R.E.M. — Wendell Gee

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Wendell Gee
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – She’s outta town. Who knows where and when.
• Keeper: Yes

This is a handsome twin 7 inch gatefold package that includes the songs “Wendell Gee”, “Ages Of You”, “Crazy” and “Burning Down.” I don’t know. Maybe I’m finally mellowing out in my old age. As I lap through these R.E.M. records I’m starting to like them more. I’ll admit, they are good, but I still don’t see myself getting the urge to play these often.

Pailhead — I Will Refuse

• Artist: Pailhead
• Title: I Will Refuse
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – Bought it for myself when I worked Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Yay! More industrial punk weirdness. This is the second Pailhead record logged here, but “I Will Refuse” came out first. With Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat fame on vocals with Al Jourgensen and Al Barker of Ministry it’s bound to turn out pretty good. I like this 7 inch more than the four song EP, “Trait”, that came next, but both are great. I have no idea what “I Will Refuse” and the flipside “No Bunny” are about but both still sound fresh, original and intense. Not many songs with “Bunny” in the title can be described as “intense.”

Sinead O’Connor with MC Lyte — I Want Your (Hands On Me)

• Artist: Sinead O’Connor with MC Lyte
• Title: I Want Your (Hands On Me)
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Probably from Mother’s Record in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Again, for me Sinead O’Connor falls into the category I call too-earnest-too-often, but “I Want Your (Hands On Me)” is a decent single. The flipside, “Just Call Me Joe”, on the other hand is fantastic. It doesn’t sound like any of her other music that I’m familiar with. That song/recording was from a BBC Radio One session. It sounds almost like The Jesus and Mary Chain, but with pretty vocals.

Naked Eyes — Promises Promises

• Artist: Naked Eyes
• Title: Promises Promises
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Maybe

This sounds so ’80s, but it’s decent pop. I definitely like it more than the other single of this year, “Always Something There To Remind Me.” But if never heard either of them again that would be OK by me. Mary gives “Promises Promises” a 6.

M — Pop Musik

• Artist: M
• Title: Pop Musik
• Year: 1979
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – She fell asleep before I could ask.

I’m writing from yet another hotel in Asheville, NC. We close on our new-old house tomorrow morning. This time we brought the kids with us so they can check it out. So far, thumbs up. That said, I did get panhandled three times in as many minutes after leaving a restaurant tonight. I’m not sure if that’s more irritating or funny. This is my fourth near-1000-mile-roundtrip to Asheville in a little over a month.

I’ve always liked this silly song, “Pop Musik.” I played the flipside, “M Factor”, this morning and already I’ve forgotten what it sounds like. That means it’s either completely forgettable, or I’m really tired from driving all day.

The Lemonheads — Luka

• Artist: The Lemonheads
• Title: Luka
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ? – “No clue at all”
• Keeper: No

I never liked The Lemonheads even when it seemed like everyone I knew did. They were just boring to me, even their early stuff that some consider “punk” or “hardcore.” They’re often compared to The Replacements, another band that completely bores me. I remember seeing The Lemonheads live on tour for “Shame About Ray”, which was probably their peak in terms of popularity. I like almost anything live, but I was bored then too. Did I mention that I think they boring? Not bad really, just boring.

King Crimson — Larks’ Tongues in Aspic

• Artist: King Crimson
• Title: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
• Year: 1973
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2006 – A gift from Keith.
• Keeper: Yes

Today is a “K” day. Even though I’m playing 7-inches this time through I decided to go with King Crimson’s LP “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic” because:

1. my good friend Keith just bought this for me on eBay
2. this K-day is also for K-eith, his wife K-erah and their un-alliteratively-named son Max
3. and I get to postpone writing about another Kajagoogoo record

I don’t know much about King Crimson, but this one is Keith’s favorite. I like it too, and was surprised how “progressive”, in a good way, this record was and is. My favorite cuts are the title tracks that bookend the album. After a few minutes of almost ambient noodling the opening track slams you with a metallic riff in 7/8 time signature. I like surprises. Except for the vocals, in some ways this album reminds me a lot of the Gamalon record I’ve already logged here. But Gamalon came along over a decade later.

Did Gorillaz really sample the laugh at the end of “Easy Money”?

Joe Jackson — Memphis

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Memphis
• Year: 1983
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1984 ? – When Mary worked at Tower Records in DC.
• Keeper: Yes

This single was part of the soundtrack to the movie “Mike’s Murder” starring Debra Winger. Yeah, I’ve never seen it either. Anyhow, the primary riff in “Memphis” sounds so much like the Spencer David Group song “I’m A Man” that I can’t help but think of that when I’m listening to this. Despite that the “Memphis” vibe is more new wave than classic rock. I like it, but it bothers me. “Breakdown” on the flip is an ethereal instrumental number, and unlike any Joe Jackson music I’ve ever heard.

Balls of Steel, Stainless Steel That Is

I made this when I was working in a sheet metal shop in a shipyard. Why? I do not know, but it probably had something to do with “the man” getting on my nerves and me reacting by doing a little “goverment job.” This ball is made of 16 gauge stainless steel. Two discs were cut on a circle shear. Then they were taken to a spinning lathe where the disks were shaped against a hemispherical steel mold. Before the two shells were TIG welded together I decided to put a large steel ball, maybe 1.5 inches in diameter, inside. Then they were welded along the seam and the center holes were carefully filled. Finally, the ball was ground smooth(ish) on a belt sander.

In hindsight I wish I had tried to partially fill it with water instead of a steel ball. Although that would have made the welding difficult I think it would be more interesting. Still, when you hold it there is a compelling urge to whip it in a circle to feel, and hear, the internal ball whirring around. But it’s like playing the drums — fun for you and irritating for everyone else.

Ignition — Sinker

• Artist: Ignition
• Title: Sinker
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – “Probably at a show”
• Keeper: Maybe

I was trying to figure this record out when I did a search and found this. That guy’s site probably will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about Ignition. I agree with him that the bass is way loud. It’s like the bass player sneaked back into the studio after everyone left and made a few “adjustments.” Anyhow, I was surprised it was self-produced and not on Dischord until I read the piece linked to above. I only got to see the band once or twice and I didn’t buy any records. Mary must’ve seen a better performance. And why is there an illustration of a distributor, cap and rotor on the back? Oh right, “Ignition.”