The 1985 Listening Post - Green on Red - Gas Food Lodging

Green on Red - Gas Food Lodging

#188

1985 Housekeeping

Green on Red

Gas Food Lodging

Genre: American Rock

4 out of 5

Highlights:

That’s What Dreams Were Made For

Hair of the Dog

Is this “Alt-Country”? Someone else, smarter than me, more knowledgable of the genre, could edify me here. 

No matter, this is a nice companion piece to Danny & Dusty (this is the Danny portion). Like the last record, the Replacements run hard in the veins of these guys. A sub-genre is brewing and I put that squarely on the shoulders of Violent Femmes. 

If this is where GoR is headed, I’m along for that ride. I am rapidly becoming an alt-country 1985 fan and this just keeps that train rolling. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/gas-food-lodging-green-on-red/162560175

The 1985 Listening Post - Donny & Dusty - The Lost Weekend

Donny & Dusty - The Lost Weekend

#157

May 13 1985

Donny & Dusty

The Lost Weekend

Genre: Cowpunk

4.5 out of 5

Highlights:

The Word is Out

Song for the Dreamers

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Take one part Green on Red (a band that I never really cared for) and another part Dream Syndicate (a band I felt is pretentious and annoying at times, not really dreamy) and add 3 parts The Long Ryders (Who are excellent) and what do you get? 

You seem to get a bunch of drinking buddies who have access to a studio to play around and jam and come up with a ramshackle of terrific Cowpunk stuff.

Legend has it this album was recorded in one beer fueled evening.

Doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like songsmiths getting together and enjoying the shit out of themselves.

This album is a delight.

Put it on with Long Ryders and Beat Farmers (and Lone Justice and Jason and the Scorchers, maybe) and hit shuffle, go out in the backyard, fire up the grill, pop open some cold ones and toss a ball with your kid, throw the frisbee with your dog (he doesn’t care if your drunk, long as you aren’t an angry drunk), laugh with your friends, it’s summer, man.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-lost-weekend/293530076

The 1983 Listening Post - Green on Red - Gravity Talks

Green on Red - Gravity Talks

#213
1983 Housekeeping
Green on Red
Gravity Talks
3.5 out of 5

Highlights:
Gravity Talks
Brave Generation
Abigail’s Ghost

This is easily the least “studio” album of the year, next to Violent Femmes and a few others. In fact, perhaps they should’ve toured together.
This is light and poppy 60s psychedelic pop but it’s so shambolic it is occasionally charming. After a very short time, I get the point and I want to reach for some genuine 60s psychedelia. I won’t return to this but I’m glad to know some kids were still trying to do it in the 80s. Better this than synth-pop. And then, on songs like “Brave Generation” & Abigail’s Ghost” I swear they are aping The Replacements and I find them even more likable. These guys might’ve been 4-9 years too early.