Here's Something Else From Iowa

 

I just took a shower. I start my 76 hour work week tomorrow and feel like I didn't manage half of what I wanted on my off week.And later on tonight I will be roasting a whole chicken stuffed with some of the leftover bread I've made lately.

 So anyways...

I've been having a bit a conundrum. Am I posting lots of stuff here because I'm on a neverending hoarding situation buying music to expand my bloated collection now that I am finally in a place where I have some folding money or am I buying lots and lots of stuff because I fear that despite having thousands of individual items I will somehow run out of things to post because it's something that gives me a tiny bit endorphin boost to my fragile being?

Either way you come out on top usually with a years long tradition of top quality music posts amidst subpar ramblings and run on sentences that are hardly ever proofread or edited for quality. I mean, I even have barely enough time to listen to the stuff I've been hoarding. It's scary.


But lo!

Here comes one of those aforementioned "top quality posts" e'en now!
Away to it then, good sir.

Skeletal Emotions (1985)

So I was looking back on the Mediafire thing I've been using for this for the duration of its existence and saw that in the seven and a half years I've been doing this nonsense I've posted almost thirteen hundred files going back to August of 2014. That's a lot of stuff.

And on occasion I have had cause to make a point of noting when there's something especially worth the time of your average listener. (Which is obviously not you, of course. You're obviously a person of considerable discretion and taste.)

This is one of those.

On July 13 of 2021 the offering was the creatively titled compilation of Iowa based bands, "The Iowa Compilation" which had the track "Heat Ray" by the Shy Strangers.

Now I offer up the rest of their recorded output.
Starting with the inaugural single when they were still just the Shy.

Once again if I were to be able to helm a series of compilations of jangly skinny tie wearing pop songs from years gone past the song "Skeletal Emotions" would figure highly on the first volume.

That is a recommendation of the highest order.

 

Indian Name (1986)

So while the single above seems to be getting a bit pricier over time the follow up elongated player is still available new and sealed direct from Pravda Records via Discogs at a fraction of the cost.
And it has "Skeletal Emotions" on it as well as other songs that aren't quite as inspired, but you're not going to regret the purchase.

Entirely worth it.

Two Unrelated Things

Doing up some Lps so I have time to kill while they record.

Here's a quickie.

I Want the Blood of a Civil Servant (1986)

The Monkey Run hail from the Rochdale area of the riot torn streets of Manchester and that's about all there is to say. They featured Morrissey on the cover of their second single as one of what was intended to be a series of "Manchester Greats", unfortunately they didn't get further than that.

Perhaps if they had started with Mark E Smith...

Car Crash (1994)

Milo were from Champaign, IL.
This was their first release of two on the Bus Stop Label.

Shut Up.

Ok.

Love's Going Out of Fashion (1986)

Biff Bang Pow.

Combo Audio (1982)

Combo Audio.

Another that has been sitting around

So this one's been sitting in the "to post" folder only a day less than the previous one.
We're back from Costco and a couple hundred dollars lighter, but won't have to leave the house for a while now. We're restocked and good to go.

I'll Be Back (1986)

Mississippi. Cross it off your list. Here's the Windbreakers.

The electric sitar in the first track seals the deal for me. The Daily Collegian out of Penn State still has a contemporary review that quite enjoyed them too.

Perhaps you will as well.

I have their first single too. It's like half a dozen or so singles boxes away from seeing the light of day. If I live long enough and I continue with this nonsense, I'll post it.

Home and Hombres

This is another post.

I have business to take care of.

It will be short.

Home and Garden (1986)

"By 1982, Pere Ubu, a band that had blazed a trail of influence (if not outright commercial success) through the punk/new wave scene, had broken up. Scott Krauss, Ubu's founding drummer, who had left a year before the band's dissolution, was already exploring new musical avenues when he was joined by Ubu bass player Tony Maimone. Together they entered the recording studio as Home and Garden" 

That should be enough to start you off. The last update from their site is from 2012. So there you go.

Let It Out (1967)

The Hombres. Garage. The A-side is a classic. B-Side is a lost classic. Let it all hang out, baby.

Back Down Under and Slightly to the Right

The Debut 12" by Headless Chickens

Headless Chickens (1986)

I got nothing. 

