You Schmooze, You Lose

Initially DJ Motherfucker had a complete set planned after (another) long hiatus from Schmoozing. However sometimes exigent circumstances arise. In this case the shocking and incredibly sad death of Arianna Forster, better known as Ari Up, lead singer and founding member of The Slits. The Slits fused punk rock and reggae without sounding pretentious. They combined feminism and cynicism without being trite. This mini Schmooze is dedicated to the memory and work of Ari Up, as well as the innovation and amazing talent of the Slits. Your DJ will now let the music do the rest of the talking...R.I.P. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Ping Pong Affair I Heard It Through the Grapevine Ask Ma So Tough The World of Grown-Ups (live) Typical Girls

DJ Motherfucker has sold out. It's Eighties Night here at the Schmooze! One catch though: No Soft Cell, New Order or 99 Luftballoons. Tonight's mini Schmooze will also be free of drunk sorority girls and that guy you had sex with a long time ago who is now overweight. So take a seat and reminisce about all those lines you did in the bathroom of this club when you were young and nubile...and try to forget that you have to be at work early in the morning. *Tonight's set is dedicated to Miss Motherfucker's decade-plus partner in crime, Ben Jaworowski and the horror we have inflicted on so very many. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Killing Joke- Eighties Sparks- Angst In My Pants Yello- I Love You Fad Gadget- Love Parasite The Jesus and Mary Chain- Take It Depeche Mode- Master and Servant

It's a well known fact that we here at the Schmoozer need a bit of alcoholic encouragement when it comes to dancing. Of course, there are those moments when your DJ has been alone and could easily be caught sober and dancing on the hardwood floors...but that's not for your eyes. This installment of You Schmooze, You Lose once again visits with some old friends interspersed with a stranger or two. Whether you feel the need to flail about with abandon or station yourself in a corner is at your discretion. DJ Motherfucker is not going to ask you to dance. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Arab Strap- Don't Ask Me To Dance Starting us out on two left feet is this morose rave-up from Scottish ennui muckrakers Arab Strap. The sounds of allowing yourself to be dragged to some inane dance party just to get laid. You know you've been there, admit it. The Clash- Rebel Waltz Next up is a revolutionary waltz served up Sandinista! style. The war has been lost and the options are few; stand down and drop your weapons or stay strong and dance to the rhythm of defeat with guns held high. Delroy Wilson- Addis Ababa This selection from Keith Hudson produced Delroy Wilson is heavy Dub at it's finest: synthesizers and riddim that will knock you through the floor and detached soul oozing from Wilson's vocals. A brilliant play on "House of the Rising Sun." You will be a better person for having heard this track. Colleen- Everyone Alive Wants Answers Gorgeous superficiality. Wind-up water and flowing birds. Everyone wants some kind of answer. PJ Harvey- Sweeter Than Anything A selection from miss Polly Jean's alluring "Is This Desire?" B-Sides. Reflections on promises made down by the river. So sad, our memory. Dirty Three- Some Summers They Drop Like Flies Summer is winding down here at the Schmooze, and this heat and drought combined with hasty days and restless evenings makes us wish the season would drop dead. But we're willing to settle for Warren Ellis' violin to pull us through. The Wedding Present- Suck A classic track of indie lust and resignation. We've all had that one person that sucked it all out of us. Whether we wanted them to or not. Woven Bones- With You Alone Dragstrip garage smut seems to be Woven Bones' forte. This band cannot wait to get you alone. Loud, brash and unapologetic. The way we like it. Silver Apples- You and I Closing out the night is the futuristic and enigmatic noise of Silver Apples. To think what could have been if the little things would stop meddling with the bigger picture.

