Dando Shop: May 2011

Gnome - Fiberglass (1993, C/Z)

I recently had a request for this, and given the group in question I'm happy to oblige. Of all the unsung Seattle bands that managed to protrude ever so slightly out of the Pacific Northwest spotlight in the early '90s, Gnome remain one of the nearest and dearest to my heart. C/Z Records was their humble home for this album, and their 1992 debut Six-Hi Surprise Tower, but despite decent national distribution they were lost on the public in general. Go figure - it's not as if there was anything else going on in Seattle to distract folks at the time. That record was a slow grower, but over the years (and frankly decades) I came to revere the modest, roughhewn charm of Six-Hi...but Fiberglass was a quantum leap in Gnome's development, in which the quartet brought plump, Nirvana sized hooks to the table, not to mention a far bolder sonic aptitude. In short, Fiberglass is either a colossally heavy power pop album or a wimpy stab at grunge. The album proved to be their coda, but they capped it off with one of the most compelling songs of their brief tenure, "Hey Phoobie." Any Gnome fan worth their salt knows that mouthpiece Loren Evans possessed one of the most unique timbres in indie rock, but from what I can glean online it appears he's retired from the rock and roll rigmarole. For shame, because Gnome were onto something special. BTW, Loren cut his teeth in another little known Seattle outfit called The Treeclimbers, whose music (well, a couple songs anyway) can be heard here.

01. Pictures
02. F
03. Superstar
04. Seed Pod
05. Crush
06. Popcorn
07. Premium Blend
08. DDA
09. Scoot
10. Hey Phoobie

https://rapidshare.com/files/1919930932/gnome_fiberglass.rar

THE END OF AN ERA...

13 YEARS AGO ROSS COOPER http://www.oneinthree.tv/ & JOHN SINCLAIR http://www.ustwo.co.uk/ FOUND THIS BIG OPEN SPACE IN ENTERPRISE HOUSE & INSTEAD OF BUILDING ROOMS, PUT UP 5 GARDEN SHEDS AND HAD THEM AS THEIR BEDROOMS.

WHEN I STARTED AT ST MARTINS I REMEMBER THIS BEING IN THE COLLEGE PROSPECTUS AS THEY WERE ALL GRAPHICS STUDENTS THERE AT THE TIME.
I ENDED UP MOVING INTO THE BUILDING IN ANOTHER FLAT FOR 6 YEARS (WITH BEDROOM OBVS) AND MY BROTHER ENDED UP MOVING INTO THIS FLAT.

THE RENT HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED SINCE THE LANDLORD CAUGHT ONTO THE FACT WE'D MADE IT COOL AND THIS MONTH MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR RENT. ITS NOW ON THE MARKET FOR £4500 A MONTH IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED SNAPPING IT UP OFF GUMTREE ??!!???

MY BROTHER HAS PUT IT ON THIS SITE PLEASE VOTE FOR IT AS HE CAN WIN A GRAND TOWARDS THEIR NEW HOUSE DEPOSIT WHERE THEY WILL BE GETTING PROPER BEDROOMS.

CLICK ON THIS LINK... http://t.co/sUvt8SQ

I LEFT THE BUILDING 6 MONTHS AGO TOO. SO ITS OFFICIAL. ENTERPRISE HOUSE IS O V E R. GONNA BE FULL OF 9-5ERS NOW. THE GOODSHIP ENTERPRISE HAS FINALLY SANK.

Singles Going Single #174 - Engine (88) 7" (1994, No Life)

San Fran's Engine 88 were initially known simply as Engine before they scored a deal with Caroline Records in the mid-90s. Under the truncated version of their moniker came this 45 on L.A.'s short lived indie imprint No Life Records. The A-side "20," is loud, proud, and sinewy indie rawk, subscribing to the nosier sonic attributes of Superchunk. The flip, "She Breaks a Bottle" would be rechristened "Bottle" for Engine 88's debut LP, Clean Your Room. Leadman Tom Barnes' sung/spoken technique (be it deliberate or not) is somewhat akin to Craig Finn of The Hold Steady and Lifter/Puller. Merely a casual observation on my part.

A. 20
B. She Breaks a Bottle

https://rapidshare.com/files/3963953845/engine7.rar

The Posies - Broadcasts, Vol. 6

Six down, one to go, and I can definitely say I'm feeling more enthusiastic about this installment than Vol. 5 from a few weeks ago. Things kick off with a Black Sessions performance in March of 1994, in support of the Frosting on the Beater platter. Audio recording is analog sourced, and a bit dodgy at that, but the song selection is par excellence, with some vintage covers included at the end. The remaining four tracks are culled from a 1996 appearance on CBC Radio in Vancouver, where the Posies happened to be sharing the studio with Thom Yorke (Radiohead, duh). There's an impromptu run through Oasis' "Wonderwall." and Yorke contributes guest vocals on "Blow Out." Yoy can read the folder notes for the skinny on this rather unique set.

Black Session, Paris, March 1, 1994

01. Definite Door
02. When Mute Tongues Can Speak
03. I Am the Cosmos
04. Love Letter Boxes
05. Flavor of the Month
06. Earlier Than Expected
07. Solar Sister
08. Dream All Day
09. Any Other Way
10. Burn and Shine
11. How She Lied By Living
12. Coming Right Along
13. Lights Out
14. Wiggly World (Devo cover)
15. Song of the Baker (Small Faces cover)
16. Black Night (Deep Purple cover)

CBC Radio, Vancouver 1996

17. Wonderwall
18. Blow Out
19. Ontario
20. Throwaway

https://rapidshare.com/files/2171622656/posies_broadcasts6.rar