Music Log

This was a weird import CD when I got it and it turns out there are about two dozen... more

Another fine collection of Trashmen recordings. Not much to add here except that these were all previously unreleased and... more

The Trashmen were a standout band from the surf era known mostly for their hit, “Surfin’ Bird.” That single... more

This CD compiles four of the band’s early 7″ singles. This was when the Toy Dolls were at their... more

Another new record label and another quick cash in on the band’s older songs. This time it’s a live... more

I got this back when it came out and it was about the only way to get Toy Dolls... more

What’s with the “Z” in Toy Dollz? That was the first sign that this might be a questionable release. In... more

After a string of just okay records, The Toy Dolls finally released an LP that almost stands up to their first recordings. I... more

This CD includes the embarrassing bonus track “Turtle Crazy!” which is a song about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.... more

Well from here on out these records are business as usual. The highlights on this CD are “There’s a... more

From here on out, Toys Dolls records and songs start to follow a pretty standard formula. While every release... more

This is the last truly great Toy Dolls record. It could have been their best release, but it suffers... more

Toy Dolls second album has a little more polish than the first and even includes a radio spot for... more

Toy Dolls skirt the edge of punk rock and novelty music. As such there will be some people who... more

There was a time in the early 2000’s when I thought I might be able to expand my electronica... more

Nobody needs to own more than one They Might Be Giants album. While I enjoy the “hits” on this... more

Yeah, I get it. You went to art school you clever bastards. Fun, smart pop songs, it’s no surprise... more

Teengenerate are what I would describe as a Ramones-y punk band. They are much faster and certainly less tuneful... more

I thought that Techno-Animal, being the electronic side project of the guitarist from Godflesh, would sound more like the... more

More Tar being Tar. This one has crystal clear production and, wouldn’t you know it, a little bit of... more

While this disc starts out with a couple of great Tar tunes it doesn’t quite keep the energy up... more

This feels like it must be outtakes or extras from Jackson. “G7” and “Teetering” are the best tracks on the... more

This probably is Tar’s best record. It’s a wall of loud, lumbering guitars and driving bass lines. This is... more

This CD actually compiles Tar’s first two releases: Handsome and Roundhouse. While I like many of tunes on this CD, it’s my... more

This is the better of the two Supercollider CDs. The sound is much bigger and they had gotten much... more

Supercollider is my favorite band from the nineties that no one seems to know about. I found about them... more

When this record arrived, you could sense the downward trajectory of this band. Not that this is a bad... more

Mostly more of the same from Superchunk but with a lot more non-rock instrumentation like strings and woodwinds thrown... more

These Superchunk reviews are going to get a bit repetitive from here on out. Another good collection of poppy... more

Four pretty good songs and 45 minute long recording from a community radio program in which the hosts deconstruct... more

I may have to reassess where Foolish resides in the Superchunk pantheon. This CD pretty much took the direction set upon... more

The second singles collection from Superchunk is a bit more of a hodgepodge than the last. There are a... more

For most people, this is Superchunk’s finest moment. When this came out, I didn’t like it and it took several... more

This is the first of several singles comps Superchunk released over the years. Lots of covers and a few... more

Although it can be a toss-up between On the Mouth and Foolish, it think this is my favorite Superchunk record. It has just... more

This was my introduction to Superchunk so, although I don’t think it’s their best, it still is one of... more

Superchunk has followed a rather standard indie band trajectory by starting their career with a rough, punky debut before... more

Yma Sumac had a voice that supposedly spanned five octaves. That alone would make for an interesting recording artist,... more

This one’s a short little five song tease of some great big band exotica. If you haven’t heard Yma,... more

I’ve never really liked most of Bob Mould’s solo efforts (and later-era Hüsker Dü for that matter). I thought Black Sheets... more

Judging from the cover, Subsonics not only borrowed much of their sound from The Velvet Underground they also adopted... more

Spoozys were one of the half dozen or so Japanese bands I saw perform at Japan Nite 2001. Spoozy... more

Apparently, the idea with this record was that Spiritualized would reign in the huge arrangements and get back to... more

I was never much into this band when they were making waves in the late nineties. At some point... more

I so much wanted this record to be more than it was. The original Spinal Tap soundtrack was legendary... more

Being as it’s the same two people making music, My Pet Fish is a nice complement to Colin Newman’s, Bastard. Both records... more

This record doesn’t reach the level of greatness that was established on Orange. There’s a level of polish or, dare... more

The Blues Explosion (at least on these earlier recordings) occupies a nice space between the raw, rootsy rock of... more

This two-disc compilation was my introduction to 70s era Sparks. It covers their best songs all the way from... more

I wasn’t sure what to think of this album when I first listened to it. It feels more like... more

After a decade and a half of creating dance floor music, Sparks decided to ditch the beats and try... more

