Embryo, Dave Davies gets hit upon, random notes and poetry

Embryo: Opal (1970) Not Rated (1st listen!)

This is more jazz oriented than a lot of the krautrock I've heard, but so what? It still has that sound, and experimentation is there in abundance. It's the openness and spaciness that makes krautrock so alluring to me. I also dig the violin and sax playing. The 26 minute long "Laufte" (a bonus cut) is pretty insane. Almost Krautrane! hahaha.

"You Don't Know What's Happening"
"Soul is Dead, lure her into the hall," from "End of Soul"

Not many lyrics on this mainly instrumental album, but what's there (as you can tell) is deep! This is new stuff to me, but it's very exciting, and considering they're still making albums and touring, there appears a LOT to catch up on!

As a side note: Christian Burchard, Embryo's leader, was an early member of Amon Duul II. Embryo's official web site - obviously a lot of it is in German. Photo is taken from Klaus Unland's Music Pages. Includes lots of info on Embryo and other great bands (Can, Zappa)...mainly in German!! Ah well...
***

Random Notes


Did you know that Dave Davies of The Kinks was hit upon by John Wayne Gacy in 1965! Gacy actually promoted a Kinks show in 1965 at a high school in Springfield, Illinois and he took them back to his place afterwards and made the moves on Dave, who was getting under the influence, until the remaining Kinks felt something didn't "taste right", and got the hell out of there!! [source: MOJO March 2006, p. 74]

Bands to explore: Kaleidoscope (60s psychedelia), Vashti Bunyan, Television Personalities.

I'm really enjoying Spirit: The Mercury Years (1997) **** coming through my headphones and into my pineal gland right now. Great covers of "Like a Rolling Stone" and (especially) "Hey Joe". Disc 1 is Spirit of 76 (1975) and the 2nd disc includes selections from Son of Spirit (1975), Farther Along (1976) and Future Games (1977). We all need a little bit of Spirit in our lives. And Dr. Demento writes the liner notes!

I finally got my taxes done!!!

Recent Acquisitions: Embryo ("Opal" (1970)- reviewed above), Porcupine Tree's "Deadwing" (2005), Best of The Bonzos (1970) and Barclay James Harvest ("Everyone is Everybody Else" (1974)). I'm really excited about the Embryo. Gotta love the freaky Germans!
***

It's a hard road...a long road
trying to discover who you are

sort through memories
recall
actions and reactions

looking for the road
that leads to inner peace
but directions
are not my strength

and I feel lost
and alone
in an u g l y world

trying to make sense
of a shitload of nonsense!!
***

A question for anyone out there who suffers from depression. How does your musical taste change when you enter the "dark zone"?

I find myself feeling numb and immobile and too tired to put anything on. The "dark zone" can take away enjoyment of our most precious things, and the things we enjoy the most.

It's FUCKED...
***

Albert Ayler is a Holy Ghost, the most Holy-O of Ghosts, and Archie Shepp and Frank Zappa???!!!

Albert Ayler: Holy Ghost - Rare and Unissued Recordings 1962-1970 (2004) *****

Albert Ayler is going absolutely insane on my stereo...listening to disc 3 of the 9 (fucking 9!!!!) cd set from Revenant Records, the record label founded by John Fahey. This is the same label that released Captain Beefheart: Grow Fins 1965-1982 (1999) 5 cd box set.

This is awesome, jaw-dropping stuff from an incredible innovator.

No more needs to be said. Except maybe about how cool his fu-manchu was! Albert Ayler web site.
***

actually...maybe more does need to be said!!!!!!!!
***

A L B E R T
A Y L E R

CAPSULE BIO

1936: Born Cleveland, OH

1951: Joined his first group, Lloyd Pearson and his Counts of Rhythm.

1956: Due to lack of money, he left college and joined the army

1962-1963: After his discharge spent time in Sweden and Denmark. First recordings.
1963: Worked with Cecil Taylor in New York.

1964: He still relied on his parents and John Coltrane for financial support!?
1964-1967: Considered his peak. Really?? Maybe.

1964: "Spiritual Unity" is released. Considered his breakthrough album.

1965: "Spirits Rejoice" released. Harvey Dog has a strong desire to purchase this album.

1968: "New Grass" released. His sell-out album. I love it!

1970: Died New York, NY drowned in mysterious circumstances. Um...White America?

2004: "Holy Ghost: Rare and Unissued Recordings 1962-1970" 9 cd set released.
2006: Harvey Dog is now freaking out on disc 4 of "Holy Ghost".

SIMILAR ARTISTS

I would place Albert in the same musical category as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp. Fucking geniuses one and all.

[aside: ever heard Shepp play with Frank Zappa?
It happened.
It's awesome.
It's on Frank Zappa: You Can't Do That on Stage, Vol. 4. (1991) ****
The song: "Let's Move to Cleveland Solos (1984)"
The year was 1984 in the month of November.
Location: Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, Massachusetts
Best songs on album: "Let's Move to Cleveland Solos (1984)" "The Torture Never Stops Original Version"]

[2nd aside: Albert Ayler is absolutely freaking me out. This music is incredible!!! "Untitled" disc 4 song 6 is
causing my mind to
do...

weird things.]

[3rd aside: Poobah doesn't seem to like it
when I use her bone
as a microphone.]

MORE LINKS

Albert Ayler: His Life and Music - by Jeff Schwartz This is a book. Seriously. I only started surfing for Albert Ayler sites, um...today, and I need to find the energy to read this. [aside: fucking depression]

Albert Ayler Discography Project: Exactly what it says it is. Nothing fancy, but loads of discographical info.

Albert Ayler: Holy Ghost: Page from Revenant describing the box.

There's actually a documentary on Albert Ayler! My Name is Albert Ayler. I have to get this on dvd!!!

FAMOUS QUOTE

"Trane was the Father...Pharoah was the son...I am the Holy Ghost."
***

Soul Jazz rock my world, funny band names, Willard Grant Conspiracy, and depression takes a punch to the jaw!

