Love & Rockets 30th Anniversary!

I didn't realize until I read this Slate article on the San Diego Comic Convention, that it is now Love & Rockets' 30th anniversary...

LOS BROS!!



The TCJ's 90's range of 20th Century comics didn't contain any Love & Rockets, but at higher rankings they start to show up. (I really need to resume that series.) Hey look, I used a relevant L&R panel in the TCJ intro/index post. This one:


Arguably the best comic book series of all time, I would almost certainly put it in my personal Top 5. While we're on "Locas" and Jaime, I need that brown La Llorona shirt. And I also found this Hernandez tribute post, part of a 30th celebration series there...

No cartoonist has ever captured the spirit of rock and roll - listening to it, watching it, performing it, defining your life with it - like Jaime Hernandez. Vanishingly few have even come close; most attempts are cringeworthy. Jaime not only nailed the style, and the intensity, and the specific idiom of his punk milieu (the graffito "NO CLASH, SEX PISTOLS OR THE RAMONES IN 1987!" in the panels below is worth more than entire critics' bodies of work), and the nuts-and-bolts stuff like the body language of people playing music on stage, he also chronicled the lives of the characters involved long enough to be basically the only cartoonist ever to explicitly examine what it's like when you grow up and grow older and discover that you no longer look and act and think like someone in the pit at your favorite band's show.

Right on! ИARDCORE!!



Whereas Jaime's artwork is simply amazing and his story-telling is really, really good (punk rock love in the barrio), his brother Gilbert's artwork is really very good with completely amazing story-telling (ensemble drama in small-town Latin America).

I'll just steal some info straight from his Fantagraphics page:

"I don't think there's ever been a greater cartooning talent in terms of what he brings the serial comic book form." – The Comics Reporter

"There's no denying that Beto's comics reflect one of the highest peaks the comics medium has yet achieved." – The Onion A.V. Club

Recipient of a 2009 United States Artists Literature Fellowship

More recently, Beto has the kids book The Adventures of Venus (2012), Sloth graphic novel (2006), and the "Fritz Trilogy" (2007-2011). O yeah, and The Naked Cosmos tv series! Wild:




Xaime continues expanding the L&R universe all the way through the God and Science: Return of the Ti-Girls (2012) and Locas II (2009) collections.



Breaking news! Just yesterday, BoingBoing reported that "Fantagraphics will publish comics in digital format." Love and Rockets: New Stories #1-4 are available now through Comixology.

The Fantagraphics announcement was originally made at the San Diego Comic-Con. Full circle.

Tomorrow Morning Outlaw

I'd been waiting to get both of the new tracks in one post... Maybe by the time I hit "GO!"



Beyond the Wizards Sleeve was #1 for 2008 (the inaugural Top 10 list) - and they've provided a right lot of blogfodder since the Astral kicked off. Mainly with their old-timey re-animations, but even with more contemporary source materials.



"Door to Tomorrow" by BTWS, from the new single (2012)

So yeah, a new 12" just this year! Although the release is named after that song, it's actually the B-side. Because "featuring Euros Childs" (and the vocals) made me think they were maybe using authorized samples from some old '70s Greek prog-psych-folk record. But no, Euros Childs was the lead singer for Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - the '90s Welsh prog-psych-folk band.

Here's a Wizards Sleeve-themed podcast I just now discovered. (Having since listened to most of it, I do not recognize the BTWS theme. But it's good!)



"Good Morning" by The Time & Space Machine, from Taste the Lazer (2012)

I was going to mention The Time & Space Machine (#6, 2009) as well. Because that dude is ½ of BTWS. Upcoming single! (more details at YouTube for the vid...)

Pete Fowler video!! Whom you might remember from his prominent involvement with Super Furry Animals, and also from The sounds of Monsterism Island volume one (#3 Repertoire, 2005).



"Outlaw (Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve Re-Animation)" by Real Ones, from Re-Animations, Vol. 1 (2009)

Outlaw!! Here you have the original song (remix) that kicked off this post at the beginning.

