Xasthur VS Jandek

How long will it take for people to make the Xasthur Jandek connection? Loners who keep putting out the same record again and again and again. If the Jandek comparison holds, Malefic is in for a very long career as people seem more than happy to buy 20 plus Jandek records and still wait anxiously for the next. The blurrier the photo the better. Don't believe me? Play "defective epitaph" back to back with "sublimanl genocide" or "sgt corpse paint's lonely one man band" or whichever you choose. Vocals buried behind distorto feedback? Check. Plodding mid tempos? Check. Same drooling fans that grab it while still hot off the presses and spend hours analyzing it looking for clues. Check.
Musically they even explore similar plodding atonal depressive universe of sound.
As for me, I think one Xasthur record is more than enough and I would rather listen to Leviathan.

Universtiy of Illinoise Basketball Band Smith Walbridge LP

1979 was a good year for the University of Illinois' Basketball Band. Under the direction of Smith and Walbridge, they tackle so classics like Soul Man,Boogie Oogie Oogie and more. Yes there are breaks, not the thousand dollar kind, but breaks none the less. The "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto" has a wicked groove at the intro.
Worth it for Soul Man which would be a mix tape moment supreme. Side Two keeps it hopping with the Boogie Ooggie Oggie into Macho Man into YMCA medely which is also fodder for mix tapes.
The breakdown in BOO is pretty wicked.
Some Lord of the rings references and a killer title "he's the wizard" on side two.
You often see college and high school band records like this going for big money and they are rarely worth it, but if you do ever see this one for 5 and under, it's worth your money.

Murari Band Dreaming LP Krsna Rock Part 22

This was an odd one for the Krsna series. 1981 recording puts it much later than the rest of the things recorded so far. Southern locale as well(Atlanta GA) separates it from the predominantly west coast origin of many previously reviewed records. No sign of Michael Cassidy or Hansadutta. The cover is an amazing drawing with what looks like Queen Elizabeth and Prabu in it as well as a cobra and a mushroom cloud. Super trippy. Are they named after the Tennesse Krsna temple/farm?
This is Murari's 2nd LP(and yes I am looking for the 1st one). 8 songs with alternating male and female vocals.
Female vocalist, Lynda Hynes, has a kind of Country Folk Rock feel.
"Can Somebody Tell Me" has a dude stepping to the mike for a very Bad Companyish track. Not bad.
Side Two opens with "Poltical Man" and they try to pump up the tempo a little-think the Eagles not Black Flag.
Nice lazy country rock shuffle with male/female vocals on "Things ain't what they used to be".
Overall side 2 is the winner.
Each song has a sort of "purport" breaking down the lyrics which are pretty straight forward.
This is not a terrible country-rock record, but it is an odd ball for 81. Laugh knowingly if anyone tries to sell you on this as some "acid-folk" or something cause it is not. It seems that despite being a "cult" with a wild history in America, the Krishnas have made some really mainstream records-just like this.
According to this review which came with liner notes, they had 3 records plus books! Damn I have got to keep searching. There also appears to be another version with different artwork-some serious airbrush action puts the mushroom cloud front and center with no Queen Elizabeth to be seen.
At least one member is still active.

Sufi Choir LP

Now this is what I expect out of cultish hippie commune bands. Right off the bat the album cover seems to be some kind of mandala featuring a Jerry Garcia'ish looking hippie playing a flute at the center. The back cover name checks everyone from Cecil Taylor to Pete Seeger. The back cover photo would make Devandra Barndoor jealous for the mid 70s beardo commune cred. Almost every drug rug, poncho, and robe variation is visible in the picture. These people were followers of Murshid Lewis a sort of Sufi proto-Univeralist known in the media as Sufi Sam.
Big choral vocals(male/female) but not a heavily produced feel. Runs the gamut from chorale folk to more Indian inspired rave ups. Understand It on side 2 is the killer on this one. A little more rocking with some bass/guitar/flute fireworks.
Akashic Records (surprisingly no relation to the GVB's book company) California 1973.

These hippies released at least four records right up into the 80s. Some killer photos here. A greatest hits CD is also available.
Probably should be part of the Krsna Rock Series.............

New Gear. What you want. What you can afford

With winter looming around the corner, all eyes turn to new winter and bad weather gear. I have lusted after this jacket, but can't balance the bigger than Assos price tag with my current pay scale. It was easier to pass on its predecessor with the Pink overdoses, but even an upgraded jacket is hard to comprehend at this price! For $350, it better peddle my bike or help me lose 15 pounds.
To ease my pain, I got a new sweatshirt from Trackstar. Regular clothes with jersey pockets are a good idea, I have an old cotton Campy longsleeve with jersey pockets and when I saw this one, I wanted it. It is a "basic black" sweat shirt with some thoughtful additions. The tougher material at the cuff and waist should help it last. It's light weight(think American Apparel not Champion) and just right to keep you warm without overheating. There are a couple minor complaints. The jersey pockets could have been wider. It might have been better to go with 2 bigger rather than a smaller than usual, but traditional 3. You can't stuff these like traditional jersey pockets. It will give you enough room to maybe skip a backpack, but it won't fit a lock, a 40OZ, or large sub.
Last gripe is the "sizing" which is "super slim jersey fit" which is more like NYC junkie model than euro cut. I got an XL and was glad cause anything smaller would have been way too tight. Sizes like this make it easy to pass on the nachos when you are watching football.
Check trackstar for some nice tee shirt designs as well

Rapha are apparently starting a

Lombardia predictions

Lombardia favorites? Ricco and Sammy Sanchez are lurking. Cadel and Frank Schleck. Cunego? Bettin obviously likes repeat wins. Horner riding hard for a new contract? Can't wait. It will be hard to match the tragedy and emotion of last year which was like an Opera on the bike. Race should be animated to say the least.
Shleck,Ricco, and Bettini will make up the podium.

Ohio Players Observations in Time

It's hard to believe the band on the back cover of this album is the same band of freaks featured on Pain and Ecstasy but it is. The music is also a surprise. Funky southern soul with some rock influences. All the ingredients(minus disco funk cocaine sex overload) are present. The bass stands out and the recording is real live and popping.
The back cover photo is pretty priceless for the dude with a brief case and a pipe. Clearly he would become more at home in leather hot pants and chains a decade or so later.
This Pre-Westbound incarnation of the Players were the back up band for a lot of other artists and live shows. You've got 2 covers "Over the Rainbow"?? and "Summertime"
"Mother in Law" has a hell no vibe that any married man can relate to. "Find someone to Love" is an instrumental, but may be the stand out track on here. Summertime is pretty sprawling at 7 plus minutes with some scatted vocals and a nice flute solo. "Bad Bargain" returns to the Southern Soul sound with lyrics on hard times in the city rather than freaky times.

A deep soul or southern soul surprise from these funky freaks.
Capitol. There is another pressing of this with a different cover-not quite as cool. There is also another album, First Impressions, that collects more work in this style from their early days.