#Dead Pioneers S/T LP

[thejoyofviolentmovement]

New Video: Denver's Dead Pioneers Share a Much-Needed Politically Charged Ripper

New Video: Denver's Dead Pioneers Share a Much-Needed Politically Charged Ripper @hasslerecords @grandstandhq

Denver-based punk outfit Dead Pioneers — Josh Rivera (guitar), Abe Brennan (guitar), Shane Zweygardt (drums), Algiers’ Lee Tesche (bass) and acclaimed indigenous visual and performance artist and activist Gregg Deal (vocals) — will be releasing their sophomore album PO$T AMERICAN on April 11, 2025 through Hassle Records. Deal, who is a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, is a visual and…

[stevecanmakeanythingnerdy]

RANDOM RECORD WORKOUT SEASON 5 Battle 23

The Reds: S/T (Side 1) Vs. Gryphon: Midnight Mushrumps (Side 2)

The Reds: S/T (Side 1)

Philadelphia’s The Reds (wait I thought it was Cincinnati!?) (#seewhatididthere) debuted in 1979 on A&M records. They released a self-titled LP and a 10" vinyl EP (remember those?) both produced by David Kershenbaum (of Joe Jackson, Duran Duran fame). The Reds never managed to make an impact commercially and their stay with A&M ended. Next came two independent LPs, “Stronger Silence” and “Fatal Slide.” 1984 found them as a duo after the drummer and bassist left. They landed on Sire Records with Mike Thorne (Soft Cell, Nina Hagen, Wire, Blur) producing. The album “Shake Appeal” (presumably named after The Stooges) led the band to work with film /TV director/producer, Michael Mann. Mann hired them to score the film “Manhunter” as well as using their music in “Band Of The Hand” and episodes of “Miami Vice”. The 90’s saw the release of “Cry Tomorrow (1992, Tarock Music) once again produced by Mike Thorne. The CD was remastered and rereleased in 1999. Aside from those few highlights, the band really fizzled out of existence. And I think it’s a shame, because this self titled LP, the one that started it all, is really a pretty decent listen. First of all, I LOVE the irony that it was (at least some of the copies) released on GREEN vinyl. Perhaps a nice Dead Boys reference. Also, the very simple one word titles. Keeping it basic. The vocals are almost desperate and bleating throughout. It has a very punk mixed with new wave element that speaks to me. Gary if he were the new, man. (#seewhatididthere). It starts out with the awesome darkwave styled "Victims”. Mid tempo and almost Pixies sounding. Catchy and hooky with minimal keys. “Luxury” is next on the docket. More of a ballad tempo, but it builds beautifully. Nice textures and chaos at the end. Very innovative. Let me tell you, in 1979, NOTHING sounded like this. “Joey” contains more haunted keys from the Reds. They make it seem as though a band of junkies got together and made some crazy coke fueled music. “Lookout” is certainly what would be considered as alternative in the late eighties. See? This band was pioneering! Pretty decent underground stuff. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate them doing their own thing. I feel like this song in particular is what it is like to be drunk. Moving in slo-mo and sounding pretty on the outside, but Trudging, sludge discordant and messy on the in. ½ of my run time was this song alone. I can imagine that when the recording engineer showed up for this session they were like “OK, we’re rolling…and…w.t.f.????” I don’t care, though, I liked it.

