Gremlins Have Pictures

Roky Erickson

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 15, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Restless Records
• ASIN: B0007R8F76
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,801 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From the Artist
"Purely fascinating…like Buddy Holly on acid" - Peter Buck of R.E.M.

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A gem for any fan of the ROCK to discover..., March 21, 2005

By	D. Galante "GoaT" (watchcity, Ma) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr.Erickson could pen a great tune, that's for sure. Lyrics, music-the whole package nothing short of compelling. Once I heard "Cold Night for Alligators", I was hooked. It's no wonder that great bands such as The Hellacopters and Entombed cover songs from the Erickson canon. If you're looking for impassioned rock and roll, you really can't beat this. Check out the tune "Anthem"-an acoustic based number, the feeling and power Roky is channeling cannot be ignored. I envy those who saw these songs performed in the flesh, for many of these selections were derived from different live shows between the late 70's and early 80's. This would have received 5 stars, but in being live, the sound quality in some areas is lacking-but should by no means prevent it's purchase. The souls of true music lovers will feel nourished upon listening...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hold on to your vinyl, June 24, 2005

By	Dan Plankton (Somerville, MA) - See all my reviews

For my money, Gremlins Have Pictures is the best collection of Roky Erickson music you can buy. That holds true for this new CD edition, but some of the key rare tracks on the vinyl version are replaced with alternate, less-rare versions on this CD. The otherwise-unavailable (and superior) versions of Heroin and The Interpreter from the original LP have been replaced by versions that appeared on singles. Still, superb tracks like the ripping John Lawman, the quirky Song for Abe Lincoln, and the three gorgeous acoustic tracks (Anthem, I Am, and I Have Always Been Here Before) are intact. And the four bonus tracks are good (and as far as I know, previously unreleased versions).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REALLY IMPRESSED...., July 26, 2005

By	T. Hardin (seaside,oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

this remastered re-release is fantastic!a lot of the tunes on this disc are live,and the remastering does this music justice.
if you are already a fan,consider this essential - if you are one of the curious,this would be a worthy place to start!
by the way,the liner notes are entertaining & add to the package for sure!