I Own Some Records

King Dude - “Burning Daylight” (Dais Records 2012)

I so rarely get excited for new music coming out anymore.  It’s not that I’m a jaded old fuck that doesn’t listen to new music; far from it, probably 85% of the music I buy would have come out in the last 3 or 4 years.  I get excited when I discover a new band or artist that really blows my mind.  It’s rare, but it does happen to me on occasion.  Sadly once and artist or album blows my mind, I kind of forget about them and move on to something else.  Last year around this time, King Dude’s “Love” came out, and I was completely enthralled by it.  I have been slowly tracking down every one of his records ever since, and When I heard this was coming out, I couldn’t pre-order it fast enough.  

This came out about a month ago, but I’m finally getting to listen to it, and boy-howdy, it doesn’t disappoint. You’ll read all over the internet, from lazy reviewers mostly, that this is a neo-folk album, but that description couldn’t be more wrong.  While King Dude is obviously influenced by neo-folk, this is totally an American folk album.  King Dude, uses the tricks of the neo-folk trade like heavily reverbed vocals, atypical percussion, and pagan/occult symbolism, and creates something that is wholly unique and fresh.  Think if your favorite baritone country singer (Johnny Cash, because let’s be honest, he’s everyone’s favorite baritone country singer) decided that he really likes current Death In June and his contemporaries, but likes doo wop, surf, and classic American folk even more, and King Dude is what you would get.  Also that what I like about him, is that none of this feels pretentious, because you can tell King Dude is doing this for fun, just to make some good tunes.  I wish more people knew about this guy.  I feel like his music is something that goths, punks, rockabilly dudes, and any other wierd music subculture could get into.  

Seriously though, this album is leaps and bounds better than “Love”, This will probably fall into one of my favorite albums of all time, it’s that fucking good.  You all need to experience this now.  

-Log.  

Gypsyhawk - “Revelry & Resilience” (Metal Blade Records 2012)

I had to pleasure of watching Gypsyhawk perform on Wednesday in NYC opening for The Sword.  Let me say, they were fucking awesome.  I had no idea who they were, as I hadn’t heard of them before the show, but I was floored.  They all had long hair, two of them were wearing bell bottoms and they said stuff like “This song is about sitting in traffic, its called LOCOMOTION!” or “This song is about something important to me; GETTING HIGH!” So if those quotes and the name of this band aren’t any indication, they play heavy metal in the traditional way, from the late 70’s.  Like a healthy dose of Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, and Mercyful Fate all mashed up into one delicious stew of harmonized guitar leads and songs about frost wyrms.  If you notice the bands I just compared Gypsyhawk to, they must seem strangely similar to the bands that influenced an obscure band by the name of Metallica.  

The best way to describe the sound of this band, and I’ve been trying to think of another comparison because it’s so easy but I can’t, is the first disc of Metallica’s “Garage Inc.”  Like this album sounds EXACTLY like that album (only with original songs)(well one cover: “Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo”).  That’s not a bad thing, some idiots who hate any Metallica after “And Justice For All” poo-poo that part of the record because it’s new stuff, but to me it’s seriously one of the best cover albums ever! But seriously this album is a total nostalgia trip for the band I’m sure, but fuck it’s such a refreshing sound.  This band just plain fucking ROCKS! I’d do everything in my power to procure a copy of this record.  Unless you are a trendy ass poser.  Which you will be if you don’t buy this record. 

-Log. 

Valient Thorr - “Stranger” (Volcom Entertainment 2010)

Flash game playing music.

Nothing like energetic, raunchy, killer rock from the out rings of Venus to help me destroy posers in Tetris from across the globe.  

-Log.

Charlie Feathers - “We’re Getting Closer To Being Apart b/w If You Were Mine To Lose”

So I had never heard Charlie Feathers until I bought the Kill Bill 1 soundtrack, there is one of his songs on there, and it was all I needed to get hooked.  I’ve had trouble tracking down his material until recently, but I bought this and apparently Norton Records has a assload of reissues of old Charlie Feathers recordings.  This makes me happy.  

