New Blog for the Digital Meltd0wn Blogroll

I've decided to create a separate blog devoted entirely to the blogroll. The list has become much bigger than I had originally anticipated. There are well over 200 music blogs listed now, and I'm listing more each day. Please update your bookmarks, or check out the list if you haven't already. I'm sure there's a little something for everyone on it. The url to the new blogroll is:

http://music-bloggers.blogspot.com

Various Artists - Hell Comes To Your House

This was originally posted on Nitegaunt Media, an upcoming Death Rock blog. Do yourself a favor and check it out if you haven't already.


One of the greatest compilations ever! This album introduced me to some cool shit way back when. I remember when my friend Scott got it on vinyl when we were in high school. We used to sit in his tiny room getting high, playing chess, and listen to this. This is a gem for those who are collectors and completists as well as a great start for anyone who isn't that familiar with the genre. Everything from some early Social Distortion to Christian Death, Super Heroines, and even Redd Kross covering New York Dolls. Highly recommended. I think this is out of print again. It was almost impossible to find for years (at least on the east coast). I picked up this copy at a great little record store that may still be in Asheville, North Carolina, called Green Eggs And Jams. So if you're ever in their neighborhood check 'em out.

-Psyche Zenobia


(Year of Release: 1981)

Track List:
1. Lude Boy - Social Distortion
2. Telling Them - Social Distortion
3. Daddy's Gone Mad - Legal Weapon
4. Puss 'N' Boots - Red Cross
5. Out Of My Head - Modern Warfare
6. Street Fightin' Man - Modern Warfare
7. Deception - Secret Hate
8. New Routine/Suicide - Secret Hate
9. Suburban Bitch - Conservatives
10. Just Cuz/Nervous - Conservatives
11. Evil - Grave
12. Concerned Citizen - Grave
13. 45 Grave - Grave
14. Dogs - Christian Death
15. Reject Yourself - 100 Flowers
16. Marry It - Rhino 39
17. Death On The Elevator - Super Heroines
18. Embalmed Love - Super Heroines

Download: VA - Hell Comes To Your House (54.1MB)

100 Masterpieces - The Top 100 of Classical Music - Volumes 1-10

I thought it was about time that I offered up some classical music for a change here. This 10 disc set features 100 of the greatest classical songs in Western Classical Music. With selections from numerous composers, it is an easy way to familiarize oneself with some of the most popular classical works and excerpts. A pleasant listen for the initiated too. These were originally released as two compilations consisting of 5 volumes each, with the first covering the period of time between 1685-1841, and the second volume covering 1842-1928. Since my time is limited, I will post each of the 10 volumes individually.

Volume 1: 1865-1730
1. Bach - Toccata in D minor
2. Pachelbel - Canon in D
3. Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st movement
4. Handel - Water Music, Suite No. 2 in D
5. Purcell - Trumpet Tune and Air
6. Bach - Air (from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D)
7. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons - Spring
8. Albinoni - Adagio
9. Vivaldi - Mandoline Concerto in C, RV 425
10. Bach - Minuet and Badinerie (from Orchestral Suite No. 2)

Download: 100 Masterpeices - Volume 1 (82MB)

Volume 2: 1731-1775
1. Handel - "Hallelujah" from Messiah
2. Gluck - Dance of the Blessed Spirits, from "Orpheus and Eurydice"
3. Bach - Sinfonia in G, from "Christmas Oratorio"
4. Mozart - Violin Concerto No. 3 in G, 1st movement
5. Handel - Largo, from "Xerxes"
6. Vivaldi - Flute Concerto in G minor "La Notte", VI. Allegro
7. Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, from "Solomon"
8. Bach - Oboe Concerto in D minor, 2nd movement
9. Handel - Concerto grosso in A minor op. 6 No. 4
10. Mozart - Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, 2nd movement

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 2 (79.5MB)

Volume 3: 1776-1787
1. Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1st movement
2. Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, 2nd movement ("Elvira Madigan"
3. Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro - Overture
4. Mozart - Flute Concerto No. 2 in D, 2nd movement
5. Mozart - Rondo Alla Turca, from Piano Sonata in A
6. Mozart - Don Giovanni - Overture
7. Mozart - Horn Conerto No. 3 in E flat, 2nd movement
8. Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, 1st movement
9. Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro - March
10. Mozart - Serenata Notturna

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 3 (83.3MB)

Volume 4: 1788-1810
1. Mozart - Symphony No. 40, 1st movement
2. Beethoven - "Moonlight" Sonata, 1st movement
3. Haydn - Symphony No. 94, "Surprise", 2nd movement
4. Mozart - The Magic Flute - Overture
5. Beethoven - Fur Elise
6. Haydn - Emperor's Hymn, from Sring Quartet in C
7. Beethoven - Symphony No. 5, 1st movement
8. Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A, 2nd movement
9. Beethoven - Minuet in G
10. Haydn - Trumpet Concerto in E flat, 3rd movement

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 4 (79.4MB)

Volume 5: 1811-1841
1. Rossini - The Barber of Seville - Overture
2. Schubert - Symphony No. 8 in B minor, "Unfinished"
3. Mendelssohn - Spring Song
4. Chopin - Polonaise in A, Op. 40 No. 3, "Military"
5. Schubert - Ballet Music in G, from "Rosamunde"
6. Weber - Der Freischutz - Overture
7. Schubert - Ave Maria
8. Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 4 in A, "Italian", 1st movement
9. Schumann - Traumerci
10. Schubert - German Dance No. 1

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 5 (85.2MB)

Volume 6: 1842-1853
1. Mendelssohn - Wedding March, from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
2. Liszt - Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat
3. Verdi - Nabucco - Overture
4. Schumann - The Merry Peasant
5. Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
6. Wagner - Lohengrin - Prelude to Act 3
7. Verdi - La Traviata - Prelude to Act 1
8. Wagner - Tannhauser - Arrival of the Guests at Wartburg
9. Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E minor, 2nd movement
10. Suppe - Poet and Peasant - Overture

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 6 (81.3MB)

Volume 7: 1854-1866
1. Offenbach - Orpheus in the Underworld - Overture
2. Rubinstein - Melody in F
3. Liszt - Les Preludes
4. Brahms - Waltz in A flat
5. Verdi - The Force of Destiny - Overture
6. Grieg - I Love You
7. Smetana - The Bartered Bride - Overture
8. Offenbach - Barcarolle, from "The Tales of Hoffmann"
9. Strauss II - Tritsch Tratsch Polka
10. Suppe - Light Cavalry - Overture

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 7 (63.6MB)

Volume 8: 1867-1876
1. Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, 1st movement (excerpt)
2. Brahms - Cradle Song
3. Smetana - The Moldau
4. Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries, from "The Valkyrie"
5. Grieg - Morning, from "Peer Gynt"
6. Bizet - Les Toreadors, from "Carmen"
7. Delibes - Notturno, from "Coppelia"
8. Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave, Op. 31
9. Bizet - L'Arlesienne - Intermezzo
10. Strauss II - The Blue Danube - Waltz

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 8 (83.9MB)

Volume 9: 1877-1893
1. Tchaikovsky - Polonaise, from "Eugene Onegin"
2. Dvorak - Symphony No. 9, from "The New World"
3. Tchaikovsky - Waltz of the Flowers, from "The Nutcracker"
4. Rimsky-Korsakov - Alborado, from "Capriccio Espagnol"
5. Grieg - The Last Spring
6. Dvorak - Slavonic Dance No. 2
7. Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty - Introduction
8. Wagner - Siegfried's Death and Funeral March, from "Twilight of the Gods"
9. Dvorak - Songs My Mother Taught Me
10. Strauss II - Emperor Waltz

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 9 (82.4MB)

Volume 10: 1894-1928
1. Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra - Fanfare
2. Mahler - Symphony No. 5 - Adagietto
3. Sibelius - Finlandia
4. Rimsky-Korsakov - Dance of the Bumble Bee
5. Massenet - Meditation, from "Thais"
6. Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance - March No. 1
7. Dvorak - Humoresque
8. Sibelius - Valse Triste
9. Strauss II - Vienna Blood - Waltz
10. Ravel - Bolero

Download: 100 Masterpieces - Volume 10 (89.79MB)

Various Artists - Southern Fried Funk

Soul Music from America's deep south is typically distinguished by its raw human spirit and its earthy down-home feel which so often mirrors the people who made it and the places where it was made. But, despite its apparent simplicity, the music is not very easily defined - and it even more difficult to emulate. The essence and atmosphere of the music was fiercely retained by many southern soul artists and producers - particularly the independent operators - at a time when music from other parts of the USA became more sophisticated and began to lose regional idenitity. The flavour is everything. This albums presents a selection of funky tracks from a rich period in the history of southern soul.

