Happy Halloween!

Everyone needs to be like this kid for Halloween, I'm sure you've seen this clip from a local news station in Portland a couple years back featuring the kid above, if you haven't- see it here. Love this clip, watch it every Halloween. Here's one of my favorite Halloween tracks by The Frantics, a rad 60's Seattle garage band with the instrumental "Werewolf." This ranks up there with the classic "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Cryptkickers for me, this fuzzy, creepy surf riff and the sounds of a snarlin' Werewolf in the background is perfect for the day of the dead. Now get out there are celebrate the darkness you fuckers...

The Gonn

It's finally Friday, here's a 45 of The Gonn's "Blackout of Gretely" from around '67. Tough, raw and loud fuzzy Iowa garage to get your weekend goin'...

Los Monstruos

Killer mid-60's beat surf jam by Los Monstruos titled "Hey Monstruo." This is coming just in time for Halloween, play this at your shindig and get everybody dancing to this old piece of Guadalajara garage. Heavy beat, chanting Spanish lyrics, and a fuzzy surf guitar from hell...

Les Problemes

Four tracks of rare Frenchy out of sight fuzz by Les Problemes. This was made in '65 with some shitty attitudes probably explaining why it's so good. Enjoy...
Huh!

Blazers!

Goin' old school for the Blazers season opener tonight against those bitch ass Suns. Enjoy and download the smooth old trumpets of yesteryear to listen to over and over again. Go BBBLazers!

Red Fang

Feelin' a tad bit homesick today, nothing to cry about- just a great excuse to post one of Portland's best local bands Red Fang. Every time I hear this fucker it takes me back home, they were just in Austin right down the street at Trophy's and I missed them due to prior bullshit obligations. Their S/T album from last year will fuck your world up, they sound like Sabbath, The Melvins and Motorhead all wrapped into one heavy, fast and punishing album. Check out their rad video for "Prehistoric Dog" filmed in Portland here. For those who were wondering what it was like to live in Portland, this video is a good introduction- heavy alcohol consumption, LARPers, and parks. Oh yeah, did I mention they also did a killer cover of Dust's "Suicide" that could be easily listened to and downloaded below? Enjoy...

Good To Die

Loose Values

Heavy hardcore psych madness from my furls in Portland aptly named Loose Values. This demo "Raging Bullshit" from earlier this year sounds like a massive sonic blunt object hitting you on the head while you're tripping on shitty acid. Hence why I like it so much. Great distorted vocals and guitar combined with some killer drumming by the Wyld Chyld creates the savage beast of Loose Values. "Diddy Mau Diddy," "Transdental Medication" and "Food Porn Illness" make me want to lose it, but they all rip equally. Bout time you assholes come play in Austin ehh? Very stoked to be posting this and keep jammin' my furly friends, now get back to work Drew...
Oxycontin Pizza(We Deliver)

Third Guitar

Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr

The track of all tracks, one of my favorite soul cuts "You Can't Blame Me" by Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr from '71. Have a listen...

James Knight and the Butlers

Here's some Florida swamp funk for ya, James Knight and the Butlers' Black Knight from the early 70's. It's hard to believe this was their one and only album, it's some super tight horn and guitar work with some burning vocals on top. Miami had some dope shit back in the day with artists such as George McCrae and Little Beaver, and this album is no exception. Knight's cover of Aretha Franklin's "Save Me" is one of the highlights, damn that furl is lookin' fly on the cover, enjoy...
Fantasy World

Astral Daze

Really diggin' this compilation of psych out of South Africa I've had for a while now, finally got a chance to sit down and give it a long listen. And holy shit I'm glad I finally did. Astral Daze - Psychedelic South African Rock 1968-1972 contains everything from fuzz, hard and sweeping riffs to all out pure insanity. Check out both tracks by the Freedom Children, especially the one with Dickie Loader called "The Eagle Has Landed." Yes Dickie, the Eagle has definitely landed for you. Also the track "Morning Light" by Tidal Wave has gripped me also, listen to it below. Everything on here is worth a listen...

Blurry Visions

Friday 45's

In a giving mood today, probably because the drank and sunshine is pourin' up and down on me down here in Austin. First is this infectious blue-eyed soul 45 of Miss Chris Clark. This hard drivin' soul burner "Loves Gone Bad" off V.I.P Records from '66 will start any weekend or party off right...



