Afghan Whigs - Up In It (1990)

"Amphetamines and Coffee" by Afghan Whigs

Shellac the Bozak claimed Ultrasuede-002.  There was no -003.  Ultrasuede-001 belonged to a release we've visited before: Big Top Halloween by Afghan Whigs; appropriate, as the Whigs's John Curley created the Ultrasuede "label" and studio.  As such, we return to Afghan Whigs and their second album Up In It released in 1990 on Sub Pop Records.

The Afghan Whigs got an indie label and grunge producer and it led to a step in more focused musical direction.  They now had a sound and lyrical themes to match, an evolution of metal and punk that dwells in the seedy minds of addicts, deviants and abusers.  The band brings to life, not the internal psychoses and obsessions of each song's character, but the world those characters live in... or at least they try to.  When it's not working, sometimes you just have to plod through it with guitars on loud.

Here is the discography surrounding Afghan Whigs's second album:

Jugula (1989 demo)

I Am the Sticks (1989 single)

Up In It

Sister Brother (1990 single)

Retarded (1990 single)

Up In It (1990 album CD version)

"Sister Brother" by Afghan Whigs

Afghan Whigs Live at The Middle East Cafe

"Hey Cuz" by Afghan Whigs

Pass the Headphones!!

Liquid Hippos - Shellac the Bozak (1988)

"Rosetta Stone" by Liquid Hippos

John Curley owned and operated Ultrasuede Studio where Lizard 99 recorded their debut (which he also engineered.)  A further extension of his DIY ethos had Curley creating his own label, also called Ultrasuede, that released the only album by Liquid Hippos, Shellac the Bozak, in 1988.

It's often amazing how deep and powerful rock and roll can be despite and because of how young the musicians are.  Even immaturity can find resonance and beauty in the zeitgeist... or it can be produce some of the stupidest lyrics put to wax.  Shellac the Bozak is an obscure album (with only one song available online) and there's not much use in bringing it up for rediscovery.  Although the band is musically adept and their sound dances the line between 80s alternative and indie music, everything about the album, from production to lyrics, sounds like a practice run for putting out a record without any intention of it leaving the safety of the Cleveland music scene.

The lyrics are the bane of the album: confused when hiding in nonsense and laughable when they make sense.  Every song seems to have a line meant to surprise for its sheer absurdity but those lyrics stand apart, aren't funny and do the songs no favors.  The liner notes chronicle each song but one, the closing song "Unicorn Hop" which gives it the feel of a "hidden track."  Where all the other songs carry an air of seriousness, this one was meant to be a lark.  For posterity, I will go out of my way to chronicle one stanza from the song:

This old man he played one, he played knick knack on my thumb!

This old man he played two, he played knick knack on my shoe!

This old man he played three, he played knick knack on my knee!

This old man he played four; he played knick knack on my BOOTY!!!

Miraculous.

I'm still shocked that line exists, but sometimes youthful creativity takes you to some truly stupid places.

Here is the Liquid Hippos discography:

Shellac the Bozak

Pass the Headphones!!