Every single thing I know about the Real Ones comes from here. So it would seem: "straight from the hotbed of Bergen, Norway ... the psychedelic folk-pop Real Ones are childhood friends ... have been playing music together since their teenage years... US debut ... the zany joy of The Flaming Lips ... the cocooning otherworldly warmth of alt-country lynchpins Wilco ... the universal thoughts and perspectives of The Band." Okie-dokie!



"Come Hear the Trumpets (Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve Re-Animation)" by Dust Galaxy, from Re-Animations, Vol. 1 (2009)

I could have sworn I was going to post something long ago about Dust Galaxy, but it doesn't seem to have happened yet. So there's that, as well. (Wait, Shawn Lee also did a remix for that 12" single?! You can sample his version & a few others here.)

I think I once had similar plans for Psychemagik too.



Okay, lemme check for BTWS "Black Noise" A-side once again...

Black Noise [Preview] - Beyond The Wizards Sleeve by Beyond The Wizards Sleeve

Guess you'll have to do with a re-post of the preview sample. Sorry.

The Story So Far: Absu #6

O man, what can I say to prepare you for our #6 album of 2011: Absu's non-self-titled Abzu? Their actual self-titled album (Absu) was the #2 Next 10 Metal Album of 2009. They opened for Immortal at the #1 Live Show of last year! (So I will try to avoid covering the same ground as this pre-Immortal show post.)

Absu play an incredibly technical (well, fast) yet incredibly fun & thrashy version of Black Metal. Their lead singer-songwriter doubles as their amazing drummer, and is the only consistent member over 20 years. He calls himself "Proscriptor McGovern." Subject matter covers everything from Celtic military legends to Sumerian occult numerology. And they hail from Plano, TX!!



I haven't really listened to the earliest couple of Death Metal releases from Absu. First there were apparently some seriously-DM 1991 demo's, later released on 7" as The Temples of Offal EP (1992).



"Fantasizing to the Third of the Pagan Vision (Quoth the Sky, Nevermore Act II)" from Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (1993)

Knowledge reigns supreme over nearly everyone, but especially Adam seems to internet explore.

These posts do me so much good - official Absu video from 1993?!?! This is their debut full-length, and the Death Metal's pretty much gone. That's already close enough to thrashy Blackish US extreme metal, not too far from later Absu. (Maybe I'm missing some other early DM material?) Ahhhh, I was forgetting Dolmen, the pre-name-change Absu!



"The Coming of War" from The Sun Of Tiphareth (1995)

This one's the earliest release I actually have - it's really good, although with regional studio production values. Fortunately the drums came out sounding real good! Here's the full album - nice acoustics in the opener (yet another spelling of the eponymous water elemental).

Note the link to Dark Lyrics at YouTube. There's good reasons for that!



"Swords and Leather" from The Third Storm Of Cythrául (1997)

I've heard legend of a 7" single with two of these songs from 1995, but I cannot vouch for that. Nor much really, as I've never owned this record (with shame). True story: I was planning to buy this & one other at the Immortal show, but the previous 5 audiences apparently tore through all the merch for both bands - and ours was the last of the entire tour.

Once again, the entire album is available to stream. The two long-time mainstays are above and "Highland Tyrant Attack."



"Never Blow Out the Eastern Candle" from In The Eyes Of Ioldánach EP (1998)

Awesomest song!! I definitely associate this EP with Tara, because it added to later CD's, and "Manannán" would re-appear as an album cut.



O Tara, who are you?

Tara – Temuir and Temair in Old Irish. In County Meath, this main royal hill of the High Kings was regarded as the Irish capital. The name derived from the goddess Tea, wife of Eremon, the first High King Of Ireland. The ancient sites dates back to 2000 BC and included an intricate complex of fortifications. Five roads anciently led to those provinces, three of which are still discernable. Tara was finally abandoned as the seat of the High Kings in 560 AD, neither cursed nor neglected.

Lemme tell ya, that's the short entry in the Glossary of Lyrical Magick. The long version is under The Third Storm Of Cythrául section.



"A Shield with an Iron Face" from Tara (2001)

Would you like some Black Metal Classics post? Best record! And here is your full-album stream.

