Hello Y'all
No special themes this month just a lot of great new stuff. OK, so maybe a set of Batman related music and of course a nod of the cap to the good folks who take the throne and beat the traps in the late hours. There are some really great beats in the boxes and not all of them breaking necessarily. There is a great 10" by MMR-ADM featuring Malcolm Catto that is really killer and a new full length by the always amazing Baby Charles. I have played the Baby Charles record every day since I got it and you should too.
Some other items (non-vinyl) worth checking out:
TAD - Busted Circuits and Ringing Ears (MVD Visual cat. DR-4544)
Documentary about the best and most powerful band to come out of the North West! All HAIL TAD!
Smithereens (Blue Underground cat. BU1091DVD)
Yes the AMAZING Susan Seidelman movie is out on DVD. I have seen this movie about one thousand times and I hope to see it a thousand more.
A Tribute To Ramones (Columbia cat. CK 86352)
I somehow missed this. Maybe because it may only be on CD. It is worth finding a copy even for just the Tom Waits' "Return of Jackie & Judy." You can find it cheap and it is definitely worth it.
mike watt - spiels of a minuteman (L'oie de cravan copyright 2003)
lyrics, essays, history and images. this is amazing.
A Catalog of Type "Hand Job" by Michael Perry (Princeton Architectural Press)
A friend sent me a copy and I can't put this down. Simply beautiful, hand lettered art for all the right reasons.
Bill and I are being joined by our man Joe this week.
The lights
And the sound
And the rhythm
And the noise
Hit my body
Like a thousand dances
Everyone knows
Where nothing is something
And our lives flash
Before our very eyes
- Flipper
- pat.
Primitive Sound System
VINYL RULES!
"Audio Visual Triumphs and Disasters" - http://primitivesoundsystem.blogspot.com
Primitive Sound System & Bill Dolan
Thursday April 3rd 9PM to Closing
D.C.'s Tavern
505 8th Street
Between Jefferson and Madison
BACK IN BACK
Hoboken, New Jersey
PH: 201-792-5550
http://www.dcstavern.com
http://myspace.com/dcstavern
Just some of the vinyl for your pleasure:
Junior Wells - "Cut My Toenail" b/w "I'm Losing You" (Bright Star cat. 146)
Not sure why I didn't grab one of these long ago but recently picked it up cheap. Junior demands a fine manicure and then grabs his harp and blows baby blows. The percussion and guitar on this makes me think of an Excello session. The cow bell breaks up the straight blues beat with a dink da dink dink at the one and the guitar chatters throughout. Mr Wells is steady and mellow and easily recognizable. This is a an extremely short outing but that doesn't make it any less satisfying. And in teh end just look at his polished tootsies. "I'm Losing You" is just another great example of why Junior Wells is so damn influential. Here he mixes Blues, Pop and even a weird feeling of Garage Rock. The pace is medium even slow at times but it certainly does not drag and is never boring. The band is simple and direct with fantastic drum rolls at the end of each chorus and a sharp guitar sound that rocks away over an almost boogie piano.
Willie Williams - "Wine Headed Woman" b/w "Detroit Blues" (Supreme Records cat. SR-1001 (Taken from the Album "Raw Unpolluted Soul" by Willie Williams SRLP-1001))
This starts as if someone is begging them to not play and they just say, fuck it, let's go! I originally heard Wine Headed Woman, man that is a good title, and tracked it down. MUCH to my surprise this great instrumental was waiting to be heard. More times than not I'll take an instrumental over a vocal track and this is not exception. There is an amazing improvised loose feel to this and it is raw as hell with ringing ride, electric guitar, groooovy bass and crying harmonica. Best to my knowledge Mr. Williams is sitting on the throne and he is certainly allowing the other players center stage. I really enjoy is direct, ringing ride hits that set up his perfect little rolls. I can never get enough of Electric Blues and this is one great example of why. Oh yeah, Wine Headed Woman is pretty great too. I think the vocalist is Willie Williams or at least I assume it is (which probably means I am wrong). The vocalist sounds like he gargles with glass to clear his throat. The band lopes along in a pretty straight Electric Blues groove but it is the beautifully ruined voice of the lead that makes this all so appealing. It will be a coin toss but most likely Detroit Blues will get the nod.
