SPARO, FRANKIE Welcome Crummy Mystics (Constellation) cd 14.98
The third release from Canadian singer/songwriter Frankie Sparo presents another collection of his weight-of-the-world-on-his-shoulders songs. Always seeming slightly unhinged and on the verge of emotional collapse, he sings each song as if clawing for his last shred of hope. His is a deeply anguished delivery - often to the point of crackly hoarse shouting or the most brittle whisper - which bear more than a passing resemblance to early Vic Chesnutt. On the songs featuring very spartan piano or guitar accompaniment, all is laid open with each word hanging in the air. However, this album marks some new developments in the realm of Mr. Sparo. One is the addition of an official second band member, N. Moss brings backing vocals and keyboards into the fold. Another is the full band (which surely includes a few GYBE friends) presence on a few songs contributing to a more expansive and dramatic, but no less intimate sound. Once again, recorded by Godspeed's Efrim.
RealAudio clip: "City As It Might Have Been"
RealAudio clip: "Hospitalville"

SPARROW s/t (Overcoat) cd 14.98
For months and months we kept on hearing rumblings about a new Zumpano album being "in the works" and "almost done", but what with Carl Newman so deeply ensconced in New Pornographer land... alas, it seems it just never got finished. Not ones to sit on their hands, the rest of AQ's favorite Z-band picked up and pursued other various projects. The band's namesake and drummer Jason Zumpano sat right down and penned a slew of his own songs - some solely piano compositions, some full band grand pop numbers. This is his album of the latter, and not unsurprisingly, what a delight it is! He more than ably handles all songwriting, vocal and keyboard duties, and is joined by his former Zumpano colleague Mike Ledwidge - on guitar as well as Scott Morgan (Loscil) on drums. Just as the case was with Mr. Newman and the NPs, expectations were high. It's pretty impossible not to draw comparisons to their former band. Fortunately so far it's all been in the most positive light, and Sparrow is no exception. Many songs here shine with the same stellar pop sensibilities as well as some other stylish details - standing solidly on their own merits. Take the second song "One Eye Closed" for instance, a spritely, dandy example driven just as much by a catchy chorus as by a piano line very reminiscent of ABBA's "Waterloo" of all things! Other songs draw nods to XTC and Squeeze too. Those are some big classic pop footsteps to follow, and yes, Jason Zumpano and co. more than hold their own, thank you!
MPEG Stream: "One Eye Closed"
MPEG Stream: "Don't Stand On Me"

SPARROW The Early Years (Absolutely Kosher) cd 12.98
Jason Zumpano (of the great but sadly defunct Canadian band... Zumpano) offers up his second Sparrow full length. Sure folks can't help but draw comparisons to his old bandmates' current mighty pop bands (New Pornographers and A.C. Newman), and yeah, there's the tell-tale Vancouver pianos, strings, horns and bright vocal harmonies, but Sparrow has a retro pop charm all its own. Sleepy-eyed, boyish and sweet.
MPEG Stream: "The Early Years"
MPEG Stream: "Late Last Night"

SPARROWS SWARM AND SING O'Shenandoah, Mighty Death Will Find Me (Magic Bullet) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

MPEG Stream: "Across Canyons / Canons"
MPEG Stream: "Father Death / Mother Nature"

SPARTA Porcelain (Geffen) cd 16.98
Sparta (aka the non-'fro ex-members of At The Drive In) offer up their second full length. Whereas their former bandmates Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodrigues have taken their band The Mars Volta into more prog/art rock territory, Sparta have chosen to stay in emo mode, tempering the ATDI punk angst and aggression into a more radio/MTV-friendly, near-anthemic sound. We noted though that oddly enough the lead vocals are often very similar to ex-ATDI singer Bixler as well as Fugazi's Ian MacKaye. Catchy, intelligent and creative, Porcelain is a solid follow-up to the equally well-received Wiretap Scars.
MPEG Stream: "Hiss The Villain"
MPEG Stream: "Travel By Bloodline"

SPAZZTIC BLURR s/t (Earache) cd 10.98
"Way beyond speed!! / Spazztic Blurr!!!! / There is no cure!! / For The Spazztic Blurr!! ... Let There Be Spazztic! -- Let there Be Blurr!"
Holy hell. We never thought that Earache would reissue this out of print record on cd! This 1988 LP of absurdist metal has been long sought after by Allan, 'cause he just loves the Spazztic Blurr song found on that classic Earache label "Grind Crusher" compilation. That song ("He-Nota-Home-Me-Marco") is found here along with 13 other examples of their brilliantly (?) mindless, stream of consciousness, dadaistic thrash songwriting. Ok, normally Allan doesn't approve of overtly silly joke bands. But these guys totally take their jokes into a shaggy dog realm of utter nonsequiturship. Lyrics about Burger King, boardgames, the Flintstones, the alphabet, hardcore punks and rappers...yes it's childish. But it's also 1988. And then there's the way they include descriptions of what's going on musically at each point in a song on the lyric sheet (some examples: "Distorted Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Distorted Guitar, Acoustic Guitar...", "Total Speed Metal Ending", "Weird Effect", "Surf Part", "Isn't It Neat How This Songs Jumps Right In?"). They were probably a huge influence on John Zorn! Kinda like Dead Milkmen meets the Suicidal Tendencies, for fans of Ludichrist, Lawnmower Deth, S.O.D., 7000 Dying Rats, that sort of thing.
RealAudio clip: "He-Nota-Home"
RealAudio clip: "Def Metal"
RealAudio clip: "Mexicalli"

