Tripping out, the oldskool way...

Band: Blue Cheer
Album: Vincebus Eruptum
Origin: U.S.A. (San Francisco, California)
Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock
Year: 1968

Blue Cheer is rightfully considered to be one of the pioneers of heavy and psychedelic rock and this record alone has earned them a place in the rock and roll pantheon. I wouldn't know how to review this record so just get it, you won't regret it!

...Blue Cheer were not just knockin’ on Heavy’s door and they weren’t invited, either: they broke on through it, tore off the hinges, tore up the threshold, took a huge chunk outta each side of the wall and then dropped a huge napalm log in the fireplace and split. Casually inventing a genre as they did so, no less. (read the full review here)

Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum

Smoking Electric Cigarettes...

Band: Baby Woodrose
Album: Coming Around Again 7"
Origin: Denmark (Copenhagen)
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock
Year: 2008

I could review this great single, but this whale is very tired so I'm going to post Lorenzo Woodrose (the band's main man) his comments on both songs. Enjoy!

"Coming Around Again" could have been a hit for anybody, except we ended up playing it a bit too fast and adding lots of over the top twangy surf guitar and beeping Farfisa organ that kind of detract from it's easy listening qualities. The end result is somewhat bubblegum sounding. Some uplifting lyrics about coming back up after having been down for some time. This one turned out much better than I thought it would during mixing. This was actually considered for "Chasing Rainbows" album quite a lot.

"I Feel High" is really different. If it wasn't for the lyrical theme (sex, drugs, rock'n'roll) it would have fit well on the Chasing Rainbows album, where I deliberately wanted to go a bit deeper with my subject matter. Acoustic guitar, bass, tambourine and a hauntingly hypnotic Farfisa organ. We actually recorded this as a band, but felt it worked better sounding a bit folky and psychedelic. The intro was later pasted on, consisting of backwards drums and distant fuzzguitar".

Baby Woodrose - Coming Around Again

"Big Bikes, Heavy Boots and Chain Belts..."

Band: The Lords Of Altamont
Album: To Hell With The Lords Of Altamont
Origin: USA (Los Angeles)
Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Punk
Year: 2004

Are you in for some hell-raising garage rock, influenced by the raw power of 70s rock? Then this is the post that'll satisfy your needs.

The lords of altamont, a band consisting of ex-members from The Bomboras, The Fuzztones and from the legendary band MC5, are a force to be reckoned with. As you can notice the band, their alter-ego's and songtitles are inspired by biker culture. While some might say, they're some kind of fraud hardcore bikerband ( some equivalent like the punk The towers of London 'play'), I say that they're a band respecting the music they love, by bringing the world a mighty loud sound.

If you ever have the opportunity to see them live, don't hesitate, unless you're bothered by the way they show their 'rockerconfidence' ( in form of poses, or cocky talks with the audience). Luckily I love that stuff, when I go to a show, it's mainly for the music but also a little for the show ( that's why I went to see KISS last year).

The link is below , enjoy as usual, if that's what you're into...

"In your eye"

-The Electric Eel-

The Lords Of Altamont - To Hell With The Lords Of Altamont

Some More Osaka Goodness...

Band: Acid Eater
Album: Dirty EP
Origin: Japan (Osaka)
Genre: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Year: 2008

It's been a while but I had some troubles with my internet. I recently discovered this band and I love it. Imagine the most fuzzed out sixties garage rock you know, run it through some distortion pedals, add a bit of feedback, some reverb and play it through a broken vox amp. Now add some frantic singing, and an organist on drugs.

Acid Eater is founded by Masao Yamazaki(Masonna) and Fusao Toda (Angel' In Heavy Syrup) whom have already collaborated with each other in Christine 23 Onna. I can't find a lot on Acid Eater but I do know that Christine 23 Onna is psychedelic, has the same two core members and has a record called Acid Eater. Enjoy!

Acid Eater - Dirty EP

Scarred...

For his second compilation, The Whale wanted to give his own twist to the 'Best Of 2008' theme. He decided to make a retrospect of the gigs that he saw between September and December 2008. Because of this he used the most recent material of each band available to him and decided to keep the bands in the chronological order in which he saw them. Enjoy!

1) Porn (The Men Of) - Mastodon Entrée
2) Big Business - Shields
3) (The) Melvins - The Smiling Cobra
4) Sardonis - Nero D'Abola
5) Demented Are Go - Mongoloid
6) The Hellacopters - Dirty Women
7) Motorpsycho - The Alchemyst
8) The Killbots - The Whore (Without A Name)
9) My Sleeping Karma - Hymn 72
10) Hypnos 69 - Vertigo
11) Los Natas - No Es Lo Mismo
12) Brant Bjork And The Bros - Oblivion
13) Diablo Blvd. - Scarred And Undefeated
14) Hermano - Exam Room
15) El Guapo Stuntteam - Back From The Grave
16) The Datsuns - Who Are You Stamping Your Foot For?
17) Lento - Earth
18) Ufomammut - Stigma
19) Isis - Dulcinea

The Whale Presents Vol. 2: You Weren't There Man!

