COD LOVERS - FRENCH PLUMS CD (CEILIDH PRODUCTIONS [CEICD 016], 1990) [SWE]

Cod Lovers - French Plums CD

(Ceilidh Productions – [CEICD 016], 1990) [SWE]

The first album of two released by Swedish indie group Cod Lovers. Also, released on Swedish record label Ceilidh Productions in 1990.

LINK

CLUSTER - SOWIESOSO CD (SKY RECORDS [SKY CD 3005], 1986) [DE]

Cluster - Sowiesoso CD

(Sky Records – [SKY CD 3005], 1986) [DE]

A 1986 reissue CD from a classic 1976 krautrock album by influential group Cluster. I could listen to the closing track over and over again.

LINK

SPIRAL LIFE - FREAKS OF GO GO SPECTATORS CD (POLYSTAR [PSJR-9103], 1995) [JP]

Spiral Life - Freaks of Go Go Spectators LP

(Polystar – [PSJR-9103], 1995) [JP]

A Japanese release from 1995 by Japanese shoegaze / indie group Spiral Life. I love the 13-minute version that closes out the album of their song 'Garden' that's much slower and longer than the original album version.

LINK

THE SPITS - THE SPITS CD (NICKEL AND DIME RECORDS [N&D001], 2000) [USA]

The Spits - The Spits CD

(Nickel And Dime Records – [N&D001], 2000) [USA]

The first album release from Kalamazoo, Michigan garage/punk group The Spits, from the year 2000 on Nickel and Dime Records. Still have found memories hearing this one for the first time in my friend JB's car during college and being blown away, every next song sounded better and cooler than the previous. Love this album all the way through over and over again.

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MINISKIRT - WOODY ALLEN LIKES GUITAR POP CD (MARSH-MARIGOLD [MARI 20], 2003) [DE/JP]

Miniskirt - Woody Allen Likes Guitar Pop CD

(Marsh-Marigold – [Mari 20], 2003) [DE/JP]

The first CD release by German-artist, Edgar Franz, who is based in Tokyo with his counterpart the Japanese artist, Tatsumune Fujihira, make up the primarily elements of the group Miniskirt. This CD was released in 2003 on the German indie pop label Marsh-Marigold.

LINK

SUN KIL MOON - GHOSTS OF THE GREAT HIGHWAY CD2 (CALDO VERDE RECORDS [CV004], 2007) [USA]

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway CD2

(Caldo Verde Records – [CV004], 2007) [USA]

Keeping with the theme of the last post, a kind of country / americana folk singer release, this time from Mark Kozelek and his Sun Kil Moon project. This is the second CD of a 2xCD set release from 2007 of Ghosts of the Great Highway. Originally released in 2003. One of my favorite works of Kozelek and this 2nd CD has some choice cuts; alternative takes, demos, acoustic, and a live radio recording.

LINK

NEW SWEET BREATH - A SHOTGUN DOWN AN AVALANCHE CD (BIG TOP RECORDS [BTO-005], 1997) [USA]

New Sweet Breath - A Shotgun Down an Avalanche CD

(Big Top Records – [BTO-005], 1997) [USA]

The third album released by Seattle indie rock group New Sweet Breath. Maybe, my favorite material of theirs outside of their single releases. 

LINK

VENUS PETER - SPACE DRIVER CD (TRATTORIA [MENU.5], POLYSTAR [PSCR-1058], 1992) [JP]

Venus Peter - Space Driver CD

(Trattoria – [menu.5], Polystar – [PSCR-1058], 1992) [JP]

The second album released by Japanese indie/shoegaze group Venus Peter. Definitely has some of their best tracks - what an opener!

LINK

SALON MUSIC - M*A*S*H CD (TRATTORIA [MENU.057], POLYSTAR [PSCR-5367], 1995) [JP]

Salon Music - M*A*S*H CD

(Trattoria – [Menu.057], Polystar – [PSCR-5367], 1995) [JP]

This is what I believe the 7th full length album released by Japanese duo Salon Music from 1995. And maybe it's their best one? Surprisingly so, I usually lose interest when a band releases so many albums -- but Salon Music only seem to get better and better!

LINK

VA - FLEX YOUR SPECS: THE RINGING EAR RECORDS SAMPLER CD (RINGING EAR RECORDS [RER 014], 1996) [USA]

VA - Flex Your Specs: The Ringing Ear Records Sampler CD

(Ringing Ear Records – [RER 014], 1996) [USA]

A compilation sample CD release from Ringing Ear Records from about 1996. It has some lo-fi indie / pop punk tracks -- the ones that stand out for me are obviously New Sweet Breath, Sinkhole, and Huffy!

LINK

APRIL MARCH - CHICK HABIT CD (SYMPATHY FOR THE RECORD INDUSTRY [SFTRI 398], 1995) [USA]

April March - Chick Habit CD

(Sympathy For The Record Industry – [SFTRI 398], 1995) [USA]

A CD released from April March that's kind of a garage rock / yé-yé Gainsbourgian revival from the 1995. 

LINK

LOVELETTER - BEETHOVEN CHOPIN KITCHEN FRAUD CD (SIESTA [SIESTA 96], 1999) [ENG]

Loveletter - Beethoven Chopin Kitchen Fraud CD

(Siesta – [siesta 96], 1999) [ENG]

The only release by Loveletter [aka Simon Fisher Turner] on Spanish label Siesta Records. Released in 1999. Simon Fisher Turner was a former child actor turned musical artist. Who also works heavily with film soundtracks.

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VA - THE CACAOS GO LIKE HOTCAKES CD (CHOCOLAT ART RECORDS [CA-010], PUSHBIKE [UFPB-005], 1994) [JP]

VA - The Cacaos Go Like Hotcakes CD

(Chocolat Art Records – [CA-010], Pushbike – [UFPB-005], 1994) [JP]

Another Japanese compilation CD that I cannot get enough. A bunch of great bands that I nearly know nothing about from enigmatic Japanese labels Chocolat Art and Pushbike. I am assuming most every band here is Japanese. A lot of the bands here get two songs featured on this comp. The bands that really stand out to me are Tip Top Planets, Sunnychar, but particularly Vehicle Spright! I cannot get enough of their song Kick Start!

Tracklisting:

01 - Sunny Gets Blue - Boy Should Go!

02 - Badge! - Only Stay in Dream of Sunday

03 - Double Chocolate E.P. - Humming Bird

04 - Barrette - Diets of Ex-Duchess

05 - Space Shaver No. 39 - Steaming Toy Train

06 - Tip Top Planets - Let Me Fly to the Brightest Star

07 - Corde - I'm in the Museum

08 - The Fruits Basket - The Language of Fruit

09 - Sunnychar - 99 is My Lucky Number (Studio Live)

10 - Chocoballaholic - Stay Out of ohe Sweat Shops

11 - Baudelaire - Le spleen de Paris

12 - Plain Cream Puff Spray - Lu

13 - Blue Orugoru - Boy Meets Girl

14 - Vehicle Spright - Kick Start!

15 - Badge! - The Storm and Smiles

16 - Charles - Sous le ciel de Paris

17 - Tip Top Planets - Cherry Red Guitar Girl

18 - Space Shaver No. 39 - Hey! Mummy Cigarettes!!

19 - The Fruits Basket - A Cogwheel

20 - Double Chocolate E.P. - Mellon Soda Summer Summer

21 - Corde - The Sun and the Moon

22 - Barrette - Velvet Vulpine

23 - Sunny Gets Blue - Our Red Wagon

24 - Chocoballaholic - 10 Head of Topo Gigio

25 - Great Jazz Men - Good-Bye Great Jazz Men

LINK

PAINTING BY NUMBERS - SAMSTAG ABEND CD (DECLARATION OF SANTO [DOS 12], 1996) [DE]

Painting By Numbers - Samstag Abend CD

(Declaration Of Santo – [DoS 12], 1996) [DE]

The only album release by German indiepop group Painting By Numbers. I believe it is a live recording from 1996 and not a studio album. I love the title track 'Samstag Abend' though that appears.

LINK

A FAULTY CHROMOSOME - AS AN EX-ANOREXIC'S SIX SICKS EXIT,... CD (SELF RELEASED, 2007) [USA]

A Faulty Chromosome - As An Ex-Anorexic's Six Sicks Exit,... CD

(Self Released, 2007) [USA]

The first time I heard A Faulty Chromosome was a live impromptu outdoor acoustic set in 2008 in Austin, TX, where the band relocated to after first forming in Los Angeles, as part of an unofficial SXSW performance at a public park. I feel like my friends and I just kind of happened upon this performance and I was in awe..if I am remembering correctly. Maybe one of my friends had heard about it and that's how we ended up there. Either way, I had never heard any of their recorded material until after that night I saw them perform in the park... but I later found this CD of theirs is one of my favorite releases. I've listened to it a ton of times. I love their cover of the John Mellencamp song 'Jackie O.' 

This band I always want to compare to The Magnetic Fields in that it's lo-fi and has a similar aesthetic. I later found they even have a complete CD of Magnetic Fields cover songs -- so the comparison is not far off.

LINK

POLARIS - DEMOS OF SPACE AND TIME AND THE UNKNOWN CD (MEZZOTINT, 2020) [USA]

Polaris - Demos of Space and Time and the Unknown CD

(Mezzotint, 2020) [USA]

In the 2020 re-release of the Polaris album 'Music From The Adventures of Pete & Pete' the LP was issued with this bonus CD recordings of Demos. It's refreshing hearing these different demo versions as I've listened to the original album so much!

LINK

LIFE WITHOUT BUILDINGS - LIVE AT THE ANNANDALE HOTEL CD (GARGLEBLAST RECORDS [GARGLE005CD], 2007) [SCOT]

Life Without Buildings - Live At The Annandale Hotel CD

(Gargleblast Records – [GARGLE005CD], 2007) [SCOT]

Here's what I listened to in full on my train ride home yesterday. And I'm glad I did. With having released only one album and a couple of singles, what better than a live recording! Fantastic energy here hearing the Scottish band Life Without Buildings playing in Sydney, Australia, 14 December 2002. 

LINK

CRUYFF IN THE BEDROOM - PERFECT SILENCE CD (ONLY FEEDBACK [JCSS14-07], 2002) [JP]

Cruyff in the Bedroom - Perfect Silence CD

(Only Feedback – [JCSS14-07], 2002) [JP]

Japanese shoegaze band Cruyff in the Bedroom with their first album released in 2002. It's one of those CDs I wish would get a vinyl release ultimately.

LINK

SALON MUSIC - KELLY'S DUCK CD (TRATTORIA [MENU.143], POLYSTAR [PSCR-5656], 1997) [JP]

Salon Music - Kelly's Duck CD

(Trattoria – [MENU.143], Polystar – [PSCR-5656], 1997) [JP]

An odd place to start posting this prolific Japanese band, Salon Music, with their NINTH studio album, Kelly's Duck from 1997. The Duo dates back to the early 80s Japanese indie pop scene, with their sound evolving much over the years -- but always remaining excellent! I go between loving the 90s output more than the 80s... then right back to loving their 80s music more! I love it all, in realità.

LINK

VA - A CHRISTMAS CHIN PARA TI VOL. 03 CD (CHIN CHIN RECORDS MUNDIALES [CHIN-CHIN R. M. 020], 2015) [ESP]

VA - A Christmas Chin Para Ti Vol. 03 CD

(Chin Chin Records Mundiales – [Chin-Chin R. M. 020], 2015) [ESP]

Volume three of a Christmas series on Spanish label Chin Chin Records Mundiales, released in 2015.

Tracklisting:

01 - Munlet - Surfeando La Navidad

02 - Didi Wray & Los Kanibales Surf Combo - Rodolfo El Reno

03 - Ooby Y Dooby - Es Navidad

04 - Las Kasettes - Navidades Con Carbón

05 - Los Urogallos - Rock And Roll Christmas

06 - F.A.N.T.A. - 24 De Diciembre Otra Vez

07 - Los Animalitos Del Bosque - La Canción De Piratas

08 - Los Ginkas - Intrusos En Mi Jardín

09 - Los Popov - Navidad Sin Ti

10 - Los Verdugos - Amigo Invisible

11 - Axolotes Mexicanos - Menos 100

12 - Les Letrasets - Casa Del Terror

13 - Bitkitures - Calhoun Surf

14 - Dino Ratso - En La Portada De Rolling Stone

15 - Las Chinchetas - Duerme Pequeña Sussie

16 - Los Temblooores - Quiero Morir En Navidad

17 - Santiago Delgado Y Los Runaway Lovers - Ya Llego La Navidad

18 - Rivelles - Baby Im Gone

19 - Longboards - BullWinkle

20 - El Palacio De Linares - El Puzzle

21 - Los Plomos - Oh Santa

22 - Los Nuevos Hobbies - Todo Puede Aún Empeorar

23 - Los Sexys - ¿Donde Está Mi Christmas?

24 - Tactel - Canción De Cumpleaños

25 - Espanto - No Se Queda Nadie

26 - Almanaque Zaragozano - Determinismo

27 - Los Catarros - Tengo Una Caja

28 - Bananas - Banananavidad

29 - Los Colibries - Carta Yeye

30 - Villapellejos - Espero Que Te Guste

31 - Daphne Blue - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)

32 - Un Pingüino En Mi Ascensor - El Reno Rodolfito

LINK