Magnolia Thunderpussy Starin Down The Sun CD

Magnolia Thunderpussy, a source of pride and inspiration for Westside LA's mid-'80s underground, was the first high school age band to earn a record contract with legendary indie label SST. Musically, MTP fuses myriad influences -- surf, garage, jazz, punk, funk, rock and country -- naturally, and without concern for genre boundaries. Magnolia's set-lists feature equal doses of high-energy instrumental jams and songs whose lyrics depict a search for identity and the pain and longing that go along with it. While Magnolia originally disbanded in 1986 before making an album, the group has recently re-formed and has released "Starin' Down the Sun," a collection of their 1985 studio recordings and a full live performance. MTP is playing out again, so be sure to see the band in their element. As James Fenton of the Treacherous Jaywalkers says: "Magnolia [is] a live experience. Each gig [is] something unexpected, and something ineffably beautiful." Thurston Moore [Sonic Youth]: "Magnolia Thunderpussy slip it in your head in classic So Cal fallout fashion. They shoulda been massive." Adam Pfahler [Jawbreaker/Whysall Lane]: "They were heavy like Black Flag. Pretty like the Meat Puppets. Playful like the Minutemen. But there was more in there. Every style under the sun had a place to sit in their songs and above this eclectic foundation were some of the smartest, most thoughtful and heartbreaking lyrics we heard. MTP defied categorization." Mike Randle [Baby Lemonade/Love/Solo Artist]: "The music that invaded my head (via my big ears) was unlike anything I was used to. It was melodic, cool, exciting but mostly it was wonderful and I liken it to discovering something precious. It was THAT good."Marc Weingarten [Music Writer - Entertainment Weekly]: "Magnolia Thunderpussy was so gonzo for its time that it has taken us twenty years to catch up with them. Playing jittery no wave riffs with a jazz ensemble's finesse while singer Dale Nixon barked out punky dada like a more literate Damo Suzuki, MTP was too good for 1985, and just what we need in 2005."

Personnel: Dale Nixon (vocals).
Liner Note Author: David O Jones.
Authors: Daryle Goldfarb; James Fenton; Adam Pfahler; Abby Travis; Josh Haden; Mike Randle; Thurston Moore; Miles Om Tackett.
Illustrators: Dave Travis; Blake Schwarzenbach.
Photographer: Jane Jones.
Originally slated for release by SST Records in 1985, Starin Down the Sun was intended to be the debut album by southern California's Magnolia Thunderpussy, but the disc went unreleased when the band broke up. This union of live and studio material -- which harks back to the heyday of other SST outfits like the Minutemen and the Meat Puppets -- has finally seen the light of day 20 years later. Inspired and youthfully exuberant -- MTP's members were about to exit high school when this disc was recorded, and the studio time was purportedly a graduation gift from one of their parents -- these 20 numbers mesh the fury of punk ("M.A.C.H.") with the fluid vibe of jam bands ("Serendipity"). Granted, much of this material gets recycled in concert form, but one listen to the twangy immediacy of "Circle" and it's hard not to feel in awe. In the liner notes, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore proclaims "they shoulda been massive." As usual, that lanky bastard is right on the money. ~ John D. Luerssen