Just enjoy. It's on Flying Nun.

That should be enough to go on.

Today's Adventures in Difficult Listening

A difficult listening post.

Haven't had one of those in a bit now have we.

At least this is pretty damn funny...

Now We Are Six (1986)

This band consists of two fine upstanding gentleman known to the record buying public as Mr. Anus & Mr. Horribly Charred Infant.

We all have regrets. One of mine is that I didn't pull the trigger fast enough to purchase the first Happy Flowers single with "Mom, I gave the Cat Some Acid" because it's still one of the things that make me giggle uncontrollably whenever I listen to it.
Just tickles me pink.

Alas, I was too late for that first gem, but did manage to snag the follow up. This one. It has such lovely little toe tappers as "Mom and Dad Like the Baby More Than Me" and "Daddy Melted" which unfold slowly and painfully over a bed of excruciating noise. Just like spending time with your own family.
Only this is actually funny along with being painful.

At least I did get a very sweet hand written poem with my copy of this gem which I can only assume is a one of a kind piece of art that will not increase in value anywhere in the world

except my heart:

Excuse me a sec. I may cry. Too much  beauty....



Meanwhile let's take a moment to remember that difficult listening comes in many forms

Hardattack (1981)

So here's Hardattack.

It's sometimes billed as a "rare US punk" record.

I'm less convinced.

First off the b-side "Me and You" is some kind of extra shitty wacky white guy reggae concoction that generally causes me to bruise a shin or something scrambling for the "next track" button. 

The band sounds like approaching middle aged guys trying to catch up with the latest sounds of  1981 so they can  regain some kind of relevance. (which I say from a comfortable middle age myself as someone who was never relevant to begin with)

which leads us to the second thing

The better side is the A-side "Sick and Tired of my Friends"

(and presumably why some optimistic and perhaps slightly delusional soul thinks that this single should command a minimum of fifty five US dollars on Discogs. Which is itself an improvement on the whopping hundred previously offered copy. You can ask a million, but there has to be takers....)

It's a relatively fast number with a beat and a certain New Wave bent, a bit of a misanthropic slant lyrically. 

And features the inimitable punk rock guitar stylings of guest artist Jorma Kaukonen who approaches this old person New Wave/Punk thing like he's playing in a Blue Oyster Cult cover band. (which I also say as a fan of B.O.C. "Secret Treaties" gets a fair amount of play around these parts. 

But in this case context matters.)

The whole aging hippie who was in Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna thing kind of kills that "punk rock" vibe for me. But I'm snootier than most. 

Punk rock was invented because of people like this. To spite and despite them. It was my generation's thing. Fuck off, poser. 

Fucking Baby Boomers ruin fucking everything.

That ranted, I mean, it's still probably not the worst record ever made in this vein at the time, but it's far from the top.

At least now you can save your fifty five dollars for something better. 

Like tacos. 

Go buy yourself some tacos.

Peter Pan can suck it.

I like being an adult.


I get to buy singles like this one by  Grow Up.

 Grow Up (1979)

UK DIY style. Just barely competent enough. Way too many words.  It's got a trombone without being ska. A clarinet too.  A clarinet, that's punk as fuck. There are six songs squeezed together on one seven inch slab of vinyl.

What's not to love?

Green Telescopes (1986)

For a long time into the 80's hellscape there existed bands who sought to recreate as accurately as possible the sound of the original 60's teenage garage bands pumping out the real punk rock.

One of those bands was the Green Telescope (who would later change their name to the Thanes of Cawdor) who threw this lively bit of garagadelia to the hungry masses in the middle of the decade that shall not be glorified because even those of us living through it wanted to be living in another time period.

Side one is an original in as much as something aping another time period can be considered an original. A farfisa flavored rocker that hits all the proper points such that it might otherwise fool a neophyte listener into believing it actually was recorded twenty years previous to its actual release date. It's got a beat and you can dance to it.

The other side is a cover of one of the classics of the Garage Punk genre "Thoughts of a Madman" by one of the several hundred bands calling themselves the Nomads.

You can decide for yourself if they best the original or not.

With Me When I Need a Friend

Yeah, It's August.

That's also a song from my personal favorite Love album.

Here's a link to it.

You're welcome.

