Violent Femmes - Viva Wisconsin (1999)

Genre: Rock & Roll, Folk Punk
Origin: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Years Active: 1980-2009
Label: Beyond
Recording: The songs were recorded on a six-date acoustic concert tour of their home state of Wisconsin between October 25-31, 1998
File: 165 Mb (320kbps) Cd-Rip

Lineup:
Gordon Gano - Vocals, Guitar
Brian Ritchie - Bass, Vocals, shakuhachi, xylophone, soprano sax, harmonica, conch shell, theremin
Guy Hoffman - Drums, Vocals, bugle
Sigmund Snopek III - piano, oboe, flutes, bass clarinet
Ray Cribb - trombone, bass guitar
Mike Kock - Saxophone
Eric Markstrum - trombone
Shane Derstl - Trumpet
Producer - Dave Vartanian

Tracklist:
1. Prove My Love 2:54
2. I'm Nothing 2:28
3. Country Death Song 4:51
4. Blister In The Sun 2:32
5. Gimme The Car 5:45
6. Don't Talk About My Music 2:14
7. Confessions 7:33
8. Hallowed Ground 3:45
9. Life Is An Adventure 2:30
10. Old Mother Reagan :31
11. Ugly 2:55
12. Good Feeling 4:25
13. Dahmer Is Dead :53
14. American Music 4:03
15. Special 2:14
16. Sweet World Of Angels 5:18
17. Black Girls 4:31
18. Gone Daddy Gone 3:09
19. Add It Up 5:59
20. Kiss Off 4:31

Ok, here's one of my favorite live albums ever, this is the Violent Femmes in our home state of the land of cheese. These are all acoustic tracks and it seriously makes it that much better. The recording and production are pristine and the band is in top form. If you haven't thought about this band in years, now's your chance to relive some great memories, because most of the classics are here.
You were born too soon
I was born too late
But every time I look at that
Ugly lake it reminds me of me
It reminds me of me

Do you like American music
We like American music
I like American music baby

Viva Wisconsin

Nick Curran and The Nitelifes - Fixin' Your Head (1999)

Nick Curran describes his music as a cocktail consisting of the sounds of no less than seventeen widely differing musicians blended together with a cup of broken glass. That only begins to characterize the wallop packed by the 98-proof elixir of this singer, songwriter and monster guitarist who effortlessly carries the past with him as he blazes across the musical landscape in perpetual forward motion.

Nick Curran was born on Sept 30, 1977 in Biddeford, Maine, and grew up in nearby Sanford. He started playing drums when he was three, occasionally pounding the skins for his father’s rock ‘n’ roll band. However, when he received a guitar for Christmas at age nine he had found his instrument. He taught himself to play while following his father’s advice: “Listen to everything that you like and eventually you’ll find your own style within all your influences.”

Curran began accumulating his arsenal of influences early. “My mom and step-dad were listening to rock ‘n’ roll, my father listened to blues such as Freddy King, T-Bone Walker and B.B. King and my friends were into heavy metal.” Today, he cites his songwriting muses as Little Richard, Richie Valens, Chuck Berry and T-Bone Walker. The Ramones and The Misfits particularly inspire him to pen songs outside the box. He also looks to “the real raw, rough blues like Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker—guys singing about messed-up stuff and about falling apart at any second. I also like AC/DC, Hank Williams, Sr. and Gene Vincent.”

Curran began his professional career at age nineteen, leaving Maine to tour with Ronnie Dawson, “The Blonde Bomber.” Although Dawson was primarily a rockabilly musician, many blues and punk fans appreciated his performances. He taught Curran not to get pigeonholed. Curran toured next with Texas rockabilly doyenne Kim Lenz, moving to Dallas to join her backup band the Jaguars for two years, and performing on Lenz’s recording, The One And Only. Nick would stay with the Jaguars for two years. He is also featured on Lenz’s latest CD, It’s All True, and recently toured with her in the summer of 2009.

