What records have freaked you out?

Joe_Stax

In a good way or bad.
I was thinking of my own first experience with the Velvet Underground, when a friend played Venus in Furs for me. It made me feel sick to my stomach, and I had to turn it off. A little later, I came back to it, and was hooked.
The same thing happened with the Dead Kennedys album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables back in high school. Man, that made me feel wrong! But then again, it's a record I still have in my collection. (And it's their best album in my opinion)
More recently, the first time I tried listening to the Black Monk Time album (shouldn't have used headphones!) it blew my tiny mind. All that ranting and raving was too intense. I walked away from that, and didn't pick it up for a couple of more years. Now, it's one of my all-time favorites.
These are the only ones I remember having a strong negative reaction to, which may be what makes them so memorable. And unlike a lot of things that I had a much milder reaction, I love all of these, and still listen to them.
On the other hand, I can remember getting my first Beatles 45 at a yard sale, and on hearing it, well it's like having the lights switched on. (It was the Twist & Shout single on Tollie, by the way). The world opened up.
How about yours?
_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

cosmikdebris · Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 23

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

Okay, well this is a GREAT question posed by Joe and brings many wonderful sonic moments to mind.
The first two items that jump to mind (because I discovered them during the same semester in college) are Pink Floyd's Ummagumma (studio album) and Kind Crimson's In The Court of the Crimson King. Both albums have a fascinating amalgamation of avant-garde experimentation, ambient & noise rock timbres, and hauntingly melodious tonal structures that make one wonder if the men in these groups knew something, something breathtakingly sinister that the rest of us could only ponder from a distance.
The next discovery that put me out of commission for quite a while was "The Murder Mystery" on side 2 of The Velvet Underground's self-titled third album. That one really speaks for itself! And of course, besides that one track, it's a fantastic album worthy of many, many repeat listenings.

And then there's THE RESIDENTS! I was first introduced to them by "Weasily Steve" down at the second-hand record shop in my college town. Once I heard "Six Things To A Cycle" I was H=O=O=KED=!
But the Residents album that has left the most scars on me is Not Available (sometimes called "Edweena"). I cannot & dare not try to explain further. The best thing you can do if you ever encounter this music is simply to NOT LISTEN! If you do, you may end up, like me, finding it so sickeningly wonderful that you may very rapidly loose your footing among the rest of the human race. Indeed, that album can do much more damage than a hundred viles full of LSD-25 ever could!

More recently (this past year) I discovered The debut album from The Red Crayola, The Parable of Arable Land (released in March of 1967) which flipped me in beautiful & perverse ways. It's been quite some time since I've heard an album that was so remarkably ahead of its time when it was recorded; In this case, DECADES ahead! If you dig psych & intelligent avant-garde rock, you will find this album a real treat. But be warned, it is not for the uninitiated!

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Joe_Stax · Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 1:59 am Post subject:

I picked up the one and only Zal Yanovsky single yesterday--"As Long As You're Here". The b-side is the song in reverse. This reminded me of one of the first records to ever give me the creeps.

It was probably when I was 5 or 6 years old. My sister Jo had a copy of Napoleon the XIV's single, "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haa!", and that always scared me as a little kid. Worse was when she'd flip over and play the song in reverse. Even creepier.

On an unrelated note, I had a "kiddie" record on the Peter Pan label about the Loch Ness Monster sung in this deep bass. Another one that warped my mind and curved my spine. And lost the war for the allies...
_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

Have you heard the record that Zal Yanovsky and Denny Doherty did together?
I've got the mp3, if you want me to send it your way.

Peace!

R.A.L.
_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

JimENight · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 183

Now, just what record are you refering to Art?
Not the Mugwumps stuff...?

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

It was a promo song for 7-11 that never got officially released. "The Slurp".
I'll slop...uh slurp.....awww hell. I'll e-mail this darn thing to ya! Laughing

Peace!

R.A.L.
_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Rockin'_Art_Lewis · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Gallup, NM.

Sent!

_________________
The Watusi.....The Twist.......Eldorado?

Joe_Stax · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:45 am Post subject:

Can't believe I didn't think of this sooner...almost anything I've heard by the Residents!

Years ago, Jim E. played me his copy of Fingerprince. I'd heard of the Residents, but to hear them...

I love the idea of the anonymous masked musicians, but boy, they're disturbing. Even their version of Double Shot gave me the creeps.

On the other hand, I do like Stars and Hank Forever!

_________________
One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.

Astrakhan · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 135 Location: nowhere, man

The Residents are a disturbing band, I agree.

I've been reading a book entitled Songs in the Key of Z, about "outsider" music. Do you think the Residents qualify as outsiders? They aren't featured, but there are "insider" musicians who do. Such as Syd Barrett and Captain Beefheart. Tiny Tim and Joe Meek are featured as well.

Given that these fellows have acheived a measure of mainstream success, could they be considered outsiders? Eccentrics, perhaps, but they were able to sustain something of a musical career.

Unlike the Shaggs and Lucia Pamela, say. But then there are those "outsiders" who seem to have some sort of career in a twilight world of their own. People such as Wild Man Fischer, Jandek, and Daniel Johnston.

It seems as though the Residents would fit in with these latter types.

Would anyone care to share their thoughts?