Chick Quest - Vs. Galore (2015)

Here's a band from Vienna who's already begun to garner some attention from far more popular outlets than our tiny blog, however I felt the deserve all the mentions that can muster because it's very much the song of music I wouldn't mind hearing circulation more widely. Beginning as a two-piece called Van Lee Cliff, you know after the actor that played opposite Clint Eastwood in those legendary spaghetti westerns, and since then they've added more players while keeping the western's iconic soundtrack as an inspiration. However, western soundtracks is not the only, nor arguably the main influence on Chick Quest's full-length debut. More accurately the sound is that of a post-modern combination of a variety of revival styles from garage rock, surf, western and bass rhythms of dance-punk a la Gang of Four. It all makes for fine listening.

I feel I'd be remiss without mention by way of a footnote the Michigan musicians that release music as Lasso who has some of the same western influences and impulse to combine genres yet came out with a very difficult but complimentary sound to Chick Quest. So Check them out as well.

To be had here:
Chick Quest - Vs. Galore

Baby Jesus - Baby Jesus (2015)

Glorious low fidelity, how I cherish thee. Organs wailing and droning, crashing cymbals, guitars fuzzed to perfection and a singer you couldn't dream of understanding without having hear the tracks nearly a dozen times. The building blocks of a wonderful garage rock album, here executed by the cleverly named Baby Jesus. 

Baby Jesus hail from Sweden and are a newer release from the blog-turned-label, Ongakubaka Records. And that's right, back to back Swedish write-ups (might be time for an examination of a scene). The music of this self-titled album is raw garage, though clearly not amateur, rather it bears a groomed level of dissonance and psychedelia. Heavy hitting too, the band doesn't let up on the intensity anywhere in these songs. Moreover, the organ most especially, added by same wild guitar licks, creates a retro feeling that is very easy to get behind. As if a band from a Nuggets of 4-Wheels 1960s compilations really cut fucking loose and made something powerfully lo-fi. There's nods to 60s surf rock as well, such as the Dick Dale-esque "Nice Walk." Not an album to be ignored by a fans of garage, new or old, or anyone seeking to hear an excitedly washed out sound.

To be had here:
Baby Jesus - Baby Jesus

The Hiya Tunes - Hiya Tunes (2014)

Did you know they were going to make a Beetlejuice sequel? Fuck yea son! It was going to be called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, and my god, it would have been great. So great in fact, I am personally going to make it my life's goal to get the film made. Since I have a close relationship with Satan, it should be no problem. You see, he is the best agent available, and the reason most of the hacks you see on the screen get ahead in the biz. He drives a hard bargain, but as long as you don't mind being sodomized by ghouls in hell for a couple centuries, it's worth the trade-offs.

Mind you, These New Yorkers are no hacks. They might not even need to sell their souls to craft the soundtrack to the new Beetlejuice film; the songs are strong enough without Satan's power. I can see the scene now: Beetlejuice has entered a surfing contest, and the Hiya Tunes are providing the twisted soundtrack. They play to a bunch of Go-Go dancers (some alive, some dead), while Beetlejuice battles demon sharks!

What a film.

Get it here:
The Hiya Tunes - Hiya Tunes (2014)

The Sin Veldt - S/T (2014)

It's been a good while since my last post, and I'll venture to guess subsequent posts will start with the same opening sentence.

Autumn has consistently been my favorite of seasons since childhood, but less and less so since working for online retail. The holidays always equal a shit-tsunami of pain-in-the-ass work conditions where the microcosm of that small warehouse turn quickly into a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario: where the bosses are literally telling you how to best do your job, and the slightest of personality quirks(best dealt with from across the warehouse) lay ground for a social minefield where one has to either spend a month and a half in complete misery or swallow their pride and politely laugh and bullshit their way through to January.

Add going to school part-time to the mix, and it's almost enough to make a person mad (as in both irritable and mentally compromised).

It's during these times that I routinely look for music like that of The Sin Veldt. That lo-fi garage. That psych and surf. That vocal delivery. Enough to make me say "fuck what's happening outside of my headphones." Enough to dose myself with a much-needed pill: common side-effects may include temporary swagger and apathy. Enough to make me want to return to Spacerockmountain to try and spread the word.

