96/98 Compilation Album For Free

Between 1996 and 1998 I put down a few songs in a rather spur of the moment on my 4-track recorder. Lyrics were made up basically on the spot while the tape was rolling. The sounds are pretty lo-fi and the clanging of metal in some of the songs were spoons, pots and pans that made up our primitive percussion. Jim Seagroves helped out on the racket kitchen percussion sounds as well as general chanting or making a nuisance out of everything.

Back then Jim and I called ourselves “the Gidds”. Basically, it was our little gang name growing up. We listened to NWA in high school and wanted to be white thugs. We had our own language and mockerized the neighborhood. Some of the songs we speak in German.

I play the acoustic and electric guitar, sitar and sing the songs. My brother Bob Guittard played bass and guitar on a few tracks as well as beat on a hand drum. Warren Barry played the organ on Once Around the Moon as well as added to the weirdness.

I used a Dr. Groove Drum machine. I hope you like these weird songs. At the time of the recording I was listening to a lot of Beck’s Odelay. Please enjoy and make comments.

Here is the link where you can listen and download the album for free:
http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/55876

I wish Word Press would allow a widget here so that you could listen. Not at this time.

Turn On Tune In and Rise Up!

Music and art can change our World for the good. You already know how chaotic it is these days if you are awake: Swine Flu hype, G20 Riots, Vaccinations, Nuclear Standoffs, RFID chips, health care arguments, economy, Iraq War, terrorism, the New World Order, 1st amendment violations, unemployment, and the list can go on and on.

Now if we all rise up together we can push the oppressive things out of the way. I have compiled a Jamendo only playlist of artists I really like because of their honesty and musical quality. Please download at the link below and pass around. We can do this. It isn’t over and as long as we are breathing we can do something.

And here is another idea: If you can play guitar or piano, sing or write, get going and make a song about whatever you are going through. No matter what. Flood the internet with your viewpoint. Let’s not give in to the elite bullies in charge who want to manipulate, con and destroy us with their fear-mongering. These are all distractions.

if you paint or draw do that, too. Flood the internet with your world. We have more numbers behind us than those elite. They hide behind their power and wealth. Come and get going.

Make youtube videos, too and post. Do it!

Here’s where you can play or download the playlist for free:

Turn On, Tune In, and Rise Up Playlist

1. Rancho Relaxo – From The Hip
2. Rancho Relaxo – Quebec
3. The Zombie Drivers – There Is No Law
4. The Zombie Drivers – Shine in the Rain
5. The Henry Chinaski’s Ashtray – A Girl Got A Car Accident
6. The Henry Chinaski’s Ashtray – One-eyed-woman’s dream
7. The Ragas – Blues Raga 2
8. The Ragas – What Ya Say
9. The Dada Weatherman – What Gandhi Said
10. The Dada Weatherman – Flying On A Cloud
11. Timado – True Blue
12. Timado – Turning
13. THE GOLDEN DAWN – Enjoy the Nature
14. The Golden Dawn – Let the Sunshine In
15. I Am Not Lefthanded – Falling
16. I Am Not Lefthanded – Long Goodbyes
17. Jamison Young – Live On A Moon
18. Jamison Young – Cold World
19. Blancheneige Bazaar Orchestra – Monkey Boy
20. Blancheneige Bazaar Orchestra – Meshugge
21. Jim Guittard – BJM-Like Song
22. Jim Guittard – The Sun Shines Today
23. Ben’s Imaginary Band – Connectiveness
24. Ben’s Imaginary Band – My Self-Centered World
25. Charline Lucie – Crimes de compagnie
26. Brad Sucks – Overreacting
27. Brad Sucks – Gasoline
28. Waterfalls – The Dandy Bell
29. Waterfalls – Get Tight And Loose
30. alterlabel -Optimystic
31. Blood Ruby – Midsummer Fires
32. Blood Ruby – Babel Babel
33. Illusion of Art – Machines
34. Illusion of Art – La Plano
35. The Heavens – Echo Serena
36. The Heavens – This Beautiful Machine
37. The Wagner Logic – Conflicting Sound
38. The Wagner Logic – So Hard
39. Glass Waves – Hey Nuclear
40. Glass Waves – Virginia Tech
41. FATHER JOHNSON – Treat Ya Kind
42. FATHER JOHNSON – Transcending
43. ARTSomerville – Are You Sleeping?
44. ARTSomerville – I know, I know
45. Chapter 9 – In the Universe
46. Chapter 9 – Small Apocalypse Song
47. The Verandas – Rescue Me
48. The Verandas – Anemone
49. Charlie Gibson – Eu Só Posso Cantar
50. Charlie Gibson – Porto ou Faxinal

