Lucky number 17? You better believe it. We here at Brown Acid have been scouring the highways and byways of America for even more hidden stashes of psych/garage/proto-punk madness from the so-called Aquarian Age. There’s no flower power here, though—just acid casualties, rock stompers and major freakouts. As always, the songs have been officially licensed, and all the artists get paid. Kicking off this trip, Grapple’s “Ethereal Genesis” is a heavy psych gem from 1969 written by J. Bruce Svoboda, a.k.a. Jay Bruce, formerly of The Hangmen and The Five Canadians (who were actually the same San Antonio band). The latter’s 1966 garage favorite “Writing on the Wall” has been endlessly covered, but Grapple were never heard from again. With a guitar riff that blatantly rips off Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath,” Image’s mostly instrumental lysergic obscurity “Witchcraft ’71” (originally unveiled that very year) also boasts a horror-movie organ intro, a voodoo drum break and some championship chanting. Private press heads might recall late Image drummer John Beke from his ’80s reemergence with country rockers Crossfyre. Stone Hedge were a seven-piece rock band out of Michigan with a penchant for Creedence and anthropomorphism. “Smokey Bear” is their 1972 tribute to the official mascot of the U.S. Forest Services—not to mention the A side of their sole single—and it recalls the kind of organ-drenched swamp jam that soundtracked many a Burt Reynolds flick back in the day. If you think being a Southern rock band from Milwaukee doesn’t make much sense, that’s probably why Crossfire changed their sound along with their name—to Bad Boy—after signing with United Artists. Bad Boy’s severely underappreciated second album, Back To Back, is a 1978 hard rock jewel, but you can hear their boogie-woogie roots on this rare 1975 single. With a band name like Primevil and song title like “Too Dead To Live,” you probably expect some gnarly proto-metal riffage. Instead, you a get a harmonica-drenched, soul-infused rock rave-up from 1972. Primevil would release their sole LP two years later: Entitled Smokin’ Bats at Campton’s, it’s a reference to their trusty singer, harp player (and bat smoker?), Dave Campton. Brown Acid regulars already know Pegasus from their appearance with “The Sorcerer” on our Seventh Trip. “Ready to Rave” is the flipside to that 1972 single, in which they explain how they like their whiskey cold and their women hot. It’s another killer glimpse of what might have been if these one-and-done Baltimore hard rockers had been able to keep it together. One of two obscure singles released by Texas musician Bobby Mabe in 1969 (the other appears under the name The Outcasts), “I’m Lonely” delivers a heavy dose of vocal soul to the otherwise psych-garage presentation. Fans of fellow Houstonians the Moving Sidewalks—whom Bobby and his Outcasts may well have gigged with—will especially dig this one. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, may not be known as a cultural mecca, but they did give us Truth & Janey. This deadly hard rock trio delivered their holy grail full-length, No Rest for the Wicked, back in 1976. “Around and Around” is a Chuck Berry cover that originally appeared on a 1973 single the band released under the earlier name Truth. Originally released in 1973, “High School Letter” is the debut single from San Diego rock squad Glory. This infectious bonehead cruncher features future Beat Farmer Jerry Raney and the original rhythm section of Iron Butterfly in bassist Greg Willis and drummer Jack Pinney. Glory is what they got up to after their former bandmates left for L.A.’s garden of Eden. “Jack the Ripper” is a mercilessly bootlegged Cleveland classic from 1978 with a serrated punk edge and vocals that recall Mick Blood of Aussie savages the Lime Spiders. Or maybe it’s the other way around—the Lime Spiders formed the year after Strychnine carved off this lethal paean to the infamous Whitechapel slasher of olde.
