Plasticland - Salon

The Setup

By 1987, the band shuffles the lineup a bit, bringing original drummer Victor Demechei back into the fold. They channel this classic energy into their third LP, Salon, which would end up being their final curtain call for Pink Dust. But instead of looking backward, Plasticland completely flips the script.

The sunny, fairytale whimsy of the previous record is dead and buried. Salon sees the band steering their paisley machine directly into a darker, heavier, and completely avant-garde territory. This is the one that the true vinyl-digging psych-purists point to as the band’s absolute crown jewel.

The Breakdown

Salon is a dark, claustrophobic masterpiece. While most 1980s garage-revival bands were totally content just ripping off old Nuggets compilations until the wheels fell off, Plasticland used this album to craft a cinematic, B-movie horror soundtrack for the mind. It’s heavy, it’s moody, and it's brilliant.

The album kicks off with "Go A Go-Go Time," which is easily one of the coolest things they ever recorded. It takes a driving, infectious Motown-style bassline and violently splatters it with jagged, screeching guitar slashes. It instantly lets you know that the velvet-glove pop sensibilities of the past are gone.

The absolute peak of the madness is "A Quick Commentary On Wax Museums". The tension builds and builds until it collapses into a chaotic, terrifying wall-of-sound explosion that feels like a total psychological breakdown. John Frankovic’s bass lines are massive and wandering, and Daniel Mullen’s 12-string guitar work cuts through the dark like a switchblade.

Ultimately, Salon rules because it completely refuses to play it safe. It’s abstract, it’s unsettling, but it still manages to groove like crazy. It’s the ultimate proof that Plasticland wasn't just a revival act—they were genuine musical visionaries.

Ripped to MP3

1. Go A Go-Go Time

2. What Am I To Say

3. It's A Dog's Life

4. A Quick Commentary On Wax Museums

5. Abcessed Words To Climb

6. House

7. (The Lie Of) Great Sedan Pinocchio

8. We Can't

9. Serene It's True

10. Reserving The Right To Change My Mind

11. The Window Sills

12. Don't Antagonize Me