SPEAKERS, THE En El Maravilloso Mundo De Ingeson cd 16.98
We've had this cult Latin American psych reissue on and off (mostly off) for a few years now, and so since we just managed to score a dozen copies the other day we figured we'd relist it, for those of you who might not have gotten a chance to hear it (or hear about it) yet. Not sure when/if we'll be able to get more, so the usual 'act fast' warning applies!
Here's what we said about this before: Whoa, this is a strange disc, a reissue of some primo Columbian psych acid-rock pop weirdness circa 1968. Totally trippy and weird, starting with the wonderfully freaky cover drawing of the band, with the music being even freakier. Probably inspired by Sgt. Pepper's and buttloads of drugs. The Speakers (also known as Kris Kringle on an LP reissue of this, for some reason) play nice Spanish-language pop/beat music that's been totally messed with, coming closer to Nurse With Wound than the Mutantes (although if you can imagine all the ridiculous moments of studio-fuckery on the Mutantes cds crammed into one disc, this would be it). Completely odd and delightful! And who can forget that track sung in the bizarre squeaky baby voice...
Some additional interest might be stirred regarding this due to the fact that the band was recently profiled in issue 22 of Ugly Things magazine issue! We learned a few interesting things from that article, among them that The Speakers, at the time, were apparently quite popular in their home country. Who would have thunk? And, "En El Maravilloso Mundo De Ingeson" is explained -- Ingeson was the name of the studio where they were able to record for free at night, in return for putting Ingeson's name in the album title (The Speakers In The Marvelous World Of Ingeson)!
MPEG Stream: "Oda A La Gente Mediocre"
MPEG Stream: "Historia De Un Loto Que Florecio En Otono"

SPEAKERS, THE En El Maravilloso Mundo De Ingeson (SalgaelSol) cd+book 48.00
We've had this cult Latin American psych reissue on and off (mostly off) for a few years now, and so since we just managed to get this super deluxe oversized book edition, we figured we'd relist it, for those of you who might not have gotten a chance to hear it (or hear about it) yet. It's pricey, but the packaging is pretty over the top. And of course it's an amazing album.
The cd comes housed in a 7" sized sleeve, full color and on thick card stock. Inside is affixed a 20 page full color booklet, filled with photos and drawings, and tons and tons of liner notes (all in Spanish unfortunately), and affixed to the inside front cover is a little crunched up chicklet, a replica of the supposed LSD bubble gum that was included in the original album!! Awesome.
Here's what we said about this before:
Whoa, this is a strange disc, a reissue of some primo Columbian psych acid-rock pop weirdness circa 1968. Totally trippy and weird, starting with the wonderfully freaky cover drawing of the band, with the music being even freakier. Probably inspired by Sgt. Pepper's and buttloads of drugs. The Speakers (also known as Kris Kringle on an LP reissue of this, for some reason) play nice Spanish-language pop/beat music that's been totally messed with, coming closer to Nurse With Wound than the Mutantes (although if you can imagine all the ridiculous moments of studio-fuckery on the Mutantes cds crammed into one disc, this would be it). Completely odd and delightful! And who can forget that track sung in the bizarre squeaky baby voice...
Some additional interest might be stirred regarding this due to the fact that the band was recently profiled in issue 22 of Ugly Things magazine issue! We learned a few interesting things from that article, among them that The Speakers, at the time, were apparently quite popular in their home country. Who would have thunk? And, "En El Maravilloso Mundo De Ingeson" is explained -- Ingeson was the name of the studio where they were able to record for free at night, in return for putting Ingeson's name in the album title (The Speakers In The Marvelous World Of Ingeson)!
MPEG Stream: "Oda A La Gente Mediocre"
MPEG Stream: "Historia De Un Loto Que Florecio En Otono"

SPEAKING CANARIES, THEE Get Out Alive: The Last Type Story (Scat) cd 13.98
Remember that special summer themed in-between list we sent out at the beginning of June? We ordered in copies of this album just to be on it (in lieu of a Van Halen record, since we'd never reviewed VH) and we even mentioned it in the list intro, but then somehow left it off the actual list, whoops!! But since we have it, and it's now officially summer, we figured we'd relist it on this list, definitely a recommended ol' fave from a band that may have flown under a lot of folks' radar. Here's what we wrote about this when we first listed it back in 2003...
Wow, we were surprised and pleased to see the release of a new The(e) Speaking Canaries album! It's been quite a while since 1995's Songs For The Terrestrially Challenged, but they've still got it, in fact, this may be even better than we remembered 'em being. The Speaking Canaries, for those for whom 1995 is a blur, are a band from Pittsburgh featuring the talents of Don Caballero drummer Damon Che. Che plays drums on half the album, but the whole disc showcases his just-as-impressive ability with the electric guitar. His nimble, Eddie Van Halen styled guitar licks are distorted, yet cleanly chiming n' gorgeous. Yep, we said Eddie Van Halen. If you've never heard The Speaking Canaries before you're in for a surprise - Van Halen is an obvious, huge influence. And Damon even lets off some some jubilant David Lee Roth yelps. But, don't get the wrong idea, this is a melodic indie-pop record, not any sort of retro '80s hair metal throwback. The songs are somewhat complex and mathy (as you'd expect from a Don Cabber) but have pop hooks a la Foo Fighters. And these days, after after Trans Am and The Fucking Champs and so forth, the idea of heavy metal guitar heroes in an indie-rock context isn't so novel. It's just good music. Damon and company kick ass on this record, from the three-minute track one (with the excellent title "I Wear Glasses in the Most Brutal Sport Ever Invented") to the disc's hidden bonus track finale. Very recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Coffin Jitters"
MPEG Stream: "Song On A Record You Can't Get"

