Old Fart at Play

Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary

bitemefanboy — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:59:26 +0000

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday Season.

Released in 1990 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Elektra Records the label’s then present day artists covered the

songs from the historic catalogue of recordings of Elektra Records and its sister label Asylum Records.

Though an interesting concept the results are rather a mixed bag; which makes searching out the promotional only 4 cd set that includes

not only the commercially-released version of the album, but also a second version featuring each recording in its original incarnation

imperative for the well heeled collector.

Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary

Disc 1

Playing Time: 1 hour 14 minutes 11 seconds

1. The Cure – Hello I Love You (3:27)
2. Tracy Chapman – House Of The Rising Sun (2:03)
3. Billy Bragg – Seven & Seven Is (2:15)
4. Jevetta Steele – I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (4:13)
5. Gipsy Kings – Hotel California (5:47)
6. The Black Velvet Band – Werewolves Of London (3:40)
7. The Sugarcubes – Motorcycle Mama (3:44)
8. Shinehead – One Meatball (4:38)
9. The Havalinas – Bottle of Wine (3:27)
10. Pixies – Born In Chicago (2:11)
11. Faster Pussycat – You’re So Vain (4:11)
12. Kronos Quartet – Marquee Moon (4:13)
13. Phoebe Snow – Get Ourselves Together (4:17)
14. Happy Mondays – Tokoloshe Man (4:18)
15. Ernie Isley – Let’s Go (4:41)
16. Lynch Mob – Going Down (3:35)
17. Ambitious Lovers – A Little Bit Of Rain (3:15)
18. Anita Baker – You Belong To Me (4:42)
19. Howard Jones – Road to Cairo (5:34)

Disc 1 (Part 1) (Part 2)

Disc 2

Playing Time: 1 hour 14 minutes 19 seconds

1. The Big F – Kick Out The Jams (4:03)
2. The Georgia Satellites – Almost Saturday Night. Rockin’ All Over The World (4:05)
3. Sara Hickman – Hello. I Am Your Heart (2:45)
4. Teddy Pendergrass – Make It With You (5:33)
5. Linda Ronstadt – The Blacksmith (2:41)
6. Bill Frisell. Robin Holcomb. Wayne Horvitz – Going Going Gone (5:59)
7. Jackson Browne – First Girl I Loved (4:45)
8. 10.000 Maniacs – These Days (3:27)
9. Metallica – Stone Cold Crazy (2:18)
10. Danny Gatton – Apricot Brandy (3:12)
11. Shaking Family – Union Man (3:56)
12. They Might Be Giants – One More Parade (2:23)
13. Howard Hewett – I Can’t Tell You Why (3:52)
14. Leaders Of The New School – Mt. Airy Groove (4:38)
15. Shirley Murdock – You Brought The Sunshine (4:17)
16. John Eddie – Inbetween Days (3:59)
17. The Beautiful South – Love Wars (4:37)
18. Michael Feinstein – Both Sides Now (5:14)
19. John Zorn – T.V. Eye (2:25)
20. The Cure – Hello. I Love You (Slight Return) (0:10)

Disc 2 (Part 1) (Part 2)

Purchase Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary
through Amazon.com

Purchase the 4 CD version of Rubáiyát: Elektra’s 40th Anniversary

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, Alternative/ Indie Rock, College Rock, Contemporary Pop/ Rock, Hard Rock, Urban

Struggling Electric & Chemical

bitemefanboy — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:36:10 +0000

DUSTdevils

Struggling Electric & Chemical

From the opening notes of “The Revenge of Cruiser Gurner” even the cachet of being released on two of the 90’s hippest record labels, Washington’s Teenbeat and New York’s Matador, couldn’t prevent comparisons between the Dustdevils and Sonic Youth.

As part of the second wave of NYC dissonance bands

the Devils developed naturally and independently — they just had the misfortune to customize, expand upon and modify some of the same no wave-and Glenn Branca-derived themes that were SY hallmarks.

The group’s (British guitarist Michael Duane and Australian vocalist/guitarist Jaqi Dulany) earliest works, Seeds in the Spoil and Rhenyards Grin showed promise both also managed to dance around the edges of goth pop.

By the time that Struggling Electric & Chemical is recorded Jaqi’s voice is totally shot (she speaks hoarsely rather than sings). Besides Michael Duane and Jaqi the band now includes future Pavement bassist Mark Ibold and drummer Rick Nance.

The album may be imbued with the ghost of Sonic Youth, but starting off with a lengthy Fall cover, “Hip Priest,” from The Hex Enduction Hour

is a gutsy way to begin an album,

but this

long-overdue interpretation of the Fall’s “Hip Priest” swings with feedback and slop.

The band as a whole aims for the messily epic and charging and generally hit the mark on numbers like the anthemic intro to “Throw the Bottle Full” and the boiling coda of “The Revenge of Cruiser Gurner.”

After Struggling Electric & Chemical the band’s future efforts are marred by almost constant personnel turnover. Between 1990 and 1993

Circle X/Loudspeaker drummer Martin Köb, eventual Ui head Sasha Frere-Jones, Wider leader (and Glenn Branca sideman) Dave Reid, Matador co-honcho Gerard Cosloy, and Uncle Wiggly/Fly Ashtray guitarist James Kavoussi

will all spend time in the band. When Jaqi leaves the country both Jackie Nemitz (ex-STP) and Jon Easley (ex-Sorry, Crown Heights), briefly replace her as frontperson.

She returned for Extant but following another falling out with Dulany in the mid-1990s she left the country to form the UK band Cha Cha Cohen with Keith Gregory (ex-Wedding Present).

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Rhenyards Grin (LP) (Rouska) 1987
Seeds In The Spoil (12″) (Rouska) 1987
The Dropping Well (12″) (Rouska) 1987
Gutter Light (Cass, LP ) (Rouska) 1988
Rhenyards Grin (Cass) (Rouska) 1988
… Is Big Leggy (7″ EP) 1989
Geek Dip (12″) (Matador) 1990
Struggling Electric & Chemical (CD) (Teen Beat, Matador) 1990
Extant (CD) (Matador) 1996

Tracks Appear On:

“False Dawn” Profane 9 (10″) (Rouska) 1986
“Seeds In The Spoil”, “The Lost Divide” Zarah Leander’s Greatest Hits (CD) (Rouska) 1987
“Losing Ground”, “Whim Of Iron” Rouska’s Dollar Cacophony (LP) (Rouska) 1988
“Throw The Bottle Full” New York Eye And Ear Control (CD , LP) (Matador) 1990
“Seen Heat” Wakefield. The TeenBeat Boxed Set (4xCD) (Teenbeat) 1995
“Seen Heat” Wakefield/The Teenbeat Story/Vol. 3/1986-1995 Superstars On Forty-Five (CD) (Teenbeat) 1995

