V/A - Streets LP 

Label: Beggars Banquet; Year: 1977; Format: Vinyl LP

On the back cover of this Compilation the following statement is eternalized: 1977 was the year that the music came out of the concert halls and onto the streets; when independent labels sprang out of the woodwork to feed new tastes: when rock music once again became about energy and fun; when the majors' boardrooms lost control. Suddenly we could do anything. - Well apparently Beggars Banquet wasn't completely true to those words as one of the best tracks on this generally rather good Compilation is "isgodaman" by the Snivelling Shits, who on this record are called Arthur Comics as the Beggars folks decided against the word "shit" on the record sleeve. Punk? Anyhow that is a question for another rainy day as I am here to let you know that out of the seventeen tracks to be found on this platter only about three to four are shitty new wave tracks while the rest varies from decent to great. Especially strong on this record is the Mancunian fraction with Slaughter and the Dogs, The Nosebleeds and The Drones. "Lookalikes" by the Drones is one of my all time faves from the 1977 school of punk rock, just a real smasher. Other great songs are by lesser known acts such as "Disastermovie" by The Exile from Scotland or "19" by the French act The Dogs. With a record like this one I was wondering how it would hold up as I sure as heck have not played it in a long time, but I must say that for the most part I still enjoy it as the songs still sound fresh and energetic to my ears thanks to the bands having had their own sound and style before the copycats flooded the market. Beggars Banquet went on to become a much bigger label once Gary Numan became a hit and they sure as hell jumped on the bandwagon when punk hit the streets in the U.K, but so be it. Most of the songs for this LP were licensed from other labels and many of you might have them on singles, but it's still nice to listen to these hits one after another. Let's pogo! 

Sam McPheeters - Mutations (The Many Strange Faces of Hardcore Punk)

Publisher: Rare Bird Books; Year: 2020; Format: Book

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 I along with millions of other people was stranded at home and not allowed to go to work. My situation was even more extraordinary in the sense that I moved from New York City to Buffalo at the very beginning of the pandemic only to sit out the first twelve weeks of my new job at an AirBnb. But this entry isn't about the pandemic or my move but about Mutations, a book that came out at the same time the pandemic hit and as such made my life more pleasant for about a week, as that's approximately how long it took me to read it from cover to cover. The difficulty with reviewing books I have read some time ago is that unlike records they take more effort to review, especially ones I remember having enjoyed reading, but not really sure anymore as to why. This morning I took the book off of my book shelve and familiarized myself with it again in order to find out why I liked it so much when it came out. First and foremost I was not familiar with the author, Sam McPheeters. I mean I knew that Sam sang in Born Against and other bands, that he ran a fanzine by the name of 'Dear Jesus' and that he had also ran a record label, but I never owned any of his recorded or written material hence in a way I suppose I had no prejudgment. Rereading some of the chapters in the book this morning I realized quickly why I loved reading Mutations. The book is divided into three parts: Questions, Artists and Problems. Within the 'Questions' part I for instance loved the chapter "A Conversation with Aaron Cometbus", just a fun, intelligent and witty conversation between Sam and Aaron, whom I am sure everyone knows from his Cometbus zines. Equally good but on an absolutely different level is "The Troublemaker", an absolutely intriguing look into the life of Doc Dart of the Crucifucks from Lansing, Michigan. If someone from the Fox News Network would read that chapter they'd have a field trip with it as it clearly shows that distrust and absolute disdain for the government in this country run high on both ends of the political spectrum. Fascinating chapter. The 'Artists' part is just as good and Sam delves into the depths of the many forms of hardcore punk or just 'punk' with chapters dedicated to bands as diverse as Discharge, The Gossip, Die Kreuzen or Green Day amongst others. In 'Questions' the chapter "Alberti Records, RIP"stands out as it is about a vinyl manufacturer that operated for over fifty years and had closed its doors leaving the question as to who will pick up and continue the hard work. One thing that really stands out about this book, and Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill mentions that in her foreword, is the fact that at no point in this book does the author look back at the years covered in this book with any self-indulgence or glorification, but rather with a very critical and observant view. In the end I think this book serves a great deal for all of us to reflect on our lives and to have a somewhat distanced and healthy understanding of the many strange faces of hardcore punk. Definitely one of the best hardcore punk books recently published. 