In 1999 the Texas Jamboree label issued Curran’s debut solo recording, Fixin' Your Head. As he would do on all future CDs, Curran used vintage recording equipment to achieve the feel and sound of old 45s and 78s, and the LPs of the 1950s. To support the recording he formed the band, Nick Curran and the Nitelifes, whose performances whipped audiences to frenzied devotion with their wild ride of retro, yet fresh and edgy rock ‘n’ roll, boogie, r & b, jump blues and a variety of other tasty stylistic devils in the details.

From 2004 to 2007 Curran played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds appearing on their 2005 recording, Painted On. Also during that time, Curran and bassist Ronnie James started the punk band Deguello, saying that it “sounded as if Little Richard sang with The Ramones.”

Curran performed four songs in a scene in the 2008 HBO Series "True Blood," based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, which explores the co-existence of humans and vampires.

1999 - Fixin' Your Head

Recorded live on August 24-26, 1999.

Personnel: Nick Curran (vocals, guitar); Jim Trimmier, TD "Murph" Motycka (saxophone); Matt Farrell (piano); Eric Matthew Przygocki (upright bass); Lisa Pankratz (drums).

Personnel: Nick Curran (guitar); Jim Trimmier (saxophone); Eric Matthew (upright bass); Lisa Pankratz (drums).

Track Listing:

1.  Women and Cadillacs
2.  Boogie With My Baby
3.  Just Love Me Baby
4.  I Want to Love You
5.  Good Rockin' Man
6.  Lonely Nights
7.  Loose Lip Mama
8.  It's My Life Baby
9.  She's Mine
10. Straighten Up
11. Do You Wanna Be My Baby?
12. I'm Waiting for Your Call
13. Get Rich Quick

A friend of mine told me to check this guy out a while back, when I finally did, it blew my mind.  This is some good stuff.  I felt like I was back in the 50's as soon as I pressed play.  I'm sure he's gained some notoriety since appearing on HBO's shitty depiction of Southern Louisiana known as "True Blood".  Even so, I'd say that this guy deserves it.  This album is definitely lots of fun to rock out to.  If any of you dig it, I have a few of his other releases as well.

Check out Nick and his new band The Lowlifes HERE


Start Rockin'

Hanoi Rocks - Two Steps from the Move (1984)

Genre: Rock n' Roll, Glam Rock
Origin: Helsinki, Finland
Years Active: 1979–1985, 2001–2009
File: 164 Mb (320kbps)

Lineup:
Michael Monroe – Lead Vocals & Saxophone
Andy McCoy – Lead Guitar & Vocals
Nasty Suicide – Guitars & Vocals
Sam Yaffa – Bass & Vocals
Razzle – Drums & Vocals

Tracklist:
1. Up Around The Bend 3:08
2. Highschool 3:52
3. I Can't Get It 4:13
4. Underwater World 5:17
5. Don't You Ever Leave Me 4:05
6. Million Miles Away 4:48
7. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams 4:03
8. Boiler 4:23
9. Futurama 3:08
10. Cutting Corners 4:18
Taken From Live LP "All Those Wasted Years":
11. Back To Mystery City 4:29
12. Motorvatin' 3:19
13. Until I Get You 4:28
14. Mental Beat 4:38
15. 11th Street Kids 4:20
16. Tragedy 3:45
17. Malibu Beach 2:39
Total Playing Time: 61:40

This is the last Hanoi Rocks album before their drummer was killed in a car accident caused by Mötley Crüe's portly yakmaster, Vince Neil. Yeah, that was sad but they left us with one of the greatest pure rock & roll albums... EVER! Fucking goddamn, is this ever great. This is one of those albums that you'll listen to for the rest of your life. Also as a bonus on this addition are some great live songs taken from "All Those Wasted Years" recorded at Marquee Club in London in December, 1983. This band pretty much invented Guns 'n Roses:
Welcome to the ocean,
Welcome to the sea,
Welcome to the jungle,
Deep inside of me
and you thought that was original.

