Oblivians “Popular Favorites”

sfilzen — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:17:24 +0000

Oblivians “Popular Favorites” 1996. Crypt Records. Super-scuzzy lo-fi punk blues, an album one reviewer called “”supremely filthy…it makes Jon Spencer sound like Pat Boone” (LOL – Oblivians first show was opening for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in the 90’s). Tonight we’re heading to Cactus Club here in Milwaukee to see Oblivians’ Greg Cartwright and Jack Yarber perform with one of their other groups, The Compulsive Gamblers. They will be joined by a couple of members of Reigning Sound: Alex Greene and Graham Winchester. I think it’s going to be nuts since none of these bands have really been active for around 20-30 years (well, Oblivians has been, on again/off again and they released Desperation in 2013 and Reigning Sound played some shows here and there). “They have reactivated the band [The Compulsive Gamblers] for this run of Midwest shows with the end goal of performing in Detroit August 28th to Celebrate the life of Rachel Nagy, the former lead singer of The Detroit Cobras who passed away in January.” (from the Cactus Club event summary).

Popular Favorites is Oblivians’ second album and it’s raw, noisy, bluesy and amazing. My top tracks are the ass-shaking “Trouble,” creepy-sexy “The Leather,” “Strong Come On,” a track that puts the punky-poppy 50’/60’s Ramones sound through a wood shredder, the Cramps-esque “Drill” and the frantically freaked-out “Emergency.”

The post Oblivians “Popular Favorites” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Oblivians “Soul Food”

sfilzen — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 02:46:21 +0000

Oblivians “Soul Food” 1995. Crypt Records. Sleazy lo-fi garage punk-blues, Soul Food is the debut record from Memphis-based Oblivians. With Ramones-esque monikers (Eric Oblivian, Greg Oblivian and Jack Oblivian), the trio share guitar, drum and vocal responsibilities on the whip-fast 14 track “30-minute album of guitar chicken scratching with bent note solos, some church organ, spitting vocals, and thud-and-crash drumming. The songs are delivered like a fire-and-brimstone preacher who dabbles as Mr. Hyde on weekends, full of spirit and depravity.” (Allmusic) They cover Lightnin’ Hopkins on “Vietnam War Blues” and deconstruct the hell out of Dave Clark Five’s “Any Way You Want It,” bring the scuzz to the surf party on “Never Change” and croon about the beauty of love on “And Then I Fucked Her.” (just kidding)

The post Oblivians “Soul Food” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

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Oblivians “Popular Favorites”

Oblivians “Soul Food”