Plasticland: Plasticland 1984 + Wonder Wonderful Wonderland 1985 + Salon 1987

 

Plasticland were a midwestern band from the 80s (kicking around in various iterations since then) who

clearly spent a lot of time listening to their Nuggets collection and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd. Whereas Paisley Underground bands like Rain Parade added a melodic, Byrdsy jangle to their retro-psychedelia, Plasticland were a bit rawer, keeping the music firmly in the garage.
                              

                          
Several guitarists and drummers would rotate in and out of the band over time, but Glenn Rehse and

John Frankovic have remained the core of the band. Dan Mullen was the second guitarist for most of the 1980s recordings and live appearances. Brian Ritchie, later of The Violent Femmes, played guitar briefly with the band on early recordings. Multiple singles, EPs, compilation appearances, studio and live albums appeared in the 1980s and early 1990s. Several compilation CDs chronicle the band's earlier years.
                                     

Formed in 1980 out of the ashes of prog rockers Arousing Polaris, Plasticland included vocalist/guitarist/organist Glenn Rehse, guitarist Dan Mullen, bassist John Frankovic, and drummer Vic

Demechei, who debuted that summer with the "Mink Dress" single on Scadillac. Several more singles and EPs followed, including 1982's Pop! Op Drops (whose material later became part of the band's first album). There were also several personnel shifts, as Demechei was replaced first by Bob DuBlon, then Rob McCuen. (Several tracks with the Violent Femmes' Brian Ritchie on guitar were also recorded during this era.)
                              

Color Appreciation (1984), their first album, was on the French Lolita label. Enigma Records in the US

reissued the album in 1985, self-titling it, with track alterations and substitutions. Enigma subsidiary label Pink Dust released the next two albums, Wonder Wonderful Wonderland (1985) and Salon (1987). For Wonder Wonderful Wonderland the label wanted the band to use Paul B. Cutler, a producer and guitar player with The Dream Syndicate, but the band "generally ignored his advice".
                     

German label Repulsion issued their final studio album, Dapper Snappings in 1994, though it was

recorded several years earlier. Two very different live albums were also released. You Need a Fairy Godmother (1989) and Confetti (1990) were both issued by Midnight Records. The former was recorded with Plasticland backing one of their musical heroes, Twink, legendary drummer of The Pretty Things and The Pink Fairies. Confetti consists of various live performances edited together.
                                 
 

The duo of Glenn Rehse and John Frankovic, with new bandmates, are still performing, recently opening for Blue Cheer in November 2007. In January 2008 John Frankovic and Victor Demichei

retired their services from the group. The group has been sustained by Glenn Rehse and new guitarist Leroy Buth (previously of the legendary Milwaukee punk rock group The Lubricants).
In 2015, Plasticland were inducted into the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Hall of Fame, along with artists Sigmund Snopek and The Robbs.
                       

Beyond the three proper 80s albums, they had one later record (not bad) and a cool collection of odds &

ends.  A later compilation, Make Yourself a Happening Machine, provides an excellent overview of the band'swork. Plasticlands' evolution from 84’s Color Appreciation to this mind warp in 85 was remarkable. Totally psychedelic, way beyond other bands with similar chemical allegiances, this album was a brilliant commentary of acid fueled dementia, beautifully molded by producer Paul B. Cutler.

“Something grey and iridescent,
penetrating walls and floors,
breaking all the laws of science,
who needs windows, who needs doors”

MEMBERS

                          

Glenn Rehse — vocalist/guitarist/organist/lyricist
John Frankovic — bassist
Dan Mullen — guitarist
Victor Demichei — drummer
Brian Ritchie — guitarist (early years)
Bob DuBlon — drummer (early years)
Breck Burns — guitarist (early years)
Rob McCuen — drummer (later years)
Dave Raeck — Bassist (1998; 2007)
Leroy Buth — guitarist (2006 - currently)
Mike Koch — drummer (2009- currently)
Andy Kaiser — bassist (2009 - currently)

ALBUMS

                 

Plasticland (Enigma - 1984 - Color Appreciation French version by Lolita Records)
Wonder Wonderful Wonderland (Pink Dust) - (1985)
Salon (Pink Dust) - (1987)
You Need a Fairy Godmother (Midnight) - (Live LP with Twink of Pretty Things/Pink Fairies fame) - (1989)
Confetti (Midnight) - Live LP (1990)
Dapper Snappings (Repulsion) - (1994)

