Meat Puppets - up on the Sun.

One of my favorites. This album takes me back to other times.

"What does a band do when they're trying to follow-up a masterpiece? Release another masterpiece, of course. That's exactly what the Meat Puppets did with 1985's Up on the Sun. Issued one year after Meat Puppets II, the songwriting had become more focused, the performances were tighter, and Curt Kirkwood's vocals had progressed from a high-pitched warbling to a soothing monotone. Up on the Sun catches the Arizona trio in a relaxed mood, for the most part; the tunes aren't wound up as tightly as its predecessor, with the album-opening title track, the instrumental "Seal Whales," and "Hot Pink" being fine examples." [AMG]

Suns to lift up in between
They told some stories like you've never seen

The Embarrassment - Heyday (1979 - 1983)

Call me trite, but whenever i see the words "the best band you never heard of" I am instantly sold.


Reasons for this band being note-worthy:
1.They borrow the name from the novel Bluebeard by Kurt Vonnegut (one of my all-time favorite authors).
2. They shared the stage with none other than Iggy Pop, William S. Burroughs & John Cale.
3. They were one of the original bands in the now seminal record label Sub-Pop.
4. They're rocking the thick rimmed glasses way before it became the norm.
5.They draw influences from all the right places, amongst them: The Feelies, Mission of Burma & Gang of Four.

BAM! SOLD!
This whammy of a double record spans their 4 year career.

still not scurrying to find the download link?

"It's hard to say the Embarrassment were ahead of their time: they were OF their time, as soundly and fundamentally as a band can be."

one & two.

The Feelies - Time for a witness.

More feelies for the kids.

wait... that didn't come out right.

The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms

One of the most underrated "college-rock" (a silly, inconclusive genre, i know) bands of the early 80's, some even go as far as to call 'em post-punk. I dunno about that, they've got a great sound, all their own. This is their debut album, one hell of a record, great songs throughout, including two covers: a spastic rendition of the beatles' "Everybody's got something to hide" and another cover i never get tired of hearing, the Stones' "Paint it Black". You'll be sure to enjoy the instant classic "Fa Cé-La" including "tuki tuki" percussion and whyning guitar solo's. Crazy Rhythms was rated #49 in Rolling Stone's top 100 albums of the 1980s, fully deserved. Anyone else notice a certain similarity with a certain weezer cover? Or is it just me?

FA-FA-FA-FA-FA-CE-LA!