Every Album Ever | Episode 22: Wipers
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- This week we talk about the highly underrated Wipers from Portland, OR. Singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Sage churned out some of the most inventive, psychedelic, and musical punk ever written, yet the Wipers are mostly known as that band that Nirvana covered a bunch. It’s criminal. They released some spectacular albums in the early 80s. Then the 90s came and that’s where Mike and Alex become enemies, once again disagreeing entirely.
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Mike’s Picks:
Youth of America (1981) - Best Album
Over the Edge (1983) - Personal Favorite
Silver Sail (1993) - Worst Album, Least Favorite
Alex’s Picks:
Over the Edge (1983) - Best Album
Youth of America (1981) - Personal Favorite
The Circle (1988) - Worst Album, Least Favorite
Albums we discussed this episode…
Is This Real? (1980)
Alien Boy EP (1980)
Youth of America (1981)
Over the Edge (1983)
Land of the Lost (1986)
Follow Blind (1987)
The Circle (1988)
Silver Sail (1993)
The Herd (1996)
Power in One (1999)
Alien Boy was written about a young kid that was part of the scene in PDX back in the 80s. His name was James Chasse. Greg has said that he also influenced other songs on the album. In 2006, he was suffering with schizophrenia and was murdered by the police, so those lyrics now have a real weight to them.
Rip James. We will remember you!
I "discovered" this band fairly recently, maybe 5 years ago. Not sure how something so good eluded me for so long. Greg Sage is one of my favorite guitarists now. Iconic riffs....can I say that about a relatively unknown band? I guess I just did.
You're doing it right. My favorite guitarist is Trey Spruance. When people say, "Who?" I tell them it's the guy from Mr. Bungle. To which they usually say, "Who?" again.
Retroactively stating this is how I find you guys about a year ago as Wipers is among my all time favorite bands/was just finding anything I could about them on UA-cam. It's a shame there's not more celebration of such an amazing band on this site but glad you guys dove into their full catalogue. Pretty much agree with most of what was said; I've always been partial to Over the Edge/Is This Real as records full of banger tracks and YOA as their best ambitious experiment. Good stuff, thanks guys
And the solo record "Straight Ahead" (Greg in a desert with a tapemachine) is where the a-guitars are.
One of you is not "exactly" a Wipers fan. Maybe you can stick to Melvin's critique? I've listened to them for decades. I was in three shows in Europe...mindblowing performances! It's a good thing that his sound progressed. It would be stupid to just stay petrified in the 80's sound. He grew older and wrote more mature stuff...just like most of his audience (wink). One of the best guitarists ever to be.
The Circle and Follow Blind are my favorites.
Probably only because those were the first ones I was able to find after hearing the "14 songs..." comp.
His guitar work is so genius and subtle.
Huge Wipers fan here, been diggin' them since about '84. Listened to a lot of college radio in Boston in those days and used to even record the programs. So my first exposure to this band was on one of those tapes but I didn't find out who they were until months later. The song was "When It's Over" but with no internet I couldn't identify them right away but when I did, the love affair was on. Which leads into...
Personal Favorite: Youth of America
...on which we find that beautiful song and five others. How can you not pick an LP which contains that mind-blowing bridge from its title track?
The next one has to be most fans' pick for...
Best: Over the Edge
Absolutely in their prime. This one's a stunner from beginning to end. If there is such a thing as a "deep cut" from this band, one of the standouts gotta be "The Lonely One". Gorgeous.
Honorable Mention: Silver Sail
OK, so it's not as "rockin" as earlier Wipers, but I dunno....some of the best guitar work from Greg Sage is here. Maybe it was the lag between albums...the move to Arizona...'maturity' even, I just like it a lot. They do kick it up though on "Never Win", only 2:17 but one of their best.
And we end with...
Worst: The Herd/Power In One
Were they trying to recapture the hard edge of days gone by? Maybe. We know that Sage always employed a lot of distortion, but he overdid it - each of these is a muddled mess. OK there is one good track - "No Place Safe" - but that's about all.
Like your show, guys, especially that you delve into some of the more obscure artists out there. Peace.
Thank you very much for the insight! It's awesome to hear from a veteran Wipers fan. I think we all take for granted how accessible music is these days, not that I'm complaining.
