pin The Tail On the Donkey (6:16)
5. Hey Teenager! (3:53)
6. Rip Off (1:38)
7. Deliver Me (4:15)
8. Fast. Cheap and Out of Control (4:00)
9. After Dark (2:41)
10. Wild Goose Chasing (3:04)
11. Do You Wanna Go Out? (5:04)
12. Million Dollar Bet (4:24)
13. Salvation Arm (3:57)

Waiting For the Lions: Number One Cup

bitemefanboy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:29:22 +0000

Whether they were “Waiting on the Lions” or searching for the “Astronaut” Chicago’s Number One Cup with their blend of guitar-based pop, distortion, melodic song writing and three distinctive vocalists often found themselves favorably compared to Pavement, Superchunk, GBV and the Flaming Lips.

Formed in 1993 by guitarist Seth Cohen (ex-Eliot) the band also included guitarist Pat O’Connell and drummer Michael Lenzi. Their first single, “Connecticut”, was released in 1994. To fill out their live sound Cohen’s former Eliot band mate John Przyborowski filled in on bass until the band recruited Jenni Synder. Shortly after the group released 1994’s, “Indie Softcore Denial”, Synder left the band. A trio once again they signed with Flydaddy Records who released their debut full-length, 1995’s, Possum Trot Plan. Needing a bassist Pat “Tiger” Reis briefly joined the band, but it didn’t work out so Przyborowski once again filled in, eventually joining the band full time. In 1998 the group recorded their third full length, People People Why Are We Fighting?, but before the band could tour in support of it Cohen broke his neck playing hockey. The band ended up hosting a record release party where twelve Chicago bands played cover versions of the album’s new songs. Shortly afterwards Przyborowski left the band and was replaced by Kurt Volk.

DISCOGRAPHY

Singles

“Connecticut” (7″) (Sweet Pea Records) 1994
“Indie Softcore Denial” (7″) (Sweet Pea Records) 1994
“The Monkey Song” (7″, CD Single) (Sweet Pea Records) 1995
“Malcolm’s X-Ray Picnic” (7″) (Derivative Records) 1996
“The Tongue Of 2 A.M.” Red Red Meat / Number One Cup Split (7″) (Flydaddy Records) 1996
“Smile, It’s Sugar” The Money Pit - Volume 1 (7″) (The Blue Rose Record Company)
“Ease Back Down/Paris” (7″) (The Blue Rose Record Company) 1996
“Just Let Go” (7″, CD Single) (The Blue Rose Record Company) 1996
“Remote Control” (7″, CD Single) (Flydaddy Records)

Full-Length

Possum Trot Plan (LP, CD) (Flydaddy Records) 1995
Divebomb (CD, Maxi) (The Blue Rose Record Company) 1996
Kim Chee Is Cabbage (CD, EP) (Flydaddy Records) 1996
Wrecked By Lions (CD) (Flydaddy Records) 1997
People People Why Are We Fighting? (CD) (Cooking Vinyl) 1999

Tracks Appear On:

“Divebomb” Shine 4 (CD) (PolyGram TV) 1996
“Malcolm’s X-Ray Picnic” CMJ New Music Monthly, “Volume 46: June 1997 (CD) 1997
“Malcolm’s X-Ray Picnic” Rock Sound Volume 9 (CD, Sampler) (Rock Sound) 1997
“Remote Control” Rock Sound Volume 5 (CD, Sampler, Promo) (Rock Sound) 1999
“What Does It Mean?” Delicatessen One: 18 Delicious Creations From the Cooking Vinyl Kitchen (Cooking Vinyl) 2000
“Here” Everything Is Ending Here: A Tribute to Pavement (CD) (Homesleep Records) 2003

Possum Trot Plan

Playing Time: 45 minutes 7 seconds

1. Birth of a Gasser (0:22)
2. Just Let Go (2:37)
3. Autumn Lover (3:02)
4. No Particular Style (2:49)
5. ‘Til Tuesday (0:52)
6. Aspirin Burns (2:18)
7. Outboard Motors (2:30)
8. Why Did You Piss Yourself? (0:25)
9. Strange & Silent Staircase (2:48)
10. Static (3:08)
11. Divebomb (3:17)
12. Pocket (2:54)
13. Seminar for Backward Pupils (2:50)
14. Let Me Know (0:25)
15. Patch Kit (1:41)
16. Apple Cider (2:31)
17. Lustrous Poppies (2:02)
18. Ohio Arts (1:23)
19. She Plays the Numbers (4:20)
20. & Nico (2:53)