Due to changing times and transitory longings, your DJ has been doing a bit of housekeeping here at the Schmoozer. The dusty sets that put this train wreck into motion have been stored safely in the blogosphere for posterity's sake; think of it as throwing your old lover's records out the window while holding on to that one rare pressing that might be worth some money someday. Now that we've released the past, let's dive face-first into the first Schmooze set of a mended heart. Some old favorites will be stumbled upon, but now we can listen to them with new ears and a new outlook. It's nice to be indifferent to indifference, isn't it? You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Thee Oh Sees- I was Denied Starting things out with a bang is a newish track from Thee Oh Sees, a jangling triumph over being denied. Regardless of being cliche, things really do seem better the next day. The danceable distortion offered up here attests to that. Grinderman- (I don't need you to) Set Me Free We've all been sick at the thought and sight of someone, that one person who manages to scrape their way under your skin for reasons uncertain. Who hasn't spent a restless night waiting to catch a glimpse of the mirage of love that makes us break into a lonely sweat? The swirling garage spasms of Grinderman releases us from such restless illness. Whether or not you want to be set free, at some dead-end point you have to move along. Bush Tetras- Too Many Creeps Next up we have the claustrophobic funk of No Wave club favorites Bush Tetras. Living in the city and being female can leave one vulnerable to creepster paranoia and the urge to become a shut in, safe from leers and scummy manipulators. Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra- Summer Wine Once again, Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra take on their collaborative roles on this enigmatic psychedelic country selection, with Hazelwood as the disillusioned wanderer and Sinatra as the siren that provides a haven for his vagabond mind...but not without a price. Suicide- Shadazz The spacey synthesized sex of Suicide bounces along and runs an alien tongue along your neck in this ode to the crash-landing of a Creole queen singing the cosmic blues. Bauhaus- Ziggy Stardust Peter Murphy's sneer and Daniel Ash's guitar bombast take on this Bowie track and give it guts and thrust. The louder the better. Blixa Bargeld- Somewhere Over the Rainbow Einsturzende Neubauten vocalist and subterranean dreamboat Blixa Bargeld slips into our solitude subtly with this rendition of a song everyone and their mother has heard. However no other version pulses and lulls like this selection does. Bargeld's slightly sardonic vocal delivery suggests that maybe all dreams don't come true...but at least there can be beauty in circumvention. Gallon Drunk- Up On Fire Bringing us out of our stupor is this smoldering track from sleaze rockers Gallon Drunk. Desire can be poisonous and likened to a knife plunged into the jugular, but everyone has some level of masochism bubbling under the surface. Swans- Goddamn the Sun Ending the night is a desolate yet resolute selection from Swans. Addiction and loss is mourned and contemplated but accepted as aspects of living. What is worse, ignoring these things or facing them head on? Swans have chosen the latter, as you should if you want to know what it's like to truly exist.

In the real world, Miss Motherfucker knows more than one DJ who specializes in spinning the rude sounds of Jamaica way. But your DJ is not one to name drop. Inspired by an upcoming weekend of attending back-to-back gigs with set lists like dirt as well as the impending Summer swelter, tonight we have a mini Schmooze that is guaranteed to get you off your feet and make you feel the heat. It's all here- a smattering of boss Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady and even a Calypso selection. So without further ado, mek we dweet with this crucial Schmoozer. Alton Ellis and the Flames- Cry Tough Don Drummond- Man in the Street Count Lasher with Lynn Taitt and the Baba Brooks Band- Mufridite Prince Buster- Al Capone Stranger and Patsy- When I Call Your Name Toots and the Maytals- Pressure Drop

