Album: Sofy Major - Permission To Engage

hey there

remember me?

sorry it's taken me so long to get back here

i was trapped in the ritual room basement

you can get all kinds of turned around down there

all i was looking for was the bathroom

but i ended up getting chased around by a gagggle of tiny people in king buzzo wigs

actually....they all looked like king buzzo...tiny king buzzos....

*shiver*

i don't like thinking about the goings on in the ritual room basement

it smells grungy

anyway...

here i am

and i brought some folks from france back with me

rumor has it that you like bands with names like godflesh and high on fire and the melvins and today is the day and neurosis

guess what

so do these guys

and so do i

but...i need to go and wash the basement off of me...so i'm just going to leave you all to get acquainted

DL: permission to engage

Album - The Afghan Whigs - "Gentleman"

I'm not dead. This is a genius, emotional roller coaster of an album. Let the angst satisfy you.

1. If I Were Going
2. Gentlemen
3, Be Sweet
4. Debonair
5. When We Two Parted
6. Fountain and Fairfax
7. What Jail Is Like
8. My Curse
9. Now You Know
10. I Keep Coming Back
11. Brother Woodrow/Closing Prayer

DL: Afghan Whigs - "Gentleman"

Album: Deep Purple - "The Book of Taliesyn"

Oh hey everyone - it's been a while, let's catch up.

Seriously though, the only reason I've been lacking in posts lately becuase I've been in the middle of the nightmare that is apartment hunting/moving (you know, things that are completely irrelevant to you). I'm going to try to make up my neglect right now by posting Deep Purple's second, psychedelic dream of an album titled "The Book of Taliesyn". Let's just say that if you are purely about "Machine Head" when it comes to Deep Purple, this may come as a surprise to you. All in all an amazing and overlooked release.

1. Listen, Learn, Read On
2. Wring That Neck
3. Kentucky Woman
4. Exposition / We Can Work It Out
5. Shield
6. Anthem
7. River Deep, Mountain High

DL: "The Book of Taliesyn"

Album: Tinsel Teeth - Pink Eye

if you ever go to see these folks from providence,ri do what they do live...3 things will happen:

1: you'll get your ass kicked by some sweet noise

2: you'll more than likely see a pair of bare breasts covered in some sort of fluid (no...not that kind...but i wouldn't put anything past frontwoman stephanie)

3: you'll more than likely see a strap-on covered in some sort of fluid (again...courtesy of stephanie)

music-wise....the band has a lot in common with the jesus lizard and pissed jeans

DL: pink eye

Album: Elf - "Elf"

As much as I love Dio (RIP) and 70's rock, Elf's self titled release from 1972 is is a fairly recent discovery for me. But god this is a fun release and definitely among the cream of the crop for the era. Definitely expect CCR or even Queen more than Rainbow or Black Sabbath - bluesy guitar licks, pianos and some really solid songwriting and feel good music that you can't go wrong with. I'll be jamming this one on repeat this summer.

1. Hoochie Koochie Lady
2. First Avenue
3. Never More
4. I'm coming Back for You
5. Sit down Honey (Everything Will Be Alright)
6. Dixie Lee Junction
7. Love Me Like a Woman
8. Gambler,Gambler

DL: Elf - "Elf"

Album: Beehoover - The Sun Behind The Dustbin

do you like clutch?

do you like primus?

do you like tool?

do you like mike patton/serj tankian-esque vocals?

well guess what...

you can get all of that business here

also...the band is made up of 2 people

one guy sings/plays bass

the other guy drums

and they're from germany

DL: the sun behind the dustbin

Album: Led Zeppelin - I

you may remember seeing the words "fuck led zeppelin,this is where it's at" over on the ritual room facebook page

it's a good thing that those words were posted anonymously as i'd hate to show up at someone's house and ruin their day with some nude air drumming to some "moby dick"

the battle has raged on for centuries as to who was the first heavy metal band

was it led zeppelin?

was it black sabbath?

bands have broken up...friends have been lost...plates have been smashed at the dinner table...

and the only answer i give to anyone that has posed that question to me is: go and listen to each band's first album...then come back and talk to me

but honestly...when it comes to each band's recorded output...i can listen to all of led zeppelin's albums over and over again

when it comes to black sabbath...you only really need their first 6 albums (yeah...that's right...sit down guy wearing the MOB RULES t-shirt)

but i digress

i was first turned onto led zeppelin by one of my teachers back in high school...and the first time my parents heard me listening to them...it blew their minds as i was listening to things they had grown up with

you can't deny the powerhouse that is/was drummer john bonham

or the laid back bass from john paul jones

or the hot licks from jimmy page

or the caterwauling nonsensical vocals of robert plant

that's right....i just used the terms "hot licks" and "caterwauling"

also....like you've never stood in front of a mirror and sang along to "dazed and confused" into a comb

yeah...me either

also...why hasn't a cover band called ZEPPATH happened yet? (and yes...they would only cover zeppelin and sabbath)

so...just go on ahead and give that DL down there a little poke

DL: led zeppelin I

Album: Earthless - "Sonic Prayer"

This is "Sonic Prayer" by Earthless, which is best described as a 40 minute jam of furiously heavy, psychotic riffs and, well, this is massive. (Massively groovy). Truly a giant, psychedelic masterpiece of an album that will have you completely hooked as soon as the first riff gets going. Also, you can buy assorted Earthless goodies here.

