seam - headsparks

label: homestead records
released: 1992

once upon a time there was a band called bitch magnet.
you can find mentions of them hither and thither about SGMland.
they were a good band.
steve albini liked them.
does he still?
i don't know.
the next time i run into him whilst in the SGM bathroom i'll ask.
but maybe not.
i'm not really all that sure it's actually steve albini.
he's the guy that stands next to the sink and offers you a towel after having washed your hands and an andes mint or 2 from a pocket in his coveralls and recommends that he sprays various scents on you from a collection of bottles taken out of a suitcase at his feet.
he wears the same type of glasses.
he has the same "i fucking dare you to tell me that i need to eat a sandwich" look on his face.
no one really knows who he is.
he just kinda showed up one day.
i don't know.
maybe the next time i'm in there i could do that cough and say something at the same time thing.
"coughstevealbinicough."

but i digress....

bitch magnet.
released a few albums and whatnot.
and then they split.
they have links to bands with names like: bastro and codeine and slint and superchunk.
and then there's this band.
they have links to bands with the same names.
after bitch magnet split up the band's vocalist/bassist (sooyoung park...who plays guitar here) and superchunk's vocalist/guitarist (mac mccaughan...who plays drums on this album) snagged up a bass player named lexi mitchell and thus was born seam.
though the line-up on this album weren't together for very long.

so yeah.
if you know who they are already you already dig them.
if you're aware of any of the bands mentioned up yonder you'll dig this as well.

and if'n you're into all of that "such and such featuring...." business....
velocity girl vocalist sarah shannon shows up for a song. ("shame")
erectus monotone bassist jennifer walker provides back-up vocals for a song. ("new year's")

yeah.

DL

Scissorfight - Piscataqua

Label: Tortuga
Year: 2000

Bad vibe boogie for dudes who have either; a wood shed, a snowmobile, or are currently banned from at least one of their local bars. The kind of music that should come with a bowie knife...or a spitoon. Dirty, mean, and nasty.
Put it this way, on this seven song ep, four of the songs have the word "fuck" in the title.
But also consider that three of those profanity riddled titles are covers (Dwarves, Dead Kennedys, and GG Allin [naturally]). And for good measure there are also Aerosmith and Nervous Eaters covers...in case you're on the fence.
If you like your Nashville Pussy with a sludgy swing to it, then this one will be a big hit at your next (above ground) pool party.

DL

buzzov*en - 8.8.98 - fireside bowl - chicago,il

i'm a native illinois-ian.
i'd had friends that had been to numerous shows at the fireside bowl.
i'd been offered to be taken along to some of those shows.
i lived about an hour and a half away.
but no.
not me.
i waited until i was living 706 miles away.

lame?
probably.

the year was 2004.
i'd returned to illinois to visit a friend of mine.
i was living in south dakota at the time.
i'd went to go and see the following bands:
(in order of appearance)
american heritage
yakuza
burnt by the sun

and in case you're interested....
i'd also made a trip to the bottom lounge to see:
(in order of appearance)
make believe
need new body
hella
it was also the show that had the better turn out.
there was barely anyone at the fireside bowl for that particular show.
i don't know.
i didn't take a headcount.
but i was the only one there with a girl.
me: 1.
everyone else: nothing.

1 - intro/at a loss
2 - a lack of
3 - kakkila
4 - flow
5 - red/green*
6 - junkie**
7 - don't bring me down***
8 - splinter my eye
9 - to frown/outro
*=big boys cover
**=instrumental lynyrd skynyrd cover
***=ELO cover

