We Are Time

RIP Lance Hahn of J Church

2007-10-22T22:54:00.000-04:00

I had this piece written late last night on the passing of Lance Hahn that I deleted myself earlier this morning. I felt as though my writing was just not up to par for a man I was reminiscing over (TROY--Pete rock / cl style).

Of course, I cannot claim to be that much of a writer or lyricist like Lance was.

Lance Hahn, of San Francisco Bay Area / Austin, Tx. band J Church passed away yesterday afternoon due to complications with his kidneys. He was just 40 years old.

I can remember the first time I heard J Church. It was on WPRB Princeton back around 1994 (ironically, I believe the song 'Ivy League College' was the song). I was just starting to divulge myself in the diy punk scene and within a year of hearing J Church songs on the radio I saw an ad in MRR from Broken Records and ordered the legendary 'Brouhaha' compilation (featuring Monsula, Jawbreaker and Cringer -- Lance's band from his time pre-dating the continental US from his home state of Hawaii) as well as The classic Singles Going Steady compilation of early J Church singles.

Lance had a knack for writing melodic songs that had some melancholic moments (or seconds) that brought references to Jawbreaker--however--his narrative delivery was a lot different that the more 'beat-esque' lines of Blake Shwartzenbach.
While both had a sense of writing personable lyrics, Lance wrote a bit more straightforward, like journal entries -- wether that was discussing his affinity for certain female fronted bands ala Bratmobile or Bikini Kill, working at a factory and other working class jobs, boss-culture, pop-culture, politics, socialism, anarchism, music, riding his bike in the city, family issues, relationships, etc.

As far as I'm concerned, the biggest thing for me when I was co-editing a fanzine with some friends for our high school zine (titled Punker than Teddy Ruxpin) was being able to convince a guy who ran a record shop in Corpus Christi, Tx. to do a interview with Lance and Gardener of J Church when they came through a venue that was known as the Carousel that stood next to my own families photography shop.

The interview was lengthy, but it was never boring at all. It felt like a genuine, bonafide interview. One that was on par or better than those guys at Punk Planet or MRR could have had. We were doing all these interviews with a lot of local and regional bands that gave one sentence goofy answers and maybe about the most substance we could get out those interviews might have been discussion of quotes from the Simpsons (well, to be fair there was a Lifetime interview we did that did prompt the great quote from Dan Yemin--"Start a Zine, Start a Band, Throw A Brick")Don't get me wrong, the local bands were generally fun and you expected a little bit of a different vibe coming from where were were. I mean, it wasn't Berkeley, and we weren't dealing with bands that played venues like Gilman. We weren't dealing with bands that toured outside of the east coast--or even outside of pa/nj/ny!

So I read and re-read that J Church interview over and over. It was great. Lance had his head on straight and --so straight--that he (sadly) predicted the current state of affairs our world is in. Maybe that wasn't hard to figure out, but I took his words seriously. He prompted me to think and rethink my viewpoints and prompted me to read up on what he was referencing (wether that was castro or marx or if it was wanting to figure out how to get my hands on the video version of urgh! a music war so i could figure out what the better parts were that he was talking about -- surely pere ubu was good, and the police--not so good??)

I recently had been thinking a lot about the song 'Alone When She Died' from the 1996 album, 'Drama of Alienation' . The song is about how his grandmother (on his mothers side), who presumably came down with some form of alzheimers/ dimentia ('my grandmother died with the mind of a child--all she did was smile')-- was alone with no family member when she passed away. The family didn't mean to grow apart, but they were living thousands of miles away and dealing with their own lives as well. I should mention that I haven't listened to this album in a couple of months--but my grandmother (on my dad's side) has recently been diagnosed with alzheimers.

It is a sad song, no doubt about it. Lance reflects about that situation. Somehow, just thinking of this song makes me sorrowful, yet I feel some sense of comfort from this song that may be inexplicable.

Reading other tributes to Lance I read a number of people who mentioned how they related to his lyrics or that it helped them through some tough times. And I think it was that personable lyricism, the ability to relate to seemingly normal things--sometimes tragic things==to discuss issues with that ability to create imagery--it is not an easy thing.

I just want to say thank you Lance for being an inspiration to myself and many others.

I'm adding a couple of links here for those who wish to read some of the better tributes--

http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/lance_hahn_1967_2007

http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2007/10/21/rip_lance_hahn_1.html

Soulsville U.S.A. - Memphis

2007-04-19T12:23:00.000-04:00

We both had a little time off, and thanks to a little bit of extra cash bestowed upon us by act of sheer dumb luck-- we decided to use the time by have a road trip out to Memphis, Tennessee.

We also made good use of AAA Road maps and a bunch of stapled sheets of paper that gave us info on thrift shops, flea markets, and notable attractions in towns and cities along interstates 81 and 40.

Towns we stayed in included-- Knoxville, Nashville, West Memphis, Ark. and Bristol, TN.

The highlight of the trip for us was easily the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis.

The above photos are from around and in front of the Stax Museum.

The Soul Legend that was Finally Laid to Rest

2007-03-14T00:40:00.000-04:00

The above photo was taken back on December 27th, 2006 from my digital camera in front of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. While the lines snaked around the streets from both sides, we decided to just take in the aura of the surroundings of 125th St.

It was a festive atmosphere. One that I won't forget anytime soon. The street was filled with street performers, stereos and boomboxes from inside the shops and on the streets blasting a wall of noise that was the fury of The Godfather of Soul himself.

Thousands of people visited him that day--and thousands visited him afterwards.
In fact, it really had/has become something of a spectacle--just like the man himself.
It sort of strikes me as odd that he was not buried properly until this past weekend, but then again--not really too much.

Upon hearing of his death that Christmas morning, I thought a bit about it--but really--for me--not even James Brown's death could take me away from my own family festivities. I put on one of his Christmas albums on my turntable that evening and thought about it.

The day after, I started reading all about it. I was particularly interested in the praise and tributes people said of him. On a messageboard I at times frequent, I remember a couple of 'grinches' attempting to spoil his name by stating he hadn't done anything of note since the 70s, one saying they hated the 'funk'. There was also his bouts with the law which included spousal abuse, drugs and alcohol--let's not forget his arrogance towards some of his band mates.

One shouldn't forget those parts of his life that were not so good. Generally, people want to be remembered for their positive attributes. Sometimes this is true. In the case of James Brown, I think it is safe to say that while he will be fondly remembered; but not without judgment from others. It's only fair.

I thought about the impact he had on not just myself as a music fan. How six years ago when I started getting 'heavy' into record digging, that James Brown singles and records were my introduction into the knowledge. I thought back to when I was a kid, and outside of oldies radio, my intro to him was 'Living in America' back in 1985. Not the best of JB, but when I was a kid, that song was like a anthem.
I thought back to the 'golden age' of hip-hop--where there was tons of James Brown samples (and still in current hip-hop--there is as well).

Then there was his cultural impact. The most common song I heard amongst that wall-of-noise outside the Apollo that cold late-December afternoon--was not 'I feel Good'--but 'Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)'
The song was a rally cry for the civil rights era of the late 60s and 70s.

It is clear that Chuck D would not be Chuck D without him. It's pretty obvious Al Sharpton would not be Al Sharpton without his life being associated with James Brown. It's pretty obvious that the civil rights movement would not have at least 'sounded' the same without his booming energy.

I read a lot of good tributes to James Brown. There was an excellent one in Wax Poetics, with a recount from one of his managers back in the heyday of King Records.
I remember reading a good one from John Conyers, one of the few politicians that I generally like.

One gift I received from my brother on Christmas was a book by Simon Reynolds, titled 'Rip it Up and Start Again' which chronicles the post-punk music era of the late 70s/early 80s. In the Chapter on The Downtown NY No-Wave movement was a quote from James Chance/White of the Contortions who stated that 'Super Bad' was this inspiring record to him because of its downright free/avant jazz sounds that he likened to Sun Ra. It's true.

There were a lot of tributes. Even GW Bush stated he was an 'American Original'. That coming from an American Original grounded in such stupidity--might be enough for some to discount JB--but not enough for me.

This is just one I'm sure of hundreds-- if not thousands of memoirs of the man--and my distant, yet close music wise-- relationship.

Hello, Howdy, Hola!

2006-11-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

This is Zeke writing to give an update.
In a month or so, I will be ending my year term at the non-profit I have been working at in a neighborhood in upper north philadelphia (the 19140 zip!)
there has been some highs, some lows, and just a whole lot of living life!

at any rate, Zach and I had done a radio program over the past Thanksgiving weekend at WMUH in Allentown. I absolutely felt comfortable being on the mic, I felt the program was one of my favorites to do ever. It just felt right and things fell in place with a great flow. I truly miss doing radio. We hope to do a couple this upcoming winter break, but who knows? We will keep you informed.

Zach has moved down here for the time being as well. he has been subbing at some suburban philly high schools. he seems to be enjoying it, but hopes to get a class of his own soon, as he is certified.

Oh yeah, that 12" pic above is of Poison Ladd & Extortionist- a scarce and truly awesome slice of OS Philly hip-hop. We found it digging at a overlooked flea market here a few weeks ago.

Later,
-Z

Loving Grapevine

2006-03-26T01:32:00.000-05:00

We have been really lax about updating this with playlists and whatnot.
But here's the scoop -- we haven't done too much on WMUH asides from fill-ins during breaks. There are definitely some playlists I'd love to have archived on here that were not posted.
But, asides that--we have been pretty busy in our daily lives.
As for myself (Zeke, updating this) -- I've been working at a small non-profit that is tightly wrapped in with the community it serves. It is both a great and demanding position, and I'm enjoying the experience.

Things I'm thinking of at the top of my head--

In music news-- Thanks to WFMU , Zach was able to go to the No Fun Fest in Brooklyn last weekend and I do believe he had a fun time (oh, the irony!)
--I was sick all of this past week and I passed on the fun to members of my family.
--Popeye's fried chicken is something you should not eat when sick.
--W.E.B. Dubois
-- 2 of my current fave honest, hard working bands, Pissed Jeans and Oxford Collapse have just signed to Sub Pop meaning that that label is now a kazillion times awesomer than when it was releasing the Fruit Bats and Damien Jurardo just a year or two ago.
-- the Democrats (by and large) not standing up for what is right. Yeah, I'm talking about censure among many other things. But then again, this is nothing new.
-- and finally --

this blog for all of you New Zealand music fans. I named the title of this thread after the Jean Paul Sartre Experience song of the same name. It is making me think Spring!
Enjoy and download the mix!

WMUH Playlist for 12/27/05 - 4-6pm

2006-01-12T22:29:00.000-05:00

91.7fm
wmuh allentown
muhlenberg college
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh

Squirrel Bait -- the final chapter -- s/t
The Gories -- house rockin'
Einstein's Riceboys -- soda jerk --s/t lp
Luis Agudo --- from afrosamba lp
A-KO -- from 'Breakbeatraer' 12" ep compilation put out by soulstrut.com
---
Calico Wail -- I'm a living sickness -- v/a: Psychedelic Unknowns 2x7"
The Heptones -- I Hold the Handle -- Best of the Heptones lp
Black Sheep -- The Choice is Yours -- 12"
Ana Y Jaime -- love story -- s/t
Letta Mbula -- pula yetla -- David Axelrod 1967-70 Capitol Years
----
Primitive Calculators -- beat goes on -- s/t
Victor Lundberg -- an open letter to my teenage son -- an open letter... lp
Klein & MBO -- dirty talk -- s/t lp
----
(N) Fire Engines -- discord (peel session) -- Codex Teenage Premonition
Bakersfield Boogie Boys -- get off my cloud -- s.t (rhino put this out back in 1980--think Devo, Flying Lizards and Silicon Teens)
Candid Telefun -- hate card --(Candid Telefun was a Harold Flender doing prank calls back in the early 60s--here he asks unsuspecting ladies that work at a greeting card store if they have any "hate cards". he is searching for a "Drop Dead Card" to give a guy who is making eyes at his girl.)
Robyn Hitchcock - meat - black snake diamond role ep
(N) The Ex - new wars -- singles period 1980-90
(N) The Professionals - a part of being with you -- v/a: cult cargo: belize city boil up -- numero group (Happened to actually find the original Professionals 2 x lp this came out on a couple of months ago, right before this comp came out. If you can get your hands on it -- get it--or at the very least--get this comp!)
Chandra -- opposite -- 12" (NY No-Wave featuring one of the guys from Material paired up with a young teen girl. really interesting and incredibly danceable. have no idea why this one isn't talked about.)
----
(N)A-Frames - police 1000 -- 7"
Ivy Green -- why not tonite -- s/t lp
(N)Maximum Joy - searching for a feeling -- unlimited (79-83)
Buari -- karam bawi -- 45
(N) American Analog Set - born on the cusp - set free
---
Embrace -- end of a year -- lp (wrapping up our year in radio that was 2005)

12/23/05 Holiday Radio Show!!!

