Big Star

As a huge Big Star fan next month promises to be an exciting time, with Rhino releasing two Big Star related records.

The first being 'Keep An Eye On The Sky' a four disc box set collection of album tracks, unreleased songs and live recordings. The collection covers the entire life span of Big Star from 1968 and 1975, including tons of previously unreleased gems. A lot of stuff has been "out there" for a while for those willing to search - but what most excites me is the comprehensive collection of Alex Chilton's demo's for the 'Third/Sister Lovers' record. Some of these appeared a couple of years ago on the collection "Thank You Friends: The Ardent Story" - but as far as I know, this is the first time that they will all be collected in one place.

The second release being the 'deluxe' reissue of Chris Bell's fantastic solo album 'I Am The Cosmos'. A two disc collection - the first disc features the original release of 'I Am The Cosmos', an album made up of recordings Bell made after departing Big Star, before his untimely death in 1978. The second disc will include alternate versions of many previously released Bell songs, as well as music from Bell's pre-Big Star band Icewater.

If you are reading this and do not own any Big Star records... firstly, shame on you. Secondly, their three seventies studio records are essentials for any serious collection: check out '#1 Record', 'Radio City' and 'Third/Sister Lovers' at the earliest opportunity.

MP3: Big Star - Motel Blues (Removed By Request)
MP3: Chris Bell - You & Your Sister (Acoustic Version)
MP3: Alex Chilton - Lovely Day (aka Stroke It Noel)


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Gary Higgins

I can't believe I missed this one... at the end of September, Drag City will be releasing Gary Higgins his first album since 1973's 'Red Hash', the appropriately titled 'Seconds'.

After being "found" by Drag City, with help from Six Organs Of Admittance's Ben Chasny and revitalized by the reissuing of his 'lost' masterpiece 'Red Hash', Higgins found himself in a position where he was able to work on new material.

In Higgins own words: "The motivation to do another record was not hard to find. Having a group of new songs I was into and more than a few ‘older’ ones as well, it again seemed like a very logical thing to do. They all needed a place to be and ears, old and new, to listen. Additionally, I can’t tell you how many times I have read - “It’s too bad that Red Hash was the only record he recorded” - I knew I could fix that"

So far one track from 'Seconds', "Demons" has surfaced online - it sounds great. Musically it appears to sit on similar ground from where 'Red Hash' left off and Higgins is sounding like he is in great voice.

MP3: Gary Higgins - Demons

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Previously on SOTR: Gary Higgins - Red Hash

Jim O'Rourke

I am unbelievably excited about the prospect of a new Jim O'Rourke album. 'The Visitor' (possibly a reference to 'The Man Who Fell To Earth', following on his quirk for naming records after Nicolas Roeg Films - see: 'Insignificance', 'Eureka' & 'Bad Timing ' - or possibly not!) is released at the end of this month via Drag City.

I guess I first started paying full attention to O'Rourke's work after watching the flawed, but thoroughly charming film 'Love Liza', the soundbed for which is made up of much of O'Rourkes finest song based material. All of his melody/song based releases, (he has also released a great number of more experimental records), aurally offer something new and fresh, and never disappoint. Add to this his work with "alternative Supergroup" Loose Furs which is, in my mind, faultless and equal to his best solo material, as well as his production/engineering work with Wilco, Sonic Youth, Joanna Newsom & Smog and you have yourself a whole world ready and waiting for you to go and explore.

According to Drag City 'The Visitor' features just one long track (entitled "The Visitor"), and is closest in feel to 'Bad Timing', which itself contains four sections (each approximately 10 minutes long) of slow building, guitar picking, instrumental brilliance. Indeed the new album cover could also be interpreted with reference to the artwork for 'Bad Timing' which itself contains various references to glitter balls.



MP3: Jim O'Rourke - Halfway To A Threeway
MP3: Loose Furs - Answers To Your Questions

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Previously on SOTR: Friday Is For Covers

Six Organs

Slowly catching up from the time I was away, I am selectively sieving through bits and bobs that came up during that period. A nice (month old) story that made me smile was a message from Ben Chasny posted on the Six Organs Of Admittance Myspace page:

"Hey! I want to thank Jack for making this page. I don't check the mail on it or anything, Jack does that, but I thought I might utilize some of it's features. First, I want to mention that I am currently making a Six Organs guitar TAB book. I'm not really sure how big it is going to end up but I am thinking about 15 songs from the whole catalogue. What I am wondering is, are there any requests for any particular songs for me to TAB? So far I have already done Hallow Light Severed Sun, Words For Two, Elk River and Home. i was thinking i would probably do School of The Flower as well. After that, I am not sure. So basically I am taking requests. Any jams anyone might be interested in having me TAB? If not, it's all gonna be basically what's easiest for me to do!"