SPEAKING CANARIES, THEE Get Out Alive: The Last Type Story (Scat) lp 10.98
Remember that special summer themed in-between list we sent out at the beginning of June? We ordered in copies of this album just to be on it (in lieu of a Van Halen record, since we'd never reviewed VH) and we even mentioned it in the list intro, but then somehow left it off the actual list, whoops!! But since we have it, and it's now officially summer, we figured we'd relist it on this list, definitely a recommended ol' fave from a band that may have flown under a lot of folks' radar. Here's what we wrote about this when we first listed it back in 2003...
Wow, we were surprised and pleased to see the release of a new The(e) Speaking Canaries album! It's been quite a while since 1995's Songs For The Terrestrially Challenged, but they've still got it, in fact, this may be even better than we remembered 'em being. The Speaking Canaries, for those for whom 1995 is a blur, are a band from Pittsburgh featuring the talents of Don Caballero drummer Damon Che. Che plays drums on half the album, but the whole disc showcases his just-as-impressive ability with the electric guitar. His nimble, Eddie Van Halen styled guitar licks are distorted, yet cleanly chiming n' gorgeous. Yep, we said Eddie Van Halen. If you've never heard The Speaking Canaries before you're in for a surprise - Van Halen is an obvious, huge influence. And Damon even lets off some some jubilant David Lee Roth yelps. But, don't get the wrong idea, this is a melodic indie-pop record, not any sort of retro '80s hair metal throwback. The songs are somewhat complex and mathy (as you'd expect from a Don Cabber) but have pop hooks a la Foo Fighters. And these days, after after Trans Am and The Fucking Champs and so forth, the idea of heavy metal guitar heroes in an indie-rock context isn't so novel. It's just good music. Damon and company kick ass on this record, from the three-minute track one (with the excellent title "I Wear Glasses in the Most Brutal Sport Ever Invented") to the disc's hidden bonus track finale. Very recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Coffin Jitters"
MPEG Stream: "Song On A Record You Can't Get"

SPECIAL PILLOW Inside The Special Pillow (Zofko) cd 8.98
Oooh, inside this Special Pillow you'll find vocals and violins melting sweetly like paisley ice cream cones. Delightful! For close to a decade, Special Pillow have woven their swooning retro psych pop (and yet this is only their second album!). Let it be known however, they're by no means unwilling to amp it up, adding (just a little) garage crunch to their guitars and (just a little) snarl to their singing, and they'll do so at the drop of a hat. Such is the case with the third and fourth songs ("You Can Do It" and "Nothing Important"). If you dig the pretty, wide-eyed and mildly trippy side of '60s style pop psychedelia, cozy up to Special Pillow.
MPEG Stream: "You Can Do It (Just Don't Do It Wrong)"
MPEG Stream: "Nothing Important"

SPECK MOUNTAIN Summer Above (Burnt Brown Sounds) cd 12.98
This is the fine debut album from this Chicago based trio. Some may find the slightly druggy drone'n'twang of Summer Above reminiscent of the velvety languidness of Mazzy Star or Cat Power, but with the distinction that lead singer Marie-Claire Balabanian's drowsily emotive voice flits and floats in a higher register than Hope Sandoval or Chan Marshall. Makes it less of a downer, and more of a sweet, 'drift off on a lazy day' kind of listen.
MPEG Stream: "Summer Above"
MPEG Stream: "Chlorine Fields"

SPECTOR, PHIL Wall Of Sound: The Very Best Of Phil Spector (Phil Spector Records / Legacy) cd 13.98
It goes without saying that Phil Spector really stands (or stood) at the pinnacle of pop music and what it means to be a producer. His 'wall of sound' has influenced generations of amazing bands from the Beach Boys to Jesus & Mary Chain to Spiritualized to the Vivian Girls and beyond. It was actually hard to get so many of his great recordings on cd, unless you snagged the box set that came out years ago, so we're so psyched for this new release of some of his most memorable moments. Working with groups like The Crystals, The Ronettes, Darlene Love, Ike & Tina, and more, this collection shows off Spector's uncanny ability to create pop nuggets that have proven to be timeless and so endlessly addictive. While many of us who like to hang out in the fringes and more obscure realms of the music world, Phil Spector is a reminder of how amazing more mainstream pop music can be when in the hands of a musical genius.
While much of his personal life is depressing and distressing, he seems to be a part of a long tradition of deeply troubled music producers who were able to use music to channel the beauty inside of them that they had such a hard time doing in all other aspects of their life. With so many bands of the moment like Dum Dum Girls, The Raveonettes, Shannon & The Clams, and The Sandwitches taking so much from Spector's sound, it's perfect timing for these songs to be made available again.
MPEG Stream: THE CRYSTALS "Then He Kissed Me"
MPEG Stream: IKE & TINA TURNER "River Deep, Mountain High"
MPEG Stream: THE RONETTES "Walkiing In The Rain"
MPEG Stream: DARLENE LOVE "A Fine, Fine Boy"

SPECTRAL INCURSION Anthology (Stormspell) 2cd 13.98
Talk about simultaneously awesome and obscure. Delving deep into '80s metal buried treasure, Stormspell's Days Of Yore division has come up with this double cd, rollercoaster ride of a reissue, that anyone into technical thrashing prog metal ought to utterly enjoy. It's from a Massachusetts band, Spectral Incursion, who never even released an album, just a bunch of demos and one ep. Way underground, mathy metallic music-making mania on display here, jawdropping and headbanging.
Unrestrained, raw and ripping stuff from young guys more concerned with coming up with cool new parts for their twisting, turning songs than in being popular. We're lovin' it. The jagged, splintered riffs and tricky time signatures multiply throughout these heavy, hectic compositions, with leads spiraling up alongside vocals that scream, soar, and roar. Each over the top track seems designed by/for the ADD afflicted, shooting off in a new direction every few seconds, yet not neglecting melody and a rock n' roll vibe. Intricate, eccentric, exhilarating - and we really like how the DIY-ness of this mitigates against any potential pretentiousness a la big time prog metal like Dream Theater. This really is some kids tossing their faves like Rush, Priest, Sabbath, Maiden, Slayer, and Fates Warning into a sharp-bladed blender on high. If you're a fan of such bands as Confessor, Atheist, Watchtower, Coroner, or Hellwitch, you should definitely check this out!
Disc one consists of demo tapes from 1988 and 1991, their four song ep from '88, and four tracks recorded in 2010 by the reunited band, doing old songs by pre-Spectral Incursion incarnation Graven Image, whose demos circa 1986-'87 occupy disc two, which also contains some video clips for your computer.
Super cool, constantly surprising, what this lacks in production polish they make up for in precision - and sheer insanity. As always, great to see a forgotten band this good (and gonzo) get their due. Complete with thick, slick cd booklet full of liner notes, lyrics, etc.
MPEG Stream: "The Other Side"
MPEG Stream: "Constant Velocity"
MPEG Stream: "Surgery"

