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