Song of Zarathustra - The Birth of Tragedy (2000) young-20

First album by this Sioux City, IA by-way-of Minneapolis spacy-ambient hardcore band.  They've reunited twice in the past year to play some most excellent shows.  Definitely worth checking out. 

http://tinyurl.com/6ae9pz2 

The Replacements - Stink (1982) TTR 8228

The Stink mini-LP begins with a taped recording of the Minneapolis Police Dept. shutting down a house party, followed by 8 brilliantly sloppy and ridiculously fast, drunken pop songs.  In my opinion, this is the closest they ever got to hardcore, even more so than Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash.

http://tinyurl.com/5rj3dop 

Information Society - Walking Away (1988) 7-27736

This 7" is the second single from this Minneapolis dance-pop group's self-titled album.

http://tinyurl.com/67ubl36 

Ride - Ride EP (1990) CRE072T

Ride's first release.  Massive, earth-shaking distortion and rumbling rhythms blanketing beautiful pop songs.


http://tinyurl.com/4dlz7xl 

ASS - ASS (2004) Ass Records #01

Great Minneapolis punk band.  Hate! Hate! Hate... DIIIIE!!!


http://tinyurl.com/63fur2y 

The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored (1989) ORE T 31

This 12" is the third single off of the legendary debut album, and is also the opening track.  They typically opened their shows with this tune, too.  Given the song's structure - and sheer euphoric atmospherics - this makes sense.

Download also include a 33 rpm rip of the title track.

http://tinyurl.com/6ghratb 

The Fall - Your Future Our Clutter (2010) DNO 264

The latest (and 28th) studio album by The Fall.  Excellent stomping, repetitive music from one of the greatest groups on the planet.

Sure, you could easily purchase the digital download or CD of this album, but you'd miss out on the two extra tracks ('986 Generator' and 'Get A Summer Song Goin' ') that are exclusive to the vinyl release.  Interestingly enough, the tracks have also been re-arranged for this version.  

http://tinyurl.com/6ypuvl2 

Primal Scream - Star (1997) CRE 263T

Blissed-out 12" from the Vanishing Point era, that features two tracks with none other than the great Augustus Pablo on melodica.  Long-time Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy (ex-Felt) shows once again why he's such an asset to the group.

The photograph used for the jacket is of Bobby Hutton, Black Panther member that was shot and killed in an altercation with the Oakland Police Dept

Download also include a 33 rpm rip of the title track.

http://tinyurl.com/5scgk8r 

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Left Handed Dream (1982) ARE 38404

A pleasant solo Ryuichi Sakamoto outing, featuring the other 2/3 of Yellow Magic Orchestra, as well as members of M and King Crimson.  It can be a bit too proggy at times, and not surprisingly, the best moments come when the prog dinosaurs take a rest, and YMO struts their stuff.

Stand-out tracks: Kachakuchanee, The Garden Of Poppies, and Boku No Kakera.

http://tinyurl.com/6astt3b 

Talk Talk - Such A Shame (1984) 12 EMI 5433

Earlier, yet already more sophisticated Talk Talk single, inspired by the excellent The Dice Man novel.  

http://tinyurl.com/69u63q4 

Wonderfully awful lip-synched performance (complete with choreographed vintage divers), and the official video:

The House Of Love (1988) 88561-8245-1

Fantastic psychedelic guitar pop album by The House Of Love.  This is their untitled debut album, issued on the legendary Creation label.  The only full-length album of theirs featuring the tremendous guitar-playing of Terry Bickers.  Overwrought by drugs, anxiety, and the material implications of subsequently signing to a major label for shitloads of money, Bickers left the band in style, setting some of the band's cash on fire.

