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The United States of America

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A registered Communist starts a band called The United States Of America and lands a major label record deal before playing a single live gig? Only in the Sixties. After studying with avant-garde legend John Cage in New York City, composer Joseph Byrd moved to Los Angeles in 1967 and decided to form a psychedelic rock band. His first recruit was ex-girlfriend Dorethy Moskowitz, whose icy vocals formed the perfect complement for the trippy sonic experiments Byrd had in mind. The band recorded only one self-titled album before dissolving, but it was a memorable one. “The American Metaphysical Circus” begins the album with a lilting calliope tune upon which Byrd heaps one patriotic marching band tune after another. Just when the whole insane cacaphony is on the verge of collapse, in comes Moskowitz - transmitting from a sinking submarine. “Cloud Song” features delicate plucked bass and an ever-haunting melody. Like an LSD flashback, the final minutes of closing track “The American Way Of Love” features snippets of all the preceding songs flowing in and out of consciousness. “The United States Of America” sold poorly upon release, thanks to Columbia’s near total lack of faith. As Byrd puts it, “There was scant enthusiasm from the executives for a band whose name they hated, whose
music they didn’t understand, and whose politics they thought treasonous.” But over the years, the group has developed a devoted cult following and influenced numerous modern bands, most notably Broadcast.

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psychedelic, experimental, psychedelic rock, 60s, rock
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United States of America
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Top Tracks

1	The Garden of Earthly Delights full track	155
2	Hard Coming Love full track	145
3	The American Metaphysical Circus full track	142
4	Cloud Song full track	136
5	Stranded in Time full track	132
6	Coming Down full track	119
7	Where Is Yesterday full track	108
8	I Won't Leave My Wooden Wife for You, Sugar full track	94
9	The American Way of Love	85
10	Love Song for the Dead Che full track	59
11	Love Song for the Dead Ché	29
12	No Love to Give full track	26
13	Osamu's Birthday full track	21
13	You Can Never Come Down full track	21
15	Do You Follow Me full track	17

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shawnevans wrote:
Friday afternoon

This is my first time listening to this band, after reading about them the last few years. Even on first listen to their album, I'm very impressed and this album totally owns. One question, as I do not really know of anything about the band, but what ever became of this band and it's members??

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herman78 wrote:
19 days ago

sorry ChrisJHutchins, crappy song.

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ChrisJHutchins wrote:
last month

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwxE2vpnhig&feature=channel

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spacecoka wrote:
October 2009

very very very soothing

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Clashnroller wrote:
September 2009

Awesome sounds.

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renc-u-ana wrote:
September 2009

benim size puanım 10 kanka

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psychedali wrote:
August 2009

I just can't enough from this great band! the psychedelic soundscape is overwhelming and unique. but the power and ideas of the songs unfold themselves only bit by bit. besides, the lyrics are often somewhat risky and funny at the same time. "The American Metaphysical Circus" is surpassing!

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ALLCAPS_ wrote:
August 2009

This is great

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itsbeatnick wrote:
July 2009

I enjoyed it

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username345 wrote:
July 2009

"wait, what about VU (without nico!)?" Got to be honest, for some bizarre reason I don't really like them that much (except 'Venus In Furs', that song owns).

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TrashAGoGo90 wrote:
July 2009

Absurd, dated, and awesome.

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psychedali wrote:
July 2009

"Silver Apples, USA & White Noise = the holy trinity of 60's experimental music." wait, what about VU (without nico!)? at the moment, I'm just overwhelmed by all these 60s experimental music. I can't stop listening. thanx to last.fm making this psychedelic journey possible ... O_o

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jensinho_s wrote:
June 2009

hard coming love

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albinoskarsson wrote:
June 2009

Does anyone know if there are any recorded videos of this band performing live? Would love to see it. I'm searching like a fool. Their bandname is almost impossible to google or youtube : / This hunt has also made me hate a stupid band called "The Presidents Of The United States Of America"

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capt_pogossian wrote:
May 2009

and yeah, you're quite right, riigo!

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fosters_hui wrote:
May 2009

о крутая группа! russian fans of psychedelic love these band too))

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hierophantus wrote:
May 2009

It's not pretentious when you pull it off.

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Lucifer-Sam wrote:
May 2009

Please Watch This____ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW5C0Pij3UY ____

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Lucifer-Sam wrote:
May 2009

This never gets old!!!!!

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ViaMoonlight wrote:
May 2009

i like it

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