I'm going to throw some words out that may or not mean anything to you: The Stooges, The Seeds, Brian Jonestown Massacre. This garage is more about revivalism than new wave Jay Reatard torch bearing or Black Lips drunk-stoner good times... albeit this advertisement was written under the influence of champagne, pot, and pizza. The Sin Veldt's self-titled record is more like the I'm-saving-up-for-a-motorcycle-but-I'm-in-a-band-so-it's-going-to-take-awhile garage rock.

"Throw Your Baby Down" is a highlight to a consistently good listen. Bookmark this one for next summer, or download now for help getting through the oncoming holiday which may, perhaps, include micromanaging family members.

7 songs. Free from the band.

The Sin Veldt - S/T

The Shivas - You Know What To Do (2014)

You Know What To Do is the latest in a series of albums the Shivas have put out of the last several years, and while I am not as familiar with all of them as many other garage rock outfits, they are a band I undoubtedly enjoyed each time I've had the good fortune to run across. The tunes are catchy, riddled with surf rock guitar and 60s psychedelic singing. It is like the Kinks took a few lessons from Dick Dale for many of the tracks, and it is wonderful. They diverge from this form for songs like "Big Mama Casio" that bears remarkable parallels to "Be Brave" by the Strange Boys. A similarity that is carried for several tracks, but with a more retro garage pop sound compared to the Strange Boys' country-tinged sound, and it is fused with some of that Julian Casablancas reverb vocals. Like the reverse of the same coin in some ways. You Know What To Do is undeniably has many familiar elements and to hear them so delicately swirled makes for an addictive listen.

The Shivas are a Portland, Oregon band that is getting some well justified press and some swell label backing. To Elvis's sure pleasure, this band is put out on cassette by Burger Records and to Larry's possible indifference it was released on vinyl and CD by K Records. Even got mixed by Larry's old boss, Calvin Johnson. Of course, being released by these hip labels makes the album an established PR and distribution network, something most of the bands don't have. What I mean is that this album is gonna do fine without my 2 cents, but I thought it was a good piece of art regardless and I'll call what little attention I can to it as well, if for nothing but personal gratification.

To be had here:
The Shivas - You Know What To Do

Brimstone Blondes - AGE OF CONSENT (2014)

I've been listening to one new album at least everyday for weeks now, sometimes up to 4 new releases in a day. You'd think that this would burn me out, but really this is a light load compared to what I used to do when I was trapped in St. Clair County, Michigan with little other to do that breathe the polluted air and argue with my girlfriend like the fool-headed teenager I was. I think that many people in somewhat culturally isolated corners of this planet can relate to the problems of living vicariously through media and the obsessiveness that it can generate be it music, comic books, video games or whatnot. It seems like you should be ashamed of it and move on to start living, but every time I do that I find that life is full of waiting. Always in a hurry to get to somewhere to wait. So with time I have noticed that if I am gonna wait why not do so with a bunch of new albums pumping in the headphones and be taking just enough notes along the way that when I get wherever I am going I have something fucking interesting to share. 

Brimstone Blondes a four-piece self-described surf rock band from Buffalo, NY. There's no actual surfing going on in Buffalo, hence to talk of catching the sunbeams or big waves, but that's no reason not to make surf rock on the cold shores of the Great Lakes region as these guys will demonstrate. The songs are fast and full of bravado, to such a degree that it has a likeness to the flamboyance of glam rock. Partying and making out, lust for your friend's girl as if the Cars and Television were getting trashed together. Though the pace does settle down by the time you get to the appropriately named "Afterparty," which is a sort of hedonistic love song. In fact, several the tracks could be called that. Enjoy yourself and give AGE OF CONSENT a listen, and worry about everything you fucked up another day.

