The Black Dog - Spanners Before "IDM" meant everyone ripping off Autechre and Board of Canada, you had projects like this putting out fairly mellow "home listening techno". There is a good bit of variety here and it's an engaging listen overall, even if it has dated a bit. When I'm in the mood I really enjoy this sort of thing, though I'd be lying if I sby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Polak - 3x3 CD Pete Fij from Adorable's project after that band broke up. If you don't know Adorable, they were sort of on the tail end of the 90s shoegaze boom but harked back more to straightforward 80s guitar pop. Think Darklands-era JAMC, the House of Love, etc. This is a good bit mellower, no loud distorted guitars riddled with effects. Good stuff though.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
The New Christs - Lower Yourself 2xLP Reissue Their album from 1997, only their second since the early 80s. Probably some of the best material I've heard from them. A good bit more aggressive than their newest album but still has those dark melodies. I was a bit worried about this one because it's on a label out of Spain I've never heard of, but it seems legit as far as I caby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Opposition - Breaking the Silence Another one of those cult early 80s post-punk bands that are almost completely unknown outside of Europe. There seems to be a political edge to the lyrics, but these guys are quite melodic and moody, you're not going to get a ton of punk-inspired aggression here. This band's material has always been kind of tough to find. My copy is actually a paby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Suede - Sci-Fi Lullabies 2xCD This is a collection that covers the b-sides and non-album tracks (maybe not all though?) of this band's first three albums. I never paid much attention to the whole Britpop thing when it was big because I was too busy listening to other stuff, but several years later I've kinda gotten into some of it. These guys were obviously heavily influenced byby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Josef K - Only Fun in Town/Sorry For Laughing CD This is a recent CD reissue of two albums by a cult Scottish post-punk group that put out stuff on Postcard Records, the label that was also known for releasing early material by Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. These guys are a bit less poppy than those bands, more wiry-sort of twisted indie take on funk guitar I guess. The story was that thby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Painful is my favorite of the YLT albums I have or have heard. "I Can Hear" is probably the most critically acclaimed though. One of their best songs is actually on the "Today is the Day" EP, which I need to get at some point. They've put out a lot of stuff and have been around for a long time. Another band that I would compare to them in this sense (but not musically) isby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Yo La Tengo has done some classic records for sure. I've not heard the one you posted but Painful, Electro Pura, I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, and And Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out are all very good records worth your time. Often times they sound heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground but they have other things in the mix as well. Watch out for the reissue of Painful (&quoby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Beastmilk - Climax More retro post-punk from Scandanavia. Sounding pretty good so far. Haven't made it through the whole album yet. Full Stream/Buy: Also available on CD/LP from Magic Bullet Records I believe.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Prefab Sprout - Steve McQueen - 2xCD Deluxe Edition I played this album the other day before going to bed, but forgot to post about it. Too lazy to dig it out for a real pic, sorry. At any rate, this has become one of my favorite albums over the last few years but I didn't get it at all when I first heard it over a decade ago. At their core, these are finely crafted guitar pop songs, butby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Vicious Rumours - Anytime Day or Night Fairly melodic and catchy Skinhead/Oi!/Soccer Hooligan punk rock from the mid-80s. I don't think these guys are very well-known outside of the UK and even their albums on CD are a pain to find. I've only got this one, which is their first, never heard the second one.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
The Colourfield - Virgins and Philistines - Japanese CD One of Terry Hall's post-Specials projects. I'm sure some people cringe at this sort of mellow, jazzy sophisti-pop or whatever you want to call it, but I dig it. The Japanese CD I have is tough to find, but it's the version to get. It has the album, their s/t 12'' and some bonus tracks, all mastered from good sourby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Re: seeing a symphony in person, I would agree that there is no substitute. Unfortunately the local symphony where I live right now is very much LCD, catering to the bland, old crowd. When I lived in another city, the local symphony had a much more diverse range of patrons and a repertoire to match that. I may be relocating again soon, so a better symphony is something to look forward to. I'by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
RA - Scandanavia So apparently retro-post-punk and death rock is now a big thing, but there is a lot of crap to wade through to get to the good bands. For every band worth listening to like Arctic Flowers, Bellicose Minds, The Estranged, etc. you get a dozens of faceless bands with no energy, originality, or hooks or stuff that is just part of the internet hype machine. I don't know mby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
