White Reaper, “Rides Again” (Polyvinyl, 2016)Hard-driving garage-punk with a chrome-polished sheen over discordant sub-structures, including eerie organ twinkling and some good, melodic tuneage.Try 2, 8. 911/10/16
White Stripes, “White Stripes” (Sympathy for the Record Industry, 1999)Their first, from when they thought they were just another clangy underground rock act, but with a really distinctive sound (chaotic minimalist punk filtered through electric Delta blues). They expanded songwriting-wise later, but nothing they did afterward can touch this stuff for sheer manic attack and […]
Various Artists, “Teen Expo: The Cleopatra Label” (Numero Group, 2018; original recordings 1960—70)So this guy ran a tiny indie out of northern New Jersey, and he put out examples of pretty much every happening pop style of the ‘60s—girl-group, garage-punk, folk-psych, dance-floor r&b, even post-doo-wop crooning. But it all feels of a piece – he […]
Various Artists, “The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House” (Disneyland, 1964)Before Disney/Buena Vista/Hollywood Rec’s brought us hard-rocking platters like Lower East Side junkie-punk icons, the NY Loose’s “Year of the Rat,” or Hilary Duff’s emo-era works, this disc may have outdone them in the hyper-intensity sweepstakes. Side A is a tour-de-force of Disney’s scary-movie […]
Various Artists, “The Girls Want The Boys: Sweden’s Beat Girls, 1966-1970” (Ace, 2016)Comp of female-fronted Swedish pop and rock sounds, with more emphasis on the rocking force behind the boppin’ beat than in the French yé- yé-girl counterpart/archetype, but with that light-and-shadow dramatic sweep between major and minor keys that has always been such a […]
Various Artists, “The Girls Want The Boys” (Ace, 2017; original recordings 1966-70)Comp of ‘60s Swedish girl-group sounds. The music is actually twistier and harder-rocking than the Spectorish vib associated with the girl-group tag, and the songs are as dynamic (from autumnal-moody to bubble-gum bright) and catchy as you’d expect from the land of ABBA (two […]
Various artists, “The Girls Want the Boys” (Ace, 2017; original recording 1966-1970)Comp of ‘60s Swedish girl-group sounds. The music is actually twistier and harder-rocking than the Spectorish vibe associated with the girl-group tag, and the songs are as dynamic (from autumnal-moody to bubble-gum bright) and catchy as you’d expect from the land of ABBA (2 […]
Various Artists, “The Young Disciples: Eccentric Soul” (Numero, 2008)In a community center in strife-torn, late-‘60s East St. Louis, a singular music scene emerged – rough-edged funk and soul that could turn urban devastation into truly mind-altering, psych-tinged soundscapes.Try 3, 12, 139/14/12
Various Artists, “TV Sound And Image” (Soul Jazz, 2012)One of this label’s most audacious reissues, this collects soundtrack compositions from the BBC’s archives. Ranging from big-band to surf to funk to minimal synth and all points in between, this stuff shares a rigor and dynamism that can make you see the cinematic action even with […]
Various Artists, “Wanna Buy A Bridge?” (Rough Trade, 1980)Watershed com of Rough Trade’s definitive early roster. “Post-punk” as a form-shattering avant-garde – political, rhythmic, spatial, tonal, you name it. And the songs are catchy as hell even so. This is a genuine “greatest hits.”Try 1/ 2, 1/ 4, 1/ 8, 2/2, 2/ 3, 2/ 56/18/18