Disasteratti - Transmissionary (2011)

Being a Minneapolis native I have a strong connection to the bands that came out of the local scene when growing up.  I've already written about a lot of those bands (most having some sort of connection to Tom Hazelmeyer) already but have lost touch with what's been going on up there since moving away nearly 20 years ago.  Recently I've heard some new young bands from Minneapolis that have piqued my interest in that scene once again.  One being Buildings (can't stop listening to "Melt Cry Sleep") and the other is a great band called Disasteratti.  I've stolen a description of the band from Learning Curve Record's website that released a vinyl edition of 300 copies of this album.  On a related note... I currently live in Los Angeles and am looking forward to a upcoming show next month featuring some of the finest noise that Minneapolis has to offer including my all-time favorite Hammerhead.

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Hell-Billy cowboy acid surf crunch. These are the words that spew from my unfiltered mind. The catalyst for this outburst is simple. Disasteratti. The Twin Cities newest low brow core artist to break out with a heavy slab of wax on Learning Curve Records. Their debut full length, “Transmissionary” is a masterpiece of beer driven pig stomp surf alt wave festival shenanigans. The 11-song gem is a solid boo ya of the glory days of 90’s style rock. Aggressive rhythms, dark introspective vocals and pure redness abandon. “Transmissionary” is like the zipper ride at your county fair, you get in the cage, scream like death is at your door, adrenaline pumps through you. Up, down, backwards, forwards, fear and ecstasy all with in seconds. This is the ride of this LP. Take a listen, you might end up bobbing your head, jumping around you kitchen or smashing the closest object. Disasteratti has been playing shows in and around the Twin Cities for a couple years now, as well as touring thought the Midwest, developing a loyal underground fan base. Playing together for many years, Antoine, Brandon and Dari exist as a brotherhood, which is seen when they feed off each other in a live setting. Throttling their audience with mind pulsing rock.

Honeymoon Killers- 'Til Death Do Us Part (1990)

So I just came across this fantastic blog tonight called "Frog 2000" due to a request from the blogger (which I wasn't able to fulfill unfortunately) and it's chocked full of incredibly hard to find garage rock gems like this album. Not only does the blog have every rare Honeymoon Killers album ever released but it also has just about every single impossible to find single from Pussy Galore, The Gories, Fireworks, 68 Comeback etc. and the list goes on. So I'm reposting this one mostly because I've never come across it anywhere and I've also converted it from the link's OGG files to a bit more universal MP3 format. Anyways, it's a great record from a great band, from a very cool blog.

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Railroad Jerk - Younger Than You/Ballad Of Jim White

This is the first Railroad Jerk record I purchased and it's still my favorite two songs of theirs.  Those of you who are already familiar with them may be surprised that this single has a little more edge to it than the alt/indie/sensitive guy/college rock scene they generally get grouped into.  

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Gnomes Of Zurich - Where Poland Meets Africa/Staring Contest (1995)

Gnomes Of Zurich is the follow-up band of Janitor Joe (see below) members Joachim Breuer (also of Bastards, see four below) and Matt Ensminger (also of more RAM, see three below).  Starting to see a pattern here?  Guess that's just how my mind works, one post leads to the next.  Anyways, Gnomes are kind of along the lines of Janitor Joe but a little less abrasive.  Although it's my least favorite of Breuer's bands this single isn't half bad.  I had their one LP called 33rd Degree Burns at one time but I didn't really care for it much and I think I sold it.  But after listening to this 7" for the first time since maybe the day I bought it, I think I've changed my mind about the band.  I'd like to give the LP another chance if anyone out there could hook me up with it?

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Model/Actress - EP (2006)

Model/Actress is a band from LA that features members of Bullet Lavolta and Braniac.  They basically sound like a combination of those two bands.  Maybe a little more on the poppy side.  The song The Nodder features guest vocals by David Yow, who happens to be dating the guitar players' sister.  The Yow track is definitely the most aggressive song on the album.  Big surprise, I know...

