The College Crowd Digs Me

"Black Sabbath" - Black Sabbath (1970) Everyone knows this monster album so I won't regurgitate the long list of accolades except to remind again just what a game-breaker Black Sabbath's entry into the record world was.  Early heavy metal.  Doom Metal.  And surprisingly, for me anyway, dark singes of psychedelic flames can all be found in the wax.  Bold and brazen.  "Here we are MFs.  Now the rest of you can all go sit down!"   The album is a historic landmark for a reason.   Imagine being some kid dropping the needle on this bad puppy for the first time in his room.  The rain. The tolling bell.  The growling thunder.  The plodding power chords.  And then Ozzy's wailing.  It had to have been some pretty awesome scary, badass shit.  Still is.  And now I own my own copy. "Black Sabbath" - Black Sabbath (back) I found my used copy at The Record Ship in Wichita for under $20.  The store sticker sa...

(4 For Friday) *   A bus at t he zoo  painted to look like it's being crushed by a giant snake. *   How to copy text that cannot be copied .  Oh, I hate that shenanigan. *   Clever, but a square-wheeled bicycle  just looks like a giant pain in the ass. *   All 23 best-picture Oscar winners of the 21st century ranked worst to best.    What would be your top three? "Midnight In The Desert" (Art Bell 'Coast to Coast' Theme) - Crystal Gayle (2001) Good stuff. Casey Chambers Follow Me On FACEBOOK  

"Here In The Land Of Victory" - Rex Holman (1970) Flipping through a box of albums, I almost passed over this unknown square until I noticed the words "Acid Archives" printed under the $10 price sticker.  Rex Holman meant nothing to me at the time, but I'll risk a ten spot for an album mentioned in The Acid Archives  any time.  And I'm glad I did.  From the cover, I could guess the album was singer-songwriter bent and was hopeful the music would be dusted with some lysergic chakra.  And that's pretty close.  The album has a mystical aura with subtle psych haberdashery lurking always close by.  Eastern influences, dreamlike lyrics, haunting melodies.   "Here In The Land Of Victory" - Rex Holman (back) "Here In The Land Of Victory" is the epitome of a grower and a needle-drop-to-label experience.  Headphones are nice, but not necessary.  Not a jaw-dropper or mind-blower.  Nothing like that.  But it does have a way of get...

(a short jaunt) "What About Me" - Richie Havens / "The Great Blind Degree" (1971) "And I feel the future trembling as the word is passed around. If you stand up for what you do believe, be prepared to be shot down. Oh...what you gonna do about me?" Richie Havens has always been hit or miss for me.  Don't get me wrong.  I dig the cat.  I've always loved the way he burrowed down to the organic essence of a song.  But sometimes he can get a little repetitious.  That's just me.  However, he nails this one.  Richie massages Quicksilver's gem into a protest of a most personal kind.  He doesn't better the original, but he does make it sound fresh, and that I like.  This was Richie's 8th album. (NEED)   "Closet Chronicles" - Kansas / "Point Of Know Return" (1977) "Once proud and full of passion, he fought the cause of man. Many people loved his courage.  Many followed his command. He changed the old into the ...

"Music Emporium" - Music Emporium (1969 - Rei 2014) Music Emporium was a one-and-done West Coast psych-rock band.  Their music is a mix of tasty organ-driven, fuzzed-out spins, and dreamy, floatier rushes.  Both are equally enjoyable.  Made up of two guys and two girls, their self-titled album is not "heavy" heavy, but nothing's wasted either.  And the square fits right at home in any lava-lover's bean bag room.   There were only 300 copies originally pressed so good luck finding one.  But Sundazed did a fine job replicating the original die-cut gatefold cover.  The original colors of the album are a bit cheezy, as is the name of the band...but whaddygonnado?  Music Emporium is a good spin. "Music Emporium" - Music Emporium (back) Favorites include: "Nam Myo Renge Kyo" ... a psych-burning opener. "Sun Never Shines" ... astounding psych drumming. "Day Of Wrath" ... mysterious, cool, and spooky. I picked up my copy ...

 (4 For Friday) *   A little piece of sidewalk art. *   This aired only once on SNL ... Conspiracy Theory Rock ...and then was cut from all future re-runs. *   This is horrifying .  WTF!? *   Pretty cool "Behind The Scenes" photos from popular movies "Heaven Tonight" - Cheap Trick / "Heaven Tonight" (1978) Good stuff. Casey Chambers Follow Me On FACEBOOK  

Binary John Lange (Michael Crichton) (1972) Paperback, 240 pages NO SPOILERS: "Binary" is the perfect pageturner to help clean the reading palette between the last big novel you just put down and the next big commitment you're almost ready to dive into.  "Binary" is short, quick, and forgettable...and yet entertaining enough to warrant your time.  If this sounds like a back-handed recommendation, perhaps it is.  But it's still Michael Crichton after all.  And you know whatever he writes, under whatever pseudonym, is going to bring a well-researched and satisfying conclusion. The characters in this almost novella may be cardboard, but the story moves along like a determined freight.  Agent John Graves pushes things forward in this fast thriller that doesn't puss around in trying to unpuzzle an attack location.  And that's much appreciated.   No heavy background stories.  No poetry in motion.  Just foot to the pedal.  And it's fun....

"Kill your brother. You'll feel better." Alan Frog (Jamison Newlander) Everyone who likes the 80s movie " The Lost Boys"  loves the Frog Brothers .  Jamison Newlander along with Corey Feldman are the Frog Brothers .  Keeping it real by helping decrease the vampire population in the little community of Santa Carla, The Murder Capital Of The World.  It was a wickedly fun horror film that easily slipped into the elusive slide zone world of cult moviedom and staked its claim into vampire lore. And for  Jamison Newlander's first foray into the movie pinball machine, he simply reached out and snagged himself a piece of the golden ring of coolness.  The Frog Brothers  worked it out.  And the Frog Brothers' legend expanded further with two "Lost Boys" sequels, paperbacks, comics, and other "Lost Boys" memorabilia.  Comicons and Fright Festivals were made for these guys!  Jamison is still acting in movies and television, but cult movies ...

"The Seven Deadly Sins" - Plus (1969 ) "The Seven Deadly Sins" was a blind buy found in the wild.  I was hoping it might be some psych or maybe a little doom, and it is in places, but it's more than that.  There are a couple tracks dusted with a McCartney-esque attitude.  Some hard rock.  There is a smattering of very cool Gregorian chanting that drops in from time to time.  Black mass-like in places.  Early prog is holding coattails.  As for the psych, the album does have some atmospheric mind expansion going on.  The chanting alone can take you places. There are many ideas thrown at the wall on "The Seven Deadly Sins," which often happens with concept albums, but nothing overstays its welcome. The musicianship is good, as are the vocals.  The concept is straightforward, if not a bit silly, but all hands are on deck.  I'd give the album a solid 3 stars and it's a cool artifact of the times.  Best of all, the album is a rela...