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I don't know how I never heard of this band and this album before. Their whole story is just insane. This is an actual album, released in 1969, unironically. I cannot describe the whole thing, you just have to go read the Wikipedia entry.

Have a listen to one of the "gems" off this album, "My Pal Foot Foot". It's like the drummer is playing in 17/π time while the guitarist and bassist are in different microtonal tunings.

"Austin dismissed the engineer's opinion that the Shaggs were not ready to record, saying: "I want to get them while they're hot."


Thank you for posting this gem. The article and notes made my night. It got better and better the more I read.

I discovered the Shaggs a few years ago. I'm far more enchanted by the human part of their story than I am by their music. After listening to them for more than a couple minutes I start to feel a very unpleasant psychological disorientation. Understand, I appreciate having my aesthetic sensibilities challenged and get great enjoyment out of things like Schoenberg, Captain Beefheart, Paul Klee, abstract art, primitive art, even the scribblings of children.

I perceive the Shaggs appeal as kitsch made into a fetish by condescending hipster musicologist who are bored with real talent. It's an expression of the "Everyone gets a trophy" ethos of our age. That the Shaggs could be so revered, while a extraordinarily prolific virtuoso like @Narsh remains relatively unknown, is a telling sign that something important in our culture has died, and which is in desperate need of resurrection.

toomanycats wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 5:56 am I discovered the Shaggs a few years ago. I'm far more enchanted by the human part of their story than I am by their music.

Honestly, I do suspect that their father was mentally ill, and possibly abusive, and extremely controlling at the very least.

glasshand wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:43 am

toomanycats wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 5:56 am I discovered the Shaggs a few years ago. I'm far more enchanted by the human part of their story than I am by their music.

Honestly, I do suspect that their father was mentally ill, and possibly abusive, and extremely controlling at the very least.

I can empathize with someone at the receiving end of such abuse.

glasshand wrote: ↑Mon Nov 18, 2024 10:43 am

toomanycats wrote: ↑Sat Nov 16, 2024 5:56 am I discovered the Shaggs a few years ago. I'm far more enchanted by the human part of their story than I am by their music.

Honestly, I do suspect that their father was mentally ill, and possibly abusive, and extremely controlling at the very least.

Or he was dumber than a bag of hair.

I'm sure that they did their best to earn their dad's approval, but that album is an aural version of "The Emperor's New Clothes".

It's not even a worthwhile ironic listen. I feel bad for them after hearing it, particularly since I think the girls didn't want to do it in the first place.

I find it kind of sad.

The funny thing is that I played some of it for my wife, and, while her facial expression was like that of someone witnessing a particularly gruesome car crash, she said that she could hear some echoes of it in later alternative rock, particularly the Dead Milkmen.

And sure enough, what did I happen to run across shortly thereafter?

If I go to Heaven, it'll probably be a slum
And all the pretty angels just might be packing guns
And if I see Saint Peter, will he hit me up for cash?
Will I find the road to Jesus or just lose him in the trash?

The Shaggs were right
You're never going to please anybody
Not in this world