'Christine' and 'Salome' are highlights for me.  Although there are occasional striking similarities between them and the Jesus & Mary Chain, this is truly stadium rock material.  The likes of U2 and Interpol wish they could touch this.

http://tinyurl.com/6a7hg7l 

Sly & The Revolutionaries - Black Ash Dub (1980) TRLS 186

Great dub record on the Trojan label by the legendary Sly Dunbar (of Sly and Robbie production fame) with a slew of amazing guest musicians, such as Robbie Shakespeare and Ansel Collins.  What's more, the entire recording is mixed by Prince Jammy and Scientist.  Each song is an ode to a drug or drug paraphernalia.  

http://tinyurl.com/4aonnze 

Ride - OX4_ The Best Of Ride (2001) IGN LP14

This release compiles tracks chosen by the group themselves, spanning their first EP through their last album.  On par with My Bloody Valentine, as far as bands under the 'shoegazing' label go, yet more melodic, and dare I say, more traditional.  Their paint-stripping guitars and hurricane-force drumming will move you.  I strongly suggest their 1990-1992 output for listening.

http://tinyurl.com/6y5qg5p 

The Fall - 77 - Early Years - 79 (1981) SFLP 6

The Fall's first compilation, which gathers several tracks from their early (obviously) singles on the Step Forward label.  Strangely enough, these tracks seem more 'musical' than the releases that followed in the early 80's that the band is often lauded for.

As Mark E. Smith foretold in the lead-off track: "We've repetition in the music/And we're never going to lose it"

http://tinyurl.com/4sc8sbp 

Inspiral Carpets Featuring Mark E. Smith - I Want You (1994) dung 24

This AA side 7" includes two versions of this single, one of them featuring the glorious Mark E. Smith.  This one's a bit scratchy, but it's still a great piece of wax.


http://tinyurl.com/65nwwu4 




Official video, with, of course, MES:

B.C. Gilbert & G. Lewis - Ends With The Sea (1981) AD 107

This 7" showcases another Wire side-project, consisting of Bruce Gilbert and Graham Lewis.  This 4AD release shortly after Wire's hiatus is definitely worth listening to.


http://tinyurl.com/5wn4l87 

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - The Only Living Boy In New Cross (1992) USMX 4

First single off of 1992: The Love Album.  This is still one of my favorites songs of theirs.  B-side includes a The Smiths cover.

http://tinyurl.com/6l4kdpv

Don't tell me this video doesn't make you want to tie your sweater around your baggy-shorts-clad waist and dance your troubles away:

Giorgio Moroder - From Here To Eternity (1977) 304.1097

Excellent record showcasing Moroder's eurodisco pulse and vocoder stylings.  Pardon the clicks, but this well-worn copy had been sitting in a concrete box of a record shop in Brazil for many, many years.  'Utopia - Me Giorgio' has got to me one of the funniest song titles I've seen.

"Only electronic keyboards were used on this recording." - Written on the jacket.

http://tinyurl.com/66geu5b

Primal Scream - Accelerator (2000) CRE 333T

Creation Records' last pressing.  Full of face-melting guitars.  Participants include Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) and Paul Weller (The Jam).


http://tinyurl.com/68d6wqt 


Live video from Japan, includes Kevin Shields:

Kraftwerk - Das Model (1978) 1 C 062-45 176 YZ

Kraftwerk 12" - Deutsche Version.  Also includes 'Neonlicht', 'Die Roboter', and 'Trans Europa Express'.


DL this scheisse.


http://tinyurl.com/4le7xvb

The 2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989) XR 107

Welcome to the Fuck Shop.  Whatever, doods.  Rapping 'Dick Almighty' over Kraftwerk's 'Man Machine' is alright with me.

http://tinyurl.com/45jgorp

The Fall - Free Range (1992) SIN 812, 866 545-1

Excellent EP by The Mighty Fall from their early 90's phase, sequenced vibes abound.  I think this era is underrated, and shouldn't really be compared to the early years that they're renowned for.  These are all different versions of the songs on the Code: Selfish album.  Personally, I think these mixes are better.  Definitely worth checking out.

