R.E.M. — Eponymous

• Artist: R.E.M.
• Title: Eponymous
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy? Mary?
• Acquired: 1988 – Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

I hope everybody is watching UFC 75 right now. It’s free tonight! Cro Kop and Kongo are between rounds, and it’s the first fight tonight to make it past the first round. The main event between Jackson and Henderson is sure to be exciting.

Anyhow, Eponymous is a compilation of singles from R.E.M.’s first five albums. I like to pick on the band but of course they are great, and any sort of “best of” is especially great. I don’t have any memories or attachments with this one, but I was reminded of something when I was listening to it during dinner. The year Eponymous came out, 1988, is about when Mary’s sister Jolly was running track for the University of Georgia and living in Athens, GA. Somehow Jolly ended up walking Michael Stipe’s dog(s) when he was on the road. I think it was a regular gig for a while there, and I’ve always found it amusing.

Cro Kop just lost by decision to Kongo. Cro Kop looked like didn’t even want to be there. Downer…

More about this album at AllMusic.

Lenny Picket with The Borneo Horns — Self-titled

• Artist: Lenny Picket with The Borneo Horns
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: No

I really want to like this record by Lenny Picket with The Borneo Horns. And I do in fact like some of it, but I know it’s something I’m never going to play much. It’s been 20 years; if it’s never been heavy rotation before, it probably never will be. Lenny Pickett is probably known as Mr. SNL. He’s been in the SNL band since the mid-1980s and leading it since 1995. The first side of this album is pretty enjoyable, but I have to say that I find the second side a bit too “artistic.” Guess I’m just low brow.

There’s more about Lenny Pickett at Wikipedia. I didn’t know he was in Tower of Power. My dad had a record by them…

New Order — Technique

• Artist: New Order
• Title: Technique
• Year: 1989
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1989 – A promo at our store
• Keeper: Yes

If I have any attachment to this record, New Order’s Technique, it’s that I got it when my brother and I had a record store in Norfolk, VA. And that’s about it because this is not an album I played a lot. I’m not a huge New Order fan, but I love some of their stuff. Technique is a little bland and maybe too pop for me. My favorite song by far is the last one, “Dream attack.” And the lower case “a” is how they spell it.

The second pic is from the liner. The back of the jacket is the usual NO minimalism with just a bar code in the center.

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers — Conscious Party

• Artist: Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers
• Title: Conscious Party
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – Mother’s Records?
• Keeper: Yes

I could use a “conscious party” right now because I’m feeling a little loop-ay. Too much going on. So, I didn’t realize that there were a lot of guest stars on this album, including Lenny Picket and Jerry Harrison on a number of songs, and Keith Richards(!?) on what is certainly my favorite: “Lee and Molly.” I think this album was a big seller and to be honest it sounds a little like it was meant to sell, if you know what I’m saying. I believe the word is “cross-over.” That said, I do like Conscious Party overall, even the hit “Tomorrow People.” This record is almost 20 years old. I think Ziggy Marley may be getting better with age.

The Leaving Trains — Kill Tunes

• Artist: The Leaving Trains
• Title: Kill Tunes
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1986 – Probably at Mother’s Records
• Keeper: Yes

Kill Tunes is my favorite record by The Leaving Trains. It’s the first one I bought, and I believe it’s their debut. I don’t know why I bought it, but I’m guessing the cool cover and the record label being SST were a couple good reasons. This is probably their most rocked-out record, and it includes an excellent cover of an excellent song from an excellent band, “Private Affair” by The Saints. Covers are a sign there are real men in this band, especially since “Private Affair” was less than 10 years old at the time. As I’ve mentioned before, these guys produce a great mix of garage rock and weirdness. That’s really all I need to be happy.

