Soundgarden, “Superunknown” (A & M, 1994)In the wake of their often histrionic and derivative (if rousing) earlier work, Soundgarden suddenly pruned their excesses for a perfectly crafted, brutally direct exploration of bleak personal and social landscape. The combination of rhythmic dexterity and fluidity with towering torrential sonic onslaught matches their putative ‘70s model (rhymes with […]
Spastics, “Live!” (Rip Off, 1998)‘90s garage-punk, fast, hard, lean an dhooky as hell, as you’d expect given the involvement of members of the Bobbyteens and (I think) the Spoiled Brats.P. S. Yes! This group included Kreayshawn’s mom, Elka Zolot of the spoiled Brats! Try A/2, A/5, B/35/12/11
Laurie Spiegel, “The Expanding Universe” (Unseen Worlds, 2012; original release 1980)Fascinating and beautiful solo electronic pieces. Like Terry Riley’s “Rainbow In Curved Air,” there’s a simple pop-melodic sensibility that makes the austere minimalism really sparkle, but this is actually more texturally/rhythmically diverse.Try CD 1: 5, 7; CD 2: 1, 4, 9.1/13/13
Spinanes, “Manos” (Subpop, 1993)Sparse, hard-hitting, off-kilter post-punk as a frame for sharp and plaintively melodic pop and Rebecca Gates’s haunting vocals; like a mid-point between Slint and Beat Happening.1 is gorgeous (and uncharacteristically acoustic). Also excellent: 4, 6, 910/13/11
Spiral Staircase, “The Very Best of . . ‘ (Taragon, 1996; original recording 1968-69)Great band name, but this is less psych than smooth, mellow, slightly paisley AM pop along the lines of the Monkees’ fluffiest stuff.Try 3, 47/29/13
Spray Paint, “Feel the Clamps” (Goner, 2016)These guys are a singular and intriguing group. The structure and feel of the music is classic rattletrap garage-punk, but the guitars and vocals are completely atonal, giving the whole thing an engagingly creepy wandering-wasted-through-an-abandoned-industrial-area-late-at-night kind of mood. This is their third album, first for a mid-visibility label, and […]
Ty Segall, “Singles 2007-2010” (Goner, 2012)I’ve liked everything I’ve heard by this dude, but this singles comp is far and away my fave. Segall’s take on garage-punk stands out from some of his peers in viscerally evoking the sweaty, backyard-blowout force of the genre’s founders (think Sonics). It’s physical in a way the more computer-speaker […]
The Servants, “Reserved” (Cherry Red, 2006; original release 1986-90)Swept along in the mid-‘80s “C86” wave of Brit indie-pop, the Servants stood apart in certain respects. Their take on Velvet Underground-derived strum/repetition rock, while framed with excellent hook-enhanced song structures, leaned more toward the stark, moody, autumnal side of the VU (and Television, whose influence can […]
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 […]
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