1996 continued...

1996. An odd year. I know where I was living and presumably which crappy job I was working and a few other vague things that may or may not have occurred then, if not in the year or two after that. All in all, not a particularly memorable year in and of itself. I existed. I hated my job and life and it was I think, before I started mistakenly dating somebody I should have otherwise avoided like a neurotic plague. Hindsight.

At least it's sunny and mid-summer when I imagine that year and my old cat is still alive and sleeping on the end of my futon on the floor. Perhaps on an old t-shirt I took off before a shower.

Meanwhile, Boyracer continued to pump out vinyl at a steady Mark E. Smith like pace.

 Racer 100 (7") (1996)

The Racer 100 ep was released to celebrate the 100th Boyracer song. An occasion so momentous that it required its release twice in both a seven inch (Turntable Friend) and twelve inch (Blackbean and Placenta) format on two different labels.

It also doesn't hurt that it's probably one of my all time favorite singles in existence. Countless tapes for women included "Yr Unspoken Desires." and to this day  the tiny presumably accidental feedback squeal just before the guitar break gets me. It's one of those perfect little musical moments that make listening exciting.

I've also never been able to decide which format sounds better or which version I like better. There's more songs on the 12", but the 7" is more nicely pressed and packaged. The B&P version is a stamped construction paper sleeve on really thin single sided vinyl. But....  

Racer 100 (12") (1996)

The extended version has few more songs on it to enjoy. It was originally pressed in an edition of 600. One thing to note is the song "Bee to Honey" is a cover of a Tall Dwarfs tune that appeared on their "3 ep's" feature length. It's a pretty good version.

If you're a really good person and not some sponging parasitic bottom feeder you would take the time and click on over to Jen & Stew's site and buy their digital version. It no doubt will sound better than my straight from  vinyl versions, but also includes the "Live at Stache's" lp that I won't be bothered to upload for god knows how long. Weeks? Years? It's only five bucks. Skip a lunch.

Rhythm of the Chicken Shake (1996)

The final bit of Boyracer '96 is this oddity released on Jigsaw apparently recorded in Rhode Island on tour. They're acoustic versions of songs recorded elsewhere that seem to have been recorded under the influence of some combination of alcohol, sleep deprivation and giddy glee that comes from the two former while on tour. Not perhaps the most essential versions but moderately amusing. I mean, "Your Unspoken Desires" would be plenty all right and quite lovely if it weren't for the inclusion of somebody making pig noises rhythmically along with the song at various points. Kind of really pulls you out of the moment.

Also the bongo warning is not a lie. Apply with caution.