VA - The Psychedelic Experience: Volume 2

This was re-upped as requested by Rob. Use the search box in the top left hand corner of the page if you're looking for the other volumes.

This is the second of four volumes in The Psychedelic Experience series. This compilation consists of ultra rare 60's psychedelic and garage punk. Many of this songs are only available on this collection, and were pulled from various 45s released around the United States during the 60's garage band explosion. An extremely limited number of these vinyl records were pressed, and even fewer managed to survive. Although most of the bands on this compilation would go on to vanish into obscurity, these tracks still sound impressive after all these years. The Psychedelic Experience doesn't disappoint with it's assortment of straight forward monster garage fuzz rock and roll.

Track List:
1. Decades - On Sunset
2. Higher Elevation - Odyssey
3. Monocles - Psychedelic
4. Waters - Mother Samwel
5. Trespassers - come With Me
6. Cave Dwellers - Meditation
7. Castaways - Just on High
8. Dirty Filthy Mud - The Forest of Black
9. Element - Open The Door To Your Mind
10. Elopers - Music To Smoke Bananas
11. Inner Light - Long Journey
12. Purple Underground - Count Back
13. Mirror's Image - No Loving Man
14. Joker's Wild - All I See Is U
15. Doppler Effect - God Is Alive In Argentina
16. Essex St. Journal - Progression 256
17. Sherman Marshall - Realization of Life
18. Unsettled Society - 17 Diamond Studded Cadillacs
19. Quiet Jungle - Ship Of Dreams
20. Knightsbridge Quintet - Sorrow In C Major
21. Raving Madd - Boundaries
22. East Side Kids - Close Your Mind
23. Ed Powers - Mourning
24. Trane - One Way Street

Download: VA - The Psychedelic Experience: Vol. 2 (84.52MB)

Sun City Girls - Carnival Folklore Resurrection Vol. 1: Cameo Demons and their Manifestations

I apologize for the lack of recent updates here. As some of you may already be aware, I've been working hard on the social network I created for Digital Meltd0wn last week. So far it's off to a good start, and hopefully I will have finished customized it to my liking by the end of the week. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, please do so. We would be honored if you could join us: http://digitalmeltd0wn.ning.com

Someone requested this album a while back, but I wasn't able to find it until recently. It was a limited edition release, with only 1,000 copies being distributed. I hope that you all enjoy this rare album from a very unique experimental band. Again, I should resume regular updates here by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience.

Year of Release: 2000
Label: Abduction
Genre: Experimental, Psychedelic
Bitrate: 128kbps

Track List:
1. Where Dead People Live
2. Garlic and Mirrors
3. OKAPI
4. Cameo Demons And Their Manifestations
5. Legendary Fingerprint Recognition
6. Lunar Gun-Point Recollections

Download: Sun City Girls - Carnival Folklore Resurrection Vol. 1: Cameo Demons and their Manifestations
Download Size: 37MB

I'll Be Offline For A Few Days

I wanted to let you all know that I will be offline for a few days. There is a small chance that I will post something during that time frame, but if not then I will return on the 21st. See you all soon. Take care.

Please Join the Digital Meltd0wn Social Network

I've begin working on a social network for Digital Meltd0wn. It is not intended to compete with any other social network, rather it will be a place for all of us music lovers to interact with one another and share music among other things. The network is fully functional at the moment, however I'm working quickly to improve as many things as possible in order to provide a more enjoyable experience there. I would be honored if you all join me there. For those of you who do decide to join, I could use a little help. At this point your suggestions and feedback would be a tremendous help. I'm working on coming up with a suitable name for the network instead of using the generic 'DM Social Network', so if you have any ideas please let me know. It would also be very helpful if you could upload music, videos, pictures, and create blog posts and groups - basically anything to make the network seem more alive. Inviting a few friends probably wouldn't hurt either. As I mentioned before, I have a lot of work to do, but I will do all I can to create a utopia for music lovers. Please refer to the links below if you are interested in becoming a part of this.

Digital Meltd0wn Social Network: http://digitalmeltd0wn.ning.com

Michael Pogo Kreiner & Vienna Sound Orchestra - E-Magic Flute

I found this gem on a blog which was recently started in May of this year titled Melloman. Upon reading the description posted there I was convinced this would be good, and upon hearing the first track I was in love. I have loved classical music since an early age, and more recently discovered a wealth of electronic, funk, and experimental music. This album takes elements of all four genres, and although it might sound like a very strange mix, the outcome is a very satisfying one. My time is short, but I wanted to share this with the visitors here as soon as I heard it. Fortunately there was a great review that came with the file, along with the description provided by the original poster. I have included both below, and hopefully they can give you a better description than I can at the present time. I'm sure that you all will enjoy this one.

Interesting mixture of styles. It has classical, with funky bass lines and hard beats with a 70's 80's disco funk feeling sometimes, also opera with electronic music, also used in hip hop with the MPC samplers, but those we're just samples. This one could get a good grade from you unless you are against blending various styles. I hope you enjoy it !!! - Melloman

E-MAGIC FLUTE is the electronic version of Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart's blockbuster opera "The Magic Flute". A
symphonic orchestra meets sequencer and rhythm section.
Vocal parts are filled in by a counter tenor, girl's
voices and some rare instruments like the balearic
bagpipes from Mallorca or the Bohemian glass harp.
This epic album is produced by POGO KREINER, Vienna based
composer, musician and co-bandleader of Madrid de Los
Austrias who has worked with such great artists like
Richard Dorfmeister, Nigel Hayes, Frankie Valentine,
Celia Mara or Yello besides being a marvellous musician,
both live on stage and in the studio. Pogo's special
skills are in crossing musical sound barriers and fusing
distant soundscapes to a new homogenous experience. Check
what he has done with traditional music from Andalusia
and contemporary club music for the Madrid de los
Austrias project and you know the score.
Listening to the "Vorspiel" (overture) we still find
Mozart's original partiture very present. But if you
listen on through the album, electronic elements are
taking over more and more until the "Finale" where full
electronic soundscapes dominate with only sparse
distorted quotations of the aria's woven in. This is a
journey through the times where elements of Austria's
musical heritage and contemporary sound trickery are
stripped down to their essence in order to meet again for
a new sound interpretation of Mozart's masterpiece. - Unknown


Track List:
01. Vorspiel
02. Papageno
03. Tamino (Part One)
04. Tamino (Part Two)
05. Zauberflöte
06. Königin Der Nacht
07. Pamina
08. Sarastro
09. Finale
10. Libretto

Download: Michael Pogo Kreiner & Vienna Sound Orchestra - E-Magic Flute
Download Size: 61MB

The Gun Club - Death Party

This was originally posted on the PunchDrunk blog, which unfortunately is no longer around. Gun Club's Death Party EP was issued in 1983 between 'Miami', the band's second album, and 'Las Vegas Story'. The recording also features a new and extremely short-lived lineup that featured guitarist Jim Duckworth (Panther Burns), drummer Dee Pop (Bush Tetras), a friend of his on bass named Jimmy Joe Uliana, and Pierce's then girlfriend Linda "Texacala" Jones on backing vocals. The five tracks could have been outtakes from Miami, powerful, dark rock of disillusionment, drug abuse, and warped sexuality. The pathos on the Gun Club's best records is missing here, but the quality of the songwriting makes up for it some. Certainly fans will want this. [In 2004, Sympathy for the Record Industry reissued the EP on compact disc with seven bonus tracks from a live performance on Radio Geneva. What's notable about it is Pierce's between-song banter, which is entertaining, snotty, and obviously intoxicated, and he plays piano on every tune. This gig is also the first recorded performance of bassist Patricia Morrison (aka Pat Bag from the L.A. punk quartet the Bags) with the band. (She would remain for years before leaving to join the Sisters of Mercy.) The material from the radio gig contains three tunes from Death Party, covers of "Run Through the Jungle" the old roots rock nugget "Heebie Jeebies," and Lewis Allan's "Strange Fruit," as well as a scorching rendition of "Fire of Love.

