THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
Loaded: Fully Loaded Edition (Rhino)
Even though it's the worst VU album, there's still an interesting aura around Loaded. It was recorded without Maureen Tucker on drums, the first in a pile of mistakes, and many of the songs were tracked with Doug Yule on drums, Lou Reed playing guitar and "singing", and Sterling Morrison playing guitar or bass. They would then overdub more guitar, bass, vocals, piano and such. This deluxe, 2 CD, set has tons of outtakes, alternate versions, and alternate mixes. Listening to all this stuff gives one a picture of all the activity going on around the making of an album--different versions of songs being worked up in rehearsal/demo situations, rough basic tracks recorded but never overdubbed on, finished songs left off the final record, mixes that weren't used (some you can tell why!) and final editing horrors (like the "Sweet Jane" bridge they restored here). Loaded was a flawed album in many respects, and much of it should be attributed to Doug Yule's ridiculous guitar overdubs, always filling any space with a "solo" that could have never slipped out of Sterling or Lou's hands. This is all good warning to anyone trying to record. Remember the economy and "feel" of the other VU records and take heed. Great songs don't need unnecessary adornment and zealous playing — they're already great songs.
ATARI TEENAGE RIOT
Burn, Berlin, Burn! (Grand Royal)
This is revved up, angry techno-grind-punk. These kids are mad at the world and the music setting works with it perfectly... distorted drum tracks careening into feedback and audio clips. This is one of the few electronic-based recordings I've heard recently that has any new/good ideas going on, and it'll keep you on edge with all the tension going down. I keep imagining somebody at a mixing board with everything running through distortion pedals.
QUASI
R & B Transmogrification (Up)
If you read about Quasi in Tape Op in issue #2 you need this disc! It was recorded on ½" 8 track in Sam's old basement and sounds great... crazy overdriven organ colliding with Janet's Ringo-on-speed drums in the most perfect way. Plus the songs are top-notch. And there's all sorts of interesting touches. Really. I listen to this a lot and you should too.
THE VEGAS BEAT
Self-Titled (Candy Ass)
The Vegas Beat reminds me of Versus, Scrawl and other bands I really like, and that's no mean feat. My pal Toni Gogin recorded this on her Tascam 388, one of those ¼" decks with a built in mixer. It sounds good, everything that needs to get across is there, all the drums come through fine, and obvious care was taken with overdubs. I think the whole record was recorded with Shure SM 57's and it was mixed on home stereo speakers. Next time someone tells you they need more gear you should slip a copy of this CD to them. Passion, patience and talent can make it work.
