WFMU's On The Download

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WFMU's On The Download collects MP3s from the fringes once a month: new sounds, obscure audio, found sound, and other sonic stimulants unique to WFMU.

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November 2005
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"THE EMBERS OF YOUR CHURCH BURN SO BRIGHT" by Detsorgsekalf MP3	Grimness from the frostbitten land of...Canada. There was some spirited debate on a recent show of mine with Andee Connors and Allan Horrocks (both who work at Aquarius Records, the former here is putting out an album by this band on his tUMULt label) over whether this band should be considered "Joke Black Metal." While the in-your-face growling and subject matter going on here is ridiculous without doubt, there is still some real vision and an amazing, crusty lo-fi sound of guitar gristle and drum blast beats that could rank this band up with the likes of Striborg, Bathory, and Darkthrone at times. Then again, their EP is solely conceptualized about being a Black Metal band hated and threatened by other Black Metal bands. Wasn't the spirit of the genre to be truly outsiders living by their own musical blueprint in the first place? Is it not within reason for this step to be taken? Who can say for sure, I surely ain't the keeper of the Rule Book. But I can easily remain in awe of Detsorgsekalf. and you will too. See their brutal video here.
"KEYBOARD SOLO" by Detsorgsekalf MP3	Grimness from the frostbitten land of...Canada. There was some spirited debate on a recent show of mine with Andee Connors and Allan Horrocks (both who work at Aquarius Records, the former here is putting out an album by this band on his tUMULt label) over whether this band should be considered "Joke Black Metal." While the in-your-face growling and subject matter going on here is ridiculous without doubt, there is still some real vision and an amazing, crusty lo-fi sound of guitar gristle and drum blast beats that could rank this band up with the likes of Striborg, Bathory, and Darkthrone at times. Then again, their EP is solely conceptualized about being a Black Metal band hated and threatened by other Black Metal bands. Wasn't the spirit of the genre to be truly outsiders living by their own musical blueprint in the first place? Is it not within reason for this step to be taken? Who can say for sure, I surely ain't the keeper of the Rule Book. But I can easily remain in awe of Detsorgsekalf. and you will too. See their brutal video here.
"A TALE FROM THE HAUNTED HOUSE" by Pyha MP3	Andee also kindly gives us this, an MP3 of a seventh grader living in South Korea, making the most tortured music I've heard in ages. It's certainly playing by the same game plan of such soul destroyers as Abruptum and Burzum (the latter especially in the complete blanket of home-made buzz that envelops this music), but whereas those artists drag you down into a dark place and infiltrate your very being, this kid is not content to just do that. He takes you there then smashes you to pieces by maximizing every single recording channel used to utterly destroy everything in sight. The idea of a mild-mannered person sitting in his bedroom on the computer (which is the likely scenario) to make music that sounds like it is a total upheavel in Hell itself is really an odd juxtaposition of images. I mean, at that age, I was upset if cartoons weren't on as scheduled. There is something far more nefarious than that at play. Or maybe not. Apparently this kid sent a demo to bible-of-metal mag Terrorizer in the UK and got a 10 out of 10.
"201 TO 100" by Charles Bernstein MP3	A longtime staple on Kenny G's show, here's the infamous Charles Bernstein taking you to the top as only he can. Recorded in 1969.
"REJECTED PIZZA HUT JINGLE" by Ween MP3	I've never been a big Ween fan, but I have to say that Pizza Hut would have gotten my respect if they had accepted this, the band's proposal to promote the company's then-recent "cheese hidden inside the crust" pizza.
