The Stevenson Ranch Davidians: Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs 2006 + Life And Death 2009

 

A cult to follow, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians’ soulful sounds burrow into the hearts of their

devoted and faithful followers. This four member band is fronted by Dwayne (lead singer, rhythm guitarist and lyricist) and accompanied by Jessica (bassist/organist) , Matt (lead guitars) and Bryan (drums), and lists musical inspirations and influences as diverse and as far reaching as their global following.
                     

The SRD’s manufacture catchy and sometimes dark tunes and have built upon the foundations of

seasoned blues artists and the bands of the psychedelic eras, both past and present, to carve a niche unique to themselves and their generation—“When you’re in between everything, what does anything mean?” Existential concepts and thought is riddled throughout the entirety of their music, leaving the listener with the sense that they have company and comfort even when alone. They preach the gospel of a generation now at the helm.
                                 

Unlike traditional cults and organized religion, the sermon is simple. Nature is the way. Our generation

is spiritual and internal, yet we are the first without God. “You came in with a cry and you'll leave on a moan. You came in on this life, and you’ll leave all alone.” We take responsibility for the circumstances of our lives, for conventional wisdom has shown us only to place blame because of happenstance and disappointment.
                 

“And if you dream of beauty, love and freedom for us all—you have to realize that nature is the law.”

And lastly, letting go of your “self” is a responsibility entrusted to humanity, for being lost is the human condition. It is a sermon that previous generations may find cold and dark as our fathers scratch their heads pacing the floors of their suburban homes pondering its significance, but truly, the message echoes the voice of a generation that is transfixed on realism and aware of the cruxes of life rather than a hope for a long-shot miracle. “We don’t know how it started; we don’t care how it ends.
                   

Who the hell needs a pardon when you don’t believe in sin?” The word of the SRD’s. Not lost in the

message, is the underlying connotation of hope and solace. Rooted deeply in their music, is a clear appreciation of life’s peaks and lulls. The SRD’s hold steadfastly to the belief that even if life is nothing but a series of incidents and accidents, we are enabled by a divine spark to endure and best every swell. Having licensed their debut album to the German label “Beyond Your Mind Records”, the Davidians celebrated the release of “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs” in May of 2007 in 16 E.U. nations.
                         

This band is all about digging life and giving thanks and praise to the people, places and things that

make it such a soulful and extraordinary experience. “Well, here I am. I've found my place. My time is now in time and space. This big old world I was born to face, I’m gonna do it right. I'm gonna make it great.” This mass has ended. Go in peace………….M. Wesley

  

                                             

THE STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS - PSALMS, HYMNS, & SPIRITUAL SONGS 2006

                      

Deriving their band name from a religious cult, like how The Brian Jonestown Massacre did, the

'Davidians create a lush, shoegaze-influenced atmosphere with splashes of Paisley Underground psychedelia. It's earthy, peaceful, and densely beautiful throughout. An instantly cathartic experience that leaves you wondering if this is what that fabled heaven wound sound like. Like the previous reviewers have noted, the SRD sound similar to the BJM and The Verve's early material on The Verve E.P. and A Storm in Heaven. So, you might be familiar with the sound, but there's plenty of good, blissful music here that can't possibly disappoint. Close your eyes and relax.

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians – Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
Label: Not On Label – SRD-04 1906
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: May 15, 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                            

01. Let It All Go    4:09
02. Getting By    3:06
03. Nature Boy    3:22
04. Nothing's Cliche    3:42
05. Better Day    5:15
06. Inbetween Everything    6:04
07. Don't Get Hung Up    3:13
08. Beginnings And Ends    3:42
09. What A Wonderful World    3:18
10. Nothing To Say    4:05
11. Subliminalover    4:34
12. No Tomorrow    6:07

LINE - UP

Bass, Other [Organ Pedals] – Jessica Latiolait
Drums, Percussion – Bryan Showalter
Guitar [Lead] – Matt Assmus
Tambura, Guitar [Pedal Steel], Other [Stabs] – Raymond Richards
Vocals [Choir], Percussion [Claps] – Mandy Gattenby, The Parson Red Heads, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians
Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm] – Dwayne Seagraves