Jim Guittard Music Publicity Animation Video

I came across xtranormal.com and made this little piece. At Xtranormal.com you can write little scripts and make animation figures act them out. The site is cool. I had to pass it on.

Here’s my first little thing I did:

and of course to download my music go here:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/Jim_Guittard

Introducing the Ragas Art by Henry McGuinn

Here are some paintings done by Henry McGuinn.  They are quite colorful and much like the “Yellow Submarine” cartoon of the Beatles.  During that time, Henry and I watched the Yellow Submarine a thousand times.

Jim with 12-String Rickenbacker and Korg

 The Ragas at Topanga Beach

 Jim Sleeps In Bush On PCH Near Malibu

 The Car Chase

 3 of Clubs in Hollywood

 Jim Drinking Stout for Breakfast at Neptune’s Lounge – Topanga Canyon

Thanks Henry.  The art is rad and really sums up my life in 2000.  Cheers.  Jim Guittard

Listen to a live show of the Ragas. 

The Ragas Live 2000

Calling for Reviewers at Jamendo

If you haven’t heard of Jamendo.com then I guess you are really really out of the loop and not aware of the free music phenomenon.  I suggest you get over there, immediately and get in on it.  As of today, there are 15,287 albums posted there for free downloading.  Did you catch me?  Free!

Most of the artists are not known, including me.  There is some really great quality stuff out there.  I recommend the following artists:

• Brad Sucks
• Rancho Relaxo
• Blancheneige
• The Zombie Drivers
• Jamison Young
• The Golden Dawn

I’m tellin’ ya, get in on this scene.  I give you free music; you give me review. It’s “Quid Pro Quo”, ya dig? A free win-win situation. I’d be honored if you’d do this for me.  Just sign up, it is free.  It’s extremely cool.

My stuff is along the lines of folk-rock, psychedelic, and experimental.  I have posted three albums and if you like the Beatles, Bob Dylan and the Byrds you would probably like me. 

Here’s my first album I did in 2002 called “California Daze.” 

Album description

California Daze was recorded in Hollywood, California by Jim Guittard on his 4-track recorder and later mixed with Adobe Audition 2.0. The songs pay tribute to the birth of the Neo-Psychedelic scene that emerged beginning in 2000 in Silverlake, California with groups such as the Beachwood Sparks, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Quarter After, smallstone, the Warlocks, the Tyde, and the Belle Isle.

Jim Guittard played the shaker, drum machine, and sang all lead and background vocals and had the help of friend Vladimir Maskov for bass. Brian McKay engineered the recording of the Beach the acoustic version. Guittard also played all lead and rhythm guitars. The song Beach is co-written by Jim Guittard and Dominic Campanella of the Quarter After.

The “Swing Tune” and “Jazz Tune” are instrumentals written by Jim while attending the Musicians Institute from 1999 to 2000. Jim plays the lead guitar with session bassist and drummer. On the rhythm guitar is a guy from Brazil named Reginaldo. He was a student with Jim at the school. You can hear the teacher, “Mr. Lupo Groinig” giving a critique after the instrumentals end.

Click here for the album:

California Daze

Jim Guittard Talks With ‘Tangra Mega Rock’ Radio

Back on September 30, 2008, I was interviewed for Sofia, Bulgaria Internet Radio Station ‘Tangra Mega Rock’. Radio DJ Vassil Varbanov ran the show. Various tracks were played and I got a chance to explain the real scoop behind my 3 Psychedelic/Folk-Rock albums, living in Bulgaria as foreigner, and my previous work teaching as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik. The Albums are:

2008 ‘Busted in Bulgaria’
2004 ‘The Notorious G.I.D.D.’
2002 ‘California Daze’

Listen here for radio show.