DUSTdevils – Struggling Electric & Chemical (1990)

Playing Time: 44 minutes 50 seconds

1. Hip Priest (10:34)
2. The Revenge Of Cruiser Gurner (4:25)
3. Feet Head High (2:47)
4. When Gravity Hits (3:33)
5. Head Of Kurtz (2:14)
6. Love You Like A Rock (3:11)
7. Neck Surf – NC (3:54)
8. Throw The Bottlefull (2:59)
9. Free Born Man (2:26)
10. Slope (4:55)
11. They Do Not Sleep 8 Hrs. A Night (3:52)

Buy Struggling Electric & Chemical from Teenbeat

Not enough Dustdevils for you? Check out YoungMossTongue where you can find the rest of the Dustdevils discography. For your convenience here are the links to specific titles.

Seeds In The Spoil
The Dropping Well
Gutter Light
Rhenyards Grin
… Is Big Leggy
Geek Dip
Extant
Live Above Par

More Lost and Found?

bitemefanboy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:41:50 +0000

Exceedingly random music continues to turn up in the most unexpected places around here. Most of these discs don’t have titles or identifying logos so I’ve no idea what I’ve got until it’s in the cd drive. Once they’re in the CD drive I might as well just rip them, because one of the kids I’m sure will want them on their iPod.

I’m not sure how you feel about Deep House and House music… heck I’m not sure how I feel about it; but I’m positive that there’s something here that someone will find interesting.

House Proud Volume 1 (1999) (Distance)

Disc 1

Playing Time: 1 hour 16 minutes 59 seconds

1. Danny Rampling – Community Of The Spirit [Vocal Mix] (8:06)
2. Kings Of Tomorrow – My Love Is Real (7:23)
3. Lenny Fontana Presents The Exclusive Club – Thinkin’ About Your Love [Classic Club Mix] (6:26)
4. Bypass – Spill The Beans (7:42)
5. Bernard Badie Feat. Dajae – We Git Down (4:25)
6. Alton Miller – Sweet In The Morning (6:54)
7. Kevin Yost – If She Only Knew [Original Mix] (6:57)
8. USG Presents African Blues – Coconut Jam [Main Coco Mix] (9:21)
9. Larry Heard – And So I Dance [Anthony Nicholson's 'And So I Rhumba' Mix] (10:05)
10. Visuel Tools Feat. Curtis Harman – Keep Reachin’ [Keep On Vocal] (9:40)

House Proud Vol. 1 Disc 1 (Part 1 ) (Part 2 )

Disc 2

Playing Time: 57 minutes 24 seconds

1. Lenny Fontana Presents The Exclusive Club – Thinkin’ About Your Live [Deep Dub Mix] (5:55)
2. Kevin Yost – If She Only Knew [Todd Edwards 'Only She' Mix] (3:09)
3. Kings Of Tomorrow – Let It Go [Remix] (4:57)
4. Alton Miller – Vibrations (6:37)
5. Bypass – Avoid (3:44)
6. Danny Rampling – Community Of The Spirit [Constipated Monkeys Mix] (5:34)
7. DJB Productions Presents Richard Rogers – Can`t Nobody [Bass Dub] (5:13)
8. Larry Heard – Give Me Heaven [Chriss Gray's Deep 4 Life Mix] (5:15)
9. USG Presents African Blues – Coconut Jam [Coco Drop Mix] (7:42)
10. Visuel Tools Feat. Curtis Harman – Keep Reachin’ [Paradise Guitar Mix] (9:18)

House Proud Vol. 1 Disc 2 (Part 1) (Part 2 )

Buy House Proud Vol. 1

Tags: Deep House, House

Lost and Found?

bitemefanboy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:24:48 +0000

Someone in my family (who shall remain anonymous) has liberated my Pavement cds. Thinking she could pull a fast one on me she left these samplers from the beginning of the decade in their place. For those of you who enjoy electronic music my lose is your gain; for those who prefer Pavement my lose is your lose.

The alleged culprit is coming for Thanksgiving Dinner so hopefully I’ll get to the bottom of this. Who knows, someday we might just be able to get around to a Pavement post.

Stick This Up Yer Napster (Nov 2000)

Playing Time: 1 hour 13 minutes 52 seconds

1. Rich T – The Joker (3:20)
2. Johnny Pneumonic – Inertia (7:52)
3. Keenan & Lector – Sandstorm (5:05)
4. Concept – La Isla (5:54)
5. Rogue Telepaths – Space Monkey (Asteroid Belt remix) (6:11)
6. Retro Sync (Kraymon) – Sugar (6:42)
7. Count to Four – Everybody’s Fine Tonight (3:23)
8. Blown Vinyl – Pasttimes (4:50)
9. Evolved Monkeys – Let Me Sing This Tune (3:35)
10. Supercell – Agents of Spectacle (3:10)
11. Paradise Decay – All Over Me (3:11)
12. Elle J – One and One and One (3:59)
13. Baron Simms – Swerve (7:18)
14. Yorkie 2K – Silent Voices (5:19)
15. Cubud – Fashion (4:03)

Stick This Up Yer Napster (Part 1) (Part 2)

Buy Stick This Up Yer Napster

Tags: Breakbeat, Electronic, Trance, UK Garage

Source Nouveau. The 2001 Source Label Sampler!

Playing Time: 34 minutes 39 seconds

1. Air – Radio #1 [Señor Coconut Remix] (3:37)
2. Turin Brakes – Underdog (Save Me) (3:34)
3. Kings Of Convenience – Toxic Girl [Monte Carlo 1963 version] (3:09)
4. Simian – The Wisp (3:43)
5. Mark B & Blade – The Unknown (3:23)
6. Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better (4:26)
7. Playgroup – Make It Happen [7" version] (3:57)
8. Sébastien Tellier – Universe (5:05)
9. Gemma Hayes – Evening Sun (3:45)

Buy Source Nouveau. The 2001 Source Label Sampler!

Tags: Downtempo, Electronic, Leftfield

Rock of Gibraltar: Lorelei

bitemefanboy — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:29:21 +0000

Lorelei

The Virginia-based noise-pop outfit Lorelei formed in 1991.

Originally a five piece: Davis/mandolin, Gina Yi/vocals, Dave Cerf/guitar, Peter Biby/drums and Stephen/bass; the band slimmed down to a three piece following the release of the three song The Bitter Air 7″ in 1991.