If you have a suggestion, head here.

MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Torn By Wolves
MP3: Six Organs Of Admittance - Words For Two

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Previously on SOTR: Six Organs Of Admittance

Songs For Babes

One of my favorite bands in the whole wide world Talons' have just announced that their fantastic album 'Songs for Babes' is getting a European release thanks to Own Records. The CD includes new artwork from the original LP (still available at barkandhiss.com) in a "beautifully printed cardstock package".

New Talons' music is also promised soon with the long awaited 'Songs For Boats' almost finished, as well as a new EP recorded in Dubai and an electronic album entitled 'Pandemia' in the bag. The entire Talons' catalog to date is still available from the Bark & Hiss website.

MP3: Talons' - Angela
MP3: Talons' - Sommer
MP3: Talons' - Cole (Courtesy of Own Records)

Download: The "complete" talons' library

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Previously on SOTR: Talons'

Yim Yames

I have never been a fan of My Morning Jacket, but on the two occasions that I have been exposed to the solo work of front man Jim James (or Yim Yames as he appears in his latest alias) I have been pleasantly surprised. The first time I sat up and took notice was on the Soundtrack to the Dylan "biopic" 'I'm Not There' where James sings "Goin' To Acapulco" accompanied by Calexico, which for me was one of the highlights of a great collection. The second is 'Tribute To', an EP of George Harrison covers.

Recorded in 2001 shortly after George Harrison's death 'Tribute To' contains six wonderful, stripped down, acoustic renditions of Harrison compositions, including versions of "My Sweet Lord", "All Things Must Pass" "Long, Long Long" and "Love To You". The EP is available to listen to in full and download now from the Yim Yames website for a very reasonable price, with a CD and vinyl released following on August 4th.

MP3: Jim James & Calexico - Goin' To Acapulco
MP3: Yim Yames - My Sweet Lord


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Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts

Gee, it has been so long and so much music has gone under the proverbial bridge since I last wrote, that I am not sure where to start... I guess i'll begin with the new release news that has most excited me since my last post... Castanets have announced the release of a new album entitled "Texas Rose, The Thaw, and The Beasts" (out on Asthmatic Kitty on September 22nd). The press blurb suggests that Ray Raposa has stripped back the noises and glitches focus on well structured and defined songs, which can only be a good thing.

Recorded in April of this year in San Diego, "Texas Rose..." is Castanets' fifth for Asthmatic Kitty. There isn't a Castanets record that I have not fallen in love with and I am sure I will be able to say the same about this one.

MP3: Castanets - This Is The Early Game From 'In The Vines (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)
MP3: Castanets - Glory B From 'City Of Refuge' (courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty)

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Previously on SOTR: Castanets

On The Beach

back in a while

Jay Bennett

15th November 1963 - 24th May 2009

MP3: Wilco - My Darling


Jay Bennett Myspace

Gary Higgins - Red Hash

Recorded during one forty-hour period in 1973, 'Red Hash' by Gary Higgins is one of the great 'lost' albums of all time. A lovely, sad, wistful folk album, 'Red Hash' was recorded so quickly because Higgins had recently been arrested on drug charges and was facing years in prison.

Shortly after the album was self released on his own Nufusmoon label, Higgins seemed to disappear and seemingly gave up a career in music, firstly serving out his prison sentence and later falling into domestic life marrying and having a child, and 'Red Hash' fell into the abyss.

It was during the mid-1990s, when 'Red Hash' began to get noticed. Partly due to the development of the internet (word spread about the album online and pirated copies began to appear on ebay) and partly down to musicians, such as Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance, who began to cite the album as a major influence. Chasny even covered one of 'Red Hash's' many standout tracks, "Thicker than a Smokey" on the quite brilliant Six Organs of Admittance album 'School of the Flower' (2005). The story took a further turn for the better when A&R man Zach Cowie received a burned copy of the album from Chasny and was so enchanted with what he heard, decided to set out and find Higgins. The search paid off and the album was remastered and released to critical acclaim by Drag City in 2005.



