The Black Lips Start Over?

We're hardly the first to post about it, but in case you missed it, Atlanta garage punk kings the Black Lips released a new track around Christmas from their forthcoming album, "200 Million Thousand" due February 24 on Vice.

The mp3's info reveals it's track 3 of 15 and on the whole, I like it although it's not terribly different from what you've heard before. The band still sound as cleanly recorded as on Good Bad Not Evil albeit with sloppy-on-purpose vocal recording...

You can check it out here on Sandbag's site: Black Lips - Starting Over. Site asks for an email address, but as far as I can tell it's not checked so feel free to put in "hell@no.com" or whatever.

The band is due back in the NYC area in March-- Monday the 9th at Bowery Ballroom and Tuesday the 10th at Music Hall of Williamsburg... watch the show calendar for that possible 'phantom' 11th date...

SHIMMY

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Top 3 Reissues of 2008, almost.

Hey everyone! Sofya here. 2008 was sonically delicious, and I hope there will be more of the same for 2k9. Here are my top 3 recent reincarnations of things from the past.

#1. Obsessions



"Obsessions" released for the first time in 2008 on Bully Records (produced, compiled, and designed by Mike Davis of Academy Records) is a vinyl compilation of high-quality unusual psychedelic rockery. I've practically worn it out since I bought it. The double-LP begins and ends in India, with the Atomic Forest track "Obsession '77"—an instrumental that reminds me of a loud&fast version of Floyd's "Welcome to the Machine" with swirly psych guitar and a CAN-like rhythm. Then, the record moves noisily through Brazil, Turkey, Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina.

It has mellow, folksy moments, but not at all in that gnomes-in-the-forest British countryside way (ala Small Faces' Ogden's Nut Gone Flake, baaah). Sonora Casino's "Astronautas a Mercurio" (Peru) is definitely merengue with astronaut animal noises, I kid you not, and Afro-funk horn lines and wah-guitar. The three Turkish songs would have to be my favorite—especially worth a listen is Arif Sag's "Osman Pehlivan", that winds up in speed like a dervish, if you will, and features the first time that the Saz, a traditional Turkish instrument, was electrified.

Not all of the songs are necessarily fuzzed-out instrumentals. Jean Paul "El Troglodita" from Peru's song "Everything is Gonna Change," the only track in English, is garagey with rough, heavy vocals & horns, and upbeat, only slightly-menacing guitar. Still has that Latin swing, too. From Argentina, La Barra De Chocolat's "Proyectos De Un Ladron Prisionero" features a man saying things I don't understand on account of my lack of Spanish, over slow, sparse guitar strums, a tambourine, and hand drums, with added spacenoise.

The whole compilations is balanced enough to play at a party and let alone, but if you want to select a few songs to mix in on a set, it can provide a number of far-out moods.


#2. The Silver Apples



The Silver Apples 2008 Vinyl Reissue, release on Phoenix Records, oh where have you been all my years? This record was a present brought to me from London, and how I could have gone through life only listening to the Silver Apples this year, is a mystery to me. Did you know they toured last year? I didn't. This record is important to me for a couple of reasons: it allows me to listen to "electronica" without a deep sense of shame, and it reinvigorates my search for a place to practice drums in New York. Feel free to get in touch if you know of such a place.

I would characterize the sound as a more poetic (and listenable) distillation of the Phillip Glass soundtrack to the film Koyaanisqatsi (peep YouTube trailer here). That's no coincidence if you take a look at the liner notes of the special gatefold included in this reissue: there are photos of them Apples playing on a rooftop in NYC, with the Empire State in full view. (Could they have played from MY roof, I wonder?) It makes sense, then, that you would listen to this record while being active and entranced in making some art or cooking a mean borsch or packing for a harried trip. It's not an album for the countryside, with its mesmerizing synthesizer "oscillations" and staccato drums. It has that same urban pulsating intensity that Koyaanisqatsi channels, except for the sheer terror of the latter.

It also reminds me of the first Suicide record, kind of spooky and sexy, except that the Apples are far more optimistic (Suicide? More like Psilocybe!) My favorite track is probably Misty Mountain, it's all about good things like love and organs.


#3. Numero Groups 021: Soul Messages from Dimona



Numero Group 021: Soul Messages from Dimona come at a pressing time, no pun intended. This double-LP chronicles the musical output of several closely-knit Black Hebrew Chicago-based soul bands on permanent exodus to Israel, by way of Guryea, Liberia and Dimona, in the Negev Desert. The generous, meticulous liner notes featured on all Numero releases detail the physical and spiritual struggles of the Black Hebrews, ultimately united by their soul message, and carried aloft on the hopes of many communities with the help of some rippin' vocals and horns. And you don't even have to read the story to get that message.

A compelling mix of rare funk, gospel, and occasional Jackson-Five-fervor, the Soul Messengers and their collaborators, Sons of the Kingdom, The Spirit of Israel—an all-female band, and the younger Tonistics, released some frenetic holy rhythms. Some of the tracks are indistinguishable from excellent State-side disco funk, but the choice track on Side A, "Burn Devil Burn" by the Soul Messengers and The Spirit of Israel together, shows you these were not people content with quiet ritual.

The Tonistics "Dimona" is a straight Motown hit. Dimona, are you a girl? Or a village in the desert? Don't mattah, love you baby, and their other track "Holding On" too. By the time it's over, you'll be holding on, alright.

