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June 2026

Other News and Perspectives

* Old Books.  Old books are interesting for a variety of reasons.  It's great that so many vintage and antique books can be viewed on the internet now by just about anyone anywhere.  But there's something about actually holding the real book in your hands that can't be duplicated by scanned images.  We've visited some incredible vintage/antique book shops in large rural areas in Massachusetts, New York and California.  Sadly, many of these seem to have disappeared most likely because of internet availability and declining interest and demand.  During a recent trip that took us through Knoxville, TN we found ourselves in the general vicinity of a place called Addison's Bookstore.  Having read some incredible things about this place, we decided to check it out for ourselves.  Wow.  Of all the rare book stores we've visited this one is, perhaps, the best.  Located in the downtown area, this two-story establishment does not disappoint.  They have tons and tons of truly rare and hard-to-find books.  The amazing part is that customers are (apparently) welcome to hold and page through these books.  No stuffy librarian types here (!).  In fact, the entire atmosphere of the store is surprisingly customer-friendly.  One of the front windows is even used as an area for chess players.  (You won't see anything like that in any modern book shop!)  The entire store is designed to make people feel comfortable and stimulate conversation about all kinds of things.  If you're ever near Knoxville, do yourself a favor and check out Addison's Bookstore.  This is one of those rare cases where the folks running this place are doing EVERYTHING RIGHT.  Highly recommended.  *  Get The Cramps.  One of the most unusual and unique bands that ever hit the planet was . . . The Cramps.  The folks in this wildly exciting band pushed boundaries like few ever could or would.  Lux Interior was perhaps the most over-the-top performer in music history.  Anyone who ever saw The Cramps perform live had a chance to witness the mind-blowing spectacle.  Good news folks.  A new company has been formed called The Cramps, Inc.  The company's mission is to restart Vengeance Records (the band's label) and release rarities and official merchandise.  The first offering will be Gravest Gravy, an album Alex Chilton produced for the band in 1977 that was never released (Yowwwwweee!!!).  If there's any band from the past that deserves renewed interest, it is most certainly The Cramps.  Poison Ivy and Lux Interior are legendary and, in this case, the legendary status is 100% warranted.  * Brand New Music From The Telescopes.  So many of the world's greatest musical artists are either unknown or relatively obscure.  Such is the case with the British band The Telescopes.  We've loved everything we've heard from this unusual band and we're glad to report they show no signs of slowing down or letting up.  Germany's Tapete Records has just released the band's nineteenth studio album entitled Static Charge.  The album contains more of the strangely hypnotic trippy songs that fans love.  It's difficult to say which Telescopes albums are best because they are all exceptional.  Bandleader Stephen Lawrie never disappoints his fans and he has never EVER sold out.  Joining Lawrie on this album are Darrell Carter on guitar, Robert Prest on bass and John Lynch on drums and percussion.  Recommended.  *  Happenings.  There are lots and lots of important things happening in our world and yet none of them really matter.  There's a big difference between things that are different and things that are important, but none of the differences seem relevant to most individuals who matter.  At some point something will happen that is extremely important.  But for the time being everything that is going on is irrelevant.  *  Can't Stop Idle Edsel.  Folks involved or interested in the undercurrents of music in the United States already know the name Idle Edsel.  But for those who do not, here's a brief intro.  Idle Edsel is a band and record label run by a highly motivated individual named Brian Diederich.  Brian is best known as a member of the bands The Strap-Ons and The Candy Snatchers.  But that is far too limiting, because he has done so much more than that.  And he has created and/or played in so many more bands than those two.  Some of his latest groovy projects include a 7" vinyl from The Virginia Gentlemen featuring the songs "Go All Night" & "Lollygagger" b/w "Right Now" & "Patrick Salt Ryan."  