Slew 08 - New purchases on deck

Slew 08 - The Show / The Pics

1. Juanito Wau! One Mouth Band: Reverb Pool - House Party EP (I Shit In The Milk Records, 702-82A, 2011 )
I don’t know what the hell this is but it’s pretty goddamn awesome. Some sort of Spanish one man beatbox garage-rock sort of thing. From Valencia.
http://www.myspace.com/juanitowau
http://www.slovenly.com/milkshit/

2. The Shirks: No Way Street - Disease EP (Windian Records, WIN-20006, 2010)
The Shirks totally remind me of the Devil Dogs for some reason which is probably why I had to track this single down after picking up their newest one that Grave Mistake put out. Great garage rock, strike that-”gunk punk”, from Washington D.C.. Check ‘em out.
http://gravemistakerecords.blogspot.com/
http://www.gravemistakerecords.com/catalog/
http://windianrecords.blogspot.com

3. P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.: Buzz Off - Buzz Off EP (Rock N’ Roll Disgrace, RRD-006, 2009)
Continuing in the vein of resurgent gunk punk, P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. (i have not been informed what P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. is an acronym for) totally remind me of a Nine Pound Hammer or early Nashville Pussy. Myspace informs me that Kelly Halliburton (Pierced Arrows) and a bunch of other PDX luminaries started this band in 2009.
http://www.myspace.com/problems503

4. New Bomb Turks: Let’s Dress Up The Naked Truth - So Clean, So Cool, So Sparkling Clear 7” (Datapanik Records, Data Panik #14, 1992)
Fronted by the guy who literally wrote the book on Gunk Punk, New Bomb Turks ended up being one of the best bands to come out of Ohio, which is no easy feat unless you happen to be the Pagans or Devo. Amped up Stooges fueled punk played with no fear and complete abandon. This track also happens to be on their critical first album “Destroy, Oh Boy!”
http://newbombturks.com/official/frontpage.html

5. Pissed Jeans: Sam Kinison Woman - Your Life Is Worth Pissed Jeans 7” (Sub Pop Records, SP909, 2010)
Chaz turned me on to these guys and I like it. For some reason I totally think of TAD when I hear this song, like Stumblin’ Man or Jack Pepsi or some shit like that. I imagine guys of about my girth wearing shitty worn thin button down short-sleeves drinking a large quantity of beer in a gross hot basement with their amps turned to 11 and completely rocking the fuck out.
http://www.whitedenim.com/pissedjeans/

6. Crime Wave: Crime Wave - Savage Reaction 12” (Agro-Wax Records, AWR-002, 2010)
As many things we play on the ol’ Slewcast I picked up this record completely by random due to no factors other than I liked the cover of the record and the text font/color. By bonus it happened to be on blue vinyl. Extra special bonus is that the whole record rips. Somehow affiliated with my Houston, TX crush the Secret Prostitutes, Crime Wave play the sort of snotty punk that would be a great soundtrack to a string of robberies. Recommended
http://agrowax.blogspot.com/

7. Descendents: Pep Talk - ALL LP (SST Records, SST 112, 1987)
It’s funny, a Descendents show was the first punk show I was allowed to attend, at the ripe age of 14 no less, which seems totally ancient today when I see parents taking toddlers to go see someone like Devo. Ahhh....parents today. To bad mine were into folk music. Anyway, I digress....I always avoided the ALL album. It was the album that every single person in the world that I interacted with had. It was the one that was everyone’s favorite. It was the one with Clean Sheets. It was the one that they were touring for on that fateful day. I dunno. For some reason I always thought it was the least punk and most over produced of their records. And I was so goddamn sick of Clean Sheets. So I totally avoided it. Forever. Until last week when I finally acquiesced after finding a nice first-press copy for cheap. And you can all suck it for being right. Of course this record rules. Of course it’s not the most over-produced Descendents album. And of course Clean Sheets is a great song. And...through this excersise I learned that I was already a stubborn contrarian at 14 and that contrarians are sort of dummies. I hereby stand corrected. Now stop laughing.
http://www.descendentsonline.com/

8. The Dils: Class War - 198 Seconds Of The Dils 7” (Dangerhouse Records, SLA-268, 1977)
To me The Dils will always be “that band from Cheech and Chong’s Up In Smoke”. Somehow The Dils managed to end up on the list of bands that were playing the Battle of the Bands that Cheech and Chong were so desperately trying to get to. The Dils were an early LA punk band with a strong leftist political bent that wrote some goddamn great songs. 198 Seconds Of The Dils is the second 7” they released and Class War is one of my favorite songs. Dangerhouse just did a sweet reissue on red vinyl and stamped labels or I just scored myself one sweet bootleg.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dils

