Beautiful Babies and Runaway Daughters

To continue on this tear for synth-pop (which I think will continue for quite a bit after this as well) I give you perhaps the United States' best, and definitely most under appreciated contribution.

Coming from San Diego, a city which is only now getting a musical voice, Dane Conover managed to not only get signed by MCA, but also produce a slew of low-budget videos such as the one above. Unfortunately, success did not find its way to this great album. Considering the sound of the record (produced by Earle Mankey), the major label, the rise of MTV, and the outstanding quality of the music, it is hard to believe this even happened. Perhaps the public was not ready for its own synthy weirdos... Regardless, we have it now, and this is a real masterpiece that may even outdo synth-pop classics like The Pleasure Principle, Dare!, and Rio. Trees has the same kind of cold and eerie depth of his British counterparts, but is delivered with something of Southern California carefree vibe rather than the bleak English roots. This, however does not mean the lyrics are any less foreboding and apocalyptic. The majestic "Red Car" and "Midnight In America" are prime examples of a U.S. response to Gary Numan's works like "M.E." and "Metal," while "Shock of the New" - which really kicks the album into gear, may be the greatest unsung anthem of the New Wave era. Yet, it may be "Wildwood" that is the true showstopper with Conover's vocals and haiku-esque lyrics somehow submerging bright California pop into the cold and dark world of synth-pop.

It seems to me that Conover has remained busy since, but this is the only Trees record. It's a shame, but at least he gave this style a unique masterpiece.


Trees - Sleep Convention (1982)

A Truly Royal Scam...

I was told by a friend tonight that the legend R. Stevie Moore had recently passed away, and while his myspace has been re-named "R. STEVIE MOORE R.I.P.," I believe this has to do with his plan to not play live again and death rumors seem false. I know he may not matter as much to everyone has he does to me and my friends, but I think there would be some easily accessible obituary on the man, who if in fact alive is only 57.

Regardless of whether or not it would be in memoriam, I needed to put up some more of his work.

Here is his second "proper" LP, which some people, including the friend who gave it to me, even prefer to Phonography, but to be honest I have yet to absorb it enough to say. Regardless it is a solid set that continues to prove his immense talent. His signiture sound and songwriting skill is on display as much as ever and there is indeed some growth, and some very bold moves including the title "Don't Blame The Niggers." His humor comes out even more on the songs, although the wonderful skits are absent here. This album also marks his move to New Jersey and the WFMU clip that he samples shows the warm welcome we gave him up here despite his perpexling move. The album begins with a bang in "Cool Daddio," which like "Funny Child" may hint at domestic issues that caused the artist's move out of Nashville. Like it or not (as easy on both sides) his love songs are not quite as sincere, but what is lost is replaced with an acerbic whit in the sub-legal "Schoolgirl" and pre-SNL ambiguity of "Oh Pat." It is all delightful, and hopefully so is R. Stevie's future.


R. Stevie Moore - Delicate Tension (1978)

If This Were In "17 Again" Not Only Would I See It, I Would Swear By It

Just this afternoon my friend Sheldon linked me to this.


I highly recommend that everyone check out this blog and download the Toms. It is very reminiscent of Todd Rundgren and Emitt Rhodes and like them is a one-man band as well.

I am pretty sure he is from New Jersey as he as collaborated and recorded with Richie Sambora and the Smithereens recorded at his studeio, and we all know that matters a lot to me here at The Monument. It's is pre-digital home recording, and that's really all that matters, right?

This title, is in reference to the song "(I Wanna Be A) Teen Again," just one of the amazing cuts.

Better than Daniel Johnston, I Assure You

So, basically, this is me forcing myself to post something not from L.A. or New Zealand, but truthfully I listen to this album about as much if not more than everything else I have posted lately.

R. Stevie Moore is an outsider musician. In my opinion, he is the best outsider musician. He hails from Nashville originally and comes from as musical background as his father was Elvis Presley's favorite bassist and a member of the Nashville A-Team, making R. Stevie one of the first second-generation rock musicians. After this record, which was originally released via his uncle on only only 100 copies he relocated to Bloomfield, New Jersey where he has lived ever since. He is the father of home recorded rock and is idolized by the likes of Ariel Pink (who has covered two tracks off this album - "Hobbies Galore" and "She Don't Know What To Do With Herself"), The Elephant 6 collective, and many more. The sound on this album is almost like a lo-fi take on Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything? and is no less American. From the epic instrumental "Melbourne" to the tacked on bonus tracks coming from the extensive work he had already accomplished before this record everything is flawless. The songwriting is brilliant and it's all done with a great sense of humor that extends to some hilariously offbeat skits between songs. Bottom line: this album is a masterpiece. This is outsider music at it's best, if you hear this and still prefer Daniel Johnston you need to give up on music because you will never get it. In addition to every track I've already mentioned so far, "You and Me," "Goodbye Piano," "California Rhythm," "I Want You In My Life," and "Why Should I Love You" are some of the best.


R. Stevie Moore - Phonography (1976)

Additionally, here's a great video of Mr. Moore on Floyd Vivino's WNJN faux-children's show (proto-Pee-Wee's Playhouse) The Uncle Floyd Show on which he would regularly appear:

She Was Looking for Change and So Was I

The title is in reference to this 70s hit I put up for fun. It's by Dean Friedman who was essentially Jersey's answer to Billy Joel. If you have Ariel Pink's EP with the cover of this song, please get it to me, I've been looking for it for a while.

The main article of the night goes to another great girl group as I was thinking about posting the Bangles' first album All Over the Place, which I recently acquired. I decided it better not to do two consecutive Paisley Underground posts, so that will have to wait. Tonight it's New Zealand's (yes, I know almsot everything I post is either from L.A. or New Zealand) Look Blue Go Purple. In a scene where many major artists, e.g. The Bats, the Verlaines, the Chills, and the Sneaky Feelings, had female members Look Blue Go Purple was the only all-female group. Their sound fits in quite well with the classic Flying Nun roster, yet they are as unique as any of the other groups. Their music is a well-layered swirl of psychedelic pop that could only come from Dunedin. While it's clear what side of the kiwi-pop scene they veer towards they are airier than the Bats, earthier than the Chills, and and stronger than 90s-era Clean. On top of that many of their songs have an eerily psychedelic flute that puts them in a place as otherworldly as any of their contemporaries. Though their name sites blue and purple, colors that come to mind more are the green of the hills in their Tolkein-esque homeland and the sea at its blackest raging against the cliffs of South Island. That in mind they could write some great pop songs like "I Don't Want You Anyway" and the New Zealand Top 20 Hit "Cactus Cat." However, I like their more distinctive flowing sound more in tracks like "Safety in Crosswords," "Winged Rumour," and "Hiawatha." Included in this compilation is, I believe everything they released. It is essentail for any fan of kiwi-pop.

The thing to wonder is if the vocals are mixed low out of some kind of insecurity/unsureness, or because someone just knew they sounded best that way...


Look Blue Go Purple - Look Blue Go Purple Compilation