2006-01-03T20:36:00.000-05:00

10am-noon WMUH Allentown
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh

Esquivel -- Space Age Bachelor Pad Christmas -- Esquivel XMas
Clarance Carter - Back Door Santa
The Damned - there ain't no sanity clause -- punk rock xmas
Kids of CPH - O Come All Ye Faithful (mp3 --wfmu blog-- kids from the Children's Psychiatric Hospital at U of Michigan)
Suicide -- hey lord -- A Christmas Record (Ze Records)
Emperor Penguin -- Erotic Xmas (Home for the Holograms) - My Pal God Holiday Record Vol. 2
---
Treacherous Three -- Christmas Rap
The Fall -- No Xmas for John Quays -- Live at the Witch Trials
Rebecca Gates -- 12/31 v/a: My Pal God Holiday Record Vol. 2
Ghetto Reality -- I Want -- s/t (Folkways)
Darlene Love - Marshmallow World -- v/a: Phil Spector's Christmas ALbum
---
The Sonics -- Santa Clause
Otis Redding -- Merry Christmas Baby
Mike Nichols & Elaine May -- Merry Christmas Doctor -- Examine Doctors
Mikado -- Message de Noel -- v/a: Ghosts of Christmas Past (Remake)(Factory records/les disques du crepescule)
Bob & Doug McKenzie -- 12 Days of Christmas-- Great White North (really rick moranis & some other guy from sctv)
El Vez -- feliz navi nada -- v/a: Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus (and also can be found on the Punk Rock XMas album)
---
Screamin' Jay Hawkins -- It's Christmas -- A Midnite XMas Record (Midnite Records)
Sweet Tee -- Let the jingle bells rock -- v/a: Christmas Rap
Ramones -- Merry Christmas, I Don't Want to fight tonight -- PR Xmas
Junior Varsity -- don't believe in christmas --- v/a: kindercore christmas vol. 2
Star Wars Cast -- R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas -- Christmas in the Stars--A Star Wars Christmas (featuring a young Jon Bon Jovi---credited as Jon Bongiovi)
Allen Ginsberg -- XMas Gift -- the lion for real
----
John Fahey -- Bells of Saint Mary's -- John Fahey Christmas Guitar VOl. 1
The Dickies -- Silent Night --Punk Rock Xmas
Cabaret Voltaire -- invocation -- v/a: Ghosts of Christmas Past (remake) (factory/les disques du crepescule)
Man or Astroman? -- frosty the snowman --v/a: happy b-day, baby jesus (sympathy for the record industry)
Ghetto Reality -- Virgin Mary --s/t (folkways)
Impressions -- long long winter
The Ventures -- Christmas album

Notes:
This was a very enjoyable program to do. We accidentaluy left the 1st vol. of the My Pal God Holiday Record--so none of the classics such as Crucial Youth, The goblins, etc.

At any rate -- here are some notes regarding the above photos --.
GHETTO REALITY ---
I have mentioned them before on this blog. They are perhaps most known for the song 'James Brown'. From around 1970. They were inncer city schoolchildren from Rochester, NY. Their teacher--Nancy Dupree co-wrote the songs with the kids.Folkways put out the lp, but it is a very rare find. The record has a number of Christmas related songs on it--and they are fantastic.

NPR recently did a spotlight on this genre of young children doing soulful tunes from that era--known as "Kid Funk", a compilation that has recently come out--and here is the link to that story so you can listen in --
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5039220

V/A: Ghosts of Christmas Past (Remake)
Factory Records had a co-existing label in Belgium they funded called Les Disques Du Crepescule. They put out a number of holiday records in the early-80s. A lot of the Factory post-punk bands/and related bands were on these compilations.
We played Mikado and Cabaret Voltaire--but this outstanding record includes Durutti Column, Tuxedomoon, The Names, Paul Haig, The French Impressionists, etc. Found that record in a small ghost town near San Marcos, Texas --an odd spot to find such a thing--but I'm glad I found it before the hot sun warped it!
The flip-side artwork on this lp has the three stylized wisemen --one of which is carrying a Devo-styled Energy Dome to the young baby with the halo.

Christmas/Holiday Radio Show 12/22

2005-12-18T08:58:00.000-05:00

We will be doing a Christmas/Holiday themed radio program this Thursday--the 22nd of December from 4-6pm.
If you are in the listening area, we urge you to tune in to 91.7fm Allentown. You can also tune in worldwide via real audio at http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh .

Also--the mother of all Holiday radio programs will be starting at 7pm Christmas Eve on WPRB Princeton with Jon Solomon's Christmas Eve Marathon! http://www.wprb.com for more information on that or http://keepingscoreathome.com

WMUH Playlist for 11/25- Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day/Still Stuffed Day

2005-11-30T23:24:00.000-05:00

10am-Noon
WMUH 91.7 FM
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pa.
muhlenberg.edu/wmuh
(N)=New

Mystic Moods Orchestra - cosmic sea - cosmic force
The Brothers - you can't win -- v/a: Best of B-boy Records
(N) Oxford Collapse - Celebrity Art Party (Embarrassment Cover) - 12"
Dog Faced Hermans - viva - bumb and swim
(N) Old Time Relijun - burial mound - 2012
The Visible Targets - mechanical man - 12"ep
----
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - kyen kyeen Bi Adu Mau - s/t lp - Ofori Bros (Ghanaian Afro-beat/Highlife)
Madchild - like a tech - 7" (mid-90s indie hip-hop)
Bruce Haack - Captain Entropy
Pierre Henry- teen tonic - Messe Pour Le Temps Presnet et musiques concreted de Pierre Henry pour Mauruce Bejart
Max B - Bananaticoco Part I - 45
Young Flowers -- Menilmontant - Quiet Days in Clichy --Original Film Score
----
(N)Snuff -- song from a tribute to Guitar Wolf
Corm -
(N) The Beautiful New Born Children - a good day - hey people
Thick Pigeon - crime
Harrison Sands (music by skin flesh & bones) - paying the bills - 45 -ultra (dub reggae 45)
Tim - Spraypaint the Walls (Black Flag cover) -- cdr -- (a guy named Tim from New Jersey does mostly cover songs of punk rock hits--just him and a guitar--kind of fun)
---
(N) hella - tokyo 513 - home boys???
(N) the Double - up all night --
White Noise - firebird - an electric storm (finally found this eclectic late 60s avant electronic/pop record--in a dollar bin no less!)
crazy hearts - arms are up -

--Show started off a bit off. Weird beginning because the dj before me decided to just up and leave the station --didn't leave on any music, didn't leave on any cues or anything---didn't even say a word. So, I had to scramble around putting up long psa's to fill the gaps til I got ready. Really strange. Never had that happen before! Guess he had plans to go shopping maybe??

--Got a couple of interesting calls. One guy said he was recording the program. Wanted to hear more of the same "weird stuff" (Admittedly, Bruce Haack IS weird). Didn't know what to say to that, but I like getting calls.

-Bruce Haack (yes, that weird guy)--I played the cut 'Captain Entropy' for the lp of the same name. He was this guy who did some pretty out there electronic composed childrens records. He worked with John Cage and LaMonte Young--so despite his name--he wasn't just a hack--he was Bruce Haack! I think there is a recent tribute compilation to him featuring Beck and Stereolab amongst other indie rock faves. Was lucky enough to find a Near Mint copy of this one at a thrift!

-I think we will be back on the air this Christmas/Winter Break. So brace yourselves--we've got a lot to share and you've got a lot to hear!

Berliner Recordings

2005-11-16T10:44:00.000-05:00

Above is a photo of one of 10 Berliner Records I found in a cheap boxlot at an auction a couple of months ago. Also pictured is the mail package it was presumably in.
Don't know what they are or what thier significance is?
Neither did I until I did some research on them.
These were some of the earliest recordings ever made. Actualy Emile Berliner was the guy who created the disc format of records that were first seen and heard by the public in the 1890s. Before him, only cylinders were made.
Berliner invented the Gramophone player. Learn more about him here.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The one pictured above is different from other Berliner recordings in that it did not include the usual stamp that was common on most Berliner's. This one was blank. It was also recorded by a Geo Gaskin on Oct. 29, 1895 (over 110 years ago!)

Another thing I found out when doing some internet research on Berliner was that the artist/musician had to record upwards of 100 times a day. Due to the rough recording devices these pioneers used--they could only record a few at a time--meaning that it is quite common for the ones that exist today--to be unique recordings.
Also--it probably meant that by the end of the recording sessions--the voice or hands of the musicians were exhausted beyond belief!

The quality of these recordings is pretty poor compared to todays standards--or even what came about say 20 years later.

They are pioneer recordings, and are certainly interesting pieces to hear--time capsules of music and recording history of the late 19th century.

Poptones - PIL on American Bandstand

2005-10-26T10:45:00.000-04:00

A must see! View it here

Perhaps one of the best spectacles and odd moments in television history. Amazing.

Lookout!

2005-10-18T22:57:00.000-04:00

The title of this post suggests that I am going to go on a rant discussing the in-debt/could be defunct record label out of Berkeley, Ca. I'll sort of get to that. Truth is-- I couldn't think of a better way to title this thread.
Lookout for us as we will be out and about this coming weekend for The Record Revival (http://www.record-revival.com) in Philadelphia on Sat. Oct 22nd, in which we were invited to set up at. The guy setting up this record show that isn't your typical record show -- even was so nice to ask if I wanted to do a DJ set-- so the two of us will be on the wheels of steel---for 30 minutes!
We will be selling a half table worth of records. Whatever we can fit-- we will bring from our basement and possibly deliver them into your hands--for a swap or a low fee. I think everything will be from a dollar to five or six bucks! Cheap because we buy cheap--and we like to pass on the deals to you.
As for the DJ set, I am not sure what we will be playing, but I have been extremely excited about some music we have found recently. So--it will be a short but sweet set filled with lucious beats and sounds. African, Latin, Dub, Funk, and maybe a short Punk cut. If you are in Philadelphia this Saturday the 22nd, please think of coming down. Who knows, maybe you'll find something!
Also-- Dragon Turtle (friends Brian and Tom) will be appearing at someone's house that same night somewhere in Philadelphia. I joined myspace (something I didn't want to do) just to view who Dragon Turtle's "friends" are. ha! I think they most of their male friends are bearded and that thier female friends must have a thing for beards. My thoughts: hippies!
Check out thier page at http://brianlightbody.com/dragonturtle and myspace.com/dragonturtle to hear sounds.
On to Lookout!
I've been thinking about this for a while now--back in late August (around the time of Katrina)--Lookout! was also being swamped with stories, rumors, etc. about the possible demise of thier label. Chris and Mollie, the owners of lookout! after Larry Livermoore quit (both of whom were in one of my fave bands of the 90s -- The PeeChees) give a detailed explanation of what went wrong in this article -- (read it here -- http://www.eastbayexpress.com/issues/2005-09-14/news/feature.html )
. After reading it, I felt no animosity towards the guys in Green Day--but more or less animosity towards Ben Weasel. Just read and you'll probably understand why it's true what that one song that the Queers sang, "Ben Weasel --he's an a..hole". The Queers might have been tongue in cheek when they sang it-- and I always had a feeling the guys in The Queers were also axxholes--but yeah...
Chris and Mollie own up to blowing money on huge promotional items (condoms that were promoted with a release of a Pansy Division record) and even simple things like sending posters through on overnight delivery. I remember receiving posters for Ted like less than a day after I had received a call from them.I didn't need those posters right away really--and truth be told-- when someone gives you 25 posters--and you live in a rural area--or are doing shows in small cities and towns with only a handful of record stores and colleges to put large posters up at--- you might need 10 of them.
I think many of those posters were sitting in my basement for a while until I dumped them off to DOuble Decker Records' free bin/heap near that store's entrance.
I have to give them credit-- they have tried as a label for years to make good . For a couple of years in the mid-late 90s-- my brother and I had a distribution that we set up at shows with--and we dealt with thier then distributor-- Mordam records-- and Mordam would send us tons of neat promo items for Lookout! bands.
I guess in a way, even though the promotion is part of what most labels do-- I feel sort of guilty in a way. Not sure why.
Lookout! was a great label. I was a Lookout! styled pop-punk kid in the 90s. I admit it. I was never too down with the so-cal skate punk thing, or the tough hardcore that dominated that time period. I was living in the wrong place. The lehigh valley had Weston--which made things go by ok for a pop-punk kid. Even though they were just from Bethlehem, I wanted them to be closer---because though Weston's influence was far reaching--- it didn't grasp as well in the Poconos--where NYXHC and So-Cal merged. I was into bands on other labels. I liked what Mac was doing with Merge. I was into the aggression/noisy guitar rock of Touch and Go (that distinctly 'Chicago' sound of that time), What Dischord was doing. Estrus had all those crazy garage and surf bands like Man or Astroman? The SST catalog of all the classic 80s punk was my first punk rock records-- I got into some of that third wave ska that Moon put out (enough so that I used to dress two tone sometimes!)---Kill Rock Stars was putting out compilations with Lookout!--so I got into a lot of riot grrrl bands and Unwound and stuff like that.
But--the bands that defined me as a pimply, goofy teenager in the early-mid 90s the most had to be the bands on Lookout!