"WORK WORK WORK" by The Stiffs MP3	Later called the Stiffs Incorporated, here was a NYC band of true originals that split up long before (I think anyway) the world at large got a proper whiff. Boldly attired in post-Victorian garb (of which members may still be spotted tramping around the East Village in), singer Whitey Sterling leered at audiences through his antique wireframes on stage while the band clearly meant business with a savage guitar/bass/drum punk attack. Early singles (especially the 7" version of "Chelsea") pinned level meters with grotty and raw recording technique, though after they signed to Rick Rubin's American imprint label Onion a decidely cabaret and slightly electronic element surfaced tying in several different decades pre-and-post war influences in a fascinating way (adding a live keyboardist as well). Despite big-label pressures and demands with their 1995 album Nix Nought Nothing, the band stayed true to their musical (and cosmetic) visions, releasing a second album, Electric Chair Theater Presents on their own Gladglum label in 1997 that continued their penchant for punk sophistication and a liberal dose of humor (Philly suburbanites take note that one member's name was Bryn Mars) and of course, respect for a finer age in society. "Richard" pretty much laid a blueprint in some ways for the well-dressed 80's revivalists to follow (who clearly owe some serious debt to the Stiffs, though the Stiffs are clearly higher subtsance to match the style). After their final show in 1998 guitarist Paul Boering began work in the duo Coke (who allegedly then changed their name to "White Powder (Of Which We Do Not Partake) Which Brings To Mind the Cold Beauty of the Snow As Well As the Glamour and Sophistication of the 1920's, But Also Happens To Be the Name of a Brown Sugary Beverage"), while Whitey Sterling recently expanded his goth/electronic/industrial interests with the Umbrella Brigade. Boering also just put up a healthy chunk of Stiffs/Stiffs Inc. rarities, demos, early tracks, and unreleased music on this site. They are well worth checking out, especially if you dig the raw, early singles like I do.
"EGYSZER" by Zalatnay Sarolta MP3	1973 funky breaks from a Hungarian singer (who apparently did a spread for Playboy later on), a much-sought after record for modern day crate-diggers, and on the Pepito record label LP Hadd Mondjam El. This track is great, and actually brings to mind the vibe of some of the scratchier/funkier 80's Yoko material (Sarolta's voice is a bit similar as well, without going into the trademark Ono freakouts as well.)
"REAGAN SPEAKS" by Doug Kahn MP3	Perhaps the first president to get the cut-up treatment showered so much upon Dubya these days (not that most of what he says needs to be cut up to reflect his ignorance.) Thanks to Kenny G for this one
"LOVE AND DESPERATION" by Jeffrey Lee Pierce MP3	Thanks to Sympathy For the Record Industry for putting the magnifying class over the illustrious career of the Gun Club, yet another criminally underheralded band that has had to find its initial fans in Europe (who celebrated Sonic Youth, Giant Sand, the Feelies, Lorette Velvette etc. with more vigour at first than much of the American underground). Late frontman Jeffrey Lee Pierce peeled off his solo Wildweed record for a French only release in 1985, and despite his rifle-toting pioneer-on-the-prairie cover shot and graphics, reflected an urban, gritty sound (he was especially enamoured of the Velvets at the time) with Pierce playing much more guitar than usual, and also being backed by members of Clock DVA and the Cure. If that all sounds like a very unlikely combination of influences, well, it shows on this odd and unique rock album, with its killer kickoff track here. There's also a cover of Flipper's "Get Away" tacked on as bonus, though I seem to recall Hendrix's "Fire" on the original LP which is missing on this reissue.
"READ ABOUT SEYMOUR (LIVE)" by Swell Maps MP3	A rare glance at the chaotic live show of one of England's greatest art-punk exports. Recorded in Italy in 1980, here the band is found in a somewhat similar boat as their contemporaries like Wire and the Homosexuals: diving headfirst into a balls-out live assault as opposed to the subtle studio tricks and weirdness that went into their assorted recorded efforts. For what seems to be the fourth or fifth time, the Swell Maps' albums has seen yet another full reissue job, this time from the Secretly Canadian label, doing up A Trip To Marineville and Jane From Occupied Europe.
"FOR JACK (A PHILLIPIC) - LIVE ON WFMU" by Enablers MP3	Back in September, this amazing San Francisco combo made a swing through WFMU's halls to record a live session for Mike Lupica's show. This track is definitely telling of the band's best moments; when they halt you dead in your tracks and command you to sober up and listen. Pete Simonelli's spoken soliloquies take on a stark realism and paint an unusually noir-like image of the left coast that nobody knows, especially when backed by the incredibly textured music of his bandmates, who've got connections to notable heavies like Nice Strong Arm, Tarnation, Swans, and more. "For Jack: A Philippic" will stand the hair on the back of your neck at attention, and whet your appetite for the rest of the archive, which can be heard in Real Audio by going here. Check out the Enablers home at Neurot Records here, and watch for their next album soon, tentatively titled "Output Negative Space".
