Peopling -S/T CDEP

Got this one in the mail yesterday.  First off, love the cover art on this thing, and to me that's always a good starting point (I've gotten many a record based on the cover alone). Outta Brooklyn, Peopling is the brain child of self-described "noise-rock artist" (I had to create a whole new category), Ronnie Gonzales.  Noise-rock is something I've only dabbled in and don't have a lot of here at Mustard Relics central.  In fact I don't know what criteria you have to meet to be put in that category other than that it's electronic.  I know SPK, but are they considered "noise"?  If you want a good review from guys who know what they're talking about, check out this cornucopia of blog names... Dying for Bad Music, Weed Temple, Ongakubaka, Ampeater Music, The Static Fanatic, Justin Marc Lloyd, Black Insect Laughter, Cactus Mouth.  If you want the opinion of a guy who just loves music in general (and who the fuck wouldn't)...I am 100% down with this CD.  Right from the first "song" I was hooked.  One reviewer said, '“Come Home Eccentric” and “Fiji” are what can be considered closest to actual songs,' and those two happen to be my favorites (call me old fashioned).  The whole thing has a tribal feel, maybe that's because it's repetitive at times.  Ever seen the second Exorcist, the one set in Africa, with Linda Blair all grown up?  This would make a great sound track for that.  Here's my two favorite tunes... come home eccentric fiji You can check out all the tunes at Bandcamp and if you must, (I would rather hold the art, as a package, in my filthy little hands) get it at iTunes.  What I recommend you do though, is drop a line to Ronnie and get the real thing, thepeopling AT gmail DOT com.

The Phantom Limbs - S/T 7"

This one got to me...I have something about eyeballs, and I can hardly look at it.  When I was a kid my buddy and I were playing with a frisbee and decided to put a spin on it so to speak.  He turned it upside down and laid a nail in it.  He then threw it to me.  Needless to say, the frisbee didn't make it to me, but the nail got stuck in my head just missing my eye by a few centimeters.  To this day I still have the scar.  Ever since then I've been sensitive about things near my eye and have never been able to put eye drops in them.  Somehow the GIF goes with the music featured in this post.

Not much going on here at Mustard Relics central at the moment.  In important world news though, Kim Kardasian and her husband filed for divorce after 70 something days and Michael Jackson's doctor was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.  Other than that I believe the world is at peace and the human race has finally gotten all of it's inherent flaws worked out...oh joy, bliss, nirvana.

I've got some reviews coming up (are you ready for that), one CD and two books...someone out there must value my opinion round here...hahaha.

Was moving stuff off the computer and onto the external hard drive and ran into this (wish I had a hard copy).  I was secretly a Cure fan in high school, but I don't think I appreciated them then like I do now, especially the early stuff...their first Peel Session from '78 the cure - killing an arab the cure - 10.15 saturday night the cure - fire in cairo the cure - boys don't cry Even earlier I think...punk fucking rock the cure - heroin face (live) My buddy Sam Atakra sent this to me, along with a bunch of other music, several months ago and I only just recently got around to listening to it. I'll be damned (really I already am) if it isn't (to use a word I used to use a lot in the 80's), bitchen. Discogs describes them as "alternative rock" and "goth rocks", but the band hit's a little harder than those categories seem to imply.  The Phantom Limbs were outta Frisco and were around from '99 to '05.  This here 7" put out by Sam's Atakra Productions was their first.  I have yet to hunt down their other stuff to compare their later work but they were important enough to be signed by Alternative Tentacles.  What you get is sort of a hardcore gothy thing-a-ma-bob, sort of like early 45 Grave, but not really like them at all.  Twisted like the Butthole Surfers but not like them at all either. I've heard a lot of shit in my time, by no means an expert in anything, but I've never heard anything like this (you probably have...if so, tell me who).  The organ reminds me of going to church when I was a kid, but this is not church music (but it should be).  Synth too, but not Flock of Seagulls synth, much more disturbing than that (although now that I think about it FoS was disturbing in it's own way). This is so Sam, that is to say, a naked people with masks kind of thing. The whole vibe is like a sick tortured carousel ride. All three tracks rip but the first is the rotten worm infested apple, the kid who pulled the wings off of flies, gave to his 2nd grade teacher. Enjoy...or do whatever it is you do to this type of music... Hot Knives And Hornets Shake A Baby Murder Us Windpipes