After Tara, Absu kinda went to ground, Proscriptor auditioned with Slayer, and everything got quiet.



"The Gold Torques Of Uláid " from Mythological Occult Metal 1991-2001 (2005)

This collection includes rarities like that one, the opening track on the Gummo soundtrack (1998), a handful of live tracks... A little of that early DM material, like "Disembodied," if you're into that kinda stuff. And some covers of bands like Mayhem, Possessed, and Iron Maiden's "Transylvania."

This comp was the other album that I was hoping to buy in San Antonio. I need to get a move on, just order over the internet, etc.



"To the Gallows" from Speeds 'N Spikes, Vol. II (2008)

That there's a Morbid Scream cover from Absu's split 7" with Rumpelstiltskin Grinder. I learned about fellow Planonians Morbid Scream through Encyclopædia Metallum - and the fact that Absu covered them a number of times. "The Coming of War," embedded above for Tiphareth (1995), "Morbid Scream" from Cythrául (1997), and then that newest one. Yet another Morbid Scream song was included on an advance tracklisting for Tara (2001) as well.

The other Absu track was a 'new' original called "Thrashstorms."



After all this time, around here's where I come in - much closer to Absu in 2009, than even to Tara in 2001, much less The Sun of Tiphareth in 1995.



"Amy" from Absu (2009)

With just a split-7", who could be sure if they were truly back? Or maybe just clearing out some archives... But no! Soon came the triumphant return via the awesome self-titled full-length (#2 Metal Next 10, 2009).

Other than Proscriptor, it's an all-new band that sounds rejuvenated. And this record just blasts it out, relentlessly, but like a major raging party of good times. One more? Why not: "Girra's Temple" for ya!



The 2009 s/t record was the first of the trilogy, last year's new one was the 2nd, and we're due a final chapter sometime over the next year or so (Apsu?). Hopefully....



"Night Fire Canonization (live)" from WFMU/Aquarius SXSW 2009 Showcase

Show audio available for download at Free Music Archive!

Keep up with the Absu blog and their official website for stuff like 25 Minute High Quality Live Performance Video (Paris, France - April 2012).

Top 10 post coming soon!

Big Apple Gigs Done Taped

What's consistently awesome is NYCtaper, that's what!



This White Hills gig looks awesome based on the setlist.
"Let the Right One In"? "Polvere di Stelle"??

I really like Ego Sensation's clear lucite bass.



"Aquarian Time" [live 06/24/2012] by Wooden Shjips, Knitting Factory - Brooklyn, NY

Or how about this Wooden Shjips tape? (Matrix style!) Which includes stuff like "We Ask You to Ride", "Motorbike", some other songs, and an encore cover of a Snapper song!

Download the show recordings at the non-song-title links!

News of Absu's

Big news in free Texan Black Metal music via Pitchfork!



"Hall of the Masters" from Adult Swim free singles series (2012)

As if in anticipation of the next Top 10 of 2011 posts (#6), Adult Swim has put out their newest installation of free single downloads. As you might have gathered, it is "Hall of the Masters" by Absu! Straight up free, m'man...

Absu - of Plano Texas. Absu - of #2 Next Ten Metal, 2009!!

Check at bottom for the current season's full schedule.



And while I was checking around the neighborhood, I noticed that Absu's official website is all up & running. Definitely worth checking out!



"Manannán" from In the Eyes of Ioldánach EP (1998)

But I especially want to point out the Glossary, under Lyrical Magick.

Excellent browsing, such as (under Tara):

Absu (Abzu/Apsû) – Although it can sometimes rain hard in southern Mesopotamia, it was anciently believed that springs, wells, streams, rivers, and lakes drew their water from and were replenished from a freshwater ocean, which laid beneath the "Absu" or "Engur." (The salt sea, on the other hand, surrounded the Earth) The Absu was the particular realm and home of the wise Deus Enki (Ea), his wife Damgamalnuna (Damkina), and his mother Nammu, who was also inhabited by a number of creatures subordinate to him. Enki was thought to have occupied the Absu since before the 'creation' of mankind. Absu was also the name of a primal creature, the enthusiast of Tiamat, and when Ea killed Absu, he set up his home on the dead creature's body, whose name was henceforth transferred to Ea's residence. Marduk, Ea's son, was called "the firstborn son of the Absu." Enki's temple at Eridu (Offal) was known as "E-Absu," or "Absu temple." The Underworld, or sometimes classified as Hell, was located even further down, beneath the Absu. Most importantly, it was necessary to cross the Huber River to reach the Underworld and that stream was the Absu to some people. The Underworld was always known to be complete darkness, dusty, and malicious. All the dead, without exception, wander there, thirsting for water and having only dust to eat. Sometimes they were described as naked or clothed with feathered wings like birds.