Although still a dance music record, Balls feels a little more like a rock than Gratuitous Sax ever did. I don’t think I... more

After Interior Design, Sparks wisely took a six year break to go back to their rooms and think about what they... more

My least favorite Sparks album (Pulling Rabbits Out of a Hat is a close second). Pre-2000s Sparks have tended to... more

Technically this CD is titled The Best of Sparks: Music That You Can Dance To. I imagine that horribly misleading... more

With the addition of a keyboard player, this CD has a slightly different sound than their previous records. SCOTS... more

The major label follow-up to Ditch Diggin’ is every bit as good and the production sounds much better. Even thought it... more

This starts out as a chicken themed EP but it turns out SCOTS only had two chicken songs in... more

Probably my favorite record by SCOTS. All of the checklist items are here: a little twangy country rock, a... more

Although there are some great songs on this record (“Nashville Toupee” and “Daddy Was A Preacher But Mama Was... more

I take back what I took back last post. This Shonen Knife album is a bit of a bore.... more

I take back a little about what I said in my Pretty Little Baka Guy post. This record definitely has an... more

This is one of my wife’s CDs that made its way into my collection. Shonen Knife is one of... more

I think this is my least favorite Shellac album. Sure there are some great tracks on it, as there... more

When this came out it felt like a return to form for Shellac. It opens with the fantastic “Prayer... more

One of the best indie rock records released after I stopped caring about indie rock. Every Shellac album is... more

The final Shadowy Men album sounds much better than its predecessors thanks mostly to Albini’s roomy recording style. However,... more

Not much to say here. Another great collection of instrumental perfection from Shadowy Men.

While technically I could say that my love of surfy, guitar-based instrumental music started when I would listen to... more

I’ve already written up this CD at my Planet Pimp website, let’s just say this is decent, albeit somewhat generic, rock... more

I bought this CD based on their cover of Grand Master Flash’s “White Lines.” It’s a great cover, albeit... more

Nancy Sinatra may be best known for being the sister of the great Frank Sinatra Jr., but she also,... more

Silver Apples are a wild sounding collection of Radio Shack grade electronic noises backed with some great drumming. It’s... more

One of the best releases from Planet Pimp Records is this Star Trek themed collection of surf music. A rare benefit... more

I think this was the last CD that Servotron put out. It is a collection of remixes and live... more

Where have all the good schtick bands gone? Servotron were an awesome concept and the music was equally great.... more

This is one of the CDs that my wife owned before we got married. I think she bought it... more

One of my favorite records from the early nineties. This is a great mix of vocal numbers and surf... more

I discovered Scratch Acid after becoming a The Jesus Lizard worshiper. At the time I remember thinking, despite have... more

Guitarist and switchbladist extraordinaire “Blind” Rage is said to be the illegitimate son of Link Wray. From the liner... more

In the past, most people’s introduction to Raymond Scott came when some hipster nerd told them that the music... more

It looks like these days Richard H. Kirk is only releasing his music via iTunes. Personally, I prefer the... more

Satan’s Pilgrims are one of the better surf bands to have emerged during the 90s surf revival. Despite the... more

I am not sure why Richard H. Kirk released this as Sandoz because it doesn’t really sound anything like... more

Since the demise of Cabaret Voltaire, Richard H. Kirk has had about a zillion solo projects all with different... more

Rhino knows how to put together a great compilation and this 24-track “Best of” Sam the Sham & The... more

Another collection of analog synth laden songs from the members of Poster Children. This one feels a bit more... more

The Rutles make you realize just how unique, yet weirdly predictable the Beatles were. Although intended as a joke,... more

Like many one-hit-wonders, that one hit (in this instance “Never Say Never”) sounds completely different than the rest of... more

This record fits nicely along side Virtual State. This is atmospheric electronica that the laptop kids probably have a specialized... more

This CD came as part of my Theremin kit I ordered from Big Briar back in the 90s. Just... more

By the time this record came out, RevCo had lost much of its lustre for me. I guess I... more

File this one under the “What were we thinking back then?” column. In 1991, this was the bees knees... more

This is the original 1965 record that inspired the Phantom Surfers to create their great slot car themed record. The Go... more

I think this is pretty much the antithesis of the kind of music I like. I find Lou Reed... more

This is what happens when you give up on new music. You stop paying attention to music press and... more

DS i Love You is actually one man, Kanji Honma, a Nintendo DSi and the excellent Korg DS cartridge.... more

There’s still quite a bit of Big Black’s sound in this Albini follow up project. The guitar (there’s only... more

My band has played with Quatre Tête a few times now. They share our taste for weird time signatures... more

Growing up, this record (along with the Flash Gordon soundtrack) was what Queen sounded like. I had no idea that their... more