“Tiger Phone Card” is the prettiest and groovinest song I’ve heard in a long time. And the band Dengue Fever is, loosely speaking, consistent with this week’s theme of psychedelic music. Fresh and familiar strikes again, and I can’t get enough of it. This video is of a live performance at The Viper Room. They are playing at The Black Cat in DC tonight y’all! Oh, please, please come to The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC!
Hear the album version of “Tiger Phone Card” and many other great songs at Dengue Fever’s MySpace.
I think the pic I took of this record is a little out of focus. Or, maybe it’s just the psychedelic hangover I have from Wonder Wonderful Wonderland by Plasticland. I never have played this record much, but I thought I would like it more than I did. And I gave it at least a couple spins all the way through on both sides. Wonder Wonderful Wonderland has its moments, but I just can’t get into it, again. There are other “neo-psychedelic” records in our collection that I think have held up better.
Title: Best Of The Music Machine (Featuring Sean Bonniwell)
Year: 1984
Format: Vinyl 12 in.
Rating (1-10): 7
Owner: Tracy
Acquired: 1984 – Probably mail order from some place like Midnight Records in NYC.
Keeper: Yes
Since I mentioned The Music Machine in my last post I thought I would post this Best Of The Music Machine (Featuring Sean Bonniwell) record next. It’s been a while since I’ve heard it and it’s more rocking than I remembered.
This album was released by Rhino in 1984. That’s like some label today re-releasing music that was popular, or at least existed, in the late 1980s, for a new audience. I was in high school when I bought this re-issue, so it’s not like I was being nostalgic. I suppose there may be some teenagers out there who would be excited to discover music from 1988, but it seems weird to me.
Most people think the seeds of heavy metal were sewn in the late 1960s, but I think The Music Machine got there a few years earlier. They have some heavy riffs, tricky song structures, dark lyrics, and –best of all– they wore all black clothing, dyed their hair black, and wore a black glove on one hand only. The notes on the back cover describe them as being “in the vanguard of the punk rock boom.” Maybe, but after another round of listening I’m convinced The Music Machine was proto-metal. And that’s what I’m talking about.
Psychedelic? Well, that’s what I read about these guys, Klaxons. But it’s a modern psychedelic, not like The Music Machine (original) or Plasticland (neo-psych), or even like the current stoner rock bands. This is more original, although there are moments that remind me of Gaye Bykers on Acid. There are lots of strange sounds and trippy lyrics but absolutely no self-indulgent protracted freak out jam sessions. In fact, most of the songs are pretty rhythmic, even “sing-along” and dance-able. My favorite is “Gravity’s Rainbow.”
I mentioned Klaxons a good while back. And it’s taken me a good while to get into Myths of the Near Future, but now that I’m tuned in and turned on, I’m digging it… man. Just kidding! Nothing retro about Klaxons. Maybe they’re future-psychedelic.
I’m throwing out a lot of “10” ratings but these records all deserve it. This right here is the greatest band you’ve probably never heard of. Nine Nine Nine. Concrete is one of the most fun, sing-along, punk pop rock and roll records ever. It includes two great covers: “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Fortune Teller.” But the best songs are the originals. A couple favorites are “So Greedy” and “Break It Up.” The musicianship and song craft are tops. Every song leaves me wanting more. Hearing damage or blown speakers, which will come first?
Nine Nine Nine is still kicking it. I need to get their latest.
That’s one cool dude on the cover. And speaking of cool dudes, this album was a birthday present from my Dad, a/k/a “Mr. Cool.” Just ask my Mom. I had some singles, you know, vinyl seven inches, that I had accumulated, but this was my very first full length album. That’s right, the first of thousands of records. And I can’t think of a better album or artist to start a record collection. I’m eternally grateful for my father pointing me in the right music direction. I liked Hendrix from what I heard on the radio, but this record was not something I asked for. It was his idea.