I am listening to Soul Jazz's "New Thing!" 1970-1985 (2004) and I am completely digging it! The Soul Jazz collections I've heard have all been great. Here's the Soul Jazz web site. This is a great way to discover even M O R E amazing music!!

My fav SoulJazz collections so far: [no particular order]

1. New Orleans Funk 1960-1975
2. Saturday Night Fish Fry 1960-1975
3. New York Noise 1978-1982
4. Philadelphia Roots 1965-1973
5. The Sexual Life of Savages: Post-Punk from Sao Paulo, Brazil 1982-1988
6. Chicago Soul 1963-1969

I have to check out some Alice Coltrane!!!
***

Check out these band names: Haystacks Balboa...Mother Tucker's Yellow Duck...Juicy Lucy...Ozric Tentacles...Tucky Buzzard

Some of my recent acquisitions from my friend's music store.

Haystacks Balboa: Haystacks Balboa. This band name cracks me up. Obviously some combination of Haystacks Calhoun and Rocky Balboa...wrong!!! This came out in 1970 and features Leslie West's younger brother Larry West and was produced by Shadow Morton. So, who knows where the Balboa name came from. It's in my listening pile, but sounds like it won't be too far from his older brother's band Mountain. That's a fine thing.

Mother Tucker's Yellow Duck: Home Grown Stuff (1969) Canadian psychedelia!!! This features Don MacDougall who later joined The Guess Who (and wrote one of my fav Guess Who songs: "Samantha's Living Room" from Artificial Paradise (1973). This one has definitely dated, but who cares? It's a fun listen.

Juicy Lucy: Get a Whiff of This (1971) They cover Spirit's "Mr. Skin" and they rock along pretty good. Ridiculous cover.

Ozric Tentacles: Erpsongs (1984) I was quite surprised by this. I've only had a chance to listen to it once, and it sounded great! Definitely a space-rock influence. That's a great thing! Gotta look into these guys more. Ozric Tentacles web site.

Tucky Buzzard: Allright in the Night (1973) Produced by Bill Wyman when he was in the world's most over-rated rock band ever. Listened to some of it and it sounds like your basic early 70s hard rock. Nothing wrong with that.

M O R E weird fucked-up
band names
yet to be discovered...and when the name is actually a reflection of the music...
gotta love the motherfuckers!
***

Willard Grant Conspiracy are definitely a band worth checking out. I love the sound of their new album, Let It Roll (2006) and their version of "Ballad of a Thin Man" is one of my fav Dylan covers ever. Great great great music!!!

Willard Grant Conspiracy's official web site.
***

I'm listening to Andromeda: Andromeda (1969) and I'm really enjoying picking up these obscure psychedelic rock kind of albums. This one features John Du Cann who later joined Atomic Rooster...another band I've been exploring.

so much so many
bands and music
to listen hear absorb
probe fondle explore
research and most
importantly...

fucking ENJOY.
***

Personally, as I mentioned in my last blog, I sunk back into my depression. It's hard to describe how shitty you feel. It's NOT a "yeh, I'm a little down today. We all get a little down," kind of depression, but it's a motherfucker that gets right into you physically so that you actually feel immobile. Everything seems numb and dumb and wrong...and it doesn't last for a day...it's been a fucking month. BUT. This is the 2nd day I'm feeling a bit better, so if I WORK at it, maybe I'll fight it back.

This has nothing to do with music...I just want to give a shout out to anyone suffering from this bastard disease, and to send positive thoughts your way. Here's a stupid link that may make you smile. Lawrence Welk meets The Velvet Underground.
***

Depressed? Bummed out? Disgusted with the world? MORE MUSIC PLEASE!!!!

I was hoping it would never come back...but the bastard has.

The BIG D

fucking depression
feeling like shit
hating yourself
lethargic and immobile

I quiver with fear
at...nothing
I fear...everything

gotta get to work
gotta get to work
beat back the demon
beat back the demon
breathe in and out
in and out
beat the demon
***

by acquiring LOTS of music. The collection has increased substantially since my last blog. Here's a quick sampling with comments.

The Kinks: Slum Kids, Live in London 1974. A boot. I LOVE The Kinks, and have purchased all their albums, so I'm just left to explore the decadent world of boots.

Ray Davies: Other People's Lives (2006) Sounded really solid on first listen. Nice to have him back!

Bob Dylan: Down in the Groove (1988) "The Prophet & the Clown: Snack Benefit 1975". The first is the last "legit" Dylan I needed. I thought it sounded pretty good, and don't understand the critical beatdowns it always seems to get. The boot is from a show with Neil Young, and since you can't hear Bob all that well, it's more like a Neil concert with a drunken Bob stumbling on once in awhile.

Eric Burdon Declares War (1970). I love over-the-top Eric and there's lots of that here! It's funky too!!!

John Cale: Black Acetate (2005) Sounds more "rocking" than Hobosapiens (2003). I really liked Hobosapiens and the new one seems great too!

Nurse With Wound: Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table (1979) Nice cover aside, this is my 2nd Nurse with Wound, and I'm sure it'll be great. Or at least...FUCKED-UP!!

Acid Mothers Temple: Electric Heavyland (2002) I love the title, and I love the 1st 2 acid mothers I got from amazonian dot com...New Geocentric World (2001) and Mantra of Love (2004) so this should be a great one.

Captain Beefheart: London 1974 (1994) Hoboism (2000) Finally...I get London 1974!! I know it won't be "classic" but I don't hate that period...it's just not the Captain's best. Hoboism was awesome. As to be expected.
Willard Grant Conspiracy: Regard the End (2003) Let It Roll (2006) I've listened to both, and I love 'em. I think that they make truly beautiful music.

Hawkwind: Space Ritual (1973) HAWKWIND FUCKING RULES!!!!

