Rockin' Rollin' Bitches

I've been so immersed in West Coast folk-rock that I forgot my heart still lies with the trash, and the best shitstorm I've heard in ages comes from a cheap cd I bought from Big Neck from the infamous Tunnel of Love, called Rockin' Rollin' Bitches, apparently recorded in 2002 on a four-track in their practice space before it burned down. Believe me, that sounds as unappealing to me as it does to you, but this is shockingly great. Pussy Galore sound and Oblivians' hooks, and as stupid as that sounds in the comparison department, the music is pure gold. Rock n roll from kooks too weird to write generic riffs. Big visceral action here, and this from a guy who's reading a Beach Boys biography after I finish typing this. Yea, we're all getting old, but this will remind you of practice space madness and why primitive used to be an OK word.

What losers look like!

Health care is going to get passed! Cohan announces the W's are for sale! What a day!

I've Had It

"In this sad room
In this dark gloom
We live like beasts."

The great J.P. Donleavy wrote that, and with the Sharks in free fall, my first day bracket in shambles, Alex Chilton in the grave, and my patience in the shop, it's time to head for Scottsdale and the sanctuary of a spring desert. Rock hard, cuz I've had it.

RIP

God damn it

There's a Hardcore Light That Will Never Go Out...

I bought some records last week, and I feel compelled to tell you about them. And go check out Beer Revolution on 3rd St. I want it to last.

Direct Control- You're Controlled- raging hardcore I'm not bored with after thirty seconds. A few generic, too-speedy-to-care moments, but most of it serves the anger need. Tighter than a Dutchman come bill time, too.

The Smiths- The Queen is Dead- masterpiece? Time has made them more singular and highlighted their particular qualities more than the haters will ever admit. If you loathe Morrissey and are still working through your daddy issues, I suppose that's understandable, but now you know how Joan of Arc felt...

Spacemen 3- Performance- and live at the Melkweg, so a touch of the second home permeates the proceedings. These S3 reissues are a very good thing, and I plan on collecting all of them, just as soon as I can find the buggers. I listened to Sound of Confusion on the ipod the other day and filching never sounded so good. Didn't Brother JT say twenty years ago we've heard it all before and only sound mattered? John Terlesky is our prophet, and Spacemen 3 are his proof.

Pierced Arrows-Descending Shadows- in which our favorite backwoods grandparents finally let somebody else do some work (Vice, in this case) and only Tim Yohannon's ghost raises a fuss. Too early to tell but not a terribly promising three listenings. We'll see.

Tyrades- S/T- man I missed the pooch on these folks, probably dismissing them because I hate chick punk singers and this had cacophony written all over it. Wrong, wrong and wrong again. This has the urgency too often lacking in most new p-rock, but more importantly, these folks know you have to build the tension before you explode. Some guys call that dynamics, and you can call it what you will, but this is the biggest first-listen surprise I've had in a very long time. I know how much that means to you.

Static Static- Psychic Eyes- apparently, members of this band are rotting in an Arizona jail, busted for holding on the highway. Who knows-the Internet is the medium of unreliable messengers. I can't comment on the allegations, but here's to the sounds they made, for this gets organ-punk right, blending the guitar and organ with just the right balance into a repetitive drone groove that encourages dancing and nodding in equal measure, depending on your most recent ingestion. I think I'll go for mine...

What do you love?

Off to Scottsdale....

I will be in the sun slurping cold ones the next 4 days. My man Barry will be very familiar with me after I get done riding his ass everyday from the cheap seats. Think I might introduce myself to Audrey Huff and Aaron Rowan, too. Plenty of posts coming your way.