Two Steps from the Move

D Generation - D Generation (1994)

Genre: Glam Punk, Rock & Roll
Origin: New York City
Lyrical Themes: Life on the Streets, Societal degeneration
File: 129 Mb (320kbps)

Lineup:
Jesse Malin - vocals
Richard Bacchus - guitar
Howie Pyro - bass
Danny Sage - guitar
Michael Wildwood - drums

1. No Way Out 3:59
2. Sins of America 3:40
3. Guitar Mafia 4:18
4. Feel Like Suicide 2:22
5. Waiting for the Next Big Parade 3:20
6. Falling 4:23
7. Wasted Years 2:53
8. Stealing Time 3:28
9. Ghosts 4:00
10. Frankie 2:55
11. Working on the Avenue 2:56
12. Vampire Nation 4:28
13. Degenerated 10:34
Total Playing time: 53:16

Here's one of my favorite glam albums ever! Holy crap was this band ever good and for some reason they never made it huge. But they left behind a couple really great albums and this is my favorite because although they re-recorded some of the songs for future releases, this one has the classics like "Guitar Mafia" and "Feel Like Suicide" that aren't available elsewhere. Damn, I can't recommend this one enough, so fucking good.
The Guitar Mafia baby
New York is driving me crazy
Jesus can't even find the truth!!!

D Generation

Mojo Nixon - Whereabouts Unknown (1995)

Genre: Rock & Roll, Rockabilly
Origin: Chapel Hill, NC
File: 99 Mb (320kbps)

The Players:
Mojo Nixon - vocals, guitar & foot stompin'
Pete "Wetdawg" Gordon - piano, organ & vocals
Will Rigby - drums, vocals & aim-a-flame
Scott Yoder - bass & d.b.m.
Simon Chardlet - guitar & insanity

Off The Bench:
Blackie Pagano - bass
Jay Serman-Godfrey - guitar
Joe Flood - fiddle, mandolin, guitar & vocals
Vibemeister Bonehead - very big guitar & high hick vocals
Jeremy Tepper - harmonica electric
Tom Heyman - guitar parts unknown
Jeremy Jacobsen - claps

1. Gotta Be Free 2:12
2. Not As Much As Football 3:58
3. Mr. Correct (Don' Tell Me What To Do) 3:58
4. Buck Up and Stop Your Whinin' 2:48
5. My Free Will Just Ain't Willin' 3:24
6. Girlfriend In A Coma 4:08
7. The Pleasurelegience 1:37
8. Don't Ask Me Why I Drink 4:08
9. My T.V. Is Watchin' Me 3:05
10. Take A Look In My Eyes 2:03
11. Tie My Pecker To My Leg 3:20
12. You Can't Kill Me 6:28
13. If I Can Dream 2:54

This is the funniest album of all-time and it's got some truly good songs to boot.
Me, your Momma and some other whore...
Floatin' down the river on a shithouse door
Gonna tie my pecker to my leg, to my leg...gonna tie my pecker to my leg

Whereabouts Unknown

Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts (1995)

Genre: Alternative Rock, Rock n' Roll
Recorded: 1994-1995 at New York City
Born: July 25, 1958 (1958-07-25) (age 51)
Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.
File: 154 Mb (320kbps)

Lineup:
Thurston Moore – bass, guitar, composer, vocals, producer
Additional musicians
Tim Foljahn – guitar
Steve Shelley – drums

Tracklist:
1. Queen Bee and Her Pals 2:57
2. Ono Soul 3:28
3. Psychic Hearts 3:59
4. Pretty Bad 3:58
5. Patti Smith Math Scratch 2:43
6. Blues From Beyond the Grave 4:35
7. See-Through Playmate 2:18
8. Hang Out 4:10
9. Feathers 2:20
10. Tranquilizer 2:06
11. Staring Statues 2:34
12. Cindy (Rotten Tanx)3:46
13. Cherry's Blues 2:05
14. Female Cop 5:24
15. Elegy For All the Dead Rock Stars 19:49
16. Teenage Buddhist Daydream (Bonus) 2:27
Total Playing time: 68:04

This is awesome, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore put out his first solo album in 1995 and it's a good one. 16 well thought out songs crafted by one of the most unique guitarists ever. Don't miss out on this one.

