Newspaper Page Text
^ v
1
Pool *7alUl • cMuya, &MM < 7V\
OtcLxU polio Z*JJu&a*
FANTASY
ci'iiaii
' r k W V r j r
m. *r». Av «. fb.
www.painandwonder.com
(706) 208-9588
\riu ii'. < u i»r*jM >060i"
BC >1 >Y IMI RC l\( .
ROKYBUCKSON
I Have Always Been Here Before:
The Roky Erickson Anthology
Shout Factory
Aside from being one of rock music's most
noted tragic figures, Roky Erickson has also
proven one of its most mercurial Whenever it
looks like the wild-eyed Texan has finally slipped
off the deepest precipice, his songs come calling
again, thus rebounding a career vested by the
continuing interest in, and influence of, an erratic
back catalog. Aided by fellow Austinites Doug
Sahm and Speedy Sparks, a few EPs turned up on
tiny indie labels in the 70s and Erickson
played the occasional rock show
with backing band Bleib Alien
and a later incarnation simply
called the Aliens. That's
before he went away for
misconstrued mail theft in
the'80s.
Freedom soon came
again as did a tribute
album and the much-
anticipated 1995 come
back All That May Do My
Rhyme. He's apparently much
more on the level now. There's
even talk of a movie adaptation
of Erickson's life. Now there's the
most definitive nutshelling of Rok/s music
to date: Shout Factory's double disc I Hove Always
Been Here Before: The Rocky Erickson Anthology.
Numerous collections preceded this one but
none displayed such superior sonic quality and
attention to detail. A noticeable result from the
much-needed digital remastering is found on the
selections by Erickson's benchmark '60s group The
13th Floor Elevators. The Elevators carried the dis
tinction of being the only band to feature an elec
tric jug player in founding member Tommy HalL
The first half of disc one finds the whirring
chugga-chugga of Halt's electric jug restored to
tracks tike the immortal "You're Gonna Miss Me*
and the Love-like "Slip Inside This House."
Erickson's time with the Elevators comprises 10
tracks with other classics like "Fire Engine" and
"Splash 1" among them. After track 11, things get
kinda weird.
During his time with the Elevators, Erickson's
musical focal point switched from lysergic enlight
enment to a creepy obsession with netherworldly
things spurred by a lifelong fascination with
horror movies. It made for some of the most hair
raising garage/ basement rock ever committed to
tape. "From the gargoyles to Stonehenge / From
the Sphinx to the Pyramids / To Lucifer's temples
praising the devil right / To the devil's clock as it
strikes midnight" he howls on the acoustic title
track like a wizened voodoo swamper. Similarly
bizane interests would inspire fellow outsider
artists like Frank Black and Julian Cope decades
later.
Disc two skims through Erickson's latter-day
output with four from AU That May Do... making
the cut as do more of his earty '80s Aliens sides
("Bloody Hammer," etc). One complaint is that
nothing from the mostly unplugged Demon Angel
album, recorded in the Texas woods on Halloween
night 1984, is to be found. Fortunately, that per
formance was issued in its entirety on CD and
video a few years back. For the curious who
haven't heard it consider this a formal recommen
dation.
Unlike prolific kindred spirit Daniel Johnston,
Erickson's pretty much re-recorded and revamped a
similar bunch of songs over the years. I Have...
nonetheless stands firm and fresh in that though
scant on unreleased or vault recordings (save for
"On the Right Track Now," an acoustic duet with
Clementine Hall nixed from the Elevators' faster
Everywhere sessions), it digs deep into the crates
for content
The assortment of rare photos and extensive
liner notes by Austin music historian Bill Bentley
are also a plus. The notes offer added insight into
Erickson's perils, in spite of the author's numerous
attempts to characterize him as a cosmic spiritual
figure from some other realm.