Aonbharr – Manannán Mac Lir's magical horse that could travel land and sea.

O yeah, and newly added:

"Hall of the Masters"
(Proscriptor)
This song is stimulated by the supplementary material of 777, which includes The Speculum of Apparitions, Visitations of the Great Old Ones and Rites of Transfigurations.

2012 Adult Swim Singles Program:

06-18 Unknown Mortal Orchestra
06-25 The Hives
07-02 Wye Oak
07-09 Absu

07-16 The Field
07-23 Flying Lotus
07-30 Gauntlet Hair
08-06 Wavves
08-13 Com Truise
08-20 Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
08-27 Elite Gymnastics
09-03 Artist to Be Announced
09-10 Death Grips (bonus)

Tadpoles from The Void

Continuing with a new series of posts investigating various artists on the recent For Lee Jackson in Space (2012) compilation.



The third track is the LJ Mix of "Jaded Jean", brought to us by yet another band that I'd otherwise never heard of: Tadpoles! (This time the exclamation point is for exclaiming, not a part of the band name proper...)



From what I can tell, the band was from Hoboken and was active throughout most of the '90s. They put out a few albums, ending up on Camera Obscura as well, even releasing a Best Of collection - check out their Bandcamp.



"Snapper" from Superwhip cassette (1992)

Okay, for some reason I was expecting something noisier. Maybe it was some of the album covers, or "tadpoles" reminded me of Toadies, or maybe just the '90s... But this is straight-up Paisley-shoegaze-alt.POP!

!!!!! I feel privileged to bring you a rare 1988 video "Black Angel" from the super-rare cassette Limousines, Sardines, Dinosaurs.

Hahaha! Actually, it's just from the band's YouTube channel. Ha... kids.

"Race You to the Mustard Patch" from Far Out (1996)

Not too un-groovy, yeah? Quite a bit trippy in such a manner. More guitar heft, more effect layers...



"Percolate" from Smoke Ghost (1998)

This one's the album with the original version of "Jaded Jean" as well. Other than maybe the Best Of, I think I'd start here.



"Sunrise Ocean Bender" from Whirlaway (1999)

Yeah, definitely the later stuff. Or like I say, the Best Of... Use With Headphones Late At Night (2001).

Tadpoles main dude Todd Parker has continued with The Witches, check out what he's got going on at their Bandcamp.

Top 10 Music of 1987

You'd be forgiven if you're not familiar with the Top 10 strategies we have in place. In addition to backtracking year-to-year towards Y2K, I have a randomized schedule of 20th century years, cycling through the last 4 decades (give or take). So the last pre-2000 Top 10 list was 1996's - on August 10th, 2010. And the next one should be some '60s or '70s year, etc...



Hey, I've talked about 1987 before! Not shocking, since it was a great year, especially because I left home & entered college in the middle there. Having lived with many of these records for 25 years, some of them seem like part of my DNA.


#10 Warehouse: Songs and Stories - Hüsker Dü


"Could You Be The One" from Warehouse: Songs and Stories (1987)
"Ice Cold Ice" from Warehouse: Songs and Stories (1987)

Genre - Post-Punk Power-Pop
Unofficial database - thirdav.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/flipyourwig
Location - Minneapolis, MN

Review - Rolling Stone
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

The last hurrah for a hardcore/punk/alternative titan. I heard the single on the radio driving to school (101 KLOL). I saw & met them on this tour, at the Maceba (April 16, 1987: venue/flyer). They were my favorite band leading up to this time (January 5th, 1987). My tastes would change once I left home, but still...

