The Holy Ghost Got Me...

The Oblivians - I Don't Wanna Live Alone

The Oblivians - What's The Matter Now

The Oblivians sound like a pretty messed up meeting between The Sonics, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Stooges and The Cramps somewhere in Tennessee.

Despite their lo-fi, trash rock roots that put them in the same category as some of the bands above, I don't quite think they've invented a genre that could describe The Oblivians. Especially considering that the band was born as a messy, three-piece garage band in Memphis Tennessee and ended their four year run with a cracking (garage) gospel album!

Well...gospel inspired.

Are you ready to be redeemed?

The first two tracks here are taken from their final album 'Play 9 Songs With Mr. Quintron' which was released in 1997, it's a storming punked out collection of traditional spiritual themes played with a passion and energy that even a young, angry and wired Jerry Lee would be proud of.

This next track however is taken from the 1996 'Popular Favorites' album...
Why the hell this is not generally regarded as a garage punk classic I'll never know.

The Oblivians - You Fucked Me Up, You Put Me Down

Spread the good word, and maybe one day it will be able to claim It's rightful place.

Raw and guttural, that's basically The Oblivians wrapped up in two words.
Trash rock are another two words....
Juke joint, there's another two...
Garage gospel...
You get the idea.

Buy - The Oblivians - Play 9 Songs With Mr. Quintron
Buy - The Oblivians - Popular Favorites
Visit - The Oblivians @ MySpace

Simon
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