well, for proper finger positions "tab books" may or may not help. it's hurky lurky. hit or miss. but, it's worth a shot looking into tabs - even on the net. maybe check into guitar pro. it's a music program that has tabs and you can follow it through. you will know when somebody doesn't tab something right. but there's variations of different tabs so you gotta filter through them. another idea is to have a friend who can show you a couple of things or just by going to shows and watching people and maybe approaching them and ask a few questions... croatoa said:

mmm, 5 watts seems too small...i'll try to find how expensive is a deville in italy (where i live)...

i...yes, i know how it sounds a garage band...but sometimes i have strange doubts about some kind of power chords or the right way to the positions for the solos (and how to create them)...but maybe it's only a matter of time and listening to...

do you still have the book?is there a miracolous possibility of a pdf somewhere in the web?

For solos try finding a book on traditional blues scales or 50's R'n'R this will will help a lot, I learnt guitar from a book called Traditional American folk music written in the early 60's, most of the music was from 30's to the late 40's, it helped to understand the roots of rock'n'roll, remember most garage bands started off playing a mix of 50's R'n'R and blues, then developed thier own sound out of that, good luck..... croatoa said:

mmm, 5 watts seems too small...i'll try to find how expensive is a deville in italy (where i live)...

i...yes, i know how it sounds a garage band...but sometimes i have strange doubts about some kind of power chords or the right way to the positions for the solos (and how to create them)...but maybe it's only a matter of time and listening to...

mmm, 5 watts seems too small...i'll try to find how expensive is a deville in italy (where i live)...

i...yes, i know how it sounds a garage band...but sometimes i have strange doubts about some kind of power chords or the right way to the positions for the solos (and how to create them)...but maybe it's only a matter of time and listening to...

Yeah but croatoa aint asking what records he needs to listen to, so its kinda pointless to tell him to listen to kinks records. He's aksing how to achieve that sound, I guessing he's already familiar with how a garage guitar sounds, he wants to know the method in which you get that sound. I suppose listening to Link Wary will help understand how simple raw guitar sounds can work really well. but you need to get your own style of playing, one that suits you, starting off with simple blues scales and style can really help get you head around it...... just a thought.....
Oh yeah croatoa, the Deville aint particulary cheap, if you are after a cheap amp with a raw sound, fender make a 5watt amp similar to the old blues amps of the 50's, when you crank em up on full they got a great sound, and they are cheap, $200 or something like that, they aint loud though

I cannot speak for Gringo but I would say you are absolutely right in as far as Village Green being a wonderful record. but and also, Croatoa was asking about "garage punk" guitar playing. Village Green is swinging away from that Kinks garage sound and more into different territory ala Pet Sounds perhaps(?) jailbird said:

What about Village Green Preservation Society? Thats probably my fave Kinks album...
Gringo Starr said:

<

These Kinks records are an absolute MUST:

Kinks - 1964 (first LP) - Pye
Kinda Kinks - 1965 - Pye
The Kinks Kontroversy - 1965 - Pye
Face To Face - 1966 - Pye

...And have a listen to Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley while yer at it. Have fun!

What about Village Green Preservation Society? Thats probably my fave Kinks album... Gringo Starr said:

<

These Kinks records are an absolute MUST:

Kinks - 1964 (first LP) - Pye
Kinda Kinks - 1965 - Pye
The Kinks Kontroversy - 1965 - Pye
Face To Face - 1966 - Pye

...And have a listen to Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley while yer at it. Have fun!

Just keep doing what you are doing. I love being introduced to old tunes I haven't heard before and that's what I like about Garage Punk!

Lemme know what you'd like to hear and I'll see what I can do. No promises.

