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Dusted Features
Every Friday, Dusted Magazine publishes a series of music-related lists compiled by our favorite artists. This week: New York experimenter Gary War and Philadelphia guitarist Purling Hiss.
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Listed: Gary War + Purling Hiss
Gary War
Starting as a member of Ariel Pink’s hazy and heavily reverbed pop experiment in the mid-2000s, Gary War has since recorded two solo full-lengths, a handful of singles and two EPs, most recently Police Water on Sacred Bones. Still Single has been following him from the beginning, scenting connections to Bobb Trimble even before War joined his traveling band. When his first record, New Ratheonport came out in 2008, Doug Mosurock said that it “floats in on a carbon monoxide blackout vibe, as Gary War hustles in a scalding, rich psychedelic ichor.” When he’s not doing that, War is also in Roman Soldiers (with Blank Dogs’ Mike Sniper) and Human Teenager.
1. The Beatles
In the span of 27 months they made Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, Mystery Tour and White Album. Snobs who hate this band are morons with shit musical tastes.
2. Nick Nicely and Bobb Trimble
Can’t put one ahead of the other and they’re completely unique in their own ways... My favorite post-Beatles guys. Everything these two have done is genius and both are still making great stuff. The best.
3. Drexciya
Kings of Detroit electronic music. Stinson (R.I.P.) dropping serious knowledge in one of the only known interviews here: Ultimate respect.
4. La 1919 - Ars srA
Avant-prog-industrial LP from this Italian band from ‘87. Great all the way through. **Editors note: Side B features some American musicians, including Henry Kaiser on four tracks**
5. F:A.R. - Passi Uguali
Real good experimental industrial from Italy, released in 1990. Dark and Squatty.
6. Il Balletto Di Bronzo - Ys
Progressive rock from Naples, released in 71’. A concept record of the mythical Italian city of Ys. Ripping guitar/synth blowouts, great vox and weird all the way through.
7. Smiley Culture- Slam Bam
South London reggae 12’’ from ‘84. Cockney Translation is the stuff too.
8. Dwarr - Animals
Pretty good private hard rock record from South Carolina in ‘86. Riffs and synths are kinda bent.
9. Monsieur Mo Rio - Click Et Craque
Great homemade “sunshine pop” from the early-mid ‘90s. Serious arrangements and great songs. The title track and Valse De La Vieare incredible.
10. Vulcans - Star Trek
Mindbending synth-dub from ‘72. Too good.
Purling Hiss
It’s no wonder that the first two listed choices from Purling Hiss are the Stooges and Blue Cheer. The sounds produced by Mike Polizze of Birds of Maya under his solo nom de plume Purling Hiss are deeply seeped in ‘70s rock; his subterranean riffs almost custom made for shag-carpeted van owners. The perfect accompaniment for balls-out bliss.
1. The Stooges - Funhouse
This is my guitar-riff home base. Open A with a glued finger on the 7th fret of the D string. A personal favorite, and stolen directly from TV Eye. Frequent in their rhythm sections, this formation had me obsessed. I gotta go with the Ashetons on this one. Funhouse is my jam.
2. Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum
They were the quintessential power trio, and this album is relentless in its entirety. Drums pounding, throbbing bass, and feedback controlled guitar chaos. Dicky Peterson’s distinct gravel voice makes it all more memorable. I got into this right when I bought my V-4. That was crucial timing.
3. Jimi Hendrix - Live at Woodstock
Sunlight shining down on a Sunday morning hangover, Hendrix hit the stage early as the closing act of Woodstock. The unrehearsed, and unhinged sound of his slightly out-of-tune band fit the vibe perfectly. I was 13 when I discovered this live album, not knowing anything about guitar. I remember wondering, “how does he make those sounds?”
4. Black Flag - Damaged
Crude recording. Greg Ginn lent me the idea of a “first take” sound, embracing all of the mistakes and bum notes. Damaged it is. Introducing Rollins to songs from the first four years, this was a great intro for me into this band as a youngster, and is still a favorite.
5. Metallica - Kill ‘em All
I guess I could have chosen No Life til’ Leather since the preceeding demo actually has Dave Mustaine on lead, but this is the cut that grabbed me. Another frustrating moment, where I would love to include other albums, but this to me was a special gray area where Metallica wasn’t quite defined yet, and Kill ‘em All was somewhere between the fastest Rock n’ Roll and Metal. I find myself trying to cop some of the shredding leads, but I could never learn to use 4 fingers for soloing.
6. Captain Beefheart - Safe as Milk
The first album I bought and heard was Trout Mask Replica, but I wasn’t ready for it then. Soon after, I heard Safe as Milk. The vocals and the electric band take on Howlin’ Wolf’s The Howlin’ Wolf Album. If “Wilie the Pimp” from Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats was on this... that would make it even more perfect.
7. James Brown - Greatest Hits
This CD accidentally ended up at my friends house when we were young teenagers. We used to play it and laugh at his screams, but after we got high I sat there and the bass lines got into my head. The band was rocking. I imagined myself in a smoky club where this music would take place. Make it Funky.
8. Howlin’ Wolf - Moanin’ in the Moonlight
The collection of all his early singles. He’s my favorite bluesman. I almost chose The Howlin’ Wolf Album, which he hated.
9. The Velvet Underground - White Light/White Heat
Of all the Velvets albums, WL/WH comes to mind when reflecting on my own musical output (I guess). Quirky, pretty melodies and great pentatonic noise jams all over.
10. Nirvana - Incesticide
My favorite band as a young kid, they definitely embedded song structure in my head forever. This album best describes their whole sound, from Bleach up to In Utero. Mid-tempo, sloppy guitar rock, with pop hooks. I got my diddly spayed.
By Dusted Magazine
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