DL

chickasaw mudd puppies - self-titled

label: polygram records
released: 1991

word on the street is that you're planning to take a trip down the appalachian trail.
is that true?
you've seen the movie DELIVERANCE,yeah?
you've at least heard the stories,yeah?
i'm just curious.
i'm not mentioning that to try and put a scare into you.
not me.
not this guy.
i'm just putting together a list of things that people have in common with other people.
that's all.
or is it?
hmmmmmmmmmmm.
not to worry though.
SGM may or may not have cabins set up all over the appalachian mountains.
i'm not really allowed to discuss any of that.
i had to sign papers and whatnot.
they've showed me pictures of people that i know.
or at least i lead them to believe that i know them.
you gotta play the game,man.
sometimes you just have to get into bed with all kinds of unsavory creatures.
just ask your....
you know what?
this isn't a time for jokes.
moving along.
if you're out wandering around the mountains and you get scared for whatever reason just approach the first cabin (or cabin-like building) you come across (even if it looks abandoned) and there'll be a bed for you to sleep in and folks for you to talk to.
all you have to do is drink whatever they offer you and don't ask any questions.
a helpful hint: if you're the first one to come to just quietly gather up your backpack and get out the door as quickly as possible.
actually just go on ahead and stash your backpack somewhere nearby in some bushes or something.
there's a difference between "waking up" and "coming to".
you'll see.
just mention us to anyone you come across.
even if they don't seem very friendly.
and everything should be fine.
like i said: i'm not trying to scare you.

so.
you're going to need some tunes to accompany you on your outing.
and i recommend that this be some of those tunes.
it'll fit in with where you're going.
it's very americana.
you may even find yourself air banding along playing an invisible washboard.
maybe you should play it a little too overly enthusiastically to the point where folks might find themselves thinking "they just ain't right." and leave you alone.
it could very well save your life out there.
save it from what?
absolutely nothing.
this is completely safe.
yeah.
the band were/are pals with michael stipe.
you know.
the r.e.m. guy.
he helped produce this.
even provides some vocals on a song.
that's something,right?
yeah it is.
and they even cover some creedence clearwater revival.
the song "lodi".
even the dude abides with some creedence.
don't be on the wrong side of the line with that.

i've put together a care package for your journey....
coffee.
beef jerky.
trail mix.
an old issue of PLAYBOY.
it's the issue with sherilyn fenn in it.
just in case you get lonely.
and some chloroform.
just in case you get lonely.

have fun and i'll see you on UNSOLVED MYSTERIES.
what?
no.
i said UNGLOVED HISTORIES.
it's a new show.
i'll tape it for you while you're gone.

1 - words & knives
2 - cold blue
3 - lodi (creedence clearwater revival cover)*
4 - nothin'*
*=3.4.91 - marquee club - london,england

DL

v/a - sex & subversion: a thick records document

label: thick records
released: 2003

this is one of those label samplers made up of some "previously unreleased" tracks and whatnot.
and you know you like some "previously unreleased" tracks and whatnot.
your friends do.
start trying to fit in.
you know you that want to be stereotyped.
you know that you want to be classified.

1 - sullen - all fall down
2 - local h - cooler heads
3 - the methadones - far away
4 - blue meanies - short attention span*
5 - coldblade - kiss my ass*
6 - the tossers - time to go
7 - tom daily - josephine milkweed*
8 - new black - booze olympics*
9 - the gc5 - the long goodbye
10 - motel blonde - keeping misery company*#
11 - the arrivals - -1/hell can wait (remix)
12 - haymarket riot - bought your weight
13 - vortis - christmas in kabul*
14 - bitchy - white riot*+
15 - calliope - future days
16 - lil' dave merriman - i palindrome i**
17 - scott lucas - tangerine**^

*=previously unreleased
+=the clash cover
#=members of dropkick murphys and the gc5
**=live
^=led zeppelin cover

DL

child abuse - self-titled

label: lovepump united
released: 2007

have you ever been spent time in your uncle's basement listening to him tell stories about the war that involved things like "if he didn't stay quiet he'd give away our location so i had to...." or "have you ever seen so much fire that you didn't know where it ended and you began?" or "to this day i can eat a hamburger without thinking of...."?

and then you'd study his facial expressions.
and then you'd study that look in his eyes.
and then you'd find yourself wondering "that look. what if it had a sound. what would it sound like?".