Give me Mr T Experience, give me The PeeChees, The Hi-Fives, The Bomb Bassets, Winona Ryders, Weasel, Cub, Go Sailor. All that sappy, goofy fun pop-punk that bordered on twee--yet was riddled with too much angst to be considered as such. Dang-- what a fun place full of characters Berkeley must have been. All I have to remind me of that era is Lance Hahn of J Church and Aaron Cometbus stories. THe photos of Blake Jawbreaker with a glass of wine in his hand (makes me want to drink!). So bohemian and punk. So much fun.

The Donnas came after my time and seemed to schticky. It was great to see Ted Leo get a good amount of attention that was sadly something the well-meaning good guy --Charles-- at New Jersey's Gern Blandsten could not handle.
Ted needed that promotion that Lookout! gave him--even though they obviously and realistically couldn't afford it.
I can't say I know much about much of the new lookout! roster asides from Ted. They have seen better days. And while that 90s heyday may be over -- it is my hope that they can get over this hurdle and survive.
This post makes me feel old and it makes me feel like I just wrote a column in an old photocopied fanzine that no one will read. The beauty of an internet blog that is mostly a Radio Program playlist is that even though millions could access this site--only a few dozen probably will--and so--this is probably just as far reaching as a photocopied/cut and paste zine.

To wrap this old school zine column like rant-- I've got to give props to my man-- Matthew Schnipper. He's got a zine of him reviewing/reacting to records he owns--like where he bought them, and the story behind them. It's halarious and on-point--- and hipster rag THE FADER gave him a write-up (http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2005/10/07/stuff )
He's a good kid. Help him out. The 90s zine fanatic in you tells you to order it. LOOKOUT!

A update of Sorts

2005-09-30T09:54:00.000-04:00

I do not want this to become an "invalid" blog -- So I thought I'd update you all on some things.
Zach is student teaching, tutoring and doing fill-ins at the library, and Zeke is...well, he's been busy doing various things that I'd like to think of as helping others and helping himself.
As you can also expect, we haven't lost our knack for scouring thrifts, fleas, and auctions to unearth recordings that you will probably eventually hear (some of) on the radio show. We haven't had a radio show since August, and I'd love to get back on the air--but for now--it will wait.
I will post up a story with photos on some more of our interesting finds as of late--so if you are into prehistoric recordings...you will hopefully be amused.

Also, we had a great time hosting a show at the Hughes Library in Stroudsburg for three great area bands. I do not want to cut anyone short, but I have to say---Dragon Turtle Ensemble was incredible. The Ensemble was composed of 11 people and the audience (much larger than I ever imagined for it being all local-ish --which made me ecstatic)loved it. I am also digging the fact that we are getting a decent amount of people of all ages attending these shows of recent. High school age kids (though there might have been a couple) are largely missing for whatever reason--but it's great seeing senior citizens chilling with 20 somethings and middle aged people with young children.
Well-- I should mention that the Pirate's Cove in Allentown will be saying goodbye on OCT. 29th. I think a reunited Ultimate Warriors (members now in Pissed Jeans, Pearls and Brass,etc) is supposed to play. That will be a lot of fun. The Cove was a great place for house shows. A non-intimidating atmosphere, no extremely obnoxious people probably mostly due to thier no drinking/drugs policy--a all around safe place to do shows. The kids that live there have been really smart about what they do and how they have done things.
I plan on being there--and if you are in the eastern pa. area--so should you.
Also--We hooked our friend up with setting up a show at Double Decker Records for October 27th-- I think the show should get underway by 6:30pm.
The bands playing will be: Calvin Johnson (Olympia, Wa.;K Records Owner), Old Time Relijun (Oly, wa./portland,or?)awesome band, K records) and Tender Forever.
Should be fun...
and that's all for now.

WMUH Playlist for 8/19/05 -- Last Show of Summer

2005-09-06T09:19:00.000-04:00

Negativland -- free -- freedom's waiting
Swell Maps -- international rescue
tuxedomoon -- where interests lie -- scream with view
peter baumann -- phase by phase -- baumann 76
----
(n) Quintron and Miss Pussycat -- shoplifted
Prinstar w/ the Skylers--- ??? -- (Prinstar was a georgeous singer from Singapore in the 1960s - she was backed by a famous r&b/garage band from Singapore called the Skylers)
Otis Redding -- let me come on home --
ivy green -- i think we're gonna make it
Andy & Joey -- wonder no more -- v/a: jamaican ska
Norman Rosten -- electric chair -- poetry of norman roseten (folkways)
Jack Wright -- sax & drums -- free life, sing
----
The Ex -- frenzy -- starters & alternators
Dancing Cigarettes -- track 2 (excerpt--sorry disc malfunctioned)
Rites of Spring -- there -- s/t
(n) Pissed Jeans -- I'm Sick -- s/rt (allentown's own!)
Dirtbombs -- she blinded me with playtex-- horndog fest
Gang of Four -- damaged goods (live) -- gang bang (bootleg)
---
(n) Portastatic -- white wall --
The Jam -- thick as theives
Johnnie and Joe -- my boys gone on now -- 45
(n) The Ponys -- another wound (not shabby-- but i'm getting a bit tired of the robert smith nasal whine meets ian curtis meets david byrne warble vocals of a lot of bands these days)
Sinn Sissamouth sound of the drums --v/a: cambodian rocks
(n) Orange Juice -- falling and laughs -- the glasgow school (excellent)
Pere Ubu -- final solution 00 v/a: max's kansas city
Lewis & Clarke --???--

--This was the last one of the summer -- see y'all sometime soon!!!

WMUH Playlist for 8/12/05

2005-09-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

Husker Du -- Celebrated Summer
Purrkur Pillnik -- excuse me/surprise -- V/A: Geyser: The Icelandinc Independent Music Scene of the Eighties
IQU with Miranda July -- Girls on Dates -- Girls on Dates ep
Manu Dibango -- New bell -- Soul Makossa
-----
Neon Judgement -- t.v. treated -- 1981-1984
(n) Matson Jones -- n.e.s.f.f.o? -s/t
Ghetto Reality -- James Brown -- Ghetto Reality (folkways)
Sonny Hines -- Nothing like your love -- 45
Ricardo his saxophone and Orchestra -- last tango in paris --""
------
(n) Medications -- ...or at least as bad -- your favorite people all in one place
New Age Steppers -- state assembly -- massive hits.. vol.1
Eddie Maelov & Sunshine Pattern -- at the cabaret -- 12" ep
-----
Coyle & Sharpe -- three-ism -- audio visionaries
the Bloods -- button up -- v/a: New York Noise
-----
Talulah Gosh -- strawberry girl -- 12" ep
Computer Cougar -- the 8 months --- rough notes on high stress
Breadwinner--"" --burnt
Earwigs -- freedom -- v/a: keats rides a harley

--Notes---
Ghetto Reality was the brainchild of a inncercity school teacher named Nancy Dupree in Rochester, New York around 1970. She composed most of the songs, but had her students perform them. The sounds are like a kid-funk band and listening to it, you can tell the excitement and fun both the teacher and the kids were having. This came out on folkways and I had been looking for this one for the past few years. Finally---I found it in my travels.

---Coyle & Sharpe -- were two guys that used people in the Bay Area of San Francisco for gags and put-ons in the 1950s and early 60s. These weren't ordinary put-ons and pranks. THey thought up some of the most absurd ideas. for more information (including real audio files) go to : http://www.coyleandsharpe.com

WMUH Playlist for 7/29/05 12-2 pm

2005-08-09T10:06:00.000-04:00

WMUH
91.7 fm
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pa.
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh

(n)= new
(r)= request

Negativland
Grandmaster Caz & Chris Stein (of Blondie) -- Wild Style Theme Rap -- Wild Style Soundtrack
(n)-- Peanut Butter Wolf -- umbrellas -- v/a: The Free Design -- Now Sound Redesigned
Preston Epps-- bongo in the congo -- bongo bongo bongo lp -- original sound
Junior Murvin -- Police and Thieves (Jamaica's Curtis Mayfield! this is the original that The Clash covered)
(n) Still -- blindness (live) -- remains (the dj from dalek doing a solo thing. pretty good.)
----
Limbo Race -- here comes Kafka
Marine Girls ---Love to Know -- Lazy Ways/Beach Party (Unrest covered one of thier songs-- I did not know that until i picked this up.)
The Van Pelt -- speeding train --- ep
(n) Dungen -- jamna plagor -- ta det lungt ( i like the subliminal sounds record label website. they sell a bunch of old weird, strange, exotica records and the like)
3rd World Steel Orchestra -- gold -- 12"
Ferris Coffey -- teen queen -- v/a: kicksville vol. 3 Raw Rockabilly Acetates
Sam & Joe --- save the children -- v/a: fear of smell - vermiform (this compilation remains one of my faves of all time. -- please see notes at bottom of playlist for more---)
----
(n)The 101'ers -- (some live song???) -- from that new discography/unrelease material disc. get it-- joe strummer's band that predated the clash!)
David Hemmings -- talkin' l.a. -- happens
The Embarrassment -- intro/proof -- blister pop -- my pal god
(n) Bob Mould -- i am vision i am sound -- body of song
----
Ivor Cutler & Linda Hirst -- a doughnut and a walk -- priveledge
(n) 8th Route Army -- Record Burning Party Tonight (v/a: Shielded by Death Vol. 3 Rare Ct. and Southern Mass Punk)
Red Kross -- rich brat -- v/a: life is ugly, why not kill yourself?
The Druids -- it's a day -- 45 (excellent 60s garage)
Monolo Gas -- chacal -- a todo gas lp (latin funk)
Hermine -- torture -- 7"
---
(n) Bottom of the Sea -- ??? - from a split 12" ep with Coyote
Reagan Youth ---
The Slits -- final track -- cut

Notes:

on Sam and Joe--- "Save the Children"
WFMU's (and former WPRB legend) Mike Lupica discusses it on the fmu blog:
"Like most people with even a chicken-nugget sized brain, I'm pretty pissed off about the state of the world most of the time and I'm betting that you are too. By (multiple) request, here is one of the truly great protest songs of our day and age. Sam and Joe's "Save the Children" , as it was meant to be heard in its full, un-edited glory. This track is originally from the excellent "Fear of Smell" compilation (1992, Vermiform Records) which is still available here. It's a rant that not only covers the general "war is bad, it would be groovy if everyone had enough food" ideologies, but also ventures into the largely unchartered "I demand the right to masturbate whenever I want to" sentiment."
download the mp3 here -- I REQUEST that You do!!!

http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/HT/Sam_and_Joe_-_Save_the_Children.mp3

Stanley Motta "Mento" Music of Jamaica

2005-08-09T09:21:00.000-04:00

I think occasionally we will use this spot to discuss and showcase some of our finds--generally from flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops.
The first one of discussion is a rare 78 rpm record from Lord Fly on the MRS label (Motta's Recording Studio)of Kingston, Jamaica. The MRS label was the first Jamaican label.

This one was found at a flea market over the past weekend. The vendor wanted to get rid of all her 78s, I suppose she was tired of looking at them. Well, she offered a stack for 50 cents--I did find a Brazilian 78 in the bunch as well, but back to the Lord Fly recording.
The 78 is sort of Calypso sounding, but isn't --- it sounds almost like a mixture of calypso with dancehall reggae-- but since it was a predecessor to reggae and ska -- It is called "Mento".

The recordings on the MRS label are highly sought after and go for some good cash, something I did not know until I picked it up. The first release on the label is going for over 100 dollars currently on an ebay auction. This is the second release on the label.

The recording sounds great and looks great. It's authentic and a great piece of history of Jamaican music. I have been coming across a batch of 78s in really nice condition as of recent-- which seems to be tough to across.

Some choice links on Mento

http://mentomusic.com has some nice scans and history regarding Mento.

You can listen to a NPR piece from 2004 about the label and a recent compilation that came out titled "Mento Madness: Motta's Jamaican Mento 1951-56".
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1842828
and...from "all songs considered"--
http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/asc63/#madness

New Zealand Evening

2005-08-06T00:16:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if I've written of this before---
but...
http://www.nzmusic.com/track.cfm?i=2238
That is a link to the Chills' "Pink Frost" video.
Such a beautiful (if not haunting and melancholy) song.
While there, acquaint yourself with New Zealand music. I suggest The Clean, Chris Knox, Bailterspace, etc. I would say check out the Verlaines' "Death and the Maiden", but that video link is really the Clean/David Kilgour sideproject band -- The Great Unwashed-.
All this is making me want to visit NZ.
2 radio show playlists will go up shortly.