Psychic Hearts

The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash (Deluxe Edition 2008)

Genre: Punk rock, Rock n' Roll
Lyrical Themes: Partying, City Life
Origin: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Label: Twin/Tone Records
Recorded: Tracks 7 and 11: July 1980. All other tracks: March to June 1981
Status: Split-up
File: 144 Mb (320kbps)

Lineup:
Paul Westerberg - vocals, guitar, producer
Bob Stinson - guitar
Tommy Stinson - bass
Chris Mars - drums

All songs written by Paul Westerberg, except as indicated.
The album was remastered and reissued by Rhino Entertainment on April 22, 2008 with 13 additional tracks.

Tracklist:
1. Takin' a Ride – 2:23
2. Careless – 1:08
3. Customer – 1:29
4. Hangin' Downtown – 2:06
5. Kick Your Door Down – 3:11
6. Otto – 2:09
7. I Bought a Headache – 2:24
8. Rattlesnake (Chris Mars/Bob Stinson/Tommy Stinson/Paul Westerberg) – 1:48
9. I Hate Music (Chris Mars/Bob Stinson/Tommy Stinson/Paul Westerberg) – 1:50
10. Johnny's Gonna Die – 3:32
11. Shiftless When Idle – 2:18
12. More Cigarettes – 1:20
13. Don't Ask Why – 1:57
14. Somethin' to Dü – 1:41
15. I'm in Trouble – 2:10
16. Love You Till Friday – 1:53
17. Shutup – 1:23
18. Raised in the City – 1:59
Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
1. Raised in the City (demo) - 2:16
2. Shutup (demo)  - 1:39
3. Don't Turn Me Down (demo) - 1:54
4. Shape Up (demo) - 2:11
5. You Ain't Gotta Dance (demo) - 2:24
6. Get on the Stick (demo) - 1:39
7. Oh Baby (demo) - 1:18
8. Like You (outtake) - 1:44
9. Get Lost (outtake) - 2:27
10. A Toe Needs a Shoe (outtake) (Bob Stinson) - 2:09
11. Customer (alternate take) - 2:09
12. Basement Jam (rehearsal) (Chris Mars/Bob Stinson/Tommy Stinson/Paul Westerberg) - 3:32
13. If Only You Were Lonely - 2:53
Total Playing Time: 1:04:39

I can't really put into words exactly what the replacements mean to me, but looking back, they were my youth. I was lucky enough to see them live twice and they were pretty much the best band on earth for years when they first started out. They knew how to have fun and they especially knew how to rock the fuck out. This is their first album and this deluxe edition has a buttload of cool stuff from when they were basically a garage band. ESSENTIAL. And oh yeah... I'm gonna be helping out here posting some of my non-metal favorites because I already have my own metal blog but I know plenty of other stuff, so.... let's GIT ER DONE!!! or whatever they say in Weeziana

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash

Patti Smith Group - Easter (1978)

Birth name: Patricia Lee Smith
Also known as: Patti Smith Group
Born: December 30, 1946 (1946-12-30) (age 64)
Origin: New York City, New York
Genres: Protopunk, alternative rock
Years active: 1971–present

Personnel:
Patti Smith – vocals, guitar
Lenny Kaye – guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Jay Dee Daugherty – drums, percussion
Ivan Kral – bass guitar, vocals, guitar
Bruce Brody – keyboards, synthesizer

Additional personnel:
Richard Sohl – keyboards on "Space Monkey"
Allen Lanier – keyboards on "Space Monkey"
John Paul Fetta – bass on "Till Victory" & "Privilege"
Andi Ostrowe – percussion on "Ghost Dance"
Jim Maxwell – bagpipes on "Easter"
Tom Verlaine - arrangement on "We Three"
Todd Smith – head of crew

Track Listing:
1. Till Victory – 2:45
2. Space Monkey (Smith, Ivan Kral, Tom Verlaine) – 4:04
3. Because the Night (Smith, Bruce Springsteen) – 3:32
4. Ghost Dance – 4:40
5. Babelogue (Smith) – 1:25
6. Rock N Roll Nigger – 3:13
7. Privilege (Set Me Free) (Mel London, Mike Leander, Psalm 23) – 3:27
8. We Three (Smith) – 4:19
9. 25th Floor (Smith, Kral) – 4:01
10. High on Rebellion (Smith) – 2:37
11. Easter (Smith, Jay Dee Daugherty) – 6:15
12. Godspeed (Smith, Kral) – 6:09

Just take my word for it, this fucking rocks.