"CRAZY" by Ann Lever MP3	Ann, seeking a record deal or session work, deconstructs Patsy. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"OH LORD (PLEASE FORGIVE ME NOW)" by Bruce Hirdler MP3	Bruce, seeking a record deal or redemption, reconstructs where he went wrong. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"I FEEL SO GOOD" by Margie Pet MP3	One of the most enthusiastic disyllabic interpretations of the word "good." From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"VEHICLE" by O. Henry Intermediate School #70 Stage Band MP3	The frenetic pace of this rendition makes it about as safe as a Corvair. And yes, the lead singer is male! From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"GLOOMY SUNDAY" by Stonehenge MP3	Glorious proof---must we repeat ourselves?---that drugs, blues-based rock derivatives, and trust funds don't mix. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"BOOGIE DANCING" by Gordon Thomas MP3	Finally a disco song with meaningful lyrics and a good beat. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"THE PRESIDENT'S PRAYER" by Freddie Martell MP3	Hands clasped, heads bowed---and no snickering! From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"BECAUSE WE CARE" by Ella Gibson MP3	We did enough to include Ella's plea to support our fighting forces. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"HIGH SPEED" by Bob Vido MP3	Echoes of the Shaggs, "Dusty Roads" Rowe, Shooby Taylor and Luie Luie propel Vido into the pantheon of incorrectitude. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"DO IT LIKE A DOG" by Dean Milan MP3	The dog is the most intelligible voice on this track. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"THE STRIPPER" by Roth Junior High School Stage Band MP3	If this won't inspire you to drop your panties, we dont know what will. But, then, it's performed by high-spirited pre-pubes! From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN" by Woodstock Al MP3	Genius---or rubber-necking spectacle? We retained Al's abrupt ending (incorrectus interruptus). From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"SUMMER WONDERLAND" by Barbara Taggart MP3	No vocalist credited, unless Barb's been taking hormones. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"MOTHER RAGE" by Kathy Fire MP3	Suit-wearing puppet-men---your hour of castration draws near! From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"DEEP BOSOM WOMAN" by Wayne MP3	Poignant valentine from ex-hobo troubadour, now resident at the Incorrectional Facility. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"MR. SNUGGLES" by Anonymous MP3	Learn the lyrics and sing 'em to your loved ones. Scare the bejeezus out of them! From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS" by Deep Shag Project MP3	Sincerity and overly ambitious vocals: the hallmarks of great incorrectainment. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU" by Jim Noste MP3	Jaunty Jersey home-improvement mogul invests profits in self-recording sideline. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"YOUTHQUAKE" by Mystic Zephyrs MP3	Solos, solos and---God help us!---more solos. Drummer auditioned for---and was rejected by---the Shaggs. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"THE FUTURE IS NOW" by Neil Dick MP3	Neil posits a chronological conundrum. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"SPACE ODDITY" by Langley Schools Music Project MP3	Unforgettable passion---and idiosyncratic cymbal crashes---from these British Columbia farm kids, recorded in a gym in 1975. We love you, Hans Fenger. From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium.
"RECYCLING AD" by McCleod Landfill MP3	From the Incorrect Music 2001 marathon premium. The hidden track from the original CD version of this sampler, and for good reason.
"FAT GAL" by Merle Travis MP3	Click here to see the Comic created for WFMU's Comics Page based on this song.
"TRACK 2" by Anthony Wong MP3	Anthony Wong / Anodize - Hong Kong cinema star Anthony Wong Chau-Sang has acted in over 130 films since 1985. He made a name for himself playing opposite Yun-Fat Chow in blockbusters like Hard Boiled and Full Contact, and won awards for his portrayal of Wong Chi Hang in the notorious Bunman film. I watch every Anthony Wong film I can get my hands on; he's a wonderful actor of great range and depth, bringing humanity and a dark, personal humor to even the seediest of roles. He's also a musician, having released several CDs of idiosyncratic punk/new wave-inspired rock, sometimes accompanied by the metalpunk band Anodize. His album of covers, Bad Taste-But I Smell Good (2002), is perhaps the most well recognized internationally.
