Disgusting Discussions Ain't Got Me Nowhere-- El Nuevo Wavo--Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns

I picked up a Joe "King" Carrasco album on impulse in college at Al Bum's in Worcester, I think. I didn't have a car at the time, so I used to take the long walk there every once in a while from school, past the Olde Lamplighter Strip Joint, The Miss Worcester Diner, running under the disgusting railway bridge with the enormous pile of pigeon shit, past the famous Coney Island Hot Dogs neon sign.

Wormtown Calling

The cover on this album was so ridiculous that it had to be good. So this is the stuff I spent money on, instead of buying the legendary Lynch Mob's Naughty Girl/Pick of the Litter single before it sold out. But in this case I was pleasantly surprised.

It's Good To Be The King!!!

This is simply a fantastic album, a great meshing of new wave enthusiasm with Tex-Mex Mendocino swagger. So much fun the incoming Congress might make it illegal. Unfortunately, this album came out in vinyl format in 1980 and was never re-released on Cd. Or maybe....?

This may very well be the best new wave Tex-Mex album ever. Granted, the field may be limited. Joe has some other worthy albums that I know of. But this one is tops in my book. It's a little heavy on the punk rock speed at the expense of Texas traditionalism. The music is driven by the great Farfisa playing by Kris Cummings, and Carrasco's over the top charisma. Rounding out the band is Brad Kiser on bass and Mike Navarro on drums. Amphetamine Polka music.

Hasta La Vista, Catch Me Manana

The album begins with Houston El Mover a great song, and a great homage to the Sir Douglas Quintet who are clearly a big influence here. All of the songs are unadulterated party music, like the comic Caca de Vaca and the high tempo One More Time. They do a nice versions Party Doll and the old standard Federales also. My favorite is the new organ riffing Don't Bug Me Baby, which my band actually used to play back in the 80's. Other hard driving highlights are Let's Get Pretty, Buena, Nervoused Out, and I Get My Kicks On You.

Dear reader, if this post has piqued your interest you may want to check out Carrasco's web page, where he has for sale a slew of releases and other assorted items of merch. Of particular note is this Cd.

Heavy Hangs The Head That Wears La Corona

This is the mother lode folks. And it includes 7 additional songs in much the same manner. It is also available via Amazon in mp3 format too. So if you like farfisa organ, Tejano music, Sam the Sham's 96 Tears, the B-52's or The Sir Douglas Quintet there is a lot to like here. Hey, I like The Birthday Party and Joy Division as much as the next guy, but sometimes you need to kick back and have a mindless carefree good time. And this is a perfect soundtrack for such an occasion.