What a complete breakdown in posting discipline. Things happen, and these records take time to post. This one is worth the wait though. Not that I’ve been waiting. I’ve been spinning Supershitty to the Max (1996) by The Hellacopters every day since I mentioned the guys last week. This is their first record and I’ve been in love with them ever since. Thanks to Bob Schick for turning me on, and tuning me in.
Supershitty is totally raw rock and roll in the spirit of The Stooges, Motorhead and roots punk. There’s no hint whatsoever of the occasional power pop song you hear on their later recordings. My favorite, and what too often feels like my theme song, is “Born Broke.”
Now that my son Mars discovered there is a bonus song by The Hellacopters in Guitar Hero III I can’t imagine my productivity is going to increase any time soon.
Oh my goodness, this song rocks! I’m a long time fan of The Hellacopters and “Sign of the Octopus” from their new record Head Off is already one of my favorites. Listen closely for the cutting guitar lick at the end of the chorus. It only happens twice for a cumulative four seconds of rock and roll bliss. Be ready to rewind because you’re going to want more, more and more! And more!
If you’re still standing after “Octopus” check out more of their new stuff at their MySpace page, especially “No Salvation” and “Veronica Lake” and “I’m Watching You” and, well, all of ‘em. I gotta get the scratch together to add this to my Hellacopters record collection.
Hellacopters! Rocket From the Crypt! When I’m having a good day these bands are part of the imaginary soundtrack of my life. I can’t get enough roots rock/punk rock. This 1999 double band single, Hellacopters’ “Crimson Ballroom” and Rocket From the Crypt’s “Delorean,” was put out by Gearhead Magazine, and included with issue #10. In my fantasy life Gearhead is the “lifestyle” magazine.
This record is a seven inch vinyl disk to be played at 45 revolutions per minute. I’ve included a pic of the vinyl so the kids can see what I’m talking about. I’m doing it all for the kids.
That’s one cool dude on the cover. And speaking of cool dudes, this album was a birthday present from my Dad, a/k/a “Mr. Cool.” Just ask my Mom. I had some singles, you know, vinyl seven inches, that I had accumulated, but this was my very first full length album. That’s right, the first of thousands of records. And I can’t think of a better album or artist to start a record collection. I’m eternally grateful for my father pointing me in the right music direction. I liked Hendrix from what I heard on the radio, but this record was not something I asked for. It was his idea.
For me, Hendrix brings together everything I love most about music. Art, innovation, guitar mastery, blues, funk, acid rock, and the moments of cathartic heaviness that I just need to survive. Smash Hits by the Jimi Hendrix Experience is one of the most played records I own, and the vinyl shows the wear and tear. But it still sounds great. I did a decent job maintaining it for a 13 year old.
My favorite from this collection is a song I think was less of a hit than the others, “Stone Free.”
I want to be in The Hives! The suits alone are enough incentive for me, but the music on The Black and White Album makes the dream of band membership irresistible. I like all their records but this is the best one yet. The Hives have that essence rare that reminds me of The Fleshtones: familiar but fresh, fun but not dumb, and always rocking even when the music is low key. At times this record is more punk than punk rock and more funky than funk. I can’t get enough of it. I’m probably playing it, in its entirety, at least five times a day. It’s hard to pick favorites but one standout is the fast rocking “Won’t Be Long.” It has a glockenspiel riff that is a perfect layer of icing atop a multilayer rock and roll cake, like the recorder solo in “Wild Thing” by The Troggs.
Everyone’s a loser in the modern world
Look at all the sad and gloomy little boys and girls
I know all you got is troubles all you got is woes
Shake the chips off your shoulders here’s how it
goes…
Whoooo Hoooo!
Here’s another 12 inch from those former Human League-ers, Heaven 17. “Height of the Fighting (He-La-Hu)” is pretty enjoyable, but I can’t really remember the mixes on the other side. Even if you don’t dig this early electronic music, you gotta love the cover art by Jill Mumford.
This is one quiet and dark album. I am huge PJ Harvey fan, and I just got this album. At first I was disappointed how quiet and low key these songs are, all of them. Drums and percussion are virtually non-existent, and no song rocks out the way PJ always seems to, eventually. But there’s a different kind of power here. According to PJ, see the documentary below, she was determined not to repeat herself. I have probably listened to the entire album 10 times in the last 24 hours and each time it gets better.
White Chalk is being release in a limited edition vinyl version, which tragically I do not have. But the CD is packaged in a more earth-friendly way, similar to a real record, with a cardboard jacket and separate liner. Handsome.
Today we have a 12 inch single from Heaven 17. Who knew the founding members were two guys who split from Human League? Not me. Actually, I know very little about the band; this one belongs to Mary. Their debut single “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang” is some solid dance music with “overtly political lyrics” that got it banned from the BBC. “The Decline of the West” on the flipside is a pulsing instrumental bit of dark electronica. I like both cuts, so very synth.
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.
I was introduced to Head of David by the 7 inch records that use to come attached to Sounds magazine (RIP). Of the big three British music mags it was always my favorite. I still have that four song 7 inch, but I can’t remember the other three bands. I’ll post that one if I live long enough. The HOD song was “Roadkill” (maybe it was live version) and I knew immediately that I had to get some more of that. That song is also on Dustbowl, which wasn’t their first release but it was the first for me. It’s produced by Steve Albini, which is usually a good thing, and this record is no exception. The sound is huge and heavy and still unlike anything else I’ve heard. The earlier stuff is good, maybe the later too, but Dustbowl is essential. My favorite songs are “Dog Day Sunrise” and “Cult of Coats.”
Etched in the run off margins:
SHADOWS side: “Many fine Budgie riffs”
RAYS side: Tortoise enthusiasts all
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What a complete breakdown in posting discipline. Things happen, and these records take time to post. This one is worth the wait though. Not that I’ve been waiting. I’ve been spinning Supershitty to the Max (1996) by The Hellacopters every day since I mentioned the guys last week. This is their first record and I’ve been in love with them ever since. Thanks to Bob Schick for turning me on, and tuning me in.
