Greetings, ear pickers! Not ‘arf! (Those of you who’ve never heard of Alan Freeman can skip that bit). Well, a fantastic bunch of worms this week, right up my street, so I hope you enjoy them too. And keep them coming to earworm@tincanland.com. Sorry if anyone has been waiting a while, I will try and keep up.
Puncture – Mucky Pup
A real old style worm here. This was played a lot in places like the Marquee and Vortex in 1977. The fine “Angela Rippon” ending was, I think, crucial in its popularity and shows an aspect of early punk that is often ignored by later commentators. It was damned “funny”. – Pairubu
Bobby Bland – Don’t Cry No More
I fell in love with Bobby’s voice after hearing his goose-bumply unequivocally best ever version of St James Infirmary. Here’s a sweet-soulful, grizzly-growlful, bouncy-blues boogie I often enjoy shuffling across the kitchen lino to, with Stan as dancing partner; it’s amazing what nifty footwork you can pull off, dodging a crazy mutt trying to bite yer feet. – wilemena
Dead Exs – All Over You
My favourite new band of 2012, the Dead Exs (http://thedeadexs.com ) know rock and roll needs to be kept unkempt. And muddy ( http://bit.ly/Wcnsod ), if possible. If Dan Auerbach wasn’t so busy telling other bands what to do, this is what the Black Keys might be. – tincanman
Swamp Cabbage – Jesus Tone
I’ve been doing a bit of a Carole this year and scarcely listened to any music (apart from at work). This was my summer earworm 2012 and made me think of DsD – debbym
Besnard Lakes – Devastation
Ambitious, sweeping epic music from the Montreal-based husband & wife indie rockers. No, no, no, not Arcade Fire: the OTHER Montreal-based etc., etc. The wife, Olga Goreas, is the one crunching out the powerchords, husband Jace Lasek is the one fond of Beach Boys-style harmonies. – DarceysDad
Blanck Mass – Sundowner
Tangerine Dream de nos jours but with an undercurrent of darkness, used to striking effect in the Olympics opening ceremony. My earworms have been getting strangely positive feedback in recent months; this should polarise opinion more successfully. – Abahachi
OMG, this is what you call being in charge?
he he - I do that one every time we have a handover and it never gets tired. OK, I never get tired of it.
Welcome to the helm Ali. Looking forward to your reign.
Ditto.
You never get tired of my gag either? Oh, you little sweetie you. Thanks for saying. Huh? Oh, you meant….
Well spotted, tinny. I knew if I just clipped a sweet cross into the penalty area, you’d time the run in and smash it home!
Oh, sorry, you don’t ‘do’ football, do you?
Canadian men do too do football. Not as well as our women – or a few hundred other nations – but we do it. Now, if FIFA would put it on ice….
Oh I certainly know that, tinny. I became a big fan of the Women’s squad during the Olympics last year, and was at Coventry to see them win the bronze medals that were the very least they deserved from that tournament. The semi-final at Old Trafford against the USA Brats was one of the best matches I’ve seen live in many a year.
Just not very eccentric, but I’m working on it
(I mean me, not the women’s squad)
Anyhoo …
Puncture – This sounds somehow familiar from way back, so I’m assuming it must’ve been around during my teenage house party days. A grinner, despite the sub-aqua sound quality.
Bobby Bland – Any ‘newtome’ BB is welcome; I only own a Best Of …, and this isn’t on it. Love the imagery too, wilemena.
DeadExs – Heard the name, hadn’t sought out any tunes. Bloomin’ well will be doing so now! Nothing original here, I don’t suppose, but I’m enjoying it immensely. The kind of tune that you can trace back to Chicago via Led Zep’s early-albums blues plagiarisms.
Swamp Cabbage – Really, Debby? Why me? Not a band I’ve ever knowingly heard. It has to be said I do love its 70s ZZ Top vibe.
Besnard Lakes – Blimey, this must’ve been sitting in the wormcan for a while . . . note to self: must look ‘em up to see if I’ve missed an album. Seems to have been a while.
Blanck Mass – Oh this is ace! The “TD de nos jours” comment is spot on. Used in L2012 Opening Ceremony, you say? I’m beginning to regret not watching that.
All in all, a very DsD-friendly set of ‘worms, and an excellent start to my week.
Cheers all.
Quite right about the Dead Exs. I didn’t want to say Led Zep because some auto-reactions set in. They’re more Stevie Ray on their second album, btw.
Why you? Because I have a customer at work who loves DBT and everything he calls ‘Southern rock’, so when he likes anything I think you’ll like it too. He luuuuurved Swamp Cabbage!
Furry snuff, Debby. Cheers.
