Keith Morris with Jim Ruland - My Damage (The Story Of A Punk Rock Survivor)

Publisher: Da Capo Press; Year: 2016; Format: Hardcover Book

It's not surprising that I remember more about the circumstances as to when and how I bought this book instead of the contents. Back in 2017 when I was still living in Brooklyn I recall taking the R Train on a sunny Sunday afternoon from Bay Ridge where my wife and I lived at that time to lower Manhattan where the big Strand Book Store is located to this day. I spotted Keith Morris' book was priced at $11.95 instead of the $25.00 list price and I sure as hell didn't think twice picking up a copy. Later said afternoon I sat outside in Union Square Park and read several of the short chapters of this great book and a few days later I was done with it. Some time ago I reviewed Jim Ruland's "Corporate Rock Sucks" book, another really fascinating book, but before Jim got to write that he spent quite some time with one of the founding members of the Southern California punk and hardcore sound, Keith Morris. According to a Decibel interview Jim and Keith would drive around in a car and visit places pertinent to the rich punk and hardcore history of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas in order to coax memories out of Keith. The book takes the readers on a wild ride from Keith's childhood days in his hometown of Hermosa Beach in the South Bay to him fronting Black Flag and Circle Jerks all the way to the days of OFF!. One thing's for sure and that is that Keith does not hold back one single bit about his own life and how happy he is to be still alive after having gone sober in 1988. We further learn how Keith's dad was a thug having been kicked out of Inglewood High for kidnapping the principal and how Keith got exposed to music at an early age when seeing Arthur Lee and Love perform at a matinee show in the South Bay. What most of us probably didn't know is that at one point in his life Keith worked as an A&R for Richard Branson's V2 label, an experience Keith has some salty words to tell you about. It truly is everything you would expect from a man that has lived an interesting and fast life. The book was apparently the result of Keith and Brendan Mullen (RIP) having become good friends over the years and Brendan pushing Keith to write about his life. A good thing he did as this is without a doubt one of the better autobiographies and comes highly recommended. 

Keith and a few beers. Photo by Spot (RIP). 

A more recent photo of Keith ;-)

The Stiffs - "Volume Control", "Goodbye My Love" and "Four Winds" Singles

Label: 1977 Records; Year: 2002; Format: 7" Single

As you will all know Punk wasn't just a London thing as some will want you to believe, but was very much happening anywhere in the UK during the initial explosion in the late '70s. The Stiffs for instance hailed from Blackburn in the North-West and formed in 1976 by two 14-year old school friends as described in my go to UK punk bible "no more heroes" by Alex Ogg (see also Wikipedia entry for the band). In July 1978 the band was ready to record some of their own songs and early versions of "Inside Out" and "Volume Control" were the results of those sessions that took place in Oldham. Personally I don't own the "Inside Out" single hence I can't have any opinion but according to the sources I have used the single was well received after their very first "Brookside Riot Squad" EP had failed to materialize the desired results. The single reviewed herein "Volume Control" was originally released in 1980 on EMI subsidiary Zonophone. Of the three singles I have this one is the clear winner with the A-Side being a really strong and well crafted '77 Punk influenced smasher backed by loud guitars and a great production. The B-Side is almost equally good with the Jam influenced Mod stomper "Nothing To Lose". Definitely a great single!

Label: 1977 Records; Year: 2002; Format: 7" Single

Tokyo based reissue label 1977 Records was also responsible for reissuing the originally in 1981 released single "Goodby My Love" backed by "Magic Roundabout" on the B-Side. The Gary Glitter cover on the A-Side really didn't need to be recorded at all and I am not just referring to Glitter here, but the music itself as well as it's just a cheesy overblown glam rock song. The B-Side on this one is in that sense better but in all fairness the band never got to the strength of songs like 'Volume Control'. As musicians they certainly made progress and were a tight-sounding unit but at least for me it lead to sounding more lame, more poppy and more mainstream oriented lacking drive and conviction. I don't know the band's entire catalogue but for me this would be the cut off as I can't see them ever getting any more interesting unless you are a die-hard Powerpop fan, which I am not. Even a tour supporting the UK Subs did not help elevating their status and in all fairness I am not surprised. Solid but that's about it. 

