It's "download an under-appreciated artist day" in Tunesville!

[Davey]

OK, some of you may already know that Love Is A Gas by Paul K and the Weathermen is one of my favorites of the 90s, wound up with a track from it on the 1997 retro comp that I contributed to, and I may be the only fan around these parts, but thought I'd pass on some cool news. I was looking for info on a new release I'd heard might be coming, and sure enough, there is one out now. But from his site he has available all of his records for free download from archive.org in vbr mp3 (link below). Great way to sample one of the best American songwriters of the modern age, and with pretty decent SQ too. I'd especially recommend downloading Love Is A Gas, probably his most accessible and rocking record. It's a little reminiscent of another guy that uses only a "K" for his last name on record, Tonio K, and those first couple great late 70s records that Steve Simels of Stereo Review championed (somewhat tongue-in-cheekily) as the best records ever. And his sound also has ties to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, who's Moe Tucker produced and played some drums (along with Wilco's Glenn Kotche) and PK dedicates it to David Ruffin [Temptations] and Sterling Morrison [Velvet Underground], and comparisons have been drawn to Merle Haggard and especially Townes Van Zandt by others, and there's some of the Replacements, and also some of his musical brother, Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs (and hey, anyone else excited about the upcoming Greg Dulli/Mark Lanegan Gutter Twins record!?). But K's songwriting and voice and guitar playing are still the big attractions. This is really a beautiful album of finely crafted songs with lots of guitars - highly recommended. Readily available on the used market, but also still available in both CD and inexpensive vinyl from Alias Records.

Maybe we could do a little group review of Love Is A Gas if enough people take the worm? Hehehe, or maybe not. Feel free to post one of your own artist-sanctioned downloads here. These are great. Been listening to Wilderness of Mirrors for the first time and now I'm gonna have to track down that CD, can see it growing into a favorite too.

http://paulkweathermen.com/id4.html

[oaqm]

I pulled Wilderness of Mirrors down, based on that one I am dl'ing the whole enchilada now. Good recommendation!

[Davey]

I pulled Wilderness of Mirrors down, based on that one I am dl'ing the whole enchilada now. Good recommendation!

Finally, someone else with good taste in music around here! Hehehe, just kidding, looks like you are kinda new here - poster with the very strange name that doesn't roll off the tongue with ease - but this is one of the best [sadly shrinking] collections of music lovers with great taste that I've come across in my virtual wanderings. Hope you keep posting about stuff.

[oaqm]

okayokayokay, I downloaded Love Is A Gas also.

http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif http://spydernation.com/backup/Smileys/default/bow.gif


That is the McShizzle!

[Slosh]

Thanks for the tip. I never (knowingly) listened to any Paul K. before. First spin so too soon to offer any opinion yet but. . . .

NP:

[Davey]

Thanks for the tip. I never (knowingly) listened to any Paul K. before. First spin so too soon to offer any opinion yet but. . . .

Hehehe, might not be Slosh-type music as it is kinda 70s sounding, but one thing I can always count on around here is that most of you guys and gals are unpredictable. Standing on a completely different plateaux, did ya ever hear "Deadsexy" by Scarce? Been a bit on the 90s heavy rock kinda thing lately, and this one does kick some wimpy indie rock types around the room over under sideways and through. Course that means a sore ass for me too, but still a good ass record, especially when Joyce is singing lead like on "Summertime" :)

[3-LockBox]

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[Slosh]

Standing on a completely different plateaux, did ya ever hear "Deadsexy" by Scarce?No, but I did manage to snag a real copy of this a bit early. Not his best work but mediocre Malko is still better than most other albums.

NP:

[tentoze]

I picked up Love Is A Gas a couple years ago for a couple bucks, based on a previous Davey post expostulating its many virtues. Spun it once, and wondered if I was listening to the same music he described, with all those influences and stuff. Maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind at the time. Maybe the dog had just bitten me. I don't remember for sure. I do remember being glad it was only a couple bucks. I may pull it out over the weekend to give it a second chance.

[Davey]

I picked up Love Is A Gas a couple years ago for a couple bucks, based on a previous Davey post expostulating its many virtues. Spun it once, and wondered if I was listening to the same music he described, with all those influences and stuff.

Yea, would've thought your love of Willie Nile and other artists like that would pull you more into this one, especially on the slower guitar driven grooves. Maybe try skipping the first song if you do listen again, but it is a bit more mainstream sounding record than most of what I talk about so may just be a small aberration on my normally distinguished path.

AMG really loved it, though. And he did record Townes' "Tecumseh Valley" on his 1995 release, Achilles Heel. But dig it back out and give a listen to the simple down and out tale "Lavender Door" (a quick google tells me this is apparently a term often used as a gay and lesbian portal these days :)), followed by the guitar heavy "Deep Freeze", or maybe "Liar's Prayer" followed by "To See You If You Fall". That whole ending set of 4 songs is probably my favorite section. Well known novelist George Pelecanos has often championed another favorite of mine in Steve Wynn, but only recently discovered this one and wrote ...

File this under The Ones that Got Away. Love is a Gas (released in 1997) flew way under my radar, but it found its way to me circuitously, and eventually, as most good music does. It's a great rock record with genuine feeling from Paul K., who is unafraid to express his positive outlook on life in the face of cynics. In the liner notes Paul writes: "Years of listening to radio broadcasts in which 19 year olds positively ache over the unfairness and venality of the world have made me just angry enough to put aside anger and embrace those few things in life which are universally considered 'good.' Life is neutral. Money is neutral. Love is always good."

[3-LockBox]

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Ok, I've spun Love Is A Gas a couple of times...

Too singer-song-writerish.












;)



Actually, I quite like it. He's kinda jammy in places, which is cool. I don't hear any Willie influence at all. I do hear a lot of '70s rock influences, maybe a little country rock ala Blue Rodeo or Uncle Tupelo. The track Deep Freeze is stellar with its long jammy intro. However, Slow It Down so closely apes Elvis Costello's Pump It Up as to suggest rip-off. When he does the soul thing, reminds me an awful lot of Robbie Robertson's solo stuff from a decade earlier on songs like David Ruffin's Tears (which sounds like a Robertson penned song title) and Jesus Children of America. I also like the guitar driven song Manna a lot, which reminds me a little of John Hiatt (who I can take in small doses). The title track is kinda trippy, except I wished he'd had pushed it further, instead of the hidden title track thing (well, it was the '90s); I didn't like the hidden track.

I do like this disc though, and now feel guilty for not having not purchased it - thanks Davey! not for making me feel guilty...for the recommendation...not that I'm wracked with guilt or anything, so don't feel bad...not that you should...I guess we all make our choices...How's the detachable thing coming along?

I downloaded Wilderness as well, and I give it a spin tonite. Ah, the musics I've found through this website...priceless...especially since this was free.

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