9. The Carbonas: Sick Satisfaction - Sick Satisfaction 7” (Douche Master Records, Douche One, 2004)
I’ve been seeing the Carbonas name thrown around quite a bit lately on GG King records and whatnot. Saw this in a local used bin a couple of weeks ago. The Carbonas were from Atlanta, Chaz knows ‘em, and they aren’t around anymore. Good shit.
http://www.myspace.com/thecarbonas

10. Fucked Up: Ship of Fools - David Comes To Life 2xLP (Matador Records, OLE 952-1, 2011)
The newest Fucked Up Lp happens to be a concept album/rock opera dealing with life in some fictional British town during the mid-70’s. The concept worked for The Who with Quadrophenia and it works for Fucked Up here.
http://lookingforgold.blogspot.com/

11. NOFX: Friend or Foe/I.Q. 32 - Hardcore Covers 10” (Fat Wreck Chords, FAT 773, 2011)
Half an album worth of old punk songs done byNOFX with Melvin singing on most. Each song they chose to cover is a classic with the ones we’re playing originally by Agnostic Front and the Necros. For the true nerd and his wallet, it was released as a picture disc, a one-sided 10”, and a 7”.
http://www.nofxofficialwebsite.com/

12. White Wards: Fucking A Dead Corpse - Waste My Time 7” (Iron Lung Records, Lungs-017, 2011)
How could we not play a song called Fucking A Dead Corpse. Slewcast in no way endorses the actual act of fucking a dead corpse.
http://lifeironlungdeath.blogspot.com/

13. Dry Spell: Freak Acts - Dry Spell 12” (Vinyl Conflict Records, VCRS003/NW-51, 2011)
This band is great and Freak Acts totally has a Destroy Oh Boy! era-New Bomb Turks kind of vibe going on. Out of Richmond VA, these guys will be a band to keep an eye out for.
http://www.myspace.com/dryspellusa
http://www.nowayrecords.com/site/

14. Neurosis: United Sheep - Pain of Mind LP (Alchemy Records, VM105, 1987)
A bit of this slewcast is ending up as a “Mike revisits his past” sort of thing. I had this record on cassette when I was in Junior High and have distinct memories of listening to this as I had to run around the school’s athletic track for one dumb reason or another. I’ve always been wanting to get an original copy of this on vinyl, which nothanks to Ebay is usually cost prohibitive, and I finally scored. For those not aware, Neurosis the crazy spacy atmospheric dare-say hippy metal band started out in the East Bay of CA as a kick ass raging punk band in the vein of Ambiex or some other crusty such nonsense. I was 15 and loved it. 23 years later it holds up quite well. Maybe they’ll play a song or two off of this album when I ‘em next month with YOB.
http://www.neurosis.com/

15. Melvins: The Water Glass - The Bride Screamed Murder LP (Amphetamine Reptile, am-rep 78, 2011)
Not to overstate the obvious that the Melvins are one of the greatest, most innovative, and goddamn flat-out best bands of my era. I like to think of myself as fortunate to have gotten their first proper LP when it came out in 1987 (which also happened to be the year for the first proper Neurosis LP on the same Alchemy label and the year ALL came out) and their newest LP (which was far harder to get a copy of than it needed to be). It’s the second album with the Big Business guys and is a great progression from the A Senile Animal.
http://www.melvins.com/
http://www.themelvins.net/

16. Boris: Tu, la la - Heavy Rocks (Sargent House Records, SH 059, 2011)
I’m still not sure if I like the newer Boris when compared to the Pink record and earlier releases. This song is in a dance-pop style that seems to be the new Boris sound like on their last LP (Japan only release). Tu, la la is intriguing, for some reason it brings to mind the opening credits to a Japanese crime drama. I’m beginning to miss the old Boris.
http://www.inoxia-rec.com/boris/


17. Ramming Speed: Betrayed - Ramming Speed/A.N.S. split (Tankcrimes, TC 43, 2011)
I don’t know a whole lot about this band and don’t really feel like researching too hard. Speedmetal from Boston. In my mind really good speedmetal from Boston. Not a genre I listen too often, but I couldn’t refuse buying a record with a glow in the dark sleeve. Call me a sucker. Pick it up on Tankcrimes, though I think they are sold out of the glow in the dark “die-hard” edition.
http://www.tdbrecords.com/rammingspeed/
http://www.myspace.com/officialrammingspeed

