Spacemen 3

spacemen 3


spacemen 3

The best.

Funkadelic - Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow / Maggot Brain

If most of society actually gave a fuck and tried to even start to understand what Funkadelic hoped to achieve with their music, this country/world would be a totally different place to live in. Yeah that's right, i just said Funkadelic could solve all the worlds problems. It's that heavy. These are my two most favorite Funkadelic records, of which i couldnt live without. These albums are intoxicated with honest thinking, free form freak out guitar, sonic space noises and enough attitude and soul to bring the whole fuckin' place down. Funkadelic are classic in the sense that they lace each track with such a pulsing, heavy groove, i'm talking about the kind of songs that you hear once and play over like 3 more times just so the groove doesnt leave your brain. There's a great part in Kris Needs book about Primal Scream where they're jamming with George Clinton and he tells Duffy to "go to church" when he starts playing piano. White people are fuckin' lame.

Malesch - Agitation Free

Malesch cook up some thick improvisational music with a heavy accent on Middle-Easten stylings, did i mention they're also freaking out on almost every drug under the sun? Cause that's what it sounds like. This was said to be recorded after the band returned from Cairo, which makes total sense after you check it out, i mean just look at the cover. At times the overall feeling is a little luke warm, but the album starts to smoke as it gains length. Like alot of bands that 'Jam' through their records, everyone seems to be off doing their own thing, scattered but assembeled, if that makes any sense. This came out during 1972 and has alot of other obvious influences like Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra thanks to Christopher Franke, Michael Hoenig and Lutz Ulbrich all of the early wave of Krautrock/prog bands mentioned above. Agitation free is a solid album and definatley worth checking.

Polvo- "shapes"

POLVO HAD A DICK.These dudes play some pretty incredible stuff,and none of their records sound the same.I like that.I hate when people describe things as "experimental",but that is kind of what's going on here.
I really dig SHAPES,because they are doing more of a psych/super textured sounding thing here,and they are doing it well.Most of the tracks are full of chord changes,odd timings,and fuzzed-out guitar shred.Some of it hints old Sonic Youth,Iron Butterfly,and maybe some Blue Cheer styles going on,but a little more out there.Yeah.
There's also tracks like "the fighting kites", that are just plain laid back sitar and percussion jams.Very nice.But over all,this is a real ripper.
I could go on forever about this,but i will say that if you are into loud,wierdo,fuzzy things..pick this fucker up.And if you hate it,send me your copy because mine is all scratched.
- M.O.

The Flower Travellin Band- "Satori"

OK.
I first heard the FTB on the soundtrack for DEADLY OUTLAW:REKKA.A most wicked Takashi Miike(Battle Royale,Ichi the Killer)film.The Flowers to me, sound like a sort of mix between Sabbath,Camel,King Crimson,Love..and some other big name psych/prog bands you've probably heard.But they are a bit heavier,darker,and waaaaayyyyy louder, brah. If you dig strange timings, crazy japanese men chanting, and really long songs ,dedicate your life to finding Satori
It's seriously tits.
They also have this album called "Anywhere" where they cover lots of songs from the 70's,that will piss you off.Stay clear of that shit.
xoxo- Michael "Vic Denim" O'Neal

Dead Meadow - Howls From the Hills

2001/tolotta

Dead Meadow really freak it on this album (it was recorded in a barn!), but not quite the coolest album in my book. This was the only dead meadow cd i had to scan in, records don't fit on my scanner. My favorite is the very first S/T album if i had to choose. Matador Reps these guys now and they are boasting a new-ish album called 'Feathers' that they put out a short while back. It's really good also but departs from the Sabbath like structure and starts to immerse itself in lush sound arrangements muc more textured and "dreamy" than their prior albums. If you arent down with these albums yet just go buy them all and make it to see them if they come near your town, it's always good (and really fuckin long!)

Mudhoney - Superfuzz/Bigmuff (re-issue)

SubPop


Yes! x11

This is a re-issue of Superfuzz Bigmuff plus some singles ranging from 1988 - 1990. I can't explain enough how fucking good this is.

Unwound - Gravity Records 7"

Gravity

I had a real shitty time at work this morning, when i got home i threw this on and it put an end to that.

The Gris Gris - Mary #38 b/w Baby You're Mine Now

2004/The Birdman Recording Group

This is a 45 by The Gris Gris, another very recent band that has the right idea. They also have a full length record out on Birdman that is hands down one of the coolest things i listened to in 2004.