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Catatonic Suns is Patrick Shields (guitar, vocals) , Jakob Christman (bass) and Caleb Strobl (drums) Catatonic Suns new album sees them blend the underground psychedelia of the late 80s / early 90s Pacific Northwest with the shimmering shoegazery of Britain from the same time. Heavy and soft guitars, songs that soar, these new recordings verge on the epic. For fans of The Verve (early), Screaming Trees, Truly, Ride, Slowdive, Alice In Chains. Pennsylvanian threepiece Catatonic Suns release their brand new album via Agitated records this autumn (Fall if you reside in the US), Patrick and Jake have known each other since birth, obsessing on punk rock, but the band actually formed in 2019. Vocalist / guitarist Patrick and fellow guitarist Llambro Llaguri began creating homemade psychedelic psychedelic 4 track cassette demos during the Winter of 2015, taking heavy inspiration from an eclectic mix of acts ranging from Ween to R.E.M. As these early songs were created, the duo sought other like minded individuals in their hometown of Allentown, PA to take these primitive demos to the next level. It was then that Patrick recruited another childhood friend, Jakob Christman, to fill the role of bass along with another mutual friend Caleb Strobl completing the rhythm section of Catatonic Suns. In 2019, the group put out their first release, the Catatonic Suns demo, a collection of lo-fi recordings made by Patrick over the years. During this period, the band began to make a name for itself by playing shows across eastern Pennsylvania including the Lehigh Valley where local garage rock heroes Original Sins hailed from. During the months of August and September of the same year, Catatonic Sun's reputation for wall of sound psych-grunge was really brought to life when the group teamed up with local record producer guru Matt Molchany of Shards Recording Studio to track their debut studio venture “Aphelion” (more an extended EP). Self -Released in the December, the album found an audience beyond the local music circuit of Pennsylvania, even reaching countries such as the U.K.,Germany and Japan. The band continued to play shows growing their fanbase and honing their skills as a cohesive unit resulting in radio airplay across the country and a feature on the compilation “Pedal Worship” by Bummer Recordings. During this same period, Matt Molchany once again helped the band carve their next album (a full length) “Saudade” along with mastering engineer Matt Poirier (War On Drugs), which was also self released, in February 2022. They played plenty more gigs, and ventured to the west coast for some shows in LA with local friends Laurel Canyon, one especially wild night was with both bands supporting Strawberry Alarm Clock at the Whiskey A Go Go. Now a three piece and into 2023 the band record the 7 original songs and one Original Sins cover for this new release.. Recorded early 2023 at Shards Recording Studio, Bethelem, PA with tracking and mixing once again by Matt Molchany. Mastered by Mikey Young. Agitated/ Catatonic Suns intend to remaster/ reissue Saudade on LP / CD formats in 2024, to coincide with debut UK shows.
- A1: Santiano
- A2: Die Antwort Weiß Der Wind
- A3: Davy Jones
- A4: Ode An Das Meer
- A5: Durch Jeden Sturm
- A6: Tanz Mit Mir
- A7: Wellerman
- A8: Steh Auf
- A9: Bis In Alle Ewigkeit (Walhalla) (Nordmannversion)
- A10: Alle Die Mit Uns Auf Kaperfahrt Fahren (Rockversion)
- B1: Was Du Liebst (Orchesterversion)
- B2: Gott Muss Ein Seemann Sein (Jubiläumsmix)
- B3: Könnt Ihr Mich Hören
- B4: Weh Mir (Jubiläumsmix)
- B5: Wenn Die Kälte Kommt
- B6: Es Gibt Nur Wasser (Jubiläumsmix)
- B7: Hoch Im Norden (Jubiläumsmix)
- B8: Lieder Der Freiheit (To France) (Jubiläumsmix)
- B9: Johnny Boy (Doubletime Version)
- B10: Die Sehnsucht Ist Mein Steuermann
- C1: Santiano
- C2: Frei Wie Der Wind
- C3: Weit Übers Meer (David's Song)
- C4: Whiskey In The Jar
- C7: Auf Nach Californio
- C8: Garten Eden (Scarborough Fair)
- C9: Irish Rover
- D1 50: 0 Meilen (500 Miles)
- D2: Der Wind Ruft Meinen Namen
