MEDICATION: A BUDDYHEAD BLOG

Serena Maneesh - "Serena Maneesh"

I've been in Washington State for the past week so I haven't been around computers much. Yeah, it's been great. Oddly enough, I've gotten quite a few emails telling me that I'm "lazy" for not posting new songs on this website. If you're one of those people... it's only been two weeks! You are humongous geeks! I think you should all do the world a favor and take your own lives. Just go park Mom's car in the garage, leave it running and fall asleep. Anyways, on a more positive note... a friend of mine gave me this record yesterday and it's pretty damn good! I don't know much about this band besides that they are Norwegians and they play fuzzy noisy rock songs. No need to let the Norway connection scare you, these freaks sing in English! Coincidentally, I don't think this baby is out in America, but you can order it from their label Honeymilk. Tomorrow I'll be jumping on the Nine Inch Nails bus for a ride through Canada and down the west coast back to sunny Los Angeles. I can only imagine how much cake I'll see Aaron stuff into his mouth in the next week. Ahhh... catering. Oh, and the new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club record, "Howl", is one of the best records I've heard all year. Check out the single I posted a while ago if you haven't already... here.

(Download - "Drain Cosmetics")

(Download - "Un-Deux")

(Buy this record here)

Nardwuar V.S. Bill Kaysing

Our friend from up north, Nardwuar the Human Serviette, interviewed Bill Kaysing a while back. Bill was the first person to write a book claiming that the moon landing was faked by Disney back in the 1970's. This is one of the best Nardwuar interviews in my opinion. Toally awesome shit!

(Download - "Nardwuar V.S. Bill Kaysing")

Caspar Brotzmann Massaker - Schwarze Folklore

Guitar players are usually blown away by the Hendrix-in-a-windtunnel primordial intensity of German guitarist Caspar Brotzmann and his early 90's trio, Massaker. However, I'd imagine that any Buddyhead reader would appreciate the truly sinister and downright monsterous force that redefined the power trio while incorporating elements of Hendrix and Cream and mixing them with the primal thud of Einsteurzende Neubauten and Swans. Top that all off with the free jazz approach of Caspar's father, saxophonist Peter Brotzmann (who had played in Last Exit and collaborated with greats like Sonny Sharrock) and it might somewhat describe the lanky guitarist's nightmarish sounds.

I saw Caspar Brotzmann Massaker live in 1992, the year that the trio's second album Der Abend Der Schwarzen Folklore (roughly translated as "the Afternoon of Black Folklore") was released and the band was incredible. Brotzmann is tall, skinny and dressed like Jimi Hendrix in 1968 and he played his guitar with much of the same passion (not to mention also being left-handed and playing an upside-down Fender Stratocaster.) The band on the whole was so unbelievably loud it sounded like a jet taking off for much of the set. And, I suspected that the monitors on stage were equally as ear-crushing, because the drummer kept wincing and turning his head away from his monitor and constantly begging in German for them to be turned down. This track, "Schwarze Folklore" is indeed a long one, but listen through the whole thing -- the creepy zombie chants and neo-industrial drum breakdowns further bolster the song that sounds simultaneuosly like a Pagan ritual and the raptorous rupture of a factory's machinery gone haywire.

There's not much online information available on Brotzmann, but this Trouser Press profile seems to cover his history pretty well.

(Download - "Schwarze Folklore")

Repulsion - "Horrified"

Along with Napalm Death's "SCUM" and "From Enslavement To Obliteration", Repulsion's debut album, "Horrified", is considered to be ground zero for the grindcore movement that came about in the late 80's. Formed in 1985 in Flint, MI, the group was originally named Genocide but then changed it to Repulsion after realizing that another band had already claimed the moniker. Soon after they started, bassist/vocalist Scott Carlson and guitarist Matt Olivio headed south to Tampa, where they were invited to join the legendary gore-metal act, Death. Their stint in that band did not really work out so they headed back to the Great Lakes, hooked up with their old band mates, and recorded "Horrified". Full of ugly, distorted bass, ripping blastbeats, and 'Tales From The Crypt' type imagery, this disc had homely, zit-faced teenagers jumping for joy. Scott Carlson eventually moved out to L.A. and played in the SuperBees, amongst other bands. The last time I saw him he mentioned the strong possibility of a Repulsion reunion - so keep an ear out.

(Download - "The Stench of Burning Death")

(Download - "Radiation Sickness")

Tv On The Radio - "Dry Drunk Emperor"

I woke up this morning to find this brand new Tv On The Radio song in my email inbox, so I figured I'd better share it with all of you. They wrote it for those affected by Hurricane Katrina and it's free for you to enjoy. Please pass it around.