Buy Possum Trot Plan from Amazon.com

Wrecked By Lions

Playing Time: 42 minutes 28 seconds

1. Ease Back Down (2:27)
2. Backlit (2:19)
3. Chisel (0:50)
4. Paris (2:05)
5. Bright Orange Fireball Sun (2:16)
6. The Black Choppers Cry (2:26)
7. Astronaut (3:51)
8. Waiting on the Lions (3:45)
9. Maybe There’s a Thread (2:21)
10. Treesong (3:33)
11. Concordia (2:21)
12. Malcolm’s X-Ray Picnic (2:44)
13. Flickers & Flames (2:08)
14. So Inclined (5:38)
15. Three Miles From Talent (3:44)

Buy Wrecked By Lions from SecondSpin.com

A Case of Mistaken Identity

bitemefanboy — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:28:03 +0000

Two of the three bands featured here have dopplegangers. From New York City we have the hardcore group Unsane, and from Long Island we have hardcore metal rockers The Unsane. There is also more than one group named Shallow, but the group here hails from Kansas.

The genesis of Shallow begins in the small town of DeSoto Kansas in 1988 when two 14 year olds, bass guitarist Jason Shields and guitarist Ryan Newton, begin playing together. Several years later Jason would meet his future wife, Julie, and the group Shallow was born when she was hired by Jason and Ryan as the lead singer. With the addition of Stephen Kretsinger on drums the group became a quartet. Playing around Kansas the group’s distinctive sound

“lush melodies and the waifish, girlish singing of Julie Shields contrast with dissonant and noisy guitars”

helped the band to acquire a small following. Signed to Zero Hour Records the group released several eps before recording 1995’s 3-D Stereo Trouble and 1997’s High Flyin’ Kid Stuff. In 1999 they released the full-length Jumping Away From Something Exploding on Devil in the Woods Records.

Transplanted from Syracuse New York to New York City’s lower east side

“Surgery was a scummy, no-holds-barred, blues-drenched post-hardcore band“

and “unreconstructed adherents to the rock’n'roll lifestyle — from free-flowing recreational intoxicants to daily doses of penicillin as preventive medicine.”

Signed to the Amphetamine Reptile label, the band, Sean McDonnell (vocals), Scott Kleber (guitar), John Lachapelle (bass), and John Leamy (drums) made their full-length debut in 1991 with Nationwide. The blues influenced six-song Trim, 9th Ward High Roller followed two years later.

In the wake of the major label signings of Nirvana and Helmet they signed with Atlantic Records who released 1994’s Shimmer. Their only brush with mainstream fame came when MTV’s 120 Minutes program played that album’s “Off the A-List” a couple times.

Following Sean McDonnell’s fatal asthma attack in January 1995 the band chose to disband.

DISCOGRAPHY

The Unsane

Inverted Crosses (New Rennaisance) 1987
Inverted Crosses (New Rennaisance) 1988
Slap of Reality (New Rennaisance) 1991

Surgery

Singles

“Not Going Down / Blow Her Face” (7″) Amphetamine Reptile
“Feedback / Fried” (7″) Amphetamine Reptile
“Little Debbie” (7″, Col) Amphetamine Reptile
“Little Debbie” (CD, Single) Amphetamine Reptile Europe

Full-Length

Soul Eater EP (Circuit, Glitterhouse) 1989
Nationwide (Amphetamine Reptile) 1990
Trim, 9th Ward High Roller EP (Amphetamine Reptile) 1993
Shimmer (Atlantic) 1994

Tracks Appear On:

“Dance” Crunchhouse (LP) (Glitterhouse Records) 1989
“Action Candy” Dope Guns ‘N Fucking In The Streets Volume 1-3 (CD) (Amphetamine Reptile) 1989
“Action Candy” Dope Guns ‘N Fucking In The Streets Volume 1-3 (LP, CD, Sampler) (Amphetamine Reptile Europe) 1989
“Action Candy” Dope Guns ‘N Fucking In The Streets Volume 3 (7″) (Amphetamine Reptile) 1989
“Maliblues” Dope-Guns’ & F*cking Up Your Video Deck Volume One (VHS, NTSC) (Amphetamine Reptile, Atavistic Video) 1990
“Losida Slide” Endangered Species (6×7″ + Box) (Glitterhouse Records) 1990
“Bronto” Ugly American Overkill (CD, LP) (Amphetamine Reptile Europe) 1991
“A.K.!” Ugly American Overkill Tour E. P. (7″, EP) (Amphetamine Reptile Records) 1991
“Dear Sweet Laura”, “D-Nice” Amphetamine Reptile • Peel Sessions (CD) (Dutch East India Trading) 1992
“Dear Sweet Laura”, “D-Nice” Amphetamine Reptile • Peel Sessions (10″) (Strange Fruit) 1992
“Little Debbie” Dope Guns & Fucking Up Your Video Deck Volume 2 (VHS, NTSC) (Amphetamine Reptile, Atavistic Video) 1992
“Our Demise” Smells Like Smoked Sausages (2×7″) (Sub Pop Records) 1992
“Kickin Around” AmRep 1993 Sampler (CD) (Amphetamine Reptile) 1993
“Little Girl” Jabberjaw Compilation - Good To The Last Drop (CD) (Mammoth Records) 1994

Shallow

I Wonder (7″) (Ochre Records)
3-D Stereo Trouble (Zero Hour Records) 1995
The Sonic Boom Remixes (10″, Yel) (Zero Hour Records) 1995
Cd Laser Lens Cleaner (CD) ( Zero Hour Records) 1996
High Flyin’ Kid Stuff (CD, Album) (Zero Hour Records) 1997
Jumping Away From Something Exploding (Devil in the Woods) 1999

Tracks Appear On:

“Santa Claus, You Broke My Heart” A Christmas Present for You From Zero Hour (CD) (Zero Hour) 1995
“I Love You” Full House Spring ‘96 Sampler (CD) 1996
“Missle Command”, “Studio 54″ On the House - A Taste of Zero Hour (CD) (Zero Hour) 1997
“Sugar Glider” Rise 13: Magick Rock, Volume 1 (CD) 1999
“Anatomy of a Giant” Doomed (CD) (This Dark Reign) 2000
“Eight Minutes to the Sun” 21st Century Media Blitz, Volume 2 (CD) (Century Media) 2001
“Jumping Away From Something Exploding” Cleaning House (Devil in The Woods)
“Moonchild” Slave to the Power: The Iron Maiden Tribute (CD) (Meteor City Records) 2000
“Auto Body Crusher” Rock Hits (Sonic Unyon)
“Blowhole”, “Odd” …Not If I Smell You First (Sonic Unyon)

The Unsane - Slap of Reality

Playing Time: 26 minutes 28 seconds

1. Intimidation of Your Brain (3:25)
2. Crack House (2:50)
3. Mexican Cult Song (3:16)
4. Darkest Corners of Your Mind (3:04)
5. Next Left Eternal Rest (2:34)
6. Crazier Than Grandma (2:36)
7. The Quiet Room (2:20)
8. Subliminal Hell (3:48)
9. My Life Sucks (2:35)

Buy Slap of Reality from Amazon.com

Surgery - Shimmer (1994)

Playing Time: 45 minutes 21 seconds

1. Bootywhack (2:57)
2. Off the A-List (4:52)
3. Shimmer (2:17)
4. Vibe Out (4:01)
5. Mr. Scientist (2:53)
6. Low Cut Blues (6:40)
7. D-Nice (4:12)
8. Gulf Coast Score (4:57)
9. Nilla Waif (3:25)
10. Didn’t I Know You Once (3:34)
11. No. 1 Pistola (5:33)

Buy Shimmer from Amazon.com

Shallow - 3-D Stereo Trouble (1995)

Playing Time: 48 minutes 51 seconds

1. Just Like Me (3:55)
2. Low Again (2:29)
3. Cool 500 (2:03)
4. * (0:56)
5. Leaving (3:19)
6. I Wonder (4:44)
7. * (0:49)
8. Solar Spoon (5:31)
9. Rhumba Box (2:01)
10. * (0:50)
11. Next To You (2:02)
12. Falling (3:44)
13. Just For Today (3:01)
14. * (1:09)
15. Eighty-Foor Glyde (3:43)
16. Til Tomorrow (6:23)
17. Seedy Bonus Track (2:12)

Buy 3-D Stereo Trouble from Amazon.com

On The House

bitemefanboy — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:24:57 +0000

Happy Easter everyone.

