"Noooo-body dooooes it bet-ter..." It's true, can't think of a conventional rock & roll combo who will evarrr top the Cramps live. And it's nice to see a band in an interview who refuses to trash-talk about bands they've played with. A class act.

John Battles said:

THERE WERE DEFINITELY SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE GRUELING FIVE YEARS WE HAD TO WAIT FOR  THE CRAMPS TO PRODUCE A THIRD ALBUM , AND , WHILE I THOUGHT THE "SMELL OF FEMALE" EP CONTAINED SOME OF THEIR BEST MATERIAL TO DATE , I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE CRAMPS EVER DID A BAD ALBUM .SOME WERE BETTER THAN OTHERS , BUT , "A DATE WITH ELVIS" AND "STAY SICK !", IN PARTICULAR , CARRIED ON IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS BEFORE  , THOUGH  WITH MORE HUMOR AND BETTER PLAYING , IN GENERAL. THE CRAMPS REJECTED THE PSYCHOBILLY MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND , WHO , IN TURN , REJECTED THE CRAMPS.    IT'S TRUE , THEY GOT INTO MORE JACKED - UP ROCKABILLY TEMPOS ON LATER ALBUMS , BUT , I WOULD'NT SAY WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS COMPARABLE TO THE METEORS OR DEMENTED ARE GO , AND DEFINITELY THE MORE METAL - BACKBONED , VIRTUALLY FREE OF 'BILLY INFLUENCE , "PSYCHO" BANDS OUT THERE , NOW.    THE CLOSEST THING TO A BAD ALBUM , I THINK , WAS "LOOK , MOM , NO HEAD !" , AND THAT WAS MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS OVERPRODUCED , AND THE LATTER DAY VERSION OF THE BAND HAD'NT BEEN GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO REALLY BECOME A BAND. JIM SCLAVUNOS WAS ALREADY GONE BY THE TIME THEY WENT OUT ON TOUR IN SUPPORT OF THE ALBUM. NICKY BEAT , WHO DID THE TOUR , IS A FINE DRUMMER , BUT , HARRY DRUMDINI MADE MORE SENSE AS THE DRUMMER FOR THE CRAMPS.   TO BE FAIR , PEOPLE LIKE NICK , BRYAN , AND KID DID'NT JUST SHOW UP AT THE DECIDEDLY LOW - KEY LUX AND IVY'S DOORSTEP (OK . KID THREW A ROCK IN THEIR WINDOW TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.) , PARTICULARLY NOT AFTER THEY MOVED TO L.A.     BUT , THEIR STRENGTH WAS ALWAYS THEIR LIVE SHOW , AND , AFTER WAITING NINE YEARS TO SEE THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME , I WAS GLAD THAT I STILL HAD MANY MORE CHANCES TO SEE THEM AGAIN. WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THE EARLIER VERSIONS OF THE GROUP , BUT ,  THEY ALWAYS MADE AN ASS OF VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR CONTEMPORARIES AS A LIVE ACT.

 
Spencer said:

As much as I love them, I'd argue that the Cramps really took a nosedive after Smell of Female. At least to me, that's where they began to lose their "sound" and started to move closer to a typical psychobilly style.

THERE WERE DEFINITELY SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE GRUELING FIVE YEARS WE HAD TO WAIT FOR  THE CRAMPS TO PRODUCE A THIRD ALBUM , AND , WHILE I THOUGHT THE "SMELL OF FEMALE" EP CONTAINED SOME OF THEIR BEST MATERIAL TO DATE , I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE CRAMPS EVER DID A BAD ALBUM .SOME WERE BETTER THAN OTHERS , BUT , "A DATE WITH ELVIS" AND "STAY SICK !", IN PARTICULAR , CARRIED ON IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS BEFORE  , THOUGH  WITH MORE HUMOR AND BETTER PLAYING , IN GENERAL. THE CRAMPS REJECTED THE PSYCHOBILLY MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND , WHO , IN TURN , REJECTED THE CRAMPS.    IT'S TRUE , THEY GOT INTO MORE JACKED - UP ROCKABILLY TEMPOS ON LATER ALBUMS , BUT , I WOULD'NT SAY WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH WAS COMPARABLE TO THE METEORS OR DEMENTED ARE GO , AND DEFINITELY THE MORE METAL - BACKBONED , VIRTUALLY FREE OF 'BILLY INFLUENCE , "PSYCHO" BANDS OUT THERE , NOW.    THE CLOSEST THING TO A BAD ALBUM , I THINK , WAS "LOOK , MOM , NO HEAD !" , AND THAT WAS MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS OVERPRODUCED , AND THE LATTER DAY VERSION OF THE BAND HAD'NT BEEN GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO REALLY BECOME A BAND. JIM SCLAVUNOS WAS ALREADY GONE BY THE TIME THEY WENT OUT ON TOUR IN SUPPORT OF THE ALBUM. NICKY BEAT , WHO DID THE TOUR , IS A FINE DRUMMER , BUT , HARRY DRUMDINI MADE MORE SENSE AS THE DRUMMER FOR THE CRAMPS.   TO BE FAIR , PEOPLE LIKE NICK , BRYAN , AND KID DID'NT JUST SHOW UP AT THE DECIDEDLY LOW - KEY LUX AND IVY'S DOORSTEP (OK . KID THREW A ROCK IN THEIR WINDOW TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.) , PARTICULARLY NOT AFTER THEY MOVED TO L.A.     BUT , THEIR STRENGTH WAS ALWAYS THEIR LIVE SHOW , AND , AFTER WAITING NINE YEARS TO SEE THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME , I WAS GLAD THAT I STILL HAD MANY MORE CHANCES TO SEE THEM AGAIN. WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THE EARLIER VERSIONS OF THE GROUP , BUT ,  THEY ALWAYS MADE AN ASS OF VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR CONTEMPORARIES AS A LIVE ACT.

 
Spencer said:

As much as I love them, I'd argue that the Cramps really took a nosedive after Smell of Female. At least to me, that's where they began to lose their "sound" and started to move closer to a typical psychobilly style.

It's one of the better tracks on that comp , and , this is just my opinion , you can take it with a grain of salt , that is'nt saying much. I'm not a fan of Barton's , but I thought their duet of "Starry Eyes" , in a better world , could have been a hit.

The recent "Sonic Cathedral" Roky tribute album had one outstanding track , and it's by ROKY !! I traded my copy back in , already. I mean if you love drum machines and slow - moving covers of your favorite Roky/Elevators songs , this might be for you. I know Sonic Boom is a big fan , but , I only ever had a passing interest in Spacemen 3 , and that was almost 25 years ago.
 
swt said:

My favorite Roky cover is LuAnne Barton's "Don't Slander Me." She's a Texas blues singer who later did a duet with Roky on "Starry Eyes."

Alison said:

Well, I just listened to the R.E.M. version of "I Walked with a Zombie" on youtube for the first time.  I think it sucks, but I rarely enjoy R.E.M. cover songs.  Also, I think derangement should be a prerequisite for singing any Roky song.

It's almost anathema to admit it, but in the early 80s, if you were lookin' for new music, R.E.M woulda been one of the groups you'd listen to. I even saw 'em live (reckoning, not bad, but). Nothing topped the Chronic Town/Murmur sound, but they changed mebbe a li'l bit too fast. I like yr quote that's in here, somewhere, John, from Rev. Horton Heat. After Murmur, everyone wanted to sound like them (if not jangle-y, then the rootsy-ness of Reckoning [ever notice from 84-87 how many folks did the Born In The USA bit? Ugh!])

John Battles said:

To be fair , REM , for me, jumped the shark after their first album. I admit , this is like an intervention , but , I liked the "Chronic Town" EP and the "Murmur " LP , but , that was 30 years ago.....They seemed different when they first came out.
Stipe's unintelligible drone was novel.  For a short time.

 
John Battles said:

That was early REM ? How many millions of albums had they sold when that appeared on the well - intentioned , but vastly disappointing, "When The Pyramid Meets The Eye".?...I guess it was right around that time that REM went from being huge in our eyes , to HUGE in the eyes of the whole goddamn universe , that early 90's turning point for them......I thought it was fair , I guess. I could probably name four or five tracks on that comp that I'd say were very good. I thought ZZ Tops' "Reverberation" was the best , and I have'nt been a ZZ Top fan since the late 70's.
 
IDON MINE said:

What did you all think of REMs version of Roky's "I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE"? I know, it's one of their earlier ones, but you know, it never hurts ta ask.

John Battles said:

Thank You !!!!! I always liked what Jim Heat (Horton Heat) said , "I liked REM , until they became a GENRE".  They were getting carbon - copied by 85 - 85 like Nirvana was by the early '90S.
 
Alison said:

Well thank god R.E.M. finally broke up.... dudes jumped the shark years ago, and now Peter Buck is finally unleashed...

My favorite Roky cover is LuAnne Barton's "Don't Slander Me." She's a Texas blues singer who later did a duet with Roky on "Starry Eyes."

Alison said:

Well, I just listened to the R.E.M. version of "I Walked with a Zombie" on youtube for the first time.  I think it sucks, but I rarely enjoy R.E.M. cover songs.  Also, I think derangement should be a prerequisite for singing any Roky song.

I HATED REM's Roky cover! Stipe doing that stupid pseudo Boris Karloff voice. I reviewed that Roky tribute album for the paper. There were some good covers on it, but REM's was the worst. 

IDON MINE said:

What did you all think of REMs version of Roky's "I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE"? I know, it's one of their earlier ones, but you know, it never hurts ta ask.

John Battles said:

Thank You !!!!! I always liked what Jim Heat (Horton Heat) said , "I liked REM , until they became a GENRE".  They were getting carbon - copied by 85 - 85 like Nirvana was by the early '90S.
 
Alison said:

Well thank god R.E.M. finally broke up.... dudes jumped the shark years ago, and now Peter Buck is finally unleashed...

As much as I love them, I'd argue that the Cramps really took a nosedive after Smell of Female. At least to me, that's where they began to lose their "sound" and started to move closer to a typical psychobilly style.

To be fair , REM , for me, jumped the shark after their first album. I admit , this is like an intervention , but , I liked the "Chronic Town" EP and the "Murmur " LP , but , that was 30 years ago.....They seemed different when they first came out.
Stipe's unintelligible drone was novel.  For a short time.

 
John Battles said:

That was early REM ? How many millions of albums had they sold when that appeared on the well - intentioned , but vastly disappointing, "When The Pyramid Meets The Eye".?...I guess it was right around that time that REM went from being huge in our eyes , to HUGE in the eyes of the whole goddamn universe , that early 90's turning point for them......I thought it was fair , I guess. I could probably name four or five tracks on that comp that I'd say were very good. I thought ZZ Tops' "Reverberation" was the best , and I have'nt been a ZZ Top fan since the late 70's.
 
IDON MINE said:

What did you all think of REMs version of Roky's "I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE"? I know, it's one of their earlier ones, but you know, it never hurts ta ask.

John Battles said:

Thank You !!!!! I always liked what Jim Heat (Horton Heat) said , "I liked REM , until they became a GENRE".  They were getting carbon - copied by 85 - 85 like Nirvana was by the early '90S.
 
Alison said:

Well thank god R.E.M. finally broke up.... dudes jumped the shark years ago, and now Peter Buck is finally unleashed...

Thanks for that Alice Bag tip, didn't even know it existed!

As for Who material, the concept stuff is genius, but only gets played by me about once a year. The gold for me is, well, the MeatyBeaty stuff basically, plus the R&B stuff and odd bits like Silas Stingy (love Baroque Pop). And of course Quadrophenia is too cool, but Tommy put me off even as a kid.

John Battles said:

No , I have'nt. Heard it was good. i read about 100 pages of Keef'S BOOK , LOST IT , THEN , ONLY RECENTLY FOUND ANOTHER COPY. I'm not good with 400 page books. Took months to get thru Alice Bag's book , and it's very good.            

I think it may have been part of their set in the UK for a short while but probably wasn't here.

John Battles said:

Think you've got something there with that medley idea , Rockin' Rod. "Call Me Lightning" ALWAYS GOT SWEPT UNDER THE RUG , even tho' it was a lesser US hit. I doubt it was ever in their live set , but , WHO NOSE , I MEAN , KNOWS?

Oh, I know it's both real and tongue-in-cheek, but, like ya said, "the sheer hilariousness of such a statement is a reflection of a Rock ego". Who else would remake Suicide's 'Cheree' and make it sound as good?

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND , This is Question Mark talking......Question Mark wrote the book on attitude , and Iggy read it until it was dog - eared. I think "?" admires Iggy , but , the sheer hilariousness of such a statement is a reflection of a Rock ego , comparable to Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis , that's part and parcel of the all - around entertainer. You have to love it.

Iggy. Ain't. Got. No. Attitude. Does-not-compute. Bzzzzt [reset]

"The musical imagination is the only thing that knows no bounds. Unless you're talking about art , paintings and stuff...." Joey Ramone.

"Punk Rock just means wanting to see the system change. Elvis did it in the 50's." Sky Saxon.

"When I did "Girl (You Captivate Me)" , I changed the words to "Girl , You MASTURBATE Me " , because everyone was havin' love songs , and life is a little more REAL than that. When I did "Loose" by The Stooges , I changed it from "I'm burnin' to you , straight from Hell" to "I'm FUCKIN' to you , straight from Hell." , bacause , you got to give it that ATTITUDE , and Iggy ain't got no attitude !!!". Question Mark.

" Sam Lay , from The Butterfield Blues Band , was the first person I looked up when I moved to Chicago. He taught me how to play the drums." Iggy Pop.

" I LIKED the kid , but , I never gave him a lesson in my life !" Sam Lay.

"We tried to find John Lennon and get him back into the scene. I mean , what the fuck is Lennon doing , farming cows in Upstate New York?!"   Keith Richard.

Greg lost his mind!!!  Listen to the December 9th Show here: http://cjamlog1.cjam.ca/mp3dirnew/381-The_Trip-20121209-0030-t1355013000.mp3

The setlist:
gert wilden- i told you not to cry
barret strong- yes no, maybe so

I was a little disappointed with the new Oh Sees. I saw them live for the first time this year (on a bill with The Gories and Kid Congo Powers) and liked them a lot. But Putrifiers has too many slow ones for my tastes. I like Carrion Crawler/The Dream better.

Ty Segall was great on Letterman a few weeks ago:

I'm working on my own list for the paper. Will post it here when I'm done.

Alison said:

I'll be a dork and make a list:

1.  Ty Segall - Twins

2.  King Tuff - S/T

3.  Boomgates - Double Natural

4.  JC Satan - Faraway Land

5.  Ty Segall - Slaughterhouse

6.  Tiger! Tiger! - Cut Them Where They Bleed

7.  Digital Leather - Modern Problems

8.  Thee Oh Sees  - Putrifiers II

9.  Mind Spiders - Meltdown

10.  Ty Segall & White Fence - Hair

11.  Radar Eyes - S/T

12.  Subsonics - In the Black Spot

13.  Liminanas - Crystal Anis

14.  OBN IIIs. - S/T

15.  UV Race - Racism

2012 is the year of Ty Segall!! Best label: In the Red. Best State: California.  Best Country: Australia.  Best Videos: King Tuff.  Best Cover Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico by Castle Face and Friends. Best Blog: Get Bent!.  Worst Break Up: Bare Wires.  Most Overrated: The Men - Open Your Heart Lp. Biggest Disappointment: Gentleman Jesse - Leaving Atlanta Lp.  Biggest Weirdos: Goat.  Worst news: Norton Records Flood.  Best/Saddest Film: Better Than Something Jay Reatard. Most "punk" band: Pussy Riot.  Best Garage Fashion item: Pork Shop Buttons.  Most Anticipated Album Release: the Oblivians. Best Comic: Neil Hamburger. Best TV: BRGR TV.  Best Radio: Garage Punk Pirate Radio!!!

 

I'll be a dork and make a list:

1.  Ty Segall - Twins

2.  King Tuff - S/T

3.  Boomgates - Double Natural

4.  JC Satan - Faraway Land

5.  Ty Segall - Slaughterhouse

6.  Tiger! Tiger! - Cut Them Where They Bleed

7.  Digital Leather - Modern Problems

8.  Thee Oh Sees  - Putrifiers II

9.  Mind Spiders - Meltdown

10.  Ty Segall & White Fence - Hair

11.  Radar Eyes - S/T

12.  Subsonics - In the Black Spot

13.  Liminanas - Crystal Anis

14.  OBN IIIs. - S/T

15.  UV Race - Racism

2012 is the year of Ty Segall!! Best label: In the Red. Best State: California.  Best Country: Australia.  Best Videos: King Tuff.  Best Cover Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico by Castle Face and Friends. Best Blog: Get Bent!.  Worst Break Up: Bare Wires.  Most Overrated: The Men - Open Your Heart Lp. Biggest Disappointment: Gentleman Jesse - Leaving Atlanta Lp.  Biggest Weirdos: Goat.  Worst news: Norton Records Flood.  Best/Saddest Film: Better Than Something Jay Reatard. Most "punk" band: Pussy Riot.  Best Garage Fashion item: Pork Shop Buttons.  Most Anticipated Album Release: the Oblivians. Best Comic: Neil Hamburger. Best TV: BRGR TV.  Best Radio: Garage Punk Pirate Radio!!!

Yes!

Last Night said:

JC SATAN -  Farewell Land 

http://teenagemenopause.bandcamp.com/album/faraway-land

Not bad! I'm surprised though, like others said, this sounds better than they used to in the last decade(s) or so.

-----

Disclaimer (who cares): I have to say the Sonics are my Rolling Stones, I like how they aged. Though I wonder how it would have been for them, if they turned as rich as the Stones and not be forgotten by the mainstream.

I have ignored their output (RS) for the longest time. I don't know, their overblown image in the late 80s to 90s was just too present to me. Jagger this, Richards that, Ron and his wood, yada yada... stadium rock, "who did they screw/what did they snort" evening news reports, bleh. And while I love what they did and their place in forming "modern" RNR, what they became to stay alive in said period was exactly what I didn't wanna be and have in "my" RNR: Washed up post hippies that live to see a new day of free drugs and be a danger in the eyes of the bored everyman.

You see, I have yet to build up a openess for them again. But it's not on my hot list... ;)

Well, I don't think I have a "productive" opinion on the Stones to give here, haha.

Hi,

For me there's nothing like "the aztex - said move", this was THIS 1st song who brought me down to find how many bands like them did have that sound, that powerfull feeling you get when you spin that record on and on, because it never cease to amaze you :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeUrVRpzoJA

Second, also maybe from the BFTG era, comes "just too much - she gaves me time", raunchy wild tune i can't stop still listening :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7LQDkAFXs

And recently, a more R&B one I just found AMAZING, from 1969, is that tune from "32nd turn off - used to be a tiger" :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh7hwlWf2II

and last one, i promise, recently bought that Knave's LP repro from Sundazed, "the knaves - leave me alone", RAUNCHY tune ! :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDCXWsOCw6U

well, that's just my thoughts

Hi there,

Big stoner fan here, bought many LPs from EL PARAISO Record Label(http://elparaisorecords.com), last one was "Papir - Stundum" LP, with great long heavy tracks.

Also, found out lately a very very nice band with a really great sound, they're called "All Them Witches", you can find their bandcamp here : http://allthemwitches.bandcamp.com/album/our-mother-electricity, i recommend you to listen "Right Hand".

shutdown 66 - (losing) traction !!! (2.08, sorry it's just a little bit longer than 2 ! :D)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUdqhjjep4

brutal knights - terrible evenings !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VySao4yjlbQ

Circle Jerks- Operation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3clM4kPBr8

Still regret missing out on a Dex Romweber and Tav Falco double header a couple months ago in Atlanta.