SPECTRALS Bad Penny (Slumberland) cd 12.98
Slumberland looks to the UK once again to snag another awesome indie pop peddler. Spectrals excel in laid back, lazy day bittersweet pop. With a dazed and washed out guitar sound, and Louis Jones' swaying melodic vocals that sound so at ease while but also so assured. That voice is in an awesome place somewhere between Jens Leckman and Julian Casablanca, and the woozy instrumentation underneath serves as the perfect breezy driving force that propels the songs along at such a perfect pace. It makes sense that Spectrals were taken on the road by Girls, as this is pop that's as smart as it is passionate.
MPEG Stream: "Get A Grip"
MPEG Stream: "Luck Is There To Be Pushed"
MPEG Stream: "Many Happy Returns"

SPECTRALS Bad Penny (Slumberland) lp 14.98
Slumberland looks to the UK once again to snag another awesome indie pop peddler. Spectrals excel in laid back, lazy day bittersweet pop. With a dazed and washed out guitar sound, and Louis Jones' swaying melodic vocals that sound so at ease while but also so assured. That voice is in an awesome place somewhere between Jens Leckman and Julian Casablanca, and the woozy instrumentation underneath serves as the perfect breezy driving force that propels the songs along at such a perfect pace. It makes sense that Spectrals were taken on the road by Girls, as this is pop that's as smart as it is passionate.
MPEG Stream: "Get A Grip"
MPEG Stream: "Luck Is There To Be Pushed"
MPEG Stream: "Many Happy Returns"

SPECTRE FOLK Blackest Medicine Vol. 2 (Woodsist) 12" 14.98

SPECTRE FOLK Requiem For Ming Aralia (Three Lobed Recordings) cd 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The sonic solar system surrounding Sunroof!, Double Leopards, Hototogisu and those who sail with them has been expanding like some free rock supernova lately. Not just multiple releases from the core members but new groups, new configurations of old groups and multiple releases by both. Hard to figure out how Bassett (Double Leopards, Hototogisu, GHQ, etc...), Bower (Sunroof!, Hototogisu, etc.) and friends manage. And manage with such a consistent level of quality. Now we have this, what seems to be the first proper full length from Spectre Folk, aka Pete Nolan of the Magik Markers, GHQ, Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice and Shackamaxon among others. As Spectre Folk, Nolan divides his energies between a drifty glimmering drone not unlike his sweetly noisy brethren (and sistren) in Hototogisu and Sunroof! with muted guitars that sway and swell, muted melodies that drift and swoon like barely visible ghosts and woodwinds that whir and drone dreamily, and a more 'traditional' folk, fingerpicked steel string guitar, sweet crooning vocals,a lilting otherworldly melancholia, wrapped in layer after layer of tape hiss, and instrument buzz and warm windlike whir. It's almost like listening to some sixties folk 7" on a broken old turntable that barely plays, lovely and so mysterious sounding. Features Spencer Yeh from Burning Star Core on one track and Marcia Bassett, Nolan's bandmate in GHQ, drew the cover. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "Tendrils Floating Fastly"
MPEG Stream: "Indianana"

SPECTRUM Forever Alien (Space Age) cd 15.98

SPECTRUM Geracao Bendita (Shadoks Music) cd 15.98
Spectrum always makes me realize that if music stopped being made today, we would never fail to keep on finding gems and hidden treasures from the past. There's just so much gorgeous music that has already been made that you could only listen to stuff from the past and still always be listening to greatness. I mean, that's what I'm feeling -- my top ten list from last year has four records in it made in '74 or earlier, and this Spectrum record is from 1971. (This band is also not related to the Sonic Boom / Spacemen 3 project of the same name just so you know.)
Second of all I have to say that for the entirety of 2003 so far I (Windy) have listened to this record more than any other. It rewards repeated listening. Next I have to say that this Spectrum album comes the closest, yes, even among Gal Costa, Caetano Velosos, Gilbert Gil, to conjuring up the sweet 'n gutsy psychedelic pop that Os Mutantes did so well. Yes, the soundtrack to Geracao Bendita is that good. Spectrum's got melodies as bittersweet, compulsively hummable and pure 'n simple as the Beatles (whose catalog the boys in Spectrum reputedly could replicate perfectly), jangly 12-string as flowery and metallic as the Byrds, singing dressed with long drawn out vowels and harmonies worthy of the Mamas and the Papas, acid guitar riffing strongly reminiscent of their faves Steppenwolf. The stellar arrangements just take it over the top, just like with Os Mutantes, where the emphasis is less on verse chorus verse and more on sections. You never know where it's going but with the first notes of the record, which sound so good, you just sorta trust 'em. All this from a band whose average age was 21, from the city of Nova Friburgo in the state of Rio, Brazil. A band who never performed this soundtrack live even! The film, a celebration of peace & love taking place in a hippie wonderland was banned upon its release in 1970 and the soundtrack died a similar death.
MPEG Stream: "Concerto do Pantano"
MPEG Stream: "Mother Nature"
MPEG Stream: "Quiabo's"