MP3 @ 320 Size: 119 MB
Flac  Size: 327 MB

THE STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS - LIFE AND DEATH 2009

                             

Wrapping themselves in the gentleness of smokey hazed layered fuzzed out intoxication, in much the

same manner as Spiritualized first did, you’ll find The Stevenson Ranch Davidians delivering a bit of unexpected swirling low keyed hypnotic wanderlust, complete with discernible disembodied vocals and lyrics. That being said, with the band certainly part of the neo-psychedelic revival, there’s a bluesy undertone to their music that is downright captivating haunting and imaginative.
                            

The Davidians never seem to come straight at you front and center, it’s more that they lazily roll in just out of your peripheral vision, shimmering off to the sides, laying waste to the end of a couch-bound

evening, where with their sounds slowly ebbing in your ears, unexpected inspired thoughts come and go, ungraspable, just out of reach, important for the seconds they exist, before another takes its place and you find yourself fully engulfed in dreams of delight and magic, with The Stevenson Ranch Davidians laying down a perfect soundtrack, one that rides like a breeze barely moving the curtains, with a big ol’ smiling yellow moon peaking in through that window to let you know that everything’s just fine.

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians – Life & Death
Label: Not On Label – 041909-2
Format:    CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2009
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                                    

01. Do You Feel Free?    3:11
02. Cosmic Blues    4:42
03. Everybody Live    3:57
04. Lookin' For A Line    4:15
05. I'm A Man    2:49
06. Feelin' Good    3:52
07. Everybody Dies    4:20
08. I Wanna See    5:13
09. Oh Life    4:57
10. The Truth Shall Set You Free    4:44

MP3 @ 320 Size: 99.5 MB
Flac  Size: 273 MB

  

Alexandros Perros And The Lone Stars: Cruisin' Mean 2006

 

Formed in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece in 1987. The forming members were Αλέξανδρος Πέρρος

[Alexandros Perros] (vocals, guitar), Κώστας Χασιώτης [Kostas Hasiotis] (bass), Τάσος Οικονόμου [Tasos Oikonomou] (drums).
                                                                        

                        
Alexandros Perros and the Lone Stars have existed since 1987, their current line-up is Alexandros

Perros guitar voice Kostas Hasiotis bass Christos Koutsouris drums. They have 10 albums. After feverish rehearsals, ready to present their special show to which they have been accustomed for years. A historical band, with a presence in the field and a long discography, from the distant 1987 until today!
Greece's biggest rock and roll band back on the streets. In their career they have participated as support in many concerts, opening for big names such as: Godfathers, Dr Feelgood, Stranglers Chumbawamba, Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding, Crazy Cavan.
                                                                                  

Rockabilly from Thessaloniki, brigantine, perfecto, combed wool, alcohol and always ready to party and dance. Alexandros Perros with the Lone Stars from 1988 until today take us musically to another

musical era that they have experienced. Alexandros, for those who remember the daily lunchtime music show Jammin of ERT3, for a long time he maintained the column presenting the new record releases and is the owner of the Flip Side bar in Thessaloniki, which you will find at Proxenou Koromilas 11. Another memory of mine and musically the my first acquaintance with domestic rock n roll, rockabilly, garage rock n roll was the amazing music collection of POP and ROCK which consisted of 2 CDs with Greek rockabilly, psychobilly, rock n roll bands, from Greek gems that if you were not from some big city, you would probably never know them.
                                                                     

They have played in: France, Cyprus, Skopje with great success. They have done many live shows all

over Greece sponsored by Southern Comfort. They have also participated in many festivals such as River Party and Nestorio in Kastoria. The British Nervous Records released in two successive collections the tracks alcohol and stars are bright respectively. While the Swedish SunJay Records released alcohol.
                                                                               

And yet, the traveler of sounds and the aristocrat of the stage is more fashionable than ever, where

nostalgia meets its most modern version, that of the refined but rawly authentic, that of the successful elitist, that behind a new cd reveals the history of the secular life of Thessaloniki that brings us back to times of wild parties, stages burning with live and radio shows that made history with unsurpassed humor. But above all, they bring back an innocent era with so much soul and so much sincerity... this sincerity that is missing everywhere!