This is the spring that never ends

This is the summer of malcontent

This is the winter of your mind

-M.E. Smith

http://tinyurl.com/6fapmaw

Depeche Mode - New Life (Re Mix) / Shout! (Rio Mix) (1981) 12 MUTE 014

UNNNHHH!!!! This shitz so RAAWWWW!!!!

Vince Clark should never have left.

http://tinyurl.com/5uk3btm

Calvin Krime - You're Feeling So Attractive (1997) AmRep 071

More Am Rep noise rock from Minneapolis.  This band features Sean Tillman (Har Mar Superstar/Sean Na Na).  Lock-grooves on both sides, in case you're wondering why those songs sound weird.

I'm dead!  You're dead! We're dead! ...we're dead!!!

http://tinyurl.com/5uk3btm 

Wire - It's Beginning To And Back Again (1989) STUMM 66

Strange offering from Wire, mostly comprised of live versions of songs from A Bell Is A Cup...Until It Is Struck that have been overhauled in the studio, plus some new songs.  

'Eardrums Buzz', 'Public Place', and 'Illuminated' are personal favorites of mine.  This whole release is pretty great, actually.

http://tinyurl.com/6hpwy25 

The House Of Love - I Don't Know Why I Love You (1989) HOL 212, 876 313-1

Single from The House Of Love, featuring the sorely underrated Terry Bickers on guitar.  This isn't their best release, but you can hear snippets of his tremendous sounds on the title track and the Velvet Underground cover, 'I Can't Stand It'.

http://tinyurl.com/69bencd 

My Bloody Valentine - Ecstasy And Wine (1989) LAZY 12

This early compilation brings together the Strawberry Wine and Ecstasy EPs.  This is when BIlinda comes in, and the magic starts to happen.  

http://tinyurl.com/4pcqgdo 

Inspiral Carpets - Move (1989) dung 6t

More Madchester.  Released on their own Cow Records label,  with an amusing catalog naming convention.  The psychedelic stylings of their organist, Clint Boon, really sets this band apart from others like them.  This is a really nice single.

http://tinyurl.com/6amva27 

The Stone Roses - Elephant Stone (1988) ORE T 1

Manchester in the areeah... International, continental...

Tremendous 12" single produced by Peter Hook of New Order.  B-side include 'Full Fathom Five', which is an alternate mix of the single played backwards, and 'The Hardest Thing In The World'.  Beautiful, through and through.

http://tinyurl.com/63cog4n 

Happy Mondays - Wrote For Luck (1988) FAC 212

This Martin Hannett-produced 12" contains 3 mixes of the title track, and 'Boom'.  The 'Dance Mix' is a personal fave.


http://tinyurl.com/6zyrwr9 

Primal Scream Meet The Two Lone Swordsmen - Stuka (1997) PSTLS 1

Great track from Vanishing Point remixed by The Two Lone Swordsmen, which includes Andrew Weatherall, who revolutionized Primal Scream's sound early on by producing 'Loaded', most of the tracks off of Screamadelica, and the aforementioned Vanishing Point.  

Side A contains some of the coolest vocoder usage I've heard on record, but really, both sides are stellar.

http://tinyurl.com/4qp5v8l 

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - After The Watershed (1991) USMX2, 3 23795 6

Single from this oft-overlooked, very British band, released at the peak of their questionable power.  Pun-filled, speedy pop songs played over stadium-sized drum machines and sequencers.  Includes a great Inspiral Carpets cover.

Ripped from a signed copy I acquired for $1.50, along w/ 3 others signed Carter releases purchased at the same price.  Title track was also ripped at 33 rpm, with terrifying/hilarious results.

http://tinyurl.com/4jyze7p 

The Fall - How I Wrote 'Elastic Man' / City Hobgoblins (1980) RT048

Early 7" by The Fall.  In addition to The Fall, production credits include Mayo Thompson (Red Krayola mastermind) and Geoff Travis (Rough Trade label head).

