Why do people keep buying Paul McCartney albums? You know that each new one will be a pale shade of the greatness of years before, but still you plunk down your hard earned cash hoping to find a little spark of the glory of before. Not that it’s fair to single out Sir Paul exclusively; it’s the same for lots of artists, especially ones with long careers. The other side of this is when an artist that has been out of the game for awhile decides to give it another try, which brings us to the 21st Century version of Love Tractor.
Love Tractor was part of the great wave of ‘80’s bands from Athens, Georgia. I’m sure you’ve heard of a few of them such as The B-52’s, R.E.M., Oh-OK, Pylon, Dreams So Real, The Method Actors, The Now Explosion (now, “Nappy” that was a song), and The Side Effects. Rodger Lyle Brown’s book Party Out Of Bounds and the film Athens, GA, Inside-Out are both great sources if you want to learn the history of the scene. I lived up the road quite a piece, Nashville, but it was still close enough to go ape for everything Athens, GA. The Athens music fanzine, Tasty World, was distributed at the local record stores and Athens bands were always playing in Nashville. Love Tractor were one of the standouts with their combination of surfboard waxed instrumentals that seemed to emanate from some off planet surf spot mixed with pristine pop and the local Athens version of funk. They were known for throwing in Gap Band covers, but it was the pop masterpiece “Beatle Boots” off of This Ain’t No Outer Space Ship that forever endeared them to me. They made an album in 2001 called The Sky At Night(their first since 1989), but hadn’t been heard from since.
So when I heard that principal Tractor, Mike Richmond, had gotten Love Tractor started again I got that McCartney type feeling. I knew I’d have to get the record, but I was also sure it would stink when compared to the halcyon days. What drives a music fan to keep coming back for more when it is probably going to be bad? I suppose it’s the twin edged cut of memory and desire that usually leaves a spirit bleeding and sad. It’s the memory of the former greatness and that potential to once more be great and the desire to feel those same emotions that elated you in the past, a chance to recharge cells desperately needing a jolt. Journeying into the past is a perilous thing, but once I saw that the new Love Tractor album, Black Hole, was coming out on Fundamental Records I knew I was going to get it for good or bad. Fundamental Records has the Shockabilly connection to my heart, another great artist from the past. My memories were stoked and ready to hear Black Hole hoping Love Tractor weren’t going to lead me into one.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
now this is one of those bands that when i see one of their records, i think, "man, that is a fricken cool band name".
then i don't buy the record.
maybe i should change that.
2 - wallybangs
Love Tractor are a very unique group, lots of styles present. I'd recommend This Ain't No Outer Space Ship for starters and Black Hole for those who would rather listen to King Crimson instead of the Beatles.
3 - Mark Saleski
i'll check 'em out.
i'm going on vacation next week...time to visit a few record stores.
4 - mike hollihan
One of my all-time favorite songs is the Love Tractor version of Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights." Instead of cool electronics, you get layers of dense, psychedelic guitar. I play this for friends and it always blows their minds when the vocalist starts singing "Neon lights, pretty little neon lights...." Sublime.
5 - Tim White
Wally!
You totally got it! Just like I did when I first heard the record! It's funny (and sad), but I've been getting flack from all sides about this record - because it's not like their first or third, etc. Isn't that funny? Nobody complains about Fleetwood Mac or Genesis or Piccaso like they've complained about Love Tractor. To me, Black Hole is another obvious progression in a band concept that has gone into many directions. Thanks for the great review.
6 - wallybangs
Thanks for the compliment Tim. I was oh so totally prepared to dislike Black Hole. I had the disparaging review already written in my head, but the album was really cool. The one's complaining about Love Tractor just want to relive the past, period.
7 - carmen
to put opinions briefly, it is a great album - particularly if it reflects the screwed up contractive times that negates human components calling for attention. i want to add, the lyrics "my mickey mouse flag waves bye bye, and i can't stand it" from this ain't no outer space ship, are hereby personally as perceived good, as in worth a strong song.
8 - greedydog
It's a Mickey Mouse watch...not a flag.
9 - carmen
watch makes more sense
10 - Noize9
Hello everyone. I've enjoyed Love Tractor for a very long time -- now my kids do. Fogey comments aside, this is a band that gets it and it comes through. Black Hole is interesting; caught on the third listen. Keep it up guys. You transcend the clutter and crap falling all around you. Depth of The Church, but you don't have to try half as hard. (and I do love The Church, but my kids don't. :-) )
11 - nathan collins
Love Tractor's Black Hole was amazing, but wait until you hear the new stuff!!! I heard some "rough" mixes last night, and I promise you'll beg for more when you hear 'em as well.
peace & pills,
12 - carmen
well, i would like to hear the new stuff! i am used to waiting. here is something for the guy who wears the led zep shirt in the love t's photos:
http://users3.ev1.net/~darktomb/valhalla/
some might find this déclassé (don't count on the accents being grammatically correct)