To be had here:

Brimstone Blondes - AGE OF CONSENT

Piresian Beach - I Cannot See For Miles (2014)

A little bit of explaining to begin with I suppose, for those unfamiliar with Piresian Beach, the band is a lo-fi rock project out of Budapest blends garage rock, psychedelic and post-punk into that beautiful concoction of distorted bliss. This is a release I've been looking forward to ever since I've gotten back into contact with the lady who so brilliant heads this band. I learnt of Piresian Beach back in 2011 with the most righteous album, Fuck Your Mind, and only due to what I can reasonably classify as criminal neglect did I not follow the releases more closes in the intervening period. Getting word of this has sent into a frenzy to hear all the songs put out in the last three years, and it has been totally worth it. Sure, they're far from the only band that I describe like this, in fact I fear I sound like a broken record with how I so frequently extoll groups that make this blended low fidelity style. However, the experience of fearing it is what really will sell it more than any descriptors could ever, just like a good recipe it isn't necessarily individual ingredients but the sum product that is praiseworthy. It is absolutely worth digging throught the discography, the Alle Falle EP from 2012 is every inch as amazing as I Cannot See For Miles. Makes me wish I could go to Budapest just to fawn of it it live.

To be had here:

Piresian Beach -  I Cannot See For Miles

Chiquita y Chatarra - Niagra Fallers (2013)

I take issue with our culture's current obsession with whimsy and cuteness. Wes Anderson making cute movies, girls wearing fake old-timey mustaches, selfies and band photos where eyes are up and to the side, hoodie's with fake animal ears sewed to them, kitten cams... and what's with the ukelele being everywhere all of a sudden? TV theme songs, radio advertisements, all-ukelele cover bands... It's like it's the 1980's but instead of synthesizers everywhere it's goddamn ukeleles. 

I'm just waiting for the turnaround, that inevitable revolt against the status quo where disco becomes post-punk; pop metal becomes grunge. I realize it's a process and it won't happen overnight, but my eyes and ears are feverishly hunting for examples where cute exists simultaneously with something a bit more dangerous. 

Enter Chiquita y Chatarra, a Spanish duo whose name one online translation interpreted as "Very Small and Scrap Metal", actually means (according to an NPR article about the band) "Tiny and Trashy".  So far so good. The band loves playing the kind of music I love: garage, psych, surf, punk. I know I know, been there done that. But what makes this band stand out for me, at least, is the voice of their lead singer. An alto with a barely restrained intensity, her voice reminds me at times of Jack White impersonating Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (though she is consistently more in key than both). Chiquita y Chatarra have the minimalism of Bratmobile and the 50's pop garage of Shannon and The Clams. But when they take it down a notch, as they do in the last song "All I want", one can almost hear the Pixies in there, too. 

I think this is a step in the right direction, people. Great stuff, pay what you want. If any are inclined to buy the bands vinyl, here's the link.

Chiquita y Chatarra - Niagra Fallers 

Thee Dang Dangs - For the People (2013)

It rained like hell yesterday and I have not been to the beach in weeks, so you could say I have not been in a surfing mood lately. That doesn't matter however, as this band is from Denver and they are as far from the beach as you can get. That may explain this band's excellent and tripped-out take on Surf Rock. I bet these ladies and lads have more Thee Oh Sees records in their collection than they do Beach Boy discs, and the cold Colorado winters are prone to produce meditative freak sessions caused by long bouts of seclusion. Throw those elements in a pot, and you get the Thee Dang Dangs.

The minute I heard "Lips Around Your Spine, " I knew the track would be on heavy rotation here at the Bat Pitt. Igor described this record as "someone being raised in Hell on acid trying to imitate a poorly transmitted 60s AM radio station." That just about captures it. It's not a free download, but worth a few bucks for the physical media. The spinning disc may be all that keeps the wolves at bay during this coming winter.

Get it here:
Thee Dang Dangs - For the People (2013)

The Future Primitives - Into The Primitive (2013)

Hello pilgrims, been a minute since I've posted. Life got busy as it does, and I was in the process of relocating to Connecticut from Detroit as I've grown weary of the Motor City and I have an deep existential dread of dying in the same area I was born and raised in. So my buddy had a spot at a house in the suburbs of Hartford, CT and there I sit now, just need to find some steady work (yes, this is a cry for help). More importantly I wanna thank Elvis for keeping this blog going while I was experiencing my burnt out and fed up phase in Detroit as my ceiling buckled in from flooding, my boss refused to give me a decent raise and I dropped totality of my saving on an old ass Caprice to escape the city. Without Elvis's contributions this blog would have gone silent and that would have been a shame for all the wonderful musicians getting some much needed promotion here, so I thank him again for keeping it going so admirably.