Tangra Mega Rock

Link To Tangra Mega Rock

You can download all three albums for free at:
Free Albums

Podcast of Islas de Robinson

Recently, I was turned on to a podcast coming out of Madrid, Spain.  What great thing I found.  Well, actually, the podcaster found me on myspace and I checked what he has going.  He has a lot going and real good music.

I recommend this podcast with both thumbs up and if I had anymore thumbs those, too.  The show is in the Psychedelic, Cosmic Country, and Folk-Rock genres.  You’ll dig it if you are into that stuff!

Here’s a list of artists that have been played on the show:

• The Quarter After
• The Byrds
• The Grateful Dead
• Love
• STALK FORREST GROUP
• Bob Dylan
• David Bowie
• Sarabeth Tucek
• Vietnam
• The Sidewinders
• Violent Femmes
• The Yardbirds
• Radio Moscow

And a lot of bands that I haven’t heard of but are very good.  His podcast will open your ears to some good new stuff. 

In the latest episodes, my song “Breaking the Language Barrier” is included. 

Podcast October 29, 2008

RAY LAMONTAGNE – “HENRY NEAR KILLED ME (IT’S A SHAME)”. DISCO: “GOSSIP IN THE GRAIN”; JAYBER CROW – “SONG OF THE JACK PINE”. DISCO: “TWO SHORT STORIES”; DANIEL MARTIN MOORE – “THAT’LL BE THE PLAN”. DISCO: “STRAY AGE”; DAMIEN JURADO – “GILLIAN WAS A HORSE” . DISCO: “CAUGHT IN THE TREES”; JOSH RITTER – “RIGHT MOVES” .DISCO: “THE HISTORICAL CONQUESTS OF JOSH RITTER”; NIK FREITAS – “ALL THE WAY DOWN”. DISCO: “SUNDOWN”. UNBUNNY – “THE PATH”. DISCO: “SENSORY UNDERLOAD”; DONOVAN QUINN & THE 13TH MONTH – “SISTER ALCHEMY”. “DONOVAN QUINN & THE 13TH MONTH”; ALEXA MARMON – “WEB IN THE SUN”. “GARDEN AT TWILIGHT”. JIM GUITTARD – “BREAKING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER”. “BUSTED IN BULGARIA” ( http://www.myspace.com/guittard , 2008); LYSSALANE – “SOAP & FOAM”. DISCO “LYSSALANE”; HUSH ARBORS – “FOLLOW CLOSELY”. DISCO: “HUSH ARBORS”. SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE – “JADE LIKE WINE”. DISCO: “SHELTER FROM THE ASH”. (29/10/2008)

You can subscribe to his show here: Islas de Robinson

“Busted In Bulgaria” Album Commentary Podcast Part 2

This is part 2 of a series of commentary about my album, “Busted in Bulgaria”, that I recorded while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik, Bulgaria. From April 2006 to July 2008 I taught English in the Bulgarian high school. It was while confined to my Post-Soviet style block that I documented my whereabouts through song.

The songs comment on life outside America and are in the Psychedelic and Folk-rock genres.

In this episode are the following tracks:

1. Listen To Your Voice

2. Rico

3. Pernik

4. Stachkata

5. Survival Mode

6. This Is Random Song

7. What’s Your Role In Life

8. Don’t Know Jack

9. Raga Train

10. The Sun Shines Today

Stay tuned for other commentaries on my albums.

You can listen to Part 2 of the podcast here:
Podcast 2

You can subscribe to my podcast at ITunes under “Jim Guittard”.

“Busted In Bulgaria” Album Commentary Podcast Part 1

This is part 1 of a series of commentary about my album, “Busted in Bulgaria”, that I recorded while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik, Bulgaria.  From April 2006 to July 2008 I taught English in the Bulgarian high school.  It was while confined to my Post-Soviet style block that I documented my whereabouts through song.

The songs comment on life outside America and are in the Psychedelic and Folk-rock genres.