Because it’s Easter this weeks post is short and sweet, but with a liquid twist as all three of these mid 1990’s alternative compilations play on either the connection between the Pacific Northwests love for coffee and the alternative rock scene then centered there; or the widely accepted connection between liquor and rock and roll.

Whether it’s coffee or liquor, remember everything in moderation.

Next week we’ll begin taking a look at some of the bands featured on these compilations.

Mondo Supremo - Tall Double Expresso With A Twist (1993)

Playing Time: 37 minutes 5 seconds

1. Sloan - Underwhelmed (4:17)
2. Sonic Youth - Super Kane (5:03)
3. Murray Attaway - Under Jets (3:57)
4. My Little Funhouse - Wishing Well (3:59)
5. Cell - Fall (3:38)
6. The Candy Skins - Wembley (2:40)
7. The Sundays - Wild Horses (4:16)
8. Nirvana - Sliver (2:14)
9. White Zombie - Thunder Kiss ‘65 (3:57)
10. The Posies - Dream All Day (3:04)

Buy Mondo Supremo-Tall Double Espresso with a Twist from Reverberation Music

Buy Mondo Supremo-Tall Double Espresso with a Twist from Black Rhythm Records

Jabberjaw Compilation: Good to the Last Drop (1994)

Playing Time: 56 minutes 43 seconds

1. Girls Against Boys - Magattraction (3:24)
2. Unwound - Broken E Strings (3:14)
3. Hole - Rockstar (2:37)
4. Hammerhead - Cleaning Woman (2:43)
5. Beck - In a Cold Ass Fashion (4:10)
6. Teenage Fanclub - Total Weirdness (3:17)
7. Slug - Borax (1:48)
8. Chokebore - Narrow (2:41)
9. Mule - Charger (2:53)
10. Helmet - Turned Out (live) (4:34)
11. Southern Culture on the Skids - Jabberjammin’ (1:44)
12. Karp - Rocky Mountain Rescue (3:41)
13. Jawbox - Chump II (3:18)
14. Surgery - Little Girl (2:49)
15. Unsane - Blew (3:50)
16. Seaweed - My Letters (2:58)
17. Inch - Buzzers and Bells (1:55)
18. that dog - Explain (1:53)
19. Further - Rich Kids (3:14)

Jabberjaw Compilation: Good to the Last Drop (Part 1)

Jabberjaw Compilation: Good to the Last Drop (Part 2)

Buy Jabberjaw Compilation: Good to the Last Drop from Amazon.com

On The House - A Taste of Zero Hour (1997)

Playing Time: 1 hour 12 minutes 22 seconds

1. Resevoir - “40″ (3:54)
2. The Notwist - The String (4:06)
3. Ralf Hildenbeutel - Hommage a Noir (3:53)
4. Varnaline - Meet me on the Ledge (4:11)
5. Steve Wynn - In Love With Everyone (3:42)
6. 22 Brides - Purified (3:24)
7. Space Needle - Love Left Us Stranger (3:58)
8. Shallow - Missle Command (4:12)
9. Resevoir - American Tune (4:39)
10. Varnaline - Hear the Birds Cry (4:40)
11. Steve Wynn - Black Magic (4:43)
12. The Notwist - Johnny & Mary (5:25)
13. 22 Brides - Heartbreak A Stranger (4:19)
14. Shallow - Studio 54 (4:49)
15. Ralf Hildenbeutel - Hommage a Noir (remix) (12:27)

On The House - A Taste of Zero Hour (Part 1 )

On The House - A Taste of Zero Hour (Part 2)

Buy On The House - A Taste Of Zero Hour

How Speedy are Cattle? Archers of Loaf

bitemefanboy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:37:35 +0000

Along with groups like Superchunk and Polvo Archers of Loaf helped to define the indie rock scene that developed around Chapel Hill, NC in the early 1990’s.

The group consisted of singer/guitarist Eric Bachmann, guitarist Eric Johnson, bassist Matt Gentling, and drummer Mark Price.

Following the independently released single “Wrong” the group signed with Alias Records who released their second single “Web in Front,” (Web in Front/Bathroom/Tatyana (Alias, 1993), which received moderate college radio airplay.

