Brian Jonestown Massacre "Their Satanic Majesties Second Request"

The dudes in this band must be crazy, because they do crazy things like have their complete records for download off of their website. Not just a streaming download either, but a "save to your hard drive and listen at your own leisure" download... what is this band thinking? Art for free?! Just sitting there for anybody (with a computer) to enjoy?! How un-american. There is a documentary out about this band and the Dandy Warhols that I'm sure you may have heard about. It's called DIG!... I haven't personally seen it yet, because I really don't have 36 bones right now to drop on the DVD. Anton Newcombe, BJM frontman and staple member, has beef with the current version of the film. If you're interested you can read his statement about it here. I'm posting a couple songs from BJM's 1996 Stones soaked second full length "Their Satanic Majesties Second Request". As you may already know this band is named after the coolest Rolling Stone to ever live, Brian Jones. You know the sitar picking in "Paint It Black"? Yeah, that was him. From what I heard (and read) said the guy could pick up any instrument and play like no tomorrow. Jones can be credited with not only founding The Rolling Stones, but introducing eastern musical instruments into western rock n' roll. Back in the day Brian Jonestown Massacre would have probrably been right up their with The Stones and other popular psychedelic acts of the 60's, but being a few generations to late they have to settle for a large cult fallowing and underground notoriety. BJM have a list of records that is longer then most bands careers... including three that were made in one year (1996; "Their Satanic Majesties Second Request", "Thank God For Mental", and "Take It From the Man"). Their dreamy pop sound is heavily influenced, but not limited to, 60's psychedelic rock... fun fun.

I'm sick with a cold and tired of writing, so kick back, throw on some puffy headphones, and chillax.

keep music evil

Side note, since I downloaded these songs from BJM's website I think you have to use Winamp or Macamp (for Mac heads) to play the songs. If for some reason your unable to listen to the songs try using those programs.

Scarlet Symphony "Vulture"

Two posts in one day... damn I'm bored. Lucky for you though I guess (all two or three of you). Here's another local San Diego band. These guys have been around for a few years now, and everyone in SD seem to be on their nuts. In 2004 they were on almost every San Diego music critics top 10 list, and they won "Best Alternative Band" at the San Diego Music Awards. That's ok though, because Scarlet Symphony is good. In my opinion they are one of the few "new" hyped on bands that deserve the attention they are getting. Word on the street is that they turned down recording contracts by both Sony and Island records. Not because they think they are hot shit, but because they would rather not sit idle while their music is shelved as record execs figure out what to do with it. Commendable. I saw the band play at Kens Club last month and, man they lived up to all the buzz surrounding them and more. Their show was so full of frenetic energy. I was getting lost listening to the amazing bass lines. While the guitar and vocals swaggered and went crazy, the rhythm section layed down a tight fierce barrage of sound. It was amazing. They blew the roof off of that little club, so don't delay. See their live show as soon as possible. You can read up on the band and order their CD "Vulture" at their website here . I don't think "Vulture" honestly captures the amount of energy Scarlet Symphony can put out, but it's still good stuff. OK, I'm through writing run on sentences... two sick songs from a sick band, enjoy.

play nice

Tom Waits "Rain Dogs"

Tom Waits will take out most any musician in a "Who's the More Grizzled" contest. I don't know how the guy gets out of bed to make music. His whisky and cigarette voice wasn't always so raspy and down trodden. A friend of mine bought one of the "Early Years Volumes" on tape and he didn't sound like a suicidal cookie monster yet. I guess years of boozing away, and singing about the down and outs can change a man. Rain Dogs is 19 blues soaked jazzy tales of heart break, sad eyed women, lost souls, and seedy night life. Music like this inspires me to grow a big scary Grizzly Adams beard (only if I could). Sorry if this bums some folks out, but Tom Waits is the shieeet. Just ask the crazy sauced old dude sitting by himself at the local bar. He'll tell you all about it.

Rain Dogs

Rocket From the Crypt "SCREAM Dracula SCREAM"

Through out high school this CD was in my player constantly. In my mind Scream Dracula Scream is RFTC's piece de risistance (that's really saying alot considering their impressive out put of great music; if your not familiar check out their discography here ). I haven't grown tired of listening to these songs. They never disappoint in bringing the rock. Even ten years after it's release Scream Dracula Scream still sounds fresh and alive with energy. Originally the record was intended to be wall to wall sound with string, woodwind, bass, and trumpet arrangements between the songs. I guess some fools at Interscope felt it wasn't too marketable an idea at the time, so the master tapes were edited, chopped up, and put into "more digestible pieces" (you can read all this in the CD's liner notes... Tell me that's not better then just having a blank metallic disk... dirt bags). I hope The Swami will be able to release it as the band intended it to be. I'd die a happy man. These swell guys have been bringing the gospel of rock out of San Diego since '88. John Reis a.k.a Speedo, a.k.a Swami has been a corner stone of underground music in the 619 while I was still eating paste and throwing sand in girls hair. His other projects (that I know of) have been/are Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, The Sultans, Pitchfork, and Back Off Cupids. All bands worth checking out. He also runs Swami records, and used to (might still) host a radio show Saturday nights starting at 9 on FM 94.9 San Diego. Get with it folks. I had a tuff time picking a couple songs from this cd to post, but here are my choices...

CRANK IT OR SPANK IT!

Spacemen 3 "Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To"

I've just recently started listening to this band, but I thought it was only fitting to have my first post include the song my blog is named after. In fact, I was listening to the song "Sound of Confusion" when I became excited about starting this thing. Music like this deserves to be shared and talked about, you know? I'm just trying to spread the gospel my friends. Anyhow, Spacemen 3 played psyched out guitar driven tunes during the mid to late 80's. The band was the brain child of Jason "J Spaceman" Pierce and Pete "Sonic Boom" Kember. The two unfortunately split ways in 1990 effectively ending Spacemen 3. J Spaceman now makes sick music fronting the band Spiritualized. Maybe you've heard of them? Sonic Boom went on to form Spectrum/E.A.R... which of whom I haven't listened to yet, but will definitely check out soon. "Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To" (a title that sums things up nicely) was originally released as a bootleg album in the early 90's. It was reissued by Space Age Recordings in 2001, and has 14 tracks including a previously unreleased version of "Transparent Radiation". For those of you who don't already own this get it if you know what's good for you. I won't bore you with an attempt to describe the two songs I've put up... except I would venture to say that they are bad ass and two of my favorites on the CD. I'm done geeking out now, so without further ado spark it up and play it loud.

download here

Oh yeah. Things are kind of ghetto around here right now. I'm using a free file storing site at the moment, and it's not as advanced as the pay sites. What you have to do to listen to the songs is click the link above then follow the links from there to download the songs (no viruses, I promise). I'll be opening a different account else where to store the music in the near future, but bare with me. If anyone who might be reading this knows of a better way I should be going about things, please let me know. I'm new to this shit.