With Gina, Dave and Peter out, Davis moving over to drums, Stephen on bass and the addition of Matt from the Lilys on guitar 1993’s The Asleep ep blends

the dubwise dynamics of PiL and Moonshake with the dark tension of early Cure.

Probably the most apt description of 1995’s Everyone Must Touch The Stove sound is if Lorelei were an

Elephant 6 band that grew up listening to Bailter Space rather than the Beach Boys.

The carefully orchestrated songs on this album are built upon the bedrock of Davis’ powerful drumming; the “melliluous melodic chording” of Stephen’s bass and Matt’s free-flying guitars; while strings, marimbas, maracas, timpani and other exotic instruments help to color the arrangements.

Though the band disbanded in 1996 the group’s members have remained musically active; Matt recording as Textile Sounds, Stephen working as Chessie and Davis issuing material as Glass Bottom Boats.

Lorelei Discography

Releases:

The Bitter Air (7″) (Slumberland Records) 1992
Asleep (7″, CD-EP ) (Slumberland Records) 1993
Everyone Must Touch The Stove (CD, LP) (Slumberland Records) 1995
Informed By The Future (12″ Vinyl) (Textile Sounds) 2002

Tracks Appear On:

“Mimesis” …One Last Kiss (CD) (spinART Records)1992
“Probe” Burning the Midnight Firefly #2 (Fanzine) (Cass) 1992
“Burro” Calling At Duke Street (LP, EP) (A Turntable Friend) 1993
“Red Red Wiggy” Something Pretty Beautiful (CD) (Brilliant Records) 1993
“No One Is Driving The Car” Terra X – Vol. 1 Love And Hate (CD) (Terra X Records) 1993
“Honeysuckle” The Noise And The Melodies – The Pearl-Compilation (CD) (Pearl-Fanzine) 1993
“The Bitter Air” Unnecessary Niceness (CD, LP) (Beechwood Music) 1993
“Mostly I Sleep” CMJ New Music Magazine Jan. ‘94 (CD) (CMJ) 1994
“Stop What You’re Doing”,”Float My Bed” Why Popstars Can’t Dance (CD, 2xLP) (Slumberland Records) 1994
“A Thigh For A Leg” (edit) Smash Hits for Teens (Level and Dischord) 1995
“Resin” Bedroom Palace (Cass) (Lo-Fi Recordings) 1995
“Oscillations” Electronic Evocations A Tribute To The Silver Apples (CD) (Enraptured) 1996
“My Assassin” Field and Streams (2xCD) (Kill Rock Stars) 2002
“Today’s Shrug” Slumberland Records Spring 2009 Sampler (MP3 Sampler) (Slumberland Records) 2009

Lorelei - Everyone Must Touch the Stove (1994)

Playing Time: 53 minutes 40 seconds

1. Today’s Shrug (3:39)
2. Quiet Staid Debt (5:29)
3. Thigh For a Leg (6:24)
4. Throwaway (5:37)
5. Inside the Crimelab (6:29)
6. Day (2:40)
7. Newsprint (8:40)
8. Windmill (3:23)
9. Stop What You’re Doing (3:50)
10. Pillar (7:29)

Everyone Must Touch the Stove (Part 1) (Part 2)

Buy Everyone Must Touch The Stove from Slumberland Records

Buy Everyone Must Touch The Stove from Amazon.com

Swirlies and What Do About Them

bitemefanboy — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:49 +0000

Swirlies

While researching the availability of Scrawl records for my recent post on this former Columbus, Ohio group I noticed while browsing Amazon.com that

“Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” the Swirlies Blonder Tongue Audio Baton”

Seeing that made it obvious to me what I was going to post next.

It begs the question; how does one go from being a Go-Go’s cover band called Raspberry Bang to becoming the Swirlies, leading light of Boston’s “chimp rock scene?”

Originally formed in 1990, the band; guitarist/singer Damon Tuntunjian, singer/guitarist Seana Carmody, bassist Andy Bernick, and drummer Ben Drucker, along with the bands Kudgel and Fat Day, and a few others were all part of Boston’s chimp rock scene

“which pitted dreamy, guitar-based pop against noisy, experimental tendencies.”

Releasing a handful of singles in 1991 and 1992 the Swirlies teamed up with Kudgel to release the split double single “Red Fish Dreams.” Of the two Swirlies home recordings on the single, the nearly inaudible “Her Life of Artistic Freedom” which was

“basically amplified surface noise with a little guitar and singing“

is perhaps a hint at the future direction the Swirlies music will take.

Signed to Boston based Taang! Records they release What To Do About Them in 1992. Although “Her Life of Artistic Freedom” is included, What To Do About Them, is a collection of the group’s earlier singles along with new material, but What To Do About Them will mark the group’s last full fledged foray into “dream pop.”

Taking it’s name from a vintage tube equalizer, the Swirlies’ first full-length album, 1993’s Blonder Tongue Audio Baton

melds noisy guitars, samples, and sweet girl-boy vocals into a disheveled take on dream pop.

With it’s tape loops, found sounds, Moogs, Mellotrons, and white noise

songs like the “static-spattered “Pancake” and “Park the Car by the Side of the Road” alternate with gentler songs like “Bell” and “Vigilant Always.”

One reviewer writes

The combination of Seana Carmody’s demure vocals, big guitars, and burbling Mellotrons makes for one of Boston’s most memorable pop moments since the Pixies’ “Gigantic.”

That certainly puts them among some pretty good company.

1993 also sees the group release Brokedick Car, but with it’s shorter version of

Blonder Tongue’s “Wrong Tube,” two home-demo quickies and two alternate mixes of “Pancake”: the less-noisy “Pancake Cleaner” and a dance version entitled “House of Pancake”

Brokedick Car is essentially listenable filler.

The period following the release of Brokedick Car is marred by almost constant personnel turn-over. Original members Ben Drucker and Seana Carmody leave; with Carmody forming her own band, Syrup USA.

For 1995’s Sneaky Flutes and 1996’s They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons original members Tuntunjian and Bernick are joined by new members, singer/guitarist Christina Files and drummer Anthony DeLuca.

In the spring of 1996 DeLuca leaves the band and is temporarily replaced by Karate drummer Gavin McCarthy. With a trigger drum kit now part of their equipment the Swirlies occasionally tour as an electronic trio. Later that same year Adam Pierce becomes the group’s permanent drummer, but Files will leave in 1997.

1998 found the Swirlies continuing as a guitar/electronic hybrid, releasing the remix album, Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music, adding another guitarist, Rob Laxo, but most damagingly losing their label distribution.