Label: 1977 Records; Year: 2002; Format: 7" Single

The Stiffs continued to perform and released one last single in 1985 until 1977 Records decided to release new material when the Stiffs flew over to Japan for four dates in 2002. According to Ogg's book and the band's recollection the dates went really well and the crowds loved every second of their performances. I am not surprised that the Stiffs got such a positive reaction in Japan as the fans over there tend to be loyal and just genuine. As for the two songs recorded in 2002 I can't say I have much time for them. Both songs are well played and solid, but lack any recognition or hit potential. As with many Mod/Powerpop bands the songs have a tendency for too many hooks as well as too many breaks while nothing seems to stick. Not a bad release per se but definitely nothing worthwhile. In a way it seems the band has at times tried too hard to achieve success and failed miserably, that's at least the way I see it. 

Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels - Wheels of Steel 10"

Label: PRT Records; Year: 1983; Format: 10" Vinyl

Today I've had a long and busy day at work so when I got home I just wanted to have a bite to eat and kick back for a little while. I promised myself that I would do another entry for the blog tonight but when it came to it I wasn't particularly in a punk rock mood so I opted for something lighter and more soulful so to speak. Mitch Ryder (nee William Lewis Jr.) is a Detroit Rock'N'Roll legend who recently turned seventy eight years young. From 1964 to 1967 Mitch Ryder used the Detroit Wheels as his back-up band releasing a number of Top 20 hits. This little 10" that came out in 1983 on PRT (Precision Records and Tapes, formerly known as Pye Records) in the UK collects some of the bands greatest hits such as "Jenny Take A Ride", "Sock it to Me Baby" or "Little Latin Lupe Lu" to name a few. It's a great little compilation when it comes to the music, but not so much when it comes to the packaging as there is absolutely no info about the recordings to be found. I suppose the people behind Precision weren't so precise and forthcoming about that and expected the music hungry consumers to make a trip to the library to find out about Mitch Ryder but in all fairness not much has changed to this day except that we have the intranet and can find everything with a few clicks. Well, goal achieved for tonight. I had a good twenty minutes of shaking my arthritis ridden knees to the soulful rock'n'roll smashers coming out of Motor City and that put a smile on my face. Keep on wheeling! 

The Freeze - Rabid Reaction LP

Label: Taang Records; Year; 2021; Format: Vinyl LP

I am certain everyone can relate to the dilemma I have tonight. After having come home from work I decided to spin the originally in 1985 released second Freeze album "Rabid Reaction" after not having heard it in ages. As much as I love the Freeze this record does not convince me to the fullest though, and that's a bummer. But, one thing after another. Back in the early '90s I bought the first two Freeze albums on Modern Method and absolutely loved "Land of the Lost". I certainly never held "Rabid Reaction" in the same regard, but it would be hard for anybody to follow up with an equal to "Land of the Lost". At some point I stupidly parted with both albums as I needed the money and got the CD collecting both albums. At some point I thought I would really want to get both back on vinyl, reissue or not. So, not too long ago I got my fingers on a Taang copy of Rabid Reaction and I am a little torn. Don't get me wrong, it's a good record and most likely a record that whenever I will listen to again I will like more as it is more layered and is one of those record that grows on you the more you listen to it. In that sense it doesn't offer the same instant gratification of the first LP but it certainly is still a Freeze album and that stands for high quality. The ten songs are a departure from the faster first album and hint as to what was to come in years to come in the long career of this Cape Cod band. The songs are rockier, more melodic and in some ways more experimental. A perfect example for that would be the version of "Trouble if you hide" found on this LP compared to the one the band recorded for the classic 1982 Comp. LP "This is Boston, Not L.A.". What you get here is not as fast and furious but a more rounded and structured song performed at a lower speed level with more hooks and melody. The lyrics are as always critical of American society and the ten songs are over with in twenty-five minutes. Not as great as the first one, but still a must! 

