19 Outsight spinners for 2006
by Thomas Schulte
I am the host of the Outsight Radio Hours program, which currently exists in college radio FM and Internet radio forms. In AM and other broadcast modes, the show has been in existence since about 1990. Each year I take a look back at the albums that ended up being played the most for the previous calendar year. Each year after extracting that data, I end up surprising myself.
One surprise this year is that two entries in the list came from Internet-drawn MP3s and not a CD. I remember the first CD I bought, it was Sonic Youth’s Goo (Geffen) in 1990. I thought I would put that on while I wrote, but I cannot find it. Funny, that is actually the worst fear I have with regard to the MP3s I have collected. Still, in 2006 I have become more engaged in receiving and finding MP3s from small labels and indie artists for airplay. It actually ends up as more work for me than using a real CD, but sometimes it is the most practical way to program in some music. (The reason CDs are easier for me is that I like to do my show live and I want the beginning of the next song to bleed over the end of the previous as I chatter over the transition.)
The other surprise, a pleasant one, is that every entry is an indie artist or small label offering. Another thing I did in 2006 is quit the bulk of my music journalism and focus exclusively on my broadcasting. Of course, the bulk of the larger labels and publicists I had worked with for years broke off contact with me. Still, I obviously am finding albums of a lower profile still worth repeated play, in my opinion.
Each entry on this list was spun 6 to 40-plus times during 2006. Following is my list and some comments on each.
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1. Screaming Halibut by Screaming Halibut (Screaming Halibut)
No longer producing new material, the Canadian comedy group’s original episodes were a feature of my show that I always looked forward to.
Hear my interview with Gord Zajac of Screaming Halibut.
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2. Underwater Jihad by Kush Arora (Record Label Records)
Deep dub tones, as in fathoms deep.
Hear my interview with Kush Arora.
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3. Live by Nicki Jaine (Nicki Jaine)
Nicki Jaine’s goth-tinged cabaret style is unique and compelling.
Hear my interview with Nicki Jaine.
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4. Sweetheart by Dan Reeder (Oh Boy Records)
Reeder’s bawdy cowboy tunes give me a campfire grin.
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5. Straying from the Pack by Koffin Kats (Hairball 8)
I am a big fan of the cemetery psychobilly of these hometown heroes.
Hear my interview with Vic Victor of Koffin Kats.
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6. Prime Cuts by Robert Berry (Magna Carta)
Varied compilation from a journeyman guitarist with prog rock roots.
Hear my interview with Robert Berry.
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7. Loggy Log EP by The Henry Road (The Henry Road)
This is the goofy childish side of this British group, but it got its hooks into me like a Blackadder episode.
Hear my interview with Lip Collin of The Henry Road.
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8. Breakin Rocks by Bobby Fuller Drive (Bobby Fuller Drive)
Solid rock from the group led by Bobby Fuller’s brother Randy.
Hear my interview with Randy Fuller.
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9. Halos + Lassos by Half-Handed Cloud (Asthmatic Kitty)
Sophisticated art-pop from performance artist and multi-instrumentalist John Ringhofer.
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10. The Magdalene Laundries by Diana Darby (Delmore Recording Society)
Moody, melancholy and entrancing.
Hear my interview with Diana Darby.
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11. Movie Disaster Music by Josie Cotton (Scruffy Records)
The singer of “Johnny are you Queer?” returns with a strong offering.
Hear my interview with Josie Cotton.
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12. The Okra Years by Ass Ponys (Shake It)
Probably held back by its name, this group deserves cult status, but on a bigger level.
Hear my interview with Ass Ponys songwriter Chuck Cleaver.
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13. Guitar Groove-A-Rama by Duke Robillard (Stony Plain Music)
Veteran blues and jazz guitarist Robillard has fun and that is what makes the album so easy to groove to.
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14. Mad Marge & The Stonecutters by Mad Marge & The Stonecutters (Hairball 8)
I think we need more psychobilly bands with female vocalists.
Hear my interview with Mad Marge herself.
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15. One Drink Away from the Blues by Mark Kerr (Mark Kerr)
Mark and his guitar playing the blues. I should listen to more blues.
Hear my interview with Mark Kerr.
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16. Fabric 27 by Matthew Dear as Audion (Fabric)
The only thing wrong with this Matthew Dear stuff is that the tracks are too short!
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17. New Salem Witch Hunters by New Salem Witch Hunters (Get Hip Recordings)
Get Hip is the mother lode of neo-Garage. It was destined one of the many Get Hip albums I would play during the year would end up on this list.
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18. Exposure by Robert Fripp (Discipline Global Mobile)
I love reissues, but this seminal work was the only one I got really excited about in 2006.
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19. Stuffing Coffins Since 1977 by Stitch Hopeless & The Sea Legs (Hairball 8)
The third psychobilly entry in my list, but I’ve never wanted sideburns!