I seriously can’t enough of this guy.  Jaunty, loose, bopping, energetic rockabilly is what Charlie Feathers specializes in, and seriously its infectious.  This little 45 contains two old recordings, though the sleeve doesn’t provide a whole lot of info on when it was recorded.  I don’t think I’ve heard a bad song of his yet, and these two tracks are not different.  I suggest you all give him a listen sometime soon.

-Log. 

High On Fire/Valient Thorr - split (Volcom Ent. Vinyl Club 2012)

So I had the pleasure of seeing Valient Thorr the other day.  They are a band that I have their first album and I enjoyed it immensely then kind of forgot about them.  Then I heard they were opening for Torche and I want to say they stole the show.  So when I saw they had a split with High On Fire I was stoked and I couldn’t get my money out fast enough to buy it; even though it was retardedly overpriced ($10!).  

High On Fire really bring the riffs on this record.  Honestly I didn’t really like “Death Is The Communion” that much so I didn’t even bother with the last album, but this track is harkening back to the greatness that is “Surrounded By Thieves”.  Fucking killer. 

Valient Thorr is from the outer rings of Venus.  They have come to our planet to deliver rock and roll to the unsuspecting human race.  Their live performance is awesome and mind blowing. This record however, is kinda of weak.  It’s like trying way to hard to be metal instead of just bringing the rock like they are good at.  Oh well.  Its a sweet looking package and awesome color of vinyl. 

SO. To review. High On Fire’s side is awesome, adding to a pretty good library of tracks. Valient Thorr are awesome but this track is kind of weak. 

-Log. 

Wanda Jackson - “The Party Ain’t Over” (Third Man Records 2011)

Don’t mind my dog’s foot in the picture.  He was chilling out with me while I was spinning some tunes.  

I don’t get why most of the pics in this record show Wanda Jackson holding a guitar because she doesn’t play it on any track (as the handy dandy linear notes pointed out).  I wish I could say I had heard of Wanda Jackson before her releases on Third Man came out, but that would be a lie.  But based on this record, and the research I’ve done on her afterward, I’m gonna have to track down her early work, because this album is fucking awesome.  

So reading the linear notes further also reveals that this is a collection of cover songs.  Who knew reading would come so handy?  One such cover is an Amy Winehouse song, and is probably the strongest track on the album.  

It funny. Years ago, I wouldn’t have even given this a chance.  ”An elderly rockabilly singer doing an album produced by Jack White?  Throw it into a fire, as to cleanse the earth of such trash.” That is something I would have said.  Man, have I grown up from the little punk douche bag that once heard Hatebreed at the tender age of 15 and said “From now on everything I listen to must sound like this.”  

I don’t know where I was going with that.  Awesome record. Go buy it, it will always be in print. 

-Log. 

Lanie Lane - “Ain’t Hungry b/w My Man” (Third Man Records 2011)

Ok.  I like Third Man Records.  I like how they are striving to make vinyl more mainstream and thereby keeping the format alive.  I love how they keep all their main releases in print forever.  What I don’t like is their “Vault” where they release exclusive records to Vault members that are pressed one time and that’s it.  I don’t know, if you are gonna make most of your catalogue available forever, make all of it available forever, and have Vault releases be exclusive to members then make the content available as a regular release.  I don’t know, I’m just butthurt because I want to be a Vault member but I can’t afford it on top of all the other records I “have to” buy every month.  

Lanie Lane is a rockabilly singer from Australia and god damn if she isn’t good. The a side of this single is a rocking number with heavy fuzz bass.  That shit pumped me up like crazy!  Nothing gets me quite like fuzz bass.  The b side is a wierder track with acoustic instruments and congas.  It kind of reminds me Rasputina.  Great little record.  I need to track down more of her stuff.  

-Log. 

Big Eyes - “Demo” (Evil Weevil Records 2010)

A few weeks ago I did something I haven’t done in a while, which was buy a bunch of punk and hardcore 7 inches of bands I had never heard before, based on names and cover art.  There is something adventurous about discovering something new, and the chance of getting something terrible. 

