The U.V’s — Dropping Bombs

The U.V.s -- Dropping Bombs

• Artist: The U.V’s
• Title: Dropping Bombs
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – At our store RIP records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: No

The U.V’s (and that’s exactly how they spell it on the cover) are a band I know little about. All three songs on this record are incredibly boring. On “Dropping Bombs”, “Real World”, and “Deepest Blue” the band just plods along like any neighborhood garage band, with no energy and vocals, well, that go with the music. Since they are Australian, I think, I’m sure my expectations were high when I first got this.

The Ordinaires — One

• Artist: The Ordinaires
• Title: One
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

Shingles = PAIN!
Tracy + Shingles = Lazy, Whiny, Crybaby

Trust me, this sucks, big time. Having shingles that is, not this record. It’s also my excuse for not posting for so long. At least I got through the weekend and got to see my friends at Chris Hunter’s wedding. Throw in some time with my extended family and a gang trip to Busch Gardens and the long trip was well worth it.

What to say about The Ordinaires? This record, One, is pretty interesting. Since I’m feeling lazy (see above) I’ll just say that if you like Kronos Quartet, Zappa, or any other quirky instrumental music this is the record for you. The front cover is a “computer generated composite photograph” of the nine band members on the back. Read more at Trouser Press.

Feels like burning… shingles, that is.

Bad Brains — Quickness

• Artist: Bad Brains
• Title: Quickness
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – At our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

Ah… back again to greatest band ever, Bad Brains. I know a lot of people were excited to know “Quickness” was coming out. It’s very solid record, if not as mind blowing as “I Against I.” Apparently, it was their best-selling album. Recorded in between break ups of the original band members, like a lot of their stuff, to me it feels like something is missing. There’s more hip hop, more metal, and even some reggae again, but something seems off. Maybe it’s just me. All that said, overall it is a great album. Every time I hear “With the Quickness” I want to stage dive off the couch, only the kids aren’t big enough to catch me, yet.

Laughing Hyenas — You Can’t Pray a Lie

• Artist: Laughing Hyenas
• Title: You Can’t Pray a Lie
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Promo at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA

I guess I used to like pretty much everything off-center. Nowadays I don’t seem to have much patience for noise, unless it’s really special, and I don’t think this is. “You Can’t Pray a Lie” is the only Laughing Hyenas record I have and I didn’t buy it, but I did decide to keep it at some point. There are a couple songs that interest me, maybe I didn’t give it a fair listen because it was a busy day, but I don’t plan to keep this one now. When I think of the label that put this out, Touch and Go Records, I think “noise.” I do like a lot of their bands, but not all noise is created equal.

Good ol’ Trouser Press has a long article about the Laughing Hyenas.

k.d. lang — Absolute Torch and Twang

• Artist: k.d. lang
• Title: Absolute Torch and Twang
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Not sure
• Acquired: Not sure

k.d. lang won a Grammy for this record, “Absolute Torch and Twang” so you know it’s decent. I can’t tell if I like this or not. I know it’s good music, but it’s not really my thing. My favorite is “Pullin’ Back the Reins”, which is excellent.

Anita Lane — Dirty Sings

• Artist: Anita Lane
• Title: Dirty Sings
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

I saved the sticker on the shrink wrap to this EP “Dirty Sings” from Anita Lane. Except for that she was in The Bad Seeds for a bit, I didn’t know anything about her when I got this record. So, I’m guessing it was the words “in a musical collaboration with Nick Cave, Barry Adamson, and Mick Harvey” that prompted me to grab it. The first song, “If I Should Die” is so unbearably arty that I didn’t think I could make it through the whole thing. But I did make it through all four songs and I’m happy to report it got much better. I think the best cut is an excellent remake of Sister Sledge’s “Lost In Music.”

Joe Jackson — Blaze of Glory

• Artist: Joe Jackson
• Title: Blaze of Glory
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1989 – Our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

Joe Jackon’s “Blaze of Glory” is very much an “adult” album. And I’m not usually in a very adult mood. The first time I played this the other day I was distracted, but also stunned by what I initially perceived as over-production and even some… cheesiness. At first I didn’t get it at all, despite being an adult, sorta. After a couple more proper listens it’s starting to make sense. This is a very complex, some might say “concept”, album. There are few if any audible gaps between the songs, and the lyrics move from youth to the reality beyond it. It feels almost like a musical.

It seems the single “Nineteen Forever” made it up the charts, but I don’t remember hearing it on the radio.

“This album is dedicated to my generation.” — Joe Jackson (from the liner notes)

Tad — God’s Balls

Tad -- God

• Artist: Tad
• Title: God’s Balls
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Bought it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

The eagle has landed! And he brought our stuff with him. The movers unloaded all our boxes yesterday and we spent our first night in our haunted house. The cable guys even hooked us up and I’m logging this on my own rig. That said, it’s still like a camping trip around here. We’re borrowing a mini fridge and using a cooler, no washer and dryer hook up, etc. On the bright side, this morning I received a killer poster from my good friend Keith that uses a zillion figural images to depict one of my heroes, Mies van Der Rohe. We can use that to cover up some of this crumbling plaster. This house is gonna need its own category.

Anyhow… I was pretty excited to get this Tad record, “God’s Balls”, when it first came out. I still really like a few songs, especially “Behemoth”, but overall I found myself getting a little bored. Maybe I just need to listen to it a few more times.

Baby Ford — Children of The Revolution

• Artist: Baby Ford
• Title: Children of The Revolution
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 — Promo received at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Yes

This is a 12 inch single by Baby Ford with two mixes of Marc Bolan’s (T-Rex) “Children of The Revolution.” The flipside contains “Oochy Koochy (Konrad Cadet Version)” and “Ford Trax.” I was sure this belonged to Mary, but based on the year it came out and the promo stamp on the cover it must be something I got at our store. I’m not that into it and wouldn’t keep it, but Mary digs it and rates it a generous, in my opinion, 7. Last thing, does this belong under “B” or “F”? When artists have stage names I’m never sure where to put them. His real name is Peter Ford.

Various: Nirvana, Helios Creed, Yeast, Coffin Break — Teriyaki Asthma

Various: Nirvana, Helios Creed, Yeast, Coffin Break -- Teriyaki Asthma

• Artist: Various: Nirvana, Helios Creed, Yeast, Coffin Break
• Title: Teriyaki Asthma
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 7 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – Got it for myself at our store RIP Records in Norfolk, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

This is a 7 inch compilation from C/Z Records. “Teriyaki Asthma” contains four songs by Seattle area artists, but I don’t think it was nearly as popular, or written about, as another C/Z compilation called “Deep Six.” The latter came out a couple years earlier, was a full LP, and had songs from Soundgarden and other notable area bands.

The Nirvana track is pre-Grohl and it’s more punked out than most Nirvana fans would be used to. Helios Creed’s cut is a virtually instrumental, acidic, lead guitar noodlefest, that gets boring before it’s over. The song by Yeast is just silly. And Coffin Break contribute a solid rocker that is by far the most interesting piece here.