Trick Bag!

The History Of Northwest Rock Volume 4 (2006)
"This CD is nothing short of a magnificent sweep through Jerry Dennon's archives. We've tried to provide a representative sampling of the array of talent that made up the legendary sixties' Northwest Sound--thus there is primitive rhythm and blues, sophisticated pop, soul, organ driven rock and roll, fuzz guitar punk, trippy psychedelia and more. Quality is a common bond that links all these records together and that's one of the factors that made the Northwest such a magic place during the sixties." - from the liner notes by Neal Skok

American youth

Solger EP (1981)
This one'll claw it's way outta the t(h)rash heap and into to your ears! Sounds like the bastard child of the Fartz (with whom Paul Dana/Solger played with briefly) and the Germs. Don't hate it!

One step closer

The Miracle Workers 'Inside Out' (1985)
A true classic from the mid-80's garage rock revival, these Portlanders know how to kick it out. Get it and you'll know why!

Silver bullet!

The Briefs 'Hit After Hit' (2000)
Hit after hit of catchy punk rock. Retro, yet up to date. Get yourself a new pair of shoes and pogo!

Can you feel my ...

Nirvana 'Love Buzz/Big Cheese' 7" (1988)
I didn't really care for this much when it came out, but it has since grown on me like a good buzz should.

Mudride!

Mudhoney 'Superfuzz Bigmuff' (1988)
Hard to believe it's been over 20 years since this came out and the term grunge came into vogue, but it's the truth, Ruth. Chain that door, put on the beads and turn it up loud!!

Don & the Goodtimes (1994)
Put on your top hat and tails and get ready to ring in the new year with these Northwest rockers. Started by ex-Kingsmen Don Gallucci and Jack Ely, this comp covers they're entire career, from R and B stompers to garage pop and psyche. It could be so good to you!

Like, groovey

Paul Revere & The Raiders 'Like, Long Hair' (1961)
Paul Revere is an enterprising young man with an unbelievable name. However, unlike the original Paul Revere who worked out of Boston and rode a horse, this one hails from Caldwell, Idaho and rides a piano.
Paul Revere, who had never performed in public, was persuaded to sit in at a local teenage dance sponsored by the Elks. He was so enthused, he decided to continue playing dances with the local group.
It was the spring of 1960 that Paul decided to record on tape a song called "Beatnik Sticks" and take it to Hollywood with the hope of some record company putting it on wax. When he arrived in Hollywood he discovered he was one of many trying to do the same thing. He was persistent and after a week of what seemed to be nonsuccess, he was suddenly offered contracts by 5 different record companies. After some thought he accepted Gardena Records as being the most promising.
After the success of his single "Like Long Hair", here is his contribution to the LP field with an all instrumental dance album that has the typical drive! drive! drive! of "Paul Revere & The Raiders".
Swing forth all ye Rock & Rollers, Paul Revere Rides again. - from the liner notes, paulrevereraiders.com

Shoot 'em down

The U-Men 12" (1984)
Years before grunge would take the world by storm, the U-Men were top dogs in Seattle. Singer John Bigley discharges wildly over a mixture of punk, rockabilly and noisy free-formity led by guitarist Tom Price and rhythm section James Tillman and Chaz Ryan. Their live shows often included a little mayhem, but always a great time! Read more...

Cool, trash

The Kingsmen 'The Best Of The Kingsmen' (1985)
The Kingsmen, a teen combo that began their reign banging out truly basic three-chord tunes steeped in the strong R & B elements on the Pacific Northwest's school of rock 'n roll, may for all eternity be pegged as the prime example of that wonderfully crude, supremely sloppy, sixties garage band sound that many of us still hold near and dear. That's one hell of a high honor. - from the liner notes

Please make a wish...

The Fastbacks 'It's Your Birthday/You Can't Be Happy' 7" (1981)
First single from Seattle-punker-in-residence Kurt Bloch along with Kim Warnick, Lulu Gargiulo and the somewhat known Duff McKagen. Pop punk at it's finest, you can be happy!

We're the party

Night Kings 'Increasing Our High' (1992)
After the demise of Seattle's Nights and Days, Rob Vasquez fired up a new trio of talented bums. A little less mod, a little more trash garage punk, perhaps high as kites. If you have any problems, go see the complaints dept for more info. Why not buy this (cheap!)?