For New Orleans music collectors, or fans of funk, this CD has some hard (or impossible) to find obscurities by Warren Lee, Eldridge Holmes, David Batiste and the Gladiators (the great and un-issued “Funky Hips”), and Diamond Joe, plus several Eddie Bo projects, and a funky Wardell Quezergue production on Jewell Bass.
(Year of Release: 2006)

Track List:
1. Get Out Of My Life Woman - Allen Toussaint
2. Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On) - Lee Dorsey
3. Underdog Backstreet - Warren Lee
4. Pop, Popcorn Children - Eldridge Homes
5. It's A Hang Up Baby - Z.Z. Hill
6. Lonely Weekend - Tony Borders
7. The Book - Eldridge Holmes
8. The ABC Song - Diamond Joe
9. Real Soul - Ted Ford
10. High On The Hog - Tony Borders
11. Funky Soul (Parts 1&2) - David Batiste & The Gladiators
12. Can I Be Your Squeeze? - Chuck Carbo & The Soul Finders
13. I Think I'd Do It - Z.Z. Hill
14. Make It Real (Ride On) - Betty Adams
15. Funky Hips (Parts 1&2) - David Batiste & The Gladiators
16. Garden Of Four Trees - The Explosions
17. I'm A Carpenter (Part 1) - David Robinson
18. I'm A Carpenter (Part 2) - David Robinson
19. Can You Handle It - Eddie Bradford
20. I Tried It And Liked It - Jewel Bass
21. Milk - The Basic
22. You Made Your Bed - Eddie Bradford

Download: Various Artists - Southern Fried Funk (62.6MB)

The Music Machine - (Turn On) The Music Machine

The group came together as The Ragamuffins in 1965, but became The Music Machine in 1966. The single "Talk Talk" was recorded at RCA studios on July 30, 1966.
Their debut album, (Turn On) The Music Machine, was released in 1966 on the Original Sound label. Seven of the twelve tracks were originals, written by Bonniwell. One of these, "Talk Talk," became a Top 20 hit in the U.S. The follow-up single, "The People In Me," peaked at #66. Bonniwell blamed the weak showing of this single on a supposed feud between the band's manager and a top record executive. Four cover songs were included on this release, due to record company pressure.

After a promotional tour of the U.S., the rest of the original line-up, which included Ron Edgar (drums), Mark Landon (guitar), Keith Olsen (bass) and Doug Rhodes (organ), left Bonniwell, due to internal conflicts. In 1967, Music Machine (essentially only Bonniwell at this point) were signed to Warner Bros. and re-named The Bonniwell Music Machine. The name was changed to give more prominence to the band's core member, songwriter and vocalist Sean Bonniwell. A self-titled LP was released that year, made up mostly of previously recorded singles with the original line-up. The recording spawned no big hits, despite the inclusion of a few more pop-oriented songs
(Year of Release: 1966)

Track List:
1. Talk Talk
2. Trouble
3. Cherry Cherry
4. Taxman
5. Some Other Drum
6. Masculine Intuition
7. The People In Me
8. See See Rider
9. Wrong
10. 96 Tears
11. Come On In
12. Hey Joe

Download: The Music Machine - (Turn On) The Music Machine (43.7MB)

VA - Only For Real Losers!

This wonderful compilation was originally posted by RYP over at the TWILIGHTZONE! Be sure to stop by and check out his blog if you haven't already.

If you dig those marvelous Diggin' For Gold LPs, get this platter before it's out of print (which sadly is probably the case as you read this). The focus is the same: transworld beat/pop/punk from the '64-68 era.

The acid-rocker "Midsummer Night" by Five Travellers is one of the best things I've heard coming out of Czechoslovakia (OK, not much of a competition here, but believe me, it's a great tune). "Delincuente" by Los Hitters is actually my fave song ever recorded in Mexico; it just doesn't sound like anything else - Latin beat punk at its best. I could use the same words to describe "That's All I Know" by The Avalons, but being from Sweden, their beat is way more Latin than themselves. Guy Darrell's version of "Evil Woman" is just plain evil - wild freakbeat sound mixed with a swinging mod-jazz vibe. And those are just some of the best moments of Side One.
Side Two opens with more mod/punk action thanks to Motivation (produced by Aussie Legend Johnny Rebb). On the insanity scale, The Brazilian Bitles rise fairly high, destroying "Wild Thing". Even sicker are Shades Of Blue Inc from Malaysia, at least recorded there ("It's been a hard day's night, as John Lennon might say. Then how could he know? He can't see through his hair"). Ballad lovers will enjoy Tony Ronald's "It Has Been Too Long", and I don't want to forget The Gentlemen and Los Mustang. But again, that side is strong through the whole groove.

And if you still ask for more, the sleeve glows in the dark! You'll find the only sour point in the notes: why did they have to bullshit us about "Gotta Get A Move On" by The Liverpool Five being their rarest song, only issued on a Tha‹ EP - it's on their second LP for Christ sake. I thank those guys for making this stuff available again, but I just couldn't let them get away with this. - Laurent Bigot (Originally published in Ugly Things #18, 2000)
(Year of Release: 1999)

Track List:
1. Los Yorks - Abrazame (Peru)
2. The Brains - Graduale (Italy)
3. The Needles - Where Can She Be (Finland)
4. Five Travellers - Midsummer Night (Czechoslovakia)
5. Os Baobas - Bye Bye My Darling (Brazil)
6. The Streams - Share My Loneliness (Holland)
7. The Avalons - That's All I Know (Sweden)
8. Los Hitters - Delincuente (Mexico)
9. Guy Darrell - Evil Woman (U.K.)
10. Motivation - Boy Meets Girl (Australia)
11. The Wizards - I Need Your Love (Norway)
12. The Brazilian Bitles - Tema Baseado Na Coisa (Brazil)
13. The Wild Ones - Aozora No Arukagiri (Japan)
14. Liverpool Five - Gotta Get A Move On (U.K.)
15. Tony Ronald & His Kroners - It Has Been Too Long (Holland)
16. The Gentlemen - It Feels So Good (Switzerland)
17. Los Mustang - No Vendras (Spain)
18. Shades Of Blue Inc. - I'm Gonna Lose You (Malaya)

Download: Various Artists - Only For Real Losers! (66.3MB)

Buckethead - Secret Recipe DVD - 4 Unreleased Tracks

As requested.. here's 4 previously unreleased tracks from Buckethead. The following tracks were released exclusively with the Secret Recipe DVD. This upload does not contain all the tracks that were included on the DVD, only the 4 tracks that were previously unreleased. These tracks represent his early work and most of them were recorded in 1988. They have a more raw energetic sound to them than some of Buckethead's later efforts.

Track List
1. Brazos
2. Soowee
3. Count Scapula
4. John Merrick Lectures

Download: Buckethead - 4 Unreleased Tracks (23.5MB)

Dub Narcotic Sound System - Industrial Breakdown EP

The indie-funk collective Dub Narcotic Sound System was spearheaded by vocalist Calvin Johnson, the former frontman of the legendary Beat Happening as well as the founder of the famed K Records label. Named in honor of Johnson's own Olympia, WA-based basement studio Dub Narcotic, the project was begun in 1994 with a rapid-fire series of funk, rap, and reggae influenced singles including "Bite," "Fuck Shit Up," "Booty Run," and "Shake-a-Puddin'". From the outset Johnson was the group's sole constant member, although over the course of subsequent releases, including the EPs Industrial Breakdown, Ridin' Shotgun, and Ship to Shore, the revolving lineup grew to include Olympia scenesters like Lois Maffeo as well as Larry Butler, Todd Ranslow, and Brian Weber, all three members of the hip-hop unit Dead Presidents. The first Dub Narcotic Sound System full-length, Rhythm Record, Vol. One: Echoes From the Scene Control Room, appeared in 1995; later efforts included 1996's Boot Party and 1998's Out of Your Mind. Sideways Soul, a collaboration with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, followed in 1999.