- D3: Blow Boys Blow
- D4: Land In Sicht
- D5: Tri Martolod
- D6: St. Malo
- D7: Wieder Auf See (Wish You Were Here)
- D8: Molly Malone
- E1: Gott Muss Ein Seemann Sein
- E2: Drums And Guns - Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya
- E3: Salz Auf Unserer Haut
- E4: Seemann
- E5: Bis In Alle Ewigkeit (Walhalla)
- E6: Wir Sind Uns Treu
- E7: Have A Drink On Me
- E8: Sieben Jahre
- E9: Gestrandet
- F1: Rolling Home
- F2: Marie
- F3: Great Song Of Indifference
- F4: Hoch Im Norden
- F5: The Fiddler On The Deck (Esc 2014 Radio Version)
- F6: Wir Werden Niemals Untergehen
- C5: Alle Die Mit Uns Auf Kaperfahrt Fahren
- F7: Weit Übers Meer (David's Song)
- F8: Minne
- F9: Vergiss Mein Nicht
- G1: Lieder Der Freiheit
- G2: Rolling The Woodpile
- G3: Die Letzte Fahrt
- G4: Johnny Boy
- G5: Seine Heimat War Die See
- G6: Fresenhof (Album Version)
- G7: Joho Und Ne Buddel Voll Rum
- G8: Under Jolly Roger
- G9: Der Alte Und Das Meer
- H1: Sturmgeboren
- H2: Richtung Freiheit
- H3: Rungholt
- H4: Kinder Des Kolumbus
- H5: Ade, Ade
- H6: Weh Mir
- H7: Schipmann
- H8: Land Of Green
- H9: Die Alten Segler
- I1: Könnt Ihr Mich Hören
- I2: Ich Bring Dich Heim
- I3: Sail Away
- I4: Liekedeeler
- I5: Im Auge Des Sturms
- C6: Es Gibt Nur Wasser
- I6: Doch Ich Weiß Es
- I7: Hooray For Whiskey
- I8: Die Sehnsucht Ist Mein Steuermann
- I9: Brüder Im Herzen
- J1: Deine Reise Endet Nie
- J2: Ihr Sollt Nicht Trauern
- J3: Unsre Lieder Werden Bleiben
- J4: Wir Für Euch Und Ihr Für Uns
- J5: Könnt Ihr Mich Hören (Orchesterversion)
- J6: Ich Bring Dich Heim (Orchesterversion)
- J7: Liekedeeler (Orchesterversion)
- J8: Unsre Lieder Werden Bleiben (Orchesterversion)
- K1: Wenn Die Kälte Kommt
- K2: Was Du Liebst
- K3: Heave Ho
- K4: Nichts Als Horizonte
- K5: Wer Kann Segeln Ohne Wind
- K6: Graubart
- K7: Lange Her
- K8: Solang Die Fiddle Spielt
- L1: An't Enn Vun De Welt
- L2: Das Ist Eure Zeit
- L3: Steh Auf
- L4: Nicht Umsonst Gelebt
- L5: Ein Leben Lang
- L6: Wellerman
- A1: The Devil Is Your Only Friend
- A2: Do You Remember
- A3: Henry Guitar Solo
- A4: Hey Hey Mama
- B1: She's A Fighter
- B2: Blame It On The Whiskey
- B3: Old Friend
- B4: Shine A Light On Me Brother
- C1: Oh Miss Carolina
- C2: Steve Keyboard Solo
- C3: The Death Of Me
- D1: Don't Let Me Go
- D2: Tired Of Drinking Alone
- D3: Cold Night
'Live At The Ancienne Belgique' ist das erste offizielle Live-Album von Robert Jon & The Wreck, aufgenommen im Juni 2022 bei einer ausverkauften Show im Brüsseler Ancienne Belgique. Die Setlist umspannt das letzte Jahrzehnt der Band, einschließlich Songs vom 2015er Debütalbum 'Glory Bound' bis zu neuen Singles aus 2022. Es war die bislang längste Tournee von Robert Jon & The Wreck mit 67 Shows in 75 Tagen in 9 Ländern. Beim 55. Gig in Brüssel funktionierte die Band wie eine gut geölte Maschine und riss das Ancienne Belgique vom Hocker. Der spektakuläre Abend wurde wunderschön auf CD & DVD sowie auf Vinyl festgehalten und ist ihre erste Veröffentlichung auf Joe Bonamassas Label Journeyman Records.
Described as a musician's musician, Allen's sound is built on a foundation of pop, rock, Americana, Roots and Blues influences. Jon Allen has a soulful, whiskeysoaked voice and a striking gift for melody. He has never been content to be pigeonholed, as demonstrated by the eclecticism of his albums to date.Of the album Jon writes ''The last few years have felt like a pressure cooker slowly increasing to boiling point. There is sense of threat and a feeling of impending doom. Living in a large urban centre during a global pandemic brought out a sense of paranoia. We became more aware of our need for space, our need for silence and to be close to nature to get above the noise of a city. I'm absorbing all the time and everything from the famous Will Smith slap to missing people inspired the songs. How close are we all to the tipping point? What are we likely to do in heat of the moment? What will stress do to us when pushed? But light
follows dark, and there are the moments of simplicity and you can count your blessings for the simple things life has to offer".