Year of Release: 1983/Reissued in 2004
Label: Sympathy For The Record Industry
Genre: Blues, Punk, Rock
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. The House on Highland Ave.
2. The Lie
3. The Light Of The World (Live)
4. Death Party
5. Come Back Jim
6. Strange Fruit (Live)
7. Fire Of Love (Live)
8. The House On Highland Ave. (Live)
9. Death Party (Live)
10. Heebie Jeebies (Live)
11. The Lie (Live)
12. Run Through The Jungle (Live)

Download: The Gun Club - Death Party
Download Size: 129MB

VA - Powerpop Essentials

Happy birthday , man! You rock. now you are 28 ! yeah...you are realy old man..ha ha ha :) I made this great compilation special for your birthday, its my gift. This is an epic power pop non-filler comp you ever heard. Every single track is a masterpiece. I'm sure you have already known all of this tracks but now they all together in one comp. I took my favorite songs from my favorite power pop albums, so here it is. I hope you'll enjoy it.
And check out this funny scetchy artwork :)
Take care.


Track list

01 Nerves - Hanging on the Telephone
02 Pointed Sticks - The Real Thing
04 Shoes - Boys Don't Lie
05 22 20's - Yellow Pills
06 Breakaways - Walking Out On Love
07 Deep Six - Stay Right Here
08 Plimsouls - Hypnotized
09 Stems - Mr. Misery
10 Stiv Bators - It's Cool Outside
11 Jack Lee - Any Day Now
12 The Flamin Groovies - Shake Some Action
13 The Knack - My Sharona (Live)
14 The Late Show - So Happy
15 The Motors - Forget About You
17 The Rubinoos -Tonight
18 The Saints - Simple Love (original version)
19 Heroes - Some Kind Of Women

download - part1
part2

Happy Birthday To Me

My birthday is tomorrow (July 9th). For those wondering, I'll be 28 years old. Considering I'm isolated in a tiny research laboratory in Antarctica, I doubt that I will receive many presents. However, I will be celebrating by myself by drinking a few glasses from a bottle of wine that I've had tucked away, and only break out on special occasions, and I've even allotted myself half of a candy bar.

I don't usually ask for anything, but I'm going to make an exception on this occasion. If any of you are feeling generous, please upload some rare music of any sort, or make a compilation for me. If it's good enough I'll even pass it on to the visitors here. If you're interested in doing this, it doesn't have to be done by the 9th. Feel free to take as much time as you need. I can assure you that any effort on your part will certainly be appreciated. A man can get awfully lonely in such a desolate region, and music certainly helps one to forget his whereabouts. You can either leave a comment here, or send it via e-mail to shockw4ve_x at hotmail.com Thank you and take care.

Luther Allison - Serious

"Serious is packed with killer guitar riffs which easily bring Hendrix to mind, accompanied by one of the most passionate and soulful voices you will ever hear."Serious is a seriously good slab of blues rock, and despite the amazing range displayed by Luther Allison on this album, it is unfortunately all too often overlooked even by blues aficionados. Luther started playing guitar and submersed himself in learning everything he could about playing the blues. Three years after moving to Chicago in 1951, he made his on stage debut, playing with Howlin' Wolf's band, and backing up James Cotton.

In 1957 he broke big after the legendary Muddy Waters invited Luther on stage to perform with him. For the next 10 years he would go on to tour the club circuit, and managed to record one single. In 1967 Allison was signed to the Delmark Records label and the following year his debut album Love Me Mama was released. By the mid 1970s he began touring Europe, and moved to France in 1977. He would not return to the United States for another 15 years.

'Serious' released in 1987 would mark a change in Allison's musical approach, from a traditional blues style, to a more rock oriented style. Serious is packed with killer guitar riffs which easily bring Hendrix to mind, accompanied by one of the most passionate and soulful voices you will ever hear. In 1994 Allison's manager, and European agent, Thomas Ruf founded the label Ruf Records. Since signing with Ruf Records, Allison then launched a comeback in association with Alligator Records. Alligator founder, Bruce Iglauer, convinced Allison to return to the United States for the first time in 15 years.

Unfortunately Luther's comeback was cut short. In the middle of his summer of 1997 tour, Allison checked into a hospital for chest pains and breathing problems. It was discovered that he had a tumor on his lung that was about to metastasize to his spine. In and out of a coma, Allison died on August 12, 1997, five days before his 58th birthday, in Madison, Wisconsin. His album Reckless had just been released. His son Bernard Allison, at one time a member of his band, is now a solo recording artist. Luther Allison was posthumously inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1998.

Year of Release: 1987
Label: Blind Pig
Genre: Blues, Rock
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. Backtrack
2. Life Is A Bitch
3. Reaching out
4. Parking Lot
5. Serious
6. Just Memories
7. Should I Wait
8. Show Me A Reason
9. Let's Try Again
10. We're On The Road

Download: Luther Allison - Serious
Download Size: 105MB

George Carlin - Class Clown

I don't normally post comedy or spoken word albums, and despite the fact that I'm a little late on the draw, I thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a post to the late comedian George Carlin. Fear not though, I will return to posting music tomorrow. There isn't much that I can say that hasn't already been said about the man by news organizations around the world. The world has truly lost a comedic legend, and it will probably be a long time before anyone fills his shoes - if ever. I thought it would be fitting to share the album that turned an virtually unknown sitcom actor into a comedy legend. The album as a whole is great of course, but it is most treasured for the legendary "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" routine, which I also included a video of below. R.I.P. George.. You won't be forgotten.

Year of Release: 1972
Label: Little David/Atlantic
Genre: Comedy, Spoken Word
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Class Clown: Bi-Labial Fricative Attracting Attention
2. Wasted Time Sharing A Swallo
3. Values (How Much Is That Dog Crap In The Window)
4. I Used To Be An Irish Catholic
5. The Confessional
6. Special Dispensation (Heaven, Hell, Purgatory And Limbo)
7. Heavy Mysteries
8. Muhammad Ali (America The Beautiful)
9. Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television

Download: George Carlin - Class Clown
Download: 66MB

George Carlin - Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television

Paintings by Robert Williams

Enchilida


"Murderer"


"Ouija

Robert Williams Homepage: http://www.robtwilliamsstudio.com/

VA - Flaming Burnout: An Estrus Benefit Compilation

This compilation was originally released in 1997 as a benefit compilation for Estrus Records. For those not familiar, Estrus Records is an independent record label from Bellingham, Washington that makes surf, garage and trash rock music. They have released such bands as Soledad Brothers, The Drags, The Mummies, Impala, Man or Astro-man?, the Makers, Gas Huffer, The Mooney Suzuki, The Cherry Valence, Midnight Evils, Mono Men, Federation X, The Trashwomen, Satan's Pilgrims, and Southern Culture on the Skids.

In January of 1997 a fire broke out in the Estrus Records warehouse. Unfortunately this fire destroyed their entire mail-order inventory and private record collection. In response to this tragic event, 30 bands from around the globe got together and donated a song to the Flaming Burnout compilation to help out for the cause. There is a good mixture of styles to be found on this compilation, including surf (Satan's Pilgrims, Man or Astro Man?), punk (the Criminals, Mono Men, the Makers), and bands with a style all their own (Serverton, Madame X, Southern Culture on the Skids).

