Stereeolab/Ariel Pink

I just noticed on the blogosphere some group claiming Stereolab to be a big influence on their new LP wow was I ahead of my time by 10 seconds or what? Well I didn't mean it. I'm not sure of the move here with Ariel, this new LP could have been recorded anywhere between House Arrest & Worn Copy really. It's neither his In Utero nor his Dirty. There are no coordinates with Mr Pink and who needs em. I'm loving this great new LP as much as the other great 8. Particularly Nostradamus & Me, Schnitzel Boogie, Symphony of The Nymph and Farewell American Primitive er......and the rest.

Ariel Pink/Gary War

Just scored these two it's like fucking Christmas! Let's hope it's a good Christmas. Very Excitement!

Gary War's new LP! I loved his previous one and this years

collaboration as Human Teenager. Cant wait to hear this!

Jared's Lot is its title

Mature Themes is the most anticipated LP in living memory, probably since Before Today (for me anyhow). 3/4 of the way through my first listen it sounds very good. Perhaps not as Hi-Fi as Before Today and on some tracks his vocals are quite upfront. Can he do it? Can he top the best LP of 2010s?.....er.....that being the one he released before this one. I've gotta get up early but now I'm too excited. How old am I? Is that Tina Turner guesting on the last track Baby? I think he Ariel and his Haunted Graffiti have done it again.

Stereolab

Just been gettin reacquainted with Stereolab quite obsessively. At the moment the period of 1992 - 1996. What a run they had going. Space Age Bachelor Pad music, Refried Ectoplasm, Transient Random Noise Bursts With Announcements, Mars Audiac Quintet, Emperor Tomato Ketchup etc. Nothing to say that hasn't already been said by the groop themselves really. John Cage Bubblegum, French Disko, Nihilist Assault Group,Tomorrow is Already Here, Metronomic Underground, Avant Garde MOR, Analogue Rock, Tone Burst, Exploding Head Movie, International Colouring Contest, Farfisa etc. They made reviewers redundant. Pop perfection. I wasn't sure I would still dig. Me dig! Me dig more than ever, I do believe!

The long version of this still astounds me to this day 18
years or so later. A Mind blowing Peak!

It all started withe the reading of that Pulp book by Owen Hatherley. I went back to The Smiths, Sex Pistols, Roxy Music (first 3 LPs) and then onto at one time contemporaries to Pulp- Stereolab. In the early 90s they were using a similar sonic palette and funny archaic instruments which Pulp started to use less of later in the 90s which was kind of a shame. I mean they were still good and all but imagine if they'd gone more arcane and retro futuristic. Moot point really just a thought to entertain you know how it is? When I first heard, well I saw their video clip on Rage, Stereolab I thought man they Sound a bit like NZs Snapper who I knew were into Suicide, maybe Neu and The Velvets obviously but I thought that maybe for Stereolab they may have been inadvertent influences, know what I mean. I guess heaps of groups had that whole Velvets/Stooges/Roxy/ Kraut/Hawkwind/Suicide axis of influences at the time. Anyway they were much more than that. That was just one facet of a multifaceted band. I love that artwork too, the only others in the league of artwork being the equally fab Broadcast and the Ghostbox label. I think they are all in someway connected anyway, the Ghostbox guys were originally cover designers I'm pretty sure. It's been a surprise rediscovery.

Life On Earth

Finally got my hands on this and quite timely too as I'll be seeing the great man Sir David Attenborough in person next month doing a show in Melbourne called A Life On Earth. I scored the book as well last year, with the price still on it from 1979 8 Pounds 95, which is ace. Diggin' the tunes on this fantastic soundtrack thanks Mr Trunk and Edward Williams. Very cool! V excited about the show too.

Beards A reprise

Early Joy Division early beard

The Original beard king even before I got into Dennis Wilson was of course the legendary Peter Hook. Jim Morrison, The Beatles etc. all had them during trend times as did Dennis but it was Peter Hook in the coolest band of the late 70s and then another cool one throughout the 80s who stuck with it in the non trend times. It did stick out like a sore thumb. Of course now it seems normal. I think though in recent times he's even been shaving. He just seemed to not fit. He shoulda been drivin a truck or something. My brother and I used to find it hilarious. I dunno if we appreciated his contrariness or his out of time naffness. Anyway in tribute to the great man we made a fantastic collage of about 20 photographs all with beard in different phases of growth. It really was quite foreign particularly to have facial hair in the post-punk/indie/dance scenes. Clean shaven was the go and really only went indie in the 00s and has now gone corp/fashionista/sportsman/knob etc. In the late 70s & 80s it only belonged to science and geography teachers. A hipster wouldn't have been caught dead with a hair on his chinny chin chin! I wish I still had that collage, it used to take pride and place in our flat. Hooky Monster Respect!

