Bill Nelson - The Two-Fold Aspect of Everything 2xLP (1984)

Some time ago, I discussed another Bill Nelson related project called Red Noise. That project received some attention, but not nearly as much as the eponymous artist's solo work. For those unfamiliar, here is a bit of a bio: Bill Nelson is a prominent English new wave artist that was active all through the 1980s. He led a band called Be-Bop Deluxe, later led Red Noise, and eventually decided on a solo career in electronic music. Despite releasing countless - seriously, countless - records, Nelson remained a mostly reclusive musician, no doubt due to his poor relationship with major labels. He released most of his records on his own label, Cocteau Records, likely named after Jean Cocteau, of whom Nelson was a big fan.

Bill Nelson has quickly become a favorite of mine over the past couple years. Nelson is overtly a guitarist, although his music could easily be described as synth-pop. The music featured in this compilation rarely meanders - straight-forward, propulsive pop right down to the core. His version of the guitar-synth hybrid sound always keeps me coming back, not to mention every track he does is endlessly catchy. And although Nelson remains pretty obscure, he has a diehard fanbase keeping his music alive. He still performs today, too.

This may or may not be a good introduction to Bill Nelson for those who haven't heard his music before. Many of these songs are remixes and alternate versions, facts that may color one's perception of this music. Nonetheless, this is highly recommended for fans of new wave and synthpop music.

Bill Nelson - The Two-Fold Aspect of Everything 2xLP MediaFire

Brave Irene - S/T EP (2011)

Although the headlines currently tell of a collapsing planet, the world could never be so dark as to disallow a new poppy Rose Melberg project. Avid readers of this blog (all two of you) are no doubt unfamiliar with Rose and my fanboy affection for her music. So you (the two of you) could only imagine my surprise to find that her latest fronted project, Vancouver-based Brave Irene, recently dropped their debut EP on Slumberland. No disappointment to be found in this record, which is a bold throwback to the best 90's twee, early Slumberland and K stuff. With artists like Rose, it's difficult not to use their name as a buzzword to speak lovingly of and promote their bands, but this all-girl quintet pull their collective weight and drive each song in their own way. The label noted the Flying Nun vibes going on with the keyboardist Jessica Wilkin, and they're not far off. Another pop banger with signature Melberg songwriting and nods to her past projects (surprisingly, Gaze are the first to come to my mind.)

I have a feeling this will sell out in a minute, so frolic over to Slumberland and get yourself a copy.

Brave Irene - S/T EP Mediafire
Buy it

V/A The Way Things Change #6 (2002)

The conclusion to this 2001-2002 pop series. Great tracks from Putney Swope, All Girl Summer Fun Band and Rocketship. If I ever got a hold of volume five, I'll be sure to share that as well.

V/A The Way Things Change #6 MediaFire

V/A The Way Things Change #4 (2002)

Probably my second favorite of the series, as nearly every band is a standout: Second Story Man, Six Cents and Natalie, Casino Ashtrays (Laura Watling!), and The Lucksmiths. All twee, all the time.

V/A The Way Things Change #4 MediaFire

P.S.: Check out these Smiths boots, released during the waning days of 2010!

V/A The Way Things Change #3 (2001)

Third volume in the series. Obvious names are Mirah and The Cannanes. Less acoustic, perhaps a little more electric than the previous volume. Figurine, Cannanes and Mirah's tracks were composed around programmed electronics and keyboards. Low fidelity for the whole family.

V/A The Way Things Change #3 MediaFire

V/A The Way Things Change #1 (2001)

A while ago, I promised to finish sharing the remainder of this singles series. Well, I'm going to do just that for the next few days, but very reluctantly. I never managed to grab a copy of the fifth in the series, so there will be a gaping hole where it should be. Regardless, pop fans of all shapes and sizes, enjoy!

The first volume in Red Square's "The Way Things Change" compilation features the likes of Jen Turrell and Stewart Anderson of Boyracer fame and Calvin Johnson of fame-fame. There was a little hiccup on the Calvin Johnson track, sorry.

