1961 - 71

So Yeah, I've been gone for over a year. Sorry 'bout that, the internet and I just were not around each other enough to pull of blog maintenance. But I am back with an excellent peace offering in the form of a Grand Funk Railroad collection. This is a part of a three part collection, however it is the only one with Mel. The other two are Mark Don and Terry's. This is a amazing example of early proto metal. Straight forward groove orientation, nasty guitar and thumping bass. If you are a James Gang fan this will be right up you're alley, but this stuff actually pre dates TJG and is far, far superior. Make sure and check out their rendition of Eric Burdon's classic "Inside Looking Out"!

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FUK YES!!!

More opera, more organ, more heavy, more heep!!!

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I've never been a huge fan of surf rock, but that never applied to strongly to The Ventures in my eyes. In 1965 when this was recorded most bands seemed to treat their instruments like frail delicate flowers, mostly focusing on vocal performance and 4/4 foot tapping romance bile. The Ventures were one of the first groups to really focus on exploring the extra space that electric instruments provided. Granted the surf rhythms are their to an extent these guys had a couple of genre defying tricks up their coat sleeves that took rock guitar to new levels. Their use of minor chords produced a darker, more melodic sound to the overall chord structures causing a less than sunny feel at times. The upbeat stuff was more of a west coast hat tip to the Memphis sound a decade earlier. But the truth is if you were going to play an electric guitar in front of the Japanese in the 20th century... You best rock. Japanese folks don't put up with neutered rock.


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This is what Mogwai's parents listened to.

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1990's self titled album from The Obsessed is an absolute must for any fan of fine, loud guitar playing, bikers, aspiring bikers, beer drinkers, hell raisers and good people in general. Wino's soulful haggard gnarl and mountain solid rhythm lay a perfect back drop for his vocal mastery and genius song craftsmanship. As a guitar nerd I find his lead skills to be jaw dropping. Most people think of him as just a vocalist due to his tour of duty with Saint Vitus.... But gee dee the man can play, giving a whole new generation of punk kids the nod to grow out their hair smoke dope, turn up and slow down. This album contains early incarnations of what would later be found on 1999's Southern Lord release Incarnate. If you have not heard these guys and your reading this then you must be somehow getting internet under that rock, and I challenge you to CLICK!!! and be blown away. If you have heard them, which I'm sure many to most of you have than I just sound like a pretentious asshole who thinks he's into an obscure band that's really not too awfully obscure amongst certain company.....Geez.... Thanks for making me feel so bad!

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This album catches a lot of shit, most folks don't care for the idea of ZZ Top with keyboards. Well first of all of the synth use is basically for rhythm, the drums are electronic doubled with an actual kit from time to time. Guitar and bass still loud still awesome. This is the little ol' band from Texas trying their hand at early 80's psychedelic hard rock. The car on the cover is the Eliminator... It appears out of no where when dudes are havin bad days at shitty jobs, 18-25 different women climb out of the car... Three dudes appear(two with beards) and give the original dude the keys. The girls kiss all over him and the three mystic bringers of fortune play Sharp Dressed Man. The tracks T.V. Dinners and I got the 6 are worth the ride alone. Quit being an ass an get this!!


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1973

Sorry for the sparce postings... Busy week, weeks, whatever. Or maybe I'm just trying to savor Southern Rock Summer. Anyhoo, today's offering is MTB's first effort. This album captures the hunger of the mid era of Southern Rock. A mixture of blues, blue grass, honkey tonk and sheer country fuled by a steady Memphis rock under current. The mellow tracks are as beautiful as a Carolina sunset and the up beat cuts are fit for the finest barn dances long passed.


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