The Beach Boys - Ma SMiLE (WTS Popkid No.9)

 

Never ever trust the so-called "rock critics". They’re idiots, clueless, self-centered (I'm talking about the older ones who were worth their salt - today's are unworthy of any further mention) and all they care about is pushing the stuff for the right amount. I'm writing all this as a review junkie of sort (isn't human existence a contradiction anyway?). In the pre-Napster, Limewire, Soulseek etc days, "Smiley Smile" was the most tangible thing anyone had and the closest to the legendary and aborded "SMiLE". And many of those wankers had smashed it. Today and by having listened to countless bootlegs of every quality, countless remixes (some by fans I dare say are particularly imaginative), as well as the official release of the sessions and Brian Wilson's reinterpretation without the Beach Boys, I consider "Smiley Smile" a near-masterpiece! In some cases I find the songs creepier and weirder, which I think is a cool thing for a pop record. 

I was sitting the other day doing nothing, just fooling around the net and came across a debate about "SMiLE" and "Smiley Smile". Honestly, I enjoy those clashes as much as any classic battle in football (or soccer, for my US readers). Then I thought it would be interesting, if not a good idea, to try rebuilding an album containing recordings from both officially released issues. And so I did! It was much easier than I thought it would be. In fact, I spent more time designing the cover for this one because I already had a clear idea of what I wanted in. So here's a mixture of brilliant peculiarities ("Smiley Smile") and the stunning and intricate production that Brian was working on before it became too overwhelming for him ("SMiLE Sessions"). 

PS: I believe the "20/20'"versions of 'Our Prayer' and 'Cabin Essence' are better, but then again this one began as a dispute over two albums.

Various Artists - Nothin': Sixties Wild Punk and Raw R&B (White Trash Soul 60s Punk No.5)

 

Sometimes I feel like I'm repeating myself and I know I actually am. It's like listening to The Ramones and Motörhead albums basically, but I secretly hope that all of this is just as enjoyable for you as the songs by those legendary bands. I mean, what else is there to write about '60s garage punk that hasn't already been said? The same thing happens quite often with the songs I choose to take in. I can't and don't want to remember whether I've included them before or elsewhere and obviously I'm probably not introducing you to anything you don't already know or haven't listened to before.

I'd like to think that there will always be younger listeners and visitors, and that they will always find something new here. There's really no reason for this blog to exist if not to present something to people that might make their lives a little better. Yes, I'm one of those hopelessly romantic fools who believes that books, records and films can improve our miserable reality. Fortunately for me, it works still. Sometimes. Isn't that the essence of art after all, its offering and its necessity? Obviously, I consider rock 'n' roll to be an art form, especially when performed by teenagers who have the minimal of potential and are brimming with adrenaline, hormones and anger - emotions that they don't know how else to channel.

I've had this compilation on my phone and iPod for a while now. While I don't think there's anything here that fans of the genre don't already know or have on their shelves, I still think they'll enjoy it because it's been put together like a DJ set in a smoky basement club or something. For newcomers and youngsters who haven't already been immersed in BFTG - like series, this will be quite a wild ride. When I started picking out the songs, I wanted them to be as R&B and black rock 'n' roll-based as possible. I was keen for them to have harmonicas, maracas and tambourines maybe even more so than fuzz guitars or trashy organs. I wanted to hear Bo Diddley rhythms and Elmore James slides played by white punks out of their minds and had been raised in hell. And I wanted there to be plenty of snotiness. There are bands from all over the world, USA, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Oceania. Grab a beer and let's get started! 

1. Keep Me Covered - The Frays
2. You Got What I Want - The Boys Blue
3. I'll Be There - The Sons Of Fred
4. She'll Be Sweeter Than You - Nix Nomads
5. Things She Says - The In Crowd
6. Come Back Baby - Screaming Lord Sutch
7. Let's Make It - Cuby + The Blizzards
8. What'cha Gonna Do About It (Alt. Version) - The Small Faces
9. Please Go Home - The Rolling Stones
10. I Want You - Belfast Gypsies (Them)
11. 80-96 - The Dantes
12. Bad Little Woman - The Shadows Of Knight
13. Dance Girl Dance - Greg Barr & The Barr Association
14. I'll Make You Sorry - Our Mothers' Children
15. In And Out - Larry And The Blue Notes
16. You Don't Love Me - The Little Boy Blues
17. We're Pretty Quick - The Chob
18. Hate - The Stoics
19. Ugly Thing - The Creatures
20. I Need You There - The Chessmen
21. Project Blue - The Banshees
22. Hot Gully Wind - The Master's Apprentices
23. Cry (Over Her) - The Malibus
24. Like What Me Worry - 006
25. Nothin' - The Ugly Ducklings
26. Double Decker Bus - The Count Five
27. I'm Walkin' Babe - The Unusuals
28. Get Your Baby - Mark & The Escorts
29. Caught You Red Handed - Jolly Green Giants
30. Don't Go I'm Beggin' - The Untouchables
31. Don't Crowd Me - Keith Kessler
32. Hidden Charms - Link Wray And His Ray Men
33. Born In Chicago - The (Dirty) Wurds
34. Sitting There Standing - The Chocolate Watchband
35. At The River's Edge - The New Colony Six

The Chesterfield Kings - The Greg Prevost Years, 1978-2002 Singles and EPs (White Trash Soul Real R'n'R No.9)

As I've said many times before, I'm just a rock 'n' roll nerd who likes to share my thoughts on artists who I think should be more well-known. I'm not preaching to the converted either. Most of the time, when I sit down to write I don't know how to start or finish the piece you're reading, but I do know that I don't want to be just another person telling the story of these artists. If you weren't aware of them but like them, then get off your lazy arse and do something, we're in the internet age for fuck's sake and everything's just a few clicks away, if you are not on magazines and fanzines already (too bad for you). So, I'm not going to tell you The Chesterfield Kings' tale.

I listened to the latest Kings album the other day. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't The Chesterfield Kings either. I don't know how Andy Babiuk should call his 'new' gang, but to me it's simple: No Greg Prevost - no Chesterfields! End of discussion, thanks for your attention. To be honest, I don't care who owns the rights to the name, although I'm pretty sure it was Greg who set up the band in 1978 in Rochester, ΝΥ. Prevost is a very important figure to me, even if you are trying to put aside the Chesterfield Kings. A culture vulture and rock 'n' roll enthusiast of the highest order, he has written hundreds of essays for legendary magazines such as Ugly Things and Kicks, as well as his own fanzine, Outasite. He liked the same way the 60s garage punk unknowns and the Brian Jones-era Stones as the New York Dolls and The Heartbreakers or Motörhead, Alice Cooper, Muddy Waters and Nancy Sinatra. To me at least he is as important as Lux Interior.

This compilation is a pissed-off take. Don't get me wrong, I love Andy almost as much as Greg, but I'm not going to change my mind. The Chesterfield Kings ended the day Greg walked away. And here's the epitaph. A much needed (I believe) compilation, encompassing all of their singles and extended plays, including those that that went unreleased or were bootlegs. Most of them (if not all) have been out of print for like ages, so if you're new to their game you won't be able to find them easily or at an affordable price. This is the Chesterfield Kings' heritage as recounted by one of their most devoted fans.