eMUSIC APRIL

* Surreal Folk Blues Gospel Trash Vol. 1 by Rev. Beat-Man. Bitchen! Voodoo Rhythm Records, the greatest psychobilly, trash-rock label to ever come out of Switzerland (or just about anywhere else) is back on eMusic. About a year ago I stumbled across Voodoo Rhythm here and promptly downloaded King Khan & The Shrines' Three Hairs and You're Mine. But when I came back for more the next month, Voodoo Rhythm was gone. Let's hope they stick around around this time. (Unfortunately they haven't brought back King Khan & The Shrines, at least not yet.)

Beat-Man with his scratchy, sinister voice, is the founder and president-for-life of this company.

This record shows him all over the place, even trying his hand at what sounds like Russian folk music. And there's even a near-7-minute sermon, "The Beat-Man Way," in which Beat-Man shares his theological insights.

Beat-Man already has released a Surreal Folk Blues Gospel Trash Volume 2, which I hope eMusic snags soon. (Volume 3 apparently will be a DVD.)

For loads of fun, check out the Rev's podcast (with Gringo Starr) Sonic Nightmares on Garagepunk.com Click HERE for the podcast feedplayer.



* We Have You Surrounded by The Dirtbombs. Nothing like a little apocalyptic paranoia to make a body want to rock. And you’ll find plenty of that on this new album by The Dirtbombs.

On nearly every song singer/guitarist Mick Collins seems to be looking over his shoulder and not liking what he sees. Civilization is decaying, burning. The future’s so dim Collins can’t wear his shades. The end is near and everyone’s out to wreck his flow.

The Dirtbombs is one of the many Detroit bands of the 1990s that didn’t become famous when The White Stripes rose. (But don’t call his group a “garage band, or Collins will twist your head off and eat your children.) With a lineup that includes two bassists and two drummers, Collins pays vocal tribute to the soul greats of his hometown’s past.

I'll have more to say about this album in an upcoming Terrell's Tune-up. Stay tuned.


* Rib Tips and Pig Snoots by Andre Williams. After seeing Andre at SXSW, I couldn't wait for his upcoming release on Bloodshot Records. I needed some Andre now -- so I downloaded this collection of early material.

Just like I hoped for, these songs, recorded back in the '60s, are funky, raunchy and funny.

It was great seeing Andre at the Yard Dog last month, but damn, I wish I could have seen him back when these tunes were recorded.


*Live, Raw & Funky by Ike & Tina Turner. Few bands matched the raw intensity of Ike & Tina at their peak. This set includes lots of their own hits ("Nutbush City Limits," "Ooh Poo Pah Doo," "Proud Mary," "River Deep, Mountain High") covers of hits of that era ("Respect," "Son of a Preacher Man," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine") and some good old blues like the near 10-minute "I Smell Trouble," showcasing Ike's guitar as well as Tina's voice.

One of my favorite moments is Tina's rap during the middle of "Respect": "I want to talk about soul music" she says."I wanna talk about it because you see, soul is what I call grease. Comes from the kitchen, that's where you cook it."

Some of the sound quality isn't great here. But it's good and greasy. the soul burns through.


* The Secret Strength of Depression by Bassholes. I stumbled across this album while researching a well-loved, oft-covered American song. (See tomorrow's Terrell's Tune-up.)

Bassholes is a two-man blues/punk/garage band -- originally from Columbus, Ohio -- working the same side of the street as The Flat Duo Jets and early White Stripes.


Through much of their career they've been compared with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion -- though they never got nearly as famous.

They play mainly originals, tough rock seeped in raw blues. One of my favorites on this album,(released in 2000 and recorded live at a radio broadcast) is the discordant "Bowling Ball." How could you not love a song that starts out, "There's a bowling ball in the back seat of the killer's car ..."?


* Bordertown & Viva San Antone by Joe "King" Carrasco y Los Coronas. At one point in the early-to-mid '80s, Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns practically were the house band at Club West in Santa Fe. They were playing here every time you turned around. And what a show Joe put on! He literally climbed the walls. His frantic Farfisa-fueled "Nuevo Wuevo" -- a hopped-up fusion of mid-'60s Chicano garage rock and Tex Mex cantina music was an irresistible invitation to hop around and sweat.

Carrasco was known as the personification of "Party Party Weekend" and his music embodied that notion. But by 1984, Joe was getting pretty pissed off at the Reagan administration's Latin American policies. His album Border Town, which makes up about of this collection had loads of rocking fun.

But there were songs that showed Carrasco had another side too. "Current events are making me tense," he says in the opening tune. But even stronger was "Who Buy the Guns" was about the murder of four American nuns in El Salvador by right-wing death squads. It was almost like an outtake from The Clash's Sandinista!, but it rocked more convincingly.

ROUNDHOUSE ROUND-UP:ONE LAST FAVOR

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
April 10, 2008

The subject line of the e-mail from Dave Contarino promised it would be “One Last Request.”