In this episode are the following tracks:

1. Breaking the Language Barrier

2. Gangster 

3. Hoola Hoop Girl 

4. 8A Class 

5. Be Real True 

6. Babas On Their Bench 

7. I Wanna Go To The Moon 

8. Kakvo Pravish? 

Stay tuned for part 2.

You can listen to Part 1 of the podcast here:
Podcast 1

You can subscribe to my podcast at ITunes under “Jim Guittard”.

The Quarter After

by Jim Guittard

Something has been going on for the past eight years. It is the musical revolution that the Brian Jonestown Massacre front man Anton Newcombe is famous for talking about. In 2000, a Neo-Psychedelic scene with half a dozen bands was birthed in Silverlake, California. The Quarter After was one of those pioneer bands that was turned on from the start and continues today to turn on others.

As described by the band itself, the Quarter After is psychedelic music for the 21st century. The group is led by the Campanella brothers: Dominic and Rob. They formed in the summer of 2000 with then bassist Dave Koenig and drummer Nelson Bragg.

They began playing shows at the Silverlake Lounge, 3 of Clubs, and Spaceland. It was here that the hipsters gathered by the thing that was going on. You ask what was going on? Well simply, it was a spiritual awakening or rather a wake up call. It was a real departure from the philosophy underlying the excess mainstream music.

A new social consciousness was formed which was held together by the reverence of the older music acts such as the Kinks, the Beatles, the Byrds, Bob Dylan, the Buffalo Springfield, Love, the Left Banke, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Zombies, the Searchers, and the Association. There are too many bands to name.

It was not all by chance that this scene formed. Early on, the Campanella brothers made 4-track recordings of psychedelic pop. It was at the time of grunge. They were following the path set by the previous revival of psychedelic pop with bands like the Bangles, the Three O’Clock, and Dream Syndicate. In 1994, at a show at the Foothill Club in Signal Hill, Rob obtained the stamp of approval he needed to make psychedelic music. The show was a Sonic Boom concert where the Brian Jonestown Massacre was opening. It was even before the BJM had released any records. That night Rob listened to the psychedelic sounds of Anton’s band and something clicked. It was the green light and no turning back for Rob and Dom.

For a long time Rob remained behind the recording console as music producer for other psychedelic bands- the Beachwood Sparks, the Tyde, Dead Meadow, the Black Angels, and even the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Sunstorm. It was only two years after establishing the Quarter After, that the band caught the ears of Arthur Lee of Love. The band was asked to open up for Arthur Lee’s first show after being released from prison. In May 2002, the Quarter After soared high at this Los Angeles Knitting Factory gig. They were well received but shortly thereafter unofficially split.

But Rob was pulled back in 2003. The band reformed with a new bassist (Victor Peсalosa), and drummer and opened for Dead Meadow, a band Anton had found for the Committee to Keep Music Evil label. With renewed interest in the Quarter After, Rob and the band resumed work on their debut album that had already been started. The tracks were mostly recorded live with very little overdubs. Much of the time, Anton Newcombe manned the recording console.

The standout tracks from the debut album were “Too Much To Think About,” “Always Returning,” “One Trip Later,” and “So Far To Fall.” The album on a whole has a hypnotic energy, featuring soaring Rickenbacker 12-String, high harmonies and a hint of raga rock influence. Any serious lover of the Byrds, Gene Clark and the Beatles would be satisfied with the album.

After the record was released in 2005, Newcombe asked them to go out on tour with him as opening band for the Brian Jonestown Massacre. The tour went well and the revolutionary spirit was kept alive. The boys were writing new songs and were preparing to record their second album once back in Los Angeles.

The second album is Changes Near and was released in April 2008. A standout track is “Sanctuary,” which has a spiritual undertone- a beautiful song about faith, where fear and doubt are wiped away. “Follow Your Own Way” and the title track also follow this theme of faith and believe in the self.

This is the part of the revolution that Newcombe has been pushing, where he once said “I’m here to destroy this fucked up system… I’ll use our strength. Let’s fucking burn it to the ground.” He was pointing to the whole music industry. Time has now caught up with him as the record companies and labels are no longer in charge. And the Quarter After is poised to be part of this new world.

Also see The Quarter After’s website

Article is reprinted from the October/November 2008 Edition
Perfect Sound Forever Online Music Magazine