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🎶
A case of having to go backward to go forward for me, musically-speaking; I used to play bassist Matthew Flegel's band Preoccupations (formerly: Viet Cong) on my KXSF.FM radio show once upon a time but I wasn't familiar with Women, that band's predecessor. What a miss that turns out to be. This Canadian quartet is extraordinary and their second/last LP, 2010's "Public Strain," is an outright underground classic.
I can't recall a band more overtly influenced by Velvet Underground; not even outspoken Lou Reed acolytes like Dream Syndicate, Luna, Yo La Tengo or any of the Flying Nun bands who obviously worshipped them (the Chills come to mind) are close to the mix of grime, grit and golden-hued goodness encapsulated on this album's 11 tracks.
I've linked here to "Eyesore," maybe the best known cut on the album (certainly the most streamed) but I could have linked to any and you'd get the gist -- the album was recorded by fellow Canuck Chad Van Gaalen in the most lo-fi manner possible and is all the more charming for its sharp edges, reverb-soaked guitar primitivism and lack of polish.
The band broke up on the subsequent tour to support this record (supposedly after an onstage fight between frontman Patrick Flegel and the rest of the band at a bar in Victoria); the band's second guitarist, Christopher Reimer, passed away in his sleep less than two years later due to complications from a heart condition so we'll never again hear Women in exactly the same way you hear on this album but it's worth seeking out (just like fellow underground faves Unwound) every last note they recorded. This LP's wintry cover art neatly captures the frozen, spiderwebby vibe that their music so perfectly distilled.
I can't recall a band more overtly influenced by Velvet Underground; not even outspoken Lou Reed acolytes like Dream Syndicate, Luna, Yo La Tengo or any of the Flying Nun bands who obviously worshipped them (the Chills come to mind) are close to the mix of grime, grit and golden-hued goodness encapsulated on this album's 11 tracks.
I've linked here to "Eyesore," maybe the best known cut on the album (certainly the most streamed) but I could have linked to any and you'd get the gist -- the album was recorded by fellow Canuck Chad Van Gaalen in the most lo-fi manner possible and is all the more charming for its sharp edges, reverb-soaked guitar primitivism and lack of polish.
The band broke up on the subsequent tour to support this record (supposedly after an onstage fight between frontman Patrick Flegel and the rest of the band at a bar in Victoria); the band's second guitarist, Christopher Reimer, passed away in his sleep less than two years later due to complications from a heart condition so we'll never again hear Women in exactly the same way you hear on this album but it's worth seeking out (just like fellow underground faves Unwound) every last note they recorded. This LP's wintry cover art neatly captures the frozen, spiderwebby vibe that their music so perfectly distilled.
Sep 1, 2024
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You’re probably aware but Pat Flegel went on to start Cindy Lee and they are great too (Diamond Jubilee is definitely one of my favorite records of the year)
Sep 1, 2024
slowdazzle I've gotta spend more time with that album; it's a double, super dense, I remember it got great scores (and was incredibly diverse, stylistically) -- just need to sit with it for a while and let it sink in.
Sep 1, 2024
coreydubrowa it’s so good, really fun and full moments that I won’t fully notice each listen but then will suddenly jump out as a highlight
Sep 1, 2024
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Here are my fav records that I have been listening to lately, this lineup strikes me as very "pi.fyi-core". Hope you enjoy :)
(in order of appearance)
-Thinking Fellers Union Local 282: Lovelyville <discovered this reading some Robert Schneider interviews after seeing the Apples in Stereo play for the W.C. Hart memorial show in Athens>
-DJO: The Crux <That guy from Stranger Things has a set of pipes, great happy album>
Panda Bear: Sinister Gift <sounds like The Beach Boys! the parts that don't are kinda atmospheric and very very pretty>
Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE <he strikes again. very stripped back but absolutely gorgeous. Justin literally can not make a song that isnt somehow lush and cold at the same, like being covered in a sheet of ice that keeps you warm. He has this interview where he talks about the work and thought process behind it. Very cool!>
Black Country, New Road: Forever Howlong <this album features almost entirely female vocals, a nice change since Issac Wood left the band, and the vocals, piano, and woodwind instumetaion are just absolutely gorgeous, sounds like rain smells.
Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal <since half of this app is from Brooklyn, I'm sure you know this guy! He sings for the band Geese, but this record doesn't sound much like Geese at all. It has some of the craziest lyrics.I have heard in a hot minute, and is adorned by ~usually~ sparse and skeletal instruments, as well as Camerons odd yet alluring voice.
Hope you enjoy! lmk what you think of these records :)
-Thinking Fellers Union Local 282: Lovelyville <discovered this reading some Robert Schneider interviews after seeing the Apples in Stereo play for the W.C. Hart memorial show in Athens>
-DJO: The Crux <That guy from Stranger Things has a set of pipes, great happy album>
Panda Bear: Sinister Gift <sounds like The Beach Boys! the parts that don't are kinda atmospheric and very very pretty>
Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE <he strikes again. very stripped back but absolutely gorgeous. Justin literally can not make a song that isnt somehow lush and cold at the same, like being covered in a sheet of ice that keeps you warm. He has this interview where he talks about the work and thought process behind it. Very cool!>
Black Country, New Road: Forever Howlong <this album features almost entirely female vocals, a nice change since Issac Wood left the band, and the vocals, piano, and woodwind instumetaion are just absolutely gorgeous, sounds like rain smells.
Cameron Winter: Heavy Metal <since half of this app is from Brooklyn, I'm sure you know this guy! He sings for the band Geese, but this record doesn't sound much like Geese at all. It has some of the craziest lyrics.I have heard in a hot minute, and is adorned by ~usually~ sparse and skeletal instruments, as well as Camerons odd yet alluring voice.