Amanaz were serious, and they made a serious stab at an album. They titled their album Africa, according to original band member Keith Kabwe, “because of how it was shared and how its inhabitants were butchered and enslaved, its resources stolen… all the atrocities slave drivers committed. “ Thus, their “Kale,” a blues sung in Nyanja, that traced the continent’s arc from slavery to Zambia’s independence closes the album. Kabwe and rhythm guitarist John Kanyepa have a winsome softness to their vocals, which sit politely aside the feral growl of drummer Watson Baldwin Lungu, bassist Jerry Mausala and bandleader/lead guitarist Isaac Mpofu. Africa’s vibe ranges from anxious (“Amanaz”) to escapist (“Easy Street”) to straight-up pissed-off. On the “History of Man,” his voice whiskeyburned, his distorted guitar buzzing like swarming hornets, Mpofu indicts his species.
There’s a darkness to Africa not found on any other Zamrock records, and a melancholy drifts throughout, specifically on Mpofu’s more restrained “Khala My Friend,” which stands as an effective, bleak situation for the Zambian everyman, the average citizen of a struggling, new nation, who might have had relatives in conflict-torn countries on the horizon, who might have been struggling to find his next meal, who might have seen a bleaker future than his president promised. Then there’s the clear Velvet Underground-influence on the nostalgic “Sunday Morning,” which, as Kabwe
recalls, was the first song written for the album, back in 1968, when Velvet Undergound and Nico was a new release - and the underground funk of “Making The Scene.” The album also tackles traditional Zambian music and early-‘60s rock – punctuated, of course by Kanyepa’s wah-wah and Mpofu’s fuzz guitars. But every time Amanaz get too deep, too violent, they come back with an accessible song and woo their listener back to the groove. “Green Apple” is a civil song, featuring Kanyepa’s sighing guitar. It is a perfectly arranged album, from the dichotomy of Mpofu’s and Kanyepa’s lead and rhythm guitars, to the vocal harmonies, to the rhythm section’s sense of space and time, which allows Africa’s funk to build. Inexplicably, Africa was given two separate mixes and two separate presses: one version is dry, with the vocals and drums mixed loud, the other slathered in reverb, with the vocals and drums disappearing into the mix, and with the guitar solos mixed much louder. We’ve presented them both here as they each have their appeal: it’s up to the listener to pick the one he or she prefers. This is a highpoint of the Zamrock scene and we hope that this can be seen as its definitive reissue.
- A1: Voodoo Doll (3 23)
- A2: Screamin' Kid (3 31)
- A3: Big Town (4 39)
- A4: The House Is Haunted (2 13)
- B1: You & I (4 06)
- B2: Whiskey & Me (3 46)
- B3: Fever In My Blood (3 04)
- C1: Frenzy (1 48)
- C2: Shooting Jones (4 39)
- C3: Jezebel (2 47)
- C4: Tonight We Ride (3 13)
- D1: Johnny Guitar (2 42)
- D2: Chase The Wild Wind (4 13)
- D3: Swamp Thing (5 14)
Als sich The Damned 1989 erstmalig trennten, gründete Leadsänger David Vanian die Phantom Chords. Ihre erste Single, ein Cover der John Leyton-Nummer 'Johnny Remember Me' erschien 1990 und ihre Version von 'Town Without Pity' folgte 1992. Erst 1995 wurde schließlich von Big Beat ein Phantom Chords-Album veröffentlicht, das gekonnt die Genres Rockabilly und Gothic Rock miteinander verschmolz. Zu den Tracks gehörten u.a. mit 'Voodoo Doll', 'Big Town', 'Fever In My Blood', 'Jezebel', 'Chase The Wild Wind' und 'Swamp Thing' eine Mischung aus Covern und Originalmaterial, die aufgrund zu geringer Verkaufserwartung der LP eine reine CD-Veröffentlichung war. Jetzt, fast drei Jahrzehnte später, wird dieser Fehler korrigiert und 'David Vanian And The Phantom Chords' endlich auf Vinyl als 2LP-Set (Black Vinyl) veröffentlicht - natürlich auf Ace Records!
RAUHBEIN sind nach ihrem Debutalbum, dass auf Anhieb Platz #20 der deutschen Album Charts erreichte, schnell über ihren Titel des Geheimtipps hinweggekommen. Mit Hits wie „Komm mit uns“ oder „Auf die Freundschaft“ erspielten sie sich die Herzen der Fans, eroberten die Charts und machten sich in Windeseile einen Namen.
Mit dem neuen Album „Herz eines Kriegers“ soll die Erfolgsgeschichte nun fortgesetzt werden. Auf den 13 neuen Titeln u.a. mit einem Gastfeature von In Extremo Frontmann Michael Rhein, beweisen Rauhbein gekonnt, wie sie die Elemente aus Folk, Rock und Metal miteinander verschmelzen lassen.
