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Showing posts from May, 2018

Interview -- Freedy Johnston (Singer-Songwriter)

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"Evie's tears, are never gonna dry." ~ Freedy Johnston ~ I wouldn't necessarily call "This Perfect World"  (1994) an underrated album.  After all, the critics loved it.  The fans loved it.  But if ever an album was under-appreciated and worth revisiting... "This Perfect World" ...would fall under that heading. Filled with catchy songs that are clever in the telling, Freedy never gives anything away too easily.  And though he sings of life-moments that shy away from sunlight, Freedy floats his words over ear-friendly melodies that leave the head spinning long after the songs are over. "This Perfect World," after 25 years, has aged extremely well and is a wonderful lesson in song-crafting.  And finally, for the first time, is now available on vinyl. Go get you some. Freedy Johnston Interview -- May 2018 Freedy Johnston Casey Chambers:   The 25th anniversary of your album... "This Perfect World" (1994) is

Horse Head Reads...Dig and Flip - "Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned"

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Graphic Novel Find "Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned" (Last fall, I stumbled upon a good sized box filled with a variety of graphic novels at an estate sale. No official count yet, as I'm just pulling from the box when I find time to read one.  Afterward, I'll post the book and go from there.) "Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned" by Brian K. Vaughan --  Pia Guerra &  José Marzán Jr. (Illustrator) 2002 by VERTIGO 127 pages (includes issues #1–5 of the original series) No Spoilers: All the male species (Y chromosome) on earth is wiped out by a strange virus -- except for one semi-goofy dude and his pet monkey.  A female secret agent bodyguard is assigned to protect this lone male and see he arrives safely at an unknown location. Meanwhile, a blood-thirsty female gang called the Amazons want to snag him for their own personal gains.  As do various other political groups. "Y: The Last Man" (inside) I set this particu

Horse Head Vinyl...Dig and Spin: Big Brother & The Holding Company - Self-titled (1967)

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Big Brother & The Holding Company  --  Self-titled (1967) Blues Rock, Folk Rock, Psych dust, Hippie Rock Debut album. On Mainstream Records (blue w/microphone) 10 tracks. Horse Head Vinyl..."Dig and Spin" (#6) I'd been looking for a copy w/o Janis Joplin's name on the front cover and this one is a really clean copy. This is notable for being Joplin's introduction to our ears and she fronts on a few songs but this is very much a group effort. There's plenty of vocal interaction between the band members and Janis and it's a joy.  This album has more of a Country Joe and the Fish vibe than what would follow, but they're definitely working it out.  The band sounds really good. Big Brother & The Holding Company ----- "self-titled" (back cover) But clocking in at 23 minutes, the album is really short. There are a couple of tunes where a good stretch would have been more than welcome. Nonetheless...I enjoyed a

Interview -- James Lowe (The Electric Prunes)

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"I'm not ready to face the light. I had too much to dream..." ~ The Electric Prunes ~ The Electric Prunes were a successful mid-'60s psych-rock band.  They gave themselves an intentionally ridiculous name, but that's just part of the charm.  Like Strawberry Alarm Clock or Chocolate Watchband...their name was a pretty accurate snapshot of those crazy psychedelic times. Led by singer James Lowe ...The Electric Prunes had a garage sound filled with plenty of tasty psychedelic bends.  From psych-pop loaded with blistering fuzz guitars to psyched-out Mass incantations that created a hallucinating mind-blow...that was The Electric Prunes . Psych Rock was beginning to grow some fast legs and was becoming quite the cash cow and everybody wanted to pull on the teats.   Many were successful.  Many more, though, were in and out of the business before the ink had dried. The Electric Prunes , however, were one of the good ones and their first three albums are a

Horse Head Vinyl...Dig and Spin: "Take Another Look" - Soul Survivors (1969)

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Soul Survivors  --  "Take Another Look" (1969) blue-eyed funk & soul, psych dust 2nd album.   On ATCO (yellow w/pinwheel)  11 tracks Horse Head Vinyl..."Dig and Spin" (#5) I picked this album up because the cover was mind-trippy and I'd never seen it in the bins before. Even the name... Soul Survivors ...sounded like it might bring a bit of psych. But the band name is much more literal than abstract. "Take Another Look" - Soul Survivors (back cover) That's okay though because this was a surprising treat. These white guys from Philly honor the genre sincerely.  Has that early '70s soul sound I could listen to all day. Not a throwaway song in the bunch.  Soulful and funky and tight. (BTW...the band Soul Survivors were mentioned in the Steely Dan..."Hey Nineteen") ATCO label FOR CHERRY PICKERS: "Mama Soul" ...released as single. Didn't make much of a dent. But it's kick-ass be