Their debut full length Icky Mettle released in 1994 was critically well received and showcases the dual-guitar efforts of Eric Johnson and singer Eric Bachmann.

The group also released the 5 song ep Archers Of Loaf vs The Greatest Of All Time in 1994. Recorded in Chicago and engineered by Shellac’s Bob Weston the ep marks a transition between their debut full length and 1996’s Vee Vee also recorded in Chicago and engineered once again by Weston.

1996’s The Speed of Cattle is an eighteen-track collection of Peel sessions, B-sides and other rarities, and includes the group’s first single (”Wrong” b/w “South Carolina”), the “Web in Front” demo, and a version of Treepeople’s “Funnelhead” among other things.

The group spent three weeks in Seattle recording their third studio full-length, 1996’s All the Nations Airports. It was the most time they had ever spent on an album; and although it was considered their most accessible album to date, and even with it’s release on Elektra Records and an extensive supporting tour the album achieved little commercial success.

1998’s White Trash Heroes was their final studio album. Using a different approach to recording this time where

“things were laid down one at a time….. but pieced together more perfectly so we could hear when one sound was beginning to get in the way of something else.”

Because of this approach the the songs were harder to play live, and often weren’t, on the tour supporting the album. The critics gave it mixed reviews, taking note of the drastic change in style from the three albums that proceeded it.

In late 1998, after Price was diagnosed with, and had surgery for, carpal tunnel syndrome, the band decided to call it quits.

Seconds Before the Accident, released in 2000 by Alias, is the band’s only official live album and was recorded during their final tour.

Since the break-up Bachmann has moved on to multiple solo projects, notably the breezy, and mostly instrumental Barry Black and the band Crooked Fingers. Gentling has gone on to provide extra instrumentation on tour with Superchunk and has also continued to work with Bachmann in Crooked Fingers.

DISCOGRAPHY

SINGLES

Classic Rock Is For Pussies (7″) (Esther Records)
The Loaf’s Revenge (7″) (Alias Records) 1993
The Results After The Loafs Revenge (7″) (Merge Records) 1994
Treepeople / Archers Of Loaf (2 x 7″) (Sonic Bubblegum) 1994
What Did You Expect? (7″) (Alias Records) 1994
Harnessed in Slums (7″) (Alias Records) 1995
Mutes in the Steeple/Smoking Pot in the Hot City (Esther Records) 1995
Vocal Shrapnel/Density (Alias Records) 1996
Jive Kata (Alias Records) 1997

EPS

Archers Of Loaf vs The Greatest Of All Time (10″ CD, EP) (Alias Records) 1994
Harnessed in Slums (CD) (Alias Records) 1995
Vitus Tinnitus (10″) (Alias Records) 1997

FULL-LENGTH

Icky Mettle (Alias Records) 1994
Vee Vee (Alias Records) 1996
The Speed of Cattle (Alias Records) 1996
All the Nations Airports (Alias Records) 1996
White Trash Heroes (Alias Records) 1998
Seconds Before the Accident (Alias Records) 2000

COMPILATIONS

“Vocal Shrapnel” Introducing” Vol.6 (CD) (Indigo)
American Pie: New Sounds From the U.S.A.
“What Did You Expect?” Merge Records: 5 Rows Of Teeth (Merge Records) 1994
“Might” Working Holiday Live (2xCD) (Simple Machines) 1994
“Power Walker” A Day In The Park… A Compilation Of Now Sounds (CD) (The Now Sound) 1994
“Big Joe And Phantom 309″ Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits (Manifesto) 1995
“South Carolina” The Atlantic Group 1995 Release No. 1 January (CD, Promo) (Atlantic) 1995
“Web In Front” Mallrats (MCA) 1995
“Assassination On X-Mas Eve” Virtually Alternative: Volume 74
“South Carolina” My So-Called Life (Cass, CD) (Atlantic/Wea) 1995
“Mark Price P.I.” The Lounge Ax Defense & Relocation Compact Disc (Touch & Go) 1996
“Ethel Mermen”Dog So Large I Cannot See Past It (A WPRB Compilation) 1995
“Assassination On X-Mas Eve” Sites & Sounds (CD, Promo, Enh, Smplr) (Elektra) 1996
“Vocal Shrapnel” Breakin’ Necks, Rockin’ Discotechs (Killer Blows From the Temple of Electra) (Elektra Entertainment Group) 1996
“One Slight Wrong Move” CMJ New Music Monthly: Volume 63: November 1998
“Plumb Line” Alias with a Bullet
“One Slight Wrong Move” ADA Sampler September ‘98 (CD) (Alternative Distribution Alliance) 1998
“One Slight Wrong Move” September 1998 (2xCD, Promo) (Virtuallyalternative) 1998
Now We Are Six
Premium: New Music With a Golden Glow (Alias Records)
“Web in Front, Vocal Shrapnel” The Year of the Dragon
“Harnessed in Slums”The Year of The Wagon (Alias Records)
American Pie 2
“You And Me” Love American (CD, EP) (Reflections Records) 2003

