Simply Saucer - Cyborgs Revisited

2003 (original - 1989); 18 tracks

This is an incredible "posthostumous" album of psychedelic proto-punk (a sort of precursor to punk rock) released 10 years after the band split up. Simply Saucer was a rock band from Canada active in the '70s that relased one "7 in their time together. Cyborgs Revisited was a compilation of a lost recording session from 1974 and a June 28, 1975 concert performance on the roof of Jackson Square, and was re-released in 2003 with 9 bonus tracks (including the original 1978 single). These tracks really are a different brand of rock music. An early punk-sound seems to influence much of the the riffs and lyrics, and the psychedelic (sometimes bordering on surf-rock, others electronic and spacey) elements are audible as well, and very complementary to the fun, upbeat music. With these dissimilarities from the more popular rock-and-roll acts of the '70s, Simply Saucer's sound is still as accessible as anything, if not more inventive and engaging. Edgar Breau's vocals are one of the greatest aspect of Simply Saucer - never overdone, and not nearly as annoying and screechy as many rock bands of that era. I, for one, and am extremely grateful for the non-irritating vocals here. A thoroughly enjoyable trip. My personal favorite tracks are "Nazi Apocalypse" (this sounds exactly like Michael Gira!) and "I Can Change My Mind."

I'm cyanide over you.

Black Mountain - In the Future

2008; 10 tracks

In the Future combines doom, psychedelic rock, indie rock, and progressive metal to create the perfect sludgey psychedelic album we were all expecting after the debut. 10/10.

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Calabrese - The Traveling Vampire Show

 2007; 12 tracks I used to listen to this album about 4 times a day. It was addicting as hell. It's a very fun and interesting punk album that is all about horror movies and whatever. Calabrese is a horrorpunk band made up of three brothers with the last name Calabrese. I love the vocals on this album.. they're somewhere between Danzig and Elvis, I'd say.

"Melodic, hook-laden, catchy, fun, horror-themed rock with a punk attitude."
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Kingston Wall - II

1998; 10 tracks; 1:02:37

II is up there in my favorite albums of all time. Each track is heavily dynamic with their progressing eastern style music. There are many moments that sound very Pink Floyd-like but are exponentially better than the latter. I could not ever find anything wrong with this album even if I listen to it a billion times.

To realize that we are two of a kind

Akron/Family & The Angels of Light - Akron/Family & The Angels of Light Split

2005; 12 tracks

This is a split between The Angels of Light and Akron/Family - two very talented groups. I personally like Michael Gira performing the Angels of Lighttracks the most, but the entire album has a very southern feel, if that makes any sense.... There are moments where it feels straight out of Their Eyes Were Watching God or something. In this magical split are moments of soft, pensive, and acoustic gentleness - others of communal song and richness. There is something very special about this EP, and I feel like it might be one of the better releases from The Angels of Light. I didn't know much about Akron/Family previous to hearing this split, but their performance of the tracks here (written by Gira) is very strong and full of life. If you didn't know, The Angels of Light is a project started by Michael Gira after he disbanded Swans. Some say that this project shows a more feminine side of Gira that you couldn't very well see in Swans... in any case, I love The Angels of Light and this is an awesome release by them (and Akron/Family too >.<).

Here is what Michael Gira himself had to say:

"A week after an extended US Tour and a few shows in Europe Akron/Family and I went into the studio and recorded this album straightaway. Everything was recorded live, with a few overdubs - mixed and finished in nine 8-hour days. Akron/Family is my favorite "Rock Band" in the universe (or "rock-related band" - something like that!). They generate such pure JOY, coupled with a wild sense of constant invention, that it's impossible not to get sucked into their weird world of sonic chaos, then gorgeous vocal harmonies, then march-of-the-crazed-clowns with ever-escalating psychedelic mantra crescendos, then country stomps, then genuinely touching plaintive, atmospheric songs, then extended improvisations, then into some kind of Beatles meets Beefheart backwoods midnight incantation ("Raising The Sparks" - a song that never fails to get the audience whooping like suddenly zapped and enlightened idiots) - and on and on.

Also contained on this album are 5 songs performed by me, with Akron/Family serving as (my) Angels of Light. They have an uncanny ability to step into the world of the songs I wrote (also covered here is Bob Dylan's "I Pity The Poor Immigrant²) - without imposing their own aesthetic - and lift them up to something beyond what I could have initially imagined. I've never had a better backing band, ever. I hope you enjoy this record!"

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