Mikey Wild And The Magic Lanterns, “I Was Punk B 4 U Were Punk” (Bulb, 1999; original recordings 1970s/80s/90s)As the title suggests, Mr. Wild is one of the pioneers of the Philadelphia punk scene, going back to the mid-‘70s. He’s also struggled with serious mental disabilities, but in the bizarre-mirror anti-society that is punk rock, […]
Legal Weapon, “Death of Innocence” (Arsenal, 1982)Legal Weapon were part of the first wave of suburban L.A. hardcore. But while they shared their peers’ cold edge, dark melodic sense and feral attack, their music was slightly slower, and thicker and more swinging as well. But what really made them stand out was lead vocalist Kat […]
The Legendary Stardust Cowboy And the Altamont Boys, “Tokyo” (Cracked Piston, 2002)“The Ledge” is one of the great visionary maniacs of postwar popular music; the man actually scored a minor hit single in 1968, and here he teams up with various West Coast punk luminaries for a typically wild time. Ledge’s M.O. is frenzied country/rockabilly […]
Let’s Active, “Afoot” (IS, 1982)Debut from early REM producer/jangle-pop godfather Mitch Easter’s group. Has a nice mid-period-Beatles-ish color-splash guitar palette, but with an equally pleasantly twinkly new-wave quirkiness, and some excellent hooks.Try 2/1, 2/2.1/23/14
Letters to Cleo, “Aurora Glory Alice” (Giant, 1994)A lesson in the cunning of history: dismissed as generic alt-rock at the time, this band would fit right in now with Speedy Ortiz, Waxahatchee, et. Al. Loose, shagging, shambling grunge-pop that rolls by like rainclouds drifing over suburban lawns.Try 6 (their MTV hit way back when)11/10/16
Leyton Buzzards, “Jellied Eels And Record Deals” (Charisma, 1979); Modern Romance, “The Platinum Collection” (Rhino 2006; original recordings 1980-86)Even among all the multifarious wildness of the UK music scene between 1977 and 1983, this may be the strangest thing that happened. The Leyton Buzzards were first-wave Brit-punk, thuggish and rumbling, but with good melodic invention […]
Lili Z., “The Two Of Us” (In The Red, 2008)Her old bands (No-Talents, Volt) were fine garage-punk, but this is really great, and idiosyncratic. Homemade drum-machine punk, with weird sound-squiggles of noise and haunting singer-songwriterisms or yé-yé-esque ‘60s classicisms embedded in maze-like post-punk structures.Try A/4, A/5, B/2, B/41/26/12
Linda Ronstadt/Ann Savoy, “Adieu False Heart” (Vanguard, 2006)What turned out to be Ronstadt’s last studio recording before her illness thwarted her ability to perform is a fitting return to her folkie roots. Ronstadt’s dew-dappled strawberry of a lush, bright soprano intertwines magically with Savoy’s more plaintive, austere vocals over spare acoustic backing for a sweet […]
Link Wray, “Rumble” (Rhino, 1993; original recordings 1958-79)Most of this is actually early-to-mid-‘60s work, when Wray’s ominous instrumentals were virtually re-writing the book on rock guitar, with his thick reverb/feedback roar and repertoire of cowboy/gangster movie-music, shadow-casting and weird random noises. “Garage-punk” would never have existed without this dude.Try 1, 7, 10, 13, 188/16/15
Lipstique, “At the Discotheque” (Salsoul, 1978).Close to my ideal of what disco should sound like – lush sweep, dramatic, building pulse, strings/bass/beat etc. in perfect spatial balance with each other. It all adds up to a fine journey to the heart of Saturday night. Try 1/1, 2/1.11/12/12