After an acrimonious break up, Spacemen 3 agreed to release one more LP. Primary band members Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) and J. Spaceman (Jason Pierce) recorded one album side each, without help from the other for their final LP, Recurring.
The band formed in the mid-1980s playing psychedelic/garage rock ’n’ roll inspired by the Velvet Underground, the Stooges, Bo Diddley, Suicide, MC5, 13th Floor Elevators, the Staple Singers, the Red Krayola and others. The band initially followed a mantra of “three chords good, two chords better, one chord best” and their first recording session was issued as the bootleg LP Taking Drugs To Make Music To Take Drugs To. It’s a good indicator of their early sound and inspiration.
By the time of Recurring, the band had evolved in skill and technique. Still, the LP is transitional. It’s a bridge from Spacemen 3 to their later bands: Spectrum (Kember) and Spiritualized (Pierce).
The three tracks below are from Pierce’s side of the LP. Kember’s side is fine. More than fine really, I like a two of the songs quite a bit. But his songs are a bit repetitive and go on far too long but that’s just my opinion. Pierce’s side of the LP hints at the things to come with Spiritualized (a fantastic band, one of my favorites — it’s hard to believe I’ve gone this long without a Spiritualized diary).
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‘Feel So Sad’ (Reprise) (1990)
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'Hypnotized' (1990)
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'Billy Whizz/Blue 1' (1990)
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WHO’S TALKING TO WHO?
Jimmy Kimmel: Ryan Seacrest, Yvonne Orji, Counting Crows
Jimmy Fallon: Tina Fey, Wyatt Cenac, Dayglow
Stephen Colbert: John Krasinski, Yo-Yo Ma
Seth Meyers: Rob McElhenney, Ryan O'Connell, Brian Frasier-Moore
James Corden: Hank Azaria, Sara Bareilles
Lilly Singh: Jay Shetty
Trevor Noah: Jeremy Lin
Conan O'Brien: Bill Burr
SPOILER WARNING
A late night gathering for non serious palaver that does not speak of that night’s show. Posting a spoiler will get you brollywhacked. You don’t want that to happen to you. It's a fate worse than a fate worse than death.
Originally intended for a split 7” single with Mudhoney where each band covered one of the other bands songs. Mudhoney covered ‘Revolution’ but changed the lyrics to be about methadone clinics, blackened spoons and morphine suppositories. Unsurprisingly, the Spacemen called off the split single.
This the only track on Recurring which Kember & Pierce played on together.
Watch out for the hyper compressed distorted guitars at 2:00 of the song (keep the volume in check or you may be surprised).
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'When Tomorrow Hits' (1990)
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LAST WEEK’S POLL: IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SUPER POWERS, WHICH WOULD IT BE?
Be invisible whenever you want 29% 7 votes
Superhuman strength 8% 2 votes
Talk to animals 29% 7 votes
Read minds 4% 1 vote
Be able to fly 17% 4 votes
Something else 13% 3 votes
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Shonen Knife ‘Top of the World (Live)’ (2012)
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YT comment: “Shittiest audience in the history of music.”
Japanese popsters. True, the audience sucks for the most part. The venue looks really cool though. Located in Bethlehem, PA.
Also — it’s Carpenters song!
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