The Marshmallow Overcoat (more recently known as The Overcoat) is a
quartet formed at the height of the boom in the "paisley underground."
Based in Tucscon, Arizona, the group made a convincing enough case for
itself, with its Kinks and Yardbirds-influenced originals and covers,
that it made it as far as stages across the United States, Canada, and
western Europe, charting high on some college radio listings in the
process. They recorded a series singles, EPs, and LPs for Dionysus
Records in Los Angeles. (almusic.com)
Fronted by the charismatic energy of Timothy Gassen, Marshmallow
Overcoat has been keeping the spirit of psychedelic garage rock alive
and kicking since 1986.
A brace of
critically praised albums, scads of smashing singles, numerous
compilation contributions, DVDs, and worldwide tours have allowed these
paisley-hearted crusaders consistent visibility.
The latest gift from the hard-working Tucson, Arizona band is
The Very Best Of
(Garage Nation Records), which is available as either a digital
download or a double gatefold vinyl album. As always, it’s the music
that commands attention, but the package provides even more ground for
the pound, with its inclusion of rare photographs and extensive liner
notes, while the cyberspace edition adds a trio of videos to the party.
Play
The Very Best Of to a someone not aware of Marshmallow
Overcoat, and there is no doubt they would think they were hearing a
long lost act from the 60s. From the scraggly fuzz guitars to the
bell-toned riffs to the rumbling keyboards to the thrashing tub-thumping
to the snagging hooks, the band revises all the applications of the
genre they mine with remarkable perfection. Timothy’s growling snarl
teases, taunts, and thrills the listener in the same manner howlers and
hipsters such as Gerry Roslie of the Sonics, Sky Saxon from the Seeds,
and the Music Machine’s Sean Bonniwell were known for doing. Churning
out songs with animated determination, Marshmallow Overcoat has their
fingers, toes, and ears on the pulse each beat of the way.
Accurately titled,
The Very Best Of definitely does teem with
ace pickings, and far too many to go into much detail about. But I will
state I’m personally partial to the twinkling twelve-string action of
“Suddenly Sunday,” with its breathtaking blend of wistful moodiness and
blinding blue sky beauty, the spooky lure of “When It’s Dark,” the
inspired moves and matter of “Beverly Pepper,” a cover of John Lennon
and Paul McCartney’s acid-drenched “Tomorrow Never Knows” that offers a
slower but no less freaky approach than the original version, and the
romping wildness of “Santa Fuzz” and “The Knights Of Fuzz,” which
needless to say both surge forth with bursts of buzzing fuzz.
Other tracks I dare not omit are “13 Ghosts,” “The Light Show,”
“Spell I’m Under,” “Thee Hands Of Tyme,” “Psilocybin Explosion,” “The
Beyond,” and a piping hot rendition of Tommy Jett’s “Groovy Little
Trip,” that screams and stomps with insanity.
Kudos to Marshmallow Overcoat for never compromising their position.
Sticking to sounds they believe in, the band is a ray of sunshine in a
scene dominated by trends, fashion, and profit. Marshmallow Overcoat are
the ultimate role models, having not only influenced a legion of fuzz
heads and tambourine bashers, but Timothy has also been a staunch
supporter of the garage rock community on a variety of levels.
Those with a taste for the raw and rousing, but hopelessly catchy
missives of groups like the Wailers, the Shadows Of Knight, the Haunted,
the Unrelated Segments, Zakary Thaks, and Blues Magoos, as well as the
shimmery folk rock of the Byrds and the surrealistic aroma of the Doors
and Love, are for certain to adore the prizes contained within
The Very Best Of and will applaud Marshmallow Overcoat for carrying the torch.
Dear friends, i post this only for limited two days. It will be gone Tuesday evening at Berlin/Germany time 23:00. If you like it please buy the vinyl record
here or as digital download you can buy it
here
Grab it and try it!
Frank (link expired)