SPECTRUM Soul Kiss (Vinilissimo) lp 27.00

SPECTRUM War Sucks (Mind Expansion) cd ep 11.98
War Sucks is a four song ep from Sonic Boom's Spectrum, reliving more of the heyday of the hallowed Spacemen 3 project many moons ago, whose occasionally awesome hypno-space-rock psychedelia was equal parts druggy and punky. The title track is a cover of a Red Krayola tune, penned back in the day about Vietnam, although the sentiment rings as true today. The lyrical content of the song is a bit of an anomaly for Sonic Boom, who had previously pretty much sung of drugs if he weren't rehashing some old blues number; but this doesn't detract from the fuzzed-out buzz that harkens to that occasionally awesome period of Spacemen 3 (e.g. Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To and Playing With Fire) in which the Stooges and 13th Floor Elevators were the godheads of the Spacemen 3 pantheon. And rightly so. Spectrum marches on with a Neu! inspired motorik tune in "Razzle Dazzle Mind" before offering another cover, Laurie Anderson's "Walking & Falling." The final track "Over and Over" is one of those Spectrum / Spacemen 3 tracks that could go on for 25 minutes, and it probably should given the brevity of this ep. Even so, this is pretty darn good, in fact.
MPEG Stream: "War Sucks"
MPEG Stream: "Razzle-Dazzle Mind"

SPEED, GLUE & SHINKI Eve (Phoenix) cd 17.98
The re-reissue-ance of a lot of crucial '70s Japanese psych rock documents continues apace, with this seminal stoner rock release now on cd (and lp) again via the Phoenix label. Originally released in the musically bountiful year of 1971, Eve was the debut from a psychedelic power trio that made no secret of their predilection for recreational pharmaceuticals, and preferences therefor. "Glue" was bassist Masayoshi Kabe's nickname, "Speed" that of singing drummer Joey Smith. Guitarist Shinki Chen (formerly of Food Brain, as was Kabe) lacks a nickname, so we dunno his drug of choice, but it's obvious he's really into Jimi Hendrix...
Obligatory citation of Julian Cope's Japrocksampler ranking: tied (with Flower Travellin' Band's Satori) for number ONE out of fifty!!! So, yeah, this is considered by some (including us) to be an essential - though we wouldn't personally rate on par with Satori, or for that matter ahead of Speed Glue & Shinki's own self-titled sophomore album, or some others on Cope's list, but it would be up there, nonetheless. 'Specially perfect when you're in the mood for some druggily spaced out, heavy cowbell knockin' acid blooze rawk splurge, laced with loping riffs and lackadaisical vocals, with titles that (of course) couldn't be any more overtly oriented towards the subject of gettin' high, such as "Mr. Walking Drugstore Man" and "Stoned Out Of My Mind"! But you, the listener, needn't be stoned, this music is head noddingly hypnotic all by itself, just turn it up and let yourself veg out to it, all the way through to the relaxing coda of the album's final
track, "Someday We'll All Fall Down", a quietly lovely, folky acoustic number with a doubtlessly prophetic title. Along the way, enjoy garagey rave-ups like "Ode To The Bad People" and lumbering blues blasters like "Big Headed Woman".
The seven tracks here are primal "proto-metal" (VERY proto) for fans of Blue Cheer, Blues Addicts, Moses, Modulo 1000, Human Instinct, Juan De La Cruz (the Filipino band with whom SG&S's drummer Joey Smith later played), Flied Egg (also reissued and reviewed this list), and others of that wasted, rock n' roll ilk from around the world.
Nicely packaged in a mini-LP style gatefold sleeve for the compact disc. Gatefold sleeve for the vinyl version too.
MPEG Stream: "Mr. Walking Drugstore Man"
MPEG Stream: "Stoned Out Of My Mind"
MPEG Stream: "Ode To The Bad People"

SPEED, GLUE & SHINKI Eve (Phoenix) lp 24.00
The re-reissue-ance of a lot of crucial '70s Japanese psych rock documents continues apace, with this seminal stoner rock release now on cd (and lp) again via the Phoenix label. Originally released in the musically bountiful year of 1971, Eve was the debut from a psychedelic power trio that made no secret of their predilection for recreational pharmaceuticals, and preferences therefor. "Glue" was bassist Masayoshi Kabe's nickname, "Speed" that of singing drummer Joey Smith. Guitarist Shinki Chen (formerly of Food Brain, as was Kabe) lacks a nickname, so we dunno his drug of choice, but it's obvious he's really into Jimi Hendrix...
Obligatory citation of Julian Cope's Japrocksampler ranking: tied (with Flower Travellin' Band's Satori) for number ONE out of fifty!!! So, yeah, this is considered by some (including us) to be an essential - though we wouldn't personally rate on par with Satori, or for that matter ahead of Speed Glue & Shinki's own self-titled sophomore album, or some others on Cope's list, but it would be up there, nonetheless. 'Specially perfect when you're in the mood for some druggily spaced out, heavy cowbell knockin' acid blooze rawk splurge, laced with loping riffs and lackadaisical vocals, with titles that (of course) couldn't be any more overtly oriented towards the subject of gettin' high, such as "Mr. Walking Drugstore Man" and "Stoned Out Of My Mind"! But you, the listener, needn't be stoned, this music is head noddingly hypnotic all by itself, just turn it up and let yourself veg out to it, all the way through to the relaxing coda of the album's final
track, "Someday We'll All Fall Down", a quietly lovely, folky acoustic number with a doubtlessly prophetic title. Along the way, enjoy garagey rave-ups like "Ode To The Bad People" and lumbering blues blasters like "Big Headed Woman".
The seven tracks here are primal "proto-metal" (VERY proto) for fans of Blue Cheer, Blues Addicts, Moses, Modulo 1000, Human Instinct, Juan De La Cruz (the Filipino band with whom SG&S's drummer Joey Smith later played), Flied Egg (also reissued and reviewed this list), and others of that wasted, rock n' roll ilk from around the world.
Nicely packaged in a mini-LP style gatefold sleeve for the compact disc. Gatefold sleeve for the vinyl version too.
MPEG Stream: "Mr. Walking Drugstore Man"
MPEG Stream: "Stoned Out Of My Mind"
MPEG Stream: "Ode To The Bad People"

