Odd and/or True Originals

There's nothing like a freak to make you feel good about yourself.   What is a bit scary is that after a time, sometimes you start getting amazed by what these people are up to.  Do they know they aren't up to accepted standards?   After awhile you are transfixed by these things, and you don't know what to think.   Bad dissolves away, and you are trapped.  You are a fan now.  They got you.

Then again, some of these musicians, just because they aren't played on top 40 radio doesn't make them oddballs.  In fact, many of your favorite bands might be turned on by one or two of these people.  Very often, true artists are only recognized by a select few, and it takes the consumer to seek out these visionaries.

Jandek

Jandek is such a story that I refuse to comment on this enigma. You must search him out and learn for yourself.  Nobody knows who he is, and nobody knows where he is.  Making music for over 20 years, with as many albums.

The Shaggs

The Shaggs are an influence on many musicians for their sheer unmusicianship. The story is great, but even without a backstory, the music makes you scratch your head and wonder what the hell happened. I conned my friend Dave into buying a Shaggs album on a trip to Philadelphia once, and he did. We put it on in the car, and we were shocked. Nothing prepares you for the sound of the Wiggins girls. I made a copy and figured I had a novelty to amuse friends with. While the tape was sitting in my car, I decided to put it on and listen. Two weeks later I was listening to the same album, and let me tell you, I liked it! The alien sounds, bad chords/notes, off-beats, shrill vocals dissolved away and eventually I heard what they intended to play instead of what they were actually playing. Tremendous.

Daniel Johnston

Daniel Johnston tries to play the best he can. He can't. He has problems. Plagued with mental illness (depression and slight schizophrenia I believe), he writes haunting songs from the depths of the human heart. He might not hit every note, and not play like everyone else, but if you can get past that, you can hear the most direct music you have ever experienced. I urge you to give him a try.

Incorrect Music/Outsider Music

Let's face it, most of this music is awful.  You do occasionally find something that makes you happy. I smile almost all the time when I listen to this stuff!

Esquivel

Esquivel is talented. I love him, and his music doesn't have the "so bad its' good" twinge that some exotica, 50's/60's swinging bachelor pad music has.  This music which you are acquainted with even if you don't recognize the name, is unlike anybody else in the world, and you will become a huge fan like me once you explore this fascinating soundscape.

Half Japanese

The band that prided themselves on not knowing how to play their instruments. The first time I finally got a a Half Japanese album I was assaulted by this atonal punk noise. It was their first album (a 3 record set with over 50 songs) and I thought it was crap. Time and intrigue made me revisit the album, and a lot of the songs to me became much easier on the ears, probably because of the harshness of today's rock music. A punk spirit, without being angry, the music exemplified the ethic of rock; just get up and play. The song lyrics are simple and direct, and I started to groove to it. A few albums later, the Half Japanese sound got refined with the addition of other musicians and Jad Fair's writings became more child-like with an off-the-cuff feeling to it. They are a great band to get acquainted with for their sheer tenacity to their individuality.

John Mars

I met John Mars at a party, and I got to hear two of his songs on a videotape he played. The songs stuck with me for weeks, and I finally got in contact with him. I bought his two CDs, and let me tell you; this guy is the real deal. His music deals with the awful, dirty, horrible thoughts that creep in and out of your head that you dare not tell your therapist about. His song titles give a clue to what lies in store for you if you are brave enough to travel into his depraved world:

I Like to Masturbate, Rape, Some Crazy Bitch, My Suicide, Little Girl, Die Alone

Inside this dangerous playground lies a paradox; even the most horrible of his characters (or himself) have a humanity to them. He is able to make a pedophile a sympathetic character. There are even a few tender songs in his catalog, so don't think its' all about being assaulted. I recommend his self titled album highly. His songs are described as folk punk, which I would totally agree with; the interesting departure of using a piano solely in punk-style music is refreshing.

