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The Left Banke – “Bartenders and Their Wives” and “Desiree”

The world is not just, as oft demonstrated. Music this flawless, gorgeous, and sweeping should be accessible to everyone. Alas, this is not the case. The Left Banke has been defunct since 1967, and since they were never able to cultivate much of a substantial fan base while they were active, not much has been done to resurrect their baroque, complex psych pop that’s been referred to as the American response to the Zombies.

The Left Banke folded after chief song-slinger Michael Brown bounced to form Montage, partly due to the ever present “creative differences,” but primarily because of the Left Banke’s baffling inability to receive much recognition. And as Fortuna is a bitch, Montage didn’t take off either. Though “Walk Away Renee” gained some national attention in ‘67, the group’s small but fervent following was restricted to record store dorks, music majors, and serious longhairs. In 1994, Polygram released a retrospective collection There’s Gonna Be a Storm, featuring pretty much everything they ever recorded. Of course, that disc is now conveniently out of print (being a rare psych rock fan is a pain in the ass sometimes). If you feel like shelling out for a CD copy (not even vinyl) of questionable condition, there’s a few on eBay. Luckily, MP3 blogs like this one are here to correct these wrongs, bringing you the finest in stereophonic sound.

LeftBanke The Left Banke - Bartenders and Their Wives and Desiree

“Desiree” is aerodynamic. The bombastic chorus is beautiful but destructive, like the Alaskan Black Bear or Beatrix Kiddo in Kill Bill. Proceed with caution. “Desiree” is technically a Left Banke song, written by Brown and banged out by the rest of the band. However, it didn’t see the light of day until Montage’s eponymous record dropped in 1970, and later on the Storm compilation. Brown collects his alimony, for sure. You may notice that Brown’s arrangements sound very reminiscent of Caribou. Well, Caribou’s Andorra album, for all intents and purposes, is basically a fine reinterpretation of the Left Banke – a fair assessment considering that Andorra also features an expansive canticle titled “Desiree.” I can only assume this is an obvious nod to Brown and Company.

“Bartenders and Their Wives” is some Tolkien shit. I can hear Spanish guitar, clean distortion electric guitar, harpsicord, and autoharp. What all do you hear? Again, nothing but epic vocal harmonies, thick textures, highly mobile bass melodies, delicate composition, and a semi-bucolic musical milieu. Majestic and tectonic.

If you don’t know what’s up, and you want to know what’s up, the Left Banke is what’s up. And sweet sassy molassey, Amazon (who I’ve had always had good experiences with) has the Storm compilation available for download on the cheap. Yeah yeah, it’s not the same thing as a physical copy, but unless someone gets all ambitious and starts reprinting this disc (I’m looking at you, Light in the Attic) or releases a new collection of the Left Banke’s singles and 45s, this is the best, most affordable solution for your baroque psychedelic needs.

MP3 :::
The Left Banke – Bartenders and Their Wives
The Left Banke – Desiree

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Zombies on the March!

zombies Zombies on the March!

Hmmm… can I make it to Milwaukee tonight, and in two hours? Well if you’ve planned better than I, you can catch Colin Bluntstone and company playing some pretty decent rooms (Irving Plaza in NYC) and some relatively questionable rooms (Trump Marina Casino in Atlantic City? C’mon guys, that’s some Boz Scaggs shit!). And if you’re one of the lucky ones who catch them in New York, make sure to set up shop early for The Blues Magoos, a band I had no idea was still around but was always a Nuggets highlight for me.

The Zombies played the music club I used to work at before I actually starting working there roughly four years ago (sadly I missed it), but word has it that it was one of the most exciting, best sounding performances ever to hit that stage – even 40 years after the band’s prime. Maybe I should be making this aforementioned drive.

So yeah, the Zombies are one of the greatest of all time, without a doubt. Odyssey and Oracle rules my, and your, being. And just look at that photo! Dapper gentlemen. So go see them! Czech the dates:

07-05 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
07-06 Saint Paul, MN – Taste of Minnesota
07-09 Lansing, MI – Common Ground Festival
07-10 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Casino
07-11 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
07-12 Atlantic City, NJ – Trump Marina Casino
07-13 Westhampton Beach, NY – PAC
07-15 Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
07-17 Anaheim, CA – The Grove
07-18 Las Vegas, NV – The Cannery Casino
07-19 Agoura Hills, CA – The Canyon Club
07-20 San Francisco, CA – Regency Center
07-23 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
07-24 Seattle, WA – El Corazón
07-25 Langley, British Columbia – Deerfoot Casino
07-27 Edmonton, Alberta – Century Casino
07-29 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Dakota Dunes Casino
07-30 Regina, Saskatchewan – Casino Regina
07-31 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Club Regent Casino

MP3 :::
The Zombies – Hung Up on a Dream
The Blues Magoos – (We Ain’t) Got Nothin’ Yet

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