Contarino was Gov. Bill Richardson’s campaign manager. That campaign, of course, folded in early January following twin disasters in Iowa and New Hampshire. But ever so often I — and I’m assuming hundreds if not thousands of others — still get these e-mails. The latest came this week.

“Dear Steve,” the latest missive began. You have to love that personal touch. Most of the e-mails I get from widows of Nigerian generals usually start out with something like “Hello dear,” which is more intimate, but I get the feeling they say that to all the boys.

But back to my Contarino message.

It took him a paragraph or so to get to the point. “Millions of people have turned out in record numbers during our Democratic presidential process,” Contarino wrote. “What it shows me is how energized our Party is and how strong our desire is to take back the White House after eight years of Bush administration arrogance, incompetence, and recklessness.”

OK.

“And while Gov. Richardson left the field some three months ago, the debts we incurred in working to get his message out have not.”

Here it comes.

“Thanks to our many supporters, we have begun to whittle that number down but there is much more to do — and I’m hoping you will help us finally retire it all with one last contribution.”

According to his most recent campaign finance report, filed last month, Richardson reported $420,848 in debts.

A major portion of that debt is the need to refund contributions that supporters made for a Richardson general election campaign that never happened. Under federal law, individual contributions to a candidate are limited to $2,300 for the primary election and $2,300 for the general. That allows well-heeled supporters to throw in $4,600, which beefs up the candidate’s financial reports.

Apparently there’s no mechanism to prevent candidates from spending their general election money on the primaries. But, under the law, those candidates who don’t make it to the general election have to refund that “general election” money.

According to his latest report, Richardson refunded $788,730 to those who contributed to his general election.

Apparently some people take these pleas to heart.

According to his latest report, Richardson raised some $57,000 in new contributions in February.

Changing the race: “We changed this race in important ways that will truly make a difference to our country,” Contarino says in the message.

“Now, both Democratic candidates are committed to ending the war in Iraq and getting all of our troops out.

“Now, both Democratic candidates are committed to charting a new energy future for America.

“And now, both Democratic candidates are committed to a foreign policy based on diplomacy and respect for international human rights.”

Of course, some might argue that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton might have espoused such positions even if Richardson never had been in the race.

Speaking of Obama, nowhere in the e-mail is Richardson’s endorsement of the Illinois senator mentioned. I wonder how much money will pour in from Clinton backers.

“The goal of all of us who worked so hard on the governor’s campaign now is to ensure a Democrat gets elected in the fall and to make sure that Democrats control our national agenda starting next year,” the e-mail said.

Before you go writing checks to any of those Democrats who might get elected in the fall, Contarino adds, “Please, as one last gesture to Bill Richardson’s extraordinary leadership in our democratic process, help us close our books and live up to our obligations by making one last contribution to retire his campaign debt.”

I’m just wondering whether this really be the “last request” from the Richardson campaign.

Dendahl still opining: Former State Republican chairman John Dendahl lost the 2006 gubernatorial race to Richardson. Then he moved from his hometown of Santa Fe to Colorado. But if you thought Dendahl was leaving politics or keeping his opinions to himself, think again.

The always-quotable “Gentle Jawn,” as Ernie Mills used to call him, writes an occasional article for a conservative Web site called Family Security Matters, which is associated with a Washington, D.C.-based think tank called Center for Security Policy founded by neo-conservative leader Frank J. Gaffney Jr.

Dendahl has written for the publication for several years now. His latest piece, published last month, is a blistering critique of Obama’s race speech.

The DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE AD

At some point in the not-so-distant future, there will be too many political ads to post here. But for now, here's the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund's ad aimed at Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson, which I wrote about in today's New Mexican.

NEW CD3 ADS

My story about the latest tv ad campaigns among CD 3 candidates can be found HERE.

Below are the first Ben Ray Lujan commercial and the latest Don Wiviott ad.

XIU XIU AT CSF

Xiu Xiu, whose album Women as Lovers I just reviewed in Terrell's Tune-Up, played a crazy intense set Monday night at the College of Santa Fe. (check some photos HERE.)

They were far more powerful in person than their album. Singer Jamie Stewart performs like a man possessed. Sometimes his eyes roll back as he submerges in song. It's like he's sobbing and shouting into the abyss -- and the abyss roars back.

I was most impressed with drummer Ches Smith, who pounds away like a madman.

Keyboardist Caralee McElroy is pretty amazing herself, nonchalantly moving around from instrument to instrument -- synths, harmonium, melodica, flute, a tiny glockenspiel, whistles. And occasionally she'll pound on the drums. I'm not sure how she remembers all her parts.

Rounding out the band is bassist Devin Hoff. He stays in the background, but his playing is solid.

At one point after a song, Stewart seemed to stumble. He said "Oh shit!" and sat down for a moment. Caralee brought him a glass of water. After a couple of sips he got back up and continued on without further problems.

One thing that's obvious, Xiu Xiu is a band that gives it their all.