Amanaz

Here's an unusual post.  This is Africa, the sole album from Zambia's Amanaz.  It was released in 1975 and is a really interesting combination of western musical styles and African traditions.  You can hear rock, psych, folk, pop, Afrobeat and many other styles scattered about this record, but it is consistently groovy and the heart of the musicians glues all the disparate elements together very nicely.  "Sunday Morning" is one of the chillest jams I've ever heard, perfect for the first song you put on when you wake up to another godforsaken day.  Enjoy this excellent and unique album.

RELAX

GGGRRREEEGGG SSSAAAGGGEEE

The recent spurt of gloomier, less "punk" music I've posted here is entirely coincidental.  I don't really ever have a plan for what goes on here...I just look through my music and see a record that makes me go "ooh! ooh! that one!" and then it ends up on the page.  But I have to continue this recent dip into murkier, more groovin stuff because I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO share this solo album from Greg Sage.  The Oregonian band that was his claim to fame is maybe my favorite punk band EVER.  If you are not familiar with the band I'm talking about then I recommend getting on that ASAP.  I'd share it here, but I feel like the records are still somewhat in print so I'm wary.   This record, however, is hard to track down and and not cheap once you manage to (repress it please).  It's like Greg Sage's old band doing their songs with a more country rock/americana instrumental setup.  It's not really country, though.  It's just Greg Sage.  Shit's bleak and heavy and menacing and goes down smooooth.

Keep On Keepin On

(I fixed the link! sorry bout that!)

Here's that other band...

Peter Stubb

Peter Stubb (not his actual name) is a man of many demons and many talents.  His lo-fi songs are so many different things all at once, and he's been writing them for at least 20 years now, home-dubbing cassette tapes and selling them in person or through the mail for the change in your pocket.  This is one of his more well-known tapes, Blueberry Masturbator, and the title alone should warn you that this isn't exactly a politically correct collection of songs.  Like I said, the man has a lot going on in his head, and it's great for us listeners that his outlet is writing weird, fucked up, heartwrenching, absolutely beautiful (and at times, horrifically disturbing) songs.  I have the inclination to say that this music isn't for everyone, but my heart is telling me that there is something so inherently human about Peter Stubb's music that everyone should listen to it and heed the perspective of this self-confessed madman...maybe he can remind us of the parts of ourselves that are constantly suffering, conflicted simply by the state of being stuck on this strange, fucked up plane.  Thanks to Greg/Remote Outposts for this album.

GET OFF