Slew 12 - The Show///
This past year SlewHQ managed to acquire 143 records recorded in 2011. Trying to come up with a list of favorites, let alone a true top ten list, proved to be difficult. I managed to ween things down to a top 40 but we didn’t think anyone would ever listen to a four hour podcast. To tighten things up I called names out from the shortlist and Chaz yelled “yes” or “no”. This episode of the Slewcast is the result. The order songs are played in no way reflects some sort of ranking. And for the record, in our opinion the top release of the year happens to be a tie between the Smart Cops LP and the Night Birds LP proving that hand claps and surf guitar are true equals.
1: Chemicals - Pep Schnapps: Chemical Livin LP (Jonny Cat Records, JCRFY-1001, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/thechemicalspdx
http://kboo.fm/audio/by/title/the_chemicals_live -- Live on KBOO
2: Smart Cops - Realta Cercami: Per Troteggere E Serviere LP (Sorry State Records, SSR-32, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/smartcops
3: High Tension Wires - Incorporeal: Welcome New Machine LP (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ-104, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/hightensionwires
4: Steve Adamyk Band - Only Wanted To Know: Forever Won’t Wait LP (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ-107, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/steveadamyk
http://www.ptrashrecords.com/
http://www.dirtnaprecs.com/
5: Crimewave - Catholic Discipline: Crimewave 12” (Agrowax, AWR-002, 2011)
http://agrowax.blogspot.com/
6: Career Suicide - Double Life: Cherry Beach 7” (Dirtnap Records, ZZZ-95, 2011)
http://www.careersuicide.net/window.html
http://www.dirtnaprecs.com/
7: Amoebas - You Shake Me: Self Titled LP (Gimme Gimme/Modern Action Records, GGR002, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/wearetheamoebas
8: Secret Prostitutes - Penetrasi: Fantasi Di Aushvitz 7” (Batshit Records, BS-017, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/thesecretprostitutes
http://flyingrodentfecalmatter.blogspot.com/
9: Night Birds - Other Side Of Darkness: The Other Side of Darkness LP (Grave Mistake, Grave 050, 2011)
http://night-birds.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/NGHTBRDS
10: Get Rad - The Kids: Choose Your Own Adventure 7” (Halo Of Flies, Halo32, 2011)
http://thunderinyourheart.blogspot.com/
http://getrad.bandcamp.com/
http://thunderinyourheart.bigcartel.com/
11: Black Face - Kill You: I Want To Kill You 7” (Hydra Head, HHR666-223, 2011)
http://hydraheadlines.blogspot.com/2011/11/black-face-i-want-to-kill-you-bw.html
12: Obits - Everything Looks Better In The Sun: Moody, Standard, and Poor LP (Sub Pop, SP857, 2011)
http://www.obitsurl.com/
http://www.subpop.com/artists/obits/
13: Yob - Atma: Atma 2xLP (20 Buck Spin, Spin 043, 2011)
http://www.myspace.com/yobdoom
14: Cannabis Corpse - Visions From The Darkside/Lunatic of Pots Creation: Beneath The Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise LP (Tankcrimes, TC45, 2011)
http://tankcrimes.com/
http://www.myspace.com/cannabiscorpseva
15: Red Fang - Wires: Murder The Mountain LP (Relape, RR7144, 2011)
http://www.redfang.net/
16. Shirks - Cry,Cry,Cry.: Cry Cry Cry 7” (Grave Mistake, GRAVE 045, 2011)
http://gravemistakerecords.blogspot.com/
http://www.gravemistakerecords.com/catalog/
http://windianrecords.blogspot.com
Jan 22, 2012
Jan 8, 2012
Slew 11 - Damn! To bad it’s not episode 12...
Slew 11 - The Show /// The Pics
Have you ever snuck-up-on Mike’s record collection, pulled 16 records, and listened to them. If not, this is what it sounds like. It truly is a great collection. Diverse in time, age, varying genres, and sizes. 12”, 10”, 7”...Punk, Metal, Pop...Enjoy the random selection.
1. Mr. T Experience: So Long Sucker - Making Things With Light LP (Lookout! Records, LK-37, 1990)
The first thing you notice about this album is there is a Light Bright on the cover.
http://www.myspace.com/themrtexperience
http://frankportman.com/music.html
2. Camero Werewolf Band: Problem Child - Our Boy Roy (compilation) LP (Telephone Explosion Records, TER017, 2010)
It took some thinking about, but we figured out this album is all Roy Orbison songs.