18. Cannabis Corpse: The Weedspawn - Beneath The Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise (Tankcrimes, TC 45, 2011)
I’ve fallen for Cannabis Corpse. I admit it. What I thought was a goofy concept band of a bunch of stoners covering Cannibal Corpse songs (whom I never listened too) turned out to be a kick ass concept band of a bunch of stoners that write killer metal (but used to re-write Cannibal Corpse songs). This is a side project of “Land Phil” from Municipal Waste. Every song is about weed in one way or another. I’m still shocked at how good this record is. The song we are playing sounds a little crappy because it’s from a flexi that came with the “pro-stoner” die-hard edition of the album. Flexi’s sound like shit, but not as bad as the song-embossed postcard that also came with the album. Tankcrimes will rule forever for giving away playable postcards.
http://tankcrimes.com/
http://cannabiscorpse.com/


19. Neurosis: Eye - Through Silver In Blood (Iron City/Relapse Records, ICR 002, 1996)
I consider Through Silver In Blood the second absolutely essential Neurosis record, the first being Enemy Of The Sun. I think this was their heaviest album and managed to pave the way for ISIS, Cult of Luna, Dissapearer, and every other dark, heavy, brooding metal outfit around. I’ve wanted a vinyl copy of this forever and finally scored a first pressing in time to play my favorite song on this episode.
http://www.neurosis.com/

Slew 07 - Drugs are to Music as The Internet is to (blank)?

Slew 07 -- The Show  //  The Pics

1. Dead Milkmen: Smoking Banana Peels - Smokin’ Banana Peels E.P. (Enigma, 1988)
The Dead Milkmen are the ultimate joke punk band to some, and others think they are high-art, original, and also punk. They are all of this to me. Filling my head with hilarious stories and images, but at the same time they play some damn fine music. The song Smokin’ Banana Peels is a great example of how to take the hippie generation trippy, dippy shit and give it a punk attitude. Well Done, sirs. They are still playing shows. Go see them if you can.
"Take Elvis for a walk and shut-up."
http://www.deadmilkmen.com/

2. The Cramps: Drug Train - Bad Music For Bad People (I.R.S, 1984)
You ever rode a train? You ever rode a train on drugs? You ever rode a drug train? Sounds fun. You don’t need me to tell you about The Cramps. No, what you need is to get on board. Although I did just now learn that Bad Music For Bad People is a compilation from previous studio recordings. Go, Internet!
"You put one foot up.
You put another foot up.
You put another foot up, and your on board the Drug Train."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Music_for_Bad_People

3. Sloppy seconds: Somebody Else's Pills - The First Seven Inches (Alternative Testicles, AT-001, 1987)
In their heyday, this band was the “other” band full of fat guys. The primary “fat guy” band at the time was Poison Idea. These guys couldn’t have been/aren’t more different than Poison Idea. Ramones fueled punk with great hooks and funny lyrics, Sloppy Seconds built a career on songs about porn, comic books, booze, drugs, and girls.
“Why don't you swallow a handful of someone else's pills?
It will solve all of my problems and cure all your ills”
http://www.myspace.com/kingsofjunkrock

4. Dwarves: Drug Store - Drug Store EP (Sub Pop Records, SP-081, 1990)
Very few bands match the history of the Dwarves. Fifteen minute rock shows similar to riots were the norm. Stories of Blag getting into punching matches with the audience. I have distinct memories of watching He Who Cannot Be Named shove is finger up his ass. Drug Store is just one of the umpteen perfect songs they’ve written on the subject matter.
“Goin down to the drug store
Gonna buy a box of Romilar
Goin down down down
Gonna have me some fun”

http://www.thedwarves.com/

5. Boris The Sprinkler - Drugs and Masturbastion (Mutant Pop records, MP-03, 1995)
I saw Boris The Sprinkler play a bunch in the early days of the band and they were so goddamn fun (most of the time) that it just served to reinforce how awesome it was to grow up in the Fox River Valley (not that I knew it then). Rumor has it the singer Norb is a video game designer, Paul #2 was captured by a drum playing chicken and is being held hostage in Door County, Ric #6 is working in feminine hygine, and Paul #1 is who knows where. Enjoy their myspace page, they haven’t looked at it in years.
“Other people are not like me
and I don’t like them very much.”
So true.
http://www.myspace.com/boristhesprinkler

