Suitcase 2: American Superdream Wow
(2005, Fading Captain Series)
For
a proper introduction to Suitcase
2: American Superdream Wow check here,
on Disc 5.
Disc
6
I
Am Decided- 5 Solid
chord, pop-garage that has that classic nostalgic/melancholy feel of
mid-90s GBV classics. Why this was left off of anything, and
destined to appear on Suitcase
2 is anyone's
guess. But thankfully it helps open up the second disc of Suitcase
2 on a huge,
triumphant note.
Tainted
Angels wih Butter Knives- 2 “Jason
Lowenstein’s a wanker!” bellows Pollard. Sorry Sebadoh.
Ehhh, is he? Maybe. I don’t know the guy. But anyway, this
song is basically two murky notes strummed over and over with rickety
drums and practically inaudible lyrics. Cool, sleepy/tipsy mood
music.
What
About the Rock?- 1 '87
song that is pretty much “World’s Coolest Rock Star” off of the
Meltzer/Pollard The
Completed Soundtrack for the Tropic of Nipples LP
released in 2002. Answering machine message bonanza. Time
clocked at 3:53 of an answering machine, in fact. The song itself,
you ask? It's some fiddling, psych nonsense that is pointless after
listening to 3:53 of answering machine reels.
Pack
of Rolling Papers-
3 Acoustic,
off-the-cuff, 26 second (more like :24 seconds after the throat
clearing) catchy, tiny snippet that’s harmless and memorable after
repeated 26 second listens.
Telephone
Town- 3 Not
particularly memorable, but a bit of a standout in the clutter of
this collection. A non-British Bob from ‘87 clearly sounding like
an outtake from Sandbox.
Again we have an unassuming, 2 plus minute, jangley, melodic
song complete syrupy melodies.
Hey,
I Know Your Lady- 1 48
seconds of bullshit with warbled guitar, snare hits, and Uncle Bob
engages in some late night drunken ranting while a boombox,
unfortunately, rested too close to his “press-record” finger.
Headache
Revolution [Original Version]- 3 Later
to become Boston Spaceships tune that even spawned it’s own
7’’, this is a short, intriguing, and worthy demo. Merely a
two part sketch, that shows promise and eventually delivers down the
road.
Every
Man- 3
Pretty
repetitive, no-fi garage early ‘60s tune that sounds like a few
kids just learned how to play bar chords. Verses are pretty dreary,
but beneath all the useless muck is a chorus that is undeniable AM
radio ready-with subtle melodic
hooks.
Alibible-
1 This
would later end up on Psycho and the Birds' All
That is Holy LP,
complete with Todd Tobias studio tricks. This version is just
as shitty, perhaps shittier. Why Pollard felt this should be
released twice under any circumstance is baffling.
I
Can’t Help But Noticing-
2 Jangle
guitar riff plays out with doubled Pollard melodies. Airy, and
psyched-out demo that’s fairly forgettable.
Mannequin’s
Complaint-
4 Later
released with higher sound quality on the Bulldog
Skin single.
This version is pretty fucking great. Lo-fi, simplistic psych
opening, with added snippet of fuzz and group vocals!
Zarkoff’s
Coming- 2 Should
be the most worthless track. And don’t get me wrong, it is. But
somewhere through the Jim Pollard guitar strums, and Bob Pollard
howling off “You quit screaming at me,” I kind of like hearing
it. Gives the impression that this was a drunken idea rooted in some
far greater idea that never came to be.
Super
Sonic Love Funky Love Gun- Same
song as the Acid Ranch recording off Acid
Ranch As
Forever... Read
the review over there.
Perch
Warble [Studio Version]-
4 Released
as an outtake from Bee
Thousand on
bootlegs, and a demo on Suitcase
2: Abridged... This
is the most hi-fi version. An uptempo punk-popper with some surreal,
warbled prog vocals. This may sound a bit silly but at it’s core
it’s truly a lost gem.
You’re
Not the Queen Anymore-
4 Simple,
almost idiotic vocals and equally simplistic acoustic
strums, but it tows the fine line between idiotically worthless and
confessional surrealism. The latter wins out.
Ivanhoe- 1 Worthless
guitar instrumental. Nifty little catchy guitar riff with power
chords that add up to nada.
How
Can You?- 2 Rather
forgettable stab at folk activism by Pollard from 1982.
The
Lodger Carried a Gun- 4 Sounds
like something off of Bee
Thousand for
Christ's sake, minus the faux Brit-tongue. Mid-tempo and melodious
‘60s rock with slow winding verses, but less than stellar college
rock type choruses. AND, the outro is unfiltered early REM. But
damn, those verses really nail it. Also, this song has the line, “In
the Alien Lane” hmmm.
Metro
XVI- 1 Recorded
in 1980. What the fuck is this shit? Two notes plucking, and
a hammer hitting a piece of sheet rock and two bottles? They
come in two’s, don’t they?
My
Dream Making Machine- 1 “And
a hemmy mambemee” “And a memom bammm blmemmemee” I
think those are the lyrics. If you ever wanted to get a sample
Pollard’s Psycho and the Birds project, listen to this first...
then proceed with caution. (however, why would you buy this expensive
collection before you actually tried listening to Psycho and the
Birds?)
Mustard
Man- 1 1985
basement recording of some plodding two or three chord drivel that
goes on for four long minutes while Pollard begs for the Mustard Man
in cruddy baritone vocal styling.
Alone
in Time- 2 Acoustic
song with hushed melodic vocals. Not much of note here, but it does
sounds like a sketch for a hundred decent-to-great GBV songs to
follow.
Dusty
Bushworms [Different Version]- 3 Also
released on the Get
Out of My Stations EP
as an acoustic, sad sap laden song. Here, it’s presented as a full
band slow jam, with a mildly catchy opening. A red-eyed morning
wake up song.
Free
It- 1 Same
song as the first part of “Medley” off of Suitcase.
This is equally as pointless. Flamenco acoustic guitar
strumming meets inaudible lyrical dreck.
Are
You Faster? [Demo]- 3 Electric
and bellowing Pollard vocals. Demo of the song that appeared as
track 6 off of Under
the Bushes Under the Stars.
However, the resemblance is minimal.
Alibible's a great title. Wish the song measured up to it.
ReplyDeletePlay "How Can You?" backwards --> Maggie Turns to Flies intro. Mindblowing.
ReplyDeletetelephone town a 3? maybe one of their best songs. i urge you to listen again.
ReplyDelete"i am decided" rocks. could have released as is. amazing. "headache revolution" is damn good.
ReplyDelete"I Am Decided" was released on Pacer by The Amps (Kim Deal of the Breeders)
ReplyDelete'Are You Faster' is track 6 from 'Mag Earwhig!', rather than 'UTBUTS'.
ReplyDelete"lodger carried a gun." boston spaceships should've tackled that one.
ReplyDelete