ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS!!!

There's always that certain feeling you get when you get to purchase a re-issue of a toy you remember from your childhood. Initially it makes you feel like a kid again as you wait to open it up and check it out. I always love to examine the box and and really take it all in. Recently I picked up the new Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots and I was not disappointed. They're smaller than the old ones from the 60's and 70's but still just as fun.

There's something about clunky, mechanical robot fighters that make me very happy. I think it's the fact that they are generally an analog version of my favorite old arcade games. This new version will probably stay up on my arcade as a display piece more than it will actually be used.  I never owned the robotic battlers as a kid but always would play a few rounds with my buddies if they had it. I remember my good friend wouldn't let kids play on it if they were too rough. He wanted to keep them in good shape and I don't blame him.

It's impressive that these actually came out in the 60's. Such a cool toy to grow up with. Even my Dad remembers them.

I think my favorite flavor is the more obscure Clash of the Cosmic Robots that came out in 1977. These were produced by Marx and the black ring was a very nice touch.

At some point I hope they re-release the full size version of these guys. For the time being though these aren't bad at all. The materials are very similar to the old Marx sets and function nearly the same in every way. If you remember these from your childhood, or have a soft spot for robot toys, go for 'em. They're only going for about fifteen to twenty dollars currently.

The Seeds - My favorite 60's garage band

(source)

My love of this band started when my wife got me the first Nuggets box set as a gift about 10 years ago.  I heard their song "Pushin' Too Hard" and right then I was hooked. Check out a video of  them performing the song on TV here. They were featured on the classic late 60's sit-com "The Mothers-In-Law". I've listened to tons of their music through the years and have become a devoted Seeds fan.

I finally got some of their albums a few years ago and they have not disappointed. The first album is pure genious.  Nothing but raw 60's fuzz guitar meshed with growlin' organ and keyboard bass. The Seeds were the first band to notably use only keyboard bass. Daryl Hooper played the wild keys and he played like no one else.  He had his own brand of carnival style organ that drove The Seeds' songs to a musical manic state in a matter of minutes.

(source

In later years the lead singer, Sky Saxon , took a stab at bass guitar and tore it up. His true gift though was his snarling, raspy vocals that complimented the instrumentation perfectly.

When I first heard their second album, "A Web of Sound", I didn't think it could better. I bought the album on clear red vinyl and instantly fell in love.  some of the more notable tracks include: "Mr. Farmer", "Trip Maker" and "Up in Her Room".

If you're a fan of 60's rock/psych/garage you can't go wrong with The Seeds. Their 3rd effort, "Travel With Your Mind"  is nothing short of an opus. Lots of psychedelic layered masterpieces and poppy garage gems.

Even some of the later albums like "A Full Spoon of Seedy Blues" and "Future" are great in their own right.  Sky Saxon played through the years in many bands and really deserves more recognition in the rock world.  I have the 2004 album "Sky Saxon and the Seeds - Red Planet" and I play it as much as the early albums. Sky even did cameo in a Smashing Pumpkins video.  I was lucky enough to see Sky play at the 2007 Fuzz Fest in Portland, OR. It was amazing to see him play with Benjamin Starshine and his band backing him up.  I couldn't have been happier.  They played some early favorites and the experience was truly priceless. Sadly Sky passed away in June of 2009 but he and his legacy will be remembered. He left a stamp on this world that only he could leave.

From Left to Right: Daryl Hooper-Organ/Keyboards/Backing Vocals, Jan Savage - Guitar/Backing Vocals, Sky Saxon-Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar (uncredited on recordings), Rick Andridge-Drums

Well that completes my post on my favorite 60's garage band of all time - The Seeds!  Thanks for reading.