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I-10 is a long-ass road. I drove a good chunk of it on Wednesday and then again last night. Here’s what I listened to on the way:

FROM ALABAMA TO AUSTIN AND BACK: AN I-10 SOUNDTRACK

Go West Side [May 25, 2016]:
– Ozzy Osbourne Bark at the Moon
– Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bullocks…
– Public Image Ltd Album
– Prince 1999
– Hail Mary Mallon Bestiary
– Nothing Tired of Tomorrow
– Aesop Rock The Impossible Kid
– Radiohead OK Computer
– Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool
– The Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy
– The Jesus and Mary Chain Darklands
– Bikini Kill Reject All American
– Circle Jerks Group Sex
– Nails Unsilent Death
– Nails Abandon All Life
– Nails Obscene Humanity
– Naked Raygun All Rise
– Naked Raygun Understand?
– Slayer Reign in Blood
– The Sword Warp Riders
– The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium

Head East Side [May 28/29, 2016]:
– Billy Squier Don’t Say No
– Billy Squier Emotions in Motion
– The Cult Electric
– KRS-One Return of the Boom Bap
– Red House Painters Songs for a Blue Guitar
– The Sisters of Mercy Vision Thing
– Van Halen Diver Down
– Van Halen s/t
– Yes 90125
– Rush Presto
– Rush 2112
– fIREHOSE fROM OHIO
– fIREHOSE If’n
– fIREHOSE Ragin’ Full-On
– Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full
– Minor Threat Discography
– Big Black Songs About Fucking
– Aesop Rock The Impossible Kid

“Unfiltered musical freedom” is what Brad Laner was looking for when he formed his latest ensemble of noisy pop, Amnesia. If you don’t recognize the name, Laner used to bend guitar sounds for Medicine, but after a year of indolence and introspection, he’s back at the helm, squeezing squealy sounds out of his guitar.

He cites boredom and “an inability to make ‘normal’ type sounds in the first place” as the impetus for playing guitar, and Amnesia’s new record, Cherry Flavor Night Time (Supreme/Island, 1997) is exhibit D in the case that finds him guilty as charged. The undeniable pop core in these songs wears a dark veil of distorted guitar waves created entirely by Laner and his guitar.

“In the studio,” Laner explains, “I definitely prefer to work alone. Though I love playing with the live band…” The band is rounded out by Jeremy Wood and Jason 71, but count on Laner’s guitarwork to be the center of any Amnesia show.

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This piece originally appeared in Front Wheel Drive zine #47.