Making Time For Thoughtcrime

Ministry of Truth: Significant Others (1985)

2012-01-19T04:26:00.007-07:00

I cannot say I knew much about the band when I bought the record, but I figured any punk band cool enough to reference George Orwell and 1984 would be alright by me. And they are alright; just not awesome. The songs themselves are good, but the production does them no favours. Too bad, because it could’ve could’ve been so beautiful, could’ve been so right.

Still it is well worth a download.

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. She's My Heroin
2. Killer Machine
3. Bound To Fall
4. Deep Inside
5. Peace Song
6. Time Is Gone
7. Scene Diego
8. Spinning Out
9. Magazine
10. Dim View
11. Wrong Place
12. Mininstry of Truth
13. T.B.C.

Download it now! Ministry of Truth

Entirely Distorted - What Gives?

2011-12-02T00:22:00.005-07:00

I'm so happy to finally have this demo! It's been many a year, but it's finally come into my possession. It's rad and well worth a download. Thank you, my fellow transplanted North American who also now lives in Africa.

Get it at Punkanda. Entirely Distorted

Alphabet Swill: Rotation / Barbie's Dream Townhouse (1989)

2011-11-19T23:15:00.002-07:00

Featuring future members of Seaweed, Alphabet Swill play some decent late eighties punkage and is definitely worth a listen.

Image is from Discogs

1. Rotation
2. Barbie's Dream Townhouse

Download it now! Alphabet Swill

D.C. Beggars: You’re So Pretty (1991)

2011-10-28T14:16:00.003-06:00

I wish I could blame my lack of blog related activity on the hot season that has inflicted so much discomfort on the denizens of my humble Zambian metropolis, but that would be a lie. Naw, I’m just not that committed to Thought Crime. No biggie though; a post once or twice or month suits me fine.

I saw D.C. beggars when they toured with The Detonators. Good show. A whole wack of years later, I bought their seven inch. Better late than never, I suppose; kind of like this blog in a way.

Image is from Discogs

1.You're So Pretty/Taken For A Fool
2. Too Look Alike/Die Gedanken

Downlaod it now! D.C. Beggars

Assault: Race To Destruction (1990)

2011-09-29T05:28:00.006-06:00

1990 was a magical time for me. Lots of things were good. My punk rock band just started, I skipped school all of the time, and punk was still mostly underground. Long gone are those days. If only I could skip stuff all the time now. Alas, ‘tis not to be, what with responsibility and all.

Anyhow, in honour of 1990, here is a record released that very year by Assault, who were, I think, from California. The second side of this record just rips, while the other is a bit, I don’t know, contemplative. So if you like contrasting styles, then this just might be for you.

I’m going to dream about skipping stuff now.

Image is from the Lockjaw blog. Since I couldn’t find any images for this record, I decided to use the Dutch metal band Assault for this post. If you want to hear their demos, go Lockjaw

1. Friendship Lost In Time/Gone But Not Lost

2. No Morals/Race To Destruction/502 Driving

Download it now! Assault

Aversion Therapy: Aversion Therapy (1991)

2011-08-23T03:57:00.002-06:00

I don’t know much about this band except they were from Australia. All I can say for sure is that I really dig the singer’s voice and the music is snappy punk stuff. Enjoy!

Image from Rate Your Music

1. Blurred Visions
2. No Change Of Innocence / Don't Touch Me

Download it now! Aversion Therapy

Rat Pack: Ice Cream, Acid & Cigarettes (1989)

2011-07-12T07:11:00.000-06:00

Oops, it’s been a while. I’d like to say I was doing something cool, like hunting giraffes, but that would be a lie. I did see many an elephant though in the Lower Zambezi.

Next up for your listening pleasure is Rat Pack. I bought this record solely because of its title. It really is such a rad one. Enjoy.

Image is from Discogs

1. Do me / Ice Cream, Acid & Cigarettes

2. When You Say Goodbye / Kids on the Edge

Download it now! Ice Cream, Cigarettes & Acid

Re-Uppage

2011-05-30T02:59:00.003-06:00

Funeral Oration has been re-upped. Here is the new link: Funeral Oration

Fair Warning: You Are The Scene discography

2011-04-14T04:01:00.003-06:00

This, as far as I know, is the complete discography of Montreal’s Fair Warning. Again, as far as I know, it is tragically out of print. I think I was one of the first to buy this. I’m not bragging or anything; I just really wanted it badly and began harassing Sonik Chicken Shrimp Records to do a mail order as soon as it was released. They were more than cool to deal with.

The first 13 songs are from the record “You Are The Scene!” released in 1985 and the rest are tracks from comps and whatnot. Enjoy.

Image is from Discogs

1. Time and Place
2. Second Chance
3. Blood On The Bumber
4. Skating
5. Do You Know What You Do?
6. Frayed Nerves
7. 6 O’clock Blues (Part 2)
8. Caught In A Trap
9. Wake Me Up
10. Problems
11. Could Be Worse
12. Bag Ladies
13. You Are The Scene
14. Six O’clock Blues (Part 1)
15. Open Your Eyes
16. a Man And His World
17. Say No More
18. Pain In My Brain
19. Remember The Days
20. I Will
21. Am I Guilty?
22. Consequences
23. Search For...
24. U.T.T. (United Thrashers Of Canada)
25. Days Of Loneliness
26. Problems
27. Death By Injection
28. Skating
29. Time For A Change
30. Bad Ladies
31. Video Victims
32. Fight As One

Download it now! Fair Warning

Gutwrench: New Blocks On The Kids (1990)

2011-03-25T00:50:00.006-06:00

It’s hard to believe now that in 1990 the New Kids were as ubiquitous as Keisha is now, but it’s true. Yep, the pre-packaged pretty boys from Boston who lip synched their shitty saccharine lyrics to even shittier pop music as they carefully followed their choreographer’s commands were everywhere. My friends and I hated them with the passion one should only reserve for root canals or corrupt politicians. So, when I saw the title of this record, I had to get it for the title alone.

It’s also hard to believe that there was a time that pop punk was just one of the many subgenres of punk, like emo. When I hear either of those terms to describe a band now, I cringe as aural sounds of bland pap overwhelm my brain.

Gutwrench would’ve been considered pop punk when this was released. They might be even considered what pop punk is now if the sound was cleaned up, but thankfully it wasn’t. Flex thinks the recording sucks, but if it was better the tunes might be a little too radio friendly, especially ‘She Hates My Guts’.

Image is from free-website-content.co.uk

1. She Hates My Guts / Around Here

2. Spaceman / Your Problem

Download it now! Gutwrench

Intent : Away (1991)

2011-02-10T23:29:00.002-07:00

Continuing with my string of posts which contain early nineties punk rockage, I bring you ‘Away’ by Intent. There were two Intents from the late eighties, early nineties period. One was an excellent band from Texas who released two great records. This Intent was from Albany, New York, and they rocked pretty hard as well.

