Allegedly, Dancefloor Tragedy by Suspiria (1993)

When I first heard today's featured track, I was sure that it must have been released in the early 80's. I was strangely pleased when I found out that this was actually a decade later. I suppose I was encouraged that this kind of darkwave music was still being made, and made well, in the era of grunge. Here is a track from their first EP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nJEqTj_Sp8&feature=youtu.be

Jan Brady by Lunachicks (1989)

This blog has been around too long for me not to have featured Lunachicks. So I am rectifying that now with a track off of the N.Y. punk legends first EP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fW2mv8rHj8&feature=youtu.be

Hands and Feet by My Sister's Machine (1992)

In the mid-80's Seattle hard rock/metal scene, guitarist Nick Pollack ended up in a band called Sleze with a lead singer named Layne Staley. A few years later, Layne would go on to join Alice in Chains. Nick formed his own band, My Sister's Machine and managed to release three albums in the early 90's. It is clear in listening to their 1992 LP, Diva, that Nick was influenced by his days with Layne or vice versa or both! The music on this album could definitely pass for Alice in Chains. You decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arhvSe9gY5A

Marchides by Matching Mole (1972)

When flipping through albums, here is one that you stop on just to take in the cover. There is a lot going on. If you decided to put this record on your turntable, you would find some really proggy stuff. Some people will love it and many will turn away. If you are in the mood for prog, though, this LP has got a lot to offer. Matching Mole was around for a little over a year, consisting of former members of Soft Machine, Quiet Sun, and Caravan. Here is my favorite track from their first of two albums, Matching Mole's Little Red Record. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJdKFqc0m3U

Fight For The Last by Grim Reaper (1985)

In the 80's, one that that often turned me off to a band was over-the-top artwork trying to show that a band was bad-ass. The second LP from England's Grim Reaper, Fear No Evil, would be one such example. Not only is the demon breaking through the stained glass of a church, he is being a rebel by doing so a motorcycle. It cracks me up nowadays. In any case, this is some good old fashioned NWOBHM music for your enjoyment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxta9Bxajxw&feature=youtu.be

Nycny by Daryl Hall (1977)

Hall & Oates released a studio album a year from 1972 to 1982 including a few number 1 hits. So, it may be surprising that Daryl Hall also carved out time to record a solo album produced by and featuring prog rock legend Robert Fripp. When I first heard about this, it didn't sound like it would work. Apparently, RCA didn't either, as they shelved the album for three years until it was finally released in 1980. Upon listening, though, the music is quite interesting. It is angular for sure, but it grows on you. Here is one of the more Frippian tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epLXwup4bpA

Meanwhile by The Ex (1980)

Staying in the Netherlands for another day, but jumping ahead a decade and change to hear a song from the first LP of The Ex. The Ex would go on to records dozens of albums over the years. There is something about these early raw days, though...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ljMfMDQaio&feature=youtu.be

Purple Sky by Group 1850 (1969)

And now for some plodding, heavy psych from the Netherlands. Group 1850, despite the terrible name, made some great music in the late 60's, recording a couple of original albums. Here they are off of their second LP, Paradise Now. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Wyauk1tDw

Bois Barbu by Grand Veymont (2018)

And now for Deep Rock Mining first foray into the music of 2018, here is an interesting new band from France. Grand Veymont describes themselves as Krautrock Psych Pop, but I'm not sure that is a great representation of what I'm hearing. To me, the band sounds like Stereolab with a hint of Portishead. It will be interesting to see how this band develops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFLWGQOC96A

Destructive Love by Butch Minds The Baby (1979)

I recently bought a digital album, Meet Me In the Time Tunnel: Obscure Powerpop From the Land of the Lost 1978-1985 featuring mostly Connecticut bands from the punk era. And what an album it is. This collection is full of raw rockin tunes from relatively unknown bands. If you are interested in hearing more, check out the bandcamp page here. Here is one such track that I'm going to guess was recorded around 1979, as it had been previously unreleased.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Be4DjgeL8&feature=youtu.be

Midnight Special by Van Morrison (1967)

If I were to ever write a blog featuring albums instead of songs, there is no doubt that Van Morrison's Astral Weeks would be among my veryfirst posts. That album is pure art and emotion. That said, I couldn't really just pull a song off of Van's 1968 masterpiece to feature it in this blog. It would feel too out of place without the other songs surrounding it. So, I'll go back a year to Van's debut solo album, Blowin' Your Mind!, for one of the best male vocalists ever belting out a traditional classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8EEsnarL0s

Showtime by Bob Log III (1999)

In all of the time in the late 90's that I spent listening to minimalist bluesy rock bands like the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the White Stripes, and the Soledad Brothers, I'm surprised I never discovered Bob Log III. He is quite the minimalist being a one man band who plays all of the instruments even when playing live. Apparently, his show is quite a site to be seen. Here he is from his second LP, Trike. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE-ptEgj7b4&feature=youtu.be

Rainy Day Fun by Donald Austin (1973)

Donald Austin was a Detroit guitarist who released a number of instrumental singles and one full length LP, Crazy Legs, in 1973. Shortly thereafter, he would retire from the music industry. That's a shame, because he was really talented. Today's song is an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVPLHIXQgzQ

Meet You in the Subway by Chrome (1979)

And now for some early industrial sound from San Francisco's Chrome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNjCugzVPqA

Rocktrall by Träd, Gräs & Stenar (1973)