More organically funky than many Dub Narcotic releases, the five-track Industrial Breakdown EP is a good starting point for new listeners, nicely summarizing the group's M.O. -- the title track sports a great chicken-scratch guitar lead and a pulsating bassline, while "Typecast Sanction" (inspired by their earlier remix of Jon Spencer's "Soul Typecast") spotlights Calvin Johnson's increasing fascination with studio trickery.
(Year of Rlease: 1995)

Track List:
1. Industrial Breakdown
2. The Beat From 20,000 Fathoms
3. Typcast Sanction
4. Run Silent, Run Deep
5. (Industrial) Revolution Inclusion

Download: Dub Narcotic Soundsystem - Industrial Breakdown (28.2 MB)

Where The Pyramid Meets the Eye - A Tribute to Roky Erickson

Roky Erickson often seems to be better known in rock circles for his well publicized psychological maladies and his less-than-gentle treatment at the hands of Texas' judicial system than for his music and that's a shame. While Roky's habit of informing anyone who asks that he's a Martian or is in contact with Satan makes for good fanzine copy, the best reason to be interested in Erickson is his songwriting there's a graceful, vivid surrealism to his lyrical style that's endured far better than most of the noodlers who came out of the psychedelic rock movement, and his later bursts of horror film fancy conjure up a troubling tension that's laughed at only by the shallow or ignorant. Roky first gained fame as the lead singer of the 13th Floor Elevators, and ushering the an age of psychedelic rock with their debut album "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators". When Erickson's legal problems came to a head in the late 1980s, longtime fan and Sire Records executive Bill Bentley assembled Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson to raise money for Erickson, as well as drawing attention to the unique beauty of his music. Like most multi-artist tribute albums, the results are a bit uneven; some of these artists seem to have appeared out of convenience rather than any great love of Roky's music, and a few of the interpretations are simple miscalculations (Thin White Rope's Guy Kyser really goes overboard on his version of "Burn the Flames"). But there are a several moments of very real beauty and power here, especially from the artists who share Erickson's Texas heritage (Doug Sahm and ZZ Top) rock out on their contributions, the Butthole Surfers' version of "Earthquake" is one of their finest moments on wax, and T-Bone Burnett's take on "Nothing in Return" is a heart-tugging gem. Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye is a sincere if inconsistent tribute to his work, and shows how well his songs can translate to the styles of other artists.

Track List:
1. Reverberation (Doubt) - ZZ Top
2. If You Have Ghosts - John Wesley Harding & The Good Liars
3. I Had To Tell You - Poi Dog Pondering
4. She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own) - Judybats
5. Slip lnside This House - Primal Scream
6. You Don't Love Me Yet - Bongwater
7. I Have Always Been Here Before - Julian Cope
8. You're Gonna Miss Me - Doug Sahm & Sons
9. It's A Cold Night For Alligators - Southern Pacific
10. Fire Engine - Richard Lloyd
11. Bermuda - Vibrating Egg
12. I Walked With A Zombie - R.E.M.
13. Earthquake - Butthole Surfers
14. Don't Slander Me - Lou Ann Barton
15. Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog) - Sister Double Happiness
16. Burn The Flames - Thin White Rope
17. Postures (Leave Your Body Behind) - Chris Thomas
18. Nothing In Return - T Bone Burnett
19. Reverberation (Doubt) - The Jesus & Mary Chain

Download: Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye
Download Size: 103MB

VA - Meltdown on Mediaburn

Here's the last request I'm going to do for the week. I'll start posting requests once I've finished posting a few albums of my own choice. This album was nearly impossible to find and I was unable to find out any information about it. Nevertheless, it's a great compilation of raw garage rock songs that will give you plenty of listening pleasure. So here's Meltdown on Mediaburn as requested....

Track List:
1. The Purple Things - Wild Man
2. The Wigs - 7 & 7 Is
3. The X-Men - Little Girl
4. The Tall Boys - Last Night
5. The Atoms - Shot Down
6. The Sting-Rays - I Want My Woman
7. The Sting-Rays - My Flash On You (Live)
8. The Golden Horde - Dig That Crazy Grave
9. The Bad Karma Beckons - Can't Stop
10. The Cannibals - Screaming Abdabs
11. The Purple Things - Valley of the Purple
12. The Surfadelics - Bad Little Girl
13. Thee Milkshakes - I Want You
14. The Locomotives - Nuclear Winter Blues

Download: VA - Meltdown on Mediaburn (47.3MB)

The Candy Snatchers - The Candy Snatchers

This was originally uploaded and posted at Born In The Basement. Up till this point I've only had the chance to listen to a single song by the Snatchers entitled Run You Down, so it's nice to finally be able to hear a full length effort by the group.

The year 1996,saw the Candy Snatchers first phenomenal full length album finally released. Originally recorded in ‘95 their were some problems with the DAT’s. They were sent back to the studio and stolen! This lead to many delays, and they ended up mastering the album off a cassette of the session. There were further delays in getting the album out due to their label, Safehouse Records. The album was reviewd in many magazines as best album of 1996 such as maximum Rock n Roll.
(Year of Release: 1996)

Track List:
01. She’s Gettin’ Loose
02. Yeah You
03. Will I…
04. Motion
05. Nightcrawler
06. Fed Up With You
07. This Town
08. Sympathy Trip
09. Haunted Road
10. Turnin’ Blue
11. Matty’s Room
12. Sauced Again
13. It’s To Late
14. Why I Drink
15. Whisperin’ Wind
16. Tomato Man

Download: The Candy Snatchers - The Candy Snatchers (43.3MB)

13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (1967)

On their groundbreaking debut album, "The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators", the 13th Floor Elevators sometimes sounded as if they were still learning how to work with the strange beast of their own creation known as psychedelic rock. But their second set, 1967's Easter Everywhere, found them a great deal more comfortable and confident with their loose and hypnotically trippy approach. Easter Everywhere doesn't have an out-of-the-box classic cut like "You're Gonna Miss Me" or "Fire Engine" from The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, but in many ways it's a more cohesive and consistent work, and the subtle but effective structures of the longer tracks grow and develop through repeated listenings, while rockers like "She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)" and "Levitation" pack a surprising punch. Stacy Sutherland was never a blazing guitar hero, but his concise aural punctuations on the epochal "Slip Inside This House" and a superb cover of Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" are perfectly suited to the material. In addition, the rhythm section of Dan Galindo on bass and Danny Thomas on drums locks these songs into place with confidence and skill. The strange patterns of Tommy Hall's electric jug playing are as gloriously bewildering as ever, merging the music of the spheres with an alien attack, and Roky Erickson's vocals make even the most acid-damaged poesy sound passionate, graceful, and wildly alive. And Roky and the Elevators never sounded sweeter and saner than they did on the penultimate tune, "I Had to Tell You," with Roky seemingly offering a postscript to his many sad years to follow with the words "If you fear I'll lose my spirit/Like a drunkard's wasted wine/Don't you even think about it/I'm feeling fine." Even if less influential than The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Easter Everywhere is every bit as compelling and a true benchmark of early psychedelic rock. - Allmusic
(Year of Release: 1967)

Track List:
1. Slip Inside This House
2. Slide Machine
3. She Lives In ( A Time Of Her Own)
4. Nobody To Love
5. Baby Blue
6. Earthquake
7. Dust
8. I've Got Levitation
9. I Had To Tell You
10. Postures (Leave Your Body Behind)

Download: 13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere
Download Size: 59.6MB

Cosmic Psychos - Cosmic Psychos

Here's the Cosmic Psychos self-titled LP as requsted by an anonymous user. The Cosmic Psychos are a rock band based in Melbourne and rural Victoria in Australia. An underground band that has only ever achieved limited recognition, they were cited as a significant influence on the Seattle grunge scene of 90s. In particular they have been referenced by members of Mudhoney and Pearl Jam and have supported both bands. Known for their droning, fuzzed-out bass and wah-wah guitar with repetitive lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos have a simple sound that works well in context and remained largely untouched since they formed in 1982 when they evolved from the short lived Bum Steers and first achieved notoriety for their demo ‘Custom Credit’ which received enormous airplay on Melbourne public radio station 3PBS.

It was later released on the Down On The Farm mini LP for Mr Spaceman Records which also released their debut LP. The band later moved to Survival Records releasing Go The Hack which was later licensed to Sub Pop Records. They eventually signed to Amphetamine Reptile Records for the American market for the release of their 1991 album, Blokes You Can Trust. That album was produced by then little-known producer, Butch Vig and it produced a song that became an enduring fan favourite, "Dead Roo". A song about perils of Australian highway hazards.