Undaunted by the loss of a label they begin

releasing cassettes as part of their Sneaky Flute Empire project.

and by 2000 Sneaky Flute Empire is beginning to release CDs including Damon Andy Rob Ron: Yes Girls. Continuing to record the Swirlies release the mini-album Cats of the Wild, Vol. 2 in 2003 and that summer embark on their first major US tour opening for the Lilys.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

“Didn’t Understand” (7″ Single) (Slumberland Records) 1992
“Error” (7″ Single) (Pop Narcotic) 1992
“Red Fish Dreams” (2×7″split with Kudgel) (Cinderblock Records, Nervous Records) 1992
What To Do About Them (Cass, CD, LP, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records) 1992
Blonder Tongue Audio Baton (CD, LP, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records) 1993
Brokedick Car (7″, 12″, CD-EP, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records) 1993
Vents Of The Ocean Floor (split 7″ with Iris) (Bubble Core Records) 1994
Working Holiday November (split 7″ with Pitchblende) (Simple Machines Records) 1994
Sneaky Flutes (CD, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records) 1995
They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days In The Glittering World Of The Salons (CD, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records)1995
Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music (CD, 2xLP, MP3 Album) (Taang! Records) 1998
Strictly East Coast Sneaky Flute Music / They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days In The Glittering World Of The Salons (2xLP) (Taang! Records) 1998
Damon Andy Rob Ron: Yes Girls (CD) (Sneaky Flute Empire) 2000
Cats Of The Wild: Volume 2 (CD) (Bubble Core Records, P-Vine Records (Japan) 2003

Tracks Appear On:

“Chris R.” …One Last Kiss (CD) (spinART Records) 1992
“Park The Car By The Side of the Road” Unnecessary Niceness (CD, LP) (Beechwood Music) 1993
“Two Girls Kissing (Live at The Middle East)” Indie Rock Blueprint (CD) (Go Compact Discs) 1996
“Indian Ocean Nosedive” Flygirl (EP) #7 (7″) (Blue Bunny Records) 1997
“Protect Yourself From Aliens (Soul Slinger Remix)” Upload: A Continuous Mix (CD) (Jungle Sky) 1998
“Christmas In Kenmore Square” The Tarquin Records All Star Holiday Extravaganza (CD, MP3 Album) (Tarquin Records)2000
“Dolphins Dance With Our Music” U.S. Pop Life, Volume 7: Experimental: Random Access Music Machine (Contract Records (Japan) 2001
“Rare Moment” NPU Let’s Go! (CDr) (Metal Queen Projects) 2002
“Give Us Moonrocks!” 2003 Pre ~~View~~ Listen (CD) (Bubble Core Records) 2003
“Indian Ocean Nosedive” Like Clockwerck (CD) (Pehr) 2003
“One Light Flashing I Love You” Little Darla Has A Treat For You V.20 Summer 2003 (CD) (Darla Records) 2003

Swirlies – Blonder Tongue Audio Baton (1993)

Playing Time: 42 minutes 31 seconds

1. [Untitled] (0:12)
2. Bell (4:29)
3. Vigilant Always (5:10)
4. His Love Just Washed Away (5:24)
5. His Life of Academic Freedom (2:07)
6. Pancake (3:15)
7. Jeremy Parker (4:14)
8. Park The Car by The Side of The Road (5:04)
9. Tree Chopped Down (3:12)
10. Wrong Tube (5:06)
11. Wait Forever (4:18)

Buy Blonder Tongue Audio Baton from Amazon.com

Tags: Chimp Rock, Dream Pop, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Noise Pop, Shoegaze

… And Seven Weeks Later We’re Back!!!

bitemefanboy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:54:36 +0000

Whoa! So how does “see you in a few weeks” manage to turn into seven weeks? Very easily! Things happened, things did’t happen and some things, like this blog just didn’t get done. Anyway I’m back.

Three people recently wrote asking me to repost material I originally posted back in 2006.

Erik wrote looking for Trains and Boats and Planes Minimal Star, while zzeitg wanted Scrawl, and Ed was looking for the Wedding Presents’ It’s A Gas from my very first post on July 17, 2006.

I’ve combined Erik’s and zzeitg’s request into one new up-dated post. someday I just might get around to up-dating my original three part Wedding Present series, but at the present time anyone who would like to hear It’s A Gas can find it here or here .

Thanks to zzeitg for graciously providing Scrawl’s Velvet Hammer.

Scrawl

Long before riot-grrrls ever made their appearance on the indie rock scene there was Columbus, Ohio’s Scrawl

“a trio of tough chicks with no specific agenda and far more enthusiasm than skill”

Originally known as Skull, the trio, singer/guitarist Marcy Mays, bassist Sue Harshe, and drummer Carolyn O’Leary debuted in
the summer of 1985, opening for the Meat Puppets with a twenty minute set. With the encouragement and financial backing of friends they recorded Plus, Also, Too , which was released on the small No Other label in 1987.

Plus, Also, To is

“sloppy, occasionally strident indie-pop”

and often there is more disharmony than harmony between Marcy Mays’ “uncertain singing and bassist Sue Harsh”, but the album generated enough positive reviews that Scrawl toured in support of it, and in the process attracted the attention of Rough Trade Records.

Signing with Rough Trade in 1988, the trio’s sophomore effort, He’s Drunk, was recorded at Prince’s Paisley Park studios. More assured than their debut release, their instrumental work was generally solid, but the album was marred by the fact that

“while Mays and Harshe both show improvement, their voices still don’t blend together very well at all.”

Produced by Gary Smith (Blake Babies, Throwing Muses) 1990’s Smallmouth , is a more intimate affair with

“sketchy lyrics (that) touch on real-life encounters and personal problems”

Smallmouth found the group alternating between brash punk inspired songs like “Rot” and “Absolute Torture”, with songs like “Tell You What” and “Time to Come Clean,”and the tender “Charles,” a rewrite of the Kiss’s “Beth,” a song which clearly exposes the band’s ’70s rock and roll roots.

Label problems forced the group to leave Rough Trade in the fall of 1990. When the label declared bankruptcy several months later the group’s back catalog goes immediately out of print.

Label problems and relationship problems clearly inform 1991’s bitter and biting Bloodsucker . Engineered by Steve Albini

“Mays and Harshe sing and play with renewed fervor, which works to their advantage in dispirited songs like “Love’s Insecticide,” the depressed “Please Have Everything” and the powerfully edgy “Clock Song,”

but with poor distribution and lack of air play the album quickly joins the group’s other albums in limbo.

