GØGGS, “Pre-Strike Sweep” (In The Red, 2018)So, on their second release, the GØGGS move toward smooth, uptempo adult pop with an emphasis on piano, somewhat like Maroon 5’s early work. Ha, caught you napping! This is actually a further intensification of the Ty Segall/Chris Shaw (ex-Ex-Cult) project’s full-throttle cosmic-head-bang take on punk, bridging the gap […]
GØGGS, “Pre-Strike Sweep” (In The Red, 2018)So, on their second release, the GØGGS move toward smooth, uptempo adult pop with an emphasis on piano, somewhat like Maroon 5’s early work. Ha, caught you napping! This is actually a further intensification of the Ty Segall/Chris Shaw (ex-Ex-Cult) project’s full-throttle cosmic-head-bang take on punk, bridging the gap […]
Habibi, “Habibi” (Burger, 2014)More coolness from Burger, this features femme-voiced spooky/sparse surf-garage-pop with nifty Middle Eastern echoes.Try 1, 7, 97/15/14
Hackamore Brick, “One Kiss Leads To Another” (Kama Sutra, 1970; reissue Real Gone Music, 2013)A genuine Great Lost Proto-Punk Classic, in print for the first time in four decades. The Brick were the first Velvet Underground-influenced band to record (the original Modern Lovers came a year or so later). Their work takes the VU’s frantic […]
Van Halen, “Van Halen II” (Warner Bros., 1979)Listen beyond the hits (great enough in themselves) and you’ll hear one of the most dynamic, unpredictable, fluid and explosive hard rock acts of all time – influential on everyone from Slayer to Poison to the Bad Brains and beyond, but in a category of their own. This […]
Van Halen, “Women and Children First” (Warner Bros., 1980)Their third LP, and my favorite. Features their most hard-hitting teenage-rampage anthem, wildest sex-maniac safari, most twisted speed workout, and most organic blues toss-off – respectively 1/1, 1 / 2, 1 /4, 2/4.9/6/13
Arch Hall Jr. And The Archers, “Wild Guitar!” (Norton 2005; original recordings 1959-1964)Hall Jr. was the male lead in some of his dad’s ultra-low-budget drive-in-movie classics, like “Eegah!”, the tale of a misunderstood teenage caveman, and Jr.’s music often provided the soundtrack to the action. Unlike dear old dad, however, Arch Jr. was highly adept […]
Halo Of Lies, “Death Of A Fly” (Amphetamine Reptile, 1989)HoF leader Tom Hazelmyer’s prime influences include Jimi Henrix, the Jam, and Chrome, and this sounds like what you’d expect from that: twisted guitar-heavy punk with mid-‘60s hooks. Except that it’s a lot faster. A/1 is the best, but all three are stupendous.
Happy New Year, “Happy New Year” (Crikey!, 2012)Electronica with a little bit of a lot of stuff – doomy minimal-electro, dreamy/depressive shoe-gaze, Siouxsie-esque dramatic dance-pop – that adds up to something pretty cool.Try 1, 3, 68/23/12
Françoise Hardy, “Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles” (Light in the Attic, 2015; original release 1962)Hardy was a ‘60s female generational rock icon in the Francophone world in a way to which nobody in the Anglosphere came close until Janis & Grace Slick. This is the album that made her name, and it’s sharp, gorgeous […]