"TRACK 5" by Anthony Wong MP3	Anthony Wong / Anodize - Hong Kong cinema star Anthony Wong Chau-Sang has acted in over 130 films since 1985. He made a name for himself playing opposite Yun-Fat Chow in blockbusters like Hard Boiled and Full Contact, and won awards for his portrayal of Wong Chi Hang in the notorious Bunman film. I watch every Anthony Wong film I can get my hands on; he's a wonderful actor of great range and depth, bringing humanity and a dark, personal humor to even the seediest of roles. He's also a musician, having released several CDs of idiosyncratic punk/new wave-inspired rock, sometimes accompanied by the metalpunk band Anodize. His album of covers, Bad Taste-But I Smell Good (2002), is perhaps the most well recognized internationally.
"I DON'T WANNA GROW UP" by Anthony Wong MP3	Anthony Wong / Anodize - Hong Kong cinema star Anthony Wong Chau-Sang has acted in over 130 films since 1985. He made a name for himself playing opposite Yun-Fat Chow in blockbusters like Hard Boiled and Full Contact, and won awards for his portrayal of Wong Chi Hang in the notorious Bunman film. I watch every Anthony Wong film I can get my hands on; he's a wonderful actor of great range and depth, bringing humanity and a dark, personal humor to even the seediest of roles. He's also a musician, having released several CDs of idiosyncratic punk/new wave-inspired rock, sometimes accompanied by the metalpunk band Anodize. His album of covers, Bad Taste-But I Smell Good (2002), is perhaps the most well recognized internationally.
"ANODIZE" by Anodize/ Anthony Wong MP3	Anthony Wong / Anodize - Hong Kong cinema star Anthony Wong Chau-Sang has acted in over 130 films since 1985. He made a name for himself playing opposite Yun-Fat Chow in blockbusters like Hard Boiled and Full Contact, and won awards for his portrayal of Wong Chi Hang in the notorious Bunman film. I watch every Anthony Wong film I can get my hands on; he's a wonderful actor of great range and depth, bringing humanity and a dark, personal humor to even the seediest of roles. He's also a musician, having released several CDs of idiosyncratic punk/new wave-inspired rock, sometimes accompanied by the metalpunk band Anodize. His album of covers, Bad Taste-But I Smell Good (2002), is perhaps the most well recognized internationally.
"TWO TRACKS" by Second Hand Rose Band MP3 \| MP3	Second Hand Rose derive part of theirShrcover_1 sound from traditional "Northeastern" music, blending Chinese folk instruments into a standard rock format. Vocalist Liang Long always performs in drag, often in traditional garments. Musically, they bring to mind 70s glam pop, especially Roxy Music. Second Hand Rose have also made a splash in Switzerland for some reason, performing at several cultural festivals there. Here are some Web pages about the band, in German and English.
"THREE TRACKS" by NO / Zuoxiao Zuzhou MP3 \| MP3 \| MP3	Zuoxiao Zuzhou is a musician, poet, celebrated novelist and true giant of the Beijing scene. He formed the band NO in 1990, as singer, songwriter, guitarist and violinist. The NO albums are perhaps my favorite Chinese rock recordings, unique and experimental, bringing to mind (at times) vintage Pere Ubu. The album Trip to Temple Fair is nothing short of a masterpiece of post-punk art rock. With NO disbanded, Zuoxiao now has a very successful solo career.
"TWO TRACKS" by Gayamyan MP3 \| MP3	English information on this band is scarce, though I can tell you that they're a popular "indie" band, and their members appear all over the Chinese rock family tree in other projects and collaborations. These tracks are from the e.p. East Wing West Wing (2003), not the self-titled CD that comes up most often in Web searches.
"DO DO DO" by Wu Ma MP3	From A Chinese Ghost Story.
"THE HEROIC TRIO THEME" by Anita Mui MP3
"TOWER RECORDS AD" by John Lennon MP3	John does a great job as a guest DJ on Los Angeles station KHJ as he hawks Tower Records.
