Something I Learned Today

I’m Heading down to Atlanta, GA for some rest and relaxation with the family for the remainder of the month. I’m not expecting to update, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. In the meantime, check out the archives. There’s active tracks back through September 2005.

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I’m not sure how many subsequent volumes (10 maybe?) would be released in the series, but the original Noise From Nowhere compilation has the distinction of being the the first release on Arizona’s Toxic Shock label. Released in 1983, Noise From Nowhere contained 4 tracks from four under-the-radar bands. Kent State deliver earnest if unremarkable hardcore. Modern Industry’s “Out of Focus” is spirited, melodic hardcore - my favorite track on the comp. The flipside features a creepy dirge from Moslem Birth (who would eventually morph into Peace Corpse) and a speedy, snotty rip from Manson Youth. Noise From Nowhere was reissued a couple years back on CD with 3 other early Toxic Shock singles by Peace Corpse, Red Tide, and Massacre Guys. And yes, that’s an exploding penis on the cover, courtesy Pushead

Kent State - Breakout Breakfree.mp3
Modern Industry - Out of Focus.mp3
Moslem Birth - Horror Snores.mp3
Manson Youth - Penis Brain.mp3

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Notes:
- check out the Punk Vault’s take on Noise From Nowhere
- Cover scan from KFTH. My copy has a light blue cover, as do most all of the others I’ve seen

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I’ve been meaning to rip all of my singles by Minneapolis noise-rockers Vertigo for some time, but shit always seemed to get delayed. Then, about a month ago, always on-the-ball Jay Hinman at Agony Shorthand wrote up the first Vertigo 7″ and fucking nailed it:

The fucked-with stills from some ancient monster movie on the record’s sleeve hinted at what was inside. “Two Lives” is foreboding and weird throughoutits 3+ minutes, when barely-harnassed feedback providing the bedrock for a simple, haunting guitar squall. The singer - when there are vocals at all - sounds distant and a little bit annoyed, like he’s parked in a bedroom behind alocked door not entirely capable of providing his disinterested commentary. “Front End Loader” is a crazed instrumental with a hall-of-fame riff - it makes sense that these guys covered CRIME’s “Murder By Guitar” later on, because I’m telling you, they are easily in the same league. Finally, “Phil 105″ might be the best of them all, with thinly-disguised melodics that are the diamond in a showering frenzy of heavy guitar-shard feedback.  

Awesome - This 1988 single by Vertigo just may be their best offering. Originally pressed in a batch of 300, Forced Exposure decided to help out and press another 700 to make this a nice even 1000. In 1989 the band hooked up with AmRep and released the killer Bad Syd/Going To Pieces 7″. They would go on to release 3 full lengths and 3 more singles before burning out some time in the mid nineties. While the albums were spotty in places, the singles always delivered. Here are the first two:

Awesome - This 1988 single by Vertigo just may be their best offering. Originally pressed in a batch of 300, decided to help out and press another 700 to make this a nice even 1000. In 1989 the band hooked up with and released the killer 7″. They would go on to release 3 full lengths and 3 more singles before burning out some time in the mid nineties. While the albums were spotty in places, the singles always delivered. Here are the first two:from their debut on Skid Mark
Vertigo - Two Lives.mp3
Vertigo - Front End Loader.mp3
Vertigo - Phil 105.mp3

from their first AmRep single
Vertigo - Bad Syd.mp3
Vertigo - Going To Pieces.mp3

and while I have your ear why not enjoy this cover of the Flesh Eaters
Vertigo - Shallow Water.mp3

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Vertigo founder Gene Tangren followed up Vertigo with the equally cool Silver Salute, who released 3 singles in the mid-nineties. Gene is currently in Grackle and runs Suspended Dimension Records

“Shallow Water” appeared on the 1993 compilation Self Mutilation Volume 3, lovingly compiled by Cousin Creep

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In reviewing the last 300+ posts I don’t think I have covered a single British band. Huh. I guess most of my Britpunk collection (GBH, Subhumans, Chaos UK, and way too much Oi) sounds stale to me these days. As I’ve grown older I’ve phased out much of my earlier British items for the more refined sounds of Wire, The Fall, Joy Division, Mekons, Gang of Four, and the like. I was into my last year of college when a friend introduced me to Gang of Four and their landmark Entertainment! LP. I was hooked instantly by the deft bass lines and the tense, jagged guitar. For years I had a tape of that included the band’s first two albums (Entertainment! and Solid Gold) along with the tracks from 1978’s Damaged Goods 7″. I lost the tape awhile ago but was able to track down Entertainment! and! and Solid Gold. The 7″ tracks I’ve been unable to smoke out until just recently. The versions on the single differ from those on later releases - I prefer the versions of “Love Like Anthrax” and “Armalite Rifle” on this record to those put out later. “Damaged Goods” doesn’t quite measure up to the Entertainment! version, but it’s such a remarkable song that it bears a listen in almost any form

from 1978’s debut 7″
Gang of Four - Damaged Goods.mp3
Gang of Four - Love Like Anthrax.mp3
Gang of Four - Armalite Rifle.mp3

