Powder

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Wot's that you say? You like the 60s? You like the hip new rock beats coming from England like the Who and The Pretty Things? Well my friend, if you haven't listened to Powder's CD of mostly 1968 demos you're in for a groovy treat.
Powder were actually from San Mateo, a small town near San Francisco, and just a few train stops from Redwood City where I work. I couldn't find much info about any tours or label support, but after the short lived band broke up, Thomas and Richard Frost backed Sonny & Cher for a tour, then recorded a bunch of great (but very produced and sugary) pop tunes that you can get re-released here for a reasonable price.
In any case, ignore the reviews that say that these songs are just Who knockoffs...there are a couple semi-blatant riffs sure, but these guys definitely knew how to write great songs. I think you'll dig it.

Visualize

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The Dentists

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The Dentists were a band from South Eastern England who formed in 1984, and released this amazing record just a year later. Pure jangle bliss, with plenty of 60s garage and psychedelia influences somewhat similar to The Soft Boys at their lighter moments or maybe '60s tunesmiths The Action. Well, whatever they really sound like, it's damned good and this could be the first, true "Brit-Pop" record. If you lik pop, prepare to listen to this for the rest of the day.

Powdered Lobster Fiasco

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Embryo

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It's been a while since I've posted, so I thought I'd better come back with something really good. So, here's one of my favorite krautrock/prog albums of all time. In fact, wikipedia calles them "one of the most important German Krautrock bands of the 1970s".

What do they sound like? Some of the guitar reminds me of Hawkwind, some of the bass lines remind me of Goblin and then there's the world beat element that's a little like Mandrill, while "Marimbaroos" verges on Martin Denny space rock. OK, that's not super accurate but they're a hard band to pin down. If any of what I mention strikes a nerve though, you'll want to take a listen.

also, did you know there's also a documentary about their 1979 bus tour throughout India? It's called Vagabond's Band. Here's a preview. If you don't watch it, you're an idiot!

Oktoberfest

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Stitch

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OK, so I grabbed this off another blog a while back but I can't think of a better "obscure" metal 7" to start October with than this...not that I really tried mind you.

Anyway, for fuck's sake check these guys out. They were a Swedish band but this single sounds really NWOBHM. The A side, "Devil's Deal" is catchy as hell and features some pretty amazing lyrics too.

NWOSHM

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