Another takedown...

Hi all.

Just got a message saying that the very first post I ever put up here has been removed for copyright infringement - it went up over 14 months ago! Anyway, I guess this might be nothing, or it might be that I've come up on someone's radar...

I'll keep going anyway, it's not the first time, but if anyone's keen to keep in touch with whatever might replace this blog if it all goes pear-shaped then email your email to dbfreedom@rocketmail.com.

But maybe all's well. Thanks for looking.

Mudhoney / Gas Huffer split 7"

I don't know anything about this record, really. It's on a German label, it came out sometime in the 90s, and I bought it because I liked (and still like) Mudhoney. What more to add? Well, I don't know who the songs are written by, nor if they're available elsewhere. I also don't know what the Japanese on the cover means. I don't know anything about Gas Huffer either, except that they may have been on Sub Pop. They sound like they were, that's for sure.

So, I don't know anything. But what I do know is that the first chords of the Mudhoney side will take you right back, and the little bit of guitar at the end of the chorus of 'Knife Manual' is superb. I also know that the Gas Huffer cover photo is great. And that Danny out of Withnail & I seems to have joined Mudhoney. Both tracks are fun. Enjoy them.

1. Mudhoney - You Stupid Asshole
2. Gas Huffer - Knife Manual



Record here.

The Nightblooms - Never Dream At All 7"

Here's another discovery thanks to John Peel, way back. This is a Dutch band, and I don't know a lot about them (other than they have a lady singer, and are pretty indie-sounding), although I do have an LP kicking around somewhere. Anyway, this track is so good I went out and bought it the day after hearing it, and got the album a little after. As I say, it's very indie, but all in a good way, and has a killer of a chorus.

The b-side starts with just bass and vocals, and as a bass player I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. It's also well worth a listen - a good single all round, this one. By the way, the spelling mistake on the b-side is theirs, not mine!

1. Never Dream At All
2. It's Allright

There you go.

The Lemonheads - It's All True 10"

Here's a single of two sides, almost literally. The a-side is great, as you may already know; a track off 'Car Button Cloth', and a very good one at that. However, we're here for the b-sides, you and me, and there are some doozies on this 10".

So, 'Fade To Black' is a Metallica cover, and it's alright. Tell you what, though, if you were ever under the impression that the boy Hetfield could write lyrics then Evan's dulcet tones should knock that idea right out of you! 'Live Forever' is the standout b-side here, which also dates the release to the Oasis-loving period of Evan Dando's past. The solo near the end is superb. 'Keep On Loving You' is a truely chaotic cover of the REO Speedwagon track - well worth a listen/laugh, if only to help explain to your kids why drugs are bad...

1. It's All True
2. Fade To Black
3. Live Forever
4. Keep On Loving You

It's all here. And the photo (below) on the back of the record should have been a clue to the content..!

The Kelley Deal 6000 - Canyon 7"

So, a killer combination of knitting and heroin... This is the band that Kelley Deal was in post-Breeders, and pre-Breeders, and also before a band with the singer from Skid Row and the drummer from the Smashing Pumpkins. Weird career. I'm a big fan of her voice, which isn't to everyone's taste I know, but if you're partial to it then you're in for a treat. The single itself is brilliant, and also a grower, which is a winning combination. The b-side is a proper shouty/sing-y number, also great.

Hope you like it. You will, I'm sure. Give it a try...

1. Canyon
2. Get The Writing

Picture this.

Drugstore (featuring Thom Yorke) - El President

Another gap in posts - sorry everyone. But I had a dream last night where the caretaker of a school told me they'd thrown a load of 7"s in a skip, and I could have them if I wanted, so I took that as a sign. See? This thing is getting into my subconscious...

Anyway, this is a great track. As the title says, it's a duet between the wonderfully named Isabel Monteiro and the wonderfully voiced Thom Yorke. The a-side is great, and is genuinely a good duet, rather than a novelty track, and the b-side is also well worth a listen - more typical of their songs, I think.

I thought I didn't really know any more Drugstore stuff, but had a vague feeling that I used to like them when they were around. However, looking at the track-listing of their first LP ('Drugstore'), there's loads of great tunes! They had two more after that, and this track is off their 1998 album 'White Magic For Lovers'. Apparently they've just reformed, along with every other band who split between 1995 and 1998.

It's on blue vinyl, and I played it a fair bit back in the day, which is a winning combination if you like surface noise. But then if you didn't, you wouldn't be here.

Here he is.

Three Colours Red - This Is My Hollywood 7"

Here, my friends, is a band putting the rock into indie-rock. Maybe even the ROCK! This is proper sub-three minute guitar fun, and to add a little something to this post it's the first release of this single, which was their first, on the Fierce Panda label. After this record they ended up signed to Creation, and apparently then went by the name "3 Colours Red". But ha! Here's the proof you've been looking for all this time to settle the argument with that floppy-haired mate who was into Marion too. "Three" it was, back in the day.

Fierce Panda, eh? Great name for a label, and a great label. I have a couple of 7" compilations they put out, which I'll try to dig up. I also bought their 7" release of a fight between Liam and Noel Gallagher, called "Wibbling Rivalry", which I remember being very funny. If I can find it, I'll up it.

Meanwhile, though, this is a proper jump-around-the-room record. Stick it on, stick it up, and pretend you're 16 again.

1. This Is My Hollywood
2. Hate Slick

Reet here.

Marion - Sleep 7"

I can't tell you an awful lot about this band, except that one of the guitarists is now in Bernard Sumner's new band. I'm sure that either Wikipedia or one of your mates who used to have that sort of floppy hair will be able to let you know more...

What I can tell you, however, is that they released one of the finest singles of the era, and I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that. It has everything, great intro, harmonica riff, killer indie-rock bassline. Brilliant. If you were listening to the radio any time in the mid-'90s you will probably recognise it, and if you've not heard it before you're in for a real treat. Love it. And, on top of all that, the b-side's really good too (in a Suede kind of a stylee), and it's on orange vinyl! What more could you ask for? Except fewer crackles. But it has been played a lot.

Hope you like it. I appear to have paid 99p for it back in the day, and that, my friend, is a bargain.

1. Sleep
2. Waiting For No-One

Hear it.

Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A Fuck 12"

By way of yet another apology for being a bit slack, here's a special request. The 12" version of this magnificent SFA single, which apparently has some exclusive remixes. The single itself should need no introduction, but it's a proper sing-along bit of cussin', and very well worth a listen if you've not heard it before/for a while. It's dedicated to Robin Friday, a legendary Cardiff City footballer, in action (to an extent) here.

The b-sides are very much from the SFA era of having their own rave tank which I remember being confused by at Reading one year. If that's your taste, then you'll be right into these. And if you're into Howard Marks you might be interested. For me, it's all about the a-side to this one, but it's an a-side which you should have.

1. The Man Don't Give A Fuck
2. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Howard Marks Mix)
3. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Wishmountain Mix)
4. The Man Don't Give A Fuck (Darren Price "Mix")

Yma.

Pizzicato Five - Mon Amour Tokyo 7"

So, do you know these guys? If you do, then this won't come as any surprise. If you don't, well, now that the spring is here (for one day only) and the daffodils are coming out, it's time to stick the b-side to this record on loud and open all your windows. If 'Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond' doesn't have you simultaneously bopping, giggling and wondering what the hell's going on then you're a hard, hard man/woman to please.

Japanese, on Matador, from 1993. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the sound of Pizzicato Five?

1. Mon Amour Tokyo
2. Twiggy Twiggy/Twiggy vs James Bond

此処.