Alexandros Perros And The Lone Stars – Cruisin' Mean
Label: On Stage Records – OSR 013, On Stage Records – OSR 013CD
Format: CD, Album
Country: Greece
Released: 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll

TRACKS

01. 911    2:14
02. I'm On Fire    2:03
03. Midnight Shadows    2:17
04. Crusin' Mean    2:32
05. Nothing Left To Lose    2:44
06. Dancing With The Shadows    6:05
07. Wild Streak    3:00
08. Deja Vu    4:41
09. I Still Want You    2:51
10. Ghost Train    3:52
11. Far Too Long...    2:41
12. Under The Moonlight    5:54
13. Flipside Stories    2:32
14. The Girl With The Blue Dress    2:42
15. This Great Adventure Of Love    3:56
16. I Talk To Her    2:48

LINE - UP

Bass – Costas Hasiotis
Drums – Tasos Ikonomou
Written-By, Vocals, Guitar – Alexandros Perros

MP3 @ 320 Size: 125 MB
Flac  Size: 396 MB

The Cryan' Shames: Discography 1966 - 1968

 

In 1966, upon learning that another band was already using the name “Tommy and the Travelers”, they needed to find another name. J.C. Hooke was familiar with the Tommy of that band, and JC asked

Tommy if he would be interested in joining their band instead; when Tommy Krein (Last name pronounced Cryan) declined, JC remarked that it was "a cryan' shame," thus naming the band. After 1966, the group pursued an increasingly mainstream pop direction featuring saccharine arrangements and material. In this respect they uncannily mirrored the devolution of local rivals the New Colony Six, who also shifted from tough pop/rock to MOR in their bid for national success.
                      

The Cryan' Shames are an American garage rock band from Hinsdale, Illinois. Originally known as The

Travelers, the band was formed by Tom Doody ("Toad"), Gerry Stone ("Stonehenge"), Dave Purple ("Grape") of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy from Possum River, and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster ("J.C. Hooke", so named because he was born without a left hand and wore a hook), and Bill Hughes. The band's most successful song was their cover of The Searchers' "Sugar and Spice".
                  

The Cryan' Shames were a big deal in Chicago in the mid- and late '60s when a bunch of their singles

hit the local Top Ten; some of them were small national hits as well. The biggest of these was "Sugar and Spice," a cover of a Searchers song (itself a cover of a Drifters hit) that made the Top 50 in 1966 and was later featured in the Nuggets anthology of '60s garage bands. In their original incarnation, the Shames leaned toward the pop end of garage. Borrowing heavily from the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Yardbirds, guitarist Jim Fair wrote a clutch of energetic guitar pop/rockers with sparkling harmonies.
                   

Follow-up singles met with lesser success, but, in August 1967, "It Could Be We're in Love" was #1 in Chicago on both WLS and WCFL. Before the development of their second album, Stone was drafted to

fight in the Vietnam War and lineup changes followed. Their second album, an experimental combination of psychedelic rock and studio arrangements, charted at number 156. Their productions and vocal harmonies had improved, which was reflected positively in album sales. Jim Fairs and Dennis Conroy left following the release of the second album. They were replaced by Dave Carter and Alan Dawson.
                     

The group's new lineup released their final album, Synthesis. The album marked attempts at progressive rock with jazz influences. The album charted lower than their previous effort and was considered a

disappointment. The group disbanded in December 1969, but they later reunited and continue to tour. The Shames were never a national success, but their singles and albums sold well in the Chicago area. Jim "J.C. Hooke" Pilster and Tom Doody (Toad) are the only remaining original members in the current lineup. Two members of The Cryan' Shames have died: bassist Dave Purple in June 2001,[6] and his replacement, Isaac Guillory, on December 31, 2000.
                 

