red krayola
 

can anyone recommend me something?
is there a classic period? has this guy always been good?
actualy, ive never heard anything. i know he's old, been doing it for 30 or 40 years, so i imagine theres a shitload of stuff to choose from.
im at the point where i have so much to listen to, that if i pick up one of his not so good records, i might not give any of the other records a chance again for a very long time.
any advice on a period/album would be good.

red krayola - singles (1968-2002)
more than enough for start and you wont be disappointed. i also heard that new album is quite good

i downloaded some stuff a while back that was really excellent... think it was older stuff, lost it now... could never find any records of his for ages so I immediately scooped up the new one when I saw it but, to be honest, it is a bit underwhelming... in fact i've never got past side one and rarely feel the urge to play it... it's not especially bad, quite pleasant actually, just somewhat bland and a bit forgettable.. so definitely go for the older stuff if you can track it down..

i only know their second album "god bless the red krayola and thos who sail with it" but i like it very much.
i would also be interested in recommendations.

Red Krayola are playing their first London gig in about 20 years supporting Joanna Newsom at Somerset House on Sunday 20 July!

http://www.dragcity.com/bands/rk.html

red krayola have had some amazing albums, but in my opinion, a fair share of misses as well.

records you need to have:
'god bless the red krayola and all who will sail with it'
'the parable of arable land'
'hazel'
'fingerpaitning'

ones i would avoid:
'coconut hotel'
'corrected slogans'
'black snakes'


i basically like early red krayola (minus 'coconut hotel', for some reason ive never liked that record) and recent red krayola, and recent red krayola, its amazing to me how by workiung with o'rourke and grubbs, and 40 year old band sounds so new and fresh.

get mayo thompson's solo record too.

I was living in San Francisco and in 1994 the Red Crayola were playing a gig at I think The Albion(?), decided to check it out even though I'd never really heard any of their back catalog. Basically knew Mayo as the guy who had produced some of my favorite Fall records. To sum up the gig, I was absolutely blown away. And that has been my experience at the other times I've seen them live.

I can't comment on the earliest material, but I enjoy all the Rough Trade Lps I have. I really recommend this the red krayola the red krayola
cd/lp/cassette (drag city) 1994 to start, there a couple of tunes on there that will bring you back again and again. The Singles anthology is also really great, but it might be too dense to start out with.

I agree with LNC that the singles collection is an excellent place to start. The Red Krayola sound has changed so much over the years and that collection gives you a good overview of the the different eras and collaborations with artists Mayo Thompson has worked with. Most of the good albums have already been mentioned but I'd also add 'Soldier Talk' which has recently been reissued by Drag City and features members of Pere Ubu.

I fucking love the Red Krayola--I can't say much else about it. I recommend starting with Parable of Arable Land and then moving on to Corky's Debt to his Father. After that, pretty much any of the records you can pick up will make sense... even if it takes you a few listens. Really amazing work; I absolutely admire the man.