Macon - "Pully Bone" b/w "Ripple Rap" (Capricorn cat. C-8002)
CHICKEN GUITAR! It is ALWAYS a way to suck me in. Nothing says food song to me more than that sound. I start salivating and looking for the Bar-B-Que immediately. I heard this long ago on some comp and it has stuck with me since. Finding one made me SOOO happy and it was right after my birthday and I was wandering through the streets of the Lower East Side with my buddy Stephen. The guitar isn't the only thing that pops open my eyes and ears, there is a BIG organ sound and choppy drums with a heavy hi-hat and slap feel. The melody is simple and repetitive which is part of its greatness. That and the fact that just when you think you are in for another run through the same old same old the bass and drums get low, real low with a perfectly placed soloed out moment. Tasty. The other side is called "Ripple Rap" and sounds familiar or at least like something I have heard else where. Again the Organ, Drums and guitar rule the roost. This has a more Garage meets Meters feel or maybe a little like a heavy side from Bill Black's Combo. I can easily hear this at the end of an action movie. Everyone is smiling but you can't help forget the necks that got snapped and the faces that got slapped and of course the hearts that got broken... see you in the sequel. (This is on Capricorn, does anyone know if this is Bruce Hornsby, it would seem to make sense. I know he had a brother that was in music as well. Is it the brother? Any info is appreciated.)
World War III - "If The Bomb Falls (We're All Together" Pt 1 & 2 (Dee' Os the "Down" Sound cat. D-7194 (from the Album World War III))
Mmmmm that is a tasty guitar building up the tension at the top of this message carrying groove. I LOVE songs like this. Songs with a message whether it be let's get together and work this shit out or you all suck and I am fed up; it's all good and seems to be ultimately positive if not at least eye opening. World War III, which could be one of my favorite names for a band, have a feel for The Temps especially the Whitfield era Motown but yet remain raw enough to not be too polished or too radio friendly. There is a truly haunting guitar that lurks in the back WHALING but hushed as if damned to another dimension. As the horns blare, harmonies glide and the occasional vocal lurches the guitar is just drilling and killing. You will miss it the first time as the sound is layered similar to a Temptations song but this mother goes from the steady wah wah, plucked intro to just pure, crazed, intensity. "This whole world is on a road to destruction; It don't take a genius to make that deduction." Beautiful!
The O'Jays - "I've Got The Groove" (Neptune Records "The Sound of Philadelphia" cat. N-22)
Big, bright and smooth as ice. The O'Jay's have the groove to make you move and I am liking every moment. This is a simple song with not much going on lyrically but there is a good amount of showing off from every other element. Excellent musicianship and vocals are showcased in a fantastic arrangement by Thom Bell and Bobby Martin. The production is big and echoey but allows certain sounds to step out and be noticed as is to be expected from Gamble and Huff. I swear they filled a room with every instrument they could find and then said , OK give us thirty minutes and we will blow you away.