THE CRYAN' SHAMES - SUGAR AND SPICE 1966

                       

The Cryan' Shames' debut album was typical of the more thrown-together rock LPs of the era: both sides of their first two singles and a bunch of cover versions. The singles, actually, were pretty good,

including their most well-known song, "Sugar & Spice," a cover of a Searchers hit that actually was more memorable and imaginative than the original. Its B-side, "Ben Franklin's Almanac," was a respectable original with shades of the Byrds, the Yardbirds, and California harmonies; the second single, "I Wanna Meet You," was a decent meld of Beatles-Byrds jangle with Beach Boys harmonies; and its flip, "We Could Be Happy," was an OK soft rock number.
(review Richie Unterberger - AMG)

The Cryan' Shames – Sugar & Spice
Label: Sundazed Music – SC6186
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2002
Recorded: August 25 & 26, 1966.
Genre: Rock
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                       

01. Sugar And Spice   2:26
Written-By – T. Hatch
02. We Could Be Happy   2:32
Written-By – J. Fairs
03. Heat Wave   2:07
Written-By – Holland-Dozier-Holland
04. We'll Meet Again   2:07
Written-By – H. Charles, R. Parker
05. Ben Franklin's Almanac   1:56
Written-By – J. Fairs
06. She Don't Care About Time   2:56
Written-By – C. Clark
07. Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go)   2:39
Written-By – C. Powers
08. If I Needed Someone   2:19
Written-By – G. Harrison
09. July   1:33
Written-By – J. Fairs
10. I Wanna Meet You   2:08
Written-By – J. Fairs
11. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place   3:40
Written-By – Mann-Weil

BONUS TRACKS
       
12. You're Gonna Lose That Girl
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
13. Mr. Unreliable (Single Version)
Written By – J. Fairs
Written-By – L. Kerley
14. Georgia
Written-By – J. Fairs
15. It Don't Matter To Me
Written-By – D. Gates
16. Bits And Pieces (Version One)
Written-By – L. Kerley
17. The Road
Written-By – L. Kerley

LINE - UP
    

Bass, Organ, Harpsichord – Dave Purple (Grape)
Drums – Dennis Conroy
Lead Guitar – Jim Fairs
Lead Vocals – Tom Doody (Toad)
Rhythm Guitar – Jerry Stone (Stonehenge)
Tambourine – Jim Pilster (J. C. Hooke)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 131 MB
Flac  Size: 231 MB

THE CRYAN' SHAMES - A SCRATCH IN THE SKY 1967

                   

On their second album, the Cryan' Shames shifted from the heavy British Invasion and Byrds influences of their debut into a more California sunshine pop-flavored sound, without abandoning their debts to the Beatles and the Byrds altogether. Never mind that they weren't from California; the harmonies, and sometimes the arrangements, have definite echoes of the Beach Boys and the Association. The Cryan'

Shames were good harmony singers, and all but two of the songs on the LP are the work of group members Jim Fairs and Lenny Kerley. "Sunshine Psalm" has a hard-driving verse that sounds influenced by the Byrds' "I See You," yet melts into light Association-styled harmonies in other sections.The 2002 CD reissue on Sundazed adds seven bonus tracks. Five of them are single versions of songs from the LP; the others are the 1968 non-LP soft rock single "Young Birds Fly" and the B-side "The Warm," a harmony ballad with more Beach Boys-Association influences (review Richie Unterberger - AMG).