Can: Soon Over Babaluma (1974) Landed (1975) My Can collection continues to grow and the Lord is praised and wheat is sown
and the children are grown
and my parents are coming
my parents are coming....stop
beat the demon
beat the demon
Think of the brilliant music out there...like Can. Yes. Like Can.

Ash Ra: Blackouts (1977) I am listening to this music as I'm typing this
it's been a beautiful trip
excellent music while writing...I love Ash Ra. I love Can. I love the Guru. I love the Bah. love is in the air and....

The Tiger Lillies: Two Penny Opera (2001) is heard and love would not be the first word I would think of when discussing The Tiger Lillies. Perverted. Sacrilege. Hilarity. Pathos. Fucked. NOT love. I guess I love these guys cause I'm perverted?

Filled out my Warren Zevon (Warren Zevon 1976) Lou Reed (Lou Reed 1972) Bryan Ferry (Bete Noire 1987) and Joe Walsh (Barnstorm 1972 So What 1975) collections.

Parliament: Live P-Funk Earth Tour (1977) Gloryhallastoopid (1979) Finally got the live Parliament. Of course...awesome.
***

3 cheers for 2 musicians offering AMAZING free downloads on their web sites.

Steve Coleman's M-Base web site. I downloaded 12!!! cds worth of music from his site. This music is fantastic. Mad Phat (1993) really hit me. Loved it.

Greg Osby's official web site, offers 13!!! complete concerts from 1997 to 2004 for free download. I got this site from Steve Coleman's page. Check these guys out for sure...
***

Insipid conversations and statements caused by The Beatles, Frank Zappa and Mott the Hoople get raves

Conversation between Guru T-Lu and Harvey Dog while listening to The Beatles "In My Life" (one of the sappiest songs I've ever heard...never a fan) from Ozzy Osbourne's crazy album of covers "Under Cover". He does "Sympathy for the Devil"!!

Guru T-Lu: "What song is this again?"
Harvey Dog: "The Beatles. 'In My Life'. Johnny Cash covered it as well."
Guru T-Lu: "They both do it so much better than The Beatles."

...a minute or so later

Harvey Dog: "I went through my Beatles phase in grade school. Still listened to them in high school, but as the years pass I don't listen to them much anymore."
Guru T-Lu: "Your tastes have matured."

As you can ascertain the Guru is NOT a Beatles fan.
***

A ridiculous statement made by Harvey Dog approximately 1 week ago.

Harvey Dog: "If Courtney Love didn't kill Kurt Cobain, then I feel somewhat sorry for her. A little bit, not much, but a little bit. However...if Courtney Love did kill Kurt Cobain then I don't feel sorry for her at all."

Sometimes I worry about my mind.
***

Sleazy Goodness: Queens of the Stone Ages "Auto Pilot" from Rated R (2000). I love this song...I love that sound...pure fucking rock'n'roll.
***

Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (1969) *****

I've loved this album for a couple of decades now. It sounds tamer than it did to my ears when I was in high school. After all the weird shit I’ve been exposed to, this is incredibly tight and melodic.

• "Peaches En Regalia" is always catchy and enjoyable...in all of its incarnations.
• The beginning of "Willie the Pimp" is one of my all-time fav openings in rock music. Captain Beefheart sounds awesome singing Zappa’s lyrics with a real sleaziness and edge. Easily in my top 5 fav Zappa songs of all time. [aside: There’s a list to work on. Top 10 fav zappa songs] Sugar Cane Harris’ violin is also one of my ears favorite sounds!!
• "Son of Mr. Green Genes" rolls along with some great guitar playing by the Z man.
  Every song is enjoyable.
• I enjoy "Gumbo Variations" more as the years roll on.
• "It Must Be a Camel" and "Little Umbrellas" are both strong melodic (there's that fucking word again!) songs.
  

In some ways...you could make an argument that this is the last classic Zappa album. If you take out One Size Fits All (1975) and You Are What You Is (1981) and you could be right, rabbit, you could be right.

Official Zappa web site.
Cool St. Alphonzo's Pancake Homepage for Zappa fans.
***

Mott the Hoople: “A Tale of Two Cities” 1971-1972 (2000) This is a fantastic collection!! Mott were fucking animals live.
they rocked hard
intense
focused
even the ballads
had an edge to them.

Bowie was pretty stoned and egotistical introducing them, and then Mott came on and just cranked it up. Hearing this cd just reminds me how much of a Mott the Hoople fan I am. I used to have "Mott", the "Rock and Roll Queen" compilation and "Ian Hunter" all on fucking 8 track! That's how long I've been a fan!!

It's always nice to get a reminder of an old fav!

Mott the Hoople and Ian Hunter web site.
The Mott Archive.
Official Ian Hunter web site.
***

Ash Ra Tempel, Hawkwind, and Moondog inspire poetry, rambling, rambling poetry, release and...who said anything about drugs?!

Ash Ra Tempel: Schwingungen (1972) *****

"Look At Your Sun"
is beautiful...something that hit me just right today...beautiful guitar playing, beautiful vocals...
"we are all one...we are all one" is comforting.
To be part of a worthwhile whole
not an outside egg
with shell cracked and seeping
ready for birth...or death?
the sun shines
the music brings forth light
the egg is free
the egg is free!

"Flowers Must Die"
brings in the darkness
the ominous underbelly
of the light now appears,
beautiful still...but dark
yes yes yes
the flowers MUST die!!
there is no choice
face the inevitable...
the voice strangulated
in the face
of this inevitable death
"I want to be a stone"
the flowers scream
but there is no changing fate
fate is sealed
fate is done
fate is NOW!

"Suche and Liebe"
peace
peace
peace
is there peace after death?

Ash Ra Tempel - this is their second album. Ash Ra and Can have become 2 of my all-time favorite bands in the past few months.
***

Arctic Monkeys

A person wrote into this blog a couple of months ago and provided a link to an Arctic Monkeys web site. There were no comments in the note about the Arctic Monkeys, just a nice comment about the blog. I checked out the site, listened to the music on the site and thought the Arctic Monkeys rocked really hard in the classic New York Dolls / Stooges vein. In other words...awesome stuff. This was the first I had heard about them. I assumed it was the webmaster of the site, or else a massive fan!