Dr Know - Bad Brains
Sir Henry Fiat - HFOS

Let my say three words that sum up this entire release: FOREST RAY COLSEN Why review an entire album, when one song rules my fucken world. I don't care when this album came out, I don't give a flying fuck what label it is on. Collector scum stats mean diddly squat. Just listen to this song. Then listen to it again and again. Great lyrics, scorching guitars and a chick plays drums! Listen to the song, then Youtube the fucker - If that doesn't sell you on this band, then get the hell out of town, cos this is garage punk at its finest and you are not fit to breath the same air as the Hex Dispensers The Oblivians did it it with "And Then I Fucked Her", The Cosmic Psychos with "Pub" and the Hex Dispensers do it with Forest Ray Colsen, and that is write a song that epitimizes an entire album. Alex Cuervo has been in some other fine bands such as Black Top and King Sound Quartet, and the other three members also have fine pedigrees, but this album manages to leave everything else in the shade. No mere piece of kiddie punk, this is clever and engaging music for grown ups. You know the only bad thing about the Hex Dispensers is they are in Texas and I am in Australia. By the way the other nine tracks are just as good.

yeah, kopp. notice how i didn't answer the question? kopper said:

There's no way in hell I could ever just pick one album. It's these types of questions that can honestly drive a man insane.

Hell, the battery life on my ipod nanny only goes a day or two anyways. Or do we get docking stations too in this scenario cause if not I'd just get blind drunk and build a ship from the empties.

There's no way in hell I could ever just pick one album. It's these types of questions that can honestly drive a man insane.

Okay. You know the cliched "desert Island record" scenario verbatum.
Yer shipwrecked or maybe holding down the last bit of earth uncomprimised by an end of the world
zombie takeover.

You were able to escape with a blowup doll guy or girl or both for you full on freaks.
You also managed to have an unlimited supply of Maker's Mark and PBR.
That's the main reason you are all alone. "Fuck people bring the Booze!!"
You also were able to bring with you your lovely musical slave, the i-POD.
One catch...
Your i-pod seems to have a glitch. A major one.
All of your records seem to be deleting in a frantic weepy haze of fear and deep down agony.
Then you notice you can only choose one record to save.
I don't know - this is make believe.
Maybe you Macguyver some B.S. together.
a bannana and stick of chewing gum and a monkey with a strike anywhere match seem
to work...

So, what record. Now, only one. Which one would you save?

What the hell. These also were published in my Santa Fe New Mexican column a couple of weeks ago. Not all are garagepunk. But like dumfuk, The Dirtbombs topped my list.

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
January 2, 2009

What does it say about a year in music in which two of my top 10 CDs are retrospectives and one of them is a reworking of old songs?

What can you do? I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em. Here’s my favorite albums of 2008.
Top 10 albums of the year

* We Have You Surrounded by The Dirtbombs. Apocalyptic paranoia reigns here. On nearly every song, singer/guitarist Mick Collins seems to be looking over his shoulder and not liking what he sees. Civilization is decaying, burning. The future’s so dim Collins can barely wear his shades. The end is near, and everyone’s out to wreck his flow.


The Dirtbombs are one of the many Detroit bands of the 1990s that didn’t become famous when The White Stripes rose. (But don’t call his group a “garage band,” or Collins will twist your head off and eat your children.) With a lineup that includes two bassists and two drummers, Collins pays vocal tribute to the soul greats of his hometown’s past.


* The Supreme Genius of King Khan & The Shrines. This is a full-fledged psychedelic soul band, complete with horn section led by a Canadian guitar picker of East Indian heritage who lives in Germany. You’ll hear punk and garage rock influences in Khan’s grooves, even a flicker of speed metal. But make no mistake, this album — the band’s first proper U.S. release, consisting of material released on previous European albums — has soul!


* I Have Fun Everywhere I Go by Mike Edison & Rocket Train Delta Science Arkestra. Here’s a journalist after my own heart, a writer, editor, and/or publisher for a rich array of publications — Screw magazine, High Times, and Wrestling’s Main Event. This album is a hilarious companion piece to Edison’s autobiography, also published last year. It’s a spoken-word record, with Edison reading from the book over hard-driving psychedelic/techno/blues backdrops produced by Jon Spencer.

* Recovery by Loudon Wainwright III. Wainwright looks back at his oldest material here with the help of producer Joe Henry. Most of these tunes are like old friends to me — including the song “Old Friend.” Nearly all of the tunes have held up extremely well over the past four decades. Wainwright infuses them only with a tangible wistfulness but also with an earned wisdom.

