Slew 10 - Double Digit MEGASOIDE or 22 SONGS OF FUN!!!

Slew 10 The Show // The Pics

1 - Agro Jive: Planet Of The Apes - Agro Jive LP (P. Trash Records, Full Trash 49, 2011)
Basement recordings of a one man project out of Denmark. This whole record is chock-full of 4-track goodness, but Planet Of The Apes stood out above the rest.
http://www.myspace.com/agrojive

2 - Something Fierce: Before You Raised The Gun - Don’t Be So Cruel LP (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ-105, 2011)
Every time I think of Something Fierce I think of The Undertones. Not a bad association by any stretch, I just wish I would think more of Something Fierce and less of The Undertones. But that’s my problem, not theirs. Anyhoo, if you like The Undertones I feel comfortable in saying that you will very much like Something Fierce.
http://www.somethingfiercemusic.com/

3 - The Undertones: Whizz Kids - Hypnotised LP (Sire Records, SRK 6088, 1980)
Not new, just new to me, Hypnotised happens to be one hell of a good Undertones album. I’d say it’s the best, but since it’s the only one I have, I’ll just call it hella good. The song Whizz Kids is on just about every “best of” Undertones album out there. Enjoy.
http://www.theundertones.com/_/Home.html

4 - Modern Pets: The Last Nanosecond of the Universe - Modern Pets LP (P. Trash Records, Full Trash 66, 2011)
I had thought we’ve played Modern Pets songs on at least one previous Slewcast but a quick check proved me wrong. That is a sad, sad oversight as the Modern Pets have been kicking ass in Berlin since 2009. Good uppity punk with just enough pop to throw you back into the late 70’s pogo scene. Or something like that. Their first LP was just released on P.Trash and you should buy it.
http://www.myspace.com/modernpets

5 - Groupo Sub-1: Alguien Ha Secuestrado Al Nino Jesus - Nuevos Dioses LP (P. Trash Records, Full Trash 65, 2011)
I love it when we get a huge box of records from P.Trash every few months. Grupo Sub-1 is from Madrid, Spain and they play a great trashy garage-punk with a sweet sounding organ that runs through every song. Male and female singers alternate between the songs and I can’t decide which I like better, both are great. This could quite possibly make you pogo your face off. Follow the bandcamp link below for a free download of a bunch of their songs.
http://www.myspace.com/gruposub1

6 - Derby Dolls: Teaparty - Extreme Probleme LP (Erste Theke Tonträger / P.Trash Rec., 2011)
This is a great german record that P.Trash describes as “between NICHTS, HANS-A-PLAST and BUZZCOCKS, sounding like the No Fun and Schallmauer Records stuff from the early 1980s. The mixed German/English lyrics shuttle between life doubts, adapted subjects and people on the go, always with an irresistible and beat-twitching tendency to drag you to the dancefloor. The weighty female lead vocal of Helen totally reminds you of NICHTS singer Andrea Mothes.” Of course. I totally forgot about Andrea Mothes. Pick it up!
http://www.myspace.com/thederbydolls

7 - Toyotas: Remote Controlled - Radio Off 7” (P.Trash Records, PT 074, 2011)
Radio Off is the Toyotas’ newest 7” and is great 60’s/70’s inspired power-pop-punk gem. It reminds me of The Tranzmitors getting mixed up with The Shitty Limits at a rockin’ club somewhere. It’s a current policy here to get every Toyotas release we can get our hands on.
http://www.ptrashrecords.com/startseite.html

8 - Sonic Avenues: Two Tons of Dynamite - Sonic Avenues/Steve Adamyk Band split Euro tour 7” (P.Trash Records, PT075, 2011)
Another great Canadian band on the pop-punk side of thing, Sonic Avenues have a new LP coming out soon on Dirtnap Records. I don’t know a whole lot about them, but any band that does a Sweet Baby cover is alright in my book.
http://www.sonicavenues.com/

9 - Tongan Death Grip: Stupid Kids - Chula Vista LP (P.Trash Records, Full Trash 64, 2011)
http://halifaxcollect.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-tongan-death-grip-premium.html
http://www.myspace.com/tongandeathgrip