Next is the album Try and Love by Ofege from '73. These five Nigerian kids recorded this when they were in high school which is mind blowing after you hear these 8 tracks of pure fuzzed-out funky afro-rock. This album was just repressed as hasn't hardly been heard in 35 years, apparently this was a huge album in Nigeria back in the day and it's easy to see why. The track "It's Not Easy" is one of the most beautiful tracks I've heard in a long time- Try and Love is easily becoming one of my favorites out of my African fuzz collection. Damn this is good, enjoy...
Try And Love

Lucifer's Friend

Just pulled this one out of the archives and have been crankin' it up all day, the heavy dark mastery of Germany's Lucifer's Friend S/T debut album from '70. One listen below to the first track "Ride In The Sky" and you'll know what I mean. Call it progressive, doom or just straight up heavy metal- it doesn't matter, these guys were on to something back in '70. If you recognize the vocalist and can't quite think of who it is, your probably right- it's John Lawton who later went on to join Uriah Heep in '76. Love me some Heep, "Easy Livin" is the shit. Lucifer's Friend went on to make some pretty shitty albums, but this album has with stood the test of time and is very underrated. Anyway, have a listen and tell me if it's as rad as I think it is. Play loud and enjoy...

Toxic Shadows

Jimmy Castor Bunch

I'm so excited I picked up this 45 the other day for 25 cents I just had to post it. I'm sure y'all have heard this jam before, but just in case you haven't- here's Jimmy Castor Bunch with the jam of all jams "Troglodyte(Cave Man)" from '72. No other explanation needed, just listen...

Friday 45's

TGIF Y'all (That's for all the bubby's in Portland), haven't posted anything on Friday for a while so I've decided to throw in one or two 45's every Friday to mix things up a bit. I have so many 45's laying around or single tracks people hook me up with I need to post them somewhere on a regular basis. First off is a great soul 45 I just picked up in the middle of nowhere southeastern Colorado. Joe Tex is the man, and "I Gotcha" from '72 is one of his best hits...



Next we have the heavy fuzz grizzle riff of this old gem by Glass Sun titled "I Can See The Light" from '69. Been listening to this obscure piece of psychedelia since I picked it up way out in Baker City, Oregon during my drive. Have a good weekend my furls and enjoy...

Charlie Rich

Switching it up with a little country infused soul by none other than Mr. Charlie Rich. This album has always intrigued me due to Charlie's seemingly easy transitions between many forms of music, from country to soul/R&B to jazz, Rich used to do it all. The later titled "Silver Fox" as he came to be known started his career at Sun Records to little avail, he was a session musician for the likes of Johnny Cash and Billy Lee Riley. He made some minor waves after Sun with Smash Records and then wound up on Hi Records in '66 where he made some the best overlooked blue-eyed soul around. This album is a 28 track collection released out of the UK in '00 encompasses all of his work on Hi. This whole album is a killer listen, soul burners such as "Can't Get Right" and the northern soul hit "Love Is After Me" highlight this comp. The last half focuses on his country tracks he recorded on Hi during this stint including a couple Hank Williams covers. All in all a great piece to add to your collection.
Big Time Operator

The Mirrors

Finally back after the move of death, picked up some good old records on the voyage through the desolate parts of the country though. Mostly old outlaw country and a couple surprises, but I saved today's record for my first post after the long hiatus. For the probably five of you who are still attempting to follow this blog, I apologize for the lack of warning I wouldn't be posting for a couple of weeks- now fuck off. Yada,yada- keep sending me music, I'm still here! Moving on, today's post is a recently pressed almost "best of" compilation of Cleveland's The Mirrors on Violet Times Records. I first heard the Mirrors on the classic Cleveland compilation Those Were Different Times released in '97 which was a sampling of three Ohio bands between '73-'76 who would later evolve into the iconic punk and new wave bands such as Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys. These three bands were The Electric Eels, Styrenes, and this band- The Mirrors. The Mirrors instantly gripped me with their jangly, Velvet Underground sound, but the band is way more than that- their slow lo-fi experimental sound grasps everything psych bands since have attempted to emulate. If you don't believe me check out "Annie." For the first time the bulk of their best stuff (they only recorded from '74-75) is captured on the vinyl Something That Would Never Do for our listening enjoyment. Only 800 copies exist apparently, so I suggest picking this up quickly if you like. For those of you in Portland, I did see a copy at Mississippi Records a while back for only $18. It's nice to be back, stay tuned and enjoy...
Cheap and Vulgar