or you could just stay at home and listen to some agoraphobic nosebleed while you're listening to lightning bolt and some flying luttenbachers and some daughters.
yes.
all at the same time.
if you're going to take that route i suggest that you pack everything up and take it out to that abandoned farmhouse you like to go to when you just want to get away from it all.
yeah.
i know about the farmhouse.
where do you think the picture that's on the album cover came from?
yeah.
i know all about that too.
don't worry.
your secret is safe with me.
what you do out there with those action figures is your business.

but i digress.....

you'll want to do all of that out there where no one can hear it.
you already know what your neighbors think of you.
they don't even invite you to any of the block parties.
even with your potato salad.
yeah.
i'm sure it's good.

here's another solution....
instead of having to go through all of that you could just give this a try.
get yourself one of those discman things.
and no one will be none the wiser.
and if you have to walk around looking like that just make sure your blinds are closed.
yes.
i'm taking night classes in order to become a life coach.
yes.
that's why i'm wearing this sweater.
my gram gram made it for me.
no you can't have it.

DL

david bowie - i'm afraid of americans

label: virgin
released: 1997

the year is 1995.
the place is tinley park,il.
the venue is the new world music theatre.
i was out on the lawn.
it was the OUTSIDE tour.

the reason for me being there was the nine inch nails as i'd been a fan ever since the BROKEN ep.
yeah.
i know about PRETTY HATE MACHINE.
i can appreciate some PRETTY HATE MACHINE.
that came later on.
just like i can appreciate some WITH SYMPATHY.
yeah.
i know that's ministry.
just saying.
THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL was still fresh.

and then there's david bowie.
i'm pretty sure that at least 20% of that crowd only kinda sorta knew who he was.
and i'm pretty sure that they only knew of him because of their parents listening to the radio.
but they probably knew of him as he'd had trent reznor in his video for "i'm afraid of americans".
speaking for myself: i knew of david bowie.
i liked some david bowie.
i grew in the 80s.
and then there's that video for "dancing in the street"....

but i digress.....

so there i was.
standing out on the lawn with my then girlfriend.
she knew of david bowie as well.
she liked david bowie as well.
she grew up in the 80s as well.
as for how she felt towards the "dancing in the street" video i just don't know.
we never discussed such things.
i don't know why.
we should've.
perhaps we would've stayed together a bit longer than we had.

the band prick took the stage first.
they were just ok.
i'd only knew of the one song by them.
"i apologise".
and no.
that's not a misspelling.
that's how they spelled it.
who am i to argue with that?

and then came the nine inch nails.
i've seen the band twice in my lifetime.
this being the first.
this being the "cranky kid who needs a juice box and a nap" version of the nine inch nails.
the second time i'd seen them was in lincoln,ne back in 2006.
that version of the nine inch nails had drank all of the juice box and were well rested.
they might as well have taken the stage wearing snuggly sweaters with rocking chairs and mugs of warm tea and told stories of shenanigans past.
yeah.
and that's all that i'll say about that.

every so often david bowie would wander out on stage and perform with the nine inch nails.
it was during one of these times that caused the fella that was grinding up against his fellow hot topic employee girlfriend to stop what he was doing and to glare towards the stage and utter the following words:

"who's the old faggot on stage?!"

i just stood there and took it all in.
thought about it.
mulled the words over in my head.
i can't remember which song was playing at the time but it was causing the crowd to move and i took that as an opportunity to "accidentally" kick that person in the back of the leg.
he stumbled and then he and his lady friend looked over at me.
and i returned a look that both said "bro! totally sorry!" and "you know what you did.".

yeah.
that was a good story,grampa.
how did you get out of the basement again?
we're expecting company and you can't be up here.
it seems as if we're going to have to use a higher dose this time around.

what you get here are 6 versions of the song "i'm afraid of americans".
"remixes" if you will.
done by folks with names like: trent reznor and dave ogilvie and charlie clouser and brian eno and photek.
ice cube even makes a chill appearance.
yeah.
that just happened.
and you let it happen.
now get off my lawn.

