Artists starting with S

Wilderness of Love

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Shadow Band, “Wilderness of Love” (Mexican Summer, 2017)
Really dark, eerie folk-psych outing, just the way I like it. Echoing lonesome strums, spirals of quicksilver trip-guitar noise, vocals like looking into the eyes of someone who’s seen way too much. If getting lost in the woods while on mushrooms sounds like your idea of fun, dig in.
Try 2, 4, 7
4/7/19

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Greatest Hits

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Shalamar, “Greatest Hits” (Solar, 1987; original recording 1978-89(
This group offered the most consistently excellent r & b of its era. The earlier stuff, featuring future superstar Jody Watley, is best – disco’s festivityand kinesis boiled own to pure funky fun.
5/5/12

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’65

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Shangri-Las, “’65” (Red Bird, 1965)
Second album from the ‘60s girl-group legends, more of that big beat cloaked in blurry clouds of mystery sound and wildly melodramatic hooks.
Try 1/ 3, 1/6, 2/1, 2/2, 2/4
4/4/11

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Leader Of The Pack

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Shangri-Las, “Leader Of The Pack” (Red Bird, 1965)
Hard-nosed girl group whose songs have been covered by everyone from the Dolls to Redd Kross to the Shop Assistants. A big, magical sound that’s somehow simultaneously lush and stark, with lots of weird little spaces hidden inside, and indelible pop melodies.
1/11/11

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Sleep Talk

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Shannon And The Clams, “Sleep Talk” (1-2-3-4-60!, 2011)
Garage-rock with pronounced girl-group echoes. The thing is, Shannon can really sing, in a thick, warm, smoky voice which, along with the sharp, well-articulated songwriting, gives this that elusive sense of being Classic, not just Retro. The contrast with the raw, grainy musicianship only accentuates this, giving it all the hazy feel of someone else’s blurring memory.
Try A/2, A/3, B/1, B/4
5/12/11

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In Romance 1600

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Sheila E., “In Romance 1600” (Paisley Park, 1985)
Lush, freaky, wildly extravagant high-concept funk in the mold of Prince’s more lysergic work from this era.
Try A/1, A/3
5/5/12

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Violent Hearts

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Shimmering Stars, “Violent Hearts” (Almost Musique, 2011)
More of that early-’60s-pop-melodism-plus-fuzzed-out-wall-of-guitar sound that’s going around, but the press kit sez these guys actually listen to the pre-Beatles oldies, and this has an ingenuous yearning that rings true, and (crucially) they can write songs. The slow ones in particular crest into a real nice roaring, bells-ringing rush.
Try 5, 7, 11
1/6/12

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712

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Shonen Knife, “712” (Oglio, 2005; original release 1988)
This album finds them at midpoint between the magical early primitive indie-noise-pop stuff and the higher-gloos ‘90s alterna-Ramones blasters to come. As a transitional effort, it’s a bit of a grab bag, but there are some all-time Knife classics here.
Try 2, 15
11/10/16

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Happy Hour

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Shonen Knife, “Happy Hour” (Big Deal, 1998)
The last great Shonen Knife record. With the Alternative Era and their Major-Label Contract fading into the distance, they rock like never before, with their brilliant, curiously graceful pop-sense burning bright again, but powered by a new bite and precision.
Try 7, 11, 12, 14
10/13/11

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Let’s Knife

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Shonen Knife, “Let’s Knife” (Virgin, 1992)
This documents this beloved group at the height of their confidence and power, re-recording some of the greatest songs they wrote in their d.i.y. days of the mid-‘80s. The loss of a certain naïve, arresting singularity in the originals is compensated by a brightness and force that makes these versions kick like the Buzzcocks/Ramones bubblepunk nuggets that (partially) inspired them.
Try 1, 7, 11, 13, 14
8/23/12

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