6. Didjits: Dear Junkie (Sub Pop, SP241, 1993)
Rick Sims has been writing great rock songs since he started The Didjits back in the mid-eighties. The Didjits broke up in the late nineties and Rick went on to form the Gaza Strippers who kept the torch alive for a few more years. The last thing the Strippers put out was in 2002 and I have no idea what he’s been up to since.
“I’m on my way back home....”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Didjits

7. SQRM: White Rabbit - White Saints EP (Abscess Records, AR01, 2010)
SQRM, a MA based band plays a dirty, noisey, depraved version hardcore punk that does not disappoint. This disorienting rendition of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" makes me think more of meth than psychedelics, but whatever.
“And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow”

http://www.ihateyouthattack.com/pages/interviews/sqrm.htm

http://www.abscesstrax.com/

8. The Dickies: Just Say Yes - Just Say Yes b/w Ayatollah You So 7” (Overground Records, Over 12, 1990)
The Dickies have certainly had their own history of drug issues that slowed them down but never put them out of existence. Still playing sporadically to this day at a big reunion fest near you.
“Tell all your friends they should try it
Just say yes...yes”

http://www.thedickies.com/home/outer/outer.htm

9. NOFX: Drugs are good - HOFX EP (Fat Wreck, 1995
NOFX has written plenty of songs about drugs but this one is on a record featuring Don Ho on the cover making it way more relevant than the rest. Relevant how? I have no idea.
“Drugs are good, they let you do things that you know you not should.
And when you do 'em people think that you're cool.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nofx

10. Brujeria: Marijuana: El Patron b/w Marijuana 7” (Chupacabra Discos, 1997)
The band name derives from the black magic used by some Mexican drug dealers to inspire fear in religious locals. I really don’t remember how I first got into Brujeria save that I remember enjoying all the drug smuggling imagery in their ads. I think I bought this single for the same reason. Extra bonus getting the modified Macarena cover on the b-side.
“Hay un una vieja que es my boinita
En mexico la llaman mariajuanita
La vida loca necesita hirbita....
HEY MARIJUANA!”

http://www.brujeria.com/

11. The Supersuckers: Ron’s got the cocaine - Smoke of Hell LP (Sub Pop Records, SP 164, 1992)
This song’s from the first of what were three excellent albums The Supersuckers released on Sub Pop records back in the early nineties. Again, with this band most songs involve cars, girls, or drugs. They are still around, but I don’t think they’ve put out a new studio album in years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersuckers

12. RKL: Scab On My Brain - Rock And Roll Nightmare LP (Alchemy Records, VM 104, 1987)
This band had a reputation for drug use and I believe at least one band member is dead at this point due to drugs. Bummer for such a positive band.
“Gotta get good and high for the next world disaster!”

http://www.rkl.com/

13. Honky: Smokin’ Weed With Helios Creed - Self Titled LP (Honest Abe Records, HAC 997, 1998)
Honky was formed by J.D. Pinkus from the Butthole Surfers and they do a great sloppy classic rock sorta thing. Once again, most songs involve cars, girls, or drugs.
http://www.honky.net/

14. Amoebas: Gimme A Fix - Gimme A Fix b/w No Emotion 7” (Gimme Gimme Records, GGR 001, 2009)
I don’t know anything about this band except that I liked how the record cover for this looked in the store which is why I bought it. Come to find out that the cover is screened on the opposite side of a rejected sleeve for a Bunny Skull EP that I also happen to own. Either the dude who screened this fucked up or is cheap or the band spent all of their money on drugs. I have no idea. Kick ass song though.
http://www.myspace.com/wearetheamoebas

15. Heartbreakers - Chinese Rocks - L.A.M.F. LP (Track Records, 940552, 1977)
Classic song about heroin written by Dee Dee Ramone and Richard Hell. First recorded by Johnny Thunders band The Heartbreakers, this single went on to sell 20,000 copies before L.A.M.F. was released.
“I’m living on Chinese Rocks
Everything is in the pawn shop”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-M9Ymvgd0A

16. Zeke: Mainline - S/W/P/R 2x7” (Junk Records, JR 6, 1996)
Chaz was looking for the Zeke song “Lets Get Drugs” but couldn’t find it so we had to settle for this. Though not convinced this song is actually about drugs, I will concede that the name of it works along in a heroin theme.
“goin’ down the mainline
the fuckin’ mainline
goin down the mainline tonight”
http://www.zekeyou.com/

