CHOCOLATE USA Smoke Machine 1994

 

Discogs

 

Tracklist

1		The Milk Part
2		USA: Milkiest Theme
3		Bookbag
4		My Cherry Bomb
5		Another Lego In Tha Cross
6		The Boy Who Stuck His Head In The Dryer (And Whirl'd Round N' Round)
7		Intermission
8		The Milkier Part
9		Playing In The Mud
10		Ugly Girl
11		Milk (Theme)
12		Isn't A Lie .../Glow Worm
13		We Stole The Cow

 

MUSIC TAPES First Imaginary Symphony For Nomad 1999

 

Discogs 

 

Artist Biography by Heather Phares

Though the Music Tapes are seen primarily as a spinoff from the Elephant 6 music collective, which includes bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, the Olivia Tremor Control, and the Apples in Stereo, they began as the brainchild of Julian Koster. As a 16-year-old, Koster conceived of his early recordings, like the "Silly Putty Symphony" as a surreal soundworld to escape into and share with friends. This motivation also fueled Koster's band at the time, Chocolate U.S.A., which eventually evolved into the Elephant 6 projects, including Neutral Milk Hotel, in which Koster performed as a multi-instrumentalist. When he decided to resurrect the Music Tapes in 1995, Koster enlisted the help of Jeremy Barnes, another member of Neutral Milk Hotel. Their first single, Please Hear Mr. Flight Control, was released three years later, and featured a variety of sounds and antique and contemporary instruments, as well as pop-up artwork. The 1999 debut album 1st Imaginary Symphony for Nomad had a similar aesthetic: a wax cylinder recorder and a wire recorder were used to record it, and a supplemental comic book was also included. 2008 saw the release of the like-minded Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes, which took nearly nine years to record, and 2012 heralded the arrival of the Purim's Shadows (The Dark Tours the World) EP and the full length Mary's Voice.

 

Tracklist

1		Song For Soon To Be Sailor	2:16
2		1st Imaginary Symphony By Vaccume Cleaner	1:00
3		Song Of The Nomad Lost	2:34
4		"Pulled Out To Sea..."	1:34
5		March Of The Father Fists	2:35
6		Nomad Tell Us	3:10
7		Aliens	2:32
8		Song Of 100 Castles	0:55
9		What The Single Made The Needle Sing...	4:02
10		The Clapping Hands	4:12
11		Seas' Song For Sailor	0:33
12		The Television Tells Us	4:34
13		An Orchistrations' Overture	1:53
14		Song For The Death Of Parents	4:02
15		A Warning!	1:30
16		Fanfare For Speeding Bullet	2:13
17		Wishing Well At Caper's End	2:04

 

CHOCOLATE USA All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today 1992

Discogs

Artist Biography by Mike DaRonco

Going under their original moniker Miss America when the got together in 1989, the members Julian Koster (vocals/ guitar/ accordion), Liza Wakeman (violin), Alan Edwards (guitars), Keith Block (drums) and Paul Wells (bass) wanted to create more of a phonouneum in their hometown of Tampa Bay, Florida rather than just another run of the mill indie rock band. This resulted in not only their "Chocolaty Good Smash Hit of the Month Club" - a fan club which members received a monthly newsletter and a new song through the mail - but also their own a radio show and an annual indie-fest which they helped organized. With their eventual name change to Chocolate U.S.A. in 1992, instigated by a lawsuit, Bar/None Records took notice of their antics and re-released their first demo All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today that same year. Two years later, their second album Smoke Machine followed. 

Tracklist

1	Test	0:40
2	All Jets Are Gonna Fall Today	3:14
3	Doogie Love Theme/Wysotsky's Tea	2:25
4	My Little Two Eyes	3:04
5	100 Feet Tall	2:36
6	The Feelies Show	3:02
7	Skyphilis/Air Raid	3:46
8	The Shower Song	3:57
9	Wash My Face	4:32
10	Two Dogs	1:58
11	Vocal Exercise No. 1	0:32
12	The Crashing Song	2:33
13	Luniks Furniture	2:39
14	Kriss Ford	2:43
15	Kathy	1:38
16	Nervous Aged Catalunian	3:07
17	Loud	4:22
18	Smile	3:27
19	She's An Aeroplane	4:21