QOTSA

To be honest, I never really got into Kyuss because I never really liked John Garcia's voice. Some will say I'm crazy, others will agree that they don't like it either. When Josh Homme ventured out and put together Queens, it was a decision that undoubtedly stamped an X on the forehead of the believers and non-believers. 

While I still like their first album the best and the lineup continues to change as Homme sees fit - he likes to fire people regularly to keep things fresh - they are all good. Lately this one has been getting a lot of playtime. 

All Hail the Queen(s).

Music for a Mellow Monday

I almost forgot how great this album is until I stumbled across it again today.
Thanks, interwebs.

Elevated Sessions

Being a big fan of Austin Psych Fest, and admittedly have never gone, I recently stumbled into the Elevated Sessions, an eclectic mix of psychedelic, electronic, garage and other goodies. Enjoy.

There's a Reason Popeye Liked Spinach

While I've been on the psychedelic music roller coaster as of late, it's important to remember that the current trend of amazing bands bringing back this special genre got their influence from those who came before them. One such group is Boston's short-lived Ultimate Spinach. Their 1968 debut album included many goodies, including the standout opener, "Ballad of the Hip Dead Goddess." It's a romp that includes all the elements that make a great psych song: drony, tribal, and soaked with reverb, featuring lyrics that could be from a Slayer song in their prime such as, "Touch my hand and you will know / Touch my hand your heart will cold."

Remember to eat your veggies. 

Night Beats Bring the Ruckus to Lo-Fi

I'm still reeling from seeing Night Beats on Friday evening. Best show I've seen in a decade, easily. Those Seattleites by way of Texas are the real deal. Small venue, rowdy crowd, witnessing a band in their prime. It was so good I even had a 4-foot plastic Santa Claus statue bounce off my forehead at one point and helped Tarek, the bass player, levitate over our heads. Do not miss this band when they come to your city/town/street/basement/garage, etc. All-time.

Wishbeard

A nice ethereal vibe from this Seattle-based foursome. 

http://www.wishbeard.bandcamp.com/track/adeline-street

This interview with The Stranger provides a little information on them. 

UFO

When I was young I had a bunch of 8-track tapes. They were the rage back then and could usually be found for next to nothing at garage sales. Their strength was that they were practically indestructible. Their weakness was that you really couldn't just load up one song in particular that needed to be listened to; instead, it was necessary to listen to the song that the tape was lined up with, or you could switch tracks, which would usually put you right in the middle of another song. In hindsight, maybe it wasn't such a bad concept, as it forced me to listen to entire albums. 

I remember having Jefferson Airplane, Boz Scaggs, ELO, and other bands that were popular at the time. The one that I cherished most, however, was from a band I wasn't entirely familiar with as a young child but I liked the album's cover so I bought it. UFO's "Strangers in the Night" is now revered as one of the best rock records of all time. I couldn't agree more. It was recorded live and the sound quality is immense and perfect. I recently reconnected with this little gem, albeit via MP3, but that same feeling I experienced when I was a kid comes back to me when I listen to it. The following track is one of my favorites.