THEME #9 - THE ECCENTRICS AND DREAMERS

In its earlier hard copy version (before they started pissing everyone off with their underrated / overrated columns in their new electronic-only version), Magnet magazine did some great themed issues (the shoegazing issue, the salute to Bomp! Records, etc.). One such issue occurred Feb / Mar 2004 where Magnet had a great 30-page spread / guide on some of music's most interesting personalities. The article was entitled Reality Bites: The Eccentrics and Dreamers Issue - and it featured Robyn Hitchcock on the cover donning a top hat and cape. For the past few years, I've wanted to tackle a few mixes using only the bands referenced in the piece. So, let's try to tackle our version of a mixer: I perused the article and have listed out every group namechecked in the article - feel free to select a song or two by any of the artists listed below. If you feel that Magnet missed the boat on a particular artist or group, then upload that material as well. DJE - your whole music listening experience qualifies so feel free to choose whatever you like...

(Bar Clock Editor's Note: A mini Roky Erickson tribute is breaking out with the number of songs that are being uploaded, so this in all likelihood will be a multi-mix set)

The list below corresponds to how the original article broke out and categorized the artists:

The Cult Artist:
Robyn Hitchcock (Soft Boys, solo, side projects)

The Believers:
First wave of the Elephant 6 Collective
- Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control
Second and Third waves of the Elephant 6 Collective
- Elf Power, Music Tapes, Minders, Beulah,
- Of Montreal, Ulysses, Sunshine Fix, the Circulatory System

The Madcaps / Escape Artists:
Roky Erickson (13th Floor Elevators, the Explosives, solo)
David Bowie
Skip Spence (Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, solo)
Syd Barrett (Floyd, solo)
Larry "Wild Man" Fischer

The Ringleaders (with many ex-bandmates):
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Love
Guided By Voices
the Fall
The Lilys
Sleepy Jackson
Queens of the Stone Age

The Listeners:
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys, solo)
Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine, Primal Scream, producer)
His Name is Alive
Sonic Boom
King Tubby

The Humorists and Jesters:
Sparks
Mojo Nixon
Devo
Frogs
Captain Beefheart
the Fugs
the Deviants

Some Eccentric Necessities:
Shaggs
Sun Ra
Red Crayola (or Red Krayola)
Various Artists - "Songs in the Key of Z"

Deadline for this mix is Friday May, 22. But we'll probably extend it through the weekend.