Carolyn O’Leary left the group in 1992. Performing as an acoustic duo Mays and Harsh soldier on by mounting the “Foxcore, My Ass” tour.

Simple Machine Records Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson were fans of the band and in 1993 signed Scrawl, once again a trio, with the addition of new drummer, Dana Marshall. The band’s brief relationship with Simple Machines saw the release of Velvet Hammer and the re-release of Bloodsucker .

With its songs of fractured relationships 1993’s Velvet Hammer may just be

” one of the saddest, most heartbreaking records you will ever hear. It’s soaked in tears and alcohol, punctuated with bruises and frostbitten fingers.”

Like American Music Club’s Everclear or Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures Velvet Hammer

“bleeds with despair and grim reality.”

Major label Elektra released Scrawl’s last two albums, 1996’s Travel On, Rider and 1998’s Nature Film. Though Simple Machine were fans and would have continued to support the group they, unlike Elektra, couldn’t

“put Scrawl’s records in more shops and provide a decent recording budget”

but, unlike Simple Machines, Elektra didn’t have a clue what do with

“a band whose minor chords and emotionally naked songs could never translate into unit shifting.”

Travel On, Rider , recorded and engineered by Steve Albini and Jeff Powell’s was their most professional sounding record to date. The songs are still bitter, still pessimistic, and still sad, but the bands playing is tighter,

“Dana Marshall’s underrated drums are at their most dynamic, Sue Harshe’s Rickenbacker bass is graceful and thick, and Marcy Mays’ Wire-meets-Cheap Trick guitar lofts countless catchy riffs.”

1998’s Nature Film, Scrawl’s last album, is a blend of old and new songs. Songs like “Rot,” “For Your Sister,” “Standing Around,” “Charles,” “11:59 It’s January,” and “Clock Song,” all released prior to Bloodsucker ; and for most purposes unavailable to the band’s fans, but had remained as part of the group’s live repertoire

“get powerful updates, finally capturing the band’s live edge on tape.”

True to form the albums new songs are about bad relationships.

“You Made It a Crime” is scornful, “100 Car Pile-Up” is shameless rage, and “Guess I’ll Wait” is empty resignation.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

He’s Drunk (Cass , LP) (Rough Trade (US) 1988
He’s Drunk (LP) (Rough Trade (UK) 1989
He’s Drunk / Plus, Also, Too (CD, MP3 Album) Rough Trade (US) 1989
Plus, Also, Too (LP) (Rough Trade (US) 1989
Smallmouth (Cass, CD , LP) (Rough Trade (US) 1990
Bloodsucker (CD-EP, 12″, MP3 Album) (Simple Machines Records) 1991
Bloodsucker (CD-EP) (Feel Good All Over) 1991
Misery (Someone Is Winning) / Just Plain Bad (7″) (Singles Only Label) 1992
Velvet Hammer (CD, LP, MP3 Album) (Simple Machines Records) 1993
Working Holiday (January) (7″) (Simple Machines Records) 1993
Your Mother Wants To Know (7″) (Simple Machines Records) 1993
Inside Dave’s Garage – Volume Two (7″) (Radiopaque Recordings) 1994
Good Under Pressure (7″) (Simple Machines Records) 1995
Travel On, Rider (Cass, CD) (Elektra) 1996
Travel On, Scrawl (CD-EP) (Elektra)1996
Nature Film (CD) (Elektra) 1998

Tracks Appear On:

“Reuters” Lever (7″ Comp) (Simple Machines Records) 1991
“Bad Seeds” Fortune Cookie Prize: A Tribute to Beat Happening (CD, LP) (Simple Machines Records) 1992
“Clock Song (Go Girl Go)” International Pop Underground Convention (CD, 2xLP) (K Records) 1992
“Drunken Fool” The Lost Weekend (LP) (Blast First) 1993
” Reuters” The Machines 1990-1993 (CD) (Simple Machines Records) 1993
“Misery (Someone Is Winning)” They Came, They Played, They Blocked The Driveway (2xCD) (WFMU) 1993
“Your Mother Wants To Know” Fuck Loud Music (CD) (Ox Fanzine) 1994
“Good Under Presssure” Volume Eleven (CD, 2xLP) (Volume) 1994
“11:59 It’s January” Working Holiday (CD, 2xCD) ( Simple Machines Records) 1994
Debonair (CD Single1) (Blast First) 1994
Debonair (12″) (Blast First) 1994
Debonair (7″) (Blast First) 1994
“Ready” What Jail Is Like (12″) (Elektra)1994
“Louis L’Amour” Breakin’ Necks, Rockin’ Discotechs (Killer Blows From the Temple of Electra) (CD) (Electra) 1996
“Louis L’Amour” huH, Volume 26 (CD) (Huh Music Service) 1996
“Charles” CMJ New Music Monthly Vol # 58, June 1998 (CD) (CMJ) 1998
“I’m Ready” Gimme Indie Rock. Vol. 1 (2xCD) (K-Tel) 2000
“Charles” The Blue Album, Volume 2

Velvet Hammer (1993)

Playing Time: 37 minutes 3 seconds

1. Your Mother Wants To Know (3:20)
2. Take A Swing (3:54)
3. Disappear Without A Trace (6:10)
4. See (3:17)
5. Face Down (4:00)
6. Tell Me Now, Boy (3:07)
7. Drunken Fool (3:45)
8. Prize (2:41)
9. Blue Green Sea (2:50)
10. Remember That Day (3:59)

Buy Velvet Hammer from Amazon.com

Travel On, Rider (1996)

Playing Time: 40 minutes 36 seconds

1. Good Under Pressure (3:39)
2. The Garden Path (3:11)
3. I’m Not Stuck (4:23)
4. From Deep Inside Her (2:49)
5. Story Musgrave (4:46)
6. Easy On Her Mind (2:46)
7. Hunting Me Down (2:27)
8. Louis L’amour (3:12)
9. Come Back Then (2:49)
10. He Cleaned Up (3:09)
11. Story Musgrave (At The Piano) (3:39)
12. What Did We Give Away? (3:46)

Buy Travel On, Rider from Amazon.com

Nature Film (1998)

Playing Time: 44 minutes 40 seconds

1. Rot (2:54)
2. You Make It A Crime (3:11)
3. Charles (3:02)
4. Don’t We Always Get There? (4:39)
5. Standing Around (2:24)
6. Public Image (2:56)
7. 11:59 (It’s January) (4:46)
8. Clock Song (3:16)
9. Everyone I Saw Tonight (3:04)
10. Nature Film (5:08)
11. For Your Sister (2:49)
12. 100 Car Pile-Up (2:56)
13. Guess I’ll Wait (3:35)