Gauze - 面を洗って出直して来  12" 

Label: XXX Records; Year: 1997; Format: 45RPM 12" Mini-LP

During the Mid-90s I lived for a longer period of time in Toronto, Canada and at the time Japanese Hardcore, and in particular Gauze were quite the hype in the underground hardcore punk community. It must have been in 1996 when the band actually came over to North America and played San Francisco, Minneapolis and maybe Chicago, I am really not sure anymore. What I am 100% sure about is that I was not able to go to any of those shows and was as to be expected quite disappointed, especially after hearing what friends of mine that attended the shows reported back. Fast forward to 1997 and I was about to leave Toronto to move back to Switzerland, where I was living permanently at that time. Before doing so though there was a little bit of an extravaganza to be experienced as through a room mate that worked in the airline industry I was able to obtain a really cheap flight ticket to Osaka, Japan from Vancouver, Canada. So, in July of '97 I boarded a flight from Toronto to Vancouver and for several weeks travelled the US West Coast up and down. After having returned to Vancouver I continued my trip to Osaka and from then took a bus to Tokyo. By the time I arrived in the Japanese megalopolis it was August and it was just brutally hot and humid. Originally I intended to travel the country for a week but due to the literally inhumane hot weather I remained in Tokyo for two weeks and took in anything and everything I could, especially when it comes to seeing bands. I remember very well that I was to leave when my friend Shinji told me that Gauze were to play at the Antiknock Club in Shinjuku. Without hesitating for a second I extended my stay to witness that and never looked back. If someone asks me what's the best Hardcore show I have ever seen then 9 out of 10 times my answer is Gauze at Antiknock. It truly is hard to put the experience into words as it is in many ways indescribable but I will never forget the intensity and sheer furiosity of said gig from the second the band entered the small stage. It was simply wild and really a once in a lifetime experience I shall never forget and cherish for the rest of my life. After the gig and thanks to Shinji's interpreting I was able to chat with Hiko and Momorin of Gauze and must have told them that I was a bit disappointed that they did not have any vinyl copies of their just released fourth album for sale. Hiko told me not to worry and that he would send me a copy to Switzerland after I have scribbled my address on some flyer lying around. One day back in Switzerland after having left Tokyo and spending a little bit of time in Toronto I received a little package from Japan with a copy of the vinyl and a nice note from Hiko (see photo). I remember being floored and over the moon as I was expecting they would send me a CD which would have been just as nice. Throughout the many years of record buying and trading I parted with some records I should never have, but this one is priceless and will never leave my house as it is truly attached to very special memories.

Wait, I nearly forgot I have a job to do here and need to review said Gauze record as well instead of reliving the glorious past. Well, it was just last night when I visited my favorite local underground record shop here in Buffalo to pick up some records and was talking to the ever so nice proprietor about music. With him being a big Gauze fan as well he mentioned that this is his favorite Gauze record. To this day I still don't know the English title for the 1997 released 12" but it really doesn't matter. Every time Gauze are an experience and sitting down today listening to this record I was yet again simply in awe. Only Gauze can create such utter chaos yet at the same time remain in full control of the speed levels to steer their short and brutal sonic attacks from one track to the next. The ten tracks on this Mini-LP feel at times like one track, such intense they are, and each in their own way. After about twenty minutes you will probably feel somewhat relieved it's over as you are gasping for air in the knowledge that you just experienced an extraordinary listening session by a band that will be dearly missed by many. Gauze broke up in Fall of 2022 but their records and memories shall live on. This is my 150th entry for the blog, cheers for reading! 