SPEED, GLUE & SHINKI s/t (Made In Japan Records) cd 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Sniffin & Snortin (parts 1 and 2!), Run & Hide, Bad Woman, Don't Say No, Wanna Take You Home...sound good? Those are some of the song titles on this classic women-and-drugs obsessed dumbo-rock Japanese psych album. It stars guitar whiz and massive stoner Shinki Chen (also of Foodbrain and oodles of other obscure Japanese psych outfits), bassist Masayoshi Kabe (from Food Brain too), and singing drummer Joey 'Pepe' Smith -- a Vietnam vet whom you might know from the Filipino band Juan De La Cruz, whose album "Shake Your Brains" is one of the few that tops this for sheer truly stoned rock retardation (a good thing). Too bad we can't get those in anymore. But you'll hear at least one of their tunes on this, the second SG&S album, originally released as a double LP in 1972, which we happen to like even better than their 1971 LP "Eve" though Mr. Julian Cope made that one a "record of the month" on his website Head Heritage. Anyway we have this one, not that one.
Speed, Glue & Shinki, as you might imagine from their name, were a goddamn weird, messed up, completely wacked heavy psych/blues/prog band. So messed up that this time out, guest musicans wrote (and performed?) most of it! But it doesn't matter. And even when Joey plugs in a Moog synth to do a whole LP side devoted to the Sun, Planets, Life, Moon, and Angels, this never ever remotely gets pretentious and proggy (not that we don't like proggy). It just can't. Speed Glue & Shinki are primal, so primal, too primal. At least one track hints at the Stooges, some others Zeppelin, while the rest approximates a brain-damaged James Gang. Record collector types might recall the fancy, expensive Shadoks LP reissue that was available a couple years ago for about two seconds. We were enthralled with the lovely tiger cover art and the ridiculous rock and have been hoping ever since to bring in a cd version, and at last we tracked down a few copies that we had to order from Sweden, so act fast for your Speed, Glue & Shinki fix if you think you want it.
MPEG Stream: "Red Doll"
MPEG Stream: "Song For An Angel"
MPEG Stream: "Search For Love"

SPEER, D. CHARLES & THE HELIX After Hours (Sound@One) cd 13.98

SPELLS The Age of Backwards (K) cd ep 7.98
Check this out! Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and Mary Timony of Helium put their clever heads together to whirl up their collaborative effort known as Spells. Sounds just as you'd expect, Carrie's smart pop prettiness and Mary's much more wizardly fantasy pop leanings. Includes a Who cover.

SPENCE, ALEXANDER "SKIP" Oar (Sundazed) cd 16.98

SPENCEY DUDE & THE DOODLES s/t (Robs House) 7" 4.98
More way fun & catchy garage pop from right here in San Francisco. Spencey Dude & The Doodles share a similar scrappy & carefree demeanor as folks like Nodzz, Hunx & His Punx, Younger Lovers, Nobunny, etc. Fun fun fun...

SPERRMULL s/t (Revisited / Brain) cd 21.00

SPIDER The Way To Bitter Lake (Storyboard) cd 14.98
This long time AQ favorite, formerly a cd-r, now finally available as a proper cd, with new improved artwork, but the same gorgeous gossamer beauty inside:
After listening to this disc, all we can say is Marissa Nadler and Joanna Newsom better watch their backs. If there is any justice in the world, the throngs of bearded and bead encrusted modern free folk freaks and forest maidens that make up the new weird underground will bow down before Jane Herships, the woman who is Spider. A softly strummed dreamy acoustic world of drifting shimmering loveliness. If Devendra Banhart is homecoming king at this year's forestfolk ball, well then Spider would absolutely have to be everyone's choice for queen. The Way To Bitter Lake is a blissful blend of Iron & Wine, Vashti Bunyan, Will Oldham, Cat Power, Edith Frost. Hushed vocals over lilting old timey folk, gorgeous and timeless melodies, spare arrangements, but so deftly arranged as to be more powerful than almost any of her contemporaries. There is definitely a serious Iron & Wine vibe going on, Herships sounds like Sam Beam's long lost twin sister. Even her turns of phrase and choice of melodies. The mind boggles at the possibility of those two making a record together. If either of them are reading this, for god's sake let's make it happen!!
Regardless, this is an absolute gem. Pastoral, and haunting, soft and shimmery, suffused with warm summer sunlight, a rambling record if there ever was one. Cool afternoon, bare feet, tall grass, clouds drifting lazily by, soft breezes, the smell of earth and leaves, wandering through a fuzzy folk dream. Absolutely gorgeous.
MPEG Stream: "The Clearing"
MPEG Stream: "Don't Be Afraid, I've Just Come To Say Goodbye, "The Ballad Of Clementine Jones""
MPEG Stream: "I Don't Know If She Had Any Teeth Because She Never Smiled"

SPIDER TRIO Live @ Rendezvous / Jewelbox Theatre (self-released) cd-r 9.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We've only got a couple of these; so we won't take too long in expounding upon the virtues of the Seattle heavy free-jazz ensemble The Spider Trio. Two of the members of the trio (Jeffrey Taylor and Dave Abramson) are current members of the ever entertaining / ever perplexing / ever compelling Climax Goldwn Twins, with the final member being saxophonist / painter Wally Shoup. Taylor quips that he may be the sole practitioner of a thing called "avant-garde free hillbilly guitar playing;" and yeah, his pseudo-Appalachian boogie deftly counterpoints Shoup's bleat and skronk while Abramson propels the ensemble with oblique fills and angular explosions of dynamic rhythm. Limited to 50 copies, each graced with a hand painted water color by Mr. Shoup.
MPEG Stream: "Track 2"
MPEG Stream: "Track 4"