Well well well. After weeks upon weeks of neglect, DJ Motherfucker is back and she's here to make a point. Recently your DJ was reflecting on a conversation she had a while back in a dead city with an equally dead compatriot. He said something along the lines of how punk rock had never appealed to him because the genre lacked intelligence. Well dear sir, we can't ALL base our musical choices on bands that take their name from a Camus novel, now can we? A certain level of brain power is required to encapsulate a particular era or feeling. Whether it is Margaret Thatcher's England, the greasy grime of early 1980s Los Angeles, or the brick-laden urban blight of Richmond, VA circa now. Tonight's set bounces around the map slightly, but if you hold on tight you just might catch a glimpse into Miss Motherfucker's side of the argument. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Saccharine Trust- We Became Snakes Introducing our polemic is a free form post jazz offering from SST veterans Saccharine Trust. A slithering ode to transforming into a predatory entity. Refuge sought above heaven and below hell. Richard Hell and the Voidoids- Love Comes in Spurts Take what you will from the title of this track, but oh no, it hurts! With Richard Hell we get fetal inside a prison of dirty street desire. The Gun Club- She's Like Heroin to Me Next up is a rockabilly tinged nod off courtesy of the indelible Gun Club. Anyone who has ever mainlined junk or love is well aware that missing a vein can mean the end of the world. Cloak/Dagger- Runaways Straight out of Richmond, the one place your DJ has come close to finding a home is this track from frenetic local heroes Cloak/Dagger. Richmond is a city comprised of hemophiliac heroin addicts, GWAR, twenty something alcoholics and directionless hope. If there's anything this city can do, it can make you die. The urgency to survive is conveyed here. The Germs- Richie Dagger's Crime This selection comes from a band that has been dismissed by some as terrible and insipid. But when it comes down to brass tacks and brass knuckles, take into consideration the lyrics penned by Darby Crash; what teenager this side of Rimbaud could write lyrics like "I'm young and I'm haggard"? Point proven. Theoretical Girls- Computer Dating Okay okay. For all you purists out there, this track would traditionally be considered No Wave. But we here at the Schmoozer are not fond of pigeonholing. You should know that by now. You should also know that No Wave would not have come into fruition if it weren't for the rudimentary groups that came before. So quit bitching and take note of this poker-faced selection from fractured genius and purported asshole Glenn Branca. The Birthday Party- Kiss Me Black Death Blues. Poetic violence. Ecstatic Oblivion. All this and more can fairly summarize the junkyard noise of Australian dirge rockers the Birthday Party. Black Flag- Black Coffee When it comes to determining who was the best lead singer of Black Flag, it boils down to a matter of opinion. A disclaimer: This selection does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Schmooze and it's affiliates. It does however reflect the paranoia and seething anger at the bottom of a coffee cup in a sparse apartment, the decor being Henry Rollins' fuming delivery and Greg Ginn's messy guitars. Hate is a messy business. Crass- Punk is Dead Taking the piss out of punks turned superstars we have this track from anarcho-punks Crass. I hope the irony in the utilization of Clash-esque guitars wasn't lost on the lot of you. Social Distortion- Prison Bound Closing the night is the title track from Social Distortion's 1988 release. This selection spins the hard luck tale of doing time, no doubt inspired by Mike Ness' rehab stints. Despite the mainstream sound, we here at the Schmooze salute sincerity. Intelligence is necessary when it comes to honesty, and this song is a middle finger to pretension.

