MATT SILCOCK TALKS ABOUT
HIS RECORD COLLECTION
(Sa-Sp) In
two months, Matt is moving to Chicago. The other night, to scale
down for the move and maybe even make a little cash, he sat
down to try and whittle down his record collection a little
bit. However, he just ended up talking about it instead...and
BLASTITUDE was there!
(Lydia Lunch's Hysterie is playing, 8 Eyed Spy side)
Hmm...yeah, this is the first time I've ever heard 8 Eyed Spy...it
would seem to be her more uh...mature phase. Kind of her Patti
Smith...her attempt to get some of that Patti Smith market.
Compared to Teenage Jesus anyway...and Beirut Slump. I'm not,
you know, I'm not a Lydia Lunch fan although Teenage Jesus really...there's
something really great about them. Something liberating.
Okay,
let's see...it's just so hard, like...Carlos Santana & Mahavishnu
John McLaughlin, I'm gonna save that because this is the second
time I've owned it. I got rid of it a long time ago, but then
I decided I wanted it again so I found it for a dollar like
I did the first time and...I'm gonna go ahead and keep that
one. It's good, I never play it, but it's good.
This Homage
to Satie album...I know I tried to get rid of it once but
just decided to keep it, I mean it's this library copy so it's
all defaced. I don't know, I mean, Satie's important...I love
this back cover. I think this back cover alone is the reason
I keep it. Good liner notes too. A lot of good history. Refers
to Francis Picabia, you know, I gotta...might as well keep that.
My classical shelf is so weak, I gotta take what I can get.
Sebadoh
III is one of my all time favorite albums...the last great
or even very good Sebadoh album, although Bakesale came
surprisingly close, long after I had stopped listening to 'em.
this one, the 4 Song CD, which I have on vinyl, and features...ten
songs, actually...hence the title...ha ha...this isn't quite
so essential, but I don't know, I'll probably keep it anyway.
It's pretty cool, it's a lot of outtakes, practice jams, demo
versions, things like that. Bakesale
outtakes, as a matter of fact.
Now here,
Stray Cats Built For Speed, I mean, you know, I've had...this
has sat in my collection for 4 or 5 years without getting played.
But I mean, you know, here they are on the back, all with their
shirts off, I mean they look great! I don't know, I really do
think it's a great album, that's the thing...I thought the Stray
Cats were stunningly good. I mean, "Rock This Town"
I don't care for, but do you know the song "Runaway Boys"?
I mean, that's a rocker. That's a good song. And "Stray
Cat Strut" I think is just glorious...but, you know, I
mean, do I want it, do I need it to sit there for another 5
years?
Okay, Never Mind the Bollocks stays...3 Ragas
by Ravi Shankar stays. That was my mom's album, that I inherited.
I've inherited a few albums from my mom...maybe a Janis Joplin
album or two. Shellac at Action Park...that's an album
I haven't played in years but I'll probably keep it. It's the
last Shellac album I cared about...but I guess I still do care
about it.
Archie Shepp
Things Have Got To Change is definitely a keeper. It's
funny, I heard that album in uh...stayin' in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
at this house where these two kids lived that were in bands,
just totally hip kids, and each of 'em had incredible record
collections, like in each of their respective bedrooms they
had these incredible all-vinyl LP collections. Like this one
kid had Sun Ra albums -- original Saturn label Sun Ra albums.
The first time I ever heard the Silver Apples was in that house.
And uh...but anyway, this other kid, I slept in his room once,
'cause he had like an extra couch up there...and...it was really
funny, all the kids in this house, they built lofts, like bunk
beds, in their closets. It was really strange. So you could
sleep like two people to a room but you would sleep inside the
closet. And actually I got to sleep inside the closet, in one
of these bunk beds. Yeah, it was really strange, these kids
built all kinds of...there was like, you know, seven people
living in a house that had maybe two bedrooms or something.