1. Flower Travellin' Man

2. Lost in the Cloud Sun

DL: "Sonic Prayer"

Album: Hater - "Hater"

I love this project and can't uptalk it enough - this is Hater's self titled release from 1993. Yeah, you get the Seattle superstar lineup (2 members of Soundgarden are involved), but don't expect Temple of the Dog! Expect really innovative and catchy alt rock. So enjoy... I know you will.

1. Mona Bone Jakon
2. Who Do I Kill?
3. Tot Finder
4. Lion And Lamb
5. Roadside
6. Down Undershoe
7. Circles
8. Putrid
9. Blistered
10. Sad McBain

DL: "Hater S/T"

Album: SuperGiant - "Antares"

I guess I've been pretty lame about posting here this month, but I just came across this album by SuperGiant from 2008 and am overcome with the need to post it. This album is called "Antares" and any heavy rock band with this hard of a Kyuss vibe is definitely up there in my books. The only downside to this is the occasionally terrible lyrics which is easy to overlook since the groove definitely makes up for it. And really, if you like riffs and groove and this album doesn't get to you then you must be dead inside. (Hell, I'm dead inside and it still got to me.)

1. Psychedelic Sunset
2. Petunias
3. WWM
4. Coition
5. Everyman
6. Hell Paces
7. The Devil, Jesus and Me
8. Luna
9. Sphere Mirror
10. Sol
11. In the Morning
12. 888
13. Beginning
14. Antares

DL: "Antares"

Album: The Cows - "Sorry In Pig Minor"

Happy Monday everyone - here's "Sorry In Pig Minor" by the Cows. This is an eclectic and ingenious album that was produced by none other than King Buzzo. (Who?). SIPM was their 9th and final album and continues to be a favorite of mine because of the weird, fun vibes and how accessibly wacky it is. Perfect music to start your week off.... am I right or am I right?

1. Cabin Man
2. Finished Again
3. No, I'm Not Coming Out
4. Dear Dad
5. Eurekal Funday!
6. Death in the Tall Weeds
7. El Shiksa
8. Life After Beth
9. Saliva of the Fittest
10. Felon of Troy
11. Say Uncle

DL: "Sorry In Pig Minor"

Album: Clutch - The Elephant Riders

now i couldn't very well just mention clutch and not post anything by them (and in case you're wondering where they've been mentioned...just take a peek down yonder)

i hope that clutch doesn't really need any sort of explanation as to what they're all about,yeah?

one thing i've noticed about the clutch discography is that each album somehow leads into the one after it

"what are you talking about,sir? are you on something?"

what i meant by that was...take this album for example...it combines the punk energy from TRANSNATIONAL SPEEDWAY LEAGUE with the rawk of SELF-TITLED

and this leads into the JAM ROOM album where they completely head off into the meat and potatoes territory

still confused?

well...i can't seem to make it any clearer than that

just do yourself a favor and snag this up

DL: the elephant riders

Album: Druid Lord - "Hymns For The Wicked"

Here's an album the good people from Orlandoom Promotions sent over to me - an almost shockingly crushing release called "Hymns For The Wicked" by Druid Lord. Although I hate the term "death doom", (it's slow so it must be doom, right?!) this is fitting of the description if anything is. I rarely post anything that gets sent to me anymore but this one kind of blew me away and is definitely worth looking into. Just really satisfyingly heavy stuff and it streams for free.

Enjoy.

1. Chamber of Ghastly Horrors

2. Witchfinder

3. Castle of Count Sadist

4. Awakened by the Dead

5. Baron Blood

6. Eerie Ways

7. Gorgon Witch

8. Circling of Vultures

http://druidlord.bandcamp.com/

Album: Freedom Hawk - "Sunlight"

Well, there are a ton of things I've been meaning to blog lately but I recently discovered this band and everything else is getting pushed aside for now. This is "Sunlight" by Freedom Hawk. If you haven't heard this band yet you can go ahead and imagine a stellar combination of Fu Manchu blended with Ozzy era Black Sabbath and sprinkled with a hint of space rock that will tide you over until your next Hawkwind fix. (Everyone has those, right?)

All in all this is a really fun release from a band I will definitely be keeping an eye on from now on.

1. Executioner

2. Land of the Lost

3. Sunlight

4. Stand Back

5. Lightning Charge

6. Going Down

7. Palomino

8. Grab A Hold

9. King of Order

DL: Freedom Hawk - "Sunlight"

Album: Snail - Blood

i predict that once you start listening to this...give it about a minute...and you'll be asking yourself "um...am i listening to the queens of the stone age SELF-TITLED album?"

not to worry...that's a good thing

if you consider yourself a fan of anything that falls under the "stoner rock" heading...do yourself a favor and snag this up

everything about this is so meaty and syrupy

actually...this entire album is like smoking pot with the first queens of the stone age album inside of a shag carpet lined amplifier

"really? another mention of that album?"

yes...really...that album is awesome

"yeah...it's ok...i guess"

come on,man..."regular john"..."avon"..."how to handle a rope"..."hispanic impressions"....

but i digress

syrupy...meaty...queens of the stone age...snail...blood...

