The Red Crayola - Soldier-Talk (Reissue)

Often overlooked as a precursor of the punk/new wave scene that broke into the public consciousness a decade later (or more aptly, precursors of post-punk), Houston’s The Red Crayola (or Krayola) laid the foundation for the most manic, artsy and experimental offshoots of the punk movement. Led by Mayo Thompson’s psychedelic eccentricities and bizarre wordplay, the band rivaled Captain Beefheart’s visionary scope, but instead of a blues freak-out, Thompson freely explored the outer boundaries of his artist’s imagination, boasting stylistic tendencies unrivaled at the time. Soldier-Talk is the band’s third album, released in 1979 after an 11-year respite. Thompson enlisted the duties of like-minded oddballs to push the record to the limits of musical absurdity; the guest list boasts the entirety of Pere Ubu’s ’79 lineup, as well as X-Ray Spex saxophonist Lora Logic. Though it’s not considered to be the band’s classic (1968’s God Bless the Red Krayola… is associated with that title), Soldier-Talk is one twisted document of its era, and when juxtaposed with all its post-punk offspring, it makes those kids look like, well, kids. [www.dragcity.com]