The band went on to release Self Totalled and Oh What A Lovely Pie. In 2006, after a lengthy quiet period, the Psychos issued Off Ya Cruet on Sydney’s Timberyard Records.
(Year of Release: 1987)

Track List:
1. Decadence
2. Going Down
3. Lead Me Astray
4. No Complication
5. Rain On You
6. Quarter To Three
7. Tell Me That You Love Me
8. Jellyfish
9. Rambo
10. Can't Come In
11. 74 Seconds
12. David Lee Roth

Download: Cosmic Psychos - Cosmic Psychos (61.6MB)

VA - Back From The Grave Volume 1

Here's Back From the Grave Volume 1, as requested by Bl4cky


Track List
1. My Confusion - Elite
2. Do You Understand Me - Jujus
3. Yeah - Alarm Clocks
4. No Reason To Complain - Alarm Clocks
5. That's The Bag I'm In - Fabs
6. Cry - Malibus
7. I'll Come Again - Legends
8. Rats Revenge Part 1 - Rats
9. Rats Revenge Part 2 - Rats
10. We All Love Peanut Butter - One Way Streets
11. Night Of The Phantom - Larry & The Blue Notes
12. Jack The Ripper - One Way Streets
13. Psycho - Swamp Rats
14. Summertime Blues - Outsiders
15. They Prefer Blondes - Banshees
16. Surfside Date - Triumphs
17. Scream - Ralph Nielsen & The Chancellors
18. The Crusher - Novas
19. They Can't Hurt Me - Lyrics
20. Keep In Touch - Canadian Rogues
21. Cry, Cry, Cry - Unrelated Segments
22. Yes I Do - Hatfields
23. Be My Queen - Chentelles
24. Get Out Of My Life - Little Willie & The Adolescents
25. See If I Care - Ken & The 4th Dimension
26. I Loved Her So - Me & Them Guys
27. Ain't Comin' Back - Intruders Five
28. I Can't Win - Monacles
29. I'm Not There - Lil Boys Blue17

Download: Back From The Grave Volume 1 (121.7MB)

The Mummies - Shitsville (1990)

This album was originally posted by hdvns on Thee Head Vein blog. Be sure to check it out if you haven't already.

The Mummies' Shitsville 7-inch is a pretty damn remarkable one. Though released very early in their career, it still contains four of their best songs: "(Doin') The Kirk," "A Girl Like You," "Die!," and "That's Mighty Childish." The Mummies couldn't have known at this point the impact they would have on the garage-punk movement, but you can't tell that from listening to Shitsville.
(Year of Release: 1990)

Track List:
1. A Girl Like You
2. That's Mighty Childish
3. (Doin') The Kirk
4. Die!

Download: The Mummies - Shitsville

NoMeansNo - Wrong

Following the release of Wrong, Nomeansno could have safely laid down their instruments knowing that they'd just put out the definitive jazzcore album. From the opening bass thuds to the final notes, there's nothing on the album that could be considered a misstep. The playing is incredibly skilled, with the Wright brothers effortlessly shifting tempos and time signatures and Kerr's razor sharp lyrics clicking right into place. Throughout, the album is fused with a sense of energy that was missing from Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed. Best of all is the silly "Rags and Bones" with Kerr (referred to on this release as "none of your f*cking business") claiming that he is "married to a cigarette butt lying in the gutter" over some of the most complex instrumentation you're ever likely to find in good ol' punk rawk. Although they still had a number of albums in them, Nomeansno would never top this one.

Track List:
1. It's Catching Up
2. The Tower
3. Brainless Wonder
4. Tired Of Waiting
5. Stocktaking
6. The End Of All Things
7. Big Dick
8. Two Lips, Two Lungs And One Tonque
9. Rags And Bones
10. Oh No! Bruno!
11. All Lies
12. Life In Hell
13. I Am Wrong

Download: NoMeansNo - Wrong (70.2MB)

Harvey Mandel - Righteous

In the mold of Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Mike Bloomfield, Mandel is an extremely creative rock guitarist with heavy blues and jazz influences. And like those guitarists, his vocal abilities are basically nonexistent, though Mandel, unlike some similar musicians, has always known this, and concentrated on recordings that are entirely instrumental, or feature other singers. He recorded some intriguing (though erratic) work on his own that anticipated some of the better elements of jazz-rock fusion, showcasing his concise chops, his command of a multitude of tone pedal controls, and an eclecticism that found him working with string orchestras and country steel guitar wizards. Mandel got his first toehold in the fertile Chicago white blues-rock scene of the mid-'60s, and made his first recordings as the lead guitarist for harmonica virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite. Enticed to go solo by Blue Cheer producer Abe Kesh, Harvey cut a couple of nearly wholly instrumental albums for Phillips in the late '60s that were underground FM radio favorites, establishing him as one of the most versatile young American guitar lions.

He gained his most recognition, though, not as a solo artist, but as a lead guitarist for Canned Heat in 1969 and 1970, replacing Henry Vestine and appearing with the band at Woodstock. In the mid-'70s, when the Rolling Stones were looking for a replacement for Mick Taylor, Mandel auditioned for a spot in the group; although he lost to Ron Wood, his guitar does appear on two cuts on the Stones' 1976 album, Black & Blue. Recording intermittently since then as a solo artist and a sessionman, his influence on the contemporary scene is felt via the two-handed fretboard tapping technique that he introduced on his 1973 album Shangrenade, later employed by Eddie Van Halen, Stanley Jordan, and Steve Vai.

Righteous is not as consistent as his debut , due to the presence of a few pedestrian blues-rock numbers. The better tracks, though, show Mandel continuing to expand his horizons with imagination, particularly on the cuts with string and horn arrangements by noted jazz arranger Shorty Rogers. Harvey's workout on Nat Adderley's "Jazz Samba" is probably his best solo performance, and an obvious touchstone for the Latin-rock hybrid of Carlos Santana (whose own debut came out the same year); on the other side of the coin, "Boo-Bee-Doo" is one of his sharpest and snazziest straight blues-rockers.
(Year of Release: 1969)

Track List
1. Righteous
2. Jive Samba
3. Love of Life
4. Poontang
5. Just a Hair More
6. Summer Sequence
7. Short's Stuff
8. Boo-Bee-Doo
9. Campus Blues

Harvey Mandel - Righteous (52.7MB)

Thee Milkshakes - Talking 'Bout Milkshakes

Here's more Billy Childish, as requested. This time in the form of The(e) Milkshakes. No other group since the sixties has captured the exuberance and rawness of the original British beat group sound as well as the Milkshakes. 'Wild' Billy Childish and his merry men released 13 albums as The Milkshakes between 1980 and 1985 and a further 20 albums by spin-off and associated groups such as The Del-Monas, Mighty Caesars & Thee Headcoats, and have in the intervening years, created a veritable cottage industry. Big Beat has always enjoyed a special relationship with The Milkshakes.

Track List:
1. She'll be mine
2. Pretty baby
3. For she
4. I want'cha for my little girl
5. Ruhrgebeat
6. After midnight
7. Bull's nose
8 . Shed country
9. Don't love another
10. Tell me where's that girl
11. Can'tcha see
12. Love you the whole night through 13. Nothing you can say or do
14. I say you lie

Download: Thee Milkshakes - Talking 'Bout Milkshakes (23.3MB)

Bluetip - Join Us

Bluetip formed from the ashes of Swiz, one of the most popular bands in the younger DC hardcore scene of the late 80s. Their singer, Shawn Brown, had been the original Dag Nasty vocalist, and they were on the Sammich Records label, which was distributed by Dischord Records. In 1995, several years after Swiz broke up, former members Jason Farrell and Dave Stern reunited to form Bluetip, with bassist Jake Kump and drummer Zac Eller (Worlds Collide). Bluetip had a serious work-ethic, they released 3 albums on Dischord Records, as well as several singles and split releases on various labels, and toured relentlessly, making many trips through the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Inner-band turmoil resulted in a number of line-up changes. Zac left shortly after the release of their first album, "Dischord No. 101", and was eventually replaced by Dave Bryson. Dave Stern left after the release of "Join Us" and was replaced by Brian Clancy, leaving Jason and Jake as the only original members. In 2001, when Jason moved to New York, the band eventually folded.

Bluetip plays pure, unadulterated rock, mixing sneering vocals with wailing guitars and stop-start time changes. This is fierce, angular post-punk, melding the energy of Fugazi and Jawbox with an intense, swelling melodicism. Singer Jason Farrell contorts his voice to meld with the intense guitars and pounding rhythm section, riding the manic time changes like a rubber skateboarder.
(Year of Release: 1998)

Track List:
1. Yellow Light
2. Cheap Rip
3. Join Us
4. Castanet
5. Carbon Copy
6. Salinas
7. F-
8. I Even Drive Like A Jerk
9. Bad Flat
10. Jersey Blessed
11. Cold Start
12. Slovakian

Download: Bluetip - Join Us (55.3MB)

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Lost Picking Flowers In The Woods

Pittsburgh collective Black Moth Super Rainbow is in love with the sounds of cheap and vintage keyboards; the Casio's dinky chime, the Rhodes' percussive skip and the Moog's flatulent squeal. With each successive release, BMSR jettisons a superfluous element of its music in order to give listeners a stronger concentration of the analog warmth that only those aforementioned instruments can provide. On their 2004 album Start a People, BMSR replaced the raspy whispers that made their previous work an acquired taste with the smoother sound of the Vocoder. On their followup EP Lost, Picking Flowers in the Woods, they got rid of the slow, queasy vibrato.

