The point of these threads is to encourage people to look for new and interesting music. We do this by listening to and ideally discussing albums we've never heard before. Many of us already listen to new music daily, these people are in it to venture "out of their comfort zone" by listening to albums they otherwise wouldn't have, or just to have a good time.
Insane. I’m tapping my feet to “Night Rider” or “No Heavy Trucking” now. Somewhat like Stan Hubbs’ Crystal.
>Kenneth Higney - Attic Demonstration (1976)
This is one of the weirdest albums I’ve listened to on repeat. There’s a chance that those who listen to this based on my review will find it the worst thing ever. It’s like there’s this fine line between genius and insanity and I keep doing the aural equivalent of a double-take trying to figure out what’s what.
Attic Demonstration is what Paul Major considers a quintessential Real People album, his concept loosly stating that one can get just as much out of a non-musician’s music, that so-called musicians’ music is an ivory tower. If psychedelia aims for transcendence, this may as well be through the threshold.
I’m still not exactly clear what the deal is; this is a collection of demos from Kenneth Higney who I think considered himself a country or folk musician, but some stuff here certainly sounds like Detroit rock or proto-no wave. It’s extremely primitive of course and it sounds like Kenneth Higney didn't even have an understanding of what a song sounds like. Why or how did he develop these semi-tonal melodies...what is the idea behind “Children of Sound” or “I’ll Cry Tomorrow”? A lot of this sounds closer Southeast Asian folk to our western ears than any other signposts. And I don’t think he’s being intentionally cute or avant nor is he doing a poor imitation of x; there’s quite a bit of honesty and the sentiment of these expressions themesleves can’t be mistaken. It’s helped by these stream-of-consciousness lyrics. It’s never less than fascinating.
So if you buy into the fact that this isn’t all just complete amateur nonsense, there’s an extreme level of intuition in this music: that Higney really had this unfettered, un-received channel for the music in his head. It’s an invaluable trait. 8/10
Brody Moore
>Peter Grudzien - Album No. One (In Two Sides) - The Unicorn (1974)
This one is now massively popular in the outsider/Real People/psych folk world. But if we’re being real, this music is just traditional country created by an out-of-this-world guy. I encourage everyone to at least check this guy’s story out even if isn’t my favorite album. His music is created, performed, and released 100% solo. His thing is that he’s unironically a gay, Christian Johnny Cash. He really was trying to make it in Nashville and seemed to not any self-awareness about the absurdity of his work. The world is a richer place for having heady individuals like Peter Grudzien, but I also think this isn’t very interesting or exciting outside of its lyrics. 5/10
Ryder Murphy
Winter in Venice was fun and I finally got around to listening to geodaddi- what are other essential wintery albums to listen to on the ski slopes daily Yes