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Man's Ruin
Genre: Compilation
Bitrate: 128kbps

Track List:
1. I Want It - Cheater Slicks
2. She'll Be Mine - Cowslingers
3. Signifacatiro - Criminals
4. Dig In - Crown Royals
5. Go Go Kitty - Delta 72
6. I'll Be Standing (On My Own) - Electric Frankenstein
7. You Can't Get Him Frankenstein - Fleshtones
8. Cool Down - Gas Money
9. Now I Know - Hi-Fives
10. You Can Be My Baby - Insomniacs
11. Buzz - Lord High Fixers
12. Nobody Loves You Like Me - Madame X
13. Damn Nation - Makers
14. Drumulator Is Boss - Man Or Astro Man
15. Behind Bars - Mono Men
16. 999 - Mortals
17. Bad Vibes (live) - Nomads
18. Moscow Woman - Peechees
19. Little Baby - Phantom Rats
20. Ten High - Quadrajets
21. Ben Tenaka - Satan's Pilgrims
22. Rocket Dog - Servotron
23. Jungle Beat '97 - Southern Culture On The Skids
24. Superfly TNT - Space Cookie
25. Ex Lion Tamer - Splash Four
26. Untitled
27. Machine - Sugar Shack
28. Trudie Trudie - Supercharger
29. Jet Boys - Teengenerate
30. Push (live) - Woggles

Download: Flaming Burnout: An Estrus Benefit Compilation
Download Size: 66MB

Digital Meltd0wn on Twitter

After hearing constant buzz about the phenomena known as Twitter, I've finally decided to give it a try. When I first read about Twitter, I thought it was a useless idea, as I'm sure many others have. However, I noticed a few users who were able to put the service to good use by being original, and I thought perhaps I could do the same. At the moment I'm only using it to post updates to my blog, but if enough people are interested in following me on Twitter, I will eventually incorporate other ideas. Of course if no one is interested, then I will eventually abandon this idea. So without further ado, here is the Twitter page for Digital Meltd0wn:

DM Twitter Page: http://twitter.com/DigitalMeltd0wn

Himera - Zudwa

Hello everyone. Here is something realy special and rare. This is a Russian cult underground rock band -Himera. A few words about it. In Russia 90's was a really bad and very very difficult time, especially for musicians. It was a time of great economic defolt in country, it was a time of big decline and poverty. No music instruments in shops , often musicians was made an effect pedals like distortion by themselves , soldering the microcircuit. There was only one concert club in whole Saint-Petersburg city- "Tam Tam" . Of course this place was underground and forbidden. So at one evening you could see on the stage a hard-core band , then a folk music , after it some ragamuffin guys , and the right after that a nazi skin head punks. Can you imagine that mix?
Front man lead singer , guitar player, songwriter of Himera was Edik Starkov. He was a very unusual person , and like most rock genius he had a mental deviations. He also was very poor. He lived right in the "Tam Tam" . He gave a gem there than he slept there. One day Edik has not come on band rehearsal. He was hung up on the second floor of a building where the Himera has rehearsed. The band was rehearsing and not suspecting about that that their frontman is a floor above hung up. As usual Himera has not achieved popularity. They disbanded some days after Edik's death.
So give it a try. The fifty percent of Himera feature was Edik's lyrics. Its very sad that you can understand it , and I haven't much time for translating it. I've just translate a titles of songs. But other fifty percents was their unusual sound. The line up was - drums, guitar and violoncello. A guy with violoncello carried out functions of bass player. And some times Edik played a little horn. I can't describe a genre of this music. It is noise , avant-garde hardcore, alternative punk, etc. with strong shaman psychedelic shade.

Year of Release: 1994
Genre: Noise-rock, alternative
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
01-Sail
02-Handle
03-Total_Jazz
04-Control
05-Karma_of_the_World
06-ZUDWA
07-Captain_Nemo
08-Delirium
09-Hord
10-Into_Heaven
11-Rubber_Plants
12-Water-Fire
13-Jirmaida

Download: Himera Zudwa

Photography By Michal Macku

Michal Macku, Czech photographer, creates his works using his own photographic technique named Gellage. He also combines this technique with historic photographic techniques and state-of-the-art technology and materials.

Michal Macku's Homepage: http://www.michal-macku.cz/

Dr. John - Gris-Gris

Only recently did I have the pleasure of discovering Dr. John. This album was a very refreshing discovery for me. Not only is this Dr. John's debut album, but it is also the most well rounded effort that I have listened to thus far. It's an odd mixture of Psychedelia, Jazz, New Orleans R&B, and ritualistic voodoo chants, yet it's a mixture that works very well. I'm a little short on time today, but I did manage to find an excellent review which can give you a little more information that I can at the moment.

"Covered in a variegated spray of New Orleans Mardi Gras feathers and shiny voodoo baubles, Mac Rebennack's highly personal mythology was finally made real on this 1968 album. This was his first appearance made under the new guise of Dr. John Creaux, the Night Tripper. Before then, he'd been a pivotal figure on the Crescent City R&B circuit. Afterward, he became one of its most significant blues ambassadors. This album is a classic of the admittedly specialized psychedelic swamp-gumbo genre, boasting at least four tracks that have become cult favorites. "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya-Ya," "Mama Roux," "Jump Sturdy," and "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" each delicately mix catchy choruses and weird spatial sound effects, with radical stereo separation, intensely croaking, close-quarter vocals from the doctor, pneumatic keyboard riffs, pinprick electric guitar, and booming Afro-Caribbean percussion. The album still stands at its original 33-minute length, with no bonus cuts unearthed, but its high density more than compensates for any brevity. - Martin Lonely

Year of Release: 1968
Label: Atco
Genre: Blues, Jazz
Bitrate: 320kbps

Track List:
1. Gris-Gris Gumbo
2. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom
3. Mam Roux
4. Danse Fambeaux
5. Croker Courtbullion
6. Jump Sturdy
7. I Walked On Guided Splinters

Download: Dr. John - Gris-Gris

Back To Peru: The Most Complete Collection Of Peruvian Underground 64-74

Collectors of 60's music, having grown weary of dredging the annals of European and American garage, psyche, pop, rock etc. have in recent years turned their attention elsewhere. It hasn’t been the first time but lately there seems to be a profound interest in music from the sixties that originated in more distant lands. The Far East for example and in the case of this compilation Latin America, more specifically the country of Peru.

If you think about the geography of Peru with it’s coastal plains, the rugged Andean mountains, and tropical rainforests, a very diverse picture begins to emerge. Now hold that thought, apply it to the music found on this disc and that should give you a good idea of the range of styles showcased on this compilation. Everything from surf, Mersey Beat, cheesy organ driven garage, Andean psych folk and at least three songs by obsessive Hendrix devotees.

To clarify, the official title gives the years (64-74) which is a little odd considering the earliest tracks are from 1966. Still, eight years is a lot of ground to cover and by what I can gather from the somewhat obfuscating and poorly translated liner notes, the social and cultural milieu of those times proved to be an extremely fertile period for Peruvian music in all it’s various forms. Indeed the liner notes describe the capitol of Lima as a place where, “for every four blocks of the city there was at least one band, and out of every twenty bands, five of them were really good. My calculator tells me that’s five good bands every 80 blocks which is not that bad considering the size of a city like Limo. The lack of a real music industry and access to proper recording equipment though is one of the main reasons that much of this music was lost or never put down in the first place. Nonetheless the folks at vampi soul have compiled a great time capsule of what has survived.