Now for the music, a returning favorite of mine and my favorite band from South Africa (admittedly not the longest list), The Future Primitives. They have released a new full-length and it is every bit as righteous and rocking as there previous work. There skill and musicians and songwriters is developing nicely as the songs, while a raw, distorted and so very sweetly lo-fi sound to be composed with more care and attention. It really allows the guitar playing to absorb a keen listener with the drums hypnotically seducing simultaneously. As with there previous releases this is a great mixture of psychedelic and Dick Dale-esque surf. These guys are truly something else and if you haven't gotten a chance to hear there earlier work I recommend it all. Freely streamable on bandcamp, and a paltry $7 to download for keeps.

To be had here:
The Future Primitives - Into The Primitive

La Luz - Call Me in the Day (2013)

I first heard the Washington based La Luz when Burger Records put out an EP of theirs this year, and they have followed it up with another great pair of songs on a recent 7 inch released by Water Wing Records. This all girl pop act takes everything worth keeping from the lo-fi pop genre and puts a beautiful shine on top of old tropes and chord arrangements. That isn't to say these ladies don't put together some great licks and rhythms; this short record has its ample share of them. Reactionary is rarely used as a positive, but this group has internalized the joys of the 3 minute pop song, processed it accordingly, and put out a great set of tracks that any rock aficionado would enjoy. Highly recommended.

Buy it here:
La Luz - Call Me in the Day (2013)

EP Grab Bag vol.30

Hugo Clarence – Boogie-Woogie Blues (2012)

No, you have not been magically transported to a run down honky-tonk in 1957, you have just put on the newest release from Lyon’s own Hugo Clarence. In two short songs, the sounds of the American south are processed through a Frenchman’s film and vinyl fused mind resulting in some very “old school” sounds that remain unsettling as they are satisfying. 

Girls on the Beach – Splif Tape (2013)

More strong surf revival jams from Orlando’s Girls on the Beach. Their newest piece is something you can put your finger on but can’t exactly pin down to any era or location. This is fuzzy surf rock put to cassette and may be enjoyed by ironic hipsters traveling with their fat old uncle to a Jimmy Buffet concert. Without knowing it, tracks like “.45” may very well end the fights you have been having with your relatives over what to put on while on a road trip in your old sedan.

Sea Lions – Cassette Tape (2010)

When I think of Oxnard, California the bubbling punk and skating culture comes to mind, but the city has produced a good number of fuzzy pop acts that were likely not as tough as that aforementioned scene. Bands like the Sea Lions were likely rocking Pavement while playing D&D. Neotomic Records has re-released this tape after it sat in obscurity for a few years, it is just too bad they don’t offer a digital copy for those of us not lucky enough to pick up these pop gems when it was available on tape.

Baby Ghosts – Let’s Always Hang Out Together, ok? (2012)

Don’t always judge a book by its cover. Well, this record you can, but there have been times when folks have submitted covers with cutesy anime characters that featured brutal drill-and-bass music. Nothing like that here on Baby Ghost’s first full length. Pop-punk melodies wrapped together with dueling female/male harmonies, this Salt Lake band’s sound may not be world-shattering, but they have crafted some fun music that would have possibly made it on to a mainstream alternative rock station if they still played music that was an “alternative” to the corporate music scene’s dictation.  I really enjoyed the track “Ghost School,” but I’ll understand if you find your own pop connection on this 12 track LP.

