CIA
I’ll begin with what has seemingly become the default introduction to so many of these posts on this site: “There doesn’t appear to be a great deal of information on ‘insert band name here’. Here is what I know…”. Todays fill in the blank is Connecticut hardcore band CIA. I find myself still enjoying the music of CIA and fellow Connecticut bands Vatican Commandos, Seizure and Reflex From Pain. I don’t know if it is a function of geographic location, but so many of these bands were able to deliver some solid music sans the militancy and thuggery of the bigger scenes north and south along the I-95 corridor. (NY and Boston) CIA’s debut 7″ God, Guts, Guns is fine example of hardcore circa 1983. 6 tracks full of hectic, big guitar, no bullshit tuneage. After this release the guitarist and vocalist would leave to form 76% Uncertain. CIA continued on with new recruits to release an LP that, while not bad, didn’t really deliver on the potential of the 7″. A couple of tracks:
from God, Guts, Guns 7″
CIA - Who Cares & Death.mp3
CIA - Love and War.mp3
CIA - No Thrills.mp3
and for illustration purposes heres one from CIA LP released in 1985
CIA - Red Coats.mp3
As far as I know this is all out of print. Correct me if I’m wrong.
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I just found out Moby was in Vatican Commandos… too funny…
Most of the bands you mention were based around Bridgeport & New Haven. I believe the CIA album was released on Incas records, the default label of most every CT band west of the CT river and south of Hartford (Valley of Kings, Miracle Legion, Lost Generation). The label was run (sort of) by Joey Diaz of Lost Generation (how ’bout posting some of their stuff? The “Never Work” 7″ is my favorite from that era.)
Great post. Great stuff from a fine time with mostly nice people. Interesting how they’ve scattered to the wind (Moby!)–there was a direct line to Club Anthrax (the next generation) and Youth of Today, and later the Krishna-core folks in NYC. Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the latter, but whatever.
Great site! Keep up the great work!
That Lost Generation 7″ is pretty cool. If anyone can find it, I highly recommend the Die, Jerry, Die comp that collects the CIA, Lost Generation, Vatican Commandos, Reflex from Pain, and Violent Children 7″ releases on one platter
I love the Connecticut sound from that time, the bands sound fresh and a lot different from what the rest of the country was doing (I’m generalizing of course). CIA were great.
This site has a pretty big discography of Connecticut bands from the mid-70’s to the mid-80’s.
Oh yes, the site is http://www.incasrecords.com/main/history.html
wow, the stuff you find on the interweb!
holy cow.
nice work!
where did you get the cia mp3’s anyways?
and I certainly don’t mind you hosting them…it’s actually kinda cool.
see ya
William, ever going to update your website? :p
I assume 76% Uncertain’s still going, yes?
well yes and no about the band.
we are kinda in a holding pattern right now. everyone is sort of involved in their own projects. dave and i are playing in a reunion of my first real band, called The Xtras.
http://www.incasrecords.com/main/xtras_bio.html
i am also playing in another band and doing a label, so i am pretty busy.
the good news is that we have been talking a little with j. robbins about him re-mixing the last album.
so we’ll see what happens with that.
thanks for the interest.
as far as the website goes..when there is something worth putting on it, it will get updated.