This 7” by Big Eyes is far from terrible.  I am in love with this band, and I can’t even begin to describe the joy of discovering this.  They play melodic, late 70’s style punk, like something that would have come out of California.  But they are from New York, by ways of Brooklyn (big surprise there [sarcasm]) Musically they sound most like the crossroads where The Ramones and The Runaways meet.  

I can’t get over how good this is.  I’m gonna have to track down all of their records now.  Fuck yeah. 

-Log.

The 5.6.7.8’s - “10-22-10” (Third Man Records 2011)

A fun little live record from these Japanese ladies.  Good old fashioned rock and roll.  I didn’t realize how many of their songs I actually knew until I listened to this…I recognized most of them.  

V/A - “The Wrestling Album” (Epic Records 1985)

It’s no secret that I love wrestling.  I always have, I can’t remember ever not loving it (except from 2001 - 2005).  Another thing I love is music.  I have a bachelors degree in music production, and I’m involved with several projects.  When music and wrestling collide, it’s a match made in heaven.  Lots of bands write songs about wrestling (Antiseen etc.) but when wrestlers decide to make music, that is when I get rock hard.  Go find my review of the Macho Man’s rap album to see what I mean….and read the rest of this.  

In 1985 Vince McMahon, ever the marketing genius, decided that he would make an album with all of his talent on it.  It would include entrance music as well as original recordings preformed by the wrestlers.  History is made.

I have not heard this album before.  I have a single from the album of the opening track and everyone knows Hulk Hogan’s “Real American”, but everything else is new to me.  I’m gonna review each tack as I listen to it.  Hopefully I can be witty as I listen.  Doubtful.

1. The Wrestlers - “Land Of 1000 Dances” Here we go.  So this is a cover song…I had no idea that this was the title of this song, and I have no idea who the original artist is.  Every line is sung by different wrestlers.  I can’t recognize most of them, but Jimmy Hart “The Mouth Of The South”, Roddy Piper, Nikolai Volkoff, Freddy Blassie, and Vince McMahon stand out.  This is very upbeat and makes me wanna shake my booty.  I think this is from an era when Roddy Piper was a heel because he is yelling to stop the music at the end.  Oooh there is commentary in between tracks from Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura and Mean Gene Oakerland. This is so good.

2. Junkyard Dog - “Grab Them Cakes”  Okay this is a funky early 80’s dance track. Kind of like a low rent Parliment if they decided to rewrite the song at the end of Spaceballs when they are trying to escape the exploding Mega Maid and then had Junkyard Dog do lead vocals on it.  He has a really interesting voice though.  Its spastic and gruff.  I’m waaay to into this song.  

3. Rick Derringer - “Real American” Oh man.  Hulk’s entrance music.  This song is so fucking cheesy, but seriously, who doesn’t want to blast this from their car while driving on a sidewalk mowing down pedestrians??

4. Jimmy Hart - “Ricky Springfield Eat Your Heart Out”  The Mouth Of The South.  I don’t know what to think of this.  It’s cheesy buttrock about saving his girl from Rick Springfield.  Jimmy Hart can sing though.  Wierd.  This song is painful and I want it to be over.  Now. 

5. Captain Lou Albano - “Captain Lou’s History Of Music/Captain Lou” RIP Captain Lou.  Captain Lou lived in the town I am from, Carmel, NY.  This trap starts with the good Captain explaining to George “The Animal” Steele where music came from.  The song “Captain Lou” was originally written by NRBQ for the good captain, and he was their kayfabe (look it up) manager, before he was Cyndi Lauper’s manager.  This song rocks.  It’s really cheesy and upbeat and tons of wierd dated synth sounds.  And the drums are really heavy.  But its all fun. Next.

6. WWF All Stars - “Hulk Hogan’s Theme”  Don’t really understand the group name, as this is an instrumental.  I was expecting another clusterfuck of every wrestler singing Real American.  A quick wikipedia search has shown me that this was Hulk’s first original entrance music, and it’s pretty sweet.  It would get me pumped to touch sweaty muscle bound dudes in their underwear.  Jesse Ventura’s commentary is great.  He is saying how band all the music is.  

7. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper - “For Everybody” Ok we got some horns, and hard rocking guitars.  Piper needs to concentrate on kicking ass and never sing again.  Fuck.  Someone buy me a copy of “Hell Comes To Frogtown” so I can see some great Piper action.  As bad as this is it’s making me wanna watch that movie.  And “They Live” because it’s the best movie ever.  Wow this song is so bad.  it’s like 80’s James Brown if sang by a wrestler.  Who is white. And was in a movie called “Hell Comes To Frog Town”.

8. Gene Oakerland - “Tutti Frutti”  I’m scared.  Mene Gene is a pretty good singer actually. Doing this song at least.  It’s a pretty good version of the song to. Very fast.  I likes me some fast stuff.  

9. Hillbilly Jim - “Don’t Go Messin With A Country Boy”  Hillbilly Jim needs to be on WWE now.  I would love it. This is like Cotton Eyed Joe if it wasn’t a dance song made by some Scandinavian guys.  I’m digging it.  I want this song to play every time I walk into a room.  

10. Nikolai Volkoff - “Cara Mia”   The last song, and the one I’ve been dreading the most.  God this is terrible.  I don’t even want to type anything I just want it to be over.  Sounds like the theme song for an 80’s romantic comedy if the lead vocal was sang by a Russian that has a minimal grasp of the English language. 

So that’s it.  What a ride.  

-log.

Got a large stack of vinyl in the mail/were given to me today.  Check what I got yo.

Mailorder:

Dais Records: Lord Foul - Demos 1 sided LP, Ghedalia Tazartes - Diasporas LP

Nuclear War Now!: Abigail -The Lord Of Satan diehard edition 2xLP, Bone Awl - Bowing Heads/Sunless Xyggos LP, Necrofago - Brutal Mutilation LP, Winterblut - Leichenstandard LP

Third Man Records - Wanda Jackson - You Know I’m No Good 7”, The Black Belles - What Can I Do 7”, The 5.6.7.8’s - Sho-Jo-Ji 7”, Wanda Jackson - Thunder On The Mountain 7”, Stephen Colbert with The Black Belles - Charlene II (I’m Over You) 7”, The 5.6.7.8’s - Live At Thirdman Records 12”, Jeff The Brotherhood - Live At Thirdman Records 12”

A coworker gave me a box of her uncles old records he didn’t want…expecting a bunch of lame 70’s rock records, I was super stoked to find a box chock full of 80’s metal records! I’m not gonna list them all, but the gems of the bunch were an OP Venom - Black Metal and OP Metallica - Ride The Lightning. 

Some of the bands were: Venom, Saxon, Motohead, Accept, Judas Priest, Manowar, WASP, and Metallica.  Awesome record day.  

Death - “Spiritual Mental Physical” (Drag City 2011)

More late night LP spinning last night.  Commence short reviews blast!

These guys rock.  Like punks before punks.  Demos and shit.  Motherfucks.

-Log. 

Guitar Wolf - “SPACEBATTLESHIPLOVE” (Guitar Wolf Records 2010)

I went and saw Guitar Wolf last month.  Let me say it was quite and experience.  Guitar Wolf (it’s how the guitarist refers to himself in addition to the band name) was so drunk he could barely play their songs. He started the set off by downing an entire PBR before they even played a note. And let’s be honest, I could probably play these songs, and I can’t play guitar. He was also flailing around, throwing monitors left and right, and falling all over himself. It was awesome.

That live energy, really comes through on their records.  This new one is no different.  This album seems to really bring the rock and roll back into the fold in a big way.  While there still is the fast punk songs on here, there is a peppering of 50’s garage rock goodness on the album.  It’s a nice change from my normal loud fast angry music routine to have a slower (yet still noisy, the whole album is overblown) upbeat song or to to enjoy.  

Good stuff.  

-Log.