(Download - "Dry Drunk Emperor")

A Gift To You From TV On The Radio
"we ( tvotr ) were back in the studio thinking and feeling again and made this song for all our everybody... in the absence of a true leader we must not forget that we are still together.... hearts are sick ... minds must change ... it is our hope that this song inspires, comforts, fosters courage, and reminds us... this darkness cannot last if we work together. let us help each other... heal each other.... look after one another ... the human heart is our new capitol.... this song is for you.... us..... we.... them... it is free. pass it on."

baby boy
dieing under hot desert sun,
watch your colours run.

did you believe the lie they told you,
that christ would lead the way
and in a matter of days
hand us victory?

did you buy the bull they sold you,
that the bullets and the bombs
and all the strong arms
would bring home security?

all eyes upon
dry drunk emperor
gold cross cross jock skull and bones
mocking smile,
he's been
standing naked for a while!
get him gone, get him gone, get him gone!!
and bring all the thieves to trial.

end their promise
end their dream
watch it turn to steam
rising to the nose of some cross legged god
gog of magog
end times sort of thing.
oh unmentionable disgrace
shield the childrens faces
as all the monied apes
display unimaginably poor taste
in a scramble for mastery.

atta' boy get em with your gun
till mr. mega ton
tells us when we've won
or
what we're gonna leave undone.

all eyes upon
dry drunk emperor
gold cross jock skull and bones
mocking smile,
he's been
naked for a while.
get him gone, get him gone, get him gone!!!
and bring all his thieves to trial.

what if all the fathers and the sons
went marching with their guns
drawn on washington.
that would seal the deal,
show if it was real,
this supposed freedom.

what if all the bleeding hearts
took it on themselves
to make a brand new start.
organs pumpin on their sleeves,
paint murals on the white house
feed the leaders L.S.D
grab your fife and drum,
grab yor gold baton
and let's meet on the lawn,
shut down this hypocrisy.

Nardwuar v.s. David Cross

The great Nardwuar The Human Serviette v.s. funny man David Cross.... damn good shit kids! Once again... Nardwuar wins! Where else can you hear two men talking about kilos of pubic hair? NOWHERE....

(Download "Nardwuar v.s. David Cross")

Dios Malos - "Dios (Malos)"

This new Dios Malos record is pretty bitchin' kids, I'm warning you now. I liked their last one, but I think these four dudes from the South Bay of LA have out-done themselves this time around. They recorded this puppy up in chilly Seattle with Phil Ek. According to their bio, they picked Phil to work with because of the last Karp 7-inch he did. Anyone who likes Karp is a-ok in my book, ding dong Dios Malos is fucking with your head. "So Do I" is my favorite track on here, I think it's about doing drugs and not wanting to dying but I could be wrong. Also check out "Feels Good Being Somebody" which Startime posted on their site. Shit rules brah!

(Download - "So Do I")

(Download - "Feels Good Being Somebody")

Dios Malos shows:
september 9 - john anson ford appletheater  w/ m. ward
september 15 - cmj music festival in N.Y. (startime showcase)
september 23 - austin city limits festival
september 24 - STubbs, Austin Tx

Dag Nasty - "Can I Say"

Recorded at a time when Washington DC's legendary hardcore scene was beginning to splinter, Dag Nasty's "Can I Say" signaled a change in the sound and momentum of the genre. Formed after the demise of Minor Threat by Brian Baker, Colin Sears and Roger Marbury, Dag Nasty debuted and recorded with original vocalist Shawn Brown. After a while, things didn't work out with Brown and they recruited powerhouse shouter Dave Smalley into the ranks. Smalley was at the right place and the right time since he had just left Boston's DYS. After hitting the road with Beefeater, Dag Nasty entered Don Zientara's Inner Ear Studios and recorded "Can I Say" with Ian MacKaye producing. The result was a stunning album full of melodic hardcore fury. Dave Smalley's vocals are incendiary and portray an emotion that was rare in HC at the time. In my opinion it's the definite highlight of his career. Check out 'Circles', 'I've Heard' and 'Justification', which was recorded at Dave's first show with the band.

(Download - "Circles")

(Download - "I've Heard")

(Download - "Justification")

Bob Dylan (war songs)

In case you haven't noticed, I've been listening to allot of Bob Dylan... sorry. When I hear Dylan, I can't help but think "Why isn't someone writing songs that are half this good, now?" Prolly cuz no one has sold their soul to the Devil lately, besides Jack White. And he's using all his superpowers to grow weird mustaches and slay supermodels, not that I blame him... Anyways, I think these two songs ("With God On Our Side" & "Masters Of War") are just as relevant today as they were forty-plus years ago, when homeboy penned em'. Someone outta put these on a mix tape and give it to the leaders of this country. "With God On Our Side" is from Disc 2 of "The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Live 1964". Normally I can't really get into Joan Baez's vibe, but for some reason I really like her shrill goat-backups on this live version. They just add some craziness that works with this song. You can find a studio version of that baby on one of my favorite Dylan albums, "The Times They Are A-Changin" minus the Baezmeister. "Masters Of War" is one of my favorite Bob songs because he's so pissed that he's wishing death on people, you never really hear Bob get that angry. You can find it on Disc 1 of the "Biograph Box Set". Speaking of, I gotta go buy that new Dylan Bootleg Series Vol. 7 that just came out. I'm blowing it!

(Download - "Masters Of War")

(Download - "With God On Our Side" live)