Гражданская Оборона-Multipost

It's odd noticing that this band has risen in the ranks as being one of the most sought posts I've done thus far. We're talking almost 2,000 different people have been looking for albums by them and have stumbled on this site. That may as well be 2,000,000 people in the way my maths work. But what a fucking great band (see my past write up for more detail as to why they are one of my all time favorites). I almost don't feel like writing much else because when a band has a special place it almost seems like I might be dispelling some of the allure by comparing to this and them. I think I can do a pretty decent job of being empathetic and trying to understand
issues from others' perspectives, but I cannot imagine what it would have been like to live in Russia and to hear this group for the first time. Granted, my knowledge of Russian music is a bit limited, but this still just seems out of place in nearly every context. Perhaps kids will finally start bringing the mystery, passion, and poeticism which made this group matter so much. I know I complain a lot about kids starting shitty soundalikes and thinking they're all the better for it (i.e. see every band that started to record post 2000), but if people want to dare try to emulate this lot, well, you'd make an old man proud. Anyways, here's 4 albums to get your collection going (one is a repost). I cannot overstate just how vital these recordings are. Nab them all now or wait for mediafire to delete my links again and then cry about it (I will not keep reposting them).

Оптимизм (1985)

Поганая молодёжь (1985)

Свет и стулья (1988-9)

Здорово и Вечно (1989)

Sandy Bull-Inventions

What needs to be sed about this string bender that already hasn't? Not much I suppose. Lovers of Fahey, Basho, Takoma records, American Primitive all have reasons to celebrate Bull's catelogue. Being that I'm a man who indulges greatly in all the aforementioned subjects, far be it for me to say anything cross about this man's work. In fact, as much as I love all of those things, ole Sandy seems to hold a special place in my heart. Is it the arsenal of string instruments he poses with on the cover? Or those clean cut, Beach Boyish looks (that masked a nasty horse habit)? Dunno what it is. I suppose it's probably his ability to take anything notes can be made with and create sounds that seem more like an alien soundtrack or those amazing songs you hear in your dreams and wake up convinced they actually exist.

Here

Tony, Caro and John-All on the First Day

I’m sure that cooler blogs than mine have posted this plenty, but my shoddy memory doesn’t bring any of them to mind at the moment, so I say it’s fair game. And I don’t even know what the etiquette is anyways. I just know that this is a good un and should be heard by more. If that means that someone’s beard gets twisted then so be it. And fuck, this reissue’s been around for a decade or so. You should have it by now. But if you don’t, well then, here’s you’re chance. British folk that is perfect for these fucked up January days that reach mid 60s when it should be about 10. Oh well, that just means I get to stroll around the Herman Moore sculpture garden by myself and glower and young couples in love. This snow better start up soon.

Here (Reuped 6/6/12)

The Wooden O-A Handful of Pleasant Delites

Tis true, nothing does compare to languidly reclining whilst one dearly loved caresses you inner ear hole with the soothing sounds of a recorder. Just look at this Pre-Raphaelite-cum-hippy filth cover and you just want to grab them grapes and squeeze. This is one of the lesser known in that pagan loving, olde tymey, return to the Earth Limey brilliance that readers around here seem to fetishize. But really, if you're not up for some fluting than forget it. But back on that cover. Doesn't that really seem like such a charming way to pass some sunny fall day?

Here (reuped 7/19/12)

C.O.B.-Spirit of Love

On one of my too many flights around the country this summer I had one of those unexpected moments where all the antipathy and misanthropy seem to just dissolve due to some kind stranger. Surprisingly, the stranger here was a Texan. I won't hold that against her even though I couldn't wait to stop hearing her accent. Anyways, sharing a flight to somewhere (can't even remember anymore) we decided just to snuggle under her blanket and take a nap together. I know it's no penthouse forum letter or anything, but it was oddly more significant in that something as simple as falling asleep next to a beautiful girl could even make a staunch grouch like myself feel something long dead. Then we got off the plane and that was that. I don't know her name even but it was something simple that just sticks in the mind. Well, there's something warm and comforting about this album that made me think of that time. If you're like me then you'll probably find it easy to slip in to some cocoon of sad music and get comfy with your misery and that is exactly why albums like this are so dear. This isn't some bubbleheaded, life affirming, vapidness but something precious and human and fragile. So by now you've surmised that I am the world's biggest pussy. Top flight sleuthing skills there Poirot.

Here

Dino Valente

Poor Chester William Powers, Jr. A guy couldn't possibly have had worse luck. Starting off will all the cool folkies in the Greenwich Village scene, Valente graduated to chumming it up with what would become the powerhouses of the Bay Area. His list of amigos is like a veritable who's who of 60s rock and folk. And when his band, Quicksilver Messenger Service was poised to join the ranks of classic S.F. psych bands, Valente got pinched and wound up in the can. Eventually, he was able to rejoin and produce some classic sounds with them, but it was never quite the same. Then after some brain surgery, he died in the 90s when everyone seemed to have forgotten about this fantastic album. Really breezy, charming psych/folk 12 string bending tunes. To this day, outside of his cult following, he remains criminally underrated as a guitar player and song writer. But that just seems to be how things go.