'Red Hash' is a gem of an album that has aged fantastically well, comparisons with Skip Spence's 'Oar' and David Crosby's 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' begin to position this record in the "classic" territory that it deserves to be in.

MP3: Gary Higgins - Thicker Than A Smokey
MP3: Gary Higgins - It Didn't Take Too Long

Gary Higgins on Myspace
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Judee Sill

I am really enjoying the recently released 'Loving Takes This Course: A Tribute to the Songs of Kath Bloom' collection, which features a disc of covers by the likes of Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart and Meg Baird, alongside a second disc of the wonderful Bloom originals.

So it is with great excitement that I found out about another tribute record for another fantastic American singer. 'Crayon Angel: A Tribute To The Music Of Judee Sill' features new recordings by Bill Callahan ("For a Rainbow"), Ron Sexsmith (“Crayon Angels”), Beth Orton (“Reach for the Sky”), Marisa Nadler & Black Hole Infinity (“The Kiss”), Meg Baird (“When the Bridegroom Comes”), Daniel Rossen from Grizzly Bear (“Waterfall”) and P.G. Six (“Til Dreams Come True”) amongst others.

Sill was the first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum Records and released two cult albums, 'Judee Sill' (1971) and 'Heart Food' (1973), before seemingly vanishing from the music scene and eventually dying of a drug overdose in 1974.

Before she passed away, Sill recorded demos for a third album in early 1974, which were released, along with other rarities, in a Jim O'Rourke mixed collection in 2005, 'Dreams Come True'.

'Crayon Angel: A Tribute To The Music Of Judee Sill' is released by American Dust later this year.

MP3: Judee Sill - Jesus Was A Crossmaker
MP3: Judee Sill - There's a Rugged Road

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Previously on SOTR: Crayon Angels

Neil Young Archives

I am really excited about the imminent Neil Young Archives Volume 1 release. It seems less and less now that I actually get excited by owning the physical product when it comes to record releases, but this is one case where I am. It seems like Neil Young, who is the driving force behind this long promised release, get's it. He seems to understand what makes something valuable and special enough not to just be content with a digital copy.



This first volume of the Archives series traces Neil Young's career from his first recordings with the Squires at the beginning of the sixties, via Buffalo Springfield and CSNY, right through to the 1972 sessions for 'Harvest'. The Blu-Ray edition features an interactive time-line and a lavish hardback book, each providing a thorough overview of his recordings and performances from this era. Also included on the Blu-Ray edition is Young's first film, the long unavailable 'Journey Through The Past'.

My bank balance might not feel the same, but I really hope that the Neil Young Archive series creates a blueprint for other artists to use to assemble their own music-based multimedia scrapbook in the future.

MP3: Buffalo Springfield - Burned
MP3: Neil Young - Birds

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Graham Nash

Up until a couple of weeks ago Graham Nash was the only member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young that I had little or no appreciation for the solo work of. That was until I discovered his 1971 masterpiece 'Songs For Beginners'.

A somewhat sentimental and sensitive work (it came on the back of a temporary split with David Crosby and Stephen Stills and a permanent split with his then love, Joni Mitchel), 'Songs For Beginners' lives in a similar orbit to Neil Young's 'Harvest' and is eminently listenable. Accompanied by a star studded cast including CSNY band mates, Neil Young and David Crosby, as well as Rita Coolidge, Jerry Garcia, Dave Mason and P.P. Arnold, this record has really challenged for me the notion of Nash being the 'weak link' in CSNY.

MP3: Graham Nash - Simple Man
MP3: Graham Nash - Chicago

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Townes Van Zandt

Watching Heartworn Highways for the umpteenth time I was reminded of how damn good Townes Van Zandt is. It is unbelievable that someone who has written so many fantastic songs is not more well known or widely appreciated.

The closest that country music came to having a songwriter to compare with Dylan, Townes Van Zandt spent most of his life on the fringes. A cult musician he never had a commercially successful album or single in his lifetime and even had difficulty for many years keeping his recordings in print. Success, of sorts, came in the early eighties when Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard had a number one on the country music charts with a cover of his song "Pancho and Lefty", but achievements like these were too few and far between and Van Zandt, notorious for his drink and drug addictions died on New Years Day 1997 from health problems stemming from his years of substance abuse.

