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

Dinosaur Jr - Whatever's Cool With Me

It was never going to be too long before Dinosaur Jr made an appearance on this blog. As all of the early EPs are available on Fossils or as extras on the re-releases of the first three albums, I've chosen "Whatever's Cool With Me" which, to my knowledge, is no longer commercially available. May Warner Music ask me politely to remove this post if that isn't so. The title track and "Sideways" are exclusive to this EP along with two live tracks; "Thumb" and "Keep The Glove". Despite being a fan since about 1990, I never saw them live until about 1996 in Cambridge. I was stood at the front and had J's Marshall stack full in my face. I can remember my hair being blown by the soundwaves and my ears bursting during "Sludgefeast".  Pardon?

The Chalets - Nightrocker + Live on Other Voices

They weren't with us long but made a fairly large impact on me. Dublin's The Chalets apparently formed after attending an ATP in Camber Sands (in the good old days when they had more bands on playing for less time and you could smuggle beer in more easily). One album and a few singles later they were gone. But not forgotten. Here is one of their EPs "Nightrocker" with three exclusive b-sides plus, as an extra special treat, a live recording of their appearance on Ireland's "Other Voices" that I ripped from the internet some time ago. Five tracks including two written after the release of their album. I can't explain why I like the Chalets so much. Maybe it's because they're from Dublin. Maybe it's because Paula 'Pee Pee' Cullen is so lovely. Er... hang on... Check in. Check out.

Blood Red Shoes - 7" EP

On the lovely Johnson Family record label, this was BRS's first release back in 2005 and the three tracks present have not been made available again. It's nice to see a band with people you know in it be successful. But quite strange. I went to see them at Bush Hall a few years ago and didn't recognise a single person in the audience. It was full of kids. Which is good, obviously, for them. Last time I saw Steve and Laura-Mary, they were doing an in-store gig and signing at Sister Ray on Berwick Street. Steve still had time to say Hi while he was signing the fawning infants' purchases. An all-round proper geezer he is.

It's getting bloggy by the sea

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

Yo La Tengo - From A Motel 6

I didn't discover Yo La Tengo until 1997's "I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One" and particularly "Autumn Sweater". Since then I have been constantly amazed by the range of material they produce from sweet pop songs to sheer white noise. This is one of their earlier EPs from 1994 although they'd already been going nearly 10 years by then. "From a Motel 6" appears on their album "Painful". The second track "Ashes On The Ground" can be found on their excellent collection of rarities "Prisoners of Love" but the third track "Nutricia" cannot be found anywhere else as far as I know. A remix of "From a Motel 6" rounds off the EP.

I have it!

Whiteout - Detroit

When every other indie band in the mid-nineties was copying '60s music, Whiteout stuck out like a sore thumb by emulating their '70s heroes. This was my favourite single of theirs. I remember seeing them for the second time in Liverpool supported by an as yet unknown Manchester band called Oasis. Oasis were awful but, despite this, seemed to attract a massive audience; all of whom buggered off immediately after, leaving about 30 people to watch Whiteout. I have hated Oasis ever since. Whiteout must have seen where things were heading and the singer called it a day soon after.

No time to live for tomorrow