The Things: Coloured Heaven 1984 + Outside My Window 1986

Formed in and around Los Angeles, California in 1983, the Things were the brainchild of guitarist/

vocalist and keyboards player Steve Crabtree — he was also the group’s songwriter. Roy McDonald, who would later go on to play for both Redd Kross and the Muffs, was the group’s drummer. Pete Rouch was the bassist in the group. They specialized in songs which had a melodic bent and included strong pop hooks, in an attempt to echo the kind of sound and feel of such famous ’60s groups like the Beatles and the Byrds.
                 

Sometimes with spangly/trebly Rickenbacker guitar to the fore. The Things excelled at this type of

composition as can be heard on such as the gloriously executed opening tracks, ‘Eyes Of A Child’ and ‘I Won’t Be There’. There’s also similar goings-on in ‘She Came Out Of The Sky’. And then there’s the small matter of the totally blissed-out psychedelic title track — one of the most different sounding tracks on the album — and a real standout for sure.
                      

"Coloured Heaven" was only supposed to be a demo tape to show off the kind of songs Steve and the

Things were working on, but Greg Shaw at Bomp / Voxx was convinced it was strong enough to be released as it was. The album also included a couple of really great, inspired cover versions, "Out Of Time" by the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds / just about any U.S. garage band you care to mention set staple, "Mr. You’re A Better Man Than I".
                    

The Things' Outside My Window, their second of three albums, is a delightful slice of Paisley

Underground retro-psychedelic pop, probably most closely aligned with the Rain Parade's legendary debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip.  Shades of late 60s Nuggets-anthology garage rock bands like Paul Revere & The Raiders crossed with the Byrds and Love, the album is full of great hooks, hugely catchy, with psychedelic shadings, the occasional wah-wah guitar and organ sound shading the otherwise straightforward mid-80s college radio jangle pop.
                      

The Things from Los Angeles were among the most important bands in the Paisley Underground scene. Here's their second and most acclaimed album, originally released on Voxx Records in 1986. “After

having released one of the most important albums in California’s “Paisley Underground” movement with "Coloured Heaven" (Voxx, 1984), L.A. group THE THINGS achieved a similar triumph two years later with Outside My Window. Less than a year after Coloured Heaven, Things continue to look out towards the sky, while they colour it with another ten brushstrokes of neo-psychedelia, folk-rock and power pop.
                            

LINE - UP

                

Steven Crabtree (vocals, guitar, keyboards)
Mike Sosa, Roy McDonald (drums, percussion)
Pete Rouch (bass, vocals)
Andre Garcia (guitar)
Larry Klein (guitar, vocals)
Bob Wier (bass, vocals)

THE THINGS - COLOURED HEAVEN 1984
                            

The Things – Coloured Heaven
Label: Voxx Records – VXS 200.022
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock
Style: Paisley Underground, Garage Rock, Psychedelic

TRACKS

                  

                                 
01. Eyes Of A Child   3:22    
02. I Won't Be There   2:24    
03. It's Not That Way   3:50    
04. She Came Out Of The Sky   3:32    
05. Out Of Time       3:52
06. Coloured Heaven   3:48    
07. It's Over    2:51
08. Why Am I Waiting    3:55
09. Mr. You're A Better Man Than I   3:42    
10. All The Time   2:58    
11. It Seems To Be Raining   4:39

BONUS TRACKS

12. Oh Yeah   3:31
13. You Are The One   3:50
14. Wai And See   3:38    

Flac Size: 347 MB

THE THINGS - OUTSIDE MY WINDOW 1986
                      

The Things – Outside My Window
Label: Voxx – 200 033, Voxx Records – 200 033
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Paisley Underground, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                       

01. Outside My Window   5:16
02. Can't Get Enough   3:03
03. Love Is Gone   3:46
04. Take The Chance   4:26
05. Everytime   4:31
06. All Work And No Play   00:52
07. You Can't Deliver   3:54
08. Look What You're Doing   4:11
09. I've Been Nowhere   3:43
10. Young And Wild   5:44

Flac Size: 452 MB