E-I-E-I-O — That Love Thang

• Artist: E-I-E-I-O
• Title: That Love Thang
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Please tell me it was a promo…
• Keeper: No

These guys play well and with conviction, but it just ain’t my “thang.” After the first side of this E-I-E-I-O album I had a dilemma. I was really unmotivated to get off the couch to flip it, but I really wanted it to be over. Just then Mary walked in the room, problem solved. So, I got through it, but that’ll be the last time. My beef with this record started early. The first song is “Hey Cecelie.” When he sings it though he pronounces it “Cecelia.” You know, like the Simon and Garfunkel song, except they knew how to spell it, and their song had a rocking percussion break. The sound here I guess can be described as roots rock, with horns. If that sounds like your thing and the title That Love Thang appeals, you may dig it.

Wolfmother to the rescue with some ear cleaning…

Weather Theatre — Bridge to Heaven

Weather Theatre -- Bridge to Heaven

• Artist: Weather Theatre
• Title: Bridge to Heaven
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I know… It probably appears one of my new year’s resolutions was to maintain my slackness in posting records, but it’s not true. I’m going to try to do better than every other day.

But this record by Weather Theatre isn’t that motivating. Even their fancy pants spelling of “Theatre” is offputting. I don’t know anything about these guys. They are a higly mediocre “alternative” band with some mild Echo and The Bunnymen wannabe thing going on. There’s a fancy pants fold out record cover, and the songs included are “Bridge to Heaven” and “Great God’s Gift.” It’s hard to believe this band came out of Seattle in the late 1980s.

Tad — Ritual Device / Daisy

Tad -- Ritual Device / Daisy

• Artist: Tad
• Title: Ritual Device / Daisy
• Year: 1988?
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988? – At our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

Tad, Tad, Tad. Do I like your clear vinyl single of “Ritual Device” and “Daisy”? I guess so. I liked it more than I expected, or remembered. It’s very uh… Sub-Pop circa 1988, which is not a bad thing. There was a time I just couldn’t get enough of this stuff. I don’t think I’ll play it ever again though. Maybe you need a new home. It’s not you, Tad, it’s me.

Debbie Harry — Liar Liar

• Artist: Debbie Harry
• Title: Liar Liar
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Dunno
• Keeper: Maybe

“From the film ‘Married to the Mob.'” Never saw the movie and never heard this record until today. I have no idea where Mary got it. Debbie Harry does a decent cover of “Liar Liar”, the 1960s hit by The Castaways. The flipside is some weirdness called “Queen of Voudou” by The Voodooist Corporation. I’ve never of them at all. It doesn’t appear to have anything to do with Ms. Harry. The song is sorta synthy and it didn’t really hold my attention so I can’t describe it beyond that.

God Bullies — Fear and Pain

• Artist: God Bullies
• Title: Fear and Pain
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: No

God Bullies music is not for everybody. I know I got “Fear and Pain” when my brother and I had a record store, and I think I may have bought from our guy at Sub-Pop, which I realize seems unlikely since this is on another label, Amphetamine Reptile Records, and the band is from Michigan. Maybe I got it somewhere else… Anyhow, the cover art reminds me of engravings or wood cuts that I saw in a book I read about Vlad the Impaler. Fun. The song “Fear and Pain” is another number I would describe as more metal than metal. Whereas the other side, “Kick it to Sleep”, has a more familiar indy dirge feel. Kinda interesting, but I don’t need to hear it again. This one is number 304 of 600.

There’s more about the band at Trouser Press.

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction — Planet Girl Picture Disc

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction -- Planet Girl Picture Disc

• Artist: Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction
• Title: Planet Girl Picture Disc
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 10 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Probably at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: Maybe

I selected “Vinyl 10 in.” for the format on this one but I suppose it depends on how you measure it. This Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction single “Planet Girl” is a solid rocker. The flipside song “Dog Face Driver” is a lot more electronic, like it’s a demo, but not bad. The most interesting part is the most obvious: a picture disc that’s also cut in the shape of a cross. One-time fanatic that I was of course I had to have this. Now, I don’t know. I think these versions of both songs are on other records I have. And who wants to be a completist? That’s for nerds. Weeding out my record collection in public in nerdy enough.

Talking Heads — (Nothing But) Flowers

Talking Heads -- (Nothing But) Flowers

• Artist: Talking Heads
• Title: (Nothing But) Flowers
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy ?
• Acquired: Not sure, maybe as promo at our store…

I like Talking Heads and I like the song “(Nothing But) Flowers”, but there’s not much to say about this record. It’s in a plain Sire Records promo sleeve, with the LP version of the song on one side and a “radio edit” version on the other. Uh… we don’t need to keep this one.

A little sumpin’ sumpin’ about “(Nothing But) Flowers” the song and video at Wikipedia.

Pere Ubu — The Tenement Year

• Artist: Pere Ubu
• Title: The Tenement Year
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – At our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

I respect this record, and this band, more than I enjoy the music. I’ve already told my story about seeing them live in London, and it was a great experience. That said, though Pere Ubu has created a lot of interesting music over the years, I guess it’s just not my thing. The Tenement Year has some great songs, but it also has some challenging sounds and noises layered in that I often find distracting, off-putting even.

The Magnolias — For Rent

• Artist: The Magnolias
• Title: For Rent
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Promo at RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

There’s nothing really wrong with For Rent by The Magnolias. It’s energetic and at times verges on punk, a good thing. I could listen to it all day and it wouldn’t bother me, but it doesn’t do anything for me either. So, this one has gotta go. The process of weeding out continues…

I opine, you decide.

Various Artists — ‘Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash

Various Artists --'Til Things Are Brighter... A Tribute to Johnny Cash

• Artist: Various Artists
• Title: Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Probably was a promo we got at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

“‘Til Things Are Brighter… A Tribute to Johnny Cash” was recorded by the people listed below as an AIDS benefit deal. It’s a lot better than I remember, but I’m still not sure I’ll keep it. The performances are solid, and of course the songs are great. I listed the groups these artists are best known for, but they weren’t necessarily associated with them when this recording was made.

“One Piece at a Time” – Michelle Shocked
“I Walk the Line” – Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire)
“Rosanna’s Goin’ Wild” – Steve Mack
“Cry, Cry, Cry” – Sally Timms (The Mekons)
“Country Boy” – David McComb (The Triffids)
“Wanted Man” – Marc Riley (The Fall)
“Straight ‘A’s in Love” – Peter Shelley (Buzzcocks)
“Ring of Fire” – Cathal Coughlan (Microdisney)
“Five Feet High and Risin'” – Tracey and Melissa Beehive
“Home of the Blues” – Brendan Croker
“Boy Named Sue” – Mary Mary (Gaye Bykers on Acid)
“Folsom Prison Blues” – Mekons
“Man in Black” – Marc Almond (Soft Cell)