17. Fu Manchu: Beach Blanket Bongout - Beach Blanket Bongout! 7” (At The Dojo Records, ATT-002, 2009)
Classic JFA played through the haze of Fu Manchu.
“We’re having fun, Wasted in the sun.”

http://www.fu-manchu.com/

18. Electric Wizard: Dopethrone - Dopethrone 2xLP (Rise Above Records, Rise 52, 2004/2010)
I totally missed out on these guys until last year. This is the title track off their third album that was repressed last year.
“Rise black amps tear the sky
Riff hewn alter wreathed in smoke and weed”

http://www.myspace.com/electricwizarddorsetdoom
http://www.riseaboverecords.com/artists/riseabove/electric_wizard/

19. Cannabis Corpse: Skull Full of Bong Hits - The Weeding E.P. (Tankcrimes, TC 34, 2010)
This is a side project of Philip Hall from Municipal Waste doing a parody of Cannibal Corpse. Not being a super huge metal guy, I never listened to Cannibal Corpse, but the Cannabis Corpse version of whatever song this originally was is ridiculously awesome so I have to assume that Cannibal Corpse is at least as ridiculously awesome. Of course that assumes Skull Full of Bong Hits was some sort of Cannibal Corpse song. I just got their brand new LP “Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise” in the mail and it totally fucking shreds.
“Wishing you weren't so useless and stoned - Skull full of bong hits.
Maniacal murder like none you have known - Skull full of bong hits.”

http://tankcrimes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cannabiscorpseva

20. Rocket From The Crypt: Glazed - Circa Now! LP (Cargo/Headhunter Records, HED 015, 1992)
So goddamn good it’s a shame Rocket From The Crypt isn’t around anymore. It took a few listens before I caught on to what Speedo was saying in this song. Enjoy the further sounds of Speedo in his newest band, The Night Marchers, who sorely need to release a new album.
“smoke pot, smoke pot, everybody smoke pot.”

http://www.rftc.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_from_the_Crypt
http://vagrant.com/artists/bio/7-night_marchers

21. Minor Threat: Straight Edge - Minor Threat (Discord, 1981)
I couldn’t make this shit up. This song started a movement that still exist today in basements and lacrosse fields beyond this nation spread across the globe. Minor Threat is the sound of hardcore to me and many others. Other bands built their sound and lyrics off this base, like Gorilla Biscuits and Kid Dynamite. That’s a good thing. Most kids eventually grow out of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Two_7%22s_on_a_12%22

Slew 06 - How to count to 4 in Italian.

Slew_06_05/30/11   -  The Show / The Pics

Let it be stated at the outset that neither Chaz nor I have any memory of finishing this recording, which makes us both think we were pretty intoxicated while we recorded this.  Concocted on the back end of our NOMEANSNOISODE, this playlist was compiled following Chaz’s shouted criteria – grab a stack of your favorite newest acquisitions, arrange in alphabetical order, and then pick a song.  Any song.  I don’t really remember why I picked most of the songs.  Some were picked due to the coolness of the title.  Some were picked just because they seemed ridiculous (think Masakari).  Either way, my only stipulation was that we had to play lots of Smart Cops songs.  Chaz readily agreed.  I apologize if this whole Slewcast comes off as a bit goofy, but that’s what happens when we drink large bottles of Belgian beers until 3:47am.  Enjoy, and if you dig it, “like” our Facebook page or some shit.

1. Black Lungs: Valley of the Dolls – Valley of the Dolls 7” , (Deranged Records, DY-184, 2010)
I know nothing about this band, I bought this single last week and it just happened to land first on the playlist.  It also happens to be a great song.  It turns out Valley of the Dolls was a book, a movie, and the second Generation X LP.  Black Lungs is “the new solo project of Alexisonfire’s Wade McNeil” whoever the fuck that is.  For some reason I think I should hate Alexisonfire but I don’t know why.  It was recorded by Jonah Falco who happens to be in both the mighty Career Suicide and Fucked up.
http://www.myspace.com/dirtyblacklungs
http://derangedrecords.com/
nerd note: first press limited to 500 yellow copies

2. Career Suicide: Means To No End – Cherry Beach 7”, (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ -95, 2011)
This is the third version of an EP that was originally released as a 2008 UK/Ireland tour exclusive.  Two of the songs are different this go around and it stands without question that I still think Career Suicide is the best damn punk band coming out of Canada even though they have released all of one EP in the past three years.  They should fix that.
http://www.careersuicide.net/window.html
http://www.dirtnaprecs.com/
nerd note:  this version was released in a pressing of 1000 w/the first 200 on red vinyl and comes with a big poster insert.  The other version I have is the Cherry Beach “Bootleg” EP that has a different cover and was limited to 300 maybe .  Original press on Sewercide also 300.  