SPIDERS High Society (Kemado) 7" 5.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Another kick ass single from these Swedish hard rockers, this time on Kemado. Featuring members of both Witchcraft and Graveyard, Spiders kick up a serious sonic shitstorm, a super hooky heavy mix of classic rock, Southern rock and hard rock, the sound falling somewhere between the Hellacopters, Skynrd and Graveyard, but it's the vocals that really make Spiders stand out, even amongst the recent crop of female fronted hard rocking combos like Loon, Royal Thunder, Jex Thoth and all the rest.
The riffs are big, the guitars are heavy, grooves galore, hooks too, the A side is a total Southern rock throwback, but cranked up for modern more hard rocking tastes, there's even a bad ass double time psychedelic wah guitar freakout near the end. The B side is a bit more classic rock, with super dynamic stop/start riffage, and the vocals, already powerful, get super intense, pushed to the limit, all rough and raspy and threatening to crack at times. Just like the other 7" on Valley King (which we still have if you still need one), we can't stop listening to these jams over and over. And now more than ever, we're dying for a full length.
LIMITED TO 300 COPIES, each one hand numbered.

SPIDERS Nothing Like You / Long Gone (Valley King) 7" 8.98
From the same label that brought us the recent Carlton Melton Handling Snakes 7", comes this, one of two new 7"s from Spiders (the other is on Kemado), a new group featuring members of Graveyard and Witchcraft, and whose sound is a witchy hybrid of the two, but taking that sound in a distinctly garagey, more classic rock direction.
Fans of the recent crop of female fronted heavy combos, Loon, Royal Thunder, Jex Thoth, The Devil's Blood, Christian Mistress, Blood Ceremony and the like, should definitely check out Spiders. Definitely less metal than most of those, but no less heavy, Spiders whip up some seriously old school witchy hard rock, lots of extra percussion on the A side, along with crunchy guitars, and some awesome kick ass vocals, the vibe is HUGELY seventies, a little classic rock, a little Southern rock, the song shifts gears about halfway through, trading the slither and swagger for some double time rocking replete with lots of dynamic breakdowns and some seriously kick ass guitar leads.
The flipside is even less metallic, but cranks up the seventies Southern Rock vibe big time, a garagey groove, the riffs dangerously Skynryd (not a bad thing), a distinctly Jefferson Airplane feel too, but the song super rocking, super heavy, and those vocals, and the main hook just sealing the deal.
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES!! Each cover beautifully silkscreened, hand numbered, and signed by the cover artist, includes a sticker as well.

SPINANES Arches and Aisles (Sub Pop) cd 14.98
Now that Scott has left, Rebecca seeks out assistance from others including John McEntire of Tortoise. So it's not the stripped down sound that won her kudos with Manos here, but her grasp of incorporating a wider range of instruments that makes this album more musically successful than Strand.

SPINANES Strand (Sub Pop) cd 14.98

SPINANES Strand (Sub Pop) lp 10.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

SPINY ANTEATERS Current (Kranky) cd 13.98

SPIRAL JOY BAND Little Sparrow (VHF) cd 13.98
Very few bands benefit from a list of their instrumentation, but a group like the Spiral Joy Band, that list has much to say about the sounds to be found within: fiddles, gongs, bowls, harmonium, srutis, spiral cymbal, crash cymbal, crank whistle, flute, bells, banjosticks. Even more telling are these words from the liner notes: "no overdubs, no amplification, no effect".
Spiral Joy Band are drone explorers, purists who spend their time rubbing and bowing and striking various objects to conjure up elements they can weave into their hauntingly mysterious organic drone music. While we're typically partial to the low end of the sonic spectrum, upper register tones have a magic all their own, and create an entirely different world of sound.
Henry Flynt is definitely a good reference point for the Spiral Joy Band, notice that fiddles (plural!) were the first instrument listed, and the root of these sounds is definitely slow bowed fiddles, the sound is keening and moaning. and when all the fiddles get going together, it's like an acoustic version of Sunroof!, total glorious high end ur-drone nirvana. There's an element of twang to the sound, the sawed strings, it's unavoidable, the cymbals add another layer of shimmer, at it's most transcendent, it's like staring at the sun, glimmering, glistening, sparkling effulgence, the various overtones taking on a life of their own, at its most subtle, it's like some late afternoon country hoedown, but all slowed down, and all high end. So nice. This one is definitely not for drone dabblers, this one is for the true drone elite, looking to escape the sonic confines of this terrestrial world, to find musical salvation in the astral plane.
MPEG Stream: "Flowers In The Dooryard"
MPEG Stream: "Little Sparrow"

SPIRAL JOY BAND Pleasure Is The Headlight (Uzu Audio) 2lp 29.00

SPIRAL STAIRS The Real Feel (Matador) cd 13.98

SPIRAL STAIRS The Real Feel (Matador) lp 16.98

SPIRES OF OXFORD cd 13.98
Beautiful, trancey, solo guitar improvisation from the Azusa Plane guy.

SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE s/t (Graveface) cd 9.98
Finally available on cd! The debut recording from this Chicago trio of damaged hippie primitivists who unleash a miasmic flow of creepy, primal free-folk ragas woven from guitars, cellos, autoharp, melodica, harmonium, spike fiddle(!), mbira, piano, violin, voice and percussion. Childlike and playful, innocent and haunting, disturbing and dreamy, eliciting acid fried flashbacks to such pagan classics as Comus, Current 93, the Wicker Man and of course NNCK and the Sunburned Hand!
MPEG Stream: "I Am Sewn"
MPEG Stream: "Birds Of Paradise"

SPIRES THAT IN THE SUNSET RISE s/t (Galactic Zoo / Eclipse) lp 14.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
This is the debut recording from this Chicago trio of damaged hippie primitivists who unleash a miasmic flow of creepy, primal free-folk ragas woven from guitars, cellos, autoharp, melodica, harmonium, spike fiddle(!), mbira, piano, violin, voice and percussion. Childlike and playful, innocent and haunting, disturbing and dreamy, eliciting acid fried flashbacks to such pagan classics as Comus, Current 93, the Wicker Man and of course NNCK and the Sunburned Hand!