Two days ago, this blog featured some heavy metal stylings from Sweden. Today we stay in Sweden, but reach back about a decade for some heavy psych with this instrumental number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNnZ7U_yAp8

Nightmare by Blues Creation (1971)

Blues Creation were another one of the heavy Japanese bands that never got much notice in the English speaking world, despite their music being quite similar to heavy U.S. and English bands of the early 70's. Other examples include Flied Egg, The Mops, and Flower Travellin' Band. Today's track is from an unofficial release documenting the power  of Blues Creation live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-XGLGg1dNY

Trespasser by Heavy Load (1982)

Widely regarded as Sweden's first heavy metal band, Heavy Load released three albums between 1978 and 1983. Here they are off of the second albums, Death or Glory. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mACKqHSz9mM&feature=youtu.be

So Small, So Weak, This Bloody Sweat of Loving by Last Exit (1993)

I need to do a deeper dive into the free jazz, reckless noise, highly amplified guitar stylings of the late, great Sonny Sharrock. I did find this CD a while back. Here he is with his late 80's/early 90's band, Last Exit, which also featured jazz bass extraordinaire Bill Laswell. This is from their last LP, Headfirst Into The Flames, which was released about a year before Sharrock's untimely death from a heart attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QovoPBMJLow&feature=youtu.be

Chase by Giorgio Moroder (1978)

And now for something completely different...Here is some soundtrack music from 1978's Midnight Express. And if Tangerine Dream is unavailable to create the soundtrack for your movie, then Giorgio Moroder is the next best thing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViN2bRGrBx8

Mental Hopscotch by Missing Persons (1980)

Known primarily for their two semi-hits Walking in L.A. and Destination Unknown, Missing Persons put out four plus albums in the early 80's. Another little known fact was that many of the band members had played with Frank Zappa earlier in the 70's. Missing Persons would be distinctly different, and more formulaic that any of Zappa's work, but there is still quality there. Enjoy the 80's visual effects in their video for Mental Hopscotch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m17rt_xo9x0

Howlin' for Judy by Jeremy Steig (1970)

Not too many flute playing bandleaders come to mind after Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, but Jeremy Steig was definitely another one. His specialty was more jazz fusion than rock, and he made some great music along the way before dying in 2016. Here he is from 1970 with a song that was heavily sampled by the Beastie Boys for their 1994 song "Sure Shot". Beastie inspirations have shown up in this space on other occasions for Hey Ladies, Stand Together, and Johnny Ryall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etOrYtQ3EGc

Tisauke by Salty Dog (1976)

Heading back to Africa, here is a fuzzy psych classic with a hint of Space Truckin' from Zambia's finest, Salty Dog, off of their only LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InRyza9JERU

I'm Falling Apart by Red Zebra (1981)

In a similar vein of yesterday's post, here we move slightly east to enjoy some Belgian post punk from the height of the era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2T3HcKzH8

Schwarze Welt by Xmal Deutschland (1981)

A year before recording their goth classic LP, Incubus Succubus, this group of young musicians from Hamburg recorded their debut single. Here is it in all of it's glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV1PDjSCJY8

Slapneck 1943 by The French Church (1968)

Named after their parish church in the upper peninsula of Michigan, the French Church were only together for a short time and released just one single. It is worth seeking out, though, as this is garage in its finest form.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTLG60y4YxY

Bad Boys Get Spanked by The Pretenders (1981)

As a vinyl record collector, I'm continually amazed at how low Pretenders' albums are valued. You can buy a great copy of any of their LPs for $3-5. So what are you waiting for?  Kicking off their second LP with The Adultress and Bad Boys Get Spanked is a show of force from a bandleader who was not about to kowtow to the establishment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NorzGRqC2qU

Back in the Red by The Celibate Rifles (1986)

[Original YouTube Link taken down. Above is the live version from 86. The link below is the studio version]

It's been a while since I've featured any Australian punk in this space. So, here are the Celibate Rifles with one of their signature tracks recorded live at the CBGB.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrffGT5M-4

Satin Peacock by Legs Diamond (1976)

Often called the "American Deep Purple", this hard rockin' late 70's L.A. band released three albums that all sound pretty good. Unfortunately, when you are compared to a great earlier band, it's hard to make a name on your own merits. And that's a shame as the music sounds more like a precursor to the 80's metal sound. In any case, here is a track off of their debut self-titled release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_iFHmVseXg

The Clarity by Sleep (2014)

Along with Electric Wizard and a few others, Sleep is one of the forefathers of the stoner/doom metal sub-genre. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that is a subgenre that I gravitate towards. Here are the legends with a single released in 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVOm_m-W0Vw

Fire by Lizzy Mercier Descloux (1979)

Usually, I don't feature a video with an abbreviated version of the song that I want to share. However, it's really hard to take your eyes off of this 1979 3 minute plus video, so here we are. This is what post-punk is all about for me...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEDDK0XLGfw

South Side Strut by Jerry Garcia and Howard Wales (1971)

Before the Grateful Dead embarked on their incredible European tour of 1972, Jerry Garcia(the busiest man in rock n roll?) spent a big chunk of the '72 winter touring with organist Howard Wales and others as they really dug into some jazz fusion/rock on the heals of the legendary Hooteroll? LP. Here they are with a funkier number. RIP Jerry on what would have been his 76th birthday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfckIIMsiw4