Frank Zappa - Lumpy Gravy (1968)

Who better to post on April Fool's Day?

Frank Zappa is the king. I've pledged my undying allegiance to his genius ever since I was a young man, which, come to think of it- is exactly why he still appeals to me; the scatological humor, the whole anti-establishment vibe, his politically incorrectness, his supreme guitar work...

Lumpy Gravy was Zappa's first album without The Mothers moniker, and it's a pastiche of conversations with his band (inside a piano), found sounds, tape loops, splices, etc. A freaky piece of experimental sound collages with occasional jazz rock sprinkled about. Not for the faint of heart, and not for you serious indie rock types.

Frank Zappa - Lumpy Gravy (1968; Verve Records)

Moondog - Moondog (1956)

Moondog (Louis Thomas Hardin) was a blind street musician (that preferred to compose his scores in braille) and made various field recordings (mostly of New York City at street level) interspersed with tribal drumming (that sounds like it was made on drum machines, which at the time weren't invented yet- it's just maracas and clave here) and actual melodies as well, with pianos, animal noises, ocean waves, etc. (see: Musique concrète).

Moondog was way ahead of his time...

Moondog - Moondog (1956; Prestige Records)

The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour (1982)

I think This Nation's Saving Grace is widely regarded as The Fall's best album, but for me; I'll go with Hex Enduction Hour. 

It's just a little more raw, slightly more psychotic and at times violently jagged. Then again, isn't that Mark E. Smith's whole mission?

The Fall - Hex Enduction Hour (1982; Kamera Records)

Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet (2002)

Easily the most accessible release from Canadian post-rockers DMST; & Yet & Yet sees the band at a more relaxed, dare I jazzier pace than previous albums (and since). It’s way toned down as far as this band is concerned; they exercise a calm flow throughout the record with careful precision and uncomplicated noodling that never gets boring. 

The horns don’t blow you away on the song White Light Of and they don’t build every song to a dizzying crescendo and explode, it’s a lesson in refinement. Whether it’s the wordless singing of Soul And Onward, the bubbling synths, low-bottom bass and glitchy beats on the track Chinatown or hypnotic swirling of End of Music, the subtle build-up and short bursts of intensity on Reitschule or the majesty of drone during the album’s closer (Anything For Now), it’s a stunning offering from a band that continues to make excellent records, each one different from their last…

Do Make Say Think - & Yet & Yet (2002; Constellation Records)

The Residents - Not Available (1978)

Hey, you wanna hear an album that was never supposed to be released?

Apparently that's the story behind this record- recorded in 1974 but held for release until '78 (they released it when they all "forgot" about it, story goes) it's halfway between unlistenable and annoying; but mostly it's hilarious. It's a concept album, it's a prog nightmare, it has elements of musique concrete, it's got some weird electronic shit- basically it's way ahead of its time. I love this album so damn much I hunted down a copy on vinyl and paid whatever was asked. That's what you do when you've been brainwashed.

I wish I could tell you more about The Residents, but that's really all anyone has ever known about them. You'll just have to listen...

The Residents - Not Available (1978; Ralph Records)

Sam Rivers - Contours (1965)

Sam Rivers is the man.

This is his second solo album, recorded in '65 right after he left the Miles Davis Quintet (he appears on only one Quintet record, Miles In Tokyo). It wasn't that Rivers wasn't up to snuff with Davis, it was that he was too "free" to play Miles' compositions the way they were intended- that and; frankly, he was too good to be a sideman any longer. Take this record by itself (or as a companion piece to Fuchsia Swing Song, also released in 1965) and you have some of the finest avant-garde post bop of the mid-60s.

The line-up here is spectacular as well, Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Joe Chambers (drums).

Sam Rivers - Contours (1965; Blue Note Records)

Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself...

Another music blog? Yeah. This one isn't any different.

Disclaimer: all the links here are for educational purposes; if you like what you hear, please buy these records.  

I'm calling this one Out Sounds- as in; sounds from way out. 

Out of what? 

Mostly the mainstream, so yes I am going to flood this page with painfully obscure and overly avant type stuff- basically; a lot of "weird for the sake of weird" shit BUT also stuff I really like that I've felt has been overlooked or unfairly glossed-over. 

Okay?

Edit (April, 2020): All links to downloads have been removed and replaced with links to Spotify or YouTube. 

There are no longer any links to any downloads anywhere on this site. 


...and the answer to your question is "Yes" - at one time or another I owned (almost) all of these actual records on vinyl.