3. Coke Bust: Keep Out – Degredation E.P. , (Grave Mistake Records, Grave 046, 2011)
This is awesome fast hardcore with six rippers packed onto the EP.  Judging from the photos on the back cover these guys are some pissed off old dirty motherfuckers.  No wonder it kicks so much ass.  The internet makes it seem like they’re a straight edge band but you’d never know it. It sounds like a bunch of other really fast angry bands that also kick ass.
http://cokebust.com/home.html
http://gravemistakerecords.blogspot.com/
nerd note: this EP was originally released on Refuse Records (Poland) in 2010 and then pressed in the US in 2011.  900 pressed on Refuse, 1000 on Grave Mistake (200 white).

4.  Cute Lepers: She Liked Helter Skelter – Adventure Time LP , (1-2-3-4 Go! Records, GO-49, 2011)
I don’t know how I managed to go this long without knowing about the Buzzcocks/Jam/Dictators inspired greatness that is the third Cute Lepers album.  She Liked Helter Skelter ia a pop gem with a cool title making it the obvious pick for this playlist and the perfect yang to Coke Bust’s ying.
http://www.thecutelepers.com/
http://www.1234gorecords.com/
nerd note: 200 copies on yellow vinyl, 1,000,000 copies on black

5.  Getting Even: End Credits – Self Titled 7” , (Pass Judgement/Rock Bottom/1% Records, GE-001, 2010)
Really, really good distorted punk that totally reminds me of My War era Black Flag on this song.  These guys hail from Minneapolis and have former members of lots of bands, one of which was Holding On.  I have a Holding On LP and, though really good, I dig this way more.  For anyone that can’t get enough Black Flag or Poison Idea.
http://www.myspace.com/gettingeven09
http://www.passjudgementrecords.com/
nerd note: first pressing of 300 on purple vinyl w/obi strip, insert, and download card.

6. GG King: Reading Magazines – Esoteric Lore LP , (Rob’s House Records, RHR063, 2011)
 A relatively new Atlanta band that defies easy classification.  Sorta lo-fi fuzzy garage but at the same time a little chaotic and random.  Like really old kbd punk stuff.  Features old folks that used to be in The Carbonas and Quadaliacha among others.  At last count I receive 4 magazines in the mail so I can totally relate to this song.
http://www.myspace.com/ggkingband
http://www.robshouserecords.com/
nerd note: 200 pressed on white vinyl.

7. High Tension Wires: The Secret Of The Hydrogen Bomb – Welcome New Machine LP , (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ-104, 2011)
Mark Ryan, of Marked Men fame, releases his third High Tension Wires album with help from guys from The Reds and Riverboat Gamblers.  Mark wrote most of my favorite Marked Men songs and Welcome New Machine is chock-full of great tunes.  This is yet another song picked solely for it’s cool title.  If you like the Marked Men you’ll totally dig High Tension Wires.
http://www.myspace.com/hightensionwires
http://www.dirtnaprecs.com/site/
nerd note:  I think 200 of this were pressed on some sort of colored vinyl for mailorder folks

8. Minutemen: 9:30 May 2nd – Minutemen/Saccharine Trust split 7” , (Water Under The Bridge Records, WUB 005, 2011)
I’ve always liked the Minutemen but never really listen to them as much as I probably should.  I thought this song might have been unreleased before, which is one reason why I wanted to play it, but then I noticed it’s on the Cracks in the Sidewalk Compilation LP and not the Chunks compilation LP that they are ALSO on and ALSO happen to play a song with a title related to time (Clocks as it were). New Alliance originally released both compilations in the early 80’s and than SST re-pressed them.  Crazy.
http://www.waterunderthebridgerecords.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_%28band%29
Nerd note: turns out that the first pressing (1000) has blue and white covers and the second pressing (500) has red and white ones.

9. The Mean Jeans: Forever Young – Trouble In Mind RSD 4-way split 7” , (Trouble In Mind, TM-026, 2011)
The Mean Jeans play a fuzzed out amped up variety of Ramones-esq R&R that never ceases to put a smile on my face with their heady songs about running out of smokes and being stupid.  Rod Stewart, it turns out, did not write this song.
http://www.myspace.com/themeanjeans
http://www.troubleinmindrecs.com/
nerd note:  Limited to 1000 copies on white vinyl, mine is # 471

10. Night Birds: Triple Feature – Midnight Movies 7” , (No Way Records, NW-50, 2011)
I think we’ve played close to every song on this single by now. Kick ass punk in the vein of everything awesome from the early eighties.   Every song happens to be about movies which we totally support.  Now gimme an LP and a west coast tour!
http://www.myspace.com/NGHTBRDS
www.nowayrecords.com
nerd note: my copy came with a pin, patch, and sticker.