Some of the most fascinating stuff on here are the songs that skip the impersonations and instead blend the popular outside influences with traditional rhythms and instruments. El Polen create beautiful spacious music with acoustic guitars, Andean flutes, electric bass and violin. If you’ve ever heard Simon and Garfunkel’s El Condor Pasa, it’s like that but way better and authentic. Radical political changes would take place in 1968 when a military coup would attempt to unite the country, implementing far-reaching economic and social reforms. Radio stations were obliged to play regional music in place of foreign or alien sounds, this included local ethnic versions of modern hits. The changes that were taking place had a major impact on the rock scene and slowly it’s growth was slowed to a halt. The music found on this album represents a golden period for rock and experimentation that existed in Peru for a precious length of time. It is a aural document and a great listen

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Vampi Soul
Genre: Psychedelic, Garage
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Termits - Bailemos
2. Los York's - Abrazame Baby
3. Golden Stars - Tela De Los Golden Stars
4. Texao - Stone
5. Los Mutables - Pasos En La Luna
6. Los Holy's - Holy's Psicodelicos
7. Los 007 - No Te Puedo Encontrar
8. Pina Y Sus Estrellas - Los Extranos
9. Hot Butter's Sound - Pa Pa Pa
10. Ringers - You Gotta Try
11. New Juggler Sound - Glue
12. Smog - Wiched Man
13. Los Comandos - Eleva Tu Mente
14. Laghonia - World Full Of Nuts
15. El Polen - Mi Cueva
16. El Opio - Una Bruja En El Cuzco
17. Telegraph Avenue - Tookie Tookie
18. Black Sugar - Funky Man
19. Zulu - Candela
20. Pax - Exorcismo
21. Traffic Sound - Meshkalina
22. Los Mirlos - Sonido Amazunico

Download: Back To Peru - The Most Complete Collection of Peruvian Underground 1964'-74'
Download Size: 96MB

Babes In Toyland - Fontanelle

Measured by any standard, Fontanelle is a frighteningly primal recordBabes in Toyland's most focused and powerful statement, Fontanelle was vaguely associated with grunge upon its release, and tossed in with the Pacific Northwest-centered riot grrrl movement after the fact. In truth, it lies somewhere in between, its raw punkish fury and metallic grind making it the spiritual kin of L7. Fontanelle isn't necessarily explicitly feminist, since the glorious noise of rock & roll is viewed as the ultimate empowerment. And that noise is all over Fontanelle -- it's arguably the harshest, most abrasive recording to come out of any part of the riot grrrl camp. Like L7, Babes in Toyland are more about pure sound than songs, but the similarities end there. Instead of just grinding away on simple power chords, Kat Bjelland's distinctive guitar work is full of intentionally grating dissonance, which is complemented by the jittery rhythm section. Vocally, Bjelland can move from a faux little-girl coo to a bellowing snarl in the space of one line; put together, all of this imbues Fontanelle with a terrifically explosive tension. Fittingly, the closing track features nothing but Bjelland, her guitar, and the sound of breaking glass bottles. Measured by any standard, Fontanelle is a frighteningly primal record, one whose sheer ferocity Babes in Toyland never quite captured this convincingly anywhere else.

Year of Release: 1992
Label: Reprise
Genre: Grunge, Punk
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Bruise violet
2. Right Now
3. Bluebell
4. Handsome and Gretel
5. Blood
6. Magick Flute
7. Won't Tell
8. Quiet Room
9. Spun
10. Untitled
11. Jungle Train
12. Pearl
13. Real Eyes
14. Mother
15. Gone

Download: Babes In Toyland - Fontanelle
Download Size: 34MB

Killed By Death: Rare Punk 77-82 Vol. 1

Punk record collectors and avid hardcore nerds alike are no stranger to the killed by death series of compilations. these records mostly showcased some of the best (and, admittedly, worst) of the rare, obscure, and/or overlooked punk glut from around the world during the late 70s and early 80s, sending many otherwise casual record collectors into a sweating fury to find original copies. enter the age of the internet and auction sites such as ebay and every band ever featured in the KBD series now fetches ridiculously high prices. while most of these records are well worth owning, they surely are NOT worth what most people are paying for them.

So without further ado, here is the first volume that started it all. This record is a good place to start if you're interested in hearing some rare, obscure punk from all corners of the earth, or to re-acquaint yourself if you have "been there, done that" already.

Track List:
1. Mad - I Hate Music
2. Hollywood Square - Hillside Strangler
3. The Slugs - Problem Child
4. Vox Pop - Cab Drive
5. The Controllers - (The Original) Neutron Bomb
6. The Dogs - Slash Your Face
7. Gasoline - Killer Man
8. Kraut - Matinee
9. Child Molesters - (I'm The) Hillside Strangler
10. Cold Cock - I Wanna Be Rich
11. The Authorities - Radiation Masturbation
12. The Authorities - I Hate Cop
13. The Nuns - Decadent Jew
14. The Users - Sick Of You
15. Vicious Visions - I Beat You

Download: Killed By Death: Rare Punk 77-82 Vol. 1
Download: 76MB

Link Wray - Rumble! The Best of Link Wray

Link Wray was a rock and roll guitar player most noted for introducing a new sound for electric guitars in his major hit, the 1958 instrumental "Rumble", which is considered by many to be the best rock instrumental of all time. Before Rumble, electric guitars were used to produce clean sounds and jazz chords. Wray made a new sound by inventing fuzz-tone, adding feedback, distortion and noise. Link Wray invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists. Listen to any of the tracks he recorded between that landmark instrumental in 1958 through his Swan recordings in the early '60s and you'll hear the blueprints for heavy metal, punk, thrash, you name it. Though rock historians always like to draw a nice, clean line between the distorted electric guitar work that fuels early blues records to the late-'60s Hendrix-Clapton-Beck-Page-Townshend mob, with no stops in between, a quick spin of any of the sides Wray recorded during his golden decade punches holes in that theory right quick. If a direct line can be traced forward from a black blues musician crankin' up his amp and playing with a ton of violence and aggression to a young white guy doing a mutated form of same, the line points straight to Link Wray, no contest. Pete Townshend summed it up for more guitarists than he probably realized when he said, "He is the king; if it hadn't been for Link Wray and "'Rumble,'" I would have never picked up a guitar."

Track List:
1. Rumble
2. The Swag
3. Raw-hide
4. Dixie-doodle
5. Rumble
6. Ain't That Loving You Baby
7. Jack The Ripper
8. The Black Widow
9. Big City After Dark
10. Run Chicken Run
11. The Shadow Knows
12. Deuces Wild
13. Hang On
14. Ace Of Spades
15. I'm Branded
16. Batman Theme
17. Climbing A High Wall
18. Switchblade
19. Hidden Charms
20. Jack The Ripper (Live Version)

Download: Link Wray - Rumble! The Best of Link Wray
Download Size: 68MB

The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music From Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Someone requested this several months back. I was recently able to obtain a copy of this, and I'm all too happy to deliver it to you all. I've been on a bit of a moog synthesizer/library music kick lately, so I hope that those of you who visit this blog regularly aren't turned off by my recent ventures into these genres. Unfortunately there isn't much information to be found concerning this recording, or the Electric Moog Orchestra. That's fine however, because upon listening to this for the first time I realized that this is some of the finest freaked out moog synthesizer music that I have had the pleasure of listening to. What I do know about this album is that it was released in 1977 in the United States on the Musicor label. This is not the original soundtrack to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which was performed by John Williams, but rather a re-recording using the aforementioned moog synthesizer. It includes the tracks "Space Symphony" and "Galactic Force" which weren't included on the original soundtrack.

Year of Release: 1977
Label: Musicor
Genre: Electronic, Experimental, Moog Synthesizer
Bitrate: 224VBR

Track List:
1. Main Title And Mountain Visions
2. Nocturnal Pursuit
3. The Abduction Of Barry
4. The Arrival Of Sky Harbor
5. Galactic Force
6. The Conversation
7. The Appearance Of The Visitors
8. Resolution And End Title
9. Space Symphony

Download: The Electric Moog Orchestra - Music From Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Download Size: 46MB

I'm Back

It took much longer than I had originally anticipated, but I'm finally back. I had only expected to be away for a couple of days, but it ended up being several weeks. I would like to thank Fill for filling in for me while I was away. Without him this blog would have been completely dead during that time. Although my job is keeping me very busy at the moment, and I'm having to put more hours in than usual, I'll try to post a few albums since it's been a while, and since Fill hasn't had much free time to post either. Thanks for all the support. It's good to be back.

