Openers

Legendary Texan psychedelic innovator Roky Erickson formed the 13th Floor Elevators in the mid-1960s, shaking up the local and national music scenes with his astounding debut LP. After spells at psychiatric facilities, Erickson formed the Bleib Alien which became the Aliens, but by the early 1980s was fixated with junk mail. In the convoluted aftermath, 1988's Openers, released in limited numbers by London's 5 Hours Back, had Erickson solo on six of the tracks, his anguished, meandering lyrics backed by disjointed acoustic guitar chords, and here contrasted by the swampy power-pop backing of The Explosives on the rest. Another killer!