Like a lot of groups back then, Intent’s bass player was sometimes slap happy. Like I’ve said before on this blog, it makes me think that you had to play a bit like Flea to be in a punk band at that time. Even your truly, who really couldn’t play that well, at least tried to get my funk on and slap like Bootsy Collins. Note the key word there: tried. My fingers were as supple as concrete and I just never could get it right. I’d hit the wrong strings and get all twisted pretzel like trying to play fast; so instead of sounding like Flea, I’d sound as funky as a flat tire rolling down an empty street.

But it was the thought that counts and a funky thought at that.

Image is from Discogs

1. Figure It Out / Identity
2. Opener / Away

Download it now! Intent

Rednecks In Pain: The Tribal Dance Sequence Of The Yippin' Moo (1990)

2011-01-26T02:47:00.004-07:00

Not only did they have a cool name, Nashville’s Rednecks In Pain played decent punk. It’s funny, but being in Zambia had me missing rednecks (their racism, intolerance and narrow minded ways)... for about a second.

Hee-fucking-haw, I’m funny!

You can get the Rednecks In Pain discography here: nostalgiaisntwhatitusedtobe.blogspot.com

Image is from Flickr

1. The Good Life/Dancin' With Manson/AK-47
2. Uptight/Painted A Pretty Picture

Download it now! Rednecks In Pain

Rabid Fetus: Cajun Justice (1989)

2011-01-19T02:10:00.006-07:00

I know that it’s totally taken me ages since my last blog. My apologies for that; I’ve had internet issues along with Mediafire trouble. It’s been slightly infuriating, but whatever, it’s a new year full of fun possibilities, so let’s rock.

My first post of 2011 is courtesy Rabid Fetus and their release, ‘Cajun Justice’. Each song is a testament to how hardcore was alive and well at the end of 1980s, contrary to what has been argued by many. For example, in the book American Hardcore, Steven Blush arrogantly proclaims hardcore to have died in 1986. Oh, the clinical finality if it all. Incidentally, he also says that the few girls involved in the scene were mostly 'hags' and apart from D.O.A., bands from Canada made little impact on the American scene (can anyone open their mouth and say SNFU?). At least the book has a decent discography.

It’s a good thing my friends and I didn’t know that, along with countless others. We would’ve felt silly being punk rock anachronisms. I really dislike it when people do and say what Blush does. In the movie of the same name, the sentiment is repeated by various folks who condescendingly act if they own the title, basically saying, ‘If you weren’t there, you can never be like us.’ How very inclusive and punk.

Regardless, records by bands like Rabid Fetus demonstrate that punk was alive and well then and from what I can see, it still is thriving. Right on and keep it up is I what I say to that. ‘Cajun Justice’, as far as I know, was Rabid Fetus’ only release and one of Mystic Record’s last releases to boot. It’s also out of print. For those interested, there is a Facebook group as well.

Image from Music Stack

1. Common Sense/Not The Same/Careful On Those Stairs
2. Toe The Line/Don't You Care?/Some Silly Name

Download it now! Rabid Fetus

Riot .303: Thrasher Skate Rock tunes (1983)/Crowd Control (1982)

2010-09-02T06:24:00.019-06:00

Yes, I know there are a few blogs out there with the great 7" by Riot .303, but how many have their four Thrasher Skate Rock tunes to go with it? Riot .303 were from Calgary and had enough prestige to be included on Thrasher's first skate rock tape. Not bad for a band from there. All eight songs here rad punk rock ditties, with the first track being my favourite. Sadly, it's subject matter is still apt. All you have to do is change the name of the man in power and you've updated this classic song.

Tracks 1 to 4 are from Thrasher Skate Rock, vol. 1, while Crowd Control finishes it.

1. Murder The Prime Minister
2. Skate Punx
3. Depression Session
4. Nightmares Of Another Kind
5. Drugs
6. There's Something Living Under My Bed
7. Organized Religion
8. Guerilla Warfare Man

Download it now! Riot .303

'K

2010-08-13T06:57:00.003-06:00

I haven't been around for a while and I apologize, but there is a reason for my absence: I've moved."Big deal," you say? Well, normally I would agree, but I haven't just moved across the street or whatnot. Nope. I've moved to Lusaka, Zambia for and well be here for a while. I'm still trying to figure out things here, like how to get the internet set up in my house. Until I do, I won't post much. In the meantime, I hope to post some rocking tuneage in the next week or so. Until then, have fun.

Pariah: Youths of Age (1983)

2010-06-22T11:08:00.002-06:00

I love early Californian punk and hardcore. There’s something so tuneful, yet angry about it that makes me smile. Timeless tunes, for sure. One of the great labels that supplied a lot of these tunes was Posh Boy. From what I understand, the label itself was shady in its business dealings, but lucky for us (not the bands so much), what it lacked in integrity Posh Boy more than made up for with a roster of killer bands, such as Agent Orange, TSOL, Channel 3 and the band I’m posting today, Pariah.

Pariah were from San Francisco, which could’ve fooled me, as this album has a southern California beach punk feel to it. They never seemed to have received the accolades that other bands from Posh Boy did, but make no mistake, this is record is rad. Like lots of the good punk from that time, it is melodic, but angry; the perfect combination for the likes of me.

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. Youths of Age
2. Inside Looking Out
3. Blind Resistance
4. Faith In Mercy
5. White Line
6. All the King's Men
7. Passion and Pride
8. Running For Cover
9. Striking Back

Download it now! Pariah

Discount: Crash Diagnostic (2000)

2010-05-28T11:37:00.002-06:00

I checked out Rolling Stone’s top 100 albums of this past decade. There’s nothing surprising there, just the usual collection of hip, overrated bands that the magazine indulges in like the proverbial pigs at the trough. Needless to say, you won’t find fantastic records by Propagandhi, Strike Anywhere or even one time Rolling Stone darling, At The Drive-In. I guess they weren’t sophisticated enough for the purveyors of cooldom.

I know it’s a waste of words to mention this, but this fantastic record by Discount would never be mentioned in the same breath as such musical luminaries as Radiohead or Wilco, but does the magazine have to be so blind to what is going on under their noses? Just like their lists for the eighties and nineties, they completely miss the mark. Again.

Image is from Discogs

1. Broken To Blue
2. Age Of Spitting
3. Math Won't Miss You
4. Harder To Tell
5. Untitled
6. Aerial
7. Behind Curtain #
8. TV Kiss
9. Sleeping Motor Boy
10. Apostrophe
11. Black And White
12. Hit
13. Untitled
14. Medical
15. The Kill Fix

Download it now! Crash Diagnostic

Discount: Half Fiction (1997)

2010-04-30T12:40:00.002-06:00

Discount was a punk band from Florida that started in 1995 and called it a day in 2000. The singer, Allison, went on to be half of the critical darlings The Kills. Other members joined Unitas and the post Hot Water Music outfit, The Draft.

