Ariel Pink

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti covers the Rockin Ramrods "Bright Lit Blue Skies" and its waaaaaaayyyyy better.

Not to knock it. Just saying.

Apples in Stereo

apples in stereo, fun trick noisemaker, innerspace. nuff said

The Telescopes

The Telescopes are some prolific shoegaze rockers.

If you haven't dabbled in shoegaze you should probably start here. The term literally comes from bands zoning out in waves of feedback gazing down at their shoes. I think you'll get the idea pretty fast.

Check some of this out. It's best if you listen on some headphones or legit speakers.




The Telescopes - Flying from albatross38 on Vimeo.

Tim Maia

Sweet, sweet Latin Soul Psych... dig the fuzz tone guitar and the funk horn lines, great fusion.

Tim Maia- Nao Vou Ficar

My Morning Jacket

I'd use the term psych loosely when talking about My Morning Jacket, but there are definite hints of it in there.

But anyways, here's to Jim James and the gang for being themselves and rocking out for the rest of us.
Can't wait to see them at Edgefield this summer!

Miles Davis- On the Corner

Jamin out on some psychedelic jazz son!

I have to say I absolutely love this album. It’s unlike any jazz album I have ever heard before. I love the repetition of the percussion, the distorted guitar sounds, and the simple bass line. It makes for an incredibly hypnotic sound. I imagine that at the time this album came out, no one knew what to think. Had Miles finally lost his mind? I think not, this came out in the 70s and Miles had his ear to what was gong on at the time- that being funk- and took his own elaborate spin on the genre.

It is very modal, taking the time to stretch and play with a key before evolving into the next, all the while keeping it’s double time tempo flowing. I read that John McLaughlin is the guitarist featured on the first couple of tracks and now it makes a lot of sense. I hear a lot of traces of Mahavishnu in there. “Black Satin” moves away from the harsher, urban sound of the first track and enters into a Middle Eastern groove. It kicks of with a tabla and sitar introduction and evolves into a cool groove featuring a repetitive high hat part, sleigh bells, handclaps, and a strange whistling melody that continue through out, while distorted sounds interject. The bass line on “One and One” reminds me of something Isaac Hayes would have been doing at the time, sort of like the typical black exploitation movie groove, it’s fat, distorted, and in your face. As the rhythm plugs along Miles gives tastes of wailing trumpet over top. “Helen Butte/ Mr. Freedom X” is the final and longest track on the whole album, and in a way encompasses the rest of the album. Keeping some of the rhythmic and percussive motifs, while blending it with a spacey keyboard part and Miles’ trumpet.

The highly experimental nature of the album is what attracts me to it. I love all of Miles Davis’ works, from “Birth of the Cool” to “Bitches Brew”, but what is awesome about him is his vitality. He continued to evolve and push boundaries, pushing expectations and musical forms, which to me is the mark of a truly driven musician. This isn’t something that I think anyone can get into, it’s all over the place and chaotic. But it moves seamlessly between different modes, grooves, and textures. It has quickly become one of my favorite Miles Davis albums.

D.R. Hooker "the Truth" 1971

This is some really underground stuff. D.R. Hooker produced this album independently and over the span of time won an audience. He's dressed like some christ figure, spreading his philosophical messages through laid back psychedelic vibrations!

I think it's the only album I've ever heard referred to as "lounge psych", so that's something at least.

Dungen

Swedish psych rockers Dungen, or rather Gustav Ejstes who writes all the music and played all the instruments on the first record, are a current group who infuse classic 60s psychedelic sounds with modern recording techniques and electronic influences. Gustav claims that his major influences on the album were Jimi Hendrix, J Dilla, and Madlib, which becomes very apparent with a close listen.

Anyway, if you are searching for the good music among the droves of garbage filling the internet, give Dungen a listen.

Cream

Cream doesn't really need any introduction, so I'll just say I found these old videos of Cream performing for the smothers brothers show in some awesome concert hall. Plus Jack Bruce is wearing that really awesome hat.... Cream 1968!







This is just goofy...

The Misunderstood- Before the Dream Faded

The Misunderstood or the Underrated? Probably both. One of the most experimental and overlooked garage rock groups of the 60s, The Misunderstood came out of Riverside CA. They combined R&B/ Rock songwriting with middle eastern influence and 60s fuzz tone feedback. Perhaps their best album, 1966's "Before the Dream Faded", was recorded in England before Syd Barrett or Soft Machine were on the Psychedelic scene.

It's a really interesting album, with an endearing lack of polish. Here are some tastes.

