Caterpillar...

Coming out of Philadelphia during the early 90’s was the band Caterpillar, who would go on to release three albums up until the end of the decade. Like many great bands during the time, Caterpillar are all too often forgotten these days with their first couple records showing up in bargain bins and going for a couple bucks on Amazon marketplace. However, as that all too true saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” (yeah, it’s kind of corny I know). As I hope turns out to be the case for some out there after previewing some tunes below.

Starting out in the early 90’s with a single on Compulsiv records the band soon after found them sharing a split single with indie stalwarts Superchunk on the Simple Machines label. That in itself kind of gives an idea as to where Caterpillar's sound lied, although not nearly as straight forward as them and with every bit of pop punch. Don’t look into that too much though, as Caterpillar's sound was a fairly all over the place one, full of quirky and odd tunings and often going back and forth between up front rockers to a more sleepy and laid back sound with songs about dirt, rocks, and fossils.

Anyway, the band returned to the Complusiv label in 1994 to release their debut full-length A Thousand Million Micronauts, which showcased the bands interesting brand of indie-pop nicely. They followed that up with a split 12’’ with Zen Guerilla in 1995. In 1996, once again through Compulsive, the band released their second album Macdorium Chlorium Chloe. The band had one final album released posthumously in 1999 through the Tappersize label titled Peace, Love, and Popularity. Personally my favorite of the three, but I am sure arguments could be easily made for the other two albums as being their best…so I won’t go that far to say that. Anyway, the album seemed to contain everything that made Caterpillar so interesting and fun to listen to with strong hooks and the unexpected odd rhythmic twists that really seemed to define indie-rock in the 90’s.

A Thousand Million Micronauts:
Caterpillar – My Buddy Ballantine [MP3]
Caterpillar – Prismatic Core [MP3]

Macdorium Chlorium Chloe:
Caterpillar – Betty Ann and Vinny [MP3]
Caterpillar – The Great Evolvo [MP3]

Peace, Love, and Popularity:
Caterpillar – Serious Thrill [MP3]
Caterpillar – HBK [MP3]

For those that are interested in picking up releases from Caterpillar, their first two albums can still be found fairly cheaply on Amazon. For anyone that is looking to pick up Peace, Love, and Popularity it still seems to be available through Tappersize Records. As always, enjoy and definitely pick up some records if you like what you here.