The 13th Floor Elevators being an inspiration for our blog, they deserved our first tribute.
This Austin band was groundbreaking in many respects, they were the very first band that actually used the term "psychedelic" (which means "soul revelator") in their debut record title.
They believed that man is alienated by material and practical perception and used the eye and the triangle as the symbols of upper perception triggered by psychotropic substances.
Like many bands from the sixties, their music and lifestyle were intertwined, their work ethic was a way of life, as both aimed at achieving a superior state of mind by altering their mental state.
Back then, they were regarded as very subversive, they were searched and two of them were charged on possession of marijuana. Their lead singer and guitarist Roky Erikson escaped and was then sent to a mental institution where he underwent electric shock treatment. (outrageous!)
The Elevators are a reference to common superstition, there are indeed seldom if ever 13th floors in high buildings and hotels. It can also allude to the 13th letter of the alphabet : M, for marijuana.
Their music is so unique that it is instantly recognizable, just listen to that bubbling garage aura.
The electric jug is one of the sound effects that makes their sound so peculiar and they have blessed us with garage anthems like "You're Gonna Miss Me", "Reverberation" or "Rollercoaster" or "folkier" tunes like "She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own") , "Dust" or "Don't Fall Down".
Although those Texans never got as famous as contemporary peers The Doors or The Byrds, they created a trademark sound in four albums, still bring out a true rollercoaster of emotions four decades later and paved the way for many bands such as Spacemen 3, Primal Scream and fellow austinites The Black Angels who have praised and stated them as a major influence.
They live in a time of their own.
They have always been in your ear
Their voice sounds a tone within you
Listen to the words you hear
Their time has no past or future
Genius is timeless, isn't it?
This Austin band was groundbreaking in many respects, they were the very first band that actually used the term "psychedelic" (which means "soul revelator") in their debut record title.
They believed that man is alienated by material and practical perception and used the eye and the triangle as the symbols of upper perception triggered by psychotropic substances.
Like many bands from the sixties, their music and lifestyle were intertwined, their work ethic was a way of life, as both aimed at achieving a superior state of mind by altering their mental state.
Back then, they were regarded as very subversive, they were searched and two of them were charged on possession of marijuana. Their lead singer and guitarist Roky Erikson escaped and was then sent to a mental institution where he underwent electric shock treatment. (outrageous!)
The Elevators are a reference to common superstition, there are indeed seldom if ever 13th floors in high buildings and hotels. It can also allude to the 13th letter of the alphabet : M, for marijuana.
Their music is so unique that it is instantly recognizable, just listen to that bubbling garage aura.
The electric jug is one of the sound effects that makes their sound so peculiar and they have blessed us with garage anthems like "You're Gonna Miss Me", "Reverberation" or "Rollercoaster" or "folkier" tunes like "She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own") , "Dust" or "Don't Fall Down".
Although those Texans never got as famous as contemporary peers The Doors or The Byrds, they created a trademark sound in four albums, still bring out a true rollercoaster of emotions four decades later and paved the way for many bands such as Spacemen 3, Primal Scream and fellow austinites The Black Angels who have praised and stated them as a major influence.
They live in a time of their own.
They have always been in your ear
Their voice sounds a tone within you
Listen to the words you hear
Their time has no past or future
Genius is timeless, isn't it?
Great blog girls! Became a fan instantly. =)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this band before. If The Black Angels mention them as major influence, it means I'll have to listen to their stuff. I'm quite obsessed with Psychedelic Rock at the moment, so I'm open to any band who shares similar sound.
Keep up the good work!
Bye!
i highly recommend this box set for fans (new and old)...7+ years of labor and love, and it definitely shows:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.internationalartistsrecords.com/
Thanks for the recommendation, I'll make sure I give them a listen.
ReplyDelete