MEDICATION: A BUDDYHEAD BLOG

26 (Doc Dart) - Oblivious

Doc Corbin Dart -- now known only as the number "26" in a name-changing move similar to Prince, but borne out of some kind of spiritual awakening -- is best known as the former frontman for the aggressively negative and anti-authoritarian punk band The Crucifucks. That band's classic 1984 debut album, featuring drummer Steve Shelley (later of Sonic Youth) introduced the world to Dart's particularly vehement rants which bordered on insane schadenfreude: "Let's kill the fucking pigs if they get in our way/ It'll set a good example for the children today," and the unnerving drawl, "I want to kill the president, cut off his head and mail it to them in a garrrrbage baaaaaggg!" Well, not surprisingly, it turns out that Dart suffers from a semi-functional mental illness known as Borderline Personality Disorder, and his paranoid antipathy goes further and runs deeper than mere hatred for politicians and the police. Having driven away band members (Dart was already the only original member on the group's second Alternative Tentacles album Wisconsin two years later), reportedly his family and his wife, Dart "went solo" and released an album named after his therapist Patricia.
   None of those releases can top the weirdness of Dart's latest album under the new moniker 26, titled The Messiah. At times this track sounds like two songs played at once, with multiple layers of guitars colliding into each other like voices in a schizophrenic's head. "Oblivious" sounds vaguely like later PIL material, particularly Dart's Lydonesque singing toward the end of the song. Regardless of how bizarre the song might sound, his lyrics remain a glowing example of pure, hostile disassociative behavior -- on both the personal and political level (I'd hazard a guess that he sees no distinction between the two.)

Check out Mark Prindle's excellent overview on the Crucifucks goes into details (and possible rumors) regarding Dart's present state of mind and being. Also, look for interesting comments from the band's original guitarist.

Buy the full album here.

(Download - "Oblivious")

The Duke Spirit - "Cuts Across The Land"

I posted The Duke Spirit's single "Lion Rip" (off the album "Cuts Across The Land") and some BBC sessions (as well as a BBC interview) on here a couple months ago. But someone requested this, so here's some more of The Duke Spirit kids. Now whoever said Buddyhead wasn't nice? We're like mother fucking Santa Clause over here and shit. This is their single "Cuts Across The Land" with "Souvenir" as the b side . This baby came out a little while before their full length did. Well, at least in other countries it did. They're on Loog in the UK but somehow they're on Interscope in America. And the douche bags over at Interscope Records are too busy making sure "artists" like Ashlee Simpson are hiring the right songwriters to realize they have a band like this on their label. Yeah, you can't even buy this stuff in America as of right now. But you can order it from their website. They've even got some really cool & tasteful music videos on their website too. Someone over at Interscope should hire me to A&R just this band because whoever is in charge of that shit now is TOTALLY BLOWING IT! It makes me a little sad that in this country, millions of dollars are being pumped into bands like The Killers, The Bravery, Good Charlotte and all the other shit out there whatever it's all called.... yet The Duke Spirit's album won't even be released... Oh and the singer of this band is my new favorite female singer, she's got the being cool part down too. She's also got a great interview in this weeks NME where she talks shit on pretty much every band out there right now which makes her even cooler.
 
(Download - "Cuts Across The Land")

(Download - "Souvenir")

On a side note, I wanted to point out that this page is written by a pretty good sized list of people now, thank you to all of them for making this place even cooler. Usually Buddyhead is just Aaron and myself (with the occasional help from others), but this page is something new and we've asked several of our friends to write for it as well. Not including myself of course, here's everyone who gets to run their mouths about music they like on this page:

Dave Clifford (Red Sparowes/Starvations/Pleasure Forever)
Shelby Cinca (Decahedron/Frodus/The Cassettes)
Steve DeLuca (Gayrilla Biscuits/Work Sucks)
Aaron North (Nine Inch Nails/The Icarus Line)
John Stanier (Battles/Helmet)
Sam James Velde (Bluebird/Cold Sweat Records)
Christian Wabschall (400 Blows)
Evan Weiss (Wires On Fire)

Rein Sanction "Broc's Cabin"

During the late 80s/early 90s grunge boom emerged an overlooked/under-rated  lil ol band from Jacksonville, Florida called Rein Sanction.  A 'Jimi Hendrix Experience' inspired 3-piece consisting of two mysterious, longhaired, wide-eyed brothers by the name of Mark and Brannon Gentry (guitar and drums, respectively). Rein Sanction played a heavy miasma of psyche guitar rock akin to Neil Young’s “Arc/Weld” era or early Dinosaur Jr. at their most challenging moments. The trio released 4 records, two of them gracing the aforementioned Sub Pop label. Their 1st for the Seattle label was the blissed out/tripped out 1991 classic (in my mind) entitled “Broc’s Cabin.” A true psychedelic, guitar heavy journey. Long songs based on wicked guitar grooves, insidious melodies and heavy tones.

