Thee Headcoats “Knights of the Baskervilles” 1996. Birdman Records. Today’s pull from one of the many – over 50 releases! – Billy Childish projects (most of which are no-frils blues-based garage rock, including Pop Rivets, the Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, the Delmonas and the Natural Born Lovers but also include solo music releases, visual art, poetry…he’s a “punk-inspired Renaissance man”). Allmusic says about him, “Childish occupies an artistic role somewhere between mad genius and bratty goofball. Unfailingly sure of himself and his vision, his music is as honest and emotionally direct as one is likely to hear.”

Knights of the Baskervilles veers toward heavy on the blues end of garage revival for part of the album, including classic blues beats and harmonica on “Meet Me,” “She’s Fine, She’s Mine” and the title track “Knights of the Baskervilles.” There’s also spoken (shouted) poetry backed with a minimalist beat (that is vaguely reminiscent of “They’re Coming To Take Me Away”) on “What’s Wrong With Me.” But my favorites on the LP are the raw and trashy punk tracks like “I’m Unkind” and the hilariously lo-fi, ass shakin’ “By the Hairs On My Chinny Chin Chin” which sounds like Childish sang into a 50 year old mic coated with years of bar grime and psychobilly swagger.