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A quick one to round out the week, More Songs About Plants and Trees was a pro-conservation compilation released on graphic artist John Yates Allied Recordings in 1990. 4 bands, 4 tracks, and a crapload of environmentalist mailing addresses make for a rather uninspiring compilation, but shit, it was in my “to do” pile and the Antischism track is pretty fucking great. Side 1 includes a poppy and melodic track San Francisco’s Cringer and pretty mediocre number from the Lookouts. The flipside was always more my speed - screaming anarcho hardcore from South Carolina’s Antischism and solid doomcore from NYC’s Nausea.

Cringer - Burn Down The Forest.mp3
The Lookouts - Once Upon a Time.mp3
Antischism - Greedy Bastards.mp3
Nausea - Here Today….mp3

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I’ve been on the road for work the past couple of days, and my iPod is a saving grace for those long car rides and boring nights in the hotel. Sometimes, I forget what I actually have on the damn thing - I put it on shuffle and am usually pleasantly surprised by the stuff that I’ve forgotten about. Case in point, Crime and their first two singles. You can find the full band history and discography here. I’ll let others fight over whether Crime was really “San Francisco’s First and Only Rock ‘n Roll Band”, and where their legacy stands in the annals of punk history. Listen and decide for yourself. I know I think the first two singles still sound fucking fantastic. If you haven’t already checked out 2004’s San Francisco is Still Doomed then hurry out and get it. It compiles two studio sessions by the band from 1978 and 1979, and alternate takes of the first single. It’ worth it just for first 12 tracks alone, which are fucking hot.

from 1976’s debut single
Crime - Hot Wire My Heart.mp3
Crime - Baby, You’re So Repulsive.mp3

from their 1977 follow up
Crime - Frustration.mp3
Crime - Murder By Guitar.mp3

And because I’ve been gone for so long I’ll throw out the much maligned, new wavish final single from 1980.
Crime - Gangster Funk.mp3
Crime - Maserati.mp3

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I’ve written about Tar before, way back when. I hate to think I’m repeating myself, but when it comes to Tar I think everyone should listen up. From 1988 through 1995 Tar were responsible for some of the finest noise rock to be found, releasing albums and singles on Amrep, Touch & Go, and their own No Blow imprint. With no disrespect to their impressive albums (Jackson and Over and Out top my list), some of Tar’s best work appeared on their singles and compilations. Unfortunately, none of these tracks have been reissued. (to my knowledge) Strange Reaction got the ball rolling last summer, posting Tar’s second and fourth singles. I figured I’d fill in the blanks by posting the band’s first and third single
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Play To Win/Mel’s was released on the bands own No Blow records in 1988. “Mel’s” would be re-recorded for the band’s Handsome 12″. Solution 8/Non-Alignment Pact was a Europe only AmRep release (I think, no scale number) released in 1991 between the Roundhouse and Jackson albums. Both records are well worth a listen.

from their debut single
Tar - Play To Win.mp3
Tar - Mel’s.mp3

from their third single
Tar - Solution 8.mp3
Tar - Non-Alignment Pact.mp3 (Pere Ubu)

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I’ve always wondered how Taang! records could be responsible for one of the more disappointing reissues (Power by SSD) and one of the absolute best, the 45 track double disc Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies by The Proletariat. Where Power disappointed because it lacked completeness, Voodoo Economics throws in everything but the kitchen sink - the Boston Not LA and Unsafe At Any Speed tracks, both albums (Soma Holiday and Indifference), demos, and unreleased tracks. With their leftist slogans and jagged guitar riffs the Proletariat always reminded me of an angrier, more aggro version of early Gang of Four (eh, maybe a stretch). 15 years after first hearing the band I’ve grown weary Richard Brown’s sparse rants on the ills of society, but I still love that beautiful and twisted guitar sound Frank Michaels managed to pull out of his guitar. For that alone this collection is highly recommended.

originally from 1983’s Soma Holiday LP
The Proletariat - Decorations.mp3
The Proletariat - Blind.mp3

the b-side to the 1985 Marketplace single
The Proletariat - Death of a Hedon.mp3

originally from 1985’s Indifference LP
The Proletariat - Pride.mp3
The Proletariat - Recollections.mp3

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Notes:
A great band website can be found here 

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