Kim the Waitress (1986)


Speaking of things that are personal favorites...

(*Note clever segue)

Here's the first single by the Green Pajamas and one of the best non-beer related dollars I ever spent in the late 80's. Another awkward staple of mixed tapes for girls. Lovely stuff from Seattle in the gray rainy days before Grunge would come along and ruin everything.

Some of the older kids in the audience may be familiar with the song through a decidedly inferior and overwrought version by Material Issue in 1994 that entirely misses the earnestness of  the original to make it seem much more creepy. Much more. They sound less like shy artists with a crush on a pretty girl and more like stalkers with a knife, a shovel and a supply of duct tape in the trunk of their car. No wonder Kim quit her job and avoids the place.

But the Green Pajamas.

That's the fucking ticket, Jack.

Discipline (1982)

I think, If  I've made one thing apparent last Autumn (see there's actually a theme developing here that I didn't actually think of until just now. Damn, I'm good) it's that I really really love the Fall.

So here's God's Gift. This is there 3rd single as duly noted on the sleeve.

They too were from the war torn streets of Manchester England. They have some sonic similarities to the mighty Fall that extend beyond the Mancunian accent.

It's more of the good stuff. 

Reunion

the Girls again.

Reunion (1986)

From Boston. They existed from 1976 to around 1980. By reports of a guy who knew them and I was in a band with in the mid-80's, by the end of their run they all hated one another and were wont to have frequent fights onstage. But that same mutual loathing fueled some really amazing live performances.

I don't know. I wasn't there. It's all hearsay to me.

However in 1986 and for many years after this little compilation was all there was to go on besides the previously posted single. It was called "Reunion" and consists of a bunch of previously recorded numbers from when the band actually existed. They were like that.

As it stands. It's definitely damaged arty synth punk shit or whatever micro genre you want to pigeonhole it into. It's tough. It can take it.

Your mom will hate it.
Your college roommate would probably hate it. (unless he likes it, then you probably hate it.)
You might hate it too, but can't stop eating it like a big bowl of candy corn that's sitting in front of you.

Listen to it anyway.
While it's still legal to do so.

A Quick One

No time for introspection and words and shit.

I've got shit to do and coffee to drink and I'm working tonight.

Zombies of Mora-Tau (1982)

It's Jad Fair from 1/2 Japanese with a solo single in 1982. Notable for one of my favorite recorded sounds. The gunshot on "Mr Frankenstein".

I  actually have two copies of this.

I like it that much.

 

Four Song ep (1986)

This Full Fathom Five was from Iowa City, Iowa. That's another one for your fifty states collection. They're mentioned in an article in the Chicago Tribune in 1989 if you're interested. Otherwise this is...well, it just is and precisely good enough that I wanted to add it to this shit show I call my blog.

I only have one copy of  this.  That's all that's necessary.

So there you go.

Everybody Does

In which we continue:

Everybody Does It (1986)

So it's the second and final release by the Dogmatics shortly before Paul O'Halloran's tragic motorcycle accident. It's another collection of rockabilly infused beer fueled rock and roll with lots of jokes and very few fucks given. Just like Elvis intended.

But of particular note is the song "Thayer St." which kind of pointed to a potential of what the band could have become if things had been different. It's in my not particularly humble opinion their finest recorded moment. Three chords and the truth and a video of them playing street hockey.

Pop a cold one and sit back and enjoy

As long as I'm posting Antipodes

I could do much worse than post this 1986 12" ep by the Alpaca Brothers

Legless (1986)


I have nothing much to add about it. You're on the internet. If you have questions, you can google up that shit on your own like an independent person. Just know that "the Lie" is a favorite Flying Nun track around these parts and that Bruce Blucher of the Alpaca Brothers was in the twin guitar/drum assault of a band called Trash in the 90's that made for one memorable night at the Uptown Bar & Grill. I have worn that t-shirt to shreds.

It's the penultimate post of Autumn.

Backdrop (1994)

Originating as a bootleg in 1994 this was a fucking wet dream for me as it was a compilation of a lot of those previously uncollected and unknown to me appearances by the Fall on odd records scattered across many years. Some of these things I still have yet to find or purchase, but thanks to Discogs are only a few mouseclicks from my possession should the mood strike me rather than having to spend years combing record bins in a search for an ever elusive copy.