Appendix - Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa LP 

Label: Puke N' Vomit Records; Year: 2021; Format: Vinyl LP

After a somewhat stressful week at work it felt nice this evening to crank open a bottle of beer and spin this hardcore punk classic from Finland. Years ago I used to have the original 1982 Propaganda pressing of this LP but quite frankly who gives a shit as long as reissues such as this Puke N Vomit are available. Nice to see this one coming alive again with the original artwork and including one insert and two posters. Nice job! I am currently also reading the book about Rock-O-Rama Records from Germany and as some of you will surely know in 1983 this full length was licensed to said rip off label and according to the band all they ever got was twenty free copies. I shall review said book soon but it is clear that not only Herbert Egoldt of ROR but also Heikki Vilenius of Propaganda Records were just shrewd business men taking advantage of an international boom in hardcore punk. What I didn't know though is that the very first Appendix line up from 1981 included Olli and Juha of well known Finnish Rock act Yo. Yo went on to a successful career in mainstream music and had several No. 1 hits in the Finnish charts. That line up didn't last too long and Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa was recorded in 1982 and is in my opinion a true classic of early Finnish hardcore punk. The Puke N Vomit repress also includes the two tracks recorded for the 'Russia Bombs Finland' Comp. LP as well as the two tracks released on the Pultti Comp. EP. What I like the most about this record is that it is really varied when it comes to the songs. As expected there are plenty of typical powerful hardcore thrashers on this album but equally there are great mid-tempo punk stompers reminiscent of the UK Subs or Blitz. The production is loud and clear and the songs are carried by a great dominant bass sound backed with a buzzsaw guitar and a singer shouting on top of his lungs. It is no wonder that forty years ago along with US hardcore there was a real hype in the punk underground about bands from Finland as they just stood out. Don't be wasting your money on Money is not my Currency on ROR..;-) Kippis!! 

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers!

Label: In The Red Records; Year: 2007; Format: Vinyl LP

The Special Note on the back of the record states: The music on this album is wild, low-tech rock'n'roll, and although it has been mastered from the best possible original discs and master tapes there will still be slight surface noise noticeable on some tracks. Couldn't agree more. I have heard of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion for years but never had sought out any of their albums or music. Not too long ago I stumbled across a sealed copy of this album for a few bucks at my local record store and spontaneously decided to get it. Tonight I thought I'd give it a spin for the blog and I must say for the most part I dig this shit, referring to the song that the band was supposed to play live on NBC's Saturday Night Live, which of course never happened as an argument over the use of profanity broke out. This LP basically compiles rare tracks off of the band's early singles with some of them being taken from the In The Red Records Jukebox singles series. I am no expert when it comes to noise rock but I would definitely say that first and foremost The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion can be described as such. On the other hand they certainly drew influences from lots of genres and styles such as blues, garage punk, rockabilly and even hip hop. A lot of the song arrangements are definitely crazed but absolutely interesting and in some ways innovative. I will see if I can find more of their back catalogue for cheap as songs like Ghetto Mom from 2002 are absolute boogie punk scorchers. If you plan on wrecking a party and need the right soundtrack keep this one in mind. 

 

The Pits - "Introducing My New High" and "Belief in Ruins" Rapid Pulse Singles 

Label: Rapid Pulse Records; Year: 2001; Format: 7" Single

For this blog an entry from 2001/2002 is new so to speak as unfortunately the loser typing this entry sold most of the '90s and early '00s records a long time ago. Many are not missed while some are, and some have luckily never left the collection. Very little to nothing is known about the Pits from Sunderland in the North East of the UK. I remember reading about them in the brilliant 3rd Generation Nation Fanzine from Germany all those years back and that's all the exposure they got I suppose. They certainly deserved more but most likely never made it much farther than beyond the local pub scene. Still, they managed to release some brilliant records of which two ended up on vinyl on the American label Rapid Pulse, which back then kind of specialized in '77 style punk and powerpop releases. The two tracks on this single are both mid tempo and anthemic in a very typical old school UK punk fashion. The band certainly reminds me of the Professionals and the likes hence if that's your cup of tea you'll love this one! 