Gryphon: Midnight Mushrumps (Side 2) Gryphon are a British progressive rock band formed in the 1970s, best known for their unusual medieval and Renaissance sound and instrumentation. Yes, ARE is the key word, as the band (after recently -2015 -reforming) remains active to this day. The band briefly flourished in the progressive rock heyday of the early 1970s, and then retired to other musical activities before reforming for a one-off reunion in 2009. Also Recently the band has confirmed new music. As of 2017, to the best of my knowledge that has not happened yet. This. Band. You guys (and ladies) I am being dead serious when I say blacklight posters and lava lamps. They are necessary if you are going to listen to this. As necessary as a needle on a turntable. I am glad that side two came up, actually because side one is an 18 + minute “mushrump” through the shire at midnight. I mean, awesome title, but more for the band sound than anything. It’s 100% safe to say they enjoy classical music. So I was fortunate to find this, and their third studio effort at the local flea for $1.00 each. When I saw the title and corresponding back cover photo on this album, I was morbidly curious. Allow me to set the scene. I could tell it was unusual because of the cardstock it was printed on, so if nothing else, it was an import. Turns out, I was right. It hails from Britain. The next thing I noted was the shaggy/hippy looking gents in colorful garb frolicking around enormous fake mushrooms in a woodland setting. Thirdly, the title. I mean, who wouldn’t pick up something called MIDNIGHT MUSHRUMPS!!!! Very lyrically pungent, at least for the first (and as I would later discover, ONLY) song with vocals. “The Ploughboy’s Dream” is a progressive psych trip, complete with…is that a freaking Crumhorn??!!!?! Holy crap it is. This could and should be in the BG of Game of Thrones. “The Last Flash of Gaberdine Tailor” contains more peaceful woodland walks and frolics this time featuring an Obo? Did all those weird band geeks get together and come up with this while playing chess?! Smarty-pants core. “Gulland Rock” has rock in the title, so I expect big payouts. Beethoven-esque instro fashion. Here are where the mushrooms kick in. It just feels like I am watching a play about winter. “Dubbel Dutch” is next and I want to know, are you ready to Dulcify?? I give you the Mushrump Five!!! (#MC5refrenceanyone) I prefer dubbel dutch chocolate myself. You know, something else I notice are the unusually looooong pauses in between tunes…to toke up presumably. The final tune is called “Ethelion”. It starts with maniacal laughter. Hmmmm the acid trip has gone awry! Too much time in the woods!! Abort! Abort! DO. NOT. EAT. THE. MUSHRUMPS!!! So, yeah…in a nutshell that is Gryphon’s “Midnight Mushrumps”. If anyone needs to borrow this for a madrigal themed wedding, hit me up. I must say though, I DO feel mellow…

So Pete Rose bet on The Reds (#seewhatididthere) as they took their self titled platter and debuted at 144 calories burned with 4 songs played and 19 minutes of run time. That is 36 calories per song and 7.58 calories per minute. They also earned 9 out of 12 possible stars. Gryphon had a magical midnight mushrump and frolicked off 176 calories over 24 minutes and 5 shrooms, I mean tunes. They burned 35.2 calories per song and 7.33 calories per minute. They also earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Looks like The Reds are actually today’s winners and Gryphon got Mushrumped. Did I mention the crumhorns?!? They used CRUMHORNS!!!!

Listen for yourself! Check out the links:

The Reds: “Victims”

https://youtu.be/E6TRQDN54-Q

Gryphon: “The Ploughboy’s Dream”

https://youtu.be/HyrELgIDQk4

#RANDOMRECORDWORKOUTSEASON5 #RANDOMRECORDWORKOUT

[macsmusicweek]

05/05/17

Natalia Lafourcade, Musas | Her live show gives me life. This is her most ‘live’ sounding record. W/ Los Macorinos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLT6hdgEek

Café Tacvuba, Jei Beibi | Mexico’s eccentric rock pioneers turn in their most adventurous album. Os Mutanes-ian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRiJtAYMkv4

Ozomatli, Non-Stop | LA ensemble, brings dub Mexico way, w/ lotsa guests, incl. Regulo Cara, Juanes & Herb Alpert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExoKmqhJ24E

Alice Coltrane, World Spirituality Classics 1 | Compiles 4 tapes of dense devotionals from the jazz great’s ashram. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV7RWRQxjDo

Patti LaBelle, Bel Hommage | Veteran R&B belter tries jazz, brings herself to the genre rather than surrender to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=702gm8D_viI

Perfume Genius, No Shape | Seattle indie-pop artist, sounds very chamber-y this time, a bit like Arca w/ ballads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EVhFTw4igw

Mac Demarco, This Old Dog | Canadian artist, 3rd album, affects British-y accent I hate. Songs are better this time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykp1tXcYXkc

Juana Molina, Halo | Avant-garde Argentine pop artist, 7th album, creepy but remember she’s an ex-TV comedienne. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzqnISROwhQ

Diana Krall, Turn Up the Quiet | Course correction—standards set—after 2014’s soggy turd Wallflower. Back w/ Ribot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKO1PqN2dj8

Grateful Dead, Cornell 5/8/77 | Live show, Barton Hall at Cornell U, May 8, 1977. Considered one of their very best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYXs8LurVVI

Marvin Rainwater, Complete Releases 1955-62 | First comp of digital age on the obscure part-Cherokee country singer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZL8m0bwV74

Chris Stapleton, From a Room Vol 1 | Country singer, Grammy winner, fancies himself a tradiZZzzoh sorry fell asleep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI0TeFf6uD8

At the Drive-in, in•ter a•li•a | Post-hardcore, 1st album in 17 years, somehow fit in btwn guitarist’s 14 2016 albums. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoNJ6AQhmFY

