Monday, November 03, 2008

Russ Tolman:Totem Poles and Glory Holes

Once, in the not too distance past, there was a record pusher in Viborg, Denmark, called Sound Of Music. For a generation of kids this shop had a strong impact on their lust for music. I was one of those people. You only had to visit a few times and then the owners would know you enough that they would suggest records, that you might like, but had never heard about. They would create a demand for music that you didn't know you had. One thing they learned me was that there is always good music around. You just have to find it. The greatest record store I ever shopped in. Sadly they closed many years ago. I still have the pinkish plastic bag I used to carry records home.

Anyway, at one time they had a sale of vinyl LPs and EPs and they suggested that I took Ross Tolman's debut album : "Totem Holes and Glory Holes" home. I did.

The album is produced by Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, The Baseball Project, the Miracle 3), who also co-authored a few songs. It has an amazing punkish sound, and seems like it is recorded directly to two tracks. The album was released in 1986, and from that time I can recall many albums that sounds VERY 80's like, with very bad drum sounds. The sound of this record is right in your face, and the opening track 'Looking For An Angel' should be enough to convince any fan of rock and punk.

Jeff Kane should get som credit for the amazing in-your-face guitar that is all over the album (The same guy who added lead guitar to  another of Tolmans classic album: Goodbye Joe)

The only unfortunate thing about this album is that is has been out of press for years. It was released on CD in 1993, on a "2 LPs on one CD" deal. The other album is 'Down in earthquake town', whose sound is very 80's and not in the same league as 'Totem poles...'

You can usually find a vinyl copy at GEMM, whereas the CD is harder to get.

You can also stream from Spotify


An Amazing record. Nothing less!

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