Cassette (assorted red, green or orange covers, picked at random)
What's the difference between a Sad Eyed Beatniks demos collection and a 'proper' album? Judging by this 12 song collection of cuts culled from the past eight years or so, not a great deal! Kevin Linn has that winning combination of a songwriter whereby he's both hugely prolific and immediately distinct, and this selection of discarded recordings, previously lost ideas and original-take ideas of kraut-drone-jangle arguably reinforces that idea more than any more widely released record might. It's an intimate showcase of artistic process, warts and all, that in spirit feels somehow perfectly fitting of him, Paisley Shirt and, by extension, the surrounding San Francisco scene (note both Tony Jay's Mike Ramos and Cindy's Karina Gill feature here). From what I can gather, these tapes are mostly made to order and home dubbed. Doesn't that feel just perfect? It also means we're lucky to have the few copies we do. Killer artwork, too, with varying orange/green/red sleeves.
Please do also check out the Tam Lin tapes that arrived at the same time - another crucial but undersung project helmed by Mr Linn. - tape 1 / tape 2
FFO: Bobby Would, Smashing Times, Famous Mammals, Itchy Bugger