SPIRIT Model Shop (Sundazed) cd 14.98

SPIRITS OF THE DEAD The Great God Pan (The End) cd 12.98
With a name like Spirits Of The Dead and an album title like The Great God Pan, you'd think this would be something super dark and occultic, probably metal, but this new Swedish outfit has more of a gentle, pastoral vibe to 'em than you might expect. Pagan prog rock, really, more than metal, even though they're on metal label The End in the States. Everybody remember wonderfully melodic, McCartney-esque AQ faves Elope, who also hail from Sweden? Well these guys sound kinda like Elope if they took their retro-'70s trip to an extreme and went totally prog! (Well, ok, not too totally prog, since none of the song lengths here get into the double digits...)
It's a dramatic (but at the same time laid back) mix of dreaminess and distortion, with sweet singing that reminds us of Burke Shelley from Budgie's mellower moments. Guitarwise, there's lots of blissed out psychedelic soloing full of light and hope, mixed appropriately with fuzzy riffs on the "retro-proto-metal" side of things, a la fellow Swedes Witchcraft, Graveyard, and especially Dead Man... Title track "The Great God Pan" is appropriately folky, with flute, and achingly beautiful singing as heard all throughout.
Oh, and of course there's the other Swedish retro psych prog sensations we haven't mentioned yet, Dungen. Yep, Dungen fans who think they might like something just a bit more wicked and Wicker Man-ish should check this out. Likewise if you weren't thrilled about Opeth's new all-prog, no-metal one, Heritage, which we haven't reviewed yet and might not... this is what that album should have sounded like!
MPEG Stream: "Mighty Mountain"
MPEG Stream: "The Great God Pan"
MPEG Stream: "Goldberry"

SPIRITUALIZED Amazing Grace (BMG) cd 17.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Jason Pierce is back, taking the gospelized space-pop of his band Spiritualized into the most rawked-out Stooges territory he's traipsed since his days in the legendary Spacemen 3. Seriously, even the vocals on here sound a bit (too much?) like Iggy! It's Brit pop gone bad -- Windy quipped that this sounds like an Unhappy Mondays. So, if you're looking for the blissful sounds found on Spiritualized's classic Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space you'll have to look harder. But if you can dig some punky, psychedelic rock bombast then you'll dig this, and you'll also find some nicely slow, sparse, sad songs on here too. Indeed, while your first impression is gonna be Raw Power, the distorted guitars give way to the kind of raw (heavenly) power you can only evoke with the help of choirs and horns and stuff. Pretty nice overall.
[Btw, Windy has a question: has Pierce ever spoken publicly about his Christian beliefs? There's a lot of flirting w/it on this album (name of band, duh... title, duh) -- but one wonders how much of it is admiration for gospel style vs genuine devoutness. Just wondering.]
MPEG Stream: "This Little Life Of Mine"
MPEG Stream: "The Ballad Of Richie Lee"

SPIRITUALIZED Come Together (Dedicated/Arista) cdsingle 4.98
2 versions each of two songs ("Come Together" and "Broken Heart") -- the Two Lone Swordsmen remix of "Come Together" is SO GOOD that it alone is worth the price of this disc.

SPIRITUALIZED Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space (Dedicated/Arista) cd 11.98
Ladies and Gentlemen is "A psychedelic gospel album full of confessional songs about heartbreak and drug abuse, a flat out masterpiece." True dat. It is also the album where mainman Jason Pierce was able to bypass the whole "ex-Spacemen 3" tag (though, to be fair, that will probably stick with him for all of eternity, never mind the fact that the dude does go by the name J. Spaceman...) as Spiritualized had definitely come into their own at this point. So, by now many of you are familiar with this album's back story, in which Pierce's ladyfriend/keyboardist Kate Radley up and ran off with Richard Ashcroft of the Verve. Of course, she still found time to play on Ladies and Gentlemen, and Pierce's heartbreak is in full effect here. You will be hard pressed to find beauty and misery done better together than on this record. Instead of whining and whinging, Pierce comes off as legitimately despondent, channeling his deepest emotions to create a vast album that is stoic and ultimately quite triumphant, not to mention pretty rocking and aggressive at points. Pierce's voice sounds like that of a man questioning existence - sometimes sweet and desperate, others times pissed and snotty - as he navigates through a chemically induced state of confusion and sadness. The sophisticated string and horn arrangements are really something else, as are the addition of a full on gospel choir and the keyboard talents of none other than Dr. John. These elements are perfectly integrated into the dreamy, druggy haze Spiritualized has always shrouded themselves in, and it comes as no surprise that this is the big one for most of the band's fans.
The mood is established right away with the gentle and depressing title track/intro type thing, and the band then launches into the rocker "Come Together", complete with soulful female backup vocals and a sort of fuck all attitude. "I Think I'm In Love" rides on an interesting atmospheric groove with bluesy harmonica thrown into the mix and some cool wah wah guitar accents. "Electricity" is another supercharged rocker with some cool dirty slide guitar work and the generally perfect sound of a band with a budget to match their ambitions. "Cool Waves" is a warm, drug inspired gospel track that works great as the penultimate song before ending on the 17 minute closer "Cop Shoot Cop" with it's lazy but tense R&B groove and a middle part that sounds like some sort of sonic hurricane.
MPEG Stream: "Come Together"
MPEG Stream: "I Think I'm In Love"
MPEG Stream: "No God Only Religion"
MPEG Stream: "Cool Waves"