Something I Learned Today

My wife is a big fan of Bob Mould and informed me that October 17 is his birthday. Name checking the title suggests that I’m a fan also, so “Happy Birthday, Bob.”

Husker Du - Some Kind of Fun.mp3
Husker Du - Listen.mp3
Husker Du - Erase Today.mp3

From the bootleg release Up in the Air. I paid alot ( too much ) for this on Ebay a couple of years ago. I had thought this might be the time to talk about bootleggers, P2P, etc, but it is complicated issue that I’m not intelligent enough to speak about coherently. For the time being however, enjoy these. “Some Kind of Fun” is an outtake from 1984’s monumental Zen Arcade. “Listen” and “Erase Today” are leftovers from the amazing New Day Rising. “Erase Today” was officially released on SST’s sample The Blasting Concept. I’ve always felt that these outtakes didn’t quite mesh with their respective albums. Nevertheless, they are enjoyable on their own, especially in a historic sense.

something to get you all jacked up on a Friday night.

Lollipop - Ass To Earlobe.mp3
I saw these guys open for Mule in Buffalo about 10 years ago. The hometown crowd ate them up and I left a convert. Needless to say, I was surprised when the turned up on Amphetamine Reptile, one of my favorite labels. To me Lollipop sounded like a crazed fusion of the Didjits speedfreak punk and Halo of Flies brand of dirty noise. “Ass to Earlobe” is from 1997’s Sucked In, Blown Out, one of nine cuts of freaked out noise punk. The vocals may take some getting used to, but they are buried beneath so much squelchy feedback that they’re hardly noticed. In my mind, this was one of the last great albums on AmRep.

After all the old stuff I needed to get out something new(ish). This will be short as I feel pretty lousy.

The Jewws - Love In A Pill.mp3
The Jewws - Animal.mp3
a 1-2 punch of amped up ass-shakers from the Jewws. I’m pretty sure this Houston trio is defunct, leaving us but with only this one full length, 2002’s oddly titled L’Explosion Du Son De Maintenant!, a 10″, and a single - all vinyl only. The tracks here are from L’Explosion, an album chock full of spooksurf sounds and Bo Diddley beats. These two may be the most aggro tracks on the album, at moments reminiscent of early New Bomb Turks or Sugar Shack. You may have to hunt for this one.

My plumbing problem is temporarily under control ( and that isn’t a euphemism for anything else ), so I’m back at it.

76% Uncertain - Blackout.mp3
Some overlooked hardcore from the great state of Connecticut. I received an email last week suggesting some 76% Uncertain and I was more than happy to oblige. “Blackout” is from the 1984 album Estimated Monkey Time, one of 16 songs of diverse, energetic hardcore. I wish I had more storage, there are so many deserving tracks.

76% Uncertain - Critic.mp3
“Critic” is from the 1986 album Nothing But Love Songs. As a whole, the album isn’t quite as good as EMT. Some songs are a bit more experimental than the first and the production seems thinner, but it still is a pretty enjoyable listen. After slogging through all of the straight edge soundalikes last week this is a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to rip the bands final effort Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Log, interesting, inventive late 80’s hardcore ( 3 guitars, fer crying out loud!). Luckily, the band is active again after so many dormant years, with plans to record and gig. Perhaps their catalog will be eventually reissued? At the moment everything seems to be out of print.

Until the albums are available we’ll have to live with the assortment of free mp3’s available from the band’s download page!

sorry…. having a bit of a plumbing crisis this evening. If your looking for something good why not check out Dave’s blog? Similar in vein to what I’m doing ( but not constricted by labels, man )

The original version of a hardcore anthem.

The Stains - John Wayne Was A Nazi.mp3
Another example of pissed off, leftist hardcore from Texas. Some combination of sun, heat, and conservative values must have pushed people to the edge. Some of the best and most confrontational political bands spawned in Texas in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I’m talking Dicks, Offenders, MDC, Really Red, etc. The song hear was released as a 7″ in 1981 by the Stains, who would later change their name to MDC ( Millions of Dead Cops, etc. ) MDC would go on to release a classic LP and several 7 inches of pissed off, left-wing thrash before devolving into a bad caricature. “John Wayne…” was re-recorded for their 1982 Millions of Dead Cops LP in much more agressive form - faster, thrashier. The original 7″ version here is slower, more “punk” sounding than hardcore. Anger quotient for both versions is 11 on a scale of 1-10.

MDC’s first three 7″s and extras were compiled on LP/CD as More Dead Cops that has slipped out of print. Find it if you can.

last songs of the week, from Orange County, CA.

Uniform Choice - Once I Cry.mp3
Along with Rites of Spring, Uniform Choice made it OK to cry in hardcore. One of the earlier examples of emo perhaps? I recall someone suggesting that the lyrics may been ripped straight from a Hallmark card. Kinda harsh, but funny. Musically this is a great midtempo HC song from 1986’s Screaming For Change LP. Slower and more melodic than the others on the album, it is still the standout. The remainder of the album plays as inspired HC in the Minor Threat/7 Seconds vein. This still sounds pretty good. Crunchy without being metal. Vocally strong without being annoying. Much better than the NYHC stuff I posted the other day.