Lost, Picking Flowers in the Woods boasts some of the group's most upbeat material yet. The title track begins with an ascending melody played on a Rhodes piano, which is then drowned out by booming drum programming straight out of a Chemical Brothers record. A hissing synthesizer line swoops in during the second half, and the song ends with the brash sound of gongs being struck. Before the song can come to a full stop, it is interrupted by the second track, Caterpillar House,� which sounds like an even faster version of the title track. Every song runs right into the next, giving the EP a suite-like flow; the brief, minimal ditties gain more purpose when book-ended by longer, more developed tracks. By itself, the 90-second Chinese Witch Guy with an Axe�is merely a low-fi loop experiment that happens to have an awesome title. It sounds better, though, when placed between the wistful Drippy Eye� and the live-band funk of Flowers Grow Here.

As with BMSR's previous work, listening to this EP makes me feel as if I'm being serenaded in the sunshine by the universe's most benevolent aliens. This group's music comes from a parallel universe that I wouldn't mind getting lost in more often.
(Year of Release: 2006)

Track List:
1. Lost, Picking Flowers in the Woods
2. Caterpillar House
3. Algae
4. They Live in the Meadow
5. Drippy Eye
6. Chinese Witch Guy With An Ax
7. Flowers Grow Here
8. Hairy Mouth
9. Side 8
10. Untitled

Download: Black Moth Super Rainbow - Lost Picking Flowers In The Woods (36.1MB)

N.S.U. - Turn On, Or Turn Me Down

I couldn't find out much info about this release from N.S.U. This is the only album that the group released before disappearing.

Released on the same label as Sam Gopal this super rare nine track album was recorded by a Scottish band in 1969, before they disappeared. Pressings of this disc were limited to only 500 copies. Heavy guitar based progressive rock with flashes of LSD, Cream, and similar late '60's bands. With a track called "Stoned" this is, as you would expect, of it's era...
(Year of Release: 1969)

Track List:
1. Turn On, Or Turn Me Down
2. His Town
3. You Can't Take It From My Heart
4. Love Talk
5. All Aboard
6. The Game
7. Stoned
8. Pettsie's Blues
9. On The Road

Download: N.S.U. - Turn On, Or Turn Me Down (76.7MB)

Roky Erickson - I Think of Demons

Roky's catalog is sometimes a maze of different versions and inferior recordings, but one may find this to be a suitable overview of his 80s material, most of which is mind-bogglingly hooky and energetic for a rocker of his age and psychic history. His obsession with demons, aliens, and other horror trappings is more of a charm than a crutch; however, if you're not into it, making it through song titles like "I think of Demons," "I Walked With A Zombie," "Don't Shake Me Lucifer," and "Creature with the Atom Brain" will not endear you to the man's particular world view. But if you are into that, or can simply stomach it, you'll be rewarded with hooks whose simplicity defies logic, and punk-esque energy which defies the age and multiple institutionalizations of its creator.

If you've ever wondered what becomes of 60s garage rockers who can continue to turn out great tunes while acts like the Pretty Things and the Flamin' Groovies may disappoint now, or if you wonder where artists like Robyn Hitchcock, Julian Cope, and even (sometime collaborators) the Butthole Surfers draw their inspiration from, look no further than Roky.

Track List:
1. Two Headed Dog
2. I Think Of Demons
3. I Walked With A Zombie
4. Don't Shake Me Lucifer
5. Night Of The Vampire
6. Bloody Hammer
7. White Faces
8. Cold Night For Alligators
9. Creature With The Atom Brain
10. Mine Mine Mind
11. Stand For The Fire Demon
12. The Wind And More

Download: Roky Erickson & the Aliens - I Think of Demons (57.3MB)

Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Re-Up - Originally Posted 12/13/07


Although Kraftwerk's first three albums were groundbreaking in their own right, Autobahn is where the group's hypnotic electronic pulse genuinely came into its own. The main difference between Autobahn and its predecessors is how it develops an insistent, propulsive pulse that makes the repeated rhythms and riffs of the shimmering electronic keyboards and trance-like guitars all the more hypnotizing. The 22-minute title track, in a severely edited form, became an international hit single and remains the peak of the band's achievements -- it encapsulates the band and why they are important within one track -- but the rest of the album provides soundscapes equally as intriguing. Within Autobahn, the roots of electro-funk, ambient, and synth pop are all evident -- it's a pioneering album, even if its electronic trances might not capture the attention of all listeners.
(Year of Release: 1974)

Track List:
1. Autobahn
2. Kometenmelodie 1
3. Kometenmelodie 2
4. Mitternacht
5. Morgenspaziergang

Download: Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Download Size: 99MB

Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead

It's been described as the goth-rock equivalent of "Stairway to Heaven" -- in fact, it's even longer than that particular song -- but what still remains especially astonishing about the title track is in fact how un-"goth" it is, at least in the clichéd notion familiar in later times. If anything, dub reggae is at the heart of the song, with Haskins' steady pulse and clatter interspersed with heavy-duty bass from David J. But what ultimately carries the day is the combination of Ash's swirling, crisp and snarling guitar work, a mini-masterpiece of art-rock in itself, and Murphy's deep black croon, singing what he described later as lyrics meant to be as much horror-movie parody as anything else, but which still conveyed a romantic majesty thanks to the performance. Until its appearance on the Crackle compilation in 1998, the EP was the only place to get the original studio version, making it one of the steadiest-selling singles in musical history as a result. Not to be ignored is the sharp B-side "Boys," a glammy recounting of dressing in drag which, with its astringent arrangement and massive bass/drum slams, stakes out a great balance between Wire and Gang of Four.

Track List:
1. Bela Lugosi's Dead
2. Boys

Download: Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead (17.1MB)

Rockabilly Psychosis and the Garage Disease

Everybody's heard about the bird" - so say The Trashmen and a fitting opener for 16 of the most deranged tracks that you can find. One of the best selling Big Beat releases finally hits CD after a world wide search for tape copies of some of these tributes to the sheer insanity of rock & roll. The Sonics "Psycho", The Novas - "The Crusher", Legendary Stardust Cowboy - "Paralysed" - the titles say it all. The original album has lost one track but gained the legendary and rare even-on-vinyl Ralph Nielson & The Chancellors - "The Scream", Link Wray chewing the blues and spitting out Willie Dixon's "Hidden Charms" and the Milkshakes taking on the aforementioned Link Wray on "Run Chicken Run". Apart from that you still get The Cramps with Jimmy Dickinson ripping up Sonny Burgess's "Red Headed Woman", Britain's psychobilly kings The Meteors with a live "My Daddy Is A Vampire" and "Radioactive Kid" along with the late great Gun Club, Tav Falco's Panther Burns with their finest destructobilly and two other bands of this parish the Sting-Rays and The Guana Batz.
(Year of Release: 1984)

Track List:
1. Surfin' Bird - The Trashmen
2. Psycho - The Sonics
3. Crusher, The - The Novas
4. Scream! - Ralph Nielsen & The Chancellors
5. Paralyzed - Legendary Stardust Cowboy
6. She Said - Hasil Adkins
7. Hidden Charms - Link Wray (bonus track)
8. My Daddy Is A Vampire - The Meteors
9. Red Headed Woman - Jimmy Dickinson & The Cramps
10. Run Chicken Run - The Milkshakes
11. Radioactive Kid - The Meteors
12. Dateless Night - Tav Falco & The Panther Burns
13. Jack On Fire - Gun Club
14. Folsom Prison Blues - The Geezers
15. Cat Man - The Sting-Rays
16. Just Love Me - The Guana Batz

Download: Rockabilly Psychosis and the Garage Disease (54.1MB)

Green River - Come On Down & Dry As A Bone/Rehab Doll

Green River were arguably the first grunge band, forming around the same time as the rest of Seattle's first wave (the Melvins, Soundgarden, and Malfunkshun). In 1985, they became the first grunge band to release a record, kickstarting the Seattle music scene and later helping to establish the Sub Pop label. However, Green River are even more famous for the bands that sprang from their breakup: Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone, the latter of which also contained the roots of Pearl Jam. That lineage somewhat overshadows Green River's actual music, which helped lay out the blueprint for grunge but didn't necessarily rank among its most transcendent expressions. Green River specialized in a dirty, sludgy, gleefully ugly hybrid of punk, heavy metal, and bluesy hard rock, drawing from bands like the Stooges in addition to the hardcore punk outfits where many of the members first cut their teeth. Its appeal tends to depend upon the depth of the listener's interest in grunge, but regardless, the seeds of a revolution are certainly audible. Green River were formed in Seattle in 1984. In 1985 they started playing local clubs and they recorded two tracks for the compilation album Deep Six, the inaugural release on local indie C/Z Records. Later in 1985, Green River went to New York to record their debut EP, Come On Down, for the Homestead label. In the summer of 1986, the group recorded another EP, Dry as a Bone, in Seattle with producer Jack Endino; it was issued by Bruce Pavitt's fledgling Sub Pop label in July 1987. Green River subsequently began work on an eight-song mini-album for Sub Pop, which was released in early 1988 under the title Rehab Doll. By the time it appeared, though, intra-band tensions were tearing Green River apart. Not long after Rehab Doll appeared, Green River officially disbanded. Arm reunited with Turner to form the punkier Mudhoney, while Gossard, Ament, and Fairweather joined up with ex-Malfunkshun singer Andrew Wood in the glammier Mother Love Bone. Following Wood's death from a heroin overdose, Gossard and Ament moved on to found the hugely successful Pearl Jam with vocalist Eddie Vedder.

