Suitcase: Failed Experiments and Trash Aircraft
(2000, Fading Captain Series)
For an intro to
Suitcase:
Failed Experiment and Trash Aircraft check here, on
Disc
1.
Disc
2
Supermarket
the Moon- 4
Goddamned saddening
piano, acoustic guitars, and vocals reverbed out to the edge of the
universe. Suicide balladry. Like an early Bowie on downers.
Hold
on to Yesterday- 2
Scratchy, thin guitar
sounds like it’s leaking from a broken speaker with a younger
Pollard adding several woozy harmonies throughout. A sketch
from 1983 that holds little value except pre-GBV intrigue.
Ha
Ha Man [Different Version]-
4
Originally
released on Tonics
& Twisted Chasers,
this is the version recorded in ‘93. Equally catchy as it is
dopey, this song is still pretty great. This is also a full
band version, that’s rather hi-fi, as opposed to the Sprout/Pollard
composition on TATC.
Our
Value of Luxury-
2 Hushed
and cryptic verses flow into open slow going choruses. Originally
planned for release on the quickly scrapped Back
to Saturn X
LP.
Song’s kind of a slow-burner that never really burns they way
you'd want it to.
Bug
House [2 Versions]- 4/3
Yes indeed, two versions
of the song “Bug House” which has a “My Valuable Hunting Knife”
feel to it. First version is simply the riff with Pollard doing
a great vocal performance over it. Version 2 is full band,
partly ruined by bizarre noises and reluctance to really let the song
shine during it’s dynamic parts.
Rainbow
Billy- 1
Cyring in my beer,
acoustic sombering-about. Ever pick up an acoustic guitar at 3
am and think you’ve got a great idea for a song about sorrow and
sadness? If so, you may have written “Rainbow Billy.”
Shrine
to the Dynamic Years (Athens Time Change Riots)-
3 Late
‘90s GBV demo, that’s slightly proggy with it’s awkward chord
progressions, and tumbling drum hits. Mid-fi, and grand in
places. Not the brightest spot, but one of note in the muck of these
collections.
On
Short Wave-
3 Creepy,
sullen attic recording. Sounds like a man alone in a remote cabin
with a busted 4-track.
Forgettable
track saved by its and righteously depressing nature.
I
Can See It In Your Eyes-
4
Ultra-’60s
tune, with cheesy ‘70s verses. Would have been a wholly welcome
addition on Same
Place...
or Self-Inflicted....
for a bit of a pick-me-up. Here it’s flat out great as a stand
alone track, but also gets lost in the sauce of these tracks.
Tobacco’s
Last Stand- 2
Pretty much a go nowhere
acoustic track. Surreal lyrics over unmemorable chord progression.
Hey, it’s a song.
Shifting
Switch is a Lift- 1
Acoustic plucker of a
song with nonsensical melodies and Uncle Bob making some silly
noises, and melodic grunts or something in there. A little too
muddled to find any of the bright spots.
Sing
It Out-4
Short
acoustic number, that’s a bouncy and super catchy song. Love it.
Throw it on a mix tape for an added obscure boost.
Messenger-
3 Pre-GBV
recording from ‘85. Upbeat, bright ‘80s college rock. A little
REM sounding here. Shocker. Decent little garage pop recording.
The
Fool Ticket- 1
Pollard and fuzzy electric guitar. Nothing of note here, except
he says “Not you” over and over at one point which adds up to,
pretty much nothing. This song serves as a perfect example of
how painful and frustrating Suitcase
can be at times.
Mallard
Smoke- 4
Noisy, full band, lo-fi
explosion full of confusion on your ears. But through the mess,
this is a pretty basic, and fairly solid sketch of a pretty damn
awesome song.
Mrs.
McCaslin Will Sell No More Flowers-
1 From
1979?! Well, who gives a shit because this is actually pretty
terrible. Sounds like the tape was on it’s last leg back in ‘79.
Repeated annoying melody of the title with rickety guitar strums.
Shit
Midas- 1
Bad acoustic and vocal
sketch of something that I wouldn’t be too excited to hear if were
a full band number. And it's named "Shit Midas."
Blue
Gil- 2
Sad bastard plodding
rock. Easy listening on the dark side. When the band
kicks in, it shows promise, but then it shifts gears back to the
sullen, snooze ridden verses.
Invest
in British Steel- 1
Another pre-GBV ‘85
recorded track. Surreal, swirling, worthless instrumental jam
at nearly 4 minutes!
Spinning
Around- 1
After listening to
“Invest in British Steel,” you may be swirling around. This one’s
a pensive, ultra-lonely guitar and vocal something-or-other that
sounds like it was recorded in a closet while Pollard’s family
slept the night away. Notes put this one at ‘83.
Let’s
Go (To War!)- 1
Messy, bullshit,
shambolic jam.
Grasshopper
Rap- 1
Messy, bullshit,
shambolic, lone medal riff, with messy, bullshit, shambolic song
title. Buzzing metal riff courtesy of Jimmy Pollard.
I’m
Cold - 3
Simple,
pretty electric guitar and Pollard vocals. Recorded in ‘87
but sounds like early ‘90s GBV, lonely balladry. Simple
and effective.
Damn
Good Mr. Jam [Different Version]-
2
Psychedelic
version of the stoner jam song on Static
Airplane Jive.
Distorted vocals over twisting psych guitar reverb. Not nearly
as weird, or as fun as the official release.
In
Walked The Moon- 2
Psych-Beatles melodies
over distant electric guitar. Decent, but far too long to
listen to. Crack a beer, and get stoned because life sucks a little
more every time this song is on...in a kind of good way? I don't even
know anymore.
Probably my single favorite Suitcase c.d. Blue Gil is a great early morning song, Shrine to the Dynamic Years rocks, I'm Cold is haunting and Rainbow Billy and Shifting Swift is a Lift are hilarious. I've never cared for Bob Dylan, and Shifting Swift is the best parody I've ever heard of him. And Sing it Out is indeed very catchy.
ReplyDeletelistening to "I'm Cold," right now. great song.
ReplyDelete