Gremlins Have Pictures

THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE 2013 ROKY ERICKSON ALBUM "GREMLINS HAVE PICTURES" ALBUM ON THE LIGHT IN THE ATTIC LABEL.This is one of three albums reissued of some of Erickson's best music. This set combines live, studio, electric and acoustic performances from (mostly) the 1970's with a couple of tunes from the 1980's. Erickson is backed by the Explosives, The Aliens, and Blieb Alien--Blieb being the word bible jumbled up. Like the other albums from Light In The Attic the CD comes housed in a slightly over-sized thick cardboard wallet-style holder. The disc slips inside a paper sleeve, which slides into a pocket, and the 30 page booklet fits inside another pocket of the holder. The booklet has an essay on Erickson's life after his release from the hospital for the criminally insane and the music on this CD, along with several photos of Erickson from the period. The sound varies some from track to track, but overall (with "Warning" and "Sweet Honey Pie" being sonically flat for example) is very acceptable (if a bit rough at times) if you're an Erickson fan. The 4 "stars" are for the performances--not the recording quality--so you've been warned.This set has tracks from his first live performance after incarceration up to "Don't Slander Me". These include tracks not used for the albums "The Evil One" and "Don't Slander Me", plus more archival music--all of which Erickson approved for this release. One listen to the blistering "John Lawman" and the next track, an acoustic "Anthem (I Promise)" will tell you what you need to know about the range of music on this album. Even in acoustic mode there's something different about this music that's instantly apparent. Erickson's voice grabs your ears, and you find yourself paying more attention to the lyrics with an acoustic backing. Listen to "Sweet Honey Pie" with it's relatively (for Erickson) laid back arrangement, and then listen to "Cold Night For Alligators" which shifts gears into something more intense. And then listen to the next track, the slide guitar driven "I Am" with (an over-dubbed) Jack Johnson and Erickson on guitars."Heroin" by The Velvet Underground is another intense Erickson performance, recorded in 1981 at The Whiskey A Go-Go, and is a pretty good cover of this tune--short and to the point. And again the feel shifts with an acoustic "I Have Always Been Here Before", again with Erickson and Jack Johnson (over-dubbed) on guitars. This is (especially for Erickson) a sensitive reading of this song. And then things shift into "Before The Beginning" with The Aliens backing Erickson for some typical tough r'n'r. "Bermuda" is even harder rocking--one of Erickson's best vocals and some great guitar from Duane Aslaksen.For an overview of different styles of Erickson's music from this period (all approved by Erickson) this set can't be beat. Is this for everyone? No. If you're not an Erickson fan some of these tracks won't do much for you--if anything. I've been a fan since I happened to hear "The Evil One" album on CBS Records back in the vinyl days, and bought it as an expensive "import" album. So the chance to hear Erickson in both acoustic and electric settings is too good for me to pass up. Suffice to say, if you're an Erickson fan you should check this set out.One more thing--if you're an Erickson/rock'n'roll fan, you need--need-- Erickson's album "Halloween". Its full of blazing, elemental live r'n'r from the years 1979-81, and some of Erickson's best vocals. Not to toot my own horn--but check out my review of this full-tilt rock'n'roll album.

ROKY ERICKSON-GREMLINS HAVE PICTURES:This intensely atmospheric odds 'n sods collection spotlights one of a kind artist ROKY ERICKSON, former head honcho of Texas-based garage/psychedelic rockers THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR ELEVATORS. ROKY (pronounced ROCKY) was also a tortured, self medicated soul and highly influential, mind-numbingly erratic solo artist. A good chunk of ERICKSON's most infamous platter THE EVIL ONE, including appropriately creepy odes COLD NIGHT FOR ALLIGATORS, IF YOU HAVE GHOSTS and NIGHT OF THE VAMPIRE shows up here. Also worth a listen are his cathartic acoustic reflection I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE BEFORE and a dire seven minute trampling of LOU REED's stark VELVET UNDERGROUND anthem HEROIN. GREMLINS HAVE PICTURES, which covers the years 1975 through 1982 (admittedly one of his best eras) is not as all-encompassing as YOU'RE GONNA MISS ME: THE BEST OF ROKY ERICKSON. Nonetheless, it loudly flaunts ERICKSON's unhinged demonic groove, fractured songwriting, and rough, caterwauling delivery, a probable influence on every modern day shock rocker from ROB ZOMBIE to MARILYN MANSON.RATING: FOUR SCREECHES

Roky is noe of the lost great ones and it is great that they have put out his records again. Buy them before they get out of print again, which will happen.

Great!!

awesome

I always thought that this was the best collection of Roky material when it came out in '86. This remastering is excellent and the bonus tracks are mildly interesting. Be aware that this contains a shorter inferior version of the rare live track "Heroin". It does not have the seven minute version from the original LP with the "She is my heroine" refrain. I am subtracting a star for that reason. Otherwise, it is a recommended upgrade.Also, as another reviewer noted, the live compilation "Halloween" is excellent. The best live Roky with the Explosives.

