Best Song Ever of the Week: Roky Erickson's Ghosts

Okay, so we all know Rock n' Roll is based on the Blues, and as the incomparable Son House has taught us, the Blues is all about love. Still, aren't you sick of rock songs all about lost love and girl troubles?

If so, then see Roky Erickson's 1981 album The Evil One. Here we find the former 13th Floor Elevators frontman in full-out psychedelic blues rock mode, but instead of lamenting ex-girlfriends he wraps his tunes around tales of Zombies, Vampires, Demons and Two Headed Dogs. Or at least thats what he seems to be singing about.

Here's one of the many standout tracks from the album: If You Have Ghosts [right click for mp3].

I never put much faith in Roky's solo stuff equalling the genius of the Elevators, but thanks to the impressing documentary You're Gonna Miss Me, I've now seen the darkness. The movie's kind of like a less enigmatic and less joyful Grey Gardens, but somehow more depressing. Definitely worth seeing.