SOUNDTRACK: DONKEY-“Memory Haunts Me” (Moose: The Compilation, 1991).
Back in the 1990s, it was common to buy a compilation or soundtrack or even a band’s album based on one song. Only to then find that you didn’t really like anything else on it.
Maybe that single sounded like nothing else on the album. Maybe the movie was almost entirely one genre, but they had that one song that you liked over the credits. Or maybe the compilation was for something you didn’t know, but a song you really wanted was on it, too.
With streaming music that need not happen anymore. Except in this case.
I bought this compilation, used, recently exclusively for one song, Rheostatics’ “Woodstuck.” It’s a goofy song and this is the only place you can get the studio version. The actual compilation was not well documented, so I didn’t know what the other bands on it might sound like. It turns out to be a compilation for Ontario based Moose Records which specialized in Rock, Folk, World & Country. They put out another compilation in 1992 and that’s all I can find out about them.
Donkey is NOT the Donkey from Atlanta. This is a band from Toronto founded by Alex Radeff (the band now goes by Alex Radeff & Donkey). It’s a shame this song is buried so far down on this album, because it’s really great. It’s got a cool Byrdian sound, but with a slightly darker feel. This song sounds mildly sinister. And then with chorus of “memory haunts me every single day,” you can tell why the tone works.
It’s got a guitar solo that sounds like it was recorded in a tinny room, with the rest of the band dropped down somewhat so it really stands out. It’s certainly a peculiar song. Like his website says: Founded by singer/songwriter/guitarist Alex Radeff as a vehicle for his eclectic songs. The song even ends with a bit of backwards guitar solo. Cool stuff.
[READ: July 20, 2019] “Indian Country”
This is a story about Low Man Smith, a Coeur d’Alene Indian and successful writer.
He was returning to the Reservation (which he said was always horribly monotonous until some horrible violence interrupted the monotony) to meet up with Carlotta.
But when he arrived, she had sent someone to meet him because she had just run off and gotten married to Chuck. She wasn’t planning on it, but Chuck showed up a couple days ago, eleven years sober and they ran off together. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 