This Can't Be Today: A Trip Through The U.S. Psychedelic Underground 1977-1988 - Various Artists

This Can't Be Today: A Trip Through The U.S. Psychedelic Underground 1977-1988 captures a snapshot of America’s second wave of psychedelia, a coast to coast phenomenon that saw bands as diverse as R.EM., The Dream Syndicate, Green On Red, Flaming Lips and Meat Puppets revisit a sound and aesthetic all but blown away by the pomp of 1970s heavy rock, AOR and disco.

Knowingly backwards looking and infused with a pop sensibility, many of these bands became household names and legends in their own lifetime, whilst others produced one-off, scene defining classics or became a footnote in a later band’s origin story. Inspired by the seminal ‘Nuggets’ and ‘Pebbles’ compilations, often with one eye on “swinging London” and working to tight budgets with college radio listeners in mind, this was the polar opposite of Reaganomics, shiny movies and day-glo hair metal. Take a trip to an America the rest of the world rarely got to see.

Resplendent in artwork by the inimitable Cally, and compiled by American A&R, production, promotion and artist management veteran James Barber, this is both a time capsule for those who were there and an invaluable entry point for those with an interest in America’s response to punk rock and the post-punk scene.