The Meteors -- Bastard Sons Of A Rock 'n' Roll Devil

  The original archetype of Psychobilly, The Meteors.  This album isn't even comparable to their early releases, the lyrics are cheesy as sin, and the sound is the same old stuff they've been doing for decades, with that being said it still kicks ass! 

Klaatu -- 3:47 EST

  Known primarily for possibly being The Beatles who had secretly reunited, which just ended up being a hoax.  Klaatu mixed Californian Sunshine Pop with Sgt. Pepper psychedelia.  Honestly they just sounded like a mediocre 60's band that came out in the 70's, with vocals that resembled the fab four, but are hardly anything to write home about ... 

Social Distortion

  There is something I really want to like about this album ... but I simply don't.  The production is tinny, the songs are cheesy and they just sound like a poor man's Replacements.  I'm not saying Social D sucks, their previous albums rock and the next one kills it, but this self-titled release does not cut the mustard.

Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends

  Political boisterous British buffoon "Screaming" Lord Sutch and the to be founder of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party.  This complete idiot somehow had the charismatic power to convince, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Nicky Hopkins, John Bonham and Noel Redding, to play on his album.  There are moments of almost good music, but all in all the record just sounds like a goddamn joke, and a bad one at that ...

The Runaways

  Punk Metal princesses, The Runaways, led by producer/ weirdo Kim Fowley.  The album has some serious influential kick ass Punk Rock moments ... otherwise you have to sift through so much 70's style Classic Rock that by the end of the record you have had enough.

Doctor Hook & The Medicine Show -- The Best Of ...

  70's style Americana, you've got some Skynyrd Classic Rock, some poor man's Beefheart, and some Band-esque Funk, all penned by multi-writer extraordinaire Shel Silverstein.  My first encounter with Dr. Hook was a memorable one.  My buddy and his wife were having a party, a damn lame one, only boring ass meatheads showed up.  Once the doughheads took off, my buddy, his wife and I, who were totally twisted at that point put on Hook's debut album ... and exploded ... let's just say at one point there was a strobe light, a mini drum, and turns on the harmonica at the microphone ... it was such a strange happening we still talk about it years later ...

Neu! -- 2

  Can-esque futura ambient Rock ... Side one works like a new album, while side two has previously released tracks but at irregular turntable speeds.  Point is it's still worth getting, but I'd stick to their first one instead. 

Ben E. King -- Seven Letters

  Toss aside some cheesy moments, and the every once in a while campy background vocals, this Ben E. King release is great.  What you've got here are dark soulful ballads forcing you to think about your own mortality, frailties and raison d'etre ... or maybe it was just that kinda night?

The Upsetters -- Scratch & Company Chapter 1

  Not sure if this is a comp of various artists or what ... seems like a purposeless cash grab exploiting Jamaica's greatest producer.  Needless to say side one of this Reggae/ Dub album has some killer numbers, sorta the kind of tunes you are looking for when buying a Perry record, where side two drops the ball, way too much Dub, cheesy vocals and over access of fading in and out with flange.  All in all it's pretty good -- OK.

Exuma

  Exuma is African style Folk music a la Richie Havens, it's raw and pure.  Although it's primary style is set in Africa there is a New Orleans feel to it, like having a full fledged junk band with Caribbean elements and dark Hoodoo style undertones ... almost like the soundtrack of some bizarre ritual that you may not want to know what it's all about.  

Those Shocking Shaking Days

  70's Indonesian compilation, all influenced by Western sounds.  Most of this three record set just sounds like passable variations of Can, and there were a couple real surprises ... otherwise ... let's face it ... the only reason I bought this record was to save on shipping because I was dying to get myself a copy of Trout Mask Replica, which was a complete disappointment.  It sounded like the insane ramblings of a madman, schizophrenia on vinyl, four goddamn sides of bee doo boop boop, rah la la la, bing, bang, skweek bah doo beh deh bah doo beh dah ... you get the point.  How in the f*ck did they rehearse this sh*t twelve hour a day for months?  No wonder Beefheart had to torture and brainwash them to play this crap.  Even the entire next day I was in this Trout Mask fog, not entirely sure what the hell I just put myself through, confused as to why this album is so highly acclaimed and sought after ... all and all I feel cheated -- I want my 32 bux back ... but this comp was pretty good!

Junior Kimbrough -- You Better Run : The Essential ...

  Raw, minimalistic, passionate, "bad mutha ... shut your mouth," Blues.  Junior Kimbrough is the real deal, bringing the Blues, from it's Georges Thoro-Ray Vaughan grave, back to it's natural visceral state.  This comp does not only feature some killer Blues, but also old life friend, Charlie Feathers, in an early recording on the opening track.  With just one look at the cover you know that this is the face of authentic Blues that can't be taught -- only lived!

Suicide

  Synth-a-billy Dadaist weirdos, Suicide.  I could try to explain it, but let's face it, you have to hear it for yourself!

The Replacements -- Tim

  One of the top band solidifying the bridge between Punk and Indie Rock.  What you've got is a mix of Bruce Springsteen, The Clash and stir well with Big Star.

Gandalf

  So ... one of the guys brought this over to my buddy's place, on a lazy afternoon.  I have to say at first I was so impressed with Gandalf's mix of Psychedelic Garage and Sunshine Pop that I wanted a copy of it right away, but now come to think of it, I can't remember the slightest song or tune on the album.  I might still want to pick this one up ... if the price is right, but I ain't breaking the bank like it's Trout Mask or somethin' ...   

Jimmy Cliff -- Unlimited

  The poor man's Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff.  Unlimited feels more like a Soul Pop album with Jamaican undertones, rather than a full on Reggae record, with that being said it was a total unexpected surprise.

Easy Rider

  This soundtrack features a nice mix of hit songs and weird ass numbers.  It's the only time I'm actually happy to hear Born To Be Wild.

Cream -- Disraeli Gears

  I have no idea why this album is so revered and considered influential, because what I hear is retarded meaningless hippie-dippie tripe!  

Jefferson Airplane -- Surrealistic Pillow

  There are some great moments on this LP, otherwise I can't stand their idealist flaky hippie bullsh*t!

The Surfsiders -- Sing The Beach Boys Song Book

  Other than the fact that this album features a pre-Velvets Lou Reed, this record is totally useless and a pathetic shamble of Beach Boys classics.  You'd swear these guys were given all the notes, brought in the studio, which probably was a bathroom, without any practice and just told to, "go!! you have twenty minutes!"

Motor Totemist Guild -- Contact With Veils

  I was spending the afternoon at my buddy's place, chewing the fat, smokin' doobs when I notice in his recently bought pile an album, with a big white sticker, DO NOT AIR CULT MUSIC ...it was like a soundtrack to a shittily insane performance art piece by some first year University intellectual rejects so annoyingly bad that we were tearing up with stoned laughter.  

AC/DC -- High Voltage

  I'm not a huge fan of the whole Heavy Metal genre or AC/DC in general, but there is a primitive instinctual  truth quality to this album and who doesn't love the original Glam Rock sleazebag booze pirate -- Bon Scott!