Buy Nature Film from Amazon.com

Trains and Boats and Planes

Taking their name from the title of a Burt Bacharach/Hal Davis song this Danish (Nikolai Nørlund, Søren Kruse, Jens Ole Lembcke, Nikolai Stig Olsen & Soma Hammerlund) group’s one American record, 1994’s Minimal Star , was recorded and produced by Shimmy Discs legendary Kramer.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Hum (LP EP) (Cloudland Records) 1990
Hum (CD EP) (UFO Records) 1992
Engulfed (CD, LP) (Cloudland Records) 1992
I Like Cars (CD Single) (Cloudland Records) 1993
Minimal Star (CD, MP3 Album) (Shimmydisc) 1993

Tracks Appear On:

“Spook” Snowstorm: A Tribute To Galaxie 500 (2xCD) (Elefant Records) 2001

Minimal Star (1993)

Playing Time: 51 minutes 10 seconds

1. Parents’ Place (4:40)
2. I Like Cars (2:30)
3. Private Party (By The Coast) (3:30)
4. Minimal Star (4:45)
5. She Had Us (3:59)
6. All We Got (2:35)
7. A Wake (4:09)
8. Playback (3:48)
9. Kitty Wu (4:58)
10. Genius Spider (5:14)
11. Pat Is Free (2:52)
12. You Hear! My Dear (3:30)
13. Timelove (4:40)

Tags: Alternative rock, Indie Rock, Noise-Rock

I’m on Vacation – See You in a Couple of Weeks

bitemefanboy — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:54:15 +0000

I’ll be taking some well deserved R & R but before I go I thought I’d leave you with some music to tide you over until I return.

These two compilations cover just about every popular musical genre given a name, the mid 1940’s jive of Harry “The Hipster” Gibson, 60’s psychedelica from Country Joe & The Fish and the Small Faces, Latin Rap from Delinquent Habits, the psychedelic Soul/funk of Funkadelic, Garage Rock from the Sonics and Indie Pop/Indie Rock from Sebadoh.

Music to Floss Your Ears With! (1996)

Playing Time: 49 minutes 2 seconds

1. Skold – Neverland (4:41)
2. Republica – Ready To Go (5:02)
3. Delinquent Habits – Tres Deliquentes (4:23)
4. Babe The Blue Ox – Stand By Your Man (4:10)
5. Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise – Once Upon A Time (3:22)
6. Skold – Anything (4:09)
7. Zoë – Hammer (4:17)
8. Delinquent Habits – When The Stakes Are High (3:32)
9. Republica – Wrapp (1:45)
10. Babe The Blue Ox – Can’t Stand Up (3:17)
11. Zoë – The Lion Roars (6:52)
12. Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise – California (3:32)

Mojo – Feed Your Head (2002)

Playing Time: 1 hour 13 minutes 30 seconds

1. Dramatics – The Devil Is Dope (5:25)
2. Sonics – Strychnine (2:12)
3. Nat Adderley – Quit It (3:49)
4. Small Faces – Here Comes The Nice (3:03)
5. Dillinger – Cocaine In My Brain (5:10)
6. Donovan – Sunny Goodge Street (2:56)
7. Country Joe & The Fish – Bass Strings (3:59)
8. Pretty Things – Defecting Gray (5:11)
9. Flamin’ Groovies – Slow Death (4:40)
10. Chris Bell – I Am The Cosmos (3:47)
11. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines (Don’t Do It) (7:38)
12. Sebadoh – Too Pure (3:49)
13. Mighty Hannibal – The Truth Shall Make You Free (3:18)
14. James Booker – Junco Partner (5:09)
15. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (10:20)
16. Harry “The Hipster” Gibson – Who Put The Benzedrine? (3:04)

Feed Your Head (Part 1)

Feed Your Head (Part 2)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, British Psychedelia, Early R & B, Folk-Rock, Garage Rock, Heavy Metal, Jazz, Jive, Latin Rap, Piano Blues, Power Pop, Psychedelic Soul, Soul, Swing

More Music From Minnesota

bitemefanboy — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:58:04 +0000

Flour

Flour was the solo project of Minneapolis musician Pete “Flour” Conway who was also the bassist for

“two of the finest post-punk/guitar noise bands of their era, Breaking Circus and Rifle Sport”

Recording as Flour, with only minimal instrumental assistance and an overtaxed drum machine, he released four solo albums (the first two are on one CD) of claustrophobic noise, of which Fourth and Final is, as the title suggests, is the last.

One critic went so far as to suggest that Flour’s sound

“is reminiscent of that Big Black/Helios Creed wall-of-shit approach, crossed with Eno’s early pop-whuzz”

while Flour/Luv 713 songs

“are pleasant pieces of atmospheric blanket-snuff.”

Flour toured as a live band twice with a lineup that featured Steve Albini (Big Black, Rapeman) on bass and Todd Trainer (Breaking Circus) on drums, before they went on to form the band Shellac.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Flour (LP) (Touch And Go) 1988
Luv 713 (Cass, CD, LP) (Touch And Go) 1990
Machinery Hill (Cass, CD, LP) (Touch And Go) 1990
Fourth And Final (CD, LP) (Touch And Go) 1994

Appears On:

Complex (12″, EP) ( Ruthless Records) 1985
Smokers’ Paradise (12″, EP) ( Homestead Records) 1987
Live At The Entry, Dead At The Exit (LP) (Angry Fish Music) 1989 Live At The Entry, Dead At The Exit (CD) (Ruthless Records) 1989
Primo (LP) (Big Money Inc, Ruthless Records) 1990
Call It A Day (12″) (Touch And Go) 1991
Call It A Day (CD) (Touch And Go) 1991
Call It A Day / Eye For An Eye – Tooth For A Tooth (CD) (Touch And Go) 1991
Little Drummer Boy (7″) (Big Money Inc) 1991
Truth Will Out (CD, Album) (Invisible) 1993
Truth Will Out / Washingmachine Mouth (2xCD) (Devotion Records UK) 1993
Washingmachine Mouth (CD) (Invisible) 1993
Washingmachine Mouth (Cassette) (Invisible) 1993
The Best Of Pigface: Preaching To The Perverted (2xCD) (Invisible) 2001
Pigface – Fook (3xCD) (Invisible, Underground, Inc.) 2005

Tracks Appear On:

“One Step At A Time” Du Huskers: The Twin Cities Replays Zen Arcade (CD) (Synapse Recordings) 1993
“Blood” All Tomorrow’s Parties (3xCD) (Not On Label) 2002

Flour – Luv 713 (1989)