Monorchid - Gravity Records 7"

Gravity Records/www.gravityrec.com

This is a 7" record that Gravity put out awhile back and it's red hot. Most things Gravity puts out are red hot. Check the link to see & hear for yourself.Gravity

Jesu

2005/Hydra Head/photo by P.J. Millson

Jesu, pronounced (JAY-ZU) is the duo of Ted Parsons and Justin Broadrick. You might recall Broadrick from the mighty Napalm Death back in 1987 and from other known bands like Godflesh, Head of David & Final just to name a few. (This dude has put out over 100 recordings!) Jesu's self titled debut on hydrahead is a motherload, dripping with sheets of ambience, sonically charged noise and flooded with melodic drones and thick drums. My favorites (so far) has to be "We All Faulter," clocking in just under 7 minutes, insanely good and, dare i say, highly recommended.

Thrones - Sperm Whale

1997-2000/Kill Rock Stars/www.killrockstars.com

Joe Preston has the coolest resume in the world. He's played on so many great records with most of my favorite bands. Melvins, C Average, Mens Recovery Project, The Whip, High On Fire, Sunn O))), Witchypoo, Earth, not to mention the other long list of collaborations he's done. Anyway, Thrones is Joe Preston going solo, which turns out to be a thick and heavy stew of layered drum machine loops, fuzzed out guitar and his voice. The songs are played with extreme authority, and there are a lot of 'em. This is a collection of two older ep's and was released by Kill Rock Stars. The papercut album art done by Nikki McClure is also an A+

The Jesus and Mary Chain - The Sound of Speed

1993/Blanco Y Negro

The Jesus and Mary Chain encompass pretty much all that i admire and strive for in life. There is not one fucking band in the world that can compete with the attitude and "cool" that radiates from the Reid brothers. Motorcycles, dirty leather, static, volume and drugs. Amen to that. "The Sound of Speed" was originally released as an e.p. but later was re-created into a collection of radio edits, hits and remixes. All the originals are still there, including "Little Red Rooster", the vicious Howlin Wolf cover and "Snakediver" the song that made it to The Crow soundtrack. This is hands down one of the best punk records i own, my personal favorite being "Reverence":
I WANNA DIE JUST LIKE JESUS CHRIST/I WANNA DIE ON A BED OF SPIKES/I WANNA DIE JUST LIKE JFK/I WANNA DIE ON A SUNNY DAY/I WANNA DIE JUST LIKE JFK/I WANNA DIE IN THE USA...yes.

Dungen - Ta Det Lugnt

2004/Subliminal Sounds/www.subliminalsounds.se


When i first heard this i thought it was one of these insanely hard to find weirdo/oddball 70's psych gems that you have to spend like 4 months searching the internet for, but wait, this shit was layed down in 2004!!! What the fuck?! Amen. This is hands down the best thing i have listened to in A FUCKING REALLY LONG TIME, if that means anything to you. A friend of mine told me that Gustav Ejstes, dude who is basically the bread & butter of the band uses a type of guitar pedal that was invented by Steve Howe from Yes and the earlier lesser known band Tomorrow, which makes total sense because the sound is pretty damn magical? Yes, magical. i guess that's word i'm looking for. This record is pure innovation and hard work, just give it a listen and you can totally tell. I'm glad to hear something like this being made during the times we're all living in, let's hope it rubs off.

400 Blows - Black Rainbow

2003/Rehash Records/www.400blows.net

These guys are seriously one of those bands that are doing shit right and are making music that really pisses people off again. They just released a new record called "Angel's Trumpets & Devil's Trombones" (cd on GSL and lp on Narnack Records) and here i am posting shit that came out almost 2 years ago. Nonetheless, 400 Blows are comprised of a drum set, one guitar and the snottiest vocals i've heard in quite some time, which is always a plus in my book. "Black Rainbow" is one of those albums that makes me want to rip my clothes and go skating, not really caring if i brake limbs or bust my head open. Just kinda makes you wanna fuck shit up. Plus they absolutly kill it live, so if opportunity knocks, get the fucking door. They also have 7" recordings out on GSL and Buddyhead

Roky Erickson - I Have Always Been Here Before

2005/Shout Factory

I'll start by letting you know that Roky Erickson has had more excesses and more creative vision than any other human being i can think of. He was responsible for the conception and creation of The 60's Austin,Texas psych/punk band the 13th Floor Elevators, which are credited with being one of the first bands to introduce a truly psychedelic sound to music and have influenced countless others that have gone on to do amazing things. This is a really good two disc collection of Roky Erickson songs pre & post 13th Floor Elavators stuff. I listened to this steady for like 3 weeks straight after it came out and i'm glad i spent so much time with it because i never realized how fucked up his song writing and lyrics become as he gains age and progresses into his schizophrenic solo career. Dude writes 5 minutes scorchers about purple gremlins and three headed demon dogs. yes please. Check out The Spades track too, a really good one.