The Cryan' Shames – A Scratch In The Sky
Label: Sundazed Music – SC 6187
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo 2002
Country: US
Released: 1967   
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS

                  

01. A Carol For Lorelei   4:05
02. The Sailing Ship   3:36
03. In The Cafe   3:12
04. Mr. Unreliable   2:52
05. The Town I'd Like To Go Back To   4:30
06. Up On The Roof   3:23
07. It Could Be We're In Love   2:35
08. Sunshine Psalm   2:17
09. Was Lonely When   4:03
10. Cobblestone Road   2:51
11. Dennis Dupree From Danville   3:12

BONUS TRACKS       
    
12. It Could Be We're In Love (Single Version)   2:34
13. It Was Lonely When (Single Version)   3:27
14. Young Birds Fly   2:25
15. Sunshine Psalm (Single Version)   2:09
16. Up On The Roof (Single Version)   3:28
17. The Sailing Ship (Single Version)   2:55
18. The Warm   4:18

LINE - UP

                        

Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Accordion, Cello, Vocals – Isaac Guillory
Drums, Percussion [Other] – Dennis Conroy
Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Flute, Bagpipes, Vocals – Jim Fairs
Guitar, Bass, Tambura, Vocals – Lenny Kerley
Lead Vocals, Bells, Autoharp – Toad
Tambourine, Cowbell, French Horn, Vocals – J.C. Hooke
Written-By – W. Swofford (tracks: 14), G. Goffin - C. King (tracks: 6, 16), G. Bryan - R. Holder (tracks: 11), J. Fairs (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18), L. Kerley (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 10, 12, 13, 15, 17)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 138 MB
Flac  Size: 340 MB

THE CRYAN' SHAMES - SYNTHESIS 1968

                  

Synthesis is an apt name for an album that, like its predecessor, A Scratch in the Sky, proved the Cryan' Shames to be among the most versatile mainstream pop/rock groups of the late '60s. On "Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith & Jones" they get heavy, with the cover of Hoagy Carmichael's

"Baltimore Oriole" they get jazz/folk-rock progressive, on "It's All Right" it's jaunty country-rock, and on "First Train to California," there's an almost self-conscious straining for an MOR AM radio hit. But it sounds for the most part like 1960s AM radio filler trying to get hipper with a touch of the far-out, the problem being that 1960s AM radio filler intrinsically cannot get too hip or far out. The CD reissue of this odd mix of sunshine pop and mild pop-psychedelia adds eight bonus tracks. No less than six of them are single versions of tracks from the LP; the other two present both sides of their 1969 single, "Bits and Pieces"/"Rainmaker," which matched a country-rock original with a Harry Nilsson cover (review by Richie Unterberger - AMG)

The Cryan' Shames – Synthesis
Label: Sundazed Music – SC 6188
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2002
Country: US
Released: December 24, 1968.    
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock
       
TRACKS

                    

  
01. Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith, & Jones   2:16
Written-By – Isaac Guillory
02. Baltimore Oriole   4:30
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster
03. It's All Right   2:11
Written-By – David Carter, Geoff Bryan, Ron Holder
04. Your Love   3:28
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
05. A Master's Fool   3:38
Written-By – Isaac Guillory
06. First Train To California   2:57
Written-By – James Fairs
07. The Painter   2:51
Written-By – Isaac Guillory
08. Sweet Girl Of Mine   2:26
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
09. 20th Song   2:07
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
10. Let's Get Together   3:27
Written-By – D. Valente
11. Symphony Of The Wind   3:20
Written-By – Isaac Guillory

BONUS TRACKS   
    
12. A Master's Fool (Single Version)   3:37
Written-By – Isaac Guillory
13. First Train To California (Single Version)   2:57
Written-By – Jim Fairs
14. Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith, & Jones (Single Version)  2:16
Written-By – Isaac Guillory
15. Your Love (Single Version)   2:53
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
16. 20th Song (Single Version)   2:10
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
17. Let's Get Together (Mono Version)   2:31
Written-By – Dino Valenti
18. Bits And Pieces   2:34
Written-By – Lenny Kerley
19.Rainmaker   2:19
Written-By – Martin, Nilsson

LINE - UP
            

Vocals – Toad
Vocals, Drums – Al
Vocals, Guitar – Dave
Vocals, Guitar, Bass – Lenny
Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards – Isaac
Vocals, Percussion – Hooke

MP3 @ 320 Size: 146 MB
Flac  Size: 358 MB