The singer of Camero Werewolf went on to start Live Fast Die. That’s all I know.
http://www.impose-records.com/artists/livefastdie
3. Hellacopters: Oh Yeah Alright! - Disappointment Blues 10” (White Jazz, Jazz 015LP, 1998)
The Swedish music scene was crippled with bad disco for a long time. The Hellacopters helped put a stop to that. Thank Odin.
http://www.hellacopters.com/
4. Devo: Planet Earth - Freedom Of Choice LP (Warner Brothers, BSK 3435, 1980)
Devo is best known for wearing strange outfits. Their music is really very good though.
5. Science of Yabra: Vengeance Will Be Mine - Check The Union LP (Frenetic Records, FHU001, 2005)
Saw these guys play a gig a bunch of years ago. Although I liked their songs, I haven't listened to them in a while. It’s always fun listening to old stuff again.
http://www.myspace.com/scienceofyabra2
6. Shellac: WingWalker - Uranus 7” (Touch and Go Records, TG124, 1993)
Good noisy rock music from one of the most known music producers of Chicago.
http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=22
http://www.myspace.com/shellacband
7. Black Flag: Drinking & Driving - Muskrat Love 2xLP (bootleg, Live At The Jockey Club, 1986)
Kentucky??? Maybe.
http://www.sstsuperstore.com/
http://www.ipass.net/jthrush/rollflag.htm
8. Meatmen: Centurions of Rome - We’re The Meatmen...And You STILL SUCK!!! LP (Caroline Records, CAROL 1683, 1988)
Rude, lewd, dudes with lots of attitude.
http://www.myspace.com/themeatmenrule
http://www.tescovee.com/
9. High On Fire: Frost Hammer - Snakes For The Divine 2xLP (E1 Entertainment, E1E-LP-4802, 2010)
More like Celtic Frost Hammer....What? Yeah. You know. From before they stated using too much keyboard. .
http://highonfire.net/
http://www.highonfire.com/main.html
10.Trap Them: Day 40: Dead Fathers Wading In The Underground - Filth Rations 12” EP (Southern Lord, Lord 115, 2010)
Hardcore sludge. Posi-durge. Grunge-O. What’s with the day and numbering convention to each song title?
http://www.myspace.com/trapthem
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/22/134088291/first-listen-trap-them-darker-handcraft
11. NoMeansNo: Forget Your Life - The Day Everything Became Isolated And Destroyed 2xLP (Wrong Records, Wrong 34LP, 1988)
Yup.
http://www.wrongrecords.ca/
http://www.nomeanswhatever.com/
12. Stikky: The Song About Annihilating Posers - Where’s My Lunch-pail? LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 6, 1988)
I hate posers. Their fucked-up, fake-ass, stupid-head dummies. Let’s get shit headed!!!.
http://www.myspace.com/stikkymusic
13. Circle Jerks: Junk Mail - Golden Shower Of Hits LP (LAX Records, LAX 1051, 1983)
The first thing you notice about this albums is the pissing onto gold records in a urinal on the cover. Classic!
http://www.punknews.org/bands/circlejerks
14. Ramones: Now I Want To Sniff Some Glue - Self Titled LP (Sire/Nova, 1976, Italian pressing)
Might be my favorite Ramones song. What’s yours?
http://ramonesworld.com/
15. Poison Idea: Short Fuse - Kings Of Punk LP (Pusmort Records, 0012-10, 1986)
Chaz - “Seriously. How many Poison Idea albums do you have , Mike?”
Mike - “All of them. But, I need to find the special Portland release of this album that comes with two big posters.”
http://www.myspace.com/blankblackoutvacant
http://www.tkorecords.com/
16. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter: How Will We Know? - Like, Love, Lust & The Halls Of The Open Soul 2xLP (Southern Lord, Sunn 89, 2008)
This song just didn’t fit into any of the other sets of music. I thought about just putting it back, but that would be cheating. Besides, it’s a fucking great song. Check it out.
http://www.jessesykes.com/
Have you ever snuck-up-on Mike’s record collection, pulled 16 records, and listened to them. If not, this is what it sounds like. It truly is a great collection. Diverse in time, age, varying genres, and sizes. 12”, 10”, 7”...Punk, Metal, Pop...Enjoy the random selection.