DL: blood

Album: Ararat - "Musica De La Resistencia"

Here's a really cool psych album by Ararat - a side project stemming from Los Natas - called "Musica De La Resistencia". I needed to give this album a listen after hearing their atmospheric trip of a track called "Gitanoss" on the Welcome To Meteor City comp and am far from being disappointed. "Musica De La Resistencia" is experimental and entrancing. Highly recommended!

1. Gitanoss
2. Dos Horses
3. El Carrusel
4. Little Grissy
5. Ganar-Perder
6. Magia Negra
7. Castro

DL: "Musica De La Resistencia"

Album - Cows: Sexy Pee Story

now some of you may have read the mention of the SGM interview with kevin rutmanin mentioned down yonder...and even though it's mentioned that he's played bass in the cows and the melvins...some of you may still be scratching your heads and saying "the cows? the melvins? what are those things?"

the cows were a band out of minneapolis,mn and were part of that whole noise rock thing back in the 90s

they released 9 albums...all mostly released on the amphetamine reptile label (this album being #6)

i chose this album because this is the band at the tippy top of their game (and SEXY PEE STORY is just an awesome thing to say...go on and try working in into everyday conversation: "will that be paper of plastic?" "sexy pee story" "excuse me?" "exactly")

and not only that...you even get a cover of the song "39 lashes" from the JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR album

all in all...this is a good way to spend some alone time

DL: sexy pee story

Album: Comets On Fire - "Bong Voyage"

If you're like me and were only familiar with Avatar and Blue Cathedral, this LP may come as a total surprise. It was for me after my friend played it. Forget everything you know. This record is far noisier and unpolished than their other material, but that just adds to how much rocking and face-melting occurs within these tracks. Self-restraint is let go as a total necessity to rock takes over. This was quite limited I gather, so here it is for your conveniance.

Download: "Bong Voyage"

Happy New Years.

Album: Witchcraft - "Firewood"

This used to be one of my favorite things to listen to and now I'm rediscovering it.

Witchcraft are as mournful and hopeless as a doom band but have the chops of a 70's heavy rock band, and their album "Firewood" could easily be mistaken as a hidden gem from the era if you didn't know this was released in 2005. There are so many reasons to love what Witchcraft is doing here - the throwback to 70's heavy rock (which is one of my favorite things to see in modern bands when it's done well) and blantant Pentagram influence being the main ones in my books; in fact, they do a wicked cover of "When the Screams Come" on this album that will make your blood boil. They somehow even incorporate flutes and acoustic guitars on this release and manage to make it sound ethereal, not cheesy. The raw emotion and occult imagery of this album make it a gem. (...and those riffs, aye!)

1. Chylde of Fire
2. If Wishes were Horses
3. Mr Haze
4. Wooden Cross (I Can't Wake the Dead)
5. Queen of Bees
6. Merlin's Daughter
7. I See a Man
8. Sorrow Evoker
9. You Suffer
10. Attention!
11. When The Screams Come (Pentagram)
12. If Crimson Was Your Colour
13. I Know You Killed Someone...

DL: "Firewood"

Album: The Walkabouts - "Satisfied Mind"

"This is a collection of other people's songs. Some were found stacked in the back of the closet, and others were found lying in the middle of the floor. All of them shared a powerful pull.
On this album, lots of different types of instruments (many of them acoustic) were used. Some of these were played by the band, and others were played by musicians we greatly admire. It was a privilege to work with them.

It has never made sense to us that songs should be tied down to one specific voice or place or piece of product. Sometimes songs like to travel. Hopefully, we've given these songs that chance.

- Chris Eckman, Sept. 29, 1993"

"Satisfied Mind" by The Walkabouts - what can I say? You would be doing yourself an injustice by not listening to this. As a pretty visual person when it comes to music, I feel like this album would make an excellent soundtrack to walking along a dusty highway or through a desolate field. (See the cover art of this album which fits this grouping of songs perfectly). Just some nice, easy listening for a Sunday afternoon like today. This was released in 1993 on Sub Pop and I also included the original songwriters on the tracklisting to reference.

1. Satisfied Mind (by Rhodes & Hayes)
2. Loom of the Land (by Nick Cave)
3. The River People (by Robert Forster)
4. Polly (by Gene Clark)
5. Buffalo Ballet (by John Cale)
6. Lover's Crime (by Pewee Maddux)
7. Shelter for an Evening (by Gary Heffern)
8. Dear Darling (by Mary Margaret O'Hara)
9. Poor Side of the Town (by Johnny Rivers)
10. Free Money (by Patti Smith & Lenny Kaye)
11. The Storms are on the Ocean (by The Carter Family)
12. Feel Like Going Home (by Charlie Rich)
13. Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone (Traditional)

DL: "Satisfied Mind"