Sheer Thursday - Expecting the Grass (1986, Twilight)

Well, there's not much info to be had on Sheer Thursday, but some superficial stats on the back sleeve of this platter inform us they were based in Atlanta - that, and they were affiliated with Twilight Records, the imprint that released my favorite Pedaljets album, Today, Today.  Expecting the Grass peaks early on with it's ringing opening salvo, "Dodge," suggesting that ST had imbibed their fair share of Reckoning and Fables of the Reconstruction prior to these sessions.  If the remainder of this record was of the same caliber I'd be more enthusiastic, but luckily this quartet rolls a solid spare (if no more outright strikes) in the form of "A View From the Side" (esp the latter of the two tracks bearing that title).  Great, edgy post-punk, loosely in a Homestead Records mold.  Amidst some of the lesser selections there's too much collegiate-level ambling and artsy transgressions for my taste, but with the exception of ...Grass's most egregious foible, "Distance," it's a listenable and occasionally rewarding LP.     

01. Dodge
02. Distance
03. Fish form...
04. Moral
05. Gray Day
06. A View From the Side VII
07. Home Park
08. A View From the Side
09. The Dancing Bear

https://rapidshare.com/files/2236705955/sheerthursday.rar

Dreams So Real - The Audio Biography tape (1990)

We're just as much a heathen as anybody. - Barry Marler

Were I a little more "with it," I would have created this entry a week ago, and used it as on opportunity to plug two Dreams So Real reunion shows that had yet to happen (April 27th in Athens, GA, April 28 in Atlanta), but if those dates don't already make it obvious, I can only refer to them in the past tense.  On the ball as usual.

This isn't the first post I've dedicated to this Athens, GA trio, who were responsible for three stellar albums of rootsy jangle pop, circa the mid-80s thru 1990.  This tape was released by Arista Records as a promotional item coinciding with DSR's third and final outing, Gloryline.  Narrated entirely by leadman Barry Marler and bassist Trent Allen, the self explanatory motif of this nineteen-minute reel spans the group's early independent releases for Coyote Records right up to the then fresh Gloryline.  Not overwhelmingly revelatory, the guys at least have more to opine here than in their wide-screen appearance in the 1987 Athens, Ga Inside/Out rockumentary.  Interspersed between the spoken portions are one minute clips of key album tracks, including a demo take of "City of Love," that can only be enjoyed here - at least the few moments of it that are included anyway.  If DSR are unfamiliar terrain to you, this digitized cassette is a no-brainer as far as making your acquaintance, while seasoned ears will no doubt regard Audio Biography as a tasty curio.  Like what you hear?  DSR's crucial debut, Father's House is ripe for the picking at Power Pop Criminals, we're hosting the rarities and outtakes compendium Nocturnal Omissions, and the two Arista albums, Rough Night in Jericho and Gloryline are on iTunes and Emusic.

https://rapidshare.com/files/2698811892/dsr_bio90.rar