Elizabeth Montgomery's Face [1981]
One of those great "lost bands", "unknown legends" or "best band you never heard" bands. I mean when that comp cd came out in the 90s they really were unknown and I guess are still to some extent. Can you be forgotten if you weren't known in the first place...
This tune's new wave of the quirky, dark and jangly kind. 60s telly is iconic and emblazoned on my mind. Get Smart, I Dream Of Jeanie, Gilligan's Island, Bewitched etc. Get your knobs out boys.
Elizabeth Montgomery's Fa-a-ace!
Shoulda gone to number one in Canadia at least!
Patio Set [1980]
Punky post-punk, punky new wave, new wave-y post-punk etc etc etc. This was the debut single from Wichita Kansas' finest The Embarrassment. Dark, menacing, weird and kinda fun!
I'm A Don Juan [1981]
Supreme high octane riff-age and supreme frantic psych riff-age on this one with hooks galore. Surprisingly unique. Totally cookin manic pop thrills!
Celebrity Art Party [1981]
This one might be the best pop moment. They jangled, they angular-ed, they menaced, they dual vocal-ed, they toe-tapped, they rocked, they popped! Infectious tight blistering pop.
Drive Me To The Park [1983]
A crackin' tune from their second ep Death Travels West. If this had been on a major label or big indie imprint it would have surely been a smash but it was released on Fresh Sounds who were based in Lawrence Kansas.
Two Cars [198?]
Alright one more... A brief angular song. Very cool dual vocal with talk-singing, the sorta stylistic choice taken on ten years later by (early) Pavement. These guys really nailed a distinct indie sound all of their own in the nascent days of college rock. That this tune was never released at the time, only ever coming out in 1995 on the archival cd Heyday 1979-1983, is crazy to me.
