Tricky, back when he was untouchable, collaborating with Gravediggaz, back when they were untouchable. The results are kinda weird. My only problem is that I wish this album was a lot longer; it's only four tracks and only two of those are actually collaborations. Imagine if they'd made a whole album like this. We can dream.
01 Hell Is Round The Corner (Original Mix)
02 Hell Is Round The Corner (The Hell & Water Mix)
03 Psychosis (co-produced by RZA, feat. Grim Reaper)
04 Tonite Is A Special Night (Chaos Mass Confusion Mix) (co-produced by RZA & Dobie, feat. The Gatekeeper, Grim Reaper, RZA)
The Hell EP (1995)
Tricky vs. The Gravediggaz - The Hell EP (1995) 11/30/2008
John Berberian & The Middle Eastern Ensemble - Middle Eastern Rock (1966) 11/29/2008
John Berberian is an oud virtuoso born in the United States to Armenian immigrant parents. In the 60s he made a series of albums combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues and jazz with more traditional oud-playing (the oud is most closely associated with Turkey these days, but it's part of the musical heritage of lots of cultures from the Balkans throughout the Middle East). This one was recorded with the help of the guitarist Joe Beck.
I was almost certain that this album came out in 1966, but wikipedia says 1969. The liner note scans don't have a date visible and it's not listed on Berberian's site; if anyone who sees this happens to know for sure please leave a comment.
I know the cover art says "John Berberian and the Rock East Ensemble," but the rear art and the spine say Middle Eastern Ensemble.
Middle Eastern Rock (1966)
Whiting Tennis - Three Leaf Clover (2007) 11/27/2008
Whiting Tennis - Three Leaf Clover
This album reminds me of less-Deliverance-y version Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker. Lots of acoustic slow jams, with the occasional electronic experimentation. This is a good album for when you're feeling old and boring, but aren't in the mood to listen to NPR and Deathcab.
The obvious hit is "Summer" click here for a 30-second clip
Poor Righteous Teachers - 4 albums (1990-1996) 11/25/2008
Poor Righteous Teachers was an underground rap trio from Trenton, NJ: Father Shaheed (DJ & production), Culture Freedom (backing vocals, production), Wise Intelligent (lead MC). Lyrical themes are on that conscious tip. Pro-black, Nation of Gods and Earths, the kind of stuff that has kinda died out in rap since the late 90s. Intense.
The quality of this video rip leaves a lot to be desired but you get the idea:
My favorites of these are Pure Poverty and The New World Order, but they're all good.
Holy Intellect (1990)
download
Pure Poverty (1991)
part1, part2
Black Business (1993)
download
The New World Order (1996)
download
Derroll Adams - Songs Of The Banjoman (1997) 11/24/2008
Well I got hooked on whiskey
It was a terrible thing
I just didn't dream the truth
Like swinging on a swing
I was flying high - I was flying high
I didn't want to come back down
Didn't even wonder why
Whiskey first thing in the morning
Whiskey last thing at night
Put the whiskey here by the bed
God don't turn out the lights
I'm flying high
Don't even want to come back down for you
Let me go swinging - swinging in my booze
Somehow we got me through it all
A chance in a million they say
Hope none of you ever'll make that scene
It's sure a nowhere way
You think you're flying high - You think you're doing good
You might not want to come back down
Probably wouldn't if you could
There are angels up in heaven
Devils down in hell
But I am somewhere in between
And living sure feels swell
I'm feeling fine I'm feeling fine
I don't know how or where or when
But I am feeling fine
Songs Of The Banjoman (1997)
Les Rallizes Dénudés - Electric Pure Land (1974) 11/20/2008
This is my favorite bootleg by the legendary LRD; the performances and recording just destroy. It would be a good intro-point for newcomers too, since it's relatively short. The first half of the set is awesome enough, though it starts off rather oddly with the song that usually closed their shows ("The Last One," naturally), but the last two tracks are what really take you into outer space. "Voice Of The Bird" is an incredibly heavy and mournful sort of blues tune, Mizutani's droney wails and traumatized guitar leading us through the sort of material that just leaves you dumbstruck, wondering how ostensibly normal human beings could possibly write that. You feel like it should be over, but then "Angel" goes on another ten whole minutes, even more blistering, instantly grabbing but completely incomprehensible, and totally alien. Listen to it, really, really loud, in a darkened room or with your eyes closed, in a reclining position. I used to smoke cigarettes while doing that, but these days I'm trying to live healthier and I've found a glass or two of scotch works just as well. So get yourself a bottle of nice ten or twelve year and just space out.
Electric Pure Land (1974)
Nico - Icon (1996) 11/19/2008
Nico - Icon
A semi-bootleg collection of rare Nico tracks. Some tracks are decent, some are terrible. I would recommend downloading this just for the track "Genghis Khan," which I like a lot. All Music has a detailed description of this album's contents.
(Not included is the last track, a 30-minute collection of interviews with Nico. It's on soulseek if you look hard enough.)
Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1 (2008) 11/17/2008
Metal album of the year. This is a self-consciously psychedelic effort (the subtitle a pun on the Pink Floyd album Meddle) with unusually clean production values. "Ghosts of Grace," "Code Negative" and the three-part closer "Seasick" (which makes effective use of saxophone solos) are instantly grabbing and really cool pieces of psych-black. Recommended.