And it was just your typical art-punk shithole, you know, totally,
dirty dishes from seven months ago. You know, just crazy...but
uh, anyway, as we were going to bed this kid put on Things
Have Got To Change by Archie Shepp, and it just sounded
incredible, it just sounded like it was burning, just this holy
fire comin' from the stereo. Chris Heine can vouch for this,
he was in the closet too, in the other bunk, and he was just
as impressed. So I vowed that I would find that album and buy
it, and I looked for it and looked for it and I could never
find it. I finally saw it in Lawrence, Kansas for eighteen bucks
something like four years later and...I passed on it. Because,
you know, I'd kinda...I just figured "I don't need it anymore...eighteen
bucks..." You know, as much of a record collector as I
am I rarely spend more than say fifteen bucks on a used record.
But...actually, I don't know where I ended up buying it, 'cause
I didn't get it in Lawrence...I think I found it in Lincoln,
or maybe the Antiquarium, you know, some time after that, maybe
for a little cheaper.
This is
a cool record, Archie Shepp/Bill Dixon Consequences.
John Tchicai, Don Cherry, Sunny Murray...it's actually a split
LP. Yeah...it's not billed as such, but it is. Side One is Bill
Dixon, Side Two is Archie Shepp, separate bands, separate recording
dates. Archie Shepp with Sunny Murray on drums...released in
France...it was actually released by BYG, but it's not an Actuel.
It's all chewed up anyway...I'm sure it would be worth a lot
if it was in mint condition. But yeah, this is a great album.
I've always cherished that one. The Bill Dixon side is really
good. That's the side I kinda remember more.
Here's
Jim Shepard Picking Through The Wreckage With A Stick,
which is a pretty darn cool album. Of course, it's a sad story
with Jim Shepard, but...it's a beautiful cover. This is really
cool, this thing is actually literally like taped on the back
here, the credits here. But...it's a cool album, I really...the
aesthetic is what I like, "picking through the wreckage
with a stick." It's...he's talking about his brain, but
he's also talking about his, you know, his box full of recordings
that he's made of himself over the years, and just assembling
an album out of that. You know, it's really fun, it goes from
like something live at the Knitting Factory to something recorded
in his basement. You know, it goes from just him and a cello
player to him with a full band to him alone to whatever, you
know, it just goes all over the place. It's really my favorite
Jim Shepard thing I've heard. I haven't heard too much.
Shudder
to Think. Yeah, this is, uh, Funeral at the Movies. This
is my favorite Shudder to Think thing I've ever heard. The only
album of theirs I have. Matt Focht from Opium Taylor was really
into Shudder to Think so I heard a lot from him and...I always
tended to just sorta like but never really like them. There's
something about 'em that after 3 or 4 songs got kinda wearying
to me. But um, this one kinda stood above the pack, probably
because it's an EP so it only has 3 or 4 songs, but mainly because
of that cover of "Crosstown Traffic." I just think
it's beautiful. It's really great. Craig Wedren sounds so gay
on it. I mean that in a great way, I mean...it's like the most
queeny type thing, like I could see it being a gay anthem, you
know. Even "Crosstown Traffic," it seems like you
could, you know with those lyrics, you know, "You drive
all across my back" or whatever, I don't know. There's
something kinda bitchy about it, you know. But I don't think
Craig Wedren is gay, that's sorta the irony of it all. But...and
then the end, that "Ride That Sexy Horse" thing is
really cool too, it kinda goes into this psychedelic dream section
for awhile.
Sideshow
Eggplants and Sunspots. You know, I didn't even know
I had this on vinyl. I don't really remember buying this. But
this is a classic album of Lincoln rock. Probably wouldn't...you
know, this is something I'll keep forever. It's a good album.
And
here's their followup, Lip Read Confusion, released on
Flydaddy Records, a label that...they were an early signee to
that label, and the label quickly went on to sign no other bands
remotely like them, so they kinda got stranded. It's a pretty
interesting album, just...it's like prog-emo...cascading prog-emo
punk sorta sound, like a post-Dischord kinda sound. But that's,
you know...they were good. Paul Tisdale, the drummer, was really
fantastic. He was like the lead instrument in the band. The
bass and guitar did real sorta...more or less kinda minimalist
song-forms while Paul just freaked out. You know, playing like...like
he-was-constantly-playing-a-fill sorta rhythms...just rolling,
grooving drums.
Silver Jews
Starlite Walker. I hardly ever listen to this. It always
cracked me up how..this photo of Stephen Malkmus, it's like...the
least sexy photo of him I've ever seen, the way he has his hand
kinda touching his...his chest there....he looks very girlish.
And for once not in a good way. But...I guess this is a good
album. I've really only listened to it three or four times in
three or four years, it...it doesn't stick with me.
Siouxsie
and the Banshees The Peel Sessions. I would get rid of
this, but I really love that first song, "Hong Kong Garden."
I just think that's a classic of...it's a post-punk classic
is what it is. Umm, let's see...yeah I really can't get rid
of any of these albums, it's sad. Here's an early obscure Skullflower
12-inch...it's one of those I never figured out if it was 33
RPM or 45 RPM. To this day, I can't really tell which it's supposed
to be, even when I listen to it.
Here's
a funk album by Slave...I used to kinda collect early Seventies
funk albums. This one's good...the first song "Slide"
is kind of a classic. "Screw Your Wig On Tite," the
second song, is really good too. And of course I like the credits:
"Drac, lead and rhythm guitar, background vocals. Gemini.
Bimmy, alto and tenor sax. Aquarius." I like C.B.'s credit:
"Keyboards and ALL THINGS OFF THE WALL. Cancer." He's
holdin' a roll of bills in the picture. So you know, I mean,
it's fun for things like that. "WE WISH YOU ALL GOOD MUSIC
IN LIGHT YEARS TO COME. LIFE IS ONLY HERE FOR A MINUTE. SOON
WE'LL BE FREE, BUT UNTIL THEN WE'LL STRUGGLE. A UNIVERSAL THANG.
THE WORLD IS ON HARD." Wow. Not even quite sure what that
means.
Here's Slint
Spiderland. Definitely one of my favorite albums of all
time. Possibly one of the greatest band photos of all time too.
Sly and the Family Stone Fresh...I've never been too
big into this album, but it does have "If You Want Me To
Stay"..."Que Sera Sera"..."Babies Makin'
Babies." It's, you know, kinda scary. Smell & Quim
Stephen Hawking's Butt-Plug. That's an album I haven't
pulled out too many times, but I'll probably keep it. Expansions
by Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes. I really like
the title track, but I bought this at a thrift store for like
25 cents, and...it's in terrible condition, it's really practically
unlistenable, so I don't even really know what the rest of it
sounds like. I assumed it was just kind of another so-so album
until I heard the Beastie Boys rapping about it on, uh...Ill
Communication. I think I'll give this one more spin, but...like
I said, if it was in better condition, it would probably be
worth 50 bucks or something...since the Beastie Boys rapped
about it, it's gotta be worth somethin'...but this copy is still
only worth 25 cents.
Patti Smith
Horses. An album truly as great as its reputation. I'll
hopefully have that forever. Radio Ethiopia, I mean I
might as well keep that, although I don't think it's nearly
as good as Horses. There are some great songs on it.
"Poppies" -- is that what it's called? "Poppies"?
Yeah, "Poppies." That's one of my all-time favorite
Patti Smith songs. And of course, "Radio Ethiopia"
is pretty cool..."Abysynnia"...the rest of it just
kinda sounds a little too AOR-ish, a little too Fleetwood Mac-ish
or something.
Soft Machine
Third. Probably keep that one forever. Heard that on
KZUM radio once when I was still in college. I was still listening
to things like bad heavy metal and lots of Frank Zappa, and
I heard that on the radio and it impressed me so much I called
up and asked what it was. Um...Solid Jackson Record,
this is a great, great local album. They're from Omaha. Released
on Sing Eunuchs!, Simon Joyner's label. It's great stuff. I
don't really know what else to say...I thought of this album
just yesterday, the song "Sebadoh Record," which goes
"What is in that song?/I heard it on a Sebadoh record/Who
puts that in a song?/And what is it to do that?"
This
is, uh, Sonic Youth Kill Your Idols...the EP...I don't
have the Confusion is Sex reissue that tacks this on
the end, so it's worth keepin'...actually bought that from Chris
Heine while we were on tour. He needed money so bad that he
was tryin' to sell me records from his collection back home,
and he offered me that one for ten bucks so I took it. Gave
him the ten bucks there on the road so he could, I don't know,
buy a sandwich or something, and then he gave me the album when
we got home. We used to live pretty poorly out on the road.
Ciccone Youth...I really like that album, The Whitey Album.
Outside of its comedy value or whatever you wanna call it, I
think it's a really cool album. Kind of a proto trip hop album.
Master Dik by Sonic Youth...pretty fun...good screwin'
around...the whole "ladies and gentlemen, Sun Ra just walked
into the studio," that whole thing's kinda fun. God, I've
kinda got a pretty vast collection of Sonic Youth, you know,
12-inch singles. EPs...like the TV Shit EP. That's a
good one...for the artwork alone. The Made in USA soundtrack.
It's pretty cool, I like it. Washing Machine, one of
the most underrated of all Sonic Youth albums. That's the one
I've really been listening to the most lately, I think it's
fantastic. Not only does it have like "The Diamond Sea,"
you know, these sort of ultimate noise expressions, but there's
songs like "Panty Lines" on there that are just these
weird little no wave things. And then "Becuz" is just
this epic swirling sex song sung by Kim. A Thousand Leaves
is not nearly as good in my opinion, although...you know, I'm
a Sonic Youth slut, you know, I enjoy everything they play.
Here's the SYR EP's...kept up with those on vinyl for awhile,
then I stopped caring. Goodbye 20th Century, I'm like,
"I'm not getting that on vinyl, come on. I don't want this
big two record set." Plus, Sonic Youth albums don't work
as well on vinyl, 'cause they're all double record sets. You
have to get up and flip too often. So I've been getting 'em
on CD instead. The swirly artwork does look better on vinyl,
that's for sure.
Well, 8
Eyed Spy didn't do a whole lot for me. I still prefer Teenage
Jesus. I'm not really a Lydia Lunch fan. Orange by the
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Yeah, when I was in...when that
album came out it was kind of a must-have for people in my set.
And it really was kind of a definitive statement of some kind.
It's seemed to be something like the Beastie Boys ...I don't
know, it was sort of this sub-MTV New York cool aesthetic, and
it was just kind of nervy and exciting to listen to. But, again,
I haven't gotten it out for years. Jon Spencer is MTV now, whether
he's on it or not. But I'll keep this, it's a nice edition,
it's like this silver-colored vinyl. Really amazing colored
vinyl. Yeah, it turned out none of my friends seemed to have
the silver vinyl edition, so I was kind of envied for that.
It might be worth something.
Here's
Space Needle, from the dubious Zero Hour label. I like that
band. I like that album. I don't listen to it too much, but
they had some nice Flaming Lips-style noise pop. Um...Spacemen
3 Playing With Fire...I'm gonna listen to that tonight.
Been meaning to listen to that. Oh here's...I bought Now
I Got Worry, the followup to Orange, by Jon Spencer.
It was misfiled there. Definitely the last Jon Spencer album
I'll ever buy...I can promise you that. But there's some good
stuff on it. Look at the guy, he puts a picture of just himself
on the cover. I guess his name is in the band. Look at that.
Just himself on the back too. What a putz. I'm not a fan of
Jon Spencer, I just think he's a dork. I saw him on Italian
TV playing with Boss Hog, and it was one of the worst things
I've ever seen. He looked really bored, doing his standard Jon
Spencer backup vocals, and he looked like he had makeup on.
Not like glam makeup either, just like normal TV makeup to make
him look not quite as old as he actually is or some--[tape runs
out]
