Kicking Giant "She's Real" 7 inch (K Records/1993)

If there was one band that epitomized the type of aesthetic that I myself as a teenager was emulating, that would without question have to be Kicking Giant. This duo consisting of Tae Won Yu on guitar and vocals and Rachel Carn on stand up drums created a tuneful racket that was shifted stylistically back and forth from feedback drenched art rock to cuddly AM jangle pop. How they brought the two together was actually rather remarkable as sonically they were able to explore different territory yet it still sounded like Kicking Giant. The band had a very staunch artistic yet not pretentious do it yourself vibe to their music, recordings, releases and just overall aesthetic of the band. Both Tae Won Yu and Carns were artists/graphic designers themselves and created a very strong visual  statement with the artwork on their releases, show posters and in zines. Kicking Giant went hand and hand with the whole indie zine and tape trading culture of the 90s, which was essentially how I was introduced to them. They first broke onto the scene self releasing a handful of cassettes on their on Loose Leaf Records label (Boyfriend Girlfriend, Secret Teenage Summer, and Present) and through a tight network of tape traders, tape labels, zines and specifically the riot grrrl movement, word about Kicking Giant's raucous yet infectious music spread like wildfire. Eventually the cassettes, some comp tracks and some newer tunes were releases as indie rock excess style full length album on cd called Halo. The band transplanted from New York City where the duo met while students at Cooper Union to Olympia, WA where they eventually hooked up with K Records to release this single as well as a full length called Alien ID. Additionally whil in Olympia they contributed a few more obscure compilation tracks and a split tape with Long Hind Legs on the Punk In My Vitamins label, which was run by Vern Rumsey of Unwound. Not much longer after the band eventually broke up with Carns becoming a member of The Need while Tae Won Yu focused on his graphic design career. Chances are if you go through your record collection you have at least one album with his artwork-especially if you are Built to Spill or Versus fan. However, it should be noted that Tae Won Yu did continue to record music under the name The KG. From what I understand their was a cassette release, some comp tracks and the lone release that I own by the project a cd called Nature Morte, an album that I would like to share at one point so I will refrain revealing too much but let's just say on the cd their is a nice surprise for Kicking Giant fans.

As far as this single She's Real is concerned, it is most likely the band's trademark song though if you ask me  I'd have to cast my vote for "Satellite". But anyhow She's Real contains an alternate version of the title track then what appears on Alien ID, and honestly I am kind of torn at times as to which version is better. Both are really solid for different reasons. Don't even ask me to compare the two versions to the wonderful cover Built to Spill and Caustic Resin do of the song... Also on the single is a song called "Funny Face" as well "Dubious", which the latter once again is a different version then what appeared on Alien ID. Download and enjoy but I will strongly recommend that you pick up Alien ID if you can as it is still available from K Records and it can be found on the cheap side on Amazon and similar outlets. The earlier non K releases are most likely next to impossible to locate so I will be sharing those in the near future.

Kicking Giant She's Real track listing
1. She's Real (version)
2. Funny Face
3. Dubious (version)

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Refrigerator "Louder Than Goodbye" 7 inch (Squealer Records/1995)

Anytime anyone mentions the word "lo fi" hands down the first thing that should come to mind is Shrimper Records, the label who might've not been a house hold name but for anyone that followed the home recording/tape label explosion of the 90s is well aware that Shrimper was the label that defined that era. And one the bands that is synonymous with Shrimper, Refrigerator- a noisy, yet tuneful lo fi indie rock band that featured Shrimper Records founder Dennis Callaci on guitar and his brother Allen on vocals with a host of other members through the years. Throughout the 90s Refrigerator released several cassettes, singles, cd/lp albums and an inordinate amount of compilation tracks. And their music could be best described as marriage of noisy, disjointed art rock 'ala Half Japanese and Red Krayola mixed with the jangly indie rock, pop goodness of  other Inland Empire bands such as Wckr Spgt, DiskothiQ, Nothing Painted Blue, etc. They were bizarre at times, with the eccentric vocals at the forefront and clanging guitars but damn at the same time you'd find yourself tappin' your toes. While not a being a touring band in many years, Refrigerator continues to write and record music, albeit the music they have done in the last several years has changed considerably. It is a bit closer to folk than lo fi indie rock. Their brand new full length cd on Shrimper, Dangerous was released this spring. The single I am sharing with you today was released on Squealer Records and the tunes I think serve as a good introduction to the band as each song captures some of the things I like best about the band.  I will be sharing more Refrigerator in the coming months and I am excited as they are a band that unfortunately I feel as if time has forgotten.

Refrigerator Louder Than Goodbye track listing
1. Meantime
2. Thinner Than Skin
3. Louder Than Goodbye
4. Housing Fires

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Red Dye No. 5 "Not You Again" 7 inch (Candy Floss Records/1995)

If you happened to dig the Poastal Here 7 inch that I posted earlier than this 7 inch by San Diego based Red Dye No. 5 maybe of interest to you as they play the same type of female fronted, fuzzy guitar indie pop that meshes together the sounds of early Velocity Girl and Lush. In Red Dye No. 5 I also detect some Dinosaur Jr and Madder Rose. Regardless, they are another band of this ilk that I wish I knew more and subsequently had more tunes of theirs to rock out to. To my knowledge in addition to the Not You Again 7 inch they released the Fuzzbomb 7 inch on Silver Girl Records as well contributing tracks to the Pop American Style and Pure Spun Sugar. However, according to this website there was to be a split 7 inch w/ Red 5, a stand alone 7 inch on Darla (which I asked the label, they never released it), and a full length lp/cd on Flip Records but I searched high and low and have yet to find tangible proof that these records ever actually came out. If they did I'd love to hear them. Anyhow check out this offering from Red Dye No. 5, the b side even has a cover of the Blondie classic "Heart of Glass".

Red Dye No.5 Not You Again track listing
1. Not You Again
2. Heart of Glass

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Bratmobile/Tiger Trap "split" 7 inch (Four Letter Words/1992)

What a great documentation of two very influential 90s bands coming together for a split one record. I feel like every knows about or should know about these bands. Bratmobile helped spearhead the riot grrrl movement and the song they contribute to this split is an early version of the song "Throwaway" which was re-recorded for their 1992 album Pottymouth. Meanwhile, the Sacramento based Tiger Trap's offering as earlier, more lo fi version of the indie pop classic tune "Words & Smiles" which was later re-recorded for the self titled debut on K Records. The most noticeable difference about this version of "Words & Smiles" is that the bridge is played completely different, as opposed to a cascading build  there is more of a pick me up vibe. Chances are you know these bands and songs but just not these versions. Enjoy!

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Poastal "Here" 7 inch (Candy Floss Records/1995)

Today's post  comes from a absolutely wonderful yet obscure west coast female fronted indie pop that touches upon the same style of noisy guitar yet tuneful sounds that made bands like Velocity Girl and Lush household names among indie rock fans in the 90s. As far as I have been able to dig Poastal didn't release much material which is a shame because after listening to all their tunes I simply want more. In addition to the magnificent two song single Here that I am sharing with you here today Poastal also released a split single with #Poundsign#, a three way split 7 inch with Further and Diskothi-Q for Over the Wall Fanzine and lastly a contribution for the amazing Candy Floss Records compilation Pure Spun Sugar.  A friend of mine claims that there was a demo tape in existence as well though neither of us have ever actually heard so it may very well not exist though it wouldn't be out of the question. I hope it does because I want to hear more. This is indie rock done exactly the way I like it-noisy yet tuneful guitars, crisp vocals and super catchy. I wish I knew more about this great band so I could share more info with you all. However, I do own all of the actual records I have cited here and shall share them over time. One fact about Poastal is that the drummer is none other than Yoshi Nakamoto who has also been in such noteworthy indie pop bands as The Aislers Set and Scenic Vermont.

Poastal Here track listing
1. Here
2. The Absolute Magnitude of Negative Five

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Allen Clapp & His Orchestra "A Change in the Weather" 7 inch (Four Letter Words/1991)

Here is a quick little post before I have to start my day getting ready for classes. And perhaps it is a little wishful thinking asking for a change in the weather? But all that aside Allen Clapp is an absolute indie pop genius who has been writing and recording since the late 80s but under the Allen Clapp & His Orchestra name he has been at it since the 1990 with A Change in the Weather being his sophomore release. The two song one sided single was released on the cult, no frills indie pop label Four Letter Words who in their short existence released one indie pop essential after another. Clapp like many other artists of the era opted to document his songs via a four track tape recorder but unlike the usual fuzzy, lo fi excess that was to be expected of the day Clapp instead tried to get as much as he possibly could from a production value standpoint out of the machine to record works that couldn't be mistaken for anything other than pop music. In a way it sounded as if Clapp was trying to bring The Beatles, The Raspberries and even later Jam to the world of lo fi indie music. There is absolutely also a great influence of C-86 stuff like The Shop Assistants and Dolly Mixture present. The title track and the second tune "Advice From Mr Leary" are super short stabs of pop wonderment that get stuck in your head and beg for the needle to be brought back to the beginning. Throughout the years Clapp and His Orchestra released several great songs on compilations and full fledged stand alone releases, perhaps none were better than 1994's full length effort One Hundred Percent Chance of Rain which for my money is one of the greatest, and unheralded albums of the 90s-simply put it is indie pop perfection. Clapp over the years has continued to write and record music with his band The Orange Peels who are a indie pop band as well but a bit more polished than the four track Allen Clapp & His Orchestra stuff. In 2006 The Bus Stop Label issued a collection of all the Allen Clapp & His Orchestra singles/comp tracks and I just heard recently that Clapp has a new album coming under the Allen Clapp & His Orchestra moniker.

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Edith Presler "Drag" 7 inch (Little Mafia Records/Cactus Gum/1996)

I am so excited to share this gem of a 7 inch with you all today. Influenced by the lo fi home recording explosion of a few years prior from the mid to late 90s Denver based Edith Presler took the ball and ran with as the lo fi bedroom pop trio churned out song after song. They appeared on countless compilations, many of which came out via the cassette format but also were able to release two solo efforts- a full length cassette For the Love of a Texas Cheerleader on the legendary cult tape label Cactus Gum and this 5 song 7 inch called Drag which I am sharing with you today. Edith Presler possessed all of the novice charm that drew so many people to the whole lo fi movement of the 90s. Musically they were a cross between early Pavement and Guided By Voices as well as Silver Jews and even stuff like Crayon.

Back then it felt like bands like this and tape labels were starting up everyday though it wasn't as easy to identify as it is these days with the ease of technology allowing to spread the word in seconds. Back then it took a little bit longer to find out about stuff. And when I first was exposed to the whole 4 track/home recording/tape label culture it blew my mind that kids all over the country where making an awful racket just like I was in my bedroom and putting out on their own tapes, distributing and trading them all over the world. I was first exposed to the world via Lou Barlow and Shrimper Records and from there I found out that really personal, home recorded music that spoke to my interests was being released on a countless number of  tape labels like Cactus Gum, Catsup Plate, Flannel Banjo, Sonic Enemy, Car in Car Disco Product,  Sing Eunuchs!, etc. For me it was a very influential period that sticks with me to this day.

But back to Edith Presler-good luck tracking down the actual releases since most of their songs were released on cassette comps or 7 inches that are long gone. You can still order the Drag 7 inch from Little Mafia  so I implore you to buy the dang thing if you like it. Also I actually have a copy or two still in the Rok Lok distro. And you can actually download the full length cassette For the Love of a Texas Cheerleader at Dial Square Tapes, which is a new-ish private press tape label run by the fine fella who used to do Cactus Gum. Download and enjoy!

Also for more information on some tape labels/bands from the 90s (and even current) I'd highly recommend you check out this site that is pretty much the only resource online for this stuff called I Hear Strange Music. There you can find a complete discography for Edith Presler as well as many of the tape labels I mentioned here.

Edith Presler Drag 7 inch track listing
1. Drag
2. Alcan
3. Seconds
4. For the Love of a Texas Cheerleader
5. Midfall

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Dump "Easter Dress/Almost Home" 7 inch (Favorite Things/1997)

For those unaware Dump is the solo home recording project of James Mcnew of Yo La Tengo and since the early 90s he has released a litany of releases ranging from full length albums, eps, singles and comp tracks all on obscure tiny boutique labels under this moniker. He released a few things on the legendary Shrimper including the notorious indie cult classic That Skinny Motherfucker With the High Voice which is an album entirely made of Prince covers. Early on he released a 10 inch called International Airport on Steve Shelley's ( of Sonic Youth fame) Smells Like Records. The music of Dump I think is best summed up in Mcnew's own words as the liner notes of the album A Plea for Tenderness, "Recorded mostly while wearing pajamas on a Tascam Porta 5 cassette machine...".  So namely Mcnew's Dump project is a home recording project that showcases lo fi bedroom pop with forays into drone and ambience.Through the course of the Dump discography one can certainly hear the Yo La Tengo sound pouring into this side project's overall sound but that is to be expected. Dump's releases while scattered and for the most part obscure can certainly be found and we you can you can find them on the cheap side. A browse through the Amazon or Ebay turns up several copies of the cd releases while vinyl and cassette releases seem a little bit harder to come by. I highly recommend any of Dump's music but I would say the best place to start would be with the aforementioned A Plea For Tenderness on Brinkman Records. Or with this post...

And in regards to this offering the 7 inch that I am sharing today is a imported single from the Japanese label Favorite Things. The packaging is just like the music on the record- bare and warm. Mcnew excels in penning sincere, fragile pop music that captures a spirit of longing and a heart pouring out. The song "Easter Dress" musically is a bit more jangly and upbeat than the flipside of "Easter Dress" which a somber series of droning chords but both songs pull on the heart strings, hard.

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Versus "Go Tell It on the Mountain/Frog" 7 inch ( K Records/1994)

So here we are...another blog. This is My Life and You Can Have It is a blog dedicated to sharing what essentially has been a large part of my life, listening to and collecting music, particularly music in the indie rock/indie pop/lo fi/post punk genres. Also it is me paying homage to the great indie pop band Veronica Lake and their song 'This is My World and You Can Have It". I won't be sharing my entire collection but just things that I am interested in discussing and also pieces that are rare and aren't elsewhere on the internet. So with that being said shall we?

In getting this blog off the ground I'd like to share the first 7 inch that I ever bought from a record store (not counting local band records that I purchased at shows). How I miss you Music Den of Port Jefferson... This 7 inch was also my introduction to the wonderful K Records label and their wonderful International Pop Underground series. I had already been introduced to the New York City based Versus by way of their incredible full length album The Stars Are Insane on Teenbeat Records. This two track single continues in delivering what I had come to expect from the band, driving yet jangly melodic indie rock with outstanding male/female trade off vocals. The sleeve features trademark artwork from indie artist extraordinaire Tae Won Yu (also known for his work in the band Kicking Giant). As the years have gone on these two songs "Go Tell It On the Mountain" and "Frog" remain some of my favorite in the band's catalog. When the band started playing again a couple of years ago, I caught one of their first shows back with the original line up and I absolutely lost my shit when they closed their set with "Go Tell It on the Mountain". If you are a fan of indie rock from the 90s chances are you are familiar with Versus and if you are not you owe it to yourself to check out one of the era's best.

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