Playlist for 7/22/05

2005-07-29T17:06:00.000-04:00

WMUH 91.7 FM
Allentown, Pa
12-2pm
(n)= new
(r)= request
* = Texas band/performer (for this show only)

Negativland -- downloading-- no business -- seeland
Bobby Soxx * -- learn to hate in the 80s -- v/a: Bloodstains Across Texas
The Fanatics * -- I Will Not Be Lonely -- v/a: Acid Visions Vol. 2 Best of 60s Texas Punk and Psychedelia
(n)Pissed Jeans -- boring girls -- shallow (Allentown's own!)
-----
Jean Paul Sartre Experience -- loving grapevine -- love songs -- flying nun (gosh darn, I love New Zealand bands.)
Johnny Ace * -- I'm crazy -- Memorial Album -- Duke
I Marc 4 -- mato grosso -- i solisti di armando trovajali lp (60s-70s Italian library band. This cut was funky and spacey)
U-DWI Peoples Paraphernilia -- terrible train -- 45
Jorge Ben -- take it easy my brother charlie -- s/t lp (1969 og press. Found tons of brasilian lps this past week at a thrift-- on half-off day to boot! This was one of them)
Green on Red -- Lost World -- s/t 12" - down there
(n) Kinski -- the wives of artie shaw -- alpine static -- sub pop
Scratch Acid * - greatest gift -- 12" ep Rabid
----
Charizma -- here's a smirck -- big shots
Outter Limmitt -- in the groove -- 12"
(n) The Juan Maclean -- tito's way -- less than human -- dfa
The Slits -- frequent mutilation -- cut
----
Citizen FIsh -- feeding -- thirst -- lookout!
(n) Coyote -- sugar -- split 12" ep w/ bottom of the hill
Daddie and the Hodads -- surfing is my life -- my son, the surf nut lp (should be called, "my dad, the surf nut. found this one in texas -- near corpus christi, where my dad was a surf nut -- probably and most definitely during the time he was a surfing nut. it's too bad all of my brothers -- including myself-- screwed up his several surf boards. when that happened, that drove him nuts... that's my dad -- the surf nut!)
(R) Silkworm -- scruffy tumor -- even a blind chicken finds a kernel
Silkworm -- penalty box -- it'll be cool (RIP Michael Dahlquist)
---
No Trend -- teen love -- 12" ep

Notes --
Silkworm's impressive drummer, Michael Dahlquist -- had been kiled by a deranged, suicidal woman who ran her car into him. He, along with two other Chicago musicians while on lunch break from thier place of employment. A shame. WPRB's Jon Solomon, did a really fitting tribute to him and Silkworm this past week. They put out some material on Jon's label -- My Pal God - and I'm sure, as he had been living in Chicago for quite some time, it hit home. I offer my condolences to many in the loss of this man.
Silkworm were a band that brings back a lot of good memories for me. And I'm sure many attest to that. The two songs were dedicated in memory of Michael Dahlquist. My only wish is that I could have played my favorite Silkworm tune, "Couldn't you Wait?"
That will have to wait for a future program.

-- we started playing some of our "classic faves" on this show. As my brother and I will be less frequent to WMUH in the upcoming months, we thought it would be good to play some of our favorite /quasi-regular rotation songs. We never like to overkill/overplay songs on our radio show -- thinking that our listeners prefer to share in the aural experience of an unexpected listen. But some songs deserve the extra attention. This week included No Trend, Green on Red and Charizma.

Back from Texas

2005-07-18T23:25:00.000-04:00

Zach and I had a fun time in South Texas visiting family. It reached 100+ degrees everyday, but thanks to the dry nature of that region, it didn't seem so oppressive. However, a strong hurricane might just pass through that area very soon -- which would be perhaps the only one in that area since the early 1970s. Though they could use some rain, this could potentially be dangerous-- I hope it isn't.
Of course, we did manage to find some new goodies that were found in different towns and cities such as Corpus Christi, Kingsville (home of the famous King Ranch), Refugio, Victoria, El Campo. The Texas Coastal Bend and expansive flatland, big sky, brushy wilderness that helped a corrupt Lyndon B. Johnson take his first role as public official was the area that made for some excellent rock and roll, Mexican American Soul, and the oft-discussed Border Radio stations that NPR hosts seem to discuss a lot-- We will be spotlighting some of the aforementioned this week on the radio show.
So, please tune in if you can to WMUH this friday from Noon-2pm.
I also have to take time out and say that it will be a shame to lose our friend and fellow wmuh dj Tony ( http://acbleach.blogspot.com ), who will be moving at the end of this week to start a new chapter as an educator at a University in North Carolina. A very warm, intelligent and genuine person; he has also continued to wow the both of us with his radio show -- which was the closest equivalent to an on-air dance party i can think of!

Playlist for July 1st 12-2pm 91.7 fm WMUH Allentown

2005-07-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

(N)=New
(R)= Request
(N)Negativland -- Favorite things -- No Business
Saccharine Trust -- I have... -- pagan icons -- sst
(N) Vague Angels ---- (untitled??) -- in truth loved (the 7th chapter? -- to the Chris Leo novel White Pigeons as performed by the fictitious band the Breaks. I haven't yet read all of it. Chris was right. It's pretty sleazy. But entertaining and enthralling nonetheless...
http://www.fifthplanetpress.com/chris.htm )
Pram -- crystal tips -- Sargasso Sea
Alvin Cash and the Registers -- You shot me through the grease -- Twine Time (early 60s greasy r&b)
----
Snuff -- i see/h.m. trout --
Pulsallama -- the devil lives in my husband's body -- 12" http://www.dyxploitation.nu/issue5/soundgal.html
Marion Brown -- rhythm 1 -- Duets (w/ leo smith recorded live 1970 in Paris)
Cluster -- live in der fabrik -- cluster II -- metronome
----
Oxes -- bees win -- Oxxxes - -Monitor
DJ Red Alert -- 900 Number/On the Run -- We Can Do This lp
Low -- transmission (joy division cover)
Fire Engines -- new thing in cortins -- aufgeladen und bereit fur actundspass lp (rough trade)
----
(N) Eyeball Skeleton -- cyclops girls -- #1 -- my pal god (the boys from Mayo Elementary are at the top of thier game with this one)
Bastro -- tallow waters -- bastro diabloguapo
The Headcoats -- i want you to come into my life -- v/a: Groin Thunder: A Tribute to the Troggs
Ansel Collins -- Night flight -- v/a: King Kong Compilation -- Trojan
Mark Lane -- das nicht (factory) -- who's really listening? (an unearthed gem from the stacks at WMUH. this one reminds me of a mixture of Kraftwerk TEE/Computer World styled electro with a sort of early Fad Gadget delivery)
(N/Request) Iali Puna -- together in electric dreams (Giorgio Moroder cover) -- I thought i was over that
--
Flipper -- ever felt -- generic flipper
Leaving Trains --
David Cunningham -- Bolivia -- Grey Scale -- Piano
Landscape -- computer person -- to the hell holes of uranus -- (yet another unearthed classic found in the stacks at wmuh)

This episode marks the final one for a few weeks. Right now... we are on the road, traveling to Texas.

Playlist for June 23rd

2005-07-05T22:24:00.000-04:00

Negativland --- Snuggles -- fair use
(N) Out Hud -- It's for you -- let us never speak of it again -- kranky
Man Parrish -- hip hop be-bop, don't stop -- 12" -- sugarscoop
Yambu -- sunny -- s/t lp
Weldon Irvine -- love your brother -- cosmic vortex (justice divine)
-----
DJ Dangermouse -- top billin' (Audio Two/Air mix) -- 12"
The Electric Eels -- cyclotron -- eyeball of hell (discography)
Basquiat w/ Coati Mundi -- Palabras Con Ritmo -- Downtown 81 (Soundtrack)
Bob Reigle -- The Marriage of Heaven and Hell -- "" -- (self-released lp named after the painting of the same name by Max Ernst. Line-up includes some of Ornette Coleman's line-up during the latter 70s/early 80s if I am not mistaken. Played around 11 minutes as an excerpt from about a 17 minute song )
The Tights -- bad hearts -- v/a: Cherry Red Records Punk Singles Series
Serge Gainsbourg --
(N) Lowlights -- The one I love is you -- v/a: Little darla has a treat for you volume 23 or 24 (man...the prolfic little darla compilations)
X Ray Spex -- I live off you -- germ free adolescence lp (what is Poly Styrene up to these days?)
-----
The Opposite Six -- I'll be gone -- 45
Minutemen -- Mutiny in Jonestown -- What Makes a Man Start Fires? -- SST
(N) Teenage Fanclub -- it's all in my mind -- man made -- Merge
Big Youth -- Jah Man of Syreen
The Aesthetics --
Lothar and The Hand People -- today is my only yesterday -- Space Hymn (lothar was the name of the theremin they used. the hand people was the band, another psych pop gem of the 60s/early 70s --- http://www.lotharandthehandpeople.com/Default.htm )
Marcel -- give it to me -- 12" (Self released disco 12". I found three copies of this record. One was autographed by Marcel himself. Marcel was from NYC and looks sort of like Erik Estrada of CHiPs fame with a more Bohannon-esque flava to him. He doesn't sing however. He has an incredible diva that sings this dance floor number)
---
The Feathers -- trying to get to you - 45
Kool and the Gang -- get on it -- s/t lp (thier first!)
100 Flowers -- our fall out -- 100 years of Pultchritude

Sanding the Rooms

2005-06-27T20:43:00.000-04:00

The playlists are tucked safely away --- don't fret -- but the one thing is they are not in reach, as they are trapped in an area of the house where sanding is being done to the floors. The floors (wooden), and the walls with a new paint job will look beautiful once all is said and re-done.

UNTIL THEN...
Please visit and download mp3s from where the sort of name for this blog got its name from-- The Pop Group song "We Are Time".
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~edge/pop_group/index.php

Panther -- The film and the CIA's involvement in Drug Smuggling

2005-06-21T10:58:00.000-04:00

I recently viewed the 1994 Mario/Melvin Van Peebles film "Panther". I highly reccomend it to anyone. It is an engaging film. It is a fictional but fairly true and autobiographical portrayal of the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party. Finding the movie though might be a bit difficult, as the video and dvd are both out of print (the dvd fetches upwards of 200 dollars online and the video -- anywhere from 14-50 dollars-- a shame!)
I had been reading chapters in a book on the CIA and FBI's true involvement in the flow of drugs in this very country since the 1940s, and one of the essential points in "Panther" was how the rampant flow of illegal drugs had been brought about through our governments own very greed and need to keep "subversives" out.
In my opinion, it is drugs that have kept movements from happening. Of course, There are many other factors that attribute to a society that feels as though we need to let "business happen" as it is "none of our business" to "get involved". I believe this is what killed the anti-war/peace movement when many involved turned to drugs. Drugs keep people under a bind. The film ended with a statistic (early/mid-90s statistic)that over 300,000 addicts were in the US around 1970 -- that by the early/mid 90s there were over 3 million. This, I have a feeling has increased.
A lot of people think that today's society is just "more open" and accepting of drugs, as under recreational use as many think-- they are a fine thing that can expand the mind, creativity, can help attain a slim figure, make you feel relaxed, etc.
I am not going to argue a few of these factors. People obviously do them for various reasons -- one recurring one is to feel relaxed and escape reality for a bit.
I do think the war on drugs is one big joke. I do feel as though we are now being bombarded by nonillegal/prescription drugs from our very government and the pharmaceutical industry that want a new market of people to peddle to since the inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas are now rampant with illegal drugs.
I heard a news report the other week that people caught with crack cocaine receive more time in jail and harsher fees and sentencing than those caught with cocaine. Cocaine is more expenseive than crack, the harder form of an already hard and destructive drug. So crack is more an epidemic among poor people while wealthy business people and obnoxious party people with money choose cocaine. It is to me, still a racist and classist crime that this is happening. No one deserves to go to jail for drug use unless they are committing crimes, are violent, etc-- in thier use of it.
We need to look at drug abuse as a epidemic -- and I think our government needs to make reparations as part of the havoc they have helped create.
Playlist will be updated later today.

