Head of David — The Saveana Mixes

• Artist: Head of David
• Title: The Saveana Mixes
• Year: 1988 (Sources don’t agree)
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1988 – Probably at our store RIP Records
• Keeper: Maybe

The Saveana Mixes is an EP by Head of David. There are three songs that were previously released on the excellent Dustbowl and one “new” one, “Bad Times.” The other three are “Bugged”, “108” and “Adrenicide.” According to this guy these were earlier recordings, that were released later. To be honest I can’t tell much difference from the Dustbowl versions save for some combat samples at the beginning of a couple songs, I think. Of these four “108” is my favorite, but I like “Bad Times” so maybe I’ll keep it.

Etched in the vinyl run off margins:

A – To Chief Medicine Wolf
B – Welcome to the New Prior Generation

Also etched in the margins (and in many other records in our collection) is “A Porky Prime Cut” on side A and “Porky” on side B. You can find out what that’s all about if you’re interested.

Gaye Bykers on Acid — Drill Your Own Hole

• Artist: Gaye Bykers on Acid
• Title: Drill Your Own Hole
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 – When I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Not surprisingly, Gaye Bykers on Acid’s music is not for everybody, but it is for me. I have fond memories of Drill Your Own Hole and the time it came out, half my life time ago. Despite that, after posting the last GBOA record I was not expecting to like this as much as I still do. Drill Your Own Hole is excellent, starting with the first track “Motorvate” all the way to the end.

Mary, my wife, not the singer, and I were only dating when we drove up to D.C. one weeknight to see them at the original 9:30 Club. When we got there we found out the opening band, Pop Will Eat Itself, were denied visas due to “lack of artistic merit.” Whatever. Mary was pretty bummed. Since there was no opening act some of the Gaye Bykers were killing time out on the floor. Nobody was paying them too much attention so I started talking to Mary Mary, the singer, not my wife. When I told him we traveled three hours to see them play he seemed genuinely flattered. Later, during the show, when he saw me up near the stage he stuck the mic in my face and got me to sing along during one chorus. Pretty funny, and pretty fun.

For some reason the band was billed as “Gaye Bykers on Parade.” You can see that on the ticket stub below. Maybe having a drug reference in your band name wasn’t conducive to getting visas, or bookings, or something. I forgot to ask Mary Mary about that.

The Fall — Bend Sinister

• Artist: The Fall
• Title: Bend Sinister
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: ?
• Keeper: Yes

We’re almost done with our trip. And it’ll be good to get back to the mountains because it just got wicked hot and humid in the DC area. Now we’re staying with our friends the Hartzells. Last night we had a great party, with great food, great friends, and a chocolate fountain! For the kids, of course.

The Fall’s Bend Sinister is another arty record from a consistently arty band but there is a big difference from the last record posted. This one has hooks aplenty, it’s much more enjoyable because of it, and you’re likely to start humming along the first time you hear it. To be honest, I only got to play it once before we left and I can’t remember much more about it right now.

86 — Minutes in a Day

• Artist: 86
• Title: Minutes in a Day
• Year: 1986
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: Plan 9 Records?
• Keeper: No

Another night with friends in the DC area. This time Andy and Jamie are providing the food and lodging, and let me just say that we got a kick-ass dinner.

On to tonight’s record: Minutes in a Day by 86. This is one rather intense and arty record. It’s not exactly heavy, but it is intense. The problem for me is that there are really no hooks, or grooves, or anything that I can remember when the songs are done. This one is getting a new home.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Deanna

• Artist: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
• Title: Deanna
• Year: 1988
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1988 – RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
• Keeper: Yes

I love the song “Deanna.” And it’s surprisingly sing-along for a song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds. Despite it’s and fast tempo and upbeat feel the song’s lyrics come across as typically dark, for Mr. Cave, that is. I don’t know what it’s about, but “I’m not down for your love, I’m not down here for your money… I’m down here for your soul” sounds like this character is up to no good. “Girl at the Bottom of My Glass” on the flipside is very minimalist, but also very good.

Oh, Deanna… Oh, D-E-Anna…

Bad Company — Straight Shooter

• Artist: Bad Company
• Title: Straight Shooter
• Year: 1975
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 7
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1999? – Used, maybe Record Mart in Alexandria, VA
• Keeper: Yes

Straight Shooter is another great sounding record by Bad Company, but I don’t think it’s as good their self-titled debut. That said, it does have my favorite Bad Company song, “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” I can’t seem to play that song loud enough. Those guitars are so crunchin’, the drums so cracking, and the sparse lead guitar accents sound so fat and huge I just want more. I’m a sucker for the pretty verse then heavy chorus thing. Another great one is “Shooting Star.” “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” is a distant third to those but it’s fun to listen to, maybe because I remember it from the radio when I was a kid.

There are only eight songs on Straight Shooter and the other five are pretty forgettable. I’ve played this record a lot and I can’t remember them, so, it must be true.

