Alternative Rock Nostalgia Buzz

Bin of Rock: Mary’s Danish If ever there was a band that was cursed with bad luck, it would’ve been Mary’s Danish. Formed in L.A. in 1987, the six piece rock band with two female vocalists immediately started grabbing attention for their genre-bending sound. Managing to mix in funk, soul, rock, blues and punk together in a tasty little dish, the band began attracting major label attention. Having a guitarist, Louis Gutierrez from The Three O’Clock and friends in the Red Hot Chili Peppers didn’t hurt either. Soon the band had signed a deal with Chameleon Records, a subsidiary of Elektra Records. They soon entered the studio and began working on their debut album; There Goes the Wondertruck was released in the fall of 1989 and the band immediately exploded on alternative radio with “Don’t Crash the Car Tonight.” The band were enjoying the fruits of their labor and everything seemed to be paying off for them. But they were soon stuck in a quandary that also struck Dramarama; they were on ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘60s: Love Love is one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. Not only were they one of the first rock bands led by a black man, but they were also one of the first signed to a major label and one of the first to dabble in psychedelia. Arthur Lee and his cohorts had many highs and lows throughout the decade, including one of the decade’s most influential records, 1967’s Forever Changes . But by the end of the decade, the band was struggling, torn apart by rampant drug use and infighting. After a massive shift which saw Arthur replace everyone in the band, Love returned in 1969 with Four Sail . The band may have been down by this point but Arthur was more than willing to prove that they weren’t out. The best song on Four Sail as well as possibly one of the best songs of the band’s career, “Always See Your Face” starts out slow and melodic before Arthur comes in with the aching, pleading lines “Won’t somebody please, help me with my misery” before the res...

The Ass Ponys were one of the strangest bands to come out in the '90s. Full of songs about people carving 'I Love Bob' into their arms and boys thinking about having their peckers sucked by a guy who only wants a cigarette under a bridge are not normally things you'd hear on the radio. But by God they pulled it off with 1994's memorable "Little Bastard." Life was not very kind to the band in the next few years with lineup shifts, closing labels and the whatnot and ultimately, the band disbanded in 2003. Their legacy exists in the eyes of the those who were there. Chuck has started an excellent new band, Wussy, who just their third record. Mr. Cleaver took some time out to answer some questions and here they are. When did the band get started? Late 1988, early '89...our first show was in Newport, KY at a now defunct club called The Tophat. We made $15.00 cash. What happened with Dan, I remember reading that he left to become a glassblower or something?...

Forgotten Album of the Month: House of Freaks When Richmond, Virginia’s own House of Freaks emerged in 1987 with their blend of drums, guitar and vocals with no bass, it was seen as a different kind of rock music for a different kind of audience. With the release of 1988’s Monkey on a Chain Gang, the band set themselves apart from the rest of the pack with their introspective lyrics and musical approach. The voice of Bryan Harvey is one that is hard to forget, especially with the dynamic drumming of Johnny Hott behind him. From the start of the record, with the double whammy of “Crack in the Sidewalk” and “40 Years,” the lyrics just hit you and won’t let up. “40 Years” in particular is incredibly introspective with its remembrances of the 40th anniversary of WWII as well as time lost and won. When one listens to the music, it’s hard to believe it was created by only two men; “Lonesome Graveyard” stands out in this instance with Bryan’s guitar staccatos all over the place and Johnny’s ...

Forgotten Songs of the ‘70s: Nilsson When Harry Nilsson released Nilsson Schmilsson in 1970, the world was immediately hooked. The success of the Badfinger cover “Without You” broke Nilsson worldwide. But that wasn’t all that the record had to offer. Buried among the first side is “The Moonbeam Song,” one of the most gorgeous, understated ballads ever recorded up until that time. Set against the sparest of accompaniment, Nilsson’s vocals are at their softest and most beautiful. The lyrics, when heard again and again continue to raise the spirits of anyone who hears them. Among the most interesting lyrics heard in the song is the immortal line “And on a fence with bits of crap around its bottom.” Lines like this stick with you and never leave. The words are just so beautifully stated that you will find yourself humming along to the song every time you see a moon. With the success of “Without You” and “Everybody’s Talkin’” the song was bound to be lost to the ages. But luckily, it was u...