- Z

400 Blows - Black Rainbow (2003)

Nice tuesday! Especialy for this kind of music. Powerfull , Raw , and Ruthless. 400 Blows is very unusual band. Like most blues-trash duos they have got only two insruments - drums and guitar. But here are two facts that made them unusual. First -They not a blues-trashers , they play something like hardcore, noise rock with loud distorted guitar, its hard to desribe their genre.Second- they are not a duo. they are trio. they got a separate front man singer. I very like his voice. Its like something dirty and nasty, its like a rattle with a high pitch. I think his voice is their easily recognized trademark. If you'll watch their videos and shows you will see that he got a pretty cool image with his sunglasses and black skinny gloves. Music is very nice two. All album has no filler. Its like a jackhammer will hollow your ears from first track to last. I like to start my working day at office with listening this in earphones. its so raw...huh. They also got a cool video on the song "Mortar and Pestle ", and this is one of my favorite songs on this album.

400 Blows' full-length debut, Black Rainbow, is somewhat of an anomaly. With cover art featuring a leather glove-clad hand holding a microphone and liner photos of band members in military uniforms I'm not quite sure what to expect - particularly from a group that uses the words "anti-melody" to describe its music. I like melody - a lot - so I'm really thinking this album is going to send me running for the hills.

From the beginning, 400 Blows is a band I really want to hate because I assume it will sound like every other punk or hardcore band out there, but I can't help but be intrigued because the music is quite inventive and shockingly irresistible. The drums, guitar, vocal, no-bass combination is certainly unlike anything else out there at the moment. This isn't blues-infused garage rock, it's in-your-face, ultra-aggressive hardcore punk. While indeed lacking anything remotely akin to melody, the band still manages to hit rhythm head on. 400 Blows is about as primal and venomous as they come, and if nothing else the music will leave a lasting impression on your senses.

Black Rainbow isn't a punk album as such or a hardcore or metal album either. It's a little bit of everything, and because of their unique approach, the band members aren't creating anything that is easily classified. If you like your music loud and hostile, then songs like opener "The Root of Our Nature," "The Kids Are Not at Home," and personal favorite "The Ugly Are So Beautiful" will seep into your system within the first few seconds.-Jennifer Patton.

So this is a not sharebee link again. Its rapidshare. But its still works fine.If you got a problem - tell me. I'll try to fix it.
And dear visitors, I just don't know how to publish your comments wich a moderated. When Zero_ll will visit a blog he will post all your comments.

Year of Release: 2003
Genre: Post-Hardcore, Rock, Punk, Metal
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:

1. The Roots of Our Nature
2. The Worlds Largest Miniature
3. The Ugly Are So Beautiful
4. The Wrong Song
5. The Shipwrecked Sailor
6. Thinking of You
7. Black Rainbow
8. The Kids Are Not at Home
9. The Bards Must Drink and Junket
10. Everyone is Silent
11. Mortar and Pestle
12. A Man of Many Words
13. Premature Burial
14. The Bull That Killed the Matador

Download: 400 blows- Black Rainbow
Download size: 86,04 mb

Devo - Greatest Hits

Hello folks! Sorry for long time between posts. I was workin all week without a holiday. But this post is worth your waiting. Ladys and Gentelmens, this is great , genius , music innovators - DEVO. They did a big infuenses for next generations of music bands, even now your can heard something from Devo in the music of many modern day rockers and electronic musicants. Its not a rock, its not a new-wave , its not a punk, but something near this, somethig very unique , great and catchy. Devo got a very good skills in playing their music instruments. Just watch some their live shows, its very energetic, very strong and clean. Usually a rock/elecronic bands sounds good in records , but the sound at live shows are very poor. But not Devo. At the live shows they played less electronic samples than in records, and more live guitar and drums sounds. So, this is a compilation of they most known hits. Especially it is very good for you if you are not familar with this band.

Even after all of the musical trends, fads, waves, genres, and sub-genres, Devo still sound fresh. There was a certain zeal and enthusiasm that went into works like "Satisfaction," "Through Being Cool," and "Gates of Steel" that belied all of their cynicism. "Greatest Hits plays exactly like its title suggests--Devo's radio hits at their finest. While they may never have succeeded in completely de- evolutionizing man, music, or machine, Devo brought an urgency--as well as a new way of looking at the pop craft--to "Peek-A-Boo!" "Beautiful World," and yes, even "Whip It." Thankfully, "Jocko Homo" and "Gut Feeling" are included, as is the spastic "Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA." Other fine moments can be found on Greatest Misses. --Steve Gdula

And here another review. Its just a some of customer review from Amazon. When I read it I thought it cool and funny.

1. Devo is insanely cool. 2. Awesome cover of "Satisfaction." 3. It is proof of Devo's pioneer work in pop syncopation. 4. "Girl U Want" maybe Devo's finest work. 5. Awesome instrumental lead in to "Gut Feeling." 6. This collection hits all the early materpieces. 7. This collection plus "Greatest Misses," makes for an awesome Devo library. 8. It has "Whip It" on it, like...duh. 9. It will probably really annoy your wife. 10. Devo is insanely cool.

Year of Release: 1990
Genre: New-Wave, Pop, Rock
Bitrate: 160kbps

Track list
1.Here to Go - (Go mix)
2.Through Being Cool
3.Big Mess
4.That's Good
5.Jerkin' Back 'N' Forth
6.Peek-a-Boo!
7.Beautiful World
9.Whip It
10.Girl U Want
11.Freedom of Choice
12.Smart Patrol/Mr. D.N.A.
13.Gut Feeling
14.Gates of Steel
15.Working in the Coalmine
16.Jocko Homo
Download: Devo-Greatest Hits
Download size: 64,6 mb

Suicide - Suicide (first album 1977)

Hey everybody. Here is the stuff you can't miss. Another one brilliant gem. Absolute classic. Essential. Masterpiece. Here is the first Suicide album. Suicide is unique. Yes, I know that the "Silver Apples" was the first duo in that genre and they got their records earlier than Suicide, but they didn't have the punky spirit inside, and great image. Alan Vega is a truly shaman. He always was on psychedelic substances on his shows, just look at his eyes. And his voice, his manner, he got a giant strong charisma. I don't know english so good to desribe all that I want to say about Suicide music, so just listen it.

In 1977, a band called SUICIDE took nihilist minimalism further than punk would dare, aiming to scare your neighbours with nothing more than stark keyboards, a drum machine and whisper-shriek-yelp vocals. Being a fan of Ghost Rider the Marvel Comics hero, I of course took a liking to the sinister opening track that bears his name: "America, America is killing its youth" is not the stuff of Nicholas Cage blockbusters, however. This is repetitive, three-chord "new wave" stripped to its bones before new wave even existed. It lays the blueprint for industrial rock as well, though it doesn't so much rock as ominously sway, powered by creaky pistons instead of slaughterhouse guitars. The music brings to mind an eyeless, earless, armless genetically-engineered troglodyte being driven down a conveyor built by robotic hands. This is a New World D.A.F. you can't dance to, a subterranean STOOGES, beatnik poetry transmitted back in time through radio sometime after World War III, a Ballardian nightmare for your ears.- peacedogman.com

P.S. And please leave a comment. Even if you don't know what to say , just write - Fill your posts sucks!:)) or whatever you want. Even this will be better than ignorence.
And sorry for not sharebe link, but its works fine, if you got a trouble with download please tell me, I'll try to reipload it to your favorite share service

Year of Release: 1977
Genre: Electronic, Experimental, Minimal
Bitrate:192kbps

Track List:
01 Ghost Rider (2:32)
02 Rocket U.S.A. (4:15)
03 Cherree (3:46)
04 Johnny (2:08)
05 Girl (3:20)
06 Frankie Teardrop (10:24)
07 Che (4:50)
08 Cheree (remix) (3:48)
09 I Remember (3:11)
10 Keep Your Dreams (4:49)

Download: Suicide
Download size: 185,3 mb

River City Rebels "Hate to be Loved"

Hello again folks. Sorry for too long break. But now I am back in buisness. Here something very intresting. RCR are known like a '77 Oi Punk band. But this album is absolutely different. Its a pure teenage rock, with great catcthy tunes, pure rock'n'roll like it must be. As for me, I'm not a big fan of punk, and this album much closer to rock neither to punk sound, and that the reason I like it. Just listen to the "No Easy Way Out" . This melody you will sing all day long, it will stuck in your head for long time. There is also a blusey tunes here, and some fast songs with glam rock accent. Just wacth some videos of this band at youtube , and you will see this guys got a great style and taste in fashion, and great sense of humor too.