"So I'm resigned to bed
I keep bottles and comics stuffed by its head
Fuck it, let the beard grow"

-M.E. Smith

http://tinyurl.com/635tqtm 

Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator / Dentaku (1981) WBS 49723 Promo

Neon green 7" in printed clear sleeve.  The b-side is 'Dentaku', 'Pocket Calculator' in Japanese.

http://tinyurl.com/63js9bc 

Guzzard - Quick, Fast, In A Hurry (1995) AMREP 037

Minneapolis noise rock band on the Amphetamine Reptile label.  Sorely missed at the label anniversary concert in 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/6zkdgql

Heaven 17 - Height Of The Fighting (He-La-Hu) (1982) VS 483-12

When the creative 'musical' force of The Human League left before recording Dare, they formed this band.  This version of the title track is different than the album version, so all the more reason for checking this out.  Also, this may be one of the coolest record covers ever made.

http://tinyurl.com/67pk9sp

David Sylvian - Pulling Punches (1984) VS717-12

Funky weirdness from Japan's former frontman's first solo album.  Features Holger Czukay of Can on both tracks.

http://tinyurl.com/62h8ckn

The Sugarcubes - Motorcrash (1988) ST-E-66726

This band proves that Björk could be absolutely majestic when she used her forces for good.  Her vocalization toward the end of 'Motorcrash' still sends chills up my spine.  I know I shouldn't, but allow me to apologize on behalf of Einar for sullying these pop gems with his verbal farts.

http://tinyurl.com/67hzr76

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Darklands EP (1987) Neg 29T (248141-0)

Ah, the glorious Mary Chain.  When reading about Darklands shortly after hearing Psychocandy for the first time, I didn't think it could close to touching it.  It does, though.  B-side includes a 'Surfin' USA' cover, and my favorite version of 'On The Wall'.

Includes Darklands at 33 rpm, for some lovely chuga-chuga-chuga.

http://tinyurl.com/4sh7mkm

The Human League - Empire State Human (1979) VS 294

This stone-cold classic (loosely based on The Tin Drum, the Günter Grass novel) may have been the first 'commercial-sounding' track The Human League put out.  The b-side is full of alarms, screams, etc. over a simple synth rhythm.  If you've only heard Dare, or the crap they put out after it, you're really missing out. 

I've added a 33 rpm version of 'Empire State Human'.  Sorry, but I don't think this speed-fuckery is stopping any time soon.

http://tinyurl.com/66kmfc7

Colin Newman - Commercial Suicide (1986) ST-73245

Colin Newman's 4th solo album, recorded around the same time Wire reformed in the mid-80's.  At times, this makes me think of Blur in their orchestra-wank forays, except it's more repetitive, spacious, and much better.  Not that Blur is bad.

With title track 'Commercial Suicide' sped-up to 45 rpm' which I'm convinced would sound awesome with cheap Dancehall beatz.

http://tinyurl.com/68su5te

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Genetic Engineering (1983) VS 527-12

1st single off of Dazzle Ships, with a most excellent b-side, '4-Neu'. 

http://tinyurl.com/4je4j84

Primal Scream - Dixie Narco EP (1992) CRE 117T

This 1992 EP contains a Dennis Wilson cover, 'Carry Me Home', and is the only release of theirs to include the track 'Screamadelica', which isn't on the Screamadelica album at all.   I'm pretty pumped to see them play said album in its entirety this May.

http://tinyurl.com/62exqyn

The Cure - Close to Me (1985) FICSX 23

Extended version of this classic song, with a great intro.  In addition to the b-sides, I've also recorded the title song at 33 rpm, for those of you who enjoy the sound of Robert Smith drowning in cough syrup.

http://tinyurl.com/4kqtdko

Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It (Extended Dance Version) (1986) V-19203

What started as a synthpop band evolved into a terrifically unique group with elements of ambient, world music, pop, space rock, etc... This release kind of bridges these two eras.  I highly recommend their last 4 albums.

Contains two different versions of the album track, plus a really cool B-side.

http://tinyurl.com/6zkyqhg