Digging Up BonesThe Seeds
(1966 – Gnp Crescendo)
If, as the hipsters say, you’re “into” lyrics, then you won’t like what’s going on here. The pangs of love (unrequited, unfaithful, and unfulfilling) have seldom been more uninteresting. Unless, of course, you happen to be a tortured teen prowling the midway at a county fair.
If, on the other hand, you consider lyrics annoying and better offered with guttural nonchalance and pernicious whinnies, then this “platter” (as the hipsters say) just might blow your junk off.
After doing time in the pillowy trenches of doo-wop, Sky Saxon (lead vocals, bass) joined Rick Andrige (drums), Jan Savage (guitar), Jeremy Levine (guitar), and Daryl Hooper (keys) to form the band in 1965.
By 1966 The Seeds had released this full frontal flip-out. Snatches of surf guitar, heavy distortion on both guitar and keys, and manic beats that accidentally morph into brief, polyrhythmic explosions make for big fun in garageland. Bonuses include the blaring harmonica, the pushy tambourine, the bottleneck guitar, and the occasional Tarzan-on-pot backing vocal. But nothing tops Daryl Hooper’s saloon piano, which sounds as if Hooper himself dragged it out of the saloon, beat it senseless, and threw it down a hole.
Sky Saxon died last Thursday June 25th in Austin. He was 63 or 71, depending on which report you read.
JH
(1966 – Gnp Crescendo)
If, as the hipsters say, you’re “into” lyrics, then you won’t like what’s going on here. The pangs of love (unrequited, unfaithful, and unfulfilling) have seldom been more uninteresting. Unless, of course, you happen to be a tortured teen prowling the midway at a county fair.
If, on the other hand, you consider lyrics annoying and better offered with guttural nonchalance and pernicious whinnies, then this “platter” (as the hipsters say) just might blow your junk off.
After doing time in the pillowy trenches of doo-wop, Sky Saxon (lead vocals, bass) joined Rick Andrige (drums), Jan Savage (guitar), Jeremy Levine (guitar), and Daryl Hooper (keys) to form the band in 1965.
By 1966 The Seeds had released this full frontal flip-out. Snatches of surf guitar, heavy distortion on both guitar and keys, and manic beats that accidentally morph into brief, polyrhythmic explosions make for big fun in garageland. Bonuses include the blaring harmonica, the pushy tambourine, the bottleneck guitar, and the occasional Tarzan-on-pot backing vocal. But nothing tops Daryl Hooper’s saloon piano, which sounds as if Hooper himself dragged it out of the saloon, beat it senseless, and threw it down a hole.
Sky Saxon died last Thursday June 25th in Austin. He was 63 or 71, depending on which report you read.
JH
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