DJ Motherfucker may rule the program with an iron lung, but every once in a while she feels slightly selfless. This set is an example of one of those rare moments. We here at the Schmooze are proud to introduce your guest DJ for the evening, The Staff of Ra. The selections submitted tonight were of his malevolent choosing. Feel the wrath. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Stereolab- International Colouring Contest In the 1970s, musician and overall eccentric Lucia Pamela designed a coloring book depicting the people and things she saw on her trip to the moon, where she recorded her debut album "Into Outer Space With Lucia Pamela." A quirky and bubbly album that is highly recommended. Upon release of her coloring book, Pamela announced an International Coloring Contest that was open to everyone and without a deadline so all walks of life from all galaxies would have the opportunity to participate. This is the theme of this track from Stereolab, whose intergalactic Moog transmissions combined with Laeticia Sadier and Mary Hansen's warmly detached vocals honor Lucia and her big ideas. Lou Reed- Satellite of Love While Transformer is considered to be Lou Reed's foray into glam rock, one can still pick up on the subtle contempt at the heart of this jilted narrative beneath the Bowie production values. "I've been told that you've been bold with Harry, Mark, and John" cuts through the soaring 'bum bum bum' backing vocals and twinkling piano accompaniment. Reed's deadpan delivery reminds us that outer space is something the rest of us will experience only through watching television. Deerhoof- The Perfect Me An urgent and mutated wall of synthesized noise and rollicking percussion pound out a plea to the desolate on this track, which shows that a truly innovative group can make the experimental catchy and the innovative humble. Delta 5- Now That You've Gone A bass-driven Rough Trade single embodying the gray longing of post-punk Britain and beyond. However there's a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of going out and getting drunk...any kind of heartache can be resolved with an ample amount of booze and good times. You're gone and we're doing just fine, thank you. Cibo Matto- Sugar Water An adorable shibuya-kei offering that takes us through concrete deserts and invites us to bathe in sugar. Regardless of whether or not you've taken a shower today, how can you say no? The Slits- Typical Girls Reggae guitars bounce in time with the back-and-forth vocal harmonies on this apt description of common ladies, who are all emotion and compliance. Kate Bush- Running Up That Hill Believe it or not, John Lydon is a huge Kate Bush fan. While your DJ is not, who is she to argue? What John Lydon and the Staff of Ra decree goes. There is a definite momentum to this track that can't be ignored and has rendered it a classic. Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot- Bonnie and Clyde Ah, Serge et Brigitte. Apparently Gainsbourg was intimidated by Bardot's breasts. But we're not here to gossip. This track is ridiculously sixties and ridiculously French. You will love it. Cristina- Is That All There Is? Ending the guest DJ set is a skewed and obscenely hilarious rendering of the instantly recognizable torch ballad. Cristina's version turns the subject matter of the song completely upside down and changes the tone from bewildered existentialism into razor blade nihilism. In fact, the original lyricists made sure this was suppressed. Luckily, spit and swagger perseveres.

This installment of You Schmooze, You Lose is a mash-up of neo garage and old favorites. Your DJ is out of her slump and ready for action. Tonight's lineup will do the same for you, consensually or forcefully. So let's dust off the turntable and start spinning. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis The Clash- This Is Radio Clash Introducing the Schmooze set for the evening is the untouchable, the undeniable, unstoppable Clash. DJ Motherfucker is kicking herself in the ass repeatedly for not including the Clash earlier. Never fear though, your silly DJ has come to her senses. So here is a track that is sure to bring you to your feet. If not, then something is seriously wrong with you. Ken Boothe- Ain't No Sunshine Moving right along, we have Reggae crooner Ken Booth's take on the 1971 Bill Withers Soul smash. This song has been covered countless times, but the Lovers Rock adaptation courtesy of Boothe makes it one of the standout versions. See for yourself. Thee Oh Sees- Graveyard Drug Party We are quite familiar with the surreal workings of Thee Oh Sees by now. But you need it in your life. Meth Teeth- World Is Going To End Soon A new favorite, Portland's Meth Teeth regale us not only with one of the best band names ever but also with refreshing lo-fi noise code violations. Psychedelic Horseshit- New Wave Hippies This track from shitgaze rabbel-rousers Psychedelic Horseshit proves that every generation has their own version of hippies, whether they're dropping the brown acid or renting lofts in Williamsburg. Abrasive keyboards and all-around hatred for all. Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk- Jeremy Irons Couple Skate Your DJ will admit it, she is not all too familiar with this band. Miss Motherfucker chose this track simply for the title. The thought of Jeremy Irons on roller skates does seem a bit ridiculous, does it not? Though we at the Schmoozer are confident that it would still be awkwardly sexy in a way. The King Khan & BBQ Show- Teenage Foetus Another group we need to do a bit more research on, and yet another selection that was chosen for the song title. Regardless, this track is a fun romp through the garage of absurdity. Woven Bones- If You're Gold I'm Gone Winding down the evening we have this last call sleaze fest from Woven Bones. You better stay away if you're a good girl, because these fellas want nothing to do with you. The Fall- Totally Wired Yes, yes, we know this is not the first time the Fall has made an appearance on the Schmooze. But come on, it's THE FALL! This selection is a classic track of post-punk paranoia. Here at the Schmoozer, we are always nervous too.