Colin Grant - The Natural Mystics (Marley, Tosh, and Wailer)

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Inc. (US Edition); Year: 2011; Format: Hardcover Book

You never know what you can get at a library book sale hence whenever they happen I make an attempt to go as for a few bucks you can get a nice stack of books. A few months ago the main library in downtown Buffalo, NY had a sale and I spent a good hour amongst other book freaks looking through literally thousands of books going home with a little stack of books, amongst them the one reviewed herein. I must admit it has taken me unusually long to get through this book and I will be honest in saying that I did not always enjoy reading it as it is conceptually not the greatest book. First and foremost, and like everyone else picking up this book, my goal was to learn much more about the Wailers and Reggae itself. Wrong, I learned much more about the history of Jamaica, Rastafari religion, the politics of Jamaica and a heap of other fascinating facts surrounding and influencing the Wailers. Quite frankly I was definitely expecting to learn more about Marley, Tosh and Wailer but it wasn't to be. Tonight after having finished the book I went online to see what other people had to say about the book as I was left a bit confused and to a degree disappointed hence I was not surprised to see some reviews that mirror my opinion of this book. Colin Grant, the author of this book, is a historian of Jamaican origin based in the UK and as such an extremely knowledgeable writer when it comes to the history of Jamaica and African culture in general. My guess is that he set out to write about the Wailers but in all fairness got caught up writing more about Jamaica itself than about the Wailers. Generally speaking I don't see a problem with that at all because it's important to give the reader a good understanding of the socioeconomic background to where Marley, Tosh and Wailer have grown up. And in that sense Grant has done an excellent job providing detailed research into the history of this former British West Indian island. I learned a lot about the Post-independence Jamaica and its cultural evolution leading up to Ska and eventually Reggae. The problem with the book is that the editors could have done a much better job dividing the book into different areas so that the reader wouldn't get lost and confused. After having read thirty pages about political aspects of life in Kingston it is difficult to get back to music and then again back to other matters. As I have stated at the beginning of this review, conceptually I really think the book sadly suffers, but on the other hand one does come away with a good understanding of Jamaica in general, and that alone is worth picking up this tome. And yes, one still gains knowledge about the lives of Marley, Tosh and Wailer as well, just not as much as I and many others had wished for. Still a good read though! 

The Wailers live on BBC performing at the "Old Grey Whistle Test" in 1973.  Source: The Natural Mystics by Colin Grant 

Vorkriegsjugend - Live im Quartier Latin, Berlin, 30.04.1984 LP

Label: Stonz Musikversorgung; Year: 2022; Format: 45RPM Vinyl LP

I must say I was looking forward getting this record delivered straight outta Berlin from Iffi as for now it's the only VKJ record I own. Long gone are the golden days of punk rock record hunting where I used to have their LP and the New Face version of their Double-EP, but maybe somebody will finally reissue their old catalogue or I will get lucky again and find those records somewhere out there in the wild. Even more shocking though is the fact that this record which only came out about three months ago is already sought after. And here I was thinking I'll write up a little review so the few losers reading this blog can maybe get off of their asses and get a copy. Well, if you can, snap it up as it's a good one. Some people may very well be turned off by Vorkriegsjugend since about ten years ago their singer Klaus Hicker was arrested in Thailand for alleged sexual abuse on underage children, definitely not something anyone wants to be associated with. Nevertheless even such a sad and serious stain in the band's history cannot take anything away from what the band had achieved in the relatively short timespan between 1982 and 1985. Interestingly enough the band that absolutely stood for Squat Hardcore Punk Made in Berlin consisted of members whom all moved to Berlin from the South of Germany, mainly Bavaria. Their Double-7" on Pogar Records from '83 and their '84 LP on Zorro are to this day regarded as milestones in German Hardcore Punk, and rightfully so. It is rarely the case that I even buy live records or actually enjoy them as quite frankly too often live records just don't deliver. Quartier Latin was a well-loved club on Potsdamer Strasse 96 and was known to host a lot of Folk, Blues and Jazz gigs, but in April of 1984 Vorkriegsjugend opened up for the UK82 stalwarts One Way System and English Dogs at said club and a soundboard copy of VKJ's set was circulated amongst friends of the band and I would assume in tape-trading circles. It wasn't until 2022 when it was pressed onto vinyl for the first time and I repeat myself I am glad I snapped up a copy as it's well worth to have capturing the band at the height of their short-lived career with their second line-up including a second guitarist. Songs like "Wir sind die Ratten", "Heute Spass, Morgen Tod" or one of my personal favorites "Die Pest" are just timeless German Hardcore Punk classics. The sound quality on this record is better than I had anticipated and the LP comes with a nice fold out poster. Sehr gut! 

