Something I Learned Today

Time for the third annual SILT Halloween bag of ghoulish goodies. Actually, I never put anything out last year. And technically 2 of the 3 songs I posted back in 2004 are included here once again. But fuck it, here’s a pantload (translation: 13) of tracks celebrating all the joys of Hallow’s Eve. Now excuse while I work my way through another bag of candy. Apologies if my level of wickedness is disappointing to you all.

The Freeze - Halloween Night.mp3
Gang Green - Haunted House.mp3
Misfits - Night of the Living Dead.mp3
Dead Kennedys - Halloween.mp3
Cramps - Zombie Dance.mp3
Blowtops - Teenage Zombie Blues.mp3
Gun Club - Jack on Fire.mp3
Gaza Strippers - Laced Candy.mp3
Candy Snatchers - Halloween.mp3
Gaunt - Black Cat.mp3
Lee Harvey Oswald Band - Getting Wasted With The Vampires.mp3
Kilslug - Warlocks, Witches, and Demons.mp3
Mudhoney - Halloween.mp3 (Sonic Youth)

I’m taking requests for the 2007 version of this list, so have it. And while you’re poking around, check out the Hell House MP3 Mix over at Vinyl Mine for my creepy goodness.

I said in the previous post that I would post the Shellac/Mule single if anyone wanted it and I’ll be dipped in shit, a couple of you actually bellied up and said “sure”. So here it is, the split single released in 1997 on “Laff ‘n Go”. One song apiece from Shellac and Mule, previously recorded tracks reworked with a “soul sound”. What does that mean? Nice and mellow, man. Nice and mellow. Not the best representation of each band, but worth a listen:

Songs removed by request of label - material being reissued soon!

If I had known that so many choice blogs would be going belly-up in double time I wouldn’t have started this whole blog obituary thing. So instead, to honor the recently retired Dressed For The H Bomb I’m going to throw out some Mule. You don’t find a lot of PW Long fans out there, so I was much obliged when Malfeitor sent me some rips of Long’s pre-Mule band Wig. Thanks, man. On with the show

So I originally posted about Mule way back in July 2004. Back then I had only a small amount of disk space and transfer, so I was limited to one song per band. Now, with more space and transfer than I’ll ever use I’ll give you some more of one my favorite mid-90’s bands. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mule rocked a mix of country, blues, and plain ‘ol ass-kickin’ aggro best described as a “hellish backwoods racket”. I can’t remember who originally penned that description, but it was apt. Mule was propelled by singer/guitarist PW Long’s throaty growl and trebly guitar and the powerful backend of ex-Laughing Hyenas Kevin Munro and Jim Kimball. From 1991 through 1995 Mule delivered 2 albums, 2 singles, and 12″. Their 1993 debut LP is damned near perfect, a fine soundtrack for getting liquored up and causing trouble. 1994 saw the band issue the powerfulWrung 12″ and the more subdued If I Don’t Six. Specific material aside, the common theme here is Mule’s ability to lock on a groove and just rock the shit right out of it. Take a listen for yourself:

From their self-titled LP
Mule - Mississippi Breaks.mp3
Mule - What Every White Nigger Knows.mp3

from Wrung
Mule - We Know You’re Drunk.mp3
Mule - The Rope and the Cuckold.mp3

from If I Don’t Six
Mule - Hayride.mp3
Mule - Pent.mp3

from the I’m Hell single
Mule - I’m Hell.mp3
Mule - To Love Somebody.mp3

Notes:

Why not beat this horse a little more? Below are 8 more songs dedicated to bugfuck lunatic Kim Jong-Il. Cuts are based upon your suggestions, from comments and email. Thanks for the responses. Special thanks to reader MW, who hooked me up with the Art Attacks cut. Now go put on your lead underwear and head down to the local bomb shelter.

