What Is This – What Is This [LP] (1985, MCA Records)

 

What Is This (known prior to 1980 as Anthym) was an American rock band that originated in Fairfax High School in California. Formed by guitarist Hillel Slovak, drummer Jack Irons, vocalist Alain Johannes, and bassist Todd Strassman, the band served as the nucleus for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Members of the band would go on to perform with Eleven, Chris Cornell, Pearl Jam, Mark Lanegan, Them Crooked Vultures, Alain Johannes Trio and Queens of the Stone Age. 

 

This, their only full album (they also released two EP's) has a frantic admixture of rock, funk and soul -not surprising considering the involvement of two of the founding members of RHCP, Jack Irons (drums) and Hillel Slovak (second guitar). Lead songwriter Alain Johannes (guitar and vocals) is addressing "Whisper (to Natasha)" to his longtime love and musical partner, Natasha Shneider, whom he met in this time period; while "I'll be Around" is a fine cover of the hit by The Spinners. [SOURCE: ALLMUSIC]

 

 

Label: MCA Records – MCA-5598 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album

Country: US 

Released: 1985 

Style: Alternative Rock, Funk Rock, Pop Rock, New Wave

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Dreams Of Heaven 3:34 

A2 Big Raft 3:32 

A3 Chasing Your Ghost 3:27 

A4 Whisper (To Natasha) 3:44 

A5 Stuck 3:15 

B1 I'll Be Around 3:50 

B2 Touch The Flame 3:26 

B3 Wool Over My Eyes 2:30 

B4 Waves In The Sand 3:45 

B5 Breathing 2:26 

 

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Radwaste – Cooking And Nothingness [12''] (1986, Happy Squid Records)

 

L.A.'s Radwaste features two members of Urinals and 100 Flowers (John Talley-Jones and Kevin Barrett), as well as an unusual four-drummer lineup. They play percussive post-punk with a funk undercurrent that definitely brings to mind groups like Gang of Four, Minutemen, fIREHOSE and even the very early Red Hot Chili Peppers. This EP is busy, energetic and right on the dividing line between post-punk and early alternative rock. It sounds great too since Ethan James engineered it ('Double Nickels on the Dime', 'If'n', etc.), which allows the percussion to really come alive. Bassist Talley-Jones trades main singing duties with guitarist Michael Kory and the band comes up with a lot of intriguing musical ideas. The songs themselves aren't the most memorable compositions ever but all are certainly exciting as they play, enough so to keep coming back for lots of additional listens. 'Cooking and Nothingness' is worth discovering and is another fine musical document on the venerable Happy Squid label. fIREHOSE fans will especially dig this. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Happy Squid Records – HS014 

Format: Vinyl, 12", EP, 45 RPM 

Country: US 

Released: 1986 

Style: Experimental, Post-Punk, Funk Rock

 

Tracklist:

A1 Off Course 

A2 Impulse 

A3 Capital 

B1 Kiss Of Death 

B2 The Ballad Of Jenny 

 

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