Top 10 of 2012 Archival / Re-Releases / Soundtracks / Compilations / Live / Misc...

This list was a little difficult, but necessary - a very strong year in this consolidated pseudo-category. I couldn't quite get to 10 runner-up's like in the Main 10, but some real decent stuff didn't make the cut.


#10 Thunderbeam OST - Octopus Project

"Thunderbeam Theme Song" from Thunderbeam OST (2012)
"The Enlightened Masters (Thunderbeam Finale)" from Thunderbeam OST (2012)

Genre - Electro Sci-Fi Soundtrack
Official - theoctopusproject.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/theoctopusproject
Location - Austin, TX

Review - Too exclusive...
Download/Purchase - I think Kickstarter has ended...

I think our first Octopus Project in the lists. This will supposedly be the soundtrack to a Wiley Wiggins-related old-school sci-fi adventure game for iPad. And the music was one of the Kickstarter rewards... Well worth the donation, and the game looks like it should be cool too.


#9 15 Mai 2011: Live at Golden Pudel Club - Demdike Stare


Demdike Stare live in NYC (Boiler Room, 2012)
Demdike Stare live in L.A (Los Globos, 2012)
"demdike stare @pudel_15 05 11.mov" (15 Mai 2011??)

Genre - Hauntological Live-DJ's Set
Official/Myspace - myspace.com/pookawig
Location - Lancashire, UK

Review - Boomkat??
Purchase - Hanseplatte Shop

Demdike Stare have been doing quite a few live shows over the last couple of years. This one seems fairly typical for that, and I'm little surprised it's still available for Purchase. Definitely more of one for the super-fan. If you're just starting your explorations, I'd begin with either Tryptych (#8, 2010) or Elemental (#4, 2012).


#8 "Dark Star" RSD 12" (Paris '72) - Grateful Dead

"Dark Star (live)" [excerpt] from Paris, France (4 Mai 1972)
"Dark Star (live)" from Rotterdam, Holland (11 Mai 1972)

Genre - Ur-Jamband's Ur-Jam
Official - dead.net/
Myspace - myspace.com/gratefuldead
Location - San Francisco, CA

Review - Too exclusive...
Purchase - So far, only at Record Store Day...

Uhhh, it's "Dark Star" from the Europe '72 (#1, 1972) tour, on vinyl, for Record Store Day... yeah!


#7 ... and Heady Fwends [RSD] - The Flaming Lips + V/A

"Supermoon Made Me Want to Pee" with Prefuse 73, from...
"2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)" with Ke$ha, from...
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" with Erykah Badu, from The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (2012)

Genre - Collaborative Insanity
Official - flaminglips.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/flaminglips
Location - Oklahoma City, OK

Review - The Quietus
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

I dunno... I consider this a pretty cool idea, not so sure about a large swath of the guests, and a lot of the songs don't really jump out at me. But I'm glad they made it, I'm glad I got it, and sometimes I'll put it on & try to figure out what the hell is going on. I do wonder if the Lips have completely moved on from making any future normal-style records, though.


#6 The Reverb Conspiracy, Vol. 1 - V/A

"Ever" by Orange Revival, from ...
"Hello I Know The Blow You Grow Is Magic" by The Wands, from...
"Kundalini Eyes" by Dead Skeletons, from The Reverb Conspiracy, Vol. 1 (2012)

Genre - Euro-Garage-Psych
Review - Fault Magazine
Download/Purchase - USA (RevAppSoc), Euro (FuzzClub)

I knew very few of these bands before pre-ordering it, based purely on the Austin Psych Fest / Reverberation Appreciation Society role. Not all are my absolute favorites, but I really go for the focused-exploration comps (even if the scene is, like, "Europe"). I can definitely see myself picking out a few of the bands & digging deeper at some point.


#5 Live at The Continental Club - Pong


"Interpol" from Live at The Continental Club (2012)

Genre - Party-Down Space Rock... Live!!
Official - pongsongs.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/pongpongpong
Location - Austin, TX

Review - The Austin Chronicle
Purchase - The Rock Garage

I do like Pong (#3, 2010 and #1, 2005)!! This is the best (official) live bootleg that I have of them, sound quality-wise. Setlist-wise, it missed by a couple of years that sweet spot where all of the albums contributed to the mix. Why, I've got a 2004 set with "Neil," "Blues Underground" and "Bubble Jungle!" Just kidding... this is awesome.


#4 For Lee Jackson in Space - V/A

"Sungazer" by when the word was (((sound))), from...
"Combat Shock (It's Only A Matter Of Time)" by Doleful Lions, from For Lee Jackson in Space (2012)

Genre - Lots of them...
Official - forleejacksoninspace.bandcamp.com/
Location - All over the World...

Review - Foxy Digitalis
Download - Bandcamp only

So great & so diverse that I'm doing a track-by-track series of artist overview posts. Many luminaries of the psych-folk-noise-pop axis contribute exclusive (and good) tracks for the comp, which benefits Texas ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). 94 tracks, 11½ hours, check it out!


#3 Assault on The Vault of The Ancient Bonglords - The Linüs Pauling Quartet

"The Colour out of Space" from Killing You with Rock (1998)
"Alien Abduction" from All Things Are Light (2007)

Genre - Heavy Stoner Psych-Metal Rock-core
Official - worshipguitars.org/LP4/
Myspace - myspace.com/linuspaulingquartet
Location - Houston, TX

Review - Surviving The Golden Age
Download/Purchase - Ltd. Ed.: 55-100 (Make it to the shows!!)

3xCD career retrospective from "probably my favorite active hometown heroes." Some super-fan might quibble (more rarities! less debut!)... To which others might argue, "Shut up, their debut was your #9 album of 1995... Idiot!"


#2 The Lost Tapes - CAN


"Millionenspiel" from The Lost Tapes (2012)
"Barnacles" from The Lost Tapes (2012)

Genre - Krautjazzprogjam
Official - spoonrecords.com/
Location - Köln, Germany

Review - Prefix Mag
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

Let's see... Can? The #4 of 1972, #1 of 1973 and #2 of 1974 Can? O yeah, a 3xCD collection of unreleased outtakes, alternates, and demo's might rank among the best repertoire releases of the year. Probably... What an awesome band!


#1 The Disintegration Loops box set - William Basinski

Trailer for TRL Disintegration Loops box set (2012)
"d|p 3" from The Disintegration Loops II (2003)
"d|p 1.3" from The Disintegration Loops IV (2003)

Genre - Classico-Ambient Tape-Loop Music
Official - mmlxii.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/williambasinski
Location - New York

Review - Pitchfork
Download Wm. Basinski - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase box-set - Temporary Residence Ltd.

I'm VERY glad I went ahead and ordered this. Although expensive, I'm also surprised that this one is still up for grabs. Extra-deluxe package, with a book, DVD, unreleased live versions of some loops, first & only ever vinyl edition (with CD's). And the music really is everything you could want from this kind of thing. Really top-notch all the way around. Take the plunge!



Thunderbeam!!