Something I Learned Today

I honestly don’t listen to that much thrashy hardcore anymore, but I still give the Sons of Ishmael’s debut 7″ Hayseed Hardcore a spin now and then. Forming in Meaford, Ontario in 1985, Sons of Ishmael would go on to release a full length, 1987’s Pariah Martyr Demands a Sacrifice and a couple of additional singles before splitting for good in 1991. Hayseed Hardcore was released in 1985, and contains 13 tracks of wild, hyperactive hardcore that reminds me of early Verbal Abuse or Antidote. My favorite release by these guys

From Hayseed Hardcore
Sons of Ishmael - Small Town Mentality.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Break Free.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Democracy.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Mr. Personality.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Governors of Death.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Todays Victim Tomorrows Aggressor.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Parasites.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Explanation.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Social Drinker.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Condemned to Live.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Another Groovy Tune.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Follow The Leader.mp3
Sons of Ishmael - Service to Your Country - End To Your Life.mp3

>> Band bio from Punk History Canada

With everything going as of late it took until today for me to discover that guitar legend Link Wray died November 5, 2005. Wray first began performing in the early 1950’s and continued to record and perform for over 50 years. Virtually ever article I’ve read about Link Wray will credit him with being the father of the power chord in addition to attesting to his influence over several generations of guitarist. Who am I to dispute this? I remember when I first heard “Rumble” - I was amazed that a track so raw and edgy could have been recorded in 1958. My personal favorite though is “Big City After Dark” - a skronky blues number with an absolutely filthy guitar sound.

Wray’s best works were recorded during the years 1958 - 1965 and have been collected many times over. For a quick overview Rumble, The Best of Link Wray is a tight, 20 song collection. Also recommended, the Mr Guitar double disc on Norton.

Link Wray - Rumble.mp3
Link Wray - Jack The Ripper.mp3
Link Wray - Deuces Wild.mp3
Link Wray - Big City After Dark.mp3
Link Wray - Zip Code.mp3
Link Wray - Hillbilly Wolf.mp3

>> Buy Link Wray releases

I think we’ve all come across a song or two from the past that has captured our attention but about which we know nothing. The dreaded “mystery track”, artist and title unknown. I’ve had a couple of people ask me about such tracks and usually I’m pretty fucking useless when it comes to helping. So here’s your chance to identify a couple of songs and bask in the accolades that will surely follow. The person who sent these to me indicated they were taped from a WFMU show circa 1986. The first track is aggro punk rock, kinda Brit sounding, with lyrics involving a “Rock and Roll Nurse”. I’m stumped. As for track number 2, I’ve convinced myself that it is a Volcano Suns song, but I can’t place it anywhere. Take a listen and help us figure this out.

Track #1
“Rock and Roll Nurse”

Track #2
“So Civilized”

If anyone else has any tracks they need help identifying please send them on. If there is interest this type of post can become a regular (semi) feature here. Thanks to Curt for the songs and the suggestion.

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Update: Tracks have been identified - #1 is “Emergency Room” by The Worst. #2 is “Animals” by the Volcano Suns

If you have any additional unidentified tracks then please submit them using the contact info on the right. Thanks!

Yeah, I’ve written about The Fix before (once, twice, thrice), as have others, so I apologize if this isn’t shedding new light. I’ve gotten a couple of requests for some of Lansing’s finest and I feel obliged to make sure everyone has a chance to hear their two legendary 1981 releases. Plus, Dementlieu has an updated Fix page that has an absolute ton of info on the band. If you don’t think “Vengeance” is one of the great hardcore songs I’m going to come to your house and punch you in the face. OK, not really, but what are you prepared to throw on the slab against it?

From 1981’s Vengeance/In This Town 7″ on Touch & Go
The Fix - Vengeance.mp3
The Fix - In This Town.mp3

From 1981’s Jan’s Rooms EP on T&G
The Fix - Cos The Elite.mp3
The Fix - Truth Right Now.mp3
The Fix - Signal.mp3
The Fix - Off To War.mp3

A couple of tracks that were included on the OOP Cold Days compilation that Lost & found released 10-15 years ago. The first two are from the 1980 sessions that produced the Vengeance 7″. The last two are from the Jan’s Rooms sessions
The Fix - Candy Store.mp3
The Fix - Famous #1.mp3
The Fix - Famous #2.mp3
The Fix - Rat Patrol.mp3

Following the Veterans Day post and at the behest of a generous reader, here are the first two 7″s from Dayton, OH legends Toxic Reasons. For those unfamiliar you can find a band history here. Toxic Reasons began in 1979 and kept on releasing albums until their demise in 1995. Arguably their best era was the 1979-1983 period when their sound was a near perfect blend of both the snarl and crunch of American hardcore along with the tempos and melodies of classic Britpunk. They would release two singles (War Hero and Ghost Town - both below) during this period before recording their debut album Independence. The material on Independence was mostly rehashed from the bands singles in addition to their tracks the Master Tapes and Process of Elimination compilations. No matter, the album is a must have. And while I enjoy some of their later material (notably 1984’s Kill By Remote Control), these early tracks are really the best representation of the band.