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Ruby Falls - Heroines (2000)

Maybe Ruby Falls is a little too girly for this blog, I'm not sure I guess.  Not that there isn't enough aggression in Heroines because there is some of that.  Maybe there's more of a sense of optimism in this record than what I usually post.  If Sludge Swamp can post Mazzy Star I can certainly get away with this.  I always felt Ruby Falls were underrated and could have maybe become fairly popular had more people heard them.  Members went on to form the Rodgers Sisters and Retsin.

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Kinski - Be Gentle With The Warm Turtle (2001)

This is the second album by Seattle's Kinski and was my first introduction to the band.  It's still my favorite of theirs.  This along with their follow-up Airs Above Your Station is what I would consider the band in their prime.  I guess they usually get the post-rock label which I understand but that seems to sort of limit their range.  Post-rock with some experimental, psychedelic and noise-rock as well.  I guess it just depends on which album you're listening to.  For fans of Mogwai, Bardo Pond or Sonic Youth.

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John Paul Jones - Zooma (1999)

So how do you use the word "underrated" when you are talking about a member of one of the biggest rock bands of all time?  Well if that's possible it would definitely best describe John Paul Jones.  Is he really the first guy that comes to mind when someone mentions Led Zeppelin?  Usually not, which is too bad because the guy has done it all.  Not only is he a fantastic bass and keyboard player but he's also a recording engineer and a film score composer.  What I really love about Zooma is that he's evolving as a musician and not just trying to relive the past.  Jimmy Page would be perfectly happy just playing Led Zeppelin songs the rest of his life which is fine and I guess that's what the majority of people want anyways.  Although Zooma is something completely different.  It's a lot more aggressive than what you would expect from a old man.  Much of the album has more in common with noise-rock than classic rock.  In fact it even features a guest guitar solo by Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary on the title track.  It also has some jazzy bass (Drums n' Bass), and string orchestra (Snake Eyes) as well.  Zooma really has a little bit of everything.  I think this album proves that it's not a fluke that he's had the career that he's had.

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Mule - S/T (1993) & If I Don't Six (1994) (By Request)

I already posted some Mule a few weeks back and these two albums would make up the rest of their discography.  The first album was requested but I figured I'd throw in their last album as well.  I feel they just got better in that short period of time especially in terms of the guitar playing.  Just a really great underrated band.  Once again this is a Touch & Go (well Quarterstick actually, but same difference) release so download it quick before it's gone.

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Blacktop - I've Got A Baaad Feelin' About This (1995)

Mick Collins, the self professed "Last Black Man of Rock and Roll," has had many bands over the years and Blacktop has always been my personal favorite.  Whether it's rockabilly (The Gories), punkbilly (The Screws) or just old fashion R&R (The Dirtbombs) his music has always had a fun groove to it.  Blacktop was his follow-up band to The Gories and it has a lot more of a darker tone to it.  When I say dark I don't mean in a Sunn O))) kind of way.  It's still just rock and roll but with a little edge to it.  The guitar sound is much thicker and full than the Gories.  Much of that is the result of second guitarist Darin Lin Wood (Fireworks, Black Snakes, Cat Fur).  Mick's vocals are a little more haggard than usual due to the fact that he apparently recorded the album while just getting over strep throat.  Which I actually thought kind of added to the tone of this record.  The band only produced this one full length LP and this reissue also includes everything else (EP's, outtakes etc.)  Blacktop fell apart pretty quickly mostly due to Darin's heroine addiction.  Which Darin rebutes on Blacktop's myspace page.  According to the liner notes on the CD sleeve, Mick claims that Darin sold their tour van to buy smack.  Don't know how true that is but it sure makes for a good "rock star excess" story. 

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Jon Spencer

I think most people would agree that Spencer's music has gone a little down hill in recent years.  The last couple of Blues Explosion records have been so-so and Heavy Trash doesn't really do much for me.  There was a time before every song started with a "Ladies and Gentleman..."  There was once a time when he performed songs with such classic titles as "Die Bitch" and "Cunt Tease."  Here are a couple of his older releases back when having a "Fuck You" attitude was more important than having perfectly sculpted hair.