Today...a couple of months have passed and 2 of my fav mags "MOJO" and "Uncut" have started raving about them. I've heard about 4 songs now and saw a live clip of them, and feel that purchasing their cd is a must do! Check out an Arctic Monkeys web site, and my friend's(?) Arctic Monkeys web site.
***

Poem Written while listening to
Hawkwind's "Doremi Fasol Latido"

"Hawkwind were pretty fucking great!" shouted a man at the bus stop
lighting a cigarette disguised
as a joint

the mainmen have all departed
to parts unknown as

junkies lay in gutters
waiting for savior's...

and the knock upon the door
is not the knock
you were waiting for

you can change your lock
lay on the floor

yet you're

still living in the dark
living in the dark

the winds of the hawk
blow outside your window
clutched to the bosom
of the mother
the mind of the child
is a fragile thing

...the child in me
is screaming
the voices I hear
are trembling
the turmoil
in my soul
is stirring...

following leaders to war
death is all around

...there are no leaders
all your questions
will go unanswered

there are no answers

time we left this world today
time we left this world today

or else it's time to blow it away!!!
blow this fucker away!!!!!
***

"Time We Left This World Today" by Hawkwind is my favorite Hawkwind song of all time. Hawkwind: "Doremi Fasol Latido" (1972) ***** One fucking powerful album.

"Urban Guerilla" is like "Search & Destroy" before "Search & Destroy" (by The Stooges) was released. Starfarer's Hawkwind Page. Hawkwind's Official Web Site.
***

I'm listening to Moondog: More Moondog / The Story of Moondog (1956, 1957) **** and it's pretty great. I'm not sure why, but I like shit like this. It conveys to me a feeling of searching, a feeling of exploration. There's sincerity in it. Official Moondog web site

Arthur Doyle is another explorer of music that I find interesting. This is an area of music I'm only beginning to tread. More music to explore...

motherfucker!
***

Guess Who? No...really! Death of Music? Tago Mago lives!!

OK...For some reason I put on The Guess Who's: Wheatfield Soul (1968) / Artificial Paradise (1973), starting with Wheatfield and I'm quite enjoying the music and the singing...but...
if the lyrics reflect Burton Cummings' acid trips
are they the most arrogant acid trips
in the history of civilization?

Being born in Canada and raised Roman Catholic, I had no choice but to have The Guess Who as one of my favs in grade school. I mean, man...it was the early 70s! I continue to enjoy The Guess Who to this day. However, I have to admit that Burton Cummings does seem like a bit of an ass.

Oh man...are they ever ripping off Hendrix at the beginning of "We're Coming to Dinner"...I think dinner is at 6 if it were 9. Burton Cummings is like your local acid lounge singer. I don't even know how to rate Wheatfield Soul. I mean do you add a star for the lyrics or take off a star? Hard call.

And I love this stuff!!!

Artificial Paradise song by song 1 word comments:
"Bye Bye Babe": rockin'
"Samantha's Living Room": awesome
"Rock and Roller Steam": Kurt!!!
"Follow Your Daughter Home": ridiculous
"Those Show Biz Shoes": goil?
"All Hashed Out": FUCK!!!!
"Orly": catchy
"Lost and Found Town": forgettable
"Hamba Gahle-Usalang Gahle": pardon?
"The Watcher": ok

Guess Who? It's (for) you!

All Hashed Out: Guess Who web site.
Guess Who web page.
Randy Bachman's official web site.
***

Who Are The Drain Police?

Punk was actually the last remnants of the "hippie" era.
Really?
It was about change baby!
Hippies wanted to change from within
Punks wanted to change it
by obliteration
and dancing on its ashes
and let the new "society"
emerge like a phoenix

grunge had no chance
"society" built a powerful
firewall...
took advantage of
grunges addictions
and snuffed it
with D E A T H
***

Can's "Tago Mago" (1971) ***** is awesome!!! Such an obvious 5 star record. It wraps you in and has some absolute classics. "Mushroom" and "Halleluhwah" are my favs. I even think it's great when it gets weird(er) near the end of the album. Actually makes it greater. Takes it to a higher plane.

Maybe? Damo's definitely awesome, and the band

can move you
rock you
rattle you
soothe you

puzzle baffle
take you on a trip

awesome shit.
***

Unusual Facts, Question to Ponder and we buy a Brainticket!!

Tidbits

I was not aware that The Rolling Stones were originally going to call "Aftermath": "Could YOU Walk on the Water?"??? And this caused the album to be delayed for a couple of months. Then the Stones capitulated and sarcastically called it "Aftermath"? And this was done BEFORE John Lennon's famous "We're bigger than Jesus" quote! Intresting. Source: Uncut February 2006.
###

1966: At The Mayfair club, Dolly's, Bob Dylan was so wasted his chauffeur had to carry him in. He bumped into Keith Richards and Brian Jones from The Rolling Stones and drunkenly tells them that he and The Hawks are better....so, later on Brian Jones chased Dylan down but couldn't get through the doors of Dylan's hotel. Hilarious. Source: Uncut February 2006.
***

Questions to Ponder

Why is music so magical?

How much does one's upbringing affect the type of music we enjoy?

How much do reviews influence our opinion?

Who are the Brain Police?
***

Brainticket: Cottonwoodhill (1971) *****

Let the funk begin
deep into the groove...where will this lead?
love that guitar sound, always have
"Black Sand" leads us in
"Black Sand" is where the journey begins
...it is a funky place

Then we're ready for "Places of Light"
the flute floats fleetingly
and senses are calmed
a soothing voice breaks the calm
soothing? yes, still soothing
but a warning...a warning?
Yes, definitely a warning...

