Tuesday, March 25, 2025

VA - I Gotta Be Me : 20 Garage Missiles From The USA (Who Needs Tomorrow Vol.2 2008) @ VBR



Review by François Couture

Here's another interesting compilation from the Bevis Frond's Nick Saloman and the Psychic Circle label. The topic may be a bit more restrictive this time (garage rock), but the land covered has a lot to offer in that department. And in typical Psychic Circle fashion, the territory is not entirely respected, as Saloman includes a track from Canadian band Les Hou-Lops, here singing a variation on James Brown's "Good Good Lovin'." From that song alone, you couldn't guess they sang mainly in French and would score much triter hits in Quebec than this fuzz-drenched, over the top number. Other highlights include Group Axis' rendition of "Smokestack Lightning," Southbound Freeway's "Southbound Freeway" (nice harmonizing), and two fierce tracks that get really close to psychedelia (all they needed was some extra reverb in the fuzz guitar): the Reflektions' "Should We or Shouldn't We" and the Movers' "Hey You, Hey Me." This set also includes songs of a more pop or soul-pop nature (by Dee Jay & the Runaways, the Outcasts, and the Sound Investment, among others), and just a couple of questionable, highly forgettable inclusions, namely Bobby Simms & the Simmers' "Big Mama" (there are reasons why some of these short-lived bands never made it big, you know) and Dick "Wild Childe" Kemp's "Get It On" (the ultimate novelty song by an egocentric radio DJ!). Still, Saloman's selection is mostly on track, revealing a fair share of nuggets. Garage fans should seek this out.

 01. Group Axis - Smokestack Lightning 
 02. Kevin Coughlin - I Gotta Be Me 
 03. Les Hou-Lops - Good Good Lovin' 
 04. Dee Jay And The Runaways - He's Not Your Friend 
 05. Jack Eden - It's Only A Dream 
 06. Bobby Simms & The Simmers - Big Mama 
 07. The Sound Investment - Like My Girl 
 08. The Bay Ridge - Without You 
 09. Blue Wood - Turn Around 
 10. Bobby Comstock - I'm A Man 
 11. The Southbound Freeway - Southbound Freeway 
 12. Dick 'Wilde Childe' Kemp - Get It On / Wild Childe Freakout 
 13. The In Crowd - Inside Out 
 14. The Reflektions - Should We Or Shouldn't We 
 15. The Movers - Hey You Hey Me 
 16. The Outcasts - You Do Me Wrong 
 17. Bobby Saint Clair - Fool That I Am 
 18. The Outsiders - Haunted By Your Love 
 19. King Charles & The Counts - Salt 'N Pepper 
 20. Hex - Doubt 


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