Come On Down


Track List:
1. Come On Down
2. New God
3. Swallow My Pride
4. Ride Of Your Life
5. Corner of My Eye
6. Tunnel Of Love

Download: Green River - Come On Down (32.2MB)

Dry As A Bone/Rehab Doll


Track List:
1. This Town
2. P.C.C.
3. Ozzie
4. Unwind
5. Baby Takes
6. Searchin'
7. Ain't Nothing To Do
8. Queen Bitch
9. Forever Means
10. Rehab Doll
11. Swallow My Pride
12. Together We'll Never
13. Smiling And Dyin'
14. Porkfist
15. Take A Dive
16. One More Stitch

Download: Green River - Dry As A Bone/Rehab Doll (64.15MB)

Moving Sidewalks - Flash

The sole album by the Moving Sidewalks is as fascinating as it is unremarkable. As the birthing ground for legendary blues-rock guitarist Billy Gibbons, one would expect at least a taste of what would later make ZZ Top one of the best touring and recording bands on the planet; sadly, the album offers little in the way of revelation in its 15 tracks. Admittedly, at the time of ZZ Top's 1970 debut, Gibbons' transformation from a journeyman bandleader into a boogie-blues demigod was still not fully realized, but his chops were miles away from what is heard here. Part of that lies in the fact that ZZ Top was less about psychedelia than straight blues; whatever psychedelic touches made their way onto the studio albums were largely an accessory. (They would eventually fully integrate on 1979's Deguello.) The Moving Sidewalks, on the other hand, were psychedelic rockers whose songs hinted at the blues without fully diving in. The songs show little of Gibbons' future promise, and in fact are so thoroughly mediocre (both in writing and playing) that it's amazing to think he was only a few years away from international success. "Pluto-Sept. 31st" shows a clear Hendrix influence (the two guitarists openly admired each other), and as a bonus, Akarma's reissue includes five bonus singles that are some of the strongest material on the album, especially "Need Me," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and the legendary single "99th Floor."

Track List:
1. Flashback
2. Scoun da Be
3. You Make Me Shake
4. You Don't Know the Life
5. Pluto-Sept. 31st.
6. No Good to Cry
7. Crimson Witch
8. Joe Blues
9. Eclipse
10. Reclipse
11. 99th Floor
12. What Are You Doing to Do
13. I Want to Hold Your Hand
14. Need Me
15. Every Night a New Surpise

Download: Moving Sidewalks - Flash (50.7MB)

Buckethead - Acoustic Shards

Acoustic Shards is an album by Buckethead, which consists of acoustic recordings culled from tapes that were reportedly recorded in 1991. This is largely considered his 20th album release, but more of a specialty album than his latest efforts

The album was released on May 31 by Jas Obrecht, through his label Avabella, who also released the Young Buckethead DVDs.[2]

According to Jas Obrecht:
“ Imagine, if you will, that Buckethead walked into a quiet living room, picked up an acoustic guitar, and began improvising one amazing composition after the next -- that's what happened when we recorded "Acoustic Shards" back in 1991. (It was taped a couple of weeks after the final Deli Creeps concert on the Young Buckethead DVDs, but is quite different musically.) It is a single-CD, 52:30 minutes in length, 15 tracks. Included are very early versions of "For Mom" and "Who Me?" as well as a lot of stuff you've never heard before. The playing is spectacular -- some of it sounds like Django Reinhardt meets Ornette Coleman meets young EVH meets... well, that which is uniquely and lovably Buckethead. Some passages are so advanced you'd swear it's two guitarists -- but it was all recorded in real time and without overdubs -- while other parts are just melodically beautiful beyond words. So far, everyone who's heard it has said it's the kind of music that resonates in you long after the stereo's been turned off.
(Year of Release: 2007)

Track List:
1. For Mom [Early Version]
2. Little Gracie
3. Who Me? [Early Version]
4. Ed's Rhapsody/Midnight Dance/Jars
5. Ganryu Island/Saskia's Gone
6. Ghosts Upstairs
7. Spirals
8. Cubes, Chunks & Crumbles
9. Thugs
10. Dinging/Ah-Ji-Jee
11. Johnny
12. Stay out of the Shed
13. Serape
14. Longing
15. Box Elders

Download: Buckethead - Acoustic Shards (67.4MB)

Local Artist Spotlight - The Luminaries

The Luminaries - You're So Cold

I've decided to add a new element to Digital Meltd0wn. I will be focusing on local musicians from the Northeast Tennessee/Western Virginia area that I live in, as well as artists that you all submit to me. Eventually I would like to expand on this idea, and perhaps pursue a blog devoted entirely to that concept. Of course my main focus would remain on the blog in front of you. The goal of this project is to garner some recognition for the countless number of bands who often remain unheard of because the effort they put into creating music is one of artistic expression rather than the commercial pursuit of money.

For now the spotlight will be a monthly endeavor. This month the spotlight is on The Luminaries, a local band from the Western Virginia area where I currently live, consisting of William Van Huss (Vocals, Guitar), Wayne "Brainz" Thomas (Vocals, Guitar), and Jack Costello (Drums). Their music is a bit different from the norm that you see on this blog, but I'm sure some of you will still find it enjoyable all the same. I posted their EP "You're So Cold" last week. Yesterday they released a video for the title track of the song, which I think turned out rather well.

Download: The Luminaries - You're So Cold EP (23.5MB)
Blog: http://theluminaries.blogspot.com
last.fm: http://www.last.fm/music/The+Luminaries
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/waynebrainz

Captain Beyond - Captain Beyond

Captain Beyond was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1972. Its members were singer Rod Evans, guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt, bassist Lee Dorman, and drummer Bobby Caldwell. Evans was the original lead singer for Deep Purple and probably best known for his vocals on their 1968 debut chart-breaker "Hush"; Rheinhardt and Dorman had played in Iron Butterfly. Caldwell had come to prominence playing with Johnny Winter. He was replaced by drummer Martin Rodriguez on the group's second album, after which Evans left the band. Captain Beyond re-formed in 1976, with singer Willy Daffern, and Caldwell back on the drums.

Captain Beyond played hard rock influenced by progressive rock. Although the band achieved little commercial success, the group nevertheless earned a cult following. Reinhardt and Caldwell reformed Captain Beyond in 1998. Since then they have been performing at shows and have released a four track EP. There is of yet no information whether they are going to record a new album.
(Year of Release: 1972)

Track List:
1. Dancing Madly Backwards (On A Sea Of Air)
2. Armworth
3. Myopic Void
4. Mesmerization Eclipse
5. Raging River Of Fear
6. Thousand Days Of Yesterdays (Intro)
7. Frozen Over
8. Thousand Days Of Yesterdays (Time Since Come &...)
9. I Can't Feel Nothin' (Part 1)
10. As The Moon Speaks (To The Waves Of The Sea)
11. Astral Lady
12. As The Moon Speaks (Return)
13. I Can't Feel Nothin' (Part 2)

Download: Captain Beyond - Captain Beyond (38.7MB)

Alice Cooper - Live At The Whisky A-Go-Go 1969

1969 was the year that Alice Cooper released their first album, Pretties For You. It was a strange album for the time, and is still quite strange by today's standards. Amidst gems that really showed what was to come from the group, such as "sing low, sweet cheerio", "fields of regret", and "changing arranging", were strange tidbit ideas of songs clocking in at 2 minutes or less, featuring odd vocal stylings, unexpected and frequent tempo changes and start-stop rhythms. This live album, recorded at the record's release party is a great window into the band's workings at the time. The quality far surpasses that of the much easier to find toronto rock'n'roll revival set from the same time period, and features a much more diverse setlist. Songs like "Levity Ball", "Sing Low, Sweet Cheerio",and "Nobody Likes Me" are performed exceptionally well here, but the bands more experimental tracks ("10 minutes before the worm", "bb on mars") prove very difficult to perform live and the performances of these tracks presented here are not without their share of obvious flaws. This record's most redeeming quality is the guitar playing of a young Glen Buxton. I dont care what anyone else says, this album represents Glen in his prime. His lines are often improvised here, and creatively played. He traces scales in flat-out unconventional ways and weaves in and out of the music with perfect finesse. Later in the band's career Glen's playing would suffer due to health problems and alcoholism, but Live at the Whiskey 1969 shows how truly remarkable of a musician he was, maybe not in his technicality, but in the creative construction and unconventional style of his playing. To sum things up this album is a grisly fusion of shagged out acid rock and nascent heavy metal and stands apart from other Alice Cooper albums in it's uniqueness.

