Playlist-time: I've been kinda reluctant in posting any playlists in recent weeks as my tastes have been all over the place, making it difficult to post something, even slightly, coherent. But then again I figured what the f***. So here goes:
Once again I've come under the spell of Lee Perry, Jamaica's maverick producer. I have no idea how many records I have here at HQ carrying his name, but believe you/me, it's number borders on the obsessive. I still clearly remember hearing Bucky Skank on the radio somewhere in the early days of 1980, and the sigh of relief from the girl in the local record store, after I'd listened to The Upsetter Collection several times and finally decided to actually purchase the damn thing, I just couldn't make up my mind about actually liking this weird stuff. Suffice to say it grew on me, and it still holds up as the perfect introduction to Perry's work IMHO. On the other end of the spectrum I was able to pick up a mono copy of Dylan's Blonde On Blonde for just one Euro. My old stereo copy was send off UFO-style outta the window upon hearin' this thing as it was originally intended. Amazing!... Otis Rush's recordings for the Cobra label are among my all-time blues favorites, but if you don't trust me check Bang's take on the disc in Psychotic Reactions. Then there's James Carr, easily my fave soul singer ever! Up there with O.V. Wright. Ace Records has a handful of CDs available that are beyond believe. You wanna talk deep soul? this goes way down. What with temperatures reaching tropical levels already at the start of May, I've also took out the old Creation Rockers series on Trojan, six discs that guided my way into the appreciation of Jamaican music way back when. From upbeat Ska to the coolest Rocksteady and heavyweight dub, these six footlongs never fail to astound. Anybody out there remember the Sorrows? Not talkin' about the UK Take A Heart beatsters, but the US variety of late 70s vintage. Apparently an off-shoot of the Poppees, their first LP on CBS is a long lost powerpop gem. Skinny ties optional. So there it is. Throw in some mid 80s (pre-"gangsta") rap, Big Star and BOC, and you've got a stew brewin' that professional critics would call "eclectic". Me, I'm just lappin' it up. Over 'n out, 'till next time...

LINK: an interview with Legs McNeil on his recent (and essential!) book The Other Hollywood. (c/o Jan Kooi).

The Goner Records forum threw up some interesting stuff recently (you need to scroll down a bit before things take off.

I'm not sure this bloody blog thing is working properly today. I keep getting a "there were errors" message. Don't I flamin' know it!... However, anyone in the vicinity of this fine night of punk rock action out there in Germany might like to get their tail along to pogo the pain away...

Tomorrow, there's a free Teenage Fanclub cd coming with SOS and I'm happy to pick up copies for NBT readers ouside the UK (or even Scotland) who might be interested. Let me know between now and noon on Sunday and I'll get it sorted for you...

"On Sunday 1st May, "Scotland on Sunday" will be giving away a six song CD of new and previously unreleased material, recorded by us, at various times over the last (gulp!) fourteen years. All you have to do to get your hands on one these babies, is buy the paper. Track one "Slow fade" is taken from our new album "man-made". track two is an alternative version of "I need direction". Track three is a new Gerard song called "Please stay". track four is an alternative version of "The world'll be OK". Track five is a version of "Todd Rundgren's" "I saw the light" recorded for, but not included in the soundtrack of the 1991 movie "Buffy the vampire slayer" (honestly!). Track six is "Same place, Different place" previously available as part of a limited edition "Twisted nerve" 7" single. You also get a voucher which entitles you to a £2.00 discount, if you buy the record at Fopp. There's also an interview inside the magazine section."

Yeah, this hasn’t been the best of weeks. I spent much of it expecting to be “offed” in a wave of redundancies that are taking place in my workplace. I have a number of reasons for expecting to be a casualty a little down the line but for now my bacon is still in employment. I can still fund my habit(s) for now. The bigger picture and ramifications of this remain to be pondered and indeed borne out but it hasn’t been an altogether pleasant experience. Thanks to all for the positive hollers and support, I shall wear it always.

Of course, the mood was not enhanced at the discovery of the great Hasil Adkins having left this mortal coil. Presumably as a result of the hit and run that was reported a short time ago. People often talk about being “one of a kind” but this guy was Prime. The like of which will never be seen again. They simply don’t make them like The Haze anymore.

Anyway, it’s a long weekend so let’s savour it. We’re heading for the TripTych event in Glasgow curated by those fine people at the Geographic imprint. Mahar Shahal Haz Baz are playing and so are the Television Personalities amongst others. It will be an event of great DIY cultural significance bringing together strands from places beyond pigeonhole. Mr Ulf is here from Sweden to worship at the altar of this Special Church and also to scout for Bill Wells records at Monorail Music.