Their sonic exploration continued on their Jack Endino produced follow up and swansong record for Sub Pop entitled ‘Mariposa.’ Unfortunately not many heard or took to Rein Sanction’s sound. Critics and fans alike seemed to dismiss them. Consequently, Sub Pop eventually ended up letting them go. They disappeared and later re-emerged for a brief moment and another record (Email me for personal accounts of this resurfacing), only to vaporize with out a trace.

I can’t help but thinking with the newly found interest in ‘psyche rock’ with such bands as “Dead Meadow” or “Comets On Fire” that Rein Sanction may have been ahead of their time? Regardless, they were on time for me and still are. Check em out.

Fan site: http://www.reinsanction.net/index.html

(Download - "F Train")

Born Against - "Albany Academy"

“Albany Academy” has always been on of my favorite Born Against tracks.  I was surprised to hear that when Kill Rock Stars reissued “The Rebel Sound of Shit and Failure” a few years back, it did not include this song.  For those who were not hip to Born Against before these reissues, check this out!  Born Against existed from 1988-1993, and played hardcore punk rock that was in the spirit of early 80s hardcore (especially acts like Void and Articles of Faith), but musically took a step further.  Stylistically, they played dirty, angry, and at times chaotic hardcore, but it always remained catchy, and there was a sense of melody in a lot of their tunes.  This is one of their more melodic numbers.  One of the greatest aspects of this band are the vocals and lyrics of Sam McPheeters.  Very pissed and very intelligent.  This band influenced a whole lot of bands in the underground the come out in the early-mid 90s and up to current day.  I have been into this band for a long time, but I think I am more into them now than I ever have been.  Maybe it is the current climate of music, as well as the current climate of the world.  Born Against records are over 10 years old, but the sound and words are just as important today, if not more, than they ever were.

(Download - "Albany Academy")

Funkadelic - "Maggot Brain" Reissue

I picked up a copy of this bad boy in New York City this past week after randomly finding it in some bizarre little hippy record store. They also had a large selection of used Pearl Jam tour shirts, but I don’t really dig on the "Jam”. I ended up there at 10am after Joe Burns, Alessandro and myself decided to go to The Dakota (where John Lennon was shot) and Strawberry Fields because we were wired on Coffee, delirious from being up all night and figured some retarded tourist shit was the thing to do. The point of telling you all that is, when you’re up for over 20 hours, have consumed a large amount of killer espresso and wind up finding Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” reissued and remastered with original artwork and three new bonus tracks you haven’t heard for a mere 15 bucks… well that’s like finding the holy fucking grail my friend. I’m pretty sure this is import only, so look around online if you can’t find it at your local record shoppe. Don’t let the funk in Funkadelic scare you away kids, this doesn't sound like The Gap Band. No sir, these dudes were a kick ass dirty rock band that defined description and ingested more drugs than some third-world countries. They also shared bills with killer bands like the MC5, Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes and The Stooges. George Clinton was even momentarily "married" to Mr. Osterberg for a publicity stunt. And Mojo magazine rated Maggot Brain as the fourth most important guitar album ever (right under Jimi Hendrix, The Who & Howlin’ Wolf) if you care about that kinda shit. The first song (and title track) is a ten-minute guitar solo by Eddie Hazel, which he did in one take while frying his balls off on acid. George asked Eddie to think of the saddest thing he could, to imagine his mother dying and then at the end to imagine that she was still alive. Shit SLAYS! Actually this whole record slays, it's a non stop party! “Can You Get To That”, “ You And Your Folk, Me And My Folks”, Back In Our Minds” and the super end freak out jam “Wars Of Armageddon”. I figured a good place to start would be “Hit It And Quit It” for all you that are unfamiliar. And then the flipside to that single (and bonus track on this reissue) “Whole Lot Of BS” is for all of you who already have this record. It’s best to get really stoned outta your brain the first time you listen to this. That is, if you’re into that sorta thing. If you're sober, maybe spin in circles while you're listening to it.