Harnessed in Slums

Playing Time: 11 minutes 15 seconds

1. Harnessed In Slums (3:18)
2. Telepathic Traffic (3:06)
3. Don’t Believe The Good News (4:51)

Buy Harnessed in Slums from Amazon.com

Vee Vee

Playing Time: 43 minutes 55 seconds

1. Step into the Light (4:22)
2. Harnessed in Slums (3:16)
3. Nevermind the Enemy (2:32)
4. Greatest of All Time (3:51)
5. Underdogs of Nipomo (3:31)
6. Floating Friends (3:49)
7. 1985 (0:53)
8. Fabricoh (3:06)
9. Nostalgia (1:19)
10. Let the Loser Melt (3:32)
11. Death in the Park (3:31)
12. The Worst Has Yet to Come (2:51)
13. Underachievers March and Fight Song (7:22)

Buy from Vee Vee Amazon.com

The Speed of Cattle

Playing Time: 1 hour 23 seconds

1. Wrong (3:50)
2. South Carolina (3:34)
3. Web In Front (2:08)
4. Bathroom (1:45)
5. Tatyana (4:43)
6. What Did You Expect? (3:13)
7. Ethel Merman (2:42)
8. Funnelhead (2:51)
9. Quinn Beast (3:42)
10. Telepathic Traffic (3:05)
11. Don’t Believe The Good News (4:49)
12. Smokin Pot In The Hot City (3:17)
13. Mutes In The Steeple (2:07)
14. Revenge (2:47)
15. Bacteria (6:30)
16. Freezing Point (2:47)
17. Powerwalker (3:37)
18. Backwash (2:56)

The Speed of Cattle Part 1

The Speed of Cattle Part 2

Buy The Speed of Cattle from Amazon.com

Love-pop Minimalists

bitemefanboy — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:03:29 +0000

Formed in Edinburgh in 1987 by singers/guitarists Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee The Vaselines might have remained relative unknowns except for their championing by Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain.

With the addition of Charles Kelly (Eugene’s brother) on drums and James Seenan on bass the group signed with Stephan Pastel’s upstart record label 53rd and 3rd. The group’s first ever studio session yielded their debut single, 1987’s “Son Of A Gun.” With the addition of viola player Sophie Pragnell the follow-up, “Dying for It,” appeared a year later.

The failure of 53rd and 3rd proved fatal to the group and they disbanded the same week their lone studio full length, Dum Dum was released. In 1990 the original group briefly reunited to open for Nirvana in Edinburgh.

Nirvana covered the Vaselines’ “Molly’s Lips” and “Son of a Gun” and performed “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam” on their MTV Unplugged appearance; and the 1992 Sub Pop release of The Way of the Vaselines which compiles all 19 of their official recordings also helped to spur renewed interest in the band. England’s The Pooh Sticks and Travis would also cover “Dying For It.”

Eugene Kelly went on to front the band Captain America, which, after releasing two singles abandoned its name under threat of legal action from Marvel Comics, and adopted his nickname, Eugenius, instead.

Those albums are not that far removed from the way of the Vaselines, except for their production, with their thickly laid-on spread of guitar and harmony vocals.

A NOTE: The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History is from a tape. I’ve spent the bette part of two years ripping my cds; now I felt it was time to start on the tapes. It’s certainly a little bit harder than inserting a cd and having Exact Audio Copy work it’s magic. I ripped to wave files originally and then converted them to mp3s using dbPowerAmp. I think that it came out well, hopefully you’ll agree.

