Busse Woods

Busse Woods
Cover from the original pressing
Studio album by Acid King
Released	September 10 1999
Recorded	January - February 1999 at Division Hi-Fi in San Francisco, California
Genre	Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal
Length	45:54
Label	Man's Ruin Records
Producer	Billy Anderson, Acid King
Acid King chronology
Down With The Crown (1997)	Busse Woods (1999)	Free... (2001)

Busse Woods is the second studio album by the American stoner metal band Acid King. Recorded and released in 1999 via Man's Ruin Records, it would be re-issued by a handful of labels after the demise of Man's Ruin and would be regarded as a seminal album in the development of stoner metal.

The album's title (pronounced buss-ee) is the local name for the Ned Brown Forest Preserve, which is located near Chicago. As a teenager, frontwoman Lori S. often met there with friends to hang out and take drugs. Busse Woods is the only studio release to feature bassist Brian Hill.

Background

Acid King would sign with Man's Ruin Records in 1997, initially for the Down With The Crown EP. Sometime after it's recording and release Dan Southwick would leave the band to which they would recruit Brian Hill (Buzzov*en, Spilth) and have him read "Say You Love Satan" as an initiation. Recording would begin on early 1999 with Billy Anderson. The album would also notably feature a cover of "39 Lashes" from the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack, with Hill doing the countdown and Dale Crover working the whip as heard in the recording, among other background instruments. Brian Hill would leave the band not long after the album's release, with Guy Pinhas (The Obsessed, Beaver, Goatsnake) taking over bass duties.

In an interview with The Obelisk to celebrate Busse Woods' tenth anniversary, Lori S. would speak at length of the recording sessions and Busse Woods in itself.

“	[On Busse Woods]"Thinking back at Busse Woods or Ned Brown Forest Preserve, it’s hard to believe we weren’t all in prison or dead. This place was where bored suburban teenagers hung out ’cause that’s what we did! Most of my memories are hanging out with my high school pal John Cesak. He was the big drug dealer back in the day and we would go there pull in open the trunk, crank Black Sabbath and sell nickel bags! It was like a flea market for drugs, lids, purple microdot, black beauties HELL YEAH!? Hanging out, smoking and playin’ Frisbee. Total Dazed and Confused. Busse Woods was probably the easiest release to write and record. Brian Hill joined the band and the songs just really seemed to come together pretty quickly once he joined. We recorded at this place in San Francisco that is no longer open. I think Billy was having girlfriend drama during that record HA! Usually does on all our records but Zoroaster! I remember being really psyched that Brian joined and at that time I was totally into Jesus Christ Superstar, so it was a lot of fun recording “39 Lashes.” I find each release gets harder and harder. Sometimes working with the same engineer is like the same thing as dating vs. going out for five years — you get comfortable in the relationship — which for me was not such a good thing as far as recording goes. I remember Billy mic’ing my amp as we started to set tones, I plugged in hit one note and he said “Okay” tones set HA! Can’t mess with my tone, it takes no additional studio trickery. [On Man's Ruin] There wasn’t much of a process. Man’s Ruin was basically down the street from my house. He loved this kind of music and already released [1997 EP] Down with the Crown on vinyl and a split with Altamont, so he just released it no process! My ex-husband is the one that was friends with Frank and hooked it up and the rest is history. I chose the cover and artwork because Busse Woods was a part of my life and I didn’t want Dr. Zaius, Clint Eastwood or Fred Flintstone with a swastika on my cover, which were some of Frank‘s typical band covers. My friend in Chicago took the photo and Frank Photoshopped it together. Pretty simple stuff. Another pal in SF had a cool picture of a picnic table that we used to replicate the ones they used to have in the woods. Everything came together very easy, songs, recording and cover art! [On Brian Hill] Brian leaving the band was a shocker to us. Busse Woods was done and about to be released and he just dropped off the face of the earth. It was kind of like being dumped! Seems as if Brian was not happy in the band so opted out. I could go on to the reasons why but Brian and I are friends and that was a long time ago, so I won’t open up old wounds. I can say I was really bummed I really dug playing with him and he was a great addition to the band that was part of a classic Acid King release."	”
	— Lori S., The Obelisk

Busse Woods was initially released on 10 September 1999 via Man's Ruin on CD. It would be re-issued on 21 September 2004 via Small Stone Records with two bonus covers: "Motorhead" by Hawkwind and "Not Fragile" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The cover versions were released on the compilation albums Daze of the Underground and In the Groove, respectively. In 2007 Kreation Records would release the first vinyl edition of the album, in several variations. In 2019 RidingEasy Records would re-issue Busse Woods on all formats to coincide with the album's 20th anniversary.

Reviews of Busse Woods at the time of release are somewhat scarce. The Austin Chronicle would only award the album two stars and state "As such, Busse Woods may not be very inventive, but it sure is dark and heavy". However Roadburn Magazine would be much kinder to the album, praising the dynamic songwriting and citing Busse Woods as "Dark and massive but still oddly beautiful, Busse Woods beckons you. Enter if you dare.". Stonerrock.com would put Busse Woods on their "The Top Ten Stoner Rock Albums of the 20th Century!" list.

The Obelisk would compose a written tribute for the album's tenth anniversary, including an in-depth interview with Lori S. on Busse Woods. In the Fall of 2019 Acid King would tour North America performing Busse Woods in it's entirety for the album's 20th anniversary.

Tracklist

All songs written by Lori S. except where noted.
Tracks 7 & 8 exclusive to the Small Stone Records re-issue.

• 1. Electric Machine (6:25)
• 2. Silent Circle (7:30)
• 3. Drive Fast, Take Chances (8:32)
• 4. 39 Lashes (6:24) (Andrew Lloyd Webber; Tim Rice)
• 5. Carve The 5 (9:27)
• 6. Busse Woods (7:36)
• 7. Motorhead (4:42) (Lemmy Kilmister)
• 8. Not Fragile (6:04) (C.F. Turner)

Personnel

• Lori S. - Guitar, Vocals, Cover Concept
• Brian Hill - Bass
• Joey Osbourne - Drums
• Dale Crover - Gong, E-Bow, Whip
• Billy Anderson - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
• George Horn - Mastering
• Frank Kozik - Additional Artwork, Layout, Digital Trickery
• Squash - Photography (Back Cover)
• Erica Roewade - Photography (Front Cover)

External Links

• Busse Woods on Bandcamp
• Busse Woods on Discogs
• Busse Woods on RidingEasy Records