Oblivians : Desperation

Oblivians are back with their first studio album in 16 years.  'Desperation' (In The Red) sees the return of rampant garage-rock-blues stylings they're known and so well loved for.  These 14 blistering new songs are unmistakably our favourite Memphis trio as they beckon 50's rock 'n' roll, 60's garage, soul and blues.  During their break Eric, Gregg and Jack have been continued to write music (Reigning Sound, Parting Gifts, Jack-O & the Tearjerkers, The Dutch Masters, True Sons of Thunder to name a few) and what sets 'Desperation' apart from previous albums is you can hear how working apart has brought something new to the table.  The songs sound more slick without losing the wild and rambunctious nature of their approach.  A great example is "Loving Cup" featuring hyper chugging rhythms, smokey vocals, crunchy guitars and a savage guitar solo sailing over the top of the whole thing.  From there The Oblivians continue to turn up the heat with brawlers like "Run For Cover", "Fire Detector" and one of my highlights "Oblivion".  'Desperation' finishes with "Mama Guitar" playing out scratchy strings, rock 'n' roll howls and thumping beats seeing the album blasting on all cylinders before it leaves you in the dust.  Really great new record, when it comes to trailblazing rock songs Oblivians dish 'em up in spades.

feedtime 'The Aberrant Years'

feedtime formed at the tail end of the 70s in Sydney Australia -- with the name intentionally spelt all lowercase. During the 80s the trio; Rick (guitar, vocals), Al (bass) and Tom (beats) recorded four albums at first exclusively with Aberrant Records but then landed a deal with Rough Trade and Megadisc helping them reach a wider audience. They were well received both on their home turf and overseas and just as they were poised to venture on a US tour the group disbanded making 'Suction' the final installment of the feedtime cannon.

Their sound is every part influenced by rock as it is punk and blues held together by three individuals searching for something pure and instinctive in their art, so it's easy to see why their material has stood the test of time and is still revered so highly today, bringing us to Sub Pop collection; 'The Aberrant Years'. feedtime are the dark, abrasive side of postpunk but evade being pinned down and for the uninitiated, fans of Cheater Slicks would - I think it's safe to say - enjoy a listen of their stuff. The collection as a whole culls feedtime's complete works from 1979-1989 including all four albums plus singles and rarities. There is a 4LP box set accompanied by a download of all the tracks available on the CD version as well as a booklet with in-depth liner notes.

Sub Pop have written a great band history that you can check out right here

Michael Yonkers with The Blind Shake 'Period'

Michael Yonkers has been making music under the radar for 50 years in his home town of Minneapolis. Starting out strong his first album ‘Microminiature Love’ was recorded and initially set to be released on Sire 1968, for reasons that still remain unclear the piece was shelved. Yonkers recorded seven songs reflecting the psychedelic garage sounds of the time with traces of music that made impression in his formative years like Trashmen and Link Wray. Discouraged by Sire's reaction to 'Microminiature Love' the group disbanded that same year and Yonkers retreated to his family home where he began recording in the basement. Experimenting with synths, tape loops and his now famous home-made theramin Yonkers song-writing experienced a shift playing out Pentangle inspired loner-folk songs that would become second album 'Grimwood', a complete polar opposite to his debut. In retrospect rejection from Sire benefited Yonkers as he could enjoy flexibility in writing music that perhaps working for a bigwig label may not have afforded him. As a result going through his catalogue offers one surprise after the next with Yonkers tirelessly exploring different avenues of rock, blues and folk.

A few years after this album was recorded Yonkers suffered an accident while working in a warehouse that would leave him rendered in debilitating pain for the rest of his life. In 1971 a wall of computer equipment fell on him breaking his back. While in hospital further complications arose when Yonkers had an allergic reaction to the dye that was injected into his spine for use in an xray. To this day he continues to receive treatment to help with mobility and alleviate discomfort including dance-therapy, yet reading articles on Yonkers one common factor threads through pieces written on him; he is not defeated by the accident, he would rather talk about the next song he's going to write.

De Stijl reissued 'Microminiature Love' with 6 bonus tracks and 'Grimwood' a few years back catapulting Michael Yonkers virtually unheard of catalogue into the underground limelight. Drag City followed suit unearthing previously unreleased album 'Lovely Gold' originally recorded in 1977 on a "tube tape", a home-made device Yonkers built out of discarded machine parts. In the midst of these albums surfacing Michael Yonkers began playing with local band The Blind Shake and a simple jamming session turned into 2007 album 'Carbohydrates Hydrocarbons'. S-S Records have put out follow up album for Michael Yonkers with The Blind Shake adding to the now historic and well loved Yonkers musical cannon. 'Period' is a psychedelic blues record tinged with the 60s garage rock from his roots, filled with pounders sounding comparatively meaner and more dense -- recommended for anyone who likes Psandwich. With so many worthy labels supporting him, now, is the perfect time to get stuck into Michael Yonkers' records.