The Future Primitives - Songs We Taught Ourselves (2013)

The much awaited new release from South Africa's premium garage rock outfit, the Future Primitives. Before I let too much out of the bag, this is an album of covers, which if heard without looking at the titles can be really fun trying to place who did them originally during your first listen. I won't say I got them all, but [spoiling begins here] I was so jazzed to hear the Index's righteous "Israeli Blues" that I almost told the homeless dude outside my place about it. Now I know covers are a mixed bag sometimes, but I think garage rock is my absolute favorite way to here anything covered. And it is nothing new for garage rockers to do so, in fact it is a staple of the genre to cover classics. However, most of these tracks aren't from the usually selected sources and it is a credit to the band's knowledge of fine tunes and lo-fi skills to make this endeavor come off so flawlessly. From the Primitives to the Milkshakes to Bo-Weevils they didn't take a misstep. Can't recommend this download enough to anyone that even thinks they might like garage rock.

To be had here:
The Future Primitives - Songs We Taught Ourselves

Triptides - Couch Surfer (2012)

It’s raining like a mother here in Northern California over the last two weeks, and I am already missing the warm sun of San Diego’s beaches. I love the gloomy weather, don’t get me wrong, but having grown up in Southern Cali, I generally expect a few days of wet weather to be buttressed by a few weeks of sun. Spoiled, I know.

Triptides is helping me get over these rainy day blues with their beautiful and lush surf-rock. These guys are from Indiana, so I figure they don’t hit the waves all that often, but they have definitely created the soundtrack for anyone who does. Or for that matter, anyone dreaming of warmer weather and hazy summer days. These guys put out an excellent cassette a few months ago on Beachtapes, and this new single is free and worthy of repeated plays.

Get it here:
Triptides - Couch Surfer (2012)

Aaron & the Burrs - Aaron & the Burrs (2012)

I'm not done with my binge on selecting lo-fi rock to write up. This time it is some surf rock. Aaron & the Burrs play instrumental surf rock that can obviously be likened to many precursors such as Man or Astro-man?, Laika & The Cosmonauts, and Tijuana Panthers. However, none of these really capture what these cats are up to. The guitar, like having a most undeniably surf-sound, isn't fuzzed out nearly as much as you may expect. In fact it's a more precise style, and it's played awfully quick as well (check the fantastic "Sunny Sky, Choppy Surf" to hear for yourself). If you'll allow me to indulge in my obscure references, I'd say they remind me more of a cleaned-up version of The Apemen or The Phantom Surfers. By this I mean the musicianship overwhelms the flourishes of the style to be the driving factor. So fine it makes me forget that it's a bitter cold autumn outside, but not to diminish the album I am blisteringly hot in my basement apartment this time of year (boilers often aren't efficient at spreading the heat around). Be it my artificially induced fever-like state of mind or the exciting music itself, I highly recommend giving a listen to Aaron & the Burrs.

To be had here:

Aaron & the Burrs - Aaron & the Burrs

The Kramers - Self-titled (2012)

Continuing with monster-themed garage rock, we have The Kramers from Brisbane, Australia. The group is made up of two young lads who put together lo-fi garage rock that sounds timeless and yet engaging. While not as loud and merciless as my previous post, The Kramers do pull off a full sound on their 13 song self-titled release, while clearly recording on a basic 4-track setup. They even cover J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers “Last Kiss,” which shows where this group’s musical heart rests.

Get it here:
The Kramers - ST (2012)

Fun Guns - Dead In The Living Room (2012)

A fresh offering from the Fun Guns, a band from Los Angles you may remember releasing a couple of EPs earlier this year. So for the third time this year we're getting a fine EP filled with garage rock. While I was charmed by the stripped down lo-fi of This Frontier, there was an incredible use of gospel-blues-surf influences in Sleep When You're Dead that recurs here. There's a definite homage to the Black Lips in what they're doing, and I might add the Black Lips' work with King Khan and Mark Sultan in Almighty Defenders are recognizably similar. Soulful and loud with that warmness of a live performance, because it was basically a live recording (didn't mean to make the title's joke too obvious). Also, the submission made a point that help of some musicians with other noteworthy work was recruited. Some check out Straight Dimes and Black Boots if you're so inclined. Finally, they've got some neat short literature for you to read as you listen to the tracks on the bandcamp page, which is pretty neat.

