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Wilfully Obscure
power pop * punk * emo * indie rock * shoegazer
Sunday, December 24, 2023
No more excuses, my shadows have a secret.
Thin White Rope - Bottom Feeders ep (1987, Frontier)
02. Macy's Window
03. Waking Up
04. Valley of the Bones
05. Atomic Imagery
06. Rocket USA (live)
Saturday, December 23, 2023
Scarce/Funland 7" (1994, Delmore)
I've covered Dallas' Funland by way of their fantastic Sweetness ep, which saw the light of day a full thre decades ago. In a classic case of "I loved their early stuff," by the time the band (with a pre-Centro-Matic Will Johnson in their lineup) got around to tracking this single's contribution, "Blue Sister" they were beginning to shorn the power-pop affectations that made Sweetness such a treat. What they still had was impressive even if "...Sister" rang a bit repetitive, not to mention a little lyrically underwritten.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Marshall Crenshaw - pre-Warner Bros demos (1980-81)
Marshall's self-titled 1982 debut was one of the most seamless and gratifying records of the then still-relatively young eighties. Seemingly having emanated out of absolutely nowhere this hopelessly romantic protagonist conveyed himself via buoyant, but grounded guitar-pop tunes that didn't really skew to any of the prevailing trends of the year...or even the gaudier trends to come in the ensuing Reagan-era. But where did this man come from? The world was treated to a considerable amount of insight via the 1998 release of The 9 Volt Years...Battery Powered Home Demos and Curios. Marshall's bare bones, home studio prototypes were imbued with more charm and TLC than even the most empathetic themes and notions conveyed on his finished album versions. Little did the vast majority of us know that 9-Volt's... fifteen cuts were culled from a larger portion of his go-it-alone endeavors., and that there was much remaining on his enlightening demo reels.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
...and crack you up
- 2006
- Cincinnati by way of Brooklyn
- Fourth album prototypes w/ sum unreleased
- A dozen and a quarter selections
- regninreb. renssed.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Perfect Strangers - Protected in America (1986, N-Beat)
Monday, December 11, 2023
Six superlative singles!
The Deflowers - New Day Tonight/Ten Days (1992, Stand Like Cleopatra)
I don't think there's a note by the Deflowers that's passed my ears that I haven't taken an automatic liking to. These Seattle denizens bore a far greater resemblance to Buffalo Tom than Mudhoney, and were all the more stimulating as a result. A thoroughly winsome mix of melody and sophisticated song-writing chops. Check out their even more cranking Shiny New Pony album and other assorted releases from the link above.
This was another ace discovery this year. Nu-Este were from Philly, and by my estimation the gentlemen in this trio must be hovering around 60 y/o or thereabouts these days. All the accumulating years aside, this is really smart, edgy post-punk sporting an artful flair that thankfully doesn't do so at the expense of eschewing some poignant melody on the driving, mid-tempo "From This Side..." Vaguely reminiscent of Mission of Burma and Middle Class, Nu-Este opted to volley their tunes at a somewhat milder pitch. As coincidence would have it, our fellow blogsters at Systems of Romance did a piece on this single a couple of years ago, but the rip you're getting here is completely unique.
Sunday, December 10, 2023
Game Theory - live @ Fat Fonzies, Sacramento 10/5/84
Saturday, December 9, 2023
V/A - Here Comes That Girl - U.S. Power Pop Vol. 1 [1978-1987] & Knock Me Down - U.S. Power Pop Vol 2 [1977-1986] (2007, Sold-It)
Friday, December 8, 2023
File under Windbreakers: Bobby Sutliff - What I Wanted Wasn't What I Found: Home demos (1986)
Making his bow in the early '80s from the somewhat unlikely locale of Jackson, MS as half of the songwriting quotient of the Windbreakers, Bobby, partnered with Tim Lee, would be responsible for three memorable albums of collegiate guitar pop (Terminal (1985), Run (1986) and A Different Sort (1987), not to mention a handful of preceding EPs. The Windbreakers were something of a staple on left-of-the-dial radio outlets, and were a decent live draw, but they didn't come close to breaching the mainstream. To fans of jangle-laden indie rock coming remotely from the same environs as R.E.M. (and maybe less so the Dream Syndicate) the band was a breath of fresh air. Almost immediately subsequent to several of the aforementioned albums, Bobby pursued solo endeavors resulting in five albums between 1987 and one posthumously released earlier this year, Bob Sings and Plays.
Thursday, December 7, 2023
The Posies - live in 1987 in Bellingham (first show!) & V/A - Bring Me the Head of Brian McKenna - a Posies Tribute (199?)
Live in Bellingham 1987
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Chanukah, anyone? Eight consecutive nights of downloadable gifts are imminent.
Another year and another Chanukah is upon us. 2023 is almost in the books and ready to be sealed away, but not before the annual Festival of Lights, which in our case means no more, but no less than eight consecutive nights of gifts in the guise of extra special uploads from me...and hopefully extra special downloads for you. Comparatively speaking new content has been low this year, so this is perhaps the best and most constructive way I can compensate. Will I outdo myself from previous years? Regrettably, maybe not but i just might come close. You'll have to tune in starting this Thursday night (the 7th, yes, damn early this year) to find out. You can anticipate the reliable flurry of un/under-released vinyl, bootlegs, live offerings and demos.
You might be asking what initially motivated me to begin this tradition altogether. For one, it gives me a convenient excuse to share several mind-blowing "gifts" instead of just one big reveal on Christmas. Secondly, Chanukah represents personal relevance to me. We all know you were envious of that kid down the block who had a yarmulke festooned to their head, who was given the privilege of lighting the menorah, and of course, reveling in eight glorious nights of presents. Once again, I'm paying it forward. Previous Chanukah entries have featured Wire, Velocity Girl, Jellyfish, Husker Du and Teenage Fanclub, but name recognition is hardly a guarantee. As in past years, there will definitely be familiar faces, but also several entrants that have never garnered face-time on W/O. Bear in mind that what's crucial and/or special to my ears may not be of equal essence to yours, but kindly, try to humor me.
At the top of each Chanukah upload will be a thumbnail photo of a menorah, with the appropriate number of lit candles to denote each succeeding evening until all eight slots in the candelabra are occupied on the concluding night of December 14.
- Look for the first Chanukah posting this Thursday evening, and then for the remaining seven nights 'round supper time all next week.
- Mystery Monday will be taking a break this coming Monday (Dec. 11) so as not to disrupt or distract from the continuity of the eight consecutive nights of the holiday.
- Some offerings will be made available in FLAC (in addition to standard MP3).
Sunday, December 3, 2023
This war of words is killing me.
**Please do not reveal artist in comments!**
Hear
Six Finger Satellite/Green Magnet School – The Declaration Of Techno-Colonial Independence 2x7'' (1992, Sub Pop)
Sunday, November 26, 2023
It did me better in the long run, it did me better in the end.
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Hear
Let's pretend that we could never reach the end...
Monday, November 20, 2023
The Darling Buds - Killing For Love: Albums, Singles, Rarities and Unreleased 1987-2017 (2023, Cherry Red)
Spun up meals on crooked wheels.
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Hear
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Art Kritics - Duck and Cover (1987, Da Dü Discs)
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Who are they to say, I do thing’s my own way.
**Please do not reveal artist in comments!**
Hear