* Venus on Earth by Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever isn’t just a fun band with a unique sound, retro and innovative at the same time. Nope. this The Southern California pyschedelic/garage/lounge/worldbeat group fronted by Cambodia-born singer Chhom Nimol, represents a sweet, symbolic triumph of freedom over totalitarianism; of rock ’n’ roll over the killing fields; of sex, joy, fast cars, and loud guitars over the forces of gloom and repression. Dengue’s music revives the upbeat, urgent, sometimes shamelessly cheesy brand of rock that flourished in Cambodia before the evil Khmer Rouge wiped it out in the late ‘70s.

* The Golden Hour by Firewater. Recorded in India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Israel, this record, the latest project of former Cop Shoot Cop frontman Tod A, has an international rock sound influenced by the music of those nations as well as Balkan music and even some Latin and Caribbean styles. The album has the feel of a political exile’s diary, angry, melancholic, and above all, rockin’.

* Bar Band Americanus by Charlie Pickett And. Why would be interested in an obscure Florida bar band, a group that rose in the early ’80s and then sputtered to a stop well before the end of the decade, leaving behind no real hits? Why would anyone care about a beer-drenched band led by a singer who called it quits, left showbiz for law school, and never looked back? Because they sound so dang good. Pickett played a high-charged brand of roots rock that’s basically timeless and fresh.

* Between the Whiskey and the Wine by Miss Leslie. Hands down, the best country album of the year — unadulterated hard-core, heartache honky-tonk music. Don’t look for irony. Don’t look for hipster detachment. Leslie Anne Sloan’s clear, intense voice just stops you in your tracks. There’s nothing sugary, flirty, or kittenish about her voice as she sings songs apparently in inspired by her recent divorce.

* Can You Deal With It by Andre Williams & The New Orleans Hellhounds. This R&B codger apparently is indestructible. He’s in his early 70s and has survived drug problems, homelessness, poverty, and obscurity. But he keeps cranking out hot and nasty albums. With the funky punky Hellhounds, Williams gives dirty old men a good name.

* Women as Lovers by Xiu Xiu. This San Francisco band, which played at the College of Santa Fe in early 2008, creates some of the craziest but most enticing music I’ve heard in a long time. Singer Jamie Stewart has one of those morose, sobbing, 4 a.m.-suicide voices that sometimes get on my nerves, but Xiu Xiu’s New Year’s Eve-in-the-nuthouse sound, with the vibes clinking, drums crashing, horns blaring, and synths screeching sometimes sounds as if you’re on an amusement park boat ride drifting into a forbidden area of It’s a Small World.

Honorable Mention
* Take a Good Look by The Fleshtones
* The Lucky Ones by Mudhoney
* Damn Right Rebel Proud by Hank Willaims III
* Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
* Recapturing the Banjo by Otis Taylor (and friends)
* Triskaidekaphilia by Jim Stringer and the AM Band
* That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson
* Introducing Los Peyotes
* Poison by Hundred Year Flood
* Waco Express: Live and Kickin’ at Schuba’s Tavern, Chicago by The Waco Brothers

