The Wake

For fans of psychedelic rock, John Snell X is it. The Minneapolis musician is one of the few who can make mind-swirling acid-rock sound unlike Spinal Tap’s “Listen to the Flower Children.” And that is no easy task. Over the years he’s released 6 albums, including IntHEkeYOfvacUUm, The Alien Highway, Audibly Oriented, and recently, The Clock Stops Here – all of which you should go out and buy now. Know Name Records has a great selection.

Fans of The Kinks, Piper-era Pink Floyd, Love, Sgt. Pepper or pre-glam T-Rex will recognize Snell’s outerworldly atmospherics. But they’ll also see that Snell has a voice of his own – a voice which really holds no parallel, especially among the Twin Cities’ endless parade of stupid hipster bands. And in that respect, he’s one of the most unique artists to come out of Minneapolis. I know plenty of people probably don’t think so, but it takes great big balls to come out playing brain-warping psychedelia like it was 1967 – especially when Melodious Owl and their “crazy” dance moves seem to be getting a whole lot of coverage.

So it really is a great and amazing and wonderful thing when a classic-car loving, music playing, acid-vibrating Robert Plant look-alike with an amazing set of vocal chords can come out and create music on his own terms. Everyone ought to take notice. And while Snell remains an occasionally elusive fixture on the local scene, he really cannot be ignored. With that said, we wanted to give readers a lesson in John Snell the X 101.

Firstly, while Snell creates some defiantly fabulous music, he also has an uncanny ability to come up with some quotes that should definitely be in that book featured in that episode of that show where that guy is trying to get into that book that has all the best quotes. It’s weirdly prophetic wisdom that still seems natural, considering his musical dimensions.

Some of my favorites:

“Don’t you think a colonoscopee should be called a colonoscopoop?”

“Something is art if, while spending more time with it, you continually get more out of it.”

“This is a song to please the easily pleased. If you are easily pleased, don’t let the not-so-easily-pleased displease you, because if you are easily pleased, you spend a lot more of your life being pleased than do the not-so-easily-pleased.”

Snell has also released some great albums:

Album: The Alien Highway

Released: 1999

The Sound: Take some acid, get a kayak, take that kayak to a river, go down the river, with a head full of acid, do it twice more, than go swimming in a vat of Jello, with acid in it – and then you’ll get a feel for the opening track, “Kayaking Down the Peshkigo.” The rest of the album has a kind of Village Green-Kinks meets American hallucinogens kind of vibe – a trippy vision that breathes visceral a soundtrack to philosophical and mental expansion.

Album: Audibly Oriented

Released: 2002

The Sound: Carries on the traditions of Highway while furthering Snell’s distinctive style. Highlights include “Atmospheric Entertainment,” it’s tape-loop reprise, and “Song for Mary” – both of which are highly dreamed-out sonic goodness.

Album: The Clock Stops Here

Released: 2004

The Sound: His best effort yet, Clock is a notable step-up from Highway and Audibly. While it carries on Snell’s penchant for writing tastefully brilliant psych-rock, it also has a shot of John manipulating a Fender Mustang, sitting on a ’74 Impala in the middle of a cornfield. And that’s the kind of imagery that your token art school friend just can’t conjure up.

To buy some of John’s refurbished classic cars, CDs, or to check him out, visit www.minneapolismusic.com. CDs are also available at Know Name Records in Dinkytown. He’ll be playing the Children’s Theatre in Minneapolis on the 7th of April.