Great start, Ali! All a bit awffen’ick for my tastes, natch, but some top-quality tunes. I listened through thrice – thrice, I tell you – as I did my yoga practice. (Only the last one was remotely appropriate for getting in a yoga-esque frame of mind, but I like to mix it up…)
Puncture: Yeah, this sounds familiar to me too, though I doubt I’ve ever heard it before. Entertaining. I like the squiggly sound effects more than the lo-fi guitar- and drum-bashing, but all in all, good fun.
Bobby Bland: More my type of thing. Lovely voice, infectious groove. Not sure about the ‘Summertime’ ad lib at the end – seemed unnecessary/anomalous – but that’s a very minor quibble. Gorgeous stuff.
Dead Exs: Ooh it’s dirty blues, isn’t it? Not really my cup of tea. That slow-nodding tempo gets me all itchy. Great voice though.
Swamp Cabbage: Weirdly, the word I had in my head as this played during my downward dogs was ‘swampy’. And ‘righteous’. (I suppose Swampy was righteous, after a fashion.) Again, not quite my thing but another great voice – and perfect sequencing after the Dead Exs, Ali.
Besnard Lakes: I always want them to be called Bernard, not Besnard. Looks like a typo to me. That aside, love the combination of the psychedelic, mantra-esque, “Within You Without You” sounds with the heavy rock noise. Goes on a bit of course, but at least it goes somewhere during that time.
Blanck Mass: My favourite this week, I think – but perhaps only because of it working for the yoga poses. I actually found it quite uplifting in the way that a good Sigur Ros tune can be. It’ll be soundtracking David Attenborough docs before you know it…
Thanks Ali and contributors. Great stuff!
Thanks Bish. Quite a few worms in the bucket and will try and find something for different tastes each week.
Oh, I should just make up lists that please you, Ali (assuming the raw materials allow). We’re almost certain to get something out of them too!
Mucky Pup is a classic. It was covered by The Exploited but was nowhere ear as good as the Puncture original.
Puncture – I seem to remember that when the DJ played this at The Vortex, some folks thought the chorus was “I’m a fucking punk” and joined in thus-wise. The other side of the single was “you can’t rock ‘n’ roll in a council flat” which is also good fun.
Bobby Bland – I always felt his surname was weirdly inappropriate. This is a right belter. Lovely.
Dead Exs/Swamp Cabbage – Both good in their way. Not my cup of tea though, I’m afraid.
Besnard Lakes – Gawd this is a bit epic. Very strange mix of sounds and influences.Vacillated between liking and disliking it with sometimes scarcely a second in between. Perhaps that’s a sign of greatness. On balance yes I said yes I like it yes.
Blanck Mass – Prefer the Tangs but this is hugely enjoyable none the less. I think it’s my favourite of the week. Must investigate them more.
I like the Blanck Mass one, is it supposed to be that “lo-fi” ? Does go on a bit though.
The rest I can take or leave, nothing too grating but nothing that really makes my ears prick up.
I thought the Besnard Lakes one was going to turn into Good King Wenceslaus for a mo ! Quite liked that one but it’s not something I’d seek out.
Dead Exs what can I say other than this band is awesome. Still think The Black Keys rock (3 Grammys says they do). Really pleased to have been introduced to this group.
Don’t forget to send in your earworms if you would like them featured at some point! earworm@tincanland.com (.mp3 if poss)
A nice, lively list to start off your tenure, Ali!
Sorry to be so late responding.
Puncture – Mucky Pup
Punk, innit? Kind of a bit shouty, but there’s always a time and a place for shouty stuff. I like the insistent beat.
Bobby Bland – Don’t Cry No More
Wow. Groovy. A suggestive hint of growly in the vocals.
Dead Exs – All Over You
Growlier and suggestive-ier. Less subtle than Mr. Bland, but, hey, I think this counts as rock, and that were soul. Rock don’t have to be subtle.
Swamp Cabbage – Jesus Tone
Great band name, great tune. Did someone mention ZZ Top? And is a Jesus Tone an amplifier? (Can you turn it up to 11?)
Besnard Lakes – Devastation
Like the powerchords, less fond of the vocals, which seem underpowered.
Blanck Mass – Sundowner
Hmm. Kind of long. I don’t think I get this.
More subtle next week …
Sorry for not being around before now; a week in Germany, getting some Langlauf in (punctuated by bursts of agonising back pain as a result of helping too many people put heavy suitcases onto luggage racks), with no internet connection. Haven’t had time to listen yet – still another 60-odd emails to work through even now – but wanted to register faint surprise at failure to polarise opinion with Blanck Mass. Must try harder.
Got another one of yours in tomorrow’s batch so you’re in with a chance …
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