The Hitch / Mos Generator - split 7"

The most graphic gif I've run across yet, from the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  When I was at my worst, my darkest days you might say, I too had the gun in my mouth, but I didn't think the 22 I had would do the trick...pussy.  Didn't cross my mind at the time that I was shooting heroin every now and then anyway (on top of guzzling 2-3 fifths of vodka 24/7) and could just go out the easy way by overdosing.  Ah but then we wouldn't have the Mustard Relics, as quiet as it is round here.  Nothing worse than feeling sorry for yourself, but I suppose there's a time and a place for everything.  Speaking of suicide, it turns out that the coroner finally figured out that Amy Winehouse died by drinking herself to death (does anybody care about her, I do), thus suicide by addiction (one of a few similarities to Billie Holiday). Amy Winehouse - Back To Black Billie Holiday - Don't Explain Heard this song on the radio and was glad I did...in usual Mustard fashion, I felt the need to do some overkill with the tune. The heartfelt original (we've all been there)... [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rz92JWtS50&w=560&h=315] The manager at this restaurant that I worked at up in Humboldt after I graduated from college, Casa de Que Pasa (right next to the head shop run by Chet the uber-hippie from Superman's bizzaro world), was really into Chris Isaak. I suppose most of my friends probably can't stand the guy, but I would think there's one thing you can't deny, like Morissey, he's got one hell of a voice (I know I'm foolish)... Chris Isaak - Solitary Man And just to piss you off further, how about Mr. Isaak with none other than Stevie Nicks (c'mon, you know there's at least one tune off of Rumors you like)... Chris Isaak & Stevie Nicks - Solitary Man LOVE the arrangement on this one, the plucked guitar, the horns and organ, this is a damn good version, granted, if you liked the tune in the first place... Crooked Fingers - Solitary Man 80's-esque soft metal version, not bad if you like Winger... HIM - SOLITARY MAN In my mind this version gives this song all the legitimacy in the world, if THE MAN IN BLACK saw fit to cover it, then it must be good, and as usual Mr. Cash takes it, makes it his own and absolutely always surpasses the original... Johnny Cash - Solitary Man Even more legitimacy, a reggae/dancehall cover (hahahaha), I dig it... Skin Flesh & Bones - Solitary Man Version This one sounds like Neil Diamond covered by the Mamas and Papas, take it or leave it... The Deep Six - Solitary Man I'm not too into the xylophone unless it's used by the Violent Femmes, plus I get the feeling this guy thinks he's Neil Diamond... Tony Carey - Solitary Man I like the drums on this one and made me think that the tune would do well in a Tarantino film (a good one to end our little journey on... Ups and Downs - Solitary Man How about a taste of the Hitch? It's been a while, we've visited them twice before. I've babbled a little bit about them, mentioned I saw them in Hollywood (now that I think about it, it may have been downtown LA), my connection to two of the band members and most importantly that they fucking rocked. This tune here represents some of their best stuff in my opinion and even though I have a hard time with long songs, this one is captivating from beginning to end. Hard and heavy like John Holmes' schlong. The band on the flipside, Mos Generator is similar in sound, that 70's heavy rock influence taken to an extreme (I guess you'd call it sludge, stoner, or doom, but I think all three tunes are punk as fuck). The second of the two tracks from MG is the better of the two in my opinion, sort of a speedy sludge. Kind of cool that these tracks were recorded in each bands' practice pads and then mixed by Tony of MG. DIY, but the packaging is pro with it's gloss and fold-out-ed-ness.  I've seen copies of this out in the intersphere, so if you dig it you might be able to pick one up. Thanx Jeff for sending this to me, so that you mugs could give it a listen...

The Hitch-Tongue In Cheek Mos Generator-Gus's Boogie Mos Generator-Rebecca 3

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOaNiSri0aA&w=560&h=315]