Pussy Galore - Historia De La Musica Rock (1990)

This was Pussy Galore's last album and probably the most overlooked.  It's a stripped down line-up of just Spencer, Haggerty and Bert.  It's the one PG record that wasn't reissued by Matador Records and has been long out of print.  I wouldn't say this is their best album but I think it represents kind of a transition from the old Spencer to the new.  This one has got more of a laid-back rock & roll groove to it compared to their harsher early albums.  You can really see Blues Explosion and Royal Trux right around the corner after this one.

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Boss Hog - Action Box (1991)

Action Box was a double 7" that at one time was fetching $100+ for record collectors.  Although I think I saw it at Amoeba Music in Hollywood for more like $20 now if anyone wants to dig for it.  Action Box is Boss Hog in their prime in my opinion.  It's a little more focused with a much cleaner production than the previous album Cold Hands but still a little edgier and raunchy than later albums.  With Black Throat as an ode to Tracy Lords as a prime example, which also features guest vocals by J.G. Thrilwell (Foetus).  There is some good news for Boss Hog fans with the news that they are reuniting for the upcoming All Tomorrows Parties.  Not sure if this is a one time deal or not. 

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Honeymoon Killers - Hung Far Low (1991)

So Spencer was more of a day-player on this record.  It's always been Jerry Teel's band.  What's significant about Spencers stint with Honeymoon Killers is that the birth of Blues Explosion kind of developed out of it.  With Russell Simins on drums and Judah Bauer also being a contributor of the band.

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The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers! (2007)

In The Red Records would periodically put out jukebox singles for JSBX back in the 90's.  They even had the little paper labels with the song titles that would be used in old fashioned jukeboxes included with the 7"s.  This is a compilation of them all.  I actually think it's better than most of their proper LP's.  These songs are a lot more raw and not so over produced.

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P.W. Long

P.W. Long has got to be one of the most underrated musicians on the planet. Not that he's super obscure or anything, it's just that I really thought he would have reached a bigger audience after all of these years. There are even moments of mainstream appeal in some of his more recent work. Just moments that is. I was predicting he would be the next "Tom Waits" or at least the next "Jon Spencer." But once again I tend to get a little tunnel vision as far as my tastes go and I need to come to the realization that not everybody is hearing it the way I'm hearing it. Throughout his career his music has ranged from noise-rock, blues and even touches of country. He started in the Ann Arbor band Wig and I believe he was only on their first single. Which I still don't have so if anyone could hook me up it would be much appreciated. So I'll start with my first introduction to him which was with Detroit's Mule.

Mule - Wrung (1994)

This one is definitely the heaviest release of his career. Maybe it's just me but this record almost seems to have a bit of a AC/DC feel to it. Just more pissed-off and aggressive . Steve Albini, who would refer to Mule as "Hillbilly Punk," recorded this and I think it's some of the best work he's ever done. Just crank it up really loud and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's just a really tight production.

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P.W. Long's Reelfoot - Push Me Again (1998)

P.W. himself has called this album his favorite. It's got a little bit of everything in it. But mostly it's just a really good rock album. I believe this was also Mac McNielly's (The Jesus Lizard) last recorded material, although I could be wrong.

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Young James Long - You Ain't Know The Man (2007)

This is his most recent release with his new band he formed in Dallas. This band was originally intended on being a improv project for him before he realized they sucked at improvisation. With members of Polyphonic Spree and Tenderloin. Now this one will go by fast. These 5 short songs will be over before you even know it.

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Budd - Yakfat (1993)

Great noise-rock band from Melbourne that much to my surprise are still together after all of these years.  Had no idea??  Anyways, I had a cassette copy of this EP back when I was a kid that a friend made for me that is now long lost.  One day for whatever reason I got the Fogman song stuck in my head even though I hadn't heard it in like 15 years.  At that point I had to track it down and found some guy online in Australia that was willing to do a trade for it.  And you know what?  I like it even better now.  So don't feel the slightest bit of guilt for downloading this for free because it's long out of print and was probably a rare find even when it was still in print.  At least here in the U.S. anyways.  I can't even find the album artwork anywhere.

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