Ok..do you have your "brain ticket"?
time to take a trip
yes...do it! do it!
Dawn Muir (vocalist) did
the music continues to drive
Dawn takes a trip
...we join along
within her acid mind

keep the brain running running running
there is no rest
for the active mind
sleep dream sex
the mind keeps on running
voices from the past
keep on talking
the critics from the past
keep on laughing

have we peaked? have we peaked?
listen to the teacher!
soothe the ego
ignore the clapping
satiate the passion
keep on fucking
never let the trip end
the trip is ending
the trip is ending...
###

The absolute pleasure this cd has given me since I got it last summer warrants the 5 star from me. I fucking love it! Thanks Randy!!

Weird Brainticket map! Brainticket review.
***

MOJO Article: "How to Buy Krautrock" October 2004

1. Kraftwerk:Trans Europe Express
2. Tangerine Dream: Rubycon
3. Can: Tago Mago
4. Ashra: New Age of Earth
5. Neu!: Neu! 75
6. Can: Ege Bamyasi
7. Faust: Faust IV
8. Cluster: Sowiesoso
9. Amon Düül II: Yeti
10. Brainticket: Cottonwoodhill

I have that MOJO issue, but was reminded about it on the official Ash Ra Tempel web site. I'm proud to say I have all of them except for #1 Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express"! Thanks again Randy!!!!
***

Butthole Surfers infiltrate a dog's mind, Harvey Dog's unfortunate work neighbor, and we spy on Guru T-Lu's cds.

Miscellaneous Notes from the Minds of a Dog

The Butthole Surfers' early albums were pretty
o
u
t
t h e r e...
all over the fucking mind of the listener. I'm listening to "I Saw an X-Ray of a Girl Passing Gas" from Hairway to Steven (1988) and

.......it's fucking N U T S man....I love it!!!!!!!!!!
###

There's this nice woman who sits next to me at work...in the hallway. Don't ask. Anyway, V is a super nice person, and I've lent her some cds to listen to at work. I should also mention that she listens to mellow new-agey radio stations usually. Being the nice guy I am, I'm trying to lend her different things that I think she may enjoy.

Here's the list and her reactions:

Kraftwerk: Kraftwerk (1970) She was NOT impressed. It was a little too out there for her. So, I listened to it that night (having only listened to it maybe 3 times previously). Um....I lent her this??? What was I thinking?? I really like it, but not for everyone.

Exuma: I (1970) She seemed to really like Exuma. That was a pleasant reaction. A hit! COMING SOON: Exuma mini-bio!

Tim Buckley: Blue Afternoon (1969) / Starsailor (1970) She also liked Tim. Not quite as enthusiastically as Exuma or the next two cds. I only recently got "Starsailor" [aside: Cause it's S T I L L out of print!!! Fuckin' ridiculous!], and when I re-listened to it, I forgot how crazy and avant-gardey it gets at the end. Hence...her lack of enthusiasm.

Various Artists: New Orleans Funk 1960-1975 (2000) Saturday Night Fish Fry 1960-1975(2001) These were her favs. Especially the "New Orleans Funk" collection. I picked a winner!! I tell ya, these Soul Jazz collections are awesome!! Check them out!!

Next week, let's see...Butthole Surfers? um, no...Soft Machine? maybe. Can? No...better not. More Soul Jazz? YES!!!
###

The Surfers are kicking ass!!! Butthole Surfers Official Web Site.
***

Guru T-Lu's music she has pulled out recently: (hehehehe...I'm spying!!! be very quiet...ssh)

The James Gang: All of em...I mean...all of the Gang with Joe Walsh (3 studio 1 live). Great stuff.

Beck: Guero (2005) The Guru is a Beck fan, and who can blame her? You can't help but do some air dancing listening to this.

Bryan Ferry: These Foolish Things (1973) The Guru is a big Roxy / Ferry fan. So am I...especially 70s Roxy. I've got "Reflections" which is a cool cd of 70s Roxy TV appearances - mainly all live. Ferry is an excellent front man and the whole band was incredibly entertaining live. Especially with Eno acting all over-the-top in front of his keyboards and contraptions. Good fun! [aside: The Guru just walked in, gave me a headlock, saw Bryan Ferry's name on the screen and then screamed: "Bryan Ferry's a sexy man! Write that. Bryan Ferry's a sexy man!!!!" Then she left....The Guru keeps life exciting!!!]

Jesus and Mary Chain: "Automatic" (1989) For someone who says she hates "rock music" she sure listens to a lot of said "rock music".

Leonard Cohen: Dear Heather (2004) Ah!! This is more typical...good old Lennie reflecting on things...as any 70 year old lecher poet would.

Nothing embarrassing but we'll catch her up! If I embarrassed myself online a couple of posts ago (...guilty pleasures admitted!"), why aren't other people! Bastards!!!
***

Harvey Dog's sensational namesake gets an airing along with the Kings of Crimson and we get personal with Captain Beefheart

I'm listening to my newly purchased Sensational Alex Harvey Band's "Tomorrow Belongs To Me" (1975) and I'm getting into it. I have "Live" on lp, but this is my 1st studio one.

Weird..considering I named the blog after him.

Hahaha...just kidding. I'm such an egomaniac I named it after myself.

I haven't dissected the lyrics yet, but I've laughed a couple of times and they've caught my attention a couple of other times. It certainly takes you through a few different musical styles. Hey, I'll be getting a couple more classic SAHB albums in the next few days.
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Thoughts on listening to cd 2 (live shit) of King Crimson's "The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson, Volume One 1969-1974".

They were fucking monsters live

Greg Lake sounds incredible

Michael Giles is an amazing drummer

Fripp is Fripp

Ian McDonald was in Foreigner!

[Aside: I never thought I'd mention Foreigner 2 blogs in a row...now I can rest in peace!]

