No, it's a space suit, dummy.

I present to you, The Screaming Blue Messaiahs.

If you've ever heard of this band before, you can be my friend.

Led by the bald, in your face, friendly yet intimidating, telecaster abusing musical stylings of Bill Carter, The Screaming Blue Messiahs made just three albums in the 80's, before slipping into the abyss. Once described as 'Rockabilly from Hell, obsessed with all things American (despite being form London), and inspired by the political events of the 80's, Bill's lyrics will hit home on those days when you've just had enough.

I can't say I've ever heard someone so cleverly mock the american dream, and praise it in the same few verses.

Although the last album pales in comparison to the first two, those are two of the best I have ever heard.

And if you can make it through the first video (below) alive, I compel you to acquire (notice my sneaky language?) their albums entitled Gun Shy and Bikini Red.

And just remember folks. You can wear a suit from mars, if you wear it well.

The Drug Purse: Tacoma's Best Kept Secret

These guys have got to be my favorite psychedelic dream pop band that isn't Spacemen 3 or My Bloody Valentine. I've been fortunate enough to catch them live multiple times in Tacoma and Olympia and every time they've put on a great show. If you're a fan of stoned, hazy songs that are probably about drug trips, check these guys out.



Tracks:
1. Upside Down Girl
2. You See Her
3. The Danish
4. Lucky Dose

-click the image to download-

Worth Listening To: Daniel Johnston - Held The Hand

Alright, frankly, this shit will make your heart stop.

A song from Daniel Johnston, the tortured Bipolar/Schizophrenic songwriter who rose to cult status in his early 20's, following his personal circulation of several cassette tapes in Austin, TX.

After taking LSD at a Butthole Surfers show, he became obsessed with The Devil, and the supernatural world.

He is the subject of the fantastic Documentary 'The Devil and Daniel Johnston', which I highly recommend you check out.



To quote a youtube comment (perhaps the only sane one on the entire site), "I think there's something in my eye".

Chain and the Gang - Down With Liberty... Up With Chains! (2009)

Taken from K Records artist bio: "Everywhere liberty goes, it leaves a path of destruction. Fast food, bad architecture, militarism, rampant greed, environmental destruction, imperial conquest, class struggle; these phenomena, when combined, seem to be synonymous with "Liberty."

So just as they call it "liberty" or "freedom" when war and greed stalk the land, [Ian]Svenonius calls his band: CHAIN And The GANG …

For Svenonius , this is another step in a life spent trying to do as little as possible.

He's been seen on stage as a lecturer promoting his book "The Psychic Soviet", as a singer in the groups Make-Up, Scene Creamers, Weird War, and Nation of Ulysses, and also as interviewer of interesting people on the internet chat show Soft Focus."

just caught this band opening for the Strange Boys. I really dig it.

PENS - Hey Friend! What You Doing? (2009)

been stuck on this album the past few days. it's so bad yet I can't stop listening.

tracks:
1. Horsies
2. I Sing Just For You
3. 1-2
4. High in the Cinema
5. Networking
6. Fuckufuckinfuk
7. I Heart You
8. Crybaby
9. Freddie
10. Yeah Baby! I'll Take You to the Bagel Shop
11. Hide the Kids
12. Sally Ain't Nobody
13. Hate Your Calendar
14. Know Bout Me

The Eternal Children

"It’s hard to say when a new genre is created. Maybe it’s when it gets its own term in Wikipedia, or maybe when a mass of artists claim to be a part of it, or maybe it’s only when it has a movie covering it. Well, whatever the catalyst will be, Freak Folk is by now an official genre. Sporting dozens of artist who are part of it, basking in the limelight with a Wikipedia article and having a sweet movie covering it. Just like the genre itself, The Eternal Children, doesn’t give any straight answers, it just provides a charming childhood experience. This one is a treat to anyone cherishing the works of Devendra Banhart, CocoRosie, Antony and the likes."

tinyways.com


Check it out.

Antony & The Johnsons - EXperiments (2008?)

"I think we spend a lot of time inhibiting. We’ve learned our whole lives how to inhibit our expression. To be the most microscopically contained, socially contained expression. I think singing and all the creative expressions give form to a more expansive expression as a human being."

-Antony Hegarty

Just get it. So many amazing covers.... I can't find the release info online, so i'd imagine it's pretty rare. I don't exactly remember how I came across it, but his cover of "Perfect Day" always moves me.

"The ballads are the best ones. Having feelings is a physical process so if I’m moved by something, I’m probably having feelings. It tends to engage me physically."

-Antony Hegarty