Larry Willis - "Hard To Handle" b/w "Mayibuye" (LL Records (Lenny Lewis Productions) cat. 45-101) (From The LP "A New Kind of Soul"))
"Hey baby hear I am..." But not saying a word. This fantastic cover version comes by way of one of my favorite Groove Merchant artists, the one and only Larry Willis (see also "Inner Crisis" (Groove Merchant cat. GM 514). This version cooks along but is certainly not too fast as to lose the groove or lose its way. At one point you may even think the needle is stuck but it is just the dead on precision of the band. They toss this off almost as if to say there ain't nothing to this pop music thing BUT in the end they came up with something simply brilliant. This could have easily sounded like a Ramsey Lewis or Ray Bryant "side two filler" but there is something inspired in their desire to prove their point. The guitar is out front and keeps it from being too loungey all the while Willis continually raises the intensity of his playing. The only odd thing about the track is it seems the horns may have been cut out of the mix and only dropped in where needed (or at least that is what it sounds like). The horns sound as if they fade in towards the end giving weight to this theory OR Willis was just so on top of his game that he arranged it this way. Regardless it is great. The other side is a just as brilliant version of the Miriam Makeba song "Mayibuye."
Bobby Boseman - "Astrological Soul Train" b/w "Everything Shining Ain't Gold" (Tangerine Records cat. TRC-1028 (white label promo))
For me, train songs are up there with food songs in that I never pass one up or at least give them a listen. This is an odd combo if there ever was; Astrology on a Soul Train. Boseman has a great gravely voice and the band is sharp as hell. I didn't recognize it at first but then I realized I had heard this on a CD comp called "Barnyard Soul" given to me by a friend. Unfortunately being on CD it didn't get many plays. Recently we have been playing more of those evil tin discs around the place so maybe I'll have to dig deeper and see what else is on there. I pulled it because it is on Tangerine and I rarely pass a 45 from the label. Mr. Boseman runs down the signs of the Zodiac as the band burns and turns and we are treated to a barking sax solo. Let's face it he could be reading the menu at White Castle and this would still be a great song. Three minutes of pure Soul party written by the Funky as hell Willard Burton. The other side has a very Arthur Alexander meets Sir Doug feel so this is a two sider with a split personality, similar to both Mr. Alexander and the mighty Sir Doug.
The Stance Brothers - "Roll Call" b/w "The Strong One" (Ricky Tick Records cat. RT017)
Yes this is exactly what it says, the Stance Brothers basically read a list of the greatest drummers of 60's and 70's Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Brazilian, Funk and Soul. The band and the drummer certainly do justice to this precious and hallowed list. Vibes, Percussion, Keyboards and fast handed Drums never dull their point but accentuate it perfectly with a lively groove. The voice is almost robotic but for some reason that is very fitting isn't it. I searched and found this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2tEYLOzsgI As you can see, there are five stars and I agree. Enjoy. Side two is a bit more leaning on the James Brown tip. Not a criticism AT ALL. We are again treated to beautiful Vibes, heavy, busy and spectacular Drumming, thumping Bass and various moans and shouts. Take either side for a spin. This 45 is a personal favorite, may I play it for you?
MMR-ADM featuring Malcolm Catto - No information given... so there.
Wow, Malcolm Catto has become quite the mother fucking monster behind the kit. Basically this is a red vinyl 10" packed into the COOLEST sleeve you have ever seen (or not, some people don't seem to be able to see the drum kit hidden in the optical illusion of the cover) BUT that doesn't even come close to the grooves cut into the delicious red vinyl. Synths and keyboards taunt Mr. Catto as he staves them off with beat after beat. Think Silver Apples with a more modern take but still using the same old equipment... HAHA! TIMING! See, we have all come to expect the break and not be surprised by it. Where the breakbeat was something to be discovered and at times be completely taken off guard by, it is now simply common place... BUT that doesn't mean it still can't be exciting. Mr. Catto goes for broke, yes I meant that, and hits the mark each time by tastefully crafting the setting for each bleep, bloop, hum, bark and whisper the synths can muster. He allows space where needed but seems very aware of his importance. He also instinctively knows when to carry out a groove and not allow the record to become simply snapshots of a jam session. There are only six songs here and each is not one second longer than need be. Side two opens with what I would say is the closet thing to a real song and even that seems lost in time and in some way to consider it a song cheapens the idea and execution. These pieces exist simply to exist. Go here - http://www.dirtydrums.com and be just as confused.
-