I'm numb

Pointed Sticks 'What Do You Want Me To Do?' (1978) and 'Lies' (1979) 7"s
A couple of punky power pops from our neighbor city to the north, Vancouver BC. Their website www.thepointedsticks.com says: The Pointed Sticks were formed in 1978 by vocalist Nick Jones, guitarist Bill Napier-Hemy, bassist Tony Bardach and drummer Ian Tiles; keyboard player Gord Nicholl joined later. After releasing several singles and undergoing a number of personnel changes, the band released their debut album, 'Perfect Youth', in 1980. They disbanded the following year.

Noise in mono

Dead Moon 'Dirty Noise' 7" (1993)
Fred + Toody + Andrew = no shit!

A sonic tribute!

!!!Here Ain't The Sonics!!! (1989)
I'm not a fan of tribute albums, but I am a fan of the Sonics (and many bands on this record) so this'll have to do. Not a bad collection of tunes by a diverse assemblage of groups from around the country and beyond. Some big names here from the Pacific Northwest (Fallouts, Girl Trouble, Mono Men, Screaming Trees, to name a few), as well as The Cynics, Thee Headcoats, Nomads and many others. They ain't the Sonics, but they try.

Tall cool one

The Wailers 'The Fabulous Wailers, The Boys From Tacoma - anthology 1961-1969' (1993)
An anthologized frenzy of tunes, from early instro/R & B sound to classic NW garage rock and on through touches of psyche. The Wailers may be out of their tree, but they walk a tough walk!

Who's it gonna be?

The Weeds 'aka The Lollipop Shoppe' (2007)
An excellent compilation of Fred Cole's eminent 60's band, The Weeds. A 1966 single 'It's Your Time' is here, as well their only album 'Just Colour', released in 1968 under The Lollipop Shoppe moniker. Also, a couple of tracks used in the biker movie "Angels From Hell." The last two tracks are from a 1969 single and are kind of throwaway hard rockers. All in all a fine package, remastered, with extensive liner notes. I highly recommend you go out a buy a copy.

Out of their tree

The Wailers 'Outburst' (1966)
"By the time The Wailers released this LP on United Artists in 1966, the British Invasion had rewritten the rock 'n' roll rulebook by which the Pacific Northwest powerhouse had been playing. In contrast to the blazing saxophone instrumentals of their earlier years, this LP relies ever more heavily on vocals and harmonies, and sounds more like The Beau Brummels than frat-rock.
There's still a dollop of the band's earlier sound in a replay of 1965's incendiary "Out of Our Tree" and the rave-ups "Hold" and "Turn and Run," but it's the folk-rock and pop tunes that find the band invigorated. Fans looking for material to match their earlier works on Etiquette may be disappointed, but those who love The Leaves and other mid-60s Sunset Strip folk-rockers will be intrigued.
This 1995 reissue is typical of the Collectables label: a clean stereo reproduction (except track #5 which is mono, and #4 which sounds simulated) mated to cheap packaging (no original cover art, a typo on the back cover) and liner notes that give a by-the-book history of the band and virtually no commentary on this specific album." - redtunictroll, amazon.com

Merry juana

The History of Northwest Rock Volume 3: Psychedelic Seattle 1965-69 (2000)
Aaaaah, the 60's, psychedelics, Seattle...
Although the third volume in this series is my least favorite, it is certainly no slouch. Some great tracks are here and a few hippies too.
From the liner notes: "Our local sounds were being impacted by influences as disparate as flower-power rock, Mersey beat mania, paisley-powered psychedelia, old-timey jug bands, acid rock freakouts and back-to-the-country rock. Yet as we shall see, the region's bedrock teen-R&B tradition never gave way entirely here in the Northwest."

Out on a wire

Dead Moon 'In The Graveyard' (1988)
Fred Cole should need no introduction here. As a founder of the Lollipop Shoppe/Weeds/Rats he has laid out an expansive musical history. Dead Moon is no exception and this debut LP is chock full of beautiful tunes. Unfortunately, their fidelity-challenged records don't hold a candle (on a drum set, no less) to seeing them live, but hey, one listen and you can't help falling in love. Check out the Dead Moon website for more up-to-date info on Fred and Toody's new band, Pierced Arrows.