The Red Krayola
 

I was really surprised there wasn't a thread about this band and I wanted to discuss their awesomeness, so I made one. This band seems so unique because every cd seems dedicated to covering ground that has never been covered.

Quick Facts:
Original Core members (they change a lot though, like most bands)
Mayo Thomson- vocalist/guitarist
Steve Cunninghan- bassist
Rick Barthelme- drummer

My form of the cds I know they have released (there easily could be more, I don't care enough to check):
The Parable of Arable Liand
Soldier-Talk
Finger Painting
God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It (probably one of the more abstract cds, especially considering the time it was released late 60s)
Hazel
The Red Krayola

I'm sure i'm forgetting some, oh well.

This band just is constantly undergoing some sort of metamorphasis that always seems to end up in a form that is ahead of the time.

So listen to them.

Could have sworn there was a thread about them

Maybe not.

Anyway I like them

yea I thought so too, I couldn't find it though.

And this is one of the few bands that I think are necessary to know.

*Bump*

Everyone should listen to The Parable of Arable Land.
I wouldn't call it 'amazing' or 'mind blowing', but truly, some of the most original and interesting music I've ever heard.
Proto-punk(or is it post-punk?!) mixed with 60s psychedelic weirdness(basically a LOT of noise). It's not the best description though. If anyone can word it better, please do go ahead :D

The follow-up, God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It wasn't all that bad either. More or less in similar vein to their debut, but a bit more melodic.

I still need to get some of their other stuff.

I have both "The Parable of Arable Land" and "God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It". I had gotten into The Red Krayola thanks to Spacemen 3's cover of the song Transparent Radiation but, If I had to choose between the 2 versions I'd choose Spacemen 3's.

Such a brilliant, influential, and (shockingly) overlooked band. I have their first three albums, and they are all completely different from one another. Even after a decade away from the music scene, Red Krayola still produced a fantastically unique album, Soldier Talk. Mayo Thompson's solo debut, Corky's Debt to His Father, is an interesting folk album (with a just bit of experimentation to keep you interested) as well.

Would any of you recommend another album by them? Also, why is this thread in the Indie/Alternative forum?

EDIT: Actually, I'm wrong about the whole decade away from music thing. Red Krayola did a collaboration with Art & Language in the early to mid-70s to release an album in 1976. Also, Red Krayola had complete member change ups from the 60s and onward. Essentially, Red Krayola is just Mayo Thompson with different musicians every few years or so (and sometimes with the original ones, but that only happened in the 90s). Thompson never actually left the music scene. He was just producing albums and participating in bands like Pere Ubu during those couple of years. So... sorry for my error.

They're awesome. The first two albums are a mind fuck in the best possible way, and I really dig Black Snakes too. Very underrated and influential.

been meaning to check them out for ages but never did

i think it's time i finally do, after they install the high-speed net line at my ofis

I suggest getting their first two albums to start with, but that doesn't mean they don't have other good ones... Soldier-Talk, Hazel, Introduction, their self-titled, and Singles are all great albums. Red Krayola's eclecticism never ceases to amaze me either. The fact that they do something completely different on each individual album is pretty damn impressive...

Absolutely love this band. Brilliant, creative, pretensious, and ahead of it's time. Art and Language Kangaroo is one of the best albums I've ever heard,