Easter

The Muffs - Blonder and Blonder (1995)

Genre: Pop Punk/Rock
Origin:Los Angeles, CA
Released: April 11, 1995
File: 77 Mb (320kbps)

Personnel:
Ronnie Barnett – Bass
Rob Cavallo – Producer
Neill King – Engineer
Roy McDonald – Drums
The Muffs – Producer
Kim Shattuck – Guitar, Vocals

1. Agony - 2:27
2. Oh Nina - 2:39
3. On and On - 1:45
4. Sad Tomorrow - 2:09
5. What You've Done - 1:57
6. Red Eyed Troll - 3:45
7. End it all - 1:49
8. Laying On A Bed Of Roses - 2:11
9. I Need A Face - 2:14
10. Won't Come Out To Play - 1:51
11. Funny Face - 3:20
12. Ethyl My Love - 2:39
13. I'm Confused - 3:41
14. Just A Game - 1:59

Ok, I admit I am a Muffs fanboy from way back and I just had to share this brilliant album with those of you who may have missed out the first time. There's not a remotely bad song on this album and Kim Shattuck is in top form with a beautifully tender and innocent vocal performance highlighted by her amazing screams. Goddamn I love this album. It's fine-tuned pop punk perfection.

Red Eyed Troll

The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground (1969)

Genre: Rock n' Roll

Origin: New York City, New York

96 MB, 320kbps

Lineup:

Lou Reed – lead and rhythm guitar, piano, lead vocals
Sterling Morrison – rhythm and lead guitar, chorus vocals on "The Murder Mystery", backing vocals
Maureen Tucker – percussion, lead vocals on "After Hours", chorus vocals on "The Murder Mystery", backing vocals
Doug Yule – bass guitar, organ, lead vocals on "Candy Says", verse vocals on "The Murder Mystery", backing vocals

*

1. Candy Says – 4:04
2. What Goes On – 4:55
3. Some Kinda Love – 4:03
4. Pale Blue Eyes – 5:41
5. Jesus – 3:24
6. Beginning to See the Light – 4:41
7. I'm Set Free – 4:08
8. That's the Story of My Life – 1:59
9. The Murder Mystery – 8:55
10. After Hours – 2:07

*

This is the Velvet Underground's 3rd full-length and was recorded after the departure of John Cale so the album is a lot less wacked out and experimental then the first two albums (except for "The Murder Mystery" which is the most insane thing ever). What is left is a soft and intimate masterpiece of rock n' roll and folk music. This album also contains a couple of my favorite VU tunes; "Pale Blue Eyes" and "After Hours".

*

Download

Lou Reed - NYC Man: The Ultimate Lou Reed Collection (2003)

Genre: Rock n' Roll
Recorded: 1966-2002
Origin: New York City
Songs chosen, sequenced and remastered by Lou Reed

CD 1
1. Who Am I (Tripitena's Song) - Alternate Take
2. Sweet Jane - The Velvet Underground
3. Rock & Roll - The Velvet Underground
4. I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground
5. White Light/White Heat - Live
6. Street Hassle; Waltzing Matilda / Street Hassle / Slipaway
7. Berlin
8. Caroline Says II
9. The Kids
10. Walk on the Wild Side
11. Kill Your Sons - Live
12. Vicious
13. The Blue Mask
14. I'll Be Your Mirror - Live
15. Magic and Loss - The Summantion
16. Ecstasy

