September 14, 2012 Playlist

"Stag" by Melvins (1996)
Melvins  "Stag"  1996 (USA)
Melvins are coming to town next week (High Noon Saloon Sep 20), so here's a gem from their vast and confounding discography.  Stag was their last of three major label releases, and as often seems to be the pattern, being the last well-funded recording by an artisticly loved but commercially unsuccessful artist, they went bonkers in the studio.  Though known for their heavy riffage (some say they invented "grunge", and they definitely influenced teen pal Kurt Cobain) there are only a couple rockers out of the 16 diverse tracks on this album.  For the first (and probably last) time Melvins incorporate trombones, turntable scratching and "chipmunk" voices.  Yet most of it is catchy and occasionally even lovely music.
The anthemic hard rocker that kicks off this album remains a concert favorite: "The Bit".  However, "Black Bock" (psychedelic country music?!)  is an example of the diversity of this record.  This next one is among my favorites: "Let It All Be".  And finally, flash back to those fabulous grungy nineties, as the Stag lineup of Melvins make a TV appearance!
(N) = New Release
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
Mission of Burma Semi-Pseudo-Sort-Of PlanUnSound (N)2012 (Fire)USA
Thee Oh Sees
Hang A Picture
Putrifiers II EP (N)2012 (In The Red)USA
Ty Segall Band Tell Me What's Inside Your HeartSlaughterhouse (N)2012 (In The Red)USA
The Fresh & Onlys Yes Or NoLong Slow Dance (N)2012 (Mexican Summer)USA
Nice FaceSummer Shake
Horizon Fires (N)2012 (Hozac)
USA
Turbo Fruits Ain't The Only One Havin' FunButter (N)2012 (Serpents & Snakes)USA
 
  
Melvins
The Bit
 		Stag
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1996
USA
Melvins
Black Bock
 		Stag
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1996
USA
Melvins
Goggles
 		Stag
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
1996
USA
Melvins
Night Goat
 		Houdini
1993
USA
Heavy Blanket (J Mascis)Blockheads
Heavy Blanket (N)2012 (Outter Battery)
USA
 
  
Pond
Leisure Pony
Beard, Wives, Denim (N)2012 (Modular)Australia
Blasted Canyons Liquid Fiend2nd Place EP (N)2012 (Castle Face)USA
Deerhoof We Do PartiesBreakup Song (N)2012 (Polyvinyl)USA
The Setting SonButterface
Before I Eat My Eyes And Ears (N)2012 (Bad Afro)
Denmark
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti
Symphony Of The Nymph
Mature Themes (N)2012 (4AD)USA
Xiu Xiu
Smear The Queen
Always (N)
2012 (Polyvinyl)USA
Shonen Knife Paper ClipPop Tune (N)2012 (Good Charamel)Japan
 
  
The Orb featuring Lee "Scratch" Perry Golden Clouds
The Orbserver In The Star House (N)2012 (The End/Cooking Vinyl)
UK/Jamaica
Peaking Lights Lo HiLucifer (N)2012 (Mexican Summer)USA
Public Image Ltd.Lollipop Opera
This Is PiL (N)2012 (PiL Official Ltd.)
UK
DerdiyoklarYaz Gazeteci
Instanbul 70 (N - various artists compilation)rec. 1970's (2012 Nublu)
Turkey
Can Messer, Scissors, Fork And Light
The Lost Tapes (N - previously unreleased tracks)rec. 1972 (2012 Spoon/Mute)Germany
Ladyhawke Blue EyesAnxiety (N)2012 (Casablanca)New Zealand
 
 
Patti Smith Constantine's DreamBanga (N)2012 (Columbia)USA
Dr. John
Big Shot
Locked Down (N)2012 (Nonesuch)USA
Dr. John
Pots On Fiyo (File Gumbo) / Who I Got To Fall On (If The Pot Get Heavy) The Sun, Moon And Herbs
 		1971
USA
 
 
John Coltrane
Crescent
 		Crescent
 		1964
USA
Pharoah Sanders
Thembi
 		Thembi
 		1971
USA
Ahmad Jamal
Autumn Leaves (live)
 		Ahmad's Blues
 		rec. 1958
USA
                 
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