DISCOGRAPHY

RELEASES

Son Of A Gun (12″) (53rd & 3rd) 1987
Son Of A Gun (12″) (Toma Toma Records) 1988
Dying For It (53rd & 3rd) 1988
Dum Dum (53rd & 3rd) 1990
The Way Of The Vaselines: A Complete History (Sub Pop Records) 1992
All The Stuff And More (CD, LP, Pic) (53rd & 3rd) 1992

LIVE

The Vaselines/Beat Happening (Live) (Cass) (K Records) 1991

TRACKS APPEAR ON:

“Dying For It” Formula One Generation (Sympathy For The Record Industry) 1990
“Dying For It” Trade Mark Of Quality (LP, S/Sided, Etch) (Fierce Recordings) 1991
“Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam” MTV Unplugged In New York (LP) (Geffen Records) 1994
“Teenage Superstar” GOSH! (CD) (Constrictor) 1988
“Dying For It” Indie Top 20 Volume V - Spirit Of Independents (Beechwood Music) 1988
“Dying For It” Good Feeling (LP) (53rd & 3rd) 1989
“Rory Rides Me Raw” Afternoon Delight! (Sub Pop Records) 1992
“You Think You’re A Man” 80 Y Pop (CD, Promo) (Contraseña Records) 1998
“You Think You’re A Man” Ochenta Y Pop (Contraseña Records) 1998
“Molly’s Lips” Gimme Indie Rock, Vol. 1 (K-Tel) 2000
“Molly’s Lips” Kurt’s Choice (CD) (New Musical Express) 2004
“Molly’s Lips” Rough Trade Shops - Indiepop 1 (2xCD) (Mute Records Ltd.) 2004
“Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam” Rolling Stone: Rare Trax, Volume 37: Boys Will Be Girls: The Roots of Britpop ( Rolling Stone Germany) 2004
“Molly’s Lips” Twee as Fuck: The Joy of Kittenhood (Bootleg) 2005
“Son of a Gun” 53rd & 3rd: Fun While It Lasted
“Son of a Gun” One Too Twee: An Indiepop Retrospective (Bootleg)
“Son of a Gun” Kurt Cobain: About a Son (Sound Track) (Barsuk Records) 2007

CAPTAIN AMERICA

Wow! EP (UK Paperhouse) 1991
Flame On EP (UK Paperhouse) 1992

EUGENIUS

Oomalama (Fire/Atlantic) 1992
Caesar’s Vein (Creation Records) 1993
Mary Queen of Scots (Atlantic) 1994
Easter Bunny (August Records)
Oomalama & Tireless Wireless (Eugenius Radio Sessions) (Fire Records) 2003

Eugene Kelly

Man Alive (Sympathy For The Record Industry) 2005

The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History

Playing Time: 53 minutes 59 seconds

1. Son of a Gun (3:38)
2. Rory Rides Me Raw (2:23)
3. You Think You’re a Man (5:35)
4. Dying For It (2:21)
5. Molly’s Lips (1:39)
6. Teenage Superstars (3:24)
7. Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (3:28)
8. Sex Sux (Amen) (3:08)
9. Slushy (1:53)
10. Monsterpussy (1:41)
11. Bitch (2:39)
12. No Hope (3:16)
13. Oliver Twisted (2:48)
14. The Day I Was a Horse (1:27)
15. Dum-Dum (1:54)
16. Hairy (1:46)
17. Lovecraft (5:34)
18. Dying For It (The Blues) (3:06)
19. Let’s Get Ugly (2:19)

The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History (Part 1)

The Way of The Vaselines: A Complete History (Part 2)

Buy The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History from Amazon.com

Mary Queen of Scots

Playing Time: 51 minutes 17 seconds

1. Pebble/Shoe (3:23)
2. On The Breeze (3:16)
3. Blue Above The Rooftops (3:00)
4. The Moon’s A Balloon (4:53)
5. Mary Queen of Scots (5:00)
6. Easter Bunny (5:27)
7. Let’s Hibernate (3:41)
8. Friendly High (4:49)
9. River Clyde Song (3:10)
10.Tongue Rock (2:39)
11. Home Sick (4:34)
12. Fake Digit (4:17)
13. Love. Bread. and Beers (3:08)

Mary Queen of Scots (Part 1)

Mary Queen of Scots (Part 2)

Buy Mary Queen of Scots from Amazon.com