Make way in the fast lane, make way for the choo-choo train...

Band: The Killbots
Album: The Killbots
Origin: Belgium ( Hasselt)
Genre: Hard Rock/ Stoner Rock / Garage Rock
Year: 2007

Hellbent and ready to rock, The Killbots are an example that Belgium still has some talent. With their fast Rock 'N' Roll they resemble another great belgian band El Guapo Stuntteam, but upon listening to this record you can't help hearing some influence from the likes of Clutch and Masters of Reality.
This self titled album is actually their second album, as they tried to sell their first ( 8 Balls of Steel) to a number of record labels. That didn't work out until one day in 2007 Funtime Records thought it was time to bring back some of the heavier guitar violence. That resulted in this record with 12 songs that are filled with strong and mature riffs and a couple of great solo's.
This record is still one of the best records from belgian artists I've ever heard. And I have been going to their shows ever since the first time I heard them play at the Pukkelpop festival together with El Guapo Stuntteam. They got me hooked with their song Tantra ( my favourite ).

This record won't leave you unsatisfied, I'm sure of it.

"In your eye"

-The Electric Eel-


The Killbots - The Killbots

Kool-Aid

Band: Josiah
Album: The Electric Cool 7"
Origin: Great Britain
Genre: Garage Rock, Stoner Rock
Year: 2003



Just The Electric Cool single by Josiah. For those who don't know this band, they play 70's inspired acid rock. It's fuzzy, and it's backed with a Grand Funk Railroad Song ( Got This Thing On The Move). Enjoy!

Josiah - The Electric Cool 7"

Back From The Dead...

Band: Various Artists
Album: Drunkabilly 16 Hits
Origin: Belgium
Genre: Surf, Garage, Psychobilly
Year: 2003



This is a sampler from the Belgian label 'Drunkabilly Records'. It has a great mix of surf(Fifty Foot Combo, Speedball Jr,...), garage(The Gecko Brothers,...) and psychobilly(Phantom Rockers, Cenobites,...). Enjoy!

1) Fifty Foot Combo - Triplexpresso
2) Speedball Jr. - Dr. Evil
3) Phantom Rockers - Rise Up
4) The Gecko Brothers - Bartender
5) Cenobites - Girls In The Woods
6) Thee Andrews Surfers - Thee Mighty Jaws
7) Fifty Foot Combo - The Escape
8) Cenobites - C.A.M.
9) Speedball Jr. - Space Run
10) The O'Haras - Hara Sutra
11) Phantom Rockers - Mexico
12) The Gecko Brothers - Hail To The Drinkpimp!
13) Thee Andrews Surfers - Phercolum
14) Cenobites - Lady Luck
15) Fifty Foot Combo - Legend Of Hanau Eepe
16) The O'Haras - Facile A Boire

Drunkabilly Labelsampler 16 Hits

I Know, It's Only Rock 'N' Roll...

Band: MC5
Album: Kick Out The Jams
Origin: U.S.A. (Lincoln Park, Michigan)
Genre: Garage Rock, Punk
Year: 1969



This is a classic. If you like rock 'n' roll and you haven't heard of MC5, than grab it now. This is their first(recorded live), with classic songs like Kick Out The Jams, Motor City Is Burning and Starship.

MC5 - Kick Out The Jams

Live Fast...

Band: Peter Pan Speedrock, Zeke
Album: Split
Origin: The Netherlands, U.S.A.
Genre: Hard Rock, Garage Rock, Punk
Year: 2005


If you know both bands, than you know what you're going to get with this record. Nothing groundbreaking, just some good sleazy rock 'n' roll. First six songs are by Zeke followed by five songs by Peter Pan Speedrock.

1) Two Lane Blacktop
2) Death Train
3) 10 To The Riverside Blues
4) Wang Dang (Ted Nugent Cover)
5) Fuck All Night
6) Rid
7) Better Off Dead
8) Who Was In My Room Last Night (The Butthole Surfers Cover)
9) Outta Control
10) Dead End (Live)
11) Twist Of Fate (Live)

Peter Pan Speedrock/Zeke - Split

We're Too Good For The Charts

Band: Peter Pan Speedrock
Album: Speedrock Chartbusters Vol. 1
Origin: The Netherlands
Genre: Garage Rock, Hard Rock
Year: 2002



On this album, Peter Pan Speedrock wants to show that they are influenced by more than Motörhead and AC/DC. Bringing you covers from classic bands (Led Zeppelin, The Cult,...) and more obscure bands (Elvis Hitler, Blood On The Saddle,...). A bit slower than most of their albums, but still rocking.

