Various - Think I'm Going Weird: Original Artefacts from the British Psychedelic Scene 1966-1968 (Grapefruit Records)(2021)

 

Massive, excellent 5 CD box set from the good folks at Grapefruit Records who continue to issue great box sets for the die-hards. This box set covers the British psych scene from 1966-1968. I am not familiar with most of these songs and or bands so it is exciting to explore and experience new sounds. It will take a few listens to absorb it all but my first full listen was great. Definitely worth getting. For a taste, check out July - My Clown.

Creation Rebel - High Above Harlesden 1978-2023 (On-U Sound)(2024)(CD#2 of Box Set)

 

This is the second disc from the box set that captures the recorded output of Creation Rebel. Close Encounters...was the second full LP release by Creation Rebel. It was released in 1978, the same year that their first dub album, Dub from Creation, was released. This album is different from the first release since it also contains a couple of vocal tracks along with other dubs. On this LP, Creation Rebel was in the process of transitioning from being a studio band, to then being a backing band, to also being its own entity.  

This LP is unique since it was mixed by Prince Jammy (in the UK), vocals were spiced up at King Tubby's in Jamaica, and horn charts laid down at Channel One in Jamaica. Also noteworthy, Style Scott played on this album. Yes, the same Style Scott of Roots Radics fame.This is a great album. Much livelier than their first dub only LP. Excellent. Great addition to the collection. Check out Know Yourself.

Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP (SubPop)(2008)(CD) (2nd Disc of Fleet Foxes First Collection Box Set)

 

Working my way through the Fleet Foxes catalog. Sun Giant is the second EP released by the band chronologically. 

What a pleasure to hear this band. Their music is haunting. It is beautiful, soothing, and melodic. I am enjoying listening to their music. Gorgeous. The song Mykonos is amazing.

Various- Beyond the Pale Horizon: The British Progressive Pop Sounds of 1972 (Grapefruit Records)(2021)(3CD Box Set)

 

Another interesting Grapefruit 3CD box set that is worth getting. The focus is on British progressive pop from 1972. Most of these songs are unfamiliar to me so it always exciting to find new songs, new bands, and new melodies. Be aware that "progressive pop" in this context does not mean that all the music here is like Yes or Genesis. No, the music here is much more varied. So, Thin Lizzy, The Move, Status Quo, and Roxy Music are amongst the well known bands here. But I had not heard much from bands like Trapeze, Family, or Pagliaro before. In fact, listen to Lovin' You Ain't Easy by Pagliaro to experience some of the gems found in this set. The great things about these CD box sets are that you can put one disc on the deck and just sit back for over an hour and enjoy 1972 all over again. Then you move to disc 2 and 3 : 0  - I would have been 9 in '72 : )

Fleet Foxes - Demo EP (Disc 1 of Fleet Foxes- The First Collection 2006-2009)(SubPop)(CD)

 

I am new to Fleet Foxes. I just totally missed out on them over the years. I know of Father John Misty (who I believe is related to Fleet Foxes in some way(?)). So, I decided to buy a couple of compilations and begin my journey. The first CD is the Demo EP. 

Fleet Foxes are described as an Indie Folk. I am not sure what that means but the melodies and the complexity of the songs is incredibly addictive and relaxing at the same time. I have heard similar music from bands like Midlake and maybe Band of Horses(?). In any event, this music is fantastic. I guess it is "folk" music in a way(?). I mean, it is not a loud rock n roll record. Yet, it is still modern rock music. The sounds are just really soothing and you have to admire the songwriting.  This was a very satisfying first few minutes into my Fleet Foxes journey. I did not anticipate the guitar lines in some of the songs. A great example is She Got Dressed.

Janelane - Love Letters (Kingfisher Bluez)(2024)(LP)

 

Love Letters by Janelane, which is the musical outlet of Sophie Negrini, is just full of lush pop masterpieces. What a joy of an album.  I was hooked on the first song, Band Aid. One of my favorite records that I have listened to in a while. Highly Recommended.