Slowdive, Slowdive | Dream-pop, 1st album in 22 years, a period that spans the rise-and-fall of many they influenced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogCih4OavoY

The Afghan Whigs, In Spades | Alt-rock, 8th album, 2nd after a 16-year hiatus. Never got the appeal, still don’t. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7ooQ_7TPg

Umoja, 707 EP | South African pop band, 1988 release, Awesome Tapes of Africa reissue. 17 mins, ruthlessly catchy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-DwgyV-SAA

Tiny Vipers, Laughter | Had affection for her gorgeously spare 2009 album; 8 years later, here's the followup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWlVnrQZKRw

Logic, Everybody | Biracial rapper, 3rd album, struggles w/ his white side but real offense is being a Chano ripoff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxjC4CNG3_c

Blondie, Pollinator | New Wave legends, reunited in 03, 4th album since, follows very digital one, more analog rock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaL-G9zVxzk

Big Walnuts Yonder, s/t | Supergroup: Mike Watt (Minutemen), Nels Cline (Wilco), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof). Debut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAoNi6vE0iE

Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo’, TajMo | Careerist wank Mo’ wastes space, but any time Taj Mahal records it’s worth listening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g44WzaSwnbI

Robin Trower, Time and Emotion | UK rock legend, singer for Procol Harum, solo/group albums going back to 1970s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmHhC4LTa4U

Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story | Tribute for charity, w/ Dolly, OCMS, Margo Price, Adele, others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_XPQ4tq40

Mary Lambert, Bold | Feat’d on Macklemore & RL’s “Same Love,” here to prove she can write terrible songs of her own. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnnzV-JsRJI

Jaimie Branch, Fly or Die | Chicago trumpeter, worked w/ William Parker, TV on the Radio. Her 1st album as a leader. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSC4jQR-3Ko

AJ Davila, El Futuro | Former frontman for Puerto Rican rockers Davila 666. Sounds a bit like ‘90s pop act Len. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js1P-jKHZpI

Alex Ubago, Canciones Impuntuales | Spanish pop-star, 8th album, mostly writes sweet ballads for his girlfriend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB-f2Hqeyns

Adexe & Nau, Tú y Yo | Spanish male pop duo—14 & 11(!!) years old—signed to Sony off YouTube success covering Daddy Yankee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBDCgxAH1iU

Ruth B., Safe Haven | Pop singer-songwriter, blew up from Vine she posted of her song about Peter Pan. Debut album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58TBZnvyGwQ

Allison Pierce, Year of the Rabbit | Formerly of the alt-pop duo the Pierces, w/ sister Catherine. Debut solo album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxAFAiPmYuQ

Joan Shelley, Joan Shelley | Kentucky singer-songwriter, 5th album, lithe country-folk, produced by Jeff Tweedy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RApERgzc9A

John Moreland, Big Bad Luv | Oklahoma-based alt-country artist, had an excellent album in 2015, this follows it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfkXnZ65jS8

Tony Jackson, s/t | Country singer, debut album, sings George Jones's 'Grand Tour' pretty damn well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsPUrSJpR7U

Vanishing Twin, Dream by Numbers EP | Experimental UK act, follows 2016 debut, original pressing was for Record Store Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHna0hH7If0

Forest Swords, Compassion | U.K electronic producer, 2nd album but lots of EPs (2010's Dagger Paths is quite good). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyUSfuL9dxY

Organized Noize, s/t | Stalwart Atlanta hip-hop trio, primarily producers, this is billed as first "compilation EP." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGHRbrpTXI4

Worth Mentioning:

Black Lips, Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? (rock); Jesu/Sun Kil Moon, 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth (folk); Bonnie Prince Billy, Best Troubador (folk); Hoops, Routines (rock); Nite Jewel, Real High (indie-pop); Russ, There’s Really a Wolf (rap); Brother Ali, All the Beauty... (rap); Wreckonize, Into the Further (rap); Day Wave, The Days We Had (rock); LP, Lost on You (alt); A Lot Like Birds, DIVISI (rock); Sara Ann Garrison, Livin’ a Dream EP (country); Nicki Parrott, Dear Blossom (jazz); Niia, I (R&B); Colt Ford, Love Hope Faith (country-rap); Papi Wilo, Persiguiendo un Sueño (Latin rap); Las Robertas, Waves of the New (rock); Pond, The Weather (psych-rock); Mary Bragg, Lucky Strike (country); and Delia Gonzalez, Horse Follows Darkness (avant-garde)