WMUH Playlist for 6/10/05 12-2pm: "Proto Deathwish Party"

2005-06-13T20:46:00.000-04:00

91.7FM
WMUH Allentown
Friday 6/10/05
12-2pm
via real audio at :
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh
(N) = new release

(N)Negativland -- No Business -- No Business -- Seeland (new record. http://negativland.com )
The Homosexuals -- prestel -- astral glamour (disc sampler donated to us from Tony Bleach -- acbleach.blogspot.com . Thanks! )
Dambuilders -- Blockhead (live Devo cover)--- Split 7" with San Francisco Seals (Barbara Manning) from 1994
Floyd Smith -- soul strut -- 45
(N)Dave Leibman / Ellery Eskelin Trio -- You Call it -- Different but the Same -- Hatology (http://hathut.com -- Leibman is currently a fellow Pocono resident in Stroudsburg. This is a pretty top notch new release.)
-----
Young Marble Giants -- Searching for Mr. RIght -- Colossal Youth
Chico Barque and Elis Regina -- Noite Dos Mascarados -- Garota de Ipanema Original Soundtrack (1967 brasilian film soundtrack on Philips)
Uzeda -- right seeds -- 4 -- Touch & Go
Fang -- the money will roll right in -- landshark
----
Ognir & The Nite People -- I Found A New Love -- 45 -- Samson records. Hazleton, Pa mid 60s garage punk. Found this last week while digging in Hazleton! )
Uno -- boogie beat -- 12" on Tyron Park
Klein & MBO -- Dirty Talk (instrumental) -- 12"
Positive Noise -- refugees -- v/a: Second City Statik: A Glasgow Compilation (Scottish punk and post-punk bands from 79)
(N) Early Man -- Tight -- s/t ep -- Monitor
----
The Slits -- typical girls -- 7"
Close Lobsters -- just too bloody stupid --
The Halo Benders -- On a Trip -- God don't make no junk
(N)Okotopi --- where's the beef? (there was no beef to this one. It was pretty boring and unmoving instro electronic blip-bloop stuff that went nowhere.Therefore, it was cut short. Sorry.)
The Passage -- do the -- lp --
Dinosaur L -- clean on your bean #1 -- Seeping Bag 12" (Arthur Russell
----
(N) Del Cielo -- be scared -- us vs. them
The Volcano Suns -- jab(?) --- bright orange years
Success 'N Effect -- blue print
Material -- discourse -- 12" ep
Circus Lupus -- split 7" w/ Trenchmouth (Dischord)
(N)Nouvelle Wave -- teenage kicks (cover of Undertones classic in this bossa nova style --new on Luaka Bop)

WMUH Playlist for 6/3/05 12-2pm

2005-06-09T22:28:00.000-04:00

Negativland -- Freedom's Waiting -- Free -- Seeland
Stiff Little Fingers -- Law & Order -- Peel Sessions ep --Strange Fruit
(Morning Call Newsbreak)
Chameleons -- Nostalgia -- The faun and the bellows
The Five Dutones -- the gouster -- v/a: Show 'em whatcha Got: Sixteen Soul Slathered Sizzlers
(N) Need New Body -- Magic Kingdom -- Where's Black Ben?
Robert Wyatt -- Alfie -- Rock Bottom
(N) Orthrelm -- Ov -- Ov -- Ipecac (played ohh...around 5 minutes of this 45 minute song -- which happens to be the entire record )
----
Franklin -- Slider -- Go Kid Go
Slovenly -- Plug -- 7" ep -- New Alliance
Oscar Brown Jr. -- I Was Cool -- Sin & Soul (R.I.P. Please read my notes below. He Was indeed Cool! )
Kebek Flektrik -- Wardance #1 -- 12" -- Rio (Electro Disco classic from Gino Soccio and Pat Deserio. Oddly enough the two usually went under the moniker "Kebekelektrik" , allowing me to wonder if this 81 release was a boot?)
----
Tom Ze -- Curiosidade -- 12" ep (remixed by John McEntire)
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers -- Freddie's Dead-- Super Freak (yes, this is a Curtis Mayfield cover. Funkier, with more breaks and all instro. The record also came out several years before the Rick James single.)
52nd Street -- Cool as Ice -- 12" -- Factory
(N) Kraftwerk -- Number (live) -- Min-Max (live)
Ony -- Modern Art -- 12" (private press synth pop/post punk from the early 80s found lurking in the massive WMUH record library!)
-----
(N) Sleater-Kinney -- Jumpers -- The Woods
(N) Ariel Pink -- Momento to -- Haunted Graffitti -- Paw Tracks
Deception Bay -- the place in the spur???(can't read my handwriting!) -- My Color
Oblivious -- Static Party -- Soul Food
Bad Brains -- supertouch -- rock for light
B People -- I Said Everybody -- Petrified Conditions 79-81
----
(N) Odd Nosdam -- Untitled Three -- Untitled Three
The Ex -- The Sky is Blue Again -- Disturbing Domestic Peace (Ex Records)
The Eyes -- Don't talk to Me -- 7"
45 King -- the Free Style -- 12" (Tuff City)

Notes ---
Just one really. It concerns the late Oscar Brown, Jr.
-- if you don't know about him, PLEASE read here----http://www.oscarbrownjr.com/WebPagesUS/biography.htm . Really incredible man he was. ANd of course, MSN News was late on the game -- as this was just posted hours ago -- but look here too while you are at it ---http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8159421/ . The song I played was a kind of more humourous and tongue-in-cheek song. But if you heard the song from Sin & Soul -- "Bid 'Em In", where it is just him as the voice of an auctioneer auctioning off a young Black woman into the slave trade, it is disturbing, downright horrifying and well... has put me to the brink of tears. This man was TRULY AMAZING! Do yourself a favor, read up on him. And if you can find a copy of Sin & Soul -- do it. It really is a great record.)

WMUH Playlist for 5/26/05 "Switch Day"

2005-06-01T07:15:00.000-04:00

12-2PM
Thursday, May 26th
WMUH Allentown
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh
(n)=new
(r)= request

This was a switch-day due to fellow dj Brian O'Neill hosting a live acoustic performance from the legendary rock band, The Strawbs. We were more than happy and willing to oblige. It looks like he had a lot of fun.
It was good that we also got to see our pal Tony (Love goes to building on fire : http://acbleach.blogspot.com/) --- who followed us up and has a show on Thursdays from 2-4pm. He was gracious enough to let us burn his copy of the Brazilian post-punk comp that just came out on Soul Jazz. It was a good time.

----

Negativland -- Drink it Up -- Dispepsi -- Seeland
Ratsia -- hkuuinen Rattaus -- v/a: Break the Rules -- Rare punk and power-pop 78-82 (This sounds like this was this bands take on The Buzzcocks "I don't Mind" -- in Swedish of course!)
James -- skullduggery -- stutter (I noticed that fellow pocono resident/patti smith guitarist Lenny Kaye produced this James album, thier first full length from 1985.)
Inez + Charlie Foxx -- I ain't going for that -- greatest hits
(n) Out Hud -- old nude -- let us never speak of it again -- kranky
Rapeman -- steak and black onions -- touch and go
-----
Omegatribe -- duty calls --- lp (crass people being more melodic. of course, all songs relating to freedom, peace, and unity!)
The Lifeguards -- everybody outta the pool -- 45 (this song was inapropriate. it got up to *maybe* 60 degrees that day. Nobody was in the pool. And if they were... then they better have heeded the adivce of the Lifeguards!)
Color Me Pop -- don't stop -- 45
Popol Vuh --- wilig arm -- seligpreisung
(r) This Heat -- solar -- health & efficiency -- piano/rough trade
----
The Triffids -- Tender is the Night -- Sandy Born Devotional -- rough trade
The Flesh Eaters -- dominoes -- no questions asked -- atavastic
Ralph Martiere -- Crazy, Man, Crazy -- 45 ("man, that music's gone!")
---
(n)Orange Juice -- Blue Boy -- v/a: (some domino records comp?)
Stockholm Monsters -- never really understand -- v/a: homework; diy post-punk (just watched the Factory Records dvd box set. It reminded us to pull out the homework comp.)
Agent on Travel -- in search of -- 7"
Lady B --- To the Beat Y'all -- 12" (early female hip-hop mc from philly.)
(n) Watchers -- the sun -- ???
----
(n) Million Dollar Marxists -- do the emotion -- give it a name
Radio Alarm Clocks -- psycho -- wake me when it's over -- (More of that distinct early Ohio punk sound. Sonics cover.)
Paris 1942 -- She Cracked -- v/a: amuck (Placebo records comp of Arizona bands. 2 covers in a row. This one a Modern Lovers cover)
The Burning Emotion -- thewhatchamacallit -- 45 (fun soul/r&b. it's a dance --- called thewhatchamacallit.)
Hall of Fame -- Baby, we... -- 7"
The Melvins -- forgotten principle -- demos: 83

-- there is a few more tracks I think to be added to this playlist. The other one will remember. ------

Playlist for 5/20/05

2005-05-27T06:06:00.000-04:00

WMUH 91.7 FM -Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pa.
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh
Friday, May 20th
12-2pm

--
Negativland -- You must respect copyright -- fair use -- seeland
Rameses -- (How do I speak to the) Earth People -- Space Hymns --- vertigo
GodHeadSilo -- chickenut drive -- skyward in triumph -- sub pop
(N) Dalek -- eyes to form shadows -- absence -- ipecac
(N) Thorny Shorby Nyenwi -- No Wrong Show -- v/a: Afrobaby: the evolution of the Afro-Sound in Nigeria 1970-79 -- Soundway
(N) Milky Wimpshake -- (I'm saving my heart from) you -- Popshaped lp
----
The Bentleys --Now It's Gone -- 45 -- Devlet (60s garage/fuzz. This track is so catchy. Can't find any information about them. This one came out on a label called Devlet. Anybody know???)
Modern Art -- Dear Dad -- 7" ep (Cleveland, Oh. late-70s art punk. They sort of sound like a cross between other Ohio greats -- Devo and Pere Ubu.)
Ana Hausen -- professionals -- 7" -- Human records (were they of any relation to Au Pairs? They are on the same label.)
The Fascination --
Meredith Monk -- fat stream -- Key lp
Ottawa -- 45 -- (Fooled me once, fooled me twice. Yet another not so great song with Jon Secada like vocals. I bet people listen to the show and think we are a novelty or "ironic" radio show. Proof that some disco sounds great on headphones, but in reality-- is bad.)
---
Ken Lazarus -- reggae hits -- Federal
(N) Eyeball Skeleton -- Smokey Turtle -- #1 -- my pal god (the brothers from Mayo Elementary score again!)
Def Jef -- Give it Here -- Just a Poet with Soul -- Delicious Vinyl
Shuggie Otis -- xl-30 -- inspiration information
(N) Ezee Tiger
----
(N)Unrest -- Champion Nines -- Imperial-- teenbeat -- (it appears teenbeat just reissued this great record.)
Replacements -- kicking your door down -- sorry ma, forgot to take out the trash -- twin/tone
(N)Z Trip -- The get down
(N) ZZZ ---
Gun Club -- carry home -- miami -- slash
Natural Decay --- 7"

Notes ---
Just one -- Rameses --- Formed by a guy who saw a vision one day and thought he was a reincarnation of an Egyptian god. His wife (or girlfriend?), who looks like your prototypical 60s blonde beauty hippie Manson Cult member-- sings this song, which is very eerie and spacy with odd noises and reverb in play. She wonders and hazily sings , "How can I speak to the earth people?".

Playlist for 5/13/05

2005-05-27T05:14:00.000-04:00

This is just half the playlist for now. For whatever reason, we slacked off this date--but we've got the show recorded so I'll try and post/revise the rest later--

Negativland -- why is this commercial? --Dispepsi -- seeland
Wire --- Mercy -- Chairs Missing
(N) The Evens -- Mt. Pleasant Isn't -- S/t -- dischord
Ottawan -- Rio -- 12" (brazilian disco, would be great if only the Jon Secada style-vocals were not present.)
The Free Design --- Kites are Fun -- Kites are Fun
----
(N) A-Frames -- Evan Braun -- Black Forest - sub pop
Esquerita -- rockin' the joint -- 45 -- norton
Pointed Sticks -- out of luck -- Perfect Youth
Shuggie Otis --Pling! -- Inspiration Information -- lp
KJ and 'Da Fellas -- Get Retarded (Now go) -- 12"
----
The Warmers --- Waling Solves It -- s/t -- Dischord
Trend -- Toy Section -- v/a: Break the Rules vol. 9: Rare punk and Powerpop 78-82 lp
(N) Aerial Pink -- artifact --
Michigan & Smiley -- living in a babylon -- lp
Wendy & Bonnie -- the Paisley Window Pane -- Genesis lp

---
Notes:

Wire's "Mercy" is an outstanding epic song. We decided to play this one because we misplaced our cd of it -- and we found a copy of Chairs Missing on LP the day previous for a very reasonable deal. Both 'Chairs Missing' and 'Pink Flag' are classic records that should not be slept on. Dare I say they singlehandedly influenced a mix of genres?
--Free Design "Kites are Fun"--- I was out flying a kite with my neice at a nearby park on one of those beautiful, breezy days we had. Sadly, She was not the one flying the kite -- I was. I had a lot of fun with her Snow White kite. It had a long, pink tail on it. Where was my neice in all of this? She was running around, looking at ducks and jumping on a slide, trying to grab some boys attention.
Well, I had fun anyways.
--- Pointed Sticks "Just a guy out of Luck" -- This Canadian punk/power-pop band that sounds like The Dickies --the band performed this song in the highly disturbing Dennis Hopper film "Out of the Blue" . If it wasn't for this band being featured in the movie, I would have had nightmares for days instead of just one night.
-- Esquerita -- the man who Little Richard stole his motif from. This 45 was reissued by Norton.
-- Wendy & Bonnie -- Two teenage sisters (they were the "Flower sisters" -- no lie) from San Francisco who had help from studio musicians. Their career didn't last too long, sadly. The label this came out on (Skye, which was put together by Cal Tjader and some other musicans/record industry people -- failed. And then one of their backing musicians mysteriously died while drunk at a barstool. This lp is reccomended if you like Free Design, Stereolab, Edith Frost, Rebecca Gates even??? Excellent songwriting for such young lads. In our "American Idol" world , their kind of creativity would never be pushed. Truly a artifact of the 60s.)

