Wrecker was practically my most favorite album of 1992.  I was already a garage fan since 1980 BUT was pleased when that album came out.  It updated the Back From the Grave sound.  Some say it had AC-DC sounding guitars. Maybe, but it didn't have the awful guitar solos.  It was just the perfect album at the right time.  I wish it had done for me what it did for you but I'm just happy that it's out there.  It still holds up.

Andrew Malcolm said:

I heard the "Nuggets" l.p. back in the mid 80's. Listened to it with headphones, stoned on the couch at a friends' house, and was blown away. I recognized some of these songs from the oldies station, but this album put them in a different context, and they came across far more raw and gritty. Shortly after, I bought the l.p. "Attack of the Jersey Teens" 60's Punk From the Garden State. Great, but I was too much of a hardcore punk rocker to be swayed over to the garage side at the time. It wasn't until '92, when I bought the Mono Men l.p. "Wrecker", that something clicked. The nude chick on the cover. The crashing dragster on the back. And that band photo; these guys were ugly, and looked like they meant business. I took it home, and listened to it at least 5 times in a row! After being disillusioned with punk scene for a few years, and not succumbing to the whole "hippie" thing that everyone was getting into, this album was a breath of fresh air. Grunge was great, but I needed something more. "Wrecker" was honest, straightforward, and simple. But at the same time it totally ROCKED OUT!!! This was the same sort of epiphany I had when I was young and heard my first hardcore punk rock ( a flexi disk from "Take It" magazine '81 featuring The Angry Samoans, Dead Kennedys, and Flipper). They were playing the music I needed to hear, but couldn't put my finger on. It was a gift from heaven. I never looked back, and now have an entire room with wall to wall shelves, housing my obsession. Garage Rock has gotten me laid, gotten me jobs, and I have traveled the world because of it. Anyone who says "Rock is Dead" need only turn his/her attention to Garage Rock! It will renew your faith in music... 'Nuff said!

I heard the "Nuggets" l.p. back in the mid 80's. Listened to it with headphones, stoned on the couch at a friends' house, and was blown away. I recognized some of these songs from the oldies station, but this album put them in a different context, and they came across far more raw and gritty. Shortly after, I bought the l.p. "Attack of the Jersey Teens" 60's Punk From the Garden State. Great, but I was too much of a hardcore punk rocker to be swayed over to the garage side at the time. It wasn't until '92, when I bought the Mono Men l.p. "Wrecker", that something clicked. The nude chick on the cover. The crashing dragster on the back. And that band photo; these guys were ugly, and looked like they meant business. I took it home, and listened to it at least 5 times in a row! After being disillusioned with punk scene for a few years, and not succumbing to the whole "hippie" thing that everyone was getting into, this album was a breath of fresh air. Grunge was great, but I needed something more. "Wrecker" was honest, straightforward, and simple. But at the same time it totally ROCKED OUT!!! This was the same sort of epiphany I had when I was young and heard my first hardcore punk rock ( a flexi disk from "Take It" magazine '81 featuring The Angry Samoans, Dead Kennedys, and Flipper). They were playing the music I needed to hear, but couldn't put my finger on. It was a gift from heaven. I never looked back, and now have an entire room with wall to wall shelves, housing my obsession. Garage Rock has gotten me laid, gotten me jobs, and I have traveled the world because of it. Anyone who says "Rock is Dead" need only turn his/her attention to Garage Rock! It will renew your faith in music... 'Nuff said!

Well, let's hope "Surfing Bird" will lead him into more garage-based rock 'n' roll! But be careful, if he digs it too much, he'll be swiping stuff from your personal collection!

Danny Bonaduce said:

The first album by the Stooges. I got the album as a birthday present from a friend, and I remember listening to the hand claps on No Fun, thinking that this is just perfect. I have noticed that many members on this thread has "Surfing Bird" as "their" record. That is just the perfect single, and just a couple of weeks ago, my hip hop loving son proclaimed - much to my surprise - that "Surfing Bird" was his favourite track..