I've always been a fan of KC and find the 70s stuff pretty wild. Especially the live stuff! "The Great Deceiver": a 4 cd box that covers the 73-74 period live is really awesome as well.
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Re-appraisal and thoughts while listening to Captain Beefheart's "Strictly Personal" (1968) ****

Who the hell is the 80 year old blues guy singing on "Ah Feel Like Ahcid"????? Awesome!! What?? It's a 27 year old white boy from California??? Fuck off!!!!!

"Safe as Milk" is fantastic and rockin'. The style's becoming a little closer to "Trout Mask Replica" territory. I can see the future and his name is Captain Beefheart...what!? What do you mean Bruce Springsteen??!! Get outta here! Oh, at the end of this I can see why this album has a substandard rep. The psychedelic effects really aren't appropriate for the Captain, but hey it was 1968, and it's 2006 now...it has a certain charm now.

I'm thinking this is better than "Safe As Milk", but it's hard for me to be fair. I got a shitty mix of "Safe as Milk" renamed "At His Best". I need to purchase the latest remastered version...along with 10 million other things!

"Trust Us" is pretty intense...what the fuck? Is Beefheart also the precursor to krautrock?

Oh, we're back to the old man blues voice. "Son of Mirror Man - Mere Man" is pretty great and the psychedelic sound effects at the end actually sound cool especially when the harmonica comes in and Beefheart's distorted voice.

"On Tomorrow" I find somewhat weaker...the music still blows me away...and when the band all shout together it sounds cool. I'm not really sure what I find weak about it. Ummmm....

I always liked "Beatle Bones 'n' Smokin' Stones". What is it all about? Is it some type of backwards tribute? What the hell does it all mean? I mean, master...are ye mocking beatles and stones? Or Beatles and Stones? cause you said and i said you said strawberry fields forever....

"Gimme Dat Harp Boy" is hard hitting blues. The Captain sounds great...both his singing and harmonica playing. The drumming is awesome as usual. Fantastic song.

"Kandy Korn" is a nice upbeat catchy pop song that should have been in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - the original one.

What a fantastic ending to the album. What a great album! I found it zipped along at a nice pace, strong songs, the Captain is in good voice, and you can definitely see the beginnings of a musical style that leads to his classic "Trout Mask Replica". Electricity: Captain Beefheart Web Site.

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Psychic Ills drugs and headphones & guilty pleasures admitted

Psychic Ills: Dins (2006) **** When I listen to music like this, I sometimes find it incredible that I don't have proper headphones!? This music was made for fucking headphones.

Shut the world out
let it float
let it move
let it breathe
take you away

This is the kind of music drugs were made for! Drugs and Headphones.

getting stoned...alone...drugs and headphones

[Aside: After a couple of weeks with this shitty new dvd/cd player I picked up for $30, I've had enough. I'm really getting into this song that's playing now, but I can't tell you which one it is...and there's a clicking noise you notice when the music becomes quiet. At first I was thinking: "Um. I didn't know we had a clock in the computer room. Oh. We don't." This weekend it's time to splurge and get something decent!]

Anyway...this song is fucking awesome...dramatic and intense with a great buildup. I hear some Jesus and Mary Chain influences...some Spaceman 3...Velvets, of course....all great stuff.

These guys are worth checking out. I couldn't find much on the net...surprisingly! Here's the Psychic Ills Social Registry! They're touring and played my old area of Toronto a couple of weeks ago. Here's a live review of Psychic Ills from December 2005.
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Harvey Dog believes in being open and honest.

With that out of the way...it's time to open up the embarrassing vaults of my music obsessions and supply what some would call, "Guilty Pleasures".

It's good to cleanse...
to come clean, to open up,
admit the guilty pleasures
it'll make you feel good...

We all have 'em, so here are mine followed by excuses, reasons, defenses.
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GUILTY PLEASURES

Lynyrd Skynyrd (pre-plane crash): The southern rock kings. I have a couple of video clips of them doing 12-15 minute versions of "Free Bird" (one at some US rock festival taped from tv, and "The Old Grey Whistle" dvd) and they are awesome. The guitar players go nuts and the soloing never stops!!! The only problem with "Free Bird" is that it was overplayed. Now, with some distance, it can be enjoyed again in all it's cliche glory! Is this even a guilty pleasure?

Kansas: I'm more of a fan of their early "over-the-top" prog stuff as opposed to their more "poppy" stuff - I was never a fan of "Dust in the Wind", but "Death of Mother Nature Suite" is another story. I still really enjoy listening to cd 1 of the 2 cd "Box Set". [Aside: How can 2 cds be considered a box set??? Gotta be at least 3 cds to be considered a box set.] Guru T-Lu says these guys are definitely "a guilty pleasure", but then again...she's a girl. Kansas are a guy's band.

Chicago: Another geographical band name...and we haven't got to Foreigner yet!!! Hahahaha. Anyway, I don't think early Chicago is a guilty pleasure, but the rep they've developed with one or ten too many Peter Cetera ballads (that were MASSIVE hits) isn't really fair. I have their box set "Group Portrait" (4 cds for $40...not bad) and the first 2 cds are fantastic, the 1st itself is *****, the 2nd **** then *** then **....you get the picture? Deterioration baby...but not sales-wise. Go figure. Do yourself a favor. Get their 1st cd.

John Denver: I actually have a couple of John Denver cds (got them cheap). I find 1/2 his stuff is very high quality "nice" pop/folk, and the other half is...well, you could say, somewhat...sappy? Would that be the right word? You get the feeling that John would get stoned and then break into tears talking about the love he felt for his family...I mean, that's beautiful and all, but sheesh...that's a good way to kill a buzz.

[Aside: Guru T-Lu has a theory that when you hear of rock stars crashing
their cars
their planes
their trains
and dying, that it is most likely a suicide. Let's see there's Harry Chapin (depressed..car crash...did he brake?), John Denver (also depressed who crashed his experimental home-made aircraft!?!?) [2nd Aside: Guru T-Lu just read this and said to add Marc Bolan. She called him the leader of the pack! Then she told me to take this off, but I'm ignoring her!] and so many others.

