Name: Under Sided
Brand: The Heads

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

ROOSTER27CD

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2022-09-09

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Revol­ver

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

5060446124833

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Total Cap

2 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

ROOSTER 27 LPBL

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Black

[r24471368]

Housed in Rigid Board Gatefold Sleeve

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2022-09-16

5060446124826

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2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

The Heads

Genre US

New Psyche & Psyche Rock

Label US

Rooster

The Heads are a UK stoner/psychedelic rock band that was formed in Bristol, England in 1990. With their unique blend of heavy riffs and mind-bending melodies, they have established themselves as one of the pioneers of the genre. Their music takes listeners on a trippy journey through sonic landscapes, combining elements of psychedelia, krautrock, and garage rock. Known for their energetic live performances and experimental soundscapes, The Heads continue to push boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide.

A deluxe, remastered, 20 year anniversary edition of the Heads’ third album proper, the under-rated gem in their canon that is Under Sided.

Originally released in 2002 on the Sweet Nothing label, Under Sided was recorded in 2001 at WhiteHouse Studios in Weston Super Mare, with Martin Nichols engineering. The band had previously recorded tracks for Mans Ruin 10” at these studios (also famous for Ripcord, Heresy, Slowdive, Hardskin, Decadence Within, Icehouse.. amongst many others!).

For the reissue, the original recordings were remastered for vinyl and CD by long time Heads Masterer (!) Shawn Joseph. The resultant 8 tracks, spread over 4 sides of vinyl are some of the best music the Heads have recorded, after a bit of a hiatus following their 2000 US tour / Peel session (included in the boxset / on the 2CD version here), the band regrouped and worked out the tracks for the album, relentless rehearsing for the recording. Very few shows happened in that 2001-2002 timeframe.. band members were busy, earning a living, getting on with life, but they still had some riffs/songs there.

Upon release in 2002 the album got great reviews in the press, from Kerrang and MOJO to the Sunday Times, all helping the Bristol fourpiece confirm their cult status, which has continued to current times..

The remastered album is being reissued as a 4LP + 2CD boxset. The extra 2LP features their Peel session from 2000, as well as a couple of compilation tracks ("For Mad Men Only" / "Born To Go"), and some unreleased demo versions, as well as nearly 150 minutes of Live recordings (mastered, but RAW!) from their gigs on the Thekla in Bristol in 2001-2002. 

The boxset will also have a special slipmat, stickers, and a 24 page booklet of photos /writings, including recollections by each band member, and others including a 1,000 word essay by Stewart Lee. 

Under Sided is a pounding psych-nightmare that shows the Heads at the peak of their powers, there's a flow throughout the album of melding psychedelic noise rock to battering rhythms and creating a bad trip for all listening.. even the gentle soothe of “Energy” is enveloped by a white noise fuiry... the intensity of some of the tracks: the terror inducing "Bedminster" or "False Heavy" (a tour worn riffmonger from 2000) or the Magnet-esque "Heavy Sea," showed the band as ferocious as any of the insurgent “stoner” genre of that time.

They were never going to make their living out of touring, record sales… as Hugo mentions in his notes for the booklet, “.. we had less boundaries and felt we could experiment more and not worry about commerciality…” but they were able to make this album.

Il Ratto, La Ram, Il Gallo ed Il Serpente

Under Sided

Music US

Buy The Heads - Under Sided (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.