"WORST RECORD EVER MADE" by Althea and the Memories MP3	Kim Fowley pulled some pre-pubescent fans into the studio for the backing squeals.
"SUITE USA RECORD COMPANY" by Akaten MP3	Atsushi Tsuyama (Acid Mothers Temple) and Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins) provide a muscial recitation of the major record labels.
"TURN THE RECORD OVER" by Vernon Oxford MP3
"STACK OF RECORDS" by Tom Tall MP3
"WHILE THE RECORD GOES AROUND" by Playmates MP3
"BIG TEN INCH RECORDS" by Moose Jackson MP3
"RECORD BAN BLUES" by Dinah Washington MP3
"COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH SPOT" by Bob & Ray MP3
"CHAR GA KURU" by Hori Kouichiro MP3	Daisuke Enomoto (aka Dice-K) will soon become the fourth space tourist of all time, paying $20 Million to the extra-terrestrial travel agency Space Adventures for the privilege of spending ten fun-filled days in the International Space Station. Enomoto dreams not only of gazing down at the earth from the heavens, but to do so decked out in the costume of Char Aznable, his favorite character from the popular anime series Gundam. Enomoto is already entertaining bids from Japanese companies to build him a working red space suit based on the blond-haired, blue-eyed Char Aznable, whose name is derived from Charles Aznavour, but who is better known in the anime universe as The Red Comet. Here is Char's Theme song.
"I'M HUNGRY" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"WILD THING" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"GARY GHOUL BOY" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"THE HOLLYWOOD AGENT" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"SAY THERE" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"HANKY PANKY" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"HOLLYWOOD SWINGS" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"THEY TOOK YOU AWAY, I'M GLAD, I'M GLAD" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"HOLD ON, I'M COMING" by Teddy and Darrel MP3	From the LP, These are The Hits, You Silly Savage. The original album came out in 1966, and featured Teddy and Darrel lisping and swishing their way through the hits of the day.
"REACTION" by Triggervision MP3	Vicious noise punk a la Action Swingers or Äss, but sloppier and on cheaper drugs.
"THE ONLY ONE" by Crispy Lizards MP3	Late 80s Trenton band whose singer copped the best fake British snarl I've ever heard.
"DEAD END KIDS" by Jeff Fox MP3	Runaways cover as performed by Mr. Fox and band, who somehow manage to twist an utterly tuneless solo into one of my alltime favorite guitar moments in history.
"THE FCC SONG" by Family Guy MP3	November 10, 2005 - Last Sunday night's episode of The Family Guy was all about the FCC's (now dormant) language crackdown. It included a brief song and dance number about our favorite regulatory agency.
"CRISWELL PREDICTS YOUR INCREDIBLE FUTURE (44 MINUTES)" by Criswell MP3	For your listening and sampling pleasure, here's a 44-minute-long MP3 of the legendary Criswell predicting what he predicts best - the future, which is where you and I will spend the rest of our lives. Some of you may write off Criswell as another Ed Wood boy toy, but listen to the predictions he makes here, and you will be astounded by his accuracy.
"TICO TICO" by Disney MP3	Tico Tico was written in 1917 by Zequinha de Abreu. The song's first title was actually Tico Tico no Farelo, and in the 40's it became Tico Tico no Fuba. The song was imported to the US by Disney via their animated piece of World War Two-era Happy Latinos propaganda, "Saludos Amigos," in which Donald Duck introduces the song. Here is that version. Do you want more versions? At least 60 other versions of Tico Tico available here.
"GLAUCOMA HYMN" by Melanie Greve MP3	The Association of International Glaucoma Societies presented an operatic hymn about glaucoma in June of 2005 at the Imperial Viennese Glaucoma Ball. Written and composed by Erik Greve and performed by the lovely soprano Melanie Greve
"WELCOME" by Jim MP3	Relax. Have a chicory.
"MCDONALDS THEME SONG" by Peggy Lee MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG (FRIES VERSION)" by Main Street Singers MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG" by Latin Rhythm Instrumental MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG" by Stylistics MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG" by Gladys Knight & the Pips MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG" by Main Street Singers MP3
"MCDONALD'S THEME SONG" by Jose Feliciano MP3

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