There you go...an exclusive Guru T-Lu theory.]

Electric Light Orchestra: Jeff Lynne strikes me as one of the most uncharismatic frontmen ever in rock music. I guess that's why they put the orchestra in their name, cause they weren't cool enough to be rock stars. Wait! Roy Wood was cool and charismatic...at least bizarre, but he left after the first album. I'm not a huge fan, but I have to admit I...without any social or moral pressures...ordered "Afterglow" from Columbia House (hey! it was only $19.99 for 3 cds! Canadian!) and have no regrets.

K.C. & the Sunshine Band: Seriously. These guys had some pretty funky hard dance numbers. I have the "Best Of" (I'm not actively pursuing more than that) and "Get Down Tonight", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Shake Your Booty" and "That's the Way (I Like It)" are classic. Get your funky shoes on and DANCE MOTHERFUCKER!!!

The Monkees: With everything being ironic now, this can't be considered a "guilty pleasure", but there was a time when I was a fan, and it WAS a "guilty pleasure". The best pop money can buy.

John Mellancamp: Hey...you can pick up his cds at a pawn shop near you for a low low price! Wherever you live!
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I am not ashamed.
I am not ashamed.
I am not ashamed.
There is no reason to be ashamed.
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I am NOT the only one!
I am NOT the only one!
I am NOT the only one!
There is no reason to think I am the only one.
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The mystery of Jandek, Jokers are Cosmic and Ricardo Wang opens the Cage!

Who is this Jandek that inspires such adoration in my friend Mole and a growing number of weirdos and outsider aficionados? To solve this mystery a purchase was made of one of Jandek's cds.

Do you feel the cult like stench in the air?

It's Jandek!!! Jandek's "New Town" (1998)!!!

Oh My God there's a skip in the cd! Ha!
No No No
...it's a primitive recording! Gotta love the authenticity. [Aside: I have no idea if I'm being ironic or not.]

This is my second listen to the cd. "New Town" has a nice spooky ambience to it. Is this the true punk? Definitely outsider. His voice sorta is growing on me...and am I N U T S
or is his voice not that bad?????

I'm beginning to really enjoy this cd in a b-movie creepy dark hallway sort of way. Oh no...I also feel I'm beginning to slide into the Jandek cult in a z-movie satanic empty evil town sort of way.

Is this healthy? Yes, it is.

We NEED outsiders who are unafraid to plough their own fields.
Unafraid to follow the independent trail.
Unafraid to say "fuck you commercial concerns it's about MY art!"
Unafraid to say "this is my shit and it may be shit but it's my shit. Wanna buy?"

The possibilities of the new technology to make available downloads of anyone's music for a reasonable price (on both sides: artists and consumers) is extremely exciting. If I was in a band now, I'd make a web site and start putting live shows and recordings on their NOW....for download. Get your music
OUT THERE!!!!

A guide to Jandek web site.
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I have just put on The Cosmic Jokers: Cosmic Jokers (1974) and I love this shit!! It's some of the Ash Ra Tempel guys, and a couple of guys from a group I've never heard of: Wallenstein. I must look into this Wallenstein. And a record producer [Aside: Dieter Dierks - who ended up working with The Scorpions of all bands! And Accept! After working with Ash Ra, Nektar and Tangerine Dream!!! Weird]. They all got together at the behest of another producer who paid the musicians a small fee and all the acid they wanted. Then they recorded the sessions and released 5 Cosmic Jokers albums in 1974. Brilliant!!!!

Acid
Rock
Rules
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Ow! I was just playing with the dog and she's got some motherfucking nails!!! Gotta clip those bastards!
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Picked up a bunch of cds from Steve's Private Rock Your World. He's supplying my prog need. New prog, of which I'm quite unfamiliar. So, that's cool. Some Marillion, Tangent, Pallas, Tull boots, pre-Blue Oyster Cult (psychedelic stuff - early BOC were great so this should be fun) and Hunter-Ronson-Clapton's "Secret Sessions" from 1978. That should be fun!
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I was listening to "What's This Called?" with dj Ricardo Wang on KPSU (Portland State University) and this wild music came on...
clanking and banging
steel sheets of metal
clanging in some unholy noise...
but
it grew
developed
hypnotized me...
it was holy noise!
beautiful...serene

Ricardo informed us it was JOHN CAGE!! Obviously I've heard of him...but not heard him...hahahahaha...anyway 4 minutes 33 seconds later and I am looking forward to hearing more of Cage's recorded works.

Check out Ricardo's show available for your listening pleasure online and well worth it if you're looking for really "out there" shit!
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"Listen Bird" courtesy of Cassandra's Eye. We can all learn from the bird.
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Random Ramblings on a Sunday Afternoon

I feel like a little free-flowing blogmania running wild...
I've got my music collection list out (the Word document, not the Excel spreadsheet...I need to work on an Access database as well, but I do that stuff at work) and thought I'd ramble on about bands I don't usually write about...

let it flow
let the bullshit begin
don't go
don't lose let's all win!!!

Um, yeh...maybe we'll do some editing later [Note later on: No, we won't!!! Sucker!]...Picture of Mickey courtesy of Cassandra's Eye.
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Currently On CD Player: end of Mountain Goats - stuff from the 90's. Fun stuff. His lyrics crack me up. Different.

AC/DC: Ah...let's start with the A's!!! I used to use (well, not as often as I would have liked) "Walk All Over You" from Highway To Hell (1979) **** as my wrestling entrance music. It worked perfectly! Actually, I only used it once. * sigh * "Highway To Hell" is great too. Really, though...I mean, really. Doncha really, I mean really, only need
Highway To Hell" for Bon's best and Back in Black (1980) **** for Brian's best?
I mean, really...don't they sound sorta samey after awhile? I mean, really...
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Currently On CD Player: Disc 1 of "Scraping the Barrel" - Gentle Giant. 1st time listening to this. Just got it.