The first album by the Stooges. I got the album as a birthday present from a friend, and I remember listening to the hand claps on No Fun, thinking that this is just perfect. I have noticed that many members on this thread has "Surfing Bird" as "their" record. That is just the perfect single, and just a couple of weeks ago, my hip hop loving son proclaimed - much to my surprise - that "Surfing Bird" was his favourite track..

Let it ALL hang out!

Rachel sounds NOTHING like Ruth Brown! Not even close! I personally can't stand the Detroit Cobras nor do I like her voice. Their choice of covers are great but I hate the way they do them. I prefer the originals and don't need to hear them butchered. As a R&B/Soul fanatic, they actually offend me a bit. The only good thing about them is that some people hear these hacks and then search out the originals. After hearing the originals, I don't know how anyone can fill their ears with this garbage ever again.

I'm a fan. Rachel Nagy sounds a lot like the legendary Ruth Brown, I'd like to hear her with a jazz group.

Got tix for Friday and Saturday nights, plus the Sonics gig @ Maxwell's. Should be tons o' fun.

Ok, I agree with what Kopper said, but I'm not biased on selling out music for commercial, I'm not generalizing. Simply I think this song is a crap as most as the last things he did. Black Angels recently did the same, but they still making good albums (IMHO). Everybody remember White Stripes Coke commercial, and noone can say that White, or Spencer are crap just for that, ignoring all the rest. I took the Blues Explosion for example, because it's a band that I really loved in the past, and not everyone knows that in Italy he collaborates with a shitty italian melodic singer called Eros Ramazzotti (one of the best italian sellers) in something beyond the imagination. In my sorrows I ask WHY?  ..and answer: ..shit never ends.

And BTW seeing a huge audience of TV zombies singing po popopopo popo (Seven Nation Army) didn't raised the cultural level around me.

Eros Ramazzotti featuring Jon Spencer:

kopper said:

I think it's kinda funny (ironic?) how some people I know really *cringe* or yell "sellout" when they hear a great song being used on a TV or radio commercial. It's almost as if they'd rather hear crappy music on them instead. I have no problem with it, for the most part because it means the artist is actually getting PAID for once (hurray for them!) and it means I get to hear a great tune on a commercial once in a while instead of some hip hop or Phil Collins bullshit. It also means that their music is being heard by a HUGE audience... and primarily an audience of TV zombies whose only other exposure to music of ANY kind is the crap they hear on commercial radio, in movies, or somehow convince themselves is good like the crap you hear on stupid shows like American Idol. But whether or not you like it or not is beside the point entirely, because it's up to the individual artist to determine what happens with their music. If they want to sell the rights to a marketing agency so it's used to sell shampoo or cars, then that's their right, and you HAVE to respect their right to do what they want with their music. Because it belongs to THEM, not to you. Just because you "heard it first" or love it so much that it changes your life doesn't mean you own it. Plus, you never really know how you would respond to an offer like that if the shoe was on the other foot.

End of rant. ;)

I think it's kinda funny (ironic?) how some people I know really *cringe* or yell "sellout" when they hear a great song being used on a TV or radio commercial. It's almost as if they'd rather hear crappy music on them instead. I have no problem with it, for the most part because it means the artist is actually getting PAID for once (hurray for them!) and it means I get to hear a great tune on a commercial once in a while instead of some hip hop or Phil Collins bullshit. It also means that their music is being heard by a HUGE audience... and primarily an audience of TV zombies whose only other exposure to music of ANY kind is the crap they hear on commercial radio, in movies, or somehow convince themselves is good like the crap you hear on stupid shows like American Idol. But whether or not you like it or not is beside the point entirely, because it's up to the individual artist to determine what happens with their music. If they want to sell the rights to a marketing agency so it's used to sell shampoo or cars, then that's their right, and you HAVE to respect their right to do what they want with their music. Because it belongs to THEM, not to you. Just because you "heard it first" or love it so much that it changes your life doesn't mean you own it. Plus, you never really know how you would respond to an offer like that if the shoe was on the other foot.