It’s a shame that this record is out of print, as is their masterpiece, “Crash Diagnostic”, which I will post some day. Both albums are awesome and showcase the band’s natural growth from a very cool upstart punk (I refuse to use the term pop punk, as it’s been corrupted and I hate it) to a more mature punk sound.

High school sincerity is all over “Half Fiction”, no doubt due to them either being in high school or just out of it. Don’t think that this record is sloppy though. The music is melodic and the lyrics ache with longing.

I can’t get enough of this album lately. It’s all I listen to and its vibrancy and yearning remind me why music is exciting in the first place. I highly recommend you give it a listen.

Image is from Discogs

1. Half Fiction
2. Clap And Cough
3. Torn Jeans
4. Am I Missing Something?
5. City Bleach
6. Pocket Bomb
7. Keith
8. Toxic Home
9. Soup
10. The Unusual Bad
11. Dreamt This Was A Castle
12. On The Counter
13. Stitch
14. Is It Ok?
15. untitled track

Download it now! Half Fiction

Saigon: Annihilation (1981)

2010-04-24T19:20:00.007-06:00

Oh, to be a kid in the early eighties, where you were surrounded by a whole bunch of losers and if you were of the few who saw through the bullshit facade of what the world was trying to shove down your throat you probably picked up a skateboard or started a band, or both, which is what Saigon’s members did and as sad as this, the only difference now is that the president isn’t a former governor of California. Lame, but screw it; go pick up a skateboard, or start a band, or do both and fuck shit up.

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. Annihilation
2. Life Is So Fun
3. Anti-Vogue
4. America

Download it now! Saigon

3: Dark Days Coming (1989)

2010-04-22T15:18:00.002-06:00

3 played some good post hardcore. What the hell is that you ask? According to Wikipedia, it is a “term for a broad constellation of groups who emerged from the hardcore punk scene, or took inspiration from hardcore, while concerning themselves with a wider palette of expression, closer to experimental rock.” And 3 totally delivers on the wider palette of expression part. Just check out the classical guitar riff on “Swann Street” to see what I mean.

This is incredible music, with a very poppy edge that is, for a lack of better words, friendly. They are like old friends who are there to provide sonic comfort. Flex says 3 lies between Revolution Summer type of tunes and early 7 Seconds. It that doesn’t sound like a good friend, then I don’t know what will.

Image is from Discogs

1. Empathy
2. Swann Street
3. Buy Me A River
4. Domino Days
5. Dodger
6. International
7. Pious & Blind
8. Rejection
9. Dark Days Coming
10. Don’t Walk Away

Download it now! 3: Dark Days Coming

Propagandhi, A Speculative Fiction, Live, Edmonton 03/03/07

2010-04-10T09:00:00.005-06:00

A friend told me about this video and I'm pretty happy he did. As it comes from such a great band I wanted to share them blasting out the lead song from their penultimate release. If you don't have it, do yourself a favour and get "Potemkin City Limits" now. Propagandhi are an incredible band and this record is simply why you listen to punk: it's intense, thought provoking and just to give the finger to those who say if you play hardcore, you can't play your instruments, it is incredibly progressive musically.

A Specualtive Fiction

A new iron curtain drawn across the 49th parallel.
Cut all diplomatic ties as we expel all American dignitaries
And issue a nation-wide travel advisory for any others left inside.
Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
The burned out shells of south-bound traffic lay strewn along a cold stretch of would-be interstate.
Still visible below their charred remains: Pax Americana plates.
Your stupid fucking laser-pucks™ were just the start.
And while you may stand six full cubits and a span, we got a shepherd’s sling and five stones in our hand
And the battle of 1812 lives in our hearts.
We don’t care if we’re destroyed.
We’ll never capitulate.
We’ll take the whole fucking world down with us in flames.
Just a speculative fiction. No cause for alarm.
We got a good 15 years left ‘til the United We Stand murals on West Broadway finally fade and we wave good-bye to such sad, childish refrains.
Replaced with other stupid lullabies like you can have my guns when you pry them from my cold dead hands.
Just a speculative fiction. No cause for alarm.

Wtach the video here: Propagandhi, A Speculative Fiction, Live, Edmonton 03/03/07

Bikini Kill: Revolution Girl Style Now (1991)

2010-04-06T12:34:00.005-06:00

Those of who follow this here blog might have noticed that in addition to obscure hardcore and punk, I also like to indie/alt tuneage fronted by females. Usually, it’s a bit more laid back and more harmonic. Today though, I’m breaking the mould.

Bikini Kill’s demo is definitely not laid back. They’re fucking pissed off and for good reason: society marginalizes girls and Bikini Kill won’t stand for it anymore. The music and lyrics unceremoniously scrape away the bullshit that covers our lives. This is raw and unfiltered and although the albums that followed were better, this is still a decent document of the beginning of a great band.

I never understood why people didn’t like them. Oh right, it‘s because they’re girls(and one guy I might add) rocking out and not doing it half naked and they have something to say. I find it sad that not much has changed since this demo came out almost 20 years ago.

The image is from Wikipedia

1. Candy
2. Daddy's Lil Girl
3. Feels Blind
4. Suck My Left One
5. Carnival
6. This Is Not A Test
7. Double Dare Ya
8. Liar

Download it now! Bikini Kill

Bhopal Stiffs: 1985-1989 CD

2010-03-22T14:10:00.002-06:00

Here is a whole bunch of Chicago punk rawk by the Bhopal Stiffs. I believe that this is their whole discography. It’s has that classic Chicago sound embodied by Naked Raygun: melodic, tight and fast, though a big difference is that the Bhopal Stiffs have raspier vocals.

For me, the first and sixth songs make the band. If they only ever did these two tracks, it would’ve been more than enough. Both songs are so awesome, with their gravelly vocals, some good “whoa ahs” and compact playing. In fact, I rarely listen past “Too Many Things”, but don’t let that stop you.

Image is from Discogs

1. Bottle It Up
2. Road to Bhopal
3. I Came for You
4. Product
5. I Can Do It
6. Too Many Things
7. Born Again
8. I Came for You
9. Drunken Stupor
10. Not Just My Head
11. I Don't Care
12. One Track Head
13. Fun at the Beach
14. No Future
15. Cape Town Youth
16. Pay to Play
17. Too Much Pain
18. Human Race
19. Intro + Road to Bhopal
20. Not Just My Head
21. Deprived
22. Fun at the Beach
23. I Want Off
24. Product
26. Intro + No Future + Born Again
27. I Don't Know What to Say to You
28. The Hunt

From Kill From The Heart:

Tracks 1-6 from the E.P.A. 12", tracks 7-16 from the demo tape (tracks 10 and 12 also appeared on the Bhopal Stiffs 7"), track 17 from the There's a Fungus Among Us compilation EP, track 18 recorded 1989 (previously unreleased), tracks 19-25 recorded live at Exit, January 14th 1988, track 26 recorded live at the City 1986, track 27 recorded live on the radio 1989, track 28 recorded live at Batteries Not Included 1987.