Here

Bob & Carol Pegg-He Came from the Mountains

Let's see if this experiment works. Rather than write a bunch of shit I decided to drink. Then I listened to albums and typed in ideas into google images. Whatever popped up is what will serve as the write up for the album. I guess it's just something to see if people are on the same wavelength with me or something. So if the image strikes you, perhaps you'll enjoy the album too. But I make no guarantees about that. I've got a few circuits bent up there. Either way, it'll be interesting to see if anyone downloads things. Not like my write ups are much help anyways. And you won't have to work you're way through the typos and atrocious grammar. So here goes...
Here

Pip Proud-One of These Days

Here

Furekaaben-Prinsessevaerelset

The weather's been up and down here. The upper 80s gave way to thunderstorms and freezing rain. Today it's back to sunny and breezy so I think I'll give this a spin, sit out on the patio, sip some iced tea, and watch the golden finches flit about. And that's what this album seems made for. I'm not much of a connoisseur of Danish psych so I can't speak to the significance of this album. In many ways it seems to parallel what was going on in Sweden at the time. So if you were into any of those albums I posted than this is one more album for those searching for that acid/folk/strum/exotica essence. I think most people into that whole collective improv sound that cropped up in the 90s and most likely reached its apex in the early 2000s will find much to coddle up to with this one.

Here (Re-upped 4/13/12)

Parameter-Galactic Ramble

Stoned out limeys (that’s a nautical term, right?) dwelling in a cave with only a description of how V.U. sounds, a mountain of pot, and some instruments? That’s the only way I can think of how this classic album was created. I actually know nothing about these guys (I’m pretty sure they’re guys) aside from the fact that this is definitely on my all time classic psych albums list. I’ve talked to a few people about this album and they seem as clueless as me. I’m sure I can turn up some info on line about them, but I don’t have a smart phone and I like the mystery. What happened to mystery anyways? God, now I’m sounding Catholic. Anyways, I’ll let all the hipsters say Forever Changes is the best psych album of all time (I actually love Love too) but really, when was the last time you talked to a hipster who actually knew what the fuck he was talking about?

Here

Lily & Maria

This album cover kinda reminds me of these two attractive lesbians that liked to hit on me. We both knew it wasn’t going any where but it still made me feel better. That was until one of them started to get jealous at the amount of attention her partner was showing me. I’m not saying that these girls are lesbians or anything, just that they remind me of those other girls. I guess many of you will look at the image and think of a million other faceless girly folk albums that seem so ubiquitous in the dollar bins. Big mistake pal. It’s nothing like that. Sure, it is folk but there is some high grade strangeness too. Now that I’m finally out of fucking West Virginia I feel it’s time for something pretty.

Here

Joni Mitchell-The Hissing of Summer Lawns

I’m pretty sure I’ve read somewhere that this is Prince’s favorite album of all time. And who the hell are you to say otherwise? You definitely aren’t as cool as he is. And I know you can’t pull off those cheekless trousers that he sports (please don’t try). I’m sure everybody’s parents have some Joni in their record collections and that there’s a whole generation who missed out on this Canuck siren. But just because the elder folk might enjoy this should never mean that it’s out of place in these times. Why is it that kids always think they’re so smart anyways?

Here

Bridget St John-Songs for the Gentleman

Kind of weird that several old folk sirens have gained some retroactive accolades. Vashti Bunyan was deemed cool enough now to record with Animal Collective (fuck that band), Sibylle Baier is supposed to have a new album out soon, even the more obscure like Karen Dalton and Anne Briggs are getting hipster points (I think I heard Steve Malkmus talking about them). I’m sure St. John gets credit by those in the know, but I never hear anyone talking about her. And she’s one of my favorite astral goddesses. She’s got this haunting and rich voice that makes me feel like she’s singing directly to my soul. And the arrangements on this record are simply fantastic. Honestly, this is close to perfection.

Here

United Bible Studies-Huntly Town

There’s plenty of people currently trying to sound like some ancient band of minstrels. Some even goes as far as to sport codpieces and leggings and prance around like the fools that they are (like in that fantastic Mighty Boosh send up). But leave your merkin at home since that stuff normally gets pretty boring pretty quick. I say avoid it unless you’ve got a time machine and know how to use it. United Bible Studies must be aware of this. They are able to capture the essence of lost cultures but it still sounds thoroughly contemporary. Fairly sparse arrangements offer plenty of room for your mind to wander, but not too far. That’s not to say that this is some kind of wallpaper music but that the spaciousness makes the performances even more intimate. So get cozy snuggle bunny.

Here