Tomorrow afternoon (Sunday), BMX Bandits will be on a bill with Tony Christie in Falkirk. I have no further information at this point but expect some fireworks.

So that’s yer whack for now. I woke up this morning as usual but had slept in but for once that’s OK. Just so long as that doesn’t become a habit too.

Cool new MP3 blog: Sex Kittens Compare Scratches...

I'm hoping that this isn't true....

HASIL ADKINS HAS PASSED AWAY -April 26 2005

Yep, That's right... Hasil is gone... I received a call from a close friend of Hasil tonight... I think I knew it before he told me... Some of you may know that Hasil was in an accident some time last week...Doctors said he was OK...I had been trying to reach him to see if he was alright and to wish him well... Each time all I was able to reach was his answering machine... More news will be posted as it comes"

from Bloodshot Bill's Website, info from nimereht via Staysick

Update at 8.34pm... Mike McEchron supplied THIS... Haze has rattled and hunched off to the other side...



Photo from NORTON website

Hello Friend,
Can't we all use a bit of help now and then? Well, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. is no different (okay, so maybe we're just a little different) and so, this Thursday, April 28th, we'll be joined on the stage of Otto's Shrunken Head by our returning special guest, Miss Heather Allison. Heather's helping -- won't you?

Sincerely,
Michael

"Ballads, Boogies & Blues"

THURSDAY, APRIL 28th / OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD / 538 East 14th Street (just west of Avenue B), Manhattan / Two BIG shows, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp / No cover!

NBTers in Italy are advised to look out for a forthcoming guide to Garage Rock by Alessandro Bonini and Emanuele Tamagnini. Featuring 150 artists over four decades of fuzz'n'farfisa merriment.

Here's a message from Jorg who runs ramones.de. He needs our support...

"In a letter dated April 7th 2005, the Warner Music Group Germany told me to give the Internet domain “Ramones.de” to them within 2(!) weeks. Otherwise there will be juridical steps, which will cost me a lot of money... Their explanation is that only they “have the only right to use the name of the band and their pictures...”.

For now I said NO. It’s up to Warner to give a reaction now...

Ramones.de is an uncommercial Fansite, where for example a couple of crazy
german Followers of the Band, who had the luck to meet them in persona many times, write about their... experiences... we did an official Fanzine in 1994, an authorized Fan-Sampler in 1999, and Tribute-Concerts and Festivals to honour them in 1994,1996,1999 and 2004 so far. This german “Ramones-Thing” is even known under the name “Loudmouth!” cause we originally named the Fanzine this way. It all was authorized by the members at that time in 1993 and by Dee Dee Ramone (the originally bass player) in 1994. None of us ever will forget when Johnny said, “if someone should do it, these crazy german followers must do it!”.

In fact, we think, the big Media tycoon WEA is afraid of our Site. But why?

Cause the people who visit us will never buy any Ramones-Stuff... Bullshit! They will... so we should be „good“ for the WEA because of our kinda Promotion for the Band, Promotion by the WEA was missed here especially in Europe over all the Decades the Band were active- that’s only as a Side comment! But now as the Ramones (and that’s a good thing) are having a kinda “Boom” over here, it explains this WEA-Reaction. A very late one indeed... the Site was registered by a fan in 1996, who gave it to us in 2002, not for money, just because to support us. None of us knows what to do now... fighting against the Tycoon? That’s a very expensive thing... and because of the unclear law in germany, no one knows what the result will be.

There is a chance, cause we have this relationship with the band.

And what will be the next step of WEA... forbidding any Website to publish the name
“Ramones” in it... and pics... forbid Cover bands... that’s all BAD WORK AGAINST the Ramones, isn’t it!? And what about any other Band’s Fan sites....."

This isn't on and is somewhat typical in these greed fueled times. As the campaign mounts, we'll keep you posted.

The Sack-O'-Woes have been added at the last minute as a support-act to the Killers show this Tuesday at the Melkweg in amsterdam.

So I guess that some kinda catching up has been achieved. Plenty for you folks to get your trigger fingers clicking on. Let's face it, that's more fun than what you probably oughtta be doing. particularly if you're reading this at work.

Uh, oh - there goes that foul four letter word. I apologise profusely for using it before the adult watershed but I always get the meechs (pronounced like the ch in och aye) by this time on a Sunday. A mild form of depression brought upon by the prospect of Monday being way too close for comfort. Actually, the act of just going over the doorstep these days is getting pretty difficult. Working from home, now there's something that appeals. Doing something that is actually worthwhile, now there's an entire 'nother entchilada. Can a person actually, like, er, do that?