Label: Rapid Pulse Records; Year: 2002; Format: 7" Single

While the above reviewed single is great and worth getting, I shall proclaim that this one is the better one and every loser with no life whatsoever reading these lines needs to get this one. Both tracks are upbeat '77 punk smashers with "Your Violence is Sinister" being one of my all time Pits favorites. The production on this single is also cleaner and louder, and I repeat myself if you like your punk rock anthemic with great hooks and choruses then you should give these Sunderland lads a chance. The band also released two CDs and a Mini CD which I shall review at some point in the future as well. The drummer also played in Red London for some time but considering how little Sunderland is that shouldn't come as a surprise, right? It's too early in the day to have an ale but this goes down well with some booze. Cheers! 

Micro Edge - '83 Demo LP 

Label: Ugly Pop Records; Year: 2019; Format: Vinyl LP (45 RPM)

1983 was a good year for hardcore punk, there is no doubt about that. Many classic records were released said year and are raved about to this day. Here in the United States established scenes in places like Washington DC, Southern California or the Midwest had independent labels being there at the right time to document the bands and the recorded material. Unfortunately not the same can be said about Toronto, Canada which is the biggest city in Canada and boasted a small but very active hardcore punk scene in the early '80s. I say unfortunately because it is a shame the T.O. scene didn't have somebody to fill the gap with a record label at that point but at least quite a few tapes and some records ended up being released, mainly thanks to Brian of Youth Youth Youth fame who was a big supporter of Micro Edge as well. Forward to the last few years and Toronto has seen a true resurgence in activity, especially when it comes to documenting the early '80s hardcore punk scene. Micro Edge from presumably the suburb of Scarborough as the band members met at a school there, are by no means a known entity even to minor freaks like myself hence I am grateful for Ugly Pop Records having released this record as it sure as hell kicks ass. For a demo tape put on vinyl it certainly sounds great and fresh and let me tell you that in my opinion had this record been released back in the day some people would be raving about it to this day as with many other so called hardcore classics. What you get is sixteen angry, pissed off hardcore punk tracks that will remind you of early Dischord bands or certain West Coast acts such as D.O.A or Circle Jerks. I love the loud and aggressive bass sound and the equally abrasive drumming. The guitar player certainly knew how to write songs and the singer fit the bill. Not much else really needs to be said and if '83 style hardcore punk without even a hint of metal is your thing than you will love this record as much as me. Ugly Pop did a wonderful job with this release which also comes with a copy of the band produced skater fanzine Bong Out. Killer Release! 

V/A - Powerpoppers Vol. 1 LP 

Label: On The Run Records (Unofficial); Year: 2001; Format: Vinyl LP

I've always had a hard time warming up to the Powerpop genre, maybe because I always thought that there was just too many one hit wonders and not much more to it. But those one hit wonders can truly be hits and this bootleg LP has quite a few brilliant tracks. First off though let me tell you though that the person behind this boot never made it to Vol. 2 so this remains to be the only one in this "series". Fourteen tracks from the late '70s and early '80s are to be found on this platter and while three to four of them are lame and weak the rest of them are good if not outstanding. To me the track that stands out the most is Toutes Les Nuits by all female French band Les Calamites. Said track was originally released on a single on New Rose Records. On the punkier side of Powerpop on this Compilation are The Donkeys with What I want and The Clerks with No good for me. The Donkeys material has been compiled on Detour Records and might very well be checking out while The Clerks hailed from Birmingham and it just might be one of those one offs but above mentioned track is a truly great Punk Pop smasher. Definitely worth mentioning are The Boys from Australia, yes not the much better known band from the UK. Hurt me babe is a truly great Powerpop hit and I wonder if the rest of their material is as strong. Some of the tracks to be found on here are major record releases, such as Keep in Touch by Low Numbers produced by Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 fame. All in all this is an enjoyable compilation if you can find it cheap sitting around collecting dust in a record store. Whether you like your Powerpop on the punkier side or more on the Mod side you'll find stuff on here you will dig. 