Fuzzy Duck

Check out that funky ass, Fuzzy Duck! How can you resist something so hip? Well I'm not entirely sure, because the only Fuzzy Duck album is pretty perfect and pretty irresistible.

They are an English Progressive Rock outfit that released their autonomous album in 1970. The group gave the world a nice slice of organ heavy psychedelia and it's a shame that they have remained so underground. The album presents serious musical proficiency and an excellent range of songs from the upbeat (Yes'esque) opener "Time Will Be Your Doctor" to the slow burning, acid dripping sound of "Afternoon Out". I dig them both and everything in between.

Sweet Ride- Moby Grape

I just saw some of this movie and thought it was awesome that Moby Grape plays "Sweet Ride". There isn't a lot of very good footage of the Grape from back in the day, so I figured I should share.

Skip Spence is freaking out!

Psych Side of Stevie

I've been going back and re-listening to some classic Stevie Wonder and couldn't help but post a few songs. A lot of the stuff from his amazing run in the mid 70s is pretty experimental while keeping the funk/pop sensibilities. No matter how many times I listen to "Talking Book", "Innervisions", or "Songs in the Key of Life" I am always surprised by something new.


"Tuesday Heartbreak" 1972


"Jesus Children of America" 1973


"All Day Sucker" 1976


Then there is this gem...

the Grass Roots

CREED!!!!

The Grass Roots- 1968




Love is gonna get ya!

Mantra Rock Dance 1967

Wish I'd been there.

the Hollies

Little slice of history. The Hollies on Top of the Pops 1966
Just happens to be one of my favorite Hollies tunes.

The Fireballs

Here's a little sugar shack for you.
1963, the Fireballs.

Todd Rundgren- a Brief History

I've been accused of being the only Todd head in my generation, although I seriously doubt that, in all honesty I'm fine with it. I think he's a technical wizard (a true star if you will, hyuck!), a great song writer, and all around fascinating musician.

He started his career in Philadelphia forming Nazz, a psych pop outfit that took a lot of inspiration from British rock at the time. The Nazz took off with their hit "Open my Eyes". Moving out to Los Angeles they completed a second album, and a portion of the third before Todd left the group with plans of becoming a producer.





While signed as a Bearsville record producer he recorded some solo stuff under the name of Runt, which lo and behold had another hit single with "We Gotta Get You a Woman". So while he kept producing, it got put to the back burner and his song writing became the emphasis again, which I can't say I'm sorry for.



The two all encompassing Todd Rundgren albums are "Something/Anything" (1972), which features his songwriting chops, and "A Wizard, A True Star" (1973) which shows off his producer side.

Hopefully this will entice you to explore more of the Todd.

Skip Spence

Skip Spence, from the great Moby Grape, has had a pretty big hand in psychedelic music. Not only was he one of the founding members of Moby Grape, he was in one of the early lineups of Quicksilver Messenger Service, and he played drums on the first Jefferson Airplane record. Along with those he released a wonderful psych folk record, "Oar" 1969.

This album is a pretty good companion to "the Madcap Laughs". Spence recorded it after a long stint in the Bellevue Hospital for chopping down a hotel room door with an axe. Like Syd Barrett, Spence's work is primarily singer- song writer stuff with a strange spin. At times he uses unusual chord progressions, the production is dreamy, and he's lyrics seem to have a lot of double meaning.

Anyway, I really dig it. Hope you cats do to.

Syd Barrett- The Madcap Laughs

The Madcap Laughs 1970

I just recently got this album and have kind of fallen in love with it. A lot of it is kinda disjointed and strange, but thats what makes it great, otherwise it would be really simple. It's a reflection of what made Syd Barrett great, a mind for pop song writing that has fallen a bit off the normal axis. It's not dark and terrifying as it's reputation might imply.

It was recorded after Syd had left Pink Floyd, but was still in collaboration with Roger Waters and David Gillmore acting as part time producers. The album has a lot of great stuff on it, so I figured I'd share.

Bubble Puppy

Bubble Puppy in my opinion got kind of overshadowed by other texas psych groups at the time, i.e. 13th floor elevators or Fever Tree. They started in 1966, released "a Gathering of Promises", which had a top 20 hit with "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass" yet they never made it big. The album is really awesome psych pop and I wish more people were familiar with it. The band eventually moved to LA under the management of Nick St. Nicholas from Steppenwolf and changed their name to Demian, which may have contributed to the underwhelming success.

