Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction — Tattooed Beat Messiah

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction -- Tattooed Beat Messiah

• Artist: Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction
• Title: Tattooed Beat Messiah
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Got the domestic from our store RIP Records, and the UK from Venus Records, both in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

Oh man, how I used to love this Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction stuff. Even when it was new I thought it was completely silly, but fun and rocking when little else was. We saw them once, at what Mary and I still call the old 9:30 Club (Wikipedia) in D.C. The old one on F Street was a lot smaller, but super fun. I think it moved in the mid-1990s. Anyhow, the show rocked and they seemed to have fun mocking the rockstar thing.

This ain’t really doing it for me now. “Tattooed Beat Messiah” was the first full LP, and on major labels in the US and UK. I have both versions. They’re mostly the same except for some minor typographical differences on the back cover. The UK version also came with a large poster and liner notes. By the time this record came out I think most of the really entertaining songs had already been released in whatever version on EPs and 12 inch singles. And the same ol’ sleazy lyrics–big riffs and solos–horn section schtick gets pretty tired over the course of full length album.

Kim Salmon and The Surrealists – Hit Me With the Surreal Feel

• Artist: Kim Salmon and The Surrealists
• Title: Hit Me With the Surreal Feel
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.

Look, I know you probably think I waste too much time on these pictures, maybe this whole blog is a waste of time, but these album covers are a big part of why vinyl is so great, so superior in almost every way. And anyway it’s my blog. Look at the third pic below, which is one side of the liner. Now that is just quality silliness. I wish I had thought of it. And that eyeball album label is cool too.

I wanted this record because I was big fan of The Scientists; we’ll get to those records eventually. Of Kim Salmon’s various bands, that I know of, Kim Salmon and The Surrealists (Wikipedia) is my least favorite. I only got their first record, “Hit Me With the Surreal Feel.” I realize it’s supposed to be a raw, minimalist sound, but to me it just sounds lazy, like they were just joking around instead of trying to make something really interesting. Many fans seem to disagree with me. Only 1000 copies were made; maybe I can find it a good home.

Echo and The Bunnymen — Bedbugs and Ballyhoo 12 inch

• Artist: Echo and The Bunnymen
• Title: Bedbugs and Ballyhoo 12 inch
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Girl ain’t here to ask

I checked “maybe” by the Keeper field for this 12 inch of “Bedbugs and Ballyhoo” by Echo and The Bunnymen. The truth is, even though they are one of my favorite bands ever, I was pretty much done with them by the time this came out. I would only keep it now as part of the collection. It’s more pop than their earlier stuff, not necessarily a bad thing, but still a little twisted. Two remixes on side A and side B has live versions of “Run, Run, Run”, “Paint It Black”, and “Friction.”

As I write this I’m listening to the latest album by Muse, “Black Holes and Revelations”, which is super exciting. I may have to shake up the I’m Heavy Duty! programming a bit to write about some new stuff. Right, Keith?

Inca Babies — Evil Hour

• Artist: Inca Babies
• Title: Evil Hour
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Promo at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.

I was thinking this Inca Babies record, “Evil Hour”, sounded familiar in some way, but I wasn’t sure why. I thought maybe there was some milder Birthday Party thing happening, but that seemed like a lazy comparison. Then, I read this article about the Inca Babies at Trouser Press. Turns out, I’m not lazy. It looks like this was their last release and apparently they had started finding their groove, but overall this record wasn’t as exciting as I remembered.

Update: Inca Babies’ new site is up and running, and they have a new “best of” called Plutonium out on Cherry Red Records.

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction — Interview Picture Disc

Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction -- Interview Picture Disc

• Artist: Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction
• Title: Interview Picture Disc
• Year: 1988 ?
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 1
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: Not sure.
• Keeper: No

If you’re a fanatic about Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction you may want to have this “Interview Picture Disc.” I was a pretty big fan, but even I don’t want it now. Sure, there are a couple cool pics of the band, in the record itself, but the “interview” is pretty unlistenable. I doubt this recording was intended to be released to the public. It sounds like it was conducted in a busy office, complete with people opening and closing doors, and phones ringing loudly and often.

R.E.M. — Green

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Green
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Mary / Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I had forgotten what a huge hit this R.E.M. album was. Despite its pop success, or maybe because of it, I found “Green” to be the most enjoyable R.E.M. record I’ve logged so far. “Pop Song 89,” “Stand,” and “Orange Crush” must have been on the radio so much that I’ve been programmed to respond to them as “classics.” My favorite is “Turn You Inside-Out.”

By the way, the movers called and they are going to be a day late. More quality time with Kellie and Grayson!

Laibach — Sympathy For The Devil

• Artist: Laibach
• Title: Sympathy For The Devil
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

I’ve never been un-screwed before, but I think I like it. At least compared to having the plate and screws attached to my previously obliterated clavicle today’s surgical undoing was a breeze. Thanks Keith, for pumping [Clap!] me up

Ja man ja, more Laibach. Do you like it? Or, do you love it? There is no third question. I love Laibach. This “Sympathy For The Devil” EP came out the same year as their most awesome interpretation of The Beatles “Let It Be.” (Their own web site says it came out two years later, but ladies and gentlemen the record I’m holding in my hand right now says otherwise! The Internet is crap.) The “Sympathy” record isn’t quite as impressive if for no other reason than instead of an album’s worth of songs it’s six, very different, versions of this Rolling Stones classic. The hi-hat sound on one of them is the greatest thing ever.

Again, I point to this article about Laibach at Wikipedia. It’s good, they’re good and too strange for you to not know all about them.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins — Feast of The Mau Mau

• Artist: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
• Title: Feast of The Mau Mau
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Let me start by saying that “Feast of The Mau Mau” by Screamin Jay Hawkins gets a straight-up-stone-cold-solid 10! I’ve played this every day we were home for the last two months. Just ask my wife and kids. That’s the good news. The even better news is that it’s a double album. “Feast” is actually a re-release of two earlier albums, “What This Is” and “Because Is In Your Mind / Armpitrubber.”

I can’t tell you how exciting this music is. For me, it’s the perfect mix of blues, R&B, rock and roll, and weirdness. Occassionally he gets down right raunchy, so mind your audience. Most people know him for “I Put a Spell on You”, but there are many even better songs. Also, he’s so cool his music was featured in one Jarmusch film and he acted in another. Finally, Hawkins is a lyrical genius. Who else could rhyme with “righteous”?

Our Love Is Not For 3

You gave me a heartache
AAahh! a heartache
You gave me a heartburn!
My mind’s in neutral
Whaaa! I’m walking sideways
I can’t get righteous
I’m looking upside down
And outta-sighteous
Whaaa! You gave me a heartache
Have Mercy…

More about Screamin’ Jay Hawkins at Wikipedia.
Great NPR story about Hawkins’ alledged 70 plus children.

Dwight Yoakam — Always Late With Your Kisses

Dwight Yoakam -- Always Late With Your Kisses

• Artist: Dwight Yoakam
• Title: Always Late With Your Kisses
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987 – Probably from Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

The sleeve on this says 1988, but the labels on the record say 1987. Maybe because the single came out a little later. I like Dwight Yoakam, and I’ve already logged the LP that includes both sides of this 45, “Always Late With Your Kisses” and “1000 Miles.” These are good songs, but not my favorites from “Hillbilly Deluxe.” For the most part I’m an LP guy, and I usually only buy singles that have something I can’t get anywhere else. This one belongs to Mary. I recently read an article that the market has shifted back to singles. I know I’m old and all, but I just can’t get excited by the thought of buying singles to download. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

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.