The truth: too many songs, somehow thin & muddy production. It was more pop, they'd lost some edge, but it was still a new album from my top band. And it's got quite a lot of pretty decent stuff, despite the band unraveling at the seams. Here's a whole band discography round-up for the legendary history.

A quick note: pretty close to a 3-way tie (for Last!)... Some of the other major label product from 1987 that I've also enjoyed at times were the Grateful Dead's In the Dark and George Harrison's Cloud Nine. Hitsville!


#9 Berserker EP - Scratch Acid


Entire EP as YouTube playlist
"Flying Houses" from Berserker (1987)

Genre - Weird Noise-Punk
Official/Myspace - myspace.com/sacid
Location - Austin, TX

Review - Mark Prindle
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Touch and Go Records

It just goes by so fast. I never got as entirely deep into this EP as the 2 previous albums, but it does finish the set. And Rey Washam! Whatta drummer extraordinaire. Production is again kinda muffled, but high fidelity was never their bag.

Reunited Scratch Acid put on the #2 Live Show of 2011. 'twas sweet!


#8 Weed Forestin' - Sebadoh (self-released cassette)


"My Own Religion / Ride the Darker Wave" from Weed Forestin' (1987)
"Brand New Day" from Weed Forestin' (1987)

Genre - lo-fi
Official - sebadoh.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/sehbahdough
Location - Westfield, MA

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

The first hurrah... for the soon-to-be-ex-bassist of Dinosaur Jr. And possibly of "lo-fi" as a genre (speaking of fidelity). Whole bunch of pretty amazing home-taped mess. 23 songs that set the mold for early Sebadoh – acoustic guitar, some noise, a ton of pop moves buried deep in the muck. Finishes up with the one-two knock-out of the original versions of "It's So Hard to Fall in Love" and "Brand New Love." Whoa.

Can still by the vinyl edition of the Sentridoh cassette 2012 re-issue.

Also: loobiecore.


#7 Appetite for Destruction - Guns n' Roses


Full album on YouTube
"It's So Easy" from Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Genre - Hard Rock
Official - gunsnroses.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/gunsnroses
Location - L.A., CA

Review - Sputnik Music
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

You might have heard of this album. It's really good! Keeping some of the late-'80s L.A. glam, hardening up the rock, out-sleazing Mötley Crüe, bringing a basic understanding of punk-rock influence, and actually writing a bunch of kick-ass songs. Even a rare vinyl-only hidden bonus track, "Sweet Child O' Mine." Super-limited edition, don't sleep on this one!!

In addition... the original Robt. Wms. cover. Censored!


#6 Breaking No New Ground! EP - Bongwater


"U.S.O." from Breaking No New Ground! (1987)
"4 Sticks" [live on tv] from Breaking No New Ground! (1987)

Genre - Druggy Independent Psychedelic Pop Music & Cover Tunes
Kramer official - kramershimmy.com/
Location - N.Y.C., NY

Review - Trouser Press
Download - others on Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Box of Bongwater

The Beatles... Led Zeppelin... The Moody Blues? Sure, why not?! It's ½ covers, ½ originals when they were better at doing the covers. In my opinion, early Bongwater represented some of the most starkly original super-derivative music ever.


#5 The Perfect Prescription - Spacemen 3


Full album on YouTube
"Ecstasy Symphony" [longform video] from The Perfect Prescription (1987)

Genre - Gospel-Drones
Official/Myspace - myspace.com/spacemen3
Location - Rugby, England

Review - Drowned in Sound
Purchase - Amazon / Fire Records

If you like that wipe-out drone-rock, get in on this action. Obviously a lot of guitars, but also some gospelly organ waves, not so much drums (them not being a very drone-y instrument). Plus a big single that was a Red Krayola cover. I'd like to know exactly when/if Lou Reed first learned about/heard "Ode to Street Hassle" and what his reaction was. All of it. I like to think I don't overuse the word, but this record is COOL, man.

I've never had the "Transparent Radiation" EP (1987), but it includes the Sun Ra-via-MC5 cover "Starship." And the pre-release single for "Walking with Jesus" (1986) had a B-side cover of "Rollercoaster" by the 13th Floor Elevators!!


