Something I Learned Today

Well…. I hesitate to post this one. The last thing I want to do is appear insensitive to the calamity and chaos that is South Asia the past couple of days. Calling the disaster an epic and tragic event is an understatement. That said, this is an MP3 blog, and dammit if I don’t like to stay on top current events. Nothing digitized from Tsunami so I went the earthquake route.

The Skunks - Earthquake Shake.mp3
A prime example of why the Killed By Death, Bloodstains, Hyped2Death comps are so essential. “Earthquake Shake” is the b-side to the Skunks first single, released in 1979, that was included on the killer Bloodstains Across Texas LP. A rough and cool mid-tempo track.

More info:

* Young, Loud, and Cheap - an overview of the band
* A thorough early Texas punk discography via the incomparable CollectorScum.com

More Importantly:
* A list of tsunami relief organizations from Daily Kos

OK… I’ll admit it, I do like the Christmas cheer. Here’s a couple in keeping in the spirit of the holiday season (and this time I mean it!)

The Yobs - Run Rudolph Run.mp3
From their 1977 Christmas single. The story of the Yobs can be found here. Punk Rock’s only dedicated Christmas band perhaps?

Husker Du - We Wish You A Merry Christmas.mp3
Holiday greetings from Bob, Grant, and Greg. This was a WB holiday promo, that eventually was booted on the Drug Party 7″

Celibate Rifles - Merry Xmas Blues.mp3
Don’t be misled by the title, this is a festive little nugget from this long running Aussie band.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Boxing Day, Happy Chanukah, etc. to you all. Whatever your bag is, enjoy it. I’ll be back sometime in the upcoming week.

The following songs aren’t Christmas songs per se. Sure, Xmas is in the title, but it serves more as a plot device, a contrast, or a prop. A lot of weirdness here, but since I have an aversion to traditional holiday music these will have to do. So without further ado, please enjoy some more songs about assassins, vengeance, and junkies. Keep that holiday spirit alive!

Archers of Loaf - Assassination on Xmas Eve.mp3
a softer one, but still weird and noisy in that special ‘Go Loaf’ way. AOL were my favorite Chapel Hill area band. This track is from their mellower but still cool third album All The Nations Airports

Didjits - Under The Christmas Fish.mp3
A tale of vengeance, wife-beating, and murder, all involving some crazy-ass fish. Something ain’t right here. A psychotic track from 1988’s Hey Judester LP. “Praise God, The Christmas Fish!” I’ve been listening to this one for years and I still don’t know what it means.

The Fall - No Xmas for John Quays.mp3
A cryptic ramble from Mr Smith set against a repetive, discordant backdrop. What do the junkies do on Christmas day? From 1979’s Live At The Witch Trials

One more set tomorrow!

Isn’t Christmas the most wonderful time of year? Smiling faces, good will to all, the love of family and friends. Yep, it’s all that unless you got problems, man. To some, Xmas is about coke, whores, and ruined dreams. In keeping with the spirit of the season here’s a couple from the dark, nasty underbelly of the holidays. Glad tidings to you all.

Fear - Fuck Christmas.mp3
’nuff said. See the previous post on Fear for any needed explanations.

Bantam Rooster - Let’s Just Fuck For Christmas.mp3
I had originally planned on writing up Flying Bomb’s Surprise Package CD of Christmas cheer, but the early birds at SVC beat me to the punch. Rascals. This is one of those tracks. Ah, the Xmas gift that keeps on giving.

Dirtys - Cocaine Christmas.mp3
Also from Surprise Package. As the name implies, dirty no-fi scuzz rock. Some candied yams with that blow? RIP, Larry Dirty (Rockerslut Superstat)

Rocket 455 - Santa Ain’t Coming for Christmas.mp3
Last one from Surprise Package. Downright catchy and rocking. It seems that some people just can’t get right with Jesus, or Santa, or whomever is givng up the goodies on Dec 25.

More holiday tunes later…

One of my all-time fav hardcore records is 1986’s A Family Affair by Th’ Inbred. Don’t be fooled by titles however, this isn’t a joke band or one-trick pony. Th’ Inbred specialized in skewering the left, right, and everything in between. Musically they were top-notch, playing an inventive, stylistic form of hardcore that doesn’t sound dated in the least. While their other releases were solid (1985’s 7″ Reproduction and 1987’s posthumous Kissin’ Cousins LP), this album stands far above. A Family Affair was originally released on Toxic Shock, and until recently been available as double cassette with Kissin’ Cousins. I can’t seem to find this now, though. Luckily, you can find MP3’s of both albums at Claustrophonic. A public service, really, as this thing is way OOP and I don’t foresee a reissue. It’s a shame, this is one of the great American hardcore records. (Apologies in advance for the surface noise on these tracks)

Th’ Inbred - Positive Song.mp3
A complete lyrical savaging of the whole 7 Seconds, posi-core movement here. This still cracks me up. Musically, this is one powerful song. The drummer simply rocks, and that guitar hits you right in the jaw.

Th’ Inbred - Exercise 1/Fool’s Paradise.mp3
I’ve cobbed together the opening instrumental and the second track into one file, as that’s how it ran together on the vinyl. When the howling starts you know you are info for a treat. “Play That Rock and Roll Music for Me”

Th’ Inbred - Exercise 3/History Lesson.mp3
Another cobjob, combining the last two tracks on the LP. At times the guitar almost sounds Greg Ginn like, from one of those instrumental Black Flag 12″ EP’s. This one meanders along nicely before “History Lesson” hits and kicks into high gear.