Do you like party liquor? Do you like purdy womerns? Did you just spend thirty years in prison? Then this mini Schmooze is right up your alley, yeah yeah. This podcast may be straight form Hell, but this set will save your soul from that rock and roll hippie mess. Fresh from the trunk of a jet-fueled Cadillac car we have a selection of chart-toppin' hits from the King of Country Western himself, Unknown Hinson. Now shut the hell up! You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis UNKNOWN HINSON Silver Platter I Make Faces (When I Make Love) Put Out Or Get Out Polly Urethane Foggy Windows I Ain't Afraid Of Your Husband It Don't Bother Me Your Man Is... Love On Command I'm The King Don't Look At Me I Quit All That Mess Peace, Love and Hard Liquor

After a three week hiatus, your DJ has returned from the murky depths. She has regrouped and is ready to sling her aural assault in your general direction. I have missed you, heathens. Have you missed Miss Motherfucker? No matter, we don't have time for reminiscing. The songs compiled for this set is a musical missive describing the bruises of a battered mind and a worried heart. Good news though, the Kaiser has retreated to the enemy base and the allied troops are still in tact. So onward and upward and off into this long overdue Schmooze. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Silver Apples- Misty Mountain Kicking things off is this mysterious track from the late-sixties electro duo Silver Apples. The rudimentary pulse of Simeon's hand built synthesizer evokes the feeling of impending emotional doom...but not without a few moments of ecstasy beforehand. Spacemen 3- Transparent Radiation (Flashback) Let's linger in our delirium with this mainline version of this Red Krayola song via Spacemen 3. The band's motto was "taking drugs to make music to take drugs too," and this adage certainly rings true with the distant strings and guitars, as well as vocals dispatched from the opposite end of reality. Big Star- Feel Alas, reality has to come crashing down at some point, and here it is with this raucous litany from the legendary Memphis group Big Star. This track lays down the law in clear cut terms: "You just ain't been trying. It's getting very near the end. I feel like I'm dying." David Bowie- We Are the Dead The theme of this reflective and subdued track from Bowie's post-glam opus Diamond Dogs is the relationship between Winston Smith and Julia from the dystopian Orwell novel "1984;" However the sad realization that the affair should have ended before it began can be taken as universal. Low- Point of Disgust Have you ever poured your heart out to someone, only to have your words pass by their comprehension time and time again, no matter how you strain to expound your point of view? This gentle slowcore dirge from Low believes you have. The Modern Lovers- I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms Tension and anxiety over love was never so upbeat. The world can be a hard place indeed, so why is it so difficult to find a set of non-accusatory arms to provide solace from the cold morning? Maybe it's not that difficult after all. Maybe we're just searching in the wrong places. Nico- The Fairest of the Seasons Time to take a breath from all our pondering over the irrelevant. Time to put the situation into perspective. We might still be unsure, but this lilting track informs us that it's time to move on. Thee Oh Sees- Gilded Cunt This muffled garage track from Thee Oh Sees reflects that slight notion of hesitation on your part as you wait for hours for someone who will never arrive. Yet you still show him that you love her (or him) and that it's all you know to do. ? and the Mysterions- 96 Tears Vindictiveness is one thing we do well here at the Schmoozer. Just remember, no matter how bad someone might make you feel, how low they drag you, they'll have their fair share of tears somewhere down the line. They're gonna cry.

