Nolan Potter: The Perils Of Being Trapped Inside A Head (2024)

I didn’t discover the psychedelic wonder of Nolan Potter until late in 2021, after I had already done my non-metal end of year podcast over at Nine Circles. Still, Music Is Dead was was a massive sizzle to every part of my brain, and I had no choice but to make it my non-metal album of the year. Since then I vowed never to make the same mistake again, and I was right on top of things when Potter released The Perils of Being Trapped Inside A Head back in April. Once again written, recorded, and performed by Potter (with an assist by former Lake Of Fire partner Dillon Fernandez on synths, percussion, and vocals) at his home in Austin, TX, it’s a lovely, borderline-unclassifiable slab of great rock and pop, absorbing a myriad of styles in the name of confessional, DIY music that resonates with me just as much as his previous work. In other words, now it’s trapped inside my head, and I couldn’t be happier.

ChrisDecember 8, 20241 Comment

Vinyl

Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (1969)

From chaos to order. Its starts with the different instruments, tuning and finding there feet in a large, sonic space. But eventually the disparate sounds come together, and it’s anchored by the bass. Soon the individual components become the whole that is Grateful Dead, and as “Dark Star” kicks off Side A of the band’s classic first (of literally hundreds) live release in earnest we realize just how essential (I was going to say instrumental but that’s a pun too far) the late, great Phil Lesh was to the band’s sound. Live/Dead is so many things, and for me it’s still the definitive live document of the band, and the album I turn to not only when I need some Grateful Dead in my ears, but when I need to drift off and calm my mind as well.

ChrisNovember 1, 20241 Comment

Vinyl

Mirthrandir: For You The Old Woman (1976)

It’s crazy how buried the US’s prog scene became in the absolute (beautiful) glut of progressive rock coming out of the UK and Italy during the 70s. For every Kansas or Styx that adjusted and stood in the rising waters to make it there were dozens if not hundreds (okay, most likely dozens) of bands who put out one of two albums and slowly sank again beneath the surface of extended keyboard pyrotechnics and odd time signatures. So cheers to New Jersey’s Mirthrandir for somehow getting a brief look at the sun as their sole album, 1976’s For You The Old Woman gets a vinyl reissue from PQR Records based out of France. Folks looking for a fix of classic era Yes, Gentle Giant, and even some Genesis will get a lot out of this compact little prog package.

ChrisAugust 7, 20241 Comment

Flied Egg: Dr. Siegel’s Fried Egg Shooting Machine (1972)

Here’s the thing about Japanese rock, especially in the 70s: they were of course responding to the popular sounds coming across from the West, but forever adding unique and cultural spins that immediately make the music stand out, even when it appears to be pure emulation and adoration of a particular vibe. Such is the case with the intentionally joke-named Flied Egg, whose 1972 debut Dr. Siegel’s Fried Egg Shooting Machine wonderfully captures the underground psychedelic and progressive rock popular at time, but with a wit and humor missing from the stars of the era. Deep Purple and Uriah Heep never sounded this much fun.

ChrisJuly 9, 2024July 9, 20241 Comment

Vinyl

Sweet Slag: Tracking With Close-Ups (1971)

One more quick hit/impulse buy before I move onto the next series. I’m almost positive I came across the psychedelic stylings of Sweet Slag from Smokin’ Joe and the HiFi Dream Machine, the weekly radio show hosted by Joe Macchia (who also happens to manage my local record shop Needle + Groove). Damned if I can recall now what track it was, but at some point I tracked down Tracking With Close-Ups, the UK band’s one and only release. Equal doses of psychedelia, garage, progressive and soul groove, it’s a rock record that goes places. Too many of these one-record wonders get lost in the shuffle of the more mainstream, “classic” rock of the period, so it’s always fun to sit back and listen to what else was coming out at the time. Good stuff here, so let’s dig into it.

ChrisMay 12, 2024Leave a comment

Vinyl

Brittany Howard: What Now (2024)

Had to take a small break for a number of personal things including college visits and a funeral, but the truth is I would’ve needed a break, anyway. I started this review of What Now, the sophomore solo release from former Alabama Shakes guitarist/vocalist Brittany Howard almost a week ago and came to a realization: here is an album I love but can’t quite explain why (yet). It’s a thick, often murky, challenging album, not straight-forward at all and the more I listen the more I believe it’s this challenge, this refusal to play it simple, forcing the listener to really dig in if they want to “get it” that makes me fall hard for What Now. I don’t know if I’ll come closer to “understanding” with this review, but I’m gonna try.

ChrisMay 4, 20242 Comments

Consuming the Tangible

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Tag: psychedelic rock

Nolan Potter: The Perils Of Being Trapped Inside A Head (2024)

Grateful Dead: Live/Dead (1969)

Mirthrandir: For You The Old Woman (1976)

Flied Egg: Dr. Siegel’s Fried Egg Shooting Machine (1972)

Sweet Slag: Tracking With Close-Ups (1971)

Brittany Howard: What Now (2024)