Download it now! Bhopal Stiffs

Down By Law Reupped

2010-03-20T13:59:00.007-06:00

Here you go, Pote.

You can get it here:

Down By Law

Havana 3 a.m.: Havana 3 a.m. (1991)

2010-03-09T11:50:00.004-07:00

I’m always surprised that the self titled album by Havana 3 a.m. hasn’t received as much fanfare as it deserved. It’s a fantastic record with every track being worthy of your time. The fact that music critics would rather espouse the greatness of another album released that same year just goes to show you that music critics blow. Sure, “Nevermind” was good, but this record was also worthy of attention, along with many other released during 1991.

The fact that this record blows most of the records recorded by ex Clash members out of the water is not surprising. Big Audio Dynamite lived up to their initials and Joe Strummer did some regrettable solo work until he hooked up with The Mescaleros. Even Topper Headon did a solo record, which I never heard, but live in fear of.

If Havana 3 a.m. did receive attention, it was largely because Paul Simonon of The Clash played bass. That definitely is cool, but it ignores the Havana 3am’s worth as a band. As you can tell, I think they rocked. The album has what it takes to rule your stereo for a while: sincere lyrics sung to reggae infused rockabilly with Latin overtones. Oops, that sounded like music critic garbage; my apologies.

Image is from Wikipedia

1. Joyride
2. Blue Motorcycle Eyes
3. Reach the Rock
4. Death in the Afternoon
5. Hole in the Sky
6. What About Your Future
7. The Hardest Game
8. Hey Amigo
9. Life on the Line
10. Surf in the City
11. Blue Gene Vincent
12. Living in This Town

Download it now! Havana 3 a.m.

Fear Itself: 1986 demo

2010-02-22T14:26:00.005-07:00

South Carolina’s Fear Itself played killer thrash. In the punk rock family tree, they’d be the bastard child of The Misfits, who’d supply the lyrics, and Attitude Adjustment, who’d donate the music. Like Maximum Rock And Roll said when the demo first came out, it could be called ‘Horror Thrash’, for a lack of better terms. So rock out and then watch horror movies. Or the other way around.

The pic is from Kill From The Heart

1. Your Worst Nightmare
2. Werewolf's Life
3. Beast Within
4. Pray for Death
5. Born to Die
6. Dark Passage
7. Eaten Alive
8. Malevolence
9. Prelude/Final Conflict
10. Demon

Download it now! Fear Itself

Slap Of Reality Info

2010-02-09T21:28:00.007-07:00

So, I just received an email from Bob at Sound Idea. It has some basic information about this great band. Rather than paraphrase what he said, I'll copy and paste instead.

Hi,
Drummer from Slap Of Reality went on to be in Failure Face. Guitarist from Slap went on to be in Murder-Suicide Pact.

The Down By Law comment is false. Sam Williams, a guitarist from the same town (Brandon, FL) ended up in Down By Law but was never in Slap Of Reality.

SOR's best record was their first -- the Stuck Inside 7" on Vinyl Communications, 1989.

Thanks,

Bob

Brandon, FL

Bob later adds:

By the way, Sam Williams from Down By Law WAS in a reformed version of Slap Of Reality for about 3 weeks.
Joe from Slap OfReality and I are in Murder-Suicide Pact.

Thanks again, Bob. Sorry I couldn't find the image for the Stuck Inside 7", so the Time Alone one will have to do.

The Passed: Someone (1990)

2010-01-18T11:49:00.007-07:00

If you believed mainstream media morons post Nirvana, you’d have thought that punk died and then miraculously reappeared in the early nineties. Of course, not only is this is the stupidest thing to be heard this side of a potable quotable Pat Roberts; it is also an insult to everyone involved in the scene at the time. Just to really stick the point in, The Passed, like countless other bands showed the underground was alive and well in 1990 when they recorded this awesome slab of melodic punk fun. As usual, the mainstream just didn't notice.

I don’t know much about this band, apart from the fact that they actually cared about the world and recorded in Pennsylvania. Other than that, I have no clue. If anyone knows, please leave a comment.

1. Free Our Lives / The Price / Blind Into Blind
2. Someone / Hiding In Our Pockets

Download it here! The Passed

Bad Influence: War’s No Fun (1983)

2010-01-15T10:41:00.002-07:00

Let’s start off the 2010 blog season with something rare and rad. Here is some vintage early 80s So Cal style hardcore (though they were from San Francisco) by Bad Influence. Think Circle Jerks when it comes to their sound; they even have a song called "I Don't Care". The attitude is also in the gnarly “So Cal fuck you style”, as evidenced by these lyrics, “Who the fuck made you the president, I didn’t vote for you.”

Enjoy this rare demo from 1983. Now go and tear shit up!

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. War's No Fun
2. Mental War Patient
3. IRS
4. Do What You Want
5. Bad Influence
6. Always On My Ass
7. I Don't Care
8. Maximum Punishment

Download it here! Bad Influence

Krupted Peasant Farmerz: Everything Seems Okay (1990 - 1993)

2009-12-11T09:41:00.010-07:00

This is another gem that I scammed from outofprintpunk.blogspot. Krupted Peasant Farmerz were very active in the early nineties and like many a great band, they did not get the recognition they deserved.

“Everything Seems Okay” is a discography covering 1990 to 1993. On it, you get 25 smart ass punk rock rippers. This CD is way out of print and fetches a pretty penny on Gemm. So in keeping with the season, I thought I’d put it up for you. Thanks again to the dude who runs the aforementioned blog and to Jeff for inspiring me to post this in the first place.

I got the viking cow image from Krupted Peasant Farmerz MySpace page.

1. Burn The Rag
2. The End
3. Invasion Of The Snailz
4. Rednecks In Love
5. Amerikan Way
6. Piano Song From Hell
7. Hemp For Victory
8. Close Your Eyes
9. Cowz Humping
10. Memories Of Death
11. Live Fast, Live Long
12. Homeless Song
13. Legalized Murder
14. Somebody
15. I Don’t Like You
16. Throw Away The Key
17. Walk Away
18. Bear Named Dog
19. Conditioned From Birth
20. Baby Boy
21. Why
22. Out Of Touch
23. Not Alone
24. Tales Of Reality
25. Time To Reflect

Download it now! Krupted Peasant Farmerz

Shocking Truth: Acquaintance E.P. (1990)

2009-12-09T08:52:00.010-07:00

Workshed Records was Dan O’Mahoney’s (No For An Answer) operation in the late eighties and early nineties. From what I can see, a lot of the roster was straight edge hardcore. Some of the bands, like Headfirst, apparently are pretty awesome and I will check them out right away. First, I will write this post.