Playing Time: 1 hour 8 minutes 32 seconds

LUV 713	FLOUR
1. Rain Reign (3:00)	11. Love (4:59)
2. Bodies On Fire (2:21)	12. Red (2:15)
3. Kick Now (3:51)	13. Accordian (3:08)
4. The Face (3:25)	14. Grey (2:35)
5. Braindead Genius (3:09)	15. Coffee (3:22)
6. Nicky’s Sister (4:11)	16. Intro (3:42)
7. Love Kills (1:54)	17. 1×1 (2:09)
8. Break Away (3:47)	18. Blood (3:36)
9. Fish Or Cut Bait (3:10)	19. Mirror (2:04)
10. Midi This (4:53)	20. Outro (3:57)
	21. Starts A Fire (3:04)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, Industrial-Punk, Noise-Rock

Run Westy Run

Stylistically dissimilar to any of Minneapolis’ other post-punk guitar bands, Run Westy Run; with Kirk Johnson (vocals), brother Kraig (guitar), Terry Fisher (guitar), Tom Merkl (bass), and Bobby J. (drums) over the course of three albums experimented with “noisy blues, dissonant rock, chunky funk and twisted country.” Probably because they never developed a singular musical style, unlike fellow Minneapolis contemporaries, The Replacements or Husker Du, Run Westy Run never achieved greater national recognition.

The group signed with Greg Ginn’s SST Records (home to Husker Du, Black Flag, The Minutemen, Dinosaur jr. and the Meat Puppets) in the late 1980’s, and their first full length, 1988’s Hardly Not Even was produced by Husker Du’s Grant Hart and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. The album proved to be primarily a showcase for

“Kirk Johnson’s literate lyrics and dramatic vocals, plus the band’s complementary guitarists.“

Their second album, the self-produced Run Westy Run, is noted for the marked differences between the first halves clearer, melodic, folk-inflected songs and the second halves emphasis on early-’70s slop-rock and

“Stoogey storm of thick guitar drive.”

With SST Records facing bankruptcy 1990’s Green Cat Island was released on Minneapolis based Twin/Tone Records. Co-produced by Peter Buck the album with the exception of a few

” folky lullabies like “Kiss the Night,” and “So Long”

manages to channel vintage Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.

The Westies last full length, 1994’s Cockroach Park was self produced and recorded over the space of several days at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Kraig Johnson has also played with, mostly-local supergroup, Golden Smog, and the Jayhawks.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Dizzy Road +2 (7″ EP) (Tontine) 1986
Hardly Not Even (LP) (SST Records) 1988
Run Westy Run (CD, LP) (SST Records) 1988
Plowed Into God EP (7″) (Big Money) 1990
Green Cat Island (CD, LP) (Twin/Tone Records) 1990
Cockroach Park 1994
David’s Drum (CD Single) (Big Money) 1995

Run Westy Run – Green Cat Island (1990)

Playing Time: 41 minutes 27 seconds

1. Johnny John (3:38)
2. Electrick Co (3:24)
3. Kiss the Night (2:49)
4. Keep Out (2:19)
5. Starlight (3:22)
6. Last Swallow (4:47)
7. Could Ya Would Ya (3:55)
8. Cardinal Drive (3:28)
9. Hate in the Morning (2:27)
10. Whada (3:46)
11. Get On (3:41)
12. So Long (3:51)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, American Underground

The Twin Cities – 1995

bitemefanboy — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:26:28 +0000

I love going on business trips or a vacation where you actually go some place because it always affords me the opportunity to check out the local “indie” record store. Some stores, like Amoeba Records , in Berkley, California, are so large that you might consider packing a lunch. Most stores are much smaller. When we go to Ocean City, New Jersey I always visit the punk record shop on the boardwalk, and at The Cape you’ll find me at Spinnakers in Hyannis or Falmouth.

In the spring of 1995 I attended a designers conference in the Twin Cities. Held biennially by my former employer these conferences provided me plenty of opportunity to visit local record shops throughout the Midwest and west. Luckily for me, at the Twin Cities conference Cheapo Discs was right next door to our hotel.

When buying records on these trips I make it a point to only buy that which I haven’t seen locally. I do have one major restriction thought and that’s not to break the bank buying records; because as my wife always asks, don’t you have enough records…. yet????

Fourteen years after buying these three cds I couldn’t possibly tell you why I bought these particular cds. With all the discs at Cheapo Discs I’m certain I could have chosen wiser; but this is what makes it fun, taking a flyer on someone you’ve never heard of, because just possibly you’ll find that elusive perfect record.

I’M STILL LOOKING!!!

The Campfire Girls

Formed in Los Angeles in 1993 the Campfire girls consisted of Christian Stone (vocals/guitar), Mike Semple (guitar), Andrew Clark (bass), Jon Pikus (drums) and Kelli Scott (drums on Tell Them Hi).

The seven song Mood Enhancer EP with its rocked-out grunge and fuzz rock influences is considered a near cult classic; and until the release of Delongpre in 2002 would be the nearest thing to a full- length that the group ever released.

On the strength of a few singles and local performances in the L.A. area the band signed with Interscope Records in 1994. The band would record 15 songs in their basement studio, but before the album was released the band imploded, a victim of both drugs and personal squabbling. In 2000, with the encouragement of Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland, the band re-formed and in 2002 those shelved tracks were released as the full length Delongpre.

While Mood Enhancer never sounds overly dated, the same can not be said of Delongpre,

“which trades for the most part in post-grunge clichés… sludgy mid-tempo textures and an almost complete lack of interesting melodies or hooks.”

2003’s Tell Them Hi with it’s smoother production values, dual guitar work from Christian Stone and Mike Semple and

“pure aggressive pop loaded with heavy life experiences and dark melodies” make for a polished sophomore effort.”