This is his classic beard and hair look for most of the 80s in New Order.
Not that dissimilar to Dennis Wilson.

Transmission
Joy Division
Best bearded bassline ever!

Yardbirds & Husker Du

OK I've just realised Eric Clapton played on some of The Yardbirds Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds that came in at 353 (RS 500 list) and was some kind of American compilation. Anyway I dig The Yardbirds a lot. Funnily enough it was on one of their greatest tracks that he got angry and eventually ended up quitting. He hated For Your Love (like it's only one of the finest tunes from the 60s) so much he would only play on the middle 8 (whatever that means). Then along came Jeff Beck to replace him for a string of top tunes.

For Your Love

The Yardbirds

Worth watching this ridiculous video....pretty funny!

* In that Rolling Stone 500 the only Husker Du entry was New Day Rising at 495 just scrapping in. Funny really for a band that pretty much influenced a whole generation/genre. They had other classics too Flip Your Wig & Zen Arcade for starters. RS staff what the fuck? No I'd rather listen to a Jackson Brown album thanks!?????????????ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Us influential? What are you talkin' about?

Lou Reed Walk on the Wild Side

Lou Reed

Walk On The Wild Side

Well how could you go past this iconic bassline with a little bit extra thrown in on the jam. Lou's group are fuckn cookin' right here (not Velvets as stated). That's Robert Quine on guitar dunno the other two but they're also awesome. Live in 82, rude form!

A Tribe Called Quest
Can I kick It

Then it was sampled here to great affect! Tribe kickin it to Lou in the goal square!

The Original LP version. Gotta give Herbie Flowers his due. He played two basslines on it, one double bass the other electric so he could get paid twice or so the legend goes. I still haven't read the Wire bass issue, there could be an article on him for all I know. Anyway who cares this has been an FM staple since it came out and with good reason. It's probably where I first heard about givin head. Double the bass pleasure!

The Last Top 10

OK one more from the Rolling Stone 500 then I promise that's it.

• Remain In Light - Talking Heads (126)
• Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (156)
• Loveless - My Bloody Valentine (219)
• Something Else - The Kinks (288)
• Rain Dogs - Tom Waits
• Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix (54)
• Off The Wall - Michael Jackson (68)
• Beggar's Banquet - The Rolling Stones (57)
• Pink Flag - Wire (410)
• Nuggets - Various Artists (196)

Another Top Top Ten. This one seems a bit odd. I think I just wouldn't wan't a mixtape made from it. All those records are all fucking great though!

The Shite 10/Ear Poo

I enjoyed doin the better top 10s from the Rolling Stone list I thought I might as well do the shite 10 and fuck me I had to rake through some shtincas and there are probably many more but I've been lucky enough to avoid hearing their Ear Poo. No Particular Order and I know some are gonna be obvious but there's a reason for that.

• The Bends - Radiohead
• So - Peter Gabriel
• Ten - Pearl Jam
• London Calling - The Clash
• Rush of Blood to The Head - Coldplay
• Dookie - Green Day
• Tracey Chapman - Tracey Chapman
• Blue - Joni Mitchell
• Pearl - Janis Joplin
• Any LP by Eric Clapton

There you go imagine having to sit through that! If you do by any chance make sure you're wearing some kind of pastel coloured, hopefully light blue, jumper in tribute to Eric Clapton! Was he fuckin with me?

Another Top 10

I loved doing the different top 10 for the 500 best albums list so

 I thought i'd do another one in no particular order.

• For Your Pleasure - Roxy Music
• Trout Mask Replica - Captain Beefheart
• Forever Changes  - Love
• Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
• Autobahn - Kraftwerk
• Entertainment - Gang of Four
• White Light/White Heat - The Velvet Underground
• The Stooges - The Stooges
• Surfer Rosa - The Pixies
• The Doors -The Doors

Why can't this be the top 10? This is actually a good game to play, I was going for a white vibe on this but ofcourse Love's Arthur Lee was African American. But c'mon Love are such a white band. My wife only realised the other day (and we've been together for 14 years)  that he was not white. She didn't beleive me until I got out a book and showed her a photo of him sporting a short afro. Anywaay what a great top 10 that is! 10 of my all time favorite records.