According to Wikipedia Shovel (1986) was feedtime’s most critically acclaimed record, which makes me think I need to go spin it again. I enjoy a little primitive noise rock once in a while, even now that I’m elderly. But this just didn’t do it for me today. There were a couple riffs that held my attention, a few great songs, and some occasional moments where they reminded me of Head of David. Still, I don’t think this one will stay in the collection.

For the concerned grammarians in the house I want to point out that the proper spelling of feedtime is with a lowercase f.

feedtime at Wikipedia

• Artist: INXS
• Title: I Send a Message
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1987? – Used at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA
• Keeper: No

This INXS single, “I Send a Message”, is decent. I think I remember it from the radio or MTV. The back has “Mechanical” which does in fact have a lot of mechanical sounds mixed in with some strange too-arty ska groove. I doubt many people would recognize it as INXS. I think I bought one of their albums way back, but I really know much about the band. That said, I do have a story.

My friend John Hurlock and I went to see the Go Gos at the amusement park King’s Dominion. Please don’t tell anyone I told you this. Anyhow, we were in high school and it seemed like a good idea at the time–have fun at the park all day and see the Go Gos for cheap, $5 or something. This would have been in the very early 1980s. INXS was the opening band. At the time I had heard of them but that was about it. When they came on stage all the girls in the audience started losing it. They were screaming and rushing to the front. John and I were completely baffled since we had no idea Michael Hutchence was such a teen idol. It was like those films of the Beatles at Shea Stadium. Crazy.

• Artist: Lime Spiders
• Title: Out of Control
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 10 in.
• Rating (1-10): 10
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1985 – Unicorn Records in Portsmouth, VA
• Keeper: Yes

If you don’t like this record then Aussie garage rock is just not your thing. This Lime Spiders single, “Out of Control”, is as good as it gets. Their playing is also out of control, but super-tight at the same time. They’re always locked in to each other, but it ain’t like they’re recording to a click track. When the songs get to the exciting parts they step on the gas and play as fast as they want. Which is my kind of perfection. The flipside “Save My Soul” is just as good and maybe even more frenetic.

• Artist: The Olympic Sideburns
• Title: Self-titled
• Year: 1985
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 8
• Owner: Tracy / Mary – both had copies
• Acquired: Not sure.
• Keeper: Yes

When you meet a woman who has the same Olympic Sideburns record as you, just marry her. That’s what I did. It’s not like you’re gonna get another chance. Though it’s the same record, we have different versions. Mary’s was released on Epitaph for the US, but made in the UK. My version is on New Rose, and it came with a “Limited Editon FREE 12′ EP.” That’s right, it’s a 12 foot EP. It’s huge! Look at the sticker on the pic below. This one also came with a cool songbook/comic book.

By looking at these guys you might be tempted to think this is just another 1980s band doing the ‘6os garage rock punk thing. Or maybe you’re not that hip. Anyhow, these guys are way deeper than that. I mean, they’re from Australia, so they can’t help but be weird, and cool. They were somewhat of an Aussie underground super-group, with rotating members who were all in other bands. I can’t explain the sound beyond saying that it’s energetic, slightly noisy, and rocked out in the weirdest way. I know they would’ve been great to see live.

• Artist: The New Christs
• Title: Detritus
• Year: 1987
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 5
• Owner: Tracy
• Acquired: 1987 ? – Probably bought it when I was working at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA.
• Keeper: Maybe

Yesterday was one of the longer days of my life. The movers finally finished loading our stuff sometime after 5 PM and then we hit the road. We’re touring through the South visiting parents/grandparents for a few more days and plan to hit our new town, Asheville, NC, on Monday. With the cartop carrier loaded and our jumbo dog in the wagon wayback we feel like the Beverly Hillbillies!

This “Detritus” record by The New Christs is a four song EP. It’s very listenable Australian garage rock, but for some reason I just don’t get excited about it. That said, the first song, “Born Out of Time”, has been stuck in my head since I played it, again, a few days ago. Maybe it’s better than I think…