Track List:
1. No Longer Umpire
2. Today Mueller
3. 10 Minutes Before the Worm
4. Levity Ball
5. Nobody Likes Me
6. B.B. On Mars
7. Swing Low, Sweet Cheerio
8. Changing Arranging

Download: Alice Cooper - Live At The Whisky A-Go-Go 1969 (34MB)

The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black

Take a stack of soul platters from the 1960s and 1970s from the likes of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder; mix generously with a propulsive mix of two bass guitars, two drummers, and the vocals of a Detroit rock legend; and you have an underrated gem in the Motor City music scene. Ultraglide in Black puts a rock spin on recognizable nuggets of soul and funk while retaining the original version's integrity and message. Most of the tunes covered here are spirited party tracks, including a sparkling version of Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" that features a strident breakdown. Vocalist Mick Collins, of the Gories fame, paints each track with a flavorful delivery which at times will have the listener literally transported to AM radio's yesteryear. The Dirtbombs have created a record that is akin to stumbling across a box of cool records in your parent's attic, and is suitable for continuous play at any house party.

Track List:
1. Chains of Love
2. If You Can Want
3. Underdog
4. Your Love Belongs Under a Rock
5. I'll Wait
6. Livin' for the City
7. Thing
8. Kung Fu
9. Ode to a Black Man
10. Got to Give It Up
11. Livin' for the Weekend
12. I'm Qualified to Satisfy You
13. Do You See My Love (For You Growing)

Download: The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black (71.4MB)

X - Los Angeles

By the late '70s, punk rock and hardcore were infiltrating the Los Angeles music scene. Such bands as Black Flag, the Germs, and, especially, X were the leaders of the pack, prompting an avalanche of copycat bands and eventually signing record contracts themselves. X's debut, Los Angeles, is considered by many to be one of punk's all-time finest recordings, and with good reason. Most punk bands used their musical inability to create their own style, but X actually consisted of some truly gifted musicians, including rockabilly guitarist Billy Zoom, bassist John Doe, and frontwoman Exene Cervenka, who, with Doe, penned poetic lyrics and perfected sweet yet biting vocal harmonies. Los Angeles is prime X, offering such all-time classics as the venomous "Your Phone's Off the Hook, but You're Not," a tale of date rape called "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene," and two of their best anthems (and enduring concert favorites), "Nausea" and the title track. While they were tagged as a punk rock act from the get-go (many felt that this eventually proved a hindrance), X are not easily categorized. Although they utilize elements of punk's frenzy and electricity, they also add country, ballads, and rockabilly to the mix.

Track List:
1. Your Phone's Off The Hook, But You're Not
2. Johnny Hit And Run Paulene
3. Soul Kitchen
4. Nausea
5. Sugarlight
6. Los Angeles
7. Sex And Dying In High Society
8. The Unheard Music
9. The World's A Mess; It's In My Kiss
10. I'm Coming Over (Demo)
11. Adult Books (Demo)
12. Delta 88 (Demo)
13. Cyrano De Berger's Back (Rehearsal)
14. Los Angeles (Dangerhouse Version)

Download: X - Los Angeles (35.69MB)

Stinky Finger - Def and Dum

UPDATE: This post was re-uploaded 03/23/2014. Enjoy, NØ.
Reupdate: This was re-re-uploaded 06/25/2014. Try it again.


Stinky Finger was the biggest band to come out of the East Tennessee area, which I call home. This was passed on to me from a friend of a friend. After hearing the album I was amazed that this was recorded in 1988. Their sound is original, but if I were forced to draw comparisons, I would describe it as a mix between the Beastie Boys and the Angry Samoans. I didn't have the pleasure of seeing them live, or listening to them when they were around, but fortunately I have a friend who did. This album was uploaded by my friend Brian Van Huss, another local musician from the Tri-Cities scene, and vocalist, song writer, and guitar player for the Luminaries. It was originally posted on his Psyche Zenobia blog. You can also find the link in the sidebar to the right for future reference. The following is an excerpt from his blog:


The Tri-Cities, (Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport) was never known for it's music scene like Athens, Los Angeles, or Seattle. When I was a high school kid into punk rock and starting my first zines and bands my friends and I felt a bit outnumbered. The Sex Pistols and Ramones never really hit around here so, as far as the locals were concerned, we were the first wave of that. And we took the shit that came with it and kept on going. A first glance at the music scene here didn't reveal much besides cover bands and music store prog rockers but there was something else happening. I'm gonna go ahead and go on record as saying that before two bands there was no real "alternative" music scene here. Those two bands were Stinky Finger and Brian And The Nightmares. We all followed their lead. And if I had to narrow it down even further, we followed Stinky Finger's lead. Not musically but in attitude. They were bigger and more influential in our scene than anyfuckingthing on MTV.

Def And Dum by Stinky Finger was put out on cassette only and recorded in Bristol at Classic Studios in 1988. Copies circulated for years and everyone I know from those days can still sing and rap these songs. Def And Dum has been pretty obscure in recent years and I haven't owned a copy since I don't know when. A friend of mine ripped this from an original cassette and I am uploading it for it's historical value to the music scene of East Tennessee in addition to the fact that it fucking rocks! Stinky Finger were probably best described as a punk/rap band. At the time they were doing it the Beastie Boys were probably the only other comparable band but Stinky may have been even stinkier. Their lyrics were foul and funny at the same time and the band was tight as a preacher's ass. I could go on forever but I'll let it speak for itself. I've had many people ask me for this one so here you go.

- William Van Huss

Track List:
1. Stinky Drinkin'
2. Sodomy
3. Cocaine Whore
4. Def Bird
5. Pollution
6. My Girlfriend
7. Don't Waste My Time
8. We Be Trippin'
9. Fag Basher
10. You're Fat
11. My Penis
12. Fleas

Download: Stinky Finger - Def and Dum (78.7MB) (MEGA decryption code in comments)

Supergrass - Life On Other Planets

Supergrass makes music so effervescent and so effortlessly joyous that it's easy to take them and their skills for granted. Surely that was the case around the release of their third album, 1999's eponymous effort, which in its labored fun and weary ballads illustrated just how much hard work it was to craft records as brilliant as I Should Coco and In It for the Money. It suggested the group might have burned too bright and flamed out, but, happily, 2002's Life on Other Planets is a smashing return to form, an album giddy with the sheer pleasure of making music. What makes this all the more impressive is that this is the record that Supergrass attempted to be — a perfect balance of the sensibility and humor of I Should Coco with the musicality and casual virtuosity of In It for the Money. Where that album felt labored and a little weary, Life on Other Planets is teeming with life. The tempos are sprightly, the hooks tumble out of the speakers, the band mixes up styles and eras, and they never, ever forget the jokes (Gaz's fleeting Elvis impression on "Seen the Light," an allusion to Spinal Tap's "All the Way Home," or the chorus of "Evening of the Day"). Sure, it's possible to spot the influence all the way through the album — most clearly T. Rex on "Seen the Light" and "Brecon Beacons," where Gaz's warble is uncannily like Marc Bolan's — but it never sounds exactly like their inspirations — it all sounds like Supergrass. And Supergrass hasn't offered such pure, unabashed pop pleasure since their debut; there hasn't been an album that's this much fun in a long time. Since they've been away for a while and have never broken in the States, Supergrass has been curiously overlooked, even though they're better than 99 percent of the power pop and punk-pop bands out there (plus, their everything-old-is-new-again aesthetic can be heard in such albums as the Strokes' Is This It?). But, as this glorious record proves, there are few bands around these days who are as flat-out enjoyable as this trio. The world is a better place for having Supergrass in it.