It may be all the cough syrup that’s slowing me down, but I finally got around to checking some other sites. Low and behold, I found a quality year end list without all the usual suspects. Frank over at No One Here Is Asking has a great list chock full aggressive music (translate - metal!) and tons of links and songs. This makes me realize how little new shit I bought, and how embarrassing my ‘Best of 2004′ list would look.

Seriously, stop over and take a look

When it comes to ‘fuck you’ attitude and hostility it is tough to top LA’s Fear. Leader Lee Ving was one of the classic punk frontmen, up there in notoriety with Stiv, Darby, etc. just for sheer vitriol alone. Ving and Fear were infamous for their stage antics and politically incorrect subject matter, including their notorious audience baiting captured for the Decline of Western Civilization and their chaotic ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance.

Musically however Fear just doesn’t stand up over the years. I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that 1982’s Fear… The Record may be the most overhyped punk albums of all time. I’ve tried to like this album, I really have, but the production ruins it for me. While some of the songs good, the clean, sterile sound sucks all the life, energy and danger out of the band. It’s soulless. Yep, not a fan of this LP or any of their subsequent releases.

The first single is a classic however. 1978’s “I Love Living in the City” and “Now Your Dead” are two primo cuts of good ‘ol anti-social aggression. Raw sound and Ving’s over the top vocals make this their best effort:

Fear - I Love Living in The City.mp3
Fear - Now Your Dead.mp3

And for demonstration purposes, here’s one of the tracks from the Decline of Western Civilization soundtrack. Can you feel the love in the room?

Fear - I Don’t Care About You.mp3

I really can’t keep up with all of the new music that pops up, but I try to stay on top of stuff from Big Neck Records. Specializing in crazy, fucked up rock&roll, Big Neck has been dishing out the good stuff since the late ’90’s. I’ve pretty much enjoyed most of the stuff they have released, so when I get a chance to snap up a 7″ or CD from them I make sure I do it. This time around is a 7″ from The Radio Beats. 4 tracks of immediate 3-chord, garagepunk gratification. Quick and to the point, there is nothing wasted on this one. I particularly love that rolling drum sound, which reminds me of Information Superhighway era New Bomb Turks. Here’s two from the 7″:

Radio Beats - Blow You Up.mp3
Radio Beats - Backseat Learnin’.mp3

The Big Neck sounds page has tons of mp3’s from their stable of swanky bands
Here’s an interview with the Radio Beats

I always viewed the 1990 New York hardcore comp Look At All the Children now as big middle finger to those more famous NYHC bands like Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, and the whole stable of Revelation Records artists. Look… was the record that served notice that not all NYHC bands were cut from the same cloth, that there was more to the NYC scene than tough guy knucleheads and empty promises of ‘brotherhood’ and ‘unity’. While musically similar (metallic hardcore) to the bands they sought to distance themselves from, the mindset of bands like Citizen’s Arrest, Rorschach, Go! and others on the comp was miles apart. (i.e. the were more liberal and thus appealing to the almighty punk policy makers - MRR ) The title was lifted from a line from Iron Cross’s song Grey Morning, which was covered on the comp by MAS (a one off band?). This served as another shot at the NYC hierarchy, as Agnostic Front had been playing IC’s martyr complex anthem ‘Crucified’ for years. As I would expect, many of the songs on Look… haven’t aged well (i.e. Yuppicide, pure dreck), but a couple are still worthy:

Citizen’s Arrest - Death Threat.mp3
Hyper thrash from Citizen’s Arrest, who specialized in this sort of mayhem. I think these recordings may have pre-dated their first EP A Light In The Darkness.

Moondog - Expression.mp3
Voice sound familiar? That’s Walter Schreifels on vocals. Moondog was a post-Gorilla Biscuits, pre-Quicksand project for Schreifels that never had an official release (I think their demo was booted)

Bugout Society - Partyline.mp3
This was originally one of my favorites on this comp due to the humor and chaotic music. Bugout Society’s LPs never lived up to standard set by this song, stifled by bad production and subpar songs. This one still cracks me up however

Rorschach - Something.mp3
Crunchy, metallic hardcore that bleeds intensity. The raw vocals and tempo changes keep this interesting. Their discography CD Autopsy is quite good, though extended listens can be draining.

As always, hit me up with any corrections as their isn’t a ton of info on this comp out there.

I somehow got myself involved in Texas Hold ‘Em game tonight with about 25 other people. Here’s hoping that all those hours spent slack-jawed in front of the tube watching WSOP on ESPN pays off. Here’s some music for the card playing crowd:

Bantam Rooster - Deal Me In.mp3
the title cut from Bantam Rooster 1997 debut LP Deal Me In. Kids, cards are nothing but the tool of the devil. A smoking guitar and drum stomp from this Michigan combo.

Link Wray - Deuces Wild.mp3
One of my favorites from the King of the Electric Guitar, this was originally released in 1964. A nice guitar freakout, and you gotta love those dual drummers. Norton has collected this and some other essentials onto a couple of different CD releases. Also, check out a cool ‘rave-up’ version of Wray’s Ace of Spades

Motorhead - Ace of Spades.mp3
This one needs no explanation. Everyone has this right? Title cut from their second best LP (Overkill is #1), one of the great ‘metal’ songs of all time. Not their only “Aces” song though. Have a listen to All the Aces was from 1979’s Bomber LP

When I go broke I may just head out to the bar to check out the Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers who are in town for the evening. Good night ahead