For this segment of You Schmooze You Lose, your DJ is getting back to business. The aural annihilation you've come to love has returned with a vengeance. This will not be an easy set to endure, but trust me...you will be a better person afterward. Or worse. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Killing Joke- Tension Starting the set off is a selection that will no doubt wake you up and put you on edge. It may even cause a little tension. This track from the ubiquitous Killing Joke will pummel your senses and make you come crawling back for more. Psychic TV- Unclean Moving right along we are submerged under the waters of the filthy Thames by the post-Throbbing Gristle collective of Psychic TV. Part assault, part occult, all around relentless. Nitzer Ebb- Join in the Chant Probably the most well known Nitzer Ebb track, but nonetheless a track with brutal beats and caustic integrity. Pan Sonic- Vahentaja/Diminsher You know that your DJ isn't completely heartless and is willing to let you breathe from time to time. So let's all take a deep breath and melt for a little while into this contemplative piece from Finland's electronic duo Pan Sonic. Notice, however, that this selection is not completely peaceful. Gary Numan- Down in the Park A foreboding and disassociated synthetic vision of a future of rape machines. You better stay out of the park when the sun goes down. Wire- Three Girl Rhumba It really is a crime when you think about how many bands have ripped off Wire. Most notably, this selection. But Wire was so brilliant, they were able accomplish more in less than two minutes than most other groups could ever comprehend. Swell Maps- Blam! A surf-tinged rollick through the delightful and juvenile aspects of being poisoned by silly games; luckily with this track we have the antidote. Syd Barrett- Late Night To be alone in your own mind...is a concept well captured on this track. Magazine- A Song From Under the Floorboards Ending the night is a track that could be considered to be a post-punk soundtrack to "Notes from the Underground." If you never get your hopes up, then you will never be let down.

You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis Maybe it's the head cold, maybe it's the champagne your DJ has been nursing all night, but inspiration struck. A break from schmoozing was in the cards, but suddenly Miss Motherfucker was overcome by the desire to broadcast a rather dreamy set for you little heathens out there. Ah, another lonely Montag. So here we go, a brief dive into speculative sonic sway. Swervedriver- 99th Dream A delicious track from this forgotten shoegaze band. Everything you want is here: space travel, rock and roll, blankets of feedback, courageous vocals....music to fall in love to. My Bloody Valentine- Slow (live) Experiencing My Bloody Valentine live is akin to being present at ground zero during the Trinity tests. A ribcage-shattering, epiphany-inducing orgy of tremelo saturated ecstasy. Siouxsie and the Banshees- Last Beat of My Heart (live) Pardon the screaming on this track. It is warranted, however. Another live cut, this song of yearning and devotion echoes a commitment to the unobtainable that only Siouxsie Sioux can deliver. Jonathan Halper- Leaving My Old Life Behind/ I Am A Hermit Best known as the soundtrack to the Kenneth Anger short film "Puce Moment," this mysterious double-header is an exploration into self-induced hermetic pondering. Brian Eno- Here Come the Warm Jets Inclusion of this seminal track from the album of the same name just seemed right. Imagine barreling down the highway at 2 in the morning towards anywhere but here. Cocteau Twins- Pandora Indecipherable, majestic really. Everything you would expect from this group. The Jesus and Mary Chain- The Hardest Walk Walk of shame, walk of blame...who cares. Arab Strap- Afterwards A flashback to the night before. Perhaps it's true that the best part of a one-night stand is afterwards as you watch your lover get dressed and anticipate sore thighs the next morning. At least you have that much to remind you that your memories are real. The Wedding Present- Brassneck Ending this set is this resolute ode to corresponding with an infatuation regardless of whether or not a response is received. Sometimes writing it all out makes us feel better. Perhaps if Morrissey didn't have his head perpetually up his ass he could reach this level of endearing exposure.

This mini Schmooze is devoted to thee manna from heaven known as Garage Rock. No write-ups for this segment, as I could go on all night. The music speaks for itself, switchblade in hand and boss engine revving. If you can't dig these tunes, then get the fuck away from my DJ booth. You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis The Sonics- Boss Hoss The Novas- The Crusher The Mummies- Your Love The Detroit Cobras- Heartbeat The Standells- Try It Thee Mighty Caesars- Somebody Like You

