The Sand in Your Head: March 15, 2011: "I Like Distortion When I Bar-Chord"

Following the Sounds of the Latest Latecomers' bold choice in playing Lou Reed's Metal Machine Monster this morning, I felt the need to play songs featuring the distorted electric guitar.

A Monster of Metal

I had a vague idea of starting with the more noise-like and moving towards the mainstream. Following the short His Name is Alive track, we moved on to a solid 16 minutes of brain-busting noise from Burning Star Core, challenging to most listeners, but perhaps easier to appreciate than Reed's descent into feedback. Thanks to DJ Mary for lending me the LP.

I am clearly a fan of Conifer. I played that band twice in as many weeks. Got more mainstream with the Pixies into The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine. Check out this article in the Guardian about the Metal Machine Trio comprised of Reed and members of the latter bands. I was unaware of this event when I played these bands, really.

Reed Performing as part of Metal Machine Trio in 2010

I then got into classic metal with a fantastic early effort from Iron Maiden. Not a lot of people know this, but Maiden's Phantom of the Opera had absolutely no influence on Andrew Lloyd Weber.

We then did a sharp turn to the garage chic of Acid Toilet Rock progenitors Lemon Stomach and brotherlog. We ended things off nicely with a later masterpiece by Lou Reed, from the very accessible and critically acclaimed New York album we heard a certain Carlin-esque eulogy for America followed by a few seconds of Trans Am.