Update May 4, 2023: A 2nd pressing of this record has just been released. Get your greedy hands on a copy! 

Public Disgrace - Toxteth EP

Label: Probe Plus; Year: 1982; Format: 7" Vinyl EP

In July of 1981 a big riot erupted in the inner-city area of Toxteth in Liverpool as a result of ongoing tensions between the local police and the black community. Considering the size of the city of Liverpool and its musical history one would think that quite a few punk rock acts have sprung up on Merseyside, but to be fair that never was the case. It would be fair to assume that Public Disgrace, one of the few punk bands from Liverpool, were a direct response to said riots and in 1982 the band released their one and only record in the form of a three-song EP put out by Probe Plus. Geoff Davies who started Probe Plus in an office above the record store Probe was an enthusiastic music fan giving unsigned bands a chance to be heard and quite frankly while this EP is by no means a milestone within the UK82 genre, it is nevertheless still a decent record with somewhat of a charm. The three songs are very rudimentary attempts at sounding like the Exploited, but every band has to start somewhere. Not sure what direction these lads took after the release of this EP but needless to say the band didn't last long. Reviewing this EP for the newly started MRR Tim Yohannan wrote in 1982 that "In 64', Liverpool ruled, not anymore. Boring". Point taken but a bit more background wouldn't have hurt, Sir. Unlike the band Probe Plus took off over the years and achieved quite a few indie hits with a number of bands, including Half Man Half Biscuits. Personally, I cherish releases like this one so for the UK82 die-hards out there give this one a chance. 

Chocolate Watch Band - No Way Out LP

Label: Unknown (Counterfeit); Year: 20??; Format: Vinyl LP

Music is a wonderful thing, and records such as "No Way Out" by California band Chocolate Watch Band are proof of that. Many years ago my interest in music started to change direction and I no longer wanted to just be listening to anything punk rock related but discover music and the many genres that pre-dated the punk rock explosion, because let's face it without those records said explosion might have looked totally different. The other day I walked into my local record stores and had a good chat with the proprietor. I was sat in the chair sipping on a much needed bottle of water after walking for about two miles to get my exercise in and nearly walked out of there without buying anything until I heard the magic sentence "I think I know a record you'll like". When I heard the name Chocolate Watch Band it did ring a bell as I have some Nuggets Compilation LPs in my collection so I must have heard them before, but it's not like I knew the record or much about the band at all. After hearing the opening track "Let's Talk About Girls" I said immediately I'd buy it. We ended up listening to the entire record in the store and today I decided to put it on again for this blog entry and to learn a bit more about the band and the history of this record. For all you record junkies out there the version I bought is a counterfeit but sounds actually incredibly good for a boot. Sundazed reissued this classic a few years back officially hence unless you are wealthy you'll have to grab a repress to get your kicks. Originally the record came out in 1967 on Tower and was supposedly mistakenly distributed through more blues oriented channels which didn't help the band nor the sales figures. Still, by the early '70s the album was out of print and since then has gradually gained interest amongst crazy folks like myself. It doesn't surprise me at all since the songs are a perfect mixture of psychedelic rock and garage rock ultimately leading to a strong influence for proto-punk acts down the road. Reading up about the making of the record I was intrigued to learn that the full band participated only on a handful of the songs with original singer Dave Aguilar being replaced with session singer Don Bennett. The members in Chocolate Watch Band were young kids, all under the age of twenty, and quite frankly weren't quite ready to record a full length, especially after being rushed to do so. No matter what though, the record itself is a masterpiece and one of those records that will take you on a journey where you don't need to take any mind-altering drugs. It's simply a killer record and my mission will be to get their 2nd LP as well. 

