Devolver

About

BURGER RECORDS cassette reissue Out Sept-24-2013 -- the newly remastered 27-track anthology of the early days of The Prefab Messiahs (1981-83) RIYL: King Tuff, Television Personalitie, Thee Oh See, The Clean, Swell Map, White Fence, Josef K, Ty Segall, The Twinkeyz, The Modern Lovers "...Was it only 3 or 4 weeks ago that the future PREFAB MESSIAHS first pooled their cosmic energies and talent, and – crooning their messages about our Plastic Age – decided to totally revolutionize Pop Music? The Concept was shocking in its boldness – 4 young men with a Destiny – from the Store 24 to Mister Donut their eyes burned with what they saw, even as they lapped it up faster than a small order of McDonald's frie. Reality could not keep the PREFAB MESSIAHS down! Still, if the Media is the Message, just what are these guys talking about? In short, they're talking about you and me and no one in particular – about the kind of Eternal Struggle that most "bands" and "musicians" don't even realize exist..." Thus began the simultaneously prank-ish and poker-faced "manifesto", using 60s rock album liner notes as a wobbly template.The flyer was printed up and cast about the beer-moistened tables at The Prefab Messiahs' first ever show on November 15, 1981. Armed with borrowed guitar, puny amp, and a mission to confound the status quo, the three Clark U. undergrads began a unique post-punk musical trajectory through the burgeoning-yet-insular Wormtown (Worcester, MA) underground. The stark reality of the Reagan Era had already taken hold, with its yuppie-driven consumerist, conformist and "product"-focused fetish culture. In an attempt to deal with it all, our heroes sought refuge in the Dada reverie and post-WWII existentialism that ended up yielding their moniker. In the New Religion of mall culture, product placement and instant gratification, "prefab messiahs" like Ronald McDonald and the Pillsbury Dough Boy were trotted out by their corporate masters to replace the old guard of unprofitable prophet. That was the working Concept, at least – and the The Prefabs mischievously (naively?) married it to an unlikely collision of primitive post-punk, grainy psych, and left-field garage pop – all at a time when terms like "indie", "alternative", and "lo-fi" weren't even bandied about yet. Now, over 30 years later, Burger Records is stoked to present a heaping 27-track cassette (and digital format) release of the newly remastered 'Devolver' anthology. It contains both of their Bobb Trimble-produced studio recordings ("The 16th Track" and "Desperately Happy"), as well as live track, radio broadcast, and living-room/basement shenanigan. Xerox Feinberg - L.voc, gtr, Casio VL-1 Doc Michaud - L.gtr, voc, Casio VL-1 Trip Thompson - ba, voc Egg Al - voc &/or perc: 3, 7, 12, 14, 16, 19-20, 22-24 Billy Brahm - drums: 2, 6, 8 (middle), 11, 13, 21, 27 Tony Serrato - drums: 1, 5, 8-10, 15 Ringo Casiotone - drums: 4, 17, 25; keys: 8-10, 17 Bobb Trimble - tone-sweep generator, scripture, backwards bass: 5 Capt. PJ - rant: 6 Dave Barlow - sax: 26 Tad - drums: 26 5 & 9 produced by Bobb Trimble w/ The Prefabs at L&L Sound and Music Underground; 13 produced by John Jordan w/ The Prefabs at Basement Tapes; dub mix on 10 by Brian Goslow at WCUW; all others are live take, rehearsal, rough-housing sessions Tape transfer and restoration: Jeff Lipton at Peerless Pre-mastering/audio finalization: Joe Turner at H24 .

via Last.fm

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