The Hentchmen - Three Time Infinity (Norton Records)(2002) CD

I am very late to The Hentchmen. However, I have heard of them and seen their albums for years. The Hentchmen are straight-up, no frills, garage rock band from Detroit, Michigan. This CD is from 2002 on Norton Records. If this band and record have the Norton Records seal approval, then you need to get this (if you can find it!).  Here is a taste so you know what you are getting. Shimmy Shake 

If you like your rock, raw and in your face, I think you will like the The Hentchmen.

Various - Sound as Ever (Australian Indie 1990-1999) Volume 1: The Shoebox Diaries (Sound as Ever)(2020) CD

 

Scott Thurling, known in the pop community as the man behind the great Popboomerang label out of Australia, has been involved in another area of Australian music for some time now. We are all better off for it! This compilation collects recordings from indie Australian bands. The focus is on the 90s.

Based on the liner notes, there was a Facebook page that was started to memorialize the 90s Aussie indie rock scene, and a few months later, this compilation was conceived and issued. What a great story.

As far as the music, it is excellent. I do not know a lot about the Aussie indie scene but the music reminds me of what I heard in those early You Am I records. There are different styles of bands and music displayed but it is all interesting and exciting. Despite the difference in sounds, the songs are fairly melodic, including the more 'noisey'  songs with all the fuzzy guitars. Definitely worth getting. Looking forward to explore more! Need more music from Moondriven, The Earthmen, Violetine, and Header!

Creation Rebel - High Above Harlesden 1978-2023 (On-U Sound) (2024) CD#1 of Box Set

 

This is the first CD of this massive 6-CD anthology of the albums by Creation Rebel, the original On-U Sound house band. Creation Rebel was the conceived by Adrian Sherwood for the album, Dub From Creation, but evolved into being the backing band for Prince Far I. 

For Dub From Creation, Creation Rebel consisted of Eric 'Fish' Clarke on drums, Clinton Morris on keyboards, Clinton Jack on bass guitar, 'Crucial' Tony Phillips on guitar, and Doctor Pablo on melodica and percussion. The album was the first production by Adrian Sherwood and was engineered by Dennis Bovell (Side 1) and Sid Bucknor (Side 2). 

With dub music, if the riddims are good, then the dub will be generally be good. The best track is actually the last one, Frontline Dub, which features Prince Far I on vocals. This extra track was not on the original album but is included here. Great liner notes!

Various - Reggae Power (Doctor Bird)(CD)(2020)

 

Solid 2 CD collection of early reggae music. This is the first official anthology of Karl 'J.J' Johnson's reggae productions, comprising the bulk of this output from 1968-1972, including 17 tracks never on CD. Not all of the almost 100 7" singles that he released are included on this release but there is a good sample of his productions. 

The songs on this CD were released on labels such as J.J, Sir J.J, Heavy, and People. The artists represented here are well known to reggae collectors. Among the best are Roy Shirley, Carl Dawkins, The Ethiopians, The Kingstonians, The Clarendonians, and Dennis Alcapone. It is also a pleasure to hear releases by less well-known but equally vital artists like The Rulers, The Linkers, and The Bleechers.

By the way, the original "Reggae Power" LP was released by JJ in 1969. It was the only full length he ever released. While this is not a direct reproduction of that original LP, the cover is exactly the same. This release is geared towards the hard-core reggae fan and collector. Worth getting if you are at all interested in the development of reggae music. Extensive liner notes included. Check out The Kingstonians - Slim Girl.

Chime School - The Boy Who Ran The Paisley Hotel (Slumberland Records)(CD)(2024)

Wow, what an amazing record! Chime School is the work of Andy Pastalaniec. Andy wrote, performed, recorded, and produced every song on this record except for one song that is co-written. Chime School is classified as a jangle-pop band and they fit that label to a T. The songs are little slices of pop masterpieces. Melody reeks out of every pour of this record. The first time I heard this album, it just grabbed me. If you like melodic, jangle-pop or indie-pop music, then I think it is going to be hard to beat this album. I am totally impressed. 

Check out Wandering Song or that killer guitar line of Say Hello.