Roky Erickson: A Buddy Holly from Mars!
Finally, Don't Slander Me, the legendary album by Roky Erickson that had been out of print for ages, has been reissued!
Don't Slander Me is an album of extraordinary psychedelic rock'n'roll (in my opinion, the best ever created in its genre!). The explosive liveliness of Erickson's sounds and voice are things that don't belong to this world! It's no coincidence that it was during this period that Roky, just released from the criminal asylum, declared himself to be a Martian!
And if Martians make this kind of music, then they're much better than us Earthlings!

This album, in fact, contains some of the most beautiful rock songs ever written, songs like the overwhelming title track, the obsessive Haunt, and the psychedelic ballad Starry Eyes (all three will end up in what is currently Erickson's latest work, the poignant All May Do My Rhyme!), then there's also Nothing In Return, which is built entirely on a melody probably coming from another dimension, while Burn The Flames highlights the beauty of Erickson's voice, also venturing into an eerie satanic laugh... and what about the dynamism of Bermuda, a track that could even wake the dead, while Damn Thing... no, it's better not to say anything about that one!

Roky Erickson is a madman, that's clear, but also the whole world is mad, emotions and passions are, art and music, and Roky is perfectly aware of this; in fact, the word "Crazy" frequently appears in his compositions, such as in the Buddy Holly-esque You Drive Me Crazy or in the wild r'n'r of Crazy Crazy Mama, which he sings as if he were a Jerry Lee Lewis under the effect of LSD!
This album consumes me and drives me crazy, yes, I too am a madman because I believe what Roky Erickson declared. Roky Erickson is a Martian... yes, he's the Buddy Holly from Mars!

Tracklist Lyrics and Samples

01   Don't Slander Me (03:27)

02   Haunt (02:51)

03   Crazy Crazy Mama (02:04)

04   Nothing in Return (02:51)

05   Burn the Flames (06:09)

Here I sit
A vampire at my piano
The flames burn glaringly higher
And the eyes that stare
through the darkness
Though they have no form
There's no need for alarm

So burn, so burn
Burn the flames higher and higher
So burn, burn the flames
Never to expire

Here I sit
A skeleton at my organ
The candles in my candelabra
burning hellishly, hellish hell

And the laughter unending echoes
through the haunted house
A little Christmas spirit
Ghostly haunting deadly spirit
Every creature is stirring
Even the mouse

So burn, so burn
Burn the flames higher, higher, higher, and higher
So burn, burn the flames
Never to expire

So burn...
Burn the flames higher, higher, higher, and higher
So burn, burn the flames
Never to expire

Here I sit myself at my instruments
Here they sit at their instruments
And the music fills and fills
Terrifies, horrifies, forever scares
The children of the night
What music we make

So burn, so burn
Burn the flames higher and higher
So burn, burn the flames
Never to expire

06   Bermuda (03:13)

07   You Drive Me Crazy (02:29)

08   Can't Be Brought Down (05:02)

09   Starry Eyes (03:07)

Starry Eyes, how can I get to you
My true little
Starry Eyes , what can I say or do
For you my little
Starry Eyes, Starry Eyes forever shall be mine

Starry Eyes what can I say
Starry Eyes, what can I do for your attention
Starry Eyes Starry Eyes forever shall be mine

When I'm alone, I hear and feel you
I wish that I could reach right out and touch you
but knowing you're the one to greet me, and meet me
two alone in the dark, may you be

Starry Eyes, what can I say to make you listen
Starry Eyes what can I do for your attention
Starry Eyes, Starry Eyes forever shall be mine
Starry Eyes, Starry Eyes forever shall be mine

10   The Damn Thing (05:00)

11   Hasn't Anyone Told You (02:42)

12   Realize You're Mine (04:35)

13   Haunt (alternate take) (03:35)

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