10 - Night Birds: Oblivious - The Other Side of Darkness LP (Grave Mistake, Grave 050, 2011)
Sitting here I’m trying to figure out what the most kick-ass thing about the new Night Birds LP is. Like how this album’s lyric sleeve totally reminds me of, and feels just like, the AOD Humungousfungusamungus lyric sleeve. Though when I grabbed the AOD record I noticed that those lyrics were typed out and not in a clearly punkrock handwritten scriptand like this record. Anyway, while I focus on those minute details I loose sight of the big picture surrounding The Other Side Of Darkness. The big picture being that this is one of the best, if not THE best, platters to come out this year on the punk side of the spectrum. I could cite a litany of comparisons, AGENT ORANGE, CIRCLE JERKS, ADOLESCENTS, D.I., whatever. I know that what is left of those bands is but a shadow of their former selves while this album is RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!! Why settle for the oldies when you can spin this? I can’t stop talking about how great this album is. It’s a perfect blend of Southern California and New Jersey. Surf twang meets snotty punk with songs about movies that I thought only Chaz had seen. So many of these songs have gotten stuck in my head. Oblivious seems to be dominating right now. Mandatory.
http://night-birds.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NGHTBRDS

11 - Secret Prostitutes: Saigon Stinker - Fantasi Di Auschwitz 7” (Batshit Records, BS-017, 2011)
Continuing to be one of the highlights of Houston, Secret Prostitutes throw down six songs on this 7” right where their LP left off. Excellent snotty, trashy punk with lyrics sung in Indonesian. Look for them on the new compilation with CrimeWave out soon on AgroWax Records.
http://www.myspace.com/thesecretprostitutes

12 - Double Negative: Cunny Hop - Hardcore Confusion Vol. 1 7” (Sorry State, SSR-35, 2011)
http://www.facebook.com/thedoublenegative

13/14 - Raw Nerve: Dating Problems/Ill Of The Dead - Midnight 7” (Youth Attack, YA68, 2011)
For some reason this band keeps making me think of Black Flag even though the music is for the most part way faster. I picture the singer stalking the stage during the spoken bits as the music keeps building in intensity until everything explodes into chaos. Their live shows must be amazing.
http://rawnervenoise.blogspot.com/

15 - Suburbanite: Ruling Class Rebel - Suburbanite 7” (Youth Attack, YA70, 2011)
Tough as fuck hardcore ala Negative Approach through a NYHC filter. Way fuzzed-out urgency housed in a killer tri-fold sleeve. I would so be skanking around my bedroom right now if my wife wasn’t asleep.
http://www.ihateyouthattack.com/blog/2011/05/70-suburbanite-ep/

16 - Effigies: Haunted Town - Remains Nonviewable LP (Roadkill Records, RDK 005, 1989)
Old Chicago punk that I never really listened to as a kid. The Effigies were the first I’m aware of to play the melodic, slower kind of punk that spawned the whole “Chicago sound” deal that was later made definitive by Naked Raygun. This album collects their first three EPs and a couple of later tracks.
http://www.effigies.com/home.html

17 - Black Flag: Thirsty And Miserable - Thirsty and Miserable/Life In Pain 7” (Unicorn Records/SST, Bogus 001, 1981)
The Licorice Pizza 7” is one of the few Black Flag records I still didn’t have and was stoked to finally score a copy. For those not “in the know”, this EP was released as a gig giveaway in 1981 to help promote Licorice Pizza which, I am led to understand, is somewhere they liked to eat pizza. Two songs of awesome.
http://www.sstsuperstore.com/

18 - Teen Idles: Sneakers - Anniversary 7” (Dischord Records, Dischord 100, 2011)
Old DC band that spawned lots of other more famous DC bands. ahem. Minor Threat. ahem. Good stuff.
http://www.dischord.com/band/teen-idles

19/20 - Adrenalin OD: Old People Talk Too Loud / Trans Am - Let’s Barbeque 7” (Buy Our Records, 1983)
Adrenalin O.D. being one of my all time favorites, I was doubly stoked to get this record in the mail on the same day as the Black Flag Licorice Pizza 7”. Super fast and totally disrespectful, yet one more good thing about New Jersey.
http://www.myspace.com/adrenalinod

21 - Antidote - Real Deal
Totally classic New York HardCore. I listened to it and was like....”Oh, so that’s how Ray Cappo learned to sing”.
http://www.myspace.com/antidotehardcorepunk

22 - Melvins: Queen - Endless Residency
So The Melvins decided to spend a month playing Saturdays at some club in LA last year and each night they would play an entire album. They played Bullhead, Eggnog, Lysol, Stoner Witch, and Houdini. The Melvins then took the whole concept on the road playing the above albums over two nights in a few select cities. The tour was called Endless Residency and a box set of CDs recording the LA shows was sold at each stop. Later, the box set was reconfigured into a vinyl set and first sold in Europe. Later it released by Amphetamine Reptile in the U.S. in a crazier/fancier edition that comes in a wooden screened box.
http://www.facebook.com/melvinsarmy