V/A The Way Things Change #1 MediaFire

Searching For The Now #4 - Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Summer Cats (2008)

To tie up the end of 2010, I'll share volume four of Slumberland's "Searching For The Now" single series, which featured The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Summer Cats. No, wait, don't run away! Yes, I admit, I'm not a very big fan of what Slumberland has been putting out as of late, and Pains of Being Pure at Heart aren't exempted from that. But despite loathing their LP for admittedly superficial reasons (come on, at least put the Pastels in your thank-you list), this version of their song "Come Saturday" is, in my opinion, a superior version. It's definitely an early recording, probably long before they began writing their LP and it definitely came first. And I unabashedly admit that this song is concentrated catchy in a can; no one can resist these hooks! So anyway, the point of this entry is mostly to share an overlooked version of that song. I don't know a thing about Summer Cats apart from them being from Melbourne. Their single is pretty good, too; listening to it again this morning, I was immediately reminded of Built of Spill and Talulah Gosh simultaneously ... go figure.

This was Slumberland #82. It is out of print. See you next year.

Searching For The Now #4 - Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Summer Cats MediaFire

V/A I Know Why They Call It Pop (2010)

V/A I Know Why They Call It Pop MediaFire
V/A I Know Why They Call It Pop Buy It

The Get Up Kids - Loveteller 7" (1996)

Once upon a time, I stupidly threw a copy of this record across the Pacific Ocean and never saw it again. Now, thanks to a special someone, I got another copy of what is probably one of my favorite singles. There's no doubt in my mind that the Get Up Kids are a household name by now, so I'll spare you the introduction. It's criminal that this song, "A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts," often goes unnoticed when new listeners peruse this band's discography. If you've never heard it or you're looking for a place to start, jump on this opportunity. This band has been and will always, unabashedly, be one of my favorites.

This record saw a lofty series of reissues - six total - and was put out by Contrast Records in 1996. This was the band's first single and, as far as I know, their first recorded output.

I don't know if anyone was alert to it, but my latest entry, Pavement's "Summer Babe" single, was deleted per a DMCA takedown notice from Blogger. I guess Matador doesn't like sharing as much as I do! But anyway, like I said in my last entry, expect a slight lapse in updates for the remainder of the month and into December, as I need to concentrate on end-of-the-semester business.

The Get Up Kids - Loveteller 7" MediaFire

Nerdy Girl - Dime Store Hussy 7" (1996)

Okay. I have a solid hour before work, it's a gloomy, rainy day outside, and I'm currently burying myself and my sorrows in records before I spend my Sunday standing around for a few hours. What better time could there be to share another twee pop EP? Nerdy Girl was, maybe is, a pop quartet from Montreal that was, maybe is, fronted by Cecil Seaskull. Such a sweet voice on this girl, definitely a perfect fit for the music she's playing. This record was a split release with No Life and Janken Pon records, the former from Los Angeles and the latter from Montreal. Three down-tempo, sweetheart pop tunes for the long, incoming winter. Enjoy your Sunday.

For the obsessive compulsive (read: me), I accidentally put the release date on the folder and the tags at 1995, when in fact it's 1996. Who cares, but sorry!

Nerdy Girl - Dime Store Hussy 7" MediaFire

Zumpano - Wraparound Shades 7" (1994)

Before the New Pornographers, Carl Newman fronted another, lesser known Canadian Sub Pop band. That band was called Zumpano, a quartet that released this single and two albums within only a few years during the early nineties. Their album "Look What the Rookie Did" is up there as one of my favorite pop-oriented albums (in a long, long list), despite its rough concept and execution. Newman obviously bloomed later in his career, but his talent still shone through in his earlier efforts. This single, "Wraparound Shades," is backed with a rare cover of "Orange Air" by Jimmy Webb, a man who has recorded a million other songs in his lifetime.

Zumpano - Wraparound Shades 7" MediaFire

Further - The Further John Peel Sounds 7" (1995)

Readers may remember my entry regarding Further's first single on Bong Load Records from back in July. I picked that gem up on my own, but I bought today's share from Brent Rademaker himself. He had been selling Further-and-related records on eBay for a time and, eager to get copies myself, I browsed his eBay account for whatever he had been selling. Ever the naive one, I was disappointed at how much he had been charging for shipping (as it turns out, a little extra actually makes sense for a 2xLP) so I messaged him and asked him about working out a deal. Eventually, I ended up getting their John Peel sessions, the Sometimes Chimes full-length, as well as a copy of the Summer Hits CD for a cool $40 or so. Not bad, and certainly not what I deserved for berating his shipping policy. I suppose, if it's any consolation, I didn't know it was him until it was too late.

