Gnome 
Discography 

We never really quite fit anywhere. Half in, half out perpetually. Many recordings were scattered across compilations that appealed to those who were experimental aficionados and such, noise lovers, turf we occasionally trod to, getting our ankles wet as it suited us. Not to mention that many of our own releases were on their acceptable format of audio cassette, a format that has gained in recognition. Bless you if you have one of those rarities! We were also on compilations released by music fans who were not bound by any genre constraints. Our first full length 'real' album as such was released on the tragic Compact disc format making it less, well, "real," tho' the time and energy it took was "unreal!"

Our only vinyl foray thus far (and we are ready for more, our mass archive of quality unreleased recordings say "YES!") was thirty seconds in length on a comp.
 

  

Various Artists - Green Tea
Chocolate Monk Audio Artifacts (1994) - cassette

Robert: One side England with Richard Youngs, Prick Decay, Evil Moisture, etc. Other side Canada with Good Horsey, Roughage, etc. The first song we ever recorded called "Silver Henchmen" (which later appeared on Lovebeads, Turtlenecks and Overalls).

 

 
 
 
July Fourth Toilet - White (Trash) Album
Trackshun Industries (1994) - cassette
Pro-Am (2008 reissue) - cassette
 
jody: This now-rare cassette release on the Trackshun Industries label (known for lo-fi pop and experimental noise like Pork Queen, Bugskull and Good Horsey) came with its own can of July Fourth Toilet brand pork and beans, label designed by Lester Smolenski. The original J4T triumvirate did a dense, grinding take on the Beatles' White Album, with lots of loops and distortion. As an added bonus, the album featured "(Sympathy For The) Candyman," a simple cover of the Sammy Davis Jr. hit with a slightly deranged, Luciferian twist.

Robert: Our first project still holds up, a kinda joke on the whole Sonic Youth talking about covering the Beatles' album but they never did so we did. I really like it. Tuff to listen to in one shot but still holds up. Almost like audio verite sample skits.


 

 

 

White (Trash) Album (cassette) available: 
$6 + $3 sh



 
July Fourth Toilet - Lovebeads, Turtlenecks and Overalls
self-released (1995) - cassette
 
jody: This was a hodgepodge collection of early songs recorded in Andre and Mark's living room on four-track, live at a backyard barbeque, and at CITR radio, where J4T did the play Teen: A Pop-Rock Musical live on the air.

The title reflects J4T's perpetual identity crisis (or is that simply identity?): are we a psychedelic hippy band, an art rock band or a country band? Metaphorically, we were wearing these clothes all the time, simultaneously.

Robert: Wellll, I was definitely learning a lot then with miles to go. This is a real tuff listen. Blackmail material.
 

 
  
July Fourth Toilet - "Free As A Bird"
radio single (1995)
 
Robert: Following up on our Beatles obsession and our obsessions with reunions (we've done a few shows relating to that) and our obsessions with rock star travesties (we've done a few shows based on that as well, see our whole rock 'n' roll revival series).
 

  
 
 

Various Artists - Canadian Relics
July Fourth Toilet - "Let's Go"
Horrifying Circus Music (1995) - 7" record

jody: Canadian Relics was a concept seven-inch that featured five Vancouver acts (J4T, Evaporators, Sister Lovers, The Tonics, Insignificant Specks) covering a diversity of obscure Canadian pop songs. J4T chose the theme to Let's Go, a Saturday morning children's show that came out of Winnipeg in the 70s and early 80s.

After Robert and Julian laid down the bed tracks, it was determined there was something lacking from the mix. It was decided that the best remedy was to teach the short ditty to a house full of drunks at a raging East Van house party. A couple of dozen unnamed participants filled out the sound with a gang vocal that is very inappropriate for a children's song."

Robert: 30 seconds long, group party vocals, and mixed blindfolded. Very enjoyable due to its length!

Trivia: Julian, Andre and ex-Toilet drummer Max Lee were in the Insignificant Specks. jody was the mastermind behind the project with his label co-conspirators. Julian did the front cover art work, jody did the back. Recorded by Tim Murphy (Jungle, Sister Lovers) at Funstrip Studios. 



  
 
Various Artists - Cool Beans! #5 - Texas Issue
July Fourth Toilet - "Oblivious To A Loan Which Can Never Be Repaid"
Cool Beans! (1996) - compilation CD insert in magazine
 
jody: It's actually three songs in one, starting off with a folksy sample of the Dallas TV theme, giving way to some 'bomp bomp tiddley bomp bomp - whaaa!' at the end.

Robert: This track is important to me cuz it is my first real stab at really "singing" and working on curious pop song craftmanship, a road that I still try to very much go down.

jody: This song has become one of the most popular amongst our tiny fan base, often requested at shows and really fun to play. Known to most as "The Texas Song." We now tack another song to the end of it when we play it: "Twinkle Belle," a fun little rave-up that flows smoothly from the last bits of "Texas." Truly an epic song!
 