I know this isn't in the format Kooper suggested. And it's written for a mainstream audience in the daily paper in Santa Fe, NM. (If you can call Santa Fe mainstream). But if anyone wants to read it, here ya go ... A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican January 16, 2009 The first decent new, or at least relatively new, review CD to come into my mailbox at work in 2009 was Look at My Life Again Soon by The Ettes. This is a bouncy little record by a predominantly female guitar-bass-drums trio fronted by singer Coco Hames that sounds like a stripped-down (settle down, Beavis!) version of The Bangles. The Ettes are scheduled to play at the Atomic Cantina in Albuquerque tonight. Although the band members are American — New Yorkers who got together in Los Angeles and have spent time in North Carolina and Nashville — this album, released last year, was recorded in England. It was produced by Liam Watson, who has recorded various Billy Childish projects. The first song that really caught my ear was “I Heard Tell.” It’s a biting little rocker with a melody and hooks that might have been inspired by Joan Jett. But it’s the lyrics that I really appreciate. “I heard tell the papers got you/And from what I heard, they got it all true.” As an American “mainstream” journalist, it’s nice to hear a song that mentions the media and that doesn’t go along with the prevalent stereotypes and portray us all as idiots, dupes, or vultures. Thanks, Ettes. I also like “Crown of Age,” mainly for the Electric Prunes-style reverby guitar. My only complaint is that after a few songs, Hames’ vocals start to get a little cloying. Again that Bangles comparison. But in small doses this music is fresh and energizing — a nice way to start off the year. I bet The Ettes are even better live. Check out the band with The Dirty Novels tonight at 9 p.m. at the Atomic Cantina, 315 Gold Ave. S.W., Albuquerque, 505-242-2200. There is no cover charge. Also recommended: * Thatcher’s Children by Wild Billy Childish & the Musicians of the British Empire. Speaking of Billy boy, I only recently got my hands on this bitchen gem, which was released a few months ago. The prolific Childish has been around for decades fronting banke Thee Headcoats, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Milkshakes, and others, establishing his rightful place as the high priest of garage music in the British Isles. With his natty clothes and handlebar mustache, Childish, who turns 50 this year, doesn’t look the part. But the proof is in the pounding. His current band, consisting of Childish on guitar and vocals, Nurse Julie (one of the best punk-rock names I’ve heard lately) on bass and vocals, and Wolf Howard on drums, produces fine primitive, homemade sounds. The title cut has a melody borrowed (“stolen” is such a judgmental word) from The Clash’s “London Calling.” Like that song, Childish’s tune deals with a ruined civilization. It joins Elvis Costello’s “Tramp the Dirt Down” and Richard Thompson’s “Mother Knows Best” as songs that definitely aren’t on the former prime minister’s iPod. The way Childish sees it, Thatcher’s conservatism tainted everything — even punk rock and YouTube. Some of the best songs on this album are sung by the Nurse. My favorite Julie song is “He’s Making a Tape.” It’s about a woman who catches her boyfriend with his albums spread all over the floor, cutting out little pictures for the cover with the “ransom-note letters stuck on the back.” Nurse Julie sings, “He’s making a tape and it isn’t for me/He’s making a tape you know what that means.” Yes, the song’s probably dated. Does anyone make mixed cassettes anymore? Still it brings back fond memories of a venerated mating ritual of the late-20th century.

Alright, I like Kopper's idea of the record review forum, so I'll be brave and start out with my best of 2008 list of lps (and give a little blurb--beware, I suck at writing about music--BUT I do enjoy sharing what I like). My top 11 of the year: 11) Dirtbombs We Have You Surrounded A guess a lot of people didn't like this. But I love it. It's fuzzy...and sounds like the Dirtbombs. Lyrics are very dystopian. I've heard the song "Wreck my Flow" sounds like Billy Joel, but I still like it (it sounds like a disco song with two drummers and fuzz). The song "Ever Lovin' Man" is one of the best of the year. 10)The Feeling of Love petite tu es un hit A pair of French dudes make a lot of noise while borrowing the title of a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion song. Bluesy and loud like good (older)JSBX. It's hard to understand what they're singing about, but they seem to yell "pussy" and cursewords in every song. 9)Pierced Arrows Straight to the Heart From the ashes of Dead Moon comes this great band and this great record. If you like Dead Moon, you'll like this (how's that for a lazy review?). 8) Goodnight Loving S/T Reminds me of a not as good Deadly Snakes (that's praise). Great songwriting. Thick sound. 7) Brimstone Howl We Came in Peace Gun Club meets Yardbirds garage guitar beautification. Another one with dystopian lyrics with great delivery. 6)Eddy Current Suppression Ring Primary Colours Great record from Australia.Songs seem simple, but they're not. Songs seem thin, but they're thick. Some songs remind me of the Modern Lovers, some have a Stooges vibe. Some songs sound like Telelvision. Great record. 5) Digger and the Pussycats Let's Go to the Hospital Another two piece. Another Australian band. Stripped down rock and roll. Songs taken to their basic essentials. Lyrics are observant as hell. Not as raw sounding as their other lps. 4) Livefastdie Shit Amplified/By the time these flowers die Killed by death/GG Allin inspired shredding. Side one is a live show featuring live versions of all of the livefastdie hits. Side two is the real winner. Loud KBD inspired country songs. 3) Gentleman Jesse and His Men S/T For lovers of power pop (that's me, motherfucker). If you like the Nerves or the Beat, you'll dig this. 2) Nobunny Love Visions These songs don't leave your head after a listen or two. Garage-punk pop gems. The kids beg to hear these songs and sing along and hug a big half naked bunny. An all time classic album...it was hard to put this at #2. 1) The Dutchess and the Duke She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke Another 2-piece. Folk music from some (previous) purveyors of low-fi budget rock (fee fi fo fums, flying dutchmen). Stark, sad, (sometimes happy) songs with perfect male female harmonies. This is an all-time classic album. In closing, I suck at writing about music...that's my list. What's yours? Here's a link to my radio show that has my best of 2008: If you're interested, download the file and fastforward past the first 7 minutes of Spanish music.