Slew 09 - Northern California Late 80's / Early 90's

Slew 09 The Show // The Pics

The whole East Bay pop-punk explosion had it’s beginnings while I was dealing with high school in Appleton, Wisconsin during the late 80’s and early 90’s. At The Record Exchange, a used record shop that no longer exists, I saw records by Sewer Trout and Isocracy that looked cool and had funny song titles. I bought ‘em both and really liked the Sewer Trout record. It was on a small label called Lookout Records and I started noticing adds in MRR and Flipside for Lookout Bands. Then I saw The Mr. T Experience play in Green Bay. It seemed like every month or so some other kick ass record would come out on Lookout. The Operation Ivy LP Energy is a damn near perfect album. There was a poppier sound on these records that I hadn’t heard before since I was listening to Septic Death and DRI way more than The Descendents. It ended up being the perfect soundtrack for suffering through high school and college. What happened later after Green Day got signed and Rancid got huge sorta got me out of the whole East Bay thing but I look back at the music put out from 1988-1992 with fondness. We hope you enjoy it. - Mike D.

1. Operation Ivy: Soundsystem - Energy LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 10, 1989)
As I just said, this album is perfect. I had it on tape and I would play that shit on my walkman over and over again whenever I’d go on roadtrips with my family. As I type this I distinctly remember sitting on a beach at a lake in northern Wisconsin listening to Energy. All day I’d listen to my tape of it while reading the Stephen King’s first Dark Tower book. Everyone I knew went apeshit for this record and like Green Day’s - 39 Smooth, it seemed to be in almost everybody’s tape deck for like half a year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivy_%28band%29

2. Cringer : Retrograde - Time For A Little Something 7” (Vinyl Communications, VC-23, 1991)
I love the shit out of Cringer and miss the shit out of Lance Hahn. Not because I knew him or anything, it was just good knowing he was out there somewhere making music. Now that he’s passed away it’s one less truly good person in the world and that’s a little sad. No worries, I’ll just play some Cringer and it will all be fine. I mean...they put Winnie The Pooh and The Peanuts on their records for chrissakes. How could anyone be in a bad mood when they listen to Cringer.
http://www.cringer.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cringer_%28band%29

3.Mr. T. Experience: I Love You, But You’re Standing On My Foot - Milk Milk Lemonade LP
(Lookout! Records, Lookout 49, 1992)
I would love it if I still had the t-shirt I got at the Mr T. Experience show when they came through Green Bay. It was black and white and I thought I was cool cuz the Mr T. Experience were more of an obscure band and everyone else had Black Flag and Circle Jerks shirts. I bought it while they were on the Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood tour and I got the record of the same name at the show too. After that record I bought everything they put out for quite some time until John Von left the band and started the Rip Offs. I don’t know why I stopped listening or paying attention, but I know everything up to and through their Love Is Dead LP is essential pop-punk greatness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mr._T_Experience

4. The Wrong: Drunk With You - Ethyl Merman Jism Spoon LP (Flux Records, FLX 1.2, 1989)
There isn’t a whole lot of information I could find about this band and I don’t think I ever really knew much about them. The Wrong had songs on a couple of old East Bay comps and my friend who worked at the Record Exchange told me to buy this. I don’t think I’ve played it in over 10 years.
http://comrademotopu.com/WrongBiopage.htm
http://www.apemandesign.com/wrong/mp3.html

5. Sweet Baby: Resuscitation - It’s A Girl! LP (Ruby Records, 1-25822, 1989)
I love this record. Nothing but songs about girls. Sweet Baby used to be Sweet Baby Jesus and i think Very Small Records put out one record with Sweet Baby of the Jesus variety, but I’m not really sure. I think the world would be a much better place if every man, woman, and child had a copy of this record.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Baby

6. Lookouts: Dying - IV 7” (Lookout Records, Lookout 47, 1990)
The Lookouts were Larry Livermore’s band. He’s the guy that started Lookout Records and was a total hero of mine when I was graduating high school. Tre Cool, drummer for Green Day, got his start in the Lookouts when Larry formed the band and couldn’t find anyone else to play the drums in the small mountain town that he was living in. I think Tre was 12 at the time. Tre went on to fame and fortune in Green day and Larry ended up selling Lookout Records. Larry is still writing, he wrote a column for MRR back in the 90s, and still plays with his newerish band The Potatomen on occasion. Check out what he’s up to at his blog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lookouts
http://larrylivermore.blogspot.com/