"... However their latest effort Hate To Be Loved is quite interesting in that it finds the band channelling the New York Dolls and Dictators rather than The Clash. Strangely enough the River City Rebels sound far more comfortable in this skin than their prior one. Bopper's snotty, often high-pitched, vocals are a better fit for sleazy glam than they are guttural shout-along street punk. Just compare the scathing "Hurt Like I Do" to "Dreamy 17" for an on-disc example. Not that the moments when the Rebels lapse into their past songwriting styles are of lesser quality, far from it, but the band's current direction has far more character and is just simply more interesting... ...The album opening "Hurt Like I Do" forgoes the usual bombastic lead track and instead starts things off with a slow building, vulnerable rock song. The glam influences and the Rebels' ever present knack for a good chorus shine through on "I'm So Vain" and "No Easy Way Out." There's a blues swagger that runs through the record, emerging rather viciously in "Die Young" and in a more jovial way in "Her New Man." If recording under Sylvain and band's current image doesn't drive the point home, there's even a cover of Otis Redding's "Don't Mess With Cupid," also famously covered by... you guessed it..." punknews.org

Year of Release: 2004
Genre: Rock, Glam, Punk
Bitrate:192kbps

Track List:
1. Hurt Like I Do
2. Cloudy Times
3. Hate To Be Loved
4. I'm So Vain
5. No Easy Way Out
6. Dreamy 17
7. Don't Mess With Cupid
8. Die Young
9. I Wilt
10. Glitter And Gold
11. Her New Man
12. Bloody April

Download: hate to be loved
Download size: 54 mb

The Warriors (1979) OST

Hello Boys and girls. For the first I want to make a little apology for my weird english. I'm Russian, so my skills in knowing english not so perfect.

Okey. Lets start. I want to thank Zero, for inviting me in guestbloggin at such cool blog. A few words about me. My name is Fill ,I live in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. I'm 24. I'm workin in small firm by web-designer, and currently I'm at work right now.

So this is my first post. It is a great soundtrack from a great movie. Walter Hill's "Warriors" (1979).This movie is an absolutely cult classic. If you haven't seen this, so you may be just an alien from another world. Movie is a brilliant, and soundtrack is brilliant too. Its a many cool gems here."Nowhere to Run" by Arnold McCuller is a killer. I can't just sitting when I hear this tunes, I starting to dance around my chair. Ha-hahahaha. "Love is a Fire" by Genya Ravan, is a very very strong, beautifull rock, soul, or whatever you want, its amazing song. and Desmond Child's "Last of an Ancient Breed" is an epic, marvelous, one of the great example of songwriting I ever heard. So here it is. Enjoy. CAN YOU DIG IT?

Shot on location in and around New York City's grimy nighttime subways, flaunting a virile cast of unknowns, Warriors remains a '70s cult favorite, featuring violent gang warfare and a perfectly matched movie score. Barry De Vorzon's bone chilling compositions envelop hard rock and subdisco funk with gritty apocalyptic urge. Conjuring strange film images, "Theme From Warriors," "The Fight," and "Baseball Furies Chase" are testosteroneladen instrumentals, combining sinister guitars and plodding drum work peppered with creepy sounding keyboards. Adding laidback soul texture is a smooth Mandrill rarity, "Echoes in My Mind," highlighting solid basslines popping over funky horns and catchy vocals. "In Havana," performed by Kenny Vance with Ismael Miranda, boasts deepcut ethnic spicing and seamy hornwork dressed in easy rhythms. Memorable audio clips from the mysterious female DJ informing rival factions of the Warriors' brutal clashes are placed between tracks, as well as the infamous battle cry complete with clacking beer bottles, "Warriors...ome out to playaay" The film's exhausting conclusion is forever cemented to Joe Walsh's desperate survival anthem "In the City," as our heroes walk triumphantly into a dreary Coney Island sunrise. - Craig Curtice, All Music Guide

P.S. If you haven't seen this movie, I got an .avi file over a 700mb. so ask me if you want me to upload it to somewhere.

Year of Release: 1979
Genre: Rock, Soul, Funk, Dark Pop
Bitrate:192-320kbps

Track List:
01. Barry De Vorzon - Theme From "The Warriors"
02. Arnold McCuller - Nowhere To Run
03. Kenny Vance With Ismael Miranda - In Havana
04. Mandrill - Echoes In My Mind
05. Barry De Vorzon - The Fight
06. Joe Walsh - In The City
07. Genya Ravan - Love Is A Fire
08. Barry De Vorzon - Baseball Furies Chase
09. Eric Mercury & William Smith With Johnny Vastano - You're Movin' Too Slow
10. Desmond Child - Last Of An Ancient Breed

Download: 1979-The Warriors OST
Download size: 57,5 mb

Be Back Shortly

I'll be without internet access for a short time. Hopefully it won't last more than a couple of days. I wish that I could have found someone to guest blog during the meantime, but unfortunately I didn't have much notice or time on my hands. I'll be back before you know it though. In the meantime check out the DM blogroll for hundreds of other great blogs: http://music-bloggers.blogspot.com

Update: Unfortunately it looks as if I'm going to be without internet access for a few more days. I'm intercepting someone else's connection at the moment. I may be able to upload a couple of albums soon, but I'll have to load up some albums on my flash drive from my spare hard drive first. I've invited someone else to guest blog during the meantime. Hopefully they will accept my invitation and be able to start soon so that this blog can continue to be updated during my temporary absence. Stay tuned for more updates.

Jim Woodring - The Artist's Eye

Randy Holden - Early Works '64-'67

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 11/17/2013.

I ran across this little gem over at the Garage Music blog, and I thought that I would cross post it here for Aaron since he requested Population II. The Garage Music blog is operated by a real nice guy by the name of Pablo, who does a great job over there. If you enjoy this be sure to stop by his blog and thank him for making this available.

"A nifty compilation of most of the rare mid-'60s singles that Holden played on before joining the Other Half. The two 1966 singles by Sons of Adam are solid psych-pop-punk, particularly the scorching "Saturday's Son." Those four tracks are joined by three previously unreleased Sons of Adam cuts that show an unexpected Zombies/Beau Brummels influence. The remaining six selections are by the Fender IV, including both of their Imperial singles and a
couple of previously unreleased items. It's solid surf music, highlighted by Holden's stellar w all-of-staccato reverb on "Mar Gaya" (also available on Rhino's Legends of Guitar: Surf, Vol. 1) and the propulsive (vocal) surf-Merseybeat hybrid "You Better Tell Me Now." If only it had the third and last Sons of Adam single, this would be a complete retrospective of Holden's pre-Other Half output; unfortunately, that third Sons of Adam single ("Feathered Fish"/"Baby Show the World") was the group's best, so its omission is significant. (It is available on a hard-to-find EP on Moxie that has all three Sons of Adam 45s.) Incidentally, unlike many such import compilations of impossibly obscure '60s music, this is personally authorized by the artist himself.

