We’re delighted to direct your ears to Secondary Modern’s “Dart Board Blacklist” from the Carbondale, Illinois combo’s 2014 release, Venus Birds (which you can get your hands on right here.) We also cornered the band’s David Brown to spill the beans for us on some records that influenced his and the band’s thinking.
Can, Future Days (1973) | “I bought this LP on a whim because I had heard part of Ege Bamyasi and had some idea that Can was supposed to be consistently good. It has embossed gold font on a blue sleeve, which is great for tracing mindlessly with an index finger while staring at the wall.
Musically, everything about it is unique and unreal, and it’s even more insane to break it down and realize that there are definite roles within a set band and that this is a collection of finely tuned insanity which comes off as chilled-out groove. I had a vivid dream that I saw them perform it in its entirety live with the Damo lineup. Everything was blue.”
The Velvet Underground, – S/T (1969) | “The Beatles were the first band I ever loved, but the Velvets were the first band I ever had all to myself. They were mine and they were singing to only me. Their guitars were out of tune, only slightly, for me.
Their third album is stark, simple, and disturbing in a more relatable way than earlier songs like “Heroin” and “Venus In Furs.” I loved the idea of it, but a 16-year old knows nothing of smack or S&M. “Pale Blue Eyes” and “I’m Set Free” seemed to make sense on a higher level, and they still do. Perfect ending too! What better way to get that metallic taste out of your mouth after “The Murder Mystery” than to hear Moe Tucker sing “After Hours”?”
