Today's Hotness: Comedy Minus One and Karl Hendricks Trio

During the last six weeks we didn't have the time to impart a number of things. One such thing is the launch of the new indie label Comedy Minus One, which is helmed by WPRB radio personality and My Pal God Records honcho Jon Solomon. The maiden releases of Comedy Minus One are the CD version of Bottomless Pit's solemn debut Hammer Of The Gods [EMusic/ITunes] and digital versions of Karl Hendricks Trio's Buick Electrica [E/I] and Karl Hendricks Rock Band's The World Says [E/I]. You may recall we reviewed the latter record here.

But what brings us together today is our love for the piccolo snare-packed recording Buick Electra, released in 1992 and supported with touring in 1993. One of those tour dates was at Princeton University's Terrace Club, where we first saw Mr. Hendricks and band, and they were awesome. Now that we think about it, this was likely the first real "indie rock show" we ever saw. The savvy Mr. Solomon has since noted that there was no digital version of Buick Electra available in the marketplace, and sensing a not insignificant amount of pent-up KHT demand, he's put his money where his mouth is to make the set available in conveniently ordered and decodable ones and zeroes via the aforementioned digital music storefronts.

Now you might be asking, if you are one of the thousand people or so cool enough to already own Buick Electra: hey, is this the same record that I've had on CD for a decade, or has it been remastered and rendered into quadrophonic sound for enjoyment in boogie vans the world over? We can report that in fact it is the very same record -- or we should say the very same CD, as the CD includes a handful of bonus tracks not included on the original vinyl. There are more than a few highlights to Buick Electra, but one of the highest is album opener "Dead Flowers." This is not a cover of the Rolling Stones number of the same name, although the Stones' underrated '80s rocker "She Was Hot" gets a brisk workout by Hendricks and crew. We highly recommend Buick Electra on the strength of the aforementioned cuts, as well as the tracks "Stupidhead," "F*ck Sh*t Up" and "I Don't Want To Be In Love."

Fans in and around Ohio and Pennsylvania have the opportunity to see the latest iteration of Mr. Hendricks' rock ensemble, The Karl Hendricks Rock Band, perform a couple rare live dates next month supporting the aforementioned Bottomless Pit. Dates are below. In the meantime, Mr. Solomon is permitting us to offer "Dead Flowers" for your downloading pleasure for a limited time. Download and revel at will. As for Comedy Minus One sister label My Pal God, Mr. Solomon intends to release before the year is out via that imprint the debut long-player from the amazing rapping punkers Yah Mos Def, an act which you may recall issued the insanely good West Philly punk-and-Fugazi-referencing, Archie Bunker-sampling demo "The Beat That Makes The Natives Nod" in 2005.

Karl Hendricks Trio -- "Dead Flowers" -- Buick Electra
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[buy Karl Hendricks Trio recordings from EMusic here]

11/02 -- Andyman's Treehouse -- Columbus, OH
11/03 -- Brillobox -- Pittsburgh, PA

Prior Karl Hendricks Coverage:
Review: Karl Hendricks Rock Band | The World Says
Misery, Women And Karl Hendricks Trio In The Early '90s
Review: Karl Hendricks Trio | The Jerks Win Again