Shocking Truth probably was in the minority of Workshed bands with their melodic punk rock sound. Shocking Truth’s three smoking tunes on “Acquaintance” are totally hummable and fast. Plus, they have a noodly lead guitar style that’s played so well that it gets stuck in your head way too easily.

Lyrically, they tackle some heavy issues, such as blind consumerism on “Buyer Beware”. The title track stands out for its condemnation of society’s complicity in allowing sexual assault to occur. Sadly, the EP’s cover makes sense when you have those lyrics in mind.

Depsite the heaviness of the words, this record is fun and a good listen. I dig it and I hope you do too.

1. Acquaintance
2. Buyer Beware/Judge and Jury

Download it now! Shocking Truth

Slap Of Reality: 3 Lefts Make A Right (1991)

2009-12-08T14:02:00.010-07:00

I got this album on outofprintpunk.blogspot.com. Good thing I got this before it became an invite only blog, because “3 Lefts Make A Right” rules.

Hailing from Tampa Bay, Slap Of Reality rocked hard in the late eighties and early nineties. Their sound resembles the melodic punk of the day, in that it has harmony and isn’t too fast, but still has punk’s intensity. Oh, and they could play their instruments. The singer is earnest and the guitarist, who I think went on to play with Down By Law a few years later, is slick. The rhythm section, though, steals the show. They are tight and talented, with the drummer pulling all kinds of fills and the bass player uses the whole fretboard. The bass dude also plays his own lines and doesn’t just follow what the guitarist does. I could tell listening to him that as a former punk rock bass playing kind of person myself I’d have been depressed had I listened to Slap Of Reality back when I played because there is no way I’d ever have been able replicate what he does.

As you can tell, I really dig this album. To me and I know it's a bit repetitive to say this about any late eighties/early nineties melodic band, but whatever, they sound like the Doughboys, but dare I say it, they're better. Yep, much better. Enjoy the rad sounds of Slap Of Reality.

1. As Far As You Know
2. Certain Fall
3. Time Alone
4. Radiate
5. Different Worlds
6. Five
7. Where's It Going
8. Best of Me
9. Walk Away
10. Just What I Needed

Download it now! Slap Of Reality

Funeral Oration: Funeral Oration (1987)

2009-10-23T08:03:00.005-06:00

During a moment of what I hope was temporary insanity, a friend claimed that the high pitched squeal of the Bronksi Beat’s singer was an instrument. That is, he used his voice just like one would use a guitar or bass or in the BB’s case, synthesizers. Nice try, I snickered, as I struggled to regain a modicum of respect for his musical insights.

Of course, every singer uses their voice to contribute to a song. Many do it well, and others like the aforementioned Bronski Beat, use it fucking horribly. Then there’s Funeral Oration. If ever there is an example of a singer using his voice as an instrument in an awesome way, Funeral Oration is it. That dude can sing! His voice is so unique that I won’t even bother trying to describe it, because I could never do it justice.

I got this record a while ago, but wasn’t able to rip it due to my crappy record player. I finally got it work a few days ago and have been loving Funeral Oration’s 1987 release ever since. Funeral Oration rule! This album is all about punk rock played with the melody that is Funeral Oration’s trademark. Check it out and appreciate the gnarliness that belongs to Holland’s favourite sons.

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. Here We Go Again
2. This Time & No Longer
3. The Wishing & Overland
4. The Aim I Choose
5. Used To Be
6. It Ain't Easy
7. Like Any Other Life
8. We Are Not One
9. Failers Fall
10. If You Can
11. Didn't Want to Die
12. To the Fire
13. Would You Understand
14. Find a Way
15. Tell It Like It Is
16. This Ain't Heaven

Download it here! Funeral Oration

Defoliants: Grrr (1989)

2009-10-19T15:30:00.005-06:00

"Grrr" is a pretty diverse record from the Defoliants. As Flex says, “Intelligent & diverse hardcore with influences from Articles of Faith, Wipers, R'n'R, surf, DC sound etc. [7].” Total mouthful, I’d say.

What I find interesting is the surf influence on "Grrr". When they incorporate surf stylings in their songs, they sound almost like a heavier Agent Orange. I know it’s pretty lame to compare them to the godfathers of surf punk, but in this instance it works.

When it comes to lyrics though, the Defoliants share nothing with Agent Orange. While Mike Palm of Agent Orange likes to hang 10 on a wave of existential angst, the Defoliants are much more obnoxious. That’s not to say they lack intelligence. It’s just that the Defoliants aren’t as concerned with being too young to die.

On a completely unrelated note, I really like the album title and cover. The title is cool because it actually reflects a lot the record's mood and the cover compliments the title rather well. It gets the title across rather well me thinks.

“Steakhouse”, the first song, is a total winner with its catchy chorus of “This is my steakhouse” and gnarly guitar. "Bad Day At The Beach" will burrow its way into your head and make itself quite comfortable there. The instrumentals are also rad with their brooding guitar work.

Come to think of it, you can't go wrong with any band that makes you think of Agent Orange.

Image is from discogs.com

(missing the last two tracks, “Safety Town” and “Wide World of Animals”)

1. Steakhouse
2. Quinn Martin
3. Speed Racer
4. Jack The Ripper
5. Rooked
6. Rectal Inferno
7. Bad Day At The Beach
8. West Bank
9. Art Is Dangerous
10. The Guy Who Got Mad
11. I Wish You Were Fiction

Download it here! Grrr

Go Sailor: Go Sailor (1996)

2009-10-12T15:45:00.006-06:00

Go Sailor played top notch twee pop. Lots many of their songs' subjects are sad and brooding (though there a few that are extremely happy), but the music and singer’s voice is just so happy that you can’t help but smile. Their music is nothing but fun melancholy to me.

Go Sailor seems to be a soundtrack at pivotal moments to me. Like on this extended road trip I did they made themselves quite comfortable in my stereo or when I began this real cool correspondence, they were right there too and I imagine they will be clamoring for a spot in my rotation the next time something cool happens. I should also mention they suit regular day to day listening quite well :)

There are two reasons why you might know of this band. First, the bassist played in Crimpshrine. I remember seeing a review of this CD and some poor punker was quite pissed that Go Sailor weren’t another Crimpshrine. Personally, I’m not a fan of Crimpshrine, so there is no comparison. The only similarity between the two is, you guessed it, the bouncy bass lines. Another reason is that a couple of tracks are featured in the seminal movie “But I’m A Cheerleader”. If you haven't seen, make time for it.