MP3: Townes Van Zandt - Colorado Girl
MP3: Townes Van Zandt - Waitin' Around To Die (Heartworn Highways Version)

Townes Van Zandt Central
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The Band

Image Credit: Elliott Landy
The first three albums by the band 'Music From Big Pink'(1968), 'The Band'(1969) and 'Stage Fright'(1970) are three of my favorite albums ever. The first two are essential additions to any serious music collection, the third, an oft neglected companion to the much lauded debut and sophomore efforts.

This list of records would be legacy enough for most, but you can add to this numerous credentials that make The Band one of the most important groups of all time. The most obvious examples being their involvement with Bob Dylan, both as backing band (then The Hawks) on his first "electric" tour of the US and later their work with him on the legendary 'Basement Tapes'. Then being the center piece of the greatest live concert film ever committed to tape 'The Last Waltz', documenting their final show featuring the original Band lineup and a stellar list of guests including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris and The Staple Singers.

The original line up which spans 1967 to 1976 consisted of four Canadians: Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson and Rick Danko, and one American, Levon Helm (There was a reunion of sorts (sans Robbie Robertson) in the eighties, but for now I am going to focus on the original line up).

Aside from the first three gems, the original line up of The Band released four other studio albums. Although none of which live up to the consistency and magnificence of the earlier records, all contain genuine highlights. 'Cahoots'(1971) has the Dylan composition "When I Paint My Masterpiece", as well as "Life Is a Carnival", "The River Hymn" and the Van Morrison collaboration "4% Pantomime". 'Moondog Matinee'(1973) is an eclectic covers album containing versions of originals by Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry and Leiber & Stoller amongst others. 'Northern Lights - Southern Cross'(1975) is a mixed bag, but does include some of The Band's finest recordings, most notably "Acadian Driftwood" and "It Makes No Difference". The Bands final studio album 'Islands'(1977) is probably the least rewarding in the groups cannon, with an apt title, as this is the sound of a group breaking up, not the coherent family heard on previous releases.

MP3: The Band - All La Glory
MP3: The Band - It Makes No Difference

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Gene Clark

There are so many gaps in music I love and things I have never posted on, so I figure I am going to make a concerted effort to plug those gaps.. starting with Gene Clark.

Aside from being a founder member of The Byrds, Gene Clark was a prolific songwriter and singer with an amazing catalog of work, as well as being a pioneer of the country rock sound.

As part of The Byrds he contributed songs including "Set You Free This Time", "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Eight Miles High". After releasing his first solo album, 'Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers' (1967), Clark got together with banjo player Doug Dillard for two pioneering country rock albums 'The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark' and 'Through the Morning Through the Night'. For me, Clarks masterpiece is 1971's 'White Light' a largely introspective affair, this is the record where Clark is most consistently on his game in terms of the quality of the songwriting. Also worth checking out is 1974's 'No Other', but maybe the best place to start for newcomes to Clark's work is the brilliant career spanning anthology 'Flying High'.

MP3: Gene Clark - With Tomorrow
MP3: Dillard & Clark - Don't Let Me Down (Beatles Cover)

Gene Clark on Myspace
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Quiet Bears

Quiet Bears is the songwriting/recording project of Johnnie Cluney from Iowa, who since 2002 has led an ever rotating lineup in producing a number of limited lo-fi, home recorded cassette and cd-r releases.

I forgot how much I liked this band, but was reminded to go back and listen to some of their stuff with news of a new release. As the label blurb goes: During a 2007 tour, Doby Watson stopped in Davenport, IA to play a show. That night he stayed at the Quiet Bears home, and at seven the following morning, they, along with A.P. Swearengin and Johnnie’s friend Mark, began to jam into a four track machine in the basement.

The resulting recordings are available on a new EP called 'God/Fate' available now from Orchid Collective for a nominal donation.

