Archers of Loaf / Small - split 7"

By way of apology for yesterday's flexidisc...

The split single. Is it a way to get people to buy the same two songs they've already bought on the albums? Or is it the way to introduce people to new bands through bands they're already into? Or is it just because you can put two songs that are just SO good on one record? Maybe all three. Definitely the last one in this case. Man, this record is great. 1993 was the year, and these were two of the great indie-rock bands coming out of the South Carolina area at the time, playing two of their best songs.

Eric Bachmann of Archers of Loaf is also the main man in Crooked Fingers, and if you're into this song (off their first album) then you have a WORLD of good music opening up in front of you. There are a load of AoL albums, also the best E.P. ever released ("Archers of Loaf vs The Greatest of All Time"), then about five Crooked Fingers records, plus at least one solo album. Great, great, great stuff. Small became Small 23, and they are also well worth checking out if you're into this. Enjoy the sounds of my teenage years!

1. Archers Of Loaf - Wrong
2. Small - True Zero Hook

Hear!

Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven flexidisc

Ah, the flexidisc. At the same time it's one of the coolest inventions I've ever come across (a free record? On a magazine? No problem!) and one of the worst ideas in the history of man. I've spent about fifteen minutes trying to make the Lunachicks track (first on this disc) play, and it won't - too folded I guess. Anyway, I did manage to get the Dinosaur Jr cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" to record, so if you're into the whole LoFi experience then you might like it! It's a good cover, but the sound is... Well. Like a flexidisc.

And then it fades out at the end! Must have been some kind of promo. Nonsense. Sorry. I'll put something proper up tomorrow by way of apology. Come on - it only cost me 20p.

1. Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven

Here it is.

The Family Cat - Remember What It Is That You Love 7"

Ah, now here's something a little bit special for y'all. 1990's second single from the (in my opinion) criminally underrated Family Cat. I saw these guys supporting several bands in Bristol in my youth, and loved 'em every time. The first two albums are proper, proper indie rock, like you only got in the early '90s. Third album goes a bit more rock, but has some killer tunes on it nonetheless. I'm getting all nostalgic now.

Anyway, both tracks on this record are great. I actually bought the 12" the other day, but haven't got round to ripping (is that what you call it off vinyl?) the second b-side, but it's not all that. Good. But not all that. If you want it then drop me a line and I'll stop being so lazy.

Meanwhile, here is what 1990 sounded like. 20 years ago. 20 years ago...

1. Remember What It Is That You Love
2. Push Comes To Shove

There you go.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew 7"

Well, after the popularity of the Super Furry Animals posts, here's some more Welsh craziness! This was a band I always meant to get more into, but somehow never got past a couple of singles. Have to dig around on Spotify and see if I can find some more...

This single is a good one all round. The a-side's really great, with the Jew's harp putting its mark on indie-rock - a sadly under-used instrument, in my opinion. Except by Leonard Cohen, when it's perhaps sadly over-used at times. The couple of b-sides on here (those were the days) are also good, a slightly more rocking one and a slightly less rocking one. Relaxing, that's the word all round really. Somehow this record fits exactly with its cover. You'll understand.

1. Diamond Dew
2. The Queen Of Georgia
3. Tears In Disguise

It's right here.

Movietone - Useless Landscape / Summer 7"

A bit of a break with the indie-rock theme, but very much still indie in the truest sense of the word. Here's a band on Planet Records ("never knowingly understood", which will mean something to those of you in the UK) from Bristol, and one which I had a tenuous social connection to back in the day. The bass player was also in Flying Saucer Attack, and Matt Elliot (Third Eye Foundation) was either in the band or played live with them. Connected, anyway.

Anyway, they brought out a 7" in 1994 with an absolute killer track on it, called "She Smiled Mandarine Like". Sadly I didn't have the foresight to buy it at the time, and I guess it's not around much any more - vinyl only, see. It appeared again on their first LP, but in a different form.

Enough rambling. This is another 7"-only single, this from 1997. The a-side is really chilled, very relaxing, and without the clarinet noise that characterised a lot of their stuff. The b-side has an awful lot of surface noise, so sorry about that. Just pretend you're listening to John Peel at 2am.

1. Useless Landscape
2. Summer

Understand.

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.