Well, you are going to look at this and wonder what the crap is going on, but I can say with all honesty that you will benefit from listening to this disc. And, there is a demo release that is available that I like as well, or better. That is in short supply, think about ordering it online asap. Best psych pop songs in many a year. Some good acid folk, and freak outs, too. Just listen to some samples online, give it a try. 

Jason Molina, Ghost Tropic. 2000 release. Cannot give you any information about the details of this release. James Moore's obit on the KRUU site led me to obtain a copy of this album. It is haunting, to say the least. This album is in a category all by itself. Every once in awhile you hear something and then you say to yourself: That is unlike anything I have ever heard. Here it is. I listen to this over and over, it is thrilling, and soothing at the same time.

Sometimes you just get lucky. I spend at least two hours a week on the Internet just looking for music in the psychedelic vein, or garage rock, or the Paisley Underground; You know, the usual quality stuff. This record has the most carefully crafted songs I have heard in a long time. There are 12 singles on this album. Each song is a world of it's own. It has every element of a great song present for each of the twelve. You owe it to yourself to listen to -at the very least- soundbites of this tasty little sucker. Cabinet of Curiousities by Jacco Gardner.

I am listening to this album as I am writing this review. I got to the first song on side two and realized this was my choice. You may remember this band for a series of hits like 'See You In September', and 'I Got Rhythm'. This album they wrote and produced the songs themselves. It is a great story. I did not know it when it came out. I wish I had, it could have been a monster hit. The songs are beefier! The lyrics are insightful, the music is clever and well-written, and the whole thing rocks. I wish they would put out a CD of this. I hope someone gets the digital going on this soon.

Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, their self-titled release from 1970. Possibly the best year for music ever, some say. Well, this is a perfect example of how great music can be inside rock and roll. This music probably spawned countless progressive music bands. Hey, Greg Lake was in King Crimson, the man just had what it took. He and Keith Emerson tear it up for 42 minutes. Really the keys shine on this release, and there are 6 songs on the entire album, three of which are instrumentals. The single 'Lucky Man' is on here and it was a giant hit. That song put the spotlight on them, and we all liked what was illuminated. Remaster available on shoutfactory.

The master storyteller returns with a fine set of songs. most of which you will not hear on ther radio unless they are heavily edited. He is passionate about his use of swear words, and he is brilliant in his turn of a phrase. This is every bit as good as Viva Satellite, my favorite album of his. You get kickin' guitar work mixed with acoustic ballads, all with the sly wit and attitude. The songs are topical and of the times, as usual. My early favorite is 'Too Soon To Tell', about - well- everything you do with your life prior to death. Also check out the hilarious 'Precious Little Miracles'.

Best New Albums: Richard Hawley, Standing At the Sky's Edge; Ant-Bee, Electronic Church Musik; Todd Snider, Agnostic Tales & Stoner Fables.

Be Re-Issue/Re-Master: Summer of Lust, by The Green Pajamas.

Best Song of 2012: Power Watch by The Pheromoans.

My five top purchases: The Zerfas, S/T; Exploring The Psychedelic, by Liquid Sound Company; Harpo, by Hiss Golden Messenger; Greetings From Planet Love, by The Fraternal Order of The All; Psychic Ills album Hazed Dream.

It was a very good year.

Espers Two. Espers One, The Weed Tree, and Espers Three are all worth your time if you take the time to listen. I am including this album in my list because this is the first album I obtained from this fine band. I was absolutely blown away by this music; It presents itself like it is from the distant past, from a time where a flute and a lyre meant everything to a dreary, downtrodden world. This is not happy music; it is, however, vital and compelling. Beautiful lilting vocals, haunting melodies, tension and resolution, recurring themes, yeah, it's all good.

Richard Hawley, 2012 release 'Standing At The Sky's Edge'. I have heard a ton of new albums that have come out this year, and this one is unique. He has a baritone voice, very powerful. He kicks into songs with a straight ahead rock group backing, but there are flourishes of psychedelia mixed into the recording that give a hard edge to the music. Big sound, big guitar big big big. The man has been making albums for this decade and doing quite well, but this is in my wheel house and probably yours, too.

When I arrived at the station the other day, I found an envelope waiting for me with a CD in it- pictured at left. A man named William James had sent me a copy, unsolicited by me. I am happy to report that this is by any account I can make, a brilliant piece of work. I am always looking for, and hoping that, someone out there is still making good old fashioned psychedelic music. This band has ex Mothers of Invention members. So you get oop-shooby stuff, along with sublime chanting and vocals, stellar guitar work, and even some straight up pop songs. Really, this is the kind of album that you want to listen to start to finish, as a kind of 'experience'. Well worth seeking out,and available at all the usual places.