All reviews by hcrink

"Fist" Goodbody's Traveling Torture Show “Fist” Goodbody’s Traveling Torture Show

Scary.

$27 Snap On Face $27 Snap On Face

Fairly well known local Sebastopol, CA private issue rock lp that I (well, my girlfriend actually) found the weekend I moved north of the bay area. I’d heard of this lp previously, and the elaborate packaging and blue vinyl seem exciting enough at first, but this is a pretty disappointing record. First off, these guys […]

A. A. Allen: God Is A Killer! A. A. Allen: God Is A Killer!

More than just a weird cover, as Mr. Allen seems to have actually been a pretty weird man.

A. Paul Ortega: Two Worlds A. Paul Ortega: Two Worlds

Native American folkie A. Paul Ortega is definitely one of the most unique things I’ve heard recently… or ever for that matter. So much so that I find I have little frame of reference right now while writing about this lp. Ortega’s songs (or renditions of traditional songs) sound ancient, completely futuristic, and totally hypnotic […]

Adomono: Gypsy Adomono: Gypsy

Jerry Stiller look-a-like flamenco guitar dude record that is actually pretty far out. To look at the titles on this set of all covers does not exactly fill you with enthusiasm, but they are so completely drenched with echo that even the most banal 60’s pop cover is transcended into enjoyable weirdness. And according to […]

Alexander Longrifle: Best Of Alexander Longrifle: Best Of

While there are plenty of examples of “why on earth wasn’t a record company interested in this?!?!” in the world of private press records, this is not one of them. Alexander “Chief” Longrifle is pretty much a textbook example of an artist who’s music would never have made it into the few homes it did […]

Allen Densen: Sentient Killer Metronomes from Outer-Space Allen Densen: Sentient Killer Metronomes from Outer-Space

This is the type of thing I get really excited about. Just when you think home-made oddities were out of style (and no longer economically feasible) comes this cassette 4-track home-recorded lp of spacey analog electronics from 1990! It’s quite good, and according to the liner notes completely improvised, without overdubbing!

Aramis Camilo & La Organization Secreta Aramis Camilo & La Organization Secreta

Str8 pimpin’!!!

Art Brooks: The Night Caller Art Brooks: The Night Caller

Private press Free Jazz lp from Bennington University in Vermont by Trumpeter Art Brooks. What originally got my attention when I dug this up in a local antique shop was that the liner notes were written by Bill Dixon, and that Brooks dedicates the lp to his teachers - Dixon, Cecil Taylor, and Milford Graves. […]

At Ali Baba's Party At Ali Baba’s Party

Harem-tastic cover art!

Aura: S/T Aura: S/T

Rare bay area funk-rock lp that, while highly regarded by some, does not do a lot for me personally. It’s definitely more juiced up than your average Cold Blood/Tower Of Power fare, so I can understand why this might appeal to fans of raw/self-produced funkiness, but it really is lacking in any real depth of […]

Baroques: S/T Baroques: S/T

One of my personal favorite psych lp’s ever! From Milwaukee, WI, the Baroques recorded just this one record for Chess in 1967. But don’t let the Chess affiliation fool ‘ya. It carries none of the cheesey trappings of stuff like Rotary Connection, etc. The sound is raw and like nothing else I’ve ever heard on […]

Beaumont High School: A Sometime Rain Beaumont High School: A Sometime Rain

Yet another record I bought on a trip back home visiting family. My mom lived in Beaumont for a few years… I can absolutely say without a doubt that if you’re ever faced with moving there, DON’T. It is the very definition of a hellhole. Anyhow, even hellholes like Beaumont, California have records… such as […]

Becky Stewart and Midge Robertson: Two Sent Becky Stewart and Midge Robertson: Two Sent

Private Christian record from my current home of Santa Rosa, CA (I think). On the whole this lp is less than spectacular, but I have an almost unhealthy obsession with a track on it called “Those Who Wait Upon the Lord”. It’s a song of divine beauty and a reminder of why I continue to […]

Bergendy: Hétfő Bergendy: Hétfő

My introduction to Hungarian rock came by way of a large stack of lp’s being dumped at a nearby thrift shop recently - so you’ll have to excuse my lack of knowledge on the subject. Anyhow, this is definitely one of my favorites of the bunch. On this later 70’s(?) double album the large, horn-driven […]

Bhagavan Das: Amazing Grace Bhagavan Das: Amazing Grace

Private press hippy commune stuff by self styled guru Bhagavan Das. Unfortunately, three fourths of this double lp is the clan “getting their Om on”, which is somewhat less than compelling. While I do believe it is an ernest and respectful attempt at traditional Indian music it really does not work very well. Call me […]

Bill Plummer & the Cosmic Brotherhood Bill Plummer & the Cosmic Brotherhood

I know next to nothing about Bill Plummer. I guess he was a regular jazz bassist until he “turned on” - as was the spirit of the times, bought a sitar, and formed a cosmic brotherhood. It’s the type of story we’ve all hear a million times but I never tire of it.

Bill Spivery: Trouble With The Operator Bill Spivery: Trouble With The Operator

Hello… HELLO???

Black Diamonds: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Black Diamonds: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

I have heard that this is the exact same record as the more well known Animated Egg lp. I, however, have never had them side by side to know for sure. Regardless, this is one of the best psych-sploitation cash-in albums out there. There is an epic story about these sessions which encompass, ace studio […]

Bob Hurd: Bless the Lord Bob Hurd: Bless the Lord

Quite a good private press singer songwriter Jesus man lp from 1976. Low key and acoustic, it has a sparse, introspective feel that almosts reminds me of Lennon’s “Plastic Ono Band” on some of the better tracks. But, the Christian lyrics do come close to being overbearing at times. One thing I found funny about […]

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