Back Cover of the LP where the band listed hundreds of names this LP is dedicated to, including Jackie Kennedy, All Playboy Bunnies, Jack The Ripper, Jack Kerouac, Ghandi and the list goes on...

Olho Seco - Os Primeiros Dias Mini-LP

Label: New Face Records; Year: 1995; Format: Vinyl Mini-LP

Olho Seco formed in 1980 in the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo. To many, including myself, they became known through the MRR Compilation "Welcome To 1984" for which they contributed "Nada", a perfect crude and brutal '80s hardcore punk track. They slowly gained an international fanbase through their EP released on German label Pogar in 1984 and from then on things started to take shape with more releases and an increasingly worldwide following. Before that though, the band recorded their first demo tape in 1981 and New Face originally pressed that onto vinyl in 1988 with a slightly different track list from the 1995 version I have. The seven tracks on this Mini-LP are with the exception of the last two tracks actually quite well produced for a demo and present the band in their heyday. I would say that the tracks sound somewhat more punk rock oriented compared to their later material but the brutal execution of the songs is definitely already part of the band's DNA. Speaking of "Nada", you can actually find a different version of said classic on this record and quite frankly I prefer this version over the later one. If you are a fan of international '80s Hardcore Punk then this is definitely worthwhile tracking down and from what I saw still to be had for not much money. 

Early photo of Olho Seco with the source unknown as it is from a Facebook page.

Frites Modern - Veel, Vet, Goor En Duur LP

Label: Boy Bensdorp Platen; Year: 1984; Format: Vinyl LP

Sometimes you can't help but to miss the good ole' days of record hunting. I got my copy of this Dutch classic back in 1991 for $1.99 at the Record Peddler in Toronto on Yonge Street during my first longer spell of living in T.O. during the '90s. Unfortunately those sort of finds just don't happen anymore these days, mainly thanks to the intranet. But, let me just move on with the record as it is one of the best when it comes to European and Dutch hardcore punk. Frites Modern formed in Amsterdam in 1981 when singer/guitar player Arjan Boonacker left legendary punk act Trockener Kecks. Frites Modern contributed to the "Als Je Haar Maar Goed Zit" Compilation LP in 1982 before self-releasing the 6-Met Cassette in 1983, which has somewhat recently been reissued as a 10" and I definitely need to get. In 1984 the band released their one and only full-length and on so many levels it is just a true classic. First and foremost what strikes me as extraordinary and definitely not something that happened very often is the fact that Frites Modern were a trio yet their sound is so powerful you would think they consisted of five members. All, and I mean really all songs are well crafted, tuneful and for the most part mid-tempo punk rock smashers. There are two to three fast US hardcore influenced songs but the band never loses themselves in playing fast without melody. The other thing that strikes me is how well produced this record is just adding to the power of the songs. Maximum RockNRoll was pushing Frites Modern hard and it is no wonder they were included on the famous "Welcome to 1984" Compilation LP where I must have discovered them myself. Luckily the LP has been reissued a few years back so should you not be a lucky owner of an original copy you have absolutely no excuse not to grab a copy before they're all gone. Whether your thing is '80s hardcore or you are stuck in 1977 this record definitely ticks all the right boxes for everyone to love it. A true gem! 

