By A Thread

The premise behind this podcast is either fun and enlightening or ill-executed and brain dead. You be the judge.

Above: The Invisible Men, courtesy of somebody who had this on some article on some website. Sorry, I don't remember any specifics. That's Karlis on the left. Man, don't they just look like they're on fire?

1. Einstürzende Neubauten "Yü Gung" This is where I create my listener: if you can make it through 7 minutes and 14 seconds of aggressive Deutsche industrielle Tanzmusik, you will be rewarded richly. Of course, you could just forward to 7:14, but where's the fun in that?
   
2. Pussy Galore "Yü Gung" Same song, totally different groove. Of all the music I listen to, Pussy Galore is hands-down my favorite. In addition to this I plan on posting two other covers in future podcasts, cuz they don't just cover a song, they own it! Pick up the Sugarshit Sharp reissue that features this song and their equally awesome cover of Devo's "Penetration of the Centerfold." The booklet also shows the song-sketch for the different sections of their "Yü Gung" version. Can you identify the "Link Wray" part or the "Kinks" part? Funny.
   
3. A Frames "Galena" Thus begins a chain of related Seattle bands I love. The relation to the prior song? Metal percussion, I suppose. Thin, I know. This comes of their latest LP, Black Forest, but I recommend virtually everything they've produced.
   
4. Bend Sinister "All Right" Vocalist/ guitarist Erin and bassist Min's pre-A Frames band. I ordered this from Erin's Dragnet Records, and the entire transaction was an absolute pleasure. He even tossed in another CD for free. What a guy! Thanks, Erin!
5. The Dipers "I Am So Spun" Also pre-A Frames, now with Erin and the A Frames' (former) drummer Lars here playing bass and singing. Lars the man behind my favorite local band:
6. The Intelligence "Boys Annoy" Most of the recorded Intelligence stuff is just Lars on his 8-track, but as of 2005 they've become a relatively stable line-up, including two members of another Seattle great, Popular Shapes, featured on this track from the Intelligence's recent eponymous EP.
   
7. Popular Shapes "Symmetrical Girl" A version of this tune can be found on Popular Shapes' sole LP Bikini Style, which is simply freakin' awesome. This one comes from a split single with the Intelligence.
8. Unnatural Helpers "Gettin' Classy" The Unnatural Helpers are a local super group of sorts, with Popular Shapes vocalist/ Intelligence guitarist Dean Whitmore on drums and vox here. Lars was also in an early line-up. This tune is short and sweet, from their self-titled debut LP, which you need.
   
9. Tractor Sex Fatality "Jungle Pam" Karlis, an old friend of mine, was one of many bass players in The Intelligence, and was the original Tractor Sex Fatality bassist. Dave Bessenhoffer now plays bass for TSF, but he and Karlis are also 1/2 of:
10. New Fangs "In The Blood" From Bayonets. Karlis and Dave were also 2/3 of:
11. The Blow Up "Dead Stars" From their debut Dead Stars single on Empty Records. I think you can still find their one and only full length, True Noise. It's a great album, and these guys are nothing short of incredible. As a former Vespa scooterist, half-assed mod, and friend of Karlis, I always wondered if the smashed up Lambretta on the cover and mod shots on the gatefold were directed towards me. How's that for ego?
    
12. The Invisible Men "Gamekeeper" Continuing our Karlis-fest, this Billy Childish cover comes from the Invisible Men's Hunt You Down 7" EP. Karlis is credited on the sleeve, but if I recall correctly it is actually ex-Fall-Out Shannon McConnell playing on this cut. Oh well.
13. Thee Headcoats "Young Blood" And thus we end this cycle with one of Mr. Childish's best known bands. This comes from the Headcoats Down LP, which I think is by far their best. Really, you can grab pretty much anything featuring Billy Childish and know exactly what you're gonna get, but at least it's almost consistently good. I like this song lots, especially the totally gratuitous carpet F-bombing.