But you know, it's something else to be moved along by a groove when the lyrics aren't about puppies and kittens, but are draped in kaftans and otherworldly suggestions like in the Messengers' closing track "Savior in the East." By the time you finish the last side of the last LP, you'll feel like you went on a journey to Israel and back yourself. I've not a knack for delicate words, so I'll let the liner notes sum it up best: "The Exodus goes on, and from the South Side of Chicago to the bush in Liberia, to the tangled strees of Tel Aviv to the desert of Dimona, their message continues: salvation, peace, deliverance, love....and 100% Parve soul."

Hope you get a chance to pick one of these up and let me know what you think.
Ciao!
Sofya

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Shimmy's Top 5 Garage Punk Records of 2008!

Portugal's Act-Ups
I didn't dig into many new reissues this year, so it's all REAL new music... admittedly I don't listen to much REAL new music, but here's what I have heard this year that's been killin' it for me:

#5. John Barrett's Bass Drum of Death 7" (Fat Possum) - Thank god for myspace. Unbelievably that's how I found this Mississippian character in the Spring of '08. At his New York debut show (at Hullabaloo!) in March we were blown away-- it was as good live as on the demo CD/myspace tracks! Maybe 2005-2007 were the years of maximum White Stripes ripoffedness, but this record proves itself a step better: who needs a two man band when you can have a one and a half man band? This disc is full of stomp, power chords and an unmistakeably strong howl. Let's hope this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship...

#4. Ryan Pits & the Boy Toys - Demo - Not technically a record, since it's only a CDR demo, but if you don't have this, myspace them and demand it. This new Indiana band includes a former touring member of the Brimstone Howl, and you can expect some of that energy on this disc-- but also a 60's POP sensibility that is timeless and perfect. The early Black Lips comparisons are obvious, not least in the gaybaiting bandname and muddled lo-fi production sound, but the POP will overrule any fears you might have. Plus, this is unquestionably the most TREBLE I have heard in a 2008 release... Treble junkies, feast!

#3. The Act-Ups - Play The Old Psychedelic Sounds of Today (Hey!Pachuco/Groovie) - Disclosure: I did write the sleevenotes for this LP, but, having never been paid, I think I'm unbiased enough to review it. Third time is definitely a charm for this band, aka the "Portuguese Dirtbombs". Their three guitar sound never seemed suited to lo-fi and this album fixes that oversight with nearly perfect production, courtesy of Barreiro's new King Studios. Musically the album combines some of the dancey soul aspects of their first album from 2003 with the darker lyrical content of 2006's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell...

That last album's concept album approach didn't quite coalesce so this time we're treated to more of a collection of songs, starting off with the hard-charging (and perfect single) Death on You... the fuzz is SO deep on this one, you're likely to want to listen to it on repeat for a while. As the album spins from song to song, I'm reminded of Lou Reed's name for the last Velvets record-- "Loaded" (with hits)... too many to describe here, but between hard-rockin' garage nuggets there are atmospheric guitar pieces recalling the group's previous 10" cover of Can's Mushroom Head, a killer shuffle tribute to Madrid's Los Chicos (which segues into Beefheart!) and some memorable pop soul like It's No Shame. This band has found its sound, and it's good!

#2. The Okmoniks - Party Fever!! (Slovenly) - Going to and booking lots of shows, I've realized this year that there are fewer and fewer bands that know how to make a party happen, gimmick-free, simply by plugging in and playing. The Okmoniks are one of those few bands, and they've made a record that does the same. Not much more to say besides that the somewhat fuzzy production is PERFECT, the hooks are IMMEDIATE, and you need to get this record.#1. Nobunny - Love Visions (Bubbledumb/1-2-3-4-Go Records) - That this record is #1 on my list should come as no surprise to anyone, as I've become an evangelist for this silly wabbit over the past year. Drummer of the Okmoniks, also the man behind the Sneaky Pinks record, he's done a great job of hiding in plain sight until just about a couple of months ago when he began to explode (LP has been reissued by 1-2-3-4-go records). We're not sure how big this thing is going to get but we hope it eclipses a lot of other bands that do not know how to party or write a hook. He does both in spades on this LP which is definitely a repeatburner for me (as well as too many friends of mine to count). Yes, it's Ramones + Bubblegum etc, but who cares when the hooks are as powerful as in "Mess Me Up", "I am a Girlfriend" or "Boneyard"? We can only hope that the trend of hooky danceable garage music (Black Lips, KK/BBQ...) keeps getting THIS good!

Honorable Mentions:
The Audacity - Tour CD - Amazingly prolific for a bunch of recent school grads, this Fullerton group shows oodles of promise. Again, forget the Black Lips comparisons. Live they were noisy and fun but the CD reveals them to be into some weird twisty songwriting.
King Khan & BBQ - Animal Party (Fat Possum) - This brand new record on FP continues a streak of fun KK/BBQ singles. You probably won't DJ this one as much as the last one (on Crypt), but it's got a great sleeve with a coloring book, a groove and it's good for a laugh. What more do you want for your $7?

Take a listen to some my favorite tracks from my favorite albums on my Best of '08 podcast:

Click to play Shimmy's Best of 2008!

SHIMMY

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