You Schmooze, You Lose: An Imaginary DJ Set By Jennie Willis During a recent exchange on Facebook, Ashlee Elfman and myself were trying to figure out what one needed to do in order to become a DJ. We both figured that a lot of schmoozing was involved, something neither one of us is really capable of. We both have the desire and the music selection, but lack the butt-kissing skills. If there are any DJs reading this, keep in mind that this is not a criticism of you but a comment on our misanthropic tendencies despite our love of music. However if you play Lady Gaga merely to fill an empty dance floor, then that is a different story. So, for your reading and listening pleasure, here is a list of songs that I would inflict upon you if I were bestowed the title of Miss DJ at your local club or bar. No, I do not take requests. Jobriath- Heartbeat The soothing screech and glittery cacophony of the opening track from the lovingly compiled "Lonely Planet Boy" would be sure to grab your attention. Typically blown off as a poor man’s Bowie, Jobriath is a sorely underrated artist out of New York City by way of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Jobriath was the first openly gay artist, something that even the 1970s was not ready for. The music industry could take the innuendo of Bowie and Elton John, but the real deal? Nein. Hence Jobriath was sent to the confetti-littered dustbin of glam history. “Heartbeat” Opens with Jobriath’s distinctive slightly nasal caterwaul supported by standard 1970s rock composition, as well as Jobriath’s own brand of drug addled piano playing. The lyrics give away our narrator’s adoration of a debauched friend, and the nature of their relationship is given away in the line, " and so you see I couldn't let you leave me be.” The appeal of this song lies not in it’s originality, because we’ve heard this before, but in it’s realness. Jobriath was fearless, and we are happy fools for his dear fantasy in return. Nurse With Wound- I've Plummed This Entire Neighborhood Now it gets interesting. Nurse With Wound, AKA Steven Stapleton, is an avant garde sound experiment out of London. NWW has collaborated with Fetus, Sterolab, and Current 93, just to name a few. This track takes it’s title from a line in the David Lynch film Eraserhead; the Lady in the Radiator song is also sampled and mixed in with what I imagine would be the soundtrack to demon possession. Deftly edited tape loops swell and swirl with electronic throbs and plenty of “what the fuck.” More of an art piece than standard dance-your-ass to the music fare, but definitely something that will saturate your brain slowly like a bucket of blood. Crystal Stilts- Converging in the Quiet Okay, back to reality. But not too quickly…we don’t want you to succumb to the bends. “Converging in the Quiet” is a dreamy offering from this Brooklyn-based group that hints at the Jesus and Mary Chain but delivers on garage yearning. The guitars swoon and sway in time with the gentle suggestion of the drumbeat. Have you ever walked through Manhattan alone in the early autumn, overcome with feelings of love and hesitation? If so, than this song might be for you. There is a subtle tension to this track, a sense of something unrequited but hopeful. Pushing forward without being pushy. Daydreamers, unite. The Screamers- Matar Dolores Hail the Mother of Sorrows. The Screamers were a band out of California during that vital decade known as the 1970s. Originally called the Tupperwares, the group changed their name after legal threats from the company of the same name. Unlike Tupperware, the Screamers did not feel the need to release a single product, i.e. album. The only documents left to us are the videos released by the venerable Target Video of San Francisco. Combining the punk rock sneer with synth molestation, “Matar Dolores” is a visceral and cerebral ode to being ’loco en cabeza’; think of finding a drum machine pummeling a homeless woman who believes she is a saint in a urine-stained alleyway. Anita Lane- Jesus Almost Got Me Closing the night is the woman you wish you could take home with you. She’s working on her sixth or seventh drink, and she’s leaning in provocatively, slurring her story of lost love and redemption. Her hand grazes your arm, and through this one small gesture her inherent sensuality is made all too clear. However there is something wounded, something innocent about her. You feel your aches begin to swell, but at the same time you stop yourself because you can tell that she is not cheap and worth knowing better. “Jesus Almost Got Me” is off of Anita Lane’s Dirty Pearl compilation. A melancholy country-tinged song, the twang smells of last night’s beer and Lane’s breathy vocals are heavy with barstool longing. Jesus hasn’t caught you yet, child.