Also out is a full-length vinyl LP from Brooklyn Dirt entitled Manana Couch.  The band is comprised of Diederich (vocals), Alex Sherman (guitar), Nick Khadji (guitar), Christian Davenport Johnson (bass) and Zandy Mangold (drums).  Also out is another vinyl LP from The Jacked Bennies entitled Chopping Down The Weeds.  In addition to Diederich on vocals, the band also includes Robert Conger (lead guitar), Paddy Bollocks McConnell (guitar), Christian Johnston (bass) and Jubal Fearing (skins).  Also released by the label is another vinyl LP from Megadosage entitled Steal, Deer, This Album!  And if that wasn't enough, the label has also released a New York Dolls Tribute (vinyl LP) featuring rip-roaring covers by Vorwarts, Muscle Car, Thee STP, Damn Faith, Electric Frankenstein, Larry May and the Beer Heisters, The Bisapiens, Z.T.T.F., The Strap-Ons, Pulpit Red and Megadosage.  YOW.  This man's music and label are unstoppable!  *  Covers of John Zorn Compositions.  Every once in a while a release comes along that just isn't like the rest.  Such is the case with Surf Masada: The Compositions of John Zorn.  This interesting collection of recordings was created by the band Golems Of The Red Planet.  Instead of simply presenting Zorn's music as it was originally recorded, these folks veer the songs into instrumental surf territory.  The idea may sound strange, but it works surprisingly well.  And the results are more accessible than you might think.  The band is comprised of Harvey Gold (guitar, keyboards), Bob Ethington (drums, percussion), Mark Allender (bass) and Matt Reese (cello).  Ten tracks that are simultaneously trippy and danceable.  Released on the Heyday Again label (distributed by Real Gone Music), Surf Masada is an experience not to be missed.  Cool tracks include "Hadrial," "Mo'ed," "Damam" and "Belial."  *  Food Chain Considerations.  Have you ever noticed Food Chain?  Food Chain likes to be seen and utilized and yet most seem to simply walk by and ignore.  This makes Food Chain feel very insecure and unwanted.  And when this happens the quality of things offered by Food Chain is decreased by many.  One day Food Chain will find a pretty dress and begin to understand the real validity of how wearing things can affect perception.  Until then, Food Chain will continue wandering aimlessly hoping that someday it will be appealing to those who matter.  * The 52nd Annual American Music Awards.  For years we swore we would never EVER attend any awards ceremony.  And that's exactly why we finally decided to take the plunge.  We were working on a project with a pal in Las Vegas recently who invited us to go to The 52nd Annual American Music Awards (totally free, of course).  The idea sounded strange and repugnant so we figured . . . hell, why not?  It was a generally enjoyable experience except for one major problem.  There wasn't any good music.  And, for a music awards ceremony, that's pretty bad.  We were surprised at how friendly some of the celebrities were, probably because we had no idea who they were until after the fact.  As we expected, the overall vibe was kinda stuffy and pretentious.  No big deal.  It was an odd and interesting way to spend an evening, but we don't understand what the big fuss is all about (?).  Making a lot of money and being at the top of the charts in the U.S.A. in 2026 means that you are not creative or credible.  So, if you get an award, it basically means that what you're doing isn't very good.  Sad but true.  *  Roy Wood Forever.  We've been huge fans of Roy Wood for decades and we've always been amazed that one of the most brilliant musicians in the world is often overlooked by many.  A recent search revealed something interesting.  More and more people now seem to be stating the obvious:  Roy Wood is one of the most influential musicians of our time.  And some rare video from this man's career suddenly seems to be popping up out of nowhere.  We were blown away to come across Roy's music video for the song "Dear Elaine" (from the criminally overlooked Boulders album).  It is easily one of the most hauntingly beautiful compositions ever recorded.  Seeing Roy lip-synching to this unforgettable song gave us chills.  Although he's best known as a member of the bands The Move and Wizzard and for creating Electric Light Orchestra (he left after the first album), Wood should be mainly remembered as an single individual so intelligent and talented that he left others standing in a cloud of dust.  Roy Wood Forever.