The third Laura Cantrell album, "Humming By The Flowered Vine" will be out on Matador on June 21st. It includes a cracklingly Spectoresque rendition of Emily Spray's "14th Street", Laura's latest tribute to women in country, "California Rose" (about Rose Maddox), an unreleased Lucinda Williams song "Letters" and a cover of Wynn Stewart's "Wishful Thinking" among its 10 tracks. As previously mentioned she will also be doing shows with Lucinda during the summer. Prior to that there's a London Show at The Jazz Cafe on June 1st. Here's how it's looking thus far...

wednesday 22nd June - Boston, MA Museum of Fine Arts (with Paul Burch)
thursday 23rd June - Burlington, VT Higher Ground (with Paul Burch)
friday 24th June - Northampton, MA Iron Horse (with Paul Burch)
tuesday 28th June - Arlington, VA Iota (with Paul Burch)

friday 1st July - Atlanta, GA Red Light Cafe (with Paul Burch)
monday 4th July - New York, NY Battery Park (with Yo La Tengo and Stephen Malkmus)
tuesday 19th July - Amsterdam, NL Paradiso (with Lucinda Williams)
wednesday 20th July - Amsterdam, NL Paradiso (with Lucinda Williams)
friday 22th July - London, GB Shepherds Bush Empire (with Lucinda Williams)
tuesday 26th July - Manchester, GB Bridgewater Hall (with Lucinda Williams)
wednesday 27th July - Glasgow, Scotland Carling Academy (with Lucinda Williams)
friday 29th July - Gateshead, GB Sage Arena (with Lucinda Williams)

Just read on the (slightly) updated Boonaraaas site that European Warners have issued a threat to the German Ramones fan site telling them to turn the site over to them. Not sure about the legalities but what I do know is that this is not chuffing on. Another nail in the dirty big coffin that is the industry which surrounds the band "brand" these days. The only crime that the site is guilty of is flying the flag for the band when nobody else gave a rat's ass. Dunno about you but I find this behaviour utterly fucking reprehensible.

The lazy Sunday continues. The pedal will be back to the metal soon enough so let's tackle a couple of items that are not of the fire-breathing r&r variety...



Hobotalk hail from Edinburgh and their latest album "Notes On Sunset" is a mannered set of mature songs. It's not country or pop or instantly pigeonholeable but it should appeal to folks who like the idea of American Music Club with a less volatile vocalist. "Give Your Heart" is like The Pearlfishers ghost-writing a Jimmy Webb song. This will be available in Europe on Glitterhouse and it fits their roster perfectly.



Angel Dean & Sue Garner's Pot Liquor has been out in the US on Diesel Only for some time but has recently been released in Europe by Trocadero in a nifty matt-laminated digipack with booklet. This is dark but uplifting American Folk Music, not Country. Traditional sounding and evocatively recorded to steer it clear of the faux authenticity basket. The way their voices weave out and in one another is faultless. "Dark Sky" is an understated gem which contains the line "You never know for what you wish". That makes at least three of us then.



Essential Americana marks the end of the initial chapter of Spit & Polish Records of Glasgow. Or so it seems. This collection includes songs curated from all of the imprints' releases kicking off with the lassie that made it possible, Ms Laura Cantrell (who incidentally will be opening for Lucinda Williams here in the UK this summer). It also includes Amy Rigby's "Don't Ever Change", a song that will have it's day in due course. Amy Allison's "Hell To Pay" and Tim Carroll's "If I Could, Then I Would" are also here along with material from Paul Burch, Tom Armstrong, John Miller and Steve Young. Bonus tracks include harder to find cuts by Mr Burch and Ms. Cantrell. Not sure exactly what the future holds for Mr Macdonald's next step but he's sure to have a trick or two waiting to rain on down.

The early Sunday morning output of Radio Scotland is a diverse pool. I like it. It bucks the typical talk radio formats and is pretty much news-based. It also, being the Sabbath, has a theological leaning and many beliefs have a platform for discussion. It’s never preachy and some of the angles it throws up indicate that maybe the world isn’t overpopulated by idiots. This morning I heard the expression “audit-ridden” and it struck a chord. It was used in context with the fact that education these days is far too concerned with administration. It’s a symptom that pervades our everyday existence though and is largely the stick that stirs the blame culture soup. Teflon-shouldered diddies use this tickbox type of innate pandering to accounting. Accounting to justify their cowardly existence. Sorry asses that are happy to take their place in the pecking order of life just so long as they don’t have to achieve anything to skip several rungs of that ladder. Qualifications are nothing without common sense and they’re further devalued when arrogance and a deep seated contempt is levelled at individuals who are perhaps just trying to do what they can. Generally, the main factor in all this is greed. An inherent desire to be “bigger” (they're generally fatter for sure) than any such individual deserves to be. There’s a line that says you should be respectful of people on the way up so that they might proffer the same should you find your ass on the way down. I think there’s satisfaction to be had in taking a pop at bullys and charlatans. If only for conscience sake.