Assassins - Black Meddle Part 1 (2008)
AFX - Hangable Auto Bulb (1995/2005) 11/17/2008
AFX is one of the aliases of Richard D. James, most famous as Aphex Twin. This album, Hangable Auto Bulb, was released on CD in 2005, but it compiles material from two vinyl EPs (with the same name) released in quick succession in late 1995. Stylistically the material is comparable to the following year's Richard D. James Album: that is, really, really good. Tracks like "Custodian Discount" and "Arched Maid Via RDJ" display the sort of quirky genius that makes so much of RDJ's output indispensable.
Hangable Auto Bulb (1995/2005)
Darkthrone - Dark Thrones & Black Flags (2008) 11/16/2008
Gotta love Darkthrone.
Dark Thrones & Black Flags (2008)
Spell - Seasons in the Sun (1993) 11/14/2008
Spell - Seasons in the Sun
A collaboration between Rose McDowall and Boyd Rice recording under the name of Spell, released in 1993 on Mute Records. The two cover a number of songs from the 1960s and 1970's, often modifying the lyrics to make them darker. For instance the line in the original song Seasons in the Sun: "Goodbye Papa, please pray for me" becomes "Goodbye Papa, don't pray for me". Several references to Hell and death are added as well.
Some interesting stuff on here. The third track "Stone is Very Very Cold" is a really awesome cover. If someone could tell me who the original is by that would be awesome. I haven't looked too hard yet.
1. "Johnny Remember Me"
2. "Free Now To Roam"
3. "Stone Is Very Very Cold"
4. "Down from Dover"
5. "There's No Blood In Bone"
6. "Terry"
7. "Seasons in the Sun"
8. "This Little Bird"
9. "Our Own Way"
10. "Big Red Balloon"
11. "Endless Sleep"
12. "Rosemary's Baby (Lullaby Part I)"
Stephin Merritt - Eban and Charlie Soundtrack (2002) 11/11/2008
Stephin Merritt - Eban and Charlie Soundtrack
Oops... RIAA
A nice collection of experimental diddies from Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) interspersed with a few forgotten gems (Poppyland is really great). Stephin Merritt is god and Morrissey is jesus.
Popmatters Review
Allmusic Review
The "Amen Break" 11/09/2008
"This fascinating, brilliant 20-minute video narrates the history of the "Amen Break," a six-second drum sample from the b-side of a chart-topping single from 1969. This sample was used extensively in early hiphop and sample-based music, and became the basis for drum-and-bass and jungle music -- a six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures. Nate Harrison's 2004 video is a meditation on the ownership of culture, the nature of art and creativity, and the history of a remarkable music clip."
V/A - Plague Songs (2006) 11/08/2008
V/A - Plague Songs
Ten songs for the ten plagues of Exodus. Several reviews have panned this comp for it's "phoned in" performances. I downloaded it for the Stephin Merritt track, which is awesome as usual. Haven't listened to the rest
1. Klashnekoff - "Blood" (The Plague of Blood)
2. King Creosote - "Relate the Tale" (The Plague of Frogs)
3. Stephin Merritt - "The Meaning of Lice" (The Plague of Lice)
4. Brian Eno & Robert Wyatt - "Flies" (The Plague of Flies)
5. Laurie Anderson - "The Fifth Plague" (The Death of Livestock)
6. Cody ChesnuTT - "Boils" (The Plague of Boils)
7. The Tiger Lillies - "Hailstones" (The Plague of Hail)
8. Imogen Heap - "Glittering Cloud" (The Plague of Locusts)
9. Scott Walker - "Darkness" (The Plague of Darkness)
10. Rufus Wainwright - "Katonah" (The Death of the Firstborn)
Amon Düül II - Yeti (1970), Hijack (1974) 11/06/2008
Amon Düül formed in the late 60s in Germany as the musical expression of a radical youth commune. In short, any member of the commune was considered a member of the band, whether they had musical ability or not. The group existed as Amon Düül only briefly, a cultish, free-form musical oddity, before it split into two factions, Amon Düül I and Amon Düül II. In short, the former was the really spaced-out hippy contingent, while the latter included everyone who actually knew how to play their instrument. Amon Düül I recorded a handful of albums but was widely criticized for their noodly jam sessions that amounted to "musical nothing"; their more professional friends in Amon Düül II became a fixture of German psychedelic music in the 1970s and probably the second most important Krautrock band (after Can).
I'm uploading two albums here. The first, Yeti, a double-LP issued in 1970 (this upload includes the two bonus tracks on the CD reissue) is widely regarded as the band's best work for its startlingly original improvisations. 1974's Hijack is a far more commercial effort, and for that is sometimes labeled the worst of the band's output, but in fairness it's a pretty solid psych-pop listen. If you don't like noodliness you might prefer it.
Yeti (1970)
Hijack (1974)
Scratch Acid - The Greatest Gift (1991) 11/04/2008
Scratch Acid - The Greatest Gift (big: 111MB)
Early 80's noise/punk from Austin, Texas. Members went on to play with the Big Boys, Ministry, Lard, Rapeman, and the Jesus Lizard. Haven't listened all the way through but it's pretty awesome. This is a discography.
Youtube
Scratch Acid - She Said
*ALSO OF INTEREST*
The Greatest .Gif
Future of the Left - Curses! (2007), Future of the Left - Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires (2008) 11/01/2008
You may know 2/3rds of Future of the Left from their previous band, mclusky. Chases! is their debut album, which continues in their vein of noisy, punchy rock music, but with an increased focus on the synthesizer over the guitar. Fans of mclusky will not be disappointed by the direction Future of the Left takes. The trio is rounded out by a former member of Jarcrew.
As a bonus, I have also included their forthcoming live record, Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires. It's getting a proper release in 2009, but they are currently selling it at live gigs, which is where I picked it up. Enjoy!
Curses!
Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires
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