― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― paul cox (paul cox), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
-Matt, taking a break from spackling.
― Matt Maxwell (Matt M.), Thursday, 6 February 2003 05:29 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― jack cole (jackcole), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:25 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Kris (aqueduct), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:29 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
A mighty fine band, great guitar work as mentioned by Matt, but what made them so good was Guy Kyser's voice. It sounds like it comes from some other place, from the other side of your nightmares. Insinuates itself into your soul. He could sing a nursery rhyme and it'd sound fucking spooky.
A great band live as well. Only saw them once, towards the end (Ruby Sea tour) at the Joiner's Arms in Southampton, but they were as good as I'd hoped.
― James Ball (James Ball), Thursday, 6 February 2003 09:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
i've read somewhere (online interview i think) that he's gone back to gardening...
great band. most goodies have been mentioned above. also, i really like their version of some velvet morning.
― willem (willem), Thursday, 6 February 2003 11:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 6 February 2003 14:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― jack cole (jackcole), Thursday, 6 February 2003 14:51 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
James is right, Guy Khyser's voice is a crucial part of the band, as are his lyrics (and i don't say that sort of thing very often).
Shout-out to my homie Kris from alt.music.alternative!
-Matt, needing coffee
― Matt Maxwell (Matt M.), Thursday, 6 February 2003 14:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Rockist Scientist, Thursday, 6 February 2003 14:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
a few more brief thoughts on Mummydogs -- the album came out last year on the revived http://www.frontierrecords.com/">Frontier label, which is being distributed by http://www.mordamrecords.com">Mordam. a decent return by Guy -- but after TWR, maybe a little too straight up without some of the interplay TWR was especially good at. still nice vocals from Kyser and his wife and sign of perhaps even better things to come if the Mummydogs continue and Kyser finds his footing better with his new group.
― jack cole (jackcole), Thursday, 6 February 2003 15:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Lee G (Lee G), Thursday, 6 February 2003 17:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― tigerclawskank, Thursday, 6 February 2003 17:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― evan chronister (evan chronister), Friday, 7 February 2003 07:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
Spoor.
the reissue news is grebt! (though i have most of their stuff on vinyl, it would be fantastic if they included some interesting bonus-stuff)
― willem (willem), Friday, 7 February 2003 10:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 7 February 2003 11:06 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― willem (willem), Friday, 7 February 2003 15:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Andrew Blood Thames (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 12:26 (thirteen years ago) Permalink
Just re-listening to Moonhead (actually Moonhead...Plus diablo records release), and like above it has been saved from a 'get rid of pile' - damn it's a good record - I just played it back to back with eleventh dream day's 'prairie school freakout' and both rekkids guitars sounds equal desert peyote - real good fun on a Sunday before a ball game.
― BlackIronPrison, Sunday, 5 August 2007 22:02 (ten years ago) Permalink
Their former manager ML Compton has been posting tour stories irregularly on his Myspace site:
http://www.myspace.com/melcompton
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 6 August 2007 04:04 (ten years ago) Permalink
One of my very favorite bands. I just love the whole package so much. Guy's basalt vocals, the thick twining snake guitars, the natural-history-tinged lyrics, the twang wedded to the dino-hevviness, the "this is a song about waking up with an acid hangover and a boner".
I miss them so. If I were to send someone home with two of their releases to try'n make a fan outta them, it would be Moonhead and the very well-chosen best-of When Worlds Collide.
FISH!!!
― Jon Lewis, Monday, 6 August 2007 14:45 (ten years ago) Permalink
I listened to White Heaven first album the other night and Kurihara's super-scorching guitar sound blew me away as usual. Suddenly it reminded of Thin White Rope. The Kyser/ Kunkel interplay was obviously impressive in its Television-inspired detail, but it is the monstrous sound of their guitars that really made TWR. So dark, powerful and impossibly sad. And the way Guy Kyser concocts haunting, spooky natural images like a cowboy Georg Buechner: "Ants are cavemen" is him channeling a delirious Woyzeck-like enthomologist of sorts and sounding at the same time frightening and funny. Best 80's American band, period.