From 1980’s War Hero 7″
Toxic Reasons - War Hero.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Somebody Help Me.mp3

From 1981’s Ghost Town 7″
Toxic Reasons - Ghost Town.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Killer.mp3
Toxic Reasons - Noise Boys.mp3

Notes:

My father is a Vietnam veteran who lost his leg in the war. When I was kid my mom and I would accompany him to the local VA hospital whenever he needed to have his artificial leg examined or replaced. I was always struck by the message that graced the entrance of the hospital:

It’s stuck with me ever since. Every Veterans Day I can’t help but think of my father, my grandfathers (WWII vets), my uncles (Korea) and friends (Desert Storm). Regardless of my opinions on the current state of affairs I have nothing but the utmost respect for the men and women who serve their country. Some of these songs may may not reflect this, but take them with a grain of salt.

from 1987’s Jettison LP
Naked Raygun - Soldiers Requiem.mp3

from 1988’s Don’t Tread On Me LP
Anti-Heros - National Debt.mp3

From their 1980 first 7″ and Bloodstains Across The Midwest
Toxic Reasons - War Hero.mp3

from 1988’s Fizzjob LP
Didjits - Plate In My Head.mp3

from 1982’s World Full of Hate 12″
Fartz - Viet-Vet.mp3

from their split LP with Faith
Void - War Hero.mp3

from their 1982 Fall In 12″
RF7 - Viet Vets.mp3

Any other “soldier” songs out there?

It took me a bit to warm up to it, but The Lamps 2005 release on In The Red is one of the most oddly enjoyable albums I’ve heard in awhile. The Lamps sound is a steam-rolling blend of primitive trash rock crossed with anti-social noise, which is “thumbs up” in my book. Virtually every review of this record I’ve come across name checks the Necessary Evils and either the Cramps or the Gories, so I’ll do the same. Everyone also seems to mention that artwork, which as you can see is in fact pretty fucking creepy. Track this one down. Take a listen:

The Lamps - Hot Plate.mp3
The Lamps - 2o” Of Monkey.mp3

Notes:

For many years the Rubber City Rebels were one of those mysterious bands that appeared to be lost for the ages. My only exposure to the band was via covers: Candy Snatchers “Such a Fool” and Jakkpot’s “Young & Dumb”. After hearing those songs I had to track down something, anything about this band. Luckily, the band was beginning to reissue their old material making the quest pretty easy. Moving on…

The Rebels story is pretty much as follows: Band forms in Akron in the mid-seventies, playing a blend of pop, “punk”, and rock. In 1977 they release a split LP with The Bizarros entitled “From Akron”. Seeking greener pastures, the core of the band relocates to LA and is snatched up by Capitol Records. TrouserPress sums up the bands impact:

Although Devo, Rachel Sweet, Chrissie Hynde and the Waitresses all fared well on major labels during the new wave era, the Rubber City Rebels proved it was possible to come from Akron, Ohio and still roll into commercial oblivion.

In 1980 Capitol records released The Rubber City Rebel’s self-titled LP. 10 tracks, including 4 covers and rewrites of the bands earlier material. Hmmm… Flex isn’t kind:

1980: Punk was the big thing and major labels were looking for bands to cash in. Capitol chose Rubber City Rebels; thank god they left no trace. Fake and polished music with no soul

What happened after that, well I’m not sure. The band has reformed and released a new album, 2003’s Pierce My Brain. I’ve heard a couple of tracks and it’s decent, which is pretty much my take on the band: Some great cuts, some snoozers, overall decent. Take a listen:

from 1978’s split w/ The Bizarros:
Rubber City Rebels - Kidnapped.mp3
Rubber City Rebels - Such A Fool.mp3

From their 1979 7″
Rubber City Rebels - Brainwave.mp3

From their self-titled 1980 LP
Rubber City Rebels - Paper Dolls.mp3
Rubber City Rebels - Young & Dumb.mp3
Rubber City Rebels - Rubber City Rebel.mp3

Notes:

AKA I Don’t Need This Fucking Shit. Oh man, what a fucking lousy week this has been, fraught with work problems, family problems, frustration, anger, and stress. To top it all Blogger ate my first draft of this post. Fuck. Given all that this is going to be brief. Do these really need any explanation?

Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown.mp3
Dead Silence - Stress.mp3
N.O.T.A. - Frustration.mp3
Ramones- Go Mental.mp3
Hunches - Got Some Hate.mp3
Queens of The Stone Age - Everybody Knows You’re Insane.mp3
Child Molestors - I’m Gonna Punch You in the Face.mp3

I’m hoping to get back on my regular posting schedule next. Also, I’m way behind when it comes to answering mail. So if you’ve sent me something and I haven’t written back, well now you know. I hope to clear the backlog soon.

As promised a couple of weeks ago here is the split release with Lunchmeat and Mission Impossible. I don’t have a lot of info on the release and the bands beyond the basics: 3/4 of Lunchmeat went on to form Soulside, while Mission Impossible has the distinction of being Dave Grohl’s first band. The split was alternately titled Thanks (1st press of 500) and Getting Shit For Growing Up Different (2nd Press of 1000) and was a joint effort between DC labels Sammich and Dischord (Dischord 17.5). I dubbed this from a friend many years ago and hadn’t listened to the tracks again until I found it on Soulseek awhile ago. It honestly doesn’t hold up as well as I remembered, but it has it’s moments. Judge for yourself:

Lunchmeat - Looking Around.mp3
Lunchmeat - No Need.mp3
Lunchmeat - Under The Glare.mp3
Mission Impossible - Helpless.mp3
Mission Impossible - Am I Alone.mp3
Mission Impossible - Into Your Shell.mp3

As usual, please let me know of any corrections or additional info