#4 Songs About Fucking + "He's A Whore" single - Big Black


Full album on YouTube
"Bad Penny" from Songs About Fucking (1987)

Genre - Industrialized Post-Punk
Wikipedia - wikipedia.org/Big_Black
Location - Chicago, IL

Review - Treble Zine
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Touch and Go Records

Loud piercing guitars, pummeling bass, battering drum machine, some cool-jerk spazzing out on the mic. Way to release your grand statement shortly after announcing the break-up! Poke a finger in some eyes. I do lay responsibility with Big Black (Steve Albini) for the relentless '90s wave of topical serial killer & small-town cruelty themes in music. Also the entirety of post-wimpy Ministry’s sound. "He's A Whore" added to later editions of the full-length – awesome 7" sleeve!!

Never heard the Headache EP (also 1987), just remember the poster.


#3 Oh My Gawd!!! ... - The Flaming Lips


"Can't Stop the Spring" from Oh My Gawd!!! (1987)
"Everything's Explodin'" from Oh My Gawd!!! (1987)

Genre - Rock 'n' Roll
Official - flaminglips.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/flaminglips
Location - Oklahoma City, OK

Review - People Magazine
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

Purchased the next day after seeing them in early '88, from Record Exchange, excellent gatefold cover, clear vinyl, and the kinda music I was all-in for. Spindle label calls it "Prescription: Overkill" - intentional?? Also, the album title is punctuated there as Oh My Gawd, The Flaming Lips.

Once you dig the hits, the top-notch keepers are "One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning" (memories!) and "Love Yer Brain" (the message), which proved for certain... something (was going on).

"Ode to C.C. (Part 1)" includes a backwards-masked "Talk Dirty to Me" sample. C.C. [DeVille] is the guitarist for Poison. Look What the Cat Dragged In was also released in 1987. "Can't Exist" and "Thanks to You" were written & sung by drummer Richard English. I always thought it was intentional that the Led Zeppelin song "Thank You" contains the lyrics "Thanks to You" (but not the title phrase), and the Flaming Lips song reverses these.

Don't (ever) forget the big-time discography post!





#2 Locust Abortion Technician, etc. - Butthole Surfers


Locust Abortion Technician (all 33 minutes)
"Flame Grape" from A Texas Trip (1987)
"Boiled Dove" from Smack My Crack (1987)

Genre - Multi-Concept Album Psychedelia
Official - buttholesurfers.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/losbuttholesurfers
Location - Austin, TX

Review - Head Heritage
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - Amazon

Some people put a little too much stock in Locust, as if it was some unprecedented watershed for them Butthole Surfers. Everything since Psychic... Powerless... Another Man’s Sac (1984) had been really good, and they still released a few great albums afterwards. But it’s undoubtedly terrific, if almost short enough to be an EP. Including two versions of "Graveyard," and re-used & manipulated elements for "Hay" and "22 Going on 23" (backwards-maskedness), a chopped version of some South Asian tune, a Black Sabbath pseudo-cover ("DRAG WORMS!"), 2 back-to-back noise rumbles, 30-second guitar ordnance, and also 2 original blues and/or rock songs!! Whooo.

This year included their song from the Smack My Crack comp (which featured Einstürzende Neubauten and Swans), plus two from their own A Texas Trip (along with Daniel Johnston and Stickmen with Rayguns).





#1 Sister - Sonic Youth


"Schizophrenia" from Sister (1987)
"Pipeline/Kill Time" from Sister (1987)

Genre - Post-No-Wave Indie-Skronk
Official - sonicyouth.com/
Myspace - myspace.com/sonicyouth
Location - Manhattan, USA

Review - Treble Zine
Download - Amazon, iTunes
Purchase - from Sonic Youth

A lot of people would flip the order of my Top Two's from 1987 and from 1988 - but I will defend my decision in separate, upcoming posts. In the meantime, here’s a rare "Sanctity" promo (with audio issues)! Also, more album art controversy cover-ups: à la Richard Avedon & Disney!!