BLOG TO COMM

Dang that thing I have to go through called REAL LIFE! Its not only keeping me busier than usual but its keeping me away from my music which really does affect my inner gyroscope ifyaknowaddamean... And considering just how things are hoppity hooperin' 'round here you're sure lucky to be getting this megapost from the outer reaches of Western PA, far from the major hubbub of the various high class hotspots of music and artziness. But hey, ain't that the glory of it all not having to hear about music from someone I'm sure we'd all call downright snobbish (in that sophisticated my shit don't smell and my musical/sociopolitical tastes make me rise above all you peons...the fanzine world of the 80s/90s was FULL of 'em) who've been oh so common since the days when pampered upper class kids developed their superiority complexes that reached to heights previously unimaginable?

Despite the curse of modern day existence I do try to slip some enjoyment into the mix. When I do have the opportunity (usually on a Sunday afternoon) I try to cram as much music into my system as possible, and my reading time has fortunately been extended somewhat beyond my bathroom doodies. I do have a fine line of book reviews to toss your way every so often, though I'd like to do some additional scrutiny on 'em before making these things public (my failing eyesight coupled with increasing brain fogginess does call for more'n just a few spelling and punctuational gaffes [unintentional ones] these days as you might have noticed). Besides, most all of these writeups regard the more comics-oriented portion of this blog and I don't necessarily want BLOG TO COMM to be "fixated" in such a fashion even if I find myself quite content in ogling old drawings of Betty and Veronica in bikinis these days. Maybe that's why I'm going blind.

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Some reader who wishes to remain anonymous remarked in the last post entry's comment section about me not noting the recent passing of one David Thomas aka Crocus Behemoth aka Dr. Science, a person who as most of you know was a looming presence in the history of seventies Cleveland underground rock. Frankly I figured that by the time one of these real-deal posts hit the screens the news of his passing would have been older than Methuselah but since you asked for it well... What can I say but the guy was a complex and dominating figure in the annals of underground rock, a frontman of extreme talent and from what I've heard a man with a personality that really coulda sent the more sensitive amongst us directly to the nearest cliff.

I no doubt about it prefer the man's seventies persona back when Thomas was fronting Rocket From The Tombs and the original Pere Ubu, creating the sort of cataclysm music that made the seventies underground rock era the equal of various late-sixties eruptions that I'm sure at least a few of you readers would be familiar with. And to be about as upfront about it as I can I'm gonna admit that I never did care for the more, er, "sunshine happy" music Thomas produced as we all snuggled into that horrid period for music otherwise known as the squeaky-clean eighties. Sheesh, I find myself pretty much cringing when I hear such Ubu efforts as NEW PICNIC TIME and SONGS OF THE BAILING MAN and yeah, I know that groups have to explore and grow beyond their original parameters as a whole load of useless rock critics would tell us, but the direction that Thomas and the Ubus were heading didn't quite jibe with my own sense of rockist pleasure. But that's my problem being so out of sorts with the times and all and THANK HEAVEN FOR THAT!

Not to say that Thomas totally went full force Pepperland as time went on because I have given some of those later Pere Ubu recordings good write ups. Just check out this blog for a number of examples if you aren't lazy enough to do the googlin'. But when the thrust of the 1964-1981 era of rock creativity waned I did find the man's work somewhat less than enthralling and perhaps even embarrassing considering all of the hope and promise many of us saw in groups such as his. Then again, when 1980 clocked in it seems that just about everybody was making lousy records which might have been bad for my listening experiences but good at least for my bank account.

Maybe I shouldn't be so rough considering this is supposed to be some sort of eulogy (I think)...when Thomas and whatever group he was in back in the seventies cranked out on all cylinders they ranked amongst the best that rock 'n' roll ever had to offer. Maybe I should get the thoughts of the Pedestrians and Wooden Birds (groups I only recall briefly hearing but what I had heard did not exactly please my personal tastes) outta my mind and concentrate on the high energy...the wailing howls that typified Thomas' vocalizing on such trackage as "I'm Never Gonna Kill Myself Again" or the beyond belief intensity of the original "Modern Dance" with Alan Greenblatt's masterful leads (if only he joined Pere Ubu and ditched the idea of linking up with big bux makers Jonah Kolsen's Breathless!). That stuff'll never be matched again and like, I'm thankful that I was alive back when it was up and about 'stead of soak it up long after the plain ol' fact.

