December 25, 2001
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Dream Drops
click to read more various artists
label:: SiestaThis album overall is a little on the disappointing side. Clocking in at just over twenty-five minutes for eleven tracks, with one piece repeated twice, two additional tracks appearing in both vocal and instrumental forms, and a thirty second spoken track from Lollipop Train, it's a bit thin, content-wise.
That's not to say I don't like it. What IS there is GREAT.
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International Harvester
click to read more title:: Sov Gott Rose-Marie
label:: SilenceThere is an abandon in this album that I can't help but imagine when I look at the centerfold picture of the band, surrounded by friends and naked little kids, standing ankle deep in a tranquil lake.
Sov Gott Rose-Marie is not only a masterpiece from an archival point of view- it remains actively poignant more than 30 years after its original release. Easily one of the best records to come out this year.
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Northwest Battle of the Bands volume two
click to read more various artists
label:: Big BeatIf you have Volume One, and you like it, you'll probably want to pick this one up too -- it's just as good. A veritable treasure trove of expertly recorded primal rock n' roll.
Most of the trademark Northwest sounds are here -- the punchy attack, the pounding drums, searing guitar breaks, along with a few songs in a bit of a more psychedelic vein, since this volume does deal with material recorded a little bit later than the material on Volume One.
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Better Than The Beatles: A Tribute To The Shaggs
click to read more various artists
label:: Animal World RecordingsThe bands here don't try to capture that odd "off" quality which makes the Shaggs, uniquely, the Shaggs, and instead focus on the songs. Songs which are, of course, godhead.
I really like most of this CD, but favorite interpretations include those by Optiganally Yours, Mongrell, Plastic Mastery, Bauer, Daneilson Famile, and Furtips.