RIP - Sir John Mills.

It's a pretty nice day out there today. Bright sunshine but still bloody cold, even outta the shade. So what is that drives those "waterbeds on legs" to start exposing flesh as soon as the ol' sun comes out? I wasn't out for long but just as well that I'm not squeamish. And getting the car top down, what's that all about?? Like I said it's not exactly warm so a wee schlepp will blow away the cobwebs alright and maybe induce a wee bout of pneumonia on the side. But hey, whatever floats that collective boat... but the lardys? A bit of decorum is all one asks.

MY blog activity has taken something of a backseat this past week. Too preoccupied with the bigger picture to concentrate. Same with e-mail. The spectre of unemployment is still looming and somewhat colouring day to day operation. I'm a little burned-out and also tired of bitching about it. Nothing remains to be done other than just see how it plays out. Thanks to those who have expressed concern, I appreciate it and promise to can the kvetching unless things get molto unbearable. And even at that, whatever will be. Sometimes shit happens and with it comes the stink. Stay tuned for more rock'n'roll of every shape and size, irrespective of employment status.

VERY EXPENSIVE PORNO MOVIE are a Slovenian combo who recorded this Dick Director Presents racket in Holland and appear to be based there. This noise cell sounds like the Mahavishnu Orchestra falling down some hardcore stone steps with a few MX80 moves thrown in for good measure. Not for everyone but strangely therapeutic.

There have been a few combos called THE BAGS over the years but Boston's contenders for the title have issue their manifesto. Entitled "Sharpen Your Sticks", this three piece apply a Dictator-ial Spinal Tapness to titles like "Bucket of Blood", "Cavemen Rejoice" and "Me Dumb". It pretty much does what it states on the tin and it rocks in spades. I'm a pushover for this kinda stupid, simple formula. It got me where I am today...



One-time Fuzztone Jordan Tarlow has made an album called Tonebender which recalls a small window in time when a heavy fuzz threatened to engulf the world in the eighties. Similar to the roots rock scare... It was a time of hope when it could well have washed all that horrendous fairlight "rock" offa the sidewalk and down the drain that was actually better than it deserved. Anyways, I wandered away there... this is a heady gothic psychedelic pop opera which includes Dave Vanian and Clem (Elvis Ramone) Burke among the gang responsible. It's like The Herd reconvened by somebody like Julian Cope with some neat twists on pretty standard covers like "Steppin' Stone" and "7 and 7 is". Tonebender sounds remarkably fresh for something which is ostensibly so backward looking.



Similarly constructed from familiar sources but arriving at a sound not entirely contrived is Teri Falini. Her "Sun Under Me" is an energised post-Pixies lollup. Much is made in the blurb about the significance of the lyrics which don't really strike me but the overall airwave-friendly result suggests that Ms Falini is perhaps more deserving of some kinda status than many of today's six-week wonders. "S.U.M." sounds like an album by someone that's out to carve out a career in the thing called rock, however long that might take. It's no Magic Dirt opus but anything that reminds me of that fine Australian combo is ok with me. "Bended Knee" is a perfect 2.01 that would make a primo 7" 45.

Got my mitts on the revitalised SCREECHING WEASEL "BoogadaBoogadaBoogada" and "My Brain Hurts" releases on Asian Man Records. These both sound bigger and fung ass with more vigour than ever due to the process known as Mass Giorgini. Critical punk rock action that'll shake you out of, or focus that mood. For those who still don't know, SW took The "Too Tough To Die" Ramones sound and energised it. Their many albums are being reactivated by Mike Park's AM imprint at a steal of a price so get 'em directly from there.

THE BELLRAYS "The Red, White and Black" is a 2cd set on In-Fidelity and it further confounds me. The second disc, "Australiapithicus" contains five songs which I presume aren't available elsewhere? I don't get The Bellrays. Never have. I know Lisa Kekaula has a great voice but it's always shrouded in what I perceive to be a somewhat soulless punk rock batter. I never had the calling to go see them live either but maybe that's what it would take for things to click.