Also gotta mention the passing of former Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Take a shit in a sandbox in his memory.

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ANOTHER BLOG TO COMM AI EXCLUSIVE!!! Here's Screamin' Jay Hawkins greeting only a scant few of his 57-plus children on Father's Day:

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A HEFTY BELATED THANK YOU TO TOP CAT JAMES for the bottles of HP Sauce the guy sent me seemingly ages back. I opened the first of 'em just very recently to splatter on top of this Irish mashed potato, cabbage, cheese and bacon (used the fake turkey stuff due to the threat of cardiac clog up) casserole that was so bland that I took the YouTube cook's advice and used the stuff to spice it up so-to-speak. The HP helped a whole lot although the dish could really use something else to make it quite more tasty like some Louisiana Hot Sauce or a pile of sliced pickled jalapeno papers, but it must have been good since I used the entire bottle on the thing. Gotta thank you in a way only I can Top Cat, though I'll need an address first.

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As usual credit goes where credit dues. Bob Forward sent me a lovely bunch of coconuts although I already had a good bunch of what he had sent already which I guess is bad for me but good for Brad Kohler. Paul McGarry and Wade Oberlin did some too, though I'm keeping all of these so no good for Brad.

MX-80 Sound-BETTER THAN LIFE CD-r burn (originally on Feeding Tube Records)

The final outing by longtime underground rock fixture MX-80 Sound sure is good and in fact my fave bit of MX-80 since 1981's CROWD CONTROL. Them 80s/90s/00s MX recs were pretty on-target mind you, but other'n some of those spinoffs like O-Type and Half Life I found them not quite as attention grabbing as the Ralph-era releases were. BETTER THAN LIFE is a pretty close approximation of the group's early-80s sound and feel what with that heavy metal roar (BOC taken to the extremes I wish they would have reached) meets a 70s fusion done with a definitely non-DOWN BEAT demeanor really brings back fond memories of why I liked this group in the first place.

Gotta say that I felt that Rich Stim's narration (as opposed to his talk-singing) wasn't exactly a plus, and not only that but the concentration on various filmic autobio spew was a li'l bit too much of for my tastes even if it was to b expected considering previous trackage such as "Orson". However, Bruce Anderson's guitar is as satisfying as ever and when all of the essential elements get slapped together well, you can bet this tops just about ever other slab of music made by groups that supposedly took some cues from MX-80 and various other 70s/80s trailblazers o'er the years. A joy for these here ears especially after the bombardment I used to get from beyond pallid amerindie alterna-post-whatever I've been subjected to for longer than I care to imagine.

For a swan song it sure is a fond farewell. If I were you I'd drop any horribly negative opinions you have of me and like latch onto a copy or three. Available at all online sites that cater to such a breed of sonic reduction.

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Devo-SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY CD-r burn (originally on Booji Boy Records)

The title's sure tempting me to insert an obvious but still somewhat "funny" joke in this here review but I will refrain. Won't even mention that dirty Angela Lansbury movie of the same name. Actually this 2013 album by one of the first new unto gnu wave aggregations doesn't offend my sensibilities the way too many of these acts who decided to substitute genuine wit for superficial art project glitz had for a longer time than I care to imagine. Actually this ain't bad...some of this is well-written and performed with actual attempts at capturing some sort of rock drive that I would have associated with the various cold wave acts of the seventies like Pere Ubu or Debris, but if there would be anything here that would actually make me was to return to it I've missed it. 

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The Cramps-LIVE AT CLUTCH CARGOS CD-r burn (originally on Stay Sick Records)

So many of these things out there...and frankly I don't mind even if in no way could I afford to latch onto every live Cramps album extant. But if anything this shoulda been legendary live set (which I heard ages back) is probably the first place to go in case you're hankerin' to hear some early-eighties Crampsian escapades. 

As if I had to explain to any of you what transpires on this live '82 effort given your long-standing penchant for fifties/sixties low-fi rock 'n roll that definitely is to sonic vibrations what Shake-a-Puddin' was to food or SUPERCAR was to tee-vee ranch house suburban slob living. The kinda music that makes me wanna hit the local department and look for a Lincoln Futura model kit that comes with airplane glue.