Buzzcocks with Howard Devoto - Time's Up LP 

Label: Raven Records (Unofficial); Year: 1979; Format: Vinyl LP 

I stumbled across this record not too long ago at my local record shop up the road from where I live and didn't hesitate a single minute purchasing it. Buzzcocks are one of those rare bands that I enjoy hearing even some of the newer material of as they never lost the magic touch of coming up with great songs. So, according to the little research I have done the version I have is an Australian bootleg released in 1979 and is basically a bootleg of an earlier bootleg for history's sake. More important is the music and that was taken from a session in October of 1976 even before these Manchester lads recorded their self-released first EP. So what you get is Buzzcocks at its rawest with Howard Devoto still part of the band. Now, some people will argue that Buzzcocks have never sounded better than at this point where they really had that unfiltered early raw punk sound as opposed to the cleaner and better produced sound of their later output. Now, that is up to everybody's own taste but this LP is definitely worth getting providing you with a chance hearing tracks like Boredom, Breakdown or Orgasm Addict recorded without dubs live in a studio when those songs were just ideas the day before so to speak. I think what is really enjoyable the most about this record is hearing the spontaneity of the time, and in that regard it is hard to beat. Domino Records have released the session in recent years officially but from what I saw the tracking list is a little different. Last but not least listen to the drumming on You Tear Me up and tell me whether that is not the beginning of D-Beat. 

Davova Psychoza - Antropofobia LP 

Label: Papagajuv Hlasatel Records; Year: 2015; Format: Vinyl LP

In 1979 my parents fled the former Czechoslovakia and its communist regime and we ended up in Switzerland where I spent most of my life. Davova Psychoza are from Bratislava in Slovakia where I was born and are active to this day, as a matter of fact they just embarked on their 35 years of Davova Psychoza Tour across Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Antropofobia was their first LP and was originally released in 1991 on Opus, a Major. According to the insert of the repress I am reviewing here the band even got some flack back then for doing so but Opus was a relatively small company and a DIY network barely existed after the fall of communism hence the band was happy someone took a chance on them and released the record. Totally understandable. Davova Psychoza formed in late 1987 and recorded their first demo two years later just before the communist party lost control. According to the liner notes inside the repress the band members remember that time as a once in a lifetime experience where the whole country was in a positive mood and the future looked bright. It was in this environment where Davova Psychoza wrote the material for this record and frankly one can hear it in the songs. Musically speaking the band was influenced by North American acts like Verbal Assault or SNFU, hardcore punk played fast but with lots of melodic hooks. On the other hand being from Bratislava with a tradition of older UK punk influenced bands such as Zona A or Extip some songs are just great mid tempo pogo punk hits. Lyrically it's an interesting album as well with some being very personal and others more about fun and drink. The production and the band member's fitness on their instruments and vocals add to an overall really enjoyable album from a band that on an international level is sadly not well known at all even though they have been going all these years having released five albums in the meantime. Highly recommended! 

Jim Ruland - Corporate Rock Sucks (The Rise & Fall of SST Records) 

Publisher: Hachette Books; Year: 2022; Format: Book

When it comes to the vast area Los Angeles covers geographically speaking than punk rock historians as well as many old timers from Lala land love talking or writing about the early Hollywood punk scene. What is so fascinating about the greater Los Angeles area is that different scenes sprung up in different areas roughly around the same time, and I am being somewhat generous with that statement for the sake of my argument. My argument is that the punk rock history of the South Bay of Los Angeles is in many ways far more interesting than the one of the fairly short lived Hollywood scene, at least that's my take. A long while ago I already reviewed Craig Ibarra's "A Wailing of a Town" book which focuses a lot on the Minutemen and befriended bands from San Pedro. At some point in the future I shall review Keith Morris' "My Damage" as well but I recently bought and instantly read Jim Ruland's Corporate Rock Sucks and came away with a wealth of knowledge not just about SST Records, but the South Bay Area hardcore punk scene in general. First and foremost the book is divided into fourteen chapters with each one SST squaring against a different entity. Chapter one is called SST vs. Bomp! and Chapter fourteen is titled SST vs. History. Inbetween SST takes on the world so to speak, a statement which pretty much sums up the book in many ways as Greg Ginn seems to have a very combative personality and an admirable hunger for success. The author has truly done a great job at researching this book as it is filled with many important anecdotes from the humble beginnings of SST Electronics all the way up to the downfall of the once so influential indie label. The many legal battles SST fought alone would be worth another book in my opinion as it becomes clear that legally speaking SST mistreated quite a few bands by hurting them not just financially but in their overall development. I think what really saddened me to a degree is the fact that at some point the record label was run almost like a major where the personal interaction between the owners and the employees became less important and money ever so more important. To be fair though SST was not alone in the sense that they became the victims of their own success. And yes, of course Black Flag are a big part of the story in the book as well, but I wanted to focus on the label. I can't say that I own too many records from the vast catalogue of SST but I will make an attempt to dig deeper into some releases in the future. In the meantime do yourself a favor and pick up this book or visit your local library as you will not regret it. Corporate Rock Sucks indeed. 