11. Night Marchers: Thar She Blows – Thar She Blows 7” , (Swami Records, SWA 140, 2011)
Speedo, of Rocket From the Crypt and Hot Snakes fame, continues on in the same vein that he always has, writing great song after great song.  Thar She Blows is the newest material Night Marchers has released and is a great follow-up to their LP even with the long gap between the two records.
http://www.myspace.com/thenightmarchers
nerd note: Word is this is a limited pressing of 900 never to be pressed again.

12. Obits: One Cross Apiece – One Cross Apiece 7” , (Stint Records, ST-71, 2008)
In my mind the Obits are dang near the perfect band.  I was so happy when I found out Rick Froberg (guitar/voice) had a new band after the Hot Snakes broke up.  He continues to write clean, simple rock songs that always seem to have a hook that sticks with you hours after it’s gone.  One Cross Apiece was their first single and everything they have released should be considered mandatory.
http://www.obitsurl.com/
http://www.subpop.com/artists/obits/
nerd note: I don’t think there is anything nerdy about this one save that the picture of this record on the Sub Pop website has a red label and my copy has a blue label

13. Masakari: Sleep/Rot – Sleep/Rot 7”, (Masakari Records, Masakari 01, 2011)
I don’t have a ton of music like this in my collection but this EP immediately stands out.  One of these songs is a cover, but I have no idea which one.  Complete Japan worship in the crusty thrash vein that in earlier times would have had me putting my head through a closet door.  Get it while you still can.
http://www.masakaripunk.blogspot.com/
http://www.masakariband.com/
nerd note: This is one sided 7” w/screened b-side ltd to 300 total copies w/3 dif. covers, one for pre-orders, one for Halo of Flies distro, and one for tour)

14. Get Rad: When Push Comes To Skate – Choose Your Own Adventure 7”, (Get Rad/Halo Of Flies/Perpetual Motion Machine records, halo32/pmm33, 2011)
I’m not sure that I’m a fan of their full lengths nearly as much as I like their EP’s and this 7” delivers in spades.  It’s total youth crew hardcore that makes me think of Youth of Today or Uniform Choice or something fast and shirtless like that, but they sing about riding skateboards, riding dirtbikes, playing pinball, important shit like that.  I mean fuck, they made a Choose Your Own Adventure book for chrissakes!  
http://thunderinyourheart.blogspot.com/
http://getrad.bandcamp.com/
http://thunderinyourheart.bigcartel.com/
nerd note: Limited to 500 copies, with 376 on a black/dark grey vinyl and 124 on various other colors. Stuck in a thick silkscreened cover (mine is blue matching the vinyl) with an 8 page 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book that I happened to conquer on my first read.

15. The Shirks: Prostitution Summer – Cry Cry Cry 7” , (Grave Mistake Records, Grave 045, 2011)
Total Devil Dogs worship.  From Washington DC one ex-Problematics guy, Al Bud, gets with one discord guy and a couple of other folks to record some great Rock n’ Roll.   The Shirks have released three other singles that I have yet to track down.
http://gravemistakerecords.blogspot.com/
http://www.gravemistakerecords.com/catalog/
http://windianrecords.blogspot.com
nerd note: 100 copies on clear red vinyl

16. The Steve Adamyk Band: Speed It Up – The Steve Adamyk Band LP , (P-Trash Records, Full Trash 59, 2010)
Yet another awesome band from Canada.  The internet tells me this is ¾ of the now defunct Sedatives playing songs Steve Adamyk wrote solo while in the band.  It’s great powerpop and makes me wish I lived closer to Ottawa.  Rumor has it they will have a new LP coming soon on Dirtnap, but it could be a domestic pressing of this German pressing.
http://www.myspace.com/steveadamyk
http://www.ptrashrecords.com/
nerd note:  I’m a total dork and am in the P-Trash fanclub so I have the ltd. to 100 version with a screened plexiglass cover and multi-color vinyl