For me, Hendrix brings together everything I love most about music. Art, innovation, guitar mastery, blues, funk, acid rock, and the moments of cathartic heaviness that I just need to survive. Smash Hits by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is one of the most played records I own, and the vinyl shows the wear and tear. But it still sounds great. I did a decent job maintaining it for a 13 year old.
My favorite from this collection is a song I think was less of a hit than the others, “Stone Free.”
Acquired: 1989 – At a record I owned with my brother
Keeper: No
Here’s another record that’s really “for fans only.” I only have it because I was running a record store with my brother when it came out. I’m a big fan of Jane’s Addiction and even I don’t want to keep The Shocking E.P. As you can see from the cover it’s a “limited edition” and I’ll tell you why. The only thing “shocking” is Perry Farrell’s larger than life face on the cover. There’s another pic on the back of the whole band, you know, for fans. The only non-album cut is “Had a Dad – Live!” and it’s pretty forgettable. “Mountain Song” and certainly “Jane Says” are rock classics, but all of us fans already have those tracks. This is an import from Englandia.
I want to be in The Hives! The suits alone are enough incentive for me, but the music on The Black and White Album makes the dream of band membership irresistible. I like all their records but this is the best one yet. The Hives have that essence rare that reminds me of The Fleshtones: familiar but fresh, fun but not dumb, and always rocking even when the music is low key. At times this record is more punk than punk rock and more funky than funk. I can’t get enough of it. I’m probably playing it, in its entirety, at least five times a day. It’s hard to pick favorites but one standout is the fast rocking “Won’t Be Long.” It has a glockenspiel riff that is a perfect layer of icing atop a multilayer rock and roll cake, like the recorder solo in “Wild Thing” by The Troggs.
Everyone’s a loser in the modern world
Look at all the sad and gloomy little boys and girls
I know all you got is troubles all you got is woes
Shake the chips off your shoulders here’s how it
goes…
Whoooo Hoooo!
Various Artists -- Everything is Illuminated (Picture Soundtrack)
Artist: Various Artists
Title: Everything is Illuminated (Picture Soundtrack)
Year: 2005
Format: CD
Rating (1-10): 9
Owner: Tracy
Acquired: 2007 – Christmas present from my beautiful wife
Keeper: Yes
First of all, if you haven’t seen the movie Everything is Illuminated make sure to put it on your list. It stars Elijah Wood, but to me the real star is Eugene Hutz. Eugene is also the singer of Gogol Bordello. The film is excellent, and I’ll leave it at that. The soundtrack, which is why we have gathered here today, is also excellent. Most of the music is original stuff from Paul Cantelon. Other artists have also contributed songs, with a couple from Gogol Bordello, including “Start Wearing Purple.” I’ve praised that number before. That happens to be the most raucous song on the album. While raucous is usually my thing, I do enjoy the entire soundtrack. I could sit on the couch and just listen to it over and over. I prefer to consume music as primary activity. But let’s say you do your music listening mostly as a secondary activity, say, walking around town with your iPod. Everything is Illuminated would make the experience of running errands a lot more interesting. It’s full of unusual music and often slightly mysterious moods. Pretend you are in the movie.
I don’t like to be at any social function, no matter how casual, without music. Good music. It’s a little obnoxious to bring your own tunes when someone else is hosting, but I gotta do what I gotta do. For the annual Christmas Eve get-down at my folks’ I have packed Christmas with the Rat Pack. And this ain’t the first time. If you have to listen to Christmas music you can’t do better than some classics performed by Dean, Sammy and Frank. And who among your family and friends isn’t going to dig it? Even the packaging on this album is top notch. From the notes:
Forget about Ho Ho Ho and bells that jingle. This Christmas will be strictly… Ring-A-Ding Ding!
Want to know what it's like to have brain surgery? Well here's the long version of my experience. Complete with pictures and videos! Read all about the Brain Surgery Experience.