Amazing compilation of one of the best guitar players of the 60s...remeber that Randy was part of Fender IV (surf-rock), Sons of Adam and Other Half, before joining Blue Cheer. Not a good career ah??? This album contains a lot of great Surf-rawn-rock-music, great covers, yes, "Mr, you are a better..." its just amazing!. Some surf classics as "Highway surfer" and "Mar Gaya" among others. Highly Recommended." - Pablo

Year of Release: 1997
Label: Captain Trip
Genre: Surf, Garage, Psychedelic
Bitrate: VBR

Track List:
1. Take My Hand
2. Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day
3. Saturday's Son
4. Mr. You're A Better Man Than I
5. Without Love
6. I Told You Once Before
7. You Make Me Feel Good
8. Mar Gaya
9. You Better Tell Me Now
10. Malibu Run
11. Everybody Up
12. Highway Surfer
13. Little Ollie

Download: Randy Holden - Early Works '64-'67 (decryption code in comments)

Download Size: 71.6MB

Randy Holden - Population II

Here's another great album I managed to find on DC++. The following notes were included with the download:

LOUD. Very LOUD. Louder than Blue Cheer, who were louder than god.Chris Lockheed of Kak helped ex-Blue Cheer guitarist Randy Holden on the above album, which is an extension of the proto-metal direction he explored on Side Two of the third Blue Cheer album, New! Improved!. Probably because Holden plays all the music himself, the album sounds rather one-dimensional and sparse. It certainly isn't the best record that he's played on, but it's by far the rarest, and is still highly sought-after. The stories which have circulated for years, about it being withdrawn from the market immediately after release, are probably accurate. It is still held in high regard by collectors of primitive heavy rock, and copies were changing hands for hundreds of dollars over twenty years ago.

Holden had earlier played with The Fender IV, Sons Of Adam, The Other Half and Blue Cheer. His early works have been compiled on the CD, Randy Holden Early Works '64-'66: The Fender IV, Sons Of Adam (Captain Trip Records) 1997. It includes both of The Sons Of Adams' 45s for Decca plus three previously unreleased cuts, Without Love, I Told You Once Before and You Make Me Feel Good. It also includes the two 45s for Imperial by The Fender IV plus two previously unreleased tracks, Highway Surfer and Little Ollie.

One year after his departure from Blue Cheer, Randy Holden released this solo album accompanied only by ex-Kak drummer, Chris Lockheed on drums. And until the original master tapes surface and “Population II” gets reissued for real, one must be content with a recording level a little less coherent than “Metallic K.O.” But despite its total lack of fidelity, one thing it still has going strong in the mix is Holden’s lead guitar blasting out relentlessly from the curtain of his Sunn amplifier cabinets, as pictured on the back cover. I count 16 in this photo, but there were probably more. I mean, Holden had to rent an opera house in order to just rehearse, as each speaker could handle 200 watts. However many were fit into the confines of Amigo Studios, the very same studio Blue Cheer had recorded “New! Improved!” with Holden in tow (well, for half an album’s worth, anyway*) is anybody’s guess. But there were enough to make it… LOUD. Very LOUD. Louder than Blue Cheer, who were louder than god.

But Population II were gods one louder: a Power Duo with their amplifiers set at eleven. What we hear is a little under a half an hour’s worth of Holden’s super-slowed and heavy guitar riffing/wailing/soaring. The pure sludge of it will cause cracks in your ceiling, all the windows of your room, the sky itself and possibly even your brain. It’s almost as though Holden is trying to make his drummer sense his purpose is futile and bolt the studio door to leave him alone to continue his deafening work as it dwarfs everything in its path as guitar solo upon guitar solo reduce Lockheed’s drumming to function more as punched pillows in the background. And Holden’s volcanic eruptions continue as slow as molasses and fiery as lava, spewing forth a barrage to drown out even the caterwauling-ness of his own vocals…not to mention his rhythm and bass guitar tracks.

It’s a telling sign that the album’s opener is entitled “Guitar Song”, for this is a man truly in love with his guitar. He loves it so much, it rivals his own vocal lyrics as more a voice-over (or rather, ‘voice-under’ as it’s buried by a couple hundred decibels of guitar) that scream (although by comparison to the lead guitar, is a microscopic whisper in comparison): “I pierce the air with pain -- AND LOVE!!!” as the guitar lines crawl and wriggle while roaring out at top volume simultaneously.

“Fruit & Iceburgs” (sic) is one of the three tracks Holden wrote and played on for Blue Cheer’s “New! Improved!” album*. It’s far bettered here -- far more unrestrained, and much darker and with a psychotic introductory solo that is all vibrato, sustaino and a thousand dead souls howling in the wind akin to the death lament sustain Iommi shakes out at the very end of “Children of The Grave”. A brief track called “Between Time” divides “Fruit & Iceburgs” into two parts and sees the drums getting a bit more audible. It’s also the only place where the tempo swings up by half a notch in tempo, with plenty of vocal punctuation from Holden who coaxing his guitar into a bitching bump and grind as though to give Daddy more sugar as he soars off on the (probably all too) tangible wings of volume. “Fruit & Iceburgs (Conclusion)” fades back in and although it is really just the coda, it takes them little over a minute to end it with drum fills and shrieking sustain of infinity (Playing at a volume as high and long as Population II did must have altered their biochemistry to some degree, and the deliberate volume abuse must have caused their perception of time to slow).

The second side offers more of Holden roaring out at top volume and minimum speed with guitar lines that seem more a barometer of his soul than mere riffs, flowing together like trains of thought constantly converging and splitting apart. “Blue My Mind” has a feel like a far more damaged “Had To Cry Today” by Blind Faith played far heavier, doomier and slower. A wordless chorus almost tries to hurry up the pace of the main theme, but no way -- this is Holden’s experimental journey, and getting there is more important than the destination. “Keeper of The Flame” starts off with a tom-tom pattern from Lockheed that gets practically wiped out by Holden’s sudden departure from Population II’s speed limit: He’s now really kicking up speed and letting loose, with slurred accenting up and down the neck. He then starts wah-wahing and soloing with expertly felt tone and sustain. One short break and feedback flourish sets the stage for the emergence of the ultimate “Population II” riff: one whose tail AND scrotum dragging-ness is of the s-l-o-w-e-s-t order. It’s so slow it’s on the verge of heading back in time. And it’s so heavy it’s off on a forced march to armageddon with attached lead weights.

Year of Release: 1970
Label: Hobbit
Genre: Instrumental, Metal
Bitrate: 192kbps

Track List:
1. Guitar Song
2. Fruit & Iceburgs
3. Between Time
4. Fruit & Iceburgs (Conclusion)
5. Blue My Mind
6. Keeper Of The Flame
Bonus Tracks (From "Guitar God" Album 1996)
7. Dark Eyes
8. Wild Fire
9. Scarlet Rose
10. Pain in My Heart
11. Hell And High Water
12. No Trace
13. Got Love
14. Blue My Mind

Download: Randy Holden - Population II
Download Size: 74MB

Thank You Ally

Thank you Ally for the time and effort you devoted here at Digital Meltd0wn. You more than exceeded my expectations as guest blogger of the week, as I knew you would. Although I was familiar with some of the music you posted, there were several artists/albums that I had not heard of. Judging from the comments, which the minority of the visitors here leave, I'm sure that you introduced countless others to music that they were unfamiliar with. The whole point of inviting guest bloggers here to DM is to share music that I wouldn't post myself, either because I'm not familiar with it, or I'm just not a fan of. It's interesting to visit my own blog as more of a visitor than a participant, and look forward to the latest album to be posted here. Thank you for making that possible. You are more than welcome to return here any time.

A Return To Wonderland

This is my final post here at Digital Meltdown. I hope you all have enjoyed having me as much as I have enjoyed posting here. I would appreciate any feedback you have about my postings here. There is a bit of a melancholy air in my tone because I have so much music to share and I feel I've only revealed a 1/10th of what I am about. This is a very nice blog here and I am sure I will come here time to time to comment and nab some great music. (I pick up a Negativland album here not too long ago. Joy! :D )My time ending here doesn't mean we cannot still talk music. Feel free to contact me, especially if you have an extensive knowledge of music @ my LastFM or MySpace page; which some of you already have or on AIM. Screen name: AllyBeingAlly.

I love learning about new music from people and sharing my finding with others. I leave you with something to remember me by: the American McGee's Alice soundtrack. It is one of my favorite soundtracks and video games of all-time. It's nice dark ambient music by Chris Vrenna (of Tweaker and NIN) Enjoy and take care! I am due for tea with the Mad Hatter in an hour.