Track List:
1. Za
2. Rush Hour Soul
3. Seen The Light
4. Brecon Beacons
5. Can't Get Up
6. Evening Of The Day
7. Never Done Nothing Like That Before
8. Funniest Thing
9. Grace
10. La Song
11. Prophet 15
12. Run

Download: Supergrass - Life on Other Planets (55.5MB)

Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power

In 1972, the Stooges were near the point of collapse when David Bowie's management team, MainMan, took a chance on the band at Bowie's behest. By this point, guitarist Ron Asheton and bassist Dave Alexander had been edged out of the picture, and James Williamson had signed on as Iggy's new guitar mangler; Asheton rejoined the band shortly before recording commenced on Raw Power, but was forced to play second fiddle to Williamson as bassist. By most accounts, tensions were high during the recording of Raw Power, and the album sounds like the work of a band on its last legs -- though rather than grinding to a halt, Iggy & the Stooges appeared ready to explode like an ammunition dump. From a technical standpoint, Williamson was a more gifted guitar player than Asheton (not that that was ever the point), but his sheets of metallic fuzz were still more basic (and punishing) than what anyone was used to in 1973, while Ron Asheton played his bass like a weapon of revenge, and his brother Scott Asheton remained a powerhouse behind the drums. But the most remarkable change came from the singer; Raw Power revealed Iggy as a howling, smirking, lunatic genius. Whether quietly brooding ("Gimme Danger") or inviting the apocalypse ("Search and Destroy"), Iggy had never sounded quite so focused as he did here, and his lyrics displayed an intensity that was more than a bit disquieting. In many ways, almost all Raw Power has in common with the two Stooges albums that preceded it is its primal sound, but while the Stooges once sounded like the wildest (and weirdest) gang in town, Raw Power found them heavily armed and ready to destroy the world

Track List:
1. Search And Destroy
2. Gimme Danger
3. Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell
4. Penetration
5. Raw Power
6. I Need Somebody
7. Shake Appeal
8. Death Trip

Download: Iggy & The Stooges - Raw Power (45.7MB)

The Luminaries - You're So Cold EP

"The Luminaries traveled to this blue marble oasis in a steam powered spacecraft on a mission to save rock and roll. Unfortunately, their vessel crashed in northeast Tennessee and they were forced to frantically record an album in one day at a studio in Bristol while their ship was being repaired. Psyche Zenobia and Brains Erratica were entrusted to release this gem to the world and these two songs are here to give you the proverbial blue balls of ROCK!"

The Luminaries are William Van Huss, Wayne Brains, and Jack Costello. The record was recorded at Sonic Design studios in Bristol Tennessee in March of 2007. All songs written by William Van Huss and Wayne Brains and copyright Psyche Zenobia/Brains Erratica music.

Track List:
1. You're So Cold
2. Hiding
3. From Outer Space To You
4. Baby Come On
5. Someone Else
6. Psycho Babble

Download: The Luminaries - You're So Cold (23.5MB)

Back From Bonnaroo

I just got back from Bonnaroo a couple of days ago. I wish I had the time to write about everything that I experienced there, but unfortunately I don't have enough time for that. As I mentioned in my previous post, it was the first time I had ever been to any type of major concert, so it was an absolutely mind blowing experience for me to start it off by going to one of the largest festivals in North America. There were 80,000 fans who bought tickets, along with 6,000 staff, and close to 10,000 vendors.




I didn't get a chance to see half the bands that I wanted to see. I worked till 6pm each day so I missed out on a lot of great performances during the day, and I had to shower after work, even though I wanted to skip straight to the music, because we were filthier and stinkier than anyone else there, and my stench was revolting even to myself. Regardless of this I still had the time of my life and regret absolutely nothing. I managed to see Tool, which was a major achievement for me. I've been following them since they released their first demo and were virtually unheard of. I got to check out the White Stripes, The Police, and the Black Angels also.




I worked for Clean Vibes, which had the monumental task of cleaning up during and after the festival. Even though the work turned out to be much harder than I ever could have anticipated, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Clean Vibes took such great care of the employees and the people that volunteered to help clean up that I felt as if I should have been paying them.




The advantages of working with Clean Vibes, rather than being a regular festival attendee, were numerous. They hired a catering company which prepared three fantastic meals a day. We had 24/7 access to the catering tent which was stocked with ice, water, juices, ice cream, desserts, and various other goodies. I realized how fortunate we were to have such a luxury after I witnessed at least 50 people waiting in line to buy bags of ice for $5 a pop. We were also able to bypass the sea of people which were entering the venue and being searched. Security usually didn't even bother to search us, and if they did they conveniently overlooked the alcohol and weed that we had on us. During the cleanup the two other people I went with and myself groundscored a few cool items, including 4 glass bowls (one which was brand new, packed with weed, with a bag of weed sitting beside it), 3 one hitters, a half ounce of opium, 5 blocks of hash, shoes, clothing, camping equipment, $35 in cash, over $20 in change, an insane amount of beer, and various other items.




We had a few staff parties after the festival was over. I didn't think the official staff party would be very big considering the fact that I couldn't see where everyone was camped out at, and it didn't look like there was many people left. Turns out I was wrong. Rhiannon (my lady friend who accompanied me to the festival) and I could hear the party kicking in Centaroo from over a half of a mile away. They had unlimited free beer, a live band and fireworks. As soon as I arrived at the party and sat down to take everything in I had 4 bowls passed to me. The staff of Clean Vibes also had their own party each night. On the last night of cleanup we all went to a Mexican restaurant to eat. Anna, the owner of the company, paid for all our meals and one margarita for each of us. She also walked around and gave each of us a plastic cup and a shot of 1800, after which we all raised our cups in the air and toasted.




The work was very hard. I've worked at least 20 different jobs, including the military and several factories. Aside from the Army, cleaning up after Bonnaroo was the hardest job I've ever done. The heat was very intense and dry. The temperature hovered around 95 degrees every day were were there. The area was also in a drought and it hadn't rained there for two months, which caused massive amounts of dust to be stirred up by the 80,000 people and vehicles traveling about. I smelled like a dumpster was caked in dirt, sweat, and god only knows what else each and every day. I believe that we ended up cleaning up over 500 tons of trash. During the festival we rode around on 4-wheelers and hauled off the trash and recycling bags that were in the barrels located in the two locations that we were assigned to, and that was by far the easiest phase of the cleanup operation. I was blown away by the amount of trash littered across over 500 acres of farmland the day after the festival. I've read messages mentioning the amount of trash left at the festival on various message boards, and the majority of the people haven't the slightest clue as to to the effort that goes into cleaning up after Bonnaroo.





Clean Vibes has a no trace policy, which for us meant that every tiny little scrap of paper and cigaratte butt had to be picked up. After the festival we first gathered the thousands of bags of trash which were left at the campground and venue areas, and then performed line sweeps of each area as well. The group I worked with had the task of cleaning alongside Bushy Branch road, which was the road leading into the main gate. The majority of the time we were knee deep in a ditch with high grass, bugs, and the intense heat beating down on us. There was trash every few inches and bending down to pick up every can, bottle, cigarette butt, pieces of paper, and everything else you can imagine, took quite the toll on my back. We spent a lot of time crawling around on our hands and knees in the highly littered areas also.



After we finished cleaning Bushy Branch Rd, which took us two full days, they disbanded the groups and formed line sweeping crews. The line sweeps were the worst part of the job. We would line up and walk/crawl through the various campgrounds and fields throughout Bonnaroo. There were a slew of things which made the job even more difficult, including the aforementioned heat, dust, bugs, as well as shit buckets, ripped bags, rotting maggot infested food, condoms, thousands of tent steaks (which we had to dig up), billions of cigarette butts, and co-workers who were unable to walk/crawl in a straight line. Fortunately I had the pleasure of working alongside some of the most unique, intelligent, and highly motivated individuals that I have ever met, and together we were able to overcome all the challenges that we encountered, and had a fantastic time in the process.





My words are still not enough to describe the full experience of cleaning up after Bonnaroo, but hopefully they will give you an idea. Needless to say it was absolutely filthy, even if it was cleaner than the previous years. It also made me realize just how wasteful, lazy, and careless people are with the waste that they produce. I'm not the type of person that usually bitches about anything, but if you're reading this and you happen to be one of those people who throws their cigarette butts on the ground or anything else for that matter... please pick up your shit! I'm a smoker myself, and it doesn't take that much effort to knock the cherry off your cigarette and throw it in a trashcan, ashtray, or even in your pocket. If you attend festivals or concerts pick up a piece of trash on your way out, or even grab a bag and fill it up. If everyone did so it would make things much easier on the people who bust their ass to clean up such events. To those of you who do and make an attempt to recycle.. thank you. You truly are making a difference and helping to make the only home we have a better place to live.






This post is getting rather long, so I'm going to cut it short. The pictures that I used in this post were not taken by me. Whenever I get the pictures that I personally took developed, I'll post them on here also. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments about Bonnaroo that you have here. I'll begin posting albums again shortly....