SMITHFIELD FREEMAN

Artist: SMITHFIELD FREEMAN

Title: Sick E             

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1979

Songs: 9

Label: Seamen Records

Style: Progressive Art Rock

Rare Baltimore, MD based private press obscurity and oddity with its art rock and avant-garde progressive pretensions.  Smithfield Freeman played a large role in the production, arrangement, writing and performing of the music.  He enlisted a large entourage of about 16 musicians to assist in the album.  Operatic at times, jazz and horn flourishes at other times, progressive treatments and then just rock oriented tangents.  It seems to be a concept album of sorts, dealing with a man’s descent into a dark place mentally.  It’s all mixed into this potpourri/Pandora’s box of an album.

STEAMER

Artist: STEAMER

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1982

Songs: 4

Label: NOTSO Records

Style: AOR

Shreveport, LA based rock trio with their highly scarce private debut offering.  Well produced AOR with loads of catchy arrangements and touches of new wave rock moves.

I WITNESS

Artist: I WITNESS

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1983

Songs: 8

Label: Shower Fantasies

Style: New Wave Synth

Chris Bailey seems to have been a singer songwriter who operated in the Vermont area with his band mates.  This private self produced album is full of catchy new wave power pop rock arrangements. There’s a cool minimal influence to the overall album – this can really be heard on synth heavy ‘Such A Blur’.  Chris mixes minimal synth and electric guitar work to great effect on ‘Shrapnel’.  Power pop melodies are in full effect with the energetic ‘Pabulum’.  ‘My Shadow’ has well crafted melodic synth stabs against emotive vocals.

PARADE

Artist: PARADE

Title: Pictionary       

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1989

Songs: 5

Label: Breakfast Records

Style: Power Pop Rock

Parade was a rambunctious indie five-some who worked in and around the late 80’s fledging Boston, MA alternative rock scene.  Take the lone cover on the album, The Beatles Yellow Submarine – it’s re-worked into a radically different power pop chugger with quite positive results.  The rest of this extended player’s four originals play to the rocking power pop formula with stout alternative/college rock influences mixed in.

3+1

Artist: 3+1

Title: Arkansas Rock 

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1983

Songs: 4

Label: SUR Records

Style: AOR

Highly obscure private one off local (Jonesboro, Arkansas) melodic rocker with a killer female fronted lead singer. Quality musicianship, solid production values and ear pleasing songs are all on board for this quick but enjoyable ride.  ‘On My Own’ is a standout with its driving rhythms and infectious choruses.

MYST

Artist: MYST

Title: Hit Or Myst     

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1991

Songs: 12

Label: Canned Laughter Records

Style: Indie Alternative

Myst was an American trio of indie rockers.  Their one off private press album delves into an eclectic mix of melodic alternative rock with strumming guitars and moody swings in vocal treatments.  ‘Kool-Aid Guru’ could have been right at home on college radio.  The standout rocking ‘Inky Deed To Your Soul’ has excellent sharp fuzz guitar work.  

YELLOW SLOTH CHICKEN BROTH

Artist: YELLOW SLOTH CHICKEN BROTH

Title: Party Of Four  

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1997

Songs: 4

Label: Slap Happy Records

Style: Indie Alternative

Yellow Sloth Chicken Broth comprised of a trio of dudes that undoubtedly were looking to differentiate themselves from the troves of hard edged/grungy alternative rock groups popping up during the 90s indie rock explosion.  These boys came up with the formula to sing in a complete kitchy way about four female TV stars.  Musically not that great – Lyrically very funny – An interesting Novelty, complete with transparent gold vinyl. 

SURFACE TO SURFACE

Artist: SURFACE TO SURFACE

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1982

Songs: 4

Label: Surface Records

Style: New Wave

Killer heavy sharp synth new wave rock from this obscure New York underground outfit.  Opener ‘Life On The Surface’ has vocoder effects that add to the synth craziness, while ‘Take It To The Extreme’ does just that with sound effects included.  Intense high energy synth rockers all the way.

CHRIS BAILEY

Artist: CHRIS BAILEY

Title: Prime Numbers

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1983

Songs: 8

Label: Shower Fantasies

Style: New Wave Synth

Chris Bailey seems to have been a singer songwriter who operated in the Vermont area with his band mates.  This private self produced album is full of catchy new wave power pop rock arrangements. There’s a cool minimal influence to the overall album – this can really be heard on synth heavy ‘Such A Blur’.  Chris mixes minimal synth and electric guitar work to great effect on ‘Shrapnel’.  Power pop melodies are in full effect with the energetic ‘Pabulum’.  ‘My Shadow’ has well crafted melodic synth stabs against emotive vocals.

M.T.L.

Artist: M.T.L.

Title: Can You Say Never    

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1989

Songs: 8

Label: Dance Plant Records

Style: Hard Rock

M.T.L. was an independent Canadian hard rock foursome, bouncing around Ontario working the club circuit and looking for the ever elusive record deal.  They band was able to strike a deal with private label Dance Plant Records and release this one off outing of spritely melodic hard rockers.  The pompous keyboard work comes out in full effect on the standout ‘Whose The One To Blame’.  Album closer ‘Jamie’ borders on AOR melodic rock and is a solid track full of catchy melodies.  A pleasant surprise this one was.

PUNCH

Artist: PUNCH

Title: Just Another Band

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1979

Songs: 8

Label: Jab Records

Style: Rural Rock

Beware of the over-hyped descriptions on this mediocre offering from Punch.  These boys were a rural rock outfit that glided along with their slow-mid tempo offerings, sometimes launching into country avenues.  Okay stuff if you’re into it, but it’s not AOR, Psych or Prog – like sellers and dealers like to tag to it.  Yes, cool album cover and that’s why I bought it as a blind buy, hoping for something interesting, but being disappointed in the end.

HOT GLUE GUN

Artist: HOT GLUE GUN

Title: Self Titled       

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1991

Songs: 4

Label: MUD Records

Style: Indie Alternative

Hot Glue Gun was another one of the myriad of indie alternative rock bands that emerged in the early 90’s alongside the Grunge music movement.  They employ a tried and true formula – carefully balancing hard-edged grunge influences with pop accessibility.  The hi-tempo opener ‘I’ll Kill You’ is quite good with its pronounced guitar riffing and catchy choruses.

DEE WHY HEAD

Artist: DEE WHY HEAD

Title: Check Your Headwear

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1985

Songs: 4

Label: Palomar Records

Style: AOR

Dee Why Head was a local Detroit, MI based rock band with four members.  Sharp melodic AOR is what we get here.  Lots of cool pompous keyboards and a solid production job also add nice touches to the proceedings.  Highly Recommended for the AOR private press collectors. 

LEVEL

Artist: LEVEL

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1982

Songs: 9

Label: Black Sheep Records

Style: AOR    

Sensational up-tempo catchy AOR Rarity – hands down!  Level originated from Trenton, NJ and had local radio station WPST exposure.  The band pressed 500 copies only.  If I had to pick the best songs, they would be: power ballad ‘Until Tomorrow’ has such a killer emotive chorus, ‘You’ve Got Running On Your Mind’ has an almost power pop rock vibe with its charging arrangements, the surging ‘Let Me Love You’ is just so infectious and then there’s ‘Permanent Scar’ with it pompous chorus and melodies.  A Masterpiece!