Discography

Releases:

Little Wolverine/Post-Coital (Boy’s Life) 1994
Lifter & Campfire Girls (7″) (Fingerpaint Records, Boy’s Life Records) 1995
Sad Dog (Atlantic) 1995
Mood Enhancer E.P. (10″) (Beggars Banquet) 1995
Mood Enhancer E.P. (CD) (Beggars Banquet) 1995
Delongpre (CD) (Tornado) 2002
Delongpre (Digital Download)
Tell Them Hi (CD) (Interscope) 2003
Tell Them Hi (Digital Download)

Tracks Appear On:

“Motorola Casanova” Turn It Up & Pass It On, Volume 4 1995
Water Music (CD) (Just Add Water) 1995
Classic Dinner Music (Airwalk) (CD) (Interscope) 1995
“Motorola Casanova” This Ain’t No Sippin’ Tea (CD) (Beggars Banquet) 1996
“Perry Farrell Ate My Girlfriend” Modern Day Paintings By Original Artists (CD) (Fingerpaint Records) 1997
“Someday” The Inside Track (CD) (Interscope) 2003
“Someday” CMJ New Music Monthly, Volume 120: January/February 2004 (CD) (CMJ) 2004
“Ode To El Niño” The Suburbans (CD, Digital Download) (Ignite) 2000

Campfire Girls – Mood Enhancer EP

Playing Time: 36 minutes 48 seconds

1. Upon (1:21)
2. Motorola Cassanova (3:28)
3. Homework (3:23)
4. Little Wolverine (5:46)
5. Quick Phone Call (4:48)
6. P.F.A.M.G. (3:39)
7. Junkman (14:23)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, Post-Grunge

Capsize 7

Capsize 7, Joe Taylor (Guitar/Vocals), Geoff Abell (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Mike Jackson (Bass), and Chris Toms (Drums) was part of the same 1990s Chapel Hill indie rock boom that birthed Archers of Loaf, Superchunk, and Polvo. Their sound was a blend of the

“Archers’s fractured power-pop and Polvo’s baroque guitar shapes with Slint’s churning rawness”

they never lasted long enough “to garner their share of the hype.”

Discography

Releases:

Mephisto (CD) (Caroline Records) 1995
Recline and Go (CD) (Hep-Cat) (1995)

Tracks Appear On:

“The Safe” CMJ New Music Monthly Volume 28 (CD) (College Music Journal) 1995
“Column Shifter” Immortal: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD) (Permanent) 1996
“Queen Bitch” Crash Course for the Ravers: A Tribute to David Bowie (CD) (Undercover Records) 2003

Capsize 7 – Mephisto

Playing Time: 38 minutes 44 seconds

1. Column Shifter (2:48)
2. Armstrong (2:24)
3. Pong (1:54)
4. Western Friese (3:04)
5. Blasting. Radios Off (3:00)
6. Blower (2:48)
7. 1-8 (4:18)
8. The Safe (2:57)
9. Remote Control Human (2:22)
10. Ash Man (4:42)
11. Tomato Paste (2:17)
12. Connecticut (2:30)
13. Malt Lemur (3:40)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock, Indie Rock

The Edsel Auctioneer

Taking their name from Ford’s ill-fated automobile, The Edsel Auctioneer; Ashley Horner (guitar/ vocals), Phil Pettler (bass/ vocals), Aidan Winterburn (vocals, guitar) and Chris Cooper (drums) formed in Leeds in 1988.

In early 1988 they recorded several songs for a small Glasgow indie label, unreleased the tape found its way to legendary English DJ John Peel who invited the band to Maida Vale studios to record a session. The group’s first Peel Session produced four songs; “Brickwall Dawn”, “Blind Hurricane”, “Between Two Crimes” and “Place In the Sun.” This Peel Session was broadcast in late 1988 and once again in 1989 as the group would record another Peel Session in 1993.

On the basis of the 1989 Peel Sessions the band signed with Manchester’s Decoy Records, also home to Mega City Four. Their first single, produced by Iain Burgess, “Our New Skin/ Strung”, was released in 1989. They released the Stickleback EP in 1990 and later that year those first two releases were combined and released as the mini-album Voice of the Harolds.

With a sound that clearly showed the influence of indie noise merchants Dinosaur Jr., Hüsker Dü and My Bloody Valentine, along with touches of the Byrds, the Monkees, the Go-Betweens and the Pixies the band proved moderately successful in the UK;

“supporting bands like Teenage Fanclub, Neds Atomic Dustbin, Senseless Things, the Telescopes, Buffalo Tom, Silverfish, the Lemonheads and the Wedding Present.”

In 1992 Chris Cooper left to join the Pale Saints and was replaced on drums by Tris Williams. Simmer, their first full length was recorded in Edinburgh and at Strawberry Studios in Stockport in late 1990. Produced by Chris Nagle the album, due to Decoy Records financial problems, wasn’t released until 1992.

While Simmer produced a series of singles, “Starfish”, “Slouch” and “Undertow” continuing financial problems resulted in Decoy Records folding and the band was forced to look for a new label. Following a US tour and an appearance at 1993’s CMJ festival in New York they signed with Alias Records.

Their second full length, The Good Time Music of… was recorded in the summer of 1994 with The Cure’s engineer Steve Whitfield producing. Released by Alias in 1995 the album spans

“a number of genre, including noise, bubblegum pop, grunge and country.”

The album did produce one single, the breezy bubblegum pop song, “Summer Hit”, with Meriel Barham from Pale Saints singing back-up, but with little label support the album withered on the vine and in late 1995 the band broke up.

Discography

Our New Skin / Strung (7″) (Decoy) 1989
Gutted EP (7″, 12″) (Decoy) 1990
Stickleback (7″, 12″) (Decoy) 1990
Voice Of The Harolds (EP) (Decoy) 1990
Voice Of The Harolds (LP) (Decoy) 1990
Voice Of The Harolds (CD, EP) (Decoy) 1990
Starfish (12″) (Decoy)1991
Jimmy Starfish / Beatslag Day (7″) (Clawfist) 1992
Pop Song # 2 (7″) (Summershine) 1992
Simmer (CD, LP) (Decoy) 1992
Slouch (7″) (Decoy) 1992
Undertow (7″) (Decoy) 1992
Symmetry / Stuntman (5″) (Alias Records) 1995
The Good Time Music Of … (CD) (Alias Records) 1995
The Good Time Music Of … (Digital Download)

Tracks Appear On:

“Did She Ever Pay?” Knowing Where It All Leeds (CD) (Stolen Sounds) 1991
“Lost Interest” Ruta 66 (CD, LP) 1991
“Summer Hit” Summer Hit! (CD) (Running Circle) 1995
“Summer Hit” Spin This 6 (CD)
“I Cut A Hole” Untitled (Flexi, 7″) (Ablaze! Magazine)

The Edsel Auctioneer – The Goodtime Music Of…

Playing Time: 47 minutes 37 seconds

1. Summer Hit (3:04)
2. Simple (3:44)
3. Philled (3:31)
4. Stuntman (2:52)
5. What’s The Use? (4:58)
6. 11Th September ‘94 (4:23)
7. Hangover (2:47)
8. Faces One (4:10)
9. Haircut (4:13)
10. Country Song (4:20)
11. Shortchanged (4:41)
12. Just Can’t Believe It (4:54)

Tags: Alternative Pop/ Rock