Anyway, that little diddy dragged on a bit too long. This record was released on Boxing Day Records, a label which either didn't actually exist, was so obscure that I can't find a thing on it, or was a disguise for self-releasing this record. In any case, this is a hard to come by record with even harder to come by recordings. If you dug the previous Further record, give this a shot. This came way after their first single however, and way after most of their material had been recorded, pressed, and subsequently out of print. You've got tracks from all over the place here, from the beginning of their discography to the "end." The rendition of "Misinformed Youth," which by the way is titled "The Kids Are All Wrong" on its original 2x7" release, is my favorite cut here.

Here comes the best part!


Further - The Further John Peel Sounds 7" MediaFire

Built to Spill - So and So So and So 7" (1994)

Yeah, I'm on a pop kick again! It's 2010, so it's doubtful that a band like Built to Spill need an introduction. This one of their early singles from 1994. It was put out by the obscure Saturnine and was recorded at Dub Narcotic by Calvin Johnson. What could I possibly say to justify either of these tracks? What's more, what could I say about this band that hasn't already been said? These tracks, "So and So So and So From Wherever Wherever" and "Terrible-Perfect" (which incidentally shared lyrics with a Treepeople song), were later featured on "The Normal Years" rarities compilation CD that K put out in 1996, which I also have a copy of and am tempted to share. If you're at all familiar with Lonesome-and-earlier-era Modest Mouse or Martsch-related projects like Treepeople, you know what to expect here: Built To Spill in the early and even late nineties was something really special. Even shortly after the inevitable-and-well-deserved jump to a major label they put out some killer tunes (Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss, for example), which is saying something. But as for everything before that? Just listen. "Save some place in your mind / I'm getting good at time."

Built to Spill - So and So So and So 7" MediaFire

Names For Pebbles - Mods and Miniskirts EP (1996)

A very short-lived New Haven pop group fronted by someone named Joey Maddalena, who I suppose must be pretty famous somewhere in this crazy world. Pretty abrasive recordings with some garage rock influence here and there, poppy hooks and oddball musicians. You'll get what I mean by that last part by the second song, maybe; the keyboard bits are gem. This was their second record, was one-sided, and was hand-numbered out of one-hundred-and-fifty. This record was released by Blackbean And Placenta Tape Club!, the same label that put out some of Six Cents and Natalie's music. Hey, anyone ever work at Target?

Names for Pebbles - Mods and Miniskirts EP MediaFire

V/A The Way Things Change Volume 2 7"

First off, let me say that it's been a mixed bag of new wave and punk material for the past few entries, so I'd like to mix it up and share one of my favorite volumes from a great pop compilation series. Second, I'm reluctant to share this particular record because, despite being fantastic, there is a lot of surface noise that I think is a result of the orange color and heavy vinyl; hopefully you'll be able to look past that. If there is enough response, I'll probably share the rest of the series, or rather the volumes I have.

The first volume of "The Way Things Change" was Red Square Recordings first release in 2001. Red Square was run by Jen Turrell of Boyracer and Possum Moods, among others. As you can plainly see, there's a great mix of pop-oriented bands on this particular volume, the obvious standouts being Softies, Microphones, and Dear Nora. I can't quite place what it is about this record that's had me playing both sides over and over again since I got it a couple years ago. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say it's the overall mood it conveys. The mood of every song is quite somber and longing, even Dear Nora's track, which is instrumental more or less. Also, if you notice, the album art is a drawing of boy and a girl standing in the rain. The album art changed from volume to volume, and I assume that they were released during different times in the various seasons and that it wasn't just a coincidence.

Whether or not the songs for each volume coincided with the seasons is a mystery to me, although it would be cool if that were the case. I'd say this a twee comp, but every song resides more in the stripped down bedroom realm, especially the Mac Dare and Park tracks. In any case, here it is, an overlooked comp with a handful of not so overlooked artists. By the way, the Softies do a Rocketship cover (guess which song) and, as always, the Microphones are overrated.

V/A The Way Things Change Volume 2 MediaFire

Hydroplane - Failed Adventure 7" (1998)

I'll hastily admit that I bought this one a few years ago solely for its in-store description: "NICE FEMAIL VOCALS, DRONEY, SPACE ROCK..." That's verbatim, friends. I guess record store employees aren't exactly hailed for their literacy. Regardless, here we have a haunting single from Hydroplane, a band that, regrettably, I'm unfamiliar with. Incidentally, I'm am familiar with a band that preceded this one, The Cat's Miaow, a Melbourne twee-pop extravaganza.

