The Vidablue

Ten Grand were one of my favourite bands of the early noughties. I was given a copy of "This Is The Way To Rule" by Southern Records and I immediately fell in love with the band. Seeing them live that summer was a highlight in my gig-going experience. Meeting the band was also a joy - four of the nicest guys you could possibly wish to meet. And then less than a month later Matt died suddenly. A terrible loss to music and the world in general.

Ten Grand started life out as The Vidablue before an enforced name change in 2002. They released an album "Our Miracle Point Of Contact" under this name, well worth digging out. Here, for your delectation, is an early single limited to 200 copies (mine has a green cover rather than the brown one pictured) and the Vidablue songs from a split EP with the Khayembii Communique (who they?).

Vida Blue was a baseball player

Ten Grand was the amount the band were paid to relinquish the rights to the name "Vida Blue" to a terrible electronic band.

Both of these facts are true.

Helmet - Biscuits For Smut EP

1994's Betty is probably my favourite Helmet album and so I've chosen the singles from that album for today's post.

First is Wilma's Rainbow, a seven track EP containing five live versions of some of their best tracks.

You're mentally endowed

The second single from Betty was "Biscuits For Smut". This EP contains a different version of Milquetoast called Milktoast, an exclusive b-side and a remix of Biscuits.


Better fed than forced

Geisha - Hymns For The Living Dead

This, their second EP from 2004, contains four tracks of mind-blowing riffs and the most extraordinary raw power. I have no idea how to get a hold of their more recent output; albums "Mondo Dell'Orrore", "Die Verbrechen Der Liebe" and "Maudit A Minuit" otherwise I would send you there. I have the first and third but can't remember where I got them. Their website has info on releases but no obvious way of buying them. My copy of this EP is obviously a promo, as it has a press release in it with some terrible quotes including "Geisha have piss all over their chips and an antisocial behaviour order in the post" by manchestermusic.co.uk. The website doesn't have this quote any more - instead it says "This is music for aspiring serial killers where everything is fuzzed up past the point of sensibility. Even the drums and indeed the distortion has distortion on it." Fair enough.

Pish and chips

Ex Models / The Seconds - Raw Wild Love

An interesting little EP this. Two tracks by each band. I really liked the first Ex Models album "Other Mathematics"; less impressed by their follow up "Zoo Psychology". Like Shellac meets Talking Heads, you might say they sound. This EP came out in between albums and was a split with the Seconds, whom I've never heard of. But I've included their songs as they're actually quite good - punky.

Pheasant pluckers

At The Drive-In - Sunshine/At The Drive-In split E.P

 Turns out I have this on both vinyl and CD for some reason, but until my search through for second A-Z inspiration, realised I didn't have it in my iTunes collection. Just the two ATDI tracks for you here. The first, "Extracurricular" was also a b-side of the "Rolodex Propaganda" single. The second "Autorelocator" only reappeared on their compilation "This Station Is Non-Operational" in 2005.

I remember in the year 2000, when "One Arm Scissor" came out. What a breath of fresh air that was - it caused me to find earlier releases by ATDI including the brilliant "Vaya" and "In Casino Out". They were one of the most exciting live bands I ever saw. And what do we have now? The Mars Volta and Sparta. Never mind.

Invalid twitter department

The Van Pelt - Self-Titled EP

Have you heard Chris Leo's Vague Angels? Don't bother. But everything by his previous bands The Van Pelt and The Lapse is pure gold. I remember seeing The Lapse at the Underworld in that London after Toko had left (for Enon presumably). Gig was great though and featured one of the songs (Speeding Train) from this 7", a different version of which made it onto the first Lapse album "The Betrayal". There were rumours of a completed but never released third Lapse album including a song called We Are The Romans. Anyone got it? Meanwhile enjoy this three song EP.

Rodan - How The Winter Was Passed

If any of you haven't heard Rodan's album "Rusty", I suggest you get it now. Tara Jane O'Neill was in this band as well as other members that went on to form June of 44, Shipping News and Rachel's. Clearly influenced by Slint, but pushing the ideas forward, they lay the path for most post-rock and post-hardcore bands of the 90's. Apart from the album the only other thing they released as far as I am aware is this single. And it's well worth a listen.

Watch out for that giant pterosaur

Owen - Near and Far

A Split EP with The Rutabega, here are the three songs by Owen including Mike Kinsella's solo version of the American Football track "Never Meant" - possibly the greatest song ever written. There's some good YouTube footage of him being unable to play the song at a gig somewhere. Bless. His new album "Ghost Town" is just out and it's as beautiful and heartfelt as ever. Either he's had more devastating break-ups than anyone else known to man or an unnatural amount of empathy towards those that have. He should come and play in the UK more often.

The One With The Protocols

Enablers - Now You Can Answer My Prayers

This beautiful 10" from Enablers came out in 2009 and was limited to 400 copies. If they have any left I sincerely suggest you get along to Lancashire and Somerset Records and buy it immediately as well as all the other Enablers releases (I did). Just as intense, raw and compelling as any of their album releases, these two tracks are well worth listening to (and owning). The first track Hy features Pete Simonelli reading from a letter he found in San Francisco, which is reproduced facsimile as part of the release.

Get to it.