The Scratchrock

Album #: 56

Recording Dates: 04/22/2006

Release Date: 2006

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

Another crazed Rumpus Room gathering from 2006. This is certainly more challenging than many CDs by the band (and that’s saying something) as the mixes for large group performances are pretty disappointing… but art never promised to be pretty…

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Two Track Sampler

Track 01 – Going Backwards (The Sheep Fiends) – The mixes on this CD can get a bit harsh, but sometimes the strangeness of it all works – like the unplanned bass solo freakout this song dissolves into for a minute.  [Scratch on Bass]

Track 07– Nature of Insurgency (The Sheep Fiends) – Just Brian M. on improvised rhythm guitar/vocals and myself trying to put the urgency in insurgency on lead guitar.  [Scratch on Guitar]

Album #: 55

Recording Dates: 2005

Release Date: 2005

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

For quite a while an acoustic sub-grouping of the Sheep Fiends had been playing Americana standards and the odd cover track. Mark A, Matt C, and Matty formed this nexus of this more traditional style band. I joined in for a few jams at Mark’s apartment that we happened to record (two tracks from which are featured below). This was great time, and created a very distinct vibe from the sounds of the larger more eclectic Sheep Fiends.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 03 – St. James Infirmary (The Poker Night String Band) – Mandolin anchors this bouncy track made famous by Louis Armstrong. Rather than the typical straight improvisation of a Sheep Fiends performance we were following some chords. But having never heard the song in my life I think my background electric guitar works on this.  [Scratch on Guitar]

Track 16– Just What I Needed (The Poker Night String Band) – Deep in Appalachia one can hear the righteous gospel of our divine Ric Ocasek and his handpicked family The Cars. Presenting a spirited acoustic rendition of this classic rock track.  [Scratch on Vocals]

Album #: 54

Recording Dates: 11/15/1998 & 10/16/2005

Release Date: 2005

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

The Rumpus Room became our new home base around this time. This was Brian M’s posh basement gathering spot with wood as far as the eye could see. While this space would see dramatic change a few years later; during this era we only had access to 2-track straight to tape recording – meaning the mixes on these CDs are as varied as the genres are…

This CD also contains a bonus 20 minute guitar freakout from 1998. You can listen to that one over at sheepfiends.com if the mood strikes ya.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 01 – A Friend Like You (The Sheep Fiends) – Some slide guitar over a rumbling shuffle lays the groundwork for Matt C. to speak his mind and take the role of emcee. If you love off-kilter this is another one for you!  [Scratch on Guitar]

Track 07– Levi’s Gonna Break (The Sheep Fiends) – Sometimes the Sheep Fiends get topical, such as during this bizarre musical reaction to Hurricane Katrina. Robot voices and a Big Black guitar. Tones from the cosmos. Then it somehow devolves into some dumb blues. Then the singers riff on the theme of natural disasters. So it’s definitely the Sheep Fiends!  [Scratch on Vocals]

Album #: 53

Recording Dates: 2005

Release Date: 2005

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

This CD gathers the best from several jams during 2005.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 05 – You Are the Zebra (The Sheep Fiends) – Sometimes you have no ideas so you pick a list and run with it. Encephalitis. Insidious. Quartanium. Uvula. Zebra.  [Scratch on Bass & Vocals]

Track 06– Sinister Happenings (The Sheep Fiends) – A thumper of a rocker. A real haunting swirler!  [Scratch on Guitar]

Album #: 52

Recording Dates: 1995-2004

Release Date: 2004

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

This collection spans the years 1995 through 2004 and features 23 different musicians. Lost sessions from one-time lineups appear along with more common configurations exploring numerous avenues of sound.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 05 – Earth Shake (The Sheep Fiends) – Pulsars set ablaze. Is this some space rock; garage rock, or native chanting? It’s all of them. It’s why we shake.  [Scratch on Bass]

Track 21– Sea of Nothing (The Sheep Fiends) – Pre-millennium angst at the state of things (or lack thereof). And Facebook wasn’t even around back then…  [Scratch on Guitar]

Album #: 51

Recording Dates: 11/20/2004 & 12/19/2004

Release Date: 2004

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

The Sheep Fiends found a new place to play and some new players right along with it. Brian C. moved into an artsy loft space near the lakefront and I continued my run of not showing up for much of the 2003-2004 era of the Sheep Fiends. Despite my inattention to the band this new combination of musicians is featured on several Sheep Fiend CDs.

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One Track Sampler

Track 12 – Groundhog Mull (The Sheep Fiends) – With such a bizarre blues tale as this closing the album, the title “I’m So Confused” never seemed so appropriate. If you’ve never lived in the suburbs, let me take you there.  [Scratch on Vocals]