A Hard Fall

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - A Hard Road

As good as electric blues can get when done by a white guy, an English white guy no less. Don't get me wrong, whites can certainly make music but the Blues? No, beyond this album I'd probably say "I'll pass" to any Blues that isn't coming straight out of the heart of old Black man. Just the way it is for me, can't be changed. And before someone comments "What about SRV?" don't bother - I couldn't care less about him. Anyway, for some strong Blues concerned only with the call of the road, dangerous little girls (and aren't they all?), memories of lost love and general Blues fodder - this is the record to hear. It doesn't know how to disappoint so don't worry about that.



The Fall - The Collection

I found this somewhere online, but I couldn't tell you where ... the nature of drive-by downloading, I guess? It seems that this is merely a one-off from a label looking to rake-in a bit of that Fall money. The songs are not all 'unreleased' (especially when you consider the expanded editions we've been seeing lately), in fact, a good deal of the appear on albums ranging from Dragnet to Perverted By Language - so, if you're not already a Fall fan then I suggest you have a go at this because this is one of those rare instances where the 'Greatest Hits' surpasses adequate and lands somewhere closer to a tape a Fall fan would make to convert the nons. Point is -if you need to hear more Fall this rivals listening to a straight album BUT if you're simply interested in hearing The Fall cover The Beatles "A Day in the Life" then either download this or search a P2P until you unearth it. Warning the copy of "A Day in the Life" has a glitch - it skips 1 sec about 4-5 secs in - a fair warning but still an amazing experience to listen to MES admit he appreciates The Beatles via homage.

Note: Not the actual cover art!

Just one

Endless Boogie - Vol 1 and 2

The dirtiest jams you've heard are here. Jams that can go for miles. Jams that will release your inner stoner, or satisfy your outer stoner -either way, be sure to turn off any appliances and sit down when you put this record on -because you're gonna space hard about halfway through the first song and you don't want to burn down the house. This isn't a blues jam or a Floyd-type jam -it's a simple down right dirty R'n'R fantasy dream jam sprung from the mind of four men who hold music in the highest regard.

There a bit of info about the band out there -you'll read it over and over again and again: "they're old (the frontman is 51)" "one works for Matador" "brooklyn" "secret I wish I didn't have to share" "don't play a show unless asked" -there you have it ... that's the wealth of information on the 'net. Not much to say -who cares about the band? Music is a reason to get up in the morning and these gents are making music that will keep you going until morning so have a listen and remember to lie down so as not to hurt yourself.
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Normally, I make one post containing two bands of differing genres - you must know that by now. This week, no. I'm looking for some recommendations this week for next saturday's post. Currently, I'm almost exclusively listening to Nigerian rock/blues/psych from the 70's (5 discs worth came in this weeks mail) so I'm spoken for when it comes to listening to new things. Being that I can't go out and hunt down new tunes for you all I was hoping you all could bring me some new music? How about it?

It Feels Creepy!!

Marc Riley & The Creepers - Fancy Meeting God!

It's 1983, you're Marc Riley and you've just been tossed out of The Fall by their commander-in-chief, Mark E. Smith -on your wedding day and over the phone - what to do??? Well, if you were playing along and you were, in fact, Marc Riley for a moment there back in 83, then I don't need to tell you ... but in the event that we don't all have such phenomenal imaginatory powers I'll tell you - You'd start The Creepers and try to beat MES at his own game.
So, does that mean The Creepers sound like The Fall? Not entirely -Riley's band is generally faster/ the vocals are less mumbly/ and the lyrics are less bitter. Think of The Creepers as the alter-Fall. Strangely familiar yet different. It's highly enjoyable whether you're a Fall fan or not. And that's all I'm saying on this.


The Feelies - Time For a Witness

This straight ahead, simple indie rock spinner is so unlike the rest of the indie rock touchstone albums that on first listen you might not even understand what the commotion is all about. It might take a minute to realize that, yes, Virginia, it is possible to be an indie rock band that doesn't sound like some 2nd gen shoe-gazey My Bloody Valentine . Anyway, there's no sense in pretending you're an indie rock enthusiast until you've heard this album in it's entirety and either accepted or rejected it. Simple, graceful, acutely beautiful - I give you (quite literally) The Feelies.

P.S. - If you're in NYC area be sure to look into their free show on July 4th ... it's a double-bill with Sonic Youth.

Stereo Dub

Pavement - Pacific Trim and Stereo EP

I don't know if I have to say anything about Pavement when posting them here. I think we all know Pavement -it's my intention to share a couple of singles with you, not introduce you to them. So, with that non-introductory introduction out of the way let me tell you about these two discs.
Pacific Trim contains what could be best overall Pavement song - "Give It a Day" It's historic (though inaccurate), it's got some wonderful lyric imagery (word spread just like small pox in the Sudan / eyes are eyes and teeth are teeth, well mine are rotten underneath) and has SM tersely emoting to his girl about her father. It is by far my favorite Pavement song.
"Gangsters & Pranksters" is a look at a hypothetical match-up between some gangster and the Merry Pranksters. You know, Ken Kesey's crew. Let's just say SM doesn't think the Pranksters stand a chance, though they've got better drugs...
"Saganaw" is a slow jam to round out the single. Sounding a bit Indian, perhaps?

Then we have the Stereo single, minus Stereo, of course, as you should have it on your copy of Brighten the Corners -right?
Stereo opens with "Westie Cannot Drum" -some of SM's best lines can be heard here, as well as some pretty neat-o screaming to close the track. Take a listen to this one because it's too much to define.
Then there's "Winner of The" and "Birds in the Majic Industry" two songs you'll want to hear if you haven't yet. Why? Because their Pavement songs you haven't heard yet.


King Tubby - Dub From the Roots

I almost feel strange for posting this, as it's a dub record and it seems out of place here at the PsychoMafia - however to not post it would be uncharacteristic of me since what I do is post the best of what I'm currently listening to - and these days the dub has been playing pretty regularly. Trust me, if you like listening to music you will like King Tubby. He is the root of all dub, Tubby is the master. Tubby was a sound engineer prior to making music -so you can be sure he knew what good music was/ how to make it / and most importantly, how to make it sound good. Each Tubby track is layer upon layer of sounds building into a minimal rhythm jams that will hold a steady groove in the room until the record ends. I'm not gonna go on and one describing this to you because I know how difficult it can be to pressured into a new genre, especially one like Dub -which I'm sure some of you have some preconceived notions about. If it's any help to you - I am NOT a fan of Marley and other reggae. I only listen to Tubby because he is assuredly the best. But if you do listen and end up enjoying the record ... I suggest you move on toward someone like Burning Spear.