I like living in the 21st Century.

Some stuff on here I've already posted because I had it. Other stuff not so. It's worth your time and an excellent capper on this silly bullshit that I've been foisting upon the world for the last three months.

Prepare yourself for actual Winter as set forth in the calendar

Bits and Bobs

Vinyl Conflict 2 (1986)

An alternate recording of  "Lucifer Over Lancashire" that came on a 7" free with a copy of Melody Maker magazine. Also included are songs by Cocteau Twins, Hollywood Beyond and  Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction. You remember them, don't you?

 Sounds Showcase (1987)

This one came free with a copy of Sounds magazine and along with the original version of "Hey Luciani" has songs by the Cult, the Go-Betweens,

and the Adult Net who were Brix's other band at the time which included some members of the Fall who would subsequently drop out one by one with each release and whose sole Lp "Honey Tangle" (1989) featured the rhythm section from the by then defunct Smiths.
They actually weren't terrible.  

Try to wash crow's feet off my face but it's ingrained

Living Too Late (1986)


The approach of Middle Age can be a fucking bitch.

"Sometimes life is like a new bar
Plastic seats, beer below par
Food with no taste, music grates
I'm living too late"

I can relate.

They made out you were are an ultra nut

Hey Luciani (1986)

So along with everything else that Mark E. was doing with the Fall in 1986 he also took the time to write a play about the 33 day reign of Pope John Paul I in 1978. He took time out to even sit down with Jools Holland to discuss the whole thing. 

Unfortunately it appears to have been panned and closed in two weeks.

This 12" is related.

The flip has two of the most ear friendly Fall tunes up to this point. "Entitled" and the poppy bouncing "Shoulder Pads1b" which were the bane of many contemporary fashions.

Watch out makers of fads
It's MES in shoulder pads

And I really think this computer thing is getting out of hand

Mr. Pharmacist (1986)

Another year another 12" by the Fall with an obscure cover reworked by the Fall.

In this case it's a 1966 garage pounder originally recorded by the Other Half. The Fall do a respectfully bang up job remaking the song in their own image. Maybe it's that they both had a fondness for pharmaceutical enhancements.

Flip it over and there are two more songs. Listen like it's your birthday.

A-Hunting We Will Go

Time to crap out another quick post with the band names sharing a theme.

Aren't you fucking lucky.

Egg Hunt (1986)

This was an intensely exciting thing when it came out because it was a one off project by Ian McKaye and Jeff Nelson from Minor Threat. Together they own Dischord Records. It was half of that band making music. We listened to it often. I still like to listen to it. You may too.

 

Duck Hunt (1991)

This is also a one off project on K records by Steve Fisk noted Seattle producer musician & all around good egg and his Pell Mell bandmate Bill Owen.

If I wasn't incredibly lazy I'd look and see if I'd previously posted the single he did in 1980 as Anonymous which is also an odd sonic mish mosh of studio fuckery. I may or may not have. If I didn't I may come back and post it later if anybody gives a shit and maybe asks nicely. But I'm not holding my breath.

Bruce

I used to have a roommate. His name was Bruce. We worked the same shitty restaurant job together and drank a lot. We were in our 20's. I'm pretty sure it's what kids still do. I sometimes wonder whatever became of him. We lost touch decades ago and he apparently doesn't have a Facebook account, so I may as yet never know. That's too bad. I'd like to say hello sometime.

 We're Not So Smart (1986)

That little anecdote naturally is our segue into this post featuring Couch Flambeau from Wisconsin, the Dairy State. We probably heard this played on the morning show on WMBR some bleary eyed weekday morning prepping case after case of fucking avocados for the lunch rush. It amused us. I bought it. I'd put it on mix tapes for work and we thought it was hilarious. I still think it's kind of funny. The b-side is a piss take on the Mountain classic rock tune and #1 cowbell song. It's also still pretty amusing.

So I post this now. It's dedicated to Bruce wherever his 6' 4" soulless ginger badass self is these days.

 Constant Pain (1996)

A decade later Constant Pain from New Zealand released another in our series of why it's poor design to print your sleeves with metallic paints on dark paper. They are almost always completely unreadable and any artwork is completely lost. At least there's the music to enjoy.