(Download - "Hit It And Quit It")

(Download - "Whole Lot Of BS")

Nardwuar V.S. Paul Gallagher

Nardwuar interviewing Paul Gallagher, brother of Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis who wrote a book a few years ago called "Brothers"
about well, his brothers! Simply amazing.

(Download "Nardwuar V.S. Paul Gallagher")

Two Gallants - "Nothing To You"

I think this is my favorite new drinking band.  Hailing from San Francisco, Two Gallants play a very interesting take on 30’s era acoustic blues, interpreted by two early 20s white boys.  1 electric guitar/vocalist/harmonica player and 1 drummer.  Unique, yet oddly familiar.  “Nothing To You” is one the best tracks off their full length, “The Throes,” and is always a crowd pleaser.  The guitar playing in this band is really awesome.  Really good finger picking, slides, capos, all that jazz.  Not to mention the lyrics, which often read like short stories.  All backed up by very intricate drumming, that is at times jagged and chaotic, perfectly fitting the guitar playing.  I must say, the best songs I have heard from these guys are their new tunes that have not been recorded yet… I am looking forward to their next record.  Pick this up, or better yet, catch them live.

(Download - "Nothing To You")

Narduar V.S. Fat Mike

Narduar V.S. Fat Mike of NOFX and Me First And The Gimme Gimmes. I reccomend watching this one as well as listening to it, if you're able to do that sort of shit on your computer. The video isn't the full interview, but you do get to see a 40 year old with orange hair. So like, make sure you listen to it as well. Shaka bro!

(Download - "Narduar V.S. Fat Mike")
 

The Butthole Surfers – "Independent Worm Saloon"

Songs about sex, drugs, alcohol, the FBI… what more do you need?  This album is great to drive around in your ’73 faded green Chevy Nova to and yell “Slayer” at unexpected pedestrians.  When I was sixteen this was always the best thing I could come up with to stay entertained.  And now that I am 25 I still sounds like a plan.

So how could you go wrong with four Texans on an insane amount of drugs making a record with John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)?  The Butthole Surfers – Independent Worm Saloon is a bad trip from start to finish.  This album is THICK with heavy fuzzed out psychedelic skate riffs. YEAH!

Get on LimeWire and check out the video for "Who Was In My Room Last Night?", it pretty much sums them all up.  Don’t miss the cameo by the star of The Big Lebowski… FLEA in the flesh (literally).

So remember kids… drop some acid, throw this disc on full blast and enjoy.

(Download - "Who Was In My Room Last Night?")

Free "Oh I Wept"

Damn.. it's been over a week since I posted something. I have been recording more songs for the 24 song album of my other band, The Cassettes, and obsessing on organic sounds, production, and general über-music geekery. Thanks to this blog I wanted to reference a drum sound that I said was either to be like "Free - Fire & Water Sessions" or "Plastic Ono Band".. i didn't have any of those records on me, but Travis posted the Plastic Ono song and I was deligted as I showed that to our buddy engineering and there we were.. jammin our weird old-tymey songs like Earth Dogs . And all this leads me to Free since that was my other sonic-obsession reference.

This band displayed a sonically very dry and tasteful approach that is like eating a damn good burrito that doesn't fill you up too much, having a nice lady 'round, and just enjoying life and sunlight wafting through curtains. Sam James, who hasn't posted in a while can talk about Free like a mofo, in fact he turned me on to this band and he would have much more insightful musically historic things to say - but for me I just say that the composition plus the understated and soulful playing makes them one of my tops when it comes to real-deal blues rock. They aren't trying, they aren't posturing.. they just are and that's how it should be. The plinky and perfectly placed bass playing makes them very unique along with the fact that they don't adhere to the in your face 70s guitar sound. In some ways they have a heaviness that T. Rex has in their approach to just a simple solid beat and a strong melody without overt musical theatrics. As you may or may not know they did that "classic rock hit" called "all right now".. and that seems to be an obvious move in marketing a single in that time as the sound is nothing like the rest of their album.  But anyhow.. enough blabbin'... turn this up and call momma.

(Download - "Oh I Wept")