Flyer stolen from the excellent Frites Modern website at www.fritesmodern.nl

Penetration - Don't Dictate and Life's A Gamble Singles

Label: Virgin Records; Year: 1977; Format: 7" Single

When it comes to the very early UK punk bands that set Britain burning so to speak Penetration from the North-East are not mentioned often enough. Their story is a particularly interesting one and thanks to Alex Ogg's "No More Heroes" book I refreshed my memory about the early days of the band hailing from the mining village of Ferryhill in County Durham. If you were a teenager in 1976 and lived in London no matter how different the world was compared to today, chances were that you caught on to the latest music trend rather sooner than later due to the music press being so London centric. On the other hand if you lived in a small village in the North-East far removed from London things were very different and moved at a much slower pace. That's why I find bands like Penetration fascinating as they made it happen despite the geographical and cultural disadvantage. As a matter of fact Pauline Murray, the lead singer, can without doubt be described as one of the most talented and charismatic singers of the early punk days, and I am sure many would agree with that statement. It should therefore not come as a surprise that at some point Virgin Records sent the band into a studio to record demos which initially resulted in a one-off single deal in the form of the herein reviewed "Don't Dictate" b/w "Money Talks" single. Both tracks are wonderful examples of early punk rock written with a strong pop sentiment that will instantly lift your mood and put a big smile on your face. As soppy as that may sound go out there and find out for yourself should you not be familiar with this bunch. 

Label: Virgin Records; Year: 1978; Format: 7" Single

While "Don't Dictate" was recorded as a quartet with Gary Chaplin being the guitar player and main song writer things changed drastically after Gary's sudden departure in 1978. After the band gained more traction and Virgin Records extended their relationship with the band Penetration also signed a management deal with Quarry, the same company that looked after Status Quo and Rory Gallagher. Needless to say that those two acts attracted a different type of clientele and while on tour supporting Gallagher in France Penetration got bottled off stage nearly every night. According to Murray Chaplin got cold feet and felt under pressure and left the band. The band had very little time replacing him and found not just one but two guitar players in the form of Neal Floyd and Fred Purser. Without a shadow of a doubt their addition added a whole new dynamic to the song writing as the melodic and powerful yet somewhat unfinished song writing of the year passed turned into a real hit machine with "Life's A Gamble" being the best example of said progress. This is actually the band's third single, released a few months after "Firing Squad". Of course it's not the same as having seen the band in their hay day but I consider myself still lucky having witnessed Penetration live on stage in London during my period living there about fifteen years ago. Their gig at the 100 Club I still consider one of my favorite live music memories from London and rest assured that there will be more reviews of Penetration records in the future. 

Sheer Terror - Old, New, Borrowed and Blue 10"

Label: Blackout! Records; Year: 1994; Format: 10" Vinyl EP

Sheer Terror is one of those bands that in many ways bypassed me throughout the decades. I never dismissed their existence but for some reasons they never grabbed my attention as much as they probably deserved to. A few days ago I listened to a recent podcast interview with Paul Bearer (link at the end of this post) and I must say I not only had a good laugh but also learned a bit about the band's history which I always find fascinating. That was reason enough to pull out my only Sheer Terror record this morning and play it loud while exercising my arthritis knees to the mean beats blasting out of the speakers. What a shame that so many of these records have become so expensive if you want them on vinyl as this little 10 inch containing four songs is definitely well worth tracking down. What I probably like the most about it is that no song sounds like the other one and the three Sheer Terror originals deliver everything people expect of the band. While the typical brutal and mostly fast "Walls" is probably my favorite song on the record, the other two are equally great but slower, darker and heavier. Last but not least the record also contains a great cover version of the Saints' hit "Everything's Fine". Well, this leads me to the conclusion that at least when it comes to their old material I hope to find some more of it out there in the wild. 

Update August 1,  2023: Blackout! Records has reissued the 10" as of last week. 