I used to post regularly on the old garagepunk forums, but I don't use this hideout as much due to the fact that it gets blocked at work. I also dislike the way the messages are set up--too haphazard and cofusing, and Kopper, if you can get a circa 2002 "old school" looking bulletin board, I'd be more likely to post and participate. It seems like the bulletin board type message board gets past my work's filter. I really miss the old message board...it was a very inviting place.
In terms of other "garage punk" forums out there :I go on the goner records board, but that seems like a smaller, more insular group. The terminal boredom message board is ok, as well...but the musical tastes on that board generally span beyond the garage-punk type music I prefer.

Go crazy: http://garagepunk.ning.com/group/recordreviews Sumiji said:

kopper said:

Sumiji said:

Hey Kopper,
You know I would love to see more discussion on this network just because I hate searchin through the webfor countless hours looking for garage shit. I believe I recall a while ago someone mentioned about doing record reviews for GP. I think that a would be great for non stop discussion. Will that ever happen?

Well, there are a couple of ways we can do this, Sumiji. We can set up a separate group for record reviews, then there'd be one place to go to read what people are saying about any particular release (and anyone could review anything they wanted). OR people can just post the reviews in the blog section of their pages... there are a lot of "review blogs" on the Web, why not have some here on the Hideout?

Dude definitely I feel we should open a group for all to chime in. I'll definitely contribute. Whatll yall think blog or group?

right on *hi-five* Kopper! I gots warehouse experience... kopper said:

Joenzy said:

Not to take away from this forum but Goner records has a great forum...
and a cool website. and a great place to order amazing records.
Pigmeat said:

Lets not forget what a useful forum this is for picking up on new sounds... I personaly read alot more of the forum than I post on... Just to get some juicy bands to pick up... I don't think theirs another forum on the web thats as good fer that!

If I thought I could make enough money to live off of, I'd totally quit my job, rent a warehouse, set an online store up here, and make GaragePunk.com the Zappos of Rock'n'Roll.

Its pretty amazing that despite the moral issue of downloading music(but really, did the bands involved ever get royalties to begin with?) the individual 7"s and EPs are available to download on the KBD site. Hopefully it may inspire some to actually go out and seek some of the KBD records or the singles themselves(good luck on that though - $400 is alot to pay for wax). Enjoy! http://www.kbdrecords.com/

More info: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/01/sxsw_update_sonics_bar-kays_bl.php SXSW Band list: http://sxsw.com/music/shows/bands

http://www.donewaiting.com/2009/01/08/sxsw-updates-band-list-again-1809-edition/ just saw it a while ago. awesome. mf

For (33) years...I've been" reviewed "(Good , Bad, Indifferent , or worse). When "Kopp" sent me this "opportunity"-I decided I'd bite! Here's my snail mail addy:
Jack Lipton
4465 E. Genesee St.
#192
Dewitt, N.Y. 13214............I PROMISE ! to review ANY & ALL Cd's sent to me-In this Garagepunk.com "CD Reviews Forum". I guess I lean towards stuff with good melodies....and stuff that exudes a more "Timeless" , "Honest", flavor (Otis Redding , Early Stones, Ramones, Troggs). Among "newer" bands-I'm definitely a big fan of The Spits. I'm NOT partial to following the "fashions" & "trends" of the day. So-Iffff ya think ya want to send me your CD's-I WILL review them on this Forum....Keep Rockinn'...Jack