June 2026 Notable Releases and Things

Roberto Berrone - New Attitude EP (The Sleepers RecordZ).  Onesie - Way Thousand Bump To The Sky (Sell The Heart Records).  The Real McKenzies - On Yer Bike (Stomp Records).  Sing Sling Ding - Gnome Home Blown (Gasket Flask Mask).  The Fast Camels - Lost To This World (Kool Kat Musik).  Medicine Head - Live at The Marquee 1977 (SingSong Music).  Stirling Rock - Are You Coming to the Party? (SingSong Music).  Patrick Dorobisz - Narvik (Symphonic Interactions) (Atypeek Music).  Circle Bros - Wade (Morc Records).  Hardly Hard - Lifty Paddle (Trowel and Pastry).  Now Scram - What Rock (Wocks and Buttons).  Motihari Brigade - Problematic.  Arise From Worms - A Bleeding Tree Hanging Self Destruction (Church Road Records).  Jason Barsotti - The Constructed Peace Trilogy (book).  Karcius - Black Soul Sickness.  Record Time - No. 4 (magazine).  Element of Fate - Dreamfall.  Among Legends - Lose My Grip.  Gamksimoon - Feeding The Supernatural.  Stygian Mind - The Fear Machine (Old Metal Records / Settle For It Records).  Laibach - Musick (Mute).  Genre Is Death - Attractive People (In The Red Records).  Aptosrs / Paul Terry / Cellarscape - Alternative Piano Club (SkyBaby Records).  The Greenberry Woods - It's All Good, Sugar... (Big Stir Records).  Drakulas - Midnight City.  Changing Places In The Fire - Changing Places In The Fire (Wild Thing Records).  Sound of Ages - Wind, Water, Stone (PARMA Recordings).  Stephen Page - John Adams: Saxophone Concerto (PARMA Recordings).  Armed For Apocalypse - The Earth Is Breathing Beneath Me (Church Road Records).  OM - Variations On A Theme (reissue, Drag City).  OM - Conference Of The Birds (reissue, Drag City).  Krystal System - Da Punch.  Witchsorrow - The Devil and All His Works (Church Road Records).  Diva Duke - Again (Catfight Entertainment).  Bobby Sherman - Here Comes Bobby (Metromedia).  Cockney Rebel - The Psychomodo (EMI).  64 Funnycars - Happy Go Lucky (reissue, 604 Records).  Anthony Garone - OK, But Why? (MoonJune).  David Peel and The Lower East Side - The American Revolution (Elektra).  Scram Marsha - The Little Products That Should (Ink Rarities).  Maxwell Hutchinson & Judge Smith - The Kibbo Kift: The 1976 Rock Musical (Think Like A Key / TLAK).  Human Fly - Issue #2 & Issue #3 (14th Floor Music).  Robinson Kirby - Gone.  Jon Spencer - Songs of Personal Loss and Protest (Shove Records).  Sir Richard Bishop - Hillbilly Erotica (Drag City).  Tricky - Different When It's Silent (False Idols).  On Borrowed Time - In The Dark Before the Dawn (Omen Records).  Haggard Cat - The Pain That Orbits Life (Church Road Records).  Last Charge of the Light Horse - Year of the Horse.  General Chaos - Can't Please 'Em All.  Nest of Singing Birds - The Marshall Sessions.  Luup - Meadow Rituals (3 CD Expanded Edition, Tadoma Records).  Lights & Motion - Bloom II (Deep Elm Records).  Lot Lizards - First Two EPs (Punkerton Records).  Mélisande - Sur la même longueur d’onde.  Loneshore - Nothing Left to Deconstruct (Willowtop Records).  Hold It Hold It - Camera Powder (Nose Up).  Where Do You Think You're Going - Through With It (Airplane Collar).  David Peel - The Pope Smokes Dope (Apple).  Gamksimoon - Gyiin Naxnox.  Ed Askew - The Final Painting (Drag City).  Unhoped - Torturous Sanctified Centuries (Raw Skull Recordz).  Themata - Riven EP.  Kevin Kastning & Phil Grenadier - Unreal City (Greydisc).  The Get Alongs - Second To None (Having Fun / We Are Busy Bodies).  Spencer Krug - Same Fangs.  Half Dizzy - Yard Sale (Punkerton Records).  Stephen Murray - One Minute With Murray (Independently produced internet show).  Moonlight Mile - Northern Lights.  Hans Hjelm - The Night Electronic (Kungens Ljud / Bild).  Goodbye Astro - Howdy Sonny.  Ed Welch - Clowns (Think Like A Key / TLAK).  Alexandria Maillot - Cryptomnesia.  The Numbers - My Beautiful Distance (Kool Kat Musik).  Tarp Tong Tippy - Drifting In Apples (Ink Drops).  Kulk - Choosing To Die (Church Road Records).  BCMC - Tete-a-Tete (Drag City).  Voidmaker - A Cold, Unyielding Universe (Witches Brew Records).  Tired of Fighting - And Then Suddenly It Hits You (Punkerton Records).  Eaten By Sharks - The Undertow of Hate (CDN Records).  B. Dolan - Official Concert Bootleg (It's Not Illegal).

This section only includes full-length releases and EPs.]