I don’t know where I got T.V. Sky (1992) by The Young Gods, but it’s always been a favorite. These guys can be called “industrial” but the sound on this record is really more hard rock or metal with plenty of sampling, loops and tricky time signatures. I love the whole thing, even the 20 minute Doors-y “Summer Eyes.” My favorite is the album opener, “Our House.” The lyrics sound like something from Sesame Street, maybe because these guys are ESL. But they’re perfect juxtaposed with the minimal and ultra-heavy jackhammer riff that finally kicks in for the last minute of the song, after two minutes of almost ambient loops, with when singer Franz Treichler yells “Hey Friends!”
Another great song is “The Night Dance.” Listen for the deft sampling and looping of Guns and Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” guitar riff.
Fans include The Edge (U2) and David Bowie.(?) Those geezers are cooler than I thought.
From the looks of it they’ve gone acoustic more recently. You can check the acoustic version of “Our House” at the Young Gods’ MySpace page.
YoungGods.com
Young Gods at Wikipedia
Our house… is a house… that moves…
Just like the ocean, just like the ocean, just like the ocean
Hey friends!
If you wanna come by
It’s easy to find, it’s easy to find
Hey friends!
It’s front of the sky, it’s in front of the sky
- Artist: Dwight Yoakam
- Title: Always Late With Your Kisses
- Year: 1988
- Format: Vinyl 7 in.
- Rating (1-10): 7
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1987 - Probably from Mother's Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
The sleeve on this says 1988, but the labels on the record say 1987. Maybe because the single came out a little later. I like Dwight Yoakam, and I’ve already logged the LP that includes both sides of this 45, “Always Late With Your Kisses” and “1000 Miles.” These are good songs, but not my favorites from “Hillbilly Deluxe.” For the most part I’m an LP guy, and I usually only buy singles that have something I can’t get anywhere else. This one belongs to Mary. I recently read an article that the market has shifted back to singles. I know I’m old and all, but I just can’t get excited by the thought of buying singles to download. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
- Artist: Dwight Yoakam
- Title: Hillbilly Deluxe
- Year: 1987
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1987 - Bought it when I worked at Mother's Records in Hampton, VA.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
Uh… Why didn’t I keep up with Dwight Yoakam’s music career? “Hillbilly Deluxe” is an excellent album, country music the way it should be. Great lyrics and stories, stripped down and naked production, excellent musicianship, and catchy songs filled with memorable vocal and instrumental hooks. I need to start looking for the back catalog on Dwight.
- Artist: The Yardbirds
- Title: Roger The Engineer
- Year: 1966/1982 This one is a reissue.
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 9
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1983 ? - Unicorn Records in Portsmouth, VA, I think.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
Tonight I’m writing from Asheville, NC. Another house hunting mission, this time with my brother Grayson and his wife Kellie. We just left a pizza place called The Mellow Mushroom. Excellent pizza, but unfortunately we got in late and the poor staff had to eventually turn on the bright lights to drive us out.
The Yardbirds: Any band that has had Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page as members (in succession) demands that you own at least one of their records. Jeff Beck plays on “Roger The Engineer.” I think this album had a few songs that were hits at the time. I’m guessing the one song people may recognize now is “Over, Under, Sideways, Down.” Last year I even heard it in an automaker’s ad for some new car, can’t remember which. Subaru maybe?
This record is psychedelic, bluesy, and rocked-out. Everything you really need to get through life.
- Artist: Glenn Yarbrough
- Title: Time To Move On
- Year: 1964
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 1995 ? - Yard sale I think.
- Keeper: Yes
- Search: Insound, Amazon.com, Google
Uh… no one has ever mistaken me for a big folk music fan, but I try to have an open mind. Mary has a fondness for Mr. Yarbrough’s earlier group The Limeliters because her dad had those records when she was growing up. I’ve bought some of those CDs for her over the years and to tell the truth I really like some of it. On this solo record though, everything is a little too slick. Too much orchestration, too much back-up singing. And although some of the lyrics are really good, when I hear him sing “The Honey Wind Blows” I feel the spirit of John “Bluto” Blutarsky rising. Remember that scene in “Animal House” when he smashes that folk singer’s guitar at the toga party?