1. Mr. T Experience: So Long Sucker - Making Things With Light LP (Lookout! Records, LK-37, 1990)
The first thing you notice about this album is there is a Light Bright on the cover.
http://www.myspace.com/themrtexperience
http://frankportman.com/music.html
2. Camero Werewolf Band: Problem Child - Our Boy Roy (compilation) LP (Telephone Explosion Records, TER017, 2010)
It took some thinking about, but we figured out this album is all Roy Orbison songs.
The singer of Camero Werewolf went on to start Live Fast Die. That’s all I know.
http://www.impose-records.com/artists/livefastdie
3. Hellacopters: Oh Yeah Alright! - Disappointment Blues 10” (White Jazz, Jazz 015LP, 1998)
The Swedish music scene was crippled with bad disco for a long time. The Hellacopters helped put a stop to that. Thank Odin.
http://www.hellacopters.com/
4. Devo: Planet Earth - Freedom Of Choice LP (Warner Brothers, BSK 3435, 1980)
Devo is best known for wearing strange outfits. Their music is really very good though.
5. Science of Yabra: Vengeance Will Be Mine - Check The Union LP (Frenetic Records, FHU001, 2005)
Saw these guys play a gig a bunch of years ago. Although I liked their songs, I haven't listened to them in a while. It’s always fun listening to old stuff again.
http://www.myspace.com/scienceofyabra2
6. Shellac: WingWalker - Uranus 7” (Touch and Go Records, TG124, 1993)
Good noisy rock music from one of the most known music producers of Chicago.
http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=22
http://www.myspace.com/shellacband
7. Black Flag: Drinking & Driving - Muskrat Love 2xLP (bootleg, Live At The Jockey Club, 1986)
Kentucky??? Maybe.
http://www.sstsuperstore.com/
http://www.ipass.net/jthrush/rollflag.htm
8. Meatmen: Centurions of Rome - We’re The Meatmen...And You STILL SUCK!!! LP (Caroline Records, CAROL 1683, 1988)
Rude, lewd, dudes with lots of attitude.
http://www.myspace.com/themeatmenrule
http://www.tescovee.com/
9. High On Fire: Frost Hammer - Snakes For The Divine 2xLP (E1 Entertainment, E1E-LP-4802, 2010)
More like Celtic Frost Hammer....What? Yeah. You know. From before they stated using too much keyboard. .
http://highonfire.net/
http://www.highonfire.com/main.html
10.Trap Them: Day 40: Dead Fathers Wading In The Underground - Filth Rations 12” EP (Southern Lord, Lord 115, 2010)
Hardcore sludge. Posi-durge. Grunge-O. What’s with the day and numbering convention to each song title?
http://www.myspace.com/trapthem
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/22/134088291/first-listen-trap-them-darker-handcraft
11. NoMeansNo: Forget Your Life - The Day Everything Became Isolated And Destroyed 2xLP (Wrong Records, Wrong 34LP, 1988)
Yup.
http://www.wrongrecords.ca/
http://www.nomeanswhatever.com/
12. Stikky: The Song About Annihilating Posers - Where’s My Lunch-pail? LP (Lookout Records, Lookout 6, 1988)
I hate posers. Their fucked-up, fake-ass, stupid-head dummies. Let’s get shit headed!!!.
http://www.myspace.com/stikkymusic
13. Circle Jerks: Junk Mail - Golden Shower Of Hits LP (LAX Records, LAX 1051, 1983)
The first thing you notice about this albums is the pissing onto gold records in a urinal on the cover. Classic!
http://www.punknews.org/bands/circlejerks
14. Ramones: Now I Want To Sniff Some Glue - Self Titled LP (Sire/Nova, 1976, Italian pressing)
Might be my favorite Ramones song. What’s yours?
http://ramonesworld.com/
15. Poison Idea: Short Fuse - Kings Of Punk LP (Pusmort Records, 0012-10, 1986)
Chaz - “Seriously. How many Poison Idea albums do you have , Mike?”
Mike - “All of them. But, I need to find the special Portland release of this album that comes with two big posters.”
http://www.myspace.com/blankblackoutvacant
http://www.tkorecords.com/
16. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter: How Will We Know? - Like, Love, Lust & The Halls Of The Open Soul 2xLP (Southern Lord, Sunn 89, 2008)
This song just didn’t fit into any of the other sets of music. I thought about just putting it back, but that would be cheating. Besides, it’s a fucking great song. Check it out.
http://www.jessesykes.com/
Nov 29, 2011
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
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
Oct 19, 2011
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
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
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