Welcome to Throwback Thursdays, a monthly spotlight on a gem from The Orchard catalog that was released a long, long time ago.
Album: The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators
Artist: The 13th Floor Elevators
Released: 1966
Genre: Rock
When February turns to March, our thoughts turn to SXSW and The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. The debut album from Austin’s greatest garage-rock export is a proto-punk stew of sinister kiss-offs (“You’re Gonna Miss Me,” “Tried to Hide”), moody reverberations (“Don’t Fall Down”), and druggy psychedelia (“Fire Engine”), powered by Roky Erickson’s otherworldly howl. The 13th Floor Elevators‘ enduring influence has been fueled by covers (by R.E.M., ZZ Top and Primal Scream), the acclaimed 2005 documentary You’re Gonna Miss Me and Erickson’s re-emergence after years of mental illness (he recorded an acclaimed 2010 album backed by fellow Austin heroes Okkervil River).
The Orchard has digitally distributed Charly Records since 2006.