How have I never heard of this channel!? I love Wipers and think al of their albums are either amazing or great. I don't think I can say that for any other band that have produced more than two or three albums.
just binged everything from better off dead to the power in one plus greg 2 solo albums straight ahead and sacrifice for love for the umpteenth and had a ball and now soon gonna do live stuff up to 1989(cause that all i can find bootlegwise so far)
With all due respect, I believe comparing the first few Wipers albums with the last few is pointless, as Greg possibly viewed these albums and the music on them as descriptions and vibes of his current situation. Wipers first few were painting a landscape of a 1977 to around 1983 era Portland; glum, depressing, dark,, angsty, loud, paranoid but artsy and creatively ambitious etc. As Greg moved further and further from and distanced himself (literally and physically) away from Portland and the scene there, the music changed with his experience, emotions and situation. Land of the Lost was a portrait of the dry and rehashed feeling of Portland after the death of the punk scene and music, as well as the need to find something new but not quite knowing what it is. 1987's Follow Blind was Greg becoming closer to finding a new environment, but still feeling the isolation and glum vibe, as he was spending more time around Amsterdam and other areas in Europe, as well as California and Arizona. 1988's The Circle was to be the end of the Wipers as Greg was in the process of moving to Arizona permanently, and we wanted to make Wipers discography a full "circle". Therefore he wanted a more straightforward rocky/punk sound without the glum depression of Portland, as that was all behind him and would be dishonest to his current situation and environment. He was also incorporating more acoustic / lighter elements as Arizona was / is a sunny desert landscape, and had more of a psychedelic / country approach to music. All the darkness on that album and the next two is from Greg himself. 1993's Silver Sail is much more reminiscent of Arizona. Spacey, slower, country esque and barren like the desert-y dry oasis he was in. Still dark, of course, as it was coming from Greg's mind (and yes he was most likely Gay) and his feeling of alienation and loneliness no matter where he went. The Herd was most likely Greg's take on the "grunge" and hard rock / metal that had become very popular. The long haired, flannel, nearing geriatric pearl jam but still young and watered down corporate mood. Still with Greg's signature melancholy and psychedelic oasis (not the band) type Arizona feeling but appropriated by the grunge "aesthetic" that ruled the mainstream.
Might be talking out of my ass
Thanks a lot for your input and thanks for sharing.. my favorite Greg sage solo albums are straight ahead and the heard
wipers is in the hall of fame before the replicas took over rock n roll and the hall of fame. but somewhere deep down we know that there are only a quarter of the bands in the real rNRhof, and wipers is finally in it..and high rank.
Never heard this band before but Alien Boy sounds very similar to Downer by Nirvana... Kurt must've been extremely influenced - I need to give these guys a listen though, sounds very good!
I went to a Wipers/ Melvins show in Tacoma, but the Wipers canceled. ‘87?
South of Heaven is the best Slayer record
Land of the Lost is totally Psychedelic and totally great!
Follow blind is so underrated. I agree that its better than land of the lost.
Wipers are my favorite punk band..it's my depression music and it's cool to actually cover the songs
So let your mind be carried with the breeze.. for you know you're not the one that carries the disease...
Blistering solo on the herd sinking as a stone and they say “nothing to write home about” oh my you have no feeling. Greg is a master of sound and genius songwriter, it’s so funny you don’t like any wipers albums other than 2 of them. Jezzzz what a terrible boring pod cast, I had to skip most of the talking was in what Greg say “there words standing still”
My favorite wipers album is better off dead.. my favorite wipers song is a coin toss in between better off dead and taking too long..
I had googled the lyrics to "messenger" by wipers earlier today and then these guys showed up in my google feed.A minute in and they mentioned swans,so I knew I was gonna be on board.i hope they keep it weird and underground.If so I'm gonna keep checking in on this one
You should have done the Greg Sage solo albums as well. Straight Ahead, which was recorded in between Over The Edge and Land Of The Lost, serves as a great bridge between those two. It was recorded with a guitar gifted to Greg by Ric Flair.
the only thing i cant stand is how you can say greg sage made a sucky song. none of them suck. they just sit back. they are still miles ahead of most songwriters.
The 3 cd box set has the same order as spotify, and ofc the bonus tracks after.
Mike, maybe your disappointment comes from pigeonholing Wipers as "Punk" when they were so much more than that. Ok, I'll be checking out your Black Flag podcast next. 😂
Alex, I LIKE how you think, bro! 😊
Fellas, I LOVE your podcast! Keep up the great work!
First Ever Live Show: Wipers @Evergreen State College, 1984 Olympia, WA
Favorite Album: Land of the Lost
Great group, and very progressive for a punk band!
Wipers albums ranked:
1. Youth of America (1981)
2. Over the Edge (1983)
3. Is This Real? (1980)
4. Land of the Lost (1986)
5. The Circle (1988)
6. Follow Blind (1987)
7. Silver Sail (1993)
8. The Power in One (1999)
9. The Herd (1996)
Are episodes 1-14 available? I can't find them.
Those are available on Apple and Spotify--it was before we had video. Thanks for checking us out!
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Maybe try talking about the band for once
wowwww. dogging on sinking as a stone as garbage, saying the solo is everywhere? bro you guys didnt even listen to this album lmfao. sinking as a stone is fucking god tier.
Jello’s vocal style was taken more from Bryan Ferry
These people don’t know shit Jaja some of the wipers best songs are from the albums they don’t like…
Boring podcast. You're just going on speaking of your own history and how much you like this album and that song or not. I mean, cool for you, but not very informative on the band at all.
In future episodes, the historical aspect improves greatly.