DL

bughummer - the getaway with

label: lovitt records
released: 2004

these 3 fellers were from savannah,ga.
they're not together anymore.
their guitar player is now in the band engine down.
they would've fit in on dischord records.
they could've played with slint.
they could've played with don caballero.
who knows?
maybe they did.
so if you recognize any of the band names mentioned....
this is for you,kid.
listen to it.
do what you need to do while listening to it.
just listen to it.
not to worry though.
i'm not going to go into the details of what it is you do.
we'll save that sort of thing for group.
perhaps we'll run into one another at the coffee machine.
but i must warn you....
if i see that you've penetrated all of the filled donuts with your finger in order to find out what's inside again i will unleash hell upon you.
and then i'll drag you out into the parking lot where i'll place you inside of a potato sack and then drag you onto the city bus as i'm not allowed to drive unaccompanied at night.
and then once we get to our destination i'll let you out of your potato sack cell.
and then you'll see that you're in my kitchen.
and then you'll notice that i'll have various donuts placed onto paper plates on the table.
and then i'll sit you down and show you the proper way to test filled donuts.
you take a toothpick and you penetrate the donut.
and then you'll see the filling.
and then once i feel that you understand everything you're free to go.
sure.
you could go to the police.
but they're not going to believe you.
no one will believe you.
you see.
everyone feels the same way that i do about it.
and that's all i'm going to say about it.
what?
excuse me?
it's not you doing that?
you know who's doing it?
and you can prove it?
my apologies.
i'll let you in on a little secret: those meetings are set up as traps to draw what we like to refer to as "pokers" out into the open.
we go from town to town.
we call them "poker runs".
are you ready to join the cause?
show me what you know on that donut.

DL

v/a - the imago traveling road show

label: imago
released: 1993

and now for a lesson in brevity:

this is a sampler put out by imago records back in the year 1993.
and yes.
there's aimee mann.
and yes.
there's paula cole.
that's what the "skip" function on your stereo is for.
yeah.

1 - pere ubu - the story of my life
2 - boneclub - everything's on fire (live)
3 - boneclub - her garden (live)
4 - aimee mann - i should've known
5 - aimee mann - jimmy hoffa jokes
6 - orangutang - leo tolstoy
7 - orangutang - gearhead
8 - paula cole - bethlehem
9 - paul cole - saturn girl
10 - basehead - brown kisses pt. 1
11 - basehead - i need a joint
12 - baby animals - impossiblr to fly (live)
13 - suzanne rhatigan - jump
14 - suzanne rhatigan - new suit blues (live)
15 - rollins band - low self opinion
16 - henry rollins - vacation in england (live)

DL

redd kross - get out of myself

label: this way up
released: 1996

i'm assuming that you're aware of what redd kross is,yeah?
i'm going to be honest and upfront with all of you right now....
get ready for it....
here it comes....

when i'd first come across the band i wasn't really all that much of a fan. i'd seen a video on 120 MINUTES and was all like "so. that's something i've watched. and they're horrible spellers.". that was my first impression. i don't even remember which video i'd seen. so there. i've said it.

a few days back i was wandering about inside of a goodwill and came across this. it was $1. it's an import. so i figured "what the hell." and picked it up. i'm pretty sure that i said the words "what the hell" out loud because the old timer fingering the records across the way looked over into my direction. i was going to ask him if maybe he'd like to hangout and get a milkshake sometime but he disappeared too quickly. i was going to try and track him down but the place was full of old folks and they all just eventually end up looking alike after awhile.

so there i was with this.
it's my first redd krossing.
i don't even remember ever seeing an actual redd kross album in a store.

so yeah.
this is a single that was released over in the uk.

and i know that since you'd read the words up yonder it's been eating at you and you're not going to be able to go about the rest of your day until you know the answer....

redd kross are ok.
and i'd probably pick up something else by them if'n i were to come across something again.

1 - get out of myself
2 - so cal v8
3 - teen competition (demo)

DL