 
July Fourth Toilet - "Seashells / The Afterlife is Here /
Fartbiter / Nemo"
unreleased (1996) - meant to be a 7" record

Robert: "Seashells" is a neat little wishy washed psych take, enjoyable, I am proud of the odd pitch change at the end with the chanting vocals. I also liked how we mixed murkily taped recording in with other superior sounding elements added later, that we made it all inseparable, it gives it real ambiance.

jody: I played Susan's French horn, and it sounded like a fart. But not the same fart as in "Fartbiter." Totally different sound.  This fart is a watery, rising crescendo in "Seashells."



 
  
Various Artists - Ass High and Left of Center
July Fourth Toilet - performance as Hipnotique
Black Velvet Fuckere (1998) - compilation video on VHS
 
Compilation includes Bugskull, Climax Golden Twins, Adris Hoyos & Eric Ostrowski, Irving Klaw Trio, Noggin and others.


Various Artists - Teenster
July Fourth Toilet - "Twinkle Belle"
Back of a Car magazine (1999) - compilation CD

Robert: I thought we did the sort of glam stuff real well, it has that quality, it could get by as an official glam document and no one would know I'd think at first, I wish more people heard that one.
 
  
 
 

Various Artists - Dominic Radio
July Fourth Toilet - "Tusk"
Transsiberian (1999) - compilation CD

Robert: Nice moments here but maybe too long a song, loved the Laibach styled poundings and the sound of the drumsticks falling at the end of the solo. Nice ominous group vocal "Tusk" sample.
 
  
 
 
Various Artists - Vancouver Special
July Fourth Toilet - "Hello Rock and Roll Star"
Mint Records (2000) - compilation CD

Robert: Hmmm, would have fit better on one of our own releases in between other things, it's such a bombast of sludge, I enjoy Sue's sax solo. We probably should have given them another song, which isn't to say I don't like it, I do.

 
 
Various Artists - One Eye Open:Masked Bands Salute Sammy Davis Jr.
July Fourth Toilet - "Candyman (With A Red Painted Pinky Nail)"
Israphon-West Records (2000) - compilation CD

 
  
 
 

Various Artists - Bananafish 16: Paradoxes of Enlargement
July Fourth Toilet - "Noise Maker Pomposity"
Tedium House Publications (2002) - compilation CD insert in magazine

Robert: Now this works perfectly in its context relating to subject matter of the publication.

jody: This takes us out of the gutter and puts us right into the avant-garde.

Trivia: This issue of the magazine does a feature interview with Robert.

 
  
 
 
July Fourth Toilet - Something For Everyone
Pro-Am Entainment International (2002) - CD
 
Robert: I am really proud of this especially after the mastering which really made this sparkle. I just wanted us to make a warm pop album and though it may be off kilter - it has hooks and just sounds pleasing, whimsically irreverent and doesn't shy away from a ballad. I just cringe a bit at some of my earnestly sung numbers, I wish I had just "sung" more, I can definitely sing better now but hopefully I don't detract much. I don't really like the way the cover art came out even though he does amazing work, really great stuff. I wish we had been able to print all the lyrics. It's like we had distilled some of our best numbers to be on here. People responded well to this, those who took a chance on buying the thing, I wish more folks had. Oh well.
 
 
Something For Everyone CD available:
$8 + $2 sh

  
July Fourth Toilet - Rock Fantasy - Live 23/07/2004
bootleg (2004) - CD
 
jody: Unbelievable. This unauthorized recording hit the streets within a matter of days. I mean, that really put the fanatic back into the word fan. I guess this is the most legendary of our legendary shows, a crowning achievement for our ten year anniversary.



 
July Fourth Toilet - Rock Fantasy - Live 23/07/2004
Pro-Am Entainment International (2005) - DVD

Video of the infamous Rock Fantasy show.



  
 
 
July Fourth Toilet - Childhood Will End
recorded 1996 - meant to be 7" record
released online by MungBeat! in MungBeing magazine (2006)
 
jody: A four-song EP recorded in 1996 for consideration of Stomach Ache Records, Childhood Will End sat in our archives for ten years before the world got a chance to hear it.  All four tracks can be downloaded here, plus Robert and I tell the story behind the recording, and why it wasn't released for an entire decade.
 
Robert: Has the children's music vibe , the apocalyptic psyche vibe, and the strange pervasive chaos, all of which we do so well. I am proud of that one.

 

July Fourth Toilet Plays Canada Day On John Knowles' Front Porch Live 1995!
Pro-Am Entainment International (2008) - CDR

 

CDR available:
$6 + $2 sh

  
 
 
July Fourth Toilet - July Fourth Toilet Presents Balls Boogie Featuring Me And Bobby McGee Plus!: Kentucky Whore And Many Others
recorded and mixed at Method Recording Studio 2005-2007
album due for vinyl & MP3 release in June 2008