Final Conflict - Apolcalypse Now.mp3
ODFX - Drop The A Bomb On Me.mp3
The Authorities - Radiation Masturbation.mp3
Flipper - Sex Bomb.mp3
Art Attacks - Neutron Bomb.mp3
Naked Raygun - Bombshelter.mp3
Fireworks - A-Bomb.mp3
Motorhead - Overkill.mp3

God, it’s been a bad stretch for music blogs of late. First, Agony Shorthand calling it quits. Then 100 Records getting shut down, and now the announcement that Scott is closing the doors at Strange Reaction. I was taken aback with the news, but ultimately not that surprised. It takes a lot of energy and drive to keep one of these sites up, especially for as long as Strange Reaction has been around. Not to mention running a one person show. Once you cross the 1 year mark these things tend to be kept alive on life support (ahem). Strange Reaction turned me on to some good stuff, which I’m appreciative. Scott, the doors are open here for you any time (before I pull the plug on this barely breathing corpse)

I’m gonna round out the week with a couple of armageddon inspired dedications to Kim Jong Il, the head fucking lunatic of North Korea. Below are a but handful of tracks, I held a bunch back for the future post when we have to deal with this psycho. (yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s all an excuse to post a “Neutron Bomb” trifecta)

A-Frames - Neutron Bomb.mp3
Controllers - Neutron Bomb.mp3
Weirdos - We Got The Neutron Bomb.mp3
Funeral - Waiting For The Bomb Blast.mp3
M.I.A - ‘Tomic Bomb.mp3
Mob 47 - Nuclear Attack.mp3
Jerry’s Kids - Build Me A Bomb.mp3
The Spits - Nuclear Bomb.mp3

Finally back to the grind with a post I originally queued waaay back when. I posted back in March 2005 on finding a rip the Empty Skulls casette which I had been after for ages. At the time I had planned on posting Empty Skulls Volume 2: The Wound Deepens as a follow up within a week or so. Well, shit happens and things get sidetracked and before you know it 18 months have gone by. I probably would have sat on it further if it weren’t for a comment on the original post by one of the responsible parties for volume 1.

Volume 2 was released in 1986 on Fartblossom Enterprises and contains cuts from 12 bands. While the first tape was an all American affair, the second branches out a bit, with bands from Sweden (E.A.T.E.R, Crude SS), the UK (Legion of Parasites), Brazil (Colera), and the Netherlands (Pandemonium). 20 years on and some of this music falls into the dated category -sorry, Pillsbury Hardcore. I still can appreciate the raging cuts from E.A.T.E.R, and Legion of Parasites, the slow menace of L.A.’s White ‘n Hairy, and the only song I ever liked by Stranglehold. Below are the best from each band, but you can grab the whole thing right here

E.A.T.E.R - Abort The System.mp3
Stranglehold - She’s Not Leaving.mp3
Half Life - Old Glory.mp3
Pillsbury Hardcore - Kill Everyone Now.mp3
White ‘n’ Hairy - Involved.mp3
Corrosion of Conformity - Negative Outlook.mp3
Legion of Parasites - Dying World.mp3
Justice League - Looking Back.mp3
Colera - De O Fora.mp3
Pandemonium - Sucks To This Wall.mp3
Crude S.S. - Svensson, Svensson.mp3
Ugly Americans - Buffalo Bill.mp3

image courtesy of Kill From The Heart, which has an Empty Skulls page with links to most of the bands

So I get back from Denver only to discover that one of my fave music sites Agony Shorthand is closing up shop. I discovered Agony Shorthand about 2 and half years ago, just as I was starting this blog. From the first read I knew that Jay Hinman was on the same wavelength as me, writing about so many of the records and bands that I love in addition to turning me on to new stuff I wouldn’t have found otherwise. The excellent writing style and wit will be missed, along with the spirited debate in the comments. On the off chance that Mr. Hinman is reading this, I just want to say that the doors of SILT are always open if you’re ever inclined to drop some music and knowledge. Thanks