A hearty thanks

2005-05-24T15:32:00.000-04:00

I am writing this now with my eyes having been dialated and I am seeing things a little blurry across my computer screen --- but...On behalf of my twin, Zach , and myself -- I would like to express a warm thanks to the people who came out to The Evens show on Sunday evening at the Hughes Library in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Since the summer of 1998 we have been doing events sporadically at the library---it has become our favorite spot to do shows. And while we have had fond memories of each event, workshop (music and non-music related) this one has been particulary great in many manners.
First, it was great from a perspective of nearly everyone I saw there (and there was quite a few people in attendance) leave with a smile on thier face. Second, there was a generous showing of monetary donations that exceeded any previous event we have done there. To those that gave, thanks a lot. To those that didn't -- thanks for just being there, but special thanks to those that gave.
I will tell you why it is important to help donate to a public library. Public libraries are in my mind, a foundation of knowledge and culture. Unfortunately, there are sometimes people that would like to see some of that foundation taken away. It isn't even relegated to one political party or group of curmudgeon old blowhards as it would sometimes seem.
So, it was good for the library staff and board to notice that this event was very successful in that manner. The generosity of those who give or can afford to give are appreciated. We already have some ideas in mind for future events, and that money will help maintain that we can do more programs there. Ian told us, "Please keep doing stuff here as long as you can." And, while we will both most likely be leaving this burg within a years time -- we would like to utilize that opportunity while we have it.
Wherever we may be in the future, we would still like to be connected with our community roots --- wether it be by doing shows in the punk spirit, or more workshops, rallies, etc. And if anyone reads this in any locale -- I urge you to not take your local community for granted. If you live in a small town and think no one is like you, you are gravely mistaken. If you think no one would like to see a bunch of small punk bands from a high school play -- you are wrong. Build it up.
My brother and I have seen unfortunately, a lot of people come and go. Not just people who left the area -- that's understandable-- people get jobs, etc. But we have met a lot of "fly by night" kids who used to call us names, say we weren't doing punk shows because they didn't fit a mold or style that they felt comfortable with.
You know what--- forget them. Do what you like. That's what we've always done, and it might not be the most popular with some individuals--- and sometimes you may get a dozen people to show up or you may have a couple of hundred or more show up to a show or event.
Don't let those things about audience draw come first. Of course you want to do your best to try and get people out but making money out of the independent music scene or out of activism is not going to happen too often. I've lost some money here and there on doing this and the only times I've actually made money out of a show was a pure fluke and added up to perhaps a meals worth for 3 or 4 people at a cheap diner.
It is difficult sometimes, and sometimes it can be a real hassle -- but it really is a labor of love and for me comes from the idea that you can share something with your community yourself -- and not have to deal with those major rock clubs. It is important to keep that do it yourself ethic alive. There are a lot of people doing that in this country and here in eastern pa...(read the following paragraph for a somewhat namedrop)...
I would also like to thank Robert and Jeff the Pigeon in Allentown for actually taking the initiative themselves to contact us about how they didn't want to do a show at the same time we were. That was nice and there was indeed a minor amount of crossover in the audience at the show who were going to that one afterwards. So thanks.

So...thanks for everything and I promise I will post those playlists tomorrow (for those that like that sort of thing).

Important Announcement

2005-05-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

just confirmed a few minutes ago...(late confirmation, but eh..whatcha gonna do?)
HUGHES PUBLIC LIBRARY
1002 NORTH NINTH STREET
STROUDSBURG, PA (ie: this show is closer to you than the philly show--- plus it is free and you can chill in the pokeys and we offer free refreshments)

---
Sunday May 22nd
doors @ 6pm
show starts by 7pm
all ages
free* donations strongly encouraged. please make us look good here!!!
An evening with...
THE EVENS
(dischord records. wash. dc. ian mackaye and amy farina)

monroepl.org for directions
or e-mail --
z.baker @ (no spam) gmail.com

thanks, help spread the word. eastern pa people (lehigh valley, wilkes-barre, poconos) and northern nj too -- i'm looking for your help to spread the word. tell all your friends, pass this along to your e-mail pals, your "blogs" -- what have you.
i'll be passing out flyers for the next few days.

Playlist for 5/6/05 "Back for Summer" (a 50 degree start)

2005-05-06T21:03:00.000-04:00

12-2pm
91.7 fm WMUH allentown
(n)=new
* = request

(N) Eyeball Skeleton -- bouncing apes -- #1 -- my pal god
Lizzy Mercier Descloux -- jim on the move -- Press Color -- Ze
Barundi Black -- second part -- 12" (catchalot)
(N) Shipping News --- (moray on) demon -- flies the fields -- quarterstick
John Asbery w/ Ann Lauterbach -- Liturgy -- v/a: Sugar, Alcohol, and Meat : The Dial-A-Poem Poets 2xlp -- Giorno Poetry Systems
---- (on -air break music --- Music Boxes of Long Ago: swiss and american music boxes of the 19th century -- Cook Records 10") -----
----
Rory Storm and the Hurricans -- I can Tell -- v/a: The Exciting New Liverpool Sound: The Authentic Merseybeat recorded in Liverpool, England (mid-60s merseybeat compilation on Columbia)
The Gories -- ghost rider -- v/a: Invitation to Suicide 2x7" (Get Hip -- early 90s garage punk tribute to Suicide)
Lemon Kittens -- Funky 7 -- V/A: Hoisting the Black Flag (1980. United Dairies w/ Nurse with Wound , Whitehouse, etc)
The Balinese Gamelan - Gender Wayung: Anasarun : Music from the Morning of the World (Nonesuch Explorer)
---------
(N) Burmese -- thumbsucker -- Men -- Load
Father & Sons -- Soul in the Bowl (part 2) -- 45 (nice dirty r&b instro)
Jamaica Girls -- rock the beat -- 12" (early 80s disco/electro)
Grade A (Otis Brown's Grade A)-- Strut On -- 12" -- OTB
Medium Medium -- Mice or Monsters -- The Glitterhouse -- Cherry Red/Cachalot
(N) A-Frames -- Galena -- Black Forest --- sub pop
---------
(N) Solex -- yadda yadda -- the laughing joke of indie rock
The Limit -- Do It -- 7" -- survival (1981. post-punk/synth from UK?)
Sightings -- canadian revival -- absolutes --riot season
Guitar Wolf -- kung-fu ramones -- v/a: Tokyo Trashville
(N) Brother JT -- Message to the Clerk v/a: A second tribute to JANDEK : Down in A mirror
The Remains -- Why do I Cry? -- 45
(N) French Toast -- New Dub -- In a Care -- Dischord
Fresh Three MCs -- A few Minutes More -- 12" -- profile
(N)* Caribou -- Kite -- The Milk of Human Kindness

--- Eyeball Skeleton are a group of young grade school brothers and thier father on drums/drum machine. I first heard about them a year and a half ago thanks to Jon Solomon's show on WPRB, who would play thier then demo cdr singles -- eventually leading to on-air appearance on Dr. Cosmo's show. Since then, things have blown up for the boys from Mayo Elementary -- and they have a record out on Jon's label -- My Pal God.It really is #1! and "the Bouncing apes" was the first song played on today's show! Please, check out thier website at http://www.eyeballskeleton.com or order thier record at: http://mypalgodrecords.com

--- The poetry trac "Liturgy" by John Asbery w/ Ann Lauterbach, as found on the Dial-A-Poem Poets 2xlp "Sugar, Alcohol, and Meat -- can be found, along with practically all Dial-A-Poem poetry readings put out by John Giorno online in FREE MP3 format at: http://ubuweb.com . There, you can find a bunch of recordings from poets, performance artists, and avant-garde musicians -- all archived. So, instead of calling up a hotline that no longer exists, you can just type in the address bar , and there you go!
The record played on today's show was also from the Mr. Mark collection that can be found tucked away safely at the station. The late Mr. Mark was a man who left his "mark" on WMUH, and was known for his witty, surrealistc stories. He was a genius. If only he was to have had his work on the Giorno site!
---A-Frames -- heard this record like twice today after the radio show when chilling out at Double Decker, and it sunk in. I officially think this is the best "new release" of the week.
--- The Remains -- were a fantastic garage band from the mid-60s. Story behind that one is that that rare single was found for free -- and it was stamped WEEX , a radio station out of Easton, Pa. that Idle Rich tells me now has some sort of sport radio affiliation these days -- and that the single may never have been played before -- as they used cart machines exclusively to play music on,
-- See you next week! It's great to be back on the air!
-- Vague Angels (Chris Leo) show this mother's day at the Pirate's Cove in Allentown!

-Z1 and 2.

What do I have up my sleeve? One Playlist!

2005-04-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

I was hoping to find more playlists (there was three during the Spring Break)-- but alas, I have only found one -- And what's more-- there was no date listed! So, I call this Mid-March Playlist #3.

(N)Scritti Politti -- 28/8/78 -- early -- Rough Trade
Cranium -- you pretend that you depend...-- Another music for another Kitchen -- Slowdime
Tornadoes-- chasing moombeams -- telstar: the sounds of the tornadoes
Bohemain Vendetta-- I want to touch your heart --- 45 -- Mainstream
(N)Ted Leo/Pharmacists -- Six months on a leaky boat --- Mp3 stolen from itunes
---
Nervebreakers -- I Confess --v/a: Tales from the Edge
(N) Sole -- A Typical--live in rome
John Benson Brooks Trio --- satan takes... -- Avant Slant (One plus 1= II?A twelve-tone collage) lp
Sunny and the Sunliners-- every week, every month,every year-- 45
(N) LCD Soundsystem -- toomuchtone-- s/t
-----
100 Flowers -- Sensible Virgin -- EP -- Happy squid
The Hook -- you turn your head -- s/t (or otherwise known as "THE HOOK ..WILL GRAB YOU")
Sham 69-- if the kids are united (live) --- sham 69 live -- dojo
(N)The Evens-- around the corner
-----
Los Microwaves --- Home Alone-- life after breakfast
(N) Retisonic -- cooling card-- v/a: until the shaking stops: A tribute to Jawbox
X Clan --f.t.p. -- 12"
Plus Instruments -- bodies -- v/a: Dokument-- Ten Highlights in history of Popular Music -- 1981-1982
(N)The Weegs -- Realize-- v/a: Golden Grouper Vol.1(GSL)
Happy People -- happy people -- v/a: amuck (pheonix , az. groups from the early 80s)
(N) The Bell Rays --- ---- red, white, and black --- alternative tentacles
----
Public Enemy -- show em whatcha got-- it takes a nation of millions to hold us back (in tribute to the tribute)
(N) Dressy Bessy -- hey may --/va: a house full of friends
Francoise Hardy -- vaspasprendreon tambour-- chante sessurces
Wagadu-- easy dancing-- 12"
---
Three Johns -- english white boy engineer -- some history
(N) Air Conditioning--live at no fun fest 7" (White Denim/White Tapes)

Comments:
---Scritti Politti re-issue of all their early singles on rough trade and demos is solid! Please, do yourself a favor and pick this one up! It's before they went"pop",but man....can't stress enough how much this has been on my personal rotation lately. I have the 4 A-Sides 12", and this collection includes it all. I have to say though, they should have utilized the old artwork from some of the early singles, because the packaging sucks! Other than that however, this record is flawless.

---Ted Leo --great cover, but what is with the "itunes only" release? I love Ted, but come on.

---John Bensons Brooks Trio is a crazed collage of sound bites, poems, gags, "trippy" humor all with a free/avant jazz music backing it. I need to start putting up photos of some of myfavorite record covers on here--- because this is one of them!