PLASTICLAND - PLASTICLAND 1984

 
    

Plasticland – Plasticland
Label: Hardknocks Records – PL11062
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue 2000
Country:US
Released: 1984   
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

                          

01. Alexander    3:27
02. Disengaged From The World    2:37
03. Her Decay    2:30
04. The Glove    2:20
05. Sipping The Bitterness    2:07
06. The Garden In Pain    2:00
07. Elongations    1:51
08. Driving Accident Prone    1:39
09. Color Appreciation    2:18
10. Wallflowers    3:19
11. Euphoric Trapdoor Shoes    2:34
12. Pop! Or Drops    1:11
13. Sections    1:57
14. Rattail Comb    1:54
15. Posing For Pictures    2:06
16. Magic Rocking Horse    3:39
17. Mushroom Hill    2:14

Bass, Producer – John Frankovic
Drums – Rob McCuen
Engineer – Dave Siebaver (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 17), Mark Richardson  (tracks: 4)
Guitar, Violin – Dan Mullen
Vocals, Producer – Glenn Rehse

MP3 @ 320 Size: 93 MB
Flac  Size: 289 MB

PLASTICLAND - WONDER WONDERFUL WONDERLAND 1985

 
                

Plasticland – Wonder Wonderful Wonderland
Label: Wounded Bird Records – WOU 2063
Format: CD, Album 2016
Country: US
Released: 1985   
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

                        

01. No Shine For The Shoes    2:26
02. Gloria Knight    3:16
03. Transparencies, Friends    3:28
04. Fairytale Hysteria    2:28
05. Don't Let It All Pass By    1:28
06. The Gingerbread House    3:50
07. Flower Scene    2:24
08. Processes Of The Silverness    2:37
09. Non-Stop Kitchen    2:49
10. Grassland Of Reeds And Things    1:41
11. Gloria Knight (Reprise)    4:46
12. Wonder Wonderful Wonderland    2:49

NOTES

Drums – Rob McCuen
Guitar, Backing Vocals, Guitar [12 String] – Dan Mullen
Producer – Dave Siebauer (tracks: B1), Paul B. Cutler (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 12)
Producer, Vocals, Bass, Percussion, Bouzouki, Trombone, Berimbau – John Frankovic
Producer, Vocals, Mellotron, Organ, Percussion, Guitar [12 String], Percussion [African] – Glenn Rehse

MP3 @ 320 Size: 76 MB
Flac  Size: 212 MB

PLASTICLAND - SALON 1987

 
                 

Plasticland – Salon
Label: Pink Dust – 72179-2, Pink Dust – 2179-2, Pink Dust – CDE-73285, Restless Records – 72179-2, Restless Records – 2179-2
Format:    CD, Album
Country: USA, Canada & Europe
Released: 1987
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS

                            

01. Go A Go-Go Time    3:31
02. What Am I To Say    1:26
03. It's A Dog's Life    2:08
04. A Quick Commentary On Wax Museums    3:40
05. Abcessed Words To Climb   1:57
Written-By – G. Rehse, J. Frankovic
06. House   2:32
Written-By – G. Rehse, J. Frankovic
07. (The Lie Of) Great Sedan Pinocchio   2:10
Written-By – G. Rehse, J. Frankovic
08. We Can't   2:10
Written-By – G. Rehse, J. Frankovic
09. Serene It's True   2:33
Written-By – G. Rehse, J. Frankovic
10. Reserving The Right To Change My Mind    3:51
11. The Window Sills   2:37
Written-By – D. Mullen, G. Rehse
12. Don't Antagonize Me    3:18

NOTES

Bass, Vocals, Trombone – John C. Frankovic
Drums, Gong – Victor Demichei
Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals, 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Daniel C. Mullen
Engineer – Dave Siebauer
Producer – Glen Rehse, John Frankovic
Vocals, Twelve-String Guitar, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Xylophone, Tambourine, Maracas – Glenn Rehse (tracks: Glen William Rehse)
Written-By – G. Rehse (tracks: 1 to 4, 10, 12)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 75 MB
Flac  Size: 233 MB