EP Grab Bag vol. 45

The passing of Loud Reed has surely been a loss for the living. By all means, he was one of the greatest rock musicians and songwriters of all time. He influenced every musician featured on this website, whether they know it or not. I look forward to hearing his albums down here in Hell, but you’ll just have to wait till you’re dead to hear them. In fact, I see him jamming with George Harrison as I write this.

Here are some bands that have stolen from Lou Reed.

Sleepcomesdown – Cured by the Blur (2013)

Milwaukee’s best beer is a bit shit, but these kids ain’t. Quick, gloomy pop songs that the angry and depressed can play when looking for something to dance to in their studio apartments. Polished and competent with just the right vocals to run beside the guitar licks.

 

 

 

Holographic Sands – Water Bodies (2013)

Country surf? Not as new a concept as you may think, but this lo-fi recording of twangy songs to play on your board are entertaining and agreeable. Since they guys are form Minneapolis, you can fight them when they try and take the best waves at your local beach. Just buy a CD from the kids later.

 

 

 

Wasteland – So Weird (2013)

If Lou Reed taught us anything, it was that bigger than life records with lots of noodling do not a good record make. Reed predates the home recording era, but those early Velvet Underground tracks demonstrate his love for the real and the simple when it comes to making music. Wasteland from Australia is slurry and snotty, but it carries Reed’s message about honesty and truth, and so it is worth a free download.

 

Stag Baron - Bad Blood (2013)

Not sure how to describe this, but it’s catchy pop-rock from Virginia. There is nothing offensive about it, which is unfortunate. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

 

 

 

 

 

C.M Slenko – The Space Between the Stars

Reed never went entirely down the experimental rabbit hole, but his recordings pushed boundaries and showed a generation of musicians that playing with sounds and simple chords could be as effective as well considered and performed guitar solos. The first track from this Lancaster band almost sounds like a Velvet Underground track in fact. Mood and tone are key to this release, and they have put together a fine soundtrack to my drinking and Lou Reed ruminations.

 

BlackBoxRed – Stripper (2013)

This is a fine band to end on. This act from the Netherlands, fronted by one of the best female vocalists I have heard this year, blasts through this rockin’ garage rock single like they just finished off a case of Rolling Rock and don’t give a shit if their neighbors hear. Loud Reed may be dead, but he will live on in acts like this that continue to create music that the common man can both enjoy and be challenged by.