― Marco Damiani, Friday, 1 August 2008 14:34 (nine years ago) Permalink
:-) Definitely encourage everyone again to check out ML's blog I linked up there for more TWR stories, among many other things. Need to break out the albums again.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 August 2008 14:45 (nine years ago) Permalink
I checked it a couple of times and its fun. Give the albums another try, Ned: the production unfortunately isn't always that good, but the songs are ace. Kyser was a very personal writer. Also no other band in the world is equally in debt with Marty Robbins and Joy Division!
― Marco Damiani, Friday, 1 August 2008 15:00 (nine years ago) Permalink
One of my favorite bands of the 80s. So alien, unlike almost anything else, either in their time or out of it. People often mention Television and Paisley Underground contemporaries like the Rain Parade and the Dream Syndicate in describing them, and while that's fair, it doesn't get at how strange they were underneath. Love the snaky, heat shimmer guitar tangles, the super-creepy storytelling and Kyser's wobbly, wierdly affected vocals. They're about the most Halloweeny band I can think of, and the best part is that they manage it without ever resorting to campy spook-show schtick. They rarely sound like they're trying to be scary ("Disney Girl" and the Ruby Sea LP being clear exceptions), but they scare the crap out of me anyway.
'Course, it isn't an accident, either. Most of the lyrics read like ghost stories, and the ones that don't rarely have anything reassuring to say. Creeping you out was obviously a big part of the intent. Still, for all the theatricality, there's never anything forced about it. The vibe of alienation and depersonalization fits with the music and with the subject matter, making it ring true, at least in the sense that it doesn't seem like an act.
Agree that they never really got the production they deserved, but it doesn't bother me much. I like the records the way they are.
― contenderizer, Friday, 1 August 2008 17:58 (nine years ago) Permalink
Their version of 'Some Velvet Morning' was fantastico. Fuck - i forgot about the Rope! Saw them live too. Excellent
― Fer Ark, Friday, 1 August 2008 18:45 (nine years ago) Permalink
Totally love the "Yoo Doo Right" cover.
gygax! started a thread about it once.
― Steve Shasta, Friday, 1 August 2008 18:53 (nine years ago) Permalink
TAKING SIDES: "Yoo Doo Right" by THIN WHITE ROPE vs. "Mother Sky" by TH' FAITH HEALERS vs. "The Sad Skinhead" by TRUMANS WATER vs. "Jenny Ondioline" by STEREOLAB
― Steve Shasta, Friday, 1 August 2008 18:54 (nine years ago) Permalink
contenderizer: They always reminded me of Television crossed with Skynyrd.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:07 (nine years ago) Permalink
Gimme three steps toward the ghost-cow.
― contenderizer, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:09 (nine years ago) Permalink
along with thinking fellers, this is one of those bands I'm surprised has/had the cult following they did, they seemed like not such a big deal when around. glad to see shasta still flying the flag for them. what is guy keyser doing now?
― akm, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:24 (nine years ago) Permalink
also it dawns on me that I actually know someone who was in this band, which I forgot about.
― akm, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:25 (nine years ago) Permalink
see also:
http://www.myspace.com/acmerocketquartet
― nerve_pylon, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:37 (nine years ago) Permalink
Moonhead is a classic (listening right now). I also always had a soft spot for The Ruby Sea, which some seem to find a little slick.
― Duke, Saturday, 28 March 2009 16:48 (nine years ago) Permalink
Can't believe I never posted on this thread. Still one of my favourite 80s bands. Moonhead is a deathless uber-classic, especially the title track. One of the few bands where I'm *really* bummed out that I never saw them live properly, only in a tent at the Reading festival, and even in that setting they sounded monstrous.
― Dom Cry For Me, Passantino (NickB), Saturday, 28 March 2009 19:38 (nine years ago) Permalink
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Kb2KgdYA90&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0";></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Kb2KgdYA90&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
― Duke, Saturday, 28 March 2009 20:04 (nine years ago) Permalink
erm... I mean this:
#1 on my "reunite for ATP" list.
― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Saturday, 28 March 2009 22:02 (nine years ago) Permalink
I only ever had The Ruby Sea, but o how I oved it, "Puppet Dog" especially. That one hit me right away, the rest was a grower. I haven't thought about them in years, but this thread is making want to seek out some of their other records.
