The 1986 Listening Post - Volcano Suns - All Night Lotus Party

Volcano Suns - All Night Lotus Party

#31/1198

1986 Housekeeping

Volcano Suns

All Night Lotus Party

Genre: Alternative

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Blown Stack

Walk Around

Sounds Like Bucks

Dot on the Map

The first Volcano Suns release was such a revelation that I don’t think it would be possible for these guys to top it. As much as I appreciate it, the whole thing sounds like a hangover from the first record. And, why not? The Bright Orange Years was SUCH an explosion of alternative goodness that the only thing left to possibly do would be wake up the next day and try to come up with something as good. 

Maybe that’s impossible. I still maintain that these guys are every bit as drunk as the ‘Mats but I like them a LOT better. They seem like they’d be more fun to get drunk with than Westerberg. 

I bet even Paul would agree.

Side One races by with electric energy but don’t discount Side Two which is more expansive, with just as many time shifts and explosions. 

Another excellent and completely surprising and nearly indescribable one from Volcano Suns. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/all-night-lotus-party/300872909

The 1985 Listening Post - Volcano Suns - The Bright Orange Years

Volcano Suns - The Bright Orange Years

#211

June 15 1985

Volcano Suns

The Bright Orange Years

Genre: Alternative

4.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Jak

Descent Into Hell

Truth is Stranger Than Fishing

Promise Me

Animals

Is this The Replacements? Or some band following in their lets-get-drunk-and-record-in-the-basement aesthetic?

This band was started by Mission of Burma’s drummer and it’s every bit as excellent as Vs. It’s ramshackle and a mess and it’s fantastic. 

Might be one of my favorite discoveries of this project. 

Listening to “The Mouth That Roared” I harken back to “Black Girls” by Violent Femmes, which reminds me that VF was the first real Indie band that started this path. I don’t know if Volcano Suns happen without the Femmes. Almost like Gano and Co. (And others) gave permission to be this sloppily great. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-bright-orange-years/300866868