Tuesday, November 25, 2008

RUHtf: Fireman - Rushes


Alright...this is a sweet ditty. Today the new Fireman album is available. (below I have a link for a FREE track from
Amazon). In case you don't know who "Fireman" is, I won't play guessing games with you- it's Paul McCartney under an alias. Fireman allows him to do "experimental"/non-McCartney-esque material. Those who are tried and true fans will "get it". Those who are "fly-by-night" fans and only in to him for the "hits" (the people who go to the bathroom or snack bar while he starts playing a new, unfamiliar song in concert) will think "What the hell is this?" Changing musical direction midcareer can be very disadvantageous to an artist. Especially the "un-errable" (former) Beatles. Does anyone remember the praise for Paul's "Liverpool Oratorio", George's "Wonderwall Music", John's Primal Scream music, Paul & Ringo's children's albums? Didn't think so.

Well...he's got the money, he's got the time, he's got the talent...he knows the old fans will be there, they'll just get up for a potty break. The hardcore fans will listen and enjoy.

Here's his first Out Of Print album, "Rushes". I saw this at Best Buy years ago and passed it up. Now it fetches bucks on Amazon. We saw him a couple years ago, and played this album as people were getting their seats before the show.

The title, I imagine, refers to something only true Beatle fanatics (the ones who stay in their seats) would probably understand....it refers to to the lyrics from "Penny Lane": "The fireman rushes in...from the pouring rain".

Track 1


Track 2


Track 3


Track 4


Track 5


Get the lead track from his new album here for free from Amazon.

Here's Daily Om's review:

Paul McCartney, former Beatle and arguably the most world’s most beloved working musician, just refuses to rest. Not only does he release formidable solo albums at a steady clip after all these years, but even finds time for surprising—and surprisingly rewarding—side projects. The Fireman began in 1993 as a collaboration between McCartney and the producer and bassist known as Youth. The pair’s first two albums focused on experimental sound collage and instrumental electronica, styles McCartney helped forge decades back with the Beatles’ "Tomorrow Never Knows." 2008’s Electric Arguments, however, arrives as an album of a different stripe: a set of 13 terrific new McCartney songs, with vocals, written and recorded with Youth in only 13 days.

Opener "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight" is an unexpectedly raging rocker, a dirty blues thump that sees McCartney growling his vocals like he’s seldom done since the Beatles’ "Helter Skelter." Youth concocts a swirling mass of bass and guitar to bolster this vicious tale of betrayal, and the song’s chorus breaks into a thick, floating chorus with "na na na" background vocals and disembodied wails. The next track, "Two Magpies," takes a more laid-back, acoustic tack, with shifting chords and a smart McCartney melody. But the duo keeps the number loose and mangy, with buzzing, in-your-face production.

What’s most surprising about Electric Arguments, in the end, is its accessibility and immediacy. While the album still features moments of sound collage, it also boasts a track list full of arresting pop songs. "Sing the Changes" is a great sweeping rocker, a stadium anthem build on an easy, beautiful melody. The track has the effortless pop appeal of so much of McCartney’s best work, but he and Youth again keep the number refreshingly unslick—a blazing comet of sound as opposed to a polished gemstone. The Fireman began as an experimental aside, but on its third album the project has become something bigger: an outlet for one of our greatest songwriters. This is McCartney let loose and cutting loose. Safe behind the relative anonymity of the Fireman moniker he’s able to produce his freshest work in years.

Monday, November 24, 2008

RUHtf: More rare Swamp Zombies


This is probably the last batch of rare Swamp Zombies tracks I have. Some were early versions of released songs, others have no names.

Enjoy!

(I found this cool review of "A Frenzy Of Music And Action!")

Now It's Gone


HB


Minute Song


Unknown Demo


Unknown Demo 2


I Built A Wall

Got my new Macbook Air!


Today I got my new Macbook Air. It's sweet, as those who have felt one before. Now i'm off to get some essential accessories for it. Invisible Touch makes this really great film protector for it. Then i've been spying the Isis Dei covers. I can't decide which one...but I probably will get the pictured Karma. These things are awesome, and i'll be carrying around my computer a lot more. These things are water repellant (important for me and my fumble fingers). It'll fit right into my bag, not requiring my large computer case.

Anyone wanting to buy a Powerbook G4??

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I'm going to be on the radio!

Yeah...it's not like i've never been on the radio before. (Go to my Brocasts page to listen to some of them). This time, however, i'm being interviewed by Lorraine Chambers for her awesome music geek show, Record Store Memories (click to hear past shows).

She spoke of upcoming guests, and if you listen in the player below at about 12:50, you'll hear her talk about me.


Monday, November 10, 2008

RuHtf Gem: Stones Around and Around track-by-track no buzz

Alright...I found the previously posted Around and Around tracked and it's a clean copy.

"Clean Rolling Stones"...there's a contradiction in terms for ya!

Enjoy!

