Various Artists
"WarfRat Tales" CD
Avebury
Records
Genre: garage rock, rock
June 2006 |
Chronicling the underground garage rock scene of
early 80s Los Angeles, Warfrat Tales is a series of tracks
recorded in The Last's makeshift Lyceum Sound "studio,"
actually a refurbished garage filled with barely functioning equipment
stolen from venues and the like. Lo-fi? Yes, but ain't that the point?
This compilation was actually originally released in '83, giving
listeners at the time a chance to check out The Last, The
Leaving Trains, To Damascus, The Urinals, and others
at their grittiest. If none of these names mean anything to you, then
obviously you haven't been schooled well enough in the 80s LA indie
rock scene. The two biggest names here are
doubtlessly The Last and The Leaving Trains; The Last
contribute three gems coming off their (much-desired) escape from
their record label at the time - and it's good stuff. If you dig
danceable, keyboard-heavy garage, then irresistible "Try To Rise" and
"Brand New Drug" are for you. Slower "Anything That's Out There"
rekindles a strong 60s pop flame, meanwhile, to good results.
The Leaving Trains are caught before any
of their studio albums, and add two goodies to this cause. "Leaving
Train" and "Creeping Coastline Of Lights" are juicy little rock
numbers, essential for fans of the band.
On the other hand, we get a number of
lesser-known acts that also turn in great stuff. Among the highlights
are long-lost post-punkers 100 Flowers, psychy popsters Rain
Parade, and youthful invigorators Question. All in all,
this is 13 bands and 28 songs, all on one CD. Garage fans need to pick
this one up immediately.
87%
Fun Fact: WarfRat
takes its name from Warfarin, a rat poison that's currently having
troubles as rats are becoming resisitant!
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 28 tracks, distributed by
the label,
orig. released 1983, reissued
2005] |