This CD brings together a couple of compilation songs and three EPs. Thanks to Lookout Records’ incompetent book keeping, it is out of print.

Image is from Wikipedia

1. Last Year
2. Fine Day for Sailing
3. I'm Still Crying
4. I Just Do
5. Bigger Than an Ocean
6. Silly
7. Long Distance
8. Windy
9. Blue Sky
10. The Boy Who Sailed Around the World
11. Don't Go
12. Ray of Sunshine
13. Together Forever in Love
14. Every Day

Download it here! Go Sailor

Malefice: Lotus Blossoms (1990)

2009-10-09T16:49:00.007-06:00

Whoa, long time, no see. It’s been a while, mainly due to some stuff for which I blame the government for , but I is back and have a psychotic little goody for your listening pleasure. Now, when we think of the "D.C Sound", we might have some preconceptions what that entails. For some it’s the wicked early eighties hardcore embodied by the likes of Minor Threat. For others, it might be the mid to late eighties stuff that took hardcore’s energy, jazzed it up and became more introspective. When it comes to Malefice though, you’re best to throw both out the window. Then yourself because this shit will drive you crazy.

It’s not the psychotic guitars or vocal stylings alone that does it. Nor is the melding of hardcore energy with these two. No, no, no. All together though, along with a fuck of a heavy sound, is what brings the insanity. Why it’s so crazy they even have spoken interludes between songs. How’s that for insane when it comes to a DC band? This is epic shit and well worth your time. Enjoy.

Image is from Kill From the Heart

1. Acid Death
2. Sea Level*
3. Overboard
4. Dr. No
5. This Is No Place
6. Chronic Thoughts*
7. Carrion
8. Into The Grinder
9. Lost Sheep*
10. Bloody Insane*

(*I'm not too sure of where these titles go in the song order :P)

Download it here! Malefice

The Micronotz: 40 Fingers

2009-08-15T01:31:00.020-06:00

It's been a while. That might have something to do with the fact that I'm in South Africa right now. Cheap excuse, what with technology being the way it is and all, but it's all I got when it comes to this here blog.

So I thought in honour of my last post, I'll continue the college rock theme with The Micronotz. Not only were they named after a cool comic based on a toy line I remember reading when I was younger, The Micronotz also rocked hard. They were from Kansas and apparently played out lots. "40 Fingers" is a definite departure from their earlier stuff, due to having a new singer and perhaps being better able to play their instruments. They also seemed to have listened a lot to Husker Du, because the influence is all over the record. As the Flex discography says, "More Minnesota hardcore, melodic, melancholic, rough vocals." Yep, and to top it all off, the Simon and Garfunkel cover doesn't even suck.

The image is from Mental Excursions

Last Days of Man on Earth has more info on The Micronotz and their Smash ep to boot:

http://www.lastdaysofmanonearth.com/blog/?p=77

Dressed for the H Bomb has yet more Micronotz info and the 1984's Live Recording of the Video Soundtrack:

http://dressedforthehbomb.blogspot.com/2005/12/mortal-micronotz.html

Two live recordings of the Micronotz can be found at Mr. Fink, along with even more info:

http://mrfink.com/oxideflake/?p=130

http://mrfink.com/oxideflake/?tag=micronotz

1. Pay your bill
2. Mannequin head
3. Scarborough fair
4. Exit 301
5. Psychodeli & Push it out
6. Fall down
7. Black and white & 40 fingers
8. Breakdown
9. I want your soul
10. Carnival freak show
11. Summer of hate

Download it here! The Micronotz

Electric Love Muffin: Playdoh Meathook (1987)

2009-07-22T08:05:00.003-06:00

Back in the mid to late eighties, college rock was a force. A lot of this wasn’t shoe gazing shit or the crap that got passed off as indie in the nineties either. No, it was more like college rock was the kissing cousin of the musical family’s black sheep, punk rock. So what you usually got from college rock was honest, rollicking tuneage that was just a bit more restrained, refined if you will, than punk.

Electric Love Muffin is a pretty good representative of this restrained, refined approach to music. This Philly quartet demonstrate that bands can be able to play their instruments and still make upbeat music. And don't let the silly name fool you: this is pretty earnest stuff from a band that by all accounts should've been huge.

Image is from discogs.com
　
ELM’s MySpace page: www.myspace.com/betterstartrunning

Information on the band can be had here: ELM info

1. Backstreet ride
2. I should have
3. Look for me
4. This time I’m gone
5. Blackness that could be blue
6. The muffin march / One year removed
7. Tomorrow’s regrets
8. Magna opus

This is missing a Beatles cover because they, being the most overrated band ever, suck.

Download it here: Electric Love Muffin

Belching Penguins: Draft Beer...Not Me (1986)

2009-07-13T06:37:00.006-06:00

So, does a belching penguin sound like early DRI? In this case, there are remarkable similarities: fast songs with an anti-authoritarian attitude come to mind, though these Penguins burp a bit more melodically than those thrashers from Texas did.

A quick glance at the song titles gives you a basic idea of what their subject matter is about: militarism, drinking, cops, amongst other things. Come to think of it, just a quick glance at the record cover should give you a clue about where they're coming from; a skeletal Reagan pouring beer leaves little to the imagination.

"Dead People Can't Drive" absolutely rocks, with its solid hardcore tuneage and the great line, "Watch out for that Cadillac, the driver’s got cataracts." Being from Florida, it must have been a daily occurrence to dodge cars driven by folks who were no longer able to get behind the wheel. Come to think of it, that happens here as well.

Enjoy the music :)

The image is from Last.fm.

Demos can be had at Going Through The Motions blog: Belching Penguins demo

MySpace: www.myspace.com/belchingpenguin

1. There’s gonna be a war
2. Better off dead
3. Dead people can’t drive
4. Money well spent
5. Shitfaced
6. Box lunch
7. My friends
8. Forget the world
9. You suck
10. Brain damage
11. Governmental screwover
12. Anorexic
13. Suburban life
14. We’re the cops
15. My girlfriend is in porno
16. There’s no food
17. Theme of the Belching Penguin
18. Our children are missing
19. Hangover

Download Belching Penguins here: Belching Penguins

The Guns: 1984 demo

2009-07-12T18:35:00.008-06:00

This demo has everything that makes you want to go out and deface public property; it’s just so angry and defiant. Take the angry alienation of Black Flag, some monster metal power and combine it with the righteousness of youth and you get the wallop that The Guns deliver. The fact that The Guns were three high school kids from Cleveland makes them all the more impressive.

I think lots of folks will agree that their sound is best epitomized by "I'm Not Right". It's a real hit, so much so it was used in a documentary about Cleveland punk rock. "I'm Not Right" spits out adolescent alienation like only the best punk rock songs can: it's short, doesn't fuck around and drenched in animosity.