As was the case with so many hardcore bands, Uniform Choice really changed up their sound after this one. An mp3 from their 1988 follow up Staring At The Sun is available from Epitonic:

Uniform Choice - A Wish To Dream.mp3

No For An Answer - You Laugh.mp3
NFAA an answer may well be my favorite straight-edge band of them all, for inexplicable reasons. Lyrically & musically they weren’t much different than the rest of the pack. I don’t know. Their 7″ and album had a rawness and hyperness that stood apart to me. Even though I wasn’t straight edge growing up I always respected singer Dan Mahoney ( later in Carry Nation and 411) ) who used to have a column in Maximum Rock&Roll. Anyhow, they never seemed to posture they way others did, which made them more appealing to me at least. Lyrically, well more of the same puritanical nonsense. “You Laugh” was from their 6 song 7″ released on Revelation in 1988.

Another freebie from Epitonic - The lead track from 1988’s A Thought Crusade

No For An Answer - Don’t Look Away.mp3

for years I loved the New York Hardcore sound, but now a great deal of it sounds dated and cliched. It goes without saying that I’m older and therefore much more cynical than I was then. Judge for yourself

Youth of Today - Positive Outlook.mp3
from the 1986 Break Down the Walls LP. YOT were the flagbearers for NY straight edge, with members founding the legendary HC label Revelation Records. YOT were famous for their energetic live shows and cult-like mind control over kids positive outlook. Quite a change from the thug like mentality of the Boston Crew ( and later NYHC bands ). YOT came to an end in the late 80’s. Singer Ray Cappo later fronted Krisna crazies Shelter

Gorilla Biscuits - Competition.mp3
Continuing the flow of positive straight-edge. GB played atypical NY hardcore, more melodic than many of their cohorts. I must have listened to Start Today over a thousand times when it came out - not by my choice though. I had a thing for a girl that worshipped this band and she played it non stop. Eventually, I grew tired of Gorilla Biscuits ( and the girl, but that’s a different story ) As you would expect, I pulled this one out with some trepidation. Alas, I was surprised by how decent this still sounds, bolstered by a strong Dag Nasty/7 Seconds vibe throughout the album. This stands out from the mass of NYHC that emerged in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Judge - Fed Up.mp3
Not too much to say on this one. Judge brought the hard edge back to NY with this one. No positivity or compassion to be found on this 7″ , just straight up venom. A perfect example of floorpunching hardcore complete with gravelly vocals, metallic crunch, big breakdown, and bonehead lyrics. I kinda feel like punching someone in the head after playing this. hmmm…

Brotherhood- true till death! ( or until we grow up and get jobs )

SS Decontrol - Kids Will Have Their Say.mp3
SSD were the big fish of the Boston Crew, championing the straight edge spirit pioneered by the DC scene. The Boston version of straight edge was a bit more militant, focusing on all or nothing straight edge conformance and a punch you in the head tough guy mentality. Philosophies aside, it made for some crazy music. SSD featured some twisted, hyper guitar sounds and the demented shrieking of front man Springa. Releasing several classics on their own XClaim! label (1982’s Kids Will Have Their Say and 1983’s Get It Away, most importantly ). A selection of their material ranging from their early HC period to their later metal wankiness was cobbed together for the disappointing Power reissue.

DYS - Brotherhood.mp3
DYS ( Department of Youth Services ) From their 1983 Brotherhood 12″.Following the blueprint laid by SSD. This is an ode to living clean and watching your brother’s back. Of course, this mindset could only last so long. Like SSD, DYS later “matured” and released an album that strayed from their punk roots. Notable due to Dave Smalley’s (later Dag Nasty, All, Down By Law ) vocal presence. The entire discography was reissued on the Fire and Ice CD.

Negative FX - Feel Like A Man.mp3
Negative FX featured the inimitable Jack Kelly ( aka Choke ) on vocals and played hyper hardcore. Playing only 5 shows, and releasing a posthumous LP in 1984, Negative FX’s reputation is based more on legend than fact ( see Mission of Burma last show ). Choke later formed Last Rights and eventually Slapshot, both infamous for their ridiculous militancy and Choke’s cookie monster vocals. Still, this is fun in a crazy, confrontational way

Sooner or later I figured I would have to post some straight edge. So here it is, all week long.

Minor Threat - I Don’t Wanna Hear It.mp3
Minor Threat - Bottled Violence.mp3
There is no way I could write a compelling history of Minor Threat, and why would I when so many others have done it better? There is just no way that I could have a week of straight edge hardcore and not include Minor Threat. I won’t go into how they were innovators, how they “created” straight edge, how Ian Mackaye is a living example of the lifestyle, etc. I’m posting them because they were hands down one of the greatest hardcore bands ever. Their music still gets me charged almost 20 years after I first heard it, which is amazing. I spent a lot of time pouring through my old SE records and to be honest most of them have aged quite poorly, musically speaking. (Lyrically speaking they are all kinda trite, but that’s just my opinion)

Everything you ever need from Minor Threat is available on one CD, Complete Discography. Most should already have it. If not, get it now. The two tracks here are from their near perfect ( ok, perfect ) first 7″.

Also, Michael Azzarad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life is a must read and includes a compelling chapter on Minor Threat. I can’t recommend this book enough.