Departmentstore Santas
At The Medieval Castle Nineteen 100-year Lifetime
The Departmentstore Santas LP is a underground rock classic of the highest order-from its carnivalesque front cover to the sixteen home-schooled tracks contained inside. Information about this mysterious band has been as scarce as original copies of their self-released album, yet purveyors of lo-fi pop esoterica have whispered about the Santas raison detre for the better part of the past three decades. Recorded in the early 80s in La Mesa, California, At the Medieval Castle Nineteen 100-Year Lifetimes Since features quirky sing-alongs, wide-eyed lyrics, echoey instrumentals and outsider folk-punk à la Daniel Johnston. While bandleader Joseph DAngelos unique charm may not fit comfortably in any one style, his preternatural world is united by the warmth and grit of these bedroom recordings. Out of step with other music of its era, Departmentstore Santas uncannily anticipated the 4-track movement of the 90s. This first-time reissue is recommended for fans of Television Personalities, Guided By Voices and Cleaners From Venus..