Future Shock blog has mondo info on this band: Future Shock

The Guns have a MySpace page, where I procured this image:

http://www.myspace.com/theoriginalguns

1. Support

2. Close Up

3. One True Desire

4. I'm Not Right

5. Parasite

6. Wasted Talent

7. The Chair

8. Shut Up

9. Kill Preps

10. Outta Glue

11. Locked Inside

12. Green Grass

13. Rotting Away

Note: The last two tracks, "Your Mistake" and "Symptom of the Universe", are missing from my copy.

Download them here! The Guns

The Wrecks: Teenage Jive demo tape (1982)

2009-06-25T15:02:00.009-06:00

The Wrecks were a trailblazing all female band from Reno in the early eighties. This tape is the complete package, complete with snotty vocals, a garagey sound (which has to be done right, otherwise it'll suck, but The Wrecks pull it off with reckless abandon) and provocative lyrics. Yep, this is the shit and if there was any justice in the world, they'd be better known than the Go-Go's.

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. I Love to Shoplift
2. Couldn't Believe It
3. High School Anthem
4. Communist Bucks
5. SBS
6. Lullaby of the Womb
7. Slow Boat to Yuba
8. Punk is an Attitude
9. This Land is Your Land

Download it here! The Wrecks

Down By Law: s/t (1991)

2009-06-25T14:10:00.006-06:00

Every now and then, a record comes along that defines a period of your life. Right place, right time sort of thing. This record fits the bill exactly for me and sadly, I think it’s out of print. Luckily, I picked this record up at a store in what was then the world’s biggest mall.

I got Down By Law’s first record in December, 1991. It was a particularly unstable time for me. Typical teenage crap, and I felt as if my life’s foundations were built out of wet bread sticks.

This record really spoke to me. A lot of the lyrics deal with following your dreams and being true to yourself. Dave Smalley knows how to put pen to paper and produced such profound nuggets like, "In order to be good, does that mean we must be great?" from "Vision" and these hopeful words from "Dreams Away":"Hold your head up/Target their world /Just let em fly/Dreams away".

For someone who was in an existential crisis, words like those were a salve to my despair. And to satisfy my need to change the world, Smalley penned "Matt Gleason Is God". Put together a cool bass line, a catchy tune and earnest words like: "There's so much darkness in our day/Bleed the planet, kill each other freedom what a price we pay/I'd swallow all the poison to make it go away . . ." and you get one fuck of a song. To top it all of, the refrain "We've gotta go!/We're gonna see it through/Your times are calling you" inspired me to try to commit to a better world.

The words would mean shit if the music didn't rock, but thankfully Down By Law delivers. If you someone like Smalley, who cut his teeth with DYS, helped to reinvent hardcore with Dag Nasty and even found time to be All's first singer, together with the rhythm section of the Chemical People and a guitarist from Clawhammer, you've got a wicked combination. Smooth melodic hardcore with a jumpy surf beat is a decent description, me thinks.

Image is from protonet.ru

"Best Friends" is a cover of song by The Outlets. The blog "Rocket Science" has the original for download.

1. Right or Wrong
2. Vision
3. Dreams Away
4. Down the Drain
5. American Dream
6. The Truth
7. Best Friends
8. Matt Gleason is God
9. The One
10. Can't See It Still
11. Surf Punk
12. Too Much Grey

Download it here! Down By Law

Urban Assault: s/t (1982)

2009-06-17T09:31:00.008-06:00

Urban Assault, the name that was so cool to early eighties hardcore folks that two bands (two!) took it as their moniker; one from San Francisco and the other from Reno. The Reno one put out a demo and was on a few comps as well. Their problem, to paraphrase an old review of a Reno comp, was that they suffered from the typical Skeeno problems of poor production.

This is the San Francisco Urban Assault. The production was dismissed by Flex as being weak, but whatever. This rules, and is worth a listen just for "Join The Army" alone. This song represents punk rock alienation to a T, with the attitude to boot. Check these lyrics out:

Be a cop, patrol the street, busting heads and kicking ass
Go to church, be real neat, say your prayers and go to mass

(Chorus)

Because they’re all stupid fools
They’re all wasting their time trying to be so fucking cool
Because they’re all stupid fools
And they can all go to hell

Definitely the shining moment of the record.

Oh, there was an Urban Assault from Johannesburg, South Africa as well. What is it about this name?

Image is from Kill From The Heart

1. Urban Assault
2. Shock Value
3. Join the Army
4. Product of Society

Download it here: Urban Assault

We The Living: Carnival of Vice (1985)

2009-06-16T09:14:00.015-06:00

Smoking hardcore from the American dong state, Florida. Lots of the lyrics are impossible to understand, but on rippers like “Shamade”, it matters little. Actually, it makes the song better. The one song you can hear the words is “Mixed Up World”, their cover of Madonna’s “Material World”. Their version is priceless as they tear the material girl's song to shreds with over the top vocals and the occasional spazzy part, making you realize you can't put a price on this, umm, material.

Images are from http://www.collectorscum.com/ and Kill From The Heart

1. Fudge Ripple
2. Shamade
3. Bingo
4. Abortion Attempt
5. Mixed Up World

Download it here! We The Living

The Prevaricators: No Kidding (1983)

2009-06-15T13:31:00.003-06:00

Cool release from Virginia’s The Prevaricators. I was really into this record a few years back. If you’re ever surrounded by wannabe cool dudes, crank “I’m So Cool”. The sarcasm literally drips off the wax with snotty lyrics and a catchy chorus that goes “I’m so cool, I’m so cool, don’t you wish you were too?” Wicked!

It all starts off, however, with the awesome “Ode To Uncle Ed”. That song makes me think of this old drinking buddy of mine who, coincidentally, was named Uncle Ed as well. Funny that, eh? We used to drink pretty hard back a while ago and some good times and some sad times were had by all. Rest in peace, Uncle Ed.

Images are from Kill From The Heart and the band's My Space page.

Download it here! The Prevaricators

1. Ode to Mr. Ed
2. Hanky Panky
3. Livin' in Khaki
4. I'm So Cool

Gash: G.A.S.H. (1986)

2009-06-10T08:55:00.005-06:00

Three girls and one dude from Australia deliver some killer punk. The music screams contempt at a sick society and to think they succeeded against who knows how many sexist barriers makes you admire their drive and courage. Hell, even now in supposedly liberal countries like Canada they would be an anomaly and face many gender based obstacles and music critics would only blabber about their femaleness, forgetting how good their music is.

So, I’ll spare you all the clichés about female bands who rock hard, trite things like “If you think they can’t hold their own with the boys, think again”, or presumptuous things like, “They must be lesbians,” or downright insulting things like “people only like them because they’re girls.” Whatever.