New Christs - Incantations As you may know, this was one of the bands Rob Younger formed after Radio Birdman disbanded. They didn't release an full LP until the late 80s and are sort of a cult project, releasing material every few years. I've heard them described as "noir garage" and I guess that's a pretty good description. They've got a lot more going on that yoby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Hits - Hikikomori Killer rockin' punk-ish band from Australia, definite throwback to some older big name Australian groups from the 70s but these guys have some good music diversity here and there and don't sound like a blatant retro-group. Probably one of the best things in this style that I've heard in a while. Produced by Rob Younger from Radio Birdman/New Christs. Streamby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Pale Saints - The Comforts of Madness Sort of associated with shoegazing type stuff from the early 90s. Often overlooked and underrated. One of my favorite records from this era.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Happy Anniversary man.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Some cool picks Rchecka. I need to pull out some of my classical records soon. I really enjoy classical music when I'm in the mood, certain composers anyway. I've actually never heard that Soft Machine records if you can believe that, never went beyond their first couple psychedelic pop type records. Re: ring wear, never an issue for me really unless the seller is asking too much foby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
@ Rchecka, my friend had an Island/Mango pressing of the Uhuru LP years ago. I've not heard it recently. However, most of the old Island/Mango U.S. or UK pressings that I have (which are not very many) are outstanding sound-quality wise in terms of mastering and the actual pressing quality. Most reggae nuts will always tell you that JA pressings were the worst. Smaller labels and licensing oby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Some recent listens, four very different albums. R.E.M. - Life's Rich Paegant I guess this is the band's last LP before they really hit it big, but you can tell they were going for a more accessible sound compared to their previous records. It actually rocks quite a bit in certain seconds, and a couple of the tracks on this are among my favorite R.E.M. songs. Bad Sectoby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Currently listening to And Also the Trees - Self-Titled album. I've gone back and forth over this band over the years, but I really dig them when I'm in the mood. Definitely an overlooked band from the early 80s post-punk scene, veering towards dramatic goth rock. As time went on, the band played up the dramatic angle, which is why I tend to like their early records best. At some pointby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
^That Black Uhuru LP was issued under several different names and went through many different pressings. My copy is a CD called "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". Also probaby my favorite Black Uhuru album.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
@jaybrown...that is funny about your friend. I was never into the whole "dressing like a metal head" thing and my love of punk/hardcore always came before metal when I was younger. I do like certain bands and types of heavy metal when I'm in the mood but it's mostly older stuff. I don't really keep up with what's going on in the metal scene unless it's an olderby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
@Rchecka, I will check out that Leon Bridges record. I've seen it in stores and wondered what it was. I do like Sam Cooke and a lot of other old R&B/Soul type stuff. I be honest though, I haven't really gotten into a lot of newer or retro type soul acts though...to my mind, they either don't add enough to the genre or just don't appeal to me for some reason.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
Listening to Red Hare - Nites of Midnite. Tough-sounding DC hardcore that sounds a lot like Swiz, because 3/4 of this band were in Swiz as well. Here is a track from the album: Put on some old death metal last night. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madnessby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
@ Rchecka, very interesting picks I've never heard. Iron Maiden - Self-Titled (1st Album) Picked up both this one and "Killers" on clearance. I have most of the classic Bruce-era stuff on old non-remastered CDs but I don't think I had ever heard anything from these two albums until recently. Certainly a bit different from the later Maiden stuff, but still soundinby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
I need some Joao for sure. I've tried to buy his albums, as the more popular ones on Verve do occasionally show up, but they are always badly scratched when I do see them.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
I avoided From Ashes for years until about 5 years ago. I think bitd they got tagged unfairly as a His Hero ripoff so I avoided them.by LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop
@Rchecka, haven't heard White Zombie in years. I think the only thing I ever owned was a boot CD that had their first two (and very hard to find) albums. I should try to listen to that soon. Apparently the first album was a big favorite of Kurt Cobain's. Two hardcore/punk-ish bands that are pretty much at polar opposites of the spectrum. Negative Approach, which I'm sureby LionsMouth - Crate Digging: Non Hip Hop