„Herz eines Kriegers“ schließt genau dort an, wo „Steh wieder auf“ aufgehört hat und beschert den Fans ein Album, das seines Gleichen sucht.
RAUHBEIN sind nach ihrem Debutalbum, dass auf Anhieb Platz #20 der deutschen Album Charts erreichte, schnell über ihren Titel des Geheimtipps hinweggekommen. Mit Hits wie „Komm mit uns“ oder „Auf die Freundschaft“ erspielten sie sich die Herzen der Fans, eroberten die Charts und machten sich in Windeseile einen Namen.
Mit dem neuen Album „Herz eines Kriegers“ soll die Erfolgsgeschichte nun fortgesetzt werden. Auf den 13 neuen Titeln u.a. mit einem Gastfeature von In Extremo Frontmann Michael Rhein, beweisen Rauhbein gekonnt, wie sie die Elemente aus Folk, Rock und Metal miteinander verschmelzen lassen.
„Herz eines Kriegers“ schließt genau dort an, wo „Steh wieder auf“ aufgehört hat und beschert den Fans ein Album, das seines Gleichen sucht.
Created In the heart of Athens, GA with their trusty- producer, Henry Barbe (Deerhunter, Drive By Truckers) You Know Who is an 11-song record that pushes the boundaries of modern country and rock n' roll music. The Pink Stones sound takes influence from recordings of George and Tammy, as well as J.J. Cale's self produced Tulsa sound. The record is also just as inspired by the windy city cuts of Curtis Mayfield, all styles that covers the band's sound in cigarette smoke and whiskey spills. The six piece band has utilized their performing chops to make a tight but soulful album with featured guests such as Nikki Lane, Jack Quiggins and Ryan Jennings (Teddy & the Rough Riders), John James Tourville (Deslondes), and Annie Leeth (Faye Webster). No strangers to friends and guests, this ramshackle unit formed together flawlessly to take the next leap into The Pink Stones deep sphere.
`Oh Me Oh My' is both elegant and ferocious. It is stirring in one moment and a balm the next. It details histories both global and personal. Lonnie Holley's harrowing youth and young manhood in the Jim Crow South are well-told at this point _ his sale into a different home as a child for just a bottle of whiskey; his abuse at the infamous Mount Meigs correctional facility for boys; the destruction of his art environment by the Birmingham airport expansion. But Holley's music is less a performance of pain endured and more a display of perseverance, of relentless hope. Intricately and lovingly produced by LA's Jacknife Lee (The Cure, REM, Modest Mouse), there is both kinetic, shortwave funk that call to mind Brian Eno's `My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' and the deep space satellite sounds of Eno's ambient works. But it's a tremendous achievement in sonics all its own. It's also an achievement in the refinement of Holley's impressionistic, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. On the title track which deals with mutual human understanding", Holley is able to make a profound point as ever in far fewer phrases: "The deeper we go, the more chances there are, for us to understand the oh-me's and understand the oh-my's." Illustrious collaborators like Michael Stipe, Sharon Van Etten, Moor Mother and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver serve as not only as choirs of angels and co-pilots to give Lonnie's message flight but as proof of Lonnie Holley as a galvanizing, iconoclastic force across the music community.
- A1: Sand In My Boots
- A2: Wasted On You
- A3: Somebody’s Problem
- A4: More Surprised Than Me
- A5: 865
- A6: Warning
- B1: Neon Eyes
- B2: Outlaw
- B3: Whiskey’d My Way
- B4: Wonderin’ Bout The Wind
- B5: Your Bartender
- C1: Only Thing That’s Gone
- C2: Cover Me Up
- C3: 7 Summers
- C4: More Than My Hometown
- D1: Still Goin Down
- D2: Rednecks, Red Letters, Red Dirt
- D3: Dangerous
- D4: Beer Don’t
- D5: Blame It On Me
- D6: Somethin’ Country
- E1: This Bar
- E2: Country A** S***
- E3: Whatcha Think Of Country Now
- F1: Silverado For Sale
- F2: Heartless
- F3: Livin’ The Dream
- F4: Quittin’ Time
- E4: Me On Whiskey
- E5: Need A Boat
Morgan Wallen veröffentlicht sein mit Spannung erwartetes zweites Album „Dangerous“. Der Künstler schrieb die Songs zum größten Teil selbst und wurde in dieser Zeit zum ”am schnellsten aufsteigenden jungen Star des Landes” (Variety). Morgan sagt über sein Album „Ich wollte auch, dass die Lieder mehrere Lebensphasen ansprechen und mehrere verschiedene Klänge haben, je nach meinen Einflüssen und je nachdem, was mir Spaß macht.“ Das Doppelalbum spiegelt somit den unverkennbaren Sound, den Wallen und Produzent Joey Moi auf seinem Platinum Debüt-Album „If I Know Me“ geschaffen haben, wider. Als Vorgeschmack auf „Dangerous“ sind bereits 8 Songs erschienen, darunter die Single „Somebody‘s Problem“ sowie die beiden aktuellen Country-Radio-Singles von Wallen - Top 3 ”More Than My Hometown” und Top 30 ”7 Summers”. Außerdem ist die Country-Album-Version der 3X Platinum Diplo-Kollaboration ”Heartless” enthalten. Künstler wie Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally, Eric Church und Jason Isbell wirkten bei „Dangerous“ mit. Außerdem sind selbstverständlich Morgan’s engste musikalische Vertraute Hardy, Ernest und Ryan Vojtesak dabei. Wallen ist der Künstler des Country Genres mit den meisten Streams auf allen Plattformen, welche sich auf weit über 3 Billionen belaufen. Außerdem wurde er im November 2020 mit dem CMA Award als „New Artist of the Year“ ausgezeichnet.
- A1: A Few Good Years
- A2: Guilty As Charged
- A3: Cognac (Feat Jeff Beck & Keith Richards)
- A4: The Blues Is Alive & Well
- B1: Bad Day
- B2: Blue No More (Feat James Bay)
- B3: Whiskey For Sale
- B4: You Did The Crime (Feat Mick Jagger)
- C1: Old Fashioned
- C2: When My Day Comes
- C3: Nine Below Zero
- D1: Ooh Daddy
- D2: Somebody Up There
- D3: End Of The Line
- D4: Milking Muther For Ya
This genre-bending album takes the listener on a sonic journey through moments of gritty hip hop as well as lush soul/R&B soundscapes, also providing a glimpse into modern jazz.
World Champion Battle DJ, Rhettmatic, reminds you why he’s one of the most respected DJs in the world with his masterful scratches throughout the album. In a time where musicians are scrambling to copy whatever the latest trend in music is, more than ever.
JRawls’ signature Jazz-Hop sound meshed with Rhettmatic’s West Coast bounce creates an undeniably hypnotic & original sound that is all their own.
Tracklist RawlsMatic Intro
Play Your Position
Excalibur
State My Case
Doty X & The Sen
Stay Good
Role Reversal
Brazil
Straight Shot Of Whiskey
Everyday Sh-t
The Brink
The Sun
Xanadu
Key Selling Points
-The powerful duo, Rawlsmatic, consists of respected hip hop producer-DJ’s, Rhettmatic (Member of the World Famous BeatJunkies, Cypress Junkies) & J Rawls (Produced for Black Star, Slum Village, Beastie Boys, & more).
-Their debut collaborative album "Role Reversal" via Chavez Sound features Craig G, Blu, Ras Kass, Illa J & Frank Nitt, John Robinson, Wordsworth, Sadat X & El da Sensei, Trek Life & Supastition, Ann One, Cyrus Baty & B-Jazz.
CLEAR BLUE VINYL
`Oh Me Oh My' is both elegant and ferocious. It is stirring in one moment and a balm the next. It details histories both global and personal. Lonnie Holley's harrowing youth and young manhood in the Jim Crow South are well-told at this point _ his sale into a different home as a child for just a bottle of whiskey; his abuse at the infamous Mount Meigs correctional facility for boys; the destruction of his art environment by the Birmingham airport expansion. But Holley's music is less a performance of pain endured and more a display of perseverance, of relentless hope. Intricately and lovingly produced by LA's Jacknife Lee (The Cure, REM, Modest Mouse), there is both kinetic, shortwave funk that call to mind Brian Eno's `My Life in the Bush of Ghosts' and the deep space satellite sounds of Eno's ambient works. But it's a tremendous achievement in sonics all its own. It's also an achievement in the refinement of Holley's impressionistic, stream-of-consciousness lyrics. On the title track which deals with mutual human understanding", Holley is able to make a profound point as ever in far fewer phrases: "The deeper we go, the more chances there are, for us to understand the oh-me's and understand the oh-my's." Illustrious collaborators like Michael Stipe, Sharon Van Etten, Moor Mother and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver serve as not only as choirs of angels and co-pilots to give Lonnie's message flight but as proof of Lonnie Holley as a galvanizing, iconoclastic force across the music community.




