AC/DC — Back in Black

• Artist: AC/DC
• Title: Back in Black
• Year: 1980
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: I really don’t know…
• Keeper: Yes

Even I’m Heavy Duty! needs a vacation occasionally, but we’re starting back with a winner: AC/DC’s Back in Black. Most folks probably think this one is their best record, but to me it’s a close second to Highway to Hell.

Between the all black album cover and Brian Johnson’s over-the-top lyrics if I didn’t know this was AC/DC I’d be tempted to think this record was a Spinal Tap tribute. Except that the music is infinitely better and Spinal Tap didn’t come out until four years later. My friend Gary’s favorite Spinal Tap moment is the lyric “Let me cut your cake with my knife.” Pretty hard to beat that one.

Back in Black would rate a 10 in my book just for the title track alone, but it also contains the classics “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Some other favorites of mine are “Have a Drink on Me” and the corny-titled, but hard rocking album closer “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.”

Plastilina Mosh — DVD

• Artist: Plastilina Mosh
• Title: DVD
• Year: 2005
• Format: DVD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – Amazon.com
• Keeper: Yes

It’s Cinco de Mayo time! Today we celebrate Mexico sticking to the French in 1862, and Plastilina Mosh. We’ve reached the end of my Plastilina Mosh collection. Tonight we have a DVD titled simply, DVD. And the only thing I like better than Plastina Mosh’s music is their music plus video. After seeing a couple PMosh videos on MTV3 I knew I had to get a hold of this. I’ll admit that I haven’t seen the entire thing. There are a bunch of album documentaries and extras. But I have watched all twelve music videos and they are so damn good I give it a rating of 10 just for those.

By now you know I’m a complete fan of their music, and that I think they are geniuses. Their videos just take all of that creativity, fun, funk and hard rocking to another level of entertainment. Every one of these music videos is excellent, and no two are similar. “Mr. P Mosh” borders on being Dali-esque in it’s silliness.

As I understand it, this was released as a companion to the double CD collection, which explains the matching artwork. I love the pic of the guys in tuxedos inside the case. Is it me, or do those heads look pasted on National Enquirer style?

Long live Plastilina Mosh!

Plastilina Mosh — Tasty + b sides

• Artist: Plastilina Mosh
• Title: Tasty + b sides
• Year: 2006
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 9
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2007 – Amazon.com

Happy Cinco de Mayo eve! The only thing better than a Plastilina Mosh album is a Plastilina Mosh double album. And that’s what we have with Tasty + b sides. It’s considered a “best of” of sorts, but a slight majority of the songs on the two discs weren’t on any of the first three albums. On the Tasty disc there are four brand new songs and those alone make it worth the price. I love all of them, but my favorite of that batch is “Nalguita.” You can check that one out at the PMosh MySpace page. It’s too good for words. And what’s with that song at MySpace called “Babasonicos remix”? That’s not on any album I have! Curses!

The b sides disc curiously has a number of songs from previous albums, but it also has some really heavy stuff. “Quiero Mi Pastilla” is a hyper-speed punk piece, and “Purrum Pum Pum” is a metallic dirge. Who would think a chorus of “Purrum Pum Pum” could sound so heavy? I don’t think it means anything, but it sounds cool. I’m surprised most of these weren’t on the other releases. The All Music Guide has a good review of this collection, and short clips of all the songs, if you want to know more. Tasty + b sides is a great place to start if you’re looking to get some of their music.

As usual, the album artwork and packaging are excellent. The jewel case comes in a cover with sketches of the fellas. The booklet has a bunch of great photos, and the front cover pic of a couple kissing in the park is fantastic. It evokes the same emotions as their music. The inside of the back of the jewel case contains the words “Happy Listening.” That’s as much a description of the music as instruction for using it.

Plastilina Mosh — Juan Manuel

• Artist: Plastilina Mosh
• Title: Juan Manuel
• Year: 2000
• Format: CD
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 2000 – Amazon.com

Juan Manuel is the second album by Plastilina Mosh and the first one I bought. It’s named for a good friend of theirs. I stumbled upon it when reading reviews about another Mexican group I was interested at the time, Titan (pronounced tee-tahn). This record is a little less rocked out than their debut but it’s my favorite. With the exception of “Supercombo Electronico” there isn’t much hard rocking here at all. There are some jazzy funk and funky jazz tunes like “Saint Tropez is not Far”, ethereal numbers like “Shampoo”, and plenty of great dance stuff like “Human Disco Ball.” My absolute favorite song is the super-chill, slow tempo, vocoder vocaled “Baretta ’89.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a essentially mellow song that is this exciting.

Also included on this “enhanced CD” is a great video for “Human Disco Ball” depicting the “enchanting story of a boy and his pinball machine.” Like I said yesterday, I’ll get back to the videos later. Another music hero of mine, Money Mark, has a production credit on the record. At first I thought his fingerprints were on everything, but it turns he only did three songs. And great album art is not dead! For one funny tidbit look inside the tabs that hold the CD center. I think that face peeking out may be Juan Manuel himself.

The album is bookended by two beautifully strange instrumentals, “Nordic Laser” and “Good Bye Happy Farm.” The latter ends with the sounds of horse hoofs slowly clip-clopping off into the distance. What could be better than that?