V/A - Teenage Shutdown "She's A Pest" CD

Label: Teenage Shutdown!; Year: 2000; Format: CD

If you were like me a few years ago, and just started to really get into '60s garage punk, then the Teenage Shutdown series is definitely a good choice to start you off with, or at least one of the better ones. The songs on this particular installment are about girls, as the title "She's a pest" wisely suggests. Granted, the lyricists haven't had the best experiences with the fairer sex at that point, and I sure hope that in all those past decades since those songs were written things have drastically improved. The 18 songs are all revved-up garage punk hits, and there isn't a single song on here I don't like, but of course some tracks stand out, such as "Your Man is gonna leave you " by the Wind from California, or "I've gotta way with Girls" by the Lavender Hour, whom hailed from Texas. I promise you that I will review more Teenage Shutdown comps in the future, and even though I have this particular volume on CD, it is of course available on fine vinyl as well. All you need to do now is get a copy for yourself!

Wild Dogs - S/T LP

Label: Shrapnel Records; Year: 1983; Format: Vinyl LP

I am by no means a metal fan, but I do remember picking up this record many years ago for a few cents at a thrift store, probably just for the hilarious front cover. A few weeks ago I gave it a spin for the very first time since picking it up, and I must confess that I was surprised myself. If there is metal I will give a chance, then it has to sound like on this record. This is raw, straight-forward, and no-bullshit traditional heavy metal, played at a decent speed and with plenty of balls. The band hailed from Portland/OR and apparently reached international recognition following their second album, which came out after this one here. The band was seen to have a pioneering role for metal music in the Pacific Northwest, and I can see why that would be. Don't be discouraged by the horrendous cover, as this might appeal not just to fans of heavy metal, but people with a general liking of loud rock music.