The Clean - Boodle Boodle Boodle and Tally Hoe reissues

Label: Merge Records; Year: 2021: Format 12" 45RPM EP

One of the many reasons I don't post often enough on this blog is the fact that I love listening to podcasts. Besides podcasts dedicated to politics or law or other subjects causing more headaches and an upset stomach I sometimes listen to Dynamite Hemorrhage Radio which I can highly recommend as it has introduced me to many a band I was unaware of with New Zealand's The Clean being one of them. I heard a song off of this originally in 1981 released EP on one of the shows and was instantly hooked and intrigued. Luckily Merge Records reissued this rarity last year so nobody needs to fork out some serious dosh on an original on the hugely influential Flying Nun record label. All five songs on this record are killer, and I mean it man! It's hard to describe The Clean's sound as they draw from psychedelic influences to punk and post-punk with a heavy bass driven sound. I wish I had been drawn to these type of bands earlier in life as the older I get the more I appreciate the edginess and artiness of bands like the Clean. The band formed in 1978 in Dunedin, NZ and has influenced countless bands in the indie scene throughout the years. I cannot stress enough how great this record is and that you too should get a copy. Comes with a nice reproduction of the original cartoon of the EP as pictured below. 

Label: Merge Records; Year: 2021; Format: 7" Vinyl Single

Honestly I wasn't even aware of this reissue until I saw it at my local Indie Record Store so I picked it up along the above reviewed 12" EP. Tally Ho is a punky/new wavy upbeat song that kicks serious ass with Platypus being a slower song definitely more in the post-punk vein. This is a classic two song single with two killer tracks hence you can't go wrong. I will have to make some time and dig deeper into the rich catalogue of the Clean to see how the band's sound evolved over the years and whether I will be buying and reviewing more of their records. End of rant. 

V/A - Texas-Mexican Border Music Vol. 1 (An Introduction 1930-1960) LP

Label: Folklyric Records/Arhoolie; Year: 1975; Format: Vinyl LP

I love picking up records like this compilation of at least to me absolutely unknown artists from the Texas-Mexican border with songs recorded between the 1930s and the early 1960s. It is kind of similar to discovering and learning more about blues music in the sense that it is music from the working people sweating in factories, packing houses or in the fields picking fruit. As the notes from editor Chris Strachwitz say it's the music of the Tejanos, Chicanos, Nortenos or Mexican-Americans. The recordings vary in quality and the songs recorded later sound generally louder and better but this is a highly enjoyable record taking you back in time to a place that certainly must be special and fascinating to this day. Migrants from Mexico have crossed the Rio Grande headed for the North back then and still do to this day in the hope of a better life in the US. Back then they have brought a different music with them and it would be interesting to see what a compilation like this one would sound like with current artists. I will definitely try to scoop more records from this series. Una historia de la musica de la frontera! 

Glo - Diskoackel and Nerv EP Reissues

Glo - Diskoackel EP

Label: Re-Ken-Records; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

Back in the '90s Barny of Incognito Records from Stuttgart in Germany released a bunch of brilliant Compilation LPs entitled Back To Front. That's when I first heard of Glo from Asa near Gothenburg in Sweden as the song "Du For som Dom Vill" appeared on Volume 5 of above mentioned Comp Series. With both songs on this originally in 1979 released EP you get value for your money in form of upbeat drunken punk rock smashers with singer Patrik shouting on top of his lungs. Think Ramones meets Rude Kids and you know what I mean. Oh, and yes there is a third "song" on here but it's only 18 seconds long hence no need to mention it. One of the many great early Swedish punk rock gems. 