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Chuck Prophet-BROTHER ALDO CD-r burn (originally on Rough Trade Records)

Former Green on Red member seems to be reaching for the New Country Rock brass ring on this 1990 effort but his arms just ain't that long. Sounds like Prophet's more or less trying to become the new Gram Parsons but misses by a mile judging from these tracks which really don't capture the depth and spirit that the former Burrito was deft at. Well, I'll 'fess up to the fact that it's miles ahead of that whole Eagles denim 'n dope scene that seemed to penetrate the karmic consciousness of quite a few people during my own growing up days (even if I gotta admit I dug "Witchy Woman" when it came out which goes to show you what an all-encompassing doof I coulda been! Well, it wasn't that bad but you gotta consider all of the guilt by association the Eagles name continues to dredge up...). 

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Crooks-JUST RELEASED CD-r burn (originally on Blueprint Records)

I'm a guy who didn't even dabble a pinkie toe in the waters of the early-eighties mod revival, so something like these Crooks doesn't hit any particular rockist g-spots on any part of my musical corpus. More of that music that I find interesting in small doses though an entire album gives me one of those spiritual diabetic shocks that needs me to do a good 'nuff detoxing of my system with something quite gnarlier. If you spent them days of yore buying badges out of the pages out of TROUSER PRESS you'll go for this.

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Chris Farlowe-LIVE AT THE BBC 2-CD-r set (originally on Repertoire Records, Germany)

Mixed feelings here, what with the guy's musical moosh seemingly one of those white guys trying to sing like a black guy and fool all the blacks into buying his records before they find out the truth and stop doing it (happened to Frankie Laine). But I gotta say that Farlowe does deliver on some powerful trackage that actually might make you listen up more whilst reading your entire collection of Hot Stuff comics. A nice 'nuff collection of BBC sessions etc. complete with some interesting twixt song interviews, but if I hadda buy this one on my lonesome well...I wouldn't. 

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RADIO NAPALM - ROKY ERICKSON (1947-2019) CD-r burn

Here's some internet radio show thingie that was done up by a guy called Tim Napalm, a name that somehow rings a bell. There's nothing here that probably hasn't graced your ears before but you KNOW that you can listen to all of this over and over and it always will sound fresher than an atomic douching of a menstruating whale. Anyone with the cranium to tune into the blog already knows what a high-class rock 'n roller Roky was and like, telling any of you people about the greatness of this music would be akin to telling any of you people the greatness of ME. I mean ya already know.

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The Collins Kids-THE ROCKIN'EST CD-r burn (originally on Bear Family Records, Germany)

Y'all know that I'm not exactly whatcha'd call as much of a rockabilly follower as I am of other rock 'n roll subgenres 'r whatever the effete snobs call 'em, but that doesn't mean I have to LOATHE it. This brother and cyster team up produced some rather boff sides that say as much about the late-fifties music and fun zeitgeist as any choice tee-vee series or automobile of the day could. Big cyst Lorrie sounds quite, er, MATURE for her mid-teenage years 'n it's no wonder that Rick Nelson took such an interest in her vocal abilities, amongst other things I imagine. Kid brother Larry sure plays his double-necked guitar like a well-honed grownup and, I'm positive, if given the chance woulda made some of those "nostalgia" oriented fifties practitioners seen for over a half-century run home cryin' to their James Dean posters. When I want to hear something other'n the usual other-worldly sounds that have made up a good part of my life its stuff like this that gets the ol' juices squeezed.

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TSUSHIMAGERU CD-r burn (originally on Mojor Records, Japan)

On first listen this reminds me of some 12-inch post-new wavey disc that you'd see listed in them early Rough Trade catalogs, records that were being sold at those exorbitant prices only you rich kids could afford. Played at 78 rpm that is. High-pitched Asian gal sings and rants over a frenetic backdrop of what sounds like circa. 1982 dance music taken to some pretty frightening heights. Surprisingly enough, this 'un's pleasing to the more feral side of one's existence and the best part about it is that TsuShiMaGeRu are a popular 'nuff group and have even acquired what one might call a fan base that I'm sure hangs on their every note and vocal utterance. Never thought anything like that would ever happen again!

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Do yourself a favor for your dad this Father's Day...mainly KILL YOURSELF! If you don't feel like taking my ridiculously juvenile joke to heart you might want to go the safer route and buy him some BLACK TO COMM back issues! Then HE'LL kill you!