AT THE ORIVE-ll
Anthology: This Station Is Non-Operational
Fearless
Though its progeny Sparta and Mars Volta are
urging up on-line auction ticket prices, it'd be
best to go back to where it all began. At The
Drive-In, the band which split into the
aforementioned two, has been on
"indefinite hiatus" for about four
years now—which probably
means they're broken up but
are willing to do something
lucrative right around the
time nostalgia kicks in.
This record's essentially a
best-of collection,
although youll find a
healthy amount of videos,
BBC sessions, B-sides, re
mixes and covers, as well as
the a companion DVD and the
booklet containing 20 unrelcased
phoioi. A cover of the Smith's "fhe
Night Has Opened My Eyes" sheds new
light on the old song, but the cover of Pink
Floyd's "Take up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" is just
one big question mark at the end of the album.
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
Push Barren to Open Old Wounds
Matador
Twenty-five tracks from the kings of Scots
twee? A dive into this collection of seven EPs
reveals that Belle & Sebastian have much more
range and depth than an initial glance might sug
gest All the music on here—arguably the best of
the band's career—previously has been only avail
able as ditficult-to-get imports or in an ungainly
box set and the four tracks from the EP This Is
Just A Modem Rock Song have never been released
Stateside before. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds
comes as a two-disc set but you can drop the
deluxe edition's extra $8 to gfet the CDs packaged
in a hardbound book.
YOLATHttO
Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating
Senescent Songs 1985-2003
Matador
Yo La Tengo: they wore sweaters 'cause it do
get cold in Hoboken, not just to look faux-broke
cooL Hard to believe the band that's become the
encyclopedic definition of "nerd rock* has been at
it for 20 years, but Prisoners... is indeed a collec
tion of high points spanning their career.
Highlighted by the jangly Dylan nod "From a
Motel Six" and later gems like "Tears Are In Your
Eyes"—as well as a sophisticated cover or two—
this double disc collection will appeal most to
those who've taken a recent interest or only
picked up an album or two along the way. The
limited edition third disc is the proverbial roped
carrot for longtime fans, as it collects 16 rare and
remixed tracks ranging from Sonic Youth-ish noise
feasts ("Bad Politics,* "Pencil Test") to subdued
tenderness ("Ashes On the Ground," "Magnet").
Michael Andrews
Michael Andrews is a local musk writer. Redux
Nation is a monthly column focusing on album reis
sues, repockogings and boa sets.
dsea’s &
At Chelsea’s In Athens
1051 Baxter Street
Athens, Georgia 30606
^ ^ Trophies & Prizes
$10.00 for all winners!
Bikini Contest
Live Music w/
The Immaculate
m
Entry ,ne inun.cm.te classes
T-Shirts
SATURDAY, JULY 9
Food by: Rsdnsck Phiillas
Noon until • who carts!
For mors information contact
Sandy QChetsea’e Darren Q Pop’s
1051 dexter Street
GA 30606
11 Eaev Street
Hull, GA 30040
26 FLAGPOLE.COM • JUNE 8, 2005
r , O' *-♦/
JIGSY’S
‘ifheu‘* x
494 Baxter St. • 706-42-JfIGS^
\Vcvw. jigsy.com
■ED YOUR
LLV.
• Pepperonl Rolls served w/ sauce •
• Cup of Italian Wadding Soup •
• House Salad •
• Sausage on a Shingle •
• Cannoll •
dally from 3-«pm 1 Opm-cloee
available for dlna-fn only
beverege purcheee required
WcdncNdaj Night Ijrivia
v\ I Innri f If \ |m ,
f (M*rs I iiilil Itm K( (•> |U •
Nfl Niuiif I \« 1 \ I >.i'
REISSUES: NEW THEN. NEW AGAIN
toffee
Delicious
Locally Boasted
Coffee
pill*- «l
Fully flocked Bar
Open M*P: 6am-?.am
Sail 7rim-2am • Sun: 7am-1 2mi<lnight
Located in the otd lltuc SU'f
543-1433