Following the release of their Gothdammit EP last year, Seattle dark synth distortion devotees Grave Babies have been riding their The Cure-meets-The Jesus and Mary Chain aesthetic even further into harsher realms of angular post-punk. On Crusher, their recently released LP on Hardly Art, the band follows various sonic tributaries and branches out a bit from their last release in terms of creative demarcation. No longer relying as heavily on their influences as they did on Gothdammit, the trio focuses instead upon honing their already considerable ramshackle rock proclivities. But before the band heads out on the road for the inevitable tour in support of Crusher, founder Danny Wahlfeldt recently sat down and wrote about some of his favorite records for Beats Per Minute. Ranging from the Master P-fronted rap group Tru to Roy Orbison, Wahlfeldt’s choices are as disparate as you can imagine. Read his contribution to our continuing On Deck series below.
Nirvana – Bleach
Kurt Cobain had Black Flag and I had Nirvana. I was 10 years old, I got a guitar for my birthday and started taking lessons.
Favorite Track – “Negative Creep”
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine
Nine Inch Nails was my first taste of something more industrial. The programming and production of the project was something I’d never really experienced coming from a very heavy Nirvana phase that really introduced me to music in general. Pretty Hate Machine, from beginning to end, is a great record that really gave me a new way of looking at how to exhibit angst and evoke depression through electronic music and not just distorted guitars.
Favorite Track – “Terrible Lie”
Tru – Tru 2 Da Game
This was the first record I ever downloaded and burned onto a CDR and it was also the first CDR I ever saw flake off because it was being played constantly. I have no idea why I have an intense love for rap music, probably cuz I just don’t give a fuck and in 1997, P, Silk, C Murder and the rest of the No Limit family didn’t give a fuck either. I’ve always thought “gangsta rap” is the “punk rock” of my generation. Our parents embraced rock n’ roll but brining a bunch of ghetto ass mother-fuckers dancing around with their pants falling off into the homes of white america in the 90’s was truly an evolution for the phrase “fuck you”. Tru 2 Da Game went double platinum. How is that possible?
Favorite Track – “Pop Goes My 9”
Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Although punk bands had been recording DIY for years, it wasn’t till I heard 36 Chambers that I was totally blown away that RZA had done this all in an apartment. This album, for me, gave me the ability to discern between “hip-hop” and “rap”, as I understand it. 36 Chambers was the perfect album for stoned youth at this point in history, the next best being Dr. Octagon’s “Dr. Octagonecologyst”.
Favorite Track – “Wu-Tang Ain’t Nuthin’ ta Fuck Wit”
Roy Orbison – All-Time Greatest Hits
Roy fucking Orbison is one of the best musical performers of all time. His career was so long and so incredible you really should start with a greatest hits collection in this case before you decide to dig deeper.
Favorite Track – “Falling”
Head over to the Hardly Art website to pick up a copy of Grave Babies’ recently released album Crusher.