7. Green Day: Paper Lanterns - Slappy E.P. (Lookout Records, Lookout 35, 1990)
Fuck, i just read Green Day has sold in excess of 65,000,000 records worldwide. I was 17 years old the year this E.P. came out and if I remember right it came out hot on the heels of 39/Smooth. That record was so damn good. Green Day was so damn good. I was too young to really know a lot about their influences, what they sounded like, or that in the next fifteen years they were going to become one of the most recognized names of modern music. We all just just knew that god forbid, if they ever got signed, everyone in the world was going to be a Green Day fan.
http://www.greenday.com/

8. Sewer Trout: People Like Me - Songs About Drinking 7” (Lookout Records, Lookout 8, 1988)
Sewer Trout was one of the first two East Bay bands I ever listened too. I got this the same day I got Isocracy’s 7” (Lookout #5). From then on it was East Bay all the way. 23 years after I first heard this record I can still remember....
“coors for contras - beer for nazis
schaefer’s is cheaper and morally superior”
my first ever political boycott and one I still support.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_Trout

9. Samiam: Too Many Buttons - I AM 7” (Lookout Records, Lookout 24, 1990)
I totally forgot that Samiam formed from the ashes of Isocracy. Sergie, guitar player, came over from Sweet Baby. About 80% of me thinks I should have played an Isocracy song instead of this, but I always thought the I AM 7” this song is from was pretty dang good. It came as a surprise to me that SAMIAM is still an active band since I stopped paying attention after their first LP.
http://www.samiamfancy.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samiam

10. Monsula: Wither - v/a The Big One: San Francisco/Los Angeles LP (Flipside Records, Flip-30, 1990)
Monsula released two LPs and a 7” on Lookout but I never owned their records for one reason or another. It’s more East Bay goodness in the gruff sung vocals/tunefull but fuzzy guitar vein kinda like Samiam or Nuisance or Crimpshrine or.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsula
http://10thingszine.blogspot.com/2007/11/monsula.html

11. Scherzo: Suffering And Joy - Suffering And Joy LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 47, 1991)
One of my good buddies put on a show in Kaukauna with these guys and I remember Scherzo being really nice while I got drunk. They played well too, though at this point the whole thing is a bit fuzzy. Not sure what became of ‘em, but it was fun while it lasted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scherzo

12. Nuisance: Nicotine - Confusion Hill LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 48, 1991)
I never really knew much about Nuisance and now that I’m looking for info, the inter-net can’t seem to provide any info in a fashion that’s easy enough for me to take advantage of.
http://www.myspace.com/nuisanceband

13. Stikky: Cheese Is Still Fantastic - Where’s My Lunchpail LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 6, 1988)
Stikky was the brainchild of Chris Dodge, whom later went on to found Slap-a-ham records and the band Spazz. The whole album is full of super-fast goofy songs that made fun of pretty much everything. Sorta like the AOD Wacky Hi-Jinks LP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stikky

14. Schlong: Ploppo - Waxy Yellow Buildup LP (Very Small Records, VSR-35, 1992)
Huge musical talent that found a comfort in the wacky side of punk. Mixing political with cartoon fantasy lyrics, along with punk, funk, jazz, and cartoon fantasy music. You may be familiar with their punk-a-fied version of West Side Story. This song is kinda like an instrumental. Check out the link for a live performance from 1991.
http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/01/schlong.html

15. Econochrist: Bullet With No Name - Ruination LP (Very Small Records, VSR-08, 1990)
Originally from Arkansas, this hardcore band gravitated to the Berkly scene and carved out a deep niche. Singer Ben Econochrist (might not be his christian name, pardon the pun) gave hardcore music a leftist political sound different from the east coast hardcore.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econochrist
http://www.myspace.com/econochristofficial

BREAK

16. Crimpshrine: Bricks - Sleep, What’s That? EP (Lookout Records, Lookout 08, 1988)
This is the penultimate late 80’s northern California punk band. A definite influence to all other bands from the area. Though, not often copied due to the originality of Jeff Ott’s guitar playing, and poetry based lyrics. You may know of the drummer Arron Cometbus from his long running zine “Cometbus” telling tales of travel and adventure. I remember learning how to screenprint in my friend’s garage useing the cover of this 7” to make our own t-shirts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimpshrine
http://www.myspace.com/crimpshrine

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