CD 2
1. I Wanna Be Black - Live
2. Temporary Thing
3. Shooting Star
4. Legendary Hearts
5. Heroin - Live
6. Coney Island Baby
7. The Last Shot
8. The Bells
9. Perfect Day
10. Sally Can't Dance
11. Satellite of Love
12. NYC Man
13. Dirty Blvd.
14, Rock Minuet
15. Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground

Here it is, mostly solo Lou Reed songs picked out by the man himself. This is the cd to make you feel like a total bad ass walking down the city streets at night. This is the be all and end all of true New York City grit. Get this music and maybe become a little more heroic yourself. Some of Lou's solo albums have been a bit hit or miss so this compilation gets right to the good stuff and even throws in some essential VU classics. It's seriously a monster of a collection and i find it a good one to just always keep in my ipod.

CD1
CD2

Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers - L.A.M.F.: The Lost '77 Mixes (1994 released)

Genre: Punk, Rock-n-roll
Recorded: March 1977
Origin: New York

Lineup:
Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls)- vocals, lead guitar
Walter Lure - vocals, guitar
Billy Rath - bass
Jerry Nolan - drums, vocals

1. Born Too Loose (aka "Born to Lose")
2. Baby Talk
3. All By Myself (Walter Lure/Jerry Nolan)
4. I Wanna Be Loved
5. It's Not Enough
6. Chinese Rocks (Dee Dee Ramone/Richard Hell)
7. Get Off The Phone (Walter Lure/Jerry Nolan)
8. Pirate Love
9. One Track Mind (Walter Lure/Jerry Nolan)
I0. Love You
11. Goin' Steady
12. Let Go (Johnny Thunders/Jerry Nolan)
13. Can't Keep My Eyes On You (Walter Lure/Jerry Nolan)
14. Do You Love Me? (Berry Gordy, Jr.)

Johnny Thunders was the guitarist for the New York Dolls for their first two classic full lengths so you should know what to expect here. These tracks are gritty NYC punkish street rock and roll anthems from the late 70's. Damn, this stuff is great and if you are even vaguely a fan of the New York Rock/Punk scene, this is essential.

NYC

Lou Reed - The Phantom of Rock (1973)

Recorded Live from Alice Tully Hall, NYC (1/27/1973)

Lou Reed: vocals
Eddie Reynolds: guitar
Vinny LaPorta: guitar
Bobby Resigno: bass
Scottie Clarke: drums

01. White Light/White Heat
02. Wagon Wheel
03. I’m Waiting For The Man
04. Walk And Talk It
05. Sweet Jane
06. New Age
07. Vicious
08. I Can’t Stand It
09. Satellite Of Love
10. Heroin
11. I’m So Free
12. Walk On The Wild Side
13. Rock & Roll
14. Sister Ray

This is a crystal clear bootleg with a great setlist that combines classic VU with classic Reed solo work. It's definately a fun listen. I'm gonna be posting more live Lou Reed bootlegs but i figure this is a good place to start. This album is a lot more poppy and upbeat sounding than The Velvet Underground so you can be the judge whether that's a good thing or not.

Part 1
Part 2

The Velvet Underground - Wild Side Of the Streets (1969)

Label: Living Legend Records
Catalog#: LLRCD 057
Format: CD, Unofficial Release
Country: Italy
Released: 1990
Genre: Rock & Roll
Notes: Tracks 1-5: Live at Hilton Festival, New Hampshire, 8/2/1969. Track 6: Boston Tea Party 1969.

Sterling Morrison – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
Lou Reed – Vocals, rhythm and lead guitar
Maureen Tucker – percussion
Doug Yule – bass guitar, organ, backing vocals

1. Waiting For the Man 7:19
2. Run Run Run 10:36
3. Pale Blue Eyes 6:04
4. What Goes On 11:40
5. Heroin 6:59
6. Sister Ray 24:02

I am putting this bootleg cd on here mainly for the amazing jam of Sister Ray. This version goes on for about half an hour and pretty much destroys everything in it's path with intensity and unprecedented guitar playing. The vocals are a bit unclear but you will forget about all that when Lou goes to work. It's just a remarkable live recording. The other songs are all awe inspiring, too. Must Listen.

Download