Hope you enjoy! lmk what you think of these records :)
Apr 26, 2025
Rec
The name of the British artists Worldpeace DMT and Rowan Please’s new release, The Velvet Underground and Rowan, harkens back to the iconic album that Brian Eno once claimed launched a million projects. It’s a befitting reference for two artists in their own burgeoning gallerina-punk scene. It’s experimental in a topical way, indebted to the internet, and filled with silly sounds, stuff like squeaks and boings and chiptune motifs. Worldpeace DMT plays perfectly with Please, who is one half of two-hit wonder The Femcels.
In spite of its off-kilter quirk, the record is chock full of cloying earworms and pop sensibilities. On “Love Yourself,” the Leonard Cohen-esque line “Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the sand” is quickly followed by “sorry that I fucked your dude.” There’s seemingly an emo influence, which is also present on unfettered, shouty tracks like “Numbers” and “Hey Marshmallow.” The 60s come back full force on “Marina,” complete with handclaps and melodic familiarity. “The Ledge” covers a Fleetwood Mac classic and briefly interpolates “Blitzkrieg Bop.” All the harmonica and strings and bitcrushed buzz can’t distract from the fact that the bones of this music would be impressive on their own … But a little fun never hurts. - Madeline Frino
In spite of its off-kilter quirk, the record is chock full of cloying earworms and pop sensibilities. On “Love Yourself,” the Leonard Cohen-esque line “Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the sand” is quickly followed by “sorry that I fucked your dude.” There’s seemingly an emo influence, which is also present on unfettered, shouty tracks like “Numbers” and “Hey Marshmallow.” The 60s come back full force on “Marina,” complete with handclaps and melodic familiarity. “The Ledge” covers a Fleetwood Mac classic and briefly interpolates “Blitzkrieg Bop.” All the harmonica and strings and bitcrushed buzz can’t distract from the fact that the bones of this music would be impressive on their own … But a little fun never hurts. - Madeline Frino
4d ago
Rec
⭐In March of 2023 I was on tour with my band Trophy Wife. We had just played a set on the second date in a dingy hardcore bar in Philly that was selling microwaved White Castle sliders and packs of American Spirit for cheap. Ahead of us was a 17 hour drive to New Orleans that would have to be made in one day.
I woke up in the backseat somewhere in between and leaned my head on the window beside me. It was pitch black but before sunrise. The road becomes something different when you're traveling for that long, resembling more of a habitat than a construct with its own set of strict rules and guidelines. In the dark, protected by the shell of a Honda CRV, I would watch the trucks pass by like behemoth steed; big iron whales, and I am so small.
'Wooly Mammoth's Absence' became gospel during that drive. I found it before we left, sometime during our day in Philly when I was getting ready for the show. I listened alone at first, the woody nylon guitars and hushed words of Phil Elverum were a trusted secret for my ears only. Once I showed it to them we discovered multiple versions of the song that were released over the years, my favorite of which is the first one I heard, from 'Seven New Songs'. It was a perfect companion; something wiser than me that kept me moving forward, like the only torch in a dungeon.
"Quickly forgotten was this forgetful way of life, when I left home and I lived as if I had died" he still sings quietly, and only for me.
I woke up in the backseat somewhere in between and leaned my head on the window beside me. It was pitch black but before sunrise. The road becomes something different when you're traveling for that long, resembling more of a habitat than a construct with its own set of strict rules and guidelines. In the dark, protected by the shell of a Honda CRV, I would watch the trucks pass by like behemoth steed; big iron whales, and I am so small.
'Wooly Mammoth's Absence' became gospel during that drive. I found it before we left, sometime during our day in Philly when I was getting ready for the show. I listened alone at first, the woody nylon guitars and hushed words of Phil Elverum were a trusted secret for my ears only. Once I showed it to them we discovered multiple versions of the song that were released over the years, my favorite of which is the first one I heard, from 'Seven New Songs'. It was a perfect companion; something wiser than me that kept me moving forward, like the only torch in a dungeon.
"Quickly forgotten was this forgetful way of life, when I left home and I lived as if I had died" he still sings quietly, and only for me.
Jan 26, 2024
Top Recs from @coreydubrowa
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The man responsible for dozens of Teenage Symphonies to God
"Sad songs about happy things" (the first time, as a kid, I can recall the sweet/sour combo of melodies that could make you cry attached to songs about endless, bottomless love)
I've long since lost track of how many weddings and funerals I've attended that have featured this song; suffice it to say, "a lot."
God only knows what we'd been without him 🙏🏻
Jun 11, 2025
May 22, 2025
Rec
Hey tyler hopefully this doesn’t violate some PI.FYI golden rule
But after nearly two years of writing, editing and arguing, my book about the EP is coming out in May and can be preordered here:
https://hozacrecords.com/product/aifl/
The book is about the origins, history and cultural impact of the EP since these little objects first started coming out in the 50s. Over 50 of my music biz friends then helped me shape the list and review the top 200 ever released, according to us (ha). For those of you who are into this kind of geekery/snobbery, I can’t wait to hear what you think. A labor of love, as all books are! ❤️
https://hozacrecords.com/product/aifl/
The book is about the origins, history and cultural impact of the EP since these little objects first started coming out in the 50s. Over 50 of my music biz friends then helped me shape the list and review the top 200 ever released, according to us (ha). For those of you who are into this kind of geekery/snobbery, I can’t wait to hear what you think. A labor of love, as all books are! ❤️
Mar 27, 2024