August 31st, 2010
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The Acid Archives [2nd Ed.]
Edited by: Patrick Lundborg
(Lysergia)
Stockholm, Sweden
Published: 2010
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From the acidic archives of Aaron Levin:
The Acid Archives is the definitive guide to North America’s musical underground. In succinct and thrilling prose (from which Weird Canada took much inspiration) an entire generation (1965-1982) of diy and minor-to-major-label long-playing visionaries across all boundaries are captured and documented. Scattered within the 5,000+ reviews of fringe-psych curiosities lies the ultimate guide to the Canadian underground. From Aaron Space to Warpig, Bent Wind to John Lyle, and Jeremy Doremouse to Christmas, the Acid Archives enshrines vintage Canada’s unique indie soundscape. It’s a crucial document of vintage Canadiana and a must own for anyone remotely interested in the indie culture of yore. I estimate approximately 400 reviews of archaic Canadiana. The 2nd Edition is a welcomed improvement on the black-and-white original; 400 colour pages, 1,000 additional reviews, essays and the fan-favorite top-ten lists. There are two Weird Canada references in the book; if you can find them I’ll send you an LP reviewed in the archive. An exciting and phenomenal read. If you’re on this website, you should own this book.
File under: aa // aaron levin // acid archives // books // diy // fringe // outsider // patrick lundborg // psych // waxidermy
Categoria!! Departures Revisited :: book | No Comments »
July 6th, 2010
From the ratty poncho of Aaron Levin:
RatTail have transplanted the wild jangles of DIY Britain to a pre-hippie dystopia (read: Toronto). Their debut EP is a roaring mellow of sub-tuned guitar clangor, burrowing drums, and singer Jasmyn’s signature baritone; all of it copulating in a fantastic bedlam of pop debauchery. Limited to 300 clear 7″s courtesy of Unfamiliar Records. Gripgrip!
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RatTail – George Mounsey
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RatTail – Poncho
File under: aaron levin // diy // jangle // pop // post-punk // unfamiliar records
Categoria!! 7" :: New Canadiana :: ontario | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
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Various Artists
Dove Project No. 9
(Self Released)
Calgary, AB
Originally Released: 1970
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From the partially-ordered, semi-continuous grippage of Aaron Levin:
We have witnessed the possessed meanderings of teenagers pushed to the creative fringe for years. It’s not uncommon these days for some residential weirdo to emerge from their suburban cave with a MySpace full of damaged sounds teetering on the edge of unsanity. This was not the case for Canada’s underground rock scene of the 60s, whose output pales numerically to our American counterparts, owing to a lack of custom pressing plants and home-recording equipment. Which is why it’s incredible that Calgarian Doug Wong, at the tail end of 1969, when psychedelic music delivered its last blow to the world’s unsuspecting youth, decided to package the last issue of his high-school newspaper with a 7″ of school “rock bands” (I’ve posted the full story here). The resulting 7″ has become a truly bewildering artifact of Canada’s marginalized fringe music community: a compilation of unfettered teenage expression; trashy, face-melting, fuzz-drenched glorious hard-rock mingling amongst Dylan-inspired folk and sunshine pop. A beautiful peak into the small lives of folk-club weirdos at a time when their sounds usually withered and vanished. Amazing and incredibly rare. This is the third time I’ve written about this record and it still astounds me.
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Wrinkled Pumpkin – Hello
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Sundance Reunion – I’m Leaving
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Dusk – Three Thirty Two
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File under: diy // doug wong // hard rock // psych
Categoria!! 7" :: Departures Revisited :: alberta | 3 Comments »
June 2nd, 2009
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Sean Nicholas Savage
Summer 5000
(Self Released)
Montreal, Quebec
::web/sounds::
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Legend has it Sean once performed naked, painted entirely blue to a room full of underage women. I say legend because it’s so damn fitting. Cementing himself on the CJSR Top 30 for almost 5 months (spending two months at number one), it was no doubt that his perfect DIY pop effort resonated with all; young and old; naked and clothed; 16 year-old high-school girl and 27 year-old burn-out Music Director. The 8-song, 20 minute album was rereleased on Arbutus Records when Sean left the prairies for a life in Montreal. All the songs were recorded by Sean directly to an MP3 recorded using a process I still do not understand. He wrote a lot of songs. A lot. And many of them are great. Many of them.
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File under: acoustic // diy // pop // sean savage
Categoria!! New Canadiana :: alberta :: compact disc :: quebec | 2 Comments »