---The Hook was an underrated 60s garage/psych group in the vein of Blue Cheer. I don't think their records go for all that much, but then again, I haven't seen many around. BUt if you do....

-- The Evens wins my spot for best new release. The record captures the intensity of their live performance.

-Cranium-- were a great DC artpunk group in themid-late 90s. They have morphed into Brooklyn's Gang Gang Dance. Don't let the name fool you -- they aren't "dance punk". Or at least, though they have all sorts of influences do not come across as the third-rate current crop like Bloc Party.

that's all for now.

Playlist mania

2005-03-30T18:22:00.000-05:00

I will be updating the playlists -- it appears i misplaced them, but hope is on the way -- I at least have one of them in my possesion.
Anyhow, there is a lot to discuss as far as how much new music (recordings) we've amassed recently. Also -- we do have the Australian disc compilation ready. If you would like a copy, let me know.
Zach is going to be covering Cornel West for the East Stroudsburg University newspaper when he comes by on Wednesday, April 13. Our pal brian (brianlightbody.com) is going to be doing some flyers for that event. When we have them, we will post them.
Also, last week marked the 25th anniversary of Archbishop Romero of El Salvador's assasination. I am going to put up a link about him, so some of you who might not have heard of him, can check out what he was all about.

A belated quote in tribute of International Women's Day

2005-03-10T12:40:00.000-05:00

"It's Injustice that motivates us to do something, to take risk, knowing if we don't, things will
remain the same."
- Digna Ochoa y Placido

Intimate Settings

2005-03-05T15:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday's radio show went well. I forgot to copy the playlist at the station, so I will mention it all as soon as possible.
Our friend Tom went with us to WMUH -- his first time at the studios--- and I'm pretty sure he fell in love with it.
Anyhow, anybody in the Eastern Pa./NJ or anywhere else for that matter should check out Double Decker Records in Allentown. Jamie just moved into a massive location across the street this past week-- and it isn't claustrophobic! (though we joked with him yesterday about how we would probably still manage to trip over things, etc.)
Also, he's going to have a room for 12"s and dollar stuff-- and...the basement, which is also pretty large-- is going to be transformed into a bookstore he is doing. Lots of great plans are in store for Double Decker, and I for one am pretty excited about it.
We also went down to Philadelphia to check out the Rachels/Ida show, which was a seated show in the sanctuary at the First Unitarian Church. The place was pretty packed, and outside of the poor addict who was snorting coke next to me, (he was sweating and kept getting up like every few minutes to grab coffee-- as if he wasn't a bundle of wacked out nerves already!)-- it was a great, intimate event that I will not forget for a while. A great way to start spring break!

Back on the air at WMUH for three shows starting tomorrow!

2005-03-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

We will be doing a few slots during the Spring Break schedule.
Tomorrow -- Friday, March 4th from 12-2pm --
Next Thursday at time unknown (well, I forget the time-- but it's happening) and next Friday as well from 12-2pm.
So if you are in the greater lehigh valley area and southern Monroe county-- you can tune in at 91.7 fm or listen live on the web via realaudio at http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh.

also-- I just wanted to chime in and let this out -- My bro and I occasionally book shows-- and for the first time in a while, I've been dealing with booking agents. And now I remember why they are a pain.
I like and prefer dealing with musicians direct. I like and prefer all-ages, diy shows. It sucks that when you would like to expose an area such as eastern pennsylvania-- north of philadelphia--- to great musicians from only an hour and 20 minutes away from here to the east-- you have to go through guys talking about guarantees nearly 2,000 dollars. especially when the group is on an indie label, and is barely visible out of the world of new york and perhaps the art rock/ noise community (a niche, as limited as its scope may be)-- to expect that kind of money is ludicrous in say any of the other eastern pa cities-- and i would say even philadelphia.
if booking agents want that kind of money-- perhaps they can get it from colleges-- where limited amount of people go see the shows (it makes the shows more intimate, yes-- but it is also limited) and sometimes the college kids that do go end up gawking at the musicians (especially at this type of group).

i've been knocked on my feet cold by some small groups traveling through places such as the pirate's cove or jeff the pigeon -- both in allentown-- more than some of the larger name groups from that noise rock community.
i've been floored by some localish groups from the lehigh valley and (at a time)-- wilkes-barre.

i've never had an agent even make that kind of ridiculous offer from even the likes of larger, more well known groups.
this business side of the record/music industry sickens me. i understand people need to make a living-- and not everyone that is playing has a "day job".
but to expect someone to pay that amount in most places outside of a few major cities is ridiculous
and that is why i prefer the diy community over the indie rock community-- which, just like ted leo or ian mackaye, i feel little to no connection with.
the people at diy shows will venture out to basements, to all ages clubs, small art spaces, warehouses, etc-- and watch great performers perform.
it isn't about "getting drunk" and "watching the new, hip bands" in a big, corporate rock club atmosphere---or only going to shows in new york or philly.
as silly as it may sound, it is about a love for seeing and hearing new things in an atmosphere devoid of "business" and profits.
and it is fun too. you don't know how much fun i've seen people have at diy shows. it is a lot more communal, less stuffy.
it's like a fun party.
and if bands would rather keep playing only colleges where they can be guaranteed more money-- but most likely to less enthusiastic crowds (princeton crowds were the exception to this rule though in my experience, they were pretty open and knew how to have fun those ivy leaguers)-- then they can keep it up, but they are missing out.

My review of the NYU Public Enemy conference/tribute and the Ralph Nader/Patti Smith Anti-War rally

2005-03-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

I arrived just in time for the screening of the Public Enemy documentary titled "London Calling". It was basically footage of the first PE show in London -- (most likely where the "London, Englaannd! Are you ready!" intro came from) with some more current footage from the last PE visit to London.
It got a little tedious at points, but it was overall insightful.
There was a pretty big focus on Flav and his role in the group (Chuck said he made his job "easy") which basically was to allow comic relief and added a balance to the mix when Chuck would be rhyming about some pretty heavy handed political/social subject matter.
At the same time, the directors addressed the controversy surrounding Professor Griff and his comments, and why he had such a tiff with Flav.
Griff brought a feeling of tension during the interviews. He still seems pretty steamed over a lot of things. He really felt (and from what I can sense-- still feels) that Flav was too ridiculous for the group.
He took his job serious. He mentioned how he broke a few of Flav's clocks and got into some pretty intense confrontations with him. His rationale was basically how could they be setting an example and sending a message when they had a person in the group that was basically the exact person they were trying to reach to.
Griff stated his comments on Jews was wrong, and if he could take the comment back he would-- but still felt it was also taken out of context.
Griff also showed more tension when he felt as though in the past he didn't receive credit for writing and co-writing some of the old songs. He was playing live drums for PE on thier last tour and also wrote the "Son of a Bush" song.
Also interviewed were a couple of the S-1's. They don't dress up in the complete militant regalia anymore (no dancing on stage with fake uzi's).
They instead seem to dress up in kevlar-looking body armor and do some dance moves.
They were really interesting guys---but i felt the story behind those guys and thier role had a little bit missing-- oh well.
There was a lot of comedic moments-- courtesy of Flav mostly. His antics are just incredible.
Anyhow-- there was some problems with sound cutting in and out-- and the PA system sounded a little low and mono-ish, which I think hindered the presentation of the film a bit and I think in turn it made the performance aspect of the film -- a very tedious one.
It was still good and informative-- and got to the heart of how they have grown since then as individuals.

After the screening they were going to have critics come in and speak (vivien goldman, robert christgau, alan light, etc)-- it would have been interesting-- but my bro and i jetted out to catch the Ralph Nader/Patti Smith thing up at an Ethical Society off Central Park West.

I get to the Nader/Smith Anti-War Rally-- there was around 300 people there (as oppsed to the 400-500 people that were probably at the PE docu screening)--
I have to break down here and also mention that there was a lot of rustling and people leaving during the PE docu,. I guess the poor sound quality got to a lot of people.

Back to the Nader thing.

I believed I missed a speaker, but arrived in the midst of a young military vet guy who is already back from the current Iraq War (as if it ever really ended).
He had a lot of interesting things to say during his short speech. He discussed how he was exposed in the military-- and how many soldiers are exposed to nuclear waste-- and how had an amount of nuclear waste in his body-- yet this is somehow considered "safe" by our government.
He talked about the post-traumatic stress disorder that a lot of soldiers find themselves in. He painted a good picture of what it was like for him and many others who he said are in the military and yet are very set against this war.
he was shaky and all but i really felt a lot of respect for the guy.
Next was some guy who was a Green candidate for NY Governor-- and I think he is thinking of taking the Green position in perhaps the nyc mayoral race-- I'm not sure.
He was pretty interesting and all. But his plan for no automobiles outside of public transit and taxis in Manhattan sounds like he made a few people in the crowd antsy-- especially those from the veggie oil/bio-diesel/hybrid crews.

Anyhow next came Patti Smith-- she had her drummer play guitar along with her-- and she played 5 songs. Man... I had never seen her before, and even though I have a few of her old lp's-- i've never considered myself a "big" or "major" fanatic of hers. But--- she really was captivating and her voice and delivery was just spot on. I think I have grown a huge amount of respect for her. She did a song where she let out some great kind of chorus and holding of notes in a similar vein of that one song she did with REM (which was perhaps the best song from that record-- and one of my fave REM songs ever because she makes that song so beautiful).
She was just so amazing.
Following that was Ralph-- who came and spoke on how he thinks people need to use thier voice to be heard-- he was just trying to energize the crowd of mostly die-hard fans of his to keep at it. I think the crowd was mixed though.
I do think there were some people that are fans of ralph that were there that voted kerry, but still view ralph as an asset to our country-- a guy speaking sense when even the majority of elected democrats are looking at the iraq issue as a "dead issue"-- or are just wondering how to put it on the table to discuss it anymore.

After Ralph spoke, he was to come back for a Q&A session --and Patti was to come back for an encore to end the night.- but before that-- they had a couple of the Students for Nader kids get up on the podium and ask for donations to help them get out of debt witht he last election.

Friends know how i feel about the massive amounts of money that the Democrats (some of whom hired Republican law firms, and even the DNC and PAC'S like Moveon.org got in on the game of "smear Nader") used to oust nader from ballot access in several states (including here in Pa)-- my beef with them has been discussed at length here on this board. Let's just say I saw some blatant illegal actions and dirty tricks that these goons did to ralph AND many of thier own registered democrats in Philadelphia county--who only signed petitions to allow ralph on the ballot-- NOT to vote for him.

anyways...

even though i felt as though ralph was wrongly treated , i noticed the crowd shrunk in half. i guess it did get to sound like a pretty sad begging for money thing for a bit===but what can you say? they have the right i think to do that after the way they were treated.

Ralph came back to do a Q+ A session. Some of the questions were excellent. it seemed as though there was some dispute between a guy and a couple of the Greens who helped curate the rally-- which kind of made me feel a little uneasy and more and more away from the Greens in a slight way.

Anyhow, Patti came back and did an ecnore with her "People have the Power" song.
It was good, and I had a nice discussion with some Socialists at the place afterwards...

but the real highlight and actual kick in the pants i needed came the following day with the Revolutionary Voices panel with Chuck D ...

ok, so I went back Saturday afternoon/eveing for the panel discussion called "Revolutionary Voices". I missed a couple of other things, such as the Glen E. Friedman Political Activism thing

(*side note* Friedman's website had photos of the Nader/Smith thing on Wall Street that he did the day prior to election day-- and he seems to be an unabashed Nader supporter, so that makes me feel somewhat not so left out when most "moved on" and went for Kerry-- understandably in some ways, and not so understandable in other ways I think-- but that is not really for discussion right now, as I think I've beat that to the ground in the last several months) and the Def Jam team , Producers, and PR people for PE at that time.

The place was packed. No room literally. The place was swelling, and unlike the previous night-- there was hardly and shuffling about. People seemed to be very engaged in the discussion.

The panel discussion included -- Chuck D, Hank Shocklee, Fab Five Freddy (and his daughter), Daddy-O from Stetsasonic, Vernon Reid and Corey Glover from Living Colour,and two original members of the S1 W's.
The moderator was the guy that put the event together at NYU. Daddy-0 was probably the most halarious of the bunch. His reminiscing of the "old days" gave this kind of tingly feeling to you, even though I was just in elementary school and junior high during the times they discussed.
Fab Five Freddy was also really cool-- I had no idea his godfather was Max Roach-- or that he grew up in such a political household (then again, maybe this was mentioned in the discussion segment of the Wild Style dvd--- speaking of which -- Charlie Ahearn who did Wild Style/co-wrote "yes Yes Y'all" was in the audience and Fab gave a shout out to him-- with some wild applause for Wild Style from the audience-- I spoke briefly with Ahearn after the discussion ended)

Vernon Reid also had some incredible things to say, both politically and on music in a social context. I was honestly floored-- both he and Chuck D I think hit the nail on the head for me.