Gentle Giant: Well, why not talk about Gentle Giant? I've been a fan since high school and always had a fond place in my heart for Gentle Giant.
I find them calming...peaceful...interesting...gently rocking...
Faves? Gentle Giant (1970) ***1/2 Three Friends (1972) **** Power and the Glory (1974) *** Free Hand (1975) ****
Gentle Giant makes it all seem so nice....Official nice Gentle Giant web site.
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John Coltrane: I love Coltrane. He and Miles are neck and neck for my fav jazz musician. This past week Coltrane's "Live in Japan" finally arrived and I listened to the 1st disc and it absolutely picks me up, puts me in an envelope and sends me flying off air mail into the unknown. I find Coltrane's latter music very spiritual. Which, for me to say, is really bizarre. John Coltrane's official web site.

free flow...I will open up the music list and point randomly and choose...
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Bob Dylan??????

Well, what's there to say about Bob that hasn't been said this past year? No Direction Home is awesome...so's the bootleg series vol. 7. The Guru is a massive Dylan fan and so am I, but I would say she's the #1 Dylan fan!! Probably because he's mentally disturbed. Hahaha...

Note: Self Portrait (1970) ***1/2 is nowhere near as bad as the critics made it out to be. And Dylan (1973) **1/2 the notorious release from Columbia after Dylan signed with Geffen isn't so bad itself. I like "Mr. Bojangles"! So there. I'm glad I got it on lp!

The Guru and I disagree about Empire Burlesque (1985) **. I think the 80s production makes it incredibly dated and one of Bob's worst (even though the songwriting is..ok). The Guru approves of it.
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Why did I get such a shitty cd player. It plays ok..but, it doesn't have a display to say what track you're on...or the time...

I'm a cartoon character.
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The Gentle Giant box sounds great! I'm a fan though. Beginners need not begin with the box.
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Gwar: I saw Gwar live with the infamous Imants Krumins at Lee's Palace in Toronto.

What a spectacle.
Blood flowing, heads chopped off

PENISES CHOPPED OFF!!!!

and we all cringed
and fell in love with
Slymenstra Hymen

oh we were a sick bunch
of motherfuckers!!!

Gwar's sick motherfucking web site.
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Little Feat: I bought Sailin' Shoes (1972) **** and loved it. I thought, "oh yeh..now here's a band I could really get into." Never happened. Got Feats Don't Fail Me Now (1974) **1/2 and it just...didn't hit me. What can I say? Maybe, I'll eventually get into them...or not. I actually gave Feats 3 stars a couple of months ago on this blog...but I'm knocking it down a tad for boringness.
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Always remember...support Captain Beefheart and independent artists!!
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Can's Monster Movie inspires babble and cd organization is in process

Can: Monster Movie (1969) ***** What a debut! Even though the amazing Damo Suzuki wasn't on board yet, Malcolm Mooney was pretty fucking great himself.

Mary Mary
I'm freaking out
Mary Mary
I'm freaking out

It's hard to believe this was done in 1969..."Mary, Mary" causes my brain to perform

psychedelic

somersaults.

"Outside My Door" is pure punk...Now they're fucking doing post-punk...in 1969

We should all become Canheads
and understand
and appreciate
the brilliance of Can.

"Yoo Doo Right" is parts Joy Division! Now I'm hearing Kings of Leon...again, must I repeat this...1969!!!! Just how fucking influential were this band? And now it's settled into an incredible soundtrack for the senses...I'm freaking out. This is probably about the 4th or 5th time I've listened to this one and it keeps getting better and better....

I can't believe I've only recently got some Can!!!! I remember hearing them on Mole's radio show on CFMU in the Hammer back 12-15 years ago, and thinking they sounded great and then I...did nothing about it. Sat on my ass purchasing hundreds of crappy cds while having


NO CAN!!!

Oh yeh...YOU MADE A BELIEVER OUT OF ME!!!!

I just changed the rating from 4 1/2 to 5 stars. Why not?
It's alright
It's alright
alright...it's alright

you made a believer out of me.

Let Can make a believer out of you...Can's brilliant web site.
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Now I'm going back to my cd reorganization.

It's hard to keep them ordered by name and year

and then you run out of space

and the room looks messy

and you get tired of looking at it

and the dog keeps banging into them

and you start having trouble finding them

and then you find yourself blogging instead of cleaning.

Back to the walls

and eyes to the floor

here I go

back to clean more!

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Miles Davis boxes the Acid Mothers and we all hallucinate 5 star music!

Miles Davis: The Jack Johnson Sessions - original release 1970 box set release 2003 ***** The very first time I heard this album...oh, when I bought it on lp, maybe 20 years ago...I've always considered it a classic.

Listening to the box set.....no reason to change my mind...in fact it makes me realize how fucking intense this album is...heavy...rocks hard...funky...

what's not to love???????????????

Well, maybe not Miles himself...but that's another story!

I first saw this at the Oakville Public Library (carrying the box set...awesome! of course I got it out and listened to it) but just recently got a copy (Randy!!!) and it blows me away every time. All the musicians are flying man...soaring...

takes me to another place
another atmosphere
another breath

soaring...to the
breath of jazz
filtered through rock
and funk
and classical
and put it all together
and you have Miles Electric.

Another Note: I have "Miles Electric" now on dvd, but haven't had a chance yet to peruse it. When I do you know I'll babble about it. Also got "The Miles Davis Story"...looking forward to that one too!!
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Acid Mothers Temple: Mantra of Love (2004) ***** I got this from amazon not too long ago, and also "New Geocentric World" (2001), and acid mothers
are magnificent
masters of music manipulation

listen to the "circle" the "arc" of the music.

The music floats by and makes a 30 minute song seem only half that long. Love Cotton Casino's singing....

Absolutely beautiful beautiful music
experimental
yet traditional

I need to dive into more acid.....

Acid Mothers Web Soul Collective.
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