MP3: Quiet Bears - Walking In The Rain
MP3: Quiet Bears - Bluejaybody
MP3: Quiet Bears - Creatures (Courtesy Of Asaurus Records)

Quiet Bears on Myspace
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Women & Children

With so much music constantly available all the time, I find I am increasingly acquiring music and then moving on to something else before I have paid much, if any, attention to what I have just acquired. Well, sometimes the forgotten music fights back and keeps rearing its head until I pay attention. This just happened with me for Women & Children. I must have got their record 'Paralyzed Dance, Tonight' on emusic about two years ago. I guess I would have lazily listened to a couple of tracks, probably been perturbed by the varied approach from one track to the next and moved on to something else.

Then a couple of weeks ago the track "Rolly Fingers" came on my ipod and I found myself listening to it on repeat, eventually going back to the album, which had been sitting dormant for two years and I am really happy I did, for it is a record of great depth and varying textures that really rewards upon repeat listens.

Women & Children formed in Paris in 2001 when Canadian-born keyboardist Cheryl June Serwa and California-born guitarist Kevin Lasting got together with multi-instrumentalist Jamie Moon and drummer Olivier Robert. The band began will all members contributing to the writing collaboratively and switching vocal and instrumental roles. A self titled album appeared in 2003, followed by completely different self-titled limited-edition, embossed wooden box release which contained two 10" vinyl EPs and a live performance DVD.

Around 2006 Women & Children reverted to being a two piece with Serwa and Lasting remaining and recording their second album, 'Paralyzed Dance, Tonight'. I'm not particularly partial to comparing one band with other bands, but if pushed I guess i'd describe the sound of Women & Children as the softer side of Velvet Underground & Nico playing in the woods with Robert Wyatt, joined by a hazier, mellower Comus.

Women & Children have recently toured with both Brighblack Morning Light and Sean Lennon and have "many songs that we plan to record , or put out in the near future".

MP3: Women & Children - Rolly Fingers
MP3: Women & Children - A Bigger Graveyard

Women & Children on Myspace
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Viking Moses

Viking Moses was started by Brendon Massei in 2003 and has spent it's life accommodating a rotating cast of musicians worldwide, releasing two full length albums along the way 'Crosses' in 2006 (a split LP also containing Spencer Kingman's 'Spenking') and 2008's 'The Parts That Showed'.

Viking Moses first came to prominence after appearing on Devendra Banhart's highly influential 2004 'The Golden Apples Of The Sun' compilation. After a series of 7" and cassette releases plus the odd compilation track, 'Crosses' sealed the deal and Viking Moses delivered on the early promise they had shown.

Presented as a "story-song cycle" 'Crosses', is a subtle yet accomplished piece of work, and one of the most underrated releases from the crop of American folk musicians who appeared on the aforementioned 'Golden Apples..' compilation. Containing little more than softly picked nylon-string acoustic guitar, bass, and the occasional piano, it is Massei's sleepy baritone and understated, almost childlike, but completely accomplished songwriting that make this record stand head and shoulders above many of it's peers.

'The Parts That Showed' was a welcome addition to the Viking Moses catalog. Recorded on the Oldham family farm in central Kentucky by Paul Oldham and written with "the dream that it might one day be sung by Dolly Parton", the album follows the somewhat unconventional narrative featuring a teenage prostitute and the man who obsesses over her from afar. Viking Moses will be touring the UK in May.

MP3: Viking Moses - Crosses
MP3: Viking Moses - And Then You Left

Viking Moses on Myspace
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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the quiet folk alter ego of Adrian Orange, a musician from America's North West who has, since his teens, been part of a tight knit music community that includes Phil Elverum (The Microphones, Mount Eerie), Kyle Field (Little Wings) and Calvin Johnson.

Orange started young, playing his first show at the age of 11 and by the age of 15, he had toured Europe and dropped out of high school to pursue music full time. He co-founded the brilliant label Marriage Records with his Watery Graves band-mate Curtis Knapp in late 2002, producing the labels first release, a CD-R titled 'Nothing'. Since then he has released numerous albums and singles under the name Thanksgiving including the fantastic Phil Elverum produced long player 'Welcome Nowhere'.

2006 saw the first releases under the moniker Adrian Orange and he has since recorded and toured under various names including Adrian Orange & Her Band, Lyllyy's Adrian Orange, Drone Boner and more recently has recorded an experimental electronic hip-hop album under the moniker AOK.

MP3: Thanksgiving - Days of Hiding
MP3: Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving
MP3: Thanksgiving - Welcome

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