Strange, how those sort of coincidences work out sometimes. Even stranger is the blatant musical about face in comparison, with Miaow churning twee... butter (heh, sorry) and Hydroplane conjuring slow-burning, Dead Can Dance-esque minimal dream pop as downer as it comes. I can't speak for their albums as I haven't heard them (yet), but this single gives one a good idea. "Failed Adventure" is creeping and anti-climactic, a long, droning trudge backed with Kerrie Bolton's longing crooning. The flip side, "Now You Know All That You Need to Know," is bare bones, mainly made up of one faint drone and electronic beats, and is a bit of a throwaway, although not without its own melancholy merits. Made me think, perhaps the band recalling its past a bit? Maybe not.

This record was Elefant Records #97. Can't quite place this band next to anything genuinely similar, but it'll come to you.

Hydroplane - Failed Adventure 7" MediaFire

The Fents - First Offense (1983)

Another big surprise for me, I came upon this (cheap!) copy of the Fents' first record at my favorite shop and, once again, I was intrigued by the artwork. What I thought might be another hard rock find turned out to be surprisingly excellent jazz fusion fronted by keyboardist Adam Holzman. Although I am usually not one to take enjoyment out of jazz fusion (don't get me started on Weather Report, for example), I listened to this record for the first time reluctantly, and then three more times because I found it to be so great. Maybe it's just because I'm a sucker for a synth, but I found that Holzman's keyboard work carried these radical syncopated compositions to the next level, while the more guitar driven tracks I liked a little less. I enjoyed the track "Four's a Crowd" in particular for that very reason; I thought his work there was reminiscent of other obscure synth artists like Roland Bocquet, if they had made jazz fusion anyway! Incidentally, and oddly enough, Holzman went onto play and tour with Miles Davis. Holzman is apparently still musically active, though I haven't a clue about the remainder of the band. Sadly, the guitarist, Ted Hall, passed away a couple years ago. This band put out a second album and that was it for them as far as I can tell. This record was released on Not Yachting Records; it was hilariously published by How Come You Don't Have a Singer? Publishing. You should listen to it more than four times.

Here comes the best part...

...this copy was signed by the band, although the signature on the left was the "new guy" at the time. Now if only this band wasn't so obscure!

The Fents - First Offense (1983) MediaFire

A Flock of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song 7"

Just a fun new wave one to close out my afternoon, don't take it too seriously! This is the single for this band's probably second biggest hit from their self-titled LP. This is my favorite song by this band, and a great example of dream pop-esque vibes used in new wave/synth pop music. Great for fans of those genres and/or people who haven't heard it before. It is backed with "Windows," which was available "for the first time" in the United States upon this single's release.

I have a couple other really rad LPs to talk about lined up. Have a nice week.



A Flock of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song 7" MediaFire

The Church - Columbus 7" Promo

Dug through Amoebas stacks three years ago and came upon one of the many versions of this single. The flip is supposed to be "As You Will" like the original, but is instead an edited version of the single. Cool huh? Not too cool, the edited version is mostly just the same single, except it's been trimmed down, probably for radio play. Still, a rarity, and a great single for fans and newcomers alike. A great, early single from this band who inadvertently spawned a plethora of sub par succeeding bands. For the curious, this is the W.B. (abbreviated for the sake of dispelling any potential attention it may reel in) promo; more information can be found here. Don't kill me, Kilbey.

The Church - Columbus 7" Promo MediaFire

Linda Smith - Till Another Time 7"

A little less on the obscure side this time around, with this largely overlooked Linda Smith single on Slumberland. According to the bio, Smith was in a folk band called the Woods (not that Woods) before departing and incorporating her folk prowess with 90's minimalist lo-fi of the jangly twee kind. A taped solo effort, Smith relies on strummed guitar, tambourine, keyboard beeps and beats, as well as some reverb just as a sprinkle on top. Plus, it's on 90's Slumberland; if this is a mystery, that alone makes it worth a listen or two. A pretty standard pop single, but one that is not without its merits. The single may remind one of the shoegazey side of the Slumberland roster during the early nineties, while the flips are a lot lighter and more pop-oriented. This was Slumberland #16 and it's still in print. Tell me what you think after you count how many alliterations were inadvertently used in this entry.

Linda Smith - Till Another Time 7" MediaFire
Linda Smith - Till Another Time 7" Buy