:o

i fixed some of the mp3s on this blog. but i also decided that i don't like this blog anymore so i started a new one.
check it out> Solid Cloud.

eek

all the mp3s are not working now. and they haven't been for quite some time. it's cause my sister's domain was shut down or whatever. she just recently got a new domain, so once it's up and working and everything, i will be back to updating this. as least i think so. i might start a new blog. we'll see.

this fire... it's flaming.

Flaming Fire - Songs from the Shining Temple
Centralia
There is a Sky
I first heard Flaming Fire on Space is No Place Compilation, and was eventually able to get their Songs from the Shining Temple cd that came out in 2003. I love the diversity in the male and female vocals, this band is really fucking awesome, listen listen listen.
oh, and buy this cd, at Amazon.

a mess of words, on jim cuomo

soon after i started this blog i decided i would devote a post to the brilliant mind of Jim Cuomo, i just didn't know when i would do it. And upon realizing that Shadoks Music just released an album of previously unreleased Spoils of War material (entitled II, on both cd and double LP) i figured now would be a pretty good time.

Spoils of War - What Happens Now/Now Is Made In America/Henry T. Joseph (Spoils of War)
Spoils of War - Ring, Magic Telephone (Spoils of War)
I believe Spoils of War came about when Jim Cuomo was attending University of Illinois in the late 1960's, creating somewhat jazzy, quirky electronic psych with Cuomo on keyboards, sax, recorder, clarinet, and resonator guitar (impressive, eh?). What Happens Now/Now Is Made In America/Henry T. Joseph is a medley of 3 different songs, the first two with female vocals and the last featuring some pretty rough, fuzzy male vocals. Another version of "Now is Made In America" with male vocals also appears on their first self titled album compiled and put out by Shadok's Music. (available through Freak Emporium.)
Ring Magic Telephone is the first SOW song i heard and it had me hooked, the male vocals on this track and the lyrics are just awesome. As for the second album just recently released, I haven't heard it yet. From what i have read, it seems that the unreleased studio material doesn't stray far from what is on the first album, while i assume some of the live material includes some songs that appear on the first album. You can hear a sound clip at Other Music.
This should appeal to fans of United States of America, 50 Foot Hose, Lothar & The Hand People, and Group 1850.
Mormos - Listen to the Flavour (from Great Wall of China)
Mormos - Jack of Hearts (Great Wall of China)
Mormos - Homeside (The Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath)
Mormos - Hey Gilles (The Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath)
Cuomo left the US soon after finishing college and formed Mormos in the early 70's in France, where he still is today. They put out (as far as I know) only two albums, the first one being Great Wall of China in 1971 and The Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath in 1972 both put out on cd by Splax records and available through Forced Exposure. The overall sound is is quite different from Spoils of War having a much stronger folk feel, however on these albums you'll still hear great male and female vocals and some great brass instrumentation, along with a few Spoils of War songs (Rit Yellow of the Sun on Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath, Walk in Walk Out, and Now is Made In America on Great Wall of China). Definitely should be heard by fans of The Incredible String Band, Vashti Bunyan, and pretty much any those "psych-folk" bands/artists cropping up in the indie scene today. Their first album if my favorite, though i highly recommend both.
Cuomo - Sky Logic (Ejazz)
Cuomo - T-Tango (Ejazz)
i really don't know what to say about this album, as i know very little about jazz music and even less about electronic music. this cd contains Cuomo's solo work from 1967 to 1985(?) a lot of it was made on computer apparently using something called Amiga. Sky Logic was recorded in 1985 with percussion, Amiga C++, and Cuomo on alto-sax. it is probably my favorite song on the album aside from the second track (Those "Old Stock-Pavilion Blues" Or "Will The Big Bands Ever Feedback?") which i would have put up here if it wasn't such a large file (15:02)
T-Tango was recorded in 1967 with Cuomo on woodwinds, and received a Golden Tilt Award in 1985. This really makes me think of video game music. I bought this cd as i was a fan of Cuomo's previous bands and was intrigued by such early electronic music. i definitely don't regret it as it is probably one of the most interesting albums i own. give these songs a listen, if you're into them you can get the cd through forced exposure. what they have to say about this album is mostly what is stated in the liner notes, they also say his name is James (as does the book Fuzz Acid & Flowers, i have no idea why). for more info on Jim Cuomo you can visit his website, www.jimcuomo.com.

you have entered hell!

ah, it's been a while since the last update. i have some more songs for you now. well, i have one song...
pentagram - when the screams come (first daze here version)
pentagram - when the screams come (day of reckoning version)
witchcraft - when the screams come (pentagram cover)
two rather different versions of the same song from one of the greatest metal bands ever. or at least they're one of my favorites. and... a cover of that same song from one of the greatest metal bands around today, witchcraft. it appears as a bonus track on their 2005 album Firewood which is bound to be seen on many "best of '05" lists come next January.

covers. really good ones. really.

Baby Woodrose - A Child of a Few Hours (West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band)
Baby Woodrose are, in my opinion, one of today's finest rock 'n' roll bands. they released two great original full lengths, Blows Your Mind (2001) and Money For Soul (2003), but in 2004 they released Dropout!, an album with ten covers of songs that display their rather impressive collection of 1960's albums. Along with West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Captain Beefheart, Love, 13th Floor Elevators, the Sonics and others all have a song that appear on this album. On this track Baby Woodrose has taken one of WCPAEB's most quirky songs, slowed it down and amped it up.

Dwarves - Stop And Listen (The Shag)
The Shag - Stop And Listen
Stop and Listen isn't a song that you would expect to ever get covered, not because it's not good, on the contrary, it's great, but because it's rather obscure. The Shag (also known as The Shags but not to be confused with The Shaggs or The Shaggs or Shaggs or the three or more other bands called The Shags) never put out an album, ever. They put out two 45s, which most people have never heard. In fact, anyone who happens to know who The Shag are, have most likely only heard the original version of this song, the A side of their second 45 from 1967. It's appeared on many 60's compilations including Trash Box: Wild Psychotic Garage Punk!!!, Pebbles Vol. 5, Pebbles presents Highs in the Mid-Sixties Vol 10, and Acid Dreams Epitaph, among others. As for the rest of the Dwarves album, Lick it, the songs included are from their "psychedelic years" 1983-1986 and the album has several other obscure 60's covers.

Davy Graham - Better Git It In Your Soul (Charles Mingus)
when i first saw this song on the track list of Graham's album of covers i got so excited. I love love love the original version of the song by Charles Mingus. And when i heard this song, my jaw seriously dropped to the ground. okay, not seriously but you get the idea. This cover is so much different (and shorter) than the original, and yet it is still so amazing, but what do you expect from a total guitar genius? you gotta hear it, and you gotta get Folk Blues & Beyond, along with this song it features covers of songs by Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Reverend Gary Davis and others. read this great article, about Mr. Graham: The original guitar god


Music Machine - 96 Tears (? & The Mysterians)
Music Machine - Trouble
This is a really good cover, of a really really good song, by a really really good band. It appears on the 1966 album Turn On The Music Machine which is one of my many many favorite 60's albums, but i really don't think this cover does Music Machine justice since they are such a great, original band. So i put their original song Trouble up here too.

Racebannon - Electricity (Captain Beefheart) direct link from Epitonic.
racebannon are a crazy band. captain beefheart (aka don van vliet) is a crazy genius.

and one more:
Burning Brides - Something In The Way (Nirvana)
this song appears on Smells Like Bleach: A Punk Tribute to Nirvana though i don't know if i would call Burning Brides a punk band, certainly not as punk as some of the other artists on the compilation like Dee Dee Ramone, U.K. Subs, and The Vibrators. Anyway, this is a really amazing cover be it punk or not, and Burning Brides are an awesome band. They have 2 really great full lengths out, Fall of the Plastic Empire (on cd and LP) and Leave No Ashes.

lost in the dazzling fascination...

Blue Cheer - Outsideinside - Gypsy Woman
i love blue cheer. if you are my myspace friend, you probably know this. even if you don't know who they are.
and if you don't know who they are, you should listen to Gypsy Woman
from my favorite album of theirs, Outsideinside released in 1968. it doesn't seem to be nearly as popular as Vincebus Eruptum which has more of the super heavy, super LOUD "proto-metal" sound that they are known for. Outsideinside was more of a psychedelic effort, which is the main reason why it appeals to me a bit more, though both albums are great. and you can get them both on Amazon. click


Gary Higgins - Red Hash - I Pick Notes From The Sky
Gary Higgins' 1973 Red Hash album was just recently released on CD from Drag City, so i thought it would be fitting to put up a song from the album. You may have already heard Higgins' song "Thicker Than A Smokery" which Six Organs of Admittance covered for their album School of the Flower (also brought to you by Drag City) If you are totally unfamiliar with Higgins, let me just tell you that he is totally brilliant. I had a really hard time deciding what track to put here because they are all great. Higgins' voice is absolutely beautiful, perfect for the mellow folk rock that appears on most of this album. For more information on Mr. Higgins & for a much more substantial review of Red Hash, go to Acid Archives. You can get Red Hash on cd directly from Drag City, or at Other Music which features the album on their main page right now and even has a sound clip of "Thicker Than A Smokery."

Frankie "Half-Pint" Jaxon - Fan It (take B) from the Complete Recorded Works Volume 1 (1926-1929)
I first heard Frankie Jaxon singing "Jive Man Blues" on the Dope and Glory compilation (reefer songs from the 30's & 40's) and i just fell in love with his rather unique voice. Though I could see why some people may not be too into it, his voice has been described as a chipmunk and in several of these songs he even impersonates female vocals rather successfully (as in the track "Can't You Wait Till You Get Home" singing lines of Harry's wife ("i love you Harry, you know i do...")) but it's just comical rather than any bit irritating.
throughout the early 1920's Jaxon worked with a number of jazz legends in Atlantic City and even became good friends with Bessie Smith performing with her at the Paradise. However he eventually settled in Chicago where he started recording his music in 1927. If you've heard any of songs that appear on the Dope & Glory or Copulatin' Blues compilations, you know Jaxon has quite a way with words. On Volume 1 you hear quite a bit more of that (24 tracks more to be exact) and this version of Fan It actually starts out with the lyrics "oooh run into me and crush me but don't bruise me!" that also appear toward the end of Jive Man Blues. from the liner notes: [this song features] Jimmy Flowers on piano, probably Banjo Ikey Robinson on banjo, and Bill Johnson on string bass.
You can get ALL 3 volumes of Frankie Jaxon's Complete Recorded Works at Amazon. click

an introduction...

this is my mp3 blog. i've wanted to start one for a while and now finally i have. yay. most of the songs i post here will probably be fairly random. this site is just for me to have some fun, sharing and talking about music that i love, so i'm gonna post whatever comes to mind.