1) Goofy's Concern (Butthole Surfers)
2) Can't Stop Me (The Loved Ones)
3) Sailor Man (Turbonegro)
4) Bad Fun (The Cult)
5) Live Fast Die Young (Elvis Hitler)
6) Attitude (The Misfits)
7) Beer For Breakfast (Blood On The Saddle)
8) The Creeps (Social Distortion)
9) Rock And Roll (Led Zeppelin)

Peter Pan Speedrock - Speedrock Chartbusters Vol. 1

What Is Your Weapon Of Choice?

Another video post to support the album of the week (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - B.R.M.C.).
First two movies are my favourite songs from the album, the third is a live performance from their latest album, Baby 81.

Whatever Happened To My Rock'N'Roll (Punk Song)


Spread Your Love


Berlin

Dirty, Mean And Mighty Unclean.

Band: Zeke
Album: Death Alley
Origin: U.S.A.
Genre: Punk, Garage Rock
Year: 2001



Speed up Motörhead, add some aggression, mix it in some MC5 and you get Zeke. The pace of the tracks (except for some resting points like 'Arkansas Man') is exhausting. Especially if you know that most tracks clock in under 2 minutes. This is in-your-face rock, deal with it!

Zeke - Death Alley

Ride The Big One!

Band: El Ray
Album: Tick...Tick...Tick...
Origin: Denmark
Genre: Surf, Garage Rock
Year: 2004




This isn't one of those "let's sound just like Dick Dale" surf bands. They are obviously inspired by the likes of Dick Dale, The Ventures, etc. But they ride the big kahuna by mixing it up with influences from rock bands like the Pixies. This reverb soaked twang guitar gem is what Quintin Tarantino has been searching for all his live to use in every movie. They call their music Surf With A Twist, following their mantra: "Better steal from another genre than blindly follow the strict rules of surf music." These 11 high-octane tracks are just the perfect soundtrack for your next adventure into space, the pacific, or the desert.

El Ray - Tick...Tick...Tick...

Tear Down The Mona Lisa...

I'll soon be finished with my exams, so please have a little patience. In the meanwhile some videoclips to support the album of the week
(The Von Bondies - Lack Of Communication).

Lack Of Communication Live At Jools Holland.


It Came From Japan.

I can see a dead moon rising

Band: Dead Moon
Album: Strange Pray Tell
Origin: USA
Genre: Garage Rock
Year: 1992


Dead Moon was a Portland, "Beaver State" Oregon band formed in 1987 with Fred Cole on guitar and vocals, his wife Toody Cole on bass and vocals, and drummer/bartender Andrew Loomis.


The main idea of Fred and Toody when they asked Andrew to join a new project of theirs, was to create a sound they described as "some weird-ass kinda country & western". But when they noticed that Andrew Loomis wasn't really into it and the try-out wasn't exactly what they hoped it to be, they decided to go back to stripped down garage rock, punk with some country influences. This was the beginning of Dead Moon.

Fred Cole engineered most of the band's recordings and he cut the first singles on the mono disc cutter that was once used to cut the singles of 'Louie Louie' by The Kingsmen. After a few singles in 1990 they did some gigs in Europe, and the German record label Music Maniac noticed them and quickly released a compilation album of their work so far. And from then on the 'Dead Moon magic' was born in Europe. Strangely enough, while being a big hit in Europe, it wasn't until the mid nineties that they started touring in the USA.

In 2006 Sub Pop released a two CD's anthology of the almost 20 year's long legacy of garage rock gems and Fred Cole's amazing songwriting. And also being called 'THE band to check out' by both Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) and Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), this was the moment of breaking through to the bigger audiences. Well it should've been, but as I started my first line of this post with: 'Dead Moon was...'. At the end of 2006 they officially stated they called quits :

-After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning! –Fred Cole-

The cd I have uploaded is "Strange Pray Tell", their 8th cd. Considered as one of their classics, this cd is a good introduction to Dead Moon. So enjoy if you will...

Every CD has a poem written on the sleeves by Fred Cole, here's the one from "Strange Pray Tell"

Destinations no one's seen
Flights where no one else has been
Drawn by dark beneath the floors
The echos faintly call once more
Ill of dead who speak in breaths
No longer fear arresting death
Existing in these walled-up tombs
Strangely praying in this doom
I've heard that fleeting, crying sound
Wondering where they're going now
For those forgotten can't remain
Alone their silence fills the space
Death is waiting onforeseen
For those who dare not live their dreams
How could I come so far so soon
My life, my blood, my dying moon

-Fred Cole-

"In your eye"
-The Electric Eel-

Dead Moon - Strange Pray Tell