Tag: Breeders

Five Lost Albums

I thought I would mix it up this week and look at some treasured records that in my personal view, and for whatever reason, did not receive the acclaim they deserved. I have listed these in chronological order: –

Squirrel Bait – Skag Heaven 1986

Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky they were quantified in the emo/mathcore genre (1983-1988).  Influenced by peers Black Flag and more distinctly Husker Du who they supported. I discovered  them via a Bob Mould quote in the NME singles review ‘as the finest thing he’d ever heard’

This second and final album contains 10 songs but is only 25.45 in length. Standout track is ‘Kid Dynamite’ with bracing intro and alarming refrain ‘I don’t need no pig stomping on my buzz’ and has muttered unintelligible incantations. Others to note are ‘Choose Your Poison’ with Black Sabbath War Pigs intro and ‘Slake Train Coming’ which thunders along.    

The record is scuzzy and full of youthful vigour and dark lyrics. It sounded utterly vibrant as an 18-year old and still holds up to scrutiny now.

Former members played with the Breeders and Lemonheads and original member Britt Walford subsequently formed semi legendary Slint.  

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Squirrel Bait -‘Skag Heaven’ album cover. Image Credit reddit.

Dumptruck – For the Country – 1987

Formed in 1983 in Boston Massachusetts. This was their third album and they decamped to Rockfield Studio in Wales for some solitude to record it. It is country rock in the finest tradition evoking comparisons to Neil Young, Green on Red and Buffalo Tom.

It has a yearning timeless quality and it is a ‘go to’ album for me. Standout tracks are ‘Friends’ ‘Brush me Back’ ‘Hung Out on the Line’ and ‘Dead Weight’.

Through no fault of their own the band got sucked into a record label contract dispute meaning no new material could be recorded and subsequently disbanded in 1991. Half of the band reformed and recorded new material as recent as 2018, but with diminishing returns.

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Dumptruck – ‘for the country’ album cover. Image Credit you tube – Tony Fivek

Joy Zipper – American Whip – 2002

Dream pop duo from New York, Tabitha Tindale and Vincent Cafiso, who are also a married couple.

Album recorded initially in Glasgow and then co-produced and mixed by Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine. It has a wonky sugar-coated beauty with a 60’s vibe and razor-sharp lyrics. Gorgeous sultry vocals complement each other perfectly and it is lovingly recorded. I hear snippets of Mercury Rev, Raveonettes and Velvets in there.  

‘Christmas Song’ could just possibly be the most shimmering gem of a Xmas song ever written. I also like ‘Baby you should know’, ‘33x’ and the fine outro ‘Valley Stream’ book ends the record.

Their last known recorded material was a contribution to a Smith covers album in 2011.

Former Cellmates – Who’s Dead and What’s to Pay 2008

Formed in Sunderland by ex-Leatherface bassist. Leatherface received Husker Du comparisons but I never really saw that link and much prefer this album.

The record could arguably be vaguely derivative at times and I can imagine not to everyone’s tastes but for me it is imbued with a lot of soul and passion and chugs along mercilessly and has a shambolic charm. There is a bit of Buffalo Tom and Springsteen in there and it has a country rock tinge.

Stand out tracks are ‘Always’, ‘Here’s to the Pretty Girls’ and ‘Why would you Pray for Me?’. They recorded 4 albums between 2005 and 2014 and I am not sure whether they are still operational.

Sennen – Where the Light Gets In (2008)

Based in Norwich in 2002 before decamping to London. They are named after a Ride track, and they are the only one of the five listed I have seen live.

I bloody love this band, who have produced five fine albums between 2005 and 2016 and I could have picked any of them but have selected the second album. Strictly in the post-rock shoegazing genre, displaying a hypnotic lush yearning sound, coruscating guitar and whispered harmonies resembling Loop and MBV.

Standouts are ‘Your Hand in Mine’ and ‘A Lifetime Passed’ which are gentler lovely tracks, that recall Teenage Fanclub ‘Grand Prix’ era. Also ‘Just Wanted to Know’ which morphs into a long thunderous outro.

My overall favourite track of theirs is ‘Falling Down’ off third album Age of Denial which builds layer by layer to a tumultuous conclusion, resembling ‘Ithica 27/9’ by Mogwai and ‘Dirge’ by Death in Vegas.

In my humble opinion, they remain the most criminally underrated band I have encountered.

Now, I would be fascinated to know what would be contained on your lost album list, even if you can only think of one.

Manchester Venue 6 – The Ritz (Part 2)

I have seen Black Rebel Motorcycle Club there twice and despite their arguably overlong sets they have always been compelling viewing. In 2009 I saw AC/DC wannabees Jet who alternated between ballads and rock tracks and produced a half decent performance with a proper strong vocal.

In 2011 I witnessed the Hold Steady who were going through a transitional phase as the keyboardist Franz Nicolay was undertaking a lengthy leave of absence. This altered the dynamic as it led to them resorting to a set list leaning towards their earlier albums as that suited their guitar led garage band sound, and as a result they were superb on the night.

I have also seen Fidlar, Maran Morris and Ryan Hurd, Arab Strap, Mark Lanegan, Band of Skulls, Joy Formidable. Go Team, Car Seat Headrest and Best Coast grace the stage there.

Nine years after my first visit, I saw Jesus and Mary Chain there in 1996. They were in the midst of touring ‘Stoned and Dethroned’, which is my favourite album alongside the startling aural onslaught that is contained in ‘Psychocandy’. Mary Chain gigs can historically be a bit of a lottery, but they were really accomplished and has thus far been my favourite live performance from them.

In 2018 I did a vintage double header within a few weeks of each other. First up was Belly who were excellent and Tanya Donnelly’s (previously Throwing Muses) voice was an absolute revelation. They also had the obligatory slightly bonkers bassist. To follow them was the Breeders with the Deal sisters in tow and they were enjoyable.

The best sound I encountered was at a British Sea Power show in 2017 with ‘super fan’ Graham Jones in attendance. Sometimes the sound can be a tad muddy here but every note was crystal clear that night. 

British Sea Power ticket stub. Image credit mdm.archive.co.uk

Dinosaur Jr in 2013 were good, playing a large portion of an early album ‘Bug’ containing their biggest tune ‘Freak Scene’. My most recent attendance were the thin young Dublin scamps Fontaines DC who despite sound difficulties were as good as ever and induced mothering reflexes from Gill and Tris as to whether they were eating square meals.

One of the more unusual ones was Wu Lyf in 2012. Their inexorable rise up to that point involving them building up a loyal fan base by playing guerrilla gigs under various Manchester railway arches.

It was the best crowd reaction I had seen for a while and they were quirky and good value. I can only assume that the conversion to standard indoor stages was a wrong move as they broke up a year later.

The inimitable Wu Lyf. Image Credit L’obs.

Prior to a Dandy Warhols gig in 2015 Uncle George and I had a flying dabble in the bookies and we had a never to be repeated hot streak resulting in half an hour later leaving with a not inconsiderable profit. The Warhols couldn’t live up to the earlier high in the evening.

Rocket from the Crypt were in town in 1998 and were tremendous as ever and on that particular tour they created a novelty. This being that the support band Beach Buggies, after their set decamped to outside each venue in an open lorry to play a bonus set. So at the point of departure  we discovered them across the road outside what subsequently became the Gorilla playing a short jaunty set and thus creating Manchester Venue 7 – Manchester Ritz Concourse.  

RFTC Flyer. Image Credit mdm.archive.co.uk

https://academymusicgroup.com/o2ritzmanchester/