Don't Slander Me

Roky Erickson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Restless Records
• ASIN: B0007R8F62
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,962 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Born Roger Kynard Erickson, Roky sang for the 13th Floor Elevators before going solo. Don't Slander Me should come as a revelation to those only familiar with the Elevators. Recorded during the new wave era, Slander is a rock and roll album, and quite a good one, but it was out of step with the era and found little commercial success. Fortunately, interest in Roky has grown since then and the time is ripe for a reassessment--of his music, not his mental state (notoriously precarious at the time). Roky's interest in blues and garage-rock are part of the equation, there's also some boogie-woogie here, a little surf music there. Although the Elevators never sounded particularly "Texan," the Lone Star State is stamped all over Don't Slander Me, particularly the hard-rocking title track and Buddy Holly-influenced "You Drive Me Crazy." This reissue includes three alternate takes from the original sessions. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description

Roky (pronounce rock-eeh) Erickson was founding member and lead singer of psychedelic band, Texas’ infamous Thirteenth Floor Elevators. Erickson explored the far reaches of musical and personal extremes. Young musicians like Jerry Garcia, Grace Slick, and Janis Joplin jammed with the influential group. Following a nightmarish '70s mental-hospital stint that had a devastating long-term effect on his mental health, Erickson's subsequent solo work with his group The Aliens revealed a singularly brilliant songwriter and performer whose talent was no less impressive for the fact that he was singing about zombies, vampires and aliens. The demons that abound in Roky's songs are all-too-real reflections of his own troubled psyche, and the combination of the artist's oddly poetic lyrical constructions and his bracing banshee wail makes it clear, as it wasn't always, that he's not kidding! Don’t Slander Me and Gremlins Have Pictures, recorded 1975 -1982, document Roky’s genius.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Party the Roky way, June 27, 2010

By 

Anders (Copenhagen, Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don't Slander Me (Audio CD)

Like every other Roky release this is an all killer no filler album. Succesfully the production and mixing supports Roky's vocal, here at its most ferocious, throughout. A highly recommended release for fans of psychedelic music.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roky's Vocal Peak, July 28, 2010

By 

A. Tinsley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don't Slander Me (Audio CD)

Roky, who possesses a voice unparalleled, is here at his most ferocious. For my money, the best rock and roll singer ever, with no one offering much competition. Don't believe me, buy this and don't just listen to the samples. 'Don't Slander Me' is frighteningly perfect and harrowing in it's conviction.

5.0 out of 5 stars A true original.. amazing songs., April 8, 2011

By 

Junk Rocker - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don't Slander Me (Audio CD)

A truly incredible record!.. powerful lyrics that present as genuine and painfully honest.. A true poet. Roky has an amazing pop sensibility reflected on this release. Almost as if he were channeling Buddy Holly while on a drug induced bender. A dark and powerful pop album.. Roky pulls no punches with these tracks. His unfortunate history of mental illness seems to eliminate any pretense from these recordings.. great vocals,catchy hooks,fantastic musician!.. The creator of psychedelic rock.. a true original and pioneer.[more later]