Glo - Nerv EP

Label: Re-Ken-Records; Year: 2019; Format: 7" EP

Thanks to Ken Records you get to enjoy the second Glo EP as well without having to dig deep into your pension fund. Personally I prefer this one over the first one and originally this came out in 1980. The production on this one is superior and louder and less muddy hence the songs are just more in your face. Musically this isn't any different from the first EP with all three songs (yes there is a fourth and it's 5 seconds long) being obnoxious straight forward punk rock hits. According to the Encyclopedia of Swedish Punk by Peter Jandreus these guys not only sounded punk but also had the look and were quite a heavy drinking bunch. Apparently on the way to a gig in Sundsvall the band managed to take apart an entire train compartment. So much for the well behaved Scandinavian youth listening to Abba... If you like your punk loud and snotty this is for you. 

Inocentes - Panico em S.P. Mini-LP

Label: WEA Brazil; Year: 1986; Format: 12" Mini-LP

In 1983 Inocentes from Sao Paolo in Brazil self-released a fantastic raw hardcore punk 7" titled "Miseria E Fome". Unfortunately even the reissue is so rare that at this point I won't be reviewing said classic. This Mini-LP was gifted to me by a good friend in Europe and while their self-titled EP was put out by the band itself, three years later Inocentes found themselves on WEA Brazil, a major. While their earlier output was influenced by Discharge, Rattus and the likes, three years later the band went much more melodic without losing its edge. The six songs on here are well produced mid-tempo punk rock smashers with great hooks and really brilliant songwriting. One can definitely hear a Clash influence but I would also compare them to '80s French bands like Camera Silens or Komintern Sect. It's pretty obvious that the members went through a phase where they started to listen to more melodic bands while taking that direction with their own songs. Interestingly enough not only UK's The Insane have a song called "El Salvador" but so do Inocentes and it's a hit as well. From the little I have heard from here on the band's releases gradually started to get poppier and far more mainstream sounding hence nothing I would seek out. This one though is a true gem and will have you pogo in your living room!

Nickey & The Warriors - Wild Cherry EP

Label: S.E.X Records; Year: 1986; Format: 12" EP

When I visited Tokyo in 1997 a Japanese friend of mine made me a tape with bands such as Sheena & The Rokkets, Nukey Pikes, Cobra or the herein reviewed Nickey & The Warriors. He obviously preferred the more melodic side of Punk Rock from Nippon and I loved that cassette. I instantly fell in love with the sound of Nickey & The Warriors and one day back in '97 above mentioned friend took me on a wild motorcycle ride with his Yokohama through Tokyo with me on the backseat fearing for my fuckin' life. When I listened to this 4-song EP today for some reason I was instantly taken back to that memory. Nickey & The Warriors started out in 1983 as the Road Warriors originally without Nickey on the mic but with Keigo of Stalin, G-Zet, Cobra fame on vocals. It was a little later that the teenage singer Nickey, who was a friend of then wife of Michiro Endo (The Stalin) joined the band. This EP and the "Born To Ride" 7" from the same year have some of the best material ever recorded by them in my honest opinion. All four songs here are well produced upbeat Bubble Punk smashers with lots of hooks and ooh ooh's and aaah aah's in the background, obviously heavily influenced by the Ramones but by no means were they ever a copycat band. Nickey's vocals could be described as cute, and they definitely have a lot of charm. As a matter of fact "I wanna be yourself" is one of my favorite songs by them, just a fantastic mid-tempo pop punk song from the '80s. At some point I will review the "Born To Ride" 7" as it's equally good. 

Label: S.E.X Records; Year: 1986; Format: Flexi One Sided 7"

This one-sided Flexi 7" was inside my copy of above reviewed 12" so when I pulled it off of the shelve today I was wondering whether it was originally included with the EP but from what I read on Discogs this Flexi was a promo from the short-lived Nickey & The Warriors official Fan Club and was sent out with the "Warriors Times" zine. The previous owner was nice enough to slip it into the 12" hence I consider myself a lucky bastard owning this one as well. Feel Good is yet another upbeat bubble punk smasher in the vein of the other songs on the 12". Definitely made my day today.