― 2 ears + 1 ❤ (Pillbox), Saturday, 28 March 2009 22:06 (nine years ago) Permalink
Puppet Dog is a great song. One of the best on The Ruby Sea. If you like the Ruby Sea, do seek out Sack Full Of Silver and Moonhead
― Duke, Saturday, 28 March 2009 23:02 (nine years ago) Permalink
Moonhead really is a stone classic, but the first album Exploring The Axis is worth seeking out too, especially for the first track 'Down In The Desert' which is fantastic.
― MaresNest, Sunday, 29 March 2009 10:57 (nine years ago) Permalink
― akm
now I have no idea who I was talking about. who did I know in this band? I know someone who produced them at one point, at least.
― akm, Sunday, 29 March 2009 15:31 (nine years ago) Permalink
― Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 19 May 2009 09:26 (nine years ago) Permalink
More people should cover TWR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4KDvgt3rcQ
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 03:40 (five years ago) Permalink
Damn you Ned for a sec I thought this bump was for a reunion!
― Lewis Apparition (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:23 (five years ago) Permalink
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/38867781/Moonhead%20IMG_9238.jpg
― gonna send him to outer space, to hug another face (NickB), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:29 (five years ago) Permalink
xpost -- alas
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:36 (five years ago) Permalink
Thanks Jon!!
― Duke, Tuesday, 13 March 2018 23:04 (three months ago) Permalink
Thin White Rope 1990-06-02 Hanau Kulturbasar is a great, all-round later show too.
― MaresNest, Tuesday, 13 March 2018 23:10 (three months ago) Permalink
That ones next on deck for me!
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Tuesday, 13 March 2018 23:32 (three months ago) Permalink
there's also this 1992 ROIO (haven't heard or checked all the links yet) : http://bigozine2.com/roio/?p=900
― StanM, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 13:44 (three months ago) Permalink
Thin White Rope - 1988-04-02 - Goez Beest, Amsterdam, NL - SbdThin White Rope - 1988-09-29 - Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
Two remaining Dime seeds, the Amsterdam one is especially good. Vera is a different show from the one previously linked.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 15:03 (three months ago) Permalink
https://we.tl/3BWyMgZjXQ
1990 Hanau np for me. Great sound, on-it performance. Still in the first half
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 15:16 (three months ago) Permalink
it makes me a bit sad that Guy never seems to have done that bellowing OHHH LORD YEAHHH live
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 15:18 (three months ago) Permalink
A bit cash-strapped but gonna jump on these while white vinyl remains, feel like I'll regret it if I don't
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 15:51 (three months ago) Permalink
(ok, that ROIO thing doesn't work 100% - sorry)
― StanM, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 16:27 (three months ago) Permalink
someone's weird fondness for relentless, crashing snare hits amidst relative calm nearly wrecks a bunch of songs throughout their career
― twerking for obvious reasons (contenderizer), Tuesday, July 9, 2013 11:52 PM (four years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Hoping someone will address this on the remasters but it's also sorta how the drums were played - part of the sound, I guess
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 16:36 (three months ago) Permalink
These demos are great! Never really made the connection before (though maybe it's obvious given the region) but some of these early tunes sound like Savage Republic with Lemmy on vocals
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 17:18 (three months ago) Permalink
definitely some shared dna with the SR guitarists, that death-surf snakecharming thing
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 17:28 (three months ago) Permalink
Davis ain't the Mojave (say), but yeah, definitely California scene connections at work.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 17:28 (three months ago) Permalink
i tend to think licher, kyser, kunkel, verlaine all had their fair share of shadows and ventures LPs
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 17:31 (three months ago) Permalink
I bet a great book could be written about this period (distinct from the punk scene covered in We've Got The Neutron Bomb, various books about X, etc), if it hasn't already. My southern California rock timeline / education is definitely a bit blurry. How much did bands like TWR intersect--socially or otherwise--with bands like Rain Parade, Green On Red, Bangles, etc?
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 17:48 (three months ago) Permalink
I was trying to recall how I got into TWR, and I'm sure it was because I was chasing down Paisley Underground bands and I saw them - in the press - mistakenly lumped in with Rain Parade, Three O'Clock et al. But then, so were The Long Ryders and Green On Red.
I wonder if any of the desert rock/stoner bands of the very late 80's/90's dug these guys.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:10 (three months ago) Permalink
There was a great fanzine in the UK called Bucketful of Brains which provided an overview of those variously loosely connected scenes, they would write about The Plimsouls, Lyres, Rain Parade, Three O'Clock, Long Ryders, Baraccudas, REM, Fuzztones, TWR, Soft Boys that sort of thing.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:14 (three months ago) Permalink
The elephant in the room not named yet: Dream Syndicate.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:21 (three months ago) Permalink
with TV as the elephant's dad
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 18:31 (three months ago) Permalink
this band is really good but man...the singer really tries my patience
― The Desus & Mero Chain (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 21:35 (three months ago) Permalink
Out
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 21:40 (three months ago) Permalink
Haha! Oh man...
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 21:42 (three months ago) Permalink
https://image.ibb.co/gWyfcx/acres_front.jpg https://image.ibb.co/kVTVcx/acres_back.jpg
^ This is how I first heard TWR, bought from a high street chain for £1.99 which in today's money is probably about two pounds. Zippo were a UK label that specialised in rootsy US rock, I think they started from a shop and then got bought out by Demon. Those sorts of bands were getting a bit of a push in the UK at the time, Green On Red would get on the cover of Melody Maker and Sounds but I don't think anyone really bought their records tbh. There's some good tracks on it (e.g. 'Pure Heart' by the Wild Seeds is a bit corny but gorgeous, and 'Thin Line Man' by Giant Sand was an early high-water mark for Mr Gelb and also kind of invented the Pixies imo), but honestly a lot of it is kind of meat'n''tatoes, riffy, strummy fare. 'Moonhead' really leapt out at me, majestic and mysterious and monstrous in equal measure. Was really getting into Television and the Meat Puppets' Up On The Sun at the time, and I felt it had more in common with that sort of thing than with the rest of the bands on the comp.
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:26 (three months ago) Permalink
Was really getting into Television and the Meat Puppets' Up On The Sun at the time, and I felt it had more in common with that sort of thing For sure.
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:29 (three months ago) Permalink
Xposts I mean I get that if there’s one thing that might have militated against rampant thin white rope love all over the world, it’s Guy’s voice. Same thing with imo the other best band of that decade - there’s plenty of people who just can’t deal with MES vocals and I believe them. But Guy’s voice is just so good, so perfect. I wouldn’t change a single node. Also even with the distancing effect of the vox couldn’t they have at least been as popular as the fall? :(
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:36 (three months ago) Permalink
Calling any underachieving band "underrated" is obviously an overused rock crit cliche (as is saying "'underrated' is an overused rock crit cliche") but if it ever applied to any band, it's this one. Really, the fact that they weren't even in the conversation after a certain point is mind boggling (see also: Lift To Experience)
Anyone with any insights as to why? Maybe it was personal? Drugs? Maybe they were dicks to everyone? None of those factors prevented scores of other bands (some even appearing on that comp) from getting recognition, at least for a little while (looking at you, Dan Stuart)
The record biz has always been cruel and unfair, huh?
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:52 (three months ago) Permalink
Yeah idkThey put out a record a year which were all great and sometimes masterpieces, the records were readily obtainable, enough critics liked them, they toured like fuck and (I’m surmising from recorded evidence) played hard at every show, seems like they acted like clowns offstage while touring but not unusually so. Am I right that they more or less stopped because of frustration + weariness with their sheer underratedness? It pains me. There could have been more of these songs.
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 22:59 (three months ago) Permalink
It would have been interesting if they'd been able to persist for a couple of years more, with the weird Krautrock edges starting to resurface among newer bands at the time like Stereolab. But people will make their decisions.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:04 (three months ago) Permalink
am only semi serious here but they were never buddies with sonic youth unlike dinosaur jr or nirvana or mudhoney or whoever. mind you, the lunachicks were and it's been a long while since i heard them played in asda
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:06 (three months ago) Permalink
I guess I forgot one factor Bad band name, not catchy sounding and also pretty gross when you unpack it But that never stopped (lists a zillion terribly formed names of successful bands)
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:10 (three months ago) Permalink
Am I right that they more or less stopped because of frustration + weariness with their sheer underratedness? It pains me. There could have been more of these songs.
― when worlds collide I'll see you again (Jon not Jon), Wednesday, March 14, 2018 10:59 PM (nine minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
It's a cycle, though, innit? Like, you get called "underrated" and "overlooked" in enough reviews, that becomes your story, because every review thereafter just parrots the ones from the previous record that talked about how overlooked and underrated you are.
Still, from the looks of it, all's well that ends well. Guy seems to be doing OK, at least, and I bet he's happier where he is than he would be on the road in hellscape 2018
Wish I was around when these records were new, though. Never got to see these guys, had no idea they existed until it was too late
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:14 (three months ago) Permalink
if anyone is still short of live stuff, this youtube channel has quite as few shows up of varying quality:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8tAnV9M2FKiJF2pDbXU0hw/search?query=thin+white+rope
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:17 (three months ago) Permalink
https://preview.ibb.co/ggJoxx/twr.jpg
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:19 (three months ago) Permalink
aww, maybe this was the final nail in the coffin for TWR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUKzXyB_9ZI&feature=youtu.be&t=2720
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:31 (three months ago) Permalink
fuck, https://youtu.be/cUKzXyB_9ZI?t=2723
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:33 (three months ago) Permalink
...i hate this business of visiting my hometown...
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:35 (three months ago) Permalink
Cmon, fess up...you were in Mature Innocence
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:41 (three months ago) Permalink
Jesus, maybe the name "Thin White Rope" isn't so bad after all. "Pause and Effect" sounds like a band Gob Bluth would be in
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:44 (three months ago) Permalink
Phallucy was a rock/alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band's drummer, Abe Cunningham, later became the drummer with the band Deftones, which is now a worldwide success.[citation needed] Phallucy has reunited three times: in 1999, 2001 and finally in 2009 for the Chi Cheng Benefit Show in San Francisco along with Death Angel and other special guests. The band's name is a combination of the words "fallacy" and "phallus".
― i'm surprised to see your screwface at the door (NickB), Wednesday, 14 March 2018 23:45 (three months ago) Permalink
On Some days Puppet Dog is in the top 5 best songs ever list
― Duke, Friday, 16 March 2018 22:15 (three months ago) Permalink
By the way, the lyrics/credits booklet PDFs weren't included in the remastered Bandcamp downloads so I asked Frontier about them. They had been forgotten but have now been added. Redownload to get them.
― StanM, Sunday, 18 March 2018 07:22 (three months ago) Permalink
Remastered Moonhead LP arrived today - sounding great! I still wish they could 'remaster' a new drummer on these recordings but hey
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 22 March 2018 23:04 (three months ago) Permalink
Think I just got asked to pass this on from the guy who's upping the TWR sets to dime
a note to user nicknamed MaresNest over at a twr forumi am absolutely fine with you "wetransfering" the files for forum membersjust keep track with updates like the 1989-07-12 Vienna Austria U4 FM sound-upgrade from 2 days ago as the pool should stay as clean as possible
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 10 April 2018 23:01 (two months ago) Permalink
sorry can I delete that last post and repost an edited version.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 10 April 2018 23:03 (two months ago) Permalink
Thanks Steveolende, I will grab that next week and put it up for those that desire it.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 April 2018 21:07 (two months ago) Permalink
OK I thought I'd posted a name I possibly shouldn't have. So everything's ok then.
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 11 April 2018 21:55 (two months ago) Permalink
yes please! xpost :-)
― StanM, Friday, 20 April 2018 07:48 (two months ago) Permalink
Ah, thanks for the nudge Stan, here 'tis...
https://we.tl/koO86us0Fv
― MaresNest, Friday, 20 April 2018 09:56 (two months ago) Permalink
Thanks x 1000 again!
― StanM, Friday, 20 April 2018 10:14 (two months ago) Permalink