Around and Around


Good Times, Bad Times




It's All Over Now




Empty Heart




Confessin' The Blues



Not Fade Away




Bye Bye Johnny




You Better Move On




I Wanna Be Your Man




South Michigan Avenue




If You Need Me




Poison Ivy


Sunday, November 9, 2008

RUHtf Gem: VINTAGE Rolling Stones - Around and Around


When I say "Vintage" Rolling Stones, we're talking Brian Jones-Stones. This is mostly a "lost" Stones album, containing only one Jagger/Richards original..the rest covers. It was put out mostly to cash in on the fad sound of the day when and if the Stones popularity waned. We know the answer to that question.

No Puff Daddy remix, no guest rap, no disco beat...just pure, unadulterated Stones.

My copy was a pristine looking copy that I ebayed. There's sadly that annoying buzzing on this album, too.






Side One:
Around and Around
Good Times, Bad Times
It's All Over Now
Empty Heart
Confessin' the Blues
Not Fade Away

Side Two:
Bye, Bye, Johnny
You Better Move on
I Wanna Be Your man
2120 South Michigan Avenue
If You Need me
Poison Ivy

NOTE: for a cleaner, track by tack version, go here

Friday, November 7, 2008

Yet more Swamp Zombies rarities

Alright...here's another batch of Swamp Zombies rarities/B-sides:

Fill The Void:


HB (vinyl version):


I Love You, Etc. (early version):


Only A Man:


Suicidal Overtones:


Swamp Zombie Stomp:
>

Thanks to Christian for access to his collection.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

RUHtf Gem: Tater Totz - Alien Sleestacks From Brazil


Back in the 80's, this album came out from nowhere featuring some familiar underground names: Pat Fear, Pat Ruthensmear, Jeff & Steve McDonald, with numerous guests, including Danny Bonaduce. The album was all covers, with side 2 devoted to covering Yoko Ono, Don't Worry Kyoko. Sadly, I only have this on cassette, and my cassette ran out of room recording it. My friend has it on vinyl, so i've been trying to get him to bring it to me.
Prince was even thanked on the album because Michael Quercio (who sang on "Tomorrow Never Knows") was in the Three O'Clock who were a Paisley Park band, and thus was contractually obligated to thank Prince.

This will have to do for now.

Give Peace a Chance / We Will Rock You
Let's Get together
Tomorrow Never Knows
I've Just Seen a Face
Bat Macumba

That's Danny Bonaduce singing on "I've Just Seen a Face".



Here's an interview I did with them on KUCI:

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I say it's my birthday!

Alright...yes, it's my birthday. And what a present I got!!

So...here's the conventional rock and roll birthday song....performed unconventially.

I got this from Mojo magazine, and the CD they gave out was "The White Album Recovered"...new artists doing their versions of the album.

This is "Birthday", made unrecognizable by The Ruby Suns Featuring Esau Mwamwaya:


If you want to ever send the song to someone else for their birthday, its here:
http://larrysinger.com/blog/songs/Birthday.mp3

CHANGE at last!


Finally....a new president, a new direction, a new promise.

How messed up do you think W. feels since this whole election has been run on the platform of "Change"...from both parties!

Well...to celebrate, here's a couple songs from "Future Soundtrack Of America", a rallying CD put out during the LAST election, but the fact that it is called "Future Soundtrack" is rather prophetic, huh??

Anyhow...here's OK Go with "This Will Be Our Year":



and David Byrne with "Ain't Got So Far To Go":


We've made it far..but there's still work to be done!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

RUHtf Gem: "Freakout U.S.A".....Rebellion, Man!


Alright...this is a wild one. This was put out by a K-Tel type company that takes the latest teen trend, gets together some musicians and writes some songs mimicing the trend to cash-in. This is pretty blatant with the farfisa organs, hammonds, and fuzz boxes. We'll call it "psychsploitation".

Throw in a couple covers, and you got yourself an album that stands up to the man....put out by the man!

Sorry for the buzzing...just pretend you took the bad acid.

Side 1
Freakout U.S.A. - The Aftermath (M. Curb)
Psychotic Reaction - The Hands of Time (Ellner, Chaney, Atkison, Byrne, Michalski)
Yellow Pill - Mom's Boys (Beckner, Hector, Martin, McClain, Wibier)
Poisons in My Body - International Theatre Foundation (M. Cohen)
I'm Losing It - The Glass Family (Parrett, Lamont)

Side 2
Up and Down - Mom's Boys (Beckner, Hector, Martin, McClain, Wibier)
Season of the Witch - The Mugwumps (Donovan)
Number 1 Lover - Everybody's Children (J. Capps, M. Jay)
Don't Try to Crawl Back - Jesters (Pittman, Fredrickson Jr.)
I Like the Way You Freakout - The Hands of Time (H. Hatcher)

Monday, November 3, 2008

Black Cab Sessions

Alright...this isn't terribly rare, as it is a site on the web. However, it is probably something not many people know of. It's Death Cab For Cutie's Black Cab Sessions. They take a musician, put 'em in a cab, and video them performing a song. I'm hooked with this one, and thought I would share:



that's as cool as this one, from my You Tube site:



To see more Black Cab Sessions, go here