Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels instead of the internet.
It's been a while since I covered a Shimmy Disc record in this space, so I figured it was time to bring back Shimmy Disc supergroup (?) B.A.L.L. For this, their fourth and final album, the band was composed of label founder Kramer and Don Fleming (more about them later), and . . . maybe Jay Spiegel? Sure.
The DJ comments are interesting for a couple of reasons: Despite the rundown of who's who on the album cover - which is not something I think I've seen before - they give you almost no indication of what the band or album sounds like. ("Rock," I guess? Some of which is instrumental, and some of which is better than the rest?) Also the DJs, once again, find a way to get weirdly personal and aggressive about fairly benign issues. Mellow out, everybody! Oh, I guess they were just playing hardball.
"Kramer, ex-Shockabilly, now Bongwater . . ."
"Don Fleming, ex-Velvet Monkeys, now Dinosaur Jr. Manages Sonic Youth."
"Have you noticed that almost all of Shimmy Disc's records have a hole that's too small?
"It makes them easier not to play. Crap for the most part."
"Side A is much better than Side B."
"Music is so subjective, therefore 'better' means nothing to anyone but you (or someone who has the same 'taste' as you). Bullshit walks!"
"You think that comment is regrettable, check this out." [arrow pointing in the direction of the following comment]
"Side 2 is all instrumental. This is a rock record."
This week's Review Revue spotlights Skin Yard's debut self-titled album. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights the Nomeansno album Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
This week's Review Revue spotlights Animal Kingdom's self-titled album. See what KCMU DJs thought back in the day.