Wesley Willis

If you heard one Wesley Willis song, you've heard them all. This is because his music is the preset on a keyboard, and is used on all the songs. His song structure is always the same, with four lines, repeated by the title sung four times, another four lines, another chorus, and instrumental break, and the final verse and chorus. Why on earth would you want to listen to that, you might ask? I have neglected to tell you that he is a big, black schizophrenic who has over 30 albums released? Wesley shouts his lyrics, and the turmoil of his condition is as apparent as the change from day to night. His songs aren't dark or brooding; even songs about his outbreaks are touched with a humor, however unintentional, that make you laugh with Wesley and not at him. Once again, song titles reveal so much:

Oil Express, Birdman Kicked My Ass, McDonalds, Fuck You, Alanis Morisette

Did I mention that he ends every song with, "Rock over London, Rock out Chicago..." followed by a deadpan reading of a commercial tagline, like, "Pepsi... Choice of a New Generation."?

Danielson Famile

The Danielson Famile are true originals; Christian punk with no distorted guitars. Their instruments are eclectic as Daniel's singing style, ranging from clinky xylophones to violins with a furious beat as a backdrop. Topping off the happy, poppy punk is a high pitched voice, singing about the love of Christ. Even atheists would have a hard time picking up on the subject matter; deciphering Daniel's squeals are a matter of diligence and concentration. Never preachy in subject matter, the Danielson Famile's music is spiritual in its' intent and not in delivery; you aren't in church in these songs. Musically, the songs are in its' own class, undefinable by any conventional classifications. They are one of the few bands that have defined a completely original sound in music today, derivative of nobody but themselves.

Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

Father and Daughter combo that performs songs about slides that mom projects. Even more of a selling point, the slides are not theirs; they are bought at garage sales. Jason, dad, plays guitar, piano, and sings while Rachel, his daughter of 8 years old, plays drums. It's quirky pop that is a fun diversion from the norm. Music doesn't always have to be so serious or take itself so seriously; have fun with this family, because their infectious spirit is a nice counterpart to the brooding, angry, or noise rock that is so prevalent on the airways today. Listen to the lyrics, however, you get to realize that capitalism is being lampooned, and there is more going on than meets the ear.

Corn Mo

Can the accordion rock? You damn well right it can, as long as the player is Corn Mo. Corn Mo takes the 80's metal hair-band ethic and twists into his own zany set of songs about plastic toy bears, his childhood dog, Epilady's, fans of Gary Busey, and Hershey Miniature Chocolates. He is a one man band, playing accordion and hi-hat, and is a wonderment live. His recordings have a relaxed nature to them, with I Hope You Win being recorded in pretty much one take. There are sidesteps in songs, moving us all of a sudden into an awful Christopher Walken impression, to a sidesplitting rendition of a Welcome Back, Kotter scene with Horseshack and Vinnie. Corn Mo never falls into parodying himself, or making his performance a joke; he is serious in his playing and delivery, while his subject matter can, for the most part, be humorous.

Hasil Adkins

Here's the story. Young, hillbilly Hasil is listening to the radio, and he hears Hank Williams. He doesn't realize that Hank is accompanied by other players, so he learns to play music with the thought that one man can do it all. Hasil plays piano, drums, and guitar all at the same time. Hasil records all his own music in his tar paper shack up in the mountains, and it sounds like rockabilly on crack. It is very energetic, and his subject matter is different than normal rockabilly; hot dogs, chicken, ugly women, and decapitations are all fodder for Hasil besides your normal sex song, which in Hasil's world is referred to as "hunchin'". Hasil lives on an all-meat diet, drinks gallons of coffee, and smokes packs a day; all of this fires him up to exist on an level much more hyped than your average fifty-year old.

Jonathan Richman

I just assume everyone listens to Jonathan Richman, which I have found out is wrong. You might know Jonathan from his singing role in There's Something About Mary, but I was listening to him way before then. Frontman for The Modern Lovers, his pre-punk style was intriguing because his subject matter was a polar opposite; praising suburban life and straight-edge behavior. Disbanding the group after falling in love with simple dance rock from the 60's all over again, he now makes quirky pop songs with a surf guitar sound. Topics almost always deal with matters of the heart in a jovial manner, while still being tender and sincere.

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