More reading, links to hear songs and mail order can be found here --
De Stijl Drag City
S-S Records



Michael Yonkers "Puppeting" from 'Microminiature Love'

Abner Jay "Last Ole Minstrel Man"

A blog post made a few months ago already has already allowed me to fawn over Abner Jay, so I'll hold back from the introductions and gushing again here.

Mississippi Records certainly runs the gamut for archiving Abner Jay's work, so much so that this release came as a (welcome) surprise. This 10" culminates the folk and blues troubadour's final studio recordings made in Atlanta, 1994. Always immaculate and thoughtful with packaging Mississippi treats us to photos, inserts and boasts in depth liner notes from Jack Teague.

What immediately struck me as unique and significant about these 6 songs is the vocal parts. Abner Jay's earlier recordings are sung with spunk and 'Last Ole Minstrel Man' is a departure from his younger, cockier days. Ever as heartfelt but now weary his ardently forlorn voice makes his final studio recordings sullen and poignant. At the end of 'Love Wheel' Abner Jay is recorded chuckling to himself at the end, reminding us he's still having fun. It's little moments like this in the EP that make listening even more rewarding. Using his Guitar and harmonica to accompany the songs, and you may know 'Cocaine Blues' and 'Too Poor to Live, Too Poor to Die' from previous releases but these versions may not be familiar, and are well worth your time.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tuvytxvlyatweep

Henry 'Ragtime Texas' Thomas 'Ragtim Texas 1927-1929'

Now for something completely different.

Henry 'Ragtime Texas' Thomas remains an enigmatic figure in pre World War II African-American folk music. Reported to be last seen in Texas in the 1950s, he was a country blues pioneer predating Delta Blues Godfather Charlie Patton.

One of nine children Henry is said to have been born in 1874 in Big Sandy, Texas. He came from a family of former slaves and sharecroppers raising cotton. Not keen on following farming for work he left home at a young age and began life as a street musician.

In 1927 through to 1929 Henry Thomas made 23 pieces for the Vocalion label. Most agree this makes him the oldest African-American performer to record blues. His one man band amalgamates gospel, blues and ragtime tunes with the use of quills, pan pipes and a guitar that sounds as though it's being strum like a banjo. Henry Thomas's songs have been interpreted by everyone from his piers Garfield Akers and Joe Callicott to contemporary acts like Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal and Canned Heat.

Utterly unmissable, magical traditional country blues that you can lose afternoons to. One of his songs can be heard here.

Abner Jay

Can't stop won't stop Mississippi Records has reissued a second Abner Jay LP.

Solo musician Abner Jay played outsider blues songs through the 1920s until the 1990s. Self described as; "the last great Southern black minstrel show" he first got a taste for music when his grandfather, Louis W Jay who was born a slave, passed down a six string banjo to him. Jay was taught an enormous repertoire of songs which he would continue to play throughout his career. He toured ingeniously with a portable home that folded out into a stage.

His unusual and unique heartfelt blues/folk songs about politics, relationships, war, religion struck a chord with music lovers, collectors and critics alike.

Jay's records were originally released on his own label 'Brandie' (named after his wife). Following his death in 1993 original LP's on 'Brandie' would go for upwards of $100 a pop. Today, first pressings are even more rare than ever before.

To make his work freely available again, Subliminal Sounds were the first to reissue material on 'One Man Band' at a modest price. Then, last year Mississippi began contributing to archiving Jay's work as well at a cost that won't equal the sum of third world debt.

Oh and did I mention this is the second reissue on Mississippi? 'True Story of Abner Jay' is just as good as the recent 'The Original Folk Style of Abner Jay'. Always a sharp shooter; bleak, soulful hymns are delivered with the deepest sincerity and brilliant comical anecdotes. First track 'Depression' is accompanied with what sounds like a full band, fuller than the version on the previous LP 'I'm So Depressed'.

Abner Jay in his own words: 'World's Champion Cotton Picker and Pea Picker, World's Fastest Tobacco Crapper, World's Greatest Jaw Bone Player, World's Fastest Mule Skinner... THE WORLD'S WORSE BUSINESS MAN'.


Read full review of Folk Song Stylist - Abner Jay on Boomkat.com ©