:-) 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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
Totally love the "Yoo Doo Right" cover.
gygax! started a thread about it once.
― Steve Shasta, Friday, 1 August 2008 18:53 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
Gimme three steps toward the ghost-cow.
― contenderizer, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:09 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
see also:
http://www.myspace.com/acmerocketquartet
― nerve_pylon, Friday, 1 August 2008 21:37 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
<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 (fifteen years ago) link
erm... I mean this:
#1 on my "reunite for ATP" list.
― Chris Barrus (Elvis Telecom), Saturday, 28 March 2009 22:02 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
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 (fifteen years ago) link
― 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 (fifteen years ago) link
― Marco Damiani, Tuesday, 19 May 2009 09:26 (fourteen years ago) link
More people should cover TWR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4KDvgt3rcQ
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 03:40 (eleven years ago) link
Damn you Ned for a sec I thought this bump was for a reunion!
― Lewis Apparition (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:23 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
xpost -- alas
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 15:36 (eleven years ago) link
i'm surprised they haven't reuinted but maybe i'm not surprised by that after all
― akm, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:19 (eleven years ago) link
Maybe we can force them to, via Kickstarter
― Lewis Apparition (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 21:29 (eleven years ago) link
Man I love that footage of It's OK, it totally kicks butt.
― MaresNest, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:01 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtRRxU5vddg
― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:35 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qDCYIyIhLc
― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:41 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60B-TlpfIUg
― mod night at the oasis (NickB), Wednesday, 11 July 2012 22:46 (eleven years ago) link
There's a scorching tape from '88 up on D1m3adozen right now, recorded in Germany and it's EX quality. God damn, this band.
― MaresNest, Saturday, 18 May 2013 12:13 (ten years ago) link
ty for that, maresnest
― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:26 (ten years ago) link
― MaresNest, Sunday, March 29, 2009 3:57 AM (4 years ago)
tbh, i prefer the debut to moonhead, though they're both great. don't think they wrote a song as "disney girl" until "astronomy".
― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:27 (ten years ago) link
lol, a song as good as "disney girl", but either way yeah
― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:29 (ten years ago) link
When World's Collide was a great compi and also hangs together as both an lp and individual tracks. THink I also have a live set on my walkman.
The website of Kyser's lyrics was quite revelatory though I fear it is long gone. I'd tried to note down his lyics by listening line by line to a tape of lps and failed wholesale since his points of reference seem to be way outside my own, or at least twisted slightly askew.
Do wish there was more video footage of them around, though I've yet to see The One That Got Away, the cd of that gig is pretty great though.
― Stevolende, Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:37 (ten years ago) link
I'd tried to note down his lyics by listening line by line to a tape of lps and failed wholesale since his points of reference seem to be way outside my own, or at least twisted slightly askew.
yeah, i've done this too, though not with a tape. worked out a bunch, though several key tracks remain mysterious.
― controversial vegan pregnancy (contenderizer), Saturday, 18 May 2013 13:43 (ten years ago) link
XXXXP - Moonhead probably remains my favorite by virtue of it being the first TWR record I'd heard. I think I rewound Come Around like 6 times and sat boggle eyed at the ferocity of the vocals.
― MaresNest, Saturday, 18 May 2013 15:13 (ten years ago) link
i think "Take it Home" might be my favorite twr track now. I wish the already lengthy coda were ten times as long.
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 25 June 2013 21:46 (ten years ago) link
I wonder if I couldEnter suburban homesSay 'hi' to trusty dogsSoothe them with meaty bonesWander from room to roomMoonlight on every bedHaloes my chosen oneThe axis in her head
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 22:36 (ten years ago) link
the axis buried is a pivot in your headaround which buried things revolve thatmost people leave unsaidand it's probably a good idea'cause things could happen in your townthe police come by coincidence andfind it written down
― twerking for obvious reasons (contenderizer), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:15 (ten years ago) link
Well this thread caused 'Exploring the Axis' to get pulled out. Sounding great now... Guess Moonhead will be next.
― BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:27 (ten years ago) link
You could do a hella decent twilight zone style short story antho based just off the first album's lyrics
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:34 (ten years ago) link
I think Moonhead is, to my ears, the only TWR album that actually SOUNDS fantastic. Which is a heartbreaking shame to me bc every one of the albums is a masterpiece. Spanish Cave is like Raw Power levels of mixing wrongness and there is something abt the sound on Sack Full that drives me up the fuckin wall.
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:38 (ten years ago) link
Totally agree ... 'The One That Got Away' kinda makes up for any studio production mis-steps.
― BlackIronPrison, Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:40 (ten years ago) link
Like WTF is happening with the volume levels of the gtr on Triangle Song? What the hell is that? Some kind of noise gate keyed to the cymbals?
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:41 (ten years ago) link
Xpost otm. Best fucking double live ever.
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:42 (ten years ago) link
otm. they rarely if ever got the production/mix they deserved. someone's weird fondness for relentless, crashing snare hits amidst relative calm nearly wrecks a bunch of songs throughout their career. and yeah, moonhead sounds awesome, but i think i prefer the songs on exploring and sack full of silver. also strange to compare their fairly restrained studio albums to the devastating, almost metal-heavy live band documented on the one that got away (and elsewhere).
oh hell yeah (i am mr agreement). all the way through, really, from "disney girl" to "the ruby sea". strange tales.
― twerking for obvious reasons (contenderizer), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:52 (ten years ago) link
which is to say "hell yeah" some more
Anyone who has not read the interview with guy done for mondo 2000 in 1991 or so should google it up. Interviewer was Richard white.
― Thelema & Louise (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 9 July 2013 23:56 (ten years ago) link
Ooh I definitely don’t have that one
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Saturday, 28 May 2022 18:37 (one year ago) link
(I could have fixed the last three tracks' MP3 tags but anyway)
― StanM, Saturday, 28 May 2022 20:39 (one year ago) link
or flac tags, whatever they're called when it's flac
This one is new to me too - thanks!
― Elvis Telecom, Saturday, 28 May 2022 22:44 (one year ago) link
Amazing! Thanks
― Maresn3st, Saturday, 28 May 2022 23:12 (one year ago) link
the only thing is... RKCNDY opened in 1991. Doesn't keep me from enjoying the show but it bothers me.
― StanM, Sunday, 29 May 2022 10:46 (one year ago) link
okay - it was 9 November 1991 (found it on this taper's list - among some other stuff that must be out there (on cassette at least) - https://digilander.libero.it/anti4it/bootlegscdnz.html )
― StanM, Sunday, 29 May 2022 16:28 (one year ago) link
Set list makes more sense with that date
― covidsbundlertanze op. 6 (Jon not Jon), Sunday, 29 May 2022 19:21 (one year ago) link
Thanks for this StanM! Man I love TWR.
― Duke, Sunday, 29 May 2022 21:18 (one year ago) link
I'm just discovering this podcast has interviews with some interesting musicians. I listened to a 3 part thing with Gun Club drummer Terry Graham a few days ago and one with Stuart Moxham yesterdayThis one is with Roger Kunkel, not sure if it was upped here before since its from April last yearhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3O7WleGyOc1CgJee2IiMdr?si=61e5267c92f24b73
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 12:57 (one year ago) link
Thanks! while scrolling down to that one (I'm not on spotify) I noticed a lot of other interesting stuff on C86. Suicide with Martin Rev, Green On Red with Dan Stuart (and then a couple of weeks later with Chris Cacavas), Whipping Boy, The Seers,...
― StanM, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 16:09 (one year ago) link
I may have listened to that Martin Rev thing. I know I heard one on Martyn Ware's podcast recently.Can't remember what specifically turned me onto that C86 podcast
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 16:26 (one year ago) link
I think I was looking for the podcast Almost A Mirror, couldn't remember what it was called so started looking for the small groups scene in Melbourne or whatver the scene was actually called . Wound up with a show with Clare Moore of The Moodists turning up, got around to listening to it and maybe got an announcement about a new episode in the series appearing. But it is a very good series and goes back to 2018 and has some very interesting guests so glad I got to look through it. Don't think it has any more TWR but it does have a couple of Galaxie 500, Robin Crutchfieeld of Pere Ubu, Dark Day etc and a loa dof other interesting looking people who I may get to hear later. I still haven't listened to the last couple of Almost A Mirror episodes cos I keep losing temporary playlists
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 15 June 2022 16:55 (one year ago) link
They are no longer on Bandcamp. Glad I got those remasters while they were available
― Duke, Thursday, 5 January 2023 00:53 (one year ago) link
Ah. I'm mistaken. They're there under Frontier. Just not under TWR. Sorry...
― Duke, Thursday, 5 January 2023 00:55 (one year ago) link
Hey Stan/Jon and everyone, some new recordings gone up on D1m3, one a week before the last gig in Ghent, Wein 1990 & Munich 1988. All sound really solid, room for three more?
― MaresNest, Thursday, 5 January 2023 20:35 (one year ago) link
oooooooooh yes please
― StanM, Thursday, 5 January 2023 20:59 (one year ago) link
Cool, here 'tis - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bdtwra5fqn09oi8yn677s/h?dl=0&rlkey=rueyq1ierm4dy3ygxfqdx23wm
― MaresNest, Thursday, 5 January 2023 21:29 (one year ago) link
Thanks indeed!
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 5 January 2023 21:30 (one year ago) link
<3
― StanM, Thursday, 5 January 2023 22:43 (one year ago) link
No worries guys.
For fun, I downloaded that amazing Youtube footage of 'It's OK' from the last gig, matrixed the audio with the live album, pushed it around a bit to add a bit of low end, and made the guitars even more hellacious.
It's in the folder too, if you wanna have a look, just a pity the footage is fairly low quality.
― MaresNest, Thursday, 5 January 2023 23:40 (one year ago) link
<3 thanks so much MN!
― willem, Friday, 6 January 2023 11:13 (one year ago) link
great idea about that clip! thank you again!
― StanM, Friday, 6 January 2023 11:57 (one year ago) link
(Vienna is June 5th 1990 btw - I had uploaded the mp3s earlier but this is an upgrade)
― StanM, Friday, 6 January 2023 13:33 (one year ago) link
So here's an unjustly overlooked TWR obscurity. Quoting Skip King, whose longtime partner-now-husband ML Compton managed them:
While the band were touring in Italy their lead singer, Guy Kyser, was borrowed and utilized as the vocalist on a single track with a band named Avion Travel. The song, "On a Moonlit Night", was to be used as the theme song in the newest Lina Wertmüller film "In Una Notte di Chiaro di Luna" (AKA "Up to Date"). Starring Rutger Hauer, Nastassja Kinski and Lorraine Bracco, and featuring Faye Dunaway and Peter O'Toole, the film was released that year but was a huge flop internationally, and didn't even make it into cinemas in america, at least we don't think it did. To this day we've never seen the movie.Decades later ML was able to get an audio copy of the track, and I found and bought online a region 2 (Europe) DVD of the film. I don't have a multinational DVD player so it has sat on our shelf for very many years. Just now I threw it into my computer's DVD player, for a lark, and I found that I can view it! It's a terrible copy, obviously transferred from a VHS or perhaps filmed secretly in a movie theater with a camera (!!!). but I don't care. It is so eerie to have the DVD start up and immediately hear Guy's voice, the song used in the menu system. Then I started the film and there's the song again at the very beginning. And I fast forwarded to the end of the film and they used the same track during the closing credits. And here is Guy's credit. We didn't even know if Lina and company had credited Guy, until now.I finally saw this credit, 34 years later.Crazy.
Decades later ML was able to get an audio copy of the track, and I found and bought online a region 2 (Europe) DVD of the film. I don't have a multinational DVD player so it has sat on our shelf for very many years. Just now I threw it into my computer's DVD player, for a lark, and I found that I can view it! It's a terrible copy, obviously transferred from a VHS or perhaps filmed secretly in a movie theater with a camera (!!!). but I don't care.
It is so eerie to have the DVD start up and immediately hear Guy's voice, the song used in the menu system. Then I started the film and there's the song again at the very beginning. And I fast forwarded to the end of the film and they used the same track during the closing credits. And here is Guy's credit. We didn't even know if Lina and company had credited Guy, until now.
I finally saw this credit, 34 years later.
Crazy.
And here's the track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHqGlOHCtc
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 18 September 2023 19:38 (seven months ago) link