The Nation Of Ulysses

Making punk look good.

Plays Pretty For Baby

Still The Best Music Video Ever

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (2000)

Obits

My favorite record of 2009 was probably the debut LP "I Blame You" from Obits. Rick Froberg is the man. Drive Like Jehu was rad, Hot Snakes were amazing, he plays a 60's Harmony Bobkat guitar (I'm a nerd, I know) and he's able to consistently put out great records even without John Reis by his side (I'll have to save The Night Marchers for a different post).

Anyway, I'm glad there are veterans like these guys to keep it real while all the kids continue to invent new ways of ruining music for generations to come. Here is Obits' record store day 7'' from last year which actually contains a couple of their best songs. Get into it.



I Can't Lose


Military Madness




If you like these songs buy "I Blame You" and check them out on VBS's "Practice Space" below. Pretty damn funny too.


Obits - Practice Space

Roky Erickson

Roky Erickson's first new record in 14 years is coming out in April. It's hard for me to think of a more honest, painfully sincere voice then Roky's and knowing the shit he's been through in the past makes it that much more effective. This upcoming record features Okkervil River, also from Austin, as his back up band which brings a different dynamic to the usual rawness of his previous material. So far a reworked version of "Goodbye Sweet Dreams" is all that has surfaced, I've posted it below via Pitchfork.

Goodbye Sweet Dreams

I was lucky enough to see Roky play a couple years ago at Emo's with The Strange Boys and fuckin' Billy Gibbons came out at the end of his set for "Two Headed Dog" & "You're Gonna Miss Me". Definitely a great show.

Bloodshot Bill

Bloodshot Bill single handedly produces some of the best primitive rockabilly awesomeness that I've heard in a while. He's from Montreal and is apparently banned from entering the US for another few years so I guess I won't have the pleasure of seeing him live anytime soon. Good riffs, great voice and he even has his own custom brand of pomade. Need I say more?

Also keep an eye out for his upcoming record with another Montreal native and personal favorite of mine, Mark Sultan. That project is ingeniously titled "The Ding-Dongs".

Here is a song called "Rat Fink" as well as my favorite Bloodshot Bill album thus far, "Rockabilly Trash".

Rat Fink



Rockabilly Trash

Doo-Wop-Doo-Wop

I remember a lot of of these songs from the oldies station when I was little and I guess they made an impression because I still love all this Doo-Wop stuff today. This is the first of a 5 disc collection of essential tracks from that era.




Doo-Wop-Doo-Wop Volume 1

1- Danny & The Juniors - At The Hop
2- Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love
3- The Edsels - Rama Lama Ding Dong
4- The El-Dorados - (Crazy Little Mama) At My Front Door
5- The Cadillacs - Speedo
6- The Willows - Church Bells May Ring
7- The Solitaires - Walking Along
8- The Chords - Sh-Boom
9- The Turbans - When You Dance
10- The Crows - Gee
11- The Drifters - Ruby Baby
12- The Gladiolas - Little Darlin'
13- The Nutmegs - Story Untold
14- The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)
15- The Five Satins - (I'll Remember) In The Still Of The Night
16- The Platters - Only You (And You Alone)
17- Lee Andrews & The Hearts - Long Lonely Nights
18- The Cleftones - Little Girl Of Mine
19- The Coasters - Yakety Yak
20- Dion & The Belmonts - I Wonder Why
21- The Earls - Remember Then
22- The Elegants - Little Star
23- The Capris - There's A Moon Out Tonight
24- The Mello-Kings - Tonite, Tonite
25- The Crests - Sixteen Candles
26- The Del Vikings - Come Go With Me
27- The Monotones - Book Of Love
28- Little Anthony & The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow
29- The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You
30- The Spaniels - Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight



Doo-Wop-Doo-Wop