The fact of the matter is that G.A.S.H. is awesome and holds it own with any record released by any band. Gash’s hardcore is played fast and mean. The vocals are nice and ferocious and the music is as powerful as a Mack truck. Every song packs a punch, with “Because You Are A Woman” stands out for its angry pace and snarled vocals. The whole record is like that and is a real shot in the face. Words like awesome don't even come close to describing how good Gash is.

Image is from rateyourmusic.com

Band bio is here:

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/australia/gash_main.html

1. The Future
2. Cleo Cosmo
3. Gash Thrash
4. I Hate You
5. Coppin Shit
6. Because You Are a Woman
7. Civilized Man
8. Lovegame Bullshit
9. God Is Dead
10. Stick A Needle
11. Environmental Rape
12. Baby Seals
13. Gash for Cash
14. South Africa
15. Aquarius
16. Corpses

Download it here: Gash

Genetic Control: Brave New World (2005)

2009-06-05T08:50:00.012-06:00

I got this CD as a freebie when I ordered the S.C.U.M. Born Too Soon reissue from Sonik's Chicken Shrimp Records. From what I gather, it’s long out of print. That’s a shame, since this CD includes Genetic Control’s 7”, which is one mighty slab o’ wax. When I first heard First Impressions, I just about jumped out of my dumpster dived chair and slammed danced with my empty bottles of liquor.

The version of First Impressions I have has a different song order than this CD. That’s because I have a CD reissue and on Brave New World, the song order stays true to the original 7” release.

It is said that good things come in threes, and the three leading songs of the first CD reissue, consisting of “Suburban Life”, “Urban Cowboy” and “1984” prove that cliché to a T. They are three of the most urgent, sarcastically snotty and angry songs placed beside each other. “Suburban Life” pokes fun at the myth of suburban happiness; “Urban Cowboy” is a shot at those losers who think they’re John Wayne and like to pick fights with anyone who looks different; while “1984” chastises complacency as Big Brother takes over our lives. Taken together, they are as good as anything out there. To be honest, these three songs are so good that I never listen to the rest of the EP. I’m too spent picking up glass from broken bottles and fixing my chair. Enjoy.

Genetic Control's My Space page:

http://www.myspace.com/geneticcontrol1

Punk History Canada has a band bio and an image.

Lyrics for EP:

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/canada/lyrics/geneticcontrol_first.html

1. intro
2. Suburban Life
3. 1984
4. Puff the Magic Dragon
5. Dirty Rocker
6. Abandoned At Birth
7. Meet Billy
8. Big Takeover
9. Right Brigade
10. Brave New World
11. First Impressions
12. Gilligan’s Isle
13. NFS (new fucking song)
14. Drunk Again
15. Love Rat
16. Rockin’ With Seka
17. Urban Cowboy
18. Betray
19. outro
(Live from Montreal, 1998)

20. Suburban Life intro (Nasty Race)
(Primitive Air Raid comp, 1984)

21. Suburban Life
22. Urban Cowboy
23. Love Rat
24. Brave New World
25. 1984
(First Impressions EP, 1984)

26. The End

Download it right here: Genetic Control

Zero Boys: History of the Zero Boys (1984)

2009-06-02T10:03:00.006-06:00

People go gaga over the first Zero Boys full length, Vicious Circle, but for my money this cassette only release rocks much harder than Vicious Circle. It’s faster, tighter and definitely much more catchier. and the praise doesn’t get much better than when Tim Yohannan in Maximum Rocknroll #15 compares them to the Circle Jerks “as prime exponents of brisk, hook-laden thrash and punk.” A pretty lofty comparison, but entirely deserved on this tape.

In short, it shreds. It rips, it rocks, it rules. You could even say History of the Zero Boys is the feudal overlord to the peasant Vicious Circle. Like I said, you could, but I won’t :)

Image and quote from Kill From The Heart

1. Drive In
2. Black Network News
3. Splish, Splash
4. I Need Inergy
5. Johnny Better
6. Dingy Bars Suck
7. Seen That Movie Before
8. High Places
9. Blood's Good
10. Human Body
11. Mom's Wallet
12. Down the Drain
13. Outta Style
14. You Can Touch Me
15. Trying Harder
16. I'm Bored

Download it now! Zero Boys

Doughboys: Home Again (1989)

2009-05-26T11:12:00.005-06:00

The middle of nowhere sucked it pretty bad the last few weeks weather wise. It would be on the brink of spring and life would be sweet and just as you were thinking about growing your own food and digging a few fire pits, then it would snow. This happened more than once and it sucked. Thankfully, cross your fingers, it’s changed now for the good and what better way to celebrate the change of seasons than to listen to the Doughboys.

The Doughboys sophomore release is the sound of spring: of more sunlight, warmer days, pretty flowers and long walks surrounded by trees with budding leaves. It is a record for slipping under a blanket on the grass and watching the sunset and sunrise on the same night with your special someone. After winter's long journey through your soul, Home Again is spring’s symphony of happiness and fresh coffee and maybe a slurpee or two and holding hands with your corazón and for being at long last, home.

1. Buying Time
2. No Way
3. I Won't Write You a Letter
4. Waiting Away
5. White Sister
6. Numbered Days
7. In My Head
8. Today
9. Never Sleep
10. She Doesn't Live There Anymore

Download it now! Home Again

Who Cares compilation (1981)

2009-05-25T09:19:00.005-06:00

Killer early 80s comp from southern California. Lots of this is beach punk and a nice companion piece to Posh Boys’ “Beach Blvd” compilation from 1979. All of the bands are solid, but one stands heads and shoulders above the rest, and that is Political Crap.

This was professional skater Duane Peters’ first band and Political Crap deliver some of punk’s finest moments with these three songs. The music is beach punk like the rest of the comp, but the difference is that Political Crap is much more aggressive. There is so crossover appeal for surfers. This is raw punk.

The Master of Disaster’s lyrics deal with teenage angst, dread, and anxiety about growing up. What makes them is so authentic is that they were, of course, the product of a teenager. All three songs rule, but for me, “Slow Death” is one of the best moments in music history. Never before has raw despair been recorded as convincingly as Peters rails against the future that society has in store for him. When I listen to it, it reminds me to do all I can to avoid the slow death. To think a song recorded by teens nearly 30 years ago can do that is just fucking rad.

Download it now! Who Cares

AKA:
1. Tomorrows Theme
1. Liza Jane
Suspects:
3. Hollywood Nightmare
4. Baby Maybe
5. I Had Fun
6. Make Me
Chiefs:
7. Riot Squad
8. No Justice
9. Scrapped
Political Crap:
10. On Your Own
11. Slow Death
12. Rejected
Civil Disobedience:
13. Too Drunk Last Night
14. Campaign Promises
15. Confused
Shattered Faith:
16. I Love America
17. Discontent
18. Trilogy