Saw my old friend Jason Grey today. We figured out we hadn’t seen each other for three years. He helped me out big time and happened to mention that my greatest contribution to Remnants for him was turning him on to Supershit 666.
So I looked and found this British cover band playing Star War. Every song on that little EP is a 10, so this is as good or bad as it gets. Supershit was a studio-only supergroup and this is the best and only live version of a SS666 song I’ve ever seen.
Actually it’s a little Supershitty, but it’s fun to watch the drummer. I’d be happy to play with him. I think the bass player is sitting on the couch.
This is an amazing and catchy new song refracted through a few different lenses simultaneously, about cancer, mortality, friendship and empathy. Plus 3D printing. Wow.
Here’s a band we don’t talk about. They had their moments, like this one which is their best song imho. I urge you to seek out the original, but here is a smoking performance from Beat Club. Shit, we missed a lot missing this show.
This is a recent release of a deep cut that got lost in the machine. It was discovered by an independent label, Melodies Unlimited, that saw the value in an old elpee that didn’t sell much when it was released, but people kept talking about it. According to Pitchfork, for a while copies of the original vinyl were fetching $1500.
The reason is this long and bubbling groove of a track. Tomorrow’s People were four brothers, the Burtons, on this particular day made a jam that has improbably endured. Dig it!
Don’t know how I missed this very early, primitive Turbonegro attempt at a genuine music video.
Cool in countless ways.
I guess my favorite is the guitarist on the far right in the video.
This is from Ass Cobra, absolutely a glaring omission from the Rolling Stone best punk album list (not that they would know). My vote for best hardcore album ever.
One of the dilemmas I face when I post each week is introducing my readers to songs that will appeal to the widest audience possible. But I’ve learned that when doing what I do (writing about obscurities) there will be large blocks of people that will HATE a certain percentage of my offerings. So I thank those of you that continue to read even when I suggest two or three songs in a row that you simply can’t stomach.
So be forewarned… today’s SotW will not have a broad appeal. But I know there are at least a few of you that would love to hear a good guitar wig-out. If you’re one of those people that appreciates guitarists that have huge pedal boards and use every one on it (e.g. J. Mascis), you will enjoy “Solar Marmalade” by The Bevis Frond. You know who you are!
“Solar Marmalade” is an 8 minute instrumental that starts “at 11” and never lets up. It employs fuzz, wah-wah and a whole lot more. It’s a bit psych, a tad proggy and just a little jazzy. Influences cover the spectrum from Hendrix and Black Sabbath to Punk and Grunge. The song is on the 30 cut, 1991 album, New River Head.
While you’re listening, here’s a little about the band. The Bevis Frond was the solo studio pseudonym of British guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Nick Saloman. He devised the alter ego in 1985, recording at home in the spare time he could squeeze out while raising his daughter as a stay at home dad. Once things started to take off, he formed a touring band.
If you like this “Solar Marmalade” but aren’t familiar with the band, check out their discography – it’s huge. By my count, they released 22 albums in the 18 years between 1987 and 2004 (and they’re on Spotify). The eclectic New River Head – with touch points from The Byrds to Husker Du — may be the best!
Partially because this was Rolling Stone’s #1 punk album of all-time I listened to it, among others, on my way out to LABR last Friday.
1) There are several other albums I could argue for #1, but I could also easily defend this one.
2) Joey’s vocal inflections are classic, “Now I Wanna Snib Some Glub” and “I Don’t Wanna Go, Down To The Basem” come to mind immediately. There are plenty of others. What’s the source of this genius/idiocy?
3) Realized on the flight out that I know every single word to every single song on this album. In my world, bars would host “Sing Along To The Ramones Debut Album” night. Fuck EDM. Fuck EDM again. For good measure.
4) Tommy’s drumming. Hypnotic. Does it get any better?
5) I include this song because of a stupid college story. I discovered this album as a freshman in college (1978 – yes, I was late to the Ramones party). There was this really ugly freshman girl named Renata and our entire floor would sing “I used to make a living man, pickin’ up Renata.” I can still see her picture in our freshman class picture book.
6) Is this rock ‘n’ roll? (Nice when it’s a rhetorical question.)
