plasticland Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

Plasticland “Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes”

sfilzen — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:28:11 +0000

Plasticland “Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes” 1983. Scadillic Records. Garage-psych from Milwaukee, “Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes” was their third single release (they had two 7″ EP’s as well, all on Scadillic between ’80 and ’83). Both that track and the b-side “Rat-Tail Comb” appear on their debut LP Plasticland (1984, Pink Dust/Enigma Records). It’s not entirely clear who was in the band/recording on this single but for sure long-time members Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic; Violent Femmes guitarist Brian Ritchie played with Plasticland in the “early years” (this single qualifies) but accurate documentation is hard to come by. “Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes” is gritty psych, with a rocking beat and a bit of gothy snarl. “Rat-Tail Comb” is more jangle-pop psych, and hilariously 80’s for lyrical content. I mistyped the title when looking for the track on YouTube and got a TON of rat-comb images and tutorial videos…yeah, I’m good. I lived through it in the 80’s and won’t forget the technique anytime soon but just in case anyone needs to rat up their bangs:

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Plasticland “Color Appreciation”

sfilzen — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 18:05:33 +0000

Plasticland “Color Appreciation” 1984. Lolita Records. Today’s spin of Plasticland’s first LP in honor of drummer Rob McCuen, who died yesterday (not sure of his age, somewhere between 60 and 68 years old). McCuen was well-known in the Milwaukee music scene and while I only met him briefly once or twice, a lot of my friends knew him quite well and today my social feed has been filled with remembrances and anecdotes. McCuen played drums for Plasticland as well as other well-known Milwaukee bands like Liquid Pink, Animal Magnets, Rob McCuen and the Ruins and Wanda Chrome and the Leather Pharaohs; he was also an author and sports publication writer. His Facebook page is surprisingly public (though maybe I can see it because we have 30 mutual friends) so I was able to see the statement that his sister posted last night regarding his death: “With profound sadness and shock, I must share that my brother, and only sibling, Robert David McCuen, left this life early this morning, 8-11-21, in a hotel room in Oskaloosa, IA. He was excited to be in the area with his new/used orange Honda (which he called his new race car!) to attend his beloved races in Knoxville. As you all know, Rob had been struggling with many health issues the last few months and an autopsy will hopefully reveal some answers. The medical examiner has ruled out suicide, thankfully. Rob will no longer be in pain in this life. He is reunited with our parents who will embrace him in their loving arms. Thanks to all for being his loving and caring friends and family in spite of many challenging and complicated times we experienced. He meant well and had a good heart. He was a talented and published writer, a recorded rock musician, and a committed lifelong lover of sprint and stock car racing throughout the Midwest, covering colorful features/driver interviews in various race car magazines for numerous years. In spite of his bipolar condition and his difficulties with many of us, he was my brother and I loved him. My grief will be deep and complicated, but I am at peace knowing he is at peace. He died while doing what he loved most – being at the Knoxville Nationals.”

Color Appreciation is hard neo-psychedelia: fuzzed out and trippy. Most of the album is composed of great originals – I especially like “The Garden in Pain” which has a killer Bo Diddley beat topped with proto-punk buzz and sneering, snotty lyrics, the weird-ass “Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes” and “Pop! Op Drops.” The album also has one great cover, “Alaxander,” originally by Pretty Things and another not quite as good cover, “Magic Rocking Horse” originally by Pinkertons Colours (it’s really psychedelic but a little too traipsing through fields of flowers 60′s trippy without any dark edge).

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Dimentia 13 “Disturb the Air”

sfilzen — Tue, 12 May 2020 17:23:59 +0000

Dimentia 13 “Disturb the Air” 1989. Midnight Records. Jangly neo-psychedelic post punk, Disturb the Air was Dimentia 13′s third LP and was produced by Glenn Rehse of Plasticland and recorded in Milwaukee at Cornerstone Studio. I found an article about the album written by Dimentia 13′s main member, Brad Warner (vocals, guitar, percussion; the other member is Louanne Varholik on bass and backing vocals) who says that Rehse was a fan of the first two albums and since Warner was living in Chicago at the time, having recently moved there from Ohio (and a Plasticland fan himself), the two decided to collaborate. I had zero expectations when I put the needle on this record but have been more than pleasantly surprised. It’s melodic, psychedelic and at times ass-shaking, particularly “I Don’t Want You,” which is my top track on the album. But the rest is really great, too: “Martyred Under Mary,” “Do What You Will,” “It’s Awfully Nice of You” and “Samantha.” Dimentia 13′s sound isn’t terribly original – a lot of bands in the 80′s were blending 60′s psychedelia with post-punk sensibilities (ie Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxsie and the Banshees, fellow Chicagoans The Dream Syndicate, etc.) but Warner’s Dimentia 13 is definitely worth a listen and I’m always willing to give artists with a strong Midwest and/or Milwaukee connection an extra ear.

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Crate digging: Harvest Records in Asheville NC

sfilzen — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 20:53:24 +0000

What we did on vacation day 2. Also: two years ago I stopped by this record store and found Milwaukee band Plasticland’s 12″ single. Today I found their LP. Odd I find these in NC and not MKE (though it’s possible I just don’t notice).

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Plasticland “Let’s Play Pollyanna”

sfilzen — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 14:45:12 +0000

Plasticland “Let’s Play Pollyanna” 1990, 12″ single, Repulsion Records. Local Milwaukee neo-psych band active(ish) since 1980 often with a revolving lineup of recording musicians. Plasticland was inducted into the WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Hall of Fame this past spring.

Side A’s “Let’s Play Pollyanna” appears on their 1994 LP release “Dapper Snappings,” as does Side B’s “Radiant Fuzzbox” – a very 60′s garage-psych track as the title infers. Side B’s other track “Kaleidoscopic Glance”’s s title would also indicate a hazed-induced 60′s vibe but rather feels more 90′s alt-Brit pop with fuzz guitars and sneery, echoey vocals.

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