10 Questions

Hail readers, (and rooters of the Psychadelphia Phillies!)

Another Thursday brings yet another witty & willing participant to offer us insight into their mind and the swirling connections made when asked about our favorite subject.

Today's guest has certainly come up with some responses which will stretch your own definitions and have neurons firing in rather new directions. From Marmalade Army it's Lumpy Peppermint!



Here's one of the more cogent reviews of their album, "Johnny Cake and Moonpies", from the always-lucid Powerpopaholic:

"Lovers of swinging sixties pop will not want to miss The Marmalade Army's "Johnny Cake and Moonpies" as it's a loving tribute to the late psychedelic pop era. Sounding a lot like 10cc's Graham Gouldman singing XTC or Andrew Gold's Fraternal Order of The All, it's a really impressive collection of songs. The band member names are a mystery too, some credited as "Lumpy Peppermint" or "Paisley Nash" (A lot like The Dukes of the Stratosphere aka XTC). After a few isolated instrumentals that set the groovy mood, we get the first song "Flower Girl," a sweet baroque ode with nods to Brian Wilson. The next proper song "She's My Dream" work late era Beatles (especially the Harrison-styled guitar) to excellent effect. "Garden Of My Mind" takes the strum of "Tequila" and turns it into a 10cc styled romp. The Beach Boys era tribute cira 1977-era "2BW" (yes, it's really "To Brian Wilson") is a song that would've fit nicely on the BB's "Love You" album. "Welcome to the Love Machine" is one of those crazy instrumentals that mirror the "I Dream of Jeannie" TV theme song. And yes Andy Partridge fans, "I Nearly Walked Into Traffic" is a perfect "Mummer" track with pastoral guitars and melody. Some of the tunes are so light and psyche-sweet, like "Marigold" it would fit fine on The Pillbugs latest album. The title track brings to mind a Pet Sounds session then morphs to a full swirling sunny pop track with Reggae beats and harmonies. A few tracks do feel too underdeveloped though. "It's Raining Again" builds to a wonderful melody and then it ends (I would have loved it go on a bit longer). The end result is a fantastic album, that fans of the bands mentioned above will treasure."


Swallow that gumdrop and let's see what Lumpy trips on when playing Candyland!

1. In ten words-or less, define "psychedelic music."

I will do you one better and explain it through the ancient art of Haiku:
The jangle incites
Heather to bloom from my ears
That’s psychedelic!

2. What is the most psychedelic instrument, why?

For my money, it would have to be the electric coat rack that Charles Napier played aboard the Starship Enterprise during one of the many now infamous “Space Jams” held when Captain Kirk was out of town on business. If indeed there is an instrument out there that is more psychedelic, I am unaware of it. One could argue that Spock’s Vulcan Lute poses a considerable challenge to my preference but I feel that is merely conjecture.



3. Favorite psychedelic album of all time?

Spice World by The Spice Girls. Heavens me, what were they smoking?

4. If you could be a member of any band in history, what band would it be and what would you play?

It would definitely be The Who and I would play a priceless Stradivarius Violin for the sheer enjoyment of smashing one to flinders on stage every night.

5. What song or album that wouldn't fall into the classic "psych" definition is, nevertheless, psychedelic to you? What makes it so?

It is a bit of an underground secret that Reba McEntire’s Room to Breathe actually syncs up exactly to The Wizard of Oz with the sound down. We have it on good authority that the lyrics actually chronicle a dark tale of a hashish encounter that goes awry, resulting in the death of a hobo.



6. Is an album's artwork more, or less, meaningful as a clue to what's inside anymore?

I personally like album covers that I can pour over for hours. Most great psychedelic album covers are pretty . . . well, psychedelic and generally vague about what might be inside. That’s good! Album cover artwork should be the icing on the cake of a great recording. Take for example Roxy Music’s “Country Life” album. Upon listening to the music, you realize that it has absolutely nothing to do with the two scantily clad ladies on the cover. But really, who cares? That album cover is just fun to look at!



7. What band, active today, most defines "psychedelic" to you?

Wow, there is a huge and wonderful resurgence of Psychedelic music going on today. So hard to pick just one. I really like what The Wondermints are doing – great sound, great writing, great playing!!



8. What album would you most like to cover in its entirety, why? (Even if you were the only one who ever heard it.)

It would have to be Revolver. I consider that Beatles album to be the Holy Grail of psychedelia. It is the Big Bang of Psychedelic music for me.



9. Top Ten Psychedelic Songs?

Well, I’m going to have to do the top ten Beatles tunes and then a top ten for everyone else for obvious reasons. Here goes.


Top 10 Beatles Psychedelic Songs
1. Fixing a Hole
2. Within You Without You
3. Strawberry Fields
4. And Your Bird Can Sing
5. Tomorrow Never Knows
6. She Said She Said
7. Penny Lane
8. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
9. Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite
10. I Am The Walrus



Top 10 Non-Beatles Psychedelic Songs
1. Good Vibrations – Beach Boys
2. Badge - Cream
3. White Room - Cream
4. Eight Miles High - Byrds
5. Witchi Tai To – Everybody’s Everything
6. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It - Zappa
7. Call Any Vegetable - Zappa
8. Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – Yardbirds
9. Shapes of Things – Yarbirds
10. Parchment Farm - Cactus



10. Turn the tables, if you'd like, and ask me a question.
Lumpy: More psychedelic – Rob Zombie or Rob Petrie?

-valis: This took some mulling and weighing of obvious and not-so-obvious facets of the two. Ultimately I chose Rob Petrie because he is a manifestation of mind. That and he's married to Laura......



Thanks Lumpy! Our best to Marmalade Army! Grab their CD at CDBaby!