Looks to be a CD compilation version of the Roky Erickson title. Notably, 'Gremlins Have Pictures' includes some rather prime studio, live and acoustic performances from the former 13th Floor Elevators front-man. Tunes here that I liked the best were "Song To Abe Lincoln" (Roky's collaboration with Blieb Alien), the ass-kicking "John Lawman", "Warning - Social And Political Injustices" (sort of reminds me of the Byrds or Bob Dylan), the awesome "Cold Night For Alligators" (my personal favorite Roky solo tune), his cover of the Velvet Underground's "Heroin", the inspiring "I Have Always Been Here Before", the rocking "Before In The Beginning" and "The Beast". Tracks were recording from 1976-1982 in locations like Austin, TX and San Francisco or Berkley, CA. Very nice.

Roky is always good whether he's with The Elevators, The Aliens, The Explosives or solo. The only reason I give this cd 4 stars instead of 5 is because I feel that "The Evil One" and "Don't Slander Me" are the better of the three Light In The Attic releases."Gremlins" has some live stuff on it that is not up to the usual studio quality and be warned that "Burn The Flames" and "Cold Night For Alligators" are not the originals but stripped-down live versions.. not that that is a bad thing. I just thought I'd mention it in case you were after those two particular tunes and figured you'd get them here instead of buying the afore-mentioned 2 releases... same goes for "Bermuda". "Gremlins" may look like a compilation but it's a whole different animal.Great presentation. Digi-pak foldout cover with, get this, the cd in a separate envelope that slides into the cardboard casing.. so it doesn't get scratched when you are removing it and putting it back.. sort of like the old record sleeves.. great idea.!! Also a cool 32-page booklet containing lots of info and pics. If you're a fan then you must have it but, well, please know that it is mainly out-takes and live stuff and IMHO not quite as good as the other two albums. Get those as well while you still can... but for GOD'S sake, stay away from the hideous bootlegged "Hide Behind The Sun" release from AIM Records.

Un album fait de briques et de rock puisque proposant des morceaux divers et épars, aussi bien acoustiques qu'électriques, chutes de studio ou live en comité restreint, s'étalant sur quasiment dix ans après, entre autres, un passage en HP. On ne cherchera pas ici une quelconque cohérence, donc (surtout qu'on parle de Roky Erickson...). Par contre, 16 titres jamais sortis datant de la fin des seventies et du début des années 80, quasiment tous excellents, et qui démontrent encore une fois tout le talent singulier du Texan frappé.Car ce qu'on remarque tout du long de cette presque heure de musique, c'est la qualité du songwriting d'Erickson, capable bien souvent de torcher des brûlots rampants et totalement obsédants, preuve en est dès l'idéale entrée en matière "Night Of The Vampire", qui se place d'emblée dans les grandes réussites du bonhomme. Et, à l'image de sa version intense de "Heroin", on se rend compte que, finalement, Roky Erickson fait un grand écart stylistique qui le situe à l'exact croisement de Dylan et des Stooges. Cette reprise, la seule du disque, est pourtant sans doute le morceau le moins intéressant du lot. Car l'univers si particulier d'Erickson s'exprime bien mieux dans ses propres compositions. Il y a les paroles cinglées mais surtout, donc, ce style unique mais également parfaitement accessible.Le tout est délivré à l'arrache, puissamment, de manière follement, toujours, habitée. Cette musique transpire car elle gigote, elle est vivante et ne se laissera pas bâillonner. Surtout que la voix d'Erickson est à l'avenant: il beugle, vocifère et éructe, toujours à la limite de la rupture, avec un allant de malade, d'une voix revenue de tout mais qui en rapporte toutes les traces. Roky Erickson a tout vu et il revient nous raconter tout cela, c'est palpable dans sa voix blessée nimbée d'un voile tragique.Bon, il y a bien un "Before In The Beginning" qui dure plus que de raison et le dernier petit quart du disque moins concluant car on a clairement plus là affaire à des ébauches qu'à des morceaux réellement finis. Ca reste largement écoutable mais c'est invariablement moins bon que tout le reste, vraiment excellent. Voici bel et bien une musique viscérale, chargée et hantée, délivrée dans la façon la plus pure et directe possible par un pauvre diable ayant vendu son âme au démon rock'n'roll (c'est, quasiment, lui qui le chante). Ce disque commence par "Night Of The Vampire" et se termine par "The Beast". Entretemps, il y aura eu "Cold Night For Alligators", "I Have Always Been Here Before", "Burn The Flames" et "I'm A Demon", entre autres joyeusetés psychotiques. Et le tout s'intitule "Gremlins Have Pictures". Bref, vous êtes prévenus.Un mot sur le son: c'est du brut mais c'est parfaitement écoutable, aucune crainte là-dessus. On arguera même que c'est presque parfait pour ce disque: direct dans ta face, sans chichi et sans surcharge productive, tout en vérité déballée sans artifice superflu. D'autant que la remasterisation est excellente dans cette édition Light In The Attic qui ne s'arrête pas puisqu'elle abrite l'album dans un beau digipak cartonné avec en prime un super gros livret très intéressant. Peut-être pas l'album pour commencer mais les fans peuvent foncer et les vrais amateurs de rock aussi.

Not his best but still way better than most crap by far! Bought it without checking the actual vinyl tracklist. Turns out the song I was looking for isn't on the vinyl version. But still lots of classic material like Anthem which still gives me goosebumps every time. Sounds a little weak sometimes and I prefer the Evil One, but that's really nitpicking on high level!

Great!

Very quick delivery and good product - thank you!