End of rant. ;)

I spacefd out downloading this week when you posted it. But I just did and it's great. Cool western-swing number.

"Spinning Wheel Motel" was released a couple of weeks ago, and I just got my copy today (Gregg told me to look for it at Paul's rather than Eides, because he's been blacklisted at Eides).  It's a really good CD, with a good balance of trashy garage songs and Byrds' inspired songs.  I would highly recommend it.

i like Destroy All Monsters,  they're different than almost everything else.  its cool to drive around listening to Paranoid of Blondes or You Cant Kill Kill.  They always make me want to pick up my guitar and make some kinda noise.

Adam, thought you might be interested in this web piece about Hank III HillBilly Joker LP, it mentions XXX Southern Independent.

http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/tag/hillbilly-joker

I have to agree with Planet Trash, both bands are great! And go check out OBN III's, they have two excellent 7"s out on Tic Tac Totally. And while you're at it, Black Gladiator put out some amazing punkshizzle; Vex Ruffin & the Lo-Fi Jerkheads, Electric Crush, Tunnel Of Love. just my 2 cents

Did anyone mention Loud Squirt and Traumahelikopter yet? Both from the Netherlands. Groningen (Grunnen) to be exact.

Loud Squirt are a very intense, high energy garage punk band with one single out so far. Website: http://loudsquirt.blogspot.com/

Traumahelikopter are a very cool garage rock band with two singles out so far: Website: http://traumahelikopter.tumblr.com/

Both bands have an excellent live rep. It's time the rest of the garage punk world gets to know these bands. Do yourself a favor and listen to these 2 bands.

Cowboys show here YEEHHAW

Indians show here HOW!

Hey Zorchman, thanks for responding!  Check out the Tricks and Tips discussion I started in this group!  It helps that my station is well established in my area and that my time slot (3-5 PM Saturdays) is so perfect.  I play every request I can, I use fun slang and talk real fast and act like a madman to get people to keep listening and to tune in again.  I've been on the air for something like 15 years now, so people know where to find me!  I won't be on the air this Saturday (the 31st) but I'll be on the week after.  See you on the radio!-Matt

I hope I get to tune into your show this week, Matt.  What kind of stuff do you do to keep people listening live?  Is it just the absence of recordings that force people to tune in live, or you got some tricks you'd like to share?  I found that ticket give-aways work really well, recently.

i actually picked up a copy of lovers, buggers and thieves from my library!!  a great and twisted read.... now meandering my way thru Guitar Army - John Sinclair... not so much garage as late 60s politix but interesting ride all the same

I LOVE that scrap built amp head!! How cool is that!!

hey donovan,

going to check out your music after i've read this topic. I also play in a 2 piece band, and would like to have a wider, more ballsy sound. I wonder, how do you get your signal from your main amp to your other amp?? I have a slave output on my amp, but that one sounds not too good.

thank you!

trashy regards,

Rens

Dan Donovan said:

I play through a fender deluxe/hot rod 40w 12 inch then take a line from pre-amp out into an old trace elliot 7 band graphic 15 inch. This gives me a fat dirty sound with loads of bottom end. We don't have a bass player and at live shows folks always say 'who's triggering the bass lines'. The answer is there's no bass lines being triggered it all comes from my guitar sound. I use no effects pedals, it's pure and simple. All our recordings are done with this set up, no overdubs just one performance. I play drop D tuning and set the graphic up real heavy on the Trace Elliot.

Hi I'm Cyrille, from Montmirail, France. I'm into Honky Tonk, Hellbilly Music, Rockabilly, Old-Time, Bluegrass, Mississippi Hillside Blues, Musique Cadienne et Zarico, Murder & Folks songs, to name a few. By the way, that's my first time in social networking, please be indulgent...

Very interesting indeed :):)

author scott schinder is working on bringing a book on garage rock into publication in late 2012. read below + if this sounds like a good project to you, you can support his effort over at kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/239488108/pushin-too-hard-american-garage-rock-in-the-1960s