Chuck was just great. He called the current state of music "R & B music" meaning--"Reagan and Bush Music."
There was a Q&A session afterwards and people asked about how musicians and activists can approach the current state we are in and work on it to make things work out. Chuck gave some really thoughtful answers.
Vernon Reid talked about how he went and visited some black villages in Uruguay and how we as americans live in this phony, sheltered :"reality tv" world.
CHuck had some things to say about that when a question was posed about Flavor's current star of that reality show on vh-1. he said flav tells them that "I'm doing reality tv"-- and Chuck said that he had to tell him that "The reality is, is that Tv is doing you."
I had a guy that was sitting behind me that runs some hip-hop label, he has been working with some guy that is in jail right now-- and has been trying to get him to read philosophy and great works of literature. But this guy just wants to rhyme about "the streets".
He asked Chuck and the panel how to go about it. Shocklee told him that it was something he probably didn't want to hear--but you can't change someone like that. They've got to change themselves-- abnd he would have to do something bigger than he is, or that anyone for that matter-- can handle-- which would be to change the industry by himself.
Daddy-O chimed in and said he would have to get some of his guys out and hjad one of his big friends in the audience stand up and tell him if he spent a day with him and a few of his other pals-- then that might set this guy straight (I'm imagining like some sort of "Drop Squad" type situation!).

In regards to "Night of the living Baseheads" Chuck mentioned about the old days and how crack was this massive epidemic in NY at the time, and how they would roll into town after playing a tour and they would see guys playing basketball at 4:30 in the morning. he said he knew they were on something.
Also, he mentioned about how though Baambaataa was truly the 12" king, he remembered how dj's would bring in tons of crates and sometimes they would be like, "man, why do i have this Meco 12", or this lame Giorigio Moroder track? What did i pick this up for?"--

Quarterly CDR Music Club

2005-02-03T20:23:00.000-05:00

Well, if you have been checking out the page, you will notice we haven't updated in a couple of weeks.
We were offered a couple of nice slots this semester, but unforuntately they weren't so "nice" to our work/school schedules.
One thing that seperates us from other "collectors" out there is that we love to share music. Instead of hoarding what we think of as gems, we love to share them with listeners , some who have called in from Texas, California, and even Australia (though I sometimes wonder if these out of the area callers are former WMUH personalities--but whatever-- that's awesome either way!).
Well, we have thought it through, and once every calendar season, we would like to create genre specific cdr's-- a mix-- if you will-- of all of our favorites, culling them from some fairly hard to find 45's , lps, 12"s and demos.
we would like to do a series of them--- compilations will include---

Australian/New Zealand post-punk
Soul/R&B
Rockabilly
Texas garage groups of the 60s.
Boston, Mass punk and post-punk of the late 70s and 80s.
Washington, DC bands of past and present
Midwestern "heartland" punk/rock of the 80s (breaking out the Homestead and Twin/Tone records catalogs for this!)
US Power-Pop
Funk 45s
Old-School hip-hop/electro
Golden Age era hip-hop
British Freakbeat/Mod
Afrobeat
Latin funk/jazz/boogaloo (including texas, brazil, cuba, nyc, mexico, latin america)
Leftfield Disco
German/European post-punk (fred vom jupiter will be on this!)
Krautrock/German psych
UK art damage/post-punk
Electronic and Avant Garde
World Music :
Africa
Asian
Latin American
Native American
and ... due to my own musical scene background...
Eastern Pa/NJ punk and hardcore of the 80s and 90s. (spotlighting the Lehigh Valley)

If you want to find out more on how you can obtain these compilations--- please contact me at z.baker (@nospam) @ gmail.com.
they will most likely be free of charge. perhaps a dollar or two post-paid. or, if you want to trade mixes-- that's even better!

also-- I mentioned the Lehigh Valley scene-- I just got an e-mail from Frank Foe -- and he just added a ton of mp3s on his website. check it out here---

Peace out--

Z1 and Z2

get up and go to school ( a new semester dawns)

2005-01-14T23:43:00.000-05:00

* = new release
R = request
v/a: various artists
------------------
Negativland -- Why is this commercial? --Dispepsi (Seeland)
Sods --- Television Sect-- v/a: Bloodstains across Denmark
Liliput/Kleenex (whichever name you prefer) --- You -- discography (Kill Rock Stars)
Ui ---Have a Good Time --- 12" ep (Soul Static Sound)
Madvillain -- Accordian -- Madvillainy (Stones Throw)
Gil Evans -- Nana --- Wher Flamingos Fly (Artists House)
-------------------

Cockney Rejects --- The New Song -- Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Dojo)
The Embarrassment -- Podmen -- God Help Us (Bar None)
Ken Lazarus -- You're Gonna Need Somebody (45 -- Steady Records--Reggae Series)
*Boy Division -- Outdoor Miner (Wire cover) -- v/a: A Houseguests' Wish: Translations of Wire's "Outdoor Miner"
Slant 6-- LoveShock -- Soda Pop Rip-Off (Dischord)
Nikki Sudden & David Kudsworth: Jacobites-- Pin Your Heart to Me -- The Ragged School (Twin/Tone)
Mantronix -- Music Madness -- Music Madness
-------------------

Francis Bebey -- Bissau -- Akwaabaa: Music for Sanza
Cluster/Brian Eno -- Taima Narki -- Old Land
Minimal Compact -- Introspection Nexda -- v/a: Dokument : Ten Highlights of 1981-1982 (Vinyl)
Loose Joints -- Pop Your Funk -- The World of Arthur Russell (Soul Jazz)
(R) Kraftwerk -- dentak -- The Mix (Unfortunately, this was the only Kraftwerk the station had--- sorry to the caller that requested this--)
*Pilot Scott Tracy -- Do it --- Any City (Alternative Tentacles-- new from Causey Way people)
Mark Robinson --- The Warm Series (Teenbeat)
3 --- Swan Street -- Dark Days Coming (Dischord)
* The Popular Shapes -- Song 2 --7" (White Denim --Allentown's own-- http://www.whitedenim.com )
* The Organ -- A Sudden Death
-----------
Pookey Blow -- Get Up and Go to School -- v/a: The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip-Hop (1979-1983) (Stones Throw)
Bad Bascomb -- I feel Like Dancing (45)
I'm Spartacus -- Donna is Distressed -- v/a: Beyond the Southern Cross : New Zealand and Austrailian Indie Recordings--1978-83-- more incredible post-punk from the lands down under)
Storm Bugs-- Eat Good beans -- Table Matters 7" (Loop. 1980)
------------
Tall Dwarfs -- CRUSH --- Hello Cruel World (Homestead--- more music from New Zealand)

--------------
Show Highlights/Remarks---

Boy Division's cover of Wire's classic melodic cut, "Outdoor Miner", did not do the original justice. Well, outside of Flying Saucer Attack and maybe even Lush, most of the covers were pretty sad--this one was better than most. I will say it is admirable that someone is willing to make a compilation of just one Wire song. If I were forced to do such a thing, 'The 15th' by Wire, (who FISCHERSPOONER covered pretty well actually, on an otherwise dissapointing record of theirs--) would be the song for me.

Francis Bebey-- well, I picked up this album last week at Double Decker for 3 bucks. I sampled it at the store and was really excited about it. I went home and did a search for it and came up with Gregory B. Lyons' blog/playlists. Greg had a great show on WPRB Princeton called "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" , before he landed a job at a University in Switzerland. And he did this three hour show devoted to Bebey. You can read about it here . Scroll down a bit to March 7th, 2004 and read his insightful comments.
Also, a bit more interest on the subject of Bebey-- Just a few days later, I went to a thrift shop and found a cassette copy of a mix-tape of Bebey's work from various albums-- and also an interview from a New York City public radio station that I forget offhand. The interview was conducted sometime in the 90s, but before he passed away. It spotlights his vocal techniques and his playing of woodwind instruments and the thumb piano (mbira/swanza) . The interview is sadly cut short on the cassette tape.
But someone was telling me something. This was officially "Francis Bebey Week" here at Ruxpin HQ.

Storm Bugs -- were a sound collage/tape experiment group from the Uk circa 1980. They were Philip Sanderson and Steven Ball. They have a interesting website with a bio about them at http://stormbugs.co.uk --and also, they are fairly prolific installation/media artists--see and view thier works here -- http://pipsand.co.uk and http://www.steven-ball.net . I find it interesting to know that people that were working on such things 25 years ago are still at it today-- and that their artwork is actually pretty decent. I think I like this about people that came from the diy community-- that the attitude and aesthetic is something that people take with them.

finally found a new car

2005-01-07T14:11:00.000-05:00

Radio Ruxpin Playlist 1/6/04 12-2 pm WMUH Allentown
http://muhlenberg.edu/wmuh
* new release
v/a: -- various artists
(R) = request

Negativland -- You must respect copyright -- fair use -- seeland
Alice Coltrane -- Universal Consciousness -- Universal Consciousness -- Impulse!
Steve Fisk -- Donna Summer on the Radio -- V/A: Regional Zeal : Mouth Music from Olympia, Washington -- Palace of Lights Records
100 Flowers -- Drawing Fire -- Ep -- Happy Squid
*Smoke and Smoke -- how did the cook get his? french kiss
-------
*Deerhoof -- milk man -- Milk Man -- Kill Rock Stars
Stetsasonic -- on fire -- On fire -- Tommy Boy
Other Music -- Compulsive Behavior -- Incidents out of Context -- flying fish
The Ex -- dog tree -- Turn -- Touch & Go
-------
Bobby & Laurie -- you'll come 'round -- (mid 60s aussie rocker) 45 single
The Masonics -- Never so Sad -- 7" Super Electro Sound Recordings
Delroy Wilson -- Put Yourself In My Place -- 45 (on some label that was stamped on that I cannot make out from Kingston, Jamaica)
Volcano Suns -- White Elephant -- All-Night Locust Party -- Homestead Records
Lower Reed Bread Ganng -- s.o.s. -- v/a: In a Sharp Malaised Key 45 (nice mellow instrumental from this Wash, DC group from 1998)
The Pop Group -- The Boys from Brazil -- Y --
--------
The Endtables -- process of elimination -- v/a: Bloodstains across the Midwest
The Professionals -- tghe godfather -- v/a: Status Breaks vol. 2 (nice, funky breaks --but full songs--not just "the breaks")
Marine Girls -- lazy ways -- v/a: Pillows & Prayers -- Cherry Red records 1982
Massacre -- Gate -- Killing Time
Lantei Lamptey -- Noko Nfemi (I'm Suffering) -- 45 African Music Explosion
Alexander Balanescu -- later, the skies clear -- Lume Lume -- Klangpark
--------
Headstones -- Wish She Were Mine -- v/a: Texas Punk 1965-67 McAllan, Texas: Journey Through Pharoah's Valley -- Sicadelic
*Calvin Johnson -- Sorry Entertainer v/a: The late Great Daniel Johnston discovered Uncovered
Jon Thomas -- hey, hey baby -- heartbreak lp
Severed Heads -- petrol -- v/a: beyond the southern cross lp (austrailian/new zealand post-punk 78-83)
*J.O.Y. -- Sunplus -- sunplus ep. -- DFA (good-- sounds like a mix of Slits and Raincoats-- modernized a bit, but dang!)
Red Krayola -- Penny Capitalists -- Corrected Slogans (Art and Language and The Red Krayola) -- Rough Trade
(R) Stiff Little Fingers -- Gotta Get Away -- Hanx! (live album)
Trotsky Icepick -- the light pours out on me (Magazine cover)

--Highlights--

Negativland-- we usually start out the show with them, but I mentioned this story over the air -- http://fhwang.net/blog/44.html
Lantei Lamptey --incredible afrobeat! Google tells me this guy is originally from Ghana, but now teaches at Penn State (or someone with the same name teaches there). Perhaps I'll look him up one of these days!
--The Headstones -- I am a sucker for any 60s garage rock from Texas.
--I really am into this Severed Heads guy. Can't say much for the record covers-- but this Austrailain guy cranks out (and is still cranking out) some great synthpop driven material.
-- Stiff Little Fingers was a request. I love that in general, our requests are for punk rock-- and I don't mind that at all!-- but it would be really interesting if some random guy called and asked for Archie Shepp. That will never happen.

Greetings

2005-01-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

This journal is to document the Radio Ruxpin radio show heard on WMUH 91.7 fm in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Your hosts, Z1 and Z2 will update playlists as they happen and discuss musical recordings of various nature heard on the program.
We will also ocasionally use this as a forum to discuss some of our favored interests--such as thrifting, activism, music, literature, and the like--as well as present tales of our journeys throughout the eastern pa./nj/ny region--in search of that perfect beat! we like towns with character and characters--and records! and cheap diners run by old Polish couples!

These, my comrades--- will all be topics of discussion. So welcome to our blog--