17-22.  Smart Cops – Per Proteggere e Servire LP , (Sorry State Records, SSR-32, 2011)
I don’t know what it is about this band from Italy.  The cool logo, the matching shirts, goofy motorcycle pants.  I’m a sucker for matching band outfits.  The previous two Smart Cops 7”s were amped up fast punk, but this brand new LP slows things down a little bit, adds some soul, swagger, and handclaps.  Fucking totally awesome.  My current favorite album of 2011.  I can’t speak a lick of Italian so I don’t understand a damn thing they’re saying, but that doesn’t stop the songs from getting stuck in my head.  Needless to say we’re playing every other song from the whole album.  Enjoy.
17. Realta Cercami
18. Il Cattivo Tentente
19. A Gambe Levate
20. La Legge Del Piu Debole
21. Neila Giungla
22. Sangue d’Africa
http://www.myspace.com/smartcops
http://www.sorrystaterecords.com/
nerd note:  150 copies pressed on clear/black vinyl for mailorder.

Slew 05 - Nomeansnoisode

Slew episode 05 /Pics/Show

NOMEANSNO

I think both of us here at Slewquarters™ can say that NOMEANSNO has been an integral part of our lives since the first time either of us heard our first NOMEANSNO song. I remember clearly the day I was at the Exclusive Company in Appleton, WI and bought a copy of the Wrong Lp. I had been seeing flyers around town for a NOMEANSNO show in Green Bay at the Eagles Club and had missed it for one reason or another. The one friend of mine that went and said it was awesome, so when I saw Wrong in the bin I immediately had high hopes. I remember sitting on the side of my bed slack jawed holding the insert/lyric sheet while listening to the record over and over again. Totally unlike pretty much everything I was listening to at the time, NOMEANSNO’s music and lyrics on Wrong hit me in a way that few other records ever had. It wasn’t super fast and it wasn’t super punk, but it was super something and I wasn’t really quite sure what. I just knew at that point I would be a fan for life. I have followed them closely ever since, getting every record immediately upon its release and dissecting its contents in ever-greater detail upon each listen. Unlike most of my friends, I have never been a musician, and have never understood as deeply how musically excellent this band is, I only knew that no matter what, it was guaranteed that at least one song on each record would raise the hair on my neck. The fact is that 30+ years after NOMEANSNO’s formation they continue to be a leading example of all that is awesome in music and I’m glad we can use this Slewcast™ to bear witness.

First NOMEANSNO Song I Heard:

It's Catching Up –Mike (Wrong LP, 1989, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 77)

Dad –Chaz (Sex Mad LP, 1986, Psyche Industry/Alternative Tentacles, Virus 56)

Favorite 80's song:

The Day Everything Became Nothing –Mike (The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed 2xLP, 1988, Wrong Records, Wrong 34)

Small Parts Isolated and Destroyed –Chaz (The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed 2xLP, 1988, Wrong Records, Wrong 34)

Favorite 90's song:

State Of Grace – Mike (The Worldhood Of The World As Such LP, 1995, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 171)

Tuck It Away – Chaz (The Worldhood Of The World As Such LP, 1995, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 171)

Favorite 00's song:

'Till I Die – Mike (All Roads Lead To Ausfahrt LP, 2006, Wrong Records, Wrong 33)

Hello,Goodbye – Chaz (One 2xLP, 2000, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 248)

Most Goosebumps:

Victory – Mike (The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed 2xLP, 1988, Wrong Records, Wrong 34)

Heaven Is The Dust Beneath My Shoes - Chaz (All Roads Lead To Ausfahrt LP, 2006, Wrong Records, Wrong 33)

Best Song For A Wedding:

Joy – Mike (The Worldhood Of The World As Such LP, 1995, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 171)

Body Bags – Chaz (You Kill Me EP, 1985, Undergrowth Records, UG1302)


Favorite cover song:

Oh Canaduh – Mike (Oh Canaduh/New Age 7”, 1991, Allied Recordings, Allied 10)

Manic Depression – Chaz (Sex Mad LP, 1986, Psyche Industry/Alternative Tentacles, Virus 56)

Guiding Philosophy Through College:

Oh No Bruno! – Mike (Wrong LP 1989, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 77)

It’s Catching Up – Chaz (Wrong LP, 1989, Alternative Tentacles, Virus 77)

Favorite brand new song that’s somewhat short so we can sandwich into this Slewcast™:

Slave (Old EP, 2010, Wrong Records, Wrong 1000000)

We are forgoing more detailed notes/descriptions with the super weak and totally accurate excuse that simple words cannot describe how awesome NOMEANSNO is.