The 13th Floor Elevators - 1966 - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators

So I know this is decidedly “unhardcore,” but this band has been steadily reaching the upper echelons of my most played music since I first downloaded them a few months ago. One of the first bands to describe their music as “psychedelic,” this album has been rather influential to a number of scenes (most obviously the psychedelic music world) including punk rock for their simple rock and roll hooks and wacky showmanship. A far cry from the traditional psychedelic sound, their jugband-sound (no seriously they use an old-timey jug) creates an atmosphere I’d rather call “wacky” than “psychedelic.” Also, these guys were at the forefront of the drug legalization movement in the 1960s (I mean how could they not when they self-ascribe the “psychedelic” label all over the place) and were huge acid heads. Some good covers of rock and roll staples (Gloria, You Really Got Me, You’re Gonna Miss Me). The best track is “Don’t Fall Down.”

download: The 13th Floor Elevators - 1966 - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators.zip

The Beatles - 1967 - Magical Mystery Tour

A crazy, wacky album and my favorite Beatles album. Right in line with their musical trajectory after Revolver in 1966 and Sgt. Pepper's earlier in '67. (Hey, NPR is playing the Beatles as I write this.) This album really is like a circus and no matter what they had in mind, it really made huge leaps and bounds for psychedelic rock and noise music as the Beatles throw everything they've got into the album from traditional "musical" sounds to trippy, wacky noises and recorded sounds.

Even though it is one of their weirdest albums and is kind of a sleeper hit when compared to the likes of the white album, Help!, Abbey Road, etc., it is chock full of many of the bands most successful and endearing classics including "I Am the Walrus," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Penny Lane," and "All You Need Is Love."

To summarize, a great album showing the Beatles' willingness to change and use all sorts of a weird and wacky sounds more than simply the sound-collage of "Revolution #9" in a truly psychedelic and musical manner.

download: The Beatles - 1967 - Magical Mystery Tour.zip