To be had here:
Fun Guns - Dead In The Living Room

EP Grab Bag vol. 20

This summers proven to be a real bitch and more than the ungodly heat I've been suffering through without A/C at work or home. I mean more serious and stupid protracted issues like trying unsuccessfully to deal with the police after an attempted mugging, having my identity stole only for the cable company to be uncooperative in resolving the problem and a feeling I am getting further from graduate school that should be a ticket out of this town. Little of this relates to the blot save for reasons that I've been lax in regular posting, especially for as long as my name is wrongly soiled with cable company internet isn't available to me. Nonetheless, my mood has paradoxically been improving despite all these setbacks, and I've been finding myself with more energy and thirst for music. Accordingly I've hunted down some garage rock and surf EPs that are just the sort of thing I want to hear as I enjoy a beer after leaving work. So in the desire to share my elevated mood, there are some gems I've been captivated by.

To be had here:

Hot Babes - Hot Babes Cool Surf EP (2012)

Same as all these EPs I found this kicking around on bandcamp during a retreat to my folks' place. I was looking for surf purposefully, and that's something do deliever yet there's something tinging the songs of these Hot Babes. As the tracks progress it is like they've fallen into a region between Dick Dale's reverberated surf and the rhythmic beats and off-kilter singing of Gang of Four. Risking stating the obvious, I think it is brilliant.

The Amphibious Man -  Haunted (2012)

Following the recommendations I saw while downloading Hot Babes I stumbled into the Amphibious Man's noisy garage rock. Everything echos in a way the charms my heart throughly with the lo-fi fuzz and soulful with a touch of angst sort of vocals that I could happily hear for hours. 

High Pop - Hippie Speed Ball (2011)

Discovered via the same method as the previous EP, I was pleases thrice over when shortly into the first track I got an ear-full of wildly distorted guitar strumming. In an almost schizophrenic fashion, this band lives up to its name, being both the most pop of the three EPs but no less rawly lo-fi. Perhaps the term garage pop was coined to describe just this sort of phenomena. The longest by track number, but the fleeting short songs makes it only the longest time-wise by the narrowest of margins. Gotta love short and intense.  

Jagwar Pirates - Full Total Complete Bronzage (2012)

Couldn't have asked for something better to come back with after a break in posting. Jagwar Pirates are a very noisy French surf rock band that the label Cocktail Pueblo sent me. Largely instrumental, as surf rock frequently goes, these guys really make the most of heavily distorted and distorted guitars. They've got a darker tone that makes them a bit harder than most surf I've heard lately, and I find I greatly enjoyed the mildly haunting style (hard to imagine with that kid and his pup as the album art). Intensely fun to hear regardless of how heavy it may be relatively. Found myself remembering that wonderful film Six-String Samurai with the post-apocalyptic setting and the Red Elvises. Also the only track to have vocals, "planet claire," echoes the "Peter Gunn Theme" from The Blues Brothers (commenter pointed out it's a B-52's cover which may be why I felt I knew it). If a surf rock album, especially one that is so noisy and lo-fi as this, can summon pleasant memories and all sorts reactions from me then I most certainly think its done a good job.

To be had here:
Jagwar Pirates - Full Total Complete Bronzage [320 kbps]

Dick Dale - Surfers' Choice (1962 [2006 reissue])

Dick Dale is legendary. Surfers' Choice was his first full-length album originally released in 1962, but I'm sharing a reissue featuring six additional tracks. The majority of the tracks are live recordings and a good deal are not purely instrumental like many surf rock numbers. In fact, the songs with vocals aren't too far off from the period's garage rock, or what would soon evolve into garage rock. However, the most overwhelming aspect is Dale's astounding guitar, which has won him the title King of the Surf Guitar. Several of these tracks are so commonly covered, sampled or had elements borrowed, such as "Let's Go Trippin'" and "Misirlou Twist," that it hard not to be familiar with them. I've even had confusion over where they came from previously, as I grew up on the Beach Boy's version of Let's Go Trippin' so long I never thought to look where it was from for years. This album can't be highly recommended if you haven't got it already for it really is the quintessential surf rock album.

To be had here:
Dick Dale - Surfer's Choice [320 kbps]