Link to the Post-America Podcast with Paul Bearer

https://soundcloud.com/the-post-america-podcast/160-paul-bearer

V/A - 415 Music LP

Label: 415 Records; Year: 1980; Format: Vinyl LP

During lunch time I often either take a good walk or if the weather is not so great, which can be the case often here in Buffalo, I at least trudge up to the main library to check out the latest books. Such was the case last week when I stumbled upon "Kalifornia Kool Photographs 1976 - 1982" by Ruby Ray. After spending the entire lunch looking at the photos I decided to take the book out and inspect the wonderful photography of Ruby at home. A lot of the photos were either taken at the Mabuhay Gardens or in people's homes and are wonderful snapshots of a time that this world will never experience again. Everything seemed possible and the spontaneity in music and the arts seemed endless. While leafing through the book this past weekend it occurred to me that to round up this San Francisco centered weekend I should spin my copy of 415 Music, a compilation from 1980. Now, as always with compilations that document a particular scene and a particular time keep in mind that most of the time not all the bands are worth checking out but 415 Music gives you actually not just good value for your hard earned dollar but also a nice oversight as to what was going on in S.F at the time. Of course by 1980 the underground music scene was at a crossroads with the first wave of punk already gone and New Wave and Power Pop on the rise. What you get on this compilation is a bit of everything above with maybe two to three songs that can be categorized as lame New Wave and a waste of vinyl. The rest though is good, if not great Power Pop or New Wave of the sort I can definitely dig. Winners are The Readymates with "415 Music", The Mutants with "Baby's No Good", SVT "Always Come Back For More" and above all The VIPs with "She's a Put On", an incredibly catchy Synth Power Pop smasher. Overall this is well worth tracking down and if you want to dig even deeper into 415 and the Rise of New Wave in S.F. Hozac Books will sort you out with a book dedicated to said label. I should really order a copy for myself as well! As written on the back cover: 415 is the police code for disturbing the peace. Turn this record up and DO IT! 

Source for the Photos of the Mutants and the Offs: Ruby Ray - Kalifornia Kool Photographs 1978-1982 book. 

Suburban Lawns - S/T LP

Label: Superior Viaduct: Year: 2021; Format: Vinyl LP

If someone had played me this record say back in '87 when I was thrashing to bands like Rattus, E.N.T or Inferno I am one hundred percent sure I would have just shaken my head while laughing out loud by discrediting it as cheesy new wave. New Wave it certainly is but this originally in 1981 released album on I.R.S is the kind of New Wave I have over the years come to appreciate. It's edgy, angular, punky and asks a lot of questions. I love reading about the early Southern California punk scene and I must have come across Suburban Lawns on many occasions but for some reason the band never stuck with me until I was at my local record store not too long ago and the proprietor played the record over the speakers. Now this isn't the first time I am saying that but a good record store owner knows his customers so I sure as hell like that. The songs caught my attention and I asked who that was and when I was told Suburban Lawns it clicked in the sense that I have heard the name many times but it just wasn't on my radar so to speak. Suburban Lawns started out in 1978 in Long Beach, CA and according to the excellent liner notes their earliest shows were with The Reactionaries (pre-Minutemen) as well as the Alley Cats. Their first two singles were self-released and "Gidget Goes To Hell" is worth looking up on Youtube as it's not just a great song but the video itself is something else. The band played the usual Los Angeles area underground clubs and by 1981 they have caught the attention of a bigger label leading up to this LP on I.R.S. The liner notes describe the album as "quintessential Reagan-era new wave/punk" and I couldn't agree more. No song is really like the other as the vocal duties switch back and forth between the members leading to a really varied and interesting album that never gets boring. It's clear that the band was tired of the beach and technology encroaching on life in every aspect and songs like "Computer Date" amazingly foreshadow modern day society years ahead of time. I think you're getting the picture here as this isn't your happy New Wave band playing songs to please everybody but rather a group of intellectuals taking new wave in a more sophisticated, artsy and intriguing direction. One band member, Su Tissue, has supposedly vanished completely after the band fell apart in 1983 and to this day nobody seems to know where she is. This record certainly deserves to be examined over and over as it is full of interesting details, musically as well as lyrically. Highly recommended!