Botfly - S/T (rare Lansing funk/metal/weirdo shit)

Sometimes I buy cassettes from thrift stores. Often, as you can imagine, they are garbage. But, at like 50 cents, how are you going to pass it up? Mostly, I just collect weird ambient shit and easy listening jazz, because they're great to grab samples from, but today's find is a little different.

This is a group apparently out of Lansing, Michigan in the early 90's...all I can find on the internet is a description that says something like 'Primus meets Blues Traveler' which sounds pretty terrible. I'm guessing someone just wrote that because they have a ripping harmonica player. Whatever the case, this is a strange brew....they're definitely metal, but there's a LOT of funk and goofiness, that makes me think of the Deli Creeps. But then there's that harmonica....makes the whole thing seem like the 'Rosanne' theme song gone to a murky hell or something. I dunno. But, considering my recent post on funk metal, it's a pretty fitting thing to put up here. Plus, it's ripped directly from cassette by ME, so that's kinda cool, right?

Botfly - S/T (1995)

Tracklist:

1. Turns
2. Texas Toast
3. Wha-Hurd
4. Barney
5. Acquisition
6. Life
7. Program Callous Indifference
8. Trailer Park Shuffle
9. Feces Stew
10. Can Cega

DOWNLOAD

Obscuro! Mixtape #13...'Bright colors, white brothers'

I've always been fascinated by funk-metal (the genre focus of this week's mixtape)....most of it is so completely un-funky that the name doesn't even make sense. But, the basic concept is white metal dudes (usually thrashers) playing poor man's Parliament rhythms and kind of half-assing some rap over the top. Doesn't sound too great, right?

Usually, I'd say that's the case, but considering Mr. Bungle is often lumped in this genre, it can't be all bad. So, as usual, I wade through all the bullshit to bring you about 60 minutes of 'good' funk-metal. Now, I might be a little biased since I grew up with Faith No More and Snot and things of that ilk, but whatever, some good tunez here for springtime, and not a 311 song among 'em.

Some highlights include a cut by Tom Morello's (Rage Against The Machine) first band which isn't really that bad, and has some fancy guitar work of course, and a cut by the pre-KoRn band L.A.P.D. (which apparently stands for 'Love and Peace, Dude'--how stupid is that??) Also, some classix like Fishbone and Sugar Ray (yes, they used to be a funk-metal band) thrown in for good measure. ALSO a demo cut by Red Hot Chili Peppers...possibly their oldest song?

Obscuro! Mixtape #13 - 'Bright colors, white brothers' by Bizarrojerry on Mixcloud

Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Out in L.A.'

Most people that have heard my radio programs know I have a weak spot for the old funk-metal of the Chili Peppers. I can take or leave most of their newer stuff, but from about '83 to '90 they put out some of my favorite records. The best of these is definitely 'The Uplift Mofo Party Plan,' released in 1987 with the four founding members finally playing together on record for the first time, but, I'm givin' you the less-common 'Out in L.A.' compilation.

This has got pretty much all the b-sides from the first 3 Chili Peppers records (there weren't that many) and some live cuts/remixes. It's okay, but it's an interesting document at least. One of the songs ('Blues for Meister') features Flea on vocals I think? There's also a really lame version of 'Deck the Halls.' Oh well. If you're into 'golden age' funk metal, you'll dig this.

Tracklist:

1. Higher Ground (12" Vocal Mix)
2. Hollywood (Africa) (Extended Dance Mix)
3. If You Want Me to Stay (Pink Mustang Mix)
4. Behind the Sun (Ben Grosse Remix)
5. Castles Made of Sand (Live)
6. Special Secret Song Inside (Live)
7. F.U. (Live)
8. Get Up and Jump (Demo Version)
9. Out in L.A. (Demo Version)
10. Green Heaven (Demo Version)
11. Police Helicopter (Demo Version)
12. Nevermind (Demo Version)
13. Sex Rap (Demo Version)
14. Blues for Meister
15. You Always Sing the Same (Demo Version)
16. Stranded
17. Flea Fly
18. What it is
19. Deck the Halls

DOWNLOAD