I tell you, little buddy, this whole island is bewitched. You remember? We were shipwrecked together. Welcome to this bonus episode of Sound Opinions. I'm Jim DeRogatis. My co-host is Greg Cott. And if you want to be the first to hear these bonus podcasts, become a Sound Opinions member on Patreon, like Kyle Smith of Naperville. Thank you for your faith in the show, Kyle, you and the other listeners who give to us via Patreon.
Keep us coming at you. It is time for Mr. Cott to add a quarter to the Desert Island jukebox. Play us a song he can't live without. Greg, give us just a little hint. Well, Jim, this particular selection was inspired by our conversation with Jenny Toomey and Kristen Thompson, who, in addition to being in a great band, a 90s band Tsunami, which has recently reunited, started a record label called...
Simple Machines. And one of the great underrated bands on that label is what I want to talk about today. Oh, well, people will hear that interview coming up, but I'm intrigued. We'll get to that in a minute on Sound Opinions. Sound Opinions is supported by Goose Island Beer Company. Since 1988, Goose Island's been brewing beers in and inspired by Chicago. They got 312 Weed Ale, Hazy Beer Hug, and...
many more one-off beers at the Fulton Street Taproom or their new Salt Shed Pub. The perfect place to go before a show at the Salt Shed. Me and Andrew were there on opening night, Greg. It was really exciting. You had Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick fever. I'm sorry about that. Anyway, every time we go to one of these goose joints, there's another new one to try, and we love them all. I'm a fan, in addition to making great products in event spaces.
Goose Island has always been a supporter of music culture in Chicago and nationwide. I mean, if you see that Goose Island logo at a venue or a restaurant, you know you're in good hands. Yeah, we are proud to be associated with Goose Island. Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago's beer. And sound opinions, this. This year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening? Explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you.
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It teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can't control and start focusing on what truly matters. You, listening on Audible can help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today. at audible.com.uk Welcome back to Sound Opinions. Greg is paying tribute to the indie label Simple Machines. What song are you going to add to the Desert Island Jukebox? Well, Jim, I'm going to add a song by a band named Scrawl.
Oh, yeah. Columbus, Ohio. I think Scrawl doesn't get the props they deserve for being a key part. of that whole underground indie rock scene of the 80s, whatever you want to call it, college rock scene. They were a great band. They were a great band. Marcy Mays and Sue Harsh, basically the two main vocalists and songwriters, as well as Carolyn O'Leary. on drums so it's an all-female trio. Then Dana Marshall came along.
They had a nice long run from the early 80s well into the 90s. And they continue to make music off and on these days. But I want to focus back on that Scrawl heyday. They had a tough turn. They got signed to Rough Trade. records early on. And then Rough Trade went bankrupt. And they had a hell of a time.
getting their publishing back, you know, getting back their records because the label was in bankruptcy. They literally had to buy back their music in order to profit from it or to get any kind of revenue from it. And they did win that battle. In the meantime, they ended up making a small EP
at the time with a label run by John Henderson in Chicago called Feel Good All Over. And it was a terrific record, but it didn't really quite get the notice it deserved. Small distribution at times. Simple Machines picked it up. And then they started putting out scrawl records to their benefit because they ended up signing to Elektra. They got a major label deal and they ended up making a few more records before they called it quits. But I think that...
Scrawl EP that came out in circa 91 called Bloodsucker. Why do you think it was called Bloodsucker? Because they'd met the major label industry. Yes, they'd met the devil, and it wasn't them. It was the way the record industry treated artists. The fact that you had to sue someone to get your music back is quite something. Anyway, seven songs, every one a gem.
A great, great record that sort of got lost in the shuffle because they made other albums around there that were a little more celebrated. In general, though, I feel this group wasn't celebrated enough because they were incredible. They were just a great pair of songwriters.
of Grant and Bob and Husker Du, who could write a better song, and they would trade off, and it was just a marvelous band. I saw them live many times in Chicago. They were terrific lounge acts run by a couple of women, really championed. this band when nobody else was really waving the flag for them.
And they ended up having a great little run, you know, over a span of like 15 years. But this record really stands out for me. And the record that I went back and listened to their catalog because of that Simple Machines discussion. And wow, what a record that is. Every song's a killer.
The one I want to play is called Clock Song. It's a song where they say, got to go, got to go. It's kind of like, we got to get out of this place. The clock is ticking. Yes, the clock is ticking. We don't have much time left, and we're going to make the most of it. A brilliant song. I think it's just a gem among gems in that record. Again, the name of the EP is Bloodsucker. By all means, seek out any and all scrawl that you can find. Here's a little bit of Clock Song on Sound Opinions.
That is a little bit of clock song from Scrawl on Sound Opinions. You know, no one's ever asked us, Greg, but I think if somebody would let us curate a Nuggets-style... compilation album of the great songs that should have been hits. Circa, you know, 87, 88. to 91, right? Right before alternative broke. Before the alternative rock thing. Right, right, right. The bands that just missed that window. Just, you know, by months in some cases, right? Because you know there are two old-fashioned LPs.
worth of those great tunes. We could be the Lenny K. Maybe Numero group, but that's sweet. Review records. We don't make them. That's it for this bonus episode. For full episodes, visit soundopinions.org. To sponsor the show, email sponsor at soundopinions.org. We are produced by Andrew Gill, Alex Clayman. Thanks for listening.