Pink Floyd

Everyone thinks Pink Floyd, and the image that comes to mind is a pack of stoners at a laser light show. While this is very true, it's kind of a shame. Floyd are such important musicians, with a lot to say in mind expansion not relating to drug use in any way. Everyone knows Darkside of the Moon and the Wall, but some of their early stuff I like even better.

So I'm throwing out some of the lesser known Floyd catalogue for your enjoyment.
My favorite stuff right now is off of 1971's "Meddle".





Gotta give it up for Syd Barrett era floyd as well.

Soft Machine

The power trio Soft Machine came on the scene in the late 60s, bringing to the world a fusion of psychedelia and jazz. Gotta say, it's something that may not grab you first listen through, but there is a lot to absorb, so don't dismiss what doesn't instantly gratify. They are categorized as part of the Canterbury Scene, which consists mainly of progressive psychedelic music.

Consider this, Hendrix had them booked as his opening act for his 1968 tour. I can't imagine a cooler opener for Jimi.

I really love this first track, "We Did it Again". It's waaaaayyy hypnotic.

Armageddon

Armageddon is an obscure super group from the 1970s. It was made up for Keith Relf from the Yardbirds, Martin Pugh of Steamhammer, Bobby Caldwell, and Louis Sennamo who played with Johnny Winter a bit. It's early heavy metal and it's a shame that Relf died of electrocution after release of the first and only album....

Armageddon (1975) Unfortunately the album went out of print and is kind of rare. But if you dig long enough through dusty crates you'll find it. I did.

Robin Trower

One small, white, British man who loves Hendrix! Hey, he may look goofy, but the dude is raw! He played in Procol Harum, which sounds nothing like is solo stuff, so we know he is a versatile man.

Here is some cool live stuff, mostly off of "Bridge of Sighs" (1974) and "For Earth Below" (1975).

Swamp Dogg

Swamp DO-double-G! The man that has been so underground yet so influential!

The album cover for "Rat On!" (above) was voted the ugliest album cover of all time, that is something to be proud of. Swamp Dogg has released albums some great albums, such as "Total Destruction to Your Mind", "Rat On!", "Gag a Maggot", "Have You Heard the Story", or "I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In". With names like these you know it's not your typical R&B music.

I love swamp dogg for remaining himself and giving us so many awesome soul/psych albums. His lyrics are nonsensical sometimes, but often they are heartfelt and honest. So I gotta give it up for the man. He is completely underrated.

"Total Destruction to Your Mind" (1970) is probably my favorite of all his work, but there is a lot to love.

Buffalo Springfield

So the Moby Grape kick was balanced out with a steady flow of Buffalo Springfield, so I figured I'd post some of the songs I was listening to today. Of course, it's all for the sake of complimenting the other post... and furthering my obsessiveness. But hey, that's the kid.

Love this early Neil demo.










Kind of sad this is so over the top, but it' the smothers brothers...


And I'll leave you with Neil.

Moby Grape

"Listen my friends!" Moby Grape won't leave you ever.

I really love this band. They have amazing vocal harmonies and great guitar riffs. I think they are just as good as Buffalo Springfield but just had some bad managing and bad luck that prevented them from gaining more than a cult following. They performed at Monterey Pop yet their manager refused to let them be filmed without a ridiculous sum of money in exchange. So their performance is gone from the archives!!! But the music is still around and speaks for it's self.











Would you let me walk down your street, naked if I want to?

Brian Jonestown Massacre

Anyone that's seen Dig! will have a lot to say about the Brian Jonestown I'm sure, but regardless of your feelings about Anton Newcombe I think that the music he produced can stand separate from him. It's great psych revival pop and I for one am a fan. Way better than the Dandys.

Eugene Record Convention

Got up this morning and left Portland at 6am to hit up the early admission to the Eugene Record Convention. To be honest I was expecting more, and don't get me wrong I found some good deals on a lot of records, but I was expecting a lot more rare stuff. Most of what I saw were things I could find in Portland. And the way it was talked up online I had the impression I could go in and check off everything on my list. Thought I would be swimming in Captain Beefheart which was not the case.

But here is a little recap of my finds.



Frank Zappa- Over-Nite Sensation 1973



Frank Zappa- Apostrophe 1974



Joe Walsh- But Seriously Folks 1978



Bob Dylan- Highway 61 Revisited 1965



Beatles- Rubber Soul 1965



Beatles- Abbey Road 1969



Yes- Yessongs 1973



Grateful Dead- American Beauty 1970



Jimi Hendrix- In the West 1972



King Crimson- In the Court of the Crimson King 1969



Return to Forever- Romantic Warrior 1976



Neil Young- Tonight's the Night 1975



Traffic- John Barleycorn Must Die 1970

So I guess it was a pretty successful trip and I shouldn't really complain. But what else is the internet for besides whining?

Funkadelic

The hardest thing in the world is to stop a delic from funkin.

SteppenWolf

Steppenwolf!

John Kay is one bad mother shut your mouth! Here is proof.

Audience

Audience, House on the Hill, 1971

This a really awesome band for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest is that the guitarist classically picks all of his parts. The second best reason is how they progress from genre to genre not only within the album as a whole but specific songs such as this one...


This is my other favorite track from the album.

the Kinks

Ray Davies, you get me every time.

Neil Young

It's been a Neil Young marathon with me the last couple of days. When in doubt, I turn to brother neil.









Round and round and round we spin,
To weave a wall to hem us in,
It won't be long, it won't be long.

How slow and slow and slow it goes,
To mend the tear that always shows.
It won't be long, it won't be long.

It's hard enough losin'
the paper illusion
you've hidden inside,
without the confusion
of findin' you're usin'
the crutch of the lie
to shelter your pride.

Now you're movin' too slow
and wherever you go
there's another beside.
It's so hard to say no
to yourself and it shows.
that you're losing inside,
when you step on your pride and you cry.

How the hours will bend
through the time that you spend
till you turn to your eyes,
and you see your best friend
looking over the end
and you turn to see why,
and he looks in your eyes and he cries.

Round and round and round we spin,
To weave a wall to hem us in,
It won't be long, it won't be long.

Crabby Appleton

Crabby Appleton, 1970
This is a really great video. Really cheese, but the song is awesome.



This is pretty cool too.

Bonham

Gimme that John Bonham bass drum shit.

YES!

YES indeed. I think it's high time for a Yes marathon.

From the first album "YES!" 1969, "Beyond and Before".



From "Yes the Album" 1971, "I've Seen All Good People"


From "the Fragile" 1971, "Roundabout" what a banger. Check out Rick Wakeman's shiny cape!


And "Heart of the Sunrise", probably Chris Squire at his most badass.


From "Close to the Edge" 1972, "Siberian Khatru".


By far one of my all time favorite bands.

Sugarloaf

Sugarloaf- Spaceship Earth 1971

I really love this album. It's heavy stuff, but surprisingly diverse songwriting. This kind of psych-prog reminds me of the first Yes album. It's a pity they never went on to do bigger things. Check out the songs "Hot Water" and "Tongue in Cheek".

Judy in Disguise

John Fred and His Playboys, "Judy in Disguise" 1968.

I have fond memories of this song on the radio. John Fred misheard the Beatles "Lucy in the Sky" and penned this song in response. Love the break on this, and love the goofy 60s goodness.

Country Joe & the Fish

Country Joe and the Fish were one of the most adamantly anti-war psychedelic bands of the 60s.

Their first three albums "Electric Music for the Mind and Body", "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die", and "Together" all presented a mix of electric blues guitar, with spacey organ, forming a platform for their messages of protest and dissent.

Joe McDonald eventually found himself under government surveillance for being so openly anti war.

13th Floor Elevators

"Is this the 13th floor? I musta got the wrong elevator!" So cheese, I don't think that anyone in this video understood what Roky Erickson and the Elevators were doing at the time.
I'm not the biggest fan, but I love the sound, especially incorporating the jug.

World Psych

I was thinking I should post some of the highlights of all the world psych compilations I've been listening to.

Su Derenin Sulari by Husnu Ozkartal Orkestrasi
I found this off of the "Psych Funk 101" compilation. The group is from Turkey and recorded this in 1972. Pretty raw.


Allah Wakbarr by Ofo the Black Company, recorded in 1972. Available on the compilation "Love's a Real Thing: World Psychedelic Classics 3"


Selda Bagcan's Yaz Gazeteci Yaz. Turkish Psych-Folk, 1975.


Carinito by Los Hijos Del Sol peruvian psych off of the compilation "Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru"
love the video.


Here's a little sampler of Danish 60s psych/prog rock.

NAZZ

A young Todd Rundgren appropriates the progression from the Who's "Can't Explain" and kick starts a prolific career.
From 1968...
NAZZZZZZ!

Blue Cheer

Blue Cheer playing "Summertime Blues". 1968

There's a really awesome photo of Blue Cheer playing in some ones backyard in 1960s Portland... I want.

csnYYYYY

Gotta love Neil, gotta love big sur.

James Gang

BOOM! Pre- Eagles Joe Walsh, kickin ass and taking names with the James Gang.

Note the background projections of the album art.

Psychedelic Posters