Did I sell out? Call it survival
When everything I do smacks of revival
Cease fire? No way
There’s nothing left behind to save anyway

“10 Generations” — The Leaving Trains

Etched in the vinyl run out margins:
Side 1 – Tunes don’t kill, people do
Side 2 – I buried Manfred

Klarcnova — Klarcnova

• Artist: Klarcnova
• Title: Klarcnova
• Year: 2007
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: All of us
• Acquired: Andy gave it to Mars earlier this year.
• Keeper: Yes

It’s K day! OK, I know, it’s been K day for over a week. But this one is worth waiting for. Klarcnova is an Asheville trio that includes Andy John, our kids’ guitar teacher. Yes, Andy is the guitarist in the band. I just got around to listening to this album about a week ago and it’s all I’ve been playing since. I love the whole thing, including the sweet “naked” production, the excellent playing, and tasty songs. My favorite is probably “Thumbprint.” It’s a spicy Latin jazz number, complete with a fast-tempo jazz odyssey in the middle. Klarcnova is a very eclectic and excellent album. This is one for you Jazzy G.

Check out the Klarcnova MySpace page.

Andy is currently on the road playing with The Lithuanian Empire in Canada.

Jane’s Addiction — Jane’s Addiction

• Artist: Jane’s Addiction
• Title: Jane’s Addiction
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987

I was surprised to read this went Gold. Not because it isn’t excellent, it truly is, but when I got it Jane’s Addiction were not well-known. Surely all these sales came after the success of their major label debut, Nothing’s Shocking. But this self-titled live album is their real debut. I believe my friend Ron Spencer first played this record for me. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could these guys be so original, smart, and maybe a little weird and still rock so hard? Perry Farrell does not have a typical rock and roll voice, and he often uses all those effects, but he is incredibly intense. I can’t imagine a different voice sounding so right. And the impressive guitar heroics of David Navarro have never had a better home.

Most of the shredding is on side one. When I heard the opening bass line for “Whores” for the first time in a long while I got goose bumps. They eventually turn things upside down with some semi-acoustic songs. The best known is “Jane Says”, and this version is better to me than the later studio hit. Being real men, they throw in some great covers: “Rock & Roll” by The Velvet Underground and “Sympathy” by The Rolling Stones, with nary a pause in between.

Etched is the vinyl margins:

Side 1 – “It used to be secrets! I couldn’t give them away”
Side 2 – What made you look here?

Gaye Bykers on Acid — The Nosedive EP

• Artist: Gaye Bykers on Acid
• Title: The Nosedive EP
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – When I worked at Mother’s Records
• Keeper: Yes

Hey, I know I’ve been slacking, especially on the records. But it was my birthday this weekend, and if you’re ever going to be slack that’s the time.

The Nosedive EP by Gaye Bykers on Acid only has three songs, but they are all excellent. The Grebo-metallic-psyshedelic-dance track “Nosedive Karma” is my favorite. That’s also the song that singer Mary Mary got me to sing the chorus on when I saw them at the 9:30 Club way back. The flip has “Don’t Be Human Eric – Let’s Be Frank” and “Delerium.”

The Fall — I Am Kurious Oranj

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: I Am Kurious Oranj
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – At our store RIP Records
• Keeper: Yes

I’m in a rush because I’m about to go “off the grid” for 24 hours for a little martial arts project. Don’t tell anyone. Anyhow, I Am Kurious Oranj by The Fall deserves a more thoughtful write-up than it’s going to get right now. I really like this record. And just like the last record by The Fall, this one is following an album by 86. Which, again, makes it even more obvious that even if you’re an arty band, or maybe especially if you are, it’s a good idea to have some hooks in your songs. Tons of hooks here.

86 — Provocation

• Artist: 86
• Title: Provocation
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Maybe

Provocation is a lot better than the first 86 record I posted here, Minutes in a Day. It’s a full length album, and it’s less noisy. That said, it’s still arty and mostly devoid of hooks. I gotta have my hooks!

A Trouser Press article about 86 mentions Honor Role, a Richmond, VA band that Mary, and to a lesser extent I, knew personally. Those guys had some hooks.