There should be a thread on M+N about The Oblivians, and all the off shoots. Now there is.
Jack Oblivian's new album is out this month on Sympathy For The Record Industry. Here's what the label had to say:
JACK O AND THE TENNESSEE TEARJERKERS - FLIPSIDE KID
"This new cd was inspired by drunken fans telling ol' Jack-O that his 'So Low' cd (Sympathy) is the best thing he had done on his own. Hmmm.....Recorded at the bottom of a bottle with the finest Scully and Teac tape machines, the cd features name brand musicians such as Margaret Garrett, Jimbo Mathis, King Louie Bankston, Mark Sultan, & Harlan T. Bobo. A number of tracks have Jack playing most instruments himself. The songs included are diverse in styles but wear the same hat --- a black fedora. The opening track 'Flipside Kid' is a mid-tempo heavy fuzz riff layered with a Mar-key's like horn section that leads straight into a spaghetti western run on 'Til the money Runs Out'. Displaying his knack for story-telling, Jack-o takes you for a long stroll in a dark alley with 'Nick the Knife' while in 'Hong Kong Girl' a mail order bride makes a run for it to the sound of a funky Bobby Womack wah-wah with a back-pak full of Iggyishness. Paying homage to an American folk hero, 'John Holmes Blues' is full of true-to-heart weirdness. 'Dirty Nails', with its scratchy touch of zydeco, adds a spicy flavor to this eclectic soup. Holy cow shit Batman I'm giving the whole thing away here. Other tunes 'Night Owl', a New Orleans standard by Bobby Loveless, is an up-beat feel good dance R&B number with lyrics that sound like a domestic dispute. 'Black Boots' is a tune about, well... some boots. The inside of the CD case has a pile of photos to look at, so buy it from Sympathy and support the back bone of Rock and Roll.
you knows I loves you, Big Al Chilliwack"
- Flipside Kid
- 'Til The Money Runs Out
- Dirty Nails
- Golden Age
- Nick the Knife
- Hong Kong Girl
- Chills And Fever
- Black Boots
- I Live for Today
- John Holmes Blues
- The Man Who Loved Couch Dancing (instrumental)
- I Can't Find My Way Back Home
- Night Owl
- I Want You
Listen to 4 of the new songs here:
Sounds shithot in my ears!
I can't wait to get this. I love both his solo records, particularly "So Low" (as you're only too aware, Ubu), and the first Tearjerkers record, "Bad Mood Rising" is fine garage twang.
The Jack Oblivian Band played a set at the recent Gonerfest 3. You can download a few songs from that on this thread.
could you say the Compusive Gamblers are related
Considering they comprise two thirds of the Oblivians, that's about as related as related can be.
goodness
Yes you could, and you should, and you should buy everything you can get your hands on....if you like it, that is.
"Compulsive Gamblers - Crystal Gazing, Luck Amazing" is my pick, others might disagree.
i have never heard the oblivians but i think i might like them
what album should i get?
Hmm, I would like to pose a question. Has Greg Cartwright or Jack Yarber ever released anything substandard? Maybe it would be easier to suggest to people what to avoid, rather than what to buy.
"Soul Food" is a good start, Bugsy.
I don't think Soul Food is the best place to start. It sounds..... different. Is there a comp of those early singles/EPs?
The only thing I can think of that people are in two minds about is Greg Oblivian & The Tip Tops, which is his home recorded bong noodling record. But then that has the original version of "Bad Man" complete with Glockenspiel which appeared before the Oblivians' version, so it's worth SOMETHING, right?
"Soul Food" is the comp of early singles, ?.
sympathy sessions!
popular favourites!
I like pretty much most of what I've heard Jack and Greg record , though I really can't stand the first Reigning Sound record.
me likey. me likey a lot.
i like what i've heard which admittedly is only what daisyb and mabo have played me
i like reigning sound a lot
I like Reigning Sound a lot too, but don't you think their first record was terrible?
Not that it really matters
"Break Up Break Down" is my least favourite of Greg's. Although I don't think you can call it "terrible" by any means. It's just an extension of what Compulsive Gamblers did with "Two Thieves" on Crystal Gazing. Personally I would like to hear a down right country album with Greg....that would be ace.
yeah, I guess 'terrible' is a bit strong
ah fk that's right. it's been a while. those 10"s are good though.
Yup, that's the Sympathy Sessions stuff. I think there's some extra songs on the CD but I wouldn't know 'cos Oblivians on CD seems so ardently gay. I wonder what the "different" stuff you're thinking of is, maybe the gospel album?
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I'm keen to hear what they come up with. The song they put out last year (or the year before?) was actually pretty good.
Jack's latest album is kinda crappy.
I haven't heard anything of his since The Flipside Kid. Missed Disco Outlaw. Is that the latest or is there something since then?
This one came out last year. Called Rat City.
What's his best solo work? Have to admit, i'm not that familiar with it.
I didn't mind Rat City... but then again I liked a lot of Iggy Pop's 80s solo work which it was pretty much a straight lift of. Saw him live and it didn't translate so well but was still a lot of fun.
It was too slick for my liking. No fuzz. Doing some of the things Reining Sound do, but not as well.
Spoonful Of Seedy Dudes LP rules.
Love Eric O.
this is about the only piece of music news in ages that has piqued my interest. look forward to hearing the output. It's an important time for me
I'd start with So Low, then go to American Slang. They're his first two.
i'm not that excited. reigning sound's a better band.
You crazy, man.
the Parting Gifts album is great too
heres some footage I shot at Gonerfest
Did you like Love and Curses? I thought it was adequate at best. Game over for those guys for me. I'll hang on to the second and third albums.
Gotta say, I enjoy Reigning Sound's albums more than the Oblivians albums... but the Oblivians 7''s are untouchable. Blew my cool, Strong come on, Kick your ass 7''s are so so good.
I was unaware of it until just yesterday but Reigning Sound did an album for Scion last year.
It's called Abdication and you can download it here
Lots of organ and a re-record of Watching My Baby.
yeah love and curses is real good. i dunno it's a bit silly to compare em i guess, i'm just happy with what greg was already doing, so. and reunions have just never really done it for me. maybe this one will, we'll see
new jack vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9EyekHDrHI
Watch them live at Gonerfest in about 20 here!
Oblivians streaming live this Sunday arvo somewhere between 2 & 5pm our time - live from Memphis at
http://www.rocketscienceaudio.com/stream
sadly the last show for the Hi Tone
Very sad indeed.
Hope they find a suitably sized place for all the Gonerfest nights.
listen to a new song