Year of Release: 2000
Genre: Dark Ambient, Industrial
Label: Six Degrees Records

Track List

1. Falling Down The Rabbit Hole
2. Village Of The Doomed
3. Fortress Of Doors
4. Fire And Brimstone
5. Wonderland Woods
6. The Funhouse
7. Skool Daze
8. Time To Die
9. I'm Not Edible
10. Taking Tea In Dreamland
11. Fungiferous Flora
12. Tweedle-Dee And Tweedle-Dum
13. The Centipede
14. Pandemonium
15. Flying On The Wings Of Steam
16. Late To The Jabberwocky
17. Pool Of Tears
18. Battle With The Red Queen
19. A Happy Ending
20. Flying On The Wings Of Steam (Remix)

Download: American McGee's Alice soundtrack
Download Size: 65.62 MB

Rapeman- Two Nuns and a Pack Mule/ The Tear Garden- The Last Man to Fly

Many times musicians take a hiatus from their more well-known bands to create new musical experiences. Whether the hiatuses are permanent or temporary, these experiences can produce a lot of good music. I present to you a mix pack of albums by lesser known bands comprised of well-known band members.

The first album in this pack is Rapeman's Two Nuns and a Pack Mule. Rapeman was a noise punk band formed in 1987 by Steve Albini (of Big Black and Shellac fame,) David Wm. Sims and Rey Washam (of Scratch Acid.) The band's name is taken from the Japanese comic, The Rapeman, and has been the target of controversy. On a side note, I have read a few of The Rapeman comics out of curiosity and the story lines are some of the most disturbing story lines I've ever read.

This version of Two Nuns and A Pack Mule also contains the Budd EP. This album is definitely in the vein of the noise rock of Big Black with a more art-rock atmosphere at times. Album highlights include the hilarious Kim Gordon's Panties, Monobrow, and the cover of ZZ Top's Just Got Paid. While, I prefer Big Black as a whole, if you enjoy Shellac, Scratch Acid, or Big Black you will definitely dig this.

Year of Release: 1988
Genre: Noise Rock, Punk Rock
Label: Touch & Go Records

Track List

1. Steak & Black Onions (2:47)
2. Monobrow (3:45)
3. Up Beat (2:15)
4. Coition Ignition Mission (2:23)
5. Kim Gordon's Panties (4:17)
6. Hated Chinee (2:01)
7. Radar Love Lizard (1:50)
8. Marmoset (2:12)
9. Just Got Paid (3:35)
10.Trouser Minnow (4:06)
11.Budd (7:29)
12.Superpussy (2:12)
13.Log Bass (2:23)
14.Dutch Courage (2:40)


Download: Rapeman-Two Nuns and a Pack Mule
Download Size: 97.03 MB



PLUS






The second album is The Tear Garden's The Last Man to Fly. The Tear Garden is a band with an odd mix of psychedelic, experimental electronic, and Gothic elements. The Tear Garden was formed in 1985 by Edward Ka-Spel of The Legendary Pink Dots and cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy. They have often been labeled as industrial as well, perhaps because of the Skinny Puppy connection but industrial, they are not.

The Last Man to Fly was the second full-length album released by The Tear Garden and, in my opinion, their best effort. Key and Ka-Spel were joined by Dwayne Goettel of Skinny Puppy and The Silverman, Ryan Moore, and Martijn de Kleer of The Legendary Pink Dots for this album. I cannot recommend album highlights because this album is a sonic adventure that must be experienced from beginning to end. Imagine Jefferson Airplane or Pink Floyd from the future and possessed by Satan and you have a general idea of this album. If there is anything I could recommend you taking away from me during my guest blog time here, it will be this album. I also recommend if you enjoy this to check out The Legendary Pink Dots as well. I hope you enjoy.

Year of Release: 1992
Genre: Psychedelic, Electronic, Gothic
Label: Nettwerk

Track List

1. Hyperform (5:12)
2. The Running Man (8:22)
3. Turn Me On, Dead Man (6:37)
4. Romulus And Venus (6:08)
5. The Great Lie (4:49)
6. Empathy With The Devil (7:52)
7. Circles In The Sand (3:27)
8. Love Notes & Carnations (5:19)
9. A Ship Named 'Despair' (3:41)
10. White Coats & Haloes (2:19)
11. Isis Veiled (3:22)
12. Last Post (8:58)
13. 3-D Technicolor Scrambled Egg/ Trip Down The Hell Hole (With Canary) (7:10)


Download: The Tear Garden- The Last Man to Fly
Download Size: 120.89 MB

Boo!- Seventies, Eighties, Nineties, Naughties

It's Exam week at my university. If you are like me, this can make for very trying and depressing times. You need something to lift your spirits. Well, look no farther...

Boo! is a quirky, 3-piece band out of South Africa. Known for their unique sound, absence of guitar, and combination of bass, drums, brass instruments and keyboards has led them to describe their sound only as Monki Punk music. It is three parts ska, two parts punk, one part synth-pop...all fun. I was introduced to this band by Ruscca of LastFM. She has an impeccable taste in music and perhaps you may share more in common with her.

Released in 2000, Boo!'s Naughties promises to deliver good vibes and perfect music to usher in summer. Have fun!

Year of Release: 2000
Genre: Monki Punk, Ska, Punk
Label: Monki Punk Productions

Track List

1. Stiki Choon
2. Avrocado Pair
3. Champion
4. Wishboan
5. Bipass
6. Sting
7. Hosanna
8. Franki
9. I Ying I Yang
10. Wannabe
11. Ben Hur
12. #1
13. Krusti (La View re-mix)
14. Blêrrie Hunter

Download: Boo!- Naughties
Download Size: 48.13 MB

Tripping Daisy- Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb

While musicians Tim DeLaughter, Mark Pirro, and Bryan Wakeland maybe best known today for their contributions to the symphonic rock group, The Polyphonic Spree; arguably their best work was created with a prior band named Tripping Daisy. I was introduced to Tripping Daisy through a person from LastFM, whose name I cannot recall now but if you are reading this; thank you, for enriching my music library.

Tripping Daisy was an alternative rock band formed in 1991 in Dallas, TX. I cannot understand for the life of me how this band went virtually unnoticed (much like The Toadies also from the Dallas area) in a time where post-grunge bands like Bush seemed to flourish. They possessed all of the qualities that could have made them a huge success in the late 90s; concise, psychedelic, grunge-pop songs with lyrics reminiscent of The Beatles. Tripping Daisy disbanded in 1998, shortly after the death of lead guitarist, Wes Berggren, but not before they released what is widely-considered their masterpiece amongst their fans, Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb.

Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb is a 15 track, 57 minute slice of psychedelic pop-rock heaven. This is one of those albums that must be listened to from start to finish, as the transitions from track to track are flawless. Stand out tracks include, "Waited A Light Year," a masterful and the longest track on the album (6 minutes) that teeters on the brink of shoegaze yet maintains its pop form and remains quite polished. "Geeareohdoubleyou," "Human Contact" and their two-in-one cover of Brianiac's "Indian Poker, Pt. 2" and "Indian Poker, Pt. 3" are the other highlights of the album.

Whether you are a fan of psychedelic pop rock, a fan of bands like The Flaming Lips, or a curious The Polyphonic Spree fan; check out this underrated pop rock gem.

Year of Release: 1998
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Alternative-Pop Rock, Post-Grunge
Label: Island

Track List

1. Field Day Jitters
2. Waited a Light Year
3. Sonic Bloom
4. Bandaids for Hire
5. Mechanical Breakdown
6. Your Socks Have No Name
7. Geeareohdoubleyou
8. New Plains Medicine
9. Our Drive to the Sun / Can